it is really important that growth should not automatically generate a proportionate rise in energy consumption .
( BG ) Madam President , Prime Minister , 2011 will be the first year in which the European Union will be headed by two countries from Central and Eastern Europe , Hungary and Poland .
in addition , the proportion of people aged over 80 will rise from 4.1 % in 2005 to 11.4 % in 2050 .
in writing . - ( SV ) This report observes that in most Member States the population is getting older and that the social security and pension systems will therefore be put under strain .
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we are in favour of common research into nuclear safety , for example , but we feel that , in several cases , the report is far too pro-nuclear energy .
another point that was mentioned during the debate was the issue of resistance to protectionism .
the external service must be wholly in step with the Commission .
we welcome the proposal put forward to ensure improvements in national fiscal frameworks and to encourage Member States to make better fiscal decisions in the future .
first of all , I do not believe that belittling the Greeks in the manner that Mr Soini did is very useful , or even professionally appropriate .
we have , for example , allowed our spare capacity to fall by around 1 % every year , and that is creating insecurity .
in writing . - I would like to thank the rapporteur for his excellent work .
I would like to speak with particular reference to observation missions in Africa because there is a special partnership between the EU and African , Caribbean and Pacific countries .
I voted in favour of this resolution .
the committee 's proposal , which , in a big brother-like manner , states that seasonal fruit should be distributed , giving preference to a varied range of fruits so as to enable ' children to discover different tastes ' , is completely ridiculous .
we have in any case taken note of them and shall take them into consideration .
I would like to comment on the content in relation to four or five particular issues .
I also wish to thank the Commissioner for her involvement and support throughout this period , and I thank her services as well .
Doha would boost the world economy and prevent protectionism from picking up .
the Stockholm programme adopted by the European Council of 10 and 11 December 2009 calls on Member States to adopt immigration policies marked by flexible arrangements to support the development and economic performance of the Union .
let us make it clear : we are not making an exception for any sector of our industry .
the European Commission is ready for discussions with Parliament and the Council of Ministers , as well as the two consultative committees , in working towards the development of a shared system .
my committee was not involved in the resolution at all .
in clearly defined circumstances , certain products used for equidae will not have to have MRLs but will have to respect a six-month withdrawal period .
professional secrecy clauses have been extended beyond Commission staff to include members of expert groups so that , instead of moving towards more transparency , we are moving towards more secrecy .
Communism is a crime against humanity .
employees will not be required to work in excess of 60 hours a week averaged over three months , or 65 hours a week averaged over three months , when the inactive part of on-call time is regarded as working time .
it is now certain - it is a recognised fact - that the crisis is already having consequences for the real economy , and that we have more difficult times ahead .
it sees in this the fruits of some highly constructive cooperation , initiated between the two institutions from the very beginning of the examination of this text .
how is this reflected in the budget reform ?
overall , it has been a good test , which has brought excellent results for Parliament .
it is time to do a deal .
a balance has been struck for 2008 between financing , on the one hand , for external policies such as support for Kosovo and Palestine and , on the other , for Galileo , a project that binds the Member States closer together .
I should also like to respond to what Mr Matsakis said : I share his view about alcohol .
I think you have already noticed that there is always a strong voice from the Commission side highlighting the need to keep an adequate level of financing for research and innovation in the educational sectors , because we believe this is how we will preserve and improve our competitive edge and prepare our future researchers , our future workers in highly competitive areas for better performance in the future .
with regard to urgent matters , we have a whole host of issues here , including , in Brazil , solidarity with the victims of the storms , which have left more than 700 people dead .
tomorrow , we will publish in the Commission the report on the implementation of a thematic strategy on prevention and recycling of waste .
it is estimated that during 30 years of dictatorship more than five million people have been imprisoned , more than 200 000 tortured to death and recently more than 200 killed .
we need to carry on as we have been for a number of years in encouraging this mobility in the European Union , and we need to ensure that there is fair competition between the various modes of transport .
firstly , we oppose any legislation that assumes that women 's health , education and reproductive rights are the responsibility not of Member States but of the EU .
Mr President , this whole matter has caused a lot of problems , particularly in the agricultural sector in Ireland .
we need to have a wider answer to the question of ' how ? ' .
I would like to compliment the Swedish Presidency and , above all , Commissioner Rehn on their work .
if we hand over the right to decide on these matters to the EU , what is the next step ?
we need a new constitution , not just a new name .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . -Madam President , on behalf of my group , I would also like to welcome this agreement .
Maroni exposed this .
this area had already received attention in Flanders and is now set to receive attention from all the governments of Europe .
every effort must be made to detain and punish the murderers .
this provision takes up the Italian request to introduce a genuine ' regional safeguard clause ' , applicable only in certain regions of the European Union .
in this respect , the EU must include coastal tourism in the list of its political priorities .
we are going to continue to support energy saving , energy efficiency and renewable energies , and we are also spearheading the development of a methodology - an inevitably complex one , given the technical difficulties - to evaluate more precisely the carbon footprint of all the projects that we finance .
right at the start , I would like to make it clear that the EU is giving its full support to the stabilisation and normalisation of Georgia and to democratic reforms in the country .
the Commission has made a firm commitment to promote the appropriate bilateral regional cooperation frameworks .
it is a fact that the level of control of these installations is a very important factor and , as such , it should be increased and carried out at shorter intervals .
one important policy objective must be to create framework conditions to protect jobs in Germany even in times of crisis .
this may seem costly to some , but receiving equal treatment is an absolute must , as it is for those suffering from other disabilities , so that we can respect ourselves and the values of European society .
more generally , let me recall that the stimulus packages that the Union and the Member States have adopted since the end of last year constitute major contributions to supporting employment .
almost 10 % of Europe 's children suffer from ' dys ' problems : children who are usually invisible to our education systems , which all too frequently blame their academic failure on unrelated causes .
however , the actual budget used has been smaller than that amount and has been steadily decreasing since 2003 .
Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union acknowledges territorial cohesion as an objective of the EU .
SMEs account for more than 90 % of the EU economy and two-thirds of its jobs .
however , I regret that the report was not drafted jointly by the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Development , in view of the fact that the chairmen of these two committees jointly chair the European Parliament 's election observation group .
for this reason , I think we should actually be pressing ahead with an EU-Japan free trade agreement .
for all these reasons , we must foster mechanisms to promote an international adoption instrument inspired by protecting children , harmonising the different requirements and procedures laid down in the legislation of the Member States , in particular , applying Article 21 of the European Charter of Children 's Rights and taking into consideration Article 24 of our Charter of Fundamental Rights .
I would suggest that , in working to attract young people to this profession , you will only frustrate them until we provide them with the opportunity to gain these skills .
I am also inviting the Council to consider targeted sanctions , which is what the Socialist Group would have liked to have done but we did not get any support for it : travel bans perhaps , the freezing of assets .
I am interceding in order to ensure that it is not forgotten .
the European Council also supports full implementation of the Commission action plan on the Small Business Act initiative that was adopted by the Council on 1 December 2008 .
however , I want to see this compromise used as the basis , so that in future , the European Union can do it better .
they conveyed the Romanian Government 's concern about the financial stability of cross-border healthcare and the proportions it may assume because , as you are very well aware , some Member States have a very small national income .
and as you said , Minister , 2008 was supposed to be a come-back year , the year in which social Europe was re-energised .
( EL ) Madam President , I take the problem of combating neurodegenerative diseases - and especially Alzheimer 's - extremely seriously .
we should not fear major debates , and I wish to thank you , Mr President-in-Office of the Council , for having made your contribution , because economic and social policy is the major debate , the one that is of most concern to our citizens , the one that demands our response in the short , medium and long term .
therefore , we should use most of the EUR 5 billion as guarantee funds to leverage EUR 20 , 25 or 30 billion of public and private investment .
the report addresses creditably the concerns of Union 's citizens - especially citizens of the states surrounding the Baltic - about the environmental impact of the planned gas pipeline .
at present , the EU is working with the African Union and other regional organisations to strengthen their capacity to address environment and climate change issues .
Mr President , renewed combat in the eastern part of the Congo is making a mockery of human rights and is silencing democracy .
I was not in favour of expanding the scope , but then I saw that a majority was moving in that direction .
50 % for area and 50 % for production for that part of the envelope which is specifically related to promotion in third countries , which I consider to be a new and very important forward-looking policy for the wine sector .
- Before the vote on Amendment 4 :
she has proposed to this Parliament sensible solutions to the problems of carbon leakage in industry , she has introduced quality criteria and a 50 % limit on the use of off-setting and clean development mechanisms , and she has tried to keep to around 50 % the freedom of Member States to use the revenues generated from auctioning allowances .
each of these applies within the EU .
it is good that consumer affairs are now dealt with by the same committee , but it is perhaps a shame that we have lost that focus on the internal market and civil and commercial law .
let us be able to live up to it , because these are real problems and real people , and we have to deal with them now .
to complete the dominance of the EU electricity and natural gas markets by large-scale capital interests , the package of five proposals for the third legislative bundle is now being prepared by the Commission .
( DE ) Mr President , we shall make an exception and support that proposal .
I think it was very important for us to make this a cross-group resolution .
safeguarding human rights and individual dignity is completely at odds with weak policies that encourage the threat of terrorism and social malaise .
finally , I should like to thank our rapporteur for his excellent work .
it should be stressed that the work plan was elaborated in the light of detailed discussions with other institutions , including the issues discussed recently in the debate on globalisation at the Council 's informal meeting in Lisbon .
I do not accept that .
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the EU 's accession to the European Convention will mean that the protection of fundamental rights will be supplemented and strengthened , that citizens in our Member States will have better protection in relation to the EU 's activities and that legal practice in the area of human rights will be harmonised better in the two European courts , in The Hague and Strasbourg .
this is the principle of 11 March 2011 .
I augur that whenever an agreement is concluded , insistence be made upon the principle of reciprocity , and I believe that it is these type of agreements that can serve as the foundation for this to happen elsewhere .
the Commission says that the ideal situation would be if EU consumers could have the same basic rights wherever they were in the Union and wherever they did their shopping .
solidarity has been pledged by many Member States , the Commission and other countries , and Greece is grateful to those who have taken swift action against a natural disaster arising from conditions beyond anything we could have imagined .
unfortunately , there is not much we can do at this stage of the issue in the final vote .
a resolution would only make sense after the forthcoming elections in Ukraine .
the collapse and violence in Haiti in recent years are the result of brutal relations with the outside world - with certain states and international concerns - which go back for hundreds of years .
I am well aware that some people will tell me that never has so much been invested , produced , exchanged and earned by industry .
in writing . - This report on the White Paper on Sport needs to recognise that there is a subsidiarity issue over sport in the EU .
the target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the EU Member States by a total of 30 % by 2020 was not brought to the table early enough .
concerning culture and education , our objective is to agree on the launch of a policy dialogue .
the European Union will be represented by the Presidents of the European Council and the Commission .
Mr President , why is the Swedish Presidency refusing to lead Europe into forcing reform of the UN Security Council , by demanding a seat at the table for the European Union with the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon ?
in writing . - ( RO ) First of all , I would like to congratulate the Rapporteur for the objectivity with which he expressed the position of the European Parliament regarding the Commission 's 2007 enlargement strategy paper .
in particular to activities carried out by the so-called CEPROM .
it can be abused , as some credit rating agencies are doing , for example , by giving advice that drives countries to ruin .
it does not work in practice and circular migration often turns into permanent migration .
firstly , minimum rules on the right to interpretation and translation , which were adopted already in 2010 . secondly the right to information about rights - the letter of rights - which is going to reach an agreement very soon .
- Before the vote :
we believe that the report and the extension of the scope of housing interventions to the entire European Union strengthens cohesion between all the regions , with no discrimination between old and new Member States .
the fact is that , in this connection , we have nonetheless taken a step in a direction in which we will be able to move further at a later date .
we need to know whether the European Union will have the powers and the competency to play a role .
this should be facilitated by establishing some common rules for all funds to make coordination between them easier .
Article 174 of the Treaty of Lisbon mentions policy with regard to mountain regions as a particular type of regional policy , alongside island and cross-border regions .
President-in-Office of the Council . - Mr President , concerning the sum total of the ODA , I would like to underline that , since 2002 when establishing its commitment for the Monterey conference , the Council has reiterated the need to mobilise all other available sources of financing for development - primarily domestic resources complemented by viable innovative financing mechanisms - and support from developed countries , the private sector and emerging economies .
what surprises me about the debate in this House at times - even though I suppose I should not be surprised - is that those who shout longest and loudest about the sovereignty of Member States are the very ones to attempt to undermine that sovereignty by lecturing and hectoring Member States about the need to hold a referendum , when national legislation and , therefore , sovereignty and subsidiarity , dictate otherwise .
Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world .
this attempt to combine the various aspects of the problem and handle them together has to begin with the acknowledgement of a fact known to us all : 60 % of migrants arriving in Europe come by sea , and ' Fortress Europe ' has issued an approximate estimate , by default , that 12 000 human beings have drowned or otherwise gone missing over the past ten years .
giving these studies a stronger practical purpose and including interactive teaching would result in a deeper understanding of national and European cultural values .
one of the highest priorities was equal-opportunities issues .
we must also not forget that the countries of the Western Balkans are of great geopolitical importance to us for many reasons .
this is very useful as this Council Decision makes for extremely effective sharing of DNA and fingerprints .
criticisms have been levelled here at the pace of financial market regulation .
your own-initiative report of 2006 and your swift handling of the Commission 's proposal are important contributions to the success of the new European Company Statute .
where you do have my full support is where you commented on EDF funding for the African Peace Facility ; no one can deny the evident links between development and security .
we have common challenges concerning cross-border crime , so it would also be good for us if we could engage further in this .
this means that ethnic differences can lead to ethnic confrontations .
secondly , because the motion for a resolution is dealing with this issue , and I am pleased that the Commissioner touched on this subject , I wish to draw attention to the danger posed by the objective of food self-sufficiency , which is very much in vogue .
nevertheless - and now of course I also have to say a few negative things - the Commission remains concerned by the situation of human rights in China in general and more specifically in the field of civil and political rights .
the existence of an electricity grid and gas pipeline covering the whole of the European territory must be a priority , as Europe is highly dependent on energy imports .
the declaration by the Government of Belarus of its intention to improve relations with the European Union is the like totally scorning the democratic world .
we need a common history textbook of those times , which would show how Europe united , so that the children in our schools can have access to that truth and that knowledge .
his report and his green light for this country represent a bold step forward which has generated momentum .
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we must not wait for a working group of the Council to tell us what must be done ; it is up to the Commission to take this initiative .
we need solidarity when we have to give support to our Baltic friends or countries affected by the gas crisis between Russia and Ukraine , but we also need solidarity when we have to give support to our Mediterranean friends when they are facing challenges with which they cannot cope alone .
first of all , I am pleased that the report supports the thematic strategy for the sustainable use of pesticides .
behind the walls that already exist there and those that are currently being built along the Egyptian border live people - men , women and children who have the right to decent living conditions - and people do not tolerate walls and divisions for ever .
( DE ) Mr President , I believe that this debate is taking place at exactly the right time .
the Council 's report for 2007 provides a fitting description of these issues .
it has been unfairly expropriated , and like so many other businesses , after many years of hard work , it is failing , following capricious decisions by those who think that anything goes .
the Committee on Agriculture has not commented on my report , so I take their silence to mean agreement .
can the Commissioner assure me that , in the future , we will have a formal dialogue on such questions before final decisions are made ?
Madam President , earlier this evening , we debated the social provisions and the Lisbon Treaty , which obliges the Union to consider the social consequences of a decision when making its policies .
these amendments include : prohibition of electoral blocs , increase of electoral threshold from 4 % to 6 % , unrealistic and undemocratic electoral threshold in relation to the real political situation in the Republic of Moldova , prohibition for people with dual citizenship to hold public positions , including to become Members of the Parliament etc .
if the European Union is to act as an honest broker , even-handedness is imperative .
irrespective of the fact that in many legal systems the burden of proof is already transferred for far less important reasons or for reasons of comparable importance .
she urged that studies on antiviral medications should be independent of pharmaceutical companies .
I appeal to the Commission and Member States for decisive steps to be made in this direction in 2011 .
after that , everyone went home .
I believe the EU has an important role to play in supporting a peaceful , stable and democratic future for the Sudanese people , whether in one country or two .
in order to do this , the decisions regarding the milk quota increases should be dropped . however , neither the European Commission , nor Mariann Fischer Boel personally , is inclined to acknowledge that wrong decisions have been made .
the report also urges the Turkish Government to bring its approach to freedom of religion in line with those principles as defined by the European Court of Justice .
I would also like to ask the Commission to sit down with the Member States and work closely with them in this area and not to interfere in their national powers .
however , it is interesting that we have succeeded in forging a treaty on the Antarctic , in which we have ruled out military presence and stipulated that this region may only be used for peaceful purposes .
I would like to say here that our party - the party linked to the PPE Group , which is the Portuguese Social Democratic Party ( PSD ) - is supporting the government 's austerity measures , because we believe that the mistakes that have been made during 15 years of socialist government in Portugal , which are now unfortunately visible for all to see , must be remedied ; the PSD will support measures to remedy them .
on the one hand , in the name of security and justice , they are demanding a minimum of European rules to curb illegal immigration and , on the other , in the name of their rules that have become dogma - those of ultraliberalism and of freedom of movement - they want the territory of the Union to become a place for receiving and attracting millions of prospective immigrants .
I can assure you , Mrs Frassoni , that the Commission takes your points very seriously .
the proposal to introduce a Eurovignette to stop emissions from heavy goods vehicles has stalled , as has climate policy .
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clearly , however , the production of goods for the market will be directly proportional to the scale of the budget that we will be able to confirm in order to cover the costs associated with agricultural practices of this kind .
by Mrs Hedh , on behalf of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection , on consumer protection , and
and for us , the situation of the Roma of Europe is a question of destiny .
naturally , we welcome the increasingly active role of the Republic of Korea on the international stage and we also wish them all the best when they chair the G20 this year .
on the other hand , however , they carried out expansionist lending based on external resources assigned in the short term and providing funding in the long term .
they are not measurable , but they are equally important .
you also raised the question of our choice of a decentralised framework for data collection , by saying : ' is it not the case , really , that in choosing a decentralised system , we lose the power of oversight ? '
action must not be delayed because , if there is any delay , we will end up with disappointment in Moldova instead of confidence .
the detail of the regulation that is already being considered by some of my colleagues shows divergence both in the timetable of implementation and in the detail of the regulation .
in fact , in the short term the new regulation provides a comprehensive review clause which invites the Commission to set out , where necessary , further labelling requirements in this area .
Mr President , the final declaration of the Durban II Review Conference , which Afghanistan is taking part in , concluded only today on the absolute need to make all forms of violence against women criminal offences punishable by law and on the condemnation of any judicial arsenal based on discrimination , including religious discrimination .
President Calderón faces enormous challenges but he is determined to meet them head-on , and the EU should support him robustly .
one can well understand the concern relating to the EU integration capacity .
try hard to achieve a fresh Security Council resolution .
we in the European Union are proud to have this kind of democratic system .
just as in 1968 , it has not hesitated to send in tanks to achieve its political goals .
in light of the different situations regarding rabies in Member States , the Commission chose a safe , precautionary approach .
as is the case for any prisoner , the State was responsible for his safety and for his life .
the attacks , especially on the civilian population in Tskhinvali , are to be roundly condemned , along with the military response , especially the military response by Russia and the attacks on the civilian population , particularly in the town of Gori .
I think that in many ways this review does that in an excellent way and it advances the tool in the right direction , but it does not really go the whole distance .
( DA ) Mr President , it is always an emotional debate when we discuss the Roma here in Parliament .
3 .
the European Commission proposed a ban on information about prescription-only medicines broadcast on television or radio , and the European Parliament has decided to extend this to the written press .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I would first of all like to thank Mrs Lulling for the endless hours she has spent achieving a good compromise and agreement with the Council .
this was apparent during the reform of the sugar market , for example .
after 2014 , there will be no funds available to them and I appeal to this House to begin now to look at how we can actually help the victims of the violence of terrorism .
indeed , I wish this report had been available before we voted on the postal services .
the Hungarian Government first ran to the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) out of fear , this we know , but they say that they did of course try to approach the EU as well , and that the latter tried systematically to find a legal basis .
Member of the Commission . - Certainly not .
in this context , however , I have to mention that a number of the amendments concern provisions of Regulation ( EC ) No 1049 / 2001 which the Commission did not propose to amend .
debates on cases of breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law ( announcement of motions for resolutions tabled ) : see Minutes
Poland announced that it is going to ratify the Treaty immediately .
the brutal clash with the participants of a peaceful demonstration and the arrest of opposition leaders and opposition candidates in the elections is a clear violation of human rights and signifies the abandonment of measures intended to improve relations with the democratic countries of Europe .
this is a crucially important timetabling issue , and we cannot but regret that the Ministers for Economic and Monetary Affairs were able to argue for a withdrawal of non-conventional employment support and unemployment reduction measures , when the Ministers for Social Affairs had not been consulted in what we know is a tragic employment and social affairs situation in our European Union .
the institutional one is that Article 3 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union states that monetary policy for the countries whose currency is the euro is the exclusive competence of the Union , but Article 2 provides that exclusive competence may be exercised by the Member States if authorised by the Union .
in writing . - ( FR ) How can a report be submitted to the representatives of Member States using legal and institutional notions that are simultaneously hazy , new , dangerous and utopian ?
the interim report of the Temporary Committee on Climate Change does not contain any new ideas , thoughts or recommendations useful to the peoples of Europe regarding environmental protection .
we are increasing the perks and the budgets available to Members and to staff .
( NL ) Ladies and gentlemen , in past decades this Chamber has been the scene of many ringing declarations on human rights .
however , I refuse to pillory China every two months , quite simply because that will not make it give in .
the Iraqi political process has shown itself to be important - even if , as you were saying , interesting - but still very fragile .
I hope it will keep all its promises .
I think that is nice .
thanks to our joint efforts , we have achieved a positive outcome in the provision on the issue related to practices such as illegal adoption .
for example , a great many people have asked what business this is of Europe 's .
in fact , in the compromise , the status quo is being resettled for mergers , divisions of companies and transfers of seats .
the debate is closed .
nor do I want it to deliver it .
Shannon Airport - a hub in its own right - and regional airports like Cork are being starved of routes , while Dublin Airport is chronically overcrowded .
this is the purpose of the integrated guidelines proposed by the Commission .
this means that the integration of residents , the connection between immigration and development and illegal immigration are of vital importance .
I have already indicated to Mr Posselt that I will take his question and to Mrs Ţicău that I would take her question , and indeed the question from the three of you would have been the last one if we had been going quicker , but we are not .
Madam President , this has been a complicated issue to deal with .
clogging up the first six months of the year is not its only use .
currently , we have negotiated 45 such horizontal agreements with partner countries worldwide .
establishing a modernised education system throughout the whole of Europe , placing strong emphasis on substantive research results and , of course , simplifying access to cross-border research programmes in Europe can raise the level of innovation in the EU .
the second is to observe the rules of budgetary discipline and sound financial management laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement .
the point is that it is also important to protect third parties , and special protection measures are required for any third parties involved .
it makes it possible to grant voting rights to Hungarians permanently living in neighbouring countries .
my country has enacted one of the most generous naturalisation laws in Europe , precisely in order to meet those people halfway .
in writing . - ( FR ) We voted in favour of the resolution on the automotive industry , but we have not forgotten that those who are today pretending to want to save it are really the ones responsible for this disaster .
nine countries in the Baltic Region are EU Member States and there is only one third country - Russia .
I am somewhat sceptical about the merits of an EU strategy on wilderness , given that the EU 's management of agriculture and fisheries has proved to be so disastrous .
( the President cut off the speaker )
we must expand these opportunities .
what I very much look forward to , however , is receiving information from the Commission about the political misuse of psychiatry by Beijing .
Mr President , Mrs Vassiliou , ladies and gentlemen , we are going to give our verdict on a text for which I have been hoping and praying for a long time , especially in the framework of my report on the impact of the exclusion of health services from the Services Directive .
the shaping of civic attitudes through voluntary work is not always given due attention .
in any case , we will have to continue debating this topic in the light of the changes to the legal status of the Charter of Fundamental Rights .
these two regulations are harmonised to secure support for specific areas .
regarding funding , there is no fund or mechanism for the time being .
the report which is to be put to the vote today takes stock of the difficulties which we encountered in implementing this Services Directive .
the collection and ordering of information relating to the costs of examining asylum applications is not a task the Treaties confer upon the Council .
however , I have the impression that very little has happened since then .
in response to President Barroso 's declaration today that he will bring forward proposals for such a tax before June of next year , I would call on Prime Minister Cameron to clearly state that any move in this direction would trigger a referendum in the United Kingdom .
the National League for Democracy was disbanded by law this month and Aung San Suu Kyi , a political prisoner and recipient of the European Parliament 's Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought , cannot run in the elections .
according to the Commission , the application meets the eligibility criteria for EGF assistance , and that institution recommends that the budgetary authority approve its mobilisation .
it is then safety and competitiveness which suffer because of this .
this cannot possibly be done , though , Commissioner , if the Commission and Europe are only prepared to spend 5.5 % of the European Development Fund ( EDF ) on this .
this is the solution which is best suited to the very specific situation of the fishing industry in the outermost regions .
the European Union has set itself the objective of becoming the world leader in Global Navigation Satellite Systems ( GNSS ) with the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service ( EGNOS ) and Galileo programmes , thus ensuring its technological independence from American GPS .
with regard to the Structural Funds , the Court of Auditors concluded very clearly that 12 % of the funds that had been paid out should never have been paid : 12 % , or almost EUR 4 billion .
we are in a completely different situation , which is not an ordinary drop in economic activity ; we are , I repeat , experiencing exceptional circumstances and that now is the time to act .
I would therefore like to join in the thanks expressed to Karl-Heinz Florenz who , as a member of a different parliamentary group but in his capacity as rapporteur , has presented a report whose contents we , as the Socialist Group , can certainly endorse .
nevertheless , women are not involved in decision making in the communities to which they belong .
( applause )
however , the European Aviation Safety Agency continues to display many failings , especially with regard to its ability to run in an efficient and cost-effective manner .
furthermore , there should be support for academic entrepreneurship , making it a component of study programmes .
where are the concrete proposals ?
these have , in recent years , resulted in a very significant reduction in what was a plague of deaths on Portuguese roads , particularly in road accidents .
this is a proposal submitted by the Commission in April this year .
as regards on-call time , I would say to the Council that this must be recognised as working time as a general rule .
we certainly need action , because the disease travels extremely fast and we have to be able to vaccinate outside affected areas .
however , the fact that the CAP is considered only from the perspective of competitiveness and neoliberalism , in the direct tradition of the policies implemented by the European Union in the last few years , prevents me from voting in favour .
your vote this week is excellent news ahead of the Prague Employment Summit .
where consumers feel uncertain about the safety and quality of services , they tend to build up psychological barriers towards foreign suppliers , which dissuade them from using cross-border services .
the first point concerns Europol , as our committee has restored its budget , given the cuts proposed by the Council , and we have also proposed an increase of EUR 500 000 so that it can tackle the responsibilities that have arisen as a result of the entry into force of the second version of the Terrorist Finance Tracking Programme .
concrete actions would have to follow ; for example , the consistent inclusion of clauses prohibiting the persecution of Christians in international trade agreements with the EU .
the next decade will decide where Europe is going to be .
but we are looking to the European Commission to propose an ambitious social agenda , not just communications on demography , training and migration , as announced , but also initiatives for legislation to improve the quality of employment and strengthen the battle against poverty and social exclusion .
in the event of hundreds of thousands of toys being withdrawn from the market , as happened last year , can you tell me please , Commissioner , what becomes of those toys ?
I should like to emphasise one of the aspects that I consider to be of the utmost importance at the moment , as we witness the negotiations for the new agreement that will replace the Kyoto Protocol in January 2013 .
so I fear that there are lots of problems to be resolved .
I also believe that if our budgetary and control rights and our codecision on this issue are not respected , it will be very difficult for us to work together with the Council and the Commission over the next few years .
it is not an ideal budget , but I do think that outlays have been apportioned in a sensible way and cover all the priorities of the European Union .
the credibility of Parliament is at stake .
the consumers ?
we shall be coming back to this once again next time .
I always say - and it is at the core of the cohesion report and its conclusions - that there is no contradiction between focusing on a few priorities as laid down in the EU 2020 strategy and flexibility in implementing these in the very varied regions of Europe .
cooperation in the field of border control and strengthening it is one of Parliament 's key priorities .
I voted in favour of granting 2009 discharge to the European Environment Agency because I think the work it does is essential in this day and age .
I wish the Czech presidency every success .
but the Commission has already made proposals .
this support is essential for helping the unemployed and victims of the company relocations that occur in a globalised world .
now they are ready , and we congratulate the authorities of Bosnia and Albania for their achievements in pursing the reforms .
it is wrong to want to change the Atalanta mandate now , either with regard to enlarging the area of operations or with regard to the attempt by Members of this House to extend the mandate to include fishing .
Mr President , I would just ask the honourable gentlemen , would he not think his tirade against the European Union would be stronger if the British Government had not introduced similar legislation before the European Union did ?
( applause )
without that clear European position , the subsequent actions would not have been possible .
Mr President , each year the Conference of Presidents tables different amendments to try to ensure that we spend more time in Strasbourg than we should .
( RO ) The European Union must make it a priority to draw up a common energy strategy and an action plan aimed at improving the Union 's energy security .
I congratulate the Commission for the Green Paper on a new urban mobility policy .
our group has voted in favour .
some of these people feel a very strong bond with Serbia , others with Croatia and a third group would like to underline its own independent Bosnian identity .
this is due to a set of measures contained in an all-embracing family policy .
more than 10 years have already passed since work on the creation of a common European asylum system ( CEAS ) started immediately after the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam in May 1999 , on the basis of the principles approved by the Tampere European Council .
allow me to formulate some brief comments on certain amendments .
Brussels must initiate dialogue on the basis of a previously agreed benchmark system , otherwise the EU can only lose in this dialogue .
I therefore fully support Mr Lagendijk 's position .
this step , albeit painful , seems to be another inevitable rung on the ladder towards settlement in the Balkans .
I would like to give my backing to my colleagues in the Group of the European People 's Party which , together with the other groups - socialists , liberals and conservatives - have tabled compromise amendments in order to set up this microfinance instrument as quickly as possible , starting in 2010 .
we had a feeling that the completion of the essential foundation of the EU 2020 strategy for smart growth and jobs and innovation - the Single Market - was not really reflected as a political priority .
where this was not done , energy prices rose by 28 % .
while the security situation has remained relatively calm with no major incidents , public tension and anxiety have increased .
ladies and gentlemen , there was a date that surprised me when these amendments to the law on the protection of minors in Lithuania were passed : it was 14 July 2009 .
4 ) The level of public initiative is too low , and there is a general lack of information on development cooperation available to the public throughout the EU .
rapporteur . - Madam President , I am presenting to you an own-initiative report recommended by an overwhelming majority in the Committee on Foreign Affairs .
that will remove the tension and minimise the amount of financial aid from EU to developing countries .
the agreement is based on the principles of mutual benefit , reciprocal opportunities to access the programmes and activities relevant to the purposes of the agreement , non-discrimination , effective protection of intellectual property , and equitable sharing of intellectual property rights .
( EL ) As shadow draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on International Trade and as a member of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs , I should like to say by way of introduction that the Lisbon Treaty signals the transition from a constitutional ' elitism ' to the reform of the European unification project .
if you look at global demand for food it is set to increase by 50 % in 20 years , but agriculture can , through carbon sequestration , anaerobic digestion , forestry planting - and I think that is the key - and wind energy , contribute to this debate .
I think that everything is known about desertification , but very little action is being taken .
a review of existing measures will allow us to plan objectives for the coming years more effectively .
there is no problem about that .
so the ALDE Group supports the provisions requiring importers to be more attentive to product marketing , by giving them a share of responsibility for it with all that that entails .
the theatre had to stop performing its programme in September because of financial difficulties .
however , we would like to state that in recital G ' sexual and reproductive health ' should not be seen as a step backwards in relation to decisions that have already been made .
we have therefore reached a situation in which this directive undermines the territoriality of the right to work .
it is not about that .
I believe the report by Mr Goepel is in line with the role I have just outlined .
I believe that the efforts we now have to make should all be focused in one direction .
if we are to take this cause seriously , the Commission must find ways of funding it .
relinquishing sovereignty over the currency means relinquishing part of national sovereignty .
in every country in Europe , unemployment has grown by leaps and bounds .
I agree completely with Mr Solana 's assessment .
what universities think of this seems to be immaterial .
ladies and gentlemen , our great Palestinian poet , Mahmoud Darwish , said time and again , ' This land is worth living for ' .
the idea of a uniform and united policy takes on special significance in the context of the security of European energy policy .
however , as this would affect our tax measures , it is Member States who should be taking such initiatives , not Europe dictating them top-down .
Klass report
then public support for the EU as a safe haven , which has recently seen a short-term rise , will quickly evaporate , and we shall be in much worse economic trouble than we are at present .
if we now concentrate attention on technical details , the improvement of regulation , which clearly is necessary , then we will lose the initiative and room for movement .
agreement between the EC and Bosnia and Herzegovina on short-stay visas ( vote )
education does not have to be multicultural as stated in this report ; it only has to be of good quality .
the debate is closed .
in any case , we still face a food crisis , we still face an external crisis .
at that very moment , were they sincere , those men running a country deemed by Transparency International to be one of the most corrupt in the world and relying on a rule of law and a democracy that have never actually existed ?
of course , this issue should be put in the context of the comprehensive response .
they are unacceptable , anti-democratic .
a large portion of the funds was allocated to energy projects , but considerable financing is still required for decommissioning and national funds are not sufficient to cover this : the State Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant Decommissioning Fund has failed to accumulate sufficient funds .
the work to be done on logistics does not involve regulating this rapidly growing sector , but ensuring that it has a sustainable future by allowing it to mobilise the efficiency potential that still exists in the transport business .
of course , the action , the initiative and the work of the European Parliament on this issue are important .
another issue : in a situation where aid to various industries under the pact is being sanctioned , how should we view the European Union 's severity towards the problem of the Polish shipyards ?
it is here now .
this is an important issue , and it is rather odd that in 2009 , we should be having to speak about the existence of a trade in humans in the Baltic Sea region .
however , despite Mr Skinner 's efforts - and , on this point , our criticism is exactly the same as Mr Mitchell 's - we regret that the governments have not understood .
it goes without saying that every Member of Parliament elected by the people has full voting rights , including the President .
I view export credits as an important instrument for supporting EU enterprises .
it is a fine example and a benchmark and it is a lesson being given to us by the second-poorest country on the planet : as we entered the court , we saw the slogan ' no peace without justice ' .
sexual abuse and the various types of exploitation , especially child pornography , are despicable crimes with deep-seated , long-lasting effects on its young victims .
motion for a resolution
I would like to focus on the strong points .
as we see from the proposal for a Council decision , New Zealand is the only non-European industrialised country with which the Community has not yet drawn up a formal agreement on science and technology .
such negligence by the authorities makes them an accomplice to the killing .
I think this is an important concept to keep in mind .
this is an important task , because better industry terms would allow the EU to become a global market leader in this area .
the rationality of this is often dubious .
the money which we could be investing in renewable energy sources is literally being thrown into a bottomless pit .
it is truly praiseworthy .
conditions for an effective EU-US partnership on the Middle East have rarely been as good .
the debate is closed .
I voted against the line our group adopted on this
that is what Mr Schultz and I are now doing .
written declarations ( Rule 142 )
they send just one message to the major investors : you have the right to expect fat profits and in doing so you bear no risk and , in particular , no responsibilities .
similarly , China is initiating specific training measures targeted at these groups of public order personnel .
the global economic environment is being tested at the moment .
moreover , the thematic working group on maths , science and technology has already been established .
it means capability , through the European institutions enabling all Member States to respond immediately and effectively to a shared crisis .
I am therefore going to try to answer the various questions that have been put to me and try hard to group together the speeches , since several of them related to the same subjects .
there is a time for setting targets and there is a time for giving oneself the means to achieve them .
( FR ) Madam President , though presented on the legitimate grounds of protecting artistic creation , the so-called ' Hadopi ' law , which is being drafted in Paris , is in fact a freedom-destroying law .
transparency is very important for us to monitor what is happening there .
the economic crisis and the climate crisis can be combined to offer major economic opportunities to develop new technologies and create jobs .
many important measures must be taken to limit and reduce this dependence .
this is the case firstly with the system of direct aid that needs to be modified , bearing in mind that the Member States must have greater flexibility to implement this change .
the formal proposal itself is already in this Parliament and I hope that the legislative procedure will soon lead to its adoption and to preparations for the European Year of Creativity and Innovation .
as a result , we cannot but condemn the acts of repression against peaceful protesters , leaders of the democratic opposition , as well as numerous civil society activists , journalists , teachers and students .
an agreement which , alongside the trade dimension , the strictly trade dimension , also has a political and institutional chapter , as well as a chapter aimed at promoting sustainable economic and social development .
why has the Council not agreed on an increase in the cohesion and structural funds or an immediate prohibition on trading credit derivatives ?
it has already been said several times that 10 years is a long time .
the information is intended to provide a basis for analysing the demand for drugs , ways of reducing it , and the drug market in general .
the Member States on the external borders of the EU are all under pressure from immigration and have turned into ' immigration camps ' for Europe .
it has been difficult to address this subject in such a short time , especially as it has such broad , cross-cutting aims .
over the past 15 years , the value of trade between China and Africa has increased 20 times over .
will the five-year budgetary term coincide with or be accentuated by the five-year parliamentary term ?
in cooperation with the Commission and each within our own sphere of responsibility we shall , of course , be presenting measures that may be more favourable and may in fact reflect our concerns on social matters .
each individual Member State 's ongoing commitment to stick to the 2014 targets will be crucial .
the representatives of human rights and humanitarian aid organisations , such as Polska Akcja Humanitarna or Médecins Sans Frontières , have been expelled from Darfur .
I do not see why there is such a drama about this .
the end of the year may prove difficult and the decline in the automotive market could be around 5 % for the whole of 2008 , which , for this market , would be the worst result recorded since 1993 .
composition of committees and delegations : see Minutes
there are Member States - as you know better than we do - that promise cheap loans for car manufacturers , provided that these car manufacturers buy parts from local suppliers in that country .
it is also important that we prevent the application of law from somewhere or other that is unacceptable in accordance with the principles of the European Union - for example Sharia law , Chinese law or whatever .
on human rights we do not always see eye to eye .
would the Commission consider a proposal that there should only be one child per seat and that all children under 15 should wear seat belts on school buses ?
however , the second proposal , in particular , is the essential one .
this delay undermines the credibility of our commitments and affects the conclusion of the economic partnership agreements .
in any case , believe me that I will do everything in my power to ensure this .
the majority of them referred to the limitations of the budget and its structure .
I see it as a policy that we create for the good of European citizens , which , of course , we can accomplish by creating favourable development conditions for undertakings , for investment , innovation , and for the creation of more new jobs .
in writing . - It is known that the report stresses the fact that forests should be seen as a major contributor to climate change mitigation and adaptation , rendering necessary the reinforcement of the EU strategy for combating the factors causing their deterioration , e.g. pests , forest fires , etc .
this morning , I took the healthy option and walked into Parliament and I was dismayed to see in cars young parents , with children strapped into the back , smoking cigarettes .
in writing . - ( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , as the rapporteur quite rightly points out , for there to be a market , there must be supply and demand .
a joint and unambiguous declaration by the three largest institutions of the European Union is an exceptional opportunity to achieve a political consensus on the way in which the European Union should react to the increasingly complex crisis situations emerging around the world .
'In order to ensure better monitoring of the transposition and application of Union law , the Commission and Parliament shall endeavour to include compulsory correlation tables and a binding time limit for transposition , which , in directives , should not normally exceed a period of 2 years .
I support this resolution and endorse the observations set out in it wholeheartedly .
the European Union spends a little over 200 billion on the same .
there are long-standing problems .
however , despite successive failures , the EU and the ' social democrats ' Mandelson and Lamy are again trying to prevent the negotiations from ' coming off the rails ' , in order to safeguard and not lose the ground already gained in the negotiations .
the various national governments ' reactions were highly varied , ranging from large-scale vaccination to no vaccination at all , as in Poland .
a new era which aims to be ambitious in its capacity for initiative and in its foresight with respect to the great challenges of our time .
what is your view ?
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , for some hours the official Chinese propaganda has been saying that the situation in Tibet is under control again .
on climate change and energy , the alternative is clear : either our Member States are convinced that they must progress and set an example ahead of the Copenhagen Summit , and if so , we must make clear decisions before December to ensure reciprocity from our international partners , or they have decided that , despite worsening climatic conditions and our energy dependence , there is no need to take urgent action .
secondly , because I consider that the Ukrainian people will only suffer from participation in the European Union .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( SV ) Madam President , poverty , misery and starvation are the daily lot for the more than two billion members of the earth 's population who live on less than two dollars a day .
it is contrary to the Lisbon Strategy and undermines the fundamental rights and values of the Union .
if I had time , I would also make reference to Croatia and other countries in south-eastern Europe which urgently need to address corruption , organised crime and abuse of certain private property rights before accession , in the case of Croatia , or candidacy can be taken forward with confidence .
however , the reality is different .
the fastest way to make them whole , much more effectively and practically than all of the top-down measures , is to support civic initiatives and the activities of cultural organisations and regional institutions .
never let us say , though , that such documents should remain secret in case they cause problems .
it will be important to assess the results of cohesion policy for the period 2000 to 2006 .
the specific case to which Mrs Harkin refers is still under examination by the Turkish courts , and it is not for me to comment at this stage , but we are monitoring this case very closely .
the Commission has in fact initiated infringement procedures in the past year against 22 Member States that have not implemented the European regulations properly , including Italy , Mr Agnoletto .
unfortunately , big airports are crowded , there are very many flight delays , there is waiting time either on ground or in the air , which , on the one hand , contributes to pollution and , on the other hand , has certain social effects .
I would therefore suggest to you that the second part of the text should read : ' and therefore welcomes the decision of the European Council to deploy ' .
( FR ) Mr President , I would like to ask the Commissioner , Mrs Ferrero-Waldner , not to look on this Barcelona Process as a mere economic process .
it emphasises the role that the EGF can play in the reintegration of workers made redundant into the labour market .
I should like to see the EU push further ahead with this in the context of climate protection , and I hope that we can convince all the other major competing airlines to join this agreement .
freedom of religion : at my niece 's school , for the first time this year , there was no nativity play .
it is true that we need energy , but we need clean energy and safe energy .
that must also be prepared for the climate change negotiations .
I have one thing to say about official development assistance : the Commission 's position on the matter is very clear .
we must not forget that this is our third attempt , I repeat , our third attempt to obtain a resolution on the death penalty at the United Nations General Assembly following our two failures in 1994 and 1999 .
once again , this must encourage us to reflect in order to prepare more effective strategies in the future .
we know of your struggle , Commissioner , even within the Commission , against lobbies and interests that undermine the EU 's efforts to be a world leader in the fight against climate change .
I have voted in favour of this report .
on other issues - diversification of energy sources at European level and creation of a single energy market - we are right at the beginning of our journey .
I firmly believe that it has a decent chance .
in the new EU Member States , including Lithuania , in many apartment blocks , around 60 % of thermal energy is wasted .
finally , Commissioner , we are against the full liberalisation of planting rights from 2014 onwards for wines with designations of origin and geographical indications , and we can endorse the rapporteur 's proposal that the new reform should enter into force on 1 August 2009 .
9 .
for them , profits must be had at any price .
10 .
the sanctions to be applied if manufacturers fail to comply with this regulation must be scrupulously fulfilled .
do we wish to ensure that all of our companies and our fellow citizens contribute within their means to the financing of civic life ?
instead , they should focus on establishing platforms that involve both employers and workers , universities , businesses and local and regional organisations , in order to offer opportunities in the educational and professional training sector , and to ensure that there is good mobility and that qualifications are recognised .
let us be honest about this .
on 11 June 2007 the Council adopted Regulation ( EC ) No 643 / 2007amending Regulation ( EC ) No 41 / 2006 as concerns the recovery plan for bluefin tuna recommended by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas .
I also welcome the adoption in May 2008 by the Turkish parliament of the package of employment measures intended to promote employment opportunities for women , young people and the disabled .
I can tell you that the entire Commission - the full College of Commissioners , including President Barroso - is in favour of a strong second pillar in the future common agricultural policy .
the European Parliament has adopted a resolution in favour of a general ban on the use of cyanide mining technologies by the end of 2011 .
therefore , I would like to ask when the Commission will present the appropriate report , and what action will it take on the basis of the analysis made ?
that is where the European Union can fail badly .
membership of committees and delegations : see Minutes
the free movement of people provides EU citizens with the potential to take up employment in another Member State .
on the contrary , I would like to say that Belgium made an excellent job of handling the trialogue between the Commission , the Council and Parliament .
democracy and development will not be crushed by the brutal repression of widespread protests in September of this year , or by mass imprisonments .
all this will be considered in the evaluation and it will be under the umbrella of the internal security strategy that we will put forward to you within a short time .
during the Fourth Republic , a practice known as ' unseating ' was used .
however , I am more confident than my fellow Liberal Members from Germany that we will probably succeed in amending this provision during the negotiations with the Council .
so that is also part of the problem , and that procedure needs to be quicker .
we are meeting the wishes of the many citizens who have asked us in countless letters and e-mails to take action in this area .
the Commission has brought a case against the Irish authorities and yet , by the time anything happens , there will be a motorway , probably there for already three or four years , and all the destruction will have happened .
they look over the water to Ireland and see that the people of Ireland have been asked to vote twice on the document when we have been denied the possibility to even vote once .
we continue to be faced with one of the world 's most repressive and closed regimes , even if there has been some progress and even if we do need to find the right strategy to support this .
it is an economic recovery plan that will have to be paid for by tomorrow 's taxpayers .
as you all know , the issues of nuclear power and human rights greatly limit the scope of our activities in Iran .
this service can survive by public funding that may be collected via a separate radio and television tax and that may be topped up with membership contributions to broadcasting organisations , as has been the case in the Netherlands for a long time .
the UK , like many other countries - not all - is recovering from that recession , and that is due to the government intervening when the market failed and not standing on the sidelines as some would have us do .
migration management policy should indeed be effectively combined with European development cooperation policy , and should take into account aspects concerning security , regional cooperation in the Southern countries and cooperation agreements with countries of origin and of transit .
voting time ( continued )
we put in the oral question and we have also drafted a joint resolution about the Lithuanian law , which is allegedly about the protection of minors .
this just goes to show that the controls currently in place need to be updated and a new approach adopted as far as the duties of customs officials are concerned .
you want to bring the parliaments closer together in order to bring citizens closer together .
the report is as vague about how to achieve that as the EU Commission was in its Green Paper on urban mobility .
this is the Europe 2020 Strategy .
the Member States fail to control practices in respect of human rights , thereby undermining the credibility of EU foreign policy in the world .
it is customary in parliamentary assemblies to vote first , as Mr Capoulas Santos requested , on the amendments furthest removed from the initial text .
the debate is closed .
to this end , there must be a European proposal to simplify the work of young researchers via organic links with business in order to meet their development needs .
in writing . - ( RO ) Mr. President , dear colleagues , first of all , I would like to congratulate the Rapporteur for his work .
the next item is Question Time ( B6-0457 / 2008 ) .
they were rejected .
after years of institutional wrangling , Europe needs to refocus its efforts on delivering results in areas where it can add value to the work of the Member States , and where our fellow citizens expect the nations of Europe to cooperate .
there are 11 Member States , all old Member States , paying for the entire net difference .
national authorities will have an opportunity to comment on the ruling and describe how they assess the behaviour of airlines to passengers in the event of cancellation in the light of this precedent and also the practical consequences of the ruling .
elections have winners and losers .
these are some of the fundamental rules which you , as you have said , do not want to call into question .
equally , I could join the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats , but I can guarantee that it would not increase that group 's political coherence - by no means .
this is pure hypocrisy and is aimed at ushering in a new ' superstate ' over the heads of the peoples .
I note especially the proposal for , and I quote , ' an EU-wide uniform size labelling system for clothing and footwear ' .
in the draft resolution you raise a number of issues of relevance for the ECB .
this school and its facilities , together with the nearby University of Life Sciences in Lublin and also the agricultural research institutes in Puławy , could be used as the basis for the establishment of a European School of Beekeeping .
this may influence Europe 's whole economic situation and competitiveness .
( PL ) Mr President , some words of acknowledgement for the rapporteur , Mr Blokland ; as always , once again he has done some excellent work .
we have a distribution network for electricity which was designed to be one-way and now requires technical adjustments in order to become two-way and be able to handle decentralised electricity generation .
however , in general terms , the text was good enough to be supported by us at the end ( with no enthusiasm , that is true ) .
I voted in favour of the report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on Alternative Investment Fund Managers , since I believe that fund managers must be registered and must respect certain basic rules of conduct .
I would like to pay tribute to the work of Commissioner Kroes , and I support the composition of her group of monitoring experts .
the second area I want to mention is the Western Balkans , especially Kosovo .
as stated by Parliament 's motion for a resolution , without a genuine political reconciliation process in the region , the European Union operation , planned to last only 12 months , cannot sustainably contribute to peace in the region .
the EU 's commitment to human rights is conveyed during our regular political contacts and , in particular , during our human rights dialogue with the Chinese authorities .
some speakers have already pointed out in this debate that , it is all too often forgotten that the purchasing power problem also constitutes a problem for Europe .
the European Institute of Innovation and Technology will make an important contribution to the transfer of technology from science to industry and to enterprises .
we agreed on the priorities very quickly and together managed to introduce rational elements and points of departure .
relaxing the introduction procedure for alien species in aquaculture must be balanced by a strict definition of the rules with which closed aquaculture facilities will have to comply , in accordance with the outcome of the IMPASSE project , as well as being subject to supervision , the aim being to ensure that the technical requirements proposed by specialists will all be properly taken into account and observed .
on the basis of these premises , I voted for the Irish nominee for Chair of the European Securities and Markets Authority who , as is stipulated , is subject to strict rules regarding independence .
determined in going out and making our case with key partners worldwide , explaining why we cannot let our ambition slip .
I say ' no ' to these zealots .
finally , the term ' tax haven ' must also , in view of the point at issue here , be regarded as important .
according to media reports , this campaign was supported by the United Nations , even though psychologists confirm that growing up with a father AND a mother as role models is of key importance for a child 's development .
what is more , in July Vietnam took charge of the presidency of the UN Security Council .
secondly , the commitments of individuals countries to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20 % by 2020 , along with the need to buy emission permits , will result in a significant increase in the price of electricity and heating for individuals and even higher costs for the industrial sector , especially in the new Member States , such as Poland , where the energy sector relies on coal .
do not fight globalisation ; join it by encouraging competition within the EU and learn how to compete on world markets .
this is particularly important in Belgium , a small country with a relatively large inflow of foreign patients .
however , we need to table a proposed amendment to this directive in order to guarantee an overall unity of intent within Europe and also greater protection for laboratory guinea pigs used for scientific purposes connected with human and animal health .
this supervisory role will guarantee a truly democratic control of the service , which is of paramount importance to me .
although he does recognise the benefits of such agreements in principle , the rapporteur does not forego a differentiated approach and , on several occasions , calls for a constructive dialogue between the Commission and Parliament .
ES un gran placer contar con su presencia .
the European Commission did not want that , the Council of Ministers did not want that , the majority of the Conservatives and the Liberals did not want that .
a number of decisions made by the Pakistani authorities on questions of religious liberties are worthy of respect , but it would seem that further measures are now needed .
however , I object to the creation of European Union bodies that would exercise power over Member States in areas that are wider than necessary to deal with this problem .
that is why the European Parliament , by a large majority , adopted the Estrela report .
finally , I would emphasize two more ideas : the problems of vulnerable communities from any point of view , either ethnic and / or geographical , could be treated more efficiently if there were cooperation in this field between the local , regional , national and European authorities .
worse , nearly 25 % of young people under 15 have reading difficulties .
I will mention a few examples : the strengthening of judicial independence , a special commission of inquiry to investigate and analyse the processes that led to the collapse of the Icelandic banking system , the creation of a joint Parliamentary Committee between the European Union and Iceland , the situation regarding entry into the euro area , increased experience in the renewable energy sector .
I would like to pick up on an issue raised by Mr Verhofstadt .
to date , Europe has spent , and judging by the results , wasted , some of these priority funds established by Lisbon .
I believe that the transport sector needs renewable energy sources , not only heating and cooling and electricity .
the work of the Plenary and initiative reports ( amendment of the Rules of Procedure ) ( debate )
indeed , I would go further and say that large-scale producers today are usually vertically integrated under contractual terms with the processing sector , and that the prophylactic use of antibiotics is usually prohibited or restricted under quality assurance schemes .
all the issues which have been raised today are of course the right ones .
the Commission is well aware that Spanish tomato growers have to compete with Moroccan growers under unfair conditions , as they must bear much higher production costs stemming from the strict European standards on quality , food safety and workplace safety , as well as restrictions on pesticides which are not required of third countries .
the Commission is working hard to create conditions for partner countries which will enable them to come together and to plot a course towards comprehensive regional agreements .
number three : media registration .
efforts still need to be made in this area .
the CFP has become a bureaucratic nightmare with over regulation and micro-management plaguing the industry while achieving little in the way of positive outcomes .
written explanations of vote
let me remind you that , on 8 March 2006 , the Commission issued what we called a ' road map for equality between men and women ' , outlining the eradication of all forms of gender-based violence as a priority objective .
James Tobin first proposed it following the USA 's destruction of the Bretton Woods system .
( EL ) Commissioner , almost every civilisation in the history of Europe has been based on the sea .
I am glad the Union supported Poland in its dispute with Russia over the export of our products . I am confident that Poland will in future years help to develop a positive relationship between Russia and the European Union .
this in turn requires intervention in the market and improved marketing in the sector , improving the first-sale price , increasing pay for work by fishermen , reducing the margins of middlemen and promoting fair distribution of added value throughout the value chain of this sector .
the market price is determined in the wholesale power exchanges .
we therefore urge you to evaluate the social impact in terms of employment , in terms of the funding of retirement pension , in terms of social protection , in terms of the funding of public services , of the measures you are preparing to take .
I consider that many irregularities from 2003-2006 would have the support of changing the rule of presentation of the Framework Programme 6 , for instance , as compared to Framework 5 .
the free trade area between the EU and Mercosur , like the Doha Round at the WTO , has become caught up in issues of trade in agricultural goods .
an increasing amount of national legislation , with the principle of public access we have in Sweden , for example , is now being made at EU level .
I believe that the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund is justified in this case .
the first is the exceptional mobilisation of the aid machinery and the world of solidarity that sent thousands of volunteers to support the people struck by the first stage of the emergency .
the use of new technology must be constantly perfected , especially through the creation of wider Internet access to encourage recourse to such new learning methods .
it should be noted that special attention should be paid and financing should be allocated to transport , which is a crucial factor in implementing territorial , economic and social cohesion .
( PL ) Mr President , Egypt is an important economic and commercial partner of the European Union .
( PL ) Madam President , it has to be said that the hypocrisy and double standards in this debate and in the criticism of the Hungarian constitution are striking .
however , the majority of the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance remain of the opinion that penalising such people only serves to push the trafficked individual into deeper misery , because his or her activity then becomes totally illegal .
I hope that the oldest nuclear plants in France will also be shut down and decommissioned in a similar way .
we need to make this kind of speculation unattractive and bring long-term investment strategies to the fore once and for all .
obviously , measures are needed quickly to dissuade youngsters and pregnant women from drinking . one of the most effective ways may be health warnings on bottles .
Parliament and the Council exercise control , but only after the adoption of the delegated acts .
human rights are not negotiable and I hope that a majority of this House will also vote in favour of these common European human rights in our amendment .
nonetheless , to demonstrate our goodwill , we voted in November to grant discharge to the Council 's accounts - on the clear condition that changes would be made this year .
we want to be more part of Europe .
these rules have been included in the Community Code as an integral part of this Code .
- Before the vote on Amendment 30 :
we should keep things in perspective when it comes to the question of what the EU should regulate and what it should not .
we also need to promote the 25 % reduction of administrative burden indicated in the SBA , which would contribute to the effectiveness of the SBA , would counteract any protectionist economic policies of Member States and stimulate business across the EU .
however , Mrs Miguelez Ramos emphasises the importance of political decisions being founded on science and long-term sustainability and not primarily on the fishing industry 's short-term interests , and this is something that I see as a good thing .
we should neither praise nor blame all Irish people when only half of them went to vote and the Government showed its indifference as well .
particular attention should be paid to the most vulnerable groups of people , including children and adolescents .
in this way we will , hopefully , avoid a delay like the one that occurred in the introduction of Euro 5 for passenger cars .
we must not throw good money after bad .
thirdly , I fully subscribe to the report which recommends participation by representatives of the Union in the bodies of the convention on an equal footing with those of the contracting parties .
consequently , the whole package of the 26 priority alignment proposals could be ready for adoption before the end of this year .
Mr President , the International Fund for Ireland has played a major role in peace and reconciliation in my country .
it is important that the Member States and the EU work more effectively together with industry and the service enterprises in order to make better use of the freight logistics .
Madam President , something absolutely unprecedented happened in this Chamber today .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , with this directive , we are taking a huge step towards combating human trafficking in an efficient manner .
the simple fact of the matter is that we use too much on our planet .
there have been recurring violations of human rights in China , and we cannot omit to condemn them .
I would like to warn that we are extending the scope of this directive at a point in time where we have hardly any experience of how transposal of the current directive has gone .
it thus contributes to the dissemination and enforcement of human rights in all societies .
closure of the sitting
I am not questioning the strategic importance of these projects , but I cannot fail to highlight that they have been falling short of expectations .
we expect the new European Commission to be the engine of the European Union .
I call on the European Union to invest as a matter of urgency in the implementation of the global partnership project , which will enable actions for combating famine to be better coordinated .
finally , I am very interested in the proposal to introduce the voluntary collection of tourism statistics regarding the habits of people with disabilities or restricted mobility and the subsequent establishment of pilot projects in order to improve such persons ' participation in tourism .
he already has a ' maxi-mandate ' and , therefore , he may accept a mini-Treaty .
Mr President , in all fairness , I believe the Swedish Presidency can be satisfied with its achievements , and I think that Sweden can be proud of the performance of the Swedish Presidency .
I congratulate Mrs Oomen-Ruijten for this excellently drafted report .
it is equally essential that all remaining political prisoners be set free - more than 2 000 of them , according to Mr Posselt and Mr Preda .
in writing . - An improved quality of life through the creation of secure and better quality jobs and ensuring access to infrastructure of all types - be this transport , social or educational , or relating to research , development and innovation - has been the main reason for the public supporting the process of European integration .
it has its Parliament , its President and its Foreign Affairs Adviser , and now it wants the political parties to go with that .
therefore , it is very important that you also use the new Euronest and all other means in order to really instil our ideas .
the debate is closed .
he hopes that once the results of his efforts are visible , the spreads will decrease .
it is true that Europe and China may disagree and have different views on some issues , such as on human rights and democracy .
but I can see that what you told us is a really important step and we actually expect more active measures from the Commission , obviously with the full backing of the European Parliament , as this matter is an extremely serious one for small and medium-sized businesses , especially in the context of the current financial crisis .
since then , the National League for Democracy has been banned .
lastly , I would like to highlight the work of the European Commission , and particularly Ignacio Bercero 's contribution , for which I am most grateful .
even though , at this point , we are only talking about a recasting of the guidelines , I would nevertheless like to take the opportunity to mention a project that is particularly problematic for Austria .
it is on this latter point that Parliament must have a real discussion .
in this age of digital information , info-exclusion may become a new form of discrimination and inequality .
in this respect , health systems such as ours quite clearly demand recognition of the fact that a visiting patient should not have more rights than an indigenous patient from the Member State where treatment is taking place .
we can usually judge Russia 's sincerity by its degree of commitment to resolving conflicts like this one , but the fact is that in Transnistria , as well as in Georgia and Ukraine , Russia cannot resist interfering .
I apologise for the interruption .
they need international support to preserve their culture and identity .
unfortunately , the proposal was defeated in the vote in committee , but now the Socialist Group in the European Parliament has resubmitted it so that we can vote on it here in plenary .
on the other hand , the Hungarian minorities in the surrounding countries , Slovakia included , are growing .
we will have modern and up-to-date regulations in an area where development is very rapid .
at the moment , from the perspective of the Slovenian Presidency , it is difficult to speculate on the nature of those effects , but they are very likely and must be expected to arise .
where , then , is the European Union ?
I congratulate the rapporteur and John Bowis for a job well done .
price rises are felt most by low-income families , who spend a significant proportion of their budget on food .
it is nonetheless important to share information with Parliament and the public on the most important issues at stake , given the progress of the negotiations in this instance .
no .
unanimity in the Council is required for the proposal to be approved .
the approval of this resolution is a first , indispensable step towards the greater participation of citizens in Europe .
if this is true , the situation is serious , because an apolitical concept , such as the intercultural dialogue , is consciously politicized for obscure reasons , thus damaging the image of a European Union Member State .
I have here the text of 11 March , which will be approved tomorrow and the day after .
one thousand job losses in Paris is bad , but in a small town like Limavady it is catastrophic .
please be courageous and make Europe strong , both inside and out .
there is , however , an area of Council of Europe competence which would benefit from review , and I refer to the European Convention on Human Rights ( ECHR ) .
the determination to promote relations with Latin American countries could pave the way to resolving the whole issue of European investors ' rights , in an appropriate manner .
so I would argue , on that basis , that it is part of our responsibility , or our co-responsibility , not to reduce investment in Africa , and I would stress again , echoing one of the speakers , that investment can be sustained through exchanges of expertise .
Article 10 under Title II covers anti-discrimination .
on the eve of the coming into force of the Lisbon Treaty , the Council is acknowledging , as it were , that Parliament is the only body which is elected because Parliament works openly .
these are : non-discrimination , consultation and remedy , transparency and cost-relatedness of security charges , and establishment of a supervisory authority .
many airlines want to see as much cost transparency as possible from the other side , the airports , and a regulatory authority that would ultimately set the prices , along with the introduction of the ' single till ' system .
Member States have shown different degrees of willingness to take former inmates .
scientists estimate that replacing these natural services and dealing with consequences such as unemployment and migration would cost 7 % of gross income worldwide .
for that reason , talking about a consolidated package simply is not something that is feasible and realisable .
I urge the Commission to closely monitor the effects of increased biofuel production in the European Union and in third countries in terms of changes in land use , food product prices and access to food .
the men and women who are today involved in establishing inter-generational solidarity networks deserve recognition .
undoubtedly , one of the most important CFSP matters is the EU 's increasing energy dependence on sources of supply and transit routes and the need to curb the EU 's energy dependence on third countries .
question No 3 : the Commission has also launched a study to evaluate Member States ' legislation and the situation concerning trafficking in human beings .
these should not be based on transitional criteria or circumstantial or artificial wealth trends .
I do not think we should revisit the rules adopted by European decision makers , including the European Parliament .
the result has been to establish ESAs , which are fully scrutinised by this Parliament .
5 .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( ES ) Mr President , I would like to thank Mrs Barsi-Pataky for having such an open attitude , including all those of us who have participated in the process .
in other words , centralised control is crucial .
in writing . - I supported the Vălean report on EU citizens ' rights .
active support is required for job creation .
in his view , when the Commission exercises its right of initiative , it is engaging in populism .
there is just one point I would like to make , and that is the greater need for transparency in our financial institutions , be it at regional , national or EU level .
he said , ' Plato is dear to me , but dearer still is the truth ' .
Myanmar has a history of military dictatorship going back around 50 years , and we condemn the fact that its inhabitants have not been able to lead a normal life for half a century .
Article 317 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union provides that responsibility for implementation of the EU budget lies with the Commission , in cooperation with the Member States , and that the Court of Auditors sends Parliament and the Council a statement on the reliability of the accounts and the regularity and legality of the underlying transactions .
according to the Treaty of Lisbon , restrictive measures will also continue to be used as a tool within the common foreign and security policy by means of Council Decisions in accordance with Article 29 of the treaty .
to this end , it is important that the national authorities responsible for its application submit periodic reports on their activities .
however , we must deplore the terms of this debate and its unacceptable position against Cuba , leaving aside the grave consequences of the economic , trade and financial embargo imposed by the United States on Cuba and the detention in American prisons of five Cuban citizens who only wanted to defend their country .
those in favour of taking such a line , rejected the amendment tabled by our Group denouncing the European Court of Justice rulings that legitimise wage dumping and restrict trade union rights .
attitudes towards further enlargement are unenthusiastic , mostly influenced by non-enlargement-related issues and partly related to the lack of information about enlargement .
we should ensure in particular that we do not suggest to people resident in the EU who have not attained citizenship that their views are not necessary or not welcome .
lastly , we must ensure that freedom , democracy and rights are the fundamental elements that govern the application of this agreement .
that concludes this item .
for this very reason the Council recently adopted measures to promote the use and production of second-generation biofuels , in other words those biofuels whose production does not compete with food production .
we have a crucial year in front of us ahead of Durban .
today , the crisis has changed many of these perceptions .
in writing . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I voted in favour of Mrs Starkevičiūtė 's report .
you talked about the excesses , Mr Schulz , that are the practice in one country - it is not my place to mention it - but if we all agree on a minimum corpus for the cost , those excesses that you pointed out will no longer take place , and , Mr Cohn-Bendit , I am sure that Mr Daul would agree , why would the European Parliament not be involved in this ?
how , then , can we talk about making it easy for women to return to work ?
the Council is sitting on a proposal in selected areas at the moment .
every issue , even the tiniest one , to do with human rights or press freedom will be scrutinised here .
finally , the Treaty of Lisbon will make Europe more democratic , by giving far greater weight to this Parliament and also by giving the national parliaments and the citizens a greater say in European affairs .
based on its rich cultural , historical and religious traditions , Tibet certainly deserves autonomy .
as I see it , the crucial issue in this country is that unfortunately - and here I would echo what Doris Pack has said - the nationalists often still seem to be setting the agenda .
maintaining this symbol as the headquarters of the European Parliament costs hundreds of millions of euros each year , but we have respect for this symbol .
of the 156 million people in Pakistan , 95 % are Muslims , around 3 % Christians and around 2 % Hindus .
the exchange of good practice would be unimaginable without encouragement from Community institutions .
I have one more point to make concerning Parliament 's capacity to see the development of strategies .
Campania could make a huge leap overnight towards becoming a recycling community .
in the past , this was about the single market , single currency and enlargement .
judging from the debates which have been held in this Chamber , we can put a label on it : gender inequality .
I very much welcome the fact that only funds that have already been made available in the Structural Funds ( around EUR 1 billion for the period 2007-2013 ) can be used within the framework of the Strategy for the Danube Region - in other words , that no additional funding is being allocated and that neither new institutions nor new legislation are needed .
these and many other things certainly merit our admiration .
we are fighting for this moratorium to be supported by the European Union .
the money will be used to re-train workers , help start businesses and provide people with job placements , which are very necessary .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , if what you are calling for is further development and harmonisation of the internal market , then we need to have a common set of rules .
these direct impacts on supply and demand are significant contributors to agricultural commodity prices and to the increases that we have seen .
the European Parliament has been asked to give its verdict within a particularly short timeframe on what are , nonetheless , very sensitive matters .
it is therefore necessary to take concrete steps to protect and promote the fundamental freedoms of individuals when surfing the web .
however , I find it hard to say anything positive about the end result of this report .
with the adoption of this package , business and SMEs will find it easier , as Mr Stubb said , to sell their products - common household goods , bicycles , ladders , tanks , containers etc . - while consumers should reap the benefit of a wider choice of high-quality and safe products .
we therefore engage on Iran , the Middle East , Afghanistan , the Balkans and elsewhere , as well as in multilateral fora .
the Commission will decide on any necessary action once the responses are available and have been analysed .
Mr Nattrass made some very personal remarks against me before sneaking out of the Chamber without listening to the debate .
without doubt , the matter of immigration is once again becoming a serious domestic policy issue in some of the Member States , and is exacerbated by the economic crisis .
this is designed to enrich capital ; it hides behind fanciful blandishments , admonitions , exhortations and homilies about the respect for diversity .
my group would also agree that an interinstitutional agreement would be useful to avoid the sort of arbitrary use of codecision that we have seen on occasion , that sort of arbitrary use at the behest of the Council when many of us felt , because things could not be got through by unanimity , Parliament was being used as a sort of alibi .
we are aware that other groups are making the same request , and rightly so .
the debate is closed .
( applause )
there are also problems with Natura 2000 .
Kosovo is a unique case .
as I said , this has been approved by political groups in the past .
Madam President , I voted for the report .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , it is a sign of the importance that this House attaches to our strategic relationship with China that this debate has been scheduled during your inaugural session .
it would also have been a very questionable interpretation of the health and environment legislation if we had continued exporting when on the one hand we are laying down a new safety landmark by way of the latest pesticide certification , while on the other we are doing the very opposite with our exports .
we called that the Community method .
in writing . - Statistics show that unfortunately , Roma are the most hated and discriminated ethnic minority in Europe .
there is not a single indication for this ban to prevail for non-ruminant ...
if we do , we shall lose touch , as we are doing now , by abusing the word ' marriage ' in applying it to unions that are not marriage .
the chaos of daily declarations on Greece by national politicians and stakeholders is only adding to the confusion and creating more speculation on the markets .
Parliament has more than once called for regulation of the financing of security charges , but without success .
does it know that farmers in New Zealand are not now subsidised but are doing very well and that only 3 % of them went under when subsidies were withdrawn ?
intensive negotiations are being conducted on the Association Agreement , with excellent results .
this will have undeniable consequences for the credibility of the large amounts of criticism that will still have to be made later on .
that is a very good question .
if the poverty of aspiration implicit in a minimalist treaty is reflected in your poverty of enthusiasm ?
until the responsibility for this crisis is made clear in resolutions of this Parliament , then the resolutions themselves cannot be effective .
a number of landmark reforms have been carried out to date .
like most of you , I am persuaded that our efforts to combat tax fraud and evasion and to increase tax cooperation are worthwhile .
we have a budget that provides extra resources for Frontex , thereby permitting essential responses to pressing challenges , and we have a budget that funds the common foreign and security policy , albeit only for 2008 , and makes it possible to draw on the flexibility instrument for CFSP purposes .
this hysteria is cleverly maintained through the speeches by the President of the Commission , and also by the former President of Parliament , presenting us with the unimaginable cataclysms which they claim will result from climate change .
passengers will have 12 basic rights applying to any length of journey .
once this is done , we will be able to make progress in negotiations .
( SL ) Commissioner , I congratulate you on your new post and I hope that you will be successful in this area .
passengers must part with their cosmetics .
the time has now come for Europeans to learn lessons from these events and to call for radical reforms of European governance .
so perhaps we should ask ourselves whether we are sufficiently determined to do differently this time .
I would ask you to accept our intention to vote in favour of the report in the final vote .
if we want to bring this financial aspect under control , and this is vital for the economic stability of our countries , we need to be able - and it is your role , Mr Barroso , to provide this impetus - to set clear goals , clear measures and to show a clear determination in regard to good economic coordination .
secondly , we need it to be a requirement to report all of the results of feed tests , and these must also be produced during the relevant checks .
the Lithuanian authorities are in the process of considering these changes .
let us be very honest .
as a rule SMEs have a great capacity for initiative and adaptability since they are not stifled by bureaucracy and are normally run by entrepreneurs and managers who are highly committed to their work of wealth creation .
could you give us an analysis of that , now , or in the near future , or in your action plan ?
( applause )
we have already taken measures to improve convergence and cooperation between supervisors .
in this way , we have managed to produce a report with a broad consensus on an important subject .
. - ( RO ) Communism is a deceitful philosophy .
therefore , I believe that the system of yearly fines for non-compliance with these rules , as proposed in the report , should be supported and , above all , strictly applied .
however , in order to realise them we also need a new , stronger legal basis , in other words we need a Reform Treaty .
therefore , the decision to include certain countries in this liberalisation of visa requirements is based on the merits of each individual country .
what price ?
since most appliances sold in shops belong to category A , clear information about the energy savings generated from the use of the appliance is lost and the manufacturer loses the motivation to produce an energy-efficient appliance .
and I can tell you , if we re-open the distribution of money between the envelopes and Member States , it will be like opening Pandora 's box , and I have no more money available than the present budget of approximately EUR 1.3 billion every year for the wine sector .
I voted in favour of the important resolution on the livestock sector in the hope of improving the lot of livestock farmers and the whole sector , which is in crisis due to strong speculation for a rise in animal feed prices .
he will not be elected !
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , the ALDE Group is of the opinion that Laos and Vietnam are no democracies .
it will not : on the contrary , it will result in deflation .
the aim of this policy is to do away with physical , administrative and regulatory obstacles to cohesion , and to reduce the ' border effect ' between territories and regions in order to enable them to address their shared challenges together , whether those challenges are territorial ( services , infrastructure , urban and regional planning ) , global ( globalisation , climate change ) , economic or societal .
secondly , is the European public debt crisis deteriorating before our very eyes , as Mr Giegold describes ?
what might work - and this is also mentioned in the Commission proposal - is if a coordinator was appointed for each cross-border project who could mediate in the area of interconnections and could get things moving .
I support the final form of the report on governance and partnership in the Single Market , and especially its key priorities .
in fact , I have brought some with me this evening just to remind us what some toys look like .
this was an excellent result .
the organisation of public debates and consultations with stakeholders , together with the submission of reports to national parliaments for opinions are further positive measures in this sense .
the EU has required each Member State to implement a stimulus package corresponding to just over 1 % of its GNP .
Israeli must fulfil its international obligations , such as the Geneva Convention , to guarantee the flow of humanitarian assistance , humanitarian aid and essential services , and to open up the borders .
however , that is just one side of the coin .
control of exports has a large impact on EU trade policy .
improving access to the European market for goods originating from such countries must take this aspect into account , otherwise many spheres of manufacturing in Europe will be routinely eliminated .
the European summit really cannot reach any other conclusion .
( applause )
President-in-Office . - ( SL ) The Presidency of the Council welcomes the report by the rapporteur , Mr Goepel , as a very measured and resounding contribution to the debate .
we will condemn authoritarian regimes which use force and persecute democratic organisations just because those organisations do not share the regime 's views .
to attack these communities is to undermine our most fundamental values .
explanations of vote
it is better to have a dissatisfied passenger who is alive than a passenger who , unfortunately , dies on board .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Mr President , I thank the Commissioner for coming and presenting the latest position of the Commission on visa issues for the Ukraine and Belarus .
I have been very active in the discussions in Parliament because I truly believe that the Stockholm Programme is the best way forward to a citizen-centred Europe : a Europe for citizens , with the people .
passengers living with disabilities , elderly people and families with small children are even more vulnerable in such exceptional situations , and this has been the case now as well .
in Bosnia-Herzegovina it took at least 10 000 for peace negotiations to begin , for peacekeepers to arrive on site and for disarmament to begin .
as a German I have to say that I find the conduct of the German Government cynical .
oral questions and written declarations ( submission ) : see Minutes
( PL ) Mr President , I wholeheartedly support the report by Mr Peterle on behalf of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , entitled ' Together for Health : a Strategic Approach for the EU 2008-2013 ' .
draft agreements with Jordan , Morocco and Egypt are already in place , which also cover trade in agricultural products .
according to global trade rules , imports of food products from third countries might be suspended if they present a serious threat to animal or public health .
this is my opinion on item 9 of this resolution .
in the Subcommittee on Security and Defence , we spoke many times about how we must learn from mistakes or from certain shortcomings so that these missions function better in future .
we had believed that our successes in past decades had eliminated the threats related to this serious public health concern .
we all remember that , until the Hampton Court summit of October 2005 , there were even doubts that Europe could have a common strategy on immigration .
yet , the European Central Bank has just threatened to raise interest rates if this demand , however legitimate , is met , despite the fact that profits have never been so high , as the experts acknowledge .
we must change the old system of state-owned monopolies with great privileges and no interoperability .
if we want to exercise influence in favour of democracy and the defence of human rights in Africa and Asia , we must first address those issues near at hand , on the Union 's own doorstep .
we therefore need a different method of working in Parliament , one where our work and our decisions are brought into the open in a genuine spirit of true democracy .
the South Caucasus is a very interesting area which has been a constant topic of discussion in Europe for two hundred years now .
in writing . - While every effort must be made to find a solution to the situation in Gaza , this resolution at best will contribute nothing and at worst will have a negative impact .
one of the advantages of being late is that you can benefit from the latest technology .
it can help achieve unity effectively in a world of diversity .
on Monday , here in the European Parliament , a decision was taken to vote today on a document that some of us have no opportunity to read in consolidated form in our own language .
these include the US and of course Japan , China and India as well as other big countries and large-scale polluters .
the other condition mentioned in the question is an independent review of sectoral collective bargaining .
( FR ) Mr President , following the dismantling of the ' jungle ' camp in Calais at the end of September , I wish to denounce here the organisation , by France and the United Kingdom , of forced returns to Afghanistan , a country in total chaos .
my proposal involves the use of commercial banks as simple intermediaries , agents for granting credit and micro-credits from public funds to economic agents and entrepreneurs who , without funding , are also vulnerable to the risk of bankruptcy .
others have not , as was the case with the last referendum , since we were not invited .
before I close , I would like to mention , and indeed to emphasise , the positive atmosphere that prevailed in our meetings with the European Parliament .
although Małopolska is ranked fourth in the country in terms of GDP , unemployment is a problem there - and it mainly affects the rural populace .
we are also anticipating with interest the legislative initiative on smart energy networks .
European countries are becoming the willing victims of a relentless global competitor with the instrument to destruct our livelihoods .
we call for the release of Mrs Saberi .
a total of 22 EU Member States have recognised Kosovo and only five have not done so , but the discussion on visas with Kosovo has not even started .
in addition , you are of course all aware of the Erasmus grants , which are still applicable .
I would stress that this is an unfinished legislative process in the national parliament with which the European Parliament is trying to interfere .
Madam President , this is an important matter .
it is the essential issue for this region and it is essential for the European Union , since the European Union 's very raison d 'être is peace .
this is an excellent opportunity to find out where the role of the Commission is limited and where it is challenged , and what the clear purposes of the Commission 's policy are .
I am glad that by means of the Commission Communication and the report drafted by my colleague Goepel we have identified several solutions to enhance the common agricultural policy and to make the people in rural areas believe that this policy is for their own good and not only a set of bureaucratic provisions drafted by some offices in Brussels .
we must identify mechanisms - even gradual mechanisms - to avoid sanctions - I have almost finished , Mr President - but we can only do this if we respect the legality of the clauses and written agreements that the EU has signed .
if Amendment 1 is compatible with Amendment 51 , as I believe it is , the Italian delegation will vote in favour of Amendment 1 , but we do need this clarification .
that will give us common ground in order , together , to negotiate with the Chinese .
discriminatory tax systems applied by Member States in favour of players can result in distortions of competition .
it offers a vital opportunity for the leaders of both the industrialised world and the emerging economies to work together on a common agenda for immediate economic stability and longer-term recovery .
with that in mind , we have supported the creation of the European Air Capacity Observatory under the auspices of the Commission .
I worked on the report concerning the draft decision on a joint framework for placing goods onto the market and I focused my amendment proposals on increasing the responsibility of importers , reducing the administrative burden on SMEs , retaining the new approach as the basic framework for placing products onto the market and creating and using European standards in a more flexible way .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( SL ) Mrs Goudin 's question is not covered by the Council 's competences .
two or three experimental CCS facilities should be built on the territory of Poland immediately .
however , the Innovation Union will only be a success if it is implemented jointly with the Member States and the regions .
( PT ) Mr President , Mr Wathelet , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the 2011 budget which Parliament is proposing is ambitious , intelligent and respects the commitments which it has taken on in a rigorous and realistic way .
we would therefore be making a bad decision for the environment and a bad decision for future European jobs .
during the course of last year a number of worrying reports reached me .
the maintenance and practical application of this knowledge is essential both in connection with the operation of power plants and , for a long time afterwards , in connection with their closure .
I would like to express the hope that , in order to achieve these ambitious objectives , the European Commission will propose introducing appropriate support instruments not just at EU level , but also in Member States .
food needs to be healthy , last a long time , taste good and cost as little as possible .
in writing . - ( RO ) The Commission 's Report refers to the depopulation of rural areas , against the background of the absence of workplaces except for agriculture or due to poor living conditions .
I fully endorse what Mr Doorn has said .
my goal is to do this together with the Council and with the EU 's other three institutions , so that the institutions can speak with one voice and be a clear partner in this .
with this resolution , we are ready to take responsibility for European agriculture .
9 .
the requests are again accompanied by a whole series of ambiguities .
on the same day , the proceedings were suspended on the grounds that Ágnes Hankiss enjoys parliamentary immunity as a Member of the European Parliament .
however , I do not see this as a conflict of interest .
a requirement should be introduced to make investigations last less than 12 months and extend them by a maximum of 6 months .
what we can see is that a great deal is being said about the Roma minority , various programmes and platforms are being created , but the results are limited .
in addition to the current programmes and incentives , innovation will also be promoted through a series of initiatives which are currently being negotiated within the European Parliament and the Council .
I have been tasked by the European Council with ensuring that our cooperation and our respect for the integrity of the European Parliament are united by clarity - whether under the Treaty of Nice or the Treaty of Lisbon - in our nomination of a candidate to the post of Commission President .
those who are participating in this debate here today will share this view , and I think that we will also be able to achieve a very large consensus in the debate .
only then will we be able to implement tourism policy effectively and protect the rights of consumers .
the objective is to eliminate as much as possible existing incentives that run counter to the objectives of energy efficiency and the reduction of carbon emissions , as well as to create incentives where appropriate to serve these objectives .
well , the Commission 's proposals did not address this issue , and the reason is that nearly all Member States insist that they are not in a position to take commitments in that regard , even though they acknowledge that public financing of aviation security should be permitted .
I am grateful to Mr Saryusz-Wolski for having the courage to present this report , which contains a number of important and innovative ideas .
on the other hand , tenderers are also protected by the introduction of the review procedure , which guarantees the awarding process is fair and no discrimination occurs .
what is more , it is still not working .
it has been evaded in many Member States , as has already been mentioned here , not just in Austria .
the European Union needs to have a coherent long-term approach because national policies are inadequate when it comes to changing the Roma 's situation .
however , in the case of industrial waste which is potentially harmful to human life and the environment , we have rules in the European Union for this .
I voted in favour of the report on European standardisation , because it increases the environmental safety valves of the current system .
better passports alone are not enough .
liberalisation is also the cause of the great environmental disaster that lies ahead unless we hasten to take decisive , enforceable measures to combat global warming .
I will give you an example to illustrate the fact that social cohesion gets destroyed in society because there is not enough control or not enough courage to exert control .
with regard to the position of the OSCE on the Hungarian media legislation , in relation to our own analysis , there is a difference of legal bases , but the OSCE was quite clear and quite right in its conclusions .
the answer in many cases is unfortunately not .
, on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( ES ) Mr President , I will read verbatim the oral amendment proposed by my group , the PSE Group :
the constitution , as it currently exists - the Dayton constitution - was a sign of stability in the 1990s , but it is no longer that today .
it is clear that a free-trade agreement will potentially benefit both sides , increasing the flow of goods and services , and enhance innovation and boost economic growth .
the reason why Mr Barroso must stay is because everything is changing , and he is the stability in a changing world .
always communicating , never having open debates and therefore , with greater reason , not having referendums .
in this respect , I think that it is appropriate to have measures in place in the areas affected by changes in delimitation , which are aimed at boosting the agricultural sector 's competitiveness and promoting diversification .
it is out of the question - yes , I have gone on for too long , but I am sure you will forgive your rapporteur , Mr President - for Europe to think about taking any urban transport-related decisions whatsoever on behalf of local authorities .
the behaviour of the German police is nothing less than harassment and it is in direct conflict with the principle of free movement of persons within the EU .
I agree with the paragraph in Britta 's report which says that clear criteria must apply to this 10 % level of biofuels in the energy mix .
national financial intermediaries were given a period of two years to provide loans , but as the report states , some financial intermediaries granted only a small portion of the loans or did not grant any at all , although the financial resources were in their accounts .
we call on you to support Amendments 22 , 23 and 24 and to vote against those points which constitute intervention in the internal affairs of a sovereign state .
that would be a project that everyone out there would understand .
we have received many more excellent proposals for fundamental frontier research than we have money to fund .
there are clearly two guilty parties when it comes to Gaza 's massive humanitarian crisis .
it is a positive step to make State aid for this sector conditional on having to meet quality social and environmental criteria , and on promoting jobs and training for seafarers from EU Member States , since the only true distortions of competition do not result from State aid , but instead from social , wage and environmental dumping .
( FR ) Mr President , Mrs Ashton , the death and disappearance of the body of Seyed Ali Mousavi , the nephew of the leader of the Iranian opposition , is one of many tragic examples that show the current malaise of the Islamic Republic of Iran .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( PT ) Madam President , Commissioner , I am going to be frank as some Members have been , some more than others .
the distinction between developed and developing countries strikes me as odd .
it is this market that is capable of producing the hydrogen cars of the future and I believe this law today , when we vote for it , is crucial to achieving that goal .
it is worth pointing out that this is possible , as has been demonstrated by the progress made in free trade agreements .
as a main importer and consumer of wood and having committed itself to halving deforestation as part of its plans to fight climate change , the EU has a responsibility in combating illegal logging and trade in illegally harvested timber products .
the Member States of the European Union borrow at a lower rate of interest and lend , give money to the mechanism and , via it to Greece , at a higher rate of interest .
it is time to stop saying : ' let 's put the problem off for a couple of years ' .
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I cannot see that making investments in poor countries more expensive is useful .
the debate is closed .
the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety voted in favour of the amendments that took greater account of the health and safety of children .
we can find best practice models in Nordic countries , and not only there .
the Romanian universal service provider is currently being restructured according to a schedule set by the Romanian Government for 2007-2010 , and preparations for liberalisation will begin only afterwards .
the three aspects of sustainable development are well known : social , economic , environmental .
the boom is over .
when we talk about how much funding is actually committed to this , I think that we will have to look at various other areas as well .
as we have significant offensive interests in agriculture , trade agreements provide new opportunities stemming from our partners ' concessions .
they are so vulnerable , and it is so sad to see that they are exposed to this danger .
the only option here is to make the effort to get to know these eastern neighbours and prepare the ground as regards legal , economic and social issues .
on the other hand , we have a government that has tried to resolve some of the problems that take away human rights in Latin America , namely poverty , illiteracy , infant mortality , availability of drinking water , and lack of title to indigenous lands .
I trust that , as the European Union , we shall maintain global leadership in this revolution .
I wonder if you would care to take this opportunity to say that you , as the deputy speaker today , confirm that this House values all opinions , be they for or against the Lisbon Treaty , and that we respect the dignity of that office of the Czech Republic .
I suspect that Mrs Georgieva 's statement would have been the same two weeks ago , before these events .
we want to get on with the vote , but as Mr Schulz was the subject of the remark , he has the floor .
public and private financial institutions must do their best to ensure that the markets work to benefit the real economy and small and medium-sized enterprises , in order to put them in a position to contribute to the economic recovery and growth in Europe .
it makes no sense to recognise global interdependence and to reject European interdependence .
( PL ) I am pleased that the question of organ donation and transplantation is a priority for the Spanish Presidency , because it can be said that this is a matter of life and death .
( NL ) Madam President , I should like to thank Mr Schwab for his commitment , as he was simply left with his back to the wall at the trialogue .
do not be surprised if I cut you off .
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we have no right to impose our view on the IASCF - this is up to the independent trustees - but we are making it our submission to improve the governance arrangements .
the promotion of foods using claims may mislead consumers and contravene scientific advice .
of course I agree with Mr Ouzký that we need a global agreement , meaning all the countries of the world participating in a comprehensive agreement and all sectors of the economy to participate in the reductions .
since yesterday , the condition of a robust mandate has been in place .
no one really does it properly .
it is also obvious that the audiovisual field is primarily the domain of the younger generation , who use television and devices operating via Internet protocols and multichannel digital television as one of their basic sources of information , together with other Internet technologies .
Mr President , my thanks to the Commissioner and to the rapporteur for the work done .
I would especially like to encourage the European Union , Mrs Ashton and Mrs Malmström to make contact with Russia and Tajikistan , because these are countries which could be very helpful , especially concerning logistics and the transportation of supplies for the population .
large economic groups and transnational companies are , as always , expected to see a profit worth millions of euros with this Free Trade Agreement .
to streamline its operations , OLAF must be guaranteed immediate and automatic access to European Union fund management data bases , as well as all data bases and important information , by the relevant EU institutions , bodies , offices and agencies .
we need a highly qualified diplomatic service which has people from every Member State so that they can enhance the representation of the EU in the world .
( SV ) I would like to begin by thanking Claudio and everyone else who made this report possible .
we cannot allow the US authorities to have a decisive influence on the Basel proposals only to not then implement them .
another request concerns a construction company in the Netherlands .
I shall miss out everything to do with China .
I have voted in favour of the Mann report because the recommendation to change the way in which pensions are financed in the original report was not adopted by the European Parliament .
it would be crazy to raise our ambitions in the current state .
will the results we achieve be positive ?
the report by Mrs Muñiz De Urquiza , on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs , on the EU as a global actor : its role in multilateral organisations .
I believe that this is a record which will not be matched in the near future .
the second case is that of the European Food Safety Agency , where our initiative is the exact opposite , that is , we recommend putting 10 % in reserve until the agency can demonstrate that it is operating appropriately .
one need only note that the rate of growth in global trade fell from 8.5 % in 2006 to 5.5 % in 2007 and was in the order of just 4 % in 2008 .
the Member who was speaking a moment ago ran over by the longest , but I allowed this because she represents Greece , and it was also the opinion of someone who lives in Greece , and this matter seemed to me to be important .
I have great sympathy for colleagues who are criticising the timetable , as distinct from the substance of what we do .
in the light of this example , I believe that it is up to Parliament to risk more than the other players , to be a striker who continually reinvents the game , taking inspiration from the new rules so as to strengthen the team 's attacking ability and to put our hypothetical centre forward - the Barroso Commission - in a position to score .
Mr President , the prison at Guantánamo Bay was a necessary creation of the United States at the time .
let me sound a warning , however , against further delays , including any that might be caused by the Council , because consumers have been waiting quite a long time now for lower repair bills and cheaper insurance premiums while these lengthy discussions have been taking place here in the House and among the Member States .
I hope that we will be able to work on these issues successfully together .
the conclusion of the Commission was that these two operations , which are so far apart in time , are not linked .
thank you very much to everybody , especially to the colleagues who took part in this very difficult process .
the proposal to set up a common register of lobbyists is a good idea , as is the threat of sanctions .
I believe that we must focus attention on this , just as we must focus attention on the major human rights issues that have emerged lately .
is a joint review of stress tests now required ?
to achieve that objective , more effective cooperation is needed .
we opened our markets to China but China does not adhere to the terms and conditions it signed up to , and we have basically taken this lying down for a number of years .
however , the countries must at least have the opportunity to do as they wish .
we have therefore made clear our support for the efforts by the United States to achieve peace .
in writing . - ( PT ) I am voting overall in favour of the proposal presented in this report .
Lisbon wanted majority decision-making to be the norm within the EU .
we must also think of the increasing energy demands of the European Union , as well as the role of coal in energy security .
the EGF should , therefore , be mobilised in order to provide a financial contribution for the application submitted by Spain , which is why I have voted in favour of Mrs Matera 's report .
if we consider forests solely as a source of renewable energy , we totally have missed the point of combining sustainable industry and environment protection .
I found one passage in this interview puzzling , however .
this mechanism , by contrast , subverts this principle , encouraging the movement of capital and putting economic power before political power and the interests of capital before the interests of countries and their peoples .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - Mr President , just for the record , I am not an author of this resolution .
it is time there was a clear definition for the production of traditional rosé wines .
we do not know today which countries will be awarded the Nobel prizes in five years ' time .
therefore , I will do everything to ensure that the Belgian and Hungarian Presidencies continue the work began by the Spanish Presidency .
without a major crisis you will never manage to create a real European democracy , a real political community .
moreover , as Europeans ' elected representatives , you reflect the dominant feeling in Europe .
the Council has also stated repeatedly that the existence of secret detention facilities , where detained persons are kept in a legal vacuum , is not in conformity with international humanitarian and human rights law .
too much information kills off European citizens .
there is also an annual reporting mechanism , and the annual report will be made public and will definitely be available to the European Parliament .
sanctions should be directed against actual people , for example with a view to restricting their movements or confiscating their assets , and not against the victims of their malicious behaviour .
we are in favour of the development and application of technologies that reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and , therefore , the levels of atmospheric gas emissions resulting from their combustion .
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her speech in Toulouse on this subject was also brilliant .
it is true that we have elements of such a policy , such as the Seventh Framework Programme , which provides the conditions to attract research and development investment .
health-related activities will contribute to tackling poverty-related diseases and reducing alarmingly high mother and child mortality rates .
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the democratic principle that all votes should have equal weight is something that cannot be applied until such time as the European Union becomes a fully federal system .
this money will hopefully go some way towards covering those costs .
if you are part of a country , I think you have rights and duties .
that said , the responsibility for our schoolchildren eating a sufficient quantity of apples and bananas must , nevertheless , rest with the children 's parents and , possibly , the municipalities providing their education .
rapporteur for the opinion of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs . - ( RO ) The financial crisis has imposed much more prudent credit policies , which are necessary for the banks , but harsh for the economy .
both sides in the conflict draw attention to human rights violations committed by the other side , and both sides violate these rights .
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in all these areas , it is necessary to ensure appropriate social and legal protection .
we want to continue taking the same care with our records of proceedings .
we then made efforts to encourage these countries to contact the candidate countries as well .
employment in the EU , in other words , does not automatically lead to the prevention of poverty , and I am sorry to say that awareness of this fact within the European Commission and among the Member States has not generated any specific packages of measures involving objectives such as the introduction of a minimum wage above the at-risk threshold or the solution of the problem of basic social security to which Mr Kusstatscher referred .
the fact is that this Charter is not applicable to national legislation and national institutions at all .
the EU 's ongoing love affair with the Treaty is an act of political necrophilia .
I think that with the addition made to the article concerned , this issue has been resolved and Greece 's reservation has been lifted .
in the light of the speed with which the speculators are acting , we are doing far too little .
the issue we are facing today stems from the management of the Schengen area in 2011 .
healthy eating is part of general education .
likewise , the equally cynical reaction of Hamas by launching rockets into areas and by the brutal killing of eight people in a school .
that is my vision of Europe .
I therefore welcome the adoption of this resolution , and I hope that all SMEs will benefit from these measures and become prosperous , as all Europeans would benefit .
this is quite simply the result of the development of US law , meaning that it is not a matter upon which the Council should express its opinion .
consumer protection is , and has always been , one of the EU 's priorities , and it was consolidated following the adoption of the Treaty of Lisbon .
all the signatures must be submitted by European Union citizens old enough to vote in the European parliamentary elections .
both instruments are linked to the announced amendment - using the simplified procedure and without holding any referenda - to the Treaty of Lisbon , with the aim of introducing the so-called ' conditionality ' associated with the European Stability Mechanism .
for example , we recall the research projects financed by the Seventh Framework Programme , especially those being engaged in with the participation of the Israeli aerospace industry , which manufactured unmanned aircraft used in the attack on the Gaza Strip in 2008 and 2009 , causing the deaths of dozens of people .
every state should be in charge of regulating the working time in their respective country .
it is therefore valid for a short period , which , in principal , expires on 31 October 2010 .
the compromise between the European Parliament and the Council on the regulation on the so-called citizens ' initiative , which has been accompanied by ridiculous triumphant talk about the strengthening of the democratic institutions of the EU , is nothing more than an insulting attempt to manipulate and fool the people .
they deserve the opportunity to show their merit during the accession process .
it has , however , become clear over the last few years that for many Europeans it is a matter for debate whether the net effect of globalisation , liberalisation and greater competition does anything to improve their well-being .
now we are members and many of the Roma population , as European citizens , have established themselves in other countries , like Italy , joining other Roma people living there , some in camps which are already 40 years old .
unfortunately , the outbound illegal shipment of waste from the European Union is large-scale , and for this reason it is important that the new directive be able to prevent this .
therefore , a balance must be found between competitive economic policies and social policies .
rapporteur . - ( PT ) Madam President , after so many good contributions I am sorry to have to reply briefly just to some of the points that I consider essential , but I think they all , like the many points in the report not mentioned here , bring extraordinary enrichment to this debate .
in essence , we need to know whether we are succeeding in defining the new Europe and whether we are succeeding in defining - through a new relationship between the European political forces within and outside this Parliament - the real distinction , the real boundary that exists within today 's Europe between conservatives and progressives , between those who want a more politically integrated Europe and those who , instead , want only an enlarged single market .
finally , the issue of timely and equal access to prevention , diagnosis and care should be closely looked at if we want to ensure that the fight against cancer also contributes to the objective that we should all keep in mind the reduction of health inequalities in Europe .
given the substantial cost of decommissioning these structures , it is only natural for the EU to support these countries in their efforts toward this decommissioning , so that no nuclear accident will occur in European territory , with consequences that are , unfortunately , well known to all of us .
in writing . - One of the most important weapons in the arsenal of the rights of European citizens is that of petition .
first , the revised settlement has been significantly narrowed in scope .
the situation is obviously difficult because of the price of oil , the price of commodities or the scarcity of raw materials , which are pushing up prices .
Representative democracy can function only when citizens communicate with their elected representatives and ask them to promote their interests .
Pakistan 's minister for minority affairs announced yesterday that amendments are being prepared to stop the misuse of the blasphemy laws .
in my opinion , the European Parliament 's negotiators should not exacerbate the situation in the talks , but , on the contrary , should aim to reach an agreement .
rights-based management tools in fisheries (
in simplistic terms , firstly we want priority to be given to a social Europe rather than to a radical market orientation .
let us be clear , Europe has much more to gain from globalisation than it has to lose .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , in the realm of climate policy , the year 2007 - and some time has already elapsed since then - is regarded as the year when the reality of climate change was officially acknowledged .
this report fails to mention the responsibility for and complicity in the dissemination of false information which served to justify the military intervention in Iraq , such as the existence and location of ' weapons of mass destruction ' and links between the former regime and international terrorism .
I also agree that the text concerning GMOs and zero tolerance in this report is very unfortunate .
we have made promises which we have no intention of fulfilling .
this is something that the EU has to address .
it creates a situation in which many of the European Union 's institutions can work together , and perhaps most importantly of all , it creates a place for the citizen with his everyday concerns , his desire to take part in the European process .
in writing . - Conservative MEPs voted against this report as it is a step in the wrong direction .
economic welfare and greater upward social mobility are the key to a successful migration policy .
that can only evoke our enthusiasm and our support .
for years now , we have pointed to Zimbabwe as the great shame on the face of Africa , a testimony to the effects of tyranny , corruption and exploitation by one man 's appalling regime .
that session , which was held to prepare this resolution , was , from that point of view , a farce , and that is why I left it .
however , despite what some of the protesters within this Chamber may think , this is a time for respect : not just respect for the Irish voters , who gave their democratic opinion with regard to this Treaty , but respect for the other countries and their individual rights on how they operate and how they ratify a treaty .
Mr President , I would like to congratulate the Swedish Presidency for the vision of a citizen-centred Europe laid down in the Stockholm Programme .
the fact that it will lead to an increase in the specific cost of a product and , therefore , probably also to an increase in the price of the product , has already been mentioned here by the Commissioner .
in writing . - ( DE ) The recent storms across Madeira , parts of Spain and France took a heavy toll with over 40 deaths on Madeira , another 60 in France , countless missing persons and extensive property damage .
the Treaty of Lisbon addresses the democratic deficit by strengthening the powers of both the European Parliament and the national parliaments .
was there negligence on the part of the Irish authorities in enforcing with rigour the feed law and food safety requirements ?
when considering the most recent escalations , this should not be forgotten .
yes , we do want to make use of surplus foodstuffs .
it would be helpful if the Commission could indicate how the fund is going to improve developing country access to the CDM .
Mr President , in relation to the next two amendments , I am withdrawing our Amendment No 8 .
furthermore , they were never called to account or punished .
they are necessary , but they must also be worthwhile .
the Spanish Presidency really ought to be here today in order to confirm that .
it is a paradox that we enter working life later and leave it sooner .
similar projects with no social control are also promoted in third countries to secure greater profits for businesses in the name of growth - the growth of capital , naturally .
we would like the protection of biodiversity to be a priority for the European Union through its various fields of competence .
with respect , that is sleight of hand and is targeted at people 's ignorance ; it ignores the fact , for example , that if we did not have EU law , we would still have national law , even in the United Kingdom , and indeed in particularly large quantities , as we know .
the vote will take place on Wednesday , 21 May 2008 .
more importantly , the EQF would help to reduce discrimination against both immigrants and EU citizens in the workplace .
you can keep me here for another two weeks , day and night , and I will not accept this criticism .
we clearly need more Europe .
now , in the third period starting in 2013 , at least 50 % of allowances will be traded and this will gradually increase year on year .
the EU needs to work constructively with Turkey and the US to stop impunity in Iran , which is one of the most urgent cases of aggressors and where execution , rape and torture are brought upon citizens by their own government on a daily and systematic basis .
Europe must combat this as a whole because four out of every five European citizens consider that corruption is a fundamental problem in their country .
this is why the motion for revising this directive is more than timely .
I would also like to ask the Commissioner - taking into account what former Commissioner Michel previously said about the need to step up the involvement of the World Bank and the IMF - whether he intends to come up with a proposal for this Istanbul Summit .
they will overburden businesses and will obviously result in job losses and in cost increases for consumers .
I find that situation quite simply unacceptable .
this should ring alarm bells ahead of the vote .
we want the Strasbourg week to be week 11 , but this does not mean that our amendment is inadmissible .
throughout history the arts have used the most progressive technologies of the day , and scientific debates have influenced many aesthetic theories .
( it ) Mr President , that demonstrates that this resolution is political .
I am very pleased about the plans in this area , particularly relating to the shipping industry .
Madam President , I welcome the revision of the Novel Food Regulation , which must stimulate innovation in the food and drink industry .
I voted in favour of adopting the joint motion for a resolution on the situation in Georgia .
Aer Lingus 's decision to discontinue flights to London has adversely affected the region , not least economically .
( DE ) Madam President , our fellow Members have negotiated very skilfully and have agreed on a very good resolution with the groups .
this is our shared Europe .
I abstained during the vote on the report on the new strategy for Afghanistan .
it is in fact here that we have market-based instruments , because it is all about introducing taxes and charges on things which exacerbate environmental problems , internalising environmental problems in other words .
I am pleased to have your suggestions and contributions , which we have been following closely .
I had already been in Mexico and I will go there most probably next year .
( PL ) Mr President , Commissioner , the events in Japan have affected all of us very profoundly .
people are scared .
the report by Mr Lehne , on behalf of the Committee on Legal Affairs , on the proposal for a Council regulation on the Statute for a European private company - C6-0283 / 2008 - .
when you realise that apparently the same happened in the Crimea , you can only feel very concerned .
if we want genuine equality , then individual European States must not recognise Sharia law in any way , shape or form .
firstly , the common market benefits all the Member States , both old and new , and everyone else associated with this common market .
the European Parliament was then invited to give its view on the various parts of this paper .
we have begun to move , we now have a new basis for the Treaty , but one which is not yet in force .
it would have been much better to have an interinstitutional agreement , which would have provided greater security for the future .
a common European solution is needed to a common European problem , taking an integrated and cross-sectoral approach that enables aid for and specific intervention in the most underdeveloped areas , and in those with severe structural disadvantages .
I can tell you that obtaining a ' yes ' will depend on a range of conditions ; it is important to know that , and we must have an answer on this before 25 January .
the argument put forward by Mr Tomczak , who was a member of the Polish Parliament in 1999 , that his national parliamentary immunity remained a formal obstacle to the criminal proceedings should be duly considered by the Polish judicial authorities .
this functional or flexible geography does not stop at national borders , and cooperation across national borders is of clear European added value and importance for citizens .
I think we need to do more in the short term to help the industry through this present crisis .
the sole Romanian church in Mălăiniţa will soon be demolished .
however , we will now prevent negative cases as a result of the fact that the substance of a company must be retained in the critical first years following the acquisition in particular .
since our belief is that too much international trade leads to over-exploitation and depletion of fish stocks as countries seek to increase their exports , there was a good basis for common ground .
the CAS will become operational during the first semester of 2011 .
Mr President , let me change tack and bring to your attention some real-life facts .
( DE ) Mr President , Mr Mann , I hope you are in regular contact with your Chancellor , if you see things in the same way that I do .
I would like to inform the Chamber that during the vote , at the express request of the association of parliamentary journalists , for each set of results we must also expressly indicate the number of votes for and against and the number of abstentions .
you can boo , you can jeer , but remember this : Britain outside of the euro has been able to devalue , has been able to slash interest rates .
their alleged crimes were committed when they were 13-17 years old .
Mr President , as indicated in the Council 's proposal for a directive , the minimum VAT rate has helped keep the system operating at an acceptable level .
as parliamentarians , we should do our utmost to bring about the required change .
Member of the Commission . - ( FR ) Madam President , first I want to say thank you and to welcome the various statements made here , all of which are in support of Mr Lehideux 's report .
the opening up of markets to airlines will provide improved services for passengers and cargo operators , and will bring great benefits in terms of the economy and of job creation .
the distressing events in Italy , and in Rome in particular , are only the latest in a series of incidents that have often gone unheeded or have been ignored .
this will mean that we as individual parliamentarians have no opportunity to look at the text , to evaluate it , to discuss and reach a sound decision on it .
however , particular attention needs to be given to the negative impact that a CCCTB could have on small countries such as Ireland , whose prosperity and employment levels depend , to a large extent , on its capacity to attract foreign investment .
a large proportion of these erroneous payments could have been prevented by the Member States .
moreover , the latest reports indicate that the only Slovenian museum in Hungary is to be closed down because of funding cuts .
it is a serious violation of the human rights which we in the EU defend fiercely and fight every day to uphold .
( HU ) As a rapporteur , or in this case draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety for the report on the contained use of genetically modified micro-organisms , I wish to emphasise again that the European Parliament must be given a greater role in supervising procedures .
we do need to look at that issue .
Madam President , I am happy to be able to lend my support to a pan-European project that is very ambitious both for the European Union and for developing countries , and which is aimed at eliminating tuberculosis by means of a vaccination programme .
( FR ) Mr President , the food industry uses 300 food additives , 2 600 natural or artificial flavourings , plus traditional diastases or enzymes and also azo dyes .
given that all countries have responsibilities for supporting the least developed countries ( LDCs ) , in order to meet the Millennium Development Goals , I agree with the proposals included in this joint motion for a resolution , and I would like to see the goal of halving the number of LDCs by 2020 achieved .
the Committee is being very wary , and not without reason .
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during the crisis the Moldovan authorities committed serious violations of human rights .
finally , both the Council and the Commission talk endlessly about the importance of flexicurity , but how can the Council be taken seriously while the directive on temporary agency work remains blocked ?
China has maintained her cultural traditions and her values .
the same question can be asked of national parliaments .
we will overcome them most effectively if we work together to find common solutions .
today , seven years since the agreement was ratified , the European Parliament has managed to express its opinion on the negotiations led by the Commission on the basis of Council directives .
the goal of creating a joint European identity and promoting the Union 's interests is crucial to peace and social cohesion .
the best way to be less dependent is to pursue the route of more energy efficiency and energy diversification as well as more energy produced inside the European Union .
the real causes of the problem are the unfair distribution of resources , for example owing to exploitation of fish stocks , including by fishing trawlers from the European Union .
Mr President , a court with a mission is a menace .
why is that ?
I strongly encourage establishing as an objective the reduction of the gender pay gap by 1 % each year in order to achieve a target of a 10 % reduction by 2020 .
however , this budget package leaves those subsidies virtually untouched .
I also approved of this resolution because it calls on the EU to devote more attention to concrete projects that coincide with the interests of the partner countries .
we must therefore act by creating the right environment conducive to confidence building between the two parties , and to have two distinct and viable states which can cohabit peacefully .
in the light of this disaster , I think it essential that we immediately carry out a special assessment - a detailed and far-reaching technical inspection of drilling platforms operating in the territorial waters of the European Union .
this European Commission does not stand for more democracy and an awakening ; it is a continuation along the path that led us into the current crisis .
research should include technically and economically based pilot studies to ensure not only an attractive economic benefit-cost ratio but also one that yields net benefits toward the Community 's goals of curtailing climate change and affordable food prices for all citizens of the world .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , the Commission is pleased that an agreement has been reached between the institutions on a joint text for a statute for parliamentary assistants .
according to international observers in the country , the elections in 2006 and 2007 were conducted in accordance with the rules and there is no doubt as to the legitimacy of Mauritania 's ousted government .
to achieve this , they want ' to involve national judges more actively in , and accord them greater responsibility for , the implementation of Community law ' .
if you want to be able to make valid comments on a subject of a technical nature , you normally seek information from those people who are most knowledgeable about these issues .
it is not the whole story , though .
this explains why there are differences ; but they are , I believe , transitional differences .
the Commission proposal provides the necessary flexibility for derogations from BREFs , provided , of course , that they are warranted by local conditions at the time .
this development , which has significant consequences , throws up a double challenge both for managing more than 1 200 bilateral investment treaties ( BIT ) already concluded by the Member States and to define a future European investment policy which meets the expectations of investors and beneficiary states while , at the same time , respecting the objectives of the EU 's external action .
obviously , there is no doubt that the objective of bringing SIS II into service in September 2009 will be subject to delay .
capital punishment , therefore , causes the opposite effect to the one intended .
even though taxation might seem a bit difficult , and we all know that it is still beyond unanimity , we must be very courageous in putting forward action in this area .
I think this is an important matter .
in addition to the measures that need to be taken by the European Commission , it is important to strengthen the European Union 's partnerships with international financial institutions with a view to identifying innovative financial instruments.A suitable funding framework also needs to be created , particularly through improving the rules for allocating costs for cross-border projects or technologically advanced projects .
young people , science and innovation are at the heart of the priorities of the next European Union budget .
if the system is set up in such a way that a dependency on continuous subsidy develops without requiring effort among the regions to obtain the relevant resources , then I believe that such an intermediate category would be an unmitigated disaster because it will always be a bone of contention and offers no rationale .
in the meantime , we ask this mission to ensure that the national Serbian minority is respected and valued on the land of their ancestors .
it is also imperative that the Member States put those agreements into practice without delay .
I demand that the appropriate measures be taken .
the Spanish State is a paradigmatic example of that : it is attempting to meet requirements by passing its deficit on to the autonomous governments and local councils .
let me start with national penalties introduced in respect of the reasoned offer procedure .
flexible employment that does not recognise the importance of job security brings short-term benefits to employers at the expense of workers .
these vehicles are , however , an important alternative that must be given due consideration , despite these problems .
the EU has now taken on primary responsibility for assisting Kosovo internally .
I am glad that Mr Balčytis raised the issue of tourism in the Baltic region : tourism is not an issue that exclusively concerns the economies of Mediterranean countries - Spain , France , Italy , Greece and Malta .
looking forward to Pittsburgh , that would seem to me to be the big danger .
are you prepared to discuss with the German Government or with other governments what seems to me to be a completely unacceptable mechanism ?
this country , Mauritania , is today going through a very serious political crisis .
the environmental impact analyses must be carried out by reliable and independent bodies before large projects are allowed to get underway .
there is a President of Parliament , there is a President of the Commission , and there will be a President of the European Council .
even though the report is about the application and implementation of the Residence Directive , it also refers to the Metock ruling , which permits foreigners who have no legal right to stay in the EU to obtain a residence permit through marriage and hence to travel around the European Union with their spouses .
to ensure that these devices are really effective , it is crucial that all those involved in the distribution chain are subject to more stringent rules .
should Parliament now go and say that it is all unnecessary ?
without this , coordination would have been substantially more difficult and these advances more uncertain .
please come and exercise the solidarity that has so often been mentioned today .
it is more than that , however ; it is the use of rape as a genuine weapon of war , and this goes on amid a certain amount of indifference in public opinion and the international community , and more specifically European public opinion .
on 31 May 2010 the Geneva Agreement on Trade in Bananas between the European Union and Brazil , Colombia , Costa Rica , Ecuador , Guatemala , Honduras , Mexico , Nicaragua , Panama , Peru and Venezuela was signed , providing for a gradual reduction in tariff rates on banana imports from those countries .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( SK ) I would like to offer my frank congratulations to Mrs Bauer on the proposed text .
this modernised and simplified directive will reduce the obligations on operators while enabling them to combat excise fraud more effectively .
this is paragraph 7 , which concerns the condemnation of the way in which the Turkish authorities are behaving in Northern Cyprus , which , according to all international rules , is unlawfully occupied by Turkey - by Turkish troops - and therefore by a country that is both formally and , in reality , negotiating its accession to the EU .
I do not believe these risks are subject to adequate common controls , nor do I believe that there is sufficient scope for joint decision-making on this issue .
it is high time to abandon the fatal illusion of federalism and build a Europe of the nations , united by more tangible alliances that will undoubtedly be more modest , but more effective .
we voted against it .
( SK ) Madam President , sexual violence does not constitute a violation of female human rights or male human rights .
- Before the vote :
I have abstained from voting because in my opinion , the measures proposed in the report relating to the extent to which the individual Member States will be held responsible and will be involved do not go far enough .
if the right wing extremists now go on the offensive with such arguments , it is up to the electorate to judge .
therefore , the European Union 's attention is very important not only for the old European Union Member States , but also for those that have recently joined the European Union and that are benefiting from support from the Structural Funds and the European Social Fund .
I consider the word ' verify ' would be more appropriate than ' ensure ' , and I would be interested in the Commissioner 's view whether ' ensure ' , in this context , is consistent with WTO stipulations and , in general , with the EU 's commitment to free trade .
UKIP notes the attempts the EU has made to interfere with other countries ' policies in this area .
Commissioner , I do not believe in the formulas of our socialist fellow Member who talks to us of ultra-capitalism and ultra-liberalism - which , moreover , as a semantic assimilation , is morally debatable .
we in the international community must toughen our resolve against this tyrannical Mugabe regime .
( RO ) Madam President , food security is one of the challenges of the future .
did the European Council devote even five minutes ' thought to what we failed to do previously in our policy on the Mediterranean ?
fourthly , these workers must be covered by a statutory social security obligation , in particular , given that this is a minimum wage sector .
what should we be expecting in this respect from the new US President and the package of measures he has just announced ?
all the technical conditions have been met .
then there are the problems that already exist today .
I would like to urge the presidency , particularly the incoming French Minister , to make this dossier a priority to help to resolve the crisis in availability , especially for what we call minor uses and so-called minor species , which include sheep , horses , bees , fish and many other animals that are not so minor in many of our countries .
the ceasefire , which was the first of the six points , was therefore immediate and effective .
we also know that poverty has not fallen in the European Union over the past five years , but that in fact more people are excluded from the affluent society .
my country 's government has therefore refrained from signing the Charter of Fundamental Rights , particularly as there was a serious risk that the ratification process in Poland would effectively be blocked if a different decision were to be taken .
investment in the quality of teacher training is one of the most efficient ways of achieving an overall improvement since teachers multiply such effects .
the consequences will be all the more serious for residents of remote and inaccessible mountain or island regions , which companies will not be able to serve profitably .
the Council wants to keep both the opt-out and the yearly calculation of working time .
in writing . - ( LT ) I welcomed this document , because it sets out an EU legal framework for spent fuel and radioactive waste management .
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I also wish to congratulate Sebastián Piñera 's new Government which takes office today , and to encourage him in the reconstruction efforts for which I hope he will be able to count on the European Union 's full support .
I wanted the same to apply to the protection of European inventions , and I wanted enhanced cooperation to be used to create a European patent .
this will be voted on at the end .
I myself am determined to work hard at helping you to feel that our common Europe is also your Europe - and we will write the story of Europe 's future together .
that is appropriate if we have tight controls on it .
I understand that yesterday was his birthday .
these things are covered to a certain extent by corporate social responsibility , but they cannot be implemented without a national framework .
this evening I should like once again to put it in graphic terms : I am anticipating that this dual nature of culture will really have an effect in all policy fields , particularly regarding internal-market logic .
many women assist their husbands in business and current social security arrangements do not provide them with any protection .
we must be there for the people , feed them , bring them medical relief , and support their yearning desire for freedom .
Sixthly , boosting the Community budget in order to promote economic and social cohesion is absolutely essential .
( FR ) Whether we like it or not , the Goldstone report has been endorsed by the General Assembly of the United Nations , and I do not see why there should be double standards in relation to international law .
I agree with the strong views expressed in this House regarding the need for Turkey to respect human rights .
such is the case with the EUR 350 million in funding proposed for the Institution of Nuclear Fusion , an investment which is seriously dubious in the current climate .
I think that we might end up in a situation , because I think some of the difficulties the sector has been facing are actually rooted before the cotton reform was made in 2004 .
given the courage with which President Tadić has fought for a European course and how embattled he is in Serbia , it is imperative that we support these political forces and encourage them so that they are able to show their population that the path to Europe , rather than a nationalistic path , is the right path for the people , too .
the work is progressing quite well , also at working group level , and towards the end of the Hungarian Presidency we will be able to adopt the strategy at the General Affairs Council ; the European Council will be able to assure us of its support in this regard , and then it will be up to us to implement it as fully as possible , from sewage treatment to the preservation of our drinking water base .
Mr President , knowledge creation within the European Union is always a priority , which we manage successfully .
Mr President , it is indeed and I think you failed to catch my eye .
in doing this work , the Commission has to respect the confidentiality to which the Court of Justice has confirmed that the Member States are entitled concerning the investigation of alleged application issues and potential infringement proceedings .
we cannot separate EU solutions from this system , but instead must ensure that we get as many global solutions in place as possible .
in conclusion , the Commission is , speaking quite unequivocally , in full agreement with Parliament , whatever the developments on the nuclear issue or on other issues of concern to the European Union .
52 .
in writing . - ( RO ) The simplification of procedures is a major objective of the European institutions , which are aware that overregulation is a burden both for their operation and for the efficiency and competitiveness of economic operators .
the EU has rightly set ambitious targets for renewable energy , but the idea that achieving these targets will be pain-free is a delusion .
as this is the last meeting here in the plenary before the elections to this Parliament , I would like to express my sincere thanks for your very good cooperation and exchanges of views - sometimes with lots of patriotism and with lots of dynamism , but it has been a pleasure .
indeed , you only support the results that suit you .
naturally , the second thing that Europe must do , also in the short term , what we can do , is constantly to reinforce our measures in the area of energy saving , and to place ever greater stress on renewable energy resources , making more use of wind , solar , water and biomass sources .
to emerge from this , we need to focus on the quality and safety of our produce .
there is clearly a role to play for better employment contracts , which is why , in the flagship initiative Agenda for New Skills and Jobs and subsequent documents , we highlighted the problem of segmentation and advocated the use of open-ended contracts , which may have a wider relevance but which help the younger generation in particular .
I myself have just had a meeting with Messrs Milinkevich , Kozulin and Protasiewicz and Parliament can pride itself on awarding the Sakharov Prize to Mr Milinkevich .
in terms of further developing the EU 's long-term approach to meeting the challenge , our existing energy policies are viewed by many as a ' world leader ' .
exchanging information and skills between immigration liaison officers and Frontex using the Information and Coordination Network for Member States ' migration management services will enable better risk analysis by Frontex , as well as better control over legal and illegal immigration .
in that respect , the path we need to take is to say ' yes ' to intelligent solutions .
this agreement also affects other forests indirectly , although this is less evident and more marginal .
in this regard , it is important that the Swedish Presidency is also prepared to change its view and to fight to prevent those hardest hit by climate change from also being affected even more by hunger .
I hope that a nearly unanimous decision in tomorrow 's vote will underline these principles which have been freely agreed upon by 27 Member States , which are the principles behind our European directives , and which have been reinforced by the Charter of Fundamental Rights .
the only measure on which Parliament does not agree is the extension of Europol 's powers in this field .
I hope that the inspections of businesses will encourage Member States to refer to criminal law .
I have to tell you , Mr García-Margallo , that the Spanish Presidency of the Council is working in a close and coordinated way - the Community method - with Mr Van Rompuy , President of the European Council , to push forward the essential goals .
it is only right that we make this significant move , because there are so many problems and they are so extensive and affect so many countries , not least Afghanistan and Pakistan , but each country has its own specific problems .
today 's report will give rise to a debate that I hope will be fruitful .
this proposal takes account of the fact that the new Europe 2020 integrated guidelines are to be fully transposed in the Member States ' policy measures and sequencing of reforms to be presented in the final NRPs due in April 2011 .
in writing . - It is clear now that , despite the worst attempts of some to denigrate the European Union on the basis of measurements , the EU is able to deal with issues in a practical manner .
as our fellow Member has just said , how will you get a guarantee that all the criteria that you have mentioned to the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy are taken into account by each Member State that uses nuclear power stations ?
then the ' user pays ' principle is not very appropriate .
the danger of the proposed system is that cross-border healthcare , which implies a form of preferential treatment , will mainly be used by financially better off citizens .
the European Union , meanwhile , should concentrate on supporting and guiding innovation .
the report 's conclusions are worrying .
the Commission was not able to justify implementation of the proposal , and neither could the Committee on International Trade during its meeting .
as you know , during the previous parliamentary term , we discussed the issue of the adoption of Romanian children by parents in Israel , and this caused serious problems , including of a political nature . now we have another initiative .
is that correct ?
Member of the Commission . - ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , first of all I would like to thank Mrs Járóka , Mrs Angelilli , Mr Wiersma and Mrs Mohácsi for raising these issues , which I am dealing with on behalf of my colleague , Vladimír Špidla , because he is currently in China , and this gives us the opportunity to talk things through on this extremely important subject .
the crisis must absolutely not be used to extend EU competences .
in writing . - ( PT ) Taking into account the statement of assurance as to the reliability of the accounts and the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions provided by the Court of Auditors pursuant to Article 287 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union , I voted for this decision , which grants the European Ombudsman discharge in respect of the implementation of its budget for the financial year 2009 .
Ms Haug , thank you for that .
rosé wines and permitted oenological practices ( debate )
Mr President , we can see the way in which the Irish Republic has been brought to its present predicament by the euro .
but , after that , an analysis should take place , and measures should also be taken .
at the start of its Presidency France did not know that a world financial crisis would erupt and that this crisis would become its greatest challenge .
however , for one fallen wall , how many others have been erected on our continent ?
at the same time , ' A to G ' is well known to consumers .
I am also very grateful for the timely input Mr Reul and this House will provide in the area of energy innovation , clean fossil fuel and nuclear energy .
let us be clear , it is still important that workers should be able , if they so wish , to prolong their working life within the existing legal framework of each Member State , but the right to a pension at the legal age must be safeguarded .
I support it wholeheartedly .
however , you must be aware that this will involve a struggle over responsibilities .
I would especially like to thank the heads of the working groups in the Presidency , the majority of them young people , and their associates who have worked so well .
just one paragraph about a confusion that remains : there was no increase in the budget for Members and there will be no increase for next year .
no .
it is therefore a matter of urgency that we come to an equitable common denominator in order to harmonise laws throughout Europe .
you bomb Afghanistan and complain about refugees .
to me , the Commission 's silence seems highly eloquent .
to achieve this , national enforcers need sufficient staff and resources .
above all , we are willing to give the Chinese people the assistance they need .
I would remind the House that Greece is particularly sensitive on this issue , having mourned victims of a similar attack against Greek tourists by fanatical Islamists in Cairo in Egypt on 18 April 1996 .
not only will the new Treaty provide for more transparency in the activity of the Union , which has always been a matter of particular importance to Sweden ; it also makes combating climate change a new aim of the European Union , and that is an area in which Sweden can already boast major successes .
it is a single economic , cultural and perhaps also political force .
over 120 women have been murdered since 1996 , a significant number by a partner or ex-partner .
and , if we have received nothing else , we have managed to secure the programmes of the deliveries of the World Food Programme to the starving and suffering people of Somalia .
it is imperative that these funds are made available to those who really need them in an expedient and effective manner .
the Commission could , however , improve transparency and , hence , democratic scrutiny in the field of the common foreign and security policy , by informing Parliament of internal transfers in good time .
in writing . - Serious consideration has to be taken as regards existing Union-wide redress mechanisms such as SOLVIT .
forwarding of texts adopted during the sitting : see Minutes
a large proportion of Parliament , like the Spanish delegation of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament , has formally opposed paragraph 41 of this resolution , which asks for the principle of subsidiarity to be applied to land policy .
since these products can be freely imported , proving their origin is apparently unnecessary , but there are still some doubts about this facilitating measure .
on this note , I would like to point out two things .
in writing . - ( FR ) I voted for the legislative resolution based on the report by my Greek fellow Member Katerina Batzeli approving , at first reading under the codecision procedure , the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Decision No 1720 / 2006 / EC establishing an action programme in the field of lifelong learning .
the problem of climate change must , by now , be something that everyone knows about or is at least aware of .
on the other hand there are remaining concerns about public health , biodiversity and local wildlife .
hence , my ' no ' vote in the final vote .
many times , consumers sign contracts for the supply of services without reading the contractual provisions carefully and if they do read them carefully they believe they cannot propose any amendments thereof .
it must remain clear that to innovate does not mean to imitate the old practice of privatising profit and socialising losses or that to diversify means to transfer the costs of decisions made by a few people to society as a whole .
if we want the European citizens of tomorrow to be motivated in their work and to be open to cross-border activities , it is important , even today , to offer them the prospect of adequate and sustainable retirement pension provision , harmonised at European level .
so if there are particular problems with certain products that cannot be recognised in individual Member States for ethical reasons , those Member States must retain the right to ban such products .
in France , she has proven that she understands the economy , that she also promotes small and medium-sized enterprises , in particular , and that she has regard for those who actually work and make a contribution .
I do not think that renationalisation is a solution because , in my opinion , the Member States would not have the means to assure the adoption of specific measures in these outermost regions if we did not have the common agricultural policy and a Community approach .
we got this past the Member States with very great difficulty .
I think that the European Union must give its support to setting up a UN committee of inquiry which will substantiate human rights violations in North Korea .
fortunately , the Council was of the same opinion and at the last minute we were able to put this right in the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety .
Western Europe is rich in coal , which needs only travel a short distance to a power station .
I would like to remind everyone that , in the Nordic countries , robust social rights have succeeded in combining high levels of competitiveness with productivity .
even though the proposal mainly focuses on administrative matters , it gives an idea of the nature and characteristics envisaged for future investments .
there is no evidence for this in any of the detailed and independent studies carried out .
finding a real political solution to the Kurdish problem , recognising the Armenian genocide , normalising relations with neighbouring countries and ending the occupation of Cyprus are some of the issues which Turkey is required to address .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - Mr President , if globalisation causes redundancies , there will be a shortfall in revenue so the Globalisation Fund will not have the money it wants to spend .
we voted today in favour of peripheral regions being taken into account in this Directive and in favour of a deletion of a Commission proposal allowing an airline to demand conversion of its aviation allowances to Kyoto-backed allowances free of charge !
I am very grateful to Mr Tajani for pointing out that Parliament will also be involved in the follow-up work that remains to be done .
at the present time , when we are coming out of the crisis and are standing before the new challenges which await the EU after 2013 , innovation is one of the most important ways - if not the most important way - to consolidate the EU 's position in the world .
thank you for your attention .
the Member States should therefore retain the right to take measures aimed at protecting the right to information and ensuring viewers ' access to television broadcasts of major sport events . I have in mind the Olympic Games and the European Championship or World Cup .
the second point is , of course , the issue of what are known as the ' sunset clauses ' or revision clauses .
that would not have been possible without the constructive and responsible role of Parliament throughout the whole negotiation process .
to ensure that allowances fetch an appropriate price so that the emissions trading scheme can be effective , the proportion of allowances to be auctioned off must be much higher than the Commission has proposed .
to help us achieve that , as from 2009 the Commission will be drafting a three-yearly report on youth .
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for her to say that an MEP 's immunity should be waived because the comments for which he or she is being criticised did not come within the scope of his or her parliamentary activities is absolute nonsense from a legal point of view .
the underlying reasoning is that anyone who can govern an artificial country such as Belgium can do likewise in Europe .
he has presented a very balanced report and has worked very closely with the shadow rapporteurs .
the pictures in children 's books depicting women in aprons and men in spacecraft must disappear .
anybody is welcome to look at these pictures that have been sent to me .
this shows that the outcome of today 's debate needs to be a balanced one , so that we can be sure that the interests of all citizens have been protected .
that is the only way for this endeavour to succeed .
we do , of course , hope - and this is something we can all agree on - that Mr Solana will come before us a few more times before the end of this parliamentary term .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , we are here to talk about social Europe .
Mr Papastamkos , you probably know my personal opinion , which is , in fact , even a little bit more radical than your own .
( SK ) I would like to congratulate the authors of this question , Mrs Hedh and Mrs Bauer .
for these reasons I voted against this report .
those duties will apply to so many people who are vulnerable and suffering today .
however , success in tackling these problems will only be achieved when all 27 countries combine their efforts .
it is true that the EU will not be complete until the Balkans form part of the Union , but this cannot be at any price , and certainly not at the price of undermining international law and ignoring fundamental European values .
among those affected are defence minister Abdul-Qadir al-Obaidi and Saleh al-Mutlaq , the head of the Sunni-led Iraqi Front for National Dialogue .
on the principle , there is no more to say ; the passport is its own defence .
an extremely important step has been taken , which Moldova and the European Union cannot afford to mishandle .
but citizens are even more interested to see European institutions tackle the practical question of European policy-making .
any financial aid to the dairy sector is imperative to its survival , especially the survival of small family farms as we find in Northern Ireland .
a rigorous assessment of all projects underway is therefore urgently needed , along with a strategic redirection of the funds that are still available , taking into account the achievement of the objectives set out by the Europe 2020 strategy in preparation for the next Multiannual Financial Framework ( MFF ) .
( ES ) Mr President , I would first of all like to express my condolences and solidarity for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti .
so far , the status of the Nobel Prize-winner has , at times , secured her a limited degree of freedom .
may I assure you that the European Commission and I are devoting a great deal of attention to effective financial management and strict financial discipline .
we must also find possible resolutions and peace in the states in the area and in the Arab states .
all the speakers talked of Lampedusa , but I would like to invite you to reflect on what the kind of migratory process we are experiencing at present really means for an island that lives on tourism and fishing .
I will end on a positive note .
through no fault of their own they often cannot go back .
I have visited this country many times as a member of the South Asia delegation .
this is a report that will help as much as possible to provide more stability and we must ensure as far as possible that all the countries are harmonised with regard to the applicable rates to reduce discrepancies as much as possible .
there is now a new industry that has been built in Brussels .
thus the new NATO strategy was adopted , which also officially overthrows the basic rules of international law .
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2 .
I would therefore be grateful , Commissioner , if you could answer my questions , and I call for support for the report by Mr Freitas .
we would like to offer the family of the deceased and all his relatives our heartfelt sympathy and condolences .
tourism encourages people to understand each other better , it promotes the formation of European identity and , through relationships among social , economic and cultural groups , it encourages dialogue between cultures .
we and Her Majesty 's Government agree that spending should be increased in those areas that add value .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , the White Paper on Sport , following on from the own-initiative report on the future of professional football , known as the Belet report , is a substantial and necessary document .
we have discussed repeatedly in the European Parliament the insufficient accessibility of certain drugs , for example those for the treatment of cancer or so-called rare diseases .
I believe that the results of the audit carried out by the European Court of Auditors will reveal the objectives of the use of the funds and their effectiveness .
I would like to make a third and final comment .
at the same time , taking into account the interests of others and in order to prevent distortion of competition in the market in countries where the postal sector is already fully liberalised , the postal services of countries that are not yet opening their market may not provide services until the derogation deadline at the end of December 2012 .
it depends on two elements .
what we can do - and this we are doing - is to strengthen and improve cooperation , but we cannot assume responsibility .
transparency in the decision-making process is especially needed when European democracy is questioned .
in writing . - My statement aims to justify my abstention on the resolution on Turkey .
we have had very positive contributions from both the Council and the Commission .
I am Spartacus !
these principles must not be called into question in any way .
I voted for this resolution because it proposes a general ban on the use of cyanide mining technologies in the European Union by the end of 2011 , and because I understand that a ban constitutes , at the moment , the only reliable way of protecting our water resources and ecosystems from the pollution caused by the use of cyanide in mines .
the introduction of the Blue Card , which the EU needs because it is facing a shortage of highly qualified workers in certain sectors , is a step forward for the economic migration of highly qualified workers from third countries .
with regard to the current investment at Roşia Montană , the plans involve an exponentially larger gold mine .
documents received : see Minutes
Mr President , following Mr Kelam 's remarks about Parliament 's warning seven years ago , we have to consider what , if anything , has changed in China as regards Tibet since that time , and whether Parliament 's position has changed .
we are now half-way through the six-month suspension of sanctions against Belarus that was the decided at the meeting of EU foreign ministers on 13 October 2008 .
moreover , the actions to eradicate or destroy drugs , which are sponsored by the international community , are used by the tribal political and military leaders for their own benefit and for eliminating competition .
it is not too late to avoid that .
controlling our borders is not a technical problem and it is not a military problem : it is a political matter .
for this reason , we have always emphasised the importance of a powerful supervisory committee and of a high level of independence .
Dowries may be used to prop up the position of financial institutions in the private market .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue-card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
the EU must be sensitive to the need for austerity , particularly when it comes to the budget of the EEAS .
I would like to offer you the opportunity on behalf of my group to work with us in partnership to develop a suitable regulation at a European level , in order to ensure that the interests of the car industry are addressed in this free trade agreement .
we need these initiatives as a consequence of the rulings of the European Court of Justice in the Laval , Viking , Rüffert and Luxemburg cases .
and we should not delude ourselves that this can be done with some Treaty which would have three articles that we would all know by heart and all understand .
8 .
this also featured in the original plan , and then the Commission seemed to neglect this issue .
we need higher minimum wages and better social services in Europe .
how are you supporting the establishment of 23rd August as ' Victims of Totalitarianism ' day ?
last week , our delegation was refused entry to Gaza by Israel .
however , a wide variety of measurements and measuring systems prevail in many fields .
( FR ) Madam President , Commissioner , yes , a reform of the COM in wine is desirable , but are the means put forward by the Commission the most suitable ?
the development of modern technologies and green job creation are closely linked to energy policy .
for this reason , the EU should take a more balanced approach between the various sectors during trade negotiations , and should promote both its defensive and offensive agricultural interests .
I have no problem with the contents , but I do not think there is any need to repeat some elements in different resolutions .
secondly , however , what we are doing is restoring , confirming and creating the chance for 18 MEPs , who would have had the right to take their seats if the Treaty had been approved before the elections , to exercise that right .
we are not going to catch true criminals , who come from every population group , by this method .
it will be hugely damaging .
my place was to bring together the coordination , to be talking to the Friends of Haiti Group , to be coordinating with the United States to make sure that we put in the maximum effort on the ground .
this means we have a great opportunity to make direct contact and talk with the Libyan opposition .
but your question is , ' how and when can you guarantee a positive DAS ? '
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , your words today were typical of your time as President .
more attention should be devoted to employment , and the Council 's plans are good in that respect .
eight of the countries that joined the EU in 2004 - together with Romania and Bulgaria - have transitory periods of at least two years , which can reach seven years .
however , this should not be happening now .
we are actually at the point where we should recognise the failure of at least some of our policies and of the one-size-fits-all solutions that are too often applied .
throughout this House all of us will have constituents , whatever our nationality , who have been suffering from abuses under the urbanisation law in the Spanish Costas , as indeed thousands of Spanish citizens are .
I do not believe that any of the parties involved would like to see the demise of this promising and developing sector , which has several dozen small and medium-sized enterprises operating within it .
it seems to me that we should also add a separate target for social justice and combating inequalities .
how can it highlight safety when it is self-declaration that prevails , and when some parties , attracted by the smell of profit , have no hesitation in transporting goods which could turn out to be particularly hazardous for people and the environment , without declaring them ?
we must take this opportunity seriously and base our actions on these acquired institutional reforms .
there is no doubt that increasing energy efficiency is the most cost-effective and the fastest way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions .
we emphasise that we were against resources from the research budget being used for these projects .
I would have liked more to have been said in the package of measures about the Member States which are not part of the euro zone and about how to access liquidity in an emergency .
for these reasons I voted against this report .
there were discussions about increased solidarity among the Member States and ensuring the sustainability of the social security and pension systems .
yes !
the threat of imported cheap labour is a reality , brought in through the back door by unscrupulous employers under the guise of free movement .
it is also strange to see this resolution adopted on the basis of Rule 106 ( 4 ) of the Rules of Procedure , which concerns the election of the entire Commission and not the replacement of a commissioner .
thank you for your attention .
as far as I can see , there are three reasons for this .
the charging of heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain infrastructures - Greening of transport and internalisation of external costs ( continuation of debate )
however , in taking that lead , we have to show moral leadership .
I would stress that we are talking about international waters here and that Lene Espersen , the Danish Foreign Minister , has also emphatically said that this is unacceptable .
the only sensible way to react to this is to do something , in the short term , about a common European asylum and migration policy .
the second measure is to raise awareness of the benefits among users and public authorities through the establishment of a best practice Internet portal and European award schemes for smart homes - independent living applications for instance .
it provides a model in crisis , a model which prevents public intervention in the economy .
in view of these considerations , I voted for the joint motion for a resolution on the tuberculosis vaccine .
the reality is , ladies and gentlemen , that this report invites us to think much more widely about the quality of our customs system , our financial circuits and , more generally , about the protection of the financial interests of the European Union .
it is a topical subject which is hugely important for the future .
we should pay particular attention to Alzheimer 's disease , since it is becoming an increasingly serious problem , not only in the EU but also on a global scale , and , according to specialists , the number of sufferers is constantly on the rise . our society is ageing , and we must speak about this problem openly and look for solutions .
I am of the opinion that the text represents a very well-balanced compromise .
the voice of the citizens has enormous significance here .
for euro coins , a total of 100 095 counterfeits were removed from circulation in 2008 , which represents a decrease of 7 % compared to 2007 , and the two-euro coin has always been by far the most counterfeited euro coin .
we believe that , with the new regulation , this opportunity for choice will be extended ; it will not be reduced , rather it will be extended .
an organisation which plays with the lives of innocent people by acting behind their backs .
we need measures to prevent a counterproductive austerity policy , not punitive measures .
it is the ritual sacrifice to the new religion of climate and its new gurus , these partially-minded scientists who pour anathema on all those whose work opposes their untouchable conclusions .
in the current crisis situation , it is better to do more , rather than to wait .
there were the calls for the gender thought police in paragraph 9 .
( DE ) Madam President , Doris Pack has , as always , submitted an excellent text , because she is not only an expert on Southern Europe , but also on education .
how precisely do you propose to strengthen the social dimension of the Lisbon Strategy ?
I particularly welcome cooperation on humanitarian crises and natural disasters .
farmers will only increase production if they make a profit , and we have a real problem here .
the interim agreement is not only a favour to the US ; it is in our common interest .
first , it is certain that complete decoupling lowers production .
the only hope for an effective solution to problems of this type lies in convincing the rulers and the opposition that the overriding aim of politics is not to acquire or hold onto power ; the aim of politics is the good of the people .
I hope that we can reach those targets without the need for strong intervention at European level .
I am disturbed , however , about the media reports today that Haitians are protesting because , despite all efforts , they still have no tents over their heads or enough food and water .
to that end we need a European agreement covering the southern shores of the Mediterranean , including Tunisia and also Egypt .
therefore , with all due respect for the Commission 's good intentions and the work carried out by Mr Lehne and the Committee on Legal Affairs , I cannot support this report .
this legislation does what only the European Union can do in a strong internal market .
together with the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance in the European Parliament , I support this agreement .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to thank you , Mr President , for your hard work .
only three hours ago I spoke with a colleague here in the European Parliament who said : ' if they don 't do as we want , we can block them , not just in NATO , but in the EU .
we have to insist on the development of the civilian dimension of the peace enforcement and peace keeping missions , as well as of the crisis management and post-crisis rehabilitation operation .
moreover , the planned measures , which are based on the massive collection of personal data , pose risks to the protection of privacy in my opinion .
lobbies play a useful and essential role in legislative work , providing that there is transparency .
yesterday , however , we had the debate on the strategy and future of Europe in view of the G20 with another president , who by contrast had to ask for and was given an invite , it is not clear on what grounds , aside from the obvious reason of the role being played by his national state .
I hope it will be given specific political content , and also that the EURONEST Parliamentary Assembly will play a role as an instrument of support for the ambitions of those states which are obviously European in outlook .
this momentum is diminishing day by day .
those sums of money were a good investment , as we can now see , as an enterprise economy emerges in Northern Ireland and the border counties .
with the national action plans , I would like to hope that the Directorate-General for Energy and Transport has enough staff , or is able to recruit enough staff , to deal with , monitor and implement the issues .
both reports - the Rasmussen report and the Lehne report - demonstrate the urgent need for action .
this will translate directly into the kind of reduction in greenhouse gas emissions which will bring us closer to one of the 3x20 objectives .
creating an excellent framework for training and work is a task that can be carried out from within the European institutions .
furthermore , the Committee on Petitions is of the view that the Commission 's uncooperative attitude in this and other cases of access to documents risks undermining citizens ' trust in the Commission and eroding the ability of the European Ombudsman and the European Parliament to adequately and effectively supervise the Commission .
clearly , there needs to be a substantial increase in numbers of effective UN and AU troops deployed in eastern Congo and a clear idea of where they come from - there are many countries that could contribute to this that are not doing so at the moment .
I am afraid that such an assessment is no longer valid .
the Council is , in turn , due to discuss this at the end of the month , on 27 and 28 October .
good governance is a fundamental principle of the Cotonou Agreement .
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we are taking positive action and I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the public authorities .
( SK ) Mr President , I would like to thank the group of Members for raising this urgent issue .
what is very important in my opinion is the emphasis placed on renewable energy as regards the candidate countries .
general arrangements for excise duty (
this means that prices rise and development becomes impossible .
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this is one reason why the Commission should examine it for compliance with EU law and it could have a great effect on other Member States .
we need to fight for full employment with comprehensive social security , in contrast with current practices , which , on the pretext of demographic decline , are leading towards the logic of uncertain employment and are undermining the importance of collective negotiations in various countries .
2 .
the European Union adopted guidelines for the brokering of arms trading in 2001 , and the common position was adopted in 2003 .
following the 2002 floods , which caused great human and material damage in Germany , Austria , the Czech Republic and France , the Council of the European Union created an instrument to allow funds to be released rapidly to assist regions affected by natural disasters .
the region I come from adjoins the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine .
this should always be pointed out .
several international journalists ' organisations have also expressed their concern .
the next item is the Council and Commission statements on the implementation of Goldstone recommendations on Israel / Palestine .
energy is one of life 's basic necessities .
I voted in favour of this report because I feel it is necessary to provide European savers with clear and safe financial instruments .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , I would like to propose the following amendment to Paragraph 6 .
it is vital that we act to ensure that the European Union implements a truly sustainable fishing policy in order to protect stocks , the environment , and European jobs in the long term .
once again , I would like to express my thanks to Parliament 's negotiating team and , in particular , to the Chair of the Budget Committee , Mr Lamassoure , and to the rapporteurs for the 2010 budget , Mr Surján and Mr Maňka .
the European Parliament would be committing a grave error if it sent a delegation to observe the elections , since this would be interpreted as support for the coup d 'état ; the OAS has already ruled out sending an observation mission to the elections .
I have never made negative comments about decisions of courts , be it the constitutional courts , the European Court of Justice or the Court of Auditors .
it is obviously good to improve the operations of Frontex , but if we really want to help the countries of southern Europe , then we must move towards harmonising the right to asylum , review the Dublin Convention and , most of all , finally draw up a genuine immigration policy .
by the same token , I hope that Slovenia also finds a sensible solution regarding the German-speaking Austrian residual minority in Slovenia and recognises these people as an indigenous minority , and that the cultural convention between Austria and Slovenia can be full of substance in this regard .
solidarity goes hand in hand with solidity in the emotionally charged context of sovereign debt markets .
we need new blood .
it is precisely in order to prevent the Internet from becoming a lawless area that the Democratic Movement 's delegation considers that terminating Internet access should not be an administrative decision but a judicial decision .
fake medicines may have effects other than those of the tablets prescribed by the doctor .
as we draft a new European Union strategy for its future commitment in Iraq , we must not overlook the need for dialogue with the United States , notably in the area of foreign and security policy .
the Commissioner herself has put a lot of energy into the region , but I am also aware that the Presidency is of the opinion that the European Union must not leave this region to the Chinese or the Russians .
it has both positive and negative sides and we have to find the right balance .
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thus , I have to agree with the rapporteur , and hope that her recommendations , particularly with regard to certainty of information and the precautionary principle - which needs to benefit patients rather than companies - are taken into account by the Commission and by all Member States .
it follows that Europe 's weakness in its relations with Russia is caused by its own naivety and short-sightedness .
in many ways what we see happening is a convergence of ideals and goals between the US and the European Union .
for more than 18 months , cod stocks in the North Sea have been enjoying a remarkable recovery .
we must introduce a rule for this , and the guidelines are a benchmark , a framework that we can work by .
so , we should stand in solidarity with the right of all people in Lithuania , in Russia , throughout the European Union , and elsewhere , to live in peace and in accordance with their own identities .
Mr President , it is a particular strength of the European Union that we are not egoistic , that we can see past the end of our own European nose and that we do look at what is happening outside Europe and in far-off exotic Asia .
( DA ) Madam President , Serbia is probably the European country that , over the last thousand years of history , has been besieged the most , first by the Turks , then by the Germans and then the Russians .
finally , I am ashamed that in this debate the British National Party will speak for the first time , with an MEP who last Friday described Islam as ' a cancer that should be removed from Europe by chemotherapy ' .
I shall hand it over to him , and I sincerely hope that this Envoy for Women 's Rights will be introduced , as we really need this driving force to effect real change .
I think that is very important .
we should not lose sight of the great objective in its entirety because the target audience of this EIT is small and medium-sized enterprises specifically .
the Commission will also invoke its existing competition law powers to deal with any anti-competitive practices that may emerge .
the abandonment of agricultural land and reduced production are leading to the decline of the countryside and the devaluation of the role of the primary sector in the social and economic framework .
Madam President , Commissioner , Mr Wieland has already outlined the facts of the case very clearly .
this is why I think that mentioning the Italian Prime Minister in your text filing lawsuits against Italian and European newspapers and not mentioning this case - I think what happened in Hungary is more serious - applies a double standard .
( SV ) Mr President , I thank the rapporteur for a good piece of work on an important and sensitive matter .
this will improve working conditions on board and enhance transport safety .
indeed , the Commission held a preliminary discussion , an orientation debate , before its meeting today on this subject .
for this reason , I support the introduction of the two annexes to the directive .
in writing . - ( PL ) The strategy for the Danube Region which we have prepared , and which we have voted on today , makes it possible to promote regional and cross-border cooperation .
having said that , they are taking the initiative within their own organisations to confront their own people , and saying that it should absolutely not be done any more in their companies .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to begin by congratulating Mr Belder on his excellent work .
it is a temporary measure and there will not be a second one : if there is a second measure it must be within the framework of an analysis and a more thorough proposal on slots .
we must get intervention - medical and educational - to all those thousands of people , especially children who , since the New Year , have become disabled for life .
the abolition of visas will make an enormous contribution to the process of regional cooperation and the overcoming of ethnic divisions and will also help to build cultural , social , economic and political bridges .
humanitarian aid is needed in abundance , and there must be international efforts made to get it there .
the current change in the international order is pushing the European Union to make a more active effort in its dealings with world and emerging powers so that it can take a proactive role in building a United Nations that can make an effective contribution to global solutions : peace , security , democracy and an international order based on the rule of law .
finally , I would emphasise the importance of the Commission confirming that the application of ACTA will not have any impact on fundamental rights and data protection , or on the efforts that the EU is currently making to harmonise implementation measures for intellectual property rights .
we are also shocked by another tragic event in the state of Alabama in the United States , where a gunman on the rampage shot at least ten people before turning his gun on himself .
that is why our group feels strongly that the EU budget does not need to grow .
I shall speak in her language , French , using the papers she had prepared , because I am sure you will be very interested in hearing her own words :
that is not a public democratic debate .
we should develop programmes such as those which make milk and fruit available at schools .
the problem is , therefore , that the only Members listening to you are those who can do so in the original language .
we are opposed to the idea , which was considered , of the Commission 's mandate finishing when work on the C-SIS central system is concluded .
the intensity , in particular , is being neglected on cost grounds , and maintenance intervals are being lengthened .
respect for these rules and a European approach to fisheries are the best way of protecting the interests of the fishing sector .
this strategy must take into consideration the current economic and demographic situation , but also the completion of the internal market .
at present , one in five species is at risk of extinction .
in many Member States including my own , farmers and rural dwellers do not enjoy the same levels of broadband access , putting them at a distinct disadvantage in comparison with people who live in cities and towns .
this is a burden on the taxpayer which , in the view of many others , will not actually contribute to human rights .
in July , Natalia Estemirova , a well-known Russian human rights activist and journalist , was found dead in Ingushetia after being abducted by armed men in neighbouring Chechnya .
that is why we decided to abstain .
on behalf of every new Member State , I wish to register my protest .
to achieve these objectives , the EU needs a specific financing instrument for development cooperation .
you have introduced earlier sanctions in the excessive imbalances procedure .
all this law would do would be to permit seizure .
such an approach would , in fact , only hurt the people of Belarus .
I voted in favour of this text .
these two areas of investment are the key to the rapid growth of the European Union .
we are not being political in this , Mr Cashman : our response has been less than adequate .
when I think of my own country , if you want to get forward a legislative initiative in the UK , you have to find a Member of Parliament , they have to be lucky enough to win an annual ballot or lottery , and then it is likely to get talked out by the government of the day .
we are supporting inland waterway transport with the NAIADES programme .
the role of women in agriculture and the development of rural areas is extremely important , as they represent around 42 % of agricultural workers , are a cornerstone of keeping farms going , and ensure that desertification in rural areas is effectively combated .
this must present opportunities for poor countries , where , in line with the WTO decision , compulsory licensing can offer a solution in respect of medicines still protected by patents .
today , I have heard much said - and I have heard it on many previous occasions - about various worrying aspects of crime .
the public commitment needs to be not merely verbal , but also financial ; and human resources are necessary too , to provide the skills required for the long term - for as long as Chernobyl remains unresolved .
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without respect for these principles , it is impossible to see how Azerbaijan can have a common future with its European partners .
the deadline for tabling motions for resolutions falls on Tuesday , 15 February at 10 : 00 .
the Presidency is therefore going to have an active presence in the work of the Council .
it remains to be seen how far we can actually go towards achieving the present aim of reducing the application of plant protection agents .
it is a real labelling con .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I am grateful to the honourable Members for being so open and straightforward and for making their remarks in such a way that , although certain groups have differing approaches , the emphasis is on how we can find a solution .
first of all , he asked for a number of changes to a rescue mechanism .
Mr President , I hope it does not have to do with counterfeiting medicines .
( DE ) Mr President , Mr Leinen has accused me of suggesting that we ignore the Rules of Procedure .
the EU now speaks with a clear , coordinated voice on the international stage and I really would like to thank the Commission and , in particular , Joaquín Almunia , for the work that he has done to help bring about this consensus .
as a citizen , I need to know whether it is tobacco industry lobbyists or health organisations that are advising the Commission when an initiative to improve public health is to be produced .
we should cooperate with Turkey to the best of our ability , but the implications of the accession of a Muslim country to a European club are hard to quantify .
I note in recital E of this resolution that we Europeans give ourselves a nice pat on the back for our humanitarian aid efforts .
Mr Romagnoli , I have not forgotten about you .
in line with your suggestion , the Commission will involve consumer organisations representing traffic accident victims in the process of assessing the effectiveness of the systems existing in the Member States .
following the granting of candidate status in 2005 , there was a slowdown .
we grant the working group the freedom to submit any necessary recommendations .
he writes : ' the problem now is : nation-states have not just given up part of their sovereignty to the European Union but also part of their vision for their own future .
I agree with the rapporteur that linguistic and cultural diversity influence the everyday lives of citizens in a significant way .
it is not because history has condemned peoples of Europe to join Europe later that they have less rights .
Member of the Commission . - Firstly , I would like to mention that it is important to clarify that the EFTA states that are parties to the EEA Agreement - that is , Norway , Iceland and Liechtenstein - are subject to strict state aid discipline based on the EU model .
that is the price at which we will enhance the Union 's cohesion and synchronisation , our dedicated budget will be deployed , comprehensively , in the desired directions , and the European Union will , at last , fully assume its role as a centre of stability .
for this reason , we need to find alternative solutions which will lead to a reduction in CO2 emissions from light commercial vehicles .
the report examines the effectiveness of the Development Cooperation Instrument ( DCI ) in relation to the debate on the Multiannual Financial Framework .
the neutrality of the Internet is in danger , not only for this reason but also because of what is known as ' traffic management ' , and I am afraid that some aspects of the Harbour report regarding universal services do not clearly protect that neutrality .
from the perspective of commercial channels , the much older public broadcasters may be seen as competitors that are given a serious advantage as they collect funds through taxpayers ' money .
we will feel her absence until we perhaps negotiate this patent some time in the future .
it is right and proper to respect the Irish vote .
I will just repeat what he said so that the interpreter can say it : ' one people , one empire , one leader ' .
but , after this vote , I also now count on the constructive help of the Socialists to win this battle .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , as usual , if I had just one wish in my political life , it would be to have more time in Parliament to answer the questions I am asked .
it is most strange that at this juncture , on the eve of what I am now convinced will be the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty - and I did my bit in the UK House of Lords last year , by the way - the Commission should put forward this extremely muddled and senseless set of proposals .
moreover , national authorities must assure consumers that they have the right to get their money back for the dangerous products they purchased .
that is our clear objective and , as a result , I understand the apprehension and concern and also the unease of some Members from Member States which have been in the European Union for many years , such as Greece , or have been members for four years .
a great deal has been achieved in recent years , for example in the area of drugs for paediatric use , a matter in which respect the public is not even aware that there is a problem , but where a European solution is very much on the agenda , because Member States cannot resolve this on their own .
on the minus side , an indicator of the lack of knowledge of EU citizens is the fact that almost four out of five complaints do not fall within the scope of responsibilities of the European Ombudsman .
the big thing that has happened is that Parliament 's position has been weakened as a result of extensive lobbying by lobbyists in the pay of industry , which puts its interest in selling more pesticides ahead of protecting public health and consumers .
I agree with him that it is highly appropriate for the provisions of the Athens Convention of 1974 relating to the Carriage of Passengers and their Luggage by Sea to be incorporated into European law , since the national differences that still exist do not make it possible to guarantee an adequate level of liability and mandatory insurance in the event of accidents involving passengers .
from now on , we are sending out the clear message that illegal employment will no longer be tolerated and therefore it makes no sense to make the crossing over to Europe , while under the mistaken impression that there are jobs to be had here .
from a financial perspective , we already play a major role and , in my opinion , we must make use of this pole position to develop the relationship between Europe and Latin America .
freedom of movement is prevented by the fact that certain Member States are permitted to require additional documents .
it is absolutely right that we recognise this , and when talking about women in small businesses I would just like to end with the words of that great philosopher , John Lennon .
it is also important for its employees to have a solid knowledge of English , as well as their native language .
these revenues must be allocated appropriately , otherwise they will be perceived as an additional tax .
how can a European citizen feel safe ?
the European Parliament has already committed itself to respecting these rights , and all Member States are bound by them .
I would like to begin by saying that the Community civil protection mechanism can be activated only upon a request by an affected country .
our initial proposal has evolved and we now have a compromise text agreed by the Commission that is the result of intense discussions .
I only hope that this report really is adopted , and adopted by a large majority .
for this purpose and to ensure that the strengthened ENP is effective , it must be followed by all the member countries as part of a privileged partnership with a view to achieving the necessary reforms .
in writing . - ( PT ) It is worrying that the issue of United Nations reform crops up so regularly .
they say that budgets reflect or mirror the intended economic policies .
in this context , we need legal certainty and , therefore , an extension of the monopoly over a longer period .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , despite the significance of this report , only 19 Member States reported on core indicators .
in addition , a concept of open innovation should be encouraged .
what we need is a real social pact , with a coherent vision and a serious commitment to a social Europe , so that at least we show citizens that Europe is more than just a market .
Mr President , I am speaking on the subject of the ICI + Instrument .
for me , this is a move too far , and the one area I cannot support .
Mr President , President-in-Office of the Council , Commissioner , I think we should not beat about the bush .
concerning the non-proliferation resolution , I would like to underline the importance of envisaging a world free from nuclear weapons , the clear judgment on the anachronism of tactical nuclear weapons and the value of the positions recently adopted by some European governments on this front .
the recent developments have made this suggestion even more relevant .
what is alarming is that trends are being observed indicating that these disparities are growing , which may increase inequality and lead to isolation .
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transparency and the physical exchange of information are the foundations of fair competition and of a fair distribution of the tax burden .
by the time this massive evacuation was completed , there were only around 200 people left who wanted to be evacuated .
we will have a General Affairs Council on Friday on this matter and will examine the relevant chapters .
in writing . - The Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 allows for mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument to allow the financing of clearly identified expenditure which could not be financed within the limits of the ceilings available for one or more headings of the multiannual financial framework .
that would make a huge difference .
it is my conviction that a key factor here is also the creation of a perspicuous mechanism of operation for the judicial system in the Balkans , which will assume the original functions of the Tribunal after its closure .
first of all , her real aim is not ecological or even economic , it is dogmatic : as indicated in the explanatory statement , the aim is to introduce a common European energy policy , and this must take precedence over everything else .
will it therefore take the lead in recognising that biofuels are not the answer ?
sustainable growth is an extremely complex issue .
important work is under way in that respect .
we are making progress by taking the Irish requests seriously , and I address this remark to Mrs Doyle and Mrs McGuiness .
in the Carpathians or , for example , in Sajólád , 30-40 % of the forests have already been stolen .
but both the Prime Minister and I come from Stockholm , where infrastructure and investment must all have practically doubled in cost .
work in the Service should be treated as an integral part of their career at home .
over the year , we have been working alongside Parliament and the Council to , among other things , increase protection for bank depositors , dissuade banks and other financial institutions from taking excessive risks in the future and better regulate the credit rating agencies .
the people are entitled to demonstrate within the limits of the law when they feel that the government is acting against their interests .
firstly , we want to check the security precautions for future licences ; in other words , what higher or highest standards are possible for new authorisations .
I sometimes wonder if we speak to the same people .
Danish firms which have invested in agriculture in Romania have been informed that , in future , they may not charge VAT on goods sold to intermediaries .
in addition , by abandoning the rules of fair economic competition we will be creating a jungle .
EUR 14.8 million of this carryover was for activities as yet not implemented ( or , in some cases , for goods not received ) at the year-end , which is at odds with the budgetary principle of annuality .
for this reason , it is very important that we address this issue .
God has given us many languages and many cultures , but only one world in which to live together , and it is getting smaller every day .
Mr President , Madam Vice-President , many thanks for having opened the debate here on this subject , which I think is an important one .
so I look forward to working in partnership with Prime Minister Orbán and with the Hungarian Presidency to make sure that it is a successful one .
frequently amended regulations need to be codified in order to render Community law clear and intelligible .
there is as yet , however , no overview of those regulations that have been transposed so as to make it possible to determine the need for new regulations that has been claimed .
'Throughout its history , Europe has seen terrible outbreaks of armed conflict often rooted in prejudice and hatred .
this is an example of what cannot happen !
this is an area that I personally have had discussions with the car rental companies about .
this is a highly relevant report given that the pay gap in the European Union is a reality that should be eliminated .
this cannot be our only strategy , and we must certainly take up a demand being made by the EU Member States : to govern legal migration .
is the Council in any way considering a further extension of the deadline for transposition of the accessibility requirement for existing and / or new infrastructure ?
economics should serve all people , helping them to be at home in their communities , at home in themselves .
greater economic flexibility should be allowed .
I would be slow to denigrate that attitude in anybody .
however , let me start with a point of criticism , addressed to the Council , in particular .
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the situation has obviously changed several times in the 20 years since they started .
what is the Council 's position with regard to Europe-wide cooperation concerning homelessness ?
the Commission has therefore called for the immediate establishment of a thorough investigation and for the prosecution of persons who broke the law .
the nationals of Montenegro also deserve greater democracy , greater respect , greater diversity and greater legal certainty .
I explicitly regret that my amendment to that effect did not command a majority in the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs .
without that knowledge it is very difficult for farmers to plan for the future .
the strategy for the capacity , efficiency and security of European airports prioritises the optimised use and development of current capacity , aid for combined transport and reducing the environmental burden .
would Minister Malmström like to take the floor before signing the legislative acts ?
this is something that we previously received Parliament 's support for in principle .
we often say that Europe 's small businesses are the heart of the European economy .
that is exactly what this should be about : we have to ensure that we can make energy savings in the built environment , for example , in a much faster timeframe , which is why we have submitted an amendment for a European Building Initiative .
no concessions .
any attempt to reduce , weaken or postpone the promises made must be fought .
he served as President of the European Commission from 1981 until 1985 .
second , the year 2009 will see new elections to Parliament , and especially the introduction of the new Members ' Statute , which will undoubtedly involve a considerable increase in Parliament 's expenditure .
there is an increased moral risk here .
the European Microfinance Facility must provide useful assistance to the unemployed and vulnerable people who would like to set up or run micro-enterprises .
we have some funding , we can provide support for victims and we can encourage further cooperation .
just two years ago , here in a plenary session of the European Parliament , I said that , in my opinion , one of the most significant challenges facing transport today is clearly that of making intelligent transport systems widely available in Europe .
the debate is closed .
however , I would still like to point out that the old Member States that are facing these asylum issues must also review whether their asylum policies are appropriate , as they are also granting asylum to applicants to whom it should not be granted .
the payments are set at the level of EUR 126.5 billion , corresponding to 1.01 % of GNI .
the economic crisis in the developed world has brought in its wake trade restrictions which , in turn , are putting an economic stranglehold on less developed countries .
the Commission 's initiative in conjunction with the recovery plan is therefore welcome , even if it has been put together very quickly .
he said the UK would not hand him over .
- Madam President , before I begin , may I just pay tribute to the previous speaker , Jim Allister .
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this conflict is jeopardising the peace process that should have followed the referendum of January 2011 .
attention must be drawn to the fact that this is a highly toxic product and that viable and safe alternative solutions do exist .
it has constantly underlined the fact that the euro area needs a stability pact with authority .
secondly , we have had very good cooperation between the Commission , the ECB and the IMF , which was not self-evident when we started about a year and a half ago in terms of fire-fighting the financial turmoil .
on the one hand , we can see the Annual Growth Survey , and we can see the European Semester leading to fewer jobs and less growth in Europe .
it is Europe 's task to lead a global strategy that seeks to equip the international community with an effective legal architecture that guarantees the total exclusion of arms from space , through the revision and strengthening of the Outer Space Treaty .
Europe 's energy security is based on a variety of sources , routes and supply countries .
it started as a ' chauvinistic ' fallacy in competition with Google , but has been reformulated , following various changes , in more sensible , realistic and productive terms .
in order to promote a policy to address this issue , the European Commission issued a communication in October 2008 , which the Council accepted in full last December .
I welcome the fact that the scheme must only involve fresh fruit and vegetables produced in the European Union .
in writing . - ( SV ) This report on non-profit local community media in Europe deals with an area which is considered to need additional funding under EU support programmes .
those who hold power are tempted to stack the cards in their favour , especially in the run-up to elections , whilst those who lose find the results difficult to accept .
this should be an especially important subject in the ongoing review of the EU 's human rights policy when it comes to the elaboration of a comprehensive human rights country strategy and to the evaluation of the EU guidelines on violence against women and girls and those EU guidelines concerning children and armed conflict , as well as combating all forms of discrimination against them .
I will focus on four main issues .
I understand that infringements of property rights on the Internet have to be dealt with , but that should not mean encroaching on the freedom of an individual Internet user .
I come from an island and I understand very well the importance of maritime research and progress .
the Commission will , for example , be obliged to submit reports to us on the concrete follow-up provisions adopted for any legislative initiative request .
thus , the challenges are clear to Europe .
I think we had a very welcome participation by the High Representative in the meeting some weeks ago .
that said , in the light of the increased pressure on some external borders and the calls from Member States to strengthen the system of the Schengen rules , the Council needs to look into how we can further guarantee the principle of free movement and , at the same time , citizens ' need for maintenance of a high level of internal security .
I would like to thank the Chair of the Committee on Budgetary Control , Mr Bösch , for all the work and patience he has put in , as well as the rapporteurs , Mr Jørgensen , Mr Pomés Ruiz and Mr Stubb .
this should be implemented through improving the existing E.U. legislation and directives involving consumer protection especially to ensure :
forced labour camps , kidnappings , arbitrary arrests and torture appear to be the hallmarks of Kim Jong-il 's tyrannical regime .
( HU ) I wish to congratulate Alexandra Dobolyi and her fellow authors .
I am sure our excellent fellow Member , Mrs Lulling , will agree , since she has been working on this problem since 1994 .
one merit of the La Russa report is this : if it is true , and it is true , that the purpose of the Community-wide internal gas market is to offer all EU consumers freedom to choose their supplier and at the same time to create new commercial opportunities , we must expect a more efficient service to be provided and then reflected in competitive pricing .
my third point , Mr Van Rompuy , is that the Treaty of Lisbon is not enough , and that more intergovernmental collaboration is needed .
in writing . - I voted in favour of Mr Guerreiro 's report .
in writing . - My British Conservative colleagues and I are very supportive of the contribution made to the European economy by those organisations and enterprises which operate in the ' not-for-profit ' sector .
although we have held many debates on this issue , the measures taken in Europe have , unfortunately , been ineffectual , despite the threat posed to our continent and our economy .
the Socialist Group in the European Parliament shares the Commissioner 's analysis of the present situation and agrees that , within the health check , we shall have the opportunity to examine this issue in depth and take more fitting definitive decisions for the future .
I believe that the masters ' liability in the case of passenger freight should apply to inland waterways as well .
surely it is time to learn from the lessons of successful fish preservation and conservation .
but what solution ?
of similar importance is the adaptation of health systems and everyday practice , including monitoring the disease in high-risk groups and providing qualified health workers and adequate supplies of equipment .
that is a rather strange set-up , a bit like having a butcher inspecting the quality of his own meat .
it would send the wrong message - in the desperation that may be perceptible in a number of speeches here - to diminish this ambition .
the next item is the report by Mrs Anna Hedh , on behalf of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection , on the Consumer Markets Scoreboard .
I have in mind the Directives on seasonal workers , workers who are long-term residents and ' EU Blue Cards ' which we are discussing today .
I myself thought that the final result was watered down and lobbied to pieces by industry , but at least it is there , the world 's most wide-ranging chemicals legislation .
this is by far the best way to safeguard our welfare system .
logistics involve no more nor less than avoiding too many transfers between the different modes of transport and making sure that optimum use is made of them where they are most efficient or profitable .
measures to protect forests are vital .
the citizens are wondering who is threatening the European Union to the extent that it needs to tie its security in with ΝΑΤΟ ?
in the area of funding , the report encourages the use of Structural Funds in support of energy efficiency , and calls for this to be made a priority within the EU budget after 2013 .
now is the time to work on creating jobs for the future .
agenda of the next sitting : see Minutes
the idea will be to allocate the money in national envelopes , according to production in the year 2008-9 and , of course , within the ceiling of the national quotas , distributed in a non-discriminatory manner to those dairy farmers most affected by the crisis .
I also take the view that the election campaign for the European Parliament provides a great opportunity for responsible MEPs to explain what decisions we make in Strasbourg , how civil society participates in our work and how it will be able to participate following adoption of the Lisbon Treaty .
what comprehensive lasting prospect is the European Union able to offer to the Kosovars and to the other peoples of the Balkans - a prospect that can stabilise the situation here without the risk of destabilising it elsewhere ?
a rescue plan for the growing number of school leavers with no qualifications is at least just as hard as for the duped savers , because without a qualification , these young people have absolutely no standing in life .
for the European Union the requirement for creativity is nothing new .
the three reports took account of these shortcomings and also defined them excellently .
President Pöttering has been hasty in asserting that there were no votes against .
our role should be to stop creating the instability that fuels these vast population movements : there must be no more wars such as those against Iraq and Afghanistan ; we must pull out of Libya before we are drawn into a ground war ; we must cancel the planned conflict with Iran and we must avoid encouraging discontent in other Middle Eastern states .
indeed , Mr Martin .
we hope that the free movement of citizens , workers and service providers will break down borders in people 's minds and thinking as well .
it is certainly an attempt to perpetuate by means of a fait accompli policy , the political , economic and military domination of that most important region of Europe by the USA and the EU 's major powers .
I have said , and the Commission has said , time and time again , there is no room for complacency , especially when the economic situation seems to be deteriorating globally .
ECB statistics (
what are you telling the board of the Jerusalem local authority , then ?
we now need that large majority .
( FR ) Mr President , Mr Barroso , Mr Reinfeldt , I would like to know your view , Mr Reinfeldt , on the conclusions of the Troika , since the Heads of State or Government decided to create this troika concept in order to give a sense of continuity to the Presidency .
the EU is a staunch supporter of the International Criminal Court ( ICC ) , which promotes universality and upholds the integrity of the Rome Statute with a view to protecting and consolidating the independence , legitimacy and effectiveness of the international judicial process .
a large proportion of the results for 2007 are already guaranteed by the results produced in the first two quarters , by the information available on what is happening in our economies in this third quarter and by the positive inertia of economic recovery based on the good , solid foundations that we inherited from 2006 .
the recent discovery of a secret nuclear facility in Iran could well confirm this judgment , but we must now all redouble our efforts to curb Iran 's nuclear ambitions and , as allies of the US , we strongly support their military struggle against Jihadi terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan and their strong efforts to bring lasting peace to the Middle East .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , in reality , we are holding a debate this morning about the significance of culture in the various policy areas - in foreign policy , in economic policy , in education policy and in social policy - and we all know that all of us benefit from culture being taken more seriously .
we expect the EUR 5 million pilot project currently implemented by the Commission to pave the way for efficient and effective solutions in the areas that matter most : early childhood education and economic inclusion , and provide progress on policy learning and evaluation .
- ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , first a very big thank you to the rapporteur , Mr Lehne , who has done a magnificent job and has found appropriate solutions to a very difficult question in agreement with the Members from the other groups .
the establishment of this new legal instrument , the EGTC , was born of difficulties which this type of action encountered as a result of the different systems and different procedures in place
in order to ensure , as effectively as possible , the implementation of the social rules in road transport , the European Commission should come up with a uniform and binding interpretation of the Regulation on driving and resting hours , which the national inspection bodies should take into account .
no element in the framework decision can be construed as a reduction of or constraint on fundamental rights and liberties , such as the freedom of expression , of association , or of assembly .
in writing . - I voted in favour of the report on the new youth strategy , as I believe that the future of Europe is the young people today .
it is essential that this target should be met as we need some of these funds for other purposes , as Mr Fernandes has pointed out .
these vehicles can withstand almost any accident but , unfortunately , most of the vehicles on our roads are medium or low priced .
these include the search for peace and security in the region , the social and geopolitical impact of the economic crisis , environmental concerns , the management of migratory flows , and the role of women in our respective societies .
without the Balkan war , it would have joined in 2004 .
a fundamental question , however , remains : what should be done about milk production and milk producers in the long term ?
how can these developments be verified ?
besides , it is in their interest .
by the way , during the work of the Committee on Culture and Education , we were able to remove from the report the proposal to appoint a special EU ambassador solely for cultural affairs .
the fact that we have nothing , not one single proposal , for how things should be in the future , disturbs us .
the report by Mr Cortés Lastra , on behalf of the Committee on Regional Development , on the contribution of the Cohesion policy to the achievement of Lisbon and the EU 2020 objectives .
we allow the construction of minarets in Europe , while they do not reciprocate at all .
this is a lamentable failure where European solidarity is concerned ; we are allowing more and more national rescue plans for the industrial sector and we are reduced merely to calling for a rejection of protectionism .
the Christian Democrats have been in power in Italy almost uninterruptedly since 1946 .
the subject of budget aid once again involves particular problems because it is not possible to follow up or trace the money and what it is used for .
in writing . - ( IT ) The Generalised System of Preferences ( GSP ) has been one of the key EU trade and development policy instruments to assist developing countries to reduce poverty .
it was possible thanks to our role as European leader ; I am proud of this as President of a European institution .
today we are facing new problems as a result of the globalisation of trade .
in this sense , we see a balanced report containing commitments that can be realistically met , which is why I strongly support it .
we have indicated our willingness to work with subregions , if that is what the ACP states wish .
clearly , Israel 's unilateral withdrawal from Gaza as a bona fide gesture of land for peace is of very little significance to Israel 's critics .
even though I agree with Ms Jäätteenmäki that , unfortunately , we have not seen a lot of progress .
I would like to extend a warm welcome to the South African delegation which is here to take part in the 14th inter-parliamentary meeting between the European Parliament and the South African Parliament .
yet Barrack Obama has not only ditched his promise to shut that horrific prison but has now approved the resumption of military trials for detainees .
I believe everyone should join in this call for a purposeful Europe that combines the efforts of its three institutions to combat this horrible crime that violates human rights .
sport excellence costs a lot , but it is equally necessary to increase the funding of mass sport from childhood to retirement age .
a Commission President who is strong is all very well , but a College , a Commission that is strong and which demonstrates its cohesion , is essential and is far more important still .
something I would like to do during the European Football Championships - which are not long away now and which will be hosted in Poland and Ukraine - is to watch one or two matches with you .
differing ideas have been put forward about how job losses and notice will be distributed .
for the first time in 16 years , the European Court of Auditors has issued a positive statement of assurance with regard to both the reliability of the annual accounts and the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions .
it does not say anywhere that the forty Members have to be present in the Chamber in order to submit this request for the quorum to be established , but it is also not excluded .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I am dealing with this file on behalf of my colleague , Mrs Kroes , the Competition Commissioner .
in the area of cohesion , which represents almost a third of the budget , the situation remains that this is the only budgetary area where the estimated error is over 5 % .
the development of certain less polluting products entails the involvement of different parties , such as companies , the competent authorities and NGOs .
indeed , in addition to the physical violence endured , the psychological violence that the victims have suffered is terrible beyond measure .
nor do we believe that parents and older people in general have poor media literacy .
therefore , ladies and gentlemen , I earnestly urge you to vote for it .
these blind methods have just demonstrated their limitations in Tunisia .
it would be interesting to hear what Mr Andersson thinks of this suggestion .
in 2011 , the Commission will table the remaining pieces of regulation .
in other words , the Commission has been handing countries a bag of money without applying sufficient controls .
as my final and closing remark , Mr President , I would like to mention the topic of climate change - which was also recently addressed in the relevant committees , with the approval of important reports - to look again at a part of this resolution that has my full support .
first of all , I think it is excellent that the Commission has stepped into the breach and that Mr Hahn is also considering how he might be able to alter his operational programmes .
( DE ) Unfortunately , this applies to the Commission , or at least to those members of the Commission who should be responsible for these issues .
I believe that , thanks to a measure of this sort , professions which are rare or hardly employed at a particular workplace will be promoted through them being combined by those holding some of these skills and according to market demand .
primarily , however , it is important for ensuring legal certainty among European citizens .
I have therefore voted against it in the final vote .
however , there is also a wish for the rules to be made clearer , as well as for increased transparency and for there to be more efficient application of the instruments .
this was the result of compromises being made and which received willing support .
in my opinion , Germany should lead now and move towards a common European treasury .
the annual meetings of the Cooperation Committee and Cooperation Council , and of the Parliamentary Cooperation Committee are thus particularly important .
the next item is Question Time ( B6-0231 / 2009 ) .
in the world of international finance , it is usual for voting rights to be allocated according to the obligations to make contributions .
competence was originally devised because about 80 % of the population live in towns and , due to climate change , we now want to take this on .
one way to help this process is to insist constantly on respect for human rights in third countries .
it is increasingly evident that tax policies are not neutral .
I am sorry that the symbols of the European Union ( the flag , anthem and motto ) have been abandoned .
I only have one more opportunity to be with you , so I must make the most of this experience .
the new Erasmus Mundus programme will need to adapt to the increased demand for mobility , while at the same time maintaining its standards .
Mr President , I should like to make two quick points .
the exceptions are the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland , which are not bound by this agreement , and a territorial restriction with respect to France and the Netherlands , for which this agreement only relates to those countries ' European territories .
this speed and effectiveness are evidence of strong action , based on competence and greater trust in your institution .
the PSE Group gives broad support to the conclusions on climate change .
EU governments did not have a clue what to do .
in this respect I will be building on my cooperation with Mr Fjellner in the future .
what has been striking in this debate is the very broad consensus extending beyond the differences between groups .
thank you for your attention and please vote in favour of discharge .
nonetheless , I do not feel that imposing parity should be the way to increase women 's participation in the labour market .
we have increasing numbers of poor workers .
a fund that helps everyone achieve a certain level of energy efficiency and embrace renewables has my support and I voted in favour of it .
in the case of Tibet unfortunately , there is only military occupation and political repression ; there is also immigration .
without such a measure , rogue traders and other debtors can evade their responsibilities by simply moving their assets to another jurisdiction , thereby denying the creditor effective enforcement of the judgment in the Single Market .
the Court 's mandate comes to an end soon , in 2010 , and the Sierra Leone Government has been totally frank about not being able to ensure that the sentences passed will be enforced .
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on that occasion , the Council endorsed the Presidency 's conclusions on the progress made and the need to continue to work in close cooperation with all Member States towards a solution acceptable to all parties involved .
however , now that I was given the floor , I would rather not criticise , but make a recommendation on behalf of 80 million people living with disabilities .
looking back at our achievements , we must also be critical and own up to mistakes that have been committed .
finally , cohesion policy must also be the subject of better communication so that European citizens can understand the important role played by the Structural Funds in major regional and social cohesion projects .
whereas in our digital age , data protection , the right of informational self-determination , personal rights and the right to privacy have become values that play an ever increasing role and must therefore be protected with special care .
nevertheless , this unfortunate affair testifies to the need for clarification and simplification of Community law so that citizens can understand and use it in their everyday lives .
this report proposes the continuity of the common agricultural policy ( CAP ) , though with some contradictions .
the first is that the words ' human rights and the rule of law ' be put in the first place in the points of concern and not the last .
I would call for arrangements to be made in the very short term to ensure that political and other refugees can continue to count on humane treatment , as Frontex 's success will , to some extent , be determined by it .
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of course , he went in the past too , but on the black market .
we believe that Europe needs to focus on ensuring it has the right capabilities to deploy at the right time , and making sure existing institutions function effectively rather than building additional institutions as an expensive and unnecessary luxury .
provincial elections last year went fairly smoothly all over Iraq . crucially , the next general elections , due on 7 March 2010 , can be another big step towards consolidating the Iraqi democracy .
I declare resumed the session of the European Parliament adjourned on Thursday 9 June 2011 .
today , we should also remember the names of other figures who were representative of many people .
today of all days , he ought to remember that .
they were the ones that set themselves this objective .
Mrs Ferrero-Waldner , one of your former opposite numbers , Madeleine Albright , observed when she was US Secretary of State that it was naturally far more difficult to raise human rights issues in China than in Burma , because in China geopolitical factors were part of the equation .
for the purpose of these checks a list of infringements has been proposed , in respect of which vehicles may be immobilised and required to be brought into conformity before continuing their journey .
last year alone , western countries sold arms to developing countries for an estimated USD 42 billion ; half of which were European .
I would like to stress that the behaviour of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament seems to me to be particularly hard to understand ; first they were opposed to the debate , then they were opposed to my tabling a resolution , and then they actually voted against it , with Mr Ford offering a political explanation that we are passing too many resolutions on Tibet .
we are also heading for an employment crisis .
steps must be taken to ensure access to free and anonymous testing in order to facilitate more people seeking testing .
secondly , I do not think it professional either to compare the European Union with the Soviet Union , as Mr Soini did .
a stronger naval presence in the region may have a positive influence on the security environment in Somalia and , consequently , in the region as a whole .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , firstly I would like to thank the European Commission and Mr Dimas for this Green Paper on ' Adapting to climate change in Europe - options for EU action ' .
( PL ) I agree with Mr Mauro that in the fight against the crises , there has not been enough action from the European Union .
the free movement of citizens within the Community is one of their fundamental freedoms and encourages the development of the internal economy of the Member States .
in spite of these shortcomings , we believe that the aim of the report is a good one and that it presents a good number of sound initiatives .
the government of national unity , which was set up in 2009 to bring about democracy , is obviously not working , due to his efforts to ensure that it does not .
this route is also noted in the report .
for five years - actually , for four years : last year , after the crisis , you were more cautious - you explained to us that the basis for economic and environmental effectiveness was deregulation .
the draft resolution in question concerns the important partnership agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Cameroon .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( ES ) Mr President , first of all , I would like to say that I have listened with great interest and appreciation to all of the speeches made by the honourable Members , speeches of both support and criticism , although admittedly , the latter were in the majority , but I welcome them all .
thank you again and all the best !
to the communist Member from Greece I would like to say that I have just heard from Moscow that Stalin is dead .
we must not forget that these sectors are the most vulnerable in times of crisis .
despite the presence in the seas off the Horn of Africa of the US-led Combined Task Force 151 and a NATO Maritime Group , it was decided to concoct yet another fleet and a further command chain .
some of you have asked , ' What is the point of all this ? '
'a European perspective including Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union ' could constitute a driving force for reforms in these countries .
for it is difficult to suppose that terrorists will agree to being scanned .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I have a question for Commissioner Verheugen : is the Commission ready to prepare a legal basis for a budget line for the 2009 or 2010 budget ?
we condemn the restrictions on freedom of assembly and , in particular , the violent police crackdown on student demonstrations at Ankara University in December 2010 . the European Parliament is also concerned that human rights defenders are being persecuted in Turkey .
again , I quote Jean-Claude Trichet : ' banking watchdogs should not have disproportionate requirements regarding credit agencies ' , and , on the other hand , according to Jean-Claude Juncker : ' everything must be done to prevent salaries from getting out of hand ' .
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the procedure for drawing up the list of the three candidates is not a matter for the accession agreement : it is a matter for us .
women are better educated , but they do not gain promotion .
because the rest of the world would interpret the European Union 's imposition of such a measure at this time as a protectionist step .
we in the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) feel that the work standards devised by the International Labour Organisation help mitigate the harmful effects of competition on the international market , thereby increasing the chances of balanced economic growth being achieved .
the benefits are wide-ranging : more jobs , income , tax revenue and , first and foremost , renewable sources of energy .
it is indeed the Council 's belief that SME policy is one of the key areas in our common fight against the economic crisis and for the speedy recovery of the European Union 's economy .
we should not make the same mistake again .
where is the European Union 's consistency and credibility when its own decisions contrast so sharply with its much-vaunted principles ?
this proposal aims to extend the scope of Council Directive 2003 / 109 / EC concerning the status of third-country nationals who are long-term residents and beneficiaries of international protection who have been legally residing in a Member State for a period of more than five years .
we are often too quick to criticise our institutions and processes . but they have generally worked well , even in the most difficult times .
this should be seen not only as the cynical ploy it is , coming from forces not in the least bit interested in facing up to the realities of climate change , but also as short-sighted in the extreme .
in addition to being a key catch , cod is also vital to the proper functioning of the ecosystem .
we have been told that the fire service and the police are responsible for them .
erroneous decisions by governments in economic and financial policy and inadequate financial supervision by governments and the manifest collapse of a number of banks are reason to call for a reformed financial system , not a new economic system .
our analyses and the decisions which we are going to make must take into account the different levels of agricultural development across the European Union , this sector 's weighting in Member States ' economies , as well as different situations in terms of regional cohesion and development .
the events that took place in Spain show us that any time we lower our guard or choose the route of negotiation , terrorists return to the attack .
I am therefore particularly keen to be able to address you about the regulation that implements the citizens ' initiative , this flagship innovation of the Treaty of Lisbon as regards improved citizen participation in decisions at European level .
in this context , I would like to make another comment .
developing a real European energy strategy has now become imperative .
activating the mandate of EUR 2 billion to fund measures to combat climate change offers significant potential support for countries in the Eastern Partnership , such as the Republic of Moldova .
it is also important to consider internal imbalances , including private and public debt , its evolution and origin ( domestic or international ) and late payments of the country , especially from the public sector and big multinationals to small and medium-sized enterprises .
that is why unequal pay hits women twice as hard .
I agree with Mrs McGuinness regarding the operation of codes of conduct .
Mr President , I wish to inform Parliament that last week , the UK Justice Minister gave Michael Shields , my constituent , a pardon , and he was freed from prison having served four and a half years for a crime he did not commit .
I would like to give my word to Mr Surján on behalf of the Czech Republic that the Czech Social Democrats will do everything possible to ensure that the exception demanded by President Klaus is withdrawn on behalf of the Czech Republic , as we consider it outrageous .
you do too , judging by the ' Political guidelines for the next Commission ' which you presented to Parliament .
our advice would therefore have been to include this , too , in the Commission 's annual programme .
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there are no immortal dictators , but the spirit of freedom is timeless .
( PT ) Mr President , the revision of the Eurovignette Directive should have been used to encourage more sustainable and environmentally-friendly road transport .
however , the truth is that whether it is possible to regard next year 's budget as a successful response by the European Union to the financial and economic crisis will depend precisely on these measures and on the question of how far they really will increase payment amounts .
rather than trying to establish and keep up-to-date a comprehensive list of these representatives - a tedious and perhaps even impossible task - it proposes , in particular , establishing a global definition of the term ' lobby ' , which will ensure that any bodies that are not on the list cannot get around the rules we have laid down .
now , during the good years , the European Union was able to disregard these verities and was able to construct behind its walls a highly regulated and centralised market .
( applause )
in addition , the Green Paper ' From Challenges to Opportunities : towards a common strategic framework for EU Research and Innovation funding ' , identified the key questions for future EU research and innovation support , including a number of specific questions on how to better meet the needs of SMEs .
thank you and congratulations .
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she talks about only one nuclear plant in Japan having been hit .
I would therefore like to address the demand that has been made many times for us to be more ambitious .
I am not saying we agree with everything in it , but we endorse the core passage .
when the right measures are not applied , problems arise regardless of the livestock production system operating in each Member State .
for this reason it is important to have impartial environmental reports produced , so that the risks may be established and weighed up against the benefits .
the new report extends this system to other procedural acts where the President represents Parliament and , in controversial situations , consults the plenary .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( ES ) Mr President , the partnership between the United States and the European Union is fundamentally based on values and on enormous economic potential .
President of the Commission . - There are two questions there .
it is therefore important , in any case , that , in the name of short-term budgetary orthodoxy and of a legal approach to budget regulation , the many Member States no longer be able to stop this entire recovery plan .
it is not true that the number of asylum seekers corresponded to the total number ; they made up about one tenth of the total .
the goods market in question is worth approximately EUR 500 billion .
I wish the European Commission and those who want the Lisbon Treaty to go through would learn from that statement themselves .
at present , the EU therefore has a unique opportunity to establish a new mechanism that should lead to greater macroeconomic , fiscal and currency stability for the Member States in the long term , and help increase their competitiveness .
I urge the Commission to come up with a new and better proposal as quickly as possible .
I would like to thank the rapporteur , Mr Thaler , for describing this route so accurately .
I believe this shows disrespect for the MEPs .
the Member States can no longer avoid an ambitious family policy to encourage the birth rate to rise , as a pledge to the equilibrium of their social security systems and , more importantly , to their dynamism , prosperity and , quite simply their survival .
to this end , I sincerely hope that we will receive positive news very shortly from the Council , so that we have the right political conditions to ensure the success of the 2011 budget adoption procedure .
this decision had been preceded by a discussion with Member States in the Council .
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I would like to address three key points which some of you have already mentioned .
I will give you some figures to illustrate the workload in 2007 : 183 million customs declarations were processed , which means around 5.5 customs declarations every second ; 1 545 million tonnes of seaborne cargo and 3 million tonnes of airborne cargo were handled ; 43 cases of fake goods were found and seized , which amounted to 79 million counterfeited and pirated articles , and the trend is upwards .
these set out the principle whereby , as far as enlargement was concerned , the European Union would require each candidate country to comply fully with all the Copenhagen criteria , but that any enlargement would still be subject to the Union 's capacity for further integration .
in recent years , there has been no reinvestment in capital movements from east to west within the EU , and consequently there is an enormous capital drain from eastern Member States to the western ones .
thank you .
Brevity is the source of wit , so I will detain the House no more , other than thanking - as every MEP should - the two wonderful assistants , Renaud and Maris , who work with me and who make my work not only enjoyable but also productive .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( HU ) Thank you , Mr President , for your kind words .
Latvia will continue to be an active supporter of Europe 's Neighbourhood Policy and play an active part in implementing it .
the report by Salvatore Tatarella , on behalf of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a Community Ecolabel scheme - C6-0279 / 2008 - , and
the knowledge that in spite of various methods of diagnosis and treatment , very many people are going to die of cancer , is always bitter and sad .
you can take on board the objections of this House .
a democratic legislative institution like the European Parliament obviously cannot question this benefit .
give them the hope that will allow them to stand on their own two feet again .
( PL ) Mr President , the ceremonies which took place on 9 November this year in Berlin on the 20th anniversary of the demolition of the Berlin Wall commemorated the unification of Germany . moreover , they also showed the route taken by Central and Eastern Europe to freedom and democracy , and to the end of the division , not only of Germany , but of the whole of Europe .
this free trade agreement ( FTA ) is the widest-ranging negotiated by the EU to date .
in fact , over the whole of last year , their load factor was only 21 % .
in industry , labour is responsible for 20 % of costs and resources for 40 % .
independent reporters live in constant fear of interrogation and arrest .
warns that the agreement may not comply with international data protection laws ;
of course , we need to continue along these lines , and I would like very briefly to mention the three great challenges that we face in the coming months and years .
in Europe , earthquakes might not always have catastrophic consequences ; however , we still need to be protected from them .
I also support the call for the EU to respect and promote the guarantee of a sustainable future for farmers in the context of trade agreements , and not to put European agricultural production , rural agriculture and global access to food at risk .
the next item is the vote .
moreover , serious and repeated violations of public procurement rules were identified : five procurement procedures - worth a total of EUR 455 111 - failed to comply with the rules .
the fact that , out of the total number of unemployed persons in the European Union , over 40 % are young people is just as serious .
significantly , the treaty strengthens the powers and independence of both the Commission and the ECB , with their free-trade thinking .
we are aware of the deep concern amongst our citizens about the impact of the global climate change .
( SL ) I , too , would like to express my sympathy for the events in Haiti , as well as congratulate the European Commission and European institutions for their relatively appropriate response .
in other words , I propose that we set up a fund for this task which Bulgaria has not addressed at all to date .
I will resume because there is no point in wasting time .
( ES ) Mr President , allow me to join in the words of support for the residents of Lorca , in Spain , that have been affected by this natural disaster .
supporting early demonstration of sustainable power generation from fossil fuels (
there are important issues like transportation , tourism , culture , preserving our heritage , but all these rank behind protecting our water resources .
I sincerely believe that piracy is a form of terrorism and it is taking on uncontrolled proportions .
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this is why we are fighting : it is not an ideological battle , it is a matter of the general interest .
one could say that mobility , especially in the case of young researchers , can have a significant influence on their future achievements .
however , as you have also said , Commissioner , we need to design these instruments in such a way as to prevent the extremes seen in the US , for example , from creeping in , and instead tailor them to our own legal system .
if the world kept its promises , there would not be a food crisis .
( ES ) Hello , Mr Rodríguez Zapatero .
I voted in favour of this document , which states that the agreement of 2004 concluded with the Swiss Confederation concerning the criteria and mechanisms for establishing the state responsible for examining a request for asylum lodged in a Member State or in Switzerland ( the ' Dublin agreement with Switzerland ' ) provides for the possible association of Liechtenstein with the Dublin acquis by means of a protocol .
thus it is now up to you - the Commission , the Commission services , the agency - to ensure that the Member States do indeed do what they have incorporated in the legislation in the fields of port state control , classification societies , SafeSeaNet and all the matters we are now finalising or improving .
the obvious questions are : why is this the case and who is profiting from the situation ?
we need strong measures , simple , transparent laws and , by extension , less bureaucracy .
according to some estimates , tax fraud amounts to EUR 200 billion , or 2 % of GDP , and double the sums allotted by the European Union to the so-called European Economic Recovery Plan .
I have had the opportunity to observe , in fact , the quality of the work carried out by Frontex with the Polish teams on the Ukrainian border .
( the President cut off the speaker )
the Commission intends to present a communication soon that will seek to clarify the issues in connection with bee health and the key actions that the Commission intends to take in order to address them .
the review of this proposal began at the end of last year and the Council is still dealing with it .
( PL ) Mr President , we are currently facing rapid increases in the price of energy .
both loan rates and demands for collateral should reduce the moral damage that such a belief could create .
an embargo was imposed on the Bosnians and on the Serbs .
in writing . - ( DE ) I would like to draw the attention of the Council to a problem which is threatening to paralyse the cooperation between the two institutions on the subject of fisheries policy .
when inspection happens , there must be sufficient notice before inspection occurs .
I think you are kidding .
the hope that the death of Mobutu would finally herald the beginning of progress in Congo has been dashed .
my group believes that this problem has a European dimension which justifies an initiative by the Commission .
these are nice dreams , but now we need sensible action .
apart from introducing the position of High Representative , also known as the EU Minister for Foreign Affairs , the Lisbon Treaty strengthens EU foreign policy by establishing common diplomacy .
however , the EU has no right to create such rules on maternity and cannot be allowed the legitimacy to do so .
( SK ) Ukraine is a neighbour of strategic importance to the EU and a natural ' bridge ' connecting the EU with Russia and Central Asia .
I believe that 0.9 % is one of the lowest percentages we have seen in recent years .
the first of these is the level of errors which occur during budgeting and realisation .
this is not what European integration is all about .
the very existence of the fishing community depends upon these conditions .
it is vital that we encourage Serbia on the road to Europe through an appropriate approach and in spite of the short-term turbulence and wavering .
I will not be able to answer all the questions put today , but I will go through some of them .
( DE ) Madam President , in 2009 between them , the EU and Japan produced more than one quarter of the world 's economic output and accounted for over 20 % of world trade , which is why a well-conceived free trade agreement with Japan is of central importance for the EU .
the release of the soldier , Gilad Shalit , has been discussed in this House .
both decision-makers and public and private agencies must take up their responsibilities and act to improve opportunities in employment , business enterprise and education and to prevent social exclusion and combat poverty .
I would like to thank the President for what he did in order to restore normality in Slovakia .
some European countries , in pursuing their own ambitions , are trying to compete politically and militarily with NATO , of which they are members .
however , we need clarification regarding the division of funds , integrated regional programmes , between regions and between ACP countries .
the principles of the Olympic Charter echo those of the EU to a considerable extent , I refer to citizens ' basic rights and human rights where no compromise is given .
a balance therefore needs to be struck between the ambition , on the one hand , to develop the common transport policy as a right to mobility and as an important part of economic growth and , on the other hand , an integrated approach that will improve traffic congestion and make a drastic contribution towards combating climate change .
support for rural development from the European Agriculture Fund allows Member States , within the framework of improvements to the environment and the countryside , to make payments for natural disadvantages in mountain areas as well as payments in other disadvantaged areas .
why do we not have the courage to accept that one or other will fail ?
I would mention here the provisions relating to the security of supply , namely information about tenderers and subcontractors provided to the contracting authorities and the commitments tenderers have to make to ensure security of supply .
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within this context , and without underestimating the differences and the specific features of package holidays , the Commission will also take into account the impact assessment currently being carried out on the review of Directive 90 / 314 relating precisely to package holidays .
this Presidency is no exception .
the forthcoming Summit of 14 November will provide the opportunity to examine the various dimensions of the relationship which we must have with Russia , and we must pursue a constructive engagement to determine whether Russia hopes to take full advantage of this dialogue .
I voted today in favour of the opinion of the European Parliament on the full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania .
no , because this is due to other causes that have nothing to do with ownership unbundling .
I think it is a very important issue .
as economic conditions deteriorate , the pressure on bank balance sheets is set to continue .
it is quite often possible to find the authors of orphan works if you put your mind to it .
- ( PL ) Madam President , I would like to draw attention to three issues in this debate .
the UN crop programme has failed in practice .
I believe that we have demonstrated solidarity in supporting Member States gripped by financial difficulties .
he knew the risks of publicly defending gays .
in future , this policy should not just be maintained ; it should be strengthened with the requisite resources .
it has often been the avant-garde in European integration .
in essence , it is a mere palliative , a sham intended to suggest a modicum of citizens ' involvement in the Treaty of Lisbon without really bringing that involvement into the decision-making process .
in Belgium too , the opposition is to a large extent denied access to the media .
nor shall we let anyone , whether inside or outside the European Union , set limits on our resolute defence of human rights .
10th anniversary of UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women and peace and security (
between 2005 and 2010 , Portugal was one of the countries that most increased its exports ; what we need is more unity , more responsibility and more solidarity so that the markets calm down .
integration must include efficient access to quality training , parallel with language courses and access to university .
the Bauer report is not one we can support , however , as the request for a new legislative proposal on equal pay is based on Article 141 ( 3 ) of the EC Treaty which is covered by the Conservative Party 's pledge to opt out of the Social Chapter .
we should not forget an important element , namely the introduction of a control procedure .
young people do not get a single mention in the report either , which is incomprehensible .
all that is left for the Hungarian opposition is the power of the public eye , and now they intend to deprive us even of that .
to mention one more example , Member States cannot say , ' I will give you a premium if you scrap your old car , but only if your new car is a German one ' , if you live in Germany , or a French one or a Czech one .
the European Commission must pay due attention to this issue and must actively work to ensure safety .
secondly , we find it hard to imagine Parliament approving a trade deal with Canada while Canada pursues a challenge , through the WTO , on the EU 's trade ban .
when reading the content of the agreement , one cannot fail to be surprised at the voices being heard in some national parliaments questioning whether it poses a threat to the Council 's powers .
I would like the European Union to avoid such a situation , and I would like us to be at the forefront of progress where the transport sector is concerned .
this report calls on the Commission to adopt definitive legislation on social responsibility in subcontracting throughout the whole production process .
the Council and Commission must keep Europe 's legislative body informed during every stage of the negotiation and signing of this agreement .
under the Czech Presidency we took steps to boost energy security , focusing on activities that will increase diversification of energy sources and supply routes through the so-called southern corridor .
these are the tables that the Member States are supposed to draw up in order to document how they have implemented the directive .
we have withdrawn our amendments .
it was really very helpful for the Commission .
this goes beyond the commitment made by the Commission in the 2005 framework for expert groups , which applied only to members of formal groups .
I must stress that the countries around the southern rim of the Mediterranean also have an important role to play in the supply of gas to Europe .
they are not minorities , they are Egyptians and Palestinians , just like all the other residents of these countries .
( GA ) Mr President , I would like to welcome the efforts Commissioner Kallas and the transport ministers have made to resolve this problem .
in their response , I note that the Commission has already launched a public consultation and has held hearings to exchange views with stakeholders .
when you present the preliminary draft budget to us , do so in a simple and comprehensible way .
I believe that the relevant rules should provide guidance to officials as to how they should ensure both sound financial management and good administration .
I therefore propose that the national states , by nationalising their national banks , advocate printing money , or vouchers corresponding to money , to finance small businesses .
the Kosovo Albanians were given the opportunity for a European-style solution .
( RO ) Mr President , at the moment , Iran is joining the Arab states which are seeking their path to democracy , and the situation in the country is described in detail in the report drafted by Mr Belder .
Ukraine is a strategically and economically significant EU partner and an Eastern neighbour with an important role within and outside the region .
thank you for your presence and thank you for your speech .
this report reminds us that , if the EU wishes to become a leader in the world in terms of social policy , it needs to safeguard cohesion between the social policies applied in its Member States .
the second was to reduce costs by cutting red tape .
faced with challenges such as electricity security , energy dependency and the often discussed mitigation of climate change , the EU needs to boost the development and deployment of cleaner and more efficient energy technologies .
the cultural life of the city has never stopped .
there should be a more intensive focus on it , and it should never be undervalued or temporarily neglected in any way .
the question is important for the Danish debate , which is why I ask that a clear answer be given .
the aim of this report is to simplify and clarify the conclusion of air transport agreements and the adoption of decisions on such agreements , with the European Parliament informing the Commission in advance about the criteria upon which it will base its decision whether or not to consent to the conclusion of a particular agreement on behalf of the EU .
so that this development process can continue as fruitfully as possible , stable funding must be provided for public broadcasting corporations , enabling them to promote public interests and social values , to preserve pluralism in the media and to give people access to high-quality content .
President-in-Office of the Council . - Mr President , we have had a very long and useful debate , and the Presidency is grateful to all the Members of this House for their comments .
one of the speakers here said there are clearly institutional shortages in this area .
I think we should adopt broader measures for the European Union in this area .
( DE ) Mr President , the previous speaker has just demonstrated how difficult the advancement of democracy in Europe is when we see that , in Ireland , half the population failed to vote because of the complexity of the issues and the fact that not everyone wants to be a constitutionalist .
in writing . - ( DE ) As long ago as 1964 , some developing countries were already calling loudly for trade preferences in order to improve their economic situation .
disparities in health between countries , between regions , between rich and poor , between different ethnic minorities , affect each and every EU Member State and , in many places , they are getting wider . I would like to be sincere on this issue .
of course , please encourage us to do more in this field .
for this reason , the report should prioritise the rights of the weakest , especially women and their specific needs .
I believe the EUR 1 billion that the European Union will provide for this purpose is a step in the right direction .
my third point concerns the need for a new trade agreement and I believe that our objectives are very similar in this area as well .
( RO ) I would like to congratulate the rapporteur , Piia-Noora Kauppi , for her report concerning the directive on financial collateral arrangements , which contains three major amendments to the current directive .
certainly , Parliament is often touchingly united in criticising other institutions , but there is actually good reason for Parliament also to be self-critical .
of course , in this situation of crisis , the Member States are putting up some resistance to the increase in contributions , but they must acknowledge the intentions of the EU and the need not to jeopardise everything that has been achieved in terms of cohesion and integration .
it is obvious that increased costs for enterprises would then cause higher product costs , to the detriment of consumers .
such taxes and export bans are designed to protect the domestic markets from short-term supply shortfalls and price shocks .
we are a nation that loves freedom and democracy .
that is in addition to the agreement reached at the informal Ecofin Council held in Nice in September this year , for the EIB to intensify and , at the same time , bring forward its specific financing lines for SMEs .
radical Islamic fundamentalism , though non-violent , is also on the increase in a number of countries .
on the other hand , the first point condemns the violence that unfolded during the dismantling of the camp near Laâyoune ; and this condemnation of violence is clear even if we do not currently have all the facts to say who did what .
we should not really expect anything else .
access to education would provide them with a real opportunity .
you have really shown that you are ready to take up that responsibility .
in every country , including France , studies show that this is not the case , not only when it comes to demographics , but also in terms of finance .
( PL ) Madam President , everyone in my country expects a positive decision from the Commission .
I also agree with the rapporteur that it is necessary for the Agency to improve its financial management with regard to the reimbursement of costs incurred by Member States by identifying , with those Member States , deficiencies and difficulties so as to implement , together , the appropriate solutions .
environmental , poverty-related and development aspects should always be taken into consideration in the European Investment Bank 's decisions .
like liberties , fundamental social rights are human rights , and must not be curtailed as a result of internal market freedoms of movement .
Mrs Dodds is right : if we are going to be a part of the resolution , we have to be absolutely honest and bring the sides together .
once again , thank you to you all for your cooperation .
every time an ASEAN member country cannot deliver on a specific issue , we are faced with the lowest common denominator outcome .
having made these additional comments , let me conclude by reiterating my confidence about tomorrow 's vote and in the quality of the Dess report .
have we managed to reconcile the interests of consumers with the interests of traders during our work on this directive ?
affordable and universally accessible energy is in the interest of all EU Member States .
we discuss both ; we amend nothing .
instead , the committee process lasted only a few days and we are now holding a debate in Parliament two days after the adoption of the provision within the Committee on Constitutional Affairs .
this Community already communicates across the world .
today , it is clear that the rebels do not want to live under regimes that do not respect their rights and which do not ensure a modicum of respect for the rules of democracy and the rule of law .
a thorough assessment has been carried out on a case-by-case basis to produce a set of criteria relating to illegal emigration , public order and safety , as well as the European Union 's external relations with third countries .
the Commission regularly receives complaints from citizens about how national law is implemented .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , exactly one year ago we took the decision to combine the reports on public finances for 2007 and 2008 .
I believe the disputed points will be resolved swiftly and perhaps even easily , given the importance of this topic .
the promotion of equality also involves combating violence against women .
in particular , the Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO ) estimates that five million Zimbabweans are at risk of suffering severe famine by the beginning of 2009 .
while we at EU level are still talking about promotion , the Member States are already making cuts in the funding for universities .
my country , Poland , is especially interested in good management of the new EU Eastern Partnership programme .
under these circumstances it is most important to ensure that new hardware is not let in through the back door on Austrian and European transport routes .
we should not violate our own Treaty on European Union .
since we have respect for democracy , we should respect the vote of the Irish people .
just as the market grows , so too do the general revenues from gambling in the world .
however , the substance of the proposal lies in the new dispensation for private European companies , which will allow a ' private European undertaking ' to trade in all the Member States of the EU and circumvent the current obstacles of any social control .
the economic crisis has exposed the irresponsible financial and economic decisions of several governments , but it is the conscientious Member States that are paying the price .
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the financial crisis , as you have said yourself , does not erase the environmental crisis .
I would , however , reiterate that we should create a mechanism which will prevent a recurrence of the various misfortunes that occurred in relation to the Hungarian crisis , and which has done nothing to increase the prestige of the European Union in Central and Eastern Europe .
I welcome the adoption of this report and the excellent work accomplished by the rapporteur , Mr Rangel .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - Mr President , yesterday we enjoyed a wonderfully clever speech by the French President .
the Czech Presidency , through the leadership of Prime Minister Topolánek , intends to ensure that the meeting next week demonstrates through practical action that the European Union remains committed to its ideals and that it faces these challenges together in a coordinated manner and in a spirit of responsibility and of solidarity .
in writing . - The legislative resolution passed with a surprisingly wide majority of 525 in favour , 49 against , and 44 abstentions .
this is the first report to consider a variety of innovative mechanisms designed to ensure that players in the financial markets also carry some of the costs .
in reply to Ms Flasarová , we cannot prevent companies from delocalising , but we have instruments to tackle that issue .
it is therefore imperative that Member States transpose internal market legislation into national law in a timely manner .
introduction of such rigorous provisions on some of the substances used in cosmetics acts against the interests of many Polish businesses .
it is right that the Stability and Growth Pact and the full framework of administration of economic affairs should support the EU strategy on growth and jobs and comply with them , and also that it should aim to boost the competitiveness of all Member States as well as social stability in all regions of the EU .
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I voted in favour of this recommendation as I believe that the scope of this regulation should be able to be extended to the territory of any Member State about to join the euro .
we also want to build a just Europe , so any initiative that has a bearing on procedural rights is vital .
the banks and , in the meantime , the Member States which , because of the loss of confidence among the players on the financial markets , came to rely on the intervention of the ECB as an intermediary in order to access funding , must regain their independence .
the aim of the EGF is to help workers who are victims of the relocation of businesses , and it is crucial in facilitating access to new employment in the future .
technical modernisation and the introduction of information technology into the workplace will ensure that work is more effective and productive . this will make a significant contribution to improving the situation .
obviously , the FTA also opens the EU market to Korean products .
this increase in competences is often at the expense of decision-making at a lower level , where those affected are guaranteed maximum influence .
does the Commission believe that the registration process will now be adequate , and what steps will it take to make sure that the rest of this Agency 's processes work smoothly and effectively ?
we ask that people 's fundamental rights be respected and that everyone be made aware of the situation , given that some countries have joined the European Union without fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria .
I think that Mr Brok found the right words to express what we want .
this unilateral secessionist act is an impermissible precedent in international relations .
the Commission does not oblige it to do so .
the number of people affected by depression and other civilisation-related diseases , caused by stress and the pace of life , is markedly increasing .
I support the proposal that there should be an increase in active and tolerant , European-wide dialogue at all levels .
due to the quick adoption of the proposal at first reading , the Commission can now implement its sustainable industrial policy and get straight to work on coming up with other specific steps to save energy and reduce CO2 emissions .
maybe it is not exactly a billion and it will not be entirely additional , although a very large part of it will be .
President-in-Office of the Council , Commissioner , it is in the mutual interests of the Union and Russia to set common political and economic targets for the sake of democratic principle , peace , stability and security .
in Portugal , for example , we have unfortunately reached the record level of 11 % unemployment .
according to the Commission in January , the prognosis is -2 % ; now the European Central Bank tells us it is -3 % .
so today Parliament has achieved a balance .
you have to listen to them and give them answers because , just as you have said , Mr President , sweeping the dust under the carpet leads to difficulties in the future .
in the years before and after this date , the critical human rights situation in Burma was the subject of numerous parliamentary resolutions .
the success of Ryanair means that they have 20 operational bases across the EU serving almost 130 destinations and , yes , increasing .
impact assessments will be carried out within the framework of the reviews and these will include the costs and consequences of operating the agreements .
they will be too interesting to be left in the cold and powerful hands of oblivion .
President-in-Office , I imagine you would not have chosen the challenges which confronted your presidency , but you have tackled them with energy , with enthusiasm and with creativity , and you have shown the power of European solidarity .
lastly , I would remind you , as the Commissioner did a moment ago , that the Council of Ministers issued reservations with regard to the third pillar and so on .
the ICCAT groups decided on the plan based on scientific opinions which made certain distinctions between the Mediterranean and the East Atlantic .
it is important that , in particular , those EU citizens who have lost their jobs during the current crisis are given new prospects for the future as quickly as possible .
admittedly , the vote was held in a country outside the European Union , but it clearly concerns an issue that is not unfamiliar to us .
both sides have committed to work and develop things in this area .
it is essential to adapt the social security and pensions system to today 's challenges .
it is true that , in the action plan on asylum , the Commission proposed to study the options that could be offered by distributing asylum seekers around the Member States on a voluntary basis .
in actual fact , the regulation that we are discussing and approving here today is hostile to innovation , for the money that the car manufacturers will have to pay out is needed for innovation and research .
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Europe is made up of a rich and diverse mix of educational traditions .
the second of the zones is one which will not , in principle , impede air traffic cooperation being carried out , even though ash is still present .
I voted in favour because , under the agreement , cooperation is to be promoted at subregional level , thus meeting the European objective of strengthening regional fisheries management organisations and , in that way , fostering fisheries governance .
we know that Russia , which is one of our partners , is now involved in the conflict .
in writing . - ( PL ) I am supporting Mrs Jackson 's report because the new directive on waste is intended to provide a basis for the creation of a ' recycling society ' .
this report will allow us to close the legal loopholes which have existed to date with regard to legislative provisions on European Union fleets , which will improve the European Union 's credibility in this field , and contribute to the fight against illegal fishing .
the 300 or more contributions are worth following up .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I do not agree with what has been said about food prices rocketing .
instead , we need to explain and justify the situation when citizens are not provided with information .
secondly , I believe that the recognition of degrees in all European countries is a priority .
the first sentence in the conclusions from the Court states that for 2007 the Court has identified further progress in the Commission 's supervisory and control systems , so at least we are going in the right direction .
it also falls within the spirit of the agreements made with the international institutions .
workers ' terms have deteriorated following the Laval judgment and following the Viking , Rüffert and Luxembourg judgments .
this is why it is so important that we once again explain our position , and we urge the Chinese Government to stop the cultural destruction threatening Kashgar 's architectural survival immediately and to carry out a comprehensive expert inquiry into culture-sensitive methods of renovation .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to congratulate the rapporteur for having produced an excellent piece of work and for having collaborated so well on what is a particularly sensitive issue .
the Lisbon ratification process is quite rightly your first priority .
Member of the Commission . - I wish to thank all Members for their comments .
( PL ) Mr President , each Member State has a different legal system and different principles for the recognition of administrative documents .
the problems deriving from divergences in Member States ' contract laws often discourage businesses , in particular , small and medium-sized enterprises , from engaging in cross-border trade and keep them from benefiting from opportunities and gains which the Internal Market offers .
these transitional provisions must safeguard equal treatment of the institutions - especially Parliament - in accordance with the new competences which it will acquire under the new treaty .
lessons need to be taken seriously , and the results of an analysis of this experience incorporated into future energy developments .
the Court 's decision is yet another European nail in the coffin of British liberties .
how can the protection of data gathered by private companies be guaranteed , given that this diplomatic protection has not been assured ?
at this stage we should not get too side-tracked by discussing the technicalities of what MSY actually is and how it should be applied .
I will take it into account .
we will do our utmost to help the Tunisian people to turn their aspirations into reality .
however , that also means of course that our currency will come under pressure .
indeed , we must receive assurances that two important reservations - the question of bulk data transfer and the opportunity for Europeans to have legal redress in the United States - are lifted .
the first is Atlantic bluefin tuna .
once again , we find ourselves in this Chamber to approve an exceptional allocation within our own borders .
I really do think that we can have political differences and different ideologies , but that - particularly in a situation like the one we are now in - we need to unite , not move apart .
Madam President , regions are an extremely important place for the development of culture .
I agree that the position on delegated acts must be approved and reiterated at second reading .
that was 23 years ago .
I invite Parliament , which , with the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon , will be a colegislator in the field of visas , to support the structured method of dialogue on the liberalisation of visas , which is the method followed by the Commission , because a different approach would cause confusion without really changing the visa regime .
the Ombudsman is an independent institution and a control mechanism for the administration of the EU .
I think it was necessary to go further than the regulation of 2008 and to adopt legislation to ensure that passengers do not bear these additional costs , which may at times prove to be completely unrelated to security charges .
that being said , the role of this Adjustment Fund must be assessed .
finally , voluntary codes do have a role , and reach parts which we cannot regulate .
the assessments of the independent experts and those of Parliament , which voted overwhelmingly in favour of Romania 's integration into Schengen , should count as a crucial factor in the European Council and , consequently , the procedure should be unblocked .
firstly , from a strictly commercial point of view , it should be pointed out that any trade agreement has to be reached within the framework of mutual respect for the rules of international trade , which means respect for the rules of competition law and respect for copyright law .
we only need to think of the way Romania treats Transylvanian Hungarians or Csángó Hungarians , or of the exclusionary , discriminatory Slovak language law .
tomorrow , we will do our bit in Parliament .
Honduras ( debate )
it concerns Parliament 's composition , which remains unclear as from 2014 .
please take Parliament and the concerns of the car dealers seriously and incorporate their concerns and those of the small and medium-sized enterprises into the Regulation .
European farmers expect immediate answers and too much time has already been wasted .
Mr President , I trust , however , that Parliament will not succumb to the temptation to revive the already dead constitutional idea , because it would merely illustrate that it is an ivory tower .
- Report : Aloyzas Sakalas
one positive step would be to simplify the process for monitoring projects ' financial and administrative aspects , while also consolidating the scientific and technological assessment process .
the twentieth century showed us that utopias are bound to fail without proper economic and social frameworks .
in writing . - Although we have devised many strategies for lifelong learning their implementation leaves much to be desired .
we still await the real evidence of that happening .
it is an insult to the unions to think that their only use is to paralyse .
by demagogically using the words ' democracy ' and ' communication ' , what the report is really trying to do is to call these into question .
this Directive must be amended because this is also demanded by the Charter of Fundamental Rights , which clearly states in Article 27 : ' workers or their representatives must ( ... ) be guaranteed information and consultation ( ... ) . '
consumers have a right to know how their food has been produced and where it comes from .
in this progressively unifying Europe , do the Germans wish to resurrect the phantoms and demons of 20th century politics , i.e. unions and pacts that led to wars , crimes , the Holocaust and the division of Europe ?
as the Chairman of the Committee on Petitions , I notice how frequently the citizens of the European Union are not aware of their rights and , conversely , how they sometimes believe that they can intervene in matters when they have no right to do so .
in reply to Mrs Doyle , concerning maternity leave , the Commission is to prepare an impact evaluation on possible legislative measures introducing new forms of leave - adoption leave , and leave to care for family members other than children .
the vote will take place on Thursday .
in conclusion , I would like to thank the rapporteur for his work and all those who contributed to the success of the negotiations ; thanks to you we will at last be able to vote on this issue tomorrow .
however , the Council has just shown us that this solidarity is starting steadily to diminish .
otherwise , if we wait until 2015 , when quotas are hopefully to be abolished , we shall miss a unique opportunity for the European dairy industry .
( DA ) Madam President , the point I want to make is , stop attacking the European Court of Justice and the Posting of Workers Directive .
since this topic is the responsibility of the national authorities of the individual Member States , the EU hopes that greater incentives will be given to public service broadcasters with the aim of relaunching a service that , in many countries , suffers under the weight of politics and information control , and of preventing imbalance with private sector competition that is , at times , unfair .
there would be many fewer fatalities if emergency assistance came earlier to those in need , so the introduction of an automatic accident notification system is a vital solution .
this is a backward step , and a head-on attack on the system of international law that took so much to construct following the two world wars .
we are talking about very sensitive situations that deal with the safety of people and their property , and that often touch us all because of the loss of lives , the destruction of families , and the devastation of whole livelihoods .
the vote on Amendment 3 and the final vote were , in my view , extremely important .
should I be doing this indefinitely ?
where we are at , in fact , is 0.38 % of the budget instead of 0.42 % , after having planned for 0.7 % .
however , a forward-looking budget also means shifts in priorities and still more European money .
it will enable consumers to take earlier possession of the product purchased .
unilateral actions , such as the quantitative easing by the Federal Reserve , are as worrying as the depreciation of the renminbi .
this is not sustainable , as was made clear by the courage shown by Tunisian and Egyptian women during the recent events in their countries .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I believe that the solution that we are discussing is an erroneous solution , that it is highly unfair to many vulnerable people and that , in some ways , it is also self-destructive , because it will not have escaped anyone 's attention - and this point has already been made - that there is a contradiction between discussing a single permit and beginning with waivers and exceptions .
the euro 's value against the US dollar has , throughout , to all practical purposes , remained higher than it was when the European currency was established .
Mr President , just very briefly , this is all new to me and I found the discussion very stimulating and educational .
does the Presidency have any intentions this autumn of promoting talks with Russia on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement ?
moreover , the absence of a strict liability compensation convention for non-toxic substances leaves local government picking up the cost of the clean-up .
packaging must include accurate information about thrombin and the labelling must be clear .
however , while Airbus has received repayable financing , Boeing is collapsing under the weight of funding from different countries , and particularly under the enormous weight of military research .
I firmly believe that Intelligent Transport Systems will increase traffic efficiency , thereby reducing traffic .
it is not important who votes in the party and how .
not just a traditional education but one that focuses on e-skills and entrepreneurship for example .
we should not forget the refugees who have still not returned to their homes and the serious crimes that have as yet gone unpunished .
the Commission and Member States should introduce transparent recruitment procedures as soon as possible to ensure a gender balance in recruitment bodies .
you may rest assured that the French Presidency is determined to work very closely with the European Parliament ; it proposes that the Galileo Interinstitutional Panel , the GIP , which involves the three EU institutions - the Commission , Parliament and the Council - meet as soon as possible in order to discuss the conditions necessary for the successful implementation of this programme , which is very important for the European Union as a whole .
the motion which we are being called on to adopt in a couple of days ' time and which relates to the strengthening of energy efficiency through ICT places particular emphasis on research and development of pioneering technologies , such as nano-technologies and photonic technology , which have high potential to improve energy efficiency , and on designing policies to strengthen the take-up of these technologies .
in view of all the objections , I also call on the Commission to put forward proposals for a total ban on animal cloning without delay .
the Liberal Group has requested an extension of the deadline for the tabling of joint motions for resolutions and amendments on the priorities of the European Parliament for the legislative and work programme of the Commission until 10 a.m. tomorrow - Tuesday , 23 September 2008 .
we must , however , continue a debate which our Italian colleagues have started , namely the debate as to whether the concept of citizenship in the European Union is the same as the concept of citizenship at national level .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , I do recognise the problem described by the rapporteur .
at the outset , President Barroso stressed on various occasions that the Commission does not make political judgments on the fundamental constitutional and institutional choices of a Member State .
I therefore warmly welcome the possibility of citizens ' initiatives which the Treaty of Lisbon opens up for EU citizens , and in this context , also the public consultation with the Commission and the Green Paper on how to bring the citizens ' initiative to life in concrete terms .
it is vital that they can use national parliamentary controls to handle incomings which , particularly in a budget-support policy , can often be an important lever in their national policies .
however , faced with this bleak vista , we must seek to find creative solutions to give those unemployed the skills , the prospects and the hope for a better future .
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the ' single permit ' resolution , presented by Mrs Mathieu , specifically targets migrant workers ' rights .
successes like the invention by the Romanian Raluca-Ioana van Stade , which is a sensor that can determine the presence of cancer in the human body at molecular level , directly from a person 's blood , using a simple procedure lasting less than six minutes , must be supported and capitalised on to the full .
I think that the question which you are raising is of course extremely serious and we have to take it with similar seriousness .
once the legal immigration policy is enforced , there is a risk of disadvantaging European citizens as compared to third country citizens .
as has been said , this is about combating a type of social terrorism , which is chauvinist violence .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( PT ) Madam President , Mr Vice-President of the Commission , ladies and gentlemen , this has indeed been a long and full debate , and of all those I have taken part in here on behalf of the Presidency , this one had the longest list of participants and Members to have given their opinion .
Mr President , it took Ireland 700 years to get the British out of the Republic of Ireland and I have to sit here time and again listening to people we threw out telling us what we should be doing in Ireland .
I am therefore not in favour of waiving his immunity .
we have been working for years on an early-warning system , and yet we still do not have anything substantial to show for it .
at a time as delicate as the present , I would argue that we need enhanced cooperation in neighbourhood and partnership relations in order to establish a friendly environment in the closest environs of the European Union , as the ENP 's main objective sets out .
therefore , I am inclined to share Mr Hutchinson 's view , although I do regret somewhat that this debate is taking place here and now .
secondly , from my modest position , but expressing the political forces that Mr Schulz was quite willing to admit are a threat to the traditional organisations - and I thank him for it - I should like to call on our Parliament , and yourself , Mr President , to be more modest and to set certain voluntary limits to our powers .
the next item is the joint debate on :
as regards your request to examine a range of options for sanctions and incentives to promote good tax governance in tax matters , the Commission is already examining a range of incentives to promote good governance at EU level , for example , the enhanced use of development aid in order to encourage certain third countries to move away from unfair tax competition .
why play into the hands of the opponents of the WTO and put the image of this institution at stake ?
despite the fact that the health service is de facto managed by the Member States , the EU can , nevertheless , act to extend health care and be , for example , an excellent platform for the exchange of good practices .
it is up to the European Union to lead the way .
some proponents of the Treaty of Lisbon even claimed this demonstrated that we were attentive to popular reluctance .
I hope that there will be agreement on a financing concept next week at the summit .
we should maintain the quota system and introduce transparency into the milk marketing chain .
explanations of vote
I welcome the recent determination shown by the Congolese authorities to put a stop to this impunity , but this zero tolerance policy must be ambitious - all perpetrators of violence , without exception , will have to answer for their actions - and truly effective .
the European Parliament and the Council are in the process of considering this proposal .
in exchange for its financial contribution to programmes , Ukraine will have the right to participate as an observer in committees coordinating EU programmes .
I would like to end by saying that this is not quite what we wanted , but it is the right move and surely a step in the right direction .
the crucial point is that the sugar is added before fermentation and not afterwards , which means that it is not a matter of sweetening sour wine , and the addition of sugar is only permissible for table wines and vins de pays .
we would like to see significant reprioritisation within the Multiannual Financial Framework to fully fund Europe 2020 priorities that have the greatest impact on raising employment and growth levels .
in writing . - The EU as a bloc is the world 's largest contributor of humanitarian aid .
I am also concerned by its increasing hostility to Israel , our ally , as witnessed by the Gaza flotilla episode and Turkey 's officially published findings .
I believe that , especially at this time , we also have to draw the attention of young people to the need for mobility and to foreign opportunities .
the intellectual rights of creators are deemed to be property to be taken away and bought like a commodity .
this is important , not least in the context of the ongoing negotiations for the new agreement which are being held by the Commission and which must contain clear , legally binding provisions on trade and investment and also on energy .
secondly , the current situation affects us all .
I would therefore like to say very clearly that we want some give and take from our Chinese partners on this issue - we want the protection of the cultural heritage of the Uyghurs .
over and above emergency measures , when we report on the health of the CAP we must redefine the way we intervene on the world markets ( infrastructure , intervention stocks , risk management , prospects and economic modelling of price changes , etc . ) , reconsider the decoupling of aid and globally rethink our agricultural production models to ensure that they are productive and enduring .
however , is it not sinister that recipients should be told which economic policies they should choose and which they should discard ?
I feel solidarity with and concern for the fate and safety of the 1.5 million Palestinians held in Gaza , for whom it is impossible to leave the Gaza strip , and for the humanitarian situation of the Palestinians on the West Bank who , despite cooperation from the Palestinian National Authority , see no improvement in their living conditions .
a language will not survive on a few seconds alone .
the Commission 's proposal and the report seek to achieve greater stability in the financial system and to increase the protection for investors .
I am sure that European farmers will take great pride in sharing part of the agricultural budget with those who are most in need .
I want to see Zagreb take action .
all opportunities to reduce inappropriate paper and energy consumption at the European Parliament have not yet been exhausted .
( DE ) Mr President , in addition to what I have just said , I would like to ask for currency policy to be included in the recitals .
banning cluster munitions (
if Mr Barnier does get the internal market , what is he going to give to the Poles , to whom he promised a great Commission ?
the non-interest-bearing deposit should be released upon correction of the excessive deficit while the interest on such deposits and the fines collected should be assigned to stability mechanisms to provide financial assistance , created by Member States whose currency is the euro in order to safeguard the stability of the euro area as a whole .
they would gain an understanding of distant countries and peoples . our knowledge of the latter tends to be fragmented and based on often negative stereotypes .
I should also like to thank Mr Deß very much for shadowing this report for the PPE-DE Group .
I have a question for the Commissioner : will progress be made towards these Eurobonds in December ?
Madam President , we are talking about this man-made famine now , 75 years after the events , because , if we do not talk about it now , then it could become like the dark midnight of justice .
concerning the issue of red tape , this will not create a new burden for enterprises because we are using existing administrative and statistical data .
'Balanced ' means asking for improvements and at the same time offering assistance .
work is currently under way on Chapter 16 on taxation and Chapter 19 on social policy and employment .
in writing . - ( HU ) First of all , permit me to express my profound condolences to the Japanese people and the relatives of the victims in connection with the exceptional natural and industrial disaster which happened barely 12 days ago .
measures in this area fall primarily within national competence and the Community can only support and complement the work done by the Member States .
today , the questions we have been asking from the start need to be addressed , though obviously in quite a different context now .
since this type of crime can operate too freely , it has taken advantage of our freedoms , moving as it pleases between financial marketplaces , tax havens and markets dealing in property and other assets .
the economic environment has changed dramatically since 2008 ; hence , a review really is needed .
how the accountability of members of boards of directors is organised must be clearly defined , and must be put into practice in a reasonable way , so as not to jeopardise financial institutions ' willingness to seize business opportunities , which is a desirable aspect of their work , or the quality of the human resources at their disposal .
my hope is that the step we take today , with the adoption of this proposal , is the first of many future ones .
Mr President , President Barroso , I would like to put a question to you in this House about the European Emergency Fund .
prison remains orientated towards the needs of male prisoners and I welcome the report 's aim to highlight the differences experienced by women .
if , today , regions are seeking to re-dedicate resources in addition to the resources already available , we are certainly very open , in this area , to the idea of opening up this opportunity or , in any case , to holding serious talks in this regard .
many companies which are entitled to apply for European subsidies and whose ideas will bring added value on a European scale do not have the necessary language skills to go through the application process in English .
the delegation from Georgia is led by the Speaker of Georgia 's Parliament , Mrs Burjanadze .
they specifically agreed to what is in the deal .
apart from the environmental and public health issues , which are a concern in themselves , failure to re-use raw materials results in inefficiency and additional cost for the production system , which could be resolved by making better use of the materials that constitute the equipment concerned .
we cannot and shall not forget Nasrin Sotoudeh , nor her fellow fighters for fundamental rights in Iran .
there is a general feeling of aversion towards and mistrust of Russia that does not represent a sound basis for the cooperation that we are calling for .
cooperation between Member States should be strengthened in terms of the exchange of information about criminal records related to convictions for sexual abuse , so that those convicted of such offences can be prevented from taking jobs involving direct contact with children .
EU development aid so far has focused , first of all , on providing necessary functions for the government to help deliver the basic services of the state , such as the running of the education system , the healthcare system and the police , and the ability to provide staff in the public sector .
these new technologies can significantly improve vehicle safety and it is clear that road safety will benefit when they are introduced as the standard system on new vehicles .
Mr President , Mr Barroso observed that we are living in extraordinary times - true - but extraordinary times call for extraordinary leadership .
I shall focus on two examples .
apart from anything else , he is also systematically persecuting various minorities : racial minorities , sexual minorities , and all other minorities , in their own land .
for my younger brother , the Internet is as natural as watching television or chatting in the school playground at break time .
unfortunately , it is not as simple as it is sometimes made to appear in political debates .
this crisis has been brought about , as we all know , by a kind of casino capitalism , crony capitalism , and a financial services sector that has been subject to no regulation - or to light-touch regulation , as it is sometimes politely referred to .
the most shameful thing for us in the EU is that it is being carried out by one of our preferred trading partners .
if it is really concerned about minors ' living conditions , the Italian Government should take action to ensure proper health conditions in the camps , to foster social inclusion and integration , and to promote schooling and entry into working life .
I am proud to have participated in this work in Parliament , which will take a decision on the matter tomorrow .
the Presidency is pleased that this issue has been addressed within Parliament , and thanks its rapporteur , Mr López-Istúriz White , for his proposals on the legal protection of adults .
it will answer those questions which were raised by Mr Lungren , that is , it will help to bolster the whole euro area , because the procedures for euro transactions will be strengthened .
it is much appreciated . '
the collation and categorisation of such data should be consistent with previous annual reports in order to assist Parliament in making meaningful assessments of the progress being made by the Commission .
and , yes , where we can use them as a laboratory , for example , for the development of renewable energies , we should certainly try and promote and encourage that at the same time , seeing to it that their vulnerabilities are not prejudiced in any way .
Commissioner , will you require anybody selling goods to have a direct contact number where people who have difficulties can make direct contact with those who have sold them defective goods or services ?
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - Mr President , doesn 't this all go to show that this vast exercise of EU financial regulation has singularly missed the mark ?
unless we are honest in identifying the problem , there can be no solution .
the joint debate is closed .
( applause )
Mr Reinfeldt , you do , of course , deserve our thanks .
Romania , like other new Member States of the European Union , is in a much worse situation than the general one described in the report .
it is the best in the world , after all , as it is the only ETS in the world to date .
I think it is tremendous that European action forces should help where local fire fighters cannot manage alone .
another lesson is that we must establish a European civil protection body .
the main thing - as everybody , including the airlines , said - was that it was very important to resume flights .
nevertheless , compliance with the obligations in Article 9 does not require a formal social impact assessment procedure .
I have referred , for example , to the legislative proposals already prepared and to the intention to tighten the penalties for people trafficking .
a recent report states that two thirds of young people have received unwanted requests while using the Internet and 25 % have viewed material with indecent content .
congratulations are also due to the new Member States entering the Schengen area on the tremendous efforts they made to meet all the Schengen requirements in such a short period of time .
we want to have an action plan that covers cooperation on key issues - science , technology and innovation , environment , climate change and so on .
better law-making must also mean the involvement of the European Parliament both in interinstitutional debate and as a co-legislator .
however , social rights , including the rights of workers , have not been regarded as a priority , even at a time when fundamental social rights are being called into question by the policies promoted by the EU .
each of these countries is faced with a choice . they can follow either the Russian or the European model .
the commitment that the EU made to realise the UN 's Millennium Development Goals cannot be forgotten .
if implemented correctly by national bodies , this international agreement will be an important tool for ensuring the long-term protection of marine life and the sustainable exploitation of fish stocks .
equally , we cannot force girls to take up technical studies . in order to maintain a fifty-fifty balance .
the next item is Question Time ( B7-0019 / 2011 ) .
human rights , which include women 's rights , are and need to be universal and defended in any context .
who is the Union for ?
those who carry inside them the hurt of having been abandoned are entitled to grow up in a happy environment with people who can offer them a new life .
this alone makes it paramount that we let this part of the EU budget through today .
( PL ) This is an important step for the European Parliament towards opening the door to nations which are obviously European , such as the Georgians and the Armenians .
in short , it is true that mobility has to be changed rather than reduced .
it is imperative that we do not mask realities .
it is men who have been elected to the highest positions in the European Union ( President of the European Parliament and President of the European Commission ) .
one of these is the activity of foreign investors , particularly those from Russia .
I can understand people in Athens going out into the streets and protesting .
I therefore agree with the rapporteur 's recommendations on the improvements that need to be made to the governance system in the EU 2020 strategy compared to the Lisbon Strategy .
Mr Barroso said it 's becoming fashionable to be Populist and wave the flag of xenophobia .
my experience is that if you communicate clearly on the substance issues then it is much easier , and this is exactly also what our representation office in Ireland is trying to do : to communicate on the different substance issues .
Commissioner . - ( FI ) Madam President , I would still like to make a couple of comments in Finnish because of the speech by Mr Soini .
for our part , we will bring you a proposal , a communication to strengthen the EU 's disaster response capacity , and we will come back to you with the lessons learnt from this disaster .
I also want to say that , despite the fact that we have a decision requiring gender mainstreaming in all our work here in Parliament , no gender analysis of this directive has been carried out , also despite the fact that we know that many women on the lowest wages are precisely those who often get caught in the debt trap .
lastly , I should like to point out that I originally felt there should be no reference to specific countries .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the guidelines we are shortly to vote on are the first step towards the European budget for 2012 .
if we really want to export our poultry and pig industry outside the EU and feed our citizens on Brazilian chicken and pork and even chicken from Thailand , all of which has been fed on GM , then the present policies of zero tolerance on non-GM feed and the appallingly slow licensing of GM feed within the EU are exactly the way to go about it .
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the European Parliament for its support of the Commission demand for the knowledge triangle of research , education and innovation .
although both the Lisbon strategy and the EU 2020 strategy attach greater emphasis than ever before to social policy , the issues of competitiveness and economic factors continue to take priority to the detriment of social issues .
the first concerns the question whether all the European Union 's policies can come under the general Europe 2020 umbrella .
I hope so and we support you in it , Mr Barroso .
that is what I wanted to say .
the third is to protect the safety of our citizens against terrorists , drugs and counterfeited and pirated goods that can even endanger their health and life , by controlling the supply chains used for the international movement of goods .
I would also like to thank Commissioner Füle for his remarks , especially for mentioning the maritime dimension , which the Commission is shaping right now and , of course , for making the necessary link between the Black Sea strategy and the Danube strategy .
it is also about structural reform , fiscal consolidation and growth-enhancing measures .
in writing . - We oppose the Union for the Mediterranean .
- Madam President , I am sorry we are keeping you from your lunch with our explanations of votes .
the Governing Council is the pertinent entity .
CEPOL helps national bodies to work together to prevent and combat crime .
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however , our assessment shows that further serious work needs to be done in the Member States to improve the effectiveness of their policies for Roma integration .
I could never imagine in my youth that one day I would speak in it .
in order to maintain this dynamic and ensure a quality process , we must point out that further efforts are needed to meet the requirements of the Negotiating Framework , including Croatia 's obligations in respect of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement , and also the implementation of the Accession Partnership .
as I indicated in my speech , the assessment conducted so far indicates that stringent measures are already in place - this point has been made .
we all assessed that the meeting was positive .
those are the core tasks to which I have devoted my time since I took on this role .
the first matter is Yemen .
we also need to clarify under what exceptional circumstances suspension can be carried out in order to avoid unilateral action that jeopardises the whole system . so you can rest assured that we will do our utmost to strengthen Schengen and that we need more European engagement there , not less .
I have many other questions but I know we are tight on time so , if the Commissioner could answer that one , I would be happy .
in line with the appeal the report makes to Member States , I would like to call for a strengthening of the decentralisation process for implementing regional policy in Bulgaria , in order to ensure that the system of multilevel governance functions in the most effective way on the basis of the principles of partnership and subsidiarity .
under its provisions , traders will have to provide clear and accurate information in a timely manner and , failing that , a consumer cannot be bound by distance or off-premises contracts .
it is a sorry state of affairs that no one benefits from this , the people least of all .
let us take that as the benchmark .
I highlight this last point because we cannot let the first European Maritime Day coincide in the minds of citizens with the death of an entire trade .
yet the Heads of State or Government lacked the courage to opt for a purely European solution .
situations of loss of income are on the increase and women are getting poorer .
I welcome the fact that the European Union immediately activated its Civil Protection Mechanism to coordinate its emergency aid .
this was after a massive consultation .
the funeral was attended today by the High Representative , Mr Solana , and the Commander of the operation , General Nash , who expressed sympathy on behalf of the European Union .
it demand selflessness , sharing and putting others first .
I would like to share my reading of these with you , and to talk to you especially about the next stages .
we often do this formally but , Mr Eppink , although our parties often disagree on many things , I must say that while drawing up this report , there were no taboo matters in our discussion .
this wisdom cannot simply end at ensuring fair relations between competitors in the European area .
some attempt has been made to strengthen the opportunities SMEs might have to participate .
yes , the time has come to finally give priority to all these small businesses , and to their directors and employees , and to do so , first and foremost , in European regulations .
if you cross check your papers , you will see , firstly , that you gave the floor today out of order and , secondly , that you gave the floor to persons who spoke at the previous plenary sitting of the European Parliament ; consequently , your arguments do not stand up .
the vessel owners should be accountable for the costs arising under the agreements from which they themselves draw benefit , and we want to see continued change in that direction . we therefore voted for Amendment 8 , although that change should take place in a wider context .
from my own experience of more than eight years as a member of the Commission , I can assure you that I have had to put the brakes on overzealous Commission departments far more often than I have needed to urge them to fire up the heavy artillery of the treaty infringement process .
however , I have a problem , and I am asking the Council to solve it .
I hope that the European judicial area will help sooner or later to rectify this great injustice .
for more than 10 years now , Parliament has been calling for tighter controls , including legislation on European inspections : for minimum criteria for inspections in Mr Jackson 's report in 1999 , for legislative reform for shipments of waste in Mr Blokland 's report in 2003 , and for minimum criteria for inspections in the 2008 resolution .
I would say yes , but what for ?
one of the few regimes that genuinely enjoys popular support - that of Álvaru Uribe in Colombia , who has the support of more than three quarters of his population because he has restored order to that unhappy country and has cracked down on the paramilitaries of both Left and Right .
I therefore consider that we should vote in favour of the Berlato report .
security and stability are vital if the citizens are to put their trust in the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina .
appropriate checks should be introduced and the import into the EU of agricultural food products produced with the aid of chemicals should be banned .
for older citizens , we are calling for a European fifty-plus employment pact initiative .
it is clear to me that the Dublin system is not perfect yet .
Mr President , the Union for the Mediterranean faces real obstacles and what I am asking of the European Union , of all the institutions and of Parliament , is determination , considerably more determination , when it comes to trying to overcoming these obstacles .
it was Russia , nonetheless , that rescued the Kyoto Protocol , while the US refused to ratify it .
why on earth are we putting in place legislation in the European Union when we are in effect wasting our time ?
finally , with regard to the incident of racism against a non-white person , I would like to point to the huge numbers of equally serious anti-white racism incidents occurring in the enclaves of illegal immigration , not to mention the ' white-hunting ' taking place under President Mugabe 's reign and also even in South Africa .
( applause from the left )
if I have understood you correctly , you wanted to ensure that a study was started into whether there are , in fact , too many toxic substances in children 's toys in Germany , as the study indicates .
this process , in particular the intervention of the army , has led to criticism .
I would like to seize the initiative and turn once again to the Council .
( RO ) I wish to congratulate the authors of the resolution for harmonising the points of view of the various political groups .
I am willing to start the discussion about the need for reform and then to think about how we can define a number of areas on which we would like to do more work .
firstly , the Commission instructed an agency to take over the administration of the programme and to simplify the administration procedure even before this regulation was proposed .
it is unacceptable that Musharraf should show such a cavalier disregard for democracy .
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in addition , as I have already said on repeated occasions , we should study the situation of the religious minorities in that part of the world and prepare a report on the subject .
regarding the consumer forum , we will certainly invite the consumer organisations that are well represented in Member States and the umbrella organisation .
in writing . - In favour .
the Eastern Partnership has obvious budgetary consequences : EUR 350 million have been appropriated for the next few years - and even this will probably not be enough .
for this reason , I would like to thank the rapporteur for calling on the Commission to take steps in the medium to long term to address this problem .
I am in favour of devoting an appreciable level of attention to matters concerning EU citizens ' health , but not of adopting excessively alarmist attitudes , which then result in exorbitant public health spending .
Members of the Commission and the Council , it is also bumping up inflation for the poor in the EU much more quickly than overall inflation .
with the support of the EU-US Senate leaders , I will look to move forward on that at the forthcoming TEC meeting on 17 December .
one important matter in the setting up of the European External Action Service is contact with the European Parliament .
the European Union cannot continue deviating from the rule of law and therefore I call on my colleagues to join the newly-formed European committee for justice under the leadership of Vice-President Alejo Vidal-Quadras calling for the immediate removal of the PMOI from the blacklist .
you have said , Commission President - and that is why I am appealing to you now - that our work is not yet over .
the public needs to be 100 % sure that the products they consume are safe and fit for purpose .
above all , in the countries with the greatest financial difficulties , it should commit to investment in public services , to supporting production , to creating jobs with rights , to eradicating poverty , and to combating social inequality and all types of discrimination , not least gender .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , two weeks ago I went to Lampedusa and Malta .
the growing number of older people , plus the need for a wider range of services and products , increases demand in this area .
the globalisation associated with the current crisis has changed many of the circumstances that served as a basis for decisions taken at European level in the past and which were , at the time , considered correct .
naturally , I am pleased that a Portuguese , Gabriel Rodrigo Ribeiro Tavares Bernardino , has been nominated as first Chair of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority .
to help Iraq reverse the dismal administrative situation she has inherited , we need also to make close partnerships with the public service ministries and to use all of our experience in the enlargement process to help capacity-building and institution-building .
( LV ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , from the procedural viewpoint the EU 's budget for 2009 can be seen as preparation for two important issues .
we will , of course , involve the Member States , and the experts from the Member States will be involved in planning the timetable of the visits , in performing the in situ visits , and in drafting the evaluation report .
the fact that Bulgaria and Romania have external EU borders should not be regarded as a barrier preventing them from joining the Schengen area .
these new technical possibilities such as automatic distance control and automatic obstacle recognition are already available in some top-of-the-range vehicles .
unfortunately , the Gdańsk Shipyard also became a symbol of the decline of heavy industry and the defencelessness of workers and trade unions in the face of that process , a model example of everything that is defined as ' casino capitalism ' .
of course , we cannot allow short-term support for the industry to undermine its long-term competitiveness .
the Commission has recently presented a proposal for a joint EU resettlement programme .
composition of political groups : see Minutes
as you know , the European Parliament has always been particularly receptive to the suffering of the African peoples .
( HU ) The military junta has promised free , democratic elections for 2010 .
flying in the face of common sense , nuclear energy is depicted as the technology of the future , with even more EU research funding and budgetary resources to flow into the development of this high-risk dinosaur technology .
with Chinese arms exports - some of them in the attack that was described a minute ago - estimated to be in excess of USD 2 billion a year , the irresponsibility with which they act has to be called into question .
the Commission 's Communication on Roma identifies four areas that are of strategic importance to overcome Roma exclusion .
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we are all very attached to it , and we expect the study initiated by the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries to clarify the sources of activity and of employment that we can expect .
for that reason , it is important that the Commission should now investigate the matter and that the practical aspects of going ahead should be weighed carefully .
even if some people do not agree , let us move towards greater convergence in the euro area and in the Union for those who want to move forward , because now it is not just the federalists or the integrationists who want more governance in the European Union .
the alignment of study programmes and corresponding mutual recognition must be achieved in all areas of training and education , in particular , in manual trades , where there is a lot of ground to make up .
( PT ) One of the areas of education which is still lagging behind in certain European Union countries , in particular Portugal , is pre-school education .
we know that another , far worse , alternative exists and that is another reason why we are prepared to do everything to ensure that the European Union is preserved , developed and strengthened .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs . - ( IT ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I am truly proud of the work carried out in this Parliament and of its ability to make use of the already recognised powers to propose legislation .
I think that the process of moving towards the rapprochement of Turkey and the European Union is possible ; it is a feasible process .
if Mr Gollnisch is charged over a press release written by the political office of the Front National , then of course this activity should be seen as falling within the scope of his EU mandate .
as is often the way with solutions to environmental problems , however , another aspect to the problem emerged .
the only Icelandic party in favour of membership has slumped from 30 % to 18 % in the polls .
since then many other regions have initiated mutual cooperation .
resettlement of detainees would concern those cleared for release in the light of this review .
by looking for innovative solutions , we contribute to an increase in the well-being of society .
for this reason , I believe it is a good thing that we are calling for subsidiarity in this area and that every country can go its own way .
this new regulation will definitely mean that these SMEs increase their market share and it will , in this way , contribute to employment in Europe .
therefore , we must set priorities .
that is where the whole mission of pre-commercial procurement comes in .
we are continuing to fund the banks .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
in the vote on the Lange report , I am abstaining on paragraph 31 because of the ambiguous wording , which refers to Eurobonds as well as project bonds .
the majority of major countries in the UN and the EU and the majority of EU Member States refused to recognise Slovenia at that time .
I therefore support the application for mobilisation of the fund as expressed in my fellow Member 's report .
one would imagine that part of those harsh conditions would be to ensure that there would not be maladministration and , if there was , that there would be a correction put in place .
there is no faith that the new measures implemented recently are actually being taken stock of .
Kosovo is part of a very sensitive geographical zone , on which the EU should maintain constant focus .
State-aided railway companies should not be allowed to compete on a market with free competition .
if we need to have a debate on Venezuela in the Committee on Foreign Affairs , let us have it , but we should not use this session to do things that have nothing to do with the fundamental , specific and timely reporting of human rights violations .
I would therefore like to make a proposal to you , which I submit to the debate for further consideration .
( it ) Mr President , I believe that this Parliament 's democratic vote has unquestionably demonstrated something that everyone knows to be true , namely that there is freedom of information in Italy .
some Member States have been supplying Libya with weapons and even with torture equipment for years .
I take this opportunity to urge the European Council meeting in June to make it its priority to preserve jobs and find solutions for reducing unemployment in the European Union .
nor is there yet any clarity regarding the precise allocation of the tasks relating to Kosovo and the budgetary needs for 2008 .
women would welcome child-care facilities at scientific institutions .
that way , we ensure that as few people as possible are listening and that , with only a very few exceptions , there is nobody sitting in the visitors ' gallery , and we ensure that journalists , who should be reporting all this , are most likely already giving their attention to other things in the evening .
these products will have to comply with the rules in force and , following a careful appraisal , will be able to bear the CE mark .
finally , I believe that in order to successfully achieve the proposed objectives , it is necessary to strengthen coordination between the various agents involved in pursuing the strategy for youth .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( FR ) Madam President , I thank Mr Albertini for his excellent report .
in rural areas , as elsewhere , women expect to be able to realise their own plans for their lives , to be economically independent and to meet family challenges .
in addition , we must make decisive progress towards achieving the Single European Sky , developing all the functional airspace blocks ( FABs ) more quickly to reduce fragmentation in the management of airspace and to ensure their more effective management .
now there will be supplementary guarantees concerning the EU law .
it will bring legal certainty to consumers , which is absolutely vital if people are to shop around and look for the best product which suits their needs .
conforming to the recommendations of the United Nations General Assembly , the spearhead in this area , the Members are putting an end to the legal vacuum that allowed the irreparable destruction of our marine ecosystems to take place .
it is important that we find a good basis through a transparent process .
centralised intervention in the economy has always failed .
the poverty rate amongst women has exceeded 18 % .
all that is needed , in accordance with international law , is to conduct negotiations in good faith .
the EU must bite the bullet .
election observation missions are a very important element of European Union policy for fostering democracy .
as I said , I am in constant contact with the most important players .
I also wish to draw your attention to the study to be prepared on actors and the possible proposal for a directive which will be presented in 2010 .
the underlying principles of this process come down to three priority fields of action .
so yes to the defence of the liberty of the press in Europe , but no to this Parliament being used for purely partisan and national ends .
in proposing postponement of entry into force of this directive , the Commission was reacting responsibly to new scientific evidence - I repeat , new scientific evidence - namely a study commissioned by the Government of the United Kingdom and published in June 2007 .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , the symbols of the European Union are a celebration of the unity that we have achieved and that we hope to strengthen .
all the European institutions that depend on the European Union budget have to be thoroughly audited by the Court of Auditors and by all entities with that function .
unfortunately , vocational education has been neglected in recent years and has reduced in significance .
the disregard for women has reached peak levels when a German judge refers to the husband 's right to use corporal punishment anchored in the Koran as a decisive factor in her judgment on a Muslim divorce case .
this report is on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on Consumer Rights .
financial independence is also important for this authority so that we can put the revenue into different categories depending on where it was taken from .
as I was saying , we welcome the report by Mrs Gurmai who I also thank for her enthusiasm , because we have to show that we are enthusiastic about our commitment to defending the rights of citizens .
the more recent EU Member States like Bulgaria find it important to have the opportunity to exchange good practices and to implement Community pilot programmes .
the guarantee of free and fair political expression without intimidation or harassment is also a necessity .
I voted in favour of Mrs Joly 's excellent report on the work of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly , which is - I repeat - a unique institution in the world by virtue of its composition and its willingness to work together to promote North-South interdependence , not only by legislative means , but also through democratic dialogue and cooperation .
an ex-post assessment of the agreement shows that it is relevant in that it helps to maintain the presence of EU fleets in the region while contributing to local job creation .
the former authorities of the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management say that the application by the Lux Veritatis Foundation was checked very carefully and not found wanting in any way .
I would like to stress the major importance of a comprehensive approach to be adopted for the risk classification , which includes possible risks related not only to the nature of the incoming material , in this case breadcrumbs , but also to the process itself .
the harmonisation of such statistics will hugely improve comparability and enhance policy development .
these errors should and could have been identified and corrected much earlier by the personnel who approved the payments .
the vote will take place on Tuesday , 11 March 2008 .
the global economic crisis is just one of the factors contributing to a change in the behaviour and living conditions of young people in Europe .
secondly , you say - and you are right - that public finances need to be controlled better , that a return to more stable debt levels is necessary .
I visited the area during the conflict and saw the problems and fears facing both sides .
the report tries hard to hide its approval of the liberalisation of trade , and its role in the offensive led by neoliberal capitalist globalisation , which it claims will ensure the economic development and progress of peoples .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to congratulate Mr Tabajdi on his balanced report .
although I understand the historical and political circumstances of Belarus , I firmly believe that the time has also come for Belarus to join the ranks of those countries that have outlawed the death penalty .
the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance has asked for the report by Mr Hökmark on a Community framework for nuclear safety to be taken off the agenda .
we do , however , share the view that the European Parliament should participate more fully when the open method of coordination is used .
I believe that we must be more active and have much more to offer these countries .
Mr Schulz , I will simply say that my group and I concern ourselves with social issues just as much as you do , and we are all ...
these are seen as acts of hostility that only result in people rallying round Mr Putin .
when are we honest with European citizens ?
so rest assured that action will be taken , if necessary .
Lisbon upholds the sovereign right of Member States to make such decisions , and that is just one of the very many reasons why I support it .
firstly by destroying or at least lowering the financial fences of visa requirements , which prevent people from communicating so much .
I wanted to remind you that there were reservations raised concerning the actions of the European Union directly after the catastrophe .
as Mr Wurtz and other speakers have stressed , finance must continue to serve the economy ; the economy must not be the victim of finance .
in this context , if other Member States decide to exercise their sovereignty and ratify the Lisbon Treaty , or otherwise , no real democrat , no flag-flying democrat who today claims to be Irish , can legitimately object .
in meetings with Lithuanians working abroad , I have heard on several occasions how they are paid less , are often not paid at all for work carried out , or have transport and living costs illegally deducted from their wages .
any remaining funds had to be invested in this project .
in this way special national registers , which will be introduced with this regulation , would ease the control of these transport operators and this would become more effective , something that would undoubtedly have a positive effect on road safety .
the rebels ' calls for a no-fly zone pose us a dilemma .
I shall miss this Parliament , this House , and all of you .
nevertheless , we shall keep on waiting and we do in fact hope that the European Parliament 's proposal may be taken into consideration following tomorrow 's vote .
these are relevant questions and require an urgent response because this accident not only concerns the Spanish and Gibraltar authorities .
thank you to Commissioner Piebalgs for his response .
it is my opinion that we need to support struggling companies as much as possible to provide them with the credit they need to keep their businesses afloat and to ensure that jobs are not lost .
when the judges took down the data in the minors courts , it was considered standard practice .
seen in this light , I view these concerns as understandable , but not entirely justified in principle , and I hope I have managed to dispel them .
the agreement at first reading demonstrates how important the urgency of this dossier is to every person who took part .
the Commission has announced that it will take the necessary action once its officials have analysed the Lithuanian legislation , and my question is : has the analysis been carried out yet and have your officials , as part of that analysis , considered what the consequences could be for the recognition of same-sex couples from other Member States ?
many of them were injured .
to date , the reactions by the authorities , especially at European level , have been good .
I welcome the results of today 's vote .
clearly the European Central Bank and its President , Mr Trichet , take the Bank 's mandate and the Maastricht criteria seriously .
since there is no European demos , no European nation , this defect cannot be solved by strengthening the role of the European Parliament .
I would also just like to point out today that the EFTA countries have had a free trade agreement since 2006 , and this has resulted , among other things , in Norway tripling its exports to South Korea since 2006 .
the euro is therefore well worth strongly defending .
at the same time , however , the adverse impact of plant production products on the environment , and on watercourses in particular , is a very real one .
many of those who are injured , and their families , face an agonising wait to find out whether they have contracted a blood-borne infection such as HIV or hepatitis C .
I voted in favour because the Schwab report has the merit of protecting consumers in their cross-border purchases .
- ( CS ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , it is clearly a great pity that there has been a delay in the publication of this document and the action plan .
the lack of generally approved nuclear safety requirements in the EU allowed , in the not too distant past , some of the countries joining the EU to have political solutions imposed on their nuclear energy , which are not in line nowadays with the EU 's objectives for limiting climate change and for energy supply security .
it will set about locating and confiscating the profits made from criminal activities .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , I believe Mr Swoboda 's argument was admittedly brief , but it was concise .
special attention should also be paid to improving the housing conditions and the health of elderly people , particularly in regions in which the population is falling by 20-30 % .
this approach constitutes the difference that the EU can bring , particularly in comparison with other international actors .
this does not mean that the national approach , which is likely to be the one chosen by Hungary , cannot harmonise or even contrast with the Community approach .
( PL ) Mr President , the European Union , in which one in seven citizens belongs to a national minority , can be proud of its extensive guarantee to respect their rights .
I am also delighted that progress has been achieved in negotiations over Montenegro 's application to join the EU , which the Council has just handed over to the Commission for drafting .
- ( FI ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to thank Mr Florenz sincerely for the excellent work he has done as rapporteur .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
in our opinion this implies , among other aspects , appropriate vocational training , improvement of working conditions , promotion of stable contractual arrangements and fair and dignified levels of pay .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , as coordinator for the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe , I had the opportunity to present the opinion of the Committee on International Trade on the need for a European strategy for the South Caucasus .
the EGF is aimed at helping workers who are victims of the relocation of businesses , and it is crucial in facilitating their access to new employment in the future .
however , I believe that the EU and Israel are natural partners because they share the same values : democracy , the rule of law and personal freedom , and in particular a free press and independent judiciary .
now we have to move from words to deeds .
Mrs Győri , you tell us that the Council has no say in the appointment of these officials , which is legally correct , but some Member States are lying in ambush .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
( SL ) You have raised many political problems during this debate , but I would like to draw your attention to another challenge which was not mentioned in our report .
that is why , Commissioner , we are also asking you to use as much influence as you can at governmental , regional and local-authority level , since these bodies will put into practice our provisions , budgets and regulations , and we will not be effective unless they are .
this kind of equipment is with us from dawn to dusk .
against this background , the Commission welcomes the consistent support that Parliament has given to efforts to protect Europe 's rich and varied natural heritage .
now we have the presentation of the achievements of the Belgian Presidency : legislation , the European External Action Service , financial supervision , the Citizens ' Initiative , the budget - we will discuss all these points .
however , that does not mean that we are back to business as usual .
moreover , ever higher life expectancies mean the number of older people is increasing , along with the resulting consequences .
we would like to see the Commission becoming more proactive in solving this unacceptable state of affairs .
15 .
it will also contribute under the Consolidated Plan of Action for Africa in the sphere of science and technology .
the subsidy appears to benefit all bio-diesel exported from and , by the way , sold in the United States , whatever its source .
I like the expression ' there is a conflict of interests ' .
modification of Regulation ( EC ) No 1234 / 2007 ( the ' Single CMO Regulation ' ) ( debate )
one of the journalist 's daughters also suffered injuries , as did her mother .
we need to manage crises on our own and not to transfer this ability to other bodies .
Monday , Tuesday and Thursday :
I voted for this framework programme because I believe that it encourages the research community , academia , civil society organisations , companies and the industrial sector to participate in research projects .
to conclude , enlargement was always going to be a long-term effort and one which has to ride out political storms in Ankara , Belgrade , Brussels and many other capitals in Europe .
regarding rest periods , this request came originally from the industry since they maintain that , after such rest periods , catches become more profitable .
( SV ) Mr President , as a eurosceptic , I often feel a certain Schadenfreude when various EU institutions come up with unreasonable and ridiculous proposals like Article 47 .
nobody mentions that , for vast parts of the world , we are the terrorists . '
call that narrow , mercenary national interest if you will , but to me it is inescapable common and fiscal sense .
if we allow these countries to gain increased market access , it could have detrimental effects not only on European farmers , but also on those developing countries most in need .
I understand the Commission 's demand for greater flexibility in the funding of politically sensitive projects aimed at supporting democracy and human rights .
this is because weather is a local phenomenon and we are talking about climate , which is a long-term global phenomenon .
the European Union has been taking on an important role in combating these scourges , and I hope that it will continue to do so and even that it will strengthen this role , in as far as is possible .
on 10 March further sanctions were added , including an asset freeze , a further travel ban , an arms embargo and an embargo on equipment which might be used for internal repression - thus going beyond the measures imposed by the previously adopted UN Security Council resolution .
now , unfortunately , six months after the deadline , local and regional bodies have not managed to set up a territorial cooperation grouping because Member States have unjustifiably neglected to take or have delayed taking appropriate measures to implement the regulation .
they include democracy , human rights and freedom of opinion .
they are now going to be discussed by the European Council and Parliament , and we hope this will be a very fruitful discussion .
the growing importance of aquaculture justifies the introduction of provisions regarding the collection , management and use of environmental , socio-economic and health data , in order to contribute to its sustainability .
weapon systems would fail , commerce would stop , aircraft would fall out of the sky .
I also highlighted the need for more effective information campaigns in order to increase consumer awareness : this is the cornerstone of increasing consumer confidence in the EU 's internal market .
I would like to thank the rapporteur , Mr Leinen , for the report he has submitted .
we can all agree on that , but the one thing - the elephant in the room - that nobody has talked about this afternoon is the fact that the court cannot look at the prima facie evidence against the accused person and exercise any discretion about whether they should be extradited or not .
the reason is that we can see the incredible potential that can be realised in growth , trade and development .
if those people continue to exist in their present conditions , it will be the cause of the third conflagration on this planet , causing huge migration and huge problems .
it is being violated , however , around the world almost daily .
I think the cooperation you mentioned between civilians and the military is fundamental .
just as you say , we need to take action on fuel tourism for the sake of the internal market .
I do not think so , and I call for detailed work and reflection at second reading .
it is in keeping with the authority of Parliament that we stick to the facts in the resolutions .
we know what we have to do : it is a year since the Commission adopted the Climate and Energy Package , and much work has been done .
this directive does not say that segregation and educational segregation are discrimination .
the second large credibility gap is provided by the EU 's short-sighted open border policy , which has encouraged mass immigration from Eastern Europe to my country .
the Commission has some responsibility to present what it believes to be the right way forward for the euro area and for the Union and so , in a very comprehensive document regarding the annual growth survey , we expressed our opinion .
what is happening to bees is very important to Europe - to the world , in fact .
there is no safe alcohol level in drivers .
it would be better to tell Turkey directly that , despite fulfilling all the criteria , it will not achieve full EU membership .
the proposal facilitates the process of adapting legislation to technical progress by transforming the three existing directives into a single regulation , thereby avoiding the transposition of merely technical updates and shortening the time between the submission of an application and the adoption of a new fibre name .
in my opinion , this is the angle to take in discussions on the EU budget .
the Danish members of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament - Mr Rasmussen , Mrs Thomsen , Mrs Schaldemose , Mr Jørgensen and Mr Christensen - have voted against not only the Commission 's proposals but also the amendments proposed by Parliament .
we have just approved the energy and climate package , but now there is a crisis we should organise a meeting on a bigger scale to include our partners .
who remembers the match between Argentina and England and what the result was at the end ?
I would like some information because I believe that we are being kept in the dark about this .
among the dead , there are medical doctors and children .
it is these important social objectives that guide the European Union in preventing , discouraging and eliminating illegal fishing , which is the subject of this regulation , and which reinforce its commitment to ensure compliance with the provisions of the common fisheries policy in Community waters .
I have abstained in the vote on Resolution concerning EU strategic objectives for the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ( CITES ) because I believe that northern bluefin tuna should not be included in CITES Appendix 1 .
but in spite of this , the EU has the most ambitious and the most binding regulations in terms of environmental protection .
Madam President , on behalf of my colleagues in the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection , I would like to thank Mr Davies for the way he has approached this , particularly his willingness to listen , and for a number of innovative approaches that we see in his report .
oral explanations of vote
the resources needed for the EU institutions to be able to fulfil what is expected of them should , however , be made available , especially in view of the new institutional framework resulting from the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon .
to begin with , I would like to say a few words on the Grelier report , which is a compromise between the political groups and the European Commission . I endorse the version of this report which was agreed on and voted through in the Committee on Fisheries .
in my opinion , we must also have the courage to allow the Western Balkan regions to join the visa-free regime at the earliest opportunity .
in writing . - I voted for this report , which examines a Commission proposal to extend by 5 years to 31 December 2015 the requirement for EU countries to have a minimum standard VAT rate of 15 % .
the recent financial and economic global crisis proved that Russia and the European Union are interdependent and need each other .
I have therefore voted against this motion for a resolution .
the cohesion policy is a fundamental pillar of the European integration process and one of the EU 's most successful policies , encouraging convergence between increasingly diverse regions , and stimulating economic growth and the creation of jobs .
I am also aware that this Parliament , through the various resolutions adopted since 2002 , has consistently expressed its opinion on that particular problem .
was there any discussion on this important point ?
the report proposes a common European asylum system and a common asylum support office with common standards for granting refugee and asylum status .
the aim of the Doha Conference is to assess progress made , reaffirm commitments , identify obstacles , but also find ways to overcome these obstacles .
I voted in favour of this report on the proposal for a directive recasting Directive 2002 / 96 / EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 2003 on waste electrical and electronic equipment ( WEEE ) .
it will also send a positive signal to our electorate .
such an absence of harmonised standards no longer seems acceptable in the new framework , which is governed by technical specifications for interoperability for wagons , and by the new private agreement , the General Contract of Use for Wagons , between technical wagon operators and railway undertakings .
let me also commend you for setting up the EP Delegation for relations with Afghanistan .
the Commission is trying to increase the competitiveness of rail freight transport through the proposal and I would like to take the opportunity to applaud this .
in the end I feel I am being blackmailed by the Council in voting for this agreement so we can at least have enhanced security measures in place to protect the public .
request for urgent procedure
I will begin with a flashback to the year 1933 .
on 20 December 2010 the enterprise General Motors Belgium , in the automotive sector , submitted an application for the EGF , having been forced to make 2 834 workers redundant from the main company and four of its suppliers .
in view of the figures reported and the Treaty of Lisbon 's introduction of a proper EU humanitarian aid policy , I totally agree that we need a mid-term review focused on strengthening the action plan regarding the promotion of humanitarian principles , on the delivery of humanitarian aid , on clarifying the use of military and civil protection resources , and on disaster risk reduction and reinforcement of the link between emergency aid and development .
we have always attached the greatest importance to multilateral cooperation at the level of the promotion of the proper conservation and management of marine biological resources , which is the subject of this agreement .
Mr President , I found it very difficult to support my friend Ms Joly 's report , because she started talking about a European and global tax .
with its very limited coastline , non-existing potential for storage reservoirs , little sun , few open spaces , and so on , it is a complete mystery how the share of renewable energy could be increased from barely 2 % to 13 % by 2020 .
furthermore , it has stimulated intense debate worldwide .
the resolution we are going to vote on this week will provide the guiding line for upcoming negotiations on the next-generation development instrument .
we took a decision yesterday that we would have a resolution on the EU-Russia Summit this week , and my Group believes that we should stick to that .
could you please let me speak without interrupting me ?
( the sitting was suspended at 19.25 until the start of Question Time and resumed at 19.30 )
I am particularly happy that within one week , it was possible to triple the nominations of women from three to nine .
I agree , but we must consider that Turks are Turks .
the Treaty of Lisbon retains many improvements from the former constitution .
Europe must speak clearly with one voice , and loudly in favour of firm measures .
there is also a significant disparity among these areas in individual Member States .
I am in agreement with the rapporteur on such issues and have thus decided to vote in favour of this dossier .
( RO ) In line with expectations , the Copenhagen Summit did not end with any concrete results .
you say it has worked well , but I am afraid the recast ignores vital jurisprudence on what actually needs to be done .
there was therefore nothing very surprising in this .
if there is free movement of labour , pensions must also always move from one country to another .
we know that the technology we need over the decades to come exists , and that it is available at a fair price , but the most problematic issue is that climate protection is an incredible challenge to human cooperation .
( EL ) Madam President , the reason why we feel secure in Europe , the reason why Europe has been going for so long is , I think , because it has always respected national sensitivities .
the final judgement has not been reached in the Laval case in Sweden , and there are many aspects to this judgement - both the obvious discrimination against foreign enterprises , which we cannot support , and also the unclear information given to the enterprise .
Madam President , the troubles of Greece and the eurozone should not be seen as an exception .
does that link really mean anything in practice ?
at the moment , however , the statistics speak for themselves .
( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I would still like to remind you that we have not managed to settle the frozen conflicts in these eastern regions , nor have we managed to avoid war between Russia and Georgia .
it is something that should be looked at because those counties also suffered over a period of 30 to 35 years .
human trafficking is one of the most serious crimes in the world and , unfortunately , it is growing in extent all the time .
I do not need to tell this audience about Europe 's proud tradition of protecting citizens from government invasion of their privacy - a commitment grounded in respect for the inherent dignity of all people .
it is therefore essential to be rigorous and the basis for a rigorous analysis is not to allow any confusion or to accept mere supposition as fact .
the truth is that , faced with a financial situation like the one we are in now , governments are - quite naturally , I would say - becoming more defensive , more prudent .
I believe that the common principles behind the US , the UK and the European plans for cleaning up the banks ' balances sheets will help to rebuild confidence and help to restore lending to the wider economy .
the truly important issue is the real impact on individuals , not just an abstract image of how things might work .
this is decided every five years .
what we cannot accept is the application of different rules and duties to a European producer and an agricultural producer outside the EU .
it is because it is fully aware of the budgetary constraints affecting the European Union that Parliament is today calling for the adoption of a 2012 budget that can respond to the political , economic and social challenges we currently face .
so , today , we have , first and foremost , a question of democracy to address and Europe , if it wants to respect its values and history , needs to take a leading role here .
finally , can I just say that , if the EU will not appoint a special coordinator , I believe Parliament should appoint a rapporteur for Tibet .
it is the Chinese regime that has shown itself incapable of turning its country into a respectable and influential power on the international stage .
the Commission welcomes the call for more European research in the field and for more efficient use of the existing financial tools , such as the structural funds and the lifelong learning programmes .
in addition , the fact that the wet grip values for tyres will , in future , be improved again is something that is to be viewed as a positive development , as is the fact that tyre pressure monitoring systems , lane departure warning systems and advanced emergency braking systems are to be considered for other categories of vehicle .
legal migration must be supported , and at the same time effective action needs to be taken against illegal immigration and human trafficking .
this issue takes on particular importance , seen in the context of the tragic fatal shootings at Jokela School in Finland a few weeks ago .
this is the reason for the proposals that have been tabled .
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the final resolution approved is clearly better than the report , and we voted for it for that reason alone , but it retains certain aspects that we disagree with .
implementing measures ( Rule 88 ) : see Minutes
I would also like to thank the Council and the French Presidency for the exceptional and fairly swift efforts made to pave the way for the rapid adoption of these two perfectly complementary texts .
although I agree with the need to ensure that women participate in the EU and national programmes , I do not think it should be done through quotas .
( PL ) Mr President , for me the northern gas pipeline and the approach taken by the European Parliament towards the northern gas pipeline are a test of the real value of the European Union , a test of whether the EU really does act on the basis of solidarity .
areas which are unnecessarily regulated should be urgently identified , and such regulations eliminated .
there is , unfortunately , a real danger that even in Europe the fight against terrorism may result in failure to respect fundamental rights and freedoms .
in fact , this is absolutely not what the services had understood , but we shall of course go along with our rapporteur .
therefore , it is necessary to establish a common European Union system for the regulation of online gambling , taking into account the protection of risk groups , with particular attention to the protection of minors and control of transactions .
I regret the fact that he will not be coming back again and I just wanted to say so on the record here .
stabilisation of the milk and dairy market will not be achieved just through one or two odd measures , such as not increasing quotas , designed to mitigate the immediate , temporary effects of the crisis .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , Commissioner , Mr Solana , the most important and urgent matter in relations with Iran is to obtain a guarantee that it will not acquire nuclear weapons .
in order to leave your country and enter it again you had to fill in an embarkation form to advise authorities where you were going and how long you would be away .
on the basis of its findings , serious consideration can be given to legislative measures at a later date if they are shown to be expedient and necessary .
these risks include possible further rises in commodity prices and unanticipated increases in indirect taxes and administered prices .
unfortunately , I was not supported by the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs in this matter , but I am using my position as rapporteur to urge the Commission to examine this mechanism which the Treaty offers us and which , to date , we have failed fully to exploit .
we have experienced a crisis in the market in cereals , when it proved necessary to take 2 900 000 hectares out of set-aside . then there was a crisis in the milk market , caused by a restrictive policy and the imposition of penalties on farmers .
the report does not say a word about all this .
death penalty in Belarus , in particular , the case of Dmitry Konovalov and Vladislav Kovalev (
in its Common Position of 21 May 2007 , the Council endorsed all 22 Parliament amendments .
nevertheless , being a part of the EU and participating in development cooperation helps to eliminate narrow-mindedness .
the bilateral dimension continues under the European neighbourhood policy , and is complemented in some cases by the pre-accession framework - as well as , in the case of Mauritania , the ACP framework .
bringing new products onto the market is a long and always expensive process .
as far as Macedonia is concerned , I hope that the Swedish Presidency will succeed in enabling accession negotiations to begin next year , so that we can finally resolve the bilateral problem which also exists in this case .
moreover , consumers purchasing long-term holiday products will be given additional protection .
the protection provided by the Geneva Convention is undermined by the EU taking upon itself responsibility for interpreting who is to be granted protection and the form this will take .
the key , apart from the formal alignment process , will be whether the Commission , the relevant Directorates-General , the officials working in this area , are willing to include Parliament in the work in good time .
I agree almost 100 % with it .
the aim of my comparison is to show the true path of the cohesion policy .
an overall budget of about EUR 2.1 million has been allocated to the Court by means of three Victims ' Justice and Legacy projects .
the Commission 's swift reaction was gratifying , as was the fact that it was confirmed by the Commissioner that every assistance would be given to Japan and the almost half a million people staying in temporary shelters following the devastating earthquake and tsunami .
instead , we must adopt a sustained , ongoing approach to putting these new concepts into effect .
it is vital that the experience of the Holodomor is not forgotten .
we cannot meet our targets without cooperation from other states .
for several months , Russia has been conducting a very intensive campaign aimed at obtaining exemptions for its gas infrastructure from the rules set out in the third energy package , or , in other words , the rules of our anti-monopoly law , which prohibit the simultaneous and parallel control of energy resources and transmission networks .
( FR ) Mr President , 150 deaths and countless instances of sexual degradation have been recorded today . it was an unprecedented violation of the Guinean civilian population that was carried out on 28 September .
the investment entailed could make control systems more efficient and cheaper to operate .
in any event , the consequences of cloned meat , including interactions with genetically modified fodder or pesticides and atomic radiation , cannot be predicted .
order of business
delaying payments or failing to make them altogether endangers the interests of companies and consumers alike .
signature of acts adopted under codecision : see Minutes
quite apart from the mantra of the role of free trade as a kind of saviour of the global economy that is currently in a precarious state , which is also reflected in the Free Trade Agreement itself , it is not clear from this agreement whether it will , or will able to , help us deal with the global challenges arising as a result of climate change and the necessary fundamental economic restructuring .
today we can say that we are back to a pre-14 March situation , because the talks between the Chinese Government and the representatives of the Dalai Lama resumed in early May and a new round of talks took place last week ; but I agree that we do not yet have a full assessment .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , let me first answer a number of specific questions which have been put , and start with climate change .
if I may , I will repeat one point I made in my initial address .
( NL ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to begin by thanking Mr Stockmann for his excellent report and good cooperation .
the spotlight must be on the amounts disbursed , the number of allocations made and the regions which have benefited from these funds .
we are working with social partners , because we believe that is also part of our model in Europe -the idea to work together with our social partners - and we believe that in this way we can help our workers to prepare them for the jobs of the future sustainable and low carbon economy that we want European to lead .
moreover , after first reading in Parliament , we had several meetings with representatives of the country holding the Presidency of the Council to ensure that the issues we were working on were reflected in the common position .
it is precisely at a time of crisis that European society will see if the declarations and principles which lie at the foundation of the European Union are true , or if it is only a game being played by some States against others within an institution which was founded on noble principles .
it has been in existence for seven years .
fourthly , and no less importantly , we must never forget that when we talk about the economy we are talking above all about people .
I suppose that , when our economies were powering ahead , we unfortunately left certain groupings behind .
interim deals should be put in place to ensure that there will be no disruption to trade and that the livelihood of millions will not be put at risk .
we will not receive any more money , so where do we want to reorganise ?
Mrs Ţicău , rail priority axis No 22 must , in effect , link Germany with Greece via Prague , Vienna , Budapest and Sofia .
Madam President , my group deeply regrets the death of the prisoner Orlando Zapata .
this is a criminal offence if committed by public dissemination or distribution of tracts , pictures or other material , and here , Member States have the obligation to comply with the provisions of the Framework Decision by 28 November 2010 .
it is important that this matter be addressed by the European Parliament forthwith if the European Parliament is to have any credibility at all in these matters .
as you know , those who farm in a manner that sustains protected flora and fauna receive aid from the Community and Member states , within the framework of Natura 2000 .
I hope that the Commission will be extremely vigilant with regard to Member States stretching the limits on state aid to car manufacturers .
that depresses timber prices , it strips natural resources and tax revenue , and it increases the poverty of forest-dependent peoples .
nor does China shy away from doing business with governments that are pilloried internationally , such as Sudan , for instance .
concerning WTO accession : we , the European Union , remain a strong supporter of WTO accession because we think this will create a level playing field , which is necessary for our Economic Community , and we believe it is in our interests as a major trading partner for Russia to join a rules-based system .
this House has , in long debates , discussed the Israeli-Palestinian issue too many times .
in the forthcoming period , we must therefore , along with efforts to consolidate the public finances of the euro area , also strive to restructure and greatly simplify the rules of the internal environment .
there are a lot of unknowns , so the most important matter will be implementation of the guidelines .
the Irish citizens will have to decide by a new referendum whether they leave the European Union or they stay in the EU based on the Lisbon Treaty .
when I say fully , I mean not simply announcing that the ultimate aim is to freeze European expenditure to 2020 , nor dismissing out of hand the notion of European own resources .
it does not seem as if Europe is ready for this scale of challenge , above all , nuclear Iran 's hegemony in the Near East and Northern Africa .
however , we only have GPS on loan .
we are aware of the difficulties of this judicial process .
the first message , Mr López Garrido , is addressed to the Council .
given the importance of such agreements , especially in terms of guaranteeing better services for passengers and new opportunities for operators , it is a good idea for Parliament to inform the Commission of its concerns and its assessment criteria at the outset , without waiting until the negotiations have been concluded .
we need to try to handle it in the short term , but also in the long term .
in Slovakia , the government party , the Slovak National Party , is stirring up tensions with its hate speech against minorities , its outbursts that revile the nation and its anti-Hungarian slurs .
( SK ) I would like to congratulate the rapporteur on this excellent report .
I have just received information that the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations , Mr Muhammad Shaaban , is in the official gallery .
as far as the negotiating and negotiation methods are concerned , I fully agree with my colleagues that the European Union must speak with one voice .
that is why this Euro VI standard is already being decided now , at a time when the Euro V standard has practically just entered into force .
allow me to recall briefly the rationale behind this proposed directive , as well as its main objectives and principles .
it is incumbent on the Member States , however , to devise and implement programmes to simplify administrative actions and provide more systematic assessment of the social and economic effects of implementing Community legislation .
why ban single-engine piston aircraft from flying at an altitude of 500 metres when the ash was above 8 000 metres ?
I think that this question should have been asked at a different time today , namely when we discuss Mr Barroso 's statement , and not at this time .
after all , there is such an urgent need to combat the effects of the economic crisis , unemployment and other difficult problems arising from the socio-economic situation in the Union .
unfortunately , we have all seen that it was a failure .
turning to Mrs Starkevičiūtė , what I wanted to say to her is that it is clear that the financial crisis has already had a major impact .
I fully endorse the opinion of the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality , which points out the necessity of eliminating advertising content which is discriminatory .
why is the Commission not coming up with a concrete proposal on this ?
these improvements reflect a clear reality : the EU and its Member States are the biggest financial contributors to the UN system , with EU funds amounting to 38 % of the UN regular budget , more than two fifths of UN peacekeeping operations and close to half of the contributions to the UN funds and programmes .
we are concerned about the US requirements that , by July 2012 , all US-bound maritime containers will have to be scanned before being placed on a vessel at a foreign port .
certainly not individually ; probably not as Europe .
we also need to offer the Member States more flexibility in the use of lower rates for goods of basic necessity for social , economic , cultural and environmental reasons .
we know that there are longstanding reasons for the grave situation that is taking place there , particularly the poverty and social inequality which were the legacy of former colonialism or the structural adjustment plans imposed for years by the IMF .
we are already seeing more and more large European companies achieve their growth and their profits outside Europe , and they are also creating their new jobs outside Europe .
in the current economic environment , it is more important than ever to justify expenditure on our priorities by tackling all wasteful and excessive spending in other sectors .
we must all be aware that being the point of reference for Haiti and its people in a way means making them understand that we want to see the value and the dignity of every single person restored and , for them , this means seeing their hopes of happiness restored amid the huge suffering caused by the earthquake .
agenda for next sitting : see Minutes
at the same time , the country with the authority to issue the implementation permit , the country of origin , the party of origin as it is referred to in the Espoo Convention , has the following two duties .
the public in Europe must also speak more about terrorism .
the only ' success ' is that the average consumption by cars was 12.4 % less in 2004 than in 1995 .
I congratulate the Rapporteur on her work .
therefore , I think it is utterly impossible for a request for a roll-call vote on the motion I have only just tabled to have been submitted in the meantime .
it is no accident that , of the seven institutions which I have had occasion to assess , six of them are more or less in order , and one is the cause of continual problems .
President-in-Office of the Council . - In answer to the question on neutrality , I can only say that the Council decided again on Monday , the day before yesterday , that the EU units in Chad will be impartial , neutral and independent .
unfortunately , the situation that I have described does not apply only to Kyrgyzstan .
this is about more than funding .
moreover , this division is commonplace in many of our Member States in which there is a minister for justice and a minister for the interior .
I think it is absolutely essential for European citizens to be able to get information in any crisis situation , whether it be a general crisis or a crisis for themselves , and there needs to be an awful lot more clarity in the situation .
it happened and now we have to react to its consequences .
Mr Sarkozy , is this the kind of Union that you want , or will you join me in condemning the absolutely appalling treatment of President Klaus in Prague last week ?
in this process , the Commission will , indeed , continue to inform and involve the European Parliament in a transparent way .
this , sadly , is the price we have to pay .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I am happy to contribute by answering on the issue of the specificity of sport .
( PT ) I would also like to congratulate our rapporteur , Mrs Attwooll , and to say that , in my opinion , the natural marine heritage should be preserved and should be used in a sustainable manner by the fishing communities whose lives are traditionally bound up with that environment ; it cannot be regarded as just another business .
( SV ) Madam President , at its recent meeting , the Council also debated the issue of the safety of nuclear power plants and European reactors .
it is very difficult to make money in the dairy sector at the moment .
Commissioner , I would like to ask you - as we already know the position of the President-in-Office - if you think , from an ethical and democratic point of view , in response to the deplorable events such as the death of Mr Zapata , and if the Commission thinks , that relations between the European Union and Cuba need to be raised to a higher level and given priority ?
these agreements have been negotiated by the EU exerting strong pressure on governments of developing countries and without taking due consideration of the views of the people in those countries who would most suffer from their implementation .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the aim of this report is to agree on Union guarantees for the external investments of the European Investment Bank ( EIB ) .
everyone should have the right to stay and live in their country of birth : the way things are at present they do not have this choice .
the next item is the joint debate on the Council and Commission statements on the Lisbon Strategy , followed by the report by Mrs Starkevičiūtė , on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs , on the Integrated Guidelines for Growth and Jobs ( Part : broad guidelines for the economic policies of the Member States and the Community ) : launching the new cycle ( 2008-2010 )
it is also stated in the report that the same standards of health , food safety , animal welfare , sustainable development and minimum social standards ought to apply to the methods of production of goods being imported from third countries as apply to the EU 's own producers .
as you know , the Opposition organises a protest meeting every 31st of the month .
if you are suggesting a network to enhance and spread ideas , do not bother .
please treat this as a warning .
it is the responsibility of the assemblies and the politicians of Madagascar to decide on the most effective form of consultation .
I invite the US and Australia to do better and to embarrass us in the EU into upping our game in Copenhagen next year .
I consider that 2009 , the date when this Regulation must be reviewed , would be the right time to propose any amendments , if they are justified .
one last thought : I am certain that the new European Treaty will give us better instruments , that it will give us an instrument with which to work together with Parliament in order finally to create co-responsibility between the three institutions .
these measures can be included in three-year apiculture programmes that are prepared by Member States and cofinanced by the European Union budget .
however , that will not be of any help in countries where it is common to avoid paying VAT .
- Before the vote
regardless of future changes to how the Union is represented within the UN , and in the Security Council - a debate which is still open - in particular , there is increasingly a need to join up the efforts of European countries so as to , alongside the Union 's representatives overseas , encourage a collective capacity for intervention and influence .
the text sets out a number of priorities : combating the trafficking of human beings , respect for the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the European Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms when applying measures to prevent illegal immigration , strengthening cooperation with third countries , taking the firm steps that are required to combat illegal employment and , finally , the need for a responsible return policy .
aside from the fact that it seems inappropriate to allocate funds on the basis of fish catches made by European boats without taking into account either fishery resources or the effects on the local population , the recent events make us fear that these funds will be used for military purposes against the Guinean population .
the unusual criteria established for acquiring Hungarian citizenship , in other words , without a natural link to Hungary , creates the possibility of political links coming into existence between a state and citizens who have no real link to that state .
there is no doubt that Parliament must play a major role in this Community method , but we have made this proposal for communitisation purposes , it being understood that this subsequently leaves the way very clear for the European Parliament to become involved .
I call on the Presidency of the Council to make an urgent decision on the regulation for the new Solidarity Fund , in order to increase transparency and make its mobilisation more flexible in an emergency .
the draft report proposes various important areas of work are , two of which I should like to comment on .
let me point out , however , that under no circumstances should these savings be made available for other policies ; they must stay within the CAP framework and be used to manage crises in the agricultural sector , for example .
robust and transparent economic planning to control profligate government spending and unsustainable debt levels is a vital part of this for all 27 countries .
as things are looking at the moment , the package is moving in the right direction , although we have to ensure it does not become an empty shell .
I am not able to understand this fully .
in the grip of a crisis that is wrecking people 's basic security , livelihoods and welfare , it is also constructive to think about new ways of measuring wealth .
this has brought ruin to a whole generation of teachers , who have been paying into the fund for 40 years .
on the other hand , I do not think that Europe should promote the award of citizenship .
that is not the approach to democracy and the present European Union that we should be teaching our young people .
I am sorry for once to have to contradict Mr Juncker .
ultimately , ladies and gentlemen , the key is to coordinate our employment and social policies .
in this context , the current rules governing the closure of political parties in Turkey are not in line with the European Convention of Human Rights and with European practices , as was recently stated in an opinion of the Venice Commission .
we cannot continue to wait for decisions that are dragging on whilst thousands of people are knocking at our gates daily , without raising the response to which they have a right .
the current crisis which the car industry is facing also offers opportunities to completely change tack .
Mr President , it was unexpected , but it is a joy - I believe - for everyone here no longer to have an Eastern or a Western Europe for the first time in this Parliament .
we have men 's quotas in all supervisory boards , in all statutory authorities , in politics and in business .
a concluding remark on Croatia .
it is good that Parliament introduced a moratorium on the death penalty in 2007 and we must do everything we can to keep this subject in the forefront of people 's minds while the death penalty is still in place .
the current ban on this fishing technique , which has been used for decades by a section of the Portuguese small-scale fleet for the sustained exploitation of species such as monkfish and hake , was a severe economic and social blow to the sector and to the fishing communities most dependent on the exploitation of these resources .
rapporteur . - Madam President , I cannot say that I am altogether reassured by the Commissioner 's response , because it seemed to me that , in what he was saying , he was actually giving pre-eminence to one particular form of rights-based management , whereas what the report is seeking is a review of all different types of forms to assess their merits and demerits .
you must speak louder than them .
we see that balloons are displayed in the Chamber .
in writing . - I voted in favour of recital X and most parts of paragraph 38 , abstaining on one part of paragraph 38 , for the following reasons :
we fear that this 2 % increase in quotas for Member States , albeit optional , will allow the large countries and their large producers to increase their production , leading to a fall in prices for producers and thus resulting in a dumping situation , which may serve as a pretext for easier justification of its subsequent dismantling .
we are of course also pleased that the competent Commissioner , Benita Ferrero-Waldner , is present - as she almost always is .
you can pay a one-hundred-metre runner EUR 1 million to run the one-hundred-metre race in 10 seconds . however , even if you pay him EUR 100 million , he will not manage to do it in five seconds .
on behalf of the EFD Group . - Madam President , why does this report seek more international cooperation at university level ?
it has reacted excessively harshly , both internally and externally .
one of the areas that I think needs to be enhanced is the communication of how farmers and those who use the land can farm in a way that is more ' climatically friendly ' .
that is not the approach that we need .
the conclusions of this thoughtful report , on the other hand , offer cogent indications as to how that transformation can be made and how Serbia can once again take its place in Europe .
Commissioner Hahn is not with you , and it would probably have been helpful if he had been .
sport is very necessary and also popular and that is why any programme in connection with Article 149 should be closely linked to the space and agenda of education and young people , for sport has been added explicitly to Article 149 for the first time .
this situation may result in a very serious economic and social crisis in Ukraine .
in general , these aims are desirable and merit support .
as regards the timing , we can say that most of the national systems were developed in the early 1980s but their deployment is a long and costly process .
if FYROM refuses to accept the name chosen for it and persists in this refusal , it will find that there are obstacles to its accession , because it has undermined its own efforts .
consequently , it is certainly worth calling for the sanctions to be tightened , but similar pressure should above all be used against states such as China , Russia and India , in order that , by virtue of their economic and political influence over the Burmese regime , they cooperate with the European Union in this area and stop supplying weapons and strategic resources .
it is true that the Commission has a broad margin of discretion in the application of fines .
I firmly believe that the time has come to learn a lesson from these events .
in that respect , I expect the European Commission to come up with a proposal .
in relation to this , I would like to ask you about the following matter - should a rapid reaction centre not be established faster in Europe ?
meanwhile , the ordinary citizens of Burma continue to suffer oppression , persecution and poverty , all of which are the result of the brutal , anachronistic and shameful stance taken by the brainless military regime controlling that country .
secondly , however , it is also a tragedy to see how too often they go unnoticed in our society .
however , Gaddafi 's manipulation of this situation failed in his own country , which is proven by the fact that Benghazi was actually now where the revolution started .
this , in any event , is what the French Presidency hopes .
it is also essential to step up controls and put an end to unfair competition .
Ronald Schranz expressed regret at the inconvenience which had arisen for passengers .
the distribution of these constraints must therefore be factored into our policies .
we remember that she devoted her life to uncovering the truth about the situation in the North Caucasus .
I therefore ask you to support our amendment in the vote .
I recently received correspondence from a dairy farmer in County Westmeath , whose herd of prized dairy cows has been all but obliterated since he first discovered TB on his farm less than a year ago .
it should be emphasised that the sector 's problems stem , inter alia , from decoupling payments and production .
it will , in fact , increase the influence of the EU in the international arena and make us stronger in meeting global challenges , and I know that you in this Parliament will also be given a more significant role in the overall decision-making process .
we also know that climate change and good-quality soil go hand in hand , that soil is an important carbon dioxide pool and is continually losing this ability to bind CO2 .
to ensure that this is not an idle notion , I think that we must put our trust in the local authorities and elected representatives of those cities .
- ( ES ) Mr President , I would also like to join in the cries of ' good news ! ' voiced by Mr Yañez-Barnuevo García because I believe that this report marks a turning-point in relations with the United States .
I believe that the agreement is generally favourable to the economic interests of the European Union , especially given the fact that we want our economy to be based on innovation , research and development , or ' smart growth ' .
we need to be able , as the UNDP recommends , to ensure that the mobility of citizens from the South is equal to our own mobility to the South .
I also welcome the fact that the Commission has identified an alternative source of payment appropriations to the unused allocations from the ESF .
tobacco has a life of only six months , so when you stop vans packed to the ceiling with cigarettes , you have to ask the question : is that really for personal use or is it going elsewhere for resale , and often to children ?
10 .
such outrageous actions violate the natural right to property and therefore should be condemned .
( PL ) Madam President , today we have two successive debates here in the European Parliament which will tell us what the order will be in the European Union and how power will be shared out .
the media enjoy very special protection , particularly through the current legal framework of the European Union .
the Flexibility Instrument provides for the possibility of funding specifically identified expenditure that cannot be funded within the maximum limits available under one or more headings of the multiannual financial framework .
based on the outcome of the work carried out by this committee , summarised in the Stiglitz report , a proposal has been drafted for improving the national statistics system , defining the quality of life more accurately and including sustainable development in the calculation of the economic and social progress index .
the vote will take place on Wednesday .
I voted thinking about the people who lost their homes , belongings , animals and even family members in the floods .
everything is possible , including financial support from the Union .
the first is the question of implementing supervision structures at European level .
the second point he makes is reforms in the infrastructure .
we have the task of ensuring that transparency and democratic control apply to the Council 's budget and also to the budget of our own Parliament .
fundamentally , we are a sick country in Europe and , if I can put it this way , that is in no way a credit to one of the previous speakers , Mr Verhofstadt , former Prime Minister of Belgium .
we call for the restoration of full freedom of speech . the voice of the people must be heeded .
( DE ) Mr President , first of all , let me say that I think it is very good that we can now sit together down here .
no rounding up of this figure can add further to its horror , which is of colossal magnitude when you take in fully all the pernicious , despicable details of this brutal slaughter .
our right to do so was set out unequivocally in the Rules of Procedure .
there are many abandoned children , not only in the developing world , but also in Europe .
Madam President , on a point of order , according to the parliamentary website Oral Questions , my question was No 3 on the list .
we shall now proceed to the vote .
the Council and the Commission have expressed their deep concern , and that is the correct line .
however , I think that , at least today , nobody can say exactly what promises or preoccupations there will be in this particular area .
this would lead to the decrease in illicit trade in organs and would offer people suffering from leukaemia a chance for life , no matter what their financial situation .
I hope that this meeting will provide an opportunity for open and realistic exchanges , so that together we can find the most appropriate solutions for everyone concerned .
it is very good that we do talk about them .
if a society starts to get ill , it is visible first in the shape of restrictions on freedom of religion and in the status of religious minorities .
in particular , some political prisoners have been released , and there has been increased cooperation with the UN .
I would like to ask the Members to keep to a normal speaking speed .
we have legislation on driving heavy goods vehicles , but not cars .
the Svensson report has unfortunately not yet overcome this conflict .
I shall conclude .
I therefore voted resolutely in favour of this ambitious project .
today the European Parliament has clearly reaffirmed its support for more market measures , national budgets and scope for regional initiative , for socially sensitive phasing-out of intervention measures and for the preservation of existing oenological practices , in other words the addition of sucrose and rectified concentrated must ( RCM ) , with these additives being placed on an equal footing by means of additional RCM subsidies .
the report rightly raises the issue of such representatives in the Council .
the EU gives a considerable amount of money - EUR 159 million - to 34 neurodegenerative disease research programmes , but since there will be a huge increase in these diseases , research projects under the Eighth Framework Programme must be broadened to include research on behavioural , cognitive and non-drug therapies .
to avoid wasteful duplication , it would be better to make full use of the potential offered by these systems and reduce the cost of Earth surveillance .
the Alliance enables the Member States to exchange information and experiences and in that way to help each other in the search for appropriate political responses .
I would say two things here .
I fully support the content and timescales of the Small Business Act .
do we know how often adoptive parents encounter problems and what these problems are ?
2. enhancing the quality of its services by offering mobile workers and their families a more comprehensive service ;
you should also be exerting pressure on the blatant nuclear lobbyists from the United Kingdom , which brings us to the main topic .
I believe that we have coordinated well with the Parliament 's delegations so that MEPs across this House have asked hard questions of governments in our representations worldwide , a process that I have been proud to take part in myself : from Columbia to Turkey , Georgia to Croatia .
so we need this Small Business Act and it must be more than just a token .
what measures besides voluntary activity could reduce that damage and protect young people from addiction ?
it is not enough to just tap at the door ; a responsible parliament must stop this undesirable development .
Mr President , we are in a tricky situation with one of our neighbours when a normally existing republic on the European continent is officially called non-existent - only ' the " former ” Republic of M. ' - by decision of the UN .
this demands , once again , a reconsideration of the use of nuclear power as part of the EU energy mix .
secondly , it requires swift and effective compensation for the damage suffered .
it includes no specific proposals to improve the legal supply of cultural goods .
therefore , increasing the Republic of Moldova 's involvement in Community programmes and agencies is a natural step in the process of alignment with European standards .
I greatly regret that my own country , the UK , is opting out because of those two particular proposals .
I am also aware of how involvement and working for the benefit of others have a further effect in shaping positive attitudes to life .
I am afraid we are headed that way fast at the moment .
in Europe , close to two immigrant women out of three have low-skilled jobs , often in the sector of healthcare or domestic work .
thirdly , dialogue could be assisted through a relaxation of the EU 's visa policy .
this gesture gives evidence of Israel 's willingness to build mutual confidence in the peace process , despite a severely critical Israeli public .
cargo for Finland is transferred to Russian ships , which then take the goods to Finland on trucks , because Russia is not going to ratify this decision by the IMO .
and I believe , to return once more to my starting point , that as long as we can join forces with Commissioner Tajani in our common task , we will be able to cooperate .
broadband technology is undoubtedly an important part of this .
companies which are growing and expanding have a future .
on top of that , the incentive to increase productivity is weakened .
if the whole supply chain could agree on such a labelling system , it could add value to their products to provide consumers with extra information .
the current French-drafted UN Security Council resolution proposes a temporary increase in MONUC 's authorised military strength by up to 2 785 military personnel .
in writing . - I agree with the Commissioner that if we agree to continue with the present status quo , protecting national interests more than standing up for common European interests and values , then the EU will be unable to address the dramatic challenges we face .
a lot has been said today about the transitional regions , most of it proper and important .
nature has its own laws , but we have to try to react to them in the interests of the citizens of Europe .
the Member States are themselves responsible for deciding whether they want to perform a general and special common stress test in Europe .
with a population ageing fast , now is the time for Europe to act .
although , as I point out in my report , it would , technically speaking , be perfectly possible to continue to accept new Member States , even if the Treaty of Lisbon were not to enter into force , doing so requires political will , and it is this that it is my job and that of my fellow Members here in Parliament to create .
Mr President , listening to the debate this morning I feel the need to make a couple of comments .
in the short term it is crucial to see the Treaty ratified by all the 27 Member States .
( SV ) Mr President , in March 2007 the EU 's Heads of Government promised that the EU would reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20 % by 2020 .
however , the big challenge - which is addressed in this resolution - is how to convert warm words into useful deeds without just throwing money at SMEs - money that is not available in today 's economy .
this report seeks to involve small and medium-sized enterprises and society 's various players in the standardisation process .
so our report calls on the Commission to begin already to prepare for the next round of ITTA negotiations to secure a greatly improved successor agreement .
in writing . - ( LT ) I endorsed this document , as the Committee responsible decided to approve the closure of the accounts of the European Chemicals Agency for the financial year 2009 .
however , I cannot go along with the idea that aggressive protests such as those that took place in London and Paris addressed this issue in a proper manner .
what have we to fear from the remaining 20 million people in the Western Balkans , being as we are a Community of 27 states and 500 million citizens ?
during the debate on the Irish referendum , it was claimed time and time again that Parliament would not respect the result .
second , in my opinion in the longer term further harmonisation is needed once we have gathered experience on the working of this directive so as to make it easier for consumers to shop across borders and to give full legal certainty to businesses on their obligations when offering these credits in other Member States .
the current directive had obviously reached its limits since , 14 years after its adoption , councils had been set up in only one third of the businesses concerned , and legal uncertainty meant that the Court of Justice had to intervene on several occasions .
in the face of these developments , the international community is mobilising .
Croatia is still working on opening benchmarks for the chapter on the judiciary and fundamental rights , where there are many difficult challenges in areas such as judicial reform , the fight against corruption and refugee return .
thus it would be immediately deleted and absolutely not recorded - recording would be made impossible .
that will not only lead to discrimination within Europe but it is also extremely questionable with regard to the impact on the people .
accelerated growth in Central Europe also makes a significant contribution to growth throughout Europe and improves investment conditions , yielding profits not only in Warsaw and Prague , but also in Amsterdam , London and Berlin .
it is this that has become ineffective today , and it needs to be recognised .
even the Vice-President of the European Parliament , Mr Mauro , has referred to the anti-Catholic and antisocial arm of the Radical Party Minister , Mrs Bonino .
at global level , cod is the second most popular species .
since 2005 , you have been giving us the same negative reports on human rights , respect for minorities and the commitments made to the Union , whilst keeping the objective of accession intact .
this offer of a separate company form is particularly directed at Europe 's small and medium-sized enterprises .
I warn the Americans to adopt Mr Oberstar 's motion , for if they want to undermine this agreement with all their unilateral amendments , we will react sharply .
the Commission would support their preparations fully , including preparations for the actual cash changeover .
we acknowledge the considerable importance of sport in health terms as a preventive measure for obesity and chronic conditions .
I hope therefore that we will be able to present a number of possible scenarios to you next time .
the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) receives annual funding of EUR 500 million with the aim of providing financial support to workers affected by major structural changes in world trade patterns .
I do not think that this is the most important issue .
I believe that you will all agree with me that any person who breaks the law must pay .
pre-commercial procurement also represents an important opportunity for SMEs .
this is taking far too long .
not only will these choices be based on cost , but they will also be based on fuel efficiency .
this is because we now need to put the substantial austerity package successfully in place in the next week .
the high turnout on both election days was particularly encouraging .
seven hundred thousand people were affected at that time .
1 .
Versailles has become the prime location for abdicating French sovereignty , bearing in mind that the German Empire was proclaimed there .
like all conflicts , this conflict 's roots go deep and it did not start in recent times , and like all conflicts it is much more complicated than indicated by Mr Allister .
in writing . - ( RO ) Today , I voted in favour of the Brejc report because , for the effciency of external border controls , the use of the VIS ( Visa Information System ) is of fundamental importance .
it concentrates on tackling the short-term crisis ; its objectives are to boost agricultural production .
in Libya , besides the office in Benghazi , the EU should have already employed EUFOR , not just to support humanitarian assistance to the people under attack as in Misrata , but to implement the arms embargo via sea or land borders as recommended by this Parliament .
Mr President , I should like to take the opportunity provided by this debate to call for a moratorium on the death penalty for innocent unborn human beings .
I will continue to oppose the upgrading of the EU-Israel association agreement until Israel comes into compliance with its human rights obligations .
there are very few to come .
therefore , it is important for Europe to subscribe to scientific research and support TBVI ( the Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative ) so that large-scale vaccination can have a positive effect towards the elimination of tuberculosis by 2050 .
as the whole world fights the vices of illegality , some national laws nevertheless insult the dignity of honest citizens .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Culture and Education . - ( NL ) Mr President , the importance of the renewed social agenda is clear , particularly in view of the current economic crisis .
I welcome the fact that we are calling across the party divide for justice to be done and for their property to be restored to them .
more and more voters have come to me and said : we do not know where we are with this EU .
however , it is necessary to realise that , without rolling resistance , which occurs through the deformation of tyres and their elastic properties , safe and comfortable driving would be impossible .
the situation for Germany is , of course , deteriorating .
I would also like to welcome very warmly the President of the European Commission , José Manuel Durão Barroso , and the representatives of the Commission .
we need to support these conversations , these negotiations , which are basically conducted by the Commission .
I voted for this European Parliament initiative , which emphasises the crucial role that local authorities play in implementing regional policy while , at the same time , calling for multi-level governance to be improved .
indeed , as things stand at the moment , we refuse to grant an extension .
however , if you will allow me , my congratulations do come with a request , one that concerns the little details on which the citizens of Europe judge Europe and its value .
it is something that we , the women in the Socialist Group , have , for some considerable time , been calling for .
all that is needed is the political will , supported by a cold analysis of the last crisis , in order to describe future scenarios and to deliver the European Union from problems similar to those which were caused by the gas supply blockade via Ukraine .
the conflicts in the South Caucasus have reached a very dangerous ceiling , where we have got used to the idea that they are intractable conflicts .
however , the progress made in just a few weeks is considerable .
the General Assembly of the United Nations declared 2009 as the ' International Year of Human Rights Learning ' , and the EU has declared 2010 as the ' European Year for Combating Poverty ' .
this would also have helped to create jobs with rights and to develop micro , small and medium-sized enterprises .
but this is a separate subject .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Madam President , may I ask you to ensure that Members are seated for the vote , because we need the prescribed majorities .
the European Commission deeply appreciates the rationale of this proposal in the motion for a resolution .
we should all feel very pleased with ourselves because tomorrow , barring any surprises , the text arising from all these negotiations and debates will be unanimously adopted , perhaps even without a vote , the real test that such a text may be adopted almost by acclaim .
the clauses in question have actually been used to restrict freedom of opinion and expression .
today , when the President , the sovereign elected President of a country , is speaking and is interrupted and hassled to such an extent by the socialists , the President does nothing .
this will not work .
2009 budget : Parliament 's estimates ( debate )
in summary , we will indeed be able to come up with a legislative proposal on the applicable law on the subject .
poultry and Manure and Slurry .
in those days he had to work nine minutes for a litre of milk ; today only three .
we knew that the action taken against Islamists and fundamentalists was not aimed solely at these groups , but also at any criticism of the relevant government policy .
Mr President , for almost 30 years , the Islamic Republic of Iran has been a major menace to human rights and democracy .
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I would like to thank Parliament for its incredibly constructive approach during these rather lengthy negotiations , as evidenced by the debate that we have just had .
however , as we now all know , that was not the case .
the major part of the scrutiny process will disappear , and that must be the long-term aim .
furthermore , the General Affairs and External Relations Council will be charged with conducting a preliminary examination of the proposals on a future Eastern Partnership , which the Commission intends to present in November .
it is therefore disproportionate to collect and use data whose reliability cannot be guaranteed beyond all doubt .
the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement provides us with a framework within which we can develop our bilateral relations further and thereby contribute to the overall goals of our strategy for the whole of Central Asia .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , I share the legitimate concerns of this House when it comes to the protection of the private data of European citizens .
we also urge the Council to appoint an EU Special Envoy for Tibet at last .
Europe 's positions on Israel , Palestine and Iraq arouse great opposition in the Middle East , where Europe is suspected of focusing primarily on its own energy supplies , on safeguarding its own transport routes and on giving preferential treatment to those ethnic or religious minorities best disposed towards it .
monitoring and enforcement are very difficult in this area , which is why we have made proposals in this regard .
where certain individuals deployed in foreign and defence operations go beyond their duties , the disciplinary and legal consequences fall within the competence of the Member States .
accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Convention on the fight against corruption involving officials of the European Communities or officials of Member States of the European Union ( vote )
the wage disparity between men and women often leads to differences in men 's and women 's pensions .
( SK ) Madam President , according to the minutes of the negotiations held between euro area finance ministers from the beginning of September this year , published by the Reuters press agency , you apparently stated , Mr Trichet , that if you had known that Slovakia would not agree to provide voluntary financial assistance to the Greek Government , you would never have agreed to Slovakia being accepted into the euro area .
in these six years , I have also listened to several discussions about discrimination against ethnic Roma and the need for solutions to ethnic Roma problems .
I gave my vote of confidence to this team of Commissioners , which will be led by José Manuel Barroso , as in general , they have shown good technical preparation , seriousness and ambition to be able to respond to the challenges of the EU without forgetting the values which underpin its creation , namely solidarity and territorial cohesion .
these are the five points that the Committee on International Trade would like to address to the new Trade Commissioner Mr De Gucht , whom I welcome to the floor for the first public exchange of views with Parliament and the members of the INTA Committee , in particular .
people in long-term possession of large funds to put on deposit can do this and make the deposit safe by splitting it between institutions , but it is unrealistic to ask that lump-sum payments be channelled that way .
that is our important social-democratic goal .
it is also there to do what the others are not doing , and to adopt rules that go beyond what the private sector can do .
you are aiming to make progress here , and we will be watching to see how you match up .
this is an area where the principle of subsidiarity should be applied .
that is why he is leading the charge tonight in defiance of the committee 's democratic decision .
however , there are some distinctions to be drawn between the two cases : the Irish deficit exploded because the country had to stem the problems in the banking sector , which was in crisis due to the repercussions of the global financial crisis , exacerbated by the bursting of the property bubble .
full ownership unbundling is a key condition for reform .
therefore , I would ask the Council and the Commission to keep their fingers on the pulse with regard to the human rights situation in the Middle Kingdom .
the basic reason for this attack by the European Union , the bourgeois governments and capital on the income and rights of the working classes , the main weapon in which is in the agreement on the euro and the European stability - for which read controlled bankruptcy - mechanism , goes beyond capitalist management of the crisis and the debt .
the UK is losing its bee population at around 30 % a year , and this is clearly unsustainable and potentially devastating .
his name is being dragged through the mud ; he is being called an anti-Semite , even though Israel is not the only one to have the finger pointed at it in the Goldstone report .
so there is a lot of work to be done to get the balance right and I think that is the key here .
nothing has been decided yet .
the Situation Centre is now to move to the External Action Service .
together these documents simplify citizens ' access to benefits and services , as many of my fellow Members as well as the Commissioner have pointed out .
the report 's main objective is to improve security and healthcare for pregnant workers , workers who have recently given birth and workers who are breastfeeding at work .
I will just add a few points .
despite all its problems , Europe is characterised by great creation .
a united Europe has opportunities for such a firm and , at the same time , friendly policy based on support and pressure , but is far from making full use of them .
our Heads of State or Government have since confirmed their deep attachment to the European currency and the fact that Estonia is joining the euro area at the beginning of this year is yet another signal in this direction , as well as setting a very good example of how to respect standards to the major countries that fail to respect them .
I would remind you of the Water Framework Directive that clearly aims to prevent these hazards , but also commitments in the area of biodiversity .
( DE ) Mr President , the European Union 's motto is ' unity in diversity ' but , as we know , in the natural world this diversity has decreased alarmingly over the last 150 years .
Georgian power is being put to the test .
it is up to the operators what kind of billing system they want to adopt .
much is made of European bureaucracy - which certainly has its own burdens - but sometimes bureaucracy in the Member States runs it pretty close .
the public consultation process started in June 2006 .
now , suddenly , tomorrow - a few months later - there is a will to grant the Council discharge , all of a sudden . yet not one of these four grounds for refusing to grant discharge has really been cleared up or satisfied .
for example , many of the people who are or were imprisoned in Guantánamo went to training camps for terrorists in Afghanistan after 11 September .
instead of thinking in imperialist terms , perhaps Russia could begin to think cooperatively .
( BG ) Mme Chairperson , Colleagues , I would like to once again draw your attention to the proper and efficient use of the EU financial resources .
those funds were mobilised immediately , and were actually the first significant contribution to arrive .
if necessary , we should use our powers to veto the new Commission if they do not include the necessary legislative proposals in their first work programme .
furthermore , the way in which we are going to work together , and whom we invite , is also our decision - in consultation with the European Council , of course .
however , I do not agree that we should just suspend development aid to Kenya .
the Commission needs to avoid making proposals which will be a burden on industry and we in this Parliament must show responsibility and exercise self-restraint .
certainly now that the European Union has offered the Western Balkans the prospect of joining the Union , the horrors of Srebrenica remain a symbol and a duty , first of all in both word and deed .
we must make an effort , within the budget of the European Union , to divert more resources to the poorest countries , bearing in mind that the problems with emerging countries are mostly to do with rules , rather than financing .
in order for States in which workers have been made redundant as a result of the global financial and economic crisis to be able to provide these workers with practical assistance , the EU has set up the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund .
I see great potential for trade in this .
this means that , by the end of my speech , Mr President , two children will have died from malaria .
secondly , in the regions where the Hungarian population forms a large majority , the measure has an anti-minority facet as well : ethnic Hungarian public servants are being replaced by ethnic Romanian persons .
( NL ) Mr President , while the Earl of Dartmore does not understand the difference between loans and subsidies , while Mrs Andreasen should give the EIB 's annual report another read , what Mr Hartong has not understood is that Europe is not an island in the world and that , if we want peace and stability , on our continent too , we have to invest in other countries .
we can break this vicious cycle by acknowledging that non-paid work is work indeed , by encouraging women to work and gain their economic independence , by attacking the structural causes of labour market segregation , and by paying attention to women 's problems when reforming our pension schemes .
in writing . - ( DE ) It is bizarre that the European Union is proposing to declare a ' European Year of Non-Violence ' while the EU itself is deploying missions in Chad , where French interests make it impossible to achieve the requisite impartiality .
I have simply lost patience with this now .
a carbon tax for shipping arriving in , and departing from , the EU would be a globally significant measure , as this would affect a third of all international shipping and would provide developing countries with a stable source of cash for their climate actions .
again , I know I can rely on your support to fast-track work on it .
it provides guidance for men and women to work together towards a better future for ourselves and our children , as only together can we ensure that women and men are equal not only before the law but also in their day-to-day lives and in economic and social life .
this is the case in Pakistan , for example .
I would therefore encourage Parliament , as suggested by the rapporteur , Daniel Caspary , to offer its full support for the conclusion of the Interim Agreement .
I therefore believe that particular care should be taken to protect the debtor . this could involve , for instance , submission of security by the creditor , the right to object , limiting the amount liable or even a requirement for the creditor to submit an application for court proceedings to be brought regarding the main action .
how can Frontex undertake to do this ?
unfortunately , the Council has not been quite as cooperative as regards the financing of the numerous new posts which were discussed and included in the resolutions at the European Council in June , for example .
it is easy to be affected by it .
Mr President , I was in the United States during the mid-term elections and saw something of the political earthquake that took place there .
we therefore need to strengthen intelligence , police and judicial cooperation between our states while simultaneously addressing the structural causes of terrorism , especially in the countries providing the most recruits for such acts .
thus , we set out to achieve two objectives .
I believe in equal treatment , and we can deal with an opinion .
that is a reality too in these days in China .
we affirm that this Service should be assigned to the Commission for administrative purposes .
we are still facing situations in which Member States are trying to apply rules which , at times , do not appear to find justification in the provisions of the Services Directive .
the US secret services will be able to monitor everyone 's telephone calls , Internet activity and emails on all servers based in the United States without restriction .
we are unanimous regarding the need on the part of women who are pregnant or who have just given birth for special protection in society and the labour market .
the first concerns the 10 years of the European Security and Defence Policy , which we celebrated at the end of 2009 .
these are often strong women who , with well-functioning social support , manage to build a good life for themselves and for their children .
in writing . - I voted for the joint resolution on Belarus , being one of its initiators on behalf of the PPE Group .
it is not obvious that we can achieve this alignment .
to this end , within the framework of the 2009 call for proposals , EUR 250 million was allocated for the ERTMS , part of which will be used specifically to update the relevant computer programs .
11 .
the moral of the story is that they had learnt nothing from history .
nor can we , of course , condone the anti-Han and anti-Hui racist violence which erupted in Tibet and neighbouring Chinese provinces , as much as we do not condone the racist slurs against Tibetans echoed in China .
the debate is closed .
globally , however , this is a good result which is fully in line with the objectives of Parliament , of the Council and of the Commission , namely , to fight human trafficking , this horrible modern slavery , this horrible crime which is not worthy of Europe in 2010 and which is a grave violation of the fundamental rights of so many citizens .
can you tell me that it will be made public in the next few weeks , to enable Parliament to finalise its recommendations , as contained in the Rack resolution ' Towards a new culture for urban mobility ' , passed by this House in July 2008 ?
I mentioned the Culture Programme ( 2007 to 2013 ) earlier .
those democratic forces can be assisted by various forms of support , say by funding media stations spreading democratic ideas and exposing the acts of terrorists .
our consumers and our farmers deserve clarification .
it is my belief that we have really tried to satisfy the requirements of the fight against terrorism and to reconcile this with protecting fundamental rights .
it is not as if there are no anomalies at present .
- ( PL ) It is important to keep working on building new relations between the European Union and Belarus .
it is important to remember that many politicians , due to a lack of positive and professional assets , seek to promote their own political background and capital by provoking the least experienced and poorly informed sections of the public .
this is an important point : pursuant to Rule 18 ( 1 ) , second subparagraph of the Rules of Procedure , Mr Chichester will take the place of the preceding Vice-President , Mrs Koch-Mehrin , in the order of precedence .
President , you answered questions on the issuance of Eurobonds to provide current spending for governments .
Mr President , I would like to reiterate , on the record , in relation to this most important maritime package , recital 3 of the review of the EU-ETS Directive , which was passed by an overwhelming majority .
we may have particularly high hopes for the proposed main framework of the Partnership , especially the creation of four political platforms , democracy , good governance and stability , economic integration and convergence with EU policies , and energy security and interpersonal contact .
as climate change does bite , we may all be in the situation of representing those who are victims of such natural disasters and may have , therefore , to lay claim to European solidarity .
closure of the accounts of the European Police College for the financial year 2008
I am counting exclusively on this Europe 2020 strategy to find these answers .
I have insisted on this matter due to the large number of children abandoned by parents who have gone off to work abroad , a situation encountered increasingly often in Central and Eastern Europe .
Europe needs a strong common regulation of the financial sector , but a large degree of flexibility when it comes to what economic policy will best tackle the crisis in the individual countries .
this report is one more step in affirming the rights of individuals and guaranteeing their security .
you are fast-tracking marketing licences .
implementing a clause to derogate from the weekly limit of 48 hours and not calculating on-call time as working time risks creating a two-speed social Europe , divided between workers who can benefit from social protection in their Member States and others who cannot refuse to accept diminished social rights .
in the end , the overall inclusion of Roma is essentially a question of fundamental rights , even if we have to ask the Roma communities to try and integrate and not to close themselves in their own world where they do not respect European and national laws .
in my opinion , that would have been feasible .
if we do all those things , we will indeed bring about a small but not insignificant improvement .
that is completely and utterly wrong , but that is what you said in the interview with Il Messaggero , so do not get into a huff when it is pointed out to you .
finally , since I believe that to ensure the success or failure of a trial , it is essential to conduct studies on vaccines and antiviral drugs that are independent of pharmaceutical companies , I fully agree with the rapporteur 's request to make public the names of all the experts who are consulted by the European public health authorities .
it reached the following conclusion regarding the judiciary : ' investigations in some high-profile cases continued to raise concerns .
I voted in favour of the creation of this microfinance facility for employment , since it aims at providing opportunities for the unemployed and encouraging entrepreneurship .
I believe that Mr Catania has written about the wrong subject ; this report should not even have reached the Chamber , because the official services ought to check whether a report addresses the subject and title assigned , or whether it is something else entirely .
I welcome the recommendations regarding the signing of definitive agreements , the origin of EU funds to finance these agreements , which should not come from the European Development Fund , the need for a parliamentary committee to monitor the implementation of the agreement , and a review clause envisaging a global impact assessment in three to five years .
moreover , the Commission has carried out communication actions in the wake of the 10th International Day against the Death Penalty .
this is a process that is gathering pace in terms of modernisation because the Commission is currently bringing forward proposals , in a White Paper , on introducing private damages .
the Presidency has also launched an initiative to establish a Platform of European Memory and Conscience , with the aim of raising public awareness about European history and the crimes committed by totalitarian regimes .
however , I have reservations about certain points in the report , in so far as they might be used as restrictions on the free and independent organisation and action of European parties .
I think the taxpayer back in the UK will be absolutely appalled by this .
we also agree with the demands in the report for work in the Council to be more open in order to enable civil society to participate in the dialogue in a meaningful way .
in previous debates on the directive I have expressed fears that the needs of thinly populated areas might not be catered for .
in writing . - ( NL ) The Davies report deserves support because of the political signal it sends .
smoking is not just something that concerns smokers , because the hundreds of billions of euros in costs which are incurred by society as a result of tobacco consumption have to be paid by the majority who do not smoke .
we understand , especially to the people of Sarajevo , your frustration .
a more European Turkey is much better for discussing and solving problems with , and hence I fully support Turkey 's accession to the EU .
Lingering disputes have a negative effect on the business community and on end consumers on both shores of the Mediterranean .
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the countries of the European Union are already paying billions of euro in development aid .
what particularly surprised me was that the Americans gave me this document describing origin labelling in the USA .
( RO ) As is also highlighted in the Oomen-Ruijten report , in 2009 , Turkey made a clear commitment to the path of reform and good relations with its neighbours .
I also believe that taking greater responsibility may help the Member States reach common positions , thus consolidating relations among the 27 countries on these topics as well .
unfortunately , this was not my week with the catch-the-eye procedure .
in every single case , we can show that Lisbon brings improvement .
these two groups differ significantly in weight , which means that electrical waste makes the collection rate higher , while electronic waste , which is rich in gold , silver and rare earth metals , often ends up on rubbish tips .
we are awaiting your report , which will come shortly .
under what conditions ?
since the start of the year , and since the earthquake , we have been working hard , but the work has not advanced as quickly as we hoped .
the increased expenditure on students from third countries has been taken into account and , thanks to our rapporteur 's negotiating skills , key criteria that Parliament wanted introduced into Erasmus Mundus III have been improved .
the Olympic Games should be a well-used opportunity for us to speak about peace , freedom and human dignity all over the world , in China first and foremost .
the authorities , including the prison authorities , must be encouraged to provide quality vocational training for people in prison .
in recital 22 , we should cut the second sentence and in article two , I also suggest that we cut the second sentence .
it matters very much what kind of biofuel we use , how it is grown and how it is used .
in this period of economic slowdown , it would be particularly unfortunate for project promoters , of which there are still many , to have difficulty accessing the European funding available to them .
we are intensely aware of the necessity to ensure that cohesion policy and its cumulative effect over the whole territory of the Union is one of the key instruments which will enable the Union and its Member States to achieve the ambitions of EU 2020 .
in the context of ' mixed ' migratory flows , it is indeed crucial to include in their activities an approach that is more mindful and respectful of human rights .
however , this time the challenge is more difficult , because the plan has to be put into effect in a situation of economic crisis .
so it adds the words to Recital D : ' and which was not formulated with specific regard to the current circumstances of climate change and the unique consequences of melting ice in the Arctic Seas ' .
this will also avoid the potential conflicts which could otherwise arise there in the rush to secure the energy sources that are still available .
also , on the initiative of the President , the Bureau is going to have a regular procedure of working with the Committee on Budgets and the Committee on Budgetary Control , so I thank you .
Madam President , it is great to listen to a debate and then be able to respond and to hear from those who were in Bali because we do not hear enough as to what happens out there .
as you know , the European Commission is a firm supporter of the ILO 's decent work agenda .
Mr Brown - I can understand this - did not want to reopen the debate about ratification in the United Kingdom when everyone knows it had been extremely painful .
( HU ) Mr President , what I welcome in this directive is a clearer definition of patients ' rights , the end of endless waiting lists and the proposed solution to the issue of no professionals being available in one 's own country .
however , I ask you , Commissioner , to guarantee greater transparency too during the process of drawing up the delegated acts .
our priority must be to do everything we can to prevent a downward spiral into recession .
however , fighting poverty and initiating efforts to tackle environmental problems at a global level should be carried out within the framework of the UN .
it is the Commission that decides who answers which questions .
the problems facing our towns may be similar , but they simply are not identical .
we need petitions from citizens so that we can provide tangible proof of what Europe is for , to prove that Europe is not an opaque institution but something that affects everyone 's daily lives and that we are able to hold a dialogue with thousands of citizens .
Africa is exhausted by the consequences of the crisis , natural disasters , extreme poverty , wars and epidemics , and it is therefore urgent that we help to introduce a sustainable health policy .
haste would be the worst possible policy and could take us back to institutional instability , even though the European Union is just about leaving it behind with the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon .
Parliament underlines that the Court of Auditors has stated that it has obtained reasonable assurances that the annual accounts for the financial year 2009 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular .
that does not mean that the EU should hesitate in voicing its criticism and using its power to insist upon democratic reforms .
there are two statements appended to the regulation which help to ensure its proper implementation .
the geopolitical situation in the southern Mediterranean region is currently undergoing a sea change .
modern communication has allowed us to stay in constant touch and to keep up to date at all times .
I therefore welcome the priority given to the development of electric vehicles by the Spanish Presidency in the context of the fight against climate change , and the Commission 's Communication on a European strategy on clean and energy-efficient vehicles of 27 April 2010 .
it provides for only one thing : the possibility of asking the Commission to enact new European laws , but not to repeal or to change those that already exist ; not to change the policies .
we are extremely concerned with the scale of the current problem , especially given what is happening in the serious armed conflicts , in Libya in particular .
Mr Wessberg , from Sweden , has submitted his curriculum vitae , completed a written questionnaire and has been interviewed by the Committee on Budgetary Control .
if we share our experience , choose the best solutions and combine them , we can be certain of great progress .
I believe it will come as a surprise to most people that it is at all legal to buy illegal timber in the EU .
( DE ) Madam President , I was in Croatia a few days ago and never has so much been spoken about Serbia there as in recent days , and specifically in a very positive sense because of exactly what Mr Brok said - the brave moves that Mr Tadić has made together with President Josipović - and I am also aware that Deputy Prime Minister Đelić is heavily involved in this regard - are significant steps towards Europe .
Cyprus and Greece are , and will remain , of the utmost importance to the European Union .
will it be acceptable for politicians who used to be red in hue and are now tinted green to insult national leaders , claiming to act on behalf of this House , and for them to do so in the presence of its President ? that is what actually happened in the Czech Republic in relation to President Klaus .
the European Parliament and the Commission will be able to develop a close dialogue on the Commission 's Work Programme and international agreements .
against this background , it is worrying that the Commission and the Council have found it so difficult to demonstrate any ability to act in respect of one of the greatest internal challenges that the EU is facing , namely the reform of the EU 's long-term budget .
I ask the Sittings Service to make the necessary corrections in the Minutes .
I would expect a very broad consensus and a very strong vote in Parliament , on the basis of which we can enter into negotiations with the Council .
we lack the courage to bring about more democracy and transparency and to conduct less political activity behind closed doors .
nevertheless , I believe that the temporary agreement must be supported because it will contribute to the security of European citizens .
these decisions will help to improve their integration ; migrant workers do not represent a danger to our job markets .
this was a good decision for Ireland ; it is a good decision for Europe .
on the contrary .
how can it be that we still have 250 members who refuse to cut their coats according to their cloth ?
furthermore , in Strasbourg on 5 February Parliament adopted Written Declaration 0080 / 2008 - http : / / www.europarl.europa.eu / sides / getDoc.do ? type = TA & reference = P6-TA-2009-0081 & language = SL " encouraging the recognition of Alzheimer 's as a European public health priority .
I believe that I was even one of the few ministers in 1993 and 1994 to have gone to Chernobyl and spent 17 seconds under the sarcophagus .
the UK is renouncing access to funding on a principle of not applying for this fund in order to receive a rebate .
that , concretely , is the prescription of the Commission .
in the meantime , my group calls for maximum restraint by the security forces and for the arrest and trial of the ancien regime 's presidential guard leadership responsible for the shooting , in the last few days , of innocent bystanders , in a futile attempt to destabilise the country .
not a penny of EU taxpayers ' money should go on the Community Tobacco Fund .
we will come forward with our evaluation and suggestions as soon as possible .
I would also like to tell you that I will be Tehran .
so now we are in the situation that we lost the cap and we have a 15 % subsidy under the ETS regime for new coal power stations , for example in Germany , between 2013 and 2016 .
to create clarity once and for all , the Commission has asserted that it will bring forward a proposal to solve all these issues .
Sarajevo deserves to be given the chance to demonstrate its huge potential .
suddenly the markets have begun speculating on food products , because there are enormous profit margins .
of course , we must protect human rights and of course the legal process should prevail , but sometimes in the world in which we live it is necessary to take extraordinary measures .
they would , unfortunately , be second-class citizens in those countries .
secondly , are you able to move towards innovations that will allow the European Investment Bank and the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development alike to assume much greater responsibility and - why not ? - to enable Europe to borrow to finance this necessity , which is the growth of tomorrow ?
we are dependent on unstable regions and countries with undemocratic regimes .
since 2007 , 15 000 murders have been committed in the war against drugs , with the figure in 2009 alone reaching 7 724 .
it is to be welcomed that , when procuring road transport vehicles , authorities and certain companies have to take account of not only the procurement price but also the lifetime energy and environmental impacts - that is , including energy consumption , CO2 emissions and further pollutant emissions .
furthermore , the Council called upon the Cuban authorities to facilitate immediate access of international humanitarian organisations to Cuban prisons .
lastly , greater synergy between civilian and military research would be a big advantage , since it would help prevent repetition , duplication and , hence , unnecessary costs .
today world politics is first and foremost about gas and oil .
I must say that it is wonderful to be back in the European Parliament .
many thanks , President Ilves !
however , in addition to the issues of transparency and accountability , it is also important to point out some of the wider implications .
in this regard , the report makes it clear that in the case of men in prison with young children or other family responsibilities , the measures should be the same as those applied to women .
please could you pass on to Mrs Swinburne that there are no indications at all that what she is afraid of will happen , provided that the budget is sufficiently large .
during the most recent elections in my country , citizens were notified by mail that their utility bills would be wavered provided if they voted for that party .
I hope , too , that our athletes , who are responsible adults , will not shy away from speaking out at any time and will utilise the presence of some 20 000 journalists .
we must avoid a system based on double standards , which is very strict towards candidate countries and very soft on countries that are already members of the Schengen area .
in many EU countries citizens , in particular the weakest ones , children are affected by discrimination and poverty .
therefore , a proposal that deals only with such activities cannot fall under development cooperation - under Article 179 , as you mentioned .
as regards the concerns raised in the report about increasing migration pressure in the sensitive area of Bulgaria , Turkey and Greece , these are today 's challenges for the European Union and the Member States , which need to find global , pan-European solutions to effectively strengthen their external borders , to strengthen Frontex , to demonstrate due Community solidarity and to support the Member States in the south of Europe where immigrants land .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - Mr President , Liz Lynnes 's report highlights the need for a comprehensive , legislative framework which would prevent discrimination outside of the workplace and which would include a wide range of subjects .
however , in order to secure the trust and commitment of Europe 's agricultural community , the new CAP needs to offer stability to farmers and a fair price , as is currently provided , for the goods which they produce .
both sides of the bargain need to understand their rights and obligations .
as far as the economic crisis is concerned , the temptation of protectionism can be felt in every country .
we are all responsible for working together with you to ensure that this Parliament is not subjected to pressure from Commission proposals which are half-baked or which represent the unilateral interests of specific lobbyists .
however , since the required funds are not available in Heading 1a , and are not going to fall from the sky , we are prepared to take it from other budget categories , from Heading 2 2007 and 2008 , making EUR 2.2 billion , and EUR 220 million from Heading 5 .
we will need to be clear about the criteria for the lighter touch which we know will be provided for a limited list of industries and sectors faced with real leakage challenges .
the important contribution of the Fund in dealing with major disasters was demonstrated during the floods in central Europe , the earthquakes in Italy and the fires in Portugal and in my country , Greece , in 2007 , and it is telling that a large number of Member States have used appropriations from the Fund .
the question is , is it the only way of solving a problem ?
statistics in the field of tourism are not used only for monitoring of tourism policy but also play an important role in the broader context of regional policy and sustainable development .
we have expressed many doubts about this new working method , which mostly consists of sending complaints directly back to the Member State against which the complaint is being made , in order to try to solve the problem .
deepening social integration will help to influence social and political change , and is a vital investment in the future .
I hope very much for the Belarusian people that they take control of their own destiny .
however , as Vice-President Almunia announced to the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs in November , the Commission will analyse the effects on competition of the temporary State aid measures taken in the context of the crisis .
it is argued that this just restates rules already enshrined in the Members ' Statute , but to many people this will just look like another case of ' one rule for them and another for us ' , and I am glad that the Liberal Democrat group did not support the amendments tabled by Mr Nassauer .
anyway , I shall continue to do what I can to reach a compromise with the new Presidency of the EU , by trying to ensure that Parliament 's wishes are taken into consideration to a greater extent .
I would describe such a recommendation as the maximum tolerable level of bureaucracy .
after all , this is all about saving lives .
in this respect , our group would like to see effective and binding measures that go further than what is being proposed .
in the case of the rights of persons with disabilities in air transport , the costs are spread across everybody , which is only normal .
( SV ) Mr President , naturally I am very pleased and proud to see my government in the Swedish Presidency and I also think that the programme contains a lot that is good as regards solutions for the climate , jobs , the financial crisis , the Copenhagen Conference , the Baltic Sea Strategy , Community policy , enlargement , Iceland , Croatia , Turkey , etc .
although President Bakiyev has officially resigned , the provisional government needs to commit to a clear plan for how to return to constitutional and democratic order and the rule of law .
in 2007 , the amount committed to renewable energies , for example , far exceeds the amount committed to these more traditional forms of energy generation .
I should like to begin by saying that I consider the sections of the report concerning better information on the beneficiaries of Union funds and more transparent information on the Commission 's web pages to be particularly valuable .
I guess that , when the number of the unemployed reaches 25 million in Europe , you will proudly stand here and say that our stimulus is now 5 % of GDP .
I would like to join in Mr Verhofstadt 's criticism .
it is imperative that we have the most appropriate safeguards .
this and only this can guarantee sufficient production of food products in Europe .
we firmly believe that the European Union can obtain success in advancing the human rights record of third countries only through patient work of bridge-building and persuasion , and this not just in its bilateral relations but also in the framework of multilateral bodies , as developments in the Human Rights Council demonstrate .
the second point which I would briefly like to mention is this : we hope that the Commission will implement the planned traffic management systems as envisaged .
I consider it important that the Commission , together with the Member States , should run an information campaign in order to provide citizens crossing borders into other Member States with advance information about the legal consequences of breaking the law in terms of the levels and imposition of possible fines .
at the same time , because of these multinationals , 99 % of the bananas we eat are one species , even though there are several thousand species of banana , and this species is at risk of a specific disease as a result of single crop farming .
for more than fifty years there has been an article in the Treaty of Rome forbidding gender discrimination in levels of pay and since 1975 Directive 117 has been in force , which requires Member States to enforce the principle of equal pay for equal work .
those were two good reasons .
EU policy on the taxation of energy products was introduced in 1993 .
as to the issue of the simplification of procedures in order to accelerate the implementation of expenses , while this avenue can be explored , I believe a careful balance needs to be struck between real simplification and the need to abide by the rules in order to safeguard the EU 's financial interests .
I understand the colleagues and we share the view that our strategic decision should not depend on Russia , but , on the other hand , Russia is an important partner .
that is why , my group will tell you straight , it supports you and has every confidence in you , Baroness Ashton .
the first priority during the European Council meeting must obviously be to find a solution so that the Czech Republic can finalise the procedures for ratifying the Treaty of Lisbon .
in a developed Europe , it is important to achieve the target of collecting 85 % of electrical and electronic equipment by 2016 ( according to the draft amendment that I tabled in the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety and which was adopted ) and recycling between 50 % and 75 % of that .
act on ACTA !
I add my voice to this expression of sympathy to the millions of Ukrainians that suffered this calamity and , in particular , to the relatives of those who died as a result of this artificial famine .
I apologise to colleagues who have had the courtesy to attend but whose questions were not taken .
above all , what we are concerned with is equality of opportunity , which is conditional on access to education and professional training in technical and economic subjects .
the debate is closed .
in writing . - ( SV ) I have previously expressed my disgust with regard to the information that has come to light in respect of the treatment of people who are suspected , but not convicted , of crimes and who have been extradited and in some cases kidnapped by the authorities of various states .
the final adopted document , which is the result of a compromise , is not an ideal text , but this document contains no defamation of an anti-Semitic character , no defamation of any specific country or region in the world , or of any religion .
however , we do still have , after all , the Stability and Growth Pact , which continues to be in force .
an agreement was reached last weekend thanks to concessions both from Member States and MEPs .
without a certain level of language acquisition , further learning is scarcely possible , as the language deficits can only be overcome with great difficulty with increasing age .
Mr Szymański , you said that only three points have been implemented .
I voted in favour of this report as I agree that the existence of complete , standardised statistics by type of goods is crucial for all modes of transport .
however , we do not need your prior authorisation in order for people not to have to pay out money themselves .
allow me to add one more thought .
indeed Ireland has a very robust body of National anti-Discrimination law , e.g. Equal Status Act , and has an excellent record .
we must not now allow national egoism , which may intensify at a time of crisis , to undermine the chance which the EU currently has .
we should acknowledge the way in which the Japanese people have conducted themselves and the actions of the rescue and prevention services .
that is why I voted for this report relating to the mobilisation of the EGF in favour of the Czech Republic , with the objective of supporting workers made redundant from Unilever ČR spol.s r.o .
Mr Cortes Lastra 's report rightly points out that the Lisbon Strategy only achieved concrete results when it was linked to the cohesion policy .
for this reason it is exceptionally important to have clear agreement on changes to the relevant budgetary and legislative instruments by the end of this year in order to ensure a transparent framework for 2010 .
a major gap in the Council and Commission 's 2007 human rights report is any response to the revelations , not least by this Parliament , of EU governments ' collusion in extraordinary rendition .
how can this be ?
a return to normal for Kenya must therefore begin with a suspension of violence and destruction .
however , we , the Commission , will make every effort to keep the process as short as possible .
fortunately , with a concession to Poland 's demands , the problem has finally been solved satisfactorily .
the proposal only affects the Czech Republic with respect to the amount of maternity contribution , and not the length of maternity leave .
we need to be clear , and quickly , on how we are going to handle the relevant issues in 2008 , during the transitional period .
nevertheless , the potential shortage of raw materials in the future should not only make us focus on solving the issue of access to raw materials .
for these reasons I will abstain from these sections but I wish to thank the Commissioner and the rapporteur again .
producers in the African , Caribbean and Pacific countries , who were neither considered nor present during the debating of this agreement , will also be hit hard by its consequences and the palliative measures announced will not prevent these consequences .
I want to thank the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality , and Parliament as a whole , for all the work that has been done to achieve this success .
I have to say that not every euro in the vaults of the European Central Bank will serve to convince people of an intrinsically bad idea .
this document is , admittedly , an absolute necessity , which is precisely why we must scrutinise its content closely .
Mr President , the PPE-DE Group has decided to vote in favour of the Lipietz report on trade and climate change at this mini-plenary session .
as our President has said , an agreement has not been reached because the Council 's proposal has always been to move backwards , back beyond the 19th century , making employment law merely a bilateral relationship between the worker and the employer , without laws or regulations , without anything to respect beyond so-called ' free choice ' , forgetting that there is always an imbalance of power between the worker and the employer .
I believe that , when the figures are placed alongside each other , the only conclusion is that debt restructuring in Greece , and probably in Ireland , is inevitable .
I welcome the fact that the report emphasises the potential of the biomass resources of the EU Member States for producing significant quantities of second generation biofuels .
that objective of the action plan is therefore clearly on the Spanish Presidency 's agenda , and is shared , of course , by the Belgian and Hungarian Trio , because it is a strategic objective .
in the light of the reform of economic governance , the following observation needs to be made . we must certainly implement rigorous budgetary policies to monitor and ensure that similar situations do not arise in the future .
however , could you give us some more information about this too ?
I did very much like your words Commissioner , because I also believe that it is very important that these agreements contain sufficient guarantees to avoid signing clauses which are unbalanced and unfair for European industry .
this is because it will be possible for individuals to stand for election and vote when they are not nationals of a particular state .
- ( LT ) I would also like to encourage the scrutiny of your proposals from the perspective of financial market participants .
confidence can neither be decreed nor purchased .
rapporteur . - Madam President , before we open the debate on the report on the implementation of the Structural Funds Regulation 2007-2013 , allow me to seize this opportunity to thank the Commission for the concrete communication paper and the country fiches as a solid base on which to work .
I recommend postponing the draft resolution and returning to a discussion on this topic after the delegation returns from Kiev .
the EU is the world 's leading producer of cars and the second largest manufacturer of lorries , with 19 million vehicles , of which 20 % are exported .
I would also ask him to pass on my thanks to the committee chairman , Mr Deprez .
under the pretext of solidarity , surrogate motherhood exposes women to physical exploitation and even abuse , in direct conflict with the ban on trafficking in human bodies and body parts .
( PL ) Madam President , the two most recent accessions to the European Union have resulted in a significant exacerbation of regional disproportions within the Community .
the report calls for measures that are essential to discourage transplant tourism and the more general problems we face on this issue , and I therefore voted in favour of the report .
we should discuss how best to engage both the new Israeli Government - and hopefully also a Palestinian national unity government - in order to build a two-state solution .
I should like to thank you , Mr Van Rompuy , for having corrected , together with the Heads of State or Government , an unfortunate omission in the European Commission document , since the latter did not mention agriculture , and you were right to add one of the European Union 's main historic policies , namely agriculture , which is a factor in the well-being of the European people .
there are no signs that there might be investment in the hydrogen economy within the context of the transport infrastructure , let alone the use of electric cars running on carbon dioxide-free electricity , as is called for in the report .
will the European Council stop it by creating an effective European preventive mechanism which will safeguard the national economies and the stability of the euro area ?
let us get down to business and stop making vacuous speeches as was the case in the first part of the debate .
Europe 2020 must be an expression of the new , common political will and our response to the , sadly , increasing nationalism , egoism and protectionism .
I have re-read the Euratom Treaty very carefully and have also looked closely at the Nuclear Safety Directive adopted by the Council and Parliament in June two years ago .
unfortunately , 20 years later , none of the Member States of the European Union have signed or ratified that Convention .
it is only by doing this that we will deserve the title of legitimate heirs of the fathers of Europe , through whose efforts we are all here today .
the summit will give us the opportunity to exert pressure on Russia to fulfil its contractual obligations in these areas and in other areas , too .
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we have to focus our efforts in helping countries and communities in the poorest parts of the world have access to this resource .
although the partnership agreement with Cameroon in the forestry sector is commendable and , as it is being introduced during the International Year of Forests , is also a very convenient way for the EU to improve its image , it is doubtful whether the agreement is worth the paper it is written on .
I support the introduction of a tri-annual review of the directive post its implementation to ensure that it remains responsive and adequate for its purpose .
I do not see any fairness in the proposal to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide .
one is the Official Development Assistance computer program , which has been trialled very successfully in Mozambique , and I hope that there will be investment in time and effort in this type of coordination in particular .
( HU ) Mr President , the achievements made by Macedonia in relation to European integration were already greatly appreciated by the country report of February last year .
it is also very important to support the development of the euro area and to take appropriate measures to create suitable conditions for Member States aiming to become members of the euro area .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I am astonished by the discussion on the part of fellow Members who , on the one hand , speak of simplifications for small and medium-sized enterprises , but who , when it comes to taking the very first step for micro-entities - and that is all we are talking about today , not about any other scale - are already inclined to say no again .
although the regulation states that all national and international partners must provide all the cooperation necessary , there is no detailed legal basis for such cooperation .
it is therefore particularly important for us to strengthen and continue to support the textile industry .
we have seen in this debate that many colleagues - Mr Mantovani , Ms Guy-Quint and others - and myself always deplore the fact that we have too little money in category four , the external actions .
the most important thing that needs to be discussed by the Commission and the parties concerned should therefore be the need to inject some confidence in the Greek people , without which no measures can be adopted at all .
Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , it is obviously a bit surreal having a debate about the blacklist at a time when the whole of aviation in Europe is in chaos , but I understand that we will have the opportunity tomorrow for a topical and urgent debate and that is exactly what we will have .
as all the EU Member States are involved as well as 16 partner countries , it is also understandable that people should have strong misgivings in the development of this policy as to how the different partner countries can be included in the collaboration .
I am very glad that Parliament has played an important role in enhancing the role of the multiannual spectrum policy programmes , which will be proposed by the Commission , and for the first time Parliament will have a say in this .
I have therefore supported this report on the proposal establishing a multiannual management plan for the western stock of Atlantic horse mackerel , and I welcome the fact that the amendment put forward by Mrs Patrão Neves has been adopted , as it is essential for ensuring that the artisanal fishery is protected , along with Portugal 's interests in this matter .
the rapporteur presents figures that are enlightening and worrying .
within the exchange programme for European art collections , the public in Budapest can currently view an unparalleled Gustave Moreau and an Alfons Mucha exhibition in an important museum .
this phenomenon has become a cause for concern at global level .
I am grateful for all your speeches .
it would be important , therefore , for the old Member States to take part in the allowance trading scheme .
however , the measures have failed to address the problem of the loss of bees .
this is the second time : we already increased it in December .
I would like to highlight European Groupings for Territorial Cooperation ( EGTCs ) , which make a significant contribution to cohesion through cross-territorial cooperation programmes .
you can rest assured that we will devote a good part of our resources to this , always depending , as I have said , on the security situation .
I believe , ladies and gentlemen , that implementing this scheme , which everyone is in favour of , shows the important role that the common agricultural policy can play and does play in encouraging the consumption and , more simply , the production of healthy , quality produce .
Croatia is nearing the finishing line after four years of intense accession negotiations .
the interests of big money , whether economic or financial , and the major powers always supersede the interests of solidarity .
that is what should happen , but it does not .
this could certainly be an important factor to really assess the significance of the measure .
which company can pay ?
one of the main conditions for a vote on the report is thereby met .
when we look at the renewable energy scenario , we should also always consider what is happening in the Member States .
for this reason , Mr President , and for other reasons which I shall mention in my second speech , it is worth us granting the visa exemption to Taiwan , as the United Kingdom and Ireland did last year .
access of Roma communities to the conditions required to earn their livelihood should be an important target within the concept of agricultural subsidies .
I would like , at this point , to thank Mrs Lulling very sincerely , because thanks to this report , many self-employed women will find life easier .
this proposal is aimed at introducing a procedure to give a single residence and work permit to legal immigrants , and to grant them a common set of rights throughout the EU .
we will fail to reform the international financial system unless there is progress in the Doha process and unless we are more successful in working towards peace and eliminating poverty .
there are countless questions , because it is obvious that this reform is essential but will be to the detriment of the poorest wine-producing regions .
in writing . - We have supported this resolution based on the fact that the Commission proposes to mobilise the European Solidarity Fund in favour of Ireland on the basis of point 26 of the interinstitutional agreement ( IIA ) of 17 May 2006 .
manufacturers need to be aware of the fact that the pressure of costs , as great as it still is , does not absolve them of the responsibility for a full inspection of every individual part of their production process and their supply chain .
this is why the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Greece must find a solution to the issue about what to call the state .
for the above-mentioned reasons our group will not support the resolution .
we have declared that , provided it complies with all the Copenhagen criteria and the obligations it has accepted according to the Negotiating Framework and additional protocol , Turkey should be able to join the EU .
leadership is about taking chances , taking risks and taking the lead .
I am glad to see that so much attention has been paid to the issue of cross-border healthcare , which is so important in this age of ever growing migration .
I believe that the Copenhagen agreement to reduce global carbon emissions should be binding .
in writing . - I rejected the proposal as a whole as I do not believe it solves the problems .
if it is mundane , we need to have more debates on it , because the Irish Government has got itself into hot water by blaming Europe for forcing it to charge schools for water , when in fact the issue is how it is underfunding schools and how badly it is communicating and implementing this important piece of legislation .
it also says that there would be a flight of capital from Europe .
the President cut off the speaker
it is very clear what is in this .
the approval of proposals we tabled should , however , be noted , such as :
in view of the pressure to conform to political correctness , people would soon have to be extremely careful as to the institutions they visited when wearing RFID clothing .
hence , the key things are : faster procedures and better public relations .
these are new times and a particular feature of new times is that crises mount up and proliferate and are not resolved .
that is a major task for the European Commission .
we strongly support the calls for a reduction in administrative burdens , the pursuit of the Lisbon Strategy on growth and jobs , support for SMEs , further progress on completing the Single Market , measures to boost consumer rights , further action on climate change , cross-border health care initiatives and boosting relations with the United States .
in writing . - ( FR ) In the 1960s , having agreed the benefits of planning , the French Parliament voted a growth rate for the economy every year with a view to taking its decisions on that basis , since it turned out for several years in succession that actual growth was exactly as it had voted .
regarding the right to information , the biggest share of expenditure will be in the initial one-off cost of drawing up a letter of rights .
should these criteria be the subject of broader consultation during the G20 summit with a view to establishing fair competition for financial activities on the world market ?
there is a lack of discussion and a lack of understanding .
I have , to my consternation , discovered through being out in society that it is virtually only active citizens who are monitoring whether EU legislation is being respected in many places .
thank you .
these points are based on my own experience as a councillor in the town of Chmelnice and on suggestions from voluntary organisations , and I consider them key to the more effective and more transparent drawdown of resources from EU funds .
( SV ) Madam President , I would like to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues on the negotiating team for their constructive cooperation .
on the other hand , as you know , I have previously mentioned the existence of a high-level group for joint planning in connection with these conditions which , in this case , are chronic and not contagious .
on the basis of the report by my Italian fellow Member Paolo De Castro , I voted for the proposal for a Council regulation derogating from the regulation on common market organisation ( CMO ) as regards the 2009 and 2010 intervention periods for butter and skimmed milk powder .
these are , of course , difficult issues .
it is ironic that the Red Baroness herself , Cathy Ashton , stood against this no-fly proposal , her aide reportedly calling it ' headline grabbing desperation ' .
that is the EU of undemocratic red tape ; of political and ideological conservatism ; of the accentuation and institutionalisation of profound inequalities and relations of social , regional and national domination ; of militarism and external interventionism ; and of the institutionalisation of neoliberalism as the only acceptable economic system .
the EU has some 68 000 km of coastline ; Scotland has some 11 000 km of that .
but still there is no comprehensive EU policy on legal as well as illegal immigration , and on integration .
it is also important that we bring the national parliaments on board by taking an inclusive approach , as Mrs Goulard has suggested .
the Iraq war and the dual power situation in Pakistan are enough .
the vote will take place tomorrow , Thursday , 23 October .
however , you should not confuse the problems of other states with those of Ireland .
therefore , the Member States determine the form and conditions of funding of their public service media so long as EU State aid rules are respected .
these forces obstruct the Egyptian solution that will put an end to internal disputes and divisions .
as if this were not complex enough , some states have subordinated the investigative bodies we are calling for to different state organisations .
like mushrooms , the British people are left in the dark and fed manure .
it is also very important to use the potential of older people in the labour market .
if women are assisting in small and medium-sized enterprises , then they must at least have their own protection .
you may ask what our final objectives are with this directive .
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while the local people remain unaware of these issues , the whole thing will continue to be a sham .
( PL ) Mr President , Mrs Ashton , when I talked with politicians in the Middle East , I often heard them say that the European Union is a payer , not a player .
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Mr President , Commissioner , I should like to thank all those who have taken the floor for their comments and for welcoming this report .
this causes us concern .
in writing . - ( PT ) I voted in favour of paragraph 20 of the report on the role of women in industry because it is essential that the Commission carries out a study into the negative consequences of long working hours on private , family and social life , such as children spending a lot of time alone , left to their own devices , which often leads to failure at school and crime .
while youth unemployment is currently 21 % in the European Union , and close to 25 % in my country , this has become a major challenge for Europe at a time when young Europeans deprived of employment are threatened with social exclusion and poverty .
that proved to be a complete failure , of course .
in conclusion , allow me to give you a wonderful quote from Alphonse Karr : ' a lover is almost always a man who , having found a glowing coal , puts it in his pocket believing it to be a diamond . '
we are only just beginning to glimpse the long-term consequences of this omnipresence of pesticide residues : they include various forms of cancer , endocrine disorders , reduced male fertility , damage to our immune systems , and degenerative diseases of the nervous system .
I believe that the partnership between the US , Canada and Australia , on the one hand , and the European Union , on the other , can offer the ideal solution for combating terrorism and organised crime .
at first , this country was always celebrated as the ' showcase ' country and the model for new members of the Union , although at that time , very wrong policies were permitted and encouraged and these resulted in enormous bubbles in the property sector having to be dealt with , the banking sector being allowed to become a law unto itself and no attention being paid to preventing competitive dumping in the area of taxation .
in writing . - ( SV ) The amendments made by the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development to the Commission 's proposal are good in part and very bad in part .
the Europe 2020 strategy , however , mainly concerns future trends .
Europe is certainly not closed off to external trade .
I call for the rapid establishment of a European civil protection force as devised by Mr Barnier in 2006 with the aim of arriving at a European response that is planned , genuinely coordinated and effective .
an understanding between the social partners , and negotiations based on good faith and reliable information are highly desirable , especially at times of crisis .
on 23 and 24 March 2000 , the European Council , meeting in Lisbon , set the European Union ( EU ) an ambitious strategic objective : to become , by 2010 , the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world .
all Member State commitments to support trade are supplementary to assistance from the European Development Fund and all our commitments are firm .
obviously there are no plans for any widespread measure : anyone whose papers are in order will not be checked .
in fact , this may well be one of those reports to which the Chamber can lend its unanimous support , even if Switzerland 's situation is a unique one , as the Commissioner said .
together they produce performance .
we can only hope that , as happened after the Exxon Valdez accident in 1989 and the Erika accident in 1999 , the EU and US regulatory framework for offshore oil exploration and exploitation activities will be strengthened this time too .
in dealing with the new threats posed by terrorism , the most difficult problem we face will be to actually define what incitement is , and whether justified criticism of governments could ever be considered to be incitement to terrorism .
only if the areas of agricultural policy , development policy , trade policy , financial policy and energy policy , as well as research , work together can improvements be achieved .
to summarise : this is not just about supporting a key sector of our economy but is an approach from which we all stand to benefit in the long run .
here , we clearly prefer a diplomatic solution , a negotiated solution , instead of a military solution .
the Commission , however , takes the view that the VHI 's capacity has indeed changed .
it is those countries that have contributed least to climate change that will be affected most by it and if we do not resolve the issue of financing , we will not get a climate agreement either .
( DE ) Mr President , it has become clear that the focus of this whole issue is on the passengers .
I support this report because it urges the commission to step up its monitoring of the implementation of EU law and improve existing EU law where it is established that it is not adequate in order to stop these scams once and for all .
EU flags , national anthems and Europe Days may appear to be symbolic questions without any great importance .
our proposal will take full account of the proposal made by Parliament to increase the commitments under the headings ' Competitiveness for growth and employment ' and ' External relations ' , through the use of the flexibility instrument .
this is for the purpose of benefiting from adequate access to medical care , except for the cases in which it can be proved that the given persons can benefit from adequate treatment and medical care in their own country of origin .
it comes as the last report from the European Parliament in the follow-up of the energy and climate change package from 10 January .
if this law is not amended , I will feel deceived by the President-in-Office of the Council .
that could have devastating consequences .
I would be very pleased if everything that Mrs Kolarska-Bobińska has written and that has received the support of a large majority is actually retained .
finally , the fact is that the data are difficult to compare and so more direction from the Commission is needed .
the debate is closed .
it is vital that a clear answer is given to these questions , just as it is also vital to clarify what the European Commission thinks about this situation and whether it intends to take any steps to unblock the legislative process .
that is not how things are , however .
firstly , it is crucial that freedom of services should be applied in all Member States .
more importantly , improving the energy efficiency of buildings is the most effective way of reducing energy consumption and emissions within non-ETS sectors by 20 % .
in accordance with the treaty , the Commission must nevertheless remain neutral with regard to the public or private ownership of companies .
Mr President , the summit in Córdoba will be a test for all of us , European institutions and Member States .
but I know you will still have your work cut out tomorrow .
nevertheless , membership of the European Union has , according to the decision of the Ukrainian Parliament , not become the first priority .
it is very important to make every effort to deliver visa-free travel for the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania as soon as possible .
that is why I want to focus on the most important issues raised by these two proposals .
however , what we need is for the Dublin regulation to be amended without delay .
these funds must be , in the medium and long term , the ' rod ' which the relevant peoples will use to learn to ' fish ' and successfully become self-sufficient .
this , of course , is key to all our futures .
( RO ) I would like to ask the Commissioner a question , as well as thank her for appearing before the House .
as Luxembourg nationals speak and write in French and German , before the vote on this very sensitive resolution , may I draw your attention to the fact that there is an enormous difference between the French and German texts of paragraph 17 .
I believe that everyone should be able to express their views on the democratic future of their country without being detained , tortured or subjected to degrading and discriminatory treatment .
we must therefore not permit the emergence of new political currents inspired by ideas as anti-human as those that lay behind Nazism and communism .
( applause )
we must move much more quickly , and I would also ask you , Commissioner , to please stress to Mr Van Rompuy that the 4 February meeting should also be a meeting about energy consumption .
I would like to thank Mr Smith , who has noticed the problem with the budget .
( applause )
in this context I am delighted to tell you that based on the interest expressed in the report of Mrs Madeira , the Commission will be able to organise discussions on topics related to tourism in coastal areas within the framework of the conference to mark European Maritime Day , which will take place on 19 and 20 May 2009 .
female genital mutilation and also honour killings are taking their toll in Europe .
Madam President , if the cost of every roll-call vote is really EUR 400 , I suggest that this Chamber is running itself with all the efficiency that it also applies to the common agricultural policy , to structural aid , to international development and to the rest of the European Union budget .
however , its population includes many non-Chinese ethnic groups , the largest of which is the Uighurs .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( PT ) Mr President , Commissioner , we have decried the disastrous consequence of the liberalisation of the global economy for many sectors of economic activity , particularly in some Member States and the regions that are most dependent on these sectors .
we have never been naive about the difficulty of delivering an effective programme in Iraq .
unfortunately , such negligence of crimes of Communist totalitarianism brings with it an appeasement of all neo-Nazis in Germany , Russia or anywhere : any of them could ask , if the Soviets are forgiven , then why should not our ancestors also be forgiven ?
Member of the Commission . - Here , I will be brief .
we have drawn up a parliamentary resolution which forms a good basis for the discussions between the European foreign ministers .
I found Mr Lundgren 's intervention absolutely flabbergasting .
as I said , good partners do not haul each other before WTO courts on account of their convictions .
only by fighting will the workers be able to secure a high standard of free services provided solely by the government , well away from any private business activity .
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a Commission document issued yesterday confirmed that youth unemployment in the EU stands at 20 % , which is twice that forecast for overall unemployment .
I am mentioning this because my country , Bulgaria , has 35 times fewer donors than Spain .
for this principle to be observable in practice , however , it is essential that we set up a system of strategic reserves , increase the number of links between transport networks , and , in short , construct a working response mechanism that would provide technical assistance to countries that have suffered the most as a result of crises .
in my opinion it is important to start at an early age with getting acquainted with the approaches of your neighbours or of other religions .
Thirty-five legislative initiatives are foreseen in the work programme .
they will certainly not do this unless there is strong pressure from all the signatory countries of the United Nations and the countries which are responsible for crimes against civilian populations countries such as Israel , the United States , Russia , China , India and Pakistan , which did not go to Dublin and which have refused to ban cluster munitions .
a clear united message from this House and the whole European Union with the readiness to engage would make all in Albania reflect upon the best course of action .
yesterday evening we were discussing population .
with the 27 Member States , the European Union has approximately 2 million soldiers , 10 000 tanks and 3 000 fighter planes .
the Commission will support good cooperation between Member States and will constantly monitor any complaints received in connection with the exchange of information or assistance .
I should like to conclude by saying that innovation is not only reflected in end products or new services .
can we seriously argue , as the opponents of this package do , that we can build growth on top of a mountain of debt that is continuously put off further and further into the future ?
what does the Commission think of a situation in which the price of a Chinese product is less than the raw materials used to manufacture it ?
I voted in favour of David Martin 's report on the reform of the European Parliament 's Rules of Procedure insofar as it will allow our House to adhere to the new ground rules accompanying the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon .
I believe that when we are reforming , when we are making documents available , when we are ensuring that there is greater transparency , we should take steps to show which parliamentarians are participating in the work of Parliament and which are not .
I refer in particular to SMEs , which must be able to play an active part in the creation of standards without incurring excessive costs or suffering a lack of representation .
when pornographic material can be just disturbing then viewing very vivid images of violence against others or even self-harm is something that really might provoke youths for thoughtless acts .
what measures does it intend to adopt with regard to Member States on the Mediterranean which are receiving refugees from North Africa ?
a great many other matters are also covered .
in any case , I do often like to distinguish between capitalism and liberalism .
in regard to the general cost reduction in the health sector as a result of the use of these new technologies , I would also draw your attention to the research into ' mobile health monitoring ' systems , the use of which would reduce annual health costs by EUR 1500 million in Germany alone .
I would say that this project has to be tackled along the same lines as we tackled the large internal market project of the European Union .
the timidity of the ECB and the euro area states is preventing us from funding a more effective economic recovery policy through the issue of Eurobonds guaranteed by a European Union whose funding capacity remains intact .
the debate is closed .
( ES ) Madam President , I voted in favour of this initiative because when we talk about precarious work , we are talking once again about the inequality and discrimination that women suffer in Europe .
this is one area for which you have supreme responsibility .
I presume that a general conclusion was that , despite the difficulties that might exist and the improvements that could be introduced , this European Neighbourhood Policy that forms part of our strategy has worked well and has ensured that many of our partners and neighbours can enjoy stability , economic progress and economic and social development .
since the introduction of the women 's quota between 2003 and 2009 the number of companies quoted on the stock market has decreased from 554 to 362 .
this matter only seems trivial .
we already have new pressures in category four , where we are allowing for a very tight margin that will be made tighter by the need to include the Baltic Sea Strategy .
African countries , China and India want to keep their exemptions not to submit to the international system of monitoring emissions and , at the same time , receive billions of euros for clean technologies .
democratisation must succeed here too .
( the oral amendment was accepted )
the contribution that the European Union is making to achieving this goal is to ask the Member States for military expenditure to be increased , and as a result this civilisation has reached the immoral situation of having the highest arms expenditure in the world in 2006 , more than in the Cold War : 17 times more than we spend on international cooperation .
I respect public opinion of this kind .
however , the report notes that ' the Gulf states ' sovereign wealth funds account for more than one third of the world total and those funds helped to rescue the global and European financial system ' .
in this respect , after having consulted his colleagues and counterparts and received their consent , President Sarkozy , in his capacity as President of the European Union , assumes the responsibilities of engaging in a comprehensive dialogue between the European Union and China .
you , my dear colleagues on the right , are perpetuating a traditional system with a male breadwinner and his little wife , with her little job on the side , kept neatly under his thumb .
( RO ) The Package Travel Directive encompasses transport and accommodation services , along with other related services provided through package holidays .
so , with those very few words , I commend Mrs Gräßle for her efforts and I urge the Council and Commission to listen carefully .
much of this is naturally related to climate change .
we must ensure that the necessary resources are fully available .
then we discussed the need for the establishment of joint forces to help Member States cope with natural disasters like those which struck us this year .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , it is the case that , in recent years , there has been rapid development of the European foreign and security policy .
however , considering the potential negative impact that measures could have on the population , we still hope that an acceptable solution will be found without the necessity to isolate such a strategically important country , as many of you have said .
as for the financial system , the European Council also made a forceful call for all players in the system to act responsibly , especially in the banking sector .
the ' least bad ' solution - and I use that expression again - is for the EU to insist that non-compliant Member States spend their regional funds on stamping machines and also to pay for an inspectorate whose staff are nationals of compliant Member States .
we must understand that .
it is not easy here , but when you are in the Council , it is worse , because there you have to work with unanimity .
I hope that this could have an impact on other , related sectors , such as plant protection product data requirements , which are right now moving through their own revision process .
also , if transparency applies to agricultural credits , why not also , in a spirit of populism , have transparency over the pay of the EU 's senior officials ?
unfortunately , however , the report does not deal with the ethnic cleansing which the Russian Federation carried out in Abkhazia from 1991 when , because of Georgia 's independence , almost a quarter of a million Georgians were forced to leave Abkhazia , their own country .
it is certainly true that delays in terms of integration , wage gaps or a lack of career profiles are legion for women , particularly in the field of science and research .
modern family policy is about the equal responsibility of men and women for children and work .
I know that many parents and teachers are increasingly anxious about children accessing material which is inappropriate and potentially dangerous .
President of the Commission , President-in-Office of the Council , I am afraid small and medium-sized enterprises will disappear with this crisis and nobody will care .
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I trust every democratically elected government in Europe which is accountable to a parliament and to the public to do this .
( ES ) Madam President , Mr Barrot , it is no coincidence that a whole series of Spanish MEPs have spoken .
I would like to call upon Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to seek to overcome their differences and show that they are faithful to the generous founding EU spirit , which we all need so very much today .
this highly popular and profitable service was cancelled last October , forcing customers into unnecessary travel and inconvenience to go to other airports , the reason being that Air India did not want to lose its highly valuable Heathrow slots .
it has caused numerous inequalities and pressures , especially among vulnerable groups .
I personally believe it will be useful , but I think we need to discuss it here .
while there is already some production in eastern Europe , there will be a significant volume of new imports .
it is , however , regrettable that the proposal for a Tobin-style tax on financial transactions has not been adopted , as that would make it possible to limit excessive speculation , and promote financial stability and investment in the long term .
the second problem is a recent decision by Azerbaijani authorities to cancel the FM radio licences of several international radio stations like Radio Free Europe , Voice of America , BBC World Service and others , depriving listeners in this country of valuable and independent sources of information .
nevertheless , we believe that these documents can be improved in the future , and we would remind you that we are advocating a long-term buildings strategy .
the solution to this problem can only lie in a combination of all these approaches and , actually , as part of a common political will .
the role of Libya , as partner on many issues in the Mediterranean region and in Africa , has been found to have a major impact on the security and stability of the region , in particular , on migration , public health , development , trade and economic relations , climate change , energy and cultural heritage .
the southern Member States are subjected to great pressure , particularly since the popular movements in Egypt and Tunisia , and the war in Libya , began .
thus , there is a very real need for us to address the problem of Pakistan .
European businesses manufacturing high-quality products of excellence will then benefit from an instrument to protect and promote them in order to support them in the face of tough competition from countries outside the European Union in certain sectors .
in writing . - ( IT ) I voted in favour of Mr Kohlíček 's report on the investigation of accidents in the maritime transport sector .
it would do better to keep its own house in order .
it is an essential and important step in enabling victims to reside or stay wherever they want in the EU and thereby be included in the freedom of movement .
this is the main reason why these inequalities are playing an important role in finalising a free-trade agreement .
in writing . - The common agricultural policy ( CAP ) has the potential to offer solutions to many of the problems currently affecting European farms , and this is obvious in no EU Member State more than in Ireland , where there is an equal commitment to both secure a fair and full CAP agreement and to move forward by implementing the changes necessary in 21st century farming .
Mr Verhofstadt stressed the significance of the citizen 's voice .
we must give them perspectives .
this would amount to 2.8 million tonnes .
the less costly measures are specifically the regulation on origin marking , the protection of intellectual property , anti-dumping and the fight against counterfeiting .
it acts as confirmation that Europe is in the process of construction , and that our priority is to improve and promote cooperation between the EU Member States in the field of health protection .
whilst Mr Sterckx obliges ports not to turn ships away , Mr Savary says that they can deny entry if insurance certificates are not being provided .
this resolution of Parliament follows previous commemorative resolutions from other international organisations such as UNESCO and OSCE .
in my opinion it is important not only that the ASEAN members ratify the eight core ILO conventions , which only Cambodia , Indonesia and the Philippines have so far done , but also that we ensure that we put mechanisms in place to make sure they are properly enforced .
it is for this reason , moreover , that I have two minutes instead of one .
moderation in energy , whatever the word used , is finally on the agenda .
( PL ) Mr President , I would like once again to express my pleasure at the importance that the Community attaches to the need for innovation in Europe .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the European governments are being driven by the markets .
specifically , the Member State must be given a national action programme .
one of their main points of criticism is the Bologna Process .
we are fully aware of the views of the European Parliament in this respect and will take those into account .
secondly , the overall price of the product must be specified before a consumer agrees to purchase a product .
I think it is getting better all the time , and I think the cap-and-trade system allows us really to tackle a huge proportion of the gases .
we must ensure that Europe does not forfeit any of its economic capacities .
the US still maintains the visa requirement for nationals of some Member States ( currently Bulgaria , Cyprus , the Czech Republic , Estonia , Greece , Hungary , Latvia , Lithuania , Malta , Poland , Romania and Slovakia ) .
although , in 2009 , there was a small reduction in the number of complaints ( 9 % ) in comparison with 2008 , of the 335 cases opened , approximately 318 were concluded and closed .
I am not convinced that a fence or a wall is a solution because there are other reforms that are much more important .
it is important that we get it right .
I voted in favour of this document , codifying Council Directive 80 / 720 / EEC of 24 June 1980 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the operating space , access to the driving position and the doors and windows of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors .
President-in-Office . - ( SL ) In June 2007 the Commission published a green paper on a future common European asylum system .
the budget vote , which is upcoming , is also extremely important for ensuring appropriate future funding for agriculture .
under Article 36 of our Accession Treaty we have the right to start reactivating this nuclear power station .
the second point was the arrangement whereby Parliament was to be more closely involved in the continuing development of the security provisions .
as Vice-Chair of the Committee on Fisheries , I decided to vote against this agreement because it ignores the opinion adopted by this committee , which proposed abolishing the derogation from the rules of origin for processed fishery products at the end of the negotiations on the Interim Partnership Agreement .
finally , particular attention ought to be paid to isolated regions and islands , as in the case of Greece , where cohesion policies will significantly help the local population to stay put , find employment , have access to new technology and professional opportunities , and to comply to the Community norm .
we are not here to decide whether these people are guilty or innocent .
to improve the quality of these projects and the effective impact of their implementation , EU Member States must avail themselves of the maximum technical assistance which the European Commission can offer .
I therefore support the call made by my fellow Members for the European Union solidarity mechanism to be activated immediately .
both motions for resolutions recall such ENP values as democracy , the rule of law , and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms , including the freedom of the media , the independence of the judiciary and the fight against corruption .
it makes sense to simplify but not to radically change at this stage .
this text has the merit of recognising market failures and advocating the fight against climate change .
I think that it is very important to distinguish between professional and political arguments that have their place in a democratic society and actual interference with the European Central Bank 's fiscal policy .
there were many points on which we were in total agreement , and others I hope we can work on in the future : specifically , the European consumer scoreboard promoted by the European Commission , a very important instrument that nonetheless , in my view , still does not provide standardised data to enable people to make clear decisions .
the damage to infrastructure has been enormous and half a million homes have been seriously damaged .
taking into account that in the area of satellite communication the European Union at present covers 40 % of the world market , we can clearly see that a common non-discriminatory policy can significantly strengthen the important role of the Union in this sector .
the Commission therefore immediately responded to the ruling by commissioning several studies , launching a comprehensive consultation process and carrying out the impact assessments .
extradition -procedures for which are defined in a bilateral agreement - should have been granted .
greater attention should be paid to social and cultural aspects and to support for development in a framework of mutual respect for the different levels of development and different political choices of the people .
I say to Alexander Lambsdorff that he has allowed himself to be hijacked by this , but all he has to do tomorrow for us to unanimously support Lasse Lehtinen 's report , is to vote for our Amendments 5 and 6 , which keep the door firmly open .
the cultural sector is a growth sector that is developing faster than many other areas in the economy .
you know that this has been a very sensitive issue , and with these agreements with third countries we create better possibilities for European airlines as well .
the small example of the urban mobility plan could be a real help in addressing this much larger problem .
whilst it stresses the right to advertise , it ultimately asserts the patient 's right to information .
that being said , I would like to mention three of the proposals put forward in the excellent report by Jorgo Chatzimarkakis .
this should also include a plan for the Baltic Sea energy connections network .
non-governmental organisations have submitted complaints relating to the creation of illegal and secret databases for storing personal information in connection with racial and ethnic origins , and have stated that they are appealing to the relevant authorities .
words are not enough .
we therefore urge the Council and the Commission to provide aid immediately and to launch comprehensive medical assistance programmes for the civilian population in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo without delay .
'including the gender dimension in order to empower women and defend their rights ; '
secondly , it needs to adopt specific measures for breeders that use sustainable protection measures .
in writing . - ( DE ) The Union for the Mediterranean is seen by some people in Europe as a prestige project initiated by a few political leaders .
the murder of the Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink should have provided a period of national reflection but , sadly , this did not happen .
it will be up to the people of Iceland to have the final say : they will have to vote in a referendum , and I hope that they will opt in favour of joining our great European family .
item 11 of this document stated that the measures which had been unveiled by the Commission were not sufficient to provide the desired incentives for constructing at least 12 demonstration facilities by 2015 , while in item 18 it was considered imperative that at least the 12 demonstration facilities earmarked for assistance should cover all possible combinations of the three carbon dioxide capture and storage technologies .
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this question is particularly important because the bigger the vehicles that manufacturers produce , the bigger their profit margins .
the solution to the Greek crisis must entail tough reform measures in Greece .
similarly , tree-planting programmes in Rwanda have resulted in such an increase in the flow of rivers towards the capital that it can now be powered solely by a hydroelectric plant .
ensuring the peaceful unfolding of that process will be of great importance , not just to Egyptian civilian society itself , but also to the region as a whole .
violence against women , in my opinion , also reflects and reinforces inequalities between men and women , and therefore often determines the position of women in society .
I support the report because it includes the gender dimension of the CAP .
freedom of religion is a fundamental human right , and religiously motivated discrimination and violence are inconsistent with our values .
I am quite concerned by the magnitude assumed by these disasters in recent years , which not only have natural but human causes as well , with consequences for both the economic and social infrastructure .
this is because of Israel 's continual violation of international law , and because of our political commitments to Palestine .
as for the population of working age , it would peak at 331 million around 2010 and would then decrease regularly to around 268 million in 2050 .
therefore , this aid - which we should remember is granted at national , not European , level , and is therefore dependent on each individual Member State 's economic resources - could be seen by many people as causing an imbalance in competition , but in reality , it would provide a little relief to a sector that is increasingly on its knees .
it is an enormous challenge , but it is a strategic issue which we cannot ignore .
some people claim that violence within intimate relationships is a private matter , a family matter .
we have to look at the causes of ill health , and the debates this evening have centred round those .
however , the report insists on advocating these policies .
in this context , I demand the release of Judge Afiuni , and I appeal to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to send - I am just closing - a petition to the Venezuelan authorities expressing the fears of the European Union in connection with breaches of human rights , democratic principles and law and order in Venezuela .
thank you for your attention .
as I have just told you , these different language versions are still being finished , and as you know , the Council can only pass that document , that agreement , to Parliament , when the different language versions are available , which the Commission has in hand .
in writing . - We have voted against Amendment 4 , because it states ' is of the opinion that any possible solution should not lead to distortion of competition ' .
I would like to start by saying that I think it is extremely important for us to truly make an effort to reduce the extent of counterfeiting .
in Gaza , Ottomans , the British , Egyptians , Israelis , Americans and Europeans are all part of the problem .
every year , we pay EUR 4.5 billion net to the EU , most of which is channelled through to the weak Member States , the EU 's spending is on the rise , while we are having to make cuts and while the value of the euro is continuing to slide , as a result of which the cost to Dutch citizens is rising , too .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , please allow me first of all to thank Mrs Lucas for her report , which draws attention to the overwhelming need to face up to the problem of the destruction of tropical forests .
lobbying activities must be removed from the grey area , as it were , so that we have a clear and factual picture of where influence is genuinely being brought to bear .
one of the Member States ' most important duties is to ensure the security of their citizens , but without jeopardising fundamental human rights .
we can look for various options , yet there is simply no alternative to this strategic response .
likewise , the chairman of the board of regulators can attend the relevant committee and give an account of their work .
why not continue to strictly monitor the US producers ?
yesterday , Spain and Europe lost a great statesman : one of the main architects of democracy in Spain and the founder of the People 's Party , some of whose members are with us in the Chamber .
firstly , the sudden and belated discovery , in respect of the signing of the 2010 budget in December 2009 , that the 20 % limit for expenditure under ' heading 5 ' had been exceeded .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , climate change really is one of the most serious problems facing mankind in this day and age .
indeed , I would have preferred Amendment 1 - but of course that fell on the adoption of Amendment 4 - where it was recommended that the implementation of the electronic identification system be deferred until 2012 at the earliest .
we need to take a tough line on illegal organ trafficking .
as far as the FTT is concerned , it is clear that the options today differ from the initial discussions on the Tobin Tax , as it would cover a broader base of financial products .
you have also mentioned the delegitimisation of dialogue , since we cannot tolerate a dialogue that could , one way or another , give the impression that killing innocent people , injuring innocent people , can be a way of serving mankind .
it is not good or sound budgeting to fail to pay out on the outstanding commitments agreed on in previous years , so both must be taken into account when shaping the final draft proposal for 2012 .
the Islamic Republic of Iran ( hereinafter referred to as Iran ) is facing an array of governance challenges , from power struggles between competing factions within the country 's ruling elites to a crippling social and economic malaise , a problematic regional security environment and rising popular discontent at home .
the end result we have before us is a compromise which we are happy to support .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I am not taking the floor simply to stand up for my region .
while the European Union and many agencies in the Member States work very hard and with great commitment , supported by NGOs , to protect species , this conversation demonstrated once again that many people see the protection and maintenance of biodiversity as something of a luxury .
this is not an emergency aid solidarity fund ; it is a fund which is based on reimbursement of specific costs for emergency operations after disasters , allowing for a return to normal living conditions .
I would say , the history of the overall policy of Europe in relation to its neighbours .
the Member States and the Commission thus wish to pursue the discussions in the various international bodies to establish the conditions for such a global agreement , or bilateral agreements , with a view to forging links between the European system and other national or regional systems in the future .
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it is now time that we took the important next step , because the European project cannot be limited to a pure , bald financial-monetary project .
whatever could be the explanation ?
we in the Committee on Regional Development have a different proposal from the one contained in the Garriga Polledo report .
finally , I should like to say that anyone who knows the animal feed industry cannot doubt the obvious impact that both these factors will have on food prices .
the EU Commission notes that despite legislative advances , ' however , senior members of the armed forces have made a number of statements going beyond their remit , in particular , on judicial issues ' .
ten years ago , in my report on the role of the European Union in the field of sport , we called for a White Paper , and I am pleased that we are able to vote on it today .
the first to take the brunt have been taxpayers , also in terms of rising unemployment , dwindling incomes , reduced access to social services and increasing inequalities .
in short , a framework dedicated to reforms which facilitate the completion of the internal market as the best way of stimulating economic growth as a job creator in the European Union .
the promotion of the EU radio spectrum should not overshadow the needs of the poorest people in Europe .
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they are therefore vital to new clean energies as well .
the European External Action Service should be a major player in devising a truly comprehensive European approach to civil and military crisis management at European level and to conflict prevention , providing the EU with sufficient structures , human and financial resources to fulfil its global responsibilities .
in a nutshell , Bosnia and Herzegovina today needs urgently to overcome the current political stalemate , to move seriously towards the European Union .
I would also like to thank all the shadow rapporteurs .
when we are over this , will consumers really want to buy a big high-consumption car , or will they want a small , smart car ?
I think that such exports should not be permitted .
today is the first step on the way to conciliation to end the ' opt out ' .
on balance , I think the possible benefits are larger than the possible negative effects .
therefore , I hope that already in this trialogue this strong sense of responsibility that we all share , and it could not have been otherwise , will open the way to calm , responsible and constructive negotiations for the future of our Union .
in other words , universities do not always take market needs into account and the ones worst affected by this are the young people who have just finished their studies .
in relation to this , I would like someone to speak in favour of the motion .
unless other oenological practices for making rosé wine can be discovered , we might for example be inspired by Pierre Dac , who said : ' Graft roses onto vines to get natural rosé wine ! '
I am pleased that the report defends and endorses the systematic integration of the protection of the rights of women and children in all dialogues and consultations on human rights between the European Union and third countries .
what is more , the government also blocks websites .
this is why I believe that we should actively involve national authorities , the European Commission , as well as members of this Parliament , in promoting SOLVIT .
Madam President , my thanks to Mr Albertini for his report and I hope that everyone concerned will play their part in the efforts required .
for all these reasons , I would like the agenda for the European Council to reflect the importance of strengthening the commitment to act and work in cooperation with the European Parliament , notably in relation to the preparation and follow up of the action plan to be adopted during the coming six months of the Spanish Presidency .
secondly , this directive , despite its inadequacies , and I accept that it has some , is not a regulation .
often described as a catalogue of the worst national practices , the current directive has two major disadvantages : it fails to sufficiently protect the rights of asylum seekers , and it creates major disparities in treatment within the Member States .
Roma integration is therefore not merely a moral duty and a duty in terms of human rights protection but , above all , an economic necessity as well .
the Council took the view that the use of these substances could potentially mask poor hygiene practices .
would we invest in subsidies for tobacco production , for producing tobacco that cannot be sold in the normal way , at the same time as we are by and large banning smoking in the EU ?
now for two points .
given the huge EUR 1 000 billion turnover of these funds , any mistake in their application could have an extremely negative effect on European financial stability .
more seriously though , firstly , the outermost regions , all those that we call overseas , form part of the European Union , an important part , wherever those territories my be located and whether they have ties with France , Spain , Portugal , the United Kingdom or wherever .
what has happened since then ?
at the same time , we cannot just stop at these decisions , as they will only provide short-term results .
I have already written a letter bringing this matter to the attention of the Prime Minister of Poland , Donald Tusk , but I have not yet received a response .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , I think we should be clear what this motion for a resolution is not : it is not a re-run of the rather controversial and contentious report that we had last year ; it is not about how to get a political solution to the territorial dispute and conflict over Kashmir .
it would take 10 lines !
Parliament accepts the figure imposed on the Council by the most thrifty or miserly Member State , but on condition that we agree on protecting the future .
for that reason , this resolution must not be seen as a private project of mine , but as a common stance of the European Parliament as a whole .
to reply to Mrs McGuinness , I think that the response from the G20 , the way it was prepared , the fact that there is an action plan agreed by the G20 , shows that the Council was united in its action .
for this reason the Commission prefers that taxes and contributions should be imposed at Community level not at the present stage but until such a time as a study has been carried out into the issue .
you know that no agreement was reached on this because some Member States put insurmountable problems in the way , but now the Slovenian Presidency has raised something that I think could be dealt with as a priority : the matter of judgments in absentia .
alongside adequate healthcare and equal opportunities in employment , the Member States need to keep a closer eye on the extent to which EU funds for the Roma are actually used for the benefit of the recipients .
however , it turns out that at the moment the compromise reached is the limit of what is acceptable .
it is a positive sign that Parliament , despite massive pressure from lobby groups , has expressed its objections to such arbitrary exclusion from the Internet and has not accepted that any user can be denied access to the Internet .
I gather very few .
we need a stronger Europe and a genuine partnership with the US to achieve the Millennium Development Goals .
there are many challenges in the area of the donation and transplantation of human organs .
in any case , that is what I shall be proposing to my fellow Commissioners in the coming days .
what conclusions does the Commission draw from this study ?
therefore , we fully support the Commission in adopting tough measures against governments and businesses which neglect to take action in this area .
there is no doubt that this new regulation will improve the timeliness , comparability and completeness of the statistics transmitted , as well as the efficiency of the data processing .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , first of all I would like to thank the rapporteur for the work he has accomplished .
the Chinese only have to apply their own constitution , which states in three places that this cultural heritage must be preserved .
what is important here is that we include , within this package , technologies for carbon capture and storage , the promotion of offshore wind energy and interconnection of gas and electricity transmission networks .
they have gained from Greece 's fragility , and now they are imposing their imperial position of absolute domination of the country 's internal policies in exchange for a loan on which they will also gain from the interest .
( FR ) Mr President , for several weeks the world has been undergoing a serious financial crisis .
that is the right approach to take .
that is what honest Padania has to say !
the illegal logging regulation does not aim to punish or to hinder trade but rather to better control trade .
ten years have passed , the G20 , like several Member States , is no longer ruling out the idea of such a tax , and above all , the financial crisis has served to remind us of the damage that volatile financial markets can cause .
this scheme must not simply involve children eating apples ; rather , they must know what type of apple they are eating and what its nutritional properties are and they must understand the beneficial effects of that fruit on their health and development .
the possibility and ability to learn and work in an international context is a prerequisite for a successful working life in a globalised economy .
the situation in Palestine is , unfortunately , one of the best examples of this .
this cannot go on any longer : the stakes are too high , and we have to know about projects that are harmful to the Baltic Sea before it is too late .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I personally am very pleased that we are having this debate on the human rights situation in Tunisia .
finally , this report reminds us that the European Commission needs to ensure that promoting innovation does not endanger the progress made in basic research .
although there are companies which pay union wages , there is evidence that women work in departments where they have fewer opportunities to progress and where they are paid smaller allowances .
I am sorry to have been a little long , but I think this is such an important matter .
an essential of our development and support policy must be to mutually uphold the requirements for environmental protection .
a series of events - the economic crisis , the financial crisis , the new type A flu virus - is further aggravating the situation in the air transport industry , and this situation demonstrates just how urgent and indispensable support measures are , not only for the airlines , but also their employees .
it is particularly significant that the debate and vote on this report seeking to draw attention to the inequalities and discrimination that persist have taken place on International Women 's Day , whose centenary is being marked in 2011 .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
the coastline of the EU is 23 000 kilometres in length and one third of the population lives by the sea .
COP 9 will help to ensure this .
Madam President , today the Irish House of Representatives , the Dáil , will vote on the EU-IMF financial assistance package .
I also attach key importance to the implementation of the same laws in all Member States , adequate social protection - I repeat , social protection - and the fight against social exclusion .
I would first like to thank Mr Staes warmly for the fact that we have genuinely achieved a joint report in many , many respects that I can categorically support .
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I am sick of hearing that we cannot do better , that we have done all we can .
I want to highlight the quality of the debate and interventions at all stages , both in technical and academic terms and also in terms of the discussion on the political content and on the process .
the application of this scheme will take into account the technological development time lag and the negative consequences of the economic crisis .
Mr President , I am grateful for all the contributions that have been made to this debate , and I would like to express my very special thanks - because I did not do so just now - for the crucial role played in all this by Mrs Bowles , the Chair of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs .
what is really encouraging is that although I lead the negotiations , I do so with the E3 + 3 sitting with me ; and that shows very clearly to Iran that we are totally united in our approach , and I pay tribute to all those who work with me .
that would have a very negative effect on the running of the EU .
our public health problems are so serious that we are once again compelled to raise taxes .
but apart from that , I fear the Robin Hood tax is facing the same problems as the Tobin tax , that you can only do it if it happens on a global scale .
during the Committee stage , my amendment rejecting the idea that resolution of the Cyprus question is to be achieved through unilateral action by Turkey was not accepted .
we are under an obligation to her to ensure that human rights and the rule of law are introduced into the North Caucasus .
this system is justified in itself .
the sectors most affected were construction , agriculture , industrial production , trade , transport and communications .
in the case of congestion , however , if the aim is to fight and reduce this phenomenon , all road users causing it must be treated in the same way without any discrimination between the various elements responsible .
this is a signal that Poland will discharge its obligations with regard to the Treaty .
what has happened , then ?
I was a member of the Folketing , the Danish Parliament , when Denmark was lured into saying ' yes ' to the Treaty of Lisbon on condition that it did not lead to the surrender of sovereignty .
we Social Democrats welcome any initiative that improves the situation of asylum seekers and people with no documents .
I hear that you want the second objective I mentioned .
Prime Minister , you mentioned three fundamental principles which I would like to take up , because they are also fundamental principles of our movement .
given the financial crisis and the significant drop in the number of loans being granted , I support the proposal by the European Commission to establish a microfinance instrument targeting the most vulnerable groups , and particularly women , young people and the unemployed .
that is the best hope for the future of Pakistan , and it is the best hope for relations between Europe and Pakistan : that we get a democratically elected parliament in January , with the President out of uniform , in ' civvies ' .
the Regulation will contribute significantly towards strengthening the EU 's leadership role in the talks being held under the auspices of the UN Environment Programme , and also towards the adoption of an international treaty on mercury .
ever since the late 80s and the early 90s , the supply of cod has been dropping steadily .
even when confined to those 250 kilometre journeys , the directive barely received enough support from the Member States to pass .
during recent years , they have also been faced with another huge problem - ever-rising oil prices .
and as Mr Schulz has already said this is also a kind of positive signal of Europe 's flexible policy towards Latin America and the Caribbean .
however , I take this opportunity to recall that we still lack a common set of criteria , definitions and an in-depth analysis which would thoroughly explain the various pension systems and their capacity to meet the needs of citizens .
this anniversary , then , gives us a particularly apt message of hope for today 's times .
it has threatened to impose sanctions if constitutional order is not restored within six months .
I would like to mention a few of them here : a centre of excellence for environmental technologies in Slovenia , the Burgenland Mobility Centre in Austria , the ' brain hunt ' competition in Estonia , the new building for the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology in Germany , the science park in Granada in Spain and the development of the problem district of East Leipzig in Germany .
the first European Community Directive in 1958 refers to multilingualism .
there was also consensus that we do not want a litigation industry to develop in Europe as it has in America , with turnover of USD 240 billion , which is ultimately of no advantage to consumers and , as we all know from simply reading the relevant books , mainly profits American law firms .
I come from Berlin , and there alone , we have had six arson attacks against mosques within the space of six months , fortunately not resulting in any deaths , following the uproar sparked by a social-democratic former central banker .
I was , therefore , expecting the Party for Freedom to show greater support for the negotiation process .
the straightjacket of the EU regulation is closing our industry , stopping innovation when it is ahead of the regulations and closing traditional industry , where the product is good but different from the approved continental version .
1 .
this is the ideal system .
firstly , the completely new system it provides should enable us to recognise macroeconomic imbalances at an early stage ; and secondly , we should then be able to act quickly .
in writing . - I am very glad of the fact that today , the European Parliament adopted its position in second reading on the directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the application of the principle of equal treatment between men and women engaged in an activity in a self-employed capacity and repealing Directive 86 / 613 / EEC .
the not-for-profit sector was also involved .
I believe that the new directive will provide a coherent and uniform set of rules for patients all over Europe .
in writing . - ( PL ) Toxic substances contained in products used for cleaning , rinsing and disinfecting , as well as in paints and solvents , can pose a risk to human health by irritating respiratory pathways and eyes and by causing allergies .
secondly , Mrs Reding , when we are negotiating with candidate states , we insist that they apply the highest standards of press freedom , otherwise they cannot join the European Union .
in my opinion , in local public transport , this should be a principle that we all keep to , and I believe we want to do so .
I have test-driven several of the environmentally friendly cars .
many problems that today affect the majority of the Baltic States , for example - you mentioned Poland , but I could , of course , mention Bulgaria , Romania , Hungary - are due to the fact that they are not in the euro area .
the compromise that is now before us , namely that we review the social situation in the European Union in a few years ' time and take further measures as necessary strikes me as a very reasonable proposal .
that certainly was not the case : the conference was the first step on a journey and , as I said before , we are now taking further concrete steps , which will build on the Lisbon impetus .
information provision and promotion measures for agricultural products ( vote )
Mr President , the Committee on Budgets was aware of the European Union 's moral responsibility to countries that are in difficulty .
what the Member States have agreed now was the creation of a European stability mechanism .
I must say to you , however , that your speech seemed entirely improper to me .
( PL ) Mr President , as a Pole , I always feel my heart beat faster when there is talk of human rights in China .
fourthly , in the light of the current crisis , the presidency also urges agreement on the review of the Directive concerning measures to safeguard the security of natural gas supplies by the end of 2009 .
the current legislation in force allows for derogation .
at the same time , we support these programmes being drawn up based on an assessment of the need for them and their timeliness , providing us with the assurance that the funds are being spent effectively in programmes which meet the objective of helping promote Community products .
the right path , in this case , is to guarantee a multilateral agreement which safeguards all our legitimate interests .
in this amendment we oppose creating legally binding instruments that would affect national legislation , policies and programmes and so affect the element of solidarity .
the ENP applies to a huge area , from Morocco to Ukraine .
is there no area of activity in which the EU will trust national governments to do what they think is best for their own peoples ?
the pace of integration of the Western Balkan countries is individual and depends on the merits of each one of them with regard , in particular , to their determination to satisfy all the requirements , meet all the obligations , carry out all the reforms and adopt the necessary measures that EU membership implies .
the right of veto and representative government have been cut in 62 areas as against 61 in the Constitution .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I voted for the Niebler report concerning the extension of the EC / US agreement for scientific and technological cooperation .
we also want to see a more effective internal market .
however , if the predictions of European Union geologists are confirmed , then gas reserves may be found not just in Poland and Germany , but possibly also in other countries .
( DE ) I will now continue in German .
I feel there is a very high level of agreement in this House about what is important in the European position and which issues we must concentrate on ahead of the G20 .
six months have elapsed and the situation is as follows . the government has been unable to privatise the shipyards , the Commission has taken no account whatsoever of Parliament 's position , the yards are not producing , the future is uncertain , people have lost their jobs and have been left in limbo .
this would require action not only from you , but also from the entire college and the President of the Commission .
the obligation to protect the discriminated is embodied in our most important legal acts - in the treaty and in the Charter of Fundamental Rights , which is referred to in the treaty .
the companies are nasty parasites on small- and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) in the Union .
irrespective of the territorial issue with regard to Kosovo , Serbia is , of course , a key State in connection with the integration of the Western Balkans into the EU , and one which we should involve in all steps that we take .
this means that it will not be easy to submit a new proposal that might miraculously solve the situation .
if we vote through the Committee 's proposal it will mean that the European Parliament will establish that tobacco and alcohol are not the same as any other goods , just as we have previously heard in this House , and must be treated differently .
( the President cut off the speaker . )
I have to oppose the Socialists ' amendment calling for equivalence between Member States ' systems of regulation and supervision in the context of applying the private placement regime , which would entail permitting reciprocal access to markets .
we are not allowed to trade sufficiently with our traditional partners in the British Commonwealth .
they have demonstrated that democracy and human rights can be universal values .
we are running the risk of becoming a profoundly illiberal society , by passing on passenger data , by Internet surveillance .
in short , we have to translate this momentum into a truly global result .
the Commission supports this key element of the priority project that will make it possible to connect rail networks at both sides of the Alps by means of a highcapacity , high-speed line , mainly designed for goods transport .
for decades , the United States has been pushing for the import of hormone-treated meat .
in conclusion , I can tell you that in order to set practical work in motion , the so-called ' Article 29 Working Party ' , of which all those involved in this work are aware , and which is a Working Party responsible for coordinating data protection measures , is preparing a reasoned opinion on data protection in relation to search engines and service providers .
they live in areas where incomes are much lower than the average for the EU , or even for the country they live in .
it also shows , however , that in future a solution to every crisis can be found by means of international cooperation .
after all , it is not complicated !
finally , I would also call for the EU strategy on Roma inclusion to be linked with the strategy for the Danube region .
Mr Turmes , I really am trying hard to remain calm and objective here .
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it revisits it to make its demands broader and its penalties tougher .
how will the Commission ensure that the core negotiations are focused on development ?
we also need a policy with more solidarity that takes account of different levels of development and economic capability .
I also welcome the fact that nuclear energy has found the place it deserves in such a report , and is presented as a necessary energy source .
( FI ) Mr President , it is quite true that health inequalities vary quite a lot within the European Union .
I was delighted that at the end there was total , unanimous support for the opinion that we put down .
arrangements for importing fishery and aquaculture products into the EU with a view to the future reform of the CFP (
the structural dialogue we introduced this year , the intense communication between the committees and the Commissioners really paid off .
the first of these factors - that is , possession of knowledge - is not a problem today .
the position taken by the authorities is also puzzling because it runs counter to that adopted during the election campaign , during which we witnessed the emergence of pluralistic forces , the formation of a real opposition and an active civil society .
the answer to the question of ' Who decides what ? ' has not become clear to me in the course of the debate .
a society based on creativity and knowledge is increasingly becoming a necessity for modern Europe .
we recognise that tax fraud is a serious problem and that it needs to be tackled with great urgency , and in particular that a solution needs to be found to the so called " carousel " fraud in respect of VAT .
the revision of the European Social Fund Regulation that we will adopt tomorrow will therefore enter into force immediately . this will make a significant contribution to reducing the bureaucracy associated with the European Social Fund .
I therefore congratulate the rapporteur on the excellent job he has done in a context that is so important and crucial for our producers , including the very smallest , because emphasising quality and respect for dietary and ecological principles will help them to stand out and stay afloat in an increasingly global and competitive scenario .
only by assessing the existing situation can we determine whether we need new security standards .
I request the Italian government to take actions against any forms of discrimination on nationality or ethnicity criteria .
it has come a long way , and it has taken a long time .
Madam President , Commissioner , once again , I would like to thank the Members who have spoken .
it is crucial that the Copenhagen conference results in a politically binding agreement .
at any rate , I should like to assure the European Parliament that it is my intention - and not just my intention but also my desire - to move forwards with judicial cooperation on civil matters in Europe .
our delegation has written a letter , which we have also sent to you , in which we ask that Mexico also sit at the G20 table and for this to be a permanent arrangement rather than merely a brief appearance .
therefore , it should also be said loud and clear that there is something worse than no agreement and that is a poor agreement .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - Mr President , I too am the shadow on this package and I would pick up on what Mr Díaz de Mera García Consuegra was saying about the moral duty here .
much remains to be done and the EU will have to play its role , over and above observing the elections , by providing long-term support for a reform process .
the implementation of the vital measures to combat climate change is hugely delayed .
I would like to recall that in May this year , we adopted a resolution calling on Russia to respect the conditions of the ceasefire and to withdraw its forces from Georgian territory .
( ES ) Mr President , as has already been said , the Treaty of Lisbon is finally going to enter into force and some of the effects of this entry into force will be felt immediately after it is signed ; for example , some of the work of the Committee on Budgets must be governed by new rules starting from January .
thus on this issue we may all insist together , the European Parliament and the Pan-African Parliament in unison , that any person who has ever violated international humanitarian law , especially during a power struggle , cannot be excused , and that we can then impose sanctions on those responsible .
VAT reductions across the world are used to encourage people to buy energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly fridges , freezers and other goods that use up large amounts of energy , and cheaper prices for these products will help the less well-off .
I was in Washington in July and met a number of Senators who believed that the bottom of the mortgage crisis had not yet been reached and this would not happen before 2010 .
will things return to how they were before ?
trade is an important instrument for transferring technology to developing countries .
I agree with her assessment that women have been particularly affected by the economic and financial crisis that we are experiencing .
what kind of statements are these ?
any other consideration is secondary or unimportant .
these things are crucial to the internal market .
it also calls on the European Commission to assess the costs and benefits of creating a fully independent European Credit Rating Foundation .
in writing . - ( NL ) The large majority of all nations in the former Yugoslavia wish to join the EU .
in writing . - I voted in favour of the report on the 2009 Commission discharge because it gives an assurance of better management of payments in cases where funds are misused .
there are lessons to be learnt from our totalitarian past .
you made us elect Mr Barroso by saying that it was urgent and now you are going to have a ' lame duck ' Commission which will just keep going until a decision can be taken .
how many times has Russia attracted attention in this regard ?
the reason it gave for this was the relatively extensive construction activities on the Czech rail network , which cause trains to be delayed .
together , we can put an end to the outrageous scandal that is long-term poverty .
the launch of the new website at the start of 2009 is a welcome measure .
Mr President , I would like to thank the rapporteur and the Chair for the work they have done on this report .
although we do have a register of that kind for cows , it seems to be more difficult to achieve in relation to firearms .
I guess that we will see Parliament voting in favour of approving the Council 's accounts this week , and shortly afterwards the Council will be approving extra budget for the Parliament .
financing instrument for the promotion of democracy and human rights worldwide ( amendment of Regulation ( EC ) No 1889 / 2006 ) (
the response to the situation in Greece is an important matter , especially because what is happening there contradicts everything that was trumpeted about the virtues of the euro and the blessings of being in the euro area : being in the vanguard of the strong currency of rich countries .
that is the bad news .
the next item is the joint debate on the following reports :
I support the idea of allowing derogations for Member States that wish to implement the farm structure survey in 2009 rather than 2010 due to the decennial population census in 2011 .
the fact is that this policy has tangibly strengthened the power of internationally organised crime without putting adequate measures in place to combat it .
the European Union is also going to financially support new projects in the field of alternative energy , and this includes the wind energy sector .
what we have to do is use the money that is available to create the corresponding added value for the Danube and for the citizens , all 115 million of them , who live along it .
this fact goes against the very title of the budget , which is to conserve natural resources .
we should give some thought to the fact that while some of our fellow Members , chiefly from the EPP , worry about whether we will support a certain type of aircraft - I am no military expert and have no idea what this debate is about - then I believe we should pay far more attention to what Mr Arlacchi is talking about in this report , as it is very important .
although legislation will only be harmonised to a limited extent , this harmonisation will , in reality , affect all EU entrepreneurs , since investors based in Member States which are not participating will also be able to take advantage of unitary patent protection .
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to conclude , ladies and gentlemen , we ask that before Europe declares itself willing to open negotiations on the conclusion of a free trade agreement , it resolutely defines the Community interest that it intends to protect and specifies the areas in which it will request reciprocity from Japan .
in December , though , we will need to look very carefully at the Commission 's proposals to make sure that they meet the strict sustainability criteria Parliament is demanding .
British farmers producing beef , sheep meat , pig meat and eggs have actually seen a drop in the value of their produce over the last year ; poultry meat is unchanged and milk only marginally higher ; sugar beet will fall next year .
that instrument is fundamentally important now and should remain so , especially for fighting mafia groups and organised crime .
in addition to this there are the hundreds , thousands even , of petitions that the Parliament receives each year and that often refer to specific infringements of Community law , against which citizens feel helpless and therefore turn to Parliament .
I would like to thank the negotiators , particularly our rapporteur , Mr Gauzès , who , having been through such a difficult birthing process , surely ought to be entitled to some well-earned parental leave .
the funding figures are currently EUR 3.6 per capita per annum to the east and EUR 3.4 per capita per annum to the south .
the large-scale use of intelligent transportation systems and , first of all , of the electronic stability control is necessary .
this incident was the cause of the events which have rocked Greece over recent days .
that is the objective of the economic governance package , of which this report by my colleague Mrs Wortmann-Kool is a part .
once again , I would like to thank my fellow Members from the European Parliament for their contribution and everyone from the European Commission and the Council for their constructive approach , and I will be grateful for an answer to these questions .
there may be a fundamental change in the relations between the most important powers in the world and there is indeed a great risk in these times of anxiety of the emergence of national egoisms , of naked nationalism , of ugly nationalism and some forms of extremism .
we are voting today on two reports that appear to be mutually complementary : Mrs Pack 's report on the Bologna Process and Mrs Badia i Cutchet 's report on improving the quality of teacher education .
I voted in favour of the motions for a resolution on the outcome of the Copenhagen conference on climate change , albeit with some confusion .
this is why the Presidency will do whatever it can to have this common position adopted at the Council meeting on 15 December , so that Parliament can adopt it in its part-session next January .
with the settlement of the fisheries dispute , Croatia has once more affirmed its readiness for EU membership , and the Croatian Government is also strengthening its efforts to combat corruption .
author . - Mr President , this afternoon I would firstly like to welcome the positive sign of relations between the EU and Belarus .
'the military and civilian crisis management units must be placed under the High Representative 's authority , while the command and organisational structure may have to differ from that for civilian personnel ; the sharing of the intelligence analysis of players within the EEAS is of vital importance in order to assist the High Representative in fulfilling his / her mandate of conducting a coherent , consistent and efficient external Union policy . '
is it possible to shed light on the political will of Member States to fulfil their obligations ?
there too , unfortunately , the ruling authorities have responded through the prism of repression and violence .
today I ask for us to send that dove to the farthest corner of the world , so that it may return carrying the will to change of all the nations of the world .
it is to be welcomed that President Rahmon has created the post of an ombudsman .
however , we need to monitor the power of the supermarkets and to look at whether they are passing on the price increases they are charging to the producers of food .
consideration has repeatedly been given to cutting this , but so far , we have always managed to ensure that it has not been cut in the budget .
within the confines of Question Time , it is not possible to spell out their contents to you , but I do want to attempt to highlight the key points .
the key to a successful revolution in Belarus is Russia , which has always been an ally of the regime .
thirdly , when it comes to energy in Europe , the one and same message must be given .
there are , however , other cost groups where it would seem to be difficult , or even impossible , to achieve a 2 % margin of error .
I must point out that we had a Social Democratic Government in my own country , and five million people were unemployed when it left office .
did I read ' partners ' ?
I am , therefore , going to allow only six Members to speak .
the whole world - Europe and the rest of the world - can follow their lead .
( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , this report is vital to the future of the European project , which should involve solidarity and ambitious aims , particularly in view of the budgetary crises that Member States are currently struggling with .
at a time of financial crisis , simple financial instruments that are able to fund business , especially in underdeveloped regions or the above-mentioned social groups , are of particular value .
let us wait and see tomorrow which way the majority in Parliament wishes to go .
I am pleased , therefore , that amendments have now been tabled by the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats and also by the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe , which I expect to steer us onto a realistic course tomorrow .
I agree with Mr Díaz de Mera García Consuegra in relation to the decisive contribution that immigration liaison officers posted to third countries could , by virtue of their remits , make to Frontex achieving its objectives , especially considering that the agency has no representation outside the European Union .
entire sectors of industry are going under , such as the shipbuilding industry in Poland .
the Afghan Government is not capable of acting as the sole manager of opium crops .
supervision of the financial institutions within the EU is not a task for the EU at the present time .
in the Fifth Framework Programme , the Commission gave financial support to studies and projects in the field of women and science .
the worst of it is that the EU does not follow what is happening in climate research right now .
appointing a European Union Special Representative for North Korea would allow us to monitor the human rights situation more closely in this country and ensure better coordination of the responses from Member States to this issue .
the situation is the same in this case , if not even more clear , which is why I am obliged to vote against the motion .
what is needed , then , is to ensure effective implementation both of the 27 conventions for countries to benefit from the generalised system of preferences ( GSP ) , and of the accompanying measures designed to improve implementation capacity .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , I should like to request that the voting sequence be changed and that Compromise Amendment 10 be put to the vote after we have voted on a number of other identical requests by various Groups that were due to be voted on after Amendment 10 .
this means intervention , cultural events , and also speeches from diplomats .
I read in the newspapers that the Council of Europe has made criticisms .
despite opposition from the European Commission , the report defends the distribution , free of charge and on a daily basis , of fresh fruit in schools to improve the quality of health and life of children , particularly children from more disadvantaged backgrounds .
I also call on the Commission to desist from referring Member States to the Court , as Mrs Gebhardt said , but rather to encourage dialogue on the best possible protection .
there were also some contrary opinions among us - this is quite legitimate and these voices should be heard .
I am sure that Mrs Malmström will be a wonderful representative .
I believe there is a case for presenting it , because it seems to me that the rapporteur has recycled the argument cited last time by Mrs Wallis , who concluded that my parliamentary immunity should be lifted , something that the Court of Justice condemned in very clear terms .
we are at a crossroads in the definition of what the future reform of the common agricultural policy must be .
however this committee will be a normal comitology committee chaired by the Commission and subject to the same rules ; only qualified majority against the Commission 's draft can then prevent the Commission from adopting it .
at the moment , we need to ensure that the demonstrators ' calls for democratic reforms are heard as part of a genuine political dialogue .
the African Union , the Southern African Development Community , the International Organisation of French-Speaking Countries , the Interparliamentary Union , the European Union , speaking via the Commission , the United States , and a large number of countries , including my own and Norway - to speak of countries from the European continent - have condemned the coup d 'état - for that is what it is - which has taken place in Madagascar .
we wanted balance , not by having less budget discipline but by combining it with disciplined investment .
I congratulate France which , during its Presidency , took the important initiatives we are discussing today .
she did not use the word ' only ' but she might easily have done .
the Commission has invested heavily in the development of common indicators for data collection .
the country is headed by two lawyers , President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin , who have repeatedly expressed their intention of combating legal nihilism .
the development of the EU 's comprehensive approach and its combined military and civilian crisis management capabilities have been distinctive features of the common security and defence policy ( CSDP ) , and represent its core added value .
that would be an irony that our children , our grandchildren and great-grandchildren would not forgive us , in my view , for allowing to come to pass .
thus , I think the answer to this question is fairly clear .
second , the effort needed to draw up financial statements for such an enterprise is out of all proportion to the resulting benefit for either the enterprise itself or the state .
the defects of the Stability and Growth Pact , in both its substance and its enforcement , have been obvious for some time ; it is right that efforts are now underway to ensure a lasting settlement that works .
that is the condition sine qua non for the political secularisation that is provided for in the Taif Agreements and that a growing majority of the Lebanese people want to happen .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( SL ) I must reiterate that I am here in this place as the representative of the Council and the Council has not addressed the question raised by Mr Leichtfried .
( DE ) Mr President , firstly I should like to offer my hearty thanks to Mrs Doris Pack for her report and , most of all , for her commitment .
this has a cost , of course , but the cost of doing nothing would obviously be much higher .
this will protect European manufacturing from counterfeit products imported from labour-intensive countries in the East .
I conclude : the glib expression ' to cost the earth ' which we - English-language speakers anyway - use figuratively with gay abandon now needs to be taken literally .
we have a shortage of employers - not a shortage of employees , but of employers , who can provide people with work .
the creation of the EEAS will require a variety of decisions , probably including changes to the Financial Regulation and the Staff Regulations , both of which require a Commission proposal and adoption through codecision .
in writing . - This report is part of a package of three reports with which the Parliament has answered to the broad Commission communication on the Single Market Act ( SMA ) containing 50 legislative and non-legislative proposals and divided in three different chapters , one focusing on Citizens , one on Business and one on Governance .
the Europe 2020 strategy is not just inspirational , a list of objectives , it is not just a vision - it is a reform programme .
there is an early warning system throughout the European Union for contaminated food .
that concludes the explanations of vote .
the European Union must confirm that it remains a stronghold of democracy and common values .
the establishment of European standards in services is a way to dismantle barriers in services in the internal market and to do so sensitively .
of course nobody does .
( applause )
'- ensure respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms , with special regard to the freedom of speech and of assembly and the right to demonstrate peacefully , and to listen to and take into account the legitimate demands of protesters as well as to ensure their security ; '
updating this legislation enables us to guarantee equal treatment for men and women , with particular attention focused on the issue of social protection , especially protection for self-employed women .
it is necessary to allocate funds to rural development under cohesion policy , because the second pillar of common agricultural policy is moving its activity to greening , ' ecologicalisation ' , environmental matters , agricultural development and processing .
( BG ) This topic is particularly important for me , as five of the six Bulgarian regions are in the top 10 poorest regions in the European Union .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( FR ) Madam President , Commissioner Frattini , Mr President-in-Office of the Council , ladies and gentlemen , the question of immigration is a political issue of special significance because it often involves human drama .
in this context , the EU is too small to be an isolated island .
what is important for the budget for ' other sections ' is to assess each institution individually .
therefore , I believe the most important question now is : how and what could we further build on the achievements of the Swedish Presidency ?
Mr President , in recognising Kosovo 's independence , we have taken a huge responsibility upon ourselves ; a responsibility for maintaining peace and for the construction of sound state institutions in Kosovo .
however , I have some comments to make .
I would point out that the language arrangements of this enhanced cooperation will consist of just three languages : English , French and German .
in this way , we will provide a bit more transparency for statistics at European level and therefore make the euro area that bit more competitive .
I will say this again : the decision is very important , because we realise the resolution is needed quickly , but we need a resolution which has strong support , and these matters are of great importance .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , the Commission welcomes the agreement reached in first reading on the last of our four proposals on the alignment of existing legislative acts in the new comitology procedure with scrutiny .
in writing . - ( FR ) In line with the vote in the Committee on Legal Affairs , I believe that the Commission has exceeded its brief here and that the European Union does not need to issue new instructions to the Member States .
it would be like applying small sticking plasters to a gaping wound , which will just become larger and larger with the present transport policy .
that will require flexibility and creative pragmatism from both this House and from the Council .
the Council is not in agreement , and we shall have to come up with something .
it is necessary to combat inflation , but on the other hand this is making the situation worse .
every closed loophole in trade , every obstacle , certificates of origin and control will be another success .
if we really do want to make progress towards this target of cutting red tape in Europe by 25 % by 2012 - and that , of course , is no longer very far away - we need to make major progress in this area .
it is a result that my group can endorse , as we only ever wanted guidelines from the outset .
another very important issue I wish to raise is that I think we should monitor the beneficiaries of this programme .
no justification is required for air traffic security .
- ( PL ) Mr President , the most important event of 2007 in the area of freedom , security and justice was clearly the enlargement of the Schengen area .
there is a pressing need for industrial fishing in the Baltic Sea to be stopped .
this industry represents a growing global market in which Europe should take the lead and achieve its independence .
it is a prime example of the success of the Lisbon Strategy , which has strengthened Spain 's economy and been the motor of unprecedented convergence to the extent that it stands at 105 % , ahead of the Community average .
I have a feeling that the Empire is striking back .
the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament is proposing a financial transaction tax ( FTT ) , the proceeds of which would go to the EU budget .
this is a sorry state of affairs in a country whose development is so important to us , but relations between Europe and Russia should not , under any circumstances , stop at development in a strictly economic sense and economic modernisation .
migration will not go away : it is driven by the heady cocktail of despair and hope , it follows the law of supply and demand , but it has the capacity , if properly managed , to enrich and energise Europe .
the forthcoming conference can be assured that Parliament takes this issue very seriously .
this will introduce substantial Europeanisation into the important field of measurement .
these companies give their identities and they give their addresses .
we want the truth , we want the whole truth , and if the Commission opened the debate - it was my colleague , Franco Frattini , who opened the debate at the hearing - it is precisely because we want to get to the bottom of the truth .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I would like to thank you for the overwhelming support for this important proposal .
if that is the case , my group requests that we delay the vote on the Krahmer report until tomorrow , so that we can investigate the implications of the application of the recast procedure to that vote .
there are around seven Jewish festive days which cannot be observed because they are working days .
the Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund appropriations under heading 1b have been substantially strengthened , as the unpaid commitments under the funds - the RALs - are alarmingly high , at more than EUR 95 billion .
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the GUE / NGL Group will therefore vote for the proposed directive .
in order to achieve tangible results it is important to step up European cooperation in combating unfair online advertising practices , and the most vulnerable groups of people such as children , adolescents , the elderly and so on need special protection .
in writing . - ( FR ) I voted in favour of the legislative resolution approving , subject to amendments , the proposal for a Council regulation amending the regulation of 2003 as regards jurisdiction and introducing rules concerning applicable law in matrimonial matters , and this on the basis of the report by Mrs Gebhardt .
I am not explaining myself properly .
finally , I hope and expect Turkey to sign as soon as possible the anticipated readmission agreement with the European Union , without any delay and without imposing additional conditions .
after all , only when it is time for the health check is it time to discuss a potential change to the existing regulations and structures .
Prime Minister , to end , I must say that we here in the European Parliament very much appreciate and thank you for your words , but we need allies in the governments of the Member States .
the crisis has highlighted , unfortunately , that many of the European Union 's countries are vulnerable to energy blackmail and may end up suffering as a result of the misunderstandings , more of a political than an economic nature , between the countries from the former Soviet Union .
it is henceforth the Commission that represents the Union in foreign affairs , not the European Council .
we have fought for 10 years to have this treaty , and the Council did not want to wait 10 days to enforce the new provisions relating to the appointment of the two posts .
there has been much talk about facilitating the lives of our citizens .
Iran is a key country in the Middle East .
is he absent ?
the fact that the Hungarian Presidency is also setting its priorities in a similar spirit , and is placing emphasis on the strengthening of an EU that is close to its citizens , is welcome .
some particularly tough challenges are therefore facing us as far as programming , the introduction of new solutions and implementation of the 10th EDF are concerned .
concrete work must begin in order to establish partnerships with key actors with regard to regulatory approaches in all matters of common interest .
( SK ) Madam President , the transformation of Turkey into a genuine pluralistic democracy based on the protection of human rights and basic freedoms appears to be a continuing challenge .
as proof , look at the number of mathematical formulas that exist for this purpose : the South Korean formula , the European formula , and of course the Swiss formula .
I believe that when we take a good look at how successful the ERASMUS programme has been , whereby university students in Europe can study in different countries , make friends in other parts of Europe , and discuss it afterwards among their friends and contacts , it is clear that it makes an essential contribution to mutual understanding in Europe .
at the same time , I am following with great attention the repeated efforts of the Commission and certain other parties , for whom the proposed target seems , on the contrary , rather unambitious , to reopen the debate on this topic and to try and change this regulation in order to set more stringent targets .
( RO ) Given that on 3 February Hungary and Romania were appointed Priority Area Coordinators for environmental protection in the Danube region , specifically for restoring and maintaining water quality , I would like to ask you when these coordinators are going to implement this priority action , because this will enable us to guarantee the quality of drinking water .
now the time has come to remove the two greatest hindrances in Europe , which the Irish have in fact already discredited .
I broadly agree with the measures proposed in this report , as I believe that this issue is one of the major challenges that Europe will have to overcome in the coming decades : the ageing population .
in writing . - ( IT ) The Braghetto report contains much for us to think about as regards the implementation of the bluefin tuna recovery plan .
( DE ) Madam President , Mr Oettinger , in the bank stress tests , as we know , the leeway given was so generous that almost all the institutions investigated were able to come out of the tests relatively well .
the proposals for economic governance represent an attempt to entrench cutbacks and wage cuts .
this is truly alarming .
for there is one thing that must be clear to us , which is that for the 16th time in succession the European Court of Auditors has not given a positive statement .
there are several questions at least which should be put to the European Commission in the context of the communication on raw materials .
although I essentially agree with the report , I reject its approach , which is why I am voting against it .
the next forum will take place in February 2011 in Budapest , where the Commission intends to present its communication on a new EU sports agenda to sports stakeholders .
nevertheless , I believe that the European Union cannot be indifferent to its development or ignore what is happening on its borders .
the aim must be to protect the environment as much as possible from the unremitting expansion of aviation and to promote safety in the best possible way .
this is not merely a matter of dealers ' responsibility ; no , it is primarily about the responsibility of producers .
on the other hand , it is easy not to make any mistakes when one does little or nothing .
I am very happy to see that while we did not manage to achieve progress in 2008 and 2009 , we now made a breakthrough during the Hungarian Presidency in that the Council is prepared to monitor processes , and inasmuch as it is able , will participate in this activity - we will see to what extent , negotiations are still to follow .
the issue of Roma inclusion is a genuinely European problem , which is why the European Union must go to the very root of the discrimination suffered by the Roma community by combating stereotypes , in order to ensure equal access to employment , housing , healthcare and education .
I hope that the victory of pro-European forces in Macedonia will help the Council towards a decision on the commencement of negotiations with that country , which is already a candidate and has spent a long time in the waiting room .
I think that this is going to be a successful Presidency for three reasons : one , you have prepared extremely well ; two - and we heard it in your speech today - you are extremely humble ; and three , you are very businesslike .
I do not agree with some amendments which , in my opinion , are not going in the opposite direction , even if , overall , they are consistent to a certain degree with the intended design of the agreed text .
if we just look at the Congo , we can see what MONUC troops can get up to .
I voted in favour of the Agreement on Air Transport between the European Union and the United States .
hence , for this service to function properly and achieve the objectives for which it was created , it must be given a budget that is sufficient to provide the human and material resources necessary for it to perform its activities well .
in the light of this situation , which is much worse than the situation in the Western Balkans , I want to know when the international community and the European Commission is going to demand an international tribunal to investigate and judge the killing of tens or hundreds of thousands of people in Iraq .
analysis of this data will certainly help to ensure that best use is made of the investments .
ladies and gentlemen , I voted for the Wojciechowski report on the protection of animals at the time of killing .
Mr President-in-Office of the Council , you have said this is a contribution to peace .
I believe the role of education is especially important ...
we are convinced that Europe is faced not only with an economic crunch and recession but also with an environmental crisis .
for 60 years parents , children and relatives lived completely separated from each other so that they could not meet for decades .
the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) was set up to provide additional assistance to workers made redundant as a consequence of significant changes in the structure of international trade .
( NL ) Mr President , by introducing emissions trading into aviation , Europe shows ambition , the ambition to tackle CO2 emissions and combat climate change .
Russia 's political technology is one of the strongest in the world and that state has demonstrated that it is prepared to sacrifice enormous resources in order to achieve its political goals .
however , without peace and security it is not possible to engage effectively in longer-term development .
in the majority of cases , the purpose of the legislative proposals is to invite the Member States to ratify the conventions or to implement them within the Community .
what can we do at EU level ?
policy coherence for development is one of the priorities of this plan , which is currently being discussed in the Council .
if you do not act on those - and I know that some in the Ecofin do not agree with this approach - then we will be setting fire to the economic basis of the eurozone and that is very dangerous .
the Commission has already completed a good part of the job . naturally , however , they , too , still have much to do .
clearly the attractiveness of the European Area of Higher Education will be greater , the better and more evenly spread the quality of education in the different Member States .
in writing . - The ECR Group strongly believes that in the 21st century , it is simply abominable that slavery still exists on our Continent , and believes that people-trafficking will only be combated if all nations work together at the highest levels to prevent it .
I read in the action plan that the Commission will create an instrument in 2011 to evaluate national asylum systems , so that it can provide better assistance to the Member States in terms of each one 's capabilities and needs .
an open debate on weblogs should be encouraged .
I think that Solvency II , regulation and CRAs are all very relevant and very important , but we need to build a fire station as well as douse the flames .
the cost of condoms is another issue that needs to be addressed .
the EU has a duty to present an ambitious European budget which can assist economic recovery .
we hope that in Bonn we will build on the solutions proposed in Portugal .
however , my motion calling on the Commission to present proposals for combating the abuse of the asylum system throughout Europe was successful .
Madam President , we have to look to the future .
the dramatic situation in the Middle East , and the resolution of the problems there , is connected to this , directly or indirectly .
finally , the Commission endorses the views expressed about the need for health and social policies to work closely together .
so I will try and address the concerns .
we on this side of the House want to await the report before we jump to conclusions , but it appears that our colleagues on the Socialist side think that this is already a great thing and that , because we do not support it , we are some anti-consumer .
excessively long payment periods and , indeed , late payments , are a threat to healthy company management , they affect competitiveness and profitability and could ultimately jeopardise the company 's continued existence .
I for my part am going to remain committed to my values , and even to the values that you at times defend .
this is a very serious charge , Minister , and comes from one of the banking world 's own leading members .
the cooperation agreement between OLAF , Eurojust and Europol is of huge importance .
however , I fear it is more likely that there will be further problems within the Council , problems with the responsibility of the Council and of the individual Member States : that the quotas envisaged will not be accepted there .
that is your right , but for my part , I will say again that I am sad to see our sovereignty being crushed .
there is of course a third factor , which is the intelligent driver .
the only way of actually implementing the EU 's waste legislation is not to dump mercury for permanent disposal in liquid form .
to put it simply , we want these networks everywhere , but we do not have the resources , whether we negotiate with the Council to get more funds for the Trans-European Networks or with the countries themselves .
there is no doubt , then , about the importance of the objectives set out in the agreement .
I agree with you , but I fear , like everybody else , that governments , when they start cutting budgets in times of austerity , start with the obvious : culture - as we have seen already in certain cases - education and health .
( the sitting was opened at 9 a.m. )
however , I think that , apart from denouncing the criminal act itself , we must also question why it happened .
however , I do take your point that the IMO as an organisation is moving very slowly and that the Commission needs to get involved to push for quicker solutions .
we equally want to pay tribute to the work of Naeem Sabir Jamaldini , the coordinator of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan , who was murdered on 1 March .
it acknowledges that all countries in the Union are facing growing challenges in relation to policies covered by this heading , and urges the Member States to make use of the increase in funding for freedom , security and justice relative to the 2009 budget so that they can together face these and any new challenges that may arise by promoting a common immigration policy that is as inclusive as possible but grounded in absolute respect for human rights .
one further point is also very important to me .
the issue was raised of transparency of beneficiaries as well .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , clear legal regulations for political parties in Europe are an important factor in shaping European society , developing European political debate and helping make the European elections truly European , with European campaigns and arguments rather than the national campaigns and arguments mainly encountered at present .
finally , I would like to stress the fact that the integration of refugees is one of the keys to the success of this enterprise .
the citizens can now be sure that seal products will no longer be available on the market .
we need a common external policy in the energy sector .
the approved reduction in tariffs for Latin American banana exports is likely to have an adverse economic and social impact on the group of African , Caribbean and Pacific countries whose producers do not have the same technical facilities as their competitors .
through today 's resolution Parliament grants the Secretary-General of the European Economic and Social Committee discharge in respect of the implementation of the European Economic and Social Committee ( EESC ) budget for the financial year 2009 .
I will give you an example of how wrong things can go when the various users of the sea are governed by different authorities and different laws .
we will not give up on this piece of legislation , which we worked for for so long , both within and outside the Union .
markets are nervous , reacting immediately , excessively and negatively to every signal .
what is at stake here is the European Union 's credibility in supporting citizens affected by economic instability .
we cannot stop the technological development of what is now an alternative to liquid fuels , and perhaps the only one .
( NL ) Madam President , the Hungarian Presidency has got off to an unfavourable start .
that is the case , amongst other places , in Egypt .
this means that the ESMA will have real powers , and we owe this largely to Parliament 's efforts .
I very much welcome the fact that multilateral contacts with the Mediterranean region and , in particular , with the southern and eastern Mediterranean countries ( SEMC ) will be improved and strengthened .
these figures highlight the need for support , especially when we are talking about young or elderly people .
to the Commission and the Council I would say : move forward together in the direction of a more positive response to the need for harmonisation , a response which , as we have all been saying , will enable us to make optimal and more effective use of the digital dividend .
at the end of the day , this will perhaps be the decisive argument that Mr Busuttil referred to , in other words , the key to unblocking the situation with regard to the fixed positions that we see the Council taking .
I voted against making an exception for the Monday of Orthodox Easter when we make no provision for not meeting on 14 July .
I should like to express my deep sympathy with European fishers , whose salaries have been directly affected by an increase in oil prices , which has seriously exacerbated the economic fragility linked to the irregular nature of activity in this sector .
sustainability has become a vital part of our growth model .
this situation is plunging them into further difficulties , and they are unable to meet their obligations .
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but racism cannot be tolerated no matter where it raises its ugly head , and I believe we all have to stand up and say that this is completely unacceptable and that it cannot happen no matter where it takes place .
it is set at the same level for a large country as for a small region and a large region .
the entire enlargement process is in keeping with the strengthening of NATO and the NATO occupation of the Western Balkans , with the secession of Kosovo and with the destabilisation of Bosnia and Herzegovina , with the European Union 's contesting the borders and stability in the area , with coercion against the people of Serbia , with new frictions and oppositions in the Balkans .
finally , in association with all tourism players at all levels , we must promote sustainable and high-quality tourism which is competitive , environmentally-friendly , responsible , and above all accessible to everyone .
while celebrating the 100th anniversary of International Women 's Day , it is crucial that this House take stock of the long way we still have to go to ensure gender equality across the Union and to mainstream it into all sectors and areas .
this is unacceptable , which is why I welcome the adoption of this text by the European Parliament , despite the incomprehensible vote against by the right .
geographically , Ukraine is situated in a very important location , which is also important for gas supply to the EU .
I would like to thank the rapporteur , Mrs Batzeli , for the report she has submitted .
this means that the economic crisis is inevitably turning into an employment and social crisis .
all over the world , 31 reactors are under construction and others are in the planning phase .
you no doubt know that as from 1 January 2009 the rules implementing the so-called single European airspace will introduce common requests to all Member States for flight plans , so in this context we shall harmonise the rules on the flight plans of all aircraft whether they pass through or enter European airspace .
I hope this Parliament will be involved in that debate , not just watching on the sidelines , and we look forward to seeing how we can be involved .
you mentioned Schengen and , yes , we want the Schengen border extended .
nevertheless , the measures aimed at combating tax evasion need to start somewhere .
the second area I would like to highlight is that of guaranteeing the rights of children who are not cared for by their parents .
we are all familiar , of course , with ambitious aims that are not achieved in the end .
however , implementing and adopting the many excellent proposals found in the various reports and in the Act itself is a difficult task .
we must respect both .
I therefore support Mr Borrell 's statement that the funds and resources we have available should be directed to re-educating these young people , amongst other purposes . if these youngsters become set in their present ways , the only future they can look forward to is a life in gangs , committing rape and murder .
however , of course , information sharing also raises concerns about the protection of personal data .
Europe must show its support with appropriate compensatory measures .
although I very much welcome the Commission 's proposal and appreciate the demanding nature of this work , I am disappointed by the fact that this document has totally omitted the remaining countries , without even giving them a timetable of any kind .
however , agriculture is also an important economic activity in rural areas , with great potential for growth , since European production is a long way from guaranteeing our needs .
I therefore ask the Commission to take this resolution seriously and to act as quickly as possible .
what divided us most was how to make sure that the banks do not charge horrendous penalties for early repayments .
( LT ) I would like to say a few words about the document , about China .
the resolution adopted today highlights the fact that the establishment of a common register ensures the widest participation of the various categories of operators while respecting their differences and specific identities .
it is important for us to emphasise that spreading the principles of democracy will also mean greater security of energy supply .
we will succeed by means of the Stockholm Programme , which is a five year work programme .
this House is frustrated about the issue of liquids , and this is being said by someone who advised the Spanish MEPs not to vote for the rejection , because making concessions , in the fight against terrorism , on the usefulness of a measure seemed to us to be taking things too far .
the wording concerning the issue of the climate has also been made clearer , even if there still remains a great deal to do in this regard .
I visited these refugee camps only a few days ago .
this is because of the wildly ambiguous attitude and the double standards of the Heads of State or Government .
it is a great moment which shows to citizens that MEPs are taking them seriously .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , you are going to be disappointed .
as regards the long-standing problem of Siberian overflight fees , the EU will continue to press for signature of the existing agreement .
thank you Mr President and thank you first and foremost members of the European Parliament for the constructive and interesting discussion .
request for the waiver of parliamentary immunity : see Minutes
yet a good society and a good economy need a strong sense of values .
I can assure you that , under the Swedish Presidency and using the voice of the European Commission , the EU 's voice is being heard .
this is another argument in favour of the European Union having an efficient and uniform system for monitoring facilities for compliance with environmental requirements .
in practice , things look rather different in this regard , too .
I am thinking of the area of ' objectively justified ' differences in treatment .
the directive also provides for European reference centres , which will facilitate the pooling of expertise and its dissemination across Europe .
law and order must be restored so that those hundreds of thousands of people who have fled their homes and even left the country can now feel safe to go home again .
the main outcome of the mid-term review is the legislative proposal which the Commission has just submitted to Parliament and the Council for amendment of the EIB mandate for the remainder of the current financial perspective .
they represent a backdoor reinstatement of the first version of the Bolkenstein Directive , where the law of the country of origin ( social law , labour law , salaries and so on ) applied to workers going to provide a service in another Member State , regardless of the legislation or collective agreements in force in the latter .
some Member States were sceptical , but they did agree on the conclusion that the Milestone 1 test was successful .
a new report on the long-term stability of public finances in the European Union will be issued by the Commission in autumn 2009 .
if there is one area in which our fellow citizens can see the practical and tangible effects of Europe 's achievements and determination , it is the Cohesion Fund .
I would not wish to end this speech without stressing the very good cooperation between Parliament and the Commission .
as to the other topic to be discussed at the Summit , namely climate change , I am glad that the French Presidency understands , and I hope that it will take into account , the difficulties some states will have with quickly doing away with the use of coal for power generation .
do we have an underlying plan ?
these are grounds for sober pride and greater self-confidence , but not self-satisfaction .
a recent survey shows how the Turks really see the EU .
it has been clear for some time that tougher penalties are needed for both manufacturers and importers , to ensure that they take their responsibilities to consumers seriously ; in this case to defenceless children .
payments to staff are obviously public documents .
I will leave it at that one question .
in view of the massive proportions these could lead to , the EU 's Frontex programme cannot be the best tool to deal with such levels of migration .
Europe has a unique experience of the mechanisms and process of post-conflict recovery and reconciliation .
thank you .
here , too , the tone of the debate is as if the money which goes to Brussels is disappearing into a black hole .
Europe must be more competitive and able to face up to the challenges of globalisation without , however , refraining from being inclusive and aiming for development that is sustainable and which guarantees social integration .
Parliament has done its duty .
it is a different treaty from the Constitutional Treaty but offers some similar or even identical solutions .
I doubt that the EU is motivated properly on this , so each of our own countries needs to put its house in order .
this is why I want , if I may , to emphasise three points .
as you know , our transatlantic relations are based on values that we have shared for a long time , such as universal human rights and the right to a fair trial .
Mr President , the short-term measures I have just described will , of course , have to be considered by the Foreign Affairs Council on 31 January , but it is not too early to reflect on some longer-term aspects of our relations with Belarus .
by making these changes , we hope that the projects of the second phase of FP7 will end in success .
we must develop and promote preventive measures against Alzheimer 's disease or , in other words , a healthy lifestyle , which means staying physically and mentally active , being involved in the community and eating a healthy diet .
the interim agreement obliges the Treasury Department to delete data within five years of receipt - a period which is in keeping with the retention period in EU legislation on terrorist financing .
this is the future of the European army : an army , therefore , certainly not at war with the United States , but keeping a respectful distance ; an army without Turkey , because until we have evidence to the contrary , Turkey is part of Asia , and in the Mediterranean is unfortunately in conflict with a European country ; and an army allied with and closely linked to Russia and Belarus .
sadly I have the impression that all these proposals are considerably restricting sugar beet growing in order to carve out a place for cane sugar .
I invite the European Commission to come up with solutions and even with examples of good practice in the Member States .
they refer to the tools with which to create a new generation of working environment in customs and trade . I refer to the establishment of a paperless environment , which is so necessary mainly to relieve our officials , who are reeling from the demands of unnecessary administrative paper documentation .
we do not yet have a European internal market ; we have national markets and we have monopolies or small groups exerting control over national markets .
I hope that the president who has been thrown out of office will be sensible enough not to spread new discord and will make a genuine attempt to live a peaceful life in exile , which will give the Kyrgyz population the chance to build a democratic state .
relations between the European Union and Latin America could be the key to cooperation between two major world regions .
we are already deeply involved there and we cannot just go along with the decisions of our major allies , surprising us as they do with some of their strategic decisions .
this Convention , adopted in June 2007 by the 96th session of the International Labour Conference , is aimed at establishing minimum international working standards for the fishing sector and promoting decent living and working conditions for fishers .
it should be noted that the Court of Auditors identified a surplus of EUR 57 600 000 in the budget outturn account , which represents 38 % of the accrued revenue , and part of that surplus was carried over to the 2009 financial year .
however , we are also aware , and this needs to be clearly stated here , that the social partners are conducting a dialogue .
what are the real chances for people to enter the labour market ?
then we would have a deletion , but it would continue as follows : ' calls in particular on the Russian authorities to adopt preventive protective measures as regards human rights defenders , such as starting an investigation as soon as threats faced by them are known by the prosecutor and the judicial system ; ' .
I hope that these issues will be resolved in the near future so that they do not cause interruptions or delays in the negotiations .
so this is not an easy problem to solve .
I agree with what Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner said today : we need to build consistency between the European Union 's internal and external policies .
in addition , major doubts must once again be raised over the cultural background of the country itself , which is closely tied to Islamic traditions - a long way from Europe 's Catholic Christian roots .
should some of these people really be assigned to living in poverty ?
so citizens should be bold and fully exploit this great new experiment in post-national democracy .
please remove these placards now .
in writing . - Unfortunately the rights of consumers purchasing industrial or food products are better protected than those of users of transport , medical care or education services .
medicinal products purchased over the Internet from sites that conceal their actual physical address are estimated to be falsified in more than 50 % of cases .
it is also important to emphasise that we need to remain realistic .
we do not just have a currency crisis ; we have a banking crisis and we have a sovereign debt crisis .
I plan to convene a meeting of Heads of States or Government on 19 November in order to nominate the President of the European Council , the High Representative and the Secretary-General of the Council .
( SV ) Madam President , I would like to thank Mr Dess for his excellent work .
without any doubt , Slovakia today is a perfect example of how to treat national minorities .
texts of agreements forwarded by the Council : see Minutes
this report would send out an important political signal were it to be adopted as presented .
we therefore need to make it clear that the interests of jobs in industry in Europe must take priority in the trade agreements .
the Treaty of Lisbon is also a major step towards increasing the involvement of national representative democracies in the European process .
achieving the goals set out in them will require money and political will .
I am rather concerned that the climate negotiations could suffer the same fate as the Doha negotiations , which are constantly being postponed year after year .
according to reports from Amnesty International and the UNHCR , people are sent back to their countries of origin without any form of investigation .
joint - whom do I have in mind ?
this is where citizens , through their activities , participate in the democratic process , and volunteering facilitates this important process .
Madam President , I voted against this measure .
the creation of a tighter monitoring system and more effective punishments for the owners of animals who do not respect the welfare requirements established by law is essential , but as such measures incur higher costs for farmers , we are in favour of the compensation grants that are included in this plan and are included in the grants scheme of the new common agricultural policy from 2013 .
a proper diet is necessarily a key factor in our health , and there are still too many doubts being raised about genetically modified organisms by part of the scientific community .
systematic cooperation leads to a better exchange of information and hence an improvement in the level of service offered to our citizens in all sectors .
Macedonia can learn from more than a century of linguistic conflict in another bilingual state , Belgium , that delaying this inevitable outcome just leads to unnecessary tension .
the Executive Board of the European Central Bank requires a new member .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , Madam President-in-Office of the Council , Commissioner Verheugen , ladies and gentlemen , first of all I would like to say a huge and sincere thank you to our rapporteur from the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats , Mrs Thyssen .
during his election campaign , Mr Obama had already underlined that closing this notorious prison would be a priority .
there are , however , clear indications that overfishing does play a part .
similarly , Canada wants the right to tax shipping through an ice-free Northwest Passage .
the Court of Auditors acknowledged the progress we have made .
this recommendation relates to a draft Council decision on the establishment of an agreement between the EU and the Republic of Iceland , the Kingdom of Norway , the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein on supplementary rules in relation to the External Borders Fund for the period 2007-2013 .
that will help us make life easier both for ourselves and for the refugees .
how can the Commissioner raise awareness - I am about to finish - among her fellow Commissioners and the entities which deal with European monetary policy in terms of rebalancing ...
it will greatly enhance Europe 's capability in this area .
in cooperation with the Council - the fourth directive , about which we are talking , and which has been amended several times - Parliament has repeatedly tried to implement this .
consequently , the right directives are needed because all European countries must have the same levels of protection against discrimination .
Vice-President of the Commission . - President , honourable Members , let me first thank the Chair of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs Sharon Bowles , rapporteurs Corien Wortmann-Kool , Elisa Ferreira , Vicky Ford , Sylvie Goulard , Diogo Feio and Carl Haglund , as well as the shadow rapporteurs who all played a major part in the negotiations .
however , we oppose the minor references to the Treaty of Lisbon .
that is why the banks no longer trust each other , because no one has securities for which they take responsibility through risk .
( DE ) Mr President , my question relates to the compiled text , in other words , the consolidated version .
employment is of course important , but so are education , social security systems and a regional policy which devotes attention to neglected areas .
the Government did not respond adequately when this was uncovered .
added to this , the sums in question are basically symbolic .
the fact that Iran denies access to its nuclear facilities to the inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency constitutes a real safety risk , not only for states in its immediate vicinity , but also for the EU .
Madam President , in the case of Maria Lourdes Afiuni in Venezuela , is the issue one of combating corruption , which is the official version , or of persecuting a political opponent , which is the New York Times version reported by its correspondent , Simon Romero ?
these subjects are , without doubt , very important , but I would like to remind you of another acute Chinese problem - Tibet .
in the absence of Community legislation , in many cities achieving the goals set out in the thematic strategy on the urban environment seems a very long way off .
Mrs Jensen 's report adds a new dimension to that list : the organisation of aviation on the ground .
indeed , it does not deal with the issue of rights or the issue of the posting of workers .
moving onto the issues in this report , we know that human health is affected by animal health : 60 % of human infections originate from animals and a vast number of the emerging diseases originate in animals .
I endorsed the report , because I think that today it is essential for there to be close cooperation between the United States and the European Union in practically all areas : politics , defence , the economy , energy , the environment , culture , science etc .
competition policy is a key instrument enabling the EU to have a dynamic , efficient and innovative internal market , which is globally competitive .
we must therefore get an answer from the Commission to our questions arising from the ' Red Card to Forced Prostitution ' campaign .
I feel that in the future the European Union and its Member States will have to consistently support the principle of territorial integrity for all states and actively discourage separatist tendencies .
this means that we , the 27 Member States , must act together .
for this reason , it is no surprise that we are interested in such matters and devote so much attention to them .
what is the Council 's position on this new information and these trials , and what explanations can it furnish ?
( Parliament approved the motion )
the road to this point has also been bumpy and full of obstacles , but as we stand here today it is in recognition of the fact that we can no longer allow matters simply to take their course .
we appealed to Kenyan leaders to try and answer the doubts about the regularity of the elections , but first of all to establish a dialogue and find a political solution .
fortunately , we are not starting from scratch .
this is something we can discuss , but I can tell you that from my point of view , from my consultations , they now believe that they should commit to reaching that goal first .
introducing minimum wages will prevent the poorest countries from competing .
discipline is vitally important and central bank independence is vitally important , I agree .
they need to implement full disclosure of interest in planning decisions , which , at the moment , just provide income for officials .
anyone who promotes human rights and democracy in China runs the risk of being declared a criminal and a separatist .
we agree .
an awareness of the massive potential for improvement that new technologies can offer us , both in terms of efficiency and effectiveness , necessarily involves abandoning the ways we worked in the past .
this is the meaning of the joint declaration that Germany and France decided to make in Deauville before the meeting of the G20 and the European Council .
it would be very important to know which countries are blocking it , while allowing themselves to make huge profits from people 's blood and tears .
in fact , at the present time women outnumber men at university and also obtain better results .
how do we get Europe out of the crisis in which it finds itself ?
I believe it is there , in this dual balance , that we have to seek the right solutions .
that is what happens when you treat with the forces of terrorism .
I understand what you are saying .
( HU ) Mr President , the debate currently going on also reflects the fact that the major reform currently being implemented in the history of the European Union and European Parliament is of such significance that we will presumably not be able to complete the task based on a single report .
all measures taken have to bear this in mind .
following on from the agreement on financial supervision , the European Parliament and the Belgian Presidency have shown that they are serious about reforming the financial system .
the ambitions of China and India will probably push this even further if we do not ultimately make a U-turn .
the Commission welcomes the recent cessation of hostilities in Gaza .
why not do so within the context of the Union for the Mediterranean ?
however , without legislative initiative on the part of the Commission , which also acknowledges the role played by minimum income , we are afraid that Member States cannot deliver on our promise to reject poverty .
Mr Pannella and I must leave our work tomorrow and hasten to Italy to try and create forms of non-violent resistance against this new form of denial of democracy .
I am not sure whether Mrs Merkel spontaneously chose the socialists in her government .
look in i2010 , look in the programmes for research , etc .
the European Parliament should make a point of including this in the proposed reform of the common fisheries policy in 2011 , which I will be urgently promoting .
against the backdrop of the current economic crisis , whose impact is especially being felt by citizens from those countries less developed economically , the recommendation made by the European Parliament for a minimum income scheme to be introduced in all Member States provides an obvious solution .
in closing I would like to thank all the shadow rapporteurs from the other groups for their extremely pleasant and constructive cooperation on this report .
I include the Chancellor of Germany among them .
( the President cut off the speaker )
if our discussions today are not followed up by concrete actions based on what we have heard here today , I fear that the declarations made by us will fall on deaf ears , mere good intentions with no real impact on misery and poverty throughout the world and in Europe .
the EIT can play an enormous role in ensuring that European innovation is once again renowned throughout the world and that European industry and researchers are a force to be reckoned with .
we will also table resolutions on Burma / Myanmar and the Democratic People 's Republic of Korea .
there are something like 300 different types of soil .
it is the only democracy in the Middle East , surrounded by a sea of dictatorial regimes .
better education guarantees a decent standard of living for the younger generation , thus improving the social and economic cohesion of the European Union .
furthermore , it is of paramount importance that the European executive tables before Parliament as soon as possible proposals for setting up a European civil protection force , based on the EU Civil Protection Mechanism .
I personally hope nevertheless that Belarus , if it does not reunite with Russia as some within the Kremlin would like , will one day enter its rightful place amongst the European family of free nations .
many miners work in the pits for their entire lives .
moreover , 19 million children are affected by poverty .
rapporteur . - ( ES ) Mr President , I wish to add the following to Article 2e .
your letter needs to state : ' we agree with virtually everything the Commissioner said ' .
in its statement of 4 March this year , the Presidency assessed Cuba 's signing of the two pacts as positive .
( PL ) Madam President , it so happens that only Poles are speaking at the moment , but we do have experience of the involvement of Poland and Polish soldiers in restoring security in Iraq .
as an evangelical Christian , it has become apparent to me , particularly over recent years , that the expression of Christian beliefs is largely deemed unacceptable in a society that wants us sanitised of any strongly held belief and where we must all believe the same or believe nothing .
I therefore believe that we should vote through this postponement today .
the debate on how to make this more evident by means of the labelling system is useful and welcome , and the report contributes certain elements and certain ideas along these lines .
a new generation has brought novelty to Egypt , but social media skills are not enough .
that is what I wished to say to you .
I agree that we need to review what the EU does , what tools we have available to us , whether we have enough , whether we need to think again about what we are able to do .
these concerns are partly environmental , but they are also at least as much political , and this pipeline can only be constructed if we find satisfactory solutions and satisfactory answers to all of these concerns .
I think that it is even one of the victims of this phenomenon because drought and floods are affecting us all in Europe with ever-increasing regularity , but their impact is felt primarily by farmers .
resolute action against the machinery of propaganda is therefore the first small step in a bid to curb the spread of terrorism among the autonomous Islamic subcultures that exist throughout Europe .
EC-Bosnia Herzegovina Stabilisation and Association Agreement - EC-Bosnia Herzegovina Stabilisation and Association Agreement ( debate )
this is the message conveyed by the common statement made by the European Parliament and the Pan-African Parliament , and I hope this message will be heard .
( HU ) Madam President , I would like to thank you for the opportunity to speak , both as the rapporteur for the 2010 Employment Guidelines and as the coordinator of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) .
the European Parliament should vote in favour of this nomination in order for it to come into effect .
in response to Mrs McGuinness , I think that this is an extremely important element , if we wish to develop a strategy for European security and presence on foreign soil .
is that correct ?
in writing . - ( DA ) Anne E. Jensen and Niels Busk have voted in favour of Mrs McGuinness 's own-initiative report on the common agricultural policy and global food security , as the majority of the report is excellent and it is only possible to vote either in favour or against .
unfortunately , a number of amendments requiring biometric data to be included in passports were adopted .
during the communist dictatorship , the people of southeast Europe living on the borders of Yugoslavia were free to travel , despite the communist dictatorship .
how can it be a problem to involve the European Parliament in a constructive dialogue on the future financial framework and the next long-term budget ?
it is difficult to disagree , and of course I accept all legal restrictions as regards MEPs , but it is difficult for me to agree with a situation where , on being sentenced to a fine in a case brought by the public prosecution service for a deliberate crime , or for being charged with such a crime , a person automatically loses their mandate to the European Parliament .
we improved the proposal in the Committee on Transport and Tourism .
as a result , wherever they are in the EU , European citizens should benefit from more efficient and cheaper communication services , whether they are using mobile phones , broadband connections to the Internet or cable television .
the Commission must haul the Serbian and Macedonian ambassadors over the carpet and demand that they take action .
the potential for biogas recovered from natural materials such as annual manure has still not been fully exploited .
the preconditions must be created for the country to be able to join the European Union , whereby it goes without saying that only the whole country can join the European Union .
how do they intend to prevent the illegal proposals from Tanzania and Zambia from being placed on the agenda in the very first place ?
I must admit that I find this quite difficult to accept .
the Commission rejects the following :
but I hope we are all clear what we are talking about when we talk about flexibility , because we must not confuse flexibility with actually doing something .
however , I am afraid the recent vote has left a bitter taste in my mouth .
part Two
the second thing we have to realise , despite all the different political views in this Parliament , is that global cooperation - not just in banking institutions , but global cooperation in other areas , in fiscal and monetary policy and in trade - has to be a very important part of how we approach the future .
I congratulate the rapporteur , Mr Moreira , for having highlighted the need to carry out periodic reviews of the list of pharmaceutical and chemical products that enter the European Union duty-free .
it seems that there is full agreement as regards another great challenge and issue , namely the capture and storage of carbon dioxide .
most stressed that they need a different kind of support from the European Union .
the bulk of the estimated reserves of minerals , oil and gas are either on the sovereign territory of the Arctic states or in their exclusive economic zones , and some of them have far-reaching plans for further exploration activities .
I would like to stress again : terrorist attacks are not directed against airlines , they are directed against states .
they do not accept euro-scepticism , the fear of Europe .
we all have a responsibility here , all three institutions , and we must act quickly .
you know the key elements of what we have been doing .
therefore , we Greens have already called for an extension of ten years to ensure the true sustainability of the investments and to create permanent jobs in the regions .
we are strongly engaged in continuing and in providing economic alternatives to opium poppy production .
in writing . - ( LT ) I abstained from the vote on this document , although the Committee responsible decided to approve the closure of the accounts of the European Railway Agency for the financial year 2009 .
it is vital that the European Union stands united on this and that the Member States cease pursuing any bilateral initiatives with Lukashenko and his regime .
I voted in favour of the entry into force of the Free Trade Agreement .
it is clear that the security situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated in the last three years .
let us continue to keep the pressure on the Burmese leadership and force them to allow the international aid agencies to carry out their work .
in writing . - We have often asked ourselves whether it is worth dedicating a year to a particular topic .
that Nobel Prize became a catalyst of change .
why is this ?
both the European Union and the Member States should provide a better model for society .
as for Syria , I am not a party to the talks that the Commission has been holding with Syria , but I have often spoken with the Syrian authorities : the fact is that they already have perhaps 2 million more inhabitants .
what will the modernisation of the Community Customs Code bring ?
( ET ) The objective of the Schengen area is freedom of movement .
in the European Union climate change is a priority issue .
but the printer companies found a way around that .
the agreement allows me to benefit from the expertise of the EDPS by consulting him in cases where the text of the Data Protection Regulation and existing case-law leave room for divergent views .
a new season of debate has begun , one that will see workers ' and employers ' representatives sitting together round a table in meetings organised by the European Commission , to promote economic growth and the greater good of all EU citizens .
climate change is challenging our views on transport , land use , waste management , building work and energy use .
given that the 27 Member States of the European Union are also members of the World Bank , we cannot claim to be without any influence on its policy .
more effective respect for fundamental rights ; better access to the courts ; more determined action against organised crime , human trafficking and terrorism ; effective management of migration - these are all areas where the Stockholm Programme should set out a series of concrete steps forward .
the reasons are obvious , and they must be spelled out .
furthermore , closer relations will only really be achieved by reducing the restrictions on border traffic , with student and pupil exchange programmes , and by facilitating the movement of researchers , investigators , artists , entrepreneurs and journalists .
after all , a coordinated policy is required in related areas , such as gender-specific prevention strategies , including in the countries these women and girls come from , and also awareness-raising measures and an evaluation of their effectiveness .
oral questions and written declarations ( submission ) : see Minutes
this would allow us to get a much clearer idea of our policy perspectives on top of the Commission 's annual work programmes .
I know that this is a project which is close to the Commissioner 's heart .
in 2008 , the Commission adopted two other initiatives .
the arrangements for political dialogue and practical cooperation with Tajikistan must be improved so as to better reflect the shared challenges faced by the region .
the Commission 's proposal on the establishment of the MEDIA Mundus programme was an excellent one .
this is the second layer of implementing the results of the consumer markets scoreboard and I believe that in the future , this one will remain as one of the strongest instruments to make our diagnosis on how the retail market is functioning , especially in this case , which is of such an important and basic interest and also very much related to services .
Monday : Mrs Roure has withdrawn her request for a brief presentation of her report on minimum standards for the reception of asylum seekers and refugees in the Member States .
for instance , we still need to move forward in eastern European countries to end state-owned domination of electricity production and to liberalise it , as we did in the distribution sector .
to me , the answer is no , for what have we noticed ?
the compromise that has finally been reached in the European Parliament represents a climbdown from the maximalist proposals that were made on the elimination of active substances , particularly from the negative implications that these proposals would have had with regard to insecticides and pesticides .
however , it is clear that , as with all significant amendments to the Treaty , a few preparatory acts are necessary for the Lisbon Treaty to enter into force .
while promoting economic competitiveness and creating jobs , the particularly important role played by SMEs must not be overlooked .
we have been at this same level since the early 1980s , and in the meantime we have not only been left behind by Japan but we are being overtaken by the Chinese , whose R & D expenditure in the economic sector is now greater than that of companies in the European Union .
a word also on the Treaty of Lisbon , which many of you mentioned : we need this Treaty more than ever , ratified by all Member States .
SOLVIT can provide an important and key addition in this respect .
12.3 million people are still victims of slavery , and more than 200 million children are forced to work .
in other words , we must restart the machine and ensure that that machine pollutes less .
for the mechanisms proposed in this new regulation to function correctly and effectively it is vital to have close cooperation between customs authorities and selected national authorities .
according to the view of the Council , this proposal is one of the most important measures in the area of transport .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , the emergency situation is teaching the European policy on asylum and immigration a serious lesson It is again evident that the EU does not have a legislative and operational framework that enables it to cope with extraordinary but not unforeseeable events , such as the events of recent months in North Africa .
however , it will do so for the first time under new principles , and will , for the first time , carry out its work in connection with the new institutions provided for by the Treaty of Lisbon .
some children are fortunate enough to receive this care from secondary care-givers like fathers , grandparents , other relatives , close neighbours - people who are committed to them and part of their life on an ongoing basis .
consumers will be able to use labels to make informed choices about buying products , also based on ethical considerations , such as health , considerations of environmental impact , human rights , and the pay and conditions of workers employed in the manufacturing of textile products .
in agriculture alone , we have 2 726 tariff lines .
concerning the funds , I did not understand the question .
extending the scope to cover holiday clubs and other similar products is a great step forward in protecting the consumer from what had previously been an easy target for the unscrupulous tout .
the policies currently being implemented are aimed not only at cleaning up the regional capital but , above all , at organising an integrated waste system involving separate collection , a reduction in the waste produced , the construction of modern facilities and the restoration of former landfill sites .
in writing . - ( FR ) I am pleased that the European Parliament approved the amendments to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Seychelles for the period 2005-2011 .
last week , more than 800 people , mostly Somalis and Eritreans , arrived in Malta in just twenty-four hours .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I would like to give you some short explanations concerning your remarks .
this support was confirmed by the vote in the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs in November last year .
Ukraine is not insignificant , it has 42 million inhabitants .
I endorse them on behalf of the PPE-DE Group : we all support the compromises .
later , I will explain the details in order to answer Mr Higgins 's supplementary question , but I must make it clear that we have launched an information campaign designed not only to promote the CE mark , but also to ensure that the products are more guaranteed , by checking for counterfeit goods .
it would be embarrassing if certain EU Member States were to lag behind Kosovo and Serbia in this respect .
once the Treaty of Lisbon came into force in December 2009 , the European Investment Bank became an instrument for supporting the European Union 's external policies , while also acting as an important partner for driving the Union 's economy .
the scientific world is divided on the subject .
( FR ) Mr President , President-in-Office of the Council , this is such a serious matter that one must rise above the dreadful arguments that I have just heard in this House , because when we talk about the media we are talking about the health of a democracy .
the next item is the one-minute speeches on matters of political importance .
through lower energy consumption , we are less dependent on imports of oil and gas and their varying prices .
there is no mention of protecting the Arctic using targets and standards .
to prevent future crises , the EU now needs to promote real changes in regulation and supervision , giving shape to a more healthy and robust financial environment .
the need for an EU strategy for the South Caucasus (
one final word , to avoid any misunderstandings .
I mean everybody 's opinions , including yours , of course .
supporting the countries of this region in their journey should be at the heart of Europe 's policy , alongside economic and trade assistance .
we live in a country which , thanks to Saint-King Stephen , was created as a tolerant , welcoming , multi-ethnic Christian community , has more than a thousand years of statehood , and has testified to its profound sense of freedom through revolutions .
we have all undertaken to apply the ' polluter pays ' principle , but this also means that those who bring the costs into being must also pay the price .
just a word to conclude : it only remains for me to hope that the appointed President , whose human qualities and political skill are well known , manages as quickly as possible to give fresh impetus to a Europe that sorely needs it .
the first condition that occurs to me is that we need to try to ensure that the mechanism is managed by the Commission as far as possible .
these measures , together with the directive , will complete the legal basis which is indispensable in providing clarity , certainty and stability to the market .
the latter is precisely what makes this country rich and what could be its contribution to the European Union .
I would have expected our fellow Member to have been firmer in terms of both the value of words and the defence of democratic principles .
Europe has over 50 million disabled citizens , and it is therefore imperative that we make every measure to improve their well-being .
as a result , ongoing changes in many sectors are required , and we are today concerned with changes in the operation of railways , and in particular with the safety of their operation .
consequently , I am asking the Commission to put forward a solution that gives the industry sufficient time to bring itself into conformity with the regulation 's requirements , without having a disproportionate impact .
but this is no time for complacency .
we all agree they need all the help they can get : nicotine replacement therapies etc .
such a blatant waste of EU money must stop .
Mrs Ojuland is right that we are being listened to , and that it is not only we who are listening to each other , but that there is also someone else who is listening to us .
( PL ) Madam President , I would like to ask whether a small correction could be made to the Amendment I tabled .
in our view , this is the wrong approach .
Mr President , Mr Leinen has covered everything else I wanted to say , so I shall focus mainly on the question of tuna .
if a vehicle transporting dangerous goods is involved in such an accident , the consequences are , of course , all the more serious .
in my own home city of Cork , local authorities and businesses are striving towards the creation of sustainable energy policies .
maybe we should think quite carefully about what happens in the Arctic .
perhaps I can briefly explain why the socialist MEPs are very pleased today .
that is why an US anti-missile system in Poland or the Czech Republic is a crucial matter of concern for the whole of Europe and all its Member States .
the second element on which our Heads of State or Government will focus tomorrow and the day after , is the future permanent crisis management mechanism .
this amendment to the Agreement on air transport between the European Union and the United States represents an excellent opportunity to develop the potential of a market that accounts for 60 % of world air traffic .
I would like to highlight the fact that European States have taken the initiative in these operations and were the first to intervene within the framework of the UN mandate , which itself was the initiative of several European States .
( PL ) Mr President , Serbia is a European country that has made considerable progress towards integration into the European Union over the last few years .
let me make two points .
we should , however , remember that there are still places in Chile which have not been reached by aid , because of the damage sustained to roads and bridges .
in the week preceding the climate change summit in Cancún , the European Parliament has adopted a resolution on the summit objectives .
the real question must be : do we intend to adopt solidarity measures at European level by safeguarding the euro area and the euro and will we eventually decide to adopt policies that serve fundamental economic , rather than just monetary , cohesion .
there are no specific recommendations and definite deadlines for implementation .
he has a good relationship with David Cameron .
since Mr Andersson and Parliament accepted my proposal not to tear up the Posting of Workers Directive until national investigations had clarified that this really was necessary , I considered that I could nonetheless vote in favour of the report .
we call on the Member States to ratify this convention so that we can be more consistent and effective in dealing with this issue that affects us all .
the exclusion of the greater part of society from the possibility of benefiting from European Schools is contrary to the objective of increasing the mobility of European citizens in our labour market .
there are important lessons to be drawn , which I will be taking up with all concerned in the time ahead .
because of the crimes against humanity , which slavery and colonialism represent , the European Union and France , in particular , now owe a moral , political and economic debt to Haiti .
and , unfortunately , the final figure is considered to be larger still .
we should seek to work with China and to tackle those issues , particularly when dealing with unsavoury governments .
the more doubtful regulators , banks , Mrs Berès - and even the European Central Bank - will have become reconciled that this is a beneficial , user-friendly service which holds no risks to the European economy .
( the President cut off the speaker )
separate collections are made in Italy and the rest of Europe .
at a time of demographic collapse , this is not only squandering the development opportunities of individual children , but also poses a social threat for the next generation .
however , we must recognise that this matter leaves a slightly bitter taste in the mouth .
the Agreement foresees joint inspections , investigations , exchange of safety data , increased cooperation and consultations at a technical level .
the third thing is mobility of workers .
these principles are also reflected in the European Union guidelines for EU policy towards third countries on torture and other forms of cruel , inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment .
as the honourable Member points out , increasing transparency in the work of the European Union is an important priority for Sweden as a Member State and as the holder of the Presidency .
culture is an important element in the sustainable development of European regions and therefore the development plans for all regions must include a cultural dimension .
there have also been several hundreds of thousands of deaths .
it is crucial to follow up on the recommendations on natural disaster prevention recently adopted here .
this led to such desperate steps as the actions of Israeli operatives who simply kidnapped Eichmann from South America so that he could be brought to court .
I address these words to the Nigerian authorities , but also to all those who consider themselves to be lords of another person 's life and death .
in writing . - ( RO ) I voted in favor of this resolution hoping that it will have a concrete impact on the situation in Georgia and on its decision to firmly continue the democratic reform , as well as on the process to consolidate EU actions in this country and , in general , in the Eastern neighbourhood .
I also know that the education must be narrowly focused on the specific requirements of a range of different groups of citizens in order to be really effective .
the animal feed chain is not somewhere to dispose of waste , and industrial waste products have no place in animal feed .
since then , nothing has happened , apart from promises and high-sounding words .
what I feel is very much lacking , however , and was not adopted from my amendments , is the financial recognition of apiculture 's effect of creating common good .
both under the standard and the reverse charge regimes , should the recipient be a final consumer , he will not be able to deduct VAT and will bear it entirely .
I would like to thank Mr Feio for his excellent work in drafting this complex report .
( applause )
however , financing should be provided from the Community budget and should not penalise small and medium-scale producers by adopting , for example , minimum aid limits .
the decline in the cultivation of protein rich crops and the replacement of domestic production by cheap imports on a massive scale may ultimately have a negative impact in the form of loss of know-how regarding actual cultivation techniques .
tying education , innovation and research into a coherent supportive policy is a vital part of a functioning knowledge economy .
the first item is the report by Mrs Hieronymi , on behalf of the Committee on Culture and Education , on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an audiovisual cooperation programme with professionals from third countries MEDIA Mundus - C6-0011 / 2009 - .
Parliament defended a strong position during the negotiations with the Council and obtained the best possible outcome for Europe 's citizens .
three years of debate have shown that there is no more room for manoeuvre and it is obvious that at second reading no further improvements will be made .
the Titanic was built to be an unsinkable ship .
this report is a little note of explanation , not an action plan .
I welcome the adoption of this report on health and veterinary inspection problems upon importation of bovine , ovine and caprine animals and swine and fresh meat or meat products from third countries .
in this current crisis we all know that , if we had made progress in the Economic Union as quickly as we have in the Monetary Union , we would be even better off today .
one of the objectives of the European Union is to expand the use of hydrogen in transportation in the near future and there should be dramatic growth by 2020 .
in order to make our strategy successful , we need to see the extent to which the structural and cohesion funds have been utilised , and whether and in which circumstances they contributed to the social integration of the Roma .
I emphasise that it is a reform .
Madam President , I have no problem at all in seeking to answer that usual nonsense from the far right of this Parliament .
this policy urgently needs serious change and correction , not only in order to make it fairer , but also if it is to be more effective , for the benefit of everyone .
at the same time , we have to say that the time is ripe - after the Lisbon Treaty has been ratified - for an era in which we can put the new Europe , this new structure that the Lisbon Treaty creates , into action .
the debate is closed .
a majority rejected these solutions and wishes to stay in Bosnia .
( SK ) Commissioner , thank you for your competent reply and congratulations to the Italian authorities for their appropriate action .
the adoption of a new ambitious and balanced common position by the Union is crucial if the latter is to defend its position .
will these funds potentially be project bonds for purposes outside the Union , or will they simply be the project bonds for transport and other things that the Commissioner has mentioned ?
a move away from nuclear energy or the imposition of unrealistic requirements for this section of our energy system will not eliminate a single problem .
life expectancy in the ' old ' Member States is on average 10 years higher than in the new Member States .
I have nevertheless seen fit to back some amendments modifying the initial draft , particularly those relating to 2011 as the date for the scheme 's entry into force .
however , there are motives which arouse a certain concern , linked to the danger of the Moldovans ' enthusiasm waning .
in writing . - I voted for this report , which proposes a range of improvements to the transparency of the CAP .
do you not think that it is time to pay attention to social sustainability ?
I think we all have the same view on this .
we are independent to deliver price stability to 330 million fellow citizens .
also , on 11 March 1990 , the Congress of Estonia , a democratic , provisional parliament , adopted a declaration of reestablishment of the state after 50 years of Soviet occupation .
the next item is the report by Mrs Kauppi , on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs , on the tax treatment of losses in cross-border situations .
the establishment of the International Climate Protection Fund for the poorer countries has gone extremely badly .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( DE ) Mr President , President-in-Office of the Council , ladies and gentlemen , in December 2006 the Commission proposed fully integrating the partners in the European Neighbourhood Policy into the implementation of certain policies and into a series of Community programmes .
on behalf of the EFD Group . - Madam President , in the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs on 22 November last year , the rapporteur said that pensions were exclusively a competence of the Member State .
one important change in relation to the present situation is the plan to finance Europol from the Community budget and give the staff the status of EU official .
for us , it is important to draw the right line between what is right and what is abuse and to proceed in such a way as to show , and to prove , that for us the right ends where and when the abuse starts .
the Member States are required to ban any obstacle to their incorporation and business and to safeguard their right to a fee for their ' services ' , in other words , the ransom for their slave trade .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( SV ) Madam President , there is general agreement in the EU that we need to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases in order to stem climate change , but this must not lead to a bureaucratic society without freedom and dynamism .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the financial crisis has made it clear that the financial market framework of the European Union must be revised .
I suggest that we start with the Commission and then proceed to the debate , and that Mrs Yade be given the floor in due course .
I would like to thank the rapporteur , Mrs Thomsen for a very far-reaching report .
the next step is to reduce by 70 % the disproportion in mortality from cancer among Europeans being treated for these conditions .
10 .
this action is immoral , perverted and bizarre , because it essentially constitutes a pre-election campaign .
written explanations of vote
Lingering disputes have a negative effect on the business community and on end consumers on both shores of the Mediterranean .
we need a clear European external agenda in order for the EU to be able purposefully to promote a global policy based on multilateralism .
they help improve shared management , and that also means structural funds .
I do believe that sport should and can become part and parcel of the strategies for sustainable development of our regions , municipalities , cities and villages with the EU assistance .
well , that time has come , because the mass movement has now hit the European Union .
as Mrs Ayala Sender has said , they help to minimise transport congestion .
Mr President , once more we have preened ourselves in this Parliament on our green credentials , and speakers have competed to push higher and higher the unrealistic targets for energy from only renewable sources and the targets for reductions of CO2 emissions - all in the belief that by our puny but costly efforts , we will save the planet .
the work of the relevant committees underlines the importance of taking account of these connections and , on that basis , analyses the possible actions .
their disappointing response has been imbalanced and unjust .
Mr President , many in the House have today congratulated the Irish people on their good sense in rejecting the appeals of Nigel Farage and the UK Independence Party and voting overwhelmingly in favour of the Lisbon Treaty .
at present , thousands of Iraqis , Kurds , Afghans and Georgians are collecting in Turkey and trying to enter the European Union en masse .
under the proposed mechanism , the EU would be able to issue debt to finance emergency loans to a euro area member in distress .
1 .
a speedier introduction of the euro in these countries would reduce these costs and create stability .
it has already been established that Cancún will not produce a legally binding post-2012 framework .
what matters now is implementation .
( NL ) Like other speakers , I am terribly shocked that it has been possible for hundreds of thousands of litres of crude oil to gush into the sea for weeks on end without us managing to stop it .
is it not very strange that we are trying to combat smoking and at the same time are funding tobacco production with European tax revenue ?
President Sarkozy has been a musketeer for Europe in the best French tradition , and he has brought the musketeer motto up to date by saying that the world needs a strong Europe and that Europe is not strong if it is disunited .
Parliament is showing weakness rather than strength by resorting to such legal manoeuvres .
as you have said , Minister , all this means the possibility , particularly for the young generation in these Balkan countries , of participating much more in European life , of integrating into it , and we think that all of this can be extremely beneficial , both for these countries and for our Europe .
I am afraid that this will not be possible through this procedure .
my third point concerns climate change and energy targets .
as a result , around 230 000 people met a tragic death .
I cannot support this approach and believe that the Member States must be allowed to retain a right to refuse different preparations even if countries nearby have given them the green light .
in writing . - ( EL ) The report on the common immigration policy takes a positive view of the monopoly-friendly immigration policy of the EU and the European Parliament 's contribution to it .
communication with citizens during the ratification process - whatever method for ratification is chosen - as outlined by the European Council in June , is also vital .
the Commission is a very strong supporter of the Global Fund to fight AIDS , Tuberculosis and Malaria .
you are therefore going to give a one-off payment of EUR 1 000 to farmers who are now losing EUR 100 to 200 per day .
we need to practise the right sort of forest policy , forests in mountain ranges need to be protected , and forests with the right species of tree should be planted , so that their root systems can absorb water , ensuring that it does not drain away too quickly .
it is low carbon and it can provide a secure supply .
( ES ) Madam President , in order to mitigate the social and energy impact and to ensure secure energy reserves , we have tabled three amendments in plenary with the following aims : firstly , for the overall volume of aid per year to diminish , but with no percentage limit or limit per business .
ladies and gentlemen , I firmly believe that if we want to act in the interests of the citizens of the EU , we should invest in research , development and education in the field of nuclear energy .
I should like to congratulate him on a job well done .
you , or somebody , decided that the previous debate would be allowed to trespass on Question Time .
the science says that two degrees means rich countries must reduce their CO2 emissions by 40 % .
however , such crises recur again and again .
the solution after the fire alarm activities are passed is more trade , more harmonization , functioning internal market with goods and even more with services .
I am really proud of the compromise adopted by a vast majority in the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs .
we have before us a climate protection programme which suggests that the Bali conference never happened , as if Europe had never positioned itself as a key pioneer to avert the dangers of climate change at global level .
instead of calling a spade a spade , the report only ' stresses the importance of ... ' , after the rejection of any concrete figures , benchmarks and deadlines .
otherwise , patients ' rights , as defined by the European judges , would be undermined .
( the President cut off the speaker )
as a Swede , I would like to take the opportunity to highlight the municipality of Södertälje , south of Stockholm .
we do have rural development , but often this does not benefit areas such as food production , but rather those such as the building of roads .
what is certain , and is also mentioned in the Commission communication , is that Europe does not lack in potential , whether human , technical , commercial or financial .
( PT ) Madam President , on a subject which is vast by nature , I want to make just two brief points here .
the development of tourism must be sustainable ; in other words , it must respect local communities and environmental protection .
we were told that in the last three years , and particularly since the introduction of a port state control scheme for the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission in May 2007 , there has been a huge reduction in IUU fishing in the area .
recycling is now ' the thing to do ' .
I believe the EFSA should continue to guarantee scientific excellence and independence , meaning there is a need for measures relating to the declaration of interests by EFSA staff and experts working for the EFSA .
it needs to be demonstrated that this is the case , because this will help to ensure the added value I spoke of .
the Euratom Treaty must be revised .
to avoid such exploitation at national level , we have put forward the idea of defining an adequate pension at European Union level .
that is rare enough to be worthy of note .
I trust all the institutions will keep up the momentum .
we , Parliament , called for such coherence in the field of the environment and other policies in the recent report on biodiversity in the European Union ; similarly , we must also mainstream biodiversity at international level .
the European Parliament also needs to keep this debate going with the Council and the Commission , so that they might raise the issue of this case and demand a fair trial .
( LT ) First of all , I would like to thank those fellow Members who contributed to the drafting of this resolution , and I would also like to thank the Member of the Commission who gave us much hope and joy with his announcement today of the measures that the Commission intends to take .
our group collaborated closely with the rapporteur , tabling these and other amendments , and I believe that on the whole we have achieved a report of which this Parliament can feel proud .
the Socialist Group is therefore asking the Commission to carry out an environmental impact assessment of the effects of scrapping the set-aside scheme .
it recognised that this is not an abstract economic debate , but a crisis that affects Europeans , their livelihoods and their well-being .
that is why I strongly reject the report .
I shall describe this to you .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , first let me tell you how impressed I was by the clear demonstration of solidarity and by the calls for responsibility from most of the speakers .
it is a strategic bridge that links Europe with the area of the Caspian Sea , Central Asia and the Middle East , as well as Southeast Asia and China .
the timing is particularly appropriate with a sharp increase being noticed in the number of political and humanitarian crises in the world , which gives rise to the need for the European Union to deploy its foreign policy instruments more effectively so as to ensure better use of its leverage in international organisations and to take the lead more effectively in resolving current and future international crises .
we are now at a time in the European Union when we can say ' back to work , Europe ' ; let us go back , let us work , let us operate .
that is why the European Parliament has wanted to reiterate how much increased investments in education and training are needed .
for this , we need comprehensive strategies , strong international organisations and the rule of law both within countries and between them .
( NL ) First of all , I should , of course , like to thank the rapporteurs , Mr Grosch and Mrs Ţicău , for the work they have done and for the fact that they eventually managed to thrash out a compromise on the package , one that should not last for more than a few years at the most , as it is merely a transitional measure , in my view .
above all , you mentioned everything you are hoping to do in terms of development , humanitarian action , the fact that justice must be done and that we must not sell the International Criminal Court short .
the emergence of new technology should also be used to ensure that it is easier for more people to use the internet , in more societies .
if the European Union regulates the income of airports , this should not be in order to safeguard the profits of these companies or to limit airlines ' costs , and nor should it be in order to strengthen aviation by offering passengers the lowest possible fares .
we offer our help in doing this .
withdrawing DCM from general circulation therefore seems to be the most sensible and responsible solution .
by doing that he is laying the foundations for an international mechanism to keep the peace and particularly for an international debate about the future status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia , and he is dissociating himself , and rightly so , from the recognition by Russia of the independence of these two separatist regions .
I certainly agree with the rapporteur as far as that goes .
I would also like to say that it is necessary for the Commission and this Parliament to consider the importance , in the last analysis , of making those countries from which these immigrants come - such as Libya in the case of Italy - pay .
so let us base our criticism on facts and not take unfair records against the Chinese .
that is why we must make a commitment and why I become so heated about this issue , which , I repeat , I consider to be a priority in the transport sector and a crucial aspect of my duties .
however , you will not achieve credibility if you negotiate everything behind closed doors and then try to console people by saying that it will not be so bad after all .
on the other hand , I am advocating a responsible approach in the area of work permits for legal migrants : we must think about it properly and we must choose qualified employees for the employment sectors most in need .
such a change should involve Europe and the EU should be looking to strengthen the EU-US partnership , especially when addressing global challenges such as climate change and poverty .
emigration must be a choice and not a necessity .
in future , international engagements should , in fact , be assessed for how sensible they are and their benefit to the EU .
agricultural producers would never have been able to comply with complex health regulations , HACCP and traceability , and would therefore have been forced to purchase from real feed factories the foodstuffs that had been made on the farm for centuries .
following this piece of legislation - if it goes through tomorrow - our consumers should be assured that nothing from the commercial hunt will be sold on Europe 's market .
Commissioner , I still think you can do more for simplification .
however , they receive only the leftovers of the EU 's agricultural subsidy pot .
what are the causes of the crisis ?
we must all take steps to retain jobs in our home countries .
my request to the Commission is therefore as follows : of course , we must continue to assist Haiti , but , in particular , we also need to invest in the political infrastructure .
thank you also to the rapporteur , in your Bavarian costume .
I declare resumed the session of the European Parliament adjourned on Thursday , 23 September 2010 .
these organisations are particularly important for actively creating and developing modern technologies and ensuring economic development and modernisation , while , at the same time , creating new jobs .
in this respect , I would call for a new phase of targeted political and future-oriented work , notably through the creation of a European IGF involving the national parliaments and local authorities : a European forum implemented by 2009 and perhaps a world forum in Europe thanks to Lithuania 's application for 2010 .
I support the idea that better coordination , coherence and synergy between the Seventh Framework Programme and the Structural and Cohesion Funds may also improve the participation of currently under-represented Member States .
moreover , we note that the parties to the GFCM are required to ensure full implementation of agreed measures from the date set by the GFCM .
EC / Ukraine agreement : short-stay visas ( vote )
the Commission accepts this amendment .
my first point is the question of the European Union 's special monitoring mechanism for textiles , which ended , as mentioned , on 31 December 2008 .
following the Laval judgment , we in Denmark are now implementing a change to the law , agreed with both sides of industry .
there are issues on which we have different positions , but I honestly believe that last week 's summit in Nice confirmed that it is better to engage with Russia than try to isolate it .
the usual task of the European Judicial Network in civil and commercial matters , as you said , is to facilitate this legal cooperation in Europe .
we are talking here of a generation which has not known a world without AIDS .
the report by the High Representative , Mr Solana , and the Commission on the security aspects of climate change realistically presents the situation and the risks facing the European Union .
we must also bear in mind , of course , that the rules have been formulated very broadly and that a great deal is left to the Member States ' discretion .
whether we want to or not , we still have to consider the real situation which brings us new challenges every day .
in relation to development policy , we have repeatedly pointed out that it makes no sense at all to maintain two complete systems running in parallel - one for the European Development Fund and one for development aid .
the Commission 's recent proposals , especially the health check , also address disadvantaged areas like mountain areas .
in December 2008 , it was agreed that the European Council would take the appropriate legal measures to ensure we have one Commissioner per country .
on 16 December , exactly 28 years ago , strikers were killed in the Wujek coal mine by the Polish communist police because they fought for solidarity ; that is , for basic human rights , for dignity .
it is only the money of people who are now struggling to pay their mortgages and educate their children .
Member of the Commission . - Solar-thermal electricity was never excluded from the European Economic Recovery Plan .
I therefore believe that , on the contrary , we now need a real recovery plan like the one being introduced by the United States , which has put more than USD 780 million on the table , and coordination of the efforts made to support workers coping with the crisis .
I am very happy to see how far the reform has progressed .
thirdly , let us remember that Moscow does not restrict itself to turning off the tap , as Georgia discovered .
continuing with old programmes and designing new programmes has to be given in-depth scrutiny .
in writing . - ( PT ) In 2006 I fought hard for the establishment of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund .
we were perhaps hoping to have achieved a result already in an unofficial trialogue .
if we are to establish a uniformly high level of protection throughout the EU , we must be able to introduce a number of elements quickly .
we must accept the difficulties that we are facing ; the scientific evidence is now overwhelming .
we have to force China to accept its share of the responsibility for development policy , poverty reduction and sustainable growth .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( NL ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , Commissioner Verheugen has reminded us of a number of very important elements in connection with today 's topic : firstly , that trade between the United States and the European Union is worth USD 3 billion a day .
do you agree that , in order to properly implement and make visible the adoption of corporate social responsibility , sanctions as well as incentives would be necessary ?
( PL ) Mr President , the European Union 's approach to energy issues is full of inconsistencies .
however , this should not mean that the Member States thin down their health systems - something that the text also states .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I will try to respond to some of the questions raised .
when the dust settles , I hope colleagues will agree with me that a two-speed Europe is not the answer but the beginning of the end of our Union , the most successful democratic peace project of our time .
what we need , therefore , is for all the European political groups that are in power to work together .
the vote will take place on Wednesday , 20 October at 12 : 30 .
the EU 's position on world markets will , in future , be greatly influenced by the success of innovations and the speed of innovation cycles .
there really is no excuse not to stress-test the banking book .
however , like other types of insecure and atypical employment , temporary work has seen structural growth over the last few years , and this development was estimated at almost 60 % over the last five years .
it is by eradicating the plague of unlawfulness that we can open up to what is acceptable and tolerable , including in numerical terms , in other words regular , clean and transparent immigration .
finally , thirdly , within the EU budget , there should be a joint budget for joint action .
labelling must be unambiguous and provide clear information to enable citizens to make their choice according to their own conceptions .
I said clearly that we , as the Presidency , will consult the European Parliament immediately after the elections .
Saturday 's torch march against the Roma in Hungary is the latest evidence of this , and I would hereby like to call on the Hungarian Government to draw the conclusions from this .
in writing . - Guidelines were adopted as part of the renewed Lisbon Strategy in 2008 and shall remain valid until 2010 .
I would also like to remind you that 2010 will be the European Year of the Fight against Poverty and Social Exclusion .
moreover , as Mr Titley has already said , the existence of high administrative costs is obviously something that depends mainly on the Member States , and in my view not enough attention is being paid to these factors .
I hope that I will continue to have your support and understanding in the future .
thank you .
there is very little evidence of this in practice , however .
in relation to the matter in hand , I can firmly state that my party and my government fully support the compromise proposed by our rapporteur , to which I made a substantial contribution .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( HU ) Thank you , Mr President .
in the context of better implementation of environmental policy , would you be prepared to make the existing recommendation binding ?
therefore , I am calling for measures such as interventions or export subsidies not to be abolished altogether but to be included in the budget with a figure of zero .
this regulation on transitional technical measures resulted from the lack of agreement in 2008 on the draft regulation aimed at simplifying and clarifying Community rules on the conservation of fisheries resources .
he says that , as part of this package , the Commission should be tasked with screening budgets before they are approved by national parliaments .
situation in Albania ( debate )
of course the European Parliament cannot wave a magic wand and bring this conflict to an end , but I assure you that it will put human rights at the heart of the review of Israel 's status , which will be debated throughout this year .
the proposed text was positively received by the Council and the Commission .
consequently , it will be quite right to focus precisely on these two countries in our common foreign policy .
I would like to familiarise you with an unprecedented case in Bulgaria , which demonstrates how the authorities restrict the opportunity of thousands of children to receive education and achieve something better in their life .
European agriculture is simply sacrificed , and will soon be handed over to market forces alone ; a rigged market , too , for it has been left defenceless against imports and denied access to export markets .
we in Europe want to eat wholesome food , from our region : good , fresh milk , milk that I obviously drink .
what does this mean in specific terms ?
I am aware of and appreciate the legislative efforts made by Montenegro in this area , but it is most important that they should gradually be given greater practical force .
all this undoubtedly is of concern to the international community .
in the short term , we can focus on minimising food waste , decreasing dependence on imports , reducing or stabilising demand , and establishing regulatory mechanisms on the market in order to prevent speculation .
firstly , in the case of Europeana , we cannot allow a reduction in quality . this is something about which we should be careful during this project .
this is also a suitable instrument to bust the myths about lobbying which are circulating amongst the general public , whose common interest we , as members of the European Parliament , are promoting .
this could take some time .
we should of course focus our efforts on helping the most underdeveloped regions to catch up through Objective 1 .
why is it that , in a Parliament committed to openness and transparency , our own authorities keep secret embarrassing reports which reveal the fraudulent practices of Members ?
several have also been asking for an impact assessment on fundamental rights , an impact study on privacy and an impact study on the acquis communautaire .
for me , however , the issues of transparency and measurable results remain doubtful .
in writing . - ( PT ) I voted in favour of the report on discharge of the budget of the European Medicines Agency for the financial year 2009 , since it contributes to scrutiny of how funds are used by the European institutions .
I can well imagine what consequences this would have for food quality as well .
( applause )
if we care about consumers ' concerns , then we should be transparent all the way and give them a real choice .
I look forward to hearing your answers .
today , we voted on the motion for a resolution drafted by my Slovenian colleague Mr Peterle , of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) , on the fight against cancer .
we need to reduce amounts of waste in landfill and incineration .
small farms in Europe need the support of the EU , so that they can continue to exist within the EU 's wage structure .
we believe that the monitoring of the agreement is inadequate and that the agreement does not take due account of the environment in relation to the overfished stocks .
it can give an important fillip in terms of supporting the economic and social reforms required long term .
this is Orwellian Newspeak and it is unacceptable .
it has not been possible to rely on previous information concerning how much money is needed .
therefore , in my capacity as Member of this Parliament , I voted in favour of this report .
we must therefore start contemplating a policy of broad climate change knowledge from above , in combination with a policy operated from below , in industry , in economic sectors , in agriculture , in our various territories , to allow each country to draw up its own project in line with the general project .
there is no objective analysis of what is required by the subsidiarity principle .
this is the way to convince people .
I think it 's a bit upsetting to see so many countries running away from giving their people an opportunity ' .
Hamas opposes a two-state solution , rejects the right of existence of the State of Israel , has taken power by means of a brutal coup against its own people , fires rockets at civilians , and uses civilians , schools and mosques as human shields .
regarding the draft agreement between the European Union and the US on personal data protection in relation to the transfer and processing of data within the framework of police and judicial cooperation , we should ask one fundamental question : whether both sides have a balanced interest in the agreement .
to that end , for the plenary vote we have retabled a set of amendments to facilitate the procedure for products that are similar to foods or ingredients already existing on the market and where the authorisation procedure has already started under the old Regulation .
even so , we will act properly , and we will accordingly approve the resolution , with all its drawbacks , and as for everything else , we have missed an opportunity , but rest assured that we will be there at the next meeting , because the debate on the perspectives is not over .
I had prepared a lot of other things to say , but I must point out that we have certainly not achieved all we can here .
there is no doubt to me that we have got to do two things .
this means breaking apart the private monopolies which exist in the nuclear industry , providing a massive injection of funding for renewables and localising energy production .
finally , I would like to commend the willingness of our Commissioner , Mrs Reding , the technical cooperation between the Commission services , the Secretariat of the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy , and the legal and language experts from the two joint legislators who enabled us to produce a quality text .
but there is a limit to the reduction of the level of irregularity that can be achieved by improving the effectiveness of supervisory and control systems .
Croatia needs to focus , in particular , on the further reform of its judiciary and public administration , the fight against corruption and organised crime , respect for minority rights including refugee return , as well as war crimes trials and full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia .
this is a major challenge which is connected with the increasing expectations of the public in this area , the ageing population in Europe and the constant advances in medicine and medical science generally .
I do not want to irritate you just now by reviewing this great and still relevant film in even more detail , but the uncontrolled access to all passenger information of all people worldwide for the purpose of profiling and nothing else has been going on in the USA at least since 11 September 2001 .
( it ) Mr President , I would just like to say that today 's episode clearly shows that the recasting agreement does not work and that it will affect our powers as a sovereign authority .
the information is intended to provide a basis for analysing the demand for drugs and ways of reducing it , as well as phenomena associated with the drug market in general .
there is a list , Commissioner , which you know of , which still needs to be answered and we need these questions to be answered , preferably in this debate .
so much is still to be done because the country has lived purely off oil .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the full extent of the instability sensed on the global financial markets is not yet clear .
so if the next cycle of the Lisbon Strategy is to succeed , we need to go further than merely diagnosing Europe 's problems , we need to start treating them by applying a process of clear governance .
lastly , the food crisis , which has recklessly been blamed on Spanish products , has led to unfair penalties and huge losses for those penalised by the Eurovignette : freight carriers and prime crop farmers .
to this end , we must go further than current emergencies dictate .
with less public money , more will have to be done ; hence , public money , both European and national , will have to be used more efficiently .
what is this resolution about ?
this is a bad signal for the recovery of growth and employment in Europe , in general , and for European citizens , in particular .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , representatives of the Commission , we welcome the impartial and independent investigation of , and the subsequent report on , the 2008 conflict in Georgia , conducted by the International Fact-Finding Mission headed by the Swiss diplomat , Heidi Tagliavini .
we need to change our agricultural policy , which must become more environmental in nature .
this refers to bakeries , butcheries , fruit and vegetables shops and , mainly , to market stands .
Nord Stream , Depal - it looks like all pipelines from Russia lead over the heads of central European countries .
I will give one example .
written declarations included in the register ( Rule 116 ) : see Minutes
moreover , exchanges of pupils and students would be facilitated by multilingual education .
it offers a strange contrast to the resolution which was adopted this morning on Christian minorities .
on the Senate , many of you were talking about tomorrow 's vote .
for some reason that rule seems not to apply to Turkey .
I am , however , fully aware of the Presidency 's difficult task of reaching a consensus within the Council , certainly now a number of Member States are using the financial crisis to weaken efforts in the areas of climate change and energy .
this includes examples where there has been very good cooperation at the local authority level with the Roma living in these settlements , and we also saw good examples where local politicians had made a real effort to resolve the situation to the benefit of the Roma .
to do this , we will have to adjust our relations with Russia following the crisis in the Caucasus .
if the relatives oppose the organ removal , then their view will be respected .
as further proof of their ' brainwashing ' by pressure groups , they have also rejected Article 9 , which simply refers to one of the reforms to the common agricultural policy already decided on , namely the end by 2010 of direct production-linked subsidies for tobacco growing .
my country , Lithuania , is a case in point .
it would create incentives for higher and unjustified claims to be made .
the report advocates the adoption by the multinational enterprises of the best practice for editorial and journalistic freedom in each country where they operate .
under this system , VAT invoicing rules will be simplified thanks to the increased harmonisation of European requirements and the widespread use of electronic invoicing .
in writing . - ( SV ) Explanation of vote concerning the proposal on population and housing censuses .
this makes it all the more important for us to promote innovation , which can counteract these problems by providing creative ideas and solutions .
this is the system most widely used among such systems available to the developed countries .
I am talking about information that all those who manage waste need to know .
I am especially worried about the Ashraf opposition camp , which has been under siege and under pressure since July 2009 .
what would be the right course of action at a time like this ?
I welcome the Action Plan for Energy Efficiency ( and I supported it with my vote ) for many of the reasons stated here .
of course it is a major criminal threat , but so are drug smuggling , people trafficking and corruption .
Mr President , along with the approaching winter season , the threat of a new gas crisis is emerging from the east .
what has happened to these intentions ?
ultimately , the suspected oil and gas reserves to be found there could guarantee Europe 's energy independence .
the Caucasus is known to be an energy transit region in the same way as Russia , which is an important strategic partner and of major significance to us .
moreover , it is true that , thanks to the Swedish Presidency , the roadmap was adopted by the Council on 30 November 2009 .
our interpretation of Article 290 is that this gives the Commission the opportunity to supplement or amend legislation .
the line between foolishness and crime in human action is often a grey one , and it seems to me that the EU is today giving us another example of that .
in June , Mrs Merkel demonstrated a combination of courage , responsibility and political will .
this report takes no cognisance of hazard or risk ; it cannot identify between the two of them .
( the speaker agrees to answer the question of another Member , in accordance with Rule 149 ( 8 ) of the Rules of Procedure )
time does not permit me to read them all out , but the list will be forwarded to the honourable Member .
we will need to examine whether the 8 % late payment interest rate is adequate ; Parliament would have liked it to be 9 % .
a sine qua non for the European Union in addressing all these issues is to ensure that the same standards of regulation , the same checks and balances , and the same stringent enforcement applies to products coming in from third countries as to our own producers within the European Union .
it involves other requirements , such as the labelling issue .
Sea piracy ( debate )
another important part of the report is certainly the fact that it speaks of the ethnic cleansing on South Ossetian territory in the Georgian villages .
I think that increasing the volume of lending by the amount which the report mentions is a very ambitious objective .
this will all be passed on to the competent authorities .
that is a major and most important step forward .
in order for such action to succeed , it is necessary , first and foremost , to adopt an integrated approach in the most varied of areas .
we talk about effectiveness in terms of the rapid alert systems , the close monitoring of the development of the pandemic and actual virus itself , as well as the assessment of the effectiveness of the preventive and curative measures adopted in the countries where the pandemic first occurred , which are all vital elements in preparing and adapting our own responses .
although this report contains some good proposals , it cannot fulfil the specified aims .
I voted in support of this report despite some misgivings and concern with the overall thrust of the report .
the Commission has asked the parties involved to submit contributions on the topic of the Green Paper before 20 May 2011 .
we must simplify and give responsibility to the Member States and then they must come here to face up to the consequences .
Mr President , Commissioner , I , too , believe that last week 's tragic accident is the worst rail disaster to have hit Belgium since 2001 , when I myself held the post of Minister for Mobility and Transport .
let us help those who are looking to us today to give them a better life , a life that will restore to them their freedom , their security and , above all , their dignity .
vocational education and training measures are absolutely essential for turning the European economy into a knowledge economy , in line with the Europe 2020 strategy objectives .
the liberalisation of sectors of strategic importance and the commercialisation of environmental protection promote the green economy as one of the larger investment outlets for monopolistic capital .
however , he takes such an interest in the problem of Lampedusa that he has already left the House - a House that ought to express its gratitude for the generous welcome accorded in recent years by the citizens of Lampedusa .
well , just look at the present situation , reinforcing , as it does , this appeal from the European Parliament to the Commission and Council .
that can be quickly decided on Thursday afternoon .
we have twice held informal negotiations with the Council to come to an agreement .
I think the results of the elections have something to do with our behaviour and let us hope that we can have a government in Serbia that will look to the European perspective of Serbia .
we will be discussing the issues of combating climate change , finding ways to lead the EU out of the financial and economic crisis , promoting energy security and dealing with the problem of illegal migration .
congratulations to everyone .
there are highly diverse views on this point .
( FR ) Mr President , President of the Commission , the employment situation in Europe is very worrying , as my fellow Members have just pointed out .
however , as I understand it , the proposed sentencing tariff for reoffenders will , unfortunately , remain low .
well done , ladies and gentlemen !
it is true that the disagreement that I referred to in my question may have been partially corrected ; however , it is still the case that the Danish aviation authority does not permit SAS planes to take off before they have resolved the technical problems , while other aviation companies are actually using planes which have these technical problems .
the practices in question typically entail luring businesses , as well as professionals and non-profit entities , into being listed in a business directory free of charge , although signatories later discover that they have signed up to a contract with a fee .
the proposal does not specify the conditions for admitting third-country nationals .
this is an opportunity for us to lessen the environmental impact of the air transport industry and at the same time to reduce the noise nuisance for the more seriously affected residents .
the majority of public workers are women .
as far as partnership agreements in the fisheries sector are concerned , I would remind the House that , following the Council 's conclusions in July 2004 , the Community has introduced a new type of bilateral agreement .
that is why we should not set macro-economic stability and rigour in contradiction or opposition to growth .
I voted against the resolution on the Small Business Act Review , put forward by the European Commission in February 2011 .
however , do you believe that equal conditions exist for wealthy international corporations , because they have to make a contribution of their own in order to obtain money from the Structural Funds or the European Social Fund , and small and medium-sized enterprises , which also want to train their people and want to have qualified employees ?
poverty affects 85 million people in Europe .
furthermore , I believe that a common asylum system will weaken the accountability of British ministers and parliamentarians to the citizens who elect them .
hopefully , substantive steps will be agreed in Cancún which should be in line with the latest developments in science in order to safeguard the survival of all nations , peoples and ecosystems .
both the Commission and the Council have now acknowledged the importance of Parliament 's involvement in the procedure .
we do not want to confuse items .
Sixthly , if I could ask you , Commissioner and Mr Bussereau , to listen to the wishes not only of the European Parliament , but also of the citizens of the Union and look at the maritime package as a single entity .
this concerns small-scale agriculture in Europe .
the financial imbalances relate to budgets and the balance of payments .
we have to take account of that , but in my view , I think that at the very least we have to have a college of European regulators .
such a concerted effort would demonstrate our determination to deliver concrete , timely responses in the face of the crisis which has shaken us all .
we wish to tell them this : come out of your bubble and try to put yourself in other people 's position .
we are , I agree .
that is why I want to stress some aspects that are , in my opinion , missing from the report in question .
take , for example , the age-old question of the indication of origin of products , the ' Made In ' label , particularly in the textile sector regulations which I have been following personally .
( PL ) Mr President , today we approved a report in which we carried out a review of the functioning of the European Union 's common market .
( it ) Mr President , the official figures say it all : 1 % of the medicines sold legally in the European Union are falsified .
this was politically well-attended and discussed the developments in this respect and also future prospects .
we have passed too much legislation and waited too long , but the results are not very good .
the fourth issue is that of the deadline : of course we will be flexible in this regard .
Commission and governments have just one obsession : to reassure them .
( FR ) Mr President , I beg your pardon , but I am undoubtedly the victim of a secret lobby .
it gives the new supervisory authority more powers and - something that is completely new - it gives ESMA the power to punish non-application of the regulation .
this week we launched the Covenant of Mayors , in which more than a hundred cities are now participating .
once we get an end to the violence , we have to work to support the emergence of a new Libya with democratically chosen leaders and where people 's rights are respected .
it is important to map these areas because it might be too late if we leave this too late .
the existing procedure must be simple so that states and beneficiaries can gain easy access to it .
I have not , however , received any signals concerning this problem of road safety that school buses is an issue that is badly handled .
this is the challenge for us , the European Parliament , just as it is for other European institutions .
the opportunity should also be taken to apply the rules on unfair terms to all negotiated contracts which contain unfair terms , even if they have been individually negotiated .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Madam President , I would like to thank my colleagues who have already contributed .
the Belarus resolution passed last year emphasised the need for a firm and conditional , yet positive policy .
that is why the Commission seeks to intensify its efforts so that EU citizens and their families can truly enjoy the rights guaranteed under current European law .
President-in-Office of the Council . - Mr President , access to affordable pharmaceutical products in poor developing countries and LDCs is essential to attain the proposed EU development goals and would contribute to poverty reduction , increase human security and promote human rights and sustainable development .
however , this report endorses the ' active promotion of the European Union 's agricultural interests ' , free trade areas and trade agreements between the EU and Chiquita or Dole .
the current negotiations relating to the post-2012 obligations of developed countries that signed the Kyoto Protocol will continue .
the EU has been trying for years , with funding and know-how , to release the country from its agony , but the results are not overwhelming .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , Pakistan is a vital ally for the European Union .
therefore , people must now be persuaded from an early age to live a healthier life - in which exercise is one of the main components - and obviously the proper infrastructure and sports opportunities must be ensured for them .
now let us leave it to the Committee on Legal Affairs to give its verdict .
the Commission also carries out public consultations on its legislative plans .
with the goal of protecting children , we also obtained an interinstitutional agreement , concluded between the three institutions , to develop a common position on the adoption of the necessary rules to protect children against abduction and trafficking .
all that is required - I know it is quite technical - is a will for better cooperation between Member States .
the Council therefore needs to improve transparency concerning the debates currently in progress and to be answerable to the citizens of Europe .
with regard to the specific issue of Anglo , is it the view of the Commission that Anglo is different to the existing clearing banks , as we call them in Ireland , like Allied Irish Banks , Bank of Ireland , Ulster Bank and so on ?
I think it is particularly important for us to make progress in terms of research , education , sustainability and strengthening economic growth .
, in writing . - We always pride ourselves on being the most open among the European institutions .
the same rules , including the right to strike , should apply in respect of companies in the country of operation and those using posting arrangements .
unemployment is increasing : when expenditure on unemployment benefits increases , the financial stimulus will increase .
with regard to the possibility of overfishing around the peripheral regions , we have been looking into this and the Council has just adopted a regulation on IUU fishing , with the European Parliament 's blessing .
ladies and gentlemen , the past week has been very eventful .
the Member States , as the shapers of their own specific conditions , must also have their place .
however , as the Commission observes , the fundamental policy has not changed .
on 24 April of this year , the European Parliament repeated this request .
( the oral amendment was accepted )
above all , let us not forget the considerable humanitarian effort that we must undertake .
over the years , the services sector has become increasingly important for the economic and social development of the European Union and has undergone substantial change .
if we do not do anything now , future generations may be able to limit the damage , but they will not be able to stop it .
I now come to Mr Deprez 's question .
the world needs more and more food , and the exponential growth in consumption will not be resolved by an agricultural policy that is increasingly mean and stingy towards European producers .
it is not only the differing views on property and belonging that made Abyei the bone of contention of a civil war that lasted for decades ; there are also the differing religions , namely the Muslim North versus the Christian and nature-based religions of the South Sudanese , who were forced together by the haphazard borders drawn up by the former colonial powers .
'We should end the practice of viewing words as crimes ' .
as I said , I cannot tell you exactly at what stage they are because they are ongoing , but they follow the usual procedure and , to answer your question , we are also having discussions with Senegal and Cape Verde .
the move to promote a European approach is evidently not aimed at weakening or competing with the central role of the United Nations .
who gets the opportunity to speak during the debate is , of course , also dependent on who is actually present .
that is why we voted in favour , although we believe that the most important thing would be to prevent these companies going bust and the jobs being lost .
it is a question of give and take , however .
the situation in the country remains very complex and chaotic , reconstruction efforts are struggling to get off the ground , millions of people are starving , and the earthquake has had a huge impact on more than 800 000 children , exposing them to the risk of violence , sexual abuse , trafficking and exploitation , The situation in the country became even worse with a political crisis following the presidential and parliamentary elections .
therefore , I believe it is important to ensure that the Directive enables patients staying at home in their own Member State to have access to proper treatment too .
at the end of 2007 , we adopted a communication on financial education to raise awareness of the need to increase consumers ' level of financial literacy , promote the provision of high-quality financial education in the European Union and provide some practical tools to help achieve these goals .
I am therefore full of hope in this regard and I have to say that , in many commentaries that we have to sit through in this Chamber - in particular from a so-called parliamentary group from the United Kingdom - the quality in this House has really suffered terribly .
recent information indicates that at least 85 underage criminals are awaiting execution in that country .
I therefore call on all colleagues in my Group , as in your Group and all the other Groups , to try to calm the situation down instead of aggravating it by statements designed for media effect , which is what I think they are .
Mrs Malmström , I would like to congratulate you on your election and your move from one bench to the other .
indeed , Europe and Russia both face the urgent need for resolute action to tackle the crisis .
the report entitled ' Progress towards the Lisbon Objectives in Education and Training ' adopted by the European Commission in 2005 clearly indicates that progress in that field had been inadequate in terms of achieving the desired outcome by 2010 .
Mr President , I am happy to say that today is the 19th day of Estonia 's membership of the eurozone , but Estonia has been preparing for this since its accession .
and , rather than being a one-off event , I also hope that it will be another milestone in an ongoing process that started well before the crisis - a process of cooperation between the Commission , the Member States and the social partners - which will go on throughout the crisis and beyond .
in writing . - As someone who has reservations regarding the long-term safety of nuclear power stations I am not entirely happy with this report .
those who take a short-term view no doubt think that democracy is costly .
therefore , it is very important for the European Union to be capable not only of responding to such challenges , but also to approach them efficiently by fast mobilization of the necessary financial instruments .
of course , the efforts to improve employability begin well before higher education .
sadly our fears of terrorist attack were proved correct .
it made me angry .
it can therefore be said that the European Central Bank has performed very well .
a lot we knew , and acted too little and too late .
there are no studies available on the social impact of the introduction of a Eurovignette in road transport .
Mr President , what we need now is stability .
however , the stability of Central Asia is in the interests of the region itself , in our interests , and in the strategic interests of the world as a whole .
no amendments .
certainly , making savings on cleaning and upkeep , for example , is one solution , but perhaps we also need more ambitious agendas than merely saving on soap .
tabled before the Council is the issue of the strategy and , at the same time , that of the infrastructure required for its implementation .
consequently , so as to be able to finance the actions linked to the EU 's new competences under the Treaty of Lisbon , I am supporting the request for the question of own resources to be examined and for new forms of Community income , in order to ease the pressure on national budgets and to do away with the belief in a ' fair return ' which is economically inaccurate and politically unsound .
children are the most precious thing that society has and it is our duty to provide them with conditions conducive to their harmonious development .
I agree with the rapporteur that the Agency must improve its budgetary and recruitment planning in order to redress the lack of consistency between its budgetary and staff forecasting , and to make progress in ensuring , as far as possible , a realistic evaluation of tenders .
I believe that this fact has to be recorded at this point as the truth will out and no progress will be made by only claiming to develop a new policy .
one of the official objectives of the European Union is to ensure an 80 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 .
the advantages of the Internet appreciated by law-abiding citizens are unfortunately exploited for criminal purposes .
I agree with the goal of providing a legislative framework for identifying and ensuring the traceability of timber products , establishing independent governmental verification procedures which certify that all timber products exported by the Republic of Cameroon to European markets have been obtained , harvested , transported and exported legally , with the aim of establishing the foundations of legal management and use in Cameroon 's timber sector , and strengthening the enforcement of forestry regulation and governance .
this part remains unchanged .
I trust that the Parliament will be supportive in this area within the MFF .
this waste contains lead , cadmium , barium , mercury , brominated flame retardants and other chemicals and plastics that become hazardous when burned .
I hope that this does not remain the case , I hope that we are successful not only in this sector , but also in the construction sector , and I sincerely hope that tomorrow , we are able to give a response that is not only coordinated and articulate , but a response to the crisis that we are experiencing .
( the House rose and observed a minute 's silence )
it should also be noted that the record industry makes a huge contribution in terms of employment and tax revenue and is a major exporter of intellectual property .
as early as paragraph 3 of the report it is established that the European Parliament sees the stability mechanism as ' part of a global package of measures which are designed to define a new framework , reinforcing budgetary discipline and coordination of economic and financial policies of the Member States ' .
under discussion here is a global agreement that goes much further than figures and quantities of goods to be traded .
why are we not creating the conditions for that capital to stay at home to create jobs and make wealth ?
first , talking about the transposition by Member States , we can say it has been poor at best .
Mr President , the eCall system in motor vehicles is a major advance in assisting emergency services to get to the scene of an accident as quickly as possible .
the more facts we know about , the better .
the Territorial Pact of Local and Regional Authorities on Europe 2020 can add to the strengthening of this contribution to the goals of intelligent , sustainable and inclusive growth .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
this could be an excellent start to making the necessary ambitious changes in the form of a joint effort by the Commission and the European Parliament and , at the same time , to developing a budget which looks to the future and is combined with greater political legitimacy .
the European Union must work in close cooperation with the United States , Canada , Norway and Russia and constantly exchange information via SEIS , Eionet and SAON .
I would just like to say to Mr Jadot : I think your pig producers in Brittany may well benefit significantly hopefully , Yannick , because pig producers across Europe are having a bad time .
that is the stick we need in order to persuade Member States rapidly to create efficient , functional airspace blocks .
let me just point out one thing .
this must be taken into consideration , in particular , in connection with the harmonisation of spectrum use in the EU .
it applies , and must of course apply , to all EU citizens .
in writing . - ( PT ) For the sake of consistency , in view of what we have said in the past and what we expect from the European Solidarity Fund , I shall clearly be voting for this resolution .
so the compromise proposed by the Commission was accepted by the Council , but not by Parliament .
however , these countries vary in terms of their economic development .
it is a welcome example of a European law which genuinely reduces red tape and embodies the principle of better law-making .
we are saying we want to do our duty .
the debate is closed .
Madam President , I stand here as a democrat and someone who believes that greater participation in the democratic process is to be encouraged .
consequently , the problem of access to water is not only a problem for developing countries , but also for developed countries . universal access to drinking water is an essential condition for the development of countries and the fight against poverty .
in writing . - ( PT ) Information from the register of activities shows that the Ombudsman received 3 830 complaints in 2006 .
controlling the export of dual-use goods is a key for the non-proliferation of arms , including weapons of mass destruction ( WMD ) .
Doyle report
in my own region of Yorkshire and the Humber , many thousands of people were affected and many are still unable to return to their properties .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , when Senator Obama became President Obama , we all heaved a sigh of relief .
so all we are doing is denying ourselves access to cheaper world market feeds , making it virtually impossible for our producers to compete and therefore we are in grave danger of haemorrhaging jobs and exporting our industry outside the EU .
I would like to make one last point which is off the record .
as it happens , I do not think that the Goldstone report is constructive in this regard .
it is of great importance that products based on new information and communication technologies are affordable to all EU citizens .
this is why we have proposed - and I would like to thank all the Members who have supported me on this point - creating what we have termed an economic dialogue , which must be proportionate .
with all measures against terrorism , the attention given to rights is often inadequate .
what can we say about the issue of working time , where the Council , under its Presidency , has once again completely undermined its talk , Mr President , about the need to bring citizens closer to Europe : because the message that has been sent out loud and clear is one of ' more work for less pay ' .
the February 2010 plenary session is today witnessing the very start of the institutional cooperation that will continue for the next five years .
those affected by human trafficking have not taken a free , informed decision about all this .
this regulation in fact allows the Community to provide information about a number of agricultural products on the internal market and on markets in third countries , while tailoring such activities to each location .
therefore , external trade policy and agreements with foreign importers must not jeopardise the EU 's ability to maintain a strong and vibrant sector .
the report also reinforces Parliament 's position in favour of new financial instruments , such as the tax on financial transactions and Eurobonds , which are an opportunity for the European economy .
of course , the European Union should continue to take steps in favour of a strategy which will bring us to a progressive agreement to promote the reduction of climate change .
there is nothing you can do to change this , but it gives Europe a negative image .
that means we need new , additional resources to tackle climate change .
Member of the Commission . - First of all , I think we can see that renewable energies and biofuels have recently been the scapegoat for increased prices within the agricultural commodities sector .
Parliament will be excluded from the process .
the report on the EU strategy on Roma inclusion lists the problems and difficulties facing Roma communities in the EU .
the Commission considers that children become dangerous at six years old and must therefore give fingerprints which are incorporated in personal passports from that age , while the European Parliament , demonstrating its ' democratic sensibilities ' , considers that children must be put on file when they are slightly older , namely at 12 years of age .
they called on the Commission to ensure that the new priorities of the European Action Plan in the area of disability contribute to the effective implementation of the UN Convention .
that , for us , is the basis of the competences of a united Europe and of future governance , European governance .
thirdly , I think it is erroneous that , although the basic purpose was to ensure free movement of medical services , the text of the directive itself concentrates , first and foremost , on movement of patients in need of non-urgent healthcare .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , with market globalisation and the severe crisis now affecting Europe , including in the agricultural sector , one possible response on the part of the agricultural market is to place emphasis on product quality .
may I conclude by making a number of points which should make your decision easier and counter the arguments of those who oppose better European firearms legislation .
to ensure that this objective is achieved , every single person needs to be actively involved and properly informed about how to protect the environment and assume their responsibility towards future generations .
but the ANC committed terrorist acts in fighting the utterly repressive apartheid state .
the countries in Africa need to be able to see that the first measures are already in progress .
people want proper , secure pensions in their old age .
it is surely important for us not to stop investing in mobility and youth programmes , such as the current Erasmus and Leonardo programmes , and the Youth in Action activities .
we urgently need to take a decision to amend the credit conditions for Greece and Ireland or we will end up destroying these countries .
the Pakistani Government 's commitment to give seats to minorities in the Senate is to be commended .
nonetheless , from this report , I feel that some of the provisions in this regulation will make a difference , will improve the application process for business and enhance consumer protection , especially on the labelling of animal-derived products .
it would be acting in accordance with its founding texts , which state that the EU should contribute in particular to sustainable development , free and fair trade and the protection of human rights .
it means that we wholeheartedly support this resolution and ask the Council and the Commission to act likewise .
before the vote on paragraph 8 :
in June , another ILO conference will take place in Geneva at which the problem of domestic work will be tackled .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
the Commission has said that farmers manage the landscape better and more cheaply than any other option we have , so let us make sure they are allowed to survive in these regions .
( EL ) Mr President , may I start by expressing my full solidarity with the fight by the trade unionists in the European Parliament and wishing them every success .
if the AU cannot bring itself to sort out this mess , then it is reasonably fair to ask why the EU should do so .
thus , on the one hand , it welcomes the unacceptable Pact on Immigration and Asylum and calls for the reinforcement of FRONTEX and stronger intelligence gathering and repressive measures against immigrants who are of no use to European capital .
this gives us an important insight into the level and strength of synergies developed between countries as a result of their participation in FP7 activities .
we cannot ' half-commit ' to investment in renewable energy sources and low-carbon transport .
can the Commission suggest any initiative in this direction ?
unfortunately , many parents and teachers are still out of touch with digital media and do not take the necessary steps to protect children on the Internet .
in writing . - On February 2010 , in the presence and with the participation of the European Union , Greece , the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Albania signed the Agreement on the protection and sustainable development of the Prespa Park Area .
I would therefore like to suggest that examination of these institutions is also becoming increasingly important .
it would be unfortunate if the Commission 's only means of querying an agreement were to be to take the matter to the European Court of Justice .
since the resolution is not only a political statement by Parliament , but also offers moral support for those who are jailed , we would like to propose the inclusion in our resolution of the names of four former presidential candidates who are still in the custody of the KGB .
from the perspective of the role of the European Parliament , it would be appropriate to make changes along two lines : clearer definition of the role of the European Parliament in the budgetary procedure and submission to the European Parliament of the work programme , the annual reports and the studies of the Agency with a view to providing regular and detailed information on its activities .
the Stockholm Programme establishes ambitious European policies on justice and security in order to build a citizens ' Europe .
I understand from the exporters ' association in Ireland that this would add EUR 150 per trip , or EUR 300 per round trip , for haulage from Ireland , which depends heavily on this type of haulage and also very heavily on exports .
what are we hearing ?
demand should be curbed through a value-based policy and through ongoing , widespread prevention work and information campaigns , especially among young people .
the Irish example , which I had the pleasure to learn about , is a good one .
it wants to remove them and plant their lands instead with colonies of retired Brits .
I am not afraid of that and I believe that , if we truly want to be present in Africa - as someone said , this is very important - we must do as I suggest and add another ingredient to the mix .
the recent decision of the Russian Government to establish official ties and to bolster the Russian military presence in Abkhazia goes beyond and violates existing agreements and the territorial integrity of Georgia .
more than 150 amendments were tabled to the report , but I think that it nevertheless still takes a critical approach .
finally , in close association with the Presidency , the Commission will be pursuing its longstanding dialogue with the United States .
the missing element is effective analysis of the proposals being made on the operation of international financial markets , on the existence of international tax havens , on the fight against international financial crime , and on tax treatment at international level - on capital flows in the strictest sense .
those are the words of Arrigo Cavallina , who recruited Cesare Battisti in prison when he was serving a sentence for robbery , talking about Mr Battisti , his crimes and the families of the victims .
this cannot happen , it is simply impossible .
it should inevitably work very closely with all the institutions , the Commission first and foremost .
Madam , I also agree with the President of the European Commission .
however , the European Union must punish those responsible .
there is only one problem here .
none of us can say for sure that it will stay there , calmly for the next millennia .
in two weeks ' time , we will attempt to deal with these points with the European delegation .
if we recall that the suggestion of a ' European VAT ' , put forward by the Commission as a source of income for the Union , was immediately rejected by several Member States , we will have to acknowledge that asking the Commission for ' a new VAT strategy ' seems to make little sense .
I particularly welcome the progress made with the ship monitoring tools , which are essential for reducing risk situations .
otherwise , we cannot expect our policy in this area to succeed .
I therefore urge the Commission to modify the directive so as to avoid extensive and indecent interpretations of the statement that the European Union rightly made in the fight against terrorism .
they have to accept earning less money . they have been doing so for years .
I understand the rawness and the sense of grievance , but things must move on rapidly .
the process of ratification of the Constitutional Treaty was wrecked due to unsuccessful referenda in France and the Netherlands .
on the contrary , a lot of semi-finished products are included . if they are semi-finished , it means that they will be finished in Europe , which should , in fact , generate cheaper imports for those companies which give the final treatment to such products .
these very expensive journeys are one of the factors contributing to the rise in food prices .
considering the importance of the policy of cohesion as an overarching element of all European policies , I welcome its planned inclusion in the document that is key to the successful implementation of this policy .
I hope it will get broad support in this Parliament .
we welcome the part played by an institutionalised public-private partnership in facilitating access for the small and medium-sized enterprises that form the basis of our economy .
( PL ) Mr President , the European Commission 's initiative to impose on Member States the duty to publish information on the beneficiaries of EU funds obtained under the umbrella of the common agricultural policy is worthy of support in every respect .
that is what I believe in all honesty .
the derogation from the rules of origin for fish processed in Papua New Guinea and Fiji is an example of this .
Mr Schmidt also raised the issue of a cumulative effect ; however , I have answered this question in my point about the three-way balance , which is something we are going to be watching very closely .
the President responds to such a request by establishing whether or not the quorum exists .
in writing . - This report on rail passengers ' rights and obligations should be welcomed .
I have therefore voted in favour of this report , which takes measures to tackle the massive bee mortality .
international adoption is , of course , vitally important .
the second point which is also important in this context is better monitoring of the impacts of EU legislation .
indeed , our joint work has been complicated and slowed down by this alignment .
the report voted on here deals with some important issues , mainly with regard to the defence of equal healthcare for all , a situation which , unfortunately , is not yet the case in the EU , in particular , among more disadvantaged groups , such as children , the elderly , and in some cases women .
at that point , the international community really will have a role to play .
I believe that Parliament and its Members should lead by example as regards the transparency of their activities and the clarity of their aims .
the British Government has conceded that trade union law must now be amended so that unions can expel members whose political views they do not like .
regardless of the parties ' position on the Goldstone report , I hope that it will not be used as a pretext to stonewall discussions aimed at resolving the Palestinian problem in a peaceful way for good .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , Mr Verhofstadt complained that nationalist and Marxist rhetoric are not enough to lead us out of the crisis .
this is why I find it laudable and encouraging that all the groups in Parliament have been united in their condemnation of the abuses committed by the Cuban authorities against human rights , not to mention the constructive approach , receptive to dialogue , which the EU has decided to adopt towards Cuba .
yet , at the same time , we must ensure that sub-committee agendas do not become disconnected from the situation , as has happened in the past , or fail to feed into other bodies , such as the Justice and Home Affairs Council ( JHA ) .
whole continents are beginning to compete in the energy sector , and let us be candid about it : no one can remain isolated from electricity or motorisation .
we know , for example , that up to two thirds of cancers are associated with an age of over 60 .
therefore , because it is necessary for individual development in such a competitive world and because it is necessary for the development of the internal market , this is a subject that has much greater importance than it is perhaps being given by being debated so late in the day .
Kosovo must not be isolated from the European processes in any way .
six months ago , the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon inspired optimism and hope .
however , I think this will be difficult to achieve .
despite all this , the European Union congratulates Turkey because that is what is required by NATO and the European multinationals investing in the Nabucco pipeline and their economic and geostrategic ambitions for this country and the Middle East in general .
they must be conducted transparently , at EU level .
some priorities included by the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament which I would highlight are , for example : 1 ) investment for jobs and growth ; 2 ) the social aspect , and the workers ' rights and conditions ; 3 ) sustainability ; 4 ) European added value ; 5 ) proposed structure and duration .
as such , there is a total absence of any references to and denouncements of the flagrant violations of human rights in Palestine , Iraq , Afghanistan , occupied Cyprus or the Western Sahara , as perpetrated by EU countries and / or their allies such as the US , Israel , Turkey or Morocco .
it is a delusion in strategic terms , because the behaviour of immigrants will end up being modelled on that of Europeans ; I am thinking here mainly of the unfortunate tendency to have fewer children in a society which is truly disorientated on all counts .
I reiterate my thanks to all those who contributed to making this such a good report .
it becomes apparent that issues are often strongly interconnected and so the right solutions have to be found .
it is about understanding that by investing at the same moment in time in the next couple of years you will have added value .
among other things , I am fully convinced that no tax in the world could have prevented the financial crisis which we have experienced in recent years .
in this regard , we particularly support the request in the report by Mr Cadec that negotiations on the fishing chapters are transferred from the remit of the Directorate-General for Trade to that of the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries , as is the case with agriculture , as we are also dealing here with products that are particularly sensitive , tuna being the classic case .
it will also be necessary to end the confusion over the CE marking .
that is why all these critical remarks are beyond comprehension .
at the same time , fear on the part of the crew that they are in danger of suffering criminal or civil consequences or the fact that the vessel has inadequate insurance may prevent refuge from being sought , with unfortunate consequences .
Europe will soon , in fact , be facing real problems due to its low demographic growth , and suitable policies need to be adopted straight away so as not to jeopardise the entire European social security system .
this would also contribute to an improved use of funds .
from this perspective , we strongly support the approach of the whole Action Plan , which hinges on the principle of mutual recognition of decisions , to be achieved by strengthening mutual trust .
Mr President , has Mr Canfin considered that the use of the EIB as a public policy instrument , which is what he and his party advocate , will be at the direct financial cost of EU taxpayers , and in particular British taxpayers ?
the prices of basic commodities continue to increase .
in this sense we find it particularly difficult to understand Serbia 's opposition to the European Union , that is to say to its mission in Kosovo , because this mission is primarily in the interest of Kosovo 's Serbian population .
secondly , it also suggests the use of resources from the risk-sharing finance facility to support CCS .
what was the objective of the climate change conference , now ?
a European perspective and new steps are essential for responding to these needs and especially for adequately tackling the supervision of cross-border groups and moving forward with the prevention and management of international crises .
we need to promote public awareness and online safety , especially among children , but also among parents so that they know exactly what is going on and what can be done on the Internet .
we are creating great laws .
I could say in some cases things are better and in some cases worse .
otherwise , I should like to highlight three important developments in the past month .
we should look to Copenhagen .
yes , solidarity , an idea which is , to me , as a Pole , especially dear . it should be an answer and a challenge which can be applied immediately .
during those one-minute speeches there was an incident .
another point is that we also need a certain degree of reciprocity .
I fully agree with you that the instrument which we have discussed today is a very important one .
or do you merely intend to let things carry on as they are ?
from my perspective , the presentation of the action plan should have been given more time in Parliament in order to give Members the opportunity to debate and , more importantly , to amend the proposals .
that is actually a firm basis for the information society , and we must always preserve it .
I therefore appeal for environmentally conscious action to resolve this problem .
we shall therefore vote now on recital B , as amended by Mr Tannock .
the next item is the oral question by Giuseppe Gargani on the collective management of copyrights on-line - B6-0459 / 2008 ) .
I am committed to this principle and , therefore , it is essential for me that the concerns of the people are heard at a European level .
as my fellow Member from Lithuania pointed out just now , barely 8 % of Lithuanians who went abroad to work used the instruments offered by EURES .
what is the geographical distribution of such differences in the Member States ?
the right of codecision of the European Parliament that has been directly elected by the citizens of Europe gives us the opportunity to bring democracy back into decisions on trade policy .
however , we must continue to work on it .
as you know , new governments in the region are trying to follow new paths to resolve this problem .
we will come to that discussion and , I hope , at the end , we will come to an agreement .
production methods need to be adapted to the limits that poverty imposes .
indeed , this seems to me to be the best way of reducing the EU 's energy dependency , but also , and more importantly , of combating climate change - something which has now become an urgent necessity .
it is to be hoped , in this respect , that the Commission will be bolder in its approach .
the situation in Europe is that we are generally in a good position with regard to net neutrality and net freedoms , because we have effective network regulation in line with EU telecom rules , and European consumers have a greater choice of broadband services providers .
nothing .
along with my fellow Commissioners for Development , Andris Piebalgs , and for International Cooperation , Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response , Kristalina Georgieva , I was pleased to announce at New York that the EU will contribute over EUR 1.2 billion to Haiti 's reconstruction and development .
for the moment , the Court applies a uniform 2 % materiality threshold across the board .
the rapporteur , Mr Reul , refers for example to the Arctic shelves , which , according to some estimates , account for up to 25 % of new gas and oil sources .
mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund : Spain ( earthquake in Lorca ) and Italy ( Veneto flooding ) (
this means Europe can continue to flout the rights of migrants either here or there , for it has actually made very few commitments in its ' Migration , Mobility and Employment ' action plan .
the solution for combating illegal immigration is not to set up repression and intervention mechanisms .
we do not plan any initiatives for the moment on this .
the workers can and will send this message through the ballot box during the European elections in June .
( FR ) Mr President , on Friday , 11 January I was refused access to the Lille-Lesquin Detention Centre for foreigners .
( ES ) Mr Zapatero , I will now address you in your mother tongue , which is also my own .
it also helps to preserve the landscape and impacts on the environment : hence the complex nature of the tasks involved and the need to introduce suitable instruments providing support , within the framework of the common agricultural policy .
what could be done quickly for the banks must also be done quickly in the matter of this acquisition dossier , a dossier that is so important for many thousands of workers .
it provides the Member States , for the first time , with the ability to also charge for noise and air pollution over and above the existing infrastructure charges which , in addition , are not consistently levied everywhere at the moment , and in a way that could stimulate the likes of fleet renewal .
it is unique because it is the first global financial crisis we have seen and we are also in a recession in the world economy .
last Saturday the self-appointed leaders of several of the European Union 's largest countries failed to agree on any common tactic in this regard .
the aim of all this is to make better use of funds so that civil-military cooperation may fully materialise .
I think , in fact I am convinced , ...
secondly , there is no evidence that mankind is dominantly causing climate changes .
when concrete measures are decided upon , this is always on the basis of the lowest common denominator .
firstly , the assassinations of the President of Guinea-Bissau , João Bernardo Vieira , and the chief of the armed forces , General Tagme Na Waie , should be thoroughly investigated and those responsible should be brought to justice .
how can we have an employment policy without coordination of social law ?
in writing . - ( IT ) I voted in favour .
in connection with my work on this report , I have spoken to a large number of enterprises on the internal market , many of which said that they have never known there to be any controls , market checks or market surveillance in respect of the products that they are involved with on the internal market .
350 000 people are employed in forest management .
we will have to introduce uniform redistributive policies with regard to both taxation and pay .
therefore , I definitely consider the revision of EU energy efficiency policy , and its alignment with our current priorities , to be a necessary step .
we are not asking whether Mr Sarkozy or Mrs Merkel are visiting a better or worse restaurant or purchasing a better or worse briefcase , or buying the clothes of this or that firm , but we are asking how they handle the public resources of taxpayers , and we are fully entitled to do this , and they are wholly obliged to provide this information .
all Member States believe that gambling must be regulated with care , in view of the risk it poses to society , a risk that Mrs Schaldemose 's report - which I have read with great care and interest - describes in explicit detail .
the report also reaches out to young farmers who , as we know , struggle to get started in the sector .
particular attention needs to be given to terrorists ' use of IT and communications technologies , particularly the Internet , which helps to disseminate propaganda broadcasts and training manuals .
this agreement should also allow us to leave behind the demagoguery that is heard in this House about European vessels fishing in third countries .
unfortunately , the really big issue , the one concerning the liberalisation of gambling monopolies in Europe , missed the target .
composition of Parliament : see Minutes
consultation is the right way to solve this problem , taking into account national particularities and for finding a solution for the consumer .
Heads I win , tails you lose ...
the European Union requires common environmental standards and not only when speaking about projects of the Nordstream size .
on the issue of the Arctic , is this going to become a resources race with Russia , America and Canada for fishing stocks and a quarter of the world 's oil and gas ?
cooperation among Member States should focus on discovering the most efficient systems , exchanging experience and promoting well-established procedures .
the Council 's compromise , which contains less favourable rules than those currently in effect , was denied support by Belgium , Cyprus and Spain among others , including my home country Hungary , and is unacceptable to the European Socialists .
demand has risen across the world , as you know , and this affects not just fertiliser but a whole range of other goods too , including cash crops and food .
this is the directive on the free movement of citizens , and there have been 1500 complaints by citizens but only 19 infringement cases have been opened .
it also offers detailed answers and solutions .
will this argument be taken up by the Commission ?
we are unfortunately faced with an extremely delicate situation .
oral questions and written declarations ( submission ) : see Minutes
given the particular situation of small- and medium-sized enterprises , as already mentioned , it is vital to set up a technical assistance service for these enterprises because they are less well prepared to tackle this kind of issue .
we Greens cannot vote ' yes ' to the resolution as it stands .
my colleague Mr Papastamkos is absolutely right when he says that we must think about preventing European companies being disadvantaged if other countries do not participate in whatever follows the Kyoto system .
I am not the one who can ensure success , however ; it is the Council who must take the decision .
the recent decisions by the Commission on permanent spending cuts will have painful consequences on public health and care and workers ' insurance rights and pensions which , in conjunction with the demand for higher taxes , will drastically reduce the standard of living of the grassroots classes .
I am in favour of only opening up the market for agricultural imports if it can be assured that the competitiveness of European agriculture will be maintained .
Mr President , we do not need to take a detour with regard to this vote .
the European Parliament supports strongly all the initiatives which increase the EU presence in the region and , in particular , the most recent one , the Eastern Partnership .
I strongly believe that the ESF has a valuable role to play in training and educating people .
we could have avoided incentivising and encouraging over-capacity and not thrown precious public money at unwarranted huge increases of capacity way beyond what the stocks of our fish can reasonably sustain .
we have not managed to do so .
European policies , Commissioner !
Mr President , I hope that the British kindergarten will be kind enough to listen for a moment .
if we do not eliminate the disparities in the level of direct support , this instrument - the main financial instrument of the CAP - will continue to divide the European Union into old and new Member States .
it is very clear now that we need to carry forward the positive spirit and efficiency of the Belgian Presidency .
I therefore commend the attention given to the EU 's position in the United Nations system , in the international financial institutions and in other multilateral institutions , and I agree with the reform proposals which strengthen several of the positions that we have taken .
work is a part of our everyday lives and is critical for the dignity , welfare and development of a person .
there is no geographic differentiation in the programme , since it is targeted towards European and not national organisations .
it would be very useful to understand , and I do not want us to end up effectively importing tomato pickers , instead of agricultural products and tomatoes .
in short , the Committee on Constitutional Affairs thinks that in order to deliberate on the proposal to amend the treaty , Parliament must assess the economic governance context under which the proposal falls .
I am sorry , however , and it is the only reservation I will mention , that the economic and social criteria are not accompanied more by ecological considerations , since ' sustainability ' must become the hallmark of our agricultural policy .
firstly , none the amendments voted for by my committee unanimously - and I stress , unanimously - were taken into account , even though the common agricultural policy is one of the policies with the most acts adopted under the comitology procedure and is therefore one of the ones most affected by the adaptation of legislative acts under the Treaty of Lisbon .
women earn less than men doing the same jobs and , in addition , they are more likely to be molested .
this form of feminicide that we are now discussing has grown , above all in areas where we have companies investing in subcontractor plants and where women are completely dependent on men , socially , economically , in all areas .
since the 1950s , Taiwan has gone through many successful reforms .
their businesses need access to clear legislation and their consumers need to have access to a wider range of goods at more competitive prices .
we need genuine , understandable decision-making processes in Brussels , so that citizens from Greece to Denmark , in Germany and in Spain , trust in us .
press freedom in Kenya
you face economic challenges .
announcement by the President : see Minutes
Der Sommer war sehr groß ... ' .
Brussels should adopt a balanced approach with regard to the Georgia question by taking equal account of the legitimate interests of both Georgia and Russia .
the Commission should also take this on board so that we have a stronger link between issues of growth and the social dimension .
I would like to thank Parliament for its support .
Member of the Commission . - ( SK ) I think that many of the contributions made are indeed an incentive to get involved in the issue of adult education .
Member of the Commission . - ( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , Mr Özdemir , we too regard Central Asia as a region of growing importance and I entirely agree with you that it forms a bridge between Europe and Asia , has great strategic importance and is indeed a neighbour of neighbours , when you think of the Caucasus .
at last !
then BILD-Zeitung will write : the euro must be abolished - we must bring back the Deutsche mark .
at the forefront of these ambitious tasks is ratification of the Treaty .
Parliament must be more involved in drafting and revising the multiannual cooperation programmes , as well as be able to lodge objections against proposals of this kind .
the liberalisation of trade has been accompanied by fierce competition among countries seeking to attract foreign investors and by stiffer competition between undertakings .
in order to achieve this , it is necessary to enhance coordination within the EU , and this will require strong political will and flexibility on the part of the Member States concerning their representation .
this is especially true at a time when we are in an economic recession .
it states above all that the EU foreign strategy as regards children 's rights should be based on the values and principles set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights , in particular Articles 3 , 16 , 18 , 23 , 25 , 26 and 29 .
only such policies can prevent Schröder-Putin deals from ever being repeated .
the first is that it has an educational objective .
fishermen are losing their only source of livelihood , and this is particularly true in those EU regions where there are few social and economic alternatives .
for this reason , we are watching with particular sensitivity all the events which are now unfolding to the south of us in the Arab world .
that is why we have endless protests - and very valid protests - in Ireland about the closure of local hospitals and local services .
peace agreements with most of the armed groups in the eastern part of the country were signed in 2008 and 2009 .
Madam President , this has happened for the last five years .
a human community is characterised by having advantages , strengths , disadvantages and weaknesses .
it should not obscure the fact that other provisions are being drawn up , such as the European Blue Card system guaranteeing legal immigration for employment purposes , and that the stated aim of these measures is solely to encourage more immigration into Europe .
ladies and gentlemen , the members of the EPP-ED Group who are concerned with budgetary matters have essentially been happy to approve the Commission 's plans for 2008 , and Mr Barroso has formulated a clear message that reflects political commitment .
firstly , there is the African Elephant .
by working together we have been able to come up with what I believe is a good compromise .
when the powerful countries in the world come together , including America , Japan , Europe , Brazil , India and so on , who will raise their hand and ask whether we are paying enough attention to social issues ?
while I appreciate the efforts of some MEPs to blunt the worst excesses of this CO2 hysteria , the plain truth is that anyone who even gives credence to the threadbare hoax of man-made global warming is a collaborator with the deadliest scam in history .
by making his signing of the Treaty dependent on the decision of the citizens of another country , President Kaczyński has placed Poland in the role of a country which is not capable of making a sovereign decision , and has offended the patriotic feelings of Poles .
I do not hide the fact that the Council 's volte-face makes me confident for the future .
if we really are determined to involve the private sector , to apportion the burden , why do we doggedly refuse to go ahead and adopt a transaction tax at European level ?
time , therefore , is a very valuable resource , but those enterprises find themselves spending a great deal of time simply filling out forms .
we must , however , be vigilant to ensure that this improvement continues , and we certainly cannot settle for the results already obtained .
the economy is not an end in itself : it is just one means of achieving political objectives , progress within societies and human development .
this list of offences is an essential element of the package , and constitutes a potential restriction of the internal market .
the European Union should also support those emerging democracies around the world that are truly committed to human rights .
the assassinations of President João Bernardo Vieira and General Tagme Na Waie , the head of the armed forces , in March of this year , were certainly part of an attempt to destabilise the country , probably instigated by the drugs mafia .
subject : progress on the Temporary Agency Workers Directive
let me say that one of the great opportunities ahead for us is for Europe and every other continent to work together .
( DE ) Mr President , allow me to refer to some results of the summit which , I believe , reveal more than anything else the lack of a consistent development policy .
new technologies create entirely different conditions .
it is clear that every target should be related to the national context , but within the framework of a broader European strategy .
I think that we need a swift but very pragmatic solution here .
it is appropriate that the EU takes action in this area , given the international nature of the fisheries .
it is good that Mrs Ashton has said something about this , but still. the head of the European Commission should have intervened immediately in this matter .
after all , it is as clear as day that Turkey does not meet the conditions for accession to the EU , and that this will still be the case in 10 , 15 or 20 years time .
the application of European law is vital so that EU citizens can fully enjoy the benefits of the internal market as even the most effective legislation becomes redundant if it is not applied .
there has to be change , the situation has to change !
the debate is closed .
topics for discussion will be confirmed after the spring European Council - so we are planning to have the orientation debate on this next week .
Mr Niculescu , how will we succeed in ensuring a good relationship between the production of goods for the market , food products and environmental goods ?
secondly - and here I am also looking at Mrs Lulling - I am actually delighted with the very plain references to sexual and reproductive health and the sexual autonomy of women ; and access to safe , legal abortion is part and parcel of this sexual reproductive health .
the telecommunications sector alone provides more than 3.5 million jobs and accounts for an increasingly large share of the European economy - almost 3.5 % .
after all , we need facts in order to be able to take politically sound decisions .
it is important for them and for us to take advantage of this period in this regard as well .
the sarcophagus is not yet safe , which is why new financial resources are required to put this in order .
results of the informal summit of heads of state and government ( Lisbon , 18-19 October 2007 ) ( debate )
8 .
however , I would like to stress that it is important to maintain an obligation for Member States to evaluate the impact of recreational fisheries as set out in Amendment 93 , and not just the possibility to do so as contemplated in Amendments 48 , 49 and 50 .
as with the decision on the 2012 calendar , this is a contribution to cutting Parliament 's costs .
in the case of Mauritania , it is even more distressing that development funds are being used to support the interest of fisheries .
I have received a nomination for Mr Chichester to replace Mrs Koch-Mehrin , who has resigned as Vice-President .
it is therefore necessary to step up monitoring , in order to prevent the destruction of aquatic ecosystems , and a subsequent ecological disaster .
I would , however , like to remind the Commission that , under the Emissions Trading Directive , the EU 's target of 20 % for cuts in emissions will only change to 30 % if other industrialised countries make ' comparable reduction efforts ' , and if the advanced developing countries have some obligations .
the effort to generate consensus will have to show full awareness of the main concerns surrounding the single market today ' .
three points seem to me to be important here .
only preferential treatment for positive actions can contribute to the real integration of national minorities .
a comprehensive assessment of internal costs and in particular the negative impact of transport on the environment is compulsory .
Mr Reinfeldt , my group has three opinions to voice on this issue .
Commissioner , could I first of all thank you for responding positively to the resolution agreed with this House on 27 September .
I believe , as Vice-President of the Commission , that how we respond will define this Commission for years to come .
it enables a State , when asked , to provide help through its special units .
the supply of medication is a health service .
natural disasters can and must be prevented .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , obviously it is not enough that the suppression of Tibetan culture within China has been increasing more and more since the 2008 Olympic Games .
what we are discussing today are implementing acts , and this regulation does not prejudge in any way whether we should use delegated or implementing acts in the future .
( DE ) Madam President , our heartfelt thanks go to the rapporteur .
why ?
findings from the data available from 10 Member States will be published as soon as possible .
I agree with the Commission that there needs to be an ecosystem-based approach to the management of deep-sea fish stocks .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( NL ) First of all , I should like to express my sympathy with all the victims on behalf of our Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe .
we should prevent pollution , in the same way that we should also invest in clean energy and focus on energy selfsufficiency and afforestation .
secondly , I believe that we need to start , especially in the new Member States , with modernising the basic physical infrastructure .
for making abortion more accessible is an indicator of how our culture has fallen , and shows our departure from human values .
furthermore , I strongly support the inclusion of a provision that Member States can regulate or prohibit transport of dangerous goods for reasons other than safety .
the role of the rapporteur will be enhanced : the rapporteur will present the committee 's report which is in response to the Commission 's legislative proposal , immediately stating what the Parliament thinks of the Commission proposal , and will wrap up the debate at the end , perhaps answering the points that different Members have made in the way that I attempted to do just now in our previous debate .
I should like to confirm to Mrs Segelström that I certainly have begun discussions with the Swedish authorities .
voluntary registration is not enough . it should become compulsory for lobbyists to register in order to gain access to the institutions of the European Union .
we need more , but we will not be getting it from the Member States .
this would , of course , not have prevented the volcanic eruption , but it would perhaps have allowed us to act more effectively and more quickly .
in writing . - The EU and particularly the European Parliament took too long to respond to and address the warning signs of political and social turmoil in Egypt - leading ultimately to the geopolitical debacle of the last three weeks - and this in relation to a region that is very close to it and despite the fact that stability in the Mediterranean basin is essential for political well-being , economic strength and security in Europe itself .
( PL ) Firstly , I would like to express my thanks for the recognition given to my amendment , which invites countries from outside the European Union to the forum for dialogue to which Mr Oettinger referred .
that is the opinion that I put forward at the beginning : I do not consider that I can tell the Polish legislator how to proceed , but I do consider that I can spell out the objective , and that objective is to remove the disparity of treatment between the status of Polish national MPs and the status of MEPs elected in Poland .
I particularly applaud the fact that the Commission is looking favourably on the proposal to release funds from the Third Community Support Framework .
all the political groups therefore agree that there is a problem concerning religious freedom and that it needs to be addressed seriously and firmly within the international community .
the same must also apply to President Sarkozy .
we should await their return and listen to what they have to report .
the EU has raised these concerns repeatedly with the Chinese authorities and reiterates its concerns in the two declarations published on 29 October and on 13 November , as it always does in such situations .
this approach must now be applied .
in autumn last year , under the leadership of my colleagues , Commissioner Frattini and Commissioner Figeľ , a conference took place on the high level of violence in sport , which identified concrete methods that could achieve an improvement in combating this phenomenon .
Mr President , this is an interesting and important debate .
some members claim that only the well-off will be able to get themselves treated abroad .
our voting yesterday went very well .
in recent years , we have concentrated mainly on the Treaty of Lisbon , and we have devoted less attention to economic union , and especially monetary union .
thirdly , it refers to securing fair competition , which is currently the most significant thing that is lacking from the provisional common agricultural policy .
I would also ask Commissioner Potočnik to arrange with Commission Vice-President Wallström for this programme to be presented to the public as exemplary : this is part of the process .
secondly , in Austria and in Stuttgart a great deal is being done for the main route from Strasbourg to Vienna and Budapest .
therefore , we may need a period which runs into spring of next year .
however , if an animal disease does nevertheless break out , as you have already said , vaccination needs to be a central element of the fight against it .
in this regard , the proposal respects the principle of proportionality .
Madam President , I wish to raise the issue of Zimbabwe .
I for my part sincerely hope that we continue to cooperate closely over the coming months in our assessment of the situation and in our dialogue with Belarus , its authorities and its civil society , and I hope that this first step will lead us to make an in-depth mutual commitment based on concrete progress .
it is therefore vital for the livestock industry that we amend the directive to allow the use of this vaccine , and that we do this as soon as possible .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to communicate my vote in favour of the motion for a resolution concerning the attitude of the European Union in dealings with Belarus .
I am convinced that those amendments are very timely and necessary as the EU has to face and manage the increased flow of legal - and also illegal - immigration .
I am voting against this text .
Yemen has clearly acted unlawfully here , since like nearly every country in the world Yemen is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child .
Mr President , I would like to thank the Commission and the Council for this morning 's introduction .
the report supports a further simplification of both legislative and non-legislative regulations .
we may nevertheless hope that the application of reason can help the various political components to look more closely at what is right and fair where progressing along the road to European unity is concerned .
I am delighted with the Commission 's announcement that by the end of 2011 a horizontal directive will be submitted to this end , because it makes no sense to simply address this in the area of electronic communications .
I am fully aware that the worst of the recession is over , but not the problems .
without her work and her impetus , we would not have been able to imagine firstly a Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Forum , or subsequently a Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly , and we would not now be in a position to demand the role that the representatives of citizens should have in what we are trying to set up .
Mrs Gebhardt raised a very important issue , which concerns one of the tools of the Services Directive - the points of single contact .
in recent years , China has provided support for an international project to add cultural sites on the Silk Road to the world heritage list , but Kashgar itself has not been on that list because it is the home of one of China 's largest minorities , the Uyghurs .
I believe that this is a sensible and rational course of action ; the House may have new powers but we must exercise them in a measured and responsible way .
initiatives of this kind allow the coordination of EU policy instruments in order to have a coherent , stable and sustainable development of the regions involved .
that is why it is so difficult to prepare reasonable legislation , which in a balanced and effective way will allow people to use all the benefits of the Internet safely , while at the same time curtailing the very real and serious threats connected with its abuse .
as rapporteur , she should have represented the views of the committee , where there was a very clear majority , and not sought in a number of ways to overturn what was clearly the will of a very large majority in this House .
the Union 's Charter to be annexed to the Reform Treaty lists the fundamental rights of European citizens : dignity , freedom , equality , solidarity , citizenship , justice .
I think there is a moral for us as politicians here that , when the stakeholders themselves say that this is what they want , I do think we have a responsibility to try and facilitate that , wherever possible , so I do thank him for using the argument of consensus to get that through .
this agreement should contribute to the improvement of the human rights situation in Central America and it must be a constant incentive to these countries to respect human rights .
we must have the ambition to take on a vanguard role in the construction of a global financial and economic order .
this would be a very different position from the one that this party has taken in national politics , where it is cutting child benefit , the reimbursement of medicine costs for the chronically ill and income tax deductions for spending on education and health , and where it is drastically increasing the tax burden on the public , particularly lower income families with children .
in any event , I will not vote in favour of a text that violates the most basic consumer rights .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , Mr Cercas , ladies and gentlemen , we are gathered here this evening to debate a subject that has kept us occupied for several years now , a subject that is important to all European workers , namely the review of the Working Time Directive .
I am , however , of the opinion that we cannot speak of success until a legally binding international agreement has been concluded as a continuation of the Kyoto Protocol , which will expire in 2012 - an agreement on which basis sanctions can be imposed .
the Eurosceptic vote in referendums in Ireland , the Netherlands and France is , as usual , simply ignored as if it did not exist .
I would like to make a similar point about international coach transport too .
we must also spend more on well-understood development aid - not as charity , but because it is an intelligent , strategic policy to introduce fair trade worldwide and to really develop a strategic approach to narrowing the prosperity gap on a global scale .
we need new methods of retrieving the funds paid out illegally and we also need stronger cooperation between the Commission and the Member States .
the Commission shares the rapporteur 's view that it is essential to continue with our efforts .
I was not silent when we were discussing energy security and I was not silent in the past when we were discussing the Khodorkovsky case and other cases .
there also needs to be rejection and condemnation of any attempt to exploit the tragedy of the Haitian people by military occupation of their country , along with the unequivocal defence of Haiti 's sovereignty and independence - something that is missing from the document in question .
this is because the least that can be said is that in the UfM , there is currently a signal lack of clarity .
it is important that we seek fair treatment for both partners , and I assume that the WTO body will take its decision in this spirit .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , this debate on permitted levels of radioactivity in food is timely , because this April will be the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster .
protecting human rights , increased financial resources , the development of democracies , the rule of law and bilateral agreements are instruments which , if used correctly , can certainly contribute to preventing mass migration .
and black clouds in the area of human rights are actually coming to Moscow once more , because - as you heard yesterday - the constitutional court has discussed the possible reinstatement of the death penalty from next year , and for liberals this is definitely a very tough subject .
I would also point out that the future strategy for the Roma minority should focus on education as the core instrument for promoting social inclusion .
pregnant workers and workers who are breastfeeding must not carry out activities which , based on assessments , pose a risk of exposure to certain agents or particularly harmful working conditions that jeopardise the safety or health of these workers .
in writing . - It is known that the mobilisation of the adjustment fund concerns 2834 redundancies ( all targeted for assistance ) in the primary enterprise General Motors Belgium and four of its suppliers operating in the motor vehicle sector in the region of Antwerp , during the four-month reference period from 14 June to 14 October 2010 .
Malaysia is thus violating its commitment to Resolution 8 / 8 of the UN Human Rights Council , which states that corporal punishment can be tantamount to torture .
it is because it lacks teeth in this area and so many others that I abstained on this report .
( DE ) Mr President , the current Cohesion policy started life with the title of the Lisbon Strategy .
the accident in Chernobyl occurred 25 years ago , but as recently as March of this year there was an accident in Fukushima .
the other important point , on which I voted differently from my group , was Amendment 37d , which originally points to the significant savings that could be made if the European Parliament were to have a single seat .
that post has been abolished totally , so transparency of information about the State , for example on public procurement , is not there anymore .
as I put on my hat as Vice-Chairwoman of the Committee on Fisheries , I would urge that its considered views be taken on board in this interim report today .
the immigration liaison officers should not only be seen as ' facilitators of deportations ' - which I would actually not like them to be seen as - they should closely monitor the human rights situation in the host countries and especially the protection offered to asylum seekers and returnees .
as a result , cooperation with the Hague Tribunal was not addressed seriously and credibly , which was why cooperation within the Stabilisation and Association Agreement was also delayed , then suspended , then resumed , and now we are waiting again .
we should draw up a list of uniform minimum building insulation standards for the whole EU .
we are following the situation , as I said , and we can urge Member States and we can demand that they inform us ( they have , anyway , the obligation to inform us ) and move actively .
( FR ) Madam President , Mr Carlgren , Mr President of the Commission , we are facing a challenge for humanity , a challenge for the future generations .
the second is taking account of the different situations among Member States .
amongst other things , that will , indeed , mean helping democratic parties and civil society to develop .
questions which have not been answered for lack of time will be answered in writing ( see Annex ) .
the title reads as follows : ' exceptional trade measures for countries and territories participating in or linked to the European Union 's Stabilisation and Association process ' .
the agreement with Vietnam also reminds us of the growing importance of the Asian market , and I think that , on this particular point , we have to point out that the Council has been dragging its heels for years over giving the Commission a mandate to negotiate with countries such as China and India .
meanwhile , Member States of the EU have been the largest direct foreign investors in Ukraine since 1991 .
one example of this is that only 11 of the 29 chemicals over which we wanted Parliament to have monitoring powers are now classified as hazardous substances .
not only does it not respond to the major challenges for health policies in the Union , it also does not solve the issue of legal uncertainty for patients and enshrines a market approach to healthcare .
moreover , I am convinced that in a post-crisis Europe , any Single Market strategy has to be formulated in such a way as to maintain and enhance social cohesion , ensure market integrity and economic sustainability and foster innovation .
the European Union has constantly reinvented itself , from the initial vocation of healing a war-torn continent to the building of the internal market and then on to the reunification of Europe .
at the recent meeting of local authorities from South Bohemia , Bavaria and Upper Austria , some experts mentioned that the new obstacle along the former national borders could be the so-called ' non-interference zone ' of the Šumava National Park .
here it states : ' underlined the importance of enhanced energy dialogue with the US and other key energy partners that share EU values . '
the new version of Europeana , which is currently under development , will be launched this year with the aim of reaching a volume of more than 10 million digitised objects before June .
in return , the Agreement - as the rapporteur herself admits - will threaten the survival of thousands of small and medium-sized producers , both in African , Caribbean and Pacific countries and in European countries .
Mr Pöttering says that a million Irish voters cannot stand in the way of 450 million Europeans .
the motion for a resolution on the reforms and progress in the Republic of Moldova provides a spur of encouragement at the right time to the political establishment and inhabitants on the other side of the River Prut , with the approaching ballot on 28 November .
look at the broader picture of world food trade at the moment and the hardship faced in some countries that are heavily dependent on export revenues from one or few commodities .
apart from anything else , they divisively create social problems for workers in the shipping industry and residents of island regions .
the vote will take place tomorrow , Thursday , 11 November 2010 , at 12 : 00 .
I would like to thank the rapporteur and the shadow rapporteurs for their excellent support and cooperation on this file .
regarding the institutions , it is important to note that the President of the Council has to be selected by the Heads of State or Government .
looking to the future , I agree with what the Commissioner said : in order to face the challenges of globalisation , an ageing population and climate change , internally we will need to take in the new countries , improve coordination in order to make the Lisbon Strategy a reality and make changes in order to monitor the stability of the capital markets .
the debate is closed .
wind generators which destroy the environment , as in the Aegean Islands , sharply increased tolls on major public roads , private and public sector collaborations and so on - all are for the sake of profit made from contracting with individuals , and , of course , they are backed by state guarantees .
I am counting on the aspirations of our eastern neighbour , Ukraine , also being received with more understanding .
thank you to everyone , of course , for the praise , congratulations and for the assessment of the Slovenian Presidency .
progress in medicine , an improvement in living conditions and a drop in natural population growth mean a very old and very costly Europe in the future .
I do not wish to see the euro zone in prolonged difficulty , but the ECR cannot support EU legislation that transfers any further powers away from national governments who are currently outside of that euro zone .
Guantánamo is a zone where national and international law do not apply and , therefore , it goes against the principles of international law .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
Member States can continue to exercise and regulate their health systems , and they can decide for themselves what benefits they want to offer to their citizens , and to what extent .
I think it is good that we will have the Treaty of Lisbon .
for cases where prevention or early diagnosis is not possible , as you said , we need to improve therapeutic strategies and practice by being more effective and innovative .
Luxembourg is so small that three different countries lie less than half an hour away from the airport by car .
closer cooperation between the Baltic countries will help bring them closer together and will make our region 's market more harmonious and accessible to the whole of the European Union .
we would also like appointment of the new European Commission to be done with respect for the European Parliament and its rights , as well as implementation of the new role for national parliaments while preserving the principle of subsidiarity , and discussion of how to build Europe after Lisbon .
at the end of last week we proposed to the Eurogroup a huge financial rescue package and a stabilisation programme worth EUR 110 billion in all .
I am confident that the spirit of good interinstitutional cooperation that both institutions have demonstrated so far will continue throughout the whole reform process .
I expect that Europe will , in this way , become more competitive in this crucial field in relation to the US and other major economic areas , as Mr Hökmark said previously .
the beekeepers ' production of honey , beeswax , propolis and pollen is only the smaller part of their activity , is it not .
others - and we are in this camp - want to improve our results so that they match our ambitions .
( PL ) Madam President , last night Anatoly Bitkov died in Magadan , the principal town of the Kolyma region in Russia .
there are problems , however , and I wish to mention a few of them .
we do not want to move transport from the sea back to the roads and we want fair competition in northern Europe , in the European Union and in the Mediterranean area .
documents received : see Minutes
what is more , these inadequate limits are not fully used for this purpose , or even observed , and they are certainly not fully implemented .
we cannot .
in view of the current economic situation , the European Parliament has a duty to set an example in terms of cutting costs .
it has been revealed for what it is , which is an authoritarian conspiracy against the people .
in addition , Mr Mauro has asked the Council to act immediately and include the issue on its agenda without further delay , since it is an absolute priority , given that immigrants have also started arriving from Egypt now .
it is one thing to speak about Israel as the enemy ; it is quite another to refuse to cooperate with providers of basic services and international organisations .
as European Parliament rapporteur for Schengen , I followed the calls for the early enlargement of the Schengen Area and the abolition of internal borders .
we believe that the adopted resolution falls well short of what , in our view , origin marking should be , which is to say , among other things , an instrument to protect industrial jobs in Europe , particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises , and an instrument to tackle social and environmental dumping .
what we have now , and what we have had at other times in the course of 20th century European history , is a great deal of uncertainty , a certain desperation , a certain aimlessness , and what we need to do is provide hope , a forward-looking spirit and strong leadership so that everyone feels a part of the European Union .
we also spoke about the Southern Caucasus , again including Azerbaijan .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( DA ) Madam President , a picture is beginning to emerge of how a putrid compromise is to be reached with Ireland to get it to accept the Treaty of Lisbon .
there is one fact that cannot be ignored , however , which is that the gas dispute is a political dispute .
in writing . - ( FR ) The fact that the European Union is once again preparing to approve the Charter of Fundamental Rights shows just how the people of Europe are being deceived .
therefore , I will not answer with a ' yes ' or a ' no ' , since the Member States are divided .
( HU ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , our position is that the root of the climate change that has a growing influence these days does not exclusively lie in the environmental pollution caused by humanity .
Commissioner , of course you can say that you only give the money , and that the governments of the Member States are responsible for social policy , but social rights are legally binding on the institutions of the European Union .
based on this premise , the rapporteur gives some examples :
unfortunately , the European Union , although committed , is very much lagging behind the United States .
thank you very much , colleagues , for putting forward questions for discussion .
there may be more to come .
we need cooperation , not confrontation .
we should also be considering what we do with sectors that have been orphan sectors in terms of skill developments - not least the care sector at the moment - and really look at how we can ensure equality there .
but we do need a common European agricultural policy .
we have paid out billions to create a uniform system , and here billions are being paid out at national level to counteract that .
in particular , we recognise that attacks on civilians either by states or by organisations are entirely unacceptable .
this is not a debate on Greece so I am not going to go into the details of it , but I think , sincerely speaking , that some fault also lies with Greece itself .
today such practices are neglected , and yet they are so simple .
more could perhaps have been done on certain points to protect patients , for example , with regard to the prior notification system , which will allow Member States to advance medical expenses , but only on a voluntary basis .
that is why I am pleased that the international community as a whole , through the UN Security Council , has made its position clear : that the violence is unacceptable ; it must stop and people should be held to account .
in this Year of Intercultural Dialogue , it is important to devote special attention to promoting diversity and intercultural dialogue , as culture is a key dimension of the Lisbon Strategy and we will not achieve the fundamental Lisbon goals unless we treat it as such .
we support the removal of Article 3 ( 1 ) ( h ) , especially the percentage stipulated for gradually removing the aid granted so that Member States which are going to grant State aid to uncompetitive coal mines have the maximum flexibility possible .
Commissioner , I am pleased that you have started the negotiations with the Chinese Government in such an uncompromising manner .
as one was not forthcoming I made my statement at nine o 'clock this morning , and I am not going to make it again .
we must firmly resist all manifestations of racism and xenophobia .
it seems to me that , in a democracy , every institution has to have a budget , and the institution must account for what it is spending to those who are actually making the contributions and who are providing the resources .
Israel is shirking its responsibility under international law , which means that the international community and , above all , the EU have to step in .
( ES ) Mr President , I also think that there are ample reasons to support the amendments tabled for this report , and that the report is very valuable .
despite the outermost regions not having been explicitly excluded from the scope of the directive ( by recognising the permanent natural and geographical disadvantages and constraints affecting these regions and by establishing adequate derogations from compliance with universal public service obligations ) , as we proposed , we welcome the fact that the directive 's scope has been limited to airports with more than 5 million passengers per year .
President of the Commission . - Mr President , some concrete questions were raised .
the report even underlines the necessity of the Galileo satellite project , which is quite clearly a civilian project , for autonomous ESDP operations .
it will be much better for Europe if Turkey does not become a member of the EU .
( applause )
however , the question of what remits are given in terms of the relationship between the State and the citizens is , of course , as fundamental as it is sensitive , and one which ought to be discussed here in Parliament .
in writing . - British Conservatives are very much in favour of larger airports being subject to extra scrutiny where they hold a dominant market position .
financial support to Member States ( motions for resolutions tabled ) : see Minutes
against the background of the safe use of products and technologies , it is intended to strengthen our European economy and simplify the associated administration .
however , in order to make this possible , a number of persistent problems need to be overcome .
people make informed choices about their appliances in a way that corresponds to the global society 's interest .
this presupposes adequate financing , the withdrawal of all public aid which is harmful for biodiversity and a dedicated budget which we propose should be multiplied tenfold .
I think this will address many of the issues of industrial development and the issue of location .
the alternative , if it fails , would , of course , be a frightening prospect .
I too want to call on the President of Yemen to halt the execution of Thabet Samoum , as well as to call on him and the authorities to commute the death sentence passed on him and other juveniles such as Ali Abdulla .
in Romania innocent people are also thrown into jail for 30 days , after which they have to stand trial .
Mr President , as many of us know , the GSP system is up for review and the current system is coming to an end .
I would also like to thank the shadow rapporteurs , the Commission , the representatives of the Council and the staff for their fantastic cooperation , which was the key to achieving this political unity at first reading .
the waste is even greater than that caused by the fact of there being two seats , if programmes are run that do not produce the necessary results .
I agree .
in addition , we read about the increasing number of death sentences .
perhaps it will not be enough , but it is essential in order to provide answers to the big questions that lie ahead : these resources are needed to tackle real problems , such as greater cohesion between the regions , a greater capacity for research and innovation , and a greater capacity to generate growth and provide jobs .
all this matters most to those citizens and enterprises who wish to freely exercise their rights in commerce in the internal market .
however , we believe that majority decisions by Parliament are not competent to interpret historic facts .
9 .
( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I am going to focus my speech on Mr Goerens ' report , which deals with the ACP Banana Accompanying Measures ( BAM ) .
I am sure we will vote for the resolution unanimously .
the sustainable development of European aquaculture demands substantial support for scientific research and technological development in the area of farming native species , so as to enable the production and supply of foodstuffs to be diversified and quality to be improved , while also guaranteeing greater environmental security .
these countries were affected by torrential rainfall , in some cases , without precedent , extensive flooding , landslips and mudslides .
the Treaty of Lisbon gives the Union legal grounds to establish intellectual property law , and provides that suitable standards will be adopted under the Ordinary legislative procedure .
Belarus certainly should be supported by the European Union in its reform process and also in its democratisation .
I voted in favour of this report .
subject : demarcation between Schengen and non-Schengen Member States
in addition to the European Economic Recovery Plan , decisions adopted by the European institutions have increased lending by the European Investment Bank .
today we must say ' no ' to the violation of fundamental children 's rights , ' no ' to violence and the sexual exploitation of children , ' no ' to depravity and pornography on the Internet and ' no ' to sex tourism .
these activities will still be covered at national level by national data protection legislation .
in writing . - ( PL ) Sanctions imposed by the European Union are instruments that ensure the effectiveness of the CFSP .
if , however , the G20 made such a statement for their own benefit , then we really do need to consider that there is a very serious issue of political conspiracy at a time in the economy when instant reaction is needed .
Members who took the floor earlier persisted in quoting the figure of 40 % of GDP because that is the proportion of Afghanistan 's GDP that is allegedly generated by the production of narcotics .
I wish to stress that no satisfactory solution has been reached so far .
this is the framework in which operational cooperation is now developing between the Agency and the Turkish authorities .
this tragic case merely reinforces our determination never to surrender our hard-won democratic freedoms to obscurantism .
I agree that we must simplify the funding of these programmes , but on one condition - after the result has been achieved , it must be available free of charge to all EU countries .
regarding the call made to the Commission to eventually propose new measures , may I emphasise that this lies within the right of initiative of the Commission , which will in any case propose new measures if it is felt that it is necessary and appropriate to do so .
my colleague , Mrs Ferrero-Waldner , has said publicly that the Government has missed a chance to send a signal of reconciliation at a moment of national distress when the Government again extended the house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi .
the weakness of the rule of law , the corruption and nepotism , and the worryingly high level of casual violence are all indicators of a society that has to undergo a significant shift before democracy can be regarded as complying with the Copenhagen criteria .
I therefore support this report and the main amendments which seek to extend the offer to consumers by reinforcing competition .
what we need is policy in the Member States that supports young European families in their desire to have children .
I can therefore only hope that joint action by the EU and the Member States , always abiding by the vital principle of subsidiarity - as the excellent report by Mrs De Vits also stresses - is crucial .
lastly , Commissioner , I would like to mention the issue of imports .
given that the European Community is a member of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982 , the European Commission has always undertaken to promote freedom of navigation in all its aspects and the development of appropriate instruments to prevent illegal acts against ships .
the recent criminalisation of illegal immigration in Italy is translating into greater exploitation of illegal immigrants and is restricting their access to employment , housing and basic services .
these plans will also have to deal with the difficult issue of borders in order to ensure that a peaceful and viable coexistence of the two states can be maintained .
I thank Mrs Jeggle for what was , on the whole , a very good report .
cutting off power to businesses , seizing computers , occupying party offices on the grounds of supposed risks of attacks - the whole gamut of the déjà vu is on show in Ukraine .
the negotiations have been difficult .
the Goerens report will blow EUR 190 million , including EUR 17.4 million for a facility for rapid response to soaring food prices in developing countries .
we have needed the many years ' experience of negotiating between the Commission , the Council and the European Parliament .
three major subjects will be on the table at the Seoul Summit : reform of the international monetary system of course , but also the stability of commodities - especially food and energy - and global governance .
in my view , it was a mistake to package the two together , but I think we have managed it successfully .
unfortunately , the terrorist attacks of 11 September caused , a decrease between 2000 and 2001 of approximately 2 % in the number of passengers using air transport .
in the same way , I reject the idea that we should lower our guard when it comes to defending the interests of European farmers .
the case of the Saudi citizen , Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri , must set the standard .
among the many urgent problems facing children let me highlight the striking number of disappearances ; these child disappearances often have a tragic ending as a result of sexual exploitation and violence linked to child pornography .
we believe that , as a very clear infringement of international law , it would also be used in other conflict situations as a method of resolving disputes .
however , the truth is that this process is paralysed , to a great extent for legal reasons .
5 .
while Greece shares its burden of responsibility in its crisis , our European leaders share theirs as well .
Mr President , earlier Minister Jouyet made a reference to the Mumbai terrorist attack , demonstrating solidarity with India .
this is how the artist who made the Czech Republic 's gift to the European Union portrayed the nations and countries of the European Union in his work .
Europe must join with its partners , in particular , the United States , in reminding the emerging countries of their responsibilities .
if it does , we could save much more than the EUR 400 that someone complained about when it comes to bringing transparency to voting .
they were part of 97 Squadron based at RAF Bourn in Cambridgeshire .
can the Commission explain why a decision was not taken in 1998 to ban the marketing of pharmaceuticals containing benfluorex ?
this does not mean that we are making compromises , but that we are listening to the voice of reason and not going to extremes .
we can therefore conclude that there is still a long way to go before the standards set out in EU law are properly and promptly transposed by the Member States .
looking carefully at the images available on the Internet , one can measure the level of violence used against the Moroccan law enforcement authorities .
I am resolutely opposed to any measure favouring harmonisation of taxes across the EU .
I would like to inform you that I have already sent Mrs Suu Kyi an invitation to visit the European Parliament and to address one of our plenary sessions .
the development of the international audiovisual environment deserves our attention because this is an interesting field of activity and it opens up a large space for cooperation within the European Union and also with other countries in the world .
it would be completely mistaken and incorrect to characterise this process as a bilateral affair between two Member States of the EU .
it is important to ensure that the implementation of the visa liberalisation regime for Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina is not delayed any longer .
these really are very significant factors in relation to accidents .
I would say the same about the European patent .
I hope our vote tomorrow will take account of these different parameters .
however , I must ask whether it is possible to refer in the external policy document under discussion today to the Lisbon Treaty , which occurs on a number of occasions , since the Treaty is not yet in force as the ratification process has not yet been completed by all the Member States .
it jeopardises the objectives of the Europe 2020 agenda .
how much pain are we ready to suffer , how many days in hospital , to save EUR 1 000 by buying a less technologically advanced vehicle ?
ladies and gentlemen , in the 1980s we coined the phrase ' democratic deficit ' .
the measures that legislators have already adopted - and that are therefore already in force - are cutting the costs of bureaucracy for European businesses by EUR 7 billion a year .
finally , I think the EU will only have a proper position vis-à-vis the United States if we speak with one voice , because if we do not - if we are divided - then our rules are made in Washington and not here or in Brussels .
I strongly believe that democratisation should inform all of the European Union 's policies vis-à-vis third countries .
it is now time to make it a more attractive , effective and credible policy that guarantees security and prosperity for all .
what we are now doing is opening up the entire internal market according to transparent rules , with obligations with respect to Member States and businesses , and in so doing we are actually counteracting this oligopolisation , so your argument just does not hold water .
to conclude , Mr President , I should like to thank the rapporteur for his excellent report , the representatives of the Court , and also all of the Commission staff who have done an excellent job on the ground .
today , if we decided to raise the expenditure ceiling to the maximum threshold allowed by the treaties , this would mean an additional levy of more than 5 billion for countries like France and Germany .
evaluation is nothing if the results are not presented , discussed , questioned , and indeed either accepted or sometimes rejected , by the very stakeholders that it aims to serve , and , of course , Parliament plays a vital role in this process , not only bringing to bear a broad cross-section of experience from political and public life but , just as importantly , from the many fields of deep knowledge held by Members .
that is the truth .
it should not be done to the detriment or at the expense of the southern neighbourhood .
I will of course report this to the Commission , President Barroso and my colleague , Joaquín Almunia .
micro-credit allows the unemployed to make a new start , thanks to risk-sharing and financing instruments , making entrepreneurship accessible .
up to now , the Community institutions , the Commission and the Council , have said nothing .
this should be based on the solidarity clause contained in Article 80 of the TFEU .
opening of the sitting
undoubtedly , there is quite a difference between the electricity and gas markets , and we should distinguish between them in our documents , as was rightfully done by the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy .
it is therefore regrettable to note that the latest municipal elections held on 31 October were criticised by most observers .
is it justified for South Sudan to argue that , no , they should not be counted , as they are not permanent residents ?
in writing . - ( PT ) We voted in favour of this report which improves on the European Commission 's proposals , although it is not yet clear what will be accepted .
the last estimate was EUR 20 billion , which is quite a lot to anybody .
during my visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory , I was informed of various interfaith meetings where Israeli and Palestinian residents come together and do not let recent political events hamper their dialogue .
the first one is that it is not transparent , but the EU is a tricky political system even for those who understand its functioning .
on the basis of the above , the rapporteur suggested that the Committee on Transport and Tourism , first , and then Parliament as a whole , should give a favourable opinion on the conclusion of this agreement .
that is why the GUE / NGL Group has tabled amendments to rectify the legal situation , to the effect that space may be used only for explicitly civilian purposes and that Galileo is an explicitly civilian project .
but I cannot act alone .
this points to the need to improve the work of the police and the gendarmerie but , also , the working relationship between the police and the gendarmerie , on the one hand , and the judiciary , on the other ' .
I look forward to the day when we no longer need to talk about this and the principle of gender equality has finally been realised in the social sphere .
we cannot expect our producers to meet standards that third countries are not meeting .
while the governments of the Member States and the Union are among those who participated in the update in question , we face a paradox .
this work started in January , in accordance with the mandate which the European Council bestowed on the Slovenian Presidency in December last year .
we find some of the trends that ' will to some extent form the EU 's humanitarian approach in the future ' very worrying and extremely negative , taking the form of initiatives such as the ' EU response to situations of fragility in developing countries ' or the ' European Consensus on Development ' , aimed basically at African countries but also at Caribbean and Pacific countries .
we must learn all the lessons from this action , which has been crowned with success .
Mr President , may I at the outset thank the Commissioner very much indeed for her strong and audacious statement , which was very much appreciated .
it is all the more urgent that we have equality of treatment .
I am disappointed that the Commission drew back from an earlier draft of the SET Plan , where the sources of the identified necessary investment were clearly indicated .
this enables them to maximise the number of working hours for transporting passengers and goods according to the varying daylight .
this is a basic element that we all need to respect because , if the Cyprus issue is not resolved fairly , it will be disastrous for the European Union itself .
the strength and security of Europe has depended for some time on the allies willing to play an active role in our defence .
with regard to education , I believe that this is a broader part of education .
well-functioning markets depend on the respect of transparency across the board , and this report is a step in the right direction .
in 1997 Mr Brown established five famous so-called tests before we could adjudge sterling 's accession to the single currency .
does it come from individual states or from large lobby groups ?
those who did are , I am afraid , currently trapped inside an economic prison .
the vote will take place in a few minutes ' time .
without going into all the details once more , I am convinced that the initial 1996 ban on the inhaler was not legitimately imposed .
at this juncture , I would like to congratulate Mrs Striffler on the excellent work that she has done .
skimmed milk powder also went up by 4 % in France and Germany , and 2-3 % if we look at the average all over Europe .
both he and everyone else who has spoken today have pointed out the shortcomings , while also finding real potential solutions .
we have no time to dither ; we cannot just wait and see .
not all these aspects are duly safeguarded in the EU 's environmental law , nor are its policies duly consistent .
yes , it is indeed the anti-immigration mechanisms that encourage migrants to take increasingly risky routes to flee the desolation of their countries that are the cause .
if we want to get our small businesses and employment to stabilise in the European Union and in each individual Member State , we must do everything we possibly can to try and save them .
China can become truly great only by showing respect towards its minorities .
therefore , there is no legal basis for Greece to obstruct the country 's accession process .
inevitably , there are a small number of technical adjustments that I hereby request be put to the vote in plenary .
what in any case are supposed to be its priorities ?
you could fill in forms from here to the end of Parliament but , if there is no added value , it is of no benefit .
so there is no absolute need to guarantee legality placed on the companies .
we read from time to time that the European Parliament is demanding something or another , or deplores something , but do we think about what happens as a result ?
the package you are about to adopt certainly represents a great stride in the right direction and - I reiterate - a great political message , a great sign of will by the European institutions to provide answers to the questions asked by 500 million citizens .
I welcome the fact - and little did I think I would be saying this today - that the military junta has now allowed in five United Nations helicopters to distribute food , despite the fact that a French naval vessel and American naval vessels are in the bay waiting to deliver food and medical aid to the people .
as Mr Mitchell is probably aware , at its spring session in 2007 the European Council approved the objectives of the European Union regarding the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 .
before intervening in this way , I suggest that you think before you act .
the geographical situation of Austria , where I come from , makes it a particularly popular destination and this has had disastrous consequences .
NGOs are often not aware of this nor do the Commission 's officials bring this to their attention voluntarily .
allow me to say that it is of special significance that the Treaty will be signed on 13 December in Lisbon at the Jeronimo Monastery , precisely where the Treaty of Accession of Portugal to the European Community was signed .
it is time to say that we must never again see people expelled from their homes and deported on the basis of their nationality , faith or origin , as happened in my own country as well as in other countries in the region .
( EL ) Mr President , the European Social Fund is a tool , a basic tool with which to build a better Europe , so that we can forge the solidarity of peoples and states .
this pattern is consistent .
at international level , we must remind Cambodia to strive towards democracy and not use the selective enforcement of laws against individual rights .
it is so important to remember that this financial crisis has a human face as well and that face is represented quite often by the already most marginalised in society .
other policies may offer key elements or even better options for effective solutions .
I believe , however , that the resolution should place greater emphasis on the effects of certain Community policies , particularly the common agricultural policy , which lead people to abandon the land and productive systems , and on activities which contribute to a preventive approach to the problem of fires .
this matter is vital for us .
certainly not by the European Union : it firmly believes in and upholds unity and diversity .
the government of a sovereign state must openly accept the desire for change and drive through a political solution .
¡ Muito obrigado ! , Vital .
it will be important , however , to carefully monitor the volume of goods coming from that country , so that we can make use of the safeguard clause in the event that it increases excessively and threatens European jobs .
I would like to mention some of those commitments .
each one of us could be fined up to EUR 2 900 for publicly promoting sexual orientation - meaning homosexuality in this case , because I guess for heterosexuality that does not apply .
we would also draw attention , as we have done in the past , to the need to speed up the procedures for mobilising the Solidarity Fund , to ensure that regional disasters remain eligible and to effectively acknowledge the specific nature of natural disasters in the Mediterranean region , such as drought and fire .
only states may be members of the European Union and Kosovo has become a state .
this includes the European Union strategy on Roma inclusion , initiated by the European Parliament .
what Google has done , taking on intellectual property and reproducing it for private usage , was clearly illegal at the outset , according to the conclusions drawn by the US Department of Justice itself .
in writing . - Community media has always had an important role to play in our society .
the process brought in by the treaty will strengthen the Union from within and also in a global context , and is also very closely linked to strengthening cooperation in the area of the current third pillar .
I have been told that , when the original Directive was debated in the 1990s , very serious concerns were expressed , and the discussions became very emotional .
given recent developments in relation to the status of Kosovo , will the Council Presidency assume an active role in attempting to integrate further the countries of the Western Balkans into EU structures ?
however , I believe women should learn to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies ; in other words , when there is easy access to contraception and specialised advice , then abortion is more difficult to justify .
the result has been GDP growth of a meagre 0.7 % in 2008 , followed by a 4 % contraction in 2009 .
yet when those very same subjects come to this Parliament , you rarely see all the Members from one country voting one way and all the Members of another country voting another way , because we are making political choices - policy choices .
Marijus has asthma attacks , but he is not allowed to receive his medicine , nor is he allowed to meet loved ones or even the Lithuanian consul .
as the former commissioner emphasised on 16 November 2006 , the restitution of Famagusta to its legitimate inhabitants is an issue which will have to be dealt with under the auspices of the UN , as part of an overall settlement of the Cyprus issue .
15 .
we have got used to Lakshmi Mittal 's company being the largest steel company in the European Union .
apparently , we in Europe are not yet capable of forming our own opinion on this and I think it would be a good idea if we could take this debate seriously enough to actually translate what it means in concrete terms into figures .
providing better maternity leave and introducing paid paternity leave is a sensible investment .
lastly , a few words on overproduction .
( DE ) Mr President , I wanted to direct a further question to Mr Verheugen .
that is what is valuable about this motion for a resolution .
unfortunately , our relevant policies are still often based on the idea that markets must regulate themselves .
the Commission , of course , fully shares the view that the Treaty of Lisbon is a very positive step for the future of the Union .
the current rules for the wine sector are unsustainable .
the part managed by the European Commission is the part which is the subject of this debate on discharge , whereas the part managed by the EIB is for the time being excluded from the discharge , and I would like to come back to this matter later .
it includes concepts that are innovative , such as reversed qualified majority voting and the fining of Member States , and ensures that national budgets are no longer a matter merely for national parliaments .
my electorate has not been given the opportunity to familiarise itself with it , and I am here , after all , to represent its views and interests , and not just my own convictions .
it is a paradox that the more our societies and economies are turning into knowledge economies , the less of an internal market we have because the internal market was legislated for industry and the old-time economy , and less for the service sector , where we need to go further regarding the service directive .
this House therefore found the right line .
we are trying to push things ahead , and owing to the commitments we made in Nagoya we will have to do more in Europe than at present - also owing to Natura 2000 itself and the commitments which we have made .
the perversity of this measure can be easily noticed when it is realised that the vast majority of those banned are from the political Opposition , a practice that most likely will not be used only for the elections this November but may continue for the elections which will follow .
this is freer agriculture , freer farmers and free trade .
data sharing would allow for greater efficiency in the file evaluation system and would cut the cost of drafting these files , which would be significant both for small- and medium-sized enterprises and the national authorities responsible for examining applications .
on behalf of the PSE group . - ( RO ) Thanks to a lack of policies to promote an increase in the birth rate and certain facilities for child raising and care , that part of the population aged over 65 years will increase from 20 % to 28 % by 2025 .
I welcome the compromise reached between Parliament and the Council on introducing into the framework directive adequate protection for users in cases of restriction of access to services and applications through electronic communication networks .
I fully agree with the idea that , out of a concern for simplification and efficiency , the feasibility be investigated of merging the various Community funds in the future cohesion policy for the period subsequent to 2013 .
in writing . - MEP Mitchell presented a plan which articulates a collective Community response to the rising and volatile costs of food in developing countries by providing guidelines for rapid responses and safety net procedures for forthcoming harvests .
multilingualism is essential for effective communication and represents a means of facilitating comprehension between individuals and , hence , acceptance of diversity and minorities .
( DE ) Mr President , we need improvements , not justifications !
it is our political responsibility to finish this visa liberalisation process , and we also have to find a solution for all the people in Kosovo .
our willingness must be there .
Gaza should be viewed as a very important component of Palestinian state-building .
the movement was launched in 2000 when the European Union , for the first time , gathered together all of these countries at the Zagreb Summit and recognised their aspiration to join the Union .
we would stress , however , that the compensation system proposed in this report is merely a stopgap that does nothing to change the fundamental problem .
I really want to be very clear on that .
a capitalist economy that bears the human factor in mind .
in writing . - ( IT ) I am voting firmly in favour of this motion for a resolution on stepping up the European Union 's disaster response capacity .
at the same time , Interior Ministry officials have always argued that they lack even rudimentary equipment to successfully prosecute criminals in Bulgaria .
in addition , these 12-day trips help European integration and , for many people , are a very economical way of going on holiday .
I maintain my complete opposition on this issue , but this has not prevented me from voting in favour of what is a very positive report .
this has made a major contribution to the present crisis .
whilst I vote in favour today , I wonder whether there is an urgent need in future to examine in more detail what appears to be the inability of the EU side of these partnerships to exercise proper financial control .
perhaps an ' I 'm running unladen ' flag would be of interest here .
worker mobility within the EU is the key to economic recovery and the Single Market 's development .
the Commission therefore urges the Chinese Government to permit expressions of all forms of opinion .
some countries are embarking on the path of reform , and are reinforcing or creating the pillar of private pension funds , while others are attempting to turn back time instead .
Mr President , is there a timetable for all this , for the mechanism to combat speculation ?
I would like to thank the President for his very comprehensive reply .
I therefore agree with my compatriot , the rapporteur , on everything he has said on this issue , and fully endorse his report , and I congratulate him on this .
so , although the recovery plan was welcome and indeed necessary , we must not now cut important lines under Heading 1 to fund the GBP 1.98 billion required .
especially at a time when the economic crisis has hit small businesses hard , it is our duty to endeavour to provide them with all the facilities which might help them recover and offer support again to the European economy .
furthermore , in political terms , we must urgently continue the unremitting pursuit of dialogue on security policy , in order to develop ever stronger relations between the countries in question .
now more immigrants are arriving , but they are using fewer boats .
I believe that the European Union is a sufficiently strong financial market for a general residual tax on all transactions to be created without capital flight .
this agreement on the readmission of persons residing without authorisation is essential as a stimulus to relations between Georgia , its neighbouring countries and the European Union , as well as to the fight against illegal immigration .
retaining the so-called Television Without Frontiers Directive in its current form would aggravate the unjustified differences in the regulatory treatment of different methods of distributing similar or identical media content . the current provisions regarding television should remain in force for linear services .
I wish the Council had been listening , for then it would have seen that - thank God ! - all , or at least nearly all the parliamentary groups stand united here .
you even covered the ILO recommendation .
on this basis , I support the rapporteur 's suggestions that the European Commission should observe closely the adoption and implementation of EU consumer rights in the Member States and help them with this in every way .
I think it is very timely .
these results , however , must not blind us to the increasing difficulty the European Union has in playing its role as bridge builder , in a UN environment that is more polarised , where countries act together in blocs .
we agree that the Commission should carry out an updated analysis of the implementation and impact of the current ' ground handling ' Directive before we put any new liberalisation on the agenda .
more importantly , it is directly accessible to the public on the Europa server .
in that regard I want in particular to draw attention to the potentially enormous social pressure that could come from raising public awareness of women 's basic rights , which could in the final analysis improve the situation of women in the regions concerned .
I hope everyone will support this resolution .
I welcome the progress made in last week 's negotiations on the free trade agreement with the Republic of Korea , where I understand we are close to reaching an agreement which , again , will benefit both sides .
for example , in a resolution that it adopted in November last year , Parliament urged the Commission to draw up a general directive on measures to prevent and combat all forms of gender violence .
I am not fundamentally opposed to the idea , but I strongly believe some questions remain to be answered .
I am positively encouraged , however , by a number of indications that , during the present year , 2007 , there is a much greater willingness to take up the opportunities offered by my inquiries to resolve complaints .
therefore , it should be no surprise that the third party , in this case this House , is not prepared to go along with this .
a very important thing for a patient is to be close to his relatives and not to face a language barrier .
a concerted approach to the challenges posed by mental health is very important and should be tackled with the same seriousness as physical health .
omitting the topic of segregation when creating the Horizontal Directive is an unforgivable crime .
the highlight has been the extremely successful CIVITAS programme that started in 2000 .
( there is a need for further theoretical work in connection with this , so that the results can be assessed more accurately . )
it is , therefore , a positive thing that the European Parliament is , this evening , approving a number of reports setting out Parliament 's position regarding the implementation of the Treaty .
she is very emaciated .
that is my idea of a balanced food and agriculture policy , anyway .
some have said EUR 4 billion , others have said EUR 2 billion , and so on .
we want you to help us , and we will work with you , to ensure that we support a dialogue between stakeholders on what measures are necessary to bring mutual practical benefits for business and consumers alike .
I would also like to say to Mr Dimas that I appreciate very much what he said today .
in conclusion , it is my firm belief that if the Union wishes to remain relevant , then modernisation of its laws and policies must always be voted in favour of .
in writing . - ( LT ) I agreed with this document , because the agreement gives reciprocal access to short-stay , visa-free travel for all EU and Brazilian citizens holding a diplomatic , service or official passport .
we need to think seriously about developing safe nuclear energy .
four death sentences in particular are mentioned in the motion for a resolution before us .
people are dying in droves , the death penalty is widely applied and those whose existence is viewed as awkward by certain groups are being secretly murdered .
Christian settlements and schools are being set on fire .
from the perspective of future developments , I personally consider it vital firstly to align the role of local authorities correctly in managing European funds and secondly , to target European funds at supporting the use of modern technologies .
first of all , the status quo was able to continue for decades because the Western powers also wanted to maintain this situation after the Second World War .
we in Europe are currently up to our necks in water .
in writing . - ( SV ) I am voting for this report because it will make life easier for people relocating and travelling between Member States , without any powers being transferred to the EU .
the report I am in charge of urges the Commission to ensure that the process is an efficient one and that we do everything in our power to ensure that , firstly , the new system will improve the internal market 's effectiveness ; secondly , that this new system reduces the burdens on the business sector ; and thirdly , that it combats fraud as effectively as possible .
it will focus on the opportunities that exist in the Barents Sea , and I will be present in order to discuss with some Swedish ministers and some experts whether those opportunities are economically viable or not , and whether they are viable from an environmental point of view - another area where we need to see whether it is right and appropriate to carry out investigations .
as a result , one of the most effective measures would be to increase pay through a fair distribution of income .
on legal certainty , there are so many questions that the Commission should and could be helping sporting organisations with now .
I voted for the resolution on the implementation of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region because it satisfies the need to improve mobility , energy security , environmental protection , social and economic development , cultural exchanges , security and civil protection in the region .
if this brings full security , it will be accepted , but citizens question how this is being handled - improvements are probably possible .
by adopting this second phase of the ' asylum package ' , Brussels is facilitating and encouraging global immigration to Europe .
it should , however , be admitted that the new Commission did receive the overwhelming majority of the votes .
it plunged Europe into the most serious crisis of its history .
moreover , answers were given in Irish to the questions addressed to the Commission by citizens or by legal entities .
we do not , however , share the view on the contribution of nuclear power and believe that the report is unclear on tax matters .
we need structural reforms in Europe , including in the labour sector .
among the various faults in the transposition of the directive , I would emphasise the fact that the legislation of various Member States does not make specific reference to gender discrimination .
I think that Member States must penalise the imposition of obstacles to trade union participation and also offer low threshold advisory services for women who cannot receive support from a works council , such as women employed in private households and in agriculture .
within the framework of the current troika between France , the Czech Republic and now Sweden , we discussed at an early stage the importance of including Alzheimer 's as a joint priority issue in the context of the work relating to public health .
the proposal that the energy production industry will have to purchase all its CO2 emission allowances by auction as from 2013 will cause a massive increase in energy prices that will be particularly painfully felt by the domestic economies .
secondly , the time horizon for a future work programme - here Mr Verheugen wants to set a very long-term perspective , but this has to be weighed against the mandate of this Commission and we need to have some short-term results .
Docosahexaenoic acid ( DHA ) is found in breast milk , where it contributes to normal visual development in children aged up to 12 months .
nevertheless , I think that we must take steps now , even though it may be difficult .
the text often mentions the need to move swiftly towards the building of trans-European infrastructures , which are crucial for the continent 's development , but it says little about how to finance those networks .
I regret , however , that in the final compromise , we did not manage to ensure equal status for all parties and to maintain a level playing field both for public and for private entities .
moreover , this total will increase year on year , so where does the President suppose the money will come from ?
initial experiences with the function of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security , and the general expectation that she should be active and present in different places , demand that we think about appointing deputies , or involving other Commissioners in areas of her work to a greater degree , since we have so many of them .
I am not drawing any conclusions from this development at the moment .
however , it is of the utmost importance that all citizens in the European Union be guaranteed the same level of health and protection . that is the issue in this respect .
I regret the Commission 's tacit acceptance of the collective irresponsibility of the majority of the Member States concerning financial management of the EU .
the independent distribution sector will be in a position to put a larger spectrum of parts on offer , including parts from original equipment suppliers , as well as the normally cheaper parts from independent producers .
I believe , in fact , that we can find a fundamental line of agreement on this .
the decision to make financing in this matter dependent , not on income per resident , but on the pollution limit , is a decision which hits the economies of the new countries of the EU , including my country , Poland .
our common foreign policy must be based on cultural diplomacy as Europe 's position in the world can be strengthened through culture , as an integral part of its economic , development and security policies .
in our opinion , all these conflicts must , therefore , be dealt with .
you have proven already not to be capable of doing this job .
so far the Troika has met separately with the parties on 10 and 11 August in Belgrade and Pristina , on 30 August in Vienna , and on 18 and 19 September in London .
I expect the Member States to respect that .
the current application to mobilise the Fund for the benefit of workers from Polish companies in the Podkarpackie region is the first application this year .
I think that , in this situation , the European Parliament , and I speak as a member of the Committee on Transport and Tourism , must insist very strongly that the European Commission adopt principles for the legal protection of passengers and clients , and that also means financial protection .
therefore , I call on the Commission to develop a new strategy for world trade .
we must provide legal immigrants with a clear and common status .
the EU will cooperate in fulfilling the obligations entered into in Annapolis and Paris .
the economic crisis has now reached Europe .
written declarations included in the register ( Rule 123 ) : see Minutes
the Republic of Moldova has international obligations and commitments , which mean that it has assumed the responsibility to respect democracy , the rule of law and human rights .
Madam President , Mr Lewandowski , ladies and gentlemen , I have listened with great interest to your speeches , and would like , most of all , to say I am very pleased that the priority related to the main change to the budget for 2010 , the priority related to youth , which I proposed and which the Committee on Budgets adopted , has also met with your support and interest .
( ES ) Mr President , the meeting of the Council of Ministers on 18 February will not go down in the history of the EU as a particularly glorious date .
the Commission has assessed that three countries - Serbia , Montenegro and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - by and large already meet the conditions for visa liberalisation .
yesterday the BBC announced that next week , on 12 May , the Appeal Court will hear Roxana Saberi 's appeal , but that this would again take place in a closed-door session .
although the Lisbon Agreement was signed in 1990 , it never entered into effect , due to a territorial dispute between Spain and Morocco .
we know , too , that the Swedish Government has both experience and a record of success in this area .
we must face the facts .
does it intend to step up coordination on horizontal issues in the context of existing partnerships , this being necessary to achieve food security in Africa ?
I am sure that this weekend 's European Council , which is the same European Council that met on 11 February , will strengthen and preserve that stability .
now I feel that we actually need to see some concrete action .
however , the Russian report bears all the marks of a political game which aims to absolve the Russians of any blame .
we do indeed - hence I know about the weekly reports .
even though the text is not ideal , representing the result of complex negotiations , as far as the new position is concerned my understanding is that it is important to continue discussion of the new document and of often disputed issues such as racial discrimination , xenophobia , stigmatisation and stereotyping of people based on their religion or belief .
however , I look forward to constructive cooperation on these matters and I would like to thank the Commission for the initiative .
Canada is one of our oldest and closest trading partners , currently the 11th biggest , and the potential benefits from deregulating bilateral trade are obvious , including from the study carried out by the Commission and the Canadian Government in October 2008 .
I would like to draw the commissioner 's attention to the need to coordinate politics with economic issues and with Mr Almunia once again .
it is time to show the Commission that food safety and health are major concerns for the European Parliament .
a suspected terrorist who is known to the United States ' intelligence services is not necessarily known to their European counterparts , as the Commission 's answer to one of my questions shows .
I have the power as President under Rule 155 ( 2 ) to decide on the order of vote .
President-in-Office , you said that regular talks were being held with the United States .
1 .
the solutions are also well known , but I regret that the statements of good intentions are rarely translated into action .
here we must and shall fulfil our obligations .
the activities of both employed and self-employed drivers are equally relevant to their own and to other people 's safety .
this report denounces the misuse by the Member States of the European funds that should be devoted to Roma inclusion projects , but it is my hope that the Commission will go further by forcing the Member States to account publicly for their use of these funds .
in this House , we are not quite all of one mind as to how far we should enforce international demands with sanctions .
that would be a good way of solving at least one of our questions .
the second aspect concerns the scope of the directive .
the banks ruthlessly pocket enormous profits from high interest rates on loans and low interest rates on deposits , unlawful and irregular deductions and charges , misleading advertising , etc . , leading to workers going ever further into the red .
in general , the most threatened species are those that are higher up the food chain , have a low population density , live longer , reproduce slowly and live within a limited geographical area .
many of them do not end up in the final documents but people - and this is right and proper - spend time thinking about the different positions .
the problem is to do with the fact that , at world level , European competition policy forces the shipbuilding industry to fight mainly against the heavily subsidised shipyards of the Middle East , and today we have , in fact , closed down the shipbuilding industry in Europe through this competition policy , because we force them to compete against subsidised industries .
we are aware of the need for a balance between respect for individual privacy and the need to safeguard collective security , but the phenomenon of terrorism , with which many Europeans live every day , necessitates extraordinary measures .
in major urban areas , traffic and pollution constitute a problem for 66 % of European citizens , and 70 % of the citizens expect the Union to show active involvement in dealing with these problems .
10 million people in Europe suffer from dementia ; half of them are Alzheimer 's patients .
Burma 's military regime has no moral or legal justification for their activities of any type .
we do not want to prescribe to any Member State how security charges should be financed ; we only want to ensure that whoever pays ultimately knows what he has paid .
Mr Leterme , as I only have one minute , I will comment only briefly on the next Belgian Presidency , which will possibly hold office in 2025 or thereabouts .
as the rapporteur mentioned , this could mean including fresh produce , in most cases produced locally .
in order to ensure a more effective fight against bluetongue and reduce the burden it poses on the agricultural sector , the current rules on vaccination need to be updated .
I also agree with the remark that we should do our utmost to be better prepared .
( ET ) European social models face many problems at the moment , for instance demographic changes and globalisation , which also influence the models under discussion .
Ms Ernst
the actions of EU leaders , albeit they have not always been sufficiently swift or convincing , have enabled the euro to be defended .
here , we believe that it is important to convert the objectives stated in the strategy into laws , actions and measures which improve the position of small and medium-sized enterprises , but , of course , the Member States must also do their own homework .
when people talk about deforestation in developing countries , this too is a responsibility of our countries , of the European Union .
hence there must also be a strategy for childcare .
in the first six years of the EUSF , the Commission received 62 requests for financial support from 21 different countries .
we must act urgently with the Roma communities to make them aware of their fundamental rights and to facilitate their access to public services .
despite the new legal framework , there has been little progress in creating better funding conditions for sporting ventures in Europe .
I would like to welcome today the record financial support amounting to USD 2.6 billion which has been granted to Moldova for the 2011-2013 period .
according to the statistics on the complaints received by SOLVIT in 2007 , 20 % of them concerned the recognition of professional qualifications required to pursue a regulated profession .
the majority of my colleagues from those Member States of the European Union where the procedure for ratifying the Lisbon Reform Treaty has not been completed have told the Council in this debate that this will happen in the coming months .
the hotline itself is the least part of the problem .
to the Commissioner I would simply like to say that I am very pleased to see that you and I seem to agree on all of the points that are key for me in this work .
or how do you want to feed this back again so that our trade policy is imbued with a uniform European policy in such a way that all partners can understand this too ?
all of this is a means of saying that , when the Committee on Regional Development asks you to observe the condition not only of the integrated approach but also of the travel plans , it is establishing a general principle that we very much hope you will take into account in your action plan .
re-establishing stability within the financial system should not stand in the way of the tasks of the financial system : promoting the growth of Europe 's businesses .
( RO ) The compromise reached for the third maritime package will improve passenger safety , as well as help protect the environment and reinforce control systems .
Multi-country responses can be very effective but can result in divergence rather than the cohesion which we wish for under the European idea .
the knowledge base of workers must likewise be raised .
I would say to you that if the Czech Presidency , or its successors , is not capable of doing the job , then it shows that we really do need Lisbon : we really do need somebody on a more permanent basis to give leadership to the European Union .
the vote will take place at 11 a.m .
second , the announcement of a joint work programme on triangular cooperation with developing countries .
in addition , this voting method will strengthen separatist movements , which is surely not what we wish for contemporary Europe .
we must hope that the EU 's new flagship project that is the Strategy for the Danube Region will subsequently be given some observable and tangible content .
for this reason I expect the Czech presidency to take fresh steps towards securing financial support for the Nabucco gas pipeline and a more vigorous energy policy in Central Asia .
only two are in euroland .
this is why I am suggesting that we get involved in research into increasing the safety of nuclear energy , because this type of energy is clean and cheap as well .
I therefore welcome the fact that Parliament takes such a great interest in this file - and has from the very beginning , by the way - which is evidenced by the resolution which Parliament has put on the table .
this demonstrates the Commission 's lack of concern about the EU 's long-term economic interests .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality . - ( EL ) Madam President , the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality regrets the fact that both in the communication on the draft strategy for legal migration and in the text which we are asked to vote on today very little reference has been made to the problem of the equality of women .
although I have enjoyed myself in the IGC and previously in the Convention , I think I can speak for us all in saying that we share the opinion that we should settle some of these quarrelsome problems for a substantial time .
that will help us to secure people 's support , and the support of my Dutch citizens .
having talked to Swedish consumer advisers , I understand that this is a very important tool and that it is used on a routine basis .
the law in question that was adopted by the Lithuanian Parliament in July and the proposed amendment of the Criminal Code and administrative law that is being discussed are a cause of great concern for the Swedish Presidency .
although VAT is sometimes complex , its effects across borders may cause specific problems which this report helps to identify and clear up .
I would like to say in all sincerity that this action by the Commission is necessary and that it is an extremely valuable contribution .
however , because I believe that in complicated diplomatic cases of this kind , discretion is the best way of solving the problem , I would ask my fellow Members to use the necessary discretion to ensure that this lady is saved .
I want to make one point in this respect : in addition to what we have received - and it is only right and proper to be grateful - we have contributed certain elements .
now , however , we are talking about people travelling .
Lithuania has already experienced this .
Member of the Commission . - I will perhaps start with the second point .
the distinction between those countries that have capital punishment and use it , and those that retain the power but do not actually carry out the death penalty , is not as dramatic as one would first assume .
it is appropriate for the Commission to provide more resources for the protection of external borders , but at the same time the European Refugee Fund and the financial assets serving integration should also be increased .
in the draft resolution on the European Social Fund , much is being said about the fight against poverty , support for the social model , etc .
I have timed their contributions , and Mr Dimas , together with his colleagues , has not used even half of that .
I voted in favour of the resolution , which promotes the integration of Montenegro into the European system , because we have all witnessed that this country has made notable progress towards adopting proper processes and instruments .
'i don 't take the European position all that seriously .
you even write in your document , I quote : ' the signs of recovery are clear ' .
this is an issue of management , due to a government that allowed revenue to drop or did nothing when revenue was dropping and allowed expenditure to increase or pushed expenditure up because the elections were approaching .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , as you know , the conciliation procedure relating to the Working Time Directive has failed .
let me stress again : this is totally unacceptable .
individual Member States have already announced that they intend to recognise Kosovo on a unilateral basis .
the oral question to the Commission by Renate Weber , Nathalie Griesbeck , Sophia in ' t Veld , Sonia Alfano , Cecilia Wikström , Louis Michel , Sarah Ludford , Gianni Vattimo , Leonidas Donskis , Alexander Alvaro , Niccolò Rinaldi , Ramon Tremosa i Balcells , Metin Kazak and Marielle De Sarnez , on behalf of the ALDE Group , on databases relating to racial and ethnic origin in the EU - B7-0556 / 2010 ) , and
I have been a Member of Parliament since 1990 .
the debate is closed .
it is simply due to the fact that the Member States are largely opposed to it .
there is an ongoing dialogue in cooperation with the United Nations and the ILO .
Mr Schnellhardt said that we should act promptly and Mr Arsenis asked particularly , with regard to the timetable : when will this end ?
as you will remember , in the Resolution adopted by Parliament in April 2005 we asked the Commission to adopt an action plan containing clear recommendations for the Member States and candidate countries relating to the economic , social and political integration of the Roma .
I cannot understand the concerns of the board of the European Medicines Agency that the new tasks being allocated to it are not sufficiently funded .
although the reform process should be given a boost and eight negotiating chapters are still blocked , the Commission has welcomed in particular Turkey 's recent diplomatic activity and its role in promoting stability in the region .
( the sitting was opened at 9.05 a.m. )
is the Commission already planning which countries could possibly become members in future ?
- Before the vote :
the actions and the activity of volunteers speak for themselves .
I remember well , a year and a half ago when we talked about the Africa summit , no one really believed we could pull it off .
on the contrary , one gets the feeling that bureaucratic paperwork seems to grow by the year .
is it acceptable on the part of a country seeking EU membership ?
the biggest obstacle to the introduction of an EU copyright , Mrs Geringer de Oedenberg , is that it would absolutely have to take precedence over national copyright in order to be effective .
I also believe that research and technological development must become more accessible to ordinary Europeans .
a substantial share of the Member States ' health budgets has to be allocated to combating the problems raised by overweight .
an integral approach requires a change in our European heads , because until now , we have only been preoccupied with development , or primarily with the development of a low carbon society .
do we take the same attitude in the European Union ?
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( EL ) Madam President , the report on the European Ombudsman 's activities affords us an opportunity to ascertain how citizens view the workings of the institutions of the European Union and gives us practical ideas and examples as to how the institutions of the European Union can improve how they operate and how they serve the citizens .
I know that one of my main tasks is to coordinate this effort in the Commission , and your vigilance will be most welcome and comforting .
but we know very well that there are divergences in the approaches of the Member States .
by not being open and honest , we are strengthening Kostunica who can then say : if we take a hard line we can force the European Union to make concessions .
in addition , the relationship between the incomes of citizens - measured , for example , as GDP per capita - has a very loose relation to the minimum wage .
at present , President Obama is allocating 10 times more venture capital to green technologies than Europe is .
Parliament 's almost unanimous opinion is that Neighbourhood Policy has not produced the expected results .
I abstained because Parliament regrets the deficiencies in staff selection procedures , which put at risk the transparency of these procedures .
the inclusion of the human rights clause , along with the application of social and environmental standards in trade negotiations , are complex problems that divide the international community .
however , these rules are not interpreted or applied uniformly by the Member States .
we all need clarity regarding who exactly will provide this funding , how much each developed country will provide , and how and when it will be provided .
we need to take immediate steps to free ourselves of our raw material dependence on Russia , which may subsequently become a political dependence .
regarding security issues , the internal security strategy was adopted in the March European Council .
it is a great trading nation , it is an exporter of people , not least to this continent , and it is a vital ally in the fight against terrorism .
I would really like to know whether the Commissioner agrees that we could go for lower targets or whether we should stick to the current ones .
these have not been accepted by the Council .
what the Council has done , however , in virtually reversing the ruling of the Court of Justice and even ignoring the improvements that the Commission 's proposal had made to some aspects of the previous legal position is unacceptable .
( FR ) Mr President , one second more to thank you , Mr Coelho , and tell you that it is a great pleasure to work with you as you always show great skill , you have a true capacity for listening and analysis and it is due to you that we have achieved this result .
what we need is global consensus , and for this we must have something to offer , above all to developing countries .
only thus can we develop this system effectively from the standpoint of legal principles .
this is precisely the role of the European Parliament .
a directive intended to encourage recycling has ended up encouraging fly-tipping .
since the new protocol has solved the technical problems and opened up a more secure procedure for settling technical differences between the parties , that will surely lead to a greater number of vessels wanting to access this fishing ground , which is becoming safer by the day , and therefore offering more guarantees , than in the previous protocol .
Mr President , thank you for your words of condolence on behalf of our British soldiers who lost their lives on Saturday evening .
I asked if he was 65 and he said ' No , if I waited till next year , I would have to go .
Taiwan is a prosperous democracy with a top-quality public health system .
in the report we also emphasise the fact that the recovery plan will have important consequences for the fishing industry as well as the economic and social development of local communities , and this is why the Commission should reconsider the fishing effort system once cod stocks have significantly improved .
Mr President , for form 's sake , I should like to notify my fellow Members on this occasion that I shall also be putting forward a motion - not now , but tomorrow - that the vote on the report on FYROM , or Macedonia , likewise be postponed until the Strasbourg sitting .
the withdrawal period should be set at one year , which will increase consumer protection in most Member States .
Mr Cornillet 's report also raises a very relevant question regarding the institutional framework for debating humanitarian policy .
that , then , is the appeal that I am making here .
this remains a topical issue in our debates and we will continue to remind our partners , the Council and the Commission , of it .
as far as I am concerned , it is a question of robbing Peter to pay Paul .
a more effective EU policy for the South Caucasus - A Black Sea Regional Policy Approach ( debate )
despite this , I believe that the rapporteurs have succeeded in strengthening the continuity of legal protection and guaranteeing maximum protection for victims , while ensuring legal certainty .
the challenges we face are very substantial .
it is true that in this regard we are very much at the forefront , but we still have a lot to do .
Parliament should monitor the processes of democratic transition in the Southern Mediterranean countries and , along with the other European institutions , support this transition as swiftly and peacefully as possible , providing important support through the instruments at its disposal , which are aimed at promoting political , economic and social reforms .
many in Europe were attracted to this change and the spirit of change .
Mr President , I would echo what has been said by a large number of colleagues here this afternoon : a democratic Mauritania represents a pole of stability in the subregion .
the Roma question is an insurmountable problem , given that this ' solidarity ' is represented by camps - as shown on yesterday 's Porta a porta [ Italian current affairs programme ] - which are theoretically legal , but where there is continuous child abuse and the sanitation conditions are absolutely appalling .
if the European Commission is the custodian of the EU Treaties , then the European Parliament is the custodian of the values and I believe that together we shall be able to withstand a rising wave familiar from the recent past . and that we shall stop it , without violating fundamental rights like the right of free expression , the right of assocation , the freedom of the media .
nonetheless , almost a year after the Plan was launched , we still have no tangible proposals from the Council or the Swedish Presidency concerning where the money is to come from .
the funds required to perform tasks should be increased .
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it stresses the importance of collective bargaining in the fight to abolish discrimination against women , in particular with regard to access to employment , wages , working conditions , careers and professional training .
I would also like to inform you that we shall shortly - before the end of April - present a road map of this kind for visa-free travel for Serbia where , likewise , ordinary citizens value this extremely highly .
that is why , Commissioner , anyone wishing to help Turkey should ultimately listen to what is being said by the Turkish Cypriots , who are currently protesting , not for direct trade or for its translation , as we heard today in the decision dated 26 April , but for Cyprus to be released from the occupation and for them personally to be released and rescued .
what I hope will happen as a result of this is that we will ensure that airlines do not hold on to slots unnecessarily .
do you not think that electric cars can be introduced in Europe much sooner than other forms of clean propulsion ?
I am not in favour of the EU passing laws on behalf of Member States at all .
as a Christian , I would like to focus once again on the situation of the Pakistani Christians , who are subjected to severe persecution .
every single time , I have heard the EPP say that this should not be party politics and that we should not single out Member States .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - Madam President , I also would like to thank the rapporteur , Mr Díaz de Mera García Consuegra , for his great work .
we are equally responsible for both large and small farms .
I do agree that the way forward is to support small business and provide long-term sustainable jobs , high-quality jobs , and I do hope that the proposal for a small business act will help to achieve this in the long term .
however , my personal opinion is - and I think that this opinion should be respected , because it is respectable - that it is not by humiliating China that we will make progress on the issue of human rights , but through a frank and direct dialogue .
the EU 's cohesion policy is intended , through its four separate programmes , to help make Europe and its regions more competitive , for example through innovation , the development of the knowledge society , and strengthening economic competitiveness .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , Commissioner , on 21 April 2009 , the European Ombudsman submitted his annual report on his activities in 2008 to the outgoing President of the European Parliament , Hans-Gert Poettering .
talks at the Council meeting led to an agreement to formulate strategies on the basis of the principles discussed by the finance ministers at their informal meeting in Gothenburg .
this is why we allocated more money than proposed by the Commission to budget lines which promoted the social dimension by creating more and better jobs and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises .
I imagine a reconnaissance mission coming from the planet Mars .
secondly , early retirement and its financial incentives must be eliminated throughout Europe .
the Commission adopted a two-tier approach to tackle these problems : infringement procedures to address incorrect implementation of the rules , and changes to the rules when they were not clear or precise enough .
on the one hand , it is just as Udo Bullmann says .
we should not wait until emerging diseases reach a crisis state ; we must amend our veterinary medicine legislation swiftly as the consequences and cost of a major outbreak of a high-impact disease in the EU would far exceed the cost of action now to develop appropriate and adequately available ...
while I have heard the message , I am not sure I believe it .
it must be a simpler , fairer and more sustainable model , which ensures that finance serves the real economy , which develops new forms of solidarity among Europeans , which takes account of the social and environmental challenges in international trade , and which radically reforms our relations with the world 's poorest countries , and here I am thinking specifically of Africa .
allow me now to reiterate briefly what I said in my opening statement .
there must be no obligation to install solar panels when building a house , carrying out reroofing works , building an extension or replacing a heating system , such as is the case in the Marburg model .
globalisation has given rise to fierce competition between countries which , in turn , has led to unacceptable practices by many multinationals in developing countries : failure to respect core labour standards , human rights violations and environmental damage .
the failure in Copenhagen must not be repeated .
the aim of the report is to mobilise EUR 11.8 million in commitment and payment appropriations from the EU Solidarity Fund relating to the effects of the floods which hit Romania in July 2008 .
we must concentrate more on vocational training and retraining .
the Mexican Government is trying to bring the situation under control by means of a massive military and police operation .
( PL ) Mr President , Commissioner , I would like to echo the previous speakers who congratulated the rapporteur on her well-prepared report .
we also have commitments under the international obligation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control - all these will be brought together to decide what the next steps should be .
the great unknown is always too easy a threat , and it is easy to join that particular chorus .
nevertheless , you are right : this is an issue that has not been handled in a reasonable manner - I understand this - by the Parliamentary Bureau .
that is why the Members representing the Portuguese Social Democratic Party ( PSD ) are supporting this report , which is , as a matter of fact , coherent with the measures proposed in Portugal by the leader of the PSD , Dr Manuela Ferreira Leite .
it should not only apply to the CAP .
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yet , in this context , it is important to remember that today 's critical situation in North Kivu , while exacerbated by the fighting taking place in the second half of 2007 , is a result of years of war in the region .
my officials tell me that you have produced a highly factual and competent report .
the child had been raped by three men .
the strategic importance of the Black Sea region has now been recognised since 2007 : with the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the EU , the Black Sea began to have a direct impact on the Union 's internal affairs , which is why there needs to be greater EU involvement in the area .
I am very glad we managed to reach a consensus in committee too , thanks to the preparatory work and the very fair cooperation with the rapporteur .
the re-hashed SWIFT agreement does very little to change this situation .
for this reason , we must increase the mandatory joint financing by the regions and the project promoters and we must offer more loan-based programmes .
I am speaking on behalf of one of the four motors of the European economy , Lombardy .
Mr Klepsch spent most of his professional life working towards a united Europe .
the economic crisis magnifies these disparities , placing additional pressures on the governments in these countries , which have to deal with stringent macroeconomic conditions , the social repercussions of the crisis , while also having to resolve problems arising from the vulnerability of the financial system and the sustainability of the public health care and social insurance systems .
we have to help the fishing community who , at the moment , are in a severe economic crisis , particularly with the 30 % increase in marine fuel prices .
in the next funding period , it is also important that the establishment and implementation of structural programmes be directed above all at people , to simplify the procedures for using the funds .
there are other countries as well , as we all know .
secondly , I think this will be catastrophic for over half a million families , especially in my country , where most are poor , small-scale tobacco farmers who will abandon their farms and move to the large towns , which is extremely dangerous for the environment and the countryside .
I agree with you , Mr Madlener , that human traffickers should be arrested and that Turkey really should set up a decent asylum system , a system that recognises political refugees who do not come from the European Union , but from elsewhere .
ladies and gentlemen , we must make use of all the means available to us to work , together with the UN , to help the victims of Cyclone Nargis .
in that case , we would have a greater administrative burden .
if you look at Ireland 's history , what we have been able to do with investment in infrastructure , largely from the European Union - to which we are now about to become , thank God , a net contributor - is an indication of what can be done when you give people the tools with which to do the job .
this is what many economic sectors in our countries are asking of us .
in writing . - I voted for the report on the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean ( GFCM ) Agreement Area .
these people are generally economically disadvantaged due to their peripheral status , but if their jobs were to disappear , this would have a negative impact on them .
( FR ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I wish to sound the alarm bell regarding the low rate of planning and payment of the ERDF , ESF and Cohesion Fund appropriations .
I wish to highlight from the work programme for 2011 the importance of the legislative initiatives in the following areas : personal data protection , improvement of information and network security based on public procurement standards and recommendations , electronic signatures and reciprocal recognition of electronic identification and authentication mechanisms .
it is necessary to find an additional label to the already existing one , which would introduce mandatory inspections and drastic penalties for those abusing the EC mark .
we want to see a final effort being made to put the fundamental freedoms in place in the internal market .
it paid scant regard to the interests of creditors , employees , consumers and small suppliers .
Libyan citizens do not enjoy many political and civil rights , such as freedom of expression , assembly and association .
Iceland 's membership of the EU , however , may not be a matter of course .
we have already introduced private storage earlier than we normally do .
I have received five motions for resolution tabled in accordance with Rule 103 ( 2 ) of the Rules of Procedure .
there are areas where bus drivers are in great demand and areas where there is a shortage of qualified doctors .
access to institutions of higher education must also be made easier for adults with practical vocational experience .
speaking as a pilot myself : can the Commission please explain why the pilots ' associations were not consulted in this matter , and could it also confirm that the concerns of pilots and other people working in this industry will be fully taken into account ?
we have four funds .
the impact study procedure , also established by the Commission , aims to improve the cohesion of Community policies and includes an assessment of all the environmental parameters of our proposals .
it is very important to ensure better implementation of agreements on simpler visa procedures and an EU-Ukraine free trade area .
I hope that what you have announced will be implemented .
this is despite the fact that upon this chess-board our energy future and our security future is decided .
internal threats , such as drugs , poverty in society , and Internet crime , must not be forgotten either .
we cannot but endorse the intentions behind this report : to guarantee the quality of European food products , the competitiveness of producers , simple but comprehensive information for consumers regarding the origin of products , compliance with designations of origin and quality labels , a better definition of traditional or organic products , and so on .
two equally important issues should be stressed at this point , which are more important than the construction of new houses and new roads .
I would love to see a kind of enhanced competition which does not encourage ' discounting for discounting 's sake ' but which serves to ensure greater consumer satisfaction .
I also join the rapporteur in welcoming the changes proposed by the Commission , particularly that relating to the planned reduction in fees and less frequent reporting for SMEs , for which participation in this system would be more onerous but no less important .
now , I have no choice but to repeat my question , because the new document does not say a word as to why this failure happened .
complementary , of course , to Doha , it will drive Europe 's recovery and growth and the European Parliament will be instrumental in determining the future of global trade policy .
I call on the European Commission to link the application for Community financing with the repeal of this scandalous decision , which reminds us that there are still nationalists in the Balkans .
I am convinced that in just taking such a step , we will totally harmonise standards in the European Union 's internal market and move toward the so far most extensive elimination of the threat from transmission of these diseases .
it fills me with dismay to note that , after Tibet and Kosovo , we have now arrived on European Union soil .
with regard to the revision of the technical measures covered in the legislation , it is vital to extend the use of trammel nets along the coast to depths of between 200 m and 600 m until 31 December 2012 , which will allow ships to continue to capture stocks of great economic importance to Portuguese national fisheries , such as anglerfish , in a sustainable manner .
during the plenary yesterday , Ingrid Betancourt of Latin America and France said that she dreams of a Latin America that could cooperate and be as united as the European Union .
suggestions for improving healthcare in Europe through health education , access to treatment , knowledge of data and the use of mechanisms to measure , monitor , evaluate and communicate information provide an important contribution to the development of policies that are effective for reducing health inequalities .
the purpose behind its inclusion is starting to become clear .
in the context of reduced EU structural monies and funds , regional development monies must be better targeted - as many speakers have said - at local areas and local authorities , which must be the key deliverers of those funds .
if Europe is borderless , so is the internet ; if languages are difficult , technological tools now offer us the possibility of instant translation .
Noam Shalit , who is with us here today , is placing his hope and confidence in you , as well as in the God of Israel , to obtain the release of his precious son .
these projects must also contribute to the ecological transformation of our economies , paving the way for the zero carbon economy .
ensure that the energy market is both transparent and capable of being monitored .
the list of areas of cooperation is a long one .
last month , on a visit to Bulgaria , I saw a truly inspiring example of this .
the statements were very different .
in addition to consolidating the rule of law , important measures will be taken to combat terrorism and terrorist financing and to prevent the use of weapons of mass destruction .
the euro cannot simply act as a safety anchor , but must also be an engine that can drive growth .
toughness must be combined with efficiency and substance .
Mr President , I am speaking on behalf of the European Free Alliance members in the Greens / EFA Group .
I am therefore promoting the creation of a code of ethics for retailers and producers of video games .
with inflation in the euro area at 4 % , the latest interest rate hike by the European Central Bank means that the real interest rate is 0.25 % .
the draft report criticises the fact that the funding for these ambitious plans is inadequate . the plans should be properly financed from the Union 's budget .
being equally thirsty for anti-democratic global domination , the commercial and political elite which constitutes the European Union hastens to implement these instructions , just as they did to implement REACH .
as a result , the 2011 budget year will be extremely important from the perspective of financial planning for subsequent years .
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on this point , I fully agree with your report , as I believe that , in the Stockholm Programme , the training of judges and the exchange of judges among Member States will be the key to the future of this European area of law that we so want .
it is precisely in this area that we need a well-considered and well-prepared European policy .
they know what visa liberalisation means , they know that , by abolishing their visas in the European Union , we will not be giving away jobs or rights to asylum or citizenship or suchlike .
amongst these areas , we could mention transport , the priority of which should be the creation of a sustainable and safe transport system and the development of trans-European networks .
women have always made the choice to be full-time mothers .
a good way of providing the aid that Latin America needs is by strengthening the trading relationship between the two blocs , which , upon completion , will be one of the largest in the world .
there are not four alternatives , but in fact only two , namely the Lamassoure / Severin report or Nice .
this five-year programme will need to guarantee a coordinated , consistent approach to information sharing , and should incorporate a European Union strategy on information management .
the two-year restriction period on the labour market imposed on the new Member States expires at the end of this year .
furthermore , we affirm this Parliament 's resolution in January this year on combating the phenomenon of street children by 2015 .
I hope this will happen as soon as possible .
as a young member of parliament , in 1957 I voted against the Treaty of Rome , the first stage of a process which , according its promoters , Monnet and Coudenhove-Kalergi among others , was to lead to the United States of Europe : this Tower of Babel that can only be built on the ruins of the nations , and first of all of my homeland , France .
that needs to be changed as well , please !
despite our repeated requests , the EU refused then , and refuses still , to deal with this event .
although South Sudan has reserves of natural resources such as oil , copper and iron , as well as forest and fertile land , the vast majority of its population live in poverty , with one of the highest infant mortality rates and the lowest education indicators in the world .
four points must be dealt with as soon as possible ; none should present a serious political problem .
for that , we have to bake our bread before we distribute it , as we say in Finland .
proportionally speaking , this has the same impact as 120 000 arriving in France in just one day .
the Council has therefore asked the Commission to put forward a general guideline document in this respect .
the fifth freedom , for example , Prime Minister Janša , is part of social policy .
Madam President , many thanks for this truly important debate , and in particular my sincere thanks once more to the rapporteur .
with regard to the fight against direct or indirect discrimination on the basis of gender , that policy has proved a complete success in the European Union .
we know that it is not just a question of one million signatures on any issue .
there again , I think that that was being honest .
every EU state should nominate a body to cooperate with OLAF on a day-to-day basis .
everywhere , there was devastation and death .
I abstained in the vote on the resolution on smoking .
in writing . - ( DE ) Internet advertising adapts itself to users ' behaviour .
however , it is equally obvious that , the initial ambitious statements notwithstanding , instead of the probability of global agreement increasing , it is constantly shrinking .
however , I will bow to the superior wisdom and experience of Doris Pack in saying that this may be the way forward .
as Mr Obiols pointed out , negotiation is an unquestionable weapon for moving forward in that process and for advancing internal reforms in Turkey .
Mme Sudre , I see your report as helping to build a bridge between the present and future strategies for the outermost regions and that is a very important role of this report .
( DE ) Mr President , European environmental economic accounts will provide us with important data to enable us to bring environmental aspects into all kinds of political decisions and , as a result , to have these aspects taken into consideration in a whole range of issues .
the vote will take place tomorrow .
I believe that the European Union must use every means to support any move indicating democratic transition .
I also recall that the Treaty of Lisbon has introduced changes to trade policy which touch upon some of the proposals presented in this report .
( NL ) Madam President , Commissioner , I support the soil strategy elaborated in the Prodi report , but oppose the Directive on soil .
the first signal that this report makes is that some of the Commission 's proposals do not quite go far enough .
in Lebanon , for example , the Israeli army launched more than a million cluster bombs on villages and homes in the last few hours before it withdrew .
as companies frequently challenge the validity of the Commission decisions imposing fines , a large part of the amount mentioned above is not final , so to speak .
this seems like a reasonable solution to me , so I voted in favour .
today , the Lisbon Treaty is not really your Treaty .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Mr President , first of all , I would also like to congratulate the rapporteur for a very good job of work .
we are therefore asking for a ' colegislative ' role and for Parliament to be regularly informed of any initiatives in this field .
others are more political , related to the period after 2013 , but I am sure that you would find the proposals extremely interesting .
as Ms Beer said , if 7 000 candidates can run for 290 seats , too many candidates have already been rejected .
the question is , why not ?
of course , we also need to incorporate the banking system in terms of the risks involved , which should not only be undertaken by the European people .
the solution is national responsibility and the obligation of individual Member States to cut their coats according to their cloth .
familiar as we are with the EU structures , we have ceased to see how anomalous , how outrageous , it is that we have supreme executive and legislative power in the hands of an unaccountable and unelected bureaucracy .
in this respect , the trial with joint sittings by two committees is a new attempt to devise something better .
we Europeans have a responsibility in that regard , but I nonetheless believe that the questions that have been raised here are justified .
even Commissioner Verheugen believes that the current CE marking may be a little confusing .
this aims to remove the current physical , administrative and regulatory obstacles and alleviate the ' border effect ' between territories and regions , permitting them to address their shared challenges together , whether these be territorial , global , economic or societal .
( FI ) Mr President , I supported the report , but I wonder if the European Union has the ability to work to promote peace and stability in our neighbouring countries , by which I now mainly mean Syria , Libya and Egypt .
( SK ) All Member States ratified the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child ; however , the Convention does not include any sanctioning mechanism .
some amendments adopted in the Privacy Directive , however , are really causing problems and we shall make sure that they are deleted .
we said that biofuels were the answer but no one realised at the time that the massive use of arable land for the cultivation of energy crops could lead to a shortage of farmland for the cultivation of foods .
that is why we are working on joint multiannual programming based on strategies to combat poverty , which give us a better picture of how funds are targeted and according to what objectives , and which also enable us to control this allocation better .
there are no adjustments for persons with movement disabilities .
it is a very serious problem at a time when we are reforming agricultural policy , threatening to cut the budget for agriculture and not looking at the imperfections in this marketplace .
it is particularly important for the new Member States , which really do need the financial resources of the Community .
the Black Sea areas has always been linked to the Mediterranean and thus both should be comparable and put on equal footing today .
we must really try to draw a distinction here from everything that instead concerns public services which , of course , must be the responsibility of the national state .
on a global scale , the EU 's competitors are investing in the research and development of new technologies for reducing carbon emissions and are launching programmes supporting the transition to green road transport .
it also seeks to promote the development of filtering systems and to encourage the labelling of Internet sites deemed safe for children .
this means that the actions that the Commission can take to support them in that - for example , the use of the UNHCR , and the idea of the Asylum Support Office - become very important , providing they are adequately resourced .
we are , naturally , prepared also to go along this difficult route of announcing these decisions .
that brings me to this question of tar sands and oil shale .
this is important because what we are specifically calling for at this time is a guarantee of healthy growth , without coercion or negative stereotypes or criminalisation of childhood .
however , as the rapporteur Mr Díaz de Mera García Consuegra has amply demonstrated , I do not believe that the series of countries listed should be included on the positive list since , unlike Taiwan , these do not have the same standards and requirements .
that is how Europe developed its food production base - that is how we fed ourselves - and we need to acknowledge , as has been done in this House today , that we have underinvested in agricultural research , in development and in the advisory service .
in writing . - ( FR ) I voted in favour of discharge for the Director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in respect of the implementation of its budget for the Financial year 2006 on the basis of the report by my Austrian colleague Mr Hans-Peter Martin , which recommends to Parliament to give discharge .
but we must retain a sense of collective engagement as we continue to improve ties with what was , until quite recently , a diplomatically isolated and largely overlooked region , particularly by the European Union .
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despite this changing context , President Barroso clings to the existing integrated guidelines as though they were engraved in Portuguese marble .
I can assure you , Mr Posselt , that religious freedom forms an integral part of those criteria .
I am , of course , referring to the second referendum .
in other words , it must be guaranteed that letters will be delivered as efficiently as ever and at reasonable prices .
the European Union , which these countries wish to join as soon as possible , is based on common values and standards , one of the most important of which is the rule of law .
an effectively working internal market is essential for the creation of a stable and innovative economic environment .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - Mr President , I welcome the Commissioner 's remarks , particularly as commitment to better regulation involves clear team work of regulators and those people affected working together to develop a piece of legislation .
the Commission 's Green Paper on this issue has laid down procedures for dealing with the problem , which arises when the enforcement of court judgments is avoided because of the operation or transfer of bank accounts outside national borders .
but leaving that political difference aside , I - happily - am not a Conservative , therefore I do not have to vote blindly for complete nonsense .
in addition , the disparities in methods used by the Member States to record the causes of accidents makes statistical comparison and production a difficult exercise , lacking in precision .
if we are talking , today , about the fact that we want to conduct a review of this policy , then it is crucial to say that we want to see that these countries , in a variety of ways and at different speeds , are going to move towards our values - towards what the European Union offers them .
in my opinion , there are two things that are immensely important , both of which could be subsumed under the heading of ' fairness ' .
the first stage involves collecting the fingerprints within 48 hours of submitting the application for asylum , while in the second stage , Member States send the data obtained in this way to the Eurodac central system within 24 hours .
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let me be blunt : it is mainly the major Western industrialised countries which produce and equip their armies with fragmentation bombs and deploy cluster bombs in wars .
we need to carry out a long-term review of the European Parliament budget and determine the money that can be saved in the future , in order to reduce costs and find the funds to enable Parliament to operate efficiently as one of the legislative bodies .
secondly , I would like to argue in favour of the newly founded Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators receiving and utilising definitive powers and applying best practice from the Member States .
I am therefore very grateful to Mr von Wogau for moving matters ahead decisively on military and security policy and I am very grateful to Mr Dess for doing the same in the humanitarian sector .
that is unfortunate , but surely the answer is not to break the law .
also , the concept of ' sustainability ' has still not been defined .
however , we must put much more emphasis on looking at transposition and evaluating how legislation has been implemented and if it has achieved what we have set out to achieve .
( CS ) Allow me to elaborate a little on the debate held here a few minutes ago .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( SL ) The word heard - and read - most frequently in this Chamber today has been ' respect ' .
I also have many reservations about the possibility of using enhanced cooperation in this case .
for the same reasons , I would like to say in conclusion , Mr President , that we also support the proposals tabled by our Irish and Scottish fellow Members in relation to this same report .
according to our calculations , by 2020 this could mean an increase in cereal prices of between 3 and 6 % , rapeseed by about 8-10 % and sunseed 15 % as compared to the 2006 prices , assuming a share of 30 % coming from the second generation of biofuels .
this report includes measures - such as super-credits for non-polluting or low emission vehicles , fines if limits are exceeded and eco-innovation incentives to help manufacturers develop new , more environmentally friendly technologies - which will benefit the competitiveness of the EU and create employment opportunities .
operatives in this field are confused .
in this connection , I attach special importance to the forthcoming EU-Africa summit which will take place during the Portuguese Presidency .
discussions on the Black Sea Synergy began in 2007 .
that would be completely unacceptable .
first of all , I would like to begin by thanking Mr Rack for his hard work .
when I first raised this two years ago there was no support in the Parliament - in fact the Commission was taking Denmark to court and there was nothing happening .
Commissioner , one thing is clear , and you hinted at it : we appear to be unable to learn from recent past mistakes .
external factors , such as the consequences of the present financial crisis , will tend to make people vulnerable to these problems .
however , when I visited Zagreb some time ago at the head of the delegation from the Committee on Foreign Affairs , I took note of the determination of the Croatian authorities to do away with those problems and achieve membership of the Union .
we voted against the two separate votes ( paragraphs 19 and 20 ) , and both were adopted ; we voted against at the final vote , but the text was adopted .
however , the seat of Parliament - of this Chamber - is Strasbourg , and it must remain so .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( DA ) Mr President , one consequence which the Patient Directive in its current form might have for the healthcare sector is to make it very difficult to control public spending .
we are not asking those who have made their profits from such speculation to dip into their pockets , and that means we are not going far enough .
I would stress the need for effective monitoring both of recipients , and of altruistic and voluntary donors , to whom the public cannot fail to owe a debt of gratitude .
I call on Commissioner Kallas to confirm the Commission 's position hitherto in a statement to the press and to state loud and clear that the underground station in Stuttgart will not be cofinanced by the European Union .
we need more combat forces there ; we need greater flexibility ; we need greater support for the ISAF mission in Afghanistan .
lastly , the report emphasises the importance of using the resources provided by new information technologies and the Internet as channels for modern teaching geared to contemporary practice when introducing the artistic dimension into school curricula , and recommends that a European portal for artistic and cultural education be developed jointly in order to safeguard the development and promotion of the European cultural model .
the report calls for the creation of an ecolabel for fisheries products .
since the Regulation entered into force , complaints have been pouring in about the application of this Regulation - ' unclear ' and ' unreasonable ' are words often heard .
it seems the liberals have forgotten the principle of the separation of the church from public life , of which they often used to remind us .
obviously , our political group would have placed greater emphasis on certain aspects .
in light of the situation , the Commission is reviewing the results of the consultation with the interested parties and with the Member States in order to determine the content of a new legislative proposal on this matter .
it is therefore necessary to clarify and harmonise criteria and definitions that enable comparable data to be obtained .
( FI ) Mr President , firstly , I would like to thank Mrs Stihler for this excellent report .
a highly regarded position in the international community does not come free .
the progress of certain projects of vital interest to the European Union 's development also depends on energy security .
and it is a question , in particular , of children , not child soldiers - some children have thrown stones and so on , it is true , but children .
the report also emphasises that women 's involvement in industry cannot be limited to work in sectors that do not require qualifications , where women are the first to suffer when restructuring takes place .
we wish to stress that the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon has radically changed the face of European Union law .
it is a lethal combination leading to unrest in a number of developing countries ; it is a combination leading to starvation .
we want , as far as products are concerned , regulations that are very clear for businesses , whereby their teams who work on products can get on with the job of producing brilliant designs and high-quality and safe products .
I hope that we will cooperate closely and I hope to see you again in the autumn .
no doubt we must also use the national systems and make the recipients of the aid more aware of their responsibilities .
for these groups of refugees , resettlement can be the only solution .
I also agree with the pragmatic and rational approach to immigration policy .
in my opinion , however , you are here as the President-in-Office of the European Council , which is why I fail to understand your comment about obstruction by the social democrats .
( NL ) Mr President , terrorism was not invented on 11 September 2001 ; it had always been there .
the future of the Balkans will not be decided in Washington or Moscow , or even in New York : it will be decided here in Europe , among the peoples who are directly affected and their European neighbours , friends and partners .
the Agency Workers ' Directive is yet another ill-thought-out and inappropriate EU directive which has yet again disproportionately and adversely affected the UK , which has a third of all EU agency workers .
it is just not tenable that the Commission can sit here and say that we will ban the use of substances in Europe but that those outside the European Union can continue to send us food using those substances .
from an economic perspective , the country has achieved a certain level of macro-economic stability , and has also advanced successfully in the sense of fulfilling the political criteria set out at the Copenhagen Summit , or the Copenhagen sitting of the Council .
the one-minute speeches come in , we get allocated time but it is pathetic .
he hugged me , kissed me and said : " please , mama , go ! ”
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this is what is being prepared for in political terms in this report .
I hope that this strategy can be revised .
where do we stand in the European Union ?
furthermore , the European Parliament intends to intensify efforts in research and development in the use and application of renewable energy sources ; to improve the working conditions of seafarers ( the Maritime Erasmus programme ) ; and , lastly , to ensure better links between peripheral maritime regions .
supporting the victims of this reprehensible business , and of their families , is also an important matter .
during the first year of my term in office , I promoted the Road to Inclusion to mobilise the Portuguese people and alert them to the urgent need to address the indicators of persistent poverty , unequal distribution of income and exclusion that still affect thousands of citizens .
to conclude , I should like to thank the shadow rapporteurs for their work on this matter .
this may sound paradoxical , but it is possible .
the rapporteur also observes that the Posting of Workers Directive must be complied with and stresses the value of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality .
for this reason , Commissioner , I would be very grateful if you could ask the CEN or the industry concerned as soon as possible to look for ways to formulate the standards relating to the various tests on children 's books and the resistance of the cardboard in children 's books in such a way that the existing stock of children 's books can also be retained in the future .
there is one aspect of the Electricity Directive which has caused a great deal of division within the Parliament .
it is time for this guardian to do its duty and not give in to Member States , but instead to ensure compliance with the laws that we have jointly adopted .
I hope that the actions identified in the Action Plan will be carried forward within the planned timeframe considering their importance for improving the lives of European citizens .
I am convinced that we , as Members of this House and politicians , must lead by example when it comes to energy efficiency .
compared to people 's enthusiasm at that time , today 's strengthening of internal borders looks like a complete negation of the Schengen ideal .
this has an especially stifling effect on investments in the grid and the introduction of new capacity .
we Greens , however , will continue to take a discerning look at the flexicurity sector until social protection is guaranteed .
I agree with the motion for a resolution , but it says nothing about what is to follow .
it is young people who , today , will create the growth and innovation of tomorrow .
at First Reading we chose flexibility mechanisms based on specific circumstances ; for example , inspections missed because bad weather prevents inspections from being carried out , or where safety conditions are not met .
I hope that we in this Parliament and , of course , the Commission will be increasingly vigilant so as to ensure that all safety issues , including non-proliferation , remain in the foreground , otherwise we shall be failing in our responsibility for mankind and for peace in the world .
so now it is the right time ; maybe it is too limited and too late , but at least something is also now being done in the Council .
we have therefore increased payments : we could not close the gap completely , but we have halved it , to leave a gaping hole of 8 % .
to those sceptics who , in spite of all these accomplishments , continue to question the state of transatlantic relationships or my country 's attitude toward a United Europe , my answer is this : even if the United States and the nations all of you represent were not united by shared values and common heritage of many millions of our citizens , myself included , our global interests alone would inexorably bind us together .
there has been no further progress since that time .
5 .
there are other cost groups , however , where achieving an accuracy of within 2 % can be difficult .
does anyone want to speak against the proposal ?
I have just received eleven requests for the floor , which therefore cannot be granted .
both of the Directives on non-discrimination are fundamental European laws .
I trust that when the right circumstances on the ground materialise we will be able to proceed on the basis of a common EU determination to further trade relationship objectives in relation to the Gulf Cooperation Council .
because let us never forget that our Union is founded on values : respect for human dignity , freedom , democracy , equality , the rule of law and respect for human rights .
we want the EU and the 27 Member States to commit themselves to closing the gaps and to concentrate on the common goals in those four areas with targeted actions and sufficient funds to deliver them .
a forum of universities and businesses , whatever format it takes , will always concentrate in particular on ' practically useful ' graduates .
this is very important .
we have about 25 000 Tunisians coming to Europe .
I very much welcome the second edition of the Consumer Markets Scoreboard .
the European Parliament also argues in favour of more development support and an extension of the Commission 's delegation in Kabul to carry out the necessary verifications , audits and inspections .
it should be said that the rapporteur is herself part of this minority , which proves that it is not as oppressed as all that .
Mr Cohn-Bendit has stated precisely what we are all thinking .
the report also contains a number of issues which are matters of individual conscience , for example , the implicit recommendation on euthanasia and the decriminalisation of hard drugs .
I am also grateful to Mrs Gill for her comments , since her contribution makes this an extremely practical report .
on the country , intimidation of Chinese citizens and restrictions on representatives of the media appear to be even more prevalent in the run-up to the Olympics .
Mr President , my contribution addresses the need for a unified approach to the recognition of Kosovo .
the report that we have before us is , as has already been said , a set of recommendations .
anyone who shuts this window of opportunity for nuclear disarmament will not be in a position to say when another one will open .
in return , that would also require a commitment to respect carbon deposits such as the equatorial forests .
in your answer , you told me that within reasonable time , about two months , we would have the names or the results of your research .
the approach you have proposed seems interesting , but we should not leave ourselves open to the accusation that the Union is claiming competence for all global matters .
however , the author of the amendment has added ' self-determination of the people who live there ' .
the main points I have already mentioned in my written statement , and I do not want to repeat these things .
I believe that we have found a good balance between respect for freedom of contract - which is all important - and providing small companies with the necessary tools to avoid being held hostage by bigger companies or public administration .
part of the issue here is that , in many cases , we find that toy manufacturers are faced with difficulties about getting some consistent standards against which to test , and I know that is something that you will address .
what was really needed , though , was a policy to support production , particularly in the textile sector , to prevent further company closures and further redundancies .
secondly , we should name the amounts we are willing to contribute to financing long-term adjustment to the climate changes that we know are coming .
Mr President , as my fellow Member said , the situation of the Roma population in Europe is one which does not only concern a limited number of countries .
this is the message President Barroso conveyed during our recent visit to Turkey .
an estimated 1.5 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance , including more than 730 000 internally displaced persons , of whom one-third are estimated to be at extreme risk .
this is fortune telling and not research , and certainly not policy making .
the issue of the very negative impact of export restrictions should be raised at the relevant forthcoming meetings of the WTO and in other relevant international fora .
education plays a vital role in young people 's lives .
there is a real risk of a global food crisis .
when I see the amendments on the table , I start to wonder about that .
Mr President , may I congratulate colleagues Albertini and Danjean on their comprehensive and creative reports on foreign and security policy .
in my view , we are in the position to encourage a responsible pre-accession process and a mainly balanced debate in this country about the European Union .
a year ago , the Commission brought non-compliant Member States to the European Court of Justice , and the Court of Justice issued six favourable judgments condemning the lack of transposition by the Member States concerned .
secondly , I am against the situation that taxpayers ' money can be given to a private pension fund where the list of participants and beneficiaries is kept secret and is not published .
finally , my congratulations to the rapporteurs László Surján and Vladimír Maňka .
first , it should demand an end to the violence , persevere in its condemnation and sanctions imposed on those responsible , support those who are fighting for our common values and seek to show solidarity , as well as follow more closely and better understand the aspirations , wishes and tendencies of the movements which yearn for change .
apart from the multilateral talks , an important way to overcome these barriers is through the leverage available to us in free trade agreement negotiations .
they do not want to buy refrigerators or milking machines now , this is not the time for further investment .
I would definitely like to call on you , Mrs Fischer Boel , to reiterate what you have done .
clearly , this split is due not to ideology , but to the differing internal situations and starting points of the various Member States ; it arises from corresponding splits among the Member States in the Council .
what is important is that the High Representative has the instruments to execute his or her tasks in the most efficient way .
how can anyone understand that ?
ports do not have to be state-run , but the public sector must take responsibility for them .
so let us participate and look at which of the proposals Michel Barnier put on the table could be the most important ones and which proposals should have higher priority .
the creation of an Erasmus programme for local elected representatives would contribute towards the exchange of tried and tested approaches in the area of the administration of public affairs within an EU framework .
in France , we were told , during the electoral campaign , that , on the banks , look to Mr Sarkozy , on climate change , look to Mr Sarkozy , on change in Europe , look to Mr Sarkozy .
I would like to say that this is an initial discussion .
in fact it adds another level of bureaucracy to existing supervision .
however , the principle of subsidiarity and constitutional issues in each Member State cannot be called into question in the name of ' the primacy of Community law , direct effect , consistency of interpretation and state liability for breaches of Community law ' , as intended by the Commission and the majority of the European Parliament .
the structural funds , for example , which require public co-finance to bring initiatives to completion .
we are in favour of this text , for various reasons .
the drama of Serbia and Kosovo should caution us against taking hasty decisions .
we have been trying to mobilise all the EU institutions and resources for several months in order to alleviate the effects of the growing crisis .
I voted in favour of this directive because increasing efforts to combat human trafficking is a fundamental element of it .
we have absolutely no regard for family life or working hours .
overall , this is a very good compromise and I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone involved .
they become more reliable for analyses and more useful as an aid to decision-making .
tragedies such as the one which has befallen Cuban dissident Orlando Zapata Tamayo , ' guilty ' of a crime of conscience , must never be repeated .
therefore , the issue of own resources must be reopened ; no doubt about it .
however , Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , rather than resort to penalties , I would prefer to see contractors working efficiently and keeping to our timetable .
the amendments adopted by the European Parliament also ensure that information on prescribed medicine is only given to the public through specific communication channels , including specialised and certified websites safeguarding patients ' interests and aiming to limit advertisement opportunities for the pharmaceutical companies .
awareness of all aspects of this in society should now be increased .
people expect concrete results from the EU more than ever during economically difficult times .
on arrival you again passed through immigration control , waited in the queue and were then quizzed : why have you come , what are you going to do , how long are you staying ?
we should bear in mind the following : the significant energy savings and reduction in heating costs paid by citizens which could be achieved by renovating the heating systems in these buildings , as well as the limited opportunities to use structural and cohesions funds to invest in this area .
we are dealing with the fact that neither this House nor the other institutions are taking discharge seriously in any form .
we can raise resources by using instruments such as project bonds and Eurobonds , which must , however , be managed with the utmost rigour so as not to risk the creation of further debt , which would be dangerous .
Mr President , it is rare for me to agree with the President of Parliament and the President of the Commission .
I am profoundly convinced that the budget of the European Parliament should be significantly increased .
I also requested that the Commission should present a report to Parliament and the Council , no later than five years after this regulation enters into force , on the situation regarding re-examination of existing bilateral agreements , relating in particular to the number of bilateral agreements that the different Member States may have renegotiated .
as we have heard , the European Commission is currently working on a communication on its policy regarding the Arctic area .
( ES ) Mr President , today we have heard illegal fishing being confused with mafias , and I also want to speak out in favour of a sector that has demonstrated on many occasions that it is responsible .
I agree with the rapporteur that this omission may affect a large proportion of the Ombudsman 's staff , as the majority of posts granted are temporary .
however , one cannot deny the opening-up of China in a Chinese evolution convergent with some of our values .
this includes , for example , the call to create a European charter of women 's rights and the reference to the report on maternity leave , which , as we know , the Member States have not accepted .
with regard to these two reports , I would firstly like to congratulate and publicly mention , as I did at the Committee on Constitutional Affairs , the remarkable work carried out by my colleagues , Mr Lehne , Mr Swoboda , Mrs Roth-Behrendt , Mrs Wallis and Mrs Harms , who made up the team of Members of this House that negotiated this framework agreement with the Commission .
in fact , it should never be forgotten that a small number of complaints can mean either that people do not notice many irregularities or that they have little confidence in a possible legal solution to their problems .
I hope that the Council will soon formally adopt these instruments and , just as important , that the Member States will take the necessary steps to fully implement the decisions in their national legal systems .
by no means are we offering a defence speech here .
( the President cut off the speaker )
now the EU must take decisions and measures to ensure that in future there is no repeat of this crisis with its impact on the Member States .
the geostrategic importance of the region , particularly with regard to the supply and transport of raw materials between the East and West , must be an important factor in establishing future agreements between the EU and these countries .
thank you for your attention .
in general , Norway has raised its voice against the laissez-faire policy which the EU pursues within the WTO .
it is important that the European Parliament stays the course with its relations with Burma .
for a number of years our respective countries have adopted a restrictive policy towards immigration , yet this policy has not stopped migrants arriving .
China 's policy and its effects on Africa (
the whole world is voicing its hope that Europe will adopt a clearer approach and take more effective action .
I see in Obama 's election an important opportunity for a new policy of global commitment , a turning point in the history of the United States and also for the whole world .
the dissent that the pension reform caused in France can emotionally be understood , but when considering the demographic situation in Europe , it must be noted that the proposal of the French Government and the ultimate decision of the parliament is the only appropriate response in order to avoid destitute futures for both the working and retired people of France .
the resolution which we are proposing equally emphasises the results which will be achieved through coordinating research activities and the extent to which they will help improve the current situation .
in writing . - ( DE ) In today 's vote I voted in favour of the report by my colleague Edit Bauer .
unfortunately , it is based on a neo-liberal idea that plays off workers against each other .
we cannot end up with a situation in which funds from the state budget are used by mines to achieve profitability .
if we want to achieve a 20 % cut in emissions of these unwanted effects of our civilisation by 2020 , we shall perhaps have to take more intensive action and pay more attention to other sectors as well which , as you are aware , lead the field in CO2 emissions , rather than just focusing on transport .
this directive harmonises the calendar of the application of summer time in the EU .
in view of the specific nature and genuine interests of the countries of Latin America we believe that it is possible to build strategic and long-term relations only in this manner and with those countries with which we can share the same fundamental values and principles .
despite the decree issued by the President in March of this year in which he officially authorised a longer stay in Guantánamo for some prisoners , the Union hopes - no , in fact , expects - the government of the United States to continue to discuss this subject in Congress and to work towards closing the detention camp as quickly as possible .
I understand that the title has changed and that the Liberals have changed their position , but the substance is still very complicated and we still want this to be discussed first in the Committee on Employment , because it is a very important and complicated discussion .
2009 discharge : European Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy (
I also welcome the reference to the need , when negotiating and applying the new agreements , to take into due account the protection and defence of democratic bodies and human rights .
Parliament should also initiate an investigation in this connection .
that is why I voted as I did .
in any case , I have said that , if necessary , we can look at revising the directive .
on this matter , we can but learn the lessons from the past , as opening the gates to international adoptions in Romania led to the creation of unprecedented child trafficking networks and cases involving children being abducted and sold to the West , in cooperation with European and international organisations .
there is concern in relation to the consequences of liberalisation for fragile sectors of ACP economies , which will have to face competition from European businesses .
why did the Right wage such a lengthy struggle against social rights in the Services Directive if they are portraying themselves today as true advocates of social justice ?
it is directly on the ground that the measure proposed in this report will contribute effectively to the achievement of the Europe 2020 strategy objectives .
once more the majority of the European Parliament is rejecting a change of policy and expressing its full support for and involvement in the policies followed to date : deregulation of markets and labour relations , liberalisation of goods and essential services ( postal service , transport , telecommunications , energy , etc . ) and handing them over to private operators , to the detriment of taxpayers , workers and the people .
the CAP post-2014 , as outlined in this report , has clear aims and priorities , on which European farmers can and will deliver - but they need the support of a credible budget behind them .
we cannot , of course , compare that situation to the totalitarian dictatorship in Iran , but the memory should serve to teach us Europeans a certain degree of humility .
that includes Portugal , Spain , the UK , Hungary and Latvia .
good cooperation with partner countries and detailed knowledge of the situation on the ground in terms of labour needs , skilled shortages and capacity-building requirements are essential to this effort .
the role of legislators in this relationship will be important .
it resulted in a significant fall in the prices of calls offered by competing operators .
secondly , I would like to call for support for last week 's public address by the 18 Russian human rights activists , including Sakharov Prize winner Kovalev , who are extremely worried about a further clampdown on independent satellite information in the Russian language , which the Kremlin has achieved through applying pressure .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , one month ago the Global Peace Index rankings were published .
secondly , having established the facts , we need an education programme for young people , parents and educators , and , thirdly , legislation which will apply to all countries .
25 November is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women , as instituted by the UN 11 years ago .
however , adequate services should , of course , be provided in any case .
if we follow this line of reasoning , then we shall finish up with a situation where ' intelligent cars ' will be driven by technically efficient drivers .
this is a signal to the next generation that their active participation is very welcome .
we need an estimated EUR 1 trillion worth of investment in the markets to stop the lights from going out in future .
the proposal will be accompanied by a detailed report that will also include the outcome of our ex-post impact assessment relating to the IMO decision , as well as possible measures that the Commission could take to mitigate undesired impacts on the sector .
in its report , the European Parliament , specifically its Committee on Fisheries , defended the extension of deadlines for state aid for the renewal and registration of vessels , both in relation to the Regulation currently in force and in relation to the proposal presented by the European Commission , according to which the deadline should be extended only by one year , in other words until 31 December 2009 .
the classic European solution is institutional competition - not central control .
what I have tried to do to reconcile the two is to say that yes , of course , they should work closely together and , at the end of the day , the Petitions Committee must listen to the views of the subject committee .
there is also a strong competitive angle : women often must perform higher than men in order to become successful .
as a matter of fact , the 1 000 metres may well have been lifted from the discussions relating to the Mediterranean , yet we are not dealing with the same area , in fact we are talking about completely different areas !
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction has arisen as a serious challenge in recent years , and the international community must be ready to face those challenges with conviction and to tackle them resolutely .
therefore , the level of payment allocations , as proposed by the European Commission , should be maintained , whilst taking into account that all programmes should proceed quickly .
I consider it essential to introduce mechanisms that promote the boosting of prices paid at the production stage , whilst keeping prices paid at the final consumption stage as low as possible .
it is unfortunate that in the case of Mr Taseer 's assassination , there has been widespread public support for the murderer .
the Small Business Act is a good proposal for small and medium-sized enterprises .
the content of the recommendations adopted by the GFCM and the obligations pertaining thereto are frequently entirely or partially covered by EU legislation adopted previously , with only the aspects that differ needing to be transposed .
there must be a regular flow of funds that allows payments to be made to beneficiaries as programmes are implemented .
on the one hand , the Croatian Government took significant steps towards judicial reform , making decisive moves against organised crime and showing results in the fight against corruption .
Madam President , we have had an interesting debate on Parliament 's own budget for this year and next year .
therefore , the EU must be vigilant and ensure that standards are adhered to and , if not , then action must be taken .
this Forum will focus specifically on child labour .
'The Council considers that transparency should guide relations with interest representatives and that the Register provides a useful basis on which to build and interact with them in an open , inclusive and consistent fashion .
Romania is the European champion when it comes to delivered prescriptions , hospital admissions and surgical interventions but it is also the country with the shortest life expectancy in the EU .
at the moment , the EU youth unemployment rate has reached 20 % , while the average EU school dropout rate is 16 % , and in some countries , like Portugal , it has reached 40 % .
I would also like to know why the European Council , the Belgian Presidency , said that it is in favour of this , but why the European Council at its last three summits merely said that it recommended a feasibility study at global level but not at European level .
thank you , Mr Pittella , not least for the enthusiasm with which you made your statement .
second lesson : the 27 must concentrate on their budgetary policies very early on in proceedings .
questions have been raised here regarding the anti-discrimination directive , the Barcelona Targets , and the low emphasis placed on social questions .
I would like to remind you all of the principle of the social market economy as laid down in the Treaty of Lisbon .
Ms Fouré said that these cannot be tolerated and Ms Ayala Sender spoke of people getting away with it .
thank you .
first of all , the euro 's success has exceeded expectations , not only of all its opponents , of course , but even of all its supporters .
that would not contravene competition law and , if it did , it would , in any case , be a much smaller contravention than the concentration of chain stores we have seen over the last few years .
the report by Mrs Frassoni is aimed at strengthening what I would call the backbone of the Commission , so that the Commission is aware of the importance of this task , and so that , even if we want a prior phase of negotiation with governments on the difficulties that may arise , at the moment of truth the Commission acts as the citizens expect , with strength and vigour , and applying Community law .
moreover , it will encourage Georgia to implement the reforms needed in the area of freedom , security and justice .
the development of the Mediterranean countries with which we want to create a partnership depends on our ability to offer them firm commitments on policies and sectors of common interest .
fourth , improving education levels , in particular by aiming to reduce school dropout rates , and by increasing the share of the population having completed tertiary or equivalent education ;
thank you very much , Mrs Berès , for your initiative , and thanks to all of those who have said that they want to attempt to make progress on behalf of people who , as we all know , deserve protection .
on the contrary , we must begin to redevelop our own source of plant protein in Europe .
that is to no avail : workers and employees should not be made to suffer .
one such common value is the freedom of religion .
if we have a shortage of workers in many areas , we should investigate the causes of this and respond by adapting the training accordingly , but also by providing opportunities for reskilling .
in order to be successful , we must supplement the words of the resolution with actions .
is it better to maintain a fixed or flexible exchange rate during a recession ?
from now on , things will be better .
it is beyond doubt that the sphere of intellectual property rights , and particularly industrial property rights , deserves special care and attention .
I declare the session of the European Parliament adjourned .
I am pleased that we have been speaking the same language to such a great extent and that we share the same objectives .
Mr President , I would like at the outset to congratulate both rapporteurs , Ms McAvan and Mr Tatarella , on the EMAS and Ecolabel reports respectively .
these arise , in particular , from debt , high food and fuel prices and climate change .
this is sometimes true .
for example , how is it that a medicinal product that is considered to be potentially harmful , even fatal , and that has been withdrawn from the market in some Member States , can continue to circulate freely within the European Union ?
they should pay the huge costs that illegal immigration is creating at the moment .
if you have enough support in the Council , you can go for it ; you can do exactly what Greece did .
in analysing the European response , there is one fact which stands out .
it will not be possible to finance the extension of basic welfare provision to the same level as countries such as Austria and Germany .
the directive states that retained data can only be accessible to the competent national authorities .
the report proposes ways of resolving this and I ask Parliament to support these in this form .
the text is only supported by one political party and it is opposed by major constitutional experts .
President of the Commission . - First of all , I think that the fact that this Parliament voted again for a mandate for myself is a signal that there is support for the action we have been taking .
she was elected by the world 's leading Muslim women democracy activists in May 2007 to be the first chairwoman of this new organisation .
the lack of participation by the banks and investors , who made healthy profits in recent years , shows how much influence these groups actually wield over the political elite in Europe .
the Treaty of Lisbon grants the EU new prerogatives , confirms the development of its international capacity and puts new tools in place .
I warmly congratulate the Hungarian team , as well as silver medallists Great Britain and bronze medallists Greece .
I welcome the fundamental guidelines that the communication presents on how to organise the logic of intervention between the public and private sectors and between Community , national and regional financing .
people in this age group bring added value to the world of work , and therefore preparatory measures should be taken to involve them more .
furthermore , owing to the European Union 's high degree of dependency on imports from third countries ( 60 % ) , producers have very little or even no influence on the price levels of fisheries products .
the European Court of Justice rules in accordance with the Treaties .
I follow carefully implementation of the Services Directive in individual countries , as I do also in my own country of Poland , where work on suitable implementation of the directive 's provisions is still under way .
it is important that the consumers and producers of our main trading partners be subject to the same legislation as our consumers and producers .
I believe that as MEPs we cannot accept this state of affairs , this deplorable absence of the Council , and we can only protest and in particular approve the suggestion made by the chairman of the Committee on Budgetary Control , namely to postpone this discharge , because , otherwise , Parliament would make a fool of itself by validating accounts that it does not know about and has not had the opportunity to inspect .
I believe that the pilot projects proposed by Mr. Paasilinna are necessary and I hope to have such a pilot project in Romania as well .
the Croatian Government and Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor deserve credit for tackling corruption and crime in a determined way .
I trust you , of all people , implicitly to actually get rid of this protectionism across Europe .
twenty thousand jobs a year are lost in the agricultural sector , production is falling , agricultural income fell by 20 % between 2000 and 2008 and 75 % of farms have annual gross profits of between EUR 1 200 and EUR 9 600 .
secondly , I would like to join those in Parliament who have expressed regret and rejection regarding the measures adopted by the United States authorities to introduce administrative fees under the Travel Promotion Act which therefore increase the costs of travel and , consequently , the movement of people , through the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation .
many thanks for that .
their closure would lead , however , to thousands of job losses , in particular at Greece 's borders .
a clear distinction must be made here : these were further training measures for McDonald 's workers in order to make them better qualified on the jobs market and in the world of work .
( DE ) Mr President , I said what I had to say during the explanations of vote , in order to save time during the voting .
that is very important for me .
in addition , all market support aids have been massively reduced and , at the moment , there are no export refunds and no disposal aid at all - zero for both of them .
we ought to support the Chinese in solving their problems .
if we can trust the statistics that exist on this subject , women drive with greater foresight and care and more safely .
- ( SK ) In October last year I made a written declaration warning about the emergence of an extreme right-wing organisation called the Hungarian Guard .
firstly , it is not a matter of lowering our sights merely to the creation of a transatlantic free trade area , but of making sure the development of our trade serves other more laudable objectives , which promote social and environmental standards .
they remind us of the value of any human life , and also the fact that we cannot control nature .
this provides very gloomy evidence of yet another failure on the part of a major section of our political elite .
it has decreased significantly as a result of the global economic crisis , but half of the remaining deficit , and in fact , the entire trade deficit recorded for the first half of 2009 is equivalent to our current trade deficit with China .
one of the main challenges facing the EU fisheries sector remains , in many cases , the structural imbalance between fleet capacity and the resources available .
with that in mind , I would like to thank you for your diverse and intelligent contributions and your report .
this accident - if that is what it was - too , must be reconstructed and it must be investigated whether this type of combustion and the smoke which it passes through the meat really can cause so much dioxin to end up in the meat .
42 .
that would make it possible substantially to reduce irregularities , especially on the part of small beneficiaries , many of whom lack the facilities required to carry out the necessary procedures .
well , we are telling you now , we want the Guidelines to take greater account of coordinating economic policies , climate change and the supervision of the financial markets .
the EU issued further declarations on Nigeria in February and March ; they conducted a diplomatic démarche with the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to convey condemnation of the most recent outbreaks of violence .
this position may change as the world moves over more to IFRS .
the 25 million people across the EU who will find themselves out of work by the end of the year should be the focus of our work in this House to get the economy moving again and help people back into work .
for the most part , the key points of the report from two years ago have been incorporated and built upon .
let us remember that , when Galileo declared in the 17th century that the earth revolved around the sun , he was threatened with torture by the Catholic Church for daring to contradict the accepted fact that the earth was at the centre of the universe .
I think it is important to show that Europe can proceed at a different speed and it is also important that we start to consider this possibility for the future development of European integration .
as yet , no cure has been found for Alzheimer 's disease .
human rights , the rights of minorities and international law remain concepts that are foreign to Turkey .
or have our principles and values been the same as those of the Bush administration ?
we do not have to fear war , but yet we see attacks such as this crisis .
I believe that the EU does not have competence in this area ; nor should it have .
both parties to the agreement are striving to ensure continual cooperation ( in particular implementing such activities , in which third parties must participate , pursuant to the cooperation agreement ) .
in view of the Member States ' differing legal regulations and frequently limited influence in terms of enforcing the provisions of international law with regard to the fight against violence , the need for clear and binding regulations at EU level in respect of the problem is becoming ever more apparent .
I believe that it is a crucial mechanism that serves a very real purpose , and we can usefully benefit from its further development and strengthening .
for example , exports of road vehicles and cars have fallen by 51.3 % and 59.4 % , respectively .
however , in November 2010 , Germany published its national investment assessment , which includes provision for positive development on the northern access route between Munich and the Austrian border .
the work that this Parliament has done over the decades together with the ACP countries is something that we as an institution can regard with some satisfaction .
if we want to do what is expected of us as the European Union , in the first instance , we must agree on a common approach to the Sahel region in particular and to the Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS ) in general .
first of all , the author of the report is right to note that the most important issue , also in terms of the future of energy generated from conventional fuels , is for the countries of the European Union to work together in this area .
the mediation in the gas war between Russia and Ukraine will give the EU a good opportunity to demand that both parties follow rules that are compatible with a common energy market within the Union .
I firmly believe that it is the vitality of the economy and that alone that will enable us to conduct the true social policy that we need .
I therefore welcome the opportunity to present the views of the Council and the Hungarian Presidency during this debate .
this response acknowledges the legitimate concerns of those who are facing change , however , since it must not be forgotten that some people may be adversely affected by it , and we must also have a response for them .
you know it , and I can prove that you know it , because you used to support referendums until it became clear that you would lose them .
if you fulfil the conditions , you are allowed to proceed with accession and eventually join the European Union .
in its report , the Commission has demonstrated that it is aware of the problems and that it is concerned about them .
I am not accusing anyone in particular , but mechanisms have been created and honed for committing this type of fraud which are absolutely outrageous .
that is why I also think that we should try to move forward with the ratification process , to be critical but also to affirm that this European Union has so far brought us the happiest period of peace , freedom and prosperity in the history of this continent .
they intend to retain the death penalty for the worst criminal offenders .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I voted for the report by Mrs Prets on media literacy in a digital world .
we should support such measures and , in particular , earmark more funding for them .
( PL ) Mr President , I support the Commission 's proposal .
wage discrimination also occurs in science : the committees that make decisions about research projects comprise fewer than 20 % women .
we all know that there is no such thing as an ideal model for pension systems .
also , the economic crisis was a factor , but the key one was that the ' yes ' campaign got mobilised this time and it did not last time .
the IASB is working on IFRS standards for small and medium enterprises .
( the sitting was suspended at 11.55 and resumed at 12.00 )
under no circumstances should food additives endanger the health of consumers or mislead them , because it is absolutely essential that we guarantee consumer protection and food safety while at the same time maintaining the innovativeness and competitiveness of the food industry .
we cannot be satisfied simply by providing aid selectively , otherwise we will not be solving the problems , we will merely be forever postponing them .
I had , in fact , expected the Council to react to the proposals being put forward by Parliament in the current debate .
Mr President , you are staying so much in line that I think that , for these one-minute speeches , at least today on International Women 's Day , Parliament should have made a gesture of generosity to women .
after years of inaction , the Commission seems intent on acting , and that is necessary : the survival of our companies and jobs depends on it .
so I believe that with the Safer Internet programme we have to empower the children themselves , beyond empowering the parents and the educators .
in this context , I would also like to see the rights of Parliament respected .
I am very happy that the report takes into account the fact that the Presidency-in-office , Kazakhstan , must be asked to respect the fundamental values and human rights of the OSCE in advance of the Astana summit .
the conflict also had a negative impact on social relations in Lebanon .
here in this Parliament we cannot so obviously turn our backs on this reality .
apart from the country in a situation of fragility itself , the international community is an important protagonist in the development of nation building .
and though Member States hold diffuse views about Russia , your presidency was quick to negotiate its six-point plan and for that credit is due .
overall , this is a step in the right direction towards fulfilling these two requirements .
unfortunately , we lost all amendments which referred sceptically to the recently concluded free trade agreements and the association agreements under negotiation , and which warn against the risks of weakening the existing fragile regional integration efforts .
- Report : Elles
as liberals , we proposed this , so this is music to my ears .
I cannot understand what ' obligatory ' means : it cannot mean that all companies , all enterprises or all citizens must be entered in this register .
the professional users of chemicals and worldwide consumers can benefit from global harmonisation .
that was my first point .
today 's debate bears witness to this .
yes , that is right , in Yemen , where President Ali Abdullah Saleh has been in power for no fewer than 33 years .
there are other groups of scientists who offer different positions on climate change and its causes .
then you look at the anti-terror legislation with profiling and you see it creates insecurity and it creates problems for people living their daily lives .
firstly , I would like to thank the rapporteur Mr Paasilinna .
I believe that we need to increase the percentage rate of the European Community 's financial participation in order to provide additional support for the projects selected by Member States .
however , cohesion policy is not only needed by those in our society who are supposedly weaker .
I remind you that a regulation is directly applicable and will take less time than overall revision of the directive .
yet there are also older Member States - Greece was mentioned in this context - which are similarly waiting for a change in US visa policy .
unfortunately that was not the case , but that is not what lies at the heart of this debate .
the European Commission and the Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship intend to carry on supporting industrial policy and small and medium-sized enterprises , partly so as to provide answers to our citizens on the issue of the quality of the products made by our businesses .
the Commission also shares responsibility for ensuring that Opel does not now become the sacrificial pawn of a free-market clean-up of the crisis .
the safety features should enable the verification of every pack of medicine that is supplied , regardless of the method of supply used , including those available via distance-selling channels .
the Commission has presented draft legislation on hedge funds and private equity , on securitisation and remuneration in the banking sector .
what I must tell you is that I believe that the Council and the European institutions are doing a good job .
( FR ) Mr President , to a president to whom history has not been kind - I am referring to Chairman Mao , not President Sarkozy - one can offer the following maxim : ' as long as you are still falling , you have not yet reached the bottom ' .
freedom of expression is the foundation of democracy .
the European Union urgently needs to put an end to this madness , and finally to set up Community protection and preference .
when that crisis occurred , we saw that some countries that were not affected by it could not help the countries that were affected , because the interconnections did not exist .
it is vital that we open up the debate on how to achieve the goal of reducing fishing pressure on vulnerable species , and this report by Ms Fraga Estévez is an important part of that process .
I think that three things are needed .
the work programme involved is demanding and Parliament is ready to carry it through .
on 25 May 1948 the Communists murdered Captain Witold Pilecki . the Captain was the only person to go to a concentration camp voluntarily , in order to organise resistance inside the latter and gather information on the mass murders taking place .
for certain towed gear , the minimum mesh size will be set as : either a square-meshed net with a 40 mm mesh at the cod end or , at the duly justified request of the ship owner , a 50 mm diamond mesh net with acknowledged size selectivity equivalent to or higher than that of the 40 mm square-meshed nets .
any person who commits a criminal act should be punished , including those who employ the third-country nationals , illegally and under poor conditions .
it may well be that the Scottish Government were panicking slightly and that the huge fines and draconian penalties that have been put in place in the last three or four months are the response to worries that all might not be well when the auditors arrived in Scotland and carried out their inspection .
perhaps we have not been clear enough .
that is no easy task .
these are acts of war , implemented by NATO , which could perhaps solve a problem in Libya only to give rise to a number of problems throughout the wider region .
you cannot make responsible policy on such a basis .
this policy is now being continued by Commissioner Samecki , to whom I also extend my heartfelt congratulations .
Community legal framework for a European Research Infrastructure ( ERI ) (
complaints also targeted the administration of Parliament ( 11 % ) , the European Personnel Selection Office ( EPSO ) ( 9 % ) , the Council ( 4 % ) and the European Court of Justice ( 3 % ) .
ladies and gentlemen , the freedom of the service market operates , with very few exceptions , within the provisions of legislation .
our group has no problem in supporting the wish for an Arctic treaty , but more in the light of a quest for a new mode of governance .
author . - ( DE ) Mr President , we have often discussed the conflict in Kashmir here , and I must add that there was a time of hope , of rapprochement between Pakistan and India .
what will be left then , on average ?
in this respect I do not believe we have done any great favours to the European consumers and citizens who have had to watch this backstage wrangling among the Member States , but if this final outcome provides greater transparency for consumers who wish to buy a car , for example , enabling them to make an informed choice between a hire-purchase agreement and a personal loan , I believe it will be useful .
I should like to point out the support offered by Parliament to the Commission with regard to the development of a new instrument for financing cross-border infrastructure projects , stemming from , among other things , the SESAR programme .
I therefore believe that it would be better if we channelled the available funds , if can find them , into the existing top scientific teams through research grants .
it is precisely because the matter is so serious and urgent that we have to set matters in motion so that that final outcome can be swiftly achieved .
as Amnesty suggested , however , it is vital to link these with the TDIP report and with the follow-up that the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs ( LIBE ) has agreed to take up in a new own-initiative report .
that was the reason why a Services Directive was possible in the first place .
consequently , it is important not to introduce any potentially confusing changes to the labelling of fruit wines .
it is time to box clever , to do our part but to ensure that the rest of the world does the same .
it is not the only one , as is also highlighted in the OECD-FAO report ' Agricultural Outlook 2011-2020 ' .
to my mind , this is indispensable since , although the whole sector is being affected , rising energy bills will have a greater impact on traditional fishing than on industrial fishing .
Parliament has the power to deliver for citizens and the Internal Market Committee was determined to go for a strong ban whilst securing exemption for traditional Inuit hunting .
to move on to a different subject , I cannot help noticing that there is often a big difference between the statements that are made publicly and the commitment to these in practice .
author of the draft opinion of the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality . - ( PL ) Mr President , raising the quality of life of the citizens of EU Member States lies at the heart of European integration .
( the President cut off the speaker )
that pesticides which are hugely harmful to health can finally be banned is progress , although there is still far too little research here .
the European Union considers - as we will say once again later - that this report is a reliable analysis , and the European Union stressed the importance of conducting adequate , reliable research into the possible violations of international human rights legislation and international humanitarian law .
the whole euro area and the European Union may suffer a crisis if decisions are delayed .
in particular , extending this partnership agreement contributes to the sustainability of the EU 's tuna fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean by setting down a stable legal framework .
Commission Question Time
in areas such as communication policy , this cost-benefit analysis is important to ensure better results and resource management .
we want to control our own borders and decide who lives , works and settles in our country .
this initiative and report send a very welcome signal about the commitment of the European Parliament to support the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia ( ICTY ) .
South Africa and Namibia will decide on their participation in the next day .
I would have been disgusted to see an increasing number of criminals threatening the peaceful life of my compatriots .
for us Social Democrats , there are two issues here .
here , I would like to state with clear emphasis the word ' technically ' , for the European Social Fund will not be reduced in any way at the end of the accounting period .
it was necessary to link the individual sections of the directive with the IMO requirements and other documents from the third maritime package and , at the same time , to use the provisions of other binding documents that are in force in the European Union , e.g. in the area of the confidentiality of personal data .
Mr President , I should like to summarise the reasons why I voted against the resolution .
we must dare to ask whether the current agricultural policy is adapted to the development of the ( world ) market and to the needs of the EU27 .
they say that they want to work their land and feed and care for their animals rather than spend the whole day keeping books and records about what they are doing .
people live in a freer society , girls can get education , and medical services are more accessible than under the Taliban regime .
to Mr Schmidt , I would like to say that I really do share your enormous concern and frustration that this situation is continuing year after year and that there is no possibility of getting through to the Eritrean authorities .
firstly , an energy market is not relevant .
6 .
in writing . - ( PT ) This resolution is opposed to adopting the draft regulation proposed by the Commission on ' on the authorisation and refusal of authorisation of certain health claims made on foods and referring to children 's development and health ' , as it is not compatible with the objectives and content of the Regulation on nutrition and health claims made on foods .
we should , of course , recollect that at least 200 000 people have died in Darfur during the four-year conflict , and more than two million people have been forced from their homes .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I do not think anyone in this House can have any doubt that these actions are unlawful .
water supplies for irrigation purposes were suspended during the summer and farmers suffered 80 % crop losses as a result .
I do have an additional question relating to the European market , the realisation of the single market .
in this context , an informal meeting was held on 18 September , organised by the French Presidency , involving ministers responsible for the family .
in view of its ambitious target of a 20 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 , the European Union needs to move much faster than it is at the moment .
in writing . - ( PT ) The globalisation of the economy is a question for which Europe has not yet found a clear and convincing answer .
Commissioner , it is not possible to have such a degree of uncertainty with a technical system that its development time doubles .
occasionally , proposals to make savings such as these can end up costing more , simply because there is no flexibility with them .
more efforts should also be made to improve administrative cooperation between the Member States .
in writing . - I wish to support the endeavours of those in this House who have brought to our attention the crucial problems particularly facing those in the Gaza Strip and in the State of Israel and Palestinian areas .
that is why we must now find solutions based on solidarity , but also act responsibly .
we should therefore preserve it and reject the Americans ' many unreasonable demands regarding our winemaking processes .
German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel has done the same , clearly and impressively .
therefore , they must objectively and rigorously account for how the public funds made available to them have been used .
I think everybody would be far better off doing it like that than having pages and pages of small type that no one ever reads .
I believe that , under the leadership of Jutta Haug , we have quite successfully resolved these difficulties .
such a European policy , however well meaning , cannot succeed without the support of the inhabitants of Somalia .
dialogue between countries of origin and transit and European states receiving immigrants must be institutionalised in order to provide a cornerstone for a genuine association based on development .
I wish you success in the vote tomorrow .
public procurement policy should ensure that public money is used as efficiently as possible , and should keep public procurement markets open , thereby contributing to the relaunch of the EU economy , to job creation and to welfare .
as a result , following the request made by the European Council in June 2009 , the Commission drew up the strategy for the Danube region .
to be open and frank with you - as I always am - I was disappointed with this decision .
existing EU laws on discrimination continue to prove difficult to implement in practice .
anyone who has patients treated abroad must provide good information and be sure that the quality is what it should be .
I should like to congratulate you on that , because naturally it is important to protect citizens and small and medium-sized enterprises so that , when they provide services , they can also recover their income accordingly .
( PT ) Madam President , this debate on the difficulty of accessing commodities , such as rare earth elements , is intrinsically linked to the current state of development of the world economy and the systemic crisis in which we are immersed .
on the other hand , in discussions about the options given the scientific facts , here we are clearly in the area of political choice .
what sort of European solidarity can we tell our citizens about if their social and economic situation ends up even further behind the European average than it was before they joined the European Union ?
we cannot consider any of these strategies unless , first of all , it is integrated within a broader mobility strategy that goes beyond the automotive sector and includes other modes of transport .
the Swedish Presidency must continue the efforts of the French and Czech Presidencies , whose priorities were to provide all workers in the EU with complete access to the Community 's labour market , a freedom which is most symbolic of European citizenship .
could the Council please comment on a possible timetable for ratification by the Czech Republic of the Lisbon Treaty ?
in addition , one of the most significant obstacles to the full harmonisation of the internal market in defence equipment is precisely the large number of export rules in the EU .
it is now the time for putting offers on the table .
every day , 12 of them die .
we therefore consider it essential that Parliament should be able to send three specialised representatives to serve on the Board , and it goes without saying that they must have the same voting rights as all the other Board members .
the issue of multilingualism is vitally important in the European context .
economic governance has advanced .
a great many proposals have been made , measures have been incorporated into the report , in the field of migration , and I can only reiterate that the European Pact on Asylum and Immigration indicates that the European Council solemnly states that migration policies and asylum must comply with the rules of international law and , in particular , with those relating to human rights , human dignity and refugees .
their ideology is diametrically opposed to conventional democracies and their aim is to create a caliphate .
our forthcoming decision will relate to each individual operator .
at the same time , it is one of the world 's most corrupt countries .
practice has shown that , unfortunately , visas are not always the most effective method of stopping illegal immigration and organised crime .
this may enable us to make the quantum leap to economic and social union in Europe .
in economic , trade and political terms , respect for rights and freedoms should be , at the same time , conditions and objectives of our cooperation .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - Mr President , with your permission , I would like to start my speech in Irish .
the sickening crimes she suffered are made all the more shocking by the bizarre details of this case : the crowd of one thousand people ; the venue of a stadium , as though it was some kind of spectator sport ; the truckload of stones ordered specially for the purpose ; the gunmen who fired at people trying , to their credit , to save this poor girl 's life .
with regard to the matters that the Committee is responsible for , economic and monetary affairs , the field of enterprise , competition , taxation and customs union , the fight against tax fraud and general fraud in European statistics and , in particular , the chapter on statistics , we do of course welcome the budgetary advances , the budgetary approach , but of course we have also , found inadequacies .
however , we still need to work within the framework of the Treaty .
in my opinion , we need to do three things in the European Union following Copenhagen .
that is why the Commission is considering raising this matter with the Member States and it is also exploring the possibility of financing the Court and its outreach activities through other financial instruments .
President-in-Office of the Council . - I would like to thank Mrs Ţicău for her question , which is also timely .
after accession to the European Union , the Latvian government lapsed into a sense of a ' job well done ' ; it had achieved its goal .
Mr President , first of all I would like to congratulate both rapporteurs .
there is even a saying in Yemen that ' if you are old enough to use a knife , you are old enough to fight for your tribe ' .
it is in this context that we welcome this report on specific measures for agriculture in the outermost regions .
thank you , Mr Rack .
has any impact analysis been done by the Commission on winners and losers , and by that , I mean winners and losers in financial terms , under whatever formula you have already come up with ?
as usual , paragraphs are included where the EU seeks to act with a single voice in foreign policy .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to thank Mrs McAvan for taking the initiative in this case and Mrs Hedegaard for addressing the problem .
I would particularly like to concentrate on what Mr De Gucht said , because it needs to be noted that the US has changed since 2 November .
a completely untouched forest is good from the point of view of biodiversity , but a rotting forest emits large volumes of methane gas .
Russia is obviously our extremely important economic and strategic partner .
we are calling for more funding at a European level to allow us to combat climate change , to switch more quickly to renewable energy sources and to support education and research .
this is what lies behind the decision to replace it with a newer and more effective instrument , the European Qualifications Framework , which increases transparency , supports the transfer of qualifications and makes it easier to assess the results of study .
this agreement allows us to step up a gear and the Commission will work closely with Finance Ministers to iron out details of the permanent Stability Mechanism before the Spring European Council .
I therefore voted in favour of this report , which approves the extension of the regulation in question and amends the elements required for respecting the new powers acquired by Parliament in the light of the Treaty of Lisbon , in particular guaranteeing new powers with regard to delegated acts .
order of business
( DE ) Mr President , this report sends an important signal to a country that is playing a stabilising role , has exemplary legislation on minorities , has a broad government majority in which all nationalities are represented and has taken a clear European course under the leadership of Prime Minister Gruevski .
vaccines are the cheapest and most effective public health measure for protecting Europeans from infectious diseases , but it is also important for healthcare to reach developing countries , so as to contribute to increasing life expectancy and to combating poverty .
the prospect of a referendum on Scottish independence is now not a matter of ' if ' , but rather of ' when ' .
while the 1 % annual increases proposed by the Commission are preferable to no increase , we still consider this to be too timid a step .
the comprehensive institution-building programme envisaged by the Eastern Partnership is a case in point , as it specifically targets institutions within the Ukrainian Government which need strengthening in order to deliver on reform .
both cases are interconnected , and success on either depends on success on both .
two additional healthy years of life - that will be understood by everyone and it is something we should do .
I am truly appalled at the behaviour of Members of the Italian left .
however , although the harmonisation of national legislation with that of the Community is essential , it is not enough if we are to reach our desired objectives .
the Union for the Mediterranean was launched in 2008 , but remains a façade .
I believe that the package of interventions contained in the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council may be effective in preventing macroeconomic imbalances , especially in the euro area .
I am well aware , in our view , that companies take these compliance programmes seriously and that can help prevention which , in fact , Mr Gauzès , is still cheaper than compensation or punishment .
with independence and determination , it laid the foundations for a lasting climate of confidence .
as a result of its important role in global trade matters and its commitment to protecting human rights , the European Union has a responsibility to combat human trafficking , and child labour in particular .
however , security measures that diminish the guarantees of freedom are measures that remove certainty from the law , and are thus the source of insecurity and barbarities .
I think this is important to say because it is the truth , at least in my experience .
in turn , that regime displays an astonishing immunity to pressure from the international community , ignores the appeals , just does not do anything about them .
insufficient aid is guaranteed not to produce results .
I also welcome the firm stand taken by the rapporteur and the Commission to prevent discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation .
before the outbreak of hostilities in South Ossetia on the night of 7 to 8 August 2008 , which claimed many civilian lives , we had been witnesses to months of provocation from all sides .
it is more sporadic than global .
to my mind , it is not .
as I said a week ago in Brussels - a new year , a new treaty , and a new era for the European Union .
through this regulation , Europe 's 70 million bus and coach passengers will also enjoy a range of rights that until now were much reduced or almost non-existent in comparison with other means of transport .
this invaluable support for building enterprise , the spirit of enterprise in Europe , is sanctioned by the principle introduced by the Commission : think Small First .
given the commitment of the author and the content of this report , I am sure the contribution it makes will assist the European institutions in making laws which will achieve its purpose , helping those for whom it is intended , the poor .
we need a strong EU strategy to ensure that this fundamental right is upheld and that workers throughout the EU are adequately protected .
we therefore call on the Commission , the Member States and the various groupings of the Council with responsibilities in this area to step up their efforts .
this raw material is available to us here in the European Union , so we should include this in our discussions .
but this is a Union of friends - friends , equals and partners .
it has an objective interest in frozen conflicts and in criticism of the Charter of Paris through recognition of Abkhasia and South Ossetia .
Brazil is the first country from Latin America to cooperate in our research programme and , via this experience and bridge , I think we can gradually do more in other countries .
Hungary recently went through a very difficult financial crisis , as a result of its economic policy .
the European Parliament must be given the chance to curb this data protection rights fiasco on behalf of the citizens of Europe .
in writing . - I voted for the resolution on Tunisia to express my solidarity with the wish of Tunisian people to achieve freedom of expression and restore free elections .
that is why we voted in favour .
the European Union must help and encourage Ukraine to bind its future not to Russia but to the European Union .
I agree that the EU Member States should help adult education by adopting active measures , motivating citizens to educate themselves and employers to provide suitable conditions for education .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I have listened carefully to the views expressed by Members of this House .
however , this report by Mrs Keller sometimes has a tendency to be either excessive or vague in its wording .
so , in contrast to my previous visit here , I have the same face but one organ is now missing !
moderate and polite pressure or maximum pressure ?
in these gloomy times , let us continue in the hope of the poet 's ray of light , which will vanquish the darkness , the darkness of that time and for always .
I count on your sense of realism to get Europe at the table and not on it , and I wish you good luck in your second term .
once that trend is established , the race for resources will give rise to pressure and shortages which are likely to pose a challenge to many generations of managers and will certainly have implications for the governance of the modern world .
negotiations have been deadlocked for six years , and it is clear that they have been reopened within the framework of the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the European Union , Latin America and the Caribbean , with the support also of Parliament .
between mid-May and noon yesterday , 1 733 people were infected , while 23 patients died a torturous death .
the purpose of this treaty is to widen the energy market already existing in the European Community to include the countries of that region , i.e. to the countries of the western Balkans .
we cannot have a two- or three-speed cohesion policy .
thus , to their shame , they have conspired to rush through ratification elsewhere and then try arrogantly to bounce the Irish into a second referendum .
the instruments that currently exist , such as the JESSICA Fund , are one of the few financial engineering instruments that a region or municipality can use to finance urban development projects .
I am Vice-Chair of the Committee on Budgetary Control , and I was among the MEPs who attended the informal negotiations with the Council .
the report by Mrs Ayala Sender also , rightly , highlights the simplification of administrative procedures , infrastructure investment needs and the problems posed by logistics in urban areas .
if we do not take this pioneering step , we cannot easily expect to convince the World Bank and others that we should be focusing investment on renewable energy .
moreover , they have to comply with the strictest standards in the world , increasing their production prices , with the disadvantage that this gives them in comparison with third countries .
I believe that an ever stronger degree of cooperation between Member States is also of vital importance to the operation of the effective market supervision system and , as such , for the purpose of coherence , it is imperative to create a uniform interpretation and presence amongst market supervision authorities .
our fellow citizens want more security , but also respect for public freedoms .
the EU Emissions Trading Scheme is in a state of chaos .
these questions , too , must be answered if one is to lapse into grandiloquent lyricism ; otherwise , one pulls the wool over citizens ' eyes .
Austria and Italy confirmed an agreement on the total cost of the Brenner Base Tunnel project at EUR 8 billion .
I too believe that body scanners cannot be commissioned without a clear scientific and medical evaluation of the possible effects of the use of the technology in question on the health of the users .
there arises the question of prices , reliability and also of whether we integrate renewable energies properly into the network , and for this we unfortunately need considerable investment .
the proposal includes a number of measures relating to access to repair information for new cars , so as to ensure effective competition in the repair market , so that small businesses will not suffer as a result of the report .
when we give Croatia the green light for the last round of negotiations and for its last push on the way to full membership , we should point out that this report is addressed to all the countries of south-eastern Europe which have the same expectations .
( EL ) On the agenda for discussion , we have the report given by Csaba Öry on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs , concerning the application of social security schemes to wage-earners , non-earners and members of their families moving within the Community - C6-0104 / 2007 - .
it is not extensive and there are probably reasons in general to improve information .
there is a clear difference between EU and US policy on the extent to which cereal production is being diverted to biofuels .
I think that needs a positive step forward .
emphasising the significance of this event will make it easier to perceive the part played by all the outstanding European musicians - Mozart , Liszt , Handel , Haydn , Schumann , Verdi , Grieg , Berlioz , Paganini and many others - in the creation of European civilisation and in its contribution to world culture .
if we do want to spend many millions , then they could be spent on the border protection agency FRONTEX , rather than the money pit that is the Schengen Information System .
despite already being the object of resolutions of this Parliament , the last of which was in 2010 , the old request that the country of origin be marked and that information be made available about the origin of various goods has been postponed , which we regret .
when that happens - as it has done today - we should rethink this practice .
why is this important ?
finally , the Green Climate Fund must ensure that USD 100 billion is made available to developing countries by 2020 .
we should acknowledge that in this House and push to ensure that they are passed on to farmers .
I voted in favour of this measure because I believe that setting up an ad hoc fund to reduce energy dependency and use renewable and local energy ( even if it amounts to only EUR 146 million ) represents an important indication for my Parliamentary group on the method to be followed in terms of a shrewder application of the European Union budget .
in the European Union , our economy is addicted , and this addiction is fuelled by imported oil and gas .
the next item is the vote .
however , in this Estrela report - one need only listen to the speeches that have been made today - every possible issue has been covered .
we are therefore very concerned about the amendments introduced by the rapporteur , because Amendment 3 would signify a definite dilution of this strong report by our committee .
the first took place between the 10th and 13th centuries in al-Andalus , in the great cultural movement initiated by the Umayyads in Spain .
the incentive effect of public investments co-financed by the Structural Funds under the cohesion policy , which attract private investment and the possibility of using Community funding to finance private investment where there is no public investment strategy .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , I would very much like to thank my fellow Member , Mr Tarabella , for his report .
the human rights activists to whom we awarded the Sakharov Prize last year are a force to be reckoned with in Memorial , which has a significant role in the North Caucasus .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
the Commission recently asked each Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks to reconsider its opinion on the basis of the most recent data and reports .
I have also taken note of the proposal to extend the scope of the Data Retention Directive in order to retain data about searches made by users for child pornography material and child sex abuse content uploaded on the Internet or messages used to groom children online .
let us not , motivated by the need to respond to urgent challenges , now create issues which could bring up more significant problems for us in the future .
displays of aggressive nationalism , racism , xenophobia , anti-Semitism or neo-fascism do not have , and must not have , a place in democratic Europe .
we need to identify the cause of these uprisings ; is it poverty , religion , injustice , corruption or the lack of democracy and freedom ?
I wish to draw attention to a situation I have seen for myself , namely the high numbers of children orphaned in the area as a result of the conflict .
it is ' all hands on deck ' , as it were ; the input of this fund , however small , contributes to the technological revolution necessary to keep the steel sector competitive and to make coal a clean fuel , a clean raw material : ' clean coal ' .
we must not , however , give up any responsibility .
if populism means that we are listening closely to what people are saying , that we are representing them and offering really watertight arguments about extracting ourselves from the economic crisis , which the EU has also forced upon us , then I shall be happy to wear that title with pride .
finally , Amendment 12 would significantly limit the scope of the areas to be dealt with by the Agency as laid down in Article 2 of our proposal .
Fukushima has stirred up this debate and , as a result , many people have changed their views dramatically .
I would like to finish by saying to Commissioner Kroes that we expect transparency from the Commission .
Mr President , I would like to welcome the Transatlantic Economic Council on 15 December , and especially its discussion of innovation , the digital agenda and energy technologies .
the Commission fully shares the view that climate change now needs to be addressed globally and it is important that others follow our example also .
thank you once again Mr President , and thank you honourable Members for the commitment and cooperation you have shown .
the correct modification to the remarks is contained in Amendment 1133 , which is annexed to the voting list .
I would therefore like to thank the rapporteur sincerely for his work .
naturally , we believe that crime must be prevented .
what part do our genes play in the disease ?
closure of sitting
the larger the lorry , the more competitive it is compared with the rail and waterway transport , and the more the Commission policy on railways , waterways and motorways of the sea will be undermined .
I can only support what has been said here .
the mandate will continue to be the same , however .
the global economic , financial and social crisis is causing women to suffer a ' double blow ' .
it hands decision-making in the EU to the big Member States , notably Germany , at the expense of the small countries .
I can safely say that this approach has met with the broad support of two committees , the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs , which is my parent committee .
I have been known to do so myself .
in particular , I agree that the future EU strategy should recognise the important role of the family as the basic institution in society for the survival , protection and development of the child .
no one , for instance , disputes any more that Robert Mugabe is a criminal who has brought his country to its knees and who terrorises his own population .
( applause )
and the Commission is indeed of the opinion that the conditions for extending macro-financial assistance to these countries are fully met .
therefore , the only realistic way out of this situation , the only way to prevent the collapse of the currency market is stop-gap help for Greece as well as long-term , planned action to stabilise the position of the euro .
research needs funding ; innovative businesses need funding ; world class-innovation needs world-class funding .
in writing . - I voted against the Gauzès report on the AIFM Directive because it disadvantages an important part of the United Kingdom 's most important industry - financial services .
this is the hypocrisy of the ' special ' class , that people say ' it is dreadful to mention a scandal explicitly in an official Parliamentary paper ' but then make critical comments publicly .
however , we shall be publishing a policy document in order to structure future discussions on this question .
consequently , I am asking the MEPs from the PPE and UEN to subscribe to the serious attitude we need to adopt on this matter and with regard to the Uzbek people , and support our motion for a resolution , which says nothing more than the truth about the human rights situation in Uzbekistan .
we brought a report out at that stage that there should be no further building of new houses in flood plains .
I am afraid that life is not like that any more , and when I hear people talk about the emancipation of women , I am sorry , but as an Englishman , that happened a very long time ago .
you falsely equate violence and terrorism with the legitimate reaction of Europe 's people against the destruction of their identity .
the request made by the Commission for Member States to use the Structural Funds to invest in constructing energy-efficient public buildings certainly provides part of the solution .
on the German side , works will not start before 2012 and will take an estimated three years .
in this way , we pay due regard to the principle of subsidiarity .
I believe that is the challenge : to have economies that are growing so that we can then spend money on enlightened social policies .
I watched in close-up -
that would result in a real Europe of energy based on cooperation and the general interest .
the result of the Irish referendum testifies that the success of Europe is being sacrificed to an overdose of doubtful public opinion .
firstly , poverty plays a big role , but we should not believe that the situation of the Roma as a category is identical with that of poor people in general , because poverty and unemployment are much higher among the Roma than in mainstream society .
( NL ) Mr President , I am speaking here on behalf of my colleague Mr Blokland .
this new budget line will therefore be included using a token entry ( p.m. ) .
area of Freedom , Security and Justice ( AFSJ ) 2007 ( motions for resolutions tabled ) : see Minutes
when the Commission was first informed of the crisis in the refuse collection and disposal system in Campania , in the spring of 2007 , proceedings were initiated against Italy for contravention of Community legislation on refuse .
the Heads of Government committed themselves at that summit to the following : ' to launch a framework that lays out the policies and the way we act together to generate strong , sustainable and balanced global growth .
for the first time , Article 174 of the treaty recognises the specific role of mountain regions , which represent 40 % of our territory and over 90 million European citizens .
well , neither do they lead to Paris , and this is not the start of the French Presidency .
I think that the situation is evolving in the right direction , but at too slow a rate .
such negative situations would certainly affect population groups less well-equipped for survival , particularly non-EU families who often have to make do with sharing small and therefore low cost accommodation with one another .
my colleagues and I want a solution to be found to the problems which are at the root of the rising food prices : buyers abusing their dominant position , unfair practices in negotiating prices , lack of information on price formation , the distribution of profit along the food chain and speculation on the commodity markets .
the European Council will also adopt the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region .
we also worked together with the Council , which had discussed more or less the same proposals in 2003 .
therefore , both of the forthcoming Competitiveness Councils under the Czech Presidency - one will take place very soon in early March , as well as the informal one which will take place in Prague - will tackle the question of reducing the administrative burden , since we believe that better regulation is an important factor for improving competitiveness , in particular for SMEs , and it plays an even more important role in times of economic crisis .
sustainable forestry exploitation will make it possible to produce energy using wood residues .
in my opinion , this dossier is far from ready ; the European Parliament would first like to hear why this programme is necessary .
the European Union expressed concern that further detention of protesters who had peacefully expressed their will might cause renewed tension between the Tibetans and the Han , that is to say the Chinese community in Tibet .
let us be under no illusion : if we make exemption rules for European industry in emissions trading the focal point of the Council at this time , then we must assume from the outset that the Council has failed .
41 .
it is also necessary to produce educational tools designed to inform Internet users ( e.g. technologies for managing ' traces ' left on the web and resources for protecting privacy ) .
this is particular true of rare genetic diseases that are hereditary .
I consider the motto ' United in Diversity ' to be the perfect definition of the essence of the European project .
( ES ) Mr President , as indicated in the Middle East Quartet Statement made in Munich , we would all like to see the end of negotiations between Israel and Palestine in September 2011 in the form of an agreed solution for the two states that will bring peace and security .
present-day relatives of the victims are seeking closure and should , therefore , have the right to access such information in order to come to an understanding of the greatest catastrophe in Ukraine 's modern history .
we have also included a provision concerning revision , requiring the Commission to ensure that both the definition of nanomaterial and the safety procedures are satisfactory .
when we talk about political parties , we must take two problems into consideration .
( ES ) Mr President , I would like to begin by expressing my solidarity with the Chilean people , and that solidarity has also been expressed to the people of Haiti , Turkey and Peru , who have also suffered recent natural disasters .
secondly , the public domain , and more specifically the European Union and its Member States , as well as nuclear industry operators , must adopt a behavioural ethic of total transparency in relation to nuclear activities .
Mr President , we want a Europe that is competitive , environmentally friendly and socially responsible .
in view of all the above , I support the Commission 's proposal to repeal obsolete acts in the field of the common agricultural policy .
our problem is that , in my opinion , we want to bring too many matters into the discussion .
one of the main challenges is education , that is to say , investment in human capital , which brings great benefits . Africa has also entered into certain commitments too , however .
something else that I might add as I near the end of this long narrative that has been arranged for me is that I met the UN-Habitat Executive Director and had a lengthy conversation with her .
we are in favour of this , as it should introduce more predictability into what remains a dramatic situation and do so in the interests , in particular , of the security to which children , who are too often the victims of the separation of their parents , are entitled .
whether or not we are facing an immigration influx of biblical proportions , we cannot tell .
the vote on these three topics will take place at the end of today 's sitting .
the dialogue between the European Commission , the Council and Parliament was still fruitless at the end of last week , as the rapporteur had prohibitive objections to a compromise proposal concerning early repayment that all the other parties were prepared to accept .
a lot has also been said , and quite rightly so , about 2009 being a year of crisis in Europe , the US and , in fact , the whole world , and then we ask ourselves : what should we do ?
our long fight against smoking has not been unsuccessful .
the European Union should be secure in its own food security .
dictatorships and dictators get very special treatment .
this should be helped by the establishment of modern care and education facilities for children and by high quality training for people who are looking for work .
the number of couples for whom fertilisation by this method is their only chance of having offspring is growing year on year .
obviously these economic , social and cultural rights are important .
our strategy towards the region is to assist in stabilising the countries of the Western Balkans and helping them realise their EU perspective .
however , with their taxes , our constituents cannot afford your generosity .
what funding does the Commission provide to human rights NGOs working in Iran ?
what steps has the European Union taken with regard to the persecution of Christians in a State with which we have close links ?
the money set aside in this fund has so far been used in 33 serious natural disasters .
I would finally like to stress how important it is for us to consider the protection of those consumers who are especially vulnerable and the dangers of gambling addiction and compulsive behaviour , and to make a real effort to fight against organised crime , which tries to profit by it .
on behalf of the PPE Group . - Mr President , may I join with the Commissioner in expressing my sympathy to the people of Nigeria on the death of President Umaru Yar 'Adua .
( DE ) Mr President , I would just like to interrupt the debate very briefly to inform you and my fellow Members that last night , three terrorists stormed the Chechen Parliament , killing several security officers and taking hostages .
there may be problems with that , but I would suggest to you - and I would like you to look at the evidence which was placed before us in our hearing - that dealers and consumers do have serious concerns about bringing automotive distribution straight away into the general block exemption .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - Mr President , poor Mr Frattini is still lost in the Hampton Court maze as we see the EU moving ever further from democracy .
in my region , where more than one million people live , over 80 % are Catholics .
you also highlighted the importance of the continuity of European politics , and demonstrated the importance of unity between our countries with regard to our relationships with our main partners , during the European - US Summit in Prague with Barack Obama .
this House should demand that Council end the Strasbourg circus and save annual costs of over EUR 200 million .
we need to improve the Union 's credibility , which is why I am saying that we do not need any new requirements to improve energy efficiency .
if this report makes even a modest contribution to progress along those lines , then I think we can be satisfied .
how do we say ' abstention ' ?
it is simply not right that small local companies providing very local or regional services should have these burdens put upon them .
it seems to me a real possibility that it will depart from it .
we shall give some more thought to this matter .
- Before the vote on paragraph 19
therefore , as you can see , ladies and gentlemen , the spirit is one of agreement and proactiveness .
on the other , the Presidency has signalled its intention to deepen the debate on how Europe responds to globalisation .
advise Mrs Tymoshenko in the same way as we did Mr Yanukovych .
the same principles should be applied to relations with Russia , where the rule of law and human rights situation is worse than in most ENP countries .
of course , it is also to be expected that closer monitoring of the national political decisions of the Member States will not proceed without discussions and sources of friction .
in any case , it seems that we have managed to avoid the serious temptation of protectionism which occurred during the crisis of the 1930s , and it seems that the trend for the emergence of new restrictive measures disappeared at the end of last year .
I would rather concentrate on bare facts backed up by statistics where appropriate - as statistics is after all my life-long profession and possibly even my passion - or on what Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk , the first President of the Czechoslovak Republic , called the small everyday tasks .
the Community 's institutions and the Member States have taken concrete measures within their areas of competence to counteract these effects .
obviously this would cause a system which relies , as the French law arguably does , on the computerisation and massification of accusations and penalties , to implode .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , the Commission welcomes the Court 's annual report for 2008 .
therefore , we must have clear conditions relating to the Council 's assurance , in order to be able to decide tomorrow about a possible postponement .
we have therefore introduced the following elements into the report , which are new features compared with the previous situation : firstly , a relatively wide-ranging definition of what lobbying means , or what it is , namely ' activities carried out with the objective of influencing the policy formulation and decision-making processes of the EU institutions ' .
secondly , Member States should , on a compulsory basis , present the progress made on the implementation of the ' Think Small First ' principle in the annual reports on the Lisbon process national reform programmes .
is it the other commissioners ?
as early as 1995 , the European Commission proposed an emissions requirement of 120 g per kilometre for European cars .
this is essential to protect the privacy of our citizens , to ensure a common approach to all data-processing activities within the European Union , and Parliament will , of course , be fully involved in the reform of the current legal framework since the codecision procedure also applies to the former third-pillar areas .
so that is a completely new situation .
what we need is a new treaty for a new era .
- ( FR ) Madam President , as Mr Parish has had to leave , he has asked me to state our position on the amendments which reached us at the last minute .
I agree with the emphasis that the report places on combating counterfeiting through better identification of products in respect of consumer safety through the use of new technologies .
Europe has reacted in a relatively swift and united manner , although there is an awareness , which is hopefully shared by all those who support nuclear technology , that radioactivity knows no national borders and that nature does not recognise safety standards , however high they may be set .
in writing . - Chemical , biological , radiological and nuclear ( CBRN ) risks present a new dimension of possible terrorist attacks , accidents , natural disasters and / or pandemics due to their transnational character and mass-scale victimisation .
it also welcomes the collective commitment made by the Commission and the Member States at the International Donors ' Conference for the reconstruction of Haiti to donate a total of EUR 1.2 billion , including EUR 460 million in non-humanitarian aid from the Commission .
additional patrol aircraft have been deployed in the Seychelles , and I can announce that Swedish maritime patrol aircraft will join the force in the Seychelles as well .
I know that his father has been in this House this week and I understand that he is at this very moment sitting here with us .
we must also ask whether this problem should be addressed at European level or continue to be the concern of each Member State individually .
social tourism statistics would enable the Commission and Member States to identify the specific needs of different social groups and devise suitable programmes .
I believe that fundamental change must be about much more than simply reducing the number of targets .
in what way have the Commission and OLAF intervened in this important case to demand transparency ?
Madam President , ' there are no winners , ' says the worthwhile report by the commission of investigation on the armed conflict in Georgia in the summer of 2008 .
by this I do not mean primarily presenting new measures for approval , but answering the questions that have now been raised so often .
the blue card proposal must be developed .
when the EU presidency was last held by a country bordering on that region , namely Greece , the foundations for the integration of the countries of the Western Balkans were laid down in the Thessaloniki Agenda .
the starting point for any debate on this issue must now be to recognise that the situation on the ground has improved significantly , though it is still very serious .
we do need , as I said here , the attitude on both sides to go forward , which is what I said in my speech if you will recall .
I very much welcome the possible use of accompanying safety officials , the ' sky-marshals ' , particularly based on the current threat from international terrorism on potentially vulnerable flight paths .
businesses and households need to make decisions according to market conditions .
these Members will support you tomorrow .
it is indeed possible that this economic sector still has growth potential for the European Union .
is there not too much of it going on administration ?
in my opinion , God 's Ten Commandments , communicated to the world by Moses a long time ago , must hold good in the area of human rights .
( applause )
it also highlights the fact that new investments promoted by the EU must be viable and environmentally friendly and must encourage a high standard of working conditions .
secondly , our priorities should be more focused on the fight against poverty and on sustainable growth .
the difference between those who believe that disorder and imbalances in public finances are at the root of the crisis and those who think that the underlying problem has to do instead with the lack of rules and transparency in the markets , economic and trade imbalances and social inequality .
finally , I support the idea of clarifying the term ' plant protection products ' by replacing it with the term ' pesticides ' in the Regulation and explaining clearly what it means .
the G20 labour and social welfare ministers should ask for the support granted to companies in difficulty , as a result of the economic crisis , to be extended until when the unemployment rate starts to fall again .
I must remind you that at the same time as we are importers of meat from third countries - and at this point we import from Brazil only 5 % of our requirements for beef in the European Union - we are also big exporters to third countries : to Russia and elsewhere .
at that time they were in deep trouble .
Britain needs even stricter controls , not more lax ones imposed by the European Union .
agrofuels may possibly reduce CO2 emissions in the EU a little , but result in deforestation and land grabbing in developing countries , thereby leading to more climate change - which is precisely what we wanted to avoid , not to mention the displacement of indigenous populations and the loss of biodiversity and farm land for growing food .
secondly - but this is rich - you say : ' why postpone further ? '
first of all , as emerged from the recent review of the budget , we will use our right of initiative to present formal proposals on own resources before the end of June .
this is also a fundamental element of the negotiations on an association agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan that have been taking place since July 2010 .
I voted against this resolution .
I think it is extremely important , with her knowledge and expertise , that she is able to participate there .
in writing . - ( HU ) It is absolutely vital to take into account the facts of climate change based on the scientific evidence when making decisions in this regard . after all , the risk of taking the wrong decisions based on mistaken conclusions is at least as great as the risk of inaction .
this report by Parliament is the first examination of the application of this new instrument and has a twofold objective :
the Commission also supports social dialogue at a European level , as the social partners have a decisive role to play in managing the crisis .
our aims and goals in this respect are clear .
it represents a significant challenge to the present single currency system .
we need , and we demand today , appropriate and concrete steps to make the EU 's principles in its action within and outside the Union a real tool of human rights promotion , with a specific focus on women 's rights .
the war is costing human lives both amongst the soldiers and the population and it only serves to strengthen the Taliban .
the consequences of this have become all the more apparent and serious in this time of severe economic and financial crisis , as the budgets of the Member States have been particularly weakened and strained by the need for public investment and expenditure on social policy .
then we will also have a discussion on the 2050 low carbon strategy that we will present by March - including , as I said , the 2030 target because , if we know where we are going to be by 2050 , it is also very clear that there are some trade-offs involved .
there is no instruction manual on how to create the perfect monetary union , and nor can any absolute value be put on the knowledge acquired until now , since the socio-economic peculiarities of the euro area are liable to make any comparisons meaningless .
fourthly , I should like to underline that one of the secrets to the success of this project is being able to duly combine security and freedom , freedom of movement , much more freedom of movement , with appropriate data protection .
therefore I will not expand on what other colleagues have said .
I do not need to repeat everything it contains , but it is also very ambitious .
it would be extremely important for this Parliament and therefore also for European citizens to be informed of the results of these tests .
we need to be open to everything we have to do in face of a crisis that will have , specifically , more impact on social matters .
it was also said in the debate that some of the terms were too open .
the Irish said that they needed Europe in the crisis and this needs to be heavily emphasised , because they are asking Europe to protect them and that is important .
the mandate of the Committee on Climate Change is extremely clear : it has to analyze the present situation , to make a list of possibilities for combating climate change and formulate concrete proposals regarding the European Union policy in this field , at all decision levels .
we need the more united democratic effective Union offered by Lisbon to face the many problems , any one of which can plunge our world into conflict : energy security , climate change , the economic and financial crisis , and the many wars in many regions .
the Committee on Social Affairs has adopted a set of common indicators for the process of social protection and integration , which will ensure comparability of data .
an immigrant will only have the right to stay in the territory of a Member State of the EU if he works to swell the coffers of the plutocracy .
we award the Sakharov Prize , we support humanitarian measures and we strive to attain rights and privileges not only for the people of Europe , but of the whole world .
the Heads of State or Government of the European Union have responded to the economic crisis with austerity measures and public spending cuts .
the European satellite navigation programmes , Galileo and the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service ( EGNOS ) , will enable Europe to establish autonomy and strategic independence from other economic blocs , which is very important , and will contribute to improving the lives of the European public , as well as bringing direct and indirect benefits to the European economy .
it has a minor border dispute with Croatia , which it will resolve peacefully before the International Court of Justice .
in the only prison in Lahore , 4 651 prisoners were held in 2009 , while the prison has a capacity of only 1 050 prisoners .
however , we cannot get around the fact that this type of extraction and production always carries risks .
however , as a matter of principle I am against the procedure of waiving immunity .
we hope for new dynamics in the negotiation process with Turkey including opening of the energy chapter .
yes , we can see unity advanced by officials meeting officials across frontiers .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
we do not need free allocation up to 100 % in the industry affected by carbon leakage , we need 100 % allocation , and we need ex ante benchmarks .
you referred to existing overseas départements .
therefore , a common space of justice , freedom and security characterised by transparency , accountability and openness is needed .
the next item is the oral questions to the Council and Commission regarding the second European Roma Summit .
this should , however , relate to every form of expression of life and not just to economic problems .
in addition , the free trade agreement will contribute to an increase in transparency on the question of intellectual property protection and public procurement .
yes , I think that arsonists who want to seize a piece of land by destroying the natural environment are nothing but primitive criminals .
or is the Commission prepared to revise the draft and to negotiate a balanced agreement ?
once again , regional policy appears to be the lynchpin of the entire Hungarian strategy , capable of providing integrated responses to the economic crisis and regional imbalances .
a legislative proposal where Parliament can hardly change anything is not the appropriate framework for codecision .
it is particularly important for the newly formulated principle of climate justice to be taken into account at Cancún .
the scope of the directive is broader than that .
if we confined ourselves to the idea of making sure that a worker in one State can move to another Member State and take their pension with them , that might be a valid idea to pursue .
we must not succumb to pesticide hysteria unleashed in the European Parliament .
one hundred and fifty years ago , Bulgarian farmers were able to feed the most densely populated regions of the Ottoman Empire in Asia Minor using 19th century technology .
it is about the world testing us .
energy security is a vital element in the context of overall EU security and should therefore be treated with utmost care especially in the face of a growing dependency on energy imports , expected to reach 65 % by 2030 .
on Amendment 11 , I can reconsider the base line for the calculation of kilowatt days .
infrastructure projects that receive support at EU level should first and foremost contribute to the real diversification of sources and routes of supplies to the Member States and to the EU as a whole .
to that end we must introduce assisted return programmes , promote circular migration , regulate recruitment practices and support capacity-building .
I would like , at this point , to offer my sincere thanks to the other shadow rapporteurs , in particular , Mr Turmes , Mr Hegyi and Mr Blokland , who were reliable partners in negotiation despite differences in substance .
I really do not think so because I consider both elements of representative and participatory democracy as mutually reinforcing , and both help to create real European political and public space .
at the same time , proceedings are ongoing which could result in the closure of two of the remaining independent newspapers - Nasha Niva and Narodnaya Volya - and the harassment of the political opposition , civil society and the independent media continues .
alarm bells are ringing and they cannot be ignored .
in writing . - ( NL ) The adoption of the Medina report is a sure sign that legislation is set to improve .
in my opinion , the aim of media governance is not to guarantee proper and adequate information .
for instance , the International Energy Agency maintains that reducing carbon emissions by 50 % will have cost the world approximately USD 45 billion by the year 2050 , and that this amount of money will reduce temperatures , and I quote , ' by 0.02 degrees ' , that is , by less than the statistical error , which can have no effect on the progress of cyclical climate change .
for this reason , I hope that tomorrow 's vote will show that the compromise that has been sought is supported by Parliament .
it does not make sense to apply Chinese law or the law of some remote Pacific state , for example , in such a delicate matter as matrimonial relations , when the pressing need is instead to unite the 27 countries of the Union .
I voted in favour of the report on migration flows arising from instability : scope and role of EU foreign policy .
I also expressed puzzlement about the low utilisation rate for payment appropriations for anti-polluting measures at sea , despite Parliament 's continuing support for these measures .
I would also like to hear where we stand on the human rights paragraph .
on the one hand , Russia has again significantly cut the amount of gas it supplies to Ukraine , thereby seriously endangering Europe 's energy security .
last , but not least , I personally know some of the already-elected future colleagues , and the sooner they can start working the better .
obviously it is very slow .
why ?
( the sitting was suspended at 7 p.m. and resumed at 9 p.m. )
yesterday 's announcement of over EUR 420 million in European Union humanitarian aid for Haiti shows leadership and commitment , but its delivery must be coordinated and effective .
( SK ) Thank you , Mr President .
this is a very serious problem relating to the monopoly on the extraction of these raw materials .
regarding finance , for instance , enlargement calls for sufficient financial resources to ensure that essential community policies such as the common agricultural policy or cohesion policy are not put at risk .
the French Presidency has not had an easy time of it ; far from it .
the agreement must not in any way be viewed as a possible stepping stone to an EU military presence in the area in question .
I am also disappointed that , for reasons of time , the proper consultation process was not followed and I hope the Council will back the aforementioned proposals .
it is true that one of the problems for public opinion in Europe is , on the one hand , that the volume of development aid remains high .
I thank Marc Otte for his contribution .
Thijs Berman 's report goes some way towards helping achieve that goal .
on the contrary , the ΕU is shifting the burden of responsibility to the workers , as it does with all consumer products .
I quote from the programme which it has just agreed : ' we must step back from the edge of national insolvency ( ... ) the EU-IMF Programme of Support has - to date - failed to restore confidence in the Irish economy ( ... ) this reflects uncertainty over the affordability of the rescue package ' .
let me conclude . Commissioner , I do think that the past five years have indeed been a success .
in writing . - I voted , of course , in favour of such an important resolution , and I supported very much the oral amendment proposed by my colleague Kiil-Nielsen to call on the Nigerian authorities to repeal the recent move by some Nigerian state governors to execute death row inmates .
the Greek Communist Party opposed the Commission proposal from the very beginning , voting against it both in the competent committee of the European Parliament and in plenary .
it also means planning our investments , today , in order to safeguard jobs , tomorrow , and that is why we must secure the support of the citizens .
secondly , unfortunately in quite a few Member States , including my home country , those holding extremist positions are increasingly gaining ground .
in the EU 2020 strategy , we would like to introduce a three-interlocking-pillar system based on a smart , greener and inclusive economy and we would like to build upon these pillars flexible initiatives which would be aimed at the bottlenecks , at the problems which are slowing the European economy , which are blocking it from using its full potential .
his seat in the Sudanese Parliament now enables him to bring their cause to the attention of the international community , though sometimes at great personal sacrifice .
I would like to join the call for OLAF , in accordance with the request raised in last year 's report on protecting the financial interests of the Community , to provide a detailed analysis in its next annual report of the strategies and measures introduced by each Member State in the fight against fraud and the prevention and detection of irregularities in the use of European funding , including cases where these resulted from corruption .
this is outrageous , scandalous and shameful .
tomorrow , his collaborative method will be crowned with success .
my group has no hesitation in helping you .
but a global statement , like the signing of the Child Soldier Accountability Act this month in America , reminds us all that help can be offered to such countries and authorities in bringing violators of human rights to justice .
Mr Reul , you and others will simply have to go along with this .
secondly , we also need a continued guarantee of funding for our banks until such time as they are functional again .
you were right , Mrs Roithová , to draw attention to the problem of 100 % scanning , and thank you , Commissioner , for the resolve you have shown in defending us .
this really is a new quality .
rainfall , serious rainfall , floods , rising sea levels , etc. are going to become more and more prevalent .
but before you get too excited , let me remind you that in those opening remarks you stated that there were millions of workers who were worried about the Working Time Directive .
overly strict and complex customs regulations impede access to international trade for small and medium-sized enterprises in particular .
second , offers in terms of financing .
this means a partnership that goes beyond the Commission 's offices with companies which have a close relationship with us , but which must demonstrate that they can do more than just manage public money .
that is 18 months without having committed any crime !
there is a responsibility associated with this which we ought to fulfil , and this report points us in the right direction . it is the direction towards fair trade and , in particular , fairness towards the people and the environment .
in writing . - ( IT ) Madam President , my decision to vote against the motion for a resolution was based on the fact that it reiterates the same ideas that my group opposed in the final vote of the temporary committee on the alleged use of European countries by the CIA for the transport and illegal detention of prisoners ( TDIP ) .
first , we must manage to formulate a uniform European interpretation of war and the reasons for war , that is to say a common European memory .
a total ban on smoking in businesses is planned for 2012 and this gives very little consideration to those businesses that will suffer most , in other words , those in the catering industry .
the efficient use of traditional agricultural varieties that are characteristic to certain regions also requires greater support and public interest .
in order to achieve this , we should give people who have applied for asylum access to the job market , because this is the best way to enable the asylum seeker to be selfsufficient .
( FR ) Mr President , first of all , it is true that the sudden emergence and the depth of the Greek crisis have created a great deal of fear amongst our fellow citizens , fear which I think is legitimate .
I should also like to remind you that , obviously , these two agreements go hand in hand , as , on the basis of the common approach , in principle , an agreement on facilitation of the issuance of visas can only be concluded if a readmission agreement exists .
we very much want to eliminate bureaucracy as well as to achieve greater efficiency in the statistics .
how must the application of cross-compliance be redefined so as to ensure the legitimate payment of uniform decoupled aid to farmers affected ?
the Council also recognises the key role played by independent patients ' organisations in developing and implementing national policies in the area of rare diseases .
Madam President , my country , Ireland , is a small open economy with a heavy concentration on foreign direct investment .
at the same time , the GCC member states have become the economic powerhouse of the whole Middle East-North Africa region and are now the main investors in the EU 's southern Mediterranean neighbourhood area .
if we succeed in improving the quality of health care and people 's access to health care close to home , that will surely be a marvellous achievement , and no one need shop around anymore .
this scheme must incorporate Community preference , in other words priority for national and local production , and its financing must come from the Community to ensure greater social cohesion .
taking Russia seriously means developing a sensible relationship and a pragmatic economic relationship with Russia , but it does not mean that we should not be critical of political developments within Russia , particularly with regard to human rights issues .
in fact , these are proposals previously adopted by the European Parliament itself which reiterated , in 2005 , the need for future support for the renewal and modernisation of the fishing fleets , in the interests of the profitability and competitiveness of the sector in these regions .
you designed five byzantine tests that prevented British entry these past 10 years .
common system for taxing financial transactions (
the presidency must therefore devote itself to the realisation of the European Economic Recovery Plan , with emphasis on its incorporation into the Lisbon Strategy framework : after short-term tools for strengthening our economies , the tools for medium- and long-term structural reforms will come into play .
the Ministers of the Interior wanted to ' clear the decks ' before regulating legal immigration to the European Union in a unified manner .
( it ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , as we well know in this House , compromises must be analysed by separating the pros and the cons and reaching an overall judgment that takes on board the constraints and the legislative and political context .
it has solved the border dispute with Kosovo and has cooperated successfully on regional initiatives , such as CEFTA and the South-East European Cooperation Process .
therefore , the first thing we must do is to differentiate .
( NL ) President Barroso has spoken about inflation .
this obviously conveys the message that the first language is more important , while the second is subordinate and second-class .
tanker accidents are , unfortunately , more common than we would like , so it is important to review safety standards in this area too , so as to reduce the likelihood of such disasters .
we must look forward in order to create the conditions for all women and men to become involved in inter-generational solidarity regardless of their social standing .
for 15 years the EU has been tightening control of the export of dual-use goods , relying on preventive measures such as the imposition of export licensing requirements and customs registration procedures .
too many uncertain factors , differing expectations and intangible attractions , such as specific weather conditions , have turned tourism forecasts into a game of chance .
the European Council - as far as I can judge from my brief experience in this House - has demonstrated what Europe is making : a step-change .
the debate is closed .
we cannot accept this situation .
( RO ) Burma is not a democracy , even though it is going to organise elections , because , as we are aware , the authorities in this country show deep contempt for any democratic principle .
this is the area that this afternoon 's discussion concentrated on almost exclusively - the big , far-reaching issues , sometimes involving global politics , that have been mentioned here .
monitoring is being carried out and information on precautionary and sanitary measures is being provided to the population .
protein is one of the most important components of our daily diet , and a lack of protein can lead to serious health problems .
for this reason , I thank you for supporting the amendment regarding the significant increase of the budget in this field for the next year .
it is not even about the national parliaments being sidelined .
for too long we have closed our eyes to what was going on in Kenya .
in fact , the European Commission 's proposal to split the European Statistical System Committee into two parts seems controversial to me and the rapporteur 's position of not separating functions seems more acceptable and worth supporting .
what happened in Cologne was not about banning speeches against fundamentalism or speeches by democrats , but the imminent threat to citizens .
however , taking back illegal immigrants must become an obligation at last .
I do not think there has been a chairs ' text in the history of chairs ' texts in the Doha Round that has attracted less support from right across the membership of the WTO than the current chairs ' text on rules .
for the strategy to succeed , the stakeholders , namely the EU institutions , the Member States , non-governmental organisations and Roma communities , need to make long-term , determined joint efforts .
the new rules will also help regulate the telecommunications market and ease the arrival of new services onto the market .
furthermore , I would like to stress the need for educational programmes in schools to avoid the legacy of stereotypes associated with women .
the European Union must support all those who risk their lives and freedom in this country for the values which we share .
Mr President , the weakness of the Stability Pact has been one factor in this deepening economic crisis , which has grown into a credibility crisis .
the problem in question should be a fundamental challenge for the Member States .
however , we need to know the direction in which energy efficiency , energy saving and renewable energies are going .
the measure is proportional to the additional costs borne by the sector as a result of the handicaps associated with outermost region status , particularly remoteness , the small market and the difficult topography , which explains the high price of sugar cane .
a Committee on Constitutional Affairs item at ten to eleven at night ?
the Council here today is a Council of silence and a Council of illusions .
I welcome the introduction of a financial mechanism to help manage this waste , so as to stop it being dangerous , and the adoption of regulators that are more demanding and prevent the violation of this directive .
the Commission and Parliament are , according to their resolutions , of one mind concerning the objectives of this legislative initiative .
someone today uttered the fine statement : ' without freedom there is no solidarity and without solidarity there is no strong , effective European Union . '
all of us here are the representatives of people who hated one another , who sought to destroy one another , and some who waged war on one another for centuries .
it is important that President Viktor Yanukovich does not forget the promises he made on the day he assumed his mandate .
construction of dams and irrigation systems would allow industrial-scale growth of fruit and vegetables .
in addition , I would like to know the opinion regarding the significant increase in staff in the Committee of the Regions between 2009 and 2010 .
there is also the desire for freedom .
the European Commission has provided a proposal .
since 2006 , in the East Atlantic and the Mediterranean , fishing of bluefin tuna has been reduced by 30 000 tonnes to 13 500 tonnes .
we must place more emphasis on the need to implement the European action plan to combat people-trafficking , with particular reference to children , in addition to women , for as the two weakest categories they are often the victims of international people-trafficking .
the European Union and its Member States must put a stop to the poverty and social exclusion of women in Europe , in particular , by ensuring they have access to quality education and jobs , by helping them find a balance between their family life and work life , and by helping to combat the violence to which they , sadly , all too often , fall victim .
this report is therefore not intended to tackle the substance of the regulation and it does not comment on whether GSP + beneficiaries do in fact continue to qualify for these trade preferences on the basis of good governance , sustainable development and ratification and implementation of UN conventions in the field of social , environmental and human rights .
it is simply a matter of political will and coordination .
another important element is the reform of the Security Council with a view to improving its legitimacy by reviewing regional representation .
while ensuring consumer 's protection the real challenge is to actually regain consumers ' confidence and ensure a quality food production for their benefit .
is it necessary to plough money into celebrations whilst Europe is in the midst of a deep economic crisis ?
I was unaware that there was a ' point of information ' procedure .
I also strongly support the rapporteur 's suggestion of using the European Fisheries Fund for the long-term funding of measures within the framework of ICZM , since it supports actions which contribute to the sustainable development of fishing regions in a transversal approach to all maritime activities taking place in those regions .
- I shall take responsibility for raising this matter again in the Bureau , even though you know that some regulatory powers are taken away from the Bureau and exercised via coordination of the group chairmen , but whoever 's job it is to decide , if it is ridiculous , it will remain ridiculous , it will certainly not change .
ladies and gentlemen , I have read a considerable amount about tuna in recent days , and I would like to raise a few issues here in the short time I have left .
one of the most important aspects of Mr Toubon 's excellent work is the way that he has taken a very all-embracing and very comprehensive view of the single market , as he identified in his speech .
in this spirit , the amendments have been drawn up , including the technical changes made by the Council .
you are forced to say ' yes ' or ' no ' and that can stay for a long time in the hearts and minds of the Irish as well .
the Commission welcomes Parliament 's response to this report .
let me turn to our common security and defence policy and say that I agree with the broad thrust of the Danjean report about how important our missions are .
at some point , the European Parliament will have to choose to assert its institutional position firmly .
recently , the Ombudsman has continued his efforts to improve the quality of information provided to citizens and potential complainants concerning their rights , especially through the European Network of Ombudsmen .
lack of jobs could conceivably generate an exodus of young people from Europe , but the vast majority of young people who change countries to find work will probably choose to move to another Member State .
how proud the Hungarian people would be if the Hungarian Presidency treated the resolution of this issue , that of food speculation , as a priority .
we have once again created a reserve for this .
moreover , there has already been positive feedback on what has already been achieved by way of visa facilitation .
of course , there are always things that you do not get , but in truth we knew , for instance , that the second commitment period could not be for Cancún , so we just wanted to save the prospect of having it and continuing to build on what we have .
it transpires from the Commission 's analysis that :
I agree very much with the questioner that one of the areas where we can do so much more in Europe would be within the field of energy efficiency and buildings .
discussions concerning implementation , dates and scope are still in progress and will continue for some time yet .
a woman from a small village out in the sticks , living on a family farm , is virtually deprived of any opportunity for occupational , social , political or cultural advancement .
equality between men and women constitutes one of the fundamental principles of EU law .
patient long-term efforts will be needed to achieve that goal .
the left wing simply has to accept that this decision cannot be changed either in Brussels , or in Strasbourg .
in writing . - Whilst I believe that the EU 's Member States should retain control over their own taxation systems , it is clear that there must be cooperation across the EU and indeed with third countries in order to counter tax evasion .
it is for that reason that we have had to react , obviously in a spirit of solidarity with all the Member States , including those aspiring to enter the visa waiver programme .
in terms of the Roma , on 2 July , the Commission submitted a report within the context of its communication .
it is more than two and a half years since the collapse of Lehmann Brothers and where are we now ?
this constitutes a real test of maturity and it is fully supported by the EU .
there was also further investment in the Common Foreign and Security Policy .
the result that we have achieved is a great success for the environment and for European shipping .
the keyword is expansion to the east , where emissions are lower in absolute figures , leaving a reduction target of 12 % compared with 1990 .
we have a package of measures to tackle that , and of course we have the measures we have heard about today from the Commissioner : food aid and farming support for the poorest countries .
I think he put a very good point forward there .
( RO ) I would like to begin by mentioning the implementation of the European Union general budget for the financial year 2008 , Section III - Commission and executive agencies .
however , we are lacking such transparency .
the debate is closed .
I am therefore asking the following questions . does the Commission apply efficiency and performance criteria to these agencies ?
thirdly , we should try to spark a new dialogue on strategic aspects relating to global issues , such as combating poverty , food and energy security , combating climate change , etc .
the Commission supports the Community approach .
( SK ) Dear colleagues , it saddens me very much that the situation concerning democracy , human rights and the rule of law has not been improving in Belarus .
in writing . - Whilst aquaculture is an important source of both jobs and food , it is important that the wider environment is protected from potential threats .
nonetheless , we need clear rules in order to provide a common framework for this essential task .
when it comes to development aid , the EU presses hard on a rights agenda , including promotion of abortion , even where it offends the local culture - as in Kenya , where EU-funded NGOs use the money for funding abortions in breach of local custom and law .
however , this biological diversity is under threat .
it is better for us to do a couple of things well than to half-do everything .
that is why , Prime Minister Orbán , your law today is not a law that reflects the values of the European Union .
there is talk of playgrounds , an aqua park and a conference centre but nothing about a mega-casino .
the comments were clearly made in his capacity as a Member of the European Parliament , which means that under EU rules he is covered by parliamentary immunity .
she suggests a moratorium , and I will pass on this suggestion .
let me finish by thanking the Commission , the Commissioner , the rapporteur and my fellow shadows for their extraordinarily good cooperation ; without it , this level of ambition would not have been possible .
it is too little for the Palestinians to be able to live , but it is ten times , a hundred times too much , because if all the international obligations , the fourth Geneva Convention and human rights were being respected , it would not be necessary .
it is no wonder , and actually not unexpected , that this has happened .
the highest possible level of transparency and maximum rights are needed in order for it to be possible to make objective purchasing decisions .
it is necessary to keep pointing out , to young people in particular , that even regular consumption of beer leads to alcohol addiction that is no less serious than the alcohol addiction caused by wine or spirits .
the Häusling report on the protein deficit in Europe and the search for solutions introduces some positive elements such as aid to farmers that contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gases emissions .
for this reason , the European Union needs integrated action on a large number of levels .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I will simply ask the question : what is the situation with regard to anti-discrimination and the equal treatment of Roma in Europe ?
the only means we have of preventing conflict is to ensure here that these countries are not only offered the European bonding agent but help to develop it too .
this proposal aims to ensure a high level of protection against the risks that such priority substances ( and a few other pollutants ) pose to the aquatic environment and it therefore lays down some environmental quality standards .
that should please all of us .
thank you for your attention and I hope that we - including the Commission - will continue to show solidarity in our work together with this country , which is so close to us as Europeans .
since the public authorities have an obligation to compensate for the loss of revenue involved , an increase in fraud translates into greater fiscal pressure on companies which abide by tax rules .
in writing.- ( DE ) What questions do young people nowadays ask themselves when deciding on a career ?
through the measures undertaken , the European Union must follow this electoral process , as you have said , but also be more ambitious in the development of relations with Iraq .
in response to this situation , we can think about coordinating their work better .
it is far too simplistic to argue that it is a Pakistani internal issue in itself .
worldwide agricultural practice and , in particular , European agricultural policy , are of major importance for food and development policy .
this is very important as we often talk about innovations , new initiatives and modernisation .
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the same applies to young people and women .
those other regions were developing their cap-and-trade systems and I look forward to the new US Administration 's proposal based on President-elect Obama 's election manifesto early in the New Year .
we believe that all men and women are equal and not that some are more equal than others .
for the programme to achieve its aims , Marco Polo II must be made more attractive .
if he and his party were ever to be in government in the United Kingdom , the British would really come to value the freedom of establishment in the European Union , because huge numbers of them would move to France , Germany , Spain and Italy and to Portugal , Mr Barroso .
pressure on global food stocks are also coming from relatively new sources such as the move towards increased use of bio-fuels .
in the south , there is the South Stream project .
a number of amendments to the report were also tabled , the spirit of which we support , but we do not believe that this report warrants this type of amendment .
in 2007 the UN General Assembly for the first time adopted a resolution calling on states to establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty ; a further resolution in 2008 reaffirmed this call .
this summit , Mrs Ashton , comes at a very remarkable time in the calendar for the European Union and Latin America .
we should remember everything that happened in Auschwitz and the other concentration camps , as well as the murders committed in Katyń and other places during those terrible five or six years , so that such events are never repeated .
that is the difference : in our Europe , all the nations are equal , and that is what you are trying to destroy , Mr Farage , with your British imperialist notions !
after the decisive result of the Irish referendum , we all hope that the Czech ratification can finally follow very soon .
chronic overfishing has resulted in smaller and smaller catches for European fisheries and lost jobs .
since the changes introduced by the Treaty of Lisbon imply that the common policy on visas with third countries is now the exclusive remit of the EU , all the Member States will benefit from the visa waiver with Brazil .
( PL ) Mr President , the decision on the Schengen issue was mission impossible , as Mr Magalhães stated .
I am the rapporteur for a report that is still to be drawn up on this subject , and I would very much like to work closely with all those involved .
Jean Ziegler , the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food , said that mass production of biofuels was a crime against humanity because of its impact on global food prices .
secondly , greater emphasis must be placed on geographical differences and different infrastructure when it comes to electronic services .
today , we are in a position in which - whether we are for or against liberalisation in this area - we have to assess this liberalisation and we are faced with the problem that it has largely not been transposed .
I therefore voted in favour of the report on consumer protection today .
meanwhile , tomorrow , we will hold another debate on the freedom of Christians in Pakistan .
it sends out a clear message from the European Parliament in support of the idea of establishing a European digital library . I am pleased to be able to remind the House that Poland was involved in promoting this idea .
so the report should say much more about that .
secondly , the fact that Europe must , as a result , keep a watchful eye on this part of the world , and encourage its integration into world trade and the international economic system by supporting the candidacy of those countries in the area that are not yet members of the WTO .
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public health continues to be our greatest asset and should be regarded as an absolute priority by governments .
the report approved today aims to improve the level of harmonisation of the regulations in the sector in an attempt to close the gaps and eliminate the disparities that exist today with regard to safeguarding the right to health .
directive 2000 / 78 / EC , which prohibits discrimination in the field of employment and occupation , covers all citizens , including those suffering from ' dys ' -related problems .
on the one hand , our households , our businesses and our public services will continue to pay absurd costs and , on the other , we risk losing the lead in the green economy in Europe .
that is why we voted against .
let us be honest .
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individual European Union countries should not only understand this , they also need to respond to these changes in a practical manner .
this is to give a chance to the Iranian opposition movement by ending its political suppression by EU governments .
we have a duty to set a good example , but today we are setting a bad one .
the import of cheap textiles from China to Europe is a problem which has grown recently as a result of the gradual liberalisation in world trade .
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however , it is equally important to implement a whole series of public health policies and programmes which have nutrition as one of their priorities , including campaigns on health education and information and on the promotion of healthy lifestyles and diets .
in writing . - I wish to stress the importance of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip .
Captain Camara and the coup leaders need to understand that the EU expects certain basic standards of governance in return for a trade-and-aid relationship .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
I would like once again to thank the rapporteur Ilda Figueiredo for the work she has done and to thank all MEPs for the support they have shown for this proposal .
about 15 000 are living in refugee camps under police protection .
finally , I would like you to consider the fact that kidnapping and other crimes are a business in which many people are involved in a confusing array of organisations .
we must conduct a single common policy of solidarity if we want our negotiations to prove successful .
after all , in recent years many new Member States have seen an incredible reduction in milk production and in the number of cattle of more than 50 % .
solving female poverty involves more than just forcible intervention in the family environment .
the creation of a United Nations parliamentary assembly within the framework of the United Nations system is an interesting proposal that is worth studying and debating .
it is the duty of the Union to investigate these activities in detail and to give strong expression to its opposition .
the report acknowledges the key role of SMEs in the transition to an economy characterised by resource efficiency and it is also essential to acknowledge the role of young entrepreneurs .
another important step for many countries , including Poland , was entry into the Schengen zone .
you will have it unconditionally !
I feel that is the intention of the Commission 's proposal , and that is the precise intention of the amendments unanimously adopted by the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development .
I believe that this new law will boost the development of these vehicles , while ensuring they are reliable and safe .
this releases future military intervention from democratic control .
Community law does not envisage the possibility of disregarding existing laws and judgments on the grounds that new rules are being considered and may be introduced .
this means that they themselves decide where , when and how they participate and provide assistance .
we have just managed to deal with the new members ' accession to the Schengen Area .
the European Parliament must not be placed in a situation where we can only say ' yes ' or ' no ' to the medium-term financial perspectives .
on Monday , the Employment , Social Policy , Health and Consumer Affairs Council ( EPSCO ) adopted this comprehensive , global approach in the fight against gender violence ; in other words , ' zero tolerance ' .
as for the professional training of the police force , I agree with the objectives of focusing not just on increasing the number of police officers and soldiers , but mainly on training , on organisation , and on the relations of police forces with parallel judicial institutions .
the money goes from consumers to often very rich recipients .
when we talk about migratory flows , security , safety and justice in the world , we cannot just say that we do not care about it .
with a year gone by , it was appropriate to reassess the situation on the ground , not least because Haiti no longer dominates the headlines in the mass media .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I am pleased to be here with you on the occasion of the debate on the resolution concerning the European Central Bank annual report for 2008 .
after relaxing visa requirements , we need to abolish them altogether so that ordinary Serbs are able to enter Europe whenever they wish .
at the same time , the EU is pleased to see a few positive developments , notably the release of political prisoners .
therefore , when translations are available in other languages , we will make use of them .
when we are discussing the costs of regulations , we must also concern ourselves with the compliance costs , which are ignored at the moment .
informing consumers about energy efficiency and resources should become a key element in manufacturers ' decisions .
the yardstick by which we , as Europeans , must be gauging our own performance is our human rights dimension , including in our dealings with China .
different people could speak , but they had to convey the same message .
countless women die giving birth every year .
on behalf of the S & D Group . - Mr President , the European Union is now negotiating a new framework agreement with China , which will set a further path for the development of economic relations with the country .
in this vein , I have tried , in my role as shadow rapporteur , to support the report with my amendments .
are we working together with Commissioner Kovács to develop a proposal which will allow researchers to pay no tax on their earnings and which will ensure that donations to research organisations are also tax-free or can be regarded as operating expenses ?
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neither employers ' organisations nor the trade unions and the public sector have enough women in high-level positions .
the third Meeting of the Parties to the Convention , to be held in June , in Riga , will be an opportunity for the Parties to review the progress achieved in the Convention 's implementation and to reflect on and plan for the challenges that lie ahead .
I am now afraid , after the decision at the European summit , which I welcome , that this will once again be postponed , because we are not all starting at the same time .
thank you , Mrs Pagano .
( DE ) Madam President , I voted against the Davies report because , in my view , we have taken what is , in essence , an unacceptable and unrealistic decision by envisaging uniform CO2 efficiency categories for cars .
Parliament notes that , in the course of preparation of the Annual Report concerning the financial year 2009 , the Court of Auditors performed an in-depth assessment of supervisory and control systems in the Court of Justice , the European Ombudsman and the European Data Protection Supervisor , which included the examination of an additional sample of transactions involving payments relating to human resources and to other administrative expenditure .
as I see it , new medicinal products represent an opportunity to treat and cure health conditions , and the risk is proportionate .
the EU must be better prepared to respond to new developments and to live up to international responsibilities .
in our opinion , this control should fulfil the highest democratic requirements , as is the case in each Member State .
we need to take a sensible approach in order to identify a common position .
this topic , like that of Kenya , is one that will continue to occupy us in the months ahead .
what is it that we are doing , then ?
on that basis , I am far from convinced about the rush to wind energy through unachievable targets .
with this commitment I think we did send a very strong message to the negotiators at their ongoing conference and strengthened our credibility .
market forces are already moving in this direction .
the report by Hans-Peter Martin on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union for the financial year 2006 ( C6-0389 / 2007 - ,
I consider that the safety valve of adopting a single fee and of maintaining the parallel facility to publish in the printed media , in conjunction with the introduction of an electronic register , as formulated in the consensus reached and voted by all - I repeat all - wings of the Committee on Legal Affairs , is the balanced and rational solution needed .
a point of order was raised by a group chair and the President agreed to a vote on it .
as you know , 2010 is the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion , in order to raise awareness about social problems .
2009 is also the year of European Parliament elections , and the Eurobarometer does not look promising .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( FR ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I have drawn a great deal of encouragement from your speeches .
one very important aspect of the strategy is the governance method .
if it is not effective , we will abolish it ; if it is only partially effective and appropriate , it will have to be modified accordingly .
there are clear benefits in terms of environmental protection , although we should be mindful of the fact that trade in legally harvested timber is not necessarily sensitive to the needs of indigenous people .
speaking as you have done , Mr Meijer , of an ethnic cause , is extremely dangerous guesswork .
not only are biofuels driving up the price of agricultural commodities ; they are also contributing to faster devastation of the rainforests .
in a distinct way , despite the desperate situation , he has a unique opportunity even now to deliver power to the people of Pakistan , the true custodians of that power .
( SK ) I support the view that the introduction of the euro , the gradual enlargement of the euro area and the application of consistent economic policies combined with the cautious approach of the European Central Bank have led to the present relatively stable economic development in the European Union countries .
we will of course hold further consultations and talks aimed at finalising ratification within the shortest possible period of time .
the European Commission must continue to focus , in particular , on planned energy projects in this region .
Mr Nassauer , thank you for your support .
no European citizen will be worse off if the Economic Partnership Agreements are a failure .
it is not fair - as the coastal states have been saying for a long time - that this problem should only affect the countries that have a Mediterranean sea border with North African countries .
Nabucco may be a symbol not only of the common energy policy that is taking shape but also of Black Sea cooperation .
NGOs have actually played a crucial role in the implementation of the programme and they will also remain a key player in the future .
that is certainly what we intend to do .
increasing road transport is not a valid solution .
however , Parliament 's report shows that progress on Member States submitting their national energy efficiency plans is still lamentably slow and I would ask the Commission to continue to put pressure on them .
to date the Treaty has been ratified by 19 national parliaments .
in this day and age , they do it in the name of the fight against terrorism .
today , when we are discussing social security , the Presidency bench has remained hopelessly empty .
despite lending my support to all the requests to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund presented by the Netherlands concerning the severe wave of redundancies which has plagued two areas of the graphics sector - printing and reproduction of recorded media and publishing - I believe that the Dutch authorities could provide more details about the scope of the measures and their accuracy , so as to allow these measures to be assessed more effectively .
as rapporteur on the Framework Decision on combating terrorism , I made a commitment to cooperate in a close and structured manner with the national parliaments .
one argument is that you cannot have a single currency without further homogenisation to iron out differences between Member States and levels of wealth .
quotas must be abolished completely , and the distortions in the market must be eliminated .
for this purpose , steps need to be taken both on the economic front and in the social and political arenas .
this resolution forms part of a package of five resolutions , adopted today by the majority in Parliament , which shows the clearest possible contempt for the democratically and sovereignly expressed will of the French , Dutch and Irish peoples , who rejected the European Constitution and its twin brother , the so-called Treaty of Lisbon , in referendums .
but allow me conclude in a positive way .
we need to find a solution which satisfies our expectations but also takes into account the specific situation of India .
Hamas , we know , without any consideration for the life of the Palestinians , uses the population as human shields against the attacks by Israel and their deaths as weapons of propaganda .
in some cases there will be differences at the level of the decision-making procedure , either because the scope of the ordinary legislative procedure has been significantly extended , or because a new approval procedure applies in respect of the conclusion of international agreements .
as a result , I am voting against .
in addition to this , and in order to prevent these kinds of incidents , we need to declare a ruthless war on the drugs trade , which is a destabilising force in many poor countries in Africa , Asia and South America , supports terrorism and , through drug addiction , destroys the lives of hundreds of millions of people throughout the world .
( RO ) Madam President , the forthcoming EU-Africa Summit provides a good opportunity for devising a realistic cooperation strategy .
unfortunately , I cannot see any willingness on the part of either Kiev or Moscow to come to an agreement .
after all , the EUR 25 billion available so far could comfortably cover the cost of the urgent assistance given to Romania .
consent by the European Parliament - for the first time on a trade agreement under the Lisbon Treaty - has important political significance because this is a trade agreement with a long-term development focus and because of the momentum it will provide to ongoing negotiations on the comprehensive EPA with the Pacific region .
that , however , is not a solution to VW 's problems or those of other car factories .
there have been errors which are statistically normal in a vote of this length .
that is that the achievement on the security front is the primary responsibility of the Iraqis , supported by the internationals of course , but it is the responsibility of the Iraqis .
membership of committees and delegations : see Minutes
that reduction is the equivalent of less than one year 's growth in air travel .
the Commission therefore initiated a negotiation process seeking to replace the 17 bilateral agreements on air services that are in force between Member States and Vietnam .
this money needs to be found from the already cash-strapped national budgets .
the drama that we are once again seeing unfold before our eyes is becoming painfully repetitive and revealing of the essence of this European Union : of who makes the rules in the end , and on behalf of which interest groups .
in 2009 alone , European Union countries earned EUR 343 million from arms sales to Colonel Gaddafi , while the initial amount they made available for receiving refugees from the Arab revolutions was EUR 3 million : one hundred times less .
it was easier for the countries of the euro area to overcome the difficulties , as the European Central Bank ensured the provision of liquidity to these .
had I not decided to boycott the sitting after the lamentable episode of Social-Eurocratic totalitarianism that we have just experienced , I would have voted in favour of the joint motion for a resolution of the left-wing groups on the counterfeiting agreement .
it is not appropriate to achieve that by overburdening household budgets and reducing the effective obligations of the State .
neither do we believe that the Commission 's plans for information and awareness campaigns regarding the benefits of language learning will have any effect on the real world .
applying such principles at the level of individuals via a system of personal carbon trading could be an extremely effective way of influencing consumer behaviour .
yet the subject of today 's discussions is discrimination .
some may say these ideas are elementary . they must nonetheless be repeated time and again because nobody listens to them .
the Commission proposes , but what it gives us as proposals is not always the best for all Member States .
the eight star cases are included in the report as models of good administrative behaviour for all institutions and bodies .
this also means that we can get away from the current state of affairs with continual ad hoc efforts to revise the budget plan .
now is not the time to say anything other than words of sympathy to their families .
( RO ) In the Accession Treaty to the European Union , Romania undertook to organise elections for the European Parliament by the end of this year .
it will generate immediate , substantial savings in several economic sectors .
as many fellow Members have pointed out , the principles of solidarity and the fair sharing of responsibilities , as laid down in the Treaties , must be applied in practice .
apart from this legal approach , the Commission is promoting a set of measures for the safer use of the Internet .
it is inhumane that they are left in the dark because , as things stand , the courts are having to decide time after time on the application of European law .
however , I very much doubt whether the proposition to regulate scores of airports throughout the EU is going to produce the utopia in airport charges that the airlines and the Commission want .
such information will also feed into the Commission assessment to be carried out in the first semester of next year on post-visa liberalisation monitoring .
I therefore agree with the opinion that all materials used in cosmetic products which have a carcinogenic effect should be banned .
we should honour those who fought against totalitarianism , and we should honour the memory of the victims .
I welcome the fact that one of the last remaining differences of treatment between citizens of the old and the new Union will disappear on 21 December of this year .
I think it even improves the text .
so you have done them no favours .
a result-oriented outlook would highlight all the actions taken by the EU in the area of protection of human rights and would underline the insignificance .
the debate on the EU 2020 economic strategy is naturally already on the agenda .
you simply have to face this fact .
( PT ) Mr President , the noticeably lower expectations that we saw before the Cancún conference should not justify excessively optimistic discussions with regard to its results , and it should be regarded as a success even less so .
in future , this labelling will also be applied to energy consuming products intended for industrial and commercial use , which was not possible until now .
Mr President , it is good that we have the euro .
( FR ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , we can summarise in figures the situation regarding misleading business directories that are supposed to be free .
the Italian government must answer before the European Union .
with regard to the continuation of the policy and its achievements , we want to see adequate resources , or at least no less money made available for the cohesion policy than we have at the present time .
it is obvious that people who are well informed when they arrive in another country are in a much stronger position than those who lack that information .
this initiative is not workable in small Member States .
however , the pay differential is still 17.5 % throughout Europe and as high as 23 % in Germany .
the report drawn up by the German Member , Mr Lambsdorff , is a very comprehensive and competent presentation of the different areas of responsibility and future objectives of the United Nations from the perspective of the European Union .
that is very important because , parallel with this opening of the transatlantic market , it is , of course , essential that the regulations are gradually harmonised and aligned with one another at a high level .
we now continue with the vote .
another instance which may be recalled is the temporary tariff on drugs that Russia has imposed on EU exporters .
it disregards environmentalists ' comments on the looting that is taking place in this region , which is vital to mankind 's survival .
just as serious , ladies and gentlemen , is the proposal regarding refugee funds : while we are investing more in Frontex , these funds are being cut back .
the report provides for a simplified CAP structured around two pillars : the first pillar being fully financed by the EU budget and the second pillar providing for multiannual programming and a cofinancing approach .
it is particularly important for programmes promoting the consumption of fruit and milk to be implemented in educational institutions , since learning the right eating habits will have a positive impact on the health of young Europeans , thus reducing health and social spending in the future .
those of us who come from the Party of European Socialists reiterated the support for establishing a European civil protection force , inviting the Commission to make a proposal for this purpose .
Madam President , I am sorry , I was not listening .
for this commitment I thank you .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , last year I spoke to Parliament about what the Commission saw as the motor of progress in today 's European Union and we outlined the so-called ' twin-track ' approach - an activist policy agenda and an ambitious approach to the Treaty reform were goals that supported each other .
( PL ) Madam President , the matter of Tibet and of the Tibetans continues , unfortunately , to be an important problem .
the fact is that renewable energy sources will not be able to grow as quickly as we would wish .
the allocated assets were aimed for Srebrenica recovery including construction , reconstruction , infrastructure development , business promotion , improvement of public services , projects with sustainable return and education .
the geopolitical significance of these countries is linked to their strategic position in relation to energy resources in Central Asia .
as regards the first draft of the Council budget , I would like to mention that the Commission , when it presented its version , referred to the forecasts of the Member States using our analysis .
back then , 80 years ago , Chamberlain , Daladier , Mussolini and Hitler carved up Czechoslovakia ; today it is again Britain , France , Italy and Germany who recognise the carving-up of Serbia .
Slovakia 's small and medium-sized enterprises consequently have no access to the significant financial support available for the effective development of new products , techniques and services .
finally come practical steps to reform the rules of the European financial system , at last , after the banking and finance system has been allowed to plunder and squeeze public assets and private individuals .
only when all those conditions are met can we be confident that our decisions are up to the challenge .
the situation there regarding missing persons and the dead or wounded is very unclear .
I would like to mention one other aspect from the point of view of our group which has not been a factor in this up to now , but which I think is also an important consideration .
I believe that we should say emphatically that we have chosen an authoritarian distortion of the rule of law instead of choosing to safeguard the rule of law in order to combat terrorism .
however , it is also clear , as stated by the Council in 2004 , that the isolation of Northern Cyprus must come to an end .
we prepared ourselves to be present , to be here , to be able to answer questions , and we thank you for that very good cooperation .
they still receive very little money for their products , below the viability threshold .
the Danish delegation of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament has voted against the resolution concerning the situation in the beekeeping sector .
this clearly gives the US access to information about data-sharing between WikiLeaks and third entities .
Parliament 's 2010 draft budget found resources of EUR 25 million , which will enable it to launch the programme at the very start of 2010 , and it was able to find these resources without touching the Progress programme in 2010 .
I am glad that competition is coming to international rail transport from 2010 , according to Mr Jarzembowski 's report , but even though a further step has been taken on internal transport , and there is at least a clear procedure under which the Commission must carry out analysis , this decision was not adopted with any deadline .
in writing . - Today , Parliament voted on its calendar for 2012 and 2013 .
the increase in commitment appropriations therefore amounts to 2.8 % compared to 2008 and , as a result , the EU 's overall commitment capabilities are maintained .
I therefore make no apology , from my perspective , of saying that Israel does have the right , indeed the necessity , to defend itself and to act against those who , beyond reason and argument , will not even make the most basic concession of accepting the right of Israel to exist .
to answer the specific point on security , the EU Home Affairs informal meeting is taking place in Spain this weekend .
you are absolutely right .
more flexible regulations on advertising have been introduced , but I believe that maintaining a maximum of 12 minutes per hour is the right thing to do .
how would that benefit our economy , our innovation , our growth ?
I think we will have support to delete that .
he also promised to come back with a regulation for resolving the problems as soon as possible .
the man responsible for this is Mr Putin .
first of all , I should like to say to the defenders of tolerance in Pakistan and to the defenders of religious freedom in Pakistan that they are not alone .
on the basis of the above considerations , the Committee on Legal Affairs recommends that the European Parliament should not defend the parliamentary immunity of Mr Tomczak .
also , as distances in Malta are small , it is feasible to use gas for the propulsion of private and commercial vehicles .
similarly , measures are taken in the name of combating terrorism that are not compatible with human rights .
therefore I voted against the report .
I support this .
let me make it clear : a right-thinking Member State such as the Netherlands will never be able to agree with this report .
the only fairly specific information came from statements about the closure of more areas of air space .
before the vote :
we believe that this is important and useful , but that it must ensure , on the one hand , that those who actually have the right to asylum are granted it more quickly , and , on the other hand , that those who do not have the necessary rights and try to abuse this system are firmly dealt with , because it is clear that not all those who have the right to asylum are granted it .
( applause )
we are also concerned about action taken to remove national border controls in Member States in favour of pan-European EU border services .
we must do everything we can to ensure that at least the remaining wilderness , this 1 % , is preserved for the sake of future generations .
if the European Union means anything , it is this ; that yes , the Member States should open up their economies and markets to competition , but at the same time they are not alone , and the European Union is there to facilitate challenges , to help us exploit them and to reduce the negative impact that may result from them .
may their hopes be fulfilled quickly and without bloodshed .
we have deliberately done this in such a way that the costs of the system remain at a reasonable level for everyone involved and that the system is not excessive .
( SK ) The European Union has extensive legislation on migration policy .
that is the extent of the clinical tests that were requested .
this affects not just Croatia , ladies and gentlemen , but , more fundamentally , the credibility of the enlargement process .
for example , on the border crossing of Rusovce - Kittsee , which is a highway crossing between Slovakia and Austria , the Austrians are imposing a tough speed limit of 30 km / h .
if we continue to oppress the intergroups by refusing to give them meeting rooms , there will be more demonstrations .
if the convictions of religious leaders or politicians mean that they are not exactly ecstatic about homosexuality - as the politically correct mainstream dictates - they should not be condemned or persecuted for these convictions .
last but not least , at a global level , in October 2010 , the Financial Stability Board issued a number of principles aimed at reducing the dependency of financial institutions on credit ratings .
secondly , I would like to stress the desirability of the new wording for point ' h ' of Article 3 in relation to any conduct which causes ' the significant deterioration of a habitat within a protected site ' .
our comments must be businesslike .
may you make the right decision , and may we all see it .
the summit made a right analysis and agreed on a process .
it is a very serious matter .
I therefore consider that Turkey has a long way to go to accession to the European Union .
we also need to make an effort to raise the level of democratic political culture , especially in post-communist countries .
I think it is vital that the EU-China strategic partnership continues to be developed in a steady way , one which also takes into consideration the concerns that exist .
( it ) Mr President , colleagues , my great thanks go to the rapporteur , Mr Florenz , because he has worked hard and has assessed several months ' work by the Temporary Committee on Climate Change under the expert chairmanship of Guido Sacconi .
I have always believed that the European Union must help to promote serious reforms in the Mediterranean region , with the aim of making it an area of freedom and prosperity .
the aim of the package presented by the Commission is to give fresh impetus to policies to combat poverty , exclusion and discrimination affecting the most vulnerable groups , and , from this point of view , the proposals that were made by the Commission and that take stock of the existing instruments , which help ensure the greater inclusion of the Roma population , truly are a very good contribution .
the introduction of biometric passports in 2008 is one of the constructive measures implemented so far .
for example , Parliament 's recent restrictions on seal hunting infuriated the indigenous population .
if I can give you one example : I dealt with refugee cases for many years as an asylum lawyer , and I know that the enemy of good asylum procedure - fair , just , effective asylum procedure accepted by most Members States - is the lack of front-loading of asylum cases .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , in her speech this morning , Mrs Harms posed the question of why the spark is no longer being passed from the summits to the people and why new courage and new confidence is not emanating from the summit discussions .
if States collapse as a result of neoliberal economic policy , they will constitute a security problem .
my question in relation to this concerns another issue - should individual police forces not create databases of convicted paedophiles , under the aegis of the European Union , since the police forces of other Member States could make use of these databases created in each individual Member State ?
I believe that was not a point of order , but a matter of courtesy .
national ministers responsible to their national parliaments : that is the correct line of responsibility .
for this reason , notwithstanding my unwavering desire to fight every disease , I am opposed to a text whose worthy parts stand in contrast to the seriously negative content of Article 4 , as it would be amended by Amendment 15 .
some find themselves abandoned in Europe , having sacrificed their family 's entire savings to pursue their dreams .
that was not , of course , the intention of those who drew up and decided on the Regulation in 2002 but that is what experience has taught us in recent years .
in addition to the generally positive assessment , the report draws the Commission 's attention to many aspects of the programme 's implementation and provides specific proposals as to how they might be improved .
I would like to see more emphasis placed on youth unemployment .
therefore I think that we are going to apply it to all of them , so all of us will feel more comfortable .
this would replace the third part and clarify matters , as the third part proposed by Mr Bono is ambiguous as regards the exception .
we have limited the countries to which people can be removed .
finally , I am a staunch advocate of the subsidiarity principle and believe that many of the subjects analysed in this report , while important and relevant , must remain under the Member States ' jurisdiction .
would it not have been possible to inform us , through better coordination of the exchange of information on and during decision-making , so that we could have spared ourselves this whole evening debate , which is a debate in name only ?
it is well-known that education and training are essential priorities for the European Union , in order to achieve the Lisbon objectives .
yes , farmers are entitled to maximum information on compound contents , but within the confines of preserving the viability and the future of the mills from which they buy .
in fact , this difference in protection will eventually tend to encourage the recruitment of a poorly qualified and weakly protected labour force at the expense of European workers .
protection of the soil is essential for the maintenance of our natural heritage and raw materials .
where operations have been carried out , lives have been saved and illegal immigration substantially reduced .
I would like to refute completely Mr Allister 's claim that the company showed wanton disregard .
because order reigns in Beijing .
it should be noted that , while the Palestinian side , although criticised in the report , accepts international law and calls for its application , Israel , on the other hand , refuses .
as Greens , we have supported budgets of this kind in Germany time and time again .
dear colleagues , in today 's multilateral , multipolar world , Europe and America can and should work together in a partnership for global stability and the enlightened values in which we believe .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Madam President , the frozen conflict over Western Sahara is destabilising the surrounding region .
I am also very happy that we managed to delete the very ridiculous provision that ordered public authorities which pay one day late to pay a flat penalty of 5 % of the full amount owed in addition to the standard rate of interest for delayed payment .
Turkey fails to make the progress that we want , the Cyprus problem remains intractable , France and Germany are implacably opposed to Turkish membership , and there is clearly a great prejudice against Turkey inside this Parliament .
let us at least have the presence of mind to recognise that , since the bombing of Gaza and with the continuing colonisation of Palestinian territories , the Union for the Mediterranean has been painted into a corner .
the proposals contained in the mini-package are sensible and deserve support .
secondly , the recent criminal case of a 13-year-old girl , in which the authorities did not know where to send her ; she was sent first to prison , and then to a mental institution .
those who are ready or willing to follow the same approach follow not to the detriment of the others , but for the gradual achievement which is important for all regions and for international trade as a whole .
it is also a very important consideration that the directive will enable us to make better use of natural conditions .
Frontex is an important element in the EU 's integrated border management strategy .
you must tell the absent President-in-Office of the Council this .
the three EU institutions have made clear their collective desire to improve maternal health in the developing countries , particularly through the signature on 20 December 2005 of the European Consensus on Development , which puts maternal health among the priorities for the EU 's development policy .
we shall try to prove equal to the task with which you are entrusting us .
this must , therefore , be opened up to better scrutiny .
each Member State can decide when a new audiovisual service actually merits being tested .
( FR ) Mr President , I am somewhat more reserved on this issue than the Members who have just spoken .
if we are not there , then we will count for nothing , and will carry no influence .
riches are of value only when they enrich not just some communities , but all .
Haiti will only be able to achieve the political , economic and social stability it needs if its country 's freedom is protected from foreign interference .
our intelligence service is constantly involved in preventing violent attacks against Danes and Danish social institutions , not from Danes but from foreigners .
for this we - the European Parliament , the European Commission and the Council - have no other choice but to work hand in hand and to convert those lessons into the wise , smart and truly European policies that citizens need .
the right of asylum is a precious right as it is a right inherent to the human being .
we remember the 20th century - the First World War , the Second World War , the Iron Curtain - we were fighting side by side , achieving victory together , as democracies .
( SK ) Transfer of citizens ' personal data is always a sensitive issue , be it from the civil perspective or the human rights perspective .
I am convinced that this is a key issue for the future of European cohesion , also in its territorial dimension .
I voted in favour of the report on the safeguard clause that accompanies the Free Trade Agreement with Korea , even though it seems inadequate and its implementation uncertain .
there are just as many of us who believe that your personal qualities naturally predispose you to play the role of a President who actively and passionately defends the interests of Europe and its citizens .
in fact , the European Parliament has been calling for the adoption of a new directive in this area for some time already .
however , I would like to see such cooperation and agreements speeded up and extended .
sometimes we can choose the issues , others are chosen for us , and I think that , even if some people say that they had warned of the financial crisis , nobody knew exactly when it would occur or the full consequences of this financial crisis .
- Report : Thierry Cornillet
this did not work in the past and will not work in the future .
bearing in mind that this critical state of affairs is a one-off occurrence which we could not have forecast 2 or 3 years ago , may we expect a new intervention by the Commission in this particular situation , in addition to what you have told us ?
that is why the report gives attention to the importance of monitoring human resources .
secondly , I would like to ask Mr President to allow me the two minutes at the end of the debate regardless of when my machine is switched off .
so we had better have a plan ' B ' next time .
the textile industry is especially such a sector , along with , for example , agriculture , machine production or tourism .
if there is reason to believe that organised crime groups are behind more and more crimes on the Internet , the same investigative measures applied in the detection and prosecution of offline organised crime should be applied , coupled of course with an improved coordination mechanism .
the Electricity Directive , for which I was rapporteur , is part of a package of five measures which seeks improvements in the way the electricity and gas markets work across the continent , to ensure that the markets are better integrated and operate in a fairer and less discriminatory way .
we have sunshine ; we have the potential of biofuels ; and in some places we have wind .
I am in favour of ' naming and shaming exercises ' .
I will vote with complete conviction for the real right to free movement for European citizens from Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina .
Bulgaria and Romania are fully prepared to join the area of free travel in 2011 .
the report calls for closer and deeper cooperation between the EU and the US and ΝΑΤΟ , following the election in question .
while I can understand that public spending needs to be diversified in order for Europe to fulfil its 2020 vision , I also believe that this spending needs to form part of national fiscal policy .
( for results and other details of the vote : see Minutes )
to conclude , I would like to reiterate the Commission 's strong commitment to combating homophobia and discrimination based on sexual orientation , to the full extent of the powers conferred by the treaties .
what kind of solutions are we looking for if it comes to the marginalised communities ?
moreover , the funding mechanisms also need to be improved .
secondly , we need Community-wide provisions in order to establish a smooth-functioning , non-discriminatory , transparent and comprehensive procedure for calculating these charges .
there is an immense need for this support , as the market does not recognise apicultural products in a manner that ensures the survival of the apiculture sector , even though apiculturists provide a great many services to agriculture and the preservation of biodiversity through pollination .
segmentation is inevitable in our diverse world .
this proposal arises from the will to consolidate Community law , referred to - inappropriately , in my opinion - as codification .
in other words , if the theme can be made to look attractive , the money will surely be found .
expectations are very high .
thank you for your speech , Mr Farage .
Mr President , yesterday I asked Mrs Wallström , the Vice-President of the Commission , whether the Lisbon Treaty was essentially the same as the Constitutional Treaty that it replaced .
in essence , this means that everything has become much more interactive .
will the Commission investigate the failure of this scheme to deliver the promise of Minister Dodds , when he launched it , of efficiency savings and enhanced competition to help minimise the wholesale cost of electricity , with the vast bulk of the benefits , he said , going to the consumer ?
if that troubles you , you should just leave !
they disappear completely , which leads us to wonder whether these children are used for certain purposes such as , for example , trade in organs , and whether mafia organisations with possible international connections are operating within the European Union .
( PT ) Mr Rübig , I must tell you - Mr President , with your permission - I must tell you that the European Institute of Technology , its effective launch and its effective entry into operation are a priority for the Portuguese Presidency .
we hope that Parliament will eventually support our amendments on that today .
in addition to their own food production , agricultural businesses also offer innovative products and services .
we also believe that priority should be given to so-called positive incentive measures .
today , there are already middle-of-the-range cars available that are below the European standard of 2012 .
the adoption of common standards , through a European ITS Committee , applies to four specific areas : firstly , optimal use of road , traffic and travel data , secondly , continuity of ITS services on transport corridors and in conurbations , thirdly , road safety and security and , fourthly , integration of the vehicle into the transport infrastructure .
it will take even longer to convince societies , which have been brainwashed by aggressive environmental propaganda , of this truth .
personally , and I am sure the same goes for most of us , I find I have a painful sense of déjà vu when I see the pictures on the television .
all of this comes in a framework where Member States and their control authorities play and should continue to play a key role in the steering and implementation of control measures within their waters .
moreover , we still have not decided who will pay .
with regard to raw materials - a topic that has arisen in several debates - I am absolutely convinced that we must continue along the road taken .
we have also to keep in mind that , at the same time , cohesion policy will have to continue to cope with regional disparities resulting from the most recent , and forthcoming , enlargements .
the EP , together with the Council , of course , will have all the authority to influence the SWIFT Agreement which we believe is very important , which deserves to be debated in this Parliament , thoroughly , seriously and without haste or pressure , to use an expression that you , yourselves , have already used .
yes , there will be populist and thorny issues , but that is why it will be so important to have the registration process for an initiative before any signatures are collected .
moreover , I am of the opinion that the opposition you encountered in the different Councils in fact resembles the opposition we encounter in the Belgian debate : solidarity , transfers , all these issues relating to withdrawal or contribution are things that we are very familiar with in Belgium and that you encountered in the Council .
my appeal to Commissioner Rehn and Mr Trichet tonight is that they ensure that the timeframe for aid and the targets for deficits and debt are such that the social objectives of Europe are taken into account , as well as the need to ensure that Ireland 's capacity to grow its economy and create jobs is not undermined .
I find it regrettable that all too often , cohesion policy resources are used for projects with a regional or sometimes national dimension , but rarely with a European one .
my heartfelt thanks go out to you for that reason too .
the present report also makes it clear how quickly new products can appear on the market and force the legislative authorities to act .
it makes sense , then , that all the work that has gone into establishing those systems does not go to waste and that we do not create unnecessary extra administrative burdens ; that is far from being our intention .
the 2010 supplementary and amending budget cuts the payment appropriations by more than EUR 3.4 billion .
the decision on the EUR 25 billion for increasing the limit in order to assist EU countries that are experiencing problems is also highly important .
there will be confusion about who is responsible for what .
the imperialists ' real objective is the oil , the natural gas and the wealth-producing resources of Libya , North Africa and the region in general .
they give me a real sense of the direction that we need to move in .
it even goes into the infrastructure for connections to airports .
it seems that the depositing of industrial or mining waste in dumps is not a good solution for society or for the environment .
the same applies if you want to download a film legally on the Internet .
in parallel with our actions in the criminal justice area , we will work for the empowerment of women , awareness-raising and the collection and analysis of statistics on violence against women .
our common goal is to ensure the quality , safety and wide accessibility of health care for all those who need it .
this is not a case of completely killing off the idea .
Parliament will have the right to repeal the delegation of powers to the Commission if we feel that is necessary .
( LT ) I would also like to thank my colleagues for five excellent years of cooperation , although I have to say that there are still unsolved questions for the next legislative term .
our high quality and safety standards in Germany must not be compromised .
at the same time , the Commission 's proposal on cross-border health care is leading to class-based health segregation : the rich and educated are being given the option of shopping around for health care wherever it is in their best interests .
obviously , this does not mean that the legislation is as good as it could possibly be .
this agreement is appropriate because Switzerland is committed to complying with the conditions and provisions laid down by the European Commission .
however , it is important to emphasise the need for the European Parliament and the United States Congress to maintain dialogue on issues not covered by this Agreement .
the value of information collected in this way is undeniable in terms of assessing the situation in the labour market in the European Union , as well as for the functioning of the European Central Bank .
the United States once again proved during the last elections that they have the capacity for renewal and rejuvenation in this process based on values and democracy .
last week a Chechen woman and her three young daughters died on the border between Ukraine and Poland . they were fleeing from the tragedy that has befallen their homeland .
during the current global economic crisis , with fluctuating fuel prices and a tougher competitive environment , airline operators , particularly low-cost airlines , are going through very difficult times .
nearly 10 years ago we discovered that the printer manufacturers had hit upon a new means of advancing that war by using electronics to stop the printer cartridges being recycled : you fill them with ink and they stop working .
I never forgot , even when I was young , the suffering that people were experiencing under Communist dictatorship .
Mr President , I would like to start my speech by expressing my very sincere thanks to everyone who helped in the preparation of this report : the European Commission , all the shadow rapporteurs and the members of the Committee on Fisheries , for their support in drawing up this report .
we can help , and that way we can establish together a real European democracy .
I am referring in particular to those people who have abandoned their studies , immigrants and those who speak only one language or who are linguistically less competent .
secondly , checks and balances are the basis of any democratic system .
another example of an expense that my constituents have is that we contribute towards child benefit for people in Eastern Europe .
cases such as these are a feature of everyday life in Venezuela , where persecution of the opposition with the aim of excluding them from political life and of suppressing dissidents has become part of normal life .
growth and jobs
that process is ongoing .
the European Parliament expects to be duly consulted in the framework of the European quest for peace in the Middle East .
Mr President , you can , of course , tell that I am a sceptic because I do not dress like a scarecrow .
this issue of humanity cannot be and is never forgotten by the presidency .
Asian countries are encouraged to do the same and to use their economic leverage in the process .
normally , I do not like to make this distinction , but there are some differences , the main one , incidentally , being the fact that the debt of the euro area is much less than that of the United Kingdom .
poverty line , insecurity , inadequate pay , sexual discrimination in the workplace : these are , unfortunately , recurrent expressions which , not only today but every day , we would prefer not to hear and see associated with women .
the third reason is that the measures within the directive are disproportionate and inadequately balanced .
it is difficult to avoid the impression that , once again , we are faced with an example of the cynical use of a terrible social problem to boost the EU 's position at the expense of the independence of the Member States .
but I would like to tell you that we are now discussing a clear example of the situation .
farmers , in fact , have gradually lost interest in protein crops , resulting in the loss , at a European level , of practical experience related to these crops .
President-in-Office of the Council . - I should mention from the outset that on 6 November last year , the European Union High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy , Javier Solana , appointed a Special Envoy for Burma / Myanmar to highlight the importance which the European Union attaches to democratic change , reconciliation , improvement of human rights and development of the country .
we agreed to reject the commercial campaign mounted by the pharmaceutical companies .
we must not hide the fact that this phenomenon also involves individuals , be they European citizens or people from third countries , who are working and residing normally , but who fall outside the scope of this directive , as it forms part of the framework of the fight against illegal immigration .
it is an appointment that I very much supported and approved during the European Council .
( FI ) Mr President , I supported the report because youth unemployment is a challenge facing the whole of Europe , and one that is troubling all of society .
1 .
if the EU takes its own principles of respect for human rights and international law seriously , it must increase the pressure on both sides , including in the context of its bilateral relations , and insist that the investigation that has been called for into possible violations of international and humanitarian law is carried out according to the principles of the rule of law .
in writing . - I voted for this report .
national parliaments , on the other hand , must be closely involved in European legislative processes to be aware of proposed measures in time , and improve cooperation between national , regional and local authorities .
up till now , Rajoelina has reneged on all earlier possible attempts at agreement .
for precisely this reason , this issue must not be used to foment opposition or for party political attacks .
the internal market has the potential to become the world 's largest retail market .
the proposals we put forward one year ago to strengthen Schengen , through an evaluation mechanism and intensified coordination of border surveillance , will help create a sense of Union-wide discipline and shared guidance in the system .
this report , despite mentioning these facts , does not put forward proposals that would make it possible to enhance user protection and the quality of the service provided , based on the use of a service as imminently public as communications .
we want the commitments in this Charter on human rights and democracy to become a reality , especially in Burma and also in other countries in the region .
however , that means we have to connect with the people who elected us .
( DE ) Mr President , Commission , Madam President-in-Office of the Council , the speech by Mr Borghezio was typical - these eurosceptics cannot distinguish between the Council of Europe and the European Union - as the ruling on crucifixes was given by the European Court of Human Rights , which comes under the Council of Europe .
I am sure that you will complete the negotiation process of the European Union with Croatia before the end of the year .
the industry is not willing to participate and the Commission cannot think why the social partners ' mechanism functions so poorly .
given this , I believe it is absolutely vital for the EU to safeguard sufficient financial and technical resources for decommissioning Units 1 to 4 of the Kozloduy Nuclear Plant in Bulgaria , as advocated by Parliament in this resolution .
in order to be helpful , apart from the other things , we now have concrete support ongoing for 29 projects , worth over EUR 50 million , which is a huge amount of money for these people , that support governance , security and civil society , that support the reconciliation process and institution-building .
they will not be approved , but the attempt is there .
the European Union is at the vanguard in promoting social policies at global level and calls on developing countries to respect WTO contracts .
please do not get me wrong .
'The European Parliament and the Council are mindful of the importance of providing accurate information to consumers , in particular , when products are marketed with an indication of origin so as to protect them against fraudulent , inaccurate or misleading claims .
in writing . - The resolution of the EP on maternal mortality carries a great significance in the light of the Millennium Development Goals and conveys our message that we are aware of the current situation and that we call for action to help millions of women in developing countries .
moreover , I , like many of my colleagues , am concerned about fairness .
we must therefore stick to ' treating the symptoms ' as long as some of the players on the world stage are not prepared to make the necessary efforts .
secondly , we need to focus our aid instruments , support civil society , support private initiative and strengthen the role of the European Parliament and of the Pan-African Parliament .
I very much commend the work of the rapporteurs , which was very much appreciated from our side .
as regards research and development , you agreed that this is precisely where Europe 's future lies .
( the speaker added in French and German : ' we share a destiny in common . ' )
obviously there are the votes , but believe me , the whole industry has understood the message .
I would like to point out that the international economic and financial crisis has engendered a social crisis throughout the world , and this has merely increased the need for stringent rules to ensure that the world economy is more effectively supervised and that it does not develop to the detriment of our societies .
EU producers belong to the outermost regions , which have enormous problems producing bananas - or excellent-quality ones , anyway - and whose banana production is nothing like that in third countries in any respect , including in terms of cost , workforce , the environment or of plant protection safeguards .
it is important that this commitment continues , both politically and in terms of development .
if he should raise the argument of national sovereignty , I can only say that there is something which is far more important than any national sovereignty and that is fundamental and universal human rights .
in my view , the natural candidate for these strategic competences is the High Representative , drawing on the competences and expertise of the European External Action Service .
you must adopt the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum - though we must still search for schemes to seek skilled newcomers and manage migration - and you should discuss progress in combating climate change .
of course not .
just look at the Council of Europe and the OSCE , which for the past two decades have had offices fully dedicated to Roma issues .
however , from a more detailed perspective , all the areas designated as pistes must be included .
as the rapporteur emphasises , Europe needs an extra 700 000 researchers if the Strategy 's principles are to be put into effect .
every concession is punished .
in the Canary Islands Regional Parliament there are no Green members ; in the 88 councils in the Canary Islands there are no Green councillors ; of the 29 councillors on Las Palmas City Council there are no Green councillors ; the Greens are barely present on a couple of councils in the Canary Islands , where they are definitely in a coalition with the People 's Party .
the existing directive has one disadvantage : the financial guarantee provided for does not cover all the repercussions in the event of an accident , especially after the installations in question have shut down .
at the most difficult times , ladies and gentlemen , the European Parliament has always proved to be a defence against pessimism and a courageous and tireless champion of European integration .
most of all , however , I would like to thank Commissioner Špidla for having spoken German , and I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations to Commissioner Kroes .
well , discrimination of this kind is unacceptable to me and extending this programme is therefore altogether wrong .
the Security Council has to have an investigation opened into the crimes of the regime .
however , I do not believe that excluding specialised and recognised production sectors with a long history and tradition , such as the optical industry , is in keeping with EU policy .
the energy performance of buildings is an area with strong potential for the European Union .
in the very difficult times under Communism , women in Poland had access to science and political rights significantly earlier than in many countries of the old EU .
we now hope that , during this plenary sitting , Parliament will follow the Committee 's lead and vote in favour of this improvement .
our group , the PPE-DE Group , has supported this idea from the very beginning .
it penalises the users of tools such as botnets for committing the offences , and introduces a higher level of sanctions for committing the offences .
comprehensive investment support is required here to boost health care and in particular mother and child care , but we know that child mortality too is very high .
the current crisis in the automotive industry in Europe was caused by the automotive industry itself .
( applause )
if I may specifically address our fellow Members from the extreme right , I would like to say that your arguments are really far too rudimentary and simplistic - if not primitive .
given that the Commission is broadly in agreement with the Parliament 's proposals , I call on this House to make their voice heard in ensuring that the European Council also supports this report 's environmental proposals .
it is the sovereign right of Member States to decide , in accordance with their constitutional rules , how they wish to consult their people directly .
these exceptions should remain exceptions , for I cannot emphasise strongly enough that reintroducing border controls is not a desirable development for Europe , neither in the current circumstances nor in relation to the future challenges that we will face sooner or later .
the voluntary work done by our citizens helps solve social problems and promotes the acquisition of skills and social awareness .
I hope that after the Transport Council meeting on 9 October , President-in-Office , we will find a solution that everyone supports , without letting anything fall by the wayside .
Europe works .
8 .
at the same time , we must be completely firm on human rights , freedom of information and political freedoms , which are certainly not the norm in Russia .
I am particularly pleased that all three countries have paid particular attention to developing relations with their neighbours .
indeed , it is free trade that causes these problems .
therefore , European farmers must be compensated for the higher production costs inherent to higher animal welfare standards .
I think that at such a time of crisis , the principle of solidarity is also gaining a new political dimension .
codification is an effective means of consolidating the rules governing a certain area in a single legislative act .
it should be simple , understandable and easily accessible .
( RO ) Mr President , in the period prior to Romania 's accession to the European Union , the European Commission closely monitored the situation regarding international adoptions and recommended a halt to these activities following the disclosure of abusive adoption practices .
let us hope that the G20 ministers , who will meet in Paris in June , come up with solutions to combat food price volatility .
I therefore specifically want to emphasise the fact that we can be optimistic about Lisbon .
( SK ) I voted for the report on the common agricultural policy and global food security because it deals with issues that I have consistently been raising in the European Parliament as matters of priority .
it is crucial that adequate bank lending is returned to normal levels as soon as possible .
in this context it is natural that average public expenditure on pensions and expenditure related to ageing will increase , and it will become ever more difficult to provide adequate pensions .
we need to develop a common European framework that includes targets and shared values , as well as shared entitlements and structures .
if we are to resolve the major climate and energy challenges that we are facing , it would be irresponsible of us to rule out controlling fiscal instruments .
let us examine the external causes , population density , natural disasters , the loss of human life through HIV and AIDS and , more importantly , the links between poor governance and the humanitarian consequences .
I think we have done the best we could have done in a hundred days .
I call on President Van Rompuy to heed this message .
for these reasons , taking into account that there is much in the report we can support , the British Conservative delegation abstained .
we all know that the Mediterranean basin is a point at which many cultures meet ; at the same time , however , it is a nerve centre and a ' boiler ' which has been bubbling for many years now .
a similar situation to the one in Japan could happen anywhere in Europe .
some of the work is finished .
concerning legal migration , the Commission has initiated legal measures by submitting to Parliament the draft legislation on conditions for entry and residence for highly skilled workers and the single permit procedure for third-country nationals .
Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , for years , the European Parliament has consistently called for the protection of pregnant employees and the updating of existing legislation relating to maternity leave .
in this respect , the ECRIS system , which will allow the networking of criminal records , will be very valuable .
the majority of our group , including the German and Netherlands delegations , take the view that the Piecyk report has nothing to do with those issues .
the real work , then , is only just starting .
the EU must listen to the children : they are the foundations of tomorrow 's society .
the Council , which has the say on this , must define a clear framework with clear timetables related to border control so that Romania and Bulgaria can see a way forward .
secondly , as Commissioner Barrot has pointed out , without the European Parliament there would have been no Galileo .
so in our politics , we need perhaps to rise above some of those issues because when you are at the referendum stage , as we were , it involves explaining to people on the streets and in shops and in schools about what Europe is , how it works , what I do , what the Commission does , and that is a great exercise .
however , the Commission has presented here today a series of proposals and initiatives , some of which have already been implemented and others which will be implemented and which naturally will merit the Council 's full attention and effort .
we have announced the names of some of those countries and should do more at European level to make sure their exposure leads to real change .
regardless of the viewpoint of each person with respect to the choices of the Cuban people , those choices and their sovereign right to decide their destiny and the form of political organisation of their state must be respected .
( FR ) Mr President , the principles , actions and tools of a European immigration policy : that is the vast subject-matter of Mr Busuttil 's report .
this is why urgent action is needed .
in writing . - ( HU ) In terms of employment , a comparison of urban and rural areas reveals that a widening abyss is developing .
as you said , the other presidents before Mr Pöttering have all made a major contribution to this outcome : just now I thanked Mrs Fontaine when I met her on the stairs .
in this spirit , we should also look at ways to make our institutions and the way they operate more understandable to citizens .
the Committee on Transport and Tourism , which appointed me as rapporteur for this matter , wished to produce an own-initiative report , which , having been debated and agreed by the various groups is now being put before the plenary sitting of the European Parliament .
in general it is clear that we have completely different concepts of security here and on the other side of the Atlantic .
the Commission has , for many years , including one of my predecessors , put forward the idea of Eurobonds .
Mr President , this report makes good sense in saying that there should be an overall EU approach as regards the need for extra airport capacity .
they deserve all the procedures and all the improvements this country needs .
in writing . - ( FR ) The enlargement of the European Union calls for our solidarity with the population of the 431 000 km2 around the Black Sea .
also , another issue that we had debated at length with the Commission was the ' pilot project ' : this is a project whereby , when a citizen complains to the Commission , the complaint is forwarded to the Member State so that it can give some sort of response .
secondly , it is worrying that we are seeing a constant process of retraction in the Portuguese State in terms of guaranteeing equal access to basic services throughout its territory .
if we want to improve cooperation we need to determine which forms of interinstitutional cooperation can enhance the effectiveness of our joint efforts .
by including air transport in the EU emission allowance trading scheme , we are assuming this leading role , but we are at the same time stressing that we are open to discussion with our partners , which we hope will lead to a worldwide system .
obviously the Commission has systematically supported all efforts to reach a humanitarian agreement on the release of all hostages .
this report highlights some of the problems involved with nuclear power and the decommissioning of nuclear reactors , which is why I have voted in favour of it .
however , the situation is still worrying .
the original Montreal Protocol focused on the protection of the ozone layer , mainly by restricting CFCs , and that goal was quickly tightened up almost to zero .
it would be a long road but the only sensible one for Iran .
does the Commission plan to take any action to counteract this price hike ?
as regards the forthcoming legislative elections , we have mobilised a EUR 2 million electoral assistance package ( which has already been quoted ) , with a view to ensuring the conditions for a fairer and more transparent electoral process .
therefore the Committee on International Trade recommends that Member States not be allowed to take into consideration , when fulfilling the objectives regarding biofuels , those imported biofuels which are linked - directly or indirectly - to deforestation , or which are imported from countries that receive international food aid or which impose export duties or other export restrictions on agricultural products .
Venezuela almost did not accede .
it is immensely important for a woman who has had a baby to be provided with support that gives her and her child the necessary security and ensures that she is not prevented from returning to professional or social life .
I will conclude : esteemed President Zapatero , my dear friend José Luis , I wish you every success for the good of this strong , federal Europe in which we both believe .
I have just voted in favour of the Commission Work Programme for 2011 , but with reservations .
this is in contradiction of the Indian Government 's responsibilities under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights .
the proposal also incorporates international rules for the transport of dangerous goods into Community law and extends their application to national transport .
on behalf of the S & D Group . - ( DE ) Mr Barroso , you are a very clever man , however you have not answered my question .
you mentioned the inclusion of certain data appearing in this decision .
collaboration and coordination between Member States are crucial , as crises of this type have repercussions not only for the countries in which they are built , but also on a more widespread level .
however , the statistics tell a different story .
I honestly cannot understand how we can possibly have such a good instrument and yet not implement it .
such help , however , should consist in providing a fishing rod and angling skills rather than putting fish on the plate .
on 17 November last year , the Commission adopted the Communication entitled ' Dial 116 000 : the European hotline for missing children ' .
it is now a question of transferring power over the Swedish labour market , not to those elected by the Swedish people , but to Brussels .
Mr President , it is with extreme urgency that I call on Parliament to see that the EUR 14.8 million promised to the workers in the mid-west of Ireland in areas like Limerick , Kerry and Tipperary who worked for Dell Computers and its suppliers is allocated as soon as possible .
it will have to include a baseline , which we currently , finally , have .
in future , the opt-out would not be a temporary one-off exception but a permanent general rule and , what is more , it would be sanctioned in the name of freedom and social progress .
this is exactly what we have discussed today in the meeting that I mentioned in the first speech .
in addition to the call for full pay , the proposed directive is also suggesting that maternity leave should count towards service in employment when pensions are being calculated .
it will listen to the proposals and will form an opinion .
so save yourselves the trouble and admit that the Treaty is dead , with no prospect of resurrection .
the compromise submitted does , however , somewhat simplify this bureaucratically overloaded system .
it has been like this because some data 10 years ago indicated that this was the official production level .
for this reason , over and above initiatives geared to improving the conduct of road users and the level of vehicle safety , infrastructure ought to be the third pillar in any road safety programme based on the principle of an integrated approach .
- Mr President , I think it is appalling that a country with such massive oil reserves as Nigeria should be involved in such mass atrocities , but at the same time , taking our cue from the Vice President of the United States , the solution has to be in dialogue , dialogue , dialogue , allied with education , education , education , so that peace can be brought to the country .
the timid , vague proposals in the text are neither sufficient nor wholly satisfactory , but at least they exist .
it is the people 's perception that the aid is not reaching the places where it is needed .
you cannot say ' We want to finance the EU budget with 0.8 % of Gross Domestic Product ' and then demand compensation when our own farmers are hit by the EHEC crisis , as the Dutch Government has done .
this has just been said : millions of people , and primarily children , die each year in these countries from a whole host of diseases , as was mentioned in particular by my fellow Member , Mr Mitchell , earlier .
these efforts must be encouraged .
( PL ) At a time of economic crisis , when we are all still feeling its painful effects , many countries have decided to approach a variety of financial institutions with a request for financial assistance .
do you want your comment that I am the best vice-president to be recorded in the Minutes ?
the argument that the Commission has made too little progress in the last few years for the Member States concerned sounds all very well , but it is disproportionate when it comes to the behaviour that has been demonstrated .
we too must act in a coherent and consistent way and should not simply sacrifice our values on the altar of good economic relations .
this is reason enough for us to be able to assert ourselves , in the best sense of that word , on the global stage on this issue .
I would like to cite the example of Peru , where acts of violence committed in Bagua are a terrible illustration of the way in which the government collaborates with multinationals by confiscating land from the indigenous populations for financial purposes .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - Mr President , I would like to thank all those colleagues who have reminded me that thinking on human rights can only be based on a non-discriminatory treatment of all violations of human rights , wherever they happen .
it also begins , with reference to Hamas - and I say this with the utmost firmness - with putting a definitive end to the firing of rockets into Israel from Gaza .
Commissioner , are you aware that , in addition to strangling the EU sector , thanks to your policy , Papua New Guinea is entering a phase of very low-quality job creation and zero sustainable development ?
we are resolutely hostile to this , since the enfeoffment of national rights and legal specificities will surely lead to enfeoffment of the Member States themselves in a Europeist and federalist project .
( RO ) Mr President , the Services Directive establishes a general legal framework for Member States , public administrations and local authorities aimed at simplifying procedures and harmonising provisions concerning the right to establish and provide services .
that is not a recovery plan .
trying to find non-chemical alternatives in sensitive areas , such as habitats of rare flora and fauna , is also an approach that should be supported unreservedly .
this is what the Swedish State can look at and that is indeed what we are doing .
we cannot just go ahead and put our ideas on paper .
they will enable us to support research and innovation and to help our businesses and our economy get through this transition period of a sustainable industrial revolution as painlessly as possible .
thanks to strong pressure from users and citizens , user safeguards have been gained , but they remain inadequate in the opinion of the left .
this can be activated when there is a mass influx of people who are unable to return .
thirdly , there is the concern with combating protectionist tendencies , which is amply demonstrated by the agreement relating to third countries .
the European Union has taken on a long-term commitment towards the entire African region of the Great Lakes , part of which lies within the Democratic Republic of Congo .
I wish to register a strong protest against this .
also , the recasting procedure limits Parliament 's role .
this is something that we cannot remain silent on .
in writing . - ( HU ) In central , eastern and south-eastern Europe those of us who were born in this less fortunate region of Europe have learned from experience that spoken words and paper promises have little credence .
Côte d 'Ivoire must be made aware of this .
the world of computers is , unfortunately , precisely the place in which parents have been unable to act as guides for their children .
( the sitting was suspended at 09.55 a.m. and resumed at 10.10 a.m. )
we must tackle the situation head on and maintain the balance of the state , of the European Union and of the world .
the possibility of a yearly revision of humanitarian aid provisions is also mentioned in the text , a very important item that allows for a humanitarian response based on funding adequate to the needs .
I voted in favour of the report by Mrs in ' t Veld , which welcomes the Commission 's 2008 report on competition policy .
Mr President , I would like to associate my comments with the latter part of Mr Kamall 's statement because I truly believe that liberalisation in the postal services market is the way forward for innovation and consumer choice .
this applies to you too .
it concerns promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources , covering the following sectors : electricity , heating and cooling , and transport .
for Europe , it is a matter of returning to the basic values of the European model , which requires combining entrepreneurial initiatives , respect for productive work and striving for solidarity .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , a year ago , the plenary agreed and mandated a special committee to draft the position of the European Parliament in relation to the next financial perspective .
one way of achieving the latter is to ensure good forest management .
for example , insufficient numbers of fire-fighting teams and the inability to solve and prevent crimes that might result in fires are behind the tragedies this summer .
therefore , I appeal for : increased subsidies , especially for prophylactic programmes in the area of regional policy and the European Social Fund ; more effective use of resources available in the Seventh Framework Programme , for example for better coordination of scientific research ; and increased resources to be planned in the new Financial Perspective .
in fact , it legalises the production of cells based on tellurides of cadmium .
we put in place a framework of regulation to ensure that consumers can engage with that , to give them the right to know about those services , to empower them to take advantage of that - that is crucial .
this cooperation between the Commission and civil society has grown , covering a wide variety of issues from policy dialogue to project management , both within the EU and in our partner countries .
lastly , I welcome the requirements as regards the information to be supplied to monitoring authorities with the aim of guaranteeing greater transparency .
but when we exert economic pressure on women who would like to stay at home with a young baby to work rather than care for the child and push them into the workforce , we register a very high rate of employment and assume that this means a healthier social reality .
I would also like to thank the draftsmen of the opinions , the shadow rapporteurs , the president and the members of the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection for the excellent cooperation that made it possible to approve my report unanimously on 6 November .
let me say something else about financing .
we have been requesting the sharing of the burden , with little or no response .
the dissemination of European cultural heritage is beneficial for several sectors , particularly education , science , research and tourism , among others .
in 2009 the Joint Undertaking 's utilisation rates for commitment and payment appropriations were 81 % and 20 % respectively .
in particular , I would like to reinforce what you have said , Commissioner , about General Motors .
Europe has to face two problems - the high unemployment rate among the young generation and uncertainty over the capacities to finance retirement funds .
when will the EU take vigorous action against the Sudanese regime which is preventing the hybrid force mandated by the UN Security Council from protecting the civilian population in Darfur ?
if we can maintain this solidarity - including when it comes to the 2008 discharge - then in 2008 , we will be able to move a step further , beyond what we achieved in 2007 .
the current long deadlines for the submission of tax returns also provide room for the commission of such tax frauds .
these measures and small-scale production need to be supported and the creation of beekeeping cooperatives and ecological recovery zones needs to be encouraged .
what we do know is that already many children , not only in Sweden , are now taken to casualty every year because they have swallowed household chemicals which are acutely toxic , despite the fact that the chemicals today bear a warning label which says that this is the case .
we should not forget that Turkey is a traditionally secular country ; it is powerful and has a wealth of human resources .
it is a basic requirement .
thank you .
the Dalai Lama is a respected religious leader and , amongst other things , a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate .
national budgets cannot secure a decent old age .
the trialogue phase was long and hard , and the agreement we reached - sadly not a full one - was due to the Hungarian Presidency , represented by Minister Kármán , the Commission , represented by Commissioner Rehn , and all our partners .
EU Member States which are especially exposed to an influx of asylum seekers should be provided with assistance .
the 27 Member States of the Union , which are collectively less indebted than the United States , should make a similar effort in order to pull Europe and the world out of a financial crisis that threatens to bring distress to everyone .
the European Union 's interests must reflect the indigenous peoples ' interests to protect and develop the Arctic region .
finally , I would like to say that it is important in future for the Court of Auditors not only to check that payments are being made legally , but also to ensure that they are cost-effective and efficient .
I sat here and heard him say that everyone wants a stronger European Union and a stronger CFSP .
the fact that the Public Prosecutor has not even quantified the precise amount of tax owed - also by way of non-payment of interest - makes the case for fumus persecutionis even stronger .
do they think for one moment that the rest of the European Union would accept that one single Member State opts out of the obligations that we have jointly developed at European level to govern our market ?
today , throughout France , desperate fishermen are blockading ports because they no longer believe they have a future .
what specific measures does it intend to adopt to improve monitoring by Member States in accordance with Directive 2001 / 95 / EC on general product safety and cooperation with customs services ?
( FR ) We do not use taxpayers ' money ; we use the funds that we raise every day on the world 's financial markets .
the version currently in force was adopted just four years ago .
for all the above reasons , which are clearly explained in the report , I voted in favour .
it has been highly controversial here in the European Parliament , but also in Sweden , which I represent .
we do not support these objectives .
in writing . - The legal framework within the EU relative to equal pay for men and women is widespread .
this is particularly the case as we know that the confidence that you have in the French Government has been more than shown to be , at the very least , debatable .
like all colleagues , I am , of course , in favour of intergovernmental cooperation in police , intelligence and security matters , particularly when we face growing problems from international organised crime , international terrorism etc .
as a consequence , security , good governance , energy , transport , environmental , socio-economic and human development should be considered as priority actions .
the situation in many countries of the Middle East , from where traditional Christian minorities are forced to flee , is alarming .
finally , I would like to ask , through your good self , for Commissioner Reding to explain the allegations which have appeared in the Romanian and international media concerning the European Agency for Monitoring International Adoptions , a proposal which also seems to feature in the study commissioned by the European Commission .
events push us towards making some decisions in this House .
this is especially important for the European Parliament , because often the issues faced by MEPs are very complex and technical and we almost always need to find a balance between businesses and countries with divergent interests .
religion can never be a credible or acceptable reason to use violence or to breach human rights .
Turkey has an Islamic identity that is very different from the Judaeo-Christian identity of most EU countries .
control of the acquisition and possession of weapons ( debate )
firstly , there were the passengers .
respect for human rights and democratic standards in Tunisia must be a condition for further cooperation with that country .
we would also see an increase in trade , especially in the services sector where the future growth in trade is estimated at 70 % , and in the agricultural sector where , just at the moment , European Union exports to Korea have an annual value of EUR 1 billion .
other positive points include making ecological sustainability the basic premise of the CFP and the recognition that EU fleets must no longer overfish in the waters of developing countries .
I wish a very warm welcome to you all .
I hope not .
they therefore have no opportunity to discuss , debate or influence the decision makers .
secondly , it is also vital , of course , that the European Court of Auditors analyse these exercises in detail and provide the necessary documentation .
this certainly also applies to the urgent disarmament of Hezbollah ; after all , the spectre of renewed civil war is looming .
I will , today , find a solution to this for the future .
I would like to begin by stating my admiration for everyone who worked on the budget .
fifteen years later Milošević unilaterally removed that status and then attempted to carry out ethnic cleansing which was only stopped by the international community .
I am certain that the new provisions will help to improve the application of the priorities of cohesion policy .
in order to be able to ensure , in future , that we produce more targeted legislation , we also propose in the report that the mandatory production of accident statistics be introduced at EU level so that we can find out in a more targeted way where there is a need for legislation based on what kind of accidents occur with products on the internal market .
I am delighted that we have a balanced report here which takes account of the demands of an information society and I would be delighted if both my and other groups gave this report the broadest possible support tomorrow , so that we can develop an Internet in the interests of society .
in writing . - I voted in favour of this report in response to the many constituency concerns that have been raised with me over misleading companies .
this should be prevented , so that the younger generation can deal more practically with the issue of gender equality .
this Charter is proof that , when we laid the foundations of the European Union , we had learned the most important lesson from European history , and today we continue to regard respect for the dignity of each and every human being , preservation of the freedom that has been won and of peace and democracy and application of the rule of law as the driving forces of European unification .
tolerance and peace are intimately linked , and I shall , as always , support the European Union 's actions to ensure respect for and the promotion of our values , freedoms and rights throughout the world .
perhaps other technologies will enable the production process to be upgraded , while rising energy prices will increase its economic effectiveness .
it has instilled fear in people .
at the same time , Moscow has not exactly shown itself to be an indispensable partner in the bloody fight against Islamic terrorism , for example on the Afghan front , either .
some of the most serious social challenges faced by Europe , such as the ageing population , require radical innovation that cuts across several sectors .
secondly , to reaffirm international maritime law , which makes it mandatory to provide assistance to anyone in distress , while the seven Tunisian fishermen are still on trial ;
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I would like to thank you for a very lively and substantive debate on EU enlargement and our strategy - now , next year and in the near future .
administrative cooperation between EU Member States in tax matters , which is my remit , is an ambitious project .
modification of concessions in the schedules of Bulgaria and Romania in the course of their accession to the European Union ( EU-Argentina agreement ) (
innovative rural businesses of all kinds , which focus , for example , on services and farm tourism , have significantly revived the rural economic structure .
SMEs have , up to now , faced quite a lot of difficulty in accessing the European funds granted through the Marco Polo programme .
a military junta placed the party 's leader , Aung San Suu Kyi , under house arrest .
the second paragraph of this amendment seeks a financial participation of 70 % from the European Community for measures to promote fruit and vegetables specifically for children in schools .
some actions will build on the result of the good work done so far .
greenhouse gas emissions from international aviation have doubled since 1990 and account for between 5 % and 12 % of carbon dioxide emissions in the EU as a whole .
however , we need to point out that the elements of economic governance are not to be confused in any way with the Euro Plus Pact , which is an intergovernmental agreement at its current stage .
the Treaty of Lisbon , which provides a legal basis in this matter , allows for negotiations to be started .
I hope that Slovakia , through moderate , correct , structure-oriented policies , will make its contribution to being able to chalk this entry up as a success at the end of the day .
I think that we need a common energy policy .
Mr Sarkozy no more speaks for Europe on Turkey than he does on his Union for the Mediterranean .
this will be harmonised , but not at a level of 100 cars per 1 000 citizens in Germany , but at 400 to 500 cars per 1 000 citizens in Europe .
the debate is closed .
many sectors and types of production have ceased to exist in Europe due to unfair competition from producers in South-West Asia and South America .
( SV ) What does the Commissioner think about this ?
we will not suffer armed police coming in at the behest of EUROPOL .
the problem of the Gaza conflict has political dimensions .
you in particular , in the Swedish Presidency , could be a shining example of this and actually tell us what is going on in the horse trading for the top posts that is completely unworthy of the European Project and also - Mr Barroso could lead the way on this - with regard to the appointment of the commissioners .
the fact , too , that urban and rural areas are now to benefit equally from the support is very much to be welcomed .
if Mr Désir is saying that the suggestion is that we do nothing , that is not the impression I got , and I sincerely hope that you did not get that impression from my opening remarks either .
if people maintain basic rules of hygiene , and if they maintain their personal hygiene as well as washing or heat-treating their food , that will be enough to protect them from this infection .
I am afraid it is not yet fit for purpose .
let us support it . it is practical and it is right .
that is what I can tell Parliament this morning .
I should also like to thank all the members of the European Parliament Delegation , of which I had the honour of chairing , for their cooperation at all stages and especially at critical moments .
however , there are also provisions which put the citizens from the countries which recently joined the European Union at a disadvantage .
my team has just been meeting with a group of MEPs to talk further about what more we should do on this .
hard times lay ahead for the Swedish people , but , Mr Hoang Ngoc , we learnt one thing , and that was to keep our finances in order .
we need promotion so that the investment will not only reduce the import of fossil fuels and reduce carbon dioxide emissions , but so that the household will realise the reduction in energy costs to them also .
the formation of three civil protection units for aerial forest firefighting .
I welcome and support the International Labour Organisation ( ILO ) initiative to adopt a convention supplemented by a recommendation on decent work for domestic workers .
there must be accountability in international law where such warfare principles as proportionality and non-discrimination are not respected .
secondly , a fellow Member recently referred to women as being weak .
( FR ) ' Persons with a directly binding contract of employment , governed by private law , with the European institutions ' .
looking at a more structured intervention , we should also explore the possibilities of better targeting EU assistance by promoting projects that are able to support income- and job-generating activities in the different regions of Tunisia , and I refer particularly to the southern parts of the country .
these countries now sit round the table in the G20 talks .
therefore , it is logical for us to reject all attempts to renationalise the structural policy .
the oral question to the Commission by Mr Markov and Mr Fjellner , on behalf of the Committee on International Trade , on the stepping-stone Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Community , of the one part , and Ghana , of the other part - B6-0206 / 2009 ) ,
because illegal mass immigration is a vital issue in relation to the survival of Europe as an historical entity , the EU would be well advised to take a differentiated view of its relations with Tripoli and to include Libya in its strategies for controlling the flow of migration .
the EHEC pathogen was on the Spanish cucumbers and it should not have been there .
thus , for example , the allocation of external costs became voluntary , rather than compulsory .
Russia has placed itself in the category of unstable , unpredictable states .
that the European Union institutions need to work together to deliver on our citizens ' expectations .
we do that best by actually knowing what were their concerns , by finding the solutions together and allowing the other Member States also to have their say .
I want to condemn the attempts to misuse specific moments of difficulty and present them as a bad attitude on the part of the government in principle , and , above all , doing so in the European Parliament .
I would also like to underline the new principles of employment and payment , which will be transparent and meet the needs announced earlier of assistants and the end of the pension fund in its previous form .
Hella Ranner has submitted her resignation as a Member of the European Parliament with effect from 1 April 2011 .
I condemn Minister Gildernew 's indifference and call not just for short-term aid but a long-term fuel strategy for our fishing sector .
they are among our biggest assets .
in writing . - I welcome the progress that has been made in the talks between Parliament and Council over the last few days and late into the night last night .
in the absence of progress , the Commission would consider other options in order to bring about a situation whereby CO2 emissions are effectively reduced .
I voted in favour of the report on the participation of Croatia in the work of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction ( EMCDDA ) as I believe that this is a positive step , given that Croatia is expected to accede to the EU shortly , bur mainly because the consumption and trafficking of illicit drugs are global phenomena with severe socio-economic and health repercussions .
the European Union 's young citizens will be able to participate in all projects alongside Switzerland 's young people .
the Economist admits that the Baltic pipe was conceived in secret .
until now , some areas of the capital were not affected by the conflict , but that has changed .
the Member States should consider drafting a plan to combat gender-based violence .
it is through this strengthening of civil society , too , that we will respond best to the argument that we often hear concerning China : ' why should we meet the criteria for strong cooperation with Europe - social , democratic and environmental criteria - when China makes a mockery of them in terms of corruption and pillaging ? '
I am very committed to this , and we must strive to achieve it together .
a debate in this case is obligatory !
instead of imposing new burdens on our economies and our citizens , let us invest in the technologies of the future .
we should set ourselves a target of at least or up to 0.5 % .
at a European level , we - and this includes both the Commission and Parliament - have always regretted the fact that the rail companies do not give higher priority to safety and to interoperability between the different systems in Europe .
secondly , the indexation of meat prices paid to farmers to fodder prices .
thank you , Mrs Trüpel .
that is why I also applauded the decision of the Court of Justice in relation to the Turco case , in which it concluded that there exists , in principle , an obligation to disclose the opinions of the Council 's Legal Service relating to a legislative process ; those opinions could be crucial to understanding the direction that the decision-making process took .
we have a newly elected government in the UK which has made promises in this area .
in democratic countries , the citizens elect the governing authorities .
finally , we agree that there is concern that efficient national debit card schemes may be replaced by more expensive alternatives .
I agree with colour coding to label foods because , rather than clear and easily understandable labelling , what Europeans need are signs that they can interpret in order to make healthy choices .
improving access to EIB financing for small and medium-sized enterprises ( SME ) , increasing the transparency of its operations , and introducing greater flexibility in terms of risk-capital investment are other new measures proposed by Parliament .
colleagues , we now come to the catch-the-eye procedure .
this will be possible , even if difficult on the basis of national criteria , provided that ICAO standards are met .
that is regrettable , but hardly surprising .
since January of this year , Televisión Española , TV3 and Canal Sur have not been allowed permission to broadcast due to the coverage that they have been giving to the conflict , and recently the correspondent for Cadena COPE has been threatened with expulsion , along with Cadena SER and the newspaper La Vanguardia .
( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , one of the key common values of the European Union is its linguistic and cultural diversity .
situation in Côte d 'Ivoire (
regardless of the fact that the solution of mental health problems falls within the competence of the Member States , it is important that the volume of financial assistance and knowledge-based assistance provided to Member States by the EU be further increased , in order to help them develop and improve the necessary health , social , care and educational services and preventive measures .
that freedom is also a path to peace , as Pope Benedict XVI said in his message on 1 January .
Members of the Roma community face racist attacks , unequal access to public services and social provisions and huge living and educational segregation .
you only need think in this context of the latest incidents during the confiscation of a refrigerated lorry in Austria , which was found to contain 64 illegal Kurdish immigrants being smuggled from Turkey , via Hungary and Austria , to Germany .
I hope that Mr Rehn , who represents him , will rectify this in his second statement .
as regards sound management principles , the institutions should submit cost-reduction plans , and when presenting expenditure , it should be clearly specified and justified .
this additional money will help local and regional public authorities improve financing for sustainable energy projects and implement innovative financial incentive schemes , such as guarantees and soft loans .
( BG ) Mr. President , colleagues , I think that the motion in the report of Mr. Corbett deserves attention and , in my opinion , comes just on time , since actually with its adoption we do not threaten any of the currently existing groups in the European Parliament .
in writing . - ( IT ) As part of the work of the Delegation for Relations with Central Asia , of which I am a member , I have had the opportunity to visit the countries of the area covered by the report .
inside Libya , our activities include the evacuation by sea of about 2000 civilians from Misrata , the provision of food , water , sanitation and medical supplies in Misrata and other areas of Libya , and provisional materials for food , as we expect the food situation to worsen in the next four to six weeks .
therefore , we will vote against this report .
our trade with this region has been on a constant rise and in 2009 it amounted to EUR 79.7 billion .
what is positive is that the Baltic States finally got NATO contingency plans for their defence , as exposed also by WikiLeaks .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , the situation in Gaza is , first and foremost , a humanitarian disaster .
taken together with the proposal for a directive providing for criminal sanctions against employers of illegal immigrants that the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs is currently working on , they represent a sound legal basis for the Union 's immigration policy .
we are definitely cooperating with all these investigations .
( FR ) Madam President , President-in-Office of the Council , let me say what a pity it is that the minister responsible for the Ecofin Council is not here .
Mr President , I have seen that the entire western world , with the United States at the forefront , is demanding an earlier election in Pakistan .
there are the issues of social diversity , which we have spoken about , but there is also the integration of these houses and of the people who live in them into their neighbourhood , into their town , sometimes in town centres , sometimes on the outskirts .
this is a perfectly ordinary totalitarian regime which simply exploits Islam for its own ends .
in writing . - I support this report because in the current global financial crisis it is more important than ever to meet our commitments with developing countries .
written statements ( Rule 116 ) : see Minutes
Mr President , sport should , of course , be run by the sporting authorities themselves but , to the extent that it is also an economic activity , it unavoidably falls under employment law , competition law , copyright law , media rights and so on .
in contrast to the belief expressed in paragraph 2 , my view is that not only the professionals but ordinary citizens too understand and support the need for extreme measures , provided they offer demonstrable benefits for the future .
we see the pressure from outside ; we see the social tensions and , indeed , the racism from inside the EU .
it will build itself up , and I think that these subjects need to pervade the French Presidency .
in addition to the usual legislative work , the Swedish Presidency will have other kinds of highly political challenges to deal with , and no one better to tackle these challenges than Prime Minister Reinfeldt and the Swedish Presidency team .
otherwise , they could be placed in a less favourable position than their Korean counterparts .
immigration has more than one name , because my esteemed fellow Members have spoken today about immigration from Africa , which mainly affects the countries of the Mediterranean Basin , and what they said is , in a certain sense , justified .
in these circumstances I would ask that when you check the results , you give us the precise results , how many were in favour , how many against , and how many abstained .
in particular , I am referring to the problems associated with illegal immigration , terrorism and smuggling , which occur along the full 320 000 kilometres of European coastline .
added to this there is the dumped ammunition from past wars .
the mandates are hereby ratified .
of course , we could have allocated more money to the dairy sector , as representatives of the Social Democrat Party proposed , but it is good that at least some of the funds in this draft have been set aside for this .
after the scandalous Tillack affair , where the actions of the OLAF leadership warrant sharp criticism , this reform is absolutely necessary .
hiding behind words without resolving the matter directly can no longer be an option when admission to the Schengen area has never been a political problem , but a technical one .
may I remind you that Turkey is still not complying with the EU 's request to extend the Ankara Protocol .
finally , I should like to highlight the need for more intense dialogue between the European Parliament and the national parliaments , given that all the matters covered by the common commercial policy will come under the Union 's sole jurisdiction .
it is even more important because , in times of high oil prices , it becomes particularly profitable to develop poorly accessible oilfields and to extract under the most adverse conditions , such as from deeper and deeper depths .
according to the data in the motion for a resolution , 1.5 billion people are currently without access to electricity , four out of five of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia , and nearly 2.4 billion people still use traditional biomass fuels for cooking and heating , which is an unsustainable use of natural resources .
the adoption of this report is a significant step forward in protecting the rights of third-country workers in the EU by granting them a single permit for residence and work .
I agree with the rapporteur that the role of third countries should not be overlooked in relation to these activities . I fully support authorising the Commission as appropriate , so it can provide technical aid and training to liaison officials from third countries and from European and international agencies and organisations .
( DE ) Madam President , I have the following request .
Madam President , as regards the approval of the trade agreements in the banana sector , the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance will vote against .
we wanted , in this way , to underline the importance we place on the fight against intolerance based on belief or religion .
Europe must be bold enough to take a metahistorical perspective on these fundamental questions , and resume its role as a cradle and centre , including in spiritual terms .
the ' Customs 2013 ' Programme also represents an important tool in that respect .
I trust that the Commission 's proposal will be more adventurous .
this public-private partnership is essentially aimed at supporting the cofinancing of research initiatives at European level , as well as improving cooperation between the various operators in the sector .
Mr Jouyet , it will not surprise you to learn that the Commission is disappointed with the rather limited scope of the framework decision .
this proposal will provide consumers with standardised information on fuel efficiency .
investment in youth means thinking today about the Europe of tomorrow .
it is the third most lucrative illicit trade in the world , after arms and drugs trafficking .
what is more , in order to modernise its mining industry , Poland needs the whole of Europe .
I voted for this report because this proposal for a directive aims to give all patients the right and opportunity to obtain essential healthcare services in other Member States as quickly as possible .
the Convention is entering its second decade and needs to adapt itself in order to respond to new challenges and take advantage of new opportunities .
as honourable Members know , Iran 's nuclear programme remains a serious concern for the European Union and for the international community as a whole .
( FR ) Mr President , I would also like to welcome the establishment of the European External Action Service as a step in the right direction , representing progress in making Europe more consistent and effective on the international stage .
this proves how efficient this institution is .
to quote Sakharov Prize winner , Sergei Kovalev , there is no doubt that in modern terminology , these acts were crimes against humanity .
one of the priorities of the Swedish Presidency was , of course , the management of the economic and financial crisis .
even if the European Parliament votes in favour , I shall take my fight to the Federal Government with a view to ensuring that the Federal Republic of Germany challenges this directive before the European Court of Justice .
at the same time , it would be expedient to take countercyclical measures and create economic surpluses .
this concerns Chinese and Korean producers in particular .
financial institutions around the world bought up these products without , it seems , doing any serious risk assessment of their own .
currently , only 8 % have cross-border activities , and their share of public tender participation is 42 % .
that is not to say anything against the personal qualities of Mr Van Rompuy and Baroness Ashton .
they are specific to the Union and often at odds with national interests .
( DA ) Mr President , I would also like to begin by thanking the Court of Auditors for an excellent report and a good presentation here today .
it covers all major areas of social life that have a bearing on the dramatic increase in climate change .
the importance of culture is taken into consideration in different ways at Community level .
it has even been agreed that if a specific farming sector is at risk of running into difficulty , a separate plan may be drawn up to give that sector more time .
we will do that .
it is therefore necessary to give a clear signal that we know the solution .
Europe backed stability and development aid in the Mediterranean .
in addition , Copenhagen will only be a success story if it ensures sustainable development , if it also includes a social dimension and , in particular , if we , the developed part of the world , succeed in financing developing countries .
but this presidency has been a success for Europe , and you , President-in-Office , deserve the credit .
the vote will take place on Thursday .
that is an obstacle to development and prosperity .
these sometimes arise due to a need to update them , but this hinders and diminishes the quality of life of the individual .
secondly , we think your words about a crisis exit strategy are premature .
therefore , the barriers to green trade must be removed .
in 2030 , the number of ships will have increased from 4 000 to 9 000 , and there will be a proportionate increase in the probability of environmental incidents .
I want to draw attention to two passages .
in any event , 14 states have received these reasoned opinions .
Disgruntled people say that it is not enough and that it is too late .
for many of these areas , no commercial solutions are yet available , or if they are , further research and development action is required .
the misery continues .
( HU ) Madam President , Baroness Ashton , first of all , let me congratulate my colleague , Mrs Laima Andrikienė , on her excellent work .
but I think that we can justify the fact that our rural development policy is financially overstretched .
we will of course consult with you : it is essential to have discussions with the European Parliament .
to be honest with you , this has been a somewhat uneventful debate , but also one that we can take pride in , and so I happily join my fellow Members ' chorus of praise for the Belgian Presidency .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , I would like to thank all the honourable Members for their positive and kind words concerning the Commission 's work programme .
in some countries , it is even touching 21 % . that is double the average unemployment rate for adults .
however , I want to remind you that it was not so long ago , after the clear rejection of the European Constitution in the Netherlands and France at the time , that the provisions on the use of symbols were very carefully removed and they were no longer to be included in the Treaty of Lisbon because it was realised that the public did not want them .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , we have heard today a clear message that we have a very serious challenge - that of the ageing of society .
this matter has not been discussed thoroughly enough and no account has been taken of the poor people whose livelihood this will take away without offering them anything else in its place .
on that basis I felt it appropriate to abstain on this report .
Mr President , there are many good reasons for discussing the Arctic .
the Commission welcomed that ruling as a contribution to fair competition and as an important foundation for strengthening media pluralism .
I would like to say that this text seems fairly balanced to me .
outcome of the summit of 7 May 2010 and the ECOFIN meeting - What is the political relevance of the EU 2020 strategy in the context of the current financial and economic crisis ? - Consequences of the financial and economic crisis on the EU 2020 strategy and its governance - What is the relevance of the EU 2020 strategy in the framework of the current financial and economic crisis ? ( debate )
we must not have preconceived ideas when looking for ways to improve fish farming standards , but we must be rigorous in the control and application of regulations which are as precise as possible , in order to avoid the risk of altering the environmental balance .
at the same time , I would suggest that before 2012 an analysis be made of the operation of the postal services market in those countries that have already adopted the new rules , with a view to identifying and preventing any irregularities in the remaining countries .
it provides greater opportunities for citizens to scrutinise the decision-makers .
the first concerns how the Charter will be incorporated into your ideas for a small business act , which I consider to be a very important and exciting new development .
the compromise proposed is satisfactory .
the intention and the aim , however , must be to bring about long-term changes and to put preventative measures in place .
the first one is , clearly , transparency .
of course , I was very pleased to see that other colleagues were also calling for binding annexes .
I would like to ask all colleagues not to vote in favour .
agreement between the EC and Bosnia and Herzegovina on readmission ( vote )
I call on you , Mr President , to take a major political initiative in order to put a stop to these systematic human rights violations in Tunisia .
well , there was no clear line from the European Parliament .
subject : fragmented digital markets and consequences for the educational system and investments in geographically isolated regions
( the oral amendment was not accepted )
I have every reason to believe that we will find the necessary compromise .
the reason that matters is because , although of course I want to see a much bigger solution for Gaza , it is important that we offer our support to enable things to happen quickly that can help to alleviate that situation .
to help the people of Myanmar , and specifically the most vulnerable parts of the population , the Commission is increasing its assistance programmes in quantitative and in qualitative terms .
we must never lower our guard in the fight against terrorism and therefore every suspicion , even if we cannot make a priori judgments , must be carefully assessed and we must take all appropriate steps to prevent terrorism from benefiting from the assistance and organisational and economic support of criminal organisations .
their policy does not reflect the essence of the EU , and our role today is to go beyond the differences that pit us against each other - Mr Daul is right on this point - and to save the European Union and the Community method .
new international organisations and fora have emerged - an example is the summit diplomacy of the G20 , G8 , G7 , etc . - and there are proposals to reform the traditional international organisations .
this report by Swedish MEP , Mrs Svensson , of our Confederal Group of the European United Left / Nordic Green Left , has enabled us to take a broadly positive stance on how marketing and advertising affect equality between women and men .
a second is political utilisation of access to raw materials and the rise in their prices , including the rise in food prices .
therefore , we must not only ensure that Slovakia maintains a durable inflation rate , but also see how the inflation rate can be reduced as much as possible in all the countries already in the euro area .
we want to accompany Serbia on the road to joining the European Union .
Madam President , no sensible person wants to make life easy for criminals , but we do have to guard against justice in Europe being reduced to the lowest common denominator .
- Resolution :
I would like us to guard against this kind of legal jiggery-pokery and nonsense for three reasons .
discharge 2010 : European Police College ( CEPOL ) (
this states that the IGC decision of 19th October 2007 incorporating children 's rights as one of the objectives of the EU in the Treaty of Lisbon provides a new legal basis for children 's rights .
it is almost certain that the new negotiators of the US , the Commission , India , will not be going back to the same old quick fixes of July 2008 that did not work even then .
we needed to stick to an extremely ambitious timetable if we wanted to ensure that we could actually succeed in revising the UCITS Directive , which has been in place since 1985 in its initial form , by the end of this parliamentary term .
what is the Commission doing to implement those reforms ?
I tabled an amendment to this report demanding a gender analysis of all abortions performed in the world , and guess what happened ?
but the city of Strasbourg provides a first-class tram system , with a tram stop outside this very building , so why are MEPs here in Strasbourg not leading by example ?
it goes without saying that we should lay down clear environmental requirements in these free trade agreements .
they informed me of the ongoing problem of defending religious freedom .
( FR ) Madam President , I wonder if the demagogues of Rome and Paris and their cohorts here in the European Parliament realise what their request to reinstate internal border controls actually implies .
cancer is one of the main areas of Community action in the field of public health , since every year 3.2 million Europeans are diagnosed with cancer , which represents the second most frequent cause of death after heart disease .
( HU ) According to the official discourse generated by the global economic crisis , confidence in the international financial system needs urgently to be rebuilt .
the Council has followed the approach adopted by the Legal Affairs Committee here .
the Commission has made an effort in its SEPA roadmap of September 2009 .
I would mention in particular two countries with which Portugal has strong ties of history and affection , namely Brazil and Angola , two important global players in South America and Africa , respectively , which the EU must increasingly regard as partners .
therefore , transitional periods should be established , as well as supervisory institutions in order to safeguard against the negative impact on the Ukrainian economy and society .
I therefore supported the release of funds on the basis of the option provided under Council Regulation ( EC ) No 2012 / 2002 for such exceptional situations .
what was the communications strategy of the Commission and its members during the run-up to the referendum in Ireland ?
it is renewable forms of energy that Africa needs at the present time .
we hope that the forthcoming elections will be held freely and that the opposition parties and anyone who wishes to stand for election can exercise this fundamental right .
they are also asking why it was not possible to get to Krakow by road or rail on Sunday , but it was possible to get to Strasbourg by these means on Monday .
this becomes clear when one looks at the past year and a half of its activities .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I have listened to your responses and I must confess that I am perplexed , because on the one hand , the Commission says that if we want more information , we must go and knock on the door of the Member States .
however , I would expect more light to be thrown on the particular questions I have asked , because the questions are specific , and the answer was given in general outline .
the idea of ' going local ' , working with people in their own environment to gain their support for a European future , is crucial .
according to the World Bank 's estimates , in 2050 , the deficit produced by pensions expenditure would have reached approximately 12 % of GDP under the old system .
I supported this report , just as I support the economic governance package as a whole .
as the texts suggest , the negotiated conditions should help to establish some stability in this area .
what I do find sensible , however , is that Member States should share information about their pension systems with each other and that they should make efforts to address specific problems by that means .
it is hurting the reputation of the country , its citizens and their ambitions for a European future .
that is why we want to find a solution that will enable us to guarantee the security of European visas while respecting the fundamental rights of third-country nationals who apply for them , particularly with regard to the protection of personal data .
so , we have come a long way and in a positive direction .
I for one will not vote to ratify any new commission that fails to have the issue within its work programme for its first 12 months .
according to the Court of Auditors , there is a risk when it comes to quality and financial information .
the only difference is that the European monsters do not have to worry about capital punishment .
I should like to emphasise that maintaining that balance is a sine qua non for us .
( Parliament adopted the motion . )
I would like to hear you describe how you intend to ensure that human rights and aspirations for equality are mainstreamed into this forthcoming External Action Service .
Mr Czarnecki , I ask you to take the floor on a point of order .
the Road Map that we will present to you as a rough draft next spring will provide this .
at a time of savage economic and financial crisis , in which there is little aid available to sustain companies and jobs , I welcome the proposal made in this resolution by my colleagues from the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) to support EU fishers by increasing the ceiling for de minimis aid from EUR 30 000 to EUR 60 000 per company for a three-year period .
the report does not tackle the core issue regarding the causes of environmental abuse , which is the predatory nature of capitalism .
the next item is the report by Mr Százjer , on behalf of the Committee on Legal Affairs , on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission 's exercise of implementing powers - C7-0073 / 2010- .
Mr President , I voted against this report .
this is also a chance to combat the relativisation of past crimes .
why is Switzerland doing so well ?
following the outline of her approach on EPAs to Parliament in October last year and to the Council in November , there was a strengthening of contacts with our political counterparts in the various ACP regions .
the scenes of people fleeing are proof that this is just as much a South-South issue as it is a North-South one .
its most severe effects are particularly evident among the population in rural areas , who are dependent on making a living from agriculture .
we know about it in this House , and it is public knowledge .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - Madam President , here is a concrete example of what a one-size-fits-all integrated European judicial system leads to .
there are even a large number of children who cannot be registered in such educational institutions due to an insufficient number of places .
( applause )
all arms exports are wrong .
in writing . - ( FI ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to bid Kosovo a heartfelt welcome as one of the countries of Europe .
I call on Member States to eliminate barriers hampering the mobility of workers from new Member States , bearing in mind the positive impact of worker mobility in the context of the financial and economic crisis .
of particular importance regarding transparency in 2008 was the Commission 's proposal to reform Regulation ( EC ) No 1049 / 2001 on public access to documents .
we therefore need to be more political , and we also need to reflect the multiannual challenge of initiatives of the scale we intend .
Mr President , I would like to tell the Commissioner that I too favour ' may ' and not ' shall ' .
this baggage could reduce the effectiveness of the measures prepared in these documents .
I voted against the resolution because it contains too much wishful thinking .
the first is about the Treaty of Lisbon : following the ' yes ' vote in Ireland and the signing by the President of Poland , it is expected that the Constitutional Tribunal of the Czech Republic will deliver its opinion and President Klaus will do what he should , and sign the Treaty .
if we want to further the growth of our European film industry and promote the idea of Europe , we not only need better quality , which is already very good but could be even better , but we must also give our creative artists financial assistance .
in terms of funding adaptation and mitigation in developing countries , the severe constraints that weigh on these countries continue to be ignored , such as the massive , unfair foreign debt carried by the least developed countries .
the debate is closed .
so perhaps it is appropriate to ask for a cessation of the fighting , whilst aid agencies can get access and whilst civilians are allowed to leave the disputed areas .
the human rights of women and of the girl-child are still far from being an unalienable , integral and indivisible part of universal human rights , called for in the United Nations Vienna Declaration of 1993 .
( applause )
this is a genuine and ongoing concern of EU citizens .
the European Parliament henceforth has powers of codecision in relation to both trade policy and fisheries policy , and it fully intends to make its voice heard and to ensure that its point of view is respected in these matters .
we are working closely with Member States , both in Zimbabwe and here in Europe , to coordinate action at the level of the European Union .
I hope Parliament will not devalue the compromise put forward , which will allow Europe to become a leader in the fight against climate change .
the EUR 5 billion that was initially announced is now set at EUR 7.5 billion each year for a four-year period .
stepping-stone Agreement towards an Economic Partnership Agreement between the EC and Côte d 'Ivoire (
you have children and you know how it is .
however , the risk that the initiative could be exploited by certain non-governmental organisations ( NGOs ) or by a given sector of industry should not be ignored .
if one of these preconditions is lacking , though , you will not get Europeans to give up more sovereignty to these institutions that we currently find ourselves in .
I do not disagree but I do not want the European Union to be the only banker in this round .
I firmly believe that if the EU wants to be the largest exporter of cars and at the same time wants to be a global leader in the fight against climate change then it must help its car industry , which is the largest private investor in research and development .
I therefore voted in favour of this motion for a resolution .
I would like to pick up on a couple of points that have been raised .
some speakers have said ' yes , but we must have free movement ' .
if you had a school report on your first 100 days , it would say ' you must do better ' , but the reality is that if you were in the office for 100 years , you would still be a failure .
the overall statistics - the averages - are very bad ; they are really alarming .
I think that is a reasonable agreement ; now a decision has to be made .
there is also discussion about a donor conference .
with regard to this course of action , the European Union should play its part by giving thought , at the appropriate time and in the appropriate form , to possible technical measures to complement the UN sanctions and , at the same time , by confirming its readiness for debate and dialogue , which should never be lost , even at difficult times .
the debate is closed .
I wish to stress that it is vital for the Copenhagen criteria to be implemented properly , robustly and scrupulously for the whole region , which means Serbia as well , because they alone guarantee respect for European values , the rule of law and viable democracies .
if Europe wants to realise its ambition to be a true player in world politics , it should eliminate such differences between its members , thus trying to motivate them equally around true common economic interests .
without Europe , there would have been massacres .
after all , his EU pension might depend on him not attacking EU policies .
the national contact points proposed in this document are thus one of the key innovations and will play a huge role in helping and facilitating patient mobility .
we support the call for the human rights dimension to be clearly reflected in the work of FRONTEX , especially the right of a person to leave his or her country , the ban on refoulement and the right to seek asylum .
why ?
in writing . - One of the top security measures that have been agreed to is the issue of biometrics in passport and travel documents .
that much was also clear back during the debate on the accession of Bulgaria and Romania .
this is the responsibility of Vice-President Kallas who is Transport Commissioner .
it is significant that the possibility is being raised of mobilising the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund to alleviate the impact of this agreement .
I have come across a file of a detainee who died during interrogation because of waterboarding in boiling water ' .
far from being a shortcoming of the instrument , the Commission sees such variety as proof of the dynamism and potential of the dialogue instrument and an asset that should be preserved .
the debate is closed .
the second thing is as I said earlier .
we will also monitor the use of EU funding to ensure that the projects to be financed are consistent with the objectives and requirements defined in our waste legislation .
for Europe , trade policy must be consistent with all the Union 's objectives , particularly those of its foreign policy . it is , in fact , one of the levers of foreign policy intended to help regulate globalisation .
we also believe in women playing a full role in politics .
you are well aware that this provision has not gone unnoticed among some of our external partners , whose names I have mentioned .
traders must be open and up-front about the main characteristics of the service provided .
it is also important , however , that social legislation be applied in order to protect both drivers and the public at large .
I attach great importance to these comments , and I shall gladly pass them on in Luxembourg .
negotiations at the NPT Review Conference in 2005 were a disaster .
the reason is that , following a voluntary agreement concluded between the Commission and the car industry more than ten years ago , the latter has knowingly and wilfully failed to meet its targets .
anyway , I know that the French Presidency is working on it and I hope it will succeed .
finally , on a European code for the integration of legal immigrants , Europe should shoulder its responsibilities , it should be authoritative and credible , it should become a Europe of rights and rules that are complied with .
improved coordination on economic policy is without doubt a good idea for Europe 's long-term growth .
Turkey is controlling the situation politically , and it is time it realised that it has to abandon this policy .
the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) , the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe , the European Conservatives and Reformists and the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament propose backing and even speeding up this policy and this glaring denial of democracy .
I also support the involvement of the European Commission in organizing public debates together with the relevant European non-governmental organizations , in order to identify the best solutions , both as regards the communication campaign and the turning to account of the Member States ' experience and good practice .
because the problem is worldwide : China , Indonesia , the Philippines and Peru fish .
only a united front by other members and the observers on the Arctic Council , working through the EU 's Northern Dimension policy , will keep the Kremlin in check .
the regulations we will adopt based upon the concept of flexicurity should primarily eliminate such situations .
thus , with a proper impact assessment and by spelling out the different legal alternatives , along with a clear definition of the objectives and financing for European infrastructure , the long-term strategic projects for building a stronger EU will be easier to achieve .
in order to ensure equal treatment between Member States , the interest-bearing deposit and the fine should be identical for all Member States whose currency is the euro and equal to 0.1 % of the gross domestic product ( GDP ) of the Member State concerned in the preceding year .
the fourth point is that we would like the Commission to provide the resources to enable us to hold an interinstitutional conference with the aim of obtaining a positive statement of assurance from the European Court of Auditors .
I will remind you of some facts : Turkey has 90 million inhabitants , strong demographic growth and above all we must not forget the fact that the Turkish speaking countries of Central Asia are demanding Turkish citizenship and the Turkish State seems intent on giving it to them .
use of information technology for customs purposes (
as you added today , America needs Europe .
I therefore call on the Commission to promote the fundamental principles of public health protection and access to medicines when negotiating the technical particulars of the anti-counterfeiting trade agreement .
secondly , monetary union .
rising budget deficits in Member States combined with growing debt are the primary macro-economic consequences of the crisis .
in this case we have to assist President Karzai and the Government of Afghanistan in revisiting this law and making sure that it is in line with international commitments and the constitution .
starting from the Union 's motto of ” Unity in diversity ” , I welcome the Parliament 's decision to ask the Commission to draw up an integrated strategy for the sustainable development and use of mountain resources , thus giving equal opportunities to European citizens who choose to live in the more difficult conditions of mountain areas .
the next item is one-minute speeches on matters of political importance .
it is my opinion that , due to the differences in opinion we have , there is a distortion already .
I am sure all of us want good relations with Turkey and many of us , probably the majority , wish to see Turkey one day as a member of the European Union , a different European Union to what is being developed today .
it was with great sadness that I learnt of the deaths in Greece ; it is very sad .
however , 74 directives still have not been transposed in one or more European Union Member States , and this means that barriers , very harmful barriers , continue to affect citizens and entrepreneurs in the internal market .
the energy market is a global market .
we are currently working on what is referred to as the Washington Statement , which will describe the situation with regard to legal and domestic policy issues and the cooperation in this area between the EU and the US .
today , the authorities in Niger are not allowing serious studies to be carried out on the situation regarding radioactivity among these people , but we know that they are in an alarming situation .
the FTT provides an opportunity to redress the balance and the damage caused by the austerity measures , the deficit and the measures adopted to repay it .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , speaking in this House today , President Sarkozy gave an honest account of the nature of the compromise on the climate package .
the European Union has been struggling to combat illegal logging , while seeking to conserve forest resources and promote their sustainable use globally .
both the UN and the Commission undertook to apply specific guidelines and to monitor their application closely .
finally , it is worth emphasising that 2006 is the last year of the Berlin Agenda ( 2000-2006 financial perspective ) , so this should be a budget year that features a good take-up of EU money .
a global financial system needs transparency .
I say this very simply but genuinely , even before the Presidency : we really need the European Parliament in order to gain acceptance for this asylum policy .
hitherto Moldova has fully exhausted the quota it was allocated , therefore an increase in duty free tariff quotas will enable Moldova to increase sales of its production in the EU , without damaging the EU 's wine industry .
for the benefit of the youngest member of the French delegation , I hope that the young people of this Parliament will support this movement .
and finally the permanent crisis mechanism has been described as a tool to strengthen the eurozone .
in answer to Mr Zwiefka 's question , we will certainly talk to the banks .
in writing . - The report from Ms Badia i Cutchet on improving the quality of teacher education today touches on some important issues .
the guide must provide for traffic control within the blocks , coordinated with adjacent blocks so that there are no overlapping areas .
we therefore need coordination at EU level and , of course , we must ensure that both recipient and donor receive the best possible treatment .
the regions are equally important in promoting and ensuring more efficient ways of funding research , in accordance with the commitments made in the Operational Programmes .
where are these ?
( DE ) Mr President , I have a question for you , Mr Farage .
as soon as Israel withdraws from all occupied territories , 57 Arab and Muslim countries will be willing to normalise their relationships with Israel .
( DE ) Mr President , the Lisbon Strategy did not have any sustainable success .
the new Member States would have been forced to adopt the policy as part of the acquis communautaire and hence would have been compelled to start as new Member States under unreasonable conditions .
in fact , I do not see how agriculture could be competitive in the medium and long term without careful management of natural resources .
the international community tolerated their being postponed year after year by the regime of Laurent Gbagbo .
we obviously recognise the need for mechanisms allowing the reciprocal transmission of information extracted from criminal records between the Member States , but this must be assessed on a case-by-case basis and within a framework of cooperation .
the use of renewable energies will then play an important role for the developing countries .
we also succeeded in striking a small blow against the global Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda ( FDLR ) .
the changes made to the common agricultural policy will therefore not be merely qualitative - improving the targeting of our objectives - they will also aim to distribute payments among the Member States - both within the Member States themselves and among the various categories of farms - precisely in order to make better use of the available resources in terms of the objectives that have been set .
transfers of appropriations : see Minutes
in other words , today we are presenting in plenary something that took two and a half years to discuss , debate and decide .
and , with the ongoing review of this acquis , the Commission will elaborate if there is further need to address the obligations of service providers and the rights of consumers in these areas .
the proposed EUR 309 million in funding from a reserve budgetary source blocks other parliamentary initiatives such as the strategically important Galileo project .
until this happens , it will be impossible to sue for damages in cases of manufacturers and importers who misuse the European conformity mark symbolising the safety of the product to gain unfair advantage and deceive customers both in Europe and abroad .
opportunities to work with the Obama Administration should not be spoilt by a transatlantic war of words .
the entire package , as it now stands , is exceptionally well balanced .
do we realise what we are discussing ?
my kids are not going to school ; I do not have a passport ; we are stuck in a refugee camp ; why are you talking about a minor institutional problem when you could have done something to help our problem ? '
the second part of my question was in relation to humanitarian aid .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I believe it is now important to unite our voices in thanking Mr Barnier for his work and also for the outstanding work of Mr Harbour .
interim economic partnership agreements are the most savage form of agreement which the EU has required of developing countries to date .
the Lisbon Treaty was a very difficult compromise for all parties involved .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I would like to once again thank the rapporteur and the plenary for their support for putting Taiwan on the positive list .
this , I am sure , will give all students , whether they are poor or rich , the possibility of taking advantage of these excellent mobility grants .
what is needed are clear guidelines for bilateral discussions about travel to the United States without visas , but there are issues that are in the EU 's power .
we will note that in the minutes , although I would prefer not to comment on it .
food prices are increasing simultaneously in all countries without there being any increase in raw material prices .
the Ecofin Council will review compliance with the programme for the first quarter at its meeting on 17 May , next Tuesday .
children , women , innocent civilians .
( RO ) More than one year after Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU and almost nine years after the beginning of the Bologna process , eight European countries do not acknowledge the university degrees and other qualifications obtained in these two Member States .
if you think you have a mandate for that , you are a disgrace and a scoundrel .
that maxim also applies to this latest reform of the common organisation of the market in wine .
when we eliminate the barriers that prevent us tapping our full economic potential , then we can do a great deal more to achieve our political , social and ecological goals .
this is precisely the sense of the text being tabled , which calls , in practical terms , for the individual abuses of power to be concealed behind collective guilt .
according to the priorities of the Czech Presidency , the high number of people killed on European roads requires an enhancement of Europe-wide effort to improve road safety .
I believe the efforts submitted by the rapporteurs and the Council should be appreciated and the directive should be approved in the form presented at this first reading .
these people are receiving non-personalised services instead of real assistance , while they could hold their own in the labour market and would be capable of working .
the question is whether we can count on your cooperation .
C .
it is a question of the protection of our children .
one of the Union 's international commitments is indeed to promote democracy and human rights around the world .
of course , the review of the Working Time Directive is a compromise and , as with all compromises , we have had to leave out some of our initial objectives .
that is the EU-wide package that has now been prepared on top of all the contributions that are already being made and will be made by the Member States .
we can only make social progress if growth plays a part .
however , the Commission recognised in its guidelines for national regional aid that situations might arise where adjustments are necessary and , in accordance with point 104 of the guidelines , Member States were therefore offered the possibility to proceed to a mid-term review of the regional aid maps regarding regions designated under Article 107 ( 3 ) ( c ) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union .
guy Verhofstadt spoke just now about casino games .
the uncertainty , impatience , helplessness and loss of confidence are palpable , as are the gaps in the regulation of financial markets .
in February 2008 , the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations about Swiss participation in the two programmes .
the report calls on the Commission to set up a special system , according to which the EU , through various aspects of international trade , would , in future , be able to help countries that have suffered natural disasters .
furthermore , it is very important that there should be political commitment and unambiguous support behind every undertaking .
in order to obtain this ' European passport ' from the competent EU supervisory authorities , alternative fund managers will therefore have to accept clear rules , limits to speculation and greater transparency
stricter sanctions should be imposed on the direct offenders , including legal persons , as well as the users of services provided by the victims .
under this arrangement contracts can be awarded without respecting the appropriate European regulations , which creates a vicious circle of illegality and inefficiency .
she survives , but has to live with this for the rest of her life .
there is still a worrying grey area in relation to definitions , such as prior authorisation and the concept of hospital care .
( DA ) Mr President , a large majority in Parliament has once again decided that we here in this House are to support a financial transaction tax .
in writing . - ( LT ) I endorsed this report , because the Committee on Legal Affairs believes that in giving the interview in question , Mr Luigi de Magistris was acting in performance of his duties as a Member of the European Parliament and carrying out political activities by expressing his opinion on a matter of public interest to his constituents .
in fact , most migration happens outside Europe , within countries or regions on other continents .
secondly , I regret that a slightly artificial opposition has emerged on the issue of a tax on financial transactions and that there are two very similar amendments .
however , I should point out that many Member States call for European resources in order to conceal the fact that they are taking inadequate measures themselves .
on the Piecyk report on an integrated maritime policy , the two speakers from our group were the Greek Member Pafilis and the Portuguese Member Guerreiro .
I sense , though , that you are competent and capable and dangerous , and I have no doubt that it is your intention to be the quiet assassin of European democracy and of the European nation states .
it is quite clear that this is a case in which a project was subdivided into smaller parts for the purposes of circumvention .
it is not enough to offer the local language and perhaps English .
that is why we cannot allow promotion and information action to be sidelined . on the contrary , we should accept them as a European Union priority .
environmental issues add to the complexity and scale of the problem .
the people are suffering not only from the effects of the civil war , but also from the consequences of the tsunami and other natural disasters .
thank you for the very good reply .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I would just like to repeat that , although the results are not fully satisfactory from the Commission 's perspective , we would not like to delay or put at risk the compromise that provides some improvements for savers .
( SV ) Mr President , Mr Rehn , the work you are doing is absolutely excellent .
the Commission has in the past tolerated both significant budget deficits and , especially , a level of public debt exceeding 60 % of GDP , and it appears to be tolerating these still .
my second point concerns the policies , and firstly the common agricultural policy ( CAP ) .
a resolution on matters of history is always an acknowledgment of values , while the lack of position is also , in itself , a position .
two years ago we in Parliament came up with the idea of strengthening the parliamentary dimension of the European Neighbourhood Policy East ; our proposal intends to set up a joint parliamentary assembly comprising members of the European Parliament and deputies of the parliaments of the six countries .
firstly , there is political dialogue .
one thing that was missing - it is referred to in only one place - was the vision of the Council and the Commission in this respect .
in writing . - I supported the De Keyser / Salafranca Sanchez-Neyra report , which deals with important issues .
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in addition , the Globalisation Fund suffers from a lack of flexibility , and if you are a worker who is made redundant and is unfortunate enough to come from a company that is not on the list , you will simply not be eligible for support .
however , we need to make it clear that we want to use all of the instruments to help to stem speculation and that , above all and in order to prevent a new crisis , resources are available to help those banks that , in spite of this , still get into difficulty .
I trust that the Commission and the Council will support innovators ' ideas and that the use of new water paradigm will get the support it deserves in Europe too .
the Montenegrin authorities are working speedily to bring themselves into line with European standards .
I agree with the call for the Commission to ensure that banks reimburse the exorbitant levels of State aid they received , thereby ensuring fair competition within the internal market .
however , this is our national problem and does not concern the Presidency so much ; nevertheless , I felt I owed you an explanation .
President Klaus now has no excuse and has to respect democracy and the parliament which elected him , and which has already approved the Treaty of Lisbon .
of course , as with many other texts , we could have gone further but can we take the risk of threatening the compromise position when this text will already allow major advances in protecting workers and their dignity ?
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this response must take into account three factors .
if the greater energy security of the Union is to be more than just an empty slogan , we cannot manage without stable and competitive coal mines and a coal industry .
knowledge cannot , by definition , be a static concept , so it can only exist through a dynamic , structured process of research and new discoveries .
the Agency will be indispensable in the immediate future in view of the appalling fact that 88 % of fish stocks in the EU are being overfished .
unfortunately , we are among the last to adopt a common position .
that is why we have a strategy with two aspects to it , one of which is the military aspect involving security and stability on the ground .
the economic area exists , the single currency exists , the single European sky exists , but the single political area has yet to be created .
it was important not to contribute to a European legal framework which would impede the development of the technology and restrict the democratic , social and professional scope and potential of the Internet .
the livelihoods of many Irish farmers , and indeed the reputation of Irish food products abroad suffered because we had to have such a disproportionate response , when only six to seven per cent of our pig farms were contaminated , since the Irish system of identification and traceability failed at the point of the slaughter-house .
however , I would draw attention to the important role played by health professionals , who are there to identify chronic health risks linked to obesity , including diabetes and cardiovascular disease and of course the consequences that such ailments have for overweight people .
I would point out that only in China do such things happen .
I would therefore like to speak not so much about mercury , as about the specific example of a region whose fundamental activity is undergoing massive change .
the situation is critical in the area of pork production , where feed accounts for 60 % of production costs , but rising costs may gradually threaten all branches of livestock production in the EU .
however , the balance and coordination between Member States has been thrown out of kilter by enlargement .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue-card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
up to 80 % of the toys on the EU market are imported , and it has to be said that during 2007 millions of toys produced in China were withdrawn from the market because they did not conform to European standards .
as Vice-Chair of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , I would like to highlight the significance of the tourism sector for Europe 's economic , social and cultural development .
the new proposal was necessary , because a few shortcomings emerged in the application of the 2002 regulation which led to problems in practice .
I can only recommend you to follow the same principle in respect of the Hungarian media law , which has been in force for weeks now .
too often we lack sufficient data , statistics , which are indispensable as a basis for our work in better monitoring , better understanding and , of course , better combating child abuse .
this is why , in addition to the highest safety standards in the EU , we also need an exit scenario from a risky technology , which we cannot justify using on the densely populated continent of Europe .
they simply want to be allowed to withdraw from the market with dignity , because they have done their sums and the only way to survive is to reduce the volumes produced .
the increase in prices of motor and heating fuels for households between April 2007 and April 2008 exceeded by far the overall growth of consumer prices .
regional airports are my particular concern .
this Treaty is an attempt to pave the way for neo-liberal policies which run counter to social rights and advances gained , serving the interests of the large multinationals .
in my opinion , in a true dialogue one of the options should also be that the interlocutors ultimately may agree to disagree , obviously while still respecting each other 's views and approaches .
the costs are also considerable : I hear that it will cost EUR 100 million just to build a suitable runway and headquarters .
I think that one of the lessons from this crisis is that it actually shows that the European Central Bank will need to have a supervisory role .
the British courts cannot now protect British citizens from unjust arrest and imprisonment by foreign courts .
author . - ( IT ) Madam President , I would first of all like to thank the Commissioner because I found that the answers he gave were very persuasive .
we hope very much that Singapore will go along with our strong wish to respect basic rights .
the UNHRC should therefore be better equipped to address both chronic and emergency situations , through the expansion of the human rights toolbox , by using panels not just during but also in-between sessions .
in writing . - ( RO ) I voted in favour of this report because , through this new legislative proposal , the Regulation on waste statistics is adapted to comitology , that is to regulation by control .
the lives of United Nations staff there are not safe .
I am glad that we are putting this to bed as I personally feel that I wish to resign from being ' Mrs VIS ' after this .
first , legislation alone will not solve this problem .
( the House rose and observed a minute 's silence )
best-practice exchange , for instance , among the regulators is something that we always encourage .
the question of expanding the framework of this directive should form the topic of further negotiations in the Council .
we are also going to seek a compromise that allows us to retain a genuine and effective safety net .
and so , as intense as today 's debate may have been , there have been common points on which , I believe , we are all in agreement : there should be a common European framework , we should do everything at every level to ensure the highest possible level of safety , and we should do all this in a transparent manner , ensuring maximum publicity .
I take it that you can hear the difference between being able to say , in Cancún , on behalf of the European Union : ' we have delivered ' , and saying : ' we have almost delivered ' .
however , I note that at present the ' globally-harmonised ' system is not very global .
the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety has debated this issue in detail and will table a proposal for a recommendation in plenary tomorrow , and we would be very pleased if the Council and the Commission were able to endorse these recommendations .
in any case , while I support the citizens of the European Union , I do not understand why part of Europe is excluded from this directive .
Madam President , ' biodiversity ' is a word I often hear bandied about by Eurocrats , MEPs and lobbyists out here in Brussels .
first and foremost , the economic operators , that is to say manufacturers , importers and traders , are under obligation .
the label is a powerful tool that should primarily promote European identity through cultural diversity .
he is right , but in the end we had the trilogue , we had several meetings , and at the end of those meetings we signalled our agreement .
in writing . - ( DE ) The report by Mrs Gomes on the European Union 's role in Iraq unfortunately sidesteps the two main issues of relevance to the situation in Iraq .
in addition , the report claims that European solidarity and economic development will be threatened by a reduction of the budget .
( the sitting was closed at 11.45 p.m. )
( HU ) Thank you , Mr President .
in writing . - Health service structures vary greatly across the EU , and I support this directive that outlines a coherent approach to funding cross-border healthcare .
in the Plan for Achieving Gender Equality , the European Commission undertook to support the efforts being made by Member States in this area .
unfortunately , it sees every crisis as an opportunity to extend its own powers and rarely asks whether its actions in one area are having a detrimental effect in another .
therefore , in order to safeguard the future of the European car industry , it is extremely important for us to ensure that it can be based on realistic and sensible business plans and have responsible ownership .
I got a pilot project on that in the budget in 2004 .
I agree that the World Heath Organisation should revise the definition of a pandemic , not basing this solely on the spread of the virus , but also including the possible severity of a disease to allow for more adequate responses and protect EU citizens from real dangers .
that , Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , is how the Belgian Presidency 's intention to put social issues at the top of the European agenda has been put into practice .
it should be noted , however , that the time frame and budgetary arrangements for ARTEMIS and the other joint undertakings ( 2008-2013 ) are not in line with standard financial arrangements laid down in the seven-year financial perspective 2007-2013 . this could give rise to certain problems in the future .
more than 30 years after the introduction of equal pay legislation , women in the EU earn 15 % less than men and progress has been slow in closing the gender pay gap with men .
and it is incumbent on us to do what we can to address the concerns that were expressed by the ' no ' vote .
I also think it would be good for the Commission to report to Parliament on this subject in 2012 .
this is very important and if we are talking about solidarity , honest competition and the common market , then we must behave accordingly .
today in the EU , the heating of buildings accounts for the highest amount of energy used and the most CO2 emitted - about 40 % of all CO2 emitted .
however , this report completely fails to mention the role of Islam .
this assessment had broadly positive results , with the exception of observations concerning a contract concluded for the provision of services .
this is a very retrograde step and will be used as a pretext to return to violence by extremists .
such a fight would be both futile and ridiculous .
blocking , reducing or watering down the European budget is paradoxically contrary to the interests of the 27 Member States and 500 million Europeans .
Iceland , Liechtenstein , Norway and Switzerland and the Schengen acquis (
this is the oral amendment as agreed : ' notes the announcement of new presidential elections by the junta , but deplores the failure - contrary to the position of the 2005-2007 junta - of a commitment to neutrality ; calls on the military in power to commit themselves forthwith to a timetable for the restoration of the democratic institutions , in cooperation with the political forces ' .
I think that this decision should serve as a catalyst in the process of harmonisation and redrafting , in particular , when it comes to the Dublin regulation .
in accordance with Article 151 of the treaty , the Community 's actions must help encourage cooperation between Member States in order to contribute to the flourishing of Member States ' cultures , while respecting at the same time their diversity at national and regional level and focusing on our common cultural heritage .
this requires harmonisation of national legislation to encourage the free movement of people , goods , services and capital .
these are primarily immigrants from the east .
there should be no doubt about that .
we must learn from this chaotic ratification process and also , obviously , from this commitment to hold negotiations on the organisation of a second referendum in Ireland , as if it were normal to make a population that has taken a sovereign decision vote again , and as if it were normal for agreement to a treaty to be used as a bargaining chip .
all measures , ranging from assistance for farmers to intervention measures , are necessary - in fact , absolutely necessary .
I would also agree with Mr Caspary on time limits .
the European Protection Order aims to ensure that the protection offered to an individual in one Member State will be maintained and continued in any other Member State to which the person relocates or has been relocated , regardless of the crime they have suffered .
but I am confident it is working as well as we could expect at this point .
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the report supports the main points identified by the Ministerial Declaration on the Digital Agenda approved at the Informal Meeting of Telecommunications Ministers in Granada on 18 and 19 April .
however , consumers are entitled to expect those quality products and expect us to have the testing procedures to ensure that the products on the market have been through those sorts of approval procedures .
Iceland is a member of EFTA , most of EU-Iceland economic relations fall under the EEA , Iceland is an associate member of the Schengen agreement and has many other trade , economic and social ties to the EU .
we experienced all sorts of things that people in African countries are now experiencing .
in the current climate of severe economic and social crisis , this situation requires a different approach .
one third of the Czech energy mix comprises power obtained from reliable nuclear plants .
indeed , this is a very good report .
the third point I want to raise concerns document formats , because the PPE-DE Group has also requested a split vote on paragraph 7 , concerning this point .
- ( CS ) Mr President , I would like to put a question to the Commissioner as I have rather a different opinion .
for Mrs Chanhthava of Sepone District in Laos , who lost a leg and damaged her sight after she accidentally struck a cluster bomb while working to gather food for her family in the rice fields .
since it sounds to me that the CAP is very unhealthy , is it not time to turn off the life-support machine and let European farmers make their own way ?
I would therefore appeal for a subtle shift in the CAP to make it more relevant and able to guarantee our food self-sufficiency , the vitality of our agricultural sector and the preservation of our rural areas .
another major problem relates to the collection of data and information .
we are completely opposed to the EU 's intention to facilitate the appropriation by transnational companies of the region 's accumulated wealth , natural resources and biodiversity , which will exploit workers , promote unemployment , ruin millions of small farmers , destroy the environment , block progress and deny the rights and sovereignty of peoples .
in truth , the lives of our disabled vary incredibly from country to country .
this is an extremely dangerous message .
once the recast version of the MID has been adopted , the remaining directives will be repealed .
we also have questions surrounding Article 3 ( c ) about where people should be returned to , and feel that , if the reference to ' other arrangements ' includes the metaphorical handshakes that we have seen in the past between Mr Berlusconi and Gadafi , this is unacceptable as such accords are made outside of written public agreements .
we hope that Parliament and the Council will approve it in the coming fortnight .
I took part in the G20 business summit as well , where I highlighted the importance of companies ' social responsibility .
the second type of action is strategic in nature and amounts to making an offer to states that were formerly part of the Soviet Union .
on a political and military level now , a reminder of the need for a no-fly zone is certainly necessary , if not just politically , then also militarily .
I believe the plan we are discussing today has three plus points that allow us to talk of a good start .
a key emphasis for Parliament and the Committee is that 20 % of the funds have to be used for basic health care and basic and further education , so as to establish a foundation for the future .
this is our intention .
in writing . - In keeping with past practice , the Committee on Foreign Affairs draws up Parliament recommendations to the Council for the session of the United Nations General Assembly .
we would like to congratulate Parliament on the very important work done .
children are most at risk from human trafficking , and there must be help and protection available for all victims of trafficking , especially children .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , many of you will have read ' The Trial ' by Kafka : it is a fictional work but it is what is happening today in my country , a country of great democratic traditions , with a government elected by the sovereign people , but in which an attempt is being made to undermine the democratic vote with an historically unprecedented attack by the media and the courts .
social inclusion and social protection are basic values of the European Union and fundamental rights for all individuals .
first , we must reinforce both the preventive and corrective arms of the Stability and Growth Pact .
the success of our policy depends on adequate and innovative methods of funding being mobilised to limit as much as possible the impact on people , ecological balance and economic activities .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the European Union is committed to combating all forms of terrorism .
in Chernobyl the cause was human error , while in Fukushima it was the natural elements .
what the rapporteur said in her foreword is perfectly true , in the sense that priorities are not defined clearly enough and good intentions are often limited by lack of financial resources .
we must not make it harder for them to use wood , which is a fantastic natural material .
but it goes without saying that State aid on this scale created distortions of competition .
Ukraine must - and here I agree entirely with Mr Zaleski - have a European perspective , a prospect of accession to the EU .
the Interim Partnership Agreement between the European Community , of the one part , and two of the ACP countries , namely Papua New Guinea and Fiji , of the other part , should be regarded as a step towards a comprehensive agreement .
on the other hand , urgent measures must be taken to combat cyber crime and , on this subject , I would like to emphasise the importance of devising a global strategy .
his reputation for integrity and his technical qualities , revealed throughout a demanding selection process , promise an attentive and active mandate in the supervisory authority over which he will now preside .
it could be compared to establishing four common spaces between the EU and Russia , but the main element of this relationship will be reciprocity and conditionality .
these various provisions are in keeping with the European Parliament 's new responsibilities granted by the Treaty of Lisbon : henceforth , as colegislators with ministers of the Member States on almost all European competences , MEPs must be able to benefit from in-depth technical expertise on legislative matters , but also to inform citizens of their work , in particular , by receiving them in Parliament in Strasbourg or Brussels .
that , I would stress , is what really scares me .
( NL ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I agree with what other speakers have already said and I would add that the Single European Sky needs to be completed as a matter of urgency .
5 .
Mr President , I intend to verify carefully whether this scheme can be used in this case and you will certainly understand that I cannot take a position at this stage since the deal is not yet finalised and , by the way , a number of aspects are still being negotiated .
we do not simply allow other hazardous waste to leave the EU without guarantees with regard to the way in which it is going to be processed , and so there is no reason why we should do so with ships for scrapping .
the Copenhagen agreement , which provides neither ambitious objectives nor commitments , is an unsatisfactory result .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
in this respect , I am of the opinion that this should not be made a political issue in this way , where the left are seemingly against the right , or whatever the situation is : the same standards must apply to everyone in this matter .
Russia is very sensitive about issues of its international standing and prestige : for instance , considerations of G7 versus G8 .
it is the crisis that has changed many attitudes .
the new rules will make sure both that there are sufficient incentives for further innovation and that the traditional benefits from standardisations are passed on to consumers .
it is in this spirit that we go to Copenhagen not only to achieve the most ambitious agreement but also to have a real global agreement .
in both cases , the execution was halted - after EU intervention - to allow for presentation of evidence of age .
it is an unfortunate situation and we should all do our best to unblock the situation .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( IT ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I am grateful to Mrs Martens , especially for the way in which we were able to work together in committee , for her attentiveness and also for the divergences that emerged , the differences between us ; but I think the outcome , apart from a few points , is a very significant one .
Mr Klute , thank you for your comments .
that is what we have all agreed , but , of course , we have reason to believe that it is feasible because our impact assessment has already demonstrated this .
these are important votes and it is a very full agenda and I have every sympathy with you .
I venture to believe that the world 's finest film-makers and writers live in Europe , yet the world 's cinemas are dominated by Hollywood and the bookshops are full of entertainment in paperback form from America .
'Member States will prepare , ahead of the publication of the results , specific and ambitious strategies for the restructuring of vulnerable institutions , including private sector solutions ... but also a solid framework in line with State aid rules for the provision of government support in case of need . '
as we all know , the global economic crisis which started in 2007 broke out when , one by one , the investment banks in the United States hit liquidity problems .
they are not respected and , indeed , even within the Cotonou Agreement there is a question as to whether there should be respect for the rights of LGBT people .
they made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can enjoy the freedoms that we often take for granted today , and their lives should never be forgotten .
I therefore think it is the task of this Parliament to organise hearings with the relevant committee as quickly as possible , so that we can hear all the parties concerned on this matter and find out exactly what is happening in the case of Greece .
on the substance of the report , my main point is that I agree with the rapporteur that Annexes I , II and III should be binding .
State of play of SIS II ( debate )
in writing . - ( DE ) In today 's vote on the text of the directive on consumer rights , some members of the German Free Democratic Party ( FDP ) in the European Parliament abstained .
the Commission has proposed some practical actions to overcome the pay gap between men and women .
in order to achieve this , it must combine every possible European Union cooperation instrument in the area of social and economic development , thereby having a direct influence on the causes of instability in the countries where the migration flows originate .
we are living in a period of economic uncertainty .
furthermore , marginalisation must always be fought bilaterally - on the one hand , by the public authorities but , on the other , also by the groups affected , who should also play an active part in their own integration .
to this end , the various proposals that we have made include the creation of a European programme for employment and sustainable development , affecting 1 % of EU gross domestic product , with additional capital from the Member States .
refusing Member States this practical opportunity deprives them of the most effective means of disseminating our high European requirements .
I ask again , Commissioner ; while everyone knows that most of these procurements were cofinanced works , only your services - and unfortunately your reply confirms as much - pretend that they do not know this , taking refuge in my view in arbitrary terms of Community provisions .
we hope that the European Commission will soon put forward brief proposals in this respect that go beyond just repressive logic .
more importantly , it is hardly the most positive signal to send to Podgorica , or indeed to countries elsewhere in the region , such as Macedonia , working hard to obtain candidate status .
there can be no doubt that some of the tasks performed by the EU would not be carried out by any other body .
the rule of law also requires a reform of the security sector and real progress in economic governance terms .
the release of the Burmese opposition leader , Mrs San Suu Kyi , is also a great challenge for us .
perhaps Parliament made somewhat of a mistake , here , in what it expected of the negotiations - we wanted to take care of too many matters at the same time .
it is not our current Parliament that will carry it out .
people are also asking for a social Europe .
( RO ) Mr President , before we proceed to the vote , I would like to request on behalf of my group that when we vote on the situation of Eritrean refugees , we abandon the roll call vote for a joint resolution and request a roll call vote for the resolution proposed by the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) .
the restructuring of the European car industry needs strong initiatives from the Commission , but also from the relevant national governments .
Sweden intends to use its Presidency to draw up a coherent , comprehensive strategy for the area based on proposals from the Commission .
unfortunately the French presidency is unwilling to come to these meetings .
this was not demonstrated as originally designed , as facilitating compromise and decision making , but I hope that we can draw conclusions from the experience and , anticipating the vote in Parliament , we have already started the preparations for the 2012 budget .
( DE ) Mr President , I think that what the Chinese are doing here is a deliberate political provocation , or to put it another way , a political test .
will you live up to your treaty , or is it just empty words ?
this report clearly shows that the milk production quota , which was supposed to have been exceeded , thus forming the legal basis for the fines levied on Italian dairy farmers , was not in fact exceeded .
freedom of the media is an inviolable element of democracy .
as I see it , it is pure cynicism - I say this with the Council in mind - to put the retention of the opt-out across as a social achievement merely because a 60-hour ceiling is also being introduced for the average working week .
it recognises the significant successes of the Afghan people and identifies the political shortcomings of the Afghan and other international governments .
( NL ) The Republic of Turkey is disqualifying itself from membership of the European Union .
however , this must be a temporary solution , since in the longer term we must adopt a common consolidated basis for taxation of companies that constitutes a global solution and eliminates the tax obstacles involved in cross-border compensation of losses and profits .
there are no public services in Kosovo , and the Commission only needs to go there to see as much .
perhaps another wording would be possible , but the wording we are proposing is :
well , not in the sense that this should become the norm , that in such major undertakings , working together should be the norm , not just a voluntary thing , but something that would really bind all Member States into working together effectively .
in my opinion , if the Ombudsman 's work is to be done effectively and if we are to ensure the best possible result in the inquest into objective truth , which is primarily in the public interest , European institutions should have the obligation to provide access to any type of information .
the advances , in particular , could be paid out in full at the start of May .
if , as the European Union , we want to be strong and to have new products that will hopefully also be sustainable , new production methods that are environmentally responsible , energy generation that is genuinely based on renewable energy sources , which was once again established as a goal in Cancún , then for this we also need appropriate resources and we need the European budget , which reflects our common interests .
you spoke just now - and I am pleased about this - of a requirement to segregate the production of industrial oils and oils intended for food .
in my view , tax competition is in no way an obstacle to the completion of the Single Market ; on the contrary , it encourages economic operators to defend their freedoms in regard to free movement within the Single Market .
I am thinking , for example , of the centre for migration management and information in Mali , a pilot project we will soon be starting up .
that is why a fundamental revision of the Procedures Directive is important , so as to provide an accessible , fair and effective procedure .
in particular in the area of renewable energies , photovoltaic modules , which consist in part of cadmium telluride compounds , are not covered by this directive .
author . - Mr President , I should like to emphasise that the Greens are very aware that the consequences of a totally liberalised textile and apparel market for EU-based producers is still a very pressing issue , particularly for certain production zones within the EU in which the industry is highly concentrated .
the Catalan language was banned and persecuted during the Franco dictatorship ; now Spanish democracy is demonstrating its low quality by not permitting the official use of Catalan in this Parliament .
( LT ) In August , Marijus Ivanilovas , a 35-year-old Lithuanian national and director of the printing house of the daily newspaper ' Respublika ' , i.e. a person with a permanent job and income , was detained in Belarus , not far from Minsk , and has already been held for two months without trial or proof of his guilt in a prison in the Belarusian city of Zhodin .
it will result , they tell me , in smaller crops and in higher prices , and it will open the way for importers who do not have the same criteria imposed upon them .
in order to achieve these objectives , which are facilitated by the Treaty of Lisbon , which introduces this competence over energy , which did not exist before , it is fundamental and essential to establish a strategic relationship with Russia on energy and other matters .
today , in a solemn sitting of the European Parliament , we are proclaiming the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and I should like to state clearly to you that this day - 12 December - will now be a fundamental date in the history of European integration .
it does not seem to us that this has happened , and this is bad for international competition , which is still far from fair , and still far from having the same rules for everyone .
based on the text at the beginning of the Treaty of Lisbon , freedom of expression , freedom of the press and freedom of religion are European freedoms that are to be respected everywhere in the Union without exception .
Romania is contributing to these international efforts in Afghanistan with 721 soldiers as part of the ISAF mission ( under the auspices of NATO ) and 57 soldiers involved in the Enduring Freedom operation ( coalition type mission ) .
author . - Madam President , the treatment and discrimination of the Rohingya people appals us all .
in general , we have insisted that children receive special attention .
during our Presidency of the European Council Slovenia has devoted a great deal of attention to strengthening transatlantic relations , in particular the strategic dimension to them .
they are doing so legally and must be protected .
Mr President , as we meet here in Strasbourg , half the population of the city of Cork , in my constituency of Munster , is without water in their homes - and this is 2009 !
Russia needs to fully experience what self-isolation is like .
while I have the opportunity , I will press the point , because it does seem to me that if answers to questions that we think we are not going to reach can be provided in advance then there is no reason why the questions that we are going to reach should not have the answers in advance , so that we can have - as we just had now - a better and more helpful exchange .
has the Commission any generalised , statistical information on the countries in which this has occurred , and do you not think this is a matter of criminal law ?
even so , proper cooperation between the Commission and Member States must be maintained throughout this process , so that there is absolutely no loss of legal certainty for investors and contracting parties .
as regards advertisements for pharmaceutical products , I would like to see the toughest possible restrictions .
in addition to the China factor to be taken into account in many of these countries , consideration must be given to the effects of changes in the agricultural and food markets , climate change and the new approach of the United States towards Africa .
the first point is on the role of parliaments .
a strong and modern Europe needs a future- and growth-oriented budget while , at the same time , the economic situation demands reflection and restraint .
it could cause enormous human unhappiness .
the second generation of the SIS represents a Community approach to the need to step up security at the external borders and share important innovations such as biometric data and the interlinking of alerts .
this directive really does apply to existing power plants because it increases the importance and the independence of national regulators - which is crucial - and it paves the way for us to secure higher and higher requirements in order to have , as it were , a ' race to the top ' regarding safety .
in Romania only , a new Member State , there are over 60 organizations accredited for the exchange of volunteers and over 5,000 applications for this training course .
the motion under discussion is the second in succession which intends to authorise the marketing of poultrymeat for human consumption where it has received anti-microbe treatment .
I am voting in favour of this report as several recommendations adopted by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean ( GFCM ) , and which are already in place in the GFCM contracting states , need to be transposed into a single EU legislative instrument .
they should , in my opinion , possess a great deal of expensive , cutting-edge equipment , and be staffed by a team of scientists .
author . - Mr President , I welcome the opportunity that this oral question gives us to revisit the problems experienced by travellers and the wider aviation industry during last year 's Icelandic volcano crisis .
it is , therefore , vital that the EU Member States being reviewed lead the way with frank critiques of their human rights records .
this year is the fifth anniversary of the historically largest EU expansion , in 2004 , which was the symbolic and practical culmination of the successful process of reunifying a previously divided continent ; and this year Europe celebrates 20 years since the fall of the Iron Curtain , which enabled the countries of the former Soviet bloc to return to freedom and democracy .
Italy has seen a fall of over 18 % in October alone , which is the worst figure in over ten years in the sector .
it is essential that the Commission keep in mind that at the moment , Europeans are looking to Europe and expect responses from the European authorities : they need to feel like the European authorities are close by .
this year , the exact same thing is happening with the European freight corridors .
I hope that we will see each other more often here in plenary .
as a result , Iran has been under a constant threat of war , while criticism of the lack of human rights is not expressed .
the Union for the Mediterranean must contribute to promoting democracy and resolving the conflicts that are still destabilising the Middle East and the Western Sahara , with assistance from the Euromed Parliamentary Assembly , which must be fully involved .
they also prove that so far Turkey has neglected to address and implement these fundamental constitutional reforms .
what people do care about here is time .
the Commission trusts that Parliament will now be in a position to promptly mandate its representatives to the interinstitutional working group .
they should be a commonplace reality both within the European Union and in our relations with other countries - third countries .
I have met people during the six years that we have worked on this subject who have suffered needle-stick injuries , and I would really emphasise that trauma .
you cannot deprive the citizens of Europe of one of their fundamental freedoms in such a way . '
you understand the importance of free peoples and free markets , and so do our voters .
these clouds will overshadow our economic landscape in the coming years .
the adoption of this directive , which establishes a single application procedure for third-country nationals who wish to be admitted to the territory of a Member State in order to reside and work there , and grants them a common set of rights in areas linked to the work market , will address these concerns head-on , and so it deserves my vote .
this form of cynicism cannot go unchallenged here .
what is the response of the leaders of the Council and the Commission ?
it is clear he is trying to explore all possible avenues of how to help and improve the situation in this theatre .
the work carried out by my colleague Mrs Klass and fellow Member Mrs Breyer , in conjunction with shadow rapporteurs , is a step in the right direction , and I wish to express my full appreciation for that .
furthermore , even though there are a great many differences in the conditions for confiscating a driving licence among the Member States , and the systems for the scale of offences and fines in the field of road safety vary from one country to another , Europe wants to establish an electronic system for Member States to exchange information relating to offences committed on their territory , and in order to penalise motorists even more .
it is unacceptable , in the 21st century , for a civilian population to be treated as the scapegoat for terrorist acts by Hamas .
the problem is that you provide no alternative , and we all know that there are very limited financial resources in the Biodiversity Convention - and there are not likely to be any in the future either .
but let us be absolutely clear and honest with each other : the key work still needs to be carried out over the coming weeks .
we must ensure that the charges resulting from CO2 emissions are paid by the consumer and not by the producers because otherwise , international competition will be distorted .
we must therefore find solutions at the European level to meet the needs of the labour market , and economic migration is one of the solutions that we must explore .
yet at this level , it is not a case of simply waving a magic wand .
this can help people avoid being excluded from the labour market at some time during their career .
in principle , exports to third countries are not in the interests of Europe .
Mr Rehn , I put the following question to you : what is your reaction to this outrageous attitude on the part of Turkey ?
Bosnia and Herzegovina has made great progress recently and will soon have fulfilled most of the remaining requirements in the roadmap .
the Commission is performing an assessment of regulatory aspects in relation to health , safety and environmental aspects of nanotechnology-based products .
we must emphasise the significant impact of the presence and involvement of women on quality of life and the rural economy .
much is also being made by the GM industry of DG Agriculture 's report on the potential impact of the EU 's GM regime on the availability and price of animal feed .
however , these must be based on the interests of these peoples , on respect for international law , and on the independence and sovereignty of these countries .
( it ) Madam President , I voted in favour of the joint text on improving safety for those who choose to travel by sea .
the news industry should be more aware of the consequences that an unbalanced use of its power and influence can have on the life and liberty of citizens .
in the light of these considerations we should give the report our unqualified support .
however , it is crucial for a sustainable future that we protect as many natural interests as possible .
postponing a decision would be to accept that Europe is irrelevant in a more global world .
I would like to thank you , Commissioner , for the detailed position that you have presented .
... under house arrest in Burma / Myanmar .
another thematic area of particular interest is the right to food , which is consistent with the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals , as well as the human rights of internally displaced persons who , unlike refugees , are not adequately protected by international conventions , and we will press on in connection with this point .
this motion for a resolution is inappropriate in both timing and form , as everyone knows that following the initial criticism made about media law in Hungary and the recommendations made by the Commission , the Hungarian Government has revised its position and altered everything about the law that was the target of criticism by the Commission .
improving a household 's energy efficiency status can often be achieved by taking some relatively simple and inexpensive steps , such as fitting thermostatic valves onto radiators or using more energy efficient household appliances .
the matter is absolutely clear .
our communication of 8 March was an attempt to answer some of those questions - to be absolutely frank with you , the easy questions - because we have actually answered only those that related to the emerging democracies .
finally , it bans all uses of methyl bromide except in specific instances in order to deal with emergencies .
in many ways , the Capoulas Santos report improves the Commission proposal , particularly by giving greater flexibility to Member States in terms of setting minimum thresholds for payments .
( ES ) Mr President , the time has come to assess how the 2007-2013 Multiannual Financial Framework has functioned so far and what changes might need to be made in the almost four years left of its life .
confusion has been caused by the statements of some politicians , who talk of a Black Sea synergy or of a democratic buffer zone .
it sees falsification of medicinal products as an organised criminal activity and imposes strict penalties on the offenders .
another very important question is the reduction of poverty among women . Iit is estimated that 17 % of women live in poverty , and that most of these are lone mothers and immigrants .
cars 21 stands for Competitive Automotive Regulatory System for the 21st Century .
that is not the relationship we should have with a very important trading partner .
all the national governments in the Member States of the euro area and the EU are being called upon to step up the adoption and application of even more savage , barbaric and anti-labour and anti-grassroots measures coordinated by the EU , the ECB and the IMF .
I expect that we will now see these procedures being brought to completion in many other countries .
it is true that we could have submitted an amendment , you are right .
therefore the Government must guarantee that the election campaign will ensure freedom of expression to all the candidates .
second , in order to control the financial crisis , the European Union and its Member States have implemented a large number of exceptional measures , which is very positive .
we can do a little better than we have done this time in terms of the process and the transparency that could be applied with respect to Parliament .
I would like to inform you that Mr Claudiu Ciprian Tănăsescu joined the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament with effect from 15 November 2010 .
there always will be two views and Mr Susta is absolutely right : there is always a split between the protectionist and the free marketeer .
ending aid for the closure of uncompetitive coal mines in 2014 - the date proposed by the Commission - would have serious socio-economic consequences in certain regions of the EU where mining continues to be a significant source of employment .
I do not believe that this is the right course .
in the event of a mishap , is it the airline that is responsible ?
there is , however , one domain , Mr Barroso , in which your Commission has been particularly unsuccessful in that respect , namely the authorisation procedures for genetically modified organisms ( GMOs ) .
the latter has made a vital contribution to major improvements in air and water quality , as well as to the protection and maintenance of Europe 's natural resources .
this is why I have suggested its replacement with the compulsory use of biometric passports by third country citizens not requiring a visa when entering the EU .
in the border area between Germany , the Czech Republic and Austria , for example , prostitution involving women and increasingly children increased enormously after the opening of the borders .
we have respected that wish ; we have dealt solely with what we can deal with within the confines of Europe 's internal market : the circulation of goods in the market that arise from the commercial hunt .
the Commission will promote the development of a port network and ensure the development of good supporting investments .
I see in the Treaty of Lisbon an extension of this process that is bringing Europe together .
on top of federal public deficits , there are enormous private deficits .
Mr President , of course I understand and support your decision , but we do not want - and I think we have perhaps seen signs of this already - an unseemly wrangle on the floor of the House on Wednesday , when we come to vote on this important step forward for Parliament 's Rules .
one such area concerns the free movement of persons , with the goal being to combat discrimination based on nationality in all sports .
Mr President , the difference between the external actions of the EU and other international actors is respect for international legality and UN decisions .
I support the intentions expressed in the report of safeguarding the European Parliament and Council 's effective participation in selecting the sites and content presented , so as to ensure that the initiative is very transparent and democratic .
moreover , the request to extend reversed qualified majority voting is further evidence of this Parliament 's desire to take action and respond to the crisis .
so far , approximately half of the survivors reached , that is , one million , are still in desperate need .
the directive on the protection order against gender violence is also being drawn up .
however , it is a problem which will export the fight against international terrorism into the neighbouring countries and regions for as long as fighting in Afghanistan continues .
let us stick to this title .
food additives other than colours and sweeteners ( bovine and / or porcine thrombin ) (
in writing . - ( FR ) Mass imports , the perverse role played by a strong euro against a deliberately undervalued foreign currency , social and environmental dumping , counterfeits , piracy , dangerous products , and the existence of non-tariff barriers that hit European manufacturing : in the textiles sector as in others , every report and resolution by this Parliament on trade relations with China looks the same .
the most recent statistical framework shows a steady increase in requests received from Member States in favour of a fund that operates with a different degree of flexibility .
the main reason for this is a huge drop in milk product sales .
( SK ) There are several areas in the action plan of the Stockholm Programme I would like to talk about , and as we have to move on , I will name these problem areas .
I think this very unfortunate .
I was pleased to hear the Swedish Presidency point that out .
I voted for this resolution , as I advocate some flexibility for those who have already started this adaptation process but who have been unable to complete it because of the current crisis .
the resolution rightly calls for greater efforts in respect of mediation , compromises and peaceful solutions .
the Myanmar junta announced that a pro-military constitution has won overwhelming support in the referendum which was held despite widespread criticism and the needs of a national tragedy .
( applause )
Mr President , I would like to express my deep respect for the European Police Office , which I certainly support .
effective consumer enforcement policy is central to the functioning of the single market .
this explains the continuing importance of innovation and development in the shipbuilding industry in the Member States in order to improve ships and make them less environmentally damaging .
it was and is always a pleasure to work with you and with your colleagues in the Commission .
the inhabitants of Santorini , for example , who have protested about the wreck of the Sea Diamond cruise ship , which is still in the island 's waters , are sick of the replies given by the EU and the New Democracy government - the same replies given by PASOK in the case of the Express Samina car ferry and others - that apparently wrecks do not cause pollution .
the aim is to find a solution to the border issue and allow for the continuation of Croatia 's EU accession negotiations .
this money would be put to better , more sustainable use if it were invested in research into the more efficient use of renewable energies .
I support the recommendation .
we must at last admit that the problems of these communities cannot be resolved purely by means of universal human rights or anti-discrimination regulations .
they did not ask for an extension of the voluntary growth levels under the Memorandum of Understanding ( MOU ) when it ended in 2008 , nor have they been asking for a continuation of the surveillance system into 2009 - though I appreciate that some Member States would have preferred us to do so .
the Scoreboard brings together evidence to identify markets that risk not delivering well for consumers and therefore need further attention .
bringing perpetrators of human rights violations to justice is crucial for a stable future in any country , and that includes Iraq .
the aim of this report is that cotton should continue to be grown in Europe : the EU as a whole accounts for only 2 % of world production .
that is indeed the position of this House .
the priorities for the first half of 2008 are to a large extent evidence that the work of Slovenia 's predecessors is being continued , primarily in the sphere of revival of the Lisbon Agenda , ratification of the new Treaty and action to prevent global warming .
a policy to which we devote some 45 % of the EU budget .
the movement of bees has the potential to import the varroa mite , as has happened in Ireland .
I can also tell you that tomorrow , the Commission is appointing a new Special Envoy for SMEs , Daniel Calleja Crespo , Deputy Director General for Enterprise and Industry , who will be responsible for closely monitoring the implementation of the Small Business Act and acting as a contact point for SMEs .
this involves not turning a blind eye when illegal toxic waste exports or illegal fishing damages Somalia 's interests .
the Commission will have to provide Parliament with a document outlining the negotiations and all the positions under discussion .
the anchoring of social objectives and rights is pointing the way to the next task : the creation and construction of a European social union .
it is possible that we will have to act in the same way in the case of other substances if the health risks are equally obvious and if we cannot wait until the very comprehensive and demanding REACH procedure has been completed .
in this case , too , the answer is that we need more involvement from Europe , not less .
I think investing in youth is crucial , and so I would like to express my thanks , and also the thanks of the Committee on Culture and Education , for all efforts whose objective is to support measures relating to investment in young people .
the fact that joint meetings can take place only if the matter in question is one of major importance ensures that there will be no unfairly extensive application of a procedure that is , by its very nature , exceptional .
we must prevent them from being subjected to these fraudulent practices , which they do not have the financial or human resources to resist .
the report encourages reflection on industrial organisation to reduce the geographic scale of production chains - producing in closer proximity to the end user - and makes a number of proposals in relation to trade in environmental commodities .
only a few weeks ago we had a meeting with the Interinstitutional Committee on public access to documents which was chaired by Vice-President Wallis , and I want to thank her for taking this matter about public access to documents forward in a very constructive way .
the report also covers data protection in relation to those producers , something that also promotes innovation in the field of food safety .
we have not compromised on achieving the targets .
it must be acknowledged that it has withstood a lot of market turbulence .
I would add that it is also in our security interests if these countries benefit from better social conditions , more democracy and the rule of law .
I believe that Mr Cashman should also be supported in his attempt to put forward proposals that go above and beyond those made by the Commission .
the Council 's draft recommendation regarding the establishment of a protocol which stipulates fishing quotas and financial contribution as set out by the partnership with the fisheries sector of the Union of the Comoros is intended to outline the role that the European Parliament should play in the procedure of reviewing this agreement .
during this meeting , which took place in Brussels , Mr Solana expressed his full support for the work of the EU Special Representative and his efforts to find a compromise on police reform with the political leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina .
in fact , there is a legal principle whose import is being completely destroyed , and that is the principle of citizenship .
in writing . - We decided we would vote in favour or abstain depending on the result of the third part of Amendment 31 , which ensures that pharmaceutical companies can only provide information material to health professionals for their own use , not for patients via healthcare professionals .
you can certainly talk to Mr Špidla once again about the other issue .
if the European institutions continue in this direction , the crisis of legitimacy affecting the WTO and the IMF today will inevitably affect them tomorrow .
as we know there are several players and participants in this sector .
not only are we unwilling to risk upsetting a good business market for the sake of bringing injustice in Gaza to an end , but we are also unwilling so far to dissolve or even just suspend the EU-Israel agreement .
for the moment , therefore , we reserve our position on all aspects .
since the events of late December and the fraudulent presidential elections , Kenya and its political problems have suddenly been on everyone 's lips .
I think that freedom of the press , freedom of expression and respect for human rights and the rule of law are principles which we all abide by , promote and defend .
in spite of this fact , protection for autochthonous minorities in Europe is not seen as a priority .
it is in contact with the social partners , the experts in the Member States , so that the regulation can gradually be harmonised in accordance with the need for interpretation .
it is the job of the Member States , with the support of the European Commission , to protect and develop our forests for future generations so that they can continue making a contribution in future to our natural habitats , our society and our economy .
undertakings should only be made , announced and entered into on aspects that are achievable .
it is a success because we managed to set a minimum and maximum rate of excise duty to meet anti-inflationary objectives but ignored the idea of abolishing regulation in its entirety .
therefore , it is essential to increase expenditure in order to develop the democratic structures of these countries .
this is why the Commission has launched a joint programming initiative on combating neurodegenerative diseases , in particular , Alzheimer 's .
I think - as Mr Lehne said - that we need this operational sign .
I call upon all Members to determine that , if this House cannot provide the safeguards which should rightly accompany this measure , then it should not adopt this measure at all .
if there has to be an extraordinary meeting of the committee because of this or if there are other unnecessary delays we lose time and money .
thank you very much .
( EL ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I want to ask you if you consider the fact that I am talking to you sitting down back here and have not risen like all my other fellow members an insult to this House .
today , I voted in favour of the motion for a resolution on the progress report on Turkey .
the combined efforts of the Federal Reserve and the Bank of England have contributed extensively to keeping the financial system afloat , but they have not resolved the crisis .
so we need technology to give us a broader opportunity .
( DE ) Madam President , first of all I should like to thank the rapporteur , Mr Méndez de Vigo .
I would like to highlight the efficient management of tasks by the European Commission and the Belgian Presidency .
our activities have effects on the local population .
the intention is for children to learn that the EU is good and that fruit from the EU is even better .
there are still hurdles to be overcome , no doubt about that .
knowledge must become the fifth freedom .
although we have a single set of provisions , their practical implementation varies widely from one airport to another , and this creates problems and annoyance .
what I said at the last European Council was that the Commission is now making impact assessments of different options for the financial sector and will soon come forward with proposals .
( CS ) I would like to make a few comments .
( FR ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , respecting the environment and competitiveness should not be separated .
( DE ) Mr President-in-Office , as we all know , certificates were introduced in order to achieve a reduction in CO2 emissions , and this is what my question is about .
it would be surprising if I felt otherwise , because I believe I am the only Italian MEP who has tried to make public a list of attendances and the number of questions raised here in our Parliament by the Italian delegation .
what is the current state of affairs ?
I feel that the remarks made by fellow Members urging the European Investment Bank to pay more attention to the Member States most affected by the crisis are important .
I hope that this additional time will allow the impact of the measures in force to be assessed .
I am confident that in the second half of next year we shall be able to present appropriate proposals on a new and advanced form of association .
( ES ) Madam President , I have one minute to stress how important it is that we complete the makeup of the European Union with Serbia 's membership , which I hope can be confirmed this year on the basis of the significant progress the country has made .
I have just seen Simeon Sakskoburggotski , the former Prime Minister of Bulgaria , in the gallery .
subject : gender equality in the fight against climate change
do you happen to know any European constitution that was preceded by consultations on such a wide scale ?
these measures should have the following objectives : providing non-discriminatory access to education enabling young people to acquire the skills they need to find a job which will provide them with a decent living , offering accessible child care services to facilitate the work-life balance and giving support to facilitate young people 's entry into the labour market and to provide social housing for young people .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality . - Madam President , the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality stresses in its opinion that the most significant health problems presented by women and caused by their working conditions are musculoskeletal disorders and psychological problems , on the one hand .
we can note a marked improvement in the situation of SMEs , but progress still needs to be made .
pesticides and other substances that are carcinogenic , mutagenic or toxic for reproduction have no business , no business at all in foodstuffs .
however , these must not erode the fundamental rights of citizens laid down in the European Charter of Fundamental Rights .
the impact has been truly remarkable given that , in all our Member States , our equality policies are no longer confined to targeted actions , but are , from now on , integrated into all relevant policies .
we cannot accept laws to combat terrorism which are at variance with the Swedish Constitution .
we are fully in line with Parliament in saying that , without a systematic improvement of the human rights situation in Iran , our relations with Iran cannot develop properly .
- ( DA ) Mr President , I would like to say something regarding the large subsidies that are paid to undertakings that may not survive .
in fact , in the global market within which we operate , regulations for obligatory origin marking exist in the United States , China , Australia , Mexico , Japan and many other countries .
it is a compromise , but it is something that we have been able to agree upon .
I believe that the Commission could present either a proposal , for example , in the framework of consumer protection - consumer in this instance meaning citizen - or an initiative , which could also come from Parliament .
the 25 % reduction is absolutely achievable .
I congratulate the European Commission for this timely initiative .
every Member State , according to its possibilities , should get involved in the policies for cooperating with developing countries .
or - a different question - how will Parliament 's stance be taken into account in that case ?
I find this completely incomprehensible , certainly from Germany .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , in recent years , we have witnessed considerable attempts by Community institutions to ensure that the production , use and disposal of electronic products better protect the environment and human health .
( ES ) I would like to tell you most sincerely , Prime Minister , that you have given a magnificent presentation of what form the Spanish Presidency will take .
sometimes this is because they are of insufficient economic value .
the Irish ' no ' must be respected .
what we can be sure of is that over the coming months and years there will be yet more refugees and asylum-seekers .
as the European Parliament , we must strengthen these reforms , because it is not only the government but , above all else , society that must make this proper European choice .
the European Union regularly calls for freedom of expression to be respected in various third counties , but also needs to practise what it preaches .
the introduction of these systems needs to be completed .
I can only invite the Daily Telegraph to forward these documents to the Committee on Budgets and to let us see from it some of the transparency that the press demands from the Members of this House .
responsibilities need to be kept clear .
it is thus important to contribute to the funding of this Court .
obviously , the same argument applies to businesses ; those that abide by the rules pay the price for this situation .
question Time ( Council )
we consider that the common agricultural policy should be abolished .
thank you .
the longer this period is , the better , so that we can introduce the clean combustion and storage technologies that already exist in the European Union .
the crisis we are going through is therefore definitely a systemic crisis , to which we must respond with a new development model .
we have seen a decline in the bee population in many regions of Europe .
we need to be fair and consistent .
the reason is that experience of this type of agreement is highly dubious .
however , he has no progress and no democratisation to offer .
in my view , the Israelis are the more powerful because they have a state , to which they of course have an absolute right , and I support this . they therefore enjoy all the attributes of a state .
I thank you for your attention .
the proposal for microfinancing is an initiative that Parliament has been pushing for .
in writing . - The three main objectives - security of supply and solidarity between Member States ; combating climate change : recalling the ' three times 20 ' objective for 2020 and the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by between 50 % and 80 % by 2050 ; and the economic growth of the EU : obtaining the best prices while avoiding price volatility - are of utmost importance when we discuss the European energy policy .
you have a maximum of three minutes please .
above all we would like to express our satisfaction that the ' For Freedom ' movement led by Aleksander Milinkievich has been legalised , and that the independent newspapers Narodnaya Volya and Nasha Niva have been legalised and allowed into the state distribution system .
in writing . - UKIP condemns all forms of human trafficking as a modern-day version of slavery , and calls for the toughest penalties within the UK on such activity .
debate on cases of breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law
I do not agree that the EU does not have an impact on international negotiations .
in 1962 , the United Nations International Court of Justice , acting in accordance with French historical maps , recognised Cambodia 's rights over the temple of Preah Vihear and the land adjacent to it .
and those that would point the finger and say ' Europe is wrong ' or ' Europe is bad ' , and ' look at the kind of things it is going to do ' , totally ignore the evidence on the ground : social development , economic development , cultural development .
Brussels is in no position to do anything about it .
the fact that progress has been made on one of the documents in the climate and energy package is a very positive sign , and evidence that there is a real desire to move forward on these texts , which I welcome .
one way of reading that , Commissioner , is that it is referring to what has come to be termed the Monti II regulation .
I also welcome a review of the RAPEX system .
that is what I term a dysfunctional price-chain mechanism .
therefore , now we really must release the economic potential of European seafaring to stimulate economic growth and social and environmental stability .
we would remind you that this is an industry that has been struggling through serious difficulties in Portugal too , particularly in municipalities where it has an especially large presence , such as Paredes and Paços de Ferreira .
the common agricultural policy ( CAP ) is one of the European Union 's most important policies , and following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon , the reform of the CAP , like any new legislation on agriculture , cannot be approved without Parliament 's consent .
it is in the interests of airlines and consumers , as well as governments , to maintain a high level of healthy competition in the aircraft sector .
furthermore , the EU institutions should increase cooperation with international organisations in the area of the protection of human rights .
I am a member of the Law and Justice Party , the largest opposition party .
why is it in the interest of Europe to weaken the intellectual firepower of the Commission precisely in times of crisis ?
on a personal note , may I say that whenever I have met the Dalai Lama , the impression that I have always gained is of a person with a profound commitment to peace , reconciliation and human rights .
however , the report is spineless .
we are agreed , too , that the internal market is Europe 's key asset in the process of globalisation .
Asia Bibi 's life is at risk , not only through the application of Pakistani law , but also at the hands of fanatics .
with regard to ongoing infringement procedure , the main problem continues to be the unduly long time taken to consider complaints . the average is 20.5 months , which is excessive .
the proposed changes will cost the UK up to GBP 2 billion at a time when public and private sector workers are being made redundant in order to save far smaller sums .
the new Agreement keeps the most important areas ( infrastructures , IT and telecommunications as well as translation , including the production of documents ) within the Joint Services ' remit , while a limited number of services are de-coupled ( internal services , socio-medical service , the library and prepress ) .
even if there are important reasons linked to environmental and regional policy , we do not believe that some agricultural production should be sustained by subsidies ' at all costs ' .
we cannot reach an agreement with the Council , however , because in our view , this is , in fact , a new task which is not included in the preliminary draft budget , and we invented an instrument called the flexibility instrument for precisely this type of situation .
in order to achieve these goals I feel that the budget must be at least maintained , and I want to thank the rapporteur for a very good report and his cooperation .
the Commission should make it unmistakably clear that infringing minority rights represents an infringement against the values of the EU .
what démarches ?
RoHS has been a successful piece of legislation since it was adopted in 2003 .
Mr President , I voted against both the Matera reports on the mobilisation of the Globalisation Adjustment Fund , for the Czech Republic and for Poland , not because I feel any ill will against those countries - far from it .
I have five observations to make .
our voice must always express our values and we must always take action to protect these resources and achieve a low carbon economy .
in light of this and in accordance with paragraph 43 and the provisions contained in Appendix 2 of the report , we should welcome the joint declaration made on the policy on buildings .
I should once again like to express my gratitude to the rapporteurs , Mr Surján and Mr Gualtieri .
this must stop .
I therefore welcome the fact that the French Presidency has said that it is willing to try and produce a result by the end of the year .
in view of the current economic crisis , the European Commission should act as quickly as possible in conjunction with the Member States to alleviate the socioeconomic effects of this restructuring .
in this respect , if we accept what could be defined as cultural genocide in Tibet , we will have to be prepared to accept many more episodes of this kind in the future .
the safety , including from the point of view of health , of agricultural products really must be a top priority .
I voted in favour of this report because it is important that consumers be fully informed when buying textiles .
we must provide rules .
( FR ) Mr President , Commissioners , ladies and gentlemen , in the summer , Mattel recalled 20 million toys from China , thereby reopening the debate on the value of CE marking and sanctions against operators who do not meet European standards .
for a self-employed person , for example , it is impossible without reimbursement to just drop their work in order to participate in an expert group in Brussels .
the winemaking profession as practised in France has an extremely positive image , which is not necessarily the case for wines produced in other parts of the world .
unfortunately , these efforts have reached a plateau and have slowed down .
European Council Regulation No 3 / 2008 , which combines in a single text regulations 2702 / 1999 and 2826 / 2000 , has accommodated the European Commission 's new political approaches on simplifying legislation , while also achieving the objective of facilitating administrative procedures within the European institutions .
I do not see this as particularly strange .
but the Treaty of Lisbon was drafted and agreed before the economic crisis , and is based on policies that helped to ignite the crisis .
these penalties reduce direct aid and cut specific rural development measures , especially payments for the Natura 2000 regions as well as agri-environmental payments .
Poland , a very European country , is on the point of deciding on two nuclear power plants .
however , in the desirable process of expanding its external action capabilities , the EU must not confine itself to the military dimension alone : it must undertake to develop , in parallel , civil crisis management mechanisms involving action by the police , civil administrators , the judiciary , civil protection officers and so on .
while democracy was representative when universal suffrage was brought in , making all persons equal - one person , one vote - in the communications market we are not all equal , because we do not all have equal access to radio discussion shows , television debates , columns in the press or editorial comment in the communication media .
we want the mandate to continue unchanged .
I should like to speak occasionally in the Piedmont language , but in our Parliament 's library there are no cultural documents , magazines and so on relating to languages of cultural identity or local languages .
these include green growth , renewable energies and combating world hunger .
it is worth recalling the rapid assistance provided to Haiti by countries such as Cuba , which promptly sent 400 doctors , saving lives and preventing epidemics , building medical infrastructure and distributing basic necessities , or Venezuela , which offered debt relief and supplied fuel .
it is a shame that Environment Minister Borloo did not give Mr Dimas strong support against the diehard reactionary Heads of State from Germany and especially Italy .
in any case , the fact that she is Hungarian is already an undeniable asset .
as Maurice Allais and clear-headed economists show , the total liberalisation of trade causes competition that pits everyone against everyone else as well as relocations , giving rise to pay restrictions , mass unemployment , and thus a crisis in our economies .
in my opinion , this intensive farming with the use of antibiotics should be greatly restricted in the European Union , and perhaps even stopped , and the damage which has been done should be repaired by those who caused it .
many good and very detailed suggestions were put forward by Members .
I think that the report covers the main topics of interest on strengthening security and fundamental human rights on the Internet , referring to the protection of the rights stipulated by the specific regulations in force , including their digital aspects , and to the acknowledgement and development of new principles for controlling the Internet .
the Commission says that a European PNR system is to be introduced , but has there yet been an evaluation of the results of the American PNR programme ?
the liberalisations and deepening of the Internal Market that the EU has been carrying out demonstrate that it is big business that benefits above all .
we have to take this very , very seriously , taking into account , of course this desire for positive cooperation in this new fight against terrorism , which will include compliance with the fundamental values which unite us and which have to unite the world community .
as I said , I tell citizens that I believe that they are protected , but I cannot guarantee it .
the Commission is concentrating mainly on reducing the size of fleets while , at the same time , failing to curb mass imports to the European market from the Far East , such as of the highly damaging panga .
I also hope that the amendment regarding the establishment of an EU-wide early warning system will be adopted .
we keep hearing about the 500 million citizens in this Chamber , but this Chamber separates itself from them as much as possible .
tolerance , dialogue , mutual respect and understanding are , for some , parts of their faith .
Mr President , Mr Griffin was wrong when he said that this has been a cold winter across the globe .
( DE ) Madam President , the EU has now adopted a post-Lisbon Strategy in which it has been careful not to commit itself to any testable goals at all .
and , we need real action on the things that are going to make real differences to jobs out there now and in the future .
there are other basic issues .
Commissioner , these problems are of colossal dimensions and the oil in Iraq will be of little help as there are people who have no access to this oil .
I await the reactions to this before my second turn .
in order to ensure better financial management of Community expenditure , along with the relevant transparency with regard to the management of the funds , I believe that it is particularly important for Member States to have efficient monitoring systems .
we must not ignore the fact that partners have the necessary abilities and resources which may boost the programme 's effectiveness by making the process for selecting projects more efficient .
in institutional terms , the entire concept was wrong from the start .
these are fundamental rights , and a simple cost-benefit analysis is inappropriate where these are concerned .
the loving care of the Church of Constantinople exceeds any linguistic , cultural , ethnic and even religious definition , as she seeks to serve all peoples .
all of the data presented for this option , and on which my decision was based , indicates that the criteria laid down within Article 51 ( 2 ) of Regulation ( EU ) No 1095 / 2010 were met , and so I am happy with the appointment of Mrs Ross .
I believe that we should aim to improve the situation in Eritrea itself and in other countries in the Horn of Africa , since improving the situation in African countries may reduce migratory pressure .
I therefore support this approach .
it is essential that we come back to this issue in September .
such people include those belonging to the entirely non-violent PMOI organisation .
doing both of these things at the same time will place too high a burden on our fishermen .
we must clearly say that the events in Ukraine were genocide .
I voted in favour of this resolution , because I feel that there is a need to enhance policy on protecting children 's rights .
I shall repeat what numerous members have said .
then we would move towards a retrial , if that is necessary .
it will not be a silver bullet solving all the problems caused by the recession , and we should not hold this tiny measure up as a huge achievement on our part .
I can unequivocally declare here that Tomas Garrigue Masaryk has said that ' democracy is discussion ' .
the process has always been complicated , but always constructive and very professional .
thank you , Commissioner , and thank you for dealing with that last question .
we are pleased that we are to receive a response from the European Commission in this House today .
allow me , as the rapporteur for the Committee on Industry , to highlight three thoughts in this vein from the opinion prepared by our Committee .
the rules governing the political and legal recognition of parties and their necessary funding must facilitate their action , so that they can freely create alternative policies , which is the very essence of democracy .
as has already been mentioned , the Council has not yet had a discussion at the highest level and has not made a comprehensive assessment of the effects of the expansion of the Schengen area on individual countries .
the EU must care for those who need help most : the disabled , the unemployed and people of retirement age .
we need to make some changes along the lines of the Feio report to be voted on today .
for these penalties , used in the case of Member States which are already in a difficult financial situation , could have the opposite effect , an adverse effect on the economies of these countries ...
it is therefore important to deal not only with the past but also with the future .
I fully support the proposal drafted by the European Parliament and the Council concerning the waiving of the requirement for short-term visas for citizens of Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina when crossing external borders .
that is a major contribution to consumer protection .
it is also reminiscent of the sudden , unnatural death of entire herds after the animals had eaten genetically modified feedstuffs .
the new instrument will be an international agreement .
questions which have not been answered for lack of time will be answered in writing ( see Annex ) .
people who sing the praises of nuclear energy have no right to go on disregarding that disgrace .
Mr Papandreou , the Prime Minister , has done everything in his power to get out of this difficult situation .
Mr President , I also want to say a few words about this excellent report .
to have understood would have meant finally taking each large block , subjecting it to sober analysis - there are consultants and economic research institutes for this purpose - and reviewing it against the objectives set .
the court procedure against the AK Party and the mysterious Ergenekon proceedings present a picture of a deeply divided society that is neither willing nor able to meet the challenges presented by the European Union .
thus , we should not skimp on resources for communication and cooperation .
as the extraordinary measure it is , the EGAF should be financed autonomously , and it is a very serious mistake for the EGAF , a short-term measure , to be funded at the expense of the ESF or any other structural fund .
author . - ( PT ) As underlined in our Group 's motion for a resolution , it is currently vital to express our solidarity with the East Timorese people and to condemn the attacks on the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister of East Timor .
what will be the basis for it ?
Reformulating the recovery plan for hake and lobster is another fundamental point which should be considered .
I would remind you that it has been greatly improved , that it is now fairly clear and that we can use it to create jobs and growth , which the citizens are waiting for .
just imagine that a foul has been committed .
but , as others have said , I do not think it is enough to try and develop people 's confidence in the electoral system and its outcome .
the previous debate was very interesting , but we have exceeded our allocated time , so I ask all those who are about to speak to stick closely to the time allocated .
( SK ) Allow me to express my grief and say a few words in remembrance of the recent tragic crash involving a Slovak bus that took place near the Croatian town of Gospič .
this report deals with the Commission Green Paper on forest protection and information in the EU : preparing forests for climate change .
the European Parliament , like the Commission , is trying to contain the centrifugal trends and the logic of ' every man for himself ' by calling for even greater dedication to completing the internal market , harmonising taxes and strengthening competition and the rules of the market .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( NL ) This directive is about patients .
the Commission still considers this Convention to be a key part of the fight against poverty and desertification ; the Convention is still a unique forum , with the necessary competence and experience to learn lessons and design new approaches to tackling soil deterioration , and has achieved a great deal but , as we are all aware , there is still much to be done .
the EGF 's rules on the allocation of funds were simplified , taking into account the complex situation in the labour market and the growing number of unemployed .
Mr President , the Lisbon Treaty provides for an intensification of the neoliberal economic agenda that has caused economic disaster throughout Europe with 21 million unemployed , an intensification of militarisation and the armaments industry , and more pressure for privatisation .
we have , after all , achieved a great deal together .
in order to resolve this situation , we need a three-pronged approach , involving close cooperation between the Council of Europe , together with the European Court of Human Rights , the European Parliament as the driving force behind the European Union and the human rights organisations in the region , which are attempting to protect it from the might of Russia .
with regard to technical support for the least developed countries , the Council believes that the development and transfer of best practices and technologies is essential in the fight against biodiversity loss , climate change and desertification .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , please convey to President Sarkozy that Carlo Fatuzzo is 100 % in favour of what the French Presidency has done over the last six months .
we are therefore able to continue this feasibility study into an alternative solution .
the proposal aimed at increasing the transparency of recruitment procedures , competitions for managerial positions and the award of grants for scientific research does seem appropriate , though .
what is to be done ?
Europe needs to be more effective in strategic cooperation , internally and with its allies , in order to defeat terrorism but also in order to defeat it through political ideas and through law .
farmers in Europe will be banned from using particular substances .
in a crisis situation , Member States must focus greater attention when setting their priorities .
the EU 's future aid to Eritrea must be linked to clear demands for the release of Dawit Isaak and the other journalists .
this term , which depends on the patient 's state of health and on the anticipated length of stay , was defined by the Administrative Commission on Social Security for Migrant Workers in 2004 .
a common European strategy is obviously needed , but the European Union will not get anywhere if it is acting alone .
it was a pleasure to work with the Commission and with the Council .
a low sulphur content out at sea is not deemed to be an environmental problem , because the main aim has been to reduce urban pollution .
( SK ) In August this year an extreme right-wing group known as the ' Hungarian Guard ' was formed in the Republic of Hungary .
there is an inherent risk on the market , not only on account of the economic aspect , but also due to the lack of democratic rights and human rights and the involvement of companies that lack good business concepts .
I support Armenia in its efforts to gain recognition of the genocide carried out by the Ottoman Empire .
it is therefore clear that this event does not make a symbolic contribution but a legal contribution .
in writing . - A new Bretton Woods has to be well prepared .
debts from the takeover are affecting the workforce , they are affecting the enterprise .
the European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea region and the role of macro-regions in the future cohesion policy (
we also have Member States , such as Sweden , that have set objectives with a timeframe .
Mr President , I must take exception to the two points of order just made .
I wanted to take part in the Geneva Process , but it seems that was difficult for the Government of Sri Lanka .
it would be desirable for the proposal to be consistent with REACH as regards both timeframes and a tonnage-based approach , and where the annexes are concerned , not least Annex VI .
ladies and gentlemen , on behalf of our President , Mr Pöttering , I must sadly inform you of the death of the former European Commissioner George Thomson , who later became Lord Thomson of Monifieth .
ladies and gentlemen , as you will have understood , the changes implied by the Treaty of Lisbon are important .
we will identify areas for further work , to examine , and address clearly , evidenced shortcomings in existing regulatory protections .
I will now set out what we were trying to achieve .
I think the one reservation which we would draw to your attention , which is contained in the resolution on which we will vote tomorrow , concerns the issues about the availability of information .
it is only the ideology of a United States of Europe that emerges , which we do not support , since sovereign countries , the Member States , have already signed up to the convention .
the actions undertaken by a coalition of European , Arab and North American countries implementing the UN resolution have helped protect the civilian population of Libya .
we will establish cooperation with the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean with the aim of achieving sustainable development and combating climate change and poverty .
the European Union should increase its logistic action and offer proper support to make it easier for these entrepreneurs to be active on third country markets .
radio frequencies serve the public interest in a wide range of areas in the Member States .
directives on stable energy sources , fuel quality and the environmentally friendliness of vehicles must be implemented more strictly and with more attention to quality .
this report does not form part of the legislative procedures and represents nothing more than the opinion of the European Parliament 's federalist majority that the EU should increase its interference in the cultural sphere still further .
we would also have liked to see the report cogently address the issues raised by the European Court of Auditors related to such funding , which it singularly fails to do .
Mr President , first of all I have to apologise to the House ; as shadow rapporteur , I was unable to be here yesterday evening because my flight was not on time .
if I have understood matters correctly , Mr McCreevy submitted initial measures concerning the banks to the Commission last week .
( the sitting was closed at 4.45 p.m. )
they wholeheartedly believe in this European project because what else can be more important than European decisions adopted by a government which has not been forced to make these decisions by legal requirements or requirements stipulated by the rules of this political game .
just to conclude , I would like to say that this is one of the most difficult discussions that we have had , and it has been conducted very properly and with respect for all parties .
I would like to thank everyone who has collaborated on this package .
on agriculture : honouring the July 2008 commitments ; concluding the negotiations on procedures ; guaranteeing , in particular , special and differential treatment , respect for special products , and safeguard mechanisms ; developing agricultural support in accordance with sustainable agriculture and food security ;
( ES ) Madam President , Mr Saryusz-Wolski should be congratulated because his report clearly states the essential points that the Union should take into account in order to establish a genuine common foreign policy on energy : reciprocity with exporting countries , the need to better coordinate our energy diplomacy at European level , and the importance of establishing an integrated and competitive market .
1 .
in view of their expertise and the important role these associations and organisations also play in guaranteeing and controlling quality , it is absolutely paramount that they are consulted .
the above actions quite obviously put an end to discussions on the creation of an EU-Ukraine free trade area .
I voted in favour of drawing up a development strategy for the Danube , which will allow us to ask the Commission to draft this document as soon as possible , taking into account specific consultations with experts in the field and in the relevant regions , while identifying the financial resources available and including non-EU countries .
contractual relations in the milk and milk products sector (
many economists like to make economics more complicated than it is , but the explanation is quite simple : the markets have simply lost their belief that Europe 's debt-ridden countries can compete and live up to their own responsibilities - that is the reason for all this .
in the current economic crisis , the EU must commit itself politically and financially in the key areas of maintaining and developing ' clean ' technologies for combating climate change , supporting cross-border adaptation measures , boosting energy efficiency and providing assistance in the event of disasters , according to the EU 's principle of solidarity .
do not comb through the acquis until the end of 2009 , but send out a signal before the election next year .
the Commission negotiates and signs the agreements .
according to the Court of Justice , the traditional designation clauses in the existing bilateral agreements infringe EU law , as they constitute discrimination against EU carriers established in a Member State but owned and controlled by nationals of other Member States .
secondly , price : this in turn should mean that the price of airline tickets , kept artificially high by the present system , could go down by as much as 10 % as a result , according to the Commission 's research .
we have an EU-wide school drop-out rate of over 14 % .
we must not deviate from the initial reasoning proposed by the European Commission .
they did so with courage but also prudence , and without resorting to violence . consequently , that approach , which did not involve the use of violence - an instrument of terror - may serve as a guide for us in the twenty-first century .
with each birth , with each period of maternity leave , women first reduce their professional responsibilities - unless the initiative comes from the company or the public sector .
there is not even anything really new from the Council and the new President of the European Council .
this had to be admitted , albeit reluctantly , even by the advocates of the old European Constitution .
in certain cases , they need temporary working credit and temporary assistance .
the extension of marketing authorisations under other names has been expressly simplified .
thank you .
it is no exaggeration to say that the rules of the market economy are not applied at present in the Russian energy industry .
the claim that the Commission has changed its approach towards the assessment of Community interest in some recent cases is simply not true .
we hope that this text , which should be adopted by the next JHA Council and then submitted to the December European Council , will be an ambitious and balanced text and obviously one that reflects the new institutional balance .
in the past , vaccination against bluetongue was carried out using live attenuated vaccines , which called for a series of restrictions on vaccination so as to avoid the spread of the virus to unvaccinated animals .
( PL ) Mr President , respect for human rights is a fundamental task of the European Community .
they also need a lot of storage on their farms for waste .
therefore , I will briefly outline the three stages of this new dimension of European law .
but whenever there has been a ' no ' result , it has been impossible to override it without coming back and addressing the concerns that were expressed and asking the country in question whether or not it wished to reconsider ; whether or not it wished to change its mind .
had referenda taken place in countries other than Ireland , the Irish ' no ' would surely not have been the only one .
I voted for this report as it contains specific provisions for improving consumer interests .
what do we mean by this governance ?
I do this in order to protect the interests of British citizens , such as exemplified by the case of Andrew Symeou , a 19-year-old London man who faces extradition to Greece on 30 September on a manslaughter charge .
in the 1950s and 1960s we had Chinese products : pens and various products for schools ; and now the Chinese have appeared as a powerful economic and political force .
in this regard , I hope that the Vice-President / High Representative will raise the issue of Georgia , parts of whose territory remain annexed and occupied illegally by Russian soldiers , and help also to put pressure on Russia to solve the Transnistria question in Moldova .
I have looked for a compromise that I could live with , and I did offer the idea of limiting the term extension to recordings published before 1975 , as appears in ALDE Amendments 80 and 81 , which are compatible with the main package .
I say that very frankly .
we therefore call for this situation to be tackled using an effective and impartial mechanism enabling emergency measures at EU level .
please do not pick rows with Irish farmers or any section in Ireland this year above all years , and let them have the monies they are entitled to have , in the way they have been paid for over 14 years now .
moreover , I would not have split the report into two sections , one on European neighbours and the other on Mediterranean neighbours .
to conclude , I should like to thank the rapporteurs for the balanced and highly professional report assessing the ECB annual report .
if we do not manage to provide consistent protection for consumers , then we will have totally failed in this respect .
I can say that like everyone else , I do not agree that payment rates should depend on gender .
reducing the number of inadmissible complaints has been a long-standing request of Parliament .
genuine concerns need to be addressed and any loopholes for the unscrupulous to exploit must be closed off in European and legislative initiatives by European and national parliaments .
I am pleased that the European Parliament has finally reached this debate on the European Union 's strategy for children 's rights because a policy which encourages children 's rights will form the bedrock of tomorrow 's society .
the majority will continue to remain with the economic liberals and federalists in Parliament .
one such film was shown here in Parliament and we saw the situation .
the main advantage of RAPEX is that it allows information on dangerous consumer products found in one Member State to be rapidly communicated to the other Member States and the Commission to prevent other consumers from buying them .
let us merge where we are strong ; let us in Europe bring together the spirit of research , Einstein and Steve Jobs .
the war crimes court for the former Yugoslavia , which is soon to try Radovan Karadzić , shows that these principles are as important today as ever .
we urgently need to find the resources required to avert the problems which our citizens are going to be faced with , such as unemployment .
the general issue at stake here is disaster response .
at the same time , it advocates the introduction of binding and minimum standards at EU level for starting a real policy of integration .
Natalia Estemirova , who was a candidate for the European Parliament 's Sakharov Prize , was kidnapped this morning in Grozny and is being held by unknown kidnappers .
at this juncture , I believe that it is worth saying that certain Member States need to be firmer and , above all , more consistent in advocating human rights .
can the Council state when the exact timing for the overall deployment of EU peacekeeping troops to Chad will take place and what the make-up of this troop deployment will be ?
the debate is closed .
I would therefore like to know : what boat was it and what information is available ?
- ( PL ) Mr President , Robert Gwiazdowski , an expert at the Adam Smith Institute , is on record as having written that Monty Kaczyński 's Flying Circus had flown back from Brussels but that it was not at all clear why it had flown there in the first place .
it will be a comprehensive programme of technical assistance focused on growth and jobs , but with an emergency character because - I repeat - Greece is living in an emergency situation .
I trust that you will find it a solid and balanced proposal which takes into account Parliament 's recommendations and concerns .
it is not clear yet what the specific results will be following this visit .
the report also sounds an alarm bell concerning the poor application of the existing framework decision , along with the relevant international instruments , particularly the Council of Europe 's Convention for the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse , to which Romania has been a party since 2007 , while also requesting the incorporation of new sexual offences .
the more that those on the right oppose what has been said , the more it becomes clear from your speech , Mr Brown , that we are on the right path .
it is a regional war which does not just concern eastern Congo .
we also need to minimise the costs of adaptation for European industry and to address the challenges faced by energy intensive industries .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , yes , the proposal for a directive on the internal transport of dangerous goods is an important issue , because around 110 billion tonnes / km of dangerous goods are transported in the EU every year : 58 % by road , 25 % by rail and , up to now , 17 % by inland waterway .
you have an obligation to vote to choose one of the three films in the competition .
if railways are included in the emissions trading and have to pay , I can no longer see why aviation and maritime transport should have such special privileges .
the European Union has also said that we are willing to enter into a closer cooperation with Cuba , including trade , depending on their progress on human rights .
the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe ( OSCE ) is a good reflection of this , as it is an integral part of the Euro-Atlantic and Euro-Asian security architecture , which is characterised by a global conception of security that includes political and military , economic and environmental , and human dimensions .
we do not protect trees and we have no respect for timber .
however , I do want to convey to you my answers to these questions as to why we have rejected some wording or other in the report on Parliament 's discharge .
this is an amendment that could not be foreseen at the beginning .
coming again to the matter of regulation versus voluntary codes , many of the voluntary codes are only just getting under way , and for the main part these should be given time to operate .
I should like to make three proposals for the package of two reports that we have discussed today .
it is necessary to ensure that the substances for which a claim is made have been shown to have a beneficial nutritional or physiological effect .
I would have expected us to discuss the European Union 's cooperation with China in reforming the global financial system , bearing in mind China 's balanced and constructive position , especially now , before the G20 summit in London .
given that the Netherlands has requested assistance in respect of 821 redundancies in 70 companies operating in the NACE Revision 2 Division 18 ( printing and reproduction of recorded media ) in the two contiguous NUTS II regions of Nord Brabant and Zuid Holland , I voted in favour of the resolution because I agree with the Commission 's proposal and with the amendments to it tabled by Parliament .
that is wonderful !
thus , in fact , we might say that he hurried ahead of the decision by our fellow Member .
but do they want a solution ?
but we need also to agree on a second element , colleagues , which is flexibility .
because of the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty , I welcome the fact that the European Union now has competence in the area of sport with a support budget .
we can use public procurement to drive forward areas like small and medium-sized enterprises , Commissioner , and opportunities for innovation and green products and services - and , indeed , for supporting the whole of the innovation agenda .
if Member States work together , they can ensure a more secure , cheaper and more efficient supply of energy resources to citizens and companies .
Mr Schulz , obviously I believe that all democratic parties have a place in democratic countries .
the report published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control ( ECDC ) notes that , in the management of the virus , the EU has been unable to adapt quickly to the medical measures necessary to limit infection .
if we remember that , we will not go far wrong .
moreover , a further step will be taken towards the implementation of one of the European Union 's objectives - territorial cohesion .
we have supported this resolution with the clear aim of sending the message that the European Parliament and Labour MEPs stand side-by-side with the people of Haiti in the long-term work of rebuilding the infrastructure , communities and lives which have been torn apart .
the Commission proposal introduces important innovations which I hope you can support .
at the same time , this may also alleviate the imbalance within the dairy market .
I support the need for a correlation between the retirement age and demographic trends .
however , that demands that we use the community method and involve the European Parliament and national parliaments .
we want an inclusive Europe , and I give as an example the inclusion in the budget of the pilot project designed to facilitate the integration of the Roma people .
the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) was set up with the purpose of supporting the reintegration into the labour market of workers made redundant due to the current process of world market globalisation .
we wonder if these cuts were really necessary and what was the rationale behind them , especially since the fishery sector is currently experiencing great difficulties due to the crisis over fuel prices and the cuts in fishing opportunities .
Mr President , thank you for your understanding .
you correctly point out that Community legislation is the way to achieve the goals of the EU treaties , as its byword is the interest of European citizens , who have the right to demand the implementation of this law .
I also agree that the Commission 's proposal , in its explanatory statement , should include clear and detailed information on the application , analysing the eligibility criteria and explaining the reasons that led to its approval , in accordance with the requests made by Parliament .
I am also talking about developing cooperation with the Council of Europe on training mediators from the Roma community .
on that basis , Baltic Gay Pride was held on 8 May 2010 : that was the event to which a previous speaker referred .
for society as a whole , the costs of poor health and safety at work have been put at an astronomical 3.8 % of gross national product .
the Commission can wholeheartedly support the text as it stands .
for the people of Haiti it is , of course , important that the infrastructure and the institutions of the state are rebuilt in the long term .
( FR ) Madam President , I wish briefly to say three things .
I am aware , for example , that one Italian MEP , a member of the EFD Group , has been prosecuted for taking part in a vigilante raid in which he set fire to the belongings of an immigrant .
we believe that these will institutionalise inefficiencies in the farming sector .
it is a way of combining conditionality with our various means of exerting pressure within the framework of a legally binding agreement .
the only way in which we will be able to bring these figures back in line with public opinion is when we restore budgetary responsibility to national parliaments and to national parliamentarians who have to justify themselves to their constituents , who are also their taxpayers .
allow me one last sentence , Mr President - Barack Obama only became President by the will of the nation , a nation which is worth working with , a nation which protects values that are also important to us .
I would call for decisive measures to be taken at the level of both the EU and all the Member States to combat pay-related discrimination and to ensure access to attractive job offers .
6 .
here , what is important is not to cast doubt upon the Lamassoure-Severin report ; it is probably well constructed , albeit built upon a foundation of sand .
however - I am exaggerating here , but only slightly - the communication posts have largely been budgeted for , and we have been told , since the elections : ' we have to improve communication , we have to enhance it so as to increase our fellow citizens ' awareness ' .
one or both parents often never return and they can be indifferent to the fate of their children , whose best hope is to be cared for by close relatives .
if Europe really intends to implement the policies laid down in the European Treaties , including the most recent policies , it must have the financial resources it needs to fulfil these ambitions .
indeed , will you monitor it , and what action will you take if distortion results ?
3 .
welcome
after all , only then can we truly make this leading role a reality .
need I point this out ?
please , what are you afraid of ?
I voted for this resolution because I believe that any agreement between the EU and the United States in this area must also include strict safeguards on implementation and supervision , to be monitored by an appropriate EU-appointed authority .
in addition , the objection about the political bias of the composition of the Media Council under this law is totally unfair .
that is , in my view , the path we need to follow .
the debate is closed .
I think human life deserves better .
there is a human rights instrument that is indeed very important , known as the European Convention on Human Rights .
this afternoon I had a meeting with the officials in my Directorate-General with a view to enhancing and redoubling the Commission 's efforts in the field of road safety .
the second step is to combat child trafficking and prostitution . the third step is for us not to forget , for the children 's sake , that priority must be given to adoptions by family members and national adoptions .
in addition to those answers , I would now like to respond to some of the comments made .
the campaign is being run by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control ( ECDC ) , the European Union institutions and the World Health Organization .
I do not believe that this is in any way acceptable .
genital mutilation is a social problem that concerns us all .
we would rather see these sort of arrangements set within a proper framework - and within something that is not going to delay for five years much of the progress that we want to see happen .
the text is , admittedly , a first step in the right direction since hedge funds were not previously obliged to be transparent .
there were two glimmers of light when the Treaty of Lisbon entered into force .
the European agricultural sector produces high-quality food , protects vital rural areas and many jobs , maintains and promotes our cultural landscape and biodiversity and can make a contribution to conserving fossil fuels through the production of renewable raw materials and energy .
my colleague , Stephen Hughes , has already referred to the fact that the first Barroso Commission has failed to deliver much of what you had already promised .
of course , what it cannot ultimately safeguard is the interest on the part of the Member States in making use of this tool to promote their culture .
the Commission refers specifically and clearly to the difficulties ; it defines them and suggests what the difficulties are and where there is a margin for us to implement the targets we have set .
the Union also enters 2009 secure in the strength of its international reputation .
this Union is an Orwellian creation where words mean the opposite of what is said .
its goal is to facilitate intra-European arms exports , which also , of course , affects arms exports outside the EU .
there must be strict compliance with the port State obligations contained in the International Labour Organization 's Maritime Labour Convention , the ' polluter pays ' principle must hold and all the rules must also apply at night .
for 2009 , they were 30 % , and in 2010 , they were 40 % .
much effort is dedicated to addressing safety issues .
European investment in Niger 's uranium mines or in the Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline must be accompanied by transfers of technology for clean energy production based on microprojects .
come here for 90 minutes , not 60 .
can we have some monitoring by the Commission ?
however , we are equally concerned about and sympathetic towards the unfortunate position which the Palestinians find themselves in with regard to everything referred to in this statement and , in particular , the 1967 borders , the difficult situation in Jerusalem and the settlement activities .
the innocent people living in the south of Slovakia have , in this way , become hostages to these nationalists and their dreams of a politically reunited Hungarian nation .
( NL ) Mr President , the Dutch guarantee of many billions of euros prompted the former Minister of Finance , Mr Ruding , to say ' The road to budgetary hell is paved with guarantees ' .
the recently adopted Lisbon Treaty gives more authority to European institutions in a political sense , and it seems to me that a particular kind of divide is opening between political integration , which is making progress , and economic integration .
this framework decision must be seen as a first step in the process of getting to grips with racism and xenophobia at European level and maximum harmonisation in this field .
the Commission is therefore called upon to review the Agency 's fee structure to bring costs and revenue for certification activities into balance .
however , it is lacking one critical and , above all , self-critical analysis .
this country is going through a process of increasing authoritarianism in which freedoms are being restricted , the opposition is being harassed and fear is being created among the people who even suspect that their vote is no longer secret .
as far as working hours are concerned , we have been successful today .
I accept the work done by the rapporteur , and certainly she has taken out a great many of the concerns we would have , but it does leave me wondering why we need this at all .
I agree with the statement that investment in the production of biogas from different sources should be encouraged , drawing on EU funds allocated to regional and rural development for that purpose .
in addition , more must be done in future to cater to the specific needs of women in the agricultural sector in order to attract the younger generations to the industry .
the European Commission , which has been criticised on several occasions with regard to agricultural policy , is condemned by the European Parliament in this report for arriving too often at conclusions that are unsustainable for European agricultural policy .
if we do not succeed in avoiding this , I will then take up the fight against it .
I have since then been discussing the terms of such facilitation with both foreign ministers - most recently in a trilateral meeting yesterday evening - following the decisions of both governments on our initiative .
there are many people over there also in denial .
finally , I would urge the Council , too , to follow Parliament 's recommendations .
this image somehow also reflects an image of China : able to show itself as sumptuous , rich , developed , and capable of presenting itself to the world , as in the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games .
once again , it should be stressed that as a result of the crisis and economic instability , CFP will no longer function and will leave the fishermen to their fate .
today , the problem is in Lampedusa .
we cannot allow ourselves to fall prey to fear and make hasty choices today : we need a general agreement on making existing nuclear plants safe and screening those that are under construction .
the first concerns the impact assessment .
but the reality is that others have to match our level of ambition .
I feel that this report is actually - and I say this with deep conviction - one of the most controversial documents adopted by Parliament in recent times .
her outrageous sentence of 11 years ' imprisonment for doing her job is an insult to humanity .
today we understand each other better .
firstly , energy , its supply and sufficiency , raises and lowers the position of societies in the global competitive environment .
as things stand at present , only half the Member States of the Union have ratified the Partnership Agreement with the ACP ( African , Caribbean and Pacific ) countries due to enter into force on 1 January 2008 .
universities must be able to count on significant and foreseeable public and private funding .
finally , I want to underline the fact that the provisions of this directive , which represents a new regulatory frame , should only apply to the structured financial instruments , credit rating agencies themselves being an important part of structured finance .
I appeal for sensitivity to the situation of millions of citizens of Ukraine and hundreds of young Ukrainians .
next week is the European SME week .
second , we need more consistent application of the VAT rules on financial services and a more level playing field in the internal market .
however , as I also indicated last night during our discussions , laws and regulations are as good as we make them , and we therefore have to remain vigilant and see to it that Member States , feed dealers and , indeed , the Commission , ensure that everybody sticks to their obligations in ensuring that laws really are enforced and that they are good laws .
there is no lender .
biogas and other biofuels , along with solar and wind energy , can significantly reduce the reliance on conventional energy sources .
it is , therefore , essential to ensure that outsourcing , which should in any case only be allowed under the most stringent conditions , is permitted only on premises that enjoy diplomatic protection .
there is a long chain of terrorist acts ranging from indoctrinating and arousing fanaticism in a child to murder .
( PT ) Madam President , Mr Chastel , on 6 July this year , the European Parliament adopted , by a large majority , a specific directive on bio-waste .
I voted in favour of this resolution because , while recognising the principle of subsidiarity and the competence of the Member States in this area , I think the European Union should make its own contribution by encouraging dialogue among the various actors on solidarity between generations .
in my view , Mr Baco 's vote is more of a misunderstanding .
what should be pointed out , however , is that this work has not been completed , because it also involves Parliament remaining vigilant against the temptation of populism , which looks for scapegoats for the problems of social exclusion rather than solutions or responses .
Parliament will investigate carefully the information you have provided and will act on it in the coming months .
if we keep speaking only about symptoms and perpetrators , remaining silent or passive when it is about the causes and facilitators , we are going to jeopardise our values .
( BG ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I am taking the floor so that I can draw your attention to a complex problem which unfortunately affects every single Bulgarian citizen , namely , the daily racketeering which the banks engage in against consumers .
I would like to mention just two examples .
only weak governments go to such lengths to preserve their artificially obtained corrupt power and wealth .
it is good that the European Union has decided on a common peace mission to Chad with the aim of protecting its citizens and guaranteeing humanitarian aid .
to end , I must say to you , Madam Vice-President , that you already know that you can count on the support of this Parliament .
it is primarily Europe 's soot emissions that are responsible for the significantly faster melting of the ice in the Arctic - they are borne there by the wind .
this would give a real industrial boost to the economic recovery .
within the framework of action 2 , funds will be targeted and used in accordance with the objectives of the development and external relations instruments .
to conclude , Commissioner , since you have spoken of respect - yes , it is entirely appropriate that the majority society should harbour the greatest respect for its minorities , but I think the minorities in a healthily functioning society should have equal respect for that society .
agriculture continues to be an important economic sector .
in the case of Slovakia , the 17 % revaluation of its currency , albeit planned and in line with the Treaty criteria , gives food for thought .
Madam President , I do not propose to go over all the issues raised here , especially since there is going to be a vote tomorrow , but I would nonetheless like to highlight certain points that have been made repeatedly in the speeches .
unfortunately , we have been unable to obtain an assurance in this report that the European Commission will finally take note of Article 14 of the Treaty of Lisbon and present a proposal for a directive on public services .
its purpose is to attract qualified foreign students to Europe .
Mrs Rühle , as regards compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons , these substances can be found in various consumer goods and not just in toys .
in which areas does the Council feel there has been most progress ?
in other words , they are not delivering a solution to the question that you have in mind .
looking to changes ahead , the preparations for the reform of the common agricultural policy in 2013 will be an issue during this Presidency .
we must avoid creating bureaucratic obstacles which serve to muzzle dynamism and entrepreneurship to the point of suffocating them .
the European Union has to take this into account when we want to develop even stronger cooperation for the benefit of the Arctic , its inhabitants and its wildlife .
all procurements in connection with the European Football Championship have been excluded from the scope of this law .
it is in fact the wrong response as , if we had voted for the Membership Action Plan ( MAP ) in Bucharest , strictly speaking this would not have made any difference because I believe that no one was ready to make war on behalf of Georgia .
particular attention must be focused on the objectives set in the Europe 2020 strategy .
under no circumstances must occupational pensions be transferred to a compulsory European system .
the second question is whether or not we should be considering developing the GSP + system further into a GSP + + .
I can do without your applause .
of special importance to the consumer is also the establishment of the right to withdraw from a contract within a 14-day period without giving a reason and the related right to obtain reimbursement of all payments which have been made .
we have made it slightly more flexible .
I think it is a positive sign that the summit is to be held in the capital of Khanty-Mansi .
this will continue to be the case .
needless to say , I completely disagree with extending the application of the ' blue card ' system .
for this reason , I would like to repeat that I was very grateful that all of this has been made clear today .
I am very much in favour of asking the Commission to take steps to facilitate an independent study of the performance of innovative communication means , including labelling , as a way of reducing hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption .
we have been able to , and should , approach Mr Soini 's speeches with a sense of humour , but , as in recent times he has gained a certain amount of support , they obviously need to start to be taken seriously .
this system threatens to permanently weaken liberal democracy in Russia itself . it is also fanning the flames of neo-imperialism in Russian foreign policy .
my second question : what action can be taken quickly to make the European economy less dependent , especially on imported oil and gas and their prices ?
as I have said , using a battering ram against the social security system would definitely be the worst thing that the European Union could do at this point .
nobody mentions that our actions have only increased the number and the intensity of terrorist acts .
but , of course , it is in Turkey 's interest to strengthen every aspect of her democracy .
this is an important area of macroregional cooperation .
Mr President , on behalf of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament , I want to express our total condemnation of the murders being committed in this region of Somalia in the name of God .
I believe we ought to be discussing this .
simply because most of them want it that way .
if we want the port to remain competitive we need to modernise its current infrastructure and remove red tape .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , Mrs Harms mentioned something important yesterday .
the amendments to the Structural Funds Regulation to take account of cohesion policy will enable us to provide a new impetus for investment and help restore confidence in the economies .
gender-based violence covers sexual abuse , human trafficking , forced marriage and genital mutilation , and such violent crimes have an extraordinary impact on and do irreparable damage to a woman 's physical and mental health .
in writing . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I voted against the report by Mr Catania on the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union ( 2004-2008 ) .
that is the current situation of the Roma in France .
Ms Gomes has visited Iraq twice since December in order to get the clearest possible picture of what is and what is not happening in the country .
this is the reason why this issue should be approached realistically , with responsibility , and specialists from various fields of expertise should take part in the related debates .
for countries like mine , Romania , offset is , at least for the time being , an important mechanism to ensure the survival of our national industry .
indeed , it will no longer be necessary to submit 27 applications within the Member States .
pursuant to Article 15 of the Treaty on European Union , I would like to know when the President of the European Council will come and give an account of the European Council of 4 February to the European Parliament , because I do not believe he is coming to this part-session .
what strategy , then , will the Commission adopt in relation to the African Union , as we are talking about the African continent ?
we are very satisfied by the very positive response that Parliament and the Council have given to the proposal .
I am really glad to be able to speak about this topic with you this evening .
let me say something else on the same subject that Mr Romeva i Rueda and Mrs Gomes : surely the weapons used in these countries , including Somalia , are produced in and exported from so-called democratic countries , countries that are economically developed .
when you arrive in those countries instability starts again .
they should include a monetised indicator , such as adjusted net disbursements , and a physical indicator , such as an ecological or carbon footprint , for the environmental dimension , and social indicators which incorporate the social dimension , such as an inequality evaluation ( for example , the Gini coefficient ) and a social integration and human prosperity index , such as the Human Poverty Index .
it is the sector which the European Commission itself describes as the one with the greatest potential for reducing CO2 .
the amendments are constructive ; I hope they will be successful and that colleagues will support them tomorrow .
the announcement that the priorities established in the 2008 budget will continue in connection with interpreting and with the analytical service of the library is also pleasing .
we also favour implementing all practical measures which can reinforce concrete cooperation between the EU and NATO and ensure , in particular , cooperation when both are deployed in the same theatre .
with regard to the existing landfills , the Commission has started an investigation and asked the Italian authorities to report on the functioning of the Terziano and Cicciano landfills .
in writing . - There is no doubt that , despite current legislation to reduce pesticides , excessive amounts of pesticides exist in our air , water and food supply , affecting our health and the environment .
we need to protect our citizens from terrorist threats , and we also need to safeguard their private lives and privacy .
thirdly , I would like to emphasise once again that the Council must give a clear signal after Copenhagen that a binding climate change agreement is needed .
rest assured that we will hold talks on this matter and decide on the next steps to be taken in this regard .
there is also the amendment to deal with the odd system we have that our opening session is chaired by the oldest Member instead of , for instance , the outgoing President , which happens in some parliaments - or an outgoing Vice-President , even , if the President were not re-elected , perhaps .
Commissioner , in our view , the aim is not to infringe employees ' rights in any way but to create jobs .
in writing . - ( NL ) The transmissible diseases that threaten Europe , such as SARS and bird flu , show that far-reaching European measures are necessary to prevent a possible pandemic in Europe .
the Council believes that we have achieved the most important goal , that is , the consolidation of the case-law of the European Court of Justice relating to the free movement of goods and services in the area of healthcare .
Mr van Rompuy makes his statement - that is also excellent .
and yet , we still have no common strategy , and there is no coordination of measures taken by the various institutions and the Member States , which should not resist harmonisation of their legislation , even though this is not anchored in the treaties .
given these factors , I believe that the EU must devise an effective policy so that workers can remain in the labour market and not be subjected to age discrimination .
I voted against setting the legally binding target of achieving minimum energy savings of 20 % by 2020 as this element of compulsion at EU level could have an adverse impact on the single market .
( applause )
we can see that the groundwater has been contaminated by the chemicals that have permeated this hydraulic fracturing .
the Joint Undertaking is in a start-up phase and had not yet fully established its internal control and financial reporting systems by the end of 2009 .
a very warm welcome to you all !
the consumer must be able to identify what proportion of the price goes to the state and how much goes into the pockets of the airline and airport .
I would like to add , Mr Farage , that I respect the Polish , but you were not in my office negotiating the Lisbon Treaty with a number of colleagues .
equally , experience shows that non-lethal methods for disturbing cormorants on rivers are inefficient .
on the contrary , supporting the Treaty of Lisbon and ' free trade ' , implementing palliative controls on the environmental degradation caused by the liberalisation of trade , will only exacerbate the environmental degradation that is increasingly threatening our planet and its people .
in writing . - As usually in this type of reports , the EP :
we would also stress the fact that this proposal for a directive includes aspects that will end up restricting the right to asylum and applying conditions to it , above all , limiting each Member State 's sovereign right to make its own choices and decide on its own asylum procedures .
this choice must not contribute to creating extra burdens on the weakest companies , thus handicapping their activity .
we should not forget that even today in the European Union there is a 28.4 % difference in employment rates between men and women , that we are a long way off the Lisbon target of achieving 60 % female employment by 2010 and that , in addition , women earn on average 15 % less than men .
this is primarily through NATO and the UN .
this will certainly lead to problems in the area of jurisdiction and the autonomy of the Court of Justice .
my second point concerns market monitoring .
we know who they are .
however , it was only awarded seven licences for tuna fishing .
we know that 0.3 % of the planet 's deserts could supply the entire world with energy .
who is responsible if , in a Member State of the EU , further to an agreement with an international organisation which has nothing to do with the European Union , the employment situation deteriorates drastically , including in respect of aid for the employment of people with disabilities ?
Mr President , like my colleague Mrs Ask , I would like to finish by saying that you are more than welcome to send your opinions to us by e-mail if you did not have an opportunity to present them here today .
although I do not endorse those who would seek to impose demands on regions from above as regards the earmarking programme , the impetus stemming from this report and from the proposals made are nevertheless heading in the right direction and will contribute to the creation of green jobs .
at present , 10 Member States have lines with ERTMS and there are ongoing projects in almost all Member States .
however , this must - and this is my appeal to the Commission , to Baroness Ashton - this must be the slogan , the main slogan of our diplomacy in the world .
that calls to mind a quote from the classics : the message well I hear , my faith alone is weak .
there was talk of welfare tourism and countless other problems .
Mr President , the next European Union-Russia summit will take place between a Russian Federation on the rise - be it only provisionally - and an EU not only affected by the Irish ' no ' on the Lisbon Treaty but , moreover , by the lack of a clear vision on how to get out of this crisis .
the second ' bird ' is Europe 's heavy dependence on imported energy .
this impact is very clear , particularly for corn gluten feed and the waste from using maize to produce alcohol .
they will be equal in every sense .
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firstly , I would like to point out that more than 15 days after the first cases had been reported and more than a month after the first instances of contamination had occurred , the European early warning and response units have still been unable to identify the real cause of the contamination .
the countries that are among the new EU Member States often have enormous deficits to make up , especially as regards the quality and health of the foodstuffs produced .
I believe that no one should go unemployed for months without the offer of training , a job or help to obtain a job , and that no school-leaver should be out of school and out of work for long without being offered the chance to get the skills they need for the future .
2. bus and coach routes which are making marginal or no profit , having no room for increased ticket prices , will be cut entirely and there will be no service .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , like Mr Salafranca , I should like to pick up on what President Sarkozy stated this morning : we have to try to solve the problems with Russia via dialogue rather than confrontation .
we need a responsible and ambitious policy at this level from all political players .
for this reason , I believe that it is extremely important to guarantee a high level of protection for all consumers without , however , hampering the operation of mobile telephony networks and the development of new wireless technologies .
how can we reform European agriculture fairly if we ignore 95 % of all farms ?
in addition to the November summit of the EU and the US , the December meeting of the Transatlantic Economic Council also provides a platform for responsible and pragmatic policies .
that is the process we would like to see taking place , so that we may look forward to all countries of the Western Balkans becoming fully-fledged members of the European Union one day , which will be the foundation of ensuring peace , security and cooperation - in that part of Europe , too .
I welcome the resolve and intent of the Chinese , the Indians and so many other countries in the industrialised and less-developed parts of the world to achieve the target of a serious reduction in carbon dioxide emissions , as opposed to business as usual .
women represent 42 % of agricultural workers in all countries of the European Union .
if we continue now and always to extract raw materials , we will never see the end of things .
crash tests have shown that these belts , which are the devices most commonly used by European airlines , may actually endanger children and cause serious injuries .
they have no right to healthcare or pensions and they live in constant fear of being caught and sent back to their home country .
people accept what they know , but anything that is beyond their horizon arouses concern .
I am referring here , above all , to young people .
in writing . - ( FR ) I voted in favour of the report .
we , the European Parliament , shall pay particular attention to whether democratic rules of play are observed .
their arrival is a direct consequence of the occupation of Latvia implemented by the Soviet Union .
it is a fact that Europe can no longer sustain these migratory movements via Tajikistan and from Afghanistan and other countries , a fact which primarily the Mediterranean countries , such as Malta , Cyprus , Greece and Italy , are paying for now , but which it is certain , with mathematical precision , will be paid for at a later date by all the countries of northern Europe .
I regret that the Swedish Minister was not here , because we had very good cooperation .
in situ research into mycorhizal symbiosis should be actively encouraged .
let me start with the negatives - the limitations .
I once again repeat my thanks to the Commission and to Parliament , which , I am sure , will deal with this matter meticulously , thoroughly and swiftly .
in view of the budgetary situation of most EU Member States , this is unacceptable .
in order to prevent similar dangerous situations in the future , pre-prepared support plans must exist , and there must be an appropriate reaction both before and after the problem .
I should also mention Agora , Parliament 's forum with civil society , which is making history and is a really important instrument .
we must facilitate access to funding for private individuals and for entrepreneurs who are unable to obtain loans from the traditional banking sector .
the agreement reinforces bilateral cooperation between the European Union and Mauritania , and must guarantee sustainable fishing .
if necessary , they should also make significant increases to public financing for the development of low-carbon technologies .
therefore , there is no doubt that the constant increase in food prices as a result of increased commodity prices is an increasingly pressing concern for the EU .
on the first point , I will refer to the President of the Italian Republic , who I already quoted yesterday and who voiced his opinion last week : ' the European Parliament ' - I quote - ' cannot be a sounding board for the political conflicts and controversies that are a matter of course within the Member States and their national parliaments . '
the Committee on Transport and Tourism realises that around 90 % of Union exports and imports are made by sea .
such an approach might well be counterproductive and would cancel out the benefits of dealing with the Roma problem across the board in all the European Union 's policies .
one thing is clear to all of us .
in the finance sector , the numbers are even less positive : women represent only 10 % of board members of the major European listed companies and 3 % of the chairpersons of those boards .
it is all this that our healthcare systems must be able to respond to , with everyone having guaranteed access to healthcare services .
this is our commitment and yet we win in some areas and we lose in others .
- Before the vote :
as food is the most important collective asset of the agricultural sector , food production must be ensured , especially with a view to food security over the coming decades .
our citizens expect those rules of play to be adhered to .
I therefore believe that we have to break this vicious circle through the balance which Mr Mate spoke of .
for 180 pills , the price in Malta is EUR 178.97 as compared to EUR 135.13 in Brussels .
sustainable , productive and competitive European agriculture enables the challenges of security of supply in the food and energy sectors , of climate change , of the environment and biodiversity , of health , and of demographic change in the EU to be met .
that is also why businesses now have a big chance to make it unnecessary for me to intervene , because if they do things right , we do not need to intervene .
the office of High Representative , while it still lasts , has been undermined and the authority of the international community weakened .
one of the Knowledge and Innovation Communities I have proposed will concentrate on information and communications technology .
I agree with Mr Kacin and Mr Pinior that we should not wait for any subsequent reports , but rather seize the first suitable opportunity to start negotiations with Macedonia .
Mr President , as Mr Vondra , the deputy Prime Minister has said , the Commission must ensure that the rules are applied .
the objective of the motion is not to cut Europe off from the rest of the world or to override the rules of the market .
women with temporary and outsourcing contracts often fill posts in sectors where the need is great during good economic times but where the position is often very fragile during an economic downturn .
what happened really could take us almost to the edge of the abyss , the precipice , and so the unanimous call that came from Parliament is the only one that can guide us at this difficult time .
if the United States and South-East Asia do not participate on the same terms as the EU in the carbon dioxide emissions programme that has been developed , the huge financial and economic effort by the EU will serve no purpose .
for the future , we must make efforts to ensure that our Parliament - like our counterparts in the US Congress who , one could argue , have arrogated various rights to themselves over recent centuries - has more opportunities to exert influence on the substance of this agreement .
the key issue of course is prevention and I am therefore pushing for a Europe-wide ban on gambling advertisements which are targeted at young people , just as we have for alcohol and tobacco .
the European authorities must be open to dialogue and cooperation with the citizens and with organisations from civil society .
it remains up to the EU and Canada to decide what commitments it is willing or not to undertake in each sector , including with regard to public services or other services where future policy flexibility is important .
however , IAs can in no way be a substitute for political debate and the legislator 's democratic and legitimate decision-making process .
up till now , the United States has not said anything about how prepared it is to support emission reduction targets in the developing countries .
welcome to the European Parliament !
the new Commission will have the difficult task of encouraging sustainable growth through the full implementation of the European economic model ; that is , the model of the social market economy .
the numerous investment agreements signed by the EU , whether bilateral or multilateral , must guarantee the protection of investors in all the appropriate sectors .
( PT ) Mr President , Mr Medina Ortega , we are obviously not waiting for Rome , Lisbon , London or Paris to suffer natural disasters before we look at this issue in more detail .
we must make our position very clear to the rest of the world .
for instance , the attack on human rights activist Lev Ponomarev last night is the latest reminder of how difficult the situation for human rights defenders is in Russia .
the next item is the statements from the Council and the Commission concerning the situation in Kenya .
if the European Union is to effectively support us through the economic crisis , lead the way as it must in fighting climate change , protect public services , defend human rights and contribute to international peace and disarmament , then it needs the input of all of us , and that includes Wales , Scotland , Catalonia , Corsica , Flanders and many others .
it gives the enlarged Europe the rules it needs to function effectively and democratically .
Minister Vondra , you promised that you would keep this Parliament fully briefed .
whether this actually comes about largely depends on the Russian side .
the integration of the west Balkans with the general European framework of stability is probably our greatest challenge since the Union began .
I disagree strongly with the minister who left , who said that we can in effect do very little .
I would also highlight the salutary and technologically oriented competition that this system will bring to the tyre market , meaning that technological developments in the various brands can be compared - and understood - by consumers in a clear and objective manner .
I would therefore ask the European Commission to keep a close eye on the interests of inland shipping when it drafts new legislation on urban mobility .
in these circumstances , the rapid provision of accurate information to passengers was an absolute must .
it is time to take significant steps towards improving the lives of the majority of women , including in the area of sexual and reproductive health , and putting an end to the hypocrisy that still surrounds the issue of abortion .
unscrupulous employers benefit from these illegal workers who are prepared to work for very poor rates and in dangerous conditions .
on 5 September 2007 the Commission proposed amending the working methods used to date . the proposal aimed to ensure more effective management of proceedings , and received the support of the majority of Members of this House .
that is how you make policy , and it is how you gain the support of our citizens .
we need assurances from President Putin that he understands our guiding principles .
the process for evaluating these countries and their accession must be completed according to the same criteria with which it started .
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two people came , having announced their visit .
we must help to strengthen the cautious movement towards greater openness .
furthermore , crops which grow in the vicinity of heavily used roads would be much less exposed to pollution from exhaust fumes .
it is therefore more Europe and a better Europe that we need .
unfortunately , we must acknowledge that minor positive results have been achieved and that the objective of gender equality is still far off .
situations such as those faced by Iraqi society , and other parts of the world today , for example , teach us that the deeper the damage to the fabric of society the more painful , costly and difficult in human terms it is to repair it .
thank you , Commissioner .
in my constituency a wonderful project in relation to this subject was supported by Interreg .
we really have to look into this matter .
we will be voting against this text .
what is happening in the euro area and in the whole of the European Union is that although it did not cause the crisis and it is not where the crisis began - we know that it began in the United States - we have suffered its effects just as much as the country where it began .
free markets are not synonymous with deregulated markets .
these people are fighting for their work , for their existence and for their children , and it is precisely this fear and worry which creates such fertile ground for the growth of far-right extremism in the EU and in the Member States .
I would like to try again to show that there are a variety of dimensions here .
I am very pleased to hear that the substance of this Regulation has met with widespread agreement .
a good example is the European Ecumenical Assembly taking place these days in Sibiu , Romania .
where are we now ?
therefore , I welcome the outcome of this vote .
it is also a great pleasure for me to welcome the winners of the first Charlemagne Youth Prize to the European Parliament today .
the economic crisis must not deflect any of us from meeting the long-term challenge of climate change .
in view of the present developments , how should one read the reiteration of the EU 's readiness to recognise an independent Palestinian state when appropriate ?
faced with the ever-worsening crisis , unemployment and living conditions for millions of people , all of us are thus once again aware what the much-vaunted European solidarity really means for some .
I do not complain about being accused of being unduly ambitious - that is the benchmark for what I do and how I set about my job .
we consider the mobilisation of this support to be important and necessary , and we therefore voted in favour of the report .
law applicable to contractual obligations ( Rome I ) ( vote )
therefore , do not have any expectations that the Commission will move in that direction .
we want a special session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva to be held as quickly as possible .
President-in-Office of the Council . - As I said , we have asked the Commission to come up with alternative proposals on how this particular Social Fund can be used in this situation where , as you say , lots of people all around Europe are without work , and we hope that the Commission will present such a proposal without undue delay .
both Syria and Lebanon have an important role to play .
Parliament has also passed Resolution on the proposal for a Council regulation on the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures in the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea .
Parliament voted today on a report on the impact of the Treaty of Lisbon on the development of the institutional balance of the European Union .
( RO ) Mr President , cohesion policy is , without a doubt , fundamental to the European Union 's development .
in writing . - ( PT ) I voted against this resolution .
all the problems of the first period arose because we did not have those things , so they are extremely welcome now .
within the framework of the 18-month programme of the German , Portuguese and Slovenian Presidencies , the Council has made intensive preparations to make this important meeting successful in terms of better protection and sustainable utilisation of biodiversity at the global level .
I would like to emphasise that Serbia has undertaken , in accordance with Article 5 of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement , to respect human rights and protect ethnic and religious minorities .
the budget framework is inflexible - we are not simply moving unspent money from the agriculture budget framework over to other parts of the budget , and recently the Commission has almost made a habit of challenging this flexibility - challenging this rigidity .
I have to say that the irony of this is not lost on me .
2008 discharge : European Medicines Agency
this is because approximately one in six young people in the European Union drops out of school early and one in four does not complete secondary education .
( SV ) Mr President , the map of Europe has changed through armed attack and war .
without them , our commitments are only words and the legislation is useless .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , let me thank you on behalf of the Commission for the chance to discuss the outcome of the Copenhagen conference on climate change and the follow-up to the Copenhagen Accord .
this is not merely a technical procedure .
we are talking of quality food !
it could also serve to legitimise the dictatorships in Tunisia , Libya and Syria , and to a lesser extent Algeria and Egypt .
they give the impression of dissension and inconsistency .
( DE ) Madam President , we are going to be dealing with - though unfortunately not debating - the report by Mrs Kósáné Kovács concerning the Roma issue .
a separate article was introduced , along with several recitals and provisions concerning funding-related aspects .
contracts entered into between people in different places , and particularly the difficult issue of the tentative offer , or pollicitation , and acceptance , the procedures , timings and proof can all be unified without necessarily having to unify the substantive rules of our different legislations .
the High Representative again met with the UN Secretary General in Lisbon last Saturday .
there should be a creative tension between us and the executive - that is , the Commission .
I am taking advantage of this explanation of vote to criticise the delay in the codification of European law .
I have endeavoured to ensure that key MEPs were kept informed by my services about the evolution of this debate .
we must find a balance between providing funding for all the requirements and maintaining budgetary discipline , even if it means restricting expenditure , in order to comply with the Multiannual Financial Framework .
its implementation is well established .
enforcing payment in such circumstances is virtually impossible .
the Commission will also consider this in the light of the changes made in this area by the Treaty of Lisbon , which I hope will enter into force as soon as possible .
the rapporteur has produced a balanced proposal .
I would like all EU legislation to be on this basis .
the European Union must also contribute to the observance of human rights by its major trading partners .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , let us be honest .
this is a worrying fact , and it requires that we give thought to whether the causes lie deeper , and whether administrative rules and regulations - hard law - are sufficient in this instance , or whether it is necessary to alter people 's awareness and culture in general .
we are launching a clear and precise initiative so that the two Member States involved in this matter can resolve this lack of coordination as soon as possible .
I would very much welcome if one of those top jobs could go to a woman .
- Report : Herczog
I would also like to object strongly to the use of corn , cereals and other primary agricultural food products for energy production .
these programmes are creating very positive experiences and we should extend them for that reason .
( PL ) I endorsed this report .
budget support must always be accompanied by actions to develop the receiving country 's parliamentary control and audit capacities and to increase transparency and public access to information , and civil society should be involved in monitoring budget support .
however , apart from this measure , all the information has disappeared .
( HU ) Mr President , beginning with January , Hungary will be the third new Member State to take over the rotating Presidency of the EU .
in writing . - ( SV ) This own-initiative report focuses on potentially improving and increasing the protection provided for asylum seekers , but I distance myself from the statement in the report that a common asylum system would resolve this problem .
this measure will make the market competitive and is therefore in the interests of consumers , who will benefit from the new rules of a more healthy , free and transparent energy market .
forgive me for not having said it during my initial speech , but defining an energy policy - notwithstanding our differences on nuclear power , notwithstanding those differences - will be a priority for the French Presidency .
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they know the true value of their resource and with this agreement , so will we .
what has been included , though , is a long-term goal of 95 g / km by 2020 , which I am pleased about , but it depends on the interpretation to what extent this has been included effectively in the current text .
the Commission has also established an EU reference laboratory for mollusc diseases , which receives annual financial support , to ensure coordination of national laboratories in the Member States and provide scientific support to the Commission .
it is right that we see EU action on this and - dare I say - this does constitute a pretty coherent plan B , where plan A , the common European agricultural policy , has failed Europe 's bees .
obviously they will be given the floor after it has been given to Members speaking for the first time .
Mr President , I would like to welcome President Sarkozy again to Strasbourg and to congratulate him on engaging with Parliament , for being real with regard to ideas , even though he knew there would not be general agreement across the House with regard to those ideas .
there are contradictory scientific statements , and many people are afraid of the possible dangers and risks .
I can even understand , if not actually approve of , the fact that we are voting for an opt-out here .
national governments cannot turn a blind eye due to the strategic importance of banks in oiling the wheels of the real economy .
to meet the external challenges we must , firstly , strengthen our own single market by investing more in research and development and , secondly , ensure better coordination of research and innovation among the Member States .
this was not and is still not an easy task since , and this is deplorable , the majority of European Union Member States have not been able so far to fulfil their obligations under the Kyoto Protocol .
the Commission will also continue to assess how Member States have transposed Directive 2004 / 38 / EC of 29 April 2004 into their national law and how they are applying it in practice .
the way forward has been mapped out .
let us not lapse into an emotional debate !
I welcome the adoption of the directive aiming to introduce new rules governing cross-border healthcare .
creative industries are an important part of economic policy .
equally , I am pleased to see that Parliament shares the view that market-based instruments cannot be seen and used in isolation and should be combined with regulatory instruments .
at least 60 million people live in France , and the French Government has 38 ministers .
we must not intervene in the markets every time the prices change in an attempt to combat natural fluctuations .
therefore , we absolutely cannot guarantee what you are saying , Mr Barrot , namely , that this is a joint operation for people who , following individual assessments , have been found to be irregular migrants .
I think there is still a long way to go before we can ensure that a possible general agreement on agricultural products with Morocco receives consensus approval .
since the health of children is at stake , we want to act fast and we are now discussing how to do that .
but I have to say this : they can never succeed - they cannot win - because it is the democratic process in Northern Ireland that has spoken , and that must win .
in the light of the successfully concluded negotiations with Liechtenstein and the amended legal basis , I voted for consent to be given .
I think that the United States ' request is unacceptable and is a threat to the freedoms and rights of European citizens .
it contains an action plan rather than a legislative proposal , an action plan that currently contains 50 proposals that we are putting forward for discussion , all of which are designed to improve the way the single market works in order to benefit small and medium-sized enterprises , growth and citizens .
of course we do not know how many jobs are created : economies are simply much more complex than if there were a causal relation between how much money you put in one programme and how much you supported .
no ambassador of communications can determine whether a directive or a Single Market is suited to the social and productive fabric that needs to embrace it .
you should have admitted this and then I would have been able to take you more seriously .
Mr Schulz may not like what I have to say .
I voted for the resolution in the conviction that , during the period that immediately follows , the specific measures aimed at improving the situation of the Roma population will be put into practice rather than remain fine statements .
we must take into account the fact that the Baltic Sea is among the most precious marine ecosystems in the world , and that the Baltic Sea region has been classified as a ' particularly sensitive sea area ' ( PSSA ) .
but the body is beginning to stink and , the longer it is unburied , the worse the stench is going to get .
I would like to thank Mrs Kallenbach as well for her report and I especially welcome the emphasis placed on strengthening the role of local urban authorities in order to make access to public services available to every citizen .
it should invest in the region financially and tangibly .
the reduced VAT rate for some sectors will help to boost SME activity , while encouraging the establishment of an economy that is more environmentally friendly .
among the positive measures , the following stand out : the simplification of the structure of this convention , the modernisation of contributions to the budget in line with the ' user pays ' principle in relation to the contracting parties , a new definition of obligations and a review of the decision-making process and the resolution of disputes with respect to the latter .
in particular for small , neutral countries like Austria , strengthening the strategic partnership between NATO and the European Union is of decisive importance .
we all agree on the need to combat terrorism .
but I have a problem with the frenzy against aviation permeating this debate as if it were the greatest environmental villain and the best thing would be if we stopped flying completely .
there has also been an increasing number of public executions , as Mr Romeva i Rueda said , including in one case through stoning , despite assurances by the Iranian side that stoning was forbidden under existing decrees .
in writing . - ( PT ) I voted in favour of the Peterle report on the health strategy for 2008-2013 because I believe that ensuring a high level of lifelong human health protection must be an EU priority .
certainly , the people of Somaliland would be justified in asking why we here in the EU were so reluctant to recognise their de facto country , but were so quick to recognise the independence of Kosovo .
there will always be some risk which must be taken into account , and such a risk must be part of planning our activities .
the only response that we can give is that our vision is to develop a Europe which is totally based on renewable energy .
the fight against corruption is fundamental .
we will nevertheless vote in favour of the whole text , but I think that we will need further initiatives to give more weight to the European commitment .
we could have acted differently before .
the higher that is , the more grain will also be used as fuel , unless we intervene .
on the one hand , there are actual figures : a maximum of 750 MEPs , a ceiling of 96 and a minimum of 6 seats per Member State .
no other issue is more crucial to security in the 21st century .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , Mrs Krehl , thank you very much for your report .
this is our collective responsibility .
pesticides , especially pesticides used in agriculture , have an important impact on the health of humans and the environment and there should therefore be significant further reductions in their use .
you need to exercise that right .
( sustained applause from the right )
then we can start demanding a budgetary contribution .
the reality was that what actually happened here was a misrepresentation under the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act or the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive , as Mr Harbour was talking about .
this is a historic coming to terms with the past , and the genocides of the Armenians , Pontic Greeks and Assyrians are being recognised .
another explanation , however , might be that the European Commission auditors were due to come and inspect Scotland both in October and last week in November .
we have a rather nice situation today , because , at USD 80 per barrel of oil , we have an exchange rate going up to EUR 1.4 .
there has been a unity of purpose and conviction from the beginning of my involvement - and I know that that goes back many years before I joined this Parliament last summer .
they want generous aid , and it is not always used appropriately : we have just had the example of the United Kingdom .
it is therefore of particular concern that Russia seeks to close the offices of the British Council in St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg .
the European Commission should prepare a pan-European awareness-raising campaign , providing information on preventive measures , early detection and diagnosis of cancer and its treatment .
should we take this report on faith ?
this particularly concerns matters of governance and human rights .
we want 100 % of the money back .
they are , from bottom up , practically all included in our activities and we are trying to find a proper way of having this coordinated .
full reciprocity in market liberalisation and protection of investments must be safeguarded .
the family , both her widower and her son , as well as the Pakistan People 's Party and Mrs Bhutto herself before she died , in a communication that she had with the UK Foreign Secretary , expressed their desire for this investigation to be conducted by the United Nations .
this is a positive move towards greater transparency in the aviation sector and consumer protection .
on the other hand , over-caution and excessively stringent regulation do not give us a cornucopia of foods which meet exemplary hygiene standards .
closure of the sitting
topical as it is , this issue has taken on a particular complexion in Romania .
Noura al Hashlamoun is a 36-year-old housewife and the mother of six children .
we are supposed to support a Reform Treaty which is in reality the European Constitution , the renamed European Constitution , which the voters in France and the Netherlands rejected in referendums , and a number of other countries failed to ratify within the prescribed time .
it is not an isolated case .
foreign hauliers work in the UK on fuel brought with them in 1 000-litre tanks .
a debate was held in the European Parliament today on the volcanic ash crisis .
in fact quite the reverse : what Europe needs is a proper family and demographic policy , sovereign cooperation between nations and frontiers , not Frontex .
on this topic , I would like to say that , even if we do not have an agreement with Syria , we should now make use of the entire arsenal of sanctions available to us , if necessary , to end this violence .
finally , I should like to offer my sincere thanks to those who brought this matter to my attention and say that I stand shoulder to shoulder with them .
Mr President , unfortunately my country is back in the news .
firstly , no one has proved that it is CO2 emissions which are the cause of climate change .
in writing . - ( EL ) Eight years after NATO 's war in Yugoslavia , the Kosovo problem not only remains unsolved , but also has become more intractable .
were the European banks more gullible ?
I can see little benefit in being able to tag passengers ' movement around airport terminals and would also call into question how much it would cost for airports to implement such measures .
the Treaty of Lisbon has laid the foundation for the new European citizens ' initiative , which had so far been lacking in the European Union 's decision-making process .
in writing . - ( PL ) The issue of the European Union 's energy security has been raised many times in this Parliament , especially by representatives of the new Member States .
the Fisheries Partnership Agreement amounts to 80 % of the overall revenues from the fisheries sector within the state budget .
my question for the Commissioner is about the possibility of having a peacekeeping force present in the area , given the statement made by the UN yesterday , acknowledging the failure of its forces , which have been passive in response to the recent tensions .
I would like to inform you that during this part-session additional camera operators with special equipment will be present in the Chamber .
fingerprints can only be taken and stored in a database within a legal framework in strict observance of Community regulations and basic rights .
Europe itself is to blame for the continuing and exponential problem of immigration by having signed-up to the criminal Schengen agreements .
( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , firstly , many thanks to our two fellow Members from the Committee on Budgets - Mr Lewandowski and , of course , Mrs Haug - who have overseen our work passionately and effectively .
Mr President , I am delighted to agree with Mr Portas and the Communist Group on this issue .
2 .
the reduction of expenditure through budget allocations and the launch of education system reform as a priority are other measures which can be added to this .
at the time , the European Parliament had adopted a relevant report by Mr Katiforis - I was the shadow rapporteur - on the issue of credit rating agencies .
so we can draw on those experiences and explain to Member States - and even Members of this Parliament - who are reluctant what the benefits are and how effective they can be .
with the Lisbon Treaty in force , the EU needs , more than ever , efficient common foreign security and energy policies which are based on solidarity .
the statements by the Council and the Commission on a facility providing medium-term financial assistance for Member States ' balance of payments .
( the President cut off the speaker . )
( ES ) Madam President , Mr Orbán , on behalf of the Spanish Socialists , I would like to greet the Hungarian Presidency , the third Presidency in the first trio of presidencies under the new dynamic established in the Treaty of Lisbon .
Mr Lambsdorff 's report makes an important contribution to the European Union 's involvement in the UN 's business and transformation .
( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , I am pleased that today , after six years of discussions , we have provided Europe with
in conclusion , I hope that , through this debate here in this House and around Europe , we will be able to dispel some of the myths that abound in connection with flexicurity .
this Green Paper is in no way business as usual , but a call for better governance and territorial cohesion that also criticises developments where some regions fly high and there is progress in big-city areas , while other regions are left behind .
this must be brought to an end , and conditions of this sort must be imposed on recipient countries .
allow me also to make a couple of final remarks in that introductory statement .
in this context I would like to ask the Commission and Council representatives what we are going to do , what our position will be ?
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I am very pleased to be part of this positive movement and this very interesting discussion .
the problem is not the Turkish Cypriots , as some people have been saying .
the objective of this assistance is to improve the living conditions of beneficiary populations by recommending and providing all those instruments that will ensure that these countries embark on a path towards growth and accountability .
it is to this that I should like an answer .
firstly , there is Russia 's membership of the World Trade Organisation .
we could almost have predicted its intentions : initially to extend the application of this system , although only to part of the fleet , in a large number of Member States , and then , subsequently , to create a single EU market in fishing rights , possibly with their transaction on a stock exchange .
secondly , the report proposes that the improved standards should apply not only to producers within the European Union , but also to importers of meat products to Europe .
the only conclusion that was made at the time was that no matter what the citizens want , they live with what is imposed on them .
Mr President , I should like to say thank you and welcome to the Commissioner .
in writing . - ( EL ) The MEPs of the Communist Party of Greece ( KKE ) have voted against the report .
I am not in favour of protectionism by stealth , but we do need to prevent unfair competition .
he is absolutely right .
( ES ) Mr President , Mrs Jedrzejewska , Mrs Trüpel , Mr Lamassoure , Mr Lewandowski and Mr Böge are the names behind a 2011 budget that I believe has ultimately proved to be moderate and realistic .
I wish to state that I voted in favour of this interpretation and I want to say that Mr Hannan 's comparison , while pretending not to make it , of our vote with Hitler 's Ermächtigungsgesetz of 1933 was an absolutely disgraceful comparison .
order of business : see Minutes
security standards must be harmonised in ascending order .
in total , the Union for the Mediterranean can now benefit from financial support worth EUR 60 million in the 2008-2009 budget , particularly via regional programmes .
a fundamental reason for the European Union 's existence is to give its citizens a sense of security .
I voted for this report because it highlights the importance of restricting dependency on imported protein , especially as this dependency poses major risks for the European Union 's livestock sector .
national parliamentarians claim far too often that they cannot help it , that it is Brussels that is imposing them upon them .
the Tunisian authorities must respect the will of the people and proceed without delay to a process of democratisation , with accountability in cases of corruption or repression by the cronies of Ben Ali .
to respond to Mr Tannock , but also to some extent to Mr Cappato , we should not underestimate the value of the suspensive clause where human rights are concerned .
the internal market is everywhere - it must be everywhere - but , Mr Harbour , the 2020 text is not designed to talk about everything .
the atmosphere within the Coordination Body for Southern Serbia has since improved .
the very thorny issue of ' Icesave remains open , and on Saturday there will be a referendum which will bring Icelanders to the polls .
counterfeiting is a serious attack on European industry and on the European economy and on European innovation , because we are an innovation-based economy .
let me just say this : there is talk of plants and CO2 ; there is deforestation and desertification .
we must look at how other EU countries deal with these issues and learn from them .
as European socialists , we shall , in any case , continue to defend workers because , now more than ever , Europe needs a social model that meets the needs of the most vulnerable citizens and especially of those most affected by the consequences of the economic and financial crisis .
however , the facts that procedures are being ignored and savings are being sought at the cost of safety mean that catastrophes similar to the one in the Gulf of Mexico might happen in the future in Europe , too .
finally , we have seen the value of increased European coordination when it comes to responding to the ash cloud crisis .
only an hour ago , I was speaking to a representative of the chemical industry who said that there is so much potential for technical development that it could be possible to achieve much better results in this area .
it is therefore vital to ensure that there is enough time for the discussions that form part of the legislative reform process of the European Network and Information Security Agency ( ENISA ) to be carried out thoroughly , so I voted in favour of the extension of the Agency 's mandate until 13 September 2013 .
however , at this stage the Commission 's views are clear .
on the one hand , we are happy and , on the other hand , not so happy , but every step forward takes us forward too and this is where we should be going .
I am addressing this Parliament without being able to do so in my own language , Catalan , which is spoken by over 10 million European citizens .
there is an official Turkish policy of threatening Greece with war , known as the casus belli , and it is not simply a paper threat ; Turkey is in the habit of violating the airspace of and overflying even inhabited Greek islands in the Eastern Aegean .
this will also make it easier for us in Parliament to successfully complete the treatment of this topic .
in addition , the current economic crisis highlights even more the need to promote the full exercising of the right to free movement .
this shows that the Council has begun to accept that the European Parliament must also have more influence in this area .
that situation would not , of course , be perfect and there would be obstacles to circumvent .
yes , the high-profile performers came and lent their support to the cause , because the ordinary performers thought that it would be better to have some of the big names in this particular area as well , but the ordinary performers - the session musicians , who most people have never heard of - were the biggest lobbyists here .
in other words , given the projections made , what we should be discussing today are the consequences for demographic development resulting from unemployment , increased job insecurity , deregulation of working time , a monetary policy focused on moderation and devaluation of wages .
I am voting in favour of the rejection of this report and in favour of the report being referred back to the committee since it has further weakened the reforms put forward by the Commission , which were already too small in scale and too slow .
we must ensure that we do not place them under excessive strain and , particularly in times of crisis , do not attempt to use them as a source of capital in areas where other sources of capital may already be drying up .
this strong link , however , must exist .
( PL ) Madam President , the debates being held in certain EU Member States regarding pension systems , and the public emotions accompanying these debates , show how important and , at the same time , how difficult this subject is .
their medium-term results will help the EU to introduce this technology in a more economically and environmentally effective manner .
for these people , the implementation of the most up-to-date IT systems in the field of justice might have a decisive impact , as it could make legal proceedings more efficient , simpler and shorter .
however , with this non-committal pie-in-the-sky approach , we will not make any headway in Europe .
Mr President , I think we all know that this year 's budget and trilogue are going to be difficult .
furthermore , in my opinion , the instruments set out in the agreement help neither the authorities nor the local private sector to participate , meaning they will not be sufficiently involved in the process of development in their regions .
this is why the Commission firmly believes that a vibrant and strong parliamentary dimension reinforces the democratic legitimacy of the partnership .
the countries that have already removed protection have not observed any obvious progress .
( PL ) Mr President , may I take the liberty of thanking Mr Ortuondo Larrea for his report .
this being the case , the amendment which states that the information obtained should be used solely for estimating yields and not for control purposes is fitting .
that would be very welcome news , both to citizens and to the industry itself .
first of all , on the issue of Kaesong , I think that Mr Ford 's formulation - that we should not automatically exclude Kaesong - is the right approach to take .
we know who the troublemakers are .
( ES ) Mr President , in the last few weeks we have been moved by the repeated demonstrations of heroism and the bravery of the people of Iran , who have confronted the machine guns and truncheons of their tyrants with their bare hands .
I do not know if our initiative relating to the Danube Region , the subject of our current negotiations , will be successful or not .
I have been relatively gentle with you all tonight because we have had a reasonable amount of time , but it is meant to be 30 seconds .
we therefore need the Small Business Act to be implemented in the Member States .
those of you who have followed this closely will also know that the Swedish Presidency has devoted a lot of time to Georgia .
Commissioner , it is your first day at work .
in the past , an American Marshall Plan saved the economy of Europe .
in writing . - ( IT ) The terrible fires which struck Greece and southern Italy in particular this summer , leaving victims in their wake and destroying thousands of hectares of woodland and agricultural land , again highlight the urgent need for better coordination of rapid reaction measures by Member States ' civil protection forces .
I would therefore like to draw particular attention to the role of the EUFOR TCHAD / RCA operation .
therefore , I strongly call upon the Commission and the Council to react with determination , unity and strength .
finally , it recognises that liberalisation of services connected to the Internet , such as telecoms , has led to a boom in infrastructure investment , so I believe we should be cautious about applying further regulation on such industries , as the Commission seems intent on doing at the moment .
let us hope , therefore , that the question of flexibility and the financing of the ITER fusion energy project will also fall into place soon .
we need to ensure that we can have more international trade and competition without distortions .
each year many thousands of people try to get into the EU , which is building higher and higher walls around its territory .
we need the rapid development of a specific EU position covering key aspects such as preventing religious fundamentalism , combating poverty and corruption , building civil society , the defence of human rights and democratisation .
development aid must favour ...
Pakistan 's constitution , although nominally upholding religious freedom , still allows for laws such as the blasphemy laws , which are discriminatory towards non-Muslims , and the persecution of Shia and Ahmadiyya minorities is a common feature .
we must , of course , condemn this violence .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - Madam President , we , too , have a concern about the variable labour market that we already have across 27 Member States and within those 27 Member States , but our concern is how we move away from this towards something which is more comprehensive and stronger .
we live in a democratic age and under a democratic system .
please remember that this was a European Parliament initiative ; it was our idea .
( PL ) Mr President , the main aim of the Lisbon Strategy is to increase the competitiveness of national economies .
Mr President , the core issue in the current crisis in Tibet is not only about oppression , it is also about secession .
if this is not the case , I fear there can be no solution or positive results , especially for those whose immediate release we are calling for today , but also for groups of people who are now clearly under threat and in danger due to a large number of factors , not only the guerrilla factions , but other elements , too .
in writing . - As the Lisbon Treaty is about to enter into force , the rapid progress in the transatlantic relationship between the two biggest democratic and economic entities will have an increased importance .
this must be very clear - we as the European Union must help Serbia on the way to Europe , but Serbia must also play its part in creating a peaceful , good and neighbourly atmosphere .
I believe that we should continue to use this method because it has become clear that the Member States and the companies involved react to it .
the Internal Market Scoreboard and the Consumer Panel have a crucial role in improving the functioning of the internal market .
I welcome the emphasis given to the next stage in the Lisbon Strategy .
apart from that , we are about to create vast amounts of new bureaucracy and expense for administrative bodies and businesses .
rapporteur . - ( HU ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , we are reaching the end of a long process , a long and successful process through which we have been able to move small and medium-sized enterprises from the periphery to the centre .
the arguments put forward by these people have a common denominator : concerns about the impact of a massive loss of Member State sovereignty on the everyday life of citizens of EU Member States .
the policy is not working .
it is the fact that in Slovakia now , in 2007 , the Italian ENEL company is planning to complete a nuclear plant that was developed in the Soviet Union before Chernobyl .
these special regulations that are repeatedly approved for some countries are burdens for citizens .
nonetheless , I voted against the report .
the differences between the new and the old EU Member States in the survival rates for cancer patients are so large that we can speak of an " iron curtain in the health sector ” .
we hope it is a proof of its political relevance .
depleted uranium is a by-product of the nuclear industry , resulting from the enrichment of uranium or the production of nuclear weapons .
that , too , explains the drawing up of the free trade agreement with South Korea .
now , moreover , - and I take advantage of the fact that Mr Kallas is here - the Commission is placing in doubt the future central crossing of the Pyrenees in the future core network .
the context is as follows : the climate constraint is going to get tougher , the European Union 's security of supply is being threatened by ever more serious and frequent crises , and its competitiveness may be harmed .
including in Appendix I , which concerns species that are genuinely endangered , a species that still numbers - thank God - millions of living specimens would set a very dangerous precedent .
35 .
my first point is about the idea that people 's attitude in the new Member States towards development cooperation and humanitarian aid is lukewarm .
I therefore believe that the Commission 's proposal is a typical case of a certain hyperactivity that is totally unnecessary and will only serve to generate confusion as to the nature of the European Union 's real competences .
we support many of the wordings in this report , but , for the reasons stated above , we have chosen to vote against the report as a whole .
in writing . - ( PL ) Mr President , the justification for the Commission 's proposal to the European Parliament is a new comitology procedure that significantly increases the powers of the European Parliament .
my group tabled an amendment today for that to be withdrawn , but it just failed to go through .
significant increases in some categories - such as for example dresses , trousers and pullovers - have been balanced by drops in textile imports from suppliers in other countries .
the Innovation Union Scoreboard shows that the EU is losing ground to the United States and Japan , while Brazil and China are closing the gap with the EU .
( FR ) Mr President , an administrator 's post in the European Parliament information office in Luxembourg has been vacant for more than two years .
blaming Europe for everything that doesn 't work properly is one of the methods they use .
you will all have heard of the wave of attacks that took place only yesterday in Cantabria .
what is stopping us calling on the European Central Bank to account transparently and in detail for its actions as was done in the United States for the Fed ?
concerning the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia , Bernd Posselt , among others , said that we should support the effort of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia , and I think he is right .
interventions should target low-income households , as defined by the national legislation in force .
what we will be voting on tomorrow is not a perfect agreement , but if we vote against it we will at the same time be voting in favour of doing nothing .
Mr President , our policies on maternal health in the developing world are failing .
finally I would add , even though we are not discussing Kosovo , that the Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic , who visited the European Parliament several weeks ago , reaffirmed to us that whatever happened about Kosovo his country had no intention of resorting to arms .
I do not wish to comment on that at this juncture .
I would like to draw the attention of fellow Members to the fact that decisions on matters related to abortion lie within the competence of the governments of individual Member States .
in particular , we scaled back the number , frequency and maturity of longer-term refinancing operations .
there are indeed matters that need to remain national .
just yesterday , new clashes took place among ethnic Kyrgyz , Russians and Turks .
the amendment basically relates to the ban on imports of exotic birds from the wild to the Union .
moreover , the Lisbon Treaty enhances Union 's commitment to continue its external action according to its founding principles .
what does that mean ?
I must , however , tell you that I received the report favourably , as I understood that it was limited mainly to detection , on the one hand , and to suppression , on the other .
lastly , what actions do you intend to take to improve the supervision established by the Member States ?
while Eurobonds may be regarded as a clever idea which can deliver funds to governments , there seems no legal base on which this can be achieved , so it looks unlikely that this option can be exercised .
written Statements ( Rule 149 )
the Commission 's communication goes in the right direction and Parliament wishes to support the initiatives it sets out , aimed at improving access to foreign markets .
like most of my colleagues , however , I voted against Amendment 29 on Article 16 , and I am pleased it was rejected .
what was new was that in April , Parliament put a stop to it .
the problem of violence arises not only inside but also outside of the stadium .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , first of all , I would like to apologise for not being present at the beginning of the debate , but I was only just arriving from Brussels by plane and you were - how shall I put it ? - in advance of the schedule , which is very laudable , but which resulted in my being a little bit late .
the first concerns the Internet : Parliament intends to make consumers aware of the risks of buying drugs online while also pushing for the proposal of ad hoc legislation on this selling method .
I welcome this report on behalf of all the Members of our group .
the Commission has supported joint implementation projects under the Kyoto Protocol and is ready to do more , because we think this is a most important issue .
I firmly believe that there are numerous examples showing effective management of soil and water and the use of resistant crops which can regenerate the soil .
ultimately , we have to tackle the root of the problem and impose strict regulations on the financial markets , prevent speculative practices and quickly introduce a tax on financial transactions .
for this reason , I have voted in favour of the Scheele report .
they had never been matters requiring a military response , but rather a civil one through the international police sphere and the judicial sphere .
this also applies to the 22 285 children in foster care .
the availability of credit and loan guarantee schemes are crucial to exploiting the growth and job potential offered by SMEs .
we are awaiting a detailed proposal from the Commissioner which means not just going along with the various lobbies , from England , from the United Kingdom and Ireland , I think , but addressing an adverse situation .
ladies and gentlemen , the judgments handed down recently by the Court of Justice in the case of Viking , Laval and Rüffert has ignited a broad debate at EU level concerning the protection of workers ' rights in relation to increased levels of globalisation and labour mobility .
I am aware , however , that this question currently takes a back seat behind the major political question , namely what we can do to resolve the current situation .
( RO ) In the three reports which we have debated today , I have come across some relevant , useful points for defining the European Union 's future policies as a global player .
Ms Shirin Ebadi , who has denounced these abuses at great personal risk , and who won the Nobel Peace Prize as a result , continues to do so on behalf of all ethnic groups and all religious communities .
I can see merit in the recommendation to extend the scope of UCITS to invest in open-ended real estate funds and funds of hedge funds , but this should be dealt with , in my opinion , in a separate directive or legislative instrument .
the current activities will at least have served as a wake-up call for Member States .
the 58 reactors in France or those in the United Kingdom or those in many other countries do not mean that the French or others may be more stupid or less intelligent , or that the future of their children does not worry them , or that they have never thought about nuclear safety .
a review of the EU 's Lisbon strategy could contribute to a necessary reform agenda .
the textile industry safeguards that we have will indeed make sure that we retain European jobs .
it is essential that this aid be able to move freely , without restriction , and that the checkpoints be opened .
last week , I came back from Korea .
explanations , suggested informally , that the principle of subsidiarity prevents measures being taken against defaulting States will not be accepted : if they were , the Member States could delay or refuse to implement any Community legislation which they viewed as inappropriate or subject to challenge .
added to this , we are now hearing talk of criminals and mafia .
could we have a better delivery ?
unfortunately , the EU seems to be operating otherwise where it concerns the accounting rules for forest carbon sinks .
I commend the work done by the rapporteur .
we voted in favour of the report on a Single Market for enterprises and growth .
to say that is a great opportunity for the new Commissioner , Mr Füle .
( PT ) Mr President , the attacks of financial speculators on the euro area 's most vulnerable and dependent economies are getting worse .
of course , Greece has the main responsibility .
just by way of explanation , this is the third in a triad of reports on the use of pesticides .
we are including this in the resolution , which is a sensible thing to do .
or is it because we have a number of politicians in the individual countries , in other words , in countries such as Ireland , Portugal , Spain and Greece , who have not actually done their job ?
the report states that the annual cost of this violence is EUR 33 billion .
they are committing themselves to a further reduction in emissions , in line with their historical responsibilities , and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities .
above all , I do not regard it as a democratic development .
which Member States support the improved Treaty , and which reject it ?
in that respect we have long since passed the first stage of 25 % and already reached the second stage of 49 % ownership of each other 's air services market .
( DE ) Mr President , this particular piece of nonsense you just referred to was adopted by the majority of this House in spite of our voting against it .
as Baroness Ashton said today , the EU needs a coherent strategy that makes use of all available instruments , including those aimed at reforming the security sectors of the countries in the region and at democratic and institutional capacity building .
not for the European Union Member States , not for Slovakia or Romania , countries that have an emancipated and modern legislation regarding minorities , but it creates a dangerous precedent for Abkhazia , for South Ossetia and , especially , for Transnistria , where there are frozen conflicts since the time of the Kosovo conflict .
on 15 July , the Commission proposed the abolition of short-term visas for citizens of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia , Montenegro and Serbia .
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on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , Mr Sacconi , ladies and gentlemen , my Group supports the motion for a resolution .
aid agencies report that some 30 000 people have been displaced by the fighting , so it is hardly surprising in such circumstances that innocent civilians have been killed , although both sides contest the actual numbers .
it has a budget of around EUR 400 million for that period .
in writing . - Solidarity is one of the most precious values for Europe today .
this will take stock of all the action taken and draw lessons from it for the future .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I would like to thank the honourable Members for their comments and the views they expressed during the debate .
I may be Chair of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs , but it was Members before me who made this rule and adopted it in plenary with an absolute majority .
emergency measures are one thing , but I have also noticed that some operations amount to the common-or-garden nationalisation of banks .
the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament form a regulatory nexus based on the long-term validity of individual provisions .
these include training for judges and lawyers , technical support for the courts , infrastructure and improved information for citizens .
the EU should also end its complicity with the continuing oppression of the Palestinian people .
female circumcision , approval for public executions , torture and strict interpretation of Islamic law are widespread .
do you really think you could have carried on ?
I hope that it will continue to be superfluous because patients will not need to make use of it .
of course , we must also spend much more on research into sustainability , new materials and new products .
today being the centenary of International Women 's Day , I voted against the nomination of Mr Harald Wögerbauer because there are not enough women at the European Court of Auditors .
however , if this is not solved , it will result in unemployment and the failure of a sector , with extremely serious consequences for the Autonomous Region of the Azores .
we speak a lot about lasting peace between the State of Israel and the Palestinians , but that is a bit like talking about a house and starting with the roof .
I would add that this is not happening against a backdrop of European solidarity because one Member State - Germany - is promising additional aid to Opel and is allowing the Anvers plant to close .
perhaps a bit more openness and a bit more reflection will give us a chance to be more effective in this matter .
during the debate , Commissioner Vassiliou said that she would be prepared to review the legal base if she felt there were reasons to do so , which would depend on the amendment of the directive .
so we are now working on this - my services are working with the Cabinet and the services of the Trade Commissioner , Mr de Gucht - and we are going to launch a legislative proposal for a legal weapon to use in such cases .
scientific experts should declare publicly that they have no financial or other interests in the pharmaceutical industry .
admittedly , some efforts have been made , but corruption is a genuine blight and the Cyprus issue remains unresolved , not to mention the fact that there is a lot of work to do in relations with the Armenians .
however , these calls for more active involvement in resolving Georgia 's problems fell on deaf ears .
this gives me the opportunity to welcome to the Chamber Mr Tashi Wangdi , the representative of His Holiness , the Dalai Lama .
the Commission is only one voice on the Board .
the alternative is that impatient , young Tibetans will turn to violence and terrorism .
besides the pressure to liberalise services in the area in question ( air transport ) the GUE / NGL group is particularly critical of the prioritisation of operating profitability over safety in the reports .
on behalf of the Union for Europe of the Nations Group , I would like to express appreciation of this creative approach to provisions , enabling Union resources to be used in the most rational manner possible .
it must be stated , firstly , that the duty to provide assistance is not legally binding , secondly , that the use of military means is not necessarily required and , thirdly , that the individual Member States retain the freedom to decide what the assistance they provide actually comprises .
I also think that we have learned a lot from what happened last year .
with regard to Commissioner Mandelson , I wish him well in the WTO Doha Agreement and I hope that we can move agriculture forward with the US and the European Union to ensure we get a settlement , building on things like Euromed , which are very important to the European Union .
the fourth is from the United States .
although that closure is taking longer than planned , we can still be glad that it is under way , because it could have also been stopped .
( the sitting was suspended at 11.50 and resumed at 12.05 )
in this case , the management of the enterprise would be obliged to create a uniform system of participation , as part of an agreement negotiated with employee representatives .
however , the EPLP does not agree that an EU-wide transaction tax is a necessary vehicle to achieve some of the Lisbon Strategy objectives and did not support this measure .
implementation of the decision should bring considerable benefits to the Member States .
I would like to thank everyone one more time and I hope for a positive result tomorrow .
I am , of course , grateful to the draftsmen of the opinions , both from the Committee on Legal Affairs and the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , for their close collaboration .
furthermore it might even produce at least a proportionate increase in those talented and creative people who are so necessary for economic and cultural development .
if I were a capitalist , everybody would know it !
this budget needs to change direction .
its objective must be to reduce the existing economic and social disparities , but in different regions of Europe .
I believe that at times , we have to be pragmatic in order to overcome the difficulty .
821 redundancies in 70 companies in the graphics sector in the Nord Brabant and Zuid Holland regions of the Netherlands show that the global economic and financial crisis does not spare sectors which , at first glance , appear to be more sheltered from its effects .
subject : safeguarding the rights of disabled people
we wish to ascertain whether these sectoral problems are being resolved in order to ensure that both sides really are opening up and Korea is not the unilateral beneficiary , and that - even when we think of our pharmaceutical industry , the car industry , of the many industrial sectors - reciprocity is guaranteed .
there can be no doubt that tangible results will only be achieved if integrated measures are taken at various levels - political , social , legal and educational .
they exist everywhere in the European Union .
Members of the European Parliament who are involved in this extra pension fund must accept a reduction in these luxury pensions , just as low-earners have been forced to accept a reduction in their pensions .
what penalties or rewards await those Member States which , respectively , do or do not comply with the objectives imposed by the strategy ?
a visit by EU counter-terrorism coordinator Gilles de Kerchove , together with the Commission , is scheduled for January next .
it must carry authority as the core of EU external policy , the place where policy is developed and coordinated .
finally , the interim agreement is only an interim agreement .
lastly , the countries of the third bloc , although they have no major concerns or concerns of such importance within the context of this process , are paying a great deal of attention to the cost of our required solidarity and to the use of revenues arising from the various auctions and , in particular , to the choice or otherwise of post-allocation .
however , we must oppose these moves towards harmonisation .
by voting in favour of this text , I am joining with the majority of Parliament to urge the European Commission and the Member States to make a crucial final effort .
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on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - Mr President , the Committee on Foreign Affairs has delivered a good and balanced report on the progress of Macedonia , and we as Greens will gladly support it .
I mean , how could he talk about growth and jobs without acknowledging that this wonderful , fabled Lisbon Strategy has been a total disaster ?
for instance , they will be able to change supplier if the services are of poor quality , if the electricity supply is disrupted or if prices are too high .
all the omens are clear : there is a need for action and we have something to do here .
that would certainly be achievable for your Presidency , unlike the major projects that will have to be passed on to someone else in any case at the end of your six-month term .
the amendments on the EU strategy on Afghanistan also contributed to improving the structure of the report .
we have a so-called work of art - which has given offence to everybody , but particularly the Bulgarians - and the first statement on the Gaza crisis had to be withdrawn several hours later .
due to the 2005 introduction of the single tax rate by the right-wing government , an excessive polarization of society has occurred , as well as an increase in poverty .
obviously , we also have to admit that the civilian population is a victim in this kind of conflict , and the UN panel has shown clearly that there are responsibilities on both sides : mainly that of the government but also that of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , and both need to be investigated .
I look forward to a continued dialogue with you on these plans .
what else should it be ?
that was our mission .
this includes , in particular , the case where the privatisation process of a company is ongoing .
it will be applied only for the transitional period up until the introduction of electronic or satellite road tolls , expected to be introduced in 2009 , firstly for goods vehicles and then for private vehicles .
electronic commerce is also excluded from the scope of the revision .
we are creating a stability mechanism , a permanent aid fund , which will have to be paid for by the ordinary people , by the people who will not be getting any free gifts .
the EU 's Heads of State or Government decided nearly two years ago that the EU should take the lead in order to secure a global climate agreement in Copenhagen .
today , under the single electricity market in Ireland , they are paying 76 % more than the average UK price .
in writing . - ( PL ) I abstained in the final vote on the report concerning EU-Turkey relations . this was because , despite negotiations lasting several months , the resolution makes no reference to the issue of Turkish responsibility for the massacre of Armenians in 1915 .
( PL ) Madam President , there is at least one country of the former Soviet Union where the results of elections are not known in advance .
a responsible and flexible attitude is required of both the Council and Parliament , and I firmly believe that in today 's situation , the agreement would send a remarkably positive message to the markets as well .
good things , such as accession to the European Union , will be self-evident .
we must give EU citizens the feeling that they are ' at the heart ' of the Union 's activities .
in particular , in accordance with Article 299 ( 2 ) of the EC Treaty and as stated by Commissioner Hübner , accessibility problems form one of the main obstacles to development .
without these assurances , a listing in Appendix II remains the least worst solution , if not , in fact , the best solution .
use of sexual violence in conflicts in North Africa and the Middle East (
what is needed is balanced , mutual , beneficial economic cooperation without political and economic blackmail .
I regret that the Council , while accepting Parliament 's positions , rejected the amendments aimed at giving Parliament the possibility of blocking Commission decisions on implementation of the programme , notably when annual priorities are chosen .
rapporteur . - Mr President , this report is a response to the Global Climate Change Alliance , which was launched by the European Commission towards the end of last year .
I am voting in favour of Kurt Lechner 's report on the recommendation for second reading on the Council common position for adopting a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on credit agreements for consumers and repealing Council Directive 87 / 102 / EEC .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Mr President , with this resolution we are paving the way for the solemn proclamation of the Charter of Fundamental rights by all three institutions in Strasbourg on 12 December .
it is important that we recognise that a rapporteur when appointed is not just appointed as rapporteur for the committee but appointed for Parliament as a whole .
overall , therefore , I fear that we will not succeed in eliminating the root cause of the problem .
I am also very happy to note that we now have some definitions of what such breaches consist of .
the idea formulated with regard to implementation , according to which the local and regional authorities must also be involved in policy making , also deserves support .
I think that , with your experience in Sweden during the 1990s , you are the right man in the right place to do what we have not done so far : devise a single strategy in the European Union to combat this economic and financial crisis .
I think we are entitled to an answer to this question .
thank you very much , congratulations on the results but let us change in the future .
all European organisations are today grappling with the recession , the financial crisis , the onset of high unemployment and the possible consequences of these .
I should like to reassure Mrs Pack that the Chair 's acknowledgements are a proper and institutional token of respect for rapporteurs and the opinions that they express , even when we are completely at odds with their content .
voting time
Mr President , on a point of order , can I ask for an urgent action by the President of Parliament to call for the protection of a delegation from Colombia which visited our Parliament on 27 and 28 June , and whose members this week received a public death threat because they had spoken out here in favour of the proposal for a humanitarian exchange of prisoners in the Colombian conflict ?
we support the concept of a CFSP EU sanctions regime which is applied on a unanimous basis to target the most egregious abusers of human rights in the world , provided the UK can always exercise a veto in this respect .
( applause )
I welcome Mr Niels Busk 's report and thank him and the Commissioner for the work they have done .
( PL ) Madam President , I would like to inform you that a Polish trade union delegation is seated in the gallery .
I therefore support the terms of the agreement reached between the Commission and the Swiss Government , so I am voting for the report by Mrs Pack .
as history tells us , people will deny the possibility of failure right up to the last moment .
I think that also applies to EU-Israel relations , but how can we get their attention to express the level of revulsion felt here at the scale of what is happening ?
we know that you will be present at every emergency .
the discharge report contains a number of points of criticism which require a tightening up of the current procedures and practices .
that , surely , is the right way to proceed .
I am pleased to see that the opinions of Parliament and the Commission coincide to a great extent .
maintaining competitiveness , increasing economic growth and fighting unemployment will be the greatest challenges faced by the EU .
( FI ) Mr President , I wish to thank the Commission and the Swedish Government for the very active role they have played , and I believe that the Baltic Sea Strategy is a good and important one .
what is at risk is democracy , freedom and the right of individuals to live in peace and freedom .
in the report we make a few suggestions .
the European Union is an area of solidarity , and the EU Solidarity Fund is a part of that .
we have the southern areas of Europe , of course , and also the Alpine belt , where the effects are very different and very significant .
this permanent dialogue , as highlighted once again in this Chamber , between Mr Trichet , Mr Almunia , Mr Juncker and Mr Barroso , is , strictly speaking , contrary to the Maastricht Treaty itself .
documents received : see Minutes
we also question the claim that Israel 's assault was initiated as a response to rocket fire from Hamas .
we have drawn up the report on the basis of the current situation and together with our fellow Members from the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe , we have reached an agreement with Mr Rasmussen , which encompasses the entire financial system .
( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , the recast version of the directive should help improve protection for the consumer and environment alike .
that is where industry comes in .
I consider this to be a democratic deficit which this Parliament must address .
following the enlargement of the Schengen area in the end of last year , the conditions under which Ukrainian citizens are granted visas for EU countries have become stricter ; the fees and waiting time have increased .
an earthquake reaching just 5 on the Richter scale can be dangerous in that it causes loose objects to fall , roofing to cave in , buildings to be negatively affected and gas and water services to be damaged .
this will be the only derogation .
our energy policy for Europe highlights the urgent need to promote an improvement in energy efficiency and renewable energy sources , and we are working towards that goal .
therefore , the EU should take concrete action to end impunity for perpetrators of sexual violence against women and children .
· The scope of the export ban .
the budget will have to be accurately balanced to ensure the successful realisation of the goals set out in the Treaty of Lisbon , like the creation of a common internal energy market for example .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue-card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
however , as you said that you would be tabling your own proposal in March , I should like to ask for this proposal to be in keeping with numerous policies of the European Union and not move in just one direction .
it is the Council 's and the Commission 's job to build the road leading here and generate the resources for this .
the new rules certainly make advertising more flexible .
I hope that this message struck home with the Commission too .
the existence of efficient , transparent and equitable tax systems is crucial for the advancement of developing countries , in that they contribute to the financing of their public assets , the sustainability of their institutions , their reduced dependency on external aid and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals .
this is certainly not the right time for this type of reform , but no one here would have anticipated that the reform would fail so miserably .
the debate is closed .
they provide a guarantee for control of production and continued quality .
I voted in favour of the resolution .
Madam President , I would first of all like to thank the Commissioner and everyone who took part in this debate .
it is , in fact , high time that this text was adopted ; it is high time that freedom of movement for third-country nationals was established within the EU , and I am glad we have reached the point at which we lay another brick in the construction of a Europe of freedoms , in an area that we want to be made increasingly secure .
attempts to prevent Members of Parliament from expressing their opinions on matters of legitimate public interest and concern , and from criticising their political opponents , by bringing legal proceedings are unacceptable in a democratic society and represent a breach of Article 8 of the Protocol , which is intended to protect Members ' freedom of expression when performing their duties in the interests of Parliament as an institution of the European Union .
therefore our present dominant economic model has a systemic fault .
I have to be fair .
therefore , it seems to me imperative that the Commission develop a set of best practices which would help Member States in further work on points of single contact .
that is the road to chaos and conflict .
in other words , Croatia has seen the adoption of the report on its ' progress ' towards accession to the EU - with it even being explicitly stated that the negotiations shall ( ! ) be concluded before the 2009 elections - whereas the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ( FYROM ) has seen the vote on its progress report postponed .
the second point relates to the application of the principle of proportionality in regulating the sector .
well , the fact that we had few or no instruments explains why we are not in the ' too little , too late ' situation , but in the ' step by step ' situation .
however , I would like to emphasise a problem we addressed in July 2007 in the form of the resolution adopted on the poorest regions in the EU .
we have at least made a start .
I believe that the oral amendment is well worded and allows us a great deal of free scope and I therefore ask you to support it .
the forthcoming visitors ' centre in Brussels is part of this , but I fear that certain amendments adopted in committee will delay its highly anticipated opening .
hence , the Commission 's proposal to fund a recall mechanism using the vegetable producers organisations ' budget is unacceptable .
there is no threat to any existing group - nor is the rule change an attempt to squash Eurosceptics , who have more than the new minimum number .
the actions stipulated in this plan complement the European legal framework set out in the Commission 's proposal for a directive on organ donation and transplantation .
thus we have a new Treaty .
I regret , nonetheless , that the common position does not allow the directive to be implemented through voluntary agreements between the parties , even though it is true that the rules of the Member States on legal proceedings cannot always be amended by agreements between the parties .
( DE ) Madam Commissioner , as you have heard , you have rightly been praised , and citizens applaud you , for the fact that telecoms in Europe have become cheaper , with prices likely to fall even further in future .
the rapporteur , Mr Mikolášik , referred to the question of transparency when allocating funds , as a basic prerequisite for achieving the overall objectives of cohesion policy .
in writing . - ( PL ) Food security is a key challenge for agriculture , not only in the European Union but throughout the world , particularly in developing countries .
this creates a good breeding ground not only for the development and dissemination of extremism , but also for political manifestations naming particular ethnic groups as threats to security and connecting minorities and migrants with crime .
but I am very concerned by imbalances in our economic relationship .
the four Nordic Member States have written to the committee about this regulation , stating that it increases citizens ' trust in the EU and that it provides the greatest possible degree of transparency .
the recent difficulties in the financial markets have shown that many of the strategies deployed by managers of alternative investment funds are vulnerable to some or even many risks affecting investors , other market players and the markets themselves .
thirdly , at a time when liberal is becoming social democrat and social democrat is tending to become liberal , the EU budget must be effective and even contracyclical .
in my speeches I have repeatedly stressed the necessity of promoting the ' Made in Europe ' brand in third-country markets .
where the report is untenable , however , is in its call to the Commission to draw up a specific road map for nuclear investments .
( EL ) Mr President , the Annapolis Conference on the Middle East ended with mixed results for the European Union .
we also had the problem that many of those people were told that compensation , or even refunds , would not be possible as they had not purchased their ticket with a credit card or booked through a travel agent .
I also welcome the boost given to the independence of competences and duties of the potential operators of the transmission networks .
the H1N1 influenza was extremely instructive .
the alarm was sounded after a patient died in hospital due to an infection and other patients are facing the same danger .
let us , however , not overdramatise the situation .
gays and lesbians are usually doubly persecuted , because they are activists , in many cases , but also because they are gays and lesbians .
in view of the billions given to aid the banks , Ingeborg Schäuble , the outgoing chairwoman of Welthungerhilfe , has called for a rescue package against world hunger .
the European Union has always produced the best results by an alliance of the Parliament and the Commission , so I count on your support in this regard .
the Commission is pleased to see that the quality of this evaluation work is acknowledged by Parliament .
what do you have to say , Commissioner , to the unemployed , to workers in flexible , temporary , insecure work who , for over 4-5 years , have worked in the public and private sector , on much-vaunted internships , and have already been given notice of dismissal ?
as rapporteur for Parliament 's 24th Annual Report on this subject , I can say that there has been a slight drop in the number of cases of infringement proceedings initiated by the Commission . nonetheless , the number of cases continues to exceed 2,500 .
( the sitting was closed at 12.50 p.m. )
it was not by chance that , back in 2005 and 2006 , the top priorities for European cohesion policy were : the Lisbon strategy , innovation and competitiveness , climate change , energy security and efficiency , water efficiency , investment in new skills , attractiveness of territories for young people , and quality of life .
quality standards will remain a Member State competence , while safety standards a European-wide one .
( DA ) Mr President , we are discussing a 1 200 km gas pipeline beneath the Baltic from Vyborg in Russia to Greifswald in Germany through an ecologically sensitive inland sea where there is a large difference in sea bed levels , through an area where undetonated explosives from two world wars , as well as poisonous chemicals from the paper industry , are constantly being found .
while numerous positive steps have been made , we also note that the enforcement of readmission agreements has also raised numerous problems .
I refer , of course , to the selection of the next President of the Council and the role he will take .
I think that could be an excellent form of cooperation with private industry .
but now we hear that some manufacturers - led , I understand , by Ford and General Motors - are trying to exploit loopholes to get out of that obligation .
the Commission 's initial proposal contained far more stringent penalties for public authorities , a position which our group felt was unacceptable as , unlike private undertakings , public sector bodies are not focused primarily on profit but rather operate in the general interest .
I am sure that after President Obama 's speech there will be nothing to change concerning the committee 's results .
when will the federalist majority in the European Parliament realise that the desire to create a United States of Europe does not have the support of the voters ?
we already know that the reinforcement of workers ' rights will depend on the development of the class struggle .
a large number of SMEs are leaving the market because their access to finance has been severely restricted in the times of crisis .
I think that this proposal would not only reveal constitutional inconsistencies but also create delays and complexity , which is definitely not what Europe needs at the moment .
instead , we are now seeing a continuation of such inappropriate behaviour .
so I look to the Commission , which ought not to take sides , but to establish a political alliance with the European Parliament so that the alliance of the peoples ensures that we can dream of what we desire for this European Union , the Union of peoples .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , I rise on a point of order under Rule 166 , and with reference to Rules 45 , 77 , 89 , 113 and 155 .
this is something that has to be done right away , in other words the Member States need to develop financial mechanisms whereby the factor of rising prices can be deleted from company budgets and from household budgets too .
I have here the letter of 3 September from the three European Prime Ministers .
ever more women are in need , and up to 17 % of women live below the poverty line , according to the latest surveys .
( CS ) Mr President , the aim of the compromise draft directive , following two years of discussion , is mainly to provide legal certainty for patients in cross-border healthcare situations .
it is , however , all the more important that , if they can afford a proper holiday during the crisis , our citizens can also return from this holiday satisfied .
the debate is closed .
( SK ) The changing lifestyle of the younger generation is such that after completion of studies , everyone wants to spend some years travelling and then building their career .
even the strictest internal controls cannot prevent that .
the Roma , who live in very poor circumstances in certain areas ?
that , in fact , is our hope : it is not enough to talk or write about equal pay , we want to make it a reality .
( PL ) Despite the several billion euros allocated to Africa , poverty is getting worse in that continent , as the sound report prepared by Mrs Martens indicates .
it plays a prominent role in the fight against climate change .
I think it is extremely important for us to utilise this expertise appropriately in our legislative work , for the fact is that Members cannot be specialists in every area .
you find out the reasons .
imperialist organisations and associations are worried by the uprising of the hungry ; they are calling for measures hardly different from those causing millions to starve to death .
regarding protection of the environment and climate change , at EU level the Commission is now working with the Member States to achieve good environmental status in its marine waters by 2020 .
I believe this is progress in terms of nuclear safety .
in the vote in the House of Commons , two of those parties then reneged on those promises and refused people a referendum , so it is a matter of basic trust and accountability in politics .
this agreement is heading in the right direction : it is still not enough but the report clearly points out these shortcomings , yet offers us some hope for the future .
the EU must assume its responsibility as one of the world 's largest timber importers .
the European Union is a community based on solidarity .
I welcome the resolution on innovative financial instruments which represents Parliament 's contribution to the debate on how to generate new revenue , ensure a fair tax policy and maximise income recovery capabilities .
already today , ongoing and planned technical and financial cooperation with Ukraine is in the region of EUR 435 million , without counting possible macrofinancial assistance .
it is a massive problem for the ordinary taxpayers of the EU that at least 11 % of the total approved amount should not have been paid out .
review of the European Neighbourhood Policy - Eastern Dimension - Review of the European Neighbourhood Policy - Southern Dimension
author . - Madam President , after this joint motion for a resolution was agreed and submitted , the news came of yet another disgracefully brutal case of stoning to death of a citizen in Iran .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( NL ) Madam President , Mr President of the Commission , Mr President of the Council , ladies and gentlemen , today is an historic day .
this is the information that is collected by carriers to operate their reservation systems .
collectively , it must be possible for us to be protected against toxicity .
it would indeed be tragic if , through our approach to Kosovo , we have irreparably damaged Georgia and precipitated armed conflict in a country whose territorial integrity we should be defending very strongly .
the European Union 's citizens expect high quality , healthy products manufactured using innovative technology which takes account of the environmental impact of the production process .
there can never be either political or cultural reasons to compromise when it comes to fundamental rights .
how are we to measure the targets that the Commissioner mentioned ?
2 ) There is practically no strategic planning or control mechanism in the sphere of development cooperation policy .
this is adequately expressed by the EU-US Transatlantic Partnership Agreement , in which also includes the aspect of economic relations .
it is very important to establish appropriate organisational and operational regulations .
Member of the Commission . - This is certainly a difficult and complex area .
therefore , my group believes that it is crucial to get the balance right : the balance between , on the one hand , resourcing Frontex - as many colleagues have mentioned - and , on the other hand , ensuring that Frontex has a stronger appreciation of the humanitarian aspects of its work .
in writing . - As a result of judgments by the Court of Justice in the Open Skies cases , the Commission allowed for the replacement of bilateral agreements that had been entered into between some Member States and third countries with Community agreements .
greater importance must be attached to regional provision and seasonal availability , as well as strict labelling of the origin of foods .
it is 10 years since the adoption of UN Security Council ( UNSC ) resolutions 1325 ( 2000 ) and 1820 ( 2008 ) on women , peace and security , and UNSC resolution 1888 ( 2009 ) on sexual violence against women and children in situations of armed conflict .
we need new instruments , and if we analyse the legislation that has been introduced , the Member States have been given a great deal of latitude here .
the vote will take place on Wednesday 17 December .
we also want an evaluation report , which is provided for in the Treaty of Lisbon .
the Presidency has taken note to act accordingly .
both the clan structure and lack of the right to intervene on the part of the authorities prevent this vicious circle from ever being broken .
in writing . - ( DE ) I have voted in favour of this report .
in that case , everyone will be equal before the law and we will be able to make savings .
therefore , this argument also does not hold water .
we are also taking firm action with a view to drawing up a code of conduct for interest groups and lobbyists , as well as for Members of the European Parliament .
the ultimate goal is to ensure that States draw their laws closer to one another in accordance with the commitments made under the Treaty of Stockholm , simplifying and speeding up the procedures .
intensive cooperation at parliamentary level is also necessary , for example , with organisations such as the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation and the WTO , and with the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank .
at least 17 people were injured , most of them civilians .
in Copenhagen , from 7 to 18 December , nearly 200 nations will negotiate a new international treaty to combat climate change , a post-Kyoto treaty that will enter into force from 2013 ...
I have raised this issue on a number of occasions .
it was one of the greatest speeches ever made here in this House .
I should like to touch on three more issues .
I would like to announce that , unfortunately , several hours ago , another breach of human rights was perpetrated in Belarus .
we also need to have proper sanctions in place that really reflect the seriousness of this crime and that really hurt those who are making money out of trafficking in human beings .
these Members are sitting over there .
while it is important to authorise existing investment agreements , it is also important to foresee the possibility of taking action in a cooperative manner to address important issues that could arise with regard to the content of the agreements and their interaction with EU investment policy .
many treasures are yet to be unearthed .
I protest .
under heading 4 - the Commissioner mentioned this as well - there is an increase in appropriations for Palestine and Kosovo , and half of the reduction in appropriations entered in the draft budget relates to the emergency reserve that can be financed , as has been the case so far , through the redeployment of resources .
industry in the EU is challenged by excessive regulation and bureaucracy .
for these reasons , we voted in favour .
Mrs Senyszyn accused the Catholic Church of oppressing women .
the Hungarian minister 's body language is also saying yes .
firstly , it is in many respects a very ancient tribal society , which we cannot catapult into the 21st century in one fell swoop .
as I have stated before , I can understand why it is necessary for a law society to register , but I find it harder to understand why public bodies which have never been active on a party-political level , and never will be , are also required to register .
another important date will be 2010 , which is when we will be in a position to judge the outcome of this strategy .
the Council states consolidation should be frontloaded in Member States with large deficits .
the Member States are capable themselves of dealing with matters relating to population and housing censuses and this is an area in which the EU does not need to interfere .
this is the way we are moving , very cautiously , towards this direction .
this is in line with the political cohesion of existing political groups and with the possibility of achieving consensus among the non-attached Members , provided there are enough to form a political group .
while we agree with the main guidelines of the European Parliament resolution on the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh - and having endorsed it for that reason - the Luxembourg delegation of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) wishes to express some reservations about elements of this resolution that are unsatisfactory .
we are very process-oriented .
nor indeed a Burma .
a more open and accessible Council , increased and more integrated inter-institutional cooperation , better use of new media as a means to connect with citizens and providing assistance to civil society institutions will help bring Europe closer together .
we expect all the Member States of the European Union to sign the convention on 3 December , in particular those European states which are still in doubt , that is Greece , Latvia , Poland , Romania and the Republic of Cyprus .
emphasis is also placed on more training of health workers in the area of patient safety and the creation of common definitions and terminology as well as comparable indicators which will allow easier identification of problems .
it makes a positive recommendation by calling on the Member States to appoint national SME Envoys to coordinate SME policies and control the implementation of the SBA across the various administrations .
it is in principle also reasonable for businesses to offset losses across frontiers within a company or between companies in a consortium .
thank you .
it turns out in practice that some are more equal than others , and that double standards are being employed .
unlike in Hong Kong , we were involved in the negotiations , were pro-active and were prepared to make compromises .
as shadow rapporteur for the Hirsch report on European cooperation in vocational education and training , I would like to explain why I voted in favour of adopting this report .
this was also mentioned in the European Commission 's latest report from July 2008 , which unfortunately led to a partial freezing of European funds for Bulgaria .
only policies of this kind , and only development in these areas and institutions , can shape Haiti into a more stable country than it has been to date .
in writing . - ( FR ) With our vote today , we have reminded the Council that the Erika III package forms a whole and should be examined as such .
please could you tell us which language versions have been published in the Official Journal , when this was done and why these versions have not yet been made available to Parliament .
for example : how many accounts outside the budget did the Council have in 2007 ?
to close , I should like to say that we hope that the Greek crisis will be the only price the European Union has to pay for the hasty establishment of the economic governance which we should have established ten years ago .
our approach definitely encourages countries to change their approach to aviation safety , and that is only one example .
- ( FR ) Mr President , Europe has been a pioneer before , and it wants to continue to act as a bridgehead in Copenhagen .
it also annoys me when projects are funded with EU money which are not absolutely necessary .
foreign investment is a major economic issue for emerging and developing countries .
I am voting against this motion for a resolution and its antisocial injunctions .
Mr President , honourable Members , when I travel around Sweden and talk about EU cooperation , I get few questions about the institutions of the EU .
in this resolution , the European Parliament advocates the long-term management of risks and profits , as well as some rules which are adapted to the size of banks - so that the most important ones do not feel that they are let off - and argues that they should not pass on the costs of adapting to the new legislation to private individuals .
today , we voted on the resettlement of asylum seekers from third countries in Europe , but the Commission programme refuses to promote a similar provision for the settlement of asylum seekers from one country of Europe to another or for money .
and then , there is prevention .
now that we are going to have to work together , I hope to be able to show you that the Commission often does things that are reasonable , useful and concrete , and I still hope to convince you to support the efforts of the Commission more resolutely and more often .
in particular , the problem of expanding the scope of the directive has emerged .
when children put them in their mouths , chips are a dangerous item .
Member States , together with the European Commission , should find a solution as quickly as possible to the problem of the substantial group of women assisting with farming and in small and medium-sized enterprises who , in many Member States , suffer from a lack of legal status .
it is worth remembering , as you already know , that every year , millions of small farmers are forced to move into shanty towns .
I want to underline it because I sometimes hear only part of the story , but it is the whole story on investment which has to be applied in practice .
I really hope that tomorrow we will all live up to the expectations of European citizens and show that we are safeguarding the protection of human rights and the values of the European Union .
no doubt should be cast on the Ukrainian people 's achievements either by external or internal factors .
they went there believing they were going to serve in a good cause , and , as we are hearing here , Iraq is , today , on the way to building a democracy .
the Presidency has contacted the resident Commissioner of Indian-administered Kashmir in New Delhi and has expressed the EU 's concerns over the situation .
I do not see significant progress being made by Russia , but we shall persevere .
the report contains many sound proposals and guidelines for the European Commission and provides a fine summary of the various points of view .
investing in prevention is important .
we are not opposed to this agreement in principle provided that Morocco agrees to end all human rights abuses in the illegally occupied territory of Western Sahara , that Morocco agrees to a free and fair referendum for the people of Western Sahara and that the fisheries partnership agreement is reviewed and the Saharawi population of Western Sahara are allowed to live as equal citizens of their Moroccan counterparts .
I hope that the EU will be able to convince its partner , the USA , to continue to make progress towards the common goals mentioned .
at the moment , in the transport area , you must remember that transport is exempt from the Services Directive .
fourthly , failure to include bitumen shales in the Research Fund for Coal and Steel programme - and the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance also put forward a proposal of this nature for these amendments - would have been injurious to Estonia , whose power generation is chiefly based on this fuel .
a very clear distinction needs to be maintained between the remits of military and humanitarian bodies , and a dialogue between military and humanitarian bodies is necessary in order to encourage mutual understanding .
for every car that we export to South Korea from Europe , 15 come the other way .
most of the proposals in this report are of course deserving of support , but I have a couple of concerns .
during the current financial crisis , it is going to be increasingly difficult for us to cover losses triggered by floods and drought using the state budget .
the debate is closed .
the Portuguese Government is following this maxim and is , for the record , allocating about EUR 8.2 million for the decommissioning of 27 vessels in 2008 .
( PT ) Cohesion policies are not just another instrument of European integration but can be seen as a real embodiment and dynamic proof of the European project itself , in the sense of a community of citizens sharing values of social justice and solidarity .
what we also need now is a bold message from the High Representative on what is happening in these countries ; we should not wait until a number of things have happened .
in fact , the funding of this type of project , which is completely in line with the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy , makes a key contribution towards the development of a sustainable economy , combating climate change and promoting employment , while also constituting a particularly suitable method given the economic and financial crisis that we are experiencing at present .
I firmly believe that Romania 's maritime border , for instance , is incomparably better protected than similar borders for other Schengen Member States .
( DE ) Madam President , the reason I am asking for the floor again is not because I have not spoken enough today but because I believe we really are dealing with an important issue , on which Members have also asked pertinent questions .
the Commission has played its role to the full .
there was then official doubt on our part .
President of the Commission . - First of all , to know the result of the test we must make the test before .
as has already been said , the food crisis is a major problem , and so we must seek solutions via the budget , both for the short and medium term and for the long term . for the short term , there is food aid .
the political and economic stabilisation of that country and the strengthening of cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in the field of energy are prerequisites for the recognition of Ukraine 's European aspirations .
maybe I could tell you why we are actually in favour and we are even co-financing some of the landfill , even if we do believe that this is on the lowest level of the preferred options in the waste hierarchy .
following the Treaty of Lisbon , the Council is now one institution and the President of the Council is one institution .
therefore , Member States should make every effort to combat gambling and the associated problems with maximum force .
however , and it is important to underline this , we need to maintain some qualifying points in the debate and vote that will be held tomorrow .
I am also glad to see that there is no longer a reference to the General Product Safety Directive ( GPSD ) .
the EU and the Member States should increase their efforts to encourage youth employment and reduce their unemployment rate , in particular , through improving the match between the training systems and the needs of the labour market .
through these directives we are in a way addressing subjects and establishing links with various recognised pathologies such as cancer , which has already been referred to by Mrs Belohorská .
even one contamination of animal feed is unacceptable .
the next item is the Commission statement on freedom of information in Italy .
users and merchants will be clamouring for more choice .
the rapporteur , Mr Chatzimarkakis , whom I would like to congratulate , put it very well in saying that the European Union does not have a good image in the eyes of European citizens , and they have most often made European agriculture a scapegoat .
however , I do agree with you that it is important .
I hope that I will soon be able to speak to you in more depth .
given the present gas crisis in Europe , it must be underlined that Belarus has proved a particularly stable partner as regards the transit of gas supplies to the European Union .
so I must confess that it has surprised me how difficult it is to convince elected politicians and public opinion that budget management in the European Union is much better than what is reflected in this sentence .
the human family is arranged as in a staircase : we , the privileged ones , are at the top , and there are four billion people below us who , literally , want to come into the daylight , because two billion people do not even have electricity .
however , under no circumstances will I approve of the use of genetically modified materials , their import to consumers and other activities , or the authorisation of production methods brought to bear in third countries , because there is no data that would lead us to reasonably believe that these do not harm people 's health or the environment .
maybe such a referendum ought to be carried out at EU level .
I would like to express my respect for all their positions .
if , however , democracies cannot , in fact , combat terrorism by denying their own values , then they cannot allow themselves to give the impression of being lax or weak , either .
the culture of hatred , as demonstrated by that photomontage of the Prime Minister behind bars at the street demonstration on press freedom , where red flags and insults of all kinds prevailed .
however , I think that we should also consider how to safeguard jobs , and prevent them from being lost .
rules of war prevail , but even in wartime the Geneva Convention applies , and it does not , of course , allow banks that have been recapitalised by the state to use this aid to buy up other banks .
we have , off the coast of Somalia , ships which have been extremely successful this weekend , by the way , with the French navy in capturing pirates who were determined to create havoc in that part of the sea .
not having any debate at all would be doing ourselves a disservice .
President-in-Office , thank you for your diplomacy .
is this risky solution acceptable , today , to Israel ?
overall , it is a good structure precisely because it makes it possible in certain situations to act without the consent of the government concerned .
attention must also be paid to reconciling work and family life .
of course we support the principle of equal treatment , but we perceived the danger that this slogan would be used to attempt to prevent the implementation of one of the fundamental freedoms of the European Union - the free movement of labour .
for years , the socialists have fought and campaigned to obtain framework directives protecting services of general interest , and there is no question of us abandoning this commitment .
it outlines human rights , data protection and non-discrimination standards in an attempt to uphold two basic principles for any profiling exercise to meet : that repressive consequences should be based on individual behaviour , and that the principle of equality under the law should be upheld .
the importance of information and of the diversity of European culture and education was noted .
Mr President , the European Union has no jurisdiction as far as the status of national minorities in the Member States is concerned .
it is for the people of each country to decide upon the use of their resources and of the wealth created .
the success of innovation policy depends on the existence of a simple , efficient , unbureaucratic system for science and higher education .
first , because Member States do not keep their word , which means that all the work carried out by European institutions ends up being worthless .
one point that I should like to raise once again , as I did in the previous debate , is the issue of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons .
I am pleased to see the proposal for amendments to the Commission 's conclusions , but at the same time I would like to appeal for efficient and harmonised actions that offer everyone protection against terrorist propaganda and agitation , especially our children and young people .
for the national context , therefore , it is a good thing that there are borders to protect it , that Member States are necessary and that sovereignties allow rapid and effective action .
meanwhile , the report also represents a good compromise between the need to provide information for statistical purposes and the need to ensure that enterprises , mainly small and medium-sized ones , are not overburdened with unnecessary bureaucratic procedures .
I would like to inform Members that the Speroni report on the request for waiver of the immunity of MEP Tamás Deutsch will be presented during voting time .
in future proceedings within REACH and as we approach the next deadline , how will the European Chemicals Agency cope when decisions are required from it ?
this , in my view , shows how wide ranging Europol 's enforcement operations are and is proof of the overall strengthening of the European Union 's enforcement framework and mechanisms .
we bleat about human rights , and then we funnel money to Hamas .
we have ensured that the heavy energy consumption by buildings will be restricted and we have ensured that producers of wind turbines and solar cells will have a guarantee that Europe will invest in renewable energy .
the US is acting but Europe not .
we are midway through the Lisbon Strategy and are only now making progress in growth and jobs .
by preventing gas from reaching the EU , Ukraine involved us in its problem .
an increasing number of companies are relocating , taking advantage of reduced labour costs in a number of countries , particularly China and India , with a damaging effect on countries that respect workers ' rights .
we have chosen to vote in favour of this report because the European Parliament needs to prepare itself to be able to implement the changes that will occur in connection with its work if the Treaty of Lisbon enters into force .
there may come a time when Israelis and Palestinians not only remember each other 's victims together , but join forces to build a lasting peace and future .
( applause )
the Canadian authorities have established an office in Prague - that is one condition that we imposed on them - and they are also establishing a roadmap towards restoring visa freedom again .
it is a life and death issue for the peripheral areas , but I know it is not a life and death issue for those coming from the middle .
( PL ) Madam President , my nation has been hit by a great tragedy .
firstly , accreditation has not hitherto been regulated on a European scale , although it is practised in most Member States and significantly affects the performance of market-surveillance authorities .
emphasis must be placed on the implementation of freedom of expression and media freedom .
the involvement of brokers is undoubtedly a positive step .
in writing . - ( LT ) One of the things that the crisis in Greece shows us is the urgent need for fiscal responsibility .
it is our duty to set an example in this area , including going as far as ensuring the systematic use of this idea of a ' legislative footprint ' , which I think would be extremely beneficial .
I consider the commitment of the European Parliament to preserve the openness of the European Union very commendable .
firstly , innovation .
I would like to congratulate the rapporteur .
I think that no one here wishes to see this budget reduced .
secondly , the need to give serious treatment to the matter of copyright , because copyright represents a great hope and opportunity for the development of a creative market , and this aspect of the market should be regulated jointly .
we are proud of the position that will be demonstrated tomorrow in the vote in Parliament and on a report such as this , which defends quality and which commits to the development and enhancement of rural areas , not only as mere evidence of a traditional European culture , but as true wealth- and job-creation agents .
a year ago , Pakistan 's new democratically elected government appointed the first Minister for Minorities , who himself represents the Christian minority .
Mr Janez Lenarčič will speak on behalf of the Council .
we need to coordinate the complex phenomena that are factors in migration , including people migrating for economic reasons only , but also those who cross the border illegally .
this hurricane caused more than 200 deaths and missing persons , destroyed infrastructures and essential equipment , particularly in the areas of health , education , water and sanitation , exacerbating poverty in the country .
it provides for harmonisation within the respective fields and also promotes consistency between the three areas .
its aim is to put in place fair market conditions for the European livestock industry , which will help to ensure food security for more than 500 million people in future .
the US Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) is undertaking a major study .
I would like not to be disturbed by colleagues on the extreme right , please .
fellow members of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats , do not muddy this debate with empty excuses , because a vote against this report is clear evidence of an ideological viewpoint .
these organisations should , first and foremost , pursue the sort of measures and the sort of policies in the Balkans that will not force people to leave this sorely tested region .
would it not be possible to carry out a comparative study so that we can also provide incentives in this area ?
it is part of the day-to-day reality in the European Union and is gaining increasing significance in the relationships between the Member States , in the way in which our multicultural societies live together and in the common policy measures taken by the European Union .
there is relatively substantial agreement that there should be health protection for mothers-to-be and new mothers .
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in general , we agree with the positions contained in the resolution , stressing the important role of Member States in ensuring that ships on their national registers conform to international standards and in preventing maritime accidents and combating the consequences of such accidents .
he says that the path taken by the US has been historically discredited .
the adoption of this regulation will formalise the current ' gentlemen 's agreement ' and guarantee the continuity of data collection as well as the quality and comparability of data .
allow me to express a few thoughts I have on this subject .
Mr President , very briefly , I am trying to be helpful , but am getting hungry .
Mr President , on a point of order , you very rightly say that we are here late , and I thank the interpreters for staying behind .
the role of credit-rating agencies needs to be clearer : what they do and what they do not do , the extent to which they can be relied up and the extent to which they cannot .
in fact , this also applies to this dossier .
I will end with a warning .
this resolution is , of course , an expression of that obligation .
in writing . - After the defeat of the joint motion for a resolution , I voted in favour of this text which , while not perfect , struck a good balance between nuclear safety and a pragmatic approach to the issue .
however , the government 's stated intention of making democratic changes is belied by the facts .
I think the MEP is not well-informed ; I would encourage her to go to the national central banks of the two countries and it will be demonstrated to her that the ECB has a very intimate cooperation with those two central banks to the benefit of all of us .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
nor shall we be able to wait until the environmental pollution from bicycles has been calculated too .
if they fail to produce such a certificate , their chances of obtaining work vanish .
we have already encountered problems in the funding of the Galileo programme , and now the next set of problems are beginning to appear , on a much larger scale .
research into biomarkers , into early diagnosis methods based on a multidisciplinary approach , the compilation of vast databases , and the search for curative medicines and appropriate treatment and service models would appear crucial .
the second point regards the mediator .
the EU is still a very limited global actor ; its role in the UN system and in all multilateral organisations does not match its democratic , economic and cultural weight .
I fully agree with the contents of the resolution which , with the implementation of the Action Plan , will establish conditions for liberalising short-stay visas in the EU and reinforce the Union 's position with regard to the country 's democratic development after the recent local elections .
they have condemned the deportation of as an intolerable violation of press freedom .
on the basis of the previous Tampere and Hague Programmes , significant progress has been made by the EU in the area of freedom , security and justice .
that is our responsibility .
let yesterday 's event set an example throughout the European Union .
on behalf of the ITS Group . - ( IT ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to start by thanking Mr Frattini for being here again , for his commitment and for making himself available to us .
once again , I am grateful to Mr Markov .
it is important to reiterate the need to protect consumers , but also to emphasise the need to protect farmers , who should receive compensation for the losses they suffer following an accident .
it takes the view in this regard that the development of IMP must harmoniously incorporate efforts to attain economic development , a high level of employment - particularly by making the sector more attractive for young people through training actions and the launch of a ' Maritime Erasmus ' - and environmental protection .
a reformed CAP must be in line with global food security and development policy objectives , abolishing once and for all export refunds that undermine the ability of developing countries to build up their agricultural production .
that is what Russian democrats ask of us .
some have even decided to close hospitals in smaller towns or to carry out a small number of surgical operations .
in addition , the Dutch People 's Party for Freedom and Democracy delegation is of the opinion that too much emphasis is still being placed on channelling funds to UN organisations and the World Bank .
in 1990 , in his book Bound to Lead , the eminent American professor , Joseph Nye , invented the concept of ' soft power ' .
this is achieved through constant monitoring of the performance of operators ; hence , at this stage , a more stringent control framework is not deemed to be required by the Commission .
we have to demonstrate two things : firstly , that we are going to take concerted action and that we will be able to profit from it and , secondly , that we are capable of maintaining the strategic priorities which we have set over the past few years : that is , priorities facilitating a shift towards a knowledge-based society and an innovative society with low greenhouse gas emission levels .
the Energy Efficiency Action Plan therefore has far-reaching implications .
these doubts cannot simply remain confined to the newspapers .
some further steps to simplify the bureaucracy are also envisaged .
( DE ) Madam President , first of all , we would observe that the markets in Europe that have been less subject to collapse have a clear regulatory environment in respect of legislation on the taxation of CO2 and a clear regulatory environment in respect of what is expected of car makers .
ultimately , Frontex can only be as good as Member States permit .
setting up the European Institute of Innovation and Technology is an important step to keep on with this ancient tradition of our continent .
( the President cut off the speaker )
I think that as a matter of honour Russian President Dmitry Medvedev should ensure that everything is done to fully investigate the kidnapping and murder cases involving human rights defenders , and to bring those who are guilty to justice .
this , in our view , is a major problem relating to soft law .
having said this , I just would like also to come back to the question of the visa fees .
we can do that with confidence , and we must do it with untiring commitment - and no one will stop us .
I can tell you that we are launching the call for tenders for the European Immigration Portal .
Mr President , this debate is about the safety of our people and the preservation of our way of life , our liberal democracy , the rule of law and the defence of freedom .
the question of the extent to which we adapt the directives legislatively is certainly an important aspect .
I have a supplementary question about the Seventh Framework Programme for Research , which has a package of EUR 54 million .
the drafting of the report was particularly difficult in part due to the absence in the background documents analysing possible solutions , relevant case studies and vital data .
South Africa and other African countries must intensify the pressure against Robert Mugabe .
firstly , third-country nationals must not be sent back to their country if they are at risk of serious attacks .
the lowering of the threshold for mobilising the Fund and the provision of a rapid payment based on a preliminary assessment are extremely important measures included in the revised form of the regulation .
although we recognise there is a fair case for increasing the number of Members required to form a group , any increase in the requirement of the number of Member States would unfairly and unnecessarily disadvantage smaller groups and delegations .
to that end it is reasonable for research to be carried out in areas where nuclear energy 's weaknesses are more apparent such as safety or treatment of waste , but we should note that the report clearly endorses the idea that the nuclear option falls within the exclusive competence of the Member States , as Mr Reul noted at the outset .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Madam President , the Commission makes the following declaration .
I voted in favour of the present report since the SOLVIT network has shown itself to be of huge importance to the resolution of all sorts of problems , from the member of the public who is searching for another Member State in which to study , work or be reunited with a partner , etc . , through to firms who have encountered problems with the public authorities , problems with VAT refunds or other issues .
the Greek Communist Party supports the united , anti-imperialist fight of the peoples of the Balkans and opposition to the US / NATO / EU policy .
all approved plants in the Community list of establishments from which imports of heat-treated poultry meat is authorised are located in Shandong Province .
my guess is , if my recollection is correct , that Amendment 1 will be rejected and then the original text will be adopted , but I will do it .
texts of agreements forwarded by the Council : see Minutes
secondly , strong support is needed , especially for new Member States , in order to bring about an increase in the employment rates in those countries .
( LT ) I would like to congratulate France for presiding so splendidly in the last six months .
twenty years after the collapse of the Iron Curtain , after putting an end to the division of Europe , the Danube is once again a symbol of unification .
Member States must harmonise their budgetary policies and share these with each other .
in their desperate efforts to cut back production costs , multinationals are ignoring the cost being imposed on public health .
like everyone else , I believe that we should remember the context in which this report is set , and that , of course , is the youth crisis that we are experiencing in Europe .
I am very sorry for all the questioners , but the best I can do is to get through as many questions as possible and let questioners have their moment .
I am glad to see that the criteria for eligibility have been widened and will not be limited to low-income housing .
this new regulation will put an end to that practice .
the recognition of Kosovo is a matter for the Member States , as Mr Rupel and Commissioner Rehn also emphasised .
regrettably , Europeans often profit from these disasters .
that is why we called for further scientific studies , within the framework of a multilateral agreement to be completed , to inform international understanding and decision making for the Arctic ecosystem before any further major development goes ahead .
common threats require common responses , so common tools should be effectively used by all Member States , public authorities and private organisations .
you have been informed of them .
Member of the Commission . - First of all , with respect to the GSP and GSP + , we have nothing in principle against these being included in the Cotonou Agreement , but we should realise that GSP and GSP + are unilateral and Cotonou is contractual .
I would like to raise the issue of what data is being collected on our citizens and how it is stored and accessed .
these blasphemy laws in a society in which freedom of expression is repressed in the name of religion pose another risk ; last Wednesday , a court in Pakistan banned the social networking site Facebook in the country .
the rivalry of the imperialist centres combined with the opposition of the poorer countries has resulted in the failure of the latest WTO negotiations .
that is what you fought for together , whether blue or orange .
fourth point : regarding the scope of the draft directive , I know from talking to MEPs on the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection when they were in Paris last May that many of you regret the decision to confine this text solely to patient mobility and not to address the question of the mobility of health professionals .
unlike passenger cars , there is less scope to modify either their shape or their weight in a bid to reduce emissions .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , we voted against Mr Coelho 's report .
unfortunately , we do not have many opportunities to discuss things together and I would be delighted if you would take this opportunity to make it clear to us for once who it is in the Council that is actually fighting against the necessary transparency .
we must help Nicaragua establish robust democracy , strong , honest economics and effective education and health systems , and help them to care for their families , their women and children , rather than destroy them with legalised abortion .
democratic forces must give an example , especially to the right wing , and the democratic right wing has great responsibility for distancing itself from the extreme right-wing phenomena that are running riot in Europe .
we believe that the consultation and the decision on the test criteria will be completed by the middle of May at the meeting of ENSREG , the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group .
of course , I reaffirm my commitment to work closely with you to ensure that the mechanism underlying the CE mark operates properly and that the Member States comply with the obligations aimed at making our products more competitive .
a significant step forward has therefore been taken to ensure that this functions in the future , but even so , Commissioner , I have made a public commitment here that if , in the future , it does not function adequately and we are prevented from fulfilling our obligations , Parliament will be prepared to revise the procedure .
as regards openness between the Member States , I think it important to stress that those who are against openness are also against free movement for people and freedom of opportunity .
approximately 25 % of unemployed people in the European Union were in some way involved in ESF projects in 2007 .
approval has also been given , however , for EUR 3 306 750 to support 1 720 workers dismissed from 30 textile companies in Cataluña , Spain .
at the same time , I was glad that Parliament was almost unanimously happy to keep the budget at least at the same level as it is now .
thanks to this common position , existing EU legislation on air services has been brought in line with current practice .
finally , Kazakhstan is a member of the European Neighbourhood Policy .
I think the recent signals from the American Government show that it has become clear that the European Parliament is , today , fully responsible for legislation .
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we urgently need to act as pioneers and set a real example .
the fact that Agustin Díaz de Mera 's report was adopted by a large majority highlights the benefit of the decision to remove visa requirements for Taiwan .
this is still far from meaning that industry , which we believe will be freed , is really going to be freed by the Commission .
Commissioner , it is true that we now have to take stock of one or two things , but that does not detract from the fact that we now have to proceed fairly rapidly .
however , there are some cases where the impact of the crisis has been limited on women participating in the labour market .
it can make an important contribution to counteracting negative health trends like obesity .
for this reason Hezbollah should be added to the European list of terrorist organisations as a matter of urgency .
this proposal , in its depiction of the handling of personal data , seems to pave the way for the creation of a truly limitless database which could even be made available to third parties that have not yet been specified by Parliament .
that is why it is in the interests of both the consumer and producer to continue with milk quotas .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would ask you to call for silence in the House because we have received news from Kabul of a very serious attack against the international peacekeeping force , and the sketchy information that we have so far talks of six deaths in the Italian contingent , among the Folgore paratroopers .
we must examine them without fear and debate them without any taboos .
I would like to take the opportunity to welcome the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic , Mr Jan Fischer .
as the Commissioner said , there are four omnibus packages .
or India ?
Europe is facing considerable challenges .
the elimination of weaker and poorer undertakings will obviously benefit large corporations , and these are mainly German .
with regard to specific results , the renewal of the agreement will allow the continued exchange of information on science and technology policies between the EU and Ukraine .
the power of the Internet is supremely important , but is even more important over the regular media .
car dealers , in my country as in others , are worried about the glaring discrepancy between their scope for action and that of manufacturers .
with these three reports , the European Parliament is sending out a clear signal that we are serious about reforming the internal market .
a focus on individuals that must be guaranteed across the board , including as regards the growing phenomenon of immigration and asylum , albeit in strict compliance with the rules on civil harmony , including security .
this is a disgrace !
this motion for a resolution , which was drawn up under the guidance of the Vice-President , takes - and was indeed carried by a broad majority in Parliament - a very progressive position on the role of the OSCE .
( EL ) Madam President , I thank the Commissioner for her detailed reply .
in relation to freight traffic by rail , there was , indeed , an initial proposal for a regulation on compensation for failure to meet commitments on service quality in this sector .
we are also in favour of greater judicial control ; and so I consider the proposal of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe to be extremely sensible , and shall give it my support .
I must finish by saying that the right to education and Internet access , as well as the security and the protection of the rights of those who use Internet services must be guaranteed .
another cause for concern is the continuing rise in outstanding budget commitments still to be paid , especially in respect of the old Member States .
this needs to be elaborated and an appropriate proposal tabled .
I would also stress that we must look at the whole spectrum of the question of space and its links to European security and defence policy , while respecting the provisions of the Treaties - the Commission would never touch them and has said quite clearly that we cannot finance any European defence measures or measures of a military nature out of the EU budget .
however , it should apply to all the nations in the Western Balkans and avoid creating new dividing lines in the area .
we have a responsibility with regard to technology transfer .
the freedom of choice will enable consumers to become actively involved in the battle against climate change , as they will be able to choose suppliers which offer renewable energy with low carbon emissions .
we also need to stop talking nonsense about the political responsibility of Europe .
the upcoming elections will constitute an important test of the robustness of its institutions and its democratic culture .
this does not appear to be the case to me .
let us ask the Afghan women who have emerged from hell and have just rediscovered some freedom .
we have to decide whether there is a need for further changes , including in the area of selective distribution .
we have no remit in this area , but it is a growing concern and we need to address it in some way .
in this sense , ACTA will have no impact on European citizens , since it will not create new obligations for the EU and no need for implementing legislation .
but for sheep farmers , receiving such small rewards for hard work , as has been outlined by Mr Parish , makes this is a very difficult job .
this therefore also includes those products that do not consume energy directly when used , but which influence energy consumption indirectly .
together with the United Nations and the African Union , this situation calls for Europe 's common foreign policy , and it is also that policy 's chance to prove itself .
of course we call that a coup d 'état .
Mrs Merkel and Mr Sarkozy have already directly mentioned the centralisation of pensions in their plans for a single , centrally-ruled Europe .
this is not always provided at the moment .
however , this should not cause us to forget the medium term .
( RO ) Together we decided that the European energy policy would aim at decreasing the EU 's energy dependence , guaranteeing the security of supply and the transparency of prices .
the former produces more CO2 than the biofuels save , while the latter is causing food shortages , especially in the less-developed countries .
the same is true for the Christian minority in the plain of Nineveh .
the country has made important progress in putting in place its legal and institutional framework .
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this gender-specific violence , which also has a strong negative impact on children , and tends to worsen during periods of economic and social crisis , can no longer be accepted .
on the other hand , and this was also highlighted in the debate , we have not reached any perfect or definitive situation and it is necessary to continue to develop EURES further .
Madagascar has been suspended from the African Union and the Southern Africa Development Community .
they were very clear on the advantages of EPAs for the long-term economic future of Africa and , obviously , for the people of Africa .
if and when this EID scheme is introduced it should take place on a voluntary rather than a compulsory basis .
how do we protect a participant in an investment fund from the shareholder 's decision to invest in business types the participant does not agree with ?
it is not because we have been bound by industry , but it was the best way to consolidate both approaches .
Conservatives and liberals in the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs wanted to declare even this low-level participation in the business risk unnecessary through the submission of a guarantee by the financial institutions .
in the EU , there is much talk about the environment and animal welfare and my thought was that this report should be more than just words : we should have action too .
our motion for a resolution points out the efforts that must be made to detect and diagnose the disease more quickly and effectively .
the Commission 's proposal is quite simply not enough .
if we get the change to the treaty , this will be rectified retrospectively . however , the decision made in Deauville was clearly a mistake .
this is not directed against Elisabeth Jeggle , but against the increase in quotas .
the speed of the implementation of the ICCAT recovery plan is an absolute must , both for conservation reasons and to safeguard the common fisheries policy 's credibility and the credibility of the EU fishermen themselves .
all standards and the country will benefit .
this requires a shift in the approach : rather than just cofinancing projects , steering and enabling the deployment of a joint effort through joint programming is truly needed .
I know that this Parliament will remain intimately involved in following the progress of the Lisbon Strategy at both EU and national level .
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more than EUR 20 billion will be allocated to the new Member States specifically in 2008 .
this very morning we have heard another set of results from the USA .
in writing . - ( FR ) I voted in favour of the report by my excellent Polish colleague Janusz Lewandowski on the 2009 budget guidelines for the ' other sections ' , namely the European Parliament , but also the Council , the Court of Justice , the Court of Auditors , the European Economic and Social Committee , the Committee of the Regions , the European Ombudsman and the European Data Protection Supervisor .
( DE ) Mr President-in-Office , I would like to pick up on this question .
I hope that the Commissioner , and indeed the College , will pick up on this and that this Parliament will show it is right behind this solution .
the cross-border activities of micro-entities would be hampered .
that is why in June 2008 I announced that the Commission would take regulatory action in this area and on 12 November 2008 the College adopted the proposal covering regulatory activity of credit rating agencies with the agreement of this Parliament and of the Council .
Mr President , Mrs Győri , Mr Barroso , ladies and gentlemen , what will the European public take away from the meeting of its leaders this Friday in Brussels ?
the theatre has always faced financial difficulties because the Italian authorities do not provide regular funding .
the legitimacy of both claimants to the presidency is in dispute .
if that is the case , and I believe it to be the case , then why have you come forward with nothing but a blank sheet for us today ?
I am therefore in favour of the finance ministers implementing the three-point plan proposed by Mr Almunia on 22 December 2004 for strengthening Eurostat as quickly as possible .
this needs to change .
the global trade in services reveals a growing trend and already accounts for a quarter of services .
the Commission insists very much on the Member States publishing this information , as , under shared management , they are the contact for the farming community and are therefore in a much better position than the Commission to validate the information to be published .
we need to be better informed about the origin marking of the products we purchase .
it is fully in line with the Treaty , on the one hand , and , on the other hand , with the competences of the Member States for the organisation and delivery of health services and medical care .
those are the farmers who voted to join the EU , having been promised equal treatment from 2013 .
( PL ) Madam President , one of the key conclusions drawn in the report we have voted through on evaluation of the management of H1N1 influenza is the lack of an independent evaluation carried out by national and European healthcare bodies .
since it is apparent that peer pressure in the Council does not work , we need binding targets and new transparent means to scrutinise the reports about each Member State .
what we need is the political will to achieve it .
our colleagues have not sent any official information , but we are expecting some at any moment .
I myself put a question to the Commission and the Council , basing it on Mr Van Orden 's report on the application by the Republic of Bulgaria to become a member of the European Union , and its paragraph 33 .
now is no longer the time for meaningless rhetoric .
it would be wrong for us to limit action to counter climate change and reduce energy consumption to our area only .
I , too , support the establishment of a common Monetary Fund for the purpose of effective control of European economic governance .
this , in itself , distorts competition on the internal market .
Madam President , this is very good news indeed .
this prices issue underlines the fundamentals of EU energy policy and the EU energy situation - the three pillars , namely : the essential need for truly competitive markets - markets which will deliver the lowest prices and the most efficient services ; the security of supply issues in our dependence on imported fuels ; and the convergence of sustainability objectives with the other two elements of our policy .
we shall continue our efforts to have those improvements approved by the Council .
the basic objective is for the countries of the EU to secure a greater market share , which is of course connected - as the resolution indirectly admits - with the unimpeded and continuing overall plundering of the rich mineral wealth of the country .
that is a failure of the Member States , often supported by sections of the railway industry and , frankly , Parliament 's patience is beginning to run out .
of course , we are working closely with that authority and we , like the European Central Bank , have helped prepare this new round of tests with the EBA , but it is the EBA that is mainly responsible for this .
I tried , back then , to obtain more scientific opinions from Germany and I have since received these .
the opponents of the Iranian Government are also against the imposition of more stringent sanctions , because their main impact would be on the people of the country .
and it is why we must make it work for patients and for health services .
I do hope , however , that the Council will give its assent to the European Commission proposals by the end of the year .
the aim of the strategy is to improve the environment in the Baltic Sea area and to increase integration and competitiveness in the area .
we succeeded in mobilising world public opinion and the Western political elite was forced to move away from its traditional pragmatism .
I do not think that the food industry should be an exception .
this is a sound document , and the reference to the principle that prevention is better than cure is very apt indeed . the strategy identifies a number of important issues .
this is clearly another area where very close coordination with Russia is needed .
in this context I propose to hold a second joint seminar on election observation in the autumn , building on our successful meeting last year which pointed to the essential issue of follow-up as well as of sustaining the quality of the observation work .
after 20 years , even Mr Medvedev had to admit that one cannot ignore the terrible and criminal heritage of Russian power .
thank you .
at the eurozone level , we need agreements by which Member States will guarantee that the reform of their pension systems will translate into sustainable public finances .
it is very important to strengthen the status of the Arctic Council , and for that reason , we must now have a greater influence on Canada and Russia in particular , so that the European Union can have a stronger role to play .
author . - ( NL ) Mr President , Zimbabwe 's President Mugabe was once the hero of the liberation struggle .
of course it does .
on that note , however , I am happy that Parliament chose to support my Amendment 42 which urges the Commission to make sure that money goes only to Member States who meet the criteria of the UN Convention when it comes to deinstitutionalisation .
( EL ) Europe still faces a multi-dimensional crisis today , which is hitting employment and low incomes particularly hard .
the funds in the expired Community were accumulated from the coal and steel industries , and so it is only fair that any money left over should go on research in these sectors and not be used to cover research in the oil industry .
he was killed most brutally but he remained immortal with his ideas of free and independent Bulgaria on the way to construction and integration into Europe .
bitterness : codecision in budgetary matters is a losing battle .
this means that the sector will have a new legal framework , which will also have a big impact on economic development in the European Union .
it falls again to the European Union to show leadership and to keep up the momentum .
ladies and gentlemen , I would like to begin my speech my emphasising the importance of this initiative in the area of micro-financing .
they should do anything that can be seen if they want people to believe in them .
our first step was to note the great disparities that still exist between Member States in terms of access to healthcare .
the EU must set high standards for itself and try to raise the standards in international agreements .
he and his kind should be executed .
the resolution is along these lines and , as such , it is worthy of our vote .
in adopting a 2020 strategy , we need to create a framework favourable to stable economic growth and job creation .
naturally , we can also contribute to this by facilitating the cross-border activities of SMEs .
this summer , at the instigation of the French Presidency , the European social partners , employers and trade union organisations agreed on a joint position in which they accepted the Commission 's proposal as the basis for discussions .
I am therefore in favour of postponing the closure of accounts for the financial year 2009 so that further management checks can be carried out .
without these common development efforts in the countries involved , working alongside their people and social structures , it will not be possible to contribute effectively to instability reduction .
let me take this opportunity of wishing Piia-Noora Kauppi well for the future .
the regional characteristics will require a special focus on humanitarian and military capacity in order to provide security and stability .
for that to happen , all the Member States must also do their homework .
people in various EU states have experienced the fall-out from the crisis in different ways .
finally , I should like to reply to Mr Clark - though I think he has left - who asked whether or not there is global warming .
Europe , despite the rapid changes which are taking place , remains a continent of great differences and even contrasts .
we all agree that the bilateral problem of the name must be resolved .
however , there is one thing we should also bear in mind : we should remember that Belarus is an important neighbour for the European Union in the East and should be treated as such .
everyone has to play their part .
on that occasion it related to a matter that was also of concern to him personally , namely the Treaty of Lisbon .
we really must insist that a country 's democratic development should get properly under way when we conclude more cooperation agreements on the basis of Cotonou .
Srebrenica , July 1995 .
( HU ) As a lawyer working with human rights issues , I cannot understand what the added value would be for the protection of the human rights of Europe 's citizens if the European Union joined the same human rights convention that every single European country has already joined .
are you aware that the serious consequences of these decrees are still valid ?
among other things , these rules provide for the use of the digital tachograph , an extremely reliable monitoring device , and a specific implementing directive .
it would also be more frank in view of the fact that , as I fear , an accession agreement would not be approved in a future referendum anyhow .
the Health Check will now confirm the validity of this twofold objective .
I do not think that this is the case .
that is my proposal , because the competence for accession does not lie with Europe .
- Joint motion for a resolution
so I join my colleague , Mrs Jiménez-Becerril Barrio , in saying , ' stop violence against women , stop it immediately ! '
we are , therefore , pleased that the oral amendment to this paragraph has been adopted .
the sense of unity being displayed by Council and Commission , and by the diplomatic representatives in Oslo , concerning the ceremony which may take place on 10 December , is encouraging .
as news of this spreads , I am receiving requests for the Treaty every day .
however , it does not avoid or reduce CO2 production , as would be the case with renewable energies for example .
I would like to ask whether the Hungarian Parliament translates all laws into minority languages and whether there are any translations into the Slovak language ?
we all know that it is necessary to overcome the impasse in order to channel our energies towards promoting economic development , creating jobs and combating climate change .
I think we should ask whether Mr Weber would like to say a few words to comment on or react to the appeal made by the rapporteur for this debate , Mrs Ayala .
should we not already be putting an obligation on producers to develop systems which warn that a vehicle is approaching and to install them as standard ?
we also agree that the scale and cost of data collection should not be disproportionate to the expected benefits .
as far as the proposed increase of excise duty is concerned , it will not generate inflation .
Mr Rasmussen got the election campaign under way here , but he has forgotten that the German Finance Minister is Mr Steinbrück , a socialist .
tourism is undoubtedly one of the economic sectors with the greatest potential for development .
but after the grief and destruction comes the time for practical proposals and reconstruction , the time to restore a future for the Abruzzo region .
it will most definitely have been noticed in Minsk and in other countries that Russia considers as its sphere of influence .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( HU ) Thank you for giving me the floor , Mr President .
we have to take it , and together I am sure we will get a solid partnership out of that .
Mr President , let me first of all congratulate Mr Gauzès for a responsible and listening leadership in this difficult process .
we would also like to highlight the Commission 's proposal to evaluate the Small Business Act by the end of 2010 , so as to make life easier for these companies , especially by simplifying bureaucratic and tax matters , and placing greater emphasis on social responsibility .
Commissioner , the European Union must seriously consider what measures to take in order to help the ordinary people in Belarus .
it may cover about a third of total demand for electricity , but that only comes to 6 % of the total demand for energy .
crime prevention cannot be reduced to the exchange of best practices .
the debate is closed .
if the EU had not existed , we would have had to invent it at the latest as a result of the financial crisis .
Member of the Commission . - ( FR ) Mr President , I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Mrs Descamps and the other members of the Committee on Culture and Education for having produced this report , because it is a very important one indeed .
in addition to the identically tailored IMF-EU programmes that they want to implement in Ireland and now Portugal , they are preparing to reinforce the attack on Greece , squeezing its people even further .
the current crisis must not , therefore , force us to take backward steps but , on the contrary , must make us move forward towards active policies on female employment .
the responsibility of the few must now become the responsibility of all .
we need to strictly observe the commitments we have undertaken .
in writing . - ( LT ) I voted in favour of this report .
it is also important to take action to ensure that vehicles are in a better state and of better quality .
economy and society , in general , largely depend on the efficiency of road transport since 44 % of the goods are carried by trucks and 85 % of the people travel by car , bus or coach .
finally , let me say that it is important to emphasise that the Ombudsman also has competence within intergovernmental areas under the third pillar .
in Italy , we have seen a witch-hunt culture emerge towards Romanian and Roma citizens , with many punitive expeditions : even children in schools have been the subject of scorn and mistreatment .
effective soil protection must , therefore , be carried out at the most suitable levels - at the regional or local level .
Petitions : see Minutes
we live today in peace , freedom and democracy .
fortunately , Mr Balz 's report is very clear on that point .
in this way , we could re-establish a balance so as to make relocations to third countries less attractive for our companies .
of course , we would also like to have the final legislative process concluded with the European Parliament at the beginning of next year .
we have discovered fake medicines at different stages of the supply chain .
Europe 's demography requires immigration .
accordingly , I await the results and final declaration of the Fifth European Union-Latin America and Caribbean Summit with great interest .
during the Communist period , it was not freedom of speech that was the problem .
it was initially foreseen that the Council would also make progress on this point ; it is now waiting for the White Paper due in September .
I am told that the same thing happens at the WTO .
this applies especially to the whole area of energy policy .
we are doing our utmost to modernise our internal IT systems but , as you know , unfortunately these things do not happen overnight .
in the next few months we shall be working intensively on climate change and many ambitious measures are on the agenda .
therefore , I will also state , for the benefit of the speakers who have registered , that explanations of vote may refer only to the European Strategy for the Danube Region .
my political group , the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats , welcomes the result of today 's vote on the Catherine Neris report on harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products .
the key question is : what are you , the European Commission , going to do to ensure that farmers who are complying properly with the rules and who have invested in alternatives are not penalised in favour of their colleagues who are lagging behind .
but for the first time we are offering citizens an innovative way of expressing their wishes , interacting with the institutions and shaping the agenda of the European Union .
how many times have we stood here impotently railing against the way in which Mugabe oppresses his people ?
we should commit to a series of measures that give visibility to the body of economic measures , which include a system of Eurobonds , a highly liquid public bond market , lower interest rates , and the creation of a European financial transactions tax to curb speculation .
but is it really ?
other worrying matters , already mentioned , loom over this drama : the strength of hydroelectric facilities such as the concrete dam at Zipingpu makes us fear the worst for the 600 000 people living downstream .
do you not agree that the Commission should be looking to promote social dialogue and collective bargaining rather than undermining it ?
it is no longer enough to set objectives ; we need to define instruments .
I wish you every success with this too .
this is a step towards the gradual phasing-out of nuclear power , which we advocate .
yet the only things currently served by the EU budget are vested interests : vested interests in agriculture , in fisheries , in the cohesion aspect , and also in ' old ' industry , if I may call it that .
no surprise there .
this industry , worth more than EUR 2 billion a year and employing 200 000 people , is a major driver of the internal market within the framework of the Lisbon Strategy , particularly as forecasts indicate rapid growth for this kind of service .
we in Europe can definitely learn from Canada about carbon capture and storage projects and other developments in this sector .
( DE ) Mr President , I have a supplementary question for the Commission , that is , Mrs Malmström : am I correct in my understanding , Mrs Malmström , that , in your capacity as Commissioner , you support the postponement of the vote of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) ?
I must also just comment , however , on the critical voices - and there have been some of these - that have made themselves heard .
by the end of next month , all the strategic initiatives will have been adopted , with just one exception .
in the light of the legal framework , it will reassess the need to bring forward proposals for additional legislation .
agreement between the European Community and Brazil on certain aspects of air services (
Mr President , in a country with a high crime rate , one could put forward the theory that the deaths of human rights activists are a coincidence .
if Member States cannot manage to make progress on the truly vital question of air safety , air efficiency , the impact of air transport on the climate , then we expect that in 2008 the Commission will not just present a report saying that the Member States are improving in terms of creating airspace blocks , but that it will threaten the Member States .
we need dialogue in the field of environmental protection in order to conserve natural resources and nature .
in spite of growing social awareness , a huge disproportion is noticeable between Member States in terms of donation and transplantology .
what we wish , the aim of the Presidency is clear : there are targets and there is consistency in the package proposed by the Commission .
that is what this Parliament expects .
during the compilation of this report and its amendment , it was clear that the biggest deficit in MiFID implementation has been the lack of a market version of a European consolidated tape .
which measures are most important to the Commission candidate ?
we do not want to reduce our emissions by less than the old Member States ; we want to make the same reduction , but the particular situation in our case was different .
we should not simply talk about a time limit .
his final report will be submitted in the second half of this year .
we cannot keep silent and we are calling for a return to constitutional order .
I appeal to the European Parliament to defend Poles in Lithuania , in accordance with European standards of human rights and the rights of minorities .
any such offer is made ex gratia , or in other words without admission of legal liability and without creating a legal precedent .
a considerably speedier disbursement of the Structural Funds in the new Member States is essential under the new conditions , and the Commission 's intention in this respect is more than welcome .
concerning the powers of the Commission : amendment 71 imposes the presence of an official of a Member State during inspections carried out by the Commission , and in the same vein , Amendment 108 limits the possibility for the Commission to carry out inquiries and inspections only in cases where a Member State has been previously informed .
'The United Nations will do its part to support and complement your efforts , both in and beyond Europe .
in so doing , we have closed numerous loopholes that unfortunately existed in the old directive .
if the Danube Strategy is underpinned by strong political commitment , it could then contribute to overcoming past divisions in Europe , thus taking a further step towards the true integration of Europeans .
there have been 125 such applications in total , though .
this is the right initiative at the right time .
we are fulfilling the mandate we received for negotiating on behalf of the Member States with Turkey and with other candidate countries .
time and time again we duck the issue , and public opinion is rightly worried .
deadline for tabling amendments : see Minutes
in other words , the post-Soviet countries are imposing an agenda that is unrepresentative of Russian-EU relations , which is in turn hindering strategic cooperation .
however , we are working on this and we hope that it will be implemented soon .
at the domestic level , this role arises from the traditions and experience connected with the involvement of the social partners in defining and implementing policies for the labour market .
it failed to respond to the need to protect the climate or to the demands of the energy crisis and we are again passing up an opportunity to ensure there is constructive pressure here until well into the next decade .
Madam President , Mr President-in-Office of the Council , Commissioner , what should the budget for the European Union for the year 2009 look like , and what could it look like ?
in conclusion , I wish to stress that , in the current economic crisis , the post-2013 financial framework must have solidarity as its main foundation and also still aim to achieve high standards of territorial and social cohesion .
the use of headscarves in Turkish universities has provoked a large constitutional crisis and that crisis was completely predictable .
much of what came out of these discussions has been incorporated into the report , although not everything , which is unfortunate , at least from my point of view , as the report emphasises in some places that the completion of the internal market for services in the European Union is trailing far behind the internal market for goods .
it is a simple exercise .
I voted in favour of the report on the estimates of revenue and expenditure of Parliament for the financial year 2012 - Section I - Parliament .
I am afraid that you have failed .
the European Commission and the Member States must be ready to ensure that these guidelines are implemented together with social partners and regional and local institutions , which must participate in drawing up and implementing national reform programmes .
that is why they should have the same privileges as women working outside agriculture .
I therefore commend the rapporteur on the very important work carried out .
the legislation to follow needs to be clearer regarding minimum age warnings and the dangers arising from inappropriate use .
we have fulfilled our duty today .
women 's rights issues must be included in all areas of European Union policy and fine ideas and initiatives should not simply remain on paper , but must be implemented in all European Union Member States .
we have therefore taken the firm decision to use every instrument available to us , such as legislation , structural funds and information and awareness-raising campaigns , in order to improve this situation .
it is ' yes ' to debate , it is ' yes ' to cooperation , but it is ' no ' to comitology .
rape is accompanied by barbaric torture such as beating with clubs and mutilation with knives .
I think the first priority in terms of prevention should be to list these sites in Europe .
to this end , the solidarity mechanims must be strengthened in terms of redistribution of asylum seekers , organised mobility and new partnerships with third countries .
its continued existence is a problem for the EU , because six Member States have opted for military neutrality .
well , I could point out that my country is not specifically covered by this recovery plan , so it is good that there were a lot of questions on this .
that is why the time has come to supplement the Stability and Growth Pact with a solidarity pact , as has already been said here , in plenary .
in what ways is the Commission working to prevent the growth of protectionist tendencies in its international trade negotiations ?
on top of that we have had the gas crisis , which clearly showed that in some cases missing physical infrastructure has a huge impact as regards gas supply disruption .
Member of the Commission . - ( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , as we all know , the global economy is increasingly shaped by technological innovation .
( DE ) Mr President , as a member of the Committee on Budgetary Control , I am concerned about the way in which the Commission and the Council are excluding the European Parliament when it comes to the question of the External Action Service .
with regard to the proposal from the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance to establish a Directorate-General for peace-building , I would say that , in contrast to my fellow Members who sit at the left-most edge of this Chamber , I believe the entire EU project , and specifically also our foreign policy , is a unique peace-building project .
as Mr Chastel said just now , from July 2011 , this amendment to the 2009 regulation will give ESMA , the new Securities and Markets Authority , the direct power to supervise credit rating agencies at European level .
this unacceptable situation is proof that the pressure applied to date has been inadequate .
we cannot achieve the Europe we need if we do not believe in ourselves .
an increasing number of citizens will have to cope with social exclusion , unemployment and other socially undesirable phenomena that are harmful to themselves as well as to the economy and society .
during the course of the Czech Presidency we will be focusing on EPAs at the May meeting of the Council for General Affairs and External Relations within the format of ministers for development cooperation .
however , these workers do deserve special protection .
8 .
today we voted in plenary on the European citizens ' initiative .
the basic issue - as we all know - is that the area around the Straits is one of the busiest areas in Europe for maritime traffic with more than 100 000 vessels per annum , 30 000 of which anchor in the area between the Bay of Algeciras and Gibraltar .
Vítor Constâncio is taking up the post of Vice-President of the ECB at a difficult time for the euro area .
currently , Member States may use labelling to inform consumers about the potential negative effects of consuming alcohol , and this is something that the Irish government should certainly consider .
it is their constructive proposals and their willingness to compromise that has helped us to reach agreement and hopefully adopt this report with considerable support in plenary .
ladies and gentlemen , let us remain calm .
I voted in favour of this resolution not only because it asks the Commission to clarify whether the financing agreement provides for an increase in the current amount for development , but in particular because it gives special attention to European producers in this agricultural sector , which is located in the outermost regions of Europe .
I would like you to understand that we have asked for a commitment from the Council .
( DE ) Mr President , not only is Croatia culturally and historically anchored in Central Europe , but also it already meets all the accession criteria .
if Europe is not ambitious here , I am very much afraid that we will lose the growing markets of this century to our competitors .
( HU ) Thank you for the floor , Mr President .
Lady Ashton , I regret that one of the few points in your presentation where you said ' no ' was to this idea of Mr Barnier 's , whereas on most topics , you seem to be at the same place as everybody else .
the purpose of our voting strategy was instead to send a clear signal that certain trends in the package for introducing austerity measures that are far too extensive ought to be exchanged for a more balanced approach in the final negotiating rounds .
but the core question is : who is responsible ?
the Commission is prepared to act along these lines .
the title of the article , which I feel is sufficient to be able to understand what it is about , was : ' Mr Barroso , Take Down Small Business Walls ' .
( DE ) Mr President , one particularly positive feature of the Small Business Act is the provision which makes it easier to establish companies in terms of both time and cost .
above all , this Parliament , always quick to condemn violations of human rights around the world or to demand ' human rights ' clauses in international cooperation agreements , has achieved the master stroke of voting for a report on the Balkans without once mentioning the dramatic and inadmissible situation of the Serb populations in Kosovo , who have become pariahs in the historical land of their fathers .
the international financial crisis did not start on the islands .
above all , we should do this by dismantling the machinery of repression -let us not forget that the dictatorship continues even though the dictator may have stepped down- , lifting the state of emergency and helping pro-democracy forces so that Europe can make a genuine contribution to this process , so that democracy can become truly consolidated and a new partnership can be established .
I therefore appreciate the chance to do so today .
for my part , as rapporteur in this Parliament , I would say that this has been a very difficult file , a very difficult journey .
we hope and trust that the problems caused by the legal basis will be resolved .
moreover , the adopted text does not help those Member States , such as Italy , that suffer geographical barriers , making it more costly for them to transport goods for import and export .
you should know that on this side of the House , we cannot accept a strategy that is devoid of social content .
our group fully supports this compromise , because it is very important and obvious that the economic and social development of the EU 's outermost regions is greatly determined by their periphery , difficult climate and geography and economic dependence on a short range of goods and services .
for 14 years in a row , the Court of Auditors have declared that they cannot verify the correctness of the underlying transactions , and therefore unfortunately for the 29th year in a row I must again vote against approval .
a former liberator of the country , he is now its torturer .
that , my friends , is a recipe for fanning an uncontrollable forest fire .
we cannot , and we must not , say to the citizens that the big common policies , like the external and defence policy , will lie outside the democratic control of our Parliament .
partly for this reason , I believe that equality between men and women in employment should no longer be merely a goal to pursue , but must become a reality .
the old Commission very often drafted too many green papers and white papers without any decisions being taken .
so we are , once again , beginning to be concerned that we will again be more dependent on Russia in the future .
( ES ) Mr President , Commissioner , we are not here tonight to talk about technical measures relating to transport nor about whether one machine is more efficient or cheaper than another in terms of security checks .
( EL ) Mr President , I thank the Commissioner for her truly detailed reply .
Petitions : see Minutes
in writing . - ( DE ) Despite financial crises , the EU has indulged , and continues to do so , in the creation of additional authorities - for every issue and every problem a new agency is set up .
that is a sixth of the world 's population , 20 % more than in 2005 and 105 million more than in 2008 .
we must enforce the general and complete embargo on the supply of weapons to Somalia and ensure that the delivery of humanitarian aid and access to that aid and its distribution in Somalia are guaranteed .
financial stability is about how well capitalised the banks are and how much resilience they have .
it is a good thing that we are increasing funding to support agricultural development in developing countries which experience food shortages . however , we should remember that , in the European Union , nearly 80 million people are threatened by poverty and 43 million citizens are at risk of suffering from malnutrition .
I think that Parliament and the national parliaments can carry out the task of scrutinising , but also of providing political incentives for the European and international economic agenda , making sure that we have proper implementation between one summit and the next and that the G20 increasingly becomes a process rather than merely a series of meetings .
Tibet - plans to make Chinese the main language of instruction
I also believe that the older Member States of the European Union - and I would like the Commission to take note of this - will do away with the nonsensical restrictions on the employment of citizens from the new Member States .
so , yes , we must be more ambitious and we await the results .
this plays down in an incredibly cynical manner the brutality which has taken place in Libya during the last three weeks .
in view of this I would like to ask the Commission to pay special attention to the specific problems faced by island territories , for which maritime transport is of particular importance .
the focus for my group is on the fact that solidarity between the regions is not negotiable .
the European Commission poured in millions of pounds of taxpayers ' money - well , pounds or euros , it doesn 't matter , though it does in our case because we have still got the pound , thank God ! - you poured in millions .
I therefore decided to support this report .
in Germany , as has already been said , we are unfortunately third from bottom , with a shameful pay gap of 23 % .
it is also obvious that today some Member States do not want political unification for Europe , and do not want our predecessors ' vision to be realised .
the European Parliament congratulates the agency on adopting a multiannual work programme for the period 2011-2015 and underlines the importance of such a document for the Agency to adopt efficient organisational arrangements with a view to implementing its strategy and achieving its goals .
while the Franco-Belgian interconnection will be the seventh , joining the existing six , this kind of infrastructure is very often lacking in the new Member States .
7 .
'too-big-to-fail ' financial institutions should be able to draw upon countercyclical capital that is proportionate to the size and level of business risk ;
we now urgently need to consider how we can put a new policy in place , how we can set new benchmarks and how we can bring the state , in other words , the European Union , back into the game , to give us clearer rules for the market .
do you really believe the voter turnout will increase when you continue merely to state how marvellously current policy is working and that we must therefore simply continue to pursue the existing concepts ?
since this is my last speech to this House , I would like to thank you , all colleagues and staff for their cooperation .
an increase in VAT rates from 5-6 % to 20-25 % would certainly result in the bankruptcy of thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises and in the loss of tens of thousands of jobs at a time of serious economic crisis .
when will priority be given to these poor workers , to these middle classes crushed by taxes , to these unemployed , and to these families who are simply European and form the vast majority of the inhabitants of the European Union and are the citizens for whom we are responsible and who you only think about on the eve of elections ?
the United Kingdom can bring much more than it believes it can to Europe .
I noted your reservations , I am aware of them and I will try to respond to them , not with words but with facts .
for this reason , the administration cannot achieve this on its own .
now , suddenly , they would be left completely unable to resist competition at this level .
drawing up a budget is politics expressed in figures .
many amendments proposed by Parliament already conform to the text of the general orientation agreed in the ECOFIN meeting of 4 November 2008 , or go in the same direction .
thus , changes in the management of future cases of pandemics are needed in order to avoid generalised panic among people as well as unnecessary costs .
we should stand for a common framework for all workers , as it would unify the legislation in working places by avoiding fragmenting the workers ' situation with the risk of jeopardising the integration of migrants and the cohesion in the EU .
( SV ) I should like to ask the following question : this young man has , as we know , disappeared .
Mr President , as I am sure everyone is aware , we now have a new government in the United Kingdom , which we can call the Lib-Dem / Con coalition .
I voted in favour of this report and also the two following reports concerning the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund .
the next item is the Council and Commission statements on the situation in Japan , including the nuclear power plant alerts .
employers have reduced employment or have employed temporary workers , offering them inferior financial terms .
I have a small problem because I have more than 25 requests and we have only five minutes for that , so obviously not everybody will get the floor .
it will then pay to carry out research and development in the field .
the invitation to declare dementias one of the priority areas of healthcare is right .
in each case the Kremlin has innocently claimed that the incident was an isolated one .
it is a truism that the most prosperous societies are the freest and the freest societies are the most prosperous , and in that we should recognise the role that free trade plays .
as a result of the Japanese experience , several countries will probably re-think their nuclear energy strategies .
I would recommend that colleagues read the report .
in this regard , I would also like to state that we , as European governments , should also take these facts into account .
it is important that we now acknowledge this fact once again .
besides that , I hope that the latest technological developments will enable us to amend the total ban on liquids on board aircraft by the beginning of next year .
we have made the right choice in opting for the combination of innovation and creativity as the key dimension of the European Year 2009 .
the French Presidency did try to mediate , but on 9 December we had to face the fact that , despite an agreement on the overall strategy to reduce the number of deaths , many Member States were insistent on the question of the third pillar .
is it not possible to move beyond this impasse by reforming the WTO ?
how will you do the ' we will pay more ' : based on what criteria and verified by whom ?
for this reason , we must first diversify and modernise our transport routes , so that they meet the latest technical requirements .
however , in political terms , it is the job of the Commission to resolve this problem in the Member States .
the livestock sector presents a number of problems for European farmers , including the rising cost of inputs , competition from third country imports , major fluctuations in feed costs and relatively low prices for meat .
equality is not about laws : it is about behaviour .
in writing . - ( IT ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I voted in favour of Mr Gyürk 's report on follow-up of the energy efficiency national action plans .
you therefore have a unique opportunity now to make progress relatively quickly in the railway sector and really take the internal market forward , and with it all European citizens , too .
within the Council , we are therefore clearly expecting those Member States that have not yet done so to ratify this convention .
through our action and through our debate this evening , we hope not only that the European Union 's initiative will be acted upon at EU level , but also that , at Member State level , we are heard and that they too make a clear effort to simplify .
how we deal with this waste naturally has a major impact on the environment .
we can also report that tests on humans for the sole purpose of this regulation are banned , and that the UN 's GHS is a dynamic process ; a mechanism has been found to enable changes to the UN GHS to be taken into account by the European GHS .
it is incomprehensible that Prime Minister Netanyahu has refused appeals from all of Israel 's allies to stop the settlements .
it is true that Parliament , like other EU bodies , adopted the Ahtisaari plan , but not as a blank cheque , rather on the understanding that the plan would have the approval of the United Nations Security Council .
women will suffer from the present crisis in the long run , and will be hit in the second wave of redundancy .
my group has suggested abstaining with regard to Amendments 7 and 8 .
the Greens are also really happy with the attention paid to the effects of the crisis on women : women 's unemployment differs , and the effects on women of cuts in public spending differ .
the second aspect is linked to the long-term effects that this catastrophe will trigger .
second : I could mention a lot of details , but I just want to have an answer from Commission President Barroso - please commit yourself to living up to this Parliament 's proposals on regulating the market .
not all these matters were raised in the Green paper on consumer protection but they are in this report .
we should call on the Afghan authorities to take a look at the law , to revise it and make sure that it is entirely in line with the international commitments of that country , as well as its constitution .
now to the second part of your question : how will the Commission take into account Parliament 's suggestions in its work on the post-2013 CAP ?
instead of taking the third step before the first step , we should begin at the beginning .
in the US state of Pennsylvania alone , around 200 000 people have found work extracting and processing non-conventional gas , and the local economy gains over USD 8 billion every year from taxes , orders placed by extraction companies and concession fees .
if necessary there will be fact-finding visits in situ to establish facts or indeed to seek a solution .
we urge you to pull out the EUFOR troops !
at the informal meeting of EU Heads of State or Government on the Europe 2020 strategy on 11 February , the very important matter of governance was raised .
the aim here is not to establish whether the merits of this energy source should be called into question , and neither is it to succumb to the idealistic , obscurantist values of those who would like to ban it .
the problem is that budget ceilings apply to the whole budget , but of course they also apply to each individual budget category .
in Britain a campaign group has just undertaken an independently monitored postal ballot in 10 Westminster constituencies .
this is not only a coincidence of time and place ; a clear link has been established in the debate between the budgetary review and the annual budget for 2011 , or even banana accompanying measures .
you also asked me about the leaks that occurred from the Palestinian side .
it must be obvious by now that the European Parliament is more concerned with protecting rights of every hue , and with doing what is politically correct , than it is with the security of European Union citizens .
apart from European regulations on dangerous products which people are trying to bring on to the internal market , apart from joint measures taken against terrorism , apart from joint initiatives to guarantee peace in Europe , the European Union is involved in the dismantling of nuclear power plants constructed during the Soviet era which might put our health in danger at any time .
North Caucasus , in particular the case of Oleg Orlov (
but does this require new European powers in respect of housing policy and spatial planning ?
Mr President , the previous speaker has already mentioned some of the details of this resolution .
( EL ) Mr President , the signing of an agreement with the USA and a single country over the Visa Waver Program ( VWP ) will prove to be fraught with danger .
military operations in Africa are all very well , but there is a danger of Africa becoming a testing ground for that type of mission .
unfortunately , the word ' extensive ' has been used in the translations .
it is obvious that fine words alone are not enough .
I therefore call on the Commission to do everything in its power to solve the disputes as quickly as possible and to take into account the courses of action proposed in this report .
for example , the restriction currently in force for the Structural Funds , that only 3 % of resources from the relevant operational programme may be channelled towards energy efficiency measures , prohibits new Member States from reviewing their priorities for obtaining Structural Funds in accordance with the new priorities on Europe 's energy strategy and climate change .
in a further communication due to be adopted in the next few weeks the Commission will also present new measures to support the active inclusion of people with disabilities .
it is a question worth asking , hence the third reason for the unease felt after this day of jubilation in Kosovo .
I am a supporter of care for the environment and of action to protect nature . however , when human life is involved , we must not squander it so heartlessly .
I firmly believe that extremism can be prevented solely by citizens ' everyday acts , publicly declared opposition by the political elite , open and comprehensive interpretation in particular of 20th century history , and most of all the police and courts , which must not close their eyes to racists , xenophobes and neo-Nazis , but act without delay to punish such behaviour .
this is both good and positive .
I think that the Slovenian Presidency , which will be here today , will come back to this request .
we must also remember that with Turkey in the European Union , we will have countries such as Iraq , Iran and Syria on our borders .
the Red Cross has issued a warning call .
and who knows ?
the problem of the Polish shipyards poses a fundamental question - do we serve the economy or does the economy serve us ?
their work was launched by three Commissioners : Vice-President for the Digital Agenda Nelly Kroes , the Commissioner for Research , Innovation and Science , Máire Geoghegan-Quinn , and by the undersigned as responsible for Industry and Entrepreneurship .
indeed , concluding the negotiations on the readmission agreement will result in better management of migration .
in my homeland , Sweden , the last filling station on a drive to the north is in Uppsala , which is in the middle of the country .
finally , I also deplore the lack of flexibility for ' journeys ' in cross-border areas , as this impedes Europeans ' mobility .
of course , Lithuania , like other EU Member States , must devote somewhat more attention to the problem of under-age smoking .
ladies and gentlemen of the right , what you do not like is the system .
together with the consequences of the energy crisis and socio-economic consequences , there exists a great political risk that individual European countries will face gas supply problems .
I welcome that the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union has included in its six-monthly programme support for the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area as a real achievement of European integration for the Union 's citizens .
the ongoing violation of the International Convention on Human Rights is a topic on which Europe must be neither silent nor absent , least of all with regard to a country such as Yemen , with which we maintain economic relations .
it must also be ensured that overall the development of biomass has a positive effect on the climate and energy .
risk management is a modern control tool .
they cannot be asked for things that would bring them to their knees , when they already have huge problems .
this is far more than the annual contribution of Slovakia to the EU budget .
however , the European institutions cannot ignore this decision .
people need to be able to see us in the flesh and say to themselves that Europe is not just an institutional monster made up of no one knows who , but individuals with their weaknesses .
if people tell us something that does not suit us , we say they are lying .
our rapporteur , whom I wish to congratulate on his excellent work , has already explained how we interpret the transition to an industrial policy that is smart , resource-efficient , and sustainable from an environmental and social viewpoint .
I agree that the Agency should consider making a Gantt diagram part of the programming for each of its operational activities , with a view to indicating in a concise form the amount of time spent by each staff member on a project and encouraging an approach geared towards achieving results .
at any rate , that is the impression you can get when you listen to the thoughts of the Left on free trade .
'Cannot stress enough the fundamental principle that all Members should be equally provided with full and quality services allowing them to work and express themselves and to receive documents in their native language ... ' ;
no religion can ever , under any circumstances , be a reason , an excuse , or cover for carrying out any kind of discrimination .
Mrs Ashton has given us , here , a positive assessment , but I want to say that , in my opinion , it is an assessment which is greatly exaggerated .
I voted in favour of adopting strong measures from Member States to counter the grey or black economy maintained by an ' undeclared ' workforce , the victims of which are women in most cases , which is more than adversely affecting the EU labour market , rather than just promoting measures aiming to protect their own workers .
this raises the question of how we expect the aspects relating to the transport policy applicable in the European Union 's Member States to be correlated with this strategy , which naturally also takes into account non-EU states present in the Danube Region .
it has already become widely accepted that climate change is taking place and is being caused by human activity .
however , just a few months ago , in November last year , the Council of Ministers of Justice rejected the inclusion of a mechanism to suspend the transfer of asylum seekers to the revised Dublin II Regulation , as proposed by the Commission since 2008 , considering that Dublin II is fine and that there is no problem .
the extension of the total possible credit line to EUR 50 billion will provide a large buffer to cater for further possible needs for financial support .
( CS ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the Lisbon Strategy leaves us in no doubt that the quality of education , research and innovation is a pre-condition for economic success and that support must be given to improving this quality .
I am talking about cabotage , right of establishment for European airlines , rules relating to control and ownership , and all manner of other restrictions that are still in place .
I am pleased that those points were also made clear in the report by Mrs Gurmai .
in writing . - ( PT ) Access to quality information relating to medicinal products that are subject to medical prescription will contribute to achieving better results in terms of patient health , in that the better informed they are , the more likely they will be to better understand decisions related to their treatment .
the EU is persuading nations across the world to spend billions of taxpayers ' money , at the very time when the world is facing dire financial problems , on something that might not only be totally unnecessary , but could well prove to be counter-productive if the latest evidence of global cooling proves to be correct .
I also anticipate a similar commitment to finding timely common solutions on the part of the Commission .
that is proof of our joint intention to work and proceed in a unified fashion , which is obviously more efficient .
a debate on the effects of the weaponry containing depleted uranium has recently been held in the United Nations , where , at the end of last year , the UN First Committee adopted a resolution entitled ' Effects of the use of armaments and ammunitions containing depleted uranium ' .
we believe that the European Parliament must never turn into a sounding board for national diatribes , especially on such sensitive questions and dramatic issues .
I believe that we can all be very proud of the quality and dedication of our staff .
the common maritime policy needs to provide for measures to minimize risks and establish navigation arrangements which will reduce accidents .
I understand that the figure that has been put on the amount of illicit trade coming into the European Union by way of cigarettes is EUR 9.5 billion , and 97 % of it goes undetected .
finally we are looking forward to further discussions with you on the future scheme of generalised preferences further to the proposal for a new regulation which will come your way in May .
the creation of the EEAS is intended to ensure coherence in European external action and the conducting of a Common Foreign and Security Policy .
it is a lesson on how committees can use their power of political initiative by working together to take that movement forward , because if it were not for Parliament , we would not be here today .
that is how a year of precious work has been wasted .
( NL ) Mr President , the Dutch Party for Freedom ( PVV ) is in this House to represent the Dutch people .
your culture of tolerance and your global outlook represent an opportunity in today 's world .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , the Commission urges Parliament to give its consent to the approval of amendments to the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries , known collectively as the Amendment to the NAFO Convention .
let us preserve it and let us work together so that we can share it .
in addition , the system of payment which takes into consideration years of service in determining pay levels is unfavourable for women , who often have to interrupt their careers for family reasons .
there are countless crucial questions that must be clarified in the coming period in the course of the negotiations ; these include the relationship between the Strasbourg and the Luxembourg courts , since there will be no change in the system of jurisdiction in either of these courts .
I am convinced that even the most difficult problems can be resolved through negotiation , by seeking compromise and being guided by the principles of goodwill .
rapporteur . - Mr President , we have been talking about European contract law for over a decade ; now is the time for action , and if ever there was a time when the Internal Market needed a boost in terms of additional transactions , it is now .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
while there remains much to be done , particularly in sectoral areas , it is clear that Croatia has done enough to deserve a place alongside the Member States , and I hope that it can join the EU sooner rather than later .
the reports do accept that this must be done on a non-discriminatory and principled basis , paying due regard to proportionality .
traffic calmed zones , city centre driving bans and similar measures have not yet been sufficiently researched and therefore should not be implemented on a large scale .
draft amending budget No 10 / 2008 (
it focused , in particular , on ways to combat VAT fraud in connection with goods and services that were prone to this sort of abuse .
rapporteur . - ( ES ) Mr President , Commissioner , in 2005 a freelance interpreter , discovering that he was no longer hired by the European Commission when he reached the age of 65 , lodged a complaint with the European Ombudsman for alleged age discrimination in violation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights .
the European public have also been outraged by the suffering of the people in Gaza and the Israeli blockade for far too long .
the Commission is currently considering a complaint received from the Andalusian Regional Government regarding a possible failure to comply with Community legislation .
welcome
a few years ago , we were all very enthusiastic when we said that , in reducing CO2 emissions , we wanted to move away from oil and towards renewable resources .
Sport-related projects have recently received support , for example , from the European Regional Development Fund , the European Social Fund , the Lifelong Learning Programme , the Public Health Programme , and the Youth in Action as well as the Europe for Citizens Programmes .
we , as the European Union , have a duty to ensure the viability of the sector within our borders , and to guarantee protection for our businesses against unfair competition and illegal trade .
the first is to show Europeans that Europe can protect them .
social exclusion is caused by a wide range of factors , and it would be a great pity not to use this report for follow-up work .
the systematic , long-standing plundering of the wealth of this specific country and of Africa in general by European colonialists in the past and imperialists today and the fomentation or exploitation of civil conflicts in order to impose their interests , have resulted in a situation where Africa is the richest continent in the world with the most hungry , poor and downtrodden inhabitants .
it is regrettable that , during this vote , an amendment calling for an investigation procedure to be carried out in Colombia concerning the numerous killings of trade unionists and the mass graves containing the bodies of hundreds of people killed in the region of La Macarena was not passed because of opposition from the right .
the creation of such a fund must serve two purposes : it must support the refugees who arrive in our countries , frequently on our coasts , searching for help , as well as support the states which receive the greatest numbers of these desperate individuals due to their geographic location .
as we restate in this resolution , he must not be able to stand in new elections - that must be made clear .
Finns can get cheap spirits in Estonia , less than 100 kilometres away , and that is stopping Finland from adopting what has been found to be the best approach , which is to impose a fairly high tax on alcohol for the sake of the health of its citizens .
the Sri Lankan Government and their military stand accused of a string of human rights abuses of their own people , from bombing of hospitals , the use of illegal weapons to denying humanitarian and medical ...
this proposal is the only way to restore the confidence of small savers and to stabilise the market for banking services .
such measures as increasing energy efficiency , using energy from renewable sources and improving the EU 's energy security feature among the Swedish Presidency 's priorities .
it should be recognised that there is no such thing as a perfect pension system .
in writing . - ( SV ) The European Parliament has today voted in favour of including sports and recreational fisheries in the common fisheries policy .
sadly , perceived equality also exists in science .
Mr Hannan , you are due to speak on the Feio report , but you are also next and the only one on the list for the Goulard report , so I give you two minutes to use as you wish on both .
the Commission supports and supplements Parliament 's campaign to put in place information measures to increase public awareness of these elections and to call on citizens to exercise their electoral rights .
thus , there have been no tangible results so far , which I greatly regret .
at the same time - and Olli Rehn will have the opportunity to address you later this afternoon - we will make a strong appeal to you and to the Council to see if it is possible to come to a final agreement .
thirdly , you referred to pharmacovigilance .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( PL ) Madam President , on behalf of my group and as a member of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , may I express my full support for the questions . I share Members ' concerns expressed in these questions .
as well as the textiles industry , I am thinking here , above all , about the field of bio-ethanol .
at that point , in fact , the Union will have concluded free trade agreements with all of our Mediterranean neighbours , even though Libya is not covered by the European neighbourhood policy .
I believe strongly that the European Union and the other international partners should think hard about the issue and make the decision to continue with this worthwhile and effective programme .
as a university professor in the USA , he spoke very favourably of European integration and promoted it on the American continent .
we shall discuss this in the future , but it is important too .
regarding the points made by Mr Geier : fraud has no specific national borders .
its administration , however , needs to be efficient .
so we are very clear in our messages .
as well as evaluating the current situation , Mrs Giannakou has decided to formulate a number of proposals for improving the current legal environment .
this will boost political stability and respect for human rights and will generate sustainable growth and prosperity in the region .
as a result of the economic crisis , most Mediterranean countries will be unable to use de minimis aid .
of course , José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra is right to say that FARC must release the hostages .
why carry out reforms when it is possible to send the bill for not doing so to the citizens of other countries ?
finally , I wish to stress the importance of a credit rating agency being registered by a competent authority and its validity throughout the whole EU .
as discussed in Lisbon , this is one of the European Union 's objectives and we have often said , and many Councils have said , that there must be a significant reduction in poverty by 2010 , but there is unfortunately not much sign of that happening .
when it comes to modern technology , the only working hydrogen-powered cars in the world are to be found in Europe .
we have capacity overload in the inner cities , primarily associated with individual private transport resulting in very high emissions , particulates , noise and also safety problems .
in the new Rule 36 , we must ' fully respect ' those rights as laid down in the Charter of Fundamental Rights .
Mr Almunia , there is a great deal of legal uncertainty in this area which must be removed and we are expecting a proposal from the Commission .
I am very sorry , but in this document , as well as in the Commission 's proposal , the portfolios and interests of a retail investor and an institutional , professional investor appear to be slightly jumbled .
( for outcome of the vote and other information on the vote : see Minutes )
likewise , the security of women , within the meaning of UN resolution 1325 , is safeguarded by permanent jobs to prevent conflicts using civilian and peaceful means , not by military intervention .
the Commission of course is very keen to ensure proper implementation of this Directive in all Member States and we believe that those two initiatives are very far-reaching because we can , from both of those initiatives , expect a real change in the consumer internal market for services once the implementation of the Services Directive is complete and the review of the consumer acquis delivers its results .
my intention , by replying , is to reassure Parliament of the Commission 's will and determination to apply the rules that we are approving with the support of the Agency .
that means an end to the production of cluster bombs , and of course no use of fragmentation bombs as occurred in the Gulf War , Yugoslavia , Afghanistan , Iraq and Lebanon .
I hope that this step can be initiated in Bali .
according to the Commission 's assessment , this application meets all of the legally defined eligibility criteria .
questions which have not been answered for lack of time will receive written answers ( see Annex ) .
this report further underlines the need to retain this flexibility and decentralised structure .
as far as the differences are concerned , there will be time in conciliation , and we will make every effort to reach compromises ; I have no doubt that we will reach them .
Madam President , my thanks to the Members who have taken part in the debate and to the Commissioner .
last time we looked at this report we dealt with the testing on animals for scientific purposes .
it is for that reason that I have abstained from voting .
however , there will more on this in the near future .
to make the interpreters ' lives easier - as I am speaking off text - I will , as an exception , do this in English .
the voting list follows the rule introduced in formulae by Thomas von der Vring , according to which the amendments adopted by the Committee on Budgets shall be put to the vote first in plenary , and if these are adopted , all other amendments to the same budget line fall .
responses need to be provided to the crisis through new instruments that can put a brake on speculation , restore the role of the financial sector , ensure an equitable distribution of the burdens , and create new , additional resources for facing global challenges , such as climate change , development goals and intelligent , sustainable , inclusive growth within the framework of the Europe 2020 strategy .
finally , albeit late in the day , we have realised that we are all in the same boat and there is no point dealing with individual situations , especially in an improvised way .
I commend Prime Minister Sanader for his leadership and I also thank Commission President Barroso for his personal involvement in settling the issue .
Double-hull or equivalent design requirements for single-hull oil tankers ( vote )
'Welcomes as a positive step towards reform of the criminal justice system in Uzbekistan the approval by the Uzbek Parliament of the laws on the abolition of the death penalty and the authorisation of courts to issue arrest warrants .
the remaining sums should not be diverted from research and used for other programmes or instruments that do not come within the research and innovation sector or the objectives and scope of FP7 .
the Commission has recently closed its public consultation on funding for grassroots sports .
it is not a foregone conclusion that a Community agency such as this will provide real added value compared to classic intergovernmental cooperation , judging , to look at another area , from the differences between Europol and Interpol in terms of their effectiveness and usefulness .
yes !
( PL ) Mr President , on 26 April , a quarter of a century will have passed since the Chernobyl disaster , the worst nuclear accident in history .
so , when we ask the citizens of Europe to choose their new parliamentarians in just four weeks ' time , we do so on the basis of uncertainty and we run the risk of that vacuum being filled by the opportunism of Europe 's opponents .
in writing . - ( LT ) Before the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon , Member States mostly maintained bilateral agreements with third countries relating to investment .
Mrs Malmström , you may soon no longer be involved , but we are going to continue pushing for transparency .
Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy . - Mr President , this is an opportunity to debate the European Union 's approach to Iran , which has been the subject of an own-initiative report with Mr Belder as rapporteur .
SSGI is treated very seriously in the upcoming European Platform against Poverty which will be published at the end of the year .
the interaction between the civilian and military aspects of the Common Foreign and Security Policy must be used to improve our Union 's capabilities and effectiveness .
- Before the vote :
it is essential for us to find out what conditions make sanctions effective and the aim of this report is actually to examine them from all angles .
the fact that Yevgeny Zhovtis , a well-known civil rights activist , is involved in this case has brought it to the attention of the world and has prompted the response , as a result of which we are discussing this here today .
the amendments it proposes clarify and , in some cases , develop various aspects of the Commission 's proposal , including some useful additions on force majeure subsidies and sanctions .
for this reason , I believe that there needs to be a better correlation between spatial development plans , town plans and traffic management , especially in urban and peri-urban areas where congestion causes the most problems .
Europe needs an open , effective financial market that also leaves scope for self-regulation and internal remedial measures .
I question , however , the legal aspects of this decision .
I am proud to announce to you today that Jacques de Larosière , former Managing Director of the IMF , Governor of the Banque de France and President of the EBRD , has accepted my invitation to chair this group , which will be independent and will consist of high-level experts in the subject matter .
it has often been pointed out in this House that the economic crisis has highlighted the lack of regulation and supervision of the global financial system .
furthermore , a lot of debris of all kinds has been deposited in rivers , streams and other watercourses .
in this respect , the Eastern European states with highly developed agricultural sectors can benefit fully from the development of the biofuels industry , thereby contributing to the growth of incomes in rural areas and the creation of ' green ' jobs ( for example , it is envisaged that 750 000 jobs relating to renewable energy sources will be created in the agricultural sector by 2020 ) .
if we really want to prevent future crises ; if we want to create a cohesive and responsible economic Union ; if we want to be guided by a perspective of prevention and correction ; if we want to commit to sustainable growth then , for this package to be complete , this directive was essential .
this is the route to a new way forward !
the world 's anti-narcotic agencies are growing in size , number and expertise , and they are doing their job more effectively .
firstly , I think the start date needs to be looked at .
we must ensure that we help those small companies , because they will help to create the jobs and reduce unemployment .
1 .
Madam President , a human being takes about one third of his or her life to get ready for mature life through education .
information must be made more available .
we believe that the European Parliament should have full scrutiny in matters dealing with GMOs .
in particular , we must protect children and educate and inform parents and teachers about the new potential dangers of the web .
these considerations are illustrative of the deeper meaning and significance of EU enlargement processes which , in the specific case of Turkey , is the imposition of the wishes of the EU powers and the interest that they serve .
let us help Ukraine conduct normal elections .
I have a few comments about the amendments which have been tabled and which are going to be discussed .
I hope that these priorities will stand up for themselves in the stern mirror of the European Commission , along with the whole of our budget strategy .
the preliminary results of this study will be discussed at a workshop in the first quarter of 2009 , when all the interested parties should attend , including Member States , legal experts , intra-state bodies concerned with gender equality , social partners and civil society .
the government in Beijing is , in reality , attempting to dismiss human rights as ' Western values ' rather than integrating them into its policies .
it is often maintained that , as a result , we could also make energy cheaper .
the official figures on violence against women are much lower compared to the sad reality in each Member State .
what do I mean by that ?
we should therefore not start too high .
in the coming years , climate change will lead to an enormous number of refugees fleeing the poorest areas of the Earth and it is our duty to begin to take note of these potential migratory flows so that we can establish appropriate policies that will enable respect for the dignity of these people to be guaranteed .
the way I see it , in a socially oriented market economy , the worker interests that can also ensure calm and stability on that labour market must be capable of functioning as well as possible .
the zero-rate tax on exports of goods is being abused by fraudsters and criminal groups that , for example , create fictitious transactions and fraudulently drain billions of euros from state budgets .
these amendments aim at extending the initial applicability of the regulation to the aircrafts used in the Community airspace as well , obviously within the limits imposed by the Chicago Convention .
therefore we cannot leave everyday foodstuffs to self-regulation .
resumption of the session
in such cases , we have to do what is necessary .
for this reason , I do not think that the quota system ought to be frozen in all Member States , but each state ought to decide how to set their own quotas .
it is an important development .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( NL ) Madam President , I have asked to speak because I am concerned .
the taxpayer must always have accurate and proper knowledge of what their money is being spent on .
I am not in the habit of interrupting my fellow Members and I do not tolerate being interrupted !
Petitions : see Minutes
this caused over EUR 80 million worth of damage and affected around one thousand farmers , who lost their crops and have been left with no way of resuming production in the coming months .
maladministration , corruption and failed projects have unfortunately been common .
we would have questions about the implications of singling out one group for EP hearings in this way .
we can now help those people and prevent them from becoming sick in future , and this is an opportunity that we must take .
but it must be emphasised that the fight against TB must walk hand in hand with the fight against poverty and social exclusion .
I am also of the view that given the present situation , in which democratically-minded candidates were not allowed to participate in the elections or express their views on the situation in the street with people after the elections , it is important to express my own view .
the Commission should therefore evaluate the possibility of merging agencies with overlapping or complementary activities .
this is also an issue of governance .
everybody has a right to a dignified life . Roma children , to a predominant degree , do not have that .
regarding the Marshall Plan , I think what General George Marshall did with the initial USD 13 billion that he got from Congress in 1948 is an extremely good model .
in the eurozone , perhaps the ECB should have an oversight of accumulative debt issuance and advise Member States on responsible management .
the regions that were at the time much less developed were far from the sea and were given very little international attention .
a fully harmonised directive on unfair business-to-consumer practices was already a very ambitious proposal that would have failed had its scope been extended to unfair business-to-business competitive practices .
in order to make the most of the industry 's unique selling point - the high quality of its output - we need further promotion as pointed out in the Scottà report .
I do not want Schengen to apply in my country , nor would I wish it on others .
in 2006 , thanks to the rapid exchange of information between the Member States , the system received 221 warnings about toys out of a total 924 warnings .
let me name but a few : trans-European transport networks , the European Institute of Technology , the fight to combat climate change .
that is the purpose of the work we are doing here .
we have to stop fearing nuclear power .
Mr President , on a point of order , under Rules 173 , 19 ( 1 ) , 161 and 171 , the decision by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs which you cited a moment ago represents , I am sorry to say , the moment at which this Parliament departs from any pretence of legality or the rule of law .
Europe must be in the lead in this process of change , creating the best opportunities for a competitive European knowledge economy characterised by vitality , change and innovations .
this pro-European reference of course means being liable for and subject to the dogma that pertains in Brussels .
I am convinced that a positive development in economic relations between the EU and the Western Balkans will be of benefit to all countries on the continent of Europe and I await the implementation of our proposals with anticipation .
all States can cut expenditure at the same time , although separately , without needing any European coordination .
this change is made as an oral amendment , so if there is someone who objects to this , I can understand that , but we have agreed between the groups that Amendment 4 should also be accepted and should be voted on .
I did not receive a precise answer to my question of how many of these trade union employees presently work for the Commission in total in all the trade unions represented ?
my second point is that , since the various EU financial funds are , and will be , increasingly under pressure , it is very important to compare the results of the various Member States and to opt for the best practices , thereby achieving a certain degree of harmonisation where everyone gains .
I think we have with us in the Chamber a fellow Member from Liège , Mathieu Grosch .
we have introduced clear and more effective warnings on toys .
it is important to prevent the historic fortress being replaced by modern apartment blocks .
these are fundamental pillars of the Europe 2020 strategy , which will contribute greatly to making the Single Market more competitive and stimulating its growth .
I sincerely believe that it is through openness , through dialogue , through the search for a triangular partnership , in this case , that we will make a difference .
rapporteur . - ( NL ) Madam President , I am pleased that today speakers have discussed not only unbundling but also consumer rights .
we would also have liked an emissions performance standard .
this legislation will stabilise the market , especially the business and science market , provide certainty for investors , and promote wind energy , solar energy , hydroelectric power , and biofuels .
a huge amount could be achieved in this area , and I would propose that we embark on a new initiative in this connection .
the over-centralised , inflexible CFP has failed miserably and we must accept that .
the EU undertook to fund the closure and decommissioning , and it is delivering the financial framework .
subject : environmental aspect of gas pipelines
how ridiculous !
I supported this report .
this blow to Lithuania , Latvia and Estonia , their political communities , and civilised life in general , isolated these nations and countries for five decades .
Europe seeks to propagate the values of an open society , chiefly freedom of expression , all round the world whilst gagging advocates of the same European values in its own official capital .
we need to combat its exploitation , too , including such deliberate confusion with other markings such as China Export .
this situation is heavily influenced by the general agricultural situation and women are suffering the consequences of unfair measures in the CAP ( common agricultural policy ) , which have led to the increasing abandonment of small and medium-sized holdings and family-based agriculture .
the Council has asked the Commission to use Community instruments to promote economic and political development and to propose measures to advance in that direction .
today , we know that there are lots of differences , which is , of course , very hard to understand in the same European Union with the same international conventions and the same European values .
the Agreement represents an important step forward in terms of establishing international standards for civil aviation safety and should serve as a starting point for future negotiations with other significant producers of aircraft and equipment .
all of these aspirations require high-quality , constant and detailed monitoring of the progress of our energy situation , as energy consumption is responsible for more than 80 % of our greenhouse gas emissions .
following the adoption of the new framework for Commission expert groups , the Commission drew up a new version of the register in December 2010 .
I may sound a bit harsh , but I want to know what is going on .
( SK ) First , I would like to express my sincere sympathy to our Hungarian friends , and solidarity with the families of the survivors , as well as my concern for the 150 who suffered injuries .
I firmly believe that mutual cooperation in the fight against climate change , seeking common approaches in the areas of science , research and innovation , will prove beneficial to both sides .
of course , Parliament will be watching to see that these substances are monitored .
we should never forget that the only weapon that innocent victims have against terrorism is their word and the recognition of society .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , caution alone is quite sufficient reason to work towards the effective elimination of weapons using depleted uranium .
according to information provided by the Court of Auditors , Eurojust 's annual accounts for the financial year 2009 are reliable and the underlying transactions are legal and regular .
a further problem is the service charge involved in outsourcing .
better to warn people now than face a whole lot of damage claims in ten years ' time .
in my country we have had very positive experiences in this respect .
naturally this possibility does not seem so coherent .
uncertainty is the opposite of trust .
to be precise , deforestation now affects 13 million hectares worldwide and is the third biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions .
we want to stress how important it is that the EU find other , longer-term and more sustainable ways of supporting Guinea-Bissau , since the fisheries agreement with the EU currently accounts for 30 % of the country 's GNP .
however , given the rapid evolution of the internet , as well as the necessity of ensuring legal translations first and foremost , according to Regulation 1 , the Commission must always be on the lookout for the right balance between providing relevant and up-to-date information to the stakeholders within the EU , and ensuring the fully multilingual character of all of the Commission 's websites .
I have in mind Turkey .
to my mind there are clear political reasons for this .
you promised to sign the Treaty of Lisbon , which your parliament ratified , and you must keep this promise . '
( GA ) Mr President , like other speakers I want to congratulate the rapporteur , Mrs Sârbu , for her good work on this subject .
those responsible are motivated by fundamentalist and extremist Islamist ideology .
Morocco , at the moment , has signed a free trade agreement with the United States .
I raised this problem , along with other issues , two years ago in a question to the European Commission , but the situation has not yet been resolved satisfactorily .
the European Commission should support this initiative and cooperate with this network with a view to exchanging information and good practice .
clear and decisive joined-up leadership is essential and we need the European Aviation Safety Agency to ensure that EU Member States adapt their current procedures to guarantee that airline operators will take responsibility and be supported in making such decisions in future .
it is crucial that we tackle this kind of crime .
as a Member from Ireland , I would like to remind the House that political irony is a trait much appreciated in Ireland .
I would like to thank the rapporteur very much and to express my strong support for this report once again .
we need that kind of initiative in those six county areas .
what concerns me is that , firstly , fishing opportunities should - and we hope will - be allocated to Community vessels on the basis of transparent scientific opinions and , secondly , that part of the financial contribution by the Community set out in the so-called sectoral support agreements should be used to develop the fisheries sector of the partner coastal state , so as to establish responsible and sustainable fisheries .
the political impasse , which has already involved 27 postponements of the convening of Parliament to elect the President of the Republic , could deteriorate , making Lebanon fertile ground once again for inter-Arab conflict and a for now latent source of tension between Iran and Hezbollah and Israel .
the EU population is growing old and in order to ensure the sustainability of the social welfare schemes increasing work productivity is necessary .
one final comment : all this will only work if the European Union is a stronger and more creditable partner , if it has something like the Treaty of Lisbon and acquires freedom of action in foreign policy .
the Commission is also in the process of considering whether an EU initiative on consumer collective redress is necessary and , if so , what type of initiative that should be .
in addition we must take into account the role to be played by the many national , regional and local authorities and ensure that instructions exist for effective protection of essential infrastructure , such as access to telecommunications infrastructure , power networks , hospitals , bridges , ports , airports and so on .
from what I was told I suspect they were not good .
the financial and banking systems may be organised differently around the world , but we need this financial transaction tax to gain global acceptance .
fourthly , how can we envisage a future Europe with a common foreign and security policy when we lack such a fundamental element in the form of a common position ?
with this resolution , Parliament as a whole finally acknowledges that the right to food is a basic human right , that it is unacceptable that the hunger of some is exploited for the benefit of others , that regulation is indispensable in ensuring price stability , and that trade agreements must preserve small family farms and the right to food .
for us , that was one of the most important points .
it is because implementation of these new programmes in all the regions , in all the Member States , has now been under way since 2007 .
apart from these specific objections , I believe that overall this is an excellent law that does justice to the political and constitutional importance of this new mechanism for participatory democracy within the EU .
I very much hope that the proposals by the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe to revive the economy and to improve the financial situation will receive very concrete attention and a response from the Commission .
the collection of data will provide the opportunity to compare carriage by transport mode and will create the possibility to combine various modes of transport within the same transport chain and to modernise freight transport logistics .
it included an action plan with a number of practical actions to gradually build up more integrated coordination between the various instruments for disaster response .
Parliament , however , rejected financing by these funds for polluting lignite power plants .
HIV / AIDS reduction strategies must be worked out in each Member State and these must focus on vulnerable groups and groups known to be at high risk .
it is evidence also of a strategy , a useful strategy of development in a context of crisis and which prepares European society for the digital age .
( NL ) Mr President , the situation in which Greece and the euro area have deservedly found themselves is regrettable .
the European Investment Bank will have to devise development and environment impact parameters and report on their completion .
( FR ) Commissioner , forgive me , but I was very deeply shocked by your introduction to this debate .
it will also be able to impose fines if safety is not properly implemented .
if we do , it will be ordinary people who will pay the price for our failure , just as they are paying the price today for failure on the banking crisis .
we must care for the environment when producing and processing food .
where are the European policies ?
her participation has truly enabled us to find common ground on a communications policy and on the schedule of priorities for the European Commission and the European Parliament , within the framework of an interinstitutional agreement , which we have consolidated and shall be presenting .
can ACTA be ratified by the United States ?
it is hard to resist the impression that European taxpayers ' money is being given over to yet another agenda for strengthening the authorities in Brussels and the emerging Eurostate .
the first is the growth in global demand , especially among the main emerging economies .
( it ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , first the epicentre of a terrible earthquake , in precisely the poorest and worst-governed area in the American hemisphere , and now cholera in the country which receives one of the highest amounts of per capita international aid .
may God , the Almighty and the merciful , bless us all .
so I hope to be able to come back to you soon on developments on this .
chapter 23 has throughout been the subject of the special attention of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe ( ALDE ) .
we need to prioritise and we need to act which , in this case , means changing strategies , mobilising resources , increasing them and optimising the preventive policies .
( RO ) Madam President , the decision made by the Council to initiate the procedure for ratifying the Stabilisation and Association Agreement will encourage Serbia to continue its reforms in order to comply with the Copenhagen criteria .
therefore , we also need clear and effective principles for the protection of intellectual property rights which will not interfere with innovation and competition , will not place an unjustified burden on legally conducted trade and will protect our privacy and fundamental rights , such as freedom of speech .
question Time ( Commission )
thirteen million hectares per year or one football pitch per second - that is the area of forest which is disappearing from the world each year .
unfortunately , large amounts of EU funds are still wrongly spent and therefore the Commission must take appropriate action with a view to ensuring prompt recovery of those funds .
we did not recognise that we were only at the beginning and not at the end of the process .
Serbia is showing serious lapses in the field of respect for human rights .
will the Member States present a united front ?
we appeal to Russia and to Georgia for stability , peace and security in this region .
to date , the Commission has still not given clear responses to Parliament 's requests .
on the name issue , the report does not criticise either of the two sides .
I refer to the worrying McKinsey analysis of the matter .
I do not believe that this is the right course .
we have developed an affirmative action programme in all spheres , from higher education to law enforcement bodies .
in writing . - ( FR ) I should like to begin by congratulating the European Commission on its Community strategy on health and safety at work 2007-2012 , and on the work achieved by our Parliamentary Committee .
with regard to farm prices in Europe , in 1961 I received 26 cents for 1 kilo of grain .
indeed , anyone who takes the time to listen to the people working in the sector will know that the general working conditions are extremely tough , both physically and often also mentally .
( PL ) I should like to congratulate the rapporteur on his report , which highlights many problems consumers encounter on the internal market .
it is particularly annoying that we have not managed to ban the crafty increase of volume in advertising either , even though our electorate throughout Europe deplores this practice .
we have established the internal market , which has brought us much prosperity , together .
at the same time , our common agricultural policy must guarantee the sustainable development of agriculture .
this does not mean that one day this will not happen , but it will take time and several generations , I believe .
following the financial crisis , it has become evident that the European financial markets are currently unable to provide SMEs with adequate finance mechanisms .
it was important for everyone to be able to give their opinion on what is probably one of the most difficult subjects we have had to deal with , since it involves a radical change to a number of aspects of our economic and social policies , so great a factor is energy in all of this , with its moral , ethical and nature-related dimensions , this respect for nature and , obviously , climate change .
our Ombudsman has carried out his job of examining and processing the complaints in an active and balanced way .
the problem for the European Union is that many European states have been committed to Mr Bush 's former policy of repaying crime with crime and torture with torture .
I would like to focus on just a couple of points .
it is time now that we returned , and used every influence we have to return , to the traditional bank manager , who can make calculated risk based on character , ability and track record .
there is still plenty of work to do , and many reforms need to be stepped up by Croatia .
we debated that very vigorously last night in this Parliament and I was glad to hear that improvements will be made .
under these circumstances , migration seems to remain the main population growth factor in the Union .
we would like the Commission to issue a statement about immediate measures on the part of the European Union to support Italy and other affected States in dealing with the current influx of refugees .
furthermore , the tardiness of the Member States and industry in conforming to the new legal framework represents a further barrier to interoperability .
some people felt compelled to ask the eternal question about Mr Kissinger and the telephone number .
if we let slip this opportunity , we could find ourselves in a fragmented market for many years ; not only would this be negative for consumers and European businesses , it would also be unwise given the numerous competing international initiatives .
however , two important preconditions of a more rapid progress are freedom and independence of the media and putting an end to media manipulation .
however , I will respond again in writing to the questions that I have now answered orally so that they receive the attention they deserve .
I would like to take this opportunity , however , to express our heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the families of all those who lost their lives .
the proposal to review the multiannual financial framework is no bad thing and offers additional resources for growth allocated in 2009-2010 .
the work on a new test cycle is now finalised .
the fear felt by our fellow citizens is out of sync with what is being done , and done well , by the European Central Bank .
volunteering is a unique activity in many ways : it is open to all and is freely given ; it contributes to social cohesion and to economic cohesion ; it puts one of the most important European values - that of solidarity - into action .
for instance , when designing buildings and getting them ready for use , clearly visible signs should be used , along with tactile floor markings to help the visually impaired find their way .
like everyone , the members of the PPE Group also nurture dreams , but the difference between us and others is that we are striving to turn those dreams into a reality .
through this proposal for a directive , the European Union is aiming to attack the entire supply chain of an inhumane trade that tramples on its principles and founding values .
however , I shall also refer at the end to the difficulties or obstacles which I believe we have to overcome .
the trial took place without any right of defence .
what influence do we want for our works and our creation ?
in writing . - ( IT ) I am voting in favour of the report put forward by our colleague Mathieu Grosch on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules for access to the market for coach and bus services .
I appreciate that our Spanish and Portuguese colleagues may have concerns , and I have included those concerns in Amendment 7 in the draft report .
science can tell us in which direction fisheries should move in order to improve yields and decrease costs .
however , it would seem to be necessary to make clear that the proposed mechanism will be applicable not only to sectoral agreements determined by the limited scope of this proposal , but also to other agreements such as bilateral understandings and regional agreements between a limited number of Member States and neighbouring third countries - of course only in very limited cases , concerning specific matters , and with the intention of resolving local problems .
the honourable Members have made a number of important points and I will try in the short time I have to capture and address as many of them as possible .
that is having a major impact on the economy and on trade relations with this country .
Member States and the enterprises concerned must be urged , therefore , on the one hand , to incorporate into their crisis-handling strategies the consideration of gender equality and , on the other , to refrain from financial restrictions detrimental to equal opportunities for men and women .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , I am pleased that the report on specific measures for agriculture in the outermost regions of the Union has been so amicably discussed in the House .
moreover , those Member States , having accepted the jurisdiction , may limit it to the highest national courts or tribunals .
concerted action is required as the non-involvement of a single riparian state may result in the whole process being blocked .
all these considerations make coordination and collaboration between Member States necessary , without the above meaning that asylum should become an alternative means of gaining entry to immigration , or , even less so , a means of getting round the illegality of certain migratory flows .
the Presidency has already responded to the points made as regards the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , Mr Karras , if I have understood Morgan Stanley correctly in the last few days , they are less fearful of Mr Schulz 's stranglehold than of hedge funds .
let us not forget that , in many European countries , assisting spouses still do not have a status in their own right , that their work is not recognised , and that they are not covered by social security for self-employed workers .
the Presidency needed the help of the European Parliament in tackling the challenges we were facing .
we have already debated this in this House , in September last year , and , because some questions remained unanswered then , we and other members of Parliament sent a letter requesting clarification .
then he refers to the very document - now known as the ' Reform Treaty ' - which has precipitated this crisis , by saying patronisingly that involving national parliaments will help them better understand the advantages of a single market .
we believe that it is vital that women are not subjected to violence or the sex trade .
the objective of this directive is to ensure the rapid exchange of adequate , good-quality information .
actually , the Coptic Christians are still a considerable minority .
a strategic partnership , however , can only be built on the basis of a symmetrical dialogue between equals .
migration has a fundamental role to play in the context of globalisation by helping to increase growth potential and facilitate adjustments .
in fact , these agreements are very different in terms of their signatories , content , scope and organisation .
however , what can our observers do to defend civilians against the daily violence ?
finally , it challenges Parliament 's committees to increase the use of IAs so as to improve the quality of its law making .
· fourthly , illegal building on burnt land should be strictly prohibited ;
Member States want those powers back .
under these guidelines , the European Union implements a wide range of actions , ranging from public declarations or diplomatic démarches to trial observations .
great !
( PL ) Mr President , I would like to draw attention to three issues in this debate .
as you already know , the Council approved the joint text at its meeting on 31 January 2011 .
it is worth noting that there will be a shift towards industrial and technological development and a corresponding shift away from low-skilled labour .
we should realise how such hypocrisy and double standards are helpful for various neo-Nazis etc .
I want us to progress constructively and confidently .
I believe that this is good for Parliament 's credibility , but also for the transparency of what is happening in the Western Sahara .
I would have thought that this time - unlike in all the preceding years - we actually would have had a chance of reaching agreement if only the negotiations had gone on longer .
on Libya , I strongly support the no-fly zone and the pressing need for regime change .
their modest participation is negatively perceived , and has a negative impact on the sustainable development of the Union , as well as on its cohesion .
approval of Minutes of previous sitting : see Minutes
we call for specific measures to preserve the culture , language and customs of these peoples , something which requires a regular dialogue between their representatives and the EU institutions .
Mr President , Mr Šemeta , Mr Caldeira , I would like to thank the Court of Auditors for this report .
in her resolution , Mrs Svensson has touched many open wounds .
these are significant results , and prove that a European perspective acts as a driving force for the preparations of a country .
I am not very happy with the recasting system .
emergency cooperation in recovering missing children ( written declaration ) : see Minutes
yes , there will be European taxes , indeed there will , but the austerity measures you are currently introducing at national level will be disastrous for you anyway , because we have known for years that austerity kills economic momentum and ultimately achieves nothing .
the independence of Kosovo is a concrete application in Europe of the principle of self-determination for the people sanctioned by the UN Charter .
our international partners have acted in line with us .
I have voted in favour of Mr Rapkay 's report because the plan to phase out coal mining subsidies by 2018 is , fortunately , supported by a broad majority across all the groups .
I would therefore like to stress that we need to ensure that there are the right resources in place so that our citizens do not have to wait years for a decision .
quite apart from the discussion about all kinds of technical instruments , it is , to my mind , impossible to explain to the European citizen that we have paid EUR 340 million in superlevy , while we all remain nearly 1 % under the European quota .
I consider this an important step towards a common energy policy .
firstly , it is unfortunate that Europe is at a standstill and thus unable to compete globally , but that also applies to American and Asian airlines , which are unable to land in the EU .
ladies and gentlemen , thank you for a very intensive debate which , although short , has helped to enrich the concept of flexicurity .
do we really need a common working time directive ?
efforts to combat criminal networks must necessarily be transnational .
the Commission helps Member States to achieve these targets through financial support , in particular the European Social Fund , policy coordination and policy guidance at EU level under the European semester .
today , with advances in technology , when residents have the opportunity to choose electrical appliances according to their energy efficiency , the labelling that we agreed on will also help consumers make a conscious choice and contribute to energy saving ( hence , citizens would choose more economical devices ) and the preservation of the environment .
given its rather poor performance , Europe must contribute more to the effort to resettle refugees whose existence is threatened in the countries that have received them .
as far as my side is concerned , I am disappointed that the whole of the universal service aspect is coming later .
the report also calls on the European Parliament itself and its committees to carry out impact assessments of draft legislation more often and to scrutinise more closely the impact assessments carried out by the Commission , which frequently serve to justify a legislative proposal rather than to permit an objective consideration of the facts .
in addition , we need to ensure that this premium is accompanied by a business plan so as not to curb the innovative spirit of young farmers .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I would also like first to thank Parliament , and in particular the rapporteur , Mr Florenz , and his team , the shadows and the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , for their hard work .
today 's resolution is intended as a practical response to the alarming phenomenon of Community fraud .
the first is that the design and manufacture of products must satisfy current requirements .
I am pleased that the Treaty of Lisbon places a great deal of importance on transparency , public scrutiny and democracy .
I cannot , therefore , agree with you on this point .
( DE ) Mr President , in the Committee on Regional Development , we also had great expectations of the budget review .
you have a great deal of work ahead of you Prime Minister , and we , together with our President , will be monitoring you closely to guarantee that this work is carried out .
today , 120 illegal immigrants are going back to Tunisia from Lampedusa , something not done by previous governments because the immigrants had to be taken back - thus drawing the teeth of the exploitative Mafia criminals who cause these journeys to be made and then exploit them for criminal trafficking .
in 2010 , agricultural produce generated the biggest gains on the stock exchanges .
the government and the parliament of Scotland have adopted the world 's most ambitious climate change act , with emission reduction targets of 42 % by 2020 and 80 % by 2050 .
although the text is not perfect and does not meet with all of our initial ambitions , the Commission unreservedly supports the compromise .
people considering themselves Bulgarian , whom I will refer to as a ' Bulgarian ethnic group ' to make it easier , even though this is not an accurate definition , are still the only ethnic group in Macedonia without a registered political party .
there is , nevertheless , room for improvement .
finally , I should like to underline the importance of the new Europe 2020 Strategy for growth and employment , which plays an important role in getting us out of the crisis .
the compulsory introduction of bilingual instruction is understood unequivocally by the Poles who have lived in Lithuania for over seven centuries as discrimination which should be brought to an end .
it will open your eyes time and again .
I think that this debate shows that we need many more discussions on culture in the EU .
we need to have corrective mechanisms implemented at the right time .
6 .
that is a significant change , but I believe it is a fundamental improvement of the scheme .
I have respect for the Chinese people , who also fought for national freedom against the Japanese occupation , and for freedom and civil liberties inside China itself - an example of this being the Boxer Rebellion in the 19th century .
for this reason , we have drawn up Amendment 47 , and I would ask for your support for this amendment in the interests of the developing countries .
we have heard today the extraordinary plea made by Václav Havel .
on behalf of UEN Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , the European Union is attempting to establish a facility which will enable it to offer rapid assistance to poor and non-developing countries , to ensure that their populations survive if food prices rise .
my vote is also intended to support the presence of small quantities of genetically modified organisms in products entering the EU .
Forty-two per cent of European citizens have confidence in EU institutions .
the EU did hold the reins in the global approach to the climate crisis , but you are rapidly throwing them away .
at present , enlargement is focusing on the western Balkans , Turkey and Iceland .
for me , there are three .
( DE ) Mr President , Baroness Ashton , our hopes that Belarus would move closer to democracy after the presidential elections have been bitterly disappointed .
cooperation to strengthen its tax system and the fight against tax havens that facilitate illegal leaks of capital must underpin these processes .
thank you , Mr President .
unfortunately , we have totally ignored this wish .
incidentally , I deeply regret the abstention in the parliamentary committee , on such an important report , by the Socialist Group in the European Parliament .
they ran riot again on 23 October .
I support the improvements offered by the rapporteur , particularly the transfer of new powers to ESMA which the Commission intended to keep for itself in particular with regard to penalties .
many of us collaborated on the Small Business Act .
on account of the situation in Tibet , I believe that bilingualism , in other words , learning Tibetan and Chinese , is the appropriate solution .
at least 40 fled into the bush .
we have a precedent .
conversely , mental ill-health detracts from the quality of life of people and their families and has implications for the health , economic , educational , social security , penal and legal sectors .
I look forward to contributions from other colleagues , but also I enjoy working with you , not the least in relation to access to documents , but also as Vice-Chair of the Committee on Petitions .
in other words , from now on , as the result of a long struggle and battle which has been fought here for many years , and which continues to be fought by the Members of the European Parliament , we are guaranteed that the decisions taken by the European Commission which do not fall within its own jurisdiction but are adopted through delegated legislative powers are overseen by Parliament .
I also note the Court of Auditors ' finding that in 2008 Eurojust had a problem as regards carrying forward appropriations , although the amount was lower than in the previous year , and action is needed to prevent this situation from recurring in future .
the European Union absolutely must pursue the policy begun in 2005 after the blind and totally unpunished repression at Andijan , which according to the OSCE and Human Rights Watch left between 500 and 1000 people dead .
it turned out that thousands of sovietologists had dismissed in their analyses the latent powerful force which finally disabled the Soviet dictatorship - the will of the enslaved people for freedom .
it is important that Member States continue to engage in bilateral communications and negotiations with third countries in order to achieve their Union frequency targets .
Mr President , you have presented a work programme for the rest of the term of this Parliament and of your Commission , and I would like to say that the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats will be happy to follow the main principles of this programme .
I think Parliament has constrained itself too tightly , and we should more properly reflect the interinstitutional agreement of 2001 in our procedures to permit committees to talk about substantive changes to parts of directives or regulations that the Commission is seeking to recast , but in a very restricted form .
we must not be indifferent to and , more importantly , we must not underestimate the harrowing screams of our young people .
so far that has proved to be - hardly surprising , one might say - a somewhat difficult enterprise .
the result , therefore , is that although training and different ways of improving one 's qualifications are important , they are not enough to reduce discrimination .
we have also worked hard to clarify the fact that healthcare is the responsibility of the Member States and not something that EU bureaucrats should take decisions on .
there is no other region in the world with which we are working as closely as Latin America at a multilateral level .
in writing . - ( ET ) Territorial cohesion strengthens economic and social cohesion and is one of the essential components for the achievement of the objectives of the EU cohesion policy , as it helps effectively balance development differences both between and within Member States and regions .
in writing . - I am glad the report was adopted by an overwhelming majority but overall , because the attempt by ALDE to weaken the paragraph on the financial transaction tax failed and the text based on our amendment , calling for the introduction of an FTT at EU level as a first step , passed .
therefore , our group will be voting against a dual legal base , both for these original amendments , and indeed the recital .
however , on behalf of Mr Cohn-Bendit , Mr Bisky and myself , I would like to explain that we did not vote in favour of your proposal to postpone the vote this morning in the Conference of Presidents , because we believe that we should and , in fact , can vote today .
the third course of action is to reduce imports , or even stop them completely , which would be the ideal solution .
as a matter of urgency , Europe should develop comprehensive solutions to improve the use of pre-commercial procurement , not only by national authorities , but also by local and regional ones .
the agreement we reached in Copenhagen has produced some significant results , one of them definitely being the decision that we must take action to limit the global increase in temperature to below 2 degrees Celsius .
given that this represents a simplification of procedures - putting an end to annual regulations - and that these recommendations are already in operation within countries that are members of the GFCM , I applaud this initiative , with which I am fully in agreement , and I look forward to the satisfactory implementation of this regulation .
as you know , the European social partners have already demonstrated that they understand what is at stake by presenting , at the end of the summer , eight joint proposals on the basis of which they are prepared - they have said they are prepared - to accept the Commission 's proposal , my dear Vladimir .
the Council started the ratification process for the agreement on 14 June 2010 .
all the best !
the solution is so easy if they would just talk to each other .
the damage was estimated at almost EUR 900 million , which is nearly 0.7 % of Romania 's GDP .
it is in the joint declaration that we carry the strong political message in support of speeding up the granting of free visas to all the people of the Western Balkans .
due to this process , every sixth Hungarian - about a million people - lost his or her job .
I would like to thank once again Mr López Garrido , who is representing the Spanish Presidency , and the entire Spanish delegation , for being here in the Chamber during our proceedings and debate .
the Commission has powers to verify the measures and the decisions taken by the Member States in relation to the application of European law .
it is time to congratulate the Commission and its President , who has always been very concerned about tackling the crisis , and to highlight that Parliament itself has shown great readiness to discuss this issue by setting up a special committee .
( PL ) Mr President , the imposition of uniform emission limits after 2015 for all fossil-fuel power plants is a mistake .
it expresses many laudable objectives , such as an increase in labour participation and achievement of tertiary education diplomas by 40 % of EU citizens , and also increased expenditure on innovation .
but political clauses in all political agreements , and in trade and sectoral agreements of different kinds , are there and they have to be there .
however , while disrespect for the rights and legitimate freedoms of minorities is the main cause of conflict , the causes are wider than that and include those of an economic nature , primarily energy and geopolitics .
the European Union , therefore , needs to change its policies and resolve these contradictions .
the Commission wants , together with Parliament and the Council , to examine a strategy that will enable our European industry , our European entrepreneurial system , to evolve , because , as the Treaty of Lisbon states and as we are all convinced , a strong market is the best vehicle for creating sound social policy .
we have laid the basis for a solid compromise which , I hope , will receive - together with the reports by Mr Harbour and Mrs Pleguezuelos Aguilar - your full support in tomorrow 's vote .
this is completely short-sighted .
moreover , appropriate legal proceedings have been initiated in order to obtain a refund for the costs incurred following the disaster .
the functioning of the revised pact is well documented in the Commission reports on public finances in the EMU of 2006 , 2007 and 2008 and in the accompanying communication .
it cannot mean that we say ' we are sourcing energy ; nothing else is of interest to us ' .
let us hope that the Portuguese electorate appreciates your leadership as we do and , indeed , that you may be re-elected to your seat .
the decision prohibits anti-competitive practices by European collecting societies which limit their ability to offer their services to authors and online operators .
how will the Commission go about redressing the imbalance between security and freedom ?
time is the only resource which is not renewable .
therefore , it is necessary to correct its scope by making a structural change .
Mr President , the crass proposal by the Commission , in its original proposition , that they should control recreational fishing and require returns and licensing and everything else that goes with such bureaucracy , was one of the those proposals which , quite rightly , stirred huge opposition , not just in that sector , but amongst those who take an interest in matters pertaining to fishing and to EU bureaucracy .
I therefore voted against the motion for a resolution .
( the sitting was opened at 9 a.m. )
research is the key , and in this area the European Union deserves great credit because , while we are behind the US and Japan in terms of research in general , we are the leaders in this field , with 60 % of research taking place in the EU , and with Danish authorities and scientists in particular having developed the vaccine .
in certain parts , the final text bears the mark of the text passed by the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs .
secondly , will you be supporting greater funding for the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights in the next budget ?
I could not agree more , and I deplore the use of such tactics by the European left , particularly the Socialists .
however , the little that is being given may help to ease their pain . this does not make the rationale of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund any less intolerable .
perhaps it will be some two years before the country that is the homeland of the yoghurt , the homeland of Lactobacillus bulgaricum , remains without a single living cow thanks to the EU .
I wish to express my respect for Parliament , which a few years ago gave its clear backing to the permanent use of nuclear power in the European energy mix , but which has doubtless begun to reconsider this position .
one demolishes the other .
in the name of the European Union , I can say that everything that has followed the Kenyan elections has represented a great disappointment and that the situation is still worrying .
Europe has no alternative to transatlantic relations .
where is Javier Solana ?
our point of view has not changed on this matter .
I also hope that Jordan can withstand the instability affecting the region and remain the moderate and responsible partner that it has been during the reigns of King Hussein and King Abdullah II .
his name is Mr Cor Disselkoen .
these gangs could be combated through transnational cooperation between the EU , which is the destination , and these countries , which are the starting point for these gangs .
during my speech , I said that the application of the new rules by all those concerned was a priority for the Commission .
the post-dated promises and threats have done nothing to change the fundamentals of the Treaty .
the rule of law needs to be adhered to .
fishing bosses no longer want to invest in their boats so the fleet is ageing .
will the Council support the directive and thereby help to clean up our river - our rivers ?
tuberculosis is a good example of the contrast between us and our neighbours in the developing world .
another timely point raised in the report is the need for the Commission Action Plan , mentioned earlier , to provide measures to fight organised crime in international freight transport and ensure the security of freight transport loadings against theft , robbery and hijacking .
the management of this transition has been underpinned by public intervention designed to ensure income stability for companies and to exclude food prices from the pressures of competition .
within this mandate we could negotiate .
there are currently no common definitions of energy poverty , nor are there any proper political initiatives in place to reduce it .
I think that the new provisions on the common security and defence policy introduced by the Treaty of Lisbon offer a strong political statement of the Union 's intention to act as a force for stability in the world .
the first is evaluating the opportunities of grouping together the administrative functions of a majority of the smaller agencies , and so releasing resources and expertise in complying with the complicated regulatory framework surrounding the agencies .
our towns also play a crucial role in the context of climate change .
only multidisciplinary , coordinated action between the Commission , the Council and Member States can bring positive results for the Roma population .
the Czech presidency will definitely continue its efforts to provide secure , competitive and sustainable energy for Europe .
sometimes we should give Russia , our important partner , credit for that and not allow ourselves to be carried away solely by the emotions aroused by our own history .
it is directives such as these which prove their worth in the eyes of the public .
I voted for this report because I advocate the addition of a further 718 pharmaceutical and chemical products to the list of products benefiting from bound duty-free treatment upon importation into the EU .
it is our duty to remind him of his promise , and to give more support to the independent media , civil society and the victims of human rights violations .
to conclude this first part of the debate , I think that , in spite of their negative effects , crises always have one virtue .
at the same time , farmers must be kept well informed and be given more assistance by the authorities .
Summonses to police stations are increasing , as are disappearances , incidents of intimidation and unexplained deaths .
male violence against women is , in my view , a clear indication of the unequal power relationship between men and women .
in line with the undertaking which the Commission accepted before the European Parliament in 2007 , a report on the implementation of the Barcelona objectives was presented in October 2008 .
they must also ensure adherence at home to the principle of respect for human rights and the rule of law which President Medvedev himself proclaimed at the start of his term of office .
I do not call him President because what recently went on in Zimbabwe cannot be called an election .
must every Member State implement this service correctly and in its entirety ?
therefore , as before , and especially today , I would like to show solidarity with all Belarusians throughout the world , and above all with the Belarusians who have gathered in one of Minsk 's squares , those who hold dear the spirit of independence and freedom .
neither do we want an additional burden for the beneficiaries .
the situation in Zimbabwe is a matter for the whole of the international community and the community of African states and it is absolutely imperative that we recognise Mugabe 's tyranny .
we condemn the Iranian Revolutionary Court 's unfounded decision on Roxana Saberi .
in the current economic climate , we must give the EU the necessary tools to help us weather the storm .
I therefore voted against this report .
Τhe next item is voting time .
so , to start with the Reform Treaty : we now have a text in front of us and this is a major achievement .
the discharge procedure should be simplified and streamlined for the decentralised agencies , which are growing in number ( from 8 in 2000 , to 20 in 2006 ) and represent a total budget of around EUR 1 billion .
I believe that the lack of democratic control over this fund is detrimental to the transparency of development policy .
the Spanish Presidency should cope with the two main contradictions of the European Union : the contradiction between pan-European needs and European national egoists , and the contradiction between the level of development in the western territories of the Union and that in the eastern territories , with their consequences in terms of political sensitivity .
once again , effective controls and sanctions to separate the wheat from the chaff will make or break this legislation .
Mr President , that was not a point of order and most of it was rubbish .
finally , I believe that it is crucial for the Commission and the Member States to integrate the environmental element into their relations with third countries , with the emphasis on the importance of pursuing an integrated approach and ' green diplomacy ' .
this is something our group is very keen on .
it is made all the worse by the fact that the European Parliament will have nothing to say on these matters and that it was possible to fall back on Article 136 of the Treaty of Lisbon .
if the European Parliament 's amendments restore the draft budget and thereby increase the appropriations , this could give rise to issues about absorption of these various appropriations .
in all Member States , responsibility for financing care must be taken away from social security systems and become a community responsibility .
I believe that young farmers are particularly important to the development of a dynamic agricultural sector in order to achieve the Lisbon Strategy objectives .
order of business
they are from another age and can be rightly termed barbaric .
small and medium-sized enterprises are the vital heart of Europe 's economy , both in terms of growth and innovation , and in terms of employment .
I therefore supported the resolution on the Fourth United Nations conference on LDCs with full conviction and awareness of its importance .
the only way that we can make progress in fighting climate change is responsible reports such as this one which hold those accountable who cause the most pollution and which is why I was able to support it .
the vote will take place at 12 p.m .
at that time , I was in the Soviet occupation zone and I saw the Hungarian refugees of 1956 , the refugees from the Prague Spring in 1968 , such as my fellow Member , Libor Rouček .
but CCS cannot be used as an excuse to carry on building more dirty coal plants , which will produce more CO2 .
there is a tendency at EU level to wax enthusiastic about SMEs ' potential and performance .
I would also like to touch upon some of the other important proposals which Parliament has also clearly identified .
this is why the Commission put forward a Communication on Alzheimer 's and other dementias in 2009 with action to improve prevention and diagnosis , research and best practice exchange .
normally the Commission is the guardian of EU law and for citizens , in many cases , it is the only guarantee that they have that the law ( because Community law is law ) will be applied correctly .
it contents itself with castigating illegal advertising which supposedly obstructs our sacrosanct freedom of competition and proclaims the advantages of advertising for citizens , whom it refers to as consumers , and for the media .
today , however , it is not enough to welcome President Obama 's decision .
developed countries are not going to do it and developing countries are even less likely to do so .
my warmest congratulations !
let me say that the Commission is prepared to comply with the vast majority of the proposals contained in Parliament 's report .
no one believes that we have emerged from this crisis yet , with many Member States still facing the reality of recession .
it is therefore no surprise to see all the SME organisations , European organisations - and Belgian ones too in my case : the Union of the Middle Classes and the Federation for Enterprises in Belgium - overwhelmingly oppose this proposal .
it is therefore throttling the Greek private sector , which is the only sector that can repay the massive debts .
clearly this is not enough ; I have already instructed our delegations to send country strategy papers to members of national parliaments and I am also personally committed to raising awareness in our partner countries so that they can involve their national parliaments in monitoring Community cooperation .
I would like to wish both the Hungarian Presidency and the Polish Presidency , which will begin in the second half of 2011 , the same success .
as there is no prospect in the near future of reaching a multilateral climate agreement , it is important to work at European level on devising a mechanism for restricting carbon dioxide emissions .
finally , we should probably also carry out a political appraisal .
the umbrella organisation of IHH , Union of Good , supports the activity of extremist radicals through selling weapons to them .
for example , trade unions have suggested that construction companies that fail to respect workers ' rights or fail to meet the requirement to provide monthly information with a full list of workers on their payroll , including those who have relocated , or that fail to fulfil their obligations , should have their licence revoked .
when I stopped my taxi in the Sinai desert to have a coffee , we only saw Khaled Meshaal on the huge screens .
in so doing he is also jeopardising the EU2020 goals - in other words , his own goals .
in writing . - ( FR ) I want to express my support for the Rübig report , which seeks to increase the number of SMEs that are eligible for support for their R & D projects under the Eurostars research and development programme implemented by several Member States and associate countries .
obviously , they are coming here because of our social services and because they will be able to get money from the government here .
when I first came to this Parliament , I was a strong supporter and advocate of something called privatisation - Mr Allister mentioned this a while back - that is to say , removing ownership of these enterprises from the state and allowing private enterprise to run them more efficiently than a state monopoly does .
ladies and gentlemen , it is only through joint efforts at a European level that we will manage to meet the greatest challenges of the 21st century : climate change , the risks and cost of raw materials and energy , economic globalisation and threats to our security .
confronted with the crisis , an increasing number of EU citizens are thinking more about survival than about halting climate change , but if we are able to give up our wasteful way of life and become thriftier , not only will we save the environment and stop the planet from overheating , we will replenish our pockets .
in writing . - ( DE ) There is a constant stream of fake banknotes of excellent quality from Eastern Europe .
therefore , I believe that additional funding is needed for intercultural education , cultural and artistic activities , sports events , " second-chance ” education , healthcare education etc. leading to Roma integration in all European societies .
but , thankfully , a number of Gulf Cooperation states have engaged with the Commission by applying for security recognition under Regulation ( EC ) No 915 / 2007 .
I wanted to say just one thing : the number of these schools is increasing .
we owe our parents and grandparents a firm parliamentary message , and that is what we have produced today .
so far , impact studies have not shown any significant reduction in the consumer price of these parts in the Member States where the system has already been liberalised .
any Member State leaving the euro - which is what Mrs Le Pen wants for France - would see its new currency dramatically devalued .
I would like to place on record , on behalf of the three of us , our thanks to the French Presidency for bringing us a common position in November which has enabled us to bring this improved package to you today in the last session of this mandate , because it is vital for European consumers and the European economy that we give this a ringing endorsement in our vote tomorrow .
there is a lot we can learn from that .
this wide scope is essential , as all flag states under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea are responsible for the vessels flying their flags .
indeed , it is that Convention method that was used in preparing the Charter of Fundamental Rights and , above all , the Constitutional Treaty .
this strategy needs actions to be coordinated - but how could this coordination exist without the proper involvement of all countries ?
in fact , I do not want to help obstruct such anti-productivist ideas as the desire to introduce ' ecological footprint ' labelling and to relocate part of agricultural production .
- Report : Wallis
Abu Sayyaf hit squads want to separate the southern part of the islands from the rest of the Philippines .
the declared objective is to come down on ' terrorist propaganda ' on the Internet .
secondly , many colleagues and fellow Members have said to me that we need to shoulder our responsibilities towards Afghanistan when it comes to dealing with terrorism , opium growing , corruption and so on .
it was then that rulers and opposition sat down to talks , and to reflect together on the solution to Poland 's problems , both problems of an economic and social nature , and also the most important problems of our political system .
we therefore have to distinguish between legitimate mail order or Internet pharmacies and the illegal distribution chain , which includes uncontrolled Internet purchases .
naturally , I think that rather than escaping from the crisis of capitalism we need to escape from capitalism in crisis ; in other words , we need to start to think about a new future which provides for a genuine transition to an economy which is described in social and ecological terms , an economic democracy based on equity and cooperation rather than on inequality and war .
12 .
the serious railway accident in Buizingen , Belgium , on 15 February 2010 , is being blamed on the absence of an electronic safety system which automatically applies trains ' brakes if they pass a red light .
Commissioner , please tell us more about the timing and implementation of these project bonds .
furthermore , it can be misleading in the sense that remedial measures following certain incidents such as accidents and natural disasters are treated as a benefit instead of a cost .
( loud , sustained applause )
let us trust them with this ; this is their task .
since Yugoslavia fell apart in 1992 , attempts have been made to make a united state out of Bosnia-Herzegovina , but to no avail .
could I ask the Commissioner , in relation to his reply , what would constitute the medium term ?
this objective was prized more highly in the eyes of the rulers of the time than preserving human life .
in writing . - As a rule , once the Constitution is changed and a new form of governance has been created , the country needs democratic and fair elections .
from the perspective of regional development , ports represent one of the essential elements of cohesion in Europe , both due to the development of tourism capacity and the creation of over half a million jobs , which both dynamize and develop ultraperipheral regions .
I do not know whether we can achieve this at any point , but it is an obvious problem in the European Union : we have an imperfect system of ratification on which there has never been any in-depth debate .
this principle has been waived in practice by some states where crimes that are particularly intolerable and deeply damaging to the dignity of humanity itself can be prosecuted even outside the territory in which they are committed .
dispute settlement mechanism under the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the EC and Jordan (
today , and for 20 years now , for which I praise God , we do not have a Ministry of Internal Trade in Poland and we do have internal trade .
the final matter relates to own resources .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , we have been told that only a small percentage of Union funding is being made available for the northern part of Cyprus .
conditions in Russian prisons are also appalling .
this is because , obviously , these things do not exist in national parliaments or at national level , so people do not understand why an agreement has to be reached between the Commission and Parliament in order to implement what the treaties say .
the extremist opposition party BJP is trying to use the forthcoming elections to mobilise Hindus against the Christians and Muslims and to force the Dalits to resign themselves to always being poor and having no rights .
both sides therefore seriously contravened human rights and international laws in a war situation .
however , I have reservations about particular elements of this report :
we will never create a new dynamism without the right climate also for our SMEs .
I supported this resolution . I was particularly struck by Paragraph 15 , in which the European Parliament ' calls on the Commission to strengthen the structural funds ' potential through simplification , flexibility and improvement of procedures ... with the aims of helping Member States to optimise the output of social and employment policies and creating sustainable growth ' .
Mr President , I want to get straight to the point .
incidentally , this solution is not any kind of guarantee that the sustainability of fish stocks will be protected , since the reduction and concentration of rights among a handful of operators does not necessarily mean a reduction in fishing effort , but simply the concentration of the exploitation of resources .
the most important point which has been made several times in this debate is something which I fully endorse : all this can only be successful if it is a community project .
is it essential that these negotiations take place under the aegis of the UN ?
and finally there is no clear answer to the questions on the current agenda : what will be the environmental consequences of the Nord Stream project ?
on behalf of my successors to the Presidency of the Council , and in view of recent negotiations , I am furthermore confident that we will make progress on this subject , but perhaps also on others in the future .
the lesson we learnt from the Second World War was that our nations should work together and stop tearing each other apart .
it is bad and it is putting people out of work .
( DE ) Mr President , Angela Merkel received the Dalai Lama at the Chancellery yesterday .
it also broaches the important issue of the standardisation of clauses in contracts covering transactions conducted via the internet .
I am pleased to be able to highlight , in this respect , the progress which has been made in this area in Romania over recent years , as indicated by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights .
the forthcoming Commission proposal will be moderate , sound and balanced , but also determined and clear wherever determination is called for .
that is just as true of the first pillar of the agricultural policy as it is of the second .
I support the committee 's initiative to increase the funding for the microfinance facility by 50 % , compared with the Commission 's proposal , to EUR 150 million .
written statements ( tabling ) : see Minutes
we ourselves help to create demand too , and shortly , when we are driven home by the car service , we shall be using those very cars that do not meet the targets to which the car makers committed themselves .
please forward it to Mr Buzek .
Romania represents the eastern outpost of the European Union and is the state in charge of the management of one of the widest external land borders of the Union .
Member State subsidiarity and less bureaucracy are the slogans of the moment , which we keep repeating when we speak with members of the public .
in writing . - ( SV ) This resolution contains many deserving exhortations .
however , this measure does not resolve the fundamental issue of the need to increase the production and supply of each Member State and employment in rural areas .
finally , implementation of the common communication priorities will provide excellent platforms for European , national and regional politicians to debate with citizens on EU issues before the European elections .
in other words , the person authenticating the act must in some way be a public official , a position that does not exist in some EU countries , which therefore do not have this ability .
it is a good thing that , in its resolution , Parliament has voted in favour of the solutions based on market mechanisms and supports a review of the clean development mechanism in a future agreement .
I think that the obligation to label products with a freephone number placed on small and medium-sized producers of feedstuffs for domestic pets is unnecessary .
yes , Europe should be synonymous with progress and practical achievements , and we see this with these proposals concerning consumers .
the proposal for a directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment , in the form submitted by the Commission to the European Parliament , is unclear .
we were told recently by the IPCC that 2 500 scientists were all in agreement that CO2 was responsible for global warming and that we humans were the culprits .
that will be because of electricity 's pricing mechanism , as Mr Turmes showed .
I have great respect for everything that has been said .
the social benefit , holiday and pension systems in small companies also need to be developed in line with other sectors .
we support the objective of removing the unnecessary administrative burdens . certain administrative burdens may , however , be socially very necessary , even if they may be felt to impede companies ' growth and innovation .
Madam President , Mr Barroso has left already but as he said , confidence is the basis of everything .
after all , it is the free market that has caused this climate problem .
the problem is that people are still waiting for this help to arrive .
this is disproportionate and therefore not sensible .
it means giving substance to the provisions of the Treaty that affect the democratic life of the Union .
we will submit these proposals to the Council on your behalf .
I think that this is extremely important for the support and development of the cultural and creative industries because , as they are not quite commercial activities , they need soft financing , which banks cannot provide nowadays in the normal way for other industries .
once the epicentre of the post-Soviet mafia , Georgia made more progress against corruption than any other country in the world from 2004 to 2009 , according to the EBRD and Transparency International .
I therefore believe that I can speak for the entire House in welcoming the 18 , plus the other seven Members from Bulgaria , thus completing the coverage of this Europe of ours .
I do hope this proposal will be reconsidered and that the budget will instead be increased , subject to monitoring and a fully responsible attitude to expenditure .
the horrendous expenditure for the different sites can hardly be justified to EU citizens and taxpayers , particularly during the economic crisis .
for this reason , Malaysia would do well to remain in this body , but also to uphold the principles represented there .
bilateral fisheries agreements between the European Union and third countries are of significant economic benefit to the EU .
the British people have not been given a vote on this whole shebang of European Union , and neither has anybody else .
the Government has made it clear that , in addition to greater trade and cooperation , it is willing to implement measures to improve social welfare , health , education , tackle corruption and improve human rights .
Schengen visas have been introduced , but they cost a great deal . for these visas , people in those countries have to pay roughly as much as they earn per month .
they can even pick up and deliver loads within a Member State other than their country of origin .
I voted in favour as I believe it is essential to guarantee patients access to information on prescription-only medicinal products .
the vote will take place today at 12 noon .
thus , the banning of girls from taking part in some tuition and sports such as swimming , and all the traditional practices that are barbaric and damaging for young girls of the Muslim religion , are condemned .
ladies and gentlemen , when dealing with our international partners on such important challenges , we cannot allow ourselves to get caught up in unproductive divisions any longer .
we have yet to see a proposal for the other institutions , but there is cause to keep a watchful eye on the growing buildings expenditure of those , too .
they can develop this further since they will benefit from the combination of elimination of tariffs - EUR 2 000 saved on a car worth EUR 25 000 - and the removal of technical obstacles .
let us then begin to speak clearly about the death penalty with China , Egypt , India , Pakistan , Yemen , Bangladesh , and so on , forcing these countries to honour the undertakings they have assumed in terms of respect for human dignity .
millions of people have lived for years in this dangerous situation without there being any substantial change .
the Commission can partially accept Amendments 2 and 3 , relating to additional illustrations of fishing gears , if needed , and to certain specific market provisions , particularly on the minimum size of species , with the aim of harmonising measures .
this political will also relates to the resolution of difficult relations with its neighbours .
3 .
on the railways , there is no limit .
it was intended that this would supersede the Framework Decision of 2002 .
we have come up against several difficulties , which explains why it has taken some time to reach this Agreement - several years in fact .
the energy systems of the EU Member States are neither sufficiently compatible nor sufficiently interlinked .
this was followed up in March 2010 by a thematic forum which explored the possibility of expanding the forum 's sphere of action to cooperation between schools and business .
despite the fact that the European Court of Justice established the mutual recognition principle in the Cassis de Dijon ruling nearly 30 years ago , the reality does not always reflect this : hence the importance of this legislation and the need for it .
( RO ) The strengthening of the European Union 's role as an actor on the international scene is impossible without continuous adjustment to the 21st century global context .
cultural and creative industries are currently also important drivers of economic and social innovation in many other sectors .
no .
this is a commitment that has been made by the European Union and by its Member States .
the second , in specific terms , reaffirms the principle that outstanding commitments - which are particularly high in the cohesion sector - ought to be carried out and not , as the Council suggests , simply cut out .
in one way or another , we must keep saying to ourselves that the important issue is to replace division with participation in our country and in Europe .
Mr President , may I congratulate Mr Bildt on a very balanced speech just now .
we should not , however , forget that many problems are emerging because there is a lack of trust in Member States towards the education and training systems in other Member States .
I am convinced that we need this common action plan .
it is undoubtedly a space which reflects social trends just as much as real life does , and I do not believe that we should be focusing all our efforts on quelling it once and for all .
legislative proposals as important as this must evolve in the course of a well-ordered procedure with several readings .
however , the report includes a number of contradictions because it is founded on neoliberal ideas , defending the Internal Market and advocating EU patents , with which we disagree .
this would help make the sector more sustainable .
it can therefore be said that the portion reserved for external relations and development was cut in the preliminary draft budget .
in writing . - As expected , we the Greens lost our last chance to amend the Harms report during the plenary vote on Community financial assistance with respect to the decommissioning of four units of the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant in Bulgaria .
the few changes made by the Committee on Transport and Tourism are consistent with this objective , and I regard them as appropriate and useful for presenting a coherent and accurate final text .
that is right , but I am going to allow Mr Chountis a supplementary on this question .
today , among other things , they will be able to demand compensation for delays or damage to luggage , while persons of reduced mobility will receive a special escort .
the issues are similar .
politicians like Mr Livingstone who endorse leaders like President Chávez undermine genuine democracy and reveal a great deal about themselves .
I voted in favour of this document .
my first point is that we need to demand the full cooperation of the Latin American countries , in particular , of Brazil , as rotating members of the Security Council , in all international attempts to bring the conflict with Iran over nuclear arms to a peaceful resolution .
he criticised Hungary and the Commission for recommending to Hungary that it should have a fixed exchange rate , whereas the situation is exactly the opposite .
but a ' one-size-fits-all ' immigration policy will not work for Britain .
she is still imprisoned and , as we have seen , the economy continues to deteriorate .
yesterday evening , an extraordinary meeting of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development was held to discuss this , with Mrs Fischer Boel attending .
these repeated tragedies will not stop until the European Union has the power and the will to negotiate real partnership agreements with the countries of origin and transit that include at least three elements : reliable border controls , but also , and above all , a significant supply of legal immigration and a substantial co-development section .
after the ' velvet divorce ' from Serbia , Montenegro has been given the opportunity to demonstrate the unlimited potential of a small , proud country .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( NL ) Madam President , over the last few months the credit crisis in the USA has shown that a purely capitalist system is unsustainable .
having got my concerns off my chest , I should now like to provide a brief outline of what happened at the PPE-DE Group 's hearing last Thursday , where the Commission 's attitude was very positive .
the title of the report is too wide-ranging to focus with proper emphasis on the position of children .
( RO ) The agricultural product quality policy may provide a solution for many farmers .
however , this will not create new barriers to trade since there are international standards that already fully regulate these old instruments and most of the more advanced substitute products as well .
Mr President , on 15 July 2008 the European Commission adopted a communication to the Council and Parliament recommending that a strategic partnership be established between the European Union and Mexico .
for the above reasons , on behalf of the PPE Group , I suggest we have the proposal for macro-financial assistance to these countries adopted now .
the EU 's position is , among other things , that an agreed two-state solution must be based on the 1967 borders and that the settlements are illegal .
at its meeting on 9 March 2009 , the Council directed an invitation to those Member States that were still applying transitional rules restricting free movement .
this will yield us EUR 500 million .
there is pressure on us to spend money , there is too much money floating around and we are not able to spend all that money .
28 .
I would even go one step further and suggest there be a new Directive dealing with the education of the children of migrants .
those who did not see the crisis coming are now full of brilliant solutions .
let me reiterate my thanks to everyone , but with an eye to the Rules of Procedure , I would like to draw your attention to one last point .
these legal regulations will make a significant contribution towards reducing breaches of economic competition rules and improving compliance with legal regulations in the social area as well as road transport safety regulations on the part of road transport operators .
amendments 12 , 16 , 19 , 24 , 32 , 39 ( on the recitals )
this is a really serious matter .
we have had two of the worst summers that I have ever seen in the last two years in northern Europe .
lobbyists are important actors who can provide useful expertise .
the Commissioner tried to reassure us yesterday evening .
the oral question on the Council 's strategy for the Bali Conference on Climate Change ( COP 13 and COP / MOP 3 ) , by Guido Sacconi , on behalf of the Temporary Committee on Climate Change to the Council - B6-0379 / 2007 ) , and
we have to agree that development of the EU has gone hand in hand with enlargement .
as regards the conclusions , I should like to thank the rapporteurs from the political groups and all of the speakers , especially the Committee on Budgetary Control .
let me say it clearly : the German authorities are fully engaged in dealing with this contamination and are doing their best to deal with it urgently and decisively .
it is hoped that legislating against employers employing illegal migrants from third countries will be an instrument for reducing the ' pool-factor ' of illegal migration .
although the Gulf Cooperation Council disputes the legitimacy of Colonel Gaddafi and supports the idea of a no-fly zone , demonstrators have been fired on in Saudi Arabia , which is also a member state , and in Bahrain demonstrators have also been subjected to violent treatment .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , on behalf of the PPE-DE Group I would like to introduce a motion .
I am thinking in particular of a very difficult matter : namely the problems for our firms , on which we are rightly going to impose rules to maintain the balance of the planet .
the man who claims to have saved the world is about to come here in a couple of hours ' time but , leaving that aside , it is to the national governments - in Paris or London or Washington or Rome - that the citizens of those countries ( who also happen to be told that they are citizens of Europe ) look to save them , not this larger entity called the EU .
it has become apparent in recent years that significant advances for rural societies generally result from support for women and women 's projects .
why ?
it is unacceptable that journalists are carrying out their work under the threat of arrests and body searches .
in Europe today , we are seeking economically strategic issues that are of relevance to our fellow citizens .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Madam President , we cannot afford to let the NATO-ISAF military mission in Afghanistan fail .
particular attention must also be focused on socially disadvantaged groups , who need to have fair access to vocational education and training .
in this new context the link between energy prices and foreign policy , and hence the increased political clout of producer countries , is obvious .
and the second part of the deal is exemptions for small-volume producers .
I also believe that some of the amendments really strengthen the proposal we presented .
we support the compromise that is currently on the table .
the text of the amendment proposed by the rapporteur is the outcome of conciliation between the PPE-DE Group and the Socialist Group in the European Parliament .
it may be unorthodox , but I should like to commend his work also .
such slaughter is , rather , a custom of savage and primitive tribes , and we should not agree to it .
we need to give negotiations a new chance , a new impetus , because stalemate should not be an option .
some of the victims of the Soviet totalitarian regime are still alive , but the European Union 's position does not offer them any satisfaction - in fact , worse than that , it continues to humiliate them .
I do not believe that any another region in the world has the same experience as we have of establishing an internal market , common rules , common institutions , and indeed a single currency and solidarity and cohesion policies .
the banks are now using the state rescue packages to speculate against the national budgets .
however , we in the European Parliament , together with the High Representative , need to ask a quite different question .
as a representative of Hungary - and part of the Spanish-Belgian-Hungarian Trio Presidency - I welcome the Spanish Presidency .
in order to be effective , this strategy must be comprehensive and cover shipbuilding , ship repair , ports , employment and worker training , as well as safety .
therefore , intention and manifest danger are essential requirements in order for something to be described as an offence .
this report particularly emphasises the need to maintain the predominant status of the cross-border pillar and to develop incentives to spur on large cross-border and transnational projects , such as the trans-European transport networks ( TEN-T ) .
one of these advantages , relatively cheaper labour , will only last only a few years .
therefore , they must objectively and rigorously account for how the public funds made available to them have been used .
therefore I welcome the Commission proposal for strengthening the ENP by offering our partners new incentives for reforms .
the Blue Card : the name refers to the blue in the European flag , but it seems to be mainly concerned with the stars .
there will be another test later this morning on aviation emissions and I hope that we will have a strong package .
sensible compromise should allow us to finalise work on the rules relating to civil aviation in the Union and the safety of air transport .
it is a tool for assisting development but , first and foremost , it provides assistance to those who cannot help themselves .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , this is only one step on the long road to the reform of the common fisheries policy .
I should also like a clear answer from the Commission as to whether countries that have already opened their cabotage markets pursuant to Article 306 of the Treaty will be prevented from continuing to do so under this regulation .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , thank you very much for the discussion .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Madam President , the Commission is doing its utmost to develop the digital field in our society .
you rightly pointed out what the European Union has done and has done rather well in humanitarian terms and in terms of the evacuation of European citizens .
while the fight against counterfeiting is indeed legitimate and necessary , the ACTA Treaty would make authors ' rights and copyright more powerful .
today , I think that the African ' Spring of Nations ' puts an additional strain on the political debt of President Mugabe .
there are then those that affect the internal market .
at the same time , the currencies of our neighbouring countries are falling .
this return will result in France taking on heavy obligations .
as spokesperson for the Socialist Group in the European Parliament I wish to make two more comments on the reports .
a protective law is also worthless unless it can actually be used by those it is designed to protect .
at long last , the directive imposing sanctions on employers of illegal immigrants has been advanced to the stage of final approval .
however , we should not be content with this .
I highly value the process that has led us to the approval of the new Treaty .
we even risk being outflanked by the United States .
I see it , however , as an important contribution to the debate on common European aims and values in pre-school education .
we in the European Parliament have been working very hard to achieve these goals over the past months .
if a plant ceases to operate , the ΙPPC requires the operator to take measures to prevent any risk of pollution and to take measures to rehabilitate the area .
when the European Parliament submits a proposal for a legislative initiative by Mr Rasmussen , which was voted for by the vast majority of this plenary , you work it so that the proposal in question is put on the table just when the European Parliament will no longer be able to debate it .
scientists are forecasting that a similar scenario could occur in the European Union .
we have to be careful that this is not a slippery slope , or perceived to be a slippery slope , to dictatorship , rather than a diversity of views .
welcome to the club .
in this regard , we would like to see a wording that includes all 27 Member States .
after all , the Chinese could do so much for the Africans .
this is a sign of concrete solidarity .
for this reason , ad hoc situations , which may change at any moment and indeed may change back to the previous status quo , should not result each time in the adoption of new regulations .
reciprocal access to both sides ' procurement markets would not only mean savings for public budgets but also provide huge business opportunities .
with these reservations , I am pleased to support the report .
in my opinion , this is the greatest problem to arise in the media in our time , and we must make changes here in the future .
current wasteful ways of using energy have come to the end of the road , as fossil reserves are meagre and they are becoming scarcer , with fewer and fewer controlling them .
it will take place in Bonn in Germany in May 2008 , i.e. during the Slovenian Presidency .
according to its own benchmark , however , it is only permitted to have 87 .
there was a lot of discussion , Mr Cohn-Bendit , about whether President Assad should be on and there were lots of different views .
this is a longstanding issue and we have had many debates in this House on how to control and monitor the proper transposition of EU law into national legal systems .
after all , industry needs to be encouraged to produce better , more efficient appliances .
( NL ) Mr President , I emphatically voted in favour of this report .
so let us avoid being hypocritical , let us make it plain ...
it is essential to shore up the future of OLAF , the European Anti-Fraud Office , to enable it to play its role within the EU even better and more efficiently .
the Solidarity Fund is an instrument of paramount importance to the EU .
Mr President , this is a very good report , and the first one after the Treaty of Lisbon .
the result would be the submission of a more balanced , single report to plenary .
the new regulation will not do away with this dependency at a stroke , but nonetheless it will create more transparent relations .
this morning , at the hearing of Commissioner-designate Mrs Malmström , we also saw a positive response to our proposal for an EU anti-trafficking coordinator .
any alcohol intake impairs driving capability .
as my colleague , Mr Schmidt , mentioned earlier , we tried it in Sweden , where it was called the ' puppy ' tax .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , on this point , according to Mr Cohn-Bendit , the Committee decided by a very clear majority , yet the Chamber has laboured against this decision in a way that borders on obstructionism .
you only have to pick up the newspapers or reports and you will always come across those words .
we have a positive view of the report 's focus on the common challenges that we are facing : climate and environmental issues , the fight for democracy , peace and freedom at a global level and the urgent need for research , innovation and infrastructure .
I found this sycophancy absurd , as my values of democracy , human rights and gender equality are alien to Saudi tradition .
it is apparent to those of us who are from rural constituencies , and those who sit on the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development , that the current position that many livestock farmers find themselves in is simply unsustainable .
the second concerns the economic and humanitarian front , where we are working very closely indeed .
finally , thirdly , the ITS has a go at Turkey in a tirade against the party of Messrs Erdogan and Gül that singularly lacks any basis .
( BG ) Allow me , first and foremost , to congratulate the rapporteur Mr Reul on his objective and balanced report .
the next item is the report by Mrs Vălean , on behalf of the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy , on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation ( EC ) No 717 / 2007 on roaming on public mobile telephone networks within the Community and Directive 2002 / 21 / EC on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services - C6-0333 / 2008 - .
( FI ) Mr President , we should not hit out at globalisation because of the harm it does , but take practical steps .
my second point is that I agree with the call for assistance for farmers to purchase new electronic ID equipment , and I look forward to that being possible under the rural development programme .
Mrs Ford , we do indeed need to protect taxpayers .
the EU , Council , and Commission have introduced several motions into the agreement , which are causing concern amongst some Members , who are trying primarily to guarantee that security is not at the expense of human rights and fundamental freedoms ; and rightly so .
I have a different view from that of the rapporteur as to how the defined target can be achieved .
( for results and other details of the votes : see Minutes )
I , too , wish to congratulate the rapporteur .
I believe that we are also agreed that we now need to put our good intentions into practice and really improve the educational opportunities of migrant children .
this highly important area can be the key to a successful and sustainable Europe and , in my opinion , has been seriously neglected in recent months .
the aim of this initiative is for Cyprus and the two countries that joined the EU in 2007 - Romania and Bulgaria - to be able to introduce a simplified regime for the control of persons at the external borders , based on the unilateral equivalence of visas and residence permits .
instead , we must set ourselves ambitious goals on behalf of the citizens of Europe .
ICCAT has now adopted a strict regulation in order to ensure the sustainable development of farming activities for bluefin tuna .
5 .
respect for human rights and democratic principles must be a fundamental element of EU trade policy .
however , let us not be naïve .
I can inform you that yesterday the President of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council , Minister Iztok Jarc , met with some fellow ministers in Venice , in order to discuss this issue .
we must stop thinking that we have to defend the European social model at all costs and get ready instead to reorganise it .
the remaining operators should benefit from more attractive returns .
we have also launched a reflection on whether further measures may be needed to ensure the appropriate rating of sovereign debt in particular .
as I have said , many of these measures are recent and they will all need to be properly assessed .
this reminds me of another individual who is governing his country in a similarly totalitarian manner and takes no notice of those who call for democratic reforms to be implemented .
I have considerably less understanding , though , for the delay and procrastination in establishing a no-fly zone over Libya .
I also hope that Member States reach agreement on devising a coordinated strategy for withdrawing the incentive measures when the right moment arrives for this .
this must not happen in future .
these , amongst others , are some of the reasons behind our abstention .
the Polish Government was late in submitting changes to the electoral statute for the European Parliament , however . one of these changes concerns reducing the number of Polish MEPs .
for us , that means that we have to focus our subsidy options on this in a more targeted way in the area of cohesion , in the regions and also in the development of rural areas .
it is the source of almost 50 % of the world 's catches , as well as a variety of mineral deposits such as metals , oil and gas .
now , despite the fact that some of our points have been included in the Moreno Sánchez report , I want to underline these criticisms because I am fairly confident of the fact that this Parliament can change its opinion quickly about Frontex .
I was not isolated .
I will therefore repeat in my own language what I tried to say in Polish : I congratulate Mr Buzek most sincerely on his convincing election and wish him all the best in the wonderful job that he is about to take over , and I would ask him to take his place here in the President 's chair .
I do support , like others , a strong outwards-looking EU that is capable of acting shoulder to shoulder , as an equal partner , with the US .
basically , the Global Climate Change Alliance is a very good initiative .
on 2 July 2007 , Mordechai Vanunu - a former nuclear technician and a pacifist for over 20 years - was sentenced by the Jerusalem Magistrates ' Court to six months in prison for ( according to the Israeli authorities ) breaching the terms of an administrative order restricting his freedom of speech and freedom of movement .
in other words these measures must not lead to any dramatic long-term threat to the stability of public finances .
is it an effective way of working for every country to pay into a system that then grants subsidies to the remotest elements in the individual countries , including the fact that these are paid by the very richest ?
the service is independent , and is also independent of the government , and the investigation is being monitored by the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights .
the purpose of this regulation is to improve legal certainty for the couples concerned , and at the same time , to guarantee the predictability and flexibility of the proceedings .
this makes the situation for European competitors and , in particular , for the employees in the industry , very difficult .
ladies and gentlemen , a look at the situation of European Union maritime transport can lead to ambivalent conclusions .
- Report : Herczog
ladies and gentlemen , unfortunately I cannot give the floor to any more speakers as the Rules of Procedure do not permit this .
18 .
in these regions , in these distant islands , the price of an airline ticket is the price of the distance to freedom and that is something we must understand .
we do crisis management in a European way with a comprehensive approach in support of international law and agreements and in close cooperation with our key partners .
in these circumstances , through adequately coordinated action we can enhance the standing of European Union institutions and calm the situation in the markets .
Mr Bielan has supported the idea of indicators on the application of the rules included in Mrs Thun Und Hohenstein 's report .
the current generalised system of preferences ( GSP ) will soon be coming to an end .
combating this phenomenon therefore requires political and social mobilisation .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen ,
thank you very much , Prime Minister .
we did this because we know that a humanitarian crisis can erupt at any time .
things were not helped when , in spite of the ongoing negotiations to set its rules , the process continued unabated and , as a consequence , only some countries have seen their representatives getting the positions they were seeking .
this is the real challenge for the Treaty of Lisbon and this is certainly one of the provisions that will make the biggest contribution to meeting that challenge .
( SK ) Madam President , the Marinescu report talks about the effectiveness and efficiency of EU funding spent on decommissioning Soviet-style nuclear reactors .
no state that is in so much debt as to be on the brink of insolvency can get out of the debt trap if it has to continue to finance this debt by borrowing at high interest rates .
we need new instruments and we need new financial resources .
I now appeal to the Commission , to each individual Commissioner , to state clearly that they are in favour of a clear horizontal directive and putting paid to a hierarchic arrangement of human rights in the European Union .
self-criticism and constructive criticism are the guarantee for the safety of the national structure .
next , regarding possible future joint programming of research activities , can the Council confirm its opinion that these initiatives should , in principle , be adopted using the same legal basis ?
I am very grateful for the efforts which have been made in Croatia itself , in particular , with regard to judicial reform .
- ( ES ) Mr President , we ought to shout out ' good news !
for me , these are the subjects at the heart of the debate and I am satisfied with another thing which the Treaty of Lisbon gives us and that is that Parliament will have enhanced powers and , in the political debate , I think that it has an essential role to play and that is to show that there are various options and to debate those options .
in writing . - ( DE ) When we here in Europe invest in the latest environmentally friendly technology and in renewable energy , at however great an expense , while a country like China has a new coal-fired power station coming on stream every week , our best efforts here can only be a drop in the ocean .
we cannot allow terrorism to develop and we must find a firm and appropriate solution to it .
I welcome the Commission 's initiative concerning the creation of a publicly accessible database of national measures adopted in transposition of these directives .
we are trusting partners in this dialogue .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the external strand of the common fisheries policy ( CFP ) has taken on particular importance , as it is no longer possible to guarantee that our fisheries-product needs can be met on the basis of our fish resources alone .
in order to do this , we should require , or perhaps encourage Member States to support the state 's maritime sector or guarantee that ships appearing on the register of that state observe the convention that has been ratified , as well as international requirements .
see how hypocrisy has been elevated into a governing principle !
I voted for this report , but I am giving this explanation of vote to stress that , in paragraph 44 on the management of the market , I voted against the first part of the paragraph proposed by the rapporteur and for the second part of it , which finally sets Parliament 's decision out as favourable to Portugal 's strategic interests .
that means lifting martial law and involving all democratic forces in the steps that are now being taken .
it must not merely be a financial tool for investment .
what possible excuses have we Europeans to continue to do business with Israel while it callously continues to slaughter innocent people ?
I voted , along with my other fellow MEPs , to support such a plan which will facilitate cooperation between Member States as well as combat illegal organ trafficking .
the 3 % R & D intensity target has a crucial contribution to make in meeting this challenge .
the Commission has already acted to increase investment in remote areas and regions within the framework of the EU Cohesion Policy with the programming of about EUR 2.3 billion in the period 2007-2013 .
however , I would like to add this : given that tobacco producers are poor , small-scale farmers , could you , in order to prevent them from vanishing , at least please carry out a study to help us see what these people could grow , now that tobacco is effectively eliminated under these measures ?
they also make economic sense , create jobs and save consumers money on their energy bills .
I am giving my last speech after 15 years .
in addition , the Community 's participation could reach 70 % in the case of organic farming and programmes relating to action following crisis situations such as avian influenza and BSE , for example .
yes , we do , but we have different practices and this axis of values vis-à-vis interest is also present , and the best example is how to deliver it in Central Asia : it was present in the debate on the Central Asia strategy .
it is important for everyone 's future to prevent the illegal manufacture of , and the trade in , firearms .
I am not sure whether the official Chinese bodies are today capable of accepting the philosophy that the current Chinese state is built not only on the traditions and history of the Chinese empire , but also on the traditions and histories of other peoples .
however , we disagreed with some of its aspects , specifically , the conditions imposed by the EU and , in particular , the demand for full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia , which continues to be a prerequisite for Serbia 's future accession to the EU .
in a word , our Group is not convinced of the need to implement changes in a great hurry now , without a thorough evaluation .
thirdly , the name of the enzyme and its animal origin must be mentioned in the list of ingredients .
( DE ) Mr President , I voted for this resolution but there is one point that I should like to highlight - the reference to the creation of a European protection force .
it is important for the Commission and the Member States to supply this information now , because a transition period of eight years really is a very , very long time .
this has , in that case , been created by the European Union itself , of course .
oral explanations of vote
very often their qualifications are not recognised by employers or institutions .
I welcome the important work done by my French colleague Jean-Paul Gauzès , who by the wisdom and strength of his convictions has made a substantial contribution to this important compromise , which is so valuable for economic growth , consumer protection and credit institutions .
we are in fact facing serious demographic challenges .
together , these factors point to a need for a strategic approach based on lesser dependency and , as a result , greater diversity ( either of suppliers or of energy consumed ) ; greater efficiency ; a sustained research effort into alternative energy ; greater integration ; and , at the same time , the development of production capacities at a local level - specifically , those using alternative energy sources .
what should our next step be ?
I would also like to speak once again of the thousands of tonnes of outdated pesticides that are systematically poisoning our water and have already reached depths of 1 000 metres .
I have discovered a tendency to escalate this situation unjustifiably , also fueled by political and xenophobic statements uttered by certain politicians .
the automatic exemption clause encourages employers to abolish fixed and regulated working times , while the twelve month averaging clause adds an additional blow to the permanency of work .
the retention period for data has also been mentioned .
France bears particular responsibility for encouraging Morocco to continue with the occupation .
with regard to the question from the honourable Member about British citizens that have moved to Spain and invested some of their savings there , I must say that I am obviously not here representing Spain as a country in its judicial relations with citizens who are there , but rather I am representing the Council of the Union .
the main objective of this is to rule out any discrimination on the grounds of sex , to guarantee equal opportunities for both spouses , and to give central priority to the welfare of the children .
I think we need to be very careful here not to throw the baby out with the bathwater , so that in our concern for a good future life for children , we do not cause a situation in which we take a short cut and open the door to hasty adoptions and , in fact , allow children to be taken away from their parents .
rapporteur . - Mr President , I do not want to steal my colleagues ' time , but as we did not have a plenary debate and we have reached the first reading discussion , I would like to inform you about the basic elements of the new legislation on GMOs .
in writing . - ( FR ) I abstained from voting on the Safety of Toys Directive to protest against this undemocratic procedure of confronting the European Parliament with reports negotiated during informal trialogues and thereby preventing it from carrying out its work in the usual fashion .
as I mentioned earlier , the Commission proposals are now being studied in much more detail .
so perhaps what Mr Bloom , or his speech-writer , is suggesting is that Marmite or Branston Pickle should not move freely , or Rolls Royce , or Church 's shoes , or Burberry clothing - I do not know how much good that would do for the UK economy .
codified , consolidated versions of directives and regulations should enable them to gain a good understanding of what they are expected to do with respect to animals .
besides caring and providing for the injured , it is therefore essential to repair and remedy the damage as swiftly as possible .
for the Socialists , there are still red lines in terms of the current state of the resolution , which is different from the assent vote .
( EL ) Mr President , the General Affairs Council is meeting today .
I believe that this situation is absolutely ridiculous - we have asked them to intervene on this , but have gained no result at all .
how is it therefore possible to understand the unacceptable pressure that the European Commission is putting on the Portuguese Government to change labour legislation and render it even easier to make people redundant ?
there is a need for a deep , comprehensive analysis and diagnosis of the situation of LDCs and concrete proposals for solutions aimed at improving the living conditions of the citizens of these countries in the short term , and at leaving the group in the long term .
conclusion of the Statute of the International Renewable Energy Agency ( IRENA ) (
thirdly , we propose imposing a requirement whereby the Member States that currently impose the highest excise duty rates on fuel would undertake not to raise them before 2015 , thus facilitating the process of harmonising excise duty rates .
on this basis , the more promising instruments will be identified which the Commission will assess in further detail .
however , we should not go round in sackcloth and ashes , either , but join with those in the world who want to make progress in protecting the climate .
this comes only a few weeks after the Renewable Energy Directive , of which all of us here were very proud , entered into force .
we had better unite next time , and that means one voice .
an amendment to the Equality Bill to protect the religious liberty of churches was voted down in the House of Commons two weeks ago , amid accusations of interference from the EU Commission .
- ( PL ) Madam President , millions of people are staying in Europe illegally , and they are tolerated because they are a source of cheap labour , they do not acquire rights to a pension or to health care , and they cannot voluntarily pursue their rights through the courts .
( the President cut off the speaker )
it is , to some extent , dubious .
finally , thanks to the ' enhanced cooperation ' procedure , which allows several Member States to cooperate in a particular area when a legislative initiative is being blocked , we have been able to take a step in this direction .
I am pleased that the EU is sending a clear signal through the ' Union of Innovation ' programme regarding the importance of innovation for maintaining the economic position of Europe in global competition .
( SK ) Madam President , on behalf of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament , I would like to declare unambiguously that we recognise the right of all EU Member States to make their own laws , and thus we do not want to criticise either Hungary or , in particular , the citizens of Hungary .
regarding a pause in financial services liberalisation , there is a difference between the financial crisis , seen globally , and bad lending and bad debts .
that is why I am convinced that the Member States have a fundamental role to play ; indeed , a toy that enters the internal market in Rotterdam or in Constanţa , Romania , today , may wind up in Bologna , Lisbon or Helsinki tomorrow , without any border controls .
I voted in favour of discharge since the deficiencies listed mainly concerned procurement and staff selection procedures , while the European Court of Auditors gave a positive verdict on the annual accounts for 2009 .
as far as the measures to stimulate the economy are concerned , these should form part of a coordinated approach by the Member States .
( CS ) Mr President , I am truly delighted that you , a citizen of high moral standing and a Silesian to boot , are taking the baton from the hand of Hans-Gert Pöttering and that , like him , you are emphasising the potential of a united European Union in terms of values such as human rights and solidarity between nations .
for these reasons , it is a good idea to allow ERDF finances to be used for housing in all EU countries .
( it ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I think this debate we are having on one of the most critical sectors in the European economy is timely .
never before has the Commission been so weak in terms of proposals on human rights and democracy throughout the world , as demonstrated , for example , by the refusal to deploy the democracy clause that Parliament voted on two years ago .
we have already said , in the Lisbon Agenda , that without the small and medium-sized enterprise sector and without regional cooperation it will not be possible to develop cohesion .
those limits that are in the Constitution of my country , Italy : limits of public decency , security and law and order .
the future regulation should be stimulating and enhancing the industry instead of limiting it .
Mr Claeys , this is not a point of order on the Fjellner report and I am not going to allow you to carry on .
fourthly , we must improve productivity and increase the ability to innovate , because in Europe we are reliant on our human capital .
with regard to the strong criticism that has been directed at the Commission proposal on the Soil Protection Directive , prior discussion about the topic would undoubtedly have been helpful , including to calm tempers all round .
thank you very much .
despite the current deadlock in the negotiations , the situation should not be overdramatized .
this is reflected in a greater effort to work more constructively within the framework of the EU 's Central Asian strategy .
with this aim in mind , we must devise a strategy which sets out concrete objectives for actively promoting equal opportunities and in relation to gender mainstreaming .
the next item is the report by Mr Lehtinen , on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs , on the social responsibility of subcontracting undertakings in production chains .
it is for these reasons that we initially submitted a proposal to reject these texts , thereby requiring the Commission to revise its proposals .
we were indeed shocked after 19 December , as many of us had already hoped that there would be a gradual opening-up of Belarus towards the European Union .
however , the European Commission has consistently sidelined energy efficiency as a flagship policy in favour of hammering the motor industry .
2 .
legal certainty for citizens in areas such as marriage and divorce , which often involve highly emotional issues , is increasingly important in areas of policy .
it goes without saying that we expect a transparent and independent investigation of the events that took place and the partial lifting of the state of emergency which was imposed after the event .
but they will at least get a decent standard and basic protection to protect themselves from hazardous chemicals .
to vote in favour of a resolution which regrets that the fate of minorities practicing this or that sexual deviance is not a central preoccupation , which advocates intensive propaganda to reverse negative opinion polls , which encourages the same economic errors as those committed in our countries , was really not possible .
on the other hand , we must ensure that those companies providing the energy are monitored and that true competition is created .
what about protecting the climate ?
for instance , I cannot understand that many people in Turkey have no problem with the fact that the governing party , which won 47 % of the votes in the last elections , is in danger of being banned by the Constitutional Court .
as you wished , a portion of these directives has been transferred to the new interoperability directive .
but I am also concerned about the Hague Convention .
moreover , the close ties between Iran , Syria , Hamas and Hezbollah , as well as the religious tensions between the Sunnis and Alawites in Syria , should make us exercise caution because there is a huge risk that the escalation in violence will also push Syria towards civil war , with outside interference .
when in February the European Council condemned the attacks by the Chad rebels on the Chad government , on the one hand it appealed for a political dialogue among the government , the opposition and the rebels , and on the other hand it emphasised the urgent need for a political dialogue between the governments of Chad and Sudan .
TEC has seven priorities which should move forward and make sure that they cut through the rhetoric .
for the transport sector , it calls for greenhouse gas trading , which has failed to reduce CO2 emissions but has proved to be a profitable stock-exchange mechanism for capital .
Mr President , just as the right to life has a very special place among human rights , the death penalty has no place in democratic societies .
it is in the regions that the presence of the EU needs to make itself felt and it is precisely at such times , when solidarity is more necessary than ever , that it is most important that it makes itself felt .
can I thank everyone else for signing it .
we all know that there are vulnerable people , for example children , who are a special target for advertising campaigns .
this is the only way to ensure that the details of the performance characteristics are also accurate and reliable and that the safety of buildings is also ensured throughout Europe .
we should not disregard this severe breach from the ideals of democratic elections .
safety , security and the interests of the EU citizens in this country are still endangered .
nor have the world 's financial supervisory authorities been able to strengthen their cooperation and competence sufficiently .
national energy policies have led Europe to a dead end with an extreme dependence on expensive imported fossil fuels .
secondly , we have seen in recent years that viruses that occur in living animals can rapidly mutate .
the fact that natural resources are continually dwindling is nothing new to scientists working in the area of energy supply .
in 2001 , a train crash occurred in Pécrot that was similar to last week 's in Buizingen .
the first is to emerge from the crisis through research , innovation and competitiveness so as to ensure a true economic recovery that will enable us to achieve this social recovery .
I would like to remind you that , despite generally accepted opinions , counterfeit goods do not affect just exclusive and expensive products , but also car parts and everyday products such as foodstuffs and medicines .
( SK ) The legal environment in the Member States in the area of debt recovery varies .
needless to say , the recovery of so much oil will have a dramatic impact on the Arctic and may cause ecological disasters on a global scale , so I think we have to ask ourselves whether it is wise to embark on such a project at a time of determined efforts to sever our dependency on fossil fuels and to aim ultimately for a CO2-free society .
Libyans enjoy free education and healthcare and subsidised housing , benefiting from some degree of social distribution of the oil income .
indeed , this inclusion in the budget follows on from the specific proposals in my report on governance , which was adopted last October , and by a very large majority in this House .
in my opinion , the ECI brings European institutions closer to the citizens and it thus fulfils the principle of subsidiarity as a basic principle of the decision-making mechanisms of the European Union .
this regulation defines enhanced cooperation between certain Member States ( Austria , Belgium , Bulgaria , France , Germany , Hungary , Italy , Latvia , Luxembourg , Malta , Portugal , Romania , Slovenia and Spain ) .
we have to make sure that the new EU 2020 programme does not repeat the mistakes of the Lisbon Strategy .
Mr President , can I use my speech tonight to appeal to all EU countries to follow the practice in Britain for hotlines to be given notice and take-down powers , namely that when online images of child sexual abuse are discovered and reported , the hotline can immediately order the content to be removed by the service provider or host company .
we must find a way back to growth and jobs by finding resources for investments , and for that we need these joint actions .
approximately 100 million Christians every day suffer violence because of their religion .
however , that is not taking responsibility ; that is populism .
this includes the mainstreaming on the gender dimension in all the cooperation programmes .
I decided to vote for this report because we need to send out a strong signal of Europe 's desire to work with local , and particularly regional , administrations .
( DE ) Mr President , if we want a European Union that is accepted by its citizens , then it is crucial that citizens also know what is being done with the money they pay in taxes .
this means that the European Union is not authorised to set minimum wages , nor is it authorised to adjust minimum wages between the Member States .
the road taken by humankind must be one of disarmament and not the relaunch of the arms race , as encouraged by this proposal for a directive .
I voted for this report because the current financial crisis that has affected the economic and financial sectors has caused a general economic and social crisis in which European citizens continue to live in poverty , social inequalities are becoming even more pronounced , and the number of poor workers is also increasing .
we support the proposals of the rapporteur , Mrs Jeggle , on better representation for women in all political , economic and social bodies in the agricultural sector , and on support for social protection initiatives for women working as small farmers , farm workers and seasonal animal rearers .
eleven Member States , including Luxembourg , have signed a joint letter to Commissioner Cioloş expressing their opposition to the end of the system of planting rights for vineyards in 2015 .
the EU is a leader in the area of climate protection and this long-term pre-eminence should not be squandered but rather transformed into another quality .
as a general rule , I particularly appreciate the fact that the European Union is composed of States with diverse and varied national cultures and traditions , but when it comes to violence , I am appalled to see the differences in treatment that exist .
it is only by combining solidarity , integration and respect for regulations that we can find the right strategy for resolving these problems .
another fundamental challenge is improving accessibility and , for that reason , it is important that the outermost regions receive differential treatment with regard to transport .
monopolies and quasi-monopolies are slowly and increasingly becoming service industries more or less subject to competition .
that is extremely important .
the Danube has , for a long time , served not only as a natural border between states and regions , but also as a prospective source of energy and a little used means of transport .
it is very much needed , however , in times of difficulty and hardship .
the EFSA report also points out an increased proportion of pregnancy failure and disorders in surrogate dams of cloned embryos .
that is why a policy as fundamental and permanent as the common agricultural policy ( CAP ) must be understood by its main beneficiaries ; in this case , European farmers .
it is , in fact , a cornerstone in building a common asylum system and it will be an important instrument in supporting Member States , in helping develop practices and common standards , and in supporting Member States under particular pressure .
if a blue card spawns brain drain , then this is bad news for Europe and the rest of the world .
I therefore propose that a large part of the EUR 1 billion should be used to assist European farmers who are facing a great many problems .
the communications that the Commissioner has presented to us , the last of which was on 1 December this year , make quite a fuss about the damage that tax evasion causes .
we must thus ensure that we aim to achieve energy efficiency in general and that we keep this objective in mind without pursuing ideological smear campaigns that ultimately lead to the citizens losing their positive impression of the EU .
I would call on Baroness Ashton to do the same and to keep us regularly informed of the situation of these Christians .
increasing numbers are throwing in the towel , however , which has already led to a dependence on imports in the field of fruit , vegetables and feeding-stuff production .
this is not easy .
energy efficiency has the benefit that it will also reduce the size of consumers ' bills at a time when the economic crisis is having an increasingly adverse impact on them .
the next item is the Council statement on the presentation of the programme of the French Presidency .
why do we need this Treaty ?
I should also like to thank her in advance for all the information that she will shortly give us on an extremely important and topical issue .
( FR ) Mr President , our fellow citizens have expectations of us , they have expectations of Europe on the issue of world governance .
our goal must be to increase the dialogue in Europe between the citizens and the politicians .
my third belief is one that has been mentioned by several speakers , including Mr Schulz .
finally , I cannot get over the fact that in 2007 Official Development Assistance from the whole of the EU fell for the first time since 2000 .
tax competition forces Member States within the Union to moderate their fiscal demands and to be more efficient in the management of public spending , and this can only be of benefit to the taxpayer .
in writing . - ( PL ) In the course of the roll-call vote and in connection with Amendment 48 , I voted against infringement of equal rights for competing entities by singling out three European Union countries and granting them a privileged position on the market .
at the same time , the headquarters of the European Technological Institute have been decided .
over the years , the only progress achieved by the Commission , Parliament and the Council is the shifting of responsibility to Member States .
what we need , and what the population of Zimbabwe are waiting for , is practical aid .
how , then , could the EU executive at the same time plan to ask for these oil activities to be suspended and for them to voluntarily place themselves in a position of weakness from an energy and economic point of view ?
our regulations , European laws and the agreements that we have signed and initialled set that out .
the Commission 's final objectives in these negotiations are to definitively prevent activation of the ' Carousel ' sanctions and to have the retaliatory measures currently in place revoked .
after the conclusion of an agreement between the Greek Government and the European Commission , affected farmers and stockbreeders ( the latter , I hasten to add , having lost more than 73 000 head of cattle in the fires ) are receiving advance payments to compensate for the loss of their crops , livestock capital and equipment .
each of us will remember the heroic example of those volunteers - mostly retired firemen - who offered their lives to help put out the fires in the reactors at Fukushima .
yes - we need the European Union precisely for such matters .
violence , rape , torture and sexual assaults are weapons that are used against women and children in these situations .
in Europe too , it is also necessary to have a specific , strong policy relating to soil , as for water and air .
I have abstained today , because I was not able to support the compromise that has been negotiated .
I would just like to say in advance that on almost all points - and I would like to thank my fellow Member - there is a unanimous perception that the report could bring more transparency .
one of the largest groups of internet users is children and adolescents .
it is a threat to the credit recession : there is a danger that the debt and bank crisis will become an all-embracing economic crisis , manifesting itself in hunger , unemployment and poor social health .
we would appeal to our Lithuanian colleagues to reflect further on this matter and to make sure that whatever legislation they pass will not discriminate against LGBT people .
Kosovo must not be abandoned to its own devices .
they are too embarrassed or they are worried or they are shy .
it is an industry driven by lobbyists and especially NGOs .
both sides have deployed cluster bombs in this conflict as well , which is unacceptable .
in the longer term , we should aim at the introduction of a visa-free travel regime .
it was clearer for me on the first vote than it was on the subsequent ones .
moreover , there is no guarantee that the EEAS will not be linked to military and intelligence structures .
Mr President , taxation is absolutely vital for the running of countries - I think most citizens would agree with that .
the ' made in ' labelling would enable consumers not only to obtain additional information about product characteristics , but would also help strengthen the economy by developing new products for many sectors , promoting employment and supporting the fight against counterfeiting as far as products from third countries are concerned .
this surely results from the fact that the problem concerns only 2 % of Europeans , whereas it concerns 27 % of people in Africa .
this has a direct impact on the quality of life of the European Union 's inhabitants and on increasing inflation .
I was originally an engineer and I find this kind of practical application of principled technology to promote our well-being very exciting .
I think this is an excellent report .
you pointed out that we have slightly dimmed the lighting in the Chamber .
so , what did we achieve ?
I also welcome the annual publication of declarations of the financial interests of the institution 's elected members , with relevant information on remunerated tasks and activities , or professional activities that are subject to declaration .
'However , the position followed by the Commission in this file shall not be considered as a precedent .
Africa , as a region with the largest number of developing countries , has little experience of protecting its own biological resources .
for those of you interested in our plans , just before the summer break , we adopted policy guidelines which are the next action plan for road safety and we have the same aim - to reduce casualties by half .
many of my colleagues have already dealt in detail with the action that is required .
I now gather that Japanese school textbooks have been adapted ; but I then hear from the Japanese embassy that the tale has to be told very cautiously , as pupils do not yet know much about sexuality and could incur psychological damage .
I cannot just move on to the agenda without mentioning the crisis .
for these reasons , I abstained from voting on the resolution of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) , and voted against the joint resolution put forward by the other parties .
however , there are still elements of competition in the EU that need to be strengthened and clarified .
in relation to the debate itself and the human rights issues that have , in a sense , dominated our debate : I am trying to look at what more we can do .
this is not just about better prices and more choice .
although things started well , we soon began to see a slowdown in the progress made , which ended up stagnating last year ( when around 43 000 people were killed on all the roads in the 27 Member States ) .
why is a tolerance of , for instance , 0.8 % or 0.9 % not possible ?
I supported this report , since I believe that we must improve the quality of education and training in the EU .
Mr Pittella is right : a dab of powder , a touch of rouge , perhaps a little wool pulled over the eyes , but nothing more than an empty shell .
naturally , we need to establish our common values , namely democracy and the rule of law , along with respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms .
and what are we doing today about this famous directive ?
however , economic governance should above all aim for the best possible future , in other words aim for greater economic growth .
the most important aspect in political terms is that of banning , dealt with in Amendments 31 and 32 .
we will not waver in our support , as was said , for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia .
Mercosur was almost dissolved at the 2007 Summit .
however , if one looks at Greece , then I would say that we may be deluding ourselves if we believe we have the crisis under control .
do you intend to take the matter to the European Court of Justice ?
information and communications technology ( ICT ) is important in all innovative activity .
well , that is not how to build our future .
I have one final point , and it is one that is also clearly expressed in the resolution that we have produced together with the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe and the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats .
we must ensure that we provide better targeted assistance , particularly aimed at civil society and local communities , in keeping with the bottom-up approach .
we have worked hard and I would like to think that our work will not be in vain .
just a couple of days ago , the French Prime Minister and the German Chancellor even agreed to change the treaty to bring in tougher sanctions against countries that threaten the euro 's stability .
I think that Iceland is capable of assuming the obligations which derive from being an EU Member State .
the defence of freedom lies at the heart of Europe .
lastly , because this topic is close to my heart , I should like to emphasise the importance of introducing a public hearing for representatives of a citizens ' initiative , which will be organised by the Commission together with the European Parliament .
in this respect , it is important for us to consider the best way of ensuring that comprehensive information is made available before the act is signed .
the application of parliamentary immunity to such a situation is considered to constitute an undue extension of those rules , which are intended to avoid any interference with the functioning and independence of Parliament .
there is the danger that these important activities could come to a halt in Slovakia because of delayed re-financing of implemented activities .
with regard more specifically to environmental protection , the EU already has quite an advanced legislatory framework .
today we do not have these options available .
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and those principles will be my guidance in my assessment in the Opel case .
opening of the sitting
given the profound injustice today existing between countries , producers and products , the advocated redistribution of CAP funds cannot be dissociated from the guarantee of minimising losses by the major beneficiaries ...
the family and the protection of family life are , in fact , children 's rights , and these are realised when a family is managing well .
it is unfortunate that the Czech presidency began not as previously planned , but with the imposed resolution of the Russian-Ukrainian gas conflict , in the same way that the previous presidency had to begin by seeking an end to the Russian-Georgian War .
in some Member States , particularly my own , the use of such machines is now mandatory with no alternative such as a ' pat-down ' available - the so-called ' no scan , no fly ' tactic .
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the Declaration will make it clear that , in view of the global challenges that confront us , the European Union has both an opportunity and a responsibility to act .
( the sitting was suspended at 12.45 p.m. and resumed at 3.00 p.m. )
however , I feel obliged to raise the cohesion policy for discussion and express my dissatisfaction that the path towards implementing the Lisbon Strategy seems to have changed tack .
promoting and applying successful models in the knowledge triangle is vital , as is ensuring the sustainable development of regional strategic research frameworks for innovation , in conjunction with businesses , research centres , universities and public authorities .
for instance in Germany in the year 2005 the loss was approximately EUR 17 billion and in the United Kingdom in the 2005-2006 tax year it was over EUR 18 billion .
this being the case , we are in favour of a genuine European debate on the press and the problematic mergers that can exist in this area .
I am of the opinion that the Commission and the European Union have failed to learn much from the outbreaks of infectious animal diseases which have occurred in the past .
the Directive applies to all citizens admitted to the territory for work and those who were initially admitted for other reasons and who have subsequently obtained a work permit in accordance with the provisions of national or EU law .
my public health department mobilised the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control ( ECDC ) and the ECDC has activated its crisis mode in order to make scientific assessments as rapidly as possible .
by international law I mean , for example , the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages of the Council of Europe , which provides a global framework in this area , as well as the recommendations from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe , which the European Union has resorted to on different occasions .
on the other hand , we need to ensure a high level of protection for European consumers .
in addition , smaller operators or new operators who have joined the market have shown that they are often subject to discriminatory prices from large pan-European operators .
we do not support this focus , and can only conclude that the neoliberal face of the EU once more has been articulated .
this will ensure consistency between the methodologies applied by the banks as well as a convergence - an appropriate one , I think - of the ways in which the macroeconomic scenarios are retranscribed into parameters of respective risks .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I would firstly like to thank our colleague Mr Cornillet for his work on this report and for the debates he led in our Committee on Development .
I therefore believe that it is right to strive to find ways and means that allow us to act in such situations in a coordinated manner at EU level .
I agree that the use of legislative delegation should make it possible to adopt simple and accessible legislation , thus contributing to legal certainty , the efficacy of the delegate and control by the delegator .
however , we need common , effective and transparent action , and a common list of priorities for the benefit of our citizens .
what do we plan to do if civil war breaks out ?
tuna stocks are collapsing .
so three areas : firstly , making sure the structures are right and the people know and understand the core work they need to do ; secondly , ensuring that we cover everyone in the work we do on human rights ; and thirdly , ways in which we can make a difference .
Mr President , I did not particularly wish to revisit the past , but I am hearing some surprising speeches .
the debate is closed .
in writing . - ( DE ) I voted in favour of this report .
in addition , granting advanced status to Morocco would be going against the United Nations mission to organise a referendum on self-determination in Western Sahara .
I would like to remind you , Baroness Ashton , of Joseph Daul 's advice : do not be afraid , and you will have the support of this Parliament .
Guyana , which is an outermost region of the European Union , deserves to be recognised for its past and future contribution to this strategic policy .
this serves as an obstacle to a full resolution of the conflict .
( FR ) Mr President , as you are aware , an agreement between the Belgian State and GDF Suez was reached in October 2009 .
children have the right to receive help and services from Member States and from the Union .
the European Parliament , recognising the pressing need to meet the food requirements of the most deprived , has urged the Commission and the Council to put the European food aid programme on a permanent footing .
it is obvious that the response in Europe was unsatisfactory from the point of view of the citizens .
they pretend they do not understand , and demand explanations from the Commission and that Parliament adopt an official position .
as a result of the lack of capital in this sector , limited bank credit and the crisis in general , it is imperative and urgent to acknowledge that the adaptation of many companies has been delayed .
that should be one of the main priorities .
I am sorry , it is not good enough : well , we might look at misleading advertising and we will think about it .
by its legislative proposal , the Commission intends to set up a transparent and non-discriminatory framework for levying aviation security charges in Europe .
Mr President , I support the environmental goals for 2020 , but I have some serious doubts about some methods .
the commitment to help more than 1 500 Spanish and Danish employees via this fund is therefore very good news .
it shows gross contempt for the verdict of the peoples of France , the Netherlands and Ireland , and for the obvious inclinations of all the other European peoples , who are not moved by the policies , institutions , values , visions and symbols of the European plutocracy so typical of the anti-popular character of the EU .
Mr President , the ash cloud has caused stress and trauma for many thousands of travellers and financial loss to many businesses .
sometimes we took up problems and sometimes we took up personal issues and so forth .
the soil is a finite and non-renewable natural resource .
remember though , Commissioner : Parliament beat you on SWIFT and it will beat you on ACTA if need be .
I underlined that Bosnia and Herzegovina now needs to put EU-related reforms at the top of its political agenda and address the priorities of the European partnership , including state- and institution-building .
to be fair , it is not alone .
now that petrol prices are reaching record highs , we must waste no opportunity in setting ambitious targets for the reduction of CO2 emissions in the European car industry .
in this connection we cannot progress unless we discuss biotechnology and confront the campaign of fear concerning genetically modified food with objective information .
we were also concerned that , by dividing the responsibilities between different commissioners , consumer protection would ultimately receive insufficient attention .
you should know that , without compulsory cooperation from the drug agencies in these countries , it will be impossible to check the 3 000 pharmaceutical factories in India and the 12 000 factories in China .
following pressure from various countries that wanted to host the Institute , this became virtual , a type of gateway for consulting scientific communities in different areas .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I wish to thank this House for putting the issue of European agencies on the agenda .
a new agreement is currently being negotiated between the EU and the Solomon Islands .
all national standards bodies must therefore be able to provide a robust platform of consensus-building .
1 .
it is a bitter experience , when one makes reform proposals , to find that others are constantly blocking them with reference to something else .
now , above all , we need to act as 27 Member States - not separately - and act in conjunction with our allies , including the United States .
the text proposed to us is not only extremely dogmatic , it also shows contempt for the peoples , in particular , for the Greek people .
Portugal needs fishing and , therefore , needs the sea to remain able to provide us with fish and species to remain able to reproduce .
you said that social impact assessments are important to you .
Mr President , Mr Tajani , Mr Costa , this is going to be my final contribution to a debate at the European Parliament , after a fifteen-year stint .
in the long run , surface democracy - democracy that floats on the top with people casting their votes freely on election day and choosing their government - will not survive if deep democracy fails to take root .
after the elections there will be more persecution .
of course , banks can only take netting agreements into account in risk assessment if these agreements are enforceable in law .
the wine market needs a strong budget in the first pillar in order to strengthen the measures directly for the vine-growers , who will be called on to improve quality and to monitor their production , and also to strengthen the policy of promoting all wines , inside and outside Europe , thus boosting their commercial distribution on the markets .
the reason is that , in a large number of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe , the economy , media and politics are still in the hands today of those who systematically ruined this region over the last 40 years .
that too is immensely important .
the previous debate , regarding the framework agreement on data protection , was another illustration of this .
I consider the practice to be discriminatory against these women and girls .
indeed , we have many aspirations for the second pillar : on territorial balance , environmental issues , young farmers , small farms , local markets and rural development .
in many European countries - for example Italy , France , the Scandinavian countries and also my own country - smoking was banished from the shop floor and from restaurants long ago ; and a good thing , too .
just 5 of the 22 members of this research council are women .
the issue of non-discrimination ...
I should like to thank , here in this House , everyone who implemented the changes and carried out the assessment programme in recent months .
in writing . - First of all , I would like to congratulate our rapporteur , Mrs Patrizia Toia , for the quality of the report she presents today .
the European Union 's farmers should be able to spend more time in the field again , rather than behind a desk .
we also need to put our international service into action immediately , and establish a delegation in Southern Sudan .
these enquiries often relate to the recognition of professional qualifications .
I shall conclude by drawing attention to Article 1 ( 2 ) of the proposal , in which the time limits of notification are discussed .
the directive does not establish detention as the rule .
Mr President , the European Union prefers to import yet more migrant labour rather than try to deal with the problem of those Europeans already unemployed in Member States .
that is even more of an anomaly given that Brazil is the major regional power in South America .
in this respect , it is important for the European Union to promote the creation of mechanisms at Human Rights Council level specifically designed to respond to crises such as those , if we take current examples , in Afghanistan , Guinea Conakry , Iran , Yemen or Iraq .
I would like to draw attention to just one aspect of these negotiations , one that we were unaware of four years ago .
but NATO is threatened by the savage cuts being imposed on European armed forces .
this is not to mention the supply chain , where large numbers of jobs will also be lost .
Commissioner , I am relying on the pragmatic man that you are to turn this Single Market Act into something more than a catalogue of good intentions .
the house arrest that Mrs Liu Xia and many human rights activists in China have been under since 8 October worries us as much as it disappoints us , and we condemn it .
greater energy efficiency and the widespread use of renewables are the key to leaving the economic crisis behind .
this is why I hope that urgent measures will be taken on approving this package during the period ahead .
that brings me to the third question : what about the price of the communications ?
when the crisis erupted , and particularly when the crisis worsened in 2008 , this investment came to a halt , and left these economies in need of funding in order to finance their growth , which they were unable to substitute using their savings and internal resources .
the total size of the three shipyards in Poland - Gdynia , Gdańsk and Szczecin - is comparable to the size of the German shipyards prior to their restructuring , and the aid already granted to the Polish shipyards in the period 2002-2008 is also comparable to the aid granted by Germany to its shipyards - around EUR 3 billion .
we are calling on the Commission to provide factual evidence that the collection , storage and processing of PNR data is necessary for each of the stated purposes and to carry out an adequate investigation into possible alternatives .
however , as much as I would like to see Turkey joining the EU in the near future , the progress report unfortunately indicates something quite the opposite .
in this situation , the EU and Member States must adopt measures to ensure the sustainability of their pension systems .
the decision was taken that for the first list , no , but we will look at it again this week .
the government is primarily responsible for the provision of the necessary material and technical conditions at these homes amd for the support of the children .
Moldova 's development has so far been negatively influenced by its internal political instability .
I also want to highlight countries such as Egypt and Libya in terms of gas supplies .
if all the Member States were a little more aware of this , we would have made more progress with our existing regulations .
furthermore , we would have preferred to wait for the decision of the Court of Justice , which we are expecting on 8 March .
in writing . - UKIP voted in favour of this report because EUR 4.9 billion of unspent appropriations will be returned to the national governments .
we would mention the problematic issue of exchanging personal passenger data between the EU and the US , and therefore the relationship between international security and the privacy of citizens .
this position is based solely on the blindness and partisanship of the most prominent politicians , and it undermines and subverts what actually happened in Copenhagen .
finally , the setting-up of an EU implementation task force comprising members of the European Commission , the presidency and the Council .
the debate is closed .
it also means taking a more hard-headed approach to modern trade barriers , and especially non-tariff barriers which operate not at the border , but behind the border .
it introduces greater personal responsibility for the proper handling of animals , and also introduces a requirement to appoint a special officer responsible for animal protection in facilities which carry out slaughter .
obviously , we will also have to draw on the upcoming United Nations and World Bank meetings , in order to develop and deepen activities aimed at boosting food production in the affected developing countries .
it is not acceptable that the Law be used to persecute religious minorities and sentence dozens of people to death every year .
but we must not lose sight of the fact either that a third , and arguably even more , of the members of today 's European Union came into their own as independent political entities out of the ruins of the First World War .
therefore , it seems important to me for the Solidarity Fund and the measures that we are taking to be targeted at these long-term consequences of natural destruction .
it is the only language they understand .
he will probably have to spend quite some time in negotiating with representatives of both the parties but I think it is important that he has our support as well as the support of the other American states for these particular efforts .
it is a large region , with a high population , which is promising and must be helped towards economic growth .
( sustained applause )
the next item is the statements from the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and from the Commission on the role of the European Union in the Middle East .
that is a brief outline of the goals of this proposal , for which Mr Stockmann is the rapporteur .
if we want to change our consumption behaviour , we need to know exactly which products produce high levels of greenhouse gases and we may have to adapt our consumption patterns accordingly .
again , it is necessary to consider future policy in this area .
however , the Council 's lack of availability has meant that the European Firearms Pass will not be the only document required for the carriage of firearms , and in my opinion this is a missed opportunity .
we had come to the conclusion that these measures were appropriate but also sufficient to address the issues that currently are being discussed .
in doing so the Commission takes into account the specificity of sport .
the European Council will also review the progress on the preparation of the plans for capacity development to manage migration flows and refugee flows .
this is not an isolated incident , but rather the culmination of persecutions of and attacks on Christians in majority Muslim countries .
Europeana , by combining the resources of Europe 's national digital libraries , has become a digital access point to the cultural and scientific heritage of humanity .
pressure needs to be exerted to make Turkey keep its promises and honour its commitments , especially the Ankara Protocol on the recognition of the Republic of Cyprus , whose rights under international law it is challenging .
in the WTO we should be endeavouring to ensure that third countries too comply with our high standards of animal health and welfare .
10 October also marks the day when the King of Portugal mandated Bartolomeu Dias to seek a trade route leading to Asia , and in the United States Columbus 's discovery of the New World is celebrated today .
we have to examine the reasons and the drive that bring these people into Europe .
of course clean production can bring in a lot of profit and employment and it is also good that this way we shall end our reliance on oil and enter the world of sustainable energy .
unfortunately we cannot hope that the President-in-Office of the Council will take advantage of this debate and this discussion to help advance the position of the European Union .
the single market review will gear up the single market as a strong , innovative and competitive market , bringing direct benefits to consumers and entrepreneurs and positioning Europe to shape globalisation to best effect .
although we integrate them and they learn our languages , they are still there with their own separate identities .
the GMO issue should be the subject of a debate in its own right , which the European bodies refuse to conduct .
I start from the belief that alcohol can be good for you in regular and limited quantities , particularly at the years of discretion which you and I have reached .
furthermore , Zimbabwe must scrupulously adhere to the commitments it made on diamond production in the context of the Kimberley Process , so as to escape the vicious circle of financing armed conflict .
the most important element of the compromise reached relates to the effective separation - and I stress the word ' effective ' - of production and supply activities , on the one hand , from network operations , on the other .
the removal of the anthem and the flag from the Treaty - the background to which I of course am fully aware of - is and remains an essentially barbaric act against European unity , for which those who called for this step ultimately bear responsibility .
there are many areas where the EU seeks competence but has no legal basis , and that has been the subject of much criticism and scrutiny over the years , but are you not concerned that , with the ' passerelle clause ' , the EU can gain new competences without the need to consult national parliaments ?
I welcome the proposed amendments to the Rules of Procedure on account of the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon .
this means that the principle of equal treatment must apply to everyone without restrictions , in the case of employees ' rights , access to education and access to social security systems .
I particularly welcome the fact that you have succeeded in including information on geographical origin - such as champagne , Scotch whisky , Parma ham , etc . - I would like to congratulate you on this .
I therefore hope that we will all roll up our sleeves and start to actually do something very soon .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the unprecedented humanitarian disaster in Haiti affects us deeply and the European Union has a duty to contribute as best it can to the efforts by the international community , using all the tools at its disposal .
in many cases , there is a reason for separate treatment or positive discrimination if you like , in order to eliminate disadvantages .
the European Union cannot continue to stand idly by in this situation .
recreational walking and cycling is also growing in importance .
we have done this .
this is probably not the most appropriate point in history to issue regulations of this complexity .
I have no doubt that we will be able to use this infinite power for the good of everyone , both Europeans and Americans , and that side by side we will follow the star of a tomorrow of greater justice and freedom .
secondly , with regard to the upcoming presidential elections , the European Union needs to make all its election observation experience available to Honduras and should prepare to send an EU election observation mission .
I think this language speaks for itself .
the debate is closed .
we will complete our first reading before the summer .
rather , the principle of subsidiarity should be extended to allow minorities to make decisions with regard to their own affairs .
Andrew has been in prison in Greece for six months awaiting trial on a manslaughter charge which seems to be based on mistaken identity and , I am afraid to say , police brutality to witnesses , and I believe the European Arrest Warrant has been misused .
we need to help that country to remain what it has always been : one of the oldest democracies in the world .
but it must also be said that we cannot ignore the fact that the budgetary deterioration in 2009 was largely due to the working of the automatic stabilisers in the face of an unprecedented decline in economic activity caused by a financial crisis not originating in Europe .
a comprehensive economic crisis management package has also been prepared .
fishing is the only viable economic activity in many regions and is important in terms of maintaining the number of jobs .
we cannot rule out the possibility of more sexual violence being committed by all sides in the conflicts in North Africa and the Middle East .
the creation of facts on the ground undermines the chances for a negotiated settlement of the conflict .
the fact is , when we create policy , our duty is to be courageous and responsible , and to tell the truth .
the debate is closed .
dealers ' obligations should be confined to specific checks .
I agree that effective enforcement of maintenance obligations will improve the living conditions and education of many children who are first-line maintenance creditors .
this can only be achieved by sufficient levels of investment in each Member State .
today 's debate has shown that we have broad cross-party support for the compromise we have negotiated here .
I would endorse the sentiments of Poul Rasmussen that we have not yet done enough .
thank you very much to Mr Coelho , Mr Tavares and Mr Alvaro for your work on these two very important dossiers .
as it has been said , we began negotiations in October 2008 , during the French Presidency .
it is much warmer .
small and medium-sized enterprises , together with entrepreneurs , play a significant role in all our economies and are key generators of employment and income and drivers of innovation and growth .
a couple of procedures aimed at combating distortion of competition and price fixing will not be enough to resolve this problem .
the European Union Solidarity Fund is being mobilised to repair the damage caused by the floods in Ireland in 2009 ( to the agricultural sector , housing , businesses , the road network and other infrastructure ) .
on the other hand , the model in the West has given rise to diseases such as obesity , various types of cancer and diabetes : diseases which we estimate will be responsible for 72 % of deaths by 2020 .
some countries have closed their borders for exports of agricultural commodities and this has also contributed .
people do not come to Spain , Malta or Italy : they come to Europe .
in particular , it is the employer 's duty to introduce these measures , and it is the worker 's duty to comply with them .
why a closer relationship with Brazil ?
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , the atrocious fighting in the east of the Congo is not simply a case of a civil war , it is also a regional conflict involving many neighbouring countries .
most of my colleagues agreed with everything in the report , as can be seen from the fact that not too many amendments were introduced .
finally , I should like to remind the House that the provisions of the Citizens ' Initiative did not fall from the sky .
does he envisage any possibility that the mission might end next March ?
this situation is even more severe in domestic work and work carried out by female migrant workers .
Article l of the Convention states that each Party to the Convention shall guarantee the rights of access to information and public participation in decision-making .
the same applies , of course , to adverts about men .
this law states that not only is sign language our mother tongue , but that our cultural minority rights are protected by it .
on a few of the specific concerns that have been raised , the question of Kaesong raises complex technical and political questions .
that MEP happened to be me .
therefore , much work needs to be done in order to further simplify the rules .
I believe that a coherent response should increase the sector 's capacity for structural adjustment and , at the same time , help its most vulnerable members , particularly small and medium-sized producers .
it is absolutely crucial that a signal be sent from this debate today that we are making improvements not because we want to play off one population group against the other but because we want the relations between Slovaks and Hungarians within Slovakia , and of course , also between the two countries , to improve .
( PT ) Mr President , I have of course noted the observations and comments made by Mrs Figueiredo but I have nothing further to add to my previous answer .
there are also issues that required more immediate reactions , such as reducing the risk of humanitarian crisis and the negative impact .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , we know that the Commission and the Spanish Presidency are very much stepping up the pace of negotiations with certain Central and South American countries in order to conclude association agreements before the May summit between the European Union and Latin America .
the Commissioner is aware of Parliament 's interest in national champions : the ' level playing field ' .
it must also quickly find a solution in order to normalise relations between the European Union and Cuba .
( NL ) Mr President , we are having this debate today because citizens and governments are worried about the construction of this pipeline .
indeed , the EU 's involvement in this process may provide the support needed for this dialogue to be carried out in ideal conditions .
the renewed proceedings were opened on 31 March 2010 and suspended the same day because of Mrs Hankiss 's parliamentary immunity .
although I am very much in favour of this partnership , which must be a strategic partnership , I am very surprised by the pressure that Russia is now exerting , in particular , in Ukraine .
this would erode the fiscal sovereignty and general sovereignty of the Member States .
understanding the market dynamics and equipping regulators with instruments plus information / data is vital .
the presence of such important and skilled individuals in the region already provides ample illustration of the ability of Taiwanese people to integrate into our society .
it provides a framework of debate , open dialogue and free exchange of views .
I was very pleased to hear the Commissioner 's comment with regard to generic drugs that there will be no danger of a negative effect on the patients .
as the number of beekeepers is constantly falling , we also need to invest more in education and training .
to attain these goals , we believe it is essential for education and vocational training to continue to be treated as a long-term common political priority , which can be translated into reality only with the participation and commitment of all stakeholders , the EU institutions and those involved at local and regional level .
to underscore this need , the Commission published Recommendation No 207 / 425 / EC of 13 July 2007 , identifying a set of actions for the enforcement of Council Regulation ( EC ) No 338 / 97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein .
we can do so in the General Vertical Block Exemption Regulation and we shall be able to do so with the specific regulation on vehicles .
however , there needs to be further progress along these lines .
last week , Quartet envoys met in Brussels , under the chairmanship of Helga Schmid , the Political Director and Deputy Secretary-General of the EAS , with , for the first time , the Palestinian negotiators .
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this multilingual portal should be designed to help citizens and businesses seeking legal assistance and initial legal advice about cross-border legal problems .
while , as the Presidency has said , the evolution of Iran 's politics and policies are chiefly a matter for the citizens of Iran , there can be no doubt of the broader significance , and it is right that we should follow these developments closely .
does this mean that the Commission is more or less giving up on precarious employment relations ?
Mr President , my dear Mr Pöttering , ladies and gentlemen , this Parliament is the voice of 500 million Europeans and they are not sufficiently aware of this .
however , we should bear in mind some misgivings among countries affected by the cohesion policy , which are looking for some certainty about the policy and do not yet know exactly how reducing this period will affect this predictability in obtaining Structural Funds .
no indulgence can be tolerated in this area .
we must learn from our experience with Bulgaria and Romania .
in view of this , I believe that it is crucial to strengthen the parliamentary dimension of cooperation work , recognising that the establishment of the African Union and the growing power of the JPA are , without doubt , a challenge to ACP-EU cooperation and , consequently , to the ACP-EU JPA .
Community-financed education programmes such as e-learning or life-long learning must also be designed with ' dys ' people in mind .
I very much welcome this resolution , which includes , as do many of the resolutions that we pass in this House , lots of very sensible , clever and well set out words .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , Mr President-in-Office of the Council , we on the INTA Committee requested this debate because we are very concerned as we see that we are concluding more and more agreements of different kinds which affect all our work in the external economic sector and which also , of course , always have a foreign policy component .
bearing in mind that the three regulations on radiation amended by the report in question were adopted in the wake of Chernobyl about 20 years ago , I consider that the Belet report , as it now stands after the vote , is a first attempt to improve the approach to and update the problem of radioactive contamination of foodstuffs and the soil .
it has been noted that currently major differences exist between individual countries and different social groups regarding access to healthcare .
two further draft resolutions pertain to Regulation ( EC ) No 883 / 2004 and its annexes .
during the crisis of the past few months , the authorisation of the State aid justified by recent events has been fundamental for the recovery of the economy .
I hope that the Commission will soon present us with a legislative text that enables the cross-border credit market to continue to function .
the results of the elections in Belarus speak for themselves .
in the resolution , it is taken for granted that the elections that brought victory to President Ahmadinejad were fraudulent .
we are entitled to disagree , and we will defend that right , although some continually question the simple fact that voters in Europe have elected European Conservatives and Reformists , and I promise that they will elect still more of them .
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at Mr Sterckx 's instigation a majority of the House has markedly shifted the emphasis elsewhere .
last summer , in response to Iceland 's intransigent stance on this matter , we were told that the Commission was considering suspending negotiations about Iceland 's accession to the EU , yet little seems to have happened on this front .
we also reviewed the status of the Structural Funds where , unfortunately , there is a low level of use of resources in some countries .
now we need some kind of common approach , for which the Commission is very happy to provide proposals .
in writing . - ( DE ) The planned measures do not provide for obligatory participation by the banks .
the consumer needs to be sure that revenue obtained from security fees is used exclusively for covering security expenses .
first and foremost , the danger - it is not the intention , but there is a danger - of agreeing such a framework is that it is seen as providing a framework for large-scale exploitation of our forests , leading to the opposite of the purpose of the agreement , namely , further degradation and further deforestation , thus contributing to the very destruction of the global environment we are trying to avoid .
it is hard to believe that we have not had the same thing for medicines .
we will be monitoring very closely how the new government , still to be formed , will take reforms forward .
the follow-up measures must be undertaken by various entities of the public sector ( for example , municipalities ) and civil society , as well as NGOs , charities , schools and social services ; it is essential to promote cooperation between entities .
let us be clear : the suggestion of a 5 % increase is completely unacceptable and the idea of so-called own resources is equally unacceptable - it is just a power-grab by the EU .
some of you mentioned the situation of the Roma families in the Trebca mines .
- ( DE ) Madam President , may I take this opportunity not only to explain that I voted in favour , but also to raise an issue which is of great concern to me , namely the problem of taxation of aviation fuel .
the actions identified in the plan are very important for improving the guarantees of European citizens in respect of the law , but it is necessary to adopt a more strategic and less fragmentary approach based on the real needs of citizens and enterprises in the exercising of their rights .
based on the considerations mentioned , I support the motion for a resolution tabled by the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) as an alternative to the current option put forward in the report so that we can help create a valuable portal , which is relevant in terms of the information the public will find there .
history demands it of us .
Mr President , the macro-regional strategies are , first and foremost , a political instrument representing one of the possible forms of regional cooperation .
this framework provides good protection for consumers , promotes their rights and also provides security for investors .
however , Egypt and Tunisia need support now , this very year , and on a scale way beyond what is being discussed at the moment .
Romania has made major financial and human efforts .
she has repeated that today and I , for one , am delighted to hear her words .
are you sure about that ?
the Council and the Commission will look into these issues very carefully , and I am prepared to report any further developments to you .
open trade has to be fair .
raising this threshold would mean a substantial reduction in the funds .
( SK ) I would like to begin by applauding the work of the rapporteur , Mr Kirilov .
it is good to see Commissioner Andor here this morning , but it is a pity , in a way , that Commissioner Špidla is not here .
first , it clarifies and reaffirms the common principles of all EU health systems : universality , equity , access to good-quality health care , and solidarity .
it will create new markets and enable Europe to become a global competitor in the field of technology .
I also believe that it is because of the complex nature of the matter and its dynamic developments .
a less restrictive exchange of experiences between oncology centres is needed so that the knowledge gained most recently on the subject can be applied extensively .
farmers , both arable and livestock , are now ' anonymous ' persons for consumers .
there are major challenges involved in regulating the import of fishery and aquaculture products into the EU .
the second point I want to mention is the need for society in Croatia to build on tolerance .
in fact , Israel has not stopped the movement of such goods as food , electricity or water into Gaza and is actually acting with restraint and moderation , even though Hamas has been attacking Israel militarily .
the Second European Roma Summit represents a commitment to dialogue about cultural diversity and what that represents in terms of human wealth .
this is something we all wish for , especially we Greeks , because Greek shipping is being hard hit by piracy in the area .
I say ' no ' to exemptions for certain special countries , because these are European problems that we should solve together .
Madam President , Minister , Commissioner , the start of negotiations for what will become the new Kyoto Agreement in Bali in December is , of course , extremely important .
which Community initiatives could be used for this purpose ?
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this militant xenophilia and anti-patriotism are very wearing .
at the same time , it should be stressed that effective action must rely on those instruments that are most suitable to address each issue .
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finally , in a year in which elections for the European Parliament will be held , we are urged and called on to strengthen EU propaganda and the mystification of its policies .
( EL ) Madam President , according to recent statements by officials and articles in the press , it would appear that the most likely ' rescue ' scenario for the Greek economy will be a joint effort between the Member States of the European Union and the International Monetary Fund .
a common decision on this matter is right as the Baltic gas pipeline will have a negative environmental impact on the Baltic .
I would therefore like to congratulate the rapporteur on the result that has just been achieved due to an effort at finding a compromise between all the groups in an ambitious and encouraging report .
the argument that only the new Member States of the European Union have been especially severely affected by the crisis is not true .
the Member States have until May 2011 to transpose these provisions into national law .
a majority in this House decided that the European Union must pump a substantial amount of money into its automotive industry .
it would be unacceptable for the efforts of the most ambitious countries to be compromised by carbon leakage resulting quite simply from the non-existent or insufficient action of some .
it views the national insurance and pension system as a system of occupational rather than social insurance .
in principle , we therefore agree with reducing this inconvenience for passengers while , at the same time , maintaining a high level of checks and security .
( ES ) Madam President , President-in-Office of the Council , President of the Commission , ladies and gentlemen , I offer the Czech Presidency the same friendly welcome that I gave in 1991 when , as President of the European Parliament , I addressed the Senate of the then Czechoslovakia to invite them to join us .
reforming the regulations must be instrumental in guaranteeing greater transparency in the eyes of European citizens and taxpayers , as well as in helping set out feasible conditions for Member States .
credit is also given to Commissioner Kallas for the definite improvement which can be noted over the last few years in terms of the European Commission 's financial management activities .
it would not be appropriate if Parliament waded into the discussion like a bull in a china shop .
offering airlines State aid in compensation for the losses has a precedent in the bail out offered to American Airlines after 9 / 11 .
it is also not acceptable for us to tinker with the Progress programme to such an extent that could really jeopardise it .
to invite Mugabe to Lisbon is an affront to our principles and is a direct contradiction of the EU 's own stated positions .
we want to see a strong Israel - economically , politically , all of those things - as we wish to see a strong Palestinian state , but we cannot make progress until we see progress in the Middle East peace process .
this House is always making rhetorical declarations on human rights and emphasising that human rights are the most important objective of foreign policy - yet now it is going to sign an agreement with a country that violates these very human rights on a massive scale .
however , this directive is a directive , not a symbolic resolution in which something like that can be stated .
government legislation has severely curtailed the freedoms of expression , assembly , movement and association .
I would really like to endorse the MEPs and , at the same time , express my concern that particularly at the time of the crisis , various allowances to both MEPs and employees in their teams are being increased .
I agree with the resolution 's call for the Member States and the regions to use the Structural Funds intended for the period 2007 to 2013 , in order to ensure as much support as possible for the implementation of this strategy , particularly by promoting the creation of new jobs and economic growth in the areas worst affected by the economic crisis .
we are talking about a sensitive area and a topic that concerns the protection of minorities , which is why I ask my fellow Members to approve this proposal .
given that , under EU legislation , all animals are regarded as sentient beings , we must tighten animal welfare checks and adhere to animal protection standards .
the alcohol industry must act as a matter of urgency .
at the start , however there was no debate to be had .
this is why we must work alongside countries of origin and transit towards true mobility for a workforce with rights and obligations , not a workforce of slaves .
such a strategy will promote economic and social cohesion in those regions and promote territorial cohesion without jeopardising any of them .
if we find that many municipalities are now including fair trade as an important criterion in public procurement decisions - whether when buying coffee or for other products - then I think it is important to bolster this .
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I look forward to more work .
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it is an unfair attack on the way Parliament operates , and especially the way proceedings are conducted in Strasburg .
we simply cannot accept the continuing scandal of 80 million people at risk of poverty in the European Union .
such a strategy testifies to a lack of understanding of the need to have a coherent fuel and energy policy which prefers economic effectiveness and competitiveness . it also testifies to the lack of a unified energy policy guaranteeing security of energy supply and a lack of regulations based on uniform criteria for the entire common market , which would lead to fair competition while retaining minimum social costs .
first of all , it was of crucial importance to the whole of your region , to the Caucasus , both the southern Caucasus and the northern Caucasus .
as a result , concern was rising about the widening gap between Chinese and European public opinions and perceptions of each other .
we do want to resolve this matter , but , as you know , the Non-attached Group did not propose a candidate , and this is why it is not involved in some work .
Madam President , Commissioner , Mr López Garrido , I think this is an important day .
the first is the high-level meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations on climate change , which actually took place in New York on 24 September .
I would also like to say specifically on behalf of my Italian fellow Members that the debate taking place in Italy is an Italian and not a European debate and that , like us , my fellow Members will defend diversity and plurality .
then we would be stronger and in a better position to help others .
I believe , however , that he has learnt from his mistakes and that , in future , he will make great efforts both for Europe as a whole and for the small countries .
even if some workers do know their rights , all too often they find it impossible to take action individually without any back-up .
why ?
what we have to face now is the difficulties on the financial markets .
a point that has been missed in this debate , as Mr Landsbergis has just reminded us and as Mr van Dalen reminded us earlier , is that this is a proposal .
in the crisis too , it was not just the Presidency alone that assumed its responsibilities , it was all those large countries that assumed theirs .
here the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development has called for an increase from EUR 16.11 to EUR 18.11 per 100 kg .
does that mean that we should give up on negotiating ?
the rapporteurs have put forward a proposal that is very interesting and certainly must have required a great deal of work , both analytical and conceptual .
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the truth - as many economists have stressed and continue to do so - is that it would be difficult to sustain the sort of public debt levels that we see in the United States , and that it is the countries with the most debt that are the largest consumers , whereas those with larger reserves consume the least .
nevertheless , very many people around the world are still dying of tuberculosis today , particularly the young and the poor .
Mr President , I have the honour to be the European Parliament 's Vice-President responsible for democracy and human rights .
on behalf of the PPE Group . - Mr President , there is an alarming trend in today 's Latin America to consolidate populist regimes by extending the mandate of current presidents - preferably for eternity .
I am also convinced that , ultimately , the Member States will benefit from this , but so will the asylum seekers , who will have the chance , in future , to receive a ruling directly at the first instance in a fair and nevertheless rapid application procedure if this is implemented in the way that we envisage it .
some of the national horse trading you engaged in made it look like comedy descending into farce : deciding that Austrian universities can break the law for another five years while the policemen look the other way , or creating two classes of European citizen : those with fundamental rights and those without .
since their accession to the EU , in 2007 , both Bulgaria and Romania have had a legitimate expectation that their citizens would become fully fledged EU citizens and that they would be able to enjoy the same rights as other EU citizens , including freedom of movement within the Schengen area .
that is a job we need to do and he should take the first steps , together with the Slovenian Presidency , at the end of this week .
with regard to access to finance , which is the subject of Mr Zwiefka 's question , the Commission , together with the European Investment Bank ( EIB ) , has announced specific measures to improve the situation .
these catastrophic floods have affected around 500 000 people in various ways and have caused hundreds of millions of euro of damage .
however , this unequal and discriminatory approach is also apparent in other areas and particularly in agriculture .
the instruments that have been developed , such as the partnership for mobility , should continue to be developed and consolidated in a strategic way .
Mr President , it is somewhat paradoxical that nuclear weapons contributed significantly to the fact that the Cold War did not end in the Third World War .
why have we begun these performance tests for each service to see the positive or negative interactions between certain European texts ?
a legitimate government is required which will respect rights and fundamental freedoms , in other words , show respect for human beings .
human Rights violations in China , notably the case of Liu Xiaobo
for the past few weeks , he has encouraged his Ministers to talk up prospects of an election in the UK and then , when the political going got rough , he backed down .
naturally , such a document cannot be credible , because it actually concerns a dispute between the two countries which will have to be resolved elsewhere .
Mrs Descamps has prepared a well-balanced report . I believe it deserves our support .
in the light of this , would you now agree that the economic recovery plan agreed last December was not enough in itself ?
I believe that something similar happened to the Barcelona Process : it was not finished , but it was abandoned - in part at least .
I should like to express my firm belief that the crisis calls for a reform of the European institutions .
we now need the action .
the Union for the Mediterranean Secretariat is best placed to act as a catalyst and bring together states , international and financial institutions and private companies to work on such economic projects .
I voted in support of his recommendations , because I have had literally hundreds of constituents from across the East Midlands , from Nottingham to Daventry , Glossop to Lincoln , who have been caught out by one of the directories that he is trying to get rid of : the European City Guide .
the adoption of the climate package also marks a shift to a new economic thinking that will reduce the European Union 's dependence on imported energy and the economic and political risks linked to uncertainty of supply .
they open up a new path for the creation of a single European law without the involvement of the Member States ( through interpretation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights by the European Court of Justice ) .
you have been quite clear , so there has been no doubt about what is at stake - no doubt about what every party in this House thinks on this question .
I would also like to thank the Commission , the Committee on Regional Development and all the relevant employees for their cooperation .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( FR ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I would first of all like to get back to the main topic of this debate , Frontex , and clarify a few points .
there is a great deal more to do .
there are still numerous disparities between men and women in terms of potential jobs , quality of work , income and remuneration .
it enables people , as part of a non-contractual relationship , to entrust a recognised authority with the task of certifying the commitments it wishes to make and of dealing with the full consequences of this in advance by making this act enforceable .
instead , it will take the money of the British taxpayer to cover the cost of making our decisions on our behalf .
that is the type of society that I want to live in and work to enable us to have .
in the course of several days of carnage following the fall of Srebrenica , more than 8 000 men and boys lost their lives .
first , the urgent issues : we recently debated the results of the European Council .
rapporteur . - Mr President , the potential for carbon capture and storage technology to achieve vast reductions and abatement in CO2 emissions into the atmosphere is something we simply must grasp .
we are all aware of what the effects of the crisis are in each of our countries , ranging from a fall in economic growth and job prospects to a rise in the budget deficit and recession .
I therefore invite Parliament to support the amending budget already approved by the Council .
in fact , quite the opposite is the case .
I have already mentioned the Eastern Partnership .
gambling addiction leads to serious social problems , such as broken homes , money problems and crime .
beyond the above-mentioned aims , I am convinced that we will not succeed if we try to protect children exclusively by trying to shut out pornographic or illegal content from their surroundings .
MONUC plays a vital role , but its mandate and rules of engagement must be implemented with determination and on a permanent basis in order to guarantee the population 's security more effectively .
for eight years now we have known that Kosovan independence must come sooner or later .
so we have suggested three approaches : restoring confidence , reducing burdens and , finally , placing our internal market policy in an international context .
while ensuring stability in the region , the Communication meets the needs of applicant States which are seeking both a Euro-Atlantic anchoring and a framework of enhanced cooperation .
this is a matter of our credibility , something we are going to need badly in our fight against climate change .
so I support all my colleagues who have called - and I call myself - for a new impetus to a peaceful solution of the Israel-Palestinian conflict , which , of course , must be based on the two-state solution .
I voted in favour of the motion for a resolution on the progress made by Croatia , which confirms the efforts made by the latter with regard to its forthcoming accession to the European Union .
the pharmaceutical industry 's goal will never be one of philanthropy .
nevertheless , in the rural world , not only do they carry the work inside and outside the home , but at the same time they also care for dependents and , on top of this , these women do this under much worse conditions than in the urban world .
through its participation in the International Contact Group on Guinea , the Commission approved the conclusions reached at the meeting on 12 October , envisaging the adoption of various measures supporting the observance of human rights .
the primary objective of the Cotonou Agreement is the reduction and , eventually , the eradication of poverty in a way consistent with the objectives of sustainable development and the gradual integration of the ACP countries into the world economy .
as you all know , the 19 December elections in Belarus were followed by a wave of arrests .
Article 14 is a bulwark that we can rely on to prevent the transfer to third countries , without our consent , of personal data we have transmitted to another Member State .
the development of information and communication technologies is currently imposing greater demands upon the teaching profession since the educational environment is becoming more and more complex and varied .
indeed , we are not talking about halting oil exploration as a whole , but simply about monitoring the situation and determining what further measures should be taken to prevent an accident and disaster like that in the Gulf of Mexico from being repeated .
soon , it will be the polluter who pays .
we called for President Musharraf on that day to end the state of emergency , to reinstate the constitution , to reinstate the Supreme Court and move towards free and fair elections .
this chiefly concerns high-risk substances .
if the interim agreement is adopted before 1 December and the legal basis is changed , it will avoid a security gap and a serious blow to European Union-United States relations in this area .
( PL ) Mr President , this gas crisis shows how important it is for the European Union to speak in one voice on the matter of gas supplies , particularly gas supplies from Russia , which is not a reliable partner and supplier .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , this own-initiative report is important because the situation of women in prison needs to be put under the spotlight at last and problems identified .
Mr Djinnit of the United Nations calls it ' a reversal situation ' and both are saying that today we have to be creative .
would you be kind enough to explain what guarantees we have that the resources we will receive from this agreement will be used for the benefit of the people of Western Sahara , and not just for meeting the needs of European fishermen .
reaching an agreement on aspects such as policies for forest protection , technology transfer to developing countries and funding is vital .
an overwhelming majority of Members in this House agree with the humanitarian NGOs on the ground , with the refugees in the region who are living in miserable conditions and in a climate of permanent fear , and with the Secretary-General of the United Nations .
however , the workers ' struggle that is continuing and intensifying across Europe demonstrates that this backtracking of civilisation is not inevitable , and that another way is possible and necessary .
the situation is different , however , in the countries of the Western Balkans , which have had a clear prospect of accession for some time .
in Alsace , and in all border regions , the question of cross-border healthcare is crucial , when , for example , healthcare provided abroad is closer to home than that provided in the Member State of residence .
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in June 2007 we should have been hearing even more alarm bells ringing , at least when two hedge funds managed by the New York investment bank Bear Stearns went astray because they were involved on a grand scale in bonds secured by real estate .
I suppose that on this issue of the discharge of the Council , the points of controversy between us and the Council are of such a sensitive nature that it makes sense to hold further talks .
I am glad , ladies and gentlemen , that today I have something positive to report , a success story , a story that demonstrates how the cooperation between the European Commission , the European Parliament and the Member States can ensure the resolution of problems .
let me thank all those who worked so hard to make this agreement possible , especially the rapporteur of the lead committee , Ms Matias , as well as the rapporteurs of the committees giving opinions , Ms Sartori and Ms Bastos .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , let me start by making it clear that the distribution of food to deprived people is , for me , not at issue in the forthcoming vote on the report by Mr Siekierski , particularly in these difficult economic times .
I strongly believe that we , the EU , should benefit from the potential of the Black Sea region and not others .
we can now to some extent take the wind out of the sails of the euro sceptics by saying that the accounts have been approved for the first time .
we are supporting - and the Council 's conclusions are very clear on that - the resolution of the Arab League of Sunday as far as the borders are concerned , and that was proved on Monday .
I would advise the Commission to read the recommendations made in that report as well as the recommendations made in this report .
we already have excellent police cooperation in Europe and we do not need CEPOL here .
it is therefore imperative that something is done to improve our diagnosis , treatment and prevention and social research into the welfare of patients and their families , particularly families who act as carers .
I understand the concerns about corruption and organised crime .
there are , in fact , already some measures under way .
let us give ourselves time and not do this during the crisis .
our resolution rightfully raises the issue of the charges against the leaders of the political opposition , charges that look ever more selective in nature , and insists on a guarantee of the transparency of the investigations and of the judicial process .
this means that , in many situations , GDP can increase while the majority of a country 's citizens become poorer , because GDP does not take into consideration the level of inequality in a society .
the next item is the Commission statement on Commission fines in antitrust cases .
that cannot be right .
( FI ) I just wish to remind everyone that paragraph 48 in the motion for a resolution concerns Article 29 of the Statute for Members of the European Parliament .
as I said before , however , we do not know who the Nobel prizewinners will be in five or ten years ' time .
I voted against Mr Kirilov 's report on Cohesion Policy : investing in the real economy .
we hope that this will be operational by autumn 2009 .
currently , it costs 10 times more to obtain a European patent that is valid in just half of the Member States than it does in the USA .
I think it will be to Europe 's shame next month if President Sarkozy and a line of EU Heads of Governments and Presidents and princes stand there and shake hands with the Chinese leaders , thereby giving them credibility when they do not deserve it and giving them the green light to carry on in the same vein as they have been doing .
Parliament 's role is quite significant , and I believe that we should have this function too .
in this respect , especially in the field of science and technology , there is still a long way to go , because work has been done in other fields such as health , education , etc . , but there has not been a great deal of work done in the field of science and technology .
this is a request that Parliament should be proud to support .
therefore : ' delete the word " special " ' .
together with the strengthening of national budgetary frameworks and rules , and the implementation of reforms curbing the rise in age-related expenditure , this will ensure that sustainable positions are restored .
if a Member State 's military force is found guilty of a war crime during an EU operation , is it possible to suspend that Member State from EU operations for a lengthy period in order to defend the good name and reputation of military forces from the EU Member States ?
( NL ) To my mind , the Oomen-Ruijten report is yet another missed opportunity to get down to business on the potential accession by Turkey to the European Union .
Article 12 of Regulation ( EC ) 2004 / 2003 stipulates that the European Parliament shall publish by 15 February 2011 a report on the application of this regulation and the activities funded .
work towards convergence as agreed in the IFRS can bring increasing benefits for companies working on an international basis .
the EU financial support will alleviate the hardships Lithuanian workers are facing .
that is where we will need an exchange of data and internal links between the police forces in the European Union .
given the importance the Presidency attaches to road safety , it will examine any other proposals on these issues that the Commission may present shortly , provided the limited time available until the end of June allows it .
I hope that Europe will take this problem seriously and deal forcefully with speculators .
when opting for a career in science , women face a greater challenge than men do .
you have to play the game of the European institutions .
in this framework , I can give you some more precise answers on the Anglo Irish Bank restructuring plan presented by the Irish Government that will be considered by my services pending a decision .
Mr President , I do not really share your enthusiasm about Frontex .
finally , I request that the process be speeded up , because the terrorists are constantly revealing where our security is lacking - just as recently in the case of freight transport .
I thank all those who have been involved in the work .
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we must also work alongside local non-governmental organisations .
no .
over and above the views of economists to the contrary and the numerous views of fellow Members in this Chamber , it must be made clear that Greece cannot leave the euro for legal reasons .
today , Europe faces further pivotal decisions .
( PT ) Madam President , four years before the deadline for achieving the Millennium Development Goals , tuberculosis ends 2 million lives every year .
EU parties already cost the taxpayers over EUR 10 million in the 2007 EU budget , and it looks as though the political foundations will get as much again in financial contributions .
being rather persistent , I want to repeat that there are opportunities here for the EU to make specific investments to help people in developing countries , in Africa , Asia and Latin America .
for years , there has been talk about the need to prepare the car industry for the 21st century , which ultimately did not happen .
I was pleased to hear the Commissioner 's response .
we would like to see a major reduction in fishing vessels , and fishing quotas which are set on the basis of biologically safe and scientific grounds .
I also hope that entrepreneurship , particularly as it concerns SMEs , will not just be the subject of our debates during the crisis .
let us remember that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link .
consequently , the Commission should allocate larger sums through the Fund for Rural Development to environmental protection projects in the European agricultural sector , with a clear aim of financing wilderness conservation activities .
in writing . - In favour .
I support the final compromise and congratulate Mr Lamassoure .
this is a mistake and I want to be very clear on this .
the current common agricultural policy ( CAP ) provides assistance to a delocalised and speculative industrial system of production , which benefits large agricultural operations and not small producers .
in this regard , should such a similar incident - or just a grave deterioration - occur , the Council could take similar measures or even consider a suspension , and the Commission would certainly consider all available options , including suspension .
we should do so most emphatically .
we must treat them all equally .
accordingly , alternative means should be introduced to enable the Central Bank to become independent .
Parliament has always opposed the hierarchy of grounds for discrimination that has arisen .
the Commission 's reports on the ENP not only depict the real benefits of the policy of good neighbourliness , but also its challenges .
it is now time , however , to move from declarations to actions , coinciding with the VI International Congress on Victims of Terrorism , due to be held in Salamanca on 11th , 12th and 13th of this month .
modesty in that you are absolutely not presumptuous in the role of President of the European Council , and ambition in that you say your role mainly consists in developing a long-term strategy and rolling that out over the coming years .
I am talking here about greater and easier availability of information ; of course , this does not mean that groups would no longer be able to hold meetings behind closed doors .
I also support the ' polluter pays ' principle .
in its conclusions , the Council encourages the Commission to continue its impact assessment with a view to preparing , if appropriate , an EU legislative proposal on biodegradable waste by 2010 .
the next item is the vote .
in writing . - ( NL ) This proposal is an attempt to take earlier decisions seriously through better controls , better information , secured parking places on motorways and the abolition from 23 March 2009 of exemptions for self-employed workers .
I understand the call for an EU logo but , unless it means something to consumers and adds value for farmers , in my view , it is a pointless exercise .
it will thus also help to create more and better jobs .
as Members will know , falsified medicines are different from counterfeit products .
nevertheless , this report emphasises that the region includes one of the Union 's most vulnerable external borders in terms of illegal immigration .
what is your proposal ?
it needs our support and I believe that the information and technical facilities which it has not only help shipping and maritime transport in the Union , but can also help in the other sectors referred to a moment ago , especially as regards , for example , information which can also be evaluated and used by Frontex .
I would point out that paragraph 22 relates to global governance and , in particular , to the composition of the G20 , which , unusually , does not include in its ranks any representatives from the least developed countries .
I think that this is a discussion that we need to have .
Madam President , this goes to the core of this whole European Union .
ultimately , then , we are also dealing with the Kimberley Process itself .
this report will thus allow initiatives to be proposed that will guarantee a European approach to the rules protecting minors when they cross external borders of the Member States .
irrespective of how colleagues judge this issue , if we want to be good advisers , we must give FYROM friendly , flexible advice .
last but not least , the European Union must invest in research and in the sustainable development of European industry .
Europe 's historical responsibility and opportunity also means assuming a pioneering role in this third industrial revolution .
our package should be the proof of our leadership in the battle against global warming .
if this statement is true , then it is likely that revenue and employment indicators for sport will be similar in the statistics for individual Member States .
it is an EU that values democracy in its participatory aspects , not reducing it to the formal representational sphere .
I call on you , in this trilogue , to finally live up to a promise you make in this debate about innovation in the motor industry .
I would like to ask Commissioner Dimas : do you agree with Rajendra Pachauri that we should eat less meat ?
responsibility cannot be delegated to industry ; responsibility for clear legislation lies with us !
first of all , we need to cut off supply .
as Mrs Pack and many others have said , however , both countries - Greece and Macedonia - have to make a move : and this within the next few days .
but we also know that direct activities on human rights in Burma are hardly possible .
however , I can nevertheless confirm publicly , here and now , that implementation of the Lisbon Treaty would not impose on any Member State any requirements with regard to issues such as abortion , euthanasia and same-sex marriages .
for the sake of transparency , they should disclose certain information , but having said that we need to keep a sharp eye on costs and confidentiality .
Member of the Commission . - Dear members of the Parliament , according to the Treaty the competence for addressing these issues lies with the Member States .
we believe that discussions must also focus on Russia 's obligations , and include wider international disarmament efforts , as explicitly recommended in the successful Socialist Group amendment to the European Security and Defence Policy report , also voted today .
because we believe that these important Fisheries Committee proposals must be reflected in the resolution to be approved tomorrow in the plenary , we are re-tabling a set of eight amendments for which we seek your support .
in writing . - A well-functioning single market would also mean safe products and consumer confidence .
the main task of the EIB as a public institution in developing countries should not only be to invest in heavy infrastructure ; another and equally important task is providing capital in times of scarcity , supporting markets where private banks are reluctant .
to force the EU member countries to choose the less attractive option for the sake of a false solidarity , which is not respected by many EU member countries with regard to other , much important matters - like energy for instance - is at least morally wrong , all the more so since half of European citizens are already exempted from visa requirements through earlier bilateral negotations with the US .
her presence and her ambition must embody that of the Union , the world 's biggest economy in terms of GDP , the world 's biggest market , the biggest contributor to international aid .
while it is true that the debt burden is often too high , through restrictive economic policies , we will sooner find that there is no return to growth and that the actual debt burden has increased further .
the institutional decision to set up a Council group to focus on humanitarian policy is of course down to the Member States , but I agree entirely with Mr Cornillet that it is vital to establish an appropriate body to tackle systematically humanitarian issues on an equal footing with the Union 's other external policies .
as a founder member of SMUG , Sexual Minorities Uganda , he was condemned by a magazine called Rolling Stone , and won his case against them .
European Code of Conduct on Arms Exports ( vote )
its position is quite the contrary , in fact .
( EL ) Madam President , Minister , I should like to reiterate once again my appreciation of your honest efforts to answer our questions , but may I say that , from what you have said , you are obviously aware of this incident .
Mr Lukashenko plays in his own narrow field , ignoring the fact that moderate-sized countries cannot behave like that since supranational capital will not allow it .
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for all these reasons , we have cause to be satisfied .
there has been nothing of this kind available in the past .
it is also pleasing that citizens of the new Member States are making use of the possibility to lodge a complaint , which is testified by the relatively high number of complaints recorded in previous years .
the reason for imposing political and diplomatic sanctions against Cuba has still not gone away , since 55 of the original 75 dissidents still remain in prison .
the work that was carried out in the Committee on Legal Affairs and the committees issuing opinions that collaborated with it , with the agreement of the Council , under the expert management of the rapporteur , Mrs Rühle , was highly positive .
what about the use of other antimicrobials ?
moreover , we call for the European Parliament to be kept duly informed and receive all available information at every stage and at the end of the process .
what steps will Frontex take to facilitate the development of the agreements concluded by Member States such as Spain ?
the problem is that these subsidiaries are separate legal entities .
the right to report cases of maladministration to the Ombudsman , exercised by 3 406 European citizens in 2008 , demonstrates an increasing level of dissatisfaction , given that in 2007 , the figure was 3 211 .
we would ask you to agree to our request to remember this very committed journalist and pioneering fighter for freedom and human rights in Chechnya by observing a minute 's silence .
an assessment of the agreement shows that it is relevant in that it helps to maintain the presence of EU fleets in the region while contributing to local job creation .
now they have collapsed .
however , serious problems , in the resolution of which there has been no progress , still remain .
as in all other areas , when it comes to toys , we abide by the principle that the manufacturer must take full responsibility for a product being in compliance with the law in force .
it is particularly important that any rejection of a visa application must be justified in future , and that all applicants will have the right to appeal against the rejection of their application .
the case-law of the European Court of Justice is only a stopgap measure because we do not have a directive on the transfer of company seats ; but , in the form currently envisaged , this European private company would basically reinforce this disintegration - enshrining it in Community law once and for all .
that is purely and simply what we are doing here .
this is where the Commission 's work programme for 2009 comes in .
it is thanks to direct universal suffrage that we can rightfully speak on behalf of all Europeans .
this abuse of the right to asylum , contrary to the Geneva Convention , is not mentioned at any point in the report , and with good reason : it is convenient to make the ' white man ' feel guilty by reminding him that he was a terrible colonialist and that he now needs to pay for that in every sense of the word .
the prime reason for all this may be that , while prices of other foods have risen , meat prices have not so far followed suit , with the result that consumers are meeting their protein requirements by consuming meat rather than increasingly expensive dairy products .
it would also be extremely useful if the Commission experts tasked with dealing with this issue also include experts of Roma origin .
later , though , this Directive came to be regarded as very helpful , practical and effective .
this is certainly not the philosophy that we supported when we supported the implementation of the Globalisation Adjustment Fund .
however , bearing in mind the urgency of the situation , we must implement this strategy .
Article 10 of the Treaty of Lisbon states that ' Every citizen shall have the right to participate in the democratic life of the Union .
28 % of female researchers in industry and only 34 % of women in industry have more than one child .
it comes from the United Nations Human Rights Council , whose members include countries such as Iran , Nicaragua , Somalia and Libya .
my last point is that I believe we have to revisit the problem issue of our identity , our cultural and geopolitical identity , in order to know exactly what the limits of our enlargement are .
this reluctance certainly sets limits on our ambitions , as we need unanimity in the Council .
we would stand accused of political instrumentalisation , and we would be undermining the trust of citizens in our own institution .
in Paris , some young Tunisians who had an Italian residency permit heard the French police say to them : ' this is what we are going to do with your permits ' , before tearing them up in front of them .
this is a direct result of our traditions and European legal order .
partial decommissioning aid would be granted to operators who replace larger old vessels with smaller , more energy-efficient ones .
mutual evaluation process of the Services Directive (
Russia plays a leading role on the international stage .
this explains our position in favour of a consolidated tax base for taxation on companies and the automatic exchange of data between Member States , which has already been discussed .
fundamental rights are the issue that has been at stake : there is no doubt about that .
burning off tropical forests to produce biofuels also tilts the climate balance in the wrong direction .
it will advocate economic governance as a goal for the growth of all 27 Member States of the European Union and better coordination between them , with greater economic and monetary union .
a century and a half ago New Zealand had 1 million head of sheep ; today it has 40 million .
therefore , I urge everyone to support this particular paragraph in the report and to support the report in general .
it is time to stop arguing about recent differences and to concentrate on the EU 's proactive engagement there .
in writing . - ( IT ) The strategic attempt to revive European competitiveness , proposed in the Lisbon strategy and reiterated recently at the Competitiveness Council of November 2007 , has led the EU to intensify its efforts to enhance European potential for innovation and growth in the face of world competition .
it leads to the traffic moving from the railways to the roads rather than , as your fine grandiose speeches often indicate , from the roads to the railways .
this is why I have proposed that the regions located at the EU border , which have borders with at least two non-EU states , should be regarded as ' platform ' regions and supported accordingly .
are we also going to agree to that ?
I am optimistic , however , that this fact will not get in the way of implementing key objectives for the year .
along with your fellow Members I was able to applaud your good speech , Mr Cashman , because it contains the starting point for what is required now : to open up , to create access .
Madam President , as regards the world financial crisis and the Commission legislative work programme , in a sense , the latter should be our response to the former .
in particular , it will not change the fact that this policy is based on national competence , which the Member States retain in the domain of national security and defence .
the biggest economic benefit would be achieved by having to include external costs as award criteria in all procurement decisions .
I believe that the European Union can play a catalytic role in the democratisation of Turkey by demanding full application of the European acquis without derogations , without self-seeking calculations and without applying a policy of double standards .
we have also participated in the negotiations on the common European asylum system .
if Member States are simply given an additional power to prosecute exporters on a cross-border basis , the Member States will have little incentive to bring an improvement to administrative cooperation .
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he is also threatening moderate Islam in the West and spreading negative stereotypes about it .
we should also support the German pilots ' union , Cockpit , which has behaved more responsibly than the management of the airlines by refusing to fly under visual flight rules in European airspace , because it believes that this would be irresponsible .
I have the impression , even though only three Member States do not have an embassy in New Delhi and that only seven do not maintain a consulate in Mumbai , that it was still very difficult - and I will express this very carefully - for affected European citizens to obtain adequate protection .
I have one more question : under what legal provision has the European Union sent the EULEX mission to Kosovo ?
furthermore , the Sepa Direct Debit will only be launched later this year .
I welcome the fact that we are now committed to a target of a 20 % share of renewable energy in the EU overall energy mix .
I share the rapporteur 's view that the Commission should draw up a detailed report relating to such problems as the additional costs borne by farmers in respect of observance of Community norms in the sphere of environmental protection , animal welfare and food security .
it has repeatedly voted against the integration of the FYROM and other countries into the EU for the same reasons that it is opposed to the integration of Greece .
( PL ) Madam President , President-in-Office , it is paradoxical that this multiple crisis that has afflicted the world , including Europe , can also be a great ally , as those who have got used to telling everyone how to run their business bear the brunt of the responsibility for this crisis .
I would , however , make the point that no policy instrument is effective simply because it carries the label ' market-based ' .
it undermines borders between states .
in writing . - ( LT ) I welcomed this document , because the aim of the directive is to achieve a high level of consumer protection and contribute to the proper functioning of the internal market by approximating certain aspects of the laws , regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning contracts between consumers and traders .
the coalition government in the United Kingdom has promised a referendum in the event of any further transfer of power to the European Union .
the protocol regulating the fishing partnership between the EU and São Tomé and Príncipe expired on 31 May 2010 ; a new agreement was signed on 13 May and the request for consent was submitted to the European Parliament by the Council on the same day .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , I believe we must see this through so that consumers and banks know what will and will not apply to them in future .
that will not work .
we agreed that this indicator would initially measure linguistic competence in the five most widespread languages in the EU 's educational systems : English , French , German , Italian and Spanish .
all of us come into daily contact with his work , since the Committee on Petitions is the body which Parliament has made responsible for relations with the Ombudsman .
the Commission is assisted by the Member States during the process of revising the lists . putting a third country on either the positive list or the negative list is their responsibility .
this is a question of providing support for enterprises in the machinery and equipment manufacturing sector in the mid-level region of Nordjylland .
restitution , that is , the return of confiscated property and the protection of private property , is one element of this .
as the author is not present , Question No 9 lapses .
given that , over time , all kinds of deposits are going to run out , I believe that we need to invest in scientific projects capable of discovering alternative sources of energy , thereby also guaranteeing the development of future generations .
everything and more has been chucked into one big melting pot and our citizens are expected to digest this gunge .
the current emergency requires the adoption of a common asylum system , with shared responsibilities including a temporary protection mechanism and much more resettlement on offer .
in addition to the need for new funding , better coordination is also required between the European Union , Member States and regions on research , development and innovation ( RDI ) .
the next item is the report by Mr Guerreiro , on behalf of the Committee on Fisheries , on the proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation ( EC ) No 639 / 2004 on the management of fishing fleets registered in the Community 's outermost regions - C6-0298 / 2008 -
our concern does not , of course , relate only to the European Community , but also to the whole world .
( SK ) In my speech I would like to applaud the Commission 's initiative relating to the European Citizens Consultation 2009 project .
the President of the Commission will correct me , if necessary .
the fact that those very Member States want to block European agreements by referring to international IMO regulations who have not yet transposed these into national law themselves is sheer lunacy .
a politically integrated Europe including Turkey as a member is not possible .
this is all the more striking if we recall the results of the presidential elections which gave Yanukovych a small majority and demonstrated that he had strong support in the south and east of the country only .
I think that certainly includes the issue of language tests , which are not an obstacle but must be a protective measure for patients .
even with the amendments that have been included in it , its adoption and the very high costs that it could involve would have grave consequences for some countries , not least Portugal and its National Health Service .
the report also proposes the development of tools to strengthen partnership and new governance .
what can the international community do when the foreign minister in Sudan refuses to provide such help and also declares that the Court has no right to judge any Sudanese citizen and that the Sudanese government will not allow any Sudanese citizen to be tried and sentenced outside of its national courts ?
I have duly noted the EP 's request to the Commission and Council to adopt a framework decision on minimum standards for the protection of the rights of prisoners and to create a European prison charter .
after the European Council , I am happy to say that we had a very good , substantive debate in which the European Council not only confirmed that it remained fully committed to the targets it had set for energy and climate change , but also backed them up with agreement on precise deadlines .
we fund a large number of projects linked not only to official languages but to numerous regional and minority languages as well .
Madam President , supporters of the common fisheries policy often point out that fish do not recognise national borders .
we must take immediate , concerted action to support the victims .
( PL ) Mr President , I would like to give an explanation of vote on the question of combating tobacco smoking , if possible . a very short statement .
documents received : see Minutes
in the proposed resolution we are concentrating chiefly on product safety , the product being a toy .
in the meantime , I have been informed that an opt-out is evidently included in the directive to simplify the transfer of defence-related products within the EU , so evidently the desire is to have loopholes in the legally binding nature of arms exports .
IAs can thus make a significant contribution to better law making .
trade policy cannot be immune to this goal .
let me say it quite clearly : no UNHCR , no agreement .
we could stay here for hours , as the subject is certainly worthy of a great deal of discussion and the thoughts they have shared have been fascinating .
the Commission has actually implemented a considerable number of reforms - it has been shown that 37 very specific points will now be implemented .
drawing on the experience we gained during the years of the INTERREG Programmes we can conclude that the absence of an initiative-taking structure with its own legal personality has hindered its effectiveness , and we welcome the Commission proposal to establish European groupings of territorial cooperation as instruments with their own legal personality .
who are the people who are outside the box , and how can we catch them and put them out of business ?
therefore , it is vital that we support farmers in the production of sufficient safe food of the very highest quality .
we also call for recognition of the authorities of the Union of Poles in Belarus and its Chairwoman , Angelika Borys , who were elected on 15 March 2009 .
the GDP yardstick does not work as well in this particular area because it is too narrow .
as such , the stands being taken at this time in connection with the creation of European institutions and structures to address such problems , such as , for example , a European monetary fund , are very important .
it is also essential to be able to continue to work effectively to support the Member States and the allies to develop critical military capabilities , building on the successful work we have launched already .
they are linked to economic and social conditions and can be exacerbated because of gender or culture .
they are doing that .
the subject of safety tests for nuclear power stations will play a central role in our discussions with our partners in Russia over the next few weeks .
however , to receive my support , Morocco must first respect human rights and stop oppressing the people of Western Sahara .
I hope that we can hold that course , as these rules will harmonise the environmental requirements for industrial installations across the EU .
the Copenhagen conference on climate change did not produce a solution and did not manage to agree any final resolutions or decisions concerning the scope and scale of restrictions on emissions or the financial means which will be used for this purpose . however , I do not think it was a defeat , although it certainly did not meet the EU 's expectations .
in the end , this own-initiative report will do nothing to change the real situation .
Madam President , as one of the co-authors of the motion for a resolution of the European Parliament on the commemoration of the Holodor , theartificial famine of 1932-1933 in Ukraine , allow me , as a member of the PPE-DE Group , to begin by expressing my thanks to all of my parliamentary colleagues who voted in favour of the motion for a resolution .
Mr President , Mrs Malmström , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , we are approaching the time when the Treaty of Lisbon will finally be ratified and we are now beginning to consider how the treaty should be implemented .
it should be noted that when the transport sector grows , carbon dioxide emissions also rise rapidly .
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the European Union must also consider in which direction it needs to move in order to meet the new challenges and enhance competitiveness , and whether it will be able to harmonise the interests of Member States more successfully and thereby strengthen internal cohesion .
I therefore support the European Youth Guarantee initiative proposed by the rapporteur , according to which all young people in the EU would be offered a job , an apprenticeship or additional training following a period of six months ' unemployment .
I voted in favour of this report , which represents an important contribution to the European added value of cross-financing between the European Regional Development Fund ( ERDF ) and the European Social Fund ( ESF ) in terms of increased flexibility for social inclusion projects and integrated urban development programmes .
there are still other relevant issues between the EU and Canada , such as Union aid , in particular to Haiti , questions relating to fisheries , and environmental concerns .
that is why we say it is important to defend the social clause in all these processes .
I would like to wish him every success in performing the duties which are entrusted to him .
but any legislation is only as good as its enforcement .
Mr President , Commissioner , Mr Savary , ladies and gentlemen , we are here in a parliamentary assembly that is made for voting on texts , Commissioner , and we are above all in a parliamentary assembly so that texts are implemented .
with regard to MEPs ' concerns that the issue is sensitive and should be seen in the context of national needs and national legislation , the Commission would like to underline that the Romanian law on international adoptions is the sole responsibility of the Romanian Government .
European consumers shun genetically modified food , and plant-derived genetically modified food that has to be labelled is hardly found in the shops at all .
it is part of a long-hours culture , where you express your commitment to your work by being present , not necessarily by being productive .
regarding prior authorisation for hospital care , the proposed provisions are based on two kinds of consideration .
in recent times , 173 individuals have been arrested on suspicion of killing or injuring albinos . this indicates the scale of the problem .
enlargement is one of the great successes of the modern European Union .
moreover , I 'm afraid that the credibility of the whole euro area may suffer if the IMF is to intervene , not to mention the fact that apparently the Greek government has stepped back on IMF intervention since the IMF conditions could lead to social and political unrest in the country .
in spite of already overburdening employment legislation , usually drafted by people with little or no business experience , pay differentials continue for one simple reason : employment is about demand and supply ; it is about lifestyle choices ; it is often based on priorities , early retirement goals , a desire to live in certain parts of a country or town , pressure of hobbies or sport , or one of those offspring .
( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , all the speakers have rightly emphasised the terrible situation in which the Congolese people , and especially Congolese women , are living in the east of that country .
in some public debate , rights-based management is equated with the employment of individual transferable quotas .
to conclude , it is evident that the protection of human rights and the international conventions must be respected in every phase of foreign policy security and defence operations , from planning to the implementation phase , and this must be achieved , especially , by continuous training for the teams in this sphere .
I would like to congratulate you on that because it shows that you have done very important work .
on this matter my group is divided and it will probably vote two ways .
I should like to state that I endorse the positions taken by Mr Milana earlier and to say that we need to bear in mind that including bluefin tuna in Appendix I will have numerous social and economic consequences , such as bankruptcies and the closure of numerous undertakings , especially small and medium-sized enterprises , job losses and a loss of competitiveness for Europe .
on trade more generally , the summit should send a clear signal that the EU and Canada reject protectionism , recalling our commitment to reaching an ambitious , comprehensive and balanced conclusion of the Doha Development Round .
finally , during the autumn we will publish a report on the measures , especially those relating to trafficking , taken by the Union to combat child labour .
furthermore , in the context of an ageing rural population , I believe it is very important to guarantee access to land and credit for young farmers and to maintain reasonable food prices and a sufficient income for farmers .
decisions concerning certain documents : see Minutes
that date - 35 years after the Helsinki Final Act , 20 years after the Charter of Paris , and 11 years after the Istanbul summit - and the chosen location of Kazakhstan testify to the importance of the event .
in the future , the CAP should to a greater degree respond to social needs , such as job creation and the position of women and young people in agriculture .
they are systemic victims of the extremists .
we express our solidarity with the peaceful Muslims in the Arab world .
however , austerity - especially mindless austerity - and single-minded expenditure cuts are not inevitable .
( PL ) Madam President , every debate on the discharge takes place in a certain context .
to do this , we need increased monitoring of the existing law .
it is a country which is a driving force of world growth .
I have received support from everybody , from all the members of the group , including the European Union - there is no doubt about that - but also the other members of the Security Council who are not members of the European Union .
to give a bit of background to the report , the guidelines give direction to the development of the Trans-European transport network .
personally , I find that this measure is harmful to the priorities of Parliament and is against the spirit of the Treaty of Lisbon .
all of these air agreements are beneficial and necessary for the European Union , our airlines and our citizens .
now , the overriding issue is for the Council and the Member States to assume their responsibility to make sure that these rules are properly enforced .
the Commission shares the view that these measures have to take account of the need to protect the most vulnerable members of society .
I therefore welcome the forward-looking tone of the report and look forward to discussing its content tonight and in the future as well .
I would like to ask you to welcome our friends from Poland .
we must therefore fight to prevent such acts using all available means .
we have heard a great deal here today , but I would like to draw your attention to a few aspects in particular .
I am saying this because , in my view , these changes became possible precisely because the West initiated a policy of cooperation with the Soviet Union .
we consider it necessary , in fact , to conduct a determined fight against tax havens in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals , but in no way limit the further measures taken , in particular , by paying attention to tax treaties .
lastly , at present , we are worried about the real budgetary threats .
this is a complex and extremely sensitive matter but , generally speaking , it is regulated under the European Directives and the Commission can judge whether or not individual Member States are implementing the legislation correctly or breaching the principle of non-discrimination .
health claims should only be authorised for use in the Community after a scientific assessment of the highest possible standard , and nutrition and health claims must not be misleading .
the Commission is aiming above all to promote job creation and development in Europe ; to make the EU come to grips with the problem of climate change ; to bring about a common policy on migration ; to give pride of place to EU citizens ; and to ensure that the EU acts as a force for good all over the world .
I met the Belarusian Ambassador in London , who reassured me that this time it would all be different , that it would be up to international standards , and that the OSCE would be able to say that it was fair and free .
disparities in taxation produce distortions that , without exception , run counter to the competitiveness of European companies .
last week , the Fundamental Rights Agency said that many Member States were failing to properly enforce race discrimination legislation , so I hope that toughness goes on because we really need it .
the rapporteur has called for a ban on trade in eggs which do not comply with the legislation .
most are prevented from receiving visits from their family .
it is still possible for Member States to have additional requirements , but these should be covered by the single fee proposed for the new electronic platform .
Mr President , reference was made to me earlier by Mr Matsakis and I wanted to respond to it .
I want to see a globalisation that is open , free-trading and flexible , but which is also reforming , inclusive and sustainable .
I would emphasise the need for an EU-level approach to prevent and detect attacks and / or accidents because the threat of CBRN attacks is ' global ' , and the focus given to the need to strengthen CBRN security if we are to prevent terrorist attacks .
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please address the House and explain .
we have been telling them that European space policy can be better accomplished at EU level , and we have been telling them that energy research and the fight against climate change can be better accomplished in the European Union than it could be at Member State level .
non-democratic regimes remain in perpetual fear , which is why they persecute journalists , imprison and torture them , and even kill them .
the decision concerning the so-called transparency register is not ambitious enough .
to get to that point , we had to be persuasive , and we had to find areas for compromise .
we need to prepare new instruments capable of curbing speculation and restoring the role of the financial sector .
Commissioner , you said that these efforts should continue , and I believe that Parliament which , in a financial crisis , has complied with and , sometimes , anticipated what the Commission proposed , will live up to its responsibility .
welcome !
( CS ) It is true that the lack of a functioning competitive environment in the telecommunications sector makes the adoption of a new regulatory framework a desirable , even a necessary , step .
( EL ) Mr President , the EU 's budget is the main way to achieve political priorities .
this must therefore be done in dialogue with the Commission and with the Council .
there are still many obstacles to public procurement and trade services , due to legitimate national regulation , and the report proposes removing such obstacles by making efforts to understand the methods of mutual adjustment systems .
we do not know whether or not , under Article 287 of the treaty , we have a positive opinion on the underlying transactions .
I was delighted , Commissioner , with your statement that advances will probably start to be paid at the beginning of May and I therefore assume that these amendments will be published in the Official Journal within a reasonable period of time of two , three or four weeks from tomorrow , so that they can be applied as you said .
the geopolitical dimension of energy security has been so far neglected and it is high time to fill the gap .
Madam Minister , you said that we want to show the world that we can tackle climate change , that we do not just talk the talk at European summits , but that we walk the walk in legislation in the European Union .
because one thing is for sure - and the Chinese should take note of this - Ai Weiwei will be remembered and renowned long after those who were responsible for his arrest are forgotten .
we really have to take action about that .
no one is talking about a new EU competence here , only a better application of a competence .
in writing . - ( NL ) Soil protection is very necessary in order to prevent the destruction of natural soil systems , erosion , contamination and desiccation .
in my view , the social status of posted third-country nationals is , and was , adequately described in that directive .
we have a responsibility to adopt a resolution , at least so that we may know this House 's position on the case of Aminatou Haidar .
this approach , which looks at the specific nature and purpose of each area where the western stock of Atlantic horse mackerel lives , is the only one that can truly protect all the aims of the CFP .
I believe that experience shows us that open economies are the economies which grow the most and that increased competition always translates into benefits for consumers in the quality and price of goods and services competing on or appearing in the market .
finally , I would like to refer to the commitment we recently assumed in relation to the Black Sea and countries in that region .
I should therefore like to invite the representatives of this House to attend the commemoration , which will be held on 21 and 22 November .
Europe must think strategically about this important area , in the same way as Washington , Beijing and Moscow do .
recent developments have shown that , even in those cases where in the last couple of years governments started to show more openness on how public money and resources were spent , they have gone back to a less transparent administration .
the Commission would have us approve a new agreement with Morocco .
can we obtain an assessment of this ?
in order to be competitive in world markets , we have to be innovative , but the redistribution of the main part of our budgetary resources exclusively to that end will de facto discriminate against many countries in Central and Eastern Europe , including Poland .
its action programme has successfully combined political determination , pragmatism and tactful diplomacy , which are absolutely essential to be able to overcome the crises which have occurred .
this report helps to draw attention to the factors which are crucial in meeting the requirements of the future of research in Europe , in particular , in the context of the objectives assigned by the Europe 2020 strategy .
this Treaty improves the decision-making process , specifically by extending qualified-majority voting to the area of freedom , security and justice ;
mobilisation of Globalisation Adjustment Fund : at / Steiermark and Niederösterreich from Austria (
it is clear that the General Product Safety Directive ( GPSD ) , which was approved more than 10 years ago , now needs to be reviewed .
16 .
the most important issue is the reliability and completeness of statistical data at the level of the European Union , of the Member States , and also , and this I would like to emphasise , of the regions .
lastly , I support the mechanism implemented , which protects the interests and health of European consumers .
a further project is the planned Green Paper on Agricultural Product Quality .
it had a difficult birth , but was then approved and applied and , while it has had some success in recent years , there have been practical gaps and inadequacies .
it calls for a stimulating entrepreneurial climate , which the Lisbon Strategy can help provide if it is implemented very deliberately .
the appropriate course of action , therefore , would be to put a complete stop to the outsourcing of risk management to private , profit-oriented actors and to create a European public rating agency to give an independent opinion on the quality of the various securities .
a hand of cooperation extended by Europe to Moldova and a greater rapprochement between Chişinău and Brussels will instil greater confidence in the investors in this country .
it is worth pointing out that the Commission 's role is to ensure solidarity between Member States and to respect the various interests that exist , not to be divisive by playing consumers against workers , or importers against producers .
problems and prospects concerning European citizenship ( short presentation )
this is a very serious situation for those countries in crisis , but it is just as serious for Germany , Austria and Finland , because taxpayers in these countries have suffered budget cuts and been through serious crises .
that is why I and many others will welcome this vote today on patients ' rights in cross-border healthcare .
Parliament has respected the authorised procedures in all their forms : respect for the Financial Perspective , the call for flexibility under the EUR 530 million ceiling and the call for an emergency aid reserve that features in the financial perspective .
I would like to make two comments by way of conclusion .
at the informal January session the Council debated asylum issues and practical cooperation among the Member States .
Madam President , I think when we introduced decoupling , few of us realised the implications of making cross compliance part of the package which farmers now need to comply with .
the EU cannot treat governments that have been part of a coup d 'état in the same way as elected governments .
I would therefore like to take the opportunity of asking the Commission whether you can clarify this once and for all .
the first is the Risk-Sharing Finance Facility , which still has some money in it .
( EL ) Madam President , the Black Sea is very important to the energy security of Europe .
I will have the opportunity of meeting the Turkish negotiator tomorrow in Prague .
it is inconceivable that the possibility of acknowledging polygamous marriage was mentioned , even only in passing , in a European Union document , particularly a document voted on by the European Parliament .
Mr Saryusz-Wolski has produced a sound report , and it is one that we will support .
against this background , I think that aid will need to be channelled more towards covering the social and environmental impact .
I am pleased to announce that the Commission plans to launch an EU platform for action on cancer next year to help Member States exchange knowledge and good practice in the prevention and treatment of cancer .
I say this even though I know that the retail market is and will remain more of a local business than a global business .
these are then illegally transported across the border to China .
they are exposed to all manner of hardship and acts of violence , with women and children usually suffering the most .
therefore , when implementing the budget for the coming year , special attention should be paid to the simplification of those rules and regulations , the improvement of the mechanism for recovering incorrectly paid funds and the introduction of more effective systems for supervision and control .
in so doing , they must strive for consistency with other Community provisions .
it was very important to actually talk to people about such organisations .
the package is also an example of solidarity within the European Union .
it was more than simply a meeting between the Finance Ministers of interested countries . on behalf of the European Parliament , I hereby undertake that we will draw conclusions from this experience for future meetings of this nature in 2008 .
it was excessively long and duplicative , but it deals with an important subject .
these were girls from the so-called Polish Service organisation . we saw them shouldering pickaxes and spades and marching joyfully off to work .
anyway , the last thing the EU should be doing is scoring points against other regions in trade wars at a time of global hunger and financial crisis .
however , I am also certain that , without the rocket attacks on Israel , there would have been no military response .
we urge European economic operators and citizens to save energy while , for the past three days , but this is also true at every plenary sitting , we can see , if the cameras show it , the waste of energy in lighting a chamber the size of a stadium where no more than 40 people are present except at voting time .
( PL ) Madam President , the activities of the European Ombudsman give EU citizens the feeling that they have some protection against inappropriate actions taken by EU institutions .
well , we certainly know it : there is nothing right now .
it has hitherto always been stated that the process of negotiation with Turkey would take place in parallel with the progress of Turkish reforms .
the Polish contractor was prosecuted ; they responded by taking the case to court , and the ECJ recently voted in favour of the Polish subcontractor .
this is not the first time that a Member State has impeded European citizens ' rights and freedoms regarding sexual orientation under the pretext of non-interference , thus , in effect , encouraging discrimination .
we can see that action is being taken and that things are being done at our request - such as the intervention in the voluntary pension fund - that were absolutely necessary in order to avert the immediate insolvency of this fund in 2009 .
moreover , I object to the reversal of the burden of proof , applauded in this report ( paragraph 20 ) , which does not befit any country under the rule of law , while total omnipotence is granted to organisations that are asked to carry out this directive ( paragraph 19 ) .
( LT ) Mr President , since the beginning of the term of office , I have been analysing the results of the work of the EU agencies on behalf of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe .
eighty million Europeans are insufficiently qualified and have increasingly fewer opportunities in the labour market .
we must demand that the events be investigated in full by a genuine international commission of inquiry , and that the crimes that have been committed do not go unpunished .
Turkey 's accession would prove that constructive , conciliatory , innovative and creative dialogue is possible between East and West .
since then , the de facto government has adopted repressive measures against the grassroots movement that has been demonstrating in the streets and has introduced a regime of media blackout , restriction of freedoms , persecution , illegal detentions , disappearances and even murders of members of the organised resistance to the coup .
failure in Copenhagen would be an environmental , political and moral disaster !
on the eve of the 40th anniversary of the Customs Union , I am asking for your political support for the Commission 's initiative for a strategy on the evolution of the Customs Union .
the same applies to cooperation with authorities in third countries .
compliance with rules for driving , working time and rest periods are basic requirements for ensuring road safety and the health and safety of drivers and passengers .
at the same time , we have to respect the right of any democracy , as long as it respects human rights and the non-discrimination principle , to discuss , modify and adopt national laws , without interfering in the debates of national parliaments , without infringing the principle of subsidiarity and without acting or condemning a Member State prematurely .
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the adoption of drastic measures to stop practices that are in truth social or environmental dumping , but which would also lead to the destruction of an economic sector in a third country and would therefore cause even greater misery for an extremely vulnerable part of the population is not in line with what we defend .
the implementation of the Nabucco project , the construction of liquefied gas terminals in European ports , investments in safer nuclear power stations , boosting energy efficiency and increasing the use of renewable energy must feature among the joint priority actions aimed at increasing the EU 's energy security .
today we are dealing with two new measures : the change in the management of the quotas and the measure on Article 186 , measures which we agree to process urgently , as you have requested .
on this subject , it should be said that all the European Union institutions are working towards this .
in writing . - ( PL ) I am sorry it has not proved possible to find a new and permanent solution for the distribution of seats in the European Parliament between the various Member States of the Union .
policy , however , is made up of decisions and choices , and these remain fully in the hands of politicians .
without their assistance and contribution , I could not have achieved a satisfactory compromise with the Council .
however , perhaps I will have the chance to take the floor under the catch-the-eye procedure and I would like to thank you in advance for this .
my special thanks go to Mrs Creţu who drafted the opinion on behalf of the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality .
the second objective relates to CO2 emissions .
environmental protection and the introduction of environmentally friendly technologies are now global issues that affect the whole of society .
I hope that my fellow Members will tomorrow lend their support in large numbers to an amendment that I have tabled along with a number of other Members .
on the other hand , I see no reason to force this on all Member States .
like a Tibetan prayer wheel , the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament has been trying very hard for years to make hedge funds , private equity funds and all of the other financial vehicles subject to European regulation .
no less alarming is the fact that the selection and training of recruits for the Afghan police force does not even meet the minimum standards : 90 % of the police force is made up of illiterate citizens ; and one-fifth are drug users .
secondly , the Council underlines the importance of moving forward in close cooperation with the Afghan Government towards a single vision within the international community of how to achieve common objectives , ensuring in particular that the actions carried out are coherent in terms of their military and civil dimensions .
may I say that these are two different issues .
I am convinced that when celebrating the next round anniversary of this European house of democracy , we will again be able to celebrate visible progress in Europe .
at the same time , however , several Members have made the point that technological progress is needed , because the new Members States and poorer Member States in particular perceive the use of solar power , wind power or - in the case of my country , where thermal springs abound - geothermal energy , to be extremely expensive .
as a result , all the items on the summit 's agenda should be , must be and I hope will be agreed by the Heads of State or Government and implemented following the meeting next week .
but I have talked with the latter , and they politely reject this .
this issue must also be visible at the forthcoming summit .
the cooperation between the two regions and its consolidation represents an objective both for the European Union and for the countries of Central Asia and the Black Sea region .
it is a pipeline ; it is oil that passes through it .
we will continue the discussion .
in this context , the recent bilateral agreement between Turkey and Iraq on the fight against terrorism is a welcome step .
it is a little bit too late to note it today .
one thing is clear .
I hope Ministers have used the waiting time constructively .
the aid offered to the countries of the South , to which we owe a climate debt , is not enough .
rapporteur . - ( EL ) Mr President , I am most grateful to my fellow Members for their comments , to the Council for its comments and to Commissioner Vassiliou for her speech .
with today 's vote on the joint motion for a resolution on the 10th anniversary of UN Security Council resolution 1325 ( 2000 ) on women , peace and security , we wish to give a tangible sign of our commitment as MEPs but , above all , as European citizens .
in the context of the free movement of European Union citizens , adjustment to the market requirements involves knowledge of foreign languages .
the reason why it is better than minimum harmonisation , as some of you proposed to discuss even today , is that we think that it is necessary to lower market-entry barriers for financial services providers , and this is one of the main reasons why this proposal for a directive is going ahead .
they are never born out of an attempt to acquire new competences .
bring back President Sarkozy , or somebody like Sarkozy , and let us get the Commission properly led , to give people hope and let us start talking about that recovery .
citizens spoke out against an oppressive regime which has used bullets and killed its youth .
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the second reason is this : the fact that you pushed SWIFT through the Council just hours before the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon demonstrates a clear disregard for the European Parliament and hence a lack of respect for the citizens .
many say that nowadays , the most important comparative advantage of these countries is no longer cheap labour but cheap energy .
( it ) Madam President , a new season of rights is upon us , but these rights could have been more widespread .
I very much trust that the Council will give it the highest priority in the coming months .
I will introduce this proposal again during further discussions on this subject .
it is not a matter of revenge , but justice must be done .
the EIB has also played an important pivotal role in the core programme on competitiveness in Europe under which , via the JASPERS and JEREMIE initiatives , the EIB has promoted instruments to give even more essential support to innovation .
as I have said previously , the European Union will benefit if it remains united even in adversity and if it is able to mobilise resources such as the Solidarity Fund as well as systems and methods to avert the causes and mitigate the consequences of these scourges and to provide a flexible , prompt and suitable response to them .
if you have not seen it with your own eyes you cannot imagine how much the people of Gaza are suffering and how urgent it is to reach a peaceful , definitive solution to the conflict .
it will be good for you ; it will be good for us , the national parliaments and citizens .
it was a technically complex proposal , and the discussion sometimes became quite heated on the question of what exactly was best for the environment .
every year since 2007 , the EU has spent over EUR 6 billion funding research and development on the continent .
this is due to reduced competition .
we have to recognise that ; if we do not , we fail to recognise reality .
the directive will apply to all vehicles purchased by government departments , local authorities and state bodies , with of course the exception of emergency vehicles , rescue and military vehicles .
thank you
I would also like to highlight the contribution made by the Spanish Presidency and by Dr Matesanz , the Director of the Spanish National Transplant Organisation , because Spain is currently the world leader in terms of donations , with 34.4 for every million inhabitants .
the central role given to consumer policy is reflected in a number of portfolios .
I think that we need to distinguish - as practically all the speeches have done - between coal as a primary energy source and the regulation to govern public aid for uncompetitive coal mines , which is a different thing .
this is why it is justified to vary the budgetary incentives according to the level of blame of the Member States .
the development of different aspects of crime prevention is extremely important at EU level , as is supporting the prevention of , and fight against , instances of national and local crime .
what is more , there has been an alarming increase in frequent and systematic violence against women both during and after conflicts .
Mr President , Mrs Vassiliou , Mr Andor , we had great expectations of the agenda for new skills and jobs .
in the end , although this report is nominally about Russia , in reality it concerns us too .
as you know , there is now a network of political foundations covering five political groupings , and it is unfortunately our experience that these groups are effectively locked out of the implementation of our policies and of support for democracy .
not only is the pipeline the source of serious environmental concern , but - even more urgently - it is a project that has been overtaken by time .
a set of recommendations is expected by the end of 2011 .
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also , there are arguments that the existence of a European fire-fighting force would give a false sense of security to many national authorities , which might neglect the necessary investment required in human resources , in fire-fighting resources and , more importantly , in the prevention of fires and other natural disasters .
the only response to this problem must be economic in nature .
I also insist that we need to demand the freedom of all the political prisoners and prisoners of conscience , in Cuba and the rest of the world , but I nevertheless advise against taking action that has already proved to be a failure for Cuba 's progression towards democracy and liberalisation , such as the embargo and the blockade .
the Swedish Presidency is also characterised by the creation of the Stockholm Programme and the decisions taken during the financial crisis , which are truly important , pivotal points in further developments in this endeavour .
besides , women 's salaries are of crucial importance in the family .
optional and temporary application of the reverse charge mechanism in relation to supplies of certain goods and services susceptible to fraud ( amendment of Directive 2006 / 112 / EC ) (
however , the report proposes that networks of independent experts should be set up to assess these sanctions , as Mrs Flautre described in her speech .
in order to combat pain , we cannot refuse science the instruments that it needs , including the use of guinea pigs .
the European Union , as the only continent that has seen its CO2 emissions fall since 1990 , and as the only continent that has made precise , binding and ambitious commitments for the future , cannot assume the burden of the task on its own .
it is therefore important to ensure that this pact delivers real added value and does not take us away from the essential goals of growth and employment .
thousands of civilians - EU citizens - living in these areas are subjected to ...
the report said that innovation is not only a product , process or service , but also a movement .
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showing solidarity with Tibet and the Tibetan people is not anti-Chinese .
( GA ) Mr President , I would also like to thank the Commissioner for her comprehensive answer .
the revolutions will only be able to succeed if these two problems are resolved in tandem .
infrastructure such as new , secure pipelines and additional LNG terminals will remain important .
this is important , because the current crisis conditions expose businesses to an increased risk of restructuring and , under these circumstances , European workers expect us to provide them with additional guarantees , guarantees that will reassure them with regard to their future .
the deployment of EUFOR last year in Congo made it clear how important credible impartiality and independence can be for the success of an operation .
it would show that the EU was willing to ignore major , continual and persistent violations of human rights and of international law .
ladies and gentlemen , without cooperating with the countries of origin , we will not be able to manage the migratory flows effectively .
this does not make him any less of a hero for many Ukrainians , who rightly feel humiliated by the majority of this House .
would it not be more effective for the extra money which we want to give Frontex to be allocated to the countries which have the greatest problem with illegal immigration , and also to EU Member States whose borders are part of the EU 's external borders ?
( SK ) If we actually want to overtake the US , Japan and other world leaders in science and technology and if we want Europe to set the tone , then the necessary preconditions must be created .
tuberculosis comes from poverty and homelessness , and in Member States with lower standards of living this disease is common today .
all measures which separate individual policies , split up funds and divide roles will end in the same failure as the last strategy .
I would urge you all , if you have not read it yet , to read Mrs Badia i Cutchet 's splendid report .
subject : retaining the economically active population in mountain , difficult-to-access and island areas
finally , I would like to remind everyone that in the Union there are Member States that are not in NATO and which have their own reasons for that .
there is something that amazes me about you : today you understand everything about what happened , about what was going on in Tunisia three weeks ago .
we also need to carry out sound impact assessments and - this is extremely important - establish a liability system that acts as a deterrent , so that it is in operators ' economic interests to guarantee safety .
they need to provide a real insight into the actual scope of irregularities and fraud .
I ask that you kindly provide a single example that shows what new contribution this accession will make to the citizens of Europe in terms of protecting their human rights .
the initiatives will only be able to be implemented , however , if they meets certain procedural requirements or requirements on compliance with the European Union 's fundamental values , in order to prevent the instrument from being used for non-democratic purposes .
we must therefore strive to ensure that we create a strong and sustainable CAP that matches the changing nature of the agricultural industry in all Member States .
that concern , Commissioner , has never been greater than when witnessing Commissioner Mandelson 's reckless push for a WTO deal at any price , with scant regard for the future of our indigenous agrifood industry .
what you have done is disgraceful !
Mr President , I should like to make one last quick point about the 200 000 displaced Zimbabweans .
I am pleased that the car manufacturers have finally accepted the fact that you cannot re-regulate a market .
in writing . - I voted in favour of this resolution because ensuring that young citizens can travel and work throughout the EU is essential in order to boost competitiveness .
I worked on this resolution when it was with the working group and Parliament 's Committee on Regional Development .
is the Council aware of the financial impact on the European budget ?
( HU ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , first of all , thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Hungarian delegation of the European People 's Party .
combating deforestation is the best way of reducing CO2 .
Azerbaijan also has made a commitment not to flout human rights and not to impinge on individual freedoms and to safeguard the principles of democracy in its country by participating in the implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Eastern Partnership initiative .
using information provided by infrastructure managers , each Member State would define the rush hour period for the individual country , bearing in mind regional and long-distance freight traffic .
usually gall bladder removal takes 15 to 20 minutes , but in my case it took three hours because of complications .
in my opinion , we should not start our discussions with sanctions on the Member States , because that would be putting the cart before the horse .
the draft report and the final result were OK from our point of view . positive because adopted : reduce the gender pay gap to 0.5 % by 2020 ; Member States to implement the principle of equal pay for equal work properly ( para .
a lot depends on the approach and the behaviour of the operative field in our industry .
although the internal market presently works relatively well , it is also true that , on occasion , errors or problems of interpretation arise with respect to the rights of members of the public and firms who attempt to make the most of the advantages that the internal market provides .
if we get the new fisheries policy off the ground , for example , then we will have a great deal of catching up to do as regards species that need protecting .
let us suppose that a competition for European Union staff discriminates against Hungarian lawyers , for example , for some technical reason or any reason at all .
the changes to the categorisation during the next period will highlight this fact .
we are today at the preliminary stage of this mechanism : we must therefore remain alert and prudent .
the economic partnership agreements being negotiated at the moment could be a good instrument for this , provided - and I stress this point - they have sustainable development at their core and provided they are more than just European trade agreements .
when the project is complete , we will assess the outcome .
I would carry this idea further , when talking about the creation of the European Systemic Risk Board that we are all working on now .
first of all , Qimonda is capable of ensuring a crucial technological advance for the European Union in terms of semiconductor technology and nanotechnology .
employment and the whole of the social dimension were main topics of a number of discussions .
once again , we are witnessing the sort of practical wisdom that results from experience .
pursuant to Article 325 ( 5 ) , the Commission , in cooperation with Member States , each year submits to the European Parliament and to the Council a report on the measures taken for the implementation of that article .
it will also promote a new sustainable city , desirable for all , a model that meets the environmental , energetic and socio-demographic challenges , but one which places the living environment and the well-being of its inhabitants at the heart of our concerns .
President-in-Office of the Council . - Well , as you said , it is important to evaluate this properly and see what is being done ; what the results have been .
they will , in particular , be looking to reinforce further the controls at their borders and to improve cross-border police cooperation as well as their systems for the issuing of visas .
that is why it is a disappointment .
they are applying for asylum and Lithuania is demanding their extradition .
this , Mr President , is certain : the message of the anthem of Madeira has been mentioned here , but I have also drawn a lesson from the anthem of Portugal , which proclaims , ' heroes of the sea , noble people , brave nation ' .
the figures relating to their economic growth are really very negative .
a typical example is the insistence on full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia , the pseudo-court that was set up by the American and European imperialist bullies to try the victims of their wars and crimes in the area , and that was used to destroy the former President , Slobodan Milošević .
I call on Cyprus , Estonia , Finland , Greece , Poland , Romania , Slovakia and Slovenia to ratify the Convention on Cluster Munitions without delay and help bring an end to the use of cluster bombs .
furthermore , there should be no way to avoid the requirement to notify government authorities in the event of an accident .
we must explain this to the countries which are obviously the subject of today 's debate .
on 26 October , the European Union took part in a debate at the Security Council to mark the 10th anniversary of resolution 1325 .
( PL ) Mr President , as a member of last year 's parliamentary delegation to Turkey , I had the opportunity to see for myself the progress Turkey is making in the process of integration with the European Union .
( EL ) Mr President , with all due respect to you , I hereby request that you provide us tomorrow with a list of all those who asked to speak for one minute based on two criteria : firstly , that they did not speak during the previous plenary and , secondly , the time at which they filed their request .
our committee was able to witness in Antwerp how only one half of one percent of containers are checked each day .
do we want to go back to Nice ?
tractors placed on the market under the flexibility scheme (
we are peripheral nations .
this absence of information is a cause for concern .
how much of that procurement is actually spent on investigating , researching and encouraging the development of new solutions to the big challenges that public authorities and indeed society face every day : a better health service , a better transport solution , dealing with climate change , more energy efficient buildings ?
this will raise a question mark over food supply security in Europe .
I agree with the previous speaker who said that the Commission needs to be appointed .
the citizens , above all , must receive assurances that the European Union will help them , so they feel protected , both directly and indirectly .
we will also continue to promote the health and safety at work of workers and the reconciliation of work and family life .
we endorse this report because it clearly sets out the challenges facing the EU 's maritime policy , namely a significant increase in maritime traffic , both inside and outside the Union , without sacrificing the environment or social issues .
I voted against it because it clearly professes faith in neoliberal economic policy .
I hope that it will be done during this European Parliament term , before the 2009 elections .
regardless of the differences existing between individual Member States , the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy has improved the growth potential of the European Union as a whole .
the EU has been dismayingly ambiguous regarding Bahrain , in particular .
the common budget , which is usually important , is nowadays a crucial source of funding for stopping the accumulation of adverse effects .
if we want to achieve a strong preventive effect , the Member States must make it a criminal offence for anyone to knowingly use the services of victims of trafficking .
deposit-guarantee schemes have therefore been of crucial importance in protecting investors from the worst of the financial crisis currently assailing the world economy .
women in rural areas , especially young or middle-aged ones , could develop independent economic activities if they had access to bank loans and I believe we should discuss the opportunity of establishing a bank that would grant micro-loans in rural areas .
can we have some people actually at airports looking at what the airlines do ?
you can see the consequences in the Directorate General for Agriculture 's recently published report - which you can find on the internet - where there are three different scenarios .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , four out of every hundred citizens in Europe go abroad for treatment ; in my view , however , health tourism is symptomatic of local shortcomings and a lack of services .
above all , it tells us that we need to organise a rapid exit from nuclear power and to focus our attention on renewable , alternative power sources .
but it is when it comes to Ireland that I really get interested .
the recommendation calls on the Member States in particular to ' recognise the individual 's basic right to resources and social assistance sufficient to lead a life that is compatible with human dignity as part of a comprehensive , consistent drive to combat social exclusion ' .
as far as national initiatives are concerned , it is true that certain Member States have already taken some or plan to do so .
I will give you 30 seconds , but I warn you that it will be 30 seconds only , as a gesture of goodwill , because these really are the last few moments of the parliamentary term .
Mr President , I rise to make a statement about the plight of hundreds of thousands of airline passengers in Europe in the 10 days before Christmas and the chaos in the arrangements for transporting them and their baggage to their intended destinations .
the Greens insisted on the promotion of ' cultural cooperation ' instead .
it is important for the European Union to offer its full support to the panel of ' eminent African personalities ' appointed by the African Union and headed by Kofi Annan .
how is the European Union involved ?
one evening when I was watching television , a quarter of all the advertisements were for over-the-counter pharmaceutical products .
however , in order to ensure that aircraft operators with varying initial positions and growth trends , are treated equally , we ought to reserve part of the quotas for aircraft operators with rapidly growing capacity .
I have similar comments and I share the quandary of most of you who have spoken , today .
I agree with the rapporteur that small enterprises are an essential source of growth , employment , entrepreneurial skills , innovation and cohesion in the EU .
on the issue of developing countries , we are committed to addressing this issue effectively , as I said in my opening remarks .
and I think it will be wise , since we have the European Council on 4 February , to address these issues there .
I am convinced that informed , attentive consumers can influence very much the production of prepared food in the European Union .
I hope this message will be passed on to Mrs Dati , who unfortunately is absent from this priority debate , which we are very disappointed about .
we did not build Europe for competition alone ; we are together for values , we have a project for society , we have a model of society - economic , social , sustainable , human - and that model deserves to be taken up , carried forward and defended .
one of the greatest difficulties we have is time - how much time to spend - and I want to make sure that we are using the best possible time in discussions with you .
we must not forget that the most important partnership of all is the partnership between the European Union and its citizens .
the existence of general legislation on motor vehicles covering general aspects would probably suffice , without the need to reproduce directives relating to each of these areas , as happens now , examples of which are : the suppression of radio interference produced by agricultural or forestry tractors ( electromagnetic compatibility ) ; driver-perceived noise level of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors ; rear registration plate lamps for motor vehicles and their trailers .
we are very pleased - we have emphasised this and hope that it comes across in this report - that the Court of Justice has annulled the article of the Asylum Procedure Directive concerning the creation of the concept of ' safe third countries ' and a common list of safe third countries .
obviously , both of these elements were agreed in the framework of the 2 ° C target , which was included as the starting point in the outcome of the climate conference .
however , all that is due not to Rule 51 itself , but rather to the very short deadlines that we gave ourselves in order to have a document that we could submit to the Council summit taking place on 10 December .
I am particularly happy to see long-awaited progress towards a free trade area .
I agree with the Members who have said that we are poorly prepared for natural disasters .
they lack social protection , their risk of poverty is high , and in the event of a divorce they become complete outlaws from the point of view of social protection .
the Hungarian Presidency will withstand every effort to the contrary .
I am asking the Commission to look into the possibility of managing the European funds committed to Iraq for as long as Iraqi Christians remain targets of violence , kidnapping , murder and bomb attacks .
in the meantime , ship dismantling could reach maximum levels in the next ten years , precisely because of the new rules banning single-hull vessels .
in 2005 , the Republic of Croatia asked to participate in the activities of the EMCDDA .
this instrument must respond with financial aid to situations of extreme drought , fire and flooding , not forgetting under any circumstances the victims who need immediate help and assistance .
after all , I am not demanding a large amount of left-wing criticism or self-criticism , but what we are demanding , time and again , as Martin Schulz recently made very clear , is the strengthening of the social dimension and scrutiny of all Commission projects in terms of their social impacts .
does my friend , Nick Griffin , a true British patriot , take offence at the fact that , for us , Joan of Arc is a national heroine ?
many arguments put forward by fellow Members - be it Mr Kasoulides , Mr Brok , Mr Zaleski or others - are thoroughly worthy arguments .
Mr President , your recent joint statement after the EU-US summit was the first statement in a long time where the Commission exhibited gravitas , optimism , power and solidarity , and also coherence .
what is to be particularly welcomed in this connection is the fact that the Member States are to be given more flexibility in transposing the proposal .
I think that we must develop relevant indicators to enable us to introduce minimum income schemes in Member States , thereby ensuring an adequate standard of living fostering social integration and promoting social and economic cohesion throughout the entire European Union .
violence has been used in the past to settle differences and has once again triumphed over dialogue .
what we are putting to the test right now is the inefficiency of not having binding targets and , using the step-by-step method , we are putting off making a change until the future .
Ireland said ' yes ' to the Treaty 16 months after its resounding ' no ' which generated equal concern among all the governments in Europe .
I agree with what Mr Lamberts said : right now , the Members of the Council are not giving us a great European perspective on financial supervision .
there is no room for these in the regulation .
and yet we persist in putting sticking plaster on deep wounds .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , at my stage in life , I do not get very surprised too often , so I am not the least bit surprised at what goes on here in the European Parliament and the views of some people .
it is necessary to check whether Union funds are being well used , whether these institutions are meeting the objectives outlined for them , and whether any resources are being wasted .
finally , I recommend that everyone becomes more familiar with national legislations .
finally , is the Council satisfied that existing safeguards in the financial services arena provide adequate protection to consumers , particularly those who have purchased financial products outside their ' home ' Member State ?
many have criticised you for making this package too ambitious , and others for its complete lack of ambition .
what measures will be taken to safeguard these sectors , doing more than mitigating the effects of getting rid of jobs ?
adjournment of the session
I am convinced that cooperation on energy policy matters cannot be turned into a foreign policy weapon .
I am glad that we will have the possibility to come back to this debate , because there are no simple answers .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
for this reason , I completely support the Parliament 's demands that victim assistance should be unconditional and that more forceful methods and more severe penalties should be adopted , as Mr Barrot has just told us .
the specific problem that Erika Mann asked me about on bananas is included in the interim EPA - a guarantee of duty-free , quota-free access in that case .
I am much more afraid at home , in Prague , where I see tourists barely managing to dodge the cars , and I prefer not to cycle at home anymore .
many people in the European Union enjoy online gambling .
it also does - and I agree with the Commissioner - contain group supervision .
it is the case that , in waiting for the implementation of a genuine common diplomacy and a genuine European defence policy , European soft power and its cultural diplomacy are some of the few means of influence at our disposal .
our basic rule book in the European Union , the treaties signed and ratified by Member States , can only ever be modified by the unanimous agreement of each and every single one of those Member States .
therefore , account needs to be taken and due consideration given to this right now .
I would like to express my compliments , in particular , to the shadow rapporteurs and members of Parliament , as without their support I would not have been able to achieve this result .
Parliament 's annual report on human rights - this year in relation to 2009 - is a point of reference for all those interested in the issue .
I , like a number of others , am referring to the 60-tonners or gigaliners or whatever we call them .
author . - Madam President , I shall be fairly brief .
secondly , I would like to draw your attention to the national parliaments .
it is certainly not prudery on my part , moreover , if I say to you today that I have reservations about this aspect , as an image of a naked body is a very private matter , and I want people to have the opportunity to decide whether or not people are to see them naked .
I suspected it to be the last , and the Hadley Centre , the UK 's leading authority on this subject , confirmed that it is the last graph .
the imperatives of climate change , the realities of migration , and the risk of worldwide poverty : all these are clear challenges .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , this debate confirms the broad common understanding between Parliament and the Commission on the way forward and on the need to improve our policies and programmes , bringing added value to EU citizens .
we think this creates a whole host of problems .
if I understand rightly , according to the Treaty , or what used to be called the Constitution , we ourselves do not have the right of initiative in the area of legislation .
my specific request to the Commission today , and to the Council , is to accept that we need a dynamic process for making progress with regard to services of general interest , particularly social services of general interest .
secondly , I believe that the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina , Albania and Kosovo also deserve visa-free travel as soon as possible .
this report , like those concerning the rules applied to tractors , is aimed at undertaking the codification of Directive 80 / 720 / EEC of 24 June 1980 , which concerns the harmonisation of Member State legislation on the operating space , access to the driving position and the doors and windows of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors .
to this end , the main aim of broadening the scope of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund and streamlining the European Social Fund is to respond to the many situations of social and economic emergency that require support .
this is merely a first step .
perhaps this is also the time to ask : what are the toxic assets and what are the obstacles to our peacemaking , our raison d 'être ?
I would like to ask the Council and Commission Representatives here whether they are prepared to take measures against those who violate human rights , in the manner indicated in Parliament 's resolution of 16 December 2010 , which called for an asset freeze and visa bans on those 60 officials implicated in the case of Mr Magnitsky , who unfortunately died in prison in Russia .
fortunately , the Lefrançois report is here to restore the self-evident values of a democratic society to this crazy framework decision .
the first is that an overwhelming majority of this Parliament wants to bring about a quick ceasefire .
firstly , measures to introduce higher standards of animal protection at the time of killing should obtain financial support from the European Union .
I know that the problem of multiple discrimination is fundamental to you .
an isolated debate could lead to the decline of the business location and an increase in the number of people out of work .
rights are regulated by public bodies ; specifically in the European arena we have institutions , namely the Commission , the Council and Parliament : the Commission with its power of initiative , the Council and Parliament through the codecision procedure .
it is exactly from the perspective of differentiation that we must view quality policy , which is capable of offering a product and of placing on the market a product that differs from that of the competition , a product that can also be sold without precise and specific reference to a price that is lower by comparison to the competition .
together with other institutes like the Maritime Institute we will be able to promote the necessary research throughout Europe so that the blue revolution we speak so much about can come to fruition and support our plan .
now , all that remains before us is the last home stretch , the final 10 % of the problems referred to by several honourable Members during these debates .
this is good progress .
we need to assist these people .
to conclude , the rapporteur would like to thank her colleagues for their support and cooperation , in particular Mrs Westlund and Mrs Drčar Murko and all the shadow rapporteurs , as well as the Slovenian Presidency , for their hard work .
in writing . - ( LT ) I voted in favour of this report .
my view is that we would have achieved a first-reading agreement even if we had not gone through this particular process .
however , I would like to expressly state that I disagree with and I am not bound by and therefore voted against Amendment 9 to paragraph 40 of the text , which was tabled initially by the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance and supplemented by the rapporteur .
in light of this , I ask you : has the Commission studied the repercussions of these austerity policies , which you push for and pressure countries into following in order to get out of the crisis ?
I would like to address you quite personally , Commissioner Dalli , for you will recall that we invited you along to meet with the Committee on Petitions and discuss the matter .
on the contrary , optimism is based on acknowledging reality .
new ambitious commitments have been undertaken to drastically reduce carbon dioxide emissions and to use renewable energy sources by 2020 .
it has an economic dimension but it is also a vehicle for conveying meaning and substance .
in writing . - ( FR ) For once we were tempted to vote in favour of a report on VAT by this Parliament .
from a political point of view , though , this change is of the utmost significance .
it was from this point of view that , in order to formalise our intentions , we tabled an amendment specifically to ensure that sustainable development criteria are taken out of the LIFE programme but included in all the other areas .
I believe that the European Parliament and its President and of course the Portuguese Presidency should take a stand on this issue , bearing in mind that refusing to allow a visit by one of the Members of this House , in this case myself , is a violation of human rights and also demonstrates a lack of respect for this House .
however , as the resolution points out , it is worrying that there is new legislation seeking to retain it for adultery .
on 22 October , the Committee on Constitutional Affairs adopted a report expressing willingness to compromise with the Council to pave the way for the rapid adoption of the proposed regulation .
Mr Lax has done a great job .
European political parties , which play an important role in shaping democracy in the EU , should be given a common and uniform legal statute .
I think we have to say that such a long lead time makes it unlikely that this can have had an impact on the price level that we see today .
moreover , the ambition of the CFSP , in this case in Georgia , will be judged against our courage finally to send peacekeeping forces to stabilise a region that we have included in our neighbourhood policy .
in countries that place economic interests first , of course it is convenient to secure essential labour by adapting the laws , and hence the regularisation measures occasionally adopted en masse by national governments , without worrying too much about the concern that this causes , while the other Member States attempt to control migratory flows .
for the reasons mentioned , I support the proposed report .
the Commission has been active in helping the Moldovan Government achieve as much as it can of its ambitious reform programme over the last year .
( RO ) Mr President , the international community is looking almost helplessly on as the human rights situation deteriorates in Iran .
questions which have not been answered for lack of time will be answered in writing ( see Annex ) .
can you guarantee that the free trade agreement will not be put into force until Parliament has approved this procedure and only after Parliament has exercised its rights and adopted the safeguard clauses ?
that is not the priority for employees ; what they seek and demand is respect for their fundamental rights .
the problem showed itself in fact when the new countries gained accession .
the European Parliament has a duty to protect the personal rights and privacy of European citizens if these are infringed .
but I can tell you that , from what I know of the discussion in the Council , the various fears about going for complete unbundling were simply motivated by strategic concerns in some countries .
we will not permit this under any circumstances .
in a letter dated 29 April 2009 , the two co-chairmen of the Conciliation Committee informed Parliament and the Council of Ministers that it was not possible to come to an agreement on a joint text within the deadline specified in Article 251 ( 5 ) of the EC Treaty .
what is the state of play as regards the impact assessment which is to be concluded in 2008 ?
when a country chairs the Council of the European Union , we believe that it should not implement its own priorities , its own goals simply as a country during that Presidency , but must go further and must be capable of representing Europe 's goals .
we deleted the name ' Macedonia ' in order to avoid trampling on some people 's sensibilities , including those , I believe , of the President .
I would firstly mention the controversy about works of art , a controversy which was favourable to artists , but not to the Presidency .
however , we know we are responsible to our citizens .
if you ask me about the general mood regarding any type of admission into the Schengen area , then we all know that it would be difficult to say that the European Union is currently in a particularly welcoming mood .
while a vast number of people , regardless of their religion or belief , adhere to universal values , there have always been individuals who try to prove that their culture , their religion , their language or their history is superior to that of their neighbours .
instead of concerning ourselves with quotas , we ought really to be focusing on women who are oppressed and discriminated against .
I would even dare say that when most of these problems are resolved , it will mean that a large number of the problems we are faced with now as a European society will be resolved .
I see very significant possibilities for the new technologies , in the sense that they enable the decentralised production of hydrogen to take place ; also , if solar technology is involved , it is actually possible to disperse production of , and reduce dependency on , the currently known energy sources .
time is running away .
in the UK , a state body has been pursuing a civil action against our own party , with the express purpose of closing us down .
the debate is closed .
I voted for the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) in favour of Germany because I consider that instrument to be a valuable resource for the support of workers in difficulties on account of the economic crisis .
therefore we cannot vote in favour of the regulation at this time .
once again we all agree : something must be done .
( ES ) Madam President , I should like firstly to congratulate Mr Siekierski on what I consider to be an excellent report , which has garnered a lot of support within the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development .
allow me now to say a few words about the proposal by the USA related to the prohibition of the international trade in polar bears .
firstly , a central element of the 2011 budget is the focus on young people .
but , over the last two years , it has taken a number of significant steps to open up to the outside world .
therefore , I would recommend that , if you want to be a credible EU opponent , at least read the papers on which you are going to make comments .
there is the risk that the EU funds managed by NGOs will not produce concrete results .
2008 discharge : EU general budget , European Parliament
we have tabled two or three amendments .
nature 's goods is our most precious commodity , and something that is very difficult to regain once it is lost .
these issues must be taken care of by the respective Member State .
hospital patients and farmers are at particular risk of exposure to resistant bacteria .
can international humanitarian law be said to exist , when the Israeli army forcibly moves Palestinians to a house which it shells intensely the next day ?
our grounds for this are that we strongly distance ourselves from all forms of registration and processing of data on racial and ethnic origin .
Parliament has therefore spoken out in favour of greater justice and greater efficiency in the processing of asylum procedures .
based on my personal experience with the totalitarian regime in Slovakia , I do not believe that a totalitarian leader is capable of transforming himself into a democrat in heart and mind .
dozens of young people who were using Internet forums to express their opinions were investigated and threatened with criminal records in 2008 .
the field of printing and reproduction of recorded media , which forms part of the graphics sector , has been particularly eroded in the Netherlands , as shown by the various applications to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) .
we are right to go for an ambitious trade agreement .
it is no coincidence that the European Parliament has already spoken out on more than one occasion - most recently in the resolution on toy safety of September 2007 - in favour of tougher market surveillance .
the report does not demonise moderate consumption of wine ( except in the specific case of pregnant women ) , which is part of our culture and traditions , but addresses alcohol abuse .
during the Falklands crisis , Mrs Thatcher successfully reprieved the Ark 's sister ship , HMS Invincible .
the autonomous region in the north of Iraq - Kurdistan - should have its own development .
we must call for a serious debate on the various forms of expulsions and the supposed reasons for them .
Mr President , the presentation of this report on the activities carried out by the European Investment Bank is part of an annual democratic exercise which comes under the responsibility the Bank has to the European Parliament .
this case was about responding to a request for assistance from Germany for redundancies in the telecommunications sector , especially among Nokia GmbH workers , which fulfilled the eligibility criteria set out in the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund regulation .
I therefore call on the new High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy , Baroness Ashton , on behalf of the EU , to apply a great deal of pressure to both parties to the conflict and ask them to review the crimes .
I too should like to congratulate the rapporteur on his very good and substantial report and to ask the European Commission not to waste any time or effort in preparing the action plan .
in other words , by applying the reverse charge VAT system , there will not be a negative balance , as no one will apply for a VAT refund and I feel that it will be very easy to administer this scheme , as state tax inspectorates will very easily be able to reveal the difference in the prices of goods .
I would like to end with the following thoughts .
again it is very difficult to decide between multilateralism and bilateralism .
questions which have not been answered for lack of time will receive written answers ( see Annex ) .
that is why the sole and decisive criteria for Turkey 's accession to the European Union must be its compliance with the principles of the rule of law , legislative confirmation of civil and minority rights , and respect for all the Member States of the European Union .
( DA ) Commissioner Rehn , in my headphones , you were translated as saying that the journey is just as important as the destination .
we can do nothing more and nothing less than that .
there is also the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights , which plays a key role in assisting the Commission to enforce its task ; and there is a Council of Europe Charter for Regional and Minority Languages and the framework convention for the protection of national minorities .
however , to date we lack a precise set of criteria to which we can refer .
it will provide , for the first time , a clear statement of EU policy regarding humanitarian aid .
under any rules of good practice , if a toy is not demonstrably safe or is actually dangerous , such labelling is not only abusive but downright fraudulent .
if EIB loans went towards new energy and environmental technology , that would meet the world 's real needs at the present time more successfully .
I would just like to say that I still have one more very important issue to cover , which is the role of civil society and national parliaments .
( ES ) Mr President , I shall begin by congratulating Mrs Járóka on defending the Roma population within European Union institutions .
I voted in favour of the Parliament resolution as I agree that it is vital that the EU is able to use all of its external instruments within a coherent structure , and that the provision of budgetary resources in 2010 in order to establish this structure , in its initial phase , is the political purpose of this report .
first of all , we need vigilance for the immediate resolution of the crisis in Greece and elsewhere in Europe .
international criminality is growing ever stronger .
( SL ) Thank you , Mr Medina Ortega , for your supplementary question .
this Agreement is therefore an important step towards opening up the market to airlines from the EU and Canada without any discrimination .
controlled fishing is always better than uncontrolled fishing .
in any event , ladies and gentlemen , I am convinced that there is a solid basis for a final agreement , and that together we will find a sound solution for all the people of Europe .
I believe that we must ensure that we provide consumers with correct information about the origin of products in order to support European agriculture .
( FR ) Madam President , like many of my fellow Members , I fully support the report by Mr Coelho , who I sincerely thank for the excellent work he has accomplished .
this means we need flexibility .
it is my view that it is the application of the original legislation and not the legislation itself that is the problem .
my colleague , Geoffrey Van Orden , has written to Mr Barroso and Mr Van Rompuy about this matter .
the United States , China , India and ... the United Kingdom ?
Madam President , I congratulate my colleague Ms Ana Gomes for her work and her comprehensive and realistic assessments .
however , I have some comments on the amendments that have been tabled to this specific and limited proposal .
I voted against granting discharge in respect of the 2009 general budget of the Council because the Council has refused to respond to questions from Parliament on this topic and has failed to provide the essential documents that Parliament has requested .
the choice in itself is important since the Tunisian PM wanted to give a clear message of the path he wishes his country to take .
I call on everyone in this Chamber to recognise that .
in spite of that , the dismal human rights situation still persists .
Eurobonds need to be issued and the euro area must be protected in a sustainable way through European , not intergovernmental , systems .
I should like to register my strong protest against this state of affairs , and also mention a situation that is gaining notoriety in the United States .
what is going on here is the dictatorship of the new proletariat taking shape in the new Union .
I welcome your announcement of the package of documents to be launched during the mandate of this Commission but , as you have only two years left , I wonder , is this more in hope than expectation that the entire list of the concrete actions will actually be implemented by you ?
for people over 50 , which also concerns me , such a policy creates a wider range of opportunities to react to changes in the labour market and adapt to the situation without major repercussions .
this is why I cannot agree with Mrs Ashton that the world will hear one , clear voice from the EU .
that is the thinking .
also , the Black Sea Synergy carries strategic importance .
I also agree with the Commission 's proposal of an alternative to unused European Social Fund resources as a source of payment appropriations for mobilising the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) , following Parliament 's frequent reminders that the EGF was created separately as a specific instrument , with its own objectives and deadlines , and that it is therefore necessary to identify appropriate budget headings for transfers .
action taken on Parliament 's resolutions : see Minutes
others are fretting about not being able to benefit more from the protective shield provided by the euro .
we are all aware of the added value of the policy which , above all , represents an opportunity to combine military and civilian capabilities , although in practice , as highlighted by the report , much remains to be done .
this anti-discrimination , fundamental rights , access to justice component is not included as a specific component in its own right .
we cannot allow financial speculation to continue causing uncontrolled price rises and global food market volatility .
my group calls on you to ensure that Parliament is fully involved in all of this and we expect you take seriously your promise to support small and medium-sized businesses and to improve environmental protection , the sustainable use of resources and food security .
no significant changes were made to these protocols against the previous period , with the concessions for Iceland remaining unchanged and those for Norway only increasing slightly .
I believe that it is vital for concern about climate change not to be a one-off commitment , but for us to take into account the importance of preventive action in all the measures adopted by the EU , especially those linked to development aid .
the next item is the report by Bárbara Dührkop Dührkop , on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs , on the initiative of the Federal Republic of Germany with a view to the adoption of a Council Decision on the implementation of Decision 2007 / ... / JHA on the stepping up of cross-border cooperation , particularly in combating terrorism and cross-border crime ( 11563 / 2007 - C6-0409 / 2007 - .
we should not now lapse once again into a debate on this very serious topic , a debate that divides us more than it unites us .
the public-private partnerships proposed by the Commission are therefore an excellent solution . they represent a new option for the pharmaceutical research sector .
I would like to say something more about this .
in writing . ? ( PL ) Caring for the environment is a duty incumbent on us all .
talking about political parties at European level without talking about funding would be pointless .
that is why we transport politicians are urgently interested in a solution , because our stated target , namely that Marco Polo should help to displace 60 % of the increase in road freight traffic , is now a long way away .
the right to live in peace and with a sense of security is an EU priority .
this also holds up payment of contributions from the Fund , to the detriment of the workers , because some Member States are reluctant to advance payments for training , job-search assistance and other measures .
my political group has been calling for months for the adoption of urgent measures to try to save thousands of farmers threatened with ruin .
they can introduce solutions which will make the goals of cohesion at subnational level achievable .
climate policy cannot stand alone , but needs to be incorporated into all of our legislation .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the regulation on European private companies that we are about to adopt completes the framework of the types of companies that are to be regulated at European level .
thank you , Commissioner , for that comprehensive answer .
( the President cut off the speaker )
I am rather worried about one matter concerning the report , although I did vote in favour of it .
the next item is voting time .
one of the recitals now states that this is possible , and I hope , of course , that the Commission will bring forward a new proposal at a later date , as I believe this is necessary .
I would like to try and answer some specific questions .
earlier this year , the Commission presented a draft recast Financial Regulation .
the ban on abortion does not reduce the number of such procedures carried out .
they require the next step to be taken towards integration .
Mr President , Mr Dess , honourable Members , this report has come at a pivotal time , just as the Commission is drafting detailed legislative proposals that it plans to present to Parliament and the Council in October .
this outcome fills every European citizen with concern .
the European Commission has stated that Spain has made good progress in implementing its national reform programme , has reached a level of employment 66 % higher than the European average three years ahead of schedule , increased investment in research and development ( R & D ) and has recorded surpluses in all budget years .
fiscal sovereignty must remain the responsibility of the Member States .
a European Parliament delegation was even banned from entering .
unfortunately , the immunity system has turned into a party political issue .
the overblown fantasies of NATO as the world 's police force have been discarded and that certainly represents a certain amount of progress .
Parliament 's negotiations with the Council have to be realistic and pragmatic , and also ambitious , if the future law , when it comes into force , is to really fulfil and promote the values of the proposal that was voted upon in plenary this week .
the European Parliament resolution calls on the UN and the International Criminal Court to investigate whether the Sudanese President 's latest decision constitutes a war crime under international law .
I am concerned , however , that conditions are presently being created for accepting a medium-sized country with a significantly industrial infrastructure and that later on , when the larger countries want to join , this will lead to rebates that we will no longer be able to justify .
the European Union cannot be absent from and left out of new concepts such as macro supervision , systemic risks , global financial stability , and the need to participate in global economic governance .
the Court also found some weaknesses in the Commission 's conformity clearance in agriculture .
the African Union condemned the events and decided to prepare a report on possible measures to be taken .
I am also delighted that we have managed to guarantee confirmation of the Galileo budget .
according to the statistics , by the year 2025 there could be nearly 4 million extra flights per year and , as a result , more than 60 European airports will be at full capacity .
last week the General Affairs and External Relations Council adopted the updated Guidelines on Torture .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , my group would first of all like to thank the rapporteur , Mr Piecyk .
secondly , I think the point made by Mr Salatto is valid , that we do need to have quicker and more accessible routes in and out of Strasbourg for the benefit of Members and others .
it is about peak oil and what that will do to developing countries ' opportunities ; it is about meeting the Millennium Development Goals .
we cannot abandon the European citizens who are in this situation ; we must help them .
people in my region do not want to see that occurring .
we must protect their human rights pending examination of the question of whether they are asylum seekers or not .
I am pleased that operators will also have to comply with sustainability criteria and laws on indigenous peoples .
social and economic concerns have a bearing on people 's lives and in terms of the food shortages the world is facing .
although the situation in Zimbabwe has prompted concern for a while now , the fallout of these elections and evidence of brutal state-sponsored violence against supporters of Tsvangirai 's opposition MDC party have brought the crisis to another level .
fortunately the report was redrafted on these points before the proposal came before the plenary .
all we would be doing is telling the car designers to sit down in front of their computers and start building and designing the cars of the future .
these issues are dealt with in the six negotiating chapters which are being handled under the auspices of the UN .
he was a true friend to the people of Germany .
I voted in favour of the report on the proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation ( EC ) No 1698 / 2005 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development ( EAFRD ) .
current efforts are concentrated on regulatory testing , which accounts for only 10 % of animal use .
I would like to see a market-driven solution supported by Member States , a solution where the industry self-regulates with a code of practice , taking the lead in environmental agendas .
I would like to ask the Minister - since this is clearly of grave concern to the international community and to the European Union - the following question .
today , on 17 September , I have to remind you all of a sad anniversary , namely the 70th anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland .
we will continue these forms of cooperation during the Hungarian Presidency too , as I have already established with the Prime Minister , Mr Orbán .
the negotiations must act as an opportunity to boost the development of new technologies , to enable significant funds to be invested in research and development .
misunderstandings and disagreements could be avoided ahead of events by means of coordination , transparency and the exchange of information .
in cases which concern human rights , we will always intervene , in particular with regard to a partner as important as Ukraine .
on behalf of the PPE Group . - Mr President , High Representative , Commissioner , I would like to welcome first of all Commissioner Piebalgs ' detailed and positive statement on the situation and his conclusions that the financial instruments are working well .
we must not forget however about another necessity : to save energy .
I have no doubt that you wish to appear - to paraphrase Dominique de Villepin - in this ' temple ' of the European Parliament - as a ' guardian of an ideal and a guardian of a conscience ' .
we were able to witness all that during the recent visit of a delegation from the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left to Honduras and Nicaragua , where we met the legitimate president of the country , Manuel Zelaya .
it is about whether old frontiers should be used as a barrier to people seeking healthcare or whether the openness of today 's Europe should be used as a means for people throughout Europe to get the best healthcare they can .
written explanations of vote :
I voted for this resolution because great attention must be paid to women 's security when deploying peacekeeping missions and during armed conflicts .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - Madam President , these reports bring the usual wish list of incompatible objectives : security of energy supply , an efficient energy market , reduction of CO2 , harmonised rules for all countries and cheap energy for pensioners .
it is time to bring an end to the Stability Pact and give the European Central Bank other functions , impose effective controls on the financial sector , and prioritise a true pact for progress and social development .
established in 2000 by the United Nations and the Government of Sierra Leone , this was the first international court to be funded by voluntary contributions , the first to be established in a country where the alleged crimes took place , and the first to indict a sitting African head of state for war crimes and crimes against humanity .
we need a financing instrument which is exclusively targeted at the objectives of poverty eradication as defined in the Lisbon Treaty and which only covers developing countries .
the next most important aspect is the time it takes for it to be transmitted , the strength with which it is transmitted in order also to enable coexistence here , and , finally , the priorities that are established by means of the software .
consideration will be given to this matter in the drawing-up of the strategy .
I would like now to refer to the proposal by the Committee on Regional Development to insert a specific recital on comitology into the text .
in Greece the risks of old-age poverty are significantly higher than the average : 26 % in 2005 for persons over 65 years of age , compared with 19 % for persons aged 64 .
although repealing these regulations might appear to be a positive and welcome step from the standpoint of legislative simplification , it would , on the other hand , mean depriving our textile industry of still valid forms of defence against unfair competition from countries like China .
it must , however , remove all the barriers to regional and national measures , enable effective coordination of these measures , improve cross-border payment of charges and provide professional drivers with better information on what measures to expect outside the area where they live .
so could I ask if her services could support some of these community projects by giving some clear guidelines about State aid criteria to help those public / private partnerships which would , I agree , be crucial to achieving universal broadband .
it was indeed a very exciting experience .
however , it is one thing to give Brazil the treatment it deserves as the great country that it is , and another for the European Union not to continue with its commitment to the work that it has been doing to conclude the Agreement between the European Union and Mercosur .
the question now is whether we strengthen it at this stage or send it back to the drawing board .
I would also ask the Portuguese Presidency whether unanimity could be used for areas of consensus concerning the rules on which the Union is founded .
let us raise the overall level of education , yes , but chiefly we must mould training to the needs of the labour market and production .
( LT ) Thank you for your answer , Commissioner .
because having these tests at the national level helps to avoid Commission intervention .
the cheap , fast , easily accessible and globally available internet is often misused by terrorists to disseminate terrorist information and to recruit new members and sympathisers .
as a country which has ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child , it is running into sharp conflict with the world .
this , however , presupposes that the various groups exercise their minority rights properly and do not abuse them .
you know how important symbols are in politics as well .
Evacuations to the mainland region followed , but after the destination regions refused to accommodate the camps , repatriation got under way .
I would just like to refer briefly to the situation in Palestine and Israel .
I am voting against it .
the regional fisheries organisations are extraordinarily important institutions for good management worldwide .
it is precisely agriculture , of course , which can help in the fight against global warming , especially through new methods of tillage aimed at conserving soil and reducing storage of CO2 , through support for forestry and agro forestry and through support for organic farming .
I find it regrettable that we are not permitting any impact assessment of the agreement now reached .
the Commission is currently examining the need for additional initiatives , including improved legislative requirements , in order to further and strengthen the inspections and controls of waste shipments .
finally , I would draw attention to one small , unfortunately administrative shortcoming .
the situation in the Palestinian Territories is in no way simple .
this is the work we have done , increasing the budget and improving local activities and EU-wide activities for the benefit of the associations .
for instance , the greenhouse crops campaign has been irretrievably destroyed for 2010 , and 90 % of the infrastructure cannot be repaired .
we must now answer these questions and continue on our current path , both from a domestic and an international perspective .
not only on a personal note , but also on behalf of the Romanian Social Democrat MEPs , I call for László Tőkés to be dismissed from his position as Vice-President .
we must stop saying the first thing that comes into our minds on this question .
the Galileo project ranks among the European Union 's biggest and most complex projects .
within the Council all the Member States voted to keep a threshold of 5 % .
the agency , which is based in Lisbon , fittingly , has important competences in this area and deserves to be supported in its demanding work .
with the prospect of several million more jobs being lost in the EU , it is important to have incentives that people who are made redundant can access in an attempt to make a new life for themselves , thereby avoiding social crises and reducing Member States ' spending on social support measures .
that stumbling block has now been overcome .
we are strengthening the cooperation between Member States , including the promotion of creative industries .
I believe that during the forthcoming period the Bank 's activities must be focused on the countries hit hard by the crisis , which are failing to kick-start their economies , in order to support cohesion and prevent the continuing economic and social decline .
but , be that as it may , I think the Rasmussen and the Leinen reports as they have come before us are a genuine attempt to look at all of these particular areas in a balanced way .
globalisation itself is the result of our march towards the future .
( ES ) I would like to put a few very simple questions to Mr Almunia , without the difficulties of translation .
8 .
this is why I am taking the opportunity in this debate to make an appeal .
the third idea comes from Mr Gaubert , to whom I am particularly grateful for emphasising the humanitarian dimension of this major debate .
we have looked into it .
I would like to finish by saying to the Commission that we most definitely believe that there is a need for a revision of the General Product Safety Directive .
of course there were points that were unsatisfactory at the start .
this does indeed seem very important to me , and the Council shares Parliament 's concern to be able to take these sanctions decisions , and to update them , on the basis of the best possible information .
the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) was established to provide additional support to workers who are suffering the consequences of major structural changes in world trade patterns .
but , if , true to form , the EU nonetheless decides to meddle in this national issue , then one initiative it could consider is to introduce a payment to farmers in return for providing carbon sequestration in soil management and farming practices .
the new Member States , including Hungary , have significantly reduced their greenhouse gas emissions since the end of the 1980s .
the facts are damning : EUR 1 288 million of aid to production , making a total of EUR 2.9 billion of subsidies for the coal industry between 2003 and 2008 , has done nothing to limit the loss of market share , nor has it ensured that the industry 's 100 000 workers receive useful support to help them retrain .
there was an immediate reaction from the Member States and the central banks in order to prevent the financial system from collapsing , and there was also a reaction in relation to the real economy .
in this case , ladies and gentlemen , the rules are perfectly clear .
gas will continue to flow out until the fault has been repaired , because if water got inside , it would cripple the pipeline completely .
I hope that the Council will also do the same next week and that we can take advantage of the French Presidency , which is propelling this reform , to implement it in full .
Madam President , I think there is something else further down the line and I think Mr Tannock should tell us about that as well before we vote .
strict rules and sufficient enforcement mechanisms are needed for the financial sector , the public budgets and the debt , and also for the correction of macro-economic imbalances .
finally , I would stress the rapporteur 's idea that the new Multiannual Financial Framework ( MFF ) should ensure adequate levels of funding for GNSS research and development , as well as for its implementation .
Europe has a strategy for its counter-terrorism policy .
the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats has insisted on the usefulness of this broader approach , but has not been heeded .
today , I voted for the report under discussion concerning emissions standards for new light commercial vehicles .
in addition , the Commission can certainly not be alone in communicating with the citizens on the issue of Europe .
this report , drafted by Mr Mitchell , concerns Regulation ( EC ) No 1905 / 2006 establishing a financing instrument for development cooperation : lessons learned and perspectives for the future .
we also ought to urge Russia to take a more active part in international negotiations , as it is the eve of the Copenhagen conference .
all of these facts suggest that the new criterion of permanently sustainable inflation will not be an insurmountable problem for Slovakia in the future either .
Parliament and the Council must , among other things , have sufficient time available to exercise the right to object to planned regulations .
SMEs are the sector which can create more jobs in the European Union and we will be doing them , and their workers , a good service if we reduce administrative burdens and apply a better and smart regulation approach .
the agreement covers rules of origin in relation to fisheries , textiles and agriculture , leading to investment and employment opportunities .
that democratic will was clearly shown by the Parliament of the Czech Republic , so I hope that no artificial obstacles and no artificial delays will now cause more difficulties before full ratification .
we insist once again - and I think that this is important - that the ship 's crew be treated fairly in case of an accident and not erroneously regarded as criminals .
Europe should consider making a specific proposal to include Ukraine in European structures .
we really crept together on this one , as it were .
the agreement which you proposed , in the form of a two-step approach , must also guarantee that no one is left out , so that ultimately , we are genuinely moving in the right direction , which is still not guaranteed today .
of course , no set of regulations can offer a 100 % guarantee .
however , on the other hand , it is always better to develop our cooperation with Russia , in particular , when we are calling on Russia to respect human rights or to improve environmental rights , if only because of its size .
this is particularly important in cases of complicated or rare health problems .
we shall remain vigilant and if something goes wrong , we shall try to put it right .
this report is in principle about the implementation of Regulation 1049 / 2001 and , therefore , let me start by recalling one of the positive elements in the implementation of the regulation because , as the quantitative data show and as the Parliament report acknowledges , the EU institutions have granted access to a higher number of documents while registering a decrease in the number and rate of refusals .
I believe that only an optional instrument to be adopted by means of a regulation can adequately fulfil the objectives of the whole reform of European contract law .
initially , I have to say I had some reservations about the impact on postal workers , but Member States still have the authority to regulate employment conditions and collective bargaining in the sector , where this does not lead to unfair competition .
I live in a region where terrorism exists .
however , I am not convinced that there is space for them within the framework of the Transparency Regulation .
the EU strategy has formed a basis for a series of multilateral and bilateral discussions .
nevertheless , our ports are facing major challenges , including the increase in international demand for transport , which is increasing even faster than the rate of global economic growth .
Parliament 's position regretting the severe shortcomings of the Commission in implementing programmes on competitiveness and innovation , particularly during an economic crisis which heightens the need for such support .
such exchange will be useful both to the experts and the public in general , and I assume that it will be useful to the Greens as well .
Europe must strongly reprimand the States to be responsible , stable and serve the future generations .
the debate on the selection process of a new Managing Director for the International Monetary Fund and external representation of the euro area will take place directly after Mr Leinen 's report on European environmental economic accounts .
unfortunately , victims all too often fear for their family 's reputation and , justifiably , their safety and economic dependence , and so they do not go to the law enforcement authorities .
these , however , are precisely the things for which the European Union makes no provision .
we also need to make progress on the necessary means to support developing countries and boost technology transfer .
performing that role requires a more strategic external action and a single foreign policy uniting all the Member States .
this will save valuable taxpayers ' money .
( PL ) Mr President , the energy crisis has revealed a weakness in the European Union .
what we have learned is that Europe stands or falls together .
in future , it will therefore be necessary for Parliament and international and European trade unions to work together and add their positive and urgent recommendations to the initiative voted on here today .
what has changed in the political reality is the fact that we do not believe that we can compel people to comply with our wishes , but that we must accept the challenge of achieving all our goals at the same time : we need a high standard in environmental protection , a clamp-down on climate change , a sustainable fisheries policy , secure shipping route development and acceptable development for local communities .
even before the vote in committee , when Mr Vanhecke was not allowed to learn the content of the report , it was discussed on Flemish public television .
the vote will take place tomorrow at 11 a.m .
we should sit down together here to put together , quickly and efficiently , a package that really reaches our small- and medium-sized enterprises .
the development and implementation of a regulatory framework for the media should respect the democratic standards for the organisation and governance of communication systems .
we think that existing legal restrictions on ownership of Canadian airlines should be removed and , at the same time , new traffic rights and cooperation on a range of issues - including passenger safety , respect for the environment , air traffic management and security - ought to be introduced .
in fact , the national airborne resources , be they Greek , Portuguese or Italian , and those that came from other countries , were joined by the purely Community fire-fighting aircraft , which fly under the flag of the European Union , not under the flag of a Member State .
they are a signal that we cannot continue as we are and that , thanks to borrowing that has been too cheap and imports that have been too cheap , we have all been living above our means and we cannot go on consuming at the same rate .
the Commission and the European Parliament must stand shoulder to shoulder to bring about the Single European Sky , as five times more environmental gain is to be achieved from that .
many people have mentioned the quota system .
we therefore support the extension of the scope of the agreements to the extent deemed beneficial to the APC countries themselves .
we have a surplus in goods trade with the rest of the world and , where we are allowed to compete freely , we are a match for anyone .
the advances that have been made in the areas of energy , the environment and transport are the result of that work .
( FR ) The oral amendment would be a first point , worded as follows :
however , in the end , I voted against this report , as I come from a country that has established a particular combination of maternity protection and waged / unwaged parental leave .
this means that food prices and energy prices always correspond and this has something to do with the fact that we do have an Electricity Feed Act - in Germany in any case , but also in some other countries - by which better recycling of plant products can be achieved in the energy sector than in the food sector .
the first part of this initiative , namely the communication of 30 September 2005 , was based on three main aspects : digitisation , online access and preservation of digital content .
above all , turning now to the issue that brings us here , I would like to congratulate the Council for starting negotiations on a major trade agreement , which is also political and relates to cooperation , between the European Union and Mercosur , which was decided upon at the Madrid Summit on 18 May of this year .
EU aid programmes are a classic case of giving with one hand and taking back with the other .
I believe that the agreed text is a balanced compromise that incorporates many of the amendments presented by Parliament and leaves room for further developments in the near future , which - as Mrs Győri pointed out during her speech - is very important .
I did so because I approve of the line it takes , but also because the rapporteur and the Committee on Civil Liberties have given us a report which aims to protect freedom of thought , research and expression .
I am aware , of course , that he is about to face a number of very busy months , as the problems of the world are going to be resting , more than anywhere , on his big , broad shoulders .
the EU and the US are the world 's most integrated economies ; we are each other 's largest trade and investment partners ; we share common values and responsibilities for tackling global challenges on a variety of issues , be it innovation or environmental challenges , energy security or access to raw materials .
despite this figure , I believe it essential that the principles of economy , efficiency and effectiveness be applied .
for this reason , I have always supported severe measures to combat this situation , as a way of closing down a trade that represents EUR 45 billion of profit to some criminal networks .
the Reconciliation Commission established by the government does not meet basic requirements for independence .
we believe that this report places too much emphasis on protecting EU agricultural markets from outside competition and not enough emphasis on exporting production standards .
it is also impossible to discuss this issue looking solely at the interests of science or using a logic of obtaining results at the lowest possible cost .
on Wednesday , a working lunch will be held on the subject at 1 p.m. in Room C 2.1 .
if we are to achieve these objectives , however , we need adequate funding for research and development , which has been scarce until now .
its main target is to contribute to the integration , a balanced and sustainable development as well as an economic and social cohesion of the EU Member States .
I voted in favour of this report .
the objectives set by the European Commission are not new but , to date , Europe has not managed to achieve them .
illegal , unreported and unregulated fishing poses a major threat to the sustainability of fishing in Lithuania .
we must analyse whether the money that was spent yielded the benefit we were expecting and whether we achieved the objective we set ourselves .
we know that there is an ongoing investigation to determine whether the Sri Lankan authorities are doing their part to incorporate human rights legislation into national legislation .
I believe that it concerns a Council regulation .
I want to refer , however , to the proposed compulsory electronic identification of sheep , which commences in January 2010 , and which the Commission is determined to press ahead with despite the opposition of the Agricultural Committee members and the farming organisations .
it is widely recognised that breast-feeding has positive effects on both the child 's health and on that of the mother , reducing the risk of breast cancer .
despite having a few doubts about the excessive reach of the text - which falls within the ambit of the Europe 2020 strategy - I think the objectives of the resolution are most welcome .
the opening of new negotiating chapters will result precisely in the kind of new dynamism , as regards progress on human rights and justice , that we want to see .
it remains for us to work hard to ensure that our citizens can tangibly feel that they are benefiting from the results of this solidarity .
in writing . - I welcome the Commission 's presentation of its work programme for 2008 .
in my opinion , however , they are not insurmountable .
since the Agreement on the European Economic Area ( EEA ) entered into force in 1994 , the EEA / European Free Trade Association states - currently Iceland , Liechtenstein and Norway - have contributed towards reducing economic and social disparities in the EEA .
reacting to what is happening in Iran today is one of the greatest tests of the effectiveness of our western world .
nowadays , almost half of the EU 's energy is dependent on imports , with the forecasts indicating to us that imports will account for 70 % of the natural gas supply and 100 % of the oil supply by 2030 .
( PL ) Mr President , it is worth considering where the emphasis lies in the report on illegal immigration .
during the vote on trade relations between the EU and Japan , I decided to vote for the resolution tabled by the political group which I belong to .
( RO ) Madam President , I would like to begin by congratulating the rapporteur , Mr Ungureanu , for the particularly fine job he has done on this report , which is extremely important both from a geopolitical and economic perspective .
I therefore reject the transfer of highly personal data on principle and thus also voted against the motion for a resolution .
they were protesting against a mistaken and unsocial policy towards the crisis .
instead of questioning the European practice of export subsidies , which have a massive impact on the ability of some African states to survive , we keep coming up with more empty words .
however , we must ensure that similar errors are not repeated in future , especially not in Europe .
I am calling on the Council and the Commission to examine the voting result on this report closely and deliver on their promises of respecting the geographical balance principle while recruiting the future staff of the EEAS .
there is , of course , no point in scaring consumers .
this House has said very clearly today that it rejects any blockade due to the name issue and that bilateral issues should not be an obstacle to accession .
it is no secret that in the smaller EU states the power of regulators to adopt such exceptional measures against large companies will be very limited , and so I am not convinced that in this case Parliament is making progress in terms of strengthening the single European market compared with the European Commission 's proposal .
it undermines the foundations of the EU and , moreover , it is always the smaller countries who have to suffer , as this case has proven once again .
I am pleased that the European Parliament has debated and adopted a resolution condemning the recent attacks on Christians .
the directive allows producers of electrical equipment to provide buyers who are purchasing equipment with information on the costs for collecting , processing and disposing of the waste in an environmentally-friendly way .
these measures would also leave sufficient time to prepare the negotiations on creating an expanded , comprehensive free trade area , which is an objective shared by the EU and the Republic of Moldova .
the accession of Croatia to the European Union would have enormous regional consequences and would help to test the scope of the obligations taken on by the EU for the Western Balkans .
the euro is the opportunity for their economies to be permanently integrated into the good , reforming and advanced practices of the countries of Central Europe .
competitiveness is gained by investing in qualifications , research , excellence and major infrastructure .
the issue is not the advisability of a directive that creates a joint , shared system .
we had various discussions about it .
the financial ministers have shown initiative .
the major share of the money is actually spent on facilitating access for small and medium-sized enterprises to funding instruments that are designed to improve their capacity to innovate .
in fact , this is also the reason why many Member States insist that the market should be deregulated .
let us not forget , the Roma were the first to move between different countries of Europe , well before we had set up our common area .
I have voted in favour of Mr Parish 's report on the proposal for a Council decision correcting Directive 2008 / 73 / EC simplifying procedures of listing and publishing information in the veterinary and zootechnical fields .
this is an extremely serious and difficult subject , especially as the EU is concerned with urban policy .
that is the outcome of the vote .
the registration fee will be abolished by next year , but some of the other measures , such as the translation of the registrations into English and the possibility to register online , have not yet materialised .
I am pleased that , after many requests from the Council and the European Parliament , the Commission has prepared an assessment of the situation of Roma and of the practices relating to them .
however , we have achieved not only strict protection for workers using them professionally , but also a commitment to control and inspection by the Member States .
carrying out codification in order to maintain clarity after a certain number of amendments certainly makes things easier .
as Mr Liese pointed out just now , human beings clearly come before economic issues , which can be dealt with at any time .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to start by thanking all the shadow rapporteurs for the good and constructive cooperation .
the Party for Freedom warns of the consequences of Islamification .
this is because the current rules allow the possibility for abuse , namely , to mark as honey of European origin honey which contains only a very minimal amount of European honey , and , in fact , contains mostly honey imported from a third country , which may even be of poorer quality .
I still see major obstacles ahead , to be sure , but we shall make it .
waste storage such as this - lakes of waste - really must not recur .
so if we say that we have 143 simplification initiatives , this means that several thousand acts are affected .
the European Union is neither the first , nor the second or third , to request that its citizens be informed about the origin of a product they purchase for their needs or consumption .
at the same time , I have to say that I understand the vigilance of the Members of the European Parliament and the vigilance of the agricultural sector on these very pertinent issues .
it should be noted that the disasters occurred in May and June 2010 .
what does it say ?
at present , two thirds of energy resources are imported from countries outside the EU , mainly Russia .
I , like the Presidency , am therefore paying close attention to what is being said about agriculture in order to preserve the European Union 's agricultural and regional food model , which has supported the common agricultural policy for 50 years , but keeping a clear and empathetic perspective on what is happening in other parts of the world .
I think that the EU should be prepared to face any attack or accident which jeopardises Europeans ' security and health .
the situation in Libya is another example of this , to add to those of Afghanistan and Iraq .
this is the point that we have reached !
I was interrupted unnecessarily , Mr President .
the Council rejected all substantive amendments proposed by Parliament at first reading , as it believes that these would not be compatible with the intended simplification .
although little consolation , it does confirm the need for an effective European Solidarity Fund .
I should also like to extend my special thanks to Commissioner Kallas for the work he has done in recent years .
I am pleased that the report by Mr Florenz recognises this problem and that we were able to introduce some pleasing improvements in the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety which had the support of all the groups .
I think that the Union should do more to increase the maritime transport safety in the region .
at the same time , I would like to say that Honduras is only a one-hour flight away from Cuba , from Havana .
but in this context it is particularly appropriate , given that Burma is a member of ASEAN .
people or entities suspected of having links with Osama bin Laden , the al-Qaeda network or the Taliban can be placed on this list , which results in a travel ban and the freezing of their financial assets .
I am referring , of course , to the message she mentioned on the complete and immediate freezing of settlement , on the need for progress on the peace process with the Palestinian Authority , on lifting the restrictions on the people of Gaza and the West Bank , and on the vital need to improve the lot of the people of Gaza affected by the blockade , as the European Parliament 's delegation saw recently .
so it is a very happy day today that a proposal taken on by my predecessor as coordinator in my group , Martine Roure , is now the subject of an agreement .
the changes proposed by the rapporteur are primarily the introduction of new provisions concerning fund mergers ( so that they will be treated as domestic mergers and will retain tax-neutrality ) , the introduction of a document which provides key investor information ( replacing the simplified prospectus ) and simplification of the existing notification procedure by using direct regulator-to-regulator information exchange .
we call for a thorough investigation , within the constitutional and legal framework of East Timor , to identify and try the main perpetrators of these attacks .
because , obviously , the world will not wait for us .
the oral question that we are debating expresses grave reservations about funding petrol or coal-related projects .
so there is no change in strategy vis à vis those countries , but greater attention will be paid to the way in which the accession criteria are applied and managed during the negotiation process .
for this reason , I support the contents and the proposals of the report by Mr Lange .
they , their families and their carers will welcome a proactive approach to tackling this disease , which can be so devastating to both sufferers and families .
this suggests that the investors have what can at best be described as dubious intentions .
- ( SK ) Mr President , I welcome the report of Mrs Svensson , because it advances the discussion on women 's rights .
recently the EU voted against an amendment placed before the Committee on Budgets that sought to divert EU funding that goes into institutions towards community- and family-based services .
the existing directive has proven to be flexible and allows Member States to increase coverage according to their own economic situation .
I do not understand what the Soviet Union has to do with it : everyone is free to say what he or she wants ; I do not feel nostalgic about the Soviet Union .
towards the end of the 1980s , Slobodan Milošević deprived Kosovo of its autonomy and in 1999 occupied it by military force , thereby causing a tragedy of global proportions .
it is not the business of a national or European body to monitor , in an intrusive way , the use people make of the internet .
in the case of Belarus these conditions are not met .
given the increasing number and severity of natural disasters caused by climate change , I agree with the position put forward that it is important , not just to provide one-off aid , but also to provide support for communities ' own disaster-preparedness capabilities : the Hyogo action plan needs to be strengthened .
the Commission 's economic forecast in autumn 2009 predicted average budget deficits across the eurozone of 6.4 % and average government debts of 78.2 % , figures which , in turn , are both expected to increase in 2010 .
nevertheless , the need for a minimum margin has prevented us from exceeding EUR 300 million for the milk fund .
I would draw your attention to the fact that , at the end of 2004 , the Commission - my Commission - made a recommendation on excessive remuneration , not only in banks , but also in the economic system in general .
there is a common thread running through this proposal and the PNR proposal , with the indiscriminate handling of air passenger data , and the regulation on liquids , which was put in place after an alleged attack two years ago , but it was then discovered , after the regulation had come into force , that all those who had been suspected of terrorism had been acquitted .
several speakers have referred today to the need to make the situation simpler , but we must do this by putting in place standardised rules for the different funds , as far as this is feasible and possible .
( EL ) Mr President , we do not agree with the political approach of this budget , because it increases military spending and because it slowly but surely merges its policy with NATO policy .
I must protest .
the second network is INSAFE , which coordinates awareness centres in 23 European countries and also organises the Safer Internet Day every year - this year it was on 12 February .
in other areas , it would also strictly mean a monetisation of health , or a monetary evaluation of health .
this is probably just as important .
it is intended to bring about a significant improvement in the joint institutional framework of the EU and the Republic of Moldova , to allow closer relationships to develop in all areas and to strengthen the political association and the economic integration , while introducing mutual rights and duties .
the newly admitted Member States , which are often less developed and have a specific demographic structure , with large numbers of young people , require completely different tax policies to the old EU Member States .
that is why I abstained from the final vote on this report .
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Croatia : progress report 2008 - Turkey : progress report 2008 - Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia : progress report 2008 ( debate )
the procedure is always the same : the young man has to climb onto a stool , the noose is placed around his neck , and when the executioner kicks away the stool , the noose pulls tight .
the EU is talking about spreading democracy across the EU , and my colleague Mr Hannan has already given many details of such hypocrisy .
if , however , as in the recent notorious Polish case , an entity obtains funding from one government only to have it taken away by another , a number of concerns emerge .
Sixty-seven per cent of the Irish population : what we saw on Friday is a clear message to the Eurosceptics .
good neighbourly relations are essential during the process of transition to EU Member State status .
we are very privileged to have very professional and committed people working for Parliament , the Council and the Commission , but the reality of it is that within this Parliament , we do not have a grasp of exactly what a lot of these staff do .
they are afraid that patients will travel to countries where they will not have to wait months or years for an operation like they do at home .
we regret the previous position of the Liberal Government in Bucharest and the ALDE group in the European Parliament , which refused the mandate extension for the European Commissioner appointed by Romania for minority issues in Europe , including issues related to the Roma population .
for this reason I have every confidence that this agreement will lead to closer coordination of positions on crisis situations and issues of world importance , on the basis of shared interests and concerns .
educating the children of migrants is not segregated from the EU 's overall immigration policy , a policy characterised by harsh measures against those who are not required by big business and which qualifies as illegal immigration the selective legalisation and integration into work , of course on much less favourable terms , of immigrants who meet the needs of the monopolies .
here we have the paradox of not finding common ground on the budget .
as a member of the ACP-EU ( African , Caribbean and Pacific-European Union ) Joint Parliamentary Assembly , I voted resolutely in favour of this report on the work carried out by the assembly in 2009 .
I will not be supporting most of the amendments tabled by some of my colleagues .
this is a necessary and essential condition for the budget of the European Union to actually fulfil its economic recovery function .
we also need to provide much more encouragement and reward for intelligent and sustainable behaviour and practices .
those who rely on copyright for their income would beg to differ .
a true energy efficiency policy should also mean an opportunity to sell electricity at a lower price to railways , metros and trams , as happened in France before the European directives on the single energy market prohibited it .
in writing . - ( IT ) I welcome the report by Manolis Mavrommatis on the White Paper on Sport .
a forward-looking drugs policy must be based on effective smashing of drug rings , instant deportation of foreign drug dealers and the adoption of targeted priority actions , along with the provision of better treatment services for drug users .
to what has already been said I would like to add only that between 2001 and 2007 , 20 000 children disappeared , 500 of whom were found .
I will believe that when I see it .
I am very pleased that the European Parliament has today decided to support numerous people who have been adversely affected by globalisation .
I think , therefore , that this debate ought to be useful in highlighting the lessons of 2010 , so that we can draw conclusions for 2011 .
it is in the interests of all citizens , particularly given the difficult economic and financial situation we face at present , to be able to count on efficient EU agencies that are able to use the budgets granted to them in a transparent and responsible fashion .
I find that it is not our business to foretell the possible developments in those countries .
Jamie is having problems finding a donor to save him from a condition known as Fanconi anaemia because in Malta we do not currently have a register of bone marrow donors .
to reinforce those fundamental rights for each single citizen can only be an advancement of what we think as being the real values of our Europe .
as a bridgehead for the South American drug smugglers , Guinea-Bissau has become a country of transit for drugs which are destined for Europe , where we represent the biggest consumer .
nevertheless , as we all know , immigration is a vital element for the economies of European countries and favourable for economic growth .
debates on cases of breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law ( debate )
I voted today in favour of the proposal for a directive adopting a standard mechanism to facilitate and strengthen protection granted to victims of crimes who move between Member States in exercise of their right of freedom of movement .
secondly , given the regime under which poultry producers operate , it is unreasonable to have two different standards , both from the perspective of the producers and more importantly from that of the consumers .
first of all , the European parties are , as you know , recognised as important entities by the Treaty that was ratified unanimously by our Member States .
in the first part of this communication , the Commission proposes a number of actions to have stronger , sustainable and equitable growth for business .
this is something which I felt people had touched upon in this debate , but I would urge you , if you are interested in the issue of kinship carers , to look at the work of Mentor UK and the help that is given to kinship carers in different countries .
the legislation which has applied to date is not very transparent and therefore we are now integrating the procedure for all Member States in this area , thereby simplifying the approval and placing of novel foods onto the market .
we cannot have our cake and eat it : we cannot make cuts and , at the same time , invest in infrastructure .
it is about the procedures of the European Arrest Warrant and whether it is being misused for political purposes .
it is a shame that the President-in-Office cannot be present for the whole time .
asylum seekers ' right to legal aid applies at different levels .
a special focus is also needed on health prevention and information , in coordination with organisations from civil society .
specifically regarding Amendment 14 , whilst I commend the efforts of Scottish fishermen , who have taken a lead in voluntarily reducing the catch of immature fish , I cannot support the implementation of a compensation scheme that is administered by the EU institutions .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , you said today that products with a designation of origin are a spearhead for our industry .
the report notes the abolition of the death penalty in several countries , the progress made on violence against women , the protection of children , the fight against torture , protection for human rights activists , the promotion of democracy and religious freedom , and so on .
but negotiations on our common steps at expert level are , to date , not finished .
traditional jobs in these areas have declined in number .
its aim is to gradually connect up the energy markets in the region , overcoming deficiencies in interconnections and creating common market mechanisms .
neatly , we see how the American 's place is always in the wrong in this House .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , with today 's vote , we have given a further boost to the - how should I put it - definitive solution to this problem , but we have not adopted the best possible solution .
3 .
yes , that policy has yet to yield all the positive results expected , but to return to the past would really be wrong .
there is a need for greater flexibility when delineating the territories in which cohesion policy programmes are designed and implemented .
I am offering to provide , in an organised manner , those Members of Parliament who so wish with a complete briefing on the technical measures that we can take at European level .
first of all , their status should be identified , and it should be established whether they can all be released without risk .
by Mr Fjellner , on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control , on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European GNSS Supervisory Authority for the financial year 2007 ( C6-0446 / 2008 - ,
the country was the last in Europe to grant women the right to vote in federal elections , in the 1970s , and for a long time , women have constituted a social group which finds it difficult not only to participate fully in civil society , but also to access education and professional self-fulfilment .
Mr President , I would like to ask a question of Mr Posselt , for whom I have enormous respect .
approval of the Minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
I am very glad to say that , this year , the mobile phone industry came up with very concrete actions to inform parents and children about the difficulties and to block programmes which are dangerous for children in the third generation of mobile phones .
Mr President , I should like to say to Mr Moraes that the proposal for a directive on the conditions for entry and residence of third-country nationals for highly qualified employment - the ' Blue Card ' Directive - was presented by the Commission to the Council in October 2007 , as he is moreover aware .
winners of the Nobel Peace Prize - Liu Xiaobo - and the Sakharov Prize - Guillermo Fariñas - were not able to receive their awards , because they did not receive permission from the regimes where they live to leave their country .
Europe has a unique opportunity to show leadership and set an example to the world for a free and open internet .
for example , Regulation ( EC ) No 998 / 2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council harmonises the rules for non-commercial movements of pet animals between Member States or after their entry or re-entry into the Community from third countries .
I therefore congratulate Mr Frattini on this initiative , which shows that the required willingness exists to make this an EU priority and to create a general EU strategy to effectively promote and protect children 's rights in internal and external policies .
this debate has the purpose of confirming that there is no room for ethnic profiling in Europe : so much so that the Government seems to be doing an about-turn on this issue and we welcome that if it is the case .
few citizens believe in it .
finally , lifelong education and training .
it is precisely this part , that is , the issue of reducing carbon dioxide emissions , that makes up the most important section of this document .
it is opposed to pacifist ideals and provokes threats of war .
I hope that you can confirm this again today .
a genuine process of negotiation must be begun .
that raises the question of how we deal with offshore installations in the Baltic Sea .
( applause )
I think the greatest fears arise from the possibility of collisions between freight trains and passenger trains .
sport is a means of improving physical condition , but obviously it also influences the human psyche .
I would like an answer to that .
it will clearly give a boost to their citizens , giving them the same rights and privileges as their neighbours .
with regard to the long term , I cannot see any progress or movement in the field of development assistance , which can be understood in the sense of security policy .
considering these issues should not be , and must not be , a mere exercise or excuse for claiming legal sovereignty over matters that are currently the responsibility of individual nations .
as things stand currently , the maximum compensation amounts depend on the size of the vessel and the number of victims , and this is unacceptable .
there comes a time when surrealism verges on madness .
that is because every day this gang remains in power is a reflection of our powerlessness and of the fact that the international community does not have the muscle to keep this oppressor in check .
I would say to both of those countries that the accession procedure is an opportunity to bring your laws into line and to explain to your citizens the need to do so , and that once you join this club you , do not join a club which is based on an à la carte menu .
I therefore welcome this initiative by the Commission .
I call on the Commission to speed up its impact assessment and to prioritise the drafting of a regulation on these measures so that it may be adopted as soon as possible : before 2013 , if possible .
but what is being done in Gaza is not justice : it is slaughter .
a shared vision of the future and effective political dialogue between the political forces will be crucial to ensuring progress .
one specific example of this is the non-recognition of Romanian and Bulgarian citizens ' education diplomas after both countries ' accession to the EU , while the directive on this matter was enforcing something different .
could I just finally pick up one of my favourite items .
I also entirely agree that everything he considers important Parliament also considers important , such as education and research .
I think that creating a long-term expectation of integration is not positive either for the EU or for Turkey .
if we only depend upon imported low-carbon technologies , we will fail our security of supply and competitiveness objectives .
Parliament is not responsible for this matter : the salary of Members - which stands at 38.5 % of the salary of a judge in court - is set by the Council , and the value of the other grants is set by the Bureau and not by Parliament , and cannot exceed the level of inflation published by Eurostat .
today , however , we are concerned with the fate of children detached from society for reasons that are not fully understood .
their petition resulted in a public hearing and in a European Parliament report , which highlighted the need to include other countries , and the EU in particular , in the decision-making process .
the Commission agrees with the honourable Member on the importance of reporting on the concrete benefits of the European Social Fund .
this is also the reason why we will remain active .
that being the case , I have no problem telling Mrs Trautmann that I do not agree with her view that we should exclude completely any reference to intellectual property rights .
I would like to summarise the content of this report based on three main ideas .
finally , Commissioner , I would like you to bear in mind that in the European Union no two legal systems in the different regions and countries are the same ; each one is different .
what are the Council and Commission doing to resolve this unhelpful situation ?
at the same time , experts ' networks and professional cooperation should be strengthened .
I think that in the future it will show that protecting those who create was the right choice , and that increasing efficiency of rights management infrastructures will prove wrong those who claim that better protection will lead to a less thriving online culture .
there is no excuse for this , nor is the argument that Israel has a right to its own security enough .
it is such a pity that this is a summit that is not well prepared - Mr Van Rompuy is partly responsible for that , as is Mr Oettinger .
( the sitting was opened at 9 a.m. )
it is essential that the global commitment to addressing the specific needs of the LDCs , as regards the sustainability of development in all of its economic , social and environmental aspects , and to supporting them in their efforts to eradicate poverty , be reaffirmed during this conference .
the next question is : should we also introduce it at a European level ?
( DE ) Many thanks , Commissioner , for your reply .
( the President interrupted the speaker to explain that the debate was on another subject , but then invited him to continue ... )
we must determine who was responsible and these people must be named and shamed .
I fully agree with the report where it states that Member States must coordinate the acquisition of vaccines , exchange information and create better transparency .
( DE ) Mr President , we have talked about various different things as regards what would be the right way to go about talking to China and putting it under pressure , because clearly , very little makes much of an impression on this country .
three thousand five hundred Iranian men and women , members of the democratic opposition to the fundamentalist regime in Iran , live there completely defenceless .
you yourself mentioned demographic changes .
alas , subsequent developments cancel this unsteady step forward .
I completely reject assertions that we are doing little in the way of more profound measures .
I think that France has come up with a good solution of varying the bonus awarded to purchasers according to the emissions level of the car purchased .
it is horrifying that in the 21st century there are 215 million children in the world who are being forced to work , including around 115 million who have to perform hard slave labour .
this is because there must not be even a small chance that anyone is sent back and then comes across the trafficker again .
in that opinion we acknowledge that we still have to increase the coverage of our public registers and we confirm our commitment to further develop our public registers in the interests of enhanced transparency .
the following shall be established :
a solution to this issue of children rights is needed urgently .
this does not have to be the case .
if the countless mistakes made by the international community are not called into question , we are in danger of completely losing the confidence and support of the Afghan population , for the benefit of the Taliban .
I also believe that we must jointly come up with a widely shared political solution that will form the subject of a report acceptable to all of humanity or , if not , to a large majority of parliamentary groups .
our European supervisors in the US will be able to verify what happens to any European bank details on a daily basis .
subject : credit rating agencies
moreover , it acknowledges that people with disabilities face even more barriers to mobility than those who are not disabled and additional mechanisms should be put in place to ensure they are provided with the same opportunities as anyone else .
moreover , I note that this solution seems to have been chosen for the proposal on passports , on which the European Parliament has to make a decision .
in other words , they are administrators who do not work directly in these small businesses .
a similarly very , very important question is that the countries and regions of the Danube region , the people living here , were affected severely by the crisis , the economic and financial crisis , so the strategy for the Danube region must be a strategy of recovery from the crisis which must have increasing employment at its centre in any event .
statements of the kind that we have heard here are often expressed by various ministers in the Italian Government .
it is important that we encourage all Europeans to play their part in protecting the environment .
finally , Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I think that I am going to listen to all of you and also to the Commission , and I will conclude .
like Mr Muscat , I am conscious that cross-border consolidation in the finance industry increasingly results in VAT revenue accruing to the Member State where the service is created , rather than where the consumer of the service is established .
the anti-Strasbourg group is becoming organised and flexing its muscles more and more , in an attempt to make people believe that Parliament is unanimously against Strasbourg .
the focus is , of course , very much on the filling of the new posts .
the performance and sustainability of the European aviation system (
( EL ) Commissioner , as rapporteur on the European Indicator of Language Competence , I should like to point out that the duty of the indicator in question is to assess at regular intervals the overall competence in modern languages of all the Member States .
on the other hand , Member States will be able to concentrate their limited resources on transactions that actually do pose a risk .
Nelson Mandela 's name will forever be linked to the fight for freedom , justice and democracy .
with its further enlargement , EU funding now has to be divided among 27 Member States .
equality between men and women is a fundamental right and a democratic necessity .
it says nothing about the responsibility capitalists have assumed in over-exploiting natural resources .
this measure means that the world fishing quota of blue fin tuna will reduce from 22 000 tonnes currently to 13 500 tonnes in 2010 .
the signing of the Nabucco agreement , mentioned here by Mr Barroso , was also the result of work done by the Czech Presidency .
it is simply to delete the word ' Communist ' before ' insurgents ' , and to replace ' 120 000 lives ' with ' 40 000 lives ' .
they conducted investigations on what happened in Gaza and came up with conclusions that are disturbing to say the least .
the EU framework comes at a moment when the situation of Roma has become a real focus of attention in Europe .
production quotas and enormous fines for exceeding them .
the false accusations caused enormous financial losses to Spanish farmers , and not only them but probably the entire agricultural sector as well .
we have the European Parliament , we have the Commission , we have the European Council and , in the end , the institutions are responsible - not wise men or , as we would prefer maybe to say , ' the bright kids ' - and what they could bring as a stimulus to our debate .
we are living in a world which has seen a sharp increase in the number and frequency of new crises .
I am pleased that the report fleshes out the Commission 's recommendation , and for this I reiterate my congratulations to the rapporteur .
we have to consider this .
the system will ensure immunity of course , in order to encourage reporting .
this is good for the environment as well as for the economy .
what is the definition of wine ?
governments very often seek to influence the media , but when they resort to violence and the use of force they must be opposed with exceptional determination . and when there are fatal victims , the situation is exceptionally difficult .
Ireland is a completely different case , because it concerns the second level of the banking crisis and not a structural problem , as in other countries .
I can state that the directive does not propose any fixed or concrete matters but speaks about reasonable conformity and I can state again that that if reasonable conformity is applied from the outset there will not for the most part be any excessively high costs .
my support for the European arrest warrant is qualified by my dismay and indeed anger at some miscarriages of justice and the way it currently operates such as in the cases of Gary Mann and Andrew Symeou that I am involved in .
in this day and age , however , Big Brother will not appear , Mr President , because some dictatorship puts him there .
the problem is that the acquis communautaire does not protect consumers who purchase services as well as consumers who purchase goods .
the debate today has shown that there are also differing views within the groups .
therefore , angry on behalf of those people who want rescuing , let us coordinate with the Americans .
we therefore need to ask whether the internal monitoring systems in all the Member States are strong enough .
another is the buildings reserve , another is the posts which have now been put into reserve and another is the second tranche of EUR 1 500 per Member per month for the assistants ' allowance .
on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of his death , I would like briefly to honour and recognise his legacy and his life 's work in the cause of European integration at the start of this plenary sitting of the European Parliament .
this stipulation of the Rules of Procedure is certainly imperative for the European Parliament , but not for a properly appointed commissioner .
with today 's vote , we have confirmed our desire to ensure that , from farm to table , food in the European Union is as safe as possible for consumers .
on behalf of the Conference of Presidents I call on the Council to overturn at ministerial level the decision of the Permanent Representatives .
but we also need better regulation and principles for future EU legislation when it comes to motor vehicles .
it is not possible to contribute less but receive more .
therefore , bacause of the time constraint , I would like to highlight those aspects that need further development on the basis of the report by the champion and highly respected athlete and politician Pál Schmitt .
we are also dealing with over-regulation , with a view to simplifying the regulatory regime that is in place .
let us not forget either that not all uses are necessarily commercial in nature and therefore do not necessarily yield a profit - I am thinking of the use of the spectrum for cultural or public service purposes , for instance .
fine Gael and Labour are part of the PPE and S & D groups respectively in this Parliament .
when we demand that children too should have their biometric data in passports from a certain age , it is not due to mass hysteria , which I really do not share , but because we want to afford our children better protection .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I too would like to congratulate the French Presidency , or rather the few survivors from the Council after our long debate , as well as our Commissioner , who has shown greater stamina .
they are slowly discovering ecosystems which are extraordinary in nature , often hosting species found nowhere else on the planet .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( EL ) Commissioner , you are absolutely right : the rule of law is the foundation of the EU .
consider a girl who attends a French , Italian or Belgian school and suddenly , after having socialised with her peers , finds herself snatched from normality and forced to suffer a tragedy that will mark her for life .
alas , the domestic political crises in both nations have brought a renewed hardening and we , the European Parliament , are working very hard to get the situation moving again .
as we know , some of the new EU Member States are encountering a ' brain drain ' problem , for example , teachers who , having completed higher education in one country , leave for another country , where they do not work according to their profession , but receive a larger salary .
President of the Commission . - Mr President , it is indeed a very good and timely opportunity for us to meet today - one day before the important Spring European Council .
in my opinion , however , the draft is simply not good enough .
what can we do , then , to prevent further violence , and how can we help the people of Guinea in their legitimate desire for democracy , the rule of law , peace and development ?
it is intended , among other things , to help students choose from the rich educational assortment on offer .
the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights has of course identified a few positive developments , but the election process did not satisfy OSCE requirements for democratic elections .
it was a tragedy in which tens of thousands of people lost their lives , hundreds of thousands lost their homes , and the infrastructure in the most densely populated areas of the country was destroyed .
I believe that increasing competitiveness and growth , and trying to reach the 3 % , is absolutely vital if we are to see Europe grow in the way that we want it to .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I believe it is right that our Parliament should send the family of Mrs Reggiani a message of condolence .
another of the Commission 's responsibilities is the combating of environmental contamination .
the consequences of this catastrophe can still be seen in a generation that had not even been conceived at the time .
all the fears that governed the transitional arrangements put in place with the 2004 enlargement are now starting to dissipate .
furthermore , no policy can truly function without cross-sectoral implementation .
he is right to refer to truly shared political and social values .
we must find a way to make transposition of EU legislation accessible .
the second point on the European Council agenda is climate change .
the Spanish Government must do all it can to bring justice to those people affected .
going on to my speech as I wish to give it , I would like to take the time to commend the late David Kato for his brave work in Uganda , for defending not just his rights , but also the rights of other LGBT people in Uganda , and indeed of those in Africa .
before the vote I need to inform Parliament about some technical adjustments .
the fact that wine producers in Lithuania and some other countries with no vineyards are not receiving any support is unacceptable .
furthermore , if the European Union could arbitrate between Turkey and Cyprus , I believe we would save Greece 2 % of its GDP .
this will shortly be followed up with a proposal for a regulation .
these are tasks we wish to pursue and we are confident that the Conference of Donor Nations , scheduled for December in Paris , will provide an opportunity for the international community to express its support , in a practical way we hope , for the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine people in general .
I will start with the euro , which we must protect and strengthen while , at the same time , asking ourselves some fundamental questions .
in order to break the deadlock of the negotiations , the Hungarian Government needs to achieve compromises at the highest possible level .
it takes away the compensation payments which have been promised to farmers , without providing the rural development programmes with reliable funding .
in 2008 , that was not a problem .
I would also like to make a request to the Council for us to be able to finalise these budgets as soon as possible , so that both institutions can carry out their responsibilities in a responsible and efficient manner in the new or expanded areas introduced by the Treaty of Lisbon .
it is important to promote family farming , which creates jobs , and equal access to public services as also the provision of public services in order to respond to the needs of disadvantaged families , communities and groups .
however , let us take this urgency session in which we are discussing breaches of human rights and democracy a lot more seriously , because , if we do not we are going to lose all the credibility that we currently have , and this is clearly difficult to regain at international level .
moreover , human rights are universal and indivisible , or they mean nothing ; so the Union should have the confidence to defend our values within our borders and outwith them .
- ( LT ) The discussion on the common energy policy and energy security started in 2006 in the wake of the Russian-Ukrainian gas crisis , the consequences of which had an unfavourable impact on Europe .
so we must continue to focus on both institutional and economic reforms to be undertaken by Ukraine in parallel .
- Madam President , can I remind you that this would not have happened to Mr Schulz .
in Europe , airborne fine particles due to energy consumption now kill around 300 000 people each year .
as a result of some of the policies in the common fisheries policy , thousands of tonnes of edible fish are dumped dead over the sides of fishing boats around our coasts .
indeed , one of the key issues was to ensure the rapid entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty , which is crucial if we want to be able to confront the challenges that lie ahead together .
as the Commissioner has said , China is now Africa 's third most important trading partner .
situation in Kyrgyzstan (
my very warm thanks to you .
this is why the texts that we are discussing today are so important .
at present , the Commission is carrying out an impact assessment on a possible legal solution for orphan works at European level and we are discussing what could be done , but if you do not mind , I will come back to that when we talk of the digital agenda , for that is one of the issues that we have to touch upon .
it should also be stressed that research funding problems primarily affect small and medium-sized enterprises .
what does the Commission plan to do in order to get the Member States to finance mentoring and training programmes , and also to ensure that interest payments are subsidised from European Social Fund resources , as agreed ?
yet - and this is the striking feature of Ukrainian politics currently - there has been a steady movement in the direction of marginalising alternative centres of power .
those regions which are totally or heavily dependent for their development on tourism are seeing their businesses threatened and are facing the future with uncertainty , particularly as tourism is not currently one of the competences of the European Union .
to date , there has been a widespread feeling of impunity , as in most cases any sanctions end up not having any effect .
I voted in favour of Mr Karim 's reports .
Bulgaria 's present government is under attack from the old status quo , the remnants of the communist regime in the structures of power and those who illegally enriched themselves during the period of transition .
2 .
Mrs Ţicău mentioned the Paris Memorandum of Understanding .
firstly , I must express some concern about the creation of a legal framework for a cost-sharing scheme with regard to major disease .
we advocate the definition of clear guidelines on the best way of collaborating to promote political stability , fight climate change , manage migratory flows and prevent natural disasters .
( DE ) My question also relates to the Strategy for the Danube Region .
I would like to stress that the completion of this process will ensure a consistently high quality of universal service for all European citizens and for the business community .
however , I have been watching television all day , keeping up with all the news , and it seems to me that Ouattara is still in the process of winning the war .
it is an intelligent proposal .
the European economy very much needs vocational qualifications in the next decade .
one hundred and thirty grams will be delivered through passenger car technology and ten additional grams will be provided through complementary measures , including fuel efficiency targets for light commercial vehicles and an increased use of biofuels .
the aim of a civilised society is surely such a demanding one that we simply cannot move towards one based on the sort of content we have at the moment .
I will direct my question to Mr Swoboda - since Mrs Lunacek has already criticised our Chancellor , Mr Faymann , and his party colleagues .
Mr President , I should also like to point out the important part you have played in promoting the EU 's policy on climate change .
within our sphere of influence are those states with which we trade .
Madam President , the violence in the Republic of Moldova was not a revolution but a mutiny , which took place within a revolutionary atmosphere in a divided society .
( ES ) Mr President , the members of the Spanish delegation of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament are going to vote in favour of the mandate of the Commission that has been christened Barroso II .
this amounts , on average , to about EUR 3 a week for each European citizen .
because of the reasons set out and because I believe that the European Union is going through a period that requires more effort in terms of making Europe stronger and more competitive , while retaining the need to strengthen inter-institutional dialogue , I am voting in favour of this draft presented by Parliament .
standards in the compromise version have been ratcheted up , and a high level set for our region .
the Greek Government has repeatedly proven that it wishes to close this chapter once and for all , by increasing bilateral contacts at prime ministerial level .
I can only repeat what the Commission President has already told you , that this will be handed over to the new Commission .
one of the main problems which we have to tackle here is , of course , dual taxation .
at the same time , we Europeans have opened all the back doors in order to avoid a reduction policy at home .
at its June meeting the European Council summarised the many steps forward we have made .
two major projects are currently being developed : South Stream and Nabucco .
3 .
Europe , however , refuses to accept the opinion of the people and wants to ram the Constitution down the throats of Europeans through the backdoor , pretending that everything in the garden is rosy and talking of a so-called ' dialogue with the citizen in the framework of the Treaty of Lisbon ' with the greatest cynicism .
we are conscious of the competition issues that have arisen but we think that a better agreement could have been reached .
these are substantial targets that require substantial investment .
unfortunately , Spain , Portugal and Italy also have high budget deficits .
with regard to the economic recovery and reflationary plan discussed by the Ecofin Council yesterday , the Ministers agreed with the Commission 's view that , given the economic situation and the recession affecting the United States , Japan , the euro area and some major EU economies outside the euro area , a fiscal stimulus is essential .
these questions are in large measure answered by the report , which still does not resolve many fundamental problems connected , for example , with legislation , ritual slaughter and forming the conscience of society .
we have already heard from Sweden about the problem of pieces of cake being served in the back of the church .
I repeat : the treaty clearly states that a Member State cannot be forced to take on debts .
the current policy framework also allows money to already be spent on projects in 2009 .
it is increasingly recognised that drinking is extremely harmful to children and young people .
in Austria , 47 % of unemployed single parents live in chronic poverty .
it is dictated more by emotion than by real need , and could bring the economies of the world 's leading industrialised nations to their knees .
farmers have made investments based on those figures .
in my view , this agency 's activities will inevitably extend beyond the thematic areas for which it was established .
for that reason , there can be no common consolidated corporate tax base , and the principle of fair tax competition must remain .
the aim of the approved resolution is to call on the Commission , after the fruitless attempts at mediation with the Council , to reiterate the proposal in the light of the new responsibilities that Parliament has acquired with the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon .
we have now managed to arrive at a balanced result , that is both consumer-friendly and business-friendly .
secondly , I believe that the European Union needs to commit itself more wholeheartedly to this project .
this can be seen from their attempts to place the opposition in exile on a list of terrorist organisations , as well as their attempts to close the Ashraf refugee camp in Iraq .
( PL ) Mr President , the Polish shipyard industry is under threat of total closure because the European Commission is demanding the return of sums provided from public aid .
it is the story of the first wine drinkers .
( PL ) I would like to express my satisfaction that today 's debate on the matters related to bloody totalitarian systems has been possible . it is regrettable that the debate is so short and perfunctory .
are these reports true ?
the Portuguese Presidency of the Council has stated that it will seek to promote EU cooperation with the Mediterranean countries .
I shall repeat , once again this year , that the budget is inadequate and the multiannual financial framework is unsuitable .
to all my fellow Members who are standing for re-election and who are re-elected , I should like to say that I hope that we , provided of course that I am re-elected , will continue our good work .
follow the example of the US population , which is starting a second major revolution : the conservative people 's revolution !
why did this happen ?
we also need to consider - and that would be a task for your successor , whether that is you or someone else - how we in Europe , on the one hand , can be in favour of a number of large projects , such as Nabucco and Desertec , while at the same time advocating the decentralisation of some of our electricity and energy production .
the world does not have to bow down to one language and one culture .
it is on this other ground that we shall be urging it on , but we must achieve a European patent .
there have been many bankruptcies and traffic has been shut down .
it increases the range of relevant information for decision making and provides knowledge of legitimate interests which are worthy of consideration .
it seems absurd to me that during border controls , technical equipment containing audio and video recordings for personal use may be confiscated .
there is no margin for error , for reasons we know all too well .
in writing . - In Kyösti Virrankoski 's report ' Amending budget No1 / 2008 ' regarding the Solidarity Fund , we can see that the EU is prepared to put fresh money into the mobilisation of the Solidarity Fund in the UK .
in recent years , Serbia has made major progress in moving towards Europe .
as a result , ordinary people in Belarus regard EU policy towards them as a policy of empty words !
this cooperation is key in dealing in the best possible way with the mutual impact that the environment and health have on each other .
the European Parliament must be kept informed of how the situation develops , especially regarding the implementation of a waste management plan , pursuant to the 4 March 2010 judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union and to EU legislation .
the infringement of democratic principles during the election was followed by protests , brutal repression of a demonstration and the arrest of demonstrators .
texts of agreements forwarded by the Council : see Minutes
Spain 's experience is like the bull in the corrida : proud and strong to start with , but bleeding to death in the sand by the end .
I would like to emphasise that it is also vital to find out what conditions are like in the countries that people are fleeing from .
the situation in the European Union must change , because we are living in an internal market .
in the context of regulating the supervisory bodies and the discussion about hedge funds , we have proposed that we should take appropriate measures on a European level and we will make the same resolution on derivatives , if you , Mr Langen , do what you are always saying .
we will not move forward through an obsession with the state and with the market .
we need to intensify our work towards effective global convergence policies on crisis management and systemically important financial institutions .
far from being our shield and protection , EU directives have frequently stolen a march on the WTO .
( DE ) Madam President , one of the accomplishments of the European Parliament that has attracted the most attention is the amendment of the ' Bolkestein Directive ' by replacing the country of origin principle with the principle of freedom to provide services .
now more than ever , we need to build a new Europe that will at last provide economic protection for our regions and our nations through an active policy of reassuming control of our internal market .
of course , we pay cereal growers to stop growing crops : we call it ' restructuring aid ' , like the set-aside payment or the grubbing-up premium .
so it is reasonable to support the negotiated package so that the Foundation can function as soon as possible on solid bases .
once the Directive on the promotion of clean and energy efficient road transport vehicles comes into force , around March , we will initiate the development of an internet site to facilitate joint clean vehicle procurement .
I want to add the word ' initial ' between ' the government 's ' and ' decision ' , so the wording will be ' Regrets the government 's initial decision not to attend the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony in Oslo on 10 December ; welcomes , on the other hand , the Ombudsman 's initiative to attend the ceremony as a responsible and praiseworthy decision ' .
I should like to thank the Commissioner .
at the same time , we must give the impression this morning of a Europe that is working for everyone .
urban areas have the task , today , of making transport sustainable in environmental ( CO2 , air pollution , noise ) , competition ( congestion ) and social ( demographic changes , inclusion , health ) terms .
in case these two safety measures fail us , we need to do more to protect our planes and avoid in-flight incidents .
in 2009 alone , the Commission provided a total of EUR 950 million to approximately 115 million people in more than 70 countries .
in order to overcome the demographic challenges of the future , a consistent family friendly policy is needed .
in December the European Council specifically asked you and the Commission to look deeper into this issue .
this is a chance to give fresh impetus to the accession process in several key areas .
in my opinion , this is the problem which does most harm to the development prospects of the African continent .
the Commission must manage the interconnection of these systems and expand their functionality in order to streamline costs .
most of these were technical amendments aimed at aligning the text with the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union .
Mr Schulz said that poverty has increased .
Europe 's largest inland sea can and must be saved .
we propose to cooperate unconditionally with you if you wish to make progress on a European tax system .
but when they look at how it is organised and constituted today , they are not impressed with its organisation or its disposition .
( applause )
I reaffirm the need to adopt specific measures which will facilitate economic governance , based on in-depth , transparent knowledge , and open debate about any domestic measures adopted in Member States which may produce an impact at EU level .
the debate is closed .
the Paris Conference has clearly shown that our focus has to be very strong on rural development .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , today we are called upon to vote on a package of aid for Holland , which has requested the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for an overall sum of EUR 10.5 million .
the response of the European Central Bank to the crisis was effective , although it was guilty at times of acting late or with a lack of assertiveness , in particular , the policy of reducing interest rates , which was more radical and effective in the United Kingdom and the US Federal Reserve .
Member States have a sovereign competence for establishing their own national constitutions , and in this case , we should respect the right of the Hungarian people to determine their own constitution adopted by their democratically-elected national parliament .
the committee realises that since this will be the first ever evaluation table for consumer markets , some of these indicators will have to be replaced with new ones in the future .
on the one hand , demographic change means that people fortunately have longer life expectancies and remain physically and mentally active for longer .
as rapporteur for the Agreement between the European Community and the United Mexican States with regard to certain aspects of air services , I want to stress the importance of this agreement .
it is a cornerstone of EU foreign policy , founded on the values of freedom , democracy and respect for human rights and international law , which is something that unites us .
we must welcome this given the extreme situation faced by regulators .
we must be realistic on this matter .
trade in goods and services accounts for approximately 20 % of global greenhouse gas emissions .
the Agreement between the EC and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau for the period from June 2007 to June 2011 , provides for the granting of 37 fishing licences , four of them for Portugal .
this is the best way to counteract asymmetric market opening .
I also believe that we need to rethink our approach and come up with a new one which goes into greater depth and is far more fundamental .
the light-touch regulation of the financial markets was always a road to rip-off and corruption .
this much watered-down alcohol strategy for Europe proved that the alcohol industry won and the EU citizens lost .
for me , there is a whiff of superiority here , with Europe saying : ' we have got rid of child labour , but you Indians are still using it ' .
this is also closely connected to the question of prosperity .
each side was convinced we could do better .
in writing . - ( IT ) Foreign trade is one of the most powerful political tools we have available in our dealings with third countries .
in the least developed countries , only 28 in 100 women giving birth are attended by trained personnel . the objective of MDG 5 is to reduce the ratio of women dying in childbirth by three quarters between 1990 and 2015 .
the bottom-up decision-making process , with the involvement of the regions concerned , ensures support for development by harnessing specific regional aspects .
other considerations aside , we must promote quality and excellence , both among students and among teaching staff , and this can only be done with constant support , both in terms of politics and of investment , for mobility within the education system ; this support should be both national and European .
in exercising its eventual role in the monitoring board , the Commission must also represent the other European institutions , in particular this House .
the basis for doing so is guaranteed by the new Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union , the Treaty of Lisbon , a recently elected Parliament and the new Commission now being formed .
it is , however , entirely up to the Member States which strategy to choose , based on their specific circumstances .
I ask the leaders of the European Parliament to offer assistance to the victims , should this become necessary .
you know that we are currently negotiating a free trade agreement with India , where the whole matter of sustainability also has to be addressed .
if we want a well-balanced , informative media environment , we must support independent public broadcasters as the counterparts of private broadcasters .
EU-Latin America and Caribbean Summit ( vote )
falling behind schedule is one thing , not making up the lost time is another , just when we are also committed to adopting the energy and climate change package , which is one of the great challenges the European Union has to face .
passenger safety must be our overriding concern .
this is why I welcome the announcement by President Lee Myung-bak that the South Korean Government intends to avoid escalation of the worrying situation .
finally , I would say to Mrs Bobošíková that it was the Cossacks who wrote to the Sultan , not the other way around .
thank you very much and apologies again for being late .
given the huge salary that Mr Barroso is on , can he not spend another 30 minutes with us on a regular basis , to make this an hour and a half ?
long-term security is important , but we would ideally like a well-functioning instrument with a vision until 2020 .
secondly , the importance of presenting proposals and working hypotheses in order to make it easier to implement measures in the Member States , with administrative procedures and management strategies that give priority to the quality of the projects and to their impact on the living and working conditions of European citizens .
nevertheless , I cannot fail to underline that it must take into account the competences of the European institutions , so an institutional framework separate from these must not be created .
terrible pressure is put on members of staff , who work for hours on end or , in any case , for longer periods of time and without rest .
the barriers in question are described in the communication adopted by the Commission in September .
in writing . - I and my British Conservative colleagues are supportive of factual information being available to the public on EU policies and institutions and improving transparency .
if we now look at the funds transfers that are being discussed in this regard , it is a key point that they should be very well monitored and be tied to conditions , because otherwise all we are doing is opening a second route to development aid .
it will then become more attractive to combine several modes , for instance with part of the journey being done by rail and the freight then continuing by boat .
in the case of Vilnius , in particular , we have a very good opportunity to show how strong cooperation can actually be .
in three years 48 305 immigrants arrived in the Canary Islands .
for this reason , I agree with the rapporteurs ' call for the Commission to present a report on its implementation every three years and , if relevant , to propose a revision of the regulation .
I congratulate you : you can improve the situation in Belgium .
these are two elements which I think we need to develop in the coming months .
I believe that we have reached a good compromise , especially as it represents significant progress compared with the current situation , although , as in any compromise , we have all had to make concessions and be flexible , in what has been an especially complex task , as the Commission proposal arrived before the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon .
so I very much hope that the European Parliament will soon join the position taken by these states .
he wants to see the huge numbers of foreigners already here being integrated , assimilated and absorbed into the employment process .
I am glad to note that the strategy proposed by the Commission in its communication of 23 October was endorsed by the Council last week .
the answer will be given by the citizens , by rewarding those who are calling for legislation and punishing those who wanted to persuade us that self-regulation is the panacea for all the evils we are experiencing today .
this important milestone will serve as an encouragement for Serbia , as it has renewed its efforts to promote reconciliation in the region .
attracting more people into employment and retaining more people in employment so as to increase the labour supply and to make social protection systems workable ;
what we need is research and data : we need an EU-wide data bank where we can actually share best practice and make things better for somebody who is trying to lead a normal life but cannot drive a car , cannot ride a motorcycle and cannot get on with their ordinary life , and yet is perfectly intelligent .
what exactly does the European Union want , though ?
the second reason is interinstitutional equilibrium .
Mr President , I voted against Amendments 17D and 19 , which attacked NATO and called for the removal of NATO bases here in the European Union .
Claude mentioned 15 years .
Europe , its institutions and its policies will one day be adopted and applied by governments on the left and the right - that is the law of alternation .
particular attention must be paid to the economic , social and ecological consequences of an increase or abolition of quotas , particularly in mountainous regions .
we would like to thank you for your visit to the European Parliament .
on 15 December , Mr Barrot undertook to promote a European Charter on the rights of victims of terrorism .
it exports the sick social model of the rich European countries to the countries of Africa and Asia .
we wish you , President Abbas , every success in all your efforts to bring about peace .
making the European Union the scapegoat for every problem instead of facing up to their responsibility , and then asking citizens , two weeks before a referendum , to give their endorsement is dishonest , irresponsible and disingenuous .
I approve of the fact that in this period of crisis , the activities of the European Investment Bank should be focused on helping small and medium-sized enterprises , which are the backbone of our society .
the common agricultural policy is and remains a key area of Community policy and of the EU budget .
author . - Madam President , the Democratic People 's Republic of Korea is anything but democratic as it has one of the worst records on human rights violations in the world .
however , despite also demanding more detailed information on the staff , budget and work carried out by these agencies , the Commission 's proposal agrees to give these agencies greater room for manoeuvre in terms of transfers of appropriations which must be duly monitored .
we will be vigilant regarding the deadlines for applying these conventions while , of course , respecting the principle of subsidiarity .
however , child labour , which is widespread , especially in China , is covered by the standards I have already mentioned , which trading partners are required to observe .
it is not just European warming , it is global warming .
furthermore , when it comes to the European arrest warrant , frankly my doubts turn into outright opposition .
instead of being imposed , the European Development Fund 's priorities must be revised , taking into account the opinion , the priorities and the real needs of developing countries .
the results of the vote in the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety were on the whole positive .
just like the annual report , it is thorough , complete and user-friendly .
the present report makes an important contribution to achieving that goal .
we also commend the Southern parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement for their leadership , and the Sudanese Referendum Authorities for the remarkable job they did in organising the referendum despite the enormous challenges they faced .
nor , for that matter , is there much advantage in having in Europe a bloc of similar industrialised economies , where we have cut ourselves off from the growing markets of the rest of the world .
favouring some countries in Central Asia over others risks creating a discord and division in the region .
in Finland peat has been defined as slowly renewing biomass fuel .
naturally , there are still many more steps to be taken and in this vein , I would express my concern over the numerous arrests of journalists .
now that we are halfway through the Belgian Presidency , can the Council state what action it intends to take before the end of the Presidency with a view to implementing the measure called for by Parliament ?
a complete transformation of maritime policy is essential .
we have more flexibility , we can provide our budgets earlier , and we can invest more in energy-efficient buildings and housing , for example .
not all regions are the same ; even within an individual Member State , the regions differ .
( DE ) Madam President , I have a specific question for Commissioner Dimas .
is it not understandable , Commissioner , that the European Union should have difficulty finding EUR 3.4 billion to finance as strategic a project from an industrial , scientific and military point of view as Galileo , under these circumstances ?
this is why I believe that it is important for European institutions to exert tighter control , which will prevent the recurrence of such a situation at European level in the future .
operation Atalanta was conceived as a political opportunity to add a maritime dimension to ESDP during the French Presidency .
we still need an evaluation .
( ES ) Mr President , I congratulate and support Carlos Coelho , and I would like to point out that this report was adopted unanimously in the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs .
it is the EU country with the highest number of tuberculosis patients and it is in the penultimate place when it comes to the quality of diabetes treatment although diabetes is the disease with the highest predisposition .
with regard to training , we need to adjust work skills to the demands of the new economy and to do so in a way that is economically accessible for workers and businesses .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( IT ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I too , like all my colleagues , would like to congratulate the rapporteur , Mr Ferber , on his work .
what should be discussed at the summit on Friday is Portugal .
turning agricultural , domestic and industrial waste into energy has always seemed to me to be the most sensible of all the renewable options .
Mrs De Sarnez , you are right , there is still much to be done .
this priority means a lot to me and to my services ; it means a lot to our businesses in Europe and for the employment they are able to create for our workers , flowing from increased market access and from the strengthening of world trade that is at the heart of our trade policy strategy for a global Europe .
in Poland 's case , thermal modernisation , alongside cogeneration , can bring economic , social and ecological benefits .
we can read about it in the Galvin report and elsewhere , but attempts are being made to sweep this under the carpet .
she is also going to use the opportunity of attending the forthcoming investiture of Mr Yanukovich in Kiev , which it is presumed will be attended by Mr Lukashenko , to tackle this issue , which will continue to be discussed in future by the European Union 's Foreign Affairs Council , because it is a very important matter .
it is a perfect illustration of what we can achieve if we can establish our health priorities in good time .
thanks to political correctness , the indigenous peoples of Europe are all too easily labelled right-wing extremist or even racist for insisting on their basic culture , whilst migrants seldom face this problem .
the global economic crisis burdens us all , yet we must not forget or ignore the fact that the least developed countries are also the most vulnerable now .
the fate of the Lithuanian textile and clothing sector is closely linked to the EU , as 84 % of Lithuanian textiles are exported to the EU .
in writing . - The case is identical to the previous one ( see , but here the request for the waiver of immunity was forwarded by the French authorities .
what are we doing ?
it is an indictment of Europe that the foreign ministers of the Member States in the Council cannot manage to respond to this .
the recast technique does not tie the hands of the legislator more than the traditional way of amending legislation .
( MT ) I believe that it is a worthwhile matter to talk about how we can create more jobs in the European Union .
the report includes the importance of public services in meeting the basic needs of citizens and we feel we need to emphasise this within the new framework established by the Treaty of Lisbon .
the current situation leads to negative competition between the systems . that is not a good thing for businesses or for their employees .
not least because the Czech President does not share the mainstream EU view of the Russia-Georgia conflict .
documents received : see Minutes
on the other hand , this is such an important matter that we cannot neglect it .
in writing . - I voted in favour of the Berès report because of my support for the vast majority of its contents .
however , we have objections to paragraph 19 , which calls for a military ESDP mission in Georgia - although we would see nothing controversial in an EU civilian observer presence .
there is no point in insisting as I will not give you the floor .
however , aid is also important , for restoration , for re-establishing production potential and for compensating for the social costs and job losses .
we must protect intellectual property more effectively , we must press harder for global rules and standards , we must strengthen the WTO , and we must practise transatlantic partnership .
who is speaking in favour of the motion ?
while I believe that Serbia 's entry into the EU is a considerable step forward for both the EU and the Republic of Serbia , I voted in favour of the motion for a resolution because I believe that the country will very soon manage to overcome all the limitations which have created such a wide gap between the two for so long .
that is exactly what I have said I will do and that is exactly what I am going to do - a stronger Europe for freedom and solidarity .
what fine words can we use in our anniversary toasts ?
Mr President , Azerbaijan has appeared once again on the agenda of the European Parliament .
you also said that in 1998 and 1999 , the working party chose neither to authorise nor propose the withdrawal of this product . yet we know that the medicinal product was withdrawn in the United States in 1997 .
the macro-financial assistance for Ukraine is the first case to be decided under the new procedure .
that is good .
there was one of my questions he did not answer , which related to the reasoned opinion sent to Belgium by the Commission back in 2008 .
let us not think that nothing can be done about these tragedies .
this will , of course , involve acting consistently with the other political objectives of the Union .
I wish our Mexican colleagues and friends a successful stay in Strasbourg .
therefore , we must do our utmost to increase the number of devotees of the Mediterranean diet in Europe and beyond , and its inclusion on the World Heritage List is an important step in this regard .
that is why the Copenhagen meeting is important .
5 .
effective climate protection regulation will continue to require flexibility mechanisms .
the European Parliament expresses its satisfaction that the Court of Auditors has stated that the transactions underlying the Centre 's annual accounts for the 2009 financial year are legal and regular .
face up to your responsibility to examine critically how countries deal with this legislation and whether they apply it effectively .
while there has been full cooperation between the Irish security authorities and our European counterparts in the whole area of police matters , the full benefits of the EU are not being shared by Irish citizens .
I am disappointed that my proposal for regulation of postal and telecommunications pricing between the national territories and the ORs was not upheld .
it is planned that approximately 70 % of EU funds for entrepreneurs will be disbursed using the loan funds .
ultimately , however , Parliament gave way , with the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) regrettably also voting in favour , Mr Pieper , and laid down only five years in the Structural Funds Regulation , which is clearly nothing like adequate given the scale of the subsidies .
I share this belief , but this cannot justify all the means that were used then .
a third issue to be addressed is the whole system of comanagement .
I hope we can come back to this subject within six to twelve months to see if the system is functioning .
it was therefore up to him to come and present the conclusions of the European Council of 10 and 11 December 2009 .
many people in the region I come from work in Luxembourg , Belgium or France .
in terms of reaping what we sow , our capitalist intentions will lead , for the vast majority of humanity , to price increases , unemployment , poverty , hunger and so on .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , it is still not clear whether Amendment 1 is compatible with Amendment 51 .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , as Chair of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development , I am deeply disappointed for several reasons with the contents of Mr Szájer 's report , which is being voted on tomorrow .
in this respect , I think that it is appropriate to have measures in place in the European Union 's outermost regions which are aimed at boosting the agricultural sector 's competitiveness and promoting diversification .
even if this is proposed to accommodate the problems mentioned above , it is missing one key element , which has brought about modest success for the recommendation .
so we should not include any conflicting statements in the recitals , but should remain consistent with the wording ' adequate resources for a balanced cohesion policy ' .
the issue raises societal problems , which advise us strongly to ban animal cloning for food , as well as the import of cloned animals and their offspring .
I think we must find ways of attracting highly skilled labour , but at the same time we must also prevent the ' brain drain ' from developing countries .
in reply specifically to Mr Daerden , a round table has been organised today in Brussels .
all the Member States have to submit their austerity plans up to April .
as we all know , Rule 150 of the Rules of Procedure allows for one-minute speeches .
in view of this , I agree with the rapporteur on the proposal for Parliament to adopt this report and the request for the Council to finalise this procedure without undue delay .
how much life will actually be breathed into this project will certainly depend , amongst other things , on how the tension between the objectives of environmental protection and drawing the Danube region together are resolved and whether the Danube will suffice as the common denominator for the implementation of this mammoth project .
1 .
faced with these new commercial challenges , the European farmer 's main asset is quality .
I am in favour of giving priority to creating and boosting employment at this time of crisis and also of pressing ahead with the realisation of the flexicurity principle .
I abstained from voting on this particular report .
against this background , a European strategy of zero tolerance that aims to protect the rights of children is of very great importance .
( applause )
it has one very serious fault , however .
the people of Europe are seeing more and more every day that all of their powers are trickling through their fingers , that their freedoms are being taken away , whether it be purchasing power , an expensive euro , GMOs , tax , fisheries , a lack of trade protection , immigration , or even football , which you yourself mentioned a few moments ago .
could I address specifically Kathy Sinnott who campaigned , in my view , with some rather horrendous arguments for a ' no ' vote ?
in addition , as regards the unscrupulous and unethical practice of exporting substances known to be harmful to third world countries , I would quote a popular proverb from Poland : ' do as you would be done by ' .
we are in regular contact with Quartet colleagues .
on the contrary , in principle we are in favour .
this is one factor among very many , but it is an important one .
echoing the conclusions of the September 2009 G20 summit in Pittsburgh , this report aims to ensure that ' all standardised OTC derivative contracts [ are ] traded on exchanges or electronic trading platforms ' .
the global market is reacting to the need to meet the demands of the model of consumption which has already been formed in highly developed and developing societies .
impact assessments are a valuable legislative instrument , serving as a knowledge-based preparation for political decisions , and thus contributing to better law making .
the Member States can no longer act as though these two areas are restricted and untouchable competences , beyond the scope of common action .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( FR ) Mr President , I have listened carefully to all the contributions .
the situation should not be unsettled by changing the rules during the game , stepping up the Eurosceptic rhetoric and bringing up a separate issue relating to the need to control illegal immigration .
thank you for your attention .
however , the resolution contains several provisions which should not be included .
therefore , relying on what science is telling us , we have to act .
I want to see us , as Europeans , take a clear stand for compliance with the human rights enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations , irrespective of the political situation .
Member of the Commission . - ( ES ) Thank you very much , Mr President .
let us take research and infrastructure as an example .
all EU citizens are equal and must be treated that way , only then can the European Union live up to its motto .
a higher degree of consistency requires transparency in relation to data and payments .
future European legislation will have to review the level of sanctions against traffickers so that they are commensurate with the severity of the offence .
however , the state must not sink to the level of the terrorists .
the problems are largely of internal origin because they stem from a lack of structural reforms .
( the President cut off the speaker )
not only is the unemployment rate higher among young workers than among the rest of the population , but young workers are often to be found in insecure temporary jobs with lower pay and weaker legal protection .
out of the total amount of official aid for development , the funds allocated to agriculture have fallen as a proportion from 17 % in 1980 to 3.8 % in 2006 .
I would remind you that non-refoulement is a principle which knows no geographical boundaries and which cannot be haggled over or negotiated under any circumstances .
the number of states which have retained the death penalty and still make use of it has fallen to 58 .
I am personally going to attend its inauguration ; I have been invited to it and I fully intend to be there .
( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , as draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy , I want to congratulate the rapporteur Mr Ford , firstly for his ... ( text inaudible ) on two aspects that I think should be emphasised .
we will have also a banking sector with a lot of uncertainties when it resumes normal funding activities and , of course , we will have a European budget that will remain , as usual , too small to be efficient and to solve our problems .
in the whole system , it is vital for the rules to include the principle of transparency , supervision and control .
ladies and gentlemen , today and yesterday , the EuroMedScola completed its programme here in Strasbourg .
we have been discussing this treaty for many years , and I am always surprised to find that I then get questions on how quickly we can stop living after that constitution , because I must base my work on the treaties .
in conclusion , I would like to point out that the EU has a crucial role to play in advancing these objectives to achieve an equitable and lasting solution .
lists of operations and amounts are published on the DG Environment website .
further to the strategic association which the European Commission has initiated with Brazil and Mexico , this process could perhaps also form the approach to be taken in the negotiations on the Mercosur agreement , which have been stalled for too long .
that was absolutely not what was intended .
they are only taken into account in the minutes but not for the purposes of the vote count .
the external dimension of social policy includes EU activities and initiatives aimed at promoting labour and social standards in third countries .
the EPP Group is still very much open to cooperating with the Council , and most importantly with other groups here in Parliament , to try and reach a compromise that is acceptable for all .
( DE ) Mr President , Mr Rehn , ladies and gentlemen , the Europe 2020 strategy presents us with a specific challenge .
in fact , Article 182 of the Treaty of Lisbon ensures a suitable legal basis for future developments in this area .
in all these initiatives , small and medium-sized enterprises will play a very important role .
Vice-President of the Council / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy . - Mr President , I will try to deal with as many of the issues that were raised as possible but , as always , when we debate the Middle East peace process , there is a real sense of urgency and a strong desire in this House to see us make progress .
this new institution would , as I see it , cause uncertainty of roles , a divide-and-conquer situation , and it takes completely the opposite approach to our cornerstones in our energy policy .
it contains some good and some bad news .
even though in some areas there are more young fish in the sea than in past years , this is still an opportunity rather than a recovery .
I hope that that will not actually come to pass .
the fact remains , however , that more and more jobs fit the description of menial jobs , in other words unskilled , badly-paid work .
paragraph 20 , line 3 should read : ' reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation ' .
everyone must act against the nationalist and extremist tendencies emerging in their own country .
it affects our capacity to defend a certain vision of the European commitment to our major projects and our industries .
I welcome an eastern partnership as ambitious as the one proposed in this report , all the more so as it is aimed at more effective cooperation and supporting the reconstruction of Georgia , while also suggesting for the future setting up a free trade area and lifting visa requirements for the European Union .
I am afraid that the European Parliament is less than happy about the course the European Council is sailing .
by reducing our environmental footprint in ways such as turning the lights off , smart metering , sensor lights , and less paper use , the European Parliament works to be environmentally sound .
homophobia , compulsory religious education and restrictions of freedom of the press must equally be fought in the current Member States .
the background to the events of the last few days have been the aggressive actions of the Kremlin , which aims to extend its domination in the region of South-Eastern Europe .
otherwise the principles of international order will de facto be dictated by Korea , Iran or the terrorists of Hamas .
some of that could have been avoided , but some of it is , frankly , intrinsic in the nature of the agreements .
Commission President , I would also like to extend a very warm welcome to the many members of the Commission who are present for this debate today .
we fully realised that globalisation is a reality and that we need to use it to our advantage .
( EL ) Mr President , the G20 summit in November did not , in my opinion , have substantial results .
I am therefore certain that this report represents Parliament 's opinion as to how we can help forests , how we can help our communities to adapt to climate change .
I took an extremely critical approach when drafting this report because it is very frequently the case that hypocritical positions are adopted during negotiations with countries which are not EU Member States .
we do not have enough nurses any more in my town .
finally , I would like to say that there are many of us women who have survived as a result of the efforts of society and through the work of shelters for women and women 's organisations .
some of them have been scientifically proven to be implicated in allergies and to undermine the immune system .
Mr President , Secretary of State , Commissioner , we can surely agree that when drawing up the European Parliament 's budget , we must focus on our core mission , which is legislative work .
this epicentre of authoritarianism is making its presence felt ever more strongly in the world , at the expense of Europe itself and of the United States .
I view this assessment as an expression of the care that the Community takes of the safety and health of European citizens .
I voted in favour of this resolution as violence against women is still a problem which is all too prevalent in Romania and worldwide , making it necessary to adopt urgent measures to combat this scourge .
I think I can state with some satisfaction that the Commission has so far made use of all the possibilities open to it under the treaty and has made use of them even in ways that were not entirely conventional .
there is no such thing as a British citizen if you are not Irish from Northern Ireland , Scottish , Welsh or English .
the government has not shown any discernible will to take decisive steps to counter this development .
the debate that we are holding here concerns the last dictatorship left in Europe .
this is because , ladies and gentlemen , the capacity to enter the sector swiftly with quality , standardised products will determine the future leaders in a highly competitive market .
the memorandum for genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people , now rejected by China as a working document , shows that the Tibetan people have already made a genuine effort and given up an enormous amount of what , I emphasise , are their legitimate aspirations .
we clearly wished to make our first approval of the budget under the terms of the Treaty of Lisbon a significant event .
it would be useful if this French regulator were given a say in the activities of the regulators in the other 26 countries .
in writing . - ( FI ) Mr President , constructing the gas pipeline as a project buried in the ground would be a cheaper , safer option than sinking it in the sea .
this problem quite simply represents a serious distortion of the internal market .
on the one hand , I feel it is important that from the standpoint of the internal market there should be no danger that a parent company and a subsidiary are at a disadvantage simply because they are operating in two different Member States , compared with companies operating in only one Member State .
we must protect our citizens from these potential dangers , notably by means of a differentiated , risk-based approach .
only in this way will confidence be restored , and confidence is key .
the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change , released in Spain in November 2007 , represents the most complete and the most credible scientific assessment of climate change so far .
after Madeira , Europe has once again been affected .
this represents half of Iceland 's exports , accounting for 10 % of its GDP .
the negotiations allowed us to include a reference to the horizontal social clause which was established by the Treaty of Lisbon and which now has to be transposed concretely into legislation .
an EU-inspired crisis will shortly hit the UK egg industry .
in second place the responsibility lies with the municipalities and in third place with the State .
we need to ensure that the few do not taint the many and that our work benefits from outside inputs rather than being distorted by it .
unfortunately , many international agreements are ending with the lowest common denominators .
we know that migration is a fact of life , we know it is a force for development and we know that many EU nationals also follow a path where they want to earn , learn or yearn for something better , just as those coming from sub-Saharan Africa do .
they agreed that the EU has sufficient oil and gas stocks .
in writing . - The report advocates a ' common European foreign policy on energy ' .
I am glad that the Brok report and today 's debate essentially endorse the renewed consensus on EU enlargement , which was achieved in December 2006 - not least because of the events in 2005 .
Commissioner , this is , without doubt , the top priority at the stress test stage ; however , I would also point out that , in the second stage , full and fundamental preventive supervision will need to include appropriate mechanisms to address what , to date , has been a particularly shadowy banking sector .
what mark does she propose for those eggs in the EU that are not allowed to carry a legal mark after 1 January 2012 ?
Member of the Commission . - ( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , thank you for the discussion .
therefore , I will focus my speech on the serious problems it is facing : the increase in the cost of animal feed , which represents 60 % of production costs , and is therefore crucially important in terms of profitability for producers .
second : the approval by the Ethiopian Parliament of the so-called NGO Act , which , in practice , criminalises all the work of independent NGOs .
we all know what that means .
in cases involving several Member States they have to satisfy the eligibility criteria for authorised economic operator status .
by removing some of these days off we could create around a thousand jobs .
this House will never unite around a common position if we seek to apportion blame precisely , but fault can be found on both sides , violence denounced , and an immediate ceasefire sought .
to those manufacturers and producers who are writing to us now asking us not to support one or other amendment that aims to close these loopholes , I would say : let them come up with their suggestions .
it is for precisely this reason that it is so important that the European Parliament will shortly be giving its blessing to a legislative package that will help to ensure that the electricity market functions more effectively .
similarly , urban transport initiatives and the Civitas and the Intelligent Energy-Europe programmes must be continued .
the devastating earthquake has been at the forefront of our minds since 12 January , and efforts began straight away to provide all the assistance we can .
what is important is actually changing social relations and inhuman traditions .
the fact that we are only a few days after the elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina makes this issue particularly relevant .
however , they were recorded and the list compiled included 94 overflights and 17 stopovers specifically by US civilian and military aircraft between January 2002 and the end of June 2006 .
( applause )
that was the first and last time that I embraced my beloved son .
the next step will really be how the Council will deal with the rewording of Article 47 .
the pricing for loans by the IMF was considered an appropriate benchmark for setting euro area Member States ' bilateral loan conditions , albeit with some adjustments which were agreed on 11 April .
on behalf of the EFD Group . - ( DA ) Mr President , this is an ambitious strategy document .
Buddhist monks have long been the target of a special kind of persecution .
in addition , the package will contain a report on evaluation of the implementation by the Member States of the Framework Decision on terrorism .
in that context I was delighted to read the recent remarks of the Commission President in the Financial Times , in which he raised the ugly spectre of growing protectionism in Europe .
I refer , in particular , also to Amendment 16 .
with such an example , and by setting this example for the Cypriots , we are putting them in an unclear and ambiguous situation in which they will be unable to fight for the unity of their island .
we need binding energy efficiency targets as soon as possible , and this is important for a whole host of reasons : economic reasons and reasons relating to competition , jobs , the environment and the climate .
he said that the Commission is influenced by it being made up of deputy leaders of European parties .
no economic and regional integration will come to fruition if the Union does not have the courage to tackle existing conflicts and to do this based on international law .
Africa is a continent with a wealth of talented people .
the magic word in all these measures is inclusion - the inclusion of civil society , social dialogue and the active application of the horizontal social clause in accordance with the principles of the social market economy .
for that reason , what we have done here with the International Criminal Court represents a major step forwards in that all such people will know , in future , that there is a judge beyond national law and that , for the rest of their lives , they will have to live with the fact that they will be held to account .
I therefore voted in favour .
a further reservation concerns the use of studies into the energy consumption of buildings .
I therefore support this decision , which allows the mobilisation of EUR 2 405 671 under the general EU budget for 2010 in order to provide financial assistance in response to the Portuguese request .
now the benchmark will qualify as a criterion once it has been through the Council .
according to the FRONTEX Annual Report for 2006 , the apprehension figures at Schengen 's current external borders ( mainly Austria and Germany ) are still far higher than those at the EU 's external borders , so it is highly doubtful whether the expansion should be approved .
I would like to draw your attention , at this point , to what strikes me as a disturbing piece of news , namely that 40 % of Germans now believe that the introduction of the euro was a mistake .
furthermore , wars against Muslim countries only provoke terrorist outrages .
ERI is a response to a real need on the part of European researchers and will undoubtedly help boost competitiveness in European science .
clearly , the international and regional organisations , the countries themselves , the States and the decentralised authorities , the NGOs , as well as the agencies of the Member States .
at the same time Europe must secure our energy supply and become self-sufficient .
let us support the bees .
we note that no member of the opposition will have a parliamentary seat .
various amendments were proposed by myself or by other colleagues , resulting in numerous compromise amendments and a firm consensus between Members of the PSE , PPE , ALDE , Verts / ALE and UEN Groups , such that there were only two votes against this report .
however , we have moved from ' 3x20 ' to the legitimacy of the ' 4x4 ' economy .
there will be many challenges for Egypt in the coming months and years .
politically we need to make proposals that are focused firstly on this policy and then on a progressive de-materialisation of our lifestyle , since otherwise it will not be sustainable .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the negotiation that I led by myself for the first year and then , during conciliation - the first conciliation procedure after the Treaty of Lisbon , I would note - with the guidance of Mrs Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou and the support of the Chair of the Committee on Transport and Tourism , Mr Simpson , has been more arduous and difficult than expected .
the people certainly know that the EU is not the Soviet Union .
agriculture ministers are discussing this - in fact they may even still be discussing it today - at the informal meeting in Annecy and will report back to the ' Agriculture ' Council on 17 and 18 November .
the first concerns the Copenhagen Summit .
the rich European states must show solidarity with Eastern Europe , and the aid fund granted to countries in this area must be increased .
this is the reason why men and women are being exposed to hidden forms of discrimination .
( applause )
President Ilves , it is a great joy to be able to welcome you here to the European Parliament , which is celebrating its 50th anniversary tomorrow .
the initial form of the resolution on the Cancún climate change conference has been changed quite a lot and its content has been watered down considerably by incorporating the amendments tabled by the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) .
it is approximately half of the annual global aid outlay .
any change to the academic training system which helps modernise training programmes and , above all , brings graduates and the world of employment closer together , should be welcomed and strongly encouraged .
I am in favour of both the Commission proposal and the Tatarella report because it is absolutely vital to support a sector in serious difficulty .
the school in Parma , which is approved by the Board of Governors of the European Schools , will be the first school of its kind to award a European baccalaureate in June 2009 .
let us not forget where the present crisis has its roots : poor-quality lending , compounded by securitisation of these loans in off-balance sheet vehicles , the risks associated with which few understood .
but he did come to our group meeting , the ECR Group meeting , and explain that he was in favour of smart regulation .
we need innovations , an exchange of good experiences and additional funding .
these two debates must be rolled into one if we want to fight climate change and mitigate its effects .
under these circumstances the pressure to improve the human rights situation in China is dwindling .
as other Members have already confirmed , Italy is the only country in which the Head of Government has a monopoly on public , and now also private , television channels and in which , unfortunately , a law is being passed that will , in fact , prevent journalists from publishing even judicial reports .
the financial crisis has shown us that we cannot continue to accept the oligopolistic structure , nor the lack of transparency and accountability of current credit rating agencies .
the exact form of this review has yet to be defined , but we are concerned about some of the objectives already indicated for the review .
I think that this aspect of sport , too , deserves maximum support .
our voters and we ourselves would like to live in a Europe where everyone is successful , no one is poor and there is no shortage of jobs .
I should like to make one observation in this connection , however .
that is not the way I look at things .
( DE ) Mr President , Mr Rehn , Mr López Garrido , we are talking today about common European economic governance .
we are showing that we are a leader in this battle .
it is absolutely necessary for both the common agricultural policy and the cohesion policy to support the European strategy for employment and economic growth .
I too would like to welcome Mrs Cecilia Malmström and Commissioner Barrot .
the US has dragged us into several wars , into several conflicts - I am thinking of Serbia , Iraq and Afghanistan - at the heart of which lay interests that were certainly not European .
to Russia , power is to be concentrated in the belief that , through such concentration , power will be more effective .
he has a special association treaty with us .
it is not necessary to agree with every word in this report , but it is important to vote in favour of it in order to send a strong signal to the Commission that we need a directive .
if those requests are not met by the Ugandan authorities , then we should call on the Council and Commission to reconsider their engagement with Uganda , should the bill pass into law and breaches of international human rights law take place .
I am delighted that two pilot projects , at least , were possible : EuroGlobe , a mobile theatre like those from Shakespeare 's era , set up to tour European capital cities so as to really involve citizens , and a culture project on the theme of artist mobility , to enable Europe 's young artists to come together , work together and shape Europe 's future .
monitoring is certainly crucial to ensuring that the policy pursued in support of the projects is transparent , but this is on condition that the administrative burden placed on small and medium-sized enterprises - the driving force behind the EU economy - is reduced to a minimum .
I entirely agree that in the longer term , the legacy of the ICTY must be preserved .
concerning Mr Zver 's Youth on the Move initiative , it is very probably true that this mobility programme has proven to be a success story , and his report , to its credit , goes a lot deeper into the matter .
they have lived peacefully alongside other religions in the areas where they are settled and are the subject of indiscriminate violence simply because they believe in Christ .
that would amount to considered action and leadership on our part .
I believe that the new technology is wonderful for children , but it also has dangers , and we have to fight these .
I would also take advantage of my presence in front of the European Parliament to lay out what I have already mentioned at the hearing before the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs on Monday .
in order to support the further development of the EGNOS system and to ensure that the system does not suffer from a lack of European funding , I voted in favour of this proposal .
Member of the Commission . - ( FR ) Madam President , first of all I think I can speak on behalf of Commissioner Mandelson when I say that we are grateful for your unanimous support for the vigorous and just defence of the European interests in this matter .
in the face of the financial crisis , the policy of guaranteeing bank deposits , of recapitalising institutions at risk and of injecting cash to boost credit , all in a coordinated manner , has allowed us to avoid chain reactions and the loss of thousands of jobs in Europe .
currently , however , there is a problem with the provisional agreement , and it must be rectified .
we ask for measures to be taken immediately to protect economic migrants .
2 .
the higher taxes are , the more taxpayers will look for ways to circumvent their tax obligations .
that regulation was necessary because the old one was not longer adequate and there was scope for simplifying the coordination procedures .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
all of these states were affected last year by powerful floods , as a result of torrential rain which caused landslides and substantial loss of human life , as well as damage to residential buildings , businesses , farming areas , the road and rail networks and other infrastructure .
( RO ) Mister President , I would like to thank Commissioner Verheugen for having introduced on the agenda of the EU-USA summit the visa issue that my country 's citizens are concerned with , and I represent them here in the European Parliament .
well , the chickens have come home to roost .
let me say this very clearly on behalf of my Group .
such is our hypocritical and cynical European democracy .
last , but of course not least , I would very much like to thank the Parliament delegation .
the right to legal assistance , a guarantee of personal interview , limitations on the use of accelerated procedures ; all of these safeguards are essential to a fair and effective asylum system .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
the recently adopted climate and energy package demands decisive action on our part to meet its targets .
this powerful European influence has not led to the development of European standards of democracy and human rights in these countries .
that would be against our own interests .
it is indeed 20 years ago that the Berlin Wall collapsed , putting an end to Soviet Communist dictatorship .
then we will have to see where we stand .
in my own country , Poland , development aid has increased significantly in recent years .
more proposals are on their way this year to improve depositor and investor protection , to strengthen measures against market abuse , to further improve the quality and quantity of bank capital and discourage excessive leverage .
on behalf of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe , I would like to thank Mrs Jędrzejewska for her expert management of the vote on the budget .
I therefore voted for this motion for a resolution .
as Europeans we have a lot to learn from one another .
I voted in favour of the proposal , as I believe that it covers the fundamental issues which should be considered .
people 's well-being cannot simply be expressed as an index or a curve .
Mr Florenz , it is a political project you are presenting , because it is a complete reorientation of European policies , in terms of agriculture , fishing and transport .
for the rest , Parliament is sovereign .
it aims to simplify and improve the existing regulatory framework for the labelling of textile products , encourage innovation in the clothing and textile sector , and the development and uptake of new fibres .
yes , it is true that we have an interest in a strategic partnership with China on account of climate policy and general foreign policy matters .
in order to find out how to best address the challenges arising from the development of the Internet and new technologies , the Commission has consulted widely on the existing legal framework for data protection throughout 2009 and 2010 .
it is fair that extra assistance is provided to those countries that have reduced CO2 emissions by more than 20 % in the period since 1990 .
unfortunately , Finland has already approved the project , but on behalf of Timo Soini , as well as for myself , I would now like to establish the whereabouts of the information relating to the project which the citizens of all the countries on the Baltic need before building work takes place .
Europe is becoming more democratic , Europe is becoming more transparent and the institutions are becoming more effective .
the Afghan War will soon have lasted nine years and there is still no sign of any improvement in the security situation .
my country , Latvia , has already done so , just as many other states have also done , through statements by their parliaments .
among the product categories covered , there are products for which information about origin is particularly important : those that are destined for the final consumer .
it will have a positive employment effect and is expected to offer significant new business opportunities for EU airlines as well as benefits to the travelling public .
I am delighted to see that this week in the German media Mr Habermas has again stressed that increasing democratic legitimacy is a vital necessity .
one scenario , in other words , one option with all the resulting consequences , will definitely involve setting the target for the proportion of renewable energy used in electricity generation as high as possible , even at 100 % , which will have an impact on power grids , storage facilities , research , efficiency and a number of other factors .
it is a precondition for our ability to speak with one voice .
it is very important and the content of the communication is very convincing .
it is very important that we do not forget , when setting out new objectives , about our previous policy , the Cohesion policy , the common agricultural policy or , if I look at Commissioner Andor , about renewing the European social model .
Portugal , Spain , Hungary , you name it .
with no prior impact assessment , these will almost certainly appear and , therefore , the review requirement in Article 34 is of vital importance .
- ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , on 11 September in Brussels many democratic movements with a Catholic and Christian basis organised a major demonstration against Islamic terrorism and in memory of the victims of 11 September , but the socialist Mayor of Brussels banned it on contemptible grounds related to internal politics .
I would like to say a few words about visa liberalisation in the countries of the Western Balkans , mainly about the problems that have arisen in connection with Serbia and Macedonia .
naturally , when speaking of the development of air transport , we must not forget problems related to the natural environment .
I respect those conversations very much , but I tell you the European Union is respected in both countries and I intend to keep it that way because that is about a two-state solution .
thus , to end my speech , I fervently express my wish for a strong , majority-endorsed message to be sent from this House to the Council .
I think we should support the idea that in future , the scoreboard should incorporate information on the implementation of internal market legislation in Member States that are still found wanting .
I am pleased that the Spanish Presidency intends to address this issue .
I think that to put these paragraphs into this otherwise good report does a disservice to this Parliament and to our producers across the European Union , who are struggling .
it is also a reflection on the fact that the United States is carrying a disproportionate share of the burden for the global war on terror .
Mr President , with respect to this year 's budget discharge procedure , we should be pleased with the progress made by the Commission towards more efficient utilisation of EU funds , especially in the area of the common agricultural policy .
the simplification of procedures and the allocation of resources from the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund in a manner which is accessible to all interested parties is essential .
hence , our vote against .
at that time I came to ask for the strength of this continent to help in the quest for peace in Central America , where five nations were fighting for their lives in the midst of civil war .
in any case , I would like to conclude by thanking you for the work you have done .
we would not have lucerne , which is used in cattle feed .
we have started working on the communication activities , the delegation network , the balance and the category structure of the Commission 's establishment plan .
such a solution is possible , for example , by building the Nabucco gas pipeline to connect the huge gas deposits in the region of Central Asia with customers in Europe and by developing transmission networks and building new interconnectors in Central and Eastern Europe .
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as has been said , it is important to remember that pirates feed not just on poverty , but also on the faults and gaps in a system that does not work .
the EU should also ensure resources are put at Sri Lanka 's disposal to support post-conflict development .
however , compassion is not enough .
the State is the main , decisive body involved in judging and redistributing , and in pursuing intergenerational solidarity through tax and social legislation .
today we need family SMEs - small businesses - more than ever because they have the type of commitment and sticking power to get us through this crisis .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , the Council representative said that there is considerable controversy in the Council on this issue , and that exists in the European Parliament as well .
once there is initialling , you have the translation , you have the check by the lawyer-linguists , and then it comes to the Council for signature and to Parliament for ratification .
they are already there .
the chance of a woman dying when giving birth in Sweden is 1 to 17 000 ; in Afghanistan the ratio is 1 to 8 .
although the legal grounds for effective protection of minorities exist , the political will to assert these is often insufficient .
the trafficking in children does exist .
so , if Iraq is a sovereign country , they should respect and implement the European Parliament resolution of 24 April 2009 on Ashraf , which calls on Iraq to stop any forcible displacement of Ashraf residents within Iraq .
the chairs , in producing their negotiation proposal , have done an honest job .
the Commission is especially pleased that Mrs Lévai 's report urges the Council and Parliament to undertake systematic impact assessments of proposed amendments having potential significant impacts .
the reactions and the grassroots protest are blatant proof of the need for justice and for political control of the market and of the price of commodities which will allow each state to perform the social role which its citizens allocate to it without the dogmatic limitations of the Stability Pact .
we must therefore make it clear that it is not a budget for bureaucracy and bureaucrats .
however , I think that trend needs to be accelerated and we need to continue much more rapidly in that direction of shifting resources to where they can make a real difference .
we aim to continue in this direction in the future because it is quite clear that hereditary poverty , which is passed down from parent to child , is one of the serious sociological problems linked to poverty .
how much do airline mergers contribute to addressing the crisis , without creating monopolies and reducing competition ?
the first bilateral fisheries agreement was signed by the European Union and Seychelles in 1987 , while the Partnership Agreement came into force in 2006 .
for farmers in places like Africa there is now less land available for growing food because many people are growing fuel instead .
corporate governance in financial institutions (
( BG ) As my fellow Members have already mentioned , the European Union 's 2011 budget is being approved using a new procedure on which the European Parliament and Council must find a common consensus .
the Food and Agriculture Organisation ( FAO ) estimates that the main producer countries of wheat and maize have lost more than 80 % of their original varieties , and these figures are just the tip of the iceberg , for we know that to date , only around 1.7 million of the world 's estimated 13 million living species have been identified and described .
( it ) Mr President , the report on the labelling of textile products which we endorsed today marks an important step towards simplifying legislation for the benefit of consumers and all the European manufacturers working in the industry .
secondly , this fund should be allocated primarily to those milk producers and processors who , as a result of the increasing market liberalisation , have to carry out restructuring at their farms or companies , and also to promote the consumption of milk and milk products , and , particularly , to increase financial support for supplying milk and milk products to schools .
this is why we call on the Commission and Member States to take the necessary measures by 2015 to ensure that at least 50 % of public procurement transactions are carried out electronically , in keeping with the commitment made by Member State governments in Manchester in 2005 .
at the same time , the natural disaster also caused an extremely serious nuclear accident , which has affected the Fukushima nuclear plant in particular .
it will be impossible to create an effective protective umbrella against this hazard unless Europe and the US cooperate to this end .
according to surveys , in Belarus around 30 % of residents are in favour of better relations with the European Union .
formal sitting - 2008 , European Year of Intercultural Dialogue
if we do not support a democratic and stable Russia , but we do we support a secret service regime instead , then we are our own worst enemies .
in view of the above , we should speed up the reform of CFP considerably and act in order to protect the environment and ensure appropriate protection for fishermen .
the World Health Organisation urgently needs to reassess its definition of a pandemic , taking into account not only its geographical spread , but also its severity .
if you believe that Europe operates like a football team , this means that you have your own individual view on this .
in the case of children 's passports and fingerprints , obviously children need their own passports with biometric identifiers in an effort to prevent abductions , child pornography and trafficking in children .
I am sure that , if we respected them better , we would not be in this situation .
it was with some determination that I voted today to condemn violence against Christian communities and religious minorities .
the employment situation is such that we all need to do more at European , but also at national , level .
newcomers are currently demanding ever increasing rights , and the traditional peoples of Europe have to consent to all of it along with the destruction of traditions that go back many centuries .
the UK and the US readily share information because of their history of cooperation in fighting terrorism .
this is being done in collaboration with the European Investment Fund .
in my opinion , we must continually exert pressure on the Council to grant access to its accounts such as to allow Parliament to properly control this kind of ... ( speaker moved away from the microphone ) too .
the Swedish evidence gave contradictory accounts and the French investigation came to the conclusion that no abuses had occurred , but the incident does raise a number of issues for the future .
I have nothing against Nord Stream , or against South Stream , but I do not want to be dependent on anyone , not on any one country , for our gas supply .
( ES ) Madam President , I want to start by congratulating Mrs Gräßle and in particular thanking her for her openness to suggestions and proposals .
as I said , this text is fully integrated into the new European supervision framework , strengthening the role that ESMA will play in regulating alternative fund managers .
this displays a lack of integrated thinking , where policymaking is uncoordinated across government agencies .
they will be obliged however to invest the same amount in infrastructures and in policies for supporting those experiencing social hardship and the production system .
therefore , we need an international regime for the sustainability of biofuels , and this is what we are doing : promoting a new generation of biofuels .
ladies and gentlemen , thank you once again ; I shall not keep you any longer .
as you seem intent on using symbols from the 19th century , I would like to tell you what the German philosopher , Friedrich Nietzsche , said to the German people in the 19th century .
the basic principle is to kill animals after they have been stunned and rendered unconscious , but an exception is allowed for religious reasons - killing without prior stunning , if this is required for religious reasons .
Schengen was supposed to promote freedom of movement for workers and students but has in actual fact created a kind of green card for the free movement of criminals .
but I was lobbied fairly intensively by ordinary performers .
in writing . - ( FR ) As Jean Lambert 's report advocated , to my mind , it is essential that non-EU nationals and their families who are legally resident within the European Union have the same rights and benefits as European citizens concerning access to social security .
our businesses must be able to plan and invest in new technologies without any delay .
finally the Presidency would like to recall that the initiative of the current Presidency , an Employment Summit , will be organised on 7 May in Prague .
in 1995 the International Monetary Fund forced that country to reduce its rice tariffs .
I would therefore argue that a general review of the operation of the system of own resources , which needs to take place , should take account of the active involvement of the European Parliament in proposing appropriate measures aimed at achieving greater transparency .
( DE ) Madam President , I would like to thank the rapporteur for the report , and I know that in Commissioner Barrot we have a champion of sustainable transport policy .
the Commission is convinced that cohesion policy needs to underpin more strongly the policy priorities and reform agenda of Europe 2020 .
our aim as MEPs is to help reduce these numbers as much as possible .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , Joseph Conrad referred to Congo as the heart of darkness .
however , this is partly due to policies created here in the European Parliament , so I think the Commissioner should look carefully at the actions we are going to be setting out .
I should like to ask you if this still applies today , or not , which would mean that the Member States are better prepared .
in this context , the EU 's remit should not go beyond questions relating to the common fisheries policy .
Madam President , there are two points I would like to put to the High Representative or her substitute in relation to the current situation in Sudan .
I should invite the Council to pay very serious attention to achieving this political agreement , but nevertheless also to stress the goal of economic cohesion .
there may be very high costs associated with the necessary training , the replacement of standard contract forms and possible court proceedings .
decoupling in many ways is like farmers ' early retirement aid .
following the adoption of this agreement , all EU citizens - including citizens of Estonia , Latvia , Malta and Cyprus , for whom Brazil continued to require a visa - will be able to enter the country without a visa for tourism and business purposes , just as Brazilian citizens can already travel to all EU Member States without a visa .
( ES ) Ladies and gentlemen , I would like to thank Mr Schlyter for his work and I am particularly glad that several of the amendments I put forward have been incorporated into the text of the report we are debating today .
secondly , the ratification process started in Hungary .
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I urge the High Representative , as she continues to explore how to coordinate policy in this area , to be mindful of this particular issue .
this package needs to be adopted pretty quickly , but it would be a bad thing if speed came first and deliberation second .
for that , political will , decisiveness and courage must not fail us ; on the contrary .
a business strategy highly focused on pursuing the dynamics of global markets would end up sacrificing the ability of the European agricultural sector to compete .
hopefully , we will have good results .
let us not forget that cotton represents only 0.15 % of the EU 's agricultural production .
Mr President , I should like to thank the Presidents of the Council and the Commission for their statements on this fundamental issue for the future of Europe .
since we are discussing a field falling under Community competence , namely trade in audiovisual services , I believe fines to be enforced by the European Commission to producers promoting discriminatory imagines through publicity should be introduced .
( SV ) Madam President , when it comes to State aid for the coal industry , my view is that we should do everything we can to make the European economy as competitive as possible , and we should do this in many different areas .
I think that this shows how ambitious we are .
these goals coincide with the fundamental principle of the Lisbon Strategy , the concept of creating a knowledge-based society with the improvement of competitiveness , economic growth and the creation of jobs at the centre .
we see this , for example , in the recognition and legitimacy granted by the governments of the Baltic countries to the local fascist groups , who were collaborators with the SS and the Nazis who were based in those countries during the Second World War .
it is crucial for the future of Kosovo and the rest of us that those who fear that such a bold step will create a precedent choose the wise path of constructive abstention and do not seek to block the self-determination of Kosovans .
we are also asking if the European Union can help to deliver desperately needed food and medicines .
this is the only way that we will be able to maintain the competitiveness of our industry , promote economic growth and create jobs .
let us hope that these pledges will be fulfilled .
in the words of the previous rapporteur , this can reasonably be described as ' as good as it gets ' .
in addition , why is oil being forgotten completely ?
the European Union is always against the death penalty .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( PT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , this lively debate was very useful to the Presidency .
I would like to thank Commissioner Verheugen and Minister Rupel for raising this issue .
this week , at the initiative of the French Head of State , Nicolas Sarkozy , who showed his great sense of community , a proposal was made for an extraordinary European Council meeting to be held this Friday .
these ways should never affect the population or humanitarian aid , but we must seek an intelligent way of putting pressure on the regime of President Mugabe which would mean that situations such as that of Farai Maguwu will never happen again .
we , Members of the European Parliament , once again stressed our main objective of a strong and decisive Parliament in foreign policy , particularly now having in mind the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty .
therefore , I say to the Commission : take a look at subsidy policy .
the policy for promoting agriculture and rural areas must consistently aim at a clear decentralisation of the food production and marketing structures .
terrorism has not been defeated .
you have been competent , independent and consistent .
such a programme requires respect between Member States .
this year , it is GBP 6 billion . next year , it will be GBP 8 billion .
all this is what we could call economic union , internal economic cohesion in the Union .
we should not , however , forget that the European Commission plays a central role through monitoring , reporting and also supporting Member States in their efforts to achieve this objective .
then you change the statute of the High Representative : he becomes Vice-President of the Commission .
up until today , however - though this may change - the Council has refused to answer openly and publicly .
ladies and gentlemen , fellow Members , as I understand it , the four political groups are not withdrawing their declaration .
this is one of the issues that it is important for the EU to focus on if we are to balance justice with the internal market , and we must insist on market morality .
this is exactly the kind of thing that we need to get off the ground and I hope that this very topic will be included on the transport ministers ' agenda when we convene for the meeting on the 29th .
the Europe-wide cultural sector must be taken into consideration in the legal framework for international trade , certainly in the European dimension and in cultural diplomacy , in the internal market , in mobility ...
the Commission takes note of the European Parliament 's opposition to the introduction of direct producers ' liability .
the Commission set itself three goals in this revision : firstly , to include cross-border direct debits within the regulation 's scope ; secondly , to establish procedures for the out-of-court handling of problems that might arise from the application of the regulation ; and , thirdly , to ease the balance-of-payments statistical reporting obligations .
the relevant request for the waiver of that immunity was made by the Court on 6 July 2010 .
alongside the Moldovan government , we have actively engaged with the population living in the Transnistrian region via small-scale projects , mostly in the social area .
finally , concerning the transparency and independence issues raised , we consider these to be very important and I really think we have to do something here .
Prime Minister Orbán has just said he is a politician .
furthermore , and of greatest importance to our citizens , it will ensure high safety levels for products in the European Union market .
if I succeed in helping one person , I will be helping the greatest possible unit : one person 's entire world .
of course currency devaluation remains on our agenda .
what are the main reasons for this phenomenon and what are its implications for the EU ?
the statistics showing that female employment has increased in recent years to a level of 57.2 % sound good , but , as the report states , a whole range of problems remain .
the aim of the programme is not , of course , to criminalise the Internet in a catastrophic vision of new technologies ; quite the contrary .
it is alarming to learn that implementation of the Small Business Act is coming up against many obstacles in the Member States , although the examples of several countries show that following these principles yields good results .
fundamentally , however , Portugal is capable of participating in the European project ; of participating and of helping to resolve whatever challenges there will be in the future .
we need to evaluate existing good practices , as well as the negative effects of existing policies for the Roma population .
these are the reasons why I voted in favour of this report .
it happens all too often that we give aid with one hand and take back even more than we have given with the other .
the report by Mrs Trüpel , on behalf of the Committee on Budgets , on the estimates of revenue and expenditure of Parliament for the financial year 2011 .
in writing . - There are many issues in this resolution which I support .
where there are any differences in interpretation or implementation , the Commission should consult the Member States in question and clarify the rules .
I think not .
the payment appropriations should be adjusted in line with actual requirements and , in particular , we should draw lessons from the previous budget outturn so as to be able to determine our real ability to implement sectoral policies .
here we have to be particularly careful and ensure that the Directive is applied in a humane way .
all that in the media has led to consumers being undermined and everyone agreeing again that ' Europe is doing everything wrong ' and ' Europe is against rather than for the citizens ' .
Mr Marty failed to respond to repeated invitations from the Polish authorities .
I wish you every success for your term of office .
unfortunately , in the past years , the Single Market has not managed to convince our citizens that it represents their interests and aspirations .
( it ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to address myself to the Commissioner regarding the misguided use of the Structural Funds , which regrettably is a growing phenomenon in the European Union .
however , I would like to know whether , in your opinion , the Member States hold sufficient data for the fight against violence towards women to really become a priority .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , as both the rapporteur and the Commissioner have observed , this proposal for a directive does indeed follow a vote in Parliament .
is it worthy of this post ?
( EL ) Mr President , a French Prime Minister , Édouard Balladur , issued a statement to the effect that complete freedom in the market was tantamount to the law of the jungle .
we should also recognise that soldiers from the international forces are involved in this trade , along with Americans based in the country .
we are working with the securities regulator to get consensus on the technical standards for business data and as a result of this dialogue the Commission may take further measures aiming at interoperability of regulatory information systems .
( CS ) Madam President , I welcome this report with just two reservations .
( EL ) Mr President , I would like to address the President-in-Office of the Council to say : I was looking forward to your speech today with particular interest .
of course , the first step required in the fight against social exclusion is integration into the labour market .
however user-friendly the citizens ' initiative is , if it is overused it will become devalued .
an online petition has already been launched to use the popular initiative to make it possible to change the seat of Parliament so that there is only one .
I am very cautious when we talk about implementation of Natura 2000 .
this is important because delivering the innovation economy is the key deep structural change .
in this respect , I also welcome the second meeting of the European Platform for Roma Inclusion devoted exclusively to the issue of Roma education in Europe .
according to the case-law of the Court of Justice on this matter , the Member States should maintain their autonomy and legitimacy in regulating the activity of providers of online gambling and gambling games .
following the difficult debates on the European External Action Service held in recent weeks within the competent parliamentary committees and the various political groups , I would like to thank our colleague Mr Brok for his strong involvement in this matter .
I sincerely believe that this is unacceptable and that it needs to be reconsidered or qualified .
subject : European Commission action concerning terrorist groups in Pakistan
although the time taken to set up a company has dropped in recent months , an analysis carried out by the European Commission has showed that over half of Member States still do not meet the requirement for it to be possible to do so in three days .
I would also like to thank Commissioner Mandelson and his services for the good cooperation I have had from the Commission in producing this report , and also the Korean Ambassador , whose assistance enabled me to get an insight into the Korean position on these negotiations .
( MT ) It is important that the European Parliament is aware of the situation in my country regarding water and electricity prices and the effect of today 's decision , that is , regarding this case .
this also applies to protection against counterfeit medicines .
certainly in the case of Turkey , it is a disgrace that a candidate country should fail to meet its obligations in such a blatant manner .
internal market in natural gas (
however , so-called reproductive rights , which is just another name for the right to abortion , are a priority component of the European human rights agenda .
I believe that this directive substantially improves the rights of irregularly-staying immigrants in many European Union countries .
this is why we really need to be able to express all these points of view , but while strengthening the pro-Europe camp during this particularly difficult time .
while globalisation must contribute to prosperity , it must also be fair - and it must be subject to ethical rules , for example to prohibit the exploitation of children .
I am deeply concerned that , in the light of the political developments underway , Mrs Saberi could be used as a bargaining chip , and I would like to condemn in the strongest possible terms a move that is so clearly politically motivated .
this ought to be the first step forward .
so there is hope in Washington .
this agreement was awaiting validation and was put to the vote in the European legislative assembly .
that mechanism is not in fact helping Greece , but punishing it at the moment .
fifthly , abolish or declare a moratorium on the death penalty .
when cloning occurs over several generations , Commissioner , there is a cumulative depletion of the genetic diversity on which species depend for their survival because it enables them to adapt to changes in their natural surroundings .
we will all need flexibility to be able to take this forward and to find solutions .
of course , we focused a lot of our efforts initially on the evacuation of European citizens and we have to show solidarity with Tunisia , which is bearing the brunt of the evacuation of so many people , especially Egyptians who are ending up on the Tunisian border and need to be brought to Egypt .
how much will each developed country give ?
fortunately , my amendment on the use of regions and cities has been adopted .
I would also say that you are entirely mistaken if you think that better translation rights are any sort of cure at all for this flawed piece of legislation which is ruining people 's lives .
it acknowledges the Member States ' prime responsibility for designing and implementing Roma integration strategies .
if the European Union refuses to prepare the act requested , it will have to justify its decision in detail .
( DE ) I would be interested to hear how , in future , you intend regional products offered for sale on site to be labelled and placed on the market with the corresponding freshness and high quality ?
one final comment : with regard to questions , I think the course we are taking is quite correct .
unfortunately , the openness of research in the Arctic is being increasingly restricted by the states which have access to the Arctic Ocean .
ladies and gentlemen , developing our relations with this neighbour located at the heart of Europe requires us to take the time to reflect on a response , including in the longer term , to the progress made by Belarus .
I would say , however , that I can make a positive comment because the European Union has finally , after a lot of searching - which was far from easy - discovered Article 119 and the legal basis on which it can provide such assistance .
the Commission is now congratulating itself on the work it has done over recent months .
at the same time , we have to look to the broader issue .
virtually nothing was spent on people .
to be brief , what we are doing is simply responding to a report by the Commission , which is a report on the application of Council Regulation ( EC ) No 1206 / 2001 of 28 May 2001 on cooperation between the courts of the Member States in the taking of evidence in civil or commercial matters .
there are real concerns about the reopening of the negotiations with Mercosur .
we are awaiting further offers and will be taking delivery of and distributing aid consignments in Japan in the coming days : on Thursday - in other words , tomorrow - and on Friday .
the Commission is continuing to look into this matter .
Europe cannot , therefore , afford to have Commissioners who are only now going to learn their portfolios .
there will therefore be no political stance here on the conflict between Morocco and Sahara .
please tell us .
by doing this , a more protective and global approach will emerge for the Community 's workers .
the debate is closed .
I must also express my gratitude to Mr Tajani for his willingness to speed up the work in the Commission aimed at finding a solution on this highly important matter .
policy coherence is not just about recording any negative impact that EU policies may have on the development goals . it is also about combining our efforts with those of our partners in order to come up with winning solutions that will refocus EU policies on development goals .
although I am in favour of the change to the legal basis and of strengthening the role of the European Parliament , in order to achieve greater transparency in legislation and broader protection for citizens , I consider the report to be inadequate and several steps behind what would be a substantive approach to the problem .
the EGF has already been used in the past by other EU countries , particularly Portugal and Spain , so we should now grant this aid to Germany .
we have worked hard , together with the former German and the future Slovenian Presidencies , to support our Portuguese colleagues , and we have succeeded .
my second point is that I believe that we must also warn against disproportionate alarmism .
the Greek rural areas in which people working with tobacco live are the poorest in Greece ; I fear that they are also the poorest in Europe in absolute terms .
framework decision on combating racism and xenophobia ( vote )
both the standards and criteria for the stress tests must be drawn up by the specialists from the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group .
we believe that childhood and youth must be protected and that children and young people must be brought up by their families and society as a whole .
neither the Council nor the Commission is adopting this proposal and even the Spanish Government did not put forward such a request in the Council .
the way in which 20th century European history was dealt with and retold differed greatly , especially in the individual Member States .
firstly , the importance of health and safety in the workplace .
moreover , I believe that in the Council , the rules of the game have been changed , but my government will deal with that .
if we really want to continue the work that we began in April during the conference on the crimes committed by totalitarian regimes in Europe - a conference that I myself opened - then it goes without saying that historians absolutely must have access to the archives .
furthermore , the Agreement will help to strengthen the protection of employee rights within the sector , step up cooperation on air travel safety and also , thanks to the compatibility requirement , strengthen cooperation on environmental matters .
however , I personally believe that it would be even more so if it signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty .
I welcome the proposed measures to promote creativity and a capacity for innovation in all stages of lifelong learning through working life to retirement .
the third point is about measuring the benefits of your action .
in writing . - ( HU ) The events of the past years have demonstrated that it is time to address seriously the economic , cultural and health situation of Roma living in the European Union .
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the survival of milk producers is now seriously under threat .
I agree with what Mr Schulz said .
while there will be a review this year , is it true that the State aid map review only allows a form of ' exchange ' as opposed to redesignating regions to reflect new economic realities following the financial crisis ?
although investigations into the magnitude of VAT evasion and fraud have not been carried out in all Member States , the International VAT Association estimates that VAT losses range from EUR 60 billion to EUR 100 billion per year across the European Union .
making the European institutions more transparent is a first step towards a new Europe , a Europe of the peoples and a Europe of the sovereign nations .
the rate of unemployment among young people in the EU has exceeded 20 % , which is twice as high as the rate for adults , and in some Member States , it has reached 40 % .
Catherine Trautmann 's report on electronic communications networks and services aims to encourage the development of the next generation of telecommunications networks in Europe . I believe this to be a positive contribution to the advancement of telecoms regulation that will promote investment in new communications infrastructure and strengthen consumer rights .
despite reference being made to various countries within the report , a majority in Parliament rejected two proposed amendments which considered that :
is discharge an interinstitutional game , as has been said in the past ?
today when we are discussing the future of the common agricultural policy and the opportunity for adequate support , it is very important for us to say that hundreds of millions of European citizens live in the rural areas which cover a large percentage of the Community 's territory .
that fact clearly shows the discrimination of Polish Members of the European Parliament in comparison to members of national parliaments .
if we should see civil wars , atrocities and the destruction of the economies of these countries , we might give good advice and our populations might send aid , but I hope that we do not regard it as our job to send our troops there to be killed .
I already envisage six extra chairs in this Parliament and an extra booth for interpreters .
Commissioner Barrot , I hope that once your new cabinet is formed we Roma , too , will be able to enjoy the security provided by European Union democracy , and that the definition of EU citizenship will apply to me and my children as well as to my non-Roma fellow citizens .
this agreement is a stable framework that gives legal certainty to our vehicle manufacturers .
therefore , it is clear that the triangle Bulgaria-Romania-Greece is one of the most sensitive regions from the point of view of illegal migration and that requires Bulgaria to prepare additional measures to resist migration pressure .
of course , one can talk of respect for cultural identity , and of the fact that we Europeans should be particularly sensitive when it comes to imposing our models on other continents .
to this end , in the 1970s , the European Commission put forward a proposal to create a legal framework for a European company .
the answer is clear : the Bible is signalling in the most dramatic way , in a broken sentence , how the conversation broke down .
do you wish to pose your supplementary question Mrs Doyle ?
I would say to Mr Gklavakis that we have had lots of discussions , and I always enjoy discussing this with him .
the current response to the instability of the finance system must not be allowed to restrict innovation in the financial sector .
the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats wishes to make its position here today clear .
now , countries with easily accessible external borders are swamped , but the majority of asylum seekers nevertheless are landing in the countries with the most generous social security systems .
if we are honest , we must recognise our historical responsibility for climate change and that our emissions per capita are still many times greater than those of China or India , for example .
this is being followed by strategies , plans and measures , even in countries in which environmental protection was , even recently , not a priority .
I know that the Commissioner is familiar with this famous quotation .
therefore , we invite others to do the same and not to support the amendments that have been tabled in order to send out a strong , clear message at first reading .
education is undoubtedly a complex , long-term process , the quality and , in particular , the results of which consequently influence the future careers of young people .
if we want regional economic cycles , we need to focus on quality and not on degrees of curvature .
I would like to call for the measures aimed at simplifying the procedures for accessing the funds to be speeded up in order to facilitate job creation in Europe 's regions .
secondly , to avoid the mistakes of the past , such as those belatedly identified in the application of the PHARE , SAPARD and ISPA programmes in Bulgaria and Romania .
I should stress the important role played by the EGF in reintegrating redundant workers into the labour market .
what I can describe to you already , however , are the most important elements , the foundations .
nevertheless , hope must never be given up and the Union for the Mediterranean can only be of help in keeping such hope alive .
the stability of the current coalition is remarkable despite the difficulties .
( FR ) Mr President , given the exceptional constraints we face this year , the agreement that has been reached on the draft budget for 2011 is the best compromise possible .
how is it possible that Parliament is not making stronger demands for the chairs of delegations only to be granted observer status when they represent it in international conferences ?
these forests , which are so different for each individual in Europe , for each area , face a common threat : climate change .
with regard to the external borders of the EU , I would also like to stress that the recent past in Europe has clearly shown that political and social problems cannot be solved through police or routine measures .
by making the Court of Auditors one of its fundamental institutions , the Union demonstrated the importance it attached to transparency and the need to improve its work .
it is a grievous and unnecessary self-inflicted wound .
rapporteur . - Madam President , this has been an extremely interesting and lively debate .
finally , let us not forget that it is a matter of minimum standards ( every State is free to increase sanctions against employers and protection for illegal immigrants ) and that there is a clause for revision every three years enabling us to adjust our aim based on experience .
I am all the more alarmed by the attempt to establish new discriminatory conditions .
victims , however , may move from one Member State to another for many reasons , not least to escape crime .
should the ECB see the value of its assets fall by just 4.25 % , its entire capital base will be wiped out .
the closure of two slipways would destroy that gain and that achievement .
Madam President , I can ask the honourable Member if he can give way to me .
nowadays , it is not only a matter of giving flowers to women we know .
the European Ombudsman acts in order to tackle cases of poor administration by Community institutions and bodies , either on his own initiative , or by following up a complaint .
- Motion for a resolution
the debate is closed .
at this moment in time , I think that time has clearly shown that it was not quite the best decision , but it is a decision which was within the discretionary options open to the Commission .
questions which have not been answered for lack of time will be answered in writing ( see Annex ) .
in most cases , these referendums are dominated by purely domestic issues .
we are currently talking about 51 regions .
nevertheless , as Mr Lamassoure has already observed , the citizens ' initiative can , according to the treaty , be a major instrument for creating a European public space that we very much need .
this is a test of how we , having over the last 60 years created a Europe which has social protection as well as economic progress , can help shape a world where we have economic progress , environmental care and social justice at the same time .
secondly , Gazprom must pay our countries penalties because at the moment Bulgaria , which is the most seriously affected country in Europe and is totally dependent on the gas energy supplies in Russia , must claim its rights and must claim them against the supplier , which is Russia in this case .
thank you for reminding me .
as Mr Davies said , we have really provided a good example of what European legislation can achieve .
I would like to mention two points .
we will be seeking to play a constructive and very attentive role in it .
the role of the European Union as a human rights defender is a fundamental characteristic which the institutions must not relinquish and which must be maintained as a priority of diplomatic work .
our agricultural and industrial activities and transport plans have drastically affected the quality of our soil .
in many respects it was a humanist speech which I am willing to accept as an ideal for the Europe of the future .
the Commission and the national competition authorities are vigilant to any infringement of the European Union 's competition law .
thank you very much for your point , which of course concerns us all on what is the day of European languages .
( RO ) Madam President , in a Europe without borders , and with an ongoing globalisation process , innovation can and must play an important role in enhancing social cohesion by improving the quality of services provided , no matter which sector they are from .
if , in the next months , we do not create the framework for Europe being the lead market for all these technologies , we will lose out on one of the few sectors where we are still leading the world economy .
in writing . - ( NL ) Health and safety at work have an extremely important part to play on the European agenda and in the Lisbon Strategy .
one of them has already evoked the threat of its ' financial nuclear weapon ' .
we have to stay within the limits of rationality , as befits the powers we have under the EU .
the European Union already has effective regulations regarding the organisation of working time .
as you know , it was during the Slovenian Presidency that we were able to reach a positive outcome .
it is important that we continue to support that .
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I took note of your points and I will try to respond to some of your concerns and policy positions on the basis of the briefings I have asked for during this debate .
( applause )
Mr Cohn-Bendit has doubts about this , so we shall check it out .
in writing . - The tragic situation in Burma demands urgent attention .
( PL ) Madam President , a year ago , there was a terrible disaster in Haiti , a huge earthquake which caused the deaths of 200 000 people and resulted in 1 300 000 people losing their homes .
Jens Rohde is right .
even though both the Treaty of Lisbon and the Europe 2020 strategy attributed an unprecedented level of importance to social policy , the issues of competitiveness and economic factors continue to take priority over social issues .
you let the speculators run riot , you brought the International Monetary Fund into the euro area and now you are asking for harsh austerity programmes .
constructing the EU budget during a financial crisis , with a very narrow budget margin and new areas of work relating to the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon , is not easy .
in economic terms , the postal sector is very important , and it also impacts on other sectors of the economy .
I specifically call on the authorities to release unconditionally Mr Mansour Ossanlou and Mr Emadedin Baghi and to end the harassment , intimidation and political persecution of human rights defenders .
let us be clear : these discussions are not about whether or not to combat discrimination but rather about how to do it in the most effective manner .
we cannot disadvantage our airports , our airlines and employees in this area .
it is difficult to get such a project off the ground but it is worth the attempt because it is important for our knowledge and research on animal welfare during transport to also be reflected in legislation and in practice .
author . - ( FR ) Madam President , the resumption of fighting between rebel and government forces in Chad has left hundreds dead and wounded and caused renewed tensions in the border region of Sudan and the Central African Republic .
in brief , there are a number of areas where the European institutions involved could be further extended in democratic terms .
in writing . - ECR Group MEPs supported this report as we believed that the legal basis of this legislation should be changed from ' Article 31 EAEC ' to ' Article 168 TFEU ' .
in the context of these talks , we will also offer assistance in the form of our cooperation in order , for example , to implement the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women , to strengthen the national institutions in charge of matters of gender equality or indeed to support changes in legislation that provides for discrimination against women .
well , his friend , Mr Barrot , the Justice Commissioner , is proposing to extend it to all the countries of the Union that do not have it and even to triple the accompanying sanctions and prison sentences .
there is only one way for Serbia to gain support for its claims in the sphere of cultural and social rights , and that is through constructive cooperation in the region .
maybe what we need is just an evaluation of the whole gamut of parliamentary positions .
we are stumbling around in the dark .
this resolution proposes an EU-level reduction of up to 30 % in greenhouse gas emissions .
however , so as to prevent this dream from becoming a nightmare , we have to play our part and ensure that these peoples not only rid themselves of their dictators , but eradicate dictatorships too .
he replied , ' In England , because there everything happens 100 years later ' .
reports of the House of Lords , that we all talk about , are reports of House of Lords ' committees : they are not voted on and rewritten by the chamber of the House of Lords , they stand on their own merits - often very good , deep , analytical reports .
a unilateral commitment is a positive sign , however , and is therefore desirable , but it is not enough .
at the same time , the EU and many nation-states have forgotten that natural disasters can also be prevented .
according to the current Schengen acquis , third-country nationals who hold a residence permit can travel freely within the Schengen Area because the residence permit is equivalent to a visa .
if we provide high levels of consumer protection but we discourage companies from entering those markets , then we are not doing consumers a favour .
let me give you an example : it makes a difference whether I heat a house or just one room .
transatlantic relations have always been a crucial part of European foreign policy .
a set of proposals along these lines would be balanced .
Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I would also like to congratulate my friends here in the House , and whom I have met with .
we are talking about a new digital agenda for the next five years , which means that Member States need to use information technology to improve administrative cooperation in fiscal matters as well .
as regards this last aspect , I would remind you that geographical indications are not just a trade policy matter ; they are also part of Europe 's identity .
however , this is not to say that the improvements made have had no effect on the current directive , and , in fact , it is to be welcomed that no upfront payments have to be made until the end of the cooling-off period .
Russia has joined in the election campaign that is underway there .
all must tread carefully here .
we hope that the upcoming elections will strengthen democracy in Venezuela and that the results will reflect the views of the whole of Venezuelan society .
there are those , including LTTE apologists , who want to deliver a further blow to the Sri Lankan people by undermining the GSP + preferential trade arrangements with the EU .
the Framework Directive is also an attack on freedom of expression .
it is always argued that the objective is growth and employment , but , as they have forgotten policies of solidarity , and of economic and social cohesion , committing only to monetarist and neoliberal policies in the interests of guaranteeing greater profits for large companies and financial institutions , what we will have is more social inequality , more unemployment and more poverty , as the cases of Greece , Ireland and Portugal have already shown .
I sincerely hope that it will .
we need to build high-voltage DC electricity distribution capacity through a smart grid - some EUR 50 billion of investment , but creating many jobs - and we need oil and gas storage facilities and , even more , a storage policy to reduce our dangerous dependence on Russia .
the political goal of 3x20 by 2020 does not therefore relate merely to limiting energy use by 20 % gross , for example , as a result of price increases , as this would only cause a fall in living standards , but rather by means of rationalisation , which would allow 20 % more useful work to be obtained from the same amount of primary energy .
12 .
the East Timorese Government has submitted a comprehensive Governance Action Plan , which will be the subject of political dialogue between the delegation and the Government , supported by the Commission .
concerning the Mediterranean , we have objected to a reductionist approximation that only talks about security .
in short , Commissioner , you have been rather hasty .
the secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change further estimates that in 2030 the cost of adaptation in the developing countries would be in the range of EUR 23 to 54 billion a year .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - Mr President , I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on this joint motion for a resolution on press freedom in Kenya .
justice is now the area in which hard-hitting reform is still required .
as said by Mrs Starkevičiūtė , working together produces results like these which are positive for everyone .
when we talk about the social dimension of Europe , to us this means that we must adopt an integral approach .
we need to change policies .
Europe must not give in to pressure by India to leave non-trade issues out of the new trade agreement .
the Chinese Communist Party must come to acknowledge the fact that the citizens of China are culturally diverse , and they must also have a right to cultural autonomy .
we must encourage cooperation between Member States to put an end to this type of crime and actively combat child pornography and other forms of commercial sexual exploitation of children .
we stand here to restate that there cannot and will not be impunity for those guilty of committing crimes against humanity , and we will continue to stand with the Iranian people as they exercise their right to free speech and peaceful protest for freedom and democracy .
regrettably , no progress has yet been made on this issue .
shortly after the first signs of a crisis , the approval of the elegant ' SISone4ALL ' solution proposed by the Portuguese offered a glimmer of hope that the long-awaited enlargement of the Schengen area might be achieved .
multinational companies have turned our cities into a common marketplace so that sometimes we do not know whether we are in Paris or in Prague .
it will certainly not suffice for our purposes , however .
they will tell me about things they do not like .
I would like to raise three issues regarding the tax on financial transactions .
we also obtained the opinions of expert committees on employment and social welfare and also the Committee of the Regions .
I also know the sensitivity in other Member States .
you are proposing that the retirement age should be raised , that the amount paid in unemployment allowance should be reduced , that wage levels and the mechanisms for calculating these should be modified , and that shops should be allowed to open on Sundays .
in writing . - The Conservative Party has recently published " Fair Play on Women 's Pay : a six-point plan to overcome the gender pay gap " .
there is no longer such a thing as a Greek currency .
on behalf of the EFD Group . - Madam President , I read the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs ' report on the European Central Bank 's annual report with great interest .
this therefore gives us an opportunity .
lastly , I should like to say how sorry I am that , due to extremists on all sides , Parliament has been unable to approve at this time an immediate increase in the safety of nuclear power plants , even though we in our group reached a consensus demanding the most serious , transparent and independent checks possible .
we must achieve this .
whilst it is useful to the big corporations , it is dislocating public transport and is responsible for the declining state of the network and of safety .
how much of the funding is being allocated for the promotion of the ' Education and Training 2010 ' programme , however ?
I also believe that a directive on maritime spatial planning would be an unnecessary luxury which would not , in my view , add value to the current process of cooperation between Member States .
I am pleased that both texts refer to the need to implement anti-discrimination laws in the workplace so that jobs are open for all .
without our technological assistance , Russia would certainly not in reality be able to benefit from its resources .
as a result , they would be subject to the new rules for accessing the Google system .
that is the work we do and we need to have the means to do it .
I am pleased to note that the ambitious goals set by the Commission proposal have been kept .
this is true despite the five EU Member States that have not yet recognised it , that do not want to see the reality .
we are German , British , Swedish , Hungarian and Spanish , and we are aware of and are experiencing the effects of the extremely serious economic and financial crisis in our own countries .
the report covers the period from early October 2009 to October 2010 and progress is measured on the basis of decisions taken , legislation adopted and measures implemented .
violence against women knows no geographical boundaries , no age limit , no class or race or cultural distinctions , but it is still invisible and the victims are silenced .
( RO ) Mr President , the free trade agreement with India will become the most substantial agreement of this kind if the negotiations are concluded satisfactorily for both sides . the European Union is India 's biggest trade partner and the Generalised System of Preferences is one of the instruments used by the European Union to encourage this country 's economic development .
I do not think so .
using tactics like those of bully-boys and racketeers , they dangle promises in front of unsuspecting people , but I think the message has got to be that if an offer seems to be too good to be true , then most probably it is .
that being so , I consider it incomprehensible - and we need to say this loud and clear - that some Member States - and they are also primarily those who do not want to punish traffic offences from other Member States - are hiding behind the legal question and the conflict of competence .
we have to build this Europe on facts .
harmonisation of the law in this field will allow us to ensure a high level of awareness among European patients and will help to even out differences in the health situation in all Member States .
we have said that we want to work without limitation to specific technologies and we are again having an ideological debate about nuclear power , which is a discussion that can be held , but which ultimately makes no sense in the context of the SET plan .
I would like to say that the amending budget that we have just approved , to the sum of EUR 13 400 000 , with effect only from 1 May , thus covering half a year , is very unwise .
for example , the seven Baha 'i leaders are still imprisoned only on the basis of their religious convictions .
secondly , a political point .
ladies and gentlemen , I would not like to judge the positive and negative aspects of the Treaty of Lisbon here .
we must finally introduce uniform criteria in this directive , because these have been lacking until now .
of course , we may protest , arguing that helpless people cannot be treated like cattle , that they cannot be driven out of their homes with no rhyme or reason , and be left without any help .
they are going to listen to our debate . the delegation includes representatives of the Gdańsk , Gdynia and Szczecin shipyards .
it needs to be understood that under no circumstances can we paralyse initiatives because there are technical difficulties that we have not been able to resolve before .
we will need to do a great deal more than these half-hearted measures taking two steps forward and one step back to stem the illegal flow .
the President of the Parliament participated in this debate , as did the President of the Commission and the heads of numerous other European institutions , and hundreds of young people , as well as representatives of older generations from all over the European Union .
in 2008 and 2009 , more than 70 % of all investments on the market in Europe were already in renewables : wind , solar , biomass .
( PT ) Mr President , Commissioner , it is true that cohesion policy is important as a contributor to growth and prosperity , as well as to promoting development that is balanced between regions .
this is a good report , which takes most of the concerns of the industry and environmental protection concerns into account in a balanced manner .
Ms Moghaddam is a leader of the One Million Signatures petition campaign , which lobbies to change Iranian laws which contradict the principles of gender equality and human rights .
I am referring to Amendment 31 , which calls for a report evaluating the reform and , if necessary , proposals to extend this aid fund by one year during the 2010-2011 marketing year .
promoting a strong contribution to development goals is already an important part of the EU 's trade policy .
even the European Union 's activities involving foreign policy , policing , security outside our borders and international cooperation are subject to the principles of the European Convention on Human Rights .
the vote will take place on Tuesday 16 December 2008 .
particularly after a 15-year membership of this European Union , we Austrians feel reassured by the fact that it was we who introduced our European Community to a great many of these concerns , and that this has led to Europe taking on these concerns .
fishing in the Mediterranean and the future of stocks depends on what all the Mediterranean countries , both inside and outside the European Union , do for this common resource and , if we do not act in common , this resource will be at immediate risk .
during the Cultural Revolution in China many square kilometres of forest were cut down .
if we fail - and I say we and I really mean us all - they will simply say that ' Europe ' has failed .
since the start of Annapolis , the European Union has lost its touch .
on the issue of safety , can I ask the Commissioner whether it is appropriate to use the words ' stress tests ' , because when it comes to banking , the words ' stress tests ' have certainly failed us .
we are conscious of the scarcity of water in developing countries .
the second idea is providing the European public with a new law and a new court : the right of Europeans to apply to this new court in order to guarantee fulfilment of the rights established by the convention in relation to the European Union or the Member States when they are implementing Union law .
this policy aims to improve the legal framework for cross-border services whilst also simplifying procedures , which will increase competition . it will also improve access to services and raise their standard whilst reducing costs , thus benefiting European consumers .
these agreements will strengthen our efforts in fighting crime in today 's globalised world .
we in Latvia have not grasped all the opportunities ; we have not always wisely implemented cohesion policy or made use of the financial opportunities we have been offered .
better regulation and protection of intellectual property , the reduction of the social and environmental impact from our Asian partner 's dramatic economic growth and the reduction in the counterfeiting and piracy of goods are areas for action where Beijing has already made notable progress .
it is a familiar system , and manufacturers , importers and retailers have all welcomed it .
it is positive because it is important to reiterate the need for EU banana producers to be protected , including those in the Canaries .
I also appeal to the goodwill of the European Commission to negotiate the reallocation of the Structural Fund resources with the competent authorities on the basis of the Community framework , taking this disaster into account .
( ES ) According to a United Nations report , in 2009 , some 270 000 people were victims of human trafficking within the European Union .
the EU 's ' green diplomacy ' was largely instrumental in achieving this positive result .
the need for clear definitions across the European Union on energy poverty is also important .
meanwhile , the proposed financial support mechanism for Greece was finally put in place on 11 April .
Congo is a good example .
we need to know how to take preventive action .
for now , it is a case of providing urgent solutions to the populations rocked by these disasters .
the nature of such a tax , its rate and setting the tax base are some of the very few instruments that still remain within the remit of the Member States and can be used to accelerate the economic development of less developed countries .
in its ' Pierre de Coubertin ' action plan , the White Paper therefore seeks to promote volunteering in sport and non-profit sport organisations through specific actions , including a study on volunteering and exchange of good practices within the informal EU ' non-profit sport organisation ' working group .
no , Commissioner , that would really be pulling the wool over their eyes .
it must never happen again that - as in the present case - the Commission does not fulfil its mandate and allows time to elapse without acting .
for me , it goes without saying that the toys I buy in Sweden , Brussels or Strasbourg are safe .
the Commission must commit itself fully , in accordance with the level of confidentiality .
we have given the banking industry an opportunity to self-regulate in this particular area .
we will study what happened , and undertake closer investigations and analyses .
my final point concerns the 12-day rule .
the Russian constitution provides a basis for a multi-party system , but de facto it has become a one-party system with a marginalised parliament .
this is because these negotiations are not exactly characterised by ambition , but by precisely that outdated industrial policy that nobody here wants to hear anything about , or so we are told .
two points that did not make it into the report were the possibility of applying attachment to joint accounts and the investigation of optional domestic use of the cross-border provision .
I want to make it clear , here and now , that when coming forward with this proposal both the Council and the Commission should take heed of Parliament 's strong and united position on the issue .
I therefore agree with the Commission 's view that the position of the ombudsman must be strengthened .
well it will not be well .
this sounds like an extract from a UK Independence Party report on the European Constitution - sorry , I mean the Lisbon Treaty .
( NL ) Mr President , I would like to thank the Commissioner for being here , but I would rather he was somewhere else , such as on a plane to Russia , for example , in order to make the case at the highest possible level that the ban that Russia has now introduced should be withdrawn because it is completely over-the-top .
young people with amputations ; children who had terrible burns who were being treated ; teams out there to support them .
I would like to urge you for us to counter those activist organisations adopting impartial measures in order to oppose this issue ; most of all because they do not offer any alternative .
what can be done about this ?
I would like to thank the Legal Affairs Committee secretariat and to praise the excellent support they have given me on this report .
moreover , we believe that the TACs need to be adjusted to each of these different fishing areas so as to ensure that the stock is managed sensibly .
should not ecological and social dumping be equated with direct dumping ?
the ratification and implementation of the updated ILO conventions ( debate )
indeed , it seems that the most important and most sensitive issue concerns where we stand on Eurojust .
I am thus happy to respond in any format decided by the Chair .
the EU must support the democratically elected government and should condemn attempts to undermine it .
why vote for an imperfect report ?
the plan provides for full completion of all legal proceedings by the end of 2011 , with a possible extension into 2012 .
the scope of activities covered by the term human trafficking should be revised and extended .
every religion has its own form of fundamentalism and the first victims of such fundamentalism are often the religious moderates of those same religions .
I myself spoke about the need for Europe to keep its commitments so that we could be credible .
the negotiations were very difficult and the Member States did everything they could to try and wriggle out of their earlier promises .
the European Parliament has already done a lot of work in this area .
Mr President , I want to propose the following oral amendment to paragraph 10 : I wish to add the name of Mr Sergiu Mocanu .
we have chosen to vote for this report .
hunger in the midst of plenty is , and has always been , a scandal , and , in this report , we are trying to improve schemes to address it more effectively .
I am approaching the Commission to seek its help as guardian of the Treaties and I appeal to its conscience to reject the measures and to apply the environmental impact directive scrupulously in that capacity .
( HU ) Thank you , Mr President .
( PT ) Mr President , the creation of a European patent is stimulating innovation and scientific and technological development in the EU .
the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament
the audiovisual cooperation programme MEDIA Mundus , as adopted today by the European Parliament , and which I support , comes under this objective .
unfortunately , the huge incidence of violent acts is not only typical of countries in conflict .
it is a problem with a strong multilateral component , because the sale and transit of gas can constitute a commercial activity only if the necessary conditions are met .
this new instrument , in order to be a serious tool , will have to produce legal effects of a certain importance .
as the Council did not do its part in what we should be calling ' a co-indecision procedure ' , those people are in the Sinai desert , who knows for how long ?
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , this week , we should have approved the European Union General Budget for 2011 .
I would like to say three things .
I find it impossible to disassociate developments in Pakistan and Kashmir from those in Afghanistan .
I wish to make a couple more comments ; to raise a few points about social and economic governance in the short term .
according to the respected NGO War on Want , that would threaten a further 7.5 million workers with losing their jobs , including in the poorest countries .
it is only in Kosovo that we have seen things happening at lightning speed .
this confusion could lead to problems in some national legislation .
too often , we have gazed into crystal balls and seen a series of marvellous plans , but each is impenetrable to the next .
we look for improvement in rules of origin ; in the harmonisation of standards , of product safety , child protection and animal welfare ; in their bureaucratic procedures ; in transparency of state aids and non-tariff barriers , and the elimination of discriminatory taxes .
one of them is the dialogue between the social partners - which was unfairly relegated to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union - and another important matter that we believe we are helping with through our support for resolution of confidence problems is to provide security through a declaration , like the Ioannina Compromise , which already exists , but should not go any further .
the opinion that , with reduced taxes , the situation would not improve or would even decline is not a valid argument .
for us , it is not about making transport more expensive , as has just been claimed .
in numerous cases , including in Greece , attention on the part of the institutions and the State decreased as publicity in the issue decreased .
I wholeheartedly understand Parliament saying that what we are doing for energy or innovation is not enough .
Roosevelt heavily attacked the oligopolies , the big companies in the US , and reregulated the economy .
on the subject of fundamental rights , I believe that we may have certain disagreements , but that there are no fundamental disagreements with some of the Members who raised this issue .
therefore , Mr Graf Lambsdorff surely has nothing to answer .
this disaster also underlines the challenges and the improvements that we must make to this structure , since the solidarity movement of our continent aside , the US reaction raises questions about our mobilisation capacity .
we must provide for labour relations that promote employment and ensure the possibility of life-long learning .
there is not , however , any South American state as such that is a member of the European Union - I am being very cautious here for perhaps I did not understand all the nuances of the question .
however , I also have to admit that I am disappointed with certain proposed amendments to the Directive on Deposit Guarantee Schemes , especially on pay-out delays .
it may not have been the best decision .
would we not be sending out a very positive signal if we could make progress on these free trade agreements now ?
the austerity packages proposed for exiting the crisis should not result in measures which could jeopardise economic recovery .
the plan was adopted at the conference on rail safety organised - as I said earlier - by the Commission on 8 September 2009 .
the European Union was created on the basis of peace and stability , and we can promote these globally , in particular , by means of humanitarian aid , development cooperation , crisis management and international trade .
I believe that the key words should be ' coordination ' and ' clarity ' .
that seems to me to be very important .
requests for oral amendments are also governed by different rules , not rules at the disposal of the president of the sitting , but rules already formally included in our Rules of Procedure .
at present , the EU livestock sector is experiencing difficulties caused by a range of factors , including rising production costs , competition from imports from third countries , and , of course , various issues which contribute to the rising cost of feed .
you have tabled no less than eight sets of draft resolutions and oral questions reflecting , in my view , the strength of parliamentary involvement and opinion on EPAs .
this is a real contribution to the preparations for the next financial perspective , but it is also truly European .
what stage have we reached ?
us anti-missile defence system ( debate )
according to French estimates , the 0.005 % tax will remove more than EUR 20 billion from the coffers of French banks .
a better description of the spirit of the times , however , would be the world ' flexinsecurity ' .
it is , however , time that we also change practices in this area .
in view of this , the liberalisation of visas to Taiwan boosts bilateral EU-Taiwan relations , strengthens partnerships in various areas and encourages a reciprocal increase in tourism .
some sectors of the population are especially vulnerable and need protection from poverty , because it is very difficult for people to escape poverty once they become poor .
therefore , concluding the Doha Round with a balanced and comprehensive outcome would be a major step ahead .
I remember something that one of these founding fathers , Mr Jean Monnet , said when the very first step towards the Single Market was taken and coal and steel were first brought together in 1950 .
yet this does not mean that there is anything wrong with parliamentary ratification .
some people may feel a sense of satisfaction at the sight of bankers falling from grace and losing their jobs .
in that respect , it is a natural reaction for Parliament to reject these proposals .
the Americans have achieved the PTC pipeline for oil .
Mr President , honourable Members , the Commission welcomes your proposal for 20 weeks of maternity leave .
many countries have problems with the introduction of civil rights and democracy .
this is particularly significant given that Japan is one of the main donors of aid in post-war times .
we should consider the Solidarity Fund , which since its establishment has already been mobilised in at least 20 or 30 cases .
the Slovenian Presidency has placed this issue among its highest priorities .
there will be no geographical quotas - you could sometimes get the impression that this is the most important issue here , but it most definitely is not .
I am neither against nor for .
this will still make a very significant impact on the Stability and Growth Pact and a very significant impact on public debt and on how matters are settled in the ' day after ' period , in other words after the crisis has passed , to put it in simple terms .
accession to the EU clearly also means an obligation under the Treaty to accept the achievements of the acquis communautaire .
although some considerations may be well-intentioned , let us not forget that too much protection destroys all protection .
workers are not aware of their rights , and Member States do not monitor whether the provisions of the Directive are being correctly applied .
the Member States acted collectively , both in the Council and in NATO , and so we must also account for our actions collectively as the Council ; you cannot hide behind the argument of powers and subsidiarity ; it is not a matter of making two particular Member States into scapegoats .
on behalf of the EFD Group . - Madam President , the 2.3 % increase in the budget requested by this Parliament calls into question its sense of responsibility .
I need hardly say that neither power plant will be using CCS .
this points to a spectrum of political views within the European Union .
the continued existence of economic and cultural inequalities on a global level has resulted in the development of new forms of slavery , no longer necessarily linked to the realm of sexual exploitation , but also to that of economic exploitation .
unfortunately , there are still many cases in Europe where women are affected by attacks by their male companions or former companions .
here we should also state our opinion that civil society must be an active participant as an alternative to the Summit of Heads of State and Government in Lima .
if it were the other way around , and a male walked in on females , the chances of their being killed would be far less .
with full respect for subsidiarity in that matter , some Member States have it and some do not .
we need to improve our approach to the implementation of innovative solutions in all areas , including technical and organisational , legal and financial .
in addition , the Commission provides significant humanitarian assistance - roughly EUR 40 million per year - to the Democratic Republic of Congo , especially to Uturi and the Kivus .
it does not , however , go far enough .
for this reason , I voted in favour of this report .
I will be making the best possible use of the transition periods and of the room for manoeuvre that the Basel Agreement gives us , plus you will be making your own contribution .
I hope that you can make your voice heard there and have more ' Europe ' in that institution also .
it gives us more social rights and the Charter of Fundamental Rights .
as you know , my pet subject is water .
it must be made clear once and for all that , according to the World Health Organisation definition , this concept includes abortion as a method of family planning .
to conclude , I would say that import controls absolutely must be harmonised , since we cannot demand a number of things from our farmers and then continue to bring products into the European Union that do not comply with our legislation .
I think this is an agenda where we also have to do something in Europe .
consequently , Parliament 's founded concerns about this issue which were voiced in the course of the conciliation procedure for the 2002 Working Time Directive were properly allayed .
but once again you could not accept a democratic result , oh no - the Irish have to vote again !
Madam President , today , we are discussing a European strategy for the Roma minority , which is an important step towards integrating the largest minority in the European Union .
according to the EC Treaty , the Community and the Member States are responsible for adopting measures to combat fraud and protect the Community 's financial interests .
is there not something dubious about Europeans promoting and funding contraception and abortion outside Europe ?
however , we must understand that no progress has been made in one decisive area , because the necessary cooperation , which needs to be organised much more effectively , has been vetoed by NATO 's partner Turkey .
secondly , we have seen , for several years , the redirecting by various means of money in the first pillar , from direct payment to farmers to the rural development projects in pillar 2 .
such behaviour will no longer be tolerated .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , this House is preparing to vote on the first budget of the Lisbon era .
( the agenda was therefore adopted . )
it is widely recognised that small and medium-sized enterprises are the key to reducing unemployment in Europe , yet they face a disproportionate regulatory burden when compared to larger companies due to economies of scale .
it all boils down to business and politics , and I think a great number of mistakes are being made in those domains .
the oral question to the Commission ( B7-0238 / 2009 ) by Mario Borghezio , on behalf of the Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group , on defence of the principle of subsidiarity ;
I would also like to extend my thanks to the Commission , which tabled a sound initial proposal that was gratifying to develop further .
furthermore , publication of current data and effectively informing citizens and business people about their rights and the situation in the market will help improve the market 's function and will improve transparency of its principles , ensuring equal conditions for competition .
the OFT does not have jurisdiction to tackle any scams from elsewhere , including from other Member States , so the problem continues and I continue to receive my share of complaints .
I believe that cooperation with the Inter-Institutional Working Group on multilingualism will enable us to make better use of free capacity in this area .
in both cases , we hear talk of accidents that took place , but these accidents have never been proven .
the aim of our proposal is to ensure that these deadlines are respected once and for all .
others , however , remain imprisoned , such as Netsanet Demissie and Daniel Bekele .
specific protection must be given to individuals , children and women especially .
the regions or farmers which wish not to cultivate GMOs or to adopt a GM-free status , can certainly benefit from the research findings from the research framework programmes .
support Southern Sudan wherever possible .
and you were always gentlemanlike .
whilst we have economic uncertainty , our ability to face any of our other challenges is obviously diminished .
in writing . - ( PT ) The harmonisation and reliability of data and information collected on marine activities is of critical importance for the fisheries sector and all efforts undertaken to improve their quality should be supported .
the terrible disaster that struck Haiti a year ago shocked us all and led to a global current of good will , making logistical , human , financial and humanitarian resources available immediately and on a large scale .
I would ask you not to raise a blue card if you want to be on the catch-the-eye list , because that is a quite different thing .
when there are mistakes , which sometimes happens , then we try to correct them .
that is one of the comments that I would like to make .
the third thing he mentioned is that financial supervision is being conducted on too national a basis .
debates on cases of breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law
for your information , Lithuania is home to around 200 000 Lithuanian citizens of Polish descent , and there are 62 schools where teaching is only carried out in Polish and 34 schools with Polish classes .
I have been very actively engaged with Member States and allies and the NATO Secretary-General in order to reinforce EU-NATO relations .
this draft protocol contains a Framework Agreement on the general principles for the Republic of Moldova 's participation in a number of Community programmes and agencies in areas such as transport , food security , customs , air safety and others .
at a time when debate about CO2 emissions has become unavoidable because it is central to discussion of climate change , and when the volatility of fuel prices has made the continuation of the current dependence on petroleum and its derivatives unsustainable , at least in the long term , it is important to find alternatives .
there has been some discussion regarding whether it was right or wrong to prepare a first-reading agreement .
the Presidency of the Council hopes , of course , that the Council and this House will be able to clarify these matters , so as to ensure that Europe has an industrial base that is its own and is competitive and that we know as soon as possible what mechanisms will be applicable , before 2011 .
I would particularly like to mention table wines .
those Council Members who are responsible should at least admit it !
I should point out that we are going to vote first on the amendments .
it was made up of finance ministers who were threatened with a downgrading of their sovereign debt .
the difficult task was the Parliament budget , where it was unfortunately not possible to bring the expenses down to this year 's level plus inflation .
it has taken much longer than people expected to bring this into operation , and that of itself raises concerns about the complexity of the instrument itself .
although I believe that there is still a lot to be done in terms of small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) and of consumer rights , this report is a first step in facilitating cross-border trade between SMEs .
Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union provides that any European State which respects the principles of the rule of law , freedom , democracy , respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms may apply to become a member of the Union .
however , you must be sure that these amendments will not create difficulties in the application of the directive by all Member States .
structure and rates of excise duty applied on manufactured tobacco (
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , in the European Union we have recently seen a significant rise in the price of basic foodstuffs , particularly in the new Member States .
however , when we are preparing the implementation report in 2010 , we can propose changes to the Directive if necessary .
the European Commission has disregarded these developments .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - Madam President , I have a number of points to make in relation to this issue and of course I would disagree slightly with Mrs McGuinness in relation to ' this is not about Ireland ' .
I would like to state very clearly my support for the delegation that would have gone to Iran from this Parliament .
it was no ordinary match .
Europe needs a competitive and innovative economy in order to be successful .
on the other , however , there is a certain resistance amongst Member States to sacrificing their legal solutions , which is hardly surprising given that these have developed over centuries and that they are widely known by their respective populations .
otherwise , our reaction will simply be unbalanced .
the debate is closed .
in practice , this would very often mean making the most vulnerable people pay , and that does not seem to me to be reasonable or socially just .
we must also pay particular attention to the needs of mountain areas , as we plan and implement structural measures .
European patents currently cost 15 times more than US patents , hence the reason why we must develop the European patent more quickly and reduce its cost .
I would like to underline the meeting which will be held in Prague in the presence of the Czech Prime Minister , the President of the Commission and the social partners , as well as the two upcoming Presidencies - Sweden and Spain - to discuss measures and recommendations .
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Mr President , it is important that decisions be taken in June on an ambitious package of legislation aimed at strengthening economic governance in Europe in order to win back the confidence of the markets and also in order to ensure growth and jobs on behalf of all our citizens and to increase the cohesion of our economies .
we must give not just the production sites , but also the future technologies , a chance so that Europe can remain a good place to produce cars . '
in order to achieve this objective , which is still a long way off , we have much ground to cover and many barriers to remove .
let me state that the Commission reaffirms its commitment to reaching an agreement on the soil protection directive , and will do its utmost to achieve that aim .
as a first point , I would like to thank the Commission , in the person of Commissioner Verheugen , for reading out the declaration on the implementing measures here in the House today .
we clearly need to demonstrate our resolve .
different rules will sustain a different culture . consequently , for the spoiled foreign cyclists and pedestrians ( and I consider myself to be one of them ) , the roads in the new Member States present a huge risk .
finally , we must not allow the tragic Greek situation to lead to the conclusion that we should not continue to strengthen the euro area and should not continue expansion towards the Western Balkans .
particular attention must be focused on the problem of migrants and refugees , both those extradited by Libya to their countries of origin where their lives are exposed to serious threats , and those returned by Italy to Libya where they are likely to face harsh reprisals .
when they explode , uranium projectiles irradiate fine , contaminating dust ; they contaminate the air , land and water , penetrate the respiratory system , and increase the likelihood of tumours , leukaemias and malformations .
the proposal for a directive on patients ' rights in cross-border health care , which received relatively less publicity , will have a tangible impact on the ordinary lives of many Europeans .
European citizens woke up on Monday , 10 May to a new Europe .
the current system of mutual recognition means we are open to chains breaking at their weakest link .
Vertebrates and primates enjoy special protection .
the provisions of the relevant factors to be considered indicate that determining the incidence of special circumstances should be based on an overall assessment of such factors .
therefore I say : do work together to be a much stronger body in the whole food chain .
nevertheless , I abstained because in my opinion , the text does not go far enough .
that is why I would reply to Dagmar Roth-Behrendt that the question is not of patients ' right of movement within the European Union , which is a self-evident , fundamental right .
I therefore thank the European Parliament for the work it has done and the vote it is to hold on this plan .
with regard to visa facilitation , we have begun talks in the Council .
so I am prepared to do this , I am prepared for a political dialogue with the Council and with Parliament to identify those things we can offer our citizens as an immediate response from among the 2008 and 2009 priorities , and those that deserve to be looked into in more detail .
this sort of cooperation should strengthen and promote social and cultural exchanges and help to shape common policies and actions to protect the environment and combat climate change .
what would happen if Vietnam were doing all this ?
what usually happens is that a business registers with a directory to have the name of the business listed in it , believing that no fee is involved .
in addition , in view of the huge influence of the People 's Republic of China on policy in Pyongyang , the European Commission should raise these matters as part of the European Union 's dialogue with China .
I voted in favour of both of Mr De Castro 's reports because immediate , urgent intervention is required .
as a result of public pressure and the fear of a boycott of the Olympic Games , the Chinese Government began talks with the representatives of the Dalai Lama . however , these talks were held at a gallingly low level and , moreover , the dialogue was akin to communication between two televisions , set to different channels .
information should be provided on the basis of accessibility , consistency and absolute transparency , because we believe that many regions expect the Commission to show greater energy in relation to the objective expressed here .
women must have control over their reproductive lives : it is so preferable to the alternative of unsafe abortion .
thirdly , I am against the minimum thresholds for granting direct aid proposed by the Commission , whereby the Commission says that anyone receiving less than EUR 250 a year or cultivating less than one hectare a year should not be financed .
therefore I think the Lambert report is unacceptable on that basis .
I also think that we need to realise that we cannot just carelessly give up on coal - an energy source that we have in our country and in many other places in Europe - and say ' coal produces CO2 , so it is not an option ' .
other factors which have an equally significant impact on the health of the citizens include occupational status and the resultant material situation , access to education , advanced age or disability , belonging to a minority group and many more .
an integrated strategy against trafficking for labour exploitation is needed which comprises prevention , prosecution , protection and assistance to victims .
he has done a fantastic job on this regulation .
it was not a collective failure , though , because there was agreement on practically everything , even though it failed miserably giving people the impression that big business and trade rules prevail over the European citizenry , whom we are here to represent and defend .
although the draft report was amended during its passage through committee , it still contains much that is unnecessary and harmful .
this paragraph refers to the creation of a European Consumer Ombudsman in the European Ombudsman 's office .
I should like to make a couple of brief remarks .
what could be more social than making a profit to re-invest to create jobs for your population ?
many of these jobs are quality jobs .
during such severe crises , non-governmental organisations and , in fact , major institutional networks will definitely have an important role to play .
there is no cure for this condition which often holds hostage both patient and carer regardless of age .
the increase in the employment rate is closely linked to the EU 's industrial policy .
( FR ) Madam President , in Mr Lewandowski 's very comprehensive report , I was particularly interested in the Parliament budget for this election year , which has consequences for the institution 's communications policy .
I welcome the audit strategy of the Court of Auditors for the period 2009-2012 and support its priority goals - maximising the overall impact from its audits and increasing efficiency by making best use of resources .
Croatia is ready for accession to the European Union now .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I just wanted to ask how many more minutes ' silence we will have to observe before we get a common European policy on immigration .
it seems , however , an interesting contribution to the current debate about the euro area .
once we have done that - and it will not be easy - then the emissions trading scheme must be developed further .
all of these steps are actions that we are taking now with an almost immediate impact on the markets , but we also need to do something about steps for the medium and longer term .
and , in general , those who fear that the Commission will get a blank cheque and do whatever they want should keep in mind that Article 186 is normally by nature a very positive scheme where it is possible to try to help people who are in difficulties by reacting very fast .
cultural diversity is not just an ideal ; it is also a significant economic factor .
during the second half of 2010 , the wholesale prices of agricultural produce increased by 32 % .
Commissioner , I should like to thank you once again for your understanding and would ask you to convey my thanks to your team .
therefore , I think that it is high time that the European Parliament was given more powers in the field of nuclear energy and we ought to reach an inter-institutional agreement so that we can have codecision powers .
I voted against .
in writing . - ( DE ) By supporting the motion for a resolution on the 2010 progress report on Croatia I would like to express my support for the swift acceptance of this country into the EU .
I believe that , if we truly want to abide by the goals we have set for our foreign policy in the Treaties , we still have a long way to go before we can send migrants staying illegally in the EU back to Libya .
we should really decide on priorities .
a certain group of Member States does have a ready source : the former socialist countries have by far exceeded their Kyoto commitments .
therefore , as you know , President Barroso has set up a high-level group to address this question , and I think that you should see with the Commission what stage the work of this group has reached .
on gender balance , I am committed to this and my Commission has a record number of women .
at all events , I am much obliged to Mr Demetriou for his cooperation with me ; it has been very constructive .
how do we ensure that people are able to work and thus play a part in society and what can we do to counter discrimination more effectively ?
by way of conclusion , I should like to relay a disturbing quote from a Kosovo police officer : ' Serbs and Albanians have managed to come to terms with each other at criminal level .
NATO stands for insecurity !
women , like children , are particularly fragile members of our society in some contexts .
( ES ) Madam President , the strengthening of relations between the European Union and the United States is key in the transatlantic context and in an increasingly multipolar world .
it is that the latest economic forecasts offer no hope of a return , by 2020 , to the strong , sustainable and inclusive growth that the European Union set itself as an objective .
we are , of course , talking here about asylum seekers .
agenda for next sitting : see Minutes
my personal impression was that the technical problems connected with the use of hydrogen in vehicles have basically been solved .
finally , Europe cannot shirk from examining the results of full implementation of the Schengen Agreement , which are in front of our eyes .
that is an agreeable situation for nearly everyone but the citizen .
it must also be the case that citizens ' rights and security issues be dealt with on equal terms , as Parliament ultimately impressively demanded in relation to the SWIFT Agreement .
the report by Klaus-Heiner Lehne , on behalf of the Committee on Legal Affairs , including recommendations to the Commission on transparency of institutional investors .
it will include participants who have never taken part in such events before , and it is also a step on the way to the European Council .
Richard Wilkinson , the British researcher who has written the book ' The Spirit Level ' and who visited the European Parliament in Brussels last week , has described it very well : we need equality and we need small gaps in order for us to have societies where security and confidence reign .
all those guilty of crimes will be brought to justice .
( ES ) Mr President , last December , the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco entered into an agreement to liberalise trade in agricultural products .
unfortunately , the alcohol lobby has succeeded once again .
I will protect it to the very best of my ability .
ladies and gentlemen , this blatant provocation is , in my view , all the more unfortunate for the fact that this celebration of a military war criminal included a speech from the Hungarian consul - a diplomat of the country now holding the Presidency and speaking in many forums on behalf of all of us , and also on behalf of the entire EU .
in every case , the result was satisfactory .
this unilateral decision by Croatia presented problems for fishermen , for example , because it reduced their fishing territory and the port of Koper lost its access to international waters .
flexibility mechanisms , primarily the quota trading systems , are likely to remain important instruments for the European Union 's climate protection efforts in the future .
rapporteur . - ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I must tell you that I had an enormous amount of pleasure in applying , myself , the principles of governance during the preparation of this report with the various stakeholders .
I would like it to be recorded in the Minutes at least then that I also wanted to speak about this report on air transport .
to begin with , I would like to inform you briefly of four matters .
( GA ) Madam President , an overwhelming number of people voted against the Treaty of Lisbon last year , because it was believed that a better Europe could be achieved : a Europe that is democratic and responsible ; a Europe that promotes the rights of workers , that defends public services and that seeks a positive role in the world .
the tough policy we are applying to budgets - starting with those of Member States - should , in the medium-term , also make us consider the desirability of retaining three seats of Parliament , an admittedly complex issue , but one which we cannot fail to address .
the Commission has actually already launched the boat and expects to change the rules in the coming weeks .
reopening negotiations with the Mercosur countries without consulting the Member States was very dirty play .
it sells well abroad .
finally , the most important thing is that the high-level talks between the Dalai Lama 's representatives and the Chinese Government really can continue .
I should really like to say that working with the rapporteur and the other shadow rapporteurs has been a truly excellent experience .
( applause )
there are six main points to my report .
finally , I would like to thank the Member States for their will to put aside differences and start compromising - with the best for Europe at heart - to find solutions that are not only of benefit to them , but to Europe as a whole .
finally , we must not forget that ordinary Zimbabweans are in desperate straits and need basic aid now just to keep going .
will the Commission adopt new maritime policy objectives as part of the new Euro-Mediterranean strategy ?
this is a precondition for restoring and reinforcing confidence in the European economy , improving banks ' robustness , and ensuring that we safeguard economic growth through credit supply .
to deny such differences is not to fight for equal rights but rather to fight for the conformity and sameness of both sexes .
the pillorying of the accused by the media to boost ratings , or even by governments and officials for the sake of short-lived political gains , flagrantly violates this principle .
at present European Schools are perceived as elite schools that often exclude children whose parents are not EU officials .
this makes it clear that the enforcement process is not working .
a major problem , which required lengthy negotiations , was the situation with regard to employee participation .
I think that we need continuous dialogue between the European Union and Gulf Cooperation Council in order to make progress in promoting human rights and freedoms , as well as those of minorities , and in the battle against every form of discrimination , including discrimination based on gender or religion .
there are reports of ongoing investigations to find the group of refugees , and we hope that things will be clearer in the next few days .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - Madam President , I am very happy to speak on this issue here tonight .
we want to bring about a coming together of the experts - at hearings , in the working groups and also for the development of studies .
finally , on behalf of producers , processors and all of us , I hope that this reform achieves more of the objectives set for it than the last one .
that is the least we must do .
this approach is particularly unacceptable and reflective of hypocrisy when we , as nationals of the new Member States are still - to this day and for who knows how much longer - discriminated against in numerous old Member States when it comes to access to the labour market .
this joint motion for a resolution on the Democratic Republic of Congo reflects the complicated situation in this African country .
( SK ) I agree with the Members who spoke before me that the European Parliament must adopt an uncompromising attitude towards a country in which the totalitarian arrogance of power knows no boundaries .
toy safety is of utmost importance now and at all times of the year , for our children 's health and safety is at stake .
it is more of a shot in the arm than a therapy .
the suggestion of reaching an agreement on a transitional administration in the country is worth investigating as a way of getting out of the current democratic impasse Zimbabwe currently finds itself in .
we also ask for new labelling technologies , such as microchips and Radio-Frequency Identification ( RFID ) , to be used in order to combat product counterfeiting .
the majority of those who voted ' no ' in 2008 understandably felt that official Europe would never heed their verdict if it did not suit the EU .
each country 's position , that is , their foreign policies should be linked to a binding political platform established by the EU ;
our call for a seven-year financial perspective which is expressed in a structure that reflects the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy , while , at the same time , respecting all the policies for the European Union and avoiding increasing the European budget to unrealistic levels , must be seen to be reasonable .
in November , several hundred young people from all the countries that are building the Union for the Mediterranean will meet here , in the Chamber of the European Parliament in Strasbourg , and engage in a dialogue of civilisations - a dialogue of cultures .
the Commission will look into the possibilities of extending the scope of the directive to cover a wider range of travel arrangements including the ' dynamic packages ' .
I was aware of what was going on , admittedly from the better side of that border .
consumers have the right to know where products come from .
on 28 November 1989 , Parliament adopted a very important resolution affirming , and I quote : ' all European peoples , including the Polish people , have , in accordance with the Helsinki Final Act , the right to live within secure borders as currently defined . '
we use resources quicker than they are able to replenish themselves .
the report states that ' fishing right management mechanisms should be adopted at Community level ' , when the reality shows that Community management of fisheries has been an unmitigated disaster .
( ES ) Commissioner , I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the communication that you have presented to us .
that means they miss out on the possibility of utilising the Internal Market .
higher food prices affect both producers and consumers .
that is my criticism , and that is why I abstained .
Mrs Jaakonsaari is well aware that we in Finland have a saying that translates roughly as ' Help a man when he is in trouble , not when he is not ' : this also applies just as well to women , of course .
( the sitting was suspended at 12.35 a.m. and resumed at 3.00 p.m. )
a deduction at source on all financial transactions would be a far more effective method .
civil crisis management , peacekeeping and the protection of human rights are the cornerstones of the CFSP .
information is the only way to lay the foundations for a healthy diet .
the regulation will bring about an ever greater restriction of harmful active substances circulating in the market , particularly through comparative assessment and adherence to the principle of substitution .
it may even stand the test of time and be accorded similar historical importance to the Bretton Woods Conference of 1944 , which determined the shape of global economic cooperation for a quarter of a century and continues to influence it even after 60 years .
then we can vote on everything else on the basis of the Treaty of Lisbon .
it is fundamentally a case of ensuring that the movement of any kind of substance throughout the whole customs system should manage effectively to protect the financial interests of the European Union and of all the Member States and , from that point of view , I think there is still a lot to be done .
in reality , unemployment is completely unacceptable .
anybody who is in the Chamber and has a question down will receive a written reply .
I think we are talking about secret prisons .
it is the only soil we have and we must look after it .
rule of law is at the heart of any democratic process and the functioning democratic system cannot be sustained without an independent judiciary .
I draw a rough line for every Member of this House .
if we are looking at growth , we are still talking as if the quantity is what matters , not the quality and not what is actually growing within our societies .
I am in favour of this report as I believe that the government of Iran should respect the legitimate requests of its people for fundamental freedoms and the improvement of economic and social conditions , along with the desire for cooperation on the part of Iran with the international community .
I therefore declare my vote against the abovementioned report .
and , in particular , can we put as much pressure as possible on the European Investment Bank to keep within the allocation it has been given in the draft decision ?
each year half a million women there pay for their desire to have offspring with their lives .
in addition , irrespective of any resolution or decision , in my personal view , domestic adoptions must take precedence in any legal system , present or future .
that is why a well-functioning , properly resourced Committee on Petitions , working in good cooperation with the Commission and the Council , is core to supporting and validating the rights of EU citizens .
the Larosière report is , in fact , a very important guide that we must follow .
in the long term , an increase in the birth rate and preventive health care will be of significance for the balance in public finances .
this means that Iceland should adopt the euro only after accession to the EU , after fulfilling the conditions set out by the Treaty .
just at the beginning of this month in Hungary , two Roma people were shot like animals when they were trying to escape from their burning house .
fully functional regional cooperation based on common values , such as democracy , the rule of law and the defence of human rights , for example , will require targeted improvement of the current mechanisms of the bi-regional partnership .
unfortunately , the sad statistics in my state show that in eight out of ten international cases currently being investigated , State institutions or courts are found to have acted improperly .
Europe is financing its ambitions by indulging in words .
I think that a waiver of immunity should be applied only to an MEP who has committed a homicide .
this encourages illegal immigration , resulting in the tragedies that we have been experiencing .
( interjection by Marios Matsakis )
I think it is unfortunate if you devalue that , because it robs us of an opportunity .
in particular , we should draw lessons from previous budget outturns so as to be able to determine our real ability to implement sectoral policies .
this implies responsibility , we ourselves have a responsibility for the stability of the small country and Euro-Atlantic integration .
even though traffic management can allow premium high-quality services to develop and can help ensure secure communications , the same techniques may also be used to degrade the quality of communications or other services to unacceptably low levels .
we believe that this sort of purely European solution cannot be countenanced .
in writing . - ( RO ) I voted in favour of the European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation ( EC ) No 3 / 2008 on information provision and promotion measures for agricultural products on the internal market and in third countries - C6-0313 / 2008 - , because I consider that the population needs to be properly informed about the agricultural products which they are consuming .
( ES ) Mr President , at a time of major social tension , we can only warmly welcome the major social dialogue agreement in Spain between the government , the unions and employers .
I think more of us should speak about issues of concern in other Member States that we know of , so that there is a sense in which there is greater solidarity among Members of this House regarding the concerns of their citizens .
the latest information provocation is that Georgia kidnapped a Russian soldier .
we are given too little time to assess such complex issues .
the marketing parameters must not be revised downward so that the only possibility left is to make fishmeal from such excellent stocks .
I would like to thank Mrs Thyssen , my colleagues , the Council and the Commission for their extremely constructive cooperation .
secondly , I want to loudly , clearly and firmly condemn the irresponsible and provocative manner in which the Gdaim Izyk camp was dismantled .
until now , it had continually stressed that the existing legislation was sufficient to guarantee the safety of nanomaterials .
the call for new laws as formulated in the Bauer report should be rejected .
I could not vote in favour of the Conservative Party amendment to freeze the budget at 2011 levels because I firmly believe it is a reduction that is needed , and their stand represents a weak starting point for negotiations .
in writing . - ( FR ) I would like to use this vote to underline the permanent discrepancy that exists between the words and actions of the European Union in certain areas .
even though European legislation prohibits the export of hazardous waste for recycling , studies have shown that more than two thirds of European electronic waste is exported .
this is a priority for the Commission in 2008 .
Mr President , I would again like to draw your attention to the practice of illegal adoption .
the quality of the professional services and the qualifications of those working in the sector need to be improved .
we need to be very vigilant and disciplined .
in too many cases , such equipment is being declared as used but functional and , on that basis , is being exported beyond the Union .
finally , the internal report on the management of expenditure for assistants : I believe it was wrong to keep it confidential , because this has led to a whole series of articles in the press that are damaging transparency and the proper functioning of Parliament .
this dialogue between the Commission and Parliament is important .
last but not least , I suggest that you remain committed to the EU 's common position on Cuba until real changes there can be confirmed .
new negotiations on current sanitary regulations could improve this situation .
I am convinced that these three areas will provide an important foundation for competitiveness and innovation for many years to come .
I believe that the empowerment of the authority of Parliament will help make this instrument more flexible , comply with the new requirements stipulated in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union , and better face the challenges involved in the protection of human rights and democracy worldwide .
I am well aware of the effort that he put into this subject and the difficulties he underwent so that it would be possible to reach a consensus .
I attach great importance to the expertise and information that we derive from our exchange of experience and dialogue about possible solutions with citizens , interest groups , lawyers and lobbyists .
my question to you is , does this also mean that the text which this House approved in April enjoys the full support of the Czech Presidency , and what practical steps have you , as President-in-Office , taken in order to ensure that this directive is also adopted as soon as possible by the Member States and the Council ?
we express our solidarity with the people of Burma and demand that the arrested protesters be released immediately and that http : / / nobelprize.org / nobel _ prizes / peace / laureates / 1991 be allowed to live a rewarding life and have freedom of action .
I myself was born in the Balkans and I know what protracted and unresolved conflicts can mean , not just for the security situation in a whole region but also for its economic potential and for the normalisation of life for the people who live there .
many of these complaints come from passengers whose flights have been cancelled due to the airlines or tour operators going bankrupt .
but we are doing that to make the lives of our citizens better .
Madam President , after my speech at the start of this debate , I actually only have two more comments to make .
anyone who votes in favour of Mr Gauzès 's proposal will be ensuring that the Commission does what it wants to do anyway - namely , proposes no financial transaction tax .
in view of this breaking story , which is not an isolated event but happening all over Europe , I call on you , ladies and gentlemen , to petition the Commission .
I hope that this Parliament will find the right time as well as the correct formula for adopting this subject .
however , it is not only the humanitarian situation that at risk , but the stability of the whole region .
( it ) Mr President , Commissioner , rapporteur , ladies and gentlemen , like many other Members , I , too , recall the great effort required of all of us to overcome the numerous obstacles before we could finally approve the Services Directive .
we urge the Commission to drive and coordinate the European solidarity effort .
GDP is an indicator of market economic activity that has become the standard point of reference at the service of the world 's decision makers .
this money has been and is being paid mainly to the industry , in the form of a massive amount of compensation to the tune of EUR 730 per tonne , while at the same time just around 10 % , at best 20 % , of this cash goes on changing the industrial structure and tearing down factories .
Europe should therefore forcefully voice its concerns because a military , nuclear power could jeopardise the continent 's security and have significant political consequences for all the countries in the region .
the first principle is that this pact must be carried out under the conditions laid down in the Treaty and within the existing system of economic governance .
I have visited women 's shelters .
Mercosur 's competitiveness in agricultural markets has been strengthened and has increased in recent years , so there needs to be an impact study on the consequences of an agreement for European agricultural activity , which is in no condition to suffer more shocks at present .
they are responsible for this situation .
the European Parliament was able to agree fairly quickly that it would finance the beginning of the Galileo project with European money , by using the ' Community method ' .
all our agencies need to be able to fulfil the tasks that we currently pile on them .
that is why the European Union is supporting the efforts of Egypt , Turkey and others to achieve this .
it is a fact , nonetheless , that we have serious problems within our own borders : problems affecting individuals , in particular , and problems affecting groups .
now , therefore , we await the legislative phase of the Commissioner 's actions on research and innovation .
this also proves that Europe really is about diversity , tolerance and equal opportunities .
however , it is not even going to be possible to safeguard these procedural rights , which we have already debated and which we are going to discuss as part of the package of procedural rights .
I also want to ask you , Commissioner , to send people from our delegation in Beijing to Tibet as quickly as possible , to submit a request to send a delegation of people there , today if possible .
I share the concern expressed in this discussion by Members such as Mrs Pack , Mr Swoboda and Mr Maaten regarding the political development of Bosnia and Herzegovina .
I assure you that in the months leading up summer I will be delighted , if you invite me , to come here more often , and certainly after each meeting of the European Council .
coming from Ireland , I can confirm tragically that threats to children come traditionally from within institutions where they are supposed to be safe , within certain families and within certain areas of the Catholic Church .
yet we must also be honest with our citizens .
I see no value in re-writing or re-interpreting it in any selective way .
( PL ) Madam President , I do not have to remind the people who are gathered here , and who are participating in this debate , of the dangers of counterfeit goods .
with the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon , increased powers have been conferred on Parliament regarding Fisheries Partnership Agreements : under Article 218 ( 6 ) ( a ) TFEU , the EP now has to give its prior consent to conclusion of an agreement , a requirement that replaces the earlier ordinary consultation procedure .
Europe and the rest of the world are still wrestling with racial , sexual , cultural and national discrimination .
in this resolution , the European Parliament makes clear its disgust at the most brutal forms of carrying out this type of punishment , such as stoning .
the role of carers in society , as Marian Harkin rightly pointed out , is totally undervalued and that needs to change .
however , we in Lega Nord shall fight until the end to preserve and develop this valuable resource for our territories .
hence , on the one hand , there is a duty to provide and , on the other , a duty to assist .
this will make a very important contribution to ensuring growth .
we think that the regions are the effective authorising bodies of European public expenditure .
women from the working and grassroots classes , young people , immigrants and refugees have nothing to gain from the show being put on for them , or from the wish lists and lies being trotted out by the plutocracy , in order keep a grip on the capitalist system of exploitation and cheap labour and increase the profit of capital .
that is why , before considering a proposal to re-evaluate the current security architecture of the continent , we should try to have definite answers as to the continuation of US involvement , the future of NATO and the role expected of the EU after the Lisbon Treaty comes into force .
having common standards for these cross-border payments , credit transfers and direct debits is an important part of the health and growth of the single market .
these questions on cluster bombs look to the future and to what Europe must do to eliminate these weapons which make no distinction between civilians and military personnel and which destroy so many human lives .
one of the things we agreed in the committee was that active inclusion should not be replacing social inclusion , that wider field of feeling that you have a role to play in society .
I deeply regret this , as it means that important consumer information will be lost .
however , I question the European Union 's financial standing as regards all of your projects .
I know from personal experience , having attended the 10th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties ( COP 10 ) to the Convention on Biological Diversity ( CBD ) in Nagoya , that the European Union can indeed do this , and also that this is the only right way to achieve a good outcome .
have no doubt about it : this is our sole objective and our task here today .
I will relay your highly unanimous and general proposal for convening a special session of the UN Human Rights Council to the High Representative .
add to this enormous devaluation of the value of a child : for example , what percentage of the cost of one or two cars can an entrepreneur write off as tax annually and how much of the cost of a child can a parent write off ?
the core element of the above action plan was the conclusion of voluntary partnership agreements with third-country timber producers .
the Council and the Commission must inform the European Parliament comprehensively and directly .
we talked earlier about electromobility .
over the past few years , there have been so many hearings and consultations about the European Private Company that I cannot understand why we need to have a third , a fourth , a fifth and perhaps even a sixth or however many more .
I wish the very best of luck to the President of the European Commission and his team .
since the workers ' struggles in Greece , Ireland and Portugal have been in vain , as we know , it is time to do a U-turn and to stop insisting on benefiting only economic and financial business groups , above all in the major European powers .
it has to be said that this amounts to a dramatic failure for those who promoted such a policy .
Madam President , farmers are not unreasonable people , nor , as a rule , are they dishonest , yet cross-compliance often treats them unfairly , with disproportionate penalties for minor offences and no-notice inspections .
this is the way we can work together .
increasingly , though , it is finding that its decision-making power seems to be migrating to the Commission .
if it can be completed , Doha will deliver a good outcome not only for Europe , but also for the whole world economy .
I welcome the dozens of measures contained in the report .
you are more no-nonsense than I am , but sometimes that is necessary !
this will bring new jobs , create new services and attract new investment to Europe .
everyone should therefore be delighted with this situation .
the euro area has faced an economic crisis of great magnitude during the last two years .
I also congratulate the European Parliament and all citizens of the European Union as well as the rapporteur for taking such decisions today that should advance more specific and targeted actions not only to cure those suffering from cancer , but also to ensure the prevention of cancer .
its tasks are shared between the European , national , regional and local levels of governance , and I believe that we can re-energise Europe by taking seriously its multi-level governance system to provide EU 2020 delivery mechanisms .
the major obstacle to an agreement in Copenhagen is the question of funding .
Europe 2020 is a community Union , not a nationalist or obstructive Europe .
we are also not convinced that the Directive would improve the existing situation under national law and the jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice in this area .
however , what I am against is these victims being misused in the name of some ideological fight against the use of nuclear energy .
growing concerns over unemployment and the rising prices of essential goods and fuel throughout the continent are a serious reason for confronting the problem of poverty and social exclusion , which affects around 16 % of the population .
it is appropriate that the EU should make use of the current , albeit meagre , opportunities .
- Report : Inés Ayala Sender
( NL ) My heartfelt thanks for the ambitious plans that you have laid out for the coming six months .
there is no need to repeat much of what my fellow Members have said as I am in complete agreement with them .
consequently , I ask the Commission to inform us on the existence of such programmes and the implementation thereof , but especially on wether it intends to consider this issue when drawing up further European policies on Roma .
the turmoil has taken everyone by surprise and it does not seem that any contingency plan was made for such an eventuality , which is not localised but widespread .
we need to do everything we can to help the Japanese people .
important decisions were also made with respect to the external aspects of the common energy policy .
I therefore find it regrettable that the report by the Committee on Budgetary Control ended up being less critical than it had been in the Chair 's original version .
I had dialogue with members of Congress last week and gave them the same answer , so am pleased that you have confirmed it .
we are bringing EU legislation into international disrepute and undermining its credibility by this growing lack of scientific rigour and lack of good science .
the other two agreements are related to fisheries concessions for Iceland and Norway between 2009 and 2014 , and provide for their renewal .
it would be good if you could help to create a better balance .
in an environment of disrespect for the French , Dutch and Irish votes - and of people not allowed to vote - this respect was very welcome .
these concerns are clearly reflected in Mr Cornillet 's report and I naturally support the key elements that the European Parliament wishes to underline and defend in the preparation of a European humanitarian consensus .
this Commission has argued all along that institutional reform is important , but that we also need delivery of results , side-by-side . as the Commission said in 2005 and 2006 , that twin-track approach was the way out of the institutional stalemate .
if this could be done , I believe we would finally start to see changes in the Burmese situation .
the elections will be the acid test .
this vast amount of literature cannot be concentrated in one place without the help of computer technology .
this included the flights and overnight stays in Brussels for him and his staff , and I could not accommodate this .
the number of cases of contamination with salmonella or campylobacter has not gone down .
in the North Sea and Baltic Sea we have dozens of old munitions from past wars .
in fact I believe that it is an honour for our country to have an illustrious representative at the head of a strategic institution such as the European Central Bank ( ECB ) .
on the contrary , we recognised that in the climate of an economic recession where national budgets are under the constant pressure of restrictions , the European Union 's budget must set an example on this .
the other funds too ( European Regional Development Fund , European Fisheries Fund , Cohesion Fund ) now all contain publication rules .
there is no time to lose .
not one of you can do that either .
when we discussed Parliament 's resolution on 1 February 2007 in Brussels , I undertook to answer Parliament in detail and I have every intention of living up to that commitment .
thank you very much .
this is precisely why the authorities are losing the war .
it will be yet another step towards the sovereign state being the European Union , and Member States simply being powerless appendices to it .
the idea is a good one .
action has been taken and clear and precise rules introduced in this field , too .
in line with that rationale , and based on the view that information campaigns will continue to be of value , the amendments would seem to be appropriate .
it has not yet been finalised formally - we hope to do that by the end of this year - but the messages from individual businesses or business organisations have been more and more concrete and positive , in the sense of possibly deeper involvement in the future .
I very much count on Parliament 's support to bring about a real change to create both adequate and sustainable pensions for the future .
I am very pleased that the essential message of the reports is one of support for the Commission 's initiatives .
in recent months , the European Union has strengthened its external policy on women 's rights .
( FR ) Madame President , I trust my tone will be as measured as your own was agitated .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
the same applies to the listing of CO2 emissions and fuel consumption : both must be clear to the consumer .
just as I agree with the Ombudsman 's call for a service culture , I agree with Ms Sbarbati 's call for the necessary budgetary and human resources .
as we used to talk about inflation moderation in the past decade , so we should strive to achieve moderation of price and wage dynamics in the period to come .
the problem can be partially solved by benchmarking .
in this history , we behold the grievous consequences of the alienation of human persons from one another .
( SK ) Mr President , a number of EU Member States agreed to create and use one common currency .
I also have high hopes of the European financial coalition against commercial images of child pornography .
I am afraid I have a deep distrust of politicians .
there is an incredible enthusiasm here that must be channelled - bundled , if you will - in order to create the corresponding added value .
it will not be possible to take legal action to discover the whereabouts of the data or to claim damages for its illegal use by third countries .
this is a meeting point for many cultures , including Member States and various other countries .
I would then ask the plenary session to support this report .
we will continue to fight for these things , and let us hope that they will be included in the next package on victims .
Member States admittedly need to improve the controls which they apply to transport in transit .
the priorities of the Hungarian Presidency include raising awareness of the role of families in the context of responding to social , economic and demographic problems .
I would like to tell you all that I , too , have experienced that responsibility , and that I have experienced it from both sides . I was a member of a trade union and an activist , and was very active for many years .
may I offer them my warmest greetings .
this is nothing new , but this year the Commission gave us a new challenge : in view of the enormous global increases in food prices , in July it proposed what it called a food aid facility for the less developed countries , with a budget of EUR 1 billion for 2008 and 2009 .
the first certainty , or the first common element , is that there is now a major convergence of opinion that emissions need to be reduced and that clean energy sources need to be developed .
continuing to support imported poverty is not the solution .
similarly , it is essential that the levels of permitted radiation are set in a way that means food is safe to be consumed by people of all ages .
it is not the Lisbon plan for the next three years .
the regulation covers both the supervision of credit rating agencies by the European Securities and Markets Authority and supervision of the use of credit ratings by individual entities supervised at national level .
as far as the financial crisis is concerned , I am delighted that your original plan that everybody should club their money together in the middle fell to pieces .
civilian democratic control over the military in line with practice in EU Member States is still to be ensured .
we need strong SMEs in Europe , because they employ two thirds of the workforce , produce 50 % of the gross national product and pay 80 % of the taxes .
on the subject of standardisation , we should take a break from introducing new regulations and standards and , first of all , make sure that we are applying the existing regulations in a uniform way within the European Union .
the aforementioned directive also provides for membership and participation in employees ' and employers ' organisations , meaning that it is a specific measure adopted by the Council with a view to ensuring that persons with disabilities are actually able to participate in decision making .
also , referring to the UK VAT rate , he said that ' all this will do is raise Britain 's debt to a level that will take a whole generation to work off ' .
it was like this in former times in my own country too .
very recently , 45 % of Turks supported this objective .
President of the Commission . - I am sorry , I did not follow the statements by the Chairman of Deutsche Bank , and I cannot comment on something I am not aware of .
personally I am delighted with the change in the emissions trading system from a national to a sectoral approach , though it seems to me that its compatibility with European competitiveness must be enhanced before 2009 as a matter of urgency .
it is a weather vane that , one minute , is saying something true and , the next minute , is saying something false , and looking back on it now , I will take everything that is true and leave everything that did not work to spin on the weather vane , because there is a difference between us .
ladies and gentlemen , the Treaty of Lisbon has an impact on the work of several European institutions .
Europe has been using nuclear technology for more than 60 years and still there is no policy on management and disposal of nuclear waste .
while the sums pledged were not on a par with the efforts made by the Germans , the European contributions clearly indicated East Germany 's status as a fully fledged participant in the European adventure , the increased human and technical exchanges and the regular dialogue between the European Commission and the leaders of the new Länder .
as a result , we have a duty not to force airlines to operate flights at significant economic and environmental cost simply to retain their slots .
the new system of contracting now proposed for parliamentary assistants , which involves a special arrangement whereby these assistants will in future be employed by way of direct contracts with the European Parliament , is essential to ensure respect for the principles of equality , non-discrimination and transparency in contracts , and also the legal certainty of these workers .
the industry has reported that 8 % fewer cars were sold in the Union last year than in the previous year , to compare 2008 with 2007 .
European legislation on this matter must be rigorously applied , as Mrs Paulsen 's report recommends .
( PL ) Mr President , after today 's vote I found out - perhaps it was only I who found this out - that the Identity , Tradition and Sovereignty Group ceased to exist at the time that the President of the Parliament announced this information .
( NL ) Madam President , I voted against this report , but not because I oppose the exchange of information between national authorities on criminal proceedings .
secondly , Kosovo 's energy dependence is a particular problem .
Mr President , I have three quick points to make .
in this European Year for Combating Poverty and at this time of economic crisis , we hope that there will be consolidated policies for the most vulnerable in society .
at this point , I should like to say that it is my hope and wish that we shall continue the constructive dialogue , and that the European Parliament will achieve a consensus as soon as possible .
I appreciate that a world agreement would be ideal and I appreciate that we need to involve the IMO , but the IMO has got to be one of the slowest international organisations the world has ever come across .
I thank the Commission for its very open and differentiated approach .
I think it is very important to add that more should be spent on the professionalism of all seamen responsible for navigation - from the captain , to the chief engineer , to the boatswain , to the master-at-arms , to the helmsman and to all seamen - because the lives and safety of men at sea depends on them .
there are three issues that I should like to emphasise in the report that they have presented to us .
child-labour-free does not only mean that there is no child labour being used in the parent company or even by its immediate suppliers : a company at the top of the supply chain must have the responsibility to ensure that all steps of , and conduits to , the supply chain are child-labour-free .
I believe that this Presidency has not taken sufficient action against illegal immigration , and that the action it has taken has been extremely ineffective .
although we acknowledge the proposal for a Nuclear Weapons Convention , Britain is concerned that we do not risk at this time diverting attention from , or undermining , the NPT and so warmly welcome the European Parliament resolution to restate our backing as a Parliament to this Treaty .
hence , I am calling for the de minimis aid threshold to be increased from EUR 30 000 to EUR 60 000 per firm .
precisely for this reason , I believe that what is truly at stake is , paradoxically , a strengthening of the federal dimension as well as the subsidiary dimension of the European Union .
( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , those who proclaim their commitment to a fairer world have no qualms about blaming globalisation for the difficulties in their own economies .
( PL ) Madam President , I do not want to repeat the same old banal statements about the benefits of globalisation .
how can we check whether the Member States are doing what they promise to do within the cycle of reforms ?
I was at the Holocaust Memorial Day service in Liverpool on Sunday , and I was conscious of just how is Europe , how are our people , how are our politicians going to react as billions of people across the world find themselves in positions of acute water scarcity , with ever more movement , ever more migration across the planet ?
Member States have a heritage .
one thing is certain , and that is that this Treaty , which the EU establishment is now pushing through at any price , is ill-fated for the simple reason that it despises everything that it is possible to despise about democratic politics .
I firmly believe that the excellent relations between the two sides at both an economic and political level will be backed up by equally good cooperation on judicial matters , so that Cesare Battisti , who was sentenced to life imprisonment for four murders and other crimes , will serve his sentence under the law which governs him .
( HU ) I was shocked when , during a food conference , I saw a sign in the hand of the African delegation saying : do not feed Africa .
I believe that this too could free up considerable resources .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I fully support the motion for a resolution on the impact of advertising on consumer behaviour tabled by Mr Juvin .
as you know , all Member States agree that it is necessary to exempt research infrastructures set up by several countries from taxes in the host country .
other questions relate to how we can reduce unemployment among young people and how we can effectively increase the participation of women in the labour market by widening their involvement in every business sector .
to my mind , it is indeed now high time in the EMU to fill the ' E ' with life , and that is what the legislative package on reinforcing economic governance in the end is about .
I support without any reserve the Commission 's proposal to launch a programme for implementing cooperative driving systems , as well as ensuring the availability of the related radio frequencies , whose benefits are visible in experimental phases in various countries and , with all costs involved , will produce long-term results .
there is almost no policy in the European Union that does not have some impact on climate action : from agriculture to research , from enterprise and industry to maritime affairs .
assumptions and false assertions , however , cannot serve as a basis for the development of any rational , effective , affordable and socially acceptable measures .
the European economy is dealing relatively well with these difficulties .
( FI ) Mr President , Commissioner , first of all , I wish to congratulate Mr Leinen for the excellent and important work that he has done with respect to this report .
for years , this approach has led to our manufacturing in all economic sectors , even where it was of a very high standard , being relocated to other countries throughout the world : to North Africa and especially to Asia .
is that true or not ?
we proposed to limit the number of vehicles administered by an external manager to 50 , and the number of companies to 4 .
the presence of the European Union in the region strengthens trade policy , contributing to the development of targeted and effective information on the EU in the Gulf countries .
we are glad to see that the Commission has , in Parliament , a valuable partner working towards the same goal , which is an integrated and efficient European fund market delivering for both industry and investors alike .
businesses are no longer only geared towards profit .
indeed , the EU must enhance its role as a global actor and act as a global decision maker .
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we should train public officials and make them more aware of the situation of children in families from which children may be trafficked .
the report emphasises the importance of an integrated approach to tackling conflict situations .
the European Union is certainly very concerned about the deterioration of the situation in Belarus , especially with regard to human rights .
but I imagine that this result can also be achieved without making the action taken on interest rates follow the inflation index ; sometimes there needs to be more flexibility and anticipation of the action taken .
I was , frankly , surprised that the other Member States conceded so quickly on the size of the Commission , reverting to one Commissioner per country .
( ES ) As I only have a minute to speak , I will concentrate on citizens ' rights .
after August 1968 in my homeland we witnessed another 20 years of various forms of communist violence and terror from this organised machinery of evil .
I would like to say to the Council and the Member States that violence that comes from other cultures also requires a legal instrument .
surely , as a number of Members have already said this evening , poverty cannot be a sufficient reason for taking a child away from the family and allowing an international adoption .
allow me to focus on one issue for which I feel a particular paternity , and that is the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund .
rail freight is also a very important factor in the various areas of operation of transport .
in writing . - ( PL ) The report that has been adopted on a European Charter on the Rights of Energy Consumers significantly increases the rights of energy consumers .
the report calls for the establishment of mandatory risk committees at board level , for financial institutions to be required to disclose recovery planning and supervisory reports , for an annual report to be drafted on the adequacy and effectiveness of their internal control systems , and for a similar assessment to be included in the annual report drawn up by external auditors .
it is very important to understand that all our decisions have to be taken in the framework of the current treaties .
every effort must be made to ensure that commitments in this area are implemented internationally and every person has access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities .
we will use this as a yardstick to gauge your performance .
indeed , it is wrong that the European Union , the region in the world that is most open to foreign investment , cannot operate on the markets of its industrialised partners under fair conditions .
it would also be useful to support and implement programmes to promote Ukraine in the European Union as well as the European Union in Ukraine , and also programmes to promote the development of science and education , which is an issue raised by Professor Buzek .
older people should be able to make use of medications which have been tested for effectiveness and safety on people of the same age .
I would also have liked to hear you say something about the crisis in the financial markets .
it is assumed that someone else will pay the costs of basic research and when it is all completed , it is available to us all .
it will definitely not be possible to achieve a breakthrough in this area without efforts and funding from the European Union and Member States .
in fact the resistance sometimes comes from the national administrations with , for instance , gold-plating of directives and so on .
in the fight against the pillaging of biodiversity , destruction of the forest is an absolutely crucial issue .
furthermore , there are experts who are worried about maintaining requirements which do not completely eliminate the use of substances that are carcinogenic , mutagenic or toxic for reproduction ( known as ' CMR substances ' ) , although new restrictions are imposed .
this is just the sort of work that the European Parliament needs to do to preserve the faith of the public in this system .
the suggestion was made repeatedly concerning the setting-up of an interinstitutional task force to fight cancer .
I voted in favour of the report on human rights and social and environmental standards in international trade agreements because it is vital that the European Union 's trade policy be consistent with its political aims .
it concerns the appointment , by the national parliaments , of MEPs who , under the 1976 Act , must be elected by direct universal suffrage .
in addition , the GHS introduces standardised definitions , such as LD50 ( lethal dose 50 ) , that clearly indicate the hazard associated with the substance .
recently , destructive flooding has become a yearly , seasonal phenomenon .
the currency markets have an annual turnover of USD 360 trillion .
enterprises need equity , venture capital , guarantees , loans and the technical assistance proposed by JEREMIE .
another is that the directive recognises the special character of agricultural land use .
both sides to the conflict were guilty of breaches of international humanitarian law , which has also been confirmed by the report and by various organisations , such as Human Rights Watch .
those of you who had the opportunity to meet with those nurses and other healthcare workers could not have failed to have been moved by their plight , and in 2006 we passed a Parliament resolution on protecting European healthcare workers from blood-borne infections due to needle-stick injuries .
what is needed , as far as vocational education and training are concerned , is to take practical steps at EU level and in the Member States .
the Commission needs to ensure legal security in information and communication technologies so as to protect consumers and innovative creators .
we are going to regulate this situation once and for all .
unemployment is on the increase wherever we look , and we are just weeks away from a crucial global summit on climate change .
rapporteur . - ( PT ) I would first like to express my thanks for the references to my work , to the report and to colleagues on the committee of which I am a member , to Mr Frattini and the other Members who expressed their support for the report and for Austria 's initiative and the decision by the Council and the Portuguese Presidency to continue it .
from my point of view , this is yet another of the Commission 's mechanisms designed to interfere freely in the internal affairs of third countries under the pretext of seeking the political stability of those countries that are considered unstable at the Commission 's discretion .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament supports the resolution tabled .
nobody underestimates consumers ' rights to press their claims .
they have been disappointed in their hope that openness would result from China 's staging the Olympic Games , and the sense of disappointment is bitter .
in connection with the consultations which are currently under way on the future strategy , I would like to draw attention to two aspects : improvement of the education system in Europe and equality of the sexes in the labour market .
further , any deal needs a waiver from the World Trade Organisation , which they haven 't approved as some member countries ( notably India ) are worried about the effect that duty-free Pakistani textiles would have on their own markets .
it is not what is intended by Basel III .
in our view that strategy had two important shortcomings .
Madam President , climate change , security of supply , price increases , incidents such as blackouts in parts of Europe , and the Ukraine Gazprom wake-up call have all increased the awareness of the European citizen and policymakers to the complexity of our energy situation , which urgently requires the availability of accurate , timely and complete statistical data .
the promotion of language learning and linguistic diversity is also one of the general objectives of the lifelong learning programme .
as stated in the report , we believe that implementation of this strategy must not impinge on the responsibilities of regional and local government , being based instead on cooperation between the countries and areas within this region .
this is why one of the proposals suggested by this report is for the SOLVIT portal to forward such cases to the website of the European Parliament 's Committee on Petitions , as well as to the specialist committees in the national parliaments .
it will also help demonstrate to national fishing industries that the respect of the CFP rules by their national administrations is also in their interest , and they can be expected to exert a positive pressure on their national administrations to that effect .
we want a Europe of values .
we support the other political messages of this report .
( HU ) Peter Mandelson is leaving the sinking ship and giving up his captain 's bridge .
we must engage our citizens in Europe .
with the entry into force of that language law , not only are the fundamental rights of the EU and the provisions of the European human rights conventions infringed , but one of the greatest achievements of European integration , the functioning of a unified internal market , is also in danger .
in fact , only six Member States responded to last November 's request from the Commission for a report on the recovery of irregular payments .
the sore point in question consists , above all , of the differences in banking and economic structures between Europe and the United States .
Madam President , Greece , a long-standing Member of the EU , and its 11 million citizens , do consider that they have a serious and legitimate problem with the name of their neighbour , the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia , and we have to respect that concern .
however this will also allow the EU to boast of greater transparency when in fact it will in reality do little to enhance democracy , because the European Parliament cannot initiate legislation and can be ignored by the European Commission .
Madam President , a vote was defeated because there was an equal number of votes just a couple of moments ago .
the chairs of the political groups will outline their respective positions on this issue .
we assume that the environmental , social and financial policy structure of your Commission will correspond with what the social democrats are asking from you , preferably under the leadership of social democratic commissioners , and then all will be well .
however , the reset button of which Mr Biden spoke in Munich should also be pressed as an attempt , as an offer to Russia to start a new relationship .
it is yet another - I would say positive - step in the further development of mutual trust between Member States during their cooperation on criminal matters .
the effective application of EU law is one of the cornerstones of the EU , as a well as a key component of smart regulation .
I hope that the President of the United States , Barack Obama , will show that he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize , because combating climate change will contribute to peace and happiness for all nations !
that makes no sense .
to Mr Arlacchi , I would say that we agree that the efforts made to date have not been sufficiently coordinated .
this really is the best of what we have .
politics is about symbols and gestures , and this would be a fitting gesture for European politicians , presidents and prime ministers .
finally , trafficking operators deserve exemplary punishment - organised crime in this area must be a priority target for organisations such as EUROJUST , EUROPOL and FRONTEX .
we set to work , acting on this order from the Council , and I think I can say that we have in fact fulfilled our commitments , since in 2009 the volume of our loans went from 58 billion to 79 billion , that is , an increase of 37 % of the volume of our loans in the European Union .
for these reasons , I believe that energy efficiency represents a priority for the future of the EU , in both economic and environmental terms , and I hope that the Commission will immediately take the necessary measures to implement the binding objectives that Parliament established today .
however , no guarantee has been given to us concerning the ecological and hygienic standards that will be applied during the approval process for these patents , in particular , concerning genetically modified organisms .
in addition , red-tape at national level should be reduced , thus removing impediments to the internal market .
the additions to it will be demanded of us little by little over the year .
the truth is that a fair amount of time has passed since then and the development of the European Strategy for the Danube Region is still a work in progress , with very little known yet about its current status .
Cambodia remains a very poor country .
( NL ) Mr President , exceptional times call for exceptional measures .
I want to highlight three particular issues .
there are many constructive suggestions in this resolution .
( it ) Mr President , I voted in favour of this resolution because I believe that it makes useful and interesting proposals for facing future demographic challenges .
the traditional patterns of conflict are no longer what they once were .
this is another challenge for when the Council has a president : finding a solution .
cutting funds for culture and education at times of crisis - as my country is doing , on the grounds that culture is not essential to survival - means failing to invest in the future and in smart , inclusive growth ; it means failing to understand that culture is essential for life .
as you might have noticed , I personally consider this a very good idea .
it will convene for the first time next week - 23 and 24 January 2007 - in Cairo , and will be a constructive way for Egypt to demonstrate commitment to shared values .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , a large potential for new exporting opportunities lies in the Asian markets that have high growth rates but also , of course , high barriers to entry .
I am therefore voting for the new EU policy framework to fight violence against women , as I believe it represents progress in the fight against the violation of fundamental rights and freedoms , such as the right to security and human dignity .
when the French and Dutch duly voted ' no ' , we were told that actually most countries want it to continue , so we should continue .
however , using flowery language will not be enough .
the White Paper on climate change is a step forward towards standardising the actions aimed at cutting carbon emissions at European level .
I am sure that we will again be able to find a decent compromise on this issue .
what is more , the fishermen will no longer accept being treated like delinquents of the sea by a Commission that is covering up for the real rogues that are the flags of convenience and the fishing industry cartels .
a rapid adoption by Parliament and the Council would indeed send a strong signal to the SME community that a continued investment in research and innovation activities is crucial to maintain and enhance their competitiveness .
however , your response gave the impression that there was no complete recognition of the fact that events are snowballing .
of course , we still have our political affinities and our personal friendship .
implementing this tax solely in Europe would help deflate the bubble .
certainly that is regretted by others as well as myself .
all of this will be in the 2012 budget and the next financial perspective .
the high standards of sustainability for sourcing and manufacture , written into the European Union 's biofuels proposals , effectively insure Europe against non-sustainable use .
when I talk about exchange , I am thinking of Europol , I am thinking of Eurojust , I am thinking of COSI , which has been mentioned here by some Members , and , lastly , I am thinking of the exchange of information and how to make it more effective .
Mr President , climate change is a challenge to us all .
I therefore voted in favour of this resolution , and I hope that the mobilisation of the EGF will contribute to the successful integration of these workers into the labour market .
this tax would have many benefits : not only would it discourage financial speculation ; it would also fund aid to developing countries and their adaptation to climate change , while contributing to the European Union 's budget .
documents received : see Minutes
( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , Turkey is , of course , an emotional topic , that is quite clear .
Mr Buzek started by giving an explanation of the situation in Poland , and he rightly mentioned that we should be prepared to offer a positive solution to maintain business activities .
the fact that rural areas have a deficient infrastructure - a shortage of roads , post offices , medical services , fire services and emergency doctors - has been well known for a long time .
the most important thing , however , is to protect the water from pollution , while the nuclear waste in the Russian Arctic is also a key issue .
nevertheless , this is not enough .
it is very important to examine the real background to this conflict .
this , in short , is the objective of the Flautre report .
in legislation , in the formulation of directives , in everything , we need to work on the assumption that we should increase transparency , and there is also room for improvement in voting procedures .
firstly , we should send people who know the local language .
it is also important for Germany that the European Union continues to develop in a harmonious way , because this brings benefits for Germany .
this directive , which is aimed at updating the existing provisions , is all the more creditable in these difficult times because it also merges four Directives into one piece of legislation .
adjournment of the session
it was in May 1999 , following the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam , that work on the creation of a common European asylum system ( CEAS ) started , on the basis of the principles approved by the Tampere European Council .
my colleagues and I believe that our first priority is to evaluate what this proposal will do for consumers and business in real practical terms .
I believe that this vote is extremely important and I applaud the position expressed by Parliament , which really makes use of the new prerogatives .
therefore , Mr President , a decision has been made that means giving a European perspective and a coordinated European approach to what is happening , based on safety and the need to be as effective and precise as possible when making a decision on flights , while protecting citizens ' rights .
despite these reservations , I welcome the micro-credit service in Poland with open arms .
I know that the consequences for the sector will be hard , I fully realise that , but let us learn from this experience : when the sea is empty , things really will be over for the sector .
I believe that animal welfare standards in Europe are absolutely paramount to the fact that we produce high-quality meat .
xenophobic violence is not characteristic of our people , let alone the people of Campania or Naples .
in writing . - ( SK ) The Council decision submitted to the European Parliament within the framework of the consent procedure represents a legal instrument for the conclusion of a Protocol between the European Union and the Principality of Andorra , extending the scope of the agreement to customs security measures .
the European Energy Programme for Recovery , which is now being proposed , should be welcomed .
there is much ground to be covered .
local elections will be taking place in Turkey next year .
the so-called ' ratchet clause ' , for example , would allow further national vetoes to be abolished .
this week , it is imperative that a European solution is found to this crisis , and it must be a Community-based solution - I repeat , a Community-based solution - which must be envisaged in accordance with European rules and within the framework of European financial aid mechanisms .
I give the floor to our best speaker today , and that is Mrs McGuinness .
thanks to our joint efforts , we are living in a Union of 27 countries , in which the mobility of persons and goods is no longer a pipe dream but an everyday , physical reality .
- ( LT ) I would like to draw attention to an unpleasant fact which is hiding behind fine words .
I have the greatest admiration for all defenders of human rights .
it outlines measures for dealing with the serious deficiencies in the regulatory and supervisory framework for the world financial system revealed by the global economic and financial crisis of 2007-2009 .
this calls for a much more extensive audit than in the Year of Intercultural Dialogue , when funding was clear-cut and guaranteed in the annual budget of the European Communities .
7 .
it touches upon the conference itself but it is , of course , something that goes much further .
ultimately , these costs must be used as a procurement criterion .
as a result of this , hundreds of Scottish boats have had to be scrapped and fishing communities have suffered .
our market will not be common and our competition will not be fair until uniform rules are established that apply to everybody .
we want healthy food to be produced in Europe and to be available at reasonable prices .
not only that , but married couples of the same sex should be able to move freely around Europe and have their partnership legally recognised wherever they are .
it is also well known that he has failed in the functions of supervision of the banking system that had been assigned to him .
we are now seeing the same thing happening in Egypt .
we are being fair , however , which is why we jointly ensured that if a person who was trained in one railway undertaking voluntarily moves to another one , the training undertaking is entitled to compensation for the training costs .
certainly , maintaining the second pillar structure is crucial and will prove to be central to the long-term success of the CAP .
this is a very complex area and views are very different between Member States .
disintegration for Kosovo or Bosnia would endanger our security more than any technical details .
I can to some extent understand why this may seem like an attractive option , as WTO discussions do not progress with any speed , but I really do believe that this has the potential to destroy the WTO .
in this debate , which was crowned by the adoption by the Economic and Social Council of a globally harmonised system of chemical classification and labelling , all Member States , and not just the UN , played a very active and significant part , particularly the European Union , and also the Commission .
the rockets are not going to stop in the current situation , and if Israel is to be secure we therefore have to say to it , ' The blockade is making life impossible for the Palestinians and that is endangering the security of Israel ' .
I therefore consider it our duty to adopt measures that make up for the shortcomings in the previous Directive 2000 / 35 / EC , seeking in this way to discourage the phenomenon of late payment by adopting measures that induce debtors not to pay late and other measures that allow creditors to exercise their rights fully and effectively in the event of late payment .
( NL ) Mr President , like my fellow Member , Mr Claeys , I voted against this report .
I have just one supplementary question .
we welcome that .
12 .
we have these systems and we are going to encourage our Member States around the Mediterranean to participate in these systems , to detect possible pollution from ships .
the strikes in Danzig in 1980 and the founding of the first free trade union in the Eastern bloc made it clear that a process had been started that could no longer be stopped .
I would seek for us to prioritise the completion of the single market for services and goods and to take an ambitious approach in creating a single market for innovative research .
the Russian Federation and the European Union have developed a close partnership , and the common fight against international terrorism stands as one of the many examples of this .
there have been four committees which have made decisions , the assumptions of which have not been brought into the trialogue .
my colleague , Mr Almunia , the Commissioner responsible for competition , is , for his part , working on updating the Monti-Kroes package .
in its opinion , the Committee on Budgetary Control delivered a clear position , and now there is unbelievable lobbying by the Turkish side .
I voted for this resolution because the European Parliament supports the aim to maintain strong and vibrant independent public service broadcasting , whilst adapting it to the requirements of the digital age and making it easier for consumers to switch from analogue to digital television .
I agree with the grounds on which it is based and I share the view expressed by the rapporteur when he acknowledged that the Commission 's latest decision , claiming to update the implementing regulation on own resources in line with the Council decision of 7 June 2007 , would , in its current wording , further complicate the procedure , providing for continual exceptions and special conditions for certain Member States .
the consequences for this sector are not substantially different from those for others : it is the monopolistic concentration that always ends up being imposed in these cases .
it is over EUR 2.5 billion , which you specifically state is taxpayers ' money that should not have been spent .
I am pleased that today 's compromise formulates the same sort of payment conditions that some of us were advocating for the Services Directive seven years ago .
Community support for the audiovisual sector takes account of the fact that the European Union and its Member States promote cooperation with third countries and the competent international organisations in the cultural sector , because it underlines the importance of respect for different cultural dimensions , so as to promote diversity and , finally , because the distribution sector determines the diversity of audiovisual works and consumer choices .
firstly , that of Mr Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra .
finally , Ms Sargentini , I really wanted to find an inventive way of saying that correlation tables were extremely important .
President-in-Office of the Council . - In response to Mr Medina Ortega 's question , which relates to the WTO , I think it is an important issue .
let me add right away that negotiations cannot be conducted without the involvement of the two peoples involved , the Abkhazians and South Ossetians .
the Commission has already made proposals in this regard .
I believe Parliament needs to take a strong stand and , by means of a majority vote , put pressure on the Commission to find solutions that echo the will of the citizens .
innovative SMEs in particular need broader access to informal funding and to funding based on venture capital holdings as well , which is the main source of funding for new businesses .
I am therefore voting for this report .
I think this case should be seen and solved exclusively as a human tragedy .
in the same spirit , the European Union has just adopted , under the French Presidency , new European Union guidelines on the fight against violence and discrimination against women .
I agree with the comment by Mr Nassauer on that point .
we have spoken out against protectionism and established the internal market as one of Europe 's important achievements , and one which also needs to be preserved at a time of crisis .
the European Heritage Label will also help to increase cultural tourism and will bring physical and financial benefits .
I would therefore like to ask you whether you are prepared to act , regardless of whether or not this is a case of dominant position , and when you are going to take the initiative , if at all .
I agree totally with Mr Wiersma and I too regret that the EU Member States have not been treated fairly and equally when it comes to the matter of visas .
what is most important with regard to what we are doing now , of course , is the fact that those of us who really do believe in the European Union also want to ensure that we take responsibility towards taxpayers and carry out a proper review of the administration in the EU .
I hope that the measures will be presented in a user friendly way .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , the European Union has made two cardinal errors in its relations with Turkey .
the two entities have not been able to develop a shared vision , as a result of which progress has ground to a halt .
many transport firms are also global players .
thirdly , the programmes in both Greece and Ireland are still in the relatively early stages .
thirdly , we do have to hear from you what the Commission intends to do to try and compensate farmers who , through no fault of their own , have seen their markets destroyed and are unable to sell their produce .
however , simply postponing matters will not help , because the postponement process is not governed by any conditions .
new eligibility criteria , penalties in the event of infringements and provisions regarding reporting are also proposed .
the EU-Andorra Agreement has been in place since 1990 .
I am curious to know how this gentleman would feel if an MEP called on the German people to change their Chancellor , because there are organisations legally acting to spread Nazi thinking and to undermine the borders between European states .
I believe that increasing women 's professional activity is an important issue .
I therefore feel that the dismantling of milk quotas through Regulation ( EC ) No 248 / 2008 should not have been started and that this dismantling should not continue as proposed by the Commission and accepted by the rapporteur .
if the next Presidency does the same , I will be happy .
ladies and gentlemen , I have chosen to speak in the language of the country in which this terrible occurrence took place .
this partnership is indeed the precondition , especially in the current global financial and economic crisis , for meeting global challenges .
I therefore urge you , as the European Commission , to intervene in this matter where the Member States are concerned and to make it clear to the Council Presidency that these negotiations must be halted and that , above all , the legal basis that applies post Treaty of Lisbon must be clarified .
before I give the floor to the speakers , I am going to allow myself a certain degree of licence that I think may be granted to someone chairing the sitting at this stage of our term of office and this stage of the night , for it is true that these late-night sittings have an advantage .
what , then , could have been more reasonable than to have seized the initiative , moved forwards and said , ' OK then .
this is why I believe that it is useful for us to carry out a review , especially in the light of the new Treaty of Lisbon .
this is very sad because we had a chance to make a difference and we missed it .
we insist in the Copenhagen Agreement that a country wishing to join the EU must have at least a minimally acceptable level of respect for everyone within its borders .
I would be very grateful , Mr Dimas , if you , as a staunch conservative , could finally clear up this mess of Messrs Seeber and Florenz and others , who are once again bowing down before the old industries .
in this attempt to achieve bolder and more ambitious results , I also believe that in the final phase of the COP 16 negotiations , the European Union should give its chief negotiator some flexibility to react to developments thrown up by the negotiations .
I am surprised by the absence of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy from the scene of the natural disaster in Haiti .
it is stated on page 2 that a reduction of current expenditure in 2011 of just over EUR 2 billion will be implemented , including social protection expenditure reductions , a reduction of public service employment numbers , a reduction of existing public service pensions on a progressive basis , other expenditure savings of over EUR 1 billion , and a reduction of close to EUR 2 billion in public capital expenditure against existing plans for 2011 .
thank you , Mr President of the Commission .
the fact that the EU has a Commissioner for Multilingualism makes it clear that reform of the Commission is urgently needed and that there must be fewer Commissioners than there are Member States .
Mr van Nistelrooij 's report responds to the Green Paper on territorial cohesion published by the Commission .
Mr President , after having voted in favour of the motion for a resolution on the EU-Russia Summit , I still regret that the amendment I proposed as a new recital was rejected by the rapporteur .
this suspension will help to strengthen the competitiveness of local economic operators and will contribute to creating and maintaining jobs in the outermost regions , acting as a counterbalance to the economic disadvantages arising from their geographical location , without affecting the consolidation of the internal market or the principle of free competition within the EU .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - Mr President , I would like to thank our chair , Paolo Costa , not only for producing this report but also for his work as chair of the committee over the past parliamentary period .
I think , too , that the procedures concerning initiatives should be harmonised in the Member States , because too much variety will make it difficult for us to gain broad support for these initiatives .
furthermore , account was taken of the brain drain from regions of the world such as Africa where there is an acute demand for human resources in the health sector .
therefore , I think we should expect Turkey to make a greater effort in this area .
it is still far too early for that .
this could also be a good opportunity for the legal definition and enhanced protection of wilderness .
that is why we have voted against .
Mr President , as chair of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection with responsibility for customs policy , I certainly welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate to mark 40 years of the Customs Union .
from my side , I would also mention something that is very important : the G20 very clearly took development policy objectives into its agenda .
that is our basic view .
three points concern work to be done by the national governments : first , fiscal responsibility ; second , stimulating growth ; and third , the two countries with support programmes are forcefully implementing the necessary measures and we all welcome the efforts of those two governments , of Greece and Ireland , and their populations .
as some speakers have already said , an open market is a positive thing and can be a very good thing for all of us if it is well regulated .
we should not be denied the possibility of criticising Islam .
it is therefore on the Commission 's conscience if smoking increases on the Åland Islands .
however , it would be unfair to single out just Libya .
DDT was found in their fat , and we all know very well that that is not a substance that is used on the ice floes .
any surplus revenue could be used to provide grants for insulating homes .
consequently , Commissioner , Mrs Mathieu , the principle of equal treatment is the cornerstone of an economic immigration policy that is both intelligent and fair .
do they really think that sort of unfair competition , by lowering health and safety standards and weakening the rights of workers , would be acceptable ?
I would like to mention two things ahead of the European Council summit .
which programmes would have priority here , for you , High Representative ?
the only thing that Romanians and Bulgarians expect is fair treatment in relation to the other countries and an objective assessment based on the same criteria .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I think this discussion on the ENPI has in fact already pre-empted the next Commission communication on the Eastern Partnership .
although the conditions necessary in order to go ahead with the migration have not all been met , nor is a time foreseeable when that will be the case , the mandate that was granted to the Commission to develop the SIS II will expire again on 30 June 2010 .
I welcome the fact that the MEPs have adopted the amendment by the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament on the prohibition of the mass export of waste to third countries , unless they are exported for recycling and then reimported back into the EU .
this proposal is a disgrace .
it is imposing the incorporation in visas of biometric data ( prints of all ten fingers ) even for children as young as 12 years old .
I think this is a very positive development .
it is thanks to the support of the European Parliament that EUR 154 million have been allocated to combat pollution for the period 2007-2013 .
this brings me to my third point : the economic crisis .
in its evaluation report for the two years after this directive entered into effect , the Commission should have been much more courageous and should have proposed a unified and binding method for calculating security charges throughout the EU .
the last time I looked , the bond spread between Greece and Germany was over 150 basis points .
the final drafting of the document is being completed .
we were then debating an assessment of the area of freedom , security and justice .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
otherwise , as several of my colleagues have stated , capital will leave the whole of the EU .
a third important point concerns the external aspects of the CFP and the partnership agreements with third countries .
Mr Barroso , there are very many experienced parliamentarians here in Parliament that you could adorn yourself with .
in Europe , there are trade agreements with Russia , Ukraine , Turkey and Liechtenstein .
we achieved much more than last time , one month ago .
- ( NL ) Mr President , the longer we go on the more the European mandarins behave like a breed of political autistics , completely closed off from the real world , from the citizens , whom they nevertheless still claim to serve .
none of these arguments holds water .
the current UN-authorised EU mission in Chad , in which Ireland is playing a leading role , is a prime example of the EU 's activities in this area .
I welcome this , and it means we can also be happy with the result .
the Commission 's innovation strategy is clear , but this question remains open .
this is , then , a quite exemplary piece of legislation and , moreover , one that fits into the framework of the IMO at international level .
but what is particularly of concern to me is the effect on natural democracy in these countries .
it is important for account to be taken of the Turco judgment in the current review of the so-called public access regulation .
it must ensure that the results from the progress made in the battle against cancer in the European Union 's various countries are made available to the whole of Europe .
Mr President , in the European Parliament , we have , in fact , evaluated Mr Diamandouros ' work as Ombudsman every year when we debated the annual reports he submitted , and they have always received top marks .
Madam President , the EU Eastern Neighbourhood could prove to be the best test for EU foreign policy .
the other aspect is energy poverty , and that is why we consider this a most excellent report by Parliament and hope that it goes through .
and , as shown in other countries , for example in Norway , we can see how POs can work efficiently to assist the catching sector .
cities are an important driving force behind development in Europe .
it must therefore be an integral element of governments ' information and communications policy .
there is the risk that if Europe advances too rapidly , if it causes a crisis in industry , if it only implements policies - I should say ' metapolicies ' - from the top down , it will not work .
I regret that I am unfortunately not speaking as a finance minister , Mr Böge , but , well , in this Presidency , that is how it is , in fact , and I can simply assure this House that we wish to reach an agreement within the scope of this procedure .
( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , last year Serbia went through some significant changes which I am convinced were also successfully negotiated .
some of these countries ( such as Brazil , Russia , Argentina , Saudi Arabia and Qatar ) are currently the strongest economically .
giving you more power will only work if you actually use the power you already have .
in the Year of Intercultural Dialogue it is worth pointing out that the European Union should , in putting into practice the values of intercultural dialogue , be open to other cultures .
we have made considerable progress in those 100 years , but much remains to be done .
this legislation must work well for the EU , but it must also work as a strong offer on the table of the global negotiations .
it certainly has not been proved to such an extent as to allow us , with a clear conscience , to draft law resulting in the imposition of specific behaviour in Member States of the European Union .
I also believe that the Czech Republic must benefit again from the visa waiver .
these are the main aims to which the resources which the Union is planning to devote to combating climate change in Europe should really be assigned .
whilst we should certainly respect the rights of women , the recurrent practice of interrupting pregnancies should not be the main factor in the birth rate .
we must strengthen our commitment to working with Russia to respond to shared challenges in key areas , such as combating terrorism , energy policy and world economic governance .
there are still loopholes , still opportunities for discrimination to rear its head .
I would therefore suggest that an inquiry be carried out and that you and we sit down to determine the research question , that we have an enquiry carried out and that we then discuss this at length .
there is some support amongst stakeholders for a European Private Company .
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this should not , however , lead to closures of existing power plants where there are no safety concerns or prevent the opening of new nuclear installations to replace out-of-date plants .
meanwhile globalisation continues apace and with it the insecurity that it generates , which we saw a lot of evidence of in the Irish referendum .
we can only speculate on the goals of the whole crisis - perhaps only a short-term price increase , maybe much greater pressure to build the Nord Stream , the alternative northern route , or perhaps the aim really is to inhibit Ukraine 's European inclinations .
I am also sorry that the European Commission is ignoring the views of ACP MPs within the JPA and that it prefers a bulldozer approach by which it refuses to consider any renegotiation or reorientation of the EPAs .
( NL ) I should like to thank Mr Grosch and Mrs Ţicău for the work they have done , and I think that Mrs Ţicău is right to be strict about access to the market in her report .
the choice of 3 December is not fortuitous .
given that the government owned only 28 % of OTE before the agreement , does the Commission consider that OTE was a government enterprise ?
this is clearly the case here too .
decisions concerning certain documents : see Minutes
in writing . - UKIP opposes any EU management of our industries , as it should be up to national elected governments to decide on the future and any potential subsidy of coal mines .
the restrictions on Belarus imposed by the EU are therefore fully justified and should even be stepped up .
there are two options open to us : we can go and divide this House into those on the Right and those on the Left .
neither is it in the interests of the United States for the freely given commitment of many European countries to coalition to be usurped by a differently minded European Union .
in its absence , it is in the name of the Europe of workers , of social Europe , of a humanist Europe , that all of us together in this Parliament , whatever our opinions , reject this directive .
as already happens to some extent , Moscow can supply us with mineral and energy resources as well as collaborate on military security and the fight against terrorism and organised crime Europe can contribute with financial resources , scientific and technological capabilities and our long-standing experience in the field of democracy and human rights .
therefore , in the report concerning the table of results for the internal market , I propose the initiative of organising a forum for the internal market , which would bring together representatives of European institutions , Member States and other interested groups with the aim of achieving a more explicit commitment to transposition , so that we will be able to apply and execute legislation on the internal market , including this extremely important directive .
European farmers are obliged to comply with the highest quality standards , which is reflected in the quality of the food which Europeans eat and in our global competitiveness .
lastly , we need to reshape and relaunch social dialogue as a force for cohesion and for curbing the dangers of long-term unemployment with which we have to come to terms .
in writing . - I voted against .
GDP does not reflect current environmental sustainability , resource efficiency , social inclusion or social progress in general .
let us therefore be cautious and take a look at what our own tasks are .
you may lament this but that is the truth of the matter .
we must therefore do the hardest thing of all , which is to attain high international standards , not only tighten regulations within European borders .
only a few Member States could identify the full cost of asylum procedures .
it makes sense for these rules to be mandatory for maritime transport , as they are already mandatory for road transport , rail transport and inland waterway transport .
we all know that the European Social Fund ' was set up to reduce differences in prosperity and living standards across EU Member States and regions , and therefore promoting economic and social cohesion ' .
over and above this debate about Russian gas , Europeans collectively must answer the question as to what relationship they actually want to have with Russia in future .
a few days ago General D. Leakey assured Members that , regardless of funding problems and the difficulties in anticipating all possible threats and risks that could arise during the operation , in military terms the European Union was capable of carrying out this operation no worse than in Bosnia , and from a military viewpoint the operation would be less intense .
the Energy Charter may resolve this contradiction .
therefore I welcome most of the compromises reached , which leave the possibility for Member States to apply stricter rules if they so wish , while guaranteeing a high minimum level for all consumers in the Union .
with regard to the specific question by Mr Van Orden , I will convey his concern and question to Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner , who do doubt will provide you with an answer .
it is essential for the directive to be discussed again calmly with the Council .
I very much doubt that the ECHR will always pass neutral and appropriate judgments .
frankly , you deserve to have been given a nobler ambition .
perhaps there was a mistake in planning or not enough control ...
the question is how to do it , and that is why we are in dialogue with the Council and the Commission at the moment .
I would like to answer telegraphically some of those questions .
the EU must make EUR 7.2 billion available and undertake to use it for countries which are the most underdeveloped and most under threat from climate change .
the Union has always fought for the environment and has made great efforts to protect it through preventive measures .
this sphere is , in fact , not a Community one , but an intergovernmental one , in which the Council - through the regulation - has tried to encourage cooperation between the courts .
I agree fully that , for the sake of parliamentary scrutiny and financial control , the service ought to be attached to the Commission , for administrative and budgetary purposes .
- Report : Jeggle
it is important for the issue of visa-free travel to be the number one priority .
( ES ) Madam President , the Spanish delegation from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament voted in favour , like the rest of our group , but I would not be happy to leave here without making clear my concern regarding the issue of organ transplants being included in this directive .
however , it is clearly more than Nice !
I consider the estimate we voted on today to be balanced , and I therefore supported it .
what we are not agreed on is , for example , the fact that the Commission regards new economic migration on a huge scale as one of the most important means of achieving the Lisbon objectives .
the European Union has the means and experience to contribute to the creation of a more tolerant atmosphere in the South Caucasus .
the report by Mrs Lucas , on behalf of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the obligations of operators who place timber and timber products on the market - C6-0373 / 2008 - .
I just wish some of the sceptics would not take such delight in putting forward proposals to delay action , proposals which might end up costing the lives of millions .
Europe needs a new approach to industrial policy and the funding of programmes related to it .
in particular , the amendments that we as the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety have highlighted are those on encouraging the promotion of health literacy programmes , continuing to promote action to combat violence against women , fighting the denial of medical treatment on the grounds of old age , but above all - and I come back to this issue - promoting equal access to quality services in all Member States .
in practice all border controls in the EU have been abolished .
in my view , we should try to arrive at a fully operational agreement , based on real political commitments , that comes rapidly into force , and which brings all the major players on board for both emission reductions and finance .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( FR ) Madam President , first of all , of course , I have listened very carefully to all the contributions .
I endorse the reasoning underlying the report and believe that this competition agreement is a more vital instrument than ever in today 's climate , where trade , in particular with Asian countries , is increasing in quantity and importance .
( DE ) Mr President , when it comes to enlargement policy , we need something along the lines of a regulatory framework .
let us think about it , let us take our time , let us assess ... ' .
with the phase-out period that we have now decided on , these countries will receive support to explore other production options .
multilateral action , the most effective type of action owing to the number of countries involved but also the most difficult , therefore needs to be accompanied by agreements identifying and resolving the inconsistencies connected with the existence of unwarranted obstacles in third countries .
yet it is clear that we did not create it ourselves .
Mr President , the report by Mr Kirilov speaks about the need for an EU strategy for the South Caucasus .
the population growth that is forecast , particularly in emerging economies , and the growing rise in global poverty and hunger demonstrate that at least a 70 % increase in food production is needed to satisfy the population 's needs .
because we should remember that many of these sectors , such as sheep and suckler cows , are in environmentally sensitive areas , they are in mountainous regions and areas where there is no alternative , and I think we need to have another look at how we are supporting those parts of the industry .
it is now time to go a step further and equip ourselves with new instruments so that issues in the field of taxation are dealt with alongside market integration and liberalisation .
the proposal for a Council directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief , disability , age or sexual orientation would extend the protection against discrimination based on religion or belief , disability , age or sexual orientation to areas beyond employment .
we are also actively integrating human rights and human security into all the relevant issues and policies .
we saw this in the judgments on Laval , Rüffert and others .
there are , however , a series of new elements that I would like our guests to give their opinion about .
this is an aspect which you , as politicians , can help to bolster more than anyone else .
better coordination and a greater level of flexibility are necessary in order to make full use of this limited resource .
the Council Directive aims to fundamentally revise the functioning of mutual assistance for the recovery of claims relating to taxes , duties and other measures .
third and finally , human rights should be visibly at the centre of EU external action .
that there is the drama , the tragedy that is currently taking place in that region .
future budgets must be instruments at the service of economic and social cohesion , rather than mere padding in the treaties .
( BG ) Mr President , the escalation in the use of special eavesdropping devices in Bulgaria is a fact , which is why the public is so excited and concerned .
the regulations for the application of the CAP ' health check ' are a decisive step in the control of agricultural production by monopoly business groups , in the aim of increasing their profits .
it is of course our duty to work in the interests of the European Union and we will do this openly and transparently , by talking face to face as we must always do with partners who we regard as strategic .
there is a worrying increase in the number of mentally ill persons .
the European Union needs skilled human resources .
it opens up our market to the poorest countries in the world for all types of goods except arms .
what is Europe now ?
ladies and gentlemen , I am confident that the new rules on credit rating agencies about which I have just been speaking will definitely improve the independence and integrity of the rating process , will make credit-rating activities more transparent , and will improve the quality of such ratings , including those relating to the sovereign debt of the Member States - the countries of the European Union - and of the EU 's financial institutions .
this money is not going to improve the economy of those Member States , nor is it going to provide jobs for those who are losing them , but if kept in Britain , it would avoid the need to increase the tuition fees , for example .
furthermore , I support the Commission 's request to monitor and audit the implementation of all the projects which will be run using this grant : research / innovation aimed at introducing technologies based on renewable energy sources in order to meet the requirement to realise a further reduction of 18 000 kt CO2-eq produced from decommissioning .
fifthly , the mechanisms of repression are being strengthened under the pretext of combating terrorism .
the resolution that Parliament adopted in early December was a timely and strongly welcomed initiative .
we have some fences we need to mend and we need to try to re-establish confidence in what it is that we want to establish in the Arctic .
the vote will take place tomorrow at 11.30 a.m .
( DE ) Mr President , in itself , the Internet is a very positive invention , but it is increasingly being used by criminals , and this has led to an exponential increase in one of the most abominable crimes of all , the trade in child pornography .
( ES ) Mr President , I voted for this report because it helps to combat the invisibility which until now has characterised the work of and role played by women in rural areas .
we have regular and ever closer cooperation in connection with crisis management , which found expression , for example , in the US 's participation in a civil CSDP task , the Eulex mission in Kosovo .
I endorsed adoption of the directive .
consideration must be given to the sharp rise in business-to-business indebtedness , non-payment of national and local public contract organisations , etc .
what this Parliament wants - and this is what distinguishes it from the Council - is to put an end to this joyous camaraderie between governments , and replace a biased referee with an impartial one .
prisoners often suffer torture , corporal punishment such as flogging , beating , electric shocks and the deliberate withholding of medical assistance .
one of these conditions is the freedom of expression , and this means that all media that have been forcibly closed down during the recent developments , like Imedi TV , and Kafkasya TV , should resume their normal activities .
ladies and gentlemen , the recast proposal will restore the smooth operation of the internal market , improve animal welfare standards and promote research .
it is founded on shared values , it is founded on tolerance , it is founded on openness , it is founded on dialogue , it is founded on feedback , it is founded on mutual respect .
I think after the very comprehensive and good report by Mrs Győri , representing the Hungarian Presidency , I will not now elaborate on the issues regarding Libya and the southern Mediterranean .
this important issue is the subject of our discussions today .
this will be followed by a conference in September under the Swedish Presidency on ' Healthy and dignified ageing ' , including a workshop on coordination of care for persons suffering from Alzheimer 's disease and other dementias .
the debate is closed .
I may seem too conservative to you , but I think that we also need to address this balance .
so hopefully , an ambitious deal can be struck .
moreover , this issue gives rise to huge curiosity and undoubted interest .
due to economic policies , rural regions are more prone to changes today .
these agencies are a clear expression of the financialisation of the economy - that do not translate or correspond to actual increases in productive activity - and they constitute a central part of neoliberalism 's development strategy , which is always seeking levels of profit that real production cannot ensure , because of the well-known trend towards decreasing profits .
there is certainly a great deal still to do , but when the naming issue continually hangs over everything like the Sword of Damocles it is difficult to move on in other areas of policy .
I believe that , in a country as oil-rich as Nigeria , equal access to resources and income redistribution are necessary for the peaceful resolution of these conflicts .
however , to be able to this , they need the information and knowledge which media literacy offers .
it is a miracle that a mass disaster of huge proportions did not occur .
all together , this could certainly give a boost to the resettlement programme , something that I think is very positive .
the citizens of Lampedusa have become aware of this , Mrs Muscardini .
( HU ) Madam President , in the last few weeks the founders of Szeklerland 's Representative Office in Brussels , and the Hungarian community in Romania in general , have had to endure a long chain of attacks and a hostile hysteria campaign from the Romanian political elite .
what is your main conclusion from this event , and from the mistakes which we are all talking about here ?
they must not be stigmatised or written-off , but given the opportunity to reintegrate fully into social life and to continue their professional careers .
the EU would not suffer if the citizens of Belarus covered only the cost of the visa , which is not more than EUR 5 .
it was with American aid that a shattered Europe was able to reconstruct and develop in the post war years .
there has been some very good collaboration between the rapporteur , Mr La Russa , and the various shadow rapporteurs .
I believe the current legislative proposal on ETS , on non-ETS and on renewables will definitely make the Member States put more emphasis on energy efficiency .
I am thinking above all about efforts to encourage training and retraining , to invest more heavily in innovation , interconnectivity and in transforming Europe into a low carbon economy .
firstly , I am keen to remind you of the professionalism and the efforts made by the other regulatory agencies to comply with standards of good administration .
the objective is to ensure that in Copenhagen in 2009 , an ambitious , global and integrated climate change agreement is reached for the period following the year 2012 , which will be in line with the European Union 's objectives , that the global temperature should not increase by more than two degrees .
that is not the leadership that is needed in the run-up to Copenhagen .
to ensure that the Europol decision applies from 1 January 2010 , it was necessary , in good time , to amend Council Regulation ( Euratom , ECSC , EEC ) No 549 / 69 specifying that immunity from legal proceedings does not apply to Europol staff taking part in joint investigation teams set up by at least two Member States at their own initiative .
in answer to some questions that have been raised by Members , I would like to assure them that we are going to help the organisers .
we are told that we need the Treaty of Lisbon because it has been long years in the making .
Mr President , new incidents , apparently minor , took place on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning on the border between Thailand and Cambodia .
it has a human and political urgency because , in spite of warning signals from all around the world , cluster bombs are still being actively used .
at times they may have seemed slow , too slow , but steps forward have been taken , in any case , in a secure , determined manner , which will culminate on Friday in the meeting of the European Union Heads of State or Government .
in this context the Commission welcomes the use of openness specifications that may prevent the unfair transmission of dominant positions between neighbouring markets .
3 .
solidarity on the part of the international community is the best response to such evasiveness , which is why , in our resolution , we welcome the agreement reached in Berlin on 22 January on the drafting of a new UN Security Council resolution .
the improvements noted in the Croatian economy and the reforms in the environmental protection sector are further achievements of the Croatian Government that facilitate the accession process .
this is an opportunity for the Union to forge a common foreign policy and defend those values for which it stands as a matter of routine .
the social aspect and work conditions enjoyed by seafarers in the European Union are closely linked to the European fleet 's competitiveness .
finally , I have heard it mentioned that some Members of the European Parliament may be going to Cancún to protest ; they are quite entitled to do so but I hope they do so in a private and personal capacity and not as accredited delegates .
of course we must ensure and insist that talks take place and that peace can be allowed to flourish , but that requires us to take brave moves within Europe as well .
more than ever , in this pivotal period , Parliament intends to reaffirm its complete support for the peace process and to appeal to the Sudanese and South Sudanese , as well as the international community , to remain committed to implementing the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement .
I therefore call on all my fellow Members to reject Amendment 54 , so that the dialogue remains open and we can help workers who are being exploited and who claim to be ' false ' self-employed persons .
our citizens are exposed to pollution in various forms , more often than not as a combination of different factors , and this applies whether you live in town or in the countryside , by the sea or in the mountains .
nearly a year has passed since this Chamber gave its opinion and I therefore consider that everything must be done to reverse this situation .
( FR ) Mr President , you did indicate earlier that you were not all-powerful : nonetheless , I am sure you are powerful enough to implement decisions by the Conference of Presidents .
there are too many barriers to the free flow of the four freedoms , and they limit the market 's potential , while the protectionist policies of Member States are inconsistent with the principles of the internal market .
- Report : Nikolaos Vakalis
wonderful people , wonderful achievements - an important partner for the EU .
some amendments also aim to provide more flexibility for the Member States by introducing certain grounds for accelerated procedures .
to put it simply , the first human right is to be born .
the EU has set itself the target of a 20 % reduction below 1990 levels .
we cannot have a situation where Parliament actually has to beg for it .
there are 4 000 companies in EMAS and 35 000 in ISO 14001 .
regrettably , Zimbabwe still has a long way to go before we can say that its people live in freedom and democracy and under a respected rule of law .
in the view of many Europeans , and in my opinion too , that agreement already lets the United States access too much information on European air passengers .
the necessary restructuring of large-scale private industry will cause some jobs to be lost , and the only way we can bolster employment is by supporting the development of the small and medium-sized enterprises that represent the backbone of our European economy .
they are the ones who most often do not obtain permanent work and are forced to accept temporary work which has an inferior level of social insurance and lacks prospects for development .
I would like to say that this action is used by the authorities in Tiraspol to intimidate Chişinău at a time when the new government which took office after last year 's elections would like to move closer to the European Union and also resolve the Transnistrian conflict .
in the last local elections in 2006 Sverigedemokraterna ( the Sweden Democrats ) won seats in two thirds of municipalities .
( FR ) Commissioner , beyond its technique on envelopes , premiums or plantings , this project - the third in 15 years - boils down to three ideas focused on a single objective .
why do we not get our citizens on board in tackling these tasks , which we all have to play a part in resolving ?
allow me to go into some further detail about the position of the European motor industry at this time .
my goodness me , you showed that this afternoon , Prime Minister .
the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon increased the democratic legitimacy of the Ombudsman thanks to his election by the European Parliament and extends his remit to include the common foreign and security policy and the activities of the European Council .
( SK ) Mr President , the idea that Europeans must create more employment , or more jobs , is fundamental for us .
she is cured , to the extent that you can ever say you are cured of cancer .
models once held up such as the much lauded working-time accounts , which are used up in a matter of weeks , demonstrate the limits of flexible working hours .
if we achieve that , we can perhaps do the same for agriculture .
perhaps it will be cereals , or something else .
today this means we have to deal with worldwide supply chains .
does this project make sense ?
I should like to stress one or two points on which I feel that the EIB could do even better , even though progress has been made in recent months .
its creation accords with the budgetary procedure agreed for this year .
firstly , it will aim to increase awareness of this problem , which is a big one .
the new Treaty still bears a strong resemblance to the Constitution .
the thing that it is worth doing at the moment is perhaps to thank yet again the Commission for its initiative and the Commissioner for the conscientious way he has followed through the actions of Parliament - and also to vindicate the part played by Parliament without allowing ourselves to become overly self-righteous .
I would like to thank the rapporteur , Commissioner Dimas and the French Presidency , because this is undeniably another success for its term of office .
first and foremost , they expect a clear and immediate undertaking that the Commission wants to retain the current sites of the European semiconductor technology and nanotechnology industry , that this head start for the future is not to be allowed to be thrown away and that the statements made about future research spending , in particular , in relation to the Eighth Research Framework Programme , are true .
we need to have some straight talking here .
finally , if an asylum seeker is apprehended , what role does Frontex play in relation to the coordination of the asylum application ?
does all this mean that we are helpless , that all we can do is sit and watch ?
I voted in favour of the fine own-initiative report on achieving real territorial , social and economic cohesion within the European Union by my excellent Romanian colleague , Petru Constantin Luhan .
am I to understand , perhaps , that this is a vicious way of returning to Nice and restoring 99 seats to Germany ?
I believe that approval of this regulation is in keeping with the environmental sustainability policies of the European Union and , at the same time , safeguards manufacturers , most of which are small and medium-sized enterprises , and users , and also promotes innovation in the sector .
the Council conclusions as far back as 5 December 2006 pointed out , in response to the Message from Paris on biodiversity , that biodiversity and the sustenance of ecosystem services were to be included in policy dialogue with partner countries and regions .
( applause )
the European Parliament cannot justify using millions of euros of taxpayers ' money to fund groupings of parties , especially fascists , who come together for nothing other than financial gain .
Mr Dehaene 's report sets out a lot of important detail , and the Commission very widely shares the interpretations it makes of the Treaty .
I fully support Mr Karas ' and Mr Pitella 's reports in respect of their efforts to ensure that the operation of the banking sector is more effective and accessible to individual customers and small enterprises .
I have done so with the INTA Committee and I am ready to go back to the INTA Committee .
the report before us offers a balanced solution , favouring neither the airlines nor the airports .
the adoption of the Treaty of Lisbon has increased the number of cases in which Parliament 's approval is needed to conclude an international agreement .
the first message is to Ales Mikhalevich , but also to Anatoli Labiedzka and Mikhail Statkievich , who are in prison : we admire your courage ; we are with you and we will not desert you .
in writing . - ( RO ) I voted for the Jørgensen report promoting the use of green vehicles for public transport .
I give my commitment that the European Commission will work tirelessly with you to make this possible .
sound agriculture can help to preserve biodiversity and halt the extinction of species .
I would also emphasise that the regulation envisages expanding the list of organisations eligible for financial aid and updating the list of advisory bodies .
I repeat : that is not a criticism ; that is what they are trained to do .
the European Union should support such countries with even greater commitment , and so a strengthening of cooperation with the Republic of Moldova is most definitely justified .
when I pointed this out at the first conciliation meeting and remarked that Member States should not be forced into a strait jacket , a fellow MEP actually queried whether I should have been invited to the meeting .
in 2009 , we were supposed to be moving towards complete freedom , according to both the Commission and the Council .
I call on the European Commission , in keeping with the spirit of Europe 's environmental protection policy , to send an inspection body to Romania to ensure in the long term that appropriate EU-level regulations are applied to mining operations .
considering that the territorial cooperation has proved its effectiveness in promoting the harmonious development of the Union as a whole , it 's now fundamental to increase its budget from the actual 2.5 % to at least the 7 % of the overall cohesion policy resources for the next programming period .
first of all , Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , free-flowing towns and cities .
if we really want to make savings when it comes to languages , then we should demand that this system apply equally to everyone .
the myth of borders still makes its presence felt at the table when we are making decisions . also seated around it are post-colonial nostalgias and current interests .
it is therefore important that leaders in the G20 Seoul Summit last week very clearly and strongly committed themselves to abstain from competitive devaluations of their currencies .
we respect that .
Mr President , I would like to express my great thanks to the Commissioner , who is answering this question on behalf of her colleague , Mrs Malmström .
for this reason , it is essential , in my opinion , to have a mechanism for monitoring macroeconomic imbalances and , if necessary , to ensure that adequate corrective measures are adopted for them .
nevertheless , I think there were two proposals which cropped up repeatedly from various sides and which were discussed from a number of different perspectives .
when she started out on this work , nobody was suggesting there could be such progress , and yet we have got progress .
( EL ) Mr President , Commissioner , let me touch on an issue connected with climate change .
Madam President , the Chinese Government has termed the anniversary of the occupation of Tibet the ' liberation of serfs ' .
we have laid the foundation of a lasting dialogue , which must also direct , inspire and commit us in the future .
as you can appreciate , I have been quite flexible about the timing , partly because all the speeches have been very agreeable as well as very powerful - the IMF , casinos and cholesterol - all great fuel for this discussion .
this Agreement is therefore an important step towards opening up the market to airlines from the EU and the US without any discrimination .
Madam President , Mr Mavrommatis is always very active and always involved in issues regarding transport .
if we ban it as a food additive , can we continue to exist or do we have to gradually dispose of ourselves as hazardous waste ?
one of the greatest ironies of the climate problem is that it is those who pollute the least that are most affected .
firstly , I am disturbed that Europe is increasingly taking a scatter-gun approach to development policy and that more and more resolutions and requests are encouraging this approach .
the competitiveness goal has been more propaganda than concrete action .
we need to see which projects have been beneficial for integration before we can set a proper strategy , thereby ensuring that the money is well spent .
we know why really : one of the main reasons is that early years are so important .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - Mr President , Parliament 's working group on reform has been in Washington to study the US Congress .
what is our relationship to be ?
the Commission should also present an initiative , aimed at encouraging and supporting the development by Member States of integrated national or regional strategies to reduce health inequalities .
in addition , Bulgaria plans , in its transport operational programme for 2007-2013 , to develop part of the Vidin-Sofia line .
currently , Europe is facing increasing unemployment and almost 17 % of Europe 's inhabitants are living below the poverty line .
this was a major issue of sensitivity during the Irish referendum campaign on the Lisbon Treaty .
( ES ) Mr President , it is no coincidence that Spain , Italy , Greece , Ireland , Portugal and other countries are all reluctant to accept the so-called Eurovignette .
ladies and gentlemen , I must say that , when you speak at the speed of the last speaker , there is no interpretation because , of course , the interpreters cannot keep up with the speeches .
they had not succeeded in guaranteeing the quality and continuity of the service .
I would stress that the use of the phrase ' sexual and reproductive health ' cannot be turned into a way of persuading parliaments to promote abortion .
to this end , we have launched a series of high-level bilateral visits to Member States with significant Roma populations .
- Motion for a resolution
it is for these reasons that I argue passionately against the proposal made by the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , which would impose this very requirement , and I also advocate rejection of the Commission 's proposed public information clause at this point , for if we have safe plant protection products we have no need for these bureaucratic procedures .
( PL ) Mr President , Commissioner , I would like to thank you for this information .
our sympathies therefore naturally lie with Georgia , a small country being put under pressure by a very large neighbour .
Parliament will therefore ensure that both the Commission and any forthcoming Presidencies adhere to these commitments .
but in this week when we are talking about women 's inequality , one statistic stands out .
a minority is only in a position to highlight its problems in a credible manner if , in a particular institution , such as a parliament or a government , it makes up at least 30 % of the total numbers .
it is the European Commission 's duty to take urgent action in the wake of the resolution adopted last year by Parliament , calling for a ban on the use of cyanide-based technologies in mining as they pose huge cross-border threats to ecosystems .
among others , I would like to thank Mr Cashman for having expressed this principle .
the more help and political support we give to Ukraine , the more we will be entitled to expect reforms in the Ukrainian economy in favour of a free market .
however , we all know that it will not be sufficient to accelerate concrete and sustainable progress on the spot .
in writing . - ( PT ) Atul Khare , the UN Under-Secretary General responsible for peacekeeping operations , informed the United Nations Security Council that from 30 July to 4 August , over 500 people were victims of gang rape perpetrated in the North Kivu province by the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda ( FDLR ) , a Hutu rebel group , and by the Mai Mai militia .
it will be necessary to record not only all work undertaken for businesses or for international companies , but also all paid lobbying for interest groups , such as professional organisations and trade unions .
however , a start has been made and we will see how the exercise works out in practice , and how Member States tackle this issue .
I have to say that I simply do not understand that remark .
moreover , there is no guarantee whatsoever that the projects that are invested in abroad are of high quality .
we would like to thank you for your replies to the oral questions .
discrimination is not just a problem in the labour market but also in housing , education , public and private services and even in religious matters .
moreover , ambitious disciplines have been established on industrial technical barriers to trade , notably for cars , electronics and pharmaceuticals based on the regulatory model of Europe and they respond to longstanding demands by European business in these sectors .
in both cases significant financial aid aimed at protecting jobs was granted by both the government and the EU , with the condition of creating more positions .
EU energy policy is very pertinent if we are to succeed in using mostly renewable energy in the near future .
the message conveyed by the European Union on all these issues was absolutely unequivocal .
these countries are a significant sales market for the European Union and they export a range of important products to our market .
I am quoting here from the draft discharge report by Mr Jørgensen .
we want the first of these to be realised during the Spanish Presidency : the Digital Agenda , which will be covered in the Transport , Telecommunications and Energy Council in May , after a communication that the Commission has undertaken to publish on 18 May .
this includes , for example : OLAF concluding independent cooperation agreements ; OLAF 's independent appearance before the European Court of Justice ; or the European Parliament and the Council deciding on OLAF directorate-general appointments .
it should be recalled that Parliament has warned the Commission that the VAT system , as currently devised and implemented by the Member States , has weak points that are exploited by fraudsters , resulting in tax losses of billions of euro .
the financial resources provided by the European Union will be wasted if the European Union does not protect the local population .
the best way we can do that is to allow those citizens access into Europe not at rates which will frighten or prohibit entry by most citizens .
this is the reason why this allocation is not only justified and well founded but practically a duty .
finally , the specific situation of small and medium-sized enterprises is also taken into consideration , with the result that the compromise before you today is a balanced yet ambitious package of measures .
what role does the Commission see in preventing unsafe nuclear development at the EU 's external borders ?
I was pleased that there was movement from the Council on that .
now , however , we have a second chance .
we will investigate this much more closely , you can be sure of that !
the provisions relating to information on prescription-only medicinal products therefore need to be updated and new rules need to be adopted , promoting greater health literacy and involving the health industry to a greater extent in carrying out a fundamental role to improve public health .
I agree that the Commission should play a more active role in the evaluation mechanism which Mr Barrot just talked about .
on the other hand hundreds of thousands , even millions of people from developing countries , anxious to enter either legally or illegally , are knocking on the southern and eastern gates of the Union .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( CS ) Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , rare diseases are dangerous and very complex diseases that threaten life or cause chronic invalidity .
( PL ) Madam President , the review of the common agricultural policy clearly highlights hazards in various branches of agriculture .
I know that you had concerns with the fact that the negotiations were conducted behind closed doors and that the negotiating texts were not made public .
5 .
the next item is the joint debate on :
let me also inform the honourable Members that the Commission intends to adopt a communication early next year - probably in March - in which we will take stock of developments since Thessaloniki , and Salzburg last year , and give pointers towards the future .
as you know , the CE mark was not created at the time as a source of consumer information .
the internal market is one of the indispensable levers of growth , and hence the EU 2020 strategy must focus on long-term investments and employment .
to this end , the presidency will organise the Southern Corridor Summit in May 2009 , expecting tangible results as regards the diversification of resources and supply routes and as regards closer cooperation with the countries of the Southern Caucasus and Central Asia .
on Monday , before coming to Strasbourg , I went to sign the book of condolence at the Representation to the EU in Brussels , on behalf of the Delegation for Relations with China and I assume also on behalf of Parliament as a whole .
we are also calling on the Commission to make it clear what role the European Union , the Member States and the sector itself need to play in financing the prevention of animal disease , certainly now that this subject is actually part of the debate on the common agricultural policy health check .
some comments on some main amendments .
for various reasons , this process has been slower for Kosovo , and its citizens are still unable to travel to EU countries without a visa .
that is why we have to act on many fronts .
such reforms are welcomed both by the EU and by the citizens of Turkey .
I remain hopeful , however , that this does not apply to all members on the left of this House .
( DE ) Mr President , the military dictatorship in Burma features regularly on the European Parliament 's agenda for its grave and most severe human rights violations .
we must look at new and innovative solutions at the very source where migrants start their journey .
( NL ) Mr President , Mr Seeber said that the public does not understand the climate debate .
the ' ever more ' refrain of a number of my fellow Members is too glib a response .
as shadow rapporteur for the PSE Group , I am committed to this objective and therefore urge Members to vote in favour of this report tomorrow .
the other point is that the conditions in which European industries compete will change very rapidly .
the Czech media are nonetheless seething with doubts .
Madam President , I am anxious to say here that I will definitely inform Parliament of any developments that may have an impact on the budget , or indeed on the launch date for these systems .
indeed , this text does not promote creation .
but what we really need - and I can only support the conclusions of my colleague Mr Verhofstadt - is real economic governance and real automatic sanctions - sanctions that bite .
given this need for certainty , we cannot decide to liberalise planting rights as of now , before seeing whether - and above all how well - the new system functions .
let us also be clear that this initiative is not about harmonising health-care systems .
the fact that , following the invasion by the US Army , the Iraqi state has been totally disrupted marks , together with the partial liquidation of the infrastructure of its social , health care , and educational systems , a giant step backwards .
the Committee on Budgetary Control has therefore adopted an amendment tabled by the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe .
I hope that in this united role , we will be able to provoke rapid processes which will restore the normal functions of democracy .
another problem is the multitude of unexploded cluster bombs that lie in the former conflict areas .
in light of the increased demand for officially supported export credits , it is of the utmost importance that the newest OECD regulation of this instrument is introduced in Member States as soon as possible .
the reasons for this are that , on the one hand , they account for the majority of the agricultural workforce in many countries while , on the other , they do not enjoy access to the same opportunities as men for earning an income .
people are living well below the poverty line .
we do not speak about new minorities there .
she has made her mark on the history of European agriculture .
wherever human rights are violated , we in the European Parliament must object to such violations and bring charges in every case .
our cities are already groaning under the problems of mass , uncontrolled immigration .
those strategies failed to respect the basic rules of economic life .
therefore , action should be taken to disseminate good practice and raise awareness among local decision makers of the benefits that ICTs have to offer .
I would also emphasise the complementary nature of the five reports and remark that they do , indeed , form a unitary whole setting out Parliament 's position .
like the great majority of my fellow Members , I support the proposal to strengthen the European Court of Auditors ' audit capacity with the creation of 20 posts .
soil protection is important .
subsequently , under Article 174 of the Treaty , ' territorial cohesion ' has become one of the three components of cohesion policy alongside economic and social cohesion , and , in fact , constitutes one of the EU 's main priorities .
I will listen to the debate and would at the same time like to take the opportunity to thank everyone involved , for example the shadow rapporteur , for the constructive cooperation we have had .
if the past can teach us one thing , it is that we must not think that we - Europe - can solve Africa 's problems .
labelling will also help to improve public health in general and the environment .
do not your non-EU friends include the Armenians ?
my second point is that the return of the refugees , which Mr Boştinaru has just mentioned , has , in my opinion , been handled in an exemplary way .
I was particularly interested to read my colleague 's report .
let us think through what the implications of that might be .
( the sitting was suspended at 12.50 p.m. and resumed at 3.05 p.m. )
obviously , I join in the feeling of pain and grief that has befallen the families of the 42 victims we now know have died , to whom I offer my condolences and respect for their loss .
as I said earlier , and as I repeat once again , the High Representative , Baroness Ashton , has made this a personal priority .
the Court has ruled that documents relating to an ongoing investigation are manifestly covered by an exception to the right of access and , therefore , that those files are currently not acceptable and this does not constitute additional restriction of the right of access .
- Before the vote :
this principle should make it possible to offer greater protection against crimes such as child trafficking and child abduction , because every child should receive his or her own passport with a chip containing his or her biometric data .
the Member States must at all events reasonably ensure that their competent bodies comply with the appropriate EU regulations and national data protection regulations when supplying and processing personal data .
we are now going to conciliation and , President-in-Office , both the Council and Parliament have the task of ensuring that this conciliation is successful .
Member of the Commission . - Concerning Nagoya and how we are getting on , things are developing pretty well with regard to the ABS , so there is no problem .
indeed only after the GM business plan is known , and our Member States might be willing to provide State aid , can the Commission assess whether competition rules are being respected .
it is not the FYROM that I am opposing by voting against this progress report .
I would like to thank Portugal for its support , which was also passed on to me by the President of the Republic , Professor Cavaco Silva .
India has 1.1 billion inhabitants , China 1.3 billion , both these countries together representing one third of the world 's population .
one should welcome the initiatives allowing European cities to plan efficient public transportation systems , which meet the environmental protection requirements and are accessible to everyone , as well as the integration into the urban planning of alternative means of transport valid for short distances or varying according to the time of the day .
in that regard , there remains a great deal of work to be done .
of course there are problems to resolve and the honourable Members have been quite clear on this .
in this report , I have proposed a number of solutions so that you - fellow Members - can engage your electorate effectively and well in the process of European integration and , in this case , by actually strengthening the common market , increase their share in the common market , that great success of the European Union .
it is high time we called on Mr Obama to close down this disgrace and spare us the reproach of such hypocrisy .
what we should do , though , is make sure that it is introduced in equal measure throughout the Member States .
( HU ) Mr President , on 13 February Australia 's Labour Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a formal apology on behalf of the Australian government for the indignities inflicted on the indigenous Aboriginal population over two centuries .
these are not protectionist measures but , instead , provisions to safeguard the health and freedom of our consumers , as well as the EU 's strategic production sectors .
Bulgaria is the only country in the EU which does not have alternative sources , suppliers and reserves of gas .
how does the information which you have just given us fit together with what is obviously already in preparation on this site ?
is it reasonable to want to do away with the obligation for carriers to train staff who are in contact with persons with reduced mobility ?
similarly , because we cannot consider on-call time as rest time , we have enabled it to be counted as working time .
particular emphasis should be placed on the reversibility principle and the export requirements .
you may be for Prime Minister Gyurcsány or you may be against him .
inhabitants of EU States , even if they only joined recently , must be given priority over those from outside the EU .
development , however , must not mean merely aiding those European regions that already perform above average .
cooperation will be focused on programmes and activities that guarantee that the aid reaches the beneficiaries - the Nicaraguan people - directly , without going through the government .
Parliament itself must take some of the blame .
realisation of such an exceptionally ambitious plan of action as the Euro-Mediterranean partnership will require great effort and many compromises from the states which participate in the process .
the weaknesses are perfectly identified , as Commissioner Reding has also said , not only in the Commission 's report of April 2011 , but also in its reports of 2005 and 2006 .
I have also tabled some amendments to water down what I think are some very prescriptive requirements on advertisers , which Mr Davies has included in his report .
once again we have a situation where - and I am not alone in thinking this - anti-European sentiment is being fanned by the fact that we are again allowing the wrong policies to be pursued , in this case by imposing this massive package on Ireland .
the project was coordinated by the Danish Centre for Bioethics and Risk Assessment and aimed to promote public debate on the issue of biotechnology .
each year always heralds enormous increases in the operating costs of this institution , this time camouflaged as it were as a necessary consequence of the Treaty of Lisbon , which to my knowledge has not even been adopted yet .
Mr President , I voted in favour of Mrs Herczog 's report on the Small Business Act .
do we need to cooperate more ?
I remember , too , a very famous Spanish Socialist Member of this House , elected in 1989 , who was particularly engaging and informative on the whole question of Roma culture .
( LT ) I would hope that in the 21st century , the death penalty will die out and that the instruments of the death penalty will only be found in a museum .
the second point I would like to make is that , whenever we speak out against non-transparent transactions by foreign entities within the European market , we ask the Commission to take immediate action .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( IT ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I believe that today , with this motion for a resolution , we are taking an important step , because this Parliament must always condemn acts and events that endanger the lives of men and women on the grounds of their faith , religious beliefs or political opinion .
last but not least , the consistent use of the three working languages - German , English and French - would make it genuinely possible to reach a majority of the population .
the financial impact was serious , with tour operators and shops losing many good customers .
thus , if the law is implemented , the former status quo may be restored , and Hungarians will be able to use Hungarian place names once again .
( the sitting was opened at 9.00 a.m. )
there is no justification for the didactic tone adopted by Union officials . all that achieves is an irritated sneer in Moscow .
the issue of the burden on small businesses has already been addressed .
if not , the vulnerable will pay the price for a mess that they are not responsible for .
in our estimates this represents EUR 62.6 billion , which is equal to 43.5 % of the total draft budget .
I believe that we should try a little pragmatism for the sake of the companies and the women concerned .
Irish farmers do an excellent job of ensuring that their goods and the production processes used are of top quality , and equivalent standards are required to ensure a level playing field , proper competition and the sustainability of the European agricultural sector .
we regret that the draft budget does not include a special fund for rehabilitation and reconstruction in countries affected by hurricanes and typhoons in the Caribbean and Asia .
in particular , I would like to mention the strong spirit , indeed the will , that prevailed , including on the part of the Commission and the Council in the end , to arrive at a really constructive solution .
however , European companies will only be competitive on these markets if they are motivated by the European regulatory environment to pursue continuous innovation and development .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( FR ) Madam President , the conclusion of a free trade agreement between the European Community and the Gulf Cooperation Council has been the subject of negotiations since 1988 and it would seem that they will soon be concluded for once and for all .
it is a critical , difficult time , a very challenging task .
in writing . - ( PT ) I think that the threat to the security of air transport is a real one and that the risks involved are enormous .
so I think that we can tell something in the future .
however , on balance I think a lot of improvement is being made from the original proposal and I am inclined to support it .
we have all achieved this by spending every last penny of the resources received through the multiannual financial framework .
this is not the right kind of language to use for the situation in Ukraine .
some measures have already been introduced at European level .
permit me to take a look across the big pond at the US in this regard .
for these reasons , we have decided to vote against this report .
I would like to thank Commissioner Dalli , in particular , for his attention and for announcing more rapid action , because cancer has its own dynamic and so we , too , need to act dynamically .
alongside the current forms of security , full body scanners have been brought into use .
I too , like the rapporteur herself , believe that the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund must support workers made redundant as a result of structural changes in global trade patterns .
we need to encourage our Parliament to look at these issues in technical detail in the future so that we have equality and solidarity between the sexes .
there are too few of them , they are too powerful and too lacking in transparency , and their structure and importance is an example of how badly things have gone awry with our global financial system .
I visited him afterwards to say that we needed to lift the sights of this Economic Council to look at the long range strategic technological issues that we are both working on , and particularly to work around the basis of standards which my committee has been doing a lot of work on over the last few months .
unfortunately , that is all I can say .
I am a little surprised at the debate that we are having here .
these services are appropriate and crucial for this section of the population : people with exceptionally low income , areas with very high unemployment levels and people in difficult social situations , not to mention those affected by social exclusion .
I think that on no account should we do this , because if we did , then we would devalue ourselves completely , as well as the European Union as a whole .
in connection with this a common political vision is necessary , which is based on past achievements and also has reference to the future .
the aim , then , is not to reduce direct subsidies but to find a balance between such subsidies and rural development , so that the system is rendered simpler and fairer , without the rules of competition being called into question .
it should be noted , however , that their popularity is also a function of the size of the budget available to each of these research areas of FP7 and , also , the number and type of signed grant agreements present in the databases at the time of such assessment .
I should therefore like to encourage all of us to try to ensure that we are able to include the defining of roles , responsibilities and clear and quantifiable objectives in these social issues , specifically in terms of employment policy .
a Europe of 6 , of 9 , of 12 , of 15 or even of 25 would have been smaller in every single respect - in ambition , in standing , in possibilities , in respect across the globe .
that is a logical and conclusive procedure .
that is why the European Parliament absolutely must be involved in taking , implementing and monitoring these decisions , since history shows that it was the European Parliament that made the reform of the Council regulation possible .
in conclusion , is there not a danger , after all , of giving with one hand and taking away with the other ?
so , for example , such people as Jacek Sobala , Anita Gargas , Jacek Karnowski and Wojciech Leszczyński have lost their jobs .
I find the Commission proposal good .
meanwhile , the dialogue initiated at that time by Prime Minister Olmert and myself between companies from the EU and Israel has got off to a good start and is producing results .
the directory companies play on that uncertainty .
it is worth remembering , though , that , just as ' no man is an island ' , no institution is an island , and the Commission is working with both Parliament and the Council on these issues .
hygiene of foodstuffs (
of course cars are a significant source of greenhouse gases , but it is also true that the industry , in conjunction with its support industries , is responsible for 10 % of European GDP and provides 12 million jobs representing 6 % of employment in the Union .
I fully support the efforts made to bring us to our agreed destination with the Lisbon strategy and give this report the support it deserves .
our opposition to this mechanism and its implications is all the more justified because it results from the conclusion of an agreement between the EU , whose legitimacy resulting from the Treaty of Lisbon is questionable ( and in any case deplorable ) , and the regime of King Abdullah , which continues to violently repress the emerging , peaceful youth movement demanding reforms and democratic freedoms .
the economic result - as with the reduction in social security contributions , which has failed to end the imbalance in production costs between Asia and Europe - will be illusory .
the experience of the 2011 procedure was very instructive .
( Parliament adopted the motion . )
it is a shame that so many trees , recognised carbon reservoirs that they are , were sacrificed to print this text .
social Business Initiative (
we have seen this throughout history .
by the same token , they give the green light to those who are included in their tight circle of corruption .
knowledge - whether protected or in the public domain - is becoming increasingly widely accessible .
I want to say this to you because , in view of the obvious impetus which will be provided by the Treaty of Lisbon , we have our first opportunity to reduce this rift between the European people and the European institutions .
on a visit to Slovakia last week , Viktor Orban , head of the leading Hungarian political party Fidesz , called on the Hungarian minority to undertake autonomy-related initiatives .
when all is said and done , a policy of repression will not solve the problems of the Roma , nor the problems and tensions to which they sometimes give rise in our society .
I believe that it is important to add that some very intense work went into this report , on the part of both the European Commission - a communication and a recommendation preceded this report - and the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy and others .
since the start of the financial crisis , it has presented a large number of documents aimed at reforming the global financial architecture .
I would like to thank the rapporteur for an excellent report .
with conservative trends threatening the unity of the European Union , and we heard some of them this morning , the mobility of young people can be used as an important instrument for strengthening European cohesion .
Parliament 's position was clear as far back as September .
this vote , having received a large majority , will allow 27 MEPs to assert their position loud and clear to the 27 Ministers in the Conciliation Committee .
Mr President , Mrs Malmström , Commissioner , as you have both said , the situation in the Kivu region is extremely worrying , despite the presence of almost 20 000 MONUC troops .
there is no clear political strategy , and I do not know what the death of our soldiers is supposed to achieve .
that is why I will support the Commission 's proposals .
there have been some important achievements as a result of the negotiations with the Council .
but if you want to develop European business , business needs consumers , and we cannot deny that consumers need the same tackling of bottlenecks , so that they can feel comfortable everywhere , as a Swede living in Brussels , for example - we need to have the same rights , we need to have the same rights when we are shopping and enjoying e-commerce and other distance selling .
you said that counterfeiting continues to endanger our health , our safety and our economy .
Madam President , the present time , marked by the crisis , should leave little room for tried and tested methods and for what has been heard before .
I believe that , despite repeated requests , the Commission and Council have failed to provide credible substantive evidence supporting the proposals to start fingerprinting children from the age of six .
to be able to use people 's capabilities to the full and to take full advantage of ideas such as the EIT , what is needed is not just a well-developed infrastructure to encourage people 's creativity , but also a support system that ensures there are proper working conditions , making it possible to continue personal development .
at the end of this debate , I would first of all like to thank the interpreters , who chose to stay even though they were not required to .
it proposes a strict division of tasks between the Commission , the supervisory authority and the European Space Agency , with the Commission being assigned the role of owner and the European Space Agency the role of manager .
if we now look at this heartening agreement from a global perspective then I have one eye on the Doha negotiations .
despite this , the claims persist .
( NL ) Mr President , I voted against the Starkevičiūtreport , as the passage about immigration shows the typical short-sightedness that has already cost us dearly .
I think that this , among many other substances , poses a high risk .
I therefore invite you , and the Council , to give it serious consideration .
the answer has to be yes , in view of the dramatic increase in aircraft movements over Europe and the need to coordinate connections whilst retaining maximum safety levels .
in writing . - The proposal for a directive on the European Protection Order , submitted by 12 Member States , is an initiative aimed at preventing crime .
this proposal is simply about merging two regulations ; it is not about policy discussions or more money , so the right moment to have this discussion would be when we consider the future of our common agricultural policy , where our priorities should be well reflected in our budget allocation .
we must also look at the good news .
I voted in favour .
unfortunately , there seem to be rather a lot of people here in the Chamber competing for first prize .
both passengers and airline companies criticise the lack of transparency and sometimes also the excessively high airport taxes which add to the cost of travel to an unjustifiable extent .
for poor African states , any aid is important , just as water is important , and also the fight against diseases , education , the construction of infrastructure and peace .
the State and the citizens are to make savings , while the financial markets - the banks - are to evaluate whether enough savings have been made .
the Council resolved to put an end to the isolation of that community and to facilitate the reunification of Cyprus by encouraging the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community .
I had the opportunity of seeing the astonishing diligence of cheap labour .
inflation remains stable .
there are municipalities with textile mills where unemployment is over 20 % !
it was allowed by the President , whereas Mr Martin was cut off .
I am constantly working on this matter , and am in contact with both the President of the European Commission and the Prime Minister , who represents the Swedish Presidency .
( RO ) Madam President , Commissioner , the visa waiver for some of the countries which belong to the Western Balkans region marks an initial confirmation of the European Union 's commitment to continuing the European process of integration .
it is regrettable , therefore , that the man who devoted a large part of his career to this matter must now himself be absent for health reasons , and I wholeheartedly join in expressing good wishes for John 's speedy recovery .
of course , the European Parliament will have fewer seats and fewer powers than with the Treaty of Lisbon , but the European Commission will also have fewer Commissioners than Member States .
the blame game will not do anyone any good .
it is a state that will have to cope with huge geographical and infrastructural limitations , without an outlet to the sea and with a practically non-existent transport network connecting it to northern Sudan , where the oil treatment and transit plant is located .
recently , an infringement case was closed for reasons of political expediency - I am referring to the MoSE project .
now comes the moment of truth .
in writing . - EU principles of rendering assistance to developing countries which are not covered by the Cotonou Agreement or by the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument are very important .
we are funding and supporting that , and will do so more in the future , because we believe that in the world of globalisation the challenges which lie ahead of us - be it food , health , drinking water , climate change , security or energy - are global and it is for us all to deal with them in the proper way .
the Commission has stressed that ACTA is not a disguised means to circumvent their domestic legislative process and to devise their current laws and so has Parliament .
therefore , after in-depth reflection and broad consultation , the Commission adopted , on 2 July last year , its proposal for a directive .
Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the rapporteur has already pointed out both the aspects worthy of criticism and the positive aspects of the result achieved on Solvency II .
in writing . - I would like to welcome this report which draws attention to the necessity of broadening the system of vocational training in the EU since equal access to quality lifelong learning means better chances in the labour market and thereby contributes to fulfilment of the goals of the EU 's 2020 strategy .
many of these are small and medium-sized enterprises , which make up the majority of Europe 's businesses .
however , this may of course mean 30 % in some countries and 10 % in others .
oral explanations of vote
I am not talking about quotas for researchers , but it is very clear that one of the most important barriers to employing and utilising the female talent base lies in the composition of recruitment committees .
I agree with Mrs Lichtenberger that accidents on rivers are , of course , particularly dangerous .
let us not forget that either .
Malta would not have to undertake the capital expenditure needed to construct a power station .
( DE ) Mr President , in the old Rhodesia there used to be a tourism poster urging people to ' Come to Rhodesia and see the ruins of Zimbabwe ' .
this legitimises social dumping and attacks on collective negotiation and bargaining in the EU and encourages ' competition ' between workers , in practice imposing the prevalence of the ' country of origin ' principle , that is to say , paying lower salaries and downgrading protection of workers ' rights in contractual relations with employers .
precisely because we have insufficient cooperation , it was hardly possible to take appropriate compensatory measures on the ground .
I would like to make an urgent request for clarification in this regard , because this is an unfair way of going about things .
in the medium term , it will not be enough to have a network of regulators monitoring the financial markets .
I also think that living conditions need to be improved in rural areas .
they are internationalists .
as a member of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs , I fully support the report by Mrs Sbarbati proposing acceptance of the Commission 's proposal and the general agreement reached in the Council on the subject .
this system makes provision , among other things , for measures suspected of constituting such violations to be suspended while the accelerated procedure for determining whether they are contrary to fundamental rights is carried out .
the third reason is the respect and the preparation for the Lisbon Treaty .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
Abominations such as child pornography and paedophilia , as well as Internet fraud , must be stopped .
I did not vote for the general revision of Parliament 's Rules of Procedure because , in seeking to avoid having an oldest Member by the name of Le Pen in the chair , an inelegant , indeed counter-productive solution has been found , despite there being a solution that would have been acceptable to all those here who are in favour of the policy of gender mainstreaming .
subject : waste management in Greece
the problem of illegal migration to Europe must not be disregarded either .
the United States are amongst these , having recently included a number of countries into its visa waiver programme but left others out .
we all know too about the increase in the cost of living that has ruined middle- and low-income groups .
all sanctions against a country must be accompanied by visible , and therefore political , but also concrete support for human rights defenders in the country .
there is , of course , a balance to be found , but there is also a sense that today 's generation knows that there is a challenge which cannot be avoided .
I think it fits perfectly with our long-term goal , which is to legislate and to regulate better , so I can only recommend all of you to support this repeal .
I believe that you are entitled to this information halfway through my term of office .
the EU forests are now facing more pressure than ever before , not necessarily because of climate change , but rather because of some of the decisions made in the EU to combat it .
the rapporteur 's oral amendment reflected these positive trends in Russia .
( FR ) Madam President , first of all I would like to say that I have enormous respect for Mrs Haug , who was passionate in her presentation of a comprehensive , demanding and , at the same time , very brave budgetary report , which was voted through unanimously in the Committee on Budgets and which aims to clarify Parliament 's need for transparency and clarity in preparation for the 2009 budget .
I believe that this report will enable the European Parliament to give the necessary guidelines and recommendations to the other institutions , but also to the civil organisations because , without their cooperation and participation , we will be unable to achieve the objective that we have set ourselves .
it should transform the body from a temporary foundation into a permanent one ; above all , this must be accompanied by a simultaneous increase in staff and an updating of the extremely important Articles 2 and 3 in its Rules of Procedure .
energy policy is , today , increasingly related to the foreign policy of the European Union .
the Beijing platform contains a number of areas that are incredibly important if we are to make progress .
as for imports , we must guarantee that the European market in fishery and aquaculture products does not suffer unfair competition as a result of less strict health and social conditions and ludicrously low tariffs .
well , never two without three , Mr Poignant : Jouyet , Kouchner ...
one Member State on its own does not have those resources .
complex measures are required , such as legal advice , psychological support , support to the children concerned , and it is very important to listen to the victims , who are , I am sorry to say , the greatest experts in terms of what they need .
please answer my question about how much local legislation affects European schools .
it must therefore be respectful of the principle of subsidiarity .
unfortunately , we are also seeing an increase in carelessness , according to inspectors , notably in the declaration of goods .
the debate on the location of the European Parliament 's seat resurfaces all the time , and this is a fresh attack today on the European Parliament 's seat in Strasbourg .
the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna on 18-23 July this year will stress the necessity of intensifying the information campaign addressed to women and young people .
obviously in that situation people cannot understand any increase whatsoever , even if it is less than inflation .
Commissioner , I think that for the benefit of all concerned , this situation should be rectified as soon as possible .
if Parliament and the Commission prevail , however , the biggest innovation in the content of the text in the mid-term review will be the explicit expansion of the remit to include small arms and light weapons ( SALWs ) .
because we have no luxury of time and , instead , I urge everyone to take decisions as soon as possible , so that we can make Europe 2020 a success and create real foundations for sustainable growth and job creation in Europe .
I am referring specifically to the energy projects approved as part of the programme to aid economic recovery implemented during the Czech Presidency last year .
from this point of view , the last G20 Summit in London , which has been mentioned , ended in what were , to say the least , partial proposals , but , above all , the words have not been turned into deeds , and the financial drift is there once again .
Τhe next item is the joint debate on the following :
I have taken note of the interventions about the victims .
the issue of how to install this joint service is not merely a technical one .
these matters are especially important to me , and I have demonstrated this many times , for example at meetings of what is known as the Rehabilitation Parliament of the Voivodeship of Sub-Carpathia - there have been 18 of them .
in Washington , the G20 countries established the foundations , laid down the principles and defined the agenda for subjecting the financial markets to stricter and more effective regulation and supervision , leaving no areas , products or financial players outside the control of the regulatory and supervisory authorities .
I deplore the fact that the shameful and unrestrained use of neurotoxins has been hypocritically supported in agreement with the large industrial chemical giants .
this comes on the back of reports which claim that the British Airports Authority is to fingerprint and photograph all passengers checking in for domestic flights at Heathrow and several other airports .
culture plays a role in bilateral agreements on development and trade , and through measures such as the European instruments for Development Cooperation , for Stability , for Democracy and Human Rights and for Pre-Accession , the European Neighbourhood Policy ( ENP ) , the Eastern Partnership , the Union for the Mediterranean and the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights ( EIDHR ) , which mostly allocate resources to various cultural programmes .
it is probably no accident that some countries , such as for instance France , will sell their CO2 emission allowances to others .
( RO ) I would like to mention the fact that 2009 is the European Year of Creativity and Innovation .
let me add that with your participation , Mr Figeľ , it is proving to be a great success .
this has become a priority for the European Union , and hence also for the EIB .
this will take place in October .
the disquiet with such procedures is very much in evidence .
it is therefore abundantly clear that investing in health systems is essential in the fight against poverty .
protect your nationalities and minorities , for instance the Roma , with strong , collective rights , just as the new Hungarian constitution does , uniquely in Europe .
this year we are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights , which was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 10 December 1948 .
so when I see reports that are predicated on the fusion of practice for fusion 's sake , I must be concerned .
in order to safeguard and protect agricultural or forestry tractor operators , machinery should have EC type-approval .
the internet poses numerous threats , which children need to be shielded against more effectively than is the case now .
the maritime economy provides work for five million people , whilst 5 % of the EU 's GDP comes from industries and services with a direct connection to this sector .
- Before the vote on Amendment 14
however , I am not convinced that this forum , which is for discussing resolutions on violations of human rights throughout the world , is the right one .
this painful observation should make the pro-Europeans think about the radical reforms needed at Member State level to limit as much as possible the disastrous consequences of the economic and financial crisis , a crisis which originated in the ultra-liberalism and globalisation that are so dear to Brussels .
this opportunity , and the passage that refers to it , opens up new ways for Europe to translate the rhetoric usually associated with these issues into reality .
the authorities in the Vilnius region were ordered to remove the signs in the Polish language within a month . the issue is particularly curious because ethnic Poles account for as much as 70 % of the population in the Vilnius region , and street signs in Polish are to be found almost everywhere .
only six have shorter detention periods than those provided for in this Directive .
the report is inspired by a keen perception of the extremely heterogeneous cultural aspects between different Roma communities in Europe .
we have a new round of negotiations before us .
that had to be done in a very short space of time .
I get the impression that our officials at Commission level are holding the hands of and assisting the Brazilians to meet the standards .
in other words , in some peripheral regions of Europe , there is talent , there is history , and there are cities that could play a major role in relaunching the European economy , but they cannot get there without aid , whether at Union level or at Member State level .
disabled people , who still suffer from discrimination in their social , professional and cultural lives , are another priority .
let me give you just a few examples : demographic change , climate protection , regional depopulation , and also , indeed , a modern European urban policy .
customers should be able to purchase a vehicle at competitive prices and choose the supplier they want to carry out the repair and maintenance services , no matter which distribution system is chosen by the supplier .
I am in favour of cooperation between independent states .
the draft EU budget for 2009 had already made provision for an amount of payment appropriations 3 % lower than this year and , in addition , the European Commission has come forward with a proposal to reduce the amount of payment appropriations still further - by EUR 3.5 billion this year and by EUR 1.1 billion next year .
therefore , they must objectively and rigorously account for how the public funds made available to them have been used .
there are some really wonderful countries that are receiving these EIB funds , such as the Palestinian territories , Gaza , Libya , Cuba , Venezuela , Turkmenistan and the Maldives .
let us be honest , there is a disconnect between policymakers and citizens .
what is important for the protection of Cameroon 's tropical forests is , above all , that corruption is combated , both at the level of the officials and also where the private tenant farmers are concerned , that effective criminal prosecutions continue to be carried out and , of course , that sustainable forestry is practised .
thank you .
we therefore ask you to adopt the same measure with regard to the amendments to our resolution tabled by the PPE Group , which make explicit reference to the President of the Italian Republic , Giorgio Napolitano .
the real problem of this debate is a problem we have here .
a resolution is only a weak substitute for what we should do to redeem ourselves from the guilt borne by several members for the current state of affairs in this area .
just like France , the United Kingdom cannot manage alone .
very few of these ideas were realised .
the Commission has many ways of ensuring that consumers and European citizens are protected against a possible food crisis .
on the contrary , it is a call to act and shape our future .
this is the MFF now serving as a benchmark for the debate on the financial perspectives 2013-2020 , with the proposal being , essentially , to maintain it .
the energy relationship is extremely important and we also think that the starting point has to be reciprocity , but we do have to realise that we are dealing with a form of mutual independence here that we should try to manage better together .
but let us be frank .
the proposals to channel considerable amounts to the second pillar via modulation do not receive my support .
Commissioner , a system has emerged here that continues to benefit those who already ensure that large concerns pay less and less tax and who are now apparently giving up paying tax .
Commissioner , Mrs Berès , it is precisely the principle of solidarity that makes Europe more than an economic association and enables it to display the features of a strong political community .
the outcome of a European initiative in the area of micro-credits should be modern , paying most attention to those purposive groups , which until now have not received sufficient attention .
nevertheless , it is estimated , on the other hand , that the indirect benefits could be worth as much as EUR 60 billion per annum .
all businesses engaging in economic activity contribute to GDP and their local units , as well as the corresponding legal units , will henceforth have to be registered on a compulsory basis .
with this report , we are adding another element to the European strategy on youth policy .
within the EU there are traditional ethnic minorities which are unable to study or use their mother tongue freely , and which lack cultural or territorial autonomy .
so my question is : will this agenda for new jobs and growth not apply to Ireland or Greece or , indeed , any country that is implementing these severe austerity measures ?
there are many European instruments which can be used to assist the car industry and its workers in particular .
the Commission 's priorities for the third Meeting of the Parties may be summarised as follows :
we have worked together on air traffic for several years .
what is stopping you from reacting , from acting , from rising to this challenge before it is too late ?
in my constituency , there is a very successful business , called Austria Email AG , which manufactures electric boilers .
the best thing would be for the Libyan people to be able to resolve this problem themselves and for them to then do so .
the Commission , the experts , will come up with the proper scientific basis for endocrine disruptors in four years .
has the Commission been able to establish whether the implementing measures of the memorandum of understanding are in line with the EU-US agreement and , if not , can we then assume that the agreement has become invalid ?
that is not the spirit of the treaty .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( PL ) Madam President , the proposal for a directive on legal protection of industrial designs concerns liberalisation of the market in spare parts for the automotive industry . it is estimated that , within the Union , the value of the latter is EUR 10 billion .
however , Frontex has also been able to reduce the flow of illegal immigrants in the areas it patrols .
however , I would now like to draw attention to an area in which only EUR 2.7 billion was spent last year , but which causes significant problems .
we have fallen quite far behind , and there could have been two or three contributions during the time that we have spent on this issue .
we are creating an area of security and justice by enlarging and expanding the Schengen area .
how are things at the moment ?
a lot of work has been done , and the effort led to the new revision of the AGRI and NAMA texts .
on behalf of the PSE group . - ( RO ) I would like to congratulate Mrs. Cizelj and thank her for the openness she has shown in the process of making this report .
this will present a challenge to the European Union , bearing in mind the increased costs from the capital investment in capture and storage equipment , which will , however , fall as this equipment will be used on a large scale .
I would like to call on Commissioner Füle , and on Commissioner Oettinger , to provide the European Parliament with information regarding the progress of the talks and the outcome of this group 's negotiations .
the third issue that I should like to raise is that it would be useful if we could find a vaccine for the new influenza .
therefore , we have , for the first time , selected in advance the Members who will be granted speaking time using clear criteria , namely that those who requested speaking time in another debate with one-minute speeches but did not get chance to speak will now be granted speaking time where possible , whereas those who have already spoken in other debates will not be granted any speaking time .
Europe should play a leading role in resolving conflicts , supporting development and promoting human rights .
the Commission is aware that a significant number of public authorities and stakeholders consider the EU rules applicable to social services as an obstacle to the organisation and financing of such services .
the EU has remained silent .
at last , someone has given some thought to what is referred to as regional policy .
we need some movement there . we cannot go naked into the conference chamber .
the question is : is that what we really want ?
( FR ) Mr President , I wish to take the floor to call on our Parliament to declare itself clearly in favour of financial and technical sanctions against Iran .
the Presidency does not always have the time to do this .
Forsmark is a good example of this , Paks is another , as is the Brunsbüttel nuclear power plant in Germany .
this is to enable criminal law measures to be implemented in the event of pollution .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , these measures from the Commission appear to be sound , more or less .
Galvus 50 mg ( diabetic pills )
( GA ) Mr President , I commend the Slovenian Presidency for the emphasis it is placing on road safety .
the Tanzanian Government is taking measures , including a register of all albinos , with a view to being able to protect them . without changing attitudes on the position of albinos , this register could be misused in future to track down these people and exterminate them .
I think that this is how you will play your role as catalyst .
I know that there has been a break as a result of the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon , but it is even more damaging for us if the Council and Commission do not keep us informed of these processes .
it will subsequently be judged , however , on the determination , personal commitment and European-mindedness with which these are implemented , and on the success rate .
the abduction and arrest of journalists must end .
my question to you is : how do you feel about the expansion of that fund ?
neither is it clear how entrusting control of the network to a single operator that is not the electricity supplier can guarantee an appropriate and adequate level of investment , non-abuse of a key position or better congestion management .
( SK ) First and foremost , I would like to express my support to the rapporteurs , Mr Lamassoure and Mr Severin , for their report .
the other three amendments by my Group concern periods , for all of which we consider six months sufficient .
they swept you from power , threw you on to the political scrapheap , and no iniquity that you may dream up will change this fact .
defining a European approach to the management of legal immigration means organising it with obvious attention to the needs and hosting capacities of each Member State .
the present appraisal reminds us that there is currently no forum in which this matter is being discussed and in which these common European security interests are being defined .
that is the task .
Madam President , following the release of Aung San Suu Kyi , Liu Xiaobo is now the only Nobel laureate who is incarcerated , in prison .
if it were to be limited or censored , the very foundations of the European Union would collapse .
this report confirms the importance of fisheries management based on up-to-date , accurate scientific knowledge of stock status .
( Parliament rejected the request )
I am addressing my remarks particularly to the Czech Republic , which will shortly be taking over the Presidency of the Union and should be setting an example .
good examples certainly serve to encourage others to follow them .
it is in our common interests to make the EEAS operational in 2011 .
I would like to make one more important comment on the Irish referendum .
during this period , let us support the movement of solidarity with the Kurdish cause .
let us return to this issue in 10 years , when the situation in the Member States may be quite different .
moreover , through the Spanish Presidency , it has raised the prospect of joint discussion and elaboration of a proper discharge procedure , thereby meeting the second main condition .
when and where the rights of the minority are observed , the society will for the most part be just and tolerant .
in writing . - I voted in favour of the report .
follow-up of the energy efficiency national action plans : a first assessment ( short presentation )
the latter will have to be confirmed as a priority of cohesion policy after 2013 .
an economy that provides rising living standards but which does not cost the earth .
I would remind you that , in the context of this action plan , there are also those who say that we should call on all the resources available to maintain activity ; in this action plan you have very practical financial regulation measures that I listed just recently , which I do not intend to repeat , and whose rapid implementation we are awaiting at European Union level .
we expressly call for the European Commission , too , to now carry out an evaluation , which must provide the answers to several very specific questions .
this Treaty and the case for more democracy in Europe were supported not only by you , Mr Barroso , but also by those in power in the Member States .
anyone who believes that the very best solutions for growth are not here must also admit that they do not know of any country that fails to grow if its public accounts are in order .
in addition , a Green Paper on Agricultural Product Quality was presented last year .
I hope that Mr Diamandouros continues to succeed in his good and important work and that he will manage to introduce improvements wherever possible .
with reference to WTO negotiations , we are paying particular attention to the ongoing discussions on subsidies .
we will continue to support such processes .
in writing . - I congratulate my colleague Marianne Mikko on her report .
OLAF is making something out of nothing and making an accusation against me on the basis of its own investigations .
the Commission has , of course , carefully examined all reactions to the Green Paper , of which there are many hundreds .
when looking at burden sharing , all the pressures and all the contributions need to be taken into account , and this is the very spirit of the European Union : the management of crisis by solidarity and responsibility .
we have witnessed how many MEPs have used this report to promote their party agendas by requesting autonomy .
Parliament supports the French Presidency at the summit next week in finally obtaining clarity regarding ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon .
therefore , improving the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises is a priority for the Council as well .
it must be an approach combining balance , solidarity and - as recalled by Mrs Gruber - an absence of taboos .
thirdly , the social dimension of the Lisbon programme is a very skinny beast .
the last aspect to be mentioned is the comitology procedure .
one such piece of evidence is the fact that the European Union average in terms of women employed in industry is a mere 14 % .
the report also introduces a series of proposals and suggestions for improving conditions for female prisoners , in particular single mothers and young prisoners .
I have already informed Mr Bloom of my decision .
that is why I have said on several occasions that I think a flat-rate system - that is to say , a uniform amount per hectare for all these categories - is not an appropriate solution .
it should be based on a bottom-up approach , taking into account the diversity of the administrative systems currently operating in Member States .
my conclusion in that situation is that all three countries are moving in the right direction , slowly and sometimes with setbacks , but I hold on to the fact that the situation is better than it was a couple of years ago .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - Mr President , I thank the Commissioner and Mr Vondra , for the Council , for their explanation , but I am certain they felt that there is still some hesitation on our part in giving them our full support .
I also wish to emphasise the importance of the ' ICT and tourism ' platform proposed by the Commission .
firstly , how does the Commission intend to promote and support migration to the SEPA payment instruments ?
I am alarmed to read that a woman who for many months knew the suspected terrorists currently on trial for terrorist offences in Glasgow and who apparently did not report his activities is now employed as an immigration ...
either we move towards a common destiny , or we must resign ourselves to succumbing to the negative dynamic of national selfishness and destructive competition between ourselves .
this will probably mean that we will find it very difficult to continue drinking our groundwater untreated as we do today .
the European Parliament has not remained silent .
a simplistic drawing of conclusions may cause us to abandon policies which are absolutely essential in the new situation .
in line with the spirit of these preparations , the implementation of the treaty must not lead to a strengthening of the intergovernmental approach with the result that the community method , which is democratically controllable , more successful and more transparent , is suppressed .
setting ambitious targets for the automotive industry is therefore essential in ensuring that the car industry holds true to its voluntary target , which it has failed to meet in the past .
given the EIB 's capital base , no more money can be forthcoming .
both must , therefore , react as a legislator to reassert our intentions by legislating to close the loopholes identified by the European Court of Justice .
the debate is closed .
the future viability of the EU should not be measured in terms of decimal places .
in our report , we call for an annual review by the Commission of public and private investment needs and for the introduction of performance indicators that will actually enable us to have a long-term investment strategy for the benefit of jobs , and hence , for the benefit of European citizens .
that is precisely the attitude of those parties to the elections and to European affairs - a total lack of involvement .
after all , they are the ones who have had to bail out the banks .
concerning specifically the financial impacts , the Commission fully understands the importance attached to the cost-related elements of this proposal , and will continue to be attentive to the cost aspects during the next stages of the negotiations .
we believe that , too often , it has deliberately chosen to give way to the Council , so as not to upset anyone .
any solution sets a precedent .
these measures must include the whole world , because in some countries there are organisations which question the penalising of sexual contact with children .
is that not a fair question , given the time we have been negotiating ?
this is a very important aspect of this issue .
Madam President , only last week in my constituency of Northern Ireland , dissident Republican terrorists left two viable bombs in the Antrim Road area of North Belfast .
we who affirm the need to control immigration and external borders , continue to beg Europe - as Mr Cohn-Bendit has rightly done - to spread what might become 50 000 or 100 000 refugees across its territory , because the people who flee Libya are not criminals .
almost 50 % of this increased amount will be available for needs prioritised by the ACP countries themselves , including needs arising from the operation of the EPAs .
what are you doing in the interim ?
I am convinced that setting up the European Qualifications Framework will facilitate access to the European labour market .
in view of this , ensuring that those who are vulnerable in our society receive a minimum income for living and are given immediate responses to enable them to get out of this situation is not only a necessity , but also a requirement that we should endorse , and one that must be achieved within a framework of responsibility and exigency .
for almost 10 days we watched in horror as the fires destroyed life , property and the environment in Greece , and our minds returned to similar catastrophes in Portugal , Italy , Spain and elsewhere in Europe in previous years .
it makes much more sense to call on the competent committee to appoint a rapporteur to deal with the process and also the technical background of the approval procedure .
revising the mechanisms for applying the Schengen acquis must not be seen as an excuse to limit at will the right to free movement , but rather as a stimulus for new opportunities .
European public opinion was shocked by last summer 's disaster .
one of these is , of course , the Commission , which is the main actor responsible for implementing the budget .
bearing in mind the next Lima Summit , the attitude of President Chávez represents a serious challenge which must be carefully considered by the European Union and its Member States .
the only thing that can prevent the influx into Europe of the least educated and most needy migrants looking for their place in the world is a well thought-out and coherent migration policy , as previous speakers have mentioned , such as those operated by Canada and New Zealand .
if new regulation is justified - and it may be - it must be the right regulation and it must not turn out to be an impediment to recovery and prevent or delay that recovery .
in committee , however , we maintained a balance , to which Mr Verheugen referred and to which I also attach great importance , although it has sometimes been overlooked in this debate .
the text maintains a good balance between the protection of the freedom of expression and of privacy and the need to continue the fight against cybercrime , also highlighting the major problem of excessive monitoring of Internet activity , which can degenerate into a new form of censorship .
the time has come for the proposal made in 2006 by Michel Barnier about creating a European civil protection force to be put into practice .
however , that is a wish that will probably not be fulfilled .
most Member States essentially supported the compromise decision under which three cabotage trips are permissible within seven days after unloading in the host Member State .
regarding the priorities in external affairs , I would particularly like to stress a continuing , reprehensible lack of attention to the issue of human rights , starting , of course , with China .
likewise , we cannot support the thinking behind , inter alia , recitals F and G. The calls for ' zero tolerance ' mentioned in the report are too vague and could lead to bad legislation if followed through .
we share his criticism and that of the other groups .
good use of all the opportunities must be made to ensure that attention to the issue does not wane , both at European level and , more importantly , at international level .
( SK ) I highly value the fact that all three reports require the personnel involved in all phases of pesticide handling to be highly qualified .
women and science (
secondly , even though the ruling of the Court of Justice in the matter of on-call time and supplementary time for rest will remain unchanged , I am afraid that in many cases this will not lead to better protection for workers in practice .
the horizontal aspect that characterises integrated maritime transport will be guaranteed - I hope with the forthcoming funding package - by the EU budget and not by the fisheries resources , which are used for specific actions .
the status quo here is clearly not acceptable .
more recent analysis conducted in 2010 shows that the costs of meeting the 20 % greenhouse gas reduction target have fallen by at least one third compared to the analysis made in 2008 .
Mr President , first of all , I would like to thank Commissioner Hedegaard for her very good and committed work on these climate matters within the EU and at global level .
problems and prospects concerning European citizenship (
but , besides the positive products of this accession , the EU must be up to the challenge of managing the possible threats that might result from such a vast administrative unit .
Europe is our home .
let me give you three examples of this .
we are not talking about something in the past .
I think we must then operate along two lines .
may I thank the Commission for his thoughtful opening remarks and say how much we look forward to the Commission response in due course .
in this report - and this has been accepted by the Council - we requested the Commission to further examine the impact on Member States ' levels .
on behalf of the PPE-DE group . - ( RO ) The European Union enlargement strategy should be based upon the experience gathered so far and the current political and economic situation .
the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs wants to expand the legal basis for the directive on disposal to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union .
( PT ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , quality assurance for vocational education and training is essential , not only for certifying the lifelong learning process of each European worker , but also for facilitating mobility throughout the Union .
over many years , countries with significant national minorities have developed standards for avoiding conflicts of a nationalistic nature .
( DE ) Madam President , I would like to ask whether you realise that , in Article 6 , the word ' central ' before the word state needs to be deleted to make the wording consistent with the other texts .
this package of proposals will help encourage Member States to apply a prudent budgetary policy and , if appropriate , to adopt corrective measures in good time to restrict penalties from being imposed .
- Report : Pervenche Berès
the debate on coordinating economic policies in the euro area is now unquestionably more relevant and more topical .
let us go on .
the fact that no one from the Council is present here is absurd and illustrative of how out of touch they are .
the first is that we must , in my view , give thought to enlarging the euro zone and to integrating new members .
it is not a simple issue but a huge challenge - a common challenge which we must cope with jointly .
therefore , abandoning coal without having a viable alternative would not be appropriate .
their implementation and control are of special significance , particularly for some new Member States like Bulgaria , where higher export levels determine the existence of trade deficit .
however , it is necessary to recognise that the EU has still not achieved a comprehensive post-Lisbon approach , able to overcome traditional procedural and institutional obstacles .
moreover , most Members set off for their constituencies on Thursday afternoons , and many have to travel for several hours before they reach home .
once again , we are the guardians of the treaty and we will , of course , ensure that we follow the treaty to the letter .
I agree with some , but not all , of the points highlighted in the report and for this reason I have decided not to vote for the report as it stands .
there were a good 50 on that side of the Chamber who stood up .
Parliament is looking at an action plan on implementing energy policy for Europe .
therefore , what sort of trust can we have in action of this kind ?
I believe that the vote on this report will enable Parliament to give the Council and Commission a clear , unambiguous signal regarding our position as representatives of Europe 's citizens .
only this will guarantee the efficiency and transparency and , finally , the credibility of the new diplomatic service .
free nanoparticles of various materials may cause carcinogenic chemical reactions if they enter living cells , but this has not been confirmed .
millions of my fellow countrymen were of a similar view , but the majority were deceived into thinking that the EU would help Poland to reach the levels of development of the ' old ' EU .
however , events in the regions are also very important and I therefore have two short supplementary questions .
I voted in favour of this report because I believe that , within the European Union , individual Member States still deliver early education very differently from one another .
what the Afghans are waiting for is real investment in their country 's development , in support for good governance , in the creation of a judicial system .
in writing . - ( LV ) I fully supported this proposal for a resolution .
however at the same time , I said , very clearly in fact , that this might not be enough .
( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , of course we all know that smoking is bad for our health .
after Parmalat and Enron , we asked the Commission and Council in 2003-2006 to speak out on rating agencies .
in writing . - This is a period for critical decisions in the EU and Belarus relationship .
the next item is the vote .
the role of the EIB is becoming more and more important , not only within the framework of the cohesion objectives , but also in the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy .
the Commission is therefore setting an example from this perspective , but it is clear that the appointment of commissioners is in the hands of Member States and if the Member States do not put forward female candidates , then that will naturally be reflected in the make-up of the Commission .
Parliament has stirred ; it has provided every kind of alternative to solve real problems , but this is an ideological problem .
of course , the IMF and the Financial Stability Forum have a role to play in this .
today , we have a sound EU policy on women , peace and security , covering all aspects of the Union 's external relations , from crisis management up to and including humanitarian aid and development cooperation .
an internal market should not only be about cheap goods - it is just as important to ensure high social standards for workers .
the liability systems in the individual Member States - and this is my fourth point - are still highly diverse .
Moscow needs to know that whatever it decides - whether to consider us partners or adversaries - the future and independence of Ukraine , Georgia and other neighbouring countries are not subject to power deals .
the GALILEO programme is one of the priority projects for European research in view of its potential use for managing traffic , monitoring the effects of climate change and for intervening in situations involving emergencies and natural disasters .
firstly , I am fundamentally opposed to increasing the EU 's own resources .
it will thus make it quicker and simpler to fill gaps or to regulate or update more detailed aspects in a legislative act , avoiding excessively complicated and prolonged legislative procedures , which used to have negative consequences for the public .
cooperation between the European Union and the International Labour Organisation ( ILO ) has therefore become a key item on our agenda .
this increase , which must be oriented towards flexibility , imagination , solidarity and good sense , must be accompanied by rigorous monitoring by the donors in terms of how the aid is used and by effective tracking of the sums made available to the beneficiary countries , from their transfer to their final destination .
under the pretext of facilitating business opportunities within international air transport , this promotes the interests of multinationals within the sector at the expense of national companies and their respective strategic interests , including those that , as is the case in Portugal with TAP , are publicly owned .
in addition , we should make a clear call for the Afghan Ministry of Justice to abolish all other laws which discriminate against women .
with regard to the Lisbon Treaty , there is not enough diplomatic encouragement for ratification .
my third point , Mr Barroso , is that the question of the Transatlantic Economic Council and the economic relationship with the USA , and not only its economic significance but also its strategic importance , seem to me not to be covered in sufficient detail in the Commission 's paper .
another key point , of course , is public health and safety , and I am pleased that the planned stress tests , both in the EU and , as has been said here , also in Belarus , and in the future Ukraine and Russia , should be such as to make people in the EU safe .
then , very quickly , the European Commission - which I congratulate - adopted a proposal to establish the MEDIA Mundus programme .
we need to support a balanced view of the migration issue and recognise that immigration for work is more than necessary and will become increasingly so in the future given the demographic forecasts .
again it clarifies the scope and maintains the rights people already have .
if the state authorities use brute force and uncontrolled repression against the citizens of their own country , this deserves condemnation .
direct contact between people is worth more than any declaration .
in West Africa , I see an emerging regional market access position many thought impossible , and in East Africa I see an emerging customs union that did not exist when negotiations started and is now building an EPA around their own integration plans .
Mr President , I should like to make clear from the outset that we can endorse the use of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) for these three applications .
simply put , this opposition is clear .
the President of the European Parliament recently sent a formal request for cooperation to the presidents of the national parliaments and a hearing will be held shortly .
the question of our standards has got to be acknowledged and recognised .
they are now finalising a number of common proposals which they will announce in due course .
I am also going to leave to one side the environmental issues relating to electric cars , in order to talk about employment problems : you , together with Mr Tajani , refer to the fact that , if Europe wants to protect itself from the emerging countries and if it wants to become the point of reference at international level , then it cannot overlook research and innovation .
we also wish to emphasise the need to develop entrepreneurship , which must overcome the obstacles and dangers , address the dangers and continue , so that we have a Europe which is strong in development and in protecting its citizens .
what about if the price of oil kept rising to reach the 100 dollar mark , which is where it is now ?
in 2006 the European Parliament proposed to the Turkmen authorities that they take undertake a number of measures so that Parliament could finally approve the Interim Trade Agreement .
we also heard very sad stories about how sizeable areas , island areas of some of these countries , are already disappearing .
there is no easy finance available , especially for SMEs , given that it is only the people 's banks which will lend to SMEs ; they should be supported rather than obstructed .
I note with regret that my fellow Members failed to pick up on this aspect and have allowed themselves to be influenced by reasoning that goes against the principles of European solidarity .
I do not understand the kind of people who ignore their nation 's misfortune and keep Burma completely isolated , although it is clear that the country cannot cope on its own .
( EL ) Mr President , allow me to start by congratulating the two rapporteurs on the excellent work they have done at a particularly difficult juncture .
there are , however , problems to which we must not turn a blind eye .
Mr President , Commissioner , I would like to begin by thanking my colleague from the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe , Mr Klinz , for his excellent work .
the creation of this Office perfectly illustrates the need to put in place a common European asylum system .
the first is to really tackle tax havens , so much money that is missing from the States ' coffers .
finally , to Chris Davies , yes you are right .
unfortunately , I have about 18 names on my list , so not everybody will get the floor because we do not have enough time .
that will be okay with us .
in the report we also state that the Member States themselves determine this area .
this balance was not always easy to achieve on individual points , but I believe that , in the end , we did find a very sound middle ground solution that satisfies all the interests .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( HU ) Mr President , my party and I are among those who have supported the creation of a Parliament with stronger cohesion in the event that we raise the threshold that has been a condition for forming a group up to now and at present .
to point out that there is some discrimination against women is to get things slightly out of proportion .
it can already be concluded that synergies could have been created between the three projects to make the EU action more efficient and effective .
I am also worried that secular , democratic Bangladesh , also a country prone to flooding , will suffer as a consequence in terms of unfair competition , and it , too , is heavily dependent on textiles .
a new government team may have taken office in Chişinău on 25 September with a promising name and programme - the Alliance for European Integration - but the Communist Party remains strong and is already preparing its return to power by forcing new elections , as expected .
precisely because of the provisions contained in the Treaty of Lisbon , the European Commission must be prepared to ensure that when the portfolios are created , appropriate emphasis is placed on the issues of human rights and freedoms inside the European Union .
I would like to remind everyone that right now many governments shun their duty of solidarity by not taking part in Frontex .
it is a democratic state , and a democratic country .
the directive relating to human trafficking is an important step forward , because human trafficking is a reality , even in Europe .
how did the subprime problem start ?
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( ES ) Mr President , firstly , I agree with Mr Borg that it is a pity that we have had to work in this way , on the basis of unofficial documents which have not yet been translated into all the languages , when for some considerable time this Parliament has been requesting measures and sounding the alert about the serious crisis threatening the fishing industry .
instead there will be a Troika summit , which is far less ambitious . those at the top of the EU have thus chosen not to send out clear a signal ahead of the elections to the European Parliament .
again , it is people who have not been democratically elected , it is judges who sit at a nice comfortable distance from reality .
( SL ) I was delighted to see this report , because it has all the necessary elements for a speedy resolution of this issue .
however , all adults should ultimately be responsible for making their own decisions about the extent to which they are prepared to accept the resulting damage to their health .
I agree completely with the author of the report , and would like once again to recall that in the decided majority of Member States new Members of Parliament have already been appointed in accordance with current regulations .
given that a two-fold evaluation mechanism is involved in this case , it must be implemented , as we are talking about evaluating and verifying the application of the Schengen Community acquis to ensure that it is implemented in a transparent , effective and consistent manner .
however , the extent to which this is actually feasible in practice is not absolutely clear in my view .
public procurement accounts for approximately 18 % of Community GDP , and therefore has a key role to play in relaunching the economy and employment .
32 .
the Commission recognises this in its strategy , but the proposals for measures are vague .
this is linked to my call to reinforce the supply from southern Europe .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , this is the second report today on statistics and I should like to remind the Commission that we have actually set ourselves the aim of reducing administrative expenses by 25 % , since , in connection with statistics , there continues to be an outcry from those concerned not to allow excessive expenses and costs to accrue here .
Member States will align policies with the resources to back them , and I hope to merge the EU Special Representative and the Head of the EU Delegation into a single post as soon as possible .
it is the duty of each state and not of anybody else to choose the most appropriate outcomes for its children .
now , continuing on the broader issues , trade defence instruments are there for good reasons .
I was sceptical as to the need to set the ' sunset clause ' at 31 December 2014 , if , according to the proposed regulation , the European Commission has to present a report on the application of the resolution by 1 January 2014 .
as regards the current discharge procedure , with respect , in particular , to the other institutions , which is my field , I should like to express my agreement with the steps that have been taken since last year 's Spanish Presidency decided , when applying the Treaty of Lisbon , that it was time to bring the necessary transparency and control of the Council 's accounts up-to-date too .
the regulation also provides for compensation and assistance in the event of an accident , passengers ' rights in the event of cancellation or delay , and the rights of people with disabilities and / or reduced mobility .
I support energy labelling , it is a necessary standard , and I think reproaches about who belongs or does not belong to a particular industrial lobby should be set aside .
without this amendment , the period would have expired on 31 December 2010 .
we agree with some aspects of this report such as : the need to make greater progress on dealing with the pay gap between women and men ; the promotion of entrepreneurship among women ; the importance of policies at national level that seeks to promote an improving work-life balance .
- Before the vote on Amendment 996
finally , Europe has to be a leader as regards both regulations and the construction of storage facilities .
in the first place we had the experience of the previous periods and secondly there was the relatively challenging effort to simplify the system without disrupting its overall equilibrium .
I think this is important in order to bring this dialogue further .
the Strategic Partnership executive document currently under negotiation foresees the establishment of a formal EU-Mexico policy dialogue on security issues , as well as increased cooperation with relevant EU agencies such as CEPOL , Europol , Eurojust and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction ( EMCDDA ) .
I think that two funds should be set up : one for the needs of the EU and one for other countries in order to avoid a situation where there are no funds left for assistance to poor countries .
there are already European Union observers there , available , so that as soon as the frontier is opened at Rafah , we will be ready to deploy .
was he suggesting that we should refrain from supporting this resolution , or was he expressing the opposite , namely , wholehearted Socialist support for adopting it right now ?
I am not taking the same attitude as others here who believe that countries like Greece , Ireland and Portugal did everything right : that they made no mistakes and did not go too far ; that they did everything right and it was only the international crisis that caused problems .
however , we are all citizens of Europe .
green energy , for example , is far more jobs-rich than investment in business as usual , yet the package agreed by the G20 will actually lock the world into a high-carbon economy at exactly the time that we should be shifting to a very different low-carbon sustainable economy .
Co Ltd .
in addition to its religious function , Mor Gabriel is the cultural and economic centre of the Assyrian Christian minority in the region .
what a denial of national sovereignty and what contempt for the citizens and governments of our countries .
it cannot be a relationship where either party feels entitled to lecture or hector the other .
this is not the case at Prague Castle .
the Ombudsman is a figure in the European institutional system whose purpose is to defend the rights of European citizens and to counter maladministration .
however , freight transport needs a good transport infrastructure and that is why we hope that the budgets relating to the Community and national transport projects will become a priority in the future .
it is important for Turkey to retain this understanding .
surely not .
but of course , that is the whole point , because the court is not allowed to look at the evidence ; they have no right .
for this reason , I voted in favour of Mr Ferreira 's report .
it is true that the coming months will be difficult , but we do need to celebrate this turning point .
given that some regions possess clear geographical and natural disadvantages such as depopulation , among other things , I believe that this measure is fundamental if we are to make cohesion policy more effective .
every child has a right to education .
these are some of the detailed matters :
it undermines the whole strategy .
this Treaty will be officially signed in Lisbon on 13 December .
it is essential for European policies on development to be coherent .
I congratulate them on the quality of the accounts , which were audited with a favourable opinion by an external firm and by the internal auditor .
we aim to create a better , clearer legislative environment for businesses .
however , although many people have Internet access these days , not everyone does .
in particular , workers have the right to establish associations and to negotiate working conditions collectively .
since the very raison d 'être for these machines has now been compromised by this legal advice - and I address this directly to Commissioner Barrot - is it not now time that the Commission ruled that the use of these types of scanner in the EU should not be allowed , since my constituents travelling anywhere in the Union should not be subject to this indecent and degrading treatment ?
for example , a call to ban all government officials and representatives of the justice system from entering the EU will not achieve the intended objective .
it reflects previously adopted objectives and assumptions and , in this respect , it fulfils the necessary criteria .
( the President cut off the speaker )
we will now achieve a real internal market , uniform competitive conditions and a great deal of progress towards health protection .
therefore , women working in what is known as precarious employment deserve special protection .
this is very serious .
the report significantly improves safety and reliability in the internal market .
I am told that the EU is importing from the rest of the world an amount of food that would take about 35 million hectares of land to grow .
the challenges of the future are changing constantly , and regional policy must be able to adapt to this change , as is evident from the discussions here .
in former socialist countries , the situation seems even more dramatic since the previous gender policy led to the development of a significant segment of women who were active in the field of science .
Mr Marinescu , I have praised the excellent work of the Portuguese Presidency , which has allowed new Member States to join the system .
how far we go at the June European Council as regards the EU 's own internal arrangements will very much depend on how far our international partners , including the US , have gone and on the status of negotiations in the multilateral framework .
I would warn Members against calling for legislative measures in this report or possibly interpreting the text as including such measures after the event .
we have therefore actually asked the Commission what it intends to do first to change the rules and practices as a result of this court decision , so that openness , transparency and democracy might be implemented , and what the Council has planned to do to implement openness and democracy and also to make national opinion visible after a decision .
I therefore feel that this report is very important .
the Communist Party of Greece votes against both the report and the Commission 's proposal for a directive .
within the common fisheries policy too much attention has been paid to the recent report of the Court of Auditors on control and enforcement .
a key item in an international agreement would be the question of what happens to energy-intensive enterprises .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I agree with the rapporteur over the need to simplify fishing rules with a regulation that can implement the recommendations adopted by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean .
all the Catholics and Orthodox or Protestants and Anglicans might interpret that in very different ways , but I would caution against defining the Jewish heritage out of Europe .
it is important to accelerate the development of direct contact between citizens of the South Caucasus and European Union Member States .
we must name problems very clearly and seek solutions together .
there is one point which we need to be clear about : thoroughness is more important than speed .
there have been some encouraging developments at times , but these are also accompanied by some very repressive judgments .
thank you for your speeches .
passengers will be entitled to refreshments in the case of short delay , a refund for over 2 hours ' delay , and up to EUR 1 200 for lost or damaged luggage .
since the report is excellent and is right to give due consideration to the principle of subsidiarity , I should like , briefly , to address the link between urban mobility and inland shipping .
it falls to Sweden to include an exemption in the Treaty of Lisbon , stating that the effects of the Laval judgment have no bearing on Sweden .
we must also abide by the provisions of the Stability and Growth Pact .
in this way , ambiguities and contradictions will be removed from a directive which is already 33 years old and which , during that time , has been amended 55 times .
such weapons and technologies have been proliferating .
this means , on the one hand , that the instruments involved are extremely difficult and the procedures are very complicated , but , on the other , it produces a clear effect of cooperation between the European Union , Member States and local authorities .
this amount must therefore be increased .
the elections are between the democratic and Communist forces .
I appeal to you to take a clear , final decision tomorrow in order to protect consumers .
in addition , the report examines the steps taken by Member States to improve recovery of amounts not collected or wrongly paid , as well as the mechanisms under national law for recovery by offsetting .
the key aim of these measures is to revitalise the Western Balkan economies through privileged access to the EU market .
someone is accountable and must be made accountable .
I wish to testify before this House , as one might testify in court , that it is not true that Jaime Mayor Oreja 's outstretched hand was rejected .
indeed , I wanted to stress the fact that , in the many negotiations on trade agreements currently under way with several of the EU 's partners , it is essential to reach balanced agreements which are based on the principle of reciprocity .
the situation is complicated by the Government 's decision to retain payments to the second pension tier .
Mr Martinez has explained his theory on inverted tariffs to us .
due to its extraordinary growth rates and gradual market opening , India offers new business opportunities and a strong potential also for growth for European airlines , aircraft manufacturers and service providers .
at the same time , it is demanding increases in taxes on grassroots consumer products and an increase in VAT rates .
this must be a flagship initiative and not relegated in the way that it is in the EU 2020 initiative , and I hope that both of you will help us to make sure that that happens over the next few weeks .
rapporteur . - ( ES ) Mr President , the decision my report proposes to this Chamber is , above all , political , in the strictest sense of the word .
I welcome the focus on better research in Europe , especially as we know 85 % of research today is without EU coordination .
this has to stop and this must be a strong message sent to Ankara by the European Parliament .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , during our last debate in July on access to medicines , I concluded my comments by calling on the Council and the Commission to make clear and formal commitments that would guarantee Europe 's active involvement in finding new solutions and its desire to be a front runner in the fight for access to affordable medicines for everyone .
air transport emissions are rapidly increasing ; they have almost doubled since 1990 and are expected to double once again by 2020 .
in addition , we welcome what the report says on the support being given to the School Milk Scheme , and the Commission 's proposal in relation to increasing the funding of this scheme and the funding of the School Fruit Scheme .
one of these signals relates directly to the subject of our debate today .
it is madness that we apply more stringent red tape and regulation to our own EU producers than we apply to our competitors outside the EU .
competition with Google also spotlights numerous issues which will have to be resolved .
I believe that today , when we adopt this initiative , we will have signed the death warrant of the idea of a ' democratic deficit ' .
this figure is also just over a quarter of the amount granted to Italy , one of the main EIB shareholders .
there is a tariff deficit , there are regulated tariffs that distort the market .
the client signs a contract that he does not always read and even if he does , he would like to suggest changes , which is not possible .
the European citizens ' initiative will make a significant contribution to making the European political system more democratic , as it establishes a direct link between Member States ' citizens and EU institutions .
it awakens hope for the introduction of change and for democratisation .
in the event of a delay in excess of 120 minutes or the cancellation of a connection , transport providers must offer passengers the option of continuing the journey , rerouting the journey at no additional cost to the passenger or refunding the ticket price .
there are always new timetables , more percentages , new regulations and stipulations .
I am very pleased with the result .
I have spoken with Mr Markert and he told me what he actually said .
it is that threat that has caused the emergence of new regional groupings , and we will possibly see bilateral agreements , for example with Côte d 'Ivoire .
( FR ) Commissioner , my first question has already been asked by Marianne Mikko : is there a problem of competition or lack of coordination among the various NGOs , and is the Commission playing its part in trying to coordinate the excellent job each of them is doing ?
the text has finally been referred back to the committee .
no statues of Mr Putin have been erected in the streets of Russia as yet , but there are signs of a personality cult .
further reforms are also necessary in order to strengthen media freedom and pluralism .
could you please look into this and find out about the specific case that I have asked about ?
provided it is accompanied by a strict definition of the requirements with which closed aquaculture facilities will have to comply , as well as by adequate monitoring of compliance , it will not compromise the necessary protection of biodiversity and the environment .
it is putting unbearable strains on infrastructure and public services .
challenge of energy efficiency through information and communications technologies ( vote )
that is , the directive accepted by the Council incorrectly designates the base year and thus papers over the efforts hitherto made by Member States with regard to harmful emissions .
first of all , with regard to the draft framework decision on combating terrorism , combating terrorism is a challenge for the European Union that requires the pooling of all our efforts .
misleading practices are illegal under the Misleading and Comparative Advertising Directive and the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive .
to do this , however , we should not run over the agenda .
the efforts of the European Union Special Representative will certainly continue and the efforts of the European Commission will continue and be stepped up , in particular as regards the implementation of a package of confidence-building measures - we very much appreciate Georgia 's support for this package .
( RO ) I would like to draw your attention during today 's debate to the case of Israeli soldier Ghilad Shalit , who was kidnapped in Kerem Shalom in June 2006 , aged just 19 .
then , I think , we will be able to work very effectively on those action programmes which offer advice and assistance and which are backed by the European Commission .
you mentioned this issue , Commissioner .
the procedure will also allow us to produce a draft resolution setting out our concerns on the agreement in issue - in this case , Mauritania - with the request that they be taken on board by the negotiators and ultimately become part of the final Protocol .
beyond the rationale of cohesion policy which is , and should remain , a central pillar for achieving the new sustainable development goals , and in order to help regions to face forthcoming global challenges which will impact more and more on their development , the Commission believes we should all keep on strengthening the delivery mechanisms of cohesion policy built upon the principles of an integrated approach , partnership and multilateral governance .
this is a measurement of poverty that is carried out in terms that are absolute and purely financial , and does not take into account the diversity of the 27 Member States ; its line of argument can be summarised as one of simple solvency .
it has gone over six million for the first time since the mid-19th century .
the decommissioning of old and unsafe nuclear power plants in Europe is essential for sustaining the life and health of European citizens .
this aid must be administered in a swift and responsive manner in order to have any chance of being effective .
we agree that there are other reasons for failure , but our recent Eurobarometer surveys show that contract-law related obstacles rank first out of eleven obstacles to business-to-consumer transactions .
we have to remind the European Union and the international organisation that sexual orientation is a matter falling within the remit of the individual right to privacy guaranteed by international human rights law , according to which equality and non-discrimination should be promoted , whilst freedom of expression should be guaranteed .
with the three reports under discussion today , the European Parliament is giving a very strong indication of how it means to achieve these objectives and guarantee security .
in addition , approximately 92 % of manufacturers of construction materials , amounting to 65 000 enterprises , are SMEs with fewer than 250 employees As SMEs are the backbone of our economy , this proposal calls for recognition of their role and needs , as well as for a high level of health and safety for those working in this sector .
( FR ) Mr President , I perfectly understand the argument stated by the rapporteur , leading us to vote firstly on Amendment 812 .
I am very sorry about that : we would have preferred to have had a lot of you here .
but you are behind the times .
I very much hope , however , that we can get this support before Copenhagen ; it is a matter of urgency .
I fully understand those who are fighting to retain their old privileges , but this is simply not the agenda that we politicians must pursue .
as a famous philosopher once said , ' entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity ' .
Madam President , Commissioners , State Secretary , based on Mrs Járóka 's report , and in conjunction with it , we are glad to progress further towards the implementation of the Roma strategy .
an EU civil protection mechanism , a team of six experts , is also now in Chile .
before long , Africa will account for 20 % of the world 's population , while Europe will account for just 5 % .
I would like the Member States to have equal access to this register .
naturally , we know full well that European culture consists of the sum of the cultures of all of the countries that make it up , and we all want Europe to be not just an economic area but also , and above all , a community of values .
the CETA is by far the most ambitious bilateral FTA the EU has ever negotiated under the 2006 ' Global Europe ' trade strategy .
the European Central Bank already has EUR 360 billion in financial instruments on its books that are not freely tradable and holds a further EUR 480 billion in poorly secured securities .
this is why we are giving the following message to the Commission and the Council : for us the objective of achieving a five-year financial framework which runs in parallel with the term of office of the Commission is not negotiable .
and the proposed legislation - I am glad that the Commissioner has just given it his blessing - certainly must not add to the red tape .
allow me to mention two essential elements from the debate .
we must avoid those errors that are currently looming in relation to petitions at all costs .
the reduction in hazardous substances , upstream , will also lead to a reduction in recycling costs .
the Commission has put the development of ICT and of the Information Society , which has huge potential benefits for European economy and society , at the heart of its programmes .
( FR ) Madam President , I congratulate our three rapporteurs for this quite remarkable summary that they have given of the current state of our common foreign and security policy .
as always , however , it will be the taxpayer who pays for these ' efficiencies ' .
it provides an important added value for both the market and consumers .
the EIB 's mandate expires in October .
it will be an indication that they have arrived at statehood .
asset management II ( debate )
having said that , just as with regard to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict , the EU has chosen not to take the necessary action .
furthermore , I am concerned by the fact that the agency 's staff regulations and their implementing rules have not been followed .
in June 2009 , the Commission tabled the EU CBRN Action Plan , which was amended by the Council in November .
firstly , I would like to thank the speaker for his cooperation and for keeping his ears open to various proposals .
are there not perhaps one or two things that can yet be done in the realm of state supervision ?
before the crisis , in 2007 , Portugal had economic growth of 2.4 % of GDP and a deficit of 2.6 % .
therefore , the development of EU projects in this state coincides perfectly with the Union 's priority to eradicate poverty .
the military is both a stability factor and an impediment to democracy .
I think that to do this - I am coming back to the question of the network of experts - it is not a matter of using technical expertise to replace sensitive political decisions , but of ensuring that the sensitive political decisions are based as far as possible on objective information .
the big Member States , such as Germany and France , are afraid of Turkey , which is a large , influential country .
borrowing today means debts tomorrow , debts that the Member States will be obliged to repay at a future date .
I would like to make one thing clear on behalf of my group , however , which is that we do want transparency , but the methods of achieving it must continue to be up for discussion .
and I want the new green technologies of the future to be the source of British jobs in British businesses . '
( the sitting was suspended at 19.35 and resumed at 21.00 )
the policy should be the polar opposite of this .
I have made a commitment to Parliament ; I will not tell people what to eat .
the demographic risks involved are a priority for EU-level social policies .
what is happening today , as regards the capital transferred from the newly admitted Member States , is impossible to control and contradicts the fundamental ideological precepts of the EU .
to conclude I would like to stress that urban development must follow an integrated and well-coordinated strategy , supported at all levels by both the government and the private sector .
subject : creation of an Observatory on Violence Against Women
as far as this issue is concerned , as you know , the Commission takes the view that the existing tools of the carbon dioxide emissions system should be extended by introducing a sectoral credit mechanism .
it is not an easy task , as the expelled NGOs were among those very capable of working in such difficult and remote areas .
it would seem that , globally , progress has been made in this field , but the sad fact remains that totalitarian regimes still exist today .
Mr President , I believe that the Commission first published a guidance document on the implementation of the Posting of Workers Directive back in 2006 , and at the time the Socialist Group - in response - led a call in Parliament for a toughening up of the Directive .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , in the current difficult economic and financial scenario , Europe must continue to support projects in the sector of energy efficiency and renewable energy for a sustainable and social competitive economy .
it is an EU mission which , in addition to being illegal in itself , is making an agreement with an illegal entity , therefore rendering it doubly illegal .
in common with the majority of the Member States , I believe that the solutions put forward by the Commission are unsatisfactory .
I voted against this report for several reasons .
its objective is to establish 22 May as the annual European Obesity Day , raise awareness of the need for action at European level and ensure that the voices of overweight and obese patients are heard .
our condolences and sympathy go to the people of Greece .
it targets the practices of unscrupulous employers , whilst protecting migrant workers who , most often , are the victims in such cases .
we must be careful not to replace our addiction to oil with a new addiction to subsidies .
in addition , in keeping with Mrs Roure 's report on open and secure reception centres , adopted on 5 February , Parliament identified a number of problems in these centres .
8 .
when they hear this , minority rights activists immediately cry segregation , even though the objective is rapid inclusion .
it is one of the many results of omnipresent consumerism .
I voted in favour of the report on key competences for a changing world : implementation of the Education and Training 2010 work programme .
this proposal updates the EU legislation transposing the scheme of control and enforcement adopted by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Commission .
at the time of voting , I did not support the amendments submitted by the GUE Group , which aimed to make Member States ban or limit work opportunities through temporary employment agencies .
very few ships have their hazardous materials removed before they reach the breaking yards .
I also hope that the Commission completes , as quickly as possible , the process of the EU 's membership of the European Convention on Human Rights ( ECHR ) , which will provide an additional mechanism for the respect of human rights .
I hope that solidarity will develop among the Member States of the Union , in the interests of assuming an effective role in Kosovo .
I would definitely say that it is not an option to be disregarded , even if it can sometimes cause confusion .
it means that Europe will have to fight with a new vision and with sophisticated policies in order to retain its position in global economic decision-making .
furthermore , I agree with a deferral on the obligation of electronic sheep tagging .
I would like to stress the importance of natural relations in the development of EU-Serbian cooperation .
cohesion policy from 2013 onwards must meet the needs of the European regions , to help the EU community grow and flourish .
ECAs are therefore instruments that are well placed to contribute to EU foreign policy objectives , in particular the alleviation of poverty and climate change .
Mr President , during President Obama 's recent tour of the Middle East , we heard him say that they saw their most important partnership as being that between the United States and India .
what also clearly emerges from the debate is that we need both continuity and reform in policy delivery .
agenda of the next sitting : see Minutes
we therefore voted in favour of these proposals .
therefore , despite the fact that no conclusion was possible by the end of 2008 , the Council remains fully committed to the multilateral trade system , as well as to the conclusion of an ambitious , balanced and comprehensive outcome of the WTO Doha Round .
I hope that you will be able to do so , but do let us know .
as a supporter of a strong common market , I prefer market barriers to be removed and not created .
( ET ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen .
support for the idea of creating two e-justice Internet portals seems justified .
I therefore suggest that we postpone the vote until 29 November , at the next plenary , in Brussels .
( PL ) Mr President , the allocation of funds from the various budget lines always awakens the strongest emotions and debate .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Madam President , our resolutions on this issue address the dual challenges of eradicating hunger - which currently affects one sixth of the world 's population - and securing a food supply for the future .
for the above reasons , I supported this report .
it is very important for this proportionality and equal treatment to be implemented in the foreign service .
support for the governments of Member States is now required , so as to enable them to make use of the latest technological achievements in the field of energy .
several of you referred to RAPEX .
well , these reasons have been enumerated here this evening , but they are worth looking at again .
we therefore obviously call on the European Parliament to ratify this Agreement .
the Central African Republic received EUR 8 million in aid and similar amounts have been allocated for 2008 .
this debate , however , is simply another example of pandering to anti-Israeli hostility and sentiments , particularly on the other side of the House .
( PL ) Mr President , the debate on genetically modified organisms has come to the fore again in recent weeks .
the EU 's leaders were conspicuous by their absence .
( for the results and other details on the vote : see Minutes )
Greens ' recommendations were unanimously adopted in committee .
Mr President , the reason we are discussing these proposals from the Commission is that the previous regulation lapsed in 2010 .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( FR ) Madam President , like those who have preceded me , I clearly deplore the seriousness of the situation today , the acute political crisis and also the risk of clashes that could well break out in the hours to come .
in this context , the future strategy should pay attention to improving underground sources of drinking water and eliminating the pollution of the Danube .
I have a significant problem , though , with the definition of universal services and how that is applied to rural services .
the preferential treatment that has been given up to now to diplomats from the Member States gives us cause for concern .
the result of this was that we spent months , if not years , in reaching an agreement and were then finally able to adopt the legislative own-initiative reports on this issue in September of last year , in the form of the Rasmussen and Lehne reports .
in writing . - ( FR ) The Internet is an integral part of our children 's everyday lives .
the rapporteur introduces positive amendments to the convention , which will bring the current regulations more in line with instruments at international and regional level .
this is just an example of an aspect that the report could and should have taken much further .
I would like to make an earnest appeal for this evidence to be given to the Polish prosecution service , because an investigation into this matter is under way in Poland .
the credit crisis is also a reflection of this course .
( applause )
instead , I would call upon our Lithuanian fellow Members to ensure they abide strictly by our Community legislation , in particular , Article 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights , which prohibits all forms of discrimination .
I also warmly welcome the decision of the Spanish Presidency to speed up the debate on the future of the common agricultural policy .
for this reason , I consider it to be important to implement practices such as experience exchanges between the administrations of European cities , urban optimisation databases at European level , as well as to encourage citizens to change the way in which they approach the issue of personal transportation in the urban environment .
I could not agree more .
Ms Martens ' report takes into account accountability and transparency , so I support it .
in that regard , however , I would quite simply like to make it very clear to the Member States once again that they were the ones that wanted this , not Parliament !
author . - Mr President , there are three points that I would like to make concerning the ALDE amendments to this resolution .
the mistakes that have been made can be corrected and the Union can still work for - and with - its citizens .
in particular , the Council agreed to an additional demand from Parliament of having the variable concerning the accessibility of tourist accommodation for persons with reduced mobility included in the regulation .
Mrs Bhutto was , I think for all of us , a symbol of a moderate and liberal Pakistan .
the implementation and interpretation issues that have created uncertainty are the problem .
however , it is this sort of protection that is urgently needed .
GDP growth in these countries was almost double the average in the Euro Zone , and unemployment rates were significantly lower than in the Euro Zone .
I also hope that the provisional government shows itself to be as good as its word and undertakes reforms that do not fail to take these issues into account .
we are faced with an ageing population , and if women do not have a pension , then we have a deeply sad situation on our hands .
I am therefore more than happy to summarise what is at stake .
more concerted effort needs to be made in these areas .
I have written to my colleagues in Russia and Ukraine asking how we should proceed with monitoring in the future , because in my opinion , if we trust the deal and if it is stable , then no monitoring is needed now ; however , the monitors are currently there .
the facility fits in perfectly with the concept of support for entrepreneurship presented in the Charter for Small Enterprises .
rapporteur . - ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , first of all I should like to express particular thanks to the shadow rapporteurs and the draftsmen of opinions for their valuable assistance .
we must also limit risk-taking and put a stop to excesses .
taking this opportunity , I would like to give many thanks to all the coordinators of foreign affairs of the political groups , the co-rapporteurs , and also the Secretariat of the Committee on Foreign Affairs , without whose help it would not have been possible to prepare a report which today enjoys broad support , as can be seen by the very small number of amendments submitted in the plenary session . this will significantly facilitate voting tomorrow .
an exaggerated threat will trigger policy measures which lead to a skewed view of political priorities .
different databases must be linked .
you are aware that a number of Member States remain to be convinced that setting a target against poverty is a task for our Union .
the incident referred to was a protest by Mr Bloom , in which he addressed wartime allusions to Mr Schulz .
I have therefore abstained from the vote .
it also strengthens the Union 's credibility in the eyes of third countries , as the European Union has always demanded the fulfilment of human rights in its bilateral relations .
( FI ) Mr President , the artist Ai Weiwei , who has achieved international recognition , is someone who has enriched Chinese culture and art .
I would emphasise that we need it to be a win-win situation .
strong and independent consumer organisations have an important role in this .
it is a welcome development that is worthy of our support and I am very pleased that I was able to give it mine .
I must say that we Socialists have been at the forefront , right from the start , in reinforcing transparency and control and , as a result , democracy with regard to lobbyists .
thirdly , also within this open form of coordination , the Member States have shown strong political commitment to an exchange of information and learning from each other .
Member of the Commission . - I definitely think that European farmers can be proud of their standards and the Commission favours any initiative that helps farmers , not least in the livestock sector , to communicate with consumers about the origin of products .
I hope that we will all be able to hold a more detailed debate on the White Paper , which will include the practical experience of businesses .
as a Hungarian , I am very happy that the Hungarian Presidency will hopefully not have to deal with the budget , but only to find a solution for ITER and for flexibility during the negotiations .
against this background , I am hoping for positive developments after two tough and difficult years .
a third is burned .
the Republic of Moldova is on a positive trajectory .
those are all questions for which we must find the answer .
this is associated with the tendency of many drivers to drive more recklessly in third countries than in their home countries as they are less fearful of criminal prosecution .
in any case I could not explain here the reasons for the 20-metre ride on the airport bus .
therefore , the Council has not been in a position to discuss the newly adopted constitution of Hungary .
the tests do not predict airplane crashes , either over fuel ponds or over reactors .
the opinions and positions of Members of Parliament will be taken into account as far as possible .
the employment of women strengthens women 's dignity .
I would like to thank the EIB , my colleague , Mr Ivailo Kalfin and all the rapporteurs for their excellent cooperation .
on the other hand , in its report , which I voted in favour of , the European Parliament sets particular store by the gradual withdrawal of the ECB emergency measures applied in 2008 as a result of the financial crisis ( 1 % interest rate , quantitative easing and inflation below 2 % ) .
I was applauding the previous speaker who made a very valuable conclusion to his speech .
if not , then I would like to be told that .
we need a greater focus on safety , better rules concerning information for patients and effective measures against counterfeit medicines .
a significant proportion of Roma live in disadvantaged areas throughout Europe , areas that are developed with the help of considerable support .
45 % of our aid for ACP countries will be allocated out of national budgets , both as budgetary support for specific sectors and as general budgetary support .
I have heard that Spain has already produced new national legislation following our methods , and I know that the same is true of other Member States .
otherwise , you will simply be making it impossible for our farmers to compete .
our report calls for a system of solidarity regarding the resettlement of refugees from North Africa .
although the EU has no overall powers in this area , it can still take measures to promote tourism .
it should be result-oriented and tied to objective and clear criteria on democratisation and the progress achieved in reforms .
the Union for Europe of the Nations Group has requested that a Commission statement on the earthquake in the Italian region of Abruzzo be inserted into the agenda .
we suggest the creation of a new post of High Official for Foreign Energy Policy after the new Treaty enters - hopefully - into force .
I would like to conclude by expressing my confidence that the compromise amendments which have been reached following negotiations will provide a happy medium benefiting everyone .
I am well aware that the increase in food prices makes things very difficult for farmers , but I would not want this measure to open the floodgates to imports of genetically modified soya and maize .
I proposed that the Commission and the Council should adopt the same visa facilitation for Georgia that is currently granted in Russia .
I am in agreement with the rapporteur in that a balance should be struck between implementing a high level of protection for consumers and the need to simplify the regulatory framework for textile products .
this complicated beginning certainly explains part of the delay , but it is certainly also true , as you have said , that payment services establishments - that is , banks - have demonstrated a certain reluctance to implement this mechanism .
in the third world , the payment of foreign debt and interest for servicing debt to rich countries represents a major drain on resources , which therefore do not go to health and education budgets , which are reduced to almost insignificance .
we wanted the Committee on International Trade to be part of this debate , because there is little point in banning IUU fishing if the European Union then opens its markets to it .
finally , our Committee 's third priority concerns the European Return Fund .
I , however , do not see any sign of discrimination .
I would like to assure you once again , Mr Barroso , that you and the European Commission have allies , here , and I speak for the majority of the European Parliament .
the average spent in Europe on such commitments is 0.4 per cent of gross domestic product .
my second point is that very few people , not even Mrs Pleštinská 's visitors ' group , know that the European Union is the friend of the consumer .
well done to the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs too .
you will realise that , for us as social democrats , for whom 1 May is an important day , this was something very disturbing .
( loud protests and cries of ' No ! ' from the EFD )
thus , there are clearly problems there , too , and so I should like the Commission to carry out a much clearer analysis of whether the legislation is really satisfactory .
therefore , with proper use of the arrest warrant , proportionality , strict application of the instrument , better exchange of information and training on European issues for magistrates , we are sure that uniform application of this important instrument can be achieved in full .
this may be particularly beneficial and useful in countries that have yet to create a sufficient infrastructure for collecting electrical waste .
Portugal is an example of this : approximately 300 000 SMEs represent more than 99 % of the total number of companies , and these are directly responsible for more than 2 million jobs and have a combined turnover of some EUR 170 billion .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the explanatory statement from the rapporteur is quite correct and needs no amplification .
today , we also need to cover costs arising from the new role of the European Parliament in connection with the Lisbon Treaty entering into force .
the criticism directed at a number of so-called reception centres is justified .
there are other measures that could perhaps be adopted without additional cost to the Community budget , such as advance authorisation of payments to certain livestock farmers of the aid they are entitled to , who are of course doubly affected not only by rising prices , but also by having to deal with livestock diseases , such as ' bluetongue ' , and so I think we could go a little further just now .
this strategy 's objective is to gain a thorough understanding of the dynamics , characteristics and volume of tourism , but it appears to me to be excessively cumbersome , bureaucratic and costly .
Madam President , the tragedy of Burma has been only compounded by the refusal of the military junta to allow the delivery of aid and assistance .
the Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights , Mrs Flautre , responded to this very intelligently .
asking for a further high-level conference to be held will only incur expense which would be better allocated to specific measures .
that was in 1986 .
we must therefore be absolutely sure that timber from Cameroon , the Republic of Congo or any other third country has been obtained , transported and placed on the market legally , respecting the needs of local communities and forest management legislation .
in a period of economic uncertainty , it is also essential for the Commission to reaffirm its commitment to support social rights far more strongly than before and I need not remind you that the main priority next year should also include completion of the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty and , of course , its implementation .
repair and maintenance is very important for consumers : not only for reasons of safety and reliability , but also because repair bills account for 40 % of the total cost of owning a car .
( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the Commission , in defending rampant free-marketism , in orchestrating the commercial disarmament of the Union , has played to the full its servile role as an instrument serving very specific interests , which are harmful to European employees .
undoubtedly , the European Union 's attitude towards energy in relations with Turkmenistan should not be separated from any changes in the area of human rights .
I think that we really need an outside review of what has happened so far .
it therefore satisfies the requests that the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs had made in this respect .
( DE ) Madam President , we have destroyed agriculture in developing countries by providing billions in export incentives and we have undermined food safety in these countries .
- I gave Ms in 't Veld a little bit of extra time because she has 400 followers on Twitter .
I am thinking about the ' financial supervision ' package and the hedge funds document .
in 2003 in my own country , Ireland , a Science , Engineering and Technology ( SET ) Committee was set up to make recommendations on strategies to increase the uptake among women and girls of science subjects and higher level-mathematics at second level and to increase the number of females choosing science engineering and technology courses at third level .
without that progress , which has been due to well-conceived policies , the current extreme world crisis would have devastated their economies .
( DE ) Madam President , the Member States , Europol and Eurojust will now have to concern themselves on a regular basis with OLAF 's findings .
these problems must be resolved .
using the skills of both immigration liaison officers and Frontex , based on an exchange of information obtained from the liaison officer networks through the Information and Coordination Network for Member States ' migration management services , will enable better risk analysis by Frontex , as well as more cooperation in relation to legal and illegal immigration .
barely six months ago today I , along with Mr Le Foll and a few other colleagues , signed an amendment on this issue and on serious volatility , which aimed to reduce the 1 % increase that had been decided on , in particular , for milk production , since we are , in fact , in a period of overproduction .
because the population is getting older , new occupations best suited to the elderly will have to be created .
at this point I should like to single out a few points , naturally very briefly , which form the crux of my report , so as to inform the House of the actual situation on the ground as well as the overall thinking of the Committee on Legal Affairs as a whole .
documents received : see Minutes
another programme , financed from a different fund , cannot be used , even when it is striving for similar objectives .
I have just one message for you : teach Europe some of the best lessons from your history .
so where is the progression ?
with this in mind , we need to offer young people new , attractive measures , consistent financial support and increased access to innovative services and infrastructures .
Commissioner , I would like to inform you that we have today voted , during the resolution on the Stockholm Programme on an amendment which requests a directive , a European action plan , on violence against women ensuring the prevention of violence , the protection of victims and the prosecution of perpetrators .
that is the right way to confront illegal employment and also dumping on the EU labour market , and not by undermining jurisdictions .
last Friday , I presented with Commissioner Reding a Charter of Women 's Rights which reaffirms the commitment of the Commission to gender equality and also reaffirms our willingness to work on and make progress in this area .
we have seen that Mr Yanukovich has been elected in Ukraine .
what is more , the right to health should above all provide for the right to receive the best treatment in one 's own country , which would be subject to European quality standards , not hiding behind subsidiarity .
at the push of a button it was possible to change from one fuel type to another - irrespective of the speed of the car .
this example shows that the financing of large-scale research projects is dependent on recoveries from other areas , the amount of which is difficult to determine in advance .
I just want to say to the Vice-President of the Commission that we should look at the situation in Denmark , where they are now talking about applying for membership of the euro ; in Iceland , where the country has been torn apart ; and in Sweden , where clearly they are looking again at joining the euro .
otherwise , the Czech Republic might , absurdly , become an importer of the traditional product it has been making for centuries .
yet again , a farce is being played out between the political representatives of capital and the bourgeois governments in order to manipulate the people .
Commission fines in antitrust cases ( debate )
however , things have changed now , and the money is running out .
for the Commission , the reform of the European School system is a priority issue , and this is one of the most complicated items we are dealing with .
we can resolve it for ourselves and for the refugees , because anyone who has visited refugee camps knows that there are children there losing one , two , three years of study that they could be undertaking in Europe .
there are many arguments in favour of saving the Polish shipbuilding sector .
the European Council , when adopting the European pact on immigration and asylum , welcomed the progress made in the area of asylum to date but , equally , recognised that important disparities remained between Member States concerning the grant of protection and the form that protection takes .
as publication of information and supervision are key elements in fulfilling the aims of the directive , it is important to introduce absolute transparency in respect of the supervisory bodies .
let us be honest , however .
in writing . - The recent recall of millions of toys by US manufacturer Mattel , over safety concerns , including lead content , has raised alarm bells world-wide .
the early sessions of the UPR are likely to set the tone for the remainder .
I am not sure whether the elections will now go ahead .
this is a country where it is very easy to sentence someone to death , especially since one quarter of Nigeria 's regions are governed by Sharia law , an Islamic , a Muslim law which indeed allows the amputation of hands and feet , and also uses flogging .
it is all just starting .
use of criminal law to protect the environment ( vote )
the Commission is not part of this process .
we strongly oppose this Free Trade Agreement with the Republic of Korea because it would present our Korean competitors with undue competitive advantages .
many thanks .
let us also keep in mind that our regulations will not provide a solution to every problem , such as the rise in oil prices , nor will they prevent a rise in energy prices linked to the introduction of CO2 emission costs , but they will significantly simplify and support our actions to the benefit of energy users .
recent research shows that the main concern for EU citizens is ' the social dimension of the EU in the context of globalisation ( in particular jobs and the fear of unemployment ) . ' or else : ' the global competitiveness agenda contributes to creating lasting growth and jobs at home . '
this may be a matter of their territorial location .
we must be careful because if , in the course of 21st century globalisation , in a few years ' time , we no longer have our geographic indications , it will partly be because of today 's mistaken choices and we shall lose an enormous piece of our identity .
in order to achieve this , it is important to analyse the relevant market .
there must not be any differences in access to electronic services between those who live in cities and regions with a strong economy and those who live in regions with a weak economy and sparsely populated areas .
( the President cut off the speaker )
they will not agree .
ladies and gentlemen , in the seventeenth century , humans exterminated the dodo .
I regret , however , that the report is only being adopted in January : the majority of the opinions were voted on and submitted to the committee before the summer and the report could thus have been adopted earlier .
the choice of jurisdiction should be made on the basis of access by both members of the couple to comprehensive information on the most important aspects of national and Community law . they should also be informed about the procedures relating to divorce and separation .
progress is , however , a two-way street .
but , Commissioner , all our trade agreements have a human rights clause in them .
as if women are not capable of being judged on their own merit , just like men .
in writing . - ( FR ) The compromise on which Parliament must give its opinion is certainly an improvement on the position of the Council , but it is still deficient on many key points concerning consumer credit contracts .
whether in relation to cohesion , innovation or transnational funding , Europe should only be providing support where we can genuinely make a sustainable European contribution .
the decision must be taken to introduce new initiatives against tax evasion and capital flight , and to do away with tax havens , as had been promised .
what is certain is that the Iranian regime has been seriously damaged , both internally and in terms of its external image .
has the Council taken any relevant precautions to integrate workers accordingly ?
it is becoming clear here that even the nuclear powers are now prepared to reduce their arsenals , and that is what was new about President Obama 's declaration .
we have , in particular , included provisions to penalise the use of tools such as malicious code that are used to create so-called botnets , which have been used by criminals .
I should stress that a decision made by the International Court of Justice in 1962 confirmed that this monument belongs to Cambodia , and the authorities must respect this decision .
they need our support in this , and therefore it is wrong for your primary representative in this country to say that no change to the strategy is necessary .
this is heavy stuff , which is what we need in Europe .
in fact , the migration to SEPA Credit Transfer will be completed by the date when the euro is adopted , while , so far , only five banks are planning to join the SEPA Direct Debit scheme in the next three years .
that is why I also voted in favour of provisions which emphasise corporate social responsibility .
we need to strengthen the role and responsibility of the Serbian Parliament and all its members .
can he then also tell us who - if not the producer - should pay for the disposal of those products ?
however , at a time of financial crisis and difficulties in many Member States , I do not think that it is appropriate for us to be spending millions of euros in this manner .
I believe that the truth lies somewhere in between and is reflected in the proposal made by Mr Verhofstadt about drafting a directive which must create a more modern and democratic system for regulating all the matters discussed today on the subject of media freedom and pluralism .
on the contrary , media reports about the existence of the Mens file in France reignite the debate about respect for the principle of non-discrimination .
I have been engaged for years now in normalising relations between us .
as such , effective measures to combat insecure jobs , falsified invoices , undeclared work and illegal work urgently need to be taken .
for example , responsibility for the success of the climate conference in Copenhagen is placed on Russia .
I believe this is the way we need to continue .
the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament has informed me that with effect from today Mr Severin is no longer a member of the group .
the Commission Green Paper report entitled ' Forest protection and information in the EU : preparing forests for climate change ' presents European Parliament 's concerns on the matter .
we know how falsification networks have changed : a few years ago everybody would be talking about Viagra , but today it is impossible not to talk about drugs that combat , or attempt to combat , diseases such as cancer , diabetes , heart disease and cholesterol .
in writing . - I voted for this report and in doing so , urge the Commission to ensure that fishing activities that fall under the Fisheries Partnership Agreement meet the same sustainability criteria as fishing activities in EU waters .
I am also glad about the good cooperation between the Members of Parliament in preparing a relevant motion for a resolution .
as long as the EU is the only part of the world reducing its emissions then the target of reducing global emissions will never be achieved .
while the Working Time Directive adopted in 2002 originally applied only to employed drivers , the rules adopted in 2005 apply to all drivers , both employed and self-employed .
in our view existing treaties should not be jeopardised .
ahead of the Roma Summit , I would like to inform this House that my colleague , Commissioner Andor , and I will publish a communication on the social inclusion of the Roma people , looking at the challenges ahead and outlining the EU 's contribution to meeting this challenge .
I know that quotas arouse conflicting feelings , and that they do not represent proper democracy , but neither does this situation that we are in now .
it is good that we are dealing with this subject , because it has been raised many times in our regions and at local authority level .
the new system should also make it possible to replace obsolete fleets through the use of reduced rates for external costs when investing in environmentally friendly vehicles .
it is laudable that the budget also intends to earmark additional funds for providing assistance to SMEs .
military solutions alone can never lead to a sustainable solution .
this is where we are today , so we still hope that Parliament will now provide , as soon as possible , a first reading .
less aid , less public intervention and more restrictions on production : that is a truly explosive combination .
we therefore need to have expert analyses of what happened in Fukushima if we are to find out at all the real reasons for the nuclear accident and the damage to the core .
in light of the increasing frequency and impact of natural disasters which have had serious consequences in human , economic , social and environmental terms , the European Parliament recommendation to the Council on setting up an EU rapid response capability is particularly important .
although President Kibaki has ordered these provisions to be amended a week later , we are not aware as to what these ' amendments ' envisage .
we are looking at a violation of human rights that we must all condemn , without exception , and so I am voting in favour of this resolution and adding my voice to those of my fellow Members in urging all parties to remain calm and refrain from all acts of violence .
the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) has actually supported such a strategy for a long time and I would like to welcome , in this context , the European Commission 's announcement to the effect that a strategy which will combine security and development aspects will be presented by the end of this month .
anyway , Poland abolished the death penalty in 1988 , nearly twenty years ago now .
for the next six months , you will hold the Presidency of the Council , and many challenges await you .
like TIM , it offers full supervision and monitoring , because we naturally want to meet all the transparency criteria , and it is designed either to provide direct budgetary aid , to channel aid through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency and other organisations or to fund our projects .
companies will continue to relocate for cheaper labour forces , and we need to protect women - particularly in areas like textiles - by offering the opportunity to upskill and by giving continuous education .
moreover , the Union has a role to play in promoting cooperation relating to the peaceful use of nuclear energy .
China 's determination to play a more important role in the international arena must be accompanied by new responsibilities in the field of human rights , in the social sphere and in relation to environmental protection .
this is partly due to the wanton pursuit of economic benefits regardless of the needs of the local population and the environment .
( FR ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I would first of all like to pay tribute to the report by my colleague Reinhard Rack .
the Lifelong Learning programme and the Youth in Action programme are good examples .
one of the prerequisites for the functioning of democracy is participation .
this report seeks to look at the fact that we politicians should be thinking about whether and how the resources , the supply side , can be increased and what can be done in this regard .
in writing . - I strongly support this Resolution which calls for an immediate ceasefire by the Sri Lankan army and the LTTE in order to allow the civilian population to leave the combat zone .
it is very important that we make a distinction here .
this puts motor vehicle manufacturers under enormous pressure .
fundamentally , the pipeline underlines the need , if ever we needed it underlined , for a European approach to energy supply .
then we come to the accession process and we find that many chapters are blocked .
demanding budgetary increases in this difficult situation is scandalous .
- ( PL ) Madam President , our work on a further series of tasks aimed at regulating issues important for human health within the European Union is drawing to a close .
some of the special measures that have been taken by Member States - look at Kurzarbeit in Germany for instance - have been to increase spending , while reducing productivity to some extent , which I think , from a social point of view , was justified .
I congratulate Mr Manka on his successful negotiations in view of the very tight framework for the 2010 budget .
we can no longer ignore social and economic dumping in emerging countries , China in particular , which are winning contracts with rock-bottom prices in the countries of the Union , without regard for social rights and legislation on State aid , whereas the markets of these countries remain inaccessible to European companies .
there must be , for instance , a Commission reaction to the Laval case .
the Commission already reacted to a similar phenomenon in 2007 , and in the face of this new peak , we wish to know what concrete measures - you have already given details of some of them - it intends to take .
however , it also gives rise to a degree of inflexibility in the budget .
as I said , we need to support Mediterranean food , and it is a very good idea for culture and diversity .
it is true that we need to be careful regarding certain sectors in the world 's poorest countries , but we also need to be careful that these are not the only people who cannot develop their skills in the European Union .
I believe that it was agreed that there would be a commissioner responsible for this subject .
last but not least , it must be clarified that European citizens have the right to submit a complaint where their personal data is used illegally .
we have a high level of responsibility for seafarers , for fishermen fishing off foreign coasts , in accordance with jointly agreed treaties , and we have to protect these fishermen and seafarers , and also tourists .
all the best to the Slovenian Presidency !
the cost of treatments received in another Member State is reimbursed in the country in which the patient is registered , but it is limited to the amount that would have been paid for similar treatments ...
we can ensure that they integrate all modes of transport : soft transport , public transport , water transport - Mr Blokland is right - and rail transport .
clearly , however , that is not the final goal , but is no more than a starting point .
he seems not to understand that this is optional on Member States .
the measures which have been announced concerning the strengthening of consular protection in third countries should be implemented as soon as possible , and negotiations with third countries on the lifting of visa requirements should be continued .
I would like to ask the Commission and the Council what they think about the situation of these 50 people who are not going to be subject to the jurisdiction of the United States courts .
it is therefore important that we focus on the vehicle sector , which according to the Commission 's own figures is a sector that in Europe employs 12 million people directly or indirectly and is the main private investor in research , development and innovation , investing EUR 20 billion per year .
this is the result of the European Union 's wretched trade policy .
Mr President , we can be proud of the fact that the European Parliament in many ways is already at the forefront when compared to some national parliaments in terms of how we handle these issues .
I voted for this report in order to approve the EU-India Free Trade Agreement , in the belief that an FTA offers future potential for an increase in investments , trade and business opportunities arising from the FTA , with an agreement being , overall , a win-win situation for both sides .
however , tourism demand has changed in recent years .
let us allow some time to pass , however , and just see how NATO develops .
I would ask you again to raise this matter with the Bureau .
I just feel honoured to have made a small contribution to that and I would just like to leave you with the pride that the Portuguese feel for that .
( FR ) Mr President , this Free Trade Agreement is the first to have been examined since the Treaty of Lisbon came into force and that is why we MEPs believe that it really cannot come into force until we have obtained robust guarantees , guarantees that must , furthermore , act as a model for future trade agreements .
until now , the Swedish Government has been unable to conclude an accord de siege with the ECDC , although they desperately wanted this agency , like all Member States always badly want an agency .
that is why we abstained .
Madam President , may I draw your attention to an issue which is of crucial importance for the proper functioning of our Parliament as well as for our political weight , both individually and collectively .
the Union must urge Brazil to use the new political weight of the bilateral partnership with the EU in order to display new political leadership within Mercosur and on the continent .
I nevertheless believe that the minimum income is a responsibility of individual Member States , based on the principle of subsidiarity .
finally , opting for 100 % remuneration over a long period represents a cost for social security systems ( in a context in which the European institutions are calling strongly on States to reduce their budget deficits ) .
this special relationship has resulted , in particular , in the granting of tariff preferences .
we have just seen the end of the Olympic Games in China , where all our European democrats joined in standing side by side with a communist regime in a repeat performance of Nazi Germany in 1936 .
this time , we have the opportunity to do this six months earlier , although it should be said very clearly that Parliament finally has to convince the Council , firstly , to submit documents earlier , and secondly , to submit full documentation which really does cover the reporting period in question .
I would like to thank the European Parliament and the Spanish Presidency , convinced as I am that a Europe of justice will make significant progress in 2010 .
investment in education , research and innovation has the potential to create more wealth and jobs than it costs , and investment in innovation will help us tackle the great challenges that society faces .
in Sweden , where I come from , the idea that we would have a disease like bluetongue in ruminants would have been completely unrealistic four or five years ago .
it has to be said that this is a very positive development .
I was really disappointed and saddened .
in this regard , the Commission should launch , as in the case of the other European seas , calls for proposals for developing Black Sea maritime corridors .
in writing . - Pakistan is a vital ally in the war on terror .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would argue that the Atlantic Alliance is an obsolete defence instrument and that in certain recent cases it has not in fact helped relations , for example , with Russia .
he has correctly recognised that the presence and disdainful demeanour of the Coalition is the primary reason for its absolute rejection by the local population .
generally , I think that it is good that an increasing number of my fellow Members here in the Chamber seem to see the importance of holding back EU funds , but there is still much to be done .
our children are finding themselves increasingly on their own as we are increasingly busy .
it is also essential to reduce inequalities in treatment .
the reports by Mr Maňka and Mr Surján represent the only opportunity that Parliament will get to express its opinion on the budget .
the victory of the Democrat candidate is further proof of the extraordinary capacity for renewal that has been evident so many times at difficult points in US history .
Mr President , honourable Members , solemnly and seriously , I have to tell you that I was truly proud to participate in the debate that we have just had on cluster munitions and , on behalf of the Presidency , I join all those who have called for the ratification of the convention .
when debating this matter we should underscore our support for women 's dignity and their role in acting for the common good in society .
much depends on the Union 's budget , its size , and how it is allocated , especially in these times of serious economic crisis and in view of the looming food crisis .
after the government elections in Kiev at the beginning of the year , most people thought that it was ' the end ' of Ukraine .
this agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Mauritius envisages visa-free travel where citizens of the Contracting Parties travel to the territory of the other Contracting Party for a maximum period of three months during a six-month period .
solidarity between people in society , but also solidarity between states .
it is essential to achieve general coherence in development cooperation among the different institutions .
that has now been achieved with ECRIS , which demonstrates that the new technologies are facilitating the day-to-day operation of justice in the Union .
the proposers take over the report and insert new paragraphs over which the rapporteur has no say .
it persistently infringes the principle of subsidiarity .
must we become a theatre for settling national political scores ?
they do not care about listening to minorities in this place who believe that the EU is heading in the wrong direction , and they certainly do not care to take on board the votes across the EU that go against them in referenda .
one in ten Romanians suffers from hepatic disorders . a quarter of Romanian children have health issues .
there is no hope any more that the EU budget will ever be cleared by the auditors .
it exploits the cases of piracy in an area in which the imperialist aspirations of the ΕU , the USA , Russia and other forces clash to impose and safeguard the presence of EU military forces which , with a fistful of weapons , will promote its imperialist plans to gain geostrategic control .
the first step in solving their problems is to leave the euro ; instead , Ireland has chosen to subject itself to financial governance from the European Union .
will the Commission say whether , during this period of very great economic crisis , it is insisting on its view that all countries with deficits must reduce them within a period of two rather than three years , although the latter period would appear more reasonable according to the available data ?
I would like to close by remembering the women of the world who are fighting for the most basic of rights and I would like this House to express its solidarity with the Iranian feminist associations that are today taking to the streets , inviting women to demonstrate without the hijab .
we have ended up with a number of substances that are in all likelihood extremely hazardous , yet the Commission balks at finally banning them .
the funds should not be misused and it takes time for budget support .
thank you , Commissioner , and I am conscious that you are standing in for Commissioner Ashton .
the reason for this is quite simple .
I particularly want to mention , as Prime Minister Janša just did , the two key deadlines set by the European Council , on the internal market in energy and on the climate change and renewable energy package .
it does not make sense that Europe 's police officers should have more powers as Europol officers than others do .
if we already have the infrastructure , all we clearly need is the intelligent vehicle .
we can see now , after the financial crisis , that the free market should work and does work , but we must create systems which are capable of regulating in a modern economy the mechanisms that occasionally get stuck or go beyond the usual mechanisms of economic competition , of pure free-market competition .
employers want to save on social insurance costs and gain greater flexibility , but this has led to a situation where we have to vote under pressure from this antisocial behaviour .
until this policy is changed , until we free food production and our reserves , then this , too , will contribute to food shortages and higher prices .
( PL ) Mr President , the role of the Ombudsman is increasing , especially in the context of the solutions and challenges of the Treaty of Lisbon and the Charter of Fundamental Rights .
I would like to mention that Russia is a cooperation partner that systematically refuses to agree to the involvement of NGOs in dialogues on human rights between it and the Union .
we have to develop the railway infrastructure , the maritime corridors , the ports infrastructure and co-modality .
we were also able to overcome differences of opinion in the same meeting .
firstly , stable public finances .
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as the first rains will not be slow in coming , further disasters threaten in the middle of winter .
amendment 7 draws attention to the fact that some Latin American countries gained additional benefits after the WTO agreement through negotiating free trade agreements and that these agreements further weaken the position of ACP countries .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I am in favour of the Lehideux report , which is today going to the vote after a lengthy debate that has seen Parliament play a leading role in attempts to improve the final document .
taken as a whole , the action plan is designed to ensure that the European market , too , can compete in this sector , the worldwide market value of which is forecast to further grow to EUR 230 billion by 2025 .
if the use of military forces is justifiable and acceptable anywhere , then it is surely in the case of humanitarian or natural disasters .
we should , therefore , thoroughly investigate the systems which have been the most successful in other parts of the world .
I believe that soon we will also be discussing a possible common fiscal system .
- the recommendation for second reading by Paolo Costa , on behalf of the Committee on Transport and Tourism , on amending Directive 2004 / 49 / EC on safety on the Community 's railways ( Railway Safety Directive ) ( 16133 / 3 / 2007 - C6-0129 / 2008 - ;
Mr Preda , that was a very brief question , but it was not a point of order .
Madam President , on behalf of our group and in the interests of trying to seek compromise and agreement on this , we would be willing to withdraw the subsequent amendment if the rapporteur would accept a small oral amendment , as written in the list , simply to make this less specific in terms of calling for the legally binding ' directive ' and leaving it as bringing forward ' measures ' .
in view of the fact that two EU Member States border the Black Sea and the region has therefore become one of the Union 's direct neighbours , the European Union must engage more closely in regional dialogue in order to foster political stability in the region .
another idea put forward by Spain was a system of financial penalties , consisting , for example , of a reduction in subsidies from the EU budget for countries which do not achieve the objectives contained in the strategy .
the financial assistance provided by the European Union and by other countries and institutions will provide an opportunity for the Lebanon to get back on course towards reform . reform is bound to take time , but will result in the emergence of a country that is politically , socially and economically stable .
this is why investing in people and modernising labour markets remains one of the four priority areas for the new Lisbon cycle .
this situation does not allow us to have a clear picture of the impact of cohesion policy on the ground .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( ES ) Madam President , I really do not think that the document that we are considering is what it could be , and I will explain : it is a document to assess what has been done with the broad guidelines that the European Commission had proposed for the environment , and for all environmental policy .
the Belgian Presidency has highlighted its firm intention to make progress in the fight against discrimination and to promote equality .
to conclude , the Data Retention Directive is essential for making the work of the police more effective and for monitoring , detecting and investigating terrorists , while guaranteeing respect for the private life of individuals and the protection of personal data .
this , then , is a series of measures which , in my view , fall within a broader process to cut red tape which is helpful for European enterprises , especially at such a critical economic juncture .
however , the budget of EUR 950 million for this period seems modest , especially in comparison with the hundreds of billions now being spent as a result of the failures of bank managers .
however , our punishment should be to learn the lessons that the crisis has given and to use all the opportunities it has generated .
now the rules are being tightened up , and that is only right .
the major projects must receive adequate support from European and international financial institutions and consequently , the new projects should endeavour to involve as many European partners as possible .
I am confident of the Hungarian Presidency 's support on this matter .
the Commission therefore gives much consideration to these links .
let us create an industrial policy framework with world-leading environmental standards so that employees and car makers in Europe can develop within them right here .
EU assistance planned for 2007-2010 aimed at supporting the development of democracy and good governance in Moldova amounts to more than EUR 50 million .
there has been extensive lobbying by Canada to try to prevent us doing this .
that would be an excellent way to consolidate this consensus , which must also be promoted here in the European Parliament by the drafting of a joint motion for a resolution on such an important issue .
it is a bit like the Northern Rock bank in the UK over the past few weeks .
author . - Mr President , we would like to replace the sentence in paragraph 6 which reads : ' to release all disappeared who are still in captivity ' .
the vote will take place at the end of the debates .
the actions to be implemented are vague and give rise to doubts and questions rather than providing answers .
I would like to highlight the late conclusion of the negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework and this policy 's legislative package , resulting in belated completion of the national strategies and operational programmes , and in the scarcity of public resources available for cofinancing in Member States .
I hope you are given chance both to carry it out thoroughly and , in the short term , to ensure that we are not soon to be presented with a fait accompli .
I believe that he made an absolutely key point when he said that there are some bottlenecks , in other words , some critical points , that we need to accept and that we need to deal with if we want to make progress , some of these being social and environmental in nature .
though I very strongly support all protections for children I found myself unable to support this report .
I expressed support for the people of these countries , and assured them that they can count on European solidarity .
are there players with a simple or collective dominant position ?
it is also unfortunate that two political groups , the Greens and the ALDE ( some , not all ) , managed to direct their disapproval at these Chairs for issues unrelated to the tasks they will face as Chairs .
instead of permanent , structured cooperation between the EU and NATO , which is what the report advocates , I am in favour of all activities being conducted strictly within the framework of the United Nations Charter and international law , with strict separation between the two institutions .
voting for Amendment 29 offers a new chance to support women and children so that they can remain in the EU or to help them return .
in this case they are also unduly liberal . currently , the European Parliament and the European Court of Justice are giving priority to defending labour rights over defending the freedom of entrepreneurship .
equally essential is a better climate in which to do business .
there were three separate investigations into this : one by OLAF , our Anti-Fraud Office , one by the Court of Auditors , and the Committee of the Regions itself also conducted an internal investigation .
of course , we also need to know how to offer leadership ability .
I have already said that there is a structured dialogue and so a series of conversations take place regularly with China , on this subject .
moreover , we should strongly support the actions of the International Criminal Court and its indisputable contribution to promoting justice and humanitarian law at an international level , as well as its activities aimed at weeding out lawlessness .
while health services were initially included in the draft proposal of the Bolkestein cross-border services proposal , it quickly became apparent that a stand-alone directive on this most important issue of health - which has ramifications for all aspects of health care in our 27 Member States - was needed .
I also notice the opposed initiative from Mrs Lulling and Mr Karas supporting , through Amendment 28 , the option for these three Member States to pursue the levying of the withholding tax and to abstain from automatic information exchange on a permanent basis .
the fact there has been coordinated European action on this issue draws attention to the fact that Europe can change people 's lives for the better even in the middle of crises such as the current financial situation .
firstly , the issue of emission allowances and their subsequent trading are debatable and must be opposed because their impact on the real economy is largely unknown .
in relation to climate change , the Baltic Sea is particularly at risk of the disappearance of certain species of fish , and errors in European fisheries legislation , which imposes bans on fishing , are exacerbating this situation .
I do not wish to imply that this is a task for the Commission alone ; I am also referring to Parliament and the Council .
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it is one of the few reports which not only refers to the amounts but also names the Member States where these irregularities occur .
it is a political and strategic absurdity to think of Europe as the inevitable destiny of the countries of the former Yugoslavia .
I am pleased by Mr Nicholson 's support on this issue .
sadly , such a sentiment does not resonate in the People 's Republic of China , whose Communist rulers are obsessed with unity , but not much thought is given to celebrating diversity .
one could quibble about what particular number of refugees could be defined as an ' emergency ' .
the people of China liken this disaster to earlier cataclysms accompanying major historical changes in that country .
taking note of what has happened in recent weeks regarding the so-called currency war , I think the European Union has done a good job and has been able to defend a balanced position , which means that exchange rates should reflect the economic fundamentals and that we do not need to have recourse to competitive devaluation .
therefore , it is very important that the EU tries harder to recover funds paid out incorrectly .
secondly , on behalf of the committee , to have the chance essentially to put on record with this question our concern about the developments of online gambling , and indeed the gambling sector overall and some of the many uncertainties that are arising about the whole legislative regime for gambling within the internal market .
only when we implement a uniform strategy of this kind will it be possible for the Roma and Sinti living in the EU to be treated as equal EU citizens .
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Mr President , taxes are , at best , a necessary evil , and should always reflect spending needs .
I should like to remind the Members that I have sent them an article from a German newspaper which makes clear from the examples given that the risk during driving is not from excessive work , but from poor use of the time which each person has at his disposal , regardless of whether he is employed or self-employed , which is , in fact , irrelevant .
what about the future ?
it makes no difference what compromises I attempt to reach , as you simply object in principle to anti-discrimination legislation .
Junilistan objects to this .
in writing . - ( FR ) I voted in favour of the report by my German fellow Member , Mr Graefe zu Baringdorf , which proposes to modify the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning meat and livestock statistics , but in a way that should permit agreement at the first reading under the codecision procedure .
I have one final request ...
to do otherwise would not be in the spirit of the agreement .
we know that the votes are postponed and will be held in two weeks ' time in Brussels .
I am convinced of the crucial role of the Petitions Committee as a resort for citizens faced with breaches of rules , as well as a bridge between them and all levels of administration and government within the EU via their elected MEPs .
the plan is designed to work with the European Social Fund and with the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund
in writing . - Against .
we set out with two key objectives , the first being to check carefully to what extent the 2003 framework decision is being implemented within the 27 Member States , and the second being to propose improvements as necessary .
I also hope that they are able to catch up on accrued delays and finish work by the end of the agreed time period .
Mr President , the EPLP welcomes the content of this joint resolution and motion regarding the financial climate and the broader economy .
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whether we are Muslims , Jews or Christians we believe in the one house - the house of life .
other Iranian lawyers have also met with repression .
education , as has already been pointed out in this debate , could make a very important , if not crucial , contribution to that end .
Mr Schulz has not spoken as if he were suited to more than simply being the leader of his party , but he is right on one point and I would like to tell him so .
at present , the latter poses a serious threat to our fellow citizens .
the ball is now in the Council 's court .
opening the borders has been one of the European Union 's greatest achievements .
the Commission is now gathering the input of the other institutions and of stakeholders on these initial proposals and will then present its final proposals .
hopefully , we will be spared the experience of discovering how travel protection would function in a case of national bankruptcy .
if certain countries cannot accept reasonable compromise , our message should be this : they should start thinking about an amicable divorce from the Union and cease holding it hostage to their own vested interests , for the interests of Europe must take precedence over these .
it is not a renewal of the social agenda that is needed , but a thorough change of your perverse system .
one example is to form a local environmental expert committee for SMEs in response to the lack of know-how at enterprise level .
this exceptional remedy would be more restricted in terms of its implementation , since it would require both the prior agreement of the Commission and a favourable opinion from the Body of European Regulators in Telecommunications ( BERT ) .
the decisions are taken in Detroit , and all Opel sites are faced with overproduction .
this codification would be a good opportunity to amend the EU Transport Regulation so that pups could be seized on a permanent basis in the case of shipments that are not in accordance with the rules , thereby closing this back door .
Mr Barroso , you may or may not wish to comment on the recently leaked budget review paper , but you will no doubt be aware that it has caused great concern in many regions across Europe .
we must build European innovation centres where cooperation will be actively fostered between knowledge and the needs of the market .
there is also our common European interest , and I mean here energy security and the availability of a Caucasian corridor for alternative transit of oil and gas .
in writing . - At the sitting of 8 July 2010 the President announced , under Rule 6 ( 2 ) of the Rules of Procedure , that he had received a letter sent by the Hungarian judicial authorities on 9 June 2010 requesting the waiver of the parliamentary immunity of Tamás Deutsch .
first of all , in order to increase employment levels among women from rural areas , they should be encouraged to start their own businesses .
nevertheless , the final Morgan report does contain much to commend it , and I welcome the addition of references to the proposed charter on energy consumers ' rights .
we want to congratulate the Nobel Peace Prize Committee for its courage in making this award .
it - I refer here to consultation - is an exercise in relation to which there are , of course , several possibilities .
the deadlock that has been created through enhanced cooperation can , in my view , only be broken by taking the European patent forward just in English , because using three languages would create an unheard-of precedent .
the recasting of the directive on the restriction on the use of certain hazardous substances is aimed at broadening the scope of the directive and strengthening its preventative part , so that environmental damage can be corrected at the source as a priority , in line with Article 174.2 of the treaty .
stable public finances during the current period of economic upheaval will allow the relevant governments to deal with the structural deficits in the current period .
many times , Romanian citizens are discriminated when they wish to become employed or continue their education abroad .
( EL ) Mr President , the only service the Council 's common position and efforts by the French Presidency have rendered us is that we are again discussing the problem .
I agree with your appeal for greater cohesion by the Member States , but there is an encouraging sign from the Council , which has , in fact , supported the Commission 's position .
I would like to stress that the Directive currently in force permits a 78 hour working week , a solution that benefits no one .
I welcome and support the requests to simplify the procedures .
it is a competence of the Member States and not of the Commission as such .
the Commission 's proposal seeks to ensure equal treatment for self-employed men and women .
if France has not answered in a positive , acceptable way before 15 October , this court procedure is going to be implemented .
fortunately , the euro is stable both internally and externally .
we need a Marshall Plan for the Middle East .
these contributions were always agreed for five-year periods , and the aim is now to renew the agreements for the 2009-2014 period .
I have therefore supported the submitted resolution , and I trust that the European Commission will find effective mechanisms for putting the recommendations from the resolution into practice .
we are fully aware that this is a very complex process , but we are at a difficult and demanding juncture where no lapse in attention can be tolerated and where adequate investment and shared governance mechanisms are needed both at interinstitutional level and in international cooperation for the regional basins , among which the Mediterranean stands out because of the complexity of its jurisdiction .
Mr President , we suggest one important and short addition to paragraph 2 : ' is particularly concerned about the health of Mikalay Statkevich , who has been on hunger strike for the last 31 days ' .
air pollution would be a further 16 euro cents in the case of the most polluting lorries .
it was indeed a great pleasure to have you here with us for your maiden appearance in plenary .
it is true that a major step was taken with the appointment , under the Lisbon Treaty , of an EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs .
the first oversimplification consists in saying that eurobonds take responsibility away from the Member States .
the Commission has set out its views and presented a study which , if its recommendations were implemented , would result in a harmonisation of funding for individual Member States .
we should focus special attention on the importance of solidarity .
I recognise that it is not perfect and that there are concerns .
now is the time to take responsibility , and responsibility also involves Europe and the Member States .
on the subjects of climate change and energy , both parties referred to the International Conference on Biofuels held on 5 and 6 July in Brussels , as a step in the right direction to allay criticisms that the use of biofuels was allegedly harmful .
ladies and gentlemen , let us support the Tunisians .
I have no objections at all to the compromise tabled by my own group to set a maximum of 75 % for those four weeks .
any talk of deconstruction of the European project is irresponsible .
I see no contradiction here .
under no circumstances should individual members of the UN , still less members of the Security Council , allow EU usurpation of their right to put their own view forward .
today , the Supply Agency operates on the basis of statutes adopted nearly 50 years ago .
I call on the Commission and the Council to take a stand on this issue and to agree to present Parliament with some noise limits as soon as possible , because noise affects our children 's bodies as well .
this conference tackled the issues of legal migration , such as legal migration channels and the management of migration flows , integration and the Lisbon Agenda , and migration and development .
( LT ) I voted for the resolution on the situation in Moldova , because on 5 April I was one of the international observers who monitored the parliamentary elections in that country .
we can talk as much as we want , but fine words are not enough .
when I listen to some very critical speakers from Anglo-Saxon countries , I remember that it was precisely from such countries that , over the last few months , a particularly large number of cries for help came to overcome the financial crisis together .
the initial results of these consultations were presented to interested stakeholders at a conference on sustainable funding models for grass-root sport in the internal market , organised by the study contractor on 16 February in Brussels .
as consumers , we have the right to know that .
for this reason we need new instruments in the area between full membership and the neighbourhood policy , so that these countries ' European perspective does not merely give them hope but is actually associated with real progress in areas such as free trade and the Schengen system .
Mr President , thank you very much for offering me the opportunity to give my explanation of vote on this particularly important issue .
it is only by achieving these goals together that we will build a strong Europe , a Europe which delivers growth and jobs , which preserves and reaffirms our values - namely , the sacred values of freedom and justice - and which positions our societies to thrive in a changing world .
nevertheless , by going it alone , a Member State can weaken the Union as a whole and indeed seriously weaken it .
this is why I would like to congratulate the rapporteurs of the three reports .
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this is why I agree with the rapporteur on the proposal for a coordinated action plan or management plan at European level , also bearing in mind the very considerable mobility of the cormorant as a migratory bird , provided that it by no means runs counter to the aims of the Wild Birds Directive of 1979 .
this document is not just a set of guidelines for the European Commission , the Council and Member States , but also a very strong , clear message for the European Union 's neighbours , partners and other countries , where human rights are not sufficiently respected and defended .
historically-oriented policy is not , however , the only reason for Europe 's involvement in development-related problems .
I believe that in this sense , the European External Action Service and the other European institutions need to impose more severe sanctions in order to ensure compliance with the international agreements to which Uganda is a signatory .
the Lisbon Treaty was agreed precisely to increase the European dimension ; to reinforce the powers of the European Parliament ; to make it easier to take decisions by qualified majority voting ; and to reinforce the role of the Commission in economic surveillance and external affairs .
today , thinking about neighbouring countries , it would be more appropriate to say that low fences or no fences are better .
while I approve the report , however , I think the European Ombudsman himself and the work he does should be more widely publicised , especially in the Member States where he is not immediately recognisable .
in addition , shipowners suffer serious economic damage that their insurance does not always cover , because the circumstances are extraordinary and tend not to be covered by insurance policies .
this programme has been very successful since the start , as in its first year of operation alone , over 20 000 students carried out a work placement abroad and over 15 000 enterprises have participated in this effort .
the world 's religions do not encourage violent attacks .
I think that the simplest thing is the G8 , which is indispensable - with the Russians , naturally - to which we should add the G5 , which is also indispensable and which would allow China and India , in particular , to be involved in this essential debate .
this rhetorical question was put by the United States at the start of December .
I totally agree with finding viable solutions for enhancing our citizens ' security .
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I think that developing countries must offer assistance in the battle against poverty by generating revenue through international trade .
in writing . - Council Directive 80 / 720 / EEC on the approximation of the laws of the States relating to the operating space , access to the driving position and the doors and windows of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors has been substantially amended .
the next item is the report by Lutz Goepel , on behalf of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development , on the CAP ' Health Check ' .
finally , but without forgetting other important aspects - such as the rejection of the creation of a supranational electoral body or the fact that the fewer Members Portugal has , the less they will represent the political plurality existing in our country - we reiterate that a fair solution at institutional level must without question respect the principle of cooperation between sovereign states with equal rights .
let me make it clear that I condemn terrorism in all its forms .
the ever more precarious nature of working life , the increasing income inequality and also growing poverty - which many speakers have talked about today - must finally be brought to an end with the EU 2020 strategy .
seven leading figures in the Bahá 'í religious community were taken into custody in May 2008 .
in writing . - I voted in favour of this report relating to recovery plan changes within the framework of the North Atlantic Fisheries Organisation .
at a time of great disaster , those in power should feel not only a sense of grief , but also a sense of responsibility .
this will help drive down costs for consumers and boost business for small and medium enterprises .
in writing . - ( PT ) I voted in favour of Anne Ferreira 's report on the Green Paper on market-based instruments for environmental and related policy purposes because I agree that the use of these instruments is essential for the pursuit of feasible and effective environmental policies .
I would like to highlight several issues .
I would therefore urge you to vote against amendments that weaken the text .
that is what I would suggest .
I would like to join my colleagues who have welcomed the progress made by Turkey so far , but also to recognise that a number of hindrances remain on Turkey 's road to accession : freedom of expression and the rights of the Kurdish minority , described by colleagues , are examples .
ecological taxation in Member States is very varied .
in practice , however , small and medium-sized enterprises find themselves unable to access capital as a result of the provisions of Basel II , and now Basel III .
why is it , therefore , that we are still talking about the reversed qualified majority ?
to enable this , a suitable legal solution will need to be found , as was the case in previous instances , for example , the ' mad cow ' and dioxin affairs .
the European Parliament and the Council worked hard to achieve a rapid adoption of this citizen-friendly regulation at first reading .
it is also pleasing that Amendment 1 was rejected and the original text retained , i.e. that we should begin internalising the external costs for road traffic .
this communication was actually requested by the Environment Council in its conclusions dated 15 March this year . so , needless to say , we have had a very short time , but we think it is an important debate ; afterwards , there will , of course , be a lot of details that we have to look at more closely .
as a result , I would like to take this opportunity to express my disappointment and to make my objections known .
the policy of the EU , to punish Belarus and the Belarusians for the actions of their regime , did not achieve the envisaged results .
to equate one with the other undermines the argument of the singularity of the national socialist crime of the annihilation of Jews in Europe , the recognition of which has , to date , been the subject of broad democratic consensus .
Transitionally , on the way - yes , that is right - to a full withdrawal of involvement .
we also think that the number of own-initiative inquiries should be somewhat higher .
if the situation were not so dreadful , it would be amusing to wonder how such a fruit can be obtained from such origins .
this is a recurring issue .
topics such as the Sustainable Development Strategy , the European Immigration Pact , Europe of Defence and the reform in the Common Agricultural Policy are crucial for Europe .
I hope the European Council will confirm the Commission 's decision and the call included in this resolution , and will give the green light for negotiations with FYROM in the near future without further delay .
the navigable waterway made up of the Rhine , Main Channel and the Danube shortens the distance between the Northwestern and Southeastern Europe by 4 000 km .
it should enable people undergoing training to choose their own career paths .
furthermore , cumbersome national procedures still in force will be abolished , in order to enable transport firms to make the best use of the possibilities of cabotage .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( FR ) Madam President , the European Commission has put forward a good proposal .
they have a right to organise , agitate and campaign to improve their lot at work .
how can this be achieved ?
we will once again remind Russia of its commitments as a member of the Council of Europe and the OSCE , particularly regarding freedom of the press and the events unfolding in Ingushetia , for instance , as well as other human rights issues .
in this area above all others there is a need for every policy to be democratically debated , legitimised and checked .
congratulations on your report .
when I first heard of this report , I wondered how it would work logistically .
today , unfair competition from Asia has turned it into a ghost town , because business in Prato has been utterly devastated .
the failure of some of these murky operators would accelerate the crisis in the deregulated sector .
this is the framework in which the Commission could take steps to obtain the restoration of the visa-free travel by the third country , or if that is not achievable , to propose retaliatory measures on the temporary restoration of the visa requirement for nationals of that third country .
naturally , I support the Swedish position on the issue - namely that the decision on abortion is ultimately a decision for the woman concerned , not a matter for the legislators .
I want to be clear that , in putting forward proposals on biofuels , we have also fully respected the other side of the mandate : the need for environmental sustainability .
this issue was also discussed earlier today .
the Chinese government has asked for the basic equipment they need during the rescue operations .
I convened and chaired a meeting of the heads of state and government of the eurozone countries and presented to them a draft statement which , after being amended , was accepted unanimously .
I believe , after this difference of opinion that we had , it is now high time to return to a joint position that signifies support for Israel , but at the same time also support for the peace process , for the Palestinians ' right to exist .
the Commission will continue to have the main responsibility for matters relating to trade , aid and enlargement , even though it still remains to be established exactly where the dividing line between the Commission and the External Action Service is to go with regard to aid .
the progress is evident .
the financial action on the part of the Union concerning implementation of the EU 's common fisheries policy and the Law of the Sea gives us the economic means to implement the common fisheries policy with funding targeted at those areas in need of development and coordination regarding the Law of the Sea .
however , if her accession course is to proceed unhindered , she must do as previous accession countries have done and comply with its treaty obligations to the EU as a whole .
it is time the Commission woke up to this .
Mr President , I would like to take the opportunity to offer some friendly advice , because many Irish voters are impatient with the Treaty debate .
we must hold joint debates on this increasingly dramatic divergence .
the second and more important reason why it should be revised is that such disproportionate numbers often directly threaten the humanitarian principles and the obligation to treat people arriving at our borders in search of protection with dignity .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I have heard the Minister describe CITES as an effective instrument and the Commission describe it as an appropriate instrument .
however , as a group we regret that we had to carry out this work under massive time pressure .
the Lisbon Treaty gives Parliament a new role , and I would like the Commission to act upon it .
I am therefore now in favour of rejecting the submitted texts , as proposed by Mr Coelho , and I congratulate him on a fine report .
resources for culture are often scattered across a host of projects .
promoting the mobility of young people requires practical barriers to be overcome .
I think it has been a good process , as you have accepted several of our positions , although I must say that obviously , if the report were written by the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance , it would be different , but that is the way things go in Parliament .
this means improving the general conditions for getting our cultural heritage online as an integral part of the digital libraries initiatives , and the need for Member States to intensify their digitalisation efforts .
I voted on today 's amendment to show solidarity with the farming community at a time of crisis .
I welcome the recognition by NATO Heads of State and Government of the important contribution the European Union brings to security and stability .
subject : financial crisis and the Stability Pact
my view is that we should leave it to the Member States to come up with more detailed definitions at national level and not spell everything out in Brussels , and this goes for personal data protection too .
my own experience of witnessing contractors ' attempts to inject dirty water under the ground to satisfy EU rules tells me what problems lie ahead .
these are horrific statistics and it makes the issue of how we produce sufficient food and give people access to that food a key issue .
however , this does not do enough to reassure us about the worrying situation in terms of cereal stocks and the rising price of cereals on the world market .
the industry is a model , I believe , of the way a sector can transform itself , as I saw for myself on my recent visit to Jaguar Land Rover in Castle Bromwich , where I was really impressed by the forward thinking of trade unions and their partnership with management to ensure continued research and development into green vehicles .
Portugal does not have a problem regarding the sustainability of its public accounts or the insolvency of its national banks .
secondly , we should then develop a strategy with the Roma which must , however , comprise two parts .
we have to improve public demand for culturally diverse audiovisual content , which will be very important , so we have to get the youth , the young public most of all , to see European films .
and yet , economic migration also concerns many EU Member States , especially those which acceded more recently .
social tourism boosts the number of European tourists and helps counter the seasonal nature of tourism , reinforce the idea of European citizenship , as well as foster regional development .
this will enable the EU 's specialist service , Eurostat , to compile European statistics for every mode of transport in compliance with EU standards .
the Single Market will remain competitive if all social rights are respected .
the total amount of direct payments in European Union Member States reflects their agricultural production and the average level of aid over an historical period .
typical examples of these include cumbersome approval processes for medical equipment and certain food products , and lack of convergence with internationally recognised standards for car parts and components .
with regard to this framework programme , if we do not aim for excellence , we will lose the competitive edge that we need to have in the future .
instead , we have opted for the path of complete inflexibility , with immediately claimable compensatory rest time , which puts employers of seasonal workers , for instance , in a completely untenable position .
I would like us also to revise our policy , which , up until now , has consisted in not recognising the efforts of the people of the Republic of Somaliland , who have built a free and democratic Muslim state in the region , but one which we treat as if it did not exist .
I would like to invite you all to cocktails on 12 January 2010 , to mark the new year and the beginning of the Treaty of Lisbon , which is so important for us .
today , Kabul is a huge entrenched camp .
this agreement provides for the return of the bodies of Hezbollah fighters and the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the return of the bodies of the Israeli soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev , captured in 2006 .
all of this is thanks to the fact that we are approving something that could be called a charter of fundamental rights for the railway passenger , i.e. basic passenger rights .
first of all , the litany of cutting off appropriations : in the draft budget , the Council of Ministers cuts off the appropriations in the preliminary draft budget .
( RO ) I wish to welcome the conclusions of the European Council meeting held on 25 and 26 March 2010 , which clearly stipulate for the first time as a European Union objective a 20 % increase in energy efficiency .
we also deeply regret the fact that the important historical parity on this issue that existed between the UK , France and Italy has been abandoned .
with regard to amending budget No 6 , both arms of the budgetary authority are now , I hope , in a position to approve the amending budget without amendment .
we have lost , and are still losing , or at least eroding , values such as work , discipline , self-reliance , that is to say all those values which go towards creating a good citizen when these people reach adulthood .
a visa-free regime brings about the realisation of one of the main fundamental rights in Europe - freedom of movement through all Member States .
if we really want a democratic , stable and peaceful Turkey , we should at least not close the door to membership in its face .
we have before us a week of decisions that will be crucial for Europe .
, in writing . - The ' European Cities Guide ' and similar outfits are fraudulent operations which specifically target SMEs .
I believe that in the first days of the Czech Presidency , the Czech government has been confronted with a test of unprecedented magnitude and that it has passed this test with flying colours .
what has been placed on the table so far cannot be taken seriously .
I would be more careful when using the word ' historical ' , because I think we depreciate the concept if we use it too often .
the absence of the Council is noted and is unfortunate .
2007 has , I believe , been an important year for the Community harmonisation of private international law in the field of civil and commercial obligations .
the efforts of all involved in this great institution need to be duly recognised and lauded .
I was also asked a question as to what will happen if the flow of refugees comes in this direction .
today , it is Muslim public opinion , which extends far beyond the geography of the Arab states .
Cantonese and Shanghainese are also to be replaced by Mandarin throughout the education system and even on the radio , this despite the fact that the government claims that Mandarin is only spoken by half of the Chinese population .
if we are ambitious enough to say that we must accept the climate package as it is one minute and that we will bow down before the German car industry lobby the next , then we have lost , because everyone will come and say : ' do not forget about us ' .
it is a long one , so I am not going to read it out .
just look at what has happened with the Frontex budget : it has gone from EUR 6 million in 2005 to EUR 78 or 83 million in 2010 .
I should like to express through this short point of order both my admiration for the great musician Beethoven and my disapproval of the fact that we are regularly subjected to a European anthem which has disappeared into ...
even though there is a trend towards non-smoking in Europe , to exploit this trend to adopt excessive rules and to ride the wave of public approval is bad form , in my opinion .
without your total dedication to this cause , it would not have come to this apparently happy ending .
we really have created a masterpiece at first reading .
thirdly , there is the whole question of Cuba and Zimbabwe .
the lack of responsibility .
communication between Member States and the Commission is a vital part of monitoring and controlling disease outbreaks .
activists from the left-wing movement ' Kazakhstan 2012 ' are being harassed and jailed .
in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity , it seems logical to me that , when identifying intermediate LFAs , the Member States be allowed to take into account not only biophysical criteria but also others , such as being an island or an outermost region .
journalists were arrested and persecuted .
then we shall need the corresponding legislative initiatives to consolidate the process .
but I think that , as long as the consumer is aware of many of the pitfalls , that is what codes of conduct or any type of consumer protection should do .
explanations of vote
obviously , it is the patients who must come to us .
generally - with only a few exceptions , to judge by the audits that we have already seen - we can say that the institutions at issue are using the funds made available to them properly and meeting the objectives proposed for them .
Mr President , what Mr Rack has just proposed is an interesting idea .
in your view , is it also necessary to draw up an action programme for the Member States to deal with some of the tasks identified by the European Parliament ?
however , it said that it would do this to help the US Administration , and therein lies the problem .
this is an unacceptable situation .
( FR ) I shall be quite brief .
on behalf of the S & D Group . - ( SV ) Madam President , firstly , I would like to express my sincere thanks to Mrs Balzani .
setting the conditions for the functioning of the European citizens ' initiative was a complex process of negotiation and compromise and involved many debates in the European Parliament , the Commission and the Council .
( it ) I voted in favour of the Ashworth report because I believe that simplifying and reducing bureaucratic procedures relating to the CAP , the common agricultural policy , is not only desirable , but necessary so that European farmers can take full advantage of its benefits , and not , as so often happens , encounter administrative difficulties and delays .
Member States will have some flexibility in choosing what information is required in each country , but I am glad to say that many of them are going for less data than originally planned .
I would also like to compliment Mr Toubon himself on the preparation of his report .
this report was adopted unanimously in the Committee on Fisheries .
the EU must also play a leading part in the implementation of the binding targets that it has set , with as united a front as possible .
however , I do not think that this directive will result in the development of health tourism in Europe .
over the past months we have insisted on the importance of these elections for the country 's European future . the country has responded positively to our message , thus confirming its willingness to move forward in its accession process .
other countries may one day be forced to apply for such loans .
hence , the importance of this resolution which insists on the need for the European Union to adopt other indicators in addition to GDP in order to take better account of , among other things , climate change , biodiversity or even social integration , these being major political challenges that are close to my heart .
the first objective should be to equip the Union with more far-reaching and more effective economic governance , which calls for greater financial autonomy .
however , as I said , as yet , no such information has been submitted to us by the German authorities .
we need a toy TÜV - and that must be as self-evident as the TÜV we have for cars .
this would add an important new economic dimension to the east-west water transport corridor and allow for making some of the bigger Danube tributaries navigable .
the EU is expanding and is increasing in strength .
it is intended to increase the competitiveness and profits of the multinationals , to increase the exploitation of rural manpower , to concentrate land ownership even further and to control production .
public and legal debate on documents increases the legitimacy of the institutions and bolsters public confidence in them .
because the Belfast Agreement by law stipulates that all parties must be in government if there is to be a government .
remember that the European Union sold the 2004 / 2005 intervention stocks at an enormous profit .
however , as part of the implementation of the 2012 budget too , we will want savings using the principles of good management , economy , efficiency and effectiveness .
( FR ) Mr President , President of the European Investment Bank , in the EIB 's 2008 report , Parliament insisted that the bank 's external activities comply with the general objectives of the European Union .
this issue will be our first opportunity to show that the Council and Parliament are willing to take on their role as colegislators .
we do not want this !
this initial phase is not about expanding the list of hazardous substances .
Zimbabwe was obviously on the agenda .
we shall have to see and , no doubt , list the situations in which such a fundamental rights violation specifically requires these infringement proceedings .
these must be met by each individual Member to the best of his or her knowledge and belief .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to raise two points of order and I would like to be able to raise them one after another .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I can help you out here and even point out to the President what he himself decided .
that is the reality for tens of millions of European citizens .
I believe that we should not deal with renewable sources in isolation .
nonetheless , any policy pursued in this area will simply be window-dressing unless it takes , as its starting point , the basic premise that these fundamental rights are indivisible .
let us not forget that the vast majority of companies have people with that in mind and they are deeply frustrated by the fact that , in many cases , they have to redesign products or reapply for mutual recognition as it stands at the moment - that is a major step forward .
in Ghana , where illegal logging has reduced the rainforest by up to 25 % of its original size in under 50 years , the agreement will help to secure the future of its timber industry - its fourth most profitable industry .
it should demonstrate clear European commitment to considering a fully fledged political and operational strategy that would , in addressing Roma issues , go beyond obvious human rights perspectives , fundamental as they are , towards real economic and social inclusion .
the European Union can help there .
in the last few years , however , new inactivated vaccines have become available .
I am glad that we heard about the continuity with 2008 since our aim is to develop , on the basis of cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue , another dimension of the cultural agenda , and that is the creative industry .
of course , US leadership on this issue is welcome .
I would like us to take this knowledge with us to the next round of negotiations next year and I would like us to avoid changing that strategy .
we must have a cease-fire immediately .
I would like to ask whether the Commission intends to use the warnings under Article 121 of the Treaty of Lisbon if a Member State does not comply or even want to comply with the ideas of the 2020 Strategy .
sub-Saharan Africa receives more international aid than any other region in the world yet poverty levels remain stubbornly high .
a similar private storage scheme was also adopted in the Republic of Ireland .
I propose in that regard that , where some increase in payments is inevitable , it is offset by significantly lower appropriations .
these measures for ensuring prevention and detection of fraud have no implication in the delivery of vital treatment to the patient but , at the same time , understand that we need to have in place new , strengthened control mechanisms very fast , because as time passes , indefinitely holding on to payments is not the best option .
it is also forcing us to deal with social inequalities in the European Union .
I also believe that Parliament should send as many election observers as possible , despite the fact that these are local elections , because the elections could represent the beginning of a new political climate in Albania .
we can therefore say in good faith that we will not succeed in achieving the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy unless we support small and medium-sized enterprises and unless we make it easier for them to make full use of the single market .
however , at the political level , we are also discussing a more ambitious target and we know that , in this regard , the sectors covered by the Emissions Trading System ( ETS ) , and energy in particular , would bear the brunt .
one of the issues of importance you have raised today is how we will proceed with the Green Paper , which will be adopted by the Commission in September .
however , there are still long waiting lists for transplants .
enhanced cooperation with the countries of origin and transit is fundamental and the dialogue with third countries should be intensified in areas such as legal immigration , migration and development , capacity building and the repatriation of people who have no need of protection .
( RO ) I , too , wish to welcome the Commission 's intention to support the Republic of Moldova .
we are already aware of the harmful effects of certain chemical substances on groundwater and rivers .
assisting developing countries in setting up fair and effective tax systems is another issue to be strengthened .
pollution of the area around airports would be greatly reduced if millions of passengers used the train or metro system to reach the airport instead of cars .
I believe this is unacceptable in the age of modern technology .
in March , we discussed here the situation in Cuba .
in this respect , I believe that there are numerous challenges to be overcome , especially with regard to law enforcement , the fight against corruption and organised crime , protection for the Serbs and other minorities , reconciliation between communities and the implementation of economic and social reforms .
indeed , the country 's development problems are far from over .
this is the 21st century and women long ago stopped being satisfied with the role of housewife and child-carer .
the Commission for Petitions regrets the fact that Directive 2006 / 114 / EC on misleading and comparative advertising , which is applicable to business-to-business transactions , seems either to fall short of providing effective counter-measures or to be insufficiently implemented by Member States .
it is , after all , unacceptable for one country to be stricter than another .
we will emphasise the need for further reforms in the Russian electricity and gas sector with a view to establishing a level playing field .
however , what I do not understand is why some people have still not opened their eyes to this topic , even after Fukushima .
my explanation is that the UK Independence Party supports the return of the grants system for the UK , and I would like to point out that it is our membership of the EU that caused it to be abolished in England and Wales in the first place .
this makes it obvious how important the World Trade Organisation ( WTO ) is .
the Council took note of the information , and took on board the information we obtained from colleagues from countries where the process of ratification of the Lisbon Reform Treaty had not yet been completed , in order to continue the process .
its effects can be seen more clearly in Poland than anywhere else .
as a result of these studies , and bearing in mind the four-year revision clause , at some point the necessary changes should be introduced through a codecision procedure , without forgetting that it is important to consult the European Data Protection Supervisor , a rule which was unfortunately not taken into account when drafting this proposal .
Madam President , in the last 12 months the majority of dairy farmers in Ireland and across the European Union have been selling their milk for less than the cost of production .
I would simply like to say one thing : in our country , we are seeing a rise in extremism , and this is doubtless because one part of the political class considers mandates and posts to be at its disposal .
( DE ) Madam President , there are four issues I would like to address very briefly .
3 ) In relation to fees review
we want people who want to come to use and develop their skills from a wide variety of countries - India , New Zealand , Ghana , China , wherever - and that is why we will not be supporting Amendment 84 , nor indeed Amendment 24 , which talks about granting Blue Cards only to those highly qualified migrants from countries with which we have previously concluded partnerships .
it forms a solid basis for further development .
I am responsible for new technology and I really believe that the majority of actions through new technology are positive ones .
surely we can vote on the oral amendments ?
just as elsewhere in the region , the EU and the High Representative herself have condemned the violence in Bahrain outright and called on the authorities and all forces present to respect fully human rights and fundamental freedoms as well as international humanitarian standards .
in the field of energy policy , Commissioner Piebalgs will shortly present proposals to build a single European energy market .
whenever we start a project , there are ex ante controls and there are ex post controls afterwards .
yesterday , I spoke with the Kazakh Foreign Minister Saudabayev , who today is visiting Bishkek as Chair-in-Office of the OSCE , and who has literally just sent me a message to say that he has completed his tasks .
here today , I am a bit dubious as well .
my thanks go to the Committee on Transport and Tourism , and in particular to Ms Ţicău .
as the rapporteur has spoken out in favour of increased supervision and assessment of internal market policies , I have not voted for the report .
our priority is to set up a new global financial architecture with more stability , more supervision and , above all , more transparency .
I think that the outcomes really do stand up to scrutiny .
conflicts and wars to gain areas still suitable to live in as well as those providing water and food should be prevented before it is too late .
he merely told us that the Commission is closely monitoring and closely following developments , and then said that hedge funds and private equity also have much positive influence , and that we should reflect on that .
the Commission will support their work as required .
that is absolutely essential to the opinion that we have delivered .
my second point is to remind you that the European Parliament insists on the importance of the European Commission supporting development and civil society projects in favour of the Tibetan population in Tibet and of Tibetan refugees in exile - in India , Nepal , Bhutan - in economic and social fields such as health and nutrition , livelihoods and education , access to jobs , gender issues , the environment and the revitalisation of settlements .
it is about benefiting citizens and businesses by simplifying and improving the regulatory environment in Europe .
Parliament later rectified this in its own version , which is a good thing .
the management policy based on TACs and quotas must leave room for effort-based management .
the report has also been successful in reducing unnecessary burdens on business that were found within the Commission 's proposal .
but it would certainly serve as a very good instrument and good indicator that those who register are prepared to respect the rules and be transparent , that they have nothing to hide and - this should be the key indicator for all of us - that they should be real partners to work with us and exchange information with us and that they have trust in our future communication .
the time has come to end the Strasbourg farce , to ensure Parliament operates only in Brussels and make a real contribution to saving public money for better reasons to spend it on .
so , one of the Commission 's priorities is to bring the benefits of the internal market closer to our European consumers and I am grateful for the support of the Parliament in this endeavour .
this is an abdication of responsibility and an open invitation to unscrupulous employers to constantly search for new forms of ' false ' self-employment to avoid the law .
after having partially dismantled the intervention tools , we have neither the right nor the legitimacy to dismantle today the production tools that we will need in the short term .
the time has come to stop observing the poverty and the difficulties of our fellow citizens and to take concrete action instead .
let us keep that .
we believe that there ought to be an open debate on this issue and that this Parliament should at least be informed about what is going on .
this approach is exemplary and I am pleased that we were able to agree on it .
this is a first step and I would like to think that many of our proposals will be adopted by the Commission as well .
they must know if the meat they eat has been fed on GMs .
I mention this because drawing up framework regulations containing minimum measures which are then followed by different laws for individual areas is , together with an increasing tendency to turn to comitology , one of the options the Commission is prepared to take if faced with the prospect of a codecision procedure on fisheries , as the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries itself freely admits in the Green Paper on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy .
I think that a single tax should be created for micro-entities , which already exists in some states .
it will need to work in close cooperation with its main partners at EU level and , in particular , with you , the European Parliament and the FEMM Committee .
we will only be able to utilise the potential of new technologies in combating cross-border crime and make the judicial system more accessible to citizens on civil and commercial matters when these prerequisites are in place .
I would also like to condemn the repressions and acts of violence committed by the security services and directed at the demonstrators .
this is a more European solution , and one that is better for the internal market .
we want to remind the Yemeni Government of its international commitments regarding the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights .
the compromise solution , albeit not perfect , means that EU funds for 2007 that have not been absorbed by programmes that have been slow to start up will , exceptionally , benefit from an extended deadline before being decommitted .
in practice , it will be the entire judicial and penal systems of the Member States that will disappear in the face of this forced harmonisation - downwards harmonisation , that is .
the law of scarce resources will eventually induce even the United States and China to save energy and avoid CO2 emissions .
there are at least two reasons .
it would be far more logical to adopt a directive on tractors enshrining general requirements and safeguards .
but there is another aspect that concerns me as well .
this report does not just encourage greater involvement of the EU in Iraq .
Mr President , if the European Union were a car , this Treaty would be about tuning that vehicle .
( ES ) Madam President , competitiveness is important , but it cannot be the only criterion .
following up on our commitment in the Roadmap for Gender Equality , in 2005 and 2006 we launched a consultation with social partners on reconciliation policies .
with more than 13 million poor people benefiting from the programme , with 19 Member States participating and with the scheme being a stable outlet for intervention products , this programme has certainly shown its value .
from an economic point of view , it is far better and three times cheaper to build an overland pipeline , rather than one on the seabed .
( PL ) Mr President , I will say it again : 100 000 cancelled flights , 10 million passengers who did not reach their destination , EUR 2 billion of losses to the airlines .
well , that is right , but it is not enough .
most countries have opened up their markets ; but a few continue with their decades-old protectionism policy , whilst they take over the markets of others at the same time .
regarding consumers , I believe that I have argued in every speech I have made over the months , and in my report too , for transparency and help for consumers , naturally without forgetting operators , who also have their merits .
innovative goods and services need to be adopted , which will target both the private and the public sector , so as to facilitate the implementation of administrative procedures , strengthen the public administration and reduce bureaucracy and the inflexibility of the public sector .
I would like to point out that the tardiness of the Commission also increases the risk that the Czech Republic will delay ratification of agreements between the Union and Canada .
so grave is the threat that it will cancel out all progress towards the goal of halving world poverty by 2015 .
the first condition ensuring that the young people of today become Europe 's citizens of tomorrow is for them to get to know one another .
we must also put an end to sex tourism .
the EU must realise that its smallest state cannot continue to absorb the vast number of immigrants seeking refuge and asylum .
the European Union is aware of the seriousness of the crisis in Chad and its regional dimension , which I have mentioned before .
( LT ) Today the principal message the European Parliament sends to the Nigerian Federal and State governments is to immediately halt executions , to declare a moratorium on the death penalty and to abolish the death penalty altogether .
as recent cases such as Microsoft and Intel have shown , the Commission will take enforcement action to ensure that competition on the merits allows , where necessary , consumers to choose between different alternatives and therefore benefit from technical developments and innovations .
it is not just a matter of instructing Baroness Ashton to speak out against the human rights abuses in China at every opportunity .
that is why the Commission decided to present an EU framework to enable the Member States to take action commensurate with the challenge they have to overcome .
( FR ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , in many respects , it is essential that we vote in favour , tomorrow , of amending the European Refugee Fund , and it is on this subject that I will focus my speech , at the same time as congratulating Mr Coelho and Mr Tavares on their deliberations and their work .
thank you very much .
author . - ( NL ) Mr President , this Parliament is rightly paying great attention to what is going on in the former Belgian colony of the Democratic Republic of Congo and in particular to the continued fighting , forcible displacement , rape and mass assassination in the east of that vast country .
this statement bears testimony to the potential for misuse of the arrest warrant by the judiciary .
as regards the Structural Funds , the situation is as follows : what is important is not only the level of resources for a particular purpose within the Structural Funds , but also the quality of application of those resources .
Mr President , this is an important amendment on which I ask for the attention of the House , because our own people and the citizens of the EU are endangered by some activities .
we all agree with the report and appreciate and value what Mr De Rossa , who has our full support , has done .
certain smart phone and device service providers trap consumers and have organised the market in such a way that they completely control users ' experience in terms of their access to software , navigating programmes and applications .
at the same time I would like to draw colleagues ' attention to some important amendments which did not feature in the previous version of the report .
otherwise , if the situation persists after 2013 , it will constitute de facto tolerance of two common agricultural policies on the territory of the EU .
I should like a clarification in this regard .
the answer to this scourge must be twofold .
unfortunately , millions of euros of aid from the EU is continuing to disappear as a result of corruption .
the agreement with Guinea is a good example of where Parliament voted against the agreement , and this points towards the route we should take in the future .
for all these reasons , we in the European Union must have a strong role in this region , as this was once a region where , for once , it was not us Europeans who were spearheading misguided developments , but others .
do you think it is acceptable that the Union has Member States where there is no constitutional court , or where there is one , but its powers are weak ?
this is the first EU budget that has been voted upon in accordance with the rules of the Treaty of Lisbon at the very first reading .
for the fourth year in a row , the government in Ankara has failed to implement the additional protocol to the association agreement , but , via its ambassadors , it is calling on the major EU Member States to resolve the Cyprus question .
I would first like to say to you that , in all conscience , I cannot allow it to be said that FRONTEX is the symbol of a fortress Europe which is closed to all those who need protection or who aspire to come to Europe .
in order to ensure consistency and fairness in resolving differences between authorities or between the different financial sectors we need to abandon unilateralism and progress towards a genuinely operational European system .
what action ?
the main problem areas are the failure to comply with the scope of the directive , delays in creating points of single contact , shortcomings in administrative cooperation and differences in mutual assessment .
are they afraid of shouldering the responsibility for creating equal opportunities for people with disabilities ?
firstly , the European Union must support and facilitate the processes of democratic change .
my group wanted to underline the importance of establishing clear conditions , achievable objectives and adequate reference parameters when the sanctions are applied .
the vote will take place shortly .
I would like the changes to the Schengen Code not to be used as a pretext for limiting the freedom of movement of citizens of the European Union 's Member States .
I fully applaud initiatives such as the Black Sea Synergy and Eastern Partnership which consolidate cooperation with the countries in the region , especially the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine , as well as states from the Caucasus and the Caspian Region .
I have been concerned about climate change throughout my 10year career as an MEP .
the decentralisation of government brings increased responsibility to regional and local authorities .
thank you .
the Commission is planning to create a legal framework next year for fund mergers .
for example , if we look at many of the new Member States of the European Union , including my own country - the Czech Republic - we see continuous attacks on everything left of centre , on everything leftist .
( SK ) Madam President , I fully agree with the demand for the assessment of the impact of all relevant bills on small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) to be performed systematically both at a national and at a European level , because these businesses are the real backbone of the European economy and , as such , provide more than 100 million jobs .
this document forms the foundation of our EU asylum regulations .
some of you have again raised the issue of the possible excessive inflow of patients from other Member States , and of how the receiving health system would be protected .
these will be delivered by research and innovation in energy technologies .
what we are doing here is creating a first instrument that will allow the citizens to make their voices heard in Brussels .
10 .
let us talk about specific progress .
however , we have reservations about certain aspects of the proposal where the rapporteur seems to have lost a sense of proportion .
we need to find the answers .
in order to achieve this , the EU must support Egypt in tackling the economic and social difficulties that it is experiencing , with a view to a lasting democratisation process that involves all of civil society .
that is clearly the case .
the application meets all of the eligibility criteria set out in the EGF Regulation , which is why I voted in favour of the mobilisation of the fund .
if I remember correctly , both organisations were founded in 1975 .
in the Committee on Budgetary Control the annual procedure is now underway - that is , we are consulting the relevant commissioners and thoroughly reviewing the documents that are now available to us .
we will only be able to find a solution through a common effort , by carrying out collective awareness raising and supporting and assisting the victims and , above all , by fighting the root causes of this phenomenon so as to help those countries involved to develop suitable legislation to combat all forms of slavery .
but migration will be manageable only when we manage the despair that leads so many to risk so much to come here .
although some truly positive elements can be found in this text , it would be totally unacceptable for the mechanism of old-age insurance to be considered through the prism of budgetary constraints , with capital-based pensions encouraged as a result .
( uproar )
( DE ) Mr President , I would suggest that our fellow Members from the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe raise their legitimate objections during the negotiations intended for that purpose .
in writing . - ( NL ) Europe and pensions , now that is a sensitive issue .
Thursday
so far so good , but the reality is often quite different .
the EU Member States that would have to contribute warships to the ' EU naval force ' are already contributing to the NATO response .
( loud applause )
when does the Commission intend to organise a European Year against Violence against Women ?
it is also very important to guarantee full transparency in connection with , and a strong political commitment to , the implementation of the fast-start financing .
foreign companies have benefited from this .
what purpose does it serve ?
for my part , I do not wish to comment , as that is not my job .
we are willing to work with the US Administration to find ways to deal with the practical issues which will arise when Guantánamo is closed , such as the resettlement of prisoners in third countries .
through immigration policy , as these regions are particularly vulnerable to immigration and the influx of illegal immigrants is creating economic and social problems there that are far beyond the local capacity to overcome them ;
no parliament in the world would accept a reduction in influence , particularly if there were no compelling practical reasons for it .
with regard to the Stability and Growth Pact , which has real sanction mechanisms , Parliament can do its work , because the package is here and we are going to revert to the Commission 's initial proposals .
the text not only reflects the findings made by the rapporteur when he visited Bulgaria and Romania , but also expresses the European Parliament 's desire to remain true to the spirit of Europe .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( GA ) Mr President , in October last year , the world was witness to thousands of Buddhist monks and members of the public marching through the streets of Rangoon demanding freedom and reform from Burma 's unjust and violent military regime .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , I too would like to start by expressing warm thanks to Mrs Oomen-Ruijten for the good cooperation , which was just as constructive this time as it was last autumn .
my proposal is to support the positions recalling both the Convention on , and the Declaration of , the Rights of the Child , and to delete paragraph 1 , which is irrelevant at the present time and therefore inappropriate for Europe 's highest House .
the vote will take place on Tuesday at 12 noon .
it is also working closely with the Commission and Parliament .
the Polledo report has been a failure .
we should , however , require courage from Pakistani politicians and , in particular , from the opposition , for example , the Pakistan Muslim League , which is blocking government reform of the code .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , since the trans-European transport network policy was established 15 years ago , it has contributed significantly to the functioning of the internal market and to economic , social and territorial cohesion .
lapsed written declarations : see Minutes
the recipe of our political group is therefore to use all available international instruments rather than to create new ones .
I believe that all the EU Member States should adopt action plans of this kind .
but it is necessary to develop and maintain a long-term strategy and vision , accompanied by a thorough cost-benefit analysis .
on the subject of subcontracting - Article 9 , which was the subject of discussion between Parliament and the Council and within the Council itself - your rapporteur would have like to extend liability to the whole contracting chain , as the Commission had originally proposed .
I think that the new proposal put forward by the European Commission in May 2007 , which is intended to provide incentives for the withdrawal of almost 3.8 million tonnes of sugar from the EU market , will again fail to bring about the anticipated results .
this is the case for those who worked in the 49 enterprises in the furniture manufacturing sector , where redundant workers will be paid EUR 662 088 from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund , as well as for those who worked in the 45 enterprises in the wearing apparel manufacturing sector , where the sum is EUR 523 481 .
I tell you straight , Commissioner : I do not find the proposals that have been stated here adequate for resolving the problem confronting us .
that is why I voted as I did .
Member of the Commission . - We know the problem and have applied new regulations and implementing rules to these questions .
I also think that the EU budget should fulfil a role as the main mechanism for boosting and restoring growth and employment .
smart growth , sustainable growth and inclusive growth are the priorities proposed in the new strategy , and they define where the EU wants to be by 2020 .
already at that time we decided that we must examine our relations with the southern neighbourhood .
a similar pillar of the Community legal system will be our accession to the European Convention on Human Rights , a process that is currently under way , but the system of human rights guarantees enshrined in the Member States ' own legal systems will remain a similar pillar .
when we had our discussions with him , given that I have met with him on two occasions , he said that - actually we should not go into that discussion because I would certainly be biased and I do not have enough information - but he said that he had been obliged to respond to the provocation .
I am glad that the Commissioner for Agriculture is here to listen to me because maybe it is at a time of crisis that Europe can actually rise to the challenge .
rules to ensure the long-term sustainability of our way of life .
when food aid is offered but not properly thought out , it can violate the primo non nocere principle : ' do not harm ' .
it allowed the extrapolation from a major species to a minor species of the same family , ruminant to ruminant , fish to fish , chicken to other poultry .
to achieve this it is sometimes necessary to surpass oneself .
we must also ensure that part of the revenue collected is actually allocated to infrastructure and trans-European transport network projects as indicated .
Mr President , we also wish to expand on the arrangements for the association agreements - in which we must have faith and believe - with the Mercosur Customs Union , with the Andean Community and with Central America , so that they can b concluded as quickly as possible , and especially within this parliamentary term , to allow the House to issue its mandatory consent .
Mr President , I admit that I am both confused and also quite sad and disappointed .
this should be all-inclusive , in the sense that it should cover domestic violence and genital mutilation , but also some more insidious forms .
a necessary component of effective enforcement is that the courts may , as an interim measure , act swiftly to order disclosure and freezing of the debtor 's assets .
these are measures that involve changes , but they are also a genuine , decisive stimulus for economic growth through job creation .
( PL ) Mr President , we have spent most of our time discussing the crisis in Greece , and quite rightly so , for it is an enormous problem .
this report takes us in the right direction to confirm this conviction , while clearly expressing full respect for national competence over the quantitative aspects and flows of migrants .
the proposed penalty options will initially apply only to the countries of the euro area .
the number of complaints registered in 2008 , considered inadmissible , is extremely high and is on the rise compared with previous years .
the recommendations contained in Mr Van Hecke 's excellent report , which I fully endorse , certainly go in the right direction .
I think that we should have a very serious debate on this at some point in the future and that we should seek a common solution in this area , because this is a question of democracy .
some in our Group say no to all this .
all this has sown instability and decline in Europe .
the European political establishment 's handling of the Treaty of Lisbon will go down to posterity as a disgrace in two respects : firstly , with regard to the political process for pushing it through and , secondly , with regard to the actual purpose of the treaty and its content .
finally , I would like to congratulate Mrs Laperrouze for her report and I hope that it will be supported by the vast majority of our fellow Members .
( applause )
we therefore obviously need to reduce emissions from transport .
secondly , in the last two years , less than 4 000 people have arrived on Italy 's shores , thanks to bilateral agreements with Libya and Tunisia .
( DE ) Mr President , before the vote , I would like to point out a problem which affects the vote and which may need to be discussed and resolved .
this proposal aims to codify Council Directive 87 / 404 / EEC of 25 June 1987 on the harmonization of the laws of the Member States relating to simple pressure vessels .
moreover , 19 December saw the entry into force of the visa-free regime , in accordance with the Schengen system , for citizens of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia .
you could not say it more succinctly .
it also expands the application of sanctions and payment of fines to Member States that do not meet any of the requirements imposed on them .
in no case has the result of a vote been affected , as the majorities have not changed .
it has failed to actively engage and connect with the citizens .
the honourable Members will see that strong political commitment is being shown by the EU 's institutions , and particularly by the Commission , to fundamental rights and freedom of information , of expression and of the media .
just a few weeks ago here in this House , many of us pledged our solidarity with Greece .
however , I believe greater reflection would be advisable , as hasty standardisation could lead to more disruption and legal uncertainty than benefits .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner , ladies and gentlemen , I think that what the Commissioner said , namely that a military solution is not possible , needs to be reported on the front pages in Sri Lanka .
if you think I am wrong , prove me wrong : hold the referendums you promised , put the Treaty of Lisbon to the people .
accordingly , we in Parliament still have work to do on this dossier , and I would like to take this opportunity to emphasise that point .
economic and social development is dynamic in today 's world , therefore statistical data should be presented in a more effective manner , so that decisions can be taken more quickly .
more attention must be given to initiatives such as the Bologna Process and the Comenius , Erasmus and Leonardo da Vinci programmes , which make it possible to study abroad and emphasise the importance of professional mobility in the future .
in writing . - We agree that children should be protected from sex predators , cyber bullying and other dangers on the internet .
it is of course open to discussion as to what classes of accidents are to be compulsorily investigated in accordance with the methodology adopted and as to how precisely the organisational independence of the investigative body is to be defined .
the perpetrators belong to a local militia and some local police officers were involved .
how can new ministers , such as the ministers for transport and for regional development , who have no European experience , cope successfully with the European agenda and preside over the European Council ?
it is true that , at the end of a long night of negotiations , which lasted from 19 : 00 to 07 : 00 , there was huge disappointment .
we , who have involuntarily spent the greater part of our lives witnessing how the free exchange of ideas is a basic precondition for a healthy democracy , believe that this precondition will be honoured and respected in the future as well .
it is the case that a failure of the euro could be extraordinarily costly for all of us in this globalised system , and I want to spell out that my country - which sometimes depicts itself as if it had to make major sacrifices - is the main beneficiary or joint main beneficiary of the euro .
a number of potato farmers have written to me recently because they have been very badly affected by the very high levels of rainfall in recent weeks as well .
victory for the democratic forces , currently united in the Alliance for European Integration , guarantees the continuation of the progress made during the last year - progress towards democratic government , rights and human wellbeing .
I am advised that it has been ruled on and only certain amendments have been declared admissible , as is normal in any House .
the so-called secret detention and transportation programme by the United States or the alleged CIA use of European countries to transport and illegally detain prisoners has been , without a doubt , a source of concern for many Members of this House .
while principles such as free trade are sacrosanct , the economic interests of European workers , it seems , are dispensable .
the next item is the vote .
thirdly , ACTA provides a balanced agreement , which replies to the four main concerns expressed by Members , for the following four reasons .
we certainly did not adopt our position in the face of the principle of the inviolability of human rights underlying the resolution , which we wholeheartedly subscribe to .
as such , it is a fundamental step that had to be taken and must be taken as rapidly as possible .
and we needed to complement it with greater inclusion of citizens in this process , through this instrument of participatory democracy .
it is important for consumers to be able to make their purchases in full knowledge of the facts , and for them not to purchase leather or fur inadvertently as is the case , in particular , when fur is used as trimming on cheap clothing .
ladies and gentlemen , I am , of course , going to tell Mr Nassauer that he is quite correct .
I am confident that , once the new rules come into force , regulation of the feed market will be significantly improved , in the interests of both feed manufacturers and users .
the climate issue is not just hype , and I also note that , fortunately , it is enshrined in the EU 2020 strategy of the new Commission .
on the basis of this , the government was encouraged to explain its own reform plan or , if need be , complete it or go into more detail ; to demonstrate the relevance , ambition and credibility of these reforms on the basis of three evaluation criteria , which then allowed the level of financial incentive for each country to be determined .
surveillance of budgetary positions and surveillance and coordination of economic policies (
let me start with Croatia .
the powers of comprehension on the part of the Finns should not be underestimated either , not even those of the supporters of the True Finns Party .
the report is also brimming with a great many other points with which I fundamentally disagree .
the next item is a brief presentation of the report by Mr Medina Ortega , on behalf of the Committee on Legal Affairs , on better lawmaking 2006 pursuant to Article 9 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsididarity and proportionality ..
however , in my opinion , ' throughout Europe ' does not necessarily mean ' from within Europe ' .
lobbyists who behave unethically must be publicly exposed and it must be possible for them to be barred .
Mrs Bozkurt mentioned the issue of hotlines and I think it is a good idea , though it is not so easy to achieve .
this was the first time that 115 Heads of State or Government met to discuss climate change .
I was intrigued just now to hear Mr Hannan from the Conservative Party suggesting this should be a matter of national discussion and democracy .
the role of permanent President is to enhance a shared sense of direction : nothing more , nothing less .
first of all , the Commission welcomes Parliament 's support for a mixed approach to the review , consisting of a combination of horizontal instrument-regulating aspects which some different directives have in common , and maintaining specific aspects in sectoral directives .
( FR ) Mr President , I would like to ask my fellow Members something .
however , I think that more must be invested in modernising the infrastructure for producing and transporting electrical energy .
it is important to stress that the presence of a nearby desert has no bearing on desertification .
I admit that the leakage is fuelling speculation and causing a deterioration in the conditions for a potential recovery in Greece .
the Commission knows this .
if we just take stock of the interim situation with regard to the three 20 % targets that we have been set - CO2 , renewable energies in the energy mix and greater energy efficiency : with regard to CO2 and renewable energies , we are making good progress , but where energy efficiency is concerned , we are just beginning .
it should be said that the negotiations currently under way between the leaders of the two communities on the island are positive and that a better atmosphere of trust has been established .
that is why the Commission can support the amendments put forward in Mrs Angelilli 's report .
the next item is the report by Pier Antonio Panzeri , on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs , on stepping up the fight against undeclared work .
in writing . - We recognise the different concerns of our various allies .
the earthquake region of Sichuan must be converted into an open-air laboratory where potential solutions can be tested out and the findings used for the reconstruction of that province .
however , during the negotiations , the European executive must strive to encourage an ambitious trade agreement , which will support fair trade and contain legally binding social and environmental protection elements .
this will create jobs and it will create consumption .
will any of this be taken into consideration in your impact assessments ?
we say ' yes ' to the ecological restructuring of our economy and society ; we are completely on your side here and will translate this into action .
it is also clear today that the same applies to the Commission and its President , who has demonstrated that he is not beholden to the Council or Parliament , but is working for European interests , contrary to the claims of the socialists and Mrs Ferreira .
several speakers have stated that skills and the quality of education and vocational training have a decisive impact on the future position of both individuals and social groups and need to be constantly improved .
it does not matter whether we choose to call it intelligent , sustainable or inclusive , we are now in the grip of a crisis in Europe that will not come to an end tomorrow .
the aim is to prevent duplication and to ensure that all those responsible for delivering EU external policy work effectively together , and the Commission will also continue to have services responsible for trade , development policy , aid implementation , humanitarian aid and enlargement .
we hope that all this does not simply end up as another propaganda campaign and that agreement can be reached in the Council to make the necessary funds available so that it can effectively applied in all countries .
it is important that all the additional Members enter Parliament at the same time , in order for our institution to avoid accusations of functioning improperly .
in this connection I have a question , which the rapporteur also referred to , concerning the extent to which it is in the interests of the states involved in the programme for other Member States to be covered by the funding of the Seventh Framework Programme , when this funding remains unchanged .
the vote will take place tomorrow .
it is essential that the Council should accept the text that leaves the Chamber in full if it is compliant with the agreed amendments .
I would like to stress that my ' yes ' vote for this report is not an expression of support for the common agricultural policy itself .
therefore we need to act , and act immediately ; and I am very pleased that the Commission has acted swiftly - and well - by taking some palliative measures , reducing the set-aside for 2008 to zero .
the common market should bring us greater competition and energy security , which is what our customers are eagerly awaiting in particular .
this also means that it contravenes our Rules of Procedure , which cannot be accepted under any circumstances .
one directive that affects that is the Electromagnetic Fields Directive and I know the Commission has been looking at this .
the debate is closed .
I voted in favour of this report in particular because it contributes to two essential points : improving the information available , which facilitates a more environmentally friendly choice of tyres , and the fact that , by making such a choice , we will be contributing to greater energy efficiency , given that tyres are responsible for 20 to 30 % of the total energy use of vehicles .
we do not forget that in the Europe which teaches tolerance and democracy , acts of violence will never be acceptable .
in general Members from the big Member States have understood this , at least those in my group .
this is one of the assertions Russian diplomats love to make .
the Eastern Partnership and the Euronest Assembly are a good platform for such an engagement , and I feel that there is a new wind coming from Azerbaijan , a renewed wish for political dialogue .
the measures have not yet been implemented , however , and they , too , require high levels of investment and will make vehicles more expensive .
combating tax evasion (
this must play a key role not only in the forthcoming programming period , but also in every phase of devising and implementing the Europe 2020 strategy .
the Armenian genocide is a historical truth .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , there is no doubt that the inviolability of human rights is the real essence of all societies , which indeed gives rise to democratic values .
in writing . - ( PT ) Although the European internal market is huge , the world market , opened up due to globalisation , is even larger and more dynamic .
patients must have the right to obtain complete , correct information about medicines .
I can see the internal consistency of what you are saying as a Euro-integrationalist , which I am not .
in writing . - ( NL ) A strong common agricultural policy with appropriate resources is necessary to ensure food safety .
the same applies to the judiciary and the particularly important chapter concerning the judicial system that has not yet been negotiated .
I do not quite understand the premise of the question , because any examination of DG Trade 's website will be able to yield the information that the Member wants about cases that are currently being initiated and investigated and on which proposals will be brought forward in the ordinary way .
there are still many species in Europe that are waiting to be discovered and described .
I have read the legislation for ' Buy American ' .
there is continuity , due to the election of Mr Barroso , which we opposed - although you , of course , gave him your support - and we think that this continuity is damaging to the European model .
we Hungarians are all too aware of this , as the ailments of the Hungarian economy have been caused by the very fact that we have the lowest employment rate throughout Europe , in all the European Union .
yes , we do also encourage industry with different types of incentives , but if the public funds and European funds will not follow in accordance with our political priorities , then the plan will not be successful .
it proves too , in a way , that we are making progress on European integration .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , it says a great deal that the new bilateral strategic partnership with Brazil has been brought about under the Portuguese Presidency .
Mr President , would you trust an economic forecaster who had recently said this : ' the euro has done more to enforce budgetary discipline in the rest of Europe than any number of exhortations from the IMF or the OECD ' ? or this : ' the euro has already provided great internal stability for the eurozone ' ?
now the third dimension .
he identified several priorities , on which I would like to spend a few moments in my remarks .
finally , Madam President , we cannot ignore the fact , either , that we must also be able to negotiate with the United States - particularly with regard to the price of wheat , which is fixed in Chicago - because we are dealing with a global issue and not just a European one .
a High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy would be appointed , who would not just be based in the Council but would also be a Vice-President of the Commission .
in some countries , a good structure has been set up across the whole chain , whereas in other countries , health care systems are experiencing enormous difficulties and transplants are more likely to come under the heading of ' exotic medicine ' .
it has been argued that keeping quotas makes prices high so we can keep farmers in business .
on behalf of the EFD Group . - Mr President , it is not very often that I find myself agreeing with something said by the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs .
as a result , I was unable to vote in favour of the report either in committee or in plenary .
finally , I support the fact that the future common immigration policy should devote special attention to the position of ORs , which are all EU external borders .
my country 's new constitution is proud to guarantee a strong constitutional protection .
the debate is closed .
I am therefore particularly pleased to see that the Commission is willing to examine this case .
I also ask you to make your influence count to ensure that the auxiliary troops there can provide humanitarian assistance .
I commend the CoR for the consistently high quality of its Annual Activity Reports , and welcome the inclusion of the follow-up to the Parliament 's previous discharge decisions .
current unemployment levels , particularly among young people , are worrying and more needs to be done to ensure that young people are able to gain vital skills and qualifications .
Madam President , I would like to congratulate the rapporteur , Mr Stockmann , for his excellent work : he has described very well the content of a text , a proposal for a directive , that we are about to adopt .
there may be other reasons , but not the ones being given .
( DE ) Madam President .
in total , for the period 2007-2013 , EUR 9 billion from cohesion policy funds will be directly invested in sustainable energy initiatives in the EU .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , firstly I would like to thank you for your support .
in this report , the rapporteur builds on the work of the previous rapporteur by adding new elements to be regulated by the regulatory procedure with scrutiny .
once we have adopted the Stockholm Programme , you will be involved in the important work that needs to be done in implementing and dealing with the details of the various proposals .
it reminded me that the European Union is capable of regaining the support of its citizens by leading a truly efficient campaign against global climate change .
they must be adequately protected .
amid countless difficulties he attempted to bring democracy to the country , dismantling the old post-Soviet diplomacy and opening up to the West , NATO and the EU .
the debate is closed .
such measures are necessary in Sweden and Germany , for example , but we also need measures at European level .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I will be really very brief , not least because I completely agree with what both Mr Tajani and Mr López Garrido said .
the pilot project used participants who are self-employed or who want to go self-employed , and they were supported for a year along the path to self-employment .
however , I am not happy that this very toxic sludge - the television reports have included images of people who have burns as a consequence of coming into contact with the sludge - is to be classified as inert waste .
the revival of fair and free world trade is something that Doha can , and indeed must , achieve .
nevertheless , allow me a reformulation that is not a figure of speech .
the Stability and Growth Pact and the entire framework for economic governance should be compatible with the Union 's strategy for growth and jobs , and should complete it .
the Charter on the Freedom of the Press initiated by the European journalist community is an important reaffirmation of the basic values enshrined in fundamental legal texts such as the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights .
in writing . - I welcome this report which is the sister of the report on the issuance of visas between the EU and Georgia .
though Mrs Kroes also seems satisfied with these changes , the European Parliament considers that the Commission only focused on a few technical aspects to the detriment of the Charter of Fundamental Rights .
it should be adopted by the Council of Health Ministers .
this ranges from the amendment of the Posting of Workers Directive to the Social Chapter , which in addition to the treaties , in addition to Lisbon , should also clearly set out the social dimension of this Europe .
if , however , this is merely an argument about procedure , the vote in favour of Amendment 812 did not necessarily imply that Amendment 70 had lapsed .
unfortunately , this report deals in generalities and does not contain any effective strategies for combating these dangers .
in this context , the establishment of a new TRT channel broadcasting in the Kurdish language is a step forward .
meanwhile , the European Union should concentrate on guaranteeing gas supplies from non-Russian sources : it should do more to promote the Nabucco pipeline from Azerbaijan , and it should invest in gas terminals and research into extracting shale gas .
there is no doubt that even more must be done , especially as regards the fight against corruption , but the fact remains that the country is making significant headway in its path to membership of the European Union .
I voted for the resolution on labelling of tyres with respect to fuel efficiency .
according to the Commission 's report , the declining financial impact of irregularities in 2008 indicates that some of the legislative and institutional measures aimed at discouraging fraud were implemented successfully by Member States .
apart from the many positive developments , efforts must continue to be made to eradicate ethnically incited violent crimes and the ever-increasing incidence of beatings against Hungarians from Vojvodina completely .
today , our Parliament is paying special attention to the current situation by adopting a resolution only on Ashraf .
we cannot demand something that involves a level of cost and bureaucracy that cannot be assumed by the food-producing sector , nor can we demand something that we are not capable of imposing upon third parties .
for historical , political and cultural reasons , this relationship has always oscillated between trust and suspicion , between attraction and repulsion .
in the long-term perspective , it is essential to develop a new strategy for the entire region .
we can move forward , provided that the European Council later this month gives support to these proposals .
EUR 26 billion has been programmed for the first three years .
far more than that , in the struggle between two systems , in which freedom and democracy were pitted against dictatorship and oppression of the individual , it proved to be the stronger and the more successful vision .
in writing . - ( SV ) As always when one votes on a budget the size of the EU 's , there are details about which one has reservations .
in fact , there would be no aerospace industry without massive public intervention and support .
rapporteur . - ( NL ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I think that we have indeed had a good debate tonight .
however , the creation of an information monitoring authority , whose council would be politically controlled exclusively by members of the ruling party , runs the risk of exercising a biased , centralised political control that would inevitably lead to censorship and , even worse , self-censorship .
the debate is closed .
yet the practicalities of an agreement with a state the size of Congo create all sorts of daunting problems .
democratic values and principles along with human rights are fundamental principles for EU Member States .
animal testing is avoided but people gain proper information about the chemicals so that they can take the correct action to protect themselves against them .
this is why I have voted in favour of this resolution .
naturally we condemn this fraud and endorse intergovernmental cooperation between the relevant national agencies .
I attach very great importance to the word ' priority ' , as that means putting things in rank order .
but the real tragedy is this : we saw not a single national leader return home flying the flag for Europe .
this is also the first building block of our asylum package - the first of six pieces of legislation - and is a first step towards our joint aim of achieving a common European asylum system by 2012 .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Mr President , as the Commissioner has said , he agrees with this resolution , and it reiterates everything that the EU-India Free Trade Agreement could encourage - investment , the elimination of tariffs , non-tariff barriers , etc .
the European Parliament must strongly condemn such actions , which reveal the ugly and oppressive face of the Turkish occupation of the northern part of Cyprus , in violation of European law and human rights and the Third Vienna agreement of 1975 .
of course , this is only a start .
one is to increase the reduction for cars , in order to compensate for the emissions from commercial vehicles .
both of these fundamental elements - and , incidentally , fundamental promises - will be destroyed if the two reports are adopted .
in writing . - ( PT ) The causes of rising food prices in the European Union and developing countries vary , but we cannot ignore the contribution of the CAP and of agriculture being diverted towards biofuel production .
this meaning is the general interest of all Europeans .
rarely had the challenges been so important and the difficulties so crucial to overcome .
( DE ) Mr President , yes , there have been a number of e-mails but there has also been lobbying by the Israeli Embassy .
the second pillar relates to cooperation between the Member States , which is essential , as in many other areas .
the expansion of regional economic cooperation appears to be especially significant in this context , as also is the prospect of membership for states in the region .
the problem was not resolved , however , and following a conciliation procedure between Parliament and the Council , the Commission was invited to weigh up the pros and cons of extending working time rules to self-employed workers and thus present a proposal in 2008 .
the argument that biofuels would bring only environmental benefits and offer major agricultural and industrial development to European countries has collapsed .
it is a question of certain elementary standards - I would even say human standards - and not European ones .
( PT ) Madam President , Prime Minister Fischer declared that the Czech Presidency was very successful .
across Europe , the process of modernising education and training systems is largely driven by the search for greater efficiency in terms of cost-effectiveness .
a real deepening of the Single Market benefiting citizens , business and European competitiveness must be strengthened by creating infrastructure projects that have added value for the whole of Europe , and which are funded and managed at EU level in order to ensure our energy independence and security .
however , for many people , the WTO is still something of a puzzle .
there was a wave of arrests of Democratic Society Party ( DTP ) members , and the threat of arrest still hangs over members of the Turkish Parliament .
you are right , Mr Grech , to warn against the fragility of the internal market : nothing is set in stone .
to face this new threat , we need to harmonise legislation , boost law enforcement and strengthen cooperation in police work .
this is really an investment , and its nature therefore probably also responds to some of the calls by those who are now demonstrating outside Parliament and the Berlaymont building .
in our view , if consumers wish to be aware of their rights and thus well informed , they need to be sent a copy of a charter enumerating their existing rights clearly and comprehensibly when concluding contracts .
the next item is the explanations of vote .
the Union has also underlined that full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia ( ICTY ) , including access to documents , is essential .
I can assure you that there will be no dissenting votes tomorrow from our group and we shall all be voting in favour of it .
in the area of housing , work and industry , it is existing buildings where we have the most to do .
finally , the Commission must work to relax financial regulation .
this is a historic and unique opportunity for China to demonstrate its willingness to improve its human rights record to the world but in my opinion we are not seeing sufficient progress in this regard .
it may be that the Commission and the Council will decide to freeze derivatives , at least to propose it at world level , and to suspend trading in these commodities .
it is absolutely vital that we do not see this Eastern Partnership as a tool to use against Russia , but rather as a strengthening of the countries which , in terms of neighbours , have the European Union on one side and Russia on the other , as - all being well - Russia should become our partner , particularly with regard to this policy .
as far as the Blue Card is concerned , I would like to change the outcome of the vote of the committee responsible tomorrow in order to open up the European labour market not only to migrants from countries with which we already have partnership agreements .
therefore , today I would also like to put forward an amendment proposal , which I understand that the Commission is prepared to support .
this will make it easier to shoulder a problem in which we would otherwise have been held to ransom by old-school politics and would have needed to raise the spectre of Mr Berlusconi to feel absolved from our mistakes .
immigration naturally brings us to a universal value , which some of you have mentioned : mobility among peoples .
the Belgian Presidency has been very helpful in tabling a paper to the Council , in which it promotes the use of correlation tables , emphasising that they help clarity and transparency and will make the application of EU law quicker and more effective .
if we want to implement genuine democratic reforms , then economic reforms will also be necessary , and that is not going to be easy .
the normal approach is to try to influence these processes , to prevent their negative impact .
that is why I welcome the approach taken by the Slovenian Presidency , because I too consider that closer cooperation between customs and border control authorities is required to improve the existing method of managing the Union 's borders .
in parallel , we will pursue our holistic approach with a view to achieving a genuine internal market for rail .
( DE ) Mr President , the contrast is striking !
in particular , in consideration of the current financial and economic crisis , we want the same supervisory regulations to apply to the EIB as to all other commercial banks , because without real supervisory control , the EIB cannot be a credible player on the credit market .
last but not least , we must take measures to encourage the private sector 's involvement in European projects .
I have now been overlooked for the second time , even though I asked for the floor in plenty of time .
we have long complained that there are too many complaints being made to that office which do not relate to its function .
if only for this reason , Mr Barroso 's plan is no more than the sum of national efforts accompanied by promises of greater tolerance of budget deficits and state aid regulations .
I think that the European Union , the European Commission , must also play its part by revisiting the agreements made at the time of accession , particularly those concerning improving the situation of the Roma .
Mr President , the imminent closure of Independent Network News , a Dublin-based news agency providing a first-rate national and international news service to the majority of Ireland 's local radio stations , raises serious and legitimate questions about the ownership , plurality and regulation of the media in Ireland .
composition of committees and delegations : see Minutes
indeed it will be sui generis as there is no model to follow .
this judgment requires the development , definition and implementation of a unitary strategy and common commitment .
Mr President , thank you for giving me the floor .
2 .
these plans have naturally met with opposition from local residents in many areas ( Lefkimi , Grammatiko and especially Keratea ) , who are forced to accept this ' least and last desirable ' solution .
does society not understand politicians ?
the governments of the so-called new EU countries have pointed out that , thanks to quarterly statistics , they will have at their disposal a common system of indicators which is essential for monitoring the employment market .
I know she is going back to a very interesting position in Finland .
Mr President , we have over the holiday break seen a number of very worrying developments in Pakistan , not least , of course , the assassination of Benazir Bhutto .
in writing . - ( DA ) We have voted in favour of the motion for a resolution on rising food prices .
we share your view that competition is essential to ensure a level playing field in the single market and to promote a sustainable exit from the crisis .
now the Commission and the European Council are coming to us with a proposal that is more of the same : a weak agreement that makes reference to Articles 121 and 136 of the Treaty .
the second was that the Council refused to provide any comprehensive written answers .
- ( SK ) The Commission proposals for monitoring the health of the common agricultural policy ( CAP ) were formulated under conditions quite different from those under which we find ourselves today .
also , neither party has planned for a possible cooperation in this area .
without doubt , it will continue in great depth within the framework of the so-called common agricultural policy health check .
the European Union is still the only region in the world to have limited its emissions by law .
we have made satisfactory progress in the context of the task force and achieved convergence towards the Commission 's initiatives to reinforce economic governance , notably focusing on prevention and pre-emptive action , putting an emphasis on debt sustainability , agreeing a method to address macro-economic imbalances and establish an effective enforcement mechanism .
they were badly needed .
is it the wolves in the Pyrenees or the Alps that are eating up the shepherds , or lamb imported from New Zealand ?
that is the key point : disaster management must be organised on a decentralised basis .
I will be presenting these details - the basics of what we will be proposing in the very short term - to Council on Tuesday next week in Luxembourg .
I would like to remind you that this bureau never has worked properly , particularly as the original idea for it came from the executive authorities .
( SL ) Madam President , allow me to join in the chorus of praise for rapporteur Swoboda 's approach and work .
that is why we have emphatically backed all the amendments and all the work done by everyone - including the Socialist Group , the GUE / NGL Group and the Liberal Group - on those amendments and texts aimed at improving the situation and enhancing transparency .
one difference certainly exists compared to the United States .
successive appeals and resolutions have not been effective .
rapporteur . - Madam President , I fully appreciate your presence in the plenary this evening .
in writing . - I voted to oppose the removal of the Parliamentary immunity of Bruno Gollnisch because : 1 .
what we need , and the euro crisis proved this , is convergence in our social and fiscal policies .
both the Iranian Government and the opposition are supporting the voices on the streets .
Chad has also been included as a country to be followed up in view of a possible EU election observation mission in 2009 , if all conditions for such a deployment are met .
I believe that improving Directive 92 / 85 provides a solution to a genuine , serious problem which Europe is facing .
we have had a very broad foundation process and I would like to thank the Commission - first Mrs Hübner and now Commissioner Samecki - for the work they have put in .
women also take more career breaks , for example , when they have children and take time off to bring them up .
I have always observed the law .
can they count on greater financial resources , which will allow them to catch up with the Member States of the old Union more quickly ?
in writing . - ( RO ) I would like to welcome the conclusions of the European Council meeting of 15 and 16 October 2008 concerning the need to redefine the European Union 's policy on its eastern neighbours , in particular with regard to the Republic of Moldova .
research infrastructures are playing an increasingly important role in the advancement of knowledge and technology by offering unique research services to users in different countries .
the universal values that the EU wants to spread throughout the world include the right of every person to a dignified life .
we approve its key message : there will be no military solution .
hence we believe that European funds should not be released until something is done to improve the situation .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , I think I do not need to add much to what Monica Frassoni , Graham Watson and Martin Schulz have said .
we need clarity as to how this can be addressed within the WTO rules , because farmers in Europe want access to the best technologies available to them to be more productive .
if we continue to look the other way - particularly now with the highly charged events happening in Tunisia and the consequences for the entire region - we shall only aggravate the security situation in the Sahel and deliver another cornered , desperate generation to criminal and terrorist organisations like al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb , which are already at large in the region .
environmental economic accounts should contribute to policy evaluation , particularly by making available data concerning the environmental impact of economic activities .
we are saying that it was not nuclear energy , it was Japan that was not safe .
I think that it is high time to move away from these dilemmatic Manichaeisms and to make clear points concerning our wish to engage in a constructive and efficient dialogue with Russia .
this is not a true European policy .
the EU wants its own soldiers , guns , tanks , aeroplanes and bombs in order to ' fulfil its responsibilities in the world ' .
( FR ) Mr President , the following is an extract from a letter written by William Bourdon , Taoufik Ben Brik 's lawyer , to Mr Sarkozy , President of the French Republic : ' I have had the opportunity to denounce , as all his Tunisian lawyers have done , the legal farce which has resulted in Taoufik Ben Brik being sentenced , without in-depth examination , to a staggering six months in prison .
( FI ) Madam President , let us get back to the point .
in many policy areas , such as the environment and transport , there is no dispute as to what may be regarded as delegated acts .
the EU needs to improve cooperation , independence and transparency in the management of future pandemic crises .
we are faced with an example of these ' two faces ' , the true one and its mask , in this case the latter .
this charitable remedy ( the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ) that is being proposed will not make people forget that the European Union is , in fact , directly responsible for the tragedy being suffered by the redundant employees , because of its choice of free and fair competition .
the fact that these three major topics have been ignored or systematically rejected by our partners in Chişinău will actually indicate to us that the European Union has been turned down flat by Moldova when it came to matters of fundamental importance to the future of this country .
we do not believe it is a good idea to prepare the Lisbon Strategy and to review it without careful reflection , without self-criticism and without a genuine consultation process , such as the one called for by the trade unions and the Social Platform , because the Lisbon Strategy is very important for all of us and for the perspective of the European Union .
harmonisation of technical requirements and administrative procedures in the field of civil aviation ( vote )
I will conclude by saying that the problem mainly concerns the United States of America .
I did not want to abuse the catch-the-eye system on a different debate , which was an important issue on the death penalty .
Nazism and communism are ideologies that were actually inspired by older ideologies .
while the report is welcome , certain areas remain unclear ; for example , whether existing wilderness areas or potential future wilderness areas are being discussed .
in this context , it is essential to strengthen European consumer protection policy and to render it more effective and meaningful for the public .
that demonstrates a lack of responsibility with regard to European policy .
we would also say that the Roma cannot be regarded as a typical national minority , such as the Hungarians in Slovakia or the Russians in the Baltic States .
this is why I am asking President Klaus to clear the way for the treaty which has been ratified in all 27 countries .
agreements are agreements , and cannot be impositions .
secondly , what were the differences , if it is possible for us to identify them , which prompted the ECB not to endorse all the recommendations of the report compiled by the task force led by Mr Van Rompuy ?
it is with these thoughts that we shall decide on our stand in the vote tomorrow .
a lot of people experience this area as a prison , where they have no contact with the outside world .
the Commission has closely analysed both the report and the amendments proposed for this debate with great interest , and we have taken note of the fact that the report specifically supports extending the deadline for closing uncompetitive mines to 2018 .
we must condemn the detention conditions he has been subjected to , as well as the failure to respect his basic human rights during the proceedings .
it has been at 30-40 % for years .
the promise of involvement in international negotiations was also in the 2005 agreement , and Parliament has been treated with disdain .
we must realise that nobody who treats Russia and the Russians like a normal society and a normal civilised western state can understand that country .
this is the first injustice .
ladies and gentlemen , I think that this is headline news .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to raise a point of order : without wishing to interfere with the procedure , I would like to know if there is a rule by which it is compulsory each time to state , as well as the result , the number of voters , the number of abstentions and so on , or whether this is your own choice .
that is why it is particularly important to put forward ways to combat the exclusion of the Roma and to promote their genuine integration in the societies in which they live , and to take concrete measures to that end which are based on serious and detailed studies of the issue .
the new agreement refers to the need to create a European TFTP ( Terrorist Finance Tracking Program ) .
I will finish by thanking the shadow rapporteurs for the way they worked on this report .
investments related to environment protection are also extremely important .
the creation of an area of freedom , security and justice is inconceivable without a ban on all forms of discrimination .
the opening of the European School System is in line with the European Parliament 's wish to ensure that this would be possible both in places where an EU decentralised agency is located ( so-called ' type-II schools ' ) , and in locations without a direct EU presence ( so-called ' type-III schools ' ) .
in this regard , unlike in the current regulation , it would seem important for institutional talks on these subject areas to be introduced .
I hope the perpetrators of this crime will quickly be apprehended and duly punished .
it is hard to understand the lack of awareness of the need to have a single anti-discrimination law which would protect the equal treatment of all people and not just of select social groups .
can the Commission definitely state that cloning humans , in whatever form , is not and will not be part of this strategy ?
however , in this case , the impact is small because China has only 14 % of the EU market .
the French authorities are currently carrying out an assessment of the damage and of its repercussions for the economy and the living conditions of the population .
does the Council share this unequivocal position adopted by the Commission ?
one could suggest that we wait and see what happens and then make the necessary adjustments , and I would agree with them if this development were not reinforced by the procedures and the unanimity .
the imposed restrictions on media , including the Internet , are unacceptable and I urge the Egyptian authorities to restore all communication networks without delay .
well , in the experts ' opinion , the disaster at Kolontár was the result of uninhibited profit making and a serious breach of technological discipline .
we need to focus on a number of areas in order to achieve a large-scale effect ; we need the courage to specialise production in a region - incidentally , the principle of specialisation is an old one in the European Union - provided that good links exist for transmitting that knowledge ( broadband or traditional infrastructure ) .
however , as we are all aware , it was in the name of the Lisbon Strategy that the European Commission presented to this House some of the worst proposals against labour and social rights , through their emphasis on flexibility and labour deregulation .
I support what my fellow members have said with regard to imposing a rigorous revision of the legislation relating to the CE marking , with liability regulations for importers and facilities for placing sanctions on those that infringe upon the regulations .
Russia is facing a serious demographic problem - it is losing around 700 000 people a year , over a territory twice the size of the United States of America .
we consider the arguments that are put forward by the companies concerned , so if a company were to put this before us then we would certainly look into the matter .
but , like the Commissioner , I am disappointed that this agreement did not achieve its ultimate objective of a complete opening of the market without restrictions on either side .
it is also important that this system should operate effectively , thus becoming a useful tool in preventing and fighting against crime , particularly that of a sexual nature .
there is the question of the biometric passports ; I know that not many have yet been issued and I would sincerely call on the Commission and some of the Member States to help issue these biometric passports .
firstly , the Commission has not only sought to simplify and ensure better implementation , it has also greatly increased the scope in certain areas .
in writing . - I voted for this resolution which notes Serbia 's progress on reform and the Council 's recent request to the Commission to prepare the opinion on Serbia 's application for EU membership .
I welcome the fact that in addition to all the other important points she makes the rapporteur refers explicitly to the need to ensure that women have a stronger role and to promote respect for the rights of women , minorities and children if good work is to be done in Iraq .
if there could be any doubts as to their justness , it would have been enough to follow the European Commission 's speeches to dispel them .
the second experience which I would like to share with you is this : it is important not to become exhausted or disenchanted , and it is important not to lose heart .
I intend to answer a few questions , Mr President , and I do apologise for not answering them all .
according to the Treaties , the churches are partners for our institutions , but they are not lobbyists .
although the situation has now lasted several weeks , we do not know what caused the breakdown cited by the satellite operator , Eutel Communications , nor do we know when the breakdown will be put right .
( RO ) The European Council we are preparing today is decisive for the future of Europe .
both are searching for possibilities to diversify and they will not stop doing this .
when will the new realism of the people who really shape global politics creep in here , among the people who merely think they do ?
for example , Bangladesh gets 80-90 % of its steel from dismantled ships .
Mr President , I am trying out the new rule we have so that we can use our blue paper .
furthermore , our institutions have cooperated with the US Federal Reserve , the Bank of England , the Japanese Central Bank and others .
the threshold that has now been set is EUR 33 000 .
the people who vote for us and pay our wages expect us to take concrete decisions of precisely this kind .
I also welcome the appointment of a man who has all the qualities required to fill such a post .
the latter , far from advancing towards a just and sustainable peace , is worsening as we watch and is poisoning international relations , when it is not threatening the cohesion of our societies .
I heard one important suggestion , which was to prepare a Marshall Plan for the Middle East .
( DE ) Madam President , Mr Le Hyaric , I see things in exactly the same way as you do .
similarly , while the ECB 's massive cash injections have kept many institutions from collapse , the reality is that many banks have not passed on the liquidity to customers , particularly to the detriment of the small and medium-sized businesses on whom economic recovery rests .
the unpleasant experience of the Russo-Ukrainian gas conflict in January 2009 was necessary for the question of energy security to become a matter of primary importance for the entire European Community .
only negotiations with the full commitment of the parties can bring about a lasting solution .
given the failings and weaknesses in the market and institutions that have been brought to light in devastating fashion over the last year , a move away from the abuses and faults of the past is only to be welcomed .
the figures speak for themselves .
there is no doubt that Frontex has an important role to play in this regard , and it is clear that the Member States want to see the agency strengthened .
( PT ) Mr President , Commissioner , in the analysis of the banks carried out in 2010 , it was uniformly recognised that one of the problems of these tests has been the predominant national logic , whether with regard to methodology , to diagnostics or to the choice of criteria .
I am convinced that if this provision is kept , the legislative decision on which we will take a vote within hours will make it possible to circumvent the law and even to abuse it because " national security ” is an all too general notion and lends itself to various interpretations .
I commend you , I commend the rapporteur and all colleagues who have contributed to the submission and adoption of the existing proposals .
such coordination is , however , taking place at the moment in the reviews that we are carrying out .
Mr President , I am asking you to help secure the release of 45-year-old Antonio Ramón Díaz Sánchez , who was sentenced to 27 years in jail in 2003 .
Petitions : see Minutes
I hope you will help me to keep my promise , and I hope we will all meet again on the Action Day in 2012 .
Mr President , let me recall our significant resolution of 2005 about the end of the Second World War in Europe , which stated that ' there cannot be reconciliation without truth and remembrance ' .
the second issue is that 12 % of Structural Funds , according to the Court , should not have been reimbursed .
he is quite right to say so , therefore .
the Commission must work actively to ensure that the rest of the world follows our example , and to make our technologies accessible to developing countries .
in short , Russia is an indispensable partner for the Union , not only economically but also politically .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( ES ) Mr President , I would also first like to thank the rapporteur for her excellent work which has allowed us at all times to feel comfortable with her proposals .
rapporteur . - ( IT ) Mr President , Vice-President of the Commission , ladies and gentlemen , we are today celebrating the conclusion of a procedure that started as far back as September 2005 .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - Madam President , I would like to start by thanking Mr Diamandouros and Ms Wallström for their presentations and Ms Sbarbati for her excellent report .
these include family farmers , smallholders , small business owners and government employees .
the Commission shares Parliament 's view because we need to modernise vocational education and training in Europe to make it attractive , to have qualified teachers and trainers , innovative learning methods and high-quality infrastructure and facilities , and , of course , we have to have the mobility .
an important instrument , but only that : an instrument .
moreover , we now know that the Commission also ignored the report by the European Anti-Fraud Office ( OLAF ) , which denounced irregularities in the importing of tomatoes from Morocco , in a report acknowledging the impact of these imports on lowering tomato prices in the EU market .
there are reasons for migration flows .
there are also useful conclusions that can be drawn from Chernobyl .
I believe that this is a time when we need to show decorum , without making a great fuss or putting on displays on the subject or without exploiting the images of this unfortunate industrial accident .
the EU 's intervention and financial assistance were therefore necessary , with the aim of increasing the level of protection of human health and the environment .
( DE ) Madam President , firstly , I would like to say on the subject of the export ban that I fully agree with Mr Oettinger .
I have voted in favour of this report .
this technical assistance must focus on moving Iraq towards the European economic system and , to some extent , towards European business .
there is now a very heavy burden and responsibility on the shoulders of those who wish and desire an even deeper centralisation of the decision-making process here in Brussels .
given the restrictions announced on the sale of grain , the size of harvests this year will be crucial .
in order to do that , the diplomatic convocation and activation of the Member States of the United Nations Human Rights Council must be in full swing in order to get missions , reports and resolutions so that the politicians responsible get an assurance that these acts of violence will not remain unpunished .
the application of the directive to Luxembourg Airport , with its 1.6 million passengers a year , and the fact that its provisions do not apply to either of Luxembourg 's direct competitors , Frankfurt Hahn and Brussels Charleroi , which process more than three million passengers , is intolerable discrimination in a single market and is based solely on the fact that a national border lies between Luxembourg and these other airports .
others will soon come .
Mrs Isler Béguin has a great deal of relevant experience . I believe that she is right to advocate that for our part , we should increase resources so that the European Parliament can make an effective contribution to the situation , as it has already done in the case of other countries .
regional convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin (
no !
however , the fact that a single offender who commits a criminal act is embedded in his judgment as part of a large group of people who , so to speak , are held collectively responsible for the acts of one individual , is nothing new in the history of humanity - it has always occurred - but it is always equally condemnable .
we call upon the leadership of the European Parliament to insist upon the resumption of these television broadcasts over Asia .
( RO ) Europe can be split into nine distinct biogeographical regions according to similar climatic , topographical , geological and vegetation features .
there are other forms of financing , in addition to direct funding , which should be used as well , however , such as regional state subsidies or loans from the European Investment Fund .
allergy sufferers in particular stand to gain from this proposal , as fur is potentially hazardous to their health and without proper labelling , they may buy a product containing these textiles without realising it .
it was high time , ladies and gentlemen , to restore the confidence of these European citizens in their European institutions .
Mr President , I find myself in a difficult position in this debate as I believe that strong fiscal rules are necessary for a strong currency and a strong economy .
while the situation in the financial sector seems to have stabilised and shows signs of improvement , although everything has not yet settled down , the challenge is , from now on , to limit the effects of this financial crisis on the real economy and businesses as far as possible .
neither provocateurs nor the blackmailers of the Greek Government can stop this movement , and nor can the murderous acts which were committed in Athens today and which have shocked us all .
it has been a huge undertaking but he has really delivered on this very complex piece of legislation .
this figure on its own shows how important and urgent it is to take action in this area .
the Commission should prepare a study comparing the practice to date of individual Member States regarding integrated strategic planning and , on the basis of the outcome of the study , draw up specific EU guidelines for integrated urban development planning practice that promote efficient , legally regulated partnerships , including cross-border urban partnerships .
these should never be replaced by unified and homogenised outside regulation which might fundamentally damage advertising as a quite legitimate and essential sector of national economies .
Madam President , the EU is not , of course , concerned with conjugal ethics , but with guaranteeing the rights of EU citizens wherever they may be and whomever they decide to marry .
we have also made targeted reductions based on past implementation , rather than making across-the-board cuts , which have become almost a tradition .
I am thinking of the challenges associated with climate change and energy .
I should like to take this tragic opportunity , because I know that all of Europe and all the European media are watching Greece today , to ask all my fellow Members here to demonstrate responsibility , gravitas , solidarity and , most importantly , respect towards a nation going through such a difficult time .
unfortunately , in most cases , the provisions of the regulation are not being respected .
in the autumn of last year , at the presentation from the European Court of Auditors , we were already discussing the responsibility of Member States for monitoring the overall issuing of EU funds .
I voted in favour of the resolution because the EU must not close its eyes to these atrocities either and it is only right to demand of the governments in Egypt and Libya that these cases are investigated without exception and the perpetrators held accountable , in order that the countries may continue along the path towards democracy and freedom .
Mr President of the Commission , this is our message : use your power of initiative to help the Council to adopt an ambitious programme for a social Europe .
and that means encouraging and supporting Kazakhstan 's European aspirations .
this hope was born of the blood and tears of millions of men , women and children .
I know that the multi-speed Europe does exist .
simple logic , if not the appeal to concepts such as the right of the non-smoking majority , should convince us to make this effort a priority .
the new Europe with its High Representative ought to be capable of providing its own aid to the people who are suffering .
targeted sanctions on the junta and businesses connected to it are now urgently required .
the impact of this turbulence could go beyond what we have seen so far and it therefore demands our full attention and fully justifies today 's debate .
historically , the River Danube has connected Western and Eastern Europe and belonging to the Danube Region has evolved a sense of community among people .
( the sitting was closed at 22.50 )
then there are no material errors in the underlying transactions , although we are still finding - and therefore need to improve - a high incidence of non-quantifiable errors in both budget-support commitments and payments .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Mr President , last week in the United Kingdom , Lord Davies delivered his speech to the government on how to increase women 's participation in the boardroom .
the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has made a great deal of progress , and can act as an example for the other countries of the Balkans , whilst also offering an opportunity to increase stability in the region .
I have no reason to doubt that the European Council in June will be held on time as planned and that the agenda will be professionally prepared .
in writing . - The common organisation of the market in fisheries products is intended to ensure stability in the market and security of income for those involved in the sector .
I am surprised that more people have not protested against this proposal and that it seems to have passed unnoticed .
this can be obtained from the EURES portal .
in a relatively short space of time , we have secured additional financial resources which we intend to earmark for the future development of new , cleaner technologies and for the purpose of increasing a reliable energy supply .
thank you .
, on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , on the eve of the Seventh Human Rights Council , Parliament wishes to send a message of support , vigilance and mobilisation .
financing broadband Internet in rural areas is important for development , but of course , as I said , this budget is a compromise .
requirements for prior authorisation may be imposed only in exceptional cases - if they are specified on the Commission 's list or if there is a risk of a mass exodus of patients which would undermine the health system .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , this is the first time I have spoken before this House .
the accession of Croatia , a European country with a European culture and a European history , should be accomplished as quickly as possible .
we also need to make up for lost time , as thousands and thousands of women die in developing countries every year because of lack of information and lack of access to sexual and reproductive health .
the experiments carried out so far under the auspices of COSAC show a great disparity between national parliaments in their approach to the subsidiarity question .
climate change : one of the greatest threats our planet faces .
the Commission has provided some very useful elements in its Second Strategic Energy Review .
it should be said , however , that the change in attitude to Turkey 's efforts is what matters most .
I have noted all her suggestions and we will act on them as far as possible .
please allow me to say one last sentence , Madam President .
I do not see what the point would be .
we have worked very hard together to reach the compromise .
this illustrates that it is important for the Member States to introduce well sustained and scientifically based alerts into the RASFF and to trigger the RASFF when Member States are confident regarding the scientific evidence supporting the alert notification .
I have in mind here our European potential in the following areas .
unemployment is a local , national , but also European phenomenon .
composition of committees and delegations : see Minutes
climate change brings its own worries about adapting our lifestyles and about fuel costs in a very different world .
adjournment of the session
some Member States are already much more ambitious in their national codes for energy efficiency , and I hope that this directive will encourage others to follow suit .
in fact you can see the pictures on my website .
I therefore feel that the country should continue towards achieving this goal .
author . - Mr President , this House has taken a clear and strong stance as far as the death penalty is concerned .
let me just very briefly focus on four main challenges .
while there is still time , it is vital to defuse the tension between Chinese nationalism and the Tibetan independence movement .
what is also important , from our perspective , is absolute coherence with the provisions of Rome I , i.e. the applicable provisions in private international law .
although different , both disasters have something in common - they both could have been avoided or could at least have been smaller in scale if environmental protection had been given more consideration .
my second question to the Commissioner , when she was here , and therefore to the Commission as well , was how this money can be distributed to Member States or whether it is possible to do so in such a way that small producers whose livelihoods are at risk will be the first to receive it .
( DE ) Mr President , this is certainly not a nice reason for this debate .
this is about the internal market , harmonisation , adding value : all very important .
my request to the rapporteur is that he include in the report a statement to the effect that the European Parliament calls on the Council to put the swiftest possible end to the continuing position of the Netherlands as the largest net contributor per citizen .
in other words , I believe we should call for the protection of the interests of local communities in accordance with a general principle .
the greatest civil liberty we all have is life itself .
in view of the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon , I would like to draw attention to the obligations of Member States concerning implementation of the strategy , which includes encouraging young people to participate in democratic life , paying special attention to young sportsmen and sportswomen and the legal enforcement of the Charter of Fundamental Rights .
in 2006 half of all products sold in the EU that were deemed hazardous to health were manufactured in China .
I also think that one or two of Parliament 's proposals on the amount of funding needed are too much .
this is the biggest massacre since Guinea 's independence in 1958 .
the addition to the set of available procedures of a procedure with a blocking effect can serve as an effective tool in the protection of rights against Member State measures violating fundamental rights .
Madam President , Articles 81 , 101 and 102 all deal with these issues , under cartels , price fixing , predatory pricing , etc .
nevertheless , the solutions tabled in the report are along the lines of deepening these same market mechanisms that are responsible for the current crisis of volatile prices and unequal distribution of profits throughout the production chain .
Mr President , personally I think that the time has come to make a shift in our approach to energy problems , namely by gradually shifting the emphasis from ' energy security ' - that is , trying to secure our current deliveries from volatile suppliers - to ' secure energy ' , meaning the full exploitation of the energy sources firmly under EU control .
ensuring that parliamentary elections are fair and monitoring the creation of a new government might provide an opportunity to stabilise the situation . at the same time , the international community should be prepared to provide financial aid to help rebuild state structures that are based on the rule of law .
the resolution on the EU strategy for the Baltic Sea region and the role of macro-regions in the future cohesion policy states that given the planned development of nuclear energy in the Baltic Sea region , the EU Member States must comply with the most stringent standards of safety and environmental protection , and the European Commission must monitor and check whether neighbouring countries on the EU 's external borders follow the same approach and international conventions .
the relationship will be dealt with in the White Paper on adaptation to climate change , due to be adopted very soon .
I think that the EU still needs to develop a strategy in this regard .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , the legislative proposal on the rights of passengers travelling by bus and by coach that we are discussing today is the result of a very difficult process , including conciliation .
in 2010 , as a result of the AIFM Directive , one in four hedge funds left the City of London .
I should like to hear from the Council how we might avoid this problem .
without forgetting the importance of the European Police Office ( Europol ) and notwithstanding the general support which it should have , as the third pillar , this is an extremely pertinent matter for the security of the European area .
the recent tuna issue is just the beginning .
reporting and documentation requirements in the case of merger and divisions (
( DE ) Madam President , I am delighted that , in the De Vits report , we have a very good report before us and I am delighted that all our fellow Members are of one mind regarding solidarity , transparency and consumer protection .
we believe that all rights are residual in the individual .
we cooperate at all times with the European Anti-Fraud Office ( OLAF ) , and I would add that we are on the verge of agreeing to supervision by the new European Banking Authority .
the Summit is taking place in a very stimulating climate .
if we weaken the economy , where will the funds for combating climate change come from ?
I am confident that we can soon open this chapter , provided Turkey fulfils the last remaining conditions .
the resolution I have drawn up - and I hope we shall have a near-unanimous vote on Thursday in plenary , as we did in the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety - calls on the Commission to stop procrastinating , talking idly and postponing .
this is a moral imperative in the current crisis ; we cannot enter into international negotiations believing that it is developing countries that must make all the running .
we hope that this latest position statement will yield more results .
Madam President , we are indeed living in extraordinary times , but Mr Barroso 's response to the economic crisis lacks strength and impact and his promises on social Europe have not been kept .
we have an important figure , a Counter-Terrorism Coordinator , whose speeches are very interesting .
also deserving attention are a series of proposals aimed at effectively combating discriminatory policies in the EU , underlining that equal opportunities are a fundamental right of every citizen , and not a privilege .
it is not surprising , then , that there should be a debate on the revision of the Barcelona objectives included in the programme of the Czech Presidency .
this secrecy has also possibly been exacerbated by an imbalance , if it is true that US industries , unlike the European public and institutions , have had access to a series of information resources on the basis of a confidentiality pact .
all too often , the exchanges of information are not of any value and sometimes the information is lost .
studies by the US space agency NASA show that the control of climate change will call for more radical action : the gas content in the atmosphere caused by climate change must be restricted more stringently to be able to avoid these radical changes .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue-card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
this lays down , among other things , that a safety authority is to be established in each Member State , which must be independent from the railway undertakings and the infrastructure manager , and whose tasks include monitoring , encouraging and enforcing railway safety and developing a regulatory framework .
this is the responsibility of all three European institutions .
I do not deny , however , that you may be right in saying that the higher harvest prices do not necessarily make up entirely for the rises in costs .
this test was carried out again between 2 and 5 March , and the final assessment and validation of the second set of tests took place on 6 April .
the phased , short-term EU target is 175 g CO2 / km , to be reached by 2017 , and the long-term target is 147 g CO2 / km , to be achieved by 2020 .
bearing in mind the six-monthly reports from Member States during this last reference period and the numerous difficulties indicated by carriers , I call on the European Commission to examine the possibility of revising Regulation No 561 / 2006 .
we should remind the Council to keep to this mandate in its negotiations with the US .
if humanitarian law continues to be broken , specific sanctions must be imposed .
the bad news was that it was not a Liberal who was in the President 's seat , but the good news was that it was a Belgian .
for this reason , I voted for the proposed amendment .
the budgetary control remit of Parliament , like that of the Internal Audit Service of the Commission and of the Court of Auditors , must also be strengthened to ensure that these agencies are monitored properly .
the commander confirmed that EUFOR would carry out its mandate in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolution , that is to say with impartiality and consistent respect for the Sudanese borders .
we are working very hard on this and I will probably be making a statement on this specific subject - namely land use planning in the developing countries - in the near future because it is an issue of real importance .
fair competition in the internal market is a key to the competitiveness of European agriculture in the global marketplace .
to combat this type of fishing , which depletes marine biological resources and ecosystems , is a vital goal for the European Union .
we should take a break from that , because what we must do is to bring about a cease-fire .
respect for human rights is one of the foundations of democracy and is the main value on which the idea of the European Union is based .
the EU 's creative potential must be supported and boosted so as to facilitate innovation in our internal market , without , however , running the risk in the near future of facing charges related to intellectual property rights which could be claimed by non-European countries .
the agreement does not replace but supplements the existing bilateral agreements , which cover travel for purposes other than tourism or business .
Polish farmers could reduce production costs by introducing GMOs , but do not wish to do so .
in this context , I would like to talk about the political sensitivity of the issue , as there is a great possibility of abuse in this regard , particularly now , as governments are acting unilaterally in pursuing these issues , without consulting those that are affected .
the largest economies in the developing countries are also unwilling to integrate their national plans for mitigation with the global agreement and , at the moment , there is no credible financial plan .
the EU has taken steps , but only at a humanitarian level .
the relevant TFTP agreement was approved by Parliament in July 2010 .
the answer to Question 58 by Mr Heaton-Harris will be given in writing .
Romania has a long tradition of good cooperation with Latin America , as our Latin heritage is a valuable asset we have in common .
I think that it is imperative that all citizens have free and equal access to treatment , in due turn and according to their need .
part one
in economic terms , Tunisia achieved an average growth rate of 4.6 % between the years 2002 and 2008 .
as high energy prices are expected to prevail in the long term , it is essential that the policy measures aim at facilitating the structural shift to more sustainable patterns of production , transport and consumption .
we need to use and develop the skills of those migrant workers coming to us , and EQUAL has given us some fantastic examples there which we must not lose .
the Commission encourages the Thai Government to seek regional cooperation , involving also the UN High Commissioner for Refugees , as the Rohingya issue and the other displacement issues mentioned earlier need a comprehensive response .
what I wish to say to you is that we have in fact organised , both with the Task Force and within the Commission , extremely regular meetings with the co-contractor and the two co-contractors , especially Steria .
current systems for covering costs relating to aviation security , regulated at a national level , are not always clear for end users , who are often not even consulted before charges are calculated or changes are made to a charging system that affects them .
what is certain is that strict application of maximum sustainable yield will , in the short term , result in a sometimes drastic reduction in fishing opportunities , and therefore in the activity , income and employment of the Community fleet .
for all these reasons , we cannot agree with this draft budget , which is over EUR 11 billion smaller than was planned in the multiannual financial framework for 2010 .
it is important to maintain the appropriate nutritional values of this food and for it to be produced in an environmentally friendly way .
we need a better process in the European Parliament .
I should also like to stress the urgent need for reform in connection with the developing countries .
therefore , unless the European Union and international community take urgent action in curbing demand and tackling illegal poaching and trafficking , and changing attitudes in China on tiger-related products , the new reserves will be too little too late .
that is important .
my second specific question is as follows : can the Commission put in place the technical requirements to simplify management of the system , on the internet or in a portal , to allow users to access each market area separately , such as wine , milk , fruit and vegetables ?
we need patient diplomatic efforts to overcome the stumbling blocks and also to make the UN negotiating process a more viable one , so that , for example , it adopts rules on voting .
the issue of profiling was raised by the Belgian Presidency as well .
we will get on with our work .
it was already in trouble in 2002 after another disaster which was not at all natural , the sinking of the Prestige , and at present the oyster-farmers of the Arcachon Basin are losing all hope of being able to get back on their feet .
the ECR Group have nevertheless voted against this resolution for two specific reasons .
I maintain that the migration of citizens , their successful integration , including into economic life , and their social inclusion , can provide a means of tackling demographic change .
we will not know , moreover , if gas is the cause of the war or a consequence , but in any case we will have a gas war .
why ?
budget cuts are having a direct effect on young people 's prospects and opportunities for development .
I agree that SMEs are important but I think we are also looking at talking to large corporations and also to the public sector , to government employers at national , regional and at local level , the health sector and really all those who employ people , because it is in that way that we will make sure that we get the level of graduate unemployment down and we give our young people a chance .
I would not therefore like anyone to go away with the impression that the Commission 's opinion and that of the Commissioners is that we are very satisfied and nothing more needs to be done .
( PT ) I , too , wish to pay tribute to Jean Monnet , but I asked for the floor in order to congratulate the President on his statement on the European Day in Memory of the Victims of Terrorism .
children in the EU are not eating enough healthy food and healthier options need to be made available .
I believe that the revision of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement will help address the new changes that have come about in the decade since this agreement was first signed and will increase participation on the part of national parliaments , civil society and the private sector in those countries ' political and economic life .
this is another example of Parliament guaranteeing the victory of the broader European cause over national self-interest and protectionism .
I urge the High Representative to take all possible steps to persuade him to grant clemency in this case .
I and my colleagues in the Committee on Regional Development shall not stop pointing to the responsibility of the Member States under the Structural Funds .
I , too , am pleased that Mr Deva has taken a seat , for now Mrs Ferrero-Waldner will be able to hear me , which is a great relief .
however , we must also take into account the current health problems which are cardiovascular diseases , diabetes , obesity and cancer .
it was the case in 2000 with Prime Minister António Guterres , and it is the case today in the third Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the Union .
the four winners would be , for example , British Airways , American Airlines and others that would benefit from such a shift in the competitive situation .
we are , indeed , at a crucial stage in our economic relations with Japan , and there are still some issues that need to be clarified .
the employment guidelines proposed by the Commission and approved by the Council present the European Union 's current common priorities and Member States ' objectives regarding their national employment policies .
we in UKIP will put a non-racist agenda to the British people at the European elections , saying that it is time to put British interests first .
the subject of conditionality is also something that requires detailed consideration which we do not have sufficient time to go into here .
if others think that they can do a better job of these tasks , then let them do so , but they should apply the same intensity to them in the years to come as they give the impression of wanting to do at the present time .
in the coming decades Europe 's economic and social development will depend on an influx of new economic migrants .
Libya is likely to become a mass deportation destination for migrants .
yesterday I had a meeting with Commissioner Fischer Boel .
it would be ludicrous and perverse for us to turn our back on them , having achieved them .
the region is strategic but difficult to control .
here I would take up one key point : the office of the European Ombudsman must work harder and better on its external communications with citizens .
Mr Lucas , Mr Holm and others have said that all this falls short of the expectations of the environmental groups .
rapporteur . - Madam President , I too would like to join in thanking both Mr Beglitis , who is now a Greek MP in his national Parliament , and his successor Mr Obiols i Germà for excellent cross-party cooperation and eventual consensus as co-rapporteurs of this key report .
secondly , we welcome the fact that the European Parliament is to be informed during the next term .
as the saying goes , ' Nothing ventured , nothing gained ' and , while that is true and most certainly is part of the inspiration that propels us forward , it is prudent to note that , like the voyages of discovery of the past , today 's venture will have a cost too .
in addition , you call for the development of a strategy for improved communication of the social advantages of the internal market .
yet liberal Europe 's project and activities have also run out of steam , and spectacularly so .
finally , I should like to speak up for a community that cannot do so here for itself .
if we are talking about expense , it undoubtedly costs less to take action of this kind and to place price controls on morphine , rather than deciding to destroy crops using the existing methods which get us nowhere .
but let us be frank : progress has been slow , it has been uneven and it has not always been very effective .
then we will have made progress .
the mechanism is , of course , a compromise mechanism , and it is one that had to be found because other mechanisms were not provided for in the Treaty of Lisbon .
we also believe that fossil fuels must be actively phased out in the long term , which is not mentioned in the report .
on agriculture , we have a text in which not everything is to our liking , but there is nothing that we cannot handle in that agriculture text or that will push us beyond our mandate .
responsibilities and burdens should not be shifted just on to one group of European countries .
there was a new correlation between prominent players on the world stage and the proper role of multilateralism in the UN system .
the danger of targeting agriculture is that we will reduce cattle numbers and reduce emissions in Europe , but we will transfer production elsewhere and make absolutely no difference .
I hope that the same thing will happen soon in Slovenia .
as a result of the economic and financial crisis , the situation in Europe 's labour market is still tense and therefore combating unemployment must be one of the most important policy priorities for both the European Union and Member States .
the victims were primarily individual users , those decorating their own homes and house decorators , since in industrial use certain safety regulations are observed .
the Commission was , from the beginning I think , a balancing factor for the medium-sized and smaller Member States of the Union towards the Council .
the subject areas touched on in it are extremely important in terms of ensuring that the Cotonou Agreement remains the basis for a solid partnership with the ACP countries , as well as a relevant instrument against the backdrop of the new challenges which these countries are facing .
only political cooperation and the economic integration of the region can provide peace there in the long term .
I also agree that it should be ensured that the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) supports the reintegration of individual redundant workers into employment , and I would like to reiterate that assistance from the EGF must not replace measures which are the responsibility of companies by virtue of national law or collective agreements , nor should it finance the restructuring companies or sectors .
we are looking into the matter .
the proposal for a regulation that we are dealing with today contributes to this aim by ensuring that reliable and comparable data is collected in all the Member States , in order to enable harmonised risk indicators to be calculated .
however , the total lack of any strategy by the occupying forces to deal with rebuilding the country has also resulted in untold misery .
the Lisbon Strategy is also urging speed .
at that juncture , the European Court of Justice was to cease ruling on the basis of general legal principles derived from the constitutions of Member States .
the objective advocated in this report is clear : the creation of a single strategic framework for the European Regional Development Fund ( ERDF ) and the other Structural Funds , particularly the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development ( EAFRD ) and the European Fisheries Fund ( EFF ) , for the next financing period after 2013 , along with its coordination with other instruments of the external aspects of EU policy .
it really alarms me that we have arbitrarily set aside what our Rules of Procedure plainly state .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I hope that you will accept this report and will vote for it , in general terms , in this House .
is this the doctors ' fault or the patients ' fault ?
only it is important to say that whilst this directive may not necessarily embody the initial 1993 idea , which was to get rid of the opt-out , it now provides a framework and additional guarantees for today 's , not yesterday 's situation .
it has to be welcomed that disarmament becomes an essential element of the agreement - to be more precise - on a par with democratic principles , human rights and the rule of law .
I think they are very much in line with our group 's position .
if we do not achieve progress on these two issues , there is a risk that no progress will be made in the negotiations and they will perhaps be jeopardised .
this is where we are vulnerable and endangered ; when I put it that way , you will understand how important this agency is to us .
I have taken part in various seminars and conferences and listened carefully to everyone , including through the media , in my search for the best possible synthesis .
for many , the issue of wine is as close to a cultural issue as language itself .
some in this very House and in the Iranian opposition have called for relations with the Iranian regime to be completely broken off and for the new government not to be recognised .
I want to continue with a deeper cooperation with Parliament , with yourself and with the distinguished Members of this Chamber .
it is also quite apparent that the EU is not prepared for states of emergency , larger waves of refugees , or to provide a strategic solution to the refugee situation .
let there be no doubt about this : the absurdity of the obligation to take in asylum seekers and strict compliance with the principle of non-refoulement are not being called into question .
Europe is unfortunately no longer , as the Prime Minister claims , the leader in the climate-change negotiations .
the EU has now got real leverage to put pressure on Lukashenko 's regime to make him bring about genuine improvement as a condition for further EU economic aid and cooperation .
most of it was positive , however , and I therefore did not need to think for long before voting in favour , although not everything was good .
women should have control over their sexual and reproductive rights .
we should we forget Ukraine , Moldova , the Southern Caucasus and North Africa .
announcement by the President
a chicken said to a pig , ' Let us have a joint venture .
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my concern regarding the after-market is particularly related to those cases where consumers are unnecessarily tied to a specific operator for repairing their car .
I regret that Parliament has not drawn any lessons from what has happened in Japan .
I would like to explain that there is , of course , a grey area relating to patient information and advertising for medical products .
the money from that policy will not be available until 2009 or 2010 , but when that funding does become available I look forward to the EU assisting in the social and economic reforms in Lebanon .
- Before the vote on paragraph 30 :
strategic cooperation with third countries will be developed within the strategy , notably in information society dialogues , as a vehicle to build global consensus in this area .
on the other hand , the twice-yearly presentation by the Commission of reports relating to the development and migration of SIS I to SIS II will ensure that work on SIS II is transparent for the European Parliament .
a catalogue needs to be made of all the private quality certification systems and a legislative framework of basic principles needs to be adopted at EU level in order to ensure that these systems operate transparently .
under the framework of FLEGT , tropical timber exporting countries have begun drawing up Voluntary Partnership Agreements ( VPAs ) with the EU , in order to guarantee the traceability and legality of timber .
this will also assist the interpreters .
I therefore agree that we must ask Member States to take steps to improve the situation of the children left by their parents in the country of origin and ensure their normal development in terms of education and social life .
in that , he is truly right .
this would be an important step towards making the role of education and training more tangible in an increasingly open European context .
in the context of the current economic crisis , this is the most important challenge for all of us .
the report also calls for research studies on seeds and their contribution to disease control .
those relations or any problems that there may be are settled in the independent courts of the Spanish State .
( FR ) Mr President , I would simply like to address Mr Tannock in order to denounce his attitude towards those who are demonstrating today , and also expand on what Mr Verhofstadt and Mr Cohn-Bendit have said .
I honestly believe that the best solution would be to return to a more all-round situation in which the Palestinian Authority had control of borders and there was free movement of goods and people ; not only for humanitarian aid but also for economic development and trade , which are necessary in order for genuine progress to be made .
the arbitrary detention of Mr Maguwu is a message of intimidation that the Government of Zimbabwe is sending to human rights defenders and free citizens in the country , to prevent them from reporting on the realities in Marange .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( PL ) Madam President , the subject of today 's debate is liberalisation of the market in spare parts .
today , one way or another , I expect democracy to win again .
thus , we would contribute to the security of passengers who use airlines ' services .
to maintain reasonable food prices and , above all , a decent income for farmers , and to ensure food security , the CAP should be maintained at the current level .
we must be aware that the planet 's future is closely linked to this region 's future .
in writing . - ( FR ) The economic and financial crisis has demonstrated the failure of euro-liberalism , the dogmatic framework of the Single Market .
however , I believe that we have to act with an eye to the future , and this means moving from words to actions .
rapid technological progress , coupled with fierce international competition , means that it must change rapidly .
so you should not be surprised that the level of criticism is growing and that , in Austria in particular , the criticism of the EU as it currently stands - not of Europe - is reaching epidemic proportions .
development aid must enable the populations concerned to remain in their geographical area .
in this connection I would like to say to the Commission Vice-President , Mr Kallas , that during his term there have been major improvements generally to the Union 's openness and transparency and he has been extremely active in this area .
we have unfailingly demonstrated this , be it in relation to issues of the internal market , competition or non-discrimination .
after all , an internal market , and this is why I believe in Europe , can only function well on the basis of trust on the part of industry , the government and the consumer .
however , the split alone will not create stability in the country .
in writing . - While academics will argue over the best possible way to measure progress , we as European legislatures must be confident in the method we pick and ensure that it stands up to argument both today and in the future .
without an internal market , we will not have a strong European Union .
in the last few days it is estimated that about one hundred people have been killed and about two hundred wounded .
the raising of the Commission policy voice in this area , in the light of its considerable experience in the provision of humanitarian aid and its unique role at the heart of the European Union , is positively welcomed by the Member States , Parliament and also humanitarian partners .
however , in many areas the Commission proposal was ambiguous and may have the opposite effect to that which the Commission is seeking .
allowing those countries to develop their markets could make a real difference , supporting not just the opening of markets but how they gain access to them , ensuring that they can reach our standards , and ensuring that they have real opportunities .
in my opinion , all EU countries should make sexual relations with minors up to 18 years , where there is use of force , rape or threats , a criminal offence .
no less important is the fact that WTO membership brings in its train a series of obligations that China is inadequately honouring .
I also regret that the amendment tabled by my group to create a tax of 0.01 % per annum on financial transactions in order to finance efforts to combat climate change in the poorest and most directly affected countries to the tune of EUR 20 billion per annum was not adopted .
I also refer to the fact that the review of the political problems should not simply be left to the ECJ , but that here both the EU Institutions - the Council , the Commission and the European Parliament - and the nation states bear responsibility for this through their legislation .
the first is the tight time scale allowed for Member States to adjust their fishing effort .
they will do exactly as they have previously decided .
Jenny used to drive them there but she can no longer afford to put petrol in the car for anything other than her twice-weekly trip to the cheapest supermarket in her part of Manchester .
this is a vital first step towards stopping those who are getting rich on the back of the Southern countries ' misery .
we wrote to various associations of historians and others , and to my surprise they replied that they , too , thought it would be much more interesting to have a more lively record than just the printed text in translation .
I voted in favour of the Göncz report on the European Microfinance Facility .
but , colleagues , let me remind you - and I refuse to accept this sort of crowing - I am absolutely not a lobbyist for the car industry .
it pushes the Roma to the margins of society .
the Commission 's proposed negotiating mandate for such an agreement is good and points us in the right direction .
I consider that Members of Parliament need further evidence before they can propose to grant or refuse discharge to this agency .
the Council , however , has not made his work easy .
Mr President , I should like to table an oral amendment to this amendment , deleting two parts of the amendment , namely the words ' by the Colombian army ' and ' on Colombia ' .
however , we need to do more work , we need to ensure that the transparency and integrity of the work of lobbyists at the EU level is of the highest .
I would also like to thank Mrs Giannakou for preparing this own-initiative report .
these principles follow on logically from the work that was started when the REACH Regulation on chemicals was being discussed .
we spend 50 % of our lives in our homes .
we may make some small steps forward .
it is a sick joke that he has been given responsibility for the lives and security of the inhabitants of Darfur , when it was the same person who had persecuted them earlier , and that decisions concerning the largest humanitarian operation run by the UNAMID international peace mission are in his hands .
on the other hand , however , we must avoid the pitfall of making emotional and unfounded decisions about whether to keep or abandon nuclear energy .
( HU ) Thank you for the opportunity to speak , Mr President .
the European Council had requested the opinion of the Commission acting on the proposal from the Spanish Government and , since the Spanish Government 's proposal reflects the long-standing political agreement to bring the additional 18 MEPs into office without delay , the Commission has recommended opening an intergovernmental conference as soon as possible .
I have prepared a working paper for the meeting in Lima in which I analyse the present state of this important natural source in the European Union .
1 .
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freedom of choice for women , allied with antenatal diagnostics , has become a tool for eliminating womankind .
do we fund the new priorities by cutting the previous ones , as the Council and Commission want us to do , or do we do it properly ?
one proposal made on these grounds is to maintain coupled aid for sheep and goats .
indeed , the measure we are about to implement has always inspired broad consensus , so much so that in 2006 13 million people , and 15 countries in 2008 , actually 19 countries , I think that from this point of view ...
this is also applicable to publicity , so that a production accepted by a national broadcasting board in a Member State must be accepted for broadcasting in all other Member States .
the opt-out method weakens the community of values .
progress has been made with the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2008 , but there still remains a high number of errors in the areas of the Structural and Cohesion Funds , rural development , scientific research , energy and transport .
I welcome this .
ultimately , however , I believe that the slight price increase for our farmers does not in any way bring the price adjustment that would make up for the losses of recent decades .
additional criteria for evaluating projects will increase the level of discretion in their evaluation , and thereby complicate the process of using the funds .
however , it is Europe that holds the key to Copenhagen .
political decision makers must therefore have at their disposal data that is both reliable and as exhaustive as possible on the modern world and the environmental situation .
now we have 27 Member States .
the key sectors include climate change , sustainable transport , nature and biodiversity , health and the environment , the use of natural resources and waste management , as well as the international dimension of sustainable development .
in other words , we absolutely must avoid the mistakes of the Lisbon Strategy .
I would like to tell the honourable Member that I hope that more Member States would follow the example of those who have already signed and ratified those important conventions .
in writing . - I and my ECR Group colleagues agree with much of this report , including improving budgetary efficiency , simplifying the application procedures for EU funds , as well as prioritising the completion of the 2020 strategy .
I would ask the French presidency and the other Member States to support this .
perhaps we have to be bold enough to recognise that it is not realistic to achieve zero tolerance in these cost groups .
because we care about all the above , we strongly support the Commission and Council and its Presidency for addressing , negotiating and stressing continuously each one of the issues in regular dialogue with the Chinese side .
we have to put an end to this and get out of it .
Mr President , Commissioners , ladies and gentlemen , while I have the pleasure of putting this oral question to you on behalf of the Committee on Development , sadly I do not have the pleasure of presenting you with the resolution on the same subject , adopted unanimously by this committee .
I know that Mr Verheugen has had intensive and fruitful discussions with the rapporteur , Mr Sacconi , whom I should like to thank for his excellent work - I say this on a personal level , too .
may I thank the Commissioner once again .
80 % of farmers do not even receive a tenth of this .
our committee was right , but we must go further .
the reason , of course , is because of a conflict of interests since the Danes fail to process their drinking water after it comes out of the ground .
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the fact that we do not know for sure even now whether the tests carried out have been successful or not only serves to raise serious doubts about how the project is being managed .
Madam President , I echo the thanks of others to the rapporteur for her work on bringing this initiative forward to Parliament .
I have in the past called for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics on the basis of human rights .
I voted in favour of this resolution because the European Parliament welcomes the changes brought about by the Treaty of Lisbon , allowing more flexibility in EIB financing , including : equity participations as a complement to the ordinary activities of the Bank ; the possibility to establish subsidiaries and other entities , in order to regulate the so-called special activities and to provide wider technical assistance services ; and the strengthening of the Audit Committee .
we are right next to the world 's battlefield , from Gaza to Kabul .
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it might go some way to help , for example , a person whom I came across in London : the only individual working in a hotel kitchen who was not on a permanent contract was the one whose job was to clean the ovens and to get inside them using heavy-duty chemicals , with no training or protective clothing , because that worker was only temporary and therefore health and safety did not matter so much .
I should therefore like to call on the Commission to open broad consultation with interested bodies on the adoption of a voluntary product labelling system in Braille and , at the same time , to call on my fellow Members here to support it by signing written statement 14 .
we now have before us the task of identifying those areas where temporary guidelines are most needed .
however , the data can also be used for other purposes ' according to US law ' , as the agreement states .
the first round of the human rights experts ' dialogues , including with the African Union , has opened up new possibilities for engaging with the African continent on human rights .
however , once we witnessed the shocking violence being carried out , we spoke out with one voice , against the violence and against the regime that is inflicting it .
( NL ) Mr President , what is happening now in countries like Tunisia and Egypt is an immensely important development .
I am also pleased that an agreement has been reached on the milk fund , including in relation to production in mountain areas and disadvantaged regions .
the case was referred to the European Parliament by way of a special report from the European Ombudsman .
as provided for in Rule 145 , I shall give Mr Martin the floor when the minutes of this sitting are considered for approval .
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many of the targeting techniques - display , contextual and certain search-related adverts , etc . - do not involve any tracking and are not a subject of major concern .
thanks to the EAW , the Union has managed to reduce surrender times considerably , in many cases from one or two years to only one or two months .
we are arguing that we should not automatically exclude it .
the invitation to Slovakia to join the euro zone is also important , both for the euro zone and for the Member States of Central and Eastern Europe .
we must realise the Treaty of Lisbon 's objectives regarding social issues through the specific proposals included in EU 2020 , for example , defining initiatives such as ' an industrial policy for the globalisation era ' or ' an agenda for new skills and jobs ' .
I think the signs for change here are not very good .
in writing . - ( LT ) I endorsed this document , because the Committee responsible decided to approve the closure of the accounts of the Joint Undertaking for the implementation of the Joint Technology Initiative on Innovative Medicines for the financial year 2009 .
on the subject of cooperation programmes for democracy and human rights , the Commission would like to remind Parliament that the new instrument , the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights , foresees specific funds for projects in difficult countries such as Cuba and Burma / Myanmar , mentioned in this debate .
this document is also one of the two main means used to implement the common fisheries policy .
in this connection , we wish to highlight the need for democratic control of expenditure relating to the Common Foreign and Security Policy .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I would like to refer to what one of the honourable Members said - that the European Union should be the honest broker in these negotiations .
I do hope that the amended Regulation will be implemented appropriately in all EU Member States .
the basic condition for the Council to decide in favour of abolishing checks on internal borders with these Member States is to confirm , within the framework of the assessment procedures , whether the new Member States have fulfilled the necessary condition of applying all parts of the Schengen acquis : data protection , the Schengen Information System ( SIS ) , air borders , land borders , sea borders , police cooperation and visas .
on a relatively modest Prime Minister 's salary , he has mysteriously managed to become a multi-millionaire .
the objective of these negotiations and readmission agreements is therefore clearly to strengthen borders , which of course includes Greece 's borders .
Iran is naturally an important player in the Middle East .
in particular we should stress the importance of paragraph 18 of this report , which already refuses to support the criteria proposed by the European Commission : ' emphasises that a final opinion on the basic territorial unit chosen , the criteria and the threshold values proposed by the Commission can only be given when the detailed maps drawn up by the Member States are available [ ... ] ' .
in writing . - ( PT ) I support Anne Ferreira 's report because I believe that the use of market-based instruments such as taxation , subsidies and emissions trading , for environmental policy purposes are important tools , although not the only ones , for the promotion of sustainable development .
however , there is another aspect of the resolution with which we agree , specifically , the criticism of the lack of transparency with regard to the composition and work of the Commission 's internal advisory committee on public procurement ( ACPP ) and the role and competences of the Advisory Committee on the Opening-Up of Public Procurement ( CCO ) .
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the top priorities of the Stockholm Programme include stepping up the anti-communist hysteria in the EU which is already proceeding full steam ahead , culminating in the historically inaccurate and unacceptable equation of communism with national socialism .
let us focus instead on the Marty report .
we want to retain public services .
the situation being as it is , it would be better if the EU 's Iran delegation were prevented from going , as the trip would only be exploited by the Mullahs for the purposes of propaganda .
the economy of neighbouring Armenia has also been affected by the combination of the economic recession and , in particular , the rapid deterioration of the Russian economy , due to the great dependence of the Armenian economy on trade with its large neighbour to the north .
that is what I want to achieve in my time in office and I feel 100 % committed to trying to achieve that .
even in the optimistic case that all the Council members are supporters of woman 's rights , I am wondering what kind of example we set for a country to which one requests measures on representation in political structures .
this should be the key focus .
we regret , however , that the amendments that we put forward for this resolution have been rejected , although they focused on the causes behind trafficking in human beings and ways of combating it , particularly the following :
however , the presence of third-country workers must be evaluated with at least two considerations in mind .
with regard to the problems encountered by the new Member States in pursuing development aid policy , I would like to point out that :
from the end of 2010 all new vehicles are to be equipped for the electronic satellite-based eCall emergency call system , so that professional help can be given within what doctors call the ' golden hour ' immediately after an accident .
I am glad that the report , presented by the rapporteur in her speech , expressed support for this recommendation and also looked positively on some of the key sentiments in the recommendation .
in an area that could so easily be so beneficial , we have allowed language differences to get in the way of us reaching agreement .
for those companies that have chosen to maintain production safeguarding know-how and employment in Europe , this regulation will re-establish a level playing field with our third-country trading partners .
as Brussels will only provide the money for the ESF when the Member States take responsibility for cofinancing , this means that there will be around EUR 150 billion on the table for creating more and better jobs .
I therefore believe that it is essential for us to take action to help these two journalists : firstly , because they risk being sentenced to death , a punishment that is out of all proportion with their actions , and secondly , because Niger is considered to be a friend of ours and a country that we help a great deal .
it would also seem justified to introduce an obligation for companies to publish full information about themselves on their Internet sites and to include a link to these sites on a central electronic platform , which is shortly to be given final confirmation by the Commission .
it integrates previous EU regulations into a single piece of legislation and extends it to include transport by water .
after all , we cannot just save our way out of the problem .
in particular , regulation of sales on the Internet is notoriously difficult and can only be tackled effectively at international level .
finally , I want to say that I support the amendment that there should be an obligation to supply free services for blind and partially-sighted persons .
the oral question to the Council on implementation of Directive 2006 / 123 / EC , by Malcolm Harbour , Andreas Schwab , Evelyne Gebhardt , Cristian Silviu Buşoi , Heide Rühle , Adam Bielan , Kyriacos Triantaphyllides and Matteo Salvini , on behalf of the IMCO Committee - B7-0216 / 2009 ) , and
Madam President , the very fact that we are discussing Tunisia - our initial topic - at a time when Egypt has reached boiling point is indicative of how far we are trailing behind reality , even if the title of our debate can be changed with ease .
we did this to show where we were aiming to take Georgia with our reforms .
it has been adapted to the new challenges , such as the effects of globalisation , climate change and demographic changes .
cohesion policy intervention supports productive investment that is primarily targeted at small and medium-sized enterprises , as specified by the ERDF and ESF regulations .
energy security is an issue not just for one Presidency , but for many years ; it is a great challenge and a great honour for the Czech Republic to be able to make progress on this issue .
one of them is international trade .
there is also the other matter , which Mr Sacconi mentioned and I would like to point out once more : this support is not aid , or worse , relief , that maintains the status quo , but it is an incentive for the future competitiveness of the sector , in terms of innovation , environmentally-friendly manufacturing and technologies that better respect the environment and the safety of passengers and transport .
I am also pleased that existing stocks will not - as originally planned - have to be taken off the market within 12 months , but instead only 30 months after the introduction of a new standard .
one of the strategy 's key points is investment in education and research .
we can no longer change that today .
in writing . - ( DE ) I was happy to vote in favour of this report .
this is its only chance to achieve a European perspective .
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in the realm of good governance , we issued a joint statement at our parliamentary pre-summit meeting which included an expression of our conviction that measures to strengthen the capacity of African parliaments would enable those institutions , which had previously been overlooked , to make an effective contribution to good governance and to scrutiny of policy implementation .
for this reason I believe that the Parliament , which in fact is acting on behalf of all European children , has a moral obligation to be actively involved in making laws for their benefit .
I consider it essential that the public service obligations and the minimum common standards resulting thereof be better consolidated in order to guarantee the fact that the gas services can be accessible to the population and small and medium-sized enterprises .
I would like us to be able to eliminate these technologies altogether in the future , in order to prevent further serious natural disasters , where various toxic materials enter our water sources .
it means that we cannot adopt ACTA if there remains a suspicion that this agreement could disrupt the supply of medicines or technologies in developing countries .
this new common framework for systematically generating European statistics on tourism must be established by the Member States collecting , compiling , processing and transmitting harmonised statistics on supply and demand .
ladies and gentlemen , I wish to inform you that , in my capacity as President of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly ( EMPA ) , I shall now attempt to bring about a similar resolution in the EMPA Bureau , as this House has just decided .
there is a general principle at stake and I am therefore very content , as is the Committee , that you are undertaking an overall review to monitor compliance and to check whether laws are consistent as regards the national and the European question .
as Mr Lamassoure said , we are introducing a totally new layer of participatory democracy which will complement the representative democracy in which we operate in the European Union .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I already used some of the arguments in my previous answer , but it is clear that this is a very important area and I will try to highlight some other additional information in responding to this question .
of course , many of us are deeply concerned about migration problems in relation to our nations .
in this context I should like to refer to the last colony in the world , the last colony in Africa , namely the Western Sahara , which has been occupied by Morocco for more than 30 years .
VAT reductions will help most the people who need it most - the people who earn less than others .
Mr President , we cannot wait until the agreement is on the table , because we need to hear positive noises from the Kremlin now on a number of other issues ; I am very worried about certain developments : Chechnya , the TNK versus BP case and Abkhazia .
let me say the following on some of the proposals in the Committee on Agriculture report .
it is in our strategic interests that Turkey should become part of the political body of Europe in the long term .
however , I call on the Commission to put forward some fairer criteria so that farmers can be the real beneficiaries of the CAP .
the administrators who are supposed to fill in applications and apply for money are not in the least interested in this .
the trigger was certainly the incomprehensible sentence passed against a women , known as ' the Qatif woman ' , who was sentenced to 200 lashes for having been found in a car talking to a man who was not part of her family .
the aim is common and the enlarged Europe can become the initiator of enhanced international cooperation on evidence-based HIV / AIDS early diagnosis and early care in the near future .
implementing suitable border control systems would limit trans-border crime which would , in turn , contribute to increasing our internal security .
( DE ) In order to master the situation , it is certainly sensible to cooperate at an international level if - and I say this very clearly - this cooperation does not need to be bought with EU financial assistance .
lastly , I believe that , on the basis of these preconditions , the Stockholm Action Plan should be focused on fully satisfying the demand for European justice voiced by individual citizens and individual businesses when exercising their rights and freedoms .
with regard to this aspect of your work I am hopeful , and I am convinced that through you we will manage to attain that certainty that you yourself referred to .
you can count on the vote of the Portuguese Socialists .
the regulations it contains will definitely simplify the lives of the average EU citizen who benefits from the freedom of movement throughout the European Union .
I received a petition from European textile producers expressing their opposition to this , as they were afraid that Pakistan would export more to Europe , which they did not want .
I welcome the action plan on visa liberalisation which lays down practical guidelines for its swift implementation : improving the rule of law in Ukraine and implementing fundamental rights .
likewise , I agree with the rapporteur , Mr Swoboda , when he says that we need to observe the principle of equity , which is part of international law .
I would prefer to have the support of the main pro-European political families , but some are excluding themselves from that .
let alone that EULEX 's activities would result in that country being split into north and south .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , on behalf of my group of the European People 's Party , I would like to add my personal endorsement of the proposal for a resolution presented today by the other groups , thus the PPE approves the wording in its entirety .
the public is used to each organisation having its logo .
the Irish people have said that in a very particular way and as a neutral Member State .
the things that happen in connection with the Clean Development Mechanism - 60 % of the money goes to China - should not be permitted .
we need to release and create space for the forces that can build our economies , we need to insist on reforms and compliance with the law , and of course we need to support the most vulnerable .
a liberal law allowing children and young people to consume addictive substances , including alcohol in tubes or alcopops , at a time where there is an epidemic of psychological disorders would be both careless and reprehensible , and cannot be considered as counteracting , but rather as promoting , alcoholism and other addictions .
it is already a very enhanced and good network , and most of the Centres are very active and able to solve the issues raised by consumers .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , I should like to discuss the second report first of all , namely the Framework Decision on combating terrorism .
if we use that analysis as the starting point for our discussions , we should be able to establish the necessary common ground and move forward to determine what we should do .
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half of its content comes from sources provided by France which , for once , is leading the way with Gallica , the portal of the National Library of France , and with the INA ( National Audiovisual Institute ) .
it is important to look at it in a wider context .
however , there is no doubt that the new proposals contained in the directive will create a significant impetus which will help many women in Europe to decide to have children .
crucial to the EIT 's fate now is the willingness of the Member States to finance it , Member States which are not investing enough .
I believe , Mrs Ayala Sender , that your report makes progress towards creating an integrated pan-European road safety policy .
it should be a day , yes , to celebrate how far women have come , but , yes , also to raise awareness about how much further we still have to travel in terms of equality .
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could it have been avoided ?
there , too , there are many people missing .
European funds can and should at most provide a helping hand .
the first is Kosovo .
ladies and gentlemen , the European Union represents in many areas of life a model for other regions of the world .
I mention this because it is also important in the context of our debate today .
it is an important instrument for giving new impetus to the negotiations .
what is the trade in credit default swaps and credit default insurance all about ?
this is the option proposed by Mr Lamassoure and myself .
some results of our Action Plan are only now starting to show their impact .
the EU 's Member States considered taking action mainly at national rather than EU level when it came to economic recovery , providing assistance to companies and preserving jobs .
therefore , the reform is most welcome .
it argues for non-violence not only as the absence of violence , as pacifism , but as an active campaign of disobedience and sabotage of authoritarian regimes and dictatorships .
I know that you are working on your opinion on the SET Plan , and am very much looking forward to hearing your views .
that is the first good answer I have received from the Council on this subject .
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it must facilitate exchanges of information , analyses and experiences between them , organise training activities , and develop concrete cooperation between the administrations entrusted with analysis of asylum requests .
the new institutional structure created following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon offers the opportunity to improve the coherence , profile and credibility of the EU 's actions as part of the UNHRC .
thank you .
if an issue has an impact that goes beyond national borders , then this involves a European dimension , which also requires a European competence .
the EU was never intended to be about competition in wages and social dumping .
if we do this , we are sure to succeed .
however , it is curious that , free movement within the European Union notwithstanding , it is , at the same time , pushing for the establishment of a system which is far from meeting all the procedures for respecting human rights .
the economic results are good , and there is success in the area of legislation .
my third point is that equal treatment is a commitment to a social Europe .
that is particularly gratifying after a five-year barren spell in the communication of European competition policy on the part of the European Commission .
draftsman . - ( DE ) Mr President , I have an oral amendment to paragraph 22 , which I have agreed with other fellow Members .
in this regard , I should like to extend my deep thanks and gratitude to you , on behalf of the people of this great poet , for hosting the activities of his commemoration .
our group supported the consensus view of allowing for a voluntary increase in the milk quota of 2 % , and we urge the Council to take the lead of Parliament and give the green light for milk producers to increase production by 2 % from April .
we consider it unacceptable that the present proposal treats equally those who have considerably decreased their emissions and those who have even allowed them to rise .
I should also note that , of the 15 actions included in the Commission 's action plan , nine should have an immediate application .
in this case , however , entire communities are being denied the right to live in their own country .
it grew rich by creating wealth .
( DE ) Mr President , Baroness Ashton , ladies and gentlemen , the Arab world is in the grip of profound change .
I can assure you that we keep human rights issues at the centre of our political dialogue with the partner countries , and I can assure you that the fight against corruption is one of the issues we address when dealing with the partner countries .
projects such as the Nabucco pipeline , a priority project for the European Union , along with the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline , the Pan-European Oil Pipeline , the Turkey-Greece-Italy Interconnector , or the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Romania Interconnector , emphasise both the importance of the EU 's commitments in the Black Sea region and the further need to step up cooperation between the countries in the region .
they are responding to this call for increased activity by acting in those areas which we feel are a priority , as Mr Mitchell has said , such as small and medium-sized enterprises , the energy efficiency sector and other areas as well .
in writing . - ( PL ) In today 's vote I supported the acceptance of the report on stable and secure pension systems in Europe .
they have been quite clear on the challenges we face .
the intention of this legislative package is an unprecedented attack on the rights of the national parliaments and , in Portugal , on the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic itself .
I hope that discussions about alternative energy sources to oil can be addressed with objectivity , ensuring European citizens adequate and accurate information in order to prevent easy manipulation , making us even more dependent on unstable oil-producing countries .
we have spent the afternoon proclaiming that we are the only democratic institution protecting the interests of Europeans before the other institutions , above national egotism .
so perhaps there could be a comment on that .
we are particularly in favour of the possibility for the foundations to act outside EU territory also .
their usefulness also depends crucially on the way in which they are designed .
but if we do not take it seriously , neither will the rest of the world .
therefore , the countries that emit the most CO2 into the atmosphere need to take part in all international agreements .
I would therefore like to ask the Commissioner a specific question - what will the increased funds for defence be used for ?
it is , moreover , likely that some of us , had we had the choice , would have taken the opportunity to table amendments , emphasising , for example , the importance of certain conditions and criteria relating to the assistance in order to improve the transparency of its content and implementation .
firstly , however , I would like to make a remark about the calls from the German Chancellor , Mrs Merkel , to exclude Greece from the euro area , if necessary .
neighbouring Greece , for example , had to deal with devastating forest fires in 2007 .
while the draft decision submitted by you calls our law to account for the right to information , your text is based on misrepresentation and factual errors , just like all that has been said here this afternoon .
lastly , our support will also depend , as you know , on the new structure of the Commission .
energy is a sphere in which EU competence is shared with the Member States .
thank you for the floor , Mr President .
as Mr Mate said , the directive will force all Member States to pay particular attention to the rights of children .
you see , as a chemistry teacher - and I bet there are few of those in this Assembly - I know what it takes to go from hypothesis to theory to chemical law .
this method , which is commonly used in international trade , provides a better safeguard for certain sensitive sectors for the EU and should therefore be the sole method used by the Commission .
Member States must ensure that the legislation will be amended so that websites with criminal content are blocked .
after 30 years of war , with more than one and a half million people killed , the international community is duty-bound to show its full solidarity with Afghanistan .
we need concerted action ; we need courage and solidarity from all twenty-seven Member States to inject confidence into our economy again .
I have followed the debate by all the MEPs with considerable interest .
Mr President , Commissioner , after all these speeches , I wish to thank my fellow Members , the shadow rapporteurs as well as the rapporteurs of the committees who produced opinions , who suggested to me many ideas and who have made it possible to improve the text that we are voting on today .
it certainly did nothing to loosen the grip on power enjoyed by Europe 's last self-isolating dictator , President Alexander Lukashenko .
the result of the next eight months of climate diplomacy will write the text of our history books for generations and , as political leaders in our own communities and collectively , we cannot renege on our responsibility .
in writing . - ( SV ) We have voted in favour of the draft amendments by the European Parliament 's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development , as they reinforce the wordings relating to the labelling of the origin of poultrymeat .
this is not just a debate about a set of accounts , but a fundamental breakdown in trust between the institutions represented here and the people we represent back at home .
( SK ) The report on the annual management of the euro area and of public finances in 2009 analyses in detail the management of the EU during the global financial and economic crisis .
now we have a problem : there are 23 Members who have asked to speak during the ' catch the eye ' session .
thank you very much , Mr Pannella .
I agree with him .
jihadist terrorists , for example , are suddenly no longer considered dangerous .
but I think it is interesting to see that the Opposition is , at least , coming together again .
let us see to it , with the participation of Members of this House , that these are not just passing phenomena but days that convey positive messages to young people .
in writing . - ( LT ) Modern advertising has long overtaken the legal framework of this area .
this will provide effective help in modernising the area .
I believe that despite all that has happened we will not turn our backs on the countries of the former Soviet bloc , including Ukraine , which want to free themselves from Russian influence .
Mr President , allow me to conclude - if I can , in a few words - on the matter of transparency .
I hope you will clarify this issue on behalf of Commissioner Almunia .
I should point out that the debate on globalisation earlier today was replied to by Mr Barroso , so it is a mix-and-match Commission , but a very competent one .
what is required now is the firm commitment by the Government of Pakistan to crack down on terrorist networks so that further attacks can be prevented .
indeed , thanks to this step-by-step integration of Europe , considerable progress has been made , and no one can deny that .
it is unacceptable , because it is illogical , to separate trade negotiations from monetary negotiations .
the Council must discuss this as no decision has yet been made on this matter .
Bosnia is not ready for EU membership , not by a long shot .
to reflect the Treaty 's strengthened recognition of the importance of sport , would the Council be supportive of any initiative to include sport explicitly in the portfolio of one of the incoming Commissioners ?
to this must be added the costs , to the most vulnerable economies within the EU , of entry into the single market , of Economic and Monetary Union and of the deregulation of international trade , aspects ignored by the report .
this report argues that political parties at European level must be the place for ' expressing the will of the citizens of the Union ' .
this is true even if , as certain high-ranking security officials in Berlin claim , relations with the US Government are being soured by the work of the Munich public prosecutors , who are simply doing their job in the prescribed fashion : this speaks volumes about these people 's mentality and their attitude to the rule of law .
( the oral amendment was not accepted . )
viewed in these terms , I believe that we will increase the pressure on the US and China and others precisely by saying that we must have very specific deliverables and that very specific results must be achieved in Cancún .
to listen to Mr Färm , it would seem as though we would have no employment policy in Europe if we did not have micro-credits .
therefore , I think it is necessary to bring in measures to harmonise the market in these products , as well as to guarantee a high level of health and safety for workers in the sector .
the report states a 5 % target for renewable transport fuels by 2015 , with a sub-target of 20 % to promote the use of electric cars .
the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon has institutionalised new areas in which Parliament 's approval is necessary for the conclusion of international agreements .
in the area of civil aviation , the Member States must promote the development and use of EGNOS-based landing procedures , and both these and EGNOS-based services must be certified as a matter of priority for civil aviation .
do the citizens know that their governments and parliaments are ignoring the benefits of common Europe to their disadvantage ?
my colleague , Éric Besson , will deal with Mrs Toia 's report on the issue of the digital dividend .
my fear is that , if we lose the opt-out , we will force more people into the grey economy and then they will not be covered by health and safety legislation , in particular the Dangerous Machinery Directive .
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this not only exposes the absurdity of Russia 's membership of the Council of Europe , but also encapsulates why the Council of Europe is , in my view , increasingly ignored internationally .
the European Union 's relations with China are of strategic importance to all Members of the European Parliament and they do and will have major global repercussions .
the problem is clear : the Treaty of Lisbon entered into force on 1 December .
I therefore call upon you , ladies and gentlemen , to approve these two agreements concluded with Georgia .
I myself have the flag of my rugby club at home !
many of you have stressed how important it is that the Mediterranean becomes an area of peace , stability and security , where democratic principles , human rights and fundamental freedoms - including gender equality and the role of women in society - are upheld and fully respected .
taking into account the need to improve the efficiency of consumer law on the internal market , I welcome the Commission 's intention to re-evaluate the eight sectoral Directives so that they respond to the challenges of technological progress , and in particular offer precise definitions of rights and duties in an online environment .
the oral question to the Commission by Viktória Mohácsi , on behalf of the ALDE Group , on a European Roma strategy - B6-0003 / 2008 )
why have CMR chemical substances been only partially banned ?
Mr President , allow me to conclude with a national reference .
I therefore call strongly on the Commissioner to proceed with this request by the European Parliament , which certainly speaks on behalf of citizens and consumers in Europe .
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how is that ?
today we must improve the contents of Europeana while ensuring respect for intellectual property .
the European Council also devoted attention to climate change , endorsing the main messages set out in the Commission 's communication .
. - ( HU ) Mr President , today 's debate is part of a process , in which important decisions remain to be taken , and hence I emphasise once again that one may safely refer to the living conditions of the largest minority in Europe as comparable to that of the developing world .
in short , we urgently need a strategy that ultimately identifies the real interests that we intend to pursue , and it is important that we involve Member States in significant objectives .
I hope that in future this European Union of ours , which has such an interest in peace in a part of the world so close to us , will be able to play a more effective mediating role than it has done in the past .
her assessment presents a mixed picture .
it gives the view that the new , more effective and better executed rules should contribute to the development of more sustainable policies that genuinely take social and environmental concerns into account , and states that globalisation has increased competitive pressure between countries to attract foreign investors and competition between businesses .
the compromise reached establishes an excellent balance , fully protecting our initial objectives and at the same time providing an appropriate response to the legitimate concerns expressed during the adoption process .
it was quite clear to me at the very beginning that if I had my way I would have a list that was endless , because human rights are so important : they are paramount and are the very reason that the institutions were established so that we never got back to those conditions that created the Second World War and the appalling shadow that was cast across so many different peoples and so many different minorities .
I even dare believe that you will find a way to ensure that this geographical balance is adequately reflected in your service .
our Parliament will be taken seriously in this debate only if it promotes a solution which is clear but realistic in all aspects .
I have voted in favour of the report by Mrs Niebler on the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion on behalf of the European Community of the Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the European Community and the Government of New Zealand , which is the only non-European industrialised country with which the European Community has not yet drawn up an agreement on science and technology .
this Regulation is applicable to all EU Member States except for the United Kingdom and Ireland and also to Iceland , Norway and Switzerland .
in writing . - ( FR ) The objective of encouraging economic immigration on a huge scale , already set out on 11 January 2005 by the European Commission in its ' Green Paper on an EU approach to managing economic migration ' is more topical than ever , given this report .
the initial steps which have been taken are very encouraging , but I would like to highlight three matters .
until now , each of the four intergovernmental panels has had to review its predecessor 's estimates of the speed at which climate change is taking place .
( the President cut off the speaker )
French soldiers who were part of Operation Artemis in Congo used torture .
European legislation , in the form of a directive , based on education , the effective protection of victims , cooperation with non-governmental organisations ( NGOs ) , and the implementation of a European Year of Combating Violence Against Women , is an example of measures for combating this social scourge , which has harmful consequences for European society .
ladies and gentlemen , the mission of the European Union is surely for us to live together as nations and as states of the European Union in peace , cooperation and mutual respect .
I therefore , think that all parties have learnt a useful lesson especially the FYROM .
it should refinance banks at very different interest rates depending on whether the loans benefit the sound economy I have just described or , on the contrary , are to be used as the basis of unsavoury financial operations .
the EU does not and never has advocated artificially putting up partitions , but has brought all Europeans to the same table by dismantling borders .
I conclude , along with Nadja Hirsch , that if we want to fulfil these wishes , vocational education and training need to be clearly results-orientated .
the efforts relating to the introduction of the Technical Specifications for Interoperability ( TSI ) must be continued and extended .
it has also been said in the House that Members are concerned about the situation in Georgia .
few new staff will be employed - indeed , that would be hard to justify with almost 6 000 employees .
Europe is at a crossroads with regard to space policy .
therefore , as is also mentioned in the EU 2020 strategy , we need to develop strategic areas and look outside the European Union to become more powerful .
since April systematic and detailed checks on buses and private cars with Czech registration plates have been carried out in Germany and Austria .
if someone makes use of this right to refuse to give evidence - for example , a man who had been with a prostitute who had been endangered through human trafficking - information will be lost that could be used further to finally uncover this network of human traffickers .
variety is the spice of life .
it is not just businesses that are affected .
without them , all the funds that Europe can pour into the Member States will be pointless .
the problem areas included in the directive are of a national character and are therefore best managed at national level .
however , the real major victory of this vote is that it reaffirms the right to abortion .
in Bali , the international community clearly identified the destruction of forests as one of the main causes of climate change .
I considered Mr Graça Moura 's report to be very balanced and therefore I did not vote for the alternative proposal of the PSE , ALDE and Verts / ALE group .
other requirements include cooperation between the Member States and the drafting of a common position , inter alia , on the issue of savings and budgetary cuts .
it is also to be welcomed that the new concept highlights the need to strengthen the strategic relationship between NATO and the European Union .
we must emphasise the logical connection between animal health and the use of antimicrobials , as well as the link between animal health and human health .
my country Lithuania , battling with the economic crisis , abolished VAT reductions .
the high price of oil is making us all suffer , but the most vulnerable population groups on low incomes are certainly being badly hit .
in writing . - This grants the Director of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training discharge in respect of the implementation of the centre 's budget for the 2009 financial year .
the longer we are without an agreement on the Terrorist Finance Tracking Programme , the greater the risk of a terrorist attack that could have been prevented .
as far as Commissioner Verheugen is concerned , I am sorry to say that the buck does stop somewhere , and it is all very well for the Commission to continue to pass the responsibility on to Member States , or whatever , but in actual fact you have to implement the legislation that is put in place by this Parliament .
this Europe of values with effective political substance , backed by its people , is also the Europe we need .
in writing . - ( HU ) Is the EU truly able to receive the intelligence data arriving from the United States ?
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( FI ) Mr President , a big thank you goes to Mr Sacconi for having achieved a good result from negotiations on this subject as rapporteur appointed by the Committee on Environment , Public Health and Food Safety .
thank you .
the financial resources required to implement the common fisheries policy also include funding for projects in areas such as : international relations , governance , data collection , scientific advice , control systems and enforcement of this policy .
it is acknowledged that the energy mix and energy supply differs among Member States according to geography and other distinct factors .
in the experience of our veterinary authorities , the applicable European legislation is fairly comprehensive , but somewhat unwieldy and complicated to implement .
the mission in which the Council Presidency is to take part is a good one , as the days are gone when we could sit back and wait until things were back on an even keel .
the Committee on Budgets has adopted a number of amendments which mean that we will require the Commission to submit a proposal for a sound review of the content of the current long-term budget as early as possible .
the Southern Corridor should obviously include the Nabucco project .
I am getting the impression that the Commission has still not started to change its priorities under the Lisbon Treaty and is conducting unjustified and long-lasting rhetoric with Parliament to further its own opportunities .
the fishing possibilities accruing to the European Union under the convention are of great interest to the EU .
I would like to establish a link between this report and the needs of development policies .
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the main added value which consumers expect is the hope that it will be easier to avoid purchasing hazardous products , of which there are still very many , despite improved controls .
I must insist first that these imported products are clearly labelled and secondly , and most importantly , that we introduce with immediate effect an additional number ' four ' , for eggs produced using colony systems .
there will be drought on the one hand , and too much water on the other hand , with rising sea levels .
Madam President , please can you clarify this issue , because if Mr de Magistris is seeking to avoid trial ...
I do not fear that cohesion policy funding will disappear from the budget plan but I would not like to see the extent of this fund during the life of the next budget in any way reduced .
the Commissioner expressed her hope that Parliament will adopt the relevant alignments in the current year .
the new Director of the College may have presented an action plan , but it is not sufficient , nor is it as detailed as it should be .
the report by Mr Grech , on behalf of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection , on delivering a single market to consumers and citizens ,
the advantage of having a directive of this kind is that it opens up channels for much more effective judicial control .
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Mr President , I want to make a point on Ms Martens ' report .
expulsions of NGOs from Darfur ( vote )
the statements in the report are presented as a clear scientific consensus .
where José Manuel Barroso is concerned , it is important to state that he was unanimously supported in the European Council , that he was well known as a candidate and had already been introduced to the electorate prior to the election .
indeed , Member States need to make progress in implementing this directive in order to improve and facilitate the provision of cross-border services .
I find it rather nonsensical that Parliament has so long been incapable of addressing this issue and putting pressure on the Council to put an end to this flying circus .
expanding the financing instrument for cooperation with industrialised and other high income countries and territories will give the EU the opportunity to establish cooperation with the crucial emerging and developing economies on an equal footing .
( the oral amendment was accepted )
it is doubtful whether , as it is so eloquently put in the report , an ' energetic , growing cultural sector ' represents an ' important driver of economic and social innovation ' . rather , a trend can be perceived whereby migration and migrants are being increasingly placed at the heart of support for culture while native culture and tradition are pushed to one side .
I understand it entirely , but we have a different tradition in Denmark , so I was there with my T-shirt , calling for a referendum , and I think all of us should call for a referendum .
Ratko Mladić and Goran Hadžić are still renegades from justice and must be handed in .
the report mentions , for example , forced marriages and female genital mutilation , but these phenomena , which are growing exponentially in our cities , are tackled as if they are issues related to cultural background .
the growing disease in the European Union , namely disagreement , is being treated and the Reform Treaty is a potent remedy .
this is why we are working to get the budget lines for those issues , but we have to explain better to European citizens why these projects are needed .
however , what I should like to emphasise is the issue of minority rights listed in the Copenhagen criteria .
why are we doing this ?
we will have a real effective reduction of capacity but at the same time we will also have properly addressed the fuel problems .
according to some statistics , last year alone , pirates attacked more than 60 ships , capturing 14 of them and taking hundreds of sailors as hostages .
just yesterday , we learned of the umpteenth killing of a transgender woman in Antalya .
( PL ) Mr President , what is it we are discussing today ?
it mainly involves measures in the areas of public health , catering , transport , regional policy , sport , education and statistics , as well as agricultural policy .
we will consider Parliament 's position on the report , and we are continuing the debates in the Council , naturally in consultation with the Belgian Presidency .
please allow me , therefore , also to make a few comments for the last time from the point of view of budgetary control and to offer a few additional suggestions in keeping with the tone set by Mr Nassauer .
this report would meet both conditions if a proposal is accepted .
yes , I am afraid you did have a slight tendency to accelerate .
President of the Council , the PPE-DE Group will be alongside you , supporting the achievement of your priority objectives .
lifelong learning must generally be possible for women too .
it may be that I am thereby criticising the court judgments .
we have thus been able to create 80 million poor people and 43 million starving Europeans , a figure that includes the elderly , who may die quicker and reduce public spending as a result , meaning that the Maastricht criteria can be met more effectively .
moreover , both the Minimum Capital Requirement and the Solvency Capital Requirement are much too low , and must be increased substantially .
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our resolution on the commemoration of the victims of the Holodomor in Ukraine was adopted at the 34th session of the UNESCO general conference , which was supported by Ireland among others .
I firmly believe that responsible national government authorities will negotiate a level of licence fees which can revitalise and protect the Roşia Montană area with its gold deposits .
the example of Ireland demonstrates the opposite , unfortunately .
in the name of transparency , which the public needs , and rigour , I do not consider the Council exonerated from its responsibility of publishing accounts for the funds available to it .
this is why I am pleased that the model for the proposed measures is Spain , which has achieved the best effects , both in terms of numbers of donors and numbers of transplants performed , but also in gaining huge social support for the idea of organ transplantation and donation .
theme one is the gravity and permanence of the threat .
I would also like to express my sincere thanks to Mr Kohout for the unusually dynamic work of the representatives of the Czech Presidency , and to Commissioner Barrot for the truly perfect cooperation of the representatives of the Commission .
European industry is facing powerful competitive pressure from developing countries .
( PL ) Madam President , in the context of our debate , I should like to draw attention to two issues .
by condemning old totalitarian crimes , we not only shame the criminals of the past , but also those who might think to apply the same criminal methods in the future .
that is why I voted as I did .
the second event was an Expert Conference on Alcohol and Health in Stockholm on 21-22 September aimed at supporting a sustainable , long-term and comprehensive strategy within the EU with regard to alcohol .
if the interpreters cannot follow what is being said , the people in the rest of Europe will not be able to understand your speech , because it was read too quickly .
fundamental rights such as freedom of expression and freedom of assembly are still not respected .
this interpretation that the Council adopted under the Swedish leadership therefore seems a bit odd .
in brief , the Commission is hoping that the waste management plan for Campania is convincing .
I am thinking in particular of Mr Busuttil , who mentioned the difficult situation Malta faces in this matter .
therefore , these numerous concessions must now be matched by progress in relation to Non-Agricultural Market Access ( NAMA ) and services .
international air agreements under the Treaty of Lisbon (
thank you .
I have to say that without their work and their help , we would not have achieved this .
horizontal cooperation agreements can bring considerable economic advantages .
the key to all of this is - and I go back to exactly what I said to Mr Davies - decisions should be made at nation-state level by politicians who are accountable to the electorate .
we expect these decisions to be taken before the end of April 2009 .
3 ) With its own generous sources of funding and grants to the top-class European institutes already in existence , the EIT would have a prospect of success .
the resolution expresses the same concerns as those expressed by EU citizens with regard to data protection .
and a day to reflect that yet another opportunity for real change has sadly been lost .
Parliament must be ready to function under the Treaty of Lisbon and , then , we will be able to vote on Mr Barroso and the Treaty of Lisbon , Mr Cohn-Bendit .
the crisis on the financial markets , as can be seen from this example , is also an opportunity for communication on the part of the European Union and for permanent improvement to our European financial market system .
but we have also seen violence .
only at the final stage did the European Commission decide to propose the unrealistic deadline of 2014 .
for example , it considered the issue of reindeer husbandry , which is a very important source of livelihood in this region .
I believe that for the good of its economy and of its people , Russia should pay attention to the market and to its image as a trustworthy partner .
this year , only 11 % of the EUR 500 million available was requested .
finding your way around human rights violations , tensions and conflicts based on religion or belief requires a lot of manpower and effort , as do sincere attempts at dialogue and tolerance .
at the New York preparatory meeting in May the EU will set out concrete proposals concerning a future action plan for the review conference in 2010 within the framework of all three pillars of the Treaty .
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after the Sterckx report was concluded in the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs , in the Committee on Legal Affairs , we specifically asked what additional impact assessment should then be carried out .
I would first of all like to welcome the vote passed in favour of the Treaty of Lisbon by the Czech Senate , which brings the overall ratification process a step forward .
this included closing the military commissions set up there because they do not meet any of the standards for fair court proceedings .
therefore we call on the Commission to come forward with a communication on the Arctic region , proposing subjects and working procedures .
that said , and although it is not directly related to this measure , I would also like to highlight the importance of maintaining the status quo in terms of the current World Trade Organisation ( WTO ) rules , particularly as regards the world market for textiles and clothing , very specifically , the changes to the rules on importing textiles and clothing products into the EU at a time of severe economic downturn in various Member States .
I will start with the political dimension .
however , this does not imply a preliminary decision concerning the proposed part-session from 20 to 23 April .
the only long-term solution , as Mr Savary said , is both diplomatic and political .
moreover , the habeas corpus principle was introduced , i.e. the principle that the court ascertains whether detention is lawful .
in this respect , the Union must be able to support , technically and financially , the presence of these associations and NGOs in the work of the JPA .
unfortunately , more questions than answers have emerged in discussions over the future of cohesion policy after 2014 .
it is obviously no mean feat : it is a practical tool and a reference document .
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lobbyists must not be able to request confidentiality .
he is quite right .
the arrest of political opponents in Belarus violates all these basic freedoms .
recently , 90 % of immigrants and asylum seekers in Europe have arrived via Greece .
the liberalisation of the gas market must be conducted gradually and symmetrically .
this support is essential for helping the unemployed and victims of relocations that occur in the context of globalisation .
this own-initiative report is a waste of taxpayers ' money , which the European Parliament should have nothing to do with .
secondly , I would like to mention a human rights case which the Council of Europe and Mr Hammerberg have also addressed .
as I said before , when scientific uncertainty persists it is up to the politicians to make a decision .
in this report we describe the effects of the common agricultural policy post 2013 .
I support the fact that this aid is being managed and controlled by the bodies responsible for the European Social Fund ( ESF ) in Poland , thereby limiting monitoring costs to a mere EUR 2 000 .
it may even be a matter of life or death .
the honourable Member will not suffer as he will of course have the opportunity to speak on his particular question .
I believe that it would be a good thing for Parliament , which so clearly declared its support for the infamous Bono / Cohn-Bendit Amendment , to speak out once again in support of the highest protection of citizens ' rights .
the EU stands ready to consider further targeted measures in all areas of cooperation as appropriate .
rapporteur . - ( FR ) Mr President , since the situation in Ukraine is quite serious , I would like to make a comment on this report .
the French Presidency was a success .
I call on you to allow the nations to live in their sovereign states , which will decide for themselves how and with whom to cooperate and how and with whom to integrate .
fair enough , you may say , this is the experimental phase and we have not yet got it right ; but we certainly cannot afford much more of this expensive experimentation .
as 2010 is the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion , and following the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty , we voted , in the European Parliament , for a resolution that calls for a European minimum income equal to 60 % of average income in each Member State .
no doubt future Parliaments - and indeed future Councils - will identify and agree further reforms .
well done on what you have done so far .
( RO ) I agree with many of the ideas that have been expressed in the house , but this problem is much more complex .
it called on the Commission to present a legislative proposal to allow Member States to exclude micro-entities from the scope of the accounting directives .
this last point is vitally important if we want to protect against the counterfeiting of our high quality products .
there are enormous differences between Member States in terms of how they deal with asylum applications and the outcome of these procedures .
robust opposition by the EU against the death penalty puts us in the forefront of this struggle .
nevertheless , we cannot fail to admire this age-old culture .
we have not achieved that for the moment because a certain number of smaller countries consider that , if they had to do without a national regulator , it would create problems for their national sovereignty .
I should like to offer my congratulations on the excellent work carried out by Mrs Van Brempt .
I can understand that there is some resistance and some misgivings , but I would also like them to understand that they have everything to gain by investing in proper , effective procedures at first instance .
yet the resolution of the left-wing groups , which will be put to the vote at midday , completely ignores these facts .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the effects of demographic change are very varied .
it has resulted in the indiscriminate arrival of indigent people , fuelling each day the sense of despair that exists and leading people to the inevitable short cut of breaking the law .
we are not seeing this at the moment .
in particular , we deplore the fact that a large number of international conventions and additional protocols have still not been ratified by many of them : the Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families ; the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture ; the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance ; and other instruments , such as ILO Convention 169 .
biogas produced in integrated agricultural plants is one of the most important sources of bio-energy .
once again , Brussels has given in to non-European interests and abandoned in the middle of nowhere the principles that it claims to defend in relation to development , social and environmental clauses , support for its overseas territories , and so on .
it is therefore now up to Hamas to show that it is willing and able to join such a government .
I urge Members to approach these reports pragmatically .
some Member States will benefit earlier than others from the European system .
although the deadline for tabling amendments has been extended , I am afraid I have to say that this report cannot be amended , because it lacks an appropriate substantive and legal structure .
these are areas on which we can jointly concentrate , and thus facilitate the achievement of Millennium Goal 5 .
author . - Madam President , Pakistan 's inability to develop a strong and enduring democracy has impacted - quite severely , in my view - on religious freedom in that country .
this is a road that is urgently needed and the city and population of Galway will suffer if this development cannot go ahead .
I seriously hope that airlines also recognise that we will now have a transparent system with a detailed appeals procedure , with full consultation , to end the constant complaining about airport charges and work with the airports to deliver a cost-effective , value-for-money service for users and passengers alike .
it therefore represents a significant step forward in European integration , which is why I voted in favour of this report .
in the context of the Seventh Framework Programme , we are spending a lot of money on this , and have been for a number of years .
however , due to the reasons we already know , I cannot .
( PL ) Madam President , a future with hydrogen powered cars is an exciting prospect .
( FR ) Madam President , Vice-President of the Commission , ladies and gentlemen , the oral question we are debating this evening reveals , as many have said , the existence of a real legal vacuum , which leaves passengers with no guarantee should an airline go bankrupt .
we will continue our donor cooperation , the cooperation on aid and the operational cooperation in respect of Latin America and West Africa to help in the fight against the drugs trade and to be able to meet other challenges .
the intention is to bridge the gap that has existed between the Commission 's and the Council 's work so that the Union 's policies are moving in the same direction .
as a result , their living standards , employment , pension and social rights have worsened .
an honest transatlantic dialogue about , for example , the necessary approach to tackling terrorism is an absolute must , precisely because the allies have different perspectives about the way in which they must respond when faced with this common challenge .
like other European socialists , I am convinced that reconciling work and family life is essential for the people of Europe to flourish .
this text emphasises the need to draw up , at European level , clear and binding guidelines to ensure that accidents at sea are monitored properly .
in accordance with Rule 16 and Rule 15 ( 2 ) of the Rules of Procedure , the order of precedence of the Quaestors shall be determined by the order in which they were elected .
in fact , job mobility can serve as a tool to strengthen the economic and social scope of the Lisbon Strategy .
for this reason above all , we are particularly glad to have you with us today .
it has been shown that attitudes that made workers receptive to right-wing populism include prejudice against immigrants , nationalism , authoritarianism , social dominance and political weakness , with prejudice against immigrants emerging as the most important factor among these .
we need to take urgent action : to maintain the quotas principle after 2015 ; to bring in an immediate reduction in these quotas in order to end the slump in the price of milk ; to set prices in line with the costs actually incurred by independent producers ; and to establish full transparency in the setting of prices by large distributors .
the emails also reveal that scientists sceptical of the hypothesis have been squeezed out of peer review processes to avoid flaws in research being revealed to public scrutiny .
( PL ) Madam President , Commissioner , I would like to congratulate Zita Gurmai very warmly .
this would restrict circular migration which we increasingly want to see developing .
this report is of special interest because it reinforces the regulation 's role as an early warning system for interconnection deficiencies .
the procedures of the Member States for handling unsafe products are now much clearer .
if not , should you not have known that ?
I see the strategy 's contribution to improving the consolidation of national and Union finances , innovation , and , consequently , competitiveness and growth as particularly important .
I voted for the Resolution on Roma integration , based on the view that this European minority needs specific policies which must be implemented quickly .
we know that , throughout the Union , huge discrepancies exist in Member States ' legislation to combat violence against women .
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I would like to do that now , in order to leave time for the debate later .
the Paris Summit agreed to take work forward in four key areas : de-pollution of the Mediterranean ; maritime and land highways ; civil protection ; and the development of alternative energies through , for example , the Mediterranean Solar Plan .
I would also like to reassure you that I have no intention of introducing heavy measures and rules on hobby anglers .
in the light of the rapid liberalisation of global trade , and seeing how hastily we Europeans are making room for goods from third countries , this is paradoxical behaviour .
I have always been in favour of issuing these Eurobonds , which I believe can bring added value by being issued jointly , and of a strong euro .
( applause )
I very much regret that the PPE-DE Group has not seen fit to advocate this system with the vigour and commitment that are needed to give consumers and the public at large real confidence in the European Union and the internal market , for such confidence comes from knowing that they are properly protected when they go shopping in Europe .
proper progress would be made if a situation was reached for coordinating at EU level the policies and strategies for the international adoption instrument , with the aim of improving the assistance provided in areas such as information services , preparation for inter-country adoption , processing of international adoption applications and post-adoption services , because the right of orphans or abandoned children to have a family and be protected must become a reality .
I believe that farmers should be partially repaid for what they do for us : they are providing food and we are grateful for that , but we should also be grateful to them for keeping up biodiversity .
as you know , we in the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left are just as persistent , I would say , when it comes to our reservations about the issues of storage and the risks that this involves in terms of data protection .
unfortunately , as is apparent in the Chief Prosecutor Brammertz 's report , Serbia has failed to convince the international community that it is putting every effort into searching for these criminals .
the first is that it has been said that this case will not set a precedent , that it is a sui generis case , as Mr Wurtz said in his speech .
( the President cut off the speaker )
the fact that the Prime Minister controls , whether directly or indirectly , a vast empire of publishing houses , daily and weekly newspapers and three television channels is clearly incompatible with the political office occupied by Mr Berlusconi and with the requirements of a democratic state and a member of the EU .
it is unjust and it is undemocratic .
it is important to recognise this so that we can act and react to whatever we are facing .
the same argument could apply to Title 14 , ' Customs Union ' , which also refers to perfecting the Union 's external borders , which , in turn , will enable us to ensure that our single market functions correctly .
although motherhood is a social function indispensable to society 's development , discrimination against women for being mothers and workers continues , which , well into the 21st century , is scandalous .
subject to progress made towards democracy , human rights and the rule of law , we remain ready to deepen our relations with Belarus .
that is also why I appreciate this timely debate .
the problems caused by financial activity in recent years were due to rule books being either torn up or ignored by those whose job it was to enforce them .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - Mr President , in the debate that we are going to have - I hope - we will be asking for an independent inquiry into the mass graves , for those sites to be protected and for an end to the harassment of the people carrying out this inquiry .
I was once rapporteur for the approval of hydrogen-powered motor vehicles and I believe that we need to pay at least as much attention to cord blood stem cells .
therefore , any action to be taken for the future will have to lead to an effectively implemented strategy focusing not only on establishing a sufficient network of waste-treatment facilities .
it is thanks to all of you that we managed to find a joint approach and a joint solution in most cases .
gender mainstreaming involves the reorganisation , improvement , development and assessment of policies to ensure that an equal-opportunity approach is incorporated into all policies at all levels and at all stages by those normally involved in policy-making .
I look forward to the European Commission 's proposals on that .
now she has lost , let us acknowledge what is really happening and let us keep the Ukrainian authorities under careful observation , but let us not throw out the baby with the bathwater .
I believe that we now need to take the debate a step further so that we discuss the question of whether it is efficient enough , and so that we also obtain a significantly greater degree of transparency with regard to this .
we must get to grips with this .
it includes standard clauses which are intended to be applied to all European Neighbourhood Policy partnership countries with which such protocols are due to be concluded .
thank heavens our children no longer have these problems .
the Council has informed me that in connection with the transport difficulties being experienced this week , Mr López Garrido will have to leave Strasbourg on Wednesday at 18.00 , so we will not be able to have Question Time in the evening .
the Government also recognises that it needs to make substantial changes in the area of security and justice , and is implementing an ambitious reform of the justice system in order for it to be more transparent and to bring to justice those who commit crimes , while respecting human rights .
for us , achieving that consensus requires a new balance between the social and economic pillars of the internal market strategy .
that is why this has been a lengthy and wide-ranging debate , but it has also been a good debate .
Mr President , Friday will mark one month since the devastating earthquake in Haiti .
we also concur with you that smart grids and the roll-out of smart meters by Member States are key to realising this potential .
Parliament will recall that profound misgivings over the list prepared for the 2007 elections were a key factor in the postponement of the polls .
if one Member State is being blackmailed by a supplier , it should speak out .
therefore , given the importance of artistic subjects , I am in favour of Europe-wide coordination of their teaching in educational institutions .
at the same time , we saw that it is not always sensible to tackle the problems of energy crises on an ad hoc basis , since a crisis blows up every six months or so .
so I welcome the Commission initiative and Mr Ehler 's report but further work needs to be done .
regrettably , Directive 2006 / 114 / EC concerning misleading and comparative advertising , which applies to business-to-business transactions , fails to provide a sufficiently effective remedy or is inadequately enforced by Member States .
that is why it is our duty to voice honest criticisms .
let us not be motivated by personal ambitions .
we agree with most of the measures proposed to address the risks arising from excessive consumption of alcohol by young people , and with the need for measures to tackle the harmful social impact of alcohol abuse , particularly domestic violence - we know that the incidence of domestic violence resulting from alcohol abuse is very high .
we are thus talking about a motion for a resolution , or a proposal for a resolution .
in the future , Galileo will ensure more effective , secure and environmentally sound transport .
implementation should be regulated through a Commission action plan .
this is all very welcome .
the Commission has already examined very seriously Parliament 's guidelines for the 2010 budget , and agrees with most of the points .
President of the Council , I wish you a successful Presidency .
Chronological order - time order .
at the same time , the European Commission refuses to listen to us when we say that the European Agency for Reconstruction has been an essential mechanism for ensuring the visibility of the European presence in the Western Balkans , ensuring European political leadership and ensuring sound and effective financial management .
( DE ) Mr President , human beings do not have crumple zones .
I would just like to remind the House that the EU Financial Regulation has recently been modified to recognise explicitly this call for innovative instruments .
we must return to the issue of an EU environmental inspection force , which I fully support .
one of the disturbing features of this Parliament , which I find on so many issues , is an undercurrent and sometimes overcurrent of anti-American feeling .
these changes have been particularly dramatic for the regions and families affected .
( HU ) The history of the EU up to now has been a history of continuous enlargement , and this enlargement is also one of the most obvious testaments to the success and attractiveness of the European Union .
it should be pointed out that there is a link between the shortage of organs and the illegal trade in them .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to describe the grave situation in which Italian fisherfolk find themselves because they are not allowed to fish for whitebait .
this is enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union .
it is hard to see why a proposal on , for example , the dairy sector should somehow attract the attention of wine policymakers .
last but not least , I would like to thank the shadow rapporteurs , the technical staff from the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy and the CFSP staff from the latter committee with whom I have worked outstandingly well .
so the answer to your question is yes .
I prefer action .
we naturally hope that you will extricate us from this prickly situation .
- ( DE ) Madam President , I should like to say to Mr Hannan that the European Central Bank is also a good thing because we had no currency depreciation such as that regrettably experienced by the British pound over recent months .
without even waiting to hear the opinion of the European Commission , you are already making statements , putting forward malicious accusations and making excessive and unfounded comments .
1 .
overall , this factsheet that has been published is a precursor to this directive , which starts to discuss whether we are still allowed to use ' Miss ' and ' Mrs ' , or whether we need to get rid of all words ending in ' man ' , such as statesman or sportsman , because it could all be discriminatory .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner Barrot , the report now before us is a third-reading compromise and can broadly be described as a victory for the European Parliament over the Council , over the Member States that are often over-protective of their national rail authorities and shield them off .
some think that this is not such a big advance , but how big the added value of these machines is to airport security and what the consequences are for health and privacy is not yet entirely clear today .
the European Parliament has shown that it is capable of taking operational decisions and it is therefore right that the Treaty of Lisbon should give more power to the Parliament , in other words to the elected representatives of Europe 's citizens .
every non-EU worker wishing to settle in Europe will still have to get a residence permit first .
14 .
of course , this is not the end of the story .
for example , 1 032 petitions were submitted in 2005 and 1 016 in 2006 .
as the EU is an undemocratic institution itself , and one that I strongly believe should not have a foreign policy agenda , I cannot endorse any third country activity by it .
I believe the opposite to be true .
we would like to have seen more emphasis on ADR forms of redress , particularly in the on-line world which is something we , as a committee , have long supported .
I urge you to stop the manipulation , and to allow the people themselves to determine their future by putting them in possession of the truth .
I would particularly like to draw your attention to the fact that many people like to treat Central and Eastern European countries en masse , even though these countries are very diverse , with different crisis exit strategies as well .
European action can add value , and many information tools such as the EU health portal are already in place .
it should be noted that when part of a widespread and systematic practice , rape and sexual slavery are recognised under the Geneva Convention as crimes against humanity and war crimes .
why should our garden tables be made of wood from the rainforest and why are exotic parquet floors better than floors made of EU wood ?
furthermore , these two countries , Brazil and Mexico , have a particularly important role to play in concluding the future post-Kyoto agreement , which we hope will be signed in Copenhagen in December .
a dollar that is credible among the major currencies of the advanced economies is in the interests of the United States , of Europe and of the entire international community .
to the Members of this House from the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) - who run after either the Commission or the Council - I would state that we are not here to let things through on the nod , but rather to think for ourselves .
so the additional effort needed to realise the proposals would be less than 0.5 % of GDP by 2020 .
therefore , thorough assessment is indeed important in order to examine the effectiveness of the sanctions policy .
we have delivered and lived up to our formal pledges in the first period from 2008 to 2012 .
the dispute over Macedonia 's name would not be the first time a new Member State brought insoluble problems with it .
thank you for your attention .
this is an area which is anything but transparent .
we support the Ombudsman 's conclusions in relation to the inordinate delay , as acknowledged by the Commission this evening in this House .
neither tightening up the Stability and Growth Pact nor the so-called strict conditionality of the future stability mechanism will therefore lead us to our goal .
in this way , these eight Member States were able to join the Visa Waiver Programme , which is why they did it .
analyses will also be necessary .
the spectacle of the hanging of Saddam Hussein was not in any way a means of reducing this violence .
thank you very much , the joint debate is now closed .
we have put in an amendment to paragraph 39 since , as far as I can see , there simply was no G2 leaders ' agreement to work on a financial transaction or Tobin tax , so it is absurd to welcome such an agreement , even if we have already done so , erroneously , in the G20 resolution .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( FI ) Madame President , first of all my sincere thanks go to Mrs Hassi for her cooperation on this resolution .
these funds should , in fact , be increased , so that everyone , regardless of their age , gender or location , has access to the same opportunities in terms of vocational education and careers .
the Basel Committee is a group of more or less intelligent central bankers and overseers , but it is certainly no infallible council of wise men and it is definitely not the law .
the Commission only makes reference to formal proceedings being opened against Member States that have not transposed EU law into their national legal systems .
but my Group is happy with the compromises reached by the rapporteur , Mr Savary , and we shall support version three in the vote .
all Zionist lies and exaggerations , was the conservative newspaper Kayhan 's verdict on the purported nuclear threat .
those costs may easily be far higher than 5 % in the case of very small enterprises , while being considerably lower for very large ones .
many thanks to all those who support my report .
( DE ) Madam President , first of all I would like to congratulate the Council on its agreement on the third way for the Climate Change and Energy package .
Mr President , the greatest gift that we can give to any child is that of a happy home .
for this reason , the initiative of introducing a " legislative imprint ” , even if voluntary , both for the documents drafted by the Commission and for the European Parliament reports , is welcomed .
I can assure Parliament that we would not hesitate for a moment to intervene in such a case if the Treaty or the Charter was violated or if Union law was not respected .
it also opens up prospects for the relaunch and mining of coal and calls for international cooperation , including with countries outside the EU , such as China and India .
we need a strategy for the countries of the former Soviet Union in Central Asia and Transcaucasia .
this is perfectly correct , but we must also make it easier for people to live in climate-friendly ways .
the Commission should be more forthright about its intentions on this subject coming up to the referendum on the Reform Treaty .
economic governance and Article 9 of the Treaty of Lisbon ( debate )
even before this Greek crisis we were suggesting and proposing more coordination of economic policies .
in our view , therefore , Wednesday will be an excellent moment for a statement by the Council and the Commission and for a round of speakers from the political groups , if only to show our support for these new developments in Burma .
many more can be .
it is particularly important , however , that we ensure that public funds are distributed in such a way that the measures we consider necessary can be financed .
the following amendments have been proposed :
young people are , unfortunately , one of the social groups worst hit by the global financial crisis and should be given assistance to enter the labour market and to be able to shape their own future and support the economy .
as a result , there is a growing wave of indignation among millions of workers , women , young people , victims of salary cuts and precarious , poorly paid work , the unemployed , and retired people with pitiful pensions .
in writing . - I have always sustained and encouraged the European goals of the Republic of Moldova .
in some cases , consumers have had to accept outrageous bills that have not been backed up by any universally applicable calculation .
these poor people and their families are constant targets of a brutal and vicious Iranian regime .
this therefore requires political awareness and , for me , that has two goals .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , we must regrettably adopt a directive tomorrow which does not meet our own criterion of better regulation .
this was the message from various leaders at the recent United Nations meeting .
however , I also said , and I reiterate this too , that as the honourable Members know well , the time limits were as they were , so that the Council and the Commission had to take action within a very short time frame .
all this would contribute to a democratic and transparent electoral process under appropriate security conditions .
Mr President , in this report we do have reference to the mobilisation of the EU solidarity fund , which we talked about slightly earlier .
we shall continue to take action in this matter .
I agree with that and also with the phrase that asks the Council to take action to ensure equal pay for equal work .
Mr President , eight years ago Jörg Haider 's immigrant-hating party entered into a coalition government in Austria .
the creation of peace and stability in this country must , and shall , succeed where centuries of its history have combined to achieve this .
I think that is extremely important .
situation in Pakistan following the assassination of Benazir Bhutto ( debate )
from now on , Europe must prove its ability to react and to translate its solidarity into practical measures .
( FR ) Mr President , I should like to address the commissioner in order to voice my concern .
we get the impression that this is more a case of teaching a harsh lesson , but we do not get the impression that teaching harsh lessons is what could help the European Union at the moment .
I shall of course be voting against amendments which make it possible for Member States to drag their feet over liberalisation during the transitional period .
( DE ) Mr President , for the same reasons that I gave in the case of the Jeggle report , I and my CSU colleagues voted against Lutz Goepel 's report .
( RO ) Mr President , the European Union 's energy strategy must focus on energy efficiency , reducing the consumption of primary energy and energy poverty , as well as on promoting energy from renewable sources and the Union 's energy security .
this will facilitate education in the area of information technology , as well as making it easier to obtain information , especially for people who live in rural areas .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Budgets . - ( DE ) Madam President , the interest of the Committee on Budgets in the legislation on electronic communication , the so-called telecom package , is naturally focused on the part involving expenditure from the European budget .
for many years , we have given our support to despotic regimes and dictatorships in the Arab world .
I found this work interesting , useful , and full of challenges and pleasant moments .
Bavaria has a particular interest in the Danube Strategy . I am therefore grateful and pleased that we are now pressing forward with this strategy .
it would be positive if the European Union were to take this into account and play a more active role .
combined with provisions on energy security , reduction of emissions and job creation , this report takes a holistic approach that will represent the best way for an economy to thrive in the future .
what this means is that we need to work within the framework of international private law and not within the substantive framework of family law , wherein each State will continue to have its own laws .
I was pleased that some parliamentary groups and Members of Parliament thought likewise .
Belgrade has demonstrated its commitment to EU integration , not least by implementing the interim agreement with the EU unilaterally , and I assume that the ICTY should now be satisfied with Serbia 's efforts .
there are approximately 540 people dead , and the dead are still being exhumed from the ruins .
therefore , it was also important to us Social Democrats to tie in the 2011 budget with a debate that has a more long-term perspective : about own resources , the budget ceilings for 2012 and 2013 , and the financing of the new financial support mechanism .
in 2004 the Commission commissioned a study intended to shed light on whether a legal provision is reasonable for limiting particulate emissions from two-stroke engines .
Montenegro should be judged solely on merit , facts and achievements .
you have simply failed to include this in the strategy and I am wondering why .
( FI ) Mr President , Baroness Ashton , this report is especially welcome because the European Union must have a clear and consistent strategy for countries like Iran .
according to the original proposal , many SMEs would be excluded from the process since they would have to contribute at least 50 % towards the cost of the projects .
nothing has changed .
( applause )
this has been done .
we had to argue and wrestle over many important issues , but at the end of the day we came up with a workable compromise containing many elements that can generally be regarded as positive .
we have allocated EUR 7.2 million to Debate Europe , EUR 2 million of which to cofinance transnational projects and EUR 5.2 million to cofinance decentralised calls and actions supporting local projects administered by the representations .
we and the rest of the world have signed up to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child .
lastly , the Commission played a large part in drafting laws laying down minimum standards for harmonising applicable criminal legislation .
- ( SK ) The Catania report covers many human rights issues .
we will not be able to tell citizens that it is necessary to address the challenges of globalisation , that it is necessary to be more competitive and that the operation of our markets must improve , if our policies do not respond to a greater degree of social inclusion which is also provided for by more competitive and more productive economies .
it says that we need to further enhance democracy . we need to enhance access to documents .
we are far from being able to do this and the intervention which took place in Congo , and we do need to be self-critical at this point , was obviously not as successful as we would have liked .
the key point regarding the totality of these initiatives is that their purpose is to make EU peacekeeping and crisis management activities more effective .
first of all , we should investigate how to achieve the 2o C target , which is the result of Copenhagen .
the recommendations contained in the report by Mr Adamou are a step in the right direction : an exchange of best practice , increased cooperation , more organ sharing between Member States , better public awareness and the need to preserve the voluntary and non-commercial nature of organ donation .
the World Food Programme is feeding 20 to 25 million people who are at risk from malnutrition and death by the end of 2009 if we do not do this .
I very much welcome the report that you are considering today .
the European Union 's operation , known as the EUFOR Chad-Central African Republic operation , will be conducted for one year from the date of declaration of the initial operational capability and will be neutral and impartial .
I believe we need the Commission 's encouragement in the form of action in the region , at both country and regional levels , for this area to become truly democratic and stable .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I believe , in all seriousness , we can say that we in Europe are standing at a crossroads , and it is a crossroads where two major crises require action on our part at the same time .
the figures have improved in recent years , but the problem still calls for commitment from many partners : Member States of the European Union are numbered among the latter .
if we ignore the Romantic , almost monarchist ideas which pervade the spirit of the preamble , I would like to mention some areas we regard as being highly sensitive , in contrast to our fellow Members from Fidesz who are also Members of the European Parliament .
congratulations to you , Mr President , and all the best to your country and your people .
yet in my small country just weeks ago we had the Deputy First Minister , Martin McGuinness , who knows more than most about the hideous practice of terrorism , reverting to form and vehemently attacking the German Government 's current application , under a European arrest warrant , for the extradition of an Irish Republican suspect for a bombing many years ago in Germany .
in this case , however , the amount spent on sport - barely half of one per cent in some countries - is out of all proportion to the significance of sport as a social phenomenon .
we have been talking about it for a long time - too long .
it has a worse reputation than it actually deserves and its position has been guaranteed .
dreams are shattered and lives are destroyed .
she is facing deportation back to Italy where she first sought asylum and we are doing all that we can to raise Rima 's case to appeal to all those that can help her .
however , these last four months of misery following the elections have shown how regrettable it is that the international community , including the European Union , has not made sufficient use of diplomatic channels for a peaceful and political solution to the crisis .
I am convinced that mountain regions require new means of protecting their territory against flooding , with an emphasis on flood prevention , whilst farmers and foresters can support anti-flooding preventive measures by means of the direct area-related payments which they receive under the common agricultural policy .
the statement that the fundamental rights of the European Union will be written into the Hungarian Constitution is also proof of Hungary 's fundamental desire to be part of European culture .
it has enabled us to get where we are and to be a reference point for other countries .
however , let me also clearly state that we both expect and require that this step expresses a change of attitude on the part of the Council with respect to Parliament .
particularly in this area , it is older employees who have a wealth of experience and can make a company innovative .
I would like to say that we send , and will continue to send , the minutes of the SIS II committee on a very regular basis .
we need to know where the emergency food supplies , the tents and the blankets are .
the Hungarian Presidency is particularly committed to the package of six economic governance laws .
if the European Court of Human Rights clearly has no respect for such human rights , I cannot see that it is possible to recognise it here as an approved and appropriate decision-making body .
( PL ) Mr President , today 's discussion is one of the most important and significant discussions to be held in the European Parliament .
we remember the victims of authoritarian systems , the victims in European countries , in nationalistic and militaristic regimes , in Spain , in Portugal and in Greece .
( CS ) Madam President , in the debate on the CE marking yesterday I drew the attention of the Commission yet again to the fact that registration of the CE marking has still not been initiated , although it has been enshrined in European legislation for 16 years now and I asked for it in parliamentary interpellation three months ago .
I voted in favour of the text presented by Mrs Wallis .
we have experience , and I believe that Europe will be better as a result of this crisis because we will regulate better .
rapporteur . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to thank Commissioner Barrot and Mrs Yade for their words in support of my report .
there are a few reasons why I abstained in the vote , namely that in my opinion inadequate sanctions are provided for , no right of withdrawal is planned in the case of Internet auctions and , above all , the definition of doorstep selling is very vague .
the humanitarian situation today remains heart-breaking .
that is the right approach .
I shall select one such aspect : the plea in Mr Schmitt 's report for extra financial support for sports clubs that actively collaborate with schools .
( FR ) Mr President , Mr Van Rompuy , Mr Barroso , I should like to begin by addressing the issue of public spending at European level .
the people who initiated this debate must apologise not only to the Commissioner , but also to all European citizens , because it is precisely this kind of behaviour from Parliament which leads to a lack of interest from European citizens in its activities , disappointment and low voter turnout in European Parliament elections .
could I ask him whether this will have any implications for equalisation ?
we need to make sure that when it comes to the discharge of the 2008 budget , significantly more progress is made .
this proposal is based on the regulation in force and is intended to safeguard coastal activities by financing the sector 's modernisation , not least , equipment and computerisation .
I would like to say that the ' Kozloduy Programme ' must not only focus on financing the transfer of irradiated materials , increasing energy efficiency in Bulgaria and financing alternative energy sources .
in November 2008 , the European Parliament also adopted a resolution on the situation in the beekeeping sector which called on the Commission to put in place specific actions and to make sure these actions were coordinated .
obviously , we are not indifferent to the fate of Serbia 's Hungarian ethnic minority , and indeed we have made an effort to keep the issue of Vojvodina on the European agenda .
I am of the opinion that we should use the document evaluating the results and shortcomings of the 2006 Action Plan as the basis for this evaluation .
that is why the Commission is concentrating its efforts on introducing a mechanism that will make it possible to develop knowledge and cooperation between Member States , consumers and businesses .
on the other hand , the ICT department should propose specific measures for replacing hard copy administrative documents with environmentally-friendly , electronic versions .
( PT ) Mr President , recent Eurostat figures show that Portugal is one of the countries with the highest levels of job insecurity : 22 % of workers are in precarious jobs , while the European Union average is 13.5 % .
bearing in mind that the accusations date back to 2004 , which means that they were made before Mrs Hankiss became a Member of this House , I am voting in favour of waiving her parliamentary immunity .
without this , we will have a European haystack of information with bits of straw blowing around in the wind and without any hope of finding the proverbial needle , that needle which is the key piece of information that prevents a terrorist atrocity .
the Agency will be responsible for renewing and issuing certificates and licences and for monitoring the application of uniform safety standards .
if there is something which needs to be discussed , I invite you to do so in the relevant committees .
it is possible , indeed probable , that some think that this statement is naïve ; even more so given that the main European negotiator did not even believe in it sufficiently and returned to his country , leaving all the negotiations on behalf of Europe in the hands of someone who knows nothing about what is on the table , despite the future capacities that she may have .
the need for a long-term strategic vision on energy is obvious .
this is not a resolution against the Egyptian Government , which has acted to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice ; rather , it is a time to reflect on a vast and concerning issue .
Turkey must immediately withdraw all Turkish troops , end the occupation and stop holding the Turkish-Cypriot community hostage , because it , not the Greek Cypriots , is responsible for the so-called isolation of Turkish Cypriots .
finally , I am surprised at the sum of EUR 10.3 billion of ' outstanding commitments ' which is 25 % of the total funds committed , and it is imperative that the Commission should reduce these funds still more drastically , especially old and dormant commitments .
this is exactly why I would like to welcome the amendments which the EU 2020 strategy is introducing from this perspective .
for these reasons , the proposal should not be thrown out but I cannot give it my full support .
major damage was caused to the entire monastery complex while the police simply sat by and watched .
subject : demography report
one of the strongest incentives the EU has is being part of the euro area .
we must be careful to avoid contradiction here .
Mr Audy , the national voting system is a bit more complicated in some States .
where are the answers for the nearly 100 million people in poverty in this European Union , including more than 20 million workers on low wages and with insecure jobs , which contributes to the scandalously high profits of big business and finance ?
the next item is the statements by the Council and the Commission on preparation of the European Council .
it is interesting to find that countries that are our ACP partners say one thing when they are talking to Brussels and the various capitals and then say something quite different in New York , when it comes to discussing the matter at global level .
in addition to setting a three-year frequency for these summits , sectoral ministerial and expert meetings are planned for the various areas of the action plan , together with regular contacts between the Commissions of the European Union and the African Union .
now , in the course of 20 years , the context of the negotiations has changed profoundly .
in writing . - It is essential to define the role of the EU in the turmoil taking place in many Arab countries in general and Egypt in particular .
do not be surprised , Commissioner , if farmers who cannot get prices for their products that will at least cover production costs simply do not sow the crop or break up their herds .
we send some two million containers from the EU , and this system , if introduced , would cover more than 700 ports all over the world , so you can imagine what kind of problems it will cause .
it has also become apparent that we are facing a serious shortcoming , namely , the general lack of cooperation between rail , road and air transport .
I welcome your commitment to opening all the chapters by the end of the year .
this is an excellent instrument which will strengthen democracy , involve people more and enable them to take the initiative .
this should also be remembered when we discuss these levels : that there are differences between the countries .
nonetheless , I would add that I believe those in positions of political responsibility in general - Members of this House included - must always keep their discourse truthful and respectful of other involved parties , which has not always happened .
the principle of mutual recognition , the cornerstone of mutual cooperation , is very far from being satisfactorily recognised .
the way that China has used its disagreements with Taiwan to play politics with matters of public health is to be deprecated . so too is the shameful silence that so many people in Europe keep in the face of China 's pressure .
it is important to pay more attention to adult learning .
that is a debate for another time .
why is this the case ?
in writing . - The idea of a Generalised System of Preferences ( GSP ) goes back to 1968 , when tariffs were much higher in general and when they were still seen as the main barrier to trade from developing to industrialised countries .
that means specific individual numbers on reduction of emissions and a detailed finance package to help developing countries both to develop mitigation programmes and to adapt to climate change .
( PT ) Once again , many thanks to Mr Coelho , our President-in-Office and Commissioner Frattini .
I particularly endorse the call by Parliament for an agreement which reflects the 2 ° Celsius objective .
the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety has recommended that plenary bans the sticking together of separate pieces of meat and therefore does not allow thrombin to be used as an additive .
according to information provided by the Court of Auditors , SESAR 's annual accounts for the financial year 2009 are reliable and the underlying transactions are legal and regular .
there are two points to which Greece will need to pay particular attention : 1 . the cohesion policy Objective 1 regions ; this point has to do with convergence in terms of gross national product , which needs serious strengthening .
we seek guarantees from the Government to convene independent election commissions , compile a proper voter registration list , lift longstanding restrictions on the media , permit freedom of association , expression and assembly in Burma , and revoke new regulations that criminalise legitimate debate about the referendum .
both have shown their weaknesses , but a genuine political commitment could rectify our mistakes .
I voted in favour of the resolution on EU cohesion and regional policy after 2013 .
generally , in the European Union there is a broad societal consensus on organ donation for the purpose of transplantation .
however , Mr President , I must point out another aspect , which is that this cooperation and its effectiveness are important not only for the two continents of Latin America and Europe but also , due to the values defended by these two groups throughout the world , for the global context .
on this point , I wish to congratulate us all , including Parliament and the Commission .
I voted in favour of the report establishing a common legal and fiscal status for the European political parties .
it is necessary to check whether Union funds are being well used , whether these institutions are meeting the objectives outlined for them , and whether any resources are being wasted .
it is a shame that the resolution does not address this specific problem , which is currently receiving a lot of attention in the media once again .
for example , the Council decisions of 13 June 2002 and 8 May 2003 established the capacity for the Member States to cooperate at national , intergovernmental level to prosecute these crimes , which fortunately - and we all remember the case of General Pinochet - are even part of the legislation in some Member States .
the CAP system is too complex in other areas as well , and it is often opaque and incomprehensible to farmers .
all that is already in hand .
we have experience .
at the same time , I would remind you that there are those who believe that the protection of privacy is important and must be adequately safeguarded .
equally , do we put women off staying at home with children because we as a society value this less than the workplace ?
this is totally unbelievable .
( LT ) Today , it really is very important to reconcile work and family life better by striving for economic growth , welfare and competitiveness in the field of gender equality .
that means that we have offered the possibility for Belarus to come closer to the European Union through the European Neighbourhood Policy .
unfortunately , the responsibility for this does not lie with Parliament .
moreover , Serbia 's potential accession , just like the visa waiver , will lead to even more emigration into Western Europe , emigration that will be of no benefit to us .
allow to me to give you the very latest information on how the refugee situation on the borders of Libya is developing at this moment .
we wanted to provide citizens with a clear , simple and effective instrument in order to bring them closer to the institutions .
I voted in favour of the recommendation to allow Ukraine to participate in current EU programmes and those established in the future , in areas such as enterprise , energy , technologies and communications .
equally , there is the agreement and conclusion that ratification processes will continue .
but we are also concerned that we find a status for those who currently cannot return to their countries of origin because of conflict and are therefore left destitute , often on our streets .
we , or more precisely many Members on the right , are closing our eyes to what is happening .
in our view , this is long overdue .
but then we condemned all of Africa through a failure on our part in Europe to help them to build joint and common strategies with regard to how we process development and allow Africa not just to grow economically or in trade terms but to allow them to take leadership roles to help those countries in Africa that have been successful and to give guidance and direction to other countries that need to be brought forward .
at the moment , sadly , it is not .
this is why , as the situation threatens to degenerate into a surge in social inequalities , which we are at risk of no longer being able to control , I want to emphasise the need to focus greater attention on the problems of the unemployed who are the most affected and vulnerable among us in the current crisis .
although we are commemorating the 10th anniversary of UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women , peace and security , much remains to be done in this area , especially with regard to violence against women , EU guidelines on the use of children in armed conflicts and combating all forms of discrimination against them .
our third and final observation concerning Mr Brie 's report is that it is essential to improve cooperation and relations between Afghanistan and its neighbours in order to ensure permanent stability in the country , especially given the multi-dimensional nature of some of the problems clearly highlighted by Mr Brie , notably drug production and trafficking .
I think that this report is an important one , given the influence of the tourism sector on the European Union 's economy and the proportion of jobs it provides .
the proposal for a regulation establishes a mechanism , on the basis of which Member States will be able to renegotiate , negotiate and conclude bilateral agreements with third countries in the area of judicial cooperation in civil and commercial matters .
what will we be doing today if we adopt this unacceptable text you are proposing ?
the Commission further estimates that EUR 550 million will have to come from the programming of EFF operational programmes .
( DE ) Madam President , the Rasmussen report is entitled ' hedge funds and private equity ' .
advertising can be intrusive , and increasingly it is so ; it invades private life .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( LV ) Madam President , on behalf of the Union for Europe of the Nations Group I would like to stress that we support the ESDP military mission within the largest peace-keeping mission in the world , in Chad and the Central African Republic .
next door to Europe lie Russia and Belarus , which do not currently have the same high safety standards that we have in the European Union .
the US needs to change its domestic legislation to allow EU investors majority ownership of US airlines , generating reciprocal measures from the EU .
some Member States are already monitoring and reporting on SBA implementation .
it is important to keep them on the path towards Europe .
it is widely known that the EU has developed and implemented many measures relating to the protection of human rights and the spread of democracy .
the arbitrary arrest and conviction of Hu Jia has caused outrage throughout the world .
their experience of the State is its role as a regulatory power or tax authority , and we are all well aware that this is only of peripheral interest to citizens .
this is crucial to the WTO negotiations .
it is very disappointing and incomprehensible to see the PPE shirking this responsibility .
to this end , the Green Paper suggests the creation of a forum on market-based instruments , which would allow knowledge to be shared across sectoral boundaries and Member States .
( BG ) We must congratulate the Lower House of the Czech Parliament for ratifying the Lisbon Treaty .
with their integrated economies , together they represent around half the global economy : this transatlantic partnership is the main engine of global economic prosperity .
it is not just about actual regression in healthcare provision ; it is also about declining social standards , reduced access to education and making education more difficult .
that is to say , if we place the human factor centre stage , creating jobs certainly is the most important task , because if we can guarantee that everyone who wants to work can do so , I believe that we cannot offer more than this to our citizens .
in this situation , if we want to have influence in the post-Soviet space and consolidate the positions of democracy and human rights in this region , then we must work with Ukraine , and more actively than ever before .
if so , then my second question is : why have these requests not yet been answered ?
this often does not happen in the best possible way .
we voted in favour of it because it promised a review of the discard system .
lifestyle criticism , which Mr Verheugen mentioned , has long been an unpleasant aspect of the European climate debate .
recently Commissioner Verheugen stated that in the past five years the Commission has taken Member States to the European Court of Justice a whole 19 times in cases where Member States have legislated to protect the environment .
I feel that it should also facilitate synergies with other EU policies such as trans-European transport networks , the common fisheries policy , climate and environment actions , the research and development framework programme , energy policy , etc .
one of the European Union 's objectives , in terms of renewable energy , is the regeneration of towns in Central and Eastern Europe by increasing their energy efficiency .
for this reason , I shall be voting against the report and against the proposal .
we support a more robust common external energy security policy under the CFSP with regard to Russian oil and gas imports , but we do not see what difference the Lisbon Treaty would have made to managing this crisis .
the progress of the vote demonstrates that this match has been fixed by the forces of the European one-way street , as an alibi for their undemocratic decision .
however , this can only be achieved if we consistently and decisively condemn all human rights violations perpetrated by the Communist authorities in China .
these new measures will facilitate the reconnaissance and prosecution of trafficking cases and will encourage victims to cooperate with the authorities .
the European Union should mobilise pre-accession funds through aid across a wide front so as to promote the reform process in those countries .
we convened a Political and Security Committee meeting immediately after the Council meeting to follow up .
in the world of wine , we are a global superpower !
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , 2010 is just round the corner .
but their day will come , and it will be into the courtyard for all of us to the rattle of rifle bolts , and we will have richly deserved it .
that will reinforce our unity and our solidarity and produce a positive solution to this crisis .
I am sorry we are focusing here on Central America and Mexico , for there are many places all over the world where the matter of female murders has not been solved .
since then , the violent acts committed by these military forces and by the police forces alike have increased with complete impunity .
there needs to be equal treatment , otherwise we will open up a gap that will have incalculable consequences for the future of the Union .
the EU likes to portray itself as a force for human rights and environmental protection .
bigger companies would use the right of establishment and would be everywhere .
millions of people of various nationalities , Ukrainians , Russians , Kazakhs , Jews , Germans , Belarussians , Tartars and many others , starved to death .
it is plain to see that international trade and the Internet are mutually beneficial .
the compromise reached here was to reduce the figure allocated for office holders down from EUR 1.2 million to EUR 400 000 and , of course , documented evidence of receipts must be provided when any claims are made .
it is never too late to learn , it says .
so this is also a democratic task and mission for all of us .
one of those is also the region which I come from , Blagoevgrad .
specifically , I would ask if the Battisti affair can be included as an urgent matter .
faced with the continuing economic crisis , it is very important to ensure good financial management in order to implement the principles of economy , efficiency and effectiveness .
in this situation it would be better to show Kiev an open door to the European Union , rather than making the possibility of membership more nebulous and thus pushing the Ukrainians into orbit round Russia .
I voted to maintain this tradition and for an open market .
it is vital to improve the energy performance of buildings in order to achieve the EU 2020 strategy objectives .
anything else would be untenable .
as regards Chinese commitments for the Olympics , it is a matter for the International Olympic Committee .
that is why we want a rapid reform of OLAF .
I am also proud to say that I am part of a European Union that is leading the climate change debate and influencing others to do the same .
- Before the vote
it is obvious that you cannot develop programmes supporting young people , innovation and research and you cannot claim to be an active player in global foreign policy without the funds designed to finance all these plans .
the geopolitical situation of Central Asia is such that cooperation with these countries must be increased , both bilaterally and at EU level .
however , this means that every single one of the institutions - the Council , the Commission and Parliament - must show the public that they are committed to their responsibilities .
in fact , the opposite is true : ' oil shales ' is a broader term than ' bitumen shales ' .
I would like to congratulate the Committee on Budgets on the speed and flexibility with which it has put these transitional rules before us .
there were no more of the dramatic debates within the European Parliament , no more of the international warnings and no more of the collecting of signatures so dear to champagne socialists .
it has been described wrongly as an example of direct democracy .
as a result of this attack , two people have died , including one of the staff of our Parliament , who worked for one of our fellow Members .
I welcome the focus on better research in Europe , especially as we know that 85 % of research today is without EU coordination .
that is why we need tough , demanding legislation , and these agencies must weigh up all their responsibilities and must be supervised in order to do so .
the European Union played a major part in the successful conclusion of this conference , ensuring that the latest scientific recommendations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change were given due consideration .
if this project is to be truly effective , action must be taken on two fronts .
we must be careful to avoid falling into that trap .
- Madam President , the answer is ' yes ' .
( CS ) Madam President , I have spoken here a number of times on energy issues , and this may be my concluding comment during this term .
it does take account of the EU-US relationship in this area as equal partners , which is , of course , the long-term goal in this regard .
why does the Commission believe that developing countries can finance efficiency measures without upfront funding when EU Member States themselves have struggled to do so ?
such an agreement is expected to be able to generate a consumer surplus ( benefits in terms of lower fares ) of up to EUR 460 million .
first of all I would like to thank Mr Turmes and all the members of the trialogue for the agreement that has been reached .
in addition , the legislation finally adopted is in many ways excessive , bureaucratic and counter-productive .
finally , in recital P and paragraph 4 we ask the Commission , together with the Council , to endorse the proposal of a consensus on democracy promotion in the neighbourhood policy , in the Copenhagen Criteria , in our regional strategies in the world .
this is not the appropriate response to the economic crisis .
I support the distribution of fruit in schools .
therefore we cannot compromise on an auction , and to give everything away free of charge would be absolutely crazy .
the private sector , whose money the Commission and the Council are relying upon , does not see why it should finance a senseless dream of politicians and officials .
finally , we must make a serious commitment to human rights .
on simplification , red tape , bureaucracy - I completely agree with you that we should try to ease the situation as much as possible for our farmers , and that is the reason why , in the Council meeting on Wednesday , I will present to the Council some deregulation proposals to be discussed .
they are principles on which there can be no compromise , all the more so as we are talking here about a key partner .
this is an absolutely absurd idea .
the objective is not to make decisions but to facilitate dialogue to ensure the SEPA project is properly implemented .
it has worked splendidly in collaboration with the European Parliament and its Committee on Budgets , in particular .
that balance has , I think , been found in this report .
this will need further discussions with Slovenia , Italy and Croatia and , of course , the Commission .
in addition , there are new challenges such as ageing population , climate change , rising food prices and globalisation .
it made it possible to establish a European system for registering and supervising credit rating agencies which issue ratings used in the European Union .
do you think that the implementation or the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty would in any way affect that area in relation to taxation ?
thus , in many cases , this SME will not be able to set off any start-up losses against profits which it may continue to generate in its Member State of residence .
Commissioner , in spite of the rain , this could be a nice day .
crucial in this matter is , as before , the protection of public health against carcinogenic substances that can bring about changes in DNA , affect fertility or upset hormones .
and the promotion on the distribution has been done , for instance , by the European Producers Club , which organised co-producing workshops in China and in India .
the Belgian Presidency takes the view that tangible , specific measures are needed to meet the expectations of the parties and also to ensure confidence in the multilateral process within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ( UNFCCC ) .
it is important to apply political and economic sanctions at the same time , with the former intended to hit hardest at sectors that constitute a strategic source of income for governments .
if the European Union is truly interested in resolving the Palestinian problem , then it should stop tolerating these crimes , because tolerance translates into encouragement and complicity .
I believe that the European Parliament will also monitor closely in future how these resources are used .
I would not wish to underestimate the campaign of former Vice President Al Gore as I believe that this has had a significant impact on public opinion worldwide .
if we just continue to hold the same old debate about the technology , we will continue to avoid asking the real question , the serious question , namely does this actually help and is this the society we want to see ?
the European Union should constantly demonstrate full support for Georgia , as has been the case in the House today . in addition , the Union should systematically strengthen cooperation and immediately introduce visa facilitation measures for Georgians , especially now that fully democratic elections have been held .
office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and protection of intellectual property rights (
we have , however , been dealt with without even being listened to , dismissed , given no opportunity for a meeting .
in this debate , we must not forget that many of the crimes against children are committed within the family or within the family 's circle of friends and it is therefore important for society to ensure that children have other adult contacts so that they have someone they can turn to for help .
it is part of the raison d 'être of the European Union , part of its imperative , that we move forward .
in political , institutional and economic terms , and in terms of the practical objectives set , we are now on the right track with the Mediterranean Union .
( SK ) I voted for the European Parliament 's resolution on the legislative and work programme for 2009 owing to its overall competence .
one of the conditions for joining the Schengen zone is , indeed , strengthening external borders .
we know what we want to achieve ; we must also seek to achieve it .
the 1990 directive fails to take into account new trends , such as buying package holidays and making payments via the Internet .
despite all that money , the yards and the future of the workers remain vulnerable .
while we can be pleased about a net increase in employment figures in the light of these facts , it is in my view a mockery for every individual among the millions of unemployed and anyone who , despite doing honest work , has to live in poverty .
in the past , our trade relations with the ACP countries were based on a system of non-reciprocal trade preferences , which allowed most of the products made in the ACP States duty free access to the common market .
( applause )
the next item is the report by Mrs Weiler , on behalf of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection , on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on combating late payment in commercial transactions ( recast ) - C7-0044 / 2009 - .
the amendment to paragraph 2 , which should have been the one we took last time , is : ' believes that a military victory over the LTTE , as envisaged by the Government of Sri Lanka , will not obviate the need to find a political solution in order to ensure a lasting peace ' .
I have not much time but I will tell one short story .
the argument put forward by the Greens that this process is harmful to the environment is pure invention .
we should foster multidisciplinary education and allow for more exchanges between higher education institutions in this sector .
if the same dictators are still in power and the same deals are still being done , bringing many benefits to very few , then it will sadly have been an opportunity lost .
since violence against women is a brutal violation of human rights and one of the main obstacles standing in the way of equality between women and men , the fight against this scourge should become our main objective .
we are still in favour of it .
this is an important issue and should be resolved before accession negotiations commence .
far be it from me to thwart an agreement .
the most entrenched of these is without doubt the Irish ' no ' vote , discussed here this morning .
it is , therefore , completely new , and I will show it to you right away .
this is a necessary , but not sufficient measure , as we are all aware of the ways in which dominant companies can exercise pressure .
I would argue that European coordination is required , and that it should be directed towards two areas : innovation , in relation to the climate change package and , if I may mention it again , to the Sacconi emissions regulation , and the social sphere .
they often put off this decision because of their unfavourable financial situation , problems with finding work or the need to reconcile work with family life .
Mrs Ashton , the European Union must focus particular attention on the conflict in Kyrgyzstan , provide humanitarian aid and get involved in stabilising the situation .
the Euro Plus Pact adopted by the Heads of State or Government , with the involvement of the countries in the euro area and Bulgaria , Denmark , Lithuania , Latvia , Poland and Romania , provides us with a real chance of achieving the objectives set out in it , or in other words supporting competitiveness , employment , the stability of public finances and financial stability in general .
the Internet cannot be a virtual space where an act that constitutes an offence in the real world is deemed permissible , and even protected simply by the effect of technology and the way in which it is used .
given the crucial role played by research in economic development and job creation , it is important to avoid at all costs excessive bureaucracy and unjustified delays which prevent the scientific community from participating .
for their part , companies - SMEs in particular - will find it easier and less costly to conclude contracts under the umbrella of a common body of EU contract law .
we already know that agriculture is under huge pressure .
we in the western world - both Europe and the USA - therefore have a duty to do our utmost to secure peace and stability , which will be difficult enough .
although we are talking about 2008 , a word on the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction .
what exactly do these people want , who are rebelling against regimes which they have voted for , as their guide and governor , for the past 30 or 40 years ?
forty percent of the European honey market depends on imports , partly as a result of the opening up of the EU market to honey from third countries , and prices are close to the limits of profitability .
we may face the same problem with Italy in the immediate or more distant future .
therefore , international cooperation is of paramount importance to Europe .
the Commission will have a clear right to be heard at Council level because there can be no doubt that a common market requires common rules .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
we see that prices are going down on carcases ; we know that it is part of the cycle and we know as well that in autumn there is always pressure on pigmeat prices .
I hope that the representatives of the European institutions will listen carefully and monitor the situation in Hungary , and that they will make an uncompromising statement very soon on the undermining of the borders and the Paris Peace Treaty , and on a Hungarian constitution which enshrines support for the collective rights of Hungarian minorities and the creation of collective self-governing areas .
the reality shows us that during the 2004-2009 parliamentary term , not a single piece of legislation submitted by a committee was rejected for not including this impact study , even though its inclusion would be mandatory since the Treaty of Amsterdam .
based on the founding values of the Union and the obligations undertaken under the Treaties to which our countries are a party , the new states are now redefining their policies on the development cooperation granted to the counties that need it , diversifying their cooperation instruments and the areas covered .
the result of the consultation and legislative process is really an example of openness , contribution , commitment and even a creative innovative approach .
the Swedish national administration has lived up to everyone 's expectations .
allow me to remind you that this agreement between Bulgaria and Russia came at a time when the European Parliament was adopting with a majority of votes the report on Black Sea cooperation .
the committee will monitor progress in implementing these programmes , the international agreements associated with the two programmes , the preparation of markets , the efficiency of the management structure , and the annual programme review .
professionals should be able to benefit from the free movement of persons and freedom of establishment which , I would point out , constitute the main objective of this directive .
in my country , the total capacity of these resources would cover 13 % , to a maximum of 20 % , of essential needs .
like the previous speaker , I want to say that it is necessary for the Commission to propose at least minimum standards for penalties , and to ensure that the rules will be followed consistently across the Union and that third-country exporters will not give preference to certain countries because of lower or no sanctions .
these include :
this time , we are talking about something on paper and not - as has happened on several occasions - just words that have been spoken but not yet turned into a tangible document .
as we all know , in January 2009 the Iraqi Government took back control of that area .
this is what we call ' skill mismatch ' .
I will now raise some points which I believe we can then discuss .
we need to look at the management of our external borders and Frontex 's role in that regard .
I think that that may be a point of disagreement , once again .
the European Monitoring Centre for Racism and Xenophobia was transformed into an Agency tasked with safeguarding and promoting human rights , the Agency being officially established on 1 March 2007 .
it is for the Union to unite demand for space applications , to take stock of users ' requirements , to establish priorities and to look after the continuity of services .
these countries had already been suffering in the years prior to the crisis , however : firstly , the food crisis , which endangered the survival of hundreds of millions of people ; then , the energy crisis , which used up many of the resources of those that did not produce oil or gas ; finally , the climate crisis , the effects of which on harvests and infrastructure harm the poorest countries most of all .
to offer consumers better protection , Mr Lehtinen 's report proposes improving the existing legislation in the relevant areas , making it simpler and smoothing out any regional differences .
instead , I would like to thank the Swedish Presidency of the Council for having begun the process of bringing an end to this ignoble state of affairs .
in my country 's constitution , there is no mention of this issue , and so when will the European Parliament be holding a debate on the Italian constitution ?
the Synergy could also be a good instrument , for example , if we are talking about supporting Georgia in the democratic and economic transformations it has been going through in recent years .
( RO ) I would like to begin by congratulating Mr Cortés Lastra for his efforts in drafting his report .
and they must make all necessary efforts to ensure that energy from renewable sources is produced at accessible prices .
it is our duty to focus our attention and efforts on punishing those who are guilty of violating human rights , while also making efforts to improve women 's safety and ensure that appropriate assistance is given to victims of sexual aggression , ranging from medical aid to their reintegration into their family and society .
furthermore , the Accord sets the basis for a rather substantial financial package of USD 30 billion for the coming three years and recognises the need for USD 100 billion annually by 2020 .
the EU , as one of the richest and most developed regions in the world , has a moral duty to help the weak and those in need .
it also means freezing the assets of those who have misused state funds .
as ever , though , the committees came in at this point , and the amendments that were adopted in the Committee on Culture ruined just about any good work that was done .
it is perhaps a little strange that this idea comes forward from the mouth of a British Conservative - vote Blue , go Green - but we do need this , because , otherwise , the Commission is entirely dependent on the Member States for the information that they choose to give it .
with many actors in Haiti , this is no trivial challenge , but we have consistently been a very strong voice for UN-led humanitarian coordination .
Liechtenstein has been part of the European Economic Area since 1995 and has been steadily integrating into the European trade area .
the United Nations Security Council should review the mandate of MONUC .
in this specific case , let us be absolutely clear : the Commission has given its support to this revision because we think that it aims to respond to a challenge regarding a competence which was not provided for by the Treaty .
the old structures that we have had up to now remind me somewhat of Don Quixote 's beautiful horse , Rosinante , which thought it was a racehorse .
a macro-regional economic strategy could be the way forward in other ways , in other places , in Europe .
I thought that this Treaty , which was signed in December last year , had to come into force in a few months ' time .
Mr President , Mr Maystadt , Commissioner , as you know , the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance is traditionally very attached to the EIB .
the main concern of the EPP Group , and I am happy that all factions share the same concern , is the deterioration of media freedom in that country .
one European socialist speaker referred to the protection of common European values , and elaborated on his position to that end .
thank you .
as I cannot support the draft amending budget for the above reasons , I have decided to vote against the report in its entirety .
it went on : ' many small hill and moorland farmers are crumbling under the pressures of grant changes , bureaucratic costs and low prices caused by competition from other countries .
I am convinced that as part of the European finance schemes both for the area of civil justice and criminal justice there will be more funds in the future for remedying these shortcomings .
now the time has arrived to rethink the future of this programme without losing sight of its broader picture .
he was so right to remind us all of the fundamental principle that underlines the EU .
so the European School is an admirable project , and I support it .
one of the problems they deal with is the small number of European scholarships , especially as regards the Erasmus programme .
these are two essential instruments for the surveillance of the EU 's external borders , and we must increase their operational capability .
we take note of the idea put to us by the ever witty Mr Evans .
in addition , I ask the Vice-President of the Commission and High Representative that , when she launches or opens this investigation into the situation in Camp Ashraf , that she also investigate the human rights abuses being committed against the population by the Mujahedin , which have been witnessed and documented by organisations such as Human Rights Watch .
its most pressing mission is to act to promote human rights and to make calm relations with Uzbekistan dependent on progress with fundamental freedoms .
giving the market better information on the ECB 's interest rate decisions has long been crucial to Parliament , as is also the publication of the minutes and voting outcome .
my intention in voting against the resolution is not to hinder the wide-ranging efforts to combat AIDS , but to oppose the method and the content that I mentioned .
Mr President , when this regulation came before Parliament at first reading , I opposed attempts to allow mercury to be stored , not only in salt mines but also in underground facilities adapted for waste disposal .
in writing . - The amendment of Regulation ( EC ) No 861 / 2006 establishes the second main financial instrument of the common fisheries policy after the European Fisheries Fund .
women are at greatest risk in their own homes - domestic violence is the most common cause of injury to women , more common than traffic accidents and cancer put together .
the charter contains rights and principles , such as the right to access social security payments , housing benefits and social services .
although I have my reservations about the idea of examining the possibility of electing some Members on transnational lists , I am happy with Annex 2 of the resolution , which requires the IGC to ask Parliament for a draft providing for the election of its Members by direct universal suffrage that provides a more accurate definition of the notion of ' citizens ' in Article 9 ( a ) ( 2 ) of the Treaty on the EU .
this Court requested the extradition - that is , the waiver of immunity - of Mr Hannes Swoboda MEP .
we do have to increase the necessary investments in knowledge , innovation , sustainability and energy , resulting in a larger budget ; but the Council leaves us no choice .
I was there myself .
this indicates the sort of methods that China uses .
I therefore call on the Commission to take into account the recommendations made in the resolution signed by several political groups , including my own , because action is needed , in fact , and needed very quickly , Commissioner .
as I said , this is after all about the first Copenhagen criterion , the political criterion .
I would like to make another appeal to the Commission : perhaps you can avoid exhausting the funds for technical assistance - 0.35 % - which are at your disposal in accordance with the regulation .
over and above that statement of principle , Europe must give practical support to this initiative with directives and policies that will , in the long run , integrate all the electronic systems , nomadic or not , and make it possible to control the processes and to drive cars that are safer and cleaner , with lower CO2 and particulate emissions .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , first of all , thank you very much for this lively and interesting debate .
to the EU leaders I say : make the right choice ; listen to Ireland and hear in its voice the echo of France and the Netherlands , the demand for reform , for renewal , the demand for change .
in December 2006 , the European Parliament and the Council enacted Regulation ( EC ) No 1889 / 2006 on establishing a financing instrument for the promotion of democracy and human rights worldwide .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Mr President , I speak on behalf of my friend and former colleague in this Parliament , Mr Konstantinos Hatzidakis , who , as Mr Lehtinen says , has been elevated swiftly to the position of Minister of Transport in the Greek Government .
highly specialised healthcare has evolved asymmetrically , with the development of centres of excellence in certain countries for rare or chronic diseases which are not common in that specific place but require specialisation .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , Commission , Council , this discussion is a bit hypocritical .
the Spanish Presidency is shutting its eyes to reality , in other words , to the fact that Turkey is not part of Europe , either geographically or from a spiritual and cultural point of view .
the Europeanisation of our border controls has been done thoughtlessly , without preparation and under pressure from ideological extremists who consider the security of citizens to be less important than the great ideal of the new European Soviet Union .
in writing . - The EPP-ED Group is generally supportive of the thrust of the original report by Jean Lambert .
sanctions need to be applied on a case-by-case basis and targeted in a way that avoids affecting innocent parties .
all Europeans would have shared that deep emotion .
however , the question of energy security and Turkey 's crucial geographical location mean that it is slowly becoming indispensable for securing European interests .
( PT ) Good afternoon , ladies and gentlemen .
the main problem arose with the European Police College CEPOL .
these efforts could also be supported by creating a statistical register of enterprises in the social economy in each European Union Member State and by inputting the data into the EUROSTAT European statistics system .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( FR ) Madam President , Mr Masip , as you have underlined , the Council did indeed decide , on 23 June , to resume relations with Cuba , in light of certain recent positive human rights developments .
I very much look forward to making serious and sustained progress with you over the time I am responsible for this sector .
the funds go to EU parties which are pure paper interventions of Brussels , parties which the people have never asked for , either as citizens or as taxpayers .
the EU must build up its capacity to intervene in crisis situations such as this .
against this background , I am really rather disappointed with the responses .
why do we not make use of the fact that we have these gender requirements to encourage the Member States to make efforts to resolve this shameful pay gap .
I thank the rapporteur for the good cooperation , thanks to which the European Parliament 's Groups managed largely to agree on a joint text .
in writing . - ( FR ) For more than three years now the Council and the European Union have been at loggerheads over this Working Time Directive .
now , imagine you have just made a multi-million pound investment in a new state-of-the-art factory which annually produces a high value product from a renewable and sustainable resource to the highest internationally recognised standards .
we face unfair competition from an increasing number of foreign trucks taking up more than their fair share of cross-border haulage .
we still have five months to make sure that China fulfils its commitments .
the next item is six motions for a resolution on Zimbabwe .
but it is a text that advances democracy in Europe .
- Madam President , defined external frontiers are the essential attribute of nationhood .
in rural areas in particular it may be observed that the population for this reason frequently makes recourse to traditional fuels made from biomass , such as charcoal ovens .
( NL ) Congratulations to the rapporteur , Mr Van Hecke , for a good report .
I think that it is important for us to set the right priorities in the budget , but the work on monitoring the money and its use is as important as budgeting for the right purposes .
complementarity also exists between actions supported by the cohesion policy and by the rural development policy as clearly set out in the Community Strategic Guidelines of both policies .
what hope can we offer my generation , this European generation bearing the brunt of unemployment , insecurity and exclusion , these young people who are mistrustful of Europe , who expect a lot from Europe and therefore from you ?
only this will allow us to retain territorial and social cohesion within the EU .
however , emphasis must be placed immediately on modernisation , with the possibility of mixed models .
there are enough cautionary examples of such desecration in western Europe .
if Parliament wants to be an honest broker for peace in the Middle East it should stop producing unbalanced resolutions .
some of them are more than a thousand times more intense as global warmers than carbon dioxide .
to date , the results from our research projects do not indicate any reasons why a GM-free status would be beneficial for public health or for the environment .
we have a Communist party which is behaving in exactly the same way as the Soviet-style Communist parties which enslaved half of Europe in the 20th century .
the declaration would read : ' the Commission recognises the pressing need for the collective management of the rights of phonogram performers and phonogram producers when radio or television productions incorporating broadcasts from commercial phonograms as an integral part thereof are made available to the public in such a way that members of the public may access the radio or television productions from a place and at a time individually chosen by them .
when I was in the region recently , in Tbilisi , someone from another country in the area said that regional cooperation was a concept which had been imposed on the region by Europe .
that does indeed put him in a position to spur on the reforms .
rapporteur . - Mr President , I am really glad we had the opportunity to debate this important matter tonight , and I am proud to present this new proposal to enhance the position of European consumers .
Mr President , first of all , let me congratulate the rapporteur , Mrs Patrão Neves , for the very hard work that she has done on this report .
from that perspective , it is evident that the penal codes of Texas or China , which can allow something as extraordinarily rare as life to be ended , are a real aberration .
it needs to be stated publicly so that we can have a proper debate in Europe .
finally , the energy chapter cannot be opened as long as Turkey prevents the Republic of Cyprus from exercising its sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone .
it is a little unfortunate that the Earl of Dartmouth did not understand that you had also allowed him this opportunity to reply .
given that the European Union is a legal entity based on treaties and legislative acts , it is vital that these are properly implemented in a uniform way across the 27 Member States .
investment , in particular in capital goods , remains at high levels , supporting current economic activity and anticipating future improvements in productivity .
in writing . - It is important that all aspects of the Cotonou Agreement are reviewed in the light of recent developments which are having a significant impact on ACP countries .
VAT fraud is a criminal activity which has a huge impact on budgets , with illegal refund schemes being used in all Member States , Romania being no exception ( for example , carousel fraud ) .
within months he had stood down , having performed his function of bringing ridicule upon the European Parliament .
very well , I am obviously in agreement , but why not think of the euro as a currency that saves us not only from inflation but , by means of a little virtuous and guaranteed debt , also secures us greater liquidity to launch a major European investment programme by issuing Eurobonds ?
is this still a rescue operation , or is it what I would almost call a nationalisation operation ?
I think that the results of such a trial will be very informative for other regions .
this is the dynamic that we applied so marvellously during the last major enlargement of the EU .
I believe that the new Parliament will not delay its response , which we expect to receive in February .
I wish to conclude on an important note : the issue of democracy and human rights .
this mechanism remains a partial response which is not sufficient to encourage growth and reduce unemployment .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Budgetary Control . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , in its report on policy strategies for 2007 the European Parliament expressed scepticism regarding the European Institute of Technology , stressing the risk of duplication of structures already in existence and fearing that it might compete with already limited funding for research .
I think that , on this issue , and on many other important issues raised today , this will truly be an opportunity to bring together the whole debate in the revision which the Commission is getting ready to propose to us .
in particular , I support the call for closer monitoring and more coordination between the Commission and the Member States so as to ensure that imported food products meet the EU 's quality and food safety standards , as well as its environmental and social standards .
as a second point , I agree with Commissioner Kroes that there is a need to check carefully whether there are any non-commercial considerations .
it is the High Representative 's direct duty to ensure that these structures will be integrated and operate coherently .
( DE ) Mr President , the new role of Parliament after the Treaty of Lisbon will be very important , and I hope that Parliament will seize the opportunities it is given to the best of its ability .
( SV ) The oral amendment concerns the deletion of a single word , and that is the word ' and ' .
the Single Market accounts for 500 million people ; it is an economic entity , but it is also a political entity which must afford us more influence in shaping globalisation .
the advantage of this package is indeed that it builds several checks and balances into the system , through which crises like the one of 2008 can be avoided in the future .
it is in the conclusions .
in tiny print at the bottom of the letter , it said , as Mr Busuttil said earlier , that he had to pay EUR 1 000 a year .
I am pleased that the Commissioner emphasised that the EU must insist as far as possible on a more coherent implementation of the energy objectives by all Member States .
the fact that the EU is to have a common asylum and migration policy is reasonable , but it must not mean that those countries that want to take a harder line and hunt down people in various ways should be the ones making the decisions .
in other words , the proposed elements have been introduced to improve system efficiency and to ensure the optimal protection of marine biodiversity .
given his experience in this area , I believe I can safely endorse his evaluation , and his demands for external border security .
originally , we entered a level of 30 000 t of butter and 109 000 t of powder , but I have indicated recently that we will be able or willing to go higher than these figures by opening a tender .
I am thankful that he took on board most of my concerns and even my criticisms .
is there a problem with China ?
we can , of course , make fine promises in Nagoya , but what are we going to do in the near future with regard to our own fisheries and agricultural policies ?
in writing . - I welcome Parliament 's commitment to this cause .
if existing nations within states feel at home in their countries , there will be less fear surrounding an influx of immigrants and the enlargement process as a whole will be seen in a positive light .
it is regrettable that the Frontex agency does not monitor the numbers and countries of origin of applicants for international protection .
in writing . - I voted against the resolution on energy prices .
the balance of fear therefore disappears .
beyond these measures , I think it is important to remember the need to carry out a clear and concise investigation into who should be held accountable in this coup d 'état .
change must come slowly , so as not to arouse hostility to our own culture and expectations .
Fort example , there has been a noticeable increase in obesity .
that is why this House should adopt the report .
- ( PL ) Madam President , we are following the situation in the Caucasus with great concern and interest .
we have to understand that without international involvement , Mexico will not win the war .
my colleague , Mrs Georgieva , is working with Baroness Ashton on the introduction of the European Civil Protection Force , and I hope that we will not have to wait for a new disaster before we pool our responses and our relief efforts under a single European flag in disasters such as that in Haiti or the tsunami .
I believe that this is an opportunity for Portuguese traders to make closer connections in the African market as part of their business networks , but the issues of insecurity and the high levels of crime perpetrated by the Portuguese community , particularly the Madeiran Community resident in South Africa , must nevertheless be addressed .
therefore , it is only guidelines that are being submitted to our Parliament .
he argued his case well enough to justify his appointment to the Court of Auditors , to perform his duties capably and independently .
therefore , the Member States must take action in this area .
your fanaticism is out in the open .
( EL ) Madam President , I agree with numerous fellow Members , especially Mrs Herczog and Mr Repo , who referred to the environmental importance of this area and the importance of protecting the rights of nationals .
I would like to ask you whether you agree with me that Opel has been in serious financial difficulty for several months , that the company could produce far more cars than it is currently doing and that Opel 's poor economic situation cannot be caused by a free trade agreement that has not yet come into force .
I would like to start by putting today 's debate into context , because this proposal is not about paragraphs , political power or promises : it is about people .
these measures seem to be giving positive results in the beekeeping sector , both for Member States and for beekeepers .
we request an assessment of their gender impact and adequate correction measures , subject to the responsibilities and transparency of funds use undertaken before the European citizens .
thirdly , the legal authority of producer organisations must be significantly improved .
it seems that , within the EU , if the political correctness boxes can be ticked then we should be happy , never mind the lunacy which we create .
we must ask the Commission to allocate development assistance funds to the Congo , fundamentally and as a priority as assistance for the victims : legal assistance , social assistance and medical assistance .
the European Union cannot remain indifferent to the brutal killing of human rights activists .
the activities these companies are being accused of , namely restricting competitors ' access to the network and deliberately limiting investment in infrastructure projects , have never in fact been proven .
in fact , next week Vice-President Barrot is going to present a package which covers internal waters , including a ports policy and therefore going into internal ports as well .
European business is the biggest exporter in the world and we have to compete constantly against protectionist measures , even in those third countries .
this is what the Commission and Council are doing right now in a very commendable way so as to ensure that the gas supplies are back on track as quickly as possible ; threatening with legal action is not a very effective course of action , of course .
contribution of the common fisheries policy to the production of public goods (
we must therefore understand that the return on investments into pre-school education is the guarantee of future growth .
are we heading in the right direction ?
Nigerian Christians and Nigerian Muslims differ not only with respect to religion . on top of this basic division lies a historical division , because in the region where the disturbances are taking place the Christians are considered to be local people and the Muslims are thought of as strangers .
we cannot lose sight of our commitment to combating climate change .
all of this is necessary , but what our fellow citizens expect most of all - and I hope that the Commission is listening - is for us to take action in response to the crisis .
the European Week of Regions and Cities consolidated the position of the regions as a fundamental part of the solution in the European response to global challenges .
( DE ) Madam President , at present , the European Union does seem to have access to unbelievable financial resources .
consequently , this urgency is also present in the initiatives that derive from it .
what was the tragedy of European history , and what are the great hopes of a peaceful and better future ?
I hope that our warning will be heeded .
we will , at least , not be the last doomed brigade left fluttering the flag of this missile defence system .
( noise )
I would also like to say that we have achieved a result through good dialogue with the Commission .
in my opinion , this simply will not work .
I refer to a very specific matter : personally , I was not at all surprised that the referendum and its result were followed by an increase in hostilities - almost - caused by the Sudanese institutions and authorities , particularly in the Abyei region .
it should ensure that such decisions are recognised and enforced throughout the European Union in the quickest and most effective way at the lowest possible cost .
they have set an example for other states which have yet to complete the procedure .
the Lisbon Treaty includes provisions on climate change and I also appreciate here the clause of solidarity in case of natural disasters .
( BG ) Mr President , the word ' blackmail ' was used here , and a short time ago , my colleague , Mrs Vălean , mentioned that Bulgaria had misused the funds and had not used them prudently from the earlier tranche , which was used for the appropriate purpose as compensation .
the demographic challenges mean that in 2050 there will be 1.5 employees for every pensioner .
in 2009 , the UN estimated that there were 270 000 victims and Europol recorded no decrease in the trafficking of women for sexual exploitation , noting an increase in the number trafficked for forced labour .
however , you can only ever be as effective as the Member States will allow you to be and , of course , you are reluctant to use your own powers of initiative - an approach which I fully support .
in terms of the objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions , Europe now has to reach 30 % .
naturally , however , what he wants and is able to do is ultimately determined to some extent by what the Council makes possible .
the argument that their harmful effects have not been proven sounds totally absurd to anyone who has ever seen the consequences of their use .
finally , how can we not celebrate the more than probable and welcome conclusion of the agreement with Central America , and the now accepted incorporation of Panama into that agreement and into those negotiations ?
I was in Hungary quite often between 2002 and 2010 .
we are pretty sure - I am pretty sure also , when I move among the researchers , among the SMEs , when I hear the reactions and when I hear their emotions and how well they are actually using the programme , then I am sometimes much more satisfied than when I hear that we are a bit too bureaucratic , and so on .
is this not a fundamental violation of the principle of equal opportunities between economic players in the European Union ?
codecision for future restrictions instead of comitology
what happens when a midwife without such authorisation arrives in France without additional training and has to write a medical prescription ?
we can only do this effectively , as Europeans , if we give the euro our full political support and the necessary governance mechanisms so that our interests can be defended , as they deserve to be , through the exchange rate for our currency .
for this reason , I believe that research into carbon capture and storage ( CCS ) and demonstration projects are very important en route to another objective , which involves achieving a CO2-free energy sector in the next few decades .
it states that there has been an increase in speculation by purely financial institutions , that is , the commodity market speculation of money capital , which is causing an artificial inflation of commodity prices .
the report voted on today includes specific responses such as the establishment of binding objectives for the Member States , and sanctions for non-compliance , and the introduction of quotas ( a necessary evil ) to increase our aspirations to equality a little .
we have been working on the procedural rights for persons who are accused .
this applies also to Mr Grasser , the former finance minister , who is now appearing all over the place on German television , instead of facing criminal charges in Austria .
documents received : see Minutes
the importance of these reports and this discussion can be seen by the number of parliamentary committees which have drafted opinions .
finally - and I will close with this - Mr Sógor also asked for the Ombudsman to be able to receive complaints concerning EU law submitted at national level .
it will also be crucial to ensure that the USD 100 billion announced in Copenhagen is indeed in addition to the commitments made in the area of official development assistance .
the authority needs to have expertise , be competent to take independent decisions and be permanent in nature .
the lower salary limit should be 1.7 times the average gross annual wage .
the vote will take place on Thursday .
Mr Mitchell , you will probably agree that I cannot comment on information and data appearing in the media or elsewhere .
at the same time , biodiversity conservation , protection against natural disasters and CO2 capture from the atmosphere are crucial to improving our citizens ' quality of life and to preserving the environment .
that is why I voted in favour of Mr Provera 's report .
we saw this yesterday , with the situation in Kosovo .
an example of this is Darfur .
many things that need to be done in that country have been planned , but they cannot be implemented until the refugees have returned to their homes .
we felt and still do now that this budget must play an instrumental role in the management of the crisis .
thankfully , this amendment was not adopted but rejected by this House , which has allowed me to vote for the entire report , and I am very happy that Parliament has not allowed two categories of Member State to be created in respect of increased milk quotas .
I find the hysteria when we deal with soil protection or the wishes of the farmers ' unions incomprehensible .
today , during a period of economic crisis , it is particularly important that this dimension is not overlooked .
cooperation with industrialised countries is of enormous importance for the EU economy .
I should really like it if Parliament and the Council could come to an agreement under the Swedish Presidency in order to make this Support Office operational in 2010 , and I am very much counting on our Commission and on the Swedish Presidency .
it will also provide channels for the greater involvement of national parliaments .
I hope that , during the next parliamentary term , at second reading , we shall be able to reverse this state of affairs in order to create a real European asylum law guaranteeing real protection for these particularly vulnerable men and women .
the extra reduction in the threshold for inland shipping , in particular , can count on my support .
( PL ) Mr President , I welcomed with interest the Commission 's Green Paper on the Review of the Consumer Acquis .
the lack of progress in this area of cooperation is cause for concern and impacts negatively on perception of the action taken by the Serb authorities to strengthen the rule of law .
( PT ) Mr President , the European Union is an experiment made up of experiments : the euro area , this very Parliament in which we find ourselves , the Schengen area and a number of other instruments are all experiments .
clearly , some people regret that these reforms have not been as rapid or as extensive as might have been hoped , but the fact is that Turkey 's people and Government are making gradual progress along the road set out by us , towards an increasingly democratic and pluralistic society which more fully respects the rule of law .
I want to thank the rapporteur for his constructive approach to this .
the solution for Britain is to leave the European Union and regain control of its borders .
let us not make this more of a political issue than is necessary , however .
it is hitting the poorest in the world hard .
I am convinced that the Bulgarian public , the European public , should not remain uninvolved in the violation of international conventions and should not allow a second Libya case , only this time in the heart of Europe .
thirdly , with intervention grain stocks at an alarming low and the ratio with usage being totally out of kilter , there urgently needs to be action to address that balance .
while relying on existing financial , civilian and military resources , Europe can take even more decisive actions in the event of natural and man-made disasters and be even more involved in averting and managing crises and conflicts , and in establishing a lasting peace in third countries .
the amended Lisbon Strategy promotes equal opportunities for all as a vector for social and intergenerational solidarity and the creation of a poverty-free society .
I think that the Czech Republic managed very well in resolving the gas crisis of January this year .
basically , I have the impression that the wishes and the diplomatic activity of Mrs Ferrero-Waldner , to some extent at least , can be seen as adopting the same approach as that which the Pope sought to adopt on this issue .
I remain convinced , however , that the contents of Amendment 138 are absolutely laudable and should therefore ...
they have never been so clear as in the debate on whether we should exclude users from the Internet without a hearing in court .
I rejoice in that , but I deplore the damage which you are inflicting on 27 former democracies , year by disastrous year .
and , in a European credit market worth EUR 800 billion , direct cross-border financial services make up only a tiny fraction - 1 % - of all distance credit transactions .
it is also necessary to review the international legislation in this area without delay , to fill in the gaps , to prohibit ships designed for river traffic from going to sea , and to enforce effectively the ' polluter pays ' principle .
the work ahead of us remains vast , but I am more than sure that consistent work on upholding fundamental rights in the EU will help us prevail .
incidentally , Moldova is seeking an in-depth , comprehensive trade agreement with the European Union .
I believe that this is a good thing , because in this way , the Commissioner can listen to Parliament 's budgetary priorities before drawing up the draft budget .
in Romania , 13 people on the transplant waiting list die every day due to the lack of donors .
I come from a country in which , whenever I go to the supermarket , I see a man riding a moped with a wooden box on the back .
it is possible that resources from the existing Progress programme will be used , a programme that was launched in 2007 and comprises actions concerning poverty reduction , anti-discrimination , social inclusion , gender and employment .
the joint debate on mechanisms for strengthening economic order ,
when I take into account the criticisms of the committees ( for example the LIBE Committee ) , in addition to the above-mentioned texts , I must say that a Directive that makes it possible to detain people for 18 months , as well as the conditions experienced by visiting Members in detention centres , only make the controversy more obvious .
you said that the path that the US is taking is historically the wrong path .
- Before the vote on Amendment 6
in writing . - ( SV ) It is important to bring the long drawn-out dispute regarding import tariffs for bananas within the World Trade Organisation ( WTO ) to an end , and therefore ratification of the 2009 Geneva Agreement concerning tariffs and trade was necessary .
we are talking about significant sums spent on the basis of regulations which leave a considerable margin of manoeuvre for the Commission .
the applications related to two German undertakings and a Finnish one , all operating in the telecommunications sector , in the manufacture of mobile phones to be precise .
8 .
it also gives all citizens of the European Union a right of recourse to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg .
they are also concerned about equality of healthcare , which is considerable among the Member States , as also within the countries themselves .
the Commission is also called on to ensure that support for beekeeping is maintained and strengthened in the CAP after 2013 , guaranteeing the continuation of this sector .
the Commission will subsidise innovations and projects which aim to research into , develop and commercialise technologies for renewable energy , using funding from the seventh framework programme that you in this House have made available to us .
to reduce carbon emissions from vehicles is very commendable ; to reduce heavy goods vehicle congestion is very commendable ; and the spending of 15 % of the tolls on infrastructure is very commendable .
despite voting in line with the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) , I must express some concerns I have about the present motion for a resolution .
the Interim Agreement , which was signed in 1999 , provisionally applies the trade-related parts of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement , also signed in 1999 , for which only three Member State ratifications remain outstanding .
EU-US air transport agreement - EU-Canada air transport agreement - EU-Vietnam air services agreement ( debate )
- ( NL ) Mr President , once again we can congratulate ourselves that an agreement has been reached after so many attempts .
there has been a great deal of cooperation between all the rapporteurs and the shadows on this package and we would like to send a message to the Council that we intend to negotiate this as a package , not as a series of individual reports .
what happened then ?
can the Commissioner please comment ?
a fall in revenue , a fall in investments , a fall in growth : they are the ones overlooked most by the international effort , to the extent that the Director-General of the FAO , Mr Diouf , was obliged to point out that only 10 % of the emergency funds pledged by the major powers in June have so far been allocated .
therefore , making all kinds of statements and spreading all kinds of rumours is very harmful to Greek taxpayers , because not only does it not help anyone , it is also to the detriment of those who have to endure a number of measures because action was not taken quickly enough in their country previously .
I note with interest the report 's proposal on a European Economic Area Plus for relations with countries that are not part of the current enlargement agenda .
in the 2011 budget , considerable amounts have been allocated to the Global Fund to fight Aids , Tuberculosis and Malaria ( GFATM ) ( EUR 65 000 000 in commitment appropriations and EUR 47 608 950 in payment appropriations ) .
limiting global average temperature increases is necessary not only in the developed world , but also in developing countries .
the debate is closed .
however , the Commission is keen to make sure that this initiative , if it were to be approved by the European Council , does not undermine our efforts to build on the success of the Lisbon Treaty and , most of all , does not undermine its certification .
on the issue of Frontex , I also wanted to say that I support the additional funding for Frontex - we doubled the funding for the Agency .
then you can , of course , discuss it with him directly .
it could have been handled in various ways .
we are especially interested in promoting and analysing its link with European associations for innovation within the EU framework for innovation .
it also results in discrimination .
I also consider it essential to adopt reasonable criteria for the concept of recovering economy , since the Member States ' situations are different .
it is not as if the EU did not know the exact location and did not have the satellite pictures of the vineyards in Italy that were planted secretly and are over the quota , for example .
in writing . - Education , research and innovation are windows to the future .
a player who can defend the principles and values on which its economic and social model are founded .
I am aware that all of these points have already been raised on numerous occasions in the past , but what good is that if we are still stuck at the drawing board ?
Mr Fischer , I regret to say that I do not agree .
but my colleague will return to this after a discussion in the college .
this was only possible in fact thanks to the efforts and openness of our rapporteur , who was willing to listen to all parties .
in writing . - The Fine Gael delegation in the European Parliament voted against paragraph 16 of the resolution on the Commission 's Legislative and Work Programme 2008 as we are vehemently opposed to any EU initiative to establish a European Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base ( CCCTB ) .
thank you very much !
Mr President , thank you for your forbearance .
I predict that , a few years from now , we will all regret that we were not more proactive today .
they have raised the issue of the independence of the EFSA in the face of the interests of biotechnology companies , an issue which Commission Dalli recognised , and have requested a moratorium on crops until reliable control mechanisms can be set up to ascertain the impact of modified organisms on human health , biodiversity and food safety .
( applause )
unfortunately , this has not been a good Presidency for the workers and poor of the European Union .
that is simply showing contempt for the voters , the citizens of Europe .
instead we have struck a workable balance - between the need for industry to continue to profit in difficult economic times , the social needs of Europe , and the future of our environment .
last time it was Mugabe 's Government fighting its fight against the MDC .
there is a clear need for improvement in the way we inform and communicate with the public .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , after a year of parliamentary work , the proposal for a directive now being discussed is a significant improvement on the document that was presented in 2007 .
we await the Commission 's response regarding the plan presented by the Campania region .
also , now that we have a new treaty , we need to respect the competences of each institution .
the European Commission criticises this position in an incomprehensible , short-sighted and narrow-minded manner .
we are dazzled by fabulous cars , miraculous means of communication and the results of innovative , scientific research , but what would life be worth without the beautiful works of art , statues , graphics , textiles or the creative works of music and literature that surround us ?
the policy camouflages inadmissible objectives and interests under a cloak of ' good intentions ' , as if the constant denunciation of the military aggression and occupation of Iraq by the United States and its allies were not enough , with the hundreds of thousands of deaths that have resulted , and the pillaging of the country 's enormous natural resources .
Contriving to exclude euro area members amounts to abandoning the ambition of a strong Europe in the world .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , Prime Minister , you made a fine speech .
allow me to mention one last thing that I feel is particularly important , namely the inclusion of the major European ports in the planning of the TEN networks .
in people 's everyday lives , there are no disputes and there is no nationality problem in mixed areas .
we have remained in monetary union and have not moved on to economic union .
I have no doubt that this type of major crisis situation requires a rapid response by special intervention units .
my assistant Gergely Simon , who has done much work on this and other dossiers , will leave Parliament in the near future .
however , I have a major and a minor ' but ' to add to those words of praise .
access to health care is a right of all EU citizens and providing equal access for all to high-quality medical services is a core task of the Member States ' public authorities .
this is the aim of the Europe 2020 strategy .
I shall conclude by saying that this really is a race against the clock , for we must forestall these diseases as much as possible .
policies and strategies that enable Europeans to adapt better and quicker to the challenges of the twenty-first century - especially in a crisis situation - must also be sought .
( FR ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , first of all , I would like to thank the rapporteur for the work she has done , and our fellow Members for their hard work in creating this new microfinance instrument .
I would also like to congratulate my colleagues , Mrs Kalniete and Mr Correia De Campos , for their good work .
this can serve as a basis for improving understanding of each other 's concerns and can pave the way for finding common solutions .
we have had some estimates about the scale of the problem over the coming months - including from our own experts - and I agree very much with those who said we need to deploy expertise from the European Centre for Disaster Control in Haiti .
'What is the communication on the budget review ? '
its purpose is to increase the credit ratings of the bonds issued by companies , by attracting private investments , so as to supplement domestic investments and those made via the cohesion funds .
to end , I would point out that support for innovative projects of small and medium-sized enterprises , easier access to European funds and improved access to credit , particularly , but not only , in the current context , are vital factors for supporting SMEs .
I welcome the European Commission 's proposal and the report presented by our fellow Member , József Szájer , as we will therefore have standard , simplified rules on the definition , description and presentation of aromatised wines , aromatised wine-based drinks and aromatised wine-product cocktails . these products are renowned worldwide and , thanks to the new provisions , we will successfully achieve a better position on the market for them , while supporting Community producers and distributors .
the Commission expects the industry to produce a binding agreement in the form of a memorandum by the end of April .
the connection between certain forms of trade and climate change is ever more obvious .
it is well balanced and gives an objective description of developments in Macedonia ; commending what has been achieved and appealing for a little more time to be devoted to what remains to be done .
we should encourage Member States to be stricter in this area .
it is vital to take the regional dimension into account : if not , regions confronted with serious disasters could be excluded because the threshold set for the Member State as a whole has not been reached .
let us hope that tomorrow 's vote reflects what happened in the Committee on Petitions : a majority or unanimous vote in support of the Ombudsman , with Parliament making clear to the Commission that things are as they should be and that everyone knows their place .
in addition , the result achieved in relation to the establishment of buffer zones adjacent to waterways has been moderated .
in any case , I hope that the presence of a delegation from the Subcommittee on Human Rights at the next session of the Council will provide the European institutions with an opportunity to raise the urgent issue of Christianophobia .
we must remember that a condition of bringing such a concept into reality has to be that we rise above the interests of particular Member States .
perhaps we can begin to get it right this time .
how can we achieve the same level of interest in the human rights situation in Hungary as you have in the human rights situation in Cuba ?
in writing . - I voted in favour of the Varvitsiotis report , which seeks to enhance diplomatic and consular protection for EU citizens living or travelling in countries in which their home Member State does not have representation .
it has already taken some initiatives that have marked a break with the past : in Iraq , on Guantánamo , on the anti-missile shield .
memoranda like the one the troika of the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) , the European Central Bank ( ECB ) and the Commission drew up with Portuguese officials demanded anti-social policies , including amendments to redundancy and privatisation laws , and attacks on public and universal social security which can only lead to social regression , condemning workers and the public to unemployment , poverty , underdevelopment and extreme dependency .
I welcome the adoption of this report on the proposal for a directive on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding , and of measures aimed at helping workers to achieve a work-life balance .
the Spanish Presidency should , incidentally , be much more active in defending fundamental rights in Cuba .
today 's vote will be particularly important for disabled passengers , who will benefit as a result of today 's vote .
it is of crucial importance that the Danube strategy be based on a bottom-up approach .
Italy was mentioned , the Czech Republic and Romania are familiar with examples of real pogroms , racist attacks .
Austria has been the only certificate purchaser to date , spending EUR 280 million on certificates , compared with the mere EUR 20 million it invests annually in renewables .
this framework decision gives us a toolbox for future directives , which will ensure greater legal consistency on key issues , establishing a clear and coherent position on the CE mark in particular but also on the status of importers in the trade chain .
terrorism is a complex phenomenon .
in my capacity as rapporteur on regional cooperation in the Black Sea area , I have constantly stressed the importance and urgency of these actions .
restoring dialogue between all sectors of Palestinian society and restarting the current negotiation process are essential .
clearly , the measures adopted to date by the Commission have been unable to alleviate the crisis or provide a viable alternative to the quota replacement scheme planned for 2015 .
lastly , I should like to say to Mr Le Hyaric , whose criticisms I listened to carefully just now , that transport is not covered by the Services Directive , and neither is healthcare .
the next item is Question Time ( B6-0001 / 2008 ) .
nevertheless , in our opinion , the report is not as ambitious as it should be .
the Eastern Partnership is focused on the development of democracy , good governance and stability , economic integration and on achieving closer relations with EU policy .
finally , let us not forget the potential of global communications and especially the internet to promote human rights .
Greece is on its backside ; Spain , your country , is in dire straits as well .
while any contamination of our food is always regrettable , what this incident shows is the very high level of food safety controls which the Irish authorities have in place to guarantee the integrity of the food chain .
the vote will take place tomorrow ( Tuesday , 23 November 2010 ) .
special Report from the European Ombudsman to the European Parliament following the draft recommendation to the European Commission in Complaint 676 / 2008 / RT ( According to Rule 205 ( 2 ) , 1st part ) (
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I will try to be extremely brief .
but on its own this is not enough .
one way of dealing with this problem is through education : raising awareness of the importance of protecting intellectual property rights and not abusing freedoms .
in today 's vote , I supported the resolution concerning the review of the European Neighbourhood Policy with respect to both the Eastern and Southern Dimensions .
two things are needed .
Romania also feels that a review clause is absolutely essential in 2014 , without however raising a question mark over the 20 % ( or 10 % ) reduction targets , simply in order to facilitate possible adjustments to the mechanisms , based on the specific conditions during the relevant period ( which cannot be predicted just now ) .
Member of the Commission . ? ( SK ) I welcome the very encouraging atmosphere during this debate , which confirms that sport and physical education certainly have an effect on health , but also on certain values held by young people and our entire society .
Mr President , we disagree on many things where the EU is concerned .
the EIT title must be desired .
we should consider whether this kind of behaviour is right .
broadcasting is a special sector .
in order to reduce possible negative consequences at the ballot box , certain governments have suddenly changed position and decided to cancel their plans to build new plants or to prolong the useful life of existing ones .
perhaps Mr Leinen ?
as a French Member of the European Parliament and a member of the Independence and Democracy Group , I chose not to support Amendments 51 and 52 to Mr Corbett 's report .
( DE ) Mr President , we in the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance want to see strong European economic governance .
Commissioner , in the trialogue discussions , we also briefly discussed the fact that legislation on the transport of these consumer goods has still not been harmonised and that it would therefore be worth considering whether we should shift our focus to legislation on the transport of chemicals in the coming months .
we share the view that the existence of statistics on all forms of transport , goods and passengers will provide a framework of information that will be useful for defining a policy of interoperability and co-modality ; that is , the possibility of an optimal combination of different modes of transport in the same transport chain , contributing to the modernisation and rationalisation of freight logistics and promoting their sustainability .
how many people could be awaiting judgments having appealed against denied asylum applications ?
however , this circumstance does not prevent us from developing a realistic plan of action .
we must demand reciprocity and access to foreign markets for our own products .
in writing . - Contrary to our position ( I voted in favour ) , the qualified majority was not reached , and so the resolution to reject the Commission proposal and follow the advice of Parliament 's legal services has fallen .
authorisation to fish will be granted to 28 tuna seiners and 12 surface long-liners .
Parliament and Council have adjusted the Commission 's proposal on mergers , master-feeder-structures , fund notification and key investor information , but the high-level ambitions set by the Commission in its original proposal was fully respected .
in particular , I believe that within the social market economy , as recognised and made an objective by the treaty , the public system should make some adjustments aimed at accelerating and facilitating the reaching of an equilibrium , in order to avoid losses and difficulties , or to limit them to the minimum level .
there are many cases of fraud , in particular , in the eastern and southern Member States .
Europeans have a duty and a right to know the truth : that the Mediterranean strategy is not working , that the common immigration policy will continue to be a dream until European countries commit to equipping the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders ( Frontex ) with sufficient resources to be effective .
in writing . - I cannot support this report or Amendment 6 as I feel that it is inappropriate to include tax- or VAT-based issues in a health-based report such as this .
I will support the amended version of Rule 121 , which will ensure that in such cases the President shall submit the matter to the Conference of Presidents and then to plenary .
however , I must also mention that , in spite of sustained economic growth , enormous inequalities persist .
you may remember , of course , the precedent of Commissioners appointed after recent enlargements .
I have consulted widely with colleagues from the various groups and they have assured me that they will not obstruct my proposal .
in so saying , it is time to resolve several issues that remain outstanding in this trade relationship .
the total budget required is EUR 3 934 055 and the Netherlands submitted an application on 8 April 2010 to obtain a financial contribution of EUR 2 557 135 from the EGF .
it was a dual response to the aggravated crisis , which had turned into a systemic challenge to the euro .
the anomaly of allowing imported food products using plant protection products generally , while we will not allow our farmers to use them , continues to be one of the mysteries and one of the major problems we have with legislation of this sort .
institutional cooperation is one of the major challenges of the Treaty of Lisbon , which we always talk about rather carelessly .
moreover , the EU supports programmes focusing on law enforcement and reinforcing the judiciary .
first and foremost , we want to lay down a definition of pay discrimination ; it is not enough to look at gross hourly pay alone because that would indicate direct discrimination and such direct discrimination has in fact already been overcome .
for our common actions to be effective , it is vital , firstly , to draw up unequivocal definitions of wildernesses and to establish the precise location of the latter on the map of the Community .
the claim that nothing can be done about finance , when it brings about misery , is unconvincing .
the ALDE Group is ready to give its assent because it believes that a ' no ' would send out a negative signal to the countries most in need , and would be irresponsible on the part of the European Union given that the reopening of the WTO negotiations is unrealistic .
we are also planning - and conducting a feasibility study right now - to set up a European cybercentre by 2013 to coordinate this work , to work as an alert centre and to support the different national cybercentres that already exist .
unanimously - and I repeat unanimously - the Heads of State or Government decided to ask for a permanent crisis mechanism with the intervention of the private sector .
the diversity of political systems , cultural traditions , religions , statuses and ambitions in terms of moving closer to the European Union , the level of economic development , the availability of natural resources and , of course , the new situation which has arisen because , today , three Member States of the European Union form part of the region that we are discussing .
origin marking should therefore be considered in that spirit .
they warned of poisonous gases by dying .
it commends Serbia on the progress achieved in the reform process , and welcomes the decision to open the ratification procedure of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Serbia taken by the Council on 14 June 2010 , and the fact that 10 Member States have already ratified the agreement .
we can contribute to that ourselves .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , the Special Court for Sierra Leone is entitled to count on our particular attention , as it is rightly presented as a new and almost perfect model for the pursuit of justice .
many , perhaps most , have very good experiences , but it is the minority - the few who have less happy experiences - that give some aspects of the tourism industry a poor name .
such support , incidentally , need not necessarily take the form of handouts ; it could also be the provision of opportunities to acquire the skills required for new jobs on offer .
but most important of all is for us to come together to give leadership to the rest of the world , in particular in the area of climate change , energy and food .
one need only think of the role of Parliament , which has been strengthened in relation to the Council , but which is also being strengthened by the Rules of Procedure where the internal relationships with institutions within Parliament itself are concerned .
interconnectivity , the issue of common gas stores - these things are important to ensure that the supply to any individual country cannot be shut off .
the Court of Justice leaves no room for doubt .
the IPCC reports have made it clear that even with ambitious measures to reduce emissions some serious effects of climate change are probably inevitable .
the most important factor of a control system applied to 27 Member States is probably that all stakeholders should be treated equally and , in particular , that everyone along the production chain - fishermen , middlemen , buyers , people who have links to recreational fishing and others - should feel that they are not being discriminated against but also that they have their share of the responsibility on this matter .
rapporteur . - ( NL ) I can be very brief .
I would like to inform Parliament that the Commission recently adopted a communication on ' A partnership for democracy and shared prosperity with the Southern Mediterranean ' , which sets out a series of proposals to address the challenges that the region currently faces following recent developments .
however , the problem is in knowing whether it is possible to implement such complex rules as these within the intended period .
I also welcome the compromise on cohesion policy .
some prisoners are in very bad health , according to their families , and do not have access to adequate medical care .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
the Google Books Project makes books available to a far wider readership than a conventional library would .
the report acknowledges the problems and mistakes during the first decade of economic and monetary union , but does not draw the necessary conclusions , instead calling for a ' more robust ' framework for surveillance of national economic policies by the Commission and Council .
( LV ) Yes , I shall gladly clarify this point .
because this has to be fundamentally understood , so that we can share the understanding of biodiversity .
my third point relates to the financial markets .
we were able to mobilise a team composed of Commission officials and industry experts in 24 hours and they were already in Russia and Ukraine last Saturday to enable the flow of gas to resume as soon as the protocol was signed .
I shall conclude simply by quoting the title of a film that has just come out , which concerns the theme of this evening and which is called : ' Demain nos enfants nous accuserons ' [ Tomorrow our children will accuse us ] .
however , will the newly appointed High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy do this ?
Parliament is going to play a much greater qualitative role and have a much larger workload with the Lisbon Treaty when it comes .
Vice-President of the Commission . - These are both quite specific questions .
Madam President , there is an urgent need to protect workers from exploitation in these times of economic trauma , and the case to ensure the terms and conditions of European workers are not systematically driven down by exploitation of vulnerable migrant workers is unanswerable .
I hope that this compromise which we have reached will develop the road transport market .
as regards information policy , I welcome the agreement on funding for political parties at European level and for political foundations at European level , which should help improve communication with citizens and their participation in EU political life .
I , too , will be there , and I would like to encourage all of you to come to Strasbourg this Sunday , in four days ' time .
in that respect , too , renewal of the agreement requires very careful evaluation and the agreement also needs to be redrafted .
unfortunately , and despite all the good intentions enshrined in that directive , its practical implementation has not produced the desired results .
child exploitation , including the sexual exploitation of children , is among society 's biggest ills .
it is demanding a serious study from the Commission in order to see when in fact children can be protected using their fingerprints , and will only allow them to be collected at ages at which we know for certain that this is the case .
request for urgent procedure : see Minutes
my second point is that we must be creators of ideas .
in my opinion , a single European migration and asylum policy is not the solution , as this matter is within the competence of Member States .
we need controls not only on the final quality of the product , but also a clear mark of origin and checks , before the distribution of Chinese products is permitted within the internal market , on the safety standards and conditions under which the products are made in their places of origin ; otherwise , the institutions will remain complicit in environmental disasters , social exploitation and unfair competition by Chinese industry .
crises , including energy crises , are overcome by innovation .
- ( FI ) Mr President , as we know , the background to this resolution was a very politically sensitive set of circumstances , but that ought not to prevent us from passing a clearly humanitarian resolution that is not watered down by general political remarks on the situation as a whole .
it is you we are counting on .
the Commission and the Council tend , in principle , to talk up the situation - as dramatic as it might be .
9 .
however , for this reason also , a proper procedure could have been carried out .
these improvements include the introduction this year of more frequent decision-taking on infringement cases to avoid delays in the advancement of cases , and the introduction of the EU pilot project in April this year .
in conclusion , I would like to say that the Commission 's position regarding the various amendments to both legislative proposals has been given to Parliament in writing , and will be attached to the minutes of the plenary session .
to start with , I would like to point out again that at the October European Council , we stressed the importance of fast-start financing in order to initiate immediate actions and to prepare for collective and efficient action in the medium and longer term with a special emphasis on these developed countries .
I appeal to the European Parliament to support our proposals as the best way to ensure that this reform achieves real influence .
perhaps this is an opportunity to get some information referring to the new opportunities in the markets of our main trading partners that a successful WTO deal would give us .
( EL ) Mr President , the question before us is : will we be able to move forward on climate change in Cancún .
nearly two thirds of the Member States have adopted the Treaty , including Hungary , the first country to do so .
above all , they are taking political control of the country , whilst forcing the Greeks to regress decades in social terms .
lastly , I agree with the rapporteur when he welcomes what is being done in this respect in the context of the e-Justice programme .
I should tell you that there is also a directive , Directive 2000 / 43 / EC , which already guarantees the application of the principle of equal treatment , with no differentiation between race or ethnic origin in the employment , social , and educational sectors and in access to and supply of goods and services , which also applies to the Roma .
this is absurd .
ignoring the specific reality of Member States to take greater account of the interests of the large agri-industrial enterprises , multinational food distributors and negotiations to liberalise trade within the WTO has helped to change the basis of agricultural activity , leading to a fall in output .
the issue of Iran is obviously very high up on the Swedish Presidency 's agenda .
I support Mr Cashman , the authors and group spokespersons .
we share your view that it is of utmost importance to ensure that the agencies can function independently , that they have capable leaders with proper authority and that the appropriate financing of the institutions is guaranteed .
in that sense , Mr President-in-Office , may I say that the conclusions that you have agreed at today 's Summit are good conclusions which offer a sound basis on which to move forward , for they are a clear expression of what is realistic and sustainable .
Eurostat receives notifications from the Member States .
this is a crisis of identity .
I call on Member States to monitor actions to facilitate the transition from school to working life by developing integrated careers guidance and advice programmes , to create better training opportunities for trainers and lay the foundations for a facilitative learning partnership , particularly at regional and local level .
I believe that we must all take action to come up with a specific legal solution , not least to prevent - as Mr Simpson said - passengers who have purchased an ordinary flight ticket from an airline that subsequently goes bankrupt being treated differently from passengers who have bought their ticket as part of a more comprehensive package holiday .
in other words , I am all in favour of stamping out cyber crime , but can we make sure that internet companies are not , with police authorities and the like , too heavy-handed in dealing with the public who are using the internet for their own pleasure ?
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , if we had had to cope with the correspondence that this report has generated over recent weeks using a horseback messenger , we would have exhausted a few horses - without a doubt .
the EU Communication on the European Economic Recovery Plan in December 2008 lists the areas in which the EU will be investing over the next few years in order to ensure economic growth and preserve jobs .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Mr President , I would like to make two comments as this debate comes to a close .
it was explicitly stated that the prolongation of ENISA should not prejudice the outcome of that debate .
we can turn it into an opportunity , or we can do harm to many people by handling it wrongly .
I would stress their importance in combating deforestation and the degradation of forests , as well as the resulting carbon emissions and loss of biodiversity at global level .
for all that , I find it particularly scandalous that legitimate concerns aroused by this period of crisis should be exploited for partisan ends .
I think that what you have said is extremely important .
draft amending budget No 8 / 2008 (
when Muslim nomads attacked Christian villages at the beginning of the year and at least 500 people were murdered , it is said that the army only responded hours after receiving the first report .
its solution to the ' over-reliance ' of banks on these agencies is that the banks assess the risks themselves .
we must give precedence to mechanisms which facilitate the access of citizens to the courts so that their rights and lawful interests can be enforced throughout the Union .
this is a concept that some people will support .
some opponents of Turkish integration are guided by reasons unconnected with the substance of the matter , and others by fears that Turkey is a big country which will have a big influence on EU decisions , because , in accordance with the Treaty of Lisbon , the voting power of each Member State is dependent on the size of its population .
we , Parliament , very much need to do something about that .
how do we promote creativity and innovation ?
in the interests of safety , we also need to ensure that every box of prescription medicine is traceable .
the report - as the previous speakers have said - relates entirely to the scientific facts concerning climate change , which were discussed in detail with world-renowned experts during the thematic meetings .
Croatia is about to complete its membership negotiations .
together with the euro , free movement of persons in the EU is one of the fundamental pillars of the European project .
in fact , I hope you are all very proud of yourselves because what you have done is you have taken the littlest boy in the playground , got him into the corner and given him a good kicking .
let us make sure that the Member States make a solid commitment .
author . - ( NL ) Mr President , Sierra Leone , like its neighbour Liberia , has been faced with full-scale atrocities , as a result of which many citizens lost their lives or became seriously injured , mentally or physically .
consumers are confronted with an ever growing supply of increasingly more complex goods and services .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
drugs for Parkinson 's disease in many countries cost more than drugs for cancer .
all of this protects consumers , but it also safeguards honest entrepreneurs who observe all the rules .
I regret that the declarations of financial interests of the Members of the Court that the latter submit to the President of the Court in accordance with its Code of Conduct are not made public or , at the very least , communicated to members of the Committee on Budgetary Control .
if you develop a reasonable system , we will encourage it and recognise it . '
in Spain , in my region of Aragon , we are pioneers of renewable energy sources , with almost 60 % energy independence .
we are now well into the third year of discussion on this piece of legislation .
the capital market crisis is not the only pressing problem .
( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , I am delighted that - in spite of the technical problem - we all joined together to vote on the report confirming that the new Member States , including the Czech Republic , will be ready to join the Schengen area as early as 2008 .
in contrast , the Commission says that it wants cost-effective control and suggests that there is a tolerable risk of error , which must be taken into account from the start .
dates of forthcoming sittings : see Minutes
still , however , there are no reports of prison guards or police being prosecuted for abuse .
in addition , the documents necessary in order to obtain an appropriate visa will be specified .
they were already in the Constitutional Treaty , as they had been developed in the Constitutional Convention , at the signing of which some Members were present , in close cooperation with NGOs .
it also lays down the conditions for the use in the European Union of ratings issued by third-country agencies .
I was disappointed with Mr Schmidt 's suggestion that capital transfer tax could not be tried out and introduced across Europe .
political parties are being abolished purely and simply because they express the wishes of the Kurdish population .
of course you would like our vote too , that of the second-largest Dutch party in Parliament , the Party for Freedom .
President-in-Office of the Council . - Madam President , before I start my concluding remarks I would like to inform the honourable Members of the outcome of the discussion in the Czech Senate on the Lisbon Treaty .
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we have 3 million unemployed in the European Union .
in view of global climate changes it can be expected that catastrophes involving floods , droughts , storms and fires will become more frequent on our old continent .
the time has come to reinforce international coordination and agree on reasonable common rules .
given the context , it is appropriate to continue to work within this sector and examine additional and innovative sources of development finance , namely , a tax on international financial transactions .
I think that the European Union also needs to have in the future adequate instruments for tackling the crises affecting the market and food supply , as well as the fluctuations in the prices and market in the agricultural sector .
( FR ) Mr President , for us , Euronews is a remarkable window on the world , and it is a channel I am very keen on , but I often wonder about the content of its advertisements .
it appeared in the following six resolutions .
for this to happen , a proper , quick and effective response in the event of humanitarian emergencies is essential .
in your concluding speeches , I expect you to explain to us why you have been quick to reject proposals submitted by right-wing governments , such as that of Mr Sarkozy , and not by left-wing governments .
I am grateful for your proposed work on a Victims ' Charter and I would urge that this starts off by making a very clear distinction between the victims of terrorism and the perpetrators of terrorism .
in the autumn we will be presenting to you our thoughts on the revision of the emissions trading system ( ETS ) .
for these reasons , I feel entitled to say that this report is completely inadequate if we believe that Europe must act now , in the coming months , from today - and that is something that became clear at the security conference in Munich .
you can read it ; I will send it to you .
I therefore hope that Parliament will adopt it , fulfilling the wishes of many students , academics and researchers in Europe and throughout the world .
as it is for the United States , the Arctic should be a strategic priority for the European Union .
costs , but also emissions are growing also because of the imposition of increased vehicle safety .
urban areas generate around 80 % of GDP , consume up to 70 % of the energy in the EU and are the major centres of innovation , knowledge and culture .
it increases the volume and duration of the tax arrangements currently applied to traditional rum because the situation has worsened over the last few years .
the alert was subsequently called off , but doubts persist as to the true nature of the incident and the reasons for this highly unusual alert .
the SPE statute has been significantly improved during the Council 's ongoing negotiations , and I am still hoping that the final result will be good .
there is a great deal of enthusiasm because this a good fund , because the money is available , because this is about energy efficiency and renewable energy and because this gives us , as Members of the European Parliament , the opportunity to take local action , too , through this project .
the meeting of this parliamentary assembly in Strasbourg today marks the 220th anniversary of the adoption of the 3 May Constitution , the first constitution in Europe . '
( EL ) Mr President , the text of the European Youth Pact also provides for measures for combining professional and family life .
in this respect , the Council welcomed the restraint shown by the Commission with regard to commitment appropriations in its draft budget .
that is inevitable .
there are many ' ifs ' , ' buts ' and ' maybes ' , because there is no other way for a diverse family of nations to share power .
how can we show Muslims at this time that our hierarchy of needs is better than theirs ?
I also note , as Mr Lyon said , the need to continue to ensure that the CAP is focused on the market , and this must be achieved in a measured way so as to prevent farmers from being faced with very chaotic markets .
in writing . - We in the Greens / EFA Group supported the report mainly because it includes some of our key issues such as civil society organisations .
for this reason I applaud our colleague 's initiative aimed at helping citizens to become more involved and more in touch with the European project , thereby contributing to its legitimacy .
let me give you just a few examples . this Community assistance has brought and will continue to bring specific benefits to the population .
that is why I propose - and I have consulted other political groups - to add to paragraph 4 : ' as well as a review of the " restricted freedom ” sentences imposed on 11 persons who participated in a demonstration which took place in January 2008 ; ' .
State of European asylum system , after the recent decision of the European Court of Human Rights ( debate )
I should like to emphasise once again that we are acting very swiftly , given the complexity of the issue .
besides , the cost of not having Europe would be unbearable for all of us .
now I use the word ' ask ' with some care . asking is exactly what the British Prime Minister has had to do .
this verification can be made by your optician or your dentist , but also by a professional photographer or a fire service official - no disrespect to members of these professions .
the former Commission was misguided in thinking that healthcare was just another commercial service .
I shall listen closely to your reply .
we are improving the situation in these states .
( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , what has just been said demonstrates that your proposal was at the very least controversial .
the European Parliament gave its opinion in good time before the Council 's opinion , and this is due to the intensive efforts made by our rapporteur , Mr Castiglione , and all the efforts of the political groups .
you can act on your own initiative .
in 2006 the countries with the lowest disparities in income were Denmark , Sweden , Finland , Slovenia and the Czech Republic , and these countries have for many years enjoyed stable annual GDP growth , which is quite different from those countries that have the highest disparities in income , such as Latvia , Lithuania , Portugal and Greece as well as , unfortunately , my own country , Poland .
on behalf of the EFD Group . - Madam President , whilst food prices are undoubtedly rising , the situation at the farm gate is very different .
for example , by reducing the consumption of imported oil , not only do you save money , and you do not pay it to the oil-producing countries , but you also reduce CO2 emissions .
this report is intended to provide the financial foundations of the EU superstate which I and my constituents ( ... ) reject .
the promises which were made should not be forgotten as soon as the result requested by the Irish Government and by EU leaders was achieved .
I have about 30 people on the list , in the order you took your blue cards .
as regards the necessary funding available to developing countries to enable them to combat climate change and its consequences , who exactly will provide this funding to the developing countries ?
firstly , the European Union already has a Joint Research Centre , it has its own Research Council , and it is currently instigating joint technology initiatives .
we do not know .
even though the directive can be seen as superfluous in certain Member States , we have hopes that it can bring about an improvement in the large number of Member States which currently lack functioning legislation for the protection of soil .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , first of all , we in the Commission welcome this new joint motion for a resolution by the European Parliament .
among them are respect and tolerance for differences .
I have been described by members of UKIP as a ' paedophile ' and a ' big fat git ' .
in this conflict , we lay emphasis on the energy situation in Europe , on Russia 's " imperialist ” position and on Georgia 's nationalism and lack of diplomacy , but we forget that people and , especially , hopes have died in this conflict .
everything can be improved upon .
it is a pity that the Council of Member States did not bear that in mind in considering our report from the Temporary Committee on Extraordinary Rendition .
however , most of you do not know that in Prague I ride an electric bicycle .
producers ' organisations need to be promoted that are capable of positioning themselves in the market , concentrating supply .
I do thank Commissioner Reding for her staunch support as we drew solidly on the Commission proposal and Commission representatives made a full contribution , so my personal thanks to her .
fifthly , we do not know the results of the tests of the second generation Schengen Information System , and Parliament must be informed .
while former employees of the Dutch company NXP Semiconductors will receive EUR 3 534 per capita and the Danish former employees from Nordjylland will receive EUR 7 908 each , the Portuguese former employees of Qimonda will receive only EUR 2 867 per capita from the aid granted by the fund .
the impact of a nuclear ban would be even worse because the alternative to nuclear power is not wind farms and solar panels .
we would support your motion , Mr Swoboda , if it contained ' latest ' and ' should ' , but ' could ' is only a status report , and we shall therefore keep up the pressure on the Council and Commission .
simply put , we must do our utmost to preserve and protect coastal regions .
children need to be prepared with appropriate knowledge so that they will be able to use a variety of tools to identify potential abusers and defend themselves against them .
in devising the EU 2020 strategy , policies that guarantee sustainable development must be given a major role .
ladies and gentlemen , the belts being tightened throughout Europe - as a painful and severe measure - are beginning to have an impact .
well , as the commissioner has already said , the Commission has not - not by a long shot - achieved what it had set out to achieve , namely a positive statement of assurance ( DAS ) .
the responsibility for the failure therefore lies fairly and squarely with the Council .
recent studies have shown that this type of fraud amounts to about 24 % of all types of VAT-related fraud .
I voted for the Commission proposal to expand the original concept of the European Heritage Label from an intergovernmental action to a formal EU action as a contribution to a stronger European identity .
we have supported the latter because , then , more criminals get caught .
the increase which is now proposed will mainly benefit the large-scale producers at the expense of small producers .
we know it is taxpayers ' money but I think we have to be there and work together with you for the stability of Afghanistan .
with almost 14 million jobs involved , and with sustained growth even during the crisis , it remains essential to show unfailing support for these industries , so great is their economic and cultural contribution .
even if there are unresolved political issues between countries , it should not reflect on people-to-people contacts .
in Africa , many young women and girls are victims of war and rape .
in writing . - While I welcome the bulk of Mr Lambsdorff 's report on EU priorities for the 64th Session of the United Nations General Assembly , I have a problem with his call at this stage for a single European Union seat on the UN Security Council .
those who do not want to work should not prevent those who want and have to work from doing so .
what headlines will the major newspapers run ?
we also agree with you that some kind of reporting mechanism is necessary - without , of course , posing an exaggerated burden on small and medium-sized companies in particular .
I ask the Commissioner whether he or the Commission has any plan or any new ideas for improving matters ?
the Commission seems ready to abolish both the safety clauses with regard to the total quantities of sugar importable into the Community by each partner country and the minimum price clause for imported sugar .
insolvency proceedings in the context of EU company law (
I hope that we can improve trade relations with Japan and I look forward to further progress in these relations .
incidentally , while we are on the subject , and in light of the new information on the use of Spanish bases for the transport of prisoners to Guantanamo , does the government intend , though the UN Security Council , to review its relations with the US ?
in my view , there is no stronger catalyst for rapid social change in candidate countries or in potential candidate countries than the prospect of being able to become a member of the European Union and thus of having to meet certain standards which we in Europe have .
there is no significant scientific evidence to suggest that drastic cuts in carbon dioxide emissions will make a substantial contribution to reducing climate change . I repeat , Commissioner : there is no scientific evidence to that effect .
volatility within markets has been detrimental to the industry across Europe , and we need to retain the safety nets to maintain stability and ensure profitability .
I voted in favour of Mrs Angelilli 's report on the sexual exploitation of children because this issue concerns one of the most sordid inhumane acts , which must be punished by measures adopted by all Member States .
according to statistics provided by Russia , more than 1.5 million visas were issued to EU citizens in 2008 and the same year , Member State consulates issued 3.5 million visas to Russian citizens .
yet only 15 years ago there seems to have been the potential for Madagascar to be so different .
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it is crucial that there is not a repeat of situations like this .
this issue has been raised ad nauseam .
the fact that vans make much wider use of diesel as a fuel also plays an important role .
secondly , we are withdrawing from the order of business Mrs Ţicãu 's report on the energy performance of buildings , because it was not adopted in committee on Monday .
of course , Parliament has already decided that it will ignore the decision of the Irish people if they vote ' no ' , and , in order to encourage the Irish to vote ' yes ' , the EU has promised Ireland another EUR 332 million in funding .
the first is that one cannot and should not distinguish between citizens and foreigners , men and woman , whites and blacks , Christians and Jews , Muslims and non-Muslims , believers and non-believers .
fifthly , on European citizenship : how often do we invoke the value of European citizenship during our speeches ?
I agree with Mr Carlgren .
this is perhaps the most important aspect for the rural population as with the help of these developments , new jobs , new training courses and new markets may become accessible , resulting at the same time in a reduction in costs and the deployment of new innovative technologies .
I also believe it is necessary to point out the need for freedom of expression and , above all , for freedom of association in each of these countries .
the basis of the report , as it emerged from the work of the Human Rights Subcommittee , is reasonably good , and it has some elements that I believe are essential .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , since December 2009 , tourism has been recognised in the Treaty and so at last has a legal basis for development and support at European level .
for instance , in 2003 we fined France Télécom and Deutsche Telekom for abusive behaviour in the broadband markets and , most recently , on 4 July 2007 the Commission fined Telefónica for having abused its dominant position by margin squeeze in the Spanish broadband market .
this will be achieved not just by introducing maximum values for more types of substances , but also by establishing much stricter limit values for unavoidable traces of lead , cadmium , mercury , chromium 6 and organic tin .
we must be ready to develop this cooperation into a Community policy .
but I think we should only do it if it is effective , in which case I shall be happy to consider it .
we expect , Commissioner , to find evidence of this intention in the programme to be unveiled to us by the Commission within the next few days .
it has shown that we are only one of many players on the world stage .
in writing . - ( SV ) In his report , the rapporteur writes that cohesion policy is one of the EU 's most successful investments .
- Madam President , Europe has a turbulent history with regard to totalitarianism and the restriction of basic freedoms .
the first of these states that the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund does function but that there are reasons for optimising its deployment .
the purpose of the directive is to lay down minimum rules to ensure workers ' health and safety by means of two instruments : rest periods and a limit on the working week .
this might cause a lot of problems in the future because they can be lost forever .
I welcome the efforts of the Croatian Government to tackle corruption in its own country , but at the same time we must insist that this problem is also rigorously pursued .
in this regard , the Member States need to make vigorous efforts and cooperate more to remove these products from the market and prevent players from placing products on the market when these contain hazardous chemicals .
in 2008 , the Council of the European Union presented the Commission with its conclusions , inviting the Commission to submit a legislative proposal that would enable us , as was the case with the European Capitals of Culture initiative , to turn this intergovernmental initiative into a real European Union label .
enough said ...
in 2002 the Council of Europe decided that it should be changed .
a debate on the Eastern Partnership is also necessary due to the fact that it is not entirely clear that we all accord the same importance to this project .
I think that a more in-depth study would also be worthwhile for other issues that have been raised : the issue of tax havens , which Mr Canfin addressed .
but do not expect that it will bring us a miraculous solution like in those kinds of gas games in central and eastern Europe .
at the present time , Commissioner , only 2 800 kilometres of railway in the whole of Europe has been equipped with this new European safety system .
I repeat : all the political groups have agreed to this solution and this solution has thus been accepted .
we think it is absolutely vital that Iraq be integrated into the trade system and it goes without saying that the WTO is the right arena for that .
as a result , 17 of the 27 EU Member States were dragged into the attack and occupation of Iraq .
the aim of this action is to achieve at least some of these objectives , in the conviction that small and medium-sized enterprises represent the best instrument today for emerging from the crisis and - as I said at the start of my speech - for preventing the economic and financial crisis from turning into a social crisis .
first : give us a pre-Christmas gift , President Barroso - concrete proposals on new and better regulations .
in truth , we cannot understand what benefit the possible transfer of CAP funds to other policies could bring .
substantial investments are required in order to gradually reduce dependence on fossil fuels , as well as modernise and make more efficient existing energy production facilities .
however , in order to be persuasive , we have to make sure that this principle is properly applied in the EU Member States too .
last but not least , we finally succeeded , with the help of the Council , and we must admit this in all honesty , in finding a compromise that allowed us to secure all the funding for the energy sector down almost to the last euro within the specified time and , as a result , to make sure that the funding was not lost .
these particular characteristics ought , therefore , to be taken into account by increasing support for the region , either from this fund or through other measures .
new permanent structures for the EU 's external representation have been established under the Treaty of Lisbon , but this new dimension does not yet allow the Union to participate as a single entity in its own right in the work of many international bodies .
I wish to thank Parliament again for this very good resolution .
there is no reason why these surveys should not be updated again .
for that purpose it is vital to ensure continuity of information as well as access to it .
it makes sense that Amendment 70 should be put to the vote first .
Vice-President of the Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy . - Mr President , if I might just give some comments directly on the issues and questions that have been raised .
I would like to quote just one sentence from his address .
it was not in fact the time to discuss internally how we organise ourselves , which is why I want the Treaty of Lisbon to be quickly ratified so that we can face the world stage united , standing shoulder-to-shoulder as Europeans .
if the EU wishes to contribute effectively to this , then the Member States , including the Netherlands , must fulfil their promises so that EUFOR can be fully deployed as quickly as possible .
I believe that these proposals , as detailed as they sometimes are , are based on a flawed philosophy , that is , on the assumption that the recession is over , that a recovery is taking place and that we do not need additional Community policies in order to come out of the crisis .
Madam President , I call on the Irish Government to immediately apply for natural disaster aid relief under the European Solidarity Fund .
governments have to learn how to strive for a balance between governing citizens and protecting their lives .
we would like to see more .
governments must learn to talk together about their economic policies .
furthermore , they will have a substantial price tag .
recently , the Bureau of Investigative Journalism in the UK unveiled the fact that EU regional funds are being used to prop up arms dealing companies in Eastern Europe , with some projects receiving funding amounting to millions of euro , although these are some of the richest companies .
when the political science students of the future or citizens who are interested in politics get wind of it , it will be a classic .
it is surprising , however , that it takes a report from the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs according to Rule 39 for the Commission to start to tackle this topic seriously .
that is clearly what our draft resolution is all about : we are still dealing with restrictions on human rights and personal freedoms in Belarus .
I hope that , in adopting today 's resolution , we will also contribute to the protection of fundamental human rights in these countries .
secondly , we tried to tighten up all of the exceptions that existed to avoid possible loopholes for advertising - something none of us wants .
in writing . - The accuracy and reliability of information on population and housing is essential for effective policies to be implemented at EU and national level .
the Commission is committed to delivering proposals in the remaining areas by summer 2011 .
however , the EU is currently suffering from a chronic shortage of organs : today 40 000 patients are waiting for a transplant and it is estimated that 10 of them die each day .
we will do everything we can to help them and to make visa liberalisation possible , and that includes in technical terms .
if there is no alternative , Council , Commission and Parliament might in the last resort look at the possibility of bilateral rather than multilateral arrangements .
it is appropriate that Canada was seen as a priority for an Air Safety Agreement to complement the Air Transport Agreement as Europe and Canada each have aircraft , engine and avionics manufacturers that are world leaders .
for this , the free movement of services is needed .
individual groupings of territorial cooperation will be able actively to promote a rise in employment and social inclusion .
on no account must the European workforce be condemned to unemployment in favour of a wave of ' blue card ' skilled labour from third countries .
it is not only the institution and the treaty that are important .
likewise , it was not easy to decide on a reasonable course of action .
on the other hand , he was also critical of certain weaknesses found , such as those found by the European Court of Auditors relating to public procurement procedures and a wide variety of other controls .
for this reason , we all need to focus on overcoming the crisis and coming up with good proposals .
we can , however , talk about principles .
Mrs Stihler also attached a great deal of importance to this in her remarks .
it is actually rather strange that this is being said so bluntly here , because this is not how it is being done in Denmark .
one needs to look at the overall risk from all technologies .
the printed word is the primary source and must be kept for reasons of consistency , transparency and simplicity of research at a time when we are seeking to promote the study of the European Parliament .
Mr President , as we debate better regulation , we should first recall the scale of the problem .
now , with a new Administration in the White House which is redefining US priorities , and France back into the NATO military structure , the perspective is better .
I am working on the basis that the relevant decisions will have been taken before December is out .
I would just ask the Commission - as my colleague Kader Arif has already done - to be very careful in evaluating each individual case .
only a person absolutely unacquainted with the situation could believe that it can be improved in this way .
the Socialist Group in the European Parliament , as far as I know , has only 18 minutes to speak .
( PL ) Mr President , I regret that Mr Szymański 's summary of his excellent report could not , unfortunately , be heard by Mrs Ferrero-Waldner , because she continues to be occupied with other matters .
in the European Council , we have a problem in that Russia has not yet ratified Protocol 14 , which would boost the effectiveness of the European Court of Human Rights .
the first is the one in which the Commission is urged to improve the working conditions of maritime workers and finally transpose into EU law the International Labour Organization ( ILO ) Maritime Labour Convention .
day after day , companies are announcing restructuring measures or are relocating , often with the loss of many jobs .
nothing would have been possible without Parliament 's commitment and without the tireless work of your rapporteurs , committee chairmen and coordinators of political groups .
this is why the EU 's agricultural budget should at least be maintained at the current level .
the package takes us up to 2020 , but in this report we emphasise the need to start planning now what will happen after 2020 .
it certainly is strange that in Europe in 2009 a new government can be formed which does not have a single woman among the 14 ministers making up the administration .
these provide information to parents about the dangers children could encounter on line - including online gambling .
that is why we must identify Jihadist terror as the key challenge and state this in the report .
I wish to congratulate OLAF for the Diablo II operation , aimed not only at protecting the European Union 's financial interests but also , at the same time , at combating counterfeit products .
I also voted in favour .
I should appreciate your response to this .
it is a situation that does not apply only to you , but it is regrettable in all cases .
it is true that if Parliament had not twice voted in favour of the famous Amendment 138 , we would not be where we are today .
to you , it is a budget .
it is shocking that despite the prevalence of sexual violence in Africa , governments do not include fighting it among their priorities , as we can see , for example , in the case of South Africa .
that is the message the EU must champion .
in addition , the clauses concerning the obligation to draw up a remediation strategy that includes objectives for repair measures , a financing mechanism and identification of priority areas requiring particular protection from erosion , salinisation or acidification , over a period of seven years from the introduction of the directive , is very encouraging .
employment policy must focus on labour market flexibility where employees assume responsibility for their working life through ongoing training , adapting to change and mobility .
in writing . - ( PT ) The Treaty of Lisbon is the best compromise for overcoming the institutional crisis and bringing greater flexibility to the decision-making mechanisms that are essential for an enlarged European Union of 27 Members to function in today 's globalised and constantly changing world .
can the Commission make a statement confirming that the proposed CCCTB initiative will not impact upon the ability of Member States to set their individual corporation tax rate ?
the EU does not have the legitimacy that they are attempting to ascribe to it : only the Member States and their peoples do .
such religions are , of course , man-made and not God-made and therefore suffer from several weaknesses .
this project aims to provide signals guaranteed for civilian use and to ensure that European industry at all levels has an opportunity to compete in this growing strategic market .
it has been an enormous pleasure to cooperate with you and the French Presidency , because you have taken the time , to an unusual degree , to really talk through the issues in depth .
these countries should undergo a number of structural reforms if they are to fit into the model that the euro requires and aspires to .
we put out a very good image of ourselves as both cohesive and determined .
I have received six motions for resolutions , tabled in accordance with Rule 103 ( 2 ) of the Rules of Procedure .
there is no reason , except for the hunger for power and centralism of EU bureaucrats , to persist with Albania 's accession to the EU ; in view of the current situation within the Balkan republic , I cannot see what possible contribution its accession could make to the cause of European integration .
the European democracy will be built with you .
rapporteur . - Mr President , the food facility began as a proposal from the Commission , in the light of the rising food prices that provoked riots in some countries , to use EUR 1 billion in leftover agricultural subsidy money to relieve the situation in developing countries through agricultural inputs and emergency safety nets .
even though we must demand a greater degree of coordination and a greater , more active presence on the ground , it would be dangerous to make judgments or comments about MONUC that could be used by certain negative forces as an excuse to demonise it .
I should be grateful for your response , Mrs Lulling .
if the costs of the umpteenth strategy will still only finance talk , I call on the European institutions to make amends to the dozens of small entrepreneurs in my region , Veneto , who have taken their lives rather than see their small businesses fail .
our establishment of greater transparency , by means of both pre-contractual information and the information sheets , the standardised information already mentioned by several of the previous speakers , is also very important .
the premise is that freedom of religion must apply to all religions .
Petitions : see Minutes
in order that the quality of life in Europe can be maintained and improved , workers must be able continuously to update their knowledge and skills , and this is going to be all the more necessary if we take into account Europe 's demographic development in these years ahead .
as the European Commission itself points out , having affected the developing countries and emerging countries , the third wave of the financial crisis damaged the poorest countries , turning this crisis , in theory an economic one , into a development , social and humanitarian crisis .
it continues to count on the Stability and Growth Pact .
I just wonder what your views on that are .
by doing so , it is indirectly showing that it can support animal cloning for food production .
I supported the author 's amendment which emphasizes the importance of fair competition in terms of taxation for the European Union 's economy .
labels allow consumers to make free and informed choices .
in the final analysis , the adoption and implementation of such measures could also lessen the impact of the financial crisis in this country and reduce the need for financial assistance from the European Union .
naturally , I also agree with the Commission that the enlargement of the European Union to 27 Member States and the financial regulation adopted for the Agency demand new , modernised and improved statutes for the Euratom Supply Agency .
the foundation has been laid for creating a common European energy market , based on rules set out in detail in the binding network codes .
a second important element in the proposal is the logical exemption of Inuit and other indigenous communities .
I know that when it comes to statistics , and particularly when there is no roll-call vote , things are a bit loose here , but could you explain the difference between those two figures ?
so we will come back to these questions .
however , two conditions are absolutely essential .
this results in an atmosphere of intolerance in certain countries , as we saw the other day at Notre Dame for example , when worshippers were attacked by anti-Catholic activists .
( ES ) Mr President , I would like my first words to be words of congratulation , as is only right , to Mrs Paliadeli , on the report she has presented , first of all before the Committee on Petitions and now here in plenary .
when we talk about the food crisis , as we did yesterday , and about the increasing scarcity of food and farmland for food-growing as a result of the production of biomass , and how this is a consequence of environmental policy , we should talk to the Brazilians , and to Latin American politicians . we will find a clear focus on these problems .
I wish to thank the Committee on Petitions , and especially the chair , Mrs Mazzoni and the rapporteur , Mrs Paliadeli , for their helpful and constructive report .
on the one hand , we are offering farmers support to set up artificial nests for birds , while on the other , we decree , for purposes of supporting grazing land , that the proportion of trees and shrubs may be no more than one third , and that farmers must cut out any trees in excess of that limit .
in this resolution , it called for the fate of the missing persons in Cyprus to be ascertained .
regarding the Black Sea , I find myself in agreement with much of the report on a Black Sea regional policy approach as well .
I think that this combination of facts , this inequality and the disparities which are appearing and operating within the European Union are the problem and one of the causes of the problem .
we found it regrettable that the concept of microcredit was not mentioned in the original material .
these systems are used everywhere , today , in every form of transport .
in a medium-term perspective , such restrictions clearly send the wrong market signals , reducing the incentive for farmers to invest and to increase their production , and contributing to an imbalance on regional markets .
for this reason , too , I advocate elevating the present Subcommittee on Human Rights to the status of full committee .
as is mentioned in the relevant article , the EU will contribute to the development of quality education by encouraging cooperation between Member States and , if necessary , by supporting their actions .
- Report : Savary
in writing . - ( FI ) The EU has many good intentions , one of the older ones being the Lisbon Strategy we are now debating and one of the more recent ones being the latest energy package .
Mr President , Mrs Fischer Boel , ladies and gentlemen , firstly I would like to take the opportunity to say how pleased I am at the responsibility shown this morning by the House when it adopted the urgent procedure to include the dairy sector under Article 186 of the single CMO Regulation , along with many other agricultural products .
again I would like to thank you for this debate .
the increasing complexity of the services sector , in particular , presents a huge problem , making it increasingly difficult for consumers to make an informed choice when purchasing goods or services .
that was the original text .
at the moment , nuclear energy accounts for 30 % of Europe 's energy mix .
I would like to remind Mr Farage that western European banks , western European companies bought out the banks and businesses of the new Member States and now , shirking solidarity , they fail to do anything to make possible a secure financial basis .
( SL ) Madam President , I would like to ask the Commissioner a question on the subject of many European countries trying to offload their problems , fisheries problems , onto a country which does not , formally and legally , exist . I am referring to Western Sahara .
we also need to emphasise the possibility of a fast-track procedure , which reduces the time needed for administration , and it is also important that veterinarians thus have much more rapid access to the medicinal products .
I would like to applaud some of the positive steps over the previous year , for example , the ending of the visa regime for most of the inhabitants of the region , the progress of Montenegro , which has been awarded with a proposal for candidate country status , and the progress in the talks between the European Union and Serbia , which has been recommended for an avis .
the report by Ms Swinburne comes at an important juncture in the process of regulatory reform .
that is why calls for more troop commitments and logistical support need to be heeded by other European nations .
to begin with , a very large proportion of direct subsidies in individual countries goes not to farms but to large concerns like Smithfield , or large landholdings like the Crown Estates of Elizabeth II .
recent experiences have shown the value and effectiveness of a pre-emptive or preventative approach .
in both cases , all the languages must be treated equally .
last but not least , I know that sometimes there is an issue about carbon capture and storage ( CCS ) .
Mr Lamberts , I will just mention another important point that you brought up : the payment of dividends by banks that do not put the minimum capitalisation requirements into practice .
not all the countries for whom a road map was drawn up are eligible to receive the waiver on 1 January .
by voting today , Parliament was simply giving permission for a group of Member States to start the enhanced cooperation procedure , which was only made possible by the Treaty of Lisbon .
17 .
some Members have already mentioned the problem of how , through climate policy , we have also partly caused more problems .
I would also like to ask the Member States to what extent they have involved the stakeholders and , in particular , the trade unions and the social services , in the transposition .
we have celebrity TV chefs promoting their particular version of food production , with access to the airwaves and budgets of millions .
we could have enhanced the economic effectiveness of this package by using innovative finance instruments , like loan guarantee funds and the public banks , or the European Investment Bank .
it is supported by both government and opposition in Seoul and this House , in endorsing an earlier report by Mr Martin , signalled its agreement in principle .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
of course , we pat ourselves on the back for our considerable efforts , even though we know for a fact that we fall far short of what the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change scientists are demanding .
firstly , the real lack of interoperability , particularly in signalling ; and secondly , the Railway industry itself - in particular , passenger operators and infrastructure providers who collude with each other to ensure that rail freight is placed at the bottom of the pile when it comes to pathing and timetabling .
thank you , I wish you every success , and thanks to the rapporteur .
on the other hand , the reaction from the Gaddafi regime clearly shows us that it is not at all indifferent to the sanctions which have been adopted so far .
it deals with actual funding and at the same time introduces environmental measures , which are vital in the EU .
- ( HU ) Mr President , the EU is striving for partnership and cooperation with Russia , but we cannot talk about partnership unless it is based on reciprocity , international law and compliance with agreements .
Mr President , rather than trying to apportion responsibility or blame to either or both sides , the most important issue - as the Commissioner has just said - is to bring about an immediate ceasefire , as called for by UN Resolution 1860 .
I therefore believe that Parliament and the European Commission need to pay particular attention to the situation in Bulgaria and seek to limit the damage that the behaviour of its government threatens to cause .
more should also be done to increase birth rates : accessible high quality childcare , education and mentoring for young children is the first step in the right direction .
the introduction of a European donor card as a supplement to existing national systems will contribute for the rapid identification of donors and thus increase the availability of necessary transplant material .
I do not need to remind you that we have been negotiating a number of packages at the same time , including the one that we have talked about today and the one on maritime transport which has really fired up all the respective negotiators .
I would like to emphasise strongly that , even in this crisis - and specifically in this crisis , in fact - European manufacturers must not slacken off when it comes to developing and bringing onto the market cars that meet the requirements of the early 21st century , and those requirements are quite clear .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to thank the rapporteur for his excellent work on a report aimed at giving strategic guidance on the role of sport in the European Union .
given the current relevance of the Barcelona Process and the area south of the EU , we believe that an answer to these questions is extremely pertinent and timely .
Ireland will continue to make its contribution in a peacekeeping role , whether this is through the UN or the European Union .
firstly , that we need good relations between the European Union and the Russian Federation .
then we will be able to make some progress here too .
as the practical application of other worthy and ambitious goals and declarations has demonstrated , including here in the European Parliament , we achieve nothing by simply setting percentage quotas without taking into account the geographical , economic and other conditions that are typical of individual countries or regions .
as I also requested in the report on the amendment of Regulation No 3 / 2008 , the European Union 's cofinancing rate must be increased .
the vote will take place on Tuesday , 22 April 2008 .
I hope that the Ombudsman is prepared to take on this task and as such ...
therefore , we really must defend it .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , we have been facing the problem of international adoption in Europe for many years , and today 's resolution finally attempts to bring a ray of hope to a situation that is becoming increasingly complex and difficult .
it is true that Germany needs to begin consuming again and do more as the motor for European economic growth .
the fact remains that the Commission is the guardian of the Treaties .
it is something that all sides obviously need to take into consideration , especially today when the Treaty of Lisbon was pulled down and its falling bricks may damage whatever stands in its way .
firstly , Mr Verhofstadt , who is unfortunately no longer here , said that the Commission intervened too late .
in total , some EUR 140 million will be available each year under this instrument , and the first calls for project proposals are now open .
Mrs Malmström , it would generate a lot of confidence if you would refer to the High Representative in future as the High Representative or Vice-President of the Commission .
we have moved from physical infrastructure to knowledge-based infrastructure , to training and innovation .
stage 1 : in a market economy , the main responsibility of the owners and operators of industrial plants is undoubtedly to ensure themselves that their facilities are safe , to carry out regular safety inspections and to report the results .
however , we also always made it absolutely clear that this strategic partnership which we believe the European Union should establish with Brazil in no way excluded or limited other relations which we also wished to extend on the economic and political levels with Mercosur .
another concrete point regarding the European supervisory authorities was raised , namely by Mr Karas and also by Ms Dati .
all citizens who commit sexual crimes against children must be punished , regardless of whether the crime is committed within or outside the EU .
I am thinking , for example , of staffing and staff quality , the integration of care and education , and active engagement with parents , who are the first educators of their children .
that is what our consciences say to us .
we are supporting you .
the vision that the Commission has just outlined , of a more socially orientated Europe in the 21st century , is conceptually flawless but bereft of any actual legislative initiative .
if the Europeans had gone to London with a policy position , who would have actually been able to stand up against them ?
I think that is nothing at all .
all in all therefore , a good compromise , and I hope it will find broad support tomorrow !
all of this is highly innovative and no EU proposal has ever pushed the boat out so far in favour of performers .
also , in the Council , the anti-discrimination directive is still blocked .
feed manufacturers and large food companies are clearly not concerned about EU directives and national legislation when it comes to making large profits with cheap food .
he is someone who is championing the principal that EU institutions must be transparent .
it is of paramount importance , since this package really is the cornerstone of our comprehensive response to the crisis that is still ongoing .
I believe that the effective selection and implementation of projects in some areas is hampered by the lack of relevant preconditions such as simpler application procedures at national level , clear national priorities for certain areas of intervention , timely transposition of EU laws and consolidated institutional and administrative capacity , as well as by excessive red tape at national level .
I do not mean to point the finger , but rather to allow those Member States who might be overusing antibiotics to improve their animal husbandry practices .
lastly , I applaud the fact that the scope is ' open ' to include all electrical and electronic equipment .
in 2003 , 80 % of Roma in Slovakia did not have a registered place of work , 80 % of them in Romania and Bulgaria have incomes below the national poverty threshold , and I could list ... ( the President cut off the speaker ) I could list more of these cases .
and certainly the evidence is there for all to see .
here and now , the report may provide an opportunity for the social economy to manage the crisis efficiently , and with relatively little effort , to prevent job losses and guard against the loss of means of subsistence .
this leads to a question , Mr Solano , as you said nothing on the subject of international law .
finally , I have a similar question to that raised by Mrs Harkin , concerning when cases are rejected .
- Report : Mayer
finally , the main one , the asterisk amendment demands that Galileo and the EIT are funded beyond the ceilings of the financial perspective .
Mr Antinoro then spoke about the achievements of my country . thank you for your remarks .
when do you expect to conclude it ?
despite my support , I do not agree with a large proportion of the resolution , as I deplore the European Union 's interfering attitude and its desire to take charge of the transition towards democracy .
and then from the floor of the House today I hear warnings of an Islamic tsunami that is waiting to come and destroy us all .
I also believe that this programme can only legitimised by a paradigm shift from a purely commercial angle to the broader and more integrated one of development and the fight against poverty ( goal number one of the Millennium Development Goals ) .
numerous observers have suggested that , besides the increase in the price of raw materials , there have been some excessive mark-ups by distribution channels and , moreover , possible breaches of free competition .
the workforce is conscious of the particular significance of the Shipyard and is responding to threats as they did then - by means of protest .
the European institutions , specifically the European Commission and Parliament , must be an integral part of this board with the Commission as a member , not an observer .
hence , I voted against this report .
more than that , it is vital to our liberty .
it emphasises the role that the EGF can play in the reintegration of workers made redundant into the labour market .
as part of this activity , however , particular attention must be focused on the care given to the animals used for scientific or other experimental purposes .
( applause from the centre and left )
some would like to ban all forms of autonomy because they claim this would fragment the EU .
the ensuing reluctance of bankers to lend - even to themselves - has resulted in a credit crisis which will have a negative impact on economic growth and on the prosperity of businesses and households alike , whether they are in Paris , Texas , or Paris , France .
we have to work on both crisis management and conflict resolution - there is no doubt about that .
given that the lists are produced by the industry and decided on by consensus by the participants , I welcome the agreement that has been reached by all the Member States who have supported previous reviews and also supported the product coverage of this fourth review .
I believe that , for the first time , we can also agree the big changes necessary for coordinated action that will signal the beginning of the end of offshore tax havens and offshore centres .
Ethiopia , Eritrea , Somalia and Djibouti must co-operate if they want to overcome the current stalemate .
there is no lack of projects in these sectors , but for them to see the light of day , European aid is utterly decisive .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I think the Council has really outdone itself .
being intelligent sometimes means waiting .
however , there is a large gap when it comes to the means to be used .
however , there are other significant dates besides 2050 , which might seem far off - there are also interim targets for 2025 and 2030 , in other words for the period that requires investment in infrastructure and production capacities right now .
we need national measures to address national problems defined according to national circumstances and in full respect of subsidiarity , but set within a common European framework .
I must say that the political class in Albania is not able to satisfy the wishes and the ideas of the people .
if not , we will at least propose binding legislation .
may I thank the Commission for establishing such stringent substitution criteria , for pesticides need to be improved tenfold .
my thanks also go to the French Presidency ( even though they have just left this Chamber ) , because I believe they convinced us , through their efforts and tenacity , that it was possible to make progress with this dossier .
livelihoods are destroyed , as fishermen , farmers and others cannot trade .
with envy I often watch advertisements in our Slovak public and private media for Internet with four times the speed and its advantages .
the protection of Hungarian minorities abroad , to which Article D applies directly , also applies to people of Hungarian ethnicity living in neighbouring countries .
this is entirely a question of strategy for our European Union , again at a time when currency wars seem on the verge of breaking out .
Northern Ireland has been seriously affected by this and last year , the problem meant that replacements had to be found in the social housing programme for 500 out of 1 500 houses that were planned .
let us be very adult in this House about what we say about other nation states , with respect .
with no sense of fondness , they can always resort to chocolate without cacao .
the Treaty of Lisbon created important conditions enabling the European Union to speak with one voice on the international stage .
at the same time , I should like to take this opportunity to emphasise the call in this report for a more transparent staff selection process .
I know this , because I was there and I was the rapporteur for Parliament in 2002 .
Europe is facing neither a classic crisis of growth nor cyclical problems but profound changes ; the welfare of future generations depends on our wisdom to take good decisions today .
our analysis has shown that the impact on EU production is likely to be modest .
the External Action Service should coordinate the work of different Directorates-General and create a Directorate-General for cultural and digital diplomacy .
European Institute of Innovation and Technology ( debate )
Romania , the country which I come from , is in the middle of the Global Gender Gap Index 2010 rankings , in 64th place to be precise , in terms of discrimination between women and men .
in addition , although we are aware of the difficulties experienced in recent years , we hope that the Madrid Summit can give a definitive boost to the negotiations with Mercosur .
we all know the reason for this , but it will be those countries who can afford it least that will be affected the most .
- Before the vote :
the significance of health will continue to increase in our aging society .
3 .
this expenditure , which is absolutely justified , will have to be funded at the cost of other important activities , which the Union committed itself to funding much earlier .
if there is to be genuine peace , there has to be a solution to the status of Jerusalem as the future capital of two states , with the state of Israel and an independent , democratic , contiguous and viable state of Palestine living side by side in peace and security .
the crisis is far from over .
patience in all matters is a virtue , not least in foreign policy .
companies functioning in China face these pressures from the Chinese Government .
we have to take action to ensure the political stabilisation of Nigeria and to create solid foundations for its economic and social development : we are fully aware of the general considerations ; there is no shortage of them , given the wealth of natural resources in Nigeria .
thank you .
I therefore voted to approve this report .
this also relates to production standards .
the debate is closed .
I wonder whether it is the EU 's weakness or indifference that prevents it from promoting the observance of human rights in this area more consistently .
on this point the Commission reminds the European Parliament that a full harmonisation directive on unfair business-to-consumer practices was already a very ambitious proposal which would have failed if its scope had been extended to business-to-business unfair competition practices .
in Europe today we are sufficiently familiar with the way the US stock exchange is supervised .
it is true that the United States distanced itself from the frontline of climate policy when it refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol .
let me end with a simple message - Visit Britain !
as you are aware , with our new fine level , that is indeed not sweet money anymore .
this is the case at the moment in Romania , even in the region I come from , with regard to the radioactive landfill from the Kozloduy power station .
I am happy about this clear progress and I therefore also support you as a member of the Dutch delegation when it comes to unbundling , the separation of policy and implementation between energy networks and producers .
I wish to thank and congratulate the rapporteur on his work .
this was also very visible here during the debate .
on the other hand , the tendency towards a mid-year increase in payments is reducing not only in relation to gross national product , but also in absolute mid-year terms .
just as Germany must take on responsibility for Morocco in the Mediterranean region , so too must Spain take on responsibility for Ukraine .
the European Union is armed with certain values : respect for the protection of intellectual property , fairness in terms of investments , access to markets , the fight against non-tariff trade barriers and respect for social and environmental standards .
given the new market surveillance circumstances , including the new legislative framework , the proposal for a regulation on harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products could be an important landmark on the way towards the updating , simplification and replacing of the directive .
however , they will cover all national or cross-border road transport services over distances in excess of 250 km .
it clearly and decidedly puts the health of patients first , and it sets the scene for health systems in different Member States to compete for improvement on a healthy basis .
this reports captures the status quo in the area of conventional energy sources and technologies , and at the same time draws attention , in a complex way , towards many aspects of their further use in the context of both securing energy supplies and the need to continuously increase emissions .
Vice-President of the European Commission , Margot Wallström , has been proactive in matters to do with equality .
I fail to understand why the Union does not enter into its accounts the EUR 37.2 billion that the Member States owe for staff pensions , since it has approximately EUR 44 billion negative own capital as a result .
in Europe , women still earn on average 18 % less than men .
Europe must nevertheless succeed in applying tougher regulations to a sector that otherwise risks becoming increasingly invasive , particularly as a result of the use of new technologies It is in fact increasingly common for consumers to provide sensitive data without being aware of the results that may be derived from them .
the Iranian Government , having signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child , nonetheless continues to impose capital punishment on minors .
I voted in favour of this report on the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of an agreement between the European Community and Canada on civil aviation safety .
that is not the case , however , in cities like Misrata and other areas controlled by Gaddafi .
Mr President , European legislation was set to encourage enterprises to improve their products and obtain higher standards of energy efficiency and environmental compliance .
( SV ) Mr President , Russia 's attack on Georgia is not an isolated incident .
then there was the domestic political instability , which tarnished the image of the European Union or , in other words , of all of us .
it would be in order for all of us here to recognise that we are concerned about people and that is why we take the position that we take .
according to Frontex , 90 % of illegal immigrants who come to Europe enter via Greece .
what do we want to commemorate , and how ?
hence , thanks to taxpayers ' contributions , the budget generally provides an opportunity for our countries to help the weakest in society .
simplifications in procurement , the combating of late payment or facilities for borrowing and setting up new companies are efficient instruments in this connection .
what is also needed here is solidarity , however . in the Franco-German proposal , I see the real danger of ending up in a situation where the stronger countries will have greater leeway , and where Greece will be unable to go beyond certain limits .
I therefore thank the rapporteur for actively seizing this opportunity .
in the years to come , new landfills and new incinerators will be required , and the associated sites will need to be identified .
however , in order to assert European solidarity and ensure that Member States can catch up successfully , it is essential that GDP remains the fundamental and exclusive indicator for the distribution of funds at EU level .
the security and safety of such services is vital for user confidence .
now , all the prime ministers applauded their Danish colleague when he told the Summit how he had cheated the Danes on a referendum .
they are not even embarrassed about saying and doing the opposite of what they previously announced .
let us be more serious , please !
regardless of the developments which led to the outbreak of this conflict , it is already having adverse effects of significant proportions on the civilians in the area and on the United Nations ' presence in Gaza .
despite that , I have to say that there is a need , here , to look very closely at the interaction between the Commission and the reporting duties of the Member States .
agenda for next sitting : see Minutes
( GA ) Madam President , I would first of all like to thank both you and the rapporteurs .
this is an aberration because the European Union is based on the concept of non-discrimination , on the principle of equality , which today is being negated in that country : it is failing to recognise those people 's rights and is subjecting a group to historical discrimination purely on account of its ethnic origin .
I am pleased that the European Council remains committed to action on climate change .
I welcome the adoption of this report , which will allow the Agency to become fully operational , thus enabling it to accomplish its task and safeguard the rights of EU citizens .
now I recently published the latest addition of my periodic study , ' How Much Does the European Union Cost Britain ? ' , which is available on my website .
although it was unable to avoid monetary turbulence and the consequent crisis in economic growth that we are living through , it succeeded in mitigating many of the negative consequences of the current situation .
I have got to know her as a very good colleague , and I would say that she is also a convinced European .
we also have to fulfil European Union technical requirements in relation to catalytic converters through the tightened-up Euro standards Euro 4 and Euro 5 .
as normal , we will maintain strong dialogue with Parliament and we will of course hope for your continued support on this issue .
there is an urgent need for better access to financing for small and medium-sized enterprises .
it points out that none of the dimensions may be strengthened to the detriment of another .
the private data of the individual cannot be jeopardised by other measures .
given all these things , Mr President , Commissioner , it is unacceptable that the Commission is now taking advantage of these regions ' successes and now also wishes to use them as a threat against Member States that do not meet macro-economic criteria .
creating a single market is a shared responsibility .
I feel that it is necessary to provide better information about products ' energy efficiency .
a law adopted in 2007 is officially devoted to them .
the amendment is as follows : in annex 1 the new figure for item B ' Neighbourhood and Partnership Countries ' should read 13 664 000 000 , with the figure for the sub-ceiling for ' Mediterranean countries ' 9 700 000 000 .
I agree that we must deconstruct the unnecessary bureaucracy , mainly if the provisions make it impossible for small businesses to work .
can human rights values depend on a majority reached one day , which may be a minority another day ?
this is to do with the European Institute for Gender Equality and its funding .
gender equality is one of the values on which we are building the European Union and in that context equality should extend to all areas .
this information should be provided no later than at the time of purchasing the ticket .
if these amendments are adopted , we can take pride in a job that may improve the situation of women and thus of the whole of Central American society .
this poses a particular challenge of us , as politicians , as we have normal technological progress which is , of course , characterised by the fact that we have more energy efficient products and modes of economic operation .
( PL ) Madam President , the European citizens ' initiative is to be a tool which enables the citizens to participate more fully in the life of the Union , and this , in turn , is to strengthen the clearly impaired communication between the European Union and the citizens .
we invite the Council and the Commission carefully to monitor the situation in the Black Sea and to take concrete measures to help to reduce the ecological impact of the disaster .
the proportion of precarious employment contracts ( temporary work , involuntary part-time work , agency work ) has risen considerably .
the Hungarian Presidency has my full support in accelerating work to ensure adoption by June .
Commissioner , the economic crisis has shown us that countries with an industrial base not only survive ; they also prosper .
from you I expect that during your Presidency , you will implement the Treaty that you concluded with Prime Minister Sanader and that a solution will then be found to the disputed borders through appraisal by a third party .
the measures proposed to combat gender stereotypes and for equal representation in decision-making , elimination of every kind of gender-based violence , etc. are a move in the right direction but will remain wishful thinking as long as the root cause responsible for these conditions and maintaining them remains , namely the capitalist system , which generates and aggravates discrimination and inequality .
I am therefore delighted to see the support that this proposal enjoys and I hope that we will be able to work in the same way with Parliament on other subjects in the future .
this is a report crucial to our way of thinking .
according to the report , he was acting in performance of his duties as Member of the European Parliament and carrying out political activities by expressing his opinion on a matter of public interest to his constituents .
combating desertification entails the prevention of hunger and , through that , the prevention of conflict .
inflicting inhumane and degrading treatment , such as electric shocks , ' virginity tests ' , physical and psychological violence , rape and slavery , is an unacceptable practice to which we must say ' Enough ' .
( FR ) Mr President , I shall come straight to the point .
if cross-border trade increases , consumers will be offered a wider choice of products and more competitive prices .
is the Commission satisfied with the performance to date of the European automobile industry in reducing carbon dioxide emissions and fuel consumption ?
we still have a long way to go , because we need a common foreign and security policy in order to be a global player .
without a swift and effective judicial investigation and with no guarantee that the safety of human rights activists will be respected , the situation may in fact become extremely worrying .
even then , information needs to circulate .
in fact , Amnesty International recently highlighted the fact that , following the elections , the number of people convicted and then executed has multiplied significantly .
action has to be taken , Commissioner , before it is too late .
I have , nevertheless , chosen to abstain , because the report was strongly protectionist in places .
in the case of bluetongue , we have , of course , benefited from the fact that we supported research and now have an inactivated vaccine and are able to carry out comprehensive vaccination , which was previously very dangerous and very difficult .
I hope that despite this crisis , our national governments will be able to listen to suggestions from this House and work together in a constructive manner .
although the EU has not endorsed all the recommendations , it made it clear that it takes the Goldstone report very seriously .
nobody ever questions the intrinsic quality of this legislation , or even the real need for or relevance of the 90 000 pages of text which represent what you call the ' acquis communautaire ' , or of the approximately 1 700 directives concerning the internal market .
under the amending budget a joint executive agency , the Research Executive Agency ( REA ) , is created , for the other programmes under the Seventh Framework Programme for research too .
we must resolve to go for more cooperation but also more harmonisation , wherever possible .
Anti-family , socio-economic policies , the promotion of family models with few children and childless marriages by the media , as well as policies conducive to family breakdown , are significant causes of the adverse demographic changes in Europe .
Mr President , I am sorry , but the motion for a resolution on Venezuela tabled mainly by the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) is a practical joke cobbled together in order to exploit the urgency debate for political purposes and to try to discredit Mr Chávez .
EU law stipulates that , where a case is withdrawn , the proceedings can be terminated unless such termination would not be in the Community interests .
as such , the mid-term review of the current framework programme is crucial so that throughout the second half of its existence , it can contribute effectively to the European economy 's recovery .
I hope that the Commission has not forgotten about that and will soon produce a proposal for a directive dealing with unlawful removals prior to 1993 .
although the agricultural budget needs to take into account unforeseen situations , even in the case of a surplus , I have some objections to it perpetually being used as a cash cow to cover any unforeseen event .
I think that their idea is an innovative and good one .
the role of the European Union must be strengthened in the aftermath of this crisis .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
I hope that colleagues will join me in supporting the package today .
Parliament 's grievances are not ridiculous .
fundamental rights and the prohibition of return must be respected .
we feel that , in view of the Commission 's responsibility , there are two questions to be asked .
the text adopted today aims to establish cooperation so as to ensure the integrated protection of the ecosystem and the sustainable development of the Prespa Park Area , including the drawing up of integrated river basin management plans , in accordance with international and EU standards .
we must take more effective action in all areas of science , making recruitment procedures and promotion requirements more transparent .
the oral question to the Council on an international treaty to ban cluster munitions ; follow-up to the Oslo Declaration , by Josep Borrell Fontelles , on behalf of the Committee on Development - B6-0319 / 2007 ) ;
a transfer of funding requires the consent of all the Commissioners .
it is also naturally the role of parents to ensure that all the rights of children are observed .
I would , however , remind the Commission that , as things stand , the only technology at an advanced design stage that is capable of ensuring real energy efficiency and a sustained reduction in CO2 emissions is nuclear .
in this regard , we currently have on the table Rome I , which Ms Kauppi has referred to ; if we get that right , it will help .
thirdly , as regards private enforcement of competition rules , the Commission takes note of Parliament 's support for the creation of a European form of collective redress , and of its request for specific EU legislation to ensure compensation for victims of infringements of EU antitrust law .
the health of the latter depends on the quality of the produce of the former .
I therefore maintain the position of the Committee on Fisheries of asking for the exemption to be suspended in the review of the agreement that we are discussing .
I am very glad that you referred to the fight against crime as a serious problem of our European Union .
it is due to fall to 7.1 % this year , but will it ?
I will now give the floor to the Commissioner responsible for that policy .
my Group respects that decision just as it also respects that of the 18 Member States that have to date expressed their support for the Treaty and ratified it .
this would be a clear gesture of support to those incomparably brave Chinese democracy activists .
we did not want to go beyond the treaty in any way .
third , I wish to congratulate Mr Solana because , without his character and creativity , the Common Foreign and Security Policy probably would not be what it is today : the legal and documentary basis , even with the advance of the 2003 strategy paper , would not have been enough to make so much progress on this Common Foreign and Security Policy in the last few years .
even with the new Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance ( IPA ) , which entered into force in 2007 , the Court is not in a position to assess the effectiveness of the funds spent .
South Africa , America , USA and Russia all need these technologies , and in Europe we fail to get these technologies off the ground .
I believe , and it is in our communication , that without cleaning the banking system , we will not see the restoration of credit flow to the real economy .
farmers require a minimum selection of plant protection products because it is a matter of protecting the indigenous cultural landscape , producing top-quality food and protecting resources .
it puts defence of the dignity and the hard working life of fishermen at the centre of our concerns , given that it is the area with the highest percentage of fatal accidents .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( NL ) Madam President , Commissioner , ports in Europe are a driving force for the economy .
but you know that our message is structural reforms ; structural reforms to elevate the growth potential of Europe and the job creation capacity of Europe are absolutely essential .
we therefore expect , before talking about controls , before talking about a declaration , that things will indeed be simplified upstream for these beneficiaries - especially associations , individuals and so forth .
can you make sure that people will actually be entitled to challenge an arrest warrant in both the Member State which has issued the warrant and the Member State which is carrying it out ?
I wish to congratulate the rapporteur on his flexibility and clarity in connection with the Agency 's budget , since , as a member of the Committee on Budgetary Control , I feel it is essential for this kind of Agency .
Mr Corbett is effectively looking for the steamroller approach in politics .
this is good news in the interest of a level playing field for the provision and use of telecom services across borders in Europe .
our fellow citizens must be better informed about country of origin marking and must be able to make purchases in full knowledge of the facts .
the second issue I wish to highlight is fair competition .
I would urge Member States to expand this scheme and its associated financing , both at European and national level , so that all children , including those of pre-school age , can receive a portion of fruit every day .
financial control on implementing the European Union budget takes place on three levels : internal control , within each institution ; external control , carried out by the European Court of Auditors ; and a discharge procedure carried out by Parliament .
Mr President , first of all , citizens of Arab nations have the same rights to democracy and human rights as anyone else .
let us hope for some willingness on the part of the Member States .
the other day we were talking in the Committee on Budgets to Commissioner Kallas , who is unable at present to give us an answer as to where the appropriations will come from .
unfortunately , some Member States - including my own - have not used the recent past to prepare a coherent energy strategy .
affluent regions should perhaps be allowed or obliged to do more to eliminate pockets of poverty .
within the field of research , in one of the research and innovation initiatives , the Commission - and a group of Commissioners in particular - is working on this topic so as to ensure that innovation can be boosted in the Member States to intensify health-related research , in parallel with issues concerning the ageing of the population .
on 15 February 2011 , the Commission adopted a new draft decision on mobilising the EGF in favour of Poland , with the aim of supporting the reintegration into the labour market of workers made redundant as a result of the world economic and financial crisis .
we are talking about an International Criminal Court that represents a commitment to defend human rights , and therefore to prosecute crimes against humanity at universal level .
let each of us draw his own conclusion .
people suffer in silence with their gifts and talents hidden even from themselves by these hidden disabilities .
I would like to say that many international organisations are still there , conducting their investigations into what happened .
it is well known that , being an indirect tax , VAT hits those dependent on their wages and low earners particularly hard .
external climate protection of this kind may provide a response on the part of the European Union to the growth of emissions in our products from Southern countries and we can collect the income generated and then invest it in clean technologies in the South .
rapporteur . - Mr President , could I start by thanking all my shadow rapporteurs , and indeed the French Presidency for facilitating an early second-reading agreement ?
that is why we voted against this report : in defence of real measures in support of micro , small and medium-sized enterprises , and in defence of other policies that safeguard their role and significant contribution to production in the industrial , agricultural and fishing sectors , and to employment with rights , trade and meeting the public 's basic needs .
today , the European Union has a great responsibility to stand by the Tunisian people in their democratic transition , but without interfering in it .
in writing . - ( PL ) Health is one of the greatest blessings a human being can enjoy in life .
there is an armed force in each country and it is up to the country to choose whether to place its troops under the NATO banner or the European Union banner .
as the Council is not here at the moment , perhaps the Presidency could find out what it intends to do on this subject ?
he has stated that the cohesion policy should not change in its essentials - which is specifically reconfirmed in the new Treaty - but that the content of the regional commitments and the programmes should change .
on the contrary , by issuing eurobonds the anti-crisis instrument could be financed through the market , drawing on foreign capital and people looking to invest .
as has already been mentioned by Mr Virrankoski , we have previously been warned that Galileo has not been allocated sufficient money ; the situation that we are now facing therefore does not come as a surprise .
therefore , Commissioner Kuneva , take a firm line in our trade relations too ; involve Commissioner Mandelson , because thus far , he has unfortunately not yet shown appreciation for this topic .
I merely have to get up - to rise from this seat - and the proceedings will be suspended automatically .
therefore , I am in favour .
are you prepared to bring together the existing units within your service that are working on these questions to make one department which could be called the operational headquarters ?
only then should Parliament become active and make a decision .
however , are there also controls in place in the other direction ?
( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , the debate about the euro , the debate about Greece , has defined recent days .
as I said earlier , when thanking the rapporteur , Mrs Dührkop , once again , clearly , in the Commission 's view , the provisions on data protection will be supplemented by the provisions of the Framework Decision on data protection in the third pillar .
in connection with these facts the Spanish Government should be called upon to carry out a thorough review of legislation affecting the rights of individual property owners as a result of massive urbanisation , in order to bring an end to the abuse of rights and obligations enshrined in the EC Treaty .
I very much expect us in this House to be able to debate the SWIFT agreement once more .
that means that rules are needed .
for example , which would you choose if the aim of European economic competitiveness clashes with the aim of high levels of employment ?
I see this happening not in the countries of the European Union , but specifically in China , which is using the issue of raw materials , and of rare earth elements ( REEs ) in particular , to maintain its monopoly and put other countries at a disadvantage .
Doha is the best trade policy instrument available on both those fronts .
until now , individual Member States have had a very unequal level of involvement , and there is a significant imbalance in terms of funding , equipment and operational matters .
we must understand these contradictions of history and also these contradictions of geography , but not give satisfaction to one side or the other .
in the short time allotted to me , I would simply like to say that we must consider our fellow citizens .
all people in the Middle East have the same worth .
it is important that the Commission , the Member States and the US are aware that , in the case of PNR , Parliament has its finger on the button .
ascribing sole responsibility for this to the removal of quotas is a way of cutting the debate short .
I will be supporting the amendments that have been put forward to reduce the degree .
I voted in favour of the motion for a resolution - Amendment 3 - ( Article 157 ( 4 ) of the Rules of Procedure ) to replace non-legislative motion for a resolution on the role of minimum income in combating poverty and promoting an inclusive society in Europe .
but also they may face violations of their fundamental rights , even from within their communities .
the British people that I represent want trade and cooperation in Europe , but they are absolutely opposed to political union and a European army .
however , poor social and environmental legislation in these countries means that there is a danger of unreasonable working conditions , human rights violations and environmental damage .
the biggest change is in police and justice cooperation .
increasing our support for reforms and helping our partners to align with the EU acquis will help stabilise our eastern neighbours .
the contribution of women is crucial to meeting our ambitious targets of an overall employment rate of 75 % by 2020 , but this cannot be done without ensuring the fundamental rights of women workers .
we as the European Union bear responsibility for it and owe it to the nations and cultures of this region .
you look out on the world and it is already yours ' .
coordination of humanitarian aid and reconstruction in Haiti ( debate )
the euro has encouraged financial integration and the development of the single market ; it has protected the members of the euro area from external disruption ; and it has been and continues to be a pole of stability , not just for the European economy , but also for the global economy .
the crisis in the dairy industry has brought numerous farmers to the brink of bankruptcy .
that is the basic principle of a democratic society , and a democratic Azerbaijan has to be an aim just as important as ...
they will involve improving the efficiency of relatively complicated , sophisticated systems securing the regulation and exchange of energy between different media in the building itself .
I voted against the report on the European External Action Service , because it is being established using obscure procedures , with confused competences and a very clearly restricted role for the European Parliament , the only elected institution of the EU , which is limited solely to budgetary aspects .
finally , I should like to take advantage of my speaking time to call on you , Mr President , to exert your influence in obtaining satisfaction in the European Parliament of the just demands of the workers , who are taking to the streets .
it is about responding to anti-competitive conduct , and that response must be effective and firm .
the next item is the joint debate on
voting ' no ' today is the easy , headline-grabbing way out , and in this case I am convinced that it will not serve those primarily concerned , namely the migrants themselves , who have to be helped and in some cases reasoned with .
we also disagree with the exclusive concentration on air traffic managers , since the changes will affect everyone working in air traffic control .
but in Europe , we had the tragedy of ' the commons ' , where we said it was a common resource to which all vessels had equal access .
in writing . - I voted in favour of this report because it stresses the importance of agreeing on a systemic approach to setting up a coherent ' Beyond GDP system ' to contribute to improved policy analysis .
transfers of appropriations : see Minutes
I seem to remember that during the debate on the Regulation on measures to guarantee the security of energy supply , a European commitment on this issue was agreed .
we have already discussed this issue this morning .
the fact that activities of the Committee on Petitions are effective gives inhabitants a clear signal that their justified concerns are being investigated effectively , which creates a real link between citizens and the European Union .
law is not soft , law is coercive .
second , concerning the review pursuant to Article 19 , the Commission intends to undertake , no later than three years after the entry into force of this directive , an impact assessment focusing on the changes in scope .
I support the rapporteur in his assertion that the current VAT system , partly due to an increase in its complexity , has not kept pace with growth in the internal market and actually places companies and small and medium-sized enterprises at a disadvantage by considerably affecting their competitiveness .
I do not intend to focus on the details of the new legislation now ; you are familiar with them already and Mr Verheugen has already mentioned a number of them .
the European Commission does more to support international corporations , including those that produce genetically modified foods , than it does for local farms .
now you need to start putting it into practice .
however , I would like to begin with the question : what causes more damage to our security ?
where should we locate these desperate people who arrive in the Member States and , at the same time , how should we eliminate that ensuing friction which we sometimes see as resentment , anger and rage , leading to rather worrying forms of antagonism ?
the responsibilities have been divided up .
the best mechanism needs to be identified , and we shall , in any case , give consideration to this .
as you as aware , a report was published recently by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Conflict in Georgia .
this would therefore require a large amount of labour migration .
we want to tell the Commission and the Council firmly that the European Union , which has flown the flag for the fight against atmospheric emissions and climate change in front of the world , now has to be consistent if it does not want to lose credibility .
I do not want to belittle anything the Commission has done ; I think it has made this a priority .
we should instead increase our investment in , and research into , green technology .
its current government is providing unconvincing justifications for their former alliance with Hitler .
the protective equipment is very often left at home or just not available at all .
let me just state some basic facts .
as you will know , and as already mentioned here today , in the meantime - I believe just yesterday - the Security Council authorised the European Union to deploy this operation .
on the one hand , the private entity , which has been setting worldwide voluntary standards since 1973 on a corporate and professional basis , now finds itself in a position of huge responsibility entailing a change in its nature , procedures and composition in order that it can become a transparent , controllable institution , with a legitimacy reflecting its new role .
in Austria , we have a simple saying : he who provides help quickly provides twice as much help .
in writing . - I support this report , which asserts that the second revision of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement must be consistent with the actual global crisis and be carried out in a way that fully respects a partnership of equals .
if it had the same values as the EU , other questions would be asked about Russia .
in the wrong hands these goods may become torture equipment or weapons of mass destruction .
the death penalty has been abolished by Rwanda and Gabon , for example .
action taken on Parliament 's positions and resolutions : see Minutes
it must be avoided at all costs that an accident investigation is politicised and the authorities seek to disclaim responsibility and influence the outcome of the investigations .
I should take this opportunity to remind you once again that SMEs are the most authentic representatives of the European economic fabric and provide numerous examples of excellence that should be encouraged and supported .
all that this European Union has done is to increase bureaucracy , create unnecessary rules - particularly in my country , the Netherlands - and bring tax increases , mass immigration , crime and a lack of security .
we have to stand up for them .
this is not an easy objective for industry , but then it is not supposed to be .
the outcome of the UN climate summit in Copenhagen was a disappointing agreement which will not be able to keep global warming below 2 ° C. On top of that , it is neither global nor binding .
the first tragic consequences of this policy were seen in Evia on 12 September 2009 - just a few days ago - with the catastrophic floods which swept through fire-ravaged Evia .
it is not in Europe 's interest for these reforms to fail because they will enable France to put its public finances in order and to fulfil its commitments .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , just a short response to Ms Andreasen , Mr Hartong , Mr Belder , Mr Vanhecke , Mr Fajmon , Mr Vlasák and Mr Brons - the latter being in opposition to Parliament 's position on the budget and the proposal of the Commission .
this policy of non-interference , with China 's lenient attitudes towards questionable regimes , such as those in Sudan , is a continued issue of concern to be addressed .
no-one talks about the psychological damage to the ' comfort women ' themselves .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , the Commissioner is telling us that the Memorandum of Understanding was drawn up under Article 122 , part 2 .
Mr President , last Sunday , a boat carrying 260 immigrants landed on our shores .
while Europe is facing budgetary constraints absorbed at national level , the rationalisation of agencies in terms of powers , effectiveness and evaluation of their remits should be broached and Parliament must bring forward proposals .
Government-led campaigns should increasingly focus on the social costs of counterfeiting and piracy , such as health and safety .
rapporteur . - ( HU ) Commissioner , Madam President , thank you for this debate .
we should pass a resolution ahead of the summit , since otherwise it may be misinterpreted as meaning that the European Parliament does not oppose such negative positions .
the Court of Auditors highlighted weaknesses in the management of fees , with significant delays in issuing recovery orders ( up to 21 months ) , as well as weaknesses in the Agency 's treasury policy and failings in its management of procurement procedures .
this did not happen .
this volatility causes highly concentrated vapours to form in the ambient air which can easily be inhaled by users of paint strippers and which then have a direct toxic effect on the central nervous system .
the new Treaty also improves the powers of the European Parliament in other respects .
in writing - ( PL ) I voted in favour of the report by Mr Ford on trade and economic relations with ASEAN ( the Association of the South East Asian Nations ) .
we fully support the compromise , which is the product of more than a year 's work .
( PT ) Mr President , I want to congratulate Mrs Moura on the report adopted today .
it is clear , though , that we do , in general , agree on the diagnosis , and as the Commission has said it is something that was started by the Council , was followed up by the Commission and is today being supported by Parliament , which of course puts a lot of responsibility on your shoulders , Commissioner , because we do have a common approach .
I would like to warn everyone that we are pushing ahead too quickly in this area .
she carried out very important work on an extremely complex subject , as Commissioner Malmström said .
as a community of values , the issue is that raised by the Commissioner - I quote , ' that interception must be used exceptionally ' .
the interinstitutional cooperation worked well and produced good results .
regarding the question from Chris Davies , we will provide a written answer on that particular question but , basically , the Commission is focused on implementation .
the Council has failed to push through its unacceptable proposals to amend the Working Time Directive , which would have jeopardised the victories hard won during over 100 years of labour struggle .
stringent criteria must apply in the areas of training and occupational safety and thorough investigations are required .
to achieve this , Europe must know how to speak with one strong and determined voice .
it is also encouraging that I received positive reactions from Commissioner Barnier and Commissioner Dalli regarding my proposal on the top 20 frustrations as expressed by European citizens , on the creation of a collective remedy mechanism and on a communication strategy specifically targeted at every day problems experienced by our citizens .
however , to tell you the truth , Commissioner , when you compiled the list of proposals for freight services - I still remember that Neil Kinnock had already had the idea of separate rail networks for freight transport - you were once again acting on the Commission 's proposal ' Towards a rail network giving priority to freight ' .
in this connection , I should like to refer to Mr Lamberts ' support .
order of business
I believe that increasing European mobility implies both harmonisation of the rules of the road in the Member States and a gradual convergence of traffic offence penalties .
are we , at our taxpayers ' expense , paying for poverty relief in one of the richest oil-producing nations in the world because they have chosen to spend billions on a nuclear weapons programme ?
however , flexibility does not just mean change between sectors ; it means a general response .
in writing . - I welcome Alessandro Foglietta 's report on the White Paper on nutrition , overweight and obesity-related health issues .
until those are investigated , until the OSCE reports , many will simply not believe the results , whatever Moldova 's courts conclude .
I welcome the equal weighting given to the three sides of this triangle .
ninety per cent !
the progress of the internal market and further development of the regions complement each other and jointly create a powerful Europe characterised by cohesion and competitiveness .
I also support Mr Tannock 's idea that ' any way out is a good way out ' .
since 08.00 on Saturday morning , my experts have been looking at the papers and I have come to the conclusion today that all the points on the basis of law which the Commission asked for from France have been answered - though , of course , not yet applied in national French law , because first they have to go to the Senate and then be introduced de facto into French law and applied in real terms .
the market was to be God ; competition was to be king .
we should realise that all EU citizens will suffer from this problem , and sooner or later , everyone will require assistance .
this means that there must be recognition of the need to implement an effective Action Plan in order to ensure appropriate linkages between the approaches and initiatives of the different Member States and the EU regarding the prevention of , detection of , preparation for and response to CBRN incidents .
we are of the opinion that it is not possible to regulate this sort of visa at EU level .
Korean customers buy some EUR 25 billion worth of EU goods every year .
while the Western European governments are already thinking about drawing up their exit strategies , some countries in Central and Eastern Europe which have been worst affected by the crisis are still facing major recession in 2010 as well .
has a comprehensive , general EU policy been applied so far to tackle this problem ?
should the use of natural gas become more widespread , it will no doubt change the policy on energy in both Malta and Gozo .
Wales also suffers high unemployment levels and will be greatly affected by forthcoming UK Government civil service cuts .
without the Montreal Protocol and without the even more ambitious Community regulation , emissions of greenhouse gases at global level would perhaps be up to 50 % higher than they are at present .
I have absolutely no qualms , then , in saying that I fully endorse the rapporteur 's efforts , that he is doing democracy a good service , and that we should move forward not only towards transparency but , above all , towards ensuring that transparency is not just a fine word but means something concrete .
bearing in mind that only 20 % of medicines for human and veterinary use are authorised via Community procedures , this revision of the directive will have a considerable impact on the pharmaceuticals market in the European Union .
we need to do more - and we are not the ones asking to dilute the decision we need to take in Copenhagen - but a lot of work needs to be done to get others to move .
the first item is the report by Mr Garriga Polledo , on behalf of the Special committee on the policy challenges and budgetary resources for a sustainable European Union after 2013 , on Investing in the future : a new Multiannual Financial Framework ( MFF ) for a competitive , sustainable and inclusive Europe .
in addition , we have carried out a revision for unused funds from 2009 so that a total of EUR 1.9 billion for energy and an additional EUR 420 million for broadband Internet in category II could be put in place .
however , organising a system that is so bureaucratic as to be inefficient stems from poor legislation .
I think that for the safety of the transport of dangerous goods a short a transition period as possible is needed in order to implement this Directive .
the Lisbon strategy has failed in its mission to eradicate poverty .
I believe a great deal more information is needed .
I wish to stress the quite specific economic interdependence of the countries in the Danube region and the importance of investments not only in ITC , but also in developing small and medium-sized enterprises and their research departments in order to ensure sustainable growth and efficiency and boost the growth of the green economy .
the Commission must stabilise the dairy market in Europe quickly .
since states are duty bound to protect their citizens against life- or health-threatening products , some of them introduced regulations subjecting certain categories of goods to various requirements such as markings and certificates , and the relevant national authorities were made responsible for monitoring and supervision .
we should move away from short-sighted economic interests and base this policy on a human rights and democracy approach , moving from status quo policy to transition policy .
it is only Christianity that can integrate other religions into a shared European project , by acknowledging what secular ideologies cannot .
the EU has shown its commitment to combating poverty in Europe within the framework of initiatives promoted for 2010 , the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion , and with regard to achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals .
despite the objections we have put forward above , we have voted in favour of the resolution because we believe that it is important to stress that Belarus must become democratic .
in the international arena , too , it is high time for Europe to commit itself and to pursue closer links with partners who share our vision of the world .
that is an undeniable right , and one that should be granted to all Thai people .
in the absence of an autonomous budget , the agency is de facto integrated into the Commission .
these negotiations have produced results .
when we face natural disasters , it is important that we have a farming economy that is selfsufficient .
that is the acid test .
trade and Economic Relations with the countries of South East Asia ( ASEAN ) (
on the idea of extending this one-year 0 % set-aside to two years , I must say that we will have the possibility of discussing the communication during the winter and the legal proposals next spring and summer , when we will have a clear idea of which direction we are moving in .
the improvement of the human rights situation in Iran is , for the Commission , essential to enhance its political dialogue and cooperation with Iran in the near future .
mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund : Germany - redundancies (
to what extent is it prepared to engage in constructive dialogue , before and after the election in Lebanon ?
( DE ) Mr President , I take it for granted that the European Parliament will speak out when it is possible to save people from execution and , therefore , I support the call for a moratorium on the death penalty .
unfortunately , even in democratic societies , these traditional means of communication often fail because of commercial interests or because their management belongs to a particular political milieu and indirectly obliges employees to practice self-censorship .
the proposal for the structure and focus of the work in the Systemic Risk Council was adopted by the EU 's finance ministers at the Ecofin meeting on 20 October .
these are private companies , which are very influential with respect to the financial markets , but that , of course , is not the responsibility of the European Commission .
it is a pity , because respect for people who are different and the promotion of equal opportunities for men and women are a real social challenge .
thank you very much .
so I think it is very important to address not only issues about oil prices but all the sectors .
it is vital that there should be a simple , effective , efficient and transparent evaluation mechanism that will enable the Schengen area to be preserved as an area of free movement whilst , at the same time , it is indispensable to adapt the intergovernmental framework for the Schengen evaluation to the EU framework .
Mr President , I know that this report is specifically in relation to Roma families and other specific groups .
the moratorium decreed by Iran 's Chief Judiciary , Ayatollah Shahroudi , on youth executions is blatantly violated by his own judges .
to prevent any unnecessary and counter-productive delay with that revision , however , Parliament has clearly proposed that no extension of eligible assets should take place until legislative reform of the UCITS Directive is complete .
I would like to point out , and I do not want by any means to belittle the work of the Committee on Legal Affairs , that there are numerous unresolved points and problems when it comes to the effects of this Council regulation on our assistants .
however , having heard the Council this morning , having spoken to my Portuguese colleagues , I am convinced that there is a possibility that a successful strategic partnership agreement with Brazil can make it easier in the Doha Round if we develop understanding between ourselves and a key Doha player .
in writing . - One of the great mysteries to the population of the European Union is how we can devise a system that pays farmers for leaving land idle .
the effects of the crisis are pushing social inequalities in many countries to breaking point .
this regulation allows aircraft considered unsafe to be prevented from using Community airspace and is an effective means of improving the application of international safety standards in countries in which the Commission considers that the minimum safety rules are not being respected .
law enforcement officials should fully apply the legislation against trafficking in the field of labour exploitation , including legislation complying with the framework decision on trafficking and the directive on residence permits for victims of trafficking .
that can only happen if we have a common basis and that basis is knowledge .
foreign affairs and diplomacy come under national sovereignty , and that is why we voted against all the reports on this matter .
Member of the Commission . - The question raised by the honourable Member is very important for consumers , telecom service providers and content providers , and of course also for telecom regulators .
that is why our approach is right : we are requesting the Commission to put forward a coherent proposal on how we can have a European master plan and how we can introduce best practice so that we can all learn from each other and pursue this expansion effectively .
so after this report , we will come with concrete proposals and we will definitely propose a common European approach on what the standards might be and what the requirements might be if Member States opt for the introduction or use of new screening technologies .
the European citizens ' legislative initiative constitutes a fundamental step in the process of building a Europe based on citizens ' rights .
there were people in the old regime , in the ruling class , who took land , but when the government attempted to take back that land , millions of poor people , poor peasants and people in slums were evicted from their homes , from the last small shred of hope of survival which they had through a small piece of land .
the doubts surrounding the treaty have been eliminated , but I also believe that there was an old , historical argument involved here .
it is not an election like that for the President of France or the President of Portugal .
colleagues , we are defenders of democracy and , therefore , should have been more active already .
I confirm that the Commission does not rule out solutions other than infringement procedures .
in addition , amounts for strengthening democracy and human rights under the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights ( EIDHR ) must be maintained .
following on from these meetings , the Presidency has drawn up conclusions on the importance of raising the level of key skills in the context of European cooperation in the area of school education .
the effects of February 's disaster made themselves felt straight away , and extensive and severe damage was caused to public and private infrastructure , businesses and crops .
we are , of course , hearing that there is a new threat of trouble from the United Kingdom .
she asked the Council to have the courage to be present during this debate and express their view of the Tibet question .
there are certain restrictions with regard to the documents of the Court of Justice of the European Union , the European Central Bank and the European Investment Bank , but it is a significantly larger area than it was previously .
the flagship proposals in the Commission 's Europe 2020 strategy are important tools to create that Europe , provided that we can make them come true .
I do not think that the upcoming rotation of the presidency and the European elections should limit the scope of the EU 's ambitions in meeting challenges which definitely require more common policies .
small and medium-sized farms have been particularly hard hit and they are having to draw on their reserves in order to survive .
I also voted in favour of the Ferreira , Haglund and Ford reports .
I have already had occasion to deplore this and other resolutions , in February 2010 , when the previous urgent resolution on that country was adopted .
we must also focus on ensuring that European fisheries are not discouraged from becoming more efficient .
we in the EU do not realise what kinds of tools we have in our mosaic composition of 27 countries .
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humanitarian aid should be disbursed without political strings .
I shall try to keep to my speaking time .
I was very interested to read in the report that , while other committees have a heavy responsibility of legislative activity , the Committee on Petitions has shown that its role and function are also essential .
your last statement troubles me a little , because the experience of Irish farmers , European farmers , when they are visited by inspectors from the Commission , is not one of great assistance but of inspection and checking .
there is a range of legal instruments in place already to ensure the maximum protection possible for soil , and until these pieces of legislation are fully implemented and the effects are fully analysed , I do not believe that further legislation in this area is either necessary or desirable .
Mrs Blakey told me this personally .
of course it covers the healthcare sector , and we are very pleased that the agreement covers trainees and subcontractors .
I do not want cohesion policy to overlook the specific needs of the social groups with the most difficulties , as that is not compatible with an integrated approach or with a more strategic concept that is investing in the sectors of the future .
the more countries are developed , the more they will be able to help combat poverty .
this leads us to the question I was asked by Mr Tarabella .
this fact , combined with climate change , provides sufficient grounds for mobilising all EU Member States and making equal , consistent efforts to manage the Union 's forests .
I call on the EU to revise its policy to support democracy and human rights , so as to create a mechanism for implementing the human rights clause in all agreements with third countries .
even the Eurosceptics or those who are critical of it are of the opinion that it is because of these youth mobility programmes that a certain added value has been achieved that benefits everyone .
in the delegation 's opinion it is necessary for environmental reasons , among others , to introduce 20 % compulsory modulation and to strengthen the cross-compliance system .
but , to be honest , nobody cares about this .
when we said that this was not a conflict between Georgia and Abkhazia and South Ossetia , but that it was a conflict between Russia and Georgia , no one wanted to listen .
by contrast , the foreign policy of the Spanish Government has set a good example , as through constructive , exacting dialogue , a considerable number of prisoners of conscience have been released .
I strongly support the need to allow Member States to apply reduced VAT rates to renovation and repair works aimed at boosting energy saving and energy efficiency .
the tools that it needs include the stability instrument .
first , we need to put in practice an integrated approach to the territorial development in order to avoid a piecemeal approach to our territories .
development of the trans-European transport network , provision for motorways of the sea and development of the intermodality of means of transport would lead to the creation of a European maritime transport system that is competitive and receptive to innovations .
they are mere wishes diverting attention away from the truth , because meeting the people 's needs is incompatible with the supreme principle of capitalist development and the pursuit of profit .
( HU ) We often hear the complaint that the EU tries to regulate everything while at the same time failing to address important questions .
wider application of a reduced VAT rate will not only foster economic recovery , but will also contribute to the creation of new jobs and reduce the black economy .
Mr President , we have often deplored the supposed lack of information for the public in the run-up to the European elections .
in writing . - Congratulations to the South Korean Constitutional Court for upholding the death penalty .
it would be premature for me to speak today of budgetary consequences .
global climate change is damaging to our environment , to our current way of life and to the opportunities of future generations .
meanwhile , from the European side , we also hear serious reservations regarding the vast amount of state aid given to Boeing in the form of tax breaks provided by the states of Illinois , Kansas and Washington , as well as aid from the army and NASA within the framework of public procurement .
I voted against the proposal for a directive on the annual accounts of certain types of companies adopted on Wednesday , 10 March 2010 .
there have been significant improvements recently in the European Union in that regard .
that , I think , is what the European Parliament has achieved .
these include reversing the trend in the number of patients with tuberculosis by 2015 and eliminating the disease by 2050 .
Europe would therefore do well not to send its own troops to that region .
this House has called for an EU strategy and the Commission is responding to this request .
nevertheless , we would like at the same time to warn of the gravity of what is happening and of the consequences of measures that continue to promote the liberalisation and privatisation of key public sectors and services , labour deregulation , precarious and poorly-paid work and rising prices of essential goods , which is helping economic and financial groups to boost their windfall profits at the cost of increased poverty .
the aim of the Green Paper is of course said to be to strengthen the consumer 's position on the EU market .
no efficiency savings as a result of the merger are in sight .
the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development expects that part of this margin could be used on a programme to distribute fruit to school pupils , thus promoting healthy eating habits .
in my country , Portugal , collecting the fingerprints of children aged six years and upwards is already a long-standing practice , which is perhaps why I have no objection to it .
( ES ) Mr President , I would like to talk to you all about El Musel , the major port of my region , Asturias .
agenda of the next sitting : see Minutes
in the light of the financial crisis , this is said to be a way of stimulating the economy .
our determination to defend them should be no less .
the London Conference on 28 January is the next significant milestone and will raise issues of security , governance , and social , economic and regional development - very important issues .
technological developments , in particular , so-called intelligent transport systems , will also play an important role .
safe and complete decommissioning is a key element of nuclear safety , for which we aim at the highest standards .
today I voted against Mr Barroso 's candidacy for three essential reasons .
( PT ) Next year , 2009 , the new multiannual programme in the area of freedom , security and justice should be adopted .
I believe that transparency should also include talking about the failures of policy that contributed to the crisis and also of course about the bankers .
emergency measures therefore need to be adopted that give an immediate and suitable response to the sector 's socio-economic needs , such as the creation of a guarantee fund , paid for at Union level , that ensures the stability of fuel prices and the use of all financial possibilities and margins of the EU budget to finance extraordinary support measures for the sector .
it is an urgency because there are mass graves which have been discovered recently , and we need to sort this problem out .
whilst , of course , we must find solutions to deal with the immediate consequences of these policies , and fiscal retrenchment is essential , we must equally importantly commit ourselves to economic reform : to extend labour market flexibility to create jobs , to open markets and remove barriers to trade , and to stimulate private investment so that we can fill the void left by reduced public sector spending .
they are waiting to hear from you ; from the people of Europe .
indeed , the European Union must avoid the isolation of Belarus and engage in dialogue with the leadership of the country .
although this is work without material remuneration , a volunteer receives satisfaction of a different kind : he or she fulfils his or her motivation , realises him or herself , and shows solidarity with others .
there must be consistency between our trade and our relationship with this type of regime .
if , however , we are careless and this hammer drops on our foot , then we shall be able to walk no further .
nevertheless , the new social agenda appears to lack ambitious goals and clarity , and has serious shortcomings .
so I think it is unfair to look to the European Union to try to solve all the problems , where we do not have the means to do so .
a prerequisite of a better assessment of control systems is closer collaboration with the Court of Auditors , which has to date been lacking .
we have therefore asked and ask the Commission now to consider greater flexibility in funding and , specifically , greater integration between the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Cohesion Fund .
so on this note of agreement across the House about the nature of this legislation and the positive direction in which Europe is going when it comes to water quality , let us also look to the Commission to say , ' You have the powers to investigate , to act and to enforce - please use them ' .
therefore , our request , which the report takes up with the internal market test , is that we bring together all of the essential elements that we value in the internal market , and that consumers like and enterprises need , and undertake a clear evaluation .
I voted in favour of this report because the European Union must continue to enhance its security strategy , uphold its values , pursue its interests , and protect its citizens , thereby contributing to the preservation of international peace and global security .
· Mandatory implementation of an alternative option , however without negative effects on the environment ; ensuring safeguards in the use of atomic energy which also needs to be given a chance ; I state this as well , in my capacity as a representative of Bulgaria , which has its own contribution in this process ;
there is still a lot to be done in the EU in the area of respect for individual and minority rights .
it will disseminate information or refer the user to national sites . we will work very quickly on this SOLVIT.EU site with my departments in conjunction with another project relating to the Your Europe site .
I applaud the fact that the most controversial provisions have been removed from the final form of this international agreement , such as the responsibility of third parties , mandatory checks on computer memories when crossing borders and the mandatory application of the ' digital guillotine ' .
we cannot stand by and watch minor offenders being hanged , people being raped and arbitrary violence wrought upon citizens by their own regime .
Europe - and I am finishing here - must not lower its guard on this front either .
it should be applied no later than 2012 .
how much of this change is due to natural climatic variation and how much is due to the accumulation of climatic change gases in our atmosphere is still a matter of some dispute , among scientists and politicians .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( ES ) Mr President , a community such as the Latin-Caribbean community , whose entire population on the American continent resembles our own , whom we can speak to in its own languages - Portuguese , French and Spanish , among others - merits special consideration and treatment by the European institutions .
today I want to thank Presidents Borrell and Pöttering and Parliament 's Committee on Petitions for supporting Michael 's campaign for justice .
the obstacle which the petitioner faces in placing the product on the market is the decision of the German authorities ( the 2005 prohibition ) and not a decision of the Commission .
I am also a supporter of what is called ' brand Europe ' , and the development and promotion of this , in such areas as support for talent , tourism and the propagation of universal values , for example , should be based on closer collaboration between the EU 's Member States .
this leads me to say that I have been surprised to hear certain comments about the European Union : firstly , that it has not reacted ; secondly , that it was powerless , and thirdly , that it adopted a position of weakness .
the current regimes contain sector-specific rules that made sense at that time ( in 2002 ) when a wave of consolidation was expected in the vehicle sector .
we are not giving proper attention to the warning signals from the financial markets , or from people such as President Trichet , who indeed called the Commission proposal a good but inadequate step towards strengthening the Stability and Growth Pact .
it is not only about the future of subsequent generations being jeopardised , but also about global justice .
you are already aware that there will be no ambitious deal in Copenhagen if the concerns of the developing countries are not taken into account , not only those of emerging countries , but also very much the concerns of the most vulnerable and the poorest developing countries .
the so-called ' block exemption ' regulation , introduced at European level in 2002 to increase competition in the motor vehicle sector and bring tangible benefits to consumers , is reaching its expiry date .
( SV ) Mr President , the fact that fruit and vegetables are important for people is hardly news , nor is the fact that they are important foods for children .
we have been very vocal , both in public and in private , about the unacceptable closure of the Gaza crossings .
this exercise threw into stark relief the very different situations of each country ; the respective needs for reform as well as the different capacities for drawing up and proposing a governance plan .
without doubt , the increased powers granted to the European Parliament under the Treaty of Lisbon enhance the role of the European Parliament considerably and formulate tangible and effective responses to the expectations of European citizens .
you have brought the IMF back into the European fold .
together , the United States and the European Union could be a guarantee for the world 's security and stability and offer a pattern for the global order .
I think that wide-ranging consultations need to be initiated with local and regional representatives in order to set out well defined guidelines on energy efficiency and support must be provided in devising projects and ensuring access to the EUR 9 billion made available by the Commission via the cohesion policy .
on one hand , it can get us out of a difficult crisis situation and , on the other , it can make us even stronger and more influential regarding policies which are being implemented in the rest of the world .
what do you think about amending the Maastricht Treaty criteria to perhaps include a new criterion relating to the balance of payments , a maximum limit on the current account deficit and external debt ?
the next item is the comments of the Council and the Commission on the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh , to be held on 24-25 September 2009 .
I would like to thank the Portuguese Presidency for its tremendous determination . thanks are also due to Mr Frattini for his favourable attitude and commitment to this splendid achievement , which is without precedent in the course of history .
it takes 12 years to build a new nuclear power station .
we already have problems in Europe when it comes to security of supply , consumer rights and environmental concerns , and we have to do something about the greenhouse effect .
the European Parliament is fully ready for this .
therefore , it is high time to rekindle the stars .
of course , no new surveys are needed to fulfil the new requirements of the regulation , which can be implemented using nationally available additional administrative sources and feedback from existing surveys .
who has suffered because of them ?
we are currently witnessing what is happening in Ireland but , at the same time , I am also hearing all kinds of proposals being put forward to the European Council for the abolition of wage indexation and for the maximisation of wage increases , based on increases in labour productivity , etc .
the Commission is strongly in favour of the sustainable management of fish stocks and Commissioner Borg has been very active in this matter .
we protest against the death of two Venezuelan students who protested against this shutting-down of the free media ...
in this respect , I also wish to ask if we may expect further development of the energy policy that Parliament requested earlier this year .
( PL ) Madam President , the shortage of healthcare staff is a global phenomenon .
I congratulate the rapporteur on bringing such a relevant and sensitive subject to the attention of Parliament .
that is a vision of the added value of Europe and that is why we need a European budget .
we propose lifting this ban on poultry imports .
Commissioner , the EU has done a great job in its farm-to-fork system , and consumers should have confidence in it but , as an ancillary point , what about protecting EU producers ?
I think it is very important and necessary , mainly because our presence on the global web is almost universal . in a word , the Internet has become part of our daily life .
today we are discussing in the European Parliament one of the most important reports being debated during this plenary session .
it is an expression of political declarations , resolutions , Council declarations , Presidency conclusions , but such provisions are not binding .
occurrences like this can be prevented when the Commission and Parliament take adequate action , as Mr Jarzembowski has said .
therefore we have chosen to abstain .
the bonds that were managed by the Commission were issued at 2.5 % and those that were managed by the intergovernmental system were put on the market at 2.89 % .
the second is that it is utterly despicable to make political capital out of something like the disaster that occurred in Hungary , and to compare it with something entirely unconnected .
the debate is closed .
that subcommittee aims to facilitate dialogue within a context of mutual understanding , and respect for the positions of both parties , on all aspects of human rights and democracy , international and regional issues , in a comprehensive and non-exclusive way .
this is a smokescreen to make it appear that Europol officials ' immunity will be limited when in fact Europol 's powers will be extended after 2010 and the immunity of its officials will be even more far-reaching .
to give an example , that was why I declared the need to examine the social impact in all new legislation .
could the Council elaborate a little on this point and give practical details as to how it will improve things for SMEs which are struggling to survive ?
this is the role of this agency , and let us respect it .
it is reported that there are 1 460 000 internally displaced people , most of them facing violence , and let me give a voice to those who do not have a voice , those who suffer such violence .
firstly , we have the more rapid development of the countries outside the Euro Zone than those within it .
we have a specific motion , that we do not discuss this matter today .
regional cooperation and interaction among network operators help channel resources towards interconnectivity and diversification of supplies .
no less important for the country is the funding earmarked for measures aimed at modernising the energy sector , reducing harmful emissions , and at improving energy efficiency and savings .
following in the footsteps of the European Parliament 's excellent five-committee report of July , the Commission 's vision of an integrated maritime policy for the Union and an action plan were fully endorsed by the European Council last week .
their value comes from the identity process that they trigger .
Member of the Commission . - Reports by the WTO and the Commission 's own monitoring show that there is no imminent risk of a generalised protectionist escalation .
( the sitting was closed at 11.10 p.m. )
firstly this is because scientists are already saying that the provisions in this regulation are not enough to guarantee the recovery of stocks .
why are we not effective ?
the Commission fully shares your concern .
we knew that Europe 's economy was in crisis .
they can mainly be traced back to Belgrade 's image problem .
on one hand , this means not hiding behind regulations and ' business-as-usual ' excuses , and , on the other hand , carefully evaluating the political opportunity and the consequences of increased transparency on the effectiveness of the dialogue and the readiness of third countries to engage in the dialogue in the first place .
I merely wish to point out that the Committee on Legal Affairs , on examining the legal principles , considered Article 95 to be the legal basis for the first part , and Articles 95 and 175 for the second part .
as a result , a number of risks were avoided , including the greatest risk of all , namely that the suspension clause would be triggered , which would have resulted in the suspension of the agreement and the annulment of the results of both stages of negotiations .
these politicians would , of course , need to be handsomely rewarded for their efforts .
( NL ) Mr President , Commissioner Wallström has just talked about reaching the citizens .
Mr President , I will begin with some encouraging news .
( EL ) Commissioner , thank you once again for your commitment to the promotion of women to positions of responsibility .
( PT ) The number of workers affected by unemployment in Portugal is growing exponentially .
Cameroon is the largest African exporter of hardwoods to Europe , which purchases 80 % of its production .
does the Commission agree that the Council decisions in question ignore the clear position of the European Parliament and the relevant resolution ?
I completely agree with Mr Engel and Mrs Rühle that we can only accept new legislation on the proviso that it offers a clear and recognisable advantage for the internal market .
the rules of democracy depend upon dialogue and non-violence and it is up to us to facilitate such an approach .
the Commission has established an effective mode of cooperation with all local actors working in Kosovo , including EULEX and the EU 's Special Representative .
many points were raised during the discussions and we had to base our work on everyone 's strong sense of compromise .
this assistance would also favour the development of promising initiatives in the energy efficiency sector at the level of local authorities which , due to the recent crisis , have suffered a drastic reduction in revenue .
his compatriot Mr Mölzer alluded to Mr Hans-Peter Martin , his past and his conduct , and therefore pursuant to Rule 151 he has the right to reply .
today there is something else at stake .
Azerbaijan should be supported in its democratic and human rights development within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Eastern Partnership .
naturally , the Presidency is in complete agreement with what Mr Brok says in his report about the External Action Service in fact being key to our common work to make European foreign policy into an active and more cohesive instrument to enable European policy to be viewed in a better light around the world .
violence against women is a violation of human rights and an obstacle to their participation in social and political life , in public life and at work , preventing them being citizens with full rights .
I hope , therefore , that the President of the European Parliament will apologise to the Italian Government on behalf of us all .
there is no doubt that Turkey is a large Muslim country of huge strategic importance .
the damage now under discussion was the result of the large-scale flooding in the United Kingdom in June and July 2007 .
we , the European Parliament , would like an agreement with the Council on the procedure for June / July .
12 .
the Iraqi Government expressed its eagerness to work with the European Union .
in this context I would like to support both the reports .
we need a programme ...
given the stakes , there were important divergences of opinion between the Member States up to the very beginning of the European Council , both on the short-term issue of the financial stability mechanism but also on the medium-term issue of the Europe 2020 strategy .
the Council must unblock this situation so that we can have a credible resettlement system .
at such a difficult time of crisis therefore , I believe that particular attention should also be paid to these producers .
we know that in some of our key partners , the pace of change has slowed rather than accelerated .
the bad news is the public threat which the Foreign Minister , Mr Mottaki , recently made to the United Nations Security Council , when he said that if it adopted a new resolution on sanctions against Iran before the next IAEA report on the country 's nuclear programme in March , there would be an appropriate and serious response from Tehran .
I wish to highlight paragraph 8 of the Rouček report , which enjoyed broad consensus within the Committee on Foreign Affairs .
the need for a balanced mass media market should be recognised and supported by the Member States , which should commit themselves , both individually and collectively , to giving European citizens the opportunity of obtaining accurate and diverse information .
I need only add that I believe that the principles and rules applicable to Community funds , particularly those managed directly by the European institutions , must also apply , mutatis mutandis , to the other public funds , namely Community funds managed by the Member States .
( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , I thank you , but , in general , I hope that the Commission considers that the time is right to re-examine the guidelines on vertical restraints that you mentioned just now , since they are in fact already about 10 years old .
we need to discuss the structure of this crisis policy and the alleged policy of solidarity .
a draft law on a common economic allocation of costs is a bad idea since , at the end of the day , it will mean that citizens will pay for something they are not responsible for .
I voted in favour of the report and regret that agreement on what one would feel are issues that normally benefit from wide consensus was not achieved .
this is not fair and is , in my view , morally wrong .
the only stumbling block in this matter remains the horizontal issue of delegated acts .
I should like to make a brief statement concerning the proposed modifications , so that we all understand their importance with regard to achieving the objectives we have set out :
as regards biofuels , the EU needs to invest in research into the second generation of biofuels ...
as part of this process , we were able to resolve several contradictory positions judiciously and satisfactorily .
we voted against plans for the division of Kosovo and against any reversion to rule by Belgrade .
furthermore , I voted for setting up energy efficiency funds at national , regional or local level .
( FR ) Mr President , the rationale behind the European Institute of Technology is a fair one : namely that research is central to any economic progress .
when you construct a circuit , you have to stick to the engineer 's plan .
women played a leading , silent , underestimated even , role in the liberation movements , and I think it was essential to pay tribute to it in this text .
in our programme , in this green booklet which all Members received in the mail yesterday , you will find on page 25 that our priorities in relation to the Justice and Home Affairs Council include the common European asylum system .
let us not be naïve .
I welcome the adoption of the national strategy for sustainable development , but more efforts need to be made towards enforcing legislation in the environmental field , and there needs to be adequate funding set aside for this purpose .
we cannot have more Europe for such limited funding in any of the areas to which the European Union allocates financial resources .
today , the commander of the Turkish land forces was due to go to Cyprus and his presence is expected to create more problems for the peace negotiations .
the rule of law must also be guaranteed .
even the directors of major banks no longer understand these opaque instruments .
in general , I welcome the proposals put forward to ensure improvements in national fiscal frameworks and to encourage Member States to make better fiscal decisions in the future .
the vote will take place tomorrow at 11 : 30 .
at this point , I would like to ask you not to view the strategy for the Danube Region only in the terms outlined by many of the previous speakers , but also as an opportunity for cultural integration .
most of the problems , or errors , are to be found in the public procurement dossier .
in writing . - ( IT ) I voted for the report by Mr Ehler on supporting early demonstration of sustainable power generation from fossil fuels .
this also means improved implementation and correct spending on EU money .
I would like to start by reminding the House what this common agricultural policy actually means to the vast majority of our nearly 500 million citizens .
we believe that the definition of lobbyists contained in the report is correct , although we should like more differentiation .
despite the initial actions of President Yanukovych and the subsequent statements by the Ukrainian authorities about Ukraine 's willingness to join the EU , to adopt European models for good governance , and to respect the human rights and civil liberties of its people , some caution is inevitably needed .
attention should be drawn to the fact that in economic terms , certain areas in Europe itself are also becoming outermost regions .
the fact that these reactors are also capable of being powered by thorium , and our stocks of this material are 10 times higher than those of uranium , is another advantage .
and they would have good reason to : because we are not capable of responding to this feeling of inequality , injustice and insecurity .
( applause )
thus one of my concerns is the enormous confidence we have in ourselves in Europe .
I also agree with the report 's statements in relation to legislation in this sector ; that is , that this legislation should be proportional to the objective and that no legislation should be brought in until an assessment is made of the legislation 's impact as regards its potential financial burden .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
alongside the obvious benefits for the environment , this sector also offers opportunities for boosting economic growth and creating jobs .
the involvement of enterprises is an important way of making progress in the areas of equality between men and women at work , the gender pay gap , training , work-life balance and career development .
is it reasonable - and Mr Rack , who was here just now , pointed this out , and I thank him for his speech - to avoid reimbursing passengers , a practice that happens everywhere , and especially in the United States , in particular when departures have been cancelled and when no information , or alternative transport , is provided ?
now we , the stronger economies , must once more offer these countries billions in aid , but this will be a mere sticking plaster for the short term .
one in five people do not know that HIV can be transmitted through sex without a condom .
I have abstained from voting on the report about Croatia , because the time pressure referred to in the report , in order to make Croatia ready for accession in the first half of 2010 is , in my opinion , not necessary .
the massacre caused defections in the army , the government and the diplomatic service .
in view of the importance to agriculture and , consequently , the economy and employment in the Portuguese Autonomous Regions of Madeira and the Azores , of the production of rum and eaux-de-vie respectively , as well as liqueurs in both regions , it is essential that the reduced rates of excise duty on these goods should continue to apply , as this will not lead to a situation of unfair competition within the internal market .
however , we must ensure that we maintain our production potential in order to supply the population with high quality foodstuffs .
this is why the European executive has to guarantee both legal certainty for the investors due to be affected by the transition process and equivalent investment conditions for companies from all the European Union 's Member States .
I am pleased to note that the European Parliament , guarantor of universal freedom and rights , has at last come out in favour of a common policy to meet the needs of Member States in the fight against illegal immigration .
I hope that this can be taken up again in the next review .
I would also like to ask your opinion about what happens now , also from the market , in the sphere of derivatives and the over-the-counter market in order to create more central counterparties and a better system of supervision there .
the directive , if adopted by the Council - where unanimity is needed - will further consolidate the rights of people with disabilities at European level , which I trust is our common goal , both in the Council and in Parliament - certainly it is in the Commission .
( it ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I think that this measure will mean that issues related to the Mediterranean are about to embark on an even more binding phase than has been achieved through the acts implemented to date .
for more than 80 years Turkey has not fulfilled the Treaty of Ankara , according to which it owes Bulgaria USD 10 billion .
this future will most likely be organised around different patterns of production , consumption and behaviour .
it is not by chance - and I have repeated this in the written conclusions that you have read - that we want to link the budgetary discussion , effectively in its legal framework of the Stability and Growth Pact , to economic reforms .
it is very likely that ICCAT will decide to penalise the Community , and then we in turn would have to penalise those Member States that are at fault .
Parliament also reaffirms its view on the need for increased levels of funding for forest protection measures through the rural development pillar of the common agricultural policy , particularly given the new challenges entailed in climate change .
this report results from initiatives by Member States under Article 169 , which is co-funded by the Commission to the tune of EUR 150 million over five years .
thankfully , this proposal was today rejected by the majority of the Member States .
these are questions to which we still need answers , and I hope that we will get them .
let me remind him that what we are talking about here is regional development .
for a decade , they have been systematically discriminated against and threatened with assimilation and death , and their identity is in danger .
the next day , celebrations erupted in Times Square and Piccadilly Circus ; cheering crowds danced along the Champs-Elysées and the town squares throughout the allied world .
it was a plan associated with a myth .
however , at this summit we will , of course , find that other things will be discussed , and I would like to pick up on what the President of the Commission said .
this will not mean lower growth , but growth that is more sustainable in the long term .
by and large , then , this is a good regulation .
because it is not for us to be self-righteous .
it is vital to adjust milk production to European domestic demand so as to guarantee producers a fair price .
furthermore , it should not be forgotten that negotiations with third countries and with the World Trade Organisation pose a serious threat to the future of agricultural and livestock production in the European Union .
the first concerns a reduction target : some fellow members are saying that this is simply not possible .
I would like to say that , since 2007 , the market has been developing positively , and in fact this is giving producers some respite , and even enabling them to invest in their farms , which was unthinkable until now .
contracts belong to the market and to the state , to economics and politics , both of which are arenas of competition .
Mr President , as one of only 13 Members of this House who will have the opportunity to vote on a referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon , I am satisfied to give it my support .
we preach conservation , yet the common fisheries policy has created an ecological calamity , wiping out what ought to have been a great , renewable resource .
this crisis will only be overcome when those who have now become unemployed get their jobs back again , and when those who , as yet , have not had any work are able to work .
accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Convention of 23 July 1990 on the elimination of double taxation in connection with the adjustment of profits of associated enterprises (
despite already being the object of resolutions of this Parliament , the last of which was in 2010 , the old request that the country of origin be marked and that information be made available about the origin of various goods has been postponed .
the term ' low-carbon economy ' is now being presented as a compromise formula for this Parliament .
how would this mindset be defined ?
we were the most active of all the political delegations there , and there were more European parliamentarians than any others .
I think that proves the value of European cooperation .
secondly , and in reply to the second question , the Council would remind the honourable Member that the ' Nord Stream ' project is a private project being carried out by ' Nord Stream AG ' as a joint venture .
it will therefore be essential for us to avoid such controversial errors when formulating these agreements in the future , and I hope that the Commission will manage that , as we definitely cannot consider the current document to be satisfactory , particularly in the area of personal data protection .
many viable enterprises still have difficulty accessing credit at a reasonable rate from the banks .
the next item is the debate on the oral question by Klaus-Heiner Lehne , on behalf of the Committee on Legal Affairs , to the Commission on the report on the application of Council Regulation ( EC ) No 2157 / 2001 of 8 October 2001 on the Statute for a European company ( SE ) - B7-0211 / 2009 )
it is not easy to maintain the procedure we implemented last year with Mrs Haug as rapporteur and with the substantial involvement of the specialist committees .
they are also asking , if at all possible , for the injustice of 2004 to be restored and for the 50 % tobacco subsidy to continue under the first pillar , but only from 2010 , in order to support their income .
the Member States ' declarations are a step in that direction .
evidently , following the events in Kosovo , the voice of the international community is undoubtedly weaker and far less credible , but diplomatic efforts must be stepped up to bring about a credible and concrete solution .
we always work with the courts of auditors in the Member States and with the national auditors by cooperating with one another and trusting one another .
ladies and gentlemen , we as politicians are increasingly called upon to address the challenge of energy problems .
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21 .
it has already been deferred once , before the elections .
it must guarantee protection of the right of asylum .
for those cases the Commission will not hesitate to launch infringement proceedings .
what will this mean for my country , for example ?
what is more , the Orthodox Church , for example , is still unable to choose its Patriarch freely and irrespective of nationality , and there are ever more attempts to place restrictions on clerics as regards wearing their priestly garb in public .
as a result of the debate , the Ministers asked the Commission to push ahead with work on a report on the implementation of the Directive since it entered into force on 1 July 2005 .
no , the entire European Union and this region surrounding the Black Sea and the South Caucasus must work together in terms of a partnership - as others , too , have already stated - in order to resolve the common problems that exist : the political problems , e.g. in terms of stability , migration , and of course also economic problems , and here I am simply thinking of energy transit .
the first is the need to adopt a more qualitative approach in respect of the implementation of the Internal Market Scoreboard , enabling the causes of the transposition deficit to be identified .
this figure has decreased from 2 034 in 2007 , but most of the releases were due to completion of sentence .
the railways proved not to be a viable alternative .
there are still many flaws in the methods used , as the rapporteur points out .
together , ladies and gentlemen , we can show the citizens of Europe that we are assuming responsibility and demonstrate the emergence of a modern , diverse society .
however , it seems that , perhaps especially during the last two years , some of the funds have been used by beneficiary countries to improve the current result on the budgetary side , although not for implementation in accordance with the area envisaged for financial support .
subject : sex offenders
( PT ) Mr President , Mr Jouyet , Mr Barrot , ladies and gentlemen , unlike the previous speaker , I am clearly against Fortress Europe and therefore support active policies to admit economic migrants .
draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2010 as modified by the Council ( vote )
removing internal borders does not guarantee freedom of movement for European citizens ; rather , it creates insecurity and produces unmanageable population and migration trends within the EU , both in the countries of origin and of destination .
I believe that the problem of counterfeit medicines in Europe is a serious one and the European Parliament , by adopting the report , is sending out a clear message to the Commission that only effective cooperation and the effective enforcement of sanctions will make it possible to reduce this practice .
in short , we are expecting an additional impetus to the efforts in this area .
Mr President , the main responsibility for closure of Guantánamo Bay and the resettlement of detainees undoubtedly lies with the US Government .
thank you very much .
situation of Burmese refugees in Thailand
it must also be applied correctly and across sectors in tackling the effects of the crisis through creating new ' green ' jobs in competitive enterprises .
it could also represent a new source of funding for cleaner forms of transport such as rail and waterways .
I would like to point out that the European Court of Human Rights has already stated that in asylum cases , no one can be sent back to Greece , for example , because the conditions in prisons there are so poor .
the report asked for reform of international aid , elimination of opium poppy cultivation , better coordination of police training , and support for the peace process .
in accordance with the Frontex Regulation , Frontex has set up a centralised record of available technical equipment , known as CRATE .
the negotiated agreement reflects by and large the structure of a conventional aviation safety agreement ; it is based on mutual trust in each other 's systems and on the comparison of regulatory differences .
this is a good opportunity for the legislators , the interested parties and the Commission to exchange their points of view and to debate the elements to be included in the two other proposals to come .
today , another Georgian President is addressing you with the same message of love for European ideas and values .
the risk of state bankruptcy has not been eliminated , but despite the weekly meetings and summits of leaders and finance ministers , a clear solution has not yet been put in place .
the tobacco subsidy must not be continued , as this Parliament wishes .
I therefore think it is very positive that the EU is now incorporating a chapter on sustainable development , which will include CSR clauses , into future trade agreements .
do you not agree that , in this case , waste should be seen , not so much as a problem , but as an opportunity ?
we must absolutely stop tolerating Roma parents forcing their children to beg , taking them out of educational activities to do so .
each and every country 's situation is assessed carefully , transparently and following the provisions of the regulations .
we support moves towards supporting a lasting peace , the provision of humanitarian aid to victims and reconstruction efforts .
regarding patients suffering from rare diseases , I understand that you are looking for the best approach in order for them to benefit from the health care they need , but sometimes the best is the enemy of the good .
the European Parliament would actually like to further reinforce that policy .
no debate was allowed before these most important votes ( dealing with the fundamental rights of an MEP ) were taken .
culture also has economic value .
this will not be without consequences for the country 's economic situation .
I believe it would be premature , Meglena , to say that you will have the solid backing of Parliament on this matter .
please eliminate these dangerous attitudes from your strategy documents .
they have spoken of the millions of deaths and cases of rape and abuse against the civilian population .
( ES ) Mr President , tomorrow the European Parliament will adopt a resolution on Iran which will be supported by our political Group .
today , 25 countries have all but completed the process of ratifying the Treaty of Lisbon .
I am also concerned about the plans for Monsanto to take over the Dutch seed company De Ruiter , a firm that is amongst the top ten in the world .
the EU also aims to plunder peoples and countries , either independently or , where that is not possible , with the assistance of the USA and ΝΑΤΟ .
furthermore , do you think that ECOWAS and the African Union have sufficient capacity to deal with this problem ? '
it is no longer a question of risk groups and that the rest of us need not worry : it is an issue for the general population - young people , women .
my opinion , as the rapporteur , is that this is against the general logic of the whole regulation .
we have no opportunity to intervene in this agreement : we are simply assessing it and giving our opinion .
special promotions for schoolchildren should include a range of healthy organic products in addition to fruit .
I understood that one of the key issues is the use of ICT by the silver generation and I do agree with that .
after months of waiting for better milk prices , the European Commission has finally taken emergency measures to save dairy producers .
the Commission is also seeking to clarify the scope of some of the measures financed and to improve the wording of certain articles .
big challenges remain in the single market .
we have also increased the transparency initiatives for data and SMS on the package which is now on the table in the European Parliament .
furthermore , legal certainty must be ensured for small and medium-sized enterprises , creating favourable conditions for them to invest in foreign markets .
we also expect the European Commission to play a very active role in the further development of the EU 2020 strategy .
I therefore want to say that it would be good to show the same effort and persistence , and also concern , with regard to other global problems that are fundamentally ignored or merely confined to a list of chronic concerns : elimination of curable diseases , protection of soil and habitats , exhaustion of finite resources , especially hydrocarbons , and so on .
violence against lesbians and LGBT rights in Africa (
in this respect , I am highly appreciative of Commissioner Barnier 's strong commitment to take into account citizens ' concerns and aspirations .
in exchange for a EUR 78 billion loan , a country where the minimum wage is not even EUR 500 will face cuts in wages and pensions , and the closure of public services , as well as being forced to give up national companies and resources .
the approach of the need for additional airport capacities in Europe should be part of a strategy for the development of the passenger and goods air transport , not only in a European and continental context , but also an a larger scale .
but , as Ms Ferreira 's report rightly makes clear , market instruments must not be seen as a replacement for other forms of environmental standards and regulation .
to do so , it is essential to introduce national and European social protection policies .
smooth cooperation between the European Union and the Council of Europe is crucial for ensuring the success of the Agency .
( RO ) I would like to add to what my fellow Member said by saying that when we talk about intelligent cities , it is important for us to invest more in energy efficiency in residential buildings .
it is much cheaper to discharge something illegally into the sea .
we need , at the heart of the proposals which you recently presented , Commissioner , to adopt rules to regulate transactions which are highly obscure and , as such , subject to increased systemic risk , such as the market in over-the-counter derivatives and naked options .
it could be that the European Commission has allowed itself to be led astray by Mr Gaddafi 's pretty face , but I do not trust that man one inch .
the latest round of human rights consultations , as I said , takes place today and will certainly also provide an opportunity to clearly mention those concerns .
who is primarily responsible for this situation ?
( FR ) Madam President , I did not really want to speak on this report , but just to add a point that is particularly close to my heart and which I have raised on several occasions at the ACP meetings .
information about the condition of the soil that is accessible to the public would be one of the fruits of the new legislation , which would finally protect people and farmers instead of polluters .
the resolution goes even further - it proposes subsidising the poorest countries .
it is a project which offers benefits for everyone : consumers , because they will soon be able to go shopping all round Europe with the backing of European contract law , and companies , because with this greater legal certainty , they will be able to tap into new markets , and as there will be a uniform set of rules , they will be able to achieve substantial cost savings .
this started with the Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid .
it is therefore essential to encourage such actions , to demonstrate the benefits they will bring and to support initiatives already taken .
the attempt to introduce into Polish legislation the possibility of unrestricted access to abortion is something which is not natural , and it is obvious that this will provoke opposition .
there is justified concern - concern that the border control personnel will search everything from computers to MP3 players .
yet again we are waving through this budget despite all the errors in it and thereby betraying those who put us here , who are our constituents and also our taxpayers , because the majority of people in this house take a ' Europe right or wrong attitude ' and would rather see things being badly done by Brussels than competently done by the Member States .
if Commissioner McCreevy is not prepared to regulate all financial institutions , then he should be forced to step aside .
furthermore , just to be perfectly clear : more cabotage can lead to more efficient road transport , which is good for both the economy and the environment , and must by all means be encouraged , therefore .
this report is a significant contribution to a truly efficient control system .
the role of the national parliaments and the European Parliament , as the only elected bodies , will be weakened and the powers of central executive bodies will be strengthened .
this response should involve creating jobs with rights , promoting work and workers , and penalising employers that cut back on prevention and protection measures for workers in order to boost their profits .
above all , how does the Republic of Moldova acquit itself of its responsibility for these breaches of the most basic fundamental rights ?
thank you for your comments .
I think , too , that enhanced cooperation can become an instrument which opens the way to further negotiations while also giving greater guarantee of success .
we will see , but that is what he predicted .
I would like to thank them for the work they have done , and for participating in the various alliances that have done credit to our Parliament .
we will correct all the translations so that they are in harmony with the original texts .
the only solution there can be is dialogue between the parties to the conflict , with the help of international mediation .
subject : EU measures to combat unemployment
I shall also pay special attention to the mechanisms used to establish origin , so that this does not become a competitive disadvantage for European producers against their competitors .
how should we handle this situation ?
if we do not do this , it will be difficult to take seriously the European Union 's ambition to be a global player .
many decades prior to the actual founding of the World Trade Organisation , Europe called for the creation of such an organisation for trade .
in writing . - The report of Marianne Mikko reflects very well on the general tendencies in the media in the European Union , pointing out an extremely important aspect in paragraph 35 , regarding public broadcasting services .
does the Turkish Government really want to set the Republic on a new democratic foundation ?
recent political developments in Hungary ( motions for resolutions tabled ) : see Minutes
I have already had the opportunity to debate with you several times on how to make the banks pay for the costs of the crisis .
my Irish EPP-ED colleagues and myself appeal to all Member States to maintain readily available nationwide postal services or to set up such services in countries where they are not provided at present .
I voted in favour of Mr Dess 's report , which is a document of strategic importance for European agriculture .
one of the principles that comes out of the report is recognising , as a starting point for any analysis , the multiple causes and forms of this type of crime that exist .
the citizens of the contracting parties may stay in each other 's territory for a maximum period of three months during a six-month period following the date of first entry .
that is real democracy .
in writing . - In 2001 , the Doha Round negotiations had an objective to lower trade barriers around the world , permitting free trade between countries of varying prosperity .
I am saying what I think : this directive is also from another era , from before the crisis .
that cannot be right .
unfortunately , we have awoken too late .
it will therefore be imperative to ensure that the proposed manual of national enforcement laws and practices is kept updated and that the information is provided in easy-to-use format and that it should be written in an accessible language .
we are looking into that , and it is a little outside this debate .
I voted in favour of the Hübner report on the proposal for a Council decision authorising Portugal to apply reduced rates of excise duty in the autonomous region of Madeira on locally produced and consumed rum and liqueurs and in the autonomous region of the Azores on locally produced and consumed liqueurs and eaux-de-vie .
I think this is the most important thing we should think about , and it is , to a great extent , our role to do so .
we also voted in favour of Article 116 , but this does not mean that mandatory legal consequences would be derived from it .
that is why we are now completing the feasibility study on the basis of which we shall dare to look into the ranking of universities , the mapping of universities and the standards of universities in order to give students more informed choices .
Mr President , I have to say there are people who do , and there are people who talk .
it is undoubtedly one way of strengthening this democracy , and also the citizenship or European demos referred to by Mr Casini , who is , moreover , Chair of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Citizens ' Rights , which will , for the most part , be dealing with this initiative .
Mr President , we stand at the beginning of a new era , and perhaps we should pose ourselves three questions : who , how and what ?
what is happening in Libya is completely unacceptable , and the international community has to take more concrete measures that mean automatic suspensions for all types of attacks on civilians .
let us therefore take action .
this is why I am calling for the national equality plans to be updated and for flexible rules that meet the needs of men and women to the same degree .
we hope that the Commissioner will be making some strong proposals on that point .
however , the other political priorities must not , under any circumstances , be called into question .
I shall try to answer a couple of questions that have been put to me .
others are not .
the celebrations and salutations surrounding President Obama are making people delude themselves about the policy of imperialism .
jeer on if you like , but have you noticed that on the bond markets this morning Greek bonds are trading 233 basis points higher than German bonds ?
in my opinion , the EU is not a state - and it should not become one either .
from a moral standpoint , it is unacceptable to give an opt-out on such an issue .
it is not the case , as some people claim , that this has all been agreed in haste without any discussion - like many of the other arguments , this is patently untrue .
we are going to have to justify this to the taxpayers and voters in our home countries .
however , with increasing commercial cultivation and genetically modified crops in the EU and imports of genetically modified food and feed , adventitious presence through gene flow and admixture becomes unavoidable .
but for many years of our collaboration in the Middle East , we all know well that quick fixes do not count .
these refugees cannot return to Eritrea and cannot remain in a transit country : the only solution is resettlement .
it is time to move away from the use of historical payments .
although Mr Horáček , who now apparently wants to solve the governmental crisis in the Czech Republic , says here that we should not prioritise the energy issue over human rights , nobody is actually doing that .
that is why , as I said to Mr Belet , I have personally listened carefully to the concerns that you have unanimously expressed and I will relay them to the Commission President and to my colleagues .
I should like to make a couple of comments , however .
it would be interesting to do a check how many actually do .
we take the warning about European talent seriously .
the police were sent after him despite the fact that his parliamentary immunity had not been rescinded .
( it ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , we are all here to assess a text that certainly contains a few gaps , since I think that - as is often said in this House - we all wanted something more ambitious .
with all the MEPs walking around it is , truly , very difficult ; I have a lot of respect for Parliament , but it seems to me truly impossible to be able to speak under these circumstances .
we have no choice .
therefore , I am calling on you once again to consider for yourself how you can draft a better media law , which is in line with the Hungarian revolution and the spirit of that revolution .
in writing . - We share the concern of the resolution about the effects of climate change on the sustainability of the communities that inhabit the Arctic area as well as the effects on the natural habitat , and we recognise the significance of the Arctic for the global climate and therefore the Arctic as a common concern .
Parliament 's estimates of revenue and expenditure for the financial year 2010 ( debate )
next , we will be looking to sub-Saharan Africa and , eventually , everyone will be coming here .
farmers must not be punished for this by shifting the funds to other areas .
to this end , it is necessary to support education so that there will not be obstacles to Roma children learning alongside other children in European schools .
most of the poorest countries in the world are doing badly , just as badly as 40 years ago , if not worse .
to allow the new NEAFC scheme to be implemented , the proposal envisages the subsequent repeal of Council Regulation ( EC ) No 2791 / 1999 of 16 December 1999 , which implemented the first scheme adopted by NEAFC in 1998 .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , we know that the Single Euro Payments Area represents a genuine challenge to small and medium-sized enterprises .
in Ireland , for example , there are 50 000 listed carers to cater for Ireland 's 44 000 sufferers .
in other words , I would like to express my disagreement with the method used by the Commission to transpose the recommendations of regional fisheries organisations .
the economic recovery is now in progress but it is still fragile and not self-sustaining .
why , though , ban flights in Belgium when the cloud was in Norway ?
we should indeed bear in mind that secure energy supplies are of vital interest to hundreds of millions of Europe 's citizens .
it is a European punishment mechanism , with the International Monetary Fund playing bad cop .
it takes into account the rapporteur 's call for a double-track approach that might lead to an EU TFTP , even if this is , of course , something that we have to discuss internally in the EU .
apart from the impassioned debate among experts regarding variations in flavour , there is also an environmental argument .
life has changed .
there is a growing risk of nuclear technology falling into the hands of criminal and terrorist organisations .
on account of the European Parliament elections at the beginning of June we had very little time available for preparing and discussing budget proposals , and even less time to look for compromises .
these changes , in fact , strengthen the democratic legitimacy of the Union 's institutions .
the European budget has its own credibility which is all about commitments and accomplished projects paying out .
now , the London Times reports that Baroness Ashton suddenly wants to drop the EU arms embargo against China , which was imposed because of the massacre in Tiananmen Square , saying it is ' a major impediment to developing stronger EU-China cooperation ' .
if Parliament wants to take its call for respect for human rights seriously , it should take a clearer stand in favour of Christians persecuted in Iran .
moreover , I am convinced that it is appropriate to foster a learning culture which acknowledges merit and improves the employment prospects of poorly qualified people , helps increase social inclusion and personal development .
from the point of view of the Committee on Transport and Tourism , the Reform Treaty legalizes the procedure of co-decision , which is already used in the field of maritime and air navigation and provides a legal basis for the European Parliament to be able to propose support actions for consolidating the identity of the tourism sector .
on the continent of Europe there are about one hundred million poor people in the Union , and in Hungary there are about three million people living below the poverty threshold whose difficult situation is exacerbated by the effect both of price increases for food containing fruit and of meat shortages .
as far as on-call time is concerned , I feel that it is unfair that the ' inactive period during on-call time ' is not considered as working time and , by implication , is not paid .
progress needs to be made with the process of European integration in order to overcome this event .
I agree with those of you who have said that the multilateral system is important and necessary , because of the fact that it is only within the multilateral system that we can discipline , for example , trade-distorting domestic support and all other non-trade concerns .
very briefly I would highlight the main recommendations of the report .
I am asking whether the people and the place where the solidarity movement began - the fall of the Berlin Wall , the liberation of Europe - must fall victim to arbitrary decisions taken in Brussels in the interests of speculators who are looking to make their fortunes out of the rubble and soil of the shipyards .
it will therefore be essential - including and above all in such cases - , to ensure the provision of guarantee mechanisms for setting aside adequate financial resources required to tackle both ordinary and extraordinary requirements .
it is thus with pleasure and a strong spirit of supportiveness that I speak today in the Chamber in favour of the report by Mr Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra .
we in our generation look back at ancient régime Europe and we wonder how such a system could have existed .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I endorse the work accomplished by Mrs Lynne .
I think , sadly , the only way we will see the end to the Zanu-PF Mugabe dictatorship is when he is actually taken out in a coffin .
documents received : see Minutes
in addition it has to be linked with policies that help poor countries to develop , through agriculture in particular .
on the security side , a rapid approach is essential .
added to this , there is interference by the political powers that still exist in many countries , and which is a cause for concern .
in Europe , we have first-class research .
the danger is that , if it expands its activities too far into supporting commercial banks and governments - as has been suggested - then its enviable high credit rating may be downgraded , like some of our governments .
we also believe that it is crucial to introduce the mandatory adoption of environmentally friendly technologies to the largest extent possible .
it would perhaps also be a move towards the Council to create trust : trust not only with regard to the discharge , but in other areas , too , and therefore we are able to agree to this proposal .
this is what we are doing .
respect must be guaranteed for all minorities ' rights in accordance with European standards , including Russians , Poles , Tatars , Bulgarians , Greeks , Romanians , Hungarians , Jews and Roma .
we have spent everything , we have exhausted our treasuries , we have exhausted our credit , and now the House comes along and says that we need to spend more .
in any case , the Council will discuss this topic further , taking into account the report approved by the European Parliament .
there are still many unhealed wounds in Central and Eastern Europe that can be exploited for the wrong reasons .
it does not bother me personally , but what I have asked for many times in this Chamber is that there is an even application of the rules to everybody .
( EL ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , we live in a world where everyone , governments , private companies and criminals alike , seek the greatest possible access to our electronic data , in the most unrestricted way possible .
land and sea enterprises must be strengthened so that we can at least withstand the massive influx of illegal immigrants .
we have pointed it out on numerous occasions , but have not received any satisfactory answers .
on the basis of our good experience with the SET plan , with energy research funding and with the economic recovery plan , I trust that we will produce a good proposal for infrastructure and that you will support it so that , in the next decade , sufficient European funding with added value for appropriate European measures in the areas of infrastructure and research will be provided .
it must be emphasised that we cannot impose more requirements for Romania and Bulgaria than we have done in the case of the previous Schengen accession .
everybody knows that , and it is time to stop this game of hide-and-seek with the Government of Khartoum .
I welcome the report 's proposals to adapt the Statute of the Ombudsman in order to eliminate any possible uncertainty concerning the capacity of the Ombudsman to conduct thorough and impartial inquiries in alleged cases of maladministration .
an agreement on this strategic initiative is very welcome because it sends the right signal : a signal of our determination to respond to the financial crisis , to strengthen financial supervision and to improve the standard assessing process for financial reporting and auditing .
after all , the national reform programmes are implemented at regional level , the level at which we mainly deploy our Structural and Cohesion Funds , as well as the Seventh Framework Programme .
only through an ambitious budget will economic recovery be possible in Europe .
I now appeal to the Commission , as well as the Presidency , to ensure that the European Union speaks with one voice , and that it be made an issue of EU-Russian , rather than bilateral relations .
in the 2008 report , the focus will be on the potential of the baby boom cohorts .
we have heard our fellow Member who said that we adopted similar reports on the inequalities of women 30 years ago .
one of the outcomes to emerge from the working group on internal reform , of which I was a part , and that we originally considered positive , was the proposal to strengthen the powers and the role of the Committee on Petitions in a truly significant manner .
the money has to come , essentially , from national budgets .
Madam President , if these agreements signed between governments or parliaments do not touch the hearts and souls of the peoples and citizens of Europe , they will be exceptionally short-lived and completely unsuccessful .
the European Union stated at the last Association Council with Israel very recently its desire to set up a formal subcommittee on human rights .
low pay , lack of accessible services such as childcare , and social exclusion are issues which are all too common within rural communities .
the political situation of that country , which is very unstable , is extremely worrying .
these are good enough reasons alone for the Social Democrats to accept the result .
you are placing a burden on the public coffers and budgets on the one hand and protecting private assets on the other .
they demand a referendum .
last - but maybe not least - what was said about out-of-court settlements .
I look forward to your debate .
however , a democratic transition will never succeed without real opposition leaders .
eight days after the September 11 attack , I told a group of thousands of university students in my country that they cannot allow the tragedy of 9 / 11 to end our way of life , because that is exactly what the terrorists sought .
taking a hard line obviously does not mean depriving the Mauritanians of food and humanitarian aid .
I should like to point out that the scientific community feels that there is no threat of extinction to species in the family Coralliidae , given the abundance of this species in all waters in which they live .
I am worried .
it is a concrete example of mechanisms where the functioning of the European institutions becomes inscrutable for citizens .
however , the most important thing in the face of the financial crisis we have lately been observing with great anxiety and unsuccessfully trying to fight is to ensure financial stability .
this will result in a negative political outcome for the EU .
in relation to this , does the Commission agree that , despite the common EU regulations in force today , Member States are still not able to moderate the gambling of their citizens , in spite of the use of bans , for example ?
I voted in favour .
it is therefore important for us to call for a definitive system of VAT rates and to clearly point out that a review of the VAT Directive should use the single market strategy as a guideline rather than the separate interests of the individual countries .
with this in mind , the EU must step up its diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflicts and encourage dialogue and reconciliation in the region .
for the European Parliament , and in the opinion of our fellow members Messrs Brok , Barón Crespo and Duff , whom I would like to thank most warmly , the assessment of the IGC is in line with expectations and the agenda set by the heads of state and government has , generally speaking , been respected .
in addition to food production , agriculture also makes a significant contribution to preserving the cultural landscape .
this is precisely the kind of Europe that we , the PPE Group , defend and promote .
( NL ) Madam President , my original speaking time was unfairly cut short as it approached the two-and-a-half-minute limit , but the conclusion of my argument was that you cannot create change through foreign interventions or other forms of military violence .
the EU should support small agricultural producers in order for them to benefit from higher income from their work .
several Member States were unwilling to seek a solution ; the Portuguese representatives , however , did not hesitate .
taking into account these conditions , I firmly support proposals 71 and 72 which recommend a ' congestion ' factor should not be included in the directive .
explanations of vote
it is also true , however , that there are 800 million Chinese and 700 million Indians who are eager to get a decent minimum income and to demand greater social justice .
( LT ) I would also like to underline our rapporteur 's excellent work and ability to find a suitable compromise .
today , it has to be said that everyone recognises that Mr Mubarak was a dictator , whereas only a month ago few people , including in the European Parliament , stood up to assert that fact .
I would appeal to the Commission to comply with European law and stop interfering in labour market issues in Ireland .
on the other hand , it is apparent that the socio-economic profit from this increase in trade is very modest , perhaps 3-5 per mille of GNP , which is a one-off profit .
my second point is this .
on the external aspects of the principles of good governance in tax matters , all actions mentioned in the communication should be promoted , with special attention to those related to developing countries .
that the application of the regulation has somewhat improved , has been simplified and has speeded up cooperation between the courts on the taking of evidence in civil and commercial cases .
this makes a mockery of freedom of expression and the right of free assembly .
with regard to the stability pact , I note certain contradictions in the Commission 's position .
to vote on the amendments would have entailed endorsing existing EU legislation ( which we don 't want either ) and a nit-picking exercise in order to decide which bits were worse than others .
I congratulate Bairbre de Brún on this own-initiative report , which describes the positive results and best practice gained from this EU programme .
the French company Eutelsat , which facilitates NTDTV satellite broadcasts , suddenly discontinued these television broadcasts over Asia on 16 June 2008 , clearly under pressure from the Chinese Communist Party .
the construction of gas pipelines to ease greatly Europe 's dependency on energy is inconceivable without the active cooperation of the states in the region .
for example , the way in which the Commission and Parliament continue to build on the Treaty of Lisbon , which has died a political and legal death since the referendum in Ireland , makes a mockery of all legal rules .
the world economy has not yet reached the bottom .
following the victory of the left in 2006 , the problem miraculously disappeared .
by hinting that it is not only cars , but also buses and railways , and so on that are produced , Commissioner Verheugen gave an important hint .
it is also important that societal stakeholders are more strongly represented .
this is 75 % more than other types of bus , and represents an average of almost five accidents per day or more than five accidents per year for each ' bendy bus ' in London 's fleet .
we have proposed a line for the next steps , because this can only be a first step .
at the moment , we should focus our efforts on avoiding future conflicts and resolving ongoing tensions peacefully , as this is the only way to long-term prosperity and stability in the region .
evidently , the European Union must carry out a political assessment of the sanctions .
Vice-President of the Commission . - The dangers of the Internet and the development of the Internet constitute a huge issue .
it would be a very good thing , Members of the Commission and of the Council , if tomorrow at the spring Council this binding principle could be agreed upon once and for all .
however , there is a problem with both the energy package and the climate package as it has been presented , and that is in combination with the situation of SMEs .
the reason suggested is that the Commission has already promised to start drafting proposals on it .
dialogue between Russia and the EU should be extended to all sectors and we should move towards a strategic partnership for our common future .
I would have liked us to have reached speedy agreement on this with the Council , but that has not been possible .
I am concerned because a large number of EU leaders are already talking in favour of a return to business as usual in the EU 's relations with Russia .
there is no arithmetical link .
this is very much to be welcomed , as Parliament will now be better able to do justice to its role as the representative of the EU 's citizens .
like many of my colleagues here , therefore , I am truly disappointed to see some of the amendments tabled to an otherwise good and important report .
I particularly appreciate the fact that the report deals with the demands to be made with respect to buildings .
on behalf of the EFD Group . - Mr President , Guantánamo is important , but let us put it in perspective .
we are expecting a great deal from this project , including the development of environmentally sound mobility , away from roads and onto ships , the switching of goods transport to the railways , modernisation and clustering of industrial structures in appropriate places , cooperation in environmental matters and tourism - ecotourism in particular is desired - and , of course , the prioritising of research and development , and a lot more besides .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( NL ) On behalf of the PSE Group , a word of thanks to the rapporteurs , the Commission 's officials and the Slovenian Presidency .
- ( SK ) Madam President , I would like to stress that tuberculosis is far from being eradicated , and we see here that nearly two million people a year are succumbing to this serious disease .
the Gazprom monopoly in Central Europe is being maintained at the cost of the common market , at the cost of competition and , finally , at the cost of consumers ' rights .
the FAO reaches similar conclusions and the UN 's special rapporteur , Mr Ziegler , describes the massive production of biofuels as a crime against humanity .
this is why I salute the recent interventions of president Sarkozy and of the French presidency as well as of other European leaders who have referred to the need to make such a reform .
I would like ask the Commission or the President-in-Office of the Council why Canada and the United States do not accept this solution ?
in the long term , this situation can only upset the balance between the productive population and those who are past that stage .
while volunteering takes place in many sectors , there are structural specificities regarding the field of sport .
moreover , it is important to mention that the number of asylum applicants depends directly on the political , economic and social situation in the countries of origin of the asylum applicants .
to my knowledge nothing like this has ever happened in the whole of the time that European Parliament has awarded the Sakharov Prize .
consequently , the countries that do not wish to become the incinerators for the whole of Europe should do everything in their power to make sure that this provision is removed from the directive .
my question to you is as follows : can we expect to be given a mandate to negotiate a new agreement on the transfer of data records before or during the summer ?
for many methods have been used there - from submerging prisoners ' heads in water to depriving them of sleep for many nights .
we should not tamper with that date or the emission limit .
aid should be allocated as a priority to those ACP countries that wish to maintain their banana sector because of the latter 's impact on their country 's sustainable development .
also the report expresses our regret that parliaments ( European Parliament , JPA and national parliaments of the ACP countries ) were not consulted by the Member States and had no input in the decision-making process leading to the identification of the areas and articles for revision and to the establishment of the negotiating mandate .
in writing . - ( SV ) Past experience shows that the EU does not manage disaster assistance well .
while I am in favour of increasing the efficiency with which the mutual recognition principle is implemented , it must not affect the single market 's base of further harmonisation .
Mrs Oomen-Ruijten 's report is based on the Commission Green Paper submitted in July 2010 and on the issues that this Institution has raised for debate with regard to the adequacy and sustainability of European pension systems .
Serbia must therefore be an equally serious partner for us as the other stable countries of the region , in order for us , in open dialogue and through good cooperation , to help the inhabitants of the country integrate as soon as possible and as well as possible into the community of free , democratic European countries .
( CS ) All levels of government , starting with local authorities , must save .
in the end , you have to decide whether you want to have European solidarity or whether you want to give in to armchair politics .
of course , I , too , accept that some national delegations are seeking to improve their position on the league table , but it transpires that all such proposals are mutually contradictory .
therefore , I call upon European institutions to establish consistent priorities and to give massive support to setting up public services with strong commitment from the future Haitian Government .
however , one important conclusion of the debate should be to support the responsible and safe administration of the savings of our citizens , and to eliminate all speculative and risky transactions in which the savings or future pensions of small savers disappear into the pockets of speculators .
this is now coming , finally , to fruition .
as already mentioned , the Convention promotes dignified living and working conditions for fishermen , health and safety in the workplace , adequate rest periods , crew list , repatriation , recruitment , pay , and social security .
they were confirmed in January , when Baroness Ashton failed to visit Haiti to show European solidarity or to attend the Montreal donor conference , where her presence was required in order to coordinate EU aid and the aid of the Member States .
few women are members of the decision-making bodies of European higher education institutions , and it is therefore difficult to implement policy on gender equality in these institutions .
is the measure effective , though ?
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( FR ) Madam President , 2009 is the year of new things , and therefore of uncertainties and dangers .
all forms of violence against women - rape , prostitution , sexual violence , and so on - must be subject to criminal proceedings in all European Union countries .
the use of nanomaterials has forced us to address the issue again .
8 .
the conclusions from this forum will constitute the first stage of a strategy intended to establish a plan of action to provide access to credit and capital for small and medium-sized enterprises in our Union .
however , in that respect , let me tell you something that you may not be aware of .
much more employment created in the euro area than in the United States .
2008 is a year of transition . it is a year of transition to the Treaty of Lisbon and its ratification , with a view to its entry into force - which we would all like - in January 2009 .
last week saw our proposals on hedge funds and private equity , as well as on executive pay .
the draft directive leaves something to be desired . it could be wider in scope and cover citizens legally resident on the territory of the EU , but employed in very unfavourable conditions .
one positive step is to provide support for the protocol amending the TRIPS Agreement in order to allow access to medicines .
if doubts exist , this is all the more reason for not applying such a punishment .
under the treaties , all EU Member States are obliged to join the euro area once they fulfil the necessary conditions .
the first improvement was made with the 2005 Council Decision on the exchange of information extracted from the criminal record , particularly with regard to shortening transmission times .
a single application to the European Medicines Agency will suffice .
budgets linked to these policies have exploded .
there has been mention here of the concern over the plight of those who have been living in the camps .
any non-citizen can acquire full rights , including the right to vote , by becoming a citizen .
I believe it is far too expensive at a time of financial stringency .
in particular , they failed to evaluate the abuses of purchasing power which may follow from such concentration .
it is consequently a good thing that the Eurostars programme builds on the 7th Framework Programme for transnational enterprises and finances work in the sphere of science and technology put into effect by SMEs in cooperation with higher education institutions , research entities and other companies - large ones .
he is trying to lay the blame at Ireland 's door and is failing to recognise that the problem stems from the deep crisis of legitimacy of the neoliberal , militarist and federalist policies which are being pursued .
I agree that a healthy and stable macro-economic environment requires large-scale budget consolidation and an intelligent private and public investment policy that delivers forward-looking infrastructure and open 's up tomorrow 's markets .
this way we will get to see the success stories that result from it .
we need disclosure regulations like the USA 's privacy act .
if the Commission , as in so many cases , acts as the honest middleman , we shall achieve good compromises in the end .
( DE ) Mr President , border officials of European states are forbidden to turn away potential asylum seekers who arrive by sea or to escort them away , prevent them from travelling further or return them to countries which do not form part of the EU .
consequently , if anyone wants to ask for more , they can do so by asking others to follow the European example , and not by challenging an agreement that is really an example for the rest of the world .
I can assure you that this year , as well as with the funding next year , we will put the emphasis on making sure that this question of protection is addressed and that the EU is there for people .
what is important is that citizens have the opportunity themselves to scrutinise legislators and other holders of power .
however , import control measures on textile products must be maintained .
because , yesterday evening , on all the French television channels , a future presidential candidate made a spectacle of himself by tearing up a EUR 10 note that he had photocopied and enlarged , and showing that , by tearing up that note , he was tearing up the cause of all our ills .
firstly , we must target the poorest countries in our cooperation programmes .
I invite you to pay us a visit at 22.00 today to discuss this .
the testimony of victims of torture is frequently the only evidence in a case .
I hope that we will talk more about these common interests and that these aspects will also assume greater importance .
that economic and social growth are still marking time , while people trafficking grows at an alarming rate , increasing the flow of illegal immigrants , above all on the coast in my local area , in southern Italy , and Sicily ?
it is for this reason that I support the report 's recommendations and voted accordingly .
so why not ?
even the best law will not change anything , if it is not properly interpreted and implemented .
this report and its recommendations are very timely at a moment when the Commission is about to launch a joint action with the Member States on Alzheimer 's in April , the so-called ALCOVE ( ALzheimer COoperative Valuation in Europe ) .
accordingly , it makes sense to give the Member States 24 months rather than only 18 .
they are on an investigative trip to learn from the European Parliament 's experience in this area .
however , the connecting thread here is the enthusiasm over what we have achieved .
Mr President , I wish to congratulate Mr Markov not just for the quality of his report but also for his perseverance in concluding it , in spite of the obstacles put in his way , mainly by some members of the Transport Committee - perhaps inadvertently .
the G20 was united in favour of the fiscal rescue two years ago , but its unanimity was driven by fear .
this therefore means that the importance of the decision that we are going to take not only to guarantee a recovery but also for the well-being of our fellow citizens , comes down to one major condition : that the decisions taken by Parliament today , in concert with the Commission , take practical effect in the coming weeks and months .
whilst generally applauding the direction of current reform , I hope that the discussion may trigger a more radical reappraisal of the tools we use , so as to achieve the best possible balance between improving the livelihood of those engaged in fisheries , having a sustainable marine ecology in which fish stocks are conserved and maintaining the viability of fisheries-dependent communities .
we are seeking reassurance that we will be able to get the information we need .
Malta and Gozo have one of the highest densities of private cars per capita .
I really wonder why the Council almost constantly seeks to undermine the great achievement that is the codecision role of the European Parliament .
this has been a point that I have made consistently in Israel and to the Palestinian Authority .
to protect Cameroon 's tropical forests , what is essential is the combating of corruption and bribery ( at the level of the officials and also of the community tenants of state-owned forests ) , effective criminal prosecutions , sustainable forestry , where the quantity felled is only as much as will regrow , and better training for loggers in order to prevent damage to the land during logging .
I trust , in particular , that we shall have the frank and open collaboration with the European Parliament that we had during the previous Portuguese Presidencies .
this is the key to the joint success that we owe the citizens of Europe , and I would like to pay tribute to the commitment expressed here again today by the President-in-Office so that together , the Council , Parliament and the Commission can find concrete solutions to the concrete problems that our citizens have to face each day .
Madam President , I also believe that one of the greatest successes has been to achieve the ' never again ' which was at the root of the creation of European unification ; I think that we can congratulate ourselves on this .
( NL ) I should like to congratulate Commissioner Barnier on his appointment as Member of the Commission , and also to warmly welcome him here , as there is a great deal on the agenda .
one of the main reasons this has not been done is that the licences are national .
at the UN General Assembly , the EU has taken the approach of tabling its customary resolution on the elimination of all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief .
one part of the solution requires international support in bringing stability to Somalia .
( CS ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I am convinced that the change in the legal standing of Europol , which we are now discussing , is not a step in the right direction .
decision on urgent procedure : see Minutes
these are obvious facts and they demand , they encourage the launching of a strategy on a worldwide scale .
to close , we consider that the instrument for pre-accession assistance is a rational and flexible mechanism for optimising financial assistance to candidate and potential candidate countries .
our industry will be more competitive at international level : this applies particularly to small and medium-sized enterprises , which will find it easier to access this market thanks to the clearer , more predictable rules .
one of the best examples is the Commission initiative comprising a pan-European programme to supply fruit and vegetables to schools .
to abandon nuclear energy is to ensure the promotion of highly polluting coal-fired plants ; it is to fall back into the hands of the oil companies , with uncertain oil prices and the huge risk of a weakened economy ; and hence , it is to spell the end of our energy independence .
in writing . - Over the last 50 years , European women have made huge progress towards gender equality .
the Commission has long recognised the importance of services of general interest and we have had years of debate on this particular issue .
although the world is getting smaller and although people come together more , there are still these significant differences .
both original and fake medicines are thus freely available in large quantities in Turkish bazaars .
UKIP people do not write that kind of stuff , and they do not waste their pens on the kind of person that says that kind of thing .
that action contributed to the fall of the Communist regime . we cannot now allow ourselves to be dazzled by China 's economic success .
with regard to my department too , namely transport , we have always made every effort in all of our initiatives in Africa to give priority to ensuring political stability and respect for human rights and the rules .
it must also be said that the Member States are responsible for funding their own programmes .
we did not move backwards ; we did not stand still ; we moved forward .
that is why our reaction must consist not merely of cooperation among police forces and information services , but of a political response to avert and remove the causes that lead to terrorism .
Madam President , the fact that we are discussing pensions today in the European Parliament plenary will confirm how important they are to Europe .
a computer is as vulnerable as any other electronic device which is connected to the Internet via an electronic communications network .
finally , I would like to thank very much the Commission for setting up a DG on Human Rights .
this is not sustainable .
we are coming to an important period with regard to climate policy since , at the end of this year , we must reach an agreement in Copenhagen on new common goals for combating global warming .
could I suggest that , if the EU really wants to help , rather than indulging in predictable rhetoric , there is something meaningful and immediate which could be done .
these are extremely alarming figures and we must keep a very close eye on fund recovery .
we , Parliament and the European Commission , must design this policy together , with maximum transparency .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I would simply like to say this : despite the gravity of these incidents , which I think everyone here recognises , there is a certain mindset and an ignorance of the situation in Italy and in Europe which frightens me .
the European Union compromises itself if it introduces a sanctions regime and then breaches it itself , as is the case regarding Robert Mugabe .
by being more targeted we could set more effective requirements .
rarely has a debate been so topical , since you have only just come out of the meeting .
to make it possible for the public to support firm measures , we are asking for the basic scientific points to be set out in a brochure available to the public , so that everyone can be aware of the challenges we face .
however , Mr President , we also want to say ' no ' here to the bombing being carried out by the international force in Libya , just as we said ' no ' to the repression of the struggling peoples in every country in the region , including Libya , Bahrain and Yemen .
one-sided speeches to Members sitting in plenary , without any possibility for dialogue and questions , are not the right medium for communication and intercultural exchanges .
it would be a good idea to take a closer look at what we have done .
in this consultation with the social partners , we want to look at simplification and a better system which is harmonised all over the EU .
will it be possible to establish , in the European Union , minimum standards for safety and quality which guarantee the reliability and transparency of information provided to these consumers ?
those of us who have watched attentively as the ideas on this have evolved will also remember that , just a few months ago , some of our national diplomatic services were absolutely unwilling to accept a kind of instant ' big bang ' , with all the current delegations brought under the authority of the future High Representative from the very first day .
it is made up of parties who really want a different option to the one that has been chosen by Moldova until now .
emissions of greenhouse gases from the production of tar sand are 3-5 times greater than from conventional production of oil and natural gas .
by refusing to negotiate , the European trade unions have not just failed themselves ; they have failed the workers they claim to represent .
in writing . ( PL ) I fully support the report on the demographic future of Europe .
the remaining votes were shared between the three opposition parties .
I am looking forward to the debate .
on behalf of the PPE Group . - Mr President , I welcome the fact that the European Parliament is going to adopt a resolution on the upcoming session of the Human Rights Council .
I will make the following comments on this issue .
the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority has selected the Spaniard Carlos Montalvo , who worked as Acting Secretary General at the forerunner to the new authority , to be its first Executive Director .
this year we are celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of the first elections to Parliament by direct universal suffrage , together with the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall .
in writing . - Thank you Chairman !
18th report on better legislation - Application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality ( 2010 ) (
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we must restore confidence .
the Court of Auditors identified severe shortcomings in the administrative and financial rules governing expenditure on the organisation of courses and seminars , which accounts for a major proportion of the College 's operational expenditure .
that is a matter for the Member States .
two of these results were dealt with by Parliament and one by means of another referendum .
in Slovenia , this behaviour is viewed as a flagrant violation of Italy 's obligations towards a minority , in this case the Slovene minority .
also , the cost of supporting the weaker countries is constantly rising .
Madam President , I think Mr Barroso really does have , today , a most difficult role .
I need the European Council to propose a High Representative because the High Representative , according to the Lisbon Treaty , has to be approved by the President of the Commission as Vice-President of the Commission .
the EU will act and proceed in close coordination with all EU Member States .
I therefore think it is important to ensure greater protection to women who claim they have suffered violence .
they were encouraged and urged to leave the camp or go to Iran .
we need to concentrate on the effective protection of minorities and on improving the economic situation and combating the widespread corruption and organised crime .
thank you , Commissioner , for your report .
that is also what the other institution wants , because we do not want political usage of our basic freedoms .
Arthur Ashe said , ' One important key to success is self-confidence .
I would like to make it clear that in two to three years , we will definitely be more knowledgeable than we are today and that we will have had some good experiences and made some mistakes .
indeed , they are often used as scapegoats and are collectively blamed , as happened recently with the deportations from Italy .
the pressures threatening the position of Europe 's maritime fleet , which stem mainly from the state aid given to the sector in third countries , must be managed within a framework to be developed in the World Trade Organisation .
however , we cannot proceed with adopting the proposal without mentioning that the final regulation has lost a great deal in terms of its ambition , compared to the Commission 's original proposal .
similarly , we must not lack the motivation for energy technology modernisation in Europe and we must ensure , through this package , progress towards a future where we base our energy use on forms of energy that are CO2-neutral .
today the Commission presented the communication to the EU ministers of finance at the Ecofin meeting , with a view to seeking their support on the proposed approach for the last Ecofin meeting of the Czech Presidency in June 2009 .
the euro was created without being imposed from outside and without any wars of conquest or political hegemonies .
I decided to visit Rome and Naples last weekend as a kind of field research and spoke personally to people living there .
I will , therefore , be waiting for the report in early 2009 .
there has to be an end to impunity .
this mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund will benefit 1 429 workers in the motor vehicles , trailers and semi-trailers manufacturing sector in the Spanish region of Catalonia .
as an MEP who has always paid particular attention to issues relating to crime prevention , security and police cooperation , I acknowledge the fundamental importance of Europol in creating a secure European area and preventing crime throughout Europe , along with the need for it to be reinforced at various levels , including those under discussion here .
we have many possible ways of responding to people 's needs and concerns .
in the past we have seen again and again that corrupt regimes contemptuous of human rights very often have the attendant symptoms of very large amounts of public money being converted as a rule into private capital and then put on hold somewhere in fabulous accounts until the respective member of the regime is able to retrieve and enjoy this money .
thank you , Mr President , in my view , on the issue of the modernisation of social policy and assistance to the states of Central and Eastern Europe , there is a lot of rhetoric , but not much actually happening .
while I support calls for the EU to coordinate its response to humanitarian catastrophes with the wider development community , I can only support such developments when they take place within already existing mechanisms , such as the Community 's civil protection mechanism .
( RO ) We have a saying in Romania : a well-bred man is said to have had his ' first seven years at home ' .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , firstly I would like to thank Mr Peterle for his excellent report , and also the resolution , which gives a very good analysis of the situation in Tajikistan and makes recommendations which I can support .
I would also like to ask the question : what have we actually achieved here in Parliament by keep going back to the people with new and higher percentages ?
by Mr Fjellner , on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control , on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Railway Agency for the financial year 2007 ( C6-0443 / 2008 - ,
another one is the dispute over the strategic north passage between Asia and America .
today , 30 % of existing homes in Europe are unhealthy and have high energy bills .
faced with these many crises and threats , we cannot just hand over the keys to our US friends and allies or to NATO .
a strategy for the Roma who are settled , and a strategy for the Roma who travel around .
( ES ) Mr President , an important part of the future of Europe is at stake in the reform of the common fisheries policy .
( LT ) The question I would like to ask is , obviously , based on my meetings and discussions with the industrialists of the country I represent - Lithuania .
the EU can only be credible and effective in exerting pressure if it makes sure that minority rights are respected in all its Member States .
how events will play out after such a turbulent start will , contrary to Mr Viktor Orbán 's warning , not depend on the European Parliament , but instead on whether Fidesz and its leader will be willing and able to engage in politics that respect European values both at home and on the European stage .
we were exiled by the geographical chance of an ocean , and the historical chance of a pendulum that brings us together and distances us according to circumstances .
Wednesday :
I have the feeling that many people here are looking for one person to blame for the problems which face us , instead of working on solving our common problems with new strength , new ideas , enthusiasm and vision .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , it would be very important for 2010 , the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion , to mark the birth of a new Community financial instrument , dedicated to microfinance , aimed at those who are disadvantaged in accessing the banking system but who have micro-enterprise plans .
I would just like to remind all of us here that we have new rules for this new period 2007-2013 .
that is why I , together with my fellow authors of this resolution and members of six political groups , Mrs Essayah , Mr CohnBendit , Mr Howitt , Mr Tannock and Mr Belder , who spoke just now , am writing today to Baroness Ashton .
perhaps there is a problem within the Commission in terms of resources : if there is , we should hear that .
the opt-out , originally devised for the UK , became an opt-out that 14 other countries progressively needed to use , and we heard from the Czech Presidency today that at least two others are now joining that group .
the point has been made that the motor industry has access to EUR 9 billion from the European Investment Bank .
the study has not yet been finalised , but is under way , and there are still a number of technical issues to be cleared up before it is totally ready for publication .
finally , in paragraph 31 , the position expressed on readmission agreements with third countries does not reflect the PPE Group 's vision on this matter .
it now needs to be developed further , and I have no doubt that , if the experience you have both brought to bear here is also accepted by the Member States , we will be on the right track .
that is exactly , ladies and gentlemen , what we want to support by means of this report .
it is true that this is also not the way to dialogue , although they are not aimed towards Russia .
as demanded in the report , I also call on Spain , France and other countries to place their cards on the table , while also calling on the Commission to further strengthen its controls .
there is goodwill , as there may have been in the 19th century , as there may have been in Peking in the 1800s .
on the other hand , mobile TV is now reaching more and more people .
it must construct the ' EU regional political partnership for peace , security and development in the Horn of Africa ' which the Committee on Development launched when it adopted its report in April 2007 .
the result will be a more rational and risk-based approach to control actions at sea and on land , the latter being inherently more cost-effective .
however , I find it unacceptable that , for years now , 1.5 million Palestinians have been placed in the largest open-air prison in the world as hostages of a misconceived policy .
furthermore , I support the narrowing of the gap between developed countries and undeveloped regions by granting financial and technical assistance .
if the Libyans woke up tomorrow , what conclusion would we draw from that ?
this support is essential to guarantee ' the green revolution ' that Africa needs for its stability and prosperity , which , as you all know , is also in Europe 's direct interests .
today I stand here to ask further details following the October Council conclusions , in which the Commission was asked to work towards a limited treaty change required to establish a permanent crisis resolution mechanism .
we will also discuss the global financial crisis and ways in which the world food situation can be addressed .
the military regime in power has not kept any of the promises it made to the international community following the uprising last year .
registered entities will also have to declare their sources of income and interests , as well as legislative proposals submitted .
now , at a time when the demand for milk and drinking milk products is increasing throughout the world , milk quotas are clearly proving to be an obstacle to the development of the milk industry throughout the EU .
I am talking , for example , about maximum overdraft fees and compound interest , which is interest on interest .
as the previous speaker pointed out , this body also equates the application of corporal punishment with torture .
half the proposed aid will be supplied in the form of subsidies and the other half in the form of loans .
we can clearly see that there is at least one very important reason : to prepare for the advent of world government ; and the second reason is once again to instil a sense of guilt in Europeans and in Westerners , who are considered , wrongly , as being responsible for all the world 's ills .
that then extends to the right to contraception , abortion and good sexual health .
there is a high-level Chinese parliamentary delegation in Parliament today , led by Mr Wang Yingfan , an influential member of the National People 's Congress .
if we fail to ensure human rights and democracy , then we risk losing far more .
therefore I am especially glad at the idea of convening a Euronest - an assembly - which , if taken up by the Commission , will provide an instrument for democratic and parliamentary scrutiny of eastern partnership projects .
and let them not forget that it is their responsibility , first and foremost , to provide for the wellbeing of citizens and not to deny them a European future , because it is crystal clear that the political crisis hampers any and all progress .
I fully endorse the suggestions in this report to establish a child-friendly society , in which children can feel protected and actively involved .
specifically , we cannot support the idea of setting up a European police force for sport .
I have received three draft resolutions submitted in accordance with Rule 108 ( 5 ) of the Rules of Procedure .
we should also consider what we can do to prevent the transmission of diseases from people working for the UN from happening again .
therefore , bringing together the policies on climate change , energy , transport and environment will be a priority .
stating that the renovation costs of the Strasbourg seat following the disaster that took place in August 2008 should not be borne by European taxpayers is not enough .
Mr Balczó asks if a unified Europe really does exist to the extent that I said in my speech .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( ET ) Ladies and gentlemen , it is a very positive thing that the Commission has raised awareness of problems concerning the European Works Council , concerning the need to consult and inform workers in a situation where global conditions make a degree of genuine economic restructuring inevitable .
we saw the beginning of a rather worrying streak of intolerance in that committee when Mr Buttiglione was opposed as a Commission nominee .
in writing . - Next month , the eyes of the world will be on Denmark .
documents received : see Minutes
let us be very open and call this by its name : it was a ping-pong game by two governments , and by Berlusconi and Sarkozy , on the back of refugees who are , in fact , in trouble .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , amongst friends one can speak frankly and tell things as they are .
classification , labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures ( amendment of Regulation ( EC ) No 648 / 2004 ) (
Mr President , today is an important day for all victims , because today we shall adopt the European Protection Order , which is a significant step forward in terms of their rights .
( SK ) Mr President , it is quite clear from the context of what Mr Verhofstadt has been saying here that the Egyptian democratic opposition forces have failed to organise a unified body representing the revolutionary forces from the streets .
there was no need to admonish us to tell the truth .
I believe these to be a priority yet , I am sorry to say , they are non-existent in Turkey .
may we thank them all .
it is true that the centre of much of the textile industry is elsewhere than the flooded area but a lot of the support packages for the textile industry were in flooded areas , as was a lot of the textile industry .
( RO ) The assessments made by experts about possible problems in the global food market and about providing the necessary amount for the entire global population is one reason for rethinking the way in which agricultural land is used in Europe , especially in the new Member States , which also includes Romania .
we are talking now about health claims .
nonetheless , when discussing the climate plan and the aim of reducing greenhouse gases , the issue of rail transport and transport other than road transport arises .
this is the added value this card offers .
the figure is EUR 5 300 million under the financial framework , and so the Committee on Budgets has shown great discipline in drawing up this proposal for deliberation by the European Parliament .
in order to understand the challenges involved in revising this directive , I myself have met with many stakeholders representing the various opinions on this issue .
the Council appealed to the Chinese Government to lift the restrictions on access to the region , which would help in an independent evaluation of the situation .
it is clear that we have a Stability Pact , but there is also a Growth Pact , and the key word for our economies in the near future is growth .
there is a drop in State revenues , there are inflationary pressures and the country is , of course , confronted with a whole raft of consequences of past actions , for example , a major problem with environmental damage caused at the time of the NATO air attacks .
you may well ask why I hold the accession prospects of those countries so dear .
I would once again like to thank Commissioner Figel , and , in particular , that great man of sport , Mr Mavrommatis , who has done pioneering work to promote sport 's new march forward in the context of European culture and society .
as Members of the European Parliament , we absolutely must not allow the entry into force of this agreement and the associated data transfer to the US , and certainly not without the approval of the European Parliament .
I think the European Council paid full attention to the concerns and positions expressed by the European Parliament in the matter of the Mediterranean Union .
the solutions deployed so far for exiting the crisis have not been targeting the causes which have put us in this situation .
a direct way of showing support for the Burmese people would be for democratic countries to stop them coming until human rights and democracy are practised in Burma .
if you have followed the course of the inquiry into this disaster in the United States , the chain of contractual relations established between several firms allows companies to pass the buck to each other , while oil continues to pour into the sea .
on the contrary : what we need is the consistent further development of cooperation between our Member States and cross-border cooperation by the police and justice authorities .
a reduction in the VAT rates for locally supplied and labour-intensive services should have a positive impact , since it will reduce the level of undeclared labour , whilst also reducing its appeal and increasing demand within the formal economy .
President Saakashvili received his initial education in Kiev . he then studied at European and American universities , and has always been associated with Strasbourg - he studied here , has received honours here and it was also here , as far as I know , that he met his future wife .
the way the situation is now , they are the ones who belong behind bars , not the dissidents in Burma !
finally , I should like to thank the Commissioner and congratulate her on the commitment of the extra EUR 12 million .
in reality , the leading G20 powers have spared their own offshore centres , the Channel Islands , the Virgin Islands , Hong Kong and Macao , not to mention onshore centres such as Delaware .
everybody complains about it .
if a country carries out the tasks that have been asked of it , then we must also keep the promises that were made with regard to membership .
no , sorry .
reducing very large imbalances is , fundamentally , sound .
in 1957 , Chancellor Konrad Adenauer ensured that the treaties enshrined the full membership of the East Germans in the case of reunification .
so there is no clarity on this issue but , once again , the problem for the European Parliament , for the EU in general , is that there is no consistency across Member States , and yet our citizens are accessing services outside their own country , and they want to do that .
however , we are also living on credit as far as the environment and climate are concerned .
what we need today is a more efficient eastern partnership and a strong and democratic Georgia .
you will be aware , Commissioner , that the three directives that make up the first railway package were adopted in 2001 , with a deadline of March 2006 for their transposition into national law .
we have had many setbacks and some disappointments , but every time the overriding case for the Treaty has won through - the compelling case for a democratic and effective Europe .
the Commissioner said that last year there was a demand for dairy products , this year not so much - but next year there could be a greater demand again and we need the flexibility to meet it .
as a former Member of Parliament , I know that Parliament is , and always will be , the home of democracy .
in closing , I would like to say that I find it very regrettable that the Czech Presidency has not deemed it worth the effort to send a representative to Parliament for this important legislative proposal .
we need to be in the here and now , constructing a budget that will give the European economy a real boost .
we know that the Commission has no powers to impose sanctions , but it can galvanise and stimulate matters and I fully support my colleague 's words , yet there is one further aspect of great importance , Commissioner , which is probably in your hands , which is to foster cooperation between police and judicial bodies .
the European Banking Authority is of course caught between a rock and a hard place : publicly admitting that the risk of a write-down exists may perpetuate the risk of it occurring , but denying that it exists at all would be downright irresponsible for a regulator .
whatever disaster may befall Bulgaria in the future , it can never compare to the disaster called Movement for Rights and Liberties .
as for education on credit or any other type of consumption , the most important element is education in general which equips people with the tools to make daily decisions .
if targets have this effect , they also have the effect of providing the motivation for policies and projects .
the next item is the Statements by the Commission and the Council on the Social Package ( First part ) .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , there you have an overview of the EIB 's three-pronged approach for the years to come .
this is not just about balancing Centre-Left and Centre-Right ; this is about balancing the Centre , the Left and the Right .
the diagnosis has been made and the prescription is well known : the European Union must improve economic coordination , and make the European financial stabilisation fund stronger and more flexible , so that it can buy the public debt of the countries under the greatest pressure from the markets .
it must promote and increase its research and development investments so as to try to maintain its lead in the area of high technology .
it is true that he is entitled to speak on behalf of all of Africa , but he is not affected because he is an LDC and he has the ' Everything But Arms ' system .
the soil situation in the Member States varies .
this package could result in a win-win situation , which would enable everyone to benefit .
it is clear to me that this agreement overall brings other benefits to the EU and to some of the EU 's different industries .
needless to say , access to third-level education in those same communities in the 21st century is still at an all-time low .
keep in mind that EU Member States and citizens have to cut their budgets .
not all the events of 1989 have deserved the same attention , however .
the security of the people of Afghanistan from terrorists and criminal attacks is a prerequisite for development , and this Parliament believes that the combination of peace-keeping interventions , multilateral diplomacy , domestic peace negotiations , effective poverty reduction measures , the establishment of democratic institutions and the protection of women 's rights are the pillars of a new , winning strategy in Afghanistan as elsewhere .
in writing . - ( DE ) We need fair treatment of investors and borrowers with long periods of limitation and a shifting of the burden of proof .
I consider this document to be well-balanced and to contribute to our common goal , which is to give the citizens ' initiative an important role in the practice of European democracy and enhance the capacity of European citizens to make an impact on European policies .
I therefore support the adoption of new safety principles , the application of strict and rigorous common standards and the establishment of solidarity funds to compensate victims for any damage caused .
this contradiction reveals some people 's genuine need for help and the inability of others to offer the help requested .
unfortunately , not all consumers are aware of this .
these include the amendment tabled by my group on Sodium Pentothal calling for assurances that the production and sale of this substance , which can be used to carry out death sentences , is only permitted for medical purposes .
subject : eurozone budget deficit limits
it is also important to progressively correct market failures and remove administrative barriers .
that means that we will face a major pressure on public budgets in future , because our pension systems are at risk of being underfunded .
in its progress report , the Commission showed how slowly the Member States are moving , even if there are some initiatives , and proposed a few ways of exerting pressure .
discrimination against women in Saudi Arabia and almost throughout the Islamic world has its basis and justification in the Koran .
Europe needs one face , both for our fellow citizens and for our international partners .
on the other hand , we know that nurturing the particular assets of the outermost regions is the only suitable way to ensure that these regions generate their own sustainable development .
we would also like to finalise the accession treaty as far as possible , thereby paving the way to Croatia 's accession to the EU which we look forward to .
this economic adjustment programme was agreed with the Commission , the IMF and the ECB .
that concludes Question Time .
let me assure you that the Commission is committed to doing its share to address dementia .
can I remind you that at the G20 Summit , with some resistance from some European leaders , you accepted that if there is a reason we are willing to do more to engage in having high economic growth ?
on the one hand low quotas limit the development of the EU milk industry by lowering its competitiveness and export potential .
the dual system of broadcasting is an answer to Europe 's media landscape which must be safeguarded on all platforms .
although she may not have the necessary knowledge in trade matters , she has a well-informed team , and perhaps she will use the opportunity within the framework of the mandate rather differently to the way the previous Commissioner did - and we do have an opportunity !
there is a very big question mark here , to my mind .
I would like to touch upon two concrete areas covered in the report : revitalising vulnerable communities , consisting mainly of people in rural and peripheral areas , and developing the micro-regions that are lagging behind , have an irregular situation in relations to the individual countries ' specific characteristics and are almost absent from the current statistics .
it was the European Union that set things in motion .
this company has , in recent years , made particular efforts to meet the requirements of the future , with high levels of investment in modern technology .
I am therefore pleased at the strong political message that Parliament has sent in this , the International Year of Forests .
for which aspects is it competent ?
for example , the EU 's fundamental values ask us to attach particular importance to the Responsibility to Protect principle .
Mr President , Commissioner , it is not right that the implementing agreements negotiated between certain Member States and the United States should at the moment be completely non-transparent .
- ( SV ) Mr President , the Berlin Wall fell almost 20 years ago .
within the framework of Eurostat 's revised European Social Survey Programme , the Commission plans to run a module on consumer empowerment through which it wants to measure consumer skills , consumer information and awareness of rights and assertiveness .
it is up to the relevant authorities of the Member States to take initiatives to concretise this opening of the European School System in their national schools .
the European summit claimed to be determined to learn lessons from the crisis and to make all those involved in the financial system act more responsibly , including with regard to pay and other inducements .
finally , Madam President , I share the views of Commissioner Kallas and the rapporteur , Mr Alvaro , regretting the hasty manner in which the Council has tried to close this dossier before the Treaty of Lisbon enters into force .
currently , there are military operations being conducted by NATO in Libya .
I am also pleased to see that proposals by my political family have been taken up - in particular , the creation of a European innovation fund , which will simplify access to European credits for our small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) .
it is essential that the public is kept informed of the potential risks in all areas related to nuclear energy and the new technologies .
the economic and financial crisis which has overrun Europe has led to a very serious human and social crisis , and this will have consequences that are impossible to assess at the moment .
( the President cut off the speaker )
I think the Commission is doing a fine job there and it makes me proud to be European .
meanwhile , one person in six - a total of 74 million Europeans - lives below the poverty line as defined in the individual Member States .
the Internet is , of course , a cheap and simple tool to achieve this .
I am pleased that Mr Ferrari has succeeded in reaching an agreement with the Council at first reading .
but now reality has hit .
the European Union is beginning to work on , but intends to consolidate , a clear position , a clear strategy for the Union so that we can maintain an active role and a commitment to the protection of and respect for human rights .
this balancing demands the active cooperation of the major economies in America , Asia and Europe .
this article is nothing other than an appeal to the future European Commission to focus , at the heart of its actions , on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises , which are very vulnerable during a crisis , and not to compromise in any way on implementing the 2008 Small Business Act .
in writing . - ( SV ) I think it is a good thing that the EU is taking responsibility for consumers and I therefore voted for the report .
thirdly , there is persistent talk of a democratic deficit , although there is no popular convergence on key EU questions even when an opportunity for consultation is created .
the Commission therefore confirms that in future Community legislation progress on the common definition should be taken into account and notes that the comitology procedures contained within this proposal also allow for the updating of the definition within this proposal .
the oral question by Jean-Marie Cavada , on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs , to the Council on the 2007 annual debate on the progress made in the Area of Freedom , Security and Justice ( Articles 2 and 39 of the EU Treaty ) - B6-0006 / 2008 ) , and
is it reasonable , for example , that the EU 's livestock farmers should import millions of tonnes of soya from Brazil for the European meat industry , or that fish should be caught in Norway , shipped out to China for filleting and cleaning and then back to Europe for preservation ?
the EU must not allow itself to be dragged into the internal affairs of states in the Middle East and that is what is threatening to happen , because the balance in Bahrain could change very rapidly .
it is there that jobs will be created and it is there that the future lies for Europe and Europe 's competitiveness - not in cuts in this area .
I think and am convinced that what has become possible today owing to this unbelievably far-reaching empowerment of the President is opening the floodgates to despotism .
for the financial crisis we proposed a toolkit , a road map , harmonisation and coordination .
at the same time as giving this method a positive assessment , I would also like to state that I share the view of the rapporteur that work in this area should be financed from a special budget line , and not from the Agricultural Guarantee Fund .
this can be achieved through the implementation of corporate social and environmental responsibility in trade , so that they stop breaching the principles of social responsibility .
if , during such a process , an application is made for mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund , this represents a negative example of how a socially meaningful and very responsible EU measure is exploited by international companies to wheedle out of their social responsibility .
we reject the Commission 's proposal , and also the report by the Committee on Agriculture , because it introduces measures which are even worse : it allows the addition of sugars with a view to increasing the alcoholic strength with foreign matter , when we could achieve the same result with must .
our Legal Service has stated that this is not permitted , but the socialists insisted on introducing it .
however , this is still a positive resolution which we voted for .
unfortunately , we were unable to conclude the negotiations with the Council overnight , even if , from Parliament 's side , we were aiming for an agreement and we were ready to make concessions .
this has generated competitiveness losses , reflected in persistent current account deficits and a fall in export market shares .
in fact , we have not been forced to do anything since we gained our independence from Britain in 1922 .
our presence only prolongs the war and the resulting suffering , rather than eliminating them .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the spirit of this debate enables me , Baroness Ashton , to remind you that the Union for the Mediterranean 's Parliamentary Assembly concluded its meeting last week in Rome .
today , Commissioner Kroes presented her vision for Europe 's digital agenda , one of the EU 2020 flagship programmes .
we must take this diversity into account so that , in the regions where it expresses itself , these different types of agriculture can help achieve objectives not just regarding market supply , production and security of market supply , but also a move towards better recognition of the environment , the management of natural resources , and economic development capacities in rural areas .
it is a step in the right direction - not a big step , but a step nonetheless .
the Council therefore has three options to choose from : it can accept Parliament 's priorities , or it can agree to a revision of the margins , or it can accept greater flexibility of the budget and in the budget , in the knowledge that Parliament will stand united in defence of its prerogatives and priorities .
the Commission accepts , in the light of the different opinions expressed , that the specific case of the Cosmetics Regulation will not be used as a precedent for the interpretation of the Interinstitutional Agreement on this point .
the directives relating to the interoperability of railway systems must also be consolidated and merged .
we therefore need to build together , within European and globally - since the response can only be global - convergence and integration strategies that explicitly recognise the fact that dynamic social and cohesion policies are the foundations for the development of our society .
this is a clear duty that we should carry out .
I am speaking under Rule 150 of the Rules of Procedure .
this is another thing which renders the simplification of the CAP particularly necessary .
this means that various items can be confiscated .
the Union should look to these examples , and increase its support in the areas of research , innovation and project development .
last March , Baroness Ashton made a commitment , on behalf of the European Union , to provide aid worth EUR 1.235 billion to help the people of Haiti to build a better future .
at least eight rounds of informal trialogues have been held to date , as well as three rounds of the negotiating process proper .
in some Member States , differently tiered and income-related social services as well as universal services funded through taxation are also part of the social security system .
the Prüm Convention will strengthen security within Europe .
the issue of tackling child poverty also remains a very important priority .
a crucial aspect of this initiative concerns a fundamental value : respect for cultural and linguistic diversity .
in writing . - ( IT ) Mr President , I have voted against the 2008 progress report on Turkey .
it is also worth considering how we could integrate sustainability criteria into the scheme of tariff preferences .
these principles have been clearly stated in the report in question , and I therefore voted in favour .
with our decision we want to send a clear signal that we are opposed to measures of this kind , which are also extremely controversial on medical grounds .
I hope that a Joint Parliamentary Committee will be established soon and the Icelandic Government is taking part in close talks with the Commission following the decision of the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the Union last July .
I would like to assure the honourable Member that the issue of good neighbourly relations is brought up by the EU on a systematic basis , most recently at the Association Council meeting on 19 May and at the meeting between the EU troika and Turkey 's political leaders in Stockholm in July this year .
this is a result of the fact that , unlike extradition , the European Arrest Warrant is a fully judicial system .
I suspect that both the Chinese and others may come to regret the decision to host the Olympic Games in Beijing .
they are used today in the treatment of more than 80 diseases , and especially of cancers - brain cancer , blood cancer , leukaemia , lymphoma - anaemia , autoimmune diseases , certain rare diseases , and the list keeps on growing .
firstly , there is the creation and preservation of jobs , with the emphasis not so much on social assistance issues , but chiefly on investment in infrastructure and business recovery , so that these jobs may be created .
the Irish Government that has just been elected in Ireland has a strong mandate .
( HU ) As was the case in the previous major debate of this week here in the European Parliament , namely , the debate on poverty , the politicians of the European Union are once again surprised and sad to see that the situation of Europe 's citizens is not improving , but rather constantly deteriorating .
nor are we talking about criminal law here .
therefore , in addition to the existing acoustic surveys which are carried out to determine the adult herring surplus indices , I support the pilot ( MIP ) network investigation in 2008 and 2009 , allowing us to determine the appropriateness and effectiveness of this method , and to provide a second , independent herring surplus index in the area west of Scotland ; I welcome this initiative .
Mr President , we are going through a period of global crisis , of preparation for major diplomatic events and of institutional uncertainty within the Union itself .
I would remind the House that Mr Lukashenko infringed democratic procedures in order to gain a further term of office . journalists and leaders of independent youth organisations and independent trade unions are being intimidated .
we wish to emphasise , however , that a number of the measures proposed in the report would be better initiated and paid for by the Member States themselves .
clearly , the primary responsibility for comprehensive cancer services lies with the Member States , but European action can make a difference .
how has it been able to continue for so long ?
with the new CAP we must give - and this is what we are in fact doing - strong support to farm incomes under the first pillar and support measures for rural development , increasing investment in agriculture and food security .
I have to say that we had a number of proposals and thoughts but , bearing in mind the urgency of the matter , most of us in committee and in Parliament felt that it would not be a good idea to proceed with such amendments .
so I suggest that we take a lesson from the US and the Dodd Frank Act which requires disclosure , with a two-year time lag , of the US Fed 's liquidity provision .
this is the conclusion which we must draw from recent years .
Mr President , we have a problem , because the whole House is asking the Commission to revise the legislative package on these matters , and Mr Barrot has , very charmingly as always , told us that this goes back a long way , that it has been debated a great deal and that on 1 January , it will begin to operate .
this is a challenge that the Commission has already emphasised and addressed on many occasions , in particular , with the communication ' An industrial policy for the globalisation era ' .
we also maintain that Member States implementing structural reforms which contribute to job preservation or creation and to reduction of poverty should be given the opportunity to deviate from their respective medium-term budgetary objectives .
I propose a study on the consolidated accounts .
there will be some painstaking and important work to be done in order to ensure that this becomes a reality and not just words .
naturally , this is a sensitive issue .
moreover , in order to concentrate on the problems of the EU , it is necessary to read this carefully and discuss whether it agrees with the priorities of the Hungarian Presidency or not , instead of discussing points or issues pertaining to life within Hungary , which can be regulated as part of a normal , healthy relationship between the Commission and the Hungarian Government and Parliament , if at all .
we call in our report for a better balance between projects earmarked for meeting political criteria and projects earmarked for bringing the country into line with the Community acquis and we call for horizontal and regional programmes to be strengthened .
in this final sprint , things are more exciting but also more difficult .
this is a first step , true , but it falls far short of the requirements , all the more so since part of it comes from a restructuring exercise .
there are two basic strategies that should be taken into account in ensuring the protection of data and security systems : " whatever is not expressly forbidden , is allowed ” , and " Whatever is not expressly allowed , is forbidden ” .
we have just heard the Council making a real plea about the way the Member States have to go ahead by putting this in the mainstream of their policies .
obviously , combating corruption and organised crime remains key .
- Before the vote
it excludes military aid but it does not exclude peacekeeping .
I do not know whether that is realistic , but it makes the point that the energy and climate policy calls for a substantial amount of new funding .
these increases in prices will be reflected on consumer prices but to a lower extent .
I fully agree , and very much hope that this ambition will be confirmed .
the European Union also failed to criticise Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili for appearing in front of the EU flag in several television interviews , as if his country were a member of the European Union .
to this end , I agree with the need to encourage e-commerce able to promote cross-border trade , the coordination of fiscal policies and greater streamlining of cross-border public contract procurement , points on which the European SMEs lag behind .
the condition we stated , that all 27 Member States of the European Union should enjoy visa exemption , will become a reality this year when visa requirements are lifted for Cyprus , Bulgaria and Romania , and I believe this is of great importance .
just the day before yesterday , the European Parliament , with an outstanding majority , almost unanimously , voted in favour of the Florenz report , requesting ambitious goals , adequate funds and direct measures , but the corrupt alliance in the Council and the Commission is trying to slice through and undermine this effort .
its role needs to be strengthened further in the light of the changing conditions on the world energy markets .
two years ago , a Commission study recommended that a special agency should be set up for the implementation of legislation on waste .
this revised agreement introduces a number of amendments , especially regarding the development of democratic principles and cooperation on the aspects relating to disarmament and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction .
I can tell you that , after verification , there has been no abuse of voting rights .
there is one point , Mr Watson , on which I clearly made an error .
the stakes could not be higher .
you must be unaware of this .
however , we did not want to back this political signal in favour of nuclear power , so we abstained .
it brings the spirit of the Balkan wars to Central Europe .
moreover , culturally , this has nothing to do with creating a potential European identity and an illusory European identity , and subsequently exporting it or selling it overseas .
the significance of this directive will be felt particularly in those countries where the scope of protection is very weak , and where support for families is very low or even non-existent , including when it comes to looking after older children .
this course of action runs counter to EU regulations on the free movement of goods and services .
countries in the EU - and that includes us - are intervening on an unprecedented scale , with their smoking bans , in citizens ' private habits .
the ' Red Card to Forced Prostitution ' campaign worked excellently during the 2006 World Cup in Germany .
I call for all aid to be democratically controlled by the small farmers , workers and poor of Afghanistan .
I am convinced that such a sensitive sector as food production is in particular need of market instruments .
there are fears that he will be tortured ; his family has just been allowed entry to the United States and there are fears for his life .
we must prevent the continued influx of such toys and support the widespread use of toys made from natural materials .
first of all , the point relating to conflicting interests and values , which is very important to me as well .
I am pleased that the Commission has said that it is going to work on this .
this is a modern and , at the same time , flexible framework for the application of the ' polluter pays ' principle and a tool to moderate the congestion problems on major national motorways .
through new financial mechanisms such as project bonds , as we have often repeated .
at this time when we are facing this severe crisis , one of the principal consequences of which is an increase in unemployment , the EU should use all the means at its disposal to react , particularly as regards support to be provided for those who are facing the day-to-day reality of unemployment .
this report acknowledges the existing problems with cohesion policy , beginning with the delayed conclusion of negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework ( MFF ) and the legislative package , resulting in the belated implementation of the national strategies and operational programmes .
nor would it have been possible without the excellent and constructive atmosphere that , in our opinion , characterised the whole process .
I also appeal to Member States not to add further and often unnecessary regulations to EU guidelines .
our discussion has a very important environmental dimension , which is particularly emphasised in this report , and I would like to thank the rapporteur for that too .
the effects of inequality can be seen all too easily when you compare countries where there are major differences , such as those in Eastern and Western Europe .
the agreements were initialled on 15 March 2007 but , unfortunately , some technical problems then arose which slowed down further progress , although the end is now in sight .
I ask myself when the Commission , faced with the drastic situation with respect to unemployment , poverty and inequality , will finally understand that we cannot keep going on as before , as suggested in the work programme .
I want to say that , in relation to the future , your comments are particularly welcome .
do not make the Greek people pay the price for the unattainable ambition of an EU superstate !
I would like to limit myself to these general statements .
we know from experience that hybrid financing creates problems , so we have to avoid creating such problems .
if the Commission were to endeavour to facilitate the cross-border transfer of company registered offices , reducing red tape , the whole proposal for the European private company would be redundant .
they are willing to take us out to show us how it works , and until such time as the technologies have been developed , we should keep a more open mind regarding these oil sands and shales .
I find it unbelievable that the European Union is still giving aid to Uganda .
I would also like to thank you for the debate and to emphasise three points .
at no time did any of the members of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs seek to hold hostage or to threaten not to help the Irish workers who are today in a critical situation due to the industrial strategy and the relocation of Dell .
we have achieved a strong text on biofuels and , crucially , indirect land-use change will now be factored in at the insistence of the Parliament .
we wish to speak the language of truth with Turkey .
they are the same people who say that our citizens cannot have their say on whether or not Turkey should join the EU .
issues such as the ageing population , rapidly changing technologies , climate change and other environmental challenges all need to be addressed with urgency .
given the new role of Parliament within the context of the Treaty of Lisbon and its new functions , and in view of the commitment made when the 2010 budget was approved , this increase in funds available for the running of Parliament makes sense , as it ensures that this body has all the material and human resources it needs to fulfil its new tasks in the new institutional framework with accuracy and excellence .
this is important , and naturally , the Treaty of Lisbon includes these three words and adds to them the ambition of very strong competitiveness .
it is also important to me that you have directly addressed the cowardice or , it could be said , the double standards , of many governments and members of governments in relation to their shared European responsibilities , as these double standards are one of the main causes of the lack of trust and mutual finger-pointing to which we must put a stop .
let me stress that the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon depends on ratification by all 27 Member States .
they have lent weight to the decision that I hope will be taken by this House tomorrow , as well as to the Commission 's work in the Council .
time limits and distance when crossing the waters that separate us from the continent and from our markets cannot be the absolute .
we cannot put off this decision any longer .
if they have it , we will certainly forward it to the Member .
in writing . - ( PL ) I voted against Giusto Catania 's report on the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union ( 2004-2008 ) .
1 .
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could the Commission answer how many free trade agreements we are negotiating or have negotiated up to now ?
I would like to emphasise that the provision of better coordination between individual levels of control , greater flexibility , and transparent and clear procedures , not only represent features of good administration of public affairs but , above all , should facilitate the drawing down of funds and increase the participation of potential partners in projects .
sometimes what we do in the European Parliament is quite technical , but I am absolutely sure that this directive , this legislation , will also help Europe to go forward .
consumers are generally unaware of what is happening and are being deceived .
we also regret that the Commission document does not contain any specific proposals for the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals prior to 2015 .
on the other hand , the OSCE has informed us that they have been permitted to send observers to oversee the elections .
all too often , endangered species are portrayed as nuisances which halt or obstruct building projects .
the Commission has worked in close cooperation with the two teams in order to ensure a coherent overall EU presence in a post-status Kosovo .
I myself investigated the reception of Chechen refugees in Poland , because a number of Chechen refugees were sent back to Poland from Belgium on the basis of Dublin .
in some cases , attachment without just cause can destroy a person 's livelihood .
cooperation between all European countries and the exchange of experiences are of particular importance in this regard .
I recently read a book by an American author which describes the following scenario .
I would like to thank you and , again , Mr Castiglione for this very difficult task of bringing together all the different opinions within the European Parliament .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , terrorism is continually evolving and we must stay on top of the changing scenario .
in writing . - I and my British Conservative colleagues support the work of the UN and the UN Human Rights Council .
we owe it to our consumers and businesses to make the right decision for them and ensure that any change of law affecting their rights is properly thought through .
we cannot , however , support inter alia the references to a Common Immigration Policy or a Common Asylum Policy , any moves to reduce the freedom of the Member States to act in the area of justice and home affairs , the creation of a ' European External Action Service ' or any moves towards a defence capability for the EU .
the pipeline you mentioned is an important project in these efforts , and to feed this pipeline , we need to work first and foremost on the trans-Caspian pipeline , to get the Central Asian resources to the Black Sea .
it will be even more detrimental to banana producers on the Canary Islands , Spain .
all this is due to a series of problems that have arisen over the years , which are a result of the change of economic regime and the international situation , as I pointed out when I took the floor yesterday .
this information will help make the move towards goods that reduce emissions as well as noise pollution .
there are countries where the foundations of a modern economy are , as a matter of fact , only just appearing .
therefore , we should have the possibility of a split vote .
we need to amend the directive .
the recent gas conflict between Russia and Ukraine by no means left the European Union unscathed .
he talks about morality and lack of dignity .
you cannot impose additional monetary penalties on a country that is already heavily in debt .
it is very likely that the European Council will discuss follow-ups to these events which are crucial for the Union 's interests in the long-term perspective .
( DE ) Mr President , thank you Commissioner for speaking so plainly .
the situation for fruit and vegetables is likely to get even worse when the market is opened wider still to Moroccan products under the new agreement that is currently being adopted .
( DE ) Madam President , allow me to extend a warm welcome to Stavros Dimas .
author . - Mr President , the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo ( DRC ) is profoundly traumatising for Congolese society .
in today 's Guardian it was reported that the billionaire John Paulson was revealed yesterday as one of the hedge fund bosses who has been short-selling UK bank shares , placing a nearly GBP 1 billion bet that their shares would fall dramatically .
as you know , since our last debate on 8 October , the Council Presidency has pursued only one objective and held only one conviction : the essential unity of Europeans in the face of the global financial crisis .
today we want to know how and when we are going to integrate the classification of the upper airspace and how are we going to jointly operate the lower airspace in the future .
everything has a positive side too , however .
the horizontal approach is not only an important aspect on the basis of the arguments which I expounded earlier ; the Commissioner personally also addressed the question of the legal basis .
I am glad to conclude that the European Parliament expressed cross-party unanimity at every stage of the examination of the issue in this House , thus shaping a single position on the need to conclude this Protocol as soon as possible and hence offer the Republic of Moldova all possible opportunities to benefit from the advantages of its relations with the EU .
there is a real danger that Madagascar , in its strategically important location , will become a failed state , like others we know of in Africa , first and foremost of which is Somalia .
the reasons for these differences are , in many cases , avoidable and unjust , because they are due to discriminatory factors such as the reduced economic capacity of individuals .
I congratulate the rapporteur , Mr Rapkay , for his report and the work he has done .
Mr President , President-in-Office , ladies and gentlemen , this I say on behalf of the PPE-DE Group , I look forward to an effective Europe in 2008 , a successful Europe .
this is a serious threat to agricultural production , so it must be fought using Union instruments for this reason too .
we have no way of guaranteeing the principle of non-refoulement , even if it is writ large in your text .
in fact the Czech Presidency evidently considers a common European policy to be a barrier to the great national foreign policies of our national states .
this is the only way to create new jobs .
it therefore insists on price stability and the Stability and Growth Pact , albeit with a degree of flexibility , and on the Lisbon Strategy , which , as we know , has been used as a pretext in order to pursue privatisation and remove responsibility for social functions from the state .
trade determines a large portion of the economic growth of some countries .
I also strongly welcome the fact that the report , in a similar way to the report produced by Mr Mavrommatis a few years ago , highlights the success of the informal procedures which you want to concentrate on more closely .
I also agree that :
however , directives also need to be based on good sense , so today in this House , I should like to make a few good-sense observations .
the growing need for available transplant organs in a context of cross-border exchange and of significant differences among the transplant systems adopted by the various Member States requires cooperation and common regulations regarding the quality and safety of the organs to be strengthened .
illegal logging also has extremely negative consequences for indigenous peoples , for biodiversity and in terms of climate change .
the whole idea of this legislation is to bring safety to the food we eat , and , of course , what our animals eat is essential because we eat those animals .
it has delivered so far .
( the President cut off Mrs Lulling )
this is the case in Italy , where today there are around half a million Romanian citizens .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( PT ) Mr President , what I have to say on this issue is as follows .
faced with a choice between democracy and supra-nationalism , the European Union almost always opts for supra-nationalism and nowhere is this clearer than in its policy in the Western Balkans .
the Court found that the Commission had used criteria not provided for in the rules ( i.e. vessels have to be at least 5 years old before being eligible to apply for safety tonnage ) and that it had exceeded its power .
these are very sensitive topics and , according to the subsidiarity principle , they are a matter for the individual Member States alone .
let us stop investing in new facilities to produce more energy , and let us plough our money and our efforts into the cleanest energy in the world , energy that we can avoid using .
framework Financial Regulation for the bodies referred to in Article 185 of Council Regulation ( EC , Euratom ) No 1605 / 2002 (
the Commission and Parliament have worked together to ensure that this will change .
if we were to succeed in this and if we are able to maintain this momentum beyond this year 's elections in the United States and next year 's elections in the European Union , we will perhaps have created the basis for understanding that climate change , organised crime , migration and much else can only be tackled together in the interests of a better world .
it is a political tool in the advancement of an integrated Europe . it should be seen for what it is .
the position achieved by the euro in the international markets brings undoubted benefits , such as better protection from external shocks .
we will present a draft to the country shortly and , as the country is quite advanced in many respects , for instance on biometric passports , I hope that it will be able to meet the conditions of the road map rather swiftly and thus achieve the goal of visa-free travel for citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia § .
promoting innovation-led growth is not about increasing excellence in R & D infrastructure . important as they are , it is , first and foremost , about mobilising talents and mobilising new ideas .
we must not introduce policies that violate human rights and criminalise men and women who only aspire to a job and , in many cases , to the basic right to life .
these global dialogues allow us to learn more about our partners , to advocate our values and standards and to resolve issues of bilateral interest and create new commercial opportunities for Europe 's firms .
finally , especially today , my sympathy goes to the Nigerian people on the death of their President .
the lesson we can learn from the past is that we have experienced considerable economic growth , but on the basis of speculation , which has not taken into account justice , fairness , the environment , the future or future generations .
I would like to make three points .
the figures and the documentation referred to in the French report clearly indicate that by far the highest use of this medicinal product was in France .
I believe that there is a broad consensus in this House - not a full but a broad consensus - on the selection process of the next Managing Director of the IMF .
the following questions are addressed to the Commission .
that is why I would like to underline what the Commissioner stated earlier - that , regarding the EIT , the key issue now is the financing and funding .
I understand that she will shortly be presenting herself to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and answering questions .
it is the Commission that must propose how we can achieve a sensible stabilisation within the euro area .
without such types of programmes , adapted to the nomadic nature of the Roma lifestyle , the European Union will never be able to make a full contribution to increasing the value added at EU level .
the country remains a conflict zone with flexible borders , where , just as in the 1960s , it is about the demarcation of ethnic territories and control of mining areas .
I was pleased to co-sign Amendment 3 , calling for a feasibility study .
I am convinced that during the parliamentary elections taking place this May the relevant Georgian authorities will take all the requisite steps to increase public confidence in the election process .
the fact that the new High Representative will also be a Vice-President of the Commission , responsible for coordinating all of the EU 's external action , will help . the service will also be responsible for the administration of delegations , though the people inside delegations will come , as now , from different services - not just the EEAS , but also the Commission services and maybe other institutions and bodies of the European Union .
, in writing . - We welcome the ongoing efforts to further incorporate the level of consumers ' awareness as the necessary basis for the effective implementation of the existing consumer protection legal framework , especially with regard to the most vulnerable groups of the population .
he could not even tell me that he was living and dying with an AIDS-related illness .
what we need is major restructuring .
I hope it does not go that far and that we can have a strong and widely-supported report to offer to the Commission and to the Member States as our contribution .
as a first step on the way to resolving this problem , the report is very useful .
innovation should also extend to all organisations and institutions , whether public or private , profit-making or non-profit-making , and to all aspects of life ; in particular it should promote social innovation and innovation in support of environmental sustainability .
carbon storage , biomass , as well as investments in reducing the quantities of fertilisers used are just some examples of the way in which agriculture is affected by this problem .
the big question is how we want to achieve that , and that is where we come to a parting of the ways .
our industry is the world 's largest producer of cars and second largest producer of lorries , and it has good after-sales services .
in my opinion , the hypothesis that none of the fixed-term and part-time jobs is a high-quality job does not hold water .
( PL ) Madam President , in the Commission communication on the future of the common agricultural policy , administrative simplifications are one of the proposals for reforming European agriculture .
in this case , the report deals with the rights of migrant and refugee women , who are treated as a select category of women compared to other female European citizens .
as Finns and Nordic people , we are worried that consumer protection might be impaired .
it is up to Ireland to choose whether or not to implement these measures .
our climate footprint is largely the same in both cases .
at the end of last year , there were two important developments in Croatia 's accession process .
such a European strategy would be based on prevention , and would aim to raise public awareness and to persuade the public of the need for soil protection . in addition , the strategy would identify risk areas with a view to resolving this problem at European level .
the transfer of responsibility following the closure of storage sites has now been set at 20 years , which is also very positive .
in any case , I am , and will continue to remain , of the opinion that it should also be possible to submit a dossier in Dutch .
apart from this , the EU is once again applying double standards .
we consider possible accusations levelled against them to be baseless , and I can assure you that we will continue to engage with the Iranian authorities in all the ways we can until these issues are resolved in a satisfactory manner - that is , that the persons in question are released .
countless people have used the more liberal visa conditions to travel into the European Union .
how is it possible to prove that nothing has happened to him ?
any revenue collected in this manner should be reinvested in the related infrastructures .
Brazil is now self-sufficient in food .
the Council , for all its faults , at least contains representatives of Member States .
we must learn from our mistakes , but we must keep it tight .
so , in many ways , it is a great improvement on the Nice Treaty .
please say something about this !
third , the European Union directives on waste , hazardous waste and landfills , which must apply throughout Europe , no matter which Member State we are talking about .
there must be effective checks when public funds are paid to individuals .
by participating in the EMCDDA and exchanging information , Croatia will be able to understand the problem and better respond to it .
highly sensitive goods , such as agricultural and food products , require an exceptionally sound approach .
for this reason this resolution is a sensible one and has the backing of the Union for Europe of the Nations Group .
they are still waiting for Europe to offer proper support to our SMEs , to genuinely plan investments for the future and , above all , to support all those in Europe who are affected by the crisis .
I believe that preparing for the soft landing following 2015 is an important issue .
secondly , territorial cohesion policy must , in our view , form part of the long-term future .
the US , the world 's biggest economy , has failed to agree to specific greenhouse gas emission reductions for 2020 , and many other developed industrialised nations are uncertain as to whether the ambitious actions required are possible .
however , current tendencies are not encouraging .
I wish you all the best !
we feel that it is right .
I am voting in favour of this recommendation .
in fact , there is not a single female EU special representative at the moment .
Mr President , it is very nice to have my name on the wall together with a Secretary of State and a Commissioner - it is a big moment !
in summary , the report lacks proposals and measures to change the CAP model in force , to begin with ( but not only ) as far as the distribution of aid is concerned .
it should also be said , however , that the exceptional criminal criteria applied in Spain against ETA have , on occasions , resulted in serious violations of fundamental rights .
let me just respond here to the question of accountability .
the next item is one-minute speeches on matters of political importance .
this was , incidentally , a move in response to a specific vote taken by this Parliament during its January session , when we voted for this , that is , for this information to be made public .
the report by Maria Grazia Pagano , on behalf of Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs , on development of an EU criminal justice area , with a proposal for a European Parliament recommendation to the Council on development of an EU criminal justice area .
now more than ever , Vietnam must , on the contrary , establish mechanisms intended to allow peaceful expression of the tensions and social frustrations being felt in that country .
policy on alternative energy is non-existent , despite the fact that in my country we have a lot of sun and wind , even with regard to cleaner energy such as gas , to the extent that the Government has still not begun to give it any consideration .
the award of the Sakharov Prize to Alexander Milinkievich , along with the strong and unequivocal condemnation of the murder of Anna Politkovskaya showed that Europe will not stand idly by , ignoring infringements of human rights beyond our Eastern border .
in other parts of the EU , the handling of the substance is not as strictly controlled .
this is primarily because all the areas in which the states can and must perform their social duties through public services have not been clearly excluded from the scope of the directive .
I also believe that , as mentioned in the common PPE-DE and UEN resolution , the efficient enforcement of the legal provisions by the Italian authorities would have prevented this situation .
incredibly , not a single official has been held responsible for these acts .
( DE ) Mr President , I would like to propose an oral amendment to the effect that , in points 5 , 8 and 16 , the word ' legal ' should be deleted , as it gives the impression that children who are not registered , in other words involved in a current asylum procedure , could be excluded from the education programmes .
the subject of subsidiarity must also be given adequate consideration in this regard .
that is to say , if governments spend their accumulated financial reserves primarily on bank rescue packages , then crucial energy investments may suffer delays .
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I have heard reports - which prompted me to ask my question today - that they are being put back onto the market , for sale to other children .
can the Council set out the principal objectives regarding the development of future agreements between the EU and the Western Balkans ?
( ES ) Commissioner , I assume that you know that in some States there is a method for paying authors ' rights that involves establishing a charge that must be paid by all those who buy equipment to record or reproduce material , or buy CDs or DVDs .
but in the whole area of financial education , the place where I have been trying to up the agenda is for Member States to include , from an early stage , some basic financial education as part of the core curriculum programme .
for decades we have been thinking about the challenge of the emergence of new economies and about Africa 's new role in the world .
what we need is to be convincing about the effectiveness of European expenditure compared with national expenditure .
programmes that work well must be publicised widely .
under this proposal , short-term exemptions that extend working hours due to peaks in production or the height of the tourist season can be utilised the whole year round .
therefore , what we really need is more openness and more transparency in order for us to really get to the heart of the issue .
they have a duty to act and protect the people , namely via the United Nations Organisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ( MONUSCO ) which is present on the ground .
European migration policy is necessary , to my mind , not least because , by 2050 , the European working population will have dwindled by 20 million people .
I would like to believe that this report gives a comprehensive overview of all the issues that are related to all the agencies and joint undertakings .
in writing . - There are many ways in which fiscal attitudes across the EU could be helpful in generating a series of better conclusions for the Lisbon Strategy .
( PL ) The Gdansk Shipyard , the cradle of solidarity , the chief actor in the struggle against communism , a shipyard which suffered discrimination and which by the political decisions of the communists was brought to a poor financial condition , today awaits a positive decision from the European Commission .
it may be that this is also about Africa as one of the areas in which Europe is interested .
indeed , making provision to evaluate the ad hoc tools adopted at national level to end the crisis is evidence of an approach that is not only highly professional , but also sensitive .
the next item is the report by Jean-Paul Gauzès , on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs , on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on Alternative investment fund managers and amending Directives 2004 / 39 / EC and 2009 / ... / EC - C7-0040 / 2009 - .
this is wrong . the past is not dead .
the Chinese Government quite properly deployed police and military personnel to quell the violence and stop the retaliatory attacks by the Han population on the Uighurs .
this is why I voted in favour of this resolution ; in considering the negative impact of the liberalisation of markets on local economies , it underlines the strategic importance of reasonable tariff protection .
the Member States , and Germany in particular , were part of the decision-making process and supported everything that was decided .
I am bound to say - and I think I also speak for the other members of the Convention - that we always felt supported by the approval of the European Parliament .
with the impetus provided by the Cohesion policy , whose aim is to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship and develop a knowledge-based economy , research and development must be approached from two directions .
I believe that the involvement and potential of women themselves will mean that they make up a high percentage of this group .
in spite of this , the ' made in ' origin mark has still not been approved by some EU Member States .
any rejection decision must be duly substantiated , transparent and objective .
there is no doubt that this development has had an impact on birth rates , which have been depressed artificially at the behest of economic forces .
I may have to go and sit over there or you may have to build me a seat equidistant , because I assure you I will be in trouble somewhere for wherever I sit .
this involves significant costs .
as regards the European Economic Recovery Plan , the EU 's budget is not of such magnitude as to be able to be used for Keynesian stimulus policy , but it can be used for certain small but strategic matters , such as the Recovery Plan .
it is a necessary challenge for Europe ; it is an aspect of integration and social development that we have to confront .
turning this practice into a habit is a crime in itself .
but if this does not happen , the European Union cannot fulfil its own pledges , and this undermines its credibility .
and this is a good time to do so in view of the Roma Summit which will be held in Córdoba in the coming month .
why are we having these draconian measures placed upon our farmers when they do not need it or want it , and when all they want to do is produce good food ?
this relationship is , however , of fundamental importance and we ought to put it right by pointing out inadequacies and inefficiencies , identifying the main problems and possible approaches for solving them .
I like the name ' intelligent car ' , I do not have any issues with it , as I understand that it is being used figuratively .
I should like to ask the Commission , therefore , if it does not think there is a case for triggering the European emergency clause and bringing forward the discussion on financial compensation .
as far as the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) is concerned , the final declaration of the summit next week must be more than just fine words .
the European Union has followed others in succumbing to this temptation .
already the financial institutions are resisting the regulations we need to prevent a future meltdown .
indeed , the proposal contains a number of derogations , particularly as concerns photovoltaic panels .
the report I am presenting seeks to tackle this contradiction and suggests possible answers for the other institutions .
with this proposal , the fifth JTI will be set up in the field of fuel cells and hydrogen .
in addition , that same Union now requires the Czech Republic to contribute financially to the advertising of European surplus wine in third countries .
that is one of the risk elements .
no European country is immune from its impact .
formal sitting - 20th anniversary of the democratic change in Central and Eastern Europe
the indicator referring to pricing levels is particularly doubtful .
( PL ) Mr President , the EU economy continues to be the strongest , but this eldorado will not necessarily last forever .
surely theirs must be the most expensive faces since that of Helen of Troy which launched a thousand ships .
for example , they can help through useful training in the best use of protein crops and in optimal feeding practices .
the opt-outs are sad .
the regulations which we draw up are so accurate and so precise that there is no question of blurring the lines between information and advertising .
this means that there should be no unnecessary obstacles , no incentives to compromise our security for the sake of procedural rules .
the new needs cannot be funded by cutting back on the current priorities .
so far , I have no doubt that this also remains the case in Hungary today under a conservative government .
we need to think about this approach in a very comprehensive way .
this will have great benefits for European consumers .
finally , I should like to say that the package of measures on climate and energy is evidence of our determination to progress from words to deeds ; it also demonstrates that this can be done in a fair and economically effective manner , allowing everyone to be a winner .
I said to him earlier that we would try to make progress with regard to rating agencies also , and I can tell him that both the Belgian Presidency and the Commission are willing to try to speed up the discussions on derivatives .
we have also had the opportunity to discuss in detail how we can better protect these people and support their work .
with this in mind , I think that lifelong learning programmes , such as Erasmus or Leonardo da Vinci , must receive more substantial financial support from the authorities in the coming years .
I agree with the rapporteur that the democratic accountability of all EU development policy and the active role which Parliament must have in the procedure for approving funds for development aid , based on Article 290 of the Treaty of Lisbon , need to be enhanced .
we are also prepared to support an Afghan-led rehabilitation process for former militants .
we are in the middle of an election campaign but things are a bit calmer for you now .
we must recognise that the new government was elected in free and democratic elections and it helped pull Ukraine out of the economic and political chaos that dominated six months ago .
secondly , we are not discussing the GSP either .
European unification is , essentially , undisputed .
I would like to draw your attention to four key developments which have particularly marked the European Union 's activities over the past year .
before Pirbright causes another dangerous blunder , could you please ask the Commission to take this laboratory off the list of animal testing reference laboratories and replace it with a more trustworthy facility , for agriculture 's sake ?
firstly , there is everything to do with the requests for aid .
the Committee on Culture and Education called for amendments and additions in three areas .
if the situation had remained unchanged , we would have been facing unequal and utterly discriminatory treatment between Croatian and EU Member State fishermen .
this is common sense , but sometimes I have the impression that too much discretion is exercised in the decisions that are taken .
bearing in mind the importance of the trust that European citizens and consumers put in financial institutions and transactions for the stability of our financial system and , consequently , for the smooth functioning of the Internal Market , I welcome the Commission 's Green Paper and the opportunity to improve corporate governance structures throughout the EU .
the third issue that I wanted to address , which was likewise mentioned by several speakers , is , of course , the issue of the protection of personal data and , more generally , issues related to content , rather than the channel used to convey content .
its competences are now being extended for a second time .
we are not going to have broadcasts of political groups .
I myself would happily do it and would be happy to use the products myself .
the development of new types of production or services and the innovative use of resources will contribute to the rational and effective development of local , regional and national markets .
however , as all our citizens who travel are well aware , increased security leads to increased inconvenience and waiting times at borders for bona fide travellers .
I am quite concerned for the future of a large number of European manufacturers .
the crisis - like all crises - needs to be addressed with structural changes , a different modus operandi and barriers to prevent toxic products from being channelled into the economy .
that is the reason why the financing for it was sporadic and its mission statement was vague .
it is an undeniable fact that , until now , even with the Stability and Growth Pact , even with a European Central Bank , the external representation of the EU in international financial bodies has fallen far short of the actual importance of Economic and Monetary Union and what the European Union project represents .
it is also vital for states to send specialists to international forums , with real expertise in the relevant area , a fact which Mrs Andrikienė 's report recommends insistently and with full justification .
I believe that , although undoubtedly acting in good faith , the international community has to some extent colluded in this withdrawal .
there is no doubt that we must all speak up for a no-fly zone .
these amendments are based on recent developments in the fisheries sector and future prospects , namely , the possibility of increasing Union cofinancing from 50 % to 60 % , which represents an asset for the development of the fisheries sector in Portugal , and greater importance given to aquaculture , which justifies introducing the possibility of the collection , management and use of environmental data in this area , in addition to socio-economic data .
many efforts are ongoing in this field .
the next item is the Council and Commission statements on rising food prices .
- Before the vote :
I and a number of other colleagues recently had an opportunity to visit EMSA , which carries out important work crucial to the development of the European Union 's maritime transport strategy .
in my view , this system discriminates against EU citizens from outside Slovenia .
to sum up , when reading this draft regulation it appears that the emphasis placed on ' small enterprises ' is above all political window-dressing aimed at making acceptable a rehash of the sadly famous ' country of origin ' principle .
the debate is closed .
this system does not need to be changed to improve the way in which we reuse raw materials .
announcements by the President
that was the situation , for instance , in the recent Fiat case .
( FI ) Mr President , the former Ukrainian Prime Minister , Yulia Tymoshenko , has had to answer several corruption charges this spring , and a ban on travel in February prevented her from coming to meet us in Brussels .
however , the Community Tobacco Fund , which presently takes up 5 % of tobacco aid , serves to finance research on countering the effects of smoking , propaganda campaigns and the training of tobacco producers with a view to conversion to other production .
we might live to experience a situation whereby the people in these regions are divided not by an iron but by a green curtain .
on the other hand , the number of errors in the transactions underlying the payments is high .
the alternatives to a solution would be that highly advanced research technology moves to Asia or is sold for peanuts .
here , too , we call on the Commission to make sure that we have the same conditions for both , not different treatment .
as it happens , the coastal communities in my constituency are finding it very difficult to survive .
( applause )
the late payment problem is particularly keenly felt in Italy , where public authorities take 128 days on average to make payments as opposed to a European average of 67 days .
it is not satisfactory because legal uncertainty results from all these points .
the building of a competitive and innovative Europe is linked to changes in the labour market .
independence from political power , the financial independence of the media , transparent funding of the media , safeguards for journalists ' working conditions , and the quality and variety of news reporting - all must be guaranteed .
it is time to move from words to action where democracy and human rights are concerned .
in the case of public provocation , this line is more blurred .
it is true : I entirely agree with what he said in his speech , that sometimes we in Europe arrive at the paradox of defending and attacking the human rights situation anywhere in the world while overlooking unacceptable discrimination in our own countries , because sometimes we do not have the right tools to fight in such a situation .
you should make clear to citizens that you already feel that , in the matters of the gas dispute , Gaza , Slovakia 's actions with regard to Bohunice and the financial crisis , the Treaty of Lisbon would strengthen your role and enable you to carry it out in better harmony with the other European institutions .
if we do not look after our water , we will never succeed in combating hunger .
colleagues , ladies and gentlemen , dear guests , tomorrow , on 11 March , we will be marking the European Day for the Victims of Terrorism for the seventh time .
many Member States do not comply with it either , as is the case with Portugal .
when we talk about the common agricultural policy - which will soon be on your table , you will soon be discussing it - I think we should develop more the concept of the public good .
for all the rest , there was no regulation ; we would have been accepting deregulation , and we cannot do that .
economic and social cohesion must genuinely remain a separate policy area and the benefits must be available to all the regions and people in Europe .
Mr Zemke , if that is what your question is about , then you have 30 seconds .
I doubt that the five Central Asian republics are models of democracy and the rule of law , but at least when the politicians of Kyrgyzstan wanted to change the constitution , they had the decency to ask the people for their approval in a referendum .
( HU ) The new Member States are rightly worried that national egoism and renationalisation is gaining strength within the European Union .
I agree with what Ewa Klamt has said : it is useful to create a common system for the admission of highly qualified workers , instead of having 27 different systems .
mobilisation of Globalisation Adjustment Fund : technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission (
as the rapporteur makes very explicit in his explanatory statement , this change constitutes an opportunity , but it is also a larger challenge to the proper utilisation of this instrument , which could lose in consistency that which it gains in scope .
I am firmly convinced , as are many others , that it is both possible and essential for people from different cultures and religions to live together in peace , both within the European Union and in the world at large .
we must do what we think is right , and the Americans can then follow us .
while we can control emissions , we have no control over such positive feedback on the planetary system .
that is a problem .
similarly , there is better quality information now available on financing under external actions , thanks to the rapporteurs and shadow rapporteurs .
it would be good for all of us to have procedures in place in future so that we would be ready if faced with similar exceptional situations .
of those , 58 % are transported by rail , 25 % by air and 17 % by inland waterways .
these are climate change , the concern that we will be threatened with mass unemployment and recession , unless we take countermeasures , and the call , in particular from small and medium-sized enterprises , for public infrastructure , so that we can make progress , create some breathing space and give ourselves a perspective on the situation .
in writing . - ( HU ) It is no accident that the Latin American rain forests are called the lungs of the world .
this situation suits the Lukashenka regime , since the more contacts with Western Europe are restricted , the easier it will be to control Belarusian society .
another difficulty , which is no less important , was the lack of a legal structure .
what that summit in Lisbon represented was a giant deceit and an attempt to impose upon the peoples of Europe a constitution just by dropping that word and repackaging it , when it actually has all the same proposals .
the report offers no meaningful attempts to solve this problem .
the People 's Party wants value to be generated from budgetary expenditure , so it is prepared to act in the interests of greater efficiency , in other words against poorly performing programmes , corruption or expenditure led by internal politics .
last week I visited the Michelin tyre plant in Stoke , and again I was impressed by the research and development fund and efforts to improve the efficiencies of tyres , with a view to providing environmental and social sustainability .
as the European Parliament , we have an obligation to call for full light to be shed on this issue , to closely monitor research and to push for responsibility to be apportioned for any infringements of international humanitarian law .
the situation is critical .
given the tragedy that has struck the region of Murcia and specifically , the town of Lorca , I should like to express , on behalf of the Presidency , our solidarity with that community and with all the victims , several of whom have been killed .
Madam President , thanks and congratulations to Mrs Doyle , but I think that tomorrow will be a sad day for democracy in the European Parliament .
the main effect of this Directive will be to provide comparable and standard information to consumers across the EU who take out loans .
others , on the other hand , see it as the mere chairmanship of the meeting of the Heads of Government .
more specifically , one of the short-term priorities in relations between the European Union and Turkey is the adoption of legislation that is in accordance with the relevant European standards and provides a response to all the difficulties encountered by minorities and non-Muslim religious communities .
soon we will have trials in absentia and the common recognition of fines and confiscation orders .
in 2009 , the European Investment Bank granted a total amount of EUR 13 billion to financial institutions ; the equivalent of a 55 % increase over the previous year .
with its motion for a resolution on the 2010 progress report on Croatia , Parliament 's aim was to applaud the improvements made by Croatia in several respects , which are bringing the country ever closer to the European Union .
firstly because this arrangement , aimed at fighting terrorism , is not binding because it does not force Member States either to ask for assistance or to grant it .
the Brazilian authorities now also require that bovine animals whose meat is destined for the EU market are individually identified and registered in a database .
as a Member from one of the outermost regions , I would stress the importance of taking into account the specific characteristics of these regions , and of attempting to avoid compromising their development during future negotiations .
I think your parents would be ashamed to see you like this .
I also believe that observance of the country of origin principle for VAT on distance selling and e-commerce is the only viable basis for a coherent and transparent tax framework to allow the free movement of goods .
will it demand the acknowledgement of Nazi crimes in the denial of events or their gross trivialisation in the Member States ?
thank you very much , Minister .
I am pleased to see that the European Parliament has decided to address the fairly wide range of social issues covered by this report , issues that need to be solved urgently .
these steps provide an incentive for moves towards democracy in Belarus , which I am confident will be well understood , on the one hand , by the government , but , on the other hand , particularly by the people .
I therefore request that we vote to postpone this vote until Strasbourg : not beyond that , only until Strasbourg .
in writing . - I voted in favour of the Lipietz report on trade and climate change .
of these problems , we would stress the high rate of youth unemployment ; the difficulty of getting into the labour market ; low pay ; the inadequacy of formal training from schools and universities for the demands of working life ; and the difficulty of reconciling starting work , which is always difficult , with family life .
it seemed to us that the political indications were instead directed at choosing an aid policy that did not damage structural sectors for the European economy .
I am very pleased indeed that we have voted to put this emergency facility in place .
in 2007 the European Parliament voted money for advertising in the milk sector in order to protect it from increased market liberalisation .
decisions concerning certain documents : see Minutes
in the name of transparency - which the citizens require - and thoroughness , I do not believe that the Council is free of its obligation to be publicly accountable for the funds made available to them .
I fear that this may even be a new source of serious conflicts .
we do not want to restrict the right of European citizens to individual mobility .
the compromise amendments that you suggested have certainly helped to strengthen the European dimension of the initiative by clarifying the scope as well as the roles and commitments of the Member States .
it is excellent that this Council will also be discussing these questions globally , but I think that Parliament can make a substantial contribution to this discussion .
as members of the leading party in the Irish Government , we have consistently opposed proposals put forward in the European Parliament which condemn the internal activities of individual governments and individual countries within the European Union .
so , I would just like to inform you that , as is clearly stated in the letter , there is a consultation .
( the President cut off the speaker )
when in God 's name is Parliament going to understand that Islamist terror has nothing to do with discrimination or social exclusion , but flows directly from the world vision of Islam itself ?
in writing . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I voted in favour of the excellent report by my fellow Member Mr Albertini on sustainable European transport policy , taking into account European energy and environment policies .
my ' chef de cabinet ' informed him that we were prepared to have a meeting to explain it .
freedom , the free movement of people and goods , and solidarity with everyone who is in need of solidarity , must remain priorities of the EU .
instead of complaining about this situation , we corrected our fundamental indicators , we repaired and collected our public finances .
the South Caucasus occupies an increasingly strategic position from both a political and an economic point of view .
during interviews with Lithuanian emigrants working abroad , complaints about employers who take advantage of their lack of knowledge of local legislation and lack of language skills and fail to pay them for their work are very often heard .
the EP has voted in favour of calling on the institutions involved to make the necessary efforts to accelerate the mobilisation of the EGF .
I wanted another principals meeting in April , and we have prepared a substantial statement based on our position .
people have been handed over to torture regimes because others obviously don 't want to get their hands dirty .
( DE ) Mr President , I would like to thank Mr Matsakis for his fairness .
we should therefore strengthen all agri-environmental measures along these lines .
I would ask them also to reflect on the political context of energy pricing , and in particular on the career of former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder , currently employed by Gazprom , who quite clearly is pursuing an interest which is nuclear-free , but as Ari Vatanen has reminded us , is not free of Russian politics .
having more Europe means , first and foremost , fully implementing the laws that already exist in relation to the internal energy market .
let me say that I was very happy also with the nomination of Herman Van Rompuy .
I think that a credible and serious prospect of accession for these countries is the strongest possible stimulus to prompt them to really do what is necessary .
therefore , the Council held discussions immediately , on 7 October , regarding these drafts - the method and timing of the three mandates - and decided that all three mandates should indeed have identical content , that the Council would adopt them at the same time , that they would start at the same time , and that the negotiations with the United States , Canada and Australia should start by December of this year at the latest .
huge infrastructure projects are currently being implemented in the European Union whose safety has perhaps not been assessed comprehensively and properly .
in this respect - and let me point out that I am not known as a left-wing fanatic - I have to say that I am surprised and dismayed by the amendment tabled by our fellow Member , Mr Weber , whom I respect , and several others .
development policy must also be coordinated with climate policy from now on .
if we look at the European Union as a living organism , the European car industry is its backbone .
the watering down of the long-term target in particular demonstrates to me that the automotive industry has not learnt from the legislation on CO2 limits for cars introduced two years ago that it will only be able to sell clean cars in the future .
in my recent statement on the operation to return Afghans to Kabul , conducted jointly by the United Kingdom and France , I indicated that the Member States had to take three precautions before returning an individual to a third country such as Afghanistan .
I would draw your attention to the misgivings of certain groups of European public opinion and suggest that you undertake a widespread publicity campaign capable of proving to European citizens that Croatia meets all the criteria for membership , because we no longer follow the course of block membership as we did after the fall of the Berlin Wall .
Mr President , I congratulate my colleague Ms Uca on this excellent report and I welcome the two-track approach , endorsed by the Commission in its communication , focusing on both gender mainstreaming and specific actions to empower women .
I firmly believe that the sanctions policy will not be more effective until it is incorporated in an integrated EU human rights strategy .
if Parliament means what it says on the CFSP , we have to send a clear message that we will support a strong , comprehensive and inclusive External Action Service and , in observing our own prerogatives , we will not be part of any vested interests seeking to limit the capacity , and therefore the effectiveness , of that service .
strengthening the EU 's economic governance has become a priority , especially in the current international economic situation .
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this has been achieved by the suppression of their Islamist extremists and Communists , which is a price well worth paying .
I , for one , would be delighted if we were to devote an equal amount of attention to the monitoring of the implementation of this agreement , and we will soon have the opportunity to do just that .
thanks to the exchange of such information as DNA profiles , dactyloscopic data and national vehicle registration data , and thanks to broader police and court cooperation , we can ensure that criminals and terrorists do not feel safe in any of the EU Member States , or indeed outside them .
Parliament 's amendments will see to that .
do elections need to be organised straight away ?
but I would like to remind you that there are additional aspects to these relations , especially the political aspects , which are being examined by the Council in this development in relations between the European Union and Israel .
my personal view here is that it is absolutely fatal that that there is still no legally binding regulation banning exports of arms from the European Union to these countries .
I think we need , as we have already declared with the Lisbon Strategy , a genuine high-tech offensive for Europe , if we really want to build the path towards the knowledge-based society .
in this field , the Commission is also bound by the strategy endorsed by the 1994 international conference on population and development , further reviewed in 1999 .
I am not opposed to pitching in and helping each other in crisis situations , but it must happen as and when required and in a natural way .
more commitment really is needed here .
they are agreements that lack democratic legitimacy , and increasingly so as they are almost always negotiated in the greatest secrecy , behind the public 's backs , seeking to cover up their economic , social and environmental impact , avoiding informed debate and clearing things up .
in my opinion , securing sufficient earmarked funds to cover the inevitable costs for decommissioning nuclear reactors and managing the resulting radioactive waste remains an important open question .
I would also like to respond to the notion often voiced in the debate that the question of posted workers is a matter which divides the old Member States from the new ones .
I fully support the rapporteur 's proposals that maladministration should henceforth be interpreted more widely , so that in addition to illegal administrative acts and breaches of binding norms and principles , it would include incidents where administrative institutions have been negligent , acted non-transparently or broken other principles of good administration .
as far as biofuels are concerned , I hope that the Commission will be able to enforce the sustainability criteria in Europe and in the rest of the world , while encouraging international trade in the cleanest and most competitive biofuels .
subject : EU priorities for Intergovernmental Conference on Climate Change
we also had the elections to the European Parliament .
we are talking about the same directive that gives the Member States a period of some 25 years just to identify all areas in the national territory that might be considered seriously polluted , and thus compromised for various uses , both public and private , and all areas at serious risk in fact of desertification , erosion , salinisation and loss of compaction .
secondly , we are circulating this technology even though we know that it can always be abused from a military aspect .
we all share the same idea : we have freedom of movement of judgments .
( ES ) Today , at the start of 2010 , we are not where we would have hoped to be in the fight against climate change .
it should be noted that this proposal does not affect the Community budget .
this super team , led by Monika Strasser , was not just competent and professional , but was also more than usually interested in its work .
Madam President , as Mr Peterle says in his excellent report , the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement is part of a greater strategy for increased regional stability in Central Asia .
I agree that the mobilisation of this fund is necessary in this case and have therefore voted in favour of this report .
specifically , we want it to be possible for small appliances , which can easily be thrown into the dustbin , to be handed in free of charge .
we need to reduce our own emissions by 70 % to 80 % if we are to achieve the climate targets .
the region needs democratic measures to be put in place , intended chiefly to ensure security , stability and peace , as well as to increase prosperity .
Mr President , I share in the delight of my friend and colleague , Ms Gill , that we are closing loopholes in this directive .
it has ceased to be intergovernmental and is now a Community body , with a Community budget and under the control of the European Parliament .
the top priorities of the Swedish Presidency have been to respond to the demands of climate change and to ensure that the EU retains its leading position ahead of the negotiations in Copenhagen while , at the same time , we are responsible for continuing to address the economic and financial crisis .
many hospitals are refusing to admit and treat them due to the risk of contamination .
however , this flexibility does have its limits when it results in exceptions and regulations being interpreted differently according to the whims of the supervisory authorities .
moreover , if this system of mutual recognition worked perfectly , in other words if it were fully applied everywhere , the result would be a 1.8 % increase in Europe 's GDP , which certainly represents a significant macroeconomic impact .
I was at Roissy Airport when the plane from Mumbai landed , and I could see that all the same eleven European nationalities were represented on the chartered plane .
in writing . - ( DE ) Biometric data can make passports and travel documents more difficult to forge and thereby help to combat organised crime and illegal immigration .
a study commissioned by MEP Caroline Lucas shows that Parliament 's monthly relocations to France have dramatic environmental consequences .
one solution is to regulate access to genetic resources in a way which , in particular , respects fully the rights of indigenous and local communities .
so this is purely a matter for clarification .
China does , of course , have the right to develop economically , but the rights of minority groups , fragile as they are , must be protected .
the EU will work towards achieving a successful result and prior to the preparatory committee meeting it will work together with key partners in order to secure a broad support for our objectives .
we need to send out clear signals in this regard .
every region should choose three to five of the 10 sectors offered by the Commission in which to concentrate 100 % of the available support .
as regards Greece , a multi-annual programme of fiscal consolidation and structural reform has been agreed by the Greek authorities .
that would surely be absurd .
in writing . - The reason we finally voted against the text was that the more specific proposals to shelter Latin America from speculative attacks and climate change phenomena , discourage aggressive export orientation , avoid environmental dumping and hedge the liberalisation of financial services , got diluted in the process of building compromises , as counterweights to stop even more grotesque Spanish wordings .
are the Copenhagen criteria sacred obligations for all of us , or just for new members ?
I am concerned about the ineptitude of our government , but the silence of the European institutions is also striking , as if they did not want to see this violation of European law by the country holding the Presidency .
the whole issue which you have raised in your own memorandum about quantity , quality and supply is a very important one and is about making sure that the people who produce and supply the fish get an adequate reward for the work that they do .
with that I wish you all a Happy Christmas !
( PT ) Madam President , those who are pushing Portugal into this supposed aid do not really want to help , rather they want to make money by sinking us and sinking the euro .
registration and disclosure of the financial interests of registered lobbyists are all very well , but what about the numerous letter-writers , experts , and our other contacts ?
Europe has suffered from a lack of debate .
it is up to the Member States to provide these , because only then can the rules genuinely have the desired effect .
we tackled this issue without friction in a spirit of mutual trust and in particularly close cooperation .
Parliament can be proud of the 2010 budget .
there are numerous studies of ' Taleb distributions ' , as we often call them , where , if you increase the risk substantially , you can count on profits rising dramatically and everyone can be given these bonuses and other benefits , in other words these ' perks ' .
it is a useful expression of solidarity that genuinely helps EU countries and citizens in moments of great need .
therefore , this harmonisation is ongoing and under way .
furthermore , the Council of 11 June 2010 took note of the Commission communication on future steps in bio-waste management in the European Union .
the whole scheme would fall apart if we were to go with it .
the third point is that , in the phasing-out programme for HCFCs , the percentage with respect to 1997 has been cut back to 7 % for the final years .
the fact that I am yet another speaker making this point indicates the seriousness of the problem and the Commission 's continued disregard of it .
on the internal market , it is not permitted , for example , in Sweden to demand that articles imported from Germany be labelled with where they come from .
however , since Article 5 provides that the choice of law is subject to the mandatory rules of the consumer 's country of residence , it offers a solution that is very much in consumers ' favour .
please , Israel , my cry to you is : set the children free !
by accepting that workers and employers have an interest in flexibility , the text approves the essence of the European Commission Communication , which seeks deregulation of the labour market , liberalises the right to dismiss workers without just cause , devalues collective agreements and weakens the trade unions and workers ' struggles , although the text is critical of the Communication in some respects .
we can support a number of important points that are contained in the Cappato report .
this October the measures to increase breast cancer awareness , early detection and prevention must come from all levels of decision-making .
it is important to understand that the proposals are the ones adopted today by the College .
I think that we need to address these two issues through legislation .
the European Union can and must help lay the foundation for a post-Gaddafi Libya and for better prospects for the future for this tribal State .
better access to non-promotional information may therefore help the public to gain a better understanding of the treatments prescribed to them and help their recovery , all naturally in the interests of their health .
the Common Fisheries Policy , while focusing on both of these ends , has led to the opposite : destruction of the marine environment , decrease of fish and impoverishment of the marine environment .
- Madam President , before we bid goodbye to Guantánamo by a combination of a resolution of this Parliament and the executive decision of the President of the United States - a wicked combination of naked power - let me just put on record two facts .
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last but not least , I think it is a good thing that Pakistan 's role is mentioned , because this is also vital .
( PL ) Mr President , I should like to draw attention to three issues .
I am convinced that this agreement is a step forward in the relations between the European Union and Georgia , it shows the European aspirations of Georgia , and will thus represent a strong signal on the part of the European Union .
the EU-Georgia agreements on the simplification of the visa regime and readmission entered into force on 1 March 2011 and represent a welcome first step .
( the President cut off the speaker )
the association agreement is important for Central America .
the adoption of a European charter of the rights of victims of terrorism would be a big step forward that would help those fighting terrorism and would be a strong blow for those that defend it .
I ask both the European Commission and the Italian authorities to take into consideration the provisions of the common resolution of the PPE-DE and UEN Groups as well , which are not included in the text adopted today .
I believe that small businesses should be assisted to increase their ability to compete in international markets by enhancing their ability to export , disseminating information concerning programmes and initiatives facilitating international market access and penetration of SME goods and services , and ensuring that the interests of small businesses are adequately represented .
furthermore , it institutionalises the European Semester through the need for the involvement of all the European institutions , where national reform programmes should incorporate EU objectives .
this is a challenge .
furthermore , this false optimism is also leading to the wrong solutions .
but we seem to share the same objectives of having openness and transparency and access to documents .
this is the result of a collective effort .
even Serbia has realised that Europe wants it to come onboard , but it needs to be reconciled with its recent past to do this .
the same applies to the appointment of the staff and the filling of important positions within the service .
I am very grateful to Mrs Griesbeck for having also noted the important step forward in relations between Georgia and the EU that these two agreements represent .
we want fair trade , provided that it is not just about the law of the jungle .
you only have to listen to what the indefectible supporters of this tax have been telling us .
secondly , it was not surprising last year that England got so little support for the awarding of the World Cup venue , despite its great infrastructure .
but , through the consumer market scoreboard , one of the main topics of our investigations will be prices and part of this basket will be about food prices .
regarding the report 's fundamental issue , as we stated during the debate - the relaxation in the introduction procedure for alien species in aquaculture , in ' closed facilities ' - must go hand in hand with the most precise possible definition of the requirements with which such facilities will have to comply , in keeping with up-to-date technical and scientific information .
this is not the subject of this evening 's debate .
the late President Conté himself seized power in a military coup , and now there is a sense of déjà vu .
throughout the whole process , it is a priority for us to keep Parliament informed , as we have done over the last months .
it is inappropriate because , after the Erika , there was the Prestige ; after the Prestige , there was the Tricolor ; and , after the Tricolor , there were unfortunately plenty of other maritime disasters both in European waters and beyond .
so within 12 months , we could see another 20.7 million people given free access to the EU .
we cannot allow ourselves to be intimidated by these responses .
I know that Parliament has already signalled its openness to fast-tracking proposals , and I hope that we can work together on this very important and sensitive issue , because financial stability is a public good .
the fact is that Mr Rack has succeeded in clearly emphasising in the report that a safe , sustainable and effective urban mobility structure is a matter for the cities and local authorities of Europe and I think that this is where the great merit of this report lies .
the greatest support is needed by young people living in rural areas , who often do not have the financial means to begin a course of higher education and also do not have the opportunity to find work outside of agriculture in the area where they live .
the anticipated reduction in costs associated with the patent protection process is also not inconsiderable .
the ratification by Moldova in October of this year of the Rome Statute establishing the International Criminal Court is a very positive step in this direction .
my constituent , Andrew Symeou , is just one of a growing number of people extradited without an English court having the power to consider the prima facie evidence against them and to prevent unjust extradition .
only a referendum can cancel what another referendum has decided .
incentives to enable low skilled workers to participate in learning programmes are recommendable .
we are able to say today that it was the right decision .
that is not up to me to say , but let us say in a very neutral way that what has been said tonight is not necessarily consistent with what has been said in the past .
many women in rural areas have an urban lifestyle ; others have a lot of poverty and hardship in their life .
the next item is the one-minute speeches on matters of political importance .
this text clarifies the relationship between health rules and environmental rules and thus contributes to the objectives of ' better regulation ' .
just a few days ago , we had the first ever regional conference of the Black Sea Synergy , which was a very first step in working on these issues in a regional dimension .
children and young people at European schools come from different cultures and different nations .
the Commission adopted on 30 April a legally binding case definition on the basis of the EU communicable disease legislation , and this decision was published in the Official Journal on 1 May .
moreover , it should be the EU 's objective to diversify the national economies of the countries of the Western Balkans .
that is the one thing the Commission should do , but of course they will not .
those states kept them in misery , when not in slavery , or sent them to concentration camps .
for example , as you well know , I have long been an advocate of Ukraine 's EU membership , and I remain convinced that absorbing Ukraine is definitely in the EU 's strategic interest .
I believe this report 's conclusions are extremely clear and justify only too well action on the part of the European Commission - which should have addressed this matter a long time ago - to clarify the operation of the entry price regime , at least in relation to the tomato sector .
it is good for the industry that approvals can be dealt with more quickly , but Parliament is rightly asking that Member States should have the right to refuse products in their territory .
nor does it make sense that there are no parliamentary controls over police cooperation .
just over 10 years ago , the European Union passed a directive intended to protect laying hens from the appalling rearing conditions in which too many farms were keeping them .
for example , there is a lack of 1 200 classrooms for Palestinian children in the city , so we are helping to reinforce education facilities .
the aim of this proposal should be to protect those who need protection , but also to strengthen the rights of citizens to access information within the law when and where they see fit .
this means a Commission proposal for sanctions stands unless a qualified majority vote against , whereas until now a majority had to approve the sanctions .
there is nothing even-handed in equivocating over Hamas 's refusal to recognise Israel and then demanding that no walls , no defensive action should be taken by the state that is not even recognised .
we know that there is a very profitable industry behind all this discussion .
as far as I am concerned , those who use them are well-trained , in my experience , and we need perhaps to step up the training in other Member States .
I welcome the decision of the European Parliament to release funds from the EU Solidarity Fund for the Central European states affected by last year 's floods .
in writing . - ( LT ) I voted in favour of this resolution .
the empty bowl in the kitchen and the satellite dish laden with expectations constitute the best possible breeding ground for illegal immigration , which we can only control by contributing to the development of the countries of origin and preventing the real ' call effect ' : illegal employment .
where can I turn to as a citizen ?
the proposals in the report also enter the area of the curricula in Member States ' education systems .
that is its failure .
it is one thing to have a watch or designer clothing counterfeited , but it is far more serious if it is a medicine .
this proves that the animal has been vaccinated against rabies .
let me say once again that the political commitment of the Euro Plus Pact comes on top of all the other measures in the package to improve Member States ' economic performance : the stronger Stability and Growth Pact on fiscal surveillance , the new macroeconomic surveillance and implementation of the crucial EU 2020 Strategy on structural reforms to achieve economic growth .
Mrs Patrão Neves , can I just say that when you take the floor , you seem to speak for longer than your time and you speak very fast , which has been slightly difficult for the interpreters .
that is certainly not what the Lega Nord want , nor do we intend to accept it .
if there is anything we need , it is action .
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the parliament has hardly any say in this and , what is more , there are special funds over which the parliament has no control whatsoever .
however , we must not allow the solutions adopted to harm existing plans and available funds within the Interinstitutional Agreement .
it must impose the introduction of a transparent , binding international mechanism that will place a duty on all multinational companies , especially those in the extractive industries , to automatically declare the profits they make and the taxes they pay in each of the countries in which they operate .
the next item is the Commission statement on cord blood stem cells .
( DE ) Mr President , as everyone in this House knows , we have had an EC Regulation on the coordination of the European social security systems since 2004 but , unfortunately , no implementing regulation .
in this case , the Greens are adopting positions which are diametrically opposed to their views .
in fact , immediately after the approval of the Hungarian media law , a campaign was waged by the left , which used the phrase ' gagging law ' .
the joint motion for a resolution , on which Parliament voted today , calls for that principle to apply also in relation to the Danube region .
the rights of family members have also been taken into account in accordance with the practice in connection with previous accessions .
however , I have the following question .
our goal remains the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon in time for the elections to the European Parliament in June 2009 .
it is clear that the totally unsupervised and unrestrained production of biofuels must have possible negative consequences for the environment , biodiversity , food prices , and so on .
this situation in Chad requires urgent attention , not only from the European Union , but also from the international community .
mobilising Information and Communication Technologies to facilitate the transition to an energy-efficient , low-carbon economy (
hence our final vote to abstain .
now , people could rightly say that the Brandenburg Gate had become the gate of freedom .
if Mr Mugabe were to lose power , the country would be re-colonised , and the majority of the people would be discriminated against .
the defences are down , the press do not care and the UK is asleep , so get those unfortunate truckers taxed .
the second principle of the Constitutional Convention was transparency and the third was democracy .
furthermore , we cannot simply focus on nuclear safety in the EU .
however , the reality is that corruption does exist in many developing countries and , while we must continue to promote good governance in these countries , we have a more pressing responsibility to help the many millions of people dying of starvation and disease in the world .
thousands of students are demonstrating , they are taking to the streets and occupying lecture theatres .
14 .
the report by Mr Caspary , on behalf of the Committee on International Trade , on the proposal for a Council and Commission decision on the conclusion of the Interim Agreement on trade and trade-related matters between the European Community and the European Atomic Energy Community , of the one part , and Turkmenistan , of the other part ( 05144 / 1999 - C5-0338 / 1999 - .
it is a disgrace that the European Parliament and the other institutions still have no idea of exactly how this service is supposed to work .
in writing . - The proposed simplifications of the regulations dealing with pharmacologically active substances in foodstuffs of animal origin are to be welcomed and , accordingly , I supported Mrs Doyle 's report .
our concept is the future recognition of security standards , of security controls , the result of security controls and also the mutual recognition of the customs trade partnership : the CT Pact on the US side and the authorised economic operator on the EU side .
a solution may , however , be on the point of being found ; in any case the future ought to be guaranteed , in view of the dependence of many states , including my own , on such supplies .
regulations and agreements to provide cross-border healthcare already exist , and these can be improved without calling into question the responsibilities and rights of Member States over the ownership and management of their national health services , which we feel must be public , universal and accessible to all .
it does a real job in connecting with our citizens in this area .
proposals on energy and climate change ( debate )
as a result , we voted against the report overall .
I can support the idea set out in Amendment 27 , and therefore , when introducing new technical measures , the Commission agrees to delay their entry into force so as to allow fishermen enough time to make the necessary adaptations .
allow me to focus on three points that are important to me .
they enjoy working extra hours .
my third and last remark is on rural development .
now that Italy has put the issue back on the UN agenda I hope that the EU as a whole will back the proposal and we shall get a UN General Assembly resolution on this .
the European Union can do a great deal here .
clearly there is pressure in that regard at the moment , but the fact is that Greece enjoyed major rate advantages thanks to being in the euro area .
I hope days , not weeks .
in writing . - This regulation comes before the Parliament for second reading in view of its final adoption .
I would ask that it be revisited and that the role of Members in plenary - who stand in place of the public - be defended and not sacrificed to every whim of anybody else who wants to come into this Chamber .
and the proof of this is that the respective report was approved by all the members of the Development Committee , while an overwhelming majority of the Fisheries Committee approved my report .
I therefore think that the reference to Romania and Bulgaria was used without taking into consideration the entire context .
teacher training must develop in tandem with the demands of the modern classroom and I believe that this report recognises this fact .
I , too , would like to congratulate Mr Balz for all his efforts in compiling this report .
however , the proposed change is still not sufficient .
even though we have seen progress in many areas , there has been far too little time to assess the full scale of the impact on health of alcohol policy and drinking habits .
at the multilateral level , we strongly endorse the commitments made in the G20 context for national export credit agencies to make available sufficient government export credit insurance capacity where this is needed , and we also support the efforts by multilateral financing organisations to make available new trade financing facilities or increase the envelopes of existing ones .
mobility should also be a key component of teacher training and professional development .
in writing . - I believe that much can still be done in order to enhance the effectiveness of aid from the EU and its member states , and the report by Johan van Hecke encompasses important insights .
medicinal products for paediatric use ( vote )
this was during Mr Barroso 's Commission .
according to official statistics , the Russian economy is growing at a rate of 4 % , despite the economic climate , and this is forecast to continue for a long time .
it will have a crucially important role to play in charting our course over the next 20 or 30 years .
I also asked that the causes of the contamination should be swiftly dealt with .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( PT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I am absolutely delighted to be here today before this House , on behalf of the Presidency and the Portuguese Republic , to discuss the imminent enlargement of the Schengen area .
I will make just one comment : I have indeed taken into account all that has been said because I think that this work should continue .
( it ) Mr President , I will try to stay within my speaking time .
of all the taxes that we could possibly adopt , the so-called Tobin tax is the most stupid of all .
we are therefore living - or at least we should be living - in a period of transition and of change , which you referred to .
today , the European Commission has a different and more powerful role ; it has a Minister for Foreign Affairs and a more powerful Parliament .
in Europe , we had the uprisings in East Germany in 1953 , in Hungary in 1956 , in Czechoslovakia in 1968 , and then came Solidarność .
I am normally very punctual , but there are always two sides to punctuality and this question time has been delayed .
expert opinion states that cloning does not alter genetic material and clones are merely genetic copies of animals .
I just do not understand some of this complaining .
since it considers the current WTO system to be insufficiently regulatory and binding , it advocates the ' European governance model ' for trade , whether by concluding free trade agreements or by stressing conclusion of the current round of WTO negotiations - for which it calls for synergies to be created with the EU 's major trading partners ( such as the USA , Canada and Japan ) .
I am sorry , Mr Salatto .
they have to accept cutting their economy to a level that will put them in total economic depression .
I must point out that each of the players has their line in the sand , despite which the rapporteurs have managed to draw up a compromise that is acceptable to all , and I trust the European Parliament will support it tomorrow .
more political leadership on the single market from the Presidents of the Commission and Council would go a long way towards achieving a viable single market to serve as a catalyst for economic recovery .
Mr President , the Commission communication states and I quote , ' The concept of animal health covers not only the absence of disease in animals , but also the critical relationship between the health of animals and their welfare . '
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , VAT fraud is not a mere peccadillo .
that is why we are particularly pleased to have been involved in completing this great task which is so important for all the Member States of the European Union .
the amendment reads as follows in English :
what we most want for the EU is a return to a path of rapid growth , and this is primarily what the strategy should help accomplish .
obviously we fear that stagnation may go hand in hand with inflation here , and this is a warning bell .
we have reached the limit of trying to move markets with public money .
as Jacques Delors says : ' in every child there is a treasure , and we have to give them the chance to explore and develop this treasure ' .
making criminality ethnic is extremely dangerous , as well as the fact that politicians and the mass-media , by the media overlapping of crimes committed by Roma people , promote the idea that all criminals come from the Roma population .
( Parliament approved the request . )
as you know , at the last European Foreign Affairs Council we agreed to double the number of people deployed .
in fact , migrant workers accepting low-skilled temporary jobs on the edges of the labour market or jobs as domestic workers are exposed to multiple forms of discrimination .
( the President cut off the speaker )
secondly , this somehow forges a link between the European Union and what is happening in Europe as a whole , and hence with the countries of the Council of Europe .
but we have every confidence that the Member States are competent to formulate adequate national strategies on health and safety at work .
I would like to congratulate the European Parliament rapporteur for Youth on the Move , Mr Zver .
it is due to this spirit of cooperation that we are able to modify the financial perspective four times in the course of a procedure , i.e. four annual procedures .
unless we are to end up with a European space that applies non-uniform standards , however , we must obtain the results of the studies under way as soon as possible .
3 .
it is not about respecting the environment and accepting relocations ; it is about respecting the environment and rejecting relocations .
illegal material involving child abuse should be removed from the Internet at source and websites should be blocked by providers .
there are a million starving people in the world , and aid will of course flow as needed , but the arguments behind the Commission 's proposal have become obsolete in six months .
I can but reiterate my hope that all this will prove revitalising .
this is an excellent example of the benefits of the European Union .
5 .
I request the competent Commissioners to propose a work plan in this respect urgently .
as a Greek Macedonian , I call for greater composure ; what we need in the dispute over the name is for the two different self-determinations which both use the name Macedonia to coexist .
we must end this inequality once and for all .
the challenges we face with regard to the climate will require new resources and the redistribution of existing resources .
that is why I should like firstly to thank Mr Savary .
nomination of a member of the Court of Auditors - Mr Eoin O 'Shea ( IE ) (
some of the cost of buying new cars , as we know , is covered by insurance policies .
( DE ) Can you give an estimate as to when the service provision and the broadcasting capacity will be restored ?
I congratulate the rapporteurs , I thank Commissioner Barnier for his work , and I congratulate the Hungarian Presidency .
I hope that both governments will reply , and I shall of course inform you of their replies , especially because I believe that transparency and truth demand that when one is accused of something one must have every legal means of explaining and demonstrating that the accusation is untrue , or else of entrusting the inquiry to an independent court .
the principle of freedom of movement in the Schengen area is in danger of being compromised by the North African crisis , as reflected in talks between Italy and France concerning the relocation of migrants coming chiefly from Tunisia and the reintroduction of border controls . this is also confirmed by statements issued by French officials on the need to re-examine certain provisions of the Schengen Agreement .
streets , hospitals and a university have been named after this famous scientist .
it is evident that Parliament 's increased rights and competences under the new Treaty have an impact in many ways on working relations between our institutions .
sometimes , work is done swiftly in Parliament .
their commitment and interest in this matter is reflected in the amendments that were adopted in committee and tabled in recent weeks .
the fight against the death penalty is the fight of civilisation against barbarity .
this report is about affirming clearly that these are our rights and we insist on them .
it was for me the greatest honour of my political life .
the land , we all agree , is the environment , and we want to protect it , but I am seriously afraid we are destroying it .
with this proposal , the European Commission is presenting a fait accompli , but they cannot say that we did not warm them that this would be a mistake and that it would not , in any way , avoid paperwork or red tape , but that it will actually create more paperwork and red tape and also more legal uncertainty , which is what is worrying producers most .
we therefore have to create a reasonable relationship between these points .
furthermore , droughts are increasingly affected by climate change causing forest fires which are environmentally destructive .
( NL ) Mr President , I abstained from the vote on the Provera report , primarily because I think that it is greatly lacking in clarity .
in view of the dramatic flooding in Poland , where a significant amount of the country is flooded and people have lost all their possessions , I would like , on behalf of the European Parliament and all of us , to convey expressions of support and solidarity with the Poles and most sincere expressions of sympathy with those who are suffering , today .
the system we are now investigating would mean that each of you , in your seat , would have a light to warn you when the interpreters cannot follow the speech , so that the President does not need to interrupt you and you would be informed of it directly instead .
the directive was an ambitious European project and , at the time , the Commission was concerned that the whole proposal would be sabotaged and that there would be no directive at all if it had insisted on extending the directive beyond the relationship between fraudsters and citizens .
in this connection , the Council is delighted with the joint statements which we approved at the conciliation meeting and which raise questions such as decentralised agencies , executive agencies , assigned revenues and recruitment in connection with the latest enlargements .
Mr President , this is a further stage in an exceptional piece of work that we have been doing in the European Parliament .
globalisation can be presented as part of European history if it can be imbued with the ethos of European culture .
however , we obviously did want to ensure full respect for the competence of Parliament as an arm of the budgetary authority , maximum clarity and transparency as the rapporteur was proposing , and therefore correct and effective use of the funding , thus avoiding any kind of corruption , as indicated by Commissioner Verheugen in his speech .
secondly , Mr Cercas is proposing that we amend - I would like to be able to speak , otherwise there is no point - the Socialist Group , and Mr Cercas in particular , are proposing that the Commission amend its proposal .
what I can tell you is that there is concern within the Commission on the current state of the stock and that we are working hard to find an appropriate proposal that will help properly address this problem at the international level .
you will not focus the debate on Egypt by discussing six points with Baroness Ashton .
I therefore support this proposal for a framework decision on the European supervision order in pre-trial procedures , which should allow the mutual recognition of pre-trial supervision measures , enabling suspects to return to their Member State of residence during the investigation stage .
we must be reasonable .
'Yes ' to special needs in certain sectors , but ' no ' to these surrogate battles that some Members of this House want to fight on the back of the developing countries .
perhaps the rapporteur will comment in his response as to why they are sufficient .
( SV ) Mr President , there has been a lot of talk about equal rights in this debate .
we therefore voted against this report in the vote .
I agree with the proposal that candidate status should only be granted to Serbia once it has begun to cooperate fully with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia ( ICTY ) .
on behalf of the ITS Group . - ( IT ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , when our resolutions and statements do not remain a dead letter or a feeble voice in the great ear of the Council , they are caught up in the flurry of events which certainly do not coincide with or await our plenary schedule .
Wednesday :
coaches are used by those on a low income and the young , including students and schoolchildren .
he failed to make this statement on Monday .
we would deem it unacceptable if the Chinese Government were to use these talks to tide itself over the period of the Olympic Games , only to have them break down afterwards .
this problem is not just about Mr Berlusconi : it is about a system of the Right , Centre and Left that is infringing the civil and political rights of Italian citizens .
it is a balanced result that safeguards the interests of farmers as users of feed , feed manufacturers , and all other links in the food chain .
amendments have been drafted .
to avoid being left behind , we need the European Council 's endorsement of our strategic and integrated approach to innovation .
I hope you will take this point on board , and I believe that you need to do more , proactively , to encourage awareness .
sport is the perfect tool for education : it teaches us about social coexistence and that if an individual is integrated into any group , he can become a useful member .
on behalf of the S & D Group . - ( FR ) Madam President , following on from the discussions about Tunisia , Egypt and other countries that are currently calling for freedom , I would like to say that our observation mission to Southern Sudan for the referendum was a wonderful and exemplary experience .
I believe that this directive constitutes a positive step towards bringing clarity and legal certainty both for taxable persons and for the administrations , whilst providing additional means to fight against value added tax fraud .
we proposed right from the start that work on these issues should not take place in the context of the technical report .
why is this measure important ?
Mr President , justifying the prolongation of the re-exporting of sugar using the models that are currently being proposed , with the gradual abolition of the system of milk quotas , is dangerous and unacceptable .
Mr President , Europe 's future depends on securing energy .
what is needed for these smaller farms is not a reduction but rather an increase in direct support .
today he sent out an email saying that only 184 of the 736 colleagues have signed this .
the international community and , first and foremost , we , as the European Union , have supported these negotiations through our strong commitment and we have given financial aid to create the basic conditions for establishing a Palestinian state .
we demand just one thing : that the parties in the crisis allow us to help and that they should help themselves in particular , because this is a human crisis on a huge scale .
it has done this with an accurate and precise text that incorporates into our Rules of Procedure the important changes introduced by a new treaty concerning the increased role of the European Parliament in terms of legislative procedure , of budgetary procedure and of the European Union 's overall institutional balance .
the EU is now the largest donor of aid to these countries , and the EU is the second largest trading partner of Latin America and the Caribbean region .
what is the Council doing to protect this minority , whose existence is under threat ?
it is to make this instrument more effective and more predictable and so the Commission has , in consultation with the Member States and other stakeholders , devised a longer-term form of budget support , which we have called the MDG contract , for countries that meet certain criteria : good past performance , reliable public finance management , appropriate sectional policy , and so on .
the final result , encompassing a specific exemption from VAT for businesses involved in cost-sharing arrangements , will increase certainty for the industry and budgetary security for the Member States , prevent competition distortions and improve competitiveness for the banks and insurers without increasing the costs to consumers .
problems in the international financial market remain acute - you have already discussed these issues today - driven partly by developments in the financial sector itself and partly by the implications of the deteriorating economic environment .
some of our neighbours , such as Switzerland , have postponed the planning process for new nuclear power plants .
I am glad to see that Mr Deprez is also here .
the present quota system has been agreed up to 2015 .
I think the proposal the Commission has put forward is sound and should be adopted and that it is in the interests of business .
( ES ) Madam President , violent Islamic fundamentalism that targets the West but also harms Islam is on the increase in the Middle East and the Maghreb .
thus , the European Parliament calls on the Hungarian authorities to restore the independence of media governance and halt state interference with freedom of expression and balanced coverage .
they respect the law protecting the most endangered species listed in CITES .
I consider the role of local governments , entrepreneurial partnerships and educational institutions important in the development of the labour market demands of vocational education and training .
both husband and wife have been nominated by this House for the Sakharov Prize in recognition of their activities , whilst they are repressed in their own country because of those same activities .
which steps will they take next ?
this systematic dismantling of the fundamental principles which define the specific nature of European wine-growing responds to a peculiar logic .
on 6 April , the European Commission will present its Communication on Roma inclusion .
the Energy Council , the TTE , will revisit the issue at its scheduled 19 February meeting through the conclusions it will adopt on the Commission 's Communication on the Second Strategic Energy Review .
he fought for the Constitution and also for the referendum in Spain .
in writing . - While we are critical of the violations of civil liberties in third countries , we must exercise similar scrutiny in the Member States .
I would like to emphasise in this Chamber that if we do not reach a global agreement , then all of our efforts will simply amount to a burden on the European economy and a masochistic annihilation of European competitiveness .
a figure of 30 % has been mentioned .
question Time ( Commission )
for example , in the Czech Republic , it is well known among professionals , but only 7 % of registered entrepreneurs know anything about the service .
the key to the situation in Russia , Georgia , South Ossetia and Abkhazia lies in the EU .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , a very strong feeling has emerged from this joint debate : great satisfaction at having created , in the shape of this third package from the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy , a package that is important for European citizens .
it will be a way for us to be able genuinely to exchange best practices .
we have discussed at length the practical efficacy of the state machinery of these two countries , as well as their levels of corruption ; nevertheless , I believe that the application of Schengen should leave this out of consideration , given that - just as happened with the other Member States - it is sufficient to base a decision only on the efficiency of border controls and the preparation of police forces .
the European Commission , together with the IMF and in liaison with the ECB , will be responsible for monitoring compliance with the policy conditionality required by a macroeconomic adjustment programme .
the Commission acknowledges that there are certain differences in the transposition of the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive between the Member States .
I would not contradict President Obama 's financial adviser , Mr Volcker , who said that the euro is liable to collapse if we do not change our culture and behaviour .
in fact , some of the innovations were as a result of some debates with your group and other groups .
in writing . - According to the report voted today , the EP :
it is true that there is a limit . the limit is that already established by public policy and the non-applicability in a given state of any law providing for a type of marriage not considered to exist in that state .
it can be greatly criticised for dealing with the old type of energy and , in particular , in terms of the time factor .
I think that even the Commissioners should start protesting .
individuals of immigrant origin who have managed to succeed must be given the opportunity to appear on television and in other media and must be held up as examples of success .
the data collected may explain the potential distortions and contribute to finding adequate measures for correcting negative situations .
the TVBI Foundation helps tuberculosis sufferers the world over , and particularly in less developed countries .
we say yes to integrated European rather than simply coordinated financial market supervision on the basis of the model of the European Central Bank .
it is necessary , also on behalf of Dutch fishing , for us at European level to maintain the recovery of cod stocks .
we must work on this and we wish to pursue this matter further in the coming months .
countries such as Greece , Romania , Bulgaria , Spain and Portugal have dealt with periods of drought , as well as with floods .
a recent summit of Latin American and Caribbean leaders saw unanimous support from all 32 countries for Argentine claims to the Falkland Islands .
in essence , it confirms many of the warnings and alerts that we made as the Treaty of Lisbon was being debated and then brought into force : an irrefutable course of EU militarisation is under way , and it is now being accelerated and intensified .
it is not greed , individual greed , which was the decisive factor .
set up your service .
this quantum leap , this change , this new chapter must be noticeable at the first summit .
this rule was applied to AICs by the Commission , as well as Parliament , between 2000 and 2004 .
a code of conduct for lobbying activities is necessary .
however , influential voices among the political groups in this Parliament are arguing for the Commission to play a much more decisive part in the service .
however , my delegation is not in agreement with the reference to the promotion of abortion in paragraph 6 of the report .
it is therefore pleasing today to see that these so-called ' honour crimes ' , which are simply barbaric crimes , are no longer being tolerated in Turkish society .
despite the fact that the mass immigration over the past 20 years has had disastrous socio-economic , social and political consequences , Mr Mann wants to allow even more immigration from outside the European Union .
until now , they had been completely left out of the process , so we have agreed , under the new agreements , to set up multi-stakeholder committees to monitor , or guide , the implementation process where indigenous people are involved .
let me be very clear on this : infringement of Schengen rules cannot be tolerated , but one element does not exclude the other .
have this House , my group and I , myself , not already asked many questions about the systematic suppression of Christians in these Islamic countries ?
unfortunately , this stance towards Russia was only adopted after more than a year of restrictions by Russia on Polish exports , and after Poland used its veto to hold up preparations for the EU-Russia agreement .
we cannot only draw attention , rightly , to Guantánamo , Abu Ghraib , the infringements in Colombia and in China , and then ignore the infringements that are occurring in our own countries .
none of the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left can vote for a resolution formulated in this way .
( the explanation of vote was cut short pursuant to Rule 170 of the Rules of Procedure )
( it ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I believe that we must help the Dalai Lama not only to say ' no ' , where he has clearly done so , but also to say ' yes ' where he has done so .
thank you .
that is undoubtedly one of the premises behind promoting free movement in this area .
I have just learned that it is Mr Böge 's birthday today , and wish to offer him my sincere congratulations .
54 .
it should guide the work of the European Council on 15 and 16 October more than ever .
the agricultural sector needs to improve its energy efficiency .
let me tell you very frankly and very openly that I saw among Heads of State or Government much more awareness of the need to act together and also of the external constraints on the European economy .
each country must agree to make an appropriate financial effort .
Madam President , my constituency of south-east England is the fastest-growing wine-producing region in Europe .
we seem to place too much emphasis on stopping people coming into the institutions .
we cannot fail to react to the brutal action which has been seen in Guinea .
another issue raised by the report is cooperation with the UN . it highlights the UN 's unwillingness or negligence in forwarding the relevant payment documents .
fellow Members , it is now up to us alone to decide whether to exercise these rights in the future .
we in the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance are very proud of our achievement in having this fixed in the resolution , even if only cautiously .
however , we were all aware that it would be impossible to secure a global deal in Mexico and that had also been determined in advance .
there are more than 80 million adults in Europe hampered by severe deficiencies in basic skills .
whereas in most instances a visa is required to enter a country , in Belarus one needs a visa in order to leave the country .
the controls built into the directive should also guarantee bidders adequate legal protection , promote transparency and non-discrimination in the award of contracts .
it is therefore anything but a coincidence that , according to the latest statistics put out by Eurostat , six out of every ten Europeans believe it highly or relatively likely that environmental pollution is affecting their health and also , and this is important , that the European Union is not sufficiently active in this area , which is the whole object of our debate this morning .
I am also very happy to note that Parliament will be strongly represented in the delegation that will be attending this conference .
we will not have personal comments of that nature .
surely the application of law to such groups is both unnecessary and unhelpful .
in relation to the last three questions , the Commission does not currently intend to make any financial commitments in these areas .
in all cases , the intention is the same : to prevent countries from protecting their own companies in public procurement , so as to make things easier for the big companies of the powers that also want to use competition , which is seen as the be all and end all , to dominate the awarding of public contracts .
in the end , I emphasize the need to promote the young generation in this republic .
in the future , our researchers and businesses will finally be able to start competing effectively on innovation with the United States and Asia .
we call on Kenya 's political leaders to do everything in their power to prevent further violence in the country and to ensure respect for human rights .
for the post-2013 period , the Commission will study and assess the various options for reforming the direct payment system .
( DE ) I will now continue in German .
the new VAT strategy should aim to reduce administrative burdens , removing tax obstacles and improving the business environment , particularly for SMEs and labour-intensive enterprises , whilst ensuring the robustness of the system against fraud .
could we be here if we had ?
the summit will also give us the chance to assess the progress made in our work relating to the four common spaces .
there can be no doubt that mobilising information and communication technologies ( ICT ) can facilitate the transition to an energy-efficient economy , since this is also a way of reducing energy consumption , increasing energy security and helping to curb environmental damage , particularly greenhouse-gas emissions .
what about meeting the needs of tomorrow 's increasing energy consumption ?
the policy objectives are well known .
it is also worth noting that the soil 's ability to absorb carbon and convert it into useful humus has not yet been fully exploited .
since the empty seats on the right of this House also tell their own story , let me say that when Swedish Prime Minister Reinfeldt visits us , who belongs to their political family , the Socialist Group will be in attendance in the same kind of numbers as today , because I believe courtesy is a quality that you either have or you do not , and those on the right do not have it !
there is no doubt about that . '
fish stocks in Europe have declined dramatically in recent years , and very little is being done to change this situation .
further points are addressed : agents and brokers are important for greater competition in the financial services sector .
I know they are not covered by the scope of this proposal , but many of Northern Ireland 's farmers feel let down when they work hard to meet the requirements laid down by Europe , and then have to compete with those who do not have to meet the same standards .
in writing . - ( FR ) Like the previous reports on Turkey , the one by Mrs Oomen-Ruijten does not question the Euro-Brussels dogma that ' Turkey must accede to the European Union ' .
clearly , though , this overarching strategy is underpinned by individual and differentiated bilateral relations that reflect the varying aspirations and orientations of the countries concerned .
please take these two examples as proof of the fact that Parliament is much more in favour of reform than the report might suggest .
Mr Mandelson , however , at the time , scarcely dared to answer us because , for him , it was primarily a matter of stimulating trade , as if simply removing customs barriers would somehow miraculously bring about development .
at the same time , the Treaty on European Union clearly establishes an active role for EU citizens , for example , with the European Citizens ' Initiative ( ECI ) .
the vote will take place on Tuesday , 11 March 2008 .
the Commission can , however , support this compromise without hesitation .
the successful execution of this important task would not be possible without the help and cooperation of my fellow shadow rapporteurs or the members of the committee , my office and the secretariat .
this report commits the European Union to close cooperation revolving around a shared vision on humanitarian aid .
it is mainly a small group of criminal networks that encourage people in remote areas to travel to the European Union under false premises in the hope that they will receive asylum .
I am quite confident that the Irish Government will come forward with a plan of how things should happen .
why are we considering closer relations with Israel when agents of that government perform such acts of violence against the very people whose advocacy of peace and reconciliation will command the support of the vast majority of Members here ?
the current crisis and the rise in unemployment it has caused are affecting weaker groups in particular .
Ireland decided the ratification by referendum , and the Irish citizens rejected the Treaty .
although the use of human organs for transplantation has steadily increased in EU countries in recent decades , the number of people requiring a transplant is greater than the number of organs available for transplant .
the report marks an important step in the fight against this disease in the European Union and is essential for introducing a new form of cooperation between Member States , enabling coordinated measures to be taken to combat certain problems affecting the whole of Europe .
unfortunately , the pay differential is still 17 % and women are still not always represented in management and supervisory boards .
body scanners are not infallible but they are the best technology available at present and so we need to use what tools we have to hand in order to reduce the terrorist threat .
I would also like to take this opportunity to make an appeal on behalf of patients , who become the focus of our treatment and should become the focus of our care : they should have better access to new scientific knowledge and new information .
simplifying and standardising the legislative framework of European research programmes is a choice we have to make .
for example , it makes it more difficult to send important telecommunications equipment to countries that need it .
it has not been easy .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , Mr Farage is now leaving .
the position was subsequently consolidated in the so-called Eurogroup , and only then taken to the European Council .
in addition , we should not only look at 2007 , but also at 2010 .
in our view you must also trust the candidate and give them the authority to move the social strength to the fore .
it will continue to take place in the coming years , despite measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions , which I hope we will take and will be able to agree on in Copenhagen in 2009 .
President of the European Commission . - Mr President , over the past few years , we have had many opportunities to discuss together the importance of partnership .
it is about ensuring Europe 's place in the world as a leading knowledge-based economy .
in 2008 , the Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative ( TBVI ) was established in the form of a public-private partnership with the support of the Health Cooperation Programme within the Seventh Framework Programme for research in order to mobilise additional resources for this important area .
I agree with President Barroso 's words today when he referred to the proposals that the Commission will draw up for the use of its own resources and the adaptation of the EU budget to the Treaty of Lisbon , and I hope for greater cooperation by the Council in building the Europe of the future .
so what are the prospects for Copenhagen ?
if you build your house there , Martin Schulz , it will be a house built of straw .
in this connection , we are concerned that the very open wording may give rise to serious problems in interpretation .
after all , it is taxpayers ' money which has to finance the system .
this was used in the UK and it is estimated that , in the UK alone - and a Dutch colleague said one per cent of their population is affected - it is something along the lines of 236 000 to 284 000 adults who have a gambling problem .
we are also saying ' no ' to the criminalisation of dissent in local communities , and therefore ' yes ' to legality .
however , we have invited Turkey to work constructively with us in the context of the Berlin Plus agreement and in other areas in order to forge closer links .
does the Commission agree that payments should be reviewed if a region has been receiving structural funding for years without this resulting in it meeting the targets set ?
indeed , in the light of the Treaty of Lisbon , I agree that such monitoring should be conducted on an equal footing with the Council , which would contribute to increased sharing of responsibilities between the European institutions and to mitigating any lack of democracy in the EU 's decision-making process .
at European level , we will also need to stop considering separately and systematically the immigration and labour policies .
interest in its mineral wealth is increasing .
( applause )
the debate is closed .
unfortunately the EU subsidises the meat industry by huge amounts .
publishing the names of those receiving agricultural subsidies is absolutely necessary in the interests of a transparent European policy , particularly given the enormous proportion of the EU budget represented by these subsidies .
Petitions : see Minutes
I ask the Commission to examine the necessity of certain Community regulations on the security of electronic communication services and computerised systems .
what I have to deal with is the reality of what we actually are .
this is why I wholeheartedly support this resolution that has today been voted through by this House .
in my opinion , this would offer a much greater scope for action , responsiveness , legitimacy and credibility .
however , ladies and gentlemen , we voted against the law - the decision to hold the August and October plenary sessions in one week each is illegal , as the Treaty states that there must be monthly plenary sessions .
what is more , the procedure within Parliament that led to this resolution was largely opaque and , at times , chaotic .
the rapporteur therefore proposes that some general principles should be drawn up in order to make such evaluations easier , and also better .
this mentality is clearly one of the reasons why we are debating tonight .
one food scandal follows another .
Mrs Joly has very interestingly identified that there is a flight of capital .
( it ) Mr President , making it easy for citizens to scrutinise how decisions are made , together with the processes , elements and resources that influenced them , helps both to ensure greater transparency and to close the gap between the European institutions and citizens , which is often discussed in relation to legitimacy and to the so-called democratic deficit in the European Union .
this is why creating a European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training ( ECVET ) could boost the mobility of students and workers .
( applause )
it is short-sighted , but also unwise from the point of view of fair competition , if we use the CDM to support those industrial sectors in China which complain here about the risk of carbon leakage , for example .
all this helps strengthen the Union 's cohesion .
it is also a fact that all too often , the contracts are very precarious , resulting in many people leaving the sector prematurely .
a regression towards authoritarian practices is sweeping the country .
therefore , it is not only about money , but also about the European Union providing better and more specific support to this sector .
Mr President , President-in-Office of the Council , Vice-President of the Commission , ladies and gentlemen , the catastrophes associated with the names Estonia , Erika and Prestige have shocked Europe .
it goes without saying that a re-elected President of the Commission will have increased authority .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , the first time I dealt personally with this issue was during NATO 's war of aggression against Yugoslavia , one of the wars which I opposed and which like many other wars was waged by Western countries .
the rest of Europe may look on critically when we demand vetoes on immigration policy .
the measures proposed in the report are not sufficient and are too declarative .
it seems that the EU is now faced with a dilemma .
we are bound to have the largest role to play , notwithstanding our willingness or reluctance to take it on .
a voluntary agreement recently submitted by the solar panel industry clearly fails to meet the criteria for such agreements .
it has been working on this for quite some time now , and we still have nothing concrete to show for it .
thank you .
does the Commission consider that these provisions are satisfactory and adequate , or does it believe that a more stringent control framework should be established for airlines ?
in writing . - I supported today 's report calling for a joint register of lobbyists and interest groups to be set up .
I think that it is too soon , even from my own group , to come up with very concrete proposals about how this should go .
Mr President , under the Lisbon Treaty , the rights of the child are guaranteed by Article 24 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights .
the Schengen enlargement process also constitutes a challenge and hard work for us in Parliament .
if we look at all developing countries , basically all trade is based on monoculture - one particular export item with a high fluctuation rate .
request for waiver of parliamentary immunity : see Minutes
there is a saying in Irish that " its lack of use is to its detriment ” .
we cannot talk about specifically combating the trafficking of women without considering strong measures for tackling criminal activities and the networks controlling this traffic , which is extremely busy in the Balkan and Mediterranean regions .
first , we did not want to push ourselves forward .
concluding an informal trialogue and then voting on it is fine . however , what we are doing here is to rescind normal parliamentary procedure in the case of six different legislative procedures .
we also need a long-term vision to solve the problems related to migration flows and to help create jobs in the countries of origin of these people .
some interesting points are on IPA ( paragraph 5 ) , corruption ( paragraph 8 ) , freedom of information ( paragraph 10 ) , organised crime ( paragraph 14 ) and anti-discrimination ( paragraphs 17-22 ) .
if the Member State feels that its companies really need to have this publication in the national gazette - and this is really something that Member States wants - they can do that , but we have not put any call to this effect into the articles .
in writing . - ( NL ) Mr President , Belgium has been a forerunner on waste policy for years and so , personally , I would have preferred a rather more ambitious text .
as is mentioned in this report 's explanatory statement , to date , disputes arising from the Euro-Mediterranean agreements relied solely on diplomatic approaches for a resolution .
the joint debate is closed .
we must finally tackle the causes of this problem .
among the various amendments that I support , I would highlight those directly affecting children 's goods .
agenda for next part session : see Minutes
in December 2008 , an Economic Recovery Plan was agreed for Europe , providing uniform frameworks for the measures to be taken .
the share of this fund remaining at year end is repatriated to Member States as part of their ' rebate ' .
it supports scientific research activity , thereby boosting employment in a sector with high added value .
it was thanks to their patriotism that Europe was not united in tyranny , that sovereignty and independence were restored and , indeed , that the European Union became possible .
common rules for access to the international market for coach and bus services ( recast ) (
however , thank you once again for this excellent work .
he is the example you should follow .
I would refer to the Dutch model of dispute resolution in healthcare that was launched recently .
2009 discharge : European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (
I commend the report and the ideas in it .
this has as much to do with the size of the disaster as with the bureaucracy .
lastly , there is the promotion of a close partnership between the countries of origin , transit and destination of immigrants , for the benefit of our partners ' development ; this is the concept of co-development .
in any event , please be aware that , if you speak very quickly , only you and your compatriots will be able to understand as no interpreter can keep up at that speed .
Mr President , Mr President of the Eurogroup , Mr Juncker , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I shall begin by congratulating my fellow Members , Mrs Berès and Mr Langen , on the quality of their report , and by thanking them for having incorporated the amendments tabled by the Committee on International Trade .
now I hear you trying to sound as if you have complied with this request .
otherwise , it will continually be under the threat of collapse , and separatist movements , movements in individual island groups , religious and cultural movements that oppose each other will threaten the unity of the country .
now , measures that would have been unthinkable a few months ago are being taken practically every day : the G7 on Saturday , the 27 Member States on Monday , the Ministers of Finance on Tuesday , the measures by the British Government today , and at the same time , a coordinated initiative by the central banks and a reduction in interest rates !
I want to raise with you a matter of very deep concern in Ireland .
compliance with flag State requirements (
it is happening in a Slovakia where , moreover , Ján Slota says the trouble is that they have not been able to rid the country of Hungarians , and that this is the source of all their problems .
we must also remember that , as recently as 2007 , the European Commission itself proposed that this agreement should be discontinued because it did not provide the desired added value for Europe that an agreement ought to provide .
I would like to ask you the following question , bearing in mind the need to invest and safeguard the European Union 's economic competitiveness in the future as well : what measures do you envisage taking to facilitate the use of European Social Fund and European Globalisation Adjustment Fund resources to support the industrial sectors experiencing economic hardship ?
nowhere has this tendency been more apparent than in the preposterous discussions we have been forced to endure over whether and when to appoint the President of the Commission .
the next item is the debate on six motions for resolutions on Zimbabwe .
- ( SK ) Electric vehicles are considered to be one way to fulfil strict environmental protection standards , since they do not produce any emissions .
we do not have a proper view of the real problems at issue here .
however , some of Mugabe 's cronies , particularly the military chiefs , have become exceedingly rich through control of expropriated farmland and mineral resources .
but where is Mr Cameron in all this ?
the presence of a cross in a classroom does not , on its own , exert pressure on a person 's worldview and does not violate the right of parents to raise their children in accordance with their own convictions , just as that right is not violated by wearing clothes which testify to the profession of a particular faith .
( the President cut off the speaker )
the report stresses that it is essential for the financing of the CAP to reflect its ambitious vision and policy objectives .
there have also been discussions on ways of developing the European market for mezzanine financing and I am pleased to let you know that we are making progress from this point of view .
human lives are also being put at risk .
however , through the forum , we can develop a code of conduct to be complied with by all stakeholders .
we really would like to achieve a result where women would represent 25 % of senior management positions , 30 % of middle management and 43 % of AD non-management posts .
we will therefore have to uphold our legitimate demands on China .
I would like to say to Commissioner Dimas and to the Commission as a whole that I find it incomprehensible that neither the EU nor you yourself , Commissioner , or the rest of the Commission , have reacted to this huge project - in terms of security policy , energy policy or environmental policy .
how do you stand on the fact that a Member State would also be liable to pay a penalty if the obligatory primary school attendance requirement is not met ?
well , I can understand his disappointment , but I am really not sure that even this Parliament would have shown any greater ability to arrive at a simple consensual view about what reform should take place than the Member States have been able to achieve .
nevertheless , the existing inequalities and the new challenges facing the world create the risk of permanent social divisions in our societies at many levels : between children from rich and poor families , between the well and less well educated , between men and women , between immigrants and those who have been Europeans for generations , between persons of different sexual orientations , different ages or in different states of health .
it should provoke a reaction in those of us who , as is the case in the European Union and Parliament , believe in the existence of human rights and in defending them .
thank you .
however , it is extremely frustrating that nearly 200 men remain there .
the demonstrators who wanted to celebrate the nineteenth anniversary of Belarus 's brief independence and were arrested on 25 March 2008 , are still under arrest .
( HU ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , Hungary is certainly in a special position when it comes to the creation and support of regions constituting transboundary economic units .
we hope Europe will be ready for that challenge .
we pay due attention to the recommendations of this House and let me just give you two examples of what we have done in this annual report for 2009 to address the request from this institution for more information .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , on our agenda today we have the Commission statement on the partnership agreements with the ACP countries and a resolution is planned for this debate .
we presented a plan of action in February 2009 and have since taken a number of measures .
he was shot twice and wounded .
( applause )
this would provide a model of efficiency for using European public money .
the ESF is one of the key tools at our disposal in reaching the Europe 2020 headline targets , particularly those on employment , education and poverty reduction .
on 7 August 2007 , a crisis began that was serious and worrying but , dare I say it , normal .
we are critical of the system 's current structure and scope , but how the funds are used is nevertheless important .
the concept of human security is certainly an interesting one - including for development aid .
how should we react to this ?
claims for such payments should be enforceable in a court of law by both farmers and clients .
let us not become confused over terminology - the report we have adopted is more about finding new labour resources than about solidarity .
we have enough exchange with Russia in the specialist areas .
and Kaliningrad is , of course , a very special case , due to its unique geographic location .
the Commission must establish an effective system in this area , which would facilitate the collection of credible data on the end use of the dual-use items exported from the Union .
in writing . - Huge consensus , today , on the vote on the situation in Côte d 'Ivoire .
the transatlantic market has a trade volume of around EUR 2 billion per day .
I would like to make two further comments :
it is important that shipping , in particular , also becomes more environmentally friendly .
companies must provide evidence of their ability to carry out demolition or asbestos removal work . prior to the demolition or asbestos removal work , they must draw up a plan specifying the measures needed to ensure that workers are not exposed to an asbestos-in-air concentration of more than 0.1 asbestos fibres per cm3 during an average eight-hour shift .
Iran is currently a regional and global threat and a challenge to the EU Member States ' ability to stand firm together on the international scene .
in the 1960s and 70s , we fought for equal rights for women - not for them to be dictated to - and we seem to be going backwards instead of forwards .
ensuring that the price is appropriate for producers and consumers alike is indispensible for internal market mechanisms .
however , I voted against this report in the final vote , in order to show my total disagreement with the rejection of Amendment 10 .
I think we will all support such a report .
women , as well as children , are the ones suffering most from the devastating consequences of conflict situations .
assistance must , of course , be subject to an anti-fraud mechanism for greater transparency in the administration and disbursement of funds .
legislation is no longer the problem , but its application in the situation where many women are reluctant to report to the authorities the acts of violence they are subjected to , preferring to endure the suffering in silence .
relations between the European Union and the United States in that area require a confident and essential partnership .
therefore , the main task of the CAP is to preserve the agricultural production capacity of the European Union .
if we want people 's trust , more - and full - transparency is the only way to go .
however , for some time I have been calling for a business-based review of the EU agencies .
this title is very apt .
this issue has remained unresolved for too long .
firstly , investing in greener , low carbon technologies is an important instrument .
I am especially proud , and we in the European Parliament can all be proud , of the fact that the Council , in its common position , embraced the outcome of our inter-group deliberations and incorporated more than 95 % of it into the foundations of the common position .
thanks to its role in the collection , analysis and exchange of information , Europol facilitates investigations in Member States and has thus become an important tool in the fight against crime .
we have received from the Commission and from the Commissioners with specific responsibility in these areas , namely trade , external action and humanitarian aid , very committed and high-quality support and we are sure that we are all working towards a common goal of making the difference in Africa and for Africa .
the EUR 280 million works out at not quite EUR 2 per tonne of milk produced in the European Union .
my region , Stará Ľubovňa in Slovakia , has similar geothermal sources but developing them requires large financial resources .
a conspicuous example is the question of ritual slaughter .
thank you .
in writing . - ( SK ) The motion for a resolution on organ donation and transplantation is a part of a world-wide debate on child safety .
of particular importance is the EUR 300 million which will be allocated to the dairy sector following the recent crisis .
selecting sites to be awarded the label will also help to increase the younger generation 's interest in , and knowledge of , the ideas and peoples of Europe , and , in so doing , will bring Europe 's inhabitants closer together .
they also run the risk of coming into serious conflict with their countries of origin , which may refuse to pay up , under the excuse that the disease which they suffer from is not rare enough .
we do not claim that by means of cooperation agreements we can , with a click of the fingers , miraculously achieve respect for democracy and human rights in Vietnam or elsewhere .
in relation to this , I would like to recall the European Court of Human Rights ' finding in the case of Bosphorus Airlines vs. Ireland in 2005 .
I fully agree with what you say , by the way , on the carbon market and its contribution .
however , our job today is to address the new text , which is a vast improvement on the original proposal .
I think it would be very good for us to be able to agree on the amendments before the vote on Wednesday , so that there can be full agreement across the entire House .
we must urgently set up a consistent European system for statistical recording - it has been said more than once - with particular reference to minors , trafficking , physical and sexual violence , and women in vulnerable categories , such as immigrants .
Israel stands to gain , not lose , from a strong Palestinian partner .
although GNSS will only have a military application , it will be the taxpayers who foot the bill - twice over now as a result of the follow-up costs .
several of you referred to the problem of correlation tables .
the elected representatives of the region , and in particular in the small municipalities , are quite rightly held in high regard by their fellow citizens .
our stability is determined by their stability as we unfortunately found out in the 1990s .
it will also stop consumers from having to pay higher tariffs and will make it possible for consumers to make informed decisions .
what does all this mean in actual figures ?
( RO ) Mr President , sentencing a child to death is unacceptable in the world we live in .
it has been produced by experts and I believe that it will be approved , perhaps implemented , but mainly approved and adopted at a Member State level by Health Ministers at the Health Council .
however , we must admit that its implementation has proved much more difficult than we had thought .
however , this is no ordinary food crisis .
we share one planet and we have no future unless we work together .
we also cannot ignore the fact that ever more people of active age are looking after children and close elderly relatives at the same time , leaving them in a precarious position .
it is important to remember this , and sometimes I think the consumer side is not getting as much attention as is necessary .
now I should like to ask the Commission and the Council what action they will take to make that moratorium more general and support a general ban .
I am in no doubt that the Ombudsman will enhance his contribution to strengthening democracy in Europe .
if the trend continues in the same way , then it is possible that the EU will call on the public to stop swearing , smoking , drinking , sunbathing , eating unhealthy food and sleeping for a long time .
it is precisely for this reason that we condemn and will condemn every form of violence , discrimination and intolerance towards the leaders or adherents of any religion .
in other cases , there is just a change in legal basis .
Mr President , Lady Ashton , you began work with the world in disarray ; a world in the midst of financial , food and energy crises triggered by attempts to regulate the markets .
the summits do not solve the problems , they delineate them .
however , I think that a strong signal tomorrow from the European Parliament on the question of the scope , on the question of banking secrecy , and on the question of the list of tax havens will be a valuable help to the Council , especially if , in future , we need to negotiate new agreements with third countries .
together with the Commission , and with Mr Barroso , whose series of measures inspired by the de Larosière report I welcome , Europe is fighting to save the banking system .
you talk about the needs of an ageing population .
secondly , I believe that migrants ' rights need to be protected .
this an important step along the way , but more work needs to be done .
we must intensify negotiations with Turkey all the more .
our enquiries , however , have revealed that some countries , particularly in northern Europe , cannot do much with this satellite data because everything is still covered in snow there when the images are captured .
Mr President , in the Commission work programme for 2010 , it was said that the European Union must face up to long-term challenges such as globalisation and must regain competitiveness .
in writing . - I support this report on the EU 's accession to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms ( ECHR ) , as provided by the Lisbon Treaty .
furthermore , a knowledge-based economy will help to protect European cultural diversity and to carry us towards social cohesion and employment .
I welcome the idea of drafting a green paper on the recognition of professional qualifications and of creating a ' mobility scoreboard ' for measuring this indicator within the EU .
it is to be welcomed that strong safeguard measures will allow the acceptance of the findings of the other competent authority to be suspended or the Agreement to be terminated should this become necessary .
Mr President , healthcare should be the primary concern of every Member State , but , of course , this Chamber purports to make laws for the whole of the European Union .
these plants are very similar , despite their geographical diversity .
I voted against the report by Mr van Nistelrooij on the Green Paper on territorial cohesion and the state of the debate on the future reform of cohesion policy .
we need to have all the information on the table before we can grant discharge .
- ( EL ) The debate is closed .
I am voting for this report , since it is in the interests of the affected regions to establish a legal basis for trade between the EU and Greenland , in this case , coming under the umbrella of the rules of the EU 's internal market .
I also welcome the fact that the franchise for the modulation has been raised from EUR 5 000 to EUR 10 000 per year .
this secrecy , this lack of transparency , caused serious prejudice to our citizens who did not know what to expect .
by providing itself with a regulatory framework for rating agencies , Europe is in the forefront and showing the way , whilst the United States has still not reacted practically in this area .
I now turn to Mayotte .
the programme initiatives proposed by Ukraine will be taken into account like those proposed by EU Member States .
to speak about children is to speak about our future , the future of European citizens and of the Union itself .
I am sure that a broader survey in Europe would generate the same results .
Switzerland has expressed solidarity with , and commitment to , the enlargement of the European Union , and aims to establish firm economic and political relations with the new Member States .
that very day I also visited Unicor , which is one of the hi-tech companies that recycle electrical and electronic waste .
the resolutions are proof of the commitment of the European Parliament to the accession prospects of Croatia , the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey .
the European Union 's appeals have so far been met with no response .
( for the results and other details on the vote : see Minutes )
in comparison with other candidate countries , this puts Iceland ahead of the competition .
it is one thing to go for a drive for pleasure and quite another to use your car because yon have to and in situations where it is not possible to use public transport .
you are very dangerous people indeed .
we must not allow a strategy of fear to be created to make them go home .
without solid state finances in the individual Member States it will not be possible to set new investment priorities .
( FR ) Mr President , six months after the shameful vote on the ' Return ' directive that received so many jeers and criticisms internationally , I very much doubt that the Union will be able , by adopting these two texts on the Blue Card and the single permit , to redeem itself on the international stage .
these include , for example , the prohibition of all kinds of violence against children , fighting poverty and discrimination , and the right to education .
personally , though , I think it is a good idea .
there are no structures for the specific implementation of targets .
that is no good to consumers .
the few jobs which may be on offer depend on the goodwill of the parties .
well , thanks !
the commitments regarding a considerable reduction of greenhouse emissions do not only apply to energy and traffic .
another reason for our unease : the thresholds required to qualify for these funds , especially in terms of the numbers of redundancies .
I believe that I am drawing the right conclusions .
nevertheless , not all on-call time is the same .
there has been a great deal of progress on passengers ' rights , and that must continue .
the first is cabotage and the date that the European Parliament deemed right to set , in other words automatic liberalisation in 2014 .
the vote will take place on Wednesday .
you can take this as an expression of our determination to fight this modern form of slavery , as the previous speakers aptly described it .
why is there a resistance to providing these clinical tests ?
trade arrangements applicable to certain goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products (
we often say that there has been good cooperation between the Commission and Parliament .
without taxation , this is impossible .
what Council unanimity means in practice is that essential legislation is either shelved or lowered to the level of the common denominator .
just how delicate a matter this is can be seen by the fact that Rome III is the first example in the EU 's history of enhanced cooperation conducted in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Treaties .
I voted against the motion , because overall , it promotes the liberalisation of markets and a trade system which is solely to the detriment of poor and developing countries and shows no real concern for the environmental needs of the planet .
that is a crucial element of fairness for our producers and for consumer confidence in our markets , so it is very much to be welcomed .
Mr President , we have asked for the postponement of the vote on this motion , in the interests of the House .
Mr President , we had agreed with the rapporteur and the shadow rapporteurs from the other groups to submit an oral question about the status of the procedure and the next steps .
technical and organisational issues are very important in relation to airport capacity .
when I was the lawyer in a case trying to prevent the construction of a power station in the bay I was able to prove that discharges were not all being absorbed by the atmosphere .
he also agrees that the focus for OLAF should be on the more important cases and that small-scale fraud should be handled by other bodies .
the report also brings up issues that are less frequently discussed , such as the insufficient attention given to specific requirements for the protection of women in the work place or the social problems that arise as a result of transfers of production to areas with lower production costs .
I also support the requirements for shipbuilding and steel quality .
Madam President , I was due to talk about the pressures unlimited EU migration is putting on the UK .
we listen every day to the messages , such as the need to boost and renew confidence in the functioning of the global economy .
in the longer term , the whole financial sector should be moved to the public sector in any case , as only nationalisation can ensure that this sector fulfils its public duty instead of gambling itself away in search of ever higher returns on the global financial markets .
we do not think that the European Parliament has a role to play as regards the political situation in countries which are not in the immediate vicinity of the EU , such as Iran , Kosovo or Iraq .
the Commission liaises closely with European and international travel agent associations each time the list is updated .
2 .
EC / Mongolia Agreement on certain aspects of air services (
complaints have come from the Netherlands about the rules that theatres and cinemas have to follow .
on the other hand , the Internet can also be a convenient communication tool for criminals and terrorists .
it demands full traceability of medicinal products and , at the same time , establishes an early warning system in all the Member States , so that medicinal products which are suspected of being dangerous can be withdrawn .
I gave an estimate for the recoveries made in 2006 and announced improvements to our own systems , so that , this year , the ABAC accounting system will include more detailed and complete data on recoveries .
this is unacceptable , Mr President , it cannot be tolerated , and it is why I , against my will , supported deferring this vote .
the negotiations are continuing , but after President Mugabe 's plan to reserve the important portfolios for his party ( I remind you that it lost the election , the second round of which was fraudulent ) , these efforts at mediation have failed .
that is why the neoliberal Zeitgeist in Europe must be driven further back .
the European Union should not give advice to third countries while in its own territory , namely in Latvia , the government treats Parliament 's resolution of 11 March 2004 with scorn and derision .
this will also further the discrimination of women by making them even more costly to hire than they already are , especially for small businesses which are the backbone of the UK economy .
the national reference centres you are proposing and to which you have just referred in your speech , were they to be implemented as the Commission suggests in its proposal , would entail the creation of 17 national reference centres in Spain , and not just one national reference centre .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , honourable Members , I have listened carefully to the discussion on the future of the single market and I would like to thank all participants for their comments .
unfortunately today it is not possible for all children to grow up in the bosom of the family , and they live in children 's homes .
I entirely back Mrs Roure 's proposal to drop Article 1 , paragraph 1 of the Council Proposal , which practically exempts cases of national security from the effect of the present Framework Decision .
there is not , however , only a problem with the private financial system , with the productive structure , and essentially with the private sector : there is a problem with public accounts , which is also the focus of another aspect of the EU 's medium and long-term measures .
the Hague Programme subsequently set new targets , particularly in connection with the ' fight against terrorism ' , to make progress in the communitisation of this area , which lies at the heart of the Member States ' sovereignty .
one more thing - Mr López Garrido , when speaking about China , you said that there are different human rights and we should uphold them all .
what we are going to propose is somewhat unprecedented .
why did we establish the Mediterranean Union during the French Presidency ?
there is no doubt that the measures aimed at improving knowledge of the true migration ( and asylum ) situation in the various EU countries will be positive .
the Commission is proposing a set-aside of 0 % for 2008 and at the beginning of the marketing year 2008 , like I said , the market is characteristically high in price .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - Mr President , the rapporteur claims that this initiative will encourage small and medium-sized enterprises to expand their cross-border business .
however , when one co-legislates , one must be responsible .
none of these textile cases have yet been approved by the budgetary authority .
Madam President , first of all , I would like to thank both rapporteurs , who have worked very hard on these reports and have produced between them an excellent body of work and , within , a real plan for organ donation and transplantation throughout Europe .
the principle says that if the product is accepted somewhere in Europe , it cannot be denied access to another Member State unless the authorities can provide evidence that the application of a national technical rule is justified .
I would like to point out that it is now extremely important for the recovery plan to succeed .
although it is , in principle , to be welcomed that the European Union is considering how it can support the efforts of Member States to provide adequate pensions , pensions policy is , and remains , the task of the relevant Member States , in respect of which the EU should only take action with the utmost sensitivity and with consideration for national circumstances .
through this vote , we are calling on the Lithuanian parliamentary representatives to pull themselves together and reject this text , which signals a return to a past that , personally speaking , I condemn .
it is contrary to human nature , which logically should shine forth in a democracy , however inconvenient .
I think now we have an opportunity to do it .
that is obviously also true for the High Representative .
we regard as negative the link with the Bologna Process and the trend towards the commercialisation of education , with emphasis being placed on ' employability ' and on the prospects of the labour market being linked to the Lisbon Agenda .
we need to increase the transparency of vocational qualifications and lifelong learning .
( LT ) Mr President , Japan has experienced the unimaginable impact of a natural disaster and a nuclear accident .
we are obviously going to work on this in close cooperation with Parliament .
hopefully , future Ecofin meetings would enhance better approaches regarding financial assistance .
it is intellectually and politically dishonest to suggest that the problem is with the euro .
do not misunderstand : I know that humanitarian aid is apolitical and that humanitarian workers must not be put at risk but , in the primary objective of saving lives , sometimes it is only the military who have the equipment or people to achieve that - delivering aid at speed , putting in place the infrastructure - and that is why , should a UN request arrive , we will be ready to help .
in writing . - ( LT ) I voted in favour of this report and endorsed the European Parliament 's decision to grant discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Food Safety Authority for the financial year 2009 .
so the statistics are worrying , but we have to emphasise from the outset that we are not dealing with alcohol as a product on its own : it is the excessive consumption and the abuse of alcohol that are creating these problems .
for us , this is the culmination of a great deal of work .
this too is a question that must be considered with some care , should it arise .
transport is a fundamental problem in urban areas .
following successful compromise negotiations between Council and the European Parliament we have adapted ICI Plus to the challenges of the future .
in 600 cases - as Mr Maroni rightly stated - Malta , despite being funded by the European Union , has failed in its duty to take in those who travelled from the coast of North Africa and landed on their shores .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( IT ) Madam President , honourable Members , I believe that first of all we need to emphasise that it is not the Commission 's job to interpret Court of Justice rulings .
however , the main subject of today 's debate is that we want a consolidated report on the trialogue .
I wish there was the time .
do you hear the cries of anger rising up from our societies ?
we now have two months in which to do so .
we have made something clear today : credibility engenders trust .
according to my estimates , the EU has already provided more than EUR 10 million in aid .
we are very clear in doing this that Iraq is a unitary state and that all our cooperation is with the government of all of Iraq .
the other points will now be closely monitored by us , by the 27 countries making up the European Union and by this Parliament in particular , as the document has just been accepted .
my only conclusion is that we should support those democratic , civilised Iranians and work with them to secure a decent , humanitarian , civilised government for the good people of Iran and let the murderers be condemned .
the ongoing EU study on internal market barriers to sports funding , which was announced in the White Paper and which focuses on grass-root sports funding , addresses such challenges .
enabling a wide range of students to be covered by the programme is the best investment we could make . it will result in latent intellectual capital that Europe will always be able to rely on .
I am a great believer in dialogue , in tripartite partnership , in feedback and in a mutual understanding of problems , as well as in the search for real cooperation .
it is now up to the government to push the car manufacturers further in the right direction and to do so quickly .
I should like to take this opportunity to welcome the decision made today by the Czech Senate , which gives us high hopes of the future ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon .
I would compare this council to an elephants ' graveyard from which a few ' zombies ' emerge , under the remote political control of a declining dictatorship which imposes crippling financial penalties on those programmes that allow opposition parties to voice certain truths .
for all that , it seems clear that measures related to derogations on normal VAT rates may in some cases , taking into account the particular economic and social circumstances of each Member State , be able to act as a lever on locally-supplied services , including labour-intensive services .
unfortunately , the European Union has not done much to encourage market-based incentives , though the emissions trading scheme could be given as an exception .
the EU 's task is to obtain cooperation and commitments , the costs of which must be borne in the Member States after being anchored there in a democratic process .
it just disappeared from the agenda .
( applause )
the report before us is excellent .
in the same way we will ensure that the surveillance of products entering the European Union from third countries is good and that , in future , we will avoid the presence on the European market of products that are harmful to the health of its citizens and , even worse , its children .
is it not the case that Canada has perhaps learned a lesson from the purpose-built justification for military action in Iraq ?
the political persecution of Mr Rosales and many others is regrettable and should be condemned in the strongest possible terms .
on the other hand , including milk and milk derivatives in Article 186 grants certain powers to the Committee set up by the European Parliament and to the Council , although no specific indication has been given of what practical action is to be taken .
more effective cooperation between the Member States and the OSCE on combating the threats and problems caused by economic and environmental factors could make a crucial contribution to security , stability , democracy and prosperity in the region , since there are economic and environmental factors underlying the conflicts themselves .
he was absolutely right .
this voluminous bureaucratic correspondence must stop .
secondly , we must deepen our relations with other countries , primarily with countries which produce energy , but also with countries via which energy routes run , in other words transit countries .
I would like to conclude by thanking the rapporteur once again , and especially Commissioner Vassiliou , because she has accepted all the proposals we have made within the report .
since the current Cosmetics Directive does not contain clear requirements for a safety assessment , the Commission is now introducing ' minimum standards ' for this .
we have already wasted two years improving maternity protection .
( DE ) Mr President , we are currently facing an explosive mix of social decline , cultural conflicts , increasing democratic deficits , the threat of supply bottlenecks , inflation , imported security risks and a speculation bubble which could burst at any moment .
to be honest , it is clear that EU foreign policy has failed in some areas , including in the Arab world , in Afghanistan , in finding a resolution to the Palestinian problem and in the conflicts among our eastern neighbours .
I have agreed on the oral amendment with the others , including the Members submitting the proposed amendment .
this is not stifling debate .
as a result , the Council is supporting :
progress programme funds must not , under any circumstances , be reduced during this crisis period as they are targeted at the most vulnerable groups .
the reason he had been absent , however , was that he had been arrested . expulsion from university means that a person 's education comes to an abrupt end .
at this point , I should also mention the impact of the WTO Doha Development Round on an EU-India FTA .
I think they are linked in the eyes of the voters , and they are linked in my eyes .
risk , as we all know and accept , is part of running a business .
I think this is quintessential , and everyone agrees to this .
the idea is to make it optional for Member States whether they make it compulsory within their territory for producers to put on the label whether it is a coupage or a traditional product .
as the Commissioner said , it is very important to guarantee a level playing field .
if we continue along the lines you have proposed , we will not resolve the problem in the European Union .
finally , in conformity with the spirit of the national debate in France on the environment , I voted in favour of a tax on pesticides to encourage our farmers to reduce their use of treatment products .
even the proposals you make in connection with the ' use-it-or-lose-it ' clause are still theoretical law .
the Council also understands that Parliament should have easier access to the classified parts of international agreements so that it can carry out its assessment in cases where it has a right of approval .
this restriction of freedom of speech , as proposed , is unbecoming for a country led by a man who came to power promising a new era of openness and transparency .
strict measures on squatting , the expulsion of migrants without visas and higher penalties for those who commit anti-social crimes are consistent with European law .
( LV ) Mr President , I would like to emphasise the fact that the European Parliament is an institution that promotes democracy both throughout Europe and also internally , within Parliament .
as you might know - and as it has been said - the strategy in question was initiated by Parliament three years ago , more precisely by the Baltic Europe Intergroup under the excellent leadership of Christopher Beazley . I would also like to express my special gratitude to Commission President Barroso .
I am pleased that the international community sent a strong and united political signal regarding the ongoing human rights violations in Libya .
the euro should be accompanied by a minimum social security indicator for social cohesion .
I am thinking of the green health apostles in my country , for example , who inveigh against tobacco , but who legalised soft drugs a few years ago .
our governments are slaves to the market , devotees of free trade and communism , and will always be opposed by free-thinking citizens like myself who will continue to protest against injustice .
this law would also be a major obstacle to the fight against AIDS .
Mr President , my group fully supports the aim of this directive , which is to establish a Community framework to ensure and maintain the continuous improvement of safety in nuclear installations within the European Union .
( PL ) Mr President , the brutal murder of David Kato , one of Uganda 's best-known human rights defenders , is the result of hatred towards homosexual people .
it has also acknowledged that the ratification process is ongoing and has issued an explicit reminder that the aim of the Lisbon Treaty is to help the enlarged Union act more efficiently and more democratically .
I am confident it will include plenty of ideas to ensure that Kosovo remains firmly anchored in the European outlook it shares with the Western Balkans as a whole .
it is also important to ensure financial support to institutions which are involved in the development of technology for extracting and transporting shale gas - including the use of CO2 in the process of fracturing shales .
this should be simplified and more integrated .
we are really very committed to transparency , but we must always look for a very fine line among the different commitments that we have to respect in these very complex cases .
the citizens are asking us another question as well : ' are you taking our concerns about this issue seriously ? '
Mr President , as an MEP elected in Latvia , I welcome the fact that the first example of a strategy for a macroregion concerns the Baltic Sea area .
we want to be sure that the EU market will be supplied only with animal products which come from animals killed in the way required by EU law .
this occasion must be followed by specific measures at both EU and Member State level .
I am keen to restate here what I recently told Parliament 's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development : as Commissioner , I hope to learn lessons from the specific situation that we experienced last year .
instead of taking account of the views of the electorate , the EU is attempting to change these views via propaganda .
that is why I am pleased with the direction the Commission is indicating : regionalisation , more involvement by the sector and , in particular , compliance with the rules .
this kind of organised crime has grown with the Union 's enlargement to the east .
I voted in favour of this report as it significantly improves cooperation between committees , as part of the necessary parliamentary reform .
in fact , what we are doing today is to finish a cycle which has been remarkably fast , that is to say a few months , which includes both the directive on the internal market in defence products , adopted in December , the Code of Conduct for exports , which became law at the same time and , finally , this directive reconciling Article 296 of the Treaty with the common rules on public contracts .
projects have only had to be discontinued in a few individual cases .
those who oppose the junta are tortured , killed or put in detention .
I have tried to do my best for the citizens of my country and all Europeans , and there have been periods during this work that have been truly special , such as the Convention .
fifthly , the measures should continue to include a mandatory fund within the framework of producer responsibility - as the European Parliament stated last year .
I also welcome the retention of the systems of registering geographical indications and traditional specialities , as these indications are significant for European agriculture not only from an economic perspective , but also from an environmental and social perspective .
Mr Solana , a few months ago , you attended Mr Polin 's funeral in Bayonne .
it is therefore appropriate that the proposed wording relating to the rapid notification of technical shortcomings identified should remain part of the directive , as should specification of the ships to which the directive relates .
the procedure is important , as is the work of the Committee on Budgetary Control .
Mr Oettinger , a well-schooled disciple of Mrs Merkel , is now also opposed to nuclear power .
it should surprise no one that the Chinese Communist Party prevents him or his family representative from collecting the award .
we should also not forget that it is in the fundamental interest of aging Europe to make sure it is populated not by unfortunate people who depend on social assistance , but by well educated , working citizens , capable of paying tax , social contributions and insurance .
we are talking here about 80 % of the European budget .
the Commission will therefore continue to work for a comprehensive and balanced Doha deal .
despite propaganda that these were terrorists , in the main , they were , in fact , impoverished farmers from the north and around Bangkok , sections of the urban working class , and their families , who saw their protest as a struggle against the enormous poverty and hardship that they suffer .
although we agree with the Communication from the Commission on an EU strategy for youth , I am concerned that , like many of the other strategies we have adopted , it may never be anything more than a set of fine declarations on paper .
our fellow citizens are still waiting for a true European recovery plan and , for example , a substantial loan .
our citizens can see that our economies are in crisis , that unemployment is rising , that businesses are finding it harder to generate growth , that climate change is getting worse and that other parts of the world are becoming increasingly and dramatically more competitive .
until 2007 , the rest of Europe was amazed at the economic development of Ireland , the ' Celtic Tiger ' , which achieved dream economic data with low corporation taxes and little regulation .
the decision to create this means was not taken lightly ; it was the response to technical and legal problems faced in cooperation programmes .
may I inform you that , before Greece acceded to the European Union , the Greek Communist Party voiced its opposition and informed the Greek people of the consequences .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , it is one of the signs of the absolute poverty of our society that we still need to discuss the issue of equality between men and women .
I really appeal to you , Madam Commissioner , to take the political leadership and make this proposal .
subject : reallocation of financial resources in the regional and cohesion funds
that is indeed the nature of the problem and its very root .
even worse , it argues that any type of nationalisation or renationalisation should be abandoned .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( ES ) Mr President , I am proud that in Parliament we have been able to draw up a resolution to be submitted to the next convention , which is already being held in Madrid , organised by the UN .
we must protect the different kinds of production in Europe : sheep , cattle , goat and small-scale vegetable production .
we also need to understand that culture makes a contribution ; culture creates ; culture is something positive , not consuming our budgets or conflicting with our needs but bringing a lot of enrichment , including jobs and growth .
that requires commitment on the part of the EU .
we need to introduce a fixed requirement for every vessel , whether new or rebuilt , to undergo a seaworthiness test .
secondly , let us consider home-grown players .
it is a creation of the industrialised nations and not least of the European Union .
this also means bringing our energy research programmes into closer cooperation and reinforcing our dialogue on energy security - as our President has also said .
the basic purpose of these is to ensure diversification of fuel supply .
the Commission 's task is to ensure that EU law is correctly implemented and enforced by the Member States by constantly monitoring their activity .
I believe that an eco-efficient economy and construction of energy-efficient buildings can help bring about economic recovery in the EU .
( applause )
a mobility centre , along with the preservation of expertise and also of jobs where possible , is a good choice of instrument for Heijmans , therefore .
nevertheless , some provisions proposed by the Council give reason for concern .
a 50 metre boat on the Atlantic is very different to a 50 metre boat in the Mediterranean .
we are therefore in no hurry and will take the time that is needed to reach the most consensual result possible on a subject that has in the past shown itself to be extremely complex .
public development aid must be increased as a matter of urgency .
I would like to speak to the rapporteur , who denies that he is presenting a political project .
I voted in favour of retaining this opt-out because I am in favour of leaving the decision in the hands of the workers .
( SL ) Madam President , when the revolution that is currently taking place in the streets of Cairo ends , the Egyptian people will choose a political system and their leaders .
every Member State must now respect and apply the directive that aims to harmonise the protection of people who are fleeing and , before 2012 , develop a sustainable European asylum system .
this issue will be a topic of discussion in the European Union from now on .
last but not least , priority must be given to devising alternative methods for settling disputes .
for that reason , the emphasis must be laid more upon the quality of jobs , on opportunities to progress into permanent jobs with a reliable income .
efficient energy legislation .
it is an enormous asset in terms of our image and , at the same time , it entails major economic and social benefits .
just let me clarify a couple of points that have given rise to controversy .
finally , young animals , particularly puppies , for example , are now being ferried across the whole of Europe without there being any legislation in place .
all the Member States are talking about these .
you cannot make these trite demands and then do nothing !
I therefore strongly endorse the resolution of this House that expressly calls on the Commission and the Member States to tackle the growing problem of antibiotic resistance amongst animals in a responsible way .
I am , moreover , astonished to see that , at one point , in the pharmaceutical sector , the precautionary principle was used to put pressure on the Member States and on Europe to incur expenditure which , in my view , was somewhat ill-considered .
this Parliament 's mission next week must seek evidence regarding reports of 200 000 additional ballots printed , allegations that 400 000 voters registered on election day with inadequate ID , and claims that voters in Transnistria were disenfranchised en masse .
the overall outcome of the decision means a breach of the Prague Declaration and a slowdown in potentially positive developments concerning mutual cooperation .
the financial and economic crisis has seen the worst global economic decline since the 1930s .
now that both Member States have achieved positive evaluation results in all areas of the Schengen review , there should be no more obstacles to delay inclusion further .
for a start , the debate will not just be a short presentation by the rapporteur , a reply from the Commission and that is it .
it is advisable for certain aspects of the legal and fiscal system of the Member States to be improved in this respect , as the current model in most Member States can discourage the transfer of businesses , particularly family businesses , thus increasing the risk of liquidation or closure of the company .
then the EU brought in this legislation , following very similar principles , about five years ago , and it has proved a great success .
this is why we need to deal with this problem now .
the directive is based on patients ' needs , and not on financial resources .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( FR ) Madam President , on 5 November , in his first annual speech to the Federation Council , President Medvedev made explicit reference to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms .
many of my fellow Members have said - and I absolutely agree with them - that we need to focus on the areas of research and development , renewable energies , energy security and educational mobility .
that begins with suppliers of production inputs , then it relates to manufacturers and , in the case of imported goods , importers too .
it is no use just saying that we took the right decisions .
in the UK , the Labour Government has broken its solemn promise of a referendum , yet in postal polls conducted by campaign groups , more than 80 % of voters vote ' yes ' to a referendum .
these are the amounts assumed to be for personal consumption .
and imagine my surprise , a few days later , when I saw - obviously there is a link - the European summit make provision not only for the organisation of common charter flights but also for their financing - which is a new development - out of the European budget !
Parliament 's resolution stresses that the negotiations should continue , but also lays down requirements for the future .
we cannot just stand by and watch as variations - of any kind - are made to a medicinal product after its authorisation .
I am in favour of investment in quality sports facilities and appropriate measures to allow access to sports premises and sports curricula at school to all students including those with disabilities .
I would like to thank the rapporteur , Mr Seeber , for his excellent work on this report , as well as Mrs Herranz García and Mrs García Pérez from the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Regional Development for their positive and constructive contributions .
Mrs Kroes , you did not go far enough in my view .
I was pleased to learn that on 7 March , the Hungarian Parliament adopted the amendments that had been agreed between its government and the Commission , although I cannot understand why the socialists and Hungarian green party voted against it .
if we do not , at this point , ensure parliamentary control , if we accept this breach of national data protection laws and contravene the Charter of Fundamental Rights , which was so often cited in the debate about the Treaty of Lisbon , it will , I believe , be a kind of kamikaze action and completely unjustifiable .
we cannot even actually agree on what Article 20 means .
it seemed for a while that it might not happen .
it seems to me that we should aim to create a favourable environment for those who want to invest in new technologies and innovations , rather than discussing eligible costs and accounting procedures .
however , it needs to be made clear who is to issue a warning and when , who is subsequently to take over responsibility for the warnings , and when the European Commission is to get involved .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , my contribution concerns the regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the prohibition of highgrading and restrictions on fishing for flounder and turbot in the Baltic Sea , the Belts and the Sound .
lawful interception occurs in the context of a criminal investigation which supposes the existence of a suspect .
transparency and reliability for consumers ; I hope that consumers can take a punt on medicines without gambling with their health .
it is a process that is made easier not by strict constraints that create unaffordable costs for citizens and businesses , but by real incentives ; a process that is realised by means of energy infrastructure , changing urban development , products , packaging and transport .
I applauded the fact that the Commission , in October 2009 , adopted a report in which it called on Canada to open a visa office in Prague and to establish a timetable for lifting the visa requirement .
what we have now is more transparency and stricter inspections .
I think the point of this report is to encourage Member States to recognise the value of volunteering in promoting social and economic cohesion .
( BG ) Mr. President , Mr. Commissioner , colleagues , I welcome the efforts of European institutions to reduce road accidents and casualties .
certainly it reflects an old Irish saying , ' well begun is half done ' , and it can be done at early childhood level .
we need to mobilise actors to act .
however , when a protest camp was cleared in the occupied Western Sahara , with people being killed in the process , and the town in question was declared a no-go zone , even for journalists , there was a lack of combined dynamic action from the international community .
however , Ukraine must show that it is a trustworthy partner for us .
we need to act jointly and more firmly to combat illegal economic migration , while providing more dignified conditions to asylum seekers .
I must say that I sometimes find it disturbing that there is an alliance between the Greens , who want a strong Europe and enlargement as soon as possible , and Members such as Mr van Orden , who want to bring in new countries as quickly as possible in order to weaken the European Union .
does the second budget in the current budget perspective differ significantly from its predecessors , apart from in the size of the sums concerned ?
the strengthening of nuclear safety and security regulations was essential for several reasons .
like you , we are keen for everything to fall into place as quickly as possible , with regard to both the posts that are to be filled and the list of commissioners that is to be presented to the European Parliament for the hearing that you are to hold .
appropriate changes must be made to trade and labelling in supermarkets , especially in the new Member States .
the oral question to the Commission by Jo Leinen , on behalf of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , on key objectives for the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya , 18-29 October 2010 - B7-0468 / 2010 ) ;
I think we are benefiting simply from the fact that this debate is very timely , immediately before the meeting which will take place on Thursday in Prague .
in addition , we must not only help these people , but also ensure that they understand the values which have made us strong .
it is crucial to give a clear indication of our support for these countries at this point in time .
we have committed ourselves to this , and so has Turkey .
this report will ensure wide use of structural funds to secure jobs , and to create more jobs .
I think this is something that we really should be looking at at European level because , increasingly , it is being seen as a weak link in many of the issues that we are facing .
in the European Union , sexual relations are the main channel of transmission . to be more specific :
the single legal personality of the Union will make it possible for the European Union to conclude international agreements and join international organisations .
here too the situation calls for swift action from Brussels toward Ankara .
the underlying social tensions in the EU are best illustrated by the excessive reactions provoked by the ECJ judgments in connection with the posted workers directive .
this means that first of all , we must help with the unification of Mercosur and the Andean Community , and then the unification of the entire South American Community of Nations .
however , from the outset , this report was couched in a federalist language that sought to promote a fake or forced European demos , and the attempt to rename the scheme the European Union Heritage Label was politically based and would exclude thousands of potential locations whose history and heritage predates , and indeed overshadows , many contemporary sites .
that is the reality .
what is also worrying is the Commission 's brief and pithy statement that the protection of domestic animals still falls within the jurisdiction of the Member States .
more substantial efforts are needed to consolidate democracy and the rule of law and to ensure the country 's sustainable development .
it should not be inconceivable .
in writing . - ( FR ) I welcome the adoption today of Mr Cappato 's motion for a resolution on the Annual Report on Human Rights in the World 2007 and the EU 's policy on the matter .
the destruction of the world 's cultural heritage must not go unpunished .
the Commission would also ask the Council and Parliament to endorse the proposal made by Mr Doorn and further adapt their working methods so that certain tasks relating to the simplification of legislation can be carried out swiftly .
we know that it is the priority of the Czech Presidency - although we do not have the pleasure of seeing the Czech Minister in the Chamber .
recently there was a proposal to prohibit smoking in public places , when at the same time , in the centre of the capital city , you can buy thousands of packets of contraband cigarettes . in that regard Montenegro clearly has a long way to go on the road to the European Union .
trade unions should play an important role in this field .
I would like to thank the rapporteur , Mrs Ferreira , for a relevant and timely report .
bearing in mind that compensatory measures have been carried out in this project , that an attempt has been made to put right any wrongdoing that may have taken place , then surely the project can be rubber-stamped .
this applies in particular to texts .
we call on the workers to reject this policy .
it is timely and welcome in particular for three reasons .
the system needs further perfection , but it needs strong engagement by all nations around the globe for this to happen .
just as a postscript - but a very important postscript - we also have to turn our attention to the education of our judiciary in our national courts to make sure that they , too , know how to implement Community law .
the subject of a new basic treaty was first discussed in 2002 .
we must prevent job losses rather than simply using these European funds where jobs are lost .
( PT ) Mr President , the tornado that hit Portugal last Tuesday caused enormous damage in the region of Tomar .
I would also like to express the Council 's satisfaction at the agreement we reached with regard to the common foreign and security policy .
the Council is proposing the ITO model , which is in fact very similar to the third way .
in writing . - ( LT ) Right up until the breakthrough of the wave of democracy in the Arab countries , the European Parliament has constantly been calling on the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council to improve the situation as regards democracy , the rule of law , and human rights and freedoms .
in writing . - ( FR ) I voted in favour of the report proposing European Union participation in the Ambient Assisted Living ( AAL ) research and development programme that has been undertaken jointly by a number of Member States and third countries .
President of the Commission . - The deadline is the deadline for the consultation based on this document , but there will also be other opportunities to consult .
in particular , what we need is a redefinition of the major threats to our security after the collapse of the so-called Islamic terrorist threat and the emergence of new dangers like the financial crisis .
I have spoken in this Chamber repeatedly of the need to reinvigorate the Lisbon strategy ; the European Union has , for far too long , pursued political and institutional reform with a degree of energy and determination which it has simply been unable to muster for economic reform .
perhaps you could also tell him that , under these conditions , the European Parliament will not be an easy partner and that the economic governance package needs the Commission to pay greater attention to what emerges from this Parliament .
a review of the legislation is therefore necessary to take account of the reality and benefits of biogas .
in order to achieve these objectives , the EU should cooperate actively with international partners in the area of trade - the World Trade Organisation , the International Labour Organisation and the United Nations Organisation .
however , I , personally , will be voting in favour of it .
some thought should be given to establishing a dedicated European Danube bank involving the countries concerned .
hence , I would repeat a call I have made before that during the currency of this economic downturn , there should be a regulation holiday for SMEs .
what we have to bear in mind is that we are in a transitional phase with these interim agreements .
it is a fact that a year of talks within the Annapolis process has failed .
in writing . - ( BG ) I defend the privileges and immunity of Bruno Gollnisch and I think that the persecution he is being subjected to is of a purely political nature .
this and other environment-related questions underscore the importance of public responsibility .
the authorities in the Member States are being given far too few opportunities to prevent abuse .
among these were 4 500 children , 12-13 year-old kids , living under the same conditions , conditions of discomfort shared also by the inhabitants of Lampedusa .
green shipping and offshore energy are areas where Europe has extensive expertise which can be developed further .
we know by now the financial institutions that were hit .
on the request that emergency temporary cessation should not be linked to restructuring ( which was also raised by Mrs Doyle ) , restructuring is relatively loosely defined in our package so there should be ample opportunity for vessels in trouble to adapt to new realities .
however , as I listen to this debate , two rather important questions arise .
( the sitting was closed at 16 : 40 )
( the President cut off the speaker )
women continue to be under-represented in most areas of science and technology and in positions of responsibility .
if this European arrest warrant is executed , its use proves that , if someone expresses themselves on the Internet in terms legal in their own country , they can be extradited to another EU country where those views are illegal .
( RO ) The debate about the gas crisis has been passionate , including this evening 's session .
that might be the reason why it was fairly long .
nothing is going well !
Madam President , I would like to thank Mr Degutis for his excellent report and the work he has done over recent weeks .
it is high time that the leaders of the European Union recognised the part that they , too , played in the serious social crisis that is happening all over Europe and the world .
now let us look to the next one .
it is even more important to develop the southern part of the corridor via the Austrian Southern Railway to Italy .
laws must be straightforward .
we still have work to do .
( EL ) Mr President , Commissioner , I have listened to your reply to my honourable friend 's question , but I should like to bring your attention to the following , to what is happening on the ground .
this brutal crime prompted a closer look at what is happening at the border between Egypt and Israel , an area in which an increasing number of refugees are stranded as they try to enter Europe or Israel , but lack the necessary papers .
( PL ) Mr President , Commissioner , our debate really has taken place in the shadow of dramatic events related to farmers spilling milk in protest .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I am also disappointed that the French minister has left , because he could have learned , for instance , that the information that he supplied to us is incorrect .
Parliament is still waiting for explanations from those governments .
the latter represents a solid foundation for our future efforts by ensuring a good balance between traditional development priorities - infrastructure , the Millennium Development Goals ; political themes - peace and security , democratic governance and human rights , migration , mobility , jobs ; and new promising spheres of cooperation , such as renewable energy , climate change , information technology and space , to mention only a few .
I had to return it full again .
if they enact different regulations for these reasons , we do not force them to revoke their environmental and health regulations .
for years we have complained that food prices are too low .
the legal basis of the economic policy conditions is Article 3 ( 5 ) of Council Regulation ( EU ) No 407 / 2010 establishing a European financial stabilisation mechanism and Article 2 ( 2 ) of the Council Implementing Decision 2011 / 77 / EU on granting Union financial assistance to Ireland .
Parliament has , quite rightly , seized this opportunity , unlike the High Representative , who I will again remind , as I did this morning , that Cuba libre is not the name of a cocktail : it is a rallying cry that we carry in our hearts , because we want democracy , and we want Cuba to be free .
there are many aspects of this report which produced something of a stalemate between many of us , such as the nature of EU legislation .
this is a huge drawback because in this case what is best may not be what is right .
but there we are .
solidarity among the Member States of the EU in connection with Kosovo must manifest itself in the Member States recognising the independence of Kosovo as soon as possible .
the real challenge we face is that of employment , whether our own employment or that of the countries around us .
Ms Kauppi , once again we thank you for your work and we wish you all the best for your future .
there , too , we saw fairly wide differences of opinion .
the volume of funds is not huge , but I believe they are going in the right direction and the public should be involved to strengthen security of supply in the European Union .
it was , of course , pleasing to hear him speak about commitment to the future of the European farming environment .
European fishermen accept having environmental , social and health restrictions imposed on them , but bitterly resent the fact that they are not applied in the same way to products imported in huge numbers from third countries .
I would like to end by thanking and congratulating you , Commissioner Reding and Commissioner Andor , once again , and now it is up to the Member States to proceed effectively with Roma inclusion on the basis of this at the national level .
finally , I should like to stress that small and medium-sized enterprises must be at the heart of the new market access strategy .
I am thinking of the supervision agreement and the Green Paper on the governance of financial institutions .
in this regard , we ask that the international OSCE / ODIHR observers be granted unhampered access .
I congratulate Mr Schwab on bringing the implementation of these forward by a year , because they will be of major advantage in terms of safety .
written declarations ( Rule 142 )
I believe that here we also showed ourselves to be quite capable of satisfying the expectations of both sides .
the Council also shares Parliament 's view on the need for a swift and effective implementation of the new Eurojust and Europol decisions .
for example , in the case of Greece , or my country Spain , we have experienced great solidarity on the part of the European Union , through European funds and through the Structural Funds , which are essential elements of European solidarity policy which will continue .
of this , around 20 % has already been allocated to specific projects .
from a careful reading of the treaty it seems that the Council can , this time , set the prices and quotas unilaterally .
author . - ( PL ) Mr President , the Afghan journalist Perwiz Kambakhsh has been sentenced to death .
( PT ) Madam President , I would like to begin by congratulating Mr Audy on his excellent report .
an American patent currently costs around EUR 1 800 , whereas a European patent costs more than EUR 20 000 - 11 times as much , which is clearly unreasonable .
to others in this House , constructive criticism of Turkey is needed ; we ourselves are critical friends .
finally , in order to boost energy security the EU should strengthen the transparency mechanism and so on .
in order to achieve this , we need to increase plant cover .
Mr President , I would like to thank Mr Papastamkos for this question on a subject which , in my current capacity , I consider absolutely essential to the proper functioning of the economy and the financial markets .
in writing . - ( RO ) I believe the debate on the 2007 Report on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia should point out two key conclusions : the need for this country 's continuous and firm progress toward integration into the European and transatlantic structures , as well as the importance of promoting the young generation in this republic .
first of all , I would like to point out that it is not only the Member States that protect human rights .
there is before this House a written declaration on this matter , including the pooling of patents .
it is necessary to use European funds and European directives to promote the integration of the Roma and to eliminate their disadvantaged position .
likewise , we ask the Court to put Parliament and the Committee on Budgetary Control in a position to carry out their own work as productively as possible .
many of the local Han Chinese are also envious of them .
as a matter of principle , invoices must be paid within 30 days with few exceptions , and these must be justified .
the second paragraph is as follows :
Compostable crops could be planted and , for example , the fertiliser burden could thus be reduced .
strengthening election observation missions through greater cooperation between the EU and the OSCE , and by sending us MEPs to the areas in question , will lead to a strengthening of the Union 's foreign policy .
we wish the new Members every success .
in Egypt , Iraq , Iran , Pakistan , Somalia and other such countries , more and more Christians and other religious minorities are becoming the subjects of oppression .
the next item is the oral question ( http : / / www.europarl.europa.eu / sides / getDoc.do ? type = OQ & reference = O-2007-0038 & language = PL " - B6-0136 / 2007 ) to the Commission by Mr Andersson , on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs , on the EURES activity report 2005-2005 : towards a single European labour market .
the coordinated EU-UN-OSCE effort that started last week in Bishkek continues at the moment and will continue until the crisis and its consequences are overcome .
in writing . - I voted in favour of this joint resolution , which notes that the right of free movement is a fundamental one accorded to all EU citizens .
the report sets out principles which , if implemented , would be a step towards improving the agreement , as illustrated by the defence of food sovereignty and security for ACP countries , along with the fight against tax havens .
for the first time , a chapter will be included on energy , giving EU policy the objectives of achieving energy security , promoting energy efficiency and the development of renewable energy sources .
it is a central , global body for the protection of human rights .
it is , in fact , the first legal act since the Treaty of Lisbon and we wanted a level playing field with the Council of Ministers in the empowerment of the Commission for delegated acts .
this was a continuous problem , raised time and again with me by my constituents .
I believe that we shall achieve a rapid resolution .
the issues relating to the current turmoil are different .
the vote will take place today .
it is not about freedom of choice , because those who become sick have not chosen it at all .
we failed on that occasion .
I agree with this resolution and I urge the Commission to declare the Year for the Elimination of Violence against Women .
the European Investment Bank will match the European Union 's contribution of EUR 100 million , and further contributors are expected .
firstly , it is not a particularly quick solution : almost a year after the disaster , we have no positive sign of the waiver that the Union must obtain from the WTO before its proposal can enter into force , we have not finished our work as legislators , and we have still to hold negotiations in the Council .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I think that I can join all those who have said that this is a nice piece of collaboration in order to get a nice piece of legislation .
the legal protection offered by the bilateral investment treaties ( BITs ) is important in ensuring that businesses are encouraged to take the step of investing abroad , which can cost many millions .
safety , health , public health and housing conditions are also lamentable , and it is vital to rebuild the capacity of the Haitian State in terms of democracy and good governance , which are essential for national reconstruction , and to ensure that Haitian civil society and the Haitian people are involved .
however , regardless of our position on this issue , the radioactive waste problem is a reality and we must deal with waste in the best and safest way possible .
national diplomats will be able to apply for published vacant posts .
I am delighted that MEPs are satisfied with it .
some other issues mentioned in the consultation deserve our serious attention .
nor is it our job , however , to be carrying on traditions .
they try to prevent a comprehensive political dialogue with the Cuban Government on the basis of the same criteria that the EU applies to all countries with which it has relations .
it is therefore right to approve the draft of the new Protocol to the Partnership Agreement in the fisheries sector between the EU and Seychelles .
I suspect , however , that we might have to go to conciliation but I also suspect that the Council will not move .
( FR ) Madam President , cohesion policy must ensure harmonious and above all fair development between all territories .
the debate is closed .
this was not easy to achieve .
the fact that there are currently 15 countries using the opt-out is because the proportion of on-call time is not sufficient to meet actual needs .
the same goes for the benchmarking system .
this serves to protect workers and prevents competition being distorted in a way which benefits those enterprises that wish to grow rich on the backs of illegal workers .
in the Austrian education system , you would be given a straight fail for this report .
we are looking for speedy negotiations with the Council , so that this issue is not put on the long finger , but that a solution is found soon .
we did not need to introduce that into the second reading .
there is no duty to provide information and no data protection , as should really be the case with public bodies .
therefore , it is important to provide opportunities , not just for universities , but for non-profit research institutes and other scientific organisations , to submit applications and participate in research programmes .
the South Stream project would only increase the EU 's dependence on a single source .
( SK ) The report begins with a paragraph stating that equality between women and men is a fundamental principle of the European Union , a principle which has been in place for more than 50 years .
I would nevertheless like to talk about my own region , a region of 5 million inhabitants where 500 000 people were struck by the flood , with 131 municipalities involved , 7 000 inhabitants displaced , 140 km2 flooded , three hospitals and medical facilities evacuated and two deaths .
2006 discharge ( debate )
for this reason , all of us must give both sides friendly encouragement to find a long-term solution with a broad scope and a broad application .
I also believe that by setting in motion the actions detailed in the package adopted today we will be firmly setting Europe on the path to explore these opportunities in a novel way .
the resolutions by the political forces of capital conceal the causes and character of the capitalist crisis .
I am familiar with many of your speeches .
- ( PL ) Mr President , the European Union 's intention should be to build stronger and increasingly close relations with Ukraine .
I personally was against the boycott of the conference , but I think what was even worse is that there was no European strategy .
one of the major areas supporting the EU 's development and stability is completely missing , namely , the infrastructure for both transport and energy .
an attempt is now being made to limit damage by making savings .
the family knew well in advance that eviction proceedings would be taken .
however , we will support those amendments which seek to increase the number of supply routes and improve energy safety in the Union .
we need to look again very carefully .
indeed , it would be important to review the current European legislation on this subject .
so let us be transparent , let us be clear and let us have respect for those who hold a different view to those who sit in this Parliament .
even here in this Chamber .
in writing . - Today we are fortunate that law enforcement agencies have tools at their disposal such as DNA data , automated fingerprint identification and vehicle registration data .
they can also lead to problems and distortions .
as a result , we no longer have a problem with it .
now is the time for political leadership and drive .
I would like to emphasise the importance of cooperation in all significant areas within this programme .
at the same time , it is essential to ensure appropriate control over the use of regulatory powers conferred on the Commission .
therefore , it is difficult not to agree with the rapporteur that it is the Member States which are responsible for correctly implementing the directive and establishing effective control procedures for the storage and processing of waste equipment .
I should like to ask the Commission where the optimism that disarming consumer power will guarantee Greece a way out of the recession comes from .
it is we who are supposed to be putting their will into action , not the other way around .
last week I called for a European Parliament presence on Libya 's borders and I repeat that call now .
freedom of the press is one of the most important problems that the Serbian Government needs to resolve ; there should be no political pressure or other influences that obstruct the independence of Serbian journalists .
I proceeded in exactly the same way with the other count a moment ago , for the other side of the Chamber .
someone in this House said that we have adopted a positive approach and I think that this is a trait which characterises all our work , in the agreements that we have reached and in those still to come .
I am deeply convinced that most of the farmers are conscientious and honest .
the reason why they did so was that , by the time of the vote in that Committee , the text was by far more ambitious that the final agreement reached with the Council .
there has not even been a study on the effects of equivalent bilateral agreements that are in place , and have been in place for several years in some cases , such as , for instance , that between France and Germany or France and Luxembourg .
EC-Russia Readmission Agreement ( vote )
( PL ) Mr President , over the many years of its activity , the International Labour Organisation has adopted and presented for ratification by EU Member States a series of international conventions and directives on matters of employment , trade union freedoms , social policy and social insurance , and also collective employment relations and conditions of work .
granting visa-free travel also conveys to the countries concerned the message that they can overcome obstacles successfully if their preparations are supported by political agreement .
there is a major project that could be developed in Europe .
why do we never say anything to encourage them ?
we have also long cooperated on energy matters .
the capital punishment of juvenile offenders has always taken place in Yemen .
( applause )
the vote will take place tomorrow - Thursday .
in light of this , addressing the question of a new strategy on Russia and Central Asia is unavoidable , and it must also include a political risk assessment specific to each country .
I think we have found a good compromise , at least in terms of the link to the emission trading scheme .
temporary judges of the European Union civil service tribunal (
I voted in favour of this document because a Community action entitled European Capital of Culture has been established in order to highlight the richness and diversity of European cultures and the features they share , as well as to promote greater mutual understanding between Europeans .
all the indications are that as regards , inter alia , employment , health , education and social support , women will feel the consequences more and for longer than men will .
it is also the branch of industry that has made it possible for generation after generation to live on the island .
we therefore need to look at the issue as Europe and not leave the Member States to address it on their own .
the report outlines , of course , the achievements , but it does not shy away from the challenges being faced the Federal Republic of Iraq and the Commissioner very aptly outlined them .
when it comes to direct democracy , the European Union could learn much from Switzerland , which stands up for democratic decisions even when the rest of the politically correct mainstream world criticises it to the hilt .
as a Finn , I regret that .
I would like to point out that we also need a system capable of intercepting goods which do not conform to the European safety standard and preventing such goods from entering the EU .
it is in this context that we must view the pressure put on Russia ( which also occurs with several other countries ) to join the World Trade Organisation , in order to promote ' a level playing field for business communities on both sides ' and ' liberalise trade in the global economy ' , while facilitating foreign investment and renouncing any ' protectionist measures ' .
furthermore , according to a study carried out by Confindustria , the General Confederation of Italian Industry , in Italy alone , energy efficiency could have a socio-economic impact on the entire national economy worth some EUR 238 billion and could increase the value of total production , with an associated rise in employment of around 1.6 million standard work units , in the period 2010-2020 .
I especially look to Commissioner Verheugen on this .
these young men did what many young men would do : they ordered a pizza from the local pizzeria , for three hours after that they were to board an aeroplane and fly to Afghanistan .
it was established to ensure that torturers , rapists and murderers would be deterred from committing further offences by the knowledge that the appropriate sentences would be handed down to them .
this afternoon , I have the impression that we are moving away somewhat from political hypocrisy because it is not a question of criticising the constitution of a Member State of the European Union such as Hungary which , of course , is in sole charge , with its people , of its sovereignty .
there are bound to be abuses of the system , for example by providing a fictional domicile simply in order to reduce the voice of a particular country , and to engineer an impact on the outcome of the elections .
some Member States are already leading the way on this issue .
making up part of the EU 's 2020 strategy , this report outlines 15 ' cornerstones ' of a strong policy which will ensure that the EU can keep up with competitors from the US , China and Japan , who invest heavily in research and development into cutting-edge technology , and countries that are able to cut costs through cheap labour and have less stringent intellectual property rules .
apart from us , only Latvia and Malta have such outstanding indicators .
non-proliferation and the future of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons ( NPT ) ( debate )
( the House rose and observed a moment 's silence )
the second area , completely unexplored , is the migration of women within the European Union .
I believe it is wrong to invite the Council to set negative priorities , in other words , cuts .
the Iranian Government is being called on to give political answers to these unsolved questions , yet instead , we see an increase in the worst violations of human rights , such as torture and the assault of detainees , and we hear of the deaths of demonstrators , while unfair trials take place .
I do not believe that by taking such a step , we will be helping to ensure that people are not prevented from using their own language .
Parliament will have to support you , Commissioner , but how will we do this ?
work is needed within and between governments to accept this minimum .
Madam President , there is a mistake in the EPP voting list .
well , back to the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection in the Parliament .
we insist on this , despite your disagreement , Commissioner , because we believe that it is a significant incentive for producers to move to the concept of a 10 % voluntary renunciation ;
report : Guntars Krasts
it combines experience and new ideas ; it reflects the broad range of approaches and sensibilities that make Europe this wonderful land of ideas .
this is what is needed because we are talking about the dignity and rights of human beings .
these aims can only be achieved if we all act together in areas such as combating structural unemployment , developing a skilled workforce , promoting job quality and improving the performance of education systems .
indeed , the Cohesion policy is actually the best instrument for mobilising investment in growth and employment .
on the one hand , his visit was a clear signal to Minsk that the European Union is ready to begin a new stage of pragmatic relations .
the difference is in the method .
there is no room for further delay .
next , will you condemn forthrightly and totally the passage of the Bahati bill in Uganda , which allows the execution of homosexuals ?
Europe and the Member States should make these objectives their political priority and the focus of their efforts to build a future energy policy .
in that respect , I welcome the statement by US President-Elect Barack Obama on closing the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and to never again practice Rendition .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , he was the right man at the right time .
there is sometimes a concertina effect , for a particular worker or a particular engineer or architect , in the use of the Services Directive , the Professional Qualifications Directive and the E-commerce Directive .
if we take these two reports together they clearly represent a flaw in the thinking of European politicians , namely that whatever the problem appears to be , Europe is the solution .
it is very important that this programme will help highly qualified students and academics to obtain qualifications and experience inside the European Union in order to be able to satisfy the requirements of the labour market , and within the specific framework of partnership , encourage them to share their experience or qualifications upon their return to their country of origin .
we , as a Union , need to send a strong signal to the other side of the Atlantic .
the ageing of the population is another challenge facing nearly every country in the EU .
this report rightly draws attention to the lack of legal clarity and certainty regarding safety and the quality of services . it also refers to the general lack of confidence in cross-border consumption felt by European consumers .
this phenomenon brings with it deliberately misleading and confusing information , and the risk of abuse of trust , and the state must find an adequate response to this .
as you know , due to the partial collapse of the false ceiling in the plenary chamber in Strasbourg on 7 August , this first part-session of the European Parliament in September has had , exceptionally , to be held here in Brussels .
my third point is financial regulation .
we know that there is a common European driving licence coming in 2013 , so I would like to ask the Commissioner whether there is any prospect that this common European driving licence could in fact be front-loaded and be brought on more quickly .
as the report says , we expect that , before the measures enter into force , Taiwan will lift the visa requirement for all 27 Member States as well .
not isolated projects , but rather cooperation within the region with a supra-regional perspective can ensure the sustainable development of the Danube Region in the future .
both inside and outside the European Union , children 's positive rights are often violated , and there is still discriminatory treatment due to sexual inequality .
on the EU-Russia human rights consultations , Parliament 's conclusion is devastating .
the Commission has tabled a proposal for four agreements to Parliament .
if I understand it correctly , the Commission is hanging onto a European solution for the time being .
the aim of this provision is to simplify regulatory restrictions in order to make it possible for euro notes and coins to circulate more easily between Member States and to ensure a high level of professionalism and security within the euro area .
to avoid the worst , Europe must urgently introduce a form of common governance of its economic and budgetary policies .
this fisheries protocol ensures fishing opportunities off São Tomé and Príncipe for various fleets from Member States until 12 May 2014 .
that means the 27 countries of the European Council and also Parliament which we have got into the habit of consulting in the meantime .
a useful idea in terms of raising patient awareness is the establishment of information and guidance centres to help patients , the healthcare personnel and the entire health sector .
this critical situation calls for a concerted European response .
I feel that to say the problem is that the word ' Jihad ' must disappear in one section , when it subsequently appears in three sections , and again in recital H that Jihadism is doubtless the main focus of the type of terrorism we are dealing with , is looking for excuses that do not hold water .
this directive could be a cornerstone of a modern labour market policy for the ageing society .
this may perhaps make sense in their eyes , but as members of the European Parliament , we have to serve the interests of Europeans .
the first necessity here , as we have already heard so many times , is to reinforce intergenerational solidarity through multi-faceted material and moral support of the family .
we expect all concerned parties in Moldova , the official authorities as well as the political opposition and civil society , to agree on and progress towards a solution to the current crisis that will bring about more , not less , democracy and freedom for the Moldovan people .
however , as regards rights to use spectrum , it should be noted that investment and depreciation cycles differ from one sector to the next .
in all good conscience , I have decided that we should wait for the various responses expected from the Italian Government before taking political initiatives such as the resolution adopted , which could be open to misinterpretation by European citizens .
however , that would mean that up to the age limit for which that exemption was granted only temporary passports could be issued .
experience up to now has shown that the HACCP provisions currently in force are unjustifiably too stringent in many cases .
at this point , the often excessive bureaucratic accountability takes more time and energy than goes to the real working out of the projects .
I congratulate Mr Swoboda on all his work reflected in this report .
however , we have chosen to alter the definition of ' public provocation ' so that it is legally more comprehensible in all countries .
in reality , a survey has shown that 64 % of Icelanders want to remain independent , only 24 % want to carry on applying for EU membership and , indeed , 60 % of Icelandic businesses are against it .
I think you should take that into consideration .
one question which remains totally unanswered is how , legally , the Pakistani Government , in spite of a Supreme Court judgment permitting former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to return from exile to Pakistan , deported him immediately to Saudi Arabia .
there is the European Maritime Safety Agency , we have rescue boats , we have civil protection mechanisms , we have good coordination of assistance measures , and Commissioner Georgieva was thus able to offer European assistance for ongoing measures in the Gulf of Mexico from an early stage .
a total of 93.4 % of the electorate turned out to vote in the elections .
I would say that the opposite is true , that the Czech Presidency should help to ensure that we have a socially and ecologically driven economy , that is , an economy powered by social and environmental factors .
( the sitting was suspended at 1.10 p.m. and resumed at 3 p.m. )
the two entirely reviewed methodological guidelines which have just been released , as well as the continuous support to training programmes for observers , will help us to sustain the thorough high-quality work by the chief observers and their teams on the ground .
with regard to the Olympic Games , we all hope that there will be a chance for China and the world to come closer together .
today everyone says that Mr Mubarak was a dictator .
the response of the French Presidency was : ' that is not our top priority ' .
in the report , much attention is paid to human rights and freedoms in Russia .
one of the main aims of this report is to support the role of cities in the cohesion process .
young people are currently becoming unemployed straight from education .
( ES ) Madam President , defending human rights means condemning the avoidable , cruel and unjust death of Orlando Zapata and calling for those who are still in prison to be released .
talents and skills must be nurtured from an early age - a profitable investment in every case .
I think we have to have a solution for that , Mr Kirkhope , quite frankly because , as you know , there are cases before the Court of Justice that oblige us to find a solution .
the multiannual Hague Programme , covering the various actions that will be carried out to develop the area of justice , freedom and security , comes to an end in 2010 .
having noted , and I quote and now utter the following euphemism - ' a lack of values and ethics in the behaviour of certain actors in the financial markets and institutions ' - this Parliament has set off on a pathetic crusade to inject some ethics into the sector .
there is therefore a general need for individual Member States to prioritise sport as a part of education much more than is the case today , and as part of this to ensure that the correct facilities are available and also qualified teachers , for example .
our position is that we need to modernise our agricultural policy , and not return to a production-based policy that encouraged massive over-production and a distortion of markets , undermining the ability of other countries to produce and trade agricultural goods .
( SL ) Thank you for your answer , Commissioner .
this is why we believe that the mandate of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency should also cover countries which have concluded stabilisation or association agreements , or even to countries which have concluded readmission agreements with the EU .
it is when identities are under threat , when they feel under attack that hackles rise and they become dangerous and aggressive .
documents received : see Minutes
in writing . - ( PT ) I voted in favour of the joint resolution on the results of the Copenhagen conference as I broadly agree with the content of the proposed measures , and two in particular .
I wish to thank the chairman , Mr Böge , the main rapporteur , Mr Virrankoski , as well as the coordinators of all the political groups for their most successful , coordinated and positive work to achieve consensus in the Committee on Budgets at first reading .
signing and implementing an agreement for social progress and employment would be proof of this political will .
this is indeed a good compromise .
Protocol No 6 , and also Articles 3 and 4 of the EC Treaty , reinforce their dogmatic conception of unfettered competition , heedless of national interests , unbridled by borders and careless of democracy .
I am going to begin by talking about Tunisia .
( Parliament adopted the motion .
as well as that , we already have a system in place within the existing national blood banks that can regulate and control the quality of that supply .
management of H1N1 influenza (
I consider it vital that the European Investment Bank continues to support the elimination of infrastructural inequalities within the European Union .
today , nearly half of the people working in the world earn less than USD 2 a day .
these industries are , as we all know , global industries .
Mr Schmidt is afraid that the governments will in practice exert pressure on the president of their central bank , in other words he is afraid that politics will gain the upper hand over finance .
there are similarities with the European Galileo programme .
according to media reports , humanitarian organisations ' food supplies have almost been exhausted .
the alternative proposal submitted by the Commission certainly represents a step forward , which we welcome , because at least five Member States with a GDP that has fallen by 10 % since 2008 will receive a relatively large subsidy .
I therefore ask that we support the specific EU logo .
the situation in Armenia is very difficult indeed , and our representatives must pay great attention to it .
European and international systems for monitoring production and the market as an early warning system for identifying production trends ;
it is necessary to begin in the family in order to protect our children from the negative effects of smoking .
thank you for the broad support that the Commission proposal has found in this Chamber .
many amendments aim to raise the profile of these priorities in the budget , which I welcome .
please take heed : if you continue in this way , you will be playing into the hands of the nationalists and , indeed , the opponents of the EU .
we are ineffectual .
4 political groups ( Greens , S & D , ALDE and GUE ) formulated joint amendments to the draft which were , to a large degree adopted , albeit by a slight majority .
Copenhagen has made us realise that good intentions are not enough .
( LT ) The crisis must force each one of us to change our behaviour and thinking .
my third question is : what are the consequences ?
it is about patients ' rights and how to exercise those rights .
aside from that , I would like to emphasise the difficult issue of the directive 's scope , which excludes a number of areas , such as non-economic services of general interest and some services ( social services , childcare , assistance to people , and so on ) carried out by providers mandated by the State .
regardless of the validity of the arguments on either side , it is true that the realignment of market shares in favour of Airbus and the consequent loss of Boeing 's competitive advantage were highly politicised .
what we call the mini milk package , made up of three documents , is only one , albeit very important , building block in the further simplification of EU legislation in agriculture , and in principle the Commission 's reform and simplification measures in this connection are most welcome .
this requires national public health services that are free or mainly free , and quality , free , public education for all .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the European Union is founded on a relationship of solidarity between its Member States .
( EL ) Mr President , the package of seven proposals on shipping is an important development in preventing accidents and in safeguarding an effective response in the event of an accident .
therefore , in fact , half the work has already been done : the foundation has been developed , but the rest of the work , the second half , namely putting it into practice , still remains for us to do .
the same applies to the financial commitments pledged to the countries of the South to help them combat climate change .
even if both the EU and the US have similar aims , namely creating the conditions for the Afghan state to take responsibility for its own affairs , the timeframe for achieving those aims is inevitably different .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( ES ) Mr President , just yesterday we were talking about the inconsistency and ineffectiveness that sometimes characterises the European Union 's sanctions policy .
hence the need to strike the right balance .
Europe does not need to seek highly intensive technologies for food production .
you are also correct when you say that how this international convention is implemented is a question of subsidiarity .
the Korean market obviously offers significant opportunities for EU goods and services , but has remained until now relatively closed off due to high tariffs and costly non-tariff barriers .
the ever-increasing need for public goods , the growth in population numbers and the simultaneous shortage of natural resources make this more difficult to achieve .
( NL ) The President-in-Office of the Council bears the important responsibility of launching a new cycle of the Lisbon process at the forthcoming Spring Summit .
we cannot allow ourselves to repeat it , and we cannot allow anyone else to force us to repeat it .
EU cofinancing of the Eurostars programme in favour of SMEs therefore constitutes an essential step towards ensuring that the EU Member States remain competitive in the medium and long term .
some governments have legitimately started to test body scanners on more sensitive routes .
for example , we have already commenced a dialogue on peace , stability and sustainable development in Africa .
it is logical that the developed and developing countries ' targets will differ .
in this respect I would like to highlight one of the issues that has been mentioned , which is also in the resolution , which is the issue of research .
President-in-Office of the Council . - Mr President , let me remind you that the Council has always examined the opinions and resolutions of Parliament with great interest and attention .
I am thinking , in particular , about women who have fallen victim to the sex slave trade .
biomass is another source of renewable energy , which must be further developed because of its versatility and base load capacity .
cherishing hopes for confidence building is not a realistic option any more , especially since Tehran has completely eroded its credibility regarding its nuclear programme .
paradoxically , the new rules are also destabilising for employers .
this is why we are urging that Europe have not only a commissioner for minorities , but also a minority framework law which is binding on every European country .
on the other hand , however , we must also prevent the system from being abused , because that , of course , is always a problem that is discussed in great depth by people in the Member States .
the joint debate is closed .
at the preparatory talks held in Copenhagen last week , we had a crucial exchange of views with many of our international partners .
we know that there are dead bodies and 150 people are missing .
why not use part of the privatisation programme not for fiscal consolidation but to create new investment and growth in Greece .
however , my message is also for europhiles .
despite all the technical differences on individual issues , which are given expression in the various compromises , there is general cross-group agreement on today 's signal from the European Parliament that we wish to develop the internal market in the interests of consumers and businesses .
on the other hand , I voted for the final report because we have been able to make some progress towards a solution .
for once , I am more disappointed by Parliament than by the Commission or the Council , since in this sphere , the Council and the Commission have done their work .
this motion will be presented by a representative of the Group of the Greens .
that is what we cannot accept , Commissioner .
firstly , the inclusion of gender .
if common sense prevails , this Parliament will vote for a reduction of the EU budget for 2012 .
how many members vote ?
by way of conclusion , Mr President , I should like to say that we must not lose sight of the fact that the railways are still among the safest means of transport around .
in that case , the rest of the proposal and the consultations would not be bad at all .
do you honestly believe that a reference to earthquakes at three points in a communication suffices to counterbalance the huge need which we have in Europe for a communication specifically on earthquakes ?
you might have one online booking , but you are charged four times for using your credit card because you have four passengers involved .
I also deeply regret that this report fails to retain a legal basis that puts the health of patients first .
this , in fact , opens the way for a network where it is not a foregone conclusion that all users will have access to the whole network and where not all sites have the same possibility of being viewed .
- ( PL ) Mr President , we can talk selectively about the summit from the point of view of two time scales .
we support the activities of the Tanzania Albino Society and trust that the Commission will offer it genuine support .
the critical and aware consumer must be at the heart of a new economic model that the EU should spearhead .
it is right to think about an exit strategy , but it is even more important at the moment that we work out how we can give more solid support to the economy and improve the coordination of our economic policy .
some of them , I think , could be examined in more depth in committee .
however , given the social impact of mine closures and the difficulties involved in redeploying miners , support must be provided during the closure process .
mainstreaming sustainability in development cooperation policies ( vote )
( PL ) Madam President , we are all aware that European society is ageing , but are we all aware what consequences this will have for our economy and for our labour market ?
that is why our statement calls on the Chinese government to respond to the concerns of the Tibetans in respect of the human rights .
this is a reason for accepting them , under the dictates of humanity .
subsequently , the disruption of the parliamentary elections became an argument to wait for the presidential and local council elections that are to be held soon .
( the speaker agreed to take three blue card questions under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
on behalf of the EFD Group . - Madam President , it is a shame that Mr Barroso has fled the Chamber .
I strongly oppose the extension of the mandatory levy of a minimum standard VAT rate of 15 % for a further five years .
not for road traffic , however : in stark contrast , this sector saw a rise of 26 % .
it is true that , as has rightly been said , we need a very coherent approach at European level .
at the same time we must give the Eastern European Member States a feeling of security and solidarity within the European Union and NATO .
the initiative is being taken - we have now heard this more clearly in the spoken contributions than could be read in the report itself - on account of Russia 's energy policy .
in writing . - ( PL ) Industrial policy is of considerable importance for the realisation of the objectives of the Lisbon strategy .
in the Forum for Life young people learn responsibility and generosity and gain experience in building interpersonal relationships .
it is a joint endeavour between Member States and the EU institutions and it is the first of its kind , which , if successful , can help shape the international civilian response to crises that have so far largely been defined in military terms .
this package contains very up-to-date and progressive proposals .
international advances are being made in this area , as in nearly all others , as countries find their way along different paths .
in terms of market access , transport by bus is somewhat easier .
I believe that the free movement of goods , people , capital and services needs to be defended , especially now against the backdrop of the financial crisis and economic recession .
( Parliament approved the rapporteur 's proposal )
in my view , what would that common position be ?
statistics give an idea of the scale of this issue .
SMEs are a vital part of the European economy and here , as I have already said , in the Eurostars programme we are talking about SMEs which will be the ' stars ' of the future .
I benefited personally from the support of Commission President José Manuel Barroso and I also received strong support at the time - if you will allow me to add a personal note here - from various Member State representatives .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , thank you to all of you that have contributed to this debate and thank you once again for supporting the prolongation of the transfer into the Tobacco Fund .
I have given some examples , and there are more in Judge Bruguière 's report , which has been given to the Members .
these blocked funds are a serious signal from the European Commission , which the Bulgarian Government must understand correctly and it must put in place the urgent measures it has promised .
Mr President , this is a purely technical amendment , to take into account the date that the regulation establishing the European Securities and Markets Authority will come into effect and the fact that this regulation can only come into effect at a later date .
we , the European Parliament , have only one option : we must reject these proposals , as we want a broad public debate and we want to use our strengthened rights to support the citizens now , rather than in the near or more distant future .
I was always in favour of dialogue with Minsk , but under current conditions , it is becoming very difficult , if not impossible .
Mr President , I too welcome this proposal because it is a direct and tangible response from the EU to the current economic crisis .
in terms of positive influence , there is a stronger effect than there would be without the mechanism of budget support .
Basques and Catalans are entitled to autonomy while the Székely are not .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I thank Mrs Hieronymi for her excellent work and wish her many more years of success .
our farmers would also be able to concentrate on their real job again , namely producing food .
mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund : application EGF / 2011 / 001 AT / Lower and Upper Austria / Austria (
the reason is that , to our regret , some countries with problematic human rights records have so far been elected .
I would like to stress that those who have worked so hard deserve our thanks and ask you to repay them by unanimously adopting this report .
what if we started with a financial transaction tax in the euro area first , for example , and said that we would collect dues from the private financial sector within the euro area in this way .
Member of the Commission . - ( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , clearly I need to begin by thanking all the speakers for the very high quality of their contributions and the relevance of the points made , which closely mirror my own concerns .
the safety of our fellow citizens must surpass every other consideration and , in these circumstances , the attitude of certain airlines in demanding the complete and immediate opening of the airspace on the strength of one or two test flights seems obscene , to say the least .
Eighty-eight per cent of fish stocks are being fished beyond the maximum sustainable yield .
protection of minorities in Europe ( debate )
- ( PL ) Mr President , President-in-Office of the Council , I congratulate Slovenia on its Presidency of the Union and I wish Slovenia success , especially in ratifying the new treaty .
the opposition is being partially excluded from the elections , while puppet parties are being spontaneously formed and authorised to take part in the elections by compliant local authorities .
of course , now we are discussing fuel prices .
in the hearings , we found that one of the candidates disputed the fact that this was a European institution , but talked instead about a network of supervisory authorities , and even when asked about it he was not prepared to correct this .
it may look quite technical for many other Members of Parliament but I can assure you that these have been well thought through and well prepared by us in the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs .
many people are trapped in poverty by inflexible welfare rules .
this country should have a special status within the group of countries included in the ENP and should be given priority treatment , first and foremost because of its role in Europe 's cultural heritage and its historical ties with neighbouring countries .
we will also need the full and active cooperation of all actors , including this Parliament , to be able to deliver on time .
I would like to point out to him that women in my country in the 19th century were demanding the right to vote : they could not even vote .
secondly , it will benefit EU industry , which has a tremendous potential in this area .
as a result of this approach , the Commission started negotiating framework agreements with neighbouring countries , including Ukraine , whose documentation is complete and ready to be submitted for the European Parliament 's approval , under the terms of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union .
one is that a good trade agreement actually benefits our citizens .
given the aggressive investment into these countries , they have been forced desperately to adhere to their national currencies ' tight and investor-friendly peg to the euro .
nevertheless , in December 2006 , the Commission - myself , actually - for the first time obtained an interim order from the European Court of Justice in the environment domain , suspending illegal hunting rules in Italy before the main legal action was heard .
it also includes precise deadlines for the implementation of individual projects , together with measurable and achievable targets .
last month 's elections indicate the possible end of tyranny .
the agreements must comply with the European Union 's international environmental and sustainable development commitments .
another aspect is liquidity support of the European Central Bank to certain banks in order to keep them alive .
however , I wish to emphasise that the future action plan should include more measures aimed at supporting EU farmers and at improving the enforcement of current regulations on animal transport in Member States .
I also conclude that it is being handled with too much restraint .
we must also make people aware that the capacity of current alternative energy sources is finite .
so the whole parameters concerning waterways and ports - even inland ports - are part of this package that will be presented next week .
so we are at this critical stage and , as the Minister said , energy is this century 's main issue .
let us not stray into glorification and apologia .
I would also like the Belgian Presidency to tell me why it has requested the withdrawal of the initiative .
however , I think that European tax money is being used and that the European Parliament should be involved in a transparent process .
inter-state financial and economic groups , which have created added value and jobs , formed the basis of this approach .
I also congratulate the Commission and , more unusually , the Council Presidency , which dared to take up its responsibilities .
the Irish are not just 10 % of the EU , they are 100 % of those allowed to vote and they all know , we all know , that others would have voted ' no ' given the chance .
( PT ) Mr President , I believe that this Parliament would welcome a concrete and concise Stockholm Programme which is capable of really promoting a Europe of citizens .
moreover , a competent , legitimate UN body is already working on these issues now .
as the shadow rapporteur for my group , I was given the role of arbiter .
Korea is progressing , and on ASEAN I am looking for the flexibility which Mr Ford and I have discussed before , in order to try and move forward on that , but I agree too that there is no substitute in terms of value and importance for the multilateral arrangements .
it has been negotiating since 2004 .
in general , taxes should be lowered on work and raised on harmful consumption .
however , obtaining a legal judgment is only part of the process . the aim of this report is for members of the public and businesses to have the right to ensure these judgments are effectively enforced .
the administrative requirements for admitting third-country citizens to work in the EU are excessively complicated and vague .
the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions alone have already swallowed up hundreds of millions of euros and , yet , they have had no effect on policy .
agenda for next sitting : see Minutes
I would just like to say that , in the Barroso Commission , in which I myself serve , a third are women .
it should be possible for the Member States to apply a reduced VAT rate to locally-supplied services , for example .
I believe that the European Parliament must speak out on this .
however , this proposal also has flaws , and I am certain that the European Parliament will address these tomorrow with numerous amendments .
those affected will therefore turn to the European Court of Justice , since two of the Union 's fundamental principles are being violated : the ban on racial discrimination , and equality and freedom of competition .
this package of modifications has been conceived as a temporary response to a critical situation , although in fact it does also answer the European Parliament 's call for greater simplicity and flexibility , reiterated on many different occasions .
if Denmark and the United Kingdom decide to apply for membership of the euro area , they will be subject to the same convergence assessment as any other candidate , as happened with other Member States that have already joined the euro area .
my group is fully behind it and would like to see it working well .
in my country , a church advert reciting scripture has been banned .
( DE ) As we know , the European Parliament has set a reduction target of 30 % by 2012 on the basis of EMAS , and we are keen to see what specific measures are adopted by the European Parliament and its decision-makers .
what we need in the area of online gambling is , of course , to find out how we can protect our citizens , investigate the social costs of gambling , and so on .
( ES ) Madam President , the Lisbon Summit certainly served to modernise the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ( NATO ) and adapt it to the new security challenges .
I realise it is part of the negotiated compromise , which we accept , but it may well put a brake on the proposed changes .
but today I will refer to the ethics of this House .
they offer the following important benefits to the economy and population : a cash flow injection into the economy , along with job creation , a reduction in heating costs , protection of the environment through cutting greenhouse gas emissions , the provision of social cohesion and support for low-income families .
this should depend on the dossier .
in this context we want to stress the importance of ensuring that research is free and that criticism and questioning are a key prerequisite for the progress and development of all research .
moreover , consumers will receive a guarantee that named fibres meet specific characteristics , and will also benefit from the fact that new fibres will reach the market earlier .
MEPs have also shown that the Parliament will not accept to be treated like a doormat .
of course , there is plenty that we could negotiate on , such as what form the discharge procedure should take in the future .
it can only be internationally legitimate if negotiated via the United Nations .
I am also aware that the Swedish Presidency has said that it wants to bring up the issue of the exploitation of children in connection with travel and tourism .
the need for this budget has come about as a result of the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon .
as regards monitoring the supply of aid , the Council , like the European Parliament , gets the chance to evaluate how the EU 's external aid has been used each year .
reforms that will ensure that our Member States stop taking decisions on their own , without consulting their partners - with whom they do , after all , share a currency , values and , hence , a common destiny - about their budgetary priorities , their fiscal priorities and their social priorities .
in this respect , anything that helps correct the current imbalances is of benefit to everyone and certainly contributes to creating a multilateral system based on fairer and more equitable rules .
I have grounds for concern that a similar development could also occur in future in the case of travel agencies .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , fortunately there are still patriots in Europe and obviously we shall call for a national referendum .
however , without prejudice to the overall support of the European Police Office , with the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon and its effects on police cooperation , the rapporteur , and his fellow rapporteurs in the LIBE Committee , feel that there should be no amendments to the measures implementing the Europol decision until such measures can be adopted under the new legal framework provided by the Treaty of Lisbon .
the most serious financial and economic crisis since the 1930s has hit Europe hard .
( HU ) On 13 July in Ankara , at the time of signing the Nabucco agreement , Mr Barroso said that the gas pipelines were made from steel .
evidence of this can be seen , inter alia , in the steady rise in the number of people using its publications and the Europass portal .
ladies and gentlemen , there is clearly a need to redouble our efforts but , despite the fact that we are still far from achieving our goal , it is clear that things are beginning to move , since the first European forum on the Roma in itself marks a change .
since Ahmadinejad stole the presidential election last year , we have seen many dissidents and brave young protestors take to the streets .
yes indeed , I remember your speeches , I remember what you said .
I will not repeat what is written in the report .
I also wish to point out that all major European projects are designed in such a way that small and medium-sized enterprises have privileged access to them .
it seems to me that they are aiming to buy time in these negotiations and I believe that only political measures will help solve the political problem until the technical questions surrounding transit are resolved .
human rights come first and then social rights , which are quite simply part and parcel of human rights and cannot be separated from them .
I wish to make it a priority , even though it is not entirely within the Commission 's competence , as I believe that our consciences as fathers compel us to engage in a major initiative to drastically reduce the number of deaths on the roads .
( it ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the increase in food prices requires two types of response .
but that leaves us with a fundamental question : is the European Union and are Europe and European values better off with a Turkey that is fulfilling all the requirements and has made all the reforms that are underlined in the report , or are we better off with a Turkey that will maybe lean in the future more to other parts of the world , to other values ?
visa-free travel is an important step in this .
I would consider it beneficial for consumers to be informed of these costs , as this will encourage them to behave in an environmentally responsible way .
it is therefore rank hypocrisy for the EU to continue to fund tobacco growers within Europe .
( DE ) Madam President , firstly , the reason why I reacted so strongly is that I am still annoyed that we have not managed to adopt a joint resolution on safety , because it was more important for some people to take up an absolutist position rather than to find common ground .
in an atmosphere of growing conflict and war , many unscrupulous local and foreign traders exploit this situation , enriching themselves at the cost of chaos , refugees and the suffering of millions of innocent people , and even genocide , rape and the exploitation of women and children .
I must say that , if you look at the supermarket situation all over Europe , there are huge differences .
- Before the vote :
together with other statements from foreign ministers and international organisations , it has helped to improve the situation .
( DE ) Mr President , I must admit that I like this ' catch the eye ' arrangement , particularly the part before the countdown starts .
in any case , now is not the time to say that the optional instrument is the last word on the matter , but instead we should look more closely at the other options , too - the toolbox that was mentioned and the contract models .
we will therefore also cooperate on how to prevent radicalism , including misuse of the Internet .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would also like to take advantage of the excellent reports by my fellow Members , Messrs Danjean and Albertini , to speak up again in support of the key role of the High Representative .
( MT ) I would like to congratulate my colleague Mr Casa , who I know put a lot of work into preparing this report , and I wish him success .
the international consequences that we , as an international community , must suffer are by no means limited to the territory of the former Soviet Union , Belarus , Ukraine and Russia , because more than half of the fallout following the fire and explosion fell on the territory of the European continent .
in its negotiations with the Council , Parliament has shown its teeth .
I hope you will today .
the telecommunications satellite sector should undergo more effective standardisation .
it is the typical way in which Europe works .
I perfectly appreciate Slovenia 's interest in having access to the sea .
Mr Holm referred to the possibility of being fined , for example , for singing Happy Birthday but I think he has his ideas confused here .
Mr President , I raise an issue on behalf of Mrs Marina Litvinenko , whose husband , Alexander Litvinenko , was murdered in London in December 2006 .
European economic assistance , provided within the context of the neighbourhood policy , has helped to improve the average standard of living , to create employment , to train young people and to provide access for women to positions of responsibility .
this will be done during an ex post evaluation exercise foreseen by the directive .
are you aware that the country has introduced massive reforms and made huge progress ?
that was really when we began working on ESDP .
as I said , we should enter into debate and consider if we could make agreements within the European Union about how we deal with human rights violations within the EU and put a stop to the policy of not daring to call each other to account .
( SV ) Mr President , critics of the euro in my country say that the situation with Greece and Ireland demonstrates that the euro does not work .
we want to encourage Member States to set targets for increasing the skill levels of adults and to speed up the process of assessing and recognising non-formal and informal learning for groups at risk .
I hope that the Commission can come up with a good Roma strategy .
this underestimates the way in which it is spreading , especially in Central and Eastern Europe .
in this connection , I would ask the Commission and the Member States to step up activities to verify compliance with the democracy and human rights clauses of existing and pending agreements .
however , it is vital that Serbia 's progress is reciprocated and rewarded by the EU and its Member States , for example , now by ratifying the SSA , not least because some of Serbia 's neighbours , such as Croatia , are far more advanced on the road to EU accession .
we have been witnessing the latest developments in this dispute since the beginning of February this year .
however , the People 's Republic of China needs to understand that it is only with the guarantee of minority rights that there will be any real chance of internal peace .
however , it contains sufficient incentives to encourage reform .
I personally would say that communism brings with it oppression as surely as clouds bring the rain .
importantly , the revised directive also requires the EU to conduct a scientific examination .
it is primarily the result of the production-driven rationale of modern-day globalisation and is therefore still perfectly legal .
the solution - as proposed by the great majority - is more Europe , a stronger Europe ; the Hungarian Presidency has been working for the last six months with this in mind .
in spite of his feudal rule , Hosni Mubarak acted as a guarantor of stability in Egypt .
( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , EU fishermen are , as we know , confronted with three major problems : firstly , the very complex , unpopular quota system has forced them to adopt very restrictive practices .
the Haglund report is part of the legislative package for reforming economic governance , which consists of six reports resulting from months of negotiations .
in more general terms , beyond financial systems , using short-term action to target our long-term goals will pay double dividends .
colleagues , please note that we are starting 40 minutes late .
in writing . - ( FI ) This report was a victory for the advocates of Finnish and European agriculture .
that is why we have gone to the Council and said : please be sure that , if this is agreed and if we can protect the data in our track - the track between the EU and the United States - then you have to do the same .
if we are to discuss Nicaragua , we should firstly talk about the fact that this is a country with the highest debt in the world and that it is one of the poorest countries in Latin America .
this does not mean that I take back what I have said on the subject in past years .
I have just one proposal as a result : peacekeepers , Russia 's peacekeepers must be replaced with genuine , effective peacekeepers .
leave it , as the Treaties demand , to the competence of elected governments like mine at Westminster and like that in Ireland .
when there were collapses in their GDP , the public sector investment in R & D went up .
I 'm delighted that Mr. Borloo made mention of the meeting to be held next week which could give progress to this issue .
it is important to emphasise that the national experts in the Commission must be treated in a different way than was previously the case ; in other words , they must be given equal rights .
our role is to support and supplement the action of Member States .
I also deplore the fact that the number of political prisoners in Burma has increased from 1 300 to over 2 100 since the Saffron Revolution of September 2007 .
specific attention should be paid to women 's health care and hygiene needs .
will it undertake to study these proposals without delay and send a representative to the areas concerned to hold discussions with all the bodies affected ?
with tomorrow 's vote on the energy efficiency plan , the European Parliament will send a strong signal to the Commission and the Council on the need for urgent and targeted measures in this area .
with their successful experience and their technical skills behind them , the cities of the North are keen to help their counterparts in the developing world .
there we are putting a very strong emphasis indeed on trade , trade with Europe , but also trade among the countries of the Mediterranean .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , let me first of all say that we appreciate this report very much .
no progress has been made with regard to religious freedom , despite the new Law on Foundations .
we want all of the European Union 's citizens , not only young people , to be able to have the means and opportunity to learn at least two foreign languages .
we have taken that time .
subject : Frontex
but of course probably the best messages I can transfer today to you are the revised treaty proposals .
these eight guidelines give us the roadmap for the reforms that need to be tackled by 2010 , and are more than sufficient for launching national reform programmes .
a minimal contamination of soil also occurred due to radioactive fallout , which contributed to a small growth in the radioactivity of forest and agricultural foodstuffs obtained from the affected areas .
by extending the benefits of EU membership to those countries that are eligible under Article 49 , we hope to see develop the looser , more flexible Europe in which we believe as a group .
the VAT system created in 1993 is only transitional .
for us , technical harmonisation is also an important point .
Madam President , first of all , I would like to thank and congratulate the rapporteur , Mr Tannock , for the excellent report and very good preparation of the relevant resolution .
this is important .
the mutual proximity of the Mediterranean peoples is also seen in the economic and social cooperation within the European Economic Area and between the European Union and the Mediterranean countries .
we believe that at the very least the following must be guaranteed for Greece : no change in land use ; immediate general compensation for agricultural produce and damaged agricultural capital ; the rehousing of all rural residents at the State 's expense , through government agencies .
having led my group since 2002 , I have a touch of what we call in English the seven-year itch .
we have expanded the list of persons and units that are to be covered by restrictive measures so as to also include the freezing of assets held by companies owned and controlled by members of the regime in Burma or by persons associated with them .
in terms of agricultural trade , attention should focus on relaxing the pressure on producers caused by the imbalance between farmgate purchase prices of agricultural produce and their retail price levels .
it should be recalled that the objective of the Fund is to repair infrastructure and act as a refinancing tool , and not to compensate private damages .
I voted in favour of the report by my German colleague , Mr Böge , on the proposal for a decision on mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to the tune of EUR 13 million in order to help Ireland , which was hit by serious floods in November 2009 .
without them this framework agreement would certainly not exist and neither would there be any kind of prevention .
I would like to highlight the JPA 's concern at the repercussions of the current financial crisis , the adoption in Luanda of a resolution on the impact of the financial crisis on the ACP states , and the resolutions on its impact and on addressing the crisis in the ACP states .
therefore , our policy must be geared towards saying : Colonel Gaddafi must lose , and the Libyans must emerge victorious against Colonel Gaddafi .
( DE ) Mr President , the ending of set-aside is absolutely the right course of action for us to pursue .
that is unacceptable and Parliament actually has to be opposed to this proposal .
the review is intended not to amend some general provisions but to strengthen incentives ;
it cannot be right and justified to continue making payments based on how you farmed some 10 years ago .
the current regulation is necessary , for instance , for small businessmen on a business trip who need to speak to colleagues at home to resolve a problem .
that means that while we may not agree on every single point , we are broadly in agreement and want to play our part in making headway in this matter .
this is not low carbon and this is not sustainable .
the WTO agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary measures acknowledges that , while countries may use different standards and different methods of inspecting products , this does not necessarily increase the animal and public health risks .
I wonder if you can comment , Commissioner , on that very short timetable which we are leaving ourselves to introduce legislation .
in the framework of the Single Market Review , the Commission will analyse the possible reasons for the malfunctioning of retail services , seen both from consumers ' and suppliers ' perspectives .
regardless of what might be called the ideological stance - whether we are for or against nuclear technology - safety must be absolutely paramount .
I am opposed to regular preventative health check-ups for girls and women who have been granted asylum because of the threat of female genital mutilation , as I believe that it is discriminatory and represents an invasion of privacy .
the link between the ports of Rotterdam and Constanţa through the Rhine corridor , the Main Canal and River Danube cuts the distance between the North Sea and Black Sea by 4 000 kilometres .
the Union for the Mediterranean ( UfM ) is a formidable project which requires strong political involvement on the part of the European Parliament .
Greece , a Member State , must do more .
the service life of such constructions is several decades .
Henry Kissinger is said to have once asked for the telephone number to call to find out what the position of the European Union was in important matters of international policy .
in addition , we must negotiate effective agreements on deportation with the countries of origin .
as Mr Medina indicated , the main thing is to focus on the legal and legislative value of acts .
last weekend I was in Turkey , more specifically in eastern Anatolia , and I saw the problems in Diyarbakir in the Kurdish area .
for example , albeit slowly , as we have been told , a free trade agreement and bilateral association and cooperation agreements are being negotiated .
of course , I did not want one immediately as regards Pakistan .
if we do not finally and regularly name and shame the Member States where the majority of fraud is taking place , we will lose our credibility .
why not apply Treaty-based enhanced cooperation within the Treaties , with a central role for the European Commission ?
the European Union urgently needs coordinated , fair and efficient asylum procedures .
with the final of this year 's football championships approaching , there has been enormous pressure over the past few weeks on teams and players who might be able to influence the final outcome of the championship .
I now turn to the climate crisis and I hardly need to ask green politicians to evaluate the policy in this area .
use of this template will improve the transparency and coherence of the presentation of stakeholder consultations .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would also like to express my sincere thanks to the rapporteur and , of course , to our shadow rapporteur , both of whom have done valuable work on a highly technical dossier .
therefore , this debate is a golden opportunity to give an account of what it has achieved on a number of dossiers , in close cooperation with this House .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Mr President , my thanks to Mr Lehtinen and to the shadow rapporteurs for the good cooperation over the last few months .
the EU and Russia must first of all find a way of consolidating their partnership and of cooperating in the area of security policies , primarily the energy security policy .
the results of this study are expected to provide valuable input for its analysis .
with this in mind , Romania has embarked on developing a port terminal in Constanţa , capable of receiving liquefied natural gas which it will then distribute to other consumers in Europe .
today , with a population of 10 million , they are our largest minority .
voluntary system of labelling in Braille format on the packaging of industrial products ( written declaration )
very often , settlement deadlines are put off to very distant dates , and this is one reason why the economic situation of many farms is worsening .
the package must pave the way for sustainable public finances and economic growth .
( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , the European Union has made huge progress in the last few years .
this resolution calls for coordinated action between the EU , the UN and the African Union to isolate pirates in the region and ensure aid reaches this troubled region .
finally , I think that the proposal should not refer to Article 100 of the Treaty .
rapporteur . - ( NL ) I should like first of all to thank all the speakers for their appreciative words , especially Commissioner Dimas .
it is only a year and a half since we had a thorough discussion in Parliament of the Posting of Workers Directive and carried out a consultation process with social partners .
for the most part , domestic workers work under precarious conditions , frequently find themselves in legally dubious administrative situations which make their situation even less stable , and are often victims of discrimination , inequality and unfair or abusive treatment .
an EU internal market that complies with the system of global competition is ultimately the incarnation of this kind of opposition .
I would also like to thank the Commissioner for the tenaciousness he has shown over many months and the loyalty he has shown to the project .
we must promote safety at the workplace in the EU and in that respect the Willmott report is more satisfactory than the Commission proposal .
we have received strong assurances from the United States that they share our determination on this .
what is in the package ?
Europe claims to be at the forefront of this battle , and in fact the targets set by the 27 Member States for reducing emissions are on the right lines .
the report ' sets the principle of legislative excellence as a priority ' .
I agree with Commissioner Damanaki that we should not ask too much of our fishermen by on the one hand demanding that they make radical reforms while on the other liberalising trade .
consumers ' choice of agricultural products must also be guaranteed by preventing the contamination of traditional and organic crops by GMOs .
moreover , we have seen an unusually high number of deaths of migrant workers , including many compatriots of mine , many Portuguese citizens , even when legally employed .
but safety of road infrastructure is not limited to the major TEN roads ; 56 % of road deaths occur on rural roads .
we must implement a political system in line with a viable environment-friendly economy , and this means meeting the target of a 20 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions .
we are striving to overturn the EU 's research policy .
I share your view that this is an important dossier , and I am here for the third time in less than a year to discuss it with you .
it is politically unacceptable and economically dangerous for these agencies , which have played such a negative role in the present crisis , to continue to have the right , granted by the EU itself , to rate not only companies , but also the economies of the Member States .
we are going to work on it , and on support measures in particular , since everyone agrees on support for sensitive regions .
I would very much like to know how you see all of this : nurseries , schools , universities , libraries , care for the elderly , hospitals , museums and theatres .
I now look forward to working together with the Member States to see this directive properly implemented and enforced throughout the EU .
we have already had an exchange of opinions in ECON consultations , among the Three and in interparliamentary meetings .
we have the political capacity for that and we have need of cooperation .
( the sitting was suspended at 7.10 p.m. and resumed at 9 p.m. )
it focused especially on hospital antibiotic programmes , the influence of health care system parameters on the occurrence of antibiotic resistance and hospital-acquired infections and also management and responsibilities in this area .
we will also continue to monitor the general situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the country , with a special emphasis on the regulatory environment of NGOs and the media .
I am delighted that the Commissioner is with us because I would really like us to reject this new kind of blackmail using carbon emissions .
in the case of the EPAs , a liberalisation process of 15 years was considered acceptable by the EU and the ACP countries .
the EU-Canada Air Transport Agreement , signed on 17-18 December 2009 and which will finally establish a full Open Aviation Area between the EU and Canada , will be the subject of a separate recommendation .
one good argument against the introduction of emissions performance standards at this time is that CCS technology first needs to be tested and proven .
while we need some time to collectively reflect on the right strategic orientations for the future of the international process , we should not lower our ambition regarding commitments already made by the European Union .
what our fellow citizens want is specific actions , and pragmatic and rational solutions taken by leaders who know how to stay calm .
one of the teachers was killed whilst trying to shield a pupil with her own body .
they are about justice , and damages actions are complementary to this law enforcement .
this is a real technological achievement , illustrating what Europe can do when it decides to use new technology .
firstly , for the third year in a row , the annual accounts have received an unqualified positive opinion .
this is an important element in our history .
the European Union has so far held strictly to these , and EADS Airbus , too , has paid back most of the subsidies or even paid back more than it received from public funds .
it is the same in all the countries , but it is difficult to monitor and I should like to see if the police authorities are up to this .
at the same time , it simplifies operations and reduces costs for medium-sized pharmaceutical firms .
we are disappointed that many other good points included by the committee have been lost during negotiations , including stronger liability and monitoring , transport and the exclusion of enhanced oil recovery .
such a policy is fair and just and is , of course , unenforceable while Britain remains a member of the European Union .
expenditure on food is one of the main components of family budgets , accounting for 60 to 80 % in developing countries and 20 to 30 % in the less developed Member States .
all this after a big gas crisis !
- Before the vote on Amendment 2 :
our obligation is to correct the deficiencies that we find - whether this is in Member States or in third countries - because our obligation is to our consumers .
I think that coherence is required among policies aimed at growth and creating sustainable jobs , with a particular focus on the development and strengthening of the internal market , fostering international trade and competitiveness and providing an effective framework for preventing and correcting excessive budgetary positions .
the responsibility for this lies with animist witch doctors and the gangs they employ . it should be noted that the police also bear a share of the blame as they tend to turn a blind eye .
the problem exists in many South Asian countries , but I mention India because it is democratic , a fact that was underlined as the most important factor in connection with human rights .
instead , the errors should be eliminated from the system by means of far-reaching renationalisation measures , for example , in the agricultural sector .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
the social integration of Roma lags behind , being considered Utopian by many , both in the administration and in the community .
this would inevitably create instabilities in all sectors of the economy .
how would you explain this ?
in the interests of protecting human health and the environment , and in view of the fact that cyanide extraction techniques can affect a number of states when accidents occur , I firmly believe that it is necessary and , indeed , essential to establish unified legislation at the European level .
I am sure that virtually everyone can see the usefulness and necessity of such a policy .
the Charter of Fundamental Rights is an important addition .
Mr President , during the summer break in Northern Ireland , the region I come from , we suffered very heavy falls of rain during the month of August .
I welcome the Republic of Moldova 's involvement in certain Community programmes , helping to promote cooperation in the fields of culture , education , media , science and technology , as well as consolidate political relations through the Eastern Partnership and speed up negotiations on the new Association Agreement .
it is clear that the amounts entered in the Financial Perspective for 2007-2013 are already insufficient in themselves , in our opinion , to promote real economic and social cohesion in an enlarged European Union of 27 countries .
it was no easy task that you had and you have included something of what Professor Monti set out in his report and what Mr Grech drew up for the European Parliament .
at the end of the day , this is about the safety of our children .
the next item is the debate on six motions for resolutions on Tibet - plans to make Chinese the main language of instruction .
in writing . - ( LV ) At a time of economic crisis , we must carry out reforms to improve the environment for business , because that is our best opportunity to stimulate the economy by the most direct means , thereby creating new jobs .
thank you for letting me finish this speech .
we will put questions to the Council tomorrow .
- Before the vote on Amendment 1 :
when concluding BITs , the aim is to ensure that investors from developed countries have legal and financial protection .
I was also very clear that we have asked the United States - and we have sent letters and are still negotiating on this - to agree that the bilateral agreements cannot refer to PNR data .
in writing . - ( PT ) This regulation replaces Regulation ( EEC ) No 2913 / 92 , which established the Community Customs Code .
we believe that the European Union should take on the role of director in the fields of harmonisation , standardisation , interoperability , and research and development to give new projects , including public transport projects , a better chance of success and to facilitate the dissemination of sustainable solutions throughout Europe .
this is what the treaty requires from us .
it is important for all of us to obtain goods that fulfil set criteria , especially as regards not being dangerous to our health or life .
the original Tobin Tax idea of using a financial transaction tax for development aid has also strongly resurfaced .
in the same way , this text is part of a revival of the European Security and Defence Policy , which the European Council just decided on on Friday , and , for example , we shall succeed in achieving this famous objective , 60 000 men in 60 days .
in 2009 , I had the privilege in becoming the first ambassador of Rape Crisis North East based in Dundalk .
now , whilst debt and its proper management is one issue that appears everywhere at the moment , another is that of compensation packages and conflict of interest .
it illustrates the Commission 's interest and the European Parliament would be well advised to use this document .
immediate action must be taken by all EU Member States to close down illegal sites , by means of better coordination among the police forces responsible .
we have worked hard and we have also shown ourselves to be flexible .
in this connection we must be honest and say that the developments that we are witnessing in some countries , where there is competition for lower and lower taxes , will make it very difficult to finance the security aspect of flexicurity .
many of them have turned to me with requests regarding the need for mutual recognition of ID cards for severely disabled people .
Mr President , I wish to support this resolution on human rights violations and war crimes committed in Sri Lanka .
they do not , and the pretence that they do is a huge breach of faith with the people .
I would like to address all those fellow Members from the Committee on Budgets who have complained that this debate has become politicised .
their work is hard , and they do not always have the opportunity to take a holiday , for example .
the family had not paid their rent for 40 years , in spite of a court order ordering them to do so .
however , freedom must always go hand in hand with responsibility .
two important instruments have been created in this area , namely the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme and the JEREMIE programme .
I think it is a very important innovation and of course , based on the proposal that will be made by Vice-President Ashton , as High Representative , we will work on this matter together with Parliament .
it is an EU of free , sovereign states with equal rights , which supports and promotes the protection of nature , peace and cooperation among peoples .
we should therefore see his intervention in the light of his implacable hostility towards the Jewish state , which is , quite rightly in my view , the EU 's ally and strong partner .
I think it strange that it should take the Council so long to come up with a common position on the seven directives that are intended to prevent maritime pollution disasters and also to reinforce preparedness for when things go wrong .
this is why I consider it important that when this House debates the quality , efficiency and equity of education and training , reference should also be made to the importance of physical education and its quality , efficiency and equity .
solving these matters requires determination , foresight and patience .
I am saying this in front of the Development Commissioner and we know that the Development DG is helping to raise the institutional capacities of these countries .
in this respect , many can be held responsible .
around EUR 100 million have been expended on an environmental analysis performed by the company that is to lay the pipeline , namely Nord Stream - a gas supply agreement between Gerhard Schröder and Vladimir Putin .
nothing has changed : a common currency without common fiscal and economic policy is and remains a risky undertaking .
what rights did Ophir Rakhum , aged 16 , have ?
all asylum seekers , by contrast , were transferred from the island to the centres in Trapani , Bari and Crotone .
therefore , we have been unable to support this proposal .
( LT ) The White Paper suggests considering three factors when determining a strategy for Europe on nutrition- , overweight- and obesity-related health issues .
thank you for the extremely relevant comments and views you have expressed about this report .
the application of criminal sanctions will have to be negotiated by the European Union 's Presidency on behalf of the Member States .
credit rating agencies from countries outside the European Union will have the opportunity to approach the European market and operate here by means of an equivalence regime involving certification - which is important for small agencies - or by means of the endorsement system - which can be used by large agencies .
because of the financial crisis , Europeans are not sure whether their money is safe with the banks , and they do not know whether they will still have a job tomorrow .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
Prince Pöttering , Emperor Barroso and the rulers of their vassal states have decided that Europe 's citizens do not matter .
8 .
the Malaysian Government must stop these practices .
an attempt is now being made , through the European External Action Service ( EEAS ) , to bring the Union 's external policy instruments into a coherent framework - the existing resources are being brought together and complemented by new resources .
while it is extremely important that the EU responds effectively to humanitarian catastrophes , it is equally important that we are not the only ones responding .
one final point : like others before me , I would like to thank the rapporteur , Mr Ferrari , for his excellent work .
I agree with calls for the EU to provide more funding through the ESF in order to help combat poverty and social exclusion - it is vital that women are fully integrated into the labour market .
( GA ) Madam President , thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak on this topic .
the European Union faces these major challenges of direct relevance to its future .
in a situation like the present , in which Member States are asked , on the one hand , to implement severe budget policies to reduce deficits and debts and , on the other , to pay contributions to participate in the stabilisation fund , there is a real risk of collapse and a risk of States no longer being able to finance themselves .
trade policy cannot therefore be reduced just to the immediate interests of a few economic operators .
of course we need to do more .
rapporteur . - ( NL ) Three years ago , over a hundred donors and partner countries entered into a commitment in Paris to make aid to developing countries more effective , amongst other things to aim for more harmonisation , democratic control , mutual accountability and greater transparency .
Mr President , is Europe going to have to face a new gas crisis this winter ?
we are applying general rules and principles and instruments to 27 very different situations , in terms not only of economic development but also of energy mix , the history of those countries and the culture of awareness of some of these problems .
one honourable Member made a reference to subsidiarity .
another very significant matter which I would like to stress is that the judgments handed down so far by the court in Luxembourg are responses to an earlier issue .
( FR ) Mr President , I am somewhat anxious because I see that in Amendment 231 we have voted for a European foundation for the improvement ' of loving and working conditions ' .
in my own country , Scotland , the creative industries generate over £ 5 billion annually thereby contributing both to the economy and our society as a whole .
please continue to work on this agenda and introduce the necessary improvements .
for we are now better equipped to take up three major challenges in the face of which , ladies and gentlemen , we will together be playing not only for the credibility of the European Union , but also , to repeat the word used by Mr Havel just now , for its sovereignty .
the EU is an area of solidarity , and the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) is a part of that .
the last point I would like to mention quickly is of course the use of immigration .
in writing . - I am against the concept of 20 weeks at full pay and voted against that particular amendment .
in my view , food safety should not fall by the wayside because of budgetary constraints .
experts claim that the European institutions simply disregard this serious problem .
not only for me personally but for many Europeans this will be a test showing whether the European Union treats human rights as a transnational issue and a matter that touches us all , or whether it is going to take selective approach in the case of China .
in fact it would be enough to grub up all the illegally planted vineyards in those traditional southern countries , and one of them in particular , and the whole reform would be accomplished .
I also plead for implementing programmes similar to PEACE in Southeast Europe as well , especially in the Balkans , mainly since the events in recent years have been an alarm signal .
for my part , I applaud your personal commitment as a member of the European Parliament .
secondly , we expect Belarus to take further irreversible steps towards democratic standards , without which our relationship cannot develop to its full potential .
Mr President , the work programme presented here shows exactly how easily official Europe bandies about the crucial term ' subsidiarity ' .
let us look at the property rights-based systems in Iceland and in New Zealand where , as the previous speaker has said , the coastal communities are looked after because they are given their rights in perpetuity which they can sell on , they can trade , or they can leave to future generations .
how will it be possible to create balance and harmony between the different priorities ?
secondly , FYROM was the first country in the region to comply with all the visa liberalisation requirements .
for European standardisation , the challenge is to achieve close cooperation between the creators of standards , innovators , academics and researchers .
just as questionable is the issue of whether the FBI needs to know the name , address , e-mail address , credit card number and number of suitcases of people travelling to the USA and whether it should be permitted to store this data for up to 15 years .
we would then have objective information about the possible threat and might hope to avoid it .
the EU must also ensure that it obtains a restriction on the planned exemptions from visa bans and the establishment of new sanctions , economic sanctions in particular , and , of course , this whole range of retaliatory measures will be dependent on the progress made in the negotiations .
it is a substance that is particularly harmful to human health , as it is classified as a carcinogen .
as regards the instrument to which you referred , as well as the other concrete initiatives , the Commission undoubtedly cannot , ladies and gentlemen , do everything alone .
therefore , given the decision made by the only legitimate President , I hope that Parliament , the Institutions , the Council and the Commission will support his decision as the Organization of American States is doing , as the United Nations is doing and , by the way , as the United States is doing .
( CS ) Mr President , Commissioner , I too am not happy about the curious changes to the agreement , such as refunds of customs charges on imported components in the case of products for export to the Union and a reduction in the 60 % threshold for determining the country of origin .
mostly importantly , the 20 % set aside is not revenue that accrues to a few superstars .
we should pass it on and , at the same time , be aware that we cannot lock up this value within our European Union .
the whole of this discussion has taken place as if the euro were of no global importance .
an important element of the strategy should be a strengthening of the free movement of people , and that of all groups : workers , business people , scientists , students and even pensioners , and that is contained in our resolution .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( PT ) As you know , during its term of office the Portuguese Presidency is to organise a summit with Russia to be held in Mafra , a town not far from our capital , Lisbon .
in this discharge procedure we have to say what is going wrong , and sometimes we forget how many things are going well , how many extremely competent staff we have in the Commission and in this House , in Parliament , including the ushers , so many services , the translators , the interpreters , who provide an excellent service .
in writing . - The ECR has always worked constructively to ensure that the eurozone can formulate a lasting solution to its sovereign debt crisis .
in writing . - Our group voted in favour , given that 16 out of the 17 amendments tabled were adopted or included in the compromise amendments drafted by the rapporteur , including the one asking that the candidacy be linked to closer cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia ( ICTY ) .
the relevant law has already been drafted and approved , and we expect that on 6 May the Senate will vote on this law and that , once it is passed , the Treaty of Lisbon will receive parliamentary ratification .
you say that you want to understand and that you respect the concerns that Europeans have about the Union , but you put pressure on the Irish people to go back on their decision , when they were only voicing , like the French and the Dutch , what millions of other Europeans are thinking .
tolerance is a fundamental element of respect for human rights . it is mentioned in all EU documents .
in writing . - We need to do more to help those workers who are affected by the exploitation of ' undeclared work ' .
the European Union 's value base is structured around a respect for the principles of human rights and equality .
for example , it would make it easier for us to cooperate effectively in general terms if Russia implemented higher data protection standards ; research , education and culture also provide numerous opportunities for cooperation in the interests of our citizens , and should be taken into consideration in the new agreement .
fish , man , cormorants and seals are competing systems in the same ecological environment .
I voted against the report not because I am against fundamental rights .
now you do not want people to be able to seek healthcare wherever they want to in Europe .
for that to be achieved , it is essential to mainstream health in all policy areas and promote the development of new technologies and innovations .
precisely the same thing happened when we negotiated the climate targets .
agreement on one of the five proposals , the regulation on the CO2 emissions of cars , was reached this week .
( BG ) Mr President , it is a pleasure for me to be participating in the discussion of this document , which highlights that the best basis for the future of all the countries in the region is their full integration as Member States of the European Union .
however , I reject the direct implication within this report that the European Union should replace the key Member States as the major actor in this particular process .
equal treatment between men and women engaged in a self-employed capacity (
in short , the point that escapes you is the fact that companies are merely playing by the rules that you set .
a statement on Nasrin Sotoudeh 's case was made by High Representative and Vice-President Ashton on 14 January 2011 , which mentioned both Ms Sotoudeh and Ms Shiva Nazar Ahari , a lawyer and a journalist , sentenced respectively to eleven and four years in prison .
- ( NL ) Mr President , let us take a moment to look at the figures .
it is now an international crisis .
do data protection authorities have adequate resources to enforce data protection rules in respect of SIS II ?
we also spoke about the fact that solidarity should always be accompanied by responsibility .
expenditure for 2009 represents 0.89 % of GDP .
this discrepancy is the result of a shortage of organs for transplantation in comparison to need .
the parliamentary term is coming to an end , and ' take it or leave it ' approaches would be wrong , because , President-in-Office of the Council , Parliament reacts very badly when it is not respected or feels that it is being put under too much pressure .
I believe that we have made quite a considerable effort , and I think that this is a significant step forward as a starting point .
the introduction of a ban on the trade in certain seal products in the European Union undoubtedly strengthens that protection .
changes to data must take place individually , and I want to stress again that we cannot trample on human rights in the name of the fight with terrorism .
what can be said in any event is that both Russia and Georgia have failed .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , it has become very clear from our debate today that we have made an extremely important step forward for the transport sector with the Eurovignette Directive .
Parliament 's role is to serve the European mandarins and no longer to represent the political diversity among our peoples .
only this type of government will be in a position to ensure the required unity of the Palestinian people .
( DA ) Mr President , one of the most elementary tasks of a parliament is to scrutinise the finances .
firstly , as others before me have said , when it comes to parliamentary control and the Assembly , we should continue to hold two annual meetings and not reduce these to one .
finally , I wish to express my gratitude for having the opportunity to take part in this very important debate .
as a doctor and frequent air traveller , I totally reject this draconian measure for health reasons , not to mention privacy and ineffectiveness reasons , and I hope that the EU refuses such mandatory measures Europe-wide .
there are many points of contact in this context .
5 .
the debate is closed .
although the 2012 budget for Parliament and the other institutions should be about consolidation , this should not create obstacles preventing investments , since investment projects ensure the smooth operation of Europe 's economies .
very good - we support you in this , too !
I know how difficult it was to extract the compromise from the Council which exempts children under the age of 12 from the obligation to provide fingerprints .
- Madam President , Mr Graefe zu Baringdorf 's allegation of deliberate mixing of this contaminate into feed is contemptible and unworthy of any professional politician .
I would ask you to support the motion for a resolution by the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) .
extended maternity leave , improved working conditions ... women have been at the heart of the debate today in the European Parliament .
I am thinking here mainly about the Eastern Partnership and also the Balkans , or , in other words , countries that are not yet formally European Union Member States .
voting for the Fajon report means indirectly recognising the independence of Kosovo , and that is not acceptable .
this year , only 11 % of the 500 million euros available has been requested .
too often this does happen , not only through violence , but also in limiting freedom of expression such as through the abuse of blasphemy laws .
the results have started to appear but the programmes in operation require more time in order to be able to assess their efficiency .
I have voted in favour of the Berlato report , as has the Confederal Group of the European United Left / Nordic Green Left .
Nelson Mandela was right when he said that there was a tragic failure of leadership in Zimbabwe .
within these national plans , major importance should be attached to crossborder transport to and from third countries , as well as to the security of cargoes .
in writing . - I fully support the report on increasing consumer protection in this area .
we would not have been able to say this in a similar debate in October 2008 .
the challenge for us all is to try and bring a message of prevention into the public domain while not bringing back the stigma that sometimes comes with it .
the recent results published by the Fundamental Rights Agency on minorities and discrimination in the EU , which the Commission welcomed yesterday , show that racism and xenophobia are persistent phenomena in the European Union and that they affect the lives of our minorities .
I have voted in favour of it because it is the first directly democratic instrument in the EU .
this , I need hardly say , is clearly asking too much of consumers .
( PL ) Madam President , the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights in Vienna is yet another costly institution that , in addition , arrogates to itself the right to monitor and lecture the Member States on compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights and other matters .
I must particularly highlight the proposal by the Socialist Group in the European Parliament on using the subsidiarity principle when applying the European variation system to medicinal products sold exclusively on the national market , thereby protecting small and medium-sized enterprises producing herbal medicines and homeopathic products .
I agree too , however , that there should be harder-hitting measures , such as those proposed by Mr Protasiewicz or Mrs Ojuland .
firstly , they have taught us that this crisis has affected the whole sector , not only airlines but also airports , and we congratulate the Commission on its comprehensive vision when considering the consequences and assistance .
it is thus clear that one of the priorities for agriculture must be to draw up a common plan of action , mainly through programmes aimed at preventing the deterioration of and protecting agricultural land .
what emerges as a top priority for the realisation of this project is the adoption of urgent measures to facilitate the mobility of citizens which would make the market more open to European workers and promote full employment .
the EU charter represents the opposite of the ' leaner but keener ' EU which is often mentioned in solemn speeches about subsidiarity .
there will be no discrimination .
it is unethical to use environmental concerns in order to achieve political objectives and , for that reason , I will vote against it .
on the border between India and Pakistan conflicts arise that are often provoked by the Pakistani state , as we very well know .
the President of the Commission , Mr Barroso , and the Commissioner for Industry , Mr Verheugen , are , in my opinion , responsible for this .
we must never allow such a situation to be repeated ; I wish to spare the European Union such a catastrophe , which is why I am against capping and also why I ultimately abstained from voting on this report .
I must underline the excellent work that we have done and that this House has done in this area .
Madam President , certain Member States have jumped the gun on stress tests .
the books must be opened up so that the workers and those affected by them can see for the first time where the money has gone and workers ' control must be exercised on the operation of these agencies so that their massive resources are used for the benefit of working people , small farmers and the environment .
this would have transformed the EUR 5 billion into EUR 50-80 billion in investment , which we need at this moment for the European economy .
it is essential that action is taken by governments across Europe to ensure that road safety is taken seriously .
the violent radicalisation of individuals and groups in recent years has shown up one of the greatest weaknesses in our legal system and represented one of the greatest onslaughts on our democratic institutions .
very simple initiatives such as a sentence stating that women in particular are encouraged to apply have also produced good results .
Madam President , I very much welcome the fact that we are dealing with the situation in the livestock sector , because it is a serious one .
now that advertising has assumed an even greater role , it is essential that we determine the criteria that enable consumers and patients to be fully aware of , and certain about , what sort of effects these medicines have .
the vote will take place on Tuesday .
the European Investment Bank is very active in this process .
I welcome this important discussion with the European Commission .
( SV ) I have a short question to ask the Commissioner .
the future of Europe will be played out with the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon .
the assumption here is that the European citizen is some sort of backward child , and we are the well-meaning but authoritative parents : we know all and we control all .
I notice that this is very different from the current possibility that the Member States will subsidise insurance internally , with the CAP Health Check .
we should call a spade a spade .
governments of EU countries should co-ordinate their response - but this must not be an excuse to extend the competence of the Commission into new areas .
subject : immigration in the wake of the EU-Africa summit
the issue of protection of children 's rights has benefited from the increasing attention paid to it by European Union legislators .
that is not actually an impossible task .
these measures involve salary cuts and cuts in public health services , education and other areas , reductions in social support and tax increases on essential goods , including foodstuffs , as is now also happening in Portugal , following Greece , Ireland and other countries .
these elements are essential to ensure the specificity and quality of the label itself .
we therefore certainly need better coordination and what we are trying to do , through this report and the consultation we held , was to give incentives , to explain to the Member States , that we have every reason to proceed with the application and implementation of this programme .
moreover , as the Commissioner said , some of us have had cause to experience this state of affairs at first hand .
so , whilst I welcome this possible compromise , I welcome a sensible and pragmatic approach to this matter .
as the resolution says , not even the renewed targeted sanctions have had the desired impact .
it is not the Council arguing with Parliament .
fourthly , non-technological innovations , including in terms of design , services and cultural creativity , are also important factors .
instead , I think that we who live in high-taxation countries should look at other models , such as a flatter tax .
therefore , I voted in favour .
the release of the entire quantity of milk would force dairy farms in Austria to close down and it would have serious and unpredictable consequences , including for the cultivated landscape .
I have recently visited Roma settlements in Serbia and it is inconceivable that places like this still exist in Europe .
indeed , in order to protect industry in the sector , Italy had asked for the level not to fall below 160g CO2 / km and , in the Council , many Member States seemed to be moving towards an agreement for a minimum threshold of 155g CO2 / km .
I am very supportive of Serbia making progress towards EU accession , as I am all of the Western Balkans , as a former member of the relevant European Parliament delegation .
cooperation of this kind can bring measurable benefits in the face of human tragedy , particularly when it is necessary to react quickly and not to first have to start by collecting money .
hence it is quite wrong now to boost the subsidies to EU parties through appropriations to create political foundations at European level .
marketing is an extremely important factor , but this must be ensured within the Union too . I completely agree with the repeal of distillation , and this is the most positive element of the reform , but I reiterate that this money will be received by those who have produced for distillation up to now .
others have an international dimension , such as the conflict in the Middle East , which you mentioned .
we must vote against the interim agreement and we must not postpone our vote .
it is this particular feature that justifies this specific request .
( applause )
the support measures should be part of a more global plan , making it possible , in particular , to support the sectors most at threat , as the entire EU car industry is today .
at the same time , the OSCE and the Council of Europe have such great experience in many fields that if we were to add , for example , the weight of the European Union to the OSCE 's experience in handling interethnic conflicts , humanitarian security could be strengthened powerfully in the European Union .
if as a result of these arrangements , products bearing the flower label fall within a higher price category , as is the case with organic products , then attempts to foster consumption of these products will fail .
Mr President , I will not comment on this new cosying up between the British Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives , as has been displayed by Mr Callanan and Mr Davies here tonight .
therefore , Parliament is , by all means , prepared to free up funds for job creation or preservation , funds for providing economic momentum - in addition to the range of instruments already at the disposal of the European Union .
having been encouraged to take out loans which they perhaps could not afford to repay , they then found themselves bearing the brunt of being unable to pay those loans .
concentration and pluralism in the media in the European Union (
hence the European Commission 's entirely legitimate wish to adapt Community legislation to try to prevent not only actual terrorist attacks , but also the preparations for these attacks .
I would reply to them in advance that , thanks to this market economy , the average income of our fellow citizens has risen by 40 % over the last 40 years .
having said that , we must take one thing at a time .
in writing . - I voted in favour of labelling country of origin and fur and welcome this piece of legislation .
special quality which exceeds minimum standards must be detailed on the product to improve its competitiveness by drawing attention to its additional qualities , for which the consumer must pay .
( HU ) We have seen explosive growth in many areas in recent decades , but nothing compares with the growth that has taken place in global trade and , in connection with this , the transportation of goods .
indeed , in all Member States , it should be possible for any citizen or person living in the European Union who committed a crime outside the European Union to be brought before the courts .
the aim is to achieve complete worldwide abolition , which is one of the priorities of the Union 's human rights policy .
so we have actually opened up our markets in the agricultural sector to these countries .
more than that , though , we will need , in future , to think , to define , to support and to inspire a model of European development that is ethical , humane , socially responsible , and sustainable in all senses of the word .
thus attempts to vilify the Holy Orthodox Church in Bulgaria and to undermine its right to self-determination are promoted by the incorrect judgment on the petition submitted by the ' Alternative Synod ' , thereby creating conditions to mislead the members of the Commission .
accomplishment of the internal market in Community postal services ( debate )
there is consensus about the necessity of further action to achieve effective redress for consumers and thereby restore their confidence in the market .
of course not , the aim above all is to learn from them .
( the sitting was opened at 9 a.m. )
thank you very much for your cooperation .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Legal Affairs . - ( DE ) Mr President , we all know that our capacity to build on the growth and innovation potential of small and medium-sized enterprises is decisive for the prosperity of the European Union .
if we do not , we will continue to jeopardise the agricultural world , which is a victim of its continuing isolation .
this is certainly one of the focuses of the new political phase beginning in Europe with the Treaty of Lisbon , and it has , of course , been one of the focuses for the Spanish Presidency .
a moment ago , I was talking about these matters with the President of Georgia , and we agreed that it is not an easy process , but that it is essential if we are to be similar to each other and if we are to work more easily with each other .
from a geographical perspective , it is sub-Saharan Africa , as we just recalled as a matter of fact , which continues to experience the most catastrophic situation and , with things going as they are , the risk is that this will continue for many more years .
I am thinking of financial institutions , like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank , which should be more flexible when determining aid levels and granting aid during the crisis .
no worker must be employed as legal ' cheap ' labour under this measure , as this is damaging to our labour market and it is socially unjust .
secondly , Russia will not be at the donors ' conference , to give you a clear answer , but I think the time will come when the question of damages might have to be brought to the fore , and an international investigation then held .
in parallel , the peace process itself must be driven forward rapidly .
these include identifying how the annual maintenance cost of Galileo , which is estimated at EUR 800 million , will be financed once it has become operational ; the possible data protection risks associated with using global navigation satellite system applications and services ; and the pressing need to find additional funding to ensure that operations involving the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service ( EGNOS ) and Galileo are soon successful .
in order to achieve fair and uniform conditions for all farmers in the European Union , which should , unquestionably , be the main objective of reform of the common agricultural policy , care should also be taken over areas with natural handicaps .
( DE ) Mr President , Mrs Győri , Commissioner , we are all aware that both of these countries - Romania and Bulgaria - have invested a great deal in securing the external borders of the European Union .
we must keep in mind that in the area of the European Union many Member States are facing issues such as availability of funds , indebtedness and the sustainability of social security systems .
the challenges facing Europeans offer the EU an opportunity to demonstrate to citizens that they are more united , more responsive and more anxious to protect them .
Poland , which has historical experience in transformation of its political-economic system , may serve as a good guide and model for both eastern and southern EU neighbours in the current policy .
air transport is in fact waiting for practical and tangible measures that will enable the requirements not only of carriers , but above all of passengers , to be met .
it is time to stop this imperialism .
situations of fragility
the Albanian socialists , led by Edi Rama , accuse Prime Minister Sali Berisha not only of electoral fraud , but also of being responsible for extensive corruption and the deteriorating living conditions of the people .
they then incur considerable running costs , such as for labour , repairs and , of course , fuel .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , first of all I fully share the views expressed by the EU presidency about the seriousness of the latest development in Georgia .
secondly , we want detailed information on Frontex 's work programme for the coming year , and because Commissioner Frattini , Vice-President of the European Commission , himself announced that from next year Frontex 's mission in the Mediterranean would become permanent , we now expect the Agency to be allocated far more than the EUR 10 million that it originally projected up to now for missions on the maritime borders .
serious consequences also result from the pay gap between men and women , or the so-called glass ceiling , which prevents women from securing managerial or leading roles .
but while these wilderness areas are small in area , they are of high value in both scientific and cultural terms .
I feel it is vital that the rules we make do not hinder use of the available credits for which we fight so fiercely at each round of negotiations with the Member States in the Council .
I feel sure that Slovenia will carry out the task ahead with great competence .
Mrs Striffler , you had a further 12 seconds .
I support the request submitted to the Commission for creating a public ecodesign database available online .
the European Social Fund is not a tool for implementing such ideas .
against piracy we need conclusive action on two levels : in the area of diplomacy , supporting African countries , which suffer from the presence of genuine mafias on their territory , who use extortion and kidnapping in order to blackmail fishermen and merchants from one part of the world ; in the area of legitimate use of force , using it as a dissuasive tool , which is perhaps the only language that pirates understand .
albeit , I think the whole first-reading process is severely flawed , and I hope we do not adopt this for future legislative acts .
in writing . - It is important for the EU to maintain its focus on disadvantaged areas to ensure they do not suffer further in the current economic crisis .
most Member States have introduced targeted measures in an effort to support employment and limit the effects of the crisis on ordinary citizens .
Commissioner , we understand that the images will not be stored .
I should therefore like , once again , to say thank you for the work which has been done and to express my satisfaction at the fact that , for the first time , we are seeing an association of employers and an association of workers joining forces and agreeing , thereby enabling us to arrive at this motion for a resolution .
hidden in a catalogue of worthy principles and pseudo-good intentions lurks the judicialisation of political correctness .
it is about taking the very basic blue-sky research that we do so well in the European Union , and translating it all the way to the marketplace so that we provide the jobs here , and they are not provided abroad .
trade policy , especially commercial conditionality , can , without doubt , contribute to more effective global governance through the exercising of mild power .
this is why I support the forthcoming Multiannual Financial Framework , which will help convince European citizens that the Union has the ability to think and act to protect their long-term interests and achieve effective results in ensuring stable growth and internal cohesion .
Mr President , it is a good thing that Europe is making its voice heard in this part of Africa which is once again at risk of becoming a theatre for virulent conflict , after the farce of a presidential campaign we witnessed a few days ago .
let me repeat : this debate has encouraged me to keep going along the well-worn path and to make sure that this time we will be successful .
the global financial and economic crisis has aggravated the situation , and the populations of the countries of the South are the main victims .
for this reason I welcome the Commission 's recommendation to direct the Member States to make use of the EU 's existing funds .
however , I also note that India is still off track on most of the Millennium Development Goals ( MDGs ) such as infant mortality , maternal health , child malnutrition and the battle against malaria , tuberculosis and HIV / AIDS .
Sixthly and finally , Community fishing vessels for which a fishing authorisation has been issued shall transmit to their competent national authority the data concerning their catches and fishing effort with a frequency appropriate to the agreement and fishery concerned .
no , it does not work like that .
in particular , as regards its vehicle fleet , the Commission has already set a target of reducing CO2 emissions by an average of 26 % between 2006 and 2012 .
in my opinion , this part of the proposal is superfluous .
such a risky technology for generating energy with all its hazardous by-products and fatal consequences for both man and nature in the event of nuclear meltdown should not be glossed over under the pretext of climate protection .
the procedure established in the two proposals is based on a high degree of trust and cooperation between the Member States and the Commission .
this is why I am happy that we have discussed this important problem today .
it is necessary to check whether Union funds are being well used , whether these institutions are meeting the objectives outlined for them , and whether any resources are being wasted .
amid all the problems that the crisis is forcing us to deal with , we must not overlook the longer-term prospects , the structural prospects for growth and employment .
yesterday Mr Wiersma mentioned that failure to acknowledge the 1915-1916 Armenian genocide is a problem .
these institutions are a precondition for creating a natural gas integrated market .
I voted in favour of the report on European cooperation in vocational education and training because this issue occupies an important place in the Europe 2020 strategy with the aim of ensuring economic development .
thus , it does not strike me as impossible to support that .
I shall take it , therefore , that there are no comments , as Madame President is not seeking the floor again .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , according to the aid agencies , the situation in North Kivu is in some respects even worse than in Darfur .
in the aftermath of the economic downturn , as Mr Callanan mentioned , these discussions were indeed difficult .
to sum up , let me emphasise that all the non-standard measures we have adopted during the period of acute financial stress are temporary in nature and were designed with exit considerations in mind .
Article 13 of the Treaty establishing the European Community has formed the legal basis for two directives : the Directive of 29 June 2000 implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin , and the Directive of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation .
we really must ensure that we bang the drum in respect of the press and the rest of the public and ensure that much more focus is put on areas such as SOLVIT and the scoreboards .
I welcome this proposal , and I consider it particularly significant that the new regulation contains a specific reference to ' Made in ' labelling .
this means we must give the industry the chance to make preparations over a long period of time in order to take account of the compensating extra income from property rights on ready-made parts , a concept which makes no sense at the present time since we operate on the basis that property refers to the design as a whole .
Parliament demands that living things should not be subject to patents and that the plundering of genetic resources by business and industry , particularly in developing countries , should cease .
the report is certainly significant because it very clearly states the fact that the Russian Federation - right from the start of the conflict - organised training on South Ossetian territory , and provided the South Ossetians with military technology and also other military equipment .
look at the other continents and the public funds invested there .
I agree with Mr Barroso that energy policy may be the European Union 's next big integration project .
more than ever we need to address today 's concerns : what we can do to boost growth , jobs and social stability in a period of growing inflation ; what we can do to improve financial stability , building on and reinforcing the instruments available to the Union - and available to the Commission as well , which is an important discussion .
the Iraqi Human Rights Minister is currently holding individual meetings with the residents in order to establish their rights and determine whether they wish to return to Iraq or leave for a third country .
the internal market and foreign and security policy will not endure if there is no strong cultural base to support them .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I am of course very honoured to participate in these debates , which particularly interest me since I have to make proposals on the reform of the common agricultural policy .
it would be inappropriate for pharmaceutical manufacturers who are not targets for falsification to bear the high cost of the security devices .
if anyone was asked whether they thought it possible for a European country to consign someone into the hands of an executioner and a dictatorship such as Iran , the answer would undoubtedly be that it was unimaginable .
there are many positive examples of how the European Union , under the direction of Mr Solana , has dealt with this in the past few years .
the EU has responded quickly , not seeking headlines but with a total focus on getting help to the people in need .
in this respect , too , we demand the equal treatment of the two institutions , as we have equal status as legislators .
claims to sovereignty over the area by the five border countries - Canada , Denmark , Russia , the United States and Norway - leads to obvious tensions .
it is appropriate that Ireland should be concerned about these issues because it saw discrimination and loss of life in Northern Ireland for many years .
if the proposed amendment is not approved , we would paradoxically end up with the precise opposite , since many farmers might decide to stick with their old , polluting tractors , thus causing environmental deterioration in Europe .
I would now like to give the floor to my colleague , Mrs Ferrero-Waldner .
a single labour market for researchers , which means establishing a single European career path in the field of research and an integrated information system for jobs and training contracts ;
I am glad to support this report and hope that it will be the start of more measures in this direction .
( PL ) Mr President , I did not think the last week would end so successfully .
verification of credentials : see Minutes
assuming that a pesticide sprayer has an average service life of 12 to 15 years , it is estimated that approximately 125 000 to 250 000 new sprayers are purchased in the Community every year .
this minority of 10-12 million lives in segregation and experience their educational disadvantages and hopeless employment situation as a devaluation of their citizenship .
collection and management of data on the Common Fisheries Policy ( vote )
the proportion of allowances that may be auctioned is moderate , very moderate , and the limit used to calculate the allowances allocated to the various operators is realistic .
how we design the system is therefore crucial .
overall , however , the Member States need to coordinate their tax policies , otherwise things will not continue to go well in the European Union .
if you do something about that , then you will be helping the rest of the world .
for example , in November 2009 , the special rapporteur of the United Nations Human Rights Council argued that the proposed special law against media crimes in Venezuela - I quote - ' would involve serious violations of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and would curtail press freedom in the country if it is adopted in its current form ' .
my question relates to Euratom .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , Minister , Commissioner , I am delighted that we today have the opportunity to debate such an important package together , and I fully anticipate that tomorrow we will be adopting decisions on the basis of a very large majority .
we need to make it more efficient and make it more cost-effective , but we also need to make sure that people are able to make a living from it : not only the people involved in the industry , but also people living in coastal communities .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
what is clear is that the PKK continues not only as a terrorist organisation but also with its criminal networks , which extend beyond Turkey throughout Europe .
I remain convinced that in the fight against organised crime it can be very useful .
employee participation in companies with a European Statute ( vote )
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this cooperation must be improved .
I want to make it clear that I believe that the vast majority of the people of Northern Ireland do not wish to return now , or any time in the future , to what we went through in the past .
although Europol has a reliable data protection system , it needs to be brought into line with the Treaty of Lisbon so that it can perform its duties under full democratic scrutiny .
Mr President , the most significant document on the EU security strategy was delivered by Xavier Solana .
last but not least , I would like to point out that the EU should strive for the widest ratification and implementation of the Rome Statute in relations with those countries that have not yet done so .
finally , there were no major changes to the original draft and no surprises on the amendments adopted .
as Chair of the European Parliament delegation for relations with Switzerland , Iceland and Norway and the Joint Parliamentary Committee of the European Economic Area , I welcome this report .
today , however , you are aware of the sense of disappointment felt in these countries .
at the same time , for this year inflation forecasts have been revised up to 3.8 % in the EU and 3.6 % in the euro area .
I do not like the word .
Benazir Bhutto fought for a democratic Pakistan and a peaceful transition to civilian rule .
we have already debated the Europe 2020 strategy together in this Parliament .
work needs to be done at the start of the product chain where this happens .
I voted in favour of this report on the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste to send a clear message to the Member States : polluters must be held responsible for their waste .
amendment of Regulation ( EC ) No 663 / 2009 establishing a programme to aid economic recovery by granting Community financial assistance to projects in the field of energy ( debate )
the so-called guarantees given to the Irish people change nothing , mean nothing and are irrelevant .
yet the Union cannot act in the interests of its citizens if it lacks the resources to do so .
in this way , the objectives of the new directive have been attained : reformed spectrum management , improved consistency of the regulations governing the internal e-communications market , and increased level of security and integrity , to the benefit of service users .
there can be no policy of secrecy in applying and interpreting the law .
Madam President , what we are facing is not a crisis of the eurozone , but a crisis of public finance in some Member States who happen to be in the eurozone - it could equally well be Hungary .
indeed , the objective of the programme of social measures approved by us last year will not be realised unless we pass a significant part of it , i.e. patients ' rights in trans-border health care .
we note what Mrs Lulling has said , and I am sure that the statements made in this House will be clarified .
the importance must be emphasised of gender budgeting as a good governance tool to improve efficiency and fairness , proper monitoring of how budgetary allocations affect the economic and social opportunities of men and women , and flexibility to restructure the ones that negatively affect the achievement of gender equality .
I welcome , in particular , that which Commissioner Dimas had to say .
has it occurred to you that , in the 10 years of debates , you and your colleagues have simply failed to convince enough people , and that is why you and your colleagues have had to resort to the blatant manipulation to which I referred earlier to get the Treaty through ?
a special place in this policy cycle for social integration is given to the World Program for Action Concerning Disabled Persons .
however , there are aspects about improving the opportunities for SMEs to receive financial support which primarily derive from access to technical assistance aimed at accessing financial instruments , especially those devoted to increasing research and development capacity .
considering the risks and disadvantages of nuclear power , this is a short-sighted and harmful policy .
I think this and other measures will ensure that genuine citizens ' concerns can be brought forward while hopefully stopping those of vested interests .
the whole process was also accompanied by a constant dialogue with civil society and a comprehensive trade sustainable impact assessment .
the Baloch minority continues to be persecuted and , according to Amnesty International , at least 90 Baloch activists - teachers , journalists and lawyers - have disappeared or have been murdered .
this 2.3 % increase is certainly a lot easier to accept and justify than the 5.2 % proposed by the Bureau .
( SV ) Thank you very much , Mr President , Commissioner and Mr President-in-Office .
the Council and the Commission must draw their conclusions from the fact that , in this Parliament 's view , the governments of the countries of the Horn of Africa are not acting in accordance with their obligations under the terms of Article 9 of the Cotonou Agreement .
in Sweden we have to some extent chosen a different path from many other European countries , which have placed greater emphasis on legislation , whilst we have placed greater emphasis on the social partners taking responsibility .
to make this cooperation as effective as possible so that it achieves the expected results , it should be regulated and transparent .
let me address the market situation .
the European Parliament should ask the Ukrainian Prosecutor General to lift this ban .
I am pleased that Commissioner Rehn has been reappointed , and we want this strategy to be approved , along with a specific action plan , by early 2011 at the latest .
this will no doubt answer the concerns voiced by Mrs McGuinness .
it is not just a matter of structures and rules , then , but of mentality .
what is needed most of all here is to give small- and medium-sized enterprises in this sector access to finance .
we have a rapidly growing population in Ireland - it is the fastest-growing population in Europe , both in terms of natural increase in population as well as overall growth .
I believe that the very transparency we are calling for here is also justified by the Treaty of Lisbon and that , therefore , we must press hard for this Treaty to be brought to a favourable conclusion as quickly as possible .
I really feel that the European security strategy is proving more successful in missions outside the European continent than in meeting challenges arising within the EU .
which measure does the Commission envisage , should it appear that the competitive conditions , in particular in the primary market , have significantly worsened ?
last July , we had a debate between the justice ministers on the possibility of enhanced cooperation on Rome III and , at the end of July , nine Member States presented the Commission with a request for enhanced cooperation : that is more than a third of the Member States involved in the adoption of Rome III .
furthermore , I proposed , together with other Members , that with respect to the compulsory six weeks ' leave following childbirth , a safeguard clause be provided for those countries where legislation provides this compulsory period prior to childbirth too .
this report deals with the certification at Community level of lifelong learning qualifications .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen .
( PL ) The European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms is one of the foundations of the European theory of values , which defends the rights of the individual and human rights .
as Mr Daul said , we need more , not less , trade .
( the President cut off the speaker )
we see quality logos in a number of areas of our life .
would he then be reminded how the EU subsidised jobs out of the Ryton Plant in Coventry ?
there are still too few women in politics , and here in the European Parliament , our female Members account for only 35 % of all Members .
the June List can never give its backing to a report which frustrates the purposes of reforms to the sugar market in the EU and which would inevitably dilute those reforms as well as jeopardise their completion .
however , Chinese authorities have not heeded international calls to stop pursuing their follow-up to the riots of 14 March 2008 in Tibet .
tangle nets are not used to catch cod , they are not used to catch whiting or haddock and will have zero impact on these stocks , so these amendments , if passed , will allow these small vessels to survive in these areas .
it is , today , a challenge for the Council and the Commission .
Spain has already submitted an application for financial assistance from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) on 5 February 2010 as a result of redundancies in 82 companies in NACE Revision 2 Division 14 ( manufacture of wearing apparel ) in a single NUTS II region , Galicia ( ES11 ) in Spain , and has supplemented this application with additional information by 11 May 2010 .
Mr President , there has been no advancement on Millennium Development Goal ( MDG ) 5 on improving maternal health since 2000 , particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia , and before 2000 progress was practically non-existent .
we owe this to our citizens and our taxpayers .
in this regard , poverty still has a feminine face in Europe .
however , if the Commission 's proposals are implemented every country will therefore approve pesticides that could contain up to 57 active substances .
on 21 October of last year , the Council and Parliament concluded an agreement that is reflected in the present common position .
the social side of this report , shown in its concern for young people coming from disadvantaged environments , is commendable .
perhaps the package is aiming to restore citizens ' trust before the Euro elections .
my applause for the previous speaker was , of course , as a result of the impression created by the question as to what extent the Council can withdraw the European Union from the control of the European Parliament .
it was in your country that we had the highest ever case of State aid in the history of the European Union , precisely because of problems in the financial markets .
we have to humanize the economic and social relations if we want to solve this problem .
for my part , I should like to say how pleased I am that all of the political groups within Parliament can today jointly respond to the appeal launched by Guinean civil society , by condemning the repression carried out by the military junta that has been in power since December , a repression of the peaceful demonstration staged to mark Guinea 's independence .
the European Union should not be the last to discover and make use of new energy sources , as is usually the case .
bearing in mind the objective to eradicate absolute poverty and poverty among children by 2015 as well as the target to reduce relative poverty significantly , I , too , wish to highlight the need for national minimum income thresholds to be introduced as a matter of urgency at European Union level .
more generally , I am pleased that both the Committee on International Trade and the Committee on Development came to a compromise on the scrutiny body that would enable the Joint Parliamentary Assembly ( JPA ) to play the role it deserves to play in the first place .
rapporteur . - ( BG ) I would just like to take this opportunity to once again thank all speakers for their kind words about my report , my work and for the work of Mr Diamandouros .
I realise that there are difficulties , but last night , Council Question Time was cancelled .
we need to replace these historic references with much clearer objectives , which will create a certain amount of fairness and enable the agricultural diversity that exists in the European Union to be better taken into account .
Parliament insisted then , and still insists , that the Turkish Government establish legal frameworks , in accordance with the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights , which will allow non-Muslim religious groups and Alevis to function without unnecessary restrictions .
that is not happening .
Europe therefore needs to equip itself with a solid , competitive and diversified industrial base .
for the last week , Christians in the state of Orissa in East India have been subjected to a campaign of persecution , humiliation , abuse and murder .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( PT ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , Serbia naturally lies within the European space and we all recognise that , in recent years , it has been faced with major challenges ; in fact more than this , with extremely difficult challenges due to its importance to the stability and development of the Western Balkan region .
well , yes it does , because we will now have in place a similar set of rights for buses and coaches to those that we currently have for other modes of transport .
we need to have more tools at our disposal to assist Member States .
( DE ) Mr President , the climate negotiations in Copenhagen were disappointing for the European Union , as has already been mentioned .
if you want to stick to a shorter communiqué , it is better not to follow the usual practice of summarising the conclusions of previous Councils in order to disguise the lack of new decisions by the current Council .
when I consider - and I have mentioned this on a few previous occasions as well , Commissioner - how quickly the United States constructed the PTCP oil pipeline and how long we are taking over the Nabucco gas pipeline , I really do think it is scandalous how little Europe has achieved : it is a sign of our weakness .
France had a vast colonial empire and Great Britain its own Empire .
I therefore support the creation of a European Border Surveillance System , Eurosur , streamlining and interlinking the border control systems of the Member States in order to increase the EU 's internal security , fight illegal immigration , prevent cross-border crime and terrorism , and strengthen the Member States ' capacity for rescue operations .
you will also be going to Abkhazia and on that point , you explained that the weekend might not be enough time to resolve the issue .
in particular , it will verify progress made by the Council with regard to the closing of all its extra-budgetary accounts , the publication of all administrative decisions ( when they are used as the legal basis for budget items ) and the transmission to Parliament of its annual activity report .
in writing . - ( FR ) According to the EPAs , sugar and bananas sourced from ACP countries will not be able to enter the markets of the French outermost regions ( ORs ) for 10 years , on a renewable basis , thus preserving the production of these two pillars of overseas agriculture .
now I read that they would need European research facilities to enable them to make technological progress .
our starting point must always be to create the highest security standards for people and for the environment , so as to prevent such disasters from the outset .
it permitted money to be used to save the banks , a little money to be left over for the next potential bank rescue , but did not permit ...
I believe that one key element in this is to review the provisions on offences committed against religions , known as the Blasphemy Law .
a better approach seems to me to be to confront those who hold political power with our arguments and demands in the context of a political dialogue , not to give them the opportunity to discredit the criticisms made by those in civil society by referring to external criticism , to establish a transparent political system and to coordinate our efforts with those of all our foreign policy partners in Belarus .
Mr Barroso , we need a study of the effects of all of the Commission 's measures on the real economy , not just on the banking sector .
the inclusion of statements on this subject amounts to a violation of the principle of subsidiarity .
in other words , given the circumstances , I find it difficult to believe that the current plan should be called a recovery plan rather than something else .
in writing . - On the budget vote for 2012 ( General Guidelines ) I voted to freeze the budget and against any indication of additional spending because of the coming into force of the Treaty of Lisbon .
in this respect , we warmly welcome the own-initiative report drawn up by Ms Wagenknecht , which aims at setting up the necessary fiscal framework to encourage risk and innovative investments in order to achieve the objectives of growth and employment .
( PL ) Mr President , this situation showed that Europe was not , in fact , prepared for this crisis .
( NL ) Mr President , the forthcoming UN summit on the least developed countries is a good opportunity for a debate on whether development aid makes sense or if it is , in fact , nonsensical .
so we have achieved a good deal , but there is more to do , and we believe that our relations should be guided by the promotion of peace , human rights and comprehensive security , sustainable development with environmental considerations , social equity and economic prosperity , and the strengthening of cultural and educational exchanges .
the Free Democratic Party in the European Parliament voted against discharge in respect of the implementation of the European Parliament 's budget .
apart from the important , concrete economic terms of the response , it is also a test for Europe to see whether Europe does indeed wish to translate this level of concern into real coordination for the future .
there needs to be a permanent , fair and mutually acceptable solution , within the framework of the United Nations , to a conflict that has now gone on for more than 30 years and is condemning thousands of Saharan refugees to despair and condemning a neighbouring area that is of fundamental importance to the European Union to instability .
on behalf of the PPE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , rapporteur , ladies and gentlemen , as we all know , the House 's budget for 2012 is set against the background of a difficult economic and financial situation .
finally , we are counting , Commissioner , on your resolve - which we know is considerable - to put a swift end to illegal fishing , which affects bluefin tuna and cod most of all , highly prized species which are heavily overfished at present .
the vote will take place at midday .
I can reassure you , however , that we are following this matter very attentively .
moreover , it is important to remember that within the EU there are many different soil types , which are used in a variety of ways .
the European institutions and Member States are all striving to recover from the crisis .
the name issue has consumed much political energy lately .
the allegations made according to which the Caribbean countries were put under pressure and forced to sign the Agreement are false .
this is why my group is unanimously in favour of maintaining the current rules on the formation of political groups , even though our opinions differ when it comes to the refusal of the two main groups to accommodate our request concerning the procedures to follow : acknowledge the disagreement or accept a compromise .
Bulgaria 's Prime Minister and Slovakia 's Prime Minister are going to Moscow and Kiev to negotiate .
EU 2020 - Follow-up of the informal European Council of 11 February 2010 ( debate )
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the values of democracy and human rights form an integral part of the values of the European Union , in theory .
but , to close , I would say that cost-effectiveness is achieved through innovation , and it does not appear in the budgets of the Member States or of the Commission .
in Russia the work of religious communities that do not belong to the Russian Orthodox Church is becoming increasingly difficult .
obviously , we need certain EU-wide standards , but the remedies applied in Finland cannot be the same as those in Luxembourg , say .
and let me say this loud and clear : it is in Europe 's own interest .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( EL ) Madam President , today we are deciding Parliament 's budget for 2010 at a particularly crucial period in time which is defined , firstly , by what we all hope will be the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon ; secondly , by the major economic crisis which has hit the European economy and , thirdly , by the new regulations for parliamentarians and parliamentary assistants .
the new Constitution , which is broadly in line with European standards , helps strengthen democratic institutions in the country .
I would like to thank you for your invitation to participate in this important and timely debate on transatlantic relations and to thank in particular the rapporteur , Mr Millán Mon , for the valuable and wide-ranging report that I read during my trip with great interest .
as I have said , the manufacturers of two-wheelers cannot adhere to the tight limits already in existence for hydrocarbon emissions with conventional two-stroke engines .
I think this , too , is of great importance .
but , seven years later , we go a crucial step further .
( the President cut off the speaker )
if not , the EU 's good practices will distort competition and disappoint its citizens .
in writing . - ( EL ) I voted in favour of Mrs Oomen-Ruijten 's report as a whole .
I know for a fact that some German and Hungarian Members of the European Parliament are planning further action this year in opposition to these Presidential Decrees .
and how can a ceasefire be achieved when neither party recognises the other 's legitimacy ?
however , I am unhappy about one fact , namely , that Kosovo is the only country which , because of private differences , the Member States have excluded from the abolition of visa requirements on citizens of Western Balkan countries .
for these reasons , we voted for most of the positions adopted here .
- Before the vote on Amendment 9 :
I am aware that the agreement negotiated will not resolve the complex and multidimensional problem of counterfeiting , but I believe it constitutes a step in the right direction .
that is one of the lessons which we are going to have to take away from this situation .
the full realisation of the internal energy market is an objective that can only be achieved if the current legislation relating to the energy package is applied by all Member States .
- Papadimoulis report
however , it is still important to guide our efforts in order to proceed with liberalising the visa system in Kosovo , which constitutes the only area in the Western Balkans where the opening of negotiations is not yet planned .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , as was only to be expected , this debate has focussed very clearly on the really crucial issues .
the responsibility of the European Parliament has also risen markedly with the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon , and we are pleased about this .
finding new ways of involving society in development processes in many areas of life is an essential condition for success .
this sort of thing simply should not be allowed !
this Parliament , the European Parliament , united in its recommendation to both the Council and the Commission on the European Union 's role in Iraq .
in paragraph 3 , we want to insert the word ' real ' after ' recognises Russia 's right to fight ' and before ' terrorism ' in order to make that clearer , because terrorism is often used as a pretext .
you cannot bring in regulations that are destructive and make pig and poultry farmers go out of business .
I should mention two things concerning the proposal .
very often when people have a problem , whether they are farmers or fishermen , they say that Europe reacts too slowly .
these were Article 43 , in the first case , and Article 49 , in the two others , both being reproduced word for word in the draft Treaty of Lisbon currently in the process of ratification .
there is inconsistency here .
we must accordingly call on the European Commission to make every effort to carry out all the duties imposed on it more rapidly .
if the Treaty of Lisbon enters into force - and that is something that I certainly hope will happen - the European Parliament 's role will be extended and you will have a greater influence on the European agenda .
minimum rules on the individual 's access to legal assistance and data protection are laid down in each Member State .
( GA ) Mr President , I would like to lend my support to those condemning the attacks and to show my solidarity with the people of Gaza .
voluntary ' Made in the European Union ' labelling and mandatory regional labelling , as well as mandatory proof of origin , are not mutually exclusive .
Mr President , I have some questions .
we must reduce our CO2 emissions dramatically . we must become a low-carbon economy .
to what extent is the common agricultural policy already implementing the requirements of climate protection , and what instruments can be applied in the CAP in this area in the future ?
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , over the years , many of my fellow Members and I have become aware of the problem of abandoned children , orphans and street children .
in all the time I have known you , first as leader of the Christian Democrats and then as President of this Parliament , you have been a model of dignity , restraint and courtesy .
we must wean ourselves off fiscal stimuli and quantitative easing , and these should not be the accepted norm .
the main purpose of a master plan is to promote international cooperation between all parties concerned , so that integrated solutions can be found for specific problem areas through good consultations and with respect for existing authorities .
thank you for giving me this opportunity and for achieving a memorable moment in my political career when I can truthfully say that I have spoken , apart from to you , Madam President , to a completely and utterly empty Chamber .
the proposed measures will make the everyday lives of citizens and businesses in border regions easier .
I voted ' in favour ' .
so I would say to my colleague , Ivo Belet , and others that it would perhaps be interesting for us to get together , exchange experiences and keep working as this process progresses .
if we really think that , frankly , we need our bumps felt !
against this backdrop , greater political and social integration is required , with a stronger and more unified Europe .
given the importance for all small-scale distilleries of their participation in the German Alcohol Monopoly and the need for further transition towards the market , as well as the fact that the reports presented do not demonstrate an infringement of the competition rules in the single market , I think that the monopoly extension period should have ended by 2013 at the latest , the date when the new CAP comes into force .
if the funds are transparent and comply with clear rules of accountability then the fact that they are State-owned investment vehicles should not give cause for concern .
that is what the victims of poverty need : they need people to be aware of them , to take them seriously , to show them how to break out of the poverty trap .
the principle of mutual recognition must continue to be a fundamental principle in our legal cooperation .
I think the situation is quite clear , that if you have something direct to say to citizens they will listen and hear .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , it is often the case that good intentions cause problems .
- Recommendation : Giuseppe Gargani ( A6-0369-2007 )
no , emphatically not .
I also hope we will add transparency in government procurement as well as provision for issuing working visas of up to 24 months .
I welcome the fact that the Hungarian Presidency considers the social and economic integration of Roma as one of its priorities .
I would only like to remind the honourable Members that the Hungarian Presidency is thinking in terms of a strong European Union , a European Union which provides additional rights to its citizens and always puts citizens at the centre of these strong policies .
we felt that the role of traineeships was important .
if we take , for example , Heading 1A we see that we can under no circumstances finance any new agencies with available funds .
we have tried to ensure that the spending programmes are organised in such a way that the short-term necessities do not put the long-term objectives at risk .
therefore , the discussion is not about ' whether ' , but ' how ' it can be effected .
I would like to thank all the groups who took part in this work , and I wish to say that I have tabled a few amendments solely with the purpose of clarifying the text and make its tone more balanced .
we must immediately set up massive , coordinated medium- and long-term common EU response plans for the crisis .
in my opinion , the work of the Special Committee on the Financial , Economic and Social Crisis is still necessary , since the crisis is not yet over and the financial markets have not yet stabilised .
in this way the external funds are completely integrated into the national budgetary procedure where national parliaments play a key role .
it is not only green industry that we have , of course .
the tragic accident in Japan has led to a nuclear disaster that is now familiar to us all .
just as we introduced the euro as an internal fitness programme for the single market , we now have the Lisbon Strategy , for all the reservations and problems that may accompany it , as a fitness programme to get us into shape for global competition .
every country has developed its own solutions and has plans for future reforms which are adapted accordingly .
it should be noted that authorised GMOs can be freely traded and used within the EU under the conditions of the authorisation consent provided .
the text still needs to be confirmed by a qualified majority of Member States in the Council , and they will have three years to transpose it into national law .
you knew that all of us who were involved were doing this for the first time , and in that respect your attitude has been one of solidarity and constructiveness .
we do not certify ourselves that our car is roadworthy .
the Opinion of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development on the 2011 budget already expressed the concern that , in the planning and utilisation of unused resources , the Commission 's assumptions are too optimistic .
we recently discussed this issue several times with our Chinese counterparts , we have met with the competent authorities in Beijing and , with the purpose of the dialogue in mind , those responsible for religious matters have visited Europe in order to increase their awareness of practices in a number of Member States .
as my colleague has already pointed out , the private sector came and looked at it and decided they wanted no part of it , because it did not make sense .
I also wish to emphasise that I introduced five amendments on behalf of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) .
Mr Verheugen , you have rightly addressed the fact that we have to make clear to consumers that quality is also important and that prices and quality have to reflect this .
my office launched an entirely new website , including an interactive guide in all 23 languages , to help citizens address directly the body best equipped to deal with their complaint .
one-minute speeches on matters of political importance
your report , Mr Medina Ortega , will serve as a crucial foundation for future work , since the Presidency will take due note of today 's debate .
the current situation provides additional proof of the euro 's usefulness in terms of protecting Member States which belong to the euro zone and invites Member States which do not belong to the euro zone to join it immediately , thereby meeting the Maastricht criteria .
relevant criteria for air agreements with third countries include balanced access to markets and investment opportunities , as well as fair competition in terms of state subsidies , environmental and social standards .
I can sum it up in one sentence : the majority of you no longer accept the 90 % quota of men running our companies and think that this should change .
even though five EU countries do not recognise it , this alone should not be a reason not to grant Kosovo as a territory the right to freedom of travel to the European Union .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the statements by the Council and the Commission on the EU 's response to the serious crisis in the Congo are , as usual , hypocritical and ineffectual .
since many have already been mentioned here , I will mention factors that are often forgotten .
Mr President , the use of human organs for transplantation has increased steadily over the past decades .
an important role has been set aside in sport for employment , for social affairs .
Prague Castle was also the seat of Charles IV , as the Prime Minister mentioned .
( for details of the outcome of the vote : see Minutes )
that is not the Europe that this Parliament expects .
this is blatant populism !
the document urges the authorities responsible to strengthen the independence and freedom of the media , applying equal standards to all of them and improving the transparency of their ownership .
this is because adopting an integrated approach to cohesion policy is the only way in which we will help today 's cities develop in an organic , sustainable and environmentally responsible manner .
the most important lesson of the well-known H1N1 scandal is that people 's faith has been shaken .
I fully support strengthening nuclear safety standards , but are you ready to invite the employee representatives , namely the trade unions , to the multi-stakeholder dialogue in order to strengthen and achieve standards and are you ready globally to promote the nuclear safety standards achieved ?
I want to ask the Commission if it has carried out an analysis of the economic consequences of the Blair House Agreement , for which the European Union gave up its own production of animal feed .
this cooperation , this Partnership - which is the new word and concept - must be based on concrete projects in order to ensure success .
thirdly , many consulates require additional documents , not mentioned in the agreement .
if we move in this direction , the visa-free regime is an essential element in deepening relations between the EU and Taiwan .
Mr President , as in the previous vote , the shadow rapporteurs and myself have decided not to put the legislative resolution to the vote in Parliament so as to continue negotiations with the Council , in the hope that it will heed Parliament 's vote today .
I agree with this and respect the fact that the Conference of Presidents has taken certain decisions , but I note with some regret that the religious representatives that are to speak here , with the exception of the Pope , all come from outside Europe .
I also want to congratulate the institutions of East Timor for their calm response to the tragedy and I must underline , like Mrs Gomes and Mr Ribeiro e Castro , that East Timor is not a failed state .
these regulations lie at the heart of the common fisheries policy .
the costs , which were quite significant , could also have been reduced through greater cooperation between the Member States , and between these and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control .
let me be clear , any provisional mixed intermediary status does not accelerate the process and does not put pressure on the Commission or the Council .
( ES ) Mr President , I would like to focus on something that may seem minor , but which has become seriously worse during 2007 and affects millions of people : security in European airports .
finally , the last point I wish to raise - and this surprises me , Mr Barroso - is the fact that your programme does not include anything on the international financial markets .
I particularly welcome the fact that this report requests the Commission to study the impact of the aggressive advertising on vulnerable consumers and to correctly apply the relevant laws on child protection .
on this issue , the ball is in the Council 's court , and it is clear that Belarus still has further progress to make .
you may be sure that your proposals will be taken into account as we develop this action plan , and I count on your support for all our future actions .
in this respect , it is obvious that we ought to increase the scope and the budget for the promotion of our agricultural production to ensure viable competitiveness for our products on both internal and external markets .
we believe that an agreement can ease negotiations on specific future agreements involving the sharing of personal data .
I voted in favour of this report , from which I would stress the Commission 's recommendation for harmonising the rules on funding the decommissioning of nuclear reactors .
employers need security just as much as employees , particularly legal security in their contractual relations with personnel .
it also advocates an EU-level instrument , albeit optional , that is the same for all contracts in the European Union , which is also set out in very general terms .
if the Czechs state their position before the end , things will be done within the framework of the Treaty of Lisbon and they will have a commissioner .
the question of whether Member States want to spend EUR 1.5 billion is not in my hands , but in those of the Heads of State and Finance Ministers , and I hope it will also be possible , via a sort of lobbying by Members of the European Parliament on their national governments , to push for a solution .
practice has shown that the fines for speeding and illegal parking are rarely collected , much to the irritation of the residents of , and drivers in , large cities , in particular .
secondly , as you know , the Union has agreed on a comprehensive strategy for developing the European economic and social model in a balanced way .
I wish the citizens of Romania and Bulgaria the rapture that I personally experienced in chopping down the border gate on 22 December 2007 , when Slovakia became part of the Schengen area .
in particular against the backdrop of the current financial crisis , measures at European level must be coordinated .
my problem with the transnational list with which Mr Duff commenced his report - a report that we are to debate soon - is not so much the fact that a transnational list is to be made .
what worries us is that , as a result of the different treatment of the states in this area , there will be separatist movements and different classes of citizens in the area of the Western Balkans will be created , which could certainly lead to problems .
the directive concentrates on codifying laws without amending their actual content .
it is a genuine opportunity to respond to energy challenges .
they must absolutely not be allowed to slip into a longer period of unemployment , because at the present time it is easy to fall from there into a precarious situation or into poverty .
the strength of Christine Lagarde 's candidacy is not that she is a European , but that she is a hugely competent individual who has shown remarkable leadership qualities throughout the financial crisis .
climate protection and economic development are actually two sides of the same coin .
this financial reform package will hit the poorest in Europe the hardest , while leaving the cause of the crisis - the financial sector - untouched .
it is also to be achieved by introducing an environmental footprint for products and by finding financing instruments that can help to enable these green investments to be made , including Eurobonds , which are intended to cover our large requirement for investment in connection with the conversion to a green economy .
the technology will choose itself .
however , we point out the need to launch an assessment of this fund straight away , with a view to carrying out an additional review as soon as possible .
in that regard , I urge the EU to take the lead .
the lack of funding for decommissioning measures will delay this process , which would pose a threat to the environment and human health .
we are , however , concerned not to prejudge decisions about the future EU budget ; ESDP activities are funded from the community budgets , which are currently inter-governmental .
- ( EL ) Mr President , President-in-Office of the Council , please add my own wishes for a successful programming period for the Slovenian Presidency to the many that have already been expressed .
this does not mean that large aircraft manufacturers should no longer receive any financial support at all .
a strategic partnership in many areas , which is highlighted at many points in the report , should make it possible to avoid crises in relations between the EU and the region , and to increase Europe 's energy security .
however , we have decided to view the report as part of a continuing process that will gradually enable these standards to be met and have therefore voted in favour of the report .
in my opinion , it must be ensured that the national safety authorities issue their safety certificates and authorisations in accordance with what is laid down by the European Railway Agency ( ERA ) .
the fight against terrorism as part of international crime must not be neglected .
as a staunch European , I must therefore vote against this report .
the Commission has taken its position .
it has few , if any , internal ethnic or religious problems , unlike some of its larger neighbours .
I would therefore argue here that we should stick with voluntary labelling , because in the end , where consumers put enough added value on such labelling , the majority of EU producers already use this labelling on a voluntary basis .
this has been clearly mentioned .
it is undignified to sling mud at the degree of civilisation and integration that our country has achieved over the years .
their second concern , comprehensibility , is something we have not yet fully succeeded in .
two , because they moved as whole neighbourhoods and they are scared of losing the social fabric that keeps them together , so it is not just bad policy or lack of desire ; it is also the social phenomenon that follows a disaster of this nature that makes it not so easy to get people to move from flood-prone areas to safer ground .
it is still left up to national rules to limit how far the funds can go into debt , and that also means that we are not learning the lessons from the crisis .
in writing . - I voted against this Report which wanted to give Parliament 's approval ( assent ) to an Interim Trade Agreement between the EU and Turkmenistan .
the message from the Ecofin Council is that everyone needs to shoulder their responsibilities .
secondly , I would like to add that the additional aid should be directed at decommissioning and that the amount required , which at present is EUR 180 million , is reasonable .
we want to go there to show the US authorities that we mean business .
Europe needs to be more active and more united .
I believe that more financial resources need to be allocated to research and development , and to that end we need to increase investment to evaluate and anticipate the impact of an influenza virus .
our priority is to ensure the safety of children travelling alone to avoid kidnapping and trafficking of children .
here I might mention a comment heard in Moscow : earlier we mistakenly thought that we were on the right path in Russia ; now we mistakenly think that we are on a special path .
in this regard I believe that Europe should look at more targeted programmes , such as the Global Fund , which combats AIDS , TB and malaria , the world 's most devastating diseases , which kill over six million people per year .
to discuss the future membership of an external organisation such as NATO would only distract from this important focus .
in the mean time , the Commission will be taking the matter up with the Canadian authorities at the highest level .
in Amendment 2 , the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament suggested that this share of selffunding should be just 5 % .
we therefore used this criterion to distribute the speeches equally .
they include fines , compensation for delays , improved access for persons with reduced mobility , wheelchairs , accompanying persons , and better information on all those aspects .
promoting low-carbon energy sources is a well-known argument used by the nuclear lobby .
it also had a beneficial effect .
lack of moral principles and of their use in legislation leads to loss of our societies ' moral health and to various abuses in all areas of social life , including science and medicine .
the EU and Russia are mutually interdependent , both economically and politically , and therefore , the conclusion of a Strategic Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Russian Federation is particularly important for the further development and intensification of cooperation between the two partners .
this external mandate allows us , through the actions of the EIB and in coordination with European policies , to take very firm and effective action on policies and areas of special interest to the European Union and to all the European institutions , including this Parliament .
as a representative from London - and , indeed , a woman representative from London - I have had a particular interest in this subject , because London is one of the places very much affected by trafficking in women .
they told me clearly that they will be able to deliver non-GM products , soybean and maize mainly , and the types of GM products that have been authorised in Europe .
I reiterated our support for the democratic revolution and our readiness to help the Tunisian people in their quest for freedom , justice and social progress .
it is ironic that this session will address seven individual country situations .
you want it to join .
further mass migration can then be prevented .
the citizens , who were very unfairly relegated to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union , have returned to the Treaty on European Union with the wording that it had had since the Maastricht Treaty .
depriving citizens of their freedom is a crime .
the situation is this : Mr Berlusconi controls the Italian media .
I am sure we will be supported by third countries , perhaps South Korea or countries of South America , which we in fact want to help by making their small-scale productions become more visible on the European market .
( HU ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , during the last two and a half hours of this debate , quite a great deal has been said about Copenhagen and the Copenhagen negotiations .
the last two rounds of enlargement of the European Union have brought numerous benefits to old and new Member States alike , while also posing a number of challenges .
I would remind you of the recent debate that we had here on the problem of dioxins .
the founding father of European integration did not regard this task as a single act , but as continuous work .
in this way , all members of the European public will become involved in combating climate change .
the question is , therefore , whether the EU should continue with these multilateral negotiations or would be better switching to bilateral negotiations .
for this reason we have to show our firm support for the United Nations General Assembly Resolution on freedom of religion .
the next item is Written Declaration No 61 / 2010 .
we have proposed to define the concept of hospital care through a Community list based on the shared understanding of experts , who would take account of the development of technologies .
have I understood what you said correctly ?
there certainly was a failure , but it was in an area for which the governments were clearly responsible .
naturally , this restricts how the information can be used .
even without this escalation of the conflict , in South Sudan , over 40 % of the population are already dependent on food aid .
given this , I see no reason to vote against the mobilisation of the fund in this case .
welcome
frankly , intellectual property and its sanctity are not an issue here .
incidentally , the Court explained that , and I quote , the ' directive seeks in particular to bring about the freedom to provide services ' .
human beings , disproportionately women , are treated as though they were commodities , even livestock , to be transported , used and often abused .
similarly , on maternity benefits , the Commission 's proposal introduces the principle of paying salaries in full .
just because the Arctic is sparsely populated does not mean that anyone can go there and help themselves .
we will see you again for Question Hour next month .
this is a forward-looking draft report , and while it is not the finished article , it is undoubtedly a way of safeguarding the legitimacy of the activities and decisions of the European institutions .
I believe , however , that our own responsibility in this is also quite considerable .
( applause )
the second question is what changes to the EFSF do you consider indispensable to prevent the repetition of the shameful situation that occurred in Ireland ?
the European Union , which has common external borders , should take particular care not to become a market where protected species of animals or plants are smuggled or brought in with impunity .
however , the report as a whole is a means of promoting the EU 's positions on foreign policy .
it will be very difficult to stop .
nor does it follow the line of the question raised by the Commission itself in its communication of last September on a ' Strategy for the Outermost Regions ' .
I hope that the absent President of the Council , Mirek Topolánek , will not give way under pressure from the Obama administration to the temptation for new regulations and for more taxpayer 's money to be poured into the economy .
we need inflation-free growth , so that things will be better for people tomorrow .
the next item is the debate on six motions for a resolution on the case of Khadijeh Moghaddam .
the texts put forward for approval obtained ninety percent support in the Committee on Petitions and in both the other committees .
last year , ladies and gentlemen , both you and the whole of Europe were reminded of the inhumanity of totalitarian ideology by Edvīns Šnore 's film ' A Soviet Story ' .
what did Mr Prodi say about the Stability Pact in 2002 ?
technology will be the key and now is the right time to do this .
yesterday , it was 28 years since the imposition of martial law in Poland by the then Communist authorities .
I believe that this matter will have to give us some food for thought because we should not allow a new design for the European social model to fail like the Lisbon Agenda has done .
I have a specific question on the 2009 discharge .
it is great that it puts European agriculture in a very strong position to face up to the brave new world , because we will need food production , we will need farmers and we need the countryside , and all these things work very well .
improving the energy efficiency of buildings - with the goal of achieving near-zero energy houses - will not only reduce energy consumption .
they are democracy , human rights and freedom of opinion .
on another matter , Welsh cattle under 24 months of age cannot be labelled as Welsh under PGI legislation .
our duty , in future , is to force the Council to put an end to this undemocratic , archaic method of appointment that fosters the idea that Europe , in building itself , is sheltered from the peoples .
there cannot be any impunity for such crimes .
for these and many other reasons , I voted against the report .
the fight against counterfeiting must be one of our priorities and an objective of all national and international policies .
- Report : Vălean
I also consider important the correlation of the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion with the Millennium Development Goals and , in particular , the International Day for the Eradication Poverty .
as is mentioned in the resolution , the European Parliament has received more than 400 petitions on the subject of widespread misleading trading practices by publishers of business directories which affect thousands of businesses , mostly small ones .
however , we note that , in spite of its initiatives , Europe is not making an effective contribution in this major conflict , even though it is taking place in its immediate area of influence .
as long as the Treaties allow for restrictions on workers ' rights and the lowering of pay and conditions , the Court of Justice cannot rule otherwise .
however , the Commission can use its discretion to assess whether the deadline should be extended so that it is realistically in line with the progress of the works .
they each represented different ideologies and interests but , more importantly , they were popular with limited sections of the Congolese population .
the European Union has a major role to play .
in one respect , I would like to make a request for more flexibility .
on the one hand , we need to address the environmental and health consequences if this equipment is not properly treated and disposed of and , on the other , there is a serious problem of loss of raw materials .
consistent standards of passenger rights , including those for people of reduced mobility , are of particular importance so as to avoid travellers facing inconsistent treatment while travelling .
in the meantime Joseph Stalin had been committing his atrocious crimes , Auschwitz had happened and 50 years ago the Soviet Union , led by Nikita Khrushchev and the United States , governed by Eisenhower , sealed the post-war order of Yalta .
why is it in a state of dissolution ?
two billion people live in extreme poverty .
how many times would fines have been given to businesses which failed to apply the competition rules ?
( DE ) Mr President , I announced yesterday , and notified the parliamentary services accordingly , that I wished to table a motion requesting a postponement of the vote on FYROM , in other words , on the Macedonia report .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
our evaluation of the situation , which has not changed , shows the need for comprehensive reform of the justice system and for measures to combat corruption .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
it is useful to note that many of these issues are being considered in the update of the OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises due for adoption in 2011 .
sometimes this is a result of family duties being placed above the call of science , but not always .
thinking in terms of bachelors and masters degrees and recognising educational achievements by means of the European Credit Transfer System ( ECTS ) creates an awareness of the need for common action .
therefore , in drawing up this proposal , we have tried to take into account industrial sensitivities in the EU , especially as regards textiles .
at the same time , I believe that European industry should use its pioneering role in the sustainable economy and green mobility technologies by exploiting its export potential .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality . - ( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , in sport - and we are talking about fairness here - no distinctions can be made between the sexes ; women must be treated equally .
the vote will take place tomorrow .
it is therefore important for the Commission to consider the situations in the various Member States , as well as what constitutes an offence in the different national legal systems and the respective penalties and fines .
nine months on from the ceremonious handover of the Fundamental Rights Agency , it is no joy for me to speak about the fact that the institution has not been able to start work , and still has no management .
they are now giving rise to appalling security problems , and the European Union must think not only about European citizens ' rights , but also about their security .
even though the administrative obstacles have been largely removed , we are still left with some very real technical obstacles .
what we seek to end is fragmentation !
historical research , however difficult , should be carried out in a delicate way , with due respect for the victims , but in complete freedom .
that was probably what Lady Ashton was referring to .
( HU ) Mr Alvaro , I would like to ask you whether you are aware that the Hungarian constitution previously in force specified 27 laws that could only be modified by a two-thirds majority , while the new constitution specifies only 26 .
I was targeted a moment ago .
that concludes the one-minute speeches .
these two areas clearly demonstrate that the EU already has a well-established and comprehensive strategy for the South Caucasus , whose potential we are seeking to exploit to the fullest extent , a strategy to bring this region closer to the European Union .
the European Union in effect decided to renew negotiations with Russia on the partnership system , and in doing so went against its own decision , made on 1 September this year , that there would be no negotiations with Russia if Russian troops do not withdraw from the occupied territories of Georgia .
all our actions have this strategic objective in mind .
it is not bankers and right-wing politicians who are losing .
this would have a highly counterproductive impact on the future of the EU and would make it difficult to agree on a common European approach or attitude to important issues , as the crisis in Libya has demonstrated .
Europe 2020 must not repeat the failures of its predecessor , the Lisbon Strategy .
in particular , national media regulation must be transparent and efficient .
in Poland , we come across many instances of fraud , or simply of consumers making poor financial decisions , unaware of their implications .
as we all know , the majority of these women live in sub-Saharan Africa , where there is one death every minute .
the major difficulty that we are encountering comes from what Mrs Mathieu called mixed flows , where we have immigrants who come for economic or environmental reasons and , at the same time , people who are persecuted and who are entitled to international protection or subsidiary protection .
I voted in favour , although I believe that the Commission is showing too little initiative on this matter .
will you make sure they grant , lend and plan not just for market success , but to achieve social progress and green goals too ?
as my time is short I would like to address just one point , specifically the so-called Russian peacekeepers which have so far spent 14 years on Georgian territory , Abkhazia and South Ossetia .
we must confront these realities head on and apply ourselves to them with realism and determination .
this is not new .
thank you .
these examples are at odds with the degraded and consumerist image that the media often attaches to female identity , helping to create a culture where women are oppressed and humiliated .
at the same , this is the fourth annual budget of this parliamentary term , and we have therefore accumulated sufficient experience of the budgetary procedure and the specific rules of the game between Parliament , the Commission and the Council .
an example case in Finland concerned a woman who was not eligible to receive unemployment security after she had finished caring for her disabled son .
furthermore , there needs to be compliance with the rules on safety belts and drivers should be made sufficiently aware of these .
climate change means that every type of forest and the forestry sector as a whole are exposed to specific and unforeseeable threats such as storms , drought and forest fires .
within the framework of EU accession talks , Lithuania , Slovakia and Bulgaria undertook to close and decommission these nuclear plants which , under the G7 negotiations , could not be modernised at a financially acceptable cost , and in which it was impossible to secure the minimum safety standards .
this company 's profits , in the last two years combined , were in excess of EUR 30 million , with more than EUR 6 million being recorded in 2008 .
where are we today ?
Madam President , the rapporteur on the Black Sea regional policy reminds us that the European Union supports new energy infrastructure and viable transport corridors , diversifying both suppliers and routes .
I think that there is a basic error in this reasoning : the issue of defending borders and the issue of asylum are two wholly separate matters .
we need to move towards European supervision .
in 2007-2010 , Poland issued almost 60 licences for shale gas prospecting and extraction . the holders of these licences include major global energy concerns .
Spaska Mitrova , a 23-year-old Macedonian citizen and mother of a small child still being breast-fed , was forcibly taken to a police station and then transferred to the infamous Idrizovo prison , while her child was taken away from her .
that proposal has up to now been supported by less than one third of the Member States of the United Nations General Assembly .
the numbers are shocking .
the European Union needs to act specifically against this worrying development .
there is therefore an obvious need to regulate domestic work , so that they do not remain exposed to scarcely decent conditions , and are entitled to rights such as the right to social security , to health and safety protection , to maternity protection , to working time limits , to rest , and to freedom of association and representation .
the eighth framework programme should also make research and the development of innovative technologies its priority in the field of energy .
for them , this slogan is just a charade - in fact they want neither enlargement nor greater depth .
above all , however , I think this example should raise the question of responsibility .
it must be seen , and I want it acknowledged , as a departure from European law and practice .
yes , we need to return to a situation where finance is there to serve the economy and the economy is there to serve citizens ; and no , we can no longer build our economies on debt , be it public or private , on deficit and on speculation .
medium-term financial planning is a procedure established in the treaty , for which a regulation must be enacted .
very soon passenger locomotives and rolling stock will also be able to cross borders .
( PL ) Mr President , for some time now I have listened with alarm to pseudo-scientific arguments put forward in the very heart of Europe . I refer to presentations made in this House , from which wisdom based on sound scientific evidence is supposed be disseminated to the entire world .
( the President cut off the speaker )
the situation is very similar with Snaig- the support of EUR 258 000 from the EGF would target 650 redundancies in a city that has one of the highest unemployment rates - nearing 20 % now .
yes , progress has of course been made : unemployment is falling and productivity rising , yet job insecurity in Europe is rising too .
after all , we have specific , joint objectives : to create free-trade areas , promote the mobility of citizens of partner countries , improve administrative abilities , and cooperate on energy security and especially on the long term supply and transit of energy .
we want a judicial reservation , a judicial decision on fundamental rights .
however , I believe that these people will hear the 321 voices of those Members who voted for this amended Directive with their hearts .
it is a huge source of relief that MEPs rejected a proposal to export nuclear waste to third countries however .
there are indeed one or two aspects , and therefore I , too , am in favour of postponement .
every election is a demonstration of popular will .
on the basis of the compromise draft text , this would apply to a mere 29 substances out of more than 600 .
it also wants SMEs to benefit from the growth in markets .
third priority : we want to further a concept often talked about in Europe , but which is making slow progress , and that is European defence .
this is why we need strategic decisions today , taken with due consideration , not under pressure from lobbyists representing intermediaries and traders functioning in an international system .
thank you for your support .
however , access to funding in the research sector requires a significant technical capacity and in-depth knowledge of administrative and financial procedures .
we shall await the court ruling with respect , but please do be patient and sensible in your dealings with Mr Klaus .
the report presented by the Commission on 8 September highlights the numerous obstacles that the Member States encounter when seeking to achieve the objectives of Directive 2005 / 85 / EC .
Mrs Pack and I visited Kosovo not so long ago .
we therefore want a secretariat with integrity , one that will not get involved in political disputes or decide the petitions procedure on the basis of political developments in the country .
we need to commit ourselves to maintaining the Stability Pact and fulfil the Commission 's indications for 2013 .
the project has been put back five years , with the operating phase planned to begin in 2013 .
that is the reality : we have a problem .
the EU has been incredibly successful in peacemaking .
it is therefore vital for the European Commission and the Council to call into question the realpolitik they have been practising for years in these parts of the world , both in Egypt and in Tunisia , just as it is crucial to question the ambivalence of the relations that the EU maintained with the dictators who have been ruling these countries for decades .
( FR ) Madam President , Mr Vondra , Mr Barroso , ladies and gentlemen , the world economy is plunging further and further into a serious recession .
thankfully , however , the EU has made good progress and nowhere probably more than in this Parliament where , numerically and attitudinally , there is real equality .
in addition , bestowing the status of an EU agency on Europol , with all the consequences that involves , including financial , will enable the European Union as a whole to combat organised crime more effectively .
EU institutions have a duty to meet the expectations of European citizens who are deeply affected by the crisis .
it is true the Union for the Mediterranean 's role is to develop the joint nature , at an institutional and political level , of a regional partnership in need of a relaunch .
at this time when we are facing this severe economic and financial crisis , one of the principal consequences is an increase in unemployment .
this is why the ALDE Group and I have voted in favour .
the Union will thus be ensuring that steps are taken towards direct democracy .
the members of this ethnic minority continue to suffer discrimination and social exclusion , despite efforts to integrate them .
improvement could be achieved by bringing together the responsible areas within the Commission under the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and by establishing an appropriate body in the EEAS .
for these reasons , the European Conservatives and Reformists will today abstain on this vote .
however , something has been done and I believe that we will be able to vote in favour of this legislation tomorrow with a clear conscience .
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that would bring stability to the region and improve its chances of developing independently .
in this respect , the European Parliament had a duty to reaffirm its support for this policy .
for these reasons I voted against this proposal .
much as I regret that the first decision was not respected , we will have to wait and see what outgoings there will be from this decision .
debating the suspension of the 80 / 20 rule is very important , but it can only be a short-term measure and it must not be allowed to become part of the aviation policy in the longer term .
a well-conceived European Public Company Statute , intended to supplement the legal forms which already exist , would benefit the competitiveness of European SMEs in many respects : it would consolidate the European internal market , simplify the legal framework for enterprises , thereby reducing consultancy costs and facilitating access to cross-border markets , and it would improve economic integration and growth .
we have been talking about falling prices , lowest possible prices and all-time lows for years .
I call on the EU and its Member States to honour the political decision made and to provide this mission with more troops and appropriate financial , logistic and air support , including the necessary number of helicopters , as soon as possible .
we must apply the principle of proportionality between what is proposed and the benefit that this will bring .
that is surely what the entire integration process is about : the economy and a viable internal market are made to serve more general goals .
now to the last item : the international arms trade agreement .
the Union has taken as its objective the creation of an area based on freedom , security and the rule of law , and this requires the compromise solutions we see here , and it signifies serious progress for consumers .
it was very important to agree on what we called the European Semester , because Member States have now agreed unanimously that matters of economic policy of one may also have an effect on the others , and that those of the others have an effect on their own policies .
yet there also needs to be another kind of redistribution of wealth and income , and in this context , the minimum income system is a vital tool to help in this fight , maintaining minimum incomes that may differ from country to country , but which share a common objective ...
I ask the Vice-President / High Representative and the EU Member States to back the Polish proposals for a visa ban and , as our resolution makes clear , support the principle for further targeted economic sanctions .
the response , contrary to what has been said here , has not been a united European response .
former President Ben Ali paid the supreme price for failing to meet the expectations and aspirations of his people , but I do not agree with some assessments , particularly in the Green Group , that his government was one of the most repressive in the Arab world .
the general objective that we must set ourselves is for automatic information exchange on a global and multilateral scale , but this must , obviously , start within the European Union .
human rights , labour and environmental standards and tax governance must guide EU negotiations with developing countries .
one reason for doing so is because the Commission does not have general authority in the field of fundamental rights including the rights of the child under international agreements or through the jurisdiction of the ECJ ( COM ( 2006 ) 367 , Paragraph 1.3. page 3 ) .
this is because recognising the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia could give ideas in the future to North Ossetia , Chechnya , Ingushetia , Dagestan and others which currently form part of the Russian Federation .
this resolution is a master class in bad faith .
these proposals , which strengthen each other , as many of my fellow members have said , will enable us to make a decisive move in favour of the quality of the European maritime sector , and also , ladies and gentlemen , its transparency .
we have seen extraordinary decisions at the same time : the communication from the Commission , the extraordinary decisions of the Council of Ministers last week and , of course , the 2020 strategy .
I have heard from school secretaries who signed this in error and are terrified and who have paid over money .
please take away as many as you like .
that was the case with the group today .
these are the important answers .
the second observation relates to the issue of retention .
for the first time , in fact , we have regulated CO2 emissions from passenger vehicles by imposing an ambitious and binding long-term target of 95 grams of CO2 per kilometre by 2020 , at a time when the serious financial crisis and the subsidies given to the motor industry in non-EU countries are , together , severely testing our own industry .
I would like to see the establishment of the secretariat in Barcelona followed by rapid progress in the implementation of the priority projects .
we do not believe that ACTA is the full solution to this problem and we certainly believe that , if ACTA is going to come into effect , we need it to be more transparent , democratic and generally multilateral .
under EU legislation , passengers have a right to information and assistance from their airline .
I would also urge - as Parliament did some time ago - that national practice come into line with the spirit of the regulation so that we do not find , as is happening in France at the moment , that certain individuals are now no longer able to access systems to which they have been paying because of changes in national regulations .
the parliamentary group of the Greek Communist Party voted against the motion for a resolution , because it seeks to consolidate the illegal secession of Kosovo imposed by the force and weapons of NATO and the coercion of the EU and other imperialist forces .
that brings the debate to a close .
Romania 's Parliament Palace consumes as much power as a town with 20 000 inhabitants .
among these specific points I would recall our commitment to firm , decisive measures to combat illegal immigration , support for a stronger link between legal and illegal immigration , and the search for more mechanisms for dialogue and integration for immigrants .
it stops here .
stability plus poverty does not offer any prospects .
eighteen years after the first directive on pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth and / or are breastfeeding , the economic and demographic situation in Europe has certainly changed .
this also shows the importance of a fundamental reform in the derivatives market and the relevance of the action already undertaken by the Commission .
thus biofuel , the production of biomass , can under no circumstances be at the expense of food production .
we all know that patient mobility will remain a very limited phenomenon .
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the report recommends going to the International Criminal Court and that the Quartet should insist on the rule of law .
we have therefore chosen to vote against the report .
this decision ' rewards ' the ability of these countries to ' deliver the necessary reforms ' .
trade policies must play their part in this context .
the report by Mr Surján , on behalf of the Committee on Budgets , on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2010 , Section III - Commission ( C7-0127 / 2009 - and on the letter of amendment No 1 / 2010 ( SEC ( 2009 ) 1133 ) to the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2010 and
secondly , the European Central Bank 's objective is not only to maintain a rate close to 2 % but also to apply Europe 's policy , by that I mean the Lisbon and Gothenburg Strategies .
the committee , which I have the honour of chairing , accepted my report unanimously .
since I firmly believe that education and consequent career progression can break the vicious circle of discrimination against the Roma , I voted in favour of the motion for a resolution .
all of this should be taken into account during the implementation of these strategies and during the shaping of the future course of the Cohesion policy .
( it ) Madam President , I should like to congratulate Mr Cancian on his excellent work in bringing this measure to its conclusion .
a number of Member States hoped that all rail services within their territory , whether national or international and irrespective of their providers , would contribute collectively to the financing of public passenger transport services , via the levying of a charge .
surveillance must build on the existing instruments .
they deserve a better government , but this cannot be imposed from outside by anyone .
in countries undergoing severe austerity measures - like my own country , Ireland - this issue is particularly severe and I believe it needs to be dealt with immediately .
it means that the law of the place where the seat of authority for cross-border cooperation is registered will be applicable , if such an authority has been established .
Mr President , the peace in Northern Ireland is still fragile .
in my view the choice is simple .
need we remind you , since no one has mentioned it yet , of the bird flu outbreak in Europe - this was only three years ago - when poultry meat consumption fell by more than 20 % ?
the report on the Green Paper on the reform of the common fisheries policy , which we adopted today , revises the economic , social and environmental aspects of this policy , with the aim of redefining the approach to resolving the remaining problems within the sector .
however , I would like to use this opportunity to call once again on the European Commission and the Council to do everything possible to lift the visa requirement for the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania as soon as possible .
we must avoid making such demands , as we risk losing credibility among our partners throughout the world , particularly those who are still unsure about joining with us .
if order reigns in Beijing , if everyone stays silent , if the whole world acts like the International Olympic Committees , that will be a victory for the dictatorship in Beijing and in Tibet .
on the contrary , the Union can help Russia to maintain its status of a key player that the country would otherwise gradually lose due to elements relating to its one-sided economy and democracy .
only when the flames and embers are extinguished can we turn to post-mortems as to how this happened and what is needed to avoid it happening again .
it has therefore been necessary to harmonise Member States ' national laws relating to the admission and residence of those third-country nationals .
will she now add this to her list and give us an undertaking that she will fight to try and ensure that this partnership agreement is suspended ?
a European electoral observation mission was sent to the country headed by Mr Cristian Preda , MEP .
I should like to emphasise , in addition to what has already been said and further to what has been written in the report , that if there are 100 million Europeans who dedicate themselves to helping some 500 million Europeans every day , it must not be forgotten that these 100 million Europeans who volunteer receive personal gain from so doing , not in the financial sense but in the sense of personal fulfilment .
otherwise , Mr Verheugen 's ominous forecast that we will only be exporting pollution and importing unemployment might come true .
consumers are increasingly sensitive about suffering and injuries to farm animals and therefore they have the right to be informed about the potential of cloning to cause pain and to waste natural resources .
I would like to ask the Minister if his attention has been drawn to the protectionist elements in the plan for recovery in the United States , particularly as put forward by members of the House of Representatives and the Senate , and if he has , on behalf of the Council , communicated the concern of the European Union to the American Administration about this .
we must try however we can to encourage this national dialogue , which needs to be conducted with due regard to the general interests of the citizens of Lebanon and their desire for prosperity , security and national independence .
however , the facts presented here show a different aspect : in addition to the advantages derived from lower labour costs , the developed countries externalise some of the associated costs .
we have in front of us what I believe is the most thorough , most critical and most forward-looking European Parliament discharge report ever .
it is important for us not to rush through legislative proposals within such an important area as this .
moreover , this is another stain on our current model of European integration .
it calls on the Council to produce a report on the way in which Article 9 is implemented in work and in European policies through the open coordination method .
the Union is being very careful in the way it comments on events in Ukraine .
in addition , the Commission would refer to the reply already given to the honourable Member 's written question , which stipulated that , according to Article 3 of Regulation ( Euratom , EC ) No 2185 / 96 , economic operators are not being controlled by both the Commission and Member States ' authorities at the same time and on the basis of the same facts , according to Community sector regulations or national legislation .
my view is that this review is needed for all of them .
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in Romania , only 30 % of the citizens know that this number can be called in case of emergency from any EU country and national authorities need to continue their efforts to promote this number in order to respond rapidly to problems related to climate change and other problems .
you also mention the mobility of artists and cultural workers , which is very high on our agenda , especially this year .
in writing . - On the discharge Report of the European Parliament for 2009 , I voted in line with my political Group against paragraph 143 on airmiles .
I think we can agree on this .
to be fully effective , these systems would , of course , have to be interconnected .
we are making it clear that all the efforts of fiscal consolidation , all the efforts of structural reform , are in fact for growth - for sustainable growth , for inclusive growth - which is the goal of the European Union .
these two issues are crucial .
the most important acquis of the EU is that by its values , it has been able to channel conflicts which , in the past , could only be solved at the cost of considerable human suffering into a democratic framework based on the rule of law .
the European Union has already adopted the set-aside requirement for 2008 and thereby increased the volume of arable land given over to food production in the European Union .
I can assure you that , every day , I have proof of the usefulness of these new authorities , since we currently consult them on an almost daily basis .
a dialogue must be opened , which must include the prime minister , who is currently in prison and who must be released immediately .
the intention of Parliament 's proposal is to exclude this opt-out option .
we should be looking at existing successful projects and using EU links to find best practice .
after all , Eastern Europe is hardly a spawning ground for fundamentalist Islamic terrorist groups .
Mr President , the European External Action Service will be responsible to the High Representative .
this financing , for energy and broadband Internet projects , requires a review of the multiannual financial framework for 2007-2013 .
Mr President , over the past 26 years we , like Parliament , have asked for their release 15 times .
as you know , our two institutions have been working on this topic for several years and in many different contexts .
therefore , ladies and gentlemen , thanks to your determination and , I repeat , of your rapporteur in particular , we can move European skies closer to maximum safety .
the proposed directive is very important for eliminating discrimination against women who help out in their husbands ' businesses and who receive no maternity or old age support , which makes them dependent or highly vulnerable people .
however , I feel obliged to urge a note of caution .
in our transatlantic relations , for example , we should insist on drawing up a common strategy to fight terrorism , which respects fundamental rights and privacy .
they must go only to sensible , sustainable business activities through the use of objectively measurable criteria and transparent procedures .
by approximating the two sets of requirements and regulatory processes , the importing authority will be able to issue its own certificate on the aeronautical product , part or appliance without duplicating all the assessments done by the exporting authority .
it used to come in the 70s .
then I shall be right behind you .
this is particularly so , and more important than ever , in the current financial and economic crisis .
the point with which I as rapporteur am less satisfied is the section on renewable energy in the transport sector .
most of all , however , some of those responsible for this freedom-killing legislation sit in this Parliament .
... nor are responses from the authorities .
it prevents unfair , monopolistic practices and eases travel for ordinary citizens .
ladies and gentlemen , before proceeding to the vote , I would like to make a brief announcement , because today we commemorate the sixth European Day for the Victims of Terrorism .
we need EU-level powers of decision and action on major issues , but we also need the honesty without which mutual trust is impossible .
they form the foundation on which we seek to build a common future and there can be no compromise in their regard .
the proposal is for a 5 % retention .
there was broad consensus on this subject during the discussions in the Committee on Transport .
we are happy that , after a period of bloody conflicts , peace and cooperation between nations are now the norm in the daily life of the region .
however , this process has obviously come to a standstill because of the conflict between the Arab states and Israel .
moreover , when a person has cancer , it affects them most , but it also affects their family , their employer and society as a whole .
this month we lost the carrier HMS Ark Royal prematurely with the loss of 6 000 dedicated personnel .
this very place would not exist if , in the middle of ruins , surrounded by death and legitimate claims for revenge , brave leaders did not choose to end centuries of wars by launching the most ambitious and fascinating political experiment of our time : European unification .
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we want to see the EU agree on targets for the minimum wage set at a level of at least 60 % of the national average wage in order to prevent people falling into poverty despite having gainful employment .
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often , when we talk about alternative energy sources , we talk ostentatiously about wind energy and solar energy , and of course we should do that .
earlier this year I took the initiative of sending NATO a set of concrete measures to reinforce EU-NATO cooperation .
it was intended to apply for the period from 1 January 2010 to 30 June 2011 .
the situation clearly changed after the Treaty of Lisbon , because Parliament now makes the decisions .
the EU accounts up to 2004 were audited and 60 % of suspected cases of fraud were attributed to Italy .
it is a dynamic country with considerable potential . at the same time , it faces a number of significant challenges .
from the customs and excise that you would collect from trade and perhaps from an extra 0.5 % VAT contribution from the Member States who would draw down this facility .
we recognise that the international NGOs are in a more difficult situation , as regards access to the stricken areas .
I must have misunderstood and I should therefore like some clarification on this matter .
there were misunderstandings .
the ratification by Bangladesh brought the number of State Parties to the Rome Statute to 111 .
( PL ) Mr President , much has been said and there have been many discussions in recent years about the role of women , their rights , their position in society and their occupational situation .
I do not like Hamas , firstly because it is a terrorist organisation and secondly because of its fundamentalist views , but this is not a matter of liking or disliking ; it is a matter of solutions .
we have completed the hearings , and I have received 26 letters of recommendation .
the situation is a complex one .
it also means that we must respect regional , cultural and linguistic diversity .
today , nearly half of all reservations no longer go through a CRS but are made on internet sites or through airline call centres .
( ES ) Mr President , I , too , would like to take this opportunity to emphasise the points that some of us believe should be fundamental in the final report on which we are going to vote .
there is no doubt that in the current economic crisis our economies will not react well to this destabilisation .
as part of Community energy policy , the Commission and the Member States should identify investments which are necessary to meet the EU 's strategic needs in terms of the supply and demand of natural gas and electricity .
nevertheless , despite the progress made , it would be illusory to believe that these differences will disappear in 2013 , or even in 2020 .
( DE ) Madam President , I am assuming that you will not know the answer , Mr Farage , but I have question for you .
anyway , these two cases demonstrate how essential it is to be mindful of all the factors relating to the finances and solidity of a country , and not only structured public debt .
I would like to thank you all for your patience .
the evaluation mechanism obviously needs to be revamped .
there are a lot of known cases where people are given the death penalty but avoid execution owing to the discovery of new evidence that proves they are not guilty of the crime .
thirdly , pressure must be exerted on the UN Security Council to proceed urgently with the implementation of its unanimous decision of 15 May 2008 to deploy a sufficiently strong UN peacekeeping force in the region - making sure , of course , that such peace-keepers are not of the same quality as those who recently were accused of committing crimes against the local population they were supposed to protect .
better links must be established with sea ports and airports , and proper implementation of trans-European network projects will certainly contribute to this objective .
( CS ) I , too , welcome the adoption of the directive .
it will be easy to find suitable candidates among the 250 million dynamic , bold and strong female citizens of the European Union , and this includes female candidates for the positions of President of the European Council and High Representative for Common Foreign Policy .
the first thing is that the whole concept of creating an opportunity to allow for a split within the TACs in one fishery is irresponsible to the extreme .
I am particularly pleased to be able to tell you that we have also introduced rules on labelling , because food products that are not compliant with Directive 2006 / 215 must carry an indication to that effect .
it is not the case for two reasons : firstly , because the European Commission has requested information from the United Kingdom Government and the French Government , which is a good thing , and , secondly , because we are having a debate on this subject today .
the question is , in what way ?
we are dealing here with so many different types of terrain and so many different approaches that any attempt to standardise seems unrealistic .
if you say that you want to release regional funds and resources from the Structural Funds then we need to move away from the obligation for cofinancing , because otherwise Greece will not be able to use them .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , President-in-Office of the Council , ladies and gentlemen , first of all I should like to congratulate Mr Goepel most sincerely on his balanced report .
yet what we are proposing is also realistic .
in the Maltese Islands , medicines are much more expensive than in another EU country , namely Belgium .
we need an ambitious mandate with our demands .
the structural funds must be used swiftly and efficiently .
this is , however , only the beginning , as Naša Vjasna , which has a human rights agenda , and several other organisations devoted to the development of democracy also await registration .
the Member States are doing things here that they would not dare do at home .
faster border checks for bona fide travellers can offset the impact on border crossing times resulting from an entry-exit system .
I also wanted to mention another brief point concerning the report on forensic laboratories - for this is the issue I have been following - and to say as clearly as possible that , when discussing the need for coordination , we must also examine the matter of decentralisation very carefully .
leaving that aside , let us look at the picture in Croatia at the moment .
I should like to begin by underlining two fundamental principles which lie at the heart of today 's debate .
Orlando Zapata , aged 42 , was declared a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International .
the Services Directive is a good example . a period of three years has been allowed for its implementation .
secondly , issues related to sustainability .
another problem is that these platforms have been heavily exploited .
I would have liked the Commission to have had a firmer and more visionary approach , especially since we have all the instruments on the table today and this was the best option identified by the impact assessment .
we noted then that there had been a drastic reduction in the number of units sold in the commercial vehicles sector , and I am therefore pleased that we have managed , with the legislation now before us , to create an instrument that will allow the Member States to grant tax incentives for the early introduction of the Euro 6 emissions standard .
why should we import a method which has not already been tried and tested ?
it is not up to us at this moment to ascertain whether the responsibility might also be of a different kind , and severe penalties should be imposed if that is the case , but we would not be honest if we blamed politics alone .
it is not by chance that Mr. Barroso , the President of the European Commission himself said so directly during his recent visit to Bulgaria .
however , although I realise that integration is important , I believe it must occur with the consent of our citizens .
plus we need a parallel political cooperation agreement with binding social and environmental clauses committing both sides to the ratification of core ILO conventions , as well as the normal PCA clauses on human rights and democracy .
in the context of our development cooperation , we should rather emphasise the fact that a real attempt is being made here to bring about change and in particular , to carry out a practical campaign against poverty in Kenya .
future Members must not be dispossessed of their powers in future budgetary procedures and future negotiations on the multiannual financial framework .
despite these criticisms , I will vote for the report .
Madam Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I realise that there is a bit of a hubbub because a lot of colleagues are entering the chamber , but I would ask those entering not to stand chatting because many colleagues are keen to hear the Commissioner 's conclusions .
I would ask , therefore , that future selection processes aim to recruit candidates from the broadest possible pool of talent in order to ensure independent thought and a new diversity in the senior management of such authorities .
as to the economic reforms , we see progress , for example , on the drafting of a cotton debt resolution mechanism , which hopefully will pave the way for wider agricultural reforms and the implementation of ' Freedom to Farm ' , crucial to tackling poverty in the country .
those of us who were brought up in the Catholic religion know the prayer of Saint Augustine which says more or less , ' Make me pure , but not just yet ' .
there are new regulatory initiatives , such as the fight against tax havens , the removal of legal loopholes from management accounts , the requirements applicable to stock market transactions and the use of transaction repositories for the register of derived instruments .
in terms of the enlargement process , the situation in the Western Balkans merits special attention .
first of all , there is the technological development that we have supported for many years .
disarmament and the creation of a nuclear-free zone should , in my opinion , be an important goal of the EU 's Middle East policy , in order to guarantee peace and security in this region .
Turkey , in turn , must comply with the Copenhagen criteria and the obligations it has undertaken .
( FI ) Mr President , Mr Caldeira , Commissioner , I wish to thank the European Court of Auditors for its admirable work for the benefit of the European taxpayer .
first of all , I find it remarkable that the European Union is maintaining its fisheries agreement with Guinea , as the agreement was entered into with the previous regime two weeks before the coup .
the question of what to do next has arisen .
I should like first of all to say to you that , in my view , the adoption of this text on temporary workers will send out a very strong signal to all Europeans : that 2008 can be the year of the revival of social Europe .
we thus wasted a year seeking not the truth , but proof of that guilt , omitting and even concealing any facts that would run counter to this view .
time is short .
the scoreboard also serves to monitor progress in integrating the retail side of the internal market for consumers , SMEs and other retailers .
I had the opportunity to question the Commissioner-designate for Regional Policy , Johannes Hahn , with regard to his interest in the creation of a specific programme of permanent financial support for the outermost regions .
the humanitarian aid provided by the European Union must be unconditional .
Mr President , I talked about foetal alcohol syndrome and alcohol abuse in juveniles .
I believe that the new order has brought with it a new global economic disorder .
we are at the half-way point and of course I am not pretending that when this Parliament breaks up shortly we can achieve the impossible , but I do think that the idea of creating certain Europe-wide institutions , whether museums , research institutes or foundations , is what we need .
inaction is a crime against humanity .
there has been a flood of proceedings and actions in the European Union .
being Hungarian , we will lose the Hungarian language , but that is a small price to pay compared to the advantages we will all benefit from .
this is why I would like to say to the Council that I am in favour of eurobonds .
although the attack can be seen as a criminal act of individuals , various other troubling incidents require our ongoing focus on respect for all minorities in Egypt .
extremely high stocking densities in intensive farming systems may increase the risk of disease spread and hamper disease control .
I should like to mention one thing in conclusion .
what good are strict emission limits if people can no longer afford new cars and drive about in their ageing vehicles ?
for paragraph 2 , we want to add the words at the end of the paragraph , ' as well as deliberate impoverishment , arbitrary taxation and land confiscation ' .
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however , if we hold a serious discussion with a friend , it is foolish and shameful not to mention the problems that we have .
it is time to realise , therefore , that the party is over .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development . - ( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , first let me thank Mrs Thomsen for her balanced report .
Europe should not show disregard or protectionism in relation to the United States , nor the United States in relation to Europe .
like most , if not all , of the Members of this Parliament , I deplore the fact that in a number of societies in the world , female foetuses are aborted , whether with the consent of the mother or under coercion .
we must help the local people to help themselves in order to reduce the flow of migrants to the EU from developing countries .
Parliament 's objective is to lay down flexible rules for promoting transatlantic cooperation which will help to combat terrorism and create a transmission system in which Union citizens can trust .
firstly , it is important to emphasise that restaurants are not food factories , so they must not be required to follow the same provisions , since this erodes quality and traditions .
global warming can also affect the number of species .
will it become a means which brings the European Union closer to its citizens by producing a perceptible improvement in their everyday lives ? or will it be merely an arena which serves to protect both the bottlenecks inhibiting the functioning of the Single Market and the sectors maintained ?
toughness is the only language these Mullahs understand .
employment , innovation , research and development , climate change and energy , training , and social inclusion are the five objectives which should form the focus for the drafting of the EU 2012 budget .
I mean no offence to the other Members , but the debate ran on a lot , we had a very lengthy introductory report from Baroness Ashton and we cannot influence the next debate .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Madam President , NATO remains a fundamental element of Europe 's collective security and so does the bridge it builds with America .
I support the proposals leading to greater awareness and training for people who may come into contact with this form of violence in the course of their work .
for example , I think that opening Negotiation Chapter 15 , which is on energy , is important , including for EU Member States .
we have to keep track of every meeting on the road to Copenhagen .
therefore , let us deal more carefully with our environment , for economic reasons as well as ecological ones .
there are also autologous therapy techniques , however , where the child from whom the cord blood is obtained can already benefit from this today in a small number of narrowly restricted areas .
where OLAF needs to investigate the allocation of EU funds , whether intended for Member States or for external assistance , the involvement of interested third countries and international organisations must be ensured .
( PL ) Madam President , cohesion policy has often been regarded as the best example of solidarity within the European Union .
this is why I do not want to confine my contribution to the topic of health workers alone , because I think that we will discover the same fear of the unknown in the European dimension in healthcare in other areas too .
therefore , while only one person in six is suffering from hunger at the moment , we must face a situation where in a few decades ' time , as many as one person in four or five will be suffering from hunger .
I trust that Parliament will also continue to support this very valuable common goal .
yet that is what we have seen in Northern Ireland this week .
we are asking for your respect and your solidarity .
or when :
( PL ) Madam President , Commissioner , the fact that the obligations of airlines to their passengers do not terminate even if the airline goes bankrupt is obvious , and should be taken as a starting point in this much needed discussion which Mr Simpson has initiated .
the accompanying current or forthcoming devaluation of the dollar by the United States as part of its currency reform programme would have a severe negative impact on the European market .
it is clear , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , that this Parliament urges the Commission finally to translate its policy priorities into reality with more conviction and with better instruments .
in the first half of the year , it was Mr Böge , and in the second , Mr Lamassoure .
green public procurement and sustainability criteria are required for timber and other forms of biomass used for renewable energy production .
I would also like to thank the French Presidency for the fact that we have now been able to conclude this legislative process with a compromise , to which this Presidency made a major contribution .
this is the image that gypsies have in Italy , this is the image that the Roma have created , despite our best efforts .
Mr President , I would like to ask my colleague how many nuclear plants have to go down before she says that it is enough .
in 2009 , only EUR 37 million were mobilised , out of a possible EUR 500 million .
it can be said that this is one of the most citizen-friendly accords .
nevertheless , that is no reason for the Commission to scale down its ambitions in relation to the content of this employment summit , and its monitoring during the Swedish and Spanish Presidencies to come .
we have heard a lot about Romania and Bulgaria .
it is vital to establish who is to issue a warning , and when and how they should issue it , in order to prevent the information chaos we have been witnessing .
that is why we are asking for more loans to be earmarked for research into new technologies at the budget review .
my fear is that by eroding artistic freedoms , even slightly , we are also eroding the values of free speech and expression .
the introduction of aviation into the emission certificates trading scheme is a first step forward .
the scope of the transparency rules must also be extended to include the internal trading systems of banks and the exceptions must be more narrowly worded so that financial institutes and financial products cannot escape effective supervision .
if we do not make stringent demands and insist on them being met in full we will not actually achieve any real results .
I am wholeheartedly in favour of the European Union .
but I believe that there is sense prevailing in Ireland and that people are now reflecting on the situation we find ourselves in and now know that we need to be at the heart of Europe , given the crisis that we are in .
thank you .
the same studies show how it makes it difficult for women to get jobs and have a career and how it makes it difficult to reconcile work and family life .
Members of the committee were horrified .
here , Islam effectively becomes totalitarian law , so that the rights of other religions or of women or of all are in fact suppressed .
that would be to their discredit .
when we discussed the murder of Governor Salman Taseer , I warned about the rise of religious extremism in Pakistan .
so the political conclusion I draw is that we need ways of strengthening our Euro-Atlantic links in order to provide more security along with more rights .
first of all , we keep calling on Russia to ensure a proper investigation .
I would like to take advantage of the presence of the Commission to ask what it is doing or plans to do in this regard .
what this means is that certain European governments are playing with fire .
the programme of the Czech Presidency signals continued intensification of the anti-grassroots attacks by the ΕU in order to shift the impact of the crisis in the capitalist system on to the working class and poor grassroots classes , an increase in EU aggression against the people and imperialist intervention and improvements to its capability for military intervention around the world .
adjournment of the session
energy use is responsible for 80 % of the total EU emissions of greenhouse gases .
nevertheless , we are now - after Tampere , after the Hague - in charge of drawing up this multiannual Stockholm programme , and today it is too early for me to formulate precise ideas about the content of the next multiannual programme .
it could be caused by an increase in the quantity of counterfeit goods coming into the EU , but it could also be a result of improved detection by the customs authorities .
transfers of appropriations : see Minutes
we will now suspend the sitting .
my group is particularly concerned with this question .
rapporteur . - Mr President , I should like to thank everyone who has stayed back tonight and participated in this debate , and also the Commissioner for his response to the debate .
the matter of species preservation - and this is my point - is not some kind of charitable institution for a few poor little bugs that we should simply manage to do without .
it would also be good if Prime Minister Erdogan put his own house in order in the areas of the situation of the Kurds , acknowledging the genocide of Armenians and equality of rights for women .
I strongly ask the Commission what it intends to do to ensure that the Italian Government falls in line with standards of the European Union directives , particularly with regard to the recent ruling by the Court of Justice , which strongly condemned Italy for not being able to dispose of waste in Campania .
the amendment proposed in the report removes the obligation on a Member State to pursue new offences when they are committed outside the territory of this Member State but on behalf of a legal person established on its territory , or against its institutions or population , or against a European institution with its headquarters in the Member State concerned .
- ( FR ) Madam President , as for what Mrs McGuinness said , I share your opinion entirely .
that cannot be the European Union 's intention .
as I do not have time , I will only draw one conclusion .
we do not need mechanisms to tackle debt that are excessively automatic and pro-cyclical , which risk failing to meet the objective and , if anything , risk hindering actions to boost economic growth .
furthermore , from today , all citizens of EU Member States , including Cyprus , Bulgaria and Romania , will also be able to travel to Taiwan without a visa .
when judging figure skating , we discard the highest and lowest marks and then award the score .
so what can we do ?
Mr President , we have just had a debate in this Chamber on the common agricultural policy , where we reiterated the importance of supporting a European model , unique in the world .
such action has clear public support , as shown by opinion polls carried out thus far .
the producer price for milk fell , and at present many milk producers are having to sell dairy products at a price that does not reflect production costs .
I would consider it a great pity if this were voted through together because , in the final event , we are not giving up on harmonisation at European level , but rather want to increase it in order to bring about an improvement for all men and women .
moreover , this fund can be targeted not only at issues of social inclusion , but also at greater vocational mobility of European citizens .
the regulations and the directive on social rules in road transport currently in force afford the Member States a great deal of scope for interpretation and this results in a failure to achieve uniform transposition into national law in the Member States .
the fact is , that this country is vital for European and global security , and it is for this reason , as Pino Arlacchi 's report details very well , that we need to correct the huge errors committed in the move to investing in ' Afghanisation ' and putting the human safety of the Afghan people first , which involves a responsibility to protect on the part of the foreign forces present .
both meetings revealed a flagrant lack of transparency as regards contracts between Gazprom and Naftogaz and especially a lack of confidence which prevents progress in reaching an agreement .
last week I published my second annual report on that very subject .
it maintains the focus on the better regulation agenda in line with previous similar initiatives taken last year by the European Parliament .
then we can have a more reasonable interpretation of the requirement of the legality and regularity of transactions .
the Commission will respect this commitment and propose this general alignment of all non-priority acts .
the Court also maintains the view that well-designed rules and regulations which are clear to interpret and simple to apply not only decrease the risk of error but can also reduce the costs of controls .
furthermore , SMEs naturally also have other financial instruments at their disposal within the European Union , in particular in connection with the Structural Fund .
no - it means , in fact , that MEPs do not really believe the European Central Bank can be a solution , a remedy , to the crisis , or that it can be a lifebelt .
we are putting more emphasis on the exchange of good practices and we hope that in this way we will acquire the experience necessary to suggest , as soon as possible , a pilot project of interest to as many Member States as possible .
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we should not make it a scapegoat for our own domestic economic and social problems .
fourthly , what does the Commission intend to do about the Court of First Instance 's judgment in the Danish TV2 case ?
the compromise reached on the main sensitive points of the Commission 's proposal , the open declaration of raw materials and the creation of a Community list of raw materials , is a good reflection , in my opinion , of this balance .
a lot is going to be said at the biodiversity conference about the need to put in place the correct measures , but if all we end up with is a pious declaration , we will achieve very little .
it is also essential to create a pan-European crisis map , on the basis of which those areas of the European Union can be assessed where abject poverty and social exclusion most seriously afflict the Roma and non-Roma communities , and through which the European Commission , supporting the Member States , can start the work of desegregation , which the governments have been putting off for decades as a result of different political commitments .
it is a single culture in the universe , and it is not multiple .
the Commission is of the view that the proposed criteria ought to ensure a high level of protection without making plant protection unworkable or dysfunctional .
however , Member States will continue to apply policies promoting investments which will supplement and be compatible with the common international investment policy .
the competition and innovation programme , the CIP , is struggling for support and the financing for SET , the strategic energy technology programme , is at less than half .
firstly , the Commission 's report said that the proposal was largely uncontested in the Council as elsewhere .
the EU-Africa Summit was a success .
they seek to replace the reforms which are finally taking place with increased sales promotion measures and information campaigns .
I am in favour of introducing an appropriate transition period because the production cycle in the automotive industry is complex and needs a long time to adapt .
in writing . - ( SV ) We have no objections to informing and educating citizens in the Member States objectively and factually about EU cooperation .
judging by the progress made by Montenegro in various areas , it is clear that the country is taking preparations for European integration seriously .
thirdly , the European Council is due to endorse the treaty change needed to allow for the establishment of the European Stability Mechanism in 2013 , with its capacity to assist - on the basis of strict conditionality - euro area Member States in financial difficulties .
the NGOs can submit projects to it without the support of their government , and that is important .
I strongly believe that it is in both our interests to cooperate in this area , and no less important to show Europe 's citizens that we are cooperating .
8 .
I am glad the problems for disabled and older tourists have been taken into account , though perhaps more attention could have been devoted to them .
it changes the European Union 's self-image regarding the importance of culture and its strategic importance to policy as a whole .
on behalf of the PPE Group . - Mr President , I would like to thank the Commissioner for his response .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue card question by Marije Cornelissen and Anneli Jäätteenmäki under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
risks to price stability over the medium term remain clearly on the upside in 2007 and have intensified over recent months .
it involves a lot of work and costs a lot of money .
the Commission would thus be able to carry out an analysis and determine whether a company controls the CRS and whether a company which has rights and participates in the management of the CRS influences the latter in a decisive manner .
in this case , Mr Barroso is the wrong man for the job of president .
not that long ago , in the course of this legislative period , we also voted in Euro 5 and Euro 6 for passenger cars , thereby continuing the success story of exhaust gas standards for vehicles - in today 's case heavy-duty vehicles - in Europe .
it is commendable that the rapporteur is seeking to establish a link between public procurement and fostering and promoting clean efficient vehicles , and I hope that this will lead to growth in investment and research of vehicles with low CO2 emissions .
moreover , before reaching adulthood , women are young girls , and violence against a young girl will prevent her from enjoying life forever .
why would doctors send a teacher to work so hard with a boy whom they did not believe would survive ?
in the research sector , there are subsidies for space research , the objective of which is global monitoring while , on the other hand , the overwhelming majority of actions concerning social integration , social exclusion and young people have had their subsidies cut .
I likewise think that the United Nations resolution on the universal moratorium on the use of the death penalty must be put into practice .
we have to create a training network .
we face a great challenge in these final weeks leading up to Copenhagen .
all the Member States have social services and social benefits , yet even after receiving them one sixth of people live in poverty .
I would also like to thank Mrs Patrão Neves , who has done an excellent job of conducting the negotiations .
there are plenty of ideas for the countries along the Danube , but what is important are the priorities used to launch the strategy .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , before I come to the report , I would like to respond to Mr Meyer and Mr Tavares .
the principle of subsidiarity means that urban policy falls within the competence of the Member States .
in many of these matters we already have certain quantifications , certain calculations since , in parallel with the principles , we are getting to know the forecasts , the first budget preliminaries for 2009 .
we are losing hundreds of thousands of enterprises every year in Europe which could easily continue to exist if the transfer from one generation to the next could be organised in a better way .
this is why I am asking you to reject the proposed amendment to paragraph 16 , but to preserve the initial wording , which calls on us to put our own house in order .
instead , it will mean analysing and peer-reviewing the broad budgetary guidelines and fiscal balance before the submission of the draft national budgets by governments to Parliament with the legal right , based on the treaty and pact , for the EU to make recommendations and ask for corrective action from the Member States concerned .
let us hope that I am wrong .
but perhaps you can resolve another little problem for me .
the undifferentiated labelling of trans fats will only confuse consumers , create a negative image of healthy dairy products and have undesirable effects on consumption , undermining public health ( reduced intake of important nutrients such as calcium and proteins , for example ) .
it was particularly shocking that the Commissioner should totally disregard the social drama and strong impact of the soaring food prices recorded in recent months - exacerbated by abandonment of the land and the disappearance of many thousands of farms - and push for a cut in the meagre support received by around 70 000 Portuguese smallholders by proposing a minimum threshold while forgetting to indicate a maximum one .
( FR ) Madam President , Mr President-in-Office of the Council , President of the Commission , ladies and gentlemen , with the Copenhagen Summit less than two weeks away , concerns are growing as to the success of the negotiations on climate change .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I thank the honourable Member for his positive comments about the internal market scoreboard .
and the companies affected are essentially taking on the role of private consumers .
- ( NL ) Mr President , in the Gruber report , Parliament is following the particularly one-sided quantitative economic approach to the immigration problem .
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supplementary regulations are needed in this respect to protect the financial interests of the EU and to give auditing powers to the Court of Auditors .
I deplore , I condemn , I urge , I demand , but we also need to act and that action has to come in different forms .
we agreed on guarantees and rules of the road for supporting the banks .
the move towards the liberalisation of building products in the construction sector represents one of the requests for greater sensitivity received from small and medium-sized enterprises .
for his commitment to the all-too-long-forgotten victims in Darfur , the Conference decided that the prize would be awarded to Salih Mahmoud Osman .
Madam President , the subject of today 's debate is a violation of human rights that took place during the 1930s , during the Japanese occupation , when young women in the Imperial Armed Forces were sexually exploited and forced into prostitution , despite the fact that the Japanese Government had signed international conventions on combating traffic in women and children and supported the UN Resolution on Women , Peace and Security .
our new and former colleague Martin Kastler has now arrived too .
as the rapporteur and the other speakers said , this is a necessary exercise , but obviously we should try to clarify it .
this requires a joint effort .
in turn , these influenced the deficits that the Member States have as a result of our political and social system , which protects those in the most vulnerable situations , such as those who lose their jobs .
in Europe , one mammal in six is at risk of extinction , and when one species disappears , it can create a domino effect with regard to all the others .
as regards the application of the principle of mutual recognition , which is also one of the pivotal aspects in the construction of an area of justice , freedom and security , the framework decision on the enforcement of decisions rendered in absentia will allow existing instruments , such as the European arrest warrant , to be reinforced .
as point eight of the discharge report concerning the European Council says , this progress is due to the positive attitude and efforts of the Hungarian Presidency .
the opposite action should , in fact , be taken : this fund should be closely linked to the others , particularly regional policy instruments , so as to increase its effectiveness .
the report calls for a move away from the historical payment system by 2020 , calling for an area basis plus objective criteria to replace the current regime .
I do not know what secret relations you have with the author of the question , but unfortunately we cannot continue .
others , like Hannes Swoboda and Jan Marinus Wiersma , stress that we should not take a black-and-white approach to this and that Ukraine deserves some attention - you are also right : of course Ukraine is not making this easier .
to this end the Council intends to call on the Commission to study all the appropriate means of achieving this .
we did this through the European Network for Diagnostics of ' Imported ' Viral Diseases , which is funded under the public health programme .
the issue of the two ' missing ' dossiers , on Civil Liability and Flag States , needs to be resolved by the Council one way or another , so it is important that Parliament keeps the pressure on by including them collectively in the Sterckx report on Vessel Traffic Monitoring , the Vlasto report on Port State Control and this report .
I would also like to thank Mrs Kuneva for her work on the Green Paper .
then when we review the Scheme in 2012 we would really focus on the end-value to be gained from parental contributions .
we should also be aware that , with the current pre-electoral atmosphere in the US , it may not be easy at the present time to find a balanced settlement .
in my opinion , it was a significant achievement that we managed to place in an institutional framework a debate which had hitherto been informal and closed , or limited to closed circles and informal channels .
I am in favour of greater parliamentary involvement in the Union 's economic governance and of the centralisation at European level of the exclusive supervision powers of the major cross-border financial institutions .
the objective of this report is the need to promote greater synergies between tax policy and development policy , making both more efficient ; to that end , it identifies the difficulties that exist in developing countries with regard to the mobilisation of tax revenues .
I therefore support this resolution , which calls for the Ombudsman 's activities to be given a higher profile .
finally , of course , the salient point that led us to conciliation : amendment 138 .
appropriate abilities must be preserved even at an older age , and this is possible only with a more modern , more accessible health service .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , I very much welcome your motion .
we will , at all times , promote the defence of human rights .
a further challenge that we face is how to work together to strengthen the practical applications of rules-based multilateralism based on our shared values .
( PL ) Mr President , halfway through it has transpired that among the millennium goals , we have done worst in combating TB , HIV and malaria .
the 2012 and 2013 budgets will be consolidation budgets aimed at reflecting the Member States ' spending cutbacks and setting a benchmark for the levels that will be established in the next financial framework .
the Middle East , Pakistan , Afghanistan , Russia , defence , security and economic and commercial matters are discussed in detail .
I want to tell Rebecca Harms that it is unusual for us in Sweden to be criticised for our aid commitments .
fourthly - finally - the procedure for resorting to the provisional twelfths system , in the unlikely yet possible event that we fail to reach an agreement on the 2010 budget : on this point , we feel that the Treaty of Lisbon 's provisions are precise enough to rule out the need for a supplement .
top of the political agenda today is the great economic crisis that the country is experiencing , the problem of returning migrants and , of course , violence and organised crime .
the subject of the draft recommendation is the participation of the Republic of Moldova in Union programmes .
President-in-Office . - ( SL ) I am honoured to be with you again today and , as President of the Council , to present to you the evaluation of the results of the Bali Climate Change Conference .
however , we also need a review of whether our measures are effective , which measures are effective and which new ones are needed .
Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , we are disappointed that it has not been possible to reach agreement on the Novel Foods Regulation and that therefore , it is not possible to guarantee adequate information for consumers on the foods that we eat or to ensure that Europe has clear , strict rules on foods from cloned animals .
this is why we have created the European Platform of Women Scientists , which serves as a catalyst and creates role models in scientific research .
we must ensure that they reach it , or else we shall have to raise the standards they have to meet to do so .
in a Slovak school in the Hungarian village , Slovak is taught as a foreign language for 3 hours a week and a priest says mass in Hungarian .
an active presidency , a mobilised Council , a European Parliament on the offensive and tenacious civil organisations are helping fashion Europe as an effective world player : this is very good and encouraging news .
they need to be able to take informed decisions .
( PT ) Madam President , President-in-Office of the Council , Mr Vice-President of the Commission , ladies and gentlemen , we are facing a crisis of mass illegal immigration which has consequences for the security and cohesion of the whole European Union .
they withdrew from this scheme many years ago .
to conclude , Mrs Reding , with reference to Europol , I would like to know why a Council decision is going to be replaced by a Europol regulation by 2013 .
pending this , the EU Member States should implement unilateral actions to prohibit the use and transfer of these bombs , as many states have already done and others are preparing to do .
we , Europeans in the rich , democratic countries , must do everything we can today so that the EU is open for the civil societies of Belarus and Ukraine .
an ongoing change is taking place in the distribution of roles between Parliament and the Council within the budgetary procedure .
we have big military potential , largely untapped , so decisions to use military assets and to support each other in pooling and sharing are something that we need to take forward .
while the average price for butter today is EUR 4.10 , it was EUR 4.50 in 1982 .
this agreement provides for specific instruments to combat illegal , unreported and unregulated ( IUU ) fishing in EU territorial waters more effectively .
taking a relativistic attitude to the violation of humanitarian and international law and granting the perpetrators exemption from punishment will only lead to new suicide attacks and wars , and the spiral of violence will continue .
the European Union is the joint home of national , ethnic and religious minorities as well , and precisely for this reason , the EU can no longer put off providing them with institutional , legally regulated protection .
a large number of Roma drifted to the periphery of society in this very period of the past 20 years .
some of you have said , ' It is too little , too late ' .
that is why we must promote lifelong learning for adults .
why is it so important now ?
at the recent NATO summit , Albania and Croatia were allowed to join , but FYROM was not invited to do so .
right now , however , we are talking about China and there we are more or less powerless , as has already been said .
it saddens me that we have not achieved more .
secondly , it is a bit rich to reproach a parliamentary report when Member States refused to instigate police or judicial inquiries .
I completely disagree with the current state of affairs regarding ' Ley de Costas ' , but I also think that , especially in this moment of economic crisis , it is not responsible to take such a strong stand , as hundreds of thousands of citizens would be affected if funds were withheld .
with this directive , we want to change that . with this directive , we have strengthened the Member States ' responsibilities .
finally , we cannot overlook support for development , as it is important to maintain the commitment to set aside 0.7 % of the gross national income of each Member State for developing countries .
we know that the legitimate authorities in Brazil have this case in hand and that the Italian citizen is being held in Brazil .
the strategy of the Council and the Presidency of the Council regarding energy and energy security is the need to move towards a greater differentiation in terms of suppliers and sources of energy and its distribution .
Mr President , it is clear that , since the 1995 directive , which is the predecessor of this directive , remarkable growth has been recorded in tourism and we must acknowledge , in particular , the great prospects that the economic system of tourism will contribute to the European economy as a whole in the near future .
how can these objectives be achieved with the budget being reduced ?
( HU ) Mr President , we would like to assess the results of the Swedish Presidency retrospectively from a 10-20 year perspective .
Mr Erdoğan 's agenda is that of an Islamic party and , on that point too , the balance would shift if Turkey joined the EU .
for the same reasons adaptations to economic changes also require public measures aimed not only at creating an overall framework to promote economic competitiveness , but also at targeted support to anticipate preparations for restructuring and socially responsible management of restructuring .
together with the Court , we looked at what could be a more realistic task for the Court , perhaps covering the budget over a three-year cycle , rather than annually , and asking the Court to take into account that most Commission control systems are multi-annual , ensuring that errors are corrected over time .
furthermore , the European Union needs an eco-efficient industrial policy which will guarantee the link between innovative capacity and the EU 's production units , thereby helping create jobs across the whole EU and maintain its global competitiveness .
the new directive also makes it possible , to a limited extent , to take specific national conditions into consideration , where this is dictated by economic requirements and the state of the roads .
we believe that Parliament and the Council have indeed improved the text .
it has lost sight of the one thing it needs most - democracy - and forgotten the only people that matter - its citizens .
it can be of a global and general nature .
Davide is aimed at everyone who wishes to protect their computer against unsafe websites .
it is yet another own goal .
honourable ladies and gentlemen !
I think it is very important for farmers right now that a clear signal be sent to them as to what is likely to happen , so that they will not be left to wild speculation , not knowing whether to buy or sell stock based on the historic model .
I can only hope so , and wish for the French Presidency to make the adoption of the common position in the next two weeks another of the great achievements of its term of office .
and we may soon face transition in the occupied Palestinian territory .
it is also advocating a possible reduction in CO2 emissions of 50 million tonnes .
we discussed fairly extensively just yesterday and the day before yesterday the issue of solidarity between new and old Member States .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
it could help make the staple diet in the European Union healthier .
the commission should complete its work within three months .
speculative activities , which represent a significant risk , should be discouraged by increasing the capital requirements and applying the Basel rules internationally .
territorial cohesion is essentially about achieving balanced development across the EU and in this context it should constitute a central objective of all community policies .
with a broad majority , you have a new Commission for your second period of office - I hope that you will improve everything , that you will re-inject dynamism into Europe , that you will promote technology and that we will not only talk about redistribution but that we will compete with the other economic regions of the world .
it is an area and a power , and it will be increasingly recognised in the fields of defence and foreign policy .
at the moment there is particular concern about the fact that thousands or hundreds of thousands of families are facing serious problems regarding loan flexibility .
anything else will not be in the interests of the European Union or Croatia and its people .
this attitude has not been abandoned in any way in the light of the financial crisis ; instead industry has begun to use the financial crisis to exert even more pressure against a systematic climate and energy policy .
that is why I was delighted to welcome the report by Mrs Klaß on the situation of women in rural areas .
( the President cut off the speaker )
it is this worrying fact that makes it essential to adopt resolute initiatives at all levels to curtail this phenomenon .
out of the total retained ships , 8.7 % were cargo ships , 2.9 % passenger ships , 2.7 % ships carrying chemical substance and 0.5 % oil tankers .
the solution found in the end - the appointment of two members of the National Assembly - is unacceptable .
these troops cannot possibly be neutral .
Mrs Harms , no one in this House wishes to curtail the right to free Internet access .
it does not mention that the food crisis is the result of current agricultural and trade policies such as the CAP and free trade , and it does not make the fair and necessary criticism of these policies or call for the change that is needed .
moreover , in view of this , it has also become a debate about whether we , the European institutions , are able to ensure that both these principles and provisions are respected , whether we are able to speak clearly , and whether we can be uncompromising in their defence if necessary .
on the other hand , there is a great humanitarian problem , and I think that the European Union must get involved in this on a major scale .
it is true that establishing the rules for the refusal of prior authorisation is sensible and makes the situation clearer .
they contributed to political cohesion , to economic growth , to employment , to territorial cohesion , to equal opportunities and to strengthening Europe 's standing in the world .
although I am in favour of cooperation that is more intergovernmental in nature , I realise that there are cases in which we need our laws to be as uniform as possible in the Union .
the EU and Member States have made a concerted effort to resolve the problem .
faced with the progressive loss of species and , therefore , of biological richness on earth , it is important for us to set ambitious objectives on the protection of fauna and flora while ensuring that humankind can continue to exploit their riches .
in addition , the current situation in Georgia makes it imperative that the Member States really do press on seriously with a common foreign energy policy , with energy diversification .
as has already been stated , the Irish Government , of which my party is a member , has already declared that it will reverse the minimum wage cut as agreed in that programme .
there is an outreach - a greater offer .
we will have to help these countries to adapt their economies and to combat climate change , but we will also have to think up a radically different development policy .
we need such new technologies for energy efficiency , renewables , zero emission , coal use and nuclear energy .
the financial mechanism for Greece serves the immediate need for the current purposes .
we must also put pressure on the Sri Lankan Government to sign up to the Ottawa Convention and to remove land mines .
in writing . - I supported this report , as it is in line with the amendment I tabled on the financing of large scale CCS ( Carbon Capture and Storage ) demonstration plants , in my report on the review of the EU 's Emissions Trading System .
therefore , once they have evaluated the rapid ageing of Europe 's population , I call on the Commission and the Council to find other means of ensuring normal living conditions for current and future pensioners .
however , we chose to vote against the report by Mr Gauzès today .
on behalf of the EPP , I have added several suggestions to the Domenici report which had the support of other political groups as well .
in my opinion , the budget of the Fund should be significantly increased in the future , so that it will be able to meet social needs .
for example , it is astonishing to think that the European Union launched an appropriate system for monitoring rail traffic - the ERTMS - back in 2000 , and that , in spite of this , 10 years later , the system has been adopted by only a very few Member States .
the European Union in particular cannot , in my opinion , continue to do nothing .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( FR ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , as its title suggests , this question deals with the economic consequences of the GMO authorisation procedure .
I should like to add something else .
- ( SV ) Aviation must pay for its environmental costs , and therefore this proposal is good .
those of us who have met US Members of Congress know that there is a serious move afoot and thus a very serious prospect of legislation in the United States , so I think there is still real hope for a deal in Copenhagen .
I believe that to be a reasonable reaction on the Commission 's part , given the special economic situation in which many companies find themselves .
at the same time , it moves Europe away from the independent and pacific role which it should play in settling international problems .
the criticisms that have been levelled at these texts - some of which I have heard repeated even here in this Chamber - have , for example , raised the spectre of the Olivennes Agreement .
Europe has always taken an interest in the fisheries sector .
the Commission should take permanent corrective measures , one of which is traceability and should be a priority objective .
this is an instrument to be adopted using the codecision procedure , but the Council is not here .
the things that deter people from exploiting this opportunity are language barriers and a lack of information .
for that reason I cannot support your resolution and I shall vote against it .
last but not least , it must contribute to maintaining viable rural communities , for which agriculture is an important economic activity , creating local jobs .
the freedom of movement which lies at the heart of the single market means that this is an issue of importance to a great many citizens across Europe .
the Lisbon Treaty actually offers an excellent opportunity to take our collaboration with Parliament a step further , and this will be a key priority for the Commission 's trade policy in the years ahead .
just as your resolution adopted on Belarus after the 28 September elections helped us to move forward , we hope that we can continue to receive your support during our term .
these deaths are a reminder of the gravity of the security situation in this region .
in this case , we need the hands of the World Trade Organization .
of course some countries are further ahead in this struggle than others .
however , I have my doubts and I fear that we will continue to experience what has been going on for the past year .
it has acted not as a judge but as a doctor ; not a surgeon , though , but more like a psychiatrist .
because if there is not , what objection can you have to putting this into the directive ?
as far as a free-trade area between the United States , Europe and others is concerned , right now I believe that the main job to be done is the one that Mr Lamy and others are embarking on , that of making the Doha Round a success .
fascism , racism and xenophobia are faces of the same coin . born and bred of the capitalist system , which creates , maintains and nurtures these fascist groups .
the euro is a stable currency .
these best practices can mean a lot to us .
as a liberal MP from Slovenia and a former journalist , I am of the opinion that freedom of expression and freedom of the press are the two most important human rights .
we cannot have a dynamic economy unless we have motivated workers .
I welcome the European Commission 's initiative to direct EUR 1 billion into solving the foodstuff crisis .
this is draining for the workers and also the people in the supply sector , and clarity is needed without delay - clarity , but , above all , a serious , honest approach .
it is necessary to develop joint initiatives with the Russian Government aimed at enhancing world security and stability and , in particular , on common neighbours , in order to achieve a peaceful resolution of the conflicts in Nagorno-Karabakh , in Transnistria and in Georgia , in line with international law .
we cannot go on as a European Union buying our own debt .
Madam President , in the first weeks of March we were witnesses of a dramatic coup d 'état in Madagascar .
it respects these and recognises their value , but it also tries to lay down general and basic principles .
on the one hand , the European Parliament has itself considerably amended the Council 's draft on commitment appropriations .
moreover , to guarantee effective enforcement the courts must be able to order the disclosure and freezing of the debtor 's assets within the context of measures to provide interim legal protection .
in writing . - Much has been said in this plenary session on the effect of the bailout package on the Republic of Ireland .
we are now witnessing the fatal consequences of that decision .
I should like to make an observation with regard to inspection .
no , you want further integration and you want the small states to suffer more .
therefore , as has just been touched on , I am not of the opinion that Damüls-Mellau is a case where this blocking procedure should have been applied .
please God .
increasing the proportion of older employees and women in active employment is only a short-term solution .
it is clear that in order to achieve these objectives , it is necessary to adopt reforms without delay , so that people seeking asylum in EU Member States are provided with effective protection .
if I could welcome the answer given so far by the Commissioner but also ask him to make sure that human rights in this field are kept in mind at all times .
the price and reliability of energy supply are critical factors in EU competitiveness .
we are worried , extremely worried , because the worst thing that could happen is that we carry out stress tests in the near future and get the kinds of results which will provide the perfect excuse for many of the operators of very old power plants , including those in the area where I live , to keep them in operation even longer , instead of closing them .
this will not work , because science does not allow itself to be manipulated .
construction is already complete .
Madam President , since the Iraq War , this country , instead of being liberated from a military dictator , is sinking into violence .
those people are quite legitimately more sensitive and more aware of manifestations or tendencies pointing to ends other than freedom and prosperity .
much is said about the rights of consumers to know about the food , domestic equipment or home fittings which they buy .
the priority objective , while complying with current laws , should be to stamp out this disease that in its varied and terrible forms continues to claim too many victims throughout Europe . < 0 The task and duty of setting out on this path falls to us .
in order to prevent crimes , one must increase awareness .
Parliament is prepared to cooperate in monitoring whether the programmes launched are truly successful , and whether they fulfil the objective for which they were established .
in the meantime , the advantages and disadvantages of such a body need to be studied with care .
may I also acknowledge the effort everyone has made on this .
I think that if you do that you will restore some credibility here , because I think that we remain unconvinced on that side about what you are planning to do .
I would first like to defend the balance of the report proposed today by Mr Capoulas Santos .
however , in another very important respect , it is also a problem that has to do with overcapacity .
given that I myself was an MEP at the time of the vote on the report by Evelyne Gebhardt and left Parliament just a few days before the debate on Bernadette Vergnaud 's report , I well understand the reasons for that regret .
we cannot accept that , since European integration means open dialogue .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality . - ( EL ) Mr President , Commissioner , I think that the multiannual programme on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies is the European Union 's head start in the global field of child protection .
MEPs have today called for a revision of the EU 's health response mechanisms .
you are already aware of them but I would like to highlight a number of points .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I trust that the forthcoming session of the Justice and Home Affairs Council to be held in two days ' time will make important decisions concerning both the expansion and the verification aspects of the Schengen issue , but in a way that guarantees the freedom of movement of our citizens .
tenth anniversary of the mine ban treaty ( Ottawa Convention ) ( motions for resolutions tabled ) : see Minutes
I want to make a few comments about the efforts we are making to be able to offer support to all languages spoken in the European Union .
in writing . - ( FR ) I voted for the report by my esteemed colleague , Mathieu Grosch , on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules for access to the international road haulage market which aims to merge the texts regulating access to the international road and cabotage transport market , currently governed by previous regulations and directives .
it is likely that Raúl Castro incited his followers to use violence against the opposition during the recently finished Sixth Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba , and Cuban dissidents point to him as bearing responsibility for this latest murder .
the clashes in May and June 2009 gave rise to war crimes and crimes against humanity , and thousands of civilians lost their lives .
like my fellow Members , I had hoped to finally hear today that yes , we have reached that point .
gambling is often correctly associated with crime at international level , and cross-border gambling rings which are much easier to run via the Internet jeopardise the laws of various nations and harbour risks to national sovereignty .
it appears that the work on the justice portal may do that : it may give information about who , what , where , which lawyers , which interpreters , where to get legal aid - all sorts of information .
therefore , the best social policy is one which helps create jobs .
( loud applause )
but of course many of you raised the issue of workable search engines , and this is really not an easy task .
it is challenged on the grounds that freedom of movement takes precedence over the right to strike .
almost one in 20 people over the age of 65 and one in five over 80 suffer from dementia .
in conclusion , all the indications are that the civil defence sector is one where the EU needs a capacity to act , because some disasters are on a scale too big for individual Member States to tackle .
( CS ) Mr President , if we want to revitalise the European economy and boost competitiveness in the global environment , our core objective must be , finally , after 20 years , to remove all barriers preventing small and medium-sized enterprises in particular from developing their business activities .
- Madam President , I supported this report mainly because the paragraphs I had some concern about were either deleted or modified in a way which I felt was appropriate .
however , one part of the text is misleading and prejudicial to the discussions under way in New York on the reform of the Security Council .
verification of credentials : see Minutes
as to the social measures which the Commissioner has proposed : all I can say is that it has been apparent for some time that social measures are required .
the European Union must send a clear message to the rest of the world : the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement must be a bulwark against all counterfeiting .
Commissioner , you have to assure a level playing field for entrepreneurial activity in Europe to make our continent fit for global competition .
this agreement has a much greater environmental and social bias than its 1994 predecessor .
the fact that in many EU Member States , you need , for example , to register for a place in a crèche even before your child is born or that there are waiting lists of several months to register for a place at nursery highlights that there are not enough childcare facilities in Europe .
however , it is clearly better to have voluntary agreements than no agreements at all and therefore I support them .
that is 7 % of the UK population - at least five times higher , as a proportion , than in any other country .
once again we see the European Union not taking into account the wishes of the people of Europe .
I think that there is just one point that has not yet been made here today and that is the need to acknowledge that Europe is now some way behind in terms of research and innovation .
what is even worse is that it is promoting the old idea of European economic governance .
the arrest of Farai Maguwu , the Director of the Centre for Research and Development , following an interview with Mr Chikane , a monitor for the Kimberley Process , is therefore , unfortunately , just one more episode to add to the long list of human rights abuses in that country .
I would like to look more closely at General Motors .
this would only make sense if , in the election of the Commission , it was possible to vote for the individual candidates , which it currently is not .
I think we have to take this matter very seriously and I would urge the Commissioner to look at this again .
here we have an example of the consequences of a market-orientated common agricultural policy , which promotes models of intensive production for export , which in turn favours large-scale agro-industry at the cost of small and medium-sized agriculture and family farming .
this way , the EU is frankly making itself completely ridiculous .
we try to insert a human rights clause in every framework agreement which we conclude with a third country .
the Euromed space must be an area of prosperity , freedom and development .
secondly , awareness can lead to a greater understanding of the symptoms and , consequently , early diagnosis .
even if we still have discussions within the Group ahead of us , I would like to state here and now that I am not at all satisfied with the compromise with regard to the restriction of the rights of Internet users in cases where infringements are believed to have been committed .
but what I am also very mindful of is something that the Secretary-General of the Arab League said to my delegation visiting him yesterday : we have to define what we need , because a no-fly zone by definition means different things to different people .
this is because the report is insufficient and does not put enough emphasis on the right issues .
he was seized by state security forces on 3 February in Chad , but managed to escape to Cameroon before being offered asylum in France .
someone should stand up for common sense and healthy scepticism , and it seems to me that the European Parliament has a not insignificant role to play in this regard .
ladies and gentlemen , that will be a moment of truth , illustrating whether our true approach to women 's rights is actually what we say it is .
there is an urgent need for action here .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , while I accept that those who so strongly criticised the Hungarian law want only freedom for the media and nothing else , I think we also need to show respect for the work of the Commission and the content of the debate in Parliament .
the EU , however , must have the ability to react to policy changes caused by major challenges .
for this reason , we need a more precise definition of the scope of this form of employment .
in the 1970s and 1980s we accepted public deficits , whilst playing down their effects . the result was mass unemployment in Europe , which we have now brought down to 7.2 % with - and thanks to - the euro .
10 .
a European Agency on linguistic diversity would quickly become a means for the French-speaking minority to circumvent the compulsory use of Dutch in Flanders .
the quality of the democratic debate will not be improved by swelling the ranks of non-attached members .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , thank you for giving me this opportunity to make a few comments about the reform of our wine sector .
only the President of the Commission has full legitimacy .
the fertility index in European countries varies between 1.1 and 1.3 .
I voted for the directive on the indication by labelling of energy consumption .
in any event , cooperation between the two organisations needs to be based on transparency , complementarity and respect for each other 's independence .
the next item is the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the 16th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council ( Geneva , 28 February - 25 March 2011 ) .
( SV ) - There is good reason to work together to create a smoothly functioning transport system between Member States with a view to promoting the internal market .
we have perfectly good facilities in Brussels .
energy is a major factor , but there is also impressive growth in services .
furthermore , I note with interest that not one European leader on the left or on the right backed socialist measures in Brussels last week .
are they written down anywhere ?
when considering this tragedy , however , we should also remember the reason for this state of affairs .
it should also be remembered , right here and now , that those who condemned the European Union 's relations with the ACP States were precisely those other developing countries that had perfectly legitimate claims for access to our markets but had been left out , for the simple reason that they were not former colonies of current EU Member States .
resources needed for social provisions are increasingly difficult to obtain from dwindling public sources ( taxes ) .
1 .
12 .
that is why it is so important that Parliament should again send Canada a strong signal at this point .
subject : ethical review of funding for research under FP7
solidarity , also , because the trade concessions generously granted by the Commission to the WTO are in danger of dealing a fatal blow to this agricultural sector in our ACP partner countries .
Spanish is spoken by 850 million people .
not all EU citizens have access to quality health services .
as well as the deficit , the level of public debt must be analysed and best practices regarding this issue adopted , in such a way as to make a more stable situation possible and to prevent the recurrence of the same errors in the future .
as usual I would like to congratulate the rapporteur on an excellent report , and I fully agree with him that we must make sure that the system becomes more consolidated and , above all , more productive and more useful .
its main power will be to supervise agencies of this kind .
we should have either one or the other , but not both .
this is a new undemocratic and authoritarian decision that further hinders the establishment of political groups .
10 .
it was created under the MEDIA International action which , since 2007 , has focused on the development of the European Union 's relations with the audiovisual markets of third countries .
the vast majority of us - that is , the majority of this Parliament - have spoken up for human rights and for the cultural autonomy of Tibet .
I am in favour of a European patent system , but , on reflection , and for reasons of language , I abstained from voting on the present report .
in writing . - ( PL ) I fully support the resolution in question .
this would , of course , be good ; there are just a few conditions there that would need to be met , such as the approval of the Duma and properly functioning borders .
I come from a country that has experienced the trauma of a negative referendum with no Plan B. You were there already , Mr Barroso .
that is an abuse and misuse of language .
we want to support the Commission on this , in the hope that its work will proceed faster and be more effective , and we should wish the Commission success in this regard .
within the OSCE framework , Member States coordinate their work so as to ensure that the commitments made by the 56 OSCE participating states in this area are respected and implemented .
we have to deal with companies operating under pressure of costs , meaning that they are constantly putting their suppliers under pressure of costs , thereby contributing to prices constantly being reduced .
I think it is important not to invest exclusively in the area of technology , either , which is an important area . we should also invest in a system for arts and humanities , which should also have an area of cooperation with public bodies and with business .
last year the European Union placed environmental issues and particularly the issue of global warming at the centre of its policy-making .
their emancipation and protection are the sine qua non in putting a stop to the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war .
in the preparation of the initial proposal , the Commission held extensive consultations of stakeholders from all sectors concerned and it carried out a comprehensive impact assessment .
as Parliament , we have repeatedly made clear over many years that we consider it important in all these measures - whether it is the forwarding of PNR data or access to SWIFT banking data - that there are generally applicable data protection principles that can also be implemented at an individual level .
moreover , the percentage of farms currently managed by young people is extremely low .
rapporteur . - ( ES ) Madam President , I would like to begin by emphasising what Mr Chatel said : the electronic communications sector is responsible for 25 % of European growth and 40 % of productivity .
in particular , the requirements concerning animal welfare should be imposed on all imports without exception . economic and humanitarian interests require this to be the case .
the contents of the Treaty of Lisbon , the provisions of the 2020 EU strategy and the principles included in the Millennium Development Goals do not seem to be reflected , even in terms of future prospects , in the disconcerting reality , which is that great numbers of people live in misery even today .
I voted in favour of the Oomen-Ruijten report , because I think it is a good compromise that can support the dialogue between Member States and European Institutions on the modernisation of pension systems .
the cultural foundation of Europe is Christianity , so Christian values should be promoted and strengthened , and not undermined .
is this not more trouble than it is worth ?
if we allow our position to be weakened because of the weakness of the Council , we have not learned any lessons from the crisis .
this report deserves credit for demanding accountability from Member States .
in writing . - ( DE ) I voted in favour of this addendum to the Treaty on the Functioning of the Union because it has logical consequences for economic governance and promotes further coherence in the euro area with a view to common financial policy .
their involvement may guarantee that the strategy will meet the relevant demands , resolve problems and contribute to the development of towns and villages as well as the macro-region as a whole .
yes , Mr Weber , some areas are very sensitive , particularly the grounds of sexual orientation and religion .
however , let me also say that Elmar Brok 's comments describe a little of my own view , namely that we need to define our interests clearly .
however , as far as I can tell , there is little to be seen of this in the Commission 's specific proposal .
I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome my fellow Member , Mr Schulz , to the Committee on Budgets and remind him that the Committee meets in January .
concerning cooperation within developing countries , I came across one case where the EU was giving EUR 1.2 million to a project in Ethiopia , and found that 17 % VAT was being applied by the Ethiopian Government .
we get the impression with the proposals you are making now that you are actually encouraging over-regulation .
what kind of experiences have there been with it ?
the Commission welcomes that resolution and very much appreciates the high quality of its content .
I am particularly pleased that the concept of mixed zones is retained .
I applaud in particular the introduction of an obligation to equip vehicles with a Brake Assist System ( BAS ) , which will help to reduce the number of collisions between vehicles and pedestrians .
I welcome the interim report by the Temporary Committee on Climate Change and its recommendations on the EU 's future integrated policy on climate change , and I strongly support the notion that the global average temperature increase should be limited to not more than 2 ° C. In addition to that , the European Union should make the effort to reduce emissions in a way that would keep the temperatures well below this two-degree cut-off point .
as far as the French Presidency is concerned , it announced in May , following the Dublin Conference , that it will sign the convention in early December .
it is quite unacceptable that an accession candidate should still be occupying parts of an EU Member State , namely Northern Cyprus , to say nothing of planning a military attack on another country , as is currently the case against Iraq .
in particular , it has a duty and a responsibility to stop the misleading commercial practices used by ' directory companies ' .
today , more than ever before , there is a need for the Union for the Mediterranean , for support for major projects and for institutional development .
in today 's world , protecting a border does not only involve physically guarding it , but activities requiring additional knowledge and skills in a range of areas .
it had a slow start , but by the end of this year , they reckon about 10 % of the world 's fisheries will be MSE-certified .
if we can concentrate the treatment of these rare diseases into a few places in the EU , the patients ' chance of recovery are much greater , as doctors who use their specialist skills frequently are better at achieving good results .
in writing . - ( FR ) The European Parliament has approved the Community Strategy for reducing CO2 emissions from passenger cars and I welcome this very much .
the European Union and its Member States reacted at once , and the Commission too took decisive action , sending EUR 2 million in emergency aid to China and assisting relief efforts by dispatching mobile hospital units , drugs , rescue equipment , and rubble-clearing gear .
they have anyway covered almost all aspects of the problem , which all think is complex , difficult and very acute .
the European Union must collaborate .
we have analysed , and we will continue to analyse , in 2010 , all the gaps that exist today with regard to the protection of victims of terrorism in the various Member States .
last but not least , it will be essential for the Commission to specify a precise time limit within which these signatures will be collected , or , as the case may be , collected in a valid manner , not forgetting , in particular , the need to retain the openness and transparency of the whole mechanism in such a way as to prevent it being abused by the interest groups that operate throughout the EU .
as you are probably well aware , it has issued , through the local authorities in Constantinople , a decision on so-called ' illegal fundraising ' and subsequently frozen Amnesty International 's bank accounts in Turkey .
as the coordinator of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament for the Committee on Petitions , I must express concern about the large number of cases where alleged maladministration was caused by a lack of transparency on the part of the European institutions .
I would like to express my most definite and unambiguous support for the strong views of Mr Olbrycht and Mrs Mazzoni , namely , the strong views I mentioned in earlier debates in the European Parliament , also shared by Commissioner Hahn , that although GDP does not reflect all dimensions of the stage of development , it is still the most reliable indicator available .
composition of committees and delegations : see Minutes
I spoke about transfers under 18 years of age .
we consider that both the Council regulation and Parliament 's report make excessively detailed and intrusive proposals .
how can it be that Sweden is heading in precisely the opposite direction ?
the Commission is making significant efforts to help reform the education system in Kosovo .
we also need to do more to ensure that the Lisbon Strategy progresses at an even pace in all Member States : a slower pace of reform in one Member State has obvious knock-ons in the others .
Mr President , I believe that today 's debate has shown and proved that Parliament can and should make a significant contribution to the development of the strategy .
there are many excellent candidates , and I hope the selection is based on merit , not politics .
I therefore appeal to the Commission and the Council to put forward this proposal as quickly as possible .
my compliments to Mrs Morgan ; she has shown a great deal of energy and commitment .
that is the oral amendment : sympathy for the people .
I stand here before you as one who believes in a Europe of cooperating nations , not a Europe tied to the federalist approach of the Lisbon Treaty .
we submit the ' six-pack ' to the Council in the knowledge that the Hungarian Presidency has done everything it could to come to an agreement , as praised by President Barroso and by your colleagues in this House in committee meetings .
a Communist country riding roughshod over human rights .
more than 70 000 men and women have been deployed in that period in more than 20 missions .
I voted for the renewal of the EU-South Africa cooperation agreement , as amended in 2009 , because it introduces a new dimension to cooperation between the European Union and South Africa .
measurements and studies carried out in the context of reduction of administrative burdens show that company law is one of the most burdensome areas of the EU acquis .
blue card questions on a personal comment under Rule 151 are not permitted .
we do not have significant reservations here . however , we are glad that this debate is taking place and about the way it is being conducted .
the early years were dominated by the conflict between Kasavubu from the west , Lumumba from the north-east and Tshombe in the south-east .
trade and Climate Change ( vote )
Commissioner Kroes , you have a reputation as a woman of steel .
however , I must express my dissatisfaction at the final stage of this process , namely the informal meetings that were held with the Council with a view to reaching the second-reading agreement .
so we must put in place the institutional package agreed last December and supported by this Parliament : to settle the legal guarantees needed to take forward the referendum process in Ireland , and to take forward the steps to ensure a smooth transition and institutional stability .
if we concentrate all our services in the European Quarter , it gives real estate developers enormous opportunities to ask very high prices , which we have already seen in many cases .
the European Parliament is completely left out , and yet its agreement is an essential precondition for the agreement to come into effect .
the Communist Party of Greece is voting against the report because it endorses and follows the rationale of the Commission Communication on Ports , which promotes the EU 's fixed objective of privatising the ports .
however , there was always a struggle for the idea of a united Europe there too , and we must appreciate ...
Mr President , so we should have had a vote on whether we wanted it or not .
however , this trust is based on reciprocal obligations .
allow me to quote from one of these reports .
on the one hand , we have those who focus on robust regulation at international level , and on the other , those who lay stress on a strong stimulus package .
we need to clarify the position with Strasbourg city council first , because they must pay for it .
it also despairs of seeing these agreements signed rapidly .
( PT ) Mr President , there is no point in repeating that the current situation is the most serious test of the survival of the euro and , therefore , of Europe .
whilst EU funding in this area is to be welcomed , it is not fighting poverty .
( EL ) Mr President , Commissioner , I am particularly pleased with your answer .
it is extremely important , too , to protect the aquatic environment and we must be rigorous here by establishing buffer zones fixed in accordance with local conditions .
indeed , there needs to be as much participation as possible by women from every age group in lifelong learning programmes .
( applause )
the fifth point I will borrow from Mr Deprez , who mentioned that the Commission would be responsible for writing a report within three years .
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in the future , the structuring of Europe , the Europe of the 21st century , will not be completed if it is not done through the infrastructures of communication , in this case , essentially through the railways .
Madam President , in all the discussions on the energy crisis , there is one aspect which my colleague , Anne Laperrouze , does mention , but which generally receives insufficient attention .
regional policy , which has materialised in the form of Structural and Cohesion Funds , is rightly regarded as the most visible and tangible Community policy for the citizens of Europe .
Madam President , in reply to Ms Jäätteenmäki , I would say that I believe that children are the responsibility of their parents and nobody else .
it is also inseparable from the unresolved issue of reforming the monetary system and , with it , the currency war over the dollar 's hegemony at global level .
the next item is therefore Voting time .
I have received six motions for resolutions tabled pursuant to Rule 103 ( 2 ) of the Rules of Procedure .
however , this will only be possible as long as nobody tries to establish a dictatorship there , nobody withdraws from the peace process and all the parties return to the negotiating table , or otherwise this wonderful , but ravaged , country will have no future .
I must emphasise that these finances are intended for redundant employees and not companies .
we have an interest in seeking common solutions to common problems , to continue partnership negotiations as quickly as possible and to enter into dialogue in a spirit of mutual understanding and mutual respect .
this prevents the EU contributing to a brain drain of highly qualified workers from , in particular , the developing countries .
honourable Members were quite right to raise this question and it will be part of the discussions .
this report is harmful , and its effects are perverse .
such mechanisms have been envisaged for Europe ; now they also need to be envisaged for the WTO !
significant improvement , I would say .
I was a shadow rapporteur then , too . on that occasion , we managed to get the Commission to sign a declaration in which it undertook to put forward measures that combat fine particulate matter at the very point at which it occurs .
it was said many times that we , meaning the European Union , must pursue a single and common approach when dealing with the United States .
Madam President , my congratulations to the rapporteur and to other colleagues .
although I am pleased to note that we are calling for values which we Europeans consider to be fundamental , I also admit that it was with a certain sadness that I endorsed this report .
according to Commissioner Barnier , only Spain and Italy have shown no interest in this enhanced cooperation .
I congratulate Mr Siekierski on an excellent report .
therefore Member states are encouraged to reprogramme their Structural Funds Operational Programmes in order to devote a better balance to energy efficiency investments , including where they fund social housing .
as we British Conservatives have consistently said , there was no substantive requirement for this far-reaching Treaty and , just this week , one of Europe 's leading academic experts published a report on the effects of enlargement of the EU .
it goes against all economic sense and is nothing more than a further measure to make the EU into a transfer union .
as the title of your report indicates , what happens to the world 's climate in 2015 and beyond will depend on what action the international community decides now .
only 38 % of current rail capacity is used .
I also believe that we must support the work that Europe is doing .
the business world has made it very clear that what small businesses need is not another political declaration but some real action .
to sum up , there are risks on all waters , and we need to take action on all waters .
to an unacceptable degree , they make the exercising of social rights subject to a ' proportionality principle ' which far exceeds lawful restrictions ( public order and health , for example ) recognised in national laws and ILO conventions .
the next will be in one month 's time at the next part-session in Strasbourg .
when the fences are high , the horses may well shy .
ladies and gentlemen , I do not think that the loss of valuable time will benefit Israel , nor will it contribute to finding a successful solution .
in Honduras , with whom we are negotiating an agreement , a government remains in place that is simply the product of a military coup d 'état which took place last year .
as a result , our most immediate tasks will be to complete the process of formally announcing our commitment ; to consolidate an action framework comparable to that of other industrialised and emerging nations ; and to make use of all the tools we have available , both within the European Union and in our relationships with third countries .
I think it is an unfair system when someone who is here on time does not get their question dealt with and I am extremely disappointed .
particularly with regard to Kosovo 's declaration of independence , it remains to be seen whether the ethnic peace with the Albanian minority can continue in the long term .
I therefore believe that , at this moment in time , some of our efforts must be devoted to providing these creators with an institutional system that allows them to take action .
once again , on behalf of the House , may I express my sincere thanks to you personally and to the Slovenian Presidency .
this is , after all , the government of the country on whose territory Mrs Haidar is currently to be found .
ultimately , we will have to take the path that leads away from oil , but we will need decades to go down that path .
it is an open secret that the data presented at the time by the European Commission regarding the effects of such a change came from the advertising materials of the producers of these new-technology light bulbs , and there is a great deal of evidence to indicate that this was the case .
however , because the process is not yet concluded , I have one question .
it is incumbent upon all of us to learn them .
at the same time , it is clear that any deepening of our bilateral relations will depend on Belarus proving its willingness to respect the principles of democracy , the rule of law and human rights .
lastly , migration .
all of a sudden , at the last minute , you are going to propose someone and , within a week , the decision will have been taken .
we are discussing food safety in Europe .
it is time for us to ensure that direct payments are distributed fairly among Member States , regions and sectors .
there is therefore no longer any need to implement the IMF austerity plan .
we need an alternative policy that guarantees a fair distribution of income , stimulates economic activity , creates jobs , reinforces the state 's role in the economy , boosts demand , encourages the growth of micro , small and medium-sized enterprises and revives investment , bearing in mind the needs and specific aspects of each Member State .
this added to the belief that the vote was one of ' Yes ' or ' No ' to Europe rather than ' Yes ' or ' No ' to the Lisbon Treaty .
Mr Jouyet , I should like to ask you what the good reasons were on the part of the EU ministers for rejecting European intervention of this kind ?
at the same time I believe we have to focus on communication , which should or must clearly show Europeans , why Europe needs a new treaty .
this practical example once again shows how inadequate the current measures have been .
I have to say that , when the Reul report was adopted at the last Plenary part-session , I was horrified to hear that we were back to talking about nothing but coal and nuclear-power options , and it fills me with utter shame that Europeans should now be offering African countries nuclear power as a solution to climate problems .
this is essential , because the EU can deal with Bosnia Herzegovina only as a whole , and not with its individual parts .
a report that equates democratic Israel with a group officially listed by the EU as a terrorist organisation and a report that fails to give reasonable consideration to the deeper causes of the conflict is not one that we can vote in favour of .
the demand for a stronger financial footing must therefore be rejected , given this context .
the reason for this is because most of the countries to which we give our aid are governed by non-democratic regimes .
during the pre-accession period , the Bulgarian people were told that the Union would be a safeguard to ensure success against banditism and killings , a guardian of stability and security , for a life free of crime .
( ES ) Madam President , Mrs Oomen-Ruijten 's report which we will be adopting today is a serious report , generally balanced , and also a demanding document .
it is important that the evaluation committee , members of which have visited both states in person , has stated that both Romania and Bulgaria meet the Schengen requirements .
macro-financial assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina (
it is commonly accepted that Guantánamo was a mistake on the part of the United States of America in their endeavour to fight terrorism .
this type of discrimination violates basic provisions of the Treaty and employers who do not take responsibility for this should even now be prosecuted in court .
next week , the General Affairs and External Relations Council will decide on the EC regulation to implement the market access which has been offered to the ACP .
in Germany alone , 200 000 people have been officially categorised as addicted to gambling , and young people are increasingly falling prey to this addiction .
the main thing is that enforcement of the judgments of the European Court should remove the causes leading to violation of human rights .
the Committee on Legal Affairs recently adopted a report in this Parliament on the transparency of institutional investors , and there we asked the Commission to come up with a directive guaranteeing common standards of transparency .
the citizens ' interest is in secure and affordable energy .
the Commission is now drafting a legal framework and legislation , and should be aware that there are many countries in this kind of situation .
at the same time , I think we all accept that a lengthy legislative procedure involving a long iterative process between the various institutions is not adapted to the macro-financial assistance instrument or , indeed , to situations of crisis .
as you rightly pointed out in your question , the penalties imposed by Member States are an insufficient deterrent , providing no real incentive for compliance .
Mr President , we were shocked at last week 's violent clashes between protestors and police in Tbilisi , Georgia .
having said that , let me also say that it is highly important to help Pakistan in its fight against terrorism , and all the other requests mentioned in the debate , such as the release of all detainees , will be crucial .
I think it is a big gap in the market .
compensation with regard to states underfishing will take place with effect from 2008 .
many people are afraid that asylum seekers are arriving in greater numbers , straining our buckling welfare systems .
are the state of public finances of our Member States , our growth prospects and the position of Europe in the world comparable ?
what else will make us react as one if not the difficulties that we have just experienced ?
it is important that , while there is free movement of people and labour and a common economic space is being built - something which should in fact be in operation at Union level - a coherent system for mobile charges should also be established .
I have a recent letter from the Commission which actually indicates that an additional mark would have little or no benefit because the Commission did not believe that consumers would actually differentiate .
this is a bridge which , I urge you , we must not burn .
the Chinese Government has the opportunity to change the situation in Tibet radically .
perhaps not 100 % of them are in favour of it , but probably the majority are .
( ES ) Mr President , Mr Leterme , on behalf of those in the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament responsible for employment and social affairs , I would like to join my fellow Members in congratulating the Belgian Presidency on the last six months .
among the criteria for recognising a European political party 's basis in a Member State , the regulation will now require the party to have elected representatives sitting in a regional assembly that has legislative powers .
what is even more noteworthy is the fact that the rapporteur has undertaken to meet with numerous international and Community stakeholders in several capitals .
it also organised a range of technical meetings with the European Parliament rapporteur , in the desire to reach an agreement with the European Parliament at first reading next month .
( HU ) Madam President , Prime Minister , the Czech presidency has chosen the tagline ' ' Europe Without Borders ' ' as its motto , setting as its foremost priorities the issues of energy policy and economic stability .
the European Central Bank , as a pure instrument of European capital , is required to play a more active and effective role in that direction through anti-popular measures , such as interest rate increases and so on .
the development of rural areas is a worthy objective in its own right and must not be constrained by relying on modulated funds .
in concrete terms , as Mrs Grossetête just said , it is up to us , as industrialised countries , to ensure that our partners , the developing countries , have the means to follow us as we take the ambitious step of combating climate change .
this is a very important industry and I agree completely with David Martin who has studied the detail of the deal with South Korea .
we would like a mechanism regulating the opening of a dialogue to be implemented and to appear systematically in all European Union agreements .
the proposal contains two great challenges relating to governance .
the most important issue is drones .
I wish Mr Bowis a speedy recovery .
apart from that , approval of the code of conduct for the division of labour is problematic .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I think it is fair to say that we in the European Union went to Cancún with the fear that we risked getting nothing .
I am in favour of pursuing greater diversity in the energy sources and partner countries from which the EU imports energy , in other words diversifying the energy supply .
a long-term vision and a new energy strategy are necessary to attain the 20-20-20 objectives of the climate and energy package between now and 2020 .
we understand the situation Ireland is in and we understand that its government needs time to respond after the vote of its citizens , which we respect .
these are private businesses , independent of the public authorities , which meet the needs and demands of their members and the general interest .
promoting energy efficiency will create employment and it will save Member State governments billions in heating costs on an annual basis .
Russia 's reaction was doubtless excessive , but was taken in accordance with international law in a so-called self-defence situation .
we will start the work immediately , first through launching a pilot project on the scope and modalities of this exercise , and the full price monitoring system should then be defined and become operational before the end of 2009 .
it appears that they have decided that symbols and anthems will solve the problem .
on a personal note I should like , if I may , Mr President , to really congratulate Mrs Dati , since we have had an extremely active French Presidency in the field of justice , with the seminars to which we , Parliament and the Commission , have been invited .
at no point is reference made to the link between strengthening the role of women and the economic agreements between the EU and the ACP States .
I would also like to thank Carlos Coelho .
but I do wonder whether the people of Lincolnshire would view this as a good use of money .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , these discussions are taking place in unfavourable circumstances .
what happened to the subsidiarity principle ?
it takes no account of the proposals that we made to increase the Community contribution to 85 % of the amount to be allocated to the unemployed , or even to double the amount of said Fund in order to cover more people who may fall victim to company closures .
the proposal for a directive calls on the Member States to adopt flexible immigration policies to support the long-term development of the Union .
our reaction , apart from today 's question , is the resolution that I hope we shall pass tomorrow , on which we have achieved a good compromise and which , I think , expresses the majority view in the House .
animals are often needed for this research .
it is therefore important for it to be written in an easily accessible language .
( PT ) Madam President , regardless of the reasons behind it , the death of Mr Orlando Zapata Tamayo is regrettable ; it is regrettable that he took his protest to its ultimate conclusion .
what is missing from your proposal , perhaps , is what we asked for last time , that is , an international treaty for the protection of the Arctic , which will allow us to ensure its protection once and for all .
the reasons for wage differences need to be examined , and the information thus gained should be used to shed light on discrimination and to remedy and prevent it in the future .
we are in agreement on this .
preventing trafficking in human beings is one of the challenges that the EU must overcome .
that , of course , is not true .
the importance of tourism in European law was greatly elevated when it was made a competence under the Lisbon Treaty in December 2009 .
in Belarus , you can be indicted and go to prison merely for taking part in a protest , standing in elections , or stating your opinion .
learning from the US example , we need to delineate clearly the areas of responsibility for the oil well owners and operators and those of the supervisory authorities .
subject : the EU perspective of the Western Balkans
we asked for clarification of two or three problems which has been provided in this way .
there will also be changes because in this context of globalisation and change , we have a decisive six-month agenda .
in my opinion , the differences between Parliament and the Council are not so great as to prevent progress or agreement in the relatively near future .
this is of strategic importance in a crisis such as the one we are going through .
it is entirely for the Greek courts to provide an interpretation of relevant Greek legislation and to determine whether this legislation complies with the requirements of the Directive regarding the existence of effective measures that would prevent and sanction abuse arising from the use of successive fixed-term employment contracts .
I respect the response by France and the European Union response to the crisis .
we need the world to see off the junta in Burma .
( RO ) The exclusion of senior citizens from the advantages of information technologies is problematic , especially as the number of those members of the European population between 65 and 80 years of age will soon reach 40 % .
that is why we must start with sensible legislation on noise reduction in freight rail traffic straight away in the next parliamentary term .
in my opinion , Europe will always remain a special partner of Africa for historical reasons , for geographical reasons , for model reasons .
it requires revision of the EU budget and a transfer of resources .
it was I who decided to go for agreement because we were getting everything I wanted .
in its essence it is based on the euro-area mechanism advocated by the Commission whilst providing for participation by the IMF as well .
the Presidency is also concluding an update of the Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict .
furthermore , the directive establishes common norms for the design , construction and subsequent checks of this kind of equipment .
although the first objective appears to have been met , we are still a long way from achieving the second .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - Madam President , I do not support Amendment 1 to paragraph 15 , and I am surprised that Mr Atkins has put his name to it .
I would therefore remind you that the proposal that the procedure invoke the legal basis of Article 70 , which excludes Parliament , is unacceptable : we demand Article 77 .
this is what people in the street are waiting for from us .
I therefore call on the Commission to launch an investigation into the possibility of temporarily withholding the preferences granted to Honduras under the GSP + .
all I can say is that anyone required in future to report to a parliament on how he or she voted on a particular point should make sure that a share of responsibility and a say in policy-making is part of the package .
as far as information is concerned , it is important - as we all agree - to provide accurate and objective information to parents and to the general public about the advantages and limitations of the use of stem cells , including cord blood stem cells .
as somebody who has been privileged to follow this constitutional process all the way through , I would like to share two experiences with you .
it is clear that there is a need for action in these areas , and without resources , we will not be able to meet these challenges .
in writing . - ( PT ) A veritable ' manual ' for Free Trade Agreements ( FTAs ) ...
there are certain crucial aspects to achieving this goal , such as strengthening the governance and funding of the cohesion policy .
that said , I echo the criticisms of the restrictive measures adopted by Argentina against certain European products , and I hope that the Commission acts firmly to resolve this situation soon .
the vote will take place on 19 February 2008 .
the EU must , as of now , set up and plan a proper response , including a detailed burden-sharing action plan to help refugees resettle in a coordinated manner .
AIDS , malaria and TB still claim some four million lives a year .
instead , they continue to pursue European orientation with all the tough choices and bold reforms this entails .
as a result , tomorrow 's vote will not mark the end of a process , but rather the first step or starting point in a huge task that the new Commission must take on so that , in defiance of those who want the paralysis or retreat of the European Union , it can give a new impetus to a much better Europe than the one we have known in recent years .
'Business as usual ' is not going to be good enough .
we have already affirmed our willingness to be present in all phases of the election process , yet Russia must show willingness to accept long-term observers , as well as to actually implement fair elections .
therefore , from my point of view , it is always the right time to discuss this issue .
in relation to the decision which was taken in mid-September by the EU Council to make an EU force available , I am a bit concerned that the timescale has been allowed to lapse .
the agenda concentrated on issues of security , the rises in the price of oil and energy products and the social consequences of this and , of course , on environmental and energy issues .
the EU needs a proper and predictable system for financing its own budget in order to end the perpetual , damaging squabbling over national contributions to the EU budget .
these relations took on a new dimension after the EU 's enlargement with another 12 countries , principally from central and eastern Europe .
this proposed law includes provisions to punish those alleged to be lesbian , gay or bisexual with life imprisonment and even the death penalty .
but , while looking for my security , I would realise that this is consolidated daily by the creative work of more than one million immigrants who are producing Italian goods , offering services in areas left by Italian labour , buying Italian merchandise and paying taxes to the Italian authorities .
we cannot ask for support and at the same time leave others in hardship .
let me remind you , however , because this is important , that the choice of focal sectors is based in principle on ownership : it is our partners who decide on which sector they want us to focus our funding .
it is absolutely imperative to combat the various forms of violence , regardless of the level of seriousness of physical , mental or sexual violence .
in writing . - ( RO ) The continuous and rapid exhausting of deep-sea fish stocks and the insufficient measures of protection of deep-sea biodiversity require urgent actions in order to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of fish species .
it is quite clear that a number of what we consider to be essential amendments have been tabled to allow an informed debate as part of a process facilitating the approval of Mr Őry 's report at first reading .
we are pleased to see that the Commission 's proposals really do go in the direction requested by the European Parliament , in the direction in which the European Parliament encouraged the Commission to go in this regard .
in this context in particular , your portfolio will play an even greater role in future - and it will be important for the European identity , too .
if we use alternative methods - we often talk about alternative dispute resolution systems at European level - these , again , are not backed by a state structure .
when we adopted this legislation , we did not decide on a clear and binding end date for migration to the SEPA instruments .
in the next framework programme , this situation must change so that we will be able to fulfil the aims of the reformed common fisheries policy .
at present we are not always sure about that , and want the country to move ahead .
in fact , Member States must find suitable means of support to help them maintain their professional role in society , with a view to balancing their family and working life .
it is a strategic precondition for the genuine establishment of a Single European Sky .
in particular , its recommendation that EU countries should properly enforce the Posted Workers Directive , and the demand that the Commission draft legislative proposals to deal with the legal loopholes thrown up by the judgments and prevent any conflicting interpretation of the law , are welcome .
when it is clear who bears the guilt , the party in question will be liable and we can already see that this will amount to billions .
we also have a disturbance on the market that is severe , which Neelie Kroes 's report showed us very clearly and which puts on the table the need to unbundle , which is also a foreign relations concern .
if the European Union institutions want to take a practical approach to CO2 reduction , they should begin with themselves .
any lasting peace in Somalia must be based on accountability and justice for the human rights violations committed by all sides throughout the Somali conflict .
author . - Mr President , a large number of opposition figures , including former presidential candidates but also journalists and human rights defenders , were arrested after the events of 19 December 2010 in Minsk and they have been kept in KGB detention centres ever since .
the Burmese regime does not only repress the population in the political sphere , it has also plunged the people into abject poverty and destitution , while it is a country that has everything necessary to be prosperous .
it is primarily about what Ukraine needs to do for itself , because both institutional and economic reforms are a prerequisite for a prosperous democratic future , and this is in the Ukrainian citizens ' best interest .
the Commission proposes organising biennial summits of the heads of state or government .
due to the economic and financial crisis , some Member States have taken austerity measures leading to a reduction in the level of funding for public health , disease prevention and long-term care services .
if even the UK Prime Minister , whom we heard yesterday , extols the virtues of the European Union , declaring himself , I quote , ' proud to be British and proud to be European ' , I feel secure in my belief .
in direct conjunction with this , we must make it clear to Tehran that these abuses are not to be tolerated and will have serious consequences .
I think the people outside will understand that this Parliament works for the citizen .
we must continue to act without delay .
I am also concerned about the traceability of products to be imported into Europe from this area .
unfortunately , we have seen in the existing agreement that this is almost never the case .
existing programmes , such as the European Neighbourhood Policy and the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights , have cultural components which need to be coordinated and strategically deployed .
the extremely slow approach to the punishment of war crimes against the Serbs continues to raise some important issues .
Mr President , thank you and congratulations to Mrs Miguélez Ramos for a very good report .
and the history of this legislation will give them some ammunition : 55 significant changes over the past 30 years , making it more cumbersome and confusing and hardly helping the industry or consumers .
if the Commission 's proposal were to have been implemented as it was originally presented , it would have meant that in Denmark we would have roughly doubled the number of pesticides on the market .
in my opinion , we must , above all , focus more on implementing the new rules in national legislation .
we therefore need to reassess and improve relations between the European Union and ΝΑΤΟ in order to address common threats , such as terrorism , the spread of weapons of mass destruction , the increase in international piracy and the new problems caused by climate change .
we are very committed to our relations with the countries around the southern rim of the Mediterranean .
first , we are at a very important juncture , if not a turning point , in terms of foreign policy because of the Lisbon Treaty innovations .
yes , that was low-level in 2009-2010 .
Mr President , let me first of all express my gratitude to the European Parliament and especially to the rapporteur , Mrs Thomsen , for their support for the Commission policy on women and science .
this is undoubtedly necessary if the disgraceful , opaque wrangles by Council members in back rooms are finally to be brought to an end .
nobody doubts that access to modern energy services is a prerequisite for poverty eradication and economic development , or that in order to achieve this it is necessary that energy services be reliable , affordable , especially for the poor , and evenly distributed , so as to bridge the gap between urban and rural areas .
I am anxious about the wording of some of the compromises .
let me say here , and I did not do so the first time , that when in exceptional cases the Committee on Legal Affairs does not have time to give an opinion , the President alone may reach a decision .
opposition politicians and journalists must not be subjected to threats and intimidation or be imprisoned .
we will hold the debate on Wednesday and the sitting will close at 21 : 00 .
the project in question had the aim of protecting large financial institutions from extensive losses arising from Greece 's inability to pay its debts , and , as far as I remember , you explicitly referred to it as a manifestation of voluntary solidarity .
colleagues , please keep to the allotted time .
given the dramatic increase in the price of jet fuel we have to ensure that we balance the interests of our citizens between the environment on one hand and their transport and mobility needs on the other .
( ES ) The Council 's proposal was perfectly clear .
we must stress the things we have in common , including the substance of universal democratic values .
for years the fleet has been reporting incidents of piracy in the area adjoining Somalia , but not even the capture of the Spanish tuna boat Playa de Bakio in April caused some governments to react in time , including my own , unfortunately , until , in recent days , the fleet had to withdraw to the port of Victoria , and from that point , the measures taken have been highly inadequate .
on the one hand , it uses very complimentary language about older people .
there has been a lot of talk in the press about bankers ' bonuses , but they are only the tip of the iceberg .
what we are lacking is cooperation between the authorities .
they will not help avert the crisis , because they are shooting wide of the mark .
in common with Martin Schulz and the rest of my Group , I am a strong supporter of the Mediterranean Union as a ' forced ' Barcelona union or Barcelona process .
( DE ) Commissioner , you were right to draw attention to the problem and to the fact that the main reason it cannot be resolved is that because of the unanimity principle Member States are not budging .
regardless of this short temporary interruption , the Council has clearly stated that it is still committed to implementation of the mandate in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolution , particularly the humanitarian mandate .
measures against terrorism often have fatal consequences for peace and democracy and can be used as a pretext for promoting other interests .
I believe that the idea of creating an EU-ACP cultural fund is particularly judicious for it will encourage the emergence of local industries and markets and will facilitate the access of ACP cultural products to the European market .
time will show it to have been the best analysis of these illegal transfers of prisoners .
the logical question is : why did this not happen earlier ?
definition of territorial cohesion ;
unfortunately , we are also still not allowed to elect individual commissioners .
that is a matter of fact .
3 .
if we can put a stop to this , we will be closer to our goal .
unfortunately , the answer to that question is not in the affirmative .
at the moment , we know that eight people have died , among them two pregnant women and a twelve year-old boy , more than 250 have been injured and 80 % of houses are affected .
and to ensure that the debate can be continued properly .
my fellow Member Mrs Castex has already successfully incorporated almost all of it in her report .
on the other hand , we have to improve the information available to purchasers , update and extend the labelling system for light trucks , harmonise energy efficiency classes and propose annual running costs .
we never purchase a computer on the basis of looking at the control panel , but none of our computers works for a long time without a proper control panel system inside .
a social summit should agree , among other things , that those companies laying off employees should not distribute dividends , that transnational companies must negotiate not only with national trade unions but also with European trade unions , that there cannot be business profitability without social solidarity .
in writing . - ( FI ) Mr President , Finnish Councillor of State Harri Holkeri , who was acting as a negotiator in the Kosovo crisis a while ago , thought that the Albanians ' quest for independence could not be ignored forever , as that would be a return not to a zero score but a lot less .
( it ) Mrs
in our view the Member States must decide independently whether they wish to register everything from the generational composition of private households to the distance from the place of usual residence to green spaces and recreation grounds .
I support the provision of more detailed information on the Commission website concerning directives that have not yet been implemented .
stimulating investments for research , facilitating access for SMEs to diverse sources of funding , and improving cooperation between universities , research centres and government are measures which will generate creativity and innovation in the medium and long term .
we will achieve this also by ensuring , when negotiating with our global partners , that the same criteria we apply internally are also applied externally as regards sharing the burden in the fight against climate change .
under the guise of the noble goal to protect children 's rights , in actual fact , a legal basis has been created to divide society , limit information and discriminate against individual groups of society .
we can do this .
( ES ) Mr President , I am among those who think that today we should congratulate ourselves on the determination with which the Community institutions have overcome the ups and downs of the project ; finally we are in a position to start planning the deployment phase of Galileo with certainty .
it will therefore be desirable for Serbia to continue to move towards the European option .
being able to count on prompt payment means guaranteeing these enterprises stability , growth , job creation and investments .
in short , if these measures are implemented soon , they will make consumers more confident when they buy in the European market .
Iranian men and women are tortured daily in these prisons , too .
this relates to political and financial support aimed at fostering product and process innovation and improving access to financial and fiscal information , including internationalisation .
we must increase the take-up rate of the Structural Funds .
it is also a project that has evolved .
lastly , food aid and military aid are needed , too .
by standardising rights , it ultimately makes long-stay visas completely meaningless , for the sake of promoting a sort of automatic resident 's status , one that is granted from the moment a person wishes to come to Europe for more than three months and for a purpose other than that of tourism .
from your report it is clear that we share the same concerns and objectives , and we hope that we can work closely together to take urgent action to protect the stock .
I wonder , given that we are also debating the prospects of the 2020 strategy , where this will lead .
I unreservedly support EDF budgetisation and , when the time comes , the Union will have to create its own instrument for taking action in the area of development .
lastly , I call on the Commission to come up with adequate proposals at the earliest opportunity .
thus , I am convinced that the European Union 's experience would actually be very applicable in their Continent 's attempts to achieve a new quality in regional and inter-regional cooperation , including the achievement of new dynamics .
I would like to change ' Central European countries ' to ' Central and Eastern European countries ' , because everywhere else the text reads this way , and to replace ' had the added experience of Communism ' with ' have experienced both Communism and Nazism ' , because , to Eastern European nations , nothing was ' added ' by Communism : most of them had Communism first , then Nazism , and then Communism again .
therefore , we cannot accept this situation .
for the most part , therefore , the collection of the relevant data will not impose any additional burden on respondents , as the Member States concerned should be able to compile the data by using existing data sources .
this is a first , you might say , as I believe this is the first time in the history of the European Parliament that the Presidency has been present on a Monday evening .
simply put , the death penalty is the opposite of human dignity .
author . - ( PL ) Madam President , Commissioner , we are very pleased to hear of the reopening of negotiations and peace talks between the National Liberation Forces and the government in Burundi .
yet it could : in the mid-1990s , six years after the fall of the Berlin Wall , whilst Western and Central Europe were growing together in peace , it happened again in Bosnia-Herzegovina .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , allow me to begin by thanking the Commission and Commissioner Oettinger personally for the extremely skilful job they have done in producing the document which he is submitting .
I think it will now have a more stable basis .
but before you think of using new information and communication technologies , I implore you to grasp the fact that Bulgarian pensioners live on pensions equal to EUR 50 a month .
the treaty does not say that it is forbidden to take on debts .
I backed it to show support for the safety recommendations but was uncomfortable with the more extreme anti-nuclear sentiments it espoused .
I would be interested to hear Commissioner Tajani confirm whether this last supposition would be taken into account .
composition of committees and delegations : see Minutes
thank you , Mr Šefčovič .
what is important is that creativity and innovation should be promoted at every level of education , from different forms of education , throughout one 's professional life and on into retirement .
I congratulate the rapporteur on his work .
what would be the costs to the Member States ' economies of a target to cut emissions by 10 and 15 % by 2020 ?
we can accelerate on the track today ; together , let us make things happen .
on a personal note , I am sorry that we have not yet entirely resolved the problem of affixing national marks .
that is how we will succeed and set an example to our fellow citizens .
I believe it will contribute towards improving conditions for passengers and will give them more legal clarity in the case of an accident or other unforeseen events .
I welcome the collaboration between the European Ombudsman and ombudsmen and similar bodies at national , regional and local levels in the Member States .
that is what we need in the future , and I think it is an important message to give to you to give to the Presidency , because there will certainly be a huge discussion on 10 and 11 December when there is the next European Council .
we therefore have reason to be satisfied with the progress which has been made .
however , in order to ensure this fully , it is necessary to take measures on a wider scale .
this report makes some positive suggestions which we support , such as the idea of promoting mobility for the people , goods and services in the creative sector , due regard for the rules and principles laid down in the UNESCO Convention on Cultural Diversity , and the call made to the Commission to look into the possibility of setting up a programme similar to the MEDIA programme .
( NL ) Madam President , a more efficient evaluation mechanism for the application of the ' Schengen acquis ' is certainly needed , but I have the impression that we are busy discussing the sex of angels here while the EU 's external borders are full of holes .
abolishing the visa requirement for Serbia , Montenegro and Macedonia is very much to be welcomed , as the Commission 's recommendation follows careful evaluation and the meeting of requirements set .
hence - and this is indeed understandable for these pro-immigration types - the simple fact that each Member State still has sovereignty and its own procedures in asylum law inevitably leads to disparities in the acceptance of asylum applications and is thus a barrier to the general acceptance of asylum applicants .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Madam President , I have never had so much speaking time in one evening in all my 10 years in the European Parliament !
what I have noted is that since they chose in 2006 to withdraw gambling from the scope of the Services Directive , the Member States have not been consulted by the Commission on a European initiative .
the next item is the report by Mr Mitchell , on behalf of the Committee on Development , on the facility for rapid response to soaring food prices in developing countries - C6-0280 / 2008 - .
the elections were called six months prior to those events and have no particular connection to subsequent political developments , nor could those developments have contributed to the emergence of any new candidates .
this is why we must take notice , and why we should improve these circumstances in particular .
it is , furthermore , to be assumed that those who stay in the EU for three months on the basis of such visa waivers would make numerous contacts which they could then potentially use to descend into illegality .
it is perhaps unfortunate that , as a result of that , some Member States have felt it necessary to clarify , in a protocol , how the Charter interacts with their domestic law .
the next item is voting time .
with that , anyone commissioning work or services would be responsible for ensuring that the activity was transparent and that the subcontractors were attending to their obligations .
poverty is a problem both in the EU and worldwide .
thanks to the non-legislative resolution which was adopted by a huge majority , the European Parliament has sent a very clear signal to both the Commission and oil companies , specifically for them to take the necessary measures to eliminate the current shortcomings in terms of safety standards and liability in the oil extraction industry .
Mr President , Baroness Ashton , the subject we are dealing with today is one that we ought to have begun looking at many months ago , given that the security situation in the Sahel region has been steadily deteriorating for over three years now .
extensive and stable economic contacts between particular countries would lead to specific economic integration , which would definitely help to limit the threat of conflict in the future .
no longer forcing people to give up working .
it needs to be said once again , specifically to the Council of Foreign Ministers , that this Parliament will exercise its rights - no more , but also no less - in connection with the budget and the Staff Regulations because we have a goal , which is an effective and efficient External Action Service .
we hope that an increasing number of countries - developing and emerging countries alike - will be tempted to take part in the negotiations and to sign the final agreement , so as to allow for a broader perspective on matters .
I am happy to report that I have asked both bodies to continue to cooperate on the matter .
the next item is the report by Alexandru Athanasiu , on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs , on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on quarterly statistics on Community job vacancies - C6-0090 / 2007 - .
two years ago , I personally attended , as an observer , the party 's congress with some 20 000 people , and saw and heard for myself their legitimacy in the eyes of their own supporters .
already by the second half of the twentieth century , the most respected growth economists had understood that innovation is one of the main variables for leveraging falling profits .
I can testify to you how much the Member States want to respond to this crisis , how aware they are that what is at stake today are the overall European market and the euro , and that it is not simply a question of one country after another .
we must not underestimate the exceptional importance that the gradual abolition of visas would have for this region .
author . - ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , illegal waste exports and the illegal disposal of waste pose an increasing threat to the health and environment of millions of people in developing countries .
I view this as problematic .
( HU ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the question of inter-country adoption is at least as important as the issue of cross-border divorces and also deserves the same level of attention , particularly because it most often concerns children who are emotionally , financially and , in every other possible sense , at the mercy of decisions made by adults .
it very clearly demonstrates that China can also be an example .
you know that the ERG was created by the Commission as an adviser to the Commission .
that is the only reason .
I can only give a few answers here , and I will distinguish between questions that concern our operational priorities , on the one hand , and those that are more about supervision and governance , on the other .
the WTO 's rules must be supplemented by stringent provisions on protecting the environment , otherwise further liberalisation will lead to even more destruction of the environment .
these rights are an essential part of the concept and self-image of a modern European society .
an impartial system of certification will be , we suppose , appreciated also by consumers .
when we talk about human security , we mean not that there should be automatic intervention in each situation in which there is a possible threat to human security , but rather that we want better account to be taken of this important element .
in addition to this , commercial banks are sending out the most outrageous demands to owners of mortgaged properties , asking them to repay all their debts immediately , in one amount , in view of the fact that residential properties in the region have become completely worthless .
Mr Schulz should feel thankful that Europe and the European Central Bank did not listen to him , because , if it had , the European economy would have been much worse off .
the fight against organised crime and the improvement of border protection must finally be more valued in the European Union .
it is equally important that the interim agreement contains detailed provisions on data protection for the information that the US receives from SWIFT via the European authority .
of course , it has not wiped out illegal employment , but it has limited it .
I also hope it will effectively respect and make use of the principle of subsidiarity , and will choose the safety and solidity of taking small steps , as recommended by Jean Monnet , rather than adopting the fast-track approach that has promised much but contributed little to the real progress of the European project and dream .
so I say , let 's do it : let 's bring back customs officers complete with traditional peaked caps .
unfortunately , even in this House , I have often witnessed this principle being breached .
finally , if the Irish government had , as you said , listened better , explained better and gone local , there would have been a ' yes ' .
since then , we have seen the debunking of the Potsdam sea-level scare ; the Goddard Institute has been caught fiddling the temperature records ; the vanishing Himalayan glaciers have been exposed as a fantasy ; Mr Pachauri has emerged as a climate change profiteer .
we are in favour of the fact that a larger proportion of the costs will be financed from the European vessels supported by the agreement .
this is the gift of life .
now , today , a billion people are suffering from malnutrition , of whom 700 million are , paradoxically , farmers .
reducing administrative costs , simplifying procedures and improving access to markets , thus increasing competitiveness , are vital means for being able to emerge from the crisis .
I fully agree with the importance we must give to relations between the European Union and its neighbours , especially in the Mediterranean .
Europe is the promised land for people from distant continents or the Balkans who wish to join Europe .
we have a much better partnership with Russia .
I would also like to emphasise the issue of recruitment .
therefore , we are obliged to do our utmost to encourage serious observation of the rules that were agreed upon so as to guarantee stability within the Member States , both financially and physically .
some will fear identity fraud .
we are discussing a dossier , a subject area , that exercises the public , where the public expect answers from us , where they even say that this is an area where we need more Europe .
the issue is that Member States usually ask us for a realistic lapse of time , so that implementation can proceed , as far as possible , in a coherent manner , avoiding distortions in the internal market , or at least in what we believe should be the internal market .
however , we believe that it is important for the EU to take genuine responsibility for the migrants who come here and not leave the responsibility to our neighbouring countries , as proposed in paragraph 9 .
thanks to these amendments , the ban on foreigners establishing foundations in Turkey has been lifted , and the principle of reciprocity now applies .
however , I regret that , in the 50 proposals , there is no clear definition of priorities .
although the overall political situation is currently very favourable , we must not slacken our efforts now ; on the contrary , we must utilise the current momentum .
they are , however , very frequently not represented during the resource planning stage , and taking female farmers ' needs into account in this respect could bring many benefits to rural communities .
the previous speaker mentioned neighbouring states which are just as important for our safety ; a central one of these is Switzerland , along with Ukraine , Armenia , Turkey and the Russian Federation .
- After the vote on Amendment 62 :
in September 2007 , after the Buddhist monks ' protests had been brutally crushed , a news embargo was imposed .
of course we realise that protection from discrimination on grounds of gender outside the workplace is not yet as strong as protection from discrimination on grounds of race .
the impetus must come from the Member States , if it comes at all , given that the current signs of a lack of European political will are worrying .
I look forward to meeting many of the Members of Parliament at the Veterinary Week , an event the Commission is organising with your support as an early step to turn the strategy from words into action .
caring has been the domain of women for centuries .
allow me also to mention the successful Northern Ireland workshop during the Open Days in October last year .
in writing . - ( SV ) We Swedish Social Democrats have voted in favour of the report on the demographic future of Europe .
we want to present the whole picture of human rights violations and threats in and around Camp Ashraf .
the debate is closed .
Madam President , things rarely happen at convenient times and any crisis , by definition , is going to be inconvenient .
we want to reform the WTO - we said so in our draft resolution - we also want to have other trade-related dimensions to be taken into account , particularly environmental dimensions , to deal with the impact on climate change and social rules .
a common measurement framework for the ICT industry 's own emissions is also essential .
it is in everyone 's interest that the instrument should now work and should work as effectively as possible .
therefore , if you so wish , if you believe , as Mrs Roure said , that this debate is too important to be closed now , you yourself can now call for a quorum and have this vote dropped , if you think it worthwhile .
because of the pressures , they would certainly consider reducing investment in research and development .
I have received six motions for resolutions tabled in accordance with Rule 110 ( 2 ) of the Rules of Procedure .
I have rarely set eyes on a more hypocritical document than this motion for a resolution on ' rising extremism ' in Europe - and God knows that Europe and this House have already broken records for hypocrisy .
we know , everybody knows , and all the studies show that , if dichloromethane is used correctly in such a way that the health of the workers involved is protected , this substance is both uneconomical and unecological .
the root cause of this crisis is an inadequately regulated financial system .
the Minister for Transport in Ireland , who is a member of the Green Party , admitted that the situation in Ireland as regards carbon emission is very bad and getting worse and will no doubt worsen considerably because of the transport situation .
a serious policy is one that combats the interests of globalism , that wishes to uproot peoples from their territories because it considers them either as goods , or as slaves , or new consumers .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , the position of the group that I represent , the Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group , is crystal clear : with this oral question , we are asking the Commission to challenge the implementation of the ruling against crucifixes in school classrooms , handed down by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg which , I would emphasise , is not an EU institution .
in the 1980s the Cockfield Report called for a range of VAT rates .
although it is still subject to too many exceptions , the application of the codecision procedure , which will become the ordinary legislative procedure and which will also include approval of the budget , will give Parliament a very important role .
this situation was the reason for our warnings , which the Commission has regrettably ignored , and is continuing to do so .
will we increase our mandatory fuel reserves ?
this is one reason ...
geography and culture offer us different histories , but they do not distinguish our human condition .
I would like to point out that the proposed agenda was mostly prepared before the onset of the crisis , but in spite of this I want to make it clear that it was and still is a good basis for facing the crisis .
Trautmann report
I believe his work is very valuable and I am aware how important it is to our citizens because his office has become a key point of contact for them .
the ruling states that neither the Spanish Constitution nor the Criminal Code allows a newspaper to be closed down , and that the whole charge was built on the premise that defending Basque culture means collaborating with ETA , which is absurd .
we are of a mind to confirm our support for their full adhesion to the agreement , although we think it is essential for the two countries in question to inform us in writing , within six months , that additional measures to close these gaps have been implemented .
preparations for the European Council meeting ( 24 June 2011 ) ( continuation of debate )
advertising on the internet - in search engines , email , social networks and Internet television - and on mobile phones is often presented to consumers without their consent , and even worse , using their data , sometimes collected without their knowledge or full awareness .
with regard to financing , personally , I am of the opinion that public security should be paid for with public funds .
it is unreasonable to expect the same hard-working countries always to pay for the mistakes of others .
the strengthening of economic governance and the importance of cohesion policy are some of the areas that I would like to emphasise in the pursuit of a smarter , more sustainable and more inclusive Europe .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I am sure that this right of initiative granted to European citizens by the treaty will help bring the peoples closer to Europe and to the European institutions to a greater degree than the costly awareness campaigns funded by the Union which , hitherto , have produced modest results : electoral turnouts confirm this .
I want , however , to clarify two things very briefly .
so it is an important relationship .
the results were presented in a communication in October 2007 , which also launched the second phase of the consultation .
a mandatory test by a third body is provided for in the directive only where there are no harmonised European standards .
I hope that those attending the conference in December will realise that there is no alternative to cutting polluting emissions and that postponing any decision in Copenhagen on the mandatory objectives will mean failure not only for the conference , but also for the multilateral dialogue on global topics that affect the future of every one of us .
the decisions taken in these last few days pushing us towards super austerity , and the Commission setting itself up as a veritable tribunal to put it into effect , are in conflict with every single social project .
we are well aware that , according to the dominant way of thinking in the European Commission - one that you undoubtedly do not subscribe to - to talk about labour market reforms is to talk about flexibility - not about flexicurity , but about flexibility .
so I say , festina lente , hasten slowly , having thought deeply and consulted widely , and then we may need to act , with or without the aid of Robin Hood .
I know that similar disconnects between training and demand exist in other European countries .
that balance has been distorted in many rural development programmes , including those affecting my region of Northern Ireland .
we reject the approach as outlined in Recital I which states : ' whereas gender stereotyping in advertising thus echoes the unequal distribution of gender power ' .
in Israel , the investigations into targets and tactics used during Operation Cast Lead have been carried out by army commanders or military police , severely compromising the independence of the findings , and from the Hamas side there is still a failure to address adequately the firing of rockets into southern Israel .
I am therefore asking the Commission to find out what the reasons are behind this strange and quite bizarre ban in Northern Ireland .
every business is needed when it comes to innovating or creating - the patents we are pushing through come to mind - when it comes to small and medium-sized enterprises obtaining financing and having less administrative complexity and red tape to deal with , when it comes to trading securely online , and when it comes to participating in public procurement , which I will return to in a moment .
the European Constitution - sorry , the Reform Treaty - is being signed in Lisbon amid much pomp and ceremony and will then be rushed through the parliaments that support it with indecent haste .
in light of the systemic stabilisation of the financial markets , it would have been a fatal signal to only guarantee private deposits .
we have equally alarming statistics on overfishing in that area of the Atlantic and the grave problems it is creating .
in writing . - ( NL ) My group and the national delegation of my party in the European Parliament have decided recently to reject the present path towards Kosovo 's independence .
fifthly , we aim to identify the main components of an international regime on access to genetic resources and the sharing of benefits arising from their use .
on horizontal issues , let me just enumerate the most important ones we touched upon : first , upholding human rights and promoting peace and security in Europe 's neighbourhood and at global level ; second , support for effective multilateralism and respect for international law ; third , the fight against terrorism ; fourth , non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and disarmament ; fifth , climate change , energy security and issues like cyber security .
the development of European political parties is vital for generating public interest in EU affairs .
the term ' efficiency ' is often used incorrectly in EU documents , due to a misunderstanding of the term ' energy efficiency ' and methods for its assessment , or in other words whether we are talking about national gross efficiency or efficiency per capita , or conversion efficiency , for example the conversion of primary energy into useful work .
thanks to the new Lisbon Treaty , the Charter will have the same value as the Treaties ; in other words it will be legally binding .
there are hundreds of measures which have to be ' Lisbonised ' , which have to be taken out of the hole and brought into the light of day , which have to be adapted to the real rules of law - hundreds of measures that do not work .
( HU ) Mr President , the Slovak national language law violates five basic rights contained in the Charter of Fundamental Rights which comes into force on 1 December .
clearly , a child is occupying a full seat here .
there are also measures concerning confidentiality .
Sixthly , the program of infrastructure investment should be directed at eliminating differences and underdevelopment , especially in the new Member States .
the facts quoted in the report give cause for concern .
in this context , we can understand the insistence that cohesion policies should be targeted at all the regions and that the eligibility criteria should be expanded beyond the current focus on per capita gross domestic product in order to make them fairer .
I should especially like to congratulate the Portuguese Presidency on including the question of Europe 's immigration policy on the agenda for the Council , where President Barroso will be able to underline the European Commission 's timely initiatives in this connection .
especially the German car industry , which has made the most profit over the last 10 years . it is the one that is going to invest funds in tax havens .
3 .
I just have one point of criticism .
if we remain silent , the small seeds of democracy and the rule of law that President Yeltsin sowed and that President Putin has endangered will finally be suffocated , and that cannot be in the interest of Europe or in the interest of the Russian people .
the biggest problem experienced by consumers at present is that it is difficult to have a dispute over consumer rights between different countries examined because there is no body to settle cross-border disputes .
I want to draw the Commission 's attention to the danger that Serbia could block Kosovo here , as in the UN and the Council of Europe .
it is an alarming signal , and I call on national organisations and associations to protest to the MEPs who represent them in the European Parliament .
the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance has never claimed that , but we would continue to connect with our position the demand for fairer price-setting and competition and for citizens to be able to understand this better .
( SL ) Madam President , may I say , Commissioner , you have achieved a great deal .
with lax limits on allocations bought in from outside Europe , EU funds will flow to countries like China , where regulation is minimal and records may not be accurate .
the storm caused injuries and badly damaged homes , infrastructure , farms , businesses , industrial plant , sports facilities as well as public and municipal buildings .
what I would like to do is put the three that first came to my attention together , so that would be Ms McGuinness , Mr Mitchell , who asked the original question , and Ms Budreikaitė .
climate change and energy are also summit priorities for us , and we hope to sign a joint work programme on energy , clean development and climate change focused on renewable and clean energies , together with two climate-change-related European Investment Bank loans .
( SK ) In 2006 , Slovakia was condemned for asking for freedom of conscience .
I believe that the establishment of these groupings can bring about positive results both from the point of view of governance , in that they would signify cross-border governance that guarantees authorship of different policies at local and regional levels , and from that of social cohesion , as it creates more potential for communities that are linguistically and culturally different from each other to come closer together .
Ireland was and will be a battleground for the heart and soul of Europe .
I therefore think that the debate on Afghanistan is crucial , because it is the origin of the majority of the heroin ( 93 % ) that kills our young people on the streets .
it is true that women are more resilient to the current crisis in terms of job losses .
after that we will negotiate .
there is a large majority in this House that would have it that we have to regulate legal immigration and fight illegal immigration .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , although this is a consolidation of several directives and there are therefore limited possibilities for amending the legislative text , this new IPPC Directive is a necessary and useful tool for promoting not only a dramatic reduction in emissions by taking advantage of best available techniques , but also for precipitating a new trend in industrial investments .
it is also problematic , in connection with this , that the EU prescribes high standards in quality and in animal and environmental protection , but then allows imports from countries in which these rules do not apply and in which production is naturally considerably cheaper .
however , as you said , Commissioner , the events in Mumbai have also shown the unacceptable absence of a guarantee of diplomatic protection for Members of the European Parliament .
however , overall it remains a brutal one-party dictatorship .
Mr President , I have voted today and my constituents can see how I voted today , so therefore , they should have the opportunity to have my explanation of vote today .
in a nutshell , the report fails really to tackle the issue and assembles bits and pieces alongside the present existing possibilities to put culture on the agenda both for the EU and between the EU and third countries .
it is high time for the continually unfulfilled ideal of the equality of women and men to be made a practical reality .
the concept of food security is very clear , and it is achieved when all people , at all times , have physical , social and economic access to sufficient , safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life .
let us make Burma a textbook case , one that shows our ability to promote democracy without the use of bombs and tanks .
( the sitting was closed at 11.40 p.m. )
what is the use of our investing in Azerbaijan ?
I would encourage more cooperation between the Commission and the European Parliament in this field .
the proposal is an important step towards closing a huge loophole in non-discriminatory legislation .
we have had some real progress in some parts of the package - including , during the Belgian Presidency , my own report on beneficiaries of international protection - but clearly these are just the side elements of the asylum package .
this report sets out a number of ways that that can be achieved .
although , last year , the Lukashenko regime freed political prisoners and has become somewhat milder , the European Union cannot look the other way in the face of the recent human rights violations concerning members of the Union of Poles in Belarus .
( PL ) Madam President , in the countries of the ' old ' EU , rail transport is losing ground to road transport .
given that a third of the world 's children do not have enough to eat and one sixth of them do not go to school , it may appear odd to talk about poverty in Europe .
they should instead supplement each other 's work and work together in a complementary way .
we in the UK in particular have seen voluntary modulation which , of course , is not voluntary at all for the farmers who are stuck with it , and we disagree with that principle .
global access to capital increases growth potential and creates new jobs - we should not forget this .
the proposal for a directive to facilitate transfers of military products within the EU by simplifying the relevant licensing procedures in the Member States forms part of the general objective to militarise the EU in order to serve its aggressive anti-grassroots plans .
I would also pick up on Amendment 3 - as my colleague did - which deletes the attempt to reintroduce cumbersome and unworkable rules on the direct sale of fruit and vegetables to the consumer .
I consider it essential to take action aimed at the rapid and more effective use of means which have been made available by developed countries .
the Court of Justice considers as a ' restriction ' , and therefore ' unlawful ' under Community law , the freedom of workers and their representative bodies to defend their rights and interests , namely respect for what has been agreed in collective bargaining .
the remainder either tagged along or complained when they were forced to give an opinion .
on the other hand , concerns about security and energy supply lead to the need for greater involvement between the European Union and the countries of this region .
you rightly noted the successes and progress of capability development .
( DE ) Many thanks , Madam President , many thanks , Commissioner .
they are not like profit-making shareholder organisations .
both these aspects are necessary , and so I ask you to vote in favour of the present resolution .
the stability and growth pact affects both euro countries and non-euro countries .
we will then take further decisions in December .
from the point of view of my own fishing nation , Scotland , the common fisheries policy , the EU 's very own international agreement , has not been a great success .
the report focuses on modernising agriculture and making it more efficient , ensuring that improvements are made in relation to the environment and animal welfare , the contribution of agriculture to energy and climate policy as well as simpler rules for the agricultural sector .
there is no doubt that there is a rapidly increasing need for a new energy strategy for Europe , and European enterprises are in no doubt about that either .
surveillance of budgetary positions and surveillance and coordination of economic policies (
Europe purports to be one of the most advanced plant protection legislative powers worldwide and that is a great plus .
the many breaches and discrepancies in information cast doubt upon the election results announced .
you are referring to paragraph 5 .
accession is and must be the ultimate objective .
global solidarity and concrete assistance , generously provided , are the right and dutiful response of the international community .
we should stop for a moment to appreciate this innovation that we are implementing today which is only the first element , as Mr Lamassoure has said , of participatory democracy at supranational level .
increased cooperation with the countries of origin and transit is particularly important .
I therefore agree in principle with the idea of having two plenary meetings , but let us try to bring them closer to the regional meetings .
however , the first test had to be postponed until late January because the prerequisites had not been met .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( FR ) Mr President , in my opinion , Mr Coelho has just provided a very clear and objective picture of the situation .
nevertheless , this relationship can play a complementary role in two spheres : in the multilateral negotiations at the World Trade Organisation ( WTO ) , and in the free trade area between the EU and Mercosur .
it used to be 45 per thousand just after the Second World War in Ireland .
its definition must take into account the transfer of monetary policy , the development of credit and financial assets , the characteristics of new products and the concentration of risks and liquidity .
I therefore urge the Commission to incorporate parliamentary capacity-building on a targeted basis into its country programmes , so that in a few years time , we can genuinely see that African politics have become much more responsive , in practice , to the public 's needs , also thanks to the involvement of the national parliaments .
( applause )
I would like to focus on the notion that citizens from the new Member States must not be in an inferior position to those from third countries .
the next item is the vote .
we saw a rather substantial under-execution with regard to Solvit in 2008 , but this will correct itself in 2009 and 2010 .
( the sitting closed at 23.45 . )
what remains is a schizophrenic situation , if you allow that analytical term : on the one hand OLAF is a ' normal ' Commission directorate general , for which the Commission has full responsibility ; on the other hand , it is an investigative function , fully independent in its operations , but for which the Commission is also held responsible .
I note with concern attempts by some regional politicians to destabilise the country , and call upon the EU to demonstrate its political will and commitment towards Bosnia and Herzegovina to prevent any conflicts based on ethnicity or religion .
justice is always carried out objectively and subjectively .
I would also like to remind you that we have a new framework agreement between the Commission and the Parliament on the details of this involvement .
due to strong lobbying from the banking sector or the weak show of political will , it turns out that the government does not get involved in the bilateral contract between the customer and bank .
we must encourage third level institutions , research organisations and private sector companies to seize the opportunities available under the EU 's Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development ( FP7 ) .
with my colleagues in the European Parliament , Dimitar Stoyanov and Slavi Binev , I have submitted written declaration 0005 / 2009 asking for these reactors to be reactivated , with the aim of gaining Bulgaria 's energy independence .
debates on cases of breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law ( announcement of motions for resolutions tabled ) : see Minutes
until recently , road and other infrastructures were paid for only by taxpayers .
of course this is one of the things that the Asylum Support Office will be looking at : how to pull together that information from a variety of sources in a more standard format and perhaps a format where people will have greater confidence that the information is not being used politically .
however , it is clear that this resolution focuses too much on the role of the ESF boosting employment and not sufficiently on its key role in supporting the inclusion of vulnerable groups , which my group , the Socialists & Democrats , has always strongly supported .
as a member of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence , I have followed this report closely .
sadly , Turkey wants to join the European Union because they will have their hands out in the hope of having them filled with lots of European taxpayers ' money in subsidies , and they see the opportunity of offloading millions of their poor and unemployed excess population by exporting them to Western countries like Britain , where they will either work for low wages or go on the benefits system .
I believe that the current regulatory framework for consumer product safety in the EU is fundamentally sound and will be reinforced by the pending Commission proposal on the New Approach Directives .
yet , in that regard , it is all a question of timetables and the European Commission 's decision can be explained by the need to respond as rapidly as possible to the challenges that exist in the area of patient mobility , which already covers a very wide field .
I would like to underline that an ambitious approach in the decision-making process depends on the political willingness of Member States .
Germany and Austria are a poor example in this regard , but so , unfortunately , are others .
you must answer the European citizens as to why they are now sitting in the cold .
we deal with many , many problems from across Member States but , as the statistics show , some countries use the services of the committee more widely than others , perhaps because there are members of the committee who are from those countries and therefore they attract problems from their constituents .
in most cases , this must be done by an on-the-spot visit .
I consider this to be unacceptable , to say the least .
( the President cut off the speaker )
terrorism is a fulminant infection in the body of our society .
we should strive to remove existing barriers as soon as possible .
based on its mandate , the EU and its Member States must continue to play a constructive role globally in order to achieve a legally binding post-Kyoto agreement .
( SK ) The EU-Russia strategic partnership is an important factor in the area of diversification and security of imports of energy sources into the EU .
the first is to divide farmers into large and small and destroy their unity in the trade unions .
alongside that though , the issue of what we spend that money on is perhaps even more important .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
any amendment would have been a retrograde step .
personally , I hope that positive developments can be achieved soon .
in Vienna , at the last Summit , Chancellor Schüssel , as the then President of the Council , said : ' it was marvellous , everyone was able to talk to each other ! '
these products normally contain low-quality or falsified substances , representing a serious threat to public health , and also leading to a loss of patient trust in the legal supply chain .
- Before the vote :
with 2 000 political prisoners under arrest , access to free media impeded by the authorities and widespread slavery in industry , the people of this country need serious help .
shipowners benefiting from the agreement must employ at least 20 % ACP nationals among the seamen signed on .
I therefore ask the Commission how it intends to proceed and whether it intends to submit a proposal to remove the Member States ' discretion in the transposition of Articles 3 and 4 of the framework decision , concerning the grounds for mandatory non-execution and optional non-execution .
that being said , I would like to ask , and I hope that it is not the case , if we are waiting for there finally to be surplus stocks of vaccines in Europe or for the side effects to prove too harmful before we show our generosity and suddenly start sending the necessary vaccines to southern countries .
the euro area needs to speak with one voice , and also be represented as a unit in international organisations such as the International Monetary Fund and the OECD ( Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ) .
about 10 minutes ago , we stopped the production of sugar in the European Union , and say we have to support Tate & Lyle , which imports it .
I will be having a debate on the first day with three committees from the Hellenic Parliament and we will certainly discuss this issue too .
we cannot have it both ways .
there is , therefore , a process in motion which does not aim to discriminate against anyone .
we want to replace the list with a reference to the existing rules .
instead of taking the correct approach and doing what was done in my case , in other words , saying that we are acting on our own initiative , where there is clear suspicion of fraud , for example tax evasion or illegal party funding , OLAF sits back and does nothing .
it seems to me that our attention should now be directed not at Burma itself , but at those three countries .
in particular , it is more ambitious and better focused than the EU-US Agreement in terms of traffic rights , ownership and control .
Mr President , a few days ago , we celebrated the grand opening of Euronest at the European Parliament in Brussels .
however men 's violence against women knows no geographical boundaries , no age limit , no class or race or cultural distinctions , it is still invisible and the victims are silenced .
statistical data on the ethnic and cultural make-up of the resident population could assist the prevention of violence .
while I share the wish of the European Parliament to support economic growth through the EU programmes , we should also take into account the amount of payments that can be reasonably executed without undermining sound financial management .
in addition , this interpretation must be clear for , and known to , everyone involved in applying legislation on Europe 's roads .
the National Action Plans containing the Member States ' individual targets in terms of risk reduction are the most important part of the whole process .
given the threats posed by unlimited access to all these technologies and data , special attention needs to be paid to children and young people .
as for payment appropriations , the reduction made amounts to EUR 393 million , but half of this reduction relates to the reserve for emergency aid and , as you know , the Council considers that it may be possible to finance this reserve by redeploying payment appropriations , as has been seen in recent years .
today there are surpluses of grain , for example , in store and no market for them .
I am bound to say , however , that , according to the rules of the Rural Development Fund , broadband implementation projects are mainly managed by public administrations - provinces , municipalities and mountain communities - which are , however , unable to include VAT in their accounting .
professions and workplaces dominated by women still tend to be undervalued compared to those where men predominate .
the natural world offers riches which humans have only begun to discover and it is necessary that this treasury of future opportunities remains for generations to come .
now , not only will the customers see the true price , but also the security taxes levied by national governments will have to be highlighted separately .
now , that sounds pretty straightforward .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , firearms are not an ordinary type of product like any other .
in this regard , regional policy must retain financial resources at least equivalent to those of the current period .
( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the Irish people have clearly chosen to place themselves at the heart of Europe by approving the Treaty of Lisbon by a very large majority .
undoubtedly , the creation of the EAS must be subject to debate and consensus about who does what and does it best , but the CFSP foreign policy elements must remain firmly within the Council .
I think you could ask the Member States to prepare maps of what is going on in terms of the exploitation of energy resources and sources in each Member State , evaluate the most promising projects , adopt incentives for private companies to engage in exploitation , and see what we can do with our own resources .
however , I have to point out , and the resolution itself admits it , that ' the signing of this Agreement has been delayed at Syria 's request since October 2009 ' .
unfortunately , these problems will remain even if we try to overcome these issues with very specific projects , which is something I support .
this will be of enormous benefit because it will eliminate the differential treatment that we have noted in Member States concerning overflight and landing .
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( DE ) Madam President , the expansion of the Schengen area in December last year has led to more , not less , security .
we have to reduce the burdens which create obstacles in aquaculture .
I think that this is a mistake .
furthermore , the old Member States are not taking into account the need of the new Member States for new agreements , and investors ' rights are not balanced in any way by environmental , social and other legal requirements .
that said , we have to remember that the possibility of monitoring the implementation of legislative instruments is limited by time , technical aspects and knowledge .
Mr Moreira put some very precise questions to the commissioner .
that is what we are trying to do .
we cannot have compromises that prevent discussion .
I will finish by thanking Commissioner Andor for his dynamism and his desire to make progress in everything relating to social affairs .
the next item is the report by Mr Papastamkos , on behalf of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development , on EU agriculture and international trade .
to conclude , even if Ukraine is not as efficient in democratisation as we would expect , we should not decrease our efforts to create an enhanced cooperation with her people , whose European ambitions are crucial , not only for themselves , but perhaps even more for us , the citizens of Europe .
however , just as the Commission has proposed , it is necessary for the information to be monitored objectively so that it can be relied upon .
however , there are also other Members of this House involved in this case and I therefore ask you , Mr President , to convey our concern .
this will be of benefit to all citizens in Europe .
today , ladies and gentlemen , our Parliament can express itself on an urgent and important subject , for the protection of life and religious freedom , not only of Christians , but of millions of people of all faiths .
Mrs Lefrançois quite rightly said that this migration should not be rushed , and she is right .
the Union specialises more on soft power , NATO more on hard , military power , but both sides evolve .
the review conference is a good opportunity for the stakeholders to consider the existing deficiencies of the ICC and propose possible changes or directions for reform .
I have not talked to 160 million workers or 4 million doctors , but I have talked to their representative organisations .
the report and opinions constitute a very necessary document .
it appears that in the euphoria of new economic agreements , EU decision makers have quickly forgotten the cases of Anna Politkovskaya and Natalia Estemirova .
the three Ts need more money .
( ES ) Madam President , I would like to state for the record that the vote took place immediately after the previous one , and I would therefore like to state for the record that my vote is against .
CFP and the ecosystem approach to fisheries management (
it must be clear that the intention of the Blue Card is to increase the competitiveness of the EU economy .
Croatia will conclude accession negotiations this year .
I support the mobilisation of the fund in connection with this application because this measure can provide additional support to workers who are suffering the consequences of major structural changes in world trade patterns and assist their reintegration into the labour market .
I would also like to point out that Member States need to finance the development and expansion of programmes which will help parents to protect their children from Internet grooming .
it takes account of the scarcity of raw materials , the threat to biodiversity , the move towards sustainable energy and , in particular - and I find this key - the importance of sustainability for our economy .
( FR ) The fact that I am acting as President but not wearing a tie quite clearly has nothing to do with the item on the agenda .
we know that the rapporteur , Mr Corbett , believes in the European project .
we also know only too well that this is affecting the entire sub-region as , in Mauritania , for example , large quantities of drugs have been discovered , even at the airport .
in my opinion , the Commission should be prepared for that .
I hope that this initiative adopted today in Parliament will receive the attention it is due from the Council as well , which ought to deal with this matter as a priority issue for the European agenda .
the report rightly recognises the enormous efforts made ( particularly in Portugal , Spain , Greece and Ireland ) in terms of growth and convergence .
( PL ) Madam President , Commissioner , I would like to make the point that , from the aspect of individual countries and societies , there are three types of security that are paramount : energy security , food security and personal security .
we are not progressing : we are actually moving backwards .
let the IMF do its work and watch how quickly Greece recovers , as we in Britain did on leaving the ERM .
we have an international ISO system that everyone is aware of .
( PL ) Mr President , within the framework of the new Lisbon cycle , the emphasis should be on industrial policy , because a flourishing industry is very important in terms of making full use of the European Union 's economic potential .
therefore , the third energy package makes wide-ranging proposals to remedy those structural problems , in particular by proposing ownership unbundling of the transmission system operators .
unless someone in this House has a machine for producing money and resources from thin air , unless such a machine exists , social protection measures still have to be funded from taxpayers ' money .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , right across Europe , our cities and communities have to struggle with problem districts .
I think it is not a question of one or the other : we should build our own pipeline in practical terms and effectively .
as such , these are achievements which have an impact in the longer run .
it is easy to see how the Commission is seeking to exploit Parliament 's call for urgent measures for its own ends .
it also explains the enormous illegal catches which are estimated to be twice the size of the set quotas .
he stated that the source of the right to a homeland should be sought in the right to dignity , and that the right to a homeland is therefore a fundamental human right .
the obstacles they face include language barriers , an unfamiliar working environment , family or cultural traditions , and so on .
Mr President , I will not conceal the fact that I am disappointed by both the statements we have heard .
I would like to thank Mrs Sanchez-Schmid , because support for culture means , above all , support for the business connected with culture , but , in particular , it means support for the inner aspect of culture . this is why cultural undertakings must have administrative support and need a reduction of bureaucracy in administrative systems , but they also need support with raising capital , which may also come from Union funds .
we must take firm action against the potential counterfeiting of products which are wrongly labelled .
above all , we need to invest in infrastructure , because improving agriculture means improving irrigation , improving transport , making it possible for produce to sent from point A to be sold at point B , and we need to improve storage and the cold chain , if we want to export this produce .
( DE ) Mr President , there have been some wonderful arguments , at least in abstract and general terms , over whether we should have deregulation or over-regulation .
speaking about EU involvement , we recognise the active role of the EU and its Member States in the first year of work of the HRC .
this is why we need a plan to coordinate the economies of all Member States .
that is why we are insisting that we have to have a better balance on this .
air and noise pollution from traffic will thus be charged electronically , at a rate of three to four cents per kilometre depending on the vehicle 's Euro class , the type of road and the level of congestion .
the text to be put to the vote tomorrow does not , however , include a proposal made by the Committee on Agriculture for the Commission to look into setting up an economic adaptation fund against drought , which would benefit all economic sectors , including agriculture .
the European Commission , which has , to date , strictly monitored compliance with the rules for providing State aid to companies , has been very quick to grant its consent in all these cases , generally adapting its decisions to earlier decisions made by Member State governments concerning these matters .
this is , therefore , a clear justification for the common agricultural policy .
it is also worth bearing in mind that the largest producers of these raw materials are located outside the European Union and that in comparison , the position of the Member States is very poor indeed .
Mr President , the recent brutal murder of the Palestinian Christian Rami Ayyad , who was only thirty years old , underlines the perilous position of this minority in Gaza .
in view of the lack of other representatives from your group , I think you can speak for a very long time !
the crucial thing is that this minimum income is regulated in such a way that it acts as a lever to elevate people in poverty to an acceptable standard of living , and that it can never be an incentive for people to act passively in a difficult situation , namely by potentially lacking commitment in looking for a job .
Madam President , unfortunately , the problems affecting European beekeeping are more serious and deeper rooted than the cyclical crises that recurrently affect other , apparently more important , sectors .
in doing this , we are making a crucial contribution to the safety of Europe .
I believe that what matters most when considering the future shape of financing instruments for development is to remember that the overriding aim of development policy should be to reduce dependence on aid gradually , and for the country in question ultimately to achieve total independence .
the High Representative and I will also report on this process to the Foreign Affairs Council in a few days ' time .
we have a demographic crisis in the EU .
- ( EL ) Mr President , let me begin by expressing my deep satisfaction with the agreement that has at last been reached on the amendment to the Regulation establishing common rules in the field of civil aviation security .
the report supports Croatia 's aims , which is why I have voted in favour of it .
we can all rejoice and hope for even better relations between the people of Taiwan and the people of the European Union .
it was quicker than normal - smooth , calm and there was not a single request for the time-consuming and irritating check .
this gradual abandonment is very important and I would ask other European leaders to take note of this because nuclear energy is very expensive , very dangerous and very slow to build and is not the answer to climate change .
in my opinion , the amendments that Members have tabled are , contrary to the view of the Commissioner , extremely important , as even at this stage , we want to mark the direction in which we hope that this new VAT system will go .
amendment of Regulation ( EC ) No 881 / 2004 establishing a European Railway Agency (
your colleagues in Berlin have made much more progress than you have here in Strasbourg and in Brussels .
like him , I come from a mini-Europe , the former Habsburg Empire , which was no bad thing in many regards , but which fell apart because the biggest linguistic group - namely mine , the German speakers - always insisted on everyone speaking German .
in my opinion , the reduction in the number of military systems in the European continent should continue .
Madam President , as we know , many dangerous chemical substances are authorised for general use , in spite of the dangerous ingredients they contain .
we are all entitled to our own opinion on this .
Mr President , I think Philip Bushill-Matthews ' criticism underlines just how good Elizabeth Lynne 's report is !
Mr President , Baroness Ashton , Canada is a good friend and an important partner of the EU .
how can we speak of choice when the opposition parties are not allowed to speak , when they cannot express themselves freely or accurately represent whole populations ?
Beijing + 15 - UN Platform for Action for Gender Equality
I was therefore amazed by the ruling handed down by the Supreme Administrative Court in Lithuania on 30 January of this year . according to the ruling , placing signs bearing street names in Polish alongside others bearing street names in Lithuanian contravened the law .
in order to avoid the ever greater fragmentation of existing regulations in this area , a targeted full harmonisation approach was sought ; that is to say , harmonisation limited to specific aspects of certain contracts , while maintaining a high level of consumer protection .
this will demand a political leap in thinking with regard to Europe 's - and , in particular , the eurozone 's - economic governance .
Vaccinating against TB and investing in research aimed at developing new treatments for this disease are the only solutions to eradicate it by 2050 .
they are calling for imports of protein crops , particularly soya , to be made easier , including genetically modified organisms ( GMOs ) , which are prohibited in the EU .
however , I think that we must continue to make strenuous efforts to offer Serbia a European perspective , including for the sake of its people , complete with a specific offer concerning , for example , visa facilitation and further visa liberalisation .
they want to have a role in solving the international financial crisis , and they have little capital to do that .
it is when we do not - and especially to protect the speech that may particularly be angering to people like me or others - that we have those laws .
the presidential election on 5 January this year was a decision to escape from deadlock , but during the election process itself several infringements and ambiguities were observed , and regretfully I have to admit that actions by the relevant Georgian authorities were insufficient to convince voters and candidates that they had the political will to investigate all electoral infringements that took place at the time of those elections .
( PL ) Madam President , in the run-up to the forthcoming summit , we really can say that the European Union lacks a single coherent strategy as regards Russia , and that the current policy of pragmatic cooperation based on a strategy of small steps may very easily fall apart during whatever crisis occurs next , as was the case in 2008 during the war with Georgia , or in 2009 after gas supplies were cut off .
debates on cases of breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law ( announcement of motions for resolutions tabled ) : see Minutes
therefore , I would like to express my recognition and gratitude to the Spanish Presidency , the Council and the Commission , as well as to the shadow rapporteurs on the Committee on International Trade and everybody involved , for their positive and constructive approach .
I think I visit five countries and then I will end up in Moscow for the Quartet meeting in order to discuss and debate what we do next .
is it not time to reverse these tendencies and to return to the sustainable development of agriculture , in which farmers will have their own feedstuffs and will not be exposed to the losses caused by dioxins or BSE ?
I voted in favour of it and I consider it to be excellent .
only in this way can meaningful compromises in the dispute on the nuclear programme be achieved .
a fair balance is needed which seeks to reconcile the legitimate interests and concerns of the nationals of the Member States with the needs of those who are seeking them .
it is a fact that violations of human rights , civil liberties and the rule of law have become commonplace in Russia .
the debate is closed .
the fact that more and more products brought from China raise question marks and endanger the health and safety of European citizens is a very serious matter .
we cannot afford to fail , as the finger of history will indict us for reneging on our responsibility as a generation of political leaders who knew the problem , who knew the peer-reviewed science , but failed to act .
I am very pleased to be able to tell you that the Commission feels able to support all of the amendments put forward by the rapporteur , Mr Csibi .
bridging loans under this facility can , however , prevent bankruptcy and job losses , and that is also in our interest .
the Republic of Chad , by way of its Foreign Minister , gave its agreement in principle to this operation in a written communication that was sent to the Security Council several days ago .
in my opinion , we have made very good progress with Croatia and we can complete the process quickly .
I would just like to stress a few remarks that were made , which in my opinion should be overarching the whole debate .
as the resolution states , Zimbabwe very much needs a mediation process which includes various parties from the international community and Africa .
for instance , the need for a functioning EU internal energy market , for interconnection and infrastructure projects , for the development of mechanisms to handle supply crises and for the EU to have a strong external energy policy is now clear , and we support this broad approach .
the European Parliament must bear its responsibility for improving the conditions of people with disabilities .
as Mr López Aguilar said , terrorism is a terrible form of crime .
through its civilian crisis management , the EU already makes a clear contribution to global security , reflecting its core values and principles .
for me personally , this budget has a bittersweet taste , because it includes successes , but it also has shadows .
this is helping to reduce the administrative burden and allowing better use to be made of control results .
the recent gas crisis between Russia and Ukraine demonstrated once again the importance of diversifying the EU 's energy sources and energy supply routes .
the euro area was not and has not become an optimal currency zone .
although I believe that these programmes must be implemented as soon as possible , and operate as efficiently as possible , they need to be prepared properly .
it is good that we are increasing payments in instalments and speeding up expenditure on large projects submitted in advance , and that it will be possible for payments to be made prior to confirmation .
a job well done .
we have to discuss further details of Parliament 's approach so as to respect the institutional balance laid down in the Treaty , but what I find absolutely right is the logic of the approach taken , which is to find a balance between the interests of subsidiarity and those of the internal market , and then to draw clear operational conclusions .
to revive the challenge of sustainable growth , we have to use all the political means and financial instruments at our disposal .
the state is , of course , not expected to finance volunteering , otherwise it would lose its meaning , but the state is called on to provide incentives for the private sector to support the voluntary sector .
these statements included an appeal from Italian mayors and from the Italian Minister of the Interior to me , because at that time no one thought that Europe had any tools like those subsequently adopted with the decree-law to tackle situations where there was a clear violation of Directive 2004 / 38 / EC .
Madam President , I agreed with Mr Cocilovo , who was the draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs , to insert the following clause into this important Article 6 : ' if the legislation of a Member State does not stipulate obligatory affiliation to the social security system for the self-employed , affiliation is granted on request to the assisting spouse . '
in its original proposal , the Commission proposed , after careful cost calculations , to forget everything and have a final upper limit on costs after all .
following the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power station in Japan , the Commission announced stress tests for similar facilities in the European Union .
as affirmed by the proposed amendments made by the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left , the military interventions , supposedly undertaken in order to stabilise certain countries or regions , are on the wrong track .
( RO ) Madam President , the outcome of the referendum on the independence of South Sudan was welcomed by quite a few people .
the key message is that excluding millions of EU citizens from economic and social life is not smart , is not sustainable and is certainly not inclusive .
anyone who has benefitted from public aid should not be ashamed of information to the effect that he has received such aid ; and farmers in particular have no reason to be ashamed of it , because after all the aid is clearly due to them and is for the good of the whole of society .
this is testimony to the EU pledge to help the country recover from successive crises .
clearly , the free market is the best mechanism for regulating the economy until something better is thought up , to paraphrase a certain statement .
I am also a little dubious about whether it is really necessary to have full regulation of this matter at EU level .
this is why I am grateful that we are holding this debate as a building block in the construction of a more robustly resourced ENISA and of greater network security .
let me , however , reiterate that the scope of these meetings remains limited as long as the current political conditions prevail in Belarus .
these are recommendations that I fully agree with , and I would therefore like once again to praise the quality of this report , which has managed to garner broad cross-party support .
I therefore believe that you have welcomed , as has the Council , President Obama 's decision to close Guantánamo within a year .
the vote will take place on Thursday , 13 December 2007 .
the legislative effects obtained are not always based on a clear and convincing provision , however .
that is why we will not only be voting in favour of the report but we will also be giving our consent for both these countries to join the Schengen area .
in writing . - ( FR ) Front National , Vlaams Belang and FPOE are not extremist , racist or xenophobic parties .
if we want to be credible , we should cancel all contracts in armaments to these countries and to the Gulf Cooperation Council , and ask for the establishment of an arms embargo in all of the North Africa and Middle East region .
of course , for a country like Portugal , which played a decisive role in the adoption of the Treaty of Lisbon , the Swedish Presidency 's contribution was invaluable .
our citizens expect that much of us .
I would also say in advance that the United States and the EU signed an agreement on large civil aircraft in 1992 .
this is a procedural matter .
regardless of this fact , Latvia was accepted into the European Union in 2004 .
( RO ) Madam President , the European Union has 143 nuclear power plant units and , according to the data published by the Energy DG in March for 2010 , nuclear energy accounts for roughly 28 % of the European Union 's energy mix .
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the new rules could create better conditions for investment and should enable SMEs to focus on innovation and development .
aerial spraying is virtually prohibited and - where there are no viable alternatives - local people must be notified in advance of the composition , times , intensity and schedule of the spraying .
my final comment is to note with you that , in this crisis , everyone believed that there would be two channels for transmitting the crisis , the complex financial markets on one hand and , on the other , the real economy .
I was hugely disappointed because Europe , and particularly Parliament , clearly did not play the role that it deserved to in the negotiations .
I hope that we shall receive an appropriate proposal before this parliamentary term is over and that the proposals from the Austrian and German Governments will be endorsed .
Member of the Commission . - ( CS ) Progress is difficult but not impossible .
I hope you will help us to take it .
the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund should also be adapted in this light ; likewise the European Social Fund - why not ? - which currently speaks of creating new jobs but should also seek to avoid redundancies .
so far , progress has been slow with regard to some aspects of the area of freedom , security and justice , whereas the right to move and to reside freely within the EU is now granted to more than 500 million citizens !
I also hope that we have made a little progress towards more transparency .
we also recognise the essential role of reform in the ACP regions in reaching the development objectives , as set out in paragraph 14 of the report .
for us to be able to achieve our objective , which is that the free movement of people and labour is genuinely free , pension systems must be adequately harmonised .
in writing . - ( FI ) The EU summit discussed how the US economy 's very own China Syndrome , that is to say the meltdown of the core of the financial economy on Wall Street , also poisoned the European markets with its radioactivity .
the Commission has called daily meetings of the Communicable Disease Network of Member States and of the EU Health Security Committee since Saturday 25 April .
we therefore need to screen the organs concerned before they are used .
and , further to what Mr Schulz said about the dangers of a negative coming from Europe , it behoves me , as a representative from Ireland , speaking at this round of the debate on the future of Lisbon , to point out a number of home truths .
this report is a step in the right direction , because the external border is insufficiently protected at the moment .
this was the paradox that I wanted to share with you .
they are capable of harnessing not only the growing number of policy tools which they have at their disposal , but also the enthusiasm of all the partners which Europe needs : business , academia and civil society .
this will be an additional measure of punishment , but will also act as a prevention measure .
common measures are therefore needed to prevent and to combat such abuse .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , firstly I would like to thank Parliament for the very clear message it has given here tonight .
these are the years when children learn and become familiar with the tools that as adults they will use to elaborate cognitive mechanisms that are different , but necessary for their future education and work .
even if our respective approaches to economic and regulatory issues remain different , consumer safety and data protection illustrate this .
third example : social services of general interest .
so I will get on with it .
as I said , we are not against a simplification of the accounting rules for small businesses , particularly because directives and measures have accumulated to such a degree that they need to be reorganised in order to clarify the situation .
it bases itself on universally recognised infringements of international rights and principles , which are well-known to all and have been applicable at least since the Nuremberg trials .
this includes extending the use of lump sums or flat-rate payments wherever this is appropriate .
that has not only inflicted a great deal of damage on the climate and security of energy supply , but has also gambled away the opportunity for thousands of new jobs .
ladies and gentlemen , during a discussion in the Bureau of Parliament the other day , the general view was that Members who had already spoken in a debate should not be given the floor again .
( FI ) Mr President , it is extremely important that , at this stage , Europe shows moral leadership , and Member States must honour all their commitments as well as the Millennium Development Goals .
the new label must , however , focus on symbolism and educational value , rather than on the beauty of a site , and must insist on close cooperation among the labelled sites so as to share best practices and initiate common research and development projects .
next , the need for improved mobility between partner countries and the European Union since there is no better way to promote European values than through sharing experience person to person .
it has become STX of Korea .
like so many topics in this Parliament , this topic , too , can be approached from the perspective of the internal market , the producer or the economy .
we need to address the question of alcohol , alcopops , the use of special offers and other marketing devices designed to increase the sales of alcoholic drinks among young people in particular , looking at the availability of public transport at night , the encouragement of designator-driver programmes , and it would also be good to have labelling on alcoholic drinks specifically designed and directed towards women who are pregnant .
we disagree with the draft resolution , because it lays the foundations for us to build a modern European Panopticon in which , like the prison designed by Jeremy Bentham , everyone 's actions are constantly monitored without the detainees ' knowing the extent of their supervision , thereby giving them a false sense of privacy .
while the Indian aviation sector has long been characterised by a restrictive approach with limited access and strong state control , India has in recent years taken decisive steps towards a more open and competitive aviation market .
the Member States should include this topic , especially finance , in textbooks of primary and secondary schools .
I must say that I cannot agree with the inference that this initiative promotes health tourism or enables health insurance companies to reduce costs .
do you really mean to appeal to the representatives of Tibet for that dialogue ?
there is the issue of discards and the impact of an Appendix I categorisation on this matter for fishermen .
( PT ) Mr President , I want to talk about Mrs Estrela 's report on improvements in the safety and health at work of pregnant workers .
the first formal summit with President Obama took place after our informal meeting in Prague this spring .
we equally have no legitimacy in the face of the rejection of the Constitution in France and in Holland for passing the same measure .
the interests of giants such as the US company Ford , the current owner of Volvo Cars , which cleared a profit of almost USD 1 billion in the third quarter of 2009 , or Aviva , Axa and BlackRock , the main shareholders of Heijmans NV , today supplant the general interest of European citizens .
European monetary union is a reality ; the euro has been in existence for 10 years today .
that was the Commission 's original intention , and a large majority of the European Parliament endorsed that intention .
this is hardly surprising .
I would also like to thank the Munich security conference , which cancelled Mr Lukashenko 's invitation .
in her conclusion , she specifically referred to the timing of our motion .
can we ask Mr Füle to carry out an investigation into honour killings in Turkey ?
after carefully studying the motion for a resolution on the Lisbon Strategy , I decided in the end to abstain and thus not to vote either in favour or against the motion .
third : we shall maintain top-level support for the Partnership for Modernisation as an important vehicle for Russian commitments to reforms .
food inspectors often have to battle with deficient labelling - and it is not only the inspectors ; consumers have the same problem .
in order to achieve this , our neighbours , too , must implement reforms .
I propose a motion to recognise the expediency of the state aid given to the Polish shipyards .
I appreciated Joe Biden referring to the line by the Irish poet William Butler Yeats : ' a terrible beauty is born ' .
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at the moment , the lack of common corporate tax rules and the divergence of national tax systems often lead to over-taxation and double taxation .
it goes without saying that non-respect of the rules of the code of conduct must be followed by sanctions .
I wish you some idealism in your work .
the European Union , its Member States and its institutions had already condemned Moussa Dadis Camara 's coup d 'état on 28 December 2008 .
on the one hand , we will not be able - and I very much address this point to Mr Turmes - to build up pressure together on the Member States and on the Commission if we continue to hold an ideological debate where the subject is always nuclear energy .
at present the tendency to make bilateral agreements , as illustrated by Germany , Italy , Austria , Bulgaria , Hungary and Greece , is thwarting the chances of this happening .
cohesion means creating equal opportunities and a sense of fellowship and must not be subsumed into other policies . the latter , competitiveness and combating global warming for example , ought to have their own budget lines .
I would therefore implore you to vote against paragraphs 3 and 9 .
I would like to focus on a couple of points .
therefore , I wanted to ask you whether the German constitutional court is just as undemocratic and worthy of criticism as the Hungarian constitutional court ?
I voted for this report because it underlines that when employing citizens of EU Member States , greater geographical coverage would be ensured along with proper and meaningful representation for the citizens of all Member States .
if we want to see the targets increased for waste electrical goods , we have to have more of that kind of collection .
negotiations are progressing on an enhanced agreement , which , as you are aware , is intended to bring Ukraine as close as possible to the European Union .
while the interim agreement includes specific provisions on the rules of origin for fishery products , it was important to manage this derogation .
we must act now to find common solutions to these challenges .
in writing . - ( FR ) Advertising is present everywhere , in the streets , the newspapers , on the television , the radio , the Internet , and whether we like it or not it has a huge influence on consumer behaviour .
that is not coffee money - EUR 1 350 billion on a yearly basis .
thirdly , today , for the fourth time , we are observing the EU Day Against Human Trafficking .
without the G20 , the situation would be desperate , and the sickness in the world economy could become chronic .
it is envisaged that every household within the EU should have a broadband Internet connection at a competitive price by 2013 .
( applause )
I therefore voted for it .
in writing . - ( PT ) Balancing the right to work and rest with the need for competitiveness and even economic viability forces us to choose what we value more .
they do not have any actual responsibility anywhere in Europe .
we must make a commitment to universities and to research and development , because that is very clear now .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - Madam President , it is quite desirable to review the trading arrangements that we have with other countries and it is quite understandable that Japan sees the FTA as particularly attractive in relation to the recent Korea FTA .
for a month now , workers at the Atlas plants in Ganderkesee , Delmenhorst and Vechta have been striking day and night for precisely these rights .
you also rightly highlight the wish of all sides to find an early and mutually acceptable solution to the issue of the name .
but the actual reason for the failure is precisely that the Brussels bureaucracy is simply not able to assist us efficiently in most of fields of our lives .
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it is on this condition that we will project the image of a Europe that is capable of responding to the needs of its citizens , including the most vulnerable ones .
I wonder how we can tackle such a sensitive issue in the absence of such a study .
recognising the existence of the State of Israel , renouncing violence and the entry of Hamas into PLO agreements remain the key objectives , as does the requirement of achieving a permanent ceasefire as soon as possible .
the European Council 's decisions - if you ignore all the rhetoric and demagogy that always accompanies them - lay bare the real objectives and policies of the EU .
we should let the subject rest .
I support the formal request to the Commission to put forward legislative proposals to improve the EU financial services regulatory framework , not only because of the financial crisis but because we will be unable to build a European internal market if we do not have a European regulatory policy .
we use large amounts of water every day .
I believe that the agreement marks a significant advance towards establishing full visa reciprocity for all EU citizens in relation to third countries .
these stress tests should also be carried out in all our neighbouring countries and beyond , under the responsibility of the IAEA .
the anti-grassroots attack by the EU against the most fundamental rights of workers shows that the EU cannot change .
( DE ) Commissioner , the Council has reduced research funding for 2008 .
it was for this reason , for example , that the transitional periods for the free movement of workers were introduced at the insistence of the countries with well-developed social security safety nets .
on the one hand , enhance coordination between the authorities and stakeholders , finally addressing the reform of Eurocontrol , which is not , of course , a body reporting directly to the European institutions , but which was , in any case , crucial in the management and lack of effective management of this crisis .
all of our institutions have a responsibility concerning the monitoring of EU law .
the call for the revision of Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code is being considered by the Turkish side .
I fully support the movement towards a water-efficient and water-saving economy and of course the full implementation of the Water Framework Directive , which I was very involved in a few years ago when my former Austrian colleague Marilies Flemming was the rapporteur .
the debate on religious freedoms and the situation of Christians , which has been going on in Parliament for several months now , is also significant in formal terms , since the Treaty of Lisbon strengthened the position of churches in European debate , and they now have the right to be official partners in dialogue with the European Commission .
so far it is only talks that have resumed , and it is good that today 's debate has caused the Commission to take proper note of what we think .
I will echo comments about the beekeeping sector , but I would remind colleagues that the wild bumble bee population across Europe is also in a similar - and very grave - situation .
so , Commissioner Reding , if she meets with your approval , will be Commissioner for justice , fundamental rights and citizenship .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Madam President , I would like to congratulate the rapporteur on her report .
we are aware of the importance of continually improving patient safety and related improvements in healthcare quality in relation to cross-border healthcare .
as members of the European Union we have enough oranges and meat , and yet , the Union is succumbing to the same temptation : to achieve results through campaigning instead of patient and steady work .
once all signatures have been verified , the Commission will decide within three months whether a new law can be proposed , and it will have to make its reasons public .
( ES ) Dear Prime Minister Zapatero , welcome , good luck and thank you for your speech .
we fail in one obvious area : Members of Parliament enter the building where there is no proper controlled entrance .
as these problems emerge , we need to include safeguards and clauses that allow ACP countries to tackle any import surges , food-price pressures and fiscal crises : rendezvous clauses for specific issues , regular review clauses and , as in the Caribbean EPA , a role for parliamentary oversight and monitoring .
the resolution calling for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty under the 65th United Nations General Assembly this autumn should reflect progress towards universal abolition .
it is , therefore , necessary to create a European network of transport system administrators , where cooperation will be based on securing an efficient , representative and transparent European natural gas market .
the rapporteur 's proposal mentions the fact that the UN is looking for ' the establishment of new bodies , the radical overhaul of others , the reshaping of the management of its ground operations , the reorganisation of its assistance delivery and an in-depth reform of its Secretariat ' .
now we have to resolve the political questions .
in some cases , intra-regional disparities play an even greater role than differences between regions .
thirdly , if we were to introduce a financial transaction tax in Europe , what would the consequences be ?
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to achieve this , the Community method needs to be reinforced and the European Semester adopted into the legislative governance package .
we also need these things - and that must be made equally clear - in order to uphold the rights of European citizens .
the European Commission , in cooperation with the Confederation of Organisations in Road Transport Enforcement ( CORTE ) , Tispol and Euro Contrôle Route , must work on producing an article by article interpretation of the application of the legislation .
what is this guide on which to base our regional cohesion policies ?
the two reports , as both rapporteurs mentioned , are complementary and should be considered together .
yes , I am in favour of equal partnerships !
- Before the vote :
rather than try to create a good impression with your fine words and keep an eye on the Euro elections , which are looking awkward since the Irish ' no ' vote , you would do better to propose specific measures and allocate revenues from the Community budget .
( DE ) Mr President , I completely disagree with Mr Matsakis , as the Commission proposal does not , in fact , provide legal certainty for patients who get treatment outside their home countries .
that is why I support the amendment which my colleague , Mr Fajmon , has tabled and which states that this proposal should not apply in any way to Member States whose quotas have already been cut by more than 20 % unless they themselves then decide otherwise .
I voted in favour of the resolution on the priorities of the 16th Session of the UN Human Rights Council .
what is required , therefore , is the opening up of a competitive market , ensuring long-term investment and contracts from firms in the sector , particularly in the new Member States , where the creation of new infrastructure would also make it possible to resolve long-standing problems relating to energy dependence .
we need to be doing more if we want to prevent hunger and control population growth , and the way of doing that is to ensure that women everywhere have control over their reproductivity .
the Commission has actively supported the Member States and closely cooperated with the ILO with a view to adopting ambitious legal standards which meet the challenges of a globalised economy and contribute to the implementation of the ILO 's Decent Work Agenda .
we need to act quickly on this .
I definitely agree with our colleague Mr Cashman 's opinion that following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon and the change in the legal situation , now is the most appropriate time to renew discussions on the 2001 regulation on allowing public access to documents , and the fundamental improvement and amendment of that regulation .
the European Commission has indicated on several occasions that it wants us to play an absolutely fundamental part in the follow-up to this procedure .
how can we reliably agree to transparent targets on fossil fuel energy reduction on the international stage and the increased use of renewables without such baseline data ?
the question is , of course , how this urgent situation arose .
we therefore run the risk of setting dangerous precedents or , worse still , of making political use of trade preferences that should perhaps follow criteria that are rather more objective , and rather less discretionary and contextual than in this case .
I would also call on you to take seriously the task that the Council and Parliament have been set and to act quickly in the negotiations over the next few years .
neither is NATO the proper answer to the bigger problems facing Finland in the near future , which are mainly economic in nature .
in short , there is no need to ask Brussels for them .
on this we agree with the rapporteur .
Mr President , Baroness Ashton , Commissioners , ladies and gentlemen , Parliament approves the establishment of a new section of the budget for the European External Action Service ( EEAS ) and the provision of additional funds for staff .
in truth , it is more relevant to the rights and interests of businesses than to those of the consumer .
no amendments .
we know that the Irish people are disillusioned not with their own government , but with the institutions of the European Union .
on the third internal market package , I would just say what it does for Europe .
the only real consequence of this proposal will be to tie up the agriculture industry in yet more red tape and burden it with yet more expense .
the bottom line , however , is that the state , including the EU , should not intervene in the economy .
I think many of the measures proposed in the resolution on Haiti which we adopted in February are a step in the right direction and can be the basis for rebuilding a country struck by disaster .
this affects women as well as men .
that is the cross-border fraudster 's charter .
explanations of vote
finally , Mr President , I would like to comment on the content of the partnership .
it is for this reason that I would like to add that the coming ratification of the European Constitution , despite its rejection in two referendums , is undemocratic , cowardly and illegitimate .
European Union aid should also be channelled towards the provision of medical , legal and social assistance to all victims of sexual crimes .
such a process should seek to establish an effective and lasting constitutional system of checks and balances in accordance with European standards .
as Europe changes , the position of individual states and groups changes in respect of this policy .
I am just very mindful of my own constituents in the West Midlands , and indeed their contribution to the GBP 48 million that the United Kingdom pays to the European Union every single day .
3 .
economic , social and political interdependence should encourage the authorities in both countries to engage in constant dialogue and cooperation .
I think there is a distinction between those chapters which are frozen unilaterally and those which are frozen based on the recommendation of the Commission , because of the non-commitment of Turkey towards customs union , and then agreed by the Member States by consensus .
in addition , the pension systems in the various individual Member States vary considerably , in terms of size , reliability and supervision .
firstly , in the food sector , we are encouraging local purchasing of food .
the vote will take place on Tuesday , 24 March 2009 .
the result is not overwhelming , as other groups insisted on pointing to high environmental and animal welfare standards as the reason for lower competitiveness in the EU livestock sector .
that is why , as I see it , integration means participation .
I voted for this document because I think that the Fernandes report on the budget priorities for 2012 appropriately identifies the directions to follow next year .
does it sanction their human dignity , their rights ?
we have to realise that what is being discussed at the moment is not the problem of Frontex or how to stop the boats , but the fact that we are dealing with peoples whom we have urged to fight for democracy and , now that they are doing so , we must be in a position to receive them .
the education of migrants ' children is a step in this direction .
I submitted one such report to you criticising the Commission for not dealing with an infringement complaint concerning the European Working Time Directive .
it is well-known among professionals that cyanide is one of the most toxic of all chemical substances .
in this way we will also prevent wrong interpretations as well as delays in the transposition and implementation of legislation .
furthermore , I would like to underline , like my colleagues did , that the principles of proportionalities and necessity are key to the envisaged agreement .
this experience has been long and painful , purchased with the lives of millions of innocent people .
the authorities seem to think this is creating a class of educated , skilled citizens , but this inflexibility - a one-size-fits-all approach - is destroying the potential of countless young people .
energy these days , though , is also about security of supply - in other words , politics .
I think that our debate has not yet ended , however , and that it is vital to keep seeking other solutions because the current situation is not satisfactory .
I therefore propose that we make a start on these .
obviously we must also follow that line here , particularly as we are dealing with substances that come into contact or are liable to come into contact with things we eat .
as the rapporteur responsible for this question next year , I would like to focus on three main issues .
the results of this assessment should be considered when drawing up the new draft regulation .
however , everything that you have been calling for - energy security , more efficiency , intelligent networks , decentralised networks , the supergrid , the micro grid , the virtual power plants - needs ICT to be run .
the legal basis is unclear .
that will be noted in the Minutes .
the Commission 's programme makes no reference to the gender issue .
I believe the Commissioner has a major responsibility here .
while it is crucial for the European Union 's expenditure to be guided by the United Nations , these difficulties lead to the conclusion that the European Union must equip itself with an autonomous , integrated structure with the means to deal with tasks as complex as a humanitarian emergency .
however , we must be able to ask questions of a good partner .
there are , therefore , three factors : higher demand because of the rapid growth in other parts of the world , higher energy prices and higher transport prices .
I am wondering what we can do to be more efficient .
the misleading business practices in question typically entail luring businesses , as well as professionals and non-profit entities , into being listed in a business directory free of charge , but signatories later discover that they have signed up to a contract with a fee .
the directive 's approach at national level will result in the creation of radioactive landfills across the whole of the European Union .
Mr President , it is odd , is it not , that as the Schengen area comes apart in its core countries , there are plans to extend it to include Bulgaria and Romania .
we must avoid creating dual systems that would do more harm than good .
( the oral amendment was accepted )
( DE ) Mr President , I just wanted to say that the microphone at my desk , number 759 , is not working .
to restore this confidence , we need to set out a very clear medium-term strategy .
the Commission could also help in seeking support and collaboration and could undertake diplomatic efforts , given the respect afforded the Commission , especially in Mediterranean countries outside the EU , as well as outside the Mediterranean area and the European Union .
as several speakers have said , tomorrow 's vote is a very important one , and I believe that it will go well .
I agree totally with Sophia in ' t Veld .
all this is not simply a minor hurdle for blind capitalism , as we have heard it said in recent times , but rather a marvellous opportunity to bring about a much more effective as well as legitimate financial and supervisory regulation .
the United States of America has been a lot more active than the European Union in this matter .
the Commission will agree with me on that .
the new proposal is essentially a show of good intentions and reiterates a comparable policy which , according to the report , was supposed to have been applied more than five years ago .
Mr President , Mr Barroso , Mr Rehn , I should like to congratulate you in particular on the positive dialogue that Parliament has held with the Commission .
we have to solve all these problems in the knowledge that margins are tight and that the Council will be reluctant to provide extra funding .
here my country , as well as the Presidency , is fully committed to fighting the illicit trade in tobacco products .
so why , then , have we done it ?
President-in-Office of the Council . - Madam President , I would like to thank you all for this interesting debate .
irrespective of this outcome , the EU , as a supra-national entity , is governed by a collection of values based on peace , freedom and democracy , which it considers fundamental to the prosperity of the European continent .
in order to do more , the EU needs to have more , and this can be achieved by increasing its budget , rather than reducing the cohesion budget , even slightly .
I will just finish on this one note .
( HU ) Mr President , the question that is being asked here at the moment , and what we are actually talking about , is whether , while progressing along the path determined by the Treaty of Lisbon , there will be a superstate initiative or 27 countries will have close institutional cooperation .
this plant is currently mothballed and the workers are on standby .
in order to be active citizens , people must have a broader world view . and the opportunity to get out of a totalitarian country .
our comments and concerns are not directed towards a criticism of Hungary and Hungarian citizens , but we firmly believe that the defence of fundamental rights , civic freedoms , our shared European values , and peace , security and decent coexistence is a sufficient reason for us to hold this discussion today .
it is a very suitable place to take on this leadership .
this is particularly evident today with the financial crisis and the resulting restrictions in access to investment loans .
the authorities should investigate reports of infringements of rights and freedoms and take measures to remedy them .
not surprisingly , the few problems identified are analysed as being the fault of the Member States and of a lack of European integration .
Mr President , Gaza remains a human tragedy , and none of us in this House can blame its long-suffering Palestinian citizens from rushing through the Rafah border-crossing breech in the wall to buy goods in Egypt .
we consider this to be essential from a technical , legal and political point of view , because Parliament itself is a House of human rights and one in which human rights are of great importance .
renationalisation should not be the only option for giving this fund more weight and visibility .
my congratulations to the rapporteur .
this is not entirely theoretical as the case of the Danish cartoons illustrates .
I would like to ask how the Czech Republic , the presiding country , views the Nordstream project , which has both positive and negative aspects , and we know that there are certain doubts about its ecological impact .
most importantly , the label must feature words , marks or images that attribute realistic characteristics and functions to the product and not characteristics or functions that it does not possess .
today is a good time to draw the attention of world opinion to people just such as Liu Xiaobo .
but I doubt that we could go further than that .
we should therefore welcome vigorous public reactions in certain Muslim countries , such as Egypt for example , where the general public strongly condemned terrorist attacks against Christians and demanded action against those responsible .
we must nevertheless keep pursuing this approach .
just two remarks .
with regard to the issue being discussed , I believe that it is important to note that in relation to the ECM ( Entity in Charge ) , the owner or operator must be specified in every case so that we can reduce the risk of accidents .
the measures taken do everything except offer a way out into proper social policy and social standing , especially the measures which conflict with the interests of the young generations growing up on the island .
these facts leave no doubt as to the enormity of the losses suffered by the Roma , which places us , as Europeans , under an obligation to commemorate those who suffered the injustice of falling victim to genocide , and spread awareness of their fate .
subject : Swedish journalist Dawit Isaak imprisoned in Eritrea
Russia 's actions are in stark contrast to its statements that it is a reliable supplier of sources of energy .
the European Commission has certainly already accomplished a great deal within the scope of those eight objectives , but I would remind the Commissioner that we are in 2007 with objectives outlined for 2015 by a Summit which took place in 2002 .
one framework for achieving this could be the development of cross-border cooperation based on intra-regional connections .
how has the general feeling towards the EU changed ?
recent revelations about the existence of a database on the Roma and travellers in France have demonstrated how important it is that the Commission should continue its investigations in order to obtain additional information about the existence of these databases but also to establish whether the databases are legal and compatible with the principle of non-discrimination .
Monetary union is based on a design fault .
this will be the result of what is said to have been proposed concerning making Internet providers liable for the content of information sent , as well as penal sanctions for downloading files for private use .
however , as the last few weeks have shown , it may be , above all , a test of our system of governance , of our ability not only to present sound arguments but also to recognise that the strength of our Union and of the Treaty of Lisbon lies in finding the best solutions to achieve our shared objectives .
it would send reassuring messages to the markets and , most importantly , to our citizens who expect us to safeguard the euro and the European economy with it .
hence the formulation of the decision is absolutely vital .
when it comes to the programmes meeting their targets , I must remind you of the fifth cohesion report and the budget review , in which it was made clear that the performance of the programmes must be given more attention .
in this context , which is far less conducive to joint efforts , I think that it is more important than ever that both the Council and the Commission continuously underline that the Member States must act together on this , which unfortunately has not been the case up to now .
these include projects and measures such as sending European students to universities in Africa , Asia or Latin America - a completely new element .
we know that Kosovo has nothing in terms of social and economic infrastructure to be able to look after these people .
the European Union , which considers solidarity an asset , must help .
the European Union and Russia have the potential to have a strong relationship and we are now facing the challenge of negotiating the new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement , which will enable us to make faster progress on the so-called ' four common spaces ' .
we have all worked together to ensure that the motion is balanced and forward-looking .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I thank the honourable Members for their comments with respect to the EU-GCC FTA negotiations .
this debate also shows that the three institutions , Parliament , the Council and the Commission , share the same fundamental and immediate objectives , i.e. the rapid and complete restoration of the rule of law and democratic freedoms in Pakistan and the holding of free and democratic elections .
there is an enormous potential for greater efficiency in this House , and it would be easy to also increase performance with a smaller staff and less funding .
they try to run when one talks about carbon sequestration , particularly afforestation and avoided deforestation .
the report finds that US approvals will be unaffected by EU policy and that Brazil and Argentina will , in fact , be much more cautious about approving new GM crops that could otherwise damage their exports to the EU .
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Ukraine had not been officially named as chair of the OSCE for 2013 at that time .
we also need to safeguard the consumers ' right to order 100 % of renewables from their suppliers and therefore to have secure energy supplies for decades to come .
a last point which was not raised very much today is the speed of commitment and disbursement of funds .
I welcome the fact that the report is based on the pillars that I value .
we saw this more clearly than ever during the Euro crisis .
there is an exhibition outside Parliament which makes it clear that , although we may question some of what is said or some of the figures , we have a serious environmental problem on our hands . this is indisputable .
this not only threatens an enormous tax increase , but is also a factor that threatens to force businesses to move abroad to countries where the environmental restrictions are less stringent .
then anonymisation services are created on the web , just as now in the banking sector .
we have a Neighbourhood Policy , and in the Mediterranean , in particular , there are , of course , also drillings by countries that are not members of the European Union .
the most important task policy-makers and politicians have is to strike a healthy balance between sustainability and agricultural economics .
the European Central Bank will gain a new task in the coming years .
finally , we need that 30 % cut because most of the extra commitment can easily be realised by increased energy efficiency .
forced collectivisation of agriculture and fighting against private ownership in the countryside , destruction of the middle classes and private enterprise under a totalitarian dictatorship , violence by the state against farmers , meant defeat , starvation and death in horrifying circumstances for millions of people .
a declaration of self-determination does not lead to independence if the state in question is not recognised by those from which it wants to self-determine .
they will , of course , also be central instruments for the thematic monitoring of the Europe 2020 Strategy .
in writing . - ( FR ) Strengthening the competitiveness of the European defence industry , which is supposedly damaged by European markets that are too narrow and too closed in on themselves , has served as a pretext for this Directive on the opening up to competition of public contracts in this sector .
since the inmates of Guantánamo were captured by the United States , it is America 's responsibility to prosecute them in its own courts , or return them to their countries of origin if innocent .
( CS ) Through our written statement , we were striving for transparency in negotiating ACTA , and an assurance about protection of personal data and the EU acquis .
the proposal will also remove the current obligation on Member States to transmit lists of fishing licenses or fishing permits to the Commission , which will instead be made accessible by electronic means to the national control services , to those of other Member States , and to the Commission .
ladies and gentlemen , may I ask you to stand , or remain standing , for the European anthem in honour of Salih Osman .
there is absolutely no question about that .
we sympathise deeply with the population of places like Sderot and Ashkelon who live in daily fear of new mortar attacks .
it is true that the Commission proposals were not really clear on how the system should work in practice .
there is the question of disaffection amongst the young who cannot find work , for whom it becomes more difficult , and of course the problems that many people will face when their private or occupational pension schemes are not able to pay out in the way that they thought they would .
now , with regard to trafficking in organs , Commissioner , everyone knows that organ trafficking takes place .
but we know that is not enough .
Mrs Morvai , that was not the spirit of your question .
although several years have passed since the Strategy was announced , we can see that it is not being put into effect . in other words we produce documents which we do not then implement .
given the current situation , where biological diversity has declined by 30 % over the last 40 years , and future projections that the rate of biodiversity loss will accelerate ten-fold , it is necessary to take decisive action now to preserve biodiversity and promote the sustainable use of biodiversity .
small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) need to be supported first of all .
they are the most important of all .
in our forecasts in May the growth rates for 2008 were already affected by a maturing of the economic cycle and by the impact of the decisions adopted on monetary policy by the central banks .
circumstances are different but the result is the same : an innocent person dead .
what I would welcome and what I would like to ask of Madam President is to accord more attention and empathy to independent Members , who unfortunately only have this much opportunity to speak .
you cannot expect people from Oxfam and Save the Children and other such organisations to be driving tractors and lifting heavy rubble .
in writing . - ( PL ) This document is yet another attempt by the majority to take over control at the cost of the minority .
as rapporteur for the Committee on Foreign Affairs in respect of the Financial Regulation , my starting point was the Madrid agreement , but also the fact that greater detail was needed in some areas .
Mr President , I fully accept that it is necessary , in a European Union of 27 Member States , to update the working rules and arrangements which operated in a Union of 15 and less .
the community acquis does not contain rules for such cases and does not provide a specific mechanism , so it is very difficult for the EU to intervene .
in writing . - I am generally in favour of what is proposed for the 2009 calendar of part-sessions .
first , I think that the Council summit meeting brought very important and positive results , given the difficulty of the situation and the context .
unfortunately , there is still some confusion about the energy-efficiency of LED bulbs , as they turn out to be somewhat less advantageous than manufacturers made it seem .
the issue of security is a field which currently requires immediate action on our part .
I would specifically like to ask if intensive cooperation is planned in the energy sector , which is of vital importance for southern Europe .
there are also dramatic cases in which children are taken from their mothers due to disputes between the parents .
it is lamentable that the European Parliament has not commented on this tragedy and has not asked the European Commission to express its active solidarity to the President of Brazil and its availability to provide any aid necessary .
as a compromise , a non-binding recommendation was adopted .
humans are the only host of the tuberculosis microbacterium and its eradication would be perfectly possible .
that strategy specifically devotes attention to a partnership for the development of the African agricultural sector .
it is crucial that all services are not just market-oriented .
we must therefore welcome all attempts to simplify the achievement of this objective .
the third challenge , in the years to come , will be the introduction of information campaigns to ensure that our citizens are one hundred per cent aware of their rights .
I have had personal experience of this .
finally , you say , Commissioner , that this case cannot be compared to SWIFT because it concerns a very specific investigation , which is true .
I agree with the amendments proposed in the compromise position as they emphasise the need to simplify and reconcile administrative procedures , allow the possibility of submitting a single application for one or more identical changes and highlight the need to apply the subsidiarity principle .
the next item is the joint debate on
it is important to me that my vote for an EU strategy for Central Asia is also a vote to improve living conditions for the people of Central Asia with regard to social , health and legal aspects .
the debate is closed .
the latest outbreak of violence in the Middle East might not only set back prospects of a peaceful settlement in the conflict between Israel and Palestine .
the government has still not authorised an independent investigation into the killings in Andijan .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( PL ) Madam President , I would like to comment on two reports in particular : the report on territorial cohesion and that on the exchange of good practice .
as a result of the opening of borders , all forecasts predict a drastic rise in the number of such claims , both in Poland and in other countries .
we must maintain our focus on this priority .
it must therefore fall into line with the other institutions as quickly as possible and explain to Parliament - and therefore citizens - how its budget is actually managed .
I have tried , as Mrs Grossêtete has said , to bring together various opinions .
Black Sea Synergy does indeed bear your personal stamp , but you are also aware that the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation ( BSEC ) is now a mature institutional structure for regional organisation ; its cooperation is indeed intensifying and broadening . this is especially so because Europe and Asia meet here , and they do so at many levels .
the case of Ai Weiwei in China (
they are the canning factories belonging to these countries , which have set up in Papua New Guinea but which employ foreign nationals in dubious conditions .
the moral crisis in that country , a tendency to trivialise death , dehumanisation , relativism and vanishing values are to blame for the fact that this problem is not taken seriously .
I think that it is vital for us to focus attention on the specific potential of green energy at regional and local level .
we have to look at some of the structural barriers that we as a society are also putting in place in terms of active inclusion .
we witness racial discrimination on a daily basis , both at local level and in programmes which are not geared towards integration .
we do not need any more over-emphasis on this particular position .
given the social impact of the global economic crisis , which has had a particular effect on employment , proper utilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) is of pivotal importance in alleviating the plight of many European individuals and families , contributing to their social reintegration and professional development , while , at the same time , supplying new qualified resources to meet the needs of companies and boost the economy .
I welcome , therefore , EU countries working together to define and inflict heavy criminal penalties on those who incite terrorism .
( EL ) Mr President , I should like to refer to Rule 173 on compliance with the Rules of Procedure , in order to point out that Rule 116 is being infringed , because this is the third consecutive plenary part-session of the European Parliament which has not included Question Time with the Council in the order of business , as provided for in Rule 116 .
we welcomed the coming of democracy when the revolts and uprisings began .
although the Court approved this management , it still has some shortcomings that need to be addressed .
that is why we will allow partner countries in the developing world to exclude more sensitive products from the trade agreements : something that we would not allow other countries to do .
we are well aware that this report is not a definitive report .
dividing up 8 % of the world 's population between 30 sovereign budgetary policies is madness .
unfortunately , pragmatism of this kind is turning into a consistent plan to combat European values .
I therefore call on you to support this text in its entirety without further change .
in parallel with the work in the working group , we also began informal talks with rapporteurs in the European Parliament .
meat which includes thrombin among its ingredients could be sold only with a label stating ' combined meat parts ' , while all the ingredients could be specified on a label , in compliance with legal provisions .
for point three of my first speech , I should like to stress , ladies and gentlemen , that the Commission has not ruled out alternatives to infringement procedures .
so , on the issues in this report , three taxation measures are proposed .
it will not therefore be possible to use the fund to buy firearms .
revision of the framework directive on waste (
actually , as far as I am concerned , this is an obvious matter , because I was part of the European Union delegation to Ukraine .
provision has been made to exempt mercury compounds used in research and development and for medical or analytical purposes .
unless the sole aim is to have a business-driven Europe , nothing justifies centralising everything in one place , which is inevitably far from the peoples of Europe .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , on behalf of my group I , too , would like to congratulate the citizens of the nine new Member States on the present that the Portuguese Presidency will be giving them on 21 and 22 December .
this is not only an environmental issue and it is not just an economic issue , but also an issue of international social justice .
additionally , Mr President , please remember that there is no safe nuclear power ; perhaps there will be in 30 , 40 , 50 or 60 years - I do not know - but right now it does not exist .
it is as such , and only as such , that we must react against criminal acts and support the prevention against possible future attacks .
the future Commission must , of course , develop its own programme , but it is not for me , now , to tell you what will be in the next Commission 's manifesto .
it is a fact that urban areas have an important influence on the acceleration of regional development .
I look forward to hearing your answer , Mr De Gucht .
small farmers make a significant contribution to food security in the regions where they operate .
that is why I am telling you we will try to act quickly on a situation which , at the moment , actually lies in the hands of a Constitutional Court in Prague , Czech Republic .
the proper functioning of the internal market requires safe products and confident consumers .
I can understand that there are budgetary concerns , rightly so , about the rules .
once again , in an attitude that is anti-democratic and shows a complete disregard for the voting of the citizens , we see the return of pressure and blackmail to attempt to force Ireland to hold a new referendum or - even worse - to change its own national constitution to avoid referenda and the popular vote .
I regret , however , that the PPE-DE Group has tabled an alternative resolution .
we have spent a lot of time crafting a new proposal to actually allow regulators to intervene if they see net neutrality being trespassed upon .
there are many tasks , including the task of conveying just how important the European Union is and what an important job the European Parliament does .
the decision about whether or not an animal should be stunned before slaughter is not something that should be decided here but at Member State level , through open dialogue and consultation with religious communities .
this also includes regulations on liability .
a number of EU high-level visits to Belarus this year helped strengthen political exchanges .
EUPOL is one of the most important assets we have as regards credibility and work in the field of security with the Palestinians and in the occupied territories , and it will continue to be an important asset of the European Union , winning recognition from all : from the Palestinians , the Israelis and the surrounding countries .
democracy has provided freedom of thought , expression and movement .
- ( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , this is a point of order .
for these reasons , the approach that I took , supported by our shadows , in formulating Parliament 's position , was to strongly support the aim of improving the completeness , relevance and comparability of the statistics on offer in this field , bringing the statistics more up to date with new trends in the tourism sector to reflect , for instance , the increase in Internet bookings and in short-stay trips .
the vote will take place on Thursday , 13 December 2007 .
business gets noticed , but culture is seen as something incidental , a sort of add-on .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - Mr President , I welcome the fact that this debate is encompassing all energy prices , and not just that of oil - which of course is a major concern .
the recent financial crisis has highlighted that there are three key problems in the industry : lack of competition , over-reliance on external ratings in the regulatory framework and no liability for ratings by CRAs .
let me also inform you that the Commission will soon launch an independent study on the contribution of culture to local and regional development , hopefully to be finalised by the beginning of next year .
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as a member of the JPA Committee on Social Affairs and the Environment , I think it is essential that a comprehensive analysis be made and a wide-ranging debate entered into next year on the environmental and social situation in the ACP states .
such programmes do exist in the Member States - at the Centre for East European Studies in the University of Warsaw in Poland , for example .
the EU 's credibility can be restored by improving the quality of statistics , excluding in the future any manipulation and falsifying of fiscal data .
this is the latest lobbyist scandal I hope you will redress .
the report by Mr Papastamkos states that international trade policy must not jeopardise the EU 's ability to ensure food security against a background of market volatility , or to ensure the preservation of a strong European agricultural sector .
the coordination between the Commission and the three Member States has been reinforced both in developing the Synergy and in working with the Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation ( BSEC ) .
the contracts went inevitably to the same people all the time who , of course , time and time again , went over time and over budget but were never penalised .
they are an important factor in education and publicity campaigns and this role should be supported in the future .
but within that we can certainly do a lot .
while it is impossible to list them all , they include the recent legislation on ambient air quality - which owes much to your vigorous efforts , Commissioner - the pesticides package , which is about to be completed , and of course the REACH initiative , which places controls on more than 10 000 chemical substances and proposes to replace those that are causing the most problems .
the Commission 's initiative on this is particularly to be welcomed , therefore , as the organisation of such initiatives of course reinforces the international possibilities .
in Switzerland the road toll on lorry transport has led to the effective transfer of consignments to the railways and reduced the number of trucks travelling empty .
her murderers have still not been brought to justice .
a few days ago , Europol published a report on organised crime in the EU .
nevertheless , Mrs Reding , we need to clarify the fundamental principles for protecting the rights of national minorities in Europe .
Europe 's current market share of 25 % is below expectations .
( BG ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , we are living in a fast-moving , stressful time of changes and new challenges and , over the last few months , in a global economic crisis .
now for my question to Mr Barroso . after 19 November , is it clear which areas of foreign policy will remain as part of the Commission 's competences and which will be transferred to the External Action Service , such as enlargement , trade or aid to developing countries ?
slowly the realisation of Sweden 's closeness to and dependence on Europe grew .
I wish to point out in particular that the instrument of microcredit has actually very much proved its worth worldwide and that , particularly within the framework of the WTO round , which is hopefully approaching the final stages , we should consider how to bring about the relevant trade facilitation for the affected families in these areas .
the report indicates the advisability of replacing the current agreement with a new and broader one . such an agreement should cover all aspects of our cooperation and should be legally binding .
yesterday I met with the Croatian Prime Minister , and I was accompanied by two representatives of key institutions of ours ; Mr Swoboda , the rapporteur , and Mr Hökmark , the head of our permanent delegation to Croatia .
I would also like to respond briefly by saying that the party represented by Krisztina Morvai set up a paramilitary unit in 2006 and , since then , is using it to intimidate the peaceful public majority .
it might seem that if a state does belong to the European Union it should observe all European standards .
Europe must do more and not less to overcome economic and social differences in development .
a monument commemorating the soldiers of the murderous Waffen SS Galizien Division was unveiled there .
in writing . - Labour MEPs welcome this annual review of the European Security Strategy and Common Security and Defence Policy , especially in the light of the changes brought about by the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty , and , in this regard , especially welcome the role of High Representative , Baroness Cathy Ashton , in the associated debate in Parliament .
as a result , dealing with the consequences of the economic crisis is one of the major challenges facing the EU .
the three countries are therefore committed to helping to develop this European Union Strategy for the Danube region and , in this respect , in June last year , the Council urged the Commission to present it before the end of this year .
it is true that teacher education very largely falls within the competence of national governments , and so it should .
( PL ) Mr President , the fight against global warming has , without doubt , become one of the European Union 's most important objectives .
we have the technology patented .
indeed , this is the legislative core element , if one may describe it thus , of the Small Business Act .
( RO ) The European Union really has every good reason to be concerned by the situation created in Somalia where a power vacuum has virtually formed which has every chance of being filled by Somali Islamic militia .
that is the first project .
I therefore voted for this report .
the annual reduction must not be less than 10 % of the aid granted in the first year and based only on a very closely monitored closure plan .
I would like to make one other preliminary remark .
a signal which proves that the enlargement process is under way , that it still exists , and that it needs to be credible .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe would like to join with the declarations of sympathy for the victims of storm Xynthia , which has affected several areas of Europe .
in the last four months , Côte d 'Ivoire has plunged into a deep political crisis .
workers are fighting to secure a collective wage agreement that will enable good , secure jobs to be preserved .
it will naturally be the Commission , which has responsibility in this regard , that will negotiate the agreement .
the threshold of 75 % of GDP will naturally be renewed in 2014 .
I should like to highlight one point here .
it must be said , Mr Coelho , that , given the difficult negotiations at the Council regarding the enhanced role of the Commission , it is conceivable that they will not be concluded in the short term .
over the last three years , prices for oil in US dollars have more than tripled .
according to the European Central Bank 's analysis , the business handled by alternative investment fund administrators amounts to approximately EUR 700 billion in assets in the European Union , which plays a major role in the financing of the latter 's economy .
technological progress and rapid developments in financial markets have also ensured that regulatory devices which were state-of-the-art some years ago are clearly outdated today .
the Commission has a plan to bridge the digital divide and expand broadband to rural areas , and it urgently needs to solve the problems of Internet service providers and ensure there are adequate resources , and that areas are not lagging behind in terms of quality and high speed and low cost .
we regard it as an opportunity that we should seize in order to engage with the Turkmen authorities and to encourage them .
it seems that the same process has started in Ireland , as well .
I would emphasise that support mechanisms like State aid must not be used to protect national industries at the expense of the internal market and European consumers , and that these mechanisms should be used with the aim of re-establishing a sustainable knowledge economy .
Commissioner , I sent you a letter in this regard in January , together with four of my colleagues , and we have received your reply , but that reply has not dispelled our doubts fully .
related to that is the innovative amendment to say that we should have this blue card procedure to be able to interrupt each other .
the Slovenian Presidency is relying on your cooperation to make progress in this dossier .
rarely has a European Parliament report come so close to madness .
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the study concluded that the public is not well informed about the use and implications of cloning .
there is now even a law that protects the right of men to sexual gratification without any say from the women involved .
faced with the emergency , the European Union has significantly strengthened its humanitarian efforts .
this is not a social issue ; it is about protecting a country 's own market .
we will withdraw into a defensive position and we will score an own goal against the interests of our fellow citizens .
lessons drawn from national parliaments can only take us so far .
I know that some Polish governments have made many mistakes .
honourable Members , it is , in fact , ambition that underpins this Single Market Act , a highly competitive social market economy , and to achieve that , our conviction , and my conviction in particular , is that - I repeat - achieving competitiveness and growth requires the help of every citizen , every business and every community .
in the year of cultural diversity , I might add that , according to experts and science , there may be a direct relationship between migration and the rate of population growth , since the large number of children in second-generation immigrant families is falling , while the presence of immigrants may change the desire of the host population to have children .
concerning the reason for the denunciation and the renegotiation of the protocol , namely that it was under-utilised , again I would like to make the point made by Mrs Isler Béguin that such agreements are not only about fisheries but also about development assistance .
( PL ) Mr President , 69 000 people died as a result of the earthquake of 12 May 2008 , over 18 000 are missing and the number of wounded is over 37 000 .
without internal cohesion there can be no external competitiveness . closing the gap with underdeveloped areas would mean wider markets , effective demand and innovative potential for the entire Union while requiring less social care .
( applause )
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( FR ) Thank you , Mr President .
the recommendation for second reading by Mr Scholz , on behalf of the Committee on International Trade , on establishing a financing instrument for cooperation with industrialised and other high-income countries and territories ( amending Regulation ( EC ) No 1934 / 2006 ) .
it was unthinkable , both for the members of my political group and for our committee , that the old Member States should not be included in this extension to the scope of the regulation , because - as we all know - the housing problems faced by marginalised social groups , especially the Roma , are a serious issue , with social repercussions in all the Member States of the European Union .
however , it is not possible to go beyond the EC Treaty .
I also have a subsidiary question : will this approval be valid in all EU countries ?
( DE ) Mr President , the jasmine revolution which started in Tunisia is unfortunately not taking such a peaceful path in Yemen , Syria and Bahrain .
even if the expiry date is extended , it is in the interest of every country to sign interim agreements to absorb the negative economic impact following the expiry of the ' preferential agreements ' .
at European level , 19 million children and young people are subject to poverty and 6 million abandon high school every year .
( NL ) Mr President , Mr Van Rompuy , Mr Barroso , ladies and gentlemen , what with the banking crisis , the economic crisis and the crisis situations in public finances , we have really learned , and experienced more than ever , what crises are in the last two-and-a-half years .
what about the flaws of the originate-and-distribute model , which has enhanced systemic risk ?
this attitude is quite simply not tenable .
it is depressing if this is the reason why we have again ended up with a proposal that falls short of our wishes , by which I mean the wish for fewer deaths and injuries on the roads .
this is what appears to be useful and important to me , and I do not mind saying so .
the report is a strong criticism of the Swedish Conservative Government , which defied all criticism and introduced this FRA law in Sweden .
the report by my colleague Mr Swoboda quite unambiguously identifies all the issues that needed to be identified and , in my opinion , the report also clearly reflects Mr Swoboda 's political experience and professionalism .
the force consists of 3 700 soldiers from 14 Member States .
in writing . - I am pleased with the results which Parliament has secured through negotiations with the Council , and as a result I supported this Treaty change .
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for this reason , I submitted a written question on this subject in July .
in this connection , let me briefly point out that the EU House , the EU information centre , will open in the Turkmen capital of Ashgabat in spring , which will make our measures much more visible there .
at the same time , the EU has already highlighted that , for areas beyond national jurisdiction , the provisions on environmental protection under this Convention remain rather general , and we will continue to work within the United Nations towards the further development of some of the frameworks , adapting them to new conditions or Arctic specificities .
the application complies with the requirements for determining the financial contribution as laid down in Article 10 of Regulation ( EC ) No 1927 / 2006 .
( LT ) I can only repeat that as far back as 1974 documents were adopted obliging Member States to pay men and women equally for the same job .
why do we not have as much modern infrastructure throughout Europe as we should have ?
I also share President Barroso 's conviction that renewable energy is vital for Africa 's economic and social development , and support his call for a green energy revolution in Africa .
I would like to show all my appreciation to Mrs Polfer , who has done a good job of summarising and formulating concisely and resolutely these very complicated problems .
Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , our debate today marks a fork in the road between two crucial principles .
the goal of economic policy must be to create full employment and to ensure that everyone goes home with a salary instead of benefit .
the public has responded magnificently to the challenge of helping Haiti .
however , because it is a long time since we have adopted a resolution on Canada in this House , we should take the opportunity to look more seriously at the relationship between Europe and Canada than this resolution does .
on behalf of the European Parliament , I reiterate my call for respect for freedom of religion and for an end to the religiously motivated violence which is being witnessed in this part of the world .
( NL ) Madam President , we are talking about climate change , but we should be talking about the people who are hardest hit by it , namely those in the least developed countries .
for these reasons the ECR Group has decided to abstain on this resolution .
two weeks before the final negotiations , we will continue to maintain our leadership .
I think if you look at the figures you will see that we do have a very good case , and I would ask that this should be taken into account .
for that reason , Turkey should immediately allow the Halki Seminary , for example , to continue to function and , furthermore , restore the protection of church property .
Mr President , the last time we held a debate after a tragedy in the Mediterranean was on 1 April .
the third was that the Council failed to supply either an activity report or a complete list of budgetary transfers .
I think this is a core and fundamental part of the work that we should do .
it is in the interest of both Ireland and the European Union to ensure that our debt is sustainable .
they were released two weeks ago because of international pressure - and international pressure after 72 days on hunger strike : that is what brought people to heel in relation to the Malaki government .
I attach great importance to information campaigns for heightening consumers ' awareness of their rights because these are a key factor in providing them with greater protection .
however , whatever the case , I think that there is a possibility and a door open here .
we think that it is a little bit late and that it could have been launched earlier in the term , but at least we have got it now .
secondly , the targets .
immigrants will thus have the possibility of returning to their home country after a period of one year and to take back to their country the knowledge and experience they have acquired in the EU Member States .
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they have a limited right to fish .
we need to match skills better than in the past and we have to prepare migrants for their life in the EU and their eventual return if their migration is temporary or circular in nature .
the debate is closed .
during my mandate , gender equality and women 's rights have been at the centre of my concerns .
to spend better the money we have , we must first of all know where problems are and how we can solve them .
2014 , a date suggested by some of you today , generates false hope , unrealistic expectations and misleads the politicians and the public opinion of these countries .
as the honourable Members rightly pointed out in their questions , the European Council and the European Parliament reached agreement on the political content of the decision as a result of the aforementioned informal meetings .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( SV ) Mr President , as always when it comes to our budget , this is a conscientious and competent piece of work , but , from a purely political point of view , it has unfortunately got stuck in a rut .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I would like to thank Parliament for its interest in the Arctic and also say how much we appreciated your resolution on Arctic governance last October .
we have no wish to assist in the perversion of religion : we must encourage social participation and dialogue .
the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Member States must work towards an EU common position on how to act on the Inquiry Mission 's report on the conflict in the Gaza Strip and in Southern Israel .
indeed , it is one of the core areas of the Member States ' national sovereignty .
our airlines and our fellow citizens are asking us to do this in order to limit the constraints caused by overly diversified national requirements .
when we exit the House , Mr President , we may find ourselves poorer and more insecure .
our contribution to that is well worth the relatively small amount of money , and I am delighted to welcome this report and vote in favour of it .
if we are talking about the necessity of democracy , human rights , tolerance and freedom of speech , I subscribe to it all .
clean coal technology may prove to be possible , but we cannot pin all our hopes on it at present .
we must ensure that product safety is guaranteed on a general level .
massive illegal immigration in Malta risks altering its demographic composition .
now , the legislative procedure that would apply would not be the same depending on whether these data were being processed within the European Union or sent to a third country .
a third Member - Mr Severin - has left the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament and has become a non-attached Member .
yes , the crisis has wiped out millions of jobs .
contrary to certain more radical views , I believe that all three are necessary .
this means three years to look into a subject and another three years to carry out studies .
I know that Mrs Wallström and Mrs Wallis , Vice-President of the European Parliament , put forward an interesting initiative and included us other leading women in Parliament and the Commission in the process .
no amendments have been proposed .
( applause from the centre and left )
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , there may be many different opinions but one thing is absolutely certain , and I am leaving this debate with this impression : there is no alternative to this path of dialogue and effective partnership .
this obviously showed the governments ' strong political will and , today , I would like to welcome the excellent report by Mrs Herczog which extends this impetus in such a timely way .
I hope this will be reflected in the vote tomorrow .
in fact , Catherine Ashton admitted yesterday during the meeting we had as part of the Committee on Foreign Affairs that the approach based on human rights dialogues needs to be reviewed .
however , this is only one of the conditions of stability of Europe .
the rules must be the same for everyone operating in this field and we must not leave gaps for uncontrolled activity .
Mr President , this proposal is based on the assumption that all persons from third countries entering the EU are persons of good faith and that , if they say they are coming here to study , they really are .
seventy per cent of imports come through the simplified procedure .
so I invite the European Commission to devote itself to this vital mission and in that respect , I naturally fully trust that Mr Cioloş will reach that goal .
it is a strategic matter for the future enlargement of the EU and crucial in the field of neighbourhood and migration policy .
the British people have not had a say on this , despite being promised it , and until we get a referendum on this , I will refuse to recognise the legitimacy of this Treaty .
many of the killings seem to have been based purely on ethnic differences , the most horrendous of which was the brutal attack on a church near the town of Eldoret , which is thought to have left more than 30 ethnic Kikuyu dead .
in essence , we are saying that a lobbyist is anyone who wants to influence us .
in the face of an ageing population and the difficulties with which the European economy is dealing , we have to use all opportunities available to us to encourage women to have children and to make it easy for them to return to work .
as the resolution states , the promotion of democracy and respect for human rights must be considered to be among the most important aims of the European Union .
this is why I welcome the exclusion from this report of a specific journey time .
I understand these citizens , who have worked all their lives to have a few savings .
( CS ) Madam President , the unfair practices of some of these so-called business directory companies continue to pose a serious problem .
what the EU needs , therefore , is better synchronisation of the measures taken by all consumer protection institutions . its borders must be sealed to ensure that uncertified products do not reach the market , an efficient monitoring and information system must be established , and a more stringent and uniform system of penalties introduced to ensure that circumvention of the CE system does not pay off .
if we do not think carefully about the implications of some of these agreements , we will see more demand for migration and will end up debating migration rather than the issues we are debating here .
the possibility of learning and working in an international context is an important prerequisite for a successful working life in a globalised economy .
the UNHRC should become more an early-warning and preventive mechanism .
I would like to start by expressing my gratitude on behalf of the rapporteur for the excellent cooperation in this area .
President Sarkozy asked for the engagement of Parliament .
( RO ) I believe that we must express our support for a European strategy for the Danube Region , all the more so as the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the EU has been beneficial from the point of view that , at present , a large part of the river , which extends more than 2 800 km , flows through EU territory .
I was promised close cooperation on rationalising European institution budgets .
secondly , we want to link together sustainability and competitiveness and develop them further .
this is an example of the cohesion that can be achieved by a European Union built on the principle of solidarity .
I agree with Ms Neyts-Uyttebroeck that it is really important that we start to speed up .
the European Union needs a modern , productive shipbuilding industry , from which European shipping operators will order vessels .
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every person in this room must now face the clear , tough challenge ahead , that is , to recognise that many of the concerns that came to light during the referendum campaign still need to be dealt with .
in one of Hezbollah 's programmes , for example , a figure disguised as Mickey Mouse - in whatever form - attacks Jewish settlers .
( EL ) Mr President , I come from Greece and , unlike Austria , Greece started to apply the Services Directive just a few months ago , in 2010 , when it was transposed into national law .
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it presents the achievements and the challenges and explores the possibilities of future development .
the Canadian Union of Public Employees , with 600 000 members in areas such as health care , education , local municipalities , public utilities and transport , is seriously concerned about the effects of such an agreement .
current budget lines already in place for this project are easily sufficient to bring about its completion , yet - true to form - the suggestion is to spend even more .
if they want to fight climate change , they cannot just love the agenda politically and afterwards not commit to precise targets and methods .
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first of all , we want to know whether your Directorate-General has assessed the impact of this agreement on jobs in Europe , for I must tell you that the figure greedily announced , that is , the EUR 19 billion profit that European exporters are expected to make , does not convince us .
( applause )
it is much harder for them to obtain loans than it is for large corporations .
almost all of the points raised in the report are in line with our communications and have my full agreement .
the list provides useful information to people wishing to travel outside the European Union in order for them to avoid travelling with these airlines .
the EU Multiannual Financial Framework represents an opportunity to make strategic choices for the future .
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my honourable friend was right ; we are living on credit .
the present directive does not apply to retrofitting road transport vehicles with engines and spare parts when they have exceeded 75 % of their total lifetime mileage .
coffee in community centres or stalls selling soft drinks are not under threat and other businesses should simply make sure that their hygiene is good .
a third important point concerns the auctioning of allowances .
customs authorities apply controls on goods entering and exiting the Community based upon a common risk management framework , including the use of random checks .
the introduction of alien species is one of the main factors in the disturbance of ecosystems , along with the destruction of natural habitats , and one of the main reasons for global biodiversity loss .
for this reason , I personally consider it necessary that at least part of the funding is withheld until it we have suitable assurances that the funds will be properly spent .
from Oslo , through the Road Map , through the Geneva Accords , and other initiatives , the parameters of the solutions are in focus .
the way I see it , the European Union must take the initiative in creating a new global monetary order , starting with taking up China 's proposal for a common international trade currency .
( PL ) Mr President , quite often in Parliament , we talk about different phobias and their detrimental social effects .
I believe it is misguided .
you have discussed the new legal instrument in depth , and you have made many amendments which will help to clarify the text and give it a better structure , notably regarding definition , scope and status , and by introducing references to the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures ( ESFRI ) .
in writing . - ( PT ) I voted in favour of this resolution as I believe that the EU needs to create a new development paradigm in order to tackle climate change .
the same things , and , to a certain extent , even more pronounced , that this report here is listing in relation to Lukashenko and Belarus to which you are raising an objection , setting the bar considerably higher for Lukashenko and Belarus , a country outside of the European Union , than the one you were using for Hungary and Ferenc Gyurcsány , including the fact that the Hungarian Lukashenko forcefully broke up every significant anti-government protest .
as a result of the financial and economic crisis , Iceland went from being the fifth richest country in the world to being a country racked by crisis , with the collapse of its banking system , where 40 % of households could not pay their bills and pensioners lost their life 's savings .
meanwhile , progress was being made in the negotiations between the Federal Republic of Germany and representatives of the German Democratic Republic , and primarily between Mr de Maizière and Chancellor Kohl .
it also implies taking advantage of the geographical position of the ORs , particularly in the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean , encouraging closer cooperation with neighbouring third countries and developing our islands - precisely because they are islands - as centres of excellence for scientific research , notably in maritime studies , climatology and environmental studies .
we must take action to stop this .
the discussion on the links between climate policy , sustainability strategies and crisis management is just as inconsistent .
this too is unclear , and if you table it too late it will be utterly useless .
the broad aim is to achieve more long-term goals and to make better use of available resources .
finally , in terms of acknowledgements , I would also like to welcome the presence here of the Ambassador for Papua New Guinea and to thank him and his staff for their close collaboration .
the movements , which are steadily increasing , appear to be a new way of protesting against the unbearable political and socioeconomic situation of the indigenous inhabitants of these territories .
as indicated in our resolution , our measure is not aimed , as we are often accused , at the imposition of specifically European values , but at the defence of human rights , which is one of the major objectives of the European Union .
the only possibility is ' not only / but also ' , which means the balanced development of both policies together , without making giving preference to one over the other .
in the light of the literally deadly results of food policy to date , they should put an immediate end to the unjust agricultural subsidies and customs charges and stop promoting senseless biofuels .
Christian writers and academics are having to go into hiding .
I would appreciate hearing your position on this , High Representative .
once again , we must draw attention to the excessive delays between the occurrence of the disaster , the decision to mobilise the EUSF and the actual delivery of EU support to the Member States and regions affected .
it is a combination of very obvious advantages , which cannot be halted by calling perhaps for further measures because here , it really is the case that the best is the enemy of the good .
we are not under time pressure here - we need a sound result .
the subject is ' equal treatment between men and women engaged in an activity in a self-employed capacity ' .
I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate this demand .
therefore , that process will be of benefit to both interests .
we also need to respect the democratic choice made by the Irish people and to provide another opportunity for democratic expression .
the new rules recognise explicitly that Internet access is a fundamental right such as the freedom of expression and the freedom to access information .
this crisis demands that Europe take decisive action .
the European standardisation system has been fundamental in achieving a single market .
I commend it to the House .
Mr Posselt , it is a question of priorities .
flexible working hours and safety influence tourism just as much as social changes .
however , we do not want cohesion policy to be subordinated to the priorities of the EU 2020 strategy , which stresses ' competitiveness ' , ' deregulation ' , ' adaptability ' and ' entrepreneurship ' , always at the expense of cohesion and convergence .
on the other hand , he inspires loathing among people who reject his pursuit of unification with Russia .
I believe in fact that this Eastern Partnership is welcome because there is a need , in the first place , to stabilise these regions and to avoid falling into the trap of the area of influence because there is us , there is the United States , there is Russia and there is Turkey .
the Commission will continue to contribute to the Trio 's actions through its policies and instruments , in close partnership , of course , with Member States and civil society .
together with us and the OSCE , you ought to be protecting European values , not becoming a mechanism for imposing your power at home .
given the high volume of trade across the borders of the European Union , the enforcement of EU export controls on dual-use goods must rely on preventive measures such as the imposition of export licensing requirements and customs registration procedures .
the Olympic Games have become an argument for pulling down residential areas and driving the residents away .
in the case of Turkey 's membership aspirations , these are clearly nothing but empty words .
this is a first step towards greater transparency in both the European Parliament and Commission .
in general , we need to make sure that there is more observance of the highway code in Europe .
on 3 May 2011 , the Commission published the results of a feasibility study by the Expert Group on European contract law and we invited all stakeholders to comment .
the EU and the entire world must now rally behind this demand : free Perwiz Kambakhsh .
( FI ) Mr President , Baroness Ashton , the European Union 's credibility as regards its foreign policy is measured in terms of how well it keeps to its fundamental values , which are human rights , democracy , the principle of legality , and freedom of religion .
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the proposal for a directive on road infrastructure safety management offers a good combination of preventive and corrective measures .
thirdly - and probably most importantly - we now need , in particular , to tackle the crisis in confidence that we are seeing throughout the world and particularly here in Europe .
we have to avoid the mistakes made last year which gave us the nonsense of one country closing its airspace whilst a neighbouring country kept theirs open , leading to chaos , confusion and huge economic consequences .
it eases the strain on their food budget through distributions by charities and social services , and adds up to a mere EUR 1 per European per year in aid .
the high-level group of experts on the integration of ethnic minorities has pointed out that certain projects supported by the ESF , such as the Acceder programme in Spain , for instance , are excellent models of active integration of the Roma .
the EU has to take a leading role in this process and help to find solutions that avoid exacerbating the conflict that is currently occurring in this country .
however , there is one glaring gap in Europe 's plans , and that is investment .
many obstacles were removed in 2001 .
I voted in favour of Mrs Paliadeli 's report on the European Ombudsman 's activities as I believe that Mr Diamandouros has made a significant contribution in terms of resolving citizens ' problems and bringing the European Union 's institutions closer to citizens .
it is a project worth fighting for , because we cannot let these people gain the upper hand .
something else that was particularly important to me was for us to use more resources to make our buildings energy efficient .
I believe he has brought together the whole committee and Parliament in a very good report .
finally , we must also ensure that these airlines duly compensate their passengers , but without passing the bill on to taxpayers .
how can one be against workers when you simply want to see those who wish to work more in order to earn more be allowed to do so ?
listen again .
yet it is actually the Americans who are asking the critical questions and who have carried out comprehensive evaluations in recent months and are putting big question marks on the effectiveness of these measures .
( FI ) Madam President , I would like to say a few words about the EU budget .
it is therefore an economic force for employment that also promotes the integration of rural areas .
certainly , a situation in which two bloggers are locked up because they say what they think about the authorities is something which should not take place .
although I did not vote for imposing a moratorium on the construction of new nuclear reactors , I felt that , if such a moratorium were imposed , it ought to be limited only to the period of the ' stress test ' which nuclear reactors in the EU will be undergoing .
we need the Member States to implement the regulations properly .
I cannot , of course , control what Georgia is doing on other issues , but on our money I can be clear .
this morning 's debate leads me to believe that we - the rapporteurs of the economic governance package - are right to go further than what is being proposed , because , Commissioner , in substance , the Commission is telling us ' We tried but we did not succeed . '
if we have made mistakes , we do not want to prevent the programmes from being implemented .
I should like to address a number of specific questions , such as the comment on the sunset clause .
so let us not have any Member State saying that the European Union costs too much , because they actually have money left over .
we must ensure that we fend off all criminal activity that could affect it .
the bureaucratic burden on businesses should be reduced and the legal framework simplified .
can the designated money flow into the designated projects within the designated time ?
I have heard it said - I think it was by Richard Howitt - that Prime Minister Erdoğan did condemn the DTP closure , although I confess I missed that development .
nor can I see any reason for Brussels to micromanage physical education , with demands for mixed gender groups and special sex education .
the Organization for Economic Development and the United Nations estimated that if the price of oil reached the 56 dollar level , the production of grain for food would go down by a couple of percentage points and the price of grain , which is to say food , would go up by around 10 % .
the present government is combating the unregulated binding relationship between politics and economics , using every legal instrument permitted in a European constitutional state .
take the case of Juliet Young .
I congratulate Mr Harbour on his work .
the oral question by Mr de Jong , on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group , Mr Cashman , on behalf of the S & D Group , Mr Canfin , on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group , and Mrs Macovei , to the Commission on the revision of the framework for Commission expert groups and balanced representation and transparency ( B7-0010 / 2011 ) ;
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , Mrs Gomes , ladies and gentlemen , in the Committee on International Trade we of course focused primarily on aspects relating to trade and economic relations , but in some areas we went beyond that remit .
we are in a crisis , and it is high time we were given a legal basis .
schemes such as these will be vital in encouraging engagement between young people and Europe .
I voted in favour of the report on a sustainable EU policy for the High North , which stresses the need to develop a dialogue with indigenous Arctic communities in order to gain more understanding of their living conditions and culture .
the main thing is to adopt the report now .
do you envisage that taxes on short-term stock profits gained from naked short selling will be earmarked for the creation of new jobs ?
2 .
in writing . - The proposal for a directive on the European Protection Order , submitted by 12 Member States , is an initiative aimed at preventing crime .
I voted in favour of this document , codifying Council Directive 89 / 396 / EEC of 14 June 1989 on indications or marks identifying the lot to which a foodstuff belongs .
will they stand up and say , ' We were wrong ' ?
it says : ' automated identification of terrorists through data mining or any other known methodology is not feasible as an objective ' .
those are not audited .
as I said , this decision is a step in the right direction , even if it is a much shorter step than I would have liked .
the common agricultural policy must , therefore , encourage farming practices that limit emissions and / or improve carbon fixation , since agriculture and forestry are the main economic sectors able to capture the CO2 produced by human activities , accumulating and storing it in the soil .
the conclusion is clear : that the Directive must be reviewed to amend its provisions to restore our original intention .
I wonder whether the group of seven people will be so made up as to consist of representatives of the European Commission and of the regulatory bodies , or will it also include independent experts ?
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however , there is a need , through policies and measures at regional level , to strengthen support for research , development and innovation , together with the development of education and the skills needed by Europeans to ensure an inclusive labour market .
hybrid cars could be acquired for use by Members of Parliament .
even if it is a symbolic gesture , it would give a signal to Europe 's citizens that during an economic crisis , EU leaders are also prepared to make sacrifices and are showing solidarity with those on more modest incomes .
amongst other things , the joint resolution proposes restructuring and new , flexible rules for the European Solidarity Fund , coordination of preventive action , and also effective help in combating natural disasters .
in particular I would like to stress that the opening of the markets will mean a better service and better choice for citizens , thereby avoiding distortion of competition and bringing a definitive end to existing monopolies .
the Member States and the Commission should ensure the application of the Community legislation on water , air and soil quality , and noise pollution , as well as the application of the regulations on chemical products , including those covered by REACH .
a new kind of refugee is set to emerge with the onset of extreme climate conditions .
hence , I urge you and I urge the Commission to follow the developments in Tunisia intently .
we had hoped that one year after the earthquake , the situation would be better , but it is not .
unfortunately , here in Brussels in particular , we encounter endless queues which passengers stand in to be able to travel .
( FR ) As you know , this morning in Kehl , the French and German consumer ministers met to discuss the price differences between the two countries .
if there is one thing that tourism needs , it is certainty .
these were drawn up in 2006 before the massive shock that the loss of Dell and the other industries created .
the conclusion of the mutual legal assistance treaties will also help us in this respect .
our group felt it was important to recognise the existence and value of other sources of information , particularly NGOs and industry , but also the importance of tools for communication such as the internet .
however , epidemics spread in those countries where the hygiene and epidemiology standards are not met and people live in poor conditions or do not have access to effective health care .
the report , based on the consumer-pays principle , also advocates creating ' green ' taxes ( as opposed to a tax system based on income ) , which open the door to the privatisation of public services and the private exploitation of such fundamental resources as water .
this is about ensuring the security of Europe 's food supply .
coercive measures are not enough to reduce crime and organised crime .
allow me to say something here on two or three key points .
there is now a real sense of momentum in our agenda for succeeding in the age of globalisation , a momentum we will keep up by a series of Commission initiatives in the coming months .
this directive is designed to ensure that Member States establish a national regulatory and organisational framework and draw up appropriate national programmes for spent fuel and radioactive waste management , regardless of the perspectives of nuclear power and non-power applications .
the Commission has worked very hard .
so far the experience has not been entirely positive .
regarding the question of employee participation in the enterprise , this should be decided by the law of the country where the company has its registered office .
we must fight against any protectionist tendencies .
explanations of vote
I want to reassure those who tabled the oral questions and the political groups that supported them that the political situation is viable and has completely changed .
so , what are we going to do ?
journalists were harassed , a Dutch correspondent was threatened with death and the saddest thing of all is that the splendid American journalist Lara Logan was sexually abused by a mob .
Seychelles ' economy is based mainly on tourism and fisheries , with the fishing industry , centred around canning , representing 15 % of GDP and employing 17 % of the local working population .
I also emphasised the need to prioritise spending in the budget in case a Member State has to be rescued .
economic stability and the sustainability of trade flows involving the EU are becoming ever more relevant to our future security .
that is why it is important to create a European partnership for action against cancer that will facilitate the exchange of information and coordination among the individual Member States .
for all these reasons , I voted in favour .
this is actually one of the points of criticism I would like to address to the Commission , since the Commission has apparently not made the Member States aware of these concerns and has carried on with the budget support .
indeed , we have all given space to seeing if there can somehow , some way , be a realignment .
an amendment is therefore proposed to the relevant provisions of Regulation ( EC ) No 1889 / 2006 in order to align them with other instruments , and so that they can play their part in the fight for human rights worldwide .
broadly speaking we have accepted what has been said by those states who are most alarmed by the package .
however , we need to do the necessary preparatory work .
long live the Constitution !
firstly , we could reduce the regulatory burden .
those are the reasons why I oppose paragraph 17 of the McGuinness report , which is otherwise problem-free .
the situation in the Czech Republic provides evidence of the fact that there is a real problem .
the forestry sector provides a livelihood for millions of people in the EU , among them , entrepreneurs , farmers and 16 million forest owners .
according to what I read , it is the case that MONUC is part of the problem rather than part of the solution , because MONUC itself describes its situation as having developed into fighting on four fronts .
cooperation at a variety of social levels is slowly becoming an essential requirement , especially in the field of research and education .
does the Council not see the dead end into which you are directing this matter ?
concerning the reform of the Bretton Woods institutions , our role in promoting their reform is , of course , limited .
Madam President , really I just wanted to press home the point to the Commissioner that , given the prevarication and the delay and the cancellation of last January 's negotiations and the little contact since and the years this has been going on - with one or two meetings a year - are we convinced that there is any real will on the side of the GCC to have an FTA ?
it is a financial instrument to help bear the financial burden of emergency operations .
both sides seem keen to finalise an Agreement before next June 's European elections .
in view of this , I support the proposal for a regulation , particularly with regard to its necessary implementation , which did not happen with the regulation that it seeks to replace .
unfortunately , that strategy did not work out .
it is a normal periodical exercise that we undertake , on how the common fisheries policy has operated , what the possible pitfalls are that have been encountered , in order that , from that exercise , we can learn from past experience and try to improve things .
in EMEA , the European Medicines Agency , problems were found with the management of procurement procedures .
we must put more pressure on those who promised their support to deliver that support , and we must put pressure on the Clinton-led reconstruction , and the United Nations , to move faster .
the principles and provisions of the Small Business Act are perfectly consistent with the priorities of the Europe 2020 strategy , and they are sure to be implemented at national level because all interested parties support them .
whilst we have a central monetary policy , there is local responsibility for budgetary and finance policies .
the Commission 's intentions are contrary to the objectives of the Lisbon Strategy .
indeed , they are a useful instrument for supporting the decision-making process in businesses and the private sector .
there are many things on which we all agree .
in accordance with the provisions of Rule 90 ( 4 ) of the Rules of Procedure , the draft resolution is included for debate and vote on the agenda of the current session .
I would once again like to expressly thank everyone who has worked on this , in particular , all the shadow rapporteurs .
that is to be welcomed .
Madam President , Commissioner , I believe that we are , indeed , faced with several issues .
we must trust our entrepreneurs , those who make the economy work ; we can pull through this crisis only if we join together and help each other .
because energy has become the most strategic of commodities , the debates on complete replacing conventional sources may be popular but are very irresponsible .
there is every reason to speak out openly that not all is well yet , not by a long shot .
education , professional training and the transition from the educational system to the labour market are the central concerns of this budget .
I can only second those views and say that the country is well placed to take an historic step forward this year if it acts with determination and sustained efforts to meet the benchmarks .
we call on Member States to turn points of single contact into an e-government portal which will offer a complete range of online services to service providers wishing to set up an enterprise or offer cross-border services .
as a result , this makes them much less willing to vote again .
what will the Swedish Presidency do to ensure that this does not happen again ?
illegal timber is pouring into the EU , and this in itself is completely absurd .
this has to change .
thus , I propose a very open sky agreement and even invite you to accompany me on those occasions when I come to Parliament flying my own plane , to show you that a US pilot licence is perfectly safe .
nevertheless it has happened , due to excellent teamwork , made possible through strict observance of the informal dialogue procedures with the Commission and the Council who , whenever possible , have involved the rapporteur and the shadow rapporteurs , and due also to the valuable work of the Environment Committee .
therefore , the Council should back Commissioner Hedegaard and recognise that the conditions are now right to move to a 30 % target , and the Council should recognise that the cheapest and easiest way to make that further cut is through energy efficiency and , specifically , a binding energy efficiency target .
an agreement with all countries that will result in each developed country undertaking to reduce its total emissions , in other words , an economy-wide target ; we need all developed countries to link their commitments to the agreement in Copenhagen , including the US .
they must be located and designed on the basis of criteria every bit as extreme as the natural phenomena to which they may be exposed .
it is absurd to call on the Latin American countries to introduce sex education , for example .
for too long , companies , especially in my region of the South East of England , have been targeted by this unscrupulous practice .
here are three of them .
we also owe this result to the spirit of compromise among all the shadow rapporteurs , and I wish to express my thanks to them also .
because , frankly , it seems to me that it has become a joke .
we appeal to the international community to support efforts to restore the legal basis of the function of this state .
the announcement of EUR 600 million for the Eastern Partnership is excellent and I welcome the proposed European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument spending on improving EU energy security through better storage facilities for oil and gas and building new pipelines .
such food will not be specially labelled , since exporters will attempt to smuggle it into the European market .
I am delighted that the African Union is now following a policy of zero tolerance for coups d 'état .
and President Vaclav Klaus ' views on climate change , EU reform and the euro , which are bizarre , if not hostile , have a great deal to answer for in this respect .
we have succeeded , despite the difficulties , and I would therefore like to thank the rapporteur , Mr Dess , and all the Members .
one of the reasons for the great importance of development policy is the fact that it has become an instrument of historically-oriented policy .
I should like to finish by stressing how important it is , to my mind , that we have reached a satisfactory compromise on the key issues of being able to guarantee social rights in the different legislations of the Single Market and of protecting services of general interest within the spirit of the Treaty of Lisbon .
the Sunday Herald newspaper recently revealed that 67 nuclear safety incidents relating to transport have taken place in Scotland over the last seven years .
then , the challenges which we are posing for the future in this resolution - which we support - will be easier to achieve .
however , on behalf of the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left , we call on the Member States to ratify the ILO conventions and we urge the European Commission to consider our proposals .
I agree with the rapporteur that the procedure for mutual evaluation introduced by the Council causes unnecessary bureaucratic burdens for Member States ' administrations at national , regional and local level .
it marks an important step in coordinating activities of Member States and the European Commission in their negotiations with the United States .
the Dalits have hardly been mentioned at all .
for this reason , the Lithuanian authorities should amend the law , or repeal it , and should refrain from adopting the amendments to the penal and administrative codes , so as to ensure that laws are compatible with human rights and fundamental freedoms as enshrined in international and European law .
so , I have no doubt that structural funds can help deliver the 2020 goals .
we therefore regularly raise , for example , the issue of administrative detentions with our Israeli counterparts , both in informal and in formal settings .
another important point is that consumers must be informed of the full price and the main characteristics of a product immediately before ordering it on the Internet , and they alone must explicitly confirm that they want to pay that price .
we need Poland , and Poland needs Europe .
we must bear in mind , however , that our international competitors in many cutting-edge sectors of the economy take the opposite view .
only today I read a whole-page article in Frankfurter Allgemeine about the current situation in Haiti .
the rapporteur believes that the new plan should also define the control mechanisms used to inspect catch levels .
the development of the European economy needs exactly technological innovation .
Mr Solana asked : what can we Europeans do ?
it happens more and more frequently that manufacturers affix the CE mark to their products without any control , despite the fact that the goods in question do not meet EU criteria .
based on the results , with a view to 2013 , it may be presumed that several investment projects will be almost complete , and new decommissioning and management structures will be already available to us .
we agree with the condition of there being at least one authorisation issued by one Member State for each vehicle .
the reason for this mess is not that Parliament is likely to be obstinate .
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let me also express the hope that the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty will further increase the capacity of the EU to integrate new members , finalising the institutional reforms within the Union .
Estonia has one of the lowest foreign debts in Europe and has managed to put aside enough reserves during economic growth to be able now to face the crisis with its own means .
we have made proposals for the future of the battle groups .
maritime transport on the Mediterranean Sea takes place under different conditions from transport across straits .
this happens in all the world 's parliaments , and this is customary practice for our Thursdays , as used to be the case with Friday mornings .
( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , let us say this clearly : the way in which the negotiations on the AntiCounterfeiting Trade Agreement are being carried out is unacceptable to the European Parliament .
these stress tests must establish a situation whereby no data can be provided that cannot be verified subsequently .
when we come to discuss the absorption capacity of the European Union , I believe there are important points to consider , such as the principle that new accessions must not jeopardise the European integration project .
one of the important terms in a debate on ports is ' maritime safety ' ; improvements to this are required and cooperation between maritime rescue coordination centres must unquestionably be improved .
( FR ) Mr President , Mr Barroso , the success of the Treaty of Lisbon now depends on you and your team .
therefore , I have voted against this own-initiative report .
however , we need more and sustained assistance over time .
we will certainly put the question to our Turkish partners - I already mentioned that in the previous statement - and not only to Turkey , but to all the partners that are close to our borders .
subject : Palestine
Mr President , at a time when Member States are reducing public spending , in the UK our government is seeking to overhaul the benefits system to make work pay more .
finally , the over-representation of women - 30 percent - in part-time positions affects labour market contributions .
the new Constitution enhances the independence of the judiciary by setting up a new constitutional body , the Judicial Council , in charge of the appointment and dismissal of judges .
Europe must enforce the application of the conditions of its partnership agreements , including paragraph 2 of its association agreements on respect for human rights .
let me repeat , the MSY approach moves fisheries management in the right direction , away from over-exploitation and towards conditions of higher and more stable catches and lower costs .
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in the space of 50 years the European Union has managed to create a functional internal market , in which harmonisation of the Member States ' legislation has always been the rule .
in writing . - I deeply regret that the right wing has finally ' kidnapped ' this report on public finances and has completely changed the main aim of it , making it a very neoliberal report .
life on earth could not exist without water .
Member States have not met the obligation that has existed since 2004 rapidly to create functional airspace blocks .
we must acknowledge that this has been a painful situation for Serbia .
based on this information , which we hope to receive at the end of this month , we will reflect on how best to ensure that all EU citizens have access to a basic bank account .
some prefer to minimise perceived losses rather than maximise collective gains .
our planet has limits .
yet , although we intended the Schengen area to offer complete freedom to our citizens , we do not want to bestow this privilege upon criminals .
that is , to take one more step in the process begun at the beginning of June under the leadership of the German Presidency to impose the content of a rejected Treaty by presenting it in another form , trying to move forward by default and against the express wish of the people , which is a real political fraud .
in order to achieve this , we need a prompt switch-over , which means that we must also invest in training the workers involved .
however , I am all in favour of introducing another system to allocate more funds to small agricultural holdings , for example by introducing a system of degressivity of direct payments in the light of the size of the holdings .
the communication on racism and xenophobia could define ways of improving the effectiveness of the action in this area .
the effects of climate change are appearing more quickly and on a larger scale in the Arctic region than anywhere else in the world .
we are thus strengthening Europe itself , its cohesion and the faith of the European peoples in their own unity .
to finish , I would like to draw your attention to the proliferation of sexual violence - I am thinking in particular of the East of the Republic of the Congo , of the Kivu region - and to the importance of systematically integrating gender and reproductive health into the emergency healthcare aspect of the humanitarian response .
it seems to me that the Fundamental Rights Agency , despite the conditions and the competencies that it possesses , should base itself strongly on the Charter of Fundamental Rights .
I would also like to point out that the Council adopted conclusions in June of this year entitled ' Equal opportunities for women and men : active and dignified ageing ' precisely to facilitate the provision of quality care services in connection with home care for elderly people , taking into account the particular needs of older men and women .
obviously it is not the directive that some of us would have drawn up if we had had the chance to do so , if each of us had been left to prepare it individually .
in addition , the meeting was not reported in full and , therefore , the report was not correct , because many of the connections were not made clear .
the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) has requested the inclusion on the agenda of a Commission statement on the situation in Lampedusa .
another concern of the Lithuanian legislators was that children should be brought up according to their parents ' convictions .
thank you for your attention .
in the Kirilov report , we are choosing the second of these two options .
illegal activities ( thefts , bag snatching , begging , prostitution ) , often increasingly aggravated by the exploitation of children for such purposes , and an almost non-existent desire to integrate and to live a civilised life , are the predominant characteristics of certain Roma communities in Italy .
the experience of Fukushima must be of service to humanity , by becoming the basis for testing nuclear power stations and the development of improved safety criteria .
it has spectacularly failed that test .
I would be grateful , Baroness Ashton , if you could send a message of encouragement and a true message of hope to all those women who took to the streets in Palestine yesterday and who are expecting a great deal of the European Union .
this should be the path set out by the report , not the ' immediate establishment of an EU Civil Protection Force ' or the use of military means in response to humanitarian aid situations , which the report admits could act without being under the aegis and coordination of the UN .
it is very important that we deal with this ' five billion ' package .
why are national governments , national parliaments and the EU so tolerant of alcohol ?
it reacts rapidly and resolutely to the human tragedies all around the world .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
it 's up to us to decide ...
my intention is to analyse the responses and then draw up a report for the Council and Parliament on the effectiveness of the Member States ' counter-terrorism measures and their suitability and compatibility with the principle of respect for fundamental rights .
what circular migration boils down to is that an immigrant is granted a limited residence permit but remains in Europe after its expiry date and goes underground .
this is why I voted against part 2 .
for the Netherlands , the Davies report has another extra dimension that is undeniable .
we think the European Commission could adopt a decisive role in this matter .
I consider these aspects to be essential , and the investment required should be funded largely through public-private partnerships as a new tool for industrial research and technological development .
I do not want to repeat it ; I would merely like to emphasise that Parliament is backing the Galileo project all the way .
regulation ( EC ) No 1541 / 98 and Regulation ( EEC ) No 3030 / 93 , which were initially adopted in order to implement trade policy measures in the textile sector , have now become obsolete instruments that constrain the free market and are poorly adapted to changes in the new regulatory environment .
however , when Mr Putin starts to criticise the UN and to say that the UN Secretary-General has gone beyond his mandate , this destabilises the UN at a time when it is urgently needed .
this outbreak demonstrates the importance of cross-border cooperation in the field of preventive health .
these reforms will be introduced against the background of unprecedented efforts already under way .
I agreed with this report because I believe that it is necessary to improve political coordination at all levels in order to properly implement Single Market priorities aimed at boosting economic growth , competitiveness , the social market economy and sustainability in the Union .
now , of course , there is much doubt about what ' smart regulation ' means .
we cannot agree with that , not least because trade in services almost always requires changes in national legislation or in implementing regulations , which often go to the very heart of the social fabric of a society , especially if it concerns basic services on which people depend .
this is an expression of the cooperation between the European Union and the countries on the southern shore of the Mediterranean .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , textiles constitute one of the key sectors in our European market .
in this context , however , the Commission is considering clarifying , in a declaration , our understanding of the new Recital 9e of the Data Protection Directive .
in my region , Małopolska , such enterprises account for 95 % of the total , and most of them have not been around for very long ( 30 % are less than 5 years old ) .
that is why we abstained from voting on the report .
there are currently eight International Labour Organisation ( ILO ) conventions that have been ratified by all EU Member States .
it is important to prevent and to inform those working in hospitals about the risks they run .
that is why the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs was keen to incorporate professional qualifications into the EQF .
this is one of our weaknesses and one of our problems .
that situation also arises , but I would nonetheless recommend that we vote in favour of this motion or at least put it to the vote .
we need it more than ever and we need it urgently .
we are now embarked on a plan to cut energy consumption and it is essential that we reach our goals on schedule .
in my opinion , economic , social and cultural rights are equally important .
we receive regular updates from Kosovo , and I also meet with the responsible ministers , and once all these elements are in place , we are ready to launch a new mission to go there and see what steps can be taken in order to open the visa liberalisation dialogue .
( EL ) Mr President , the credit rating agencies lost their credibility a long time ago .
we have voluntarily restricted ourselves to tabling amendments of substance only to the part that the Commission is proposing to modify , and not to use the codification of the remaining part as an opportunity to reopen the substance .
motion for a resolution :
a regular feature on our agenda is the Doha Round negotiations : we know that an agreement is always just around the corner but keeps escaping our grasp .
that is why we want to give priority to this now .
in this context , I would mention the European transparency initiative launched by the Commission in 2005 .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I welcome the excellent and speedy work done by the rapporteur , Mr Martin , and his colleagues and staff .
in addition , from 1 July 2009 operators will have to charge on a per second basis , and sending a text message will not cost more than EUR 0.11 .
this amount is expected to suffice for the planned construction and operation of up to 12 carbon dioxide capture and storage plants in the European Union .
Madam President , I voted in favour of the Dess report , but I must say I was disappointed that Amendment 4 was not successful .
in writing . - I voted in favour of the Sacconi report on CO2 emissions from new cars .
now we must look to the future .
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the outcome will perhaps not match up to our ambitions and expectations , but the decision made by the European Union Member States to offer EUR 7.2 billion to the developing countries is all the more important as these countries are in urgent need of financial support .
this programme could improve the living conditions of the whole population , and therefore of the minorities as well as the majority .
the treaties impose freedom of movement of citizens within the EU and no one wants to engage in discrimination based on the country of origin .
the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon is giving the European Union more competence in the field of energy policy .
I am pleased that in this Parliament , as a Hungarian , I can enjoy equal rights , but in Slovakia I would be punished for using my mother tongue .
Madam President , I would like to thank Ria Oomen-Ruijten for all her hard work on this .
that is indeed what happens .
the situation that arose should lead to greater market surveillance , inspection and the banning or withdrawal of dangerous products .
this report talks about the monitoring of Community law , and that is a good thing .
I believe that this was not good advice because encouraging a country to prove itself to be vindictive , or in any event decided in its resistance , when it is not given the means , does not sit very well with me .
scientists and representatives of political circles were eliminated , and people who were famous for being free thinkers were eliminated too .
today , when the ghost of racism is haunting Europe , when the chauvinism of the majority in nation states is visibly growing to frightening dimensions throughout Central and Eastern Europe , we can no longer sweep minority policies under the carpet .
that means he must undertake a critical review of decentralisation and take the first steps in that direction .
voluntary corporate social responsibility is a good thing but the primary role in promoting and protecting human rights belongs to states and international organisations .
at the same time , this is the year in which the 2007-2013 financial perspective is to be fully implemented , following two years of ' getting up to speed ' , which were affected by delays in legislation and , as a consequence , a delay in the start of the long-term programmes .
what you are admitting here is that you have failed - on the economic front , the social front , the cultural front and the moral and educational fronts - and that , instead of changing your disastrous policies , your only concern is to get rid of those who protest or who criticise you .
I am delighted that the priorities adopted by the G20 are based on the sustainable growth of the real economy , which will not only be the engine that ensures the creation of jobs , but will also serve as a guarantee for the protection of the public from the negative impact of the crisis , especially the poorest and most vulnerable .
( HU ) Mr President , the tsunami after the earthquake in Japan was the direct cause of the accident at the nuclear power plant , which became above all a question of safety for both the profession and the public .
in the case of regular international services , there is still a clear need for simplifying measures to be introduced regarding the issue of authorisations to provide such services in all Member States of the European Union .
lastly , Detroit calls for us to pay close attention to failed states , or to any states that are in danger of becoming failed states due to their circumstances .
it has resulted in the compromise proposal put forward by Brian Crowley , and I think it demonstrates our willingness to improve the legal framework for our creative community .
that is the reason why the Commission cannot accept , at this stage , the amendment concerning the limitation of farming capacity .
( EL ) Madam President , Commissioner , you personally said in reply to a question of mine in 2006 that , in keeping with the recommendations of the Committee of European Securities Regulators , the Commission would not be tabling any new legislative proposals in the credit rating agency sector .
they must be companies like any others , vital to the European economy .
there are numerous problems surrounding the investment .
this report encourages the provision of healthy , good quality food to consumers at reasonable prices and the safeguarding of farmers ' incomes , which are two of the European Union 's key objectives .
as a result of this process , I think the draft we now have before us is one that is based on compromise in many respects and that meets as many demands as it possibly could .
the purpose of this would be to eliminate problems , disorders and delays which , unfortunately , continue to arise under the current system .
Madam President , how can Mrs Ferrero-Waldner refer to Russia as a partner and Mr Vondra seek assurances on democracy and human rights ?
on 14 November , this Group said that we need to have a clear goal , and the Socialist and Social Democrat Party said the same at the weekend .
there is no time to list everything now .
this also concerns two young bloggers .
the EU has mobilised all available policy instruments to support the countries of the Western Balkans in their endeavours for reforms and regional cooperation .
but let me also take this opportunity to take stock somewhat more widely of our relationship with China , a country with which we have an extraordinary range of complex relationships .
one important element is the strengthening of the role of both the European Parliament and national parliaments , as well as the introduction of the Charter of Fundamental Rights .
this , too , is something that my group is very happy to give its full backing to , and I will return to this issue at the end .
if ' negative priorities ' mean , for example , the so-called ' new priorities ' such as realising the neoliberal policies of the ' Lisbon Strategy ' , the security policies of ' Fortress Europe ' or the militarisation of the EU , we would say that we could not agree more .
against this background , Labour MEPs could not support an increase in the EU budget .
perhaps he thought that it was an amusement park .
Member of the Commission . - ( RO ) In the 2007 call for proposals , one network and three projects were selected , which address minority languages for financing in the lifelong learning programme .
finally , I hope that operators will quickly agree on the introduction of a European stamp for 50 gram letters and I will soon be taking a political initiative on this matter .
resolving these problems is now the most urgent minority question for the European Union .
I support the decision , though I commented on the biggest problem that is still associated with it , namely flexibility .
after all , we only have competences in the area of turnover taxes and even there they are very limited .
for this reason , we voted against this report .
( FR ) Madam President , I am of course for it , Mr Tarabella .
written explanations of vote
as regards the second objective - the tool to reduce or suspend agricultural payments when certain key elements of a national system of control fail or are ineffective - I think this is a useful means of taking action for the European Commission .
but I think that the rules for application of the Fund should be changed in order to make the assistance available for less developed Member States of the European Union .
only something on that scale will give markets durable confidence .
nor must we forget that the European Union is not out fishing on its own , either in the Mediterranean or the Atlantic .
the reasons for this request will be given by Mr Mauro . Mr Mauro , you have the floor .
on this occasion , the rising price of agricultural raw materials was highlighted , particularly its impact on consumers in the developing countries - my fellow Members have spoken about this at length - but also on the populations of poor countries , which import cereals .
therefore , you should consider once again - although we fully support your programme - whether you should not give the subject of overcoming the financial market crisis higher priority than you have done so far .
composition of Parliament : see Minutes
when I led the Senate Judiciary Committee , which is responsible for confirming the President 's judicial nominees , as I said , I was consistently ranked among the staunchest advocates of civil liberties , and I made it a priority to determine prospective judges ' views on privacy before deciding whether or not they could go on the Court .
in such cases , these funds should not be used up in full .
I would like to remind Parliament that the person who was regularly responsible for slowing things down at a European level - and I would ask the socialists to tell their Chairman this - was Mr Koch-Weser , who now holds a good position at Deutsche Bank .
therefore , I ask the Council to unblock the dossier on the review of the European Solidarity Fund regulation , to request its immediate review and not to reject the new regulation .
the proposal establishes a special regime between the EU and Andorra to ensure that trade runs smoothly between the two parties without jeopardising the necessary security for the traded goods , To this end it is necessary to ensure equivalent levels of security in their respective territories .
I challenge him that we should explain to the people of Europe what the Protocol is on the Ioannina Declaration , and what has surprised me most is that governments have not fought very hard in the Council to stop the introduction of the Luxembourg Compromise into the Treaty , which would mean destroying it .
it will now cover all the bodies , agencies , etc. of the European Union .
ladies and gentlemen , we are one European family and , as in any family , there are differences of opinion .
to conclude the debate , I have received seven motions for resolutions pursuant to Rule 108 ( 5 ) of the Rules of Procedure .
the vote will take place at 12 noon .
the internal market and the euro represent two real shields for the European Union in the financial , budgetary , economic and social storm which the 27 are currently weathering .
this also provides the answer as to why in the future it will continue to be difficult for the European Parliament to condemn crimes equally , and why good and bad totalitarian regimes will always exist .
the greenhouse effect is presented in such a way as to lead to a call for maximum reduction of emissions .
on the proposal of Parliament , in 2011 the Commission will begin discussions on the different types of own resources , resources which Europe needs to guarantee its financial autonomy in the future .
the system of sanctions has also been strengthened , including the ban on access to public aid or subsidies by IUU vessels and the repayment of public aid or subsidies received , where necessary .
but you prove my point - thank you very much .
for very many years , the European Commission has been doing everything it can to deregulate the transport sector for the greater benefit of private interests , taking no account of the general interest .
I therefore very much welcome the clause providing for a review by the end of 2009 suggested by the European Parliament .
I would like to highlight the priceless contribution of women to the healthy development of the family and the raising of children , which must not be unfavourably influenced by discrimination against women , because such undesirable phenomena also have a heavy impact on society itself .
we will then also be able to support this directive and we will be able to have a swift solution for all of Europe 's patients .
however , it is clear that the pharmaceuticals industry makes a huge amount of money from the fact that the two products must always be sold together .
since it cannot meet its energy needs alone , the EU is striving to diversify its sources of supply under trade agreements signed with countries in Latin America , Africa and Eurasia .
there is still work to be done .
back in 2006 , the UN acknowledged that the most vulnerable populations and the poorest populations were the main victims of climate change .
as far as the second one is concerned , we have to make it clear that the financial responsibility lies with Member States and that they are the ones that have to foot the bill for additional security measures .
the challenge in the current review , therefore , is to increase these rates .
contrary to expectations , the financial crisis that started in America a year ago , far from abating , has hit the whole world again and again in ever bigger waves , including the financial markets and thus the economies of Europe .
financial support must be provided , taking into account primarily regional GDP .
we need to think about the fact that the day after tomorrow - just as the Spanish Presidency of the Union has begun , incidentally - the informal European Council is going to meet to take the reins of the situation politically speaking .
following a consultation with experts , I consider some amendments of EU Directive 91 / 414 / EEC and the Framework Directive on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides tabled by the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety to be unworkable .
the effects of the economic and financial crisis can still be felt everywhere and it involves numerous issues .
this is how the shipbreakers in the Indian town of Alang describe their dangerous job .
( BG ) Thank you , Mr President .
the next item is the report by Tomáš Zatloukal , on behalf of the Committee on Culture and Education , on efficiency and equity in European education and training systems .
there was no chance of a fair or transparent trial , because the trial was held in camera .
author . - Mr President , while we sit in this Chamber having grand debates , the hangmen in Iran are working overtime .
why is progress on ERTMS so slow and are we going to fail in our attempt to have the ECM scheme in place by the end of next year ?
clearly , it is unsatisfactory that the regulation will apply to a distance of 250 km or more .
I even wonder at times where the glass is , when it comes to Bosnia .
this is at least a dash of good news .
sustainable development is a huge challenge within urban areas in the 21st Century and the framework presented to us today by Mrs Kallenbach can help us to face this challenge .
Madam President , this has been a very interesting debate because we now conclude that biodiversity loss is a problem for the developed world and in the developing world .
a ' frontier worker ' is a person working in one Member State but residing in another providing they return home once a week .
because unanimity kills democracy and , if we carry on like this , we will kill our ability to create European policy .
otherwise , the chances of a future sustainable Palestinian state are being undermined .
finally , I think that the Commission 's work is not yet finished , and that the task force should continue its work , in order to ensure that Member States are constantly aware of the pressure on them from the Commission , civil society and local bodies to actually implement these guidelines .
on Turkey , the Commission will follow up the recommendations to improve the objectives and the monitoring of progress .
after all , like Mr Albrecht , I note that the Council is actually turning a deaf ear , to some extent , and simply continuing to go its own way , whilst Parliament is working hard to take a position , without this subsequently ending up in the Council programme .
the markets are supposed to be free ; I think that is something we might have a debate on some other day .
we highlight the promotion of maritime occupations and continuous training for them .
while I am sure we all wish to find ways of combating the threat of terrorism , I am not at all clear why the EU feels it necessary , with its framework decision , to duplicate action that has already been taken in the Council of Europe .
does she actually have to go to Bonn with what she is being given to bring to the table ?
that is why I am very pleased , as no doubt the Commissioner is too , to listen to you this morning , to answer some of your questions and to have this final discussion with you .
it simply serves to provide greater clarity and , thereby , more effective use of the existing flexibility provisions of the regulation in respect of reporting requirements .
next , we managed to get a very strict regime for conducting inspections : Member States will be able to cooperate to plan the inspections of a following port of call without harming the inspection of high-risk ships , and the interval between inspections of these ships must not be more than six months .
we have talked about cases of human rights violations , we have mentioned the names of opposition activists who have been put in prison and we have discussed how the ability of many civil and non-governmental organisations to operate is restricted .
but while performance is important , research and innovation does mean we also have to accept some risk- taking as well , and we cannot rule that out .
23 .
I welcome the European Commission 's effort to achieve progress , to create a space for clear-cut rules and relations between the relevant parties within the energy markets .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Mr President , I thank all the speakers in this debate .
but to affect all the operators in the internal market , the ones who are not using or distributing any illegally harvested timber , hence potentially impacting their competitiveness on the global markets , is certainly not the aim of this regulation and therefore cannot be supported .
it is for local authorities , with support from the national government , to take responsibility for such events .
thank you very much too for your attention .
I would also like to say a word about transparency in relation to the political parties .
secondly , I agree with the opinion that we currently have enough instruments for carrying through integration policies .
from the very first teams , they will develop in accordance with the competences that they have been and will be given .
it is important that we have mainstreaming , but at the same time there must be coordination within the Commission .
the second point is support for greater cooperation between the national councils for radio and television broadcasting and the European institutions in order to achieve better application of public service provisions .
yet ' corruption ' is not just a word that exists in and of itself .
it aims to promote both activity-based budgeting and activity-based management .
many institutional problems have been resolved and two years of stalling and uncertainty are drawing to a close .
on agriculture , as I said , it is critically important to make sure that we are able to develop our industries .
I would also like to congratulate our Slovak friends on the introduction of the euro in 2009 .
thank you .
yes , Mr Severin , there are many who are wanting a great deal , but what we should all be wanting is to be getting some idea of what a Parliament is .
it is difficult to persuade consumers to choose more environmentally aware , but currently more expensive vehicles .
it is not governance by the EU that will help the affected countries to recover economically , but rather a withdrawal from the euro area .
we are all aware that the European integration process has numerous advantages for Serbia . at the same time , Serbia still needs to make major reforms .
you want the dictators to leave their countries , and you are right .
I would now just like to ask the Council , in this final stage and until the end of the current Presidency , to give this telecoms package at least the same priority as that given to energy - I know energy is very important but this package is no less important - so that we can move forward from the balancing point we have reached , as referred to just now by my colleague Mrs Trautmann .
high prices have a debilitating effect on consumers , in particular those in the poor strata of society .
now we have a good compromise in the Council and , therefore , I would like to make a strong personal plea , subject to a discussion with my group , for leaving paragraph 9 unchanged .
a tax on financial transactions at European level could potentially generate around EUR 200 billion of revenue per year in the Union and close to USD 650 billion per year globally .
in any case , they are interested in ensuring that our cosmetic products are safe .
will there be criminal sanctions ?
they are allowed one family visit per month .
today , however , we are not seeking dialogue but slamming a door shut .
I am sure that the Serbian minority in Kosovo will fully guarantee the individual and collective rights necessary for them to stay in the land of their birth .
the latter are generally well-known , but it also needs to be made clear that non-smokers ' rights to live in a smoke-free environment cannot be dependent on or restricted by smokers wishing to exercise their right to smoke at the expense of non-smokers .
money should be found for this purpose as part of the mid-term review of the 2007-2013 Financial Framework .
fossil fuel resources are exhaustible and renewable energy is still very much experimental .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , here , I would nevertheless like to express my appreciation and gratitude for your cooperation , on behalf of the Belgian Government and on behalf of my colleagues who have held the rotating Presidency .
a decision on a document of inaccessible content can be taken only by someone who is either stupid or dishonest .
the EMU requires a fundamental reform .
we stand ready to re-engage at whatever level is useful to make sure that we do not lose what we had achieved and which remains on the table .
one small example is Austria , where the income divide is about 28 % .
I would like to ask the Commission to tell us what stage the discussions have reached on this subject .
as these factors , taken together , severely restrict their development , there is provision in Article 349 of the Treaty of Lisbon for specific measures to benefit the outermost regions , which must be put into practice through appropriate initiatives that seek to respond to their specific needs , not least in the agricultural and fishing sectors .
we are also looking to create many more accessible forums in which to pursue this debate , using all the resources and all the technologies available today : in on-line forums , via the media and at local level .
allow me to state my firm belief and the policy I intend to propose .
for natural , historical , cultural and economic reasons , mountain regions are a model for reducing energy consumption , in line with the demands of modern life , and they lend themselves to large-scale experimentation with the use of renewable energy sources with low-carbon emissions .
I voted for this resolution because I believe that in the current climate , innovation partnerships constitute an important instrument in building a Europe that is economically , socially and environmentally sustainable .
the states that hold these funds are not all friends of Europe , far from it .
we will vote in favour of the report by Mr Mavrommatis on the White Paper on sport as it is an excellent report .
the only bit that pretends to democratic authority is the rite that was just carried out in this Chamber , which I cannot help saying put me in mind of one of those occasional meetings of the People 's Assembly in the old Comecon times where we all stand up and congratulate ourselves on having rubber-stamped the decision .
( PL ) Madam President , the events of recent years , or months , even , but also the efforts made by individual countries and regions , indicate the growing importance of transparency not only for individual companies , but also for the development of specific states ' economies .
have we got your promise , please ?
we need to ensure the ' safety first ' principle is implemented .
I agree .
I hope that this is merely the first stage .
as colleagues have already mentioned , 50 men stoned her to death , with a crowd of a thousand bystanders watching the horror unfold .
I am glad that we shall have a uniform approach in all the EU Member States .
I endorsed this important report .
we are now honouring this commitment and we hope that the Council will also do so .
firstly , it was decided a few years ago , in the wake of the arms initiative , that as from 2009 everything except arms may be supplied to Europe from the poorest countries .
today , the facts tell a rather different story .
furthermore , singling out the spouses of non-Irish EU nationals for the issuing of deportation orders is contrary to EU legislation which bans discrimination based on nationality .
in memory of Piotr Stańczak , can I ask you all now to rise to commemorate him .
we are convinced that that Summit is in our interest and in the interest of the other Member States , in the interest of the EU and also of Africa .
( the sitting was opened at 09 : 00 )
we should highlight the positive effect of this proposal , which promotes debate on a crucial subject , with the ultimate aim of combating falsified medicinal products .
( SL ) Mr President , I would like to join with my fellow Members in proposing that politicians , Member States and the European Union put small and medium-sized enterprises at the heart of their economic recovery efforts .
the fact is that there are too many unresolved issues for us to claim that significant progress has been made on the accession negotiations , which began almost four years ago .
we welcome this , as a considerable proportion of Poland 's eastern border is also an EU border .
it will therefore act as a pointer , a pointer to the position of the European Union on the international stage and in any action that is proposed to secure global respect for fundamental rights .
let us make it easier for the producer .
every effort should be made to provide court authorities with research tools , so as to ensure full success ,
protection against counterfeiting and the protection of intellectual property are undoubtedly an important element on an international scale .
as you know , I have launched two studies aimed at further exploring the issue of collective redress .
how should we deal with orphan works in future , in other words , books whose copyright holder cannot be identified or located ?
we must now have special powers to discuss the content instead of the process .
under Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union , Ukraine may apply for membership of the EU , as can any European state that adheres to the principles of liberty , democracy , respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law .
as such , European aid to African countries in a bid to counter unwanted immigration to Europe is working , but is it the effect we had expected ?
the Member States must have effective national action plans in this area , including financial mechanisms .
I welcome the Stabilisation Agreement between the EU and Serbia .
I would like to know if this approach will be adopted and if it is going to affect the structures of the Directorates-General - currently the Directorate-General for Justice and Home Affairs .
it should be recognised that many professionals are working towards this , but this report highlights the fact that there is still a great deal to be done ; we therefore need to establish mechanisms that ensure that these conditions are complied with and that the resources are available to provide an effective response to complaints .
the debate has , above all , been a high quality one and it has focused on the following : we want to strengthen and maintain our current mobility programmes which are part of the lifelong learning and Youth on the Move programmes .
at the intersection of energy and politics , our main task is to secure a regular , sufficient , economic , sustainable and environmentally friendly energy supply .
this state , this government , this president , scorn the rights of men and women .
I should like , in particular , to refer to the role of the European Maritime Safety Agency or EMSA .
due to the environmental pressures resulting from centuries of human activity , wilderness areas today cover only 46 % of the Earth 's surface .
my friends , I hope that there will be many more of us souverainistes here in July .
the intention is to advance and promote the political and foreign policy agenda of the European Commission .
the Commission does not offer help and support when the UK is struggling .
we therefore agree with the proposal in this question , which seems to us highly appropriate .
I think our goals are the same .
the economic development of the country , along with the opening up of EU markets , have certainly played their role .
what is more , the proposal to extend from 14 to 20 weeks with full pay is not a financially acceptable position for many countries .
the next Conference of the Parties , to be held in Doha in March , referred to as the ' COP XV ' , is a great opportunity to debate a series of proposals to change the classification of various species of flora and fauna in the appendices to the Convention according to the level of threat , and other proposals to improve the application and observance of the Convention .
this comprehensive report sets out the main points on which the EU can now provide genuine added value in order to optimise this resource intelligently so that it is beneficial to all , to those working in the tourist industry , to the tourists themselves , and in short to Europeans , with long-term conservation of our landscapes and ecosystems .
Madam President , on behalf of the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance , I would like to emphasise that we consider the messages in this decision on the ratification and implementation of the ILO 's conventions to be very necessary and a matter of great urgency .
Mr Wilders , as a Dutch parliamentarian and leader of the Party for Freedom in the Dutch Parliament , is being prosecuted for expressing his opinion .
they have therefore demanded compliance with local standard wage rates as a social criterion , since these are above the minimum wage .
for most pensioners in Bulgaria are not of gypsy origin and therefore they do not rely on free lunch .
the report by Mr Dehaene , on behalf of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs , on the impact of the Treaty of Lisbon on the development of the institutional balance of the European Union ,
we have still not solved the problem of the financing of the ITER fusion energy project for the next few years - something that has been mentioned by several people .
some Member States were allowed to get away with more , because , after all , they were not going to let some Commission or other lecture them .
announcement : see Minutes
it was thus inevitable that there would be these problems linked to the pace of work .
as the UN Special Representative for this country stated , Haiti has become a republic of NGOs .
thirdly , humanising the debate about the victims , who are people who are suffering and need to be protected , defended , recognised , helped and supported .
this should apply specifically to imports as well .
we need to stand by the victims and their families and make a frank declaration of solidarity .
this report also comments on the composition of the fruit supply .
as a corrective measure , a procedure to deal with excessive imbalances will be introduced , namely the excessive imbalance procedure ( EIP ) and also the requirement to submit specific action plans by Member States .
this is how I feel this evening about our audiovisual media services ' without frontiers ' directive , a feeling of satisfaction and pride I wish to share with the child 's godmother , our excellent rapporteur Ruth Hieronymi .
this year , only 11 % of the EUR 500 million available was requested .
it was agreeable to hear that , in the name of the Council and the Commission , the cooperation pact would focus on human rights and democracy and try to promote the development of the rule of law .
moreover , profitability involves alignment of policies in this sector with the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy .
I would like to add something on Eurobonds .
( the President cut off the speaker )
fifthly and finally , you need to put a floor in the market for our intensive sector , with export refunds extended immediately to meat and hams .
the European Union must cease to provide this support .
in essence what I would really like to say is that there always comes a time in life when we focus more on the method of the method than on the objective and the way to achieve it .
I urge the Commission to get a move on .
they replace the former post-war regulations which concentrated on border control , specifically the health control of ships and their crews , and which included international vaccination against yellow fever , to which other vaccinations were subsequently added .
in Poland , 65 % of people aged between 35 and 65 are overweight or obese .
we believe , however , that we have offered a major contribution to the Commission and the Council , and in particular to the Commission , to help it , in future , to carry out a wholesale revision of the rules in order to shelter Europe from this damaging phenomenon .
we must implement a policy of naming and shaming .
for the first time in the EU agricultural reform , the European Parliament has full power of codecision and will act as an important negotiator among the Member States , the Council and the European Commission .
furthermore , in some economies , tax competition causes severe problems for the macroeconomic balance with varying consequences , particularly in terms of the level of quality and quantity of public property made available by these countries to their citizens .
the growing number of children living in orphanages and the violations of their rights - particularly human trafficking , illegal adoption and work , and prostitution - that continue to take place in the European Union , has led to a stance of trying to reverse this situation .
I would like to say , Mr Vice-President , that I am rather sceptical about this .
I congratulate the rapporteur for this dossier .
I hope that , eight months after the New York conference on the reconstruction of Haiti , it will no longer be possible to cite a lack of funds as an excuse for the little progress recorded to date , given that all the speakers agreed that the humanitarian phase must continue for many months yet .
he was my predecessor in the role , Václav Havel , and it was four years before our accession to the EU .
we must make more effort to implement three key priorities : firstly , to promote entrepreneurship ; secondly , to improve youth employability by adapting education to the needs of the labour market ; and thirdly , to give young people an opportunity to play a more active role in society .
therefore , thank you to the Commissioner for being prepared to cooperate on this issue in a straightforward way , and thanks to all my colleagues who have worked on and supported this report .
the Latvian non-citizens are not nationals of any state and they have no right to participate in any elections .
spending a long period in the water in the middle of the North Atlantic wearing a life jacket is not much fun .
however , the information that we have received from various countries is that in some regions , some small companies are finding economic survival increasingly difficult .
what is our and your message to the General Assembly ?
I can therefore only appeal to all members of parliament in the region to come to their senses once and for all and predicate their policies on the welfare of their citizens .
we therefore successfully prevented the European Parliament adopting a position geared too much towards mandatory regulations on corporate governance .
Mr President , we have here today an important task to perform for the discharge of the Seventh , Eighth and Ninth European Development Funds ( EDFs ) and the part of the Tenth EDF corresponding to 2008 .
there is a whole series of professions in which improper organisation of working time can endanger life .
out of the three languages proposed by the European Commission for the patents system , only one of them is comparable to Spanish in terms of size .
what underlies these reasons ?
the European Commission really must give priority to agriculture in its development aid , particularly aid to allow farmers to gain access to markets and aid to small and medium-sized family farms .
but if we could somehow create a new precedent that , ideally , the Commission President would come and address our committee , maybe that would help make our committee help your work , and we could then become part of the solution .
the principles governing this participation have been outlined in detail , which guarantees that the programmes will be implemented appropriately and fairly .
first , concerning the death penalty , let me say that I have taken up this issue very forcefully .
under this directive , that would not be enough : people would have to send a fax or something similar .
Mr Alvaro is absolutely right in this regard .
he was linked to us live from China by telephone .
it would have merited this and it would also reassure us that you think it is as important as you are now saying .
until now , in fact , there have been no exceptions to the principle of non-eligibility of such costs .
we therefore see the proposal as an as yet unfinished product , but we fully agree with Mr Cashman that it should lead to increased transparency and that is what we have indicated in our amendments .
after all , it is undeniable that the financial and economic crises have dealt Europe a heavy blow .
to address this issue , since 1994 , there has been an interinstitutional agreement between Parliament , the Commission and the Council on an accelerated working method for the adoption of codified acts .
perhaps , though , it would be wiser for the European electorate to fill Parliament with more MEPs who care more about working for the safety of their fellow citizens than about standing up for free trade , which destroys people and the environment .
we are also making it possible to have recourse to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg in respect of these basic rights , albeit under certain very narrowly defined conditions .
in this regard , we need greater cooperation between the customs authorities and consumer protection authorities in the Member States in order to protect consumers from unsafe imports .
enough is enough .
we can prove that .
for four years we - I am talking about those in charge of the Eurogroup - have kept on repeating to the Japanese and US ministers of finance and have kept on drawing the attention of our US friends both to the risks of their double deficit and to the risks created by systematically underestimating the risks , especially with regard to real estate .
these technical guidelines are to be reviewed or supplemented every five years , the first period ending on 31 December 2007 .
she had to work 12 hours a day , seven days a week .
on the matter itself , I would like to make it quite clear that Côte d 'Ivoire , of course , has many problems which need to be resolved .
I must stress that these activities are of a purely preliminary nature .
Mr von Wogau was once the Chair of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and was instrumental in bringing about the European single currency .
whether it be fundamental rights , privacy , minority rights , ' European Union citizenship ' or asylum and immigration policy , this confused assortment in fact serves as a pretext for encouraging the federalist ambition of a European bureaucratic superstate .
just like me , at the beginning of this term of office , you had the option of choosing from which coffers your daily allowances would be paid : from the UK coffers or from those of the European Union .
one of the core European support strategies must be to maintain this supportive structure and develop it in a woman-friendly way .
Lady Ashton , we look forward to your actions to correct the present discrimination against new Member States in what will become the EEAS .
the least that we can say is that the Tunisian regime has hardly heard you since your appointment .
Mr President , honourable Members , I believe that what Parliament is about to adopt is a good compromise , reconciling the Council 's demands , the demands of the majority of MEPs and the European Commission 's proposals .
in this respect , we recognise the importance of the communication from the Commission entitled ' Delivering an area of freedom , security and justice for Europe 's citizens - Action Plan Implementing the Stockholm Programme ' , which presents initiatives to help implement the programme .
Mr President , I have to admit that the Treaty of Lisbon and its social commitments read well .
it would be a pity if Nepal spoiled this celebration by continuing to limit the rights of the Tibetan minority and got a red card from the international community as a result .
it likes talks about talks because all that time gives it the opportunity to keep changing the facts on the ground and making a two-state solution that much harder to achieve .
it will make travelling quicker and easier .
I consider that to be a given in a functioning internal market with respect for inviolable human rights .
what would have happened if they had tried to do the same thing with the President of the United States of America , Barack Obama , who also recognised and paid tribute to the 1848 Hungarian War of Independence , had he wished to come to Romania ?
( NL ) I pointed yesterday to Turkey 's unassailable position as an aspiring Member State and this report merely confirms that special status .
everyone here clearly agrees that this is not possible .
we strongly agree with making explicit a woman 's right to return to the same job , 20 weeks maternity leave and reasonable paternity leave .
Beijing 's latest act of oppression was the decision to introduce Chinese as the compulsory official language in Tibet , even though the people speak Tibetan and consider Mandarin to be a foreign language .
administrative burdens and costs have to be proportionate to the environmental benefits , because if that is the case , we will have a win-win situation which would help businesses meet their environmental commitments , bring significant support in the fight against climate change , and have the potential to improve health conditions for young and old people across my region .
gender equality and equal opportunities are fundamental EU principles and should therefore apply universally , without exception , to all EU workers .
at a time when we are considering the future of the CAP , it seems necessary not to overlook this need and this right - which should be universal - to food for all .
I am of the opinion that the resolution in question tackles these areas well and have therefore voted in favour of this resolution .
good quality , affordability and accessibility for everyone are essential for this , since it is an instrument for equal opportunities and integration .
this legislation will also ensure greater transparency , thereby guaranteeing equal access to information , making pricing more transparent , increasing trust in the market , and helping to avoid any possible manipulation or any sort of manipulation of the market .
I voted in favour of the Auken report on the impact of extensive urbanisation in Spain on individual rights of European citizens , on the environment and on the application of EU law , on the basis of petitions which I have received .
Corrigendum ( Rule 216 ) : see Minutes
energy security , rising energy costs and climate change are perhaps the greatest challenges facing Europe in the 21st century .
the EU and Tunisia were in the process of formulating the Action Plan for the period 2011-2016 , and this process will require both partners to commit themselves to achieving greater progress on all the issues involved , in particular that of human rights and fundamental freedoms .
we need to take measures in this area without delay .
moreover , we have recently launched a bilateral human rights dialogue with the Colombian Government which provides a channel for a more regular and systematic exchange of information and experience in the human rights field , and will help inform technical cooperation .
we therefore hope , Commissioner , that you will bear in mind this position in the measures that will be developed , acknowledging the Member States ' complete legitimacy to continue legislating at this time .
sometimes , the costs of exclusion are greater than those of inclusion , when we take account of the benefits that this brings .
congratulations , Mr Mandelson .
therefore I have tried to cover all the cases .
statistics are used by Member States , by the EU , internationally and by many other stakeholders for a variety of purposes .
it is our wish and our duty to preserve them .
what is more , there is a serious risk that Turkey is about to launch a large-scale military attack on Iraq .
in Darfur , in particular , several international NGOs , including Médecins du Monde , say that it is becoming more and more difficult for them to reach the victims outside the camps for the displaced and that there is a fresh upsurge of violence against the people and humanitarian workers .
I would say that Switzerland is not just a beautiful and orderly country ; it is of great interest to the European Union due to its direct democracy , the confederation of cantons .
the same applies to the cabotage rules .
this must be used to achieve more ambitious goals set by the EU .
on account of this , I voted for this resolution , and I agree with the idea that in the airline sector , we must also regulate this gap in our legal system , something which has prevailed today .
substantial and much needed economic growth followed .
you have our full support here .
it related to the attitude which you adopted 10 years ago following the Asian crisis : an attitude which you today consider was insufficiently firm towards those who thought that these were passing problems .
this campaigning was designed to cover up the lack of freedom , as well as the scarcity of oranges and meat .
I believe that the slots belong to the public and not to the airports or the airlines , and that is why we must pay particular attention to this in the future .
we knew from the very beginning that transforming Europe into a low-carbon economy is not an easy task .
according to information from the BBC , France wanted a power of attorney of general , worldwide scope , not just for Somalia , but was fortunately unable to win through on this .
in particular , states should commit to policies aimed at collaborating with the International Criminal Court and protecting the victims of violence .
I hope that the report we have adopted will further accelerate the implementation of the Europeana project .
some progress has been made in the case of large undertakings , with the adoption of the regulation on the European Private Company Statute on 8 October 2001 .
it is clear that there can be no simple way of maintaining these systems .
however , I should like to join those who have pointed out that the agenda does not end there .
unfortunately , although the project was launched back in November 2008 , it is not making progress , primarily due to obstacles over copyright , as well as reduced funding .
so it is the whole control and supervision chain that failed .
that applied years ago to the steel industry , and it must now apply to Opel and to the car industry in Europe as a whole .
so , after 11 : 00 on Wednesday , 16 February , no more additional motions or amendments will be accepted .
we cannot say , on the one hand , that we are members of this Stability and Growth Pact and of the euro area , and , on the other , that our budget has nothing to do with the euro , or that this is a strictly national competence .
are we on the side of repression , an alien way of life , the exploitation of the Uighur region 's natural assets , or of the preservation of cultures , freedom and peoples ' right of self-determination ?
the wave of indignation in the countries of Africa and their peoples ' struggles , in particular , those of the peoples of Tunisia and Egypt , demand our greatest attention and solidarity .
but the ageing population is one of the most pressing challenges for the future and we know that dementia is one of the main causes of disability and dependence among the elderly .
the proposed Regulation which is submitted today provides for the deletion of Article 5 , which ceased to be valid in 1961 , and an amendment to Article 6 , aimed at reducing the carriers ' administrative obligations by abolishing their obligation to retain copies showing full price information , since this information is included anyway on the consignment notes and in the carriers ' accounting systems .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , President of the Commission , President-in-Office , ladies and gentlemen , the Lisbon European Council marks a return to a Europe of achievements and added value .
finally , I do not wish to express my thanks .
on a local level it has come to mean job insecurity and , worse still , the loss of jobs in manufacturing and services , which I saw at first hand in my own community in Wales , where I live , earlier this year with the closure of the Burberry factory , which meant the loss of hundreds of jobs in a very poor area , a convergence area .
it is also possible to say the same about other regions , with due reference to their specific needs and integration processes .
in writing . - ( PT ) Being fully aware of the retrospective nature of the resolution , we voted in favour , mainly because of the content of paragraphs 7 and 8 , which :
the aim of the report is to extend by a further five years the current requirement for EU countries to have a minimum standard VAT rate of 15 % .
more than ever , the Community must speak with one voice , and solidarity among the Member States is the basis for that .
Commissioners , I believe that your approach of using the financial crisis to erode the rights of workers is also a cynical one .
neither the European Union nor a Member State should set limits on anyone who is willing to work extra hours or hold several part-time positions and they should assume that the employer has not coerced the employee to do so .
it is essential for appropriate resources to be made available so that the body can operate more effectively .
I hope that these make it through .
I will obviously pay close attention to all Parliament 's suggestions .
( NL ) Madam President , I thought that you had overlooked me .
concerning independent exit polls , this is not an essential element for the elections .
President Mubarak , as he is today - and I respect his long struggle - is incapable of leading the political transition ; it is madness to ask that of him and to let the Mubarak clan square up to the ElBaradei clan today on the streets of Cairo .
I think this is one of the key things they should be doing , and it would be interesting to know why certain Member States have not yet actually signed up to the relevant conventions and protocols .
at present we are faced with a cold political calculation .
the combination of the demographic issue with the migration issue poses potential risks and we cannot simply count on these populations for demographic renewal .
although it does not get it from Schengen , it gets it individually from each Member State .
this is truer now than ever .
I will work on this with Commissioner Špidla , who is responsible for this area of legislation .
thank you , Mr Virrankoski .
it is very easy to criticise , but as a Polish woman , I remember that we were once helped .
for these reasons , I voted for this report .
we also urgently need to ensure that Mauritania requires that third countries with which it establishes other agreements should respect the same rules followed by vessels flying the EU flag , so preventing competitive inequalities that put the EU fleet at a disadvantage .
when the Federation of Municipalities of the Czech Republic raised comments on the position of our government towards the EU 2020 strategy , not only were these comments not incorporated , but the Federation did not even receive a proper response on how the comments were handled .
the calls of politicians for an automatic extension of this regulation is more of a politically populist gesture than a rationally justified step reflecting the changes that have taken place in the EU in the field of telecommunications since 2007 .
it is up to you to implement this budget accurately without wasting a single euro .
on the other hand , any increase in the Community budget will be channelled towards funding the anti-grassroots policy and action of the EU , such as the newly adopted mechanism of the European External Action Service to facilitate the EU 's politico-military imperialist interventionist policy .
freedom of the press is essential in a democratic society .
we did , of course , continue discussions with this country .
Harbour report
furthermore , this is not only about you .
whether Iceland is , perhaps , quite well prepared for membership is another issue .
there are voices warning that the independence of the ECB is in danger , one of the reasons being that the informal meetings of the Finance Ministers of the Eurozone will receive , under the Treaty of Lisbon , an official status .
I welcome that the Commissioner wants to provide more money to the producer organisations , but this is still not sufficient to resolve the sector 's concerns .
as Vice-Chair of the Delegation for relations with Canada , I even had to witness , at one point , a situation where Canada acted as a mediator between the European Union and the United States .
Irish turf-cutters and bog owners are now being asked to cease cutting turf for personal use .
as we all know , the 27 EU Member States go about selling television rights for major sporting events in different ways .
there is a need for better coordination of human and veterinarian research on resistance , as well as further research on new antibiotics , alternative treatments and animal disease prevention and control practices .
ladies and gentlemen , I have encountered a difficulty .
I think it could be more accurately described as a little step in the right direction : one small step in the right direction .
we cannot accept that we need legislation in this regard , and when we reach the figures , we turn back .
I hope that Friday 's European Council will be an important milestone in this respect .
( the President briefly cut off the speaker )
the result , as we can see today , would be suspicion of incompetence , presumption of illegitimacy and tension between political families .
( FR ) Mr President , President-in-Office of the Council , like the President of the European Parliament , like many other fellow Members , I am a child of the ruins of the Second World War , and I very much appreciate the dedication that you therefore put in your speech , which flouts scepticism .
is that the line you want to take or not ?
what is the influence of the financial crisis on these discussions ?
the report on bi-regional cooperation between the European Union and the Latin American and Caribbean countries , which the joint presidency presented at the previous , fourth summit meeting in Vienna , is proof of the substantial progress which has been achieved so far in the actual implementation of the commitments made .
however , freezing further financing for the NCTS , as proposed in the report , would be counterproductive to the necessary further development of more effective transit control .
that said , it is true that European law is not properly applicable , as Union law is not directly applicable in a territory that is not an outermost region .
the aid measures provided by the Commission cover three aspects .
however , what the report emphasises is the presence of women in industry : women have low-paid jobs in low-paid industry branches , they are in the majority where there are no trade unions , and consequently no guarantees under collective agreements ; women work in vulnerable industry branches , and they are the first to be laid off in the event of mass redundancy .
the main reason - the time taken for translation - accounts for about nine months .
I do not accept that the Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base ( CCCTB ) will not hamper EU competitiveness as proposed in the Toubon report .
falsified medicines are a global danger .
however , this support must be made conditional on specific terms and requirements .
I am extremely worried about the role of the United Nations troops in the Congo at present : the Moroccans , the Pakistanis and the Indians .
we must think European , we must think global , and our national action must be concerted and coordinated , with scope for the Commission to take initiatives .
I therefore propose that this identity marking be taken to Doha as a useful contribution to the debate .
alleviating the shortage of organs is a serious challenge for Europe .
I am therefore pleased with the initiative of drafting a report specially devoted to combating this problem .
in writing . - ( NL ) The transport sector accounts for one fifth of greenhouse gases .
ladies and gentlemen , sustainable development is not an outdated concept , a passing fad of politicians and environmentalists .
I believe that it was indeed vitally urgent to simplify the legislative framework in this respect .
these are just a few examples .
I would also warn against taking the voluntary approach .
I would like to see that as part of its safety brief , the ' intelligent car ' should disallow use of mobile telephones and that mobile telephones in cars should be installed in such a way that they do not take the driver 's attention away from the road .
what plans does it have to provide European citizens with information in the run-up to the election and induce them to take part in the European elections in the context of unfavourable developments affecting issues of importance to the EU concerning international economic and trade relations ?
thirdly , why are you undertaking staff changes in the relevant department at this particular time ?
it has lumped all funds not already covered by the UCITS Directive , from investment trusts to hedge funds , in a single mixed bag of expensive legislation .
all of the eminent people happily stand there and tell everyone how much they like Europe , but when it comes to doing something and actually implementing these things , the Council suddenly has problems .
however , just as he stopped speaking , the interpreters said : ' he really is speaking too quickly .
moreover , the new legal basis for instruments or policies related to the common foreign and security policy ( CFSP ) are also established , for instance the sanctions against non-state entities , space policy and energy security , combating climate change , prevention of international terrorism and protection of personal data .
the stories given by both sides were totally different on certain issues , so that was the moment when we started to push the monitoring issue .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , to bring citizens closer to Europe there is a need , as I said in the European Convention for the new treaty , to give Europe a soul , that respects the various languages and identities , reaffirming common roots and values , and you have tried to express that soul in your speech today , President-in-Office .
the directive is the first important step towards legislation that aims to provide justice and transparent procedures to achieve a more effective policy on return at European level .
the EU has , until recently , been boasting of the improving situation of women on the labour market , and in securing education , decent living standards , access to women 's healthcare or greater representation in constitutional bodies , but the deepening crisis seems to have consigned this to the margins of Community interest .
it is the aim of the Iranian Government to silence all opposition once and for all both inside and outside the country .
I now want to thank the Belgian Presidency for its tireless efforts on the financial dossiers , you and your teams , Commissioner , and , obviously , my fellow Members in the European Parliament who participated in this study and who supported our positions .
the entire Green Paper is based on the erroneous assumption that , as long as I impose a legal obligation on the taxpayer to invest a portion of the resources assigned to the pension system into a fund not guaranteed by the state , he will get a higher pension that he would from the first pillar alone .
I am not aware of any recent changes in the situation in Uzbekistan , other than the fact that the Council is deliberating on whether or not to remove the travel bans on Uzbek leaders .
let us work together to that end .
who can believe in a lasting solution if the political and territorial unity of Palestine is not guaranteed ?
the European Union has played a fundamental role in this process and has already contributed EUR 3.7 billion since 2002 .
he was arrested by Igor Smirnov 's regime in the self-proclaimed Republic of Transnistria .
the existence of an aggressive , violent minority , whether it consists of Muslims , Christians , Jews or members of other faith communities , can never provide a justification for attacking other religions .
the disquiet that is beginning to be felt in the European media conveys a whole range of mixed messages .
however , due to differences of culture and tradition , and also in the system of organisation , there are different approaches to this issue within the Member States .
is it your Directorate-General ?
in very blunt terms , more older people means increased spending on pensions and health .
the Court also reports improvements in internal policies , such as research programmes , and external actions .
we are also seeing refugees coming to Europe now - to Lampedusa and to Malta .
indeed , all along we have argued that a resolved Kosovo helps Serbia 's EU aspirations , and today we repeat that we want them to succeed .
let me also say that as a result of earlier debates a more stable and constant platform has been established , including the demography forum and the Alliance for Families .
I find myself almost , indeed entirely , in agreement with the Commissioner on this subject .
this difference is a serious obstacle in building a common identity .
European citizens expect us to ease business-making in the digital sphere where operations like electronic payments and e-identification should be coherent and understandable .
we welcome the Commission 's commitment to a multilateral code of conduct , under the aegis of the International Monetary Fund .
Madam President , Mr Reul , you are the chair of the committee .
it should be made clear where the Commission can act and where the Commission cannot act . it would simply lead to further accusations of a democratic deficit and cynicism and anger on behalf of citizens if a million signatures were to be gathered for a petition and then it were deemed to be outside the competence of the EU .
these projects are continuing in the Seventh Framework Programme ; they are now linked to the implementation of the European Research Area .
that is why the ships need to be adapted to the river , rather than vice versa .
I think that it is very important that the Spanish Presidency has decided to make a priority of the fight against violence .
I want to ask you whether we can have any hope that this will happen .
the Commission shares the broad analysis on the causes of the food crisis which hit many developing countries in the first part of 2008 .
I would like to thank the rapporteurs for their work .
the blasphemy laws , which carry the death penalty , are incompatible with the common values we seek to promote in our relations with Pakistan .
this is the ultimate goal we set ourselves , and I do believe that we are close to achieving it .
here I sit with my colleagues , Daniel Hannan and Chris Heaton-Harris , who are also members of a great organisation called the Direct Democracy Movement .
a hope for return to democratic governing was heard in 1990 when the National League for Democracy ( NLD ) won a national election .
only a very few recommend putting this to the vote in the company 's general meeting .
perhaps more sensitivity might be shown next time , I hope .
rapporteur . - ( PT ) In view of the permanent structural disadvantages and conditioning factors affecting the outermost regions , specific measures to promote their socioeconomic development must be adopted .
however , the greatest beneficiary of the changes that have been introduced will be the consumer .
the European Investment Bank should be even more active in these key areas .
in writing . - ( DE ) GPS currently already provides many of the services that would be offered by the European satellite radionavigation programme Galileo .
the decision on whether and when to open Article 260 proceedings against Italy will depend mainly on the content of the waste management plan and the timing of the measures used to immediately address the problem in a convincing way .
we are therefore facing a humanitarian crisis that is not being reported in the media , due to other current international crises , even though it is truly shocking .
we have to tread new ground , because this is not an easy field .
for the other continents , this also shows that one of their main partners is already committed ; it is the proof that this is possible .
it goes without saying that the constitution of every Member State should reflect and comply with the European values of freedom , democracy , equality , rule of law , human dignity and respect of human rights , including the rights of persons belonging to minorities , without discrimination , as laid down in Article 2 of the Treaty .
the Commission has also been in close contact with Vietnam on this issue in order to provide all necessary assistance and expertise .
we are the only political level which has a zero budget .
Mr Lambrinidis , there is a proper procedure for distributing the Minutes .
it is entirely appropriate , therefore , that the report highlights this aspect and focuses quite rightly on gender issues .
by the way , we are having great difficulty with the Polish translation , which does not convey the meaning .
it requires open dialogue , not confrontation ; it requires us to address the real and perceived disconnection that some young people are experiencing .
the US case against European support for Airbus and the European case against US subsidies to Boeing are currently at the WTO Panel stage and the European legal position has been defended .
our problem , in the European Union , is that we are often too timid .
2 .
still , economic , financial and , to an increasing extent , political actions are widely dominated by the crisis .
there are three potential stumbling blocks for Copenhagen , relating not just to financing : the clear lack of ambition as regards emission reduction pledges from some developed countries outside the European Union ; the reluctance of major developing countries - the big emerging economies - to come forward with convincing proposals for their mitigation actions ; and also the absence of a solid financial offer by the developed countries on the negotiation table .
European-level supervision of export credits should be introduced as an exception when a distortion of competition within the internal market occurs .
next , an ambitious goal concerning the reduction in inequalities : for example , reducing the level of poverty in Europe by 50 % by 2020 ; that certainly would not be a maximum to achieve .
this is a task which still faces us , although many countries have now invested billions in this area and have been looking for a reliable solution for 30 years .
in the Charter of Fundamental Rights , the concept of the right of a child to both parents is also introduced .
this extremely significant decision is intended to strengthen the credibility and reliability of the evidentiary process , and , in so doing , to increase the confidence of society in law enforcement agencies and the justice system .
first , the IMF has played a key role , in cooperation with the European Union , in overcoming the sovereign debt crisis in Europe , for which Dominique Strauss-Kahn made a major contribution as the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund .
in any case , however , we worked together on exactly the same text and now he is opposed to it !
there is no possibility of ' proportionality ' and ' reciprocity ' in the case of bulk data storage and transfer , since it involves a series of uncontrollable dangers , specifically relating to who has access , how the data are used and for what purpose .
I think it is unacceptable that he does not want to discuss this with us .
to focus on just two issues , one question asked citizens to rank in order of preference how we could rapidly move out from the crisis .
we do not want duplication within the different institutions in terms of what we do .
therefore , I do support these two concepts , but not for the security policy .
even though only 7 % of the population of the EU lives in cities with over 5 million inhabitants , compared with 25 % in the United States of America , in numerous urban areas , including in Greece , the population is increasing .
first , the issue of establishing a Community financial measure for the implementation of the common fisheries policy .
I have heard no real , serious link on that .
this report , in its focus on fundamental rights , will go a long way to making the Internet safer .
what has motivated this change of heart ?
in the meantime , the EU is willing to engage with the present government to persuade it to use the opportunity of the elections in order to change the situation and to start a positive phase in the history of Burma .
we now have a first report on this pilot project with the European public spaces .
the actions of the European Union have been a success , but we are still far from finished and far from achieving our objective .
in this communication , the Commission has sought greater rigour and uniformity in the criteria for apportioning aid to farmers in areas with natural handicaps .
let us remember that in this area in particular , we are dealing with a system of interconnected vessels - a weakness in one part will have a disastrous effect on the rest .
force can only be eliminated by striking at its roots .
we should also bear in mind that the Haitian people must always be an integral part of the whole reconstruction process , along with their government .
we have to wait for this communication to be produced .
in this field , the rules on competition are stricter than those on State aid .
as long as we fail to promote these common frameworks at European level , whether we like it or not , there will sometimes be some crimes which exploit the loopholes and ultimately , we shall not achieve the dispensation of justice we are striving for precisely because no such frameworks exist .
the next item is the report by Bart Staes , on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control , on the implications of the agreement between the Community and the Member States with Philip Morris on intensifying the fight against fraud and cigarette smuggling and progress made in implementing the recommendations of Parliament 's Committee of Inquiry into the Community Transit System
this has left a bitter aftertaste , however , because the actual process of negotiation in the international community is far too slow and we should have adopted such an agreement at least a year ago .
lastly , I believe that we should step up the dialogue with third countries .
the only way in which these recommendations can acquire political legitimacy is to ensure that national parliaments are involved from the very outset , throughout the process of the European semester , and yet the Council conclusions only mention these parliaments in passing , in the same category as regions , social partners and NGOs .
both asked that Parliament grant them extra time , so that they can answer the requests that we personally formulated on the interim agreement .
I support both reports because I believe we need both framework decisions and because a reasonable balance has been struck between measures to ensure security and freedom of the individual .
we still believe that this would be a very beneficial tool in the fight against deception , fraud and secrecy concerning EU funds in the individual countries .
a condition for building a normal democratic system in Ukraine is respect for the rights of the opposition , and we must say this very clearly from here , today .
there are also the challenges posed by climate change , which are more difficult to control , and all these challenges create the urgent need to make the developing countries ' population more resistant to systemic social deficiencies .
we have made an impact assessment .
the second element is the strengthening of economic governance , and here the European Parliament has a decisive role .
in terms of air quality , there are three improvements on the original proposal .
you have quoted Article 229 completely correctly , but it is not in conflict with our amendment .
it is about saying that we need to move forward .
we support the coupling of agricultural aid to production , allowing the agri-foodstuffs production of countries such as Portugal to grow and , in general , allowing its primary sector to modernise .
the rest is of trifling importance .
if this partnership is based on common values , then the Europeans also have to react when Africans react when something goes wrong in Africa .
we must be well aware that talking about a low-emission economy means a kind of Copernican revolution for the production system ; it means changing many things , having clear priorities and political will but , above all , sufficient resources and instruments .
the significant discrepancies with regard to the definition and admission criteria applied to highly qualified workers obviously restrict their mobility throughout the whole of the European Union , affecting the efficient redistribution of legally residing human resources and preventing regional imbalances from being eliminated .
- Before the vote on Amendment 812 :
NATO 's operation Ocean Shield is working well off the coast of Somalia to combat piracy , although it is in danger of duplicating the work of the larger EU Common Security and Defence Policy mission Atalanta .
thank you in advance .
I also heard the Council 's last two statements .
the latest detention was that of Gorki Águila , leader of a rock band , who has now fortunately been released .
through this vote we are giving great support to the beneficiaries of EU funds as well as to the initiating departments .
secondly , with regard to monetary policy , I , along with the whole of my group , am an advocate of radical independence for the Central Bank , but independence does not equate to immunity from criticism .
in writing . - ( IT ) Mr President , I voted in favour of the Manders report on the protection of consumers , in particular minors , in respect of the use of video games .
( applause )
despite the progress made with the amendments to the legislation on criminal procedures and other primary laws , some aspects are still substantially behind schedule .
lastly , there has been the launch of the SESAR industrial project , a real addition to the Single Sky .
none of this , however , has resulted in an analysis capable of preventing what has happened and is still happening in various African countries .
labour Euro MPs do not believe that families should continue to bear the full cost of the UK 's budgetary contribution .
the verdict expressed by my vote has a broader context .
the prime minister wants to lift the ban on wearing headscarves and the age limit for Koran schools , while at the same time discriminating against religious minorities and harassing them on an ongoing basis .
weak regional security and inter-community tensions affect the internal situation of the country , especially in the Ogaden , where access to the population still remains constrained .
the objectives concerning the use of renewable energy sources must be realistic .
I am pleased in this respect that the report also mentions the Millennium Development Goals .
in Central Europe , and especially in Hungary , there are many seriously disabled persons who are living in old , dilapidated buildings .
that is , we need to limit our use of fossil fuels rather than try to find alternatives for storing the emissions underground .
it is clear , therefore , that we face a crash test of the strength of the European currency and , more importantly , of the intentions of the leaders of the European Union to defend it .
the fact that the votes in the committee were 11 to 9 in favour of not concluding the agreement is also very worrying .
it is an incremental process , rather than a big bang or a sudden shock .
the legal situation at European level regarding the law applicable to the divorce and legal separation of spouses of different nationalities is currently very confusing .
CE marking is pointless if it is not based on genuine product safety .
for example , the extent of the right may be specified by reference to the territory to be fished , the amount of fish to be harvested , the effort allowed or some mixture of these .
President of the Commission . - As you said , Mr Verhofstadt , we have been raising the issue with our Russian partners and , in fact , the European Union has already publicly reacted to the proceedings against Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev through the declaration by High Representative Catherine Ashton .
unlike Denmark , the Faroes are not a member of the European Union and do not form part of the customs union .
but restoring health to financial institutions is also key to regaining the confidence of consumers and returning economic growth , let alone taxpayers ' money .
these indirect taxes , tradable permits and subsidies , I think , will assist the European Union to achieve its emissions targets .
let me tell you this , as well : we , the PPE Group , will not be cowed by this accusation .
you are the only candidate .
this increases a person 's opportunities in the labour market .
the implementation of intelligent transport systems ( ITS ) in urban areas will increase energy efficiency and transport safety .
I do not know - and this raises some other questions - whether we will come up with an appropriate amount of money to put on the table for funds to help the developing countries with mitigation and adaptation , because we are just at the beginning of our talks with the US and other partners and it would not make sense to show our cards right now .
I believe that further compromise talks would lead to a worse result or would end in no result at all .
this whole discussion is based on the energy report published by the Commission last January , because we could suddenly see that we were depending heavily on imports of energy , especially from our eastern neighbours , and secondly : how could we contribute to the reduction of CO2 or greenhouse gas emissions ?
accordingly , the proportion of irregularities in the agricultural sector rose by 43 % and in the area of structural funds by 23 % , while the total figure in the structural funds area actually rose by 109 % .
at present , this transaction is not possible , which means that consumers do not actually have the right to purchase products ( banking , in this case ) from any EU Member State .
we have coordinators and shadow rapporteurs who are competent and follow the legislative process .
I therefore support the package of measures that the European Commission has tabled on economic governance .
UCITS are in some way a trade mark for the European financial markets ; they are a good export product .
we also believe that great attention must be paid to avoiding child labour .
he has done a fine job .
I doubt that a minimum excise duty rate - for fuel , for example - would increase economic competitiveness .
we also very much appreciate the attention given to Bosnia Herzegovina by this Parliament .
the role and future of macro-regional strategies may be related to the debate over the future use of European funds , although in our view , it is unnecessary for today 's debate to extend into a discussion on the future architecture of the cohesion policy and the anticipation of potential financial allocations designated for individual states in the coming financial perspective .
I hope that Member States will rise to the challenge when it comes to looking for better solutions on winding-up .
( BG ) We all agree with the conclusion made in Mrs. Harkin 's excellent report that volunteering can play an important role for the development of local communities , civil society and democracy .
in writing . - ( IT ) I am voting in favour of the Brejc report .
could the Slovenian Presidency please comment on the current status of the ratification process of the Lisbon Treaty ?
the vote will take place tomorrow at 12 : 00 .
then you present the lowest common denominator , and often at times when events have already moved on
in fact we do agree with the vast majority of the text : integrating conflict analysis into cooperation , support for civil and local society , combating the proliferation of light arms , the need for a code of conduct for soldiers and the police , references to reproductive health , transparency in the use of natural resources and support for refugees .
most of the refugees are in Tunisia and Egypt .
the final agreement satisfies the majority of Parliament 's requests , protecting both the security and the private lives of EU citizens and guaranteeing legally binding solutions to the problems under examination .
the last point I would like to make in relation to ESA , apart from to endorse the report of Mr Caspary - with some of the amendments which have been tabled - is to mention the situation of the Chagos Archipelago .
as an example of action at European level , we will develop a more integrated European standardisation system as an important platform for sharpening the competitive edge of our companies , particularly SMEs .
we must talk about the pictures and ask ourselves what Europe is achieving and what its job is .
however , the short-sighted approach of the Centre Right does not provide a sound basis for credible and coherent reform .
I wonder what the Commission has done in the two years to avoid this current crisis .
a feature of a good multilingual policy would be to protect these languages .
Parliament is free to appoint either external personalities or Members and it will be Parliament 's responsibility to choose its preferred level of representation on the Governing Board .
I think that this would be an effective way to combat cyber-terrorism .
that is the only way we will make any progress .
the draft text of your amending Treaty is not without its faults : the loss of Europe 's symbols is a blow to federalists , as is the fudge on voting systems wrought by the Poles .
we must now prepare and establish in practice an environment in which it will be easier for us to make effective use of new systems and as wide a variety of applications as possible , without limiting ourselves too narrowly in advance .
it would be excellent if the French President could start a serious debate on sorting out the issue of Parliament 's two seats : let us concentrate all activities in Brussels and avoid the monthly move to Strasbourg ( where the site could be used for other purposes , such as the centre of technological excellence ) : this ' trip ' actually represents a huge and unjustified waste of financial and energy resources .
in this technically-oriented meeting , we asked the industry to ensure that all possible efforts were made to prevent comparable accidents in the vicinity of European coasts .
without a risk analysis it is impossible to determine the effect of these substances on health or the environment .
Parliament calls once more on the Centre to set out , in a table to be annexed to the Court of Auditors ' next report , a comparison of the operations that were carried out during the year for which discharge is to be granted and during the previous financial year , so as to enable the discharge authority to assess more effectively the Centre 's performance from one year to the next .
in the end , the Lisbon Treaty is the necessary step forward for the European institutions system to operate more efficiently , under the ever more difficult global conditions to which every Member State has to respond : economic competitiveness , climate change , price increases for natural resources and many other aspects that affect us all .
the GEEREF needs to be spread to different parts of the world , also with a view to spreading the investment risk , and Mr Turmes 's suggestion about the percentage is very correct .
Accra is not a technical meeting .
according to the United Nations agency , an estimated 28 000 people have been displaced since the beginning of the hostilities .
it is important that all who provide funding should be able to dispose of the results of research projects carried out with common EU funds free of charge .
it sometimes seems to me that in certain documents we lament health problems whilst in others we promote GMOs , cloning and importing food from regions where it is produced using methods far removed from natural ones .
your report rightly recognises the importance of giving culture a larger role in international relations .
consistency between an effective partnership with our six neighbours in the East and good mutual cooperation with Russia constitutes the greatest challenge for European politics .
we need a change in mentality and attitude from everyone involved .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( FR ) Mr Higgins , the three multinational battalions that make up the EUFOR forces in eastern Chad and the Central African Republic are now fully operational .
the European Union is made up of States with very different standards of living .
the European dream is to retire to the French Riviera as soon as possible .
an integrated approach is important and , as I see it , the Italian Government 's approach to the problem is unacceptable .
a degree of conditionality is called for not just in relations with us alone ; a country in which there is no rule of law is also not a good place to invest , because there is no legal certainty .
the war against protectionism is not won in a single battle but by maintaining a general state of alert , day after day .
I have made it clear to the Serbian Government that signature of the SAA is within reach .
since those six months began , we have worked together to take the measures necessary to avert a crisis in the euro area .
back then , it would have been business as usual .
subject : excess transport in the Baltic Sea
the situation in Egypt merited some reflection , and the relations between Egypt and the European Union also obliged such reflection .
it is genuinely our wish to pursue discussions , in particular within the Social Protection Committee , as well as to improve dialogue with the various stakeholders , both institutional and non-institutional .
I want to spend the few seconds I have here on internal markets .
EU external strategy on Passenger Name Record ( PNR ) ( debate )
EUR 300 million is better than nothing but more drastic action is needed in future to support this industry .
there must also be a meaningful engagement with the Irish people , to rebuild understanding of and support for the European process .
we cannot have one policy in Cotonou for the ACP states and then destroy this policy in Geneva over the banana trade .
does the European Commission intend to prepare a specific communication on the costs of non-Lisbon ?
I voted for this resolution as I feel that the rapporteur 's text is veering towards the European Union assuming bold commitments in the battle against climate change .
it is no wonder then that people turn away from EU politics , regarding it as something that does not belong to them or when they flatly reject it .
( FR ) Madam President , I believe there is , nonetheless , a great paradox in this debate .
we believe that cohesion policy should be safeguarded .
it is no coincidence that we see that in the new Member States , where the debate has now begun and the use of funds has started , inexperience is one of the contributing factors .
in the context of free trade arrangement negotiations , the Commission has taken , is taking , and should take into account the complex nature of the EU 's fishing sector during market access negotiations and ensure there is a balance between the diverse interests affected by trade policy , as I have just mentioned .
I believe that this honesty will provide the basis for persuading citizens to actually support what is decided in Brussels during these times of crisis .
our economies are going through a very difficult period , a period of crisis , the impact of which is being felt by so-called ordinary people in particular .
we need to take tough sanctions .
however , we in this House believe that Parliament has a huge number of instruments available that should be made to work even more efficiently , more smoothly and with greater impact , precisely so that we can overcome the crisis .
it is only now as world cereal prices - in particular wheat - have almost doubled , forcing up the price of feed , and as pressure on productive farmland grows for biofuels and other non-food crops , that some supermarkets have finally begun to panic at the prospect of an actual milk shortage and , as a result , have started paying dairy farmers a slightly higher price .
Madam President , we are obviously all in favour of protecting vulnerable marine ecosystems from destructive fishing practices .
namely , 60 % of them are not concerned that their children might fall victim to harassment ; 47 % are not concerned that their children see pornography or violent material ; 62 % are not concerned that their children may divulge personal data .
I also thought of Iraq , where six years after the overthrow of the dictator , members of the oldest Christian communities in the world are being harassed , expelled and killed .
it cannot be that these workers arrive in Europe under unequal conditions with regard to working here , because we will be destroying Europe .
if we try to put all that together in a European Training Foundation it would drain the life out of the training schemes in many countries .
this region suffered from the ever-increasing burden of the instalment repayments covering the inherited debts , as well as the using up of its cheap natural and human resources , while all these generated very significant financial revenue in the Western countries .
mental health depends on several factors , and for this reason in my report on intergenerational solidarity I have emphasised the educational task of parents as regards future generations .
scientific knowledge has led to the political will to take action , and by 2009 all countries , whether developed , emerging or developing , will commit themselves to combating climate change with different but specific targets .
possibilities may include through the EU Solidarity Fund or a reprogramming of the structural and rural development funds .
the democratic credibility of the current government may be cast in doubt in the case of the two councillors from Braşov 's local municipal council , Vasile Bran and Iulian Mara , who were elected by local citizens and whose position has not been formalised eight months after the local elections .
as Europeans , we have no independent access to space .
I should also like to congratulate you , Commissioner , because , at a given moment , you managed to ensure that Parliament 's role as colegislator was somewhat denied us , since , through an agreement reached by the social partners , you made us see that only the points raised by them could be debated by us .
in your explanatory statement , Mrs Jordan Cizelj , you say that , in general , industry in the EU is healthy and dynamic .
while I welcome the possibility of exceptional public aid being granted to the airline sector , which has already suffered a great deal since 11 September 2001 , I am still perplexed about Europe 's management of these events .
as regards on-call time , I do not see any reason not to comply with the Court of Justice judgments .
the economies of many Member States are heavily dependent on agriculture and farming .
the answer is very clear that people then moved about much more and had much more physical activity .
significant and large-scale cocaine seizures in Croatia are mostly connected with sea transport .
the proposal also means a transfer of money from direct aid for agricultural production to rural development , with the focus on the four prioritised areas of climate change , renewable energy , water management and biodiversity .
several hundreds of thousands of jobs have been lost since the beginning of 2005 , albeit fewer than some of the worst predictions .
there is no reason to declare the Member States to be incapacitated in this way in this area .
I recommend that we exercise caution in this area , to ensure that our ambitious plans do not pose a threat to our industrial and commercial competitiveness .
subject : research and maritime professions
I therefore welcome the adoption of this agreement , which will strengthen the bonds of territorial cohesion within Europe and bring about compliance with EU competition law .
honourable Members must understand that there is an immediate urgency and there is a long-term strategy , and we need to have both in what we do .
however , in order to have a strong agriculture , we must also have a strong welfare policy , because I believe the future of European agriculture is very much of a high-quality product and one that has very good welfare standards .
this is the challenge that all Member States and enterprises must tackle and this is the best legacy that we can leave to our children .
the roadmap drawn up by ESFRI was certainly a step forward towards better planning of research infrastructure at European level .
this provides greater legal certainty to patients in frontier areas , people who are visiting another country , patients with rare diseases and patients facing long waiting times .
even Mr Sarkozy has now proposed this , and Mr Steinmeier and others are talking about it now .
Europe promotes the right of every man , woman and child to be protected from persecution and discrimination .
it will also benefit business to become very energy efficient , in a future where energy is becoming still more expensive .
that is awful .
when financial flows are international , supervision can no longer be national .
this is clearly symbolised by the fact that the Grand Mufti is accompanied on today 's visit by high-ranking religious leaders .
this creates an opportunity for regional airports to develop and for the range of air travel services on offer to the public to expand .
we know that Europe needs more workers , not least nationals from third countries .
the economic recovery is under way in Europe .
so , I simply have the pleasure of announcing that the report I am tabling this morning also covers eurobonds , because the debate must take place here , in plenary .
I concur , on the other hand , with the perspective that my colleague , Mr Posselt , has embraced , saying that we are talking about torture , which is absolutely prohibited under international law .
I would ask those displaying them to now take them down .
as well as the positive aspects , there are also negative ones , because excessive restrictions have been introduced on the movement of the residents of countries which share a border with the EU , and this means mainly the new countries , such as Poland and Latvia .
the long-standing wishes of producers are focused on naming and labelling .
however , the organisation of the banking structure in a Member State is solely a matter for the Member State concerned .
now a word on behalf of our already hard-pressed farmers , many of whom have written to my constituency office to strongly question the need for a directive on soil protection .
unfortunately , I have also found nothing on this subject in the work programme for 2009 .
we are not yet satisfied , however , with the arrangements for future interaction between the Commission , the European Space Agency and the Galileo Supervisory Authority .
we expect that both the Member States and the Commission will be transparent , so that we can then act at that level .
first of all , I would like to call upon Mrs Harms to speak so that she can give the grounds for this request .
I would also like to inform you that Mr Pino Arlacchi joined the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament with effect from 18 November 2010 .
however , I have not been elected to offer praise ; I have been elected to highlight the more thorny aspects of the debate .
and , as they say in Star Wars , may the fourth be with you .
at this time of crisis , it is all the more important for us to use all the methods at our disposal to combat tax evasion and fraud in order to meet the exceptional costs that are necessary to remedy the effects of the crisis and to reduce the high budget deficits as much as possible .
this has been a minimum human right , the right to human dignity , since Antigone .
these issues must be confronted and addressed immediately by this Parliament to assure the citizens of Cambodia that this Parliament continues to support and defend their right to Democracy .
I respect the authority of the President in Parliament .
for this reason , we must promote the increased use of renewable energy sources to the greatest extent possible .
firstly , the over one thousand agreements already in existence must be retained .
what did we get ?
we are also debating discrimination against women today , and when debating this strategy , it is therefore also necessary to talk about discrimination against women from minority groups in particular .
it also includes EU support for milk and fruit in schools , which may well be important , but it is not something that the EU should be taking decisions on .
sites like Twitter are subject to US legislation , as their servers are based in the US .
as I said , this is part of the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum , and in this respect , in its conclusions in December last year on enlargement , the Council welcomed the initiation of strengthened dialogue on migration with Turkey , and asked for specific measures to be adopted , for example readmission , border controls , etc .
a debate that is focused solely on the drudgery of imposing sanctions will not make Europeans want to get involved again with their Member States in the project .
of course , the text submitted to us takes a certain number of steps forwards , but it also still contains many contradictions .
at the same time , there is an ethnic discrimination of sorts within extreme poverty , and we must therefore pay special attention to the Roma when providing opportunities .
it includes in its scope the transport of dangerous goods by inland waterways , which has not been covered by EU legislation to date .
it should , however , be emphasised that support for development of the potential of national judiciary in the Balkans is a fundamental matter , so that local courts will be able to continue the work which the Tribunal has begun .
goals should be set for each country separately so that the varying potential for savings is taken into account as well as current achievements in this area .
so I say to my Eurosceptic friends : ' get over it ' .
it belongs to the Camorra , who we must fight .
in writing . - ( SV ) We voted for Olle Schmidt 's report on the ECB annual report .
we therefore support the amendments tabled .
if the burden were sensibly spread across Europe then there would not be a problem at all .
the unhindered passage of vessels is an absolute precondition for the development of international commerce : the European Union cannot tolerate acts of piracy taking place against Community fishing boats off the coast of Somalia , a rich hunting ground for thieves operating at sea .
it is the objective of the Commission , and of us all , to guarantee our fellow citizens a comfortable and secure standard of living within a framework that fosters the competitiveness of European companies .
how is it conceivable that a country can use this issue for political purposes , remaining out of step with the rest of Europe , with Article 2 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights , and out of step with perhaps the most longstanding common objectives of its external policy ?
he took a number of important decisions during 2006 , including , not least , on the choice of the languages used in the websites of the European Presidencies of the Council , on inaccurate and misleading information contained in leaflets , posters and video presentations on air passenger rights produced by the Commission , and on access to the audit report of the European Investment Bank .
in writing . - I am afraid I will be voting against this report because it is my view that a framework on the protection of soil is not needed .
the creation in 2007 of an individual Delegation for relations with India has boosted communication with the Lok Sabha , the Indian Parliament , and Parliament 's delegation will certainly be called on to play a leading role , particularly in terms of the drafting of future parliamentary resolutions on sensitive issues affecting relations between India and the European Union .
under the new provisions in place since 2004 , this automatically triggered a review of the product 's benefit-risk balance , which led to the adoption of a Commission decision requiring all Member States to revoke any national authorisations for benfluorex containing medicinal products .
I trust that we shall have a fairer distribution in future .
we cannot have a situation where we want to do business but are content to turn a blind eye when Christians are persecuted .
agriculture in the countries of the European Union has many other needs and the farmers who work the land are calling for an agricultural policy that encourages production , guarantees them a decent living and prevents the ongoing desertification of rural areas .
all the achievements we can see are of benefit to Europe and , I must say , given the experience we have on the enlargement process , we have very few regrets on the achievements we have made ; we should have the same perspective when we talk about Turkey , Macedonia or the other countries of the Western Balkans .
it is clear to us that we will emerge from this crisis by working together and that the biggest challenge that Europe currently faces is to cooperate and to strengthen the economic unit that we have , so that we will be able to support each other - rather than weakening the Union as is suggested .
I voted in favour of the report on a proposal for a European Parliament recommendation to the Council on setting up an EU rapid response capability to address the various major natural or man-made disasters which have occurred outside the EU in recent years .
my second point is about the product of beekeeping , the honey .
the recent take-over , nevertheless , is radically different from the one in 2005 that brought to an end a dictatorial regime and resulted in an exemplary transition to democracy strongly supported , politically and financially , by the European Union .
I supported the report by Mr Papanikolaou because I am aware that the consequences of the economic and financial crisis have already reached and affected the fabric of society , especially young Europeans , exposing them to alarming rates of unemployment .
not only is tobacco smoke a major source of air pollution , the chemicals contained in cigarettes expose smokers and non-smokers alike to serious risk .
these firms cannot , at the same time , engage in commercial activities which are similar or relate to their supervisory or rating role .
terrorism is based on both a psychological and a social and media effect .
illegal disposal of toxic waste classed as hazardous has become one of the most lucrative businesses .
what I want to say is that the client who goes to a brothel , or the client who asks for the services of a prostitute , has basically no way of knowing whether she is a ' normal ' prostitute - if that even exists since it is another matter whether there is ever consent to prostitution - or a trafficked woman .
there are just two concerns I would like to raise today .
the example we set is immensely important .
Commissioner Borg , I fully support your work on marine science technology and innovation and your commitment to the Aberdeen Declaration .
society too has lost valuable forests and valuable habitats .
current experience shows that the existing technology still does not ensure that the fingerprints of children under the age of 12 are reliable enough to allow them to be used as a security feature in passports .
moreover , if we really want the implementation process to fully reflect what we agreed upon within Parliament , then it is imperative that the European Parliament remains involved in the process , even after the directive enters into force .
the conflicts in the region have undermined the image of women in the collective memory .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( SV ) Mr President , hunting is an old-established custom .
the Commission also finds that the Member States ' possibility of giving their opinion on any decision is already provided for in Article 9 ( 2 ) and that any informal procedure prior to or after a negotiation should not be contained in this regulation .
the European Neighbourhood Policy should stay in place as a policy .
I must tell you , Mr Reul , that there is one thing which has truly driven me to distraction , and I shall say this before we meet in Bratislava .
I wish to congratulate the rapporteur , Salvador Garriga .
( ES ) Madam President , talking about Tibet here today is a matter of justice and a matter of responsibility .
( NL ) Thank you for that very interesting information , Commissioner .
a motion for a resolution to wind up the debate has been tabled under Rule 103 ( 2 ) of the Rules of Procedure .
the Structural Funds have also played a positive role , which they always do for countries that need to benefit from the cohesion policy , but when the crisis began , decisions were made , for example , to increase the resources that could be advanced from the Structural Funds for countries that benefit from them , in particular for Central and European countries .
secondly , I welcome the simplification and flexibility introduced in this proposal . this is badly needed anyway .
Mr President , last night , I had the privilege of speaking directly to an experienced aid worker about the war in eastern Congo .
in this way , we will avoid duplication of research costs by individual Member States , and we will be sure that citizens ' health is protected equally in each Member State .
many thanks , President-in-Office , for this speech and once again for your great dedication .
we can only make a difference if we work together .
we must now consider ICT as a resource .
did the European Union have a much greater impact on their lives in the interim ?
future EU policy should promote sustainable and environmentally friendly investments which promote good working conditions in businesses affected by foreign investment .
in addition , we are carefully monitoring the implementation of the Greek action plan and the process of closing all the illegal landfills , including the plan for the EU-funded projects .
the top jobs , as we have described them , are important , and they will require people with commitment , dedication and a desire to improve the European Union , not just to be in a job .
instead , my colleague answered the question about jobs in the West Midlands .
the discussions among the three institutions have not been easy , but they were always constructive and guided by a spirit of compromise .
in the UK , we apply the same terms of reference as the ICAO , but the Americans use a different method to calculate the ash drift .
behind them are hundreds of thousands of workers , of families who can see their future going up in smoke , not because they are producing poor quality services or goods but because poorly defined interests are allowed to prevail over more evident and objective interests .
I hope today that , two years after joining , Romanian agriculture will provide an opportunity for a united Europe .
on the other hand , it is high time the Union for the Mediterranean , which was set up last summer , got its secretariat moving in Barcelona and worked on concrete projects .
on behalf of their nations and their peoples , they exercise a check and counterbalance the power of Parliament .
in political terms , so that financial and budgetary planning can take account not only of the impact of European Union rules on the Stability and Growth Pact , but now also of the impact of the new rules on late payments , which , if not satisfactorily managed , could have both a direct and reflex effect on the room for manoeuvre of governments at various levels .
we sincerely thank you for this offer .
it is certainly clear from some speeches we have heard in this House that the current system is not well understood either in some Member States ' administrations or in this House itself .
we will not allow the ' no ' of the French and Dutch peoples to the Constitutional Treaty to be forgotten , nor the deception that its transformation into the Treaty of Lisbon constituted .
the British Government has for many years abandoned them and has done so again in respect of fuel subsidies to help them through their present crisis .
the project will apply from 1 January 2008 for a six-year period .
indeed , in 2004 , they even campaigned on the grounds that we should join the European Union because Hungarian entrepreneurs could then open patisseries in Vienna .
common binding standards on the quality and safety of donations in the 27 Member States absolutely must be adopted in order to improve cross-border exchanges and to increase donation rates .
we also , of course , want to express our solidarity with the victims and their families .
in Europe we are witnessing the systematic collapse and bankruptcy of farms .
request for the defence of parliamentary immunity : see Minutes
the estuary is not the tundra , nor is the savannah the desert .
I thank the Commissioner for having given us an insight into what he is preparing for the next year .
I will permit myself to ask two questions .
we do not always have to be critical of the bad things ; we sometimes have to condone and support the good things .
( the President cut off the speaker )
( PL ) Mr President , as is the case every year , the Committee on Legal Affairs is presenting Parliament with its report regarding the European Commission 's report on the application of EU law and , as is the case every year , members of the Committee on Legal Affairs have many reservations as to the substance and the form in which the Commission prepared the report .
thus we should support the Member States so as to ensure a high quality of education for all and , at the same time , actively prevent the socio-economic segregation of pupils .
people are saying things that are not accurate .
we can learn from each small step before moving on to the next one - evolution and not revolution is the key .
ladies and gentlemen , the Hungarian Presidency considers it especially important that we strengthen the single market .
I support this report .
we are finally beginning to discuss nuclear energy without letting unhelpful feelings and emotions guide us , although some of the amendments tabled and even some of the contributions still do not bear witness to this .
if an amendment to the state aid guidelines is required , then we will prepare a Commission decision , which normally takes two to three months .
we should invest in high-technology products which need highly qualified workers - this is our added value , a sector in which we are unrivalled .
to conclude briefly - the EIB is also having problems in the area of development .
'Yes ' to new ideas - and there are many of those in the conclusions - but what about the outstanding projects that could build confidence amongst our consumers and SMEs ?
the resolution also wholeheartedly denounces the use of political violence by the Mugabe regime and calls for sanctions to be used against those who support it , both inside and outside of Zimbabwe .
there is therefore a need to review the UCITS package , adapt it to investor needs and ensure the competitiveness of the EU fund industry .
nobody really thinks that the army of South Ossetia was bombing Gori and approaching Tbilisi .
as the report has clearly indicated , climate change and environmental protection , as well as the issue of energy security , are closely related to each other .
for all these reasons , we feel that the Lamassoure report is an unacceptable legal , political and institutional regression .
furthermore , poverty continues to be a daily reality for many Europeans including children .
the crisis is likely to have other repercussions at regional level , and wider developments affecting stability throughout Asia .
in this spirit , I hope that with your help , a task group could be formed - or we could call it something else - to bring together the main institutions and key actors in the fight against cancer , not with the intention of creating a new bureaucracy , but in order to achieve better combined results owing to good methods of cooperation .
it should be remembered , however , that the changes being made must not undermine , firstly , the community nature of this policy - we are against its nationalisation - and secondly , the European agricultural model .
this leeway must be dispensed with and for this reason I doubt that what you have done here will be sufficient .
the result - regrettably - is that the funds are not distributed equally to all Member States .
as a former Latvian environment minister , I have been concerned for a long time about what happens in this sphere , about this amazing cruelty towards animals , as well as the fact that this amazing cruelty is practised on an industrial scale .
let me just clarify - the Black Sea region comprises the EU Member States Bulgaria , Greece and Romania , as well as Turkey and ENP partners Armenia , Azerbaijan , Georgia , the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine , as well as the Russian Federation .
culture , like all historical phenomena , is not founded on any homogenous and shared identity : quite the contrary , it is the expression of antagonisms , conflicts and situations of cultural domination .
it is clear that politically based decisions like those taken in relation to Kozloduy cannot be long-term ones in the current development of energy diversity in the European Union .
additionally , this method of working demonstrated its value in the preparation of the report , because it enabled me to take into account almost all the proposals made by my fellow Members , and on 9 September that was reflected in a unanimous vote within the Committee on Regional Development .
why ?
I would like to assure you that the Democrat Party -as a member of the European Popular Party- will act in this way .
( DE ) Madam President , Mrs Malmström , we were all pleased , as were the citizens of Europe , about the revolution in Egypt and Tunisia and the fact that values such as freedom and democracy were suddenly on the agenda .
of course it is not an absolute rule but it concerns specific arrangements .
do you know on what basis the Belgian state was founded ?
the report does not break with the fashion for disciplinary penalties in the Brussels Consensus , seeking only to water these down .
Mr President , since there were also social reasons for the recent events , we should at least have a neutral reference to these .
I would like to remind you that the incentives to encourage sustainable cultivation of energy crops should not jeopardise food production .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , it gives me great pleasure to speak in this great parliamentary Chamber , crowded by Members from all 27 of our Member States .
I had a relatively simple solution to this , namely placing financial responsibility on the Member State in that case .
an expert group on chemicals has also been set up to give the Commission guidance .
( PL ) The European Union has decided to make a charge for emissions of carbon dioxide .
we must arm ourselves against this phenomenon , but we must do so wisely and effectively .
I support the call to the seven Member States which have not yet signed the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse .
their main problem is that , they are so eager to believe that jobs can be created through regulations , they forget that the preconditions and opportunities for new enterprises and new jobs need to be created , because there is no bigger social failure than unemployment and there is no bigger social success than every new job we can achieve in Europe and in our Member States .
the European Union is also working closely with civil society in order to promote the participation of women in the areas of peace and security .
the Russian-Ukrainian crisis has made it clearer than ever that filling in the gaps in our energy infrastructure is to the strategic benefit of all Europe .
in writing . - ( DE ) The prospect of finding work in Europe is attractive for third-country nationals for very understandable reasons .
however , this is exactly what is leading the people of Europe astray .
China 's GDP is catching up with that of the US .
however , the well known , exceptional circumstances in financial , economic and also , now , social terms are the deciding factor for this amendment , which has a majority political support .
after the International Civilian Office has been established , the European Union 's Special Representative will become the High Representative for civilian affairs for the international community .
for this reason , I would like to invite everyone , and the Member States , in particular , to move forward quickly with the ratification process and , in this way , send a signal that the steps that Serbia is taking towards Europe must be supported so that we can achieve security in the region in the long run .
global issues should be addressed at global level , in the UN , where all the EU countries are members .
surely laws are not there for us to block , disrupt or blackmail one another ?
I would like to say one last word about the border regions .
of course , the Stockholm Programme will be what we make it .
a total of 35 % renewable energy in nine years !
this is a very comprehensive report on a major issue for the EU : dealing with the demographic challenge .
for the PSE group . - Mr President , the Fundamental Rights Agency must at last begin to accomplish its important task .
this is also in the Treaty mandate of the ECB , and I think that the ECB 's role in financial supervision should be strengthened .
we are also interested to hear , however , what the Council Presidency has to say about the work done to date by the counter-terrorism unit at European level .
terrorism remains a serious and continuing threat .
I am particularly interested in the last two questions , because the devastating earthquake was the first test faced by the High Representative Baroness Ashton .
the concern over adopting the biometric identification system is based on the natural anxiety about guaranteeing personal security , just as it is also natural to be concerned about how the data obtained is being used and protected .
the fact that the spouses enjoy this right in the divorce procedure increases the parties ' degree of autonomy and enables them to choose freely , in accordance with certain optional criteria .
14 .
we have had to grant the Council these low payments , the Commission has had to grant us the EUR 700 million redeployment for regional development , and we have had to cut back our priorities .
we have learned from our experiences : the EU is definitely living up to its pledge and to our commitment .
however , I do not think that thrombin ' meat glue ' complies with this requirement .
fundamentally , Directive 2004 / 38 guarantees the free movement of all EU Member States citizens , no matter their ethnic origin .
not only did we fail to engage some of the world 's largest emitters , here in Europe only a handful of Member States will actually achieve their Kyoto obligations .
I support the aim of the rapporteur , Mr Ferrari , to introduce safety measures as quickly as possible .
you are therefore right to say that we need to regulate the EU 's financial markets .
we are now 16 countries .
I would say it is more important than Desertec and Nabucco , plus even South Stream and Nord Stream , combined .
I voted in favour of this report because , as it clearly points out , young people are the real resource of the future .
I have no intention of going through the individual points of the regulation headline by headline , but I do think that there are a few important political signals that we should go into at this point .
I am now the President of the Taiwanese Friendship Group in this Parliament .
at the same time , the lessons of more than 10 years of EMU and the recent impact of the crisis call for an updated but still consistent assessment .
an internal communications market that is operating correctly and a competitive information society economy , benefiting consumers and businesses , can only exist if the regulatory framework for telecommunications is coherently applied .
if time limits vary from one jurisdiction to another , consumer confidence will wane quite considerably .
their functioning today , however , is still marked by contradiction .
there are many non-violent peace activists in Iraq , the Palestinian Territories and Israel .
Madam President , I would like to focus on one aspect of what is being proposed .
I am not sure if their status has gone up a whole pile in the meantime .
a comprehensive economic and commercial agreement between Canada and the European Union could end up being the most ambitious and wide-ranging that we have yet concluded .
( PT ) Many of us here in this House use the Internet to book our flights and buy our tickets .
here too , security must not be neglected , notwithstanding the flexibility that is undoubtedly necessary .
it is my particular pleasure to welcome you , Dr Jahangir , to address the plenary on issues of vital importance to world peace and development .
whenever they raise the security issue , they should first raise the organised crimes committed by the Camorra .
the proposal streamlines and speeds up the authorisation process through a centralised food safety evaluation by EFSA and sets precise deadlines at every stage of the procedure .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , Europe was founded on the conviction that it was no longer possible to guarantee well-being , freedom , democracy and peace on the basis of national sovereignty .
more intensive economic growth in the EU can only be achieved by removing the obstacles of the internal market .
obesity is understood to mean excessive deposits of fat in the body . it increases the risk of heart disease , hypertension , atherosclerosis , diabetes , gallstones , kidney and urinary tract stones , bone and joint degeneration , and certain types of cancer .
the massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck Chile in the early hours of Saturday 27 February are a terrible tragedy .
in particular - and this is important - it calls for a refocus on agriculture policy in the developing world , providing assistance to those who can produce food to do so locally .
lessons must be learned from the way this island , the pearl of the Caribbean , has been controlled by international financial institutions that have stifled it with appalling debt and the equally appalling interest linked to that debt .
this has been acknowledged by some representatives of civil society in Belarus .
therefore , I ask you , Mrs Malmström , to pass on to Commissioner Potočnik our clear demand that progress be made in the area of gold production on the part of the Commission , the European legislator .
my thanks in particular to Mr Diamandouros because , thanks to this report , he gave us an opportunity to understand in the European Parliament our power to address issues which we consider to be paramount to European cohesion .
other international organisations are better equipped to coordinate humanitarian aid .
- ( FR ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , our fellow Member , the chairman of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament , Mr Schulz , intends to have the Rules of Procedure of this House changed , on the pretext that I could be the oldest Member in the next Parliament .
the possibility of correcting situations of data transmission that may subsequently be judged to have been undue has also been guaranteed .
the Commission is currently working on further proposals that it will be putting forward shortly and that will offer potential savings of a further EUR 2 billion , meaning that we will have total potential savings of more than EUR 40 billion a year .
I would therefore like to call upon everyone to make the sensible decision of supporting the vote on a resolution on this issue during this sitting , voting in favour of this proposal .
( DA ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to thank the authors for this important initiative , for the EU faces a huge challenge in preventing and combating trafficking in human beings .
these are instruments that are in place but are being not used .
however , I would like to thank you , Commissioner , and also thank the Commission , for finally having lifted a taboo .
sufficient international presence must be ensured to help establish basic conditions of peace and security in order to enable the capacity of the country 's government to be strengthened , the rule of law to be reinforced , corruption to be combated and human rights respected .
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the Union 's priorities in the budget require adequate financing and it is also important to ensure flexibility between the expenditure headings in order to more effectively counter the problems linked to the economic crisis , as well as to propose a budgetary framework that includes own resources .
due to the temporary visa regime applied by the CARICOM - the Caribbean common market - countries to nationals of several Member States during the Cricket World Cup , formal negotiations on the visa waiver only began in July 2008 .
regarding the Financial Stability Mechanism , the Council 's decision says that the mechanism is ' to be activated if indispensable to safeguard the stability of the eurozone as a whole ' .
however , I will give you a further 15 seconds if you wish to ask your question immediately because , under the Rules of Procedure , I cannot allow three supplementary questions .
Madam President , today 's discussion on Sudan and South Sudan is encouraging and positive in a world where there is more bad news than good news .
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President-in-Office of the Council . - ( SL ) I would like to explain to Mr Papadimoulis that the European Council does not adopt specific measures .
we have the institute in London , which is actually there to provide information when there are earthquakes .
let us never lose sight of our common goal , and let us work together with the Arctic states and the international community to find the best and most effective way of preserving and protecting the Arctic for future generations .
( RO ) As has already been stated in this House , Zimbabwe is one of the countries where hunger is reaching catastrophic proportions , according to the report from the International Food Policy Research Institute published last week .
in its meetings with the leaders of the country , the Commission has supported a peaceful settlement of the conflict , including the eventual disbanding and disarmament of any paramilitary group .
I do not understand why the measures set out in Article 7 exclude the replacement of engines , and it is also difficult to understand why the Fleet Adaptation Schemes should cover vessels with energy costs equivalent to more than 30 % of the production costs .
Mrs Corazza Bildt and Mr Svensson addressed the issue of how we should deal with the mortalities in the Mediterranean .
we must abide by that pact and , of course , that pact includes border controls , cooperation and political dialogue with the countries the immigrants come from , as the best way of avoiding a massive flow of immigrants .
last week , in a matter of days , we saw the proclamation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights by the three institutions in the European Parliament in Strasbourg , the signature of the Treaty of Lisbon and , following those very important moments , a European Council focus on key issues of direct interest to citizens .
more specifically , as regards the Fuels Quality Directive , I want to make it absolutely clear that the negotiation and a future agreement does not and will not represent any negative interference with regard to the implementation of that directive .
there is broad consensus on this and on the content of the report in Parliament and I would like to thank Mrs Hall for making this possible .
any measure capable of reducing the administrative procedures and burdens that weigh down agricultural producers - not to mention the local authorities concerned - and that does not compromise quality standards definitely deserves our support .
the only solution is zero immigration or negative immigration , bringing an end to family members joining immigrants already in situ , and the willingness to integrate must at long last be something that is demanded .
this being the case , it is natural for us to view budgetary issues from a longer-term perspective .
Mr President , in order to avoid the depletion of tuna stocks , we do not need to put an end to the many fishermen that depend upon them .
investment in education should be a priority .
however , the real meaning lies in the fact that biblical Hebrew has two words for man , not one .
as regards the specific discussion on energy strategic corridors to which the honourable Member refers , the Presidency is organising the following meetings .
I voted for this report as I believe that the proposal will , once it has been adopted , ensure a high level of safety for transportable pressure equipment and its users .
I am also taking the liberty of pointing out that the phenomenon has existed since the sixth century B.C. Then Mr Sarkozy comes along , knocks it all on the head and talks about naval deployments .
the prerequisite for that is ensuring that the fight against cancer remains firmly on the political agenda of European and national institutions .
it is therefore recorded in the Official Journal .
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explanations of vote
as everyone has noted , the war in Afghanistan cost over USD three hundred billion .
they are not diluted by this proposal .
that is why I remain convinced that bilateral cooperation between the Member States and the states of Central America can be effective .
now it is very clear from this debate that other countries believe that their process of ratification through parliament is equally valid and that that will proceed .
tomorrow 's disaster may be just around the corner .
since 2003 , an important part of EU cooperation with Iraq has focused on strengthening the rule of law and promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms , for example , through EUJUST LEX and Community assistance .
we must also recognise that the EU does not have legal competence over national governments ' own negotiations with third parties .
I voted in favour of concluding the protocol which will enable the Republic of Moldova to have greater involvement in certain Community programmes , offering the opportunity to promote cooperation in the fields of culture , education , media , science and technology , as well as consolidate political relations through the Eastern Partnership and speed up negotiations on the new Association Agreement .
( CS ) ( The beginning of the speech was inaudible ) ... to make an effort so that Europe is as strong a player as possible on the world market .
( applause )
no social problem can be solved completely in just six months .
in the opinion of a majority of experts on the subject , we can no longer entertain any doubts as to the fact that global warming is now a reality , and that it is largely due to human activities .
I also believe that it will be a new major step in increasing the role of Europe in the fight against climate change .
today I saw on television Sepp Blatter and John Fahey , the Chairman of WADA , discussing how anti-doping and football competitions could go hand in hand after the code of conduct has been adopted , and there is a problem .
that goes for the position being adopted on the alleged positive impact of tax competition just as much as for the manner in which it deals with the actual subject matter , namely the tax treatment of losses in cross-border situations .
we need to use our coal reserves better .
the first thing is the confusion that will inevitably be created between the primary committee and the committee asked for an opinion , because when the primary committee rejects the amendments of the committee asked for an opinion , these amendments might end up directly in the Chamber , obviously creating an extremely risky potential for legal confusion - as we also incidentally saw in the case of REACH .
moreover , in a globalised world , many of the problems that science is still trying to solve require the cooperation of all without exception , especially in specific sectors such as energy , climate change or food safety .
it is on the plus side that the new arrangement determines a minimum age , medical examinations , rest periods and social security and that it is also concerned with living quarters , food , safety and health protection at work .
we are in talks with the various legal bodies to see whether further amendments to the Treaty will be necessary or whether it is sufficient for the European Council to decide this unanimously .
it is estimated that every year as many as 8 000 vulnerable road users , pedestrians and cyclists , are killed , and 300 000 are injured .
indeed , some Members have mentioned the death penalty .
in writing . - The UK Conservative delegation regrets that it is unable to support the report by Mrs Bowles .
I do not know about the rest of Europe .
in spite of several of the good intentions , I have therefore chosen to vote against both the own-initiative report and the alternative proposal for a resolution .
assessing the four reports in the light of these two principles , I note that , even though they are not always perfect , they represent a clear improvement on the original proposals .
so I welcome this on behalf of the Commission and on behalf of the High Representative .
we are looking for stability and energy security from this Eastern Partnership .
this is not rhetoric because a few minutes ago in Berlin , German Chancellor , Angela Merkel , sounded the alarm stating that the euro is in danger .
in addition , the European Union has concluded agreements with third countries , including Liechtenstein , which pursue the same aim as this Directive .
we need to be able to get those humanitarian organisations back on the ground .
among these , I will mention the end of the pillar structure , allowing most of the procedures in the current third pillar to be dealt with at Community level , qualified majority voting to be generalised , the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice to be extended and the role of Parliament as colegislator to be strengthened ; the Charter of Fundamental Rights to be binding .
in writing . - ( EL ) The Israeli authorities are perpetrating ever more criminal acts against the Palestinians .
this action plan is exactly this kind of area .
because our ideas and attitudes are not ' politically correct ' or deviate from the prevailing line .
we must , of course , respect the democratic process in the Czech Republic .
I agree with Mr Karas that we do in fact have different , historically developed banking structures in the individual Member States .
to ensure effective cooperation between the institutions , the Commission should update the European Parliament at every stage of the negotiations on personal data protection .
now it is the European Union that protects human rights , with its new legal personality under the Treaty of Lisbon ; it is Union law and it is the development of an EU state that Member States can achieve .
we very much believe in the need to make a distinction between commercial and non-commercial services , whether in healthcare or education .
as a former mayor , I therefore followed with concern the proposal to include urban and suburban transport within the scope of the directive .
gender mainstreaming in the work of committees and delegations (
at first , a sense of helplessness predominated in the committee .
then problems arose and we kept having to compensate after the event .
I could not believe my ears when influential socialist and liberal fellow Members demanded that the EU launch so-called serious infringement proceedings - the most severe of available sanctions - against Hungary , the holder of the current EU Presidency .
therefore , as we celebrate this day and we urge all women not to abandon their dreams , we reiterate the importance of the fight against injustices and discrimination , opening new horizons for a better life in equality .
this makes it possible to have most regular and predictable demand covered by staff interpreters , whilst fluctuating demand and peak situations are catered for by recruiting AICs .
I had to contradict him : it is a redistribution between artists and producers , the music industry , and then only the big names .
it also establishes the area of freedom , security and justice that we all desire .
this plan shows three pathways by which the European Union could cut its CO2 emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 , in line with our Kyoto aspirations .
it contained many difficult dossiers and many difficult ideas which many people in industry , in particular , were opposed to but also , uniquely , which a lot of people involved in trade unions were against as well .
rapporteur . - ( SV ) Mr President , I want to begin by thanking the Commission , Commissioner Vassiliou and her always helpful staff , the Slovenian Presidency , the Council of Ministers , my fellow rapporteurs , Avril Doyle and Mojca Drčar Murko , and of course the shadow rapporteurs from all the parties for excellent cooperation over the years we have worked on these matters .
for the European Union it is also an excellent opportunity to develop privileged relations with a country that plays a leading role in Latin American forums such as the Rio Group , in which it holds the presidency until 2010 .
the European Union has pledged to devote 0.7 % of its Gross National Income ( GNI ) to Official Development Assistance ( ODA ) by 2015 , which will mean increasing the current amount of European aid .
it is by no means certain that the measures presented in this report are suitable or satisfactory in this respect .
as the Berlato report contains positive elements supporting all of this , we , the MEPs of the Communist Party of Greece ( KKE ) , will approve it .
I hope that the aid will be provided as dynamically and effectively as possible , through a simple and rapid process , so as to allow the workers affected by the redundancies brought on by globalisation and the economic and financial crisis to be reintegrated into the labour market .
however , we cannot support paragraphs 63 and 64 , which raise doubts about free trade in agricultural products .
Azerbaijan has to live up to its obligations as a member of the Council of Europe and partner of the European Union .
this is not an argument between the left and the right ; it is about helping people in the ACP States to become more self-confident and , in the foreseeable future , to become equal partners in international trade .
however , we cannot accept the argument that , in order to serve the interests of the citizens better through improved management of post-disaster situations , we need to limit the Member States ' involvement and room for manoeuvre .
this capital , which often ends up in tax havens , has a direct impact on the economy of these countries , especially in this particular period of economic crisis .
fifthly , the directive offers many useful examples of methods and criteria which can be applied in safety inspections and risk / accident analyses .
based on the principle of equal treatment , Parliament will exercise the same rights as the Council in terms of access to legislative or budgetary documents .
however , the problem that arises , and this has just been mentioned , is how to enable the different administrative structures , the different districts and the other territories to coexist .
the global financial crisis has shown us just how imperative it is to have a strong European Union .
however , an imbalance has developed in some areas of trade due to the distribution of responsibilities between the agricultural and trade committees of this Parliament , which should work in synergy to define a contractual balance applicable to the various commercial treaties within the EU agricultural sector .
the fisheries sector is crucial for the European Union , not only because of the food issue , but also because of the environmental issue , as aquatic ecosystems are at risk .
I am in favour of cutting costs in relation to the Commission and its agencies .
I think the move towards transparency is something which should be welcomed across the Parliament .
I would also like to ask that we receive in January a proposal for precise monitoring of the transposition of this directive in individual Member States .
the candidates for the posts of chairpersons of the ESAs have , in fact , proven to be competent and professional , and I am sure that they will be able to carry out the role in an impartial and more than satisfactory manner .
its protection is therefore crucial to the preservation of our cultural heritage and natural resources .
in response to what Mr Reul said - some things have been initiated but then have simply remained on paper and got no further than the office drawer .
however , they have all been little more than formal statements .
the Advisory Group will be composed of European organisations directly involved in aviation protection .
this Agreement also ensures that safety provisions in bilateral agreements are applicable to situations when regulatory control over an air carrier is exercised by a Member State other than the Member State that designated that air carrier .
this vaccine will be very important and I believe that today , with the techniques at our disposal , companies could have it ready in three to four months .
I am sure you would not be in favour of a European unified state .
no , of course we do not .
the reason for this is that the report deals with a number of important aspects of sport in education but , at the same time , with matters which are and should remain a national concern .
recent increases in lending for renewable and energy sufficiency remain tiny and cannot cover up the obvious preferences .
although several Member States and the Commission prefer full ownership unbundling , the Member States wanted to retain some flexibility , and the Council agreed to an option that provided for an independent transmission operator .
it was a very inclusive process .
( RO ) This summer , Portugal , Spain , France , Italy and Greece were faced with major forest fires .
we have also urged that information be transparent and that the media , diplomats , tourists and UN agencies be allowed free access to Tibet .
the first thing , therefore , is to make optimum use of the capacity we have now .
in this respect , I believe there is much to be said for Mr Weber 's approach of ascertaining first of all the extent to which IP addresses might constitute personal data within the meaning of Directive 2002 / 58 on privacy and electronic communications , for in some cases the IP address in conjunction with user data certainly can be the key to the collection of personal information .
talking about violence is not just presenting women as victims but , above all , involves the necessity of condemning the act of violence itself and its perpetrator , who should not go unpunished .
rapporteur . - ( PL ) Mr President , in the first place , transparency in the rules governing the remuneration of parliamentary assistants that were are trying to achieve ought not to be an area for haggling and conflict among the political groups : it is the joint responsibility of Parliament as a whole , which will be asking next year for a renewed vote of confidence .
I believe that most women scientists would agree with this .
take , first , the expense .
the following questions are addressed to the Commission .
all of this is in violation of the Treaties themselves , and in violation of the Act of 1976 , which provides for the election of MEPs by direct universal suffrage .
in addition to the short-term measures , long-term efforts are needed if we are to ensure the competitiveness of our economies .
in writing . - ( ES ) The people of Europe , along with the vast majority of Members , are extremely concerned by the state of the economy and the evident fragility of our banking sector .
I think that is where this debate can shed some light .
the liberation of political prisoners does not essentially alter anything .
there is nothing wrong with that model .
the Parti Socialiste - the party to which I belong - has long been calling for positive action from the European Union to protect and develop public services .
I am thinking of corporations and concerns , but also of small enterprises , and not only those operating in the field of transport and logistics . we need to build networks of entities which work together in a particular geographical area , in order to be effective in delivering aid and to improve the system of rapid reaction to impending crises .
globalism is an ideology that takes many elements from typical Western religion .
in writing . - ( PT ) Taking into account the Court of Auditors ' report on the annual accounts of the European Railway Agency ( ERA ) for the financial year 2009 , together with the ERA 's replies , I voted for this decision , which grants the Executive Director of the ERA discharge in respect of the implementation of the ERA budget for the financial year 2009 .
these NGOs offer vital support for victims of sexual and domestic violence , yet have to cope with a very difficult funding environment .
amazingly the Commission has become aware in the meantime of the term hedge fund , although this undoubtedly is not true of all the Commissioners .
the reality is that nothing substantial changes , and the public is losing patience , and rightly so .
statement by the President
but it is also the incentive that will enable us all to emerge from the institutional crisis that has held Europe back and impeded the process of European integration for the past two years .
I think we need to monitor the situation carefully and be ready to apply import restrictions if import surges in the next year overwhelm the capacity of EU-based apparel industries to adapt , as well , of course , as channelling research and development resources to that sector .
however , in relation to donations between living people , I must just mention that I am pleased that this enlargement with rights has been included .
the area where we need to progress is the three Ms , Market access , Mobility and Money .
I am hopeful that the aforementioned agreement will be fruitful and that the safeguard clause - which it is hoped will be clear and capable of functioning effectively whenever needed - will never need to be enforced .
first of all , there are the payments .
both parents have to be carriers of the gene for the condition to become apparent in their children . women who give birth to albino babies are forced into divorce .
for this reason , aid has increased by EUR 1 million , which will be used to fund projects aimed at helping the victims of terrorism and their families to recover , through social or psychological support offered by organisations and their networks .
the Council , the European Parliament and the Commission will all need to be persuaded and to cooperate in the creation of this mechanism .
individual Member States are still applying different tax regimes concerning cars , either by charging duty or through other registration charges , perpetuating the inequalities between consumers .
the macro-financial assistance proposed today by the EU is more welcome than ever before .
this means that 19 000 people live on a daily basis with the fear of a recurring seizure .
on cohesion policy , we have also made some changes to simplify the rules and to frontload payments .
in the final version of the stance , which was put to the vote by the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs , these conditions are , however , lacking .
you can see by the very high attendance at this late hour how important the report is and you can also hear how emotionally charged the atmosphere is as we listen to the various contributions from different nationalities and groups .
this is why the social dimension of the Lisbon Strategy must be strengthened , supporting lifelong learning and skills recognition .
this will allow both citizens and producers to benefit , while making it easier to overcome the economic crisis .
all these processes must be carried out in a manner which is completely transparent to citizens , in compliance with the provisions of all the multilateral environmental agreements which Bulgaria is party to ( Aarhus , Espoo , etc . ) .
decisions shall be taken as openly and as closely as possible to the citizen , thus conferring greater legitimacy on the institutions in the eyes of European citizens , at the same time as helping to increase their confidence in them .
moreover , this response cannot be a reform of the Schengen Treaty .
with its entry into force on 1 December 2009 , many proposals that had been tabled by the Commission on the basis of the Treaties , but which were still pending on that date ( at different stages in the legislative or non-legislative process ) will be subject to changes .
the Council is also continuing to urge Croatia to improve its administrative capacity and to effectively transpose and implement the acquis so that it can meet its membership obligations in due time .
in 2011 , Croatia must be able to be a fully-fledged Member State .
we are pushing the European message hard in the run-up to the October elections .
I would like to call on the Commission to present the results of its analyses .
Canada is one of the EU 's oldest and closest partners , being the first industrialised country with which - in 1976 - the EU signed a Framework Agreement for commercial and economic cooperation .
following the discussions we have had so far and the parliamentary debates , we , the rapporteurs on the financing instruments , have reached the joint conclusion that the dossier should be sent for second reading , and we are sending a serious political message to the institutions , because now , since the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon , we should act in the spirit of the treaty .
I must say that I attended the entire debate in Parliament but I did not get a chance to speak .
that is an understatement if ever there was one !
all the European institutions that depend on the European Union budget have to be thoroughly audited by the Court of Auditors and by all entities with that function .
the ongoing division on Kosovo , which is portrayed by some as a battle between legalist and realist , is the most recent and frightening example , proving that peace and law in Europe are not yet secure .
Europe has realised that access to alternative gas sources , the creation of the North-South Gas Corridor and the elimination of isolated markets increase regional supply security while also making a significant step towards the achievement of a single market .
the first aspect concerns simplifying and harmonising the tourist visa application procedures for entry into the Member States , with a view to reducing their costs and facilitating access to the European Union for tourists from third countries .
the main feature of the European market is the fragmentation that prevails at national level .
we need to move from monetary union towards true economic union , as stated in the treaties .
Muhammad , the Prophet , came also from Mecca to our land to be lifted into the heavens .
the debate is closed .
against the backdrop of global challenges such as the economic crisis and global warming , cooperation with Mexico will prove to be beneficial .
Mr President , I would like to call on this Parliament to take immediate and effective steps to save the small and family farmers in new Member States , especially eastern and central European Member States , and , in particular , my own country , Hungary .
I look at the background to this , and it is quite clear that , as has been said , bees have a wonderfully diverse role as pollinators and suppliers .
at present , this collection of data is carried out on a purely voluntary basis by 18 Member States for shipping , with collection of data by type of goods already mandatory for European road , rail and inland waterways transport statistics .
to date , only a small proportion of medicinal products falls within the remit of European legislation .
there is a real danger that brochures and books will remain in offices unread .
they are expecting a great deal from Europe , certainly much too much , but they are expecting us to do something else .
( Parliament rejected the request to refer back to committee the report )
viewed over the last 20 years , the EU 's budget has actually increased more slowly than those of the Member States .
in the meantime , Copenhagen has undoubtedly made sure everyone is alert , greatly heightening our environmental awareness .
one cannot be certain as to when the current financial crisis will end .
I would also like to express my support for the proposal to maintain the specific block exemption for repair and maintenance , which proved to be less competitive than the sales market .
CCCTB is one of those proposals .
judging from the discussion , there is broad consensus in Parliament and the Union as a whole that Serbia 's future is in the European Union and that the European Union 's door will be open to Serbia when the country meets the conditions , and that its government has the means to take Serbia into Europe .
this is all the more true because , at the present stage , solar energy , bio-energy and hydrogen technology are in most cases not yet commercially profitable .
that is quite an important contribution .
we can only benefit from facilitating closer business ties with Taiwan , whose economy is growing again and going from strength to strength , and is increasingly a springboard for European investments into China .
evidently , Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I cannot let it be said that the solution is to centralise .
Commission legislative and work programme for 2008 ( motions for resolutions tabled ) : see Minutes
( RO ) By tradition , the first European Summit of the year is dedicated to economic issues .
( PL ) I would like to thank the Commissioner for this information - what you are doing is , indeed , very important .
we in Parliament at least have come to know Mrs Ashton as an excellent leader .
in English it appears badly written and paragraph 12 makes no sense and is a practical impossibility , which is why this paragraph cannot be taken seriously even if you understand it .
I want to be very clear on this .
to do so , the Commission must take initiatives so that the tax regime allows truly free movement of UCITS products , with no protectionism .
albinos feel that they are being constantly humiliated and treated like second-class citizens .
it should also be noted that our grain stocks are the lowest they have been in the last 60 years - stocks are now at a critically low level .
the right to health and access to health at affordable prices are fundamental rights and should be guaranteed for all citizens .
let me say one final word on the link between migration and overfishing .
it is a city with some excellent higher education institutions and nearly 150 000 students .
whilst Scotland is not a part of the Schengen area , we do opt in to certain parts of the Schengen acquis .
the debate is closed .
( DE ) Madam President , although the European Union has introduced subsidies for rural development , at the same time the rural depopulation caused by the conditions imposed by Maastricht has encouraged unbridled enthusiasm for liberalisation and the accompanying dismantling of rural infrastructures .
for example , we propose a regulatory framework for sustainable fisheries management where areas and species are not yet covered by other instruments .
however , this also requires the development of a core network and the network connections on which the whole system is based and with which the whole system is connected , allowing sound development in the transport sector and the continual improvement of its management .
despite the difficulties encountered in the negotiations , due not least to the highly sensitive international context , the work that has resulted in the proposal for a directive on the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste has succeeded in outlining a coherent , harmonised legislative framework to ensure that this kind of waste is managed safely , no matter what applications and consequences nuclear energy may have in the future .
I am sure Mr Dimas does .
the protection of artists ' freedom of expression in fact lies in their relationship with society ; the freedom to produce art and the freedom to enjoy it go hand in hand and have a common adversary in the mercantile subservience of culture that would be strengthened by this legislation .
I just want your view on that , please , Commissioner .
this is not only the case for the Azores , but is the general situation in Europe , where we have to realise that prices are decreasing to a level that we would never have imagined just six months ago .
the Reform Treaty reaffirms the principle of equality of its citizens , gives legal force to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union , introduces the control of subsidiarity by national parliaments , recognizes universal access to the services of general economic interest , emphasizes the importance of energy security and strengthens the spirit of solidarity between Member States in this field , and imposes special measures to the fight against climate changes .
because we are sure that the renewed Lisbon Strategy focusing on jobs and growth , with its commitment to competitiveness and inclusiveness , is Europe 's best response to the challenges of globalisation .
I will be advised by you .
originally started in March 2000 by the Dutch Government and Dutch fishermen , the project was aimed at clearing the North Sea of litter , using fishing nets .
I would also like to say explicitly that foreign policy is not the job of parliaments .
the crisis gives us some specific pointers with regard to development and full employment , if we want to incorporate - as I believe is necessary - this objective in our action .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , we are talking about the manufacturing sector in the European Union that produces a third of the cars produced in the world .
when optimising capacity , it is important to pay attention to airport facilities , vehicles that transport passengers and ensuring that disabled people can approach aircraft , since this is the only way to ensure equality in air transport .
next , an issue with the voting order , which fortunately has been resolved , has put a question mark over the way in which a major political problem can be settled here : by sly , petty political manoeuvring , and then laying the blame on an administration that can do nothing about it .
the statistics show that the programme only alleviates the problem of malnutrition but is not eliminating it .
it is obviously regrettable that Kosovo , because of disagreements between Member States regarding recognition of its independence , is not included in this process under way between the European Union and countries in the Balkans .
with regard to the Commissioner 's difficulty with + / -5 000 tonnes , I would say to you , Commissioner , that this was a pragmatic solution .
in writing . - ( PT ) Belarus represents a clear challenge to the goal of the European Union to act as a promoter of democracy in the world , particularly in its neighbouring countries .
I would like to add , in no uncertain terms : in the case of extradition , I have no doubts that Italian justice delivers the high standards expected of European Union Member States .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , first of all , I would like to welcome Mrs García Pérez 's report .
for economic and social aspects , the performance cannot be evaluated , which leads to huge uncertainties as to whether or not the Convention 's objective of optimal utilisation is met .
free speech will always be sacrificed because that is the EU 's default position .
we must stop this development from going any further immediately .
( DE ) Mr President , eyewitnesses are reporting a speeding incident which almost defies belief , involving Harald Rømer , the Secretary-General of the European Parliament , at around 3 p.m. on 14 November this year , apparently in a Luxembourg-registered CD vehicle which was travelling from the European Parliament into the centre of Strasbourg .
cohesion policy strives for equality , yet privatising directives , such as the Postal Directive , have had the effect of further eliminating services to poorly serviced areas .
the Lead State is also to be given the responsibility for coordinating and leading measures to provide assistance , reunite people and , where necessary , evacuate citizens to a safe destination , with the assistance of the other Member States affected .
accordingly , the Commission has not proposed , in the APS , any major changes in financial programming .
it is important that the Egyptian and Iraqi authorities find and harshly judge the authors of these massacres .
ignoring 52 % of the available skills , knowledge and workforce of Europe for any sector or any level would be a serious loss .
on the contrary , our demands will make them more innovative , which will make them more competitive in the world .
this affects the image of my country .
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I am thinking , in particular , of the work undertaken by Mrs Ferreira .
almost every day in the British press we read stories about our big brother Labour Government collecting more and more personal data about individuals and , even when they are proven innocent , refusing to give back that data .
I am convinced , however , that Slovakia has all it needs to meet these criteria on a long-term basis , provided that at least a standard fiscal policy is in place and further structural reforms are carried out .
to this end , our policy on support for European research should give priority to these areas .
is it OK now ?
it is clear that the success of any regional development does not depend only on the results that are achieved , but also on the way in which these results are obtained , that is to say , the governance .
I welcome the importance attached to ensuring that the required radio spectrum is available for monitoring the atmosphere and the Earth 's surface .
it should be a key element of public policy in such areas as the environment , water , energy , transport , telecommunications , health and education .
it must also provide security for tomorrow .
a family is seen today as a negative burden and , in addition to this , young men are not capable of promising marriage and security to women .
this could be the biggest difficulty , but I believe the Council will work hard really to approve of our proposal because I believe it is balanced , if not ideal for every Member State .
my question now to Mr Barroso is as follows : when can we expect the Commission to table a legislative proposal to deal with the problems that have arisen subsequent to the rulings by the European Court of Justice ?
what measures can the Commission , along with Member States , adopt to ensure that a minimum level of investment in research and education will be guaranteed in the coming years ?
for us Hungarian Members , this is particularly important with a view to support for the Danube strategy , as any request for support for the Danube strategy can only be credible if we remain open to supporting other strategies as well .
the right arrangements have been made to involve the IMF , within the framework of the euro area .
we have also expressed our grave concern at reports of torture and other forms of ill-treatment , intimidation and court irregularities .
therefore , in order to decide on an appropriate scope for the block exemption applicable to the car industry , I urge the Commission to take account of the conditions of competition on the major markets and of the need to make a fundamental distinction between the markets for the sale of new motor vehicles and those for repair and maintenance services and / or for the distribution of spare parts .
law firms should not be given the opportunity simply to classify any activity as legal consultation and thereby eschew the register and the requirement for transparency in lobbying .
the only groups standing aside from this consensus are the far right and the far left and they prefer to play party politics rather than seek to find a political solution to the problems .
I would like you to write a letter to the Commissioner to justify those statements .
growth cannot be intelligent if it is not sustainable and it is also not intelligent if it is not inclusive .
it is absolutely essential to concentrate efforts on scientific research and to develop a plan for tackling these changes .
the Commission will continue the dialogue with the fisheries sector and will start to discuss specific long-term plans for a number of fisheries with an MSY perspective .
the student scene is fairly lively .
it was not easy to reach a political agreement in the Council ; under the Slovenian presidency we agreed on some main points , but some points were still shaky .
many of you will remember that people took to the streets in Bucharest to protest against these statements , yet despite this , I was still holding talks with the Mayor of Rome , offering him the resources of the European Social Fund .
the European Union urgently needs to establish a strategy in order to be able to easily prevent future environmental disasters like the disaster caused by BP in the Gulf of Mexico .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , energy efficiency has always been the biggest resource proffered to us .
the construction of the fourth school has been postponed and postponed , and we are in intensive discussions with the Belgian Government about this .
secondly , there is a discrimination in VAT rates which penalises digital goods in relation to physical goods .
I ask both that Italy be reminded of its obligations as a party to the European Convention on Human Rights and as a Member State of the European Union , and for assurances that Mr Essid , now deported to Tunisia , will not suffer inhumane and degrading treatment there .
in particular , the helplessness of the European Union in the face of all the developments in the area of the southern Mediterranean gives cause for concern .
the very nature of many decisions that have direct consequences for our fellow citizens has shifted within the space of a few months from the local or national level to the international level .
the EU food programme for the poorest of the European Union , like the ' Fruit at School ' and ' Milk at School ' programmes , is changing attitudes towards the EU and the common agricultural policy , which have been so heavily criticised by many people .
within the framework of these proposals , the Strasburg-Vienna section could obtain backing under the 2009 annual programme - amounting to EUR 140 million for both studies and work projects - and the European Economic Recovery Plan , this provides EUR 500 million exclusively earmarked for work projects to be started by the end of 2010 at the latest .
the Cuban dialogue is , of course , fraught with difficulties , but we think for the moment that it is important to have the dialogue in place in accordance with our decision , because it gives us a chance to try and liaise with the authorities , to be very strict and firm in our criticism , but also to liaise with civil society and the peaceful dissidents .
most importantly , we are waiting for concrete proposals from you concerning the Posting of Workers Directive .
it contains a real catalogue of rights that all citizens of the Union should enjoy , from the individual rights related to dignity , freedoms , equality and solidarity to the rights linked to citizenship status and justice .
so , I would appreciate your opinion and the position of the European Union on the decision by the Americans to engage more actively in Yemen to fight terrorists , especially by signing the agreement on military intelligence and training .
I hope he understands how hard I fought for some of the elements that he also wanted .
in writing . - I voted for the successful amendment 29 , which calls on the Commission and the Member States to take measures to prevent capturing of the market in food products and the formation of cartels by food companies , and I hope that some action will be taken to prevent supermarkets from forcing food producers to accept economically unsustainable prices for their produce .
an extensive , clean , smart grid is needed to connect to our neighbours in the south who have the potential to generate solar energy using high technology and large-scale plants .
my Group supports the proposals developed in the trialogue negotiations , especially the proposals for a new Capital Requirements Directive for banks .
we therefore support the Commission 's proposal and , by extension , the proposal for subsidies to be used so that the workers concerned can be redeployed in a decent and dignified fashion .
that is why we need this initiative , and I hope that the Commission will show some on this occasion .
regulation is now a key asset in globalisation , as we are seeing .
to this end , closer cooperation between Member States and the Commission is vital to protect the Community 's financial interests , which must be perceived as common interests going beyond those of individual states .
in this regard , it is particularly important to secure financing for SMEs .
the financial crisis is also responsible for some delays , in particular , for measures under Axis 2 .
a large number of the measures proposed , such as the review of the accounting directives , cutting red tape , improving access to the capital and public procurement markets , etc. feature in this communication .
I recognise that that cannot happen in a few months .
however , this instrument must be intelligently designed , and must be such that it improves the current situation without leading to further waste of resources .
subject : reforming the budget
this French Member of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament welcomes the Carbon Allowance Reductions System ( CARS ) , as this mechanism will impose financial penalties on manufacturers who fail to meet their quotas , while at the same time issuing credits to those who have taken the initiative by achieving emissions that are below the limit value curve .
I therefore do not believe that what you have presented is good , Mrs Malmström , because you have failed to quote Article 78 ( 3 ) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union ( TFEU ) .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
in any case , as things stand at present I am unable to guarantee that we will be in possession of the complete set of statistics on this particular subject ; all the more because the definitions vary enormously from country to country .
we already acknowledged in February during the Hungarian Presidency that as far as the technical standards were concerned , Romania was ready , while Bulgaria still had some homework to do .
we need to do more to revive our coal-mining communities .
well , what was true for Milan Baroš is also true for you and your ministers .
it is in our interest to promote principles such as self-regulation , transparency and sustainability , and we can make several other important contributions to improvements in licensing .
I understand that the Council wanted to make certain cuts in this year 's budget .
it is time that the EU put an end to an external energy policy that merely increases competition for oil and gas reserves or extends nuclear technology .
I think that I can share something that you did not , perhaps , know .
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it is a great pity : this Ninth Summit is important .
with a view to establishing a genuinely Single Market for SMEs , the resolution proposes the creation of a ' European private company ' status which would encourage the cross-border creation and functioning of these essential components of the Union 's economic fabric .
all of the institutions are very much in agreement about the need for this and I look forward to continued cooperation on this matter .
the European Union was quicker and more efficient than our American friends in handling the Caucasian crisis , and our response was coherent and based on a common approach - and thanks and congratulations to the French presidency for that .
we must not endanger this in the future through overregulation and protectionism but rather should abide by our free market principles .
( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , you are doubtless aware that the exhaustive discussions that we have had in this House on the subject of your communication have revolved around the role of public services , of services of general interest in the Single Market and how they are embodied in legislation .
I believe , ladies and gentlemen , that everything is much simpler than that .
citizens do not want their bank details to be simply transferred to the United States without sound guarantees of their rights .
I voted for the report on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network because its aim is to construct and modernise railway infrastructures , ports , waterways and airports .
on behalf of the European Parliament I would like to express my deepest condolences and my solidarity with the families and all the relatives of the victims , who are innocent young students and three teachers from the school .
we are faced with threats like protectionism , unfair competition , substandard shipping or piracy .
the second area of added value concerns solidarity and the third concerns energy .
in this context , the ICT 's role is increasingly important .
I have met with the Council and I have heard what Parliament has said .
I am not trying to avoid the issue .
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the European Union is uneasily implementing its common foreign and security policy and is just starting to create its energy policy .
in brief , is it not the case that we have deadlock on our hands here ?
we have an opposition inspired by democracy which is fighting for a Republic of Moldova attached to European values .
moreover , a complementary study has been launched by the Commission in DG Environment dealing with the long-term effects of genetically modified crops on health , biodiversity and the environment .
moreover , since the European Union is itself on the way towards accession to the European Convention on Human Rights , it should use its future status as a party to that convention to accelerate convergence and interoperability with Russia in the field of democracy and the rule of law .
I voted in favour of the report on the cross-border , transnational and interregional territorial cooperation initiative .
is that what we wish to see , and is that the true understanding of solidarity within the European Union ?
the Council has indicated that it will continue to monitor the situation very closely .
the next item is the report by Mr Guerreiro , on behalf of the Committee on Fisheries , on the CFP and the ecosystem approach to fisheries management .
from this centre comes the decisive and perhaps the only important duty which is imposed on us as citizens of Europe .
it is linking the issue of the death penalty with other issues and saying : when the others link their opinion on this issue with that on abortion and euthanasia , then we too will be prepared to argue against the death penalty .
it does not .
I myself am a member of the Friends of Tibet group in the European Parliament .
I am convinced that this initiative will also have a positive effect on other parts of Europe , pulling regions together and making a positive contribution to the competitiveness of the EU as a whole .
what we are dealing with are questions of education , money laundering , criminality and freedom in gambling .
it would be a disgrace if anyone actually thought along those lines in Europe , where the freedom of movement is a fundamental right and a symbol of freedom and equality .
on the other hand , there is then , of course , the risk that the simplified procedure could no longer be applied , which would result in referendums being needed .
we can say quite clearly yes to harmonisation , however , without restricting the laws of the Member States and we will allow them flexibility with regard to procedures in the matter of licensing .
a lack of achievement in this area would damage the credibility of the EU and of its Members who are genuinely concerned about the deteriorating state of the environment .
I do realise the great importance of this significant European Union policy and I welcome Commissioner Verheugen 's involvement .
concerning the issue of high stocking densities in intensive farming systems , the Agriculture Committee 's vote has moderated the rapporteur 's initial position by recognising that these may prove problematic where inadequate disease control measures are practised .
that is why our common task is to keep the European collective experience alive .
I welcome the rapporteur 's proposal to simplify financing procedures and to adopt a performance-driven approach and the criteria of ' excellence ' and ' European added value ' in EU spending .
on the other hand , I do believe that there cannot be any coercive policy .
we are determined to promote these principles throughout the world .
however , the European Union today is much more than that .
in writing . - ( PT ) Although this report contains various recommendations that we support , these are all made in a liberal context .
from an economic point of view , they naturally have to facilitate international trade and the European Union has every interest in seeing this happen .
the reality is that this is about saving face : saving the faces of those eurocrats who launched the project in the first place and who are prepared to sacrifice the peoples of the peripheral countries and the taxpayers of the poor countries in order to sustain their conceit .
approval of Minutes of previous sitting : see Minutes
the European Council , while reiterating that the grant of protection and refugee status is the responsibility of each Member State , also indicated that the time has come to take new initiatives to complete the establishment of a common European asylum system provided for in the Hague programme , and thus to offer a higher degree of protection , as proposed by the Commission in its policy plan on asylum .
it is no coincidence that the same date is also celebrated as Freedom of Speech Day in Bulgaria .
in the case of violation of workers ' rights , those criticisms are virtually non-existent .
in questions to the Commission , I have endeavoured to obtain clarity as to what action the Commission plans to take against the use of ' false ' self-employed workers .
let me say the following . the common methodology of the stress tests was agreed at European level ; it was very rigorous , with adverse macro-economic scenarios .
of course , the first cuckoo does not necessarily indicate the arrival of spring , but Belarus is a great and important state , a neighbour of the European Union , and undoubtedly we are delighted by any positive changes .
the only possible answer to the situation in Somalia is a comprehensive approach to the conflict there , with coordinated action of all parties engaged in efforts at achieving stability in the region and ending piracy .
renewable technology is our biggest export market in all energy technologies .
Member of the Commission . - I would just like to stress that , from my point of view , we clearly take great care to take all possible steps to understand the GM or non-GM situation as much as possible .
one question about the motion for a resolution before us : why are we even thinking about giving money to Gaza ?
we believe that there have been many appeals to Turkey on the Kurdish issue but that hitherto no substantive change whatsoever has been noted .
his task , and that of his team , is to provide valuable support on the ground in order to help us collectively meet all our political objectives .
the targets , I hope , will be agreed at the June European Council , so that implementation can start immediately after .
the world has changed .
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therefore , to protect operators in the market , I am calling for an urgent and unequivocal definition of the services coming under this directive .
our democratic system and modern attitudes to life are based on freedom of choice and , logically , this should apply to smoking as well .
I would like to take this opportunity to make a few additional points .
only by using such measures will we be able to guarantee the stability , security and prosperity of Europe and beyond .
we do not have any information of any kind on this either .
we must rid the EU of this shame .
a strong privatised economy , stable inflation , rising salaries , a relatively low unemployment rate and above all a strong currency that enabled you to join the euro in 2007 .
if we are not going to proceed in this manner , far from saving time , we will waste time and the problem will get worse .
instead of guaranteeing our rights to be treated equally , it asserts our rights to be treated differently .
a directive alone will not suffice to bring this about , but it is a precondition .
the rights of mobility and residence are pillars of European citizenship .
in order to tackle some of the concerns expressed by the European Parliament and the Member States - for instance , concerning security - several amendments have been made to the initial text .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I regret the fact that this debate was put on the agenda at such short notice that the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy was not able to be here .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen and guests , I would first like to apologise for not arriving on time and to thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak immediately after the first round of party speeches .
it is essential that financial assistance to workers made redundant is made available as quickly as possible , and that European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) money , vital for the reintegration of redundant workers into the labour market , is used more effectively .
with regard to Ireland and the United Kingdom , Article 4 of Protocol 2 of the Treaty of Amsterdam incorporating the Schengen acquis within the scope of the European Union states that Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland , which are not bound by the Schengen acquis , may at any time request to take part in some or all of the provisions of this acquis .
I personally support future enlargement to the Western Balkans and eventually to Ukraine , Moldova and hopefully a democratic Belarus .
however , Madam President , and this too has been said in this House , the most important thing is to look to the future and ensure that the children being born today in the great country of Ukraine have to resort to newspaper libraries and history books to discover the horror experienced by previous generations in the Holodomor .
I voted for the regulation concerning the rights of passengers in bus and coach transport .
the changes do not modify the fundamental elements of the Agreement .
the Euromed ministerial conference on migration will be the first of its kind to focus solely on this issue and include the Euromed partners .
we support the report .
we can see that we risk ending up with mega-killings as well due to these catastrophes .
however , without a Europe-wide network , key objectives of the European Union will not be achieved .
that was back in 2003 .
access to clean water is a basic human right , so let us make it a major campaign .
in all of these questions , it is necessary to have a clear strategy and vision that will make it possible for this region to draw closer to the European Union .
in this respect , I am very happy to see Commissioner Reding here , who is responsible for implementing everything relating to equality between men and women from a judicial point of view .
measures must be taken to prevent any possible use of the land after the closure of the landfill .
if she did , then this report would cry out against the fact that this EU , through a derogation , authorises discrimination on religious grounds in my constituency of Northern Ireland ; specifically discrimination against Protestants who want to join the Police Service in Northern Ireland .
the EU aims to enhance recycling of waste water and develop desalination , improve water management policies based on the ' polluter pays ' principle , establish labelling schemes , research and monitor activities to halt desertification , improve crop rotation systems and promote more efficient water usage among the public .
there is presently an ongoing consultation on schools for the 21st century , i.e. what is expected from schools in this new era , and naturally we want this process to culminate in an up-to-date view of the position of schools in European society today .
in the meantime , there is no more room for free trade and the opening up of new markets .
however , I agree with Mr Hegyi that we need to take action with regard to land .
draft general budget 2009 as modified by the Council ( all sections ) (
within Europe , we must , at the same time , continue to strengthen our own carbon market and stop giving away trading rights for free .
while all the other films transpose the intercultural dialogue at a personal , human level , the film California Dreaming relates an imaginary case of an American transport through Romania , which is stopped by the local authorities and ends in a civil war .
the Commission , however , has also examined the subsidies given to Dell in Poland in terms of their compliance with State aid rules .
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in short , if journalists are dismissed only because they have left-wing views or only because they have conservative views , we should protest .
the second sticking point is that the rapporteur does not put forward sufficiently clear plans .
we need to reinvent citizenship .
one , we will have the austerity package in place , much to the chagrin and pain of our citizens .
there are still thousands of political prisoners in Burmese prisons , and the army continues to commit assassinations , use torture and make arrests .
the EU is actively seeking to advance the cause of human rights protection under the Neighbourhood Policy .
the most important aspect of the report is the good balance it strikes between economic aspects and human rights .
in terms of export trade , the service sector is also particularly important for the developing countries .
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the problem is this : when we had the debate with the Commission and Council , it became clear to many of us in the House that it was not appropriate for us to vote on the resolution , and we therefore asked for it , at that stage , to be postponed .
so that is where our task lies , and your task too Commissioner : we need to use our package of market-control measures to win back people 's trust ; we need to take action and not simply leave things as they are .
I would just like to ask my fellow Members to give a moment 's consideration to these points .
improving road infrastructure and , where possible , separating pedestrians from road traffic also seem to be effective solutions .
they are all important and we can not ignore any of them : incorporating women into the labour market , domestic violence , women in education , balancing family life with work , and vulnerable groups such as immigrant women or the disabled .
conclusions can be drawn for future building projects and recommendations can be made for better management and better official organisation .
I look forward to Copenhagen , when the political class is sitting around the table awkwardly failing to mention the giant elephant in the room , which is that the globe has not actually warmed for the past 10 years .
it is not only important to bring perpetrators to justice , because this is often a long-term process , but in the meantime , for those who fear that violations of human rights are unnoticed or in fact tolerated by liberal democracies , starting to hold individual human rights violators accountable is an acknowledgement of the suffering and of our credibility in the EU .
meanwhile , all of the EU Member States will need to ratify this Treaty during the coming year .
could you make things less difficult in this connection ?
now , though , solemn promises are again being made that the new pact will actually work .
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Mr President , the European Neighbourhood Policy was developed with the objective of integrating the countries included in the programme with the structures of the European Union .
the report highlights the enormous contribution made by women in recent years to the sustainable development of rural areas and to the diversification and adaptation of farming to market changes .
we applaud the rapporteur for asking the Commission to submit a legislative proposal by 31 December 2009 , based on the recommendations contained in the report .
there are very large Russian populations in many states of the former Soviet Union , such as Ukraine .
however , in spite of the warnings about the humanitarian aspect made to your services , to your collaborators , to your cabinet and to your Director-General , and despite the fact that I submitted a draft statement to you myself , you did not speak out until there had been 32 deaths and more than 300 wounded .
what would have happened if we had not proceeded according to our legal obligations ?
only then , particularly when we deal with those who have an attitude of ambivalence to the military junta , can it change .
good research resources are needed to create and foster employment in the EU and to boost the EU 's competitiveness , particularly as the industrially developing countries grow in strength .
the UNHCR is a political body that is subject to ' extreme politicisation ' , as is acknowledged in the text of the resolution .
it has a quite different population density and , therefore , subjects such as local residents , health and safety and groundwater play a quite different role than in densely populated areas in central Europe , such as Poland , Germany or France .
otherwise , there is a danger that , instead of defusing the ticking bomb , we will only move it from one location to another on the map of the Old Continent .
pro-life people remain concerned about the destruction of embryos in research funded by the EU .
I simply cannot accept that the existence of seven groups inside Parliament creates a particular problem of efficiency .
none of these questions , however key , is addressed .
this year is the 25th anniversary of the nuclear disaster in the Ukrainian town of Chernobyl .
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during this , an important report on the Millennium Development Goals will be discussed .
we believe that the European Union budget must be used to add genuine value in areas such as securing economic growth now , and recovery in the future , stability in the EU and around the world , reducing global poverty and fighting the shared challenge of climate change .
that will effectively undermine the viability of Shannon airport and have major consequences for the Mid-West region , which is a very disadvantaged region .
part of my family originates from Albania .
I know that there are a lot of interested schools , but the national authorities in many countries have not shown enough enthusiasm about this project , which can be a step forward and which can really then be a positive mark for the European Baccalaureate , so we can have European Schools not only in Brussels but everywhere - in new Member States and old Member States .
an estimated 40 % of fish were caught without licences or in violation of regulations .
( HU ) Mr President , nowadays , the world 's food production is facing different challenges to an increasing extent .
this is all very well , as long as most countries achieve a positive trade balance and a growth in GDP .
Member States must also apply penalties for illegal fishing , which is the real cause of stock impoverishment .
I think that MiFID is a good example here .
we have , today , heard a statement by the President of Parliament who , if I am correct , was supported by all sides of the House .
that is why we in the Netherlands know the Act as the ' Hague Invasion Act ' .
I think the system which is being created for support of research and development should be as flexible as possible , to enable resources to be managed in a way which is appropriate to the dynamics of scientific research .
among other aspects , the resolution :
this report seems to have been written specially for Italy , where the RAI is now at an advanced stage of decomposition because it has been taken over completely by party politics , to the detriment of the cultural and informational depth of public broadcasting and , hence , of the entire country .
if the European Union decides to take such a step , it will risk becoming a laughing-stock and will demonstrate that , sooner or later , it will legitimise every action taken by Russia , even the most dangerous .
it is important for this House to demonstrate its awareness of this crucial issue to southern Europe .
furthermore , I would urge that workers involved in the management of radioactive waste , from its production to its disposal , receive adequate protection and training .
at the request of the Bureau , I will be in contact with the national ministries for foreign affairs of the countries of the Members concerned to establish what action the judicial authorities in these countries intend to take .
we know that the negotiations on these and on other agreements are of the highest quality , but it is important for us to be aware of the strengths and weak points of the agreements after they come into force , so that we can make a better contribution .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Madam President , the first thing I want to make clear here tonight is that this is not about third-country imports .
we have the responsibility of proposing and introducing a new development model which is fairer , more equitable and more sustainable .
although I voted in favour of this proposal to provide assistance to the workers of Podkarpackie machinery from Poland , I believe that this is an analgesic and palliative measure for the consequences of the capitalist model , and that it does not represent any progress in the fight against the root causes of the crisis .
we consider that the legal certainty of the Community legal framework in the maritime field , flowing from the international legal framework , depends on the speedy approval of the Erika III maritime package , and we ask for this to be done with the greatest of urgency and the greatest possible consensus .
the ordinary Council , which is the other branch of the legislature with the European Parliament , will still be chaired by a Presidency that continues to rotate every six months among the Member States .
it is urgently necessary for all Member States also to urge common standards for the dismantling of plants .
President-in-Office of the Council . - I would like to thank the Members who took part in this debate and offered their opinions , which will undoubtedly help the Presidency of the Council in its preparations for the seventh session of the Human Rights Council .
I took up my mandate in the European Parliament with the aim of putting the concerns of the people of Austria on the table in Brussels .
we conducted a very interesting public discussion with representatives of European and US banks and financial institutions right on the eve of the crisis .
in the past , proper progress has not been made in one area or another , precisely because the strategy was not adequately checked by the various Directorates General and the Commission to ensure that it was coherent .
this does not seem to be entirely the case at the moment .
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the economic situation is not as we would have hoped as we celebrate this anniversary , but events are highlighting more than ever the advantages of Economic and Monetary Union .
Mr President , I see that now Brussels wants to get its hands on the Internet .
so the real key is how Russia sees power .
the EU cannot agree with the decision of the Belarusian authorities to limit Internet access or with the lack of guarantees of freedom of the press , freedom of peaceful assembly and association and freedom to worship in churches other than the Belarusian Orthodox Church , as well as other rights and political freedoms .
it is the responsibility of the authorities of individual Member States to ensure that prison conditions are up to standard , regardless of whether persons have been surrendered from other Member States or not .
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of course , public banks must be subject to supervisory regulations and to proper controls .
Mr President , Commissioner , it is good to hear Commissioner De Gucht guarantee that , in short , the Commission will send Parliament the legislative initiative aimed at revising the scheme of generalised preferences so that the legislative process can be given enough time to prevent the expiry of the present scheme of generalised preferences , which is due to finish at the end of next year .
there is indeed no doubt that cross-border crime is one of the greatest problems we are faced with today .
the response was not to acknowledge the fact that steps had been taken towards liberalisation in Belarus ; instead , the line taken towards the opposition became less tolerant .
the country 's parliament has been debating new proposals concerning expressions of sexuality in the media and in public .
the organised AIDS charities , such as the AIDS-Hilfe associations in Germany , can continue to play an important role here if they rise to this new challenge .
another aspect is the distance of 250 kilometres which has already been mentioned .
the Lisbon Treaty guarantees fundamental human rights , including freedom of religion , and establishes institutional relations between the EU and the churches .
I am in favour of the report as it aims to regulate and simplify legislation on braking devices of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors .
I voted in favour of this report because I think it plays a critical role in facilitating the further development of a non-aggressive but nevertheless coherent and competent face of EU foreign policies .
we undoubtedly have a duty to ensure that the rules are applied to the full in respect of economic freedom against monopolies , the transparency of financial markets , and ensuring that the costs of environmental pollution are paid for .
the second message is that regardless of the decisions made in the Member States , and some will disconnect power stations from the grid more quickly than others , we should not be replacing the lost energy with additional gas imports , for example , from Russia .
we all have the right to choose - to be citizens or to be loyal to our state , do we not ?
I agree with you that this is the first joint European structure , so we must not waste any precious time , and we must give the green light to urgent implementation of these programmes .
we are taking one step forwards and two steps backwards .
we must acknowledge here that this will only happen if the parliaments are involved , because it is only through the parliaments that the majority of regulations can be suitably adapted , and that this process and the proposals in connection with the Transatlantic Legislators ' Dialogue and the Transatlantic Assembly are of paramount importance .
forward-looking targets have been formulated for the entire Community .
Mr President , I spoke to a farmer this morning , unfortunately a farmer who is sitting looking at sodden fields because certainly in Ireland and in other parts of northern Europe we are having a really bad harvest .
Portugal to mobilise the fund in response to a disaster caused by landslides and flooding on Madeira Island ; and
for that reason it is very important that the European Union discharges its cultural duty and ensures the viability of all languages , including minority ones .
this sum must be allocated as a matter of priority to projects put forward by SMEs and industry in general , particularly in the areas of energy provision , sustainable development and the fight against climate change .
it is more a matter of properly and appropriately implementing existing legislation into national law .
should we actually be working on , speaking on - and , more importantly , voting on -proposals on things that , as they currently stand , will have no application to those who elected us ?
in the arena of the Middle East , a new olive branch has just been planted .
these matters , issues and areas would remain within the competence of the individual Member States .
just a few weeks in , we can already see some incidental negative consequences alongside the excellent advantages .
it would also strengthen civil rights .
but I believe that we need to do everything possible to ensure that there are no loopholes in the legislation and that consumers are not left with a sense of unfairness , hopelessness or helplessness .
the European Parliament has long called for the role of the Agency to be revived and for the powers contained in the Euratom Treaty to be used in full .
rapid technological progress and better scientific knowledge have compelled us to recast this legislation .
on 4 May , it was also mentioned in the Council of transport ministers that we need a linked-up European transport system .
we have agreed on the vision and now we have to deliver on the concrete plans , the concrete instruments to achieve that vision .
unfortunately , workers in the pharmaceutical industry and those working on cleaning up walls and façades will continue to run the risk of suffering the effects of dichloromethane .
its aim is to change the focus of policies from crisis management to the introduction of medium- and long-term reforms , which specifically promote growth and employment , and which also guarantee the viability of public finances .
it is indeed true that the greed in the finance market is greater than the fear of disruption , and the Commission needs to take action in this regard .
to this end , Mr Florenz , the eco-contribution , among other systems , has proved to be a very important tool .
I regret to say that the conclusions that we anticipate for the next summit meeting will not produce a solution , above all because the anticipated mechanism for intervening must be adopted unanimously by all Member States , and we need a European dimension , rather than a dimension that allows for all kinds of distortions and some countries to control others .
this transparency is demanded by both financial markets and citizens .
that is how the Commission will identify the proposals for which it is committed to provide the texts over the next 12 months , and I hope that we , the Council , Parliament and the Commission , are able to implement these texts in 2011 and 2012 .
( HU ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , nuclear safety has a human face .
they used to be held on Fridays , then they moved to Thursday afternoons .
have they been devised in support of European businesses ?
( PL ) Mr President , even in situations where the issues are completely clear , the solutions that should be adopted should take into account the context and relations between different objectives , the importance of the issue in question and the costs involved in achieving the objectives .
it did not even await the findings of our own observation team - which , incidentally , were published just three days later .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , everybody has said that the free trade agreement with the Republic of Korea is an institutional and strategic innovation on the part of the Union .
it is based on the Dutch model and we are very pleased with it .
there are too few crackdowns against human traffickers and too few proceedings against unscrupulous criminals .
but I will continue to strive for their adoption and with the Portuguese proposal we have an agreement in principle to try to get a final adoption of the framework decision on data protection in the third pillar by December .
speaking of the future , I agree with many speakers here .
competitiveness ?
mention must be made of the need to ensure that measures that have already been put into practice work and progress already made needs to be consolidated , so that we can move forward coherently towards a correct and functional implementation of the Stockholm Programme .
the 10th anniversary of UN Security Council resolution 1325 is an opportunity to make progress in these areas , as are all the ongoing reviews of EU policies , particularly on human rights and combating violence against women , the use of children in armed conflicts and the fight against all forms of discrimination .
we can also show solidarity by showing financial solidarity .
using the Internet offers countless benefits , but we must not forget the danger of the abuses which some Internet users are exposed to .
in so doing , I would like to place emphasis on the fact that you became involved in the debate on the Emergency Fund because it concerned a European emergency fund .
I should like to ask you to rise from your seats in remembrance of the victims in Mumbai and the murdered citizens of the European Union in Spain and to commemorate the dead .
this symbolic reference during this , the anniversary year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights , shows the interest taken by the new president in matters relating to judicial reform and to the impact of these reforms on human rights .
we need a clear , unified and ambitious position .
23 people are dead , over 2 000 have been affected , the vegetable markets are in turmoil with prices on the floor , and it is estimated that producers are losing EUR 300 million a day .
Mrs Van Lancker is right : the Member States have to prove that they are taking part in this , and then confidence in our social market model will increase .
this partnership involves close political cooperation which will ensure the transition of these countries to democracy .
replacing doors and windows and fitting state-of-the-art insulation can help keep household energy spending down .
as for the ITER mega project , which requires and will continue to require extortionate levels of funds , we are not sorry that it has been deferred .
unfortunately , we are therefore now in the position of speaking about those who have been kidnapped and are being held by the pirates .
people who tried to flee were hunted down like wild animals and shot .
yes , the position of certain countries , including Germany , which say that there must be stability and that what has happened must never happen again , is right .
moreover , problems in the banking sector are increasingly reflected in tightening lending standards and reduced bank lending activity .
it is made even more complicated by the fact that the age when school children start statutory education also varies from Member State to Member State .
the Sahel is facing , first and foremost , a terrorist threat , which is growing steadily and whose victims are mainly Europeans , who are being kidnapped and murdered with appalling frequency .
in the mean time , I would emphasise one particular event , which I believe is very important .
I note , in this connection , that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the creation of the European Social Fund and the 10th anniversary of the European Employment Strategy .
a decline in supplies could mean Moscow using politics to an even greater extent as the basis for fulfilling its energy orders in future .
there is only one reassuring aspect to this unfortunate situation : a proper , comprehensive mid-term review .
I believe that it is a sound contribution from the European Parliament to what we are expecting you henceforth to implement , Commissioner , Mr President of the Eurogroup , through a road map .
this would be a step in the right direction but there are a lot of remaining problems .
it represents the boundary of European civilisation in the face of an onslaught of illegal immigration which is deliberate , very often entails highly distressing humanitarian tragedies and represents big business for Mafia-type criminal organisations .
the country therefore seems less prepared to invest in other Mercosur countries .
the IND / DEM Group was , of course , formed to oppose the European Constitution , and we have been very successful , having spent money on the ' no ' campaigns in the French , Dutch and , most recently , Irish , referendums .
all its other advantages - from transport to energy production - can only be secondary in the light of the importance of water as a strategic commodity .
the difficult situation in Greece is a matter of common concern for the euro area and for the EU as a whole , as large and persistent domestic external imbalances threaten the macro-financial stability of the country with a serious risk of spillovers into other parts of the euro area .
I should also like to draw your attention to the fight against fraud .
therefore , the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection and I welcome the Consumer Markets Scoreboard that the Commission presented at the request of the Committee .
in times of difficulty , efficiency and innovation need to be rewarded - I am a fan of regional airports in particular .
secondly , the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights is supranational .
this regulation is one of the opening moves ; it is part of the answer to contemporary energy and environmental challenges , where hydrogen plays one of the key roles .
the resolution adopted today emphasises the fact that better information for and greater control by the European Parliament at all stages of negotiations would strengthen the partnership and would have a positive impact on the development of fisheries .
it is not just the Irish on their own who have to deal with this problem .
consequently , it is at least debatable whether we should create a new mechanism , Eurofisc , conceived as a new decentralised network in which Member States would participate on a voluntary basis .
I also think that the proposal made in the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development to rule out parents having to contribute to this should be introduced at least for the scheme 's launch .
I would be delighted if the Commission were to respond to these comments regarding environmental and social indicators .
in the absence of a deputy , equally double-hatted , the High Representative will more and more have to choose between staying in Brussels and being present , for instance , at the European Parliament , and flying to a foreign capital , where the EU needs equally high representation .
I would like to point out to Mr Chatzimarkakis that he is knocking at an open door , since eighteen months ago I proposed a school fruit programme which Mrs Fischer Boel accepted to such an extent that it now forms part of the already completed fruit and vegetable reform .
theirs was also a ' no ' to oil prices , to food prices and to the WTO .
Africa and China need Europe .
one commentator says that in reality , the turnover relating to counterfeiting is approximately EUR 500 billion .
it would be very difficult to try to respond to all the issues raised , so allow me just to state briefly that the European Commission 's fundamental principle , which is reflected in all our documents , is based on equal opportunities ; in none of our documents would you find the idea that demographic development is a problem for one gender only .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( PT ) Mr President , I congratulate our fellow member , Karl von Wogau , on this report and on the tireless way in which he has supported the deepening of the European project through the construction of a European defence policy .
at the Parliamentary Assembly 's last session in Kigali we called for prudence and the avoidance of hasty further regulation of relations between the EU and Africa .
the mechanism in question has led to multinational companies suing countries for their policies on health and environment - and your governments , too , will be affected by this .
I should have liked this report to include a plea for a joint policy between EU Member States and North African countries to combat illegal immigration , one that called the North African countries themselves to task and made good neighbourly relations and financial and material support from Member States dependent on goodwill , on a joint approach to this enormous challenge .
the Court of Auditors informed the European Parliament that the Agency 's annual accounts for the financial year 2009 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular .
by agreeing to the limits imposed by the Council on the growth figure , the 2.91 % we are all familiar with , Parliament 's aim is to send out a strong signal that it is sensitive to the period we are living through .
after the break-up of Yugoslavia , fratricidal wars , ethnic conflicts , political and economic transformation and the creation of new states caused the Balkan countries to suffer from many traumas .
when the Treaty of Lisbon comes into force , this will break the stalemate which Europe has been in for some years .
we have also committed some funds for the southern corridor and particularly for the Nabucco project .
with the new procedures that the Commission has put forward , we believe that this goal has been achieved .
ensuring sustainable development within this sector is vital , both on an economic and social level , but it is equally necessary to ensure the conservation of good environmental conditions in all EU marine waters .
Madam President , the CFSP has become almost everything , so you can say almost everything in a debate like this .
in addition , in view of the impact of the economic crisis on the less developed regions , the convergence objective must continue to be given predominant weighting in the future as well .
I now ask for the President of Parliament to take the necessary action , and we will discuss it in the Bureau .
that is a pernicious development and one that reinforces the European Union 's democratic deficit .
as someone who is much better acquainted with Indonesia than with the Philippines , I am aware there that there are many parts of Indonesia where it is not Jakarta , it is a developing country and we need to be paying attention there .
but financing , clearly , is only appropriate for those parties which are politically correct in their thinking on Europe .
I genuinely believe it is in the interests of the people of Israel as much as of the Palestinian people to find a solution now .
in addition , I should like to point out that this is not just any old region but a part of the world in which the European Parliament too , as an international political entity , must proceed with scrupulous care , and not make decisions based on assumptions that could perhaps trigger the opposite of what we intend , which is to achieve more stability in the region .
we two Commissioners are already having this kind of discussion .
all initiatives by the EU side to obscure this fact must be discouraged in order to move towards a peaceful and legitimate resolution of the frozen conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh and in the region .
ultimately , our diplomacy must respond to each violation of the right to religious freedom .
in spite of the fact that there are aspects of the Flautre report that are worthy of criticism , I am voting in favour of the report in order to show support for the battle for human rights .
this is a further economic burden which the working people of Ireland will not accept .
excessive bureaucracy and the focus on state-led efforts to foster what is termed ' creativity and innovation ' are not really to be welcomed .
this kind of violence is prevalent on a wide scale .
that is why we voted in favour of this report .
at the European Parliament 's instigation , after the Council of Ministers had determined its position , negotiations started , which we managed to bring to a successful conclusion .
I believe that this motion for a resolution constitutes in some respects an overdue action for an economic sector - that of small and medium-sized enterprises - which plays a significant role in the EU economy .
the radical right needs it also because of the forthcoming elections .
I will therefore continue to ensure that monitoring is carried out in order to check whether Member States are respecting passenger rights .
finally , I completely agree that broadband is an advantage , not only for the agricultural sector but also for everybody .
but my point is that in this European Union , nobody is being given that opportunity .
we are getting a vague idea that the Council or the Member States may be stalling because of costs , but it is not even clear what is meant by this .
we must understand that this is a new type of crisis and that we never envisaged a crisis of such dimensions , of such magnitude , of such depth .
Member of the Commission . - I am taking this debate on behalf of my colleague , Mr Almunia .
firstly , it was supposed to provide more jobs by limiting hours worked so that companies had to take on more staff , but extra staff means the extra cost of social taxes , so unit costs rise .
however , it is unsatisfactory that we do not have a structured political dialogue with NATO , apart from the single case of Bosnia We all know that the problem is that of Turkey .
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I absolutely agree that cohesion policy should not be renationalised .
it even specified that this day was unpaid .
in view of all this , Commissioner , I would ask you to react , and I am sure you will , appropriately to these new circumstances , circumstances that were unthinkable only twelve months ago and whose consequences for the agricultural food production sector we should begin to debate .
these three changes are all pragmatic improvements to the previous institutional architecture but , taken together with the fact that the European Council now becomes an institution in its own right , they give the European Council a better chance of fulfilling its task under the treaties of ' [ defining ] the general political directions and priorities [ of the Union ] ' .
we should also give our full support to Chief Prosecutor Brammertz 's call for the necessary documentation , vital to the case against the former General Ante Gotovina and others , to be made available to the Tribunal - an issue that our Croatian friends , amongst others , know is pertinent to the EU accession process .
we need ensure the implementation is pursued in accordance with the spirit and letter of the agreement .
I would like to acknowledge the work done by Mr Swoboda , and I too am sure that this is the last report on Croatia 's progress in preparations for membership .
it is a wide social and political question that is also connected with implementation of the Lisbon strategy .
these matters are being raised generally with Israel in the regular political dialogue meetings , and specifically in meetings of the EU-Israel informal working group on human rights .
the budget should not be used as a backward-looking tool preserving the status quo , but as a forward-looking instrument to sharpen the institutional regulatory framework of the EU which , in turn , should aim at strengthening the single market .
we need quotas , and we need good rules , frameworks and regulation .
Mr President , I appear to have been living in some sort of parallel universe here , hearing about the success of the euro .
there is a great risk , therefore , that countries that are protected from any contamination will put up trade barriers between themselves and countries that use that inactivated vaccine .
I would also like to congratulate him because it is his first day in office .
in this context , I want to point out that my country , Romania , exemplifies the spirit of solidarity in the European Union in crisis situations , whether we are talking about Greece , the Netherlands etc . , as confirmation of the fact that we are , together , one big family : the Family of a United Europe .
but the Council could at least publish a consolidated version of the Lisbon Treaty , so that you would be able to read what you have signed .
in particular , fast start funding is going to be very important .
as Mr Csibi has already said , the directive paves the way for a voluntary initiative by industry .
the governments of these countries are responsible for these crises ; however , in the interest of the common good , we should have raised our voices louder and more decisively in order to see results .
this proves that there is a critical mass in the United States that is ready for a change of strategy .
UKIP has abstained on these two amendments and the final vote because although we do not support any EU State aid laws ( as it should be up to national governments to decide subsidy levels ) , giving greater flexibility to Member States and lengthening this period is beneficial and much more democratically accountable , putting power back into the hands of governments to make these decisions .
I also want to welcome the return to the traditional system of budgetary guidelines .
the general prevention of State aid will lead to the advent not only of distortions of competition but also social distortions .
I would like to call for swifter analysis and decision making in these kinds of processes , so that we can respond to them in a more efficient and timely manner .
rules protecting workers will serve little purpose if there is less and less work and if we thus encourage migration to ' opt-out ' countries , whether within or outside Europe .
now that , because of climate change , the number of natural disasters across the world resulting in serious humanitarian , economic and environmental damage has increased , it is imperative that the European Union is able to act quickly .
however , above all , I believe that this reveals a fundamental unreality in our immigration policy , which is dependent on one person .
I know that you appreciate the point and I think we need to be aware of it .
in writing . - Some of us are very much looking forward to being addressed by President Klaus in February .
specifically , we have unpaid money of EUR 16 billion for the old fund for the 2000-2006 period .
it is cause for some indignation .
this would be a significant step forwards .
if so requested , this practice must also apply to the special representatives .
he has also worked in the area of defence , has handled finances and budgets at a high level and was also a supporter of Swedish membership of the EU .
furthermore , search and rescue should be carried out on the basis of specific principles and the people arrested or rescued must be disembarked on the basis of a specific operational plan .
( PL ) Mr President , one way to combat extremism and reduce the electorate of extremist parties is to listen more attentively to citizens on matters of importance to them and to analyse the underlying causes of extremism .
as the rapporteur says , ' The main purpose of public procurement is the cost-effective purchase of goods and services with a view to the performance of public-service tasks .
not a day passes in which the European consumer , when choosing to make an online purchase or accepting an amendment to a subscription on the telephone , is not faced with a question as to the conformity of the contract he has signed or approved .
( DE ) Madam President , the presidential election took place a week ago in Russia , and the result was as disappointing as we might have expected .
( the sitting was suspended at 12 p.m. for the formal sitting and resumed at 12.30 p.m. )
fourthly , the principle enshrined in the Toys Directive , whereby chemicals that are potentially carcinogenic , mutagenic or toxic to reproduction are impermissible , must be implemented with regard to accessible parts of toys .
in my opinion , the conclusions are fully in line with the EU 's Europe 2020 economic strategy , and in particular with the employment strategy and the fight against poverty and social exclusion .
perhaps some of those who are impatient and demand a lot of us can assist the Commission during the next financial perspectives , in convincing the Member States , particularly where the parties voted for a maximum of 1 % of their resources - the 1 % club who have put a limit on their financial resources .
in other words , this means that until 2020 , the equalisation of economic disparities will be less dynamic .
it pains me to see the people of Tibet repressed and their language , identity , culture and religion condemned to extinction .
that is all I have to say , except to repeat my thanks to Parliament for having , once again , made its very constructive contribution to European legislation .
the Member States and Internet operators should keep some room for manoeuvre so that they can find the best solutions for ensuring that the rights of some do not completely prevent those of others from being exercised .
there are still some things that are in need of improvement .
the phrase used in the motion for a resolution is potentially offensive to Indians .
author . - ( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to start by saying that my group was somewhat surprised to see the judicial evaluation of a dramatic car accident on the agenda as an urgent resolution on human rights issues .
they aim at strong socio-economic development and endeavour to have higher living standards for their citizens .
freedom , the rule of law , human rights , tolerance , gender equality , solidarity , all these form the moral code of Europe .
for that reason , I will be voting in favour of this own-initiative report .
I personally have never smoked in my life .
I would also like to thank her for the way she has worked with the Commission on a very delicate , sensitive subject about which we feel so strongly .
last year he was here in Parliament .
in an era of globalisation , demographic problems acquire a much broader dimension .
this will put Community legislation on methyl bromide at the vanguard at global level .
in 2005 I was the chairman of a small observer mission for the elections there .
nevertheless we have to make a decision , hoping we can enhance our efforts step by step in cooperation with the rest of the world .
if projects are not being implemented smoothly , then the sensible thing to do would be to enter into fewer new contractual commitments .
apart from criticism and ambiguity in the Commission 's assessment , I support the rapporteur 's idea that we can only draw conclusions with regard to the situation on the Union 's financial interests and the results of the fight against fraud if we include the data from the annual report from the Court of Auditors of the European Union for 2009 and from the OLAF report .
so , in this regard , I not do not want there to be any electoral opportunism .
we need to have an absolute assurance that that trace is deleted .
Mr President , particularly at this time of Advent , many are praying for peace in the Middle East , but sometimes one loses heart and thinks this peace will never come .
the European Union has always fought to protect the rights of children and to defend their best interests .
I should simply like to draw the attention of the Members remaining in the House to the reasons for the change , because we are satisfied with the ' yes ' but , a year ago , it was a ' no ' .
it certainly meets the highest standards of safety and security for control and customs procedures .
the Commission is aware of the existence of social tension in Italy .
that is a public relations problem : not just for Italy , but for the European Union , too .
EU livestock production systems are important for maintaining livelihoods .
there is a general perception amongst this community that regulations are being arbitrarily handed down from Brussels without any input from the bottom up .
since then the situation has become far worse , with the number of detainees reaching record levels .
of course , responsibility for the fires does not lie with this House , but as MEPs , we have a responsibility to ensure that Europe releases aid immediately , without bureaucratic obstacles , for the regeneration of the stricken areas .
certainly , at the recent meeting in Guyana , that was made absolutely clear by the President and others in that country , as well as Members of Parliament .
very close to Lithuania , on the European Union 's external border , there are plans to build disproportionately powerful nuclear power plants , actually they are already being built , the safety and environmental impact of which is causing much controversy .
rapporteur . - ( NL ) On various shores in South Asia enormous seagoing ships for scrapping are dismantled under conditions that are environmentally damaging and humanly degrading .
lastly , ACTA must not compromise access to generic medicines .
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it is therefore important that the Doha Development Agenda take account of that effect and make a real contribution to meeting the Millennium Goals .
we therefore urgently need to take active measures to support a strategy on fighting trafficking in human beings , in which significant attention would be paid to combating and preventing trafficking in human beings .
only a clear system of prior authorisation for cases where expensive treatment is involved would guarantee reimbursement for patients .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , why a report on advertising ?
this all relates to European affairs , but we also have the question of international human rights on the agenda .
how much money ?
in writing . - It is important for patients to be better informed about any medications they are taking .
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I welcome the Centre 's initiative to run a computerised network for the collection and exchange of information called the European information network on Drugs and Drug Addiction .
the Treaties leave no room for doubt : Strasbourg is not the second seat of the European Parliament ; it is the institution 's only seat .
I support the proposals for a cultural agenda for Europe with its three main objectives : promoting cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue , promoting culture as a vehicle for creativity within the framework of the Lisbon Strategy and promoting culture as a key element of the EU 's external relations .
in a resolution adopted in the plenary of 8 May 2008 , Parliament welcomed the proposal and called for an interinstitutional agreement on the establishment of a common register between Parliament , the Commission and the Council .
we have yet to achieve such results with the United States , it is true , but I should like to remind Members who spoke of four years , that is to say the date on which they entered the European Union , that the United States changed its law less than a year ago , in August 2007 .
Sea transport and sea ports contribute to and bind together the single EU market and the world economy .
written statements ( Article 142 )
eight months later , the Commission granted access to 16 of 19 letters , refusing - without legal justification - to disclose three letters from Porsche .
I hope that we can arrive at a comprehensible state of affairs in this regard at long last , and also that there is a scientific basis .
neither do they predict terrorist attacks .
that is no small challenge .
in Copenhagen , we looked back and we stood alone in our ambitions .
this will only be possible with the complete support of SMEs , which are responsible for the creation of most jobs .
author . - Mr President , this case certainly is an urgency because , as we have been hearing , the execution is due to take place by the end of this month .
unfortunately , we have to say that hardly anything has happened in matters of equality during this Commission 's term .
this option would be available for the Member States whose transmission system belongs to a vertically integrated company on the date on which the directive enters into force .
however , the work has been going on in systems , it has not been going on within the culture that operates within the European Commission .
this type of control is crucial in the fight against the proliferation of arms , including weapons of mass destruction .
I agree with the President-in-Office that this matter is not by nature political , but ethical .
as this report says , ' introducing minimum income schemes in all EU Member States - consisting of specific measures supporting people ( children , adults and the elderly ) whose income is insufficient by means of a financial contribution and facilitated access to essential public services - is one of the most effective ways to combat poverty , guarantee an adequate standard of living and foster social integration ' .
in fact he said it was a very painful issue and asked us in the Committee on Foreign Affairs for help , especially with the buyers , many of whom come from the EU .
the policies pursued by the Iranian regime do not respond to the justifiable demands of Iranian citizens .
an implementation deficit of 1 % may seem small , but if we include the number of overdue or non-implemented directives , it has a significant effect on the functioning of the internal market .
you know that in the CleanSky project , cooperation with the US is also making progress .
terrorism has to be fought decisively , but the means employed cannot be allowed to create an environment of insecurity for citizens ' rights which is the very objective of terror attacks in the first place .
clearly , having this discussion alone will not solve the problems .
unfortunately , they are not very nice words .
regarding the other issues President Medvedev would like to see included in the potential agreement , we should recall that they are all already contained in the agreement currently in force . this agreement was adopted in 1990 and is entitled the Paris Charter for a New Europe .
the aim is to help compensate for the damage caused by the forest fires and flooding which seriously affected the populations of these two countries in 2007 .
secondly , as Mr Ortega knows , there will be a second EU-Africa Ministerial Conference on Migration and Development in Paris , on 25 November 2008 , to follow up on the Rabat Conference , and in this framework there will be three technical meetings on legal migration , illegal migration , and migration and development .
we have strict rules at the moment and , indeed , rules on residues and food .
what we need is for the rules on working time and driving and rest periods to be applied equally to all professional drivers , including self-employed drivers , in order to ensure their safety and road safety , thus preventing excessively long working hours and inadequate rest periods or work patterns .
secondly , I want to ask the Commission not to wait until this is transposed into national law in 27 Member States - that could take up to two years - but to start implementing some of the provisions , one of which is to set up a contact group of the 27 Member States with the Commission to start working to counteract the illegal use of weapons .
this is a great moment for the peoples of the countries of the EU nations .
those technical prescriptions concern the approximation of the laws of the Member States to enable the EC type-approval procedure provided for in Directive 2003 / 37 / EC to be applied in respect of each type of tractor .
your comment , however , is really very interesting .
in writing . - I support this Report which was initiated by the Socialist Group .
our problem is not that we do not understand the times .
I will verify whether non-commercial protectionist conditions are attached to public funding , de jure or de facto , and the Commission will examine not only the legal conditions that may be attached to a final aid package , but also the entire context in which the aid is granted .
( LT ) Mr President , Commissioner , thank you for your really comprehensive response .
our third priority seeks to bring the Single Market in line with our digital agenda by stimulating e-commerce .
that is why we believe that the Citizens ' Initiative must get going as soon as possible , because it will be evidence of the political will of the Member States , of Parliament and of the Union 's institutions to give the public a voice and enable citizens to participate in the life of the Union .
( PL ) Madam President , demographic changes , longer lifespans and a falling birth rate , various privileges granted under pension systems and the economic crisis have placed enormous pressure on the public finances of the Member States .
although I do not fully agree with some of the points made for the reasons mentioned , the report is balanced and this is why I have voted in favour of it .
( ET ) High Representative , Commissioner , we in the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe want the European Union to be visible at the forthcoming 13th session of the UN Human Rights Council .
the dissemination of biased information , as is the case with a home in Bulgaria , should not be encouraged .
the ministers decided to re-convene , as has just been said , in June at the latest - at the start of June - in order to assess the progress made and to define , where necessary , new directions and any changeover to an alternative option .
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the Council welcomed the Commission 's plan to examine how Frontex 's mandate can be extended to enable increased cooperation with third countries .
project beneficiaries include municipalities , NGOs , chambers of commerce or cultural institutions .
this is also recognised in our 2008 report on European security strategy ( ESS ) , that we both mentioned before .
prior to the hearings for the most recent elections , the word transparency was on everyone 's lips .
the new legislation completes the European regulatory framework , adding to the rules on passenger vehicle emissions set out two years ago .
it is clear that we need changes in the regulations to provide more flexible tools .
( HU ) Almost the entire agricultural sector in Europe is in a state of crisis .
the programmes in place have the potential to help , but that help must be easier to obtain .
I believe that my position will meet your expectations when it comes to objectivity .
as regards the Irish language , I would like to inform you that I have recently made a visit to Dublin , I have had the opportunity to discuss with the Irish authorities , at that moment and afterwards and I have insisted on the need for the broadest possible training of people capable to work , at Community level and not only , as translators or interpreters .
we are hoping that the parties will commit to finding a pragmatic solution for continuing the discussions , which should allow all the outstanding issues to be dealt with , in particular arrangements for security and stability , including in the upper Kodori Valley and in the Akhalgori region , as well as , of course , the pressing matter of displaced persons .
it is more obvious than ever that even the greatest powers of Europe cannot tackle the challenges of globalisation alone .
we must continue to work towards this goal by amending FP7 .
Georgia today is capable of organising such elections .
Romania , the country which I represent here in the European Parliament , was one of the first states that ratified the treaty because all its policy-makers believe in European integration .
however , at the same time , they do not want to accept the need for a break with the policies that have led to all this .
finally , I wish to express my delight that the cohesion policy will at last be put forward as well , as an important area linked to the 2020 strategy .
this is striking because the existing rules have all this time been considered an intermediate step towards complete freedom .
India is a country of contrasts .
I consider it fundamental that Member States should be able to work together to settle disputes between national governments and to recognise the importance of the protection of cultural assets at a European level .
at the same time , the unrealistic positions adopted in relation to Russia include the task of sorting out media freedom .
we will not accept discrimination , and we will not give up the protection of human life and human dignity .
the oral question to the Commission on key objectives for the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ( CITES ) in Doha , 13-25 March 2010 , by Jo Leinen , on behalf of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety - B7-0004 / 2010 ) .
however , we need to ensure that there is less talk and more action : it is vital that we respond to our citizens ' expectations .
Mr President , honourable Members , I would like to thank you for the open debate on this sensitive subject .
the Commission is determined to shape effective environmental legislation and ensure the correct implementation of existing legislation in order to protect both the environment and the health of European citizens .
it is not for us to tell the Council how to legislate , but this desk-drawer veto helps no one , especially the institutions ' credibility .
sometimes , erroneous information is even given to migrants and they are invited to follow wrong procedures .
my fellow Members , this is truly the last chance we have to protect the manufacturing sector , in Italy and across Europe , which is one of the main drivers of the economy , unlike those few industrial giants that serve their own interests and not the good of the entire community .
the key word of the programme is economic recovery after the crisis , and intelligent , sustainable and inclusive recovery .
for more often than not political parties win in elections by promising one thing and doing other things afterwards and then they are surprised by the existence of extremism and discontented people .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
I call on the Commission to take steps to initiate an additional regulation in this direction .
if Mr Barroso were here , I would like to ask him if he can guarantee that a referendum will not be required in Ireland and elsewhere to make the minimum treaty changes he spoke of .
nevertheless , you sometimes wonder whether the glass is half full or half empty .
risk-based controls - then how can we tell that a coal barge is smuggling people ?
even the German Federal Criminal Police Office , which is not really known as a data protection group , had to admit the disproportionate nature of this measure .
Europe has a direct interest in the area and we need to hear more than what the representative of the Council has said here today .
first among them is that science is a global discipline and advances we can share go towards increasing the sum total of human endeavour .
we are confident that we will be in the position next year to vote on the treaty for Croatia 's accession to the European Union , which will be a positive signal for the whole region .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Madam President , this proposal is an opportunity to better integrate the Roma people within Member States and to find ways to provide the Roma people with the full , equal opportunities and rights afforded to all EU citizens .
sentenced on the basis of testimony extracted under torture , without the means to employ qualified defence counsel , without a chance of finding files lost five or fifteen years ago , they await their execution in inhuman conditions .
we have stressed the need , through CITES , to ensure the support and cooperation of local and rural communities in managing wild fauna and flora resources , and consequently in combating illegal trade in them .
more pressure will have to be brought to bear here through the talks currently under way , and of course the penalties need to be much stiffer and a uniform labelling system introduced to put an end to a state of affairs in which the tobacco producers ' lucrative export business ends in illegal re-imports .
written declarations included in the register ( Rule 123 ) : see Minutes
as a member of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs , I simply had to vote in favour of the six resolutions tabled by Mrs Matera in order to help Dutch workers made redundant as a direct result of the global economic crisis .
we also regret that the proposal of simplified aid for farmers receiving sums of up to EUR 1 000 was not adopted , despite having received 175 votes in favour .
realism and negotiating on specifics , then , are what is needed - then we will probably make progress .
if the answer to these questions is yes , then we should all commend as brave the Israeli Government for their action in Gaza .
it is the first time that we have really had a regional approach .
there has been mention here today of your predecessor named Marx .
in this respect , it should be pointed out that there have even been regional governments , such as my government in Aragon , which was pioneering a year ago when it proposed a guarantee for the Figueruelas plant .
passengers concerned about their own journey and comfort cannot understand the need for security measures , no matter how lax or tight they might be , and even the costs they incur , unless they are aware of the significance of such dramatic or tragic events as those of 11 September 2001 .
Mr President , I welcome the accession reports and I want to speak specifically on Macedonia and Croatia , and then Turkey .
we will have an election observation mission .
now , at last , we have every chance of overcoming historic grievances - without mourning our geographical separation - and celebrating our spiritual and intellectual fellowship without any kind of territorial claim .
now , that will be a debate in its own right : are we heading towards a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol and what are the emerging countries and the United States doing ?
their work must be valued and they must also be guaranteed decent incomes .
the first example of this is going to be an outline for supporting developing energy networks in Europe .
I hope that the Commission will consider this issue and suggest a solution to it .
one example is the completely irrelevant way it extols the Charter of Fundamental Rights chiselled into the Treaty of Lisbon .
we must not wait for another holocaust before we organise new referendums to support European integration .
the signal would be why should we do our utmost to repay private debt with a high exchange rate for our national currency , when this debt has been issued as euro loans by EU banks against , for example , immovable property ?
besides , only large Member States will benefit from a pan-European list .
on the other hand , it is not the first time we have discussed the brazen and inadmissible conduct of the Burmese regime .
that is the only way to guarantee a living income for farmers , especially small and medium-sized producers .
in conclusion , I should like to emphasise the paragraph in our resolution which refers to the maintenance of , and possible increase in , much-needed humanitarian aid , and I should also like to urge that arrangements for the withdrawal of this aid be made in close association with the stepping up of development policies whose implementation is more complex .
indeed , respect for fundamental rights , the situation of refugees and the privatisation of the shipping sector are the most advanced chapters .
it is always companies just starting up that have the biggest problems getting bank loans .
to the best of my knowledge , the national parliaments have had the opportunity to express their opinions and to send us their comments .
the assessment should also cover the rules on the size of lorries , Directive 96 / 53 .
I voted in favour of the Alvaro report on the Agreement between the EU and the USA on the processing and transfer of financial messaging data for the purposes of combating terrorism , because I feel that this agreement now strikes a balance between the objectives of security in the fight against terrorism and the objectives of freedom in the protection of citizens ' privacy .
Vice-President of the Commission . - The budget for the trade unions is approximately EUR 500 000 per year , which is given from the Community budget .
I should like to say to Commissioner Dimas that I really do believe that our proposals are supplementing due diligence : they are making it more effective , they are making it operational and there is no problem at all with WTO rules .
this was not an easy process , but it was worth the effort if an international agreement can be reached on the legal commitment of the Member States to achieve a 30 % reduction in CO2 emissions .
that was a very powerful statement in itself and it was a very personal and deliberate act to do that .
however , urgent matters must be addressed without delay .
the Council regularly reviews the question of transitional arrangements .
Mr President , I would like to congratulate the rapporteur : this report is very timely and deserves the full attention of policymakers .
we ask the Commission to work to achieve a high level of social protection within the internal market .
according to the accession treaty to the EU , Lithuania will have to shut down the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant , which produces about 70 % of the electricity requirements of the country .
on behalf of all of us I would like to thank Mr Vidal-Quadras for passing on the suggestion I made the day before yesterday .
the government of Afghanistan must make more purposeful use of international aid to develop small enterprises and agriculture in regions where opium is currently grown .
paternity leave needs to be regulated in connection with the system for parental leave , and not in connection with leave in the sense of recovering from pregnancy or childbirth .
the debate is closed .
the European Parliament 's joint and decisive rejection of the provisions proposed by the Council , pertaining to Europol 's work , is a clear signal that amendments to the legal basis now have to be applied .
if this were not the case , many of the considerations and criticisms made here would extend to other countries in the region , such as Israel or Saudi Arabia , and the same criteria would apply to them that are now being applied to Iran .
there are currently 16 Bulgarians who are being held captive on the ship Malaspina Castle .
from time to time , I am actually told that the cod that are in the English Channel are not officially recognised as being there as an indigenous stock .
the recent explosion in the Gulf of Mexico involved a platform which was only built in 2001 and its subsequent sinking is causing one of the biggest ecological disasters to date .
small-scale fisheries and coastal regions are a priority .
( the President cut off the speaker )
the directive does not take into account the final outcome of the relevant legislative process , which will owe more to differences in legal technicalities than to substantive issues .
the conference in Cancún showed that the UN can indeed deliver results .
tomorrow 's vote will conclude one leg of the journey we have undertaken together , but only one leg , because the relationship between Parliament and the Commission must continue , not least with regard to the actual implementation of the safeguard clause .
therefore the initiative of the Commission to use ICT to meet EU 2020 goals should be applauded .
if there is no respect for the Chair of the Committee on Fisheries and for fisheries in general , I propose that you adjourn the sitting until such time as people have respect for this House and stop having these meetings .
the revised and modernised social agenda will also guide our actions in a comprehensive approach to enable Europeans to realise their potential and benefit from globalisation , and will cover mobility , integration , education and non-discrimination .
Opel has had problems .
in this connection I would draw your attention , for example , to a case that remains unresolved to this day : the fate of the ethnic Hungarian youths who were given a disproportionately severe sentence in a clear-cut example of ethnic discrimination in Temerin .
finally , I should like to add that we should emphasise the role of the consular services of such new representations .
in Italy for example , the decree implementing the directive sets forth certain terms and conditions , but it does not provide any sanctions , so the law is in fact completely ineffectual .
this is the only way that we will be able to ensure that Europe is a great opportunity for the world .
the new rules will also be fully consistent with the goal of protecting biodiversity and - the most important aspect of all - will make it possible to maintain a high level of protection within the European Union against public health and animal health risks .
the winners are not the ill , not the displaced , not the children , not the elderly whose homes were destroyed : the winners are wealthy businesspeople .
in an age when we are encouraging people to travel by public transport , it is so important that we add coaches and buses , as Mr Albertini has , to this field .
will the Commission be prepared to extend it to private vehicles also ?
we know that it is now fashionable in some quarters to be extremist or populist , or indeed sometimes to wave the flags of xenophobia .
in a way , thanks to the Irish population , we now have an agreement on the principle of one Commissioner per Member State .
at first , I was not given adequate support on this issue by the nuclear regulators .
I found it very regrettable that even those Members on the left who sit here to my right were not able to gather themselves together in good time to make a statement on behalf of Parliament with regard to Greece .
I congratulate the army on its professionalism in protecting the Republic 's institutions .
one of the fundamental freedoms of the EU 's internal market is the freedom of movement , which allows us not only to travel freely within its borders , but also to undertake employment .
Mr President , United Kingdom producers have been investing substantial sums of money - pushing up their production costs - in preparing for the implementation of this directive because they know that Britain will implement the law .
I also need to say , with regard to the comments made about the report on financial measures , that the amendments we are proposing do not jeopardise the consensus obtained to date in the trialogue .
exports are thus an important source of growth for the EU .
( Laughter )
in an ageing Europe , everybody agrees on the need for reinforcements to the labour force in order to maintain and boost our competitiveness .
the Dehaene report sets out a model which will help us all to find the way forward .
as I know , however , that not all charges mentioned on the ticket are airport charges , I would ask you to humour me in a little exercise : if a passenger flies from Lisbon to Brussels , for example , by Brussels Airlines , the charge mentioned on the ticket is EUR 48 ; if he travels by the Portuguese airline TAP , the charge is EUR 2 less .
half an hour , ladies and gentlemen , is all the time allowed for this democratic institution to debate an historic upheaval and its consequences for the people of Europe .
it is a statement that undermines the dignity of the European Parliament .
I fully support the work done by the Commission , and I would point out that the fight against fraud and corruption is a clear duty of the European institutions and of all the Member States .
in the present economic and financial situation , it is especially difficult to find investors for many projects .
for 10 years , Mr President , I sat on the Committee on the Rules of Procedure , the Verification of Credentials and Immunities .
in writing . - ( LT ) The tragic events that occurred last month in Japan and concern over the safety of the Fukushima power plant have led to much discussion of nuclear power plants .
I have to say that the Commission 's letter was excellent .
we stand next to our fellow citizens ; we are involved in their day-to-day problems .
every country must have the feeling that its own interests , its own culture and its own experience are being properly represented in the service .
obviously , power plants elsewhere in Europe , outside of the EU , should be subject to the same independent testing , under the aegis of the International Atomic Energy Agency .
the situation in Haiti is far from being stabilised , as both commissioners , Mrs Georgieva , who was in Haiti at the end of March , and Mr Piebalgs have emphasised .
on behalf of the EFD Group . - Mr President , I should like to ask Mr Barroso : why the unseemly haste ?
furthermore , it retains the main thrust of the 2001 communication , which recognised the essential role of public service broadcasting in guaranteeing quality of democracy and pluralism .
Madam President , I believe that the numerous bilateral agreements between Canada and the Member States are the best foundation on which to build a robust free trade agreement in the commercial arena , thanks to a friendship that we have already experienced in the UN , the G8 , NATO and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan , a friendship based on the ideals of democracy and freedom that characterise Canada and the European Union .
we have been working on this but much is still theory or is in the preparation phase .
we need to encourage Member States to invest more in developing their teaching staff .
I think that , today , we should demand very clearly the release of this young man , but let us also remember that those who are firing missiles at Sderot are responsible for the fact that he is still a prisoner .
I am very interested in who the candidate will be and what the manifesto will look like .
I , too , am in favour of energy security and I think that anything we do in that respect will be useful .
therefore , it is important for us to close the loopholes in this area so that we can take action against fraud more effectively .
Madam President , now that the eight-year long duel over the Bulgarian nurses and the Palestinian doctor in Libya has ended , I feel we are badly in need of a sober assessment of the human rights situation in that country .
that is why I am proposing to you that you amend the order of business along the lines I have just suggested .
those that have raised the GMO issue , I presume you know that I think completely along the same lines , and I think that it is important to find a solution on a technical figure on the presence of non-approved GMs .
( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the title of this debate is likely to create a certain optimism because in theory , it is about defining the procedures for helping banana-producing ACP countries .
I fully agree with the emphasis placed on the development of biogas production .
moreover , if you are prepared , with me and others , to combat the Blair House Agreement , which is , after all , the main obstacle to real food sovereignty , to real food security today in Europe , you will have my support .
thousands of tonnes of toxic warfare agents lie on the sea bed encased in mines , bullets , bombs , containers and barrels .
when the product was again prohibited by the German authorities in 2005 , the Commission carefully analysed the case and concluded the procedure by formal letter to the German authorities and the manufacturer in July 2007 .
Member States in general and Romania in particular , a country which is still in need of investment in its transport infrastructure , must be aware that this transport policy is being redrafted to meet the new challenges .
in order to prevent any future placing on the market of potentially dangerous products , it is important for the national consumer protection authorities to improve their measures of monitoring and investigating compliance with the EU legislation .
Mr President , I would like to remind everyone that European energy supply is not an ideological issue .
- Before the vote
that is precisely why the German and French leaders are now showing clear leadership and taking responsibility for Europe 's future , rather than continuing to talk in unclear , muted tones .
but I also very much welcome all the activities that the European Parliament carries out , because Parliament provides the basis for an agreement .
when we talk about political follow-up , about the questions that the election observations raise and about the challenges , it is these things we need to tackle .
finally , as regards the proposed amendments to the report , the Commission would advise against amendments 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 and 6 , but it could support amendments 7 and 8 , which are in line with the spirit of the communication .
in writing . - Today 's vote on human trafficking comes at a crucial juncture in the ongoing fight against this form of modern-day slavery .
this register bears all the hallmarks of the stable door being shut long after the horse has gone .
I know how the people long for peace after 25 years of violence .
people are particularly worried about salaries , about workers ' rights and about public services , as well as about non-militarisation and the voice of the smaller states .
you are very well aware of the most important areas , the emphasis on renewables , the solar programme and the water management programme .
what did the supposedly extremely pro-European forces do at that time ?
I would like to mention or remind you of the importance that everything related to the internal market has in the European Union .
Bosnia 's and Albania 's compliance with the EU criteria for lifting the visa requirement is actually better now than Serbia 's and Macedonia 's at the time they got visa-free travel one year ago .
thirdly , Mrs Sanchez-Schmid 's own-initiative report has the great merit of showing how much Objective 3 is likely to generate considerable European added value .
in Romania , for instance , rehabilitation would lead to savings in excess of 600 000 tonnes of oil equivalent every year .
our group will therefore abstain .
a procedure like an overall review of the cohesion policy could contribute to its general improvement to the benefit of all Europeans .
for me , this is the most important contribution for both present and future generations and their coexistence .
if we are going to continue to come to Strasbourg , perhaps we could make some changes to the transport systems to enable us to come here ?
a regulation that would protect the rights of persons with reduced mobility as much as possible , given the intransigent attitudes within the Council ;
we cannot , for example , give responsibility for representing us abroad to a High Representative , any more than we can watch our seat on the United Nations Security Council being challenged in the name of the legal personality of the European Union .
it has , moreover , encouraged the mediation efforts of the SADC , under the leadership of President Mbeki , to arrive at a more satisfactory result with regard to the choice made by the people of Zimbabwe on 29 March .
Mr President , I have to say this resolution as a compromise was fine , but it seems to many in this House that it is too lengthy and it does not directly deal with the points we need to be making .
( DE ) Madam President , I would like to make a personal comment on the basis of Article 145 .
already , almost 70 % of the land is in the hands of multinationals and mining companies .
( ES ) Madam President , I wish to express my support for the package of measures designed to strengthen the economic governance of the Union , as well as the measures aimed at clarifying and speeding up the disciplinary procedure for any Member States with an excessive deficit .
we have to close the gap .
where I come from , people like that are called Dampfplauderer - patter merchants .
on the problem of low income users , I would refer first of all to the second package of the roaming regulation which Parliament adopted in the ITRA committee yesterday night .
the vote will take place on Thursday , 26 March 2009 .
finally , Mr Farage , a Europe that looks like you want it to .
when one reads the conclusions of the summit , they seem to be somewhat lacking in bite .
Franak Viačorka is the son of a well-known opposition activist .
I would like first of all to welcome Bruno Le Maire , Minister of State for European Affairs , who is the successor to Jean-Pierre Jouyet .
it is great that Chinese companies are investing in Europe , but we should have a level playing field there .
however , it is necessary to set up a permanent crisis resolution mechanism with strong built-in disincentives for activation .
the integration of the Single Market must now go hand in hand with the advances of a social Europe , which is needed more than ever at a time when the recession continues to affect Europeans .
I remain convinced that it raises the main important issues relating to the effective functioning of the anti-fraud office , namely the flow of information , procedural rights and the complaints mechanism , the role of the supervisory committee and , more generally , governance and accountability .
we can only facilitate , we can only provide intelligence , and do everything we can to help the Member States .
the proposal in the Sutherland report for funding arrangements for technical assistance for the least developed countries to be regarded as a contractual right , so that they can play a full part in the multilateral trading system , is essential as far our committee is concerned .
Mr President , I would like to thank the rapporteur for completing a very demanding piece of work .
on this last issue , I should remind you that last March , Belgium repatriated several hundred Serbs and Macedonians of Albanian origin who had sought asylum in Europe after visa restrictions had been lifted for Serbia , Macedonia and Montenegro in December .
I fear that this problem lies at the heart of this package .
it is ultimately the consumer 's choice that will determine which cars are driven in the years to come .
a last answer on terrorism .
regional cooperation is most needed in the area of tackling threats to the environment .
this is for the good of the children , and therefore also for the happiness of the parents , and effectively for the development of the normal European society in which I would like to live .
I would particularly like to thank Mr Coelho , who has worked swiftly , effectively and imaginatively on this important project , together with his colleagues from the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs .
in light of this , we wanted to boost competitiveness , using research and development programmes as one means of doing this .
fortunately , I managed to give the Commissioner a portion of school fruit before we started , so hopefully with that snack , we will be able to carry on discussing this important topic for a while longer .
reliability : information to patients should be based on the latest scientific knowledge with clear references made to the sources this knowledge comes from ;
at the same time , emphasis must be placed on decent work , which includes combating undeclared work , and on providing access to the labour market to people who are currently excluded from it .
these lessons actually help to emancipate individuals and make access to culture more democratic .
these teams will provide various types of specialist expertise in areas such as the investigation of crimes and the control of sexual violence .
it is the Commission which is responsible for EU fishery policy .
that is not our share of the budget .
I agree that aviation has to be included in any emissions trading schemes , but a balance has to be found between environmental considerations and those of the aviation industry .
we cannot necessarily tie such issues together .
we certainly need mutual support to communicate and more broadly disseminate the EU 's position , which is a decisive element in maintaining our leading role .
it is in this same spirit that Article 2 of the European Convention of Human Rights declares the taking of life a flagrant violation .
a number of airlines have recently gone bankrupt in rapid succession .
that is a long time , but even so , not all countries will manage to transpose the directive within the three years .
we have all been patients at some point , and we never know when it will happen again .
I do not want to give the impression , by voting in favour , that I , for example , will be contributing to the transfer of national powers on this issue to the EU .
in order for us to reach the Lisbon targets , we must do all we can , even in these tough times , to meet these goals .
that is , the long-term plans aim to define objectives or themes to achieve a stable situation to be reached after a relatively long period , whereas short-term measures are based on proposals drawn up annually in order to rectify , in a short period of time , the fishing mortality rate until the level proposed as a long-term objective is reached .
the British people know this , and this is one of the reasons why they are being denied a referendum on the EU Constitution .
one of the characteristics of Europe , in spite of its relatively small size , is her geographical diversity .
it was a question of the permanent possibility of investigating whether the Commission had exceeded its powers .
it also needs more resources .
at the same time , the Commission hopes very much that it can count on the support of the Hungarian Presidency .
first of all , these events have given us much food for thought as regards our strategic plans .
one question must take precedence over all the others : what do the people of Kosovo want ?
I agree with the idea that we need a stronger foreign policy for the institutions in terms of content .
the management of copyright and associated rights in relation to online music services remains a complicated and problematic issue , in spite of the binding directive on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright in the information society . the difficulties are mainly due to the lack of European licences .
we need to take a broader perspective .
Europe is at a crossroads .
we should be able to equip ourselves with the same instruments as others have .
we spend so much on unnecessary facilities and on administration that we should be able to afford at least to communicate with society .
that applies to approximately eight to nine per cent of young people as a whole .
we are therefore appealing to every minister of education in the Member States to introduce a requirement for at least three hours of physical education in schools per week .
can I ask those colleagues who are not yet sitting down to please come and take their seats .
in spite of being a relatively young state , Estonia has been part of European cultural heritage and shared values since the 13th century .
military violence must immediately give way and priority to a political solution .
the next phase of this policy must involve the accession of Croatia to the European Union in the near future .
in conclusion , we need new incentives for the Member States of the European Union to develop exclusive economic zones .
something has to be done , however , because 70 million tonnes of hazardous waste per year - and rising - is no trifling matter .
the debate also showed clearly how easy it is to turn such extreme issues into political instruments .
I would say to the Council that banning clones alone is the politics of symbolism .
the aims and stated aims are sound , but certain ambiguities remain .
I want to see the new Commission in place , a Commission in accordance with the Lisbon Treaty , and I want to see it in office as quickly as possible .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( EL ) Madam President , at first sight it is strange that we should be debating the reform of the WTO in the wake of the extended deadlock of the Doha Round negotiations .
it is great .
Mr President , cohesion policy accounts for one of the largest individual budgets in the European Union .
the report highlights priority areas that must feature in the strategy , such as the fight to have the Roma people 's fundamental rights respected .
while we regard the stated objectives of this initiative as positive , we would repeat that it should not be reduced to a mere balancing item or condition allowing the EU to impose an agreement within the World Trade Organization or Economic Partnership Agreements with the African , Caribbean and Pacific Group of States .
there is no question about that .
as a major consumer of timber and timber products , the European Union has an obligation to take effective action against deforestation and illegal logging , which must clearly include ceasing to provide a market for illegal timber products .
I believe that the major problem with company taxes in Europe is not fragmentation , but unhealthy ongoing downward competition between Member States .
7 .
the violence in Tibet today is not only about human rights but also about power-sharing .
in writing . - We acknowledge the very real need for a bluetongue vaccine , particularly for beef and sheep farmers in the South and East of England who , by wholesale vaccination on their own farms , have created a firewall against bluetongue that their fellow farmers in the North and West have benefited from .
I call on the European Commission and members of the Eurogroup to take the necessary measures , along with the governments of the Member States , to lift the restrictions imposed on Romanian and Bulgarian workers .
I have discovered by word of mouth that plans may be under way to disqualify regions like Wales , and I do hope that in the future , we will qualify for transitional funding .
well , you could certainly say that !
in writing . - ( FR ) We voted in favour of the resolution on improving the environment for SMEs within the framework of the Small Business Act , because we are aware , as we have been saying for years , of the key economic role played by SMEs as the main generators of wealth and jobs .
ladies and gentlemen , it is the duty of anybody that , like the European Union , is responsible for handling these kinds of sums , to impose stringent supervision of the projects that are supported and to vigorously combat waste .
for that reason , I am also calling for a ban on exports of nuclear waste to third countries .
the speeches we have heard today have shown several things .
how can we justify our slowness to tackle the counterfeiting of medicines when it represents a real health threat and is a serious crime ?
the report therefore favours the idea of exchanging good practices , constantly seeking to better coordinate actions at both EU level and among the Member States .
an uncertain entrepreneurial environment and an unfavourable legislative framework can dampen citizens ' creative spirit .
ladies and gentlemen , it is past six o 'clock .
Member States are also considering national actions to support their manufacturers .
I also think that it is important to say that what we achieved in Cancún was not just about saving the process .
amendment of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement ( vote )
( BG ) Mr. Chairman , Mr. Commissioner , The most important feature of this report is its link to realities in life .
at the same time we have to take the future into account .
I read President Barroso 's political guidelines with great interest .
we can surely draw our own conclusions as to the level of confidence we are inspiring , and not just in Russia .
secondly , there will be an increase in intensive livestock farming , with all its adverse effects on the environment , and the third effect concerns methane production , as most of the meat will be beef .
is it going to be Tony Blair with his Empress Cherie ?
for this reason , Germany , for example , has undertaken to limit the amount of land sealed under concrete and asphalt each day to 30 hectares from 2020 .
and what do we see today ?
may I warmly commend the huge volume of work that the European Parliament has been putting into the climate and energy package .
Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement will continue to remind both the European Union and Israel that respect for human rights and democratic principles are the basis of our bilateral relations .
we have many reports from media sources that can at least be trusted to try to report in a fairly balanced way .
the third pillar is global-level industrial competitiveness .
it is important that realisation of the cohesion policy be based on regions and macroregions .
thank you .
prior to accession , these countries were recipients of aid , but now they have become donors of development cooperation aid .
the way I see it , Germany has hauled in the loot ; but this is very tough on the Antwerp Opel workers .
EU research and innovation funding (
indeed , I believe it is vital to stress the importance of social protection for the assisting spouses or recognised life partners of self-employed workers .
above all , we must highlight the importance of preventing the disease . I therefore voted in favour of the Matias report on a European initiative on Alzheimer 's disease and other dementias .
the People 's Movement has tabled a number of amendments , for example , that regulation of the right to take industrial action should remain a national matter .
I voted in favour of this report because we must overcome female poverty that has deepened as a result of the recession .
( RO ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , this will be a difficult year for Europe .
at the last European Council , the President of the Commission said that we were equal to the situation .
in writing . - ( CS ) The Lisbon Treaty has become a dead document , just as when the French and the Dutch rejected the EU draft Constitution .
as it turned out after the first reading in October 2010 , negotiations on the ' delegated acts ' are completely blocked .
firstly , your report challenges the use of the expression ' public provocation ' and you clearly indicated that you felt the term ' public incitement ' was more precise .
the second point concerns the Helsinki Process .
that would impede our efforts towards economic growth and cohesion .
regional and local authorities will be responsible for implementing policies on energy efficiency , and so the European Commission and Member States must coordinate their activities with local authorities .
we have here a very serious incident in a reactor which has already experienced problems in the past .
all asylum seekers and all minors have already been transferred to appropriate centres .
in addition to this , every European political party should have at least one representative who is a Member of the European Parliament .
the joint interim plan will be developed with both the authorities and civil society in Belarus , and I hope it will open the door to deeper dialogue with Belarus , including on delicate political issues .
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Bildt and Mr Rehn for their help in bringing about at least a temporary solution to the border dispute between Slovenia and Croatia .
yet , inexplicably , we give them a free ride as developing countries and in consequence accept lower standards and commitments from them .
in the matter of transplantation , society must be sure that everything is being done in accordance with the law , transparently and without any hidden interests , and that this noble medical procedure is not being used as a cover for considerations other than that of saving human life .
( EL ) Mr President , experts in the EU Member States have come out almost unanimously against the Commission 's proposal to lift the ban on the import of chlorinated poultry .
the Presidency has done what it could , in other words crisis management , as President Sarkozy has stressed here .
the Commission services have also started working on a Social Agenda for maritime transport as well as on the EU e-Maritime initiative , both of which the Commission intends to present in 2011 .
reporter of the opinion of the Employment and Social Committee . ? ( LT ) I congratulate Mr Jorgo Chatzimarkakis for preparing this report .
the European Commission now knows the European Parliament 's position as regards this dossier and will have to take it into due account when tabling new proposals .
it offers the regions flexibility in cooperation and has a positive influence on the population of the Member States , the economy and the business environment .
why financial difficulties ?
Madam President , neighbourhood is the key word here .
so we have even more consensus now than we had at the beginning of this debate .
Parliament 's Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety has supported the proposal to create a reserve for new aircraft operators , and this is the right approach .
this subject merits open and transparent debate that goes beyond the experts and involves those responsible for the political decisions .
I think the climate package as amended by Parliament points in all the right directions in this regard .
the leaders of West and East Germany enthusiastically came together in an atmosphere marked by solemnity and joy .
( RO ) Mr President , as is also clearly indicated in the report , the efforts to reduce violence against women must be supported on two fronts : at Member State level and through measures and programmes managed directly by the European Commission .
the rapporteur , Mrs Liotard , agreed with the Commission 's report on the need for transparent authorisation procedures for new food products , even though she has submitted numerous amendments , which shows her engagement with the work on the report , and which must definitely be commended .
I am certain that , in most countries , this directive will not be transposed by 1 January 2010 , even though these countries have had more than four years to do this .
Petitions : see Minutes
this is also an opportunity for Israel , for it not to remain the only democracy in the Middle East besides Lebanon .
so here is the proof that we can reach agreements , and also the proof that this new Lisbon procedure can be a success .
firstly , on visa fees , which many of you have mentioned .
because if you don 't know how to adjust the rudder , every wind is the wrong wind .
moreover , while corporate social responsibility is currently well-established in Europe , European companies , their subsidiaries and their subcontractors play a vital role in promoting and disseminating social and labour standards around the world because of their weight in international trade .
a key issue in that debate is paragraph 41 of Mr Pomés Ruiz 's report , in which the Commission is urged to support the issuing of National Declarations of Assurance .
this appalling regime came unexpectedly to an end when the dictator died in December last year .
in my opinion , this is not the best way of handling the situation , as violence only begets more violence .
( RO ) The massacre at Srebrenica in July 1995 , along with all the atrocities committed during the war which accompanied the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia , are a black page in Europe 's history .
the report also proposes the inclusion of services that were exempt from the original directive in 2006 : healthcare , transport and social services .
( protests from certain members of the IND / DEM Group )
in addition , we believe public urban transport is already protected by its own regulations and it is incumbent upon the Member States to check whether or not problems are occurring there .
however , this is not the case .
the European Parliament is also to play a role in establishing national contact points in each Member State , which will provide information on all aspects of treatment abroad .
so speak to the Council ; speak with those who are blocking it .
in writing . - ( FR ) I abstained on the resolution on EU-China relations because I am not keen to associate myself with these paternalistic reprimands or with the moralising discourse that resolutions of this kind convey .
in addition , every EU citizen should be free to receive services , which is a passive form of freedom .
I believe that the first step towards a coherent inclusion strategy must be to guarantee the young generation of Roma non-discriminatory access to education .
important steps are being taken in this direction , particularly through the creation of a European Systemic Risk Board ( ESRB ) , which will close the current gap in macro-prudential supervision of the EU financial system , but it is vital to move forward with proposals for strengthening the Stability and Growth Pact in order to ensure budgetary consolidation and also to address other macro-economic imbalances and strengthen enforcement procedures .
( EL ) Mr President , Commissioner , taxation history is full of bogus bank accounts , which are even more harmful when such scandals come to light in European countries .
fourthly , my country , as a result of the EU 's misguided regulations to date , has been forced to halt essential investments in coal power stations , and now the same lobby is saying that we need to halt investments in nuclear technology .
we know there is record unemployment in many countries across the world .
I agree that the ideal solution would be an approach of total harmonisation , as initially proposed by the Commission and requested by several spheres of business .
many people are complaining at the moment , both those who think that we should have adopted more ambitious rules and also those who think that these rules are far too ambitious .
CCS is an emerging technology and further research is essential for an evaluation of its potential in combating global warming .
however , we have to change the depth of reforms related to economic governance .
the content of the regulation consists of a mechanism of two levels of intervention in the event of a radiological emergency or nuclear accident , as proposed by the Commission :
steps in this direction have been taken to increase Member States ' support in the authorising process .
I would also like to express my thanks for the unconditional support I have received as rapporteur of the GSM Directive , particularly to the shadow rapporteurs who have worked with me and to Commissioner Reding for the flexibility she has shown throughout the process of giving Parliament back the role we had been demanding : to take part in the strategic planning of the use of the radio spectrum .
the Icelanders must be made to feel welcome in the EU , but , of course , they will never vote in favour of EU membership if the finance ministers in London and The Hague are allowed to determine Iceland 's fate .
my last words on the subject of human rights : we must give priority to those who are most vulnerable , minors , women who are victims of trafficking , of exploitation and of violence , including victims of genital mutilation , but I know that Commissioner Malmström has this properly in hand .
secondly , because it is expected that there must be a new model in that van market by 2012 , and unless Magna give assurances that that new model will be brought on , it does bring concerns about the future of the plant .
current events require the uptake of serious and real positions at Member State level , particularly those states in the euro area .
therefore I support Mr Corbett 's approach .
there is also a specific proposal to that end which I particularly support , namely the proposal for a system of dedicated freight railways .
combating unemployment and creating sustainable jobs is the European Union 's great challenge for the next 10 years , and we must all play our part in making it a success .
however , both patients and doctors throughout the EU need a simple rule for when they must request authorisation .
Commissioner , in my opinion , many of the initiatives of the Single Market Act will not bring the expected benefits if we do not improve the Single Market for services .
third , we need to launch an information campaign explaining the beneficial influence of bees on the natural environment and of honey and other bee products on human health .
I would also like to congratulate the President-in-Office , not only on the excellent work that he has done for the French presidency , but also on his reward , at the presidency of the Autorité des marchés financiers .
both in the Council of Ministers and in the negotiations with the European Parliament , it has been watered down considerably .
therefore , when it comes to these reports , I agree with my colleague Carlos Coelho , in that they are meant to enhance the evaluation mechanism within the Schengen Area project ; a project which is of great importance , and which is built upon mutual trust .
there should be no speculation in global hunger as the effect of this speculation will be that many innocent people will die of hunger , especially in the poorest nations .
Guantánamo is a creation of the Bush Administration but it would not have been possible without the help of European allies and without the silence of the European Union .
this could speed up the adoption of subsequent transposition measures at Member State level .
so , why does this fund not work to do that ?
on the vote in hand and the EU-CALIFORUM deal , I think we should recognise that even though there were many concerns over the deal , in terms of the EU being aggressive in trying to open up its markets , at the same time it does set a deadline for liberalisation and it makes many of the Caribbean countries recognise that they have to seek to diversify .
I think it is a good thing that , amidst the commotion that has preceded this debate and to some extent surrounds it now .
not less , but better and more , which means efficiency , compatibility , relevance and so on , and then more again .
I trust , too , that these provisions will be effectively implemented by the Member States .
the European parliamentary delegations that you mentioned are already open for Commissioners or for Council members to go there , but it also depends on the time schedule .
I will make this proposal on 3 and 4 June to the Ministers for discussion and there will be a further assessment of this after the summer .
these measures in the acquis are undermined by the fact that countries such as Romania , Bulgaria and Cyprus depend on the delayed implementation of SIS II in countries which are part of the Schengen Area .
it is precisely the economic crisis and the reduction in our raw material resources that should allow a true sustainable industrial revolution .
( the sitting was suspended at 2 p.m. and resumed at 3 p.m. )
Mr Jouyet , I realise that you cannot make us any specific promises here and now , but I assume that you were serious about what you said about both recognising and wanting a climate of cooperation .
the lifelong learning programme does not take account of the particular situation of people who do not possess a university education .
it is no good to anyone if we immobilise capital movements with more rules and trigger an economic downturn .
with regard to the central role of some third countries in this policy , I am convinced that it is absolutely essential for the EU to sign cooperation agreements to be signed between with these countries in order to combat illegal immigration .
it provides more clarity , because various provisions regulating the same issue are often spread over different legal texts .
Winegrowing is an important industry in many of the EU 's Member States and gives jobs and vitality to rural districts .
I therefore voted for this text .
let this not be the case in Europe .
the next item is the joint debate on :
furthermore , the document we approved today also encourages the introduction of origin marking , which would facilitate consumer choice and contribute to reducing fraudulent or misleading claims of origin .
the early indications - I can tell honourable Members - are encouraging .
that will enable us to have a balance .
it is the first time a former Warsaw Pact country has assumed the responsibility of chairing the European Council .
the current financial crisis has had a negative impact on these companies .
this is how you should use the resources that you have dedicated to ' importing ' or acclimatising to Europe the people who are attracted by the mirages that you maintain .
documents received : see Minutes
I am standing up for hardworking taxpayers .
( PL ) Mr President , Commissioner , reducing the social and economic disparities between European regions is a fundamental aim of the European Union .
as we can see today , this is not a simple or easy task .
in particular , this will mean regenerating the Mediterranean forest , the economic returns from which are too low : structural Fund-supported initiatives must encourage the regular sampling of biomass and its use for energy purposes , and the development of sustainable forestry and responsible ecotourism .
aside from legalese there is one reality - the reality that the United States has old and strong bilateral ties with the Member States and it is obvious that discussions will be held with them directly .
( the sitting was closed at 2.05 p.m. )
it is a debate that does not affect just the internal market or only Hungary .
they weigh down on the national deficits that the European Stability and Growth Pact seeks to reduce , and so Member States attempt to reduce these transfers .
what we hold in common and what is uniquely ours .
through democratic elections , they succeeded in bringing about fundamental change .
however , please note that we also do not want an independent European Globalisation Adjustment Fund .
in writing . - ( IT ) I support the wording of this resolution because I believe that the monetary policy of the euro should remain an exclusive competence of the European institutions , since this would avoid the setting-up of double structures which would prove detrimental to European integration .
secondly , I would like to explain why , in our proposal , we consider it to be necessary to have a plan to minimise the effects on the environment .
another point that was highlighted by some of you , namely Mr Buzek and others , is the need to invest more in technology and innovation .
we have purchased these machines , and during the debate no one - neither the Secretariat , nor the President - informed us of this fact , while we were questioning whether or not this same equipment should be authorised in airports .
what initiative will the Commission take in order to make the Member States more active , however ?
the European Union has been developing more slowly than its competitors .
thank you very much indeed , President of the Commission .
I am also pleased that the report largely follows the Commission 's views and supports our proposal .
a state cannot use violence against its own people and not be penalised by the European Union in the context of its bilateral relations .
alas , we have only a few gas suppliers , and if we do not do something to achieve maximum reduction in dependence , we will be vitally dependent on them , both now and , highly probably , in the future .
however , I am not blaming anyone , because it was in fact the case that this could not be known accurately .
there was the issue of the legal base : Parliament and the Commission agreed , and the Council disagreed with us on that .
the transport potential , hitherto only utilised to a minimum , as well as other opportunities for development , require a speedy start-up of the entire project .
although the feedback has improved considerably , such as the feedback on the SWIFT and TFTP negotiations with the US , there are still some points that have yet to be clarified .
( NL ) Mr President , Baroness Ashton , the freedom of religion or belief protects both religious and non-theist beliefs , and even atheist beliefs .
in the creation of national and EU law there should be greater input from consumer organisations , which are encountering difficulties in pursuing their activities and obtaining funding in certain countries .
a two-week reduction in the fishing season means a significant drop in turnover for fishermen .
if we stop this regime and discontinue the aid , these regions will fall prey to desertification and environmental degradation .
the list now comprises 175 individuals - which should be compared to the 40 names put forward for an asset freeze and visa ban after the 2006 elections - and we stand ready to include further names , as warranted by developments .
Parliament wants to remain at the forefront in this area .
in a few days ' time , we will see whether Europe 's courageous stand on climate change has paid off .
we need to work on this .
I am reminded of the importance of the university and of small and medium-sized enterprises for that region , which is at present suffering from severe economic hardship and lack of recovery .
it really is important to understand how this scarce resource is actually being used today , because we do not feel it is being used optimally - far from it .
Iranian tyranny intervenes there freely .
I thank you for what you said today when you wished that this Employment Council on 7 May could be a true Employment Council .
exchanging information is a key aspect of this cooperation , and this is why PNR is an absolutely essential element of joint security .
that is a fact that cannot be contradicted .
these controls could lead to recommendations to the Member States for immediate actions and deadlines for implementing them .
I know that there are plans for harmonisation in some countries , which will reduce the number of operators .
that means working human rights into the activities of all parts of the External Action Service , as well as the whole range of EU external action : trade , development , CSDP and so on , and at all levels .
we are going to harmonise the categories of crimes , which is the principle of criminal law , and as Mr Nassauer said , with legal precision , criminal categories cannot be general or arbitrary in character .
moreover , although we must welcome the Goma Conference paving the way towards political negotiation , its agreements , especially agreements concerning demobilisation , remain ambiguous , and their application is unclear .
on the contrary : it will serve to reinforce this central role , and it is sad to see at times some reticence about this European consensus on the grounds that it would be in competition with the United Nations .
the FVO service , which makes periodic visits to various Member States , checks that the departments are operating , identifies any shortcomings and points them out to the Member States .
I hope we will see the same spirit of cooperation when we draw up the 2011 budget .
- Before the vote :
in the 16th and 17th centuries , Gyulafehérvár was the capital of the independent principality of Transylvania , and the region became a symbol of tolerance and religious freedom .
one thing that is essential as far as our group is concerned is that this also be applied to vans , that it be phased in .
this sort of contact is important .
I therefore welcome the amendment tabled by the PSE Group on that point .
more and more Europeans are seeking healthcare in a Member State other than their own , but they often do so without having the first idea of what their rights are in this area .
irrespective of the form that a new system for the EU 's revenue might take , it must be budget neutral and respect the Member States ' competence in the sphere of taxation .
Madam President , firstly , I must say that I find myself in agreement with the Commissioner and compliment him on his balanced presentation .
we should all be proud that we form part of such a wise continent that also exports the values that it believes in .
international fisheries agreements are also an instrument ; they are a means for bringing democracy and development to the countries concerned .
as far as Sweden is concerned , the best solution would instead be for it to be clearly laid down in the EU Treaty that matters relating to the labour market should be decided at national level .
in the meantime we have witnessed revolutionary technological changes in the development of mobile telephony and the Internet .
that means modernising our social policies - in line with the renewed social agenda the Commission adopted in July .
if you consider that for each dollar of actual investment , the US banks were lending USD 32 , as against the European banks ' paltry USD 12 , you will understand the unaccountability that was rife in the US banking market .
in some of these countries - and my own country , the Czech Republic , is one of the biggest culprits - these banking fees can be ridiculously high .
this helps avoid the frustration involved for citizens who are told that the body that they have turned to is not able to help them .
clearly , this Europe is yet another enemy of the people .
therefore , the real challenge now involves a clear , robust political commitment which must come out of the Barcelona Summit , finally enabling the structures of the new institution to function and commit to providing the funds necessary for the major projects that are its main objective .
12 .
it is likewise incomprehensible why the cement industry should have to reduce twice as much as the waste industry or transport .
in Italy , there are private and public newspapers reflecting all political tendencies .
I would also like to emphasise the positive interaction between public and private actions , both in incentivising compensation for victims and in establishing the five-year period for the bringing of actions .
we are expecting immediate , brave deeds and a radical change to the attitude held up until now from the past-present President , and for the Commission 's to be the flagship of a pan-European Roma Strategy to be developed as soon as possible , based on regulatory norms , a stable budget and clear political commitment .
other countries , including the EU 's major trading partners , have followed the EU 's example and brought in similar legislation .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( NL ) Madam President , as the rapporteur responsible for monitoring relations between the European Union and China , it pleases me enormously to see that paragraphs 80 and 87 of the present report dedicate substantial attention to the seriousness of the human rights situation in China .
if it is not to lose its element of Europeanness , the European Union may naturally enlarge itself and spread its influence only towards the East .
furthermore , the authorities have encouraged public debate on certain areas of key importance to the reform process such as : the role of the judiciary , the rights of ethnic minorities and the role of the army in this country 's political life .
it goes without saying that Members of this Parliament , irrespective of whether they come from the social democratic , populist , liberal or green camp , also have the same hope .
the Council has sent out encouraging signals this week , but has not given any guarantees .
extremist groups identify immigration as the supreme evil in the European countries , because it is a subject that they can use in order to explain the unwanted changes in their societies .
a sustainable common market can be achieved faster by using investments in the area of cohesion policy and with structural investments .
the present legal inadequacy with regard to what governments at both national and local level may do in the delivery of services identified as essential to the well-being of society cannot be allowed to continue much longer .
as these two passages were included in the resolution and the request to delete them was , unfortunately , not supported by the majority , I voted against the resolution as a whole .
it is therefore legitimate that members of society organise and lobby for their interests .
that is unworthy of this Parliament .
the financial support from the Structural Funds can make a considerable contribution to the efforts made by national authorities to resolve this problem .
Heidi Hautala will be taking part as an individual , but I hope very much that the European governments , the Council , the Belgian Presidency and the Commission will be represented at the highest level .
does the Council consider that the interventions of individual Member States to protect their banks and economies against the worst impacts of the international financial crisis are a retrograde step ?
I welcome the report and the debate .
during your leadership , you will hopefully bring about concrete decisions , but indeed also the miracle you referred to .
I believe that we must remember the most important point made in the Goldstone report : nothing can justify the suffering of defenceless people , and dialogue is a preferable way of putting an end to this situation rather than confrontation and the use of force .
I should like to put the citizens on their guard here .
I have in mind not only writings and objects in daily use that could be in museums , but also residential towers . these are special structures , the like of which is not found anywhere else in Europe .
when we say that the Beneš Decrees were not an obstacle to the accession of the Czech Republic , this means that it is unacceptable now to use the same decrees in order to refuse to sign the Treaty of Lisbon .
the technical talks on an EU-IMF programme are now well under way and the negotiations can be concluded by the end of November .
in the vote today I voted in favour of the introduction of the right to choose an appropriate court for divorce proceedings .
resources to combat poverty and social exclusion vary depending on the country , but , in order to create an EU that is territorially and socially cohesive , we have to implement additional measures aimed at unleashing the potential that is latent in economically backward areas .
it also means that citizens ' rights and their mobility can be taken into consideration .
the next item is the report by Mrs McGuinness , on behalf of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development , on the common agricultural policy and global food security .
therefore , we must be very cautious , particularly with regard to the current situation in North Africa .
aside from using trade and energy supplies as diplomatic weapons , Putin has consistently sought to undermine Georgia 's territorial integrity through tacit support for the breakaway , self-styled republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia .
for this reason , I voted in favour of the adoption of the report .
as the EU , we should support the Arab countries in the peaceful pursuit of reforms .
for this reason I would support the UN 's proposal for a moratorium on biofuels .
merely having the right of consultation , our proposals and our ideas were not taken up .
the citizens of Moldova are hoping for specific reforms that would improve their lives .
in exceptional cases only , in the event of extreme catastrophe , there will of course also be recourse to support and solidarity from the European Union , which will be asked to step in .
the Commission does , however , have a new mandate to negotiate .
because , if you do , they will destroy our nation 's future .
genuine freedom of religion is often the touchstone of a country 's abiding commitment to human rights .
however , if this is not to be a protracted competitive disadvantage for the Union , it must meet with an equivalent response from other leading international players .
overall , however , we in the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance feel the strategy lacks any specific objectives in a number of important areas that are intended to make the project of a social Europe into a top priority over the next 10 years .
transfers of appropriations : see Minutes
I would now like to mention some other activities undertaken with a view to ensuring the best possible service to citizens .
( PT ) Madam President , Israel 's attack on Gaza is a war crime and a crime against humanity .
I would like to mark your card .
( EL ) Madam President , Commissioner , I understand that we shall be waiting till the end of the year to see the results of these studies so that we can draw some better conclusions .
no , let us reduce it as much as possible and follow the example of the Member States that could serve as examples for the other countries .
all this is , in my opinion , unacceptable , and not for environmental reasons , but in order to safeguard public health and prevent any misuse of public resources in the development of business and the life of EU citizens .
some people were killed , and others were injured .
in writing . - ( RO ) Through my positive vote today for the internal market scoreboard , I am expressing my support for the timely enforcement and accurate transposition of internal market directives into national law , because these directives constitute the prerequisite for the effective working of the internal market , and for promoting competitiveness as well as social and economic cohesion within the EU .
generally speaking , the Council agrees with the need for better cooperation and coordination in this area at all levels , i.e. local , regional , national and EU , as well as the need to share relevant information .
I believe , naturally , that it is necessary to continue to insist , while at the same time , as Mr Pflüger said , ensuring that the forces which go , go with a broad United Nations mandate , and not only to back the interests of one country in particular .
to give you just one example , we are literally powerless , as European institutions , to deploy programmes , aid or measures in any post-conflict situations .
religious freedom is enshrined in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights , which also imposes an obligation on each State to ensure that these rights are respected .
in writing . - ( PL ) Today I supported the resolution concerning the 2006 International Tropical Timber Agreement ( ITTA ) . I did so because I believe that supporting measures aimed at resolving regional or global environmental problems in the international arena is actually one of the European Union 's most useful areas of activity .
a new agreement which improves the existing text both qualitatively and quantitatively is a precondition and , at the same time , a reflection of the quality of our relations with the Russian Federation .
they are necessary in such a discussion .
so please , let us stop treating the European budget as a strain on domestic finances .
make it clear that you will have a lock and you will prevent that type of opportunism which will in the end break Schengen .
aspects of that conversation are extremely serious because they demonstrate a total lack of respect for the United Nations , disdain for trans-Atlantic relations and disregard for international law .
we believe that actions should be taken to assist all vulnerable pupils .
there is no other solution .
'calls on the Commission to align closely the National Indicative Programme 2011-13 with the Association Agenda ' .
I must say that perhaps we can do things better , but to be honest , with regard to other major international meetings in the past , I have the feeling that today , in any case , Parliament is fully involved in this process .
the debate is closed .
the goal of our policy is to ensure that the European car of the future is the most innovative , in other words , the cleanest , most energy-efficient and safest , in the world .
on gigaliners - perhaps it would be better to say either 60-tonners or 25m-long HGVs , for there are different categories - at this moment in time my Group is quite definitely against authorising their general use in transport .
finally , it is necessary to improve the synergy between civil and defence space programmes .
countless cases of fraud occur in the field of value added tax , so it is essential to have a legal framework with strong measures so as to bring about a substantial reduction in the number of such cases .
the Minister mentioned possible sanctions to be taken against Guinea .
but it is clear that no single country or organisation can tackle the conflicts in the Middle East alone .
they do not necessarily need to be identical - just comparable .
the Irish authorities estimate total losses caused directly by the disaster to be EUR 520.9 million .
unfortunately , however , amendments by the conservative forces which contradict the original text have altered it .
he talked about the Socialist Group here - in Germany he keeps quiet about this - but we do know he has done so .
finally , the third area that I consider important is the safety of operation of hydrogen vehicles .
you already did it in 1998 , when you were prime minister then as well .
transplantology is one of the most rapidly growing branches of medicine .
it is important to learn from the experiences of others : claims for damages must be related to the actual harm suffered .
we believe that they are essential for transforming what is too often a relationship of exploitation into a legal relationship .
to summarise : we need a stronger and more representative IMF in our new global world and we need a stronger EU with a clearer voice .
on behalf of the EFD Group . - Madam President , I believe there is no need for these agency supervisor posts because I believe there is no need for the agencies themselves .
if Heads of State or Government are now willing to become involved in the coordination of economic policies , and even in certain domains that were hitherto considered to be of national competence alone , I think that this should be welcomed insofar as it contributes added value to growth and employment , and insofar as it respects systems of Community governance .
the programme of the French presidency of the EU is ambitious , but it should also be aware of the expectations of the population .
I think it has been said here - the Vice-President of the Commission has mentioned it and the rest of us have as well - that Frontex has to be based on the greatest possible legal certainty because , without such certainty , it often cannot act and it then finds itself in impossible situations .
in light of this situation , it would be naive to think that free and transparent elections will take place in Russia on 2 December .
we need to establish similar cooperation with other countries like India , Turkey , the United Arab Emirates and others .
in view of all the above , the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats tried to amend the report in various aspects , in particular as regards the content of the demand for a non-discrimination directive ; they were not successful since the voting went against them .
( FR ) Mr President , Mrs Malmström , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the European Union returned to growth in the third quarter of 2009 , which could lead us to believe that the worst is behind us .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
I would like to thank the rapporteur , Mrs Hennis-Plasschaert , for the very constructive cooperation we have had .
clearly , this problem can be resolved only if the Portuguese Presidency manages to obtain agreement in October , something that would be a major success and would bring about that leap forward that you have mentioned and that I fully support .
we must bear in mind the fact that people staying illegally have left their country of origin to provide a better future for their families .
rapporteur for the opinion of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs . - Mr President , first of all I would like to say that this is a very comprehensive report and highlights many of the issues that must be dealt with in order to ensure equality between women and men .
in my capacity as rapporteur , I endeavoured to place the issue in a broader context and present both the positive and the negative features of the Protocol , without succumbing to the temptation to concentrate exclusively on its weak or strong points .
it takes 12 seconds to screw it in .
Ukraine is a strategic partner , so it is important to integrate it further into such important sectors as energy and bilateral trade .
the average wage difference between women and men is 8.5-15 % , and even bigger in the private sector , in the latter 's favour .
but we must all contribute more in support of efficient agriculture practices and overarching water management .
instead of having the agreement terminated , however , the concession holder receives additional loans amounting to millions of euro .
it is therefore very important to work with the business sector and social partners to implement the employment policy guidelines correctly and effectively .
I would therefore stress this point : we are not the ones who have to be convinced of the need for a social dimension .
it must ensure fleet capacities brought into line with stock levels .
you are going to China to attend the opening of the Olympic Games with the Chinese President .
( FI ) Mr President , since the transfer of power in March 2009 , the political situation has continued to be unstable , and there have constantly been new disturbances in Madagascar .
however , it is important to call for adequate , sustainable and safe pensions at a time when Europe will be facing a demographic disaster in a few decades , the early signs of which have already started to show .
I am very much against the establishment of new agencies .
we need to ensure the highest level of training for staff working in the sector .
this is one of the greatest achievements of the European integration process .
the effort - I know this from my work as a lawyer - required in order to provide the necessary records and then analyse them with the help of several colleagues is immense in larger businesses , too .
he has urgent business elsewhere , but he asked me to say - which was very nice of him - that the two of us agree that I will speak on behalf of our group .
a decree was passed in Romania in 1967 banning abortions , which meant that women lost the right to choose between continuing with a pregnancy and terminating it .
before the vote :
last year , the virtue contest between governments was about who could spend the most .
what is crucial for us once again is the fact that the asset stripping of companies by private equity funds is not prevented effectively .
a plan has been drawn up with priority measures to be carried out in essential areas of reform , along with another plan for justice reform .
the Union is at least as much a potential target of a terrorist attack as the United States and the use and analysis of PNR is an important law enforcement tool to protect our citizens , who deserve the same protection as the citizens of the United States .
I voted against the alternative motion for a resolution to the Graça Moura report on ' Multilingualism : an asset for Europe and a shared commitment ' because , by removing the possibility for parents to choose the official language in which their children will be educated , in countries or regions with more than one official language or with regional languages , it contradicts certain principles that are upheld by the European Parliament .
this is what happens when speakers take up a greater amount of time than was anticipated .
there are also many other projects that we are studying at the moment , in trying to find the right answers , and for which , of course , we also need Israel 's support .
at the same time , we must realise that the lorry strike which broke out on the Oresund Bridge in November 2007 did not happen by chance .
we have had the result of our study on our carbon footprint for two days now .
that desire has been stimulated by the fact that public opinion in a number of Member States does not support further enlargement .
it is simply what the transitional period entails .
it is important to stress the requirement that manufacturing companies verify the possibility of risks to safety and health even at the product design stage and for the creation of a public database about product safety .
so which statement do you believe ?
in Europe our own children are being suffocated and poisoned and are developing allergies because of Barbie dolls and toys .
Cathy Ashton will only fully take up office after receiving the consent of Parliament at the end of January 2010 .
our fellow citizens already had high expectations in this matter at this time of economic crisis and the daily catalogue of bad news .
nearly 75 % of container ship building is now carried out by Asian countries - South Korea , Japan and China .
herbs and spices have been used since time immemorial without known adverse effects .
this progress includes the recent adoption by the Council of the framework decision on racism and xenophobia and the adoption of the framework decision on the protection of data in the third pillar , even if this is regarded merely as a first step .
this is a flagrant redrawing of the borders , enforced and masterminded by the United States with the cooperation of the EU itself .
as is public knowledge , both are co-sponsors of the Alliance of Civilisations under the auspices of the United Nations .
that is why sometimes we object very strongly to decisions , which would ease the movement of capital in the countries of the European Union , it is not that we are against integration .
I see many advantages to being able , from a political position , to steer research into solving a disease problem instead of treating the symptoms for 30 years with medication that is very lucrative for the undertakings concerned .
the Council will also shortly start work on proposals for a framework directive on the rights of migrants legally residing in a Member State in order to work and creating a single residence permit , and for a directive on the conditions of entry and residence of highly qualified workers , which we hope the Commission will present in the next few weeks .
6 .
I think it is an issue which Europe can handle overall , at the same time as the American side is handling it .
in April 2010 at the Hanover Fair , there was a major campaign to promote the CE mark , but we are not exploiting it enough .
so the European Commission 's proposal is a huge step forward to help these patients and my group is very keen to support it .
this is not the case here . we are legitimately fighting terrorism in new , ever more innovative ways , as the only way of ensuring the protection of European citizens ' fundamental freedoms .
the Commissioner spoke about various measures which are intended to bring down unemployment , but did not say a single word about the fact that an important and more effective method could be for Member States to agree on the mutual recognition of qualifications gained in other Member States .
eight of the fifteen applications under the Globalisation Adjustment Fund have been to support textile workers .
I also pay tribute to the courage and fortitude of those who are now struggling to tackle the consequences of the terrible earthquake and tsunami , as well as those endeavouring to deal with the consequences of the nuclear incident .
here we have an awful lot to deliver and I think we should focus on that delivery .
in closing , I would add that in the context of the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion , the Belgian Presidency also organised , on 28 September , the conference entitled ' Breaking the cycle of disadvantage - Social inclusion in and through education ' .
it calls for regulatory tools , because the cycles of the seasons and nature also have an effect on market conditions .
I congratulate Mrs Plumb for the initiative .
the Structural Funds is an area of particular concern both for the Parliament and the Commission .
I did not realise our British colleagues were citizens .
the first innovative proposal in the revised treaty is that the distinction between compulsory and non-compulsory expenditure is proposed to be eliminated , providing one procedure for the adoption of the annual budget by the budgetary authorities .
in this regard , I have tabled an amendment to Parliament 's resolution on this matter , requesting an international set of sanctions to be included in the final text .
I should emphasise again that this is a purely precautionary measure , which allows initiating the necessary scientific assessments of current permitted levels throughout the world , so that the European Union can demonstrate it is once again applying the highest standards .
I want to go further than that by trying to find common ground with the various Chinese operators in Africa , including the government , in order to foster development in Africa .
I agreed with this report and the European Parliament 's proposals that strive to ensure more democratic and transparent EU control regimes for dual-use goods and a greater role for the Commission in assessing the implementation of this regulation in the Member States .
the high level group chaired by Jacques de Larosière is analysing this , among other factors .
let me begin , then , by assuring all the honourable Members that the Council is committed to working closely and honestly with Parliament .
lastly , in relation to the deadline for making the regulation applicable , I think that nine months is a sufficiently long time .
one of the reasons for the rapid spread of HIV infection in many EU countries is the fact that many intravenous drug users are infected and spread the disease by sharing needles .
in writing . - It goes without saying that tourism possesses a high potential which creates an opportunity to increase employment and economic growth .
( DE ) Mr President , thank you Mr Lambsdorff , I am of the opinion that Greece urgently needs political unity .
working conditions aboard many of these vessels are nothing short of slave labour .
that is confirmed by the draft resolution .
the Commission has done what it undertook to do , but we - the Members of the European Parliament - and the Member States have , I think , lacked the political will to take a clear-cut position on the issue .
there is no agreement that would regulate depleted uranium weapons on a multilateral level .
comprehensive and comparable data are vital for both legal enforcement efforts and awareness campaigns .
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the specific question that was asked was : if the assessment proves unfavourable , will you shelve the plans for implementing CCCTB ?
we are experienced in supporting democracy building in our external relations .
you can read about this in paragraphs 25 and 26 .
it clearly emerged from the Washington summit that there is an urgent need for a global trade agreement .
I voted against this resolution , which would have prevented the adoption of a number of measures that constitute a step in the right direction , even though I admit the situation is far from being perfect .
the issue of reporting requirements by the fleet is also being dealt with , since we have proposed a legal basis that will allow the Commission to refuse licence requests on the grounds of poor reporting from Member States .
5 .
I shall stop here .
I intend to monitor the actions of the Joint Committee , which was appointed in order to ensure that the agreement 's provisions would be implemented appropriately or even extended .
subsidies which have a directly negative impact on the environment should not be paid out , and aid to agriculture should be earmarked for environmental measures and organic farming .
without these efforts and contributions we would not have been able to arrive at this moment .
even in African countries , economic growth sometimes hits double figures , as is evident in major cities , such as Addis Ababa . however , inequality is growing just as rapidly .
Parliament decided to react quickly , and that is crucial .
we have to make sure that this dire economic crisis does not turn into an even more dreadful political crisis .
it is a real disgrace , which has very often forced many SMEs to close .
it is therefore important for these economic relations to be matched by corresponding political relations with the European Union , with a clear perspective on the future .
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this is for reasons of environmental quality and the health and wellbeing of people , and for reasons connected to the progressive and inexorable worldwide shortage of fossil fuel reserves , which must be managed extremely wisely and prudently .
you talk about the appeal procedure .
those of you who managed to hear the radio programmes last week about the activity of the Committee on Petitions will have understood how important it is that you should give those submitting petitions a personal hearing in the presence of all the necessary experts .
I think that we must strive for political agreements and political guarantees between the European Union , Russia and Ukraine , until our goals are reached in the medium or long-term .
the hotheads here must cool down , particularly the Greens .
Commissioner , these serious problems in the supply chain include , for example , abuse of dominant purchasing power , unfair contractual practices - including late payments - unilateral changes to contracts , advance payments for access to negotiations and uneven distribution of profit margins along the food supply chain .
as a result , the fund is not well equipped for certain types of disasters , typically involving lower eligible expenditure , such as forest fires , and more than two thirds of all applications for the fund assistance presented so far were based on an exception for so-called ' extraordinary regional disasters ' .
in this respect , the address by the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations , Mrs Migiro , at the European Parliament was exemplary .
young people spend a lot of time in front of television screens or computer monitors .
the worst-case scenario in the report rests on the assumption that Brazil will rapidly commercialise a GM soya bean variety not approved in the EU .
the total amount that the Commission has already committed to VIS so far is in the region of EUR 74.5 million .
are we putting forward schemes which are simple , with clear objectives , realistic to execute and whose accountability lines are clear ?
Madam President , I had the honour of visiting Afghanistan earlier this year with British forces .
I would like to congratulate the three rapporteurs on their excellent work .
Mr President , I voted for this report and I welcome it .
this is the tragic side of the events in the South which have come as such a surprise . it should compel every one of us to make all the more effort to achieve democratisation of both this country and the region as a whole , particularly since the old order is collapsing before our eyes in Egypt as well .
we would like to improve the status of groups for whom new technology brings opportunities , but which will leave them with no access to the information society unless their rights are monitored .
thirdly , I would just like to reiterate the call for the Commission to bring forward a legislative amendment to the Directive on risks from biological agents at work in order to address the problem of needlestick injuries .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( LT ) Madam President , I would like to congratulate the rapporteur and express my thanks for the good cooperation in coordinating the changes to the report on this new , brave issue .
I agree that energy strategy should tackle and facilitate the transition to environmentally sustainable energy development , and that the World Bank should adopt an approach to private sector development that provides the greatest benefit to the poor whilst simultaneously combating climate change .
the fourth thing we did was to say that any information that could come from pharmaceutical companies should not be received by patients or the general public without them asking for it first .
answers must be found to the challenges of transport , housing , suburbanisation and green space .
this rapid progress is important if we are to maintain momentum as we enter the implementation phase of the strategy .
the Copenhagen criteria , as the guide or reference framework for this whole negotiation process , are extremely clear for both Turkey and any other candidate countries : only those countries which clearly respect our economic principles and , in particular and perhaps even more importantly , our political principles can be members of the European Union .
we can confirm that the situation in Kosovo is improving .
a global solution to the problem of ship dismantling is still urgently needed .
the natural disaster suffered by the people of Pakistan last August touched all of us and deserves the solidarity of the European Union .
but if we were serious about reducing CO2 emissions , surely we should be favouring nuclear power stations and not renewables .
I am satisfied for two reasons : the committee that I chair acted promptly , reaching a provisional agreement , and that agreement paved the way for the one reached today in plenary by a very large majority .
in addition , the Commission is delaying in implementing the commitments it assumed in this communication .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( PT ) As the honourable Member knows , during its meeting from 6 to 8 June 2007 the Council analysed in depth the situation of the Galileo project and adopted a resolution .
a whole civilisation is being consumed .
thank you for listening .
recently , though , I have been able to assure people that the policy is undergoing significant change .
as the rapporteur stressed in his speech , the recent events that took place in the Mediterranean have once again accentuated the problems and the serious pressures that certain Member States are facing .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( PT ) I would remind the House that the Council , in its conclusions of 23 and 24 July 2007 , reiterated its full support for President Abbas and the Government led by Prime Minister Fayyad .
this situation upsets me deeply , for there is nothing more I want to see than my compatriots living in a prosperous Bulgaria which has taken its rightful place in a united Europe , without accusations of corruption in high places and without organised crime .
these must , of course , include environmental criteria , such as land use and its repercussions in third countries , but I also think social criteria are crucial .
the justification was the defence of a pluriform democracy against dictatorships , but in practice it was mainly about protecting a capitalist economy from a socialist economy .
1 .
studies and scientists that approach the subject of climate change with less gloomy scenarios or perhaps even positively , have simply been ignored .
we have a road map for this : the Charter of Fundamental Rights .
and all that is under our feet .
for its part , Russia must streamline its procedures at the borders .
by introducing new issues such as climate change , biofuels , water resources and risk management , the Commission has demonstrated its wish to move forward , even though some ambiguity still surrounds the way in which conditionality is to be handled , if it confines itself to laying down a generic requirement for simplification without clarifying how - and to what end - it is to be implemented .
as far as I am concerned this also includes terrorist threats , cyber attacks and plane crashes .
we were very efficient in completing this report , although this is not as important as the actual revision of the directive will be .
you attended as a private individual and we very much appreciated that .
the Labour Party , the Liberal Democrats and the Conservative Party all voted in favour of a European arrest warrant .
concerning Community action plans on seabirds and sharks , I can inform you that the latter is under way and that , on the former , my services are gathering information and scientific advice with a view to completing the plan by the end of 2009 .
we cannot create a repressive policy for smokers that involves the restriction of their civil liberties .
I do not think that it sends the right message to dilute renewables in the EU 2020 strategy .
Madam Ashton , are you prepared to defend European achievements , such as freedom of expression and the separation of church and state , in a clear and uncompromising manner , in the face of growing political Islam ?
then there is EUR 10 million for the People programme , which is intended to increase the mobility of doctoral candidates and PhD students , provide the opportunity for closer cooperation with industry and modernise the EU 's universities , and money for communication .
I therefore assume that the Justice and Home Affairs Council will also express its support for this decision on 6-7 December this year .
it must be done by the Member State politicians .
this should , without doubt , also apply to Georgia , Armenia and Azerbaijan .
there are problems with that but it is a fact .
all three have been strongly supported by the Committee on Transport and Tourism .
Mr President , we in the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) very warmly welcome the fact that Commissioner Špidla has confirmed that the European authorities were involved in three areas of this long , drawn-out change of ownership process of a car company .
these people should not be made to pay the price for the destruction of bogs by others .
what is more , the EMU is in a certain amount of trouble in view of Greece 's spiralling debt and Italy 's carelessness after joining the Euroclub .
it took 20 years - 20 years - until we got back half of the jobs that were lost .
( ES ) Mr President , I should like to start my speech by congratulating all those who have made it possible to reach an agreement .
these small firms are often the first step on the ladder to successful employers of the future , and they need to be nurtured , especially during times of recession .
the Proposal by the Commission for the revision of the common agricultural policy should result in legislative texts that the Council and the European Parliament will table in May 2008 at the latest .
the Union did not respond properly in Mumbai , as has been the case in other crisis situations .
I believe we have indeed struck a balance here in Parliament - and I hope you can carry it over into the Commission - which is to say ' yes ' to more competition through innovation , ' yes ' to more capital investment , but ' yes ' also to a social clause , ' yes ' to environmental standards that ensure that competition does not lead to regulatory dumping .
Parliament has supported this all along .
for these reasons , I will vote in favour of the motion for a resolution .
I am therefore particularly happy that we are cooperating in the new launch on the 27th .
Mr President , thank you for giving me the floor .
( ET ) I asked to take the floor to call for a greater focus on human rights in Afghanistan , a country in which the Member States and the European Union as a whole have made a substantial contribution .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( FR ) Madam President , allow me first to welcome Mrs Kosciusko-Morizet , whose convictions and determination in this area are well known , along with the Commissioner .
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do not be afraid ! ' ) , is over , hence the Doha Round , which is still ongoing 10 years after it was started , whereas the Uruguay Round , if I may be so bold as to say , only took 8 years .
the EU should involve itself in cross-border issues but keep out of matters that individual Member States can decide on themselves or that are already regulated in other international treaties .
in reality , if we are truly to get rid of these floating wrecks , the European Union must set about fighting ultra-liberalism .
Serbia , too , should go ahead as soon as possible and make renewed and intensified efforts regarding its European perspective .
Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , thank you , above all , for the commitment you have made in putting together this package of measures , which I believe sends out a political signal making it clear that this is not Malta 's problem , this is not Italy 's problem , this is not Spain 's problem : this is a European problem .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I believe that this crisis has a human dimension which we will definitely have to discuss today .
I therefore agree that we should stop giving such positive status reports as ' We are concerned ' and ' We have programmes ' and so on , when we know that it does not work .
it is clear that every time that they say ' no ' to Eurobonds in particular , the speculators thank them because they are grateful for the price ; the price of this speculation is division in Europe .
we want to prepare ourselves and , as Commissioner Rehn has already stated publicly , we are in the process of preparing a communication on strengthened economic policy coordination and monitoring by country at the euro area level and possibly even at a general European Union level .
the annual allocation for the Croatia-Serbia cross-border programme amounts to EUR 1.8 million .
we have experienced these difficult situations before and we have always come out stronger on the other side .
and in case you thought I had forgotten to say it , it is high time we put the Lisbon Treaty to a referendum .
this is not about making things more difficult , quite the opposite !
on other points , too , we have used our vote to express a different view .
our action plan focuses on developing a coherent global airport policy .
the European audiovisual industry has developed and improved considerably over recent years and its international profile has changed over the last 20 years , especially as a result of technological progress .
the item is hereby closed .
the pressure put on industry by climate policy will mean relocations to countries whose policies in this area demonstrate more common sense .
as a result of this overall situation , public broadcasters in a number of Member States of the European Union are actually struggling to keep their heads above water .
I regard the introduction of free movement within the territory of the EU and the waiver of internal border controls as among the most important achievements of the European Union .
I pause at this point to pay tribute to the work being done by Catherine Ashton .
also included in this opinion is reference to the need to develop common guidelines , exchange best practices , improve the use of available technology and involve think tanks and NGOs in order to better implement measures to reduce illegal fishing and the sale of illegal catches in European markets .
the problem will not disappear even if we stop subsidising tobacco producers . the fund must therefore continue to exist .
Mr Wessberg will replace Lars Heikensten , who left to become executive director of the Nobel Foundation .
I voted against this report because in no way is this the solution to the economic crisis we are experiencing .
how can one expect such wording not to be seen as incitement to carry out such checks ?
what have these solutions been ?
to put it harshly , to us , to the European Union , stripped down to its bare essentials , what does this mean ?
I would like to express my appreciation of the work done by our rapporteur and that of the Commission on the reform of the consumer policy .
according to the Eurostat forecasts , the population in the 15 to 64 age bracket will be reduced by one million persons per year after 2010 .
by way of example I could mention the insufficient effort to implement commitments aimed at halting the process of loss of biological diversity on EU territory by 2010 . there is also an unwillingness to enter into negotiations regarding the instrument allowing benefits to be accessed and shared , and an unwillingness to allocate additional targeted funding to implement conventions in developing countries .
Madam President-in-Office , I would like to ask you about the EU-USA-Russia triangle .
instead , we are calling for compliance with the treaty . nothing else , nothing more and nothing less .
Member of the Commission . - As I said at the beginning of my speech , one of the best tools for fighting child pornography and child sex abuse is the swift adoption of the Commission proposal of March 2010 , the one against child sex abuse .
Latin America and the European Union are , in general , natural partners , and we must intensify our relations .
the export of metallic mercury should be banned .
these blocks of airspace , which are no longer divided up along national boundaries , but instead according to functional flows of air traffic , will allow airspace to be managed more efficiently and more safely and will help to prevent unnecessary holding stacks in the sky .
during any election year , it is always a temptation to do right by all our voters , assuming , that is , that we know what they want , or at least what they should want .
in actual fact , Port-au-Prince is a vast refugee camp at the moment .
for example , the representative of the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance said here that the corporate income tax rate in Ireland should be raised to the European level , but that might actually be a death blow to Ireland , its growth and employment .
clearly , there is not all that much sense in us generating very large numbers of patents that are sold all over the world if the resultant added value then ends up in other parts of the world .
I am absolutely sure that we can count on the support of the European Parliament to help us deliver .
the EU must not put further obstacles in the way of economic growth and stability .
the agreement reached represents significant progress in the protection of public health and the environment in the European Union .
Madam President , the European Economic Recovery Package , also known as the 5 billion package , is connected with the development of rural areas in the EU .
work of a nursing , caring , educating and teaching nature should be properly valued .
I therefore call on my fellow Members , in this case from the Socialist group , to exert their influence so that these important and noble aspirations are also put into practice in their countries where this has not yet happened .
he must reinstate the Constitution .
however , if we want the best for our SMEs , we should not impose any unnecessary burdens on them .
in writing . - ( FI ) In the resolution on the situation in China I voted for the amendment proposed by the Greens because the degree of incompatibility between the situation in China now , in the run-up to the Olympics , and the promises and public commitments they gave at the time to improve both human rights and the situation in Tibet is just as is stated in Amendment 15 .
the complete absence of this spirit is one of our problems .
for this reason , I support the measures , even though we will have to go further .
in practice , this is nothing other than subsidising inefficient companies on the backs of European citizens .
Mr President , in this debate , I am also supposed to be given the floor on behalf of the Committee on Regional Development .
we also share the conviction that geography matters in Europe , and this is one of the main reasons we launched the green paper on territorial cohesion .
I am disappointed that even this time , we have not been able to reach a consensus among Romanian MEPs promoting Romania 's interests .
I would also like to point out that the task force that was set up to investigate the accident in Baia Mare has established that the plant design was unsuitable for the storage and disposal of mine waste , that the authorisation of this design was not checked by the supervisory authorities and that there was insufficient monitoring of the damming and plant operation , so there were many mistakes on the part of the plant operator .
this is a result of the ban on going out of the home without the husband 's permission and also of the ban on undergoing medical examination .
ever since the end of the Yeltsin era , we have witnessed a policy that consists in weakening all the public institutions .
this is rather a task for Europol and Eurojust .
in writing . - ( FI ) It is vital to mainstream climate policy for the fight against climate change to be productive .
another issue is the role of these supervisory committees as compared to the Commission .
this lamp is an LED lamp .
although we take the issue of the brain drain seriously , we are competing on a worldwide market and therefore , a time limit on the Blue Card is necessary .
the crisis demonstrated that Europe did not respond in time and often did not respond well .
- ( SV ) Mr President , as Mr Bonde pointed out , Europe is one of the world 's most underdeveloped regions when it comes to rules on lobbying .
we are here again today to adopt the mobilisation of a European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) assistance package totalling EUR 382 000 to support the Spanish automotive industry .
European legislation is too often complex , difficult to understand and difficult to apply .
it is important that citizens should be able to monitor proceedings that are of interest to them and access all documents from one location .
on the other hand , these practices could be contrary to the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive and the Unfair Contract Terms Directive .
it is not only a matter of money , but also of whether there are any qualified experts from the majority and Roma society who want to take this matter further .
the Arctic 's untold mineral resources have made the area the subject of heated dispute .
this is a responsibility for all of us .
Member of the Commission . - Because of the VAT fraud situation in relation to certain agricultural products , the Commission is in contact with Romania in order to determine the most appropriate way forward in dealing with this problem .
however , MEPs were anxious to ensure that democratic accountability over use of the spectrum was maintained .
I must admit that I learnt something new from these two reports by Mrs Geringer de Oedenberg : I learnt that those countries that chose not to participate in judicial cooperation in civil matters had , nonetheless , also lost their sovereignty .
instead , individual Member States are expected to use ridiculous interest rates in order to finance their debts .
I voted in favour of opening those negotiations .
things did not have to be this way , and they should not be this way .
that concludes the explanations of vote .
what is the reason for this ?
I welcome the adoption of the resolution on the review of the ' Small Business Act ' with a resounding majority of the European Parliament .
with regard to the Ecolabel , I consider two principles to be crucially important .
rapporteur . - Madam President , we have a compromise ; we possibly have before us tomorrow a first-reading agreement .
a partnership and cooperation agreement ( PCA ) , containing enforceable human rights clauses , is a prerequisite for the Union to conclude a free trade agreement ( FTA ) with any country .
( FR ) Mr President , Baroness Ashton , I have observed a strange tendency within the European Union : despite statements criticising Israel 's human rights violations , the Member States and the Commission are working tirelessly to strengthen political and economic relations with Israel , with no conditions attached .
where the state has failed to provide education for poor children , parents themselves have come together , finance non-state education and , therefore , are also able to subsidise the non-working poor .
while the EU has made the peaceful resolution of conflict the centre of its thinking , Russia has no compunction about using force , as we saw in Georgia last year .
so , whatever the outcome of the debate , Parliament urges the Minister to begin that negotiation as soon as possible and to thereby satisfy the Treaty of Lisbon , the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union , and the 500 million citizens that this Parliament represents , who have a fundamental right to security .
originators should hold a certain percentage of the risk arising from the exposures that they securitise and further due diligence should be required from the investor .
yet during the Bush-Gore debates just over a decade ago , George Bush said that had he been President he would not have intervened in Kosovo .
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you have not given some Members the opportunity to take the floor as part of the ' catch-the-eye ' procedure , not because you did not want to , but because we have such a tight schedule .
we should defend media pluralism as an important aspect of democracy and freedom , in order to guarantee access to free and diverse mass media to all the inhabitants of the European Union .
Mr President-in-Office of the Council , you have a unique chance to demonstrate that all states , regardless of size , are equal partners in the European Union .
I believe the Union 's institutions are ready to give a positive response for the EU economy .
we are working intensively to ensure that the framework conditions for this industry are stable .
( the President cut off the speaker )
since 2003 , the Marco Polo programme has aimed to create a more sustainable transport system in Europe by shifting a substantial part of the annual increase in road freight transport to other , more environmentally friendly modes of transport such as inland waterways , rail transport and short sea shipping .
Mr Garriga Polledo 's report sets out to define the European Parliament 's political priorities for the Multiannual Financial Framework for the period after 2013 , both in terms of legislation and the budget .
Mr President , could I say on behalf of the ALDE Group that we would support Mrs Doyle 's proposition ?
the first of these guarantees is the principle of equal treatment from day one between permanent workers and temporary workers .
it is also very important for me that there should be a clear separation between taxes and charges , and all government tasks - whether fingerprinting and photographing , police tasks , fighting terrorism or something similar - must clearly be financed through taxation and not through consumer charges .
this platform has led to the elaboration of the common basic principles for Roma inclusion , which is annexed to the Council conclusions on Roma inclusion adopted in June of last year .
many major after-shocks are hampering rescue operations , unfortunately .
forecasts of the conclusion of the negotiating process cannot be made .
Mrs Gebhardt , when do you consider an appropriate time for the Commission to make a statement should it wish to do so - now or later ?
it must maintain its positions .
Madam President , I warmly welcome the revision of the criteria governing the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund .
we need to endeavour to deal with these developments , which we are faced with on an increasingly frequent basis .
one could of course mention a number of problems that may not actually be greater in Serbia than they are in Albania or in Bosnia-Herzegovina , although it seems we are prepared to turn a blind eye in the case of the latter two countries .
I am also pleased about the fact that the mining industry has the security to plan ahead and I will vote accordingly .
that equates to EUR 32 million per year .
as part of this project , the Czech presidency is also prepared to continue developing a southern dimension to the European Neighbourhood Policy and improving relations with partner countries .
this is not scaremongering .
another field where the operation of SIS might be useful is the entry bans introduced by the Member States for third-country nationals .
we must be equally ambitious today and ensure that in Accra we move on from rhetoric to action on all our commitments .
I said this yesterday , and I say it every day : if savings have to be made in all our Member States , then we too , as Members of Parliament and European civil servants , will have to lead by example , or else we will lack credibility .
this crisis is not a pandemic ; it is the result of a gamble on one specific policy : the policy adopted by the European Commission .
citing the words of Hungarian scholar and Nobel laureate Albert Szent-Györgyi , I call upon you to support our bid to host the EIT : ' Hungary is a small country in terms of its population , but a great power in terms of grey matter . '
( PT ) Mr President , the Beijing Platform for Action asserts that , without the active participation of women and the incorporation of women 's perspective at all levels of decision-making , the goals of equality , development and peace cannot be achieved .
why is no one in this House or in the European Council talking about the external value of the euro ?
I fully understand the feelings of the people on the ground .
genuine harmony , unity , only come through trust , through mutual respect .
this involves the creation of a climate fund , financed by the revenue from the emission trading scheme and / or equivalent private funds in Member States , in order to provide the investments and solidarity required for financing a future climate policy .
we therefore have every reason to get together : politics and the industry must cooperate in order to ensure that the European environment and the public are as safe as possible .
so will businesses that specialise in mass mailings and postal advertising campaigns .
I would like to highlight the rapporteur 's concern , which reflects the concern of his whole group , for committing to young people .
anyone who disagrees with the official line has their voice muffled and is deprived of access to the public stage .
Poland has confidence in the European institutions .
- Lechner report
the rapporteur and other fellow Members were there and they understand what I am talking about .
( LV ) Mr President , I fully support the insistence of the European Parliament and of the Members present that human rights not only in the European Union , but also throughout the whole of the world , are fundamental rights , namely , the foundations of life .
doing this could avoid adding to the existing five-year delay .
looking at the situation with the Passenger Name Records Agreement with the United States , a worrying development becomes apparent in the name of combating terrorism .
having said this , I am bound to voice my absolute disapproval , already expressed at the voting stage , of this pernicious will to promote an abortion society by providing incentives for free access to termination of pregnancy .
( DE ) Mr President , I have voted in favour of this report and I would like to congratulate Mr Mikolášik on the excellent work he has done .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
Mrs De Keyser , whose role as Chief Election Observer I would like to acknowledge , recalled , as did Baroness Ashton , the success of this referendum - an exemplary process and a transition that has to be peaceful .
( the order of business was adopted )
to clarify :
in addition , this partnership may contribute to the promotion of good governance at global level , as well as good cooperation within the framework of the UN .
for this reason , I cannot accept Amendments 19 or 23 .
the European Conservatives and Reformists endorse the report , in the hope that the current system will change .
the shortages of the so-called rare earths that are essential for the electronic components of the latest technological products is the result of the Chinese strategy to ensure that these substances are in short supply and to keep their prices artificially high .
in writing . - ( ET ) Workers ' freedom of movement is one of the four freedoms of the internal market .
I strongly support the European Union in having to maintain its leading position in the battle against climate change .
therefore , according to the above-mentioned provisions , the Commission performed all the Irish translations required for the legislative process , and succeeded in transmitting them on time .
the internal market and competition policy are two cornerstones of the process of European unification which aim not only at strengthening the European Union 's economy and its businesses but , above all , at realising the fundamental freedoms of the Union .
( SL ) We are witnessing both natural and human crises taking place in the Arctic .
ensuring the safety of nuclear installations and preventing the risk of accidents in every way possible are important issues addressed in this resolution , which also calls on the Member States to impose ' a moratorium on the development and commissioning of new nuclear reactors , at least for the period during which the stress tests are conducted and evaluated ' .
Europe-wide action is required to counter irregular fishing practices and my vote reflects these views .
in case some people do not trust the Council 's word , and they would be within their rights not to , they should remember that the treaty forces us to do things differently .
in the SIMAP and Jaeger cases the European Court of Justice interpreted the definition of working time in the original Working Time Directive to include the inactive part of on-call time when an employee is not working but resting .
it is essential that we act now .
such an agreement would benefit from being joined by the Council .
we will achieve equality simply because justice and goodness are on our side .
with this agreement in place , President Václav Klaus was prepared to sign the treaty , and - as you all noted - he finally did so a week ago .
what is being proposed with these amendments is , I believe , the wrong path to follow .
as for the Lisbon targets - they are the ones you set , Mr Barroso , but you are not listening to me because you are talking to your colleague - you forget the social cohesion and environmental protection targets , Mr Barroso !
incitement is a good word to define such actions , but it is not enough to write it into the framework decision .
that has been mentioned several times already .
it is our responsibility , both Member States and the Union , to try to reduce those statistics and to protect our citizens from such tragedies .
particularly worrying are the margins in Heading 1b - around EUR 1 million , and in Heading 3b - around EUR 9 million .
you do not know .
they have been very active in calling upon this Parliament to be more active in holding registers of missing children and various other matters .
since its creation with 11 participants , the euro area has grown to comprise 16 Member States .
however , I regret the shortcomings in the management of the fixed assets ' inventory identified by the Court of Auditors but note the Agency 's assurance that this will be remedied in the 2010 accounts ; considers that uncertainty about the location of fixed assets is another illustration of the problems and additional costs arising from using two sites .
nuclear power is the greatest carbon-free energy source within the European Union , and currently provides one-third of our electricity needs .
this report responds to the needs of consumers and small and medium-sized enterprises , which , unlike other actors representing bigger economic entities , have obvious difficulties accessing the Internal Market because of the enormous costs they have to bear .
when you consider what has been done in this House this autumn , Parliament 's position cannot be regarded as the outcome of a democratic process .
- ( CS ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , European countries are adopting bailout packages worth billions to save their financial institutions and industrial sectors .
already earmarked financial assistance under the regulation thus adds up to around EUR 15 billion .
we need integrated perspectives and policies on education , youth , and the integration of migrants .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
when the market is functioning correctly , informed consumers can , through their choices , drive development towards even higher food quality .
more generally , one of the aims of the Lamfalussy review is the improvement of the new supervisory arrangement where the Commission plans , for instance , to revise the decisions on the EU committees of supervisors .
1 .
we are proposing a number of measures specifically focused on innovation and small and medium-sized enterprises .
this would have had devastating consequences for the smaller Member States , since businesses operating in the Single Market from these countries would have been forced to apply up to 27 different national legislations , which would have deterred SMEs in particular from undertaking commercial activities beyond their national borders .
ladies and gentlemen , on the other hand , let us make one thing clear , and let us be frank about this : the development of this good idea - a single signalling system to replace the 20 separate systems - has taken longer than hoped or expected .
Mr Lange 's report on the Industrial Policy for the Globalised Era looks at extremely important issues , such as access to credit for enterprises , and , above all , for small and medium-sized enterprises .
it is a mystery to me why the more robust and more integrated social rights are seen primarily as a problem .
but , more importantly , we will make sure that we give you more and more detail , because it is important that you look at the facts rather than the assertions that will have been made .
but let us look to the future .
the Commissioner also spoke of an ambitious , legally-binding agreement .
the proposal reeks of covert protectionism !
nearly 6 million are in forced labour ; one and a half million become victims of human traffickers .
it is also true that we cannot be satisfied with the state of the soils in the European Union , but to draw from that the conclusion that we need a directive at European level is to head off in the wrong direction .
although currently only Papua New Guinea and the Republic of the Fiji Islands have signed the agreement , this is an important step towards the future economic development of this region , which is made up of 14 states and is crucial to the development of international trade .
billions of euros were found for the IMF and the World Bank , but for making that vital transition to a green economy there was no serious money on the table , just vague aspirations - just talks about talks .
I do not , however , support the creation of a separate parliamentary body with responsibility for children 's rights .
until then the EU must remain in the vanguard , working for a broader agreement according to specific , ambitious commitments and a timetable .
millions of people were killed because of their religion , their ethnic background and their political beliefs .
history has made it crystal-clear that the concentration of power is never for the good .
Commissioner , under the current circumstances , the GUE / NGL Group cannot support such a migration .
your Eminence , it was a pleasure to be able to speak to you this morning .
I feel it is particularly important to have a systematic review of the effectiveness of the neighbourhood policy in the mirror of the Georgian events .
and in this context one additional and important aspect which appears to be lacking in relation to current proposals to Malta 's largest sandy beach l-Ghadira - is respect and sensitivity to the immediate environment .
the vote will be held using the electronic system .
one of the signs of this is the very low turnout for elections to the European Parliament , arising from the widely-held feeling that citizens cannot influence events in the EU through their vote in any way whatsoever .
in this instance , the Council more than failed to meet expectations , it literally infuriated the entire trade union movement : the refusal to challenge the derogation enabling the maximum working week to be extended to 65 hours , or even more ; unconditional ' annualisation ' of working time ; and the introduction of the concept of ' inactive part of on-call time ' which will no longer be considered as working time .
on interinstitutional cooperation , we would welcome much dialogue with you and a greater presence of your Government in this Chamber .
EU-Georgia agreement on readmission of persons residing without authorisation (
he considers CSR to be an effective tool for improving competitiveness , skills and training opportunities , occupational safety and the working environment , protecting workers ' rights and the rights of local and indigenous communities , promoting a sustainable environmental policy and encouraging exchanges of good practice at local , national , European and world level .
I did not support the Socialists ' proposal relating to collective redress because the responsible thing , in my opinion , is to wait for the results of the impact studies in order to assess the effectiveness of collective redress , in particular as regards the costs incurred by consumers .
the only way to do this is by means of a transitional period .
I should also like to reiterate the following very clearly with regard to the past .
Mr President , honourable Members , this is an important moment of renewal for the European Union , and the intended reforms provide a great opportunity for further improving the financial management of the European Union .
I am sure there are no disadvantages to this and that the United States would be understanding .
the first objective concerns the strategic position of that country , which can genuinely be of use in promoting an area of peace , security and stability .
ultimately , he was not successful but , at the time , I did not hear that any of the political groups had requested a debate on the matter .
unfortunately , rather than standing up to those governments like Germany , the Netherlands and the UK , which adopted a short-sighted ' I want my money back ' approach , the majority of this House and the Commission have simply caved in to their demands .
I have had enough of the knock-out argument , which is always trotted out , that research will move abroad .
without a doubt the very long waiting lists for services .
the United Nations has declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity .
their voice must be not just heard but listened to and responded to .
be that as it may , I think that we should be honest .
the Treaty of Lisbon gave Parliament greater rights , one of which is that Parliament 's consent is required for concluding international agreements .
thank you .
this is an important point , particularly in relation to future tasks . the Commissioner said earlier that we are dealing with a report , but obviously it is the future that interests us .
all of these things now mean that it is absolutely the right time for the Commission to be collating this information , looking at the process of infringement proceedings , examining the issues raised by the Court of Justice judgments and coming out , first of all , with a clear strategy or clarification about where we are going to move forward and starting to deal with some of those inconsistencies .
the rural areas are ready to meet our food requirements with sufficient amounts of high-quality produce ; they must be given the financial and human resources to assume this big responsibility .
secondly , Mrs Berès referred to European debt securities .
however , I think this belongs to a longer discussion .
much still remains to be done in terms of dialogue and cooperation between Member States , and we should continue along this road rather than incorporate into one Code on Visas all provisions governing the issuance of visas and decisions in relation to the refusal , extension , annulment , revocation and shortening of visas issued , provisions that this European Union is absolutely unready and unable to manage .
- ( SK ) Mr President , I was interested to hear the information about the communication problems with the European Council regarding fulfilment of its chapter of the general budget .
despite the constant references to the principle of subsidiarity , it is very much a case here of laying the foundations for the harmonisation of pension systems in the European Union , if not in terms of the level of pensions , then at least in terms of their structure .
yet the European Union has not submitted any claims for recovery of own resources against the Republic of Montenegro .
first and foremost , this relates to the joint position that we drew up , and the unanimous adoption of Parliament 's proposal of October 2010 regarding the European Parliament 's priorities in terms of budgetary obligations .
this review and a proposal will be submitted to us by the Commission .
it should be the duty of the Union to contribute to the development of international trade by also applying those rules .
in the final analysis , irrespective of all the transparency achieved , it all comes down to the moral compass of each Member of this House , as this dictates what he thinks is right , whom he meets and whom he decides not to meet , whom he listens to and whom he decides not to listen to .
I therefore believe that it would be totally unfair to suggest any lack of commitment on the part of the Council or the Foreign Affairs Ministers .
it will certainly be important to focus the summit with the United States on a few key issues .
in order to create confidence in this single market , it is necessary to ensure that consumers are protected and to safeguard the public 's social and environmental needs .
it managed to get three facts wrong in only eight words .
Mr Barroso , I should like to earnestly request that you at last formulate the new green deal about which Mr Dimas always also speaks so much .
Mr President , among the projects that the EU has encouraged is the single electricity market on the island of Ireland .
I would like to know your opinion on this topic , as well as the strategy the Presidency will apply to our neighbours along the borders of the European Union .
recently , horrible deeds have ratcheted up the emotions of public opinion , and the uncertainties caused by the economic crisis are further aggravating the situation .
one of the ways this can be done is through education and training .
it is the Israelis who should be responsible for keeping one and a half million people alive .
integrated maritime policy is a major challenge for the European Union .
European development policy will fall flat on its face if it cannot bring about genuine change in women 's circumstances .
in this way , we will know which potential label consumers are able to read and to understand , and thus perhaps make it much simpler than the complicated labels we have today .
this time lag leaves us behind our international partners , the US , India and Japan , and to add to this we have the huge disparity of situations among European countries .
we have now managed successfully to injure a Serbia trying to forget Milošević and build a democratic future .
an idea is being promoted for structural or agricultural funds for financing innovation and research .
we need to invest in training .
I agree that financial and technical support should be provided to those women 's organisations that are active in the area of education and teach women how to become successful .
there are two pieces of good news in this respect , according to the Commission 's own report : positive prospects for the future mean that additional amounts of milk are required from the market , therefore a 2 % increase is proposed for this year .
in my opinion , this would also contribute to protecting the personal rights of those affected .
now , look at it from Ankara 's point of view .
because pursuant to Article 28 of the Council Framework Decision , a person who has been surrendered pursuant to a European Arrest Warrant shall not be extradited to a third State without the consent of the competent authority of the Member State which surrendered the person .
I also agree with my fellow Finnish Members who have expressed their satisfaction with the report , in that it has positively taken account of the initiative of the University of Lapland to establish an EU Arctic Information Centre on its premises .
thank you .
we also welcomed the informal meeting held on 4 May between the Chinese authorities and the envoys of the Dalai Lama ; we believe that this is a step in the right direction and we have expressed the hope that this will lead to a further round of constructive dialogue with the Dalai Lama .
the launching of the Union for the Mediterranean in Paris in 2008 gave a new impetus to the Euro-Mediterranean partnership , made a strong bid for co-ownership and shared responsibility through a co-presidency system , put more focus on concrete projects , and provided a technical secretariat to promote regional integration and spur investment .
market behaviour must rest on sound and objective analysis , and financial services must realise that they are exactly that : a service , not an end in itself .
we therefore insisted on increasing wages and pensions to ensure a fairer distribution of income .
it is not such good news , however , that Hungary has been subject to unfair , ideologically-motivated attacks on the eve of its Presidency .
as other speakers have said , not only producers but also importers will be held responsible in future .
that is , we need to do this without losing sight of the central values and the inviolability of the person springing from the European values created in the melting pot of Jewish , Christian and Hellenistic culture in the centuries before and after the birth of Christ .
all of us , and the Member States , too , have a lot of work to do in this area .
today , we have an independent national safety agency , which should verify the adoption of the appropriate safety systems .
the related efforts to find a common legal framework here have been ongoing since 1989 .
begin by giving the elected people 's representatives power over the legislative process , and take the power away from the government officials and lobbyists , so that the electorate can make a difference by turning out on election day and voting for a different party .
at multilateral level , the Council actively contributes to the work undertaken under the auspices of the World Customs Organisation .
in Greece , for example , the average payment period has had to be stretched to as much as 165 days ( although things are getting better , as our Greek fellow Member pointed out here ) .
I suppose , driving all of this , we need to look at the issue of research and development .
the financing instrument for the promotion of human rights worldwide increases the effectiveness and transparency of EU external assistance and enhances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the countries and regions where they are most at risk .
it is already obvious that many Member States will not be able to meet the conditions of the new Stability and Growth Pact with the best will in the world .
Mr President , I would like to express concerns over the agreement between the EU and Morocco .
the winemakers are not to the Commission 's liking , so it wants to grub up , throw away the grapes , ban chaptalisation and curb production , in the same way as the milk or wheat shortages were brought about .
the money received from climate measures must also be invested in climate measures .
there is only one Europe .
( DE ) Madam President , in case C-42 / 07 , the European Court of Justice examined whether Portugal had infringed EU law by prohibiting online gambling .
it is likely that the international reaction and the reaction of Afghan civil society contributed to the Afghan Government 's decision to refer the legislation back to the minister of justice for a general review , with the latter being focused in particular on Afghanistan 's obligations in terms of international law .
therefore , let us say what good things are happening there , and that not only in the area of economics , but also in the area of politics and above all in relation to every Ukrainian the door to Europe is open , and that it is good that such a signal has come this week from the European Union-Ukraine Summit .
this is essential .
congratulations !
now if the Member disregards that question , I think it is up to you , Mr President , to ask the Member to answer that question .
this idea is at the core of the Bali Action Plan negotiations .
the next step will be to extend the joint register to all the EU institutions and to convince the Commission and Council to make it mandatory .
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this means that the ideas and feelings that people want to repress end up seeping into the consciousness of the whole of society , like water .
with a view to the forthcoming CAP reform , what measures is the Commissioner , or the European Commission , planning , taking into account the specific nature of the livestock sector ?
another issue that I believe should be highlighted is , of course , trade-related assistance .
who can fail to be moved by the images on the screens outside this Chamber and all the celebrations we have had this week marking the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall ?
I think that the Belgian Presidency is acting on the same assumption .
the purpose of this report is to follow the previous report up , highlighting several aspects of the urban dimension of cohesion policy that the Committee on Regional Development identifies as crucial or challenging for future cohesion policy , which should become a fully-valued and effective policy for EU cities .
it is important not to call into question the extraction of this fuel and the generation of energy from it , since electricity generated from fossil fuels is still half the price of electricity generated from renewable sources .
however , a social restructuring is the only way to ensure viable and stable jobs for the future , and the Commission cannot , and should not , try to dictate where such cuts will fall , nor can it try to prevent them .
at the same time , of course , we have to ask whether seminars like this can continue .
lastly , Commissioner , I believe that we need more solidarity between the Member States of the Union , improved coordination of efforts , and a sharing of responsibilities and burdens .
I voted in favour of the report on amending the ' Regulation on modifications to the common agricultural policy ' .
we have published the amounts paid to farmers under the CAP , yet we are not publishing our own travel expenses and other allowances .
in addition , an important issue was the recognition of the national competent authority and healthcare professionals as the main source of information .
the lack of professional carers for people with Alzheimer 's has to be a cause for considerable concern , since this situation will tend to get worse in the future if measures are not taken .
although the Union was created to safeguard peace in Europe , I must highlight the radicalisation of the situation in Hungary .
( CS ) Commissioner Michel and Mr Cornillet , thank you for your work .
furthermore , I join the call upon all Member States to sign , ratify and implement all relevant international conventions to protect our children .
had it been a different matter , it would have intervened .
it is important for the project selection systems to be transparent , which is why women should have equal representation on assessment boards and selection committees .
this is the case for environmental and public health reasons , due to the high levels of pollution associated with it , and for energy reasons related to dwindling oil reserves and growing difficulty of access to this commodity .
this involved consultations with all main Arctic stakeholders , including both EU and non-EU Arctic states .
but , first of all , each and every member of the eurozone must slow down in living at the expense of tomorrow .
the honest answer is the following : this is a consultation document ; it is not yet a strategy , and I very much welcome your input .
there are some phrases in this report - the ' feminisation of poverty ' , for example - which mean absolutely nothing but sound great to the PC brigade that resides out there .
in 2006 Sam Rainsy received the Prize for Freedom from Liberal International .
the representation rates for women are important because this helps encourage women to plan for a career in politics and to apply for a position with political , administrative or financial responsibilities .
there is a good consensus here on what needs to be done .
I endorse the rapporteur in her appeal to the institutions and authorities of the European Union to bring their practice into line with the provisions of the Code of Good Administrative Behaviour .
fighting counterfeiting and piracy is an issue that should continue to be at the top of our political agenda .
this will only clog up credit creation .
we know that we must take the Helsinki Final Act as our starting point , but my question to the Council is : ' what steps are being taken to prevent the violation of the territorial integrity of a sovereign State ? '
announcement by the President
( HU ) Mr President , Europe has reached an historic turning point .
ladies and gentlemen , Slovenia is celebrating this week .
it is merely sufficient to point out that counterfeit products include not only copies of luxury goods and CDs , but also medicines , consumer goods for both children and adults , as well as car parts . they often pose a safety risk , and the losses they incur do not only affect SMEs .
the Maputo Agreement foresees the establishment of a national unity government with a transition period of 15 months .
the demands for the protection of interests on internal borders on account of 25 000 refugees are unprecedented and populistic , and are against everything Schengen stands for .
by blocking this law , which is worthy of communist China or other totalitarian regimes , a law that Mr Sarkozy wants to force through , this Parliament would be reaffirming the right of each one of us to privacy , to access to information , to freedom of expression and to proper legal procedures .
I am thinking here of the local product contact system announced in the report , as well as Alexander Stubb 's announcement this morning of his own personal info point .
to achieve that , the working class and poor must take control over the economy and wealth that exists in the region and use it in the interests of the majority .
after all , each restriction leads to increased transport movements , whether it relates to cabotage , as in this instance , or , for example , the totally absurd medley of driving prohibitions .
finally , a word about media freedom .
however , this instrument - Eurovignette - is too partial and ineffective , as well as unfair .
in writing . - I gave assent to the CARIFORUM EPA and the Côte d 'Ivoire Interim EPA in response to the guarantees which Commissioner Ashton gave this week .
a speedy revision of the EU 's electronic communications regulatory framework is consequently essential to promote competitiveness and growth in the European economy .
for these reasons Conservatives abstained .
agenda for next sitting : see Minutes
the levels permitted are lower , which means that their standards are higher .
I would refer to the national programme for reforms that has been set up by the present government .
the construction of political will is something that everybody in this beautiful building has to work on , together with the other institutions of the European Union .
I still regard enlargement as being very important , but I also believe that the differences expressed by five of the Member States must be taken into account .
is it acceptable that the EU institutions go to the Court of Justice over the Council 's decision to moderate the increase in salaries of EU civil servants ?
it is true that it promotes the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and the control of all weapons .
( PL ) Madam President , because of the heavier security precautions in place in Strasbourg today , which is a highly exceptional situation that has never arisen before during a plenary session , I was unable to be present for the first part of the voting .
there are pros and cons .
my group has not found the conclusive answer , but we certainly have many more doubts .
in the talks that we have had , I proposed that this be graduated depending on the size of the Member States , as it makes a major difference whether a large or a small State is involved , and I see that there is openness to this proposal .
it is good that we are at last adopting legislation on the matter and that our road and rail networks will be safer as a result .
this is disproportionate and not targeted .
I voted in favour of this report as I agree that the Commission should take responsibility for ensuring the monitoring and funding of projects , particularly in the areas of new investment in research and the development and deployment of renewable energy , and also the provision of fast Internet access throughout the Union , ensuring the rapid execution of the EU 's digital agenda .
since mid-February , fighting has intensified both in the capital and in the west of the country , with alarming reports indicating the increasing use of heavy artillery against civilians .
finally , I support the emphasis on the Lisbon Agenda creating jobs and increasing skills .
firstly , in the longer term , we need a five-year financial perspective .
we must not put at risk what has already been achieved .
it is equally important to maintain the Roma task force as a permanent organisation and to start thinking about a mechanism for this issue which would be similar to the one used to assess the internal market .
we are quite concerned about the delay in the investigation , which makes it difficult to protect key witnesses in the case , such as the Syrian Mohammed al-Siddiq , who recently disappeared .
in writing . - I voted to grant discharge to the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking .
I am much more in favour of a policy based on reducing the risk .
in touching upon the subject of electronic travel authorisation , I must mention that we have had several discussions in this respect .
there are no relativisms here that carry weight .
clean water is now a scarce commodity .
the report supported the active involvement of unemployed people , and I considered it to be very positive to vote in favour of passing this report .
the European Union must continue to lead this effort and avoid undermining the European Parliament 's will to contribute .
the reference in the motion to the report of the special investigation committee into the collapse of the Icelandic banking system is important .
there is something else , of course , and that is the activity of the credit rating agencies .
Mr President , allow me to begin in a very similar way to Mrs Gräßle , with an expression of great esteem for Mr Kallas and the Court of Auditors for their ongoing cooperation , which has meant that from year to year , when we look at the statistics , we see a clear improvement in management of the budget , reporting , annual reports and evaluations .
it should not be the case that no long-term and carefully considered plans are made for the financing of European research .
we have ultimately opted for freedom of choice with regard to urban and regional transport , at my proposal .
the plans for the EU 's trade policy are of great importance .
in this context , I would like to declare my total support for the resolution on Madeira adopted today by the European Parliament .
this resolution sends a clear political message .
a significant factor for initiating constructive change is the announcement of an increase in the financing of investment in research and development by 3 % of the Union 's GDP .
for this to be achieved , the necessary constitutional reforms must be implemented , with consolidation of the rule of law , the establishment of a social market economy and renewed efforts to combat corruption and improve the climate for business and investment .
so we have to find a solution here , and I very much welcome proposals such as compensating fishermen for the cost of the catch in the case of by-catches .
what they cannot do is want to force us to live according to the rules of that fantasy world .
the EU climate change package contains a number of environmental criteria that biofuels have to meet .
a lot is being done and we are confident we will achieve tangible results
they are deprived of the right of representation even if they had a right to vote .
I believe that you really must seize this opportunity .
as far as the events in these North African countries are concerned , it is only right that the people responsible for these serious violations be punished , as in any other conflict in the world , because we are dealing here not just with civilians but , what is more reprehensible still , also with soldiers .
we were able to read an example of this in Monday 's edition of the Belgian De Standaard and I can assure you that more such examples will follow .
in writing . - ( PT ) It is true that the long-term consequences of GMO technology are still unknown .
we know that the Member States decided some time ago not to elevate the European flag and anthem to Treaty status .
it is doubtful whether Article 85 of the Treaty provides a legal basis for legislative action at EU level on prison conditions as such .
I definitely endorse Barbara Weiler 's report on the transposition , implementation and enforcement of the Directive concerning unfair commercial practices in the internal market and the Directive concerning misleading and comparative advertising .
even before January , you included the political groups when defining your priorities , and naturally chose Mrs Győri , one of our very fine former colleagues , as Minister for EU Affairs .
and how better to achieve that than to enable citizens from the world over to be represented at the UN ?
in conclusion , I would like to thank the Commission and the Member of the Commission for the fact that we will have a communication so soon and will be able to begin to examine in more detail what Europe really needs .
this is undoubtedly a positive point , and I would like to start with this .
we need this capital to fill up the cap .
the attendance of political dignitaries at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games should take place only if , before then , human rights are guaranteed , trafficking in the organs of people put to death is investigated , the Tibetan monks and citizens are released , and dialogue with the Dalai Lama is initiated .
the solution for the future lies in improving Europe 's migration management system , completing the process of setting up the European Common Asylum System , the legal framework for illegal and legal migration , and enhancing the role of Frontex .
we must also be attentive to the fact that the crisis threatens not only banks and big business , but causes daily problems for citizens as well .
however , apart from the economic issues , it is also one of the fundamental freedoms of citizens to be able to exercise their profession and to fulfil their potential in another state , for example , when they marry or move to another country for some other reason .
I voted in favour of this report , which prepares the ground for future cooperation between the Union and the GCC .
the CE mark does nothing other than confirm that a product complies with all the relevant current legislation .
the regulation on cosmetic products is based on the fundamental principle of the legislative package on placing goods onto the market .
Madam President , for 12 years , I have been asking the Commission and the Council a question which has remained unanswered , as they claim it is hypothetical .
they have the local knowledge .
this is especially the case for the UK , which is the largest single trading partner with the EU .
Parliament has an opportunity to act now and I urge all political groups to support the very realistic amendments that have been tabled .
the energy and climate package that you are going to vote on tomorrow is a landmark package of legislation which is significant not only for the European Union , but for the international efforts to address climate change , and will have consequences within the European Union and internationally .
this is a strategic priority for the Commission .
( the President cut off the speaker )
thank you .
we as members of the European Parliament have a duty to make sure that Europe 's policies reflect the will of citizens .
I think that by continuing on these paths , we can move towards a more honest tax policy .
the ICT sector employs 6.6 million people in the 27 EU Member States , stimulates the innovative capacity of every sector and contributes more than 40 % of the global increase in productivity .
therefore , the Commission consults its own services , Member States ' relevant agencies and other stakeholders on an ongoing basis , for example , through meetings and public consultations .
( PL ) Mr President , I agree with much of Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou 's report on the situation of women in prison .
it also stresses the need to adopt rules on insurance , so as to establish a link between the minimum pension paid and the corresponding poverty threshold .
this version is considered therefore to offer sufficient guarantees .
the Union must , therefore , support freedom of the Internet in the world arena and make significant contributions to the development of culture and the awareness of people in closed societies .
we are open to receiving representatives of the European Commission and the Council and to discussing these problems .
it was very difficult to get it , but now that we have it , let us move forward and I urge you to back us on that .
we can see that again here today .
I was in my office listening to Vice-President Tajani and the other speakers , and I feel I have to congratulate all the rapporteurs and the Commission .
the cost of inaction is too high for us to accept , and I hope that we can agree on this point .
care should be taken to ensure that these two financial instruments are kept strictly separate from one other .
several hundred people have been killed and Amnesty International and the United Nations have produced alarming reports .
after all , this somewhat technical subject of animal feed of course fits in with the wider debate on food safety and rising food prices .
we cannot absolve the Greeks of responsibility here and I will say quite frankly that the Greeks were not the first to contravene the Stability and Growth Pact ; rather it was the two big ones , Germany and France .
I would like to make one final point about the European Arrest Warrant .
it is a country which has no workers , no teachers and no doctors .
a declaration on globalisation , but also an agreement on the Reflection Group .
there is an issue here , and I would ask everybody to have careful regard to the very nuanced definition that the Committee on Legal Affairs gave in relation to when is a lawyer a lawyer , and when is a lawyer a lobbyist ?
in terms of driver vision , European legislation addressed the problem of heavy goods vehicles by Directive 2007 / 38 / EC on the retrofitting of mirrors to heavy goods vehicles registered in the Community .
I am firmly convinced that we must stay on the European route , which means opposing abuses and violations of human rights and making those people who have been imprisoned into our partners , rather than the corrupt leaders of certain cliques and groups in government which offer us short-term benefits .
so many of the consumer rights and workplace rights we all enjoy across Europe have resulted from the campaigns led by individual Members and groupings of this House .
the outcome of Copenhagen was deeply disappointing , but we must now move forward .
the vote on the European Union budget is an annual institutional landmark whereby the commitment to Community programmes is confirmed and Parliament 's role is emphasised .
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you , Mr President , and also the General Secretariat under the leadership of Klaus Welle , for leaving nothing to chance and providing us with the best possible working conditions .
2 .
this is one of the success stories of EU policy .
if we do not have this strategy , it will make no difference whether or not we speak with one voice , because our words will be meaningless .
I share your concerns about the serious risks this presents to human health and the environment .
we expect that the Council will address itself to this proposal in May and based on negotiations to date we expect positive results .
there are currently around 242 prisoners held at Guantánamo .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( CS ) Mr President , I was elected to the European Parliament in a former communist country .
it seems to me that , from a historical perspective , we want harmonious relations with Russia , but not at the price simply of surrendering the values we hold dear .
with regard to Lisbon this means that if they really acquire more rights , there will be no parliamentary and public control over the eight billion .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I am voting in favour of Mrs Weiler 's report on the transposition , implementation and enforcement of Directive 2005 / 29 / EC concerning unfair business-to-consumer commercial practices in the internal market and Directive 2006 / 114 / EC concerning misleading and comparative advertising .
once again , however , we in the Commission cannot unilaterally alter these agreements .
for too long we have adopted a passive attitude .
EU external policies in favour of democratisation (
I salute the excellent job done by my colleague and friend Mrs Morin , the rapporteur for our political group , particularly on flexicurity .
other things being equal , it would have been better if we had cut down on our demands and thus sent our negotiators off with a more unambiguous and broad mandate than has been the case here today .
after that , the Hungarian Presidency will draw up draft Council conclusions , which we hope the Employment , Social Policy , Health and Consumer Affairs Council will adopt at its meeting on 19 May .
the IASCF and its underlying constituent body , the IASB , is an independent organisation .
none of this would really matter , after all this would not be the only case where European money is being wasted , but a system for the protection of human rights that lacks the framework of international law , and which is left to professional anti-racists , loses the most important asset in its possession - credibility .
it makes sense that this resolution is trying to unify the fragmented regulations of the individual countries in a uniform framework , and to set up a unified operating methodology for communication frequency assignment .
countries that show budgetary discipline are countries with economies that grow , and we must not forget that .
in other words , access to education in any event , and access to social security systems - that way , we can achieve many improvements for women .
the solution is to nationalise the monopolies and give power to the people .
how can we best protect our citizens from harm ?
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , there is no doubt that this directive on procedures is particularly important .
( it ) Mr Buzek , I very much enjoyed your speech and especially the part about the institutional , but also social role played by Parliament , which you described as the very essence of the European democratic system .
( DE ) Mr President , I have voted against this so-called soil protection directive because I find we lose any credibility if we talk every day about eliminating red tape and then we create this bureaucratic monster of a directive .
we need to review our energy policy .
all the principles in the European Economic Recovery Plan must feature in national economic recovery plans .
in writing . - ( HU ) Recognition of citizens ' knowledge , skills and competence is indispensable for the European Union 's competitiveness and for social cohesion , as well as for individual citizens ' mobility .
many of their management funds irresponsibly stuffed themselves with derivative products .
given that Ireland is not part of the process in adopting and applying this regulation , I chose not to vote on this report .
I have just seen that prices in the United States are lower than prices here , and I told the operator very clearly that they should choose their business model .
one of the most authoritative econometric studies by the ECB clearly shows that the FLFPR for prime-age women is always on the increase up to 43 weeks of such paid maternity leave .
the second case is that of maintaining production in less favoured areas , where it is necessary to use very specific instruments for the support of production , which a previous speaker mentioned .
most of them , however , did not want to stay ; they wanted to go to other European countries .
in addition , the Commission should make every effort to use the diplomatic instruments at its disposal to improve the situation in Nigeria .
the predominant theme here is a synthesis of the culture of death and a reversal of values .
finally , we cannot pass by without a collective reflection on our energy policy .
does any Member wish to speak against this request ?
Parliament 's report on the strategy is an excellent one .
I would stress now , as I did then , the need for Europe to make sufficient resources available to provide decent reception centres , training for our staff , access for foreign citizens to information about their rights and duties , severe penalties for anyone who exploits illegal immigration and , above all , full cooperation among Member States .
now the governments of the European Union are being called on to act and engage in specific nuclear disarmament .
in addition , I fully agree with the Commission 's argument that if a precedent is created once for funding such a programme , it will then pose a threat to the whole European Union budget .
you should not be playing party politics in this matter .
it is essential today for the European Union to strengthen and harmonise throughout the 27 Member States safety levels pertaining to oil exploration and extraction activities , not only for existing platforms , but also for those that will be taken out of service .
it is not just an attack on this young man and his family but on the peace process in my constituency as well .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , Mr Jouyet , it is time for contrition - this appears to be the mood today - or at least for rethinking dogmas and instinctive reactions , and moreover , I am grateful to Mr Sarkozy for giving , this morning , an example of this which seemed sincere .
every year , almost 500 000 people die or suffer permanent disability for work-related reasons , and we must applaud the European Commission 's goal of achieving an average 25 % reduction in work-related accidents in the EU .
health workers are leaving for more affluent countries because health budgets are being slashed in their own countries .
new EU action plan for Afghanistan and Pakistan ( debate )
it is time to dismantle the supranational political structures of the EU and return to the simple trading group which the British were promised in 1972 .
I should like to congratulate Mr Cancian for his excellent work , thanks to which we were able to reach a satisfying and well-balanced compromise .
thank you to everyone , and especially to those who gave their views on these other topics , and I am confident that the European Council will progress successfully .
it is , therefore , exceptionally important to ensure a high level of confidence in the process of collection of biometric data and the creation of shared basic standards on collection of data , in a way which will ensure their security and credibility .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( HU ) The European Union was born in the shadow of two totalitarian regimes .
retrofitting is a good thing , but it requires a harmonised process to be got underway , and I would once again urge the Commission to do this .
it is absolutely crucial to ensure that consumers are able to consciously make more environmentally friendly choices .
but we are working at the same time on the financial turmoil by following the road map that was adopted in October 2007 by Ecofin .
the objectives for 2010 were summed up in five objectives : openly listening to suggestions in order to identify best practices , working in order to find ways of achieving quicker results , persuading in order to have a better impact on the administrative culture of the institutions , providing timely , useful information that can be accessed quickly and adapting in order to ensure good resource management , efficiency and effectiveness .
I consider this report crucial if we , as a Union , are to achieve increasingly greater coordination and prevention .
however , ports also have the challenge of maintaining dialogue and coordinated action with their respective surrounding areas , neighbours , cities and regions , and to develop the best possible connections and convenience in relation to other modes of transport , for their mutual benefit and in order to seek the most harmonious and sustainable planning solutions .
we have to make sure that , by the next European - United States Summit , our position is uniform and categorical in relation to visa waivers for all European citizens , based on a well-established schedule .
human rights are universal and indivisible .
there is a fundamental procedure , beforehand , to be carried out by the Commission to say whether or not a draft initiative will be successful , whether or not it is possible to carry it through .
the times we live in make it clear that there is a need to link up the Member States and the European Union in the most diverse situations and instances .
one of the biggest problems after the Chernobyl accident was a lack of transparency and the failure of comprehensive democratic controls .
I would draw your attention to the problem of early school-leaving and the need to ensure that a higher percentage of young people complete compulsory education .
these three heresies will be fatal to European wine-growing , particularly in France .
however , interest in this area and its geopolitical as well as strategic importance have recently been growing on a surprising scale .
people want to have control over what they eat and they are concerned that cloning will ultimately be forced on them .
( NL ) I have said on more than one occasion that , if you do not know or recognise your past , you can never build a future .
they are not exposed to unfair competition .
we have also tried very hard to work out a compromise resolution with other groups , with a view to reaching such a compromise .
first of all I would pay tribute to the French Minister for having been bold enough to make some highly important assertions in this House .
the situation in agricultural sectors differs in the various Member States .
it is patently not enough simply to focus on the banks ' capital base .
request for defence of Mr Luigi de Magistris 's parliamentary immunity (
the European Union has opportunities to play a more active political role in the South Caucasus to ensure , above all , the implementation of poverty reduction programmes , the alleviation of social isolation , gender equality and women 's rights and investment in education and health care .
Member of the Commission . - In a couple of cases we are going on with the infringement procedures .
in a few weeks , the ratification of the treaty , which we have been waiting nine years for , should then take place .
because of this attack on democracy and freedom of expression and on the equality of MEPs which is enshrined in the Treaty and in the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament , I naturally voted against this report .
moreover , I think that we still do not have a cross-border initiative that would collectively remedy the concerns of transnational minorities .
these measures are aimed at maintaining budgetary discipline , guaranteeing compliance with the Stability and Growth Pact and establishing measures to resolve and prevent crises .
they are interim agreements that were made before the WTO 's deadline at the end of December so that countries like Kenya , which are not LDCs and are therefore not covered by ' everything but arms ' , would have their trade preferences and access to the European market secured , so that there was no trade disruption after 1 January .
I believe that Europe is showing its leadership on this issue - as it has done on other issues on the G20 agenda - both through each of the Heads of State or Government and also through the European institutions themselves , the Presidency of the European Union and the Commission .
in writing . - Drug abuse is a prominent problem in societies across Europe , and Scotland is no exception .
only there is a question as to whether what the Commission and the Council are proposing really is a good solution .
having said that , we should not be giving concessions to the FYROM , but we do need to motivate its politicians to progress and work on the European agenda .
yet even more serious is the possibility that we may be on the cusp of a worldwide tragedy of incalculable proportions , which may lead to hunger and death for millions of people .
however , it is true that the Member States are not obliged to incorporate these measures into their national legislative provisions .
whole villages have disappeared and there are a thousand people thought dead or missing .
globally , despite the shortage recorded in Russia and Ukraine , the level of cereals harvested is normal , and stocks have been replenished thanks to the last two record harvests .
we know the shock therapies used for countries devastated by crises in the old neo-liberal style only too well .
inevitably , the ongoing turbulence demands a refocusing of ENP priorities towards the South .
he started off on the right foot a year ago when he announced the closure of Guantánamo as one of his first decisions , a brave decision with which to restore the legitimacy of the United States in the world , and also a gesture towards the Muslim community .
we should concentrate on getting a deal at Copenhagen in December .
we found every opportunity to increase efficiency .
his family have no information on the state of his health , either physical health or mental health .
the aim of the report is to offer a new and comprehensive approach in the protection of fundamental rights .
I may have influence , but I do not have any real power .
( intervention from the floor )
in order to do what is necessary , it is indispensable for the various institutions of the European Union to work on the elaboration and planned implementation of a comprehensive Roma policy .
the observance of quotas , however , will lay a great burden on both new and old EU countries .
and yet , while at the time we welcomed the freeing of the political prisoners , we did not respond tangibly with positive measures , with the election just around the corner .
rather , they should be the subject of an amending budget .
in general , you could say that they are used to bring about a change in a particular policy or activity .
acts of terrorism that have shocked the globe and growing organised crime in the areas of drug and human trafficking demand improved efforts to combat crime and terrorism .
( DE ) Mr President , I should like at this point to remind the House of an issue raised at the world climate conference in Poznán , because the commitment with which a technology that does not even work yet is being canvassed seems absurd to me .
perhaps a more important topic could be found ?
( for the results and other details of the vote : see Minutes )
we can help do that by working together as we have done successfully .
there is a risk that it will soon run into practical difficulties that will damage the European export fund industry , especially for export to third countries .
we see here how it , too , lacks any ambitious vision for the 2011 budget .
I have to say to the Council that we in the European Parliament most certainly have reason to examine ourselves and the way that we are approaching the 2011 budget .
a glance around this chamber shows that it is not exactly the most popular of places .
why does this not apply to the European Commission ?
( applause )
Madam Vice-President / High Representative , I understand that you have been in the Chamber since 15 : 00 and now it is 18 : 15 .
yes , we need some crisis management , but we must not return to the days of having intervention - the balance must be right .
the Community is quite rightly responsible for the protection of public health .
however , criteria and approaches specific to each country need to be defined , depending on its political priorities in terms of human rights , democracy , the rule of law , minority rights and so forth .
in France , where protectionist rhetoric is perhaps the most marked , a recent report stated that only 3.4 % of jobs that were lost in 2005 could be blamed on so-called offshoring .
( EL ) Mr President , the Council 's common position on the organisation of working time is an anti-labour monstrosity and has rightly whipped up a hurricane of protest by workers in the Member States .
we need security of planning and this package gives us security of planning .
but I am quite positive about Ireland and their investment level .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I welcome the initiative and report by Mrs Neyts-Uyttebroeck .
the initiative " Youth on the Move ” underlines the importance of the above mentioned programmes .
as has already been mentioned , they also lead to cross-border movements and environmental impacts caused by these movements .
we are also calling for a fair distribution among the Member States . that is also necessary in order to create a level playing field in terms of competition .
it had its origins , specifically , in the recovery plan launched in 2009 in the wake of the economic crisis .
these climate-protection targets should not be called into question .
( NL ) I have voted against this motion for numerous reasons , but the most peculiar paragraph is the one which states that , according to this Parliament , Member States should be required to spend 0.7 % of their gross national income on development aid and that the Commission should ensure compliance with that obligation .
thank you very much .
( GA ) Mr President , firstly , I welcome the work done by the Commission to advance this agenda .
the region has geostrategic importance for the Union 's security and diversification of energy supply , due to its closeness to the Caspian Sea , the Middle East and Central Asia .
( DE ) Mr President , toxic toys do not belong in the hands of children and none of us wants to put toxic toys under the Christmas tree .
protection of residents and bystanders has been improved , in that national action plans may include provisions concerning information for persons who may be exposed to spray drift , while land sprayed from the air must not be adjacent to residential areas .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Madam President , now that Mrs Lulling has addressed me directly , may I say that just because others are doing things badly , that should not be a role model for us .
this certainly needs to be tackled urgently .
it is now up to the European Parliament to send a strong signal so that this exceptional project can become a reality .
the danger that nuclear energy represents for humanity is absolutely unsustainable , as are the high levels of risk from the waste produced .
'The European Union strongly supports the goal of the abolition of the visa regime for all the countries of the Western Balkans .
confidence depends on our capacity to modernise , to innovate and to become more sustainable and more competitive .
for you , good governance in tax matters is not about the fight against fraud , bearable taxation or good use of public funds .
I do not really know if that is a sensible approach , to tell you the truth .
we therefore oppose several of the proposals that were presented in the European Parliament earlier , such as EU-initiated information campaigns for consumers , consumer information at EU level ( which can be handled nationally or through voluntary cooperation between existing authorities in the Member States ) and EU-funded authorities and institutes .
that is why the comments which I hear from a few people , along the lines of ' let Croatia join and that will put an end to it for some time ' , are the wrong signal .
we shall have several ' slots ' , or times , when new Member States that are not Schengen members will be able to join in SIS II , and so , all being well , there should not be any particular problems .
to close , I should like to point out that liability takes many forms in the toy safety sector , which is why importers and distributors should ensure that specifications are complied with .
the figures from today are exactly the same as the figures from 20 years ago .
I voted for this report because of its three main objectives : guaranteeing quality and safety for patients at Union level , ensuring the protection of donors , and facilitating cooperation between Member States .
I would like to say that we are definitely going to miss our friend Mr Schmitt , but I ask you to formally pass on our congratulations to him , and I am sure that he will do a magnificent job leading his country 's Parliament .
12 .
we have enough rules , but the monitoring of food safety must be more effective and more frequent and , moreover , the results of these inspections should be made public .
for example , one achievement is that all of the excessive deficits in the euro area have been corrected .
does this free trade agreement ultimately really only suit the world and the division of economic power between Europe and India that we know today , or will this agreement still be suitable in ten or 15 years ' time ?
this regulation is a great achievement strengthening the principles of democracy in the European Union .
here , the agreement will go further than was previously the case in the unilateral commitments to the EU made by the US in the TFTP representations of 2007 , as published in the Official Journal of the European Union .
while , on the one hand , I have the highest admiration for the work done by Mr Brok , on the other , I have serious doubts about using parliamentary immunity to prevent due legal process on a tax avoidance case .
instead , the majority of this House wants to reaffirm its neoliberal agenda .
what did we do here in the People 's Party ?
I do indeed believe that young people are enthusiastic about Europe and it is true we must draw on that , which is not to say that members of another generation , those who built Europe , are less enthusiastic .
however - and the Socialists have been saying this for a long time - Europe will not emerge from this crisis by sacrificing its future and selling tomorrow 's growth on the cheap .
I therefore hope that such assistance will also be provided to the Italian regions severely affected by the recent floods , which brought local economies to their knees .
lastly , I would like to express my support for two specific paragraphs in her report , paragraphs 58 and 59 , on internalising environmental factors in the pricing of water and , secondly , a legislative framework to reduce the level of waste generated in the medium term .
if they are to be legislated on , they should be part of a completely separate report .
European standardisation has a huge potential to support legislation in public policies .
( NL ) Mr President , Iran is ruled by a strict regime based on a radical interpretation of Islam and of the Koran .
many grandiose announcements have been made about what the EU can do - or rather , what the Commission can propose and what the Member States must implement .
we might say in such a case that the report might turn out to be rather good in many respects , and that happens to be true with this one .
agenda for next sitting : see Minutes
we have before us a large amount of work and an array of measures , including those mentioned at our session yesterday evening , mainly relating to the fields of justice and internal affairs , which the Spanish Presidency has decided to deal with courageously .
the Commission , together with other donors , like the United Nations and the NGOs and other humanitarian partners , is currently looking into how best to redesign the humanitarian response in order to avoid dramatic consequences .
this reform needs to respect Roma 's specific culture and traditions , while also linking the education system to the values of European culture and civilisation .
firstly , the Parliament budget .
in writing . - ( LT ) By voting in favour of this report , I support the demonstrations for democracy and human rights in Bahrain and condemn the government 's violent response .
I thank you for having carried out your duties with distinction .
thank you , Commissioner .
I hope that his assurance does not involve any conditions or loopholes .
Gaza is under siege , but he would probably have died in any case because he was very old .
energy efficiency means doing more with fewer resources .
we face historical challenges , only one of which is the need to overcome the crisis which has been imported into Europe .
on the whole , then , the report is good , but we wish to make clear that we believe that taxation policy , and above all the choice of taxation level , is a matter for the Member States .
under Article 182 ( 4 ) of the Single Common Market Organisation ( CMO ) Regulation , and as an exception to the State aid rules , Germany may grant State aid under the German Alcohol Monopoly for products marketed , after further transformation by the monopoly , as ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin .
increased road safety is necessary , as are improved working conditions in the transport sector .
the Europol Information System , EIS , enables Member States to find out whether the law enforcement authorities of other Member States hold any information needed at operational level .
( NL ) The European Parliament has rightly placed emphasis on a number of issues : guaranteeing access , net neutrality and better supervision .
I have learnt a great deal !
several times in recent years the Chinese Congress has spoken of the need to create a harmonious society , but those words have remained a dead letter .
we have already come across this type of scenario in the case of Moldovan or Georgian passports versus Russian passports .
thank you for your attention .
we must be able to respond rapidly if we are to avoid a worst-case scenario .
authorisations should only be withdrawn when the EU has negotiated a new agreement with an identical level of protection .
so I think we are really at the forefront of influencing the international institutions going in that direction and that will also be the stance of the Commission , of Mr Almunia and me in the meetings of the World Bank and the IMF at the beginning of October in Istanbul .
the Commission has proposed to expand significantly on Commissioner Potočnik 's proposal , which is not my proposal , regarding the targets for recycling electrical and electronic waste containing rare earths .
Thailand hosts approximately 140 000 refugees in nine camps along the border .
the European Union , together with the United Nations , has quite regularly raised the question of caning with Malaysia .
therefore , I was trying in my answer to provide you with possibilities of how we , from the European level , can help Slovenian theatre .
it will of course take time to comply with the three Copenhagen criteria , although Moldova and Ukraine have shown themselves ready for European development .
the green ' New Deal ' , in other words a new logic for economic organisation based on innovations in environmental technology and supported by international capital markets , will become the cornerstone of increasing numbers of economic rescue and stimulus programmes , including among the European Union Member States .
Parliament , as well as giving its heartfelt condolences to Chile , is also demonstrating through this debate its commitment to helping to rebuild the country , which was so severely damaged by the earthquake of 27 February .
the consequence is that many Iranians have to live in exile , not only in Europe but also in the neighbouring countries .
the European mortgage market has different characteristics than that of the United States , so problems on anything like a similar scale are less likely to arise in Europe in the near future .
secondly , I absolutely shudder at the repeated suggestions that the EU should impose its own taxes or that it should issue European government bonds , which will sooner or later have to be paid back by somebody .
we were the first international group to travel there after the troubles in March and spoke both to the authorities and those who were sympathetic to the Tibetan protesters .
above all , however , in conjunction with the revision of our agricultural policy , we need to consider what we can do about these price fluctuations .
prior to adopting the decision , the Commission assessed Georgia 's economic situation and the country 's financial prospects in 2010-2011 , focusing on the balance of payments and budgetary needs .
it fails to stem the rising tide of doubt about itself and the structure of the EU , as also expressed by the resounding Irish ' no ' vote .
so I propose the last part of the text should begin ' urges the Iranian authorities to act constitutionally and eliminate , in law and in practice , all forms of discrimination ' .
I do not think this has any basis in the law and certainly it would not meet with a favourable reception from the public .
that is why I am very happy ; I have read the report by Mario Monti .
delays in Russia 's WTO accession will affect our bilateral relations , including with regard to the negotiations for a new agreement between the EU and Russia .
there has , therefore , been no cooperation , coordination or consistency whatsoever in the application of EU legislation .
I have been ill a number of times and just like many of you here in this Chamber , I am sure , have been saved by antibiotics .
if our proposals had won the support of MEPs there would have been a good chance of the European Parliament and the Council finally agreeing on a telecoms package that seriously protects the rights and privacy of Internet users .
timeshare comprises the time-limited use of properties or other assets under contracts covering a period of more than one year , through which the consumer acquires , on payment of a fee , the right to use one or more accommodation facilities on more than one occasion .
first , since this is now the continuation : there should be flexibility both on entering the system and on leaving it , if parameters were to be changed in one state .
the purpose is the democratic election of a government .
the aim in Bali should be an agreement with an environmental perspective .
in the UK , we know that the daughter of a teenage mother is three times as likely to become a teenage mother herself ; we know that sons with a convicted father are over four times more at risk of being convicted of a crime than those without a convicted father .
firstly , we propose reducing the target minimum rate of excise duty on fuel from EUR 380 per 1 000 litres to EUR 359 per 1 000 litres .
we intend to adopt conclusions on the subject as well .
the Caucasus is a complex region and , like the Balkans , has more history than it is able to digest and cope with .
they relate to the very significant supply constraints , which make it necessary to guarantee long-term contracts with supplier countries , but also to the particularly high cost of investment in transmission and distribution networks , which must offer consumers the highest level of security .
this aspect is very important in the actual context .
obviously this goes above the level where there are beds in which women , men , kids , elderly people sleep .
in writing . - Europe , including Ireland , needs the Lisbon Treaty if we are to develop coherent and effective policies to tackle the global crises of financial system meltdown , Climate Change , and , under-development of much of the world .
one trip was to Baghdad , Nassiria and the Marshlands region , and the other was to Kurdistan in the north of the country .
I will particularly miss you , if I may say so , Madam President , as we may not see each other after June .
I would like to ask if you can update us on actual humanitarian needs in Gaza , as well as on the goods and support currently channelled through the existing crossing points from Israel and Egypt .
we do not want to impose anything .
a regime which resorts to murder and violence to oppress its own people , a people cheated of a government of their choice , simply cannot be trusted , and we must take action .
intelligent Transport Systems in the field of road transport and interfaces with other transport modes (
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at the same time , one wonders how , when money is made available to these countries under what are described as harsh conditions , there is maladministration taking place .
nothing has yet been established , but I wanted the House to have this general information about what our next steps will be .
overall , we need to consider whether we should not be more flexible in our negotiations , because working together to combat the phenomenon of climate change is important , but the methods we employ to achieve this could be quite different .
the citizens are stakeholders in what is done by the EU , and clearly the European Union is a stakeholder in European public opinion .
I hope that the Small Business Act that the Commission presented a few days ago and in which we addressed the question once again will put more pressure on those Member States that are creating difficulties here and I am extremely grateful to the European Parliament for its numerous signs of support in this regard .
they must not be captured by corporate interests .
( PL ) Mr President , in terms of both structure and size , the 2008 budget indicates that we are still at the early stages of introduction of new generation multiannual programmes linked to the financial perspective 2007-2013 .
one cannot help but notice , however , that this European asylum system and the harmonisation process are struggling somewhat to see the light of day .
for our part , we continue to condemn Israel 's policy of apartheid against Palestine and to defend full compliance with the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people , enshrined in numerous UN resolutions .
our cooperation with Ukraine must improve and we must give all possible diplomatic and political support to Ukraine 's accession to the WTO .
in many Member States they are so overcrowded that , in future , even the cleanest Euro VI heavy-duty vehicles will no longer be able to get through , even without taking account of the large numbers of passenger cars in which the citizens sit in traffic jams .
( RO ) Mr President , Libya is the European Union 's third biggest supplier of oil and gas , while the Union is Libya 's main trading partner , accounting for more than two thirds of this country 's total trade .
2009 discharge : eighth , Ninth and Tenth European Development Funds ( EDF ) (
with the 2010 strategic report , Parliament has the first occasion for analysis and evaluation of the outputs and results of cohesion policy implementation .
( it ) Madam President , the proposal for a regulation tabled by the Commission in 2008 aims to introduce new , Europe-wide rights to protect bus and coach passengers which are similar to those applied to other means of transport , thereby assuring equal conditions of competition between carriers and the various modes of transport within the different Member States .
it was not to be .
in your opinion , what are the biggest causes of the high number of deaths on the roads ?
in this context , policies should be developed , encouraging Member States to keep the number of victims of transport accidents to levels not higher than the average for the EU .
the transition from educational institution to working life must be as smooth as possible and , in particular , tailored to individual needs , because it must also be possible for young people with inadequate training to gain the skills necessary to be able to work in skilled jobs and to earn a good living .
the objective of this assistance is to help ACP banana exporters to launch adjustment programmes .
in tabling an amendment concerning temporary national allowances for pesticides I am speaking in favour of the mechanism for exchanging older preparations for modern and safer ones as quickly as is possible .
participation in the EU emission allowance trading scheme will allow airlines to gain the experience that will be required for future restrictions on carbon dioxide emissions at global level .
the third issue concerns financing of the food facility .
I therefore support the principle that a ) the oppression of minority languages fundamentally infringes on the right to freedom of citizens belonging to that minority ; that b ) instruction in the mother tongue is the most suitable for learning ; and that c ) local authorities and communities should be given legal competence to make decisions about the language used in teaching ..
certainly the EP motion for a resolution contains some proposals with which we agree - some of which we tabled - but they do not make up for the negative content of the motion for a resolution .
the European Union needs to maintain a united front and continue to condemn the abuses committed in Iran .
what people have indicated so far is that this is the beginning of a process and not an end .
( DE ) Mr President , in the year of the World Cup , the ladies and gentlemen of the Council could learn a lesson from football and that is that it is not possible to have a good game of football if you have got a referee overseeing each player .
a reliable partnership between the EU and the GCC therefore needs to be built , which will favour open markets for goods and the removal of non-tariff barriers .
let us hope that the Partnership for Modernisation and other matters will help us to find a common and positive way forward here .
however , a complicated and sensitive question such as this can hardly be resolved at EU level .
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now more than ever , the European Union needs to put into practice the old motto of solidarity proclaimed by the Musketeers : ' all for one and one for all ' and provide financial aid to countries that have suffered , like Bulgaria , for vitally important projects which will provide it with energy security .
however , the Council , of course , remains committed to continuing its work on the proposal for the amendment of the Asylum Procedures Directive , and I would like to thank you for the work you have done so far , and I am confident that the Commission will incorporate the observations you have made so far in the new proposal .
17 .
in addition , it is a great pity that Mrs Gräßle , in particular , is the person who unnecessarily makes the work of the non-attached Members more difficult , discriminates against us , prevents us from accessing information , does not allow us the opportunity to work with employees and then feels that it is worthwhile attacking us on the basis of incorrect facts .
this principle ensures that each legal system is represented within the Court ; it is also a reflection of the collective guarantee system established by the Convention in which each contracting party is required to participate , and that means that we need a permanent full judge elected by the Union who enjoys the same status and has the same duties as his peers and who intervenes potentially in all cases .
if we are not prepared to allow them to do that , we might as well mothball our national parliaments , turn them into museums and lock the door .
to root out the undeclared workforce we can use both a stick and a carrot .
all the major economic powers , along with emerging nations like China , are rushing to get their hands on these resources which are becoming increasingly rare .
Cambodia ( vote )
Commissioner Georgieva will also represent President Barroso during the inauguration of President Sebastián Piñera in Valparaíso later today .
agenda : see Minutes
really , in a globalised world , Europe and the various EU countries will be defined by the qualifications of their human resources .
( applause )
that is something I cannot agree to .
but who decided that Commissioner Šemeta could have three questions and Commissioner Rehn could only have one question ?
there might be some delays .
we must be careful not to overburden this important industry .
as Milton Friedman put it , competition between governments in their delivery of services and their levels of taxation is every bit as productive as competition between companies and individuals .
this is true .
I would be very interested to hear whether he is aware that it was not the system but consumers who helped to discover what had happened here .
in fact , we have drawn together everything that we think is important in this context .
the present figure for emissions per inhabitant in Poland stands at 7 tonnes per annum , while in the old EU countries this is up to two times higher .
that is a major fallacy , on the one hand because in actuality , there has been a legally binding framework in effect on this subject in Europe for more than 25 years , which we are continuously adjusting , most recently , for example , through the 2009 Nuclear Safety Directive .
2007 progress report on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (
for all of these reasons , safeguarding the idea of goods produced using the best of what Europe has to offer is the first crucial step towards recognition at individual Member State level .
in view of the above , I agree to the Agreement being concluded .
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it is also quite clear , on the one hand , that we have to ensure the balanced development of our work , thus focusing especially on the poorer countries and establishing the fairness that Mr Crowley talked about ; on the other hand , we also have to secure fair trade rules for access by our industry to raw materials .
but I cannot find any information from Eurostat , for example , as to how much this symbol is worth to European business , or what percentage of Europeans actually know what the CE does .
on behalf of the EFD Group . - Mr President , I rise to ask for the postponement of the vote on the Fernandes report .
the target of reducing accidents by 25 % by the end of the strategy period may look impressive , but in reality it is completely inadequate .
in an age when communications are crucial , and when communications by air afford previously unimagined travel opportunities , air transport agreements between nations are clearly necessary and desirable .
I agree with the rapporteur and the resolutions on discharge when they draw attention to the urgency of introducing a national declaration at an appropriate political level , covering all EU funds coming under shared management , in order that each Member State take responsibility for the management of EU funds received .
of course it is important to pass the new emissions regulation , it is right that the Commission should say that the environment and innovation should guide the measures to address the crisis and that the motor industry should be cited in this , but that is not enough .
however , what we are doing with this decision is to tell the Council , which has already reached a resolution during the last Council of Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs , that in our view , and this applies at least to my group , security and security measures are absolutely essential . however , the use of scanners or display devices which show people completely naked is totally unacceptable .
the US Treasury admits that tax havens result in a yearly tax revenue loss of USD 100 billion .
the benefits in place in the United Kingdom for the elderly during cold weather to enable them to keep their homes warm and combat energy poverty are an excellent example of what other Member States , including Estonia , should take as a model .
I asked President Pöttering to open today 's session with a minute 's silence , as a sign of mourning in recognition of these victims .
we note that President Obama has said that an agreement should neither contain only certain elements nor merely be a political declaration .
the Council Presidency for the second half of 2008 does not want this .
the Czech Republic is the first country of Central and Eastern Europe to take the EU presidency .
it is an achievement that we cannot question before the next elections are over .
Member States must invest in the construction of motorways , high-speed railway lines and in those alternatives which can cut traffic congestion .
in writing . - Today 's debate on forest fires in welcomed .
the reason we do not wish to rush is precisely to avoid what is currently happening - where everyone is proposing a different idea , where sometimes there are two different ideas within the same government .
we are giving the payments directly to active farmers , active producers , and therefore the possibility of errors has been much reduced .
maybe a new directive on biogas alone is too much to ask , but I welcome the request addressed to the Commission to present a special report on biogas in the European Union , which should also include recommendations concerning the European and the national legislation in this field .
the term ' residential zones ' is both vague and imprecise .
I believe that this directive will help consumers to make the correct decisions on the basis of a quick and simple process of being able to compare more offers from domestic , as well as foreign , providers .
developing countries need aid to reduce poverty and isolation , measures to contribute to development and measures essential to get out of the crisis .
we call on Sudan to think again , and think fast , about the grave position they have placed themselves in by protecting these alleged mass killers from the arm of international law .
it is important to ensure the abolition of the segregation of Roma children in schools and classrooms .
I want to give this clear message : coordination alone is not enough .
as far as the allocation of resources is concerned , I believe the proposed amendments are consistent with our suggested approach , which aims to defend the allocation of revenue from tolls and reduce the external effects of road transport , and I believe I can support them .
we are not asking them for the time being to commit themselves to emission reductions in absolute terms .
the debate is closed .
the consultations have confirmed that the underlying principles of the current EU data protection legislation are still very much valid .
can we make a difference ?
first of all , climate change : without renewable energy sources it is rather naive to expect that we could master the climate change challenge .
in our view , however , the two are not mutually exclusive .
like everybody else in this Chamber , I am , of course , horrified by what has been happening in the Middle East .
in writing . - This report takes a detailed and thorough look at the causes of the economic crisis and the developments that have been made at EU level in order to prevent , pre-empt or at least diminish the impact of future crises .
we therefore appreciate your work on these issues .
we have half an hour for these speeches , so I have to keep to the half hour .
looking back over the past 10 years , France , the Netherlands and now Ireland - twice - have all voted to put the brakes on greater European integration , and yet the EU has completely ignored their opinions .
however , I also have something to add which is rather at the margins of the debate .
this paragraph highlights the interaction of European languages with other continents , with countries throughout the world , and the fact that it is vital for the European Union to know how to specifically promote these languages and the cultural interaction generated and conveyed by these languages in their extra-European dimensions .
it must therefore also be this Parliament that concludes it .
I have voted in favour of the European Parliament 's position , as it is slightly more market-liberal than the Commission 's proposal .
therefore , more efficient governance mechanisms have been proposed , which require the involvement of the Member States , as well as the Commission , at every level of the monitoring process .
Sinn Féin supports the highest possible level of data protection for citizens and will continue to support any measures which improve the privacy and rights of citizens in this field .
as Commissioner Hübner has said here this evening , it shows the value of the bottom-up approach and also highlights the important role of women in peace-building .
given the considerable delays that have already been confirmed and the increased costs of the SIS II project , I understand that the sunset clause must be kept .
the European Parliament has always been very concerned about consumer rights in the area of tourism and , consequently , in its resolutions on new perspectives and new calls for long-term sustainable tourism in Europe , it has accepted the need to revise Directive 94 / 47 / EC .
'Observes that the 2007 decreases in reported aid levels are due in some cases to the artificial boosting of figures in 2006 by debt relief ; ... ' ;
Commissioner , allow me first of all to welcome you , since I have not opened the debate and , moreover , to give you the floor to reply to these numerous questions .
at the same time , tens of thousands of jobs are disappearing .
for those countries that repeatedly have problems managing money , payments should be suspended .
there are serious concerns regarding how ballot boxes have been stored and it cannot be ruled out that ballot papers are being tampered with in the process of this recount .
this is a reason to rejoice and it should cause Europe to pay more attention to its seas .
I would like to enumerate a few perspectives that must in any event be taken into consideration in the regulation and its implementation .
at the moment , for example , in the case of emissions trading , talks are based not on Parliament 's opinion but only on the decision of a single committee .
that would be completely impossible without the European Union .
in addition we tried to encourage the social partners in this area to become involved as we are aware that this new model requires firm commitment from all the stakeholders , yet it also requires that everyone 's interests be taken into account .
that results in growing currency devaluation , together with a fall in household purchasing power and a stagnation that is difficult to control and may have a considerable impact on Europe .
it is another attempt by the social euro-engineers , who are so obsessed with the utopian super-state that they ignore common sense .
I think both the presidency and the Commission can admit that there is strong pressure from the new Member States to get a more equal payment , and I know that this will be a discussion that will be strongly defended in the 2013 reform .
it is in the interest of individual countries , and also within their capabilities , to look for a solution to the nuclear issue - whether through safety improvements , or complete decommissioning .
the task of Parliament is to furnish the necessary financial backing , and thus we must recognise that within the Eastern Partnership the most crucial motivating factor for the partners is their European aspiration .
migration matters must remain a sovereign right of each Member State .
however , the directive will have to be implemented by the national governments .
any differences in charges will be transparent and based on clear criteria .
the report also calls for instruments to foster the development and growth of eco-innovative SMEs , as well as the development of eco-industrial parks .
therefore , we have reached - Mr President , I will stop here - the time to debate the issues on the table in a strong and unified way .
I understand your concerns very well , but we have to move forward to negotiate in a better way - the best way - with the United States and try to have some binding rules for the Member States within this agreement , because that is the only way to achieve exactly what you want to achieve .
data protection will follow European Union data protection rules .
it is also important to help young people by making their access to the labour market easier .
there is therefore a solid argument for restrictions on working time .
we need better , simpler legislation which serves the interests of Europeans .
the analyses point out that the old Member States that have opened up their markets have received much more benefits than problems with the workers received .
the fourth new feature was that of the delegated acts , and here I must tell you very clearly , Mrs Malmström , that Parliament can take care of timetable arguments and procedural arguments very efficiently , and we promise to not take long to respond to delegated acts .
( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I shall certainly repeat things which have already been said and welcome , in any case , the result of the Irish vote on the Treaty of Lisbon .
I therefore think that the rotating presidency will also have a clear role in the future , alongside the elected President who is being brought in via the new Treaty .
under the treaty , the Member States will be committed to increasing military resources for operations outside their territory and in their previous colonies .
it is highly likely that the crime was racially motivated .
I also believe that many of the problems of this vast area should meet with a response at European level through an integrated EU strategy for the region , and through the prospect of a territorial cohesion policy that should be a fundamental framework for Union choices .
another point which is just as important is that the report adopted by Parliament proposes the creation of mixed European rapid intervention teams which will be made up of military personnel , police officers and medical staff who will provide an effective response in the event of chemical , biological , radiological or nuclear disasters .
we , too , unanimously support the report .
in this regard , I urge the European Parliament , the European Commission and Council to join forces in their efforts in order to avoid independent actions , such as those of Prime Minister Berlusconi , which harm the general cause and give further encouragement to Lukashenko .
all this forces us to carry out a more thorough analysis which should be incorporated in a future common fisheries policy , and every report should fulfil this policy .
the Czech Head of State must know , even without the Treaty of Lisbon , that the Beneš Decrees came about through the enforcement of the principle of collective guilt and are not made unlawful with the enactment of the Charter of Fundamental Rights ; they are , in fact , still in conflict with more than six European documents .
if you convey this message to the Council tomorrow , we will be on your side ; but we will only be on your side if you do so , Mr President !
this is important for freedom of expression and diversity , a question which is often debated in this House .
therefore , we did not vote in favour of this resolution .
we will see what we can do to pass the message to Council , and we very much look forward to the proposals coming from the Commission later in the year .
in writing . - ( DE ) Let 's be absolutely clear from the outset : the embargo by Israel is clearly a violation of international law and is completely unacceptable .
we have drawn attention to this issue many times in the national parliament of the Republic of Latvia , but still no one from the ruling Latvian elite is even prepared to discuss the question .
I think it will be a very useful precedential document for us to study , because it seems to me that he robustly supports the scientific justification for the use of GM crops in Europe where they are scientifically approved and authorised .
in order to achieve these aims the two conditions must be set out in a clear and immediately understandable form .
this ' supposed rescue ' package will do little to ensure a sustainable fishing industry .
in writing . - We generally vote against EU legislation and indeed voted against this report as a whole .
all these measures are intended to exert pressure in order to obtain an international agreement which , in a context of severe economic crisis , will accentuate the capitalist view of the environmental issue .
the graves we are talking about are in the line of control .
Mr President , honourable Members , it is an honour for me to stand here with you and represent European democracy .
those who want to see the Europe of tomorrow should look at the Belgium of today !
will we listen to him ?
as regards the remaining proposals , I would emphasise the statement that in my view they are merely an additional improvement to the joint position and would in no way compromise consumer protection and the benefit this would have from the directive , because it is also a high priority for us .
( Parliament rejected the request to postpone the vote )
it is the Nordic and the Swedish way to respect the voice of the people .
how is that supposed to happen ?
on the other hand , the situation of migrants ' children who are left behind on their own in the country of origin when parents emigrate in search of a job in another country is an issue which has caused concern in some Member States during the last two years .
the Council , the Commission and Parliament , through its President , are agreed about the line to pursue , which is based on respect for the result in Ireland and also respect for the almost five hundred million citizens who make up the rest of the European Union .
here we are , nine years later , debating the fact that 21 Member States had , by October 2009 , failed to enact these directives and have now been sent reasoned opinions because of this failure .
it is only if the parliaments are able to verify whether the new system of regulations can achieve what it was designed to do , that the Economic Partnership Agreements can operate as a driving force for development .
Peter Mandelson has left the stage after four years at the helm .
it is unfair to those who have questions waiting to be heard .
endeavours to improve financial management must not be limited to the simplification of rules , however .
the report by Mr Saryusz-Wolski , whom I would like to congratulate on his work , includes a specific initiative : establishing an interinstitutional agreement from the beginning of next year , so that , on the basis of the guidelines of the new Treaty , stable and dynamic criteria for cooperation can be established .
as I was saying , on 10 December 2010 with the Hungarian Presidency , we launched the first cooperation exercises on access to credit for small and medium-sized enterprises , which will be followed by other , similar exercises , in close cooperation with the Member States .
( loud applause )
everyone has to make an effort .
the Europe 2020 Project Bond Initiative , which is currently in public consultation , is a very good example .
but Europe also needs a new direction .
while supporting this agreement , the Commission position in the context of the revised emissions trading directive remains that the auctioning level in the aviation sector should be 20 % in 2013 and increased in line with sectors other than the power sector .
I keenly support the demand made in the report for 2010 to be declared as the European Year of Fryderyk Chopin , given that it is the 200th anniversary of the birth of this composer of genius , who made an incontrovertible contribution to European and world culture .
research and development have reached a more or less stable level , but certainly not the 3 % we need for the Lisbon Strategy , only just over half of that , at an average of 1.6 % , 1.7 % or 1.8 % - far too low to allow us to play the international role we want to play .
I am pleased that the Council has accepted these proposals .
I agree that special attention should be paid to those works which are fragile and might cease to exist very soon and , among those , audiovisual materials .
we have never experienced anything like this in a candidate Member State .
we launched a public consultation and are conducting an evaluation of the current scheme .
any measures that are taken in this area will always be limited in scope if they do not include banning the instruments that make it profitable , specifically derivatives .
that makes me proud , but it has to be user-friendly , accessible and credible , and that means we will have to be reasonably strict about it being within EU competence and adhering to human rights at the outset .
in 2000 , this Parliament debated whether Greece should join the euro area .
we must act vigorously if we do not want things to get out of hand here .
there was a similar moment in the past when Bill Clinton and Felipe González signed the Transatlantic Agenda in 1995 ; at that time there was great optimism about the future .
it is true that opiates are needed for the treatment of various illnesses , for post-operative pain relief and , last but not least , for the treatment of people with malignant diseases .
clearly , effective legal protection is a fundamental principle .
I am pleased that Parliament is tackling this .
at a time of rising food prices around the world , I do not think that now is the time for us to have a knee-jerk reaction to introduce measures which may have adverse effects on food production .
it is particularly important to speak of shared responsibilites at all levels , national and international alike , shared responsibilities between men and women .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I also supported and voted in favour of Mr Provera 's report because I think it offers a practical , assertive step forward towards the goal of solidarity , which is moreover provided for by Article 80 on solidarity amongst European Union Member States .
overall , it constitutes 10 % of Europe 's enterprises and 6 % of the labour market .
this is reflected in the Regulation , we have debated with him and we greatly appreciate the work that he does .
today , on the pretext of ' terrorism ' , they are hauled in again from the darkest ages in the history of the bourgeoisie in Europe .
it is for that reason that I voted against this report .
it has gone well beyond that point because the Ukrainian authorities have overlooked the correct legal procedures and taken measures that violate the rule of law .
investment , not spending , should be the goal , pre- and post-2013 .
in this respect , we also insist on the need to preserve linguistic diversity in Europe .
collaboration at EU level must not be at the expense of the quality of care or of the principled ethical choices made by Member States .
however , I shall nevertheless vote in favour .
I would also like to say that this afternoon , in your two speeches , you have given us a legal , moral and historical lesson .
if , in these few days , he does not stop what is happening at the moment , then freeze all assets , not only of the 13 people but of the whole Assad family .
this therefore confirms the fear of seeing research exported in the wake of these regulations .
( DE ) Mr President , taxing speculation - which , in many cases , brings no benefit for the real economy - by means of a financial transaction tax is undoubtedly the right approach .
I acknowledge that our statistics do not always reflect this fact .
to make matters worse , the heavy metals may cause serious air pollution .
however , in the area where they can exercise this power - namely when buying products - unnecessary obstacles are placed in their path .
does the Council believe that all the measures taken in recent years in the fight against terrorism have been the right ones ?
in writing . - On behalf of the Fine Gael Delegation ( EPP-ED ) :
the only way we are going to keep these essential carers is if we support them in their work .
abolition of the death penalty is one of the main thematic priorities when providing help within the framework of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights .
I want to move to the USA and get into the EU via Martinique ' .
therefore , the only effective method of preventing distortions in the market and continuing to control textile imports is still to subject such imports to verification procedures that require indication of the country of origin .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , in this last speech , I would stress the importance of updating Regulation ( EC ) No 247 / 2006 .
the European Commission 's Communication COM ( 2007 ) 281 set all the European institutions a challenge : ' the time has come to look at Brazil as a strategic partner as well as a major Latin American economic actor and regional leader ' .
shipbuilding is a global industry . ships can easily be bought in Asia and do not necessarily have to be bought in Europe .
one cannot accept the reverse majority rule and tougher parameters and sanctions without a golden rule to protect Member States ' investments and without Eurobonds to fund European investments and , at the same time , to guarantee sovereign debt . this is not a good enough formula for tackling the crisis and it is destined to make it worse .
I am observing with great interest the EU pilot programme , which is supposed to be a tool enabling a rapid response to all cases of incorrect application or adaptation of EU law to national legislation .
the current form of development aid is an unsuitable tool for this purpose , as lots of funds disappear into dark channels or are diverted back into European bank accounts belonging to corrupt despots .
here in this Parliament the French President Valéry Giscard D 'Estaing told me recently that he was always in favour of including a reference to the Christian God in the European constitution .
these are necessary steps not only for joining the EU but also to give a judicial , civil and social structure to a country that must develop in compliance with the regulations and in view of shared growth at the various levels of administration .
if the State is not there to help when it is urgently needed , and if it does not take action when the police are needed or the fire service is needed , citizens never forget .
for us , it is also cultural and civilisation issues that are at stake .
in writing . - I welcome Mr Graefe zu Baringdorf 's report on the proposal for a regulation concerning meat and livestock statistics .
Mr Šefčovič , I would also like the Commission to start to trust its own citizens more .
although other issues deserve attention and could be discussed , it is the financial crisis on which our attention is necessarily focused .
thanks to the Treaty of Lisbon , cohesion is no longer just economic and social ; it is also territorial .
Mrs Morgan has already talked about what this must contain .
two years have passed since then and we do not even know today how many people were detained , how many were arrested and , subsequently , how many were perhaps released .
therefore , I believe that it is essential and a matter of duty for the European institutions to provide as much assistance as possible , at least in order to guarantee that the people who have lost everything have housing , medical assistance , food and basic social services .
I therefore thank the rapporteur and members of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection , who have succeeded in strengthening support for those consumer groups which most need protection : children and the elderly .
( DA ) Mr President , I would like to take the liberty of giving a general , overall perspective since , up to now , EU harmonisation of medicinal product legislation has only involved relaxing the rules in Denmark. and the sale of medicines has increased .
we need strong institutions .
resumption of the session
and today , when we recall that you too , Mr President , come from my country , a country which has suffered so much at the hands of totalitarianism , we know one thing - and this truly is the best thing about the EU - the European Union has ensured the nations of Europe 60 years without war .
I would like to draw attention to the fact that in the case of an accident both car users and pedestrians will be now be more at risk because of non-original spare parts of a lower quality .
this is absolutely accepted as the Council has repeatedly asserted that the future of Serbia naturally lies in its future membership of the European Union .
the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality focused , in its opinion , on the question of supporting the mother and the family in the performance of their obligations .
police numbers are being cut and prisoners are being released because we cannot afford to keep them in prison .
it has been an inclusive process for which I sought input from Member States ' parliamentarians , notably Ms Hautala and the Subcommittee on Human Rights , as well as civil society NGOs and academics .
this compromise focused , on the one hand , on the definition of higher professional qualifications and of higher education qualifications , and , on the other , on the relationship with national law ; lastly , it focused on the minimum salary threshold for which a derogation is provided for in case of specific need within a profession .
thank you very much .
EC-Ukraine Partnership and Cooperation Agreement ( vote )
Russia is already our third-most important trading partner and we see growth rates of up to 20 % a year .
to the heads of state or government of the European Union I would just like to say that it is important for this Treaty to be the basis of a European project founded on the true membership of its citizens .
after the last enlargement , it seems that social Europe is developing at two rates , with both of them going backwards .
we visited the camps in Rome and we were able to ascertain that , in reality , Roma really need special protection , if only because since the EU 's expansion , they have become one of the larger minorities in the European Union .
clearly there are vital strategic questions at stake in the EU having good relations with Russia , but we cannot allow these questions to erase our obligation to speak out for our fundamental freedoms and shared European common values , freedoms and values the Russian people themselves should be enabled to share fully in peace and security .
I have no doubt that they will give us a better idea of the impact of these directives .
( SV ) Madam President , Commissioner , the financial and economic crisis has shown that we in Europe must be able to act together .
the fact that some European political groups , close to the Prodi government , have come out against a joint resolution on the health and environmental disaster in Campania which should have concluded our debate opens up another whodunit .
the call for the introduction of a balanced approach to ' flexicurity ' and the introduction of a clause on active inclusion , I feel , will strengthen employment policy across Europe .
however , the rapporteur 's proposals take several steps backwards .
making rural areas more attractive will help to curb the exodus of mainly young and well-trained people .
the German public awoke today to the news that three terrorists had been planning an attack on Frankfurt am Main airport .
public finances are already overburdened by these measures .
the EGF has been used in the past by other EU countries , so it is now appropriate to provide aid to the Netherlands , which has submitted a request for assistance in respect of 598 redundancies in eight companies operating in the NACE Revision 2 Division 58 ( publishing activities ) in the two contiguous NUTS II regions of Noord Holland and Zuid Holland .
( DA ) Mr President , it should always be up to each individual Member State to decide on its own energy mix .
certainly , with these three points , it can be said that an instrument will shortly be in the hands of the European citizen that is simpler than expected , clearer than it appears at first sight and supposedly more effective .
7 .
this is not only a responsibility ; it is a security requirement for the Union , because poverty is unfortunately often a source of instability .
the text of the report , as well as the intentions of the rapporteur , seem to be clear and transparent .
this is the second time that the European Parliament has proposed improvements to the Statute of the Ombudsman .
it increases levels of safety not just for the airlines themselves , but also for the passengers .
in writing . - ( FR ) The purpose of Mrs Roure 's report is to combat racism .
can you reassure me , Commissioner , that the action plan is ready ?
as your visit has demonstrated , current events and the general situation in the region have had an impact on the process .
change in Turkey means meeting its obligations towards Cyprus by recognising the Republic of Cyprus and ending the occupation of Cyprus .
advocates of the introduction of formal , rigid fishing criteria have even appeared . for example , some kind of mythical significance is being attributed to depths exceeding 1 000 metres without any fully convincing reasons being put forward for this .
attacks using chemical , biological , radiological and nuclear ( CBRN ) materials constitute a grave threat to the European public .
following the warnings issued by the European Parliament a few weeks ago , the negotiation process is now on the right track .
segregation and discrimination need to be eliminated .
very well , let us speed up !
however , the accident at the Fukushima nuclear plant calls for an effective EU response .
the same goes for electromagnetic fields , to which hundreds of millions of people are exposed , even though we know very little about their effects .
Commissioner , I therefore ask you and the Member States to be firm in implementing this regulation with the utmost possible urgency .
the Commission 's legislative and work programme of course offers an opportunity to provide a comprehensive answer to this question .
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others gave background support .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Mr President , the EU budget has been suffering from a number of structural problems .
in writing . - ( DE ) Russia is important to the EU not only as a supplier of energy but also as a counterbalance to America 's drive for world domination .
IMF reform , in particular , is overdue .
the Member States must not , by their slow reaction , cause the supply of troops and equipment and the commitment of EUFOR to be unnecessarily delayed .
farmers cannot manage this alone .
in writing . - I voted for this composite resolution which responded to the Commission paper ' The European interest : succeeding in the age of globalisation ' .
as became evident in the autumn , Europe needs a financial market that functions effectively .
I believe that the European Parliament needs to monitor developments with these initiatives closely , particularly at the present juncture when global geopolitical and economic balances are being redefined .
it was somewhat unenthusiastically that I voted in favour of the 2010 budget , since it is no match for the challenges that we have to face , not only in this context of serious economic and social crisis , but also in view of the fight against climate change .
we have a number of important tasks ahead as we look to the forthcoming EU-US summit and beyond .
add to this the major pandemics such as Aids , malaria , tuberculosis , and so on , and this set of factors means that we find ourselves facing a genuine disaster .
it is therefore a good thing that Europe realises it has an excellent opportunity to be a player on the world stage in this sphere as in others .
we can become world leaders in our diverse renewable energy fields , which should create a tight , effective and coordinated strategy - including governments , NGOs , academia , business , forward-thinkers - seeking not to talk but to solve .
we should be content with nothing less .
Macedonia was on Europe 's side when Europe needed it .
let me finish my intervention by expressing my sincere thanks to the European Parliament , the Presidency and the Council for the excellent cooperation on the package and the related proposals on carbon dioxide and cars and the fuel quality directive .
however , I firmly believe that a long-term action plan that spans parties and cycles will be prepared through this which can effectively remedy the poverty and social exclusion affecting the Roma .
indeed , the recent ECJ judgment on discrimination by association points the way .
I apologise for proceeding in this way but I am not , as you will have noticed and as you know , the responsible Commissioner , and I am therefore far less expansive on these issues , which are extremely challenging for me , than on others .
adjournment of the session
I will finish by saying that I should like to question Commissioner Dalli directly , so as to ask him which of the proposals included in this report the Commission is prepared to accept , and when it will be prepared to accept and take action against an emergency of the scale that we are currently experiencing .
I wish you all the best , though , and I hope that the Heads of State or Government do not leave you hanging as they did at your first formal European Council .
the case of Mehdi Kazemi highlights once again the huge loopholes in the European Union asylum system : the fact that someone must seek asylum these days on the ground that he or she is being persecuted and threatened with death because of being a homosexual is a matter of utmost concern and shows that the promotion of LGBT rights must be moved up the international agenda .
I will mention a few of these , Mrs Roure .
while income tax is one of the main forms of taxation in rich countries , its contribution is minimal in developing countries .
in fact , the European Commission should exert pressure on developing countries to transpose into national legislation the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child .
we should certainly take a positive view of the way the Turkish authorities have dealt with issues related to religious freedom , women 's rights , trade union rights , judicial reform , revision of radio and TV legislation and improvements in civil-military relations .
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the amendment aims to create an effective system that is more sensitive to the interests of the beneficiary countries and economic operators , to develop more comprehensive rules and to guarantee Parliament 's role as the body of democratic control .
may I ask you , as President-in-Office , to give this matter your profoundest attention and to tell me what you do .
that is why , in the Committee on Transport and Tourism , I defended a high level of consumer protection , particularly by extending and updating the basic definitions of the directive , reinforcing language requirements , and improving contract information and withdrawal rights to ensure a clear and stable market without any hidden costs for consumers .
we welcome this package as a step in the right direction , albeit with some reservations .
reports have been adopted in Parliament 's plenary sitting in Strasbourg containing three specific measures ( EUR 280 million in direct aid for producers , a temporary rule for calculating buy-back of quotas and inclusion of milk in the CMO under Article 186 ( emergency measures ) ) .
the solution to this would be a totally new paradigm in relation to work-life balance .
I voted against the resolution rejecting the indication of the presence of DHA in milk substitutes for babies because I think it is right to advertise the reasons for which DHA is added .
moreover , there is also the issue of the incapacity to control access to and follow-up these products of animal origin once they enter the commercial system .
policies on quality should be developed by providing more clarity with product certification and labelling that can be understood by all European Union consumers .
in order to develop these criteria , the Commission and the new Community body are called upon to ensure the active involvement of leading operators and best practices , so that they can make use of innovations tried and tested by these operators during their manufacturing cycles and thus make them accessible and transparent .
I also agree with the creation of transition periods for small and medium-sized enterprises in order to give them time to adapt to the changes resulting from the agreement , and , more generally , I welcome the support to be given to SMEs by the states concerned .
of course , prevention and clean drinking water are the priorities .
personally , I think that it is up to these populations to adapt to our society and not to force us to adopt favourable policies that often produce results that are quite opposite to expectations .
if we are too strict in Europe and cannot impose the same rules on the rest of the world , that means that we in Europe can consume products that we are unable to produce here , which seems wrong to me .
more precisely , based on agreed guidelines , this network , together and in cooperation with the national contact points of FP7 , assists SMEs by providing support for awareness raising , capacity building for participation in the framework programme , engaging new SMEs in the proposals , partner search , joint actions addressed to SMEs and conducting consultations on inclusion of SME-related call topics in work programmes .
Liberals and Democrats hope that the conclusions of the Ecofin Council will form the basis for agreement at the European Council .
this report is an ode to nuclear energy , the carbon market and the Desertec project .
I am very glad that we now have more than just economic ties alone and that cultural exchanges between us , for example , have grown enormously in recent years .
this directive will significantly add to the cost of these funds and reduce returns , driving smaller funds out of business .
it is quite true , Mrs Roure , that the Member States have all acceded to the Council of Europe Convention 108 on data protection .
that is a real political ploy , since Parliament 's competence does not extend to adopting European treaties .
the European Food Safety Authority offers indispensable support in the areas of animal health and plant protection .
therefore , if we really want to retain this right to asylum , we must restructure the system to ensure that it offers greater solidarity in future .
I voted in favour of this report on the priorities for Budget 2011 .
whilst some are concerned and use the data as a threat , we must also see the good side of it , which is that we can still act .
Mr President , I will resist the temptation to join in .
now , however , with the crisis affecting many - if not all - countries , there is also the idea that Parliament , as the mouthpiece of the political views of society , should also make an effort to look at issues which were not covered at the time , at the beginning , such as the issue of agricultural machinery , which my group has the facility to propose in Amendment 2 .
debates on cases of breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law ( debate )
the continual violations of Community environmental legislation in Campania must finally be brought to an end , as Community law requires .
my answer to the question is certainly yes .
an urgent rethink and replanning by the international community is essential .
as this proposal is based on the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community ( Euratom ) , the European Parliament is only being consulted .
I therefore ask you , despite the short period of time that we have before the Council on Monday , to make an effort to simplify and to be realistic , so that the positive political signal does not become an enormous disappointment to the sector , which is looking to us with great hope .
we have succeeded very well in this respect .
firstly , I agree very much with all speakers who emphasised the governance failure as the most significant factor underlying the problems Haiti faces today .
in that connection , we are sure that , with the special links it has with the region through EuroLat , the European Parliament will act decisively in ensuring that the association between the European Union and the countries in the region plays an increasingly important strategic role .
cooperation between prisons and firms specialising in jobs for prisoners must evidently be encouraged as part of the reintegration process .
I believe that both of these reasons highlight the fact that we need to look at this discharge and European spending with additional scrutiny .
five years ago , did Members see the TV pictures of hundreds of Western Saharans trying to seek refuge in the Canaries ?
in writing . - I voted for this report .
with this legislation , which we have been discussing for a long time , for two years I believe , we will further improve levels of safety .
we then , altogether , have to see if we need to take other , supplementary measures or if we have to push to implement the existing measures which we are going to vote on tomorrow in the action at the level of the Member States .
I therefore have two requests of you , Baroness Ashton .
the Council must adopt the proposed directive urgently so that the Commission can ensure that it is implemented effectively and without delay .
we support this directive .
that is unacceptable , because it curtails the fundamental right of all citizens to political participation .
this is even more important now , when these countries are faced with enormous pressures - and even blackmail - from the EU to accept impositions in the form of the ' Economic Partnership Agreements ' that threaten their interests and compromise the effectiveness of the support provided under instruments such as the European Development Funds ( EDF ) .
until the next crisis , so to say .
( NL ) I would remind Mr Tannock that this question was tabled not by Mrs Morgantini alone , but also by two EPP-ED Group vice-presidents of Parliament , Mr McMillan-Scott and Mrs Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou , and by Mr Bowis , Mr Kasoulides and myself .
I voted in favour of resolution because I believe that the new media law in Hungary does not give sufficient guarantee of freedom of expression and pluralism , and is therefore counterproductive for the establishment of real pluralism in the public sphere .
Madam President , the turbulent financial events of the last few days have changed the world .
at this point I should like once again to thank the rapporteur for the excellent work she has done .
( PT ) The last EU-United States summit in the Bush era will take place on 10 June .
it is in this spirit that we are proposing to vote against the new amendment that is to be tabled tomorrow in the Chamber by the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance , the Socialist Group in the European Parliament and the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe .
most of what had been achieved has been lost following lobbying by the agrochemical industry and the less efficient among the public regulatory authorities .
most importantly , the necessary changes to fiscal policy must not be made at the expense of mass purchasing power .
this document has no legal force whatsoever .
as for the right to take follow-up action , we have extended it - or rather clarified it - to a degree , as in the past the Committee on Petitions could practically issue an own-initiative report on more or less anything and everything .
however , a social clause is significantly more than what we find here in this text .
we need to wait for what ?
Member of the Commission . - First of all , the Internet and the elections .
it is precisely for this reason , first of all , that it is very important to carry out an objective and transparent evaluation of the Council 's work .
this is all the more shocking , given that this law came about without the Prime Minister even being consulted .
for the Members of the European Parliament , who are directly elected by the people , it is obviously good to have a procedure which is different from that for civil servants , as Mrs Grässle has already said here .
I am glad that the commission will soon have completed a new updated framework resolution .
( EL ) Mr President , we have witnessed an unprecedented and coordinated attack over recent days on the economy of the Member States of the euro area , with the spread for government bonds in certain countries , such as Greece , Portugal and Spain , going off the scale .
as the second trading partner for the region , Europe leads the field in investment , which is considerably higher than investment by China .
Mr President , Presidents of the European institutions , Mr Buzek , my group fully subscribes to your programme for Parliament and the running of Parliament over the next five years .
obviously , I support that and share the concerns that have been expressed in the Chamber today .
( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , a few months after Professor Monti 's report , which called for a necessary recovery of the citizen-oriented internal market , I welcome the Commission 's response .
in your presence , a fellow Member has just offended the Italian Government , which yesterday obtained a vote of confidence from the Italian Parliament and also enjoys the confidence of the Italian public .
the European Central Bank 's are due tomorrow and are also dismal ,
we must examine whether we thus want to and are able to continue these activities .
it is a fundamental issue which we bear in mind in every measure we take .
could colleagues agree to the word ' violence ' in the first line ?
operators must assume the responsibility that comes with processing and storing these huge amounts of information .
it must also ensure that the actions of European corporations , wherever they invest and operate , are in accordance with European values and internationally agreed norms .
in this respect , as in many other things , it is very important for the response to these challenges to have a European perspective and a European focus .
rapporteur . - Mr President , I will be very brief .
Mr President , I voted against this report because the United Kingdom already respects human rights .
fiscal instruments to stimulate better environmental behaviour should indeed be exploited .
Mr President , it is shocking to me that this Commission is still insisting on passing sensitive financial information on millions of innocent European citizens , including those from the UK , despite Parliament and the Civil Liberties Committee rejecting the proposals .
with regard to Mr Papanikolaou 's question , he is talking about the structural development funds on the basis of which governments can build their education infrastructure .
this allows us to examine all options before taking action and this may include considering self-regulation in specific areas .
while awaiting such an agreement , Europe must fight against carbon leakage .
it is vital that no one should be allowed to enter the European Union with the kind of legacy where not only is there a failure to investigate collective crimes and mass murders , but where it is not even permitted to remember them , to remember the dead .
so , what is your interpretation of a sporting organisation banning such a practice ?
the workers in Turkey know that there is nothing positive to be gained from the European Union , because basic rights of the workers and the people are being taken away in the European Union and because the European Union continues , as in the past , to support a series of reactionary regimes in the area .
we must ensure that the European Union and our decision-making system are open and something which our citizens can trust in and which they feel they can support in the future .
set up as a rapid counter-measure , now the EGF has slowed and become complicated due to bureaucracy .
in this information note we have outlined a number of specific measures that we can propose .
this could take the form of removing the rates for green products , at least within the World Trade Organisation .
in this respect , we at the Commission agree that coordinated and rapid communication is an essential element of risk management .
( ES ) Mr President , first of all I should like to thank all those who have spoken , including the Commission , the Presidency and my fellow Members , for the work that they have done and their willingness to address the issue .
is it not alarming that such large companies from the United States will try and benefit from the results of research produced at the European Institute of Technology ?
finally , it is essential to clearly distinguish between information and advertising and to prevent pharmaceutical companies from exploiting these information campaigns in order to promote their products .
I therefore think it is right for Parliament to approve this agreement .
in the middle of this dilemma , voices are now being raised saying that we finally have to do something to ensure that European companies do not end up in the hands of non-European , for example Chinese , owners .
for pity 's sake , we urgently need to adopt a clear position on cloning to prevent cloned meat and the offspring of cloned animals being placed on the European market , which is what European consumers and European citizens want !
this is the message that the High Representative will be taking with her when she meets the ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council very shortly this month .
this picture of Dublin flies in the face of the European Parliament 's efforts and proposed measures to optimise the use of public transport , especially in urban areas .
within the context of this series of mutual evaluations , experts have also been studying the issues related to interaction between , on the one hand , the European arrest warrant , and , more generally , the principle of mutual recognition , and , on the other hand , the proportionality principle .
but it would be wrong to assume that there is consensus on its possible content , as both Mr Titley and Mrs Bowles have illustrated .
however , now more than ever , it is time to build the Europe of solidarity and cooperation that we need .
I believe it is time to refocus our attention on the Single Market .
however forward-looking the European Union 's proposals driven by the desire to combat climate change may be , we are already having to live with the impact of climate change .
EU-wide balancing out or trade in quotas should be considered .
without this Stability and Growth Pact , without stronger coordination of the budgetary and finance policy , the euro would also in future face risks that are avoidable .
I also support the idea of cofinancing according to the Public Private Partnership principle , as is the case , for example , at research centres in the United States .
the Commission has always taken the line that there is no formal link between the CVM mechanism and Schengen accession .
this means either extending existing legislation or adopting new legislation .
that is why I felt it was so important for us , as the Socialist Group in the European Parliament , to send out a message to the people there .
this is actually a very difficult case .
now we will know the opinion of Parliament with a large majority .
I therefore voted in favour of the Agreement .
lastly , the EU must seize this opportunity to go further : it must include in future agreements not only clauses facilitating the establishment of investors in these countries , but also basic provisions relating to social and environmental standards .
lastly , my third point - and here , too , I agree with Mr Swoboda - we need to get citizens , local authorities and companies more involved in energy conservation , through measures such as quality marks , covenants with mayors and agreements with industry .
Iceland has been taking concrete steps towards future EU accession , and is best placed among accession candidates to fulfil the requirements for accession .
furthermore , competitiveness can only be achieved through the promotion of research , innovation and technological development and the provision of correspondingly high quality vocational training for European citizens .
in writing . - This report is concerned with the introduction of differentiated targets across the EU27 for the period 2013-2020 for greenhouse gas reductions in economic sectors outside the EU emissions trading scheme .
the partnership needs to be healthy and beneficial to both parties .
Mr President , we are all facing mammoth challenges to which we need to find an answer .
that is exactly what I have tried to do as rapporteur for Parliament 's budget , namely , to find a genuinely fair balance between the new competences , and thus our new work requirements and requirements for additional staff , and the need to send out a signal to the citizens of the European Union and to the governments that we also want to practice self-restraint and self-discipline .
( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I agree with the idea of reducing the number of goals in the EU 2020 strategy to a limited number , provided that they are at least ambitious .
it seems to me , therefore , that the assessment is unrealistic , incorrect and unprofessional and does not provide the motivation for institutions or citizens of that country to be more successful in getting closer to the European Union .
in this context I would like to ask , by way of example : what effect does the European Union 's monetary policy and its objective of price stability , or rather , wage restraint , have on failure to enforce children 's rights ?
therefore , it is essential to draw up the right strategy for the Atlantic region - one which will enhance good management and contribute to protection of the environment and a better life for the people of the region .
that is not the reason to change the mandate .
a lack of planning together with insufficient or non-existent communications concerning the availability of translation resources prevents the efficient use of these resources .
Europe is the fatherland of rights .
Mr McCreevy tells us it could .
the Innovation Union must help to combat this .
mortality rates while waiting for a transplant usually range from 15 % to 30 % .
the studies by the Spanish Oceanography Institute , and many others , highlight the fact that the Mediterranean Sea is undergoing an accelerated warming process and a rise in the water level .
at the same time , they are currently suffering from environmental , economic and social problems .
today , there are as many people living in poverty - 79 million - as there were at the beginning of the century .
we need an economic and developmental approach and we need to offer Yemen the kind of assistance that will help it build its state and administrative capacities .
our aim is to guarantee control of the entire product life cycle , which will allow us fully to consider environmental impact at all stages of production and allow all operators in the sector , and also NGOs , to play an active part in the process of reviewing the compromise criteria .
Africa has changed profoundly in recent years and has acquired a continental institutional architecture that resembles our own in many respects .
I must tell the Commissioner very straightforwardly that if he persists down this route he will be opposed every step of the way .
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everything becomes particularly problematic when the husband and wife come from different countries .
the sharing of family responsibilities and the opportunity to also grant men the right to two weeks paternity leave would give women increased opportunities to return to the labour market and would strengthen family relationships .
in 2006 , the Commission tried to rectify the problem of the Mediterranean .
natural disasters cannot be avoided , but they should be prevented .
the common agricultural policy must also adapt internally to the crisis that we are undergoing , which includes higher production costs for European farmers , by refraining from dismantling its market support measures and / or reducing agricultural subsidies , giving special attention to the support of small and medium-sized farmers and their access to credit , so that they can keep up their levels of production in spite of the escalating costs of materials needed for production .
'Yes , ' we all say in unison , ' we want negotiations to be opened this year . '
when countries are not in a position to intervene in defence of the weakest , who are being attacked by the actually not-so-mighty , they cannot be regarded as civilised .
for example , we must eat less meat and we must travel less by car and aeroplane .
such a huge sum of money , EUR 400 million a year , is nevertheless impossible to find , given the current financial framework , and so we need a joint decision by Parliament and the Council .
I fully endorse this view .
this second issue is extremely important .
the long-term resolution of tensions between Muslim and Western societies , for example , cannot be achieved as long as some of the well-known sources of hostility are not successfully addressed .
sometimes it is our own oil companies that are actually supporting certain groups , indirectly or directly .
what is crucial is that both countries , Croatia and Slovenia , come together to decide the conditions , and that they accept the judgment to be given by the third institution , by mediation .
this will , at the same time , improve the profitability of the fishing industry in the long term .
for the first time , Mr Caldeira , you do not give an adverse opinion in your report and that is good news .
some may find that late .
I am thinking , for example , of armed conflicts in which children are embroiled , where they are often forcibly conscripted against their will , face mortal danger and hunger , and lack access to medical care .
support for EU membership is falling among Turkish citizens .
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creating the single currency has undoubtedly been a success .
the Ombudsman 's mandate is more limited ; I can only deal with complaints against EU institutions and bodies , whilst the Petitions Committee can also examine what Member States are doing .
last December I put a proposal before Council on this subject and I hope that the Portuguese Presidency will support the adoption , before the end of this year , of an increased analytical role for Europol .
furthermore , it gives a great boost to the creation of the European legal area and the implementation of freedom of movement , and it also applies the ordinary legislative procedure involving codecision between the Council and Parliament for the first time .
obsolete legislation , especially in the cosmetics industry , poses a risk to health and the extent to which we can rely on the law .
this is an important contribution to our climate policy .
the question is essentially in four parts and I shall reply to each of them in turn .
- Before the vote
in my opinion , we must leave it to the Member States to decide how many pre-school facilities they need , because it is not just a question of numbers , but also a question of quality and the culture of a given country .
the report proposes an equal dialogue , taking into account the differences between and independence of the many associations .
in particular , we called on the Commission to collect and analyse data on the use of all animal health products , including antibiotics , with a view to ensuring the effective use of such products .
for this we need everyone : we need the European Union to show the way , we need the developed countries and we need to make a common effort to include the developing countries .
it is high time that we took action in relation films , music , books and software circulating on the Internet .
visa liberalisation should be negotiated and helped to happen .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , we are aware that Russia is of significance to the EU , not just where economic matters are concerned , but also as a strategic partner .
in addition to the provisions of this directive , Member States can introduce into the national legislation specific requirements for vehicles , wagons and ships designed for inland waterways transport .
Commissioner , I admire your tenacity in sticking to the line about the low impact of biofuels on food prices , but I do wonder how long you can sustain that .
how can we not think of what is happening in France with the threat of the Hadopi law and potential sanctions against the neutrality of technical intermediaries .
consumers need to bear that in mind right now .
and just as this matter should be debated , another matter relating to tax competitiveness should also be debated by the European Union and the Member States , with a view to encouraging economic growth through taxation policies .
could we as a country decide we do not want to bring in food produced from , for example , meat of animals which have eaten GM products , or to bring any particular food into our country because we want to keep ourselves GM-free ?
our Member States ' authorities have been able to prevent a number of attacks , for which we must be very grateful .
today in Europe 54 % of all aircraft ramp inspections concern European operators .
Mr President , I would like to congratulate Mr van Nistelrooij on his report .
therefore , it is essential , too , that the debate on gender equality should also include the matter of the entitlement to benefits of women who run the home and care for children .
we are glad the Council has accepted a proposal to append to the decision an additional statement from the Commission on encouraging the participation of small and medium-sized NGOs , and the possibility of fully funding their actions by national agencies .
we know that the average distance for freight transport is around 800 kilometres and I am convinced that if the choice available is sufficiently attractive , then that distance , too , could be reduced .
( FR ) Presidents , Minister , the Swedish Presidency has had what may be described as some historic moments : the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon , the appointments of the first President of the European Council and of the High Representative , but also the climate change conference and the appointment of a new Commission , as well as - please allow me this brief reference - the telecoms package .
we only regret that Parliament does not feel that some of its resolutions on programming were respected in every detail , although the Commission has taken full account of Parliament 's view wherever possible .
we could perfectly well lower the rate of VAT on energy-saving materials and renewables in construction still further , perhaps even to zero .
we therefore insist on the need to terminate the Stability Pact and to replace it with a Development and Employment Pact prioritising the creation of jobs with rights and an increase in production .
that is why this takes place via intermediaries , usually banks in the Member States .
I welcome the fact that this report was included on the agenda , in spite of the difficulties .
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this is not right .
for countries like Ireland with a huge livestock sector , there has been an enormous amount of work done to implement this from day one , both within the sector itself and on the part of those who monitor - the Department of Agriculture and other authorities .
the response to the so-called ' European economic government ' and to the increasingly antidemocratic nature of the integration process under way is being given by struggling workers all over Europe .
the fact that the majority of this Parliament has voted for this regulation is important and significant because , for the first time , things were not just left to ride and instead , we have achieved a step forward .
radical measures are needed on this matter for the sake of our children 's well-being .
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only 100 of these women managed ever to work again .
this is very important , since the questions included in the actual complaint to which the report refers are in actual fact topical for more than one Member State .
the new policy must be framed fairly , with support of equal value , so as to eliminate destructive discrepancies and ensure fair competition throughout the European Union .
online books will provide authors with the opportunity to gain some recognition and indeed some money back for their works .
this is important .
however , in relation to the school milk scheme , which is vital , can I just give you the views of Áine - who happens to be one of my own and who is aged ten .
Mr President , my group welcomes the remarks made by Minister Vondra about Guantánamo Bay .
Gordon Brown keeps on saying it is not a constitution , when all the EU leaders say it is : Valéry Giscard d 'Estaing , José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero , Angela Merkel , even our own President of President said so in this Chamber a short while ago .
not only are we building a new block in Luxembourg , leading to more carbon emissions that could well contribute to climate change - or not , depending on what one believes on the issue - but also it is simply hypocritical for us to carry on debating climate change while we continue to operate out of three places of work .
this might consist of what it thinks about this , which aspects of the report it agrees with and which it does not , and what kind of measures it intends to take .
some of you mentioned the contagion effect and concerns related to other countries of the euro area or of the European Union .
that has always been your approach .
consequently , this autumn we will draw up a new programme in this area that we will call the Stockholm Programme .
as far as the specific measures are concerned , the approach to economic and financial policy seems sensible , as does the development of a new European supervision architecture for monitoring the financial markets .
I believe that the principle of responsible buying can significantly contribute towards reducing the volume of unfair and unlawful trade and contribute to safeguarding forests and biodiversity .
we need the resources .
we need to make infrastructure use more efficient , improve traffic management and restrict unladen journeys ; current logistics can make a major contribution to this .
in fact , we are now hugely vulnerable as a result of the EU , and we are now paying the price with the deindustrialisation process and the various forms of relocation .
since January this year , when the Czech Republic took over the Presidency , we have pursued very intense negotiations at all levels in an effort to find space for a possible compromise with Parliament .
this position is of huge significance to Greece , and others , because there are forces within the country which are arguing the very opposite .
we have a duty to support , acknowledge and assist them .
the next item is the statement from the Commission on the forest fires in the summer of 2009 .
so let us discuss and debate , and base our arguments on science and facts .
when talking with the farmers affected on the ground , I hear the same things again and again : by and large , they say they are coping with the markets , apart from situations where it is extremely difficult , like it was last year and is this year for the dairy farmers and others .
we must also recognise that renewables are not the free lunch that some people think : they do have costs attached , which include financial , environmental and inflexibility factors .
I have met people who turned out not to be infected , but only after months of uncertainty as to whether they were infected or not .
on the contrary , in the name of democracy we should subject anyone who tramples our most precious values under foot to a verbal onslaught .
our climate is under threat from both our use of and our dependence on fossil fuels .
this approach is to a large extent reflected in the report , insofar as it advocates a comprehensive vision , a mixed or combined approach comprising a horizontal instrument and other sectoral instruments , and scrupulous application of the principles of better regulation .
I said at the very beginning that this is an area where the Commission is already initiating work to assess whether there is a need for tighter regulation of how companies act in terms of having the means to meet their obligations as polluters .
according to the statistics , the birth rate is falling in the EU .
I would also like to thank the shadow rapporteurs from the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy and from the other committees .
in the long term , however , I would criticise the unwillingness of the Commission and the Council to reach agreement with the USA on basic common ethical principles for science and research .
ladies and gentlemen , Frontex works .
taking into account what happened last year , we hope that this time it will be a smoother procedure , building on the experience of 2011 .
in the very important area of health , the report focuses on the collection of facts and the control of mosquito bites , where , instead , we need major strategic decisions in Europe to cope with the effects of climate change on human health .
the same responsibility also applies across the supply chain , where the market supervision authorities will carry out quality checks and will ensure that products on sale fully comply with the high safety requirements .
the list goes on .
as we all know , the EU is active in this area and together with its partners continues to play a leading role , especially in the effort to find a diplomatic solution to the Iran nuclear issue .
I feel I must mention that for the first time the Council will be speaking a Slavic language .
we will not achieve anything in the fight against global warming if we reduce CO2 emissions from cars and at the same time increase CO2 emissions by cutting down forests and plants to produce petrol , thus releasing large quantities of CO2 from the ground .
following the vote in the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , I support banning the use of DCM by the general public , but allowing it to be used by professionals , in safe conditions .
the system has an additional component : the possibility of childcare leave , during which the contract of employment is not discontinued .
however , though the markets are that way , no human society can live like that .
is there a clause in the current bilateral agreement with China which is intended to provide special protection for Christian churches or is the Council planning to introduce a clause of this kind ?
I would like to send my condolences both to the Russian citizens and to the Georgian citizens who lost their dear ones in this stupid conflict and to offer them my compassion .
ladies and gentlemen , on 3 November 1793 , 218 years ago , Olympia de Gouges was beheaded in Europe because she drafted a declaration of the rights of women and female citizens .
however , AIDS , malnutrition , malaria and earthquakes are more pressing problems today , and this is where we should be deploying our political resources .
it is the large multinational pharmaceuticals industry that has decided , in the German case , that this plastic gadget and the medicine belong together .
perhaps if we had introduced it into European policies , we would not be here now .
furthermore , we must ensure that war crimes trials are unbiased and impartial .
at a time when heating costs are constantly on the rise , Member States must also include in their programmes to combat the financial crisis projects which take into account energy efficiency .
the second challenge is that the security situation might well continue to require our international military involvement beyond 2014 , when the Afghans will take over .
in order to achieve this aim , the Council for Peace Implementation , acting on behalf of the international community , drew up the list of five objectives and two conditions which Bosnia Herzegovina must fulfil before any change can be achieved .
( the President cut off the speaker )
approval of Minutes of previous sitting : see Minutes
therefore these considerations must be taken into account in future .
I was there as a doctor for the Soviet Olympic team , and I remember the impact of those tragic events on the Olympic spirit .
after all , we demand independence for the actions to be undertaken by these European Supervisory Authorities and yet they contradict that independence by disqualifying the results of that independent choice with an unwarranted rejection vote .
finally , a further important task is work on the objectives and the multiannual financial frameworks for 2014-2020 .
for this reason , we submitted the report once again to plenary as an alternative resolution , largely in its original form .
you gave me the answer .
the White Paper underlines this point and is also an appropriate basis on which to deal with aspects of concern to all countries , such as youth development , anti-doping programmes and anti-discrimination in sport .
this is therefore an opportunity for us to make a fundamental evaluation of the Council , so as to further improve its working methods and emphasise our support for its independence and its role in defending human rights in the world .
in writing . - ( PT ) The proposal for a directive seeks to facilitate the enforcement of penalties against drivers who have committed offences relating to speeding , drink-driving , failure to wear a seat belt or failure to stop at red lights ( the four most serious offences in terms of loss of human life in the EU ) in a Member State other than their own .
this one-stop security concept is in the interests not only of passengers but also of the European Union aviation sector .
the Nordic countries are currently in the process of beginning negotiations on these issues .
simplifying the lives of Europeans is one of the EU 's concerns .
I sincerely hope that we will see good will prevail for the sake of good neighbourly relations .
we should not , either , engage in a negative debate about the geographical limits of the borders of Europe .
even parties describing themselves as an alternative to the ruling parties are paying voters , as indicated a few days ago by the information from the village of Brest near Pleven .
surely , the most important objective of the policy is sustainable development in a variety of areas .
indeed , I believe that the violent attack against Buddhist monks at the end of September clearly shows that Vietnam is refusing to improve its human rights situation .
I would also like to make it clear , Mr Holm , that I would also have voted in favour of a more far-reaching compromise .
we have already increased the budget for energy in the seventh Framework Programme by 50 % and for the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme by 100 % .
in that Europe , there is no law preventing anyone from using their mother tongue , not even in Slovakia .
( SK ) In my opinion , what you have presented here is a rather ambitious plan , which you want to present to the G20 .
improving energy management could be a direct factor influencing economic growth , reducing pollution and saving resources , so that they are used in a more productive manner .
proper implementation or at least significant progress in these areas will demonstrate and strengthen Croatia 's willingness and opportunities to become an EU Member State .
what we are seeing is something you spotted and acknowledged yourself and which you stressed in your speech , namely that the elections to the European Parliament are fast approaching and you are very likely to hear a number of contributions both from Czechs and from other MEPs that are influenced more by the mounting pre-election atmosphere than by any attempt to evaluate the Presidency programme you have presented .
the government authorities in Bulgaria , both central and municipal , keep turning a blind eye to the numerous protests by citizens ' groups which have finally had to approach Mr. Barroso , the European Commission representative , both through official and unofficial channels during his recent visit to our country .
I further hope that at the summit to take place on International Roma Day in Córdoba , the Spanish Presidency will also contribute greatly to the rapid finalisation of the European Roma Strategy currently being shaped .
it does not see raising small-scale and family farming incomes as an essential prerequisite for the preservation of agriculture , the rural world and food safety ;
very often , we MEPs do not receive real answers from the Commission , although , as the Commissioner has said , every single MEP has the right to be given answers to his questions , but these must be questions that fall under the remit of the European Union and of the Commission .
I call for increased funding for crucial instruments for research , innovation and deployment that have already been adopted , such as the Strategic Energy Technology Plan ( SET-Plan ) .
they are allowed state aid .
I believe that funds invested in healthcare are not an expense as such . instead , they are a vital element of investment in the quality of human capital .
it should offer new opportunities and build on what has already been achieved , adjusted in the light of our experience over the next few months .
it is therefore of utmost importance that the EU member delegations should stand up for the establishment of criteria for becoming a member of the Human Rights Council .
in writing . - ( FR ) After more than five years of negotiations the Council has finally reached agreement on the framework decision on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law .
women and girls suffer oppression , particularly in Muslim countries , where there are underlying religious causes .
this brought our main refinancing rate to 1 % .
what Mr Toubon called for was , therefore , well intended , but not very realistic at the present time .
Cyprus and Malta are still today among the top five flags of convenience in terms of the number of vessels lost .
under the circumstances we are obliged to go for an opt-out , which we wanted to avoid but without which we could not guarantee basic care .
budgetary policy causes external effects , and that means that close coordination is vital .
I voted in favour of the report on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment ( RoHS ) , because the extension of the area of application to cover all electronic equipment represents a definite improvement .
I am referring to the two reports which follow .
what cannot be paid for , however , are the thousands of hours of unpaid work carried out by the relief units .
this is the only way in which we will whet the appetite of these people for our values and facilitate the transition process which the country will go through .
in all events , I welcome the importance which the French Presidency attached to this issue and I expect the initiatives to be continued by the Czech Presidency .
the bilateral demands and pressure by the United States infringe the national sovereignty of individual Member States and the fundamental rights of their citizens .
ladies and gentlemen , listening to today 's debate , one might have the impression that the main problem currently facing European countries is whether to increase the use of body scanners at airports or to limit possibilities for their introduction .
the reductions that the Council has made in relation to the preliminary draft budget presented by the Commission are based on a detailed analysis of the budget implementation , the budget forecast alerts and activity declarations , and we are looking at the capacity available to implement programmes and measures .
in writing . - I voted for this resolution to repeal Council Regulation ( EC ) No 1964 / 2005 on the tariff rates for bananas .
we also have to take this into account .
please also allow me to say that the EUR 20 million which the Commissioner has spoken about today - and please forgive me as I did read about this two or three months ago - seem to me to be woefully inadequate to deal with the dramatic problems facing refugees and displaced persons .
joint conclusion of the Energy Charter is also important .
as we all know , the Bologna Process is well advanced and will soon have existed for a decade , having become continent-wide .
in my report on the impact of foreign direct investment , I made a few critical observations on Chinese investments in Africa .
the consequences will be dire , not only for ELTA employees , but also within the private postal services companies .
however , we have not received such an explanation .
I would , however , like a clearer answer , Commissioner .
my fourth point concerns situations of fragility .
at the European level also , all Member States , whether big or small , should be in the same boat .
we shall now proceed to the vote .
it is also important not to underestimate the human dimension of OSCE cooperation .
if Russia is prepared to revert to a policy of cooperation and respect for its neighbours , Russia will be invited to join as well .
this breach of the guarantee is , to my mind , unacceptable because farmers have entered into set-aside arrangements for those years and it would not be right to go back on them .
we hope that our confidence will grow with the passage of time because our cause is a just cause .
( applause )
Mr President , I will not need two minutes .
the EU 's cooperation in the area of migration has developed quickly over the last few years and includes a number of different legislative acts and other types of measures .
the countries that are reluctant to liberalise are the same ones that are inclined to resort to bilateral energy contracts with Russia and to cooperate with Russian State-owned companies regarding capital .
( MT ) Madam President , I would like to begin by congratulating my colleague , Mrs Oomen-Ruijten , for the extraordinary work she has carried out in this report .
I have been listening very closely to the debate in this Chamber all afternoon and I have been hearing calls for more Europe , more centralisation , more central control .
rapporteur . - ( DA ) Madam President , every day there are Europeans who become ill because of air pollution .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue-card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
ladies and gentlemen , you all know the Washington Consensus : you loved it .
the next item is Question Hour with the President of the Commission .
if we continue in this way , within a few years the EU will be in the same position as Belgium is now : a transfer society whose political foundations are crumbling .
( RO ) I would like to congratulate the rapporteur , Mr Dumitriu .
this makes the highly personal issues relating to a person 's sex life into politicised acts , even if it is through public demonstration of one 's homosexuality , for example through so-called ' love parades ' .
this is , in fact , something the EU wants too .
it is also clear that , in states under the rule of law , these controls should be transparent and democratic , as is the Commission 's intention .
we have to link these two together .
Mrs Reding , the CNIL has investigated , looking for various unpleasant keywords such as Gypsies , Gyppos , Roma , and has not found any evidence that the National Gendarmerie holds any such files .
that is the only way that we can move towards the target of zero fraud in the EU .
the Court also states that our annual accounts are reliable and gives many positive and adequate comments about our financial management .
I share the concern about the difficulty of combating this brutal trade and the terrible consequences for those who are deprived , forcibly or not , of their organs : savage drops in quality of life , chronic illnesses and , in many cases , death .
thank you , Commissioner , not only for your response but also your comments in relation to Marian Harkin 's words on food security .
on the basis of subsidiarity , national regulatory bodies are better placed to guarantee the highest possible level of consumer protection in their national markets .
it will also guarantee support for this mission in realising the role assigned to it by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1770 .
yes , I do invent rules .
it is not surprising that the wrong use of the discretionary powers of the Commission is well in the lead in the ranking , and I would therefore exhort the European Ombudsman to scrutinise relations between citizens , the Council , the Commission and Parliament more thoroughly .
documents received : see Minutes
( LV ) Mr President , in my opinion , the Bank 's annual report for 2009 should be both approved and adopted .
in writing . - During today 's vote on the Podimata report on innovative financing , a separate amendment was voted on that called on the Commission to come forward with proposals for an EU-level financial transaction tax proposal in the absence of any initiatives at the G20 level .
the matter of paternity leave has yet to be resolved .
( applause )
to my mind , it must act simultaneously at multilateral , bilateral and unilateral level .
the volume of WEEE items is estimated to grow to 12.3 million tonnes by 2020 .
I would ask the Commission and the Council , perhaps in its informal dialogue , to do all they can to ensure the continuation of this very worthwhile project .
the Regulation governs any variations required - be it on public-health or economic grounds - after a medicinal product has already been authorised .
I also agree with the observations by the Court of Auditors about delays in procurement procedures .
but it then goes on to posit the European Union as an alternative or antidote to such totalitarianism .
the European Council is to decide on a permanent crisis mechanism to safeguard the financial stability of the euro area as a whole , backed up of course by treaty amendments .
what representations is the Commission making to the US Administration in order to uphold fair trials , and warning that their absence will prejudice cooperation ?
has the Commission made a survey of the need to build nuclear power stations ?
I would like to thank Mrs Bastos , who was the only Portuguese MEP involved in this process .
you will not know until after the vote , though , whether it has been accepted or not .
stop meddling and respect a sovereign people who are freely exercising their will and who will keep doing so .
he proposes all this , yet his initial reaction to the crisis was to rush off to London in autumn 2007 to approve Gordon Brown 's strategy to set up an early warning system rather than strengthen Europe 's capacity to deal with the problem , which Mr Barroso is today defending in Washington .
the economic and financial crisis has revealed a number of disproportionate incentives existing in the financial sector , as well as deficiencies in the regulatory and supervisory framework of the financial system .
representatives of the European Union will be able to speak at the General Assembly and submit amendments agreed by the Member States of the EU .
likewise , no one can be surprised that we exercised all our goodwill and flexibility to overcome the institutional crisis , at the same time as remaining firm , coherent and tenacious in terms of preserving the basic content , without which the project itself would have been devalued .
however , a great deal of attention must be focused on multiculturalism in the Balkans , which has been a sensitive issue .
first of all , it confirms the urgent need for a revision of the 1988 Toys Directive .
elements that are not meaningful and appropriate must be dismantled and simplified .
the Council will welcome the measures that have been taken in the short term - the launch of the pilot project in Malta , for example - as well as the progress made in setting up the European Asylum Support Office .
comprehensive legislation must be undertaken at a European level in order to strengthen people 's rights in terms of goods and services .
this particularly involves all the institutions - the Council , the Commission and the European Parliament - being better at examining the agencies ' requests .
this latter company was , at the same time , a registered feed fat manufacturer ; apparently , blending of feed grade fat and technical fat took place .
this should not need to be the case .
the Commission believes that a gradual approach to moving to MSY conditions should in fact be a general rule .
the logistical difficulties will be overcome - clean water , medication , food and shelter - these will all happen in due course .
we see the call for protectionism from President Sarkozy , arguing that taxpayers ' money should be used to protect the French car industry .
a new direction needs to be taken in many areas , not only by the Commission President , but also by us .
in this sort of situation , a government of this kind will test out how far it can go .
to my mind , what I heard impressed me as an excellent principle : the free movement of people is one of the most important freedoms .
last time the Commission did not take this into account , as Parliament asked .
adoption of the Crowley report by the European Parliament will allow a certain multicultural protection , which will foster competitiveness in the world music industry .
for example , Yemen used to export coffee , but now it cannot do this , because this narcotic is being grown instead .
let me remind you of an earlier resolution Parliament adopted in 2006 , which deals with the situation of Roma women .
ensuring healthy drinking water throughout the territory of the Union , and using medicinal waters and geothermal energy as sources of heat , are related to this .
Mr President , I am impressed that you at least attempted to list all of these decentralised agencies .
the primary objective of the European Union and the governments of its Member States , be they centre right or centre left , is to safeguard the continuing profitability of the monopolies by shifting the burden of the capitalist economic crisis on to the working classes throughout the European Union .
solidarity among the nations : that is the solution of the future , that is the purpose of the Treaty .
therefore , no abstentions , but no participation either .
in any case , he did not answer me , but I would appreciate an answer , Mr Jouyet , because personally I would be sorry if it had already been decided to reopen negotiations in any event .
I also note , with much satisfaction , the desire of the future French Presidency to support fully the European perspective of the Western Balkans .
cormorants , with a daily consumption of 400-600 g of fish , take more than 300 000 t of fish from European waters every year , representing a total of fish greater than the combined aquaculture production of France , Spain , Italy , Germany , Hungary and the Czech Republic .
in the EU-10 , direct payments will reach 100 % of European Union level in 2013 .
other texts on the issues faced have been debated and approved by Parliament and will doubtless need to be coordinated in an integrated manner .
Mr President , a wise December decision by the Commission to allow the import of Brazilian beef only from approved holdings envisaged by 1 February a positive list of approximately 300 farms , based on previous inspections by the Food and Veterinary Office .
it is ironic that our next debate is on Zimbabwe .
the maternity protection system in force in Italy is , on the whole , in line with the new parameters proposed in the directive , not only with regard to the number of weeks of compulsory maternity leave , but also with regard to the payment of 100 % compensation to cover income during the period of absence .
Poland - and many other Member States - recognises the need to build a low emission economy , but is not , however , able to achieve this objective without European aid .
the own-initiative report on industrial policy by Mr Lange restates the position expressed in the Communication by the Commissioner for Industry , Mr Tajani , with some new ideas aimed at the important renewal of the industrial sector following the economic crisis .
we have to understand that if China , India and other similar countries accept limits to their emissions , it will mean a huge change in their way of thinking and the way they do things .
in that case , I would say that this is a political belly flop .
some of the problems caused by the market are diagnosed , and greater emphasis is given to environmental and social issues .
however , the rapporteur has taken the opportunity to give the Council some suggestions , specifically about the new VAT strategy , which he believes should aim at ' removing tax obstacles and improving the business environment , particularly for small and medium-sized and labour-intensive enterprises , whilst ensuring the robustness of the system against fraud ' .
it may take many forms such as sexual exploitation , forced labour , illegal trade in human organs , begging ( including the use of a dependent person for begging ) , illegal adoptions and domestic work .
however , I want to stress that we also need to consider including the other countries bordering the EU in our programmes because education and culture should not stop at our borders .
thank you , Mr Batten .
it has been scientifically proven - this conclusion was reached in a September 2008 edition of the British Medical Journal - that the Mediterranean diet helps to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular diseases , of type 2 diabetes - the contemporary European epidemic - and of cancer , and to decrease the effects of Alzheimer 's disease and Parkinson 's disease .
among the amendments , the Commission notes the proposal from Mr Díaz de Mera that Parliament 's democratic scrutiny of Europol could operate by Europol being funded from the general budget of the European Union .
thirdly , it is clear that Kyrgyzstan needs material assistance .
as such , the strategy we are discussing , the one that intends to make Europe competitive , functional and successful , is what gives us the possibility to increase pensions even in countries that are currently still in a less advantageous situation .
and also , it will greatly help our patients that information will be available in one place , in every country .
although my outrage at , and condemnation of , all terrorist attacks and of fundamentalist terrorism remains absolute , I believe it is necessary to call for the abandonment of the death penalty in all cases and in all circumstances .
apparently we had no choice but to announce a postponement because otherwise many products would have to disappear from the market .
in writing . - ( HU ) There are many ways of interpreting the Irish referendum .
the best approach seems to be joint action through a single representative , namely Commissioner Frattini . the latter has demonstrated his willingness to fight for equal treatment for all Union citizens .
secondly , we must sustain sufficient instruments to safeguard against market and supply crises .
Brazil , with whom negotiations have recently taken place , is another case in point .
during the debate on this subject yesterday , some of the speakers were talking nonsense .
the measures that have since been introduced must be seen primarily as symptom control and emergency measures for safeguarding jobs .
a lot of sensible things have already been said .
I welcome the fact that apart from the issue of Georgia , the other conflicts have also been mentioned , so that when we talk about Georgia , we also include Abkhazia and Ossetia .
that we have created a correct , professional transitional regulation is an important point , especially for cooperatives , savings banks and silent capital contributions in Germany .
the EU as a whole must support and encourage cooperation agreements and information campaigns , not only on a linguistic and professional basis ; the countries of origin and transit must also be made aware of the risks taken by immigrants and of their deaths .
the EU , that is , the Commission , the Council and Parliament , in cooperation with the OSCE , have taken an interest in resolving this tension using peaceful means .
I believe that when a transport facility is built , we should include not only the area of land under the cable , in other words , not just the route of the lift , which is one metre wide and several thousand metres long .
Mr President and honourable Members , I am extremely grateful to the Members who participated in this debate .
secondly , partnership with Russia is a very important factor .
another piece of information is the fact that , today at 15.00 , the plenary session of the Euro-Med Scola youth parliament came to an end .
let us do it now .
only two big questions remain .
its effects are on a larger scale than in other regions of the world .
( FR ) Mr President , I am especially pleased , Commissioner , with the five objectives you have just defined , although as you mentioned afterwards , there will be concrete measures following the consultation , which ends in March .
I therefore support initiatives leading to a reduction in unjustifiable differences and an improvement of the position of women in society , not only within a legislative framework , but also in everyday life .
the European Parliament is clearly willing to hold a serious debate on lobbying and the rules for lobbying .
the Presidency has rightly said that the TFTP agreement on the exchange of SWIFT bank data is about principles .
thank you for your attention .
the unemployed will , where possible , seek their salvation in Europe , thereby increasing the migration pressure on Europe even further .
as I have said many times before , we need to streamline bureaucracy in every possible area , and we need to find synergies with the Member States and utilise them .
2009 discharge : European Medicines Agency (
however , the support measures for the redundant workers include occupational guidance and training for the acquisition of basic skills , on- and off-the-job training for redundant apprentices , vocational educational training , and support for entrepreneurship .
EHEC and antibiotics resistance are both major problems .
for us to be able to master this crisis , we need trade union rights and we need Europe 's workers to be made into stakeholders .
it seems to me that it is necessary , here , to say something about the unacceptable toleration being shown towards those Muslim imams who make public calls in Pakistan - in Peshawar for example - for killings , offering , for example , to reward the perpetrators financially .
the consequences of tolerating extreme statements and of incitement are already very much felt .
we have approved a number of similar contributions in the past .
Parliament 's communication budget and the actions planned for 2009 should therefore make sure that they interest and directly affect European citizens , who often feel that the European institutions are too detached .
we must also help our manufacturers when it comes to medicines , but I think that we will all agree that this must not be to the detriment of those who are dependent on access to cheap medicines .
the Council 's other task is to stage-manage ratification of the Treaty ; that is essential in order to avoid a change of direction in the European trajectory so dear to all citizens .
I would argue that the promotion of this policy of responsibility for working conditions demonstrates a Europe that is attentive and thorough , and that conforms to defending universal values in which it believes .
these refugees claimed they were detained by Thai authorities on a remote island for two months , and that they were beaten before being forced onto boats and left to their fate .
we should , for example , improve monitoring of the process whereby licences are granted for oil drilling or leasing installations to third parties .
it is impossible to impose the validity of the Treaty in any way , although I do think that the Treaty is needed at this time and will facilitate the working of the European Union .
do you not understand that Europe is not a single state but a wide and glorious tapestry of attractive , distinctive but matching cultural panels , and to amalgamate them is to reduce them all to a grey amorphous mass , thereby destroying that which you say you admire ?
I would urge the Council to freeze the upgrade of relations with Israel until a complete and permanent cease-fire has been agreed by all sides and Israel grants unrestricted access for humanitarian aid .
it reaffirms the main aim of pensions : to guarantee social cohesion in a spirit of equity between generations .
the Commission is saying that it does not have competence , and everything is becoming vague and unclear .
calendar of part-sessions : see Minutes
this will be , of course , with the close collaboration and monitoring of everything by Parliament and , of course , the Union 's institutions as a whole .
something of a contradiction .
they must explain why Europe is so important , why citizens must play their part in it and why they must vote .
in writing . - ( PT ) Approximately 50 years ago the Council of Europe devised a system of rules and legal and judicial instruments for the purposes of protecting and promoting Fundamental Rights that has become a benchmark for Human Rights , the Rule of Law and Democracy in Europe .
social conditions for self-employed people and employed people vary widely in the Member States , and social security provision in the event of long-term or permanent exclusion from work is practically non-existent in some cases .
this must be more than a sign : the Commission has no intention of relinquishing this matter .
I am sure it can be looked up in the committee and plenary Minutes .
we agree that a verification clause should be introduced and that the Commission should report regularly on the implementation of the regulation in practice .
in Europe today , we can say that the EU would not be possible without European women , all European women !
since I am not devilish , I voted against .
I have checked and I can inform you that the use of the EUR 300 million allowances for carbon capture and storage should be decided on 2 February in the respective comitology committee .
I am abstaining out of consideration for the Belgian workers of the Opel plant in Antwerp who have been sacrificed in the name of sacrosanct globalisation .
firstly , when people are appointed to office , they should be given some time to settle in and they should be judged by results and not by preconceived notions of their ability to do the job .
in addition , as has been mentioned previously , we need to prioritise resources , time and sports facilities .
I therefore ask you to reject , wholly or in part , amendments 4 , 20 , 21 and 23 , which require registration of the identity and motivations of the users of the public data .
as Mr Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra has already said , several Member States have agreed to receive ex-prisoners into their territories : France , Portugal , Ireland , Belgium , the UK , Italy and Hungary . the decision whether or not to receive prisoners from Guantánamo is a decision exclusively for each of the Member States , but it should be taken on the basis of European coordination .
the EU should achieve 3 % to 4 % of the reduction in developing countries , leaving just under 9 % .
unfortunately , this motion was not passed , although it was written together by all groups of this House .
I am convinced that the Danube Strategy will contribute to achieving these aims and resolve common problems by more effective and efficient use of available funds , that it will facilitate the realisation of common projects , and that European citizens will then benefit from its results .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , I would like to congratulate President Sarkozy for once , albeit reluctantly , at this juncture .
rapporteur . - ( DA ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , citizens of the EU , this report is the result of extensive work in the Committee on Petitions , involving Members from all political groups .
cooperation between them and the countries from which these illegal activities originate absolutely must be implemented as quickly as possible .
what is the most serious obstacle to the full opening of the ' energy ' negotiating chapter ?
apart from supporting families and a higher birth rate in Europe , the new Europe of the nations needs a policy of national and Community preference , a policy of national and Community protection .
( the President cut off the speaker )
( SV ) Mr President , the Generalised System of Preferences that is being debated today is an extremely good and important instrument , because it makes it easier for some of what are perhaps the poorest countries of the world to export to and trade with Europe .
of course , we must also lead the way in tackling climate change , and I welcome Parliament 's decision to include aviation emissions and the emissions trading scheme , another sign of our willingness to lead the global community .
the principle never changes : we should do whatever is needed to guarantee absolute respect for human rights .
second-generation biofuels are produced from feedstock other than food crops and can come not only from dedicated energy crops but also from sources such as recycled vegetable oil , animal fat , by-products from the forestry industry , forestry residues and solid waste such as grasses .
by abstaining , I have tried to highlight that the reconstruction of Haiti cannot be undertaken through the militarisation of aid but rather by putting an end to the mechanisms that have caused the underlying poverty in Haiti , such as external debt , which I am requesting be cancelled .
it was very clear right from the start that there was general agreement on her reports , and that was demonstrated by the Commissioner .
all across the Middle East and the world , people are aware today that the West does not support its friends , and rest assured that there will be few candidates for our friendship from now on .
we face today , in Europe and in the civilised world , a threat from those who are not civilised and who do not regard human life as sacred and something to be sanctified .
however , freedom of information does not mean freedom to insult or to defame ; except that the right to a fair hearing is always granted to the left : if Mr Prodi sues , it is okay ; if Mr D 'Alema sues , it is okay ; if Mr Di Pietro sues , it is okay .
I only hope the Council will agree to a revision within a timescale that enables the European measure to be sorted out very soon .
these principles follow on logically from the work that was started when REACH was being discussed .
it is thus important to focus on the medium-term trend when assessing growth developments .
safeguarding the health and safety of workers is a concern for us all .
16 .
self-regulation codes can at this stage form an adequate basis for mutual respect between users and readers ; they need not impose any limitation on the right of expression and response on either side .
this requires greater transparency among a wide variety of VET systems , in order to enable comparability and mutual recognition of VET qualifications and ensure better permeability .
within this framework , we are tabling a resolution today before the European Parliament , in the hope that we shall make headway , in terms of joint action and cooperation by the Member States , towards real prevention and management of natural disasters and more effective use of European Union funds for this purpose .
Commissioner Reding very strangely said that we should not use the EU institutions to solve national problems .
in conclusion , let me say that direct production prices for farmers are finally rising , although this is certainly not due to the fact that we are now producing bio-energy but is mainly the result of environmental disasters and better markets within the EU and outside it , i.e. in third countries .
however , I have to tell you , Mr Vice-President , that what you put forward to us as a basis document on the greening of transport was a little too sparse .
after signing the Intergovernmental Agreement on Nabucco , the European Union must take action .
the Commission estimates that this proposal will lead to approximately 1 000 fewer deaths on our roads every year .
there is also a significant debate concerning cloned animals .
in many cases , we find that they are not needed at all to the same extent , or that modern information and communications technologies are making it all very much easier .
finally , the last issue is financing .
you in Spain will see what happens if you have problems , and those in Portugal will see what happens if they have problems .
I also recall that the Third Forum on Social Services of General Interest , to be organised on 26 and 27 October under the auspices of the Belgian Presidency , will provide an opportunity to discuss these suggestions and possibly others as well .
the road forward seems very clear to me : the Commission must use the contents of this report to develop its own proposal and we in Parliament , and naturally also the Council , should duly consider and follow up these proposals , which are so important for the future of European civil protection .
we must assess the situation , the security standards currently in force and their suitability as regards current needs .
we , who have lived through these events , must bear witness to them .
we particularly have in mind here freedom of expression , religion and association and the protection of the rights of minorities , for instance in Tibet and in the province of Xinjiang .
the oral question to the Commission by Mr Markov and Mr Arif , on behalf of the Committee on International Trade , on the stepping-stone Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Community and its Member States , of the one part , and Central Africa , of the other part - B6-0216 / 2009 ) .
these , of course , would have to be WTO-compliant .
during the Swedish Presidency , the Council judiciously admitted that it was necessary to greatly increase the number of refugees being resettled in Europe , going so far as to talk about 100 000 .
therefore , if the guns were to fall silent at long last - unfortunately we are not at that stage yet - this would not mean the end of developments , but only the beginning of movement towards a peace based on the rule of law , freedom , human rights , minority rights and national autonomy .
we do not have many resources in Europe .
more than one million European citizens work in countries other than their own .
well , the citizens will now be able to do the same , if there are enough of them and if they come from a significant number of Member States .
we must fight fervently to eradicate the prejudice against these people .
no , I do not think that is the right way to proceed .
I will conclude by expressing the hope that the Heads of State or Government will incorporate Parliament 's recommendations in their further work towards achieving the common guidelines for flexicurity when they meet in Portugal in December .
it should be remembered that GDP is a measure of production and does not measure environmental sustainability for example .
in writing . - ( SV ) The majority of this Parliament is showing once again how divorced from reality it is .
I know that , on any one point , we can always have an extraordinary focus on method .
( EL ) Mr President , the recent popular uprisings and all the others which are looming on the African rim of the Mediterranean should be a deep cause for concern to us .
I have explained my understanding of the Rules of Procedure to you .
I very much hope that this resolution will be adopted in Parliament tomorrow - of course that does not mean that there should not be dialogue with Morocco .
ladies and gentlemen , we must tackle the needs of this sector of the population .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
I have 17 people who have asked for the floor .
the EU should create a policy that specifically deals with tourism issues and integrates them within wider contexts , such as : European maritime policy , the Marine Strategy Directive , the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Strategy , the trans-European transport network and the environmental policy of the Natura 2000 network , among others .
by awarding the Sakharov prize to Hu Jia , the European Parliament is demonstrating forcefully and with determination its recognition of the daily fight for freedom carried on by all defenders of human rights in China .
I think the result of the debate and resolution regarding the fingerprinting of Roma people in Italy should be based on two key conclusions .
the introduction of goods into circulation on the territory of the Union is without doubt a very serious issue .
now the banks are saying that they want their money back too , and we are in a complicated situation because we want to help the Irish people , but we have to say that it is because of the system that we are criticising that we are now where we are in Ireland .
in fact , a European action plan for this is required in order to respond to the challenges posed by mental disorders .
on the other hand , these political steps should not lead to the loss of national identity .
I would be very happy to come back to the European Parliament to discuss it when this report has been made public and we have a solid basis for discussion and not just rumours that appeared in one single newspaper when it was leaked .
therefore , I would like to stress two points .
I support the request for the Commission to present a study every five years on the added value of each agency and not to hesitate to close an agency if the analysis concludes that it is not useful .
this rabble effectively terrorises independent television stations .
the question is whether its results are worthy of this major investment .
the EU Member States must finance themselves and not tax their neighbours .
regarding payments , the European Parliament intends to approve the level of appropriations up to the ceiling .
this is a good thing , because the Commission 's proposal on this point is extremely restrictive .
in a number of Member States , but above all in candidate countries , political parties and the media repeatedly claim that the introduction of ' same-sex marriages ' or civil partnerships or the liberalisation of laws on abortion and euthanasia are compulsory on the basis of EU law and / or the acquis communautaire .
this framework must provide for protection equivalent to that enjoyed by European citizens within the Union .
make no mistake : Ireland is pro-European .
if I sell a financial product , I pay no tax .
according to very detailed reports from Human Rights Watch , Amnesty International and the Open Society Institute , Turkmenistan is one of the lowest ranking countries in the world for many basic freedoms , including freedom of the press , freedom of expression and freedom of association .
I myself , for example , have lent my support to a written declaration which expressly calls once again for action and I consider it important that we continue to work in this area .
this is a short-term problem which needs a short-term solution , because in four years ' time everything will have settled down and will work normally .
anyway , we are prepared to create the preconditions for Galileo , a flagship of European technological innovation .
it is necessary to have an alternative for the country , and to show people this alternative and interest them in it so that they understand .
in the area of environmental protection , however , the kind of social awareness has not yet developed that would make us realise that certain chemicals must be taken out of our system , that excessive urban traffic is bad for city dwellers ' health , or that reducing the amount of toxicants and pollution we are exposed to involves changing our whole lives .
I would like to congratulate my colleague on her work ; she has presented an excellent report .
although the fact that there has been no military intervention is preferable , we still regret this attempt to obtain , through the courts , what the ballot boxes have denied .
the new proposals would have created a new macro-economic framework to promote sustainable development , strengthen internal demand and respect the environment , based on improvements in pay , full employment with rights , and economic and social cohesion .
also of importance is the agreement that has been reached on structural reform and fiscal consolidation and the final resolution on the amendments to the Treaty of Lisbon for the establishment of the European Stability Mechanism .
secondly , on appliances , Parliament 's report welcomes the proposal to put in place minimum energy performance requirements coupled with a dynamic system of energy labelling , to keep up with advances in technology .
it is also very important for patients to be able to obtain reliable information on the Internet .
as already mentioned , this year , Parliament has already had occasion to deal with access to documents and views were somewhat varied at that time .
as I said during the March vote , it is important to bear in mind the various national particularities and the protection offered , with proper respect for the subsidiarity principle .
Scotland would be in a much better position to contribute to Europe 's climate change objectives if we were full participants in the European Union as an independent Member State .
waste electrical and electronic equipment are an excellent source of precious metals and other resources imported to the EU .
Gazprom has just concluded yet another transaction , as a result of which it now owns one quarter of the shares in the companies controlling the oil and gas transit routes through Belarus . Gazprom 's share will soon increase to 50 % .
free trade ?
( PL ) The result of easy access to illegal work is that there are several million illegal immigrants in the European Union .
Commissioner , in order to get to one further question , I am going to take the next two supplementary questions together and ask you to deal with them both together .
at the Intergovernmental Conference that led to agreement on the Treaty of Lisbon , the European Parliament was fully involved at the level of the Heads of State or Government through the participation of its President and , at the Intergovernmental Conference itself , through a delegation consisting of three Members .
we cannot prohibit , or even authorise , everything purely at European level .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , certain problems affect us too , not just the interpreters and those who want to follow the debate and hopefully receive some concrete answers in relation to a problem that has been dragging on since 2005 .
I supported this resolution because , 15 years after the Beijing World Conference on Women , we have to acknowledge that too little progress has been made in relation to gender equality and that sexist stereotypes still persist in numerous areas such as employment , education and politics .
it is one of our fundamental policies , the positive effects of which can really be seen everywhere ; in all corners of the European Union , in all Member States , in virtually every urban or local community of the EU .
I would also cite the national initiatives that , like the carbon tax , to which Mr Pargneaux paid tribute just now - and I am glad that he did so - encourage the introduction of environmental taxation .
( DE ) Madam President , I would like to speak in accordance with Rule 173 of the Rules of Procedure because of an incident which took place here a few minutes ago , and indeed during the item of the agenda for one-minute speeches .
now let me come back to the drugs question .
that leads to situations of unequal treatment for maritime transport operators and for accident victims .
political pressure increased on him after he was chosen as a local candidate on the party list of The Other Russia coalition .
at the same time , the EU will not be truly stable and prosperous unless it effectively and firmly promotes these goals externally , in the areas close to Europe , especially in the Black Sea region .
Mr President , ever since I was a kid , my favourite cake was madeira cake and when I discovered there was a lovely island called Madeira , I have had an affinity with it ever since .
if women are supposed to be successful scientists , the facilities available to them should be reliable , accessible , first-rate , appropriate to the character and requirements of the scientific work , and sufficiently flexible .
our studies and polls show that , among young people , there really is a lack of knowledge - one could say there is ignorance when it comes to these health threats .
codecision occurs when this process is cultivated as the process develops .
in writing . - ( RO ) The prospect of countries of South-Eastern Europe joining the European Union is the driver of reforms for the democratic transformation of these countries .
a very significant new feature introduced by the Treaty of Lisbon is that we will not now have two readings of the budget .
I must emphasise that regional policy should not be used as an alternative to EU membership for those countries which may be eligible .
( SV ) Madam President , the nuclear power debate often separates us into different camps .
as a result , women are more affected than men by persistent poverty .
the Member States also responded swiftly to the emergency call from the Red Cross Federation by sending emergency equipment and providing search and rescue teams .
support for less-favoured rural areas constitutes an essential element of rural development policy .
I believe that all interested parties , especially consumer associations , will use the control mechanisms at their disposal to closely monitor the application of the new directive .
President-in-Office . - ( SL ) As we know , at its session of 4 December 2007 the Council adopted a decision to arrange for a discussion on the economic effect of reduced rates and whether reduced rates of value added tax are a suitable tool for achieving the targets of sectorial policies .
unfortunately , they are no longer with us , but they had the courage to press ahead , invest in the future and attain an achievement of some kind .
it is an important principle that must become even clearer after the judgments that have been given .
in addition , Globovisión , which still maintains an editorial line independent from the government , is being put under pressure to change this .
we should put a definitive end to the absurd situations so often faced by holders of long-stay D visas .
to give you an example which received fairly wide media coverage : in August this year the European Union issued a declaration on the 400th execution in Texas .
as a result , inequalities in scientific development will be intensified .
it was also a disproportionate repression by the military junta in power , and the witness accounts leave no room for doubt .
however , above all , what we need to commit to is our common history , and making it known .
today , we are debating , among other things , Turkey 's progress towards Europe .
regionalisation of fisheries policy should go hand in hand with specific measures relating to social and economic matters .
an equally significant aspect is the possibility for the victim to move to another Member State , receiving the information and assistance they need to start a new life , while continuing to benefit from protection measures .
some applications have been refused by operators and software manufacturers due to their political content .
the international community must be mobilised , otherwise it will be impossible to guarantee the protection of shipping , particularly because sea piracy is rife not only off the coast of Somalia .
Madam President , in today 's sitting on the subject of poverty , we are deliberately focusing on the connection between global poverty and poverty in the Member States of the European Union .
that again shows how much we need to invest in the European budget 's operational capacities to react .
investigations into human rights violations are ineffective and defective .
the directive on the application of patients ' rights in cross-border healthcare is an extremely important document for EU citizens , and so I have followed work on the issue very attentively .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , I would like to thank the Honourable Members very much for their questions .
I do not share that view , and I do not mean that as a backhanded compliment as we have some very good staff , but that is not the measure of efficiency and effectiveness .
certainly , I would be in favour of the approximation of that legislation , but this is a different issue .
these nations endured through the centuries thanks to cultural difference based on long tradition .
unfortunately , the report is inadequate due to the lack of any mechanism to verify the authenticity of signatures .
increased effectiveness between ERDF and other structural funds (
even though the proposed MFA is not intended to be directly linked to that package , it would support Ukraine 's economic stabilisation and reforms .
we discussed it in the Foreign Affairs Council both in November and in December .
I would like to highlight two points .
I would like to add three points which are of fundamental importance .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I hope you will allow me the pleasure of noting down the arguments expressed in the debate as they emphasised , from a very wide range of viewpoints , the importance of the debated Convention .
on the other hand , extending the geographical scope of Regulation ( EC ) No 1934 / 2006 brings the developing countries concerned within the scope of two different external action financial instruments .
the Committee of European Securities Regulators ( CESR ) will play a crucial role in the registration and supervision of credit rating agencies .
our economies are much too interdependent for that .
nonetheless , the principal elements of the initial proposal have remained unchanged , so the current text is acceptable to the Commission .
if not , we would still have the opportunity as Parliament to save ourselves in 2009 .
in Europe 20 years ago , we brought down the Iron Curtain and it seems to me significant that it was the people , the citizens , who achieved that and not the armed forces , the governments or the secret service .
although I know that this is largely in the hands of the Member States , all the same , the European Union needs to remember its own commitments , the Lisbon Strategy , for example , and it has to keep to them , so that we can channel budget money into research and innovation , creating new added value for Europe .
none of the draft budgets of the institutions include costs related to the Lisbon Treaty coming into effect .
I also believe that continued investment in infrastructure in many European regions , particularly in the south and east , is essential .
unfortunately , applications to receive payments from these funds amount to a total of PLN 1.75 billion .
in terms of economic relations , the agreements bring benefits for both parties ' industries .
it is important to recall once again the particular situation of island states neighbouring our outermost regions - the Canaries , Madeira and the Azores - with which we have historic links and special close ties .
according to the Böge report , EUR 66.9 million have been made available to combat the effects of severe natural disasters in France and Portugal .
Mr President , I would ask you , therefore , to use the considerable power granted to you under the Rules of Procedure in moderation , and with your usual prudence .
regulations such as these essentially maintain and further institutionalise the use of methods for keeping records on citizens everywhere - and how many innocent citizens - and grant the right to move our sensitive personal data .
the Commission intends to support wine exports and certain labels .
we want to work closely with the Commission and Parliament on all of this , seeking to establish the world region that stands at the forefront of the fight against climate change , that has the lowest carbon emissions , that is the best prepared to face the challenges presented by climate change and is the most efficient at transforming this into a powerful force for innovation and competitiveness .
despite all the progress made in terms of transparency and controls , public perception remains critical .
it occurs to me as a result of this that perhaps we are neglecting development in these dossiers .
for this reason the Commission will soon submit a report aimed at helping the social partners to take further steps in this area , for example through more effective implementation of the existing guidelines and by extending the scope of the principles and defining ways of dealing with the serious problems that exist .
it is the electorate who decides .
there is worse , however : this text threatens Turkey with the cessation of its EU accession negotiations if it fails to comply immediately with the Union 's neoliberal dogma , and reminds it of the Copenhagen criteria .
nevertheless , it is still too early for the whole of Europe to adopt the system that now functions reasonably between the Netherlands , Belgium and Luxembourg .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( SL ) Tackling the financial and economic crisis is an important test of Europe 's unity and solidarity .
improving and strengthening food safety controls in the Union and in third countries is essential , and hence , I am in favour of the resolution .
the European Parliament has a vital role to play in this regard .
I fully commend it and I am sure that it will get the overwhelming support of the House today .
currently it would appear that while there is some monitoring for residues on food products , it may not be adequate to provide sufficient assurances to consumers of these products .
similar situations are also going on in other countries and in other companies from different industrial sectors .
( PL ) Mr President , despite the fact that Afghanistan is a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women , and that the government of President Karzai has decreed the equality of both sexes in the eyes of the law and has guaranteed women a quarter of the seats in the Afghan Parliament , Afghan women are still being treated as second-class citizens in their own country
we need the position of the Court of Auditors to make matters clearer for us .
that is the main priority and , as my colleague said , it is clear that here , we have a vision of what our transport system should be ; in other words , rail must recapture the market for small and medium distances .
you are right , knowledge is power , that is absolutely right .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , education is one of the major factors that determines employability .
take the instrument meteorological conditions ( IMC ) rating , which I myself hold : the certification that allows UK private pilots to fly by using a plane 's instruments to fly in more unfavourable weather conditions - well , I understand that is now under threat from EASA .
( applause )
in the last few centuries , discrimination has been possibly the least of the ills that have befallen them .
for the individuals involved , it is restricting the free movement of labour .
the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats supports the approval of the report .
that tends to mean that we will be fragmenting , we will be dissipating our efforts , and that should not be the direction we take in this area in the future .
it also does not see convincing arguments to justify the production of food from clones and their offspring .
the European Union has invested a total of EUR 1.3 million in three PEACE programmes since 1994 .
after all , we do not want ' more Europe ' but rather a Europe that focuses on its core tasks .
I welcome the inclusion in the new legislation of special measures for protecting vulnerable consumers .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to conclude with three observations : Commissioner Barnier has already indicated that the principle of enhanced cooperation was specifically established to overcome obstacles in the area of unanimity .
we cannot afford that .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Mr Barroso , I do not want to jump into some kind of controversial debate and I believe in your good intentions .
you have just said that the strength of Europe 's economy lies in its small and medium-sized enterprises .
the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights declares in Article 9 : " the right to marry and right to found a family shall be guaranteed in accordance with the national laws governing the exercise of these rights . ”
I can instead be glad that the voluntary measures of the industry are now included in the legislation , so that they will actually be implemented , and that all the necessary adjuncts will be covered by the export ban , for example cinnabar , oxides and calomel .
however , we know how difficult this is , so if this should prove impossible or if it would take too long , the resolution advocates acceptance of each other 's standards with regard to the various economic aspects , on the principle that if it is good enough for us it must also be good enough for our partners - and vice versa , of course .
the latter exists today to prevent pregnancy at a very early age .
only this week , we have agreed that we will encourage the Russians to enrich the nuclear fuel rods , on behalf of Ahmadinejad , in return for his guarantee that he will stop his own nuclear enrichment programme .
however , it would also be possible to apply the codecision procedure for the draft regulation .
- Mrs Doyle , had I known that you would bring up the Wooden Spoon award for the Italians , I would not have given you the floor on this point .
concerning drilling operations , I would like to insert ' by EU and third countries ' .
although the final text approved in plenary is more restrained than the original proposal and does have some positive aspects , we do not agree with other points , namely when environmental protection is used as an excuse for yet another opportunity to step up the ideological offensive , to lay the responsibility on ordinary people and workers , and to commercialise all environmental activity and make it profitable .
nevertheless , our voters too are becoming aware of increasing food prices .
does the Commissioner have plans to tackle the British Government 's discrimination against older workers ?
on an issue that is so vital to the citizens of Europe , the Council and Parliament cannot , therefore , simply codify the Court of Justice 's rulings .
( FR ) Mr President , it would be wrong to say your Presidency was perfect , but it would be dishonest to say that it was a failure .
climate change is therefore in danger of further delaying achievement of the millennium development objectives ( MDOs ) in a large number of these countries , and I welcome the Global Climate Change Alliance ( GCCA ) that the European Commission proposes should be set up between the EU and poor developing countries most vulnerable to climate change , in particular the LDCs and the SIDSs and ACP ( African , Caribbean and Pacific ) countries .
in my view , and as I keep repeating , that also applies to men and women with small children .
the European Rail Traffic Management System ( ERTMS ) has been designed with the intention to have interoperability of railways .
I have no doubt that sanctions need to be applied flexibly , but at the same time the rapporteur also points to the inadmissibility of double standards .
in writing . - I support this report which recommends that the rules regarding the Computerised Reservation Systems used by high street travel agents to book airline tickets are simplified and modernised .
he also called for a transparent and proper investigation of the events .
to conclude , knowing how to do things is a question of providing oneself with the resources .
the Services Directive and the Posting of Workers Directive represent a direct threat to everything that has been gained in workers ' rights in the last 30 years .
I would call on Mr Bildt and Commissioner Rehn , as well as on the governments of all the Member States to whom this issue is of interest , to pick up your telephones and contact Prime Minister Papandreou and Prime Minister Gruevski in the lead-up to the December summit to show them your solidarity and to encourage their determined efforts to find a solution to this dispute which has lasted for 20 years .
long-term solutions will need to be found in the context of the debate that we are about to begin on the new common agricultural policy .
this system should function almost in real time .
this means that the plan regulating tuna fishing methods , which vary greatly from one another , ranging from purse seining to traditional fishing using a system of fixed nets , requires additional fine tuning before it can be applied in full .
I wish to thank the Swedish Presidency for its efforts and , above all , now that Christmas is here , Mr Reinfeldt .
I look forward to working with you all during the forthcoming five-and-a-half months of this Presidency , with great expectations .
I agree with the liberalisation process for the trade in bananas following the agreements reached in the World Trade Organisation and the bilateral agreements concluded with Central and South American countries .
Madam Vice-President / High Representative , we are convinced that all the activities of the European Union as a whole would be very supportive of the southern part of our continent and of our neighbours on the opposite side of the Mediterranean Sea .
furthermore , the region continues to face the following challenges : protracted conflicts , trends towards militarisation and proliferation of arms , maritime surveillance , illicit trafficking and cross-border crime .
with the Commission 's help we should be able to find different financial levers to eliminate or reduce the traffic jams that paralyse the life of cities and their inhabitants .
the challenge is how to increase donor numbers safely .
Commissioner , your words struck a chord with me because I share your ideas about how we should proceed , namely that we should regulate this matter in a dedicated future revision of the EU data protection framework , while at the same time taking the opportunity to say that we also wish to regulate and promote the EU-US Data Protection Framework Agreement because we see the need to regulate such data transfers in this global world .
now I will turn back to Europe .
official Development Assistance ( ODA ) commitments are still not being fulfilled satisfactorily .
( applause )
behind closed doors the argument has focused on the numerator .
the wave of protest that has swept through Egypt in recent weeks and resulted in the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak , marks an important stage in the country 's political transition .
China and all of those countries will be very powerful .
frankly , I do not see that our individual Member States have enough leverage to impose some kind of measures on China .
( DE ) Mr President , as we close this debate having thanked Vice-Presidents Barrot and Tajani and the French Presidency , and specifically Mr Bussereau , we should also thank those who work on the Conciliation Committee and the Committee on Transport and Tourism who have been working with us on this for a number of years .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , this morning we heard a very good debate on the citizens ' initiative and tonight we are discussing the very important topic of comitology .
I hope this Parliament will adopt the IFRS 8 standard tomorrow , while stressing that when it is revised - and this is already in progress at the IASB , the International Accounting Standards Board - account is taken of the need for precise financial information about the reality of group activities .
I therefore agree with the rapporteur 's proposal to strengthen the ' Territorial Cooperation ' objective by increasing the overall budget from 2.5 % to 7 % , adopting measures to simplify the implementation of programmes and creating European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation ( EGTCs ) , which are essential to the functioning of cross-border governance systems .
in the current climate of austerity in public budgets , of significant demographic change and of ever increasing competition at global level , Europe 's competitiveness and , above all , our future standard of living , depend on our ability to integrate innovation into products , services , companies , and social processes and models .
I would also like to add that our producers are world leaders in this sector .
sorry , I was having some problems with the interpreting , and also , if you will allow me a few seconds , I merely wish to say that ...
otherwise , I would simply like to thank everybody for their comments in this debate and to say once again that this would not have been possible if it had not been for the extremely good level of cooperation between everybody who has been involved in negotiating this decision .
the Member States , after all , do have access to funds to assist the Roma with integration , but barely use that money .
a conspicuous example are children 's toys - dangerous ingredients contained in the paints or plastic parts can cause health problems , and poor workmanship can cause an accident which ends up with a visit to hospital .
( DE ) Mr President-in-Office of the Council , Commissioner , Schengen is , and always has been , synonymous with the link between security on the one hand and freedom and liberality on the other .
population levels are growing , not in Europe , but throughout the rest of the world and by 2050 they will have reached 9 billion .
human rights policy is still just as important today .
legislative power currently lies with the Legislative Yuan , which has 113 members .
well , we know how wrong he was , and we also know that wishful thinking is a deadly substitute for realism .
that is why I abstained .
this would involve authorising producers , other than motor vehicle manufacturers , to manufacture these parts .
1 .
it is necessary to make the sector more competitive and the CAP fairer , ecological , profitable , effective and efficient .
insisting that the UK should pay over its hard-earned money is bad enough , but paragraph 169 suggests that the EU should have the power to levy its own taxes without our consent and without our control .
it is a genuine political issue for all Greek citizens , as it concerns the European values of good neighbourliness and regional cooperation .
today , there are more poor people in the European Union .
the next item is the vote .
the European Central Bank should support measures leading to the recovery of budgetary balance by encouraging the repayment of existing loans instead of extending new loans to economies which are heavily in debt .
the Second Strategic Energy Review does not give the desired added value .
fishermen are asking for only one thing : to be able to make a living from their work and to be able to do their job .
look at the World Trade Organisation .
but while the Treaty was perhaps the greatest contribution that we made to a stronger Europe , I would like to emphasise the other two priorities .
the new provision would allow such behaviour to continue and put it on a legal footing .
but we cannot have the decisions of an informal summit replacing the democratic path of referendums held in the individual states on whether to accept the treaty .
this has moved by five minutes every five minutes .
I , personally , am actively involved in work to promote transplantation , and I encourage all fellow Members to do the same .
in fact , European Directive 2001 / 95 / EC , which governs general safety standards applicable to goods , was approved 10 years ago : now is the time to update it in light of the arrival of new products on the market .
I really do not understand why Morocco is not prepared to allow an independent inquiry .
however , I also think it is perhaps time , ladies and gentlemen , for us to question whether all the airlines are strictly applying all the European directives on safety and maintenance .
by 2050 , this will need to be reduced to 1 or 2 tonnes of carbon .
we know that this will have long-term social as well as political consequences .
I note that , as Mr Chastel said , efforts have indeed been made , in particular , through the exchange of best practice and participation in a task force .
to do so , we must reshape and simplify the administration and funding of research framework programmes .
the problem needs to be examined from a cross-border angle .
I feel that in order to restore EU citizens ' faith in the banking and financial system in general and to ensure the credibility of the whole European financial institutional framework , the newly created European Banking Authority must be given much greater powers and a more important role .
the transition from education to work is a structural challenge for employees all over the European Union .
not only does the key word ' solidarity ' not appear anywhere , but it has also been forgotten that expenditure and trade deficits on one side are income and trade surpluses on the other .
we need to tackle the reasons why women are more likely to have precarious jobs : the stereotypes , the unequal sharing of family and household tasks , and the undervaluation of female-dominated jobs .
as long as the socialists , the leftists in this House , no longer have arguments to back us into a corner , I can very happily carry on with this debate !
unfortunately , the social situation is becoming increasingly complicated , because politicians are not adopting the necessary measures , and unemployment and precarious and poorly paid work are still on the rise .
we talked much today about Greece and I would like to assure you that there was consensus that the euro area Member States would take determined and coordinated action if needed to safeguard financial stability in the euro area .
can we sleep peacefully in a Europe in which such an event has taken place despite the existence of numerous binding legal regulations which were supposed to guarantee appropriate supervision of chemical substances ?
I would like to finish by talking about shared management and the audit chain , and to reiterate my proposal to include the national courts of auditors more in the process since , according to the Council 's Decision , we will never have national statements from the governments .
the D 'Hondt proposal would give too much clout to the larger states , and I would say to Mr Friedrich that his proposal breaches the Treaty principle of degressive proportionality .
this legislation is very liberal , which allows any religion to be registered in Bulgaria provided it does not serve inhumane purposes .
together with both Presidents , I participated in the ISAF meeting in Lisbon last month , where the transfer of security responsibility under the NATO transition plan was agreed .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , the Commission shares the honourable Member 's view that the implementation of the 116 000 hotline for missing children requires further efforts in many Member States .
why do I , and why do my compatriots , still need to listen to the story of ' liberation ' from these deportees , who were the most educated , and the best people in the Baltic States ?
the European Union often comes up against paradoxes of its own creation and the incongruities that its policies bring about for the Member States and their citizens , as well as for third countries and their peoples .
firstly , on the subject of Syria , like Mr Verhofstadt , I would like to know what is stopping Europe from placing President Assad on the EU sanctions list ?
I believe my vote in favour of a sustainable policy for the High North is of crucial importance , in that the region needs to be safeguarded and protected since it has had to face disastrous environmental impacts that do not depend directly on its own territory but on the more industrialised European countries .
steps have been taken , but more needs to be done than the current report proposes .
in order to guarantee food security for the world , we need sustainable agriculture in a sustainable environment .
this is much bigger and more complicated than it looks .
we heard this in the speech by Mr López Garrido , and in the speech by the Commissioner , and it is reflected in the resolution that will be put to the vote tomorrow in Parliament with the support of all the political groups .
there were large demonstrations afterwards .
although we have seen terrible attacks targeting government institutions , the total number of civilian deaths in 2009 was less than half of the level of 2008 .
what will it do ?
I hope that the College will adopt the proposals we are working on on 31 March .
as you can see , on these issues , anyway , anything can happen .
the only solution that can achieve lasting peace in the region is a socialist Israel , alongside a socialist Palestine , in which borders are mutually agreed by both communities and are part of a democratic socialist confederation of the Middle East .
the report for 2010 confirmed my beliefs regarding Cedefop 's effectiveness .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( ES ) Mr President , in my opinion , the Community Customs Code as presented by the Commission and debated by Parliament and the Council has proved an exemplary procedure .
the aim of this directive should be to clarify consumer rights and to simplify cross-border trade , to introduce reliable and fair regulations and , of course , to strengthen legal certainty .
in particular , I am disappointed that no agreement could be reached on the package of USD 44 billion intended to help the poorest farmers , and sad that everything will continue as before .
defence of the principle of subsidiarity - Display of religious and cultural symbols in public places ( debate )
it does not aim to unify social security systems .
we determined and discussed today that education is a key field in development .
it is undoubtedly a prospect , a real prospect , but it is not an automatic right .
but we shall see . life is full of surprises .
yet evidently the Council , too , is digging its heels in .
we want Europe 's citizens to feel the difference of an e-justice project at European level .
it is a role which has already been defined and which does not need or demand any new institutions or more red tape .
we welcome the fact that a number of the points from our resolution have been included in this joint motion for a resolution .
however , we must not disregard the added value which the Blue Card can bring to Europe .
I have heard mention , here and there , of the idea that this first reading agreement should not set a precedent .
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we have to ensure that a revitalised , redefined Single Market does happen and does not get sidelined .
the overall objective of these projects was inter alia to ensure that the Special Court contributes to a broader understanding of justice for victims of the conflict .
nonetheless , we have to operate within the agreed framework and adjust individual positions to it .
in order to be credible and to respond to the expectations of EU citizens - and I say this on the eve of new parliamentary elections coming soon - the CFSP must be allocated resources commensurate with the objectives and specific targets .
Parliament is mistaken in calling for automatic , more severe sanctions .
we all know that , on the one hand , there are great tensions between the opposition and the government , but , on the other hand , there might be also other tendencies there .
therefore , I shall remain alert to the proposals that the Commission will put forward to reassure and support our fishermen .
however , like Mr Kasoulides , I suspect the proposals to rescind the EU fisheries agreement will only serve to punish local communities , not the military junta .
in writing . - I voted for this report .
firstly , we must send a clear signal to citizens , letting them know that the European Union clearly understands the true nature of the crisis , that it is not just a matter for the economists and bankers , but that it is the well-being of citizens , workers and their families in the four corners of Europe that is at stake .
I must insist , on behalf of all of us , on a positive response .
this area leaves much to be desired , even in countries that think of themselves as the ' engines ' of integration , particularly when they can count on a lenient tariff from the European Commission .
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under the proposed decision , Ukraine could get a loan of up to EUR 500 million in order to finance its balance of payments deficit and meet external financing needs .
nevertheless , I would like to say clearly that there still need to be substantial amendments to this negotiating mandate .
President-in-Office of the Council . - Vessels have been the subject of questions during Question Time on numerous occasions .
that said , the strategic dilemma is clear .
already , when a building society call centre in Hertfordshire , in my constituency , shed jobs , within 24 hours we were able to call in European-funded response to redundancy aid , showing how Europe can give real help to our local communities .
at the time it was agreed the fund should be EUR 1 billion a year .
you can judge that for yourselves .
as an Austrian , I know how necessary certain measures are , but I am opposed to compulsory grubbing-up , because there is a need to observe consumer wine choices very closely and identify where there are prospects of further increasing consumption .
that is a very positive trend . the EU average is now 80 years , and the proportion of people in the 65 + age bracket will shortly reach 40 % .
recent events have shown that the various Stability and Growth Pacts did not have the desired effect : instead , several Member States have faced severe problems meeting their obligations and have risked increasing their public debt .
I would also like to mention the use for 2009 and 2010 of accelerated procedures in the public procurement directives , given the current exceptional circumstances .
I would also argue that it would equally be a mistake to define citizens of Muslim faith , be they inside our existing Member States , be they in Bosnia , be they somewhere else or be they in Turkey , and exclude them from the applicability of Article 49 of the treaty .
with this aim in mind , consistency must be promoted among the policies of international institutions .
it is far too broad and ill-defined , and we would not like to see it set a precedent .
this is , in short , the responsibility that the Member States , the European Council , the Commission and Parliament too inherit from the Portuguese Presidency .
what is important to me is to promote protection of the climate , but not to the detriment of individual EU Member States .
we were pleased that the representative of the European Parliament attended the preparatory workshops - namely Mr Andersson , chair of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs .
the UN report published in April this year states that both sides in the conflict carried out military operations without taking steps to protect the rights and lives of civilians .
do the Commission and the Council agree that there needs to be an independent investigation to shed light on this terrible assassination once and for all ?
I am talking about the more stringent measures , which should be financed by the Member States .
( ES ) Madam President , I would respectfully inform Mr Campbell Bannerman that his banana is not from the Canary Islands .
fifty years after publication of a phonogram , the performer will be able to terminate the contract if the producer is not marketing the phonogram .
the cells cooperate by means of the Internet and using various methods .
Georgia has already waived the visa requirement for EU citizens , and this agreement will facilitate mobility for Georgian citizens .
we know how liable wine production is to yearly variations depending on weather conditions , and crisis prevention measures will only help to mitigate the fluctuations .
regarding the Euro Plus Pact , most of the Member States participating have presented commitments amounting to more than a hundred separate measures in total .
the Commission at that time promised that it would take action on the basis of the authority conferred on it under Article 13 of the EC Treaty to introduce legislation against all forms of discrimination and establish a legal basis for dealing with infringements .
however , given the precise nature of what is at stake , this cannot lead to the level of structural aid being dependent on the number of inhabitants covered ; quite the contrary .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I fully support the rapporteur 's position in relation to the Commission proposal to repeal eight directives in the field of metrology .
it is important that the Commission encourages local and regional authorities to develop all-round solidarity between upstream and downstream users and that it uses appropriate funding to support the sustainable use of water resources in these areas .
ladies and gentlemen , what is it that we need to do today ?
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , first , I would like to thank the rapporteur , as well as the other groups , for their work .
we know that social exclusion and poverty are increasing , and in order to deal with this we , and the Commission too , must be able to act in a resolute way to provide financing facilities for the small and medium-sized enterprises , because that is where the jobs will be created in Europe .
it should not be the EU 's task to force countries to use more pesticides .
when will Turkey have to comply with the Ankara Protocol ?
the Northern Ireland Assembly must build on the links already established by the European Commission .
I also heard that the main problem for the euro is the speculators .
I particularly welcome the emphasis given in the report to traditional European industry , which is essential to our economy .
time to move up a gear - Creating a Europe of entrepreneurship and growth ( vote )
first , ratings are taken into account in banking regulations in order to determine the amounts of own funds that will be used to back investments .
it will report to Parliament as soon as enough information has been gathered for a meaningful analysis of their implementation and performance .
it needs the Member States and the Prime Ministers at their summit in March , when they will look at this document , really to take advantage of that .
the people in Greece need a light at the end of the tunnel .
I am pleased that the atmosphere is still open enough for an academic to openly come out and say such a thing .
we are also surprised that the Council is expressing surprise at some of the tactical cuts being proposed by Parliament , given the significance of the cuts , both in terms of compromise appropriations and in terms of payment appropriations , which the Council itself has introduced .
we will not achieve this without the European Social Fund being incorporated into cohesion policy .
I note , finally , that there are requests to limit the duration of the trade preferences to one year from the date on which the waiver takes effect .
regarding Mrs Pleštinská 's question , I cannot and dare not predict , either personally or as a representative of the Council , a possible long-term solution for the status of Kosovo .
what happens if there are no alternatives ?
they make a fundamental contribution to economic growth , social cohesion and job creation .
we also need more money next year than the Commission and the Council have so far estimated .
soon , ladies and gentlemen , there will no longer be any Christians on the lands that gave birth to Christianity .
this means that its budgetary impact will also be limited .
mutual assessment , however , should take into account not just financial impacts , but should also focus on other aspects , such as the economic , environmental and social aspects .
it must be possible for both men and women who are the parents of young children to take part in training .
Mr President , Mr President-in-Office of the Council , President of the European Commission , ladies and gentlemen , I would like , first of all , to pay tribute to the remarkable efforts made by the Presidency of the Council over the last six months .
the key point , which has now been under discussion for some time , is the debate about reforming the Security Council .
I certainly believe the EU should be looking for new sources of finance but do not believe this should done by seeking advance commitments from the Council .
we cannot , however , support this resolution as its point of departure is first and foremost the interests of the EU .
so , given the positioning of certain Member States , there is a real risk that this project will flounder .
via the EULEX mission , Europe is responsible for the situation on the ground .
but while it has westernised in some ways , it is archaic in others , in particular , in relation to fundamental rights , especially freedom of opinion .
the report by Pat the Cope Gallagher , on behalf of the Committee on Fisheries , on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a multiannual plan for the western stock of Atlantic horse mackerel and the fisheries exploiting that stock - C7-0010 / 2009 - ,
I should like to thank you too , Commissioner , for your commitment .
on the other hand , the European statute of European political parties paves the way for the creation of a transnational party system .
regarding the institutional aspects , you will have noted that the comitology proposal submitted by the Commission in March provides for Parliament to be fully informed as to the committee proceedings .
both documents recommend enhanced cooperation between the health , education and sport sectors to define and implement strategies to reduce health risks such as being overweight .
both citizens and markets need more Europe .
I think that they have managed to make a good piece of legislation .
those Member States which , like my own , are cutting resources for education and research at a time of crisis must know that they are hurting young people , and hurting the future of Europe .
this agreement , which is applicable for periods of four years , tacitly renewable unless either party rescinds it , entailed the repeal and replacement of the first agreement between the EC and São Tomé and Principe , concluded in 1984 .
in writing . - ( SV ) The Commission wishes to collect and exchange passenger information at EU level in order to combat crime and terrorism .
this will be a catalyst for regional integration .
also , where possible , I support the distribution of fruits and vegetables of Community origin .
for example , we need to consider how money is being spent in the so-called war on drugs , money which in Burma goes straight into the Burmese regime 's coffers so as to be better able to repress its own people , courtesy of the United Nations Office .
in writing . - ( IT ) Mr President , I voted in favour .
( FI ) Mr President , I approve of Mr Lewandowski 's report in principle , but we are abstaining because Parliament 's budget will not be voted on in its final form until the autumn and Parliament 's first draft budget is unsatisfactory .
( PL ) Madam President , in 1932-1933 , the authorities in the USSR started forcibly requisitioning food from collective farms in Ukraine , leaving the farm workers without food .
it has cost CAD 2 billion in replacement costs .
if you share this opinion , by what way and means do you believe will we then be able to achieve this ?
we called on you to reduce backlogs of payments from the past and indeed , arrears from before 2001 have been reduced by 39 % for Europe Aid and by 49 % for the European Development Fund .
but let us look at some of the things that we propose .
in light of the developments in Arab countries and in North Africa , we need to be prepared for the possibility of even more refugees arriving in the Union in the future .
we should support the process of stabilisation and rapprochement with Europe in Kazakhstan and the other countries of Central Asia .
" credit rating agencies will not be subject to EU regulation for the present , said Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy in a speech in Dublin on 5 April 2005 .
I am certain that we all understand and have empathy for the position of the healthcare systems of new Member States with modest financial capacities , as we also have to reckon with the risk of the emigration of a qualified workforce .
( RO ) The Union 's economic development and competitiveness depend on efficient transport of goods .
the only thing is , our role is not to impose sharing , a timetable or methods , but - as was said earlier - to encourage dialogue so as to enable the parties concerned , Palestinians and Israelis , to come to a conclusion .
employers are increasingly aware of the links between wellbeing and productivity .
( FR ) Madam President , I wish to reply to Mr Rübig and Mrs Doyle , as these are questions which have already caught my attention .
in writing . - I strongly support the idea of a comprehensive and coherent European strategy on the rights of the child .
the European Union must actively participate in the work of the Council , while remaining aware of its limitations and problems , and try to impart a balanced , yet strict and exacting , view of what respect for human rights should be .
we must use all aspects of the Interinstitutional Agreement , during its remaining years , to ensure adequate financing of our priorities and we must use something that we have rather forgotten about , namely the current review of the budget , to adequately solve those problems that are going to arise as the developing situation imposes new political emergencies .
although I am in favour of establishing an agency for cooperation , I do have some concerns about its form and mission .
in writing . - The European Parliament practises what it preaches in terms of eco-friendly behaviour !
to conclude , Mr President , I would like to thank Mrs Malmström and the entire Commission for precisely that : for assuring the Italian Government of its commitment - repeated again today - to tackle the humanitarian crisis in Lampedusa .
whilst you are currently debating the new draft financial rules , I think that you should be careful to ensure that the European Investment Bank will actually be able to make that contribution .
it says : ' rejects the idea of using the Community budget to finance a more militarist and neo-liberal EU . '
the EGF was created as a separate specific instrument with its own targets and deadlines , and it therefore deserves its own dedicated resources , thus avoiding transfers from other budget items , which happened in the past and which might frustrate the achievement of various political objectives .
they need to be efficient for society but also for the individual , and it needs to be affordable for owners .
all of the above ?
in view of this , I voted in favour of the resolution , as I agree with the Commission 's proposal , with the respective changes introduced by Parliament , and I welcome the fact that the Commission has identified an alternative source of payment appropriations to unused European Social Fund ( ESF ) funds , in line with earlier warnings made to that effect by Parliament .
the third energy package created the opportunity from a market perspective , and the climate package from a regulatory perspective , for newer investors and operators to enter the European energy market .
that would be a tangibly painful reward for the organisers of 19 December .
I am not able to give you an answer , because , from the scientific viewpoint , I do not know , but I will commission the departments , as I say , to check this .
I hope it will be a success .
subject : Turkish-funded usurpation of Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied territory of Cyprus
volunteering leads to the direct involvement of citizens in local development and plays an important role in the acquisition of skills , and improving the employability of volunteers , enabling them to gain a very wide range of skills and competences .
the European automotive industry meanwhile is fighting a rearguard action to be allowed to emit even more CO2 .
lastly , Europe today has a population three and a half times the size of Russia 's .
they must plan policies in education and life-long learning ; and also employment , social inclusion , health , the independence of young people , mobility , fundamental rights and non-discrimination .
it has multiple causes and proceeds at varying rates according to climatic differences .
that part was set aside for the next Parliament to deal with and not dealt with today .
Mr van Nistelrooij pointed out a much better way of doing it , through open coordination .
we have to cover this whole spectrum of political challenges .
I think that there is too little talk about skills in this context and too much about accumulating knowledge .
that is why the Gomes report is an outstanding one .
this , combined with the involvement of the widest group of stakeholders , including the European Parliament and citizens , is the only way a synergy can be created which is beneficial to every citizen from the 14 countries bordering the Danube .
we must look beyond and consider the past in order to implement the structural changes that will make our small and medium-sized enterprises more competitive and able to face up to the greater pressure that will come from a globalised environment .
they are almost overkill .
the Commission therefore rejects the amendments relating to paternity leave .
finally , in December 2008 there will be a forum for non-governmental organisations on the situation of women .
( EL ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I think that the European Union is being tested by a democracy crisis and a credibility crisis , as well as an economic crisis .
in writing . - Lebanon is now one of the most indebted countries in the world and the granting by the EU of macroeconomic financial assistance is wholly justified .
in writing . - ( DE ) I welcome the fact that a large percentage of the European Parliament supports the substance of the Kigali Declaration on Economic Partnership Agreements ( EPAs ) which was jointly formulated in Rwanda by Members of Parliament from European , African , Caribbean and Pacific countries .
the problem is getting the data to where we need it in order to prevent threats .
he rightly says that 2008 is year two in a seven-year financial perspective .
although we were doubtful about certain amendments , which are technically controversial , we voted in favour of the European Parliament 's position .
the opening up of air space between the US and EU on a non-discriminatory basis should provide improved services for the transportation of passengers and cargo , economic benefits , and above all jobs .
thank you .
we feel able to support most of what is contained in the report , although there are also several things that we do not fully support .
the second element of context we have to take account of is the Treaty of Lisbon , which changes things for the Eurogroup , giving it new responsibilities in terms of external representation and coordination .
in fact , its regular use has been restricted to two regions in the world : Asia and North Africa .
Member States must swiftly implement the revised Late Payments Directive to effectively combat late payments and their negative impact , particularly on SMEs .
but to block the EU membership of a Balkan country , or even just to think of doing so , is not just unwise but downright dangerous !
the difference in quantity , of approximately 27 000 tonnes , is made up by imports , mostly from regions in Africa or Asia .
the vote will take place on Tuesday , 17 June 2008 .
this particular report has opted to support the Turkish Government by trying to place undue emphasis on the progress Turkey is making in various areas , which is contrary to reality .
if the European Union complies with binding standards , it must also be able to require the same from its trading partners , particularly from emerging countries , and insist on quality and sustainability , particularly for food products coming into its territory , in order to preserve fair and equitable trade .
we must learn lessons from all this .
that is rather how the current system works ; in other words , we are , at the same time , the driver , the person who issues fines and the person who is supposed to supervise the other cars .
the vote will take place at 12 noon on Tuesday , 9 March 2010 .
I believe we cannot expect to have all these legislative arrangements in place as early as 2013 .
that also demonstrates that the Maastricht criteria and the Stability and Growth Pact need to form the essential basis for the deficit strategy and the exit strategy .
the results also show how efficient management and administration are .
we have no legal mechanisms to take action against this , but I wish to tell the Council representative that History will clarify matters , because History will always bring to light the shame of this time when , on the pretext of protecting our freedom , all the concepts on which this European Union was founded have been jeopardised .
in our view , maintaining a high degree of social protection requires ambitious directives on working hours and temporary work arrangements .
it has been quite rightly established , by Commission President Barroso amongst others , that people will not fall in love with the internal market - as important as it is - but want to see and enjoy cultural diversity , the cultural heritage of Europe .
I wish especially to thank Commissioner Barrot , who has supported us with kindness - I should say with his kindly authority - and I am also especially grateful to the chairman of our committee , Mr Deprez , and to all my colleagues .
we said that , as the second largest group in this House , we wanted the second position in the Commission , in other words , the High Representative who acts as Vice-President of the Commission , to come from our party .
let us concentrate our efforts on Europe .
with the very limited time I have available I will not be able reply to all of them , but let me comment on some of the issues .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Environment , Public Health and Food Safety . - ( SK ) Although it is necessary to monitor the social situation and social policies in the Member States in order to identify the problems and challenges facing the Union , the actions we take to deal with them are even more important .
we saw competition leading to lower prices and consumers and businesses across Europe , which led to great innovation and great choice for all consumers .
our European Commission has announced its intention to present , at the latest in autumn 2009 , its main guidelines for this revision , which has given rise to some remarkable work by our Committee on Budgets , under the leadership of Mr Böge .
this strategy comprises a series of actions , especially in the field of education and access to the labour market , entirely complying with the European standards .
we constitute less than 8 % of the population on our planet .
the fact that the organisers of last year 's flotilla are planning to repeat their action on the anniversary of the incident and MEPs from the GUE and Greens / EFA political groups organised a hearing at the EP on 10 May put the issue yet again in the spotlight .
( Parliament agreed to accept the oral amendment )
for this reason we support the so-called home-grown players rule so that young people are trained by a club and can get their first contract with the same club .
we find ourselves in economically tricky times , but we know that you are not afraid of them .
within the context of the directive , the European Commission has been given an unusually large amount of trust , considering that the directive is a framework directive .
it is true there are some costs , but we have to compare the cost of this package with the cost of inaction and , since the cost of inaction is much higher , we can say that there is a relative gain in having this package .
our parliamentary group asked to be able to vote separately against specific references which are insulting to Greece under the part vote procedure .
it is important , in this context , that the Committee on Missing Persons should carry out all the necessary investigations and analyses while there are still eyewitnesses available who can provide information about this humanitarian problem of missing persons .
according to reports in the Swedish media , Swedish citizen Dawit Isaak , imprisoned in Eritrea since 2001 , has been transferred to a new prison in Eritrea .
I repeat - at any cost !
this position is also supported by all the stakeholders that I have spoken to , whether they be municipal umbrella organisations , public enterprises - particularly in the water industry , industrial associations , trade unions or , not least , NGOs .
so the banks are moving .
you are not a spectator ; you said , ' I am a facilitator ' .
I voted in favour of the resolution on the situation of Christians in the context of freedom of religion .
it is a road map for making cars cleaner and safer and for simplifying the legal context for the development of European vehicle manufacturing .
we must convey a clear message to citizens about what Europe is all about and what we are trying to achieve with our various legislative proposals ; otherwise , we are wasting our time .
11 .
Prime Minister , European integration has always been a question of solidarity between the citizens of its countries and , in the difficult period we are currently experiencing , the duty of Europe , more than ever , is to prove this once again through its deeds .
I would like to ask , for example , why the European Parliament is not working with organisations which exist in the region , such as the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation ( PABSEC ) .
the Irish people only recently displayed their commitment to the EU by voting strongly for the Lisbon Treaty .
I hope it will enjoy rapid growth , but I would like all ports in Europe to be treated equally , so that they really can compete and so that the technical solutions adopted by one of the Member States do not obstruct the development of a port in another .
the foundation of solidarity is a willingness to assume real responsibility when meeting with others who are in need .
as for services , we will have them because we will have an industrial policy .
the team standing before you today is ready to rise to the challenges ahead of it .
we must satisfy ourselves that medicinal products are only imported if safety and the possibility of verification are given top priority .
I would remind you of the case in which three people died in Greece after using a faulty steam iron .
did it not occur to those drafting Chapter I of the Charter that a threat to physical integrity and dignity could come not only from the public institutions and the state , but also disguised as affection ?
( EL ) Mr President , it is a fact that the amending regulation which we are being asked to approve will perhaps bring about an improvement in certain Member States in which biometric identifiers are even being taken from infants and will temporarily prevent certain Member States from dragging people under the age of 12 , who at present are not obliged in any case in certain countries to travel on a personal passport , through such procedures .
this serves capitalist interests admirably and shows how much capitalists fear popular reaction .
many journalists ridiculed this , but others understood the issue .
this system is based on a taxable event taking place in a specific Member State , leading to a VAT debt and VAT liability in that Member State .
further , I hope that the Commission , Parliament and the Council alike will be active in promoting the adoption of a binding convention on port state control at United Nations level .
I do not , however , believe that the time has come to start dialogue between this parliament and that of Belarus .
let me just briefly go through some of the recommendations and the principles underpinning them , because they deserve due consideration .
on the other hand , though , we should bear in mind that the Sixth Action Programme urges us to support sustainable production methods and consumption models by fiscal means .
( PT ) Over the years , and through successive amendments to the common agricultural policy , we have warned about its consequences and tabled alternatives .
although the Commission proposes restructuring the fisheries sector in line with the current macroeconomic situation , concrete measures are needed to help ensure the survival of the sector .
ladies and gentlemen , as draftsman of the opinion on this report , I regret that the committee responsible has not adopted my key proposals .
at this juncture , when rich or less rich Member States are being hit by the effects of the economic crisis , cutting the budget allocated to the cohesion policy would be tantamount to jeopardising all the successes over recent years and the reduction in the disparities which we have been endeavouring to combat up until now .
the Czech Presidency was against extending the duration of maternity leave to 20 weeks and it was against including paternity leave , which is essential to ensure that family responsibilities are shared between men and women and therefore to promote gender equality .
I declare adjourned the session of the European Parliament .
I think that some of these issues are not urgent and should be properly debated in this Parliament to maintain its credibility .
they have pinned their hopes on you and us , in the hope that we will ultimately be able to help find a solution in their region , one way or another .
protection of the EU financial interests - fight against fraud - Annual report 2010 (
we have had quite extensive public consultations on this matter .
I do not know how quickly Mr Verhofstadt 's country asked the Commission to take action on budgetary matters , but I would like to remind him that there were elections in Greece in early October .
we hope that his mediation will contribute to a secure , peaceful and lasting solution to the situation in Guinea .
we want to discuss with them whether they do not see that Europe is on the brink of recession .
I am delighted that we are united in our aim to revive , unify and strengthen the European market .
no , it is not , particularly as it is diverting attention from the real crisis - not that we are releasing carbon dioxide from fossil fuels , but that we are beginning to run low on the oil which powers our civilisation .
farmers must not only be helped , but they must also be guaranteed market protection , as laid down by the fundamental rules of the treaty .
I will have been a Member for 20 years soon .
on the other hand , a European policy for the Roma minority must be aimed at promoting tolerance and acceptance of cultural differences , with the focus on peaceful coexistence within the limits stipulated by the laws of the relevant state and EU regulations .
they have to be taken into account , but it does not mean that as a consequence of Article 153 ( 5 ) , no measures having an effect on pay can be adopted on the basis of Article 122 .
I voted for this report as the European Union has needed for many years now clear rules and procedures about the rights granted to legally resident third-country workers .
we are awaiting the completion of the process in the Constitutional Court , but once that process is finished , we will have completed the ratification process definitively , because there is a general principle of law , European law and international law , and that is the principle of loyal cooperation between the Member States and the institutions , and also the principle of good faith in negotiating international agreements .
we know how those things begin , and we also know where they always lead .
it is , however , my conviction as a supporter of the market economy that development assistance can ( and must ) be provided by means of trade policies which benefit developing countries .
we need to set guidelines for action , by which I mean that firms must not lay people off when they are being given aid , that the aid must be linked to innovation as laid down in the climate-change package and the Sacconi regulation , and that relocations and competition between EU Member States must stop .
this is why I believe that the European Union and Parliament have , in this case , taken very appropriate action with this report , which will really contribute to the development of the European and Bulgarian economies .
therefore the proposal put forward in the report of the Economic Committee sounds reasonable and penalizes countries like Bulgaria and Romania to a less extent .
the Guinean Government is persecuting and killing anyone whose political beliefs differ from those of their leaders , thereby depriving the people of any kind of freedom which , as we well know , is obviously an inviolable right for every human being .
at a time when multiple crises seriously threaten the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals , it is all the more important to ensure that our development policies are not undermined by action in other policy fields .
at the present time I think it is vital - and I will end here , Madam President - that we make global issues compatible with local issues .
I welcome Croatia 's participation in the work of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction ( EMCDDA ) .
as of 2011 , the Christian community is the most persecuted in the world ; fortunately , European Member States have noticed and are beginning to respond .
Member States are not spending what is currently at their disposal .
it is my contention that it was a bad idea in the first place , and simplifying it is to merely administer a band-aid rather than a cure .
after all , these small and medium-sized enterprises form the backbone of European competitiveness .
a comprehensive anti-corruption strategy needs to be developed .
repeal of directives regarding metrology (
in writing . - ( PL ) Madam President , I voted in favour of adopting the report on the recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning .
however , it would have been preferable to avoid such exceptions , as we proposed .
any policy that is environmentally favourable is to be recommended , including taxation measures .
I am not referring to the candidate countries that will be in it in the coming years , provided that they fulfil the conditions , but to those who have decided either through an opt-out clause or through a referendum that they do not want to be part of it .
Romania has the fifth largest number of head of sheep among European Union Member States , but sheep livestock numbers have fallen by more than 40 % .
therefore , the fact that we have established the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights within the period under examination sends out a significant message from Parliament and , of course , from us .
finally , I want to encourage Parliament to continue to support us with its expert contributions and to make the appropriate demands on us .
however , can these objectives be achieved , or will they again become yet another insurmountable obstacle ?
to my mind , what is important is that the market is provided with a sufficient degree of clear information that is useful .
it shows that social Europe is making headway and that progress is possible where improving European workers ' rights to information and consultation is concerned .
this is a positive development towards finding a solution .
6 .
that is the year when we shall be called to account and required to show how far we have maintained the ambitions that inspired us in Lisbon in 2000 .
( PL ) Mr President , President-in-Office , Commissioner , in the agreement signed in October last year , Ukrainian premier Yulia Timoshenko and Vladimir Putin stated their readiness to move to world prices for the transmission and storage of gas over three years .
in 2007 , there was another review , which acknowledged the particular need to strengthen the secretariat and highlighted the need to confront the problem of resources for the permanent commissions and the national representatives .
the United States must also learn to respect the positions of the European Union because , as the work of Mrs Ferrero-Waldner and Mr Solana assumes , we are an institution that can be respected internationally and that has significant potential as an interlocutor in every region of the world .
in fact , the proportion of women in prison across Europe is dropping .
I speak for the European Union .
female figures , contributions and work have never been given any symbolic recognition , not only in this respect .
one way of hindering it is to show little or no desire to achieve mutual recognition of stock .
( the President cut off the speaker . )
it is on the basis of these precepts that we must consider efforts to preserve wilderness in Europe and , very specifically , in the outermost regions , where such diversity is so important .
my group and I , faced with a choice between Mr Chávez and a Central Criminal Court judge like Mr Velasco from a state governed by the rule of law , have no hesitation in supporting that Central Criminal Court judge .
to me as a Social Democrat , it was important to work to achieve an energy policy and energy supply strategy that has a clear consumer perspective and which also provides transparency on the energy trading market and ensures that the climate crisis has consequences for our decisions on the conversion to renewable , sustainable and safe energy sources and energy systems .
Mr President , I have to say that in my own Group 's voting list this resolution on natural disasters is described as forest fires , but the natural disasters in Europe over the summer were actually wider than that and I wish to raise the issue in my own region of the worst floods in over a century .
forwarding of texts adopted during the sitting : see Minutes
Mr Wojciechowski , it is not up to the President-in-Office of the Council to decide who should represent Poland .
having a European vision requires common criteria and absolute transparency in the pre-selection process by the Member States .
we are fully aware that many illegal immigrants are victims twice over .
the new rules for the labelling of flavourings will indeed better inform the consumer and help to avoid the consumer being mislead .
Europe should decidedly continue supporting them .
this is probably why there is no roll-call vote .
we must guarantee that products are safe for our consumers .
she has also represented minors on death row , truly a heroic job in a country that executes children with alacrity .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , we in the Committee have done our work .
the pro-Europeans want to facilitate the closure of the last remaining coal mines in Europe by means of short-term State aid .
the Pakistani Telecom authority instructed all Internet providers to block the website .
in Austria , for example , basic salaries of managers rose by around 3.7 % between 2006 and 2007 .
this is a whole new ball game .
lastly , we must not forget that the agricultural challenge is directly linked to the food challenge , and it is therefore of the utmost importance when it comes to protecting the health of European citizens .
this is a sign that in each Member State the money will be used for the buildings which most need it .
in writing . - UKIP wish to see the common agricultural policy abolished .
I would point out that these are only foundations that have been laid .
nevertheless , we attach a great deal of importance to protecting human rights as part of the process of combating terrorism .
here in this House we hope that the joint strategy and action plan will reflect the commitments made by the European Union , with due priority being given to the fight against poverty and to the Millennium Development Goals , particularly access to basic health care and education .
after all , we are similarly involved in other fields of transport so it would only be logical .
however , whilst this remains the end goal , we are not yet in a position to end animal experimentation altogether .
we are grateful to other public figures and statesmen that I have not mentioned today , such as Helmut Kohl , Mr Mitterrand and Mr Palme who have contributed so much to both the democracy of Spain and its future .
even though we cannot prevent volcanic eruptions , we can improve the technology used to predict them and how we evaluate the resulting situation .
thank you for your attention .
1 .
it is largely down to the fact that the fund has significant resources at its disposal .
what we have not seen , and what we should see , given that the accounts have been very biased , is what happened in Ossetia .
( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , all of us here are against counterfeiting and piracy .
at the same time , we congratulate the rapporteur , Ms Sbarbati , on her excellent report , which contains many important points and suggestions .
its objectives are the eradication of poverty and the gradual integration of ACP countries into the global economy , whilst adhering to the objective of sustainable development .
Mr President , the entire debate and report on carbon capture and storage ( CCS ) are a small cog in the huge machine of the climate package , but nonetheless a very important and essential cog , because CCS could be used as a transitional technology for the next 50 to 80 years .
there is a real lack of comprehensible information on these rights , hence the need for a strong , clear , comprehensible document enumerating existing rights : a charter .
Madam President , I had intended to speak on the impact of the financial crisis in the Republic of Ireland on the economy in Northern Ireland .
this directive is aimed at combining EU legislation regulating consumer rights , safeguarding a high level of consumer protection across all EU Member States and encouraging businesses to provide services and sell goods in other Member States .
I think we need this .
and we expect your Presidency to rise to the challenge .
I think that the partnership must concentrate much , much more explicitly on this rather than on matters that we surely consider to be less important .
researchers themselves must have the freedom to select the most important areas of research , and , in particular , the programme must be flexible enough to be able to deal with the challenges of tomorrow .
on many occasions people have depicted increased competition and the liberalising measures in the European market as a relinquishment of the European social model or as a relinquishment of the protection afforded by social rights .
I would like to tell you that I have always promoted that , always on condition that Kazakhstan continues to take a lot of important steps that are still necessary .
( DE ) Madam President , I am somewhat disappointed that Parliament was unable to approve this by a majority today in order to learn sensible lessons from the reactor disaster in Japan .
targets therefore need to be set in shipping , but they must be fair in relation - in particular - to road transport , which competes with shipping and is much more polluting .
this was a complete failure under Kyoto , and so let us learn the lessons .
a considerable number of amendments proposed by our group , including the 11 amendments I suggested as shadow rapporteur , have been adopted by the Committee on Foreign Affairs .
I have listened to him heaping blame on the Member States , who are responsible for supervision .
although , in general , I would like to urge caution in the use of different marketing materials , I feel that , following the large number of scientific tests carried out , it must now be possible to inform the consumer accordingly .
in writing . - I voted against the proposals to discharge the Commission of its obligation to report on its expenditure because the report was unclear .
we must organise information and awareness campaigns that also reach out to young people and thus take place within schools .
the extent and the deeper causes of the global financial and economic crisis prove that global macroeconomic management of the financial markets and the legal frameworks which apply to it need to be revised - at national level , in the EU and worldwide .
I therefore remain committed to the market economy , to free trade , and to the values of capitalism , but not to the betrayal of capitalism .
they benefit countries with cereals available for export , but they create a deadlock and hunger for the people in developing countries who depend on cereal imports for their food .
I am convinced that Europe needs more debate , more democracy and , at the end of the day , more politics .
thank you , Mr Toubon .
oral questions and written declarations ( submission ) : see Minutes
I therefore ask for the House 's support for a referral back to committee .
I should like to thank the European Parliament for the resolution on the EU strategy for Copenhagen .
smart support : this is what our industry needs , and not protectionism .
empowering the public is crucial if we want to implement effective legislation .
cooperation and communication are important tools and we often witness the results of omissions in this respect .
earlier versions of the Commission mandate have been further cut down .
as has been said , this service will have to have internal operating rules that are one of a kind .
completion of the trans-European networks still seems a remote prospect , and the EU 's contribution is minimal compared to the burden to be shouldered by Member States individually .
in Europe , one out of six people lives below the poverty threshold , a figure that does not include the statistics in Romania and Bulgaria .
we are talking about EU citizens .
in the first place , as the report states , a mandatory condition is that the Member States must conform with current legislation .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Development . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , first of all I would like to thank the rapporteur , Mrs De Sarnez , who has put together an excellent summary report despite circumstances in which the Commission , and above all the Council , have not always shown themselves to be open to appeals from this Parliament .
lastly , on Mr Désir 's report , I think this comes at a very timely moment , given that a new Commission communication on corporate social responsibility ( CSR ) is in preparation .
this can be the case for women , disabled people , or the long-term unemployed .
a strong Agency is not in conflict with comitology .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I would like to thank all the contributors for their very positive positions .
you also stated that you were speaking in your personal capacity .
with the aviation industry set to lose upward of € 1 billion as a result of the volcanic ash cloud , the EU must act quickly and decisively to ease the financial blow on the aviation industry .
to these two crises we now have to add the financial crisis , which hits our eastern neighbourhood particularly hard .
based on that preliminary examination and the documents submitted at this stage by the Greek authorities , the Commission is still unable to adopt a position on the nature of these decisions under EU rules on State aid .
the Council is not politically represented here today .
I am therefore very concerned that we are not exercising our rights sufficiently regarding such an important matter , which evidently only generates limited interest today and which some fellow Members have described as the question of the century .
what is important , as far as I am concerned , is that it is the Member States that should be able to decide , and that labour law , in all its facets , should , in my view , remain an exclusive preserve of the Member States .
on the one hand , the agreement must respect the need for balance , and not cause serious difficulties for European agricultural producers .
following the complete standstill reached by gas supply transiting through Ukraine on 7 January 2009 , with severe consequences for those Member States with little possibility to mitigate the cut , we stepped up pressure and after lengthy and difficulty negotiations got both sides to agree on sending a monitoring team composed of independent EU experts , accompanied by observers from both sides .
an oral question by Pervenche Berès , on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs , to the Council : follow-up after the review of the Lamfalussy process - B6-0011 / 2008 )
for months the milk sector has been suffering one of the worst crises in its history .
freedom and democracy are defended by knowledge .
the directive before us today establishes a good middle way that regulates the issues relating to the internal market , while leaving legislative decisions on all other matters to the Member States themselves .
I fully realise that investment in the neighbourhood is more obviously attractive and easier to justify and that it is more appealing both to public opinion in your countries and to potential development-policy partners .
too much information is equal to no information .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , Europe has long been like the Sleeping Beauty on matters of immigration , and we are now paying the price for the time wasted .
they say that we should wait for Member States to play their part .
under the agreements with African and Pacific countries , the EU 's financial contribution is , to a large extent , expressly intended to support national fisheries policies based on the principle of sustainability and sound management of fishery resources .
we could make a lot of progress here .
during the debates that took place at the FAO Summit in Rome , several NGOs accused the food multinationals of trying to grab thousands of hectares of very fertile land belonging to small farmers in the developing world .
so I think it would be a complete mistake now to be divided on this matter ; since we want to reinforce stability , I think it is important that we agree on this limited revision of the Treaty .
we need more security in this area .
although the basic approach is the same , we now have masses of amendments instead of just a few .
I welcome the fact that UNESCO has placed the Mediterranean diet on its world heritage list .
well I am not fooled , and many of my colleagues are not fooled either .
I have noted with great interest the reference made in the report to the problem among elderly people .
there is evidence that several of these flights were carrying prisoners from the Incirlik base in Turkey to Guantanamo , including the ' Bosnian Six ' .
I believe we cannot impose one-size-fits-all solutions .
in particular , we are legislating for the good of the citizens , thereby giving them more reasons to vote in the June elections .
that was disastrous for employment and the environment , and , despite appearances , it is disastrous in the long term for consumer health .
those who want to see a better Europe should vote against this resolution .
I consider it important to mention the timeliness of the Commission 's recommendation to Member States that they should make use of the simplifications provided for in the new Structural Funds regulations , for instance by using flat-rate amounts for indirect costs under the European Social Fund .
solving the problem by means of emission allowance trading therefore seems to be a useful measure , particularly if correctly conceived and linked with other measures supporting market stability and preventing competition distortions .
the second issue is that we need the certainty that this time , unlike in the past , the agreements will also be implemented in other territories .
your rapporteur is suggesting welcoming this communication as a ' solid methodological basis ' and calls for further analysis , data collection , dialogue and concrete proposals .
both the rapporteur , Mr Kamall , whom we have to thank for the report , and Mr Zaleski have pointed out what is possible in the service sector : knowledge transfer , better qualifications , jobs and better infrastructure .
I would like to ask you to take the problem seriously .
looking at the speed at which we have improved the green part of the budget , you can see that things are moving too slowly .
we are looking forward to hearing Parliament 's views during the debate today and the resolution that you will subsequently adopt .
Mr President , we are facing a situation now that we have sleepwalked into , because for too long food was too cheap : it was below the cost of production .
Mr President , in addition to the points I mentioned in my introductory statement , the proposed directive also contributes to the process of simplifying EU legislation on water .
crucially , stricter fiscal rules and broader economic surveillance - both cornerstones of the Commission package - have been preserved .
his account , without wanting to put a gloss on the prevailing misery in the region , offers us a few rays of hope .
rapporteur . - Madam President , I would like to thank all the shadow rapporteurs who have worked with me .
at present , the Council is not unanimous .
I voted in favour of this important document .
we need to encourage Ukraine along the road to democracy and we need to bring it closer to the European Union .
it has been mentioned that we now have to think about the practical implications of the Lisbon Treaty .
President-in-Office . - ( SL ) Firstly , the supplementary question from Mrs Harkin .
let me repeat what Mr Swoboda has just said .
there are certainly deficits in terms of democracy and the rule of law in Russia .
my colleague Mr Böge 's report recommends that this instrument be used to finance the Lifelong Learning Programme , the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme and aid to Palestine .
for example , I read in the Commission 's 2007 communication on the objectives for 2004-2006 that the intention is to examine the possible effects of nanoparticles on health and the environment .
I would like to formally state that the European Commission is fully committed to respecting the principles of the autonomy and independence of the board , which are enshrined in the regulation , and it will not have any role in the EIT 's strategic decision-making .
in an area that is closely tied to the health and lives of the public , in addition to adopting best practices , it is clearly becoming necessary to optimise resources and make collective use of the European scale of organ availability .
we welcome the recent agreement concerning the missing documents and urge Croatia to deliver on it .
the disaster shook the world 's energy and raw materials markets . it will determine the political and economic environment for a long time .
Lithuania received a total of EUR 2.9 million in aid from the EGF , which was earmarked for workers from the construction and household goods manufacturing sectors that were badly affected by the crisis .
in spite of apparent sufficiency of supplies , a significant proportion of the world 's population cannot afford the basic food it needs ; around 900 million people worldwide suffer from hunger due to extreme poverty .
it is not true to say that the citizens of countries that want to join the Union expect this to happen immediately or even very soon .
I wish to draw attention to at least two points : one is the wage gap between men and women .
I endorse this programme , but at the same time I would like to appeal to all of us and to our citizens to be attentive to the distress of the people around us .
in spite of the active involvement of citizens in initiating legislative proposals and in attempting to make the Community 's legislative system more transparent , Europeans are still faced with a number of problems linked to the breach of and non-compliance with people 's right to move to and reside where they want on the territory of Member States .
( applause )
that is why they have the European Ombudsman .
I agree with Mr Czarnecki that liberalism has spread across the world .
if freedoms are complemented by clear obligations on suppliers and strong consumer protection , we can strengthen consumer confidence .
this report is part of the legislative package on economic governance and is one of its key elements .
most often , in fact in the overwhelming majority of cases , they manifest themselves as attacks on the Czech , or rather Czechoslovakian , so-called Presidential Decrees .
lastly , I would like to emphasise the importance of ensuring all women have access to quality reproductive healthcare .
ladies and gentlemen , I have this stack of paper in front of me , which gives you an idea of the amount of work we still have to get through this morning .
we cannot afford not to ensure that we have new , modern maternity leave legislation .
secondly , I think it is vital for us to stop market distortions through the funds .
for me , however , it is also important to mention that the Member States are required to document even more strictly why certain aspects or elements should be retained , as it is only in those circumstances that we really need European regulations ; they are not an end in themselves .
the Member States will no longer be working in isolation because mutually recognising approvals will now be the rule , rather the exception .
well , one way to start is to widen trade links , not cut them off .
by assaying the members and observers of the SCO , we can safely conclude that these countries own a significant proportion of the world 's oil and gas reserves .
this helps prevent a separation and divergence between the countries leading the way and those following behind .
the truth is that this generalised document could quite easily have been tabled in 2007 or 2008 , so I do not know why we have had to wait .
nevertheless , I abstained from the final vote as I could not agree with the EU and the Member States having to guarantee women completely free access to abortion .
the European Union aims to simplify administrative procedures and to issue a single document for both residence and work permits .
'4 . calls on Israel to cease military actions killing and endangering civilians , and extrajudicial targeted killings ; '
the Eastern Partnership means the chance for cheaper visas , better economic cooperation and financial support for civil society .
( PL ) Mr President , I would like to add one more thing to the list of abuses in this election , which made it not really an election at all since there was nobody to choose between .
finally , the simplification achieved by harmonising rules at all programming levels will facilitate the participation of small agencies in cohesion policy programmes and improve the take-up of funds .
the fight against terrorism is , in this respect , one of the main challenges for which the three Presidencies have defined the objective of intensifying cooperation in this area through continued implementation of the EU Counter-Terrorism Strategy .
this House has been a consistent source of critical support , and I want to thank you for this .
one worry is its illegal use and its abuse , and , as we know , one of the biggest issues and problems at the moment is piracy .
because it is an intermediate source of energy .
bees are essential for the pollination of crops , for maintaining the ecological balance , and as a way of preserving biodiversity .
Guillermo Fariñas , last year 's winner of the Sakharov Human Rights Prize , has accused the Cuban regime and , in particular , the First Secretary of the Communist Party , Raúl Castro , of Juan Soto 's death .
for more than thirty years , the European Union and its Member States have worked together in financing , drawing up and developing space policy .
if you close the shipyards now , in this economic climate , as you just stated , you will throw the entire region into economic disaster , and that is not on .
( FR ) Mr President , I would like to start by congratulating Mr El Khadraoui on having reached a compromise , but we must not pretend that this text is not a very fragile one .
I would like to wish our guests a warm welcome and emphasise the importance we place on such a visit , the first in Europe for almost 10 years .
I am not convinced that the proposed quota changes will make a great deal of difference but , as they are voluntary on Member States , this group will certainly not oppose them being granted .
as you know , work is under way on this directive .
the Commission is convinced that the existing measures already provide for a very high level of information and rights to the public for flights within and outside the European Union .
it will also help to promote investment in environmentally friendly technology research and development and in recycling .
- ( SK ) I would like to thank Jutta Haug , Mr Lewandowski and the coordinator for their excellent work .
as we have heard here , gross domestic product is now at crisis point in different parts of Europe .
the situation in Iran 's prisons is critical as well : since 25 August , several hundred Kurdish political prisoners have been on hunger strike in Iranian prisons .
we look to you , High Representative Ashton , to seize the initiative and to assert the authority and leadership provided to you by the treaty , to knock heads together if necessary and to chart the way forward .
the vote will take place today .
I think you are right .
in this generation we face a world of change not yet fully understood , in which we can either hasten or delay progress by the myriad of decisions that we take every day .
in this context , the activities of the EIT and , notably , knowledge and innovation communities will be implemented through innovative public-private structure partnerships and financed through a variety of public-private sources .
this was the case in the Czech Parliament and it will be the case in the Czech Senate once the vote is taken .
thirdly , it is my observation that the regime supports everything that is bad or involves corruption in this world - be it in the Middle East or in Pakistan .
Slovenia is a pioneer of European unification .
( ES ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , as the European Commission stated in its communication of 22 July , the situation in the dairy farming sector has deteriorated dramatically during the last 12 months .
all of this can be controlled , hence its fear of the creation of a ' gas version of OPEC ' .
in this context , we note with satisfaction the renewed interest of the donor community in the agricultural sector , which has been ignored over the last 25 years .
in the context of granting citizenship on a purely ethnic basis , regardless of residence , employment or family ties , it opens a Pandora 's Box of extreme nationalism such as we have not seen since the end of the Second World War .
the work of the JHA Council on 25 July has allowed a political agreement to be reached on the draft decisions on the European Judicial Network and the strengthening of Eurojust .
two closely linked topics in particular are central for us in the Committee on Industry .
if we have another CSDP mission and another round of Stability Instrument training without a political process leading somewhere , I do not think it will help us .
it is vitally important that ICCAT is allowed to do its job .
I hope that message reaches the people of Europe .
over the years , important legislation on equal treatment and gender mainstreaming in European policies has allowed us to move towards a more egalitarian society and labour market .
there is a clear need for dialogue , both with the representatives of the outgoing authorities and with the opposition , including Islamic movements .
obviously , ladies and gentlemen , all this will work only if the Member States supply the necessary investment because we cannot have a successful railway policy until we make the trans-European networks a reality , and guarantee interoperability on all the major lines , notably through the ERTMS .
the Russia-Ukraine crisis has highlighted once again the need for a common EU approach .
however , I wish to conclude , Mr President , with something that is more important and which has brought us all here : the European Commission , the European Parliament and the European institutions must have the capacity to provide an urgent response to emergency situations .
as the European Parliament , we should , indeed , look at what the Commission is saying today .
( PL ) Mr President , I would like to add my voice to that of Mr Juvin - the humanitarian aid is poorly coordinated .
I wish you a great deal of strength and success in this .
in the context of the overall developments , the EU 's common agricultural policy appears very inflexible and rigid .
in short , you complain today and every day about the effects of what you encourage every day , in other words stripping away the powers of the State for the benefit of post-democratic forums , made up of officials , bankers and judges .
meanwhile , the use of agricultural products for non-food purposes , particularly for producing biofuels , which they seek to prioritise , will not help to develop agricultural activity and may , on the contrary , replace the production of food products , thereby having a negative impact on the protection of food sovereignty .
first of all , as regards the burning issue of energy labelling .
more and more documents are being produced , but the situation of women is improving only very slowly .
in 1987 , the Commission recommended that all acts that had up to 10 amendments be codified , so that Community legislation would be easier to understand .
the control measures are reinforced , in particular as regards joint fishing operations , the adoption of a general prohibition of transhipment at sea and the introduction of a regional ICCAT observer programme .
by combining social mixing with local development and by providing access to members of the public for whom going on holiday is difficult , social tourism makes the tourism sector more profitable .
this applies not only to the much-discussed situation in Greece , which has managed to reduce its budget deficit for the first six months of this year by 46 % , but also to the Czech Republic , Germany , Ireland and all the others .
but I can only imagine how people will react when they hear that their MEPs passed this report on a Treaty that they have not read .
volunteering (
I supported this report because of the need to promote a framework for the improvement of education and training systems in Europe .
secondly , with regard to Brazil , Russia , India and China , which are huge producers of CO2 emissions and other emissions , what role will they play , and what pressures can we in the European Union put on them to meet the same standards that we are demanding of our own ?
cloned animals are very expensive to use for food .
I voted against Mr Garriga Polledo 's report because of some points that I feel are critical in the motion put to the vote .
in Romania , as in other countries , the banks were not involved in transactions dealing with toxic assets .
the report by Christa Klaß , on behalf of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for Community action to achieve a sustainable use of pesticides - C6-0246 / 2006 - ,
the international community achieved a certain amount of progress in Cancún .
in my country there are public banks that have less in the way of state guarantees than private banks are now being given by various states .
a specific financial pledge is needed to achieve this .
I am very grateful for any explanations you can give us .
when it comes to improving coherence between European rules on matrimonial matters , it is tricky getting 27 to agree on this matter .
as a supporter of a liberal economy , I realise , as I am sure we all do , that there are two essential prerequisites to a sound and effective liberal economy . these are , on the one hand , the freedom to produce and sell a range of products and , on the other , protection of the original producer 's intellectual property , which is equivalent to protecting his or her copyright .
Mr President , I make no secret of the fact that the provisions set out in the Banana Accompanying Measures are a gamble on the future , for various reasons .
the current prices are coming from a historical low level , which was established after the 2003 reform , which for the industry provided a stronger competitive basis and for the dairy farmers provided compensation for potentially lower prices .
yet I must say that I cannot share - at least not yet - the conclusions reached in the report , which proposes to legalise the opium poppy for medical purposes , albeit on a trial basis .
the Commission will continue to examine other methods of raising businesses ' awareness , if it deems this appropriate .
absolutely right .
I do not accept that we have not done enough .
after all , in the case of road infrastructure , funds could be transferred directly to the relevant local authority departments that are under the control of institutions in the Member States .
yet if the criminal law of the Member States is not sufficient , we will need to reread Articles 82 to 86 of the Treaty of Lisbon , reflect on whether we can consider the corruption of MEPs to be cross-border crime or an act otherwise detrimental to the Union 's financial interests and determine whether or not to create a European Public Prosecutor , which would , moreover , be a significant step along the path to unity .
the Interim Agreement states that bilateral issues must not be allowed to become a barrier to accession .
I voted for this proposal for a legislative amendment , whose definitive text I hope to see adopted during Parliament 's July plenary sitting .
to the best of my knowledge , based on the scientific expertise I receive , we believe that these matters and this approach are safe .
I should like to share with you a very big personal concern of mine , Mr Barroso and Mr Verheugen : you are the guardians of the law !
between July and August this year the Commission received a dozen international assistance calls : from Greece , Cyprus , Italy , Bulgaria , Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia .
the crisis is political as well as economic in nature and we have seen time and time again that Europe is strongest when it acts together and a unified response to this crisis is the best response .
in any case , this should emerge clearly from the investigation .
is Europe grasping for something that it does not need because it already has it ?
hence the multitude of amendments due to the different approaches of the 27 Member States , each with its own national realities .
of course , we must also support those on low incomes throughout the world .
the states are thus in no way solely responsible for the debt crisis .
( FR ) Mr President , the conflict between Georgia and Russia and the financial crisis have both been opportunities for the European Union to make its presence felt on the world stage as a fully-fledged first-rate political player .
no , the structural problems in Greece go back further than that .
full funding is required from the EU budget for food aid programmes as some Member States will be unable to participate in the scheme when cofinancing rates apply .
I think the whole political climate has also changed and the political balance has changed and that has affected our discussions on these issues .
Member States must have a greater involvement in this evaluation mechanism , or else this mutual confidence is in danger of diminishing .
let us be honest , this remains a difficult exercise , and I am delighted that the President-in-Office of the Council is present .
I would also like to thank my colleagues , Mr Cerexhe of the Belgian Presidency , Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn , and all those who contributed to the public consultation for their assistance .
I think that together we have proven that , where the well-being of European citizens and the European economy is concerned , European institutions are united and efficient .
at the end of 2006 the Commission presented a communication reviewing the 1994 Directive on deposit-guarantee schemes .
in its practical work , the Eastern Partnership must strengthen the political and economic relations between the European Union and the states in this region , and also strengthen the mutual cooperation between those states .
she did a very good job , as of course , did Mr Grosch , of whom Parliament has come to expect good reports .
there are considerably higher numbers of qualified academics in other Member States , and we should study their systems .
purchases at trade fairs are now also classed as direct selling .
it reminds us that , at present in Haiti , apart from the conditions of poverty and the feeling of insecurity that prevail among the citizens ( 60 % of the population are living outside and 80 % are living in absolute poverty ) , there is acute concern about the situation of the most vulnerable persons , who face violence , sexual abuse , human trafficking , exploitation and abandonment .
so far , we have had no success on that score , because the Kimberley system is a collaboration of countries which take a dim view of other countries interfering in their home affairs .
we all know about prison overcrowding and the allegations of poor treatment of detainees .
these characteristics and this inability to cooperate are the real cause for the collapse of his government .
the emissions limits must be the same .
consequently , nothing , except the will to initiate a new method of imposing supranational legislation , justifies such a position .
( ES ) Mr President , I will begin by congratulating Mr Hutchinson on clearly setting out in his report the work done by the Joint Parliamentary Assembly ( JPA ) in 2007 .
Mexico has banned the trade .
the EPA gives Papua New Guinea and Fiji duty-free and quota-free access to the EU market in return for the gradual liberalisation of their markets over a 15-year period .
we will vote in favour of what is good and against what is bad , and we will not give in to blackmail .
it therefore seems to me that the establishment of the European External Action Service ( EEAS ) calls for the development of procedures that will allow for close cooperation between the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the EEAS department for election observation missions , thereby avoiding the risk of duplication and strengthening the EU 's external action in the OSCE area .
it will be more difficult to deal with unemployment , casualisation , low wages and the generalised increase in prices , considering that the level of debt of Portuguese families has now reached 129 % of their disposable income .
the anti-war movement has warned of these problems since the start of the war .
and do you have details of the number of proceedings being brought in each Member State ?
it was very clear , from the public consultations and the consultations with the European Parliament , that we needed a procedure which would be easy , understandable , user-friendly and well-balanced .
in this spirit , the Commission supports your proposal to nominate a special representative for the Horn .
the Energy End-use Efficiency and Energy Services Directive adopted in 2006 has contributed to achieving this aim .
in the coming decade , it is estimated that the labour force will shrink by 3 million just when the EU has one of the lowest birth rates in the world .
I also want to argue in favour of this reserve as it relates to OLAF , the European Anti-Fraud Office .
these sometimes arise due to a need to update them , but this hinders and diminishes the quality of life of the individual .
having concluded the vote so quickly , I thought I would be more flexible with fellow Members who have run over their allotted time .
in order to achieve the EU 's strategic objectives , the Commission should not start developing new tools from scratch until the existing ones are fully operational and reliable .
the changes which took place in my country then triggered the march of many countries of Central and Eastern Europe towards freedom , democracy and integration with the EU .
as we see it , it is important , amongst other things , to ensure that regional disasters remain eligible , or even safeguard the possibility of the specificity of the natural disasters suffered in the Mediterranean being recognised and of adapting this Fund - in terms of response times and eligible actions - to the specific needs of natural disasters such as drought and fires .
therefore the least we can hope for is the opening of an enquiry into the largest international credit rating agencies on their role in these events and thus action on financial instability and on the impact on the real economy .
ladies and gentlemen , just to make it clear what it is that we are now voting on , we cannot refer this back to committee as it did not come from a committee , but we can postpone the vote .
Cuba 's Stalinist regime , with its totalitarian ways , is attempting to damage relations between the EU and this region as a whole .
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it also omits any mention of agriculture .
what are the concerns surrounding traditional agencies ?
secondly , we need to be more open with the citizens of the European Union .
I believe citizens need more and better from the Council and the Commission than they are getting at present .
the Polish national authorities , Wrocław 's local authorities and the Polish academic world are fully prepared for this assignment .
my view is that an anti-discrimination policy , as one of the fundamental principles of the EU , has a very definite task to perform in this sphere .
I should report to you in addition on the situation in Lebanon , where important events have also recently taken place .
this report once again shows how important it is for European development to promote the mobility of our young people in all fields .
one example is my proposal for online enrolment in a register , in a national or a European donor register , with the idea of adding a reference to a person 's identity card or driving licence identifying him as a donor and therefore allowing matters to proceed more swiftly , where necessary .
( SV ) Mr President , I am pleased that the Swedish Presidency has abandoned its desire to push for quick moves to exit strategies , which would risk making the high rates of unemployment a permanent problem in Europe .
among the possible actions , I would support Mr Ziegler 's suggestion of a five-year moratorium on the production of biofuels .
from now on , the responsibility rests with the European Union , which must take strong measures to ensure that a nuclear disaster of this magnitude will never happen in Europe .
furthermore , the directive provides that detention shall be for as short a period as possible , shall require a decision in writing with reasons in fact and law , and shall be subject to judicial review at regular intervals .
this gives us the opportunity to rein in climate change .
this reaction also shows that we believe , and rightly so , that we do not solve problems in Europe in this way , that this is not in accordance with the security agreements that we have and which were made in the past on the problems with South Ossetia and Abkhazia in Georgia .
cooperation between Parliament , the Commission and the Council therefore plays a strategic role in developing a European policy to address this problem effectively .
external assistance will also be required , including considerable IMF involvement .
I think we can achieve this goal gradually , with the first exercise of this kind in spring , then the establishment of a tradition in this House , so that no one can ever say again , when you examine human rights outside the Union on Wednesdays or Thursdays , ' You have not put your own house in order ' .
procedures need to be simplified and competences transferred to the Member States , which will be able to deal with such situations effectively .
attitudes , therefore , have to change .
with advertising limited to 20 % per hour , the duration between two advertising screens is now 30 minutes , whereas we wanted to retain 45 minutes for European screens .
why do I begin with these perhaps unpleasant remarks ?
the European Council , which brings together European Heads of State or Government , is currently debating the implementation of a stability mechanism for Member States belonging to the euro area .
Greece will submit to the Commission in the course of January an updated stability programme , as foreseen in the Stability and Growth Pact .
the internal and external effects of the EU 's neoliberal policies , with their negative consequences for human and fundamental rights , are not mentioned in the report .
prosperity in Europe also depends on achieving an effective and open single market and pursuing the aims of the Lisbon strategy .
countries must abide by and respect their shared obligations so as to combat counterfeiting and piracy more effectively .
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so I am glad that the Commission has been rebuffed on this proposition and that what started out as bad has been somewhat ameliorated .
given an estimated total of EUR 8.4 billion , that makes a profit of EUR 620 million .
for the protection of watercourses it would seem more logical to take measures tailored to the geological environment , rather than fixing a minimum buffer-zone area .
I consider this very important because it is the only way in which wide acceptance of the internal market and the principle of a single market can be engendered among consumers as well as among the relevant entrepreneurs .
it is quite clear that the Afghan campaign is a problem that commands our attention ; a profound reform of strategy and tactics is required .
I say this because it is important to have facts when discussing this matter .
China , in as much as we can involve it , is a fully-fledged member of the Security Council and it would be a great help in finding solutions in the country .
I have supported , during all the work stages , the need to structure the report into two distinct parts : one referring to vulnerable communities , from the point of view of ethnic membership , and the second one referring to vulnerable communities determined by certain geographical handicaps .
where and at what level should consultation and dialogue with the European Commission take place ?
I must tell you , ladies and gentlemen , that this is much worse than Guantanamo and we have to make the US authorities clearly understand this .
I voted in favour of this report because , since the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGAF ) is an instrument to respond to a specific European crisis caused by globalisation , this applies to the current situation .
market surveillance by Member States ,
to this end , countries in Europe are compelled to introduce emergency measures , reduce budgetary expenditures , temporarily suspend planned tax reductions and even raise taxes .
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while I support the efforts and the commitment of the rapporteur , I should also stress that the EU is still far from having a coherent long-term strategy in this area .
the root cause of the current crisis is not Ukraine , but the crisis within Gazprom itself , which has failed to live up to its own commitments .
it appears that the funds in the first pillar are spent more wisely than the rural development funds .
I will just give you some examples which perhaps explain why the French are a little wary about Europe on this subject : the prices of postal services , rail transport , air transport and water transport , which have been given over to private companies , have increased exponentially .
it is only by being one step ahead that certain sectors can survive .
the European Parliament should , of course , also make a contribution towards the joint European ' union of works ' to improve the situation of the Roma .
we are not talking about a programme for a specific activity or for some specific programmes ; we are talking about some countries that have a financial difficulty .
the development and consolidation of the internal market provide businesses with access to Europe 's 500 million plus consumers .
7 .
it has a different threshold to the one we have in Europe .
I am really afraid that if we are too hesitant over the next number of years , we risk losing jobs on a very large scale .
we can also make better use of existing instruments .
Mr President , I voted for the Commission 's discharge in connection with the implementation of the EU budget for 2007 .
I am not willing to equate the crimes of the Nazis , the Holocaust and the genocide that saw six million Jews , along with Communists , Trade Unionists and disabled die , with those of Stalinist Russia .
the proposal adopted by the Commission last November sets some clear objectives for improving integrity , transparency , responsibility and good governance of the credit-rating agencies .
I would like to build on that beautiful thought by saying that until recently we could only listen to what the candidates and thereafter new members of the European Union expected from it .
I would mention , in particular , the amendment on the definition of a charge , Amendment 12 , and the amendments on airport networks , Amendments 14 and 16 , with a few changes to the wording .
in this context , there is some concern at proposals regarding access to resources that aim to promote a system of transferable individual quotas , which would have consequences in terms of the concentration of fishing activity and the individual appropriation of fishing rights .
the majority of the population in Madagascar live below the poverty line : 7 000 children are suffering from serious malnutrition , and the situation is only worsening with the political crisis .
it should be noted that it is the outcome of a long-term programme of work , the Hague Programme for strengthening freedom , security and justice in the European Union .
the report also calls for better procedures to take when publication requirements are not followed , and for data protection to be included in the Commission regulation itself .
in writing . - I voted for this resolution which reaffirms the urgent need for Russia to implement fundamental principles of democracy , the rule of law , human rights and media freedom as a basis for cooperation , and calls on Russia to take concrete action to improve its human rights record and to protect journalists , human rights activists , minorities and opposition representatives from violence and intimidation .
( RO ) Development and cooperation mechanisms and the allocation of considerable resources to developing countries for tackling climate change are important measures in terms of concluding an international post-Kyoto agreement .
the FVO also found huge flaws in the traceability system used by Brazil and detected problems with many consignments in transit to the European Union that did not have the necessary certificates .
I merely wish to draw the Commission 's attention to the fact that it would be useful , before talking about compulsory fire insurance for every citizen , to talk about compulsory civil liability insurance for damage that may be caused to third parties , sometimes with malicious intent , but above all , through negligence .
( LT ) Mr President , I would like to congratulate all the rapporteurs on the creation of this important document .
there have been a number of pit closures between 2002 and the present day during the period of this regulation , which is still in force .
we all deserve a say on the referendum on the Constitution .
you are replacing Commissioner Rehn , which is unfortunate , of course , given the importance of the questions .
the 4th Motor Insurance Directive also ensures assistance for accident victims by setting up information centres in each Member State .
the aim is laudable .
as my colleague , Mr Kallas , and the Council Presidency have said , we know that terrorism is still one of the greatest threats to our values and to our democracies .
I have had the privilege of supporting some of the work for reform on mental health in the Czech Republic .
we cannot anticipate the result of negotiations that are still in progress , but it is essential that we get the wording right because it is a matter of legal certainty and defining the scope of the directive .
the citizens of my country , the Netherlands , do not understand the reason for unnecessary legislation from above , from European level .
Goethe said that ' nothing is more damaging to a new truth than an old error ' .
the solutions aimed at developing alternative , bio- , wind and solar energy are all lengthy and not at all certain to pay off in the end .
access to financial support must be improved for new innovative businesses in the form of start-up funds .
I would like to focus on a few areas that have been raised this morning , starting with the Treaty of Lisbon and the Charter .
how many votes did the commissioners get and where did they get them ?
in our view , these measures could also include the suspension of the agreement .
for all of the above reasons , I voted in favour of this report .
we must also acknowledge that the region is part of our common neighbourhood with Russia , and we have to try to find ways of promoting common policies in that common neighbourhood .
I would finally like to emphasise the particularly important role played by Pakistan in the fight against terrorism and extremism .
I hope that at least the Commissioner can understand me .
disastrous knock-on effects might also follow for other sectors , such as the pork sector for example .
Europe must be able to react to rapid changes in the world .
does the aid support sustainable development in Haiti ?
Mr Meijer 's report shows the stony path the country has already successfully trodden .
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I want a Europe where deaf people represented by me or any person living with a disability , for that matter , really do enjoy equal opportunities .
I believe that the deal reached is a solution , but that it could not fully reconcile the legitimate interests of all the parties , and therefore call on the Commission to submit at the earliest opportunity an impact assessment of the Agreements on Trade in Bananas on banana-producing developing countries and Europe 's outermost regions over the period to 2020 .
we find that balance a bit misleading .
lastly , with regard to the duty to supply information , I would like to emphasise that early cooperation with Parliament in relation to requests for legislative initiatives based on citizens ' requests will be crucial to securing the bond between Parliament and the public .
at the same time , it should be remembered that micro-entities suffer from bureaucratic burdens to a particularly high degree .
on the subject of budgetary control , it is quite clear from the discharge of the Council how your group is acting .
I think it is too risky to apply this only to one level of the European Union , as it might make the entire EU financial system uncompetitive , and operators could get around it without too much difficulty by focusing on other markets .
as for the rest , I would like to offer my congratulations and thanks .
on the other hand , the European statute of European political parties paves the way for the creation of a transnational party system .
the first concerns the erratic way in which prices have been changing : at one point USD 10 , then 140 a short time ago , now it is back to 100 .
this culminated in the adoption by the Commission , in September 2008 , of the communication on a European Union strategy for marine and maritime research .
action must be taken relating to humanitarian aid , cooperation and development , and in this area , the Member States , the European Union and the international organisations play an essential role .
greater cooperation from the US is also needed towards more effective reconciliation of its emissions trading quota system and the one implemented by the EU .
local factors , pest pressure , climatic conditions , structure of agriculture of production and so on and regulatory conditions to ensure the coexistence of GM crops with conventional and organic production .
specialisation and a balanced relationship with the producer are also the best way forward for the customer .
in the forthcoming consultation we will convey our concerns , particularly about the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly , the problems posed by the rise of racism and xenophobia , and cooperation with Russia in international organisations such as the OSCE and the Council of Europe .
it is an EU issue , of course , because competitiveness does not come about without a mobile workforce .
with regard to hedge funds , the financial ' police ' in the UK and the USA have just temporarily prohibited speculation on falling asset values , and quite rightly so !
the European Commission has had the wisdom , for once , to submit a text that is based on recent case-law , that is to say , case-law that permits Europeans to transport goods subject to excise duty that are purchased in a Member State other than that of their residence , without quantitative restrictions , provided that the goods have been purchased for private consumption purposes .
in addition , policy makers are constantly making disparaging remarks about the media .
in view of this , the idea of holding trilateral talks between the European Union , African Union member states and China is particularly worthy of support .
remarkably , no VAT is levied on most financial services .
this is now EUR 400 million since 2000 , so this is quite a good amount .
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for example , there was practically unanimous praise for the fact that this text makes it obligatory to indicate where trimmings are of non-textile animal origin .
the most important amendments by the European Parliament considerably limit the scope of the directive and introduce elements of ambiguity and uncertainty which always operate for the benefit of the plutocracy and strengthen the unaccountability of capital .
I will begin with that point .
( PT ) Mr President , Mr López Garrido will not mind if my first words are addressed to Vice-President Barrot .
secondly , ladies and gentlemen , we are in a civilisation , in the 21st century , in which the population is getting poorer and hungrier , and there is more disease and more inequality .
one of the things that the Treaty of Lisbon changed was the financial structures of the EU , in particular , the multiannual financial framework ( MFF ) and the annual budgetary procedure .
will you ensure that this package is now finally put on the agenda of the Council working group so that it can become a success for the French Council Presidency ?
the Commission 's ultimate aim is to abolish animal testing completely .
in writing . - ( PT ) The European automotive industry , which represents around 3 % of the EU 's GDP and 7 % of its manufacturing output , is one of the most important economic sectors , producing around one third of global production .
the emphasis of this legislation is clearly on health and the links between chemical substances and cancer .
they need opportunity and encouragement to be enterprising .
this , unfortunately , is how it ends , and we had an example of this with the introduction of the euro .
( HU ) Mr President , two of Hungary 's neighbours , Austria and Slovenia , have held elections and in both countries the Social Democrats have emerged victorious .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , since the adoption of the new cotton reform by Council in June 2008 , much work has been invested in setting up restructuring programmes in the main cotton-producing Member States .
under the rules of the European Union 's Stability and Growth Pact , eurozone countries should remain inside a budget deficit limit of 3 % of GDP .
I believe that this is a much , much better approach than the quota system , and it already works in parts of the European Union .
what solution is proposed by the rapporteur ?
the Grossetête report goes in the right direction : towards the Lisbon process objective of becoming the most efficient knowledge-based area in the world .
we must and should rejoice in that .
maybe it is the new leadership battle for the Lib-Dems that has been going on , since some of their new leaders even have lookalikes !
this would help solve urgent problems implementing specific directives and also establish mutual trust between the Member States ' institutions and a more effective Single Market in the long term .
we are well aware that in terms of the development of society , mobility is a source of wealth , growth and , consequently , the capacity to promote solidarity between territories and between people .
burdens will be shared , as will solutions .
these initiatives naturally cover a large number of basic acts with subsequent regulation .
Basel II and revision of the Capital Requirements Directive ( CRD 4 ) (
every dependence of one upon the other , inequality , and above all the lack of a sovereign state structure for the Arabs , will be constant sources of negative emotions , convictions and retaliation .
its purpose should be to ensure that a citizen 's right to health care in another Member State is carefully framed , so that each Member State 's capacity to fund and organise its domestic services is not undermined by health tourism .
secondly , liquidity has to be provided over a longer term than is currently the case .
there is great purpose in the compromise proposal reached , but there remain several ambiguities , mainly around issues that affect web-blogger status .
for too long now , national monopolies controlled by governments have prevented new entrants from offering gaming services in Europe .
we hope , in actual fact , that there will be a very strong turnout at the elections .
I should now like a Member to speak against the motion .
to whom is this Code in its amended version supposed to apply , when the new definition of a parent carrier effectively eliminates this carrier ?
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at international level , the Commission , in close collaboration with the Member States , continues to support the development of Codex guidelines on the issue .
we must be proud of this statement , and must ensure that it is introduced straight away .
we jointly agreed that this issue cannot be accommodated in the Staff Regulations .
we have already criticised this system as it fails , in every respect , to meet international standards on fair trails .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , let me thank you very much for this encouraging and constructive debate .
I want to emphasise in the first instance that the fight against all forms of discrimination , in particular , those based on sexual orientation , is one of the European Union 's fundamental principles .
explicit and precise requirements are set on the construction and the management of waste facilities which have to be operated using the ' best available technique ' concept .
we need to do things better .
small and medium-sized enterprises are , for their part , vitally important to our future development , growth and prosperity .
as the European Union , we must support the Tunisian people , whose protests and demonstrations have enabled them to free themselves and regain their liberty from a regime which has lasted for many years .
if there is one common factor that I have detected in the speeches of the most representative political groups , it is the idea of ambition .
another major issue is that of communicating and publishing the results achieved through the strategy .
- ( GA ) Mr President , I welcome the recommendations made in the European Union draft budget for next year .
I think that public opinion , the tax payer in other words , often questions this , with good reason .
however , we must not lose sight of the fact that there are already border protection systems available , such as EUROSUR and FRONTEX .
subsidised , cheap European food is being exported to developing countries and , on account of its competitive prices , it often knocks these countries ' own food production out of the market , so denying these countries the chance of more long-term self-sufficiency .
it would like to stress , in this connection , that the implementing measures referred to in that article are procedural and administrative in nature and that they provide details of rules already laid down in the basic act .
firstly , changes are needed in our penal system in general .
coming from Luxembourg , you can imagine how many complaints I receive from consumers on this question , because some Luxembourgers living in a border area have one operator in the living room , another one in the kitchen and a third in the bedroom , so I am fully aware of this question .
Mr President , before I go on , I would also like to praise the work which has been done by my fellow Member , and say that I fully support the issues that have been mentioned here .
however , one of Guantánamo 's major drawbacks was that it forestalled any regular criminal proceedings against those held there .
indeed , this is also why Parliament is insisting on our introducing a separate budget line for the ' Small Business Act ' and , in particular , a budget line for climate change .
the Commission intends to fulfil its duty by investigating any complaint submitted to it and will introduce any procedures needed if it is shown that the treaty has been infringed .
that significant increase in the budget between 2006 and 2009 was both necessary and legitimate .
it is in Russia 's interest to have access to Caspian gas , and a resolute , united front from Europe would bring Russia to the same negotiating table .
these are , of course , closely linked .
I believe that it is essential that you give an explanation regarding the content .
we owe this to our electorate .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , in 1918 independent Montenegro took a voluntary decision to unite with the neighbouring states of Serbia , Croatia , Bosnia and Herzegovina , and Slovenia .
this does not seem a good idea to me .
in writing . - ( FR ) I am pleased that the European Parliament has today adopted , by a large majority , the draft directive seeking to impose sanctions against employers of illegal immigrants .
( ES ) Mr President , Commissioner , the crisis has shown that the European Union lacks the necessary instruments to counteract the effects of the former and provide an appropriate framework for economic recovery .
in addition , the best techniques to secure and trace the containers are , on the whole , insufficiently used , and they are frequently overloaded .
suffice it to say that I come from a country , Italy , that has 4 500 characteristic products , and these are assets from our land that we wish wholeheartedly to preserve .
when used as disinfectants and pesticides , they protect us from dangerous diseases , or as the case may be , from their carriers .
as regards heading 2 - Preservation and management of natural resources - the appropriations proposed by the Council were based on earlier results and past experience has shown that , despite being applied horizontally , these appropriations are generally speaking always very close to the figures for the final execution .
my group has , over the years , always supported the demands of Guinea 's democratic opposition , which still appears to be out of the game .
I believe that the gap is growing wider between those who support the European project and those who do not , but in spite of all our problems , the important thing is to hold our course , to maintain our direction and stay focused .
by restricting emissions to 147 grams per kilometre from 2020 , we are setting very clear standards .
Parliament , the Commission and Council must collaborate with each other to devise a foolproof action plan .
( DA ) Mr President , I , too , would like to see clear rules for the European parties , but I must essentially question what the point of the European parties actually is .
it would therefore be unfair to penalise Slovakia for its struggle to meet criteria that even euro area members will not fulfil in 2009 .
in 2007 the facts are chilling : 72 million European citizens continue to live in poverty ; 8 % of all people in the European Union now suffer from in-work poverty .
Madam President , I am very pleased to see the interest shown , including in the European Parliament , in a sector that is essential not only for market supply , but also for the stability of our regions : I am talking about the livestock sector .
it will certainly ensure greater clarity in terms of planning , sustainability and stability of European requirements for statistics on public health and health and safety at work .
2. on the framework Financial Regulation for the bodies referred to in Article 185 of Council Regulation ( EC , Euratom ) No 1605 / 2002 .
we must increase support for people with disabilities and young people with children , so that they can participate in mobility programmes and take advantage of this opportunity to strike a study-work-life balance .
according to Article 49 of the EU Treaty : ' any European State ... may apply to become a member of the Union ' .
the original idea of a maximum harmonisation would have meant that consumers in those countries would have been disadvantaged , and it has been trying to get that balance right that has occupied us .
the worst thing would be if something happened , so we have to prevent that and we have to be on the safe side .
in the last decade we have experienced critical periods in which this protective role has been put to the test .
then the chief investigator himself is targeted and the house of cards collapses .
the chief points of the agreement that was reached are mainly compatible with Parliament 's original proposals .
therefore , not only must the Commission 's negotiating mandate relate to the convention itself , to all the protocols and agreements already enshrined by the Charter of Fundamental Rights , but we must make a commitment very quickly to accede to all the legal instruments of the ECHR in order to have a coherent system for the protection of human rights .
fourthly , the collapse of the shipyards , and the subsequent mass redundancies , will also place a greater burden on Poland 's social security system .
we also succeeded in ensuring that the basic principles we have always represented are maintained in the Treaty of Lisbon .
'Youth on the move ' has three objectives : to improve education , increase employment and foster mobility for young people across the European Union .
only Europe 's wonderful regions can safeguard that specialness and they must be able to rely on the protection of the European Union .
can the Commission confirm its support for a strong and well resourced common agricultural policy under the next multiannual financial framework ?
it is thus very important for the EU to have a clear system for authorising both types of activity .
however , hyperbole can turn to insanity .
the SIS II should have become operational in 2007 .
for this reason , decisions made by Members of the European Parliament should be based on a reality which is more than just European .
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there were differences in the initial reports .
that was one of the points that we had to amend in the Commission 's proposal .
a very warm welcome , Mr Giscard d 'Estaing .
I ask the Commission to act swiftly and decisively in accordance with the recommendations of the Auken report .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I would like to thank Parliament for inviting me to take part in the discussion on Tunisia .
the isolation of the southern islands even benefits the welfare of the islanders , since it attracts tourists , but when it comes to energy , isolation or island status is particularly harmful to the population .
the third piece of information .
instead of strategy preparation there could be the requirement to prepare national administration rules , incorporating certain provisions set out in the strategy implementation rules presented by the Commission .
I wonder , however , whether perhaps it would have been wiser for the EU to solve its internal problems before enlargement .
I agree that we need to establish a true base for future European energy policy , aimed at pursuing the objectives of security of supply , combating climate change and the economic growth of the European Union .
I am therefore in favour of us taking an immediate look at the staff regulations for ways to make savings .
of course , I have been in office for 48 hours .
however - and let me stress this firmly - the political declaration also respects the individual responsibility of each EU institution and Member State for its own communication strategy and priorities .
finally - and this will be a very difficult point - the question of profiling , and of course we all want risk assessments .
I think it is important to adopt a European Union directive on renewable energy sources in order to coordinate EU regulation and national policy , to coordinate regulation at EU and Member State level .
the explosive increase in criminal activities via the Internet requires a coordinated approach .
the External Action Service managing director , Miroslav Lajčák , visited Tirana twice to meet the President , the Prime Minister and the leader of the Opposition , and I am happy he has joined me today .
the 100th session of the ILO began last week : it will focus on a new ILO convention on domestic workers , an issue which this House discussed recently .
our work in this is , however , not finished .
when I say organisational , I mean that organisation is policy and policy is organisation .
there are far too many administrative obstacles to these cross-border movements , especially in the social and fiscal spheres .
this is why we want close cooperation , but , in response to Mr Kreissl-Dörfler who brought this up earlier , without Turkey becoming a member of the European institutions and without full freedom of movement .
the common goal , which is evident in the report , is to eliminate illegal trafficking at all costs .
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it is in our interests to preserve this activity ; by doing so , we can develop our territory and coastal regions , ensure the European Union 's food security and safeguard jobs in the sector .
we need to make sure that there are exit mechanisms and that we come back to normal market conditions as soon as possible .
moreover , the Commission is adopting a provision that permits the placing on the market of articles containing asbestos in accordance with a system that could vary from one country to another .
France and Italy have announced a joint initiative to apply for additional resources from the European Union .
the White Paper and this report endeavour to strike a balance between competing interests , different types of sport , amateur and professional sport , between the specific characteristics of sport and the requirements of EU legislation , between social and cultural , economic and financial interests , and between profit and voluntary participation in these fields .
we ought to reach a compromise based on the existing situation in line with the population and with what applies to other sectors .
it is a central issue , because it is the political criterion .
the result is firstly a slowdown in internal demand which , since the second quarter of 2008 , has led to negative growth , and this was even before the start of the liquidity crisis .
by ' differently ' , I also mean that our efforts to rebuild the country must involve , I would say , the local communities .
European creativity is supported by Europe 's brilliant cultural tradition .
I must pay tribute to our industries because , through these research programmes , the industries have developed a whole series of mechanisms , services and products which help older people to stay longer in their own homes .
this rise is resulting in food insecurity for millions of people , destabilising the world economy and causing riots and unrest .
this can be on aspects of our trade relationship or human rights - for example over Tibet , which I know is of particular interest in this House .
besides , we live so close to one another that there is almost no barrier to our understanding of each other already .
I shall vote against it .
all countries , beginning with the developed and democratic ones and their related organisations ( like the EU ) , must therefore work determinedly , conclusively and cogently to work out policies , make choices and implement them coherently for a greater equilibrium between current and future generations , so that the division and distance between those with rights and those without , and those with resources and those without , may be reduced .
when the European External Action Service was set up , it was necessary to amend the financial regulation in order to improve control and follow-up of the EEAS 's implementation .
the longer it takes to leave the euro , the worse the consequences of the exit will be .
before I give the President of the Commission the floor , I would like to welcome warmly the two ministers Bernard Kouchner and Jean Louis Borloo who have made a significant contribution to the success of the French Presidency .
what makes me optimistic is that in spite of everything we have a kind of consensus .
we have made sure that the human factor and human failure are fully covered in the test criteria .
two of these agreements , with the US and Australia , are before you for consent to conclude them .
we must also take into account the geopolitical situation created by the Georgia conflict .
that is the reasoning behind it .
these matters impact on one another , and that is why I am trying to explain here that , unless we are prepared to make changes now , the public are not going to back us and we will lose out in the significant , major issues .
development of a comprehensive European strategy for regions with specific geographical features ;
I do not think that there are many financial institutions that are willing to give as much information about allocations to small and medium-sized enterprises , and I would stress that there has been a marked increase in the number of small and medium-sized enterprises that have benefited from loans granted by the European Investment Bank to intermediary banks .
it is now difficult to get loans to make those expenditures .
it reminds me a bit of Chernobyl in 1986 , when on the first day they reported that there was no problem , and thereafter the situation was steadily improving .
the regulation on European statistics represents the legal structure for producing statistics at European level and revises the existing basic legal framework for producing statistics at European level .
in the report on flexicurity on which we voted today in the European Parliament , it is fortunately the former definition which prevails .
in other words , this increase in the long-term measures of 5 % of the overall budget line to 10 % was agreed on a conditional basis and we expect that you , Baroness Ashton , and the External Action Service will stick to this agreement and that the strategy paper for 2012 / 2013 will reflect that .
I want a specific answer .
it would be much better to have Turkey joined to Europe by a bond of privileged partnership .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs . - Mr President , in these times of globalisation and insecurity about the future , our neighbours need clear signs from the European Union .
the Socialist Group in the European Parliament will of course ask us to vote in favour of Amendment 2 , which is absolutely essential for increasing the rights of Parliament in international trade .
instead of genetically modified food and food from cloned animals , we should be thinking more about action in favour of a return to natural foods that are ecological , healthy and contain no chemicals .
expenditure must remain within the limits fixed by this Agreement and sufficient margins must be maintained under the ceilings for the various headings .
emissions trading favours the extension of nuclear power .
the choice is between a higher degree of integration , not just coordination , and decline .
the previous ' catch-your-eye ' opportunity was because there was no one else that wanted to catch the eye , so it seemed to be an opportunity .
Parliament expects Article 290 of the Treaty , outlining the procedure known as delegated acts , to be applied to the adoption of strategy papers and multiannual action programmes .
in particular , too , the report emphasises mainstreaming in gender policies .
some points strive to further develop this strategy and , of course , I will pay close attention to these ; other points go beyond the recommendations of the Commission 's communication on some issues , such as labelling and taxation .
the remainder represented democratic systems .
firstly , I regret that the Commissioner 's colleague , Mr McCreevy , is not here - I think the horse racing season may have started again !
we are now building a rural audit in the same way as we did an urban audit in the past .
we must support Baroness Ashton and we must attempt to ensure that the European Union includes a guarantee of religious freedom in all the treaties which it concludes with third countries and , in particular , with the countries we have referred to .
when we suddenly have too much rain in a place that cannot absorb it we call it a flood and a disaster , and this results in a stream of by-products and in all this accumulated money supply being managed in an unreal way .
in writing . - ( PT ) As we have highlighted throughout this process , the aim is to amalgamate and deliberately confuse ' competition ' with ' transparency ' .
the policy of the Union on agriculture , fisheries , trade should not run counter to development policy .
why do we now have to cut the framework research programme in order to fund the ITER ?
( DE ) Commissioner , Mrs Lynne , I am much obliged to the Commission for the initiatives and to Mrs Lynne for her most excellent report .
it would therefore be a very good thing if this plenary sometimes approved scanners and if we could begin to think about adopting legislation and harmonisation in the area of justice and in the area of home affairs , because only the adoption of new technological measures will really assist us in the fight against terrorism .
basically , those interests consist in having a peaceful and stable place in the South Caucasus , in having a large enough free and integrated market , in having an open area for the safe transit of strategic merchandise , and in having institutions and legislation that are interoperable with European Union ones .
the selectiveness surrounding the countries criticised in this report and the self-serving nature of this debate is clear .
however , the secondary effects that will be felt in the euro zone , for instance higher wages , which the unions are demanding , and at the same time higher prices , which then affect businesses , hold a risk and ultimately lead to a vicious circle .
Madam President , I would , of course , like to thank Mr Fava and the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs .
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adopting the solutions proposed today will increase the inequality still further .
the information referred to the Commission by the Member States , along with the valuable data provided by the Centre for Information , Discussion and Exchange on the Crossing of Frontiers and Immigration ( CIREFI ) , help the Commission to come to its conclusions .
this report on the Union for the Mediterranean marks the interest and investment of the European Parliament in dialogue between the two sides of the Mediterranean .
the economic and social development of the Former Yugoslav Republic is a complex one , and 2005 marked its candidature for EU membership .
do the Presidency and the Council agree that the current EU ' zero tolerance ' policy which bans the import of non-EU approved products - containing an adventitious or low-level presence of GMOs - is causing a major supply problem for EU farming businesses dependent on grain and feed imports ?
in that regard complacency is likely to be our worst enemy .
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these targets signalled a labour market approach to ECEC services , based on the need identified at the time of increasing the numbers of women in work .
we cannot only regard upholding human rights as an important principle when we demand it of others and do not do anything to promote it ourselves .
one final word : I am one hundred percent in favour of the Green Group 's call for a European Envoy for Women 's Rights .
I wholly support the idea of the rapporteur that in the EU , which is home to 50 million people with disabilities , only forty-odd percent of these people are working .
I repeat , it would be disastrous to vote against it .
but we can work with other international players to put pressure on the players inside the country to agree to halt the ongoing conflict , to halt violence , to stop the violations of international human rights and to work towards peace .
the inclination to call for more staff is therefore great .
we need a clear signal from the European Parliament .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( PL ) Madam President , this is a very valuable and thoroughly prepared document .
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( PT ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , besides congratulating our colleague Mrs Sudre on her excellent report , I would like to make three points on the European Union 's future strategy for the outermost regions .
the Germans , Scandinavians , Dutch , British and others have complied , but certain large producers have simply refused . this involves massive capital costs and to comply means borrowing money .
therefore , it is a welcome development that the European economic stimulus plan should set aside resources for the construction of the gas pipeline .
that is why we have decided to make the distinction but , of course , on the substance of the problem , we are fully in agreement with the other groups .
the vote will take place tomorrow .
it is important that they are taught in their own language , but is also vital to remember that we need special teaching facilities and also that students need to be taught cultural awareness , as they are often rootless , coming as they do from one country to another , which is a new and alien environment .
we offer her our utmost support in this .
the same applies , of course , if we have anti-discrimination ; then people who we do not want to encourage in the EU , but rather need to take action against , will have even more opportunities , for example in the property market .
ladies and gentlemen , this is a reluctant admission but Bulgaria is a new country .
the concept of human rights is Europe 's answer to the lesson of history .
beyond that , it seems to me that there will never be a better time to set up one of the EU 's famous groups of wise people - and in this case I suggest it should be wise men and women - to reflect on the challenge we face and come up with original solutions beyond the short-term remedy of throwing money at tax giveaways .
there is no way back for Kosovo within Serbia 's borders .
fellow Members , please understand once and for all that Turkey is a country which , less than 100 years ago , committed genocide against the peoples within its borders and peoples which had recently liberated themselves from Turkish rule .
( NL ) Madam President , I am of course in favour of combating terrorism effectively , and I consider this particular field - the fight against terrorism - to be one that requires very intensive cross-border cooperation in Europe .
export controls have a considerable impact on EU trade policy as they can affect more than 10 % of all EU exports .
( DE ) Madam President , Minister , Commissioner , the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats welcomes the agreement of the Council and Parliament in the trialogue not to extend the new rules for the revision of the general emissions trading scheme ( ETS ) to air traffic , but to leave it to new , not yet published special rules for air traffic .
that is one aspect of it .
furthermore , it talked about democratic control by members .
the Treaty of Lisbon will allow better implementation of development cooperation policy goals with the aim of reducing and ultimately eradicating world poverty .
youth on the Move ( YoM ) is one of the flagship initiatives of the Europe 2020 strategy for the promotion of smart , sustainable and inclusive economic growth .
discrimination should be defined in the same way regardless of what kind it is .
in writing . - ( NL ) Both rapporteurs on the EU budget , Mr Virrankoski and Mr Itälä , have rightly taken a somewhat critical line on the increase in the amounts for 2008 .
in this connection , we have to smile at the fact that the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament have chosen to ignore the recommendations of the consumer organisations .
secondly , I would like to comment on the mandate of MONUC because , although MONUC may be criticised and has to be criticised for what recently happened , I think it would be the ultimate mistake to ask that they leave the DRC .
moreover , it will also promote economic growth and support sustainable development , actions against poverty , and stability in Tajikistan and the Central Asia region .
the adoption of its provisions will make impossible any future discrimination of European citizens on criteria of nationality , ethnicity , religion , age , gender , etc .
the argument of ' reconciling family life and work ' is used to generalise flexible forms of employment for women and propose hot money from public funds and public works contracts and financing as a reward for ' good capitalists ' who apply what is self-evident : an equal day 's pay for an equal day 's work for men and women .
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in this respect , I must say that those who believe that denying the rights of their representatives , which are the same throughout our societies , helps to improve Europe are absolutely mistaken .
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on the other hand , the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon means that the 18 additional MEPs from the 12 Member States concerned can legitimately take their seats .
we need action and we need action urgently .
the social economy can play a vital role in the European economy , by establishing a new type of economy based on democratic values , an economy which puts people first and supports sustainable development .
the proposed European donor card is inappropriate , as rules on consent , allocation and organisational structure differ from one Member State to the next .
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we already have a situation - I am thinking of Italy - where there are hardly any appropriate jobs for young academics , who have to keep their heads above water by taking low-paid jobs .
of course , the three rapporteurs are most deserving of credit , as also is the Chairman of the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy , our fellow Member Mr Reul , and Vice-President of Parliament , Mr Vidal-Quadras , who chaired the EP delegation to the Conciliation Committee .
I support the rapporteur 's calls to share with the Gulf countries the EU Member States ' experience introducing technologies for extracting renewable energy sources .
it was not invented by nutritionists , but is the product of many centuries of tradition , passed down through generations .
here the Euro Zone has a strong part to play .
it is a political role , and the question that we have to answer for citizens is : with the money that Parliament has , have we been able to meet the budgetary challenges for the 2006 financial year ?
there is almost no nook or cranny of our national life so remote that Brussels has not curled its tendrils thither , choking out the natural light and blocking out the native growth .
Copenhagen must halt this temperature increase .
last week , the Portuguese Government presented an economic reform programme following our productive negotiations with the government , the opposition , civil society , social partners and the academic world .
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this week a lot of people have come from Libya - third country nationals , even Libyans - and that might increase .
we also know that this country has enormous hydroelectric power potential .
however , the success of the Petitions Committee , the success in the number of petitions , is also causing a number of administrative and political problems .
I would like to highlight the need for the Member States to address the digital divide between urban and rural zones and to ensure that , with digitisation , all individuals in all regions have equal access to public service broadcasting , along with offering attractive , quality content to appeal to young people who access the media .
government debt is a serious problem .
at the end of the day , I think we have done the best we can between Council , Parliament and Commission .
there is some confusion that you need to sort out and get the votes right and call them right .
in this regard , the Committee on Budgets has sent out a clear signal by opting to respect the margins imposed by the current financial situation and implementing a tough policy based on priorities to encourage growth with the emphasis on research , innovation and young people .
it would appear that social policy and employment policy are being adapted selectively and flexibly to market forces .
the lack of agreement in 2008 on draft legislation aimed at simplifying and clarifying the Community rules on the conservation of fishery resources meant that we approved a regulation establishing a set of temporary measures initially foreseen for the period 1 January 2010 to 30 June 2011 .
this is something that Zimbabwe has unquestionably neglected , regardless of whether the reasons that they have given are acceptable or not .
indeed , the case involving Tamás Deutsch demonstrates its direct benefit .
particular importance must also be attached to investments in any kind of infrastructure , be it transport , ICT , social , educational , research and development or environmental , which will help achieve a suitable level of accessibility for all European citizens , offering them equal opportunities to development potential .
the Trans-European Transport Network Executive Agency is now almost fully up and running , we have almost all the coordinators for the corridors , and we hope that soon , we will have the remaining ones so that they can promote the corridors that we need .
a large portion of Lorca citizens have also lost their places of work and with them have gone their hopes , expectations and opportunities .
thirdly , the Commission should publish its annual reports with policy recommendations in Parliament before they are discussed in Council .
I have concerns that most of the people involved in the EEAS will have general diplomatic skills , but no familiarity with the complex factual issues they will have to deal with .
the director of Frontex was even telling me recently that he had observed that , in Austria , there was an ombudsman who was specifically monitoring the conditions in which these returns were conducted .
its purpose is to set environmental quality standards for priority substances and priority hazardous substances so as to ensure that our water , the source of life , receives a high level of protection from risks , by which I mean the highest possible level of protection - the protection that is necessary and possible on the basis of the latest scientific knowledge .
in the meantime , every effort must be made by the international community to de-escalate the situation and to create the conditions for Palestinians and Israelis to live in peace .
in this regard , it is also necessary for Mr Mubarak to step down .
this will ensure that the reform of the common fisheries policy is undertaken on a sound and firm footing .
the domestic political problems in Belgium have already been mentioned , and Mr Verhofstadt also had to observe that there is not necessarily efficiency at the national level in Belgium or at the European level .
lastly , I would like to ask the Commissioner what progress has been made in the field of education for children with special needs ?
Mr President , thank you very much for your careful presentation of the facts concerning previous years .
there are new trends in trafficking in human beings .
this debate has been in line with the best democratic traditions of this Parliament , and I am grateful for the broad general endorsement of our carefully conducted enlargement policy .
it is important to have a coordinated position at European level .
however , that should not , in our view , go hand in hand with the principle of mutual recognition .
the richer countries in the euro area must adopt the principle of economic and social cohesion once and for all .
I hope you support my point , colleagues .
the EU needs a strong industrial policy in the automotive manufacturing industry in order to keep existing jobs and even create new ones .
there is definitely some room for improvement in our policy towards Russia , and unity and solidarity are indeed the key words in this context .
they also concerned the lifestyle of modern , 21st century man , starting with waste and transport policy and touching on the question of sustainable production , sustainable consumption and so on .
the economic recovery package we will vote on is , in reality , a non-recovery plan which will produce almost no immediate economic stimulus .
on the other hand , the recent release of political dissidents is a welcome development .
terrorism is indeed a real threat , the single biggest source of which in the world today is the ideology of fundamentalist , literalist and extremist Islam .
another important point to mention here is that , now that the Treaty of Lisbon has come into force , Parliament is not just supposed to give an opinion , but really has to approve these agreements as well .
you will therefore understand that the Presidency needs a certain degree of flexibility and room for manoeuvre to manage and find the appropriate timetable for an initiative of such complexity , because this is a cross-regional initiative and the co-authors must also review the text and the strategy of this resolution ; moreover , we must quickly make contact with a large number of possible co-sponsors , so that the initiative gains weight .
the Council does not support the proposals of the Commission and Parliament in the area of disasters at sea , which aim to ensure that ships in distress are always accommodated in a port of refuge in time and that crews are protected from punishment for negligence for which they are not responsible .
that is a complete scandal !
so as to bring about greater transparency and stringency , we have proposed a baseline budget , which should be implemented at the beginning of each legislative cycle .
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the organising Member State and each participating Member State shall ensure that the legal situation of each and every one of the returnees for which they are responsible allows for removal .
if we are to fund additional tasks in the framework of cohesion policy , the financial resources that are needed for this purpose must also be made available .
I believe that throughout these events , which date back decades and are not just recent , the only losers have been ourselves in the western world , because we have never seriously tackled this problem and never sought to resolve it ; we continue to see it as a problem between two opposing parties .
Parliament has approved the implementation of the 2009 budget of the forward-looking international scientific project ITER .
overall , I think that this was a very good debate .
we also want to maintain aid for the distillation of potable alcohol and emergency distillation beyond 2012 , and we uphold the ' existence of market regulation instruments and intervention mechanisms to ensure fair prices for production ' , thus countering the deregulating trend of previous CAP reforms .
we need to ensure that the fundamental rights of each person can become a reality .
( PL ) The strategy is being adopted at the worst possible moment , when industrial production in Europe has fallen to the level of the 1990s and the gross domestic product of the European Union fell last year by 4 % .
South Asia faces extremism every day , whether on the battlefield in Helmand or on the streets of Peshawar , Lahore and Rawalpindi .
the main risk factor is associated not so much with matters of monetary technique , where the European Central Bank is doing an excellent job , but with economic cohesion and the link with the real economy .
whilst I might approve of your general principle , according to which European problems require European solutions , I would be more prudent in relation to the conclusion set out in paragraph 14 of the report , which says that the problem can only be resolved by introducing a clear-cut legal instrument that introduces joint and several liability at European level .
on the other hand , with this agreement , we risk introducing subsidies for Korean exports .
my feeling is that it should not be treated as a point of prestige for the authorities - that if we abolish the visa requirement , then the Russian authorities will negotiate well with the European Union .
myths about the treaty are still circulating in public opinion .
we must first of all persuade countries to test their product safety mechanisms .
in addition to its round condemnation , the motion for a resolution , which I supported , calls on the Commission and the governments of the Member States to strongly oppose the use of sexual assaults on , and intimidation and targeting of , women in Libya and Egypt and to take specific and coordinated action to put an immediate stop to these practices .
but let us begin with the goal that was the most important of all : the Treaty .
this , I repeat , will all be based on respect for the principle of subsidiarity .
this is a very difficult issue and an extremely sensitive one .
this included confirmation of the limit of two degrees centigrade , and the creation of a Green Fund for supporting adaptation in developing countries and the fight against deforestation .
I do not want anything to do with a person of this kind .
above all , we need to convince the citizens that the EU is not only the elite , with jobs and an excessive bureaucracy , but that it also means new and more effective ways of solving their problems .
the next item is the report by Alexander Stubb , replaced by Ingo Friedrich , on behalf of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs , on the framework for the activities of lobbyists in the EU institutions .
there is therefore an urgent need to reassert the principle of cultural uniqueness in all areas , if the fine phrases on the creative industries as driving forces , the recognition of the status of artist or the desire to find an equilibrium between the dissemination of digital works and fair reward for creators , are not to remain pious wishes in the face of the cultural desert that will ensue .
in November 2009 , a political agreement was reached on the technical aspects of the legislative proposal .
I inform you with pleasure , on behalf of the PPE-DE Group , that those three amendments are withdrawn .
Africa needs peace as it needs air .
however , the reality in this and in other sectors which have seen increased liberalisation , such as rail transport , belies these promises of benefits .
in writing . - The Fisheries Agreement between the European Community and the Solomon Islands expired last October .
they are from all socio-economic groups .
someone has even recommended that the directive should be rejected , but this would be a serious mistake .
we can and must disseminate good practice , and we can help and support those Member States which for various reasons are lagging behind .
many of us voted for the present compromise with a heavy heart .
crises always provide the opportunity to take important decisions that may crucially change our values and policies .
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President of the Commission , you stated that you cannot bash Europe all week long and then expect a joyful ' yes ' to Europe on Sunday .
thanks to your strong support for these guidelines , I regard them as a useful point of departure for us .
in this context , we must ensure that globalisation has a social side , so that well-qualified and adaptable workers can support themselves and their families with dignity , receive high-quality health care if they are ill and have financial security in old age .
the recently passed law on extremism can easily be used to gag independent journalists and political opponents .
this will not occur in any other area or region of the world .
my attention is certainly focused on the ' passenger rights ' issue , and so I wish to reassure you , in response to the question put by Mr Romagnoli , and to reassure Parliament as a whole , as well as to confirm my ongoing commitment to try to safeguard passenger rights even more .
it is for precisely this reason that joint action and continued efforts are needed in the interests of promoting human rights and constitutionality .
I believe that , in addition to the chief observer , Parliament can play and very often does play a relevant role addressing electoral reform in the follow-up to the EOM .
if anything , it calls into question a state 's right to security , a right which we should safeguard .
the conviction for slandering the Chechen President and the trial initiated against Oleg Orlov , who could now face years in prison , mark the horrible culmination of a depressing series of acts of persecution against human rights activists , including the most terrible one involving the abduction and murder of Natalia Estemirova , Memorial 's coordinator in Chechnya .
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the agreement makes a provision for funding based on thematic programmes , in addition to project funding .
I am therefore delighted that although it is not part of the European Economic Area and is not an EU Member State , Switzerland is nevertheless cooperating closely with the European Union in the fields of education , training and youth affairs .
this makes you wonder whether these animals were to be transported in a Ferrari .
I also think we have to be careful , because many small slaughterhouses in Europe have been closed down in the past - and in my own Member State that has happened - so we want to make sure we have got proper regulation , but not too much regulation that will actually close them down .
( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , let me say how pleased I am to speak on this subject this evening , because when we considered this addition , tabled by Mr Olbrycht , I expressed my confidence in the report .
I would like us to actually start doing something , instead of just churning out more pages and setting deadlines .
I am very proud that the Commission has been the initiator of this very ambitious agenda .
( EL ) Mr President , Commissioner , I have listened very carefully to your reply and I thank you for it , as regards the specific events .
since President Barroso was obviously inspired by the MIT and sowed the idea of creating a European institute of technology , this idea , this project , has been transformed .
I am also mindful of Belgium , though , as that country continues to naturalise immigrants on the basis of the world 's most lax nationalisation legislation , with the result that those immigrants are then completely free to cross European borders .
in writing . - ( SK ) Mobility of labour is among the key elements for implementing the aims of the Lisbon Strategy , and yet it is constantly being obstructed through barriers of an administrative , legal , tax-related or social nature .
that does not make the European Union privileged , but it does mean that we have a duty to contribute to the debate and to the financing .
however , I am not entirely sure it will help - and if so , for how long .
the same can be said of the entire shipbuilding industry .
it is obvious that there is broad agreement as regards the way forward .
as the Vice-Chair of the Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly , I believe we also need to establish a common strategy with the ACP countries for the fight against illegal imports of toxic waste to these countries , and in particular action plans for introducing a system for the safe management of waste in African countries , including support for recycling technology .
and no wonder it is so lacking in success .
( SV ) Madam President , Mr Bloom , desiring parental insurance and believing it to be a good thing does not make someone raving mad .
it is particularly important to foster further regional cooperation in the Black Sea space and enhance EU policies towards the Black Sea region , in particular , by launching a fully-fledged EU strategy for the Black Sea and ensuring that there are the necessary financial and human resources for its effective implementation .
as a young father , I was present at the birth of both my children and I have to say that I do not know why I would have needed a holiday then , because I did not give birth , my wife did .
any approach that fails to put these elements in place will be a capricious waste of time and , at worst , will generate a dubious form of business for poor and mainly non-European countries .
in general , this is a very good report with many good aspects , but on account of repeated demands for growth and for Member States to introduce minimum wages in conjunction with legally binding social conditions , which would involve a huge transfer of power to the EU , I am abstaining from voting .
furthermore , Mr President , no statements , even though they emanate from the group chairmen , are going to change any part of the legal responsibilities of this Parliament , which are written in stone .
it underlines prevention and prudence to ensure better preparedness in times of economic downturn .
a resource-efficient Europe is the right approach - we have meagre energy reserves and meagre raw material reserves - but there is a lack of targets and instruments to bring us to this point of resource efficiency in our production and in our consumption .
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in fact , there is now contradiction between them .
one contained unlawful amounts of lead and five other toys contained brominated flame retardants .
putting a stop to violence will require a coordinated and multi-faceted effort .
it is certainly not just about words , but about specific actions , which the Commission is now promising to implement .
we have had the Bali Climate Conference , where Europe put forward a very assertive front .
I also believe that we can use electromobility to revitalise the mobility economy in Europe , and we need to do that in order to create value and to safeguard jobs .
the report is very timely .
in June 2011 the Member States will have to report on their efforts to develop chrysotile-free diaphragms , on the measures taken to protect workers , and on the sources and the quantities of chrysotile used .
indeed , the establishment of a harmonised regulatory and monitoring framework at a Community level is proven to be suitable for the cross-border nature of the risks inherent in the activities of alternative investment fund managers , thus helping to strengthen the internal market .
finally , let us say something about the conflict .
I therefore wonder how much interest the Commission really takes in those who have a proven problem with drug addiction or another proven addiction , and how important a role the fight against drug trafficking plays in the Commission 's programme .
at a time when this regime is increasingly coming under attack at the WTO , it is essential that the European Commission defends it .
I would just like to point out that when we get to paragraph 31 , there is an oral amendment .
as we are all aware , the economic crisis has also affected agriculture - not just the dairy sector , as the media would have us believe , but other sectors as well .
as far as the buffer strips are concerned , there is nothing wrong with the Commission 's chosen strategy of treating subsidiarity as the key element .
I remember the yearning for freedom which most Estonians felt ; and Finnish radio and television helped North Estonia maintain that yearning , along with Radio Free Europe and Voice of America .
in the mean time , a lot of problems still exist in this field .
on the contrary , since January 2007 Rádio Patria has , for the first time in its history , an independent broadcasting radius , which covers 100 % of the Slovak Republic .
they know this and they sense it .
the modification to the regulation seeks to permit and extend this possibility targeting low income households in all Member States .
in the Hungarian minority schools , the language of instruction is exclusively Hungarian .
on the accounts , the Court concludes that they give a fair presentation , in all material respects , of the financial position of the European Communities and cash flows at the year end .
I wanted to know something , and that was : how are decisions made ?
the European Commission aims to ensure that self-employed drivers comply with the same rules laid down in the relevant legislation .
we must be particularly aware of the Internet , particularly its significance in communication .
author . - Mr President , I rise on behalf of the Committee on Transport and Tourism to introduce this oral question which has been prompted by recent accidents in Italy and the Netherlands , both of which , sadly , had fatalities .
Mr Ferber has already mentioned this point .
I will not quote in full the provisions of those regulations , and more particularly Articles 42 , 46 , 49 and 52 , but their spirit is clear .
since July , Israel has had an agreement in principle and , in addition , has held the vice-presidency of the Union for the Mediterranean .
effective enforcement of judgments in the EU : the transparency of debtors ' assets ( short presentation )
let us work together to make it a real success - for all our citizens .
the fishing season for tuna seiners will also be reduced to one month , with no possibility of extension .
for these reasons , I think that this initiative is a further step towards the realisation of the European Research Area .
my view is that the remit should be defined very clearly .
I would also like to ask where are all the defenders of human rights , and the defenders of animal rights and so on .
my firm conviction is that we need to be evidence-based whenever we are proposing legislation or having our common enforcement actions .
under this mandate , the Special Envoy , Mr Fassino , has asked for a meeting with the United Nations Special Adviser , Mr Gambari , and has also consulted the key partners of the European Union .
it would be constructive to say that we are prepared for Kyoto 's second period on certain conditions , and it would be constructive to undertake to support climate action on the part of the economically less developed countries without recycling development cooperation money under a new heading .
I would also like to state that the Commission rejects all forms of homophobia and promotes a society based on tolerance and respect .
words come and go ; only the written word remains .
on the committee 's behalf , I would also like to thank Mr McMillan , for making himself so unstintingly available , and the Slovenian Presidency for injecting the impetus required to get this package through at first reading .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , time and again this Parliament has had to struggle with a very lax attitude to democracy on the part of the European Council .
since we are not a unified state , there is no direct election of a President of the European Union .
however , this has not been achieved .
based on the relations of trust between Europe and the new panorama taking shape in Tunisia , I believe we can take the first steps towards solving the problems that you put forward .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , implementation of the Lisbon Agenda as regards the increase in the number of high-quality jobs requires certain tools .
I abstained in the vote on the report because it reinforces the Commission 's efforts to put pressure on debtor states , by proposing strict measures at a time when their public finances are in poor shape .
we understand that this is an issue that goes beyond purely legal requirements and needs to be regarded within the context of the question of freedom of expression in Venezuela .
third , we are potentially condemning hundreds and thousands of people to hunger without achieving a concrete result .
Madam President , you are exceptionally generous as well as being a very good chair .
Mr President , Mr Tajani , ladies and gentlemen , the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats supports the one-off suspension of the 80 % minimum usage rule for the take-off and landing rights at airports granted to airlines for the 2010 summer flight programme and thanks the rapporteur , Mr Costa , for his speedy and effective handling of this dossier .
I am not going to go into this problem .
the natural gas market differs significantly from the electricity market and , for this reason , it is not possible for the regulations resulting from the work on the regulations for the electricity sector to be transposed to the natural gas sector .
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let us put aside the moral doubts that the European nuclear industry will take advantage of this opportunity to get rid of unsuitable waste at other countries ' expense . this is not seriously going to happen .
this needs to be made easier , as it is desperately needed .
the rector of my university , ranked number one in Poland , is also a woman , a professor of physics .
in view of the way in which it was prepared , I believe that this will be possible .
that will be the first great test .
I fully support the key points made by Mrs Gomes in the report , i.e. the need for Libya to introduce a moratorium on the use of the death penalty , to ratify the Geneva Convention on Refugees , to actively fight trafficking of human beings , to guarantee fair agreements for illegal migrants and to adopt modern asylum laws .
why have they not up to now been involved on an equal footing in the planning and decision-making processes ?
this report highlighted not only some of the specific actions taken in the battle against unhealthy diets and obesity in the European Union , but also the fact that many of the strategy 's stipulated objectives have not been achieved .
similarly , Europe has a great deal to gain economically from its cultural diversity .
the effort made by these fishermen cannot fall on their shoulders alone .
Madam President , it is also evident that , although democratic freedoms and human rights can be initiated by sixteen days of protest and public spiritedness , and be proclaimed by law from morning to night , economic and social progress cannot , unfortunately , be marshalled in the same manner .
we want to continue developing the internal market for retail financial services and turn it into a domestic market for all consumers and small- and medium-sized enterprises .
some of these points have been addressed to a certain extent . I myself ...
I request you , Mr President , to address personally all EU Member State governments and national parliaments , especially those of the five aforementioned countries , and urge them strongly to redouble their efforts to prevent suicide amongst their citizens .
I voted ' in favour ' .
in June 2010 , only about half the Member States had implemented the directive - more than half a year late .
we also urgently need to consider innovative financing mechanisms , such as a tax on financial transactions , which would make a significant contribution to financing the EU budget .
I consider the application of this type of assistance to projects in the field of energy essential , especially in a time of crisis , as it stimulates the European economy by creating new jobs .
the Committee on Foreign Affairs equally deplores the fact that Beijing excludes a number of African states from the strategic partnership between China and Africa , purely because of their diplomatic contacts with Taiwan .
we did not have the powers and the investigatory techniques of the police and judicial inquiry , but firstly I would say that the weight of testimony from victims and others that we received and published was weighty , consistent and persuasive .
more than any other project , Galileo reflects Community spirit rather than national egos .
given that the European Union is the world 's biggest importer of agricultural goods , the production methods used in third countries exporting to the EU must provide European consumers with the same guarantees in terms of health , food safety , sustainable development and minimum social standards as those imposed on European producers .
had this House voted in favour of this decision , which is not supported by sufficient scientific evidence , it would have caused very serious damage to the economy , with major repercussions for unemployment .
in writing . - ( DE ) Throughout Europe cancer is the greatest threat to health and the death rates from cancer are high .
obviously I am bound to refute his assertions .
the ability of these victims to take possession of their rights and make use of the opportunities that our law allows for is crucial in any new directive .
the US security services have not gained better or more reliable information as a result of data mining and investigation based on profiling , but instead primarily a heavier workload .
sharing that sovereignty is giving an example to the world of cooperation for peace , for development , and this is the European adventure .
we will be going against the balanced approach recommended , for example , by Mrs Jahangir , United Nations Special Rapporteur , currently under house arrest in Pakistan , and at the end of the day we will also be making the situation of religious minorities throughout the world , including Christians , more fragile .
the Stability and Growth Pact requires the Commission to prepare a report whenever an actual or planned deficit of a Member State exceeds 3 % of GDP reference value .
EU funding can therefore help to improve the quality of life and work in rural areas by boosting incomes and through schooling and vocational and academic education and further training .
Belarus still employs capital punishment and , in derogation from the law , the media are not independent .
the agreement we are talking about does not guarantee respect for personal data and still less for the use to which they may be put .
we can make savings if we stop travelling between three places of work .
the Goldstone report was very much the focus of attention last week , during the working visit to the Jewish state of the Delegation for relations with Israel .
if Mr Díaz de Mera is in agreement , our Group will vote in favour .
the European Commission already issued its Energy Strategy for Europe 2011-2020 on 10 November , so it is presumably too late to affect that .
I would like to respond to some of the speeches addressing the validity of the Lisbon Treaty .
the fisheries policy that the EU should instead advocate must be permeated by long-term and far-sighted thinking .
all the more so , because there is a widespread belief that it is more than just 5 % empty .
bearing in mind that the maritime sector is facing competition not only at Community level , but especially on a global scale , we should emphasise the importance of increasing the proportion of maritime transport as part of our transport activity as a whole , both within the Community and particularly outside it .
if there is a supplementary question , thirty seconds are allowed , with thirty seconds also allowed for the reply .
in addition , as you know , the Council publishes a report on the previous year 's financial management on its website .
in that regard , I hope very much that you will be present and participate in this debate and will support the proposal of the Commission .
it is an essential requirement if women are to benefit from long-term professional development which is adapted to labour market demands , if better use is to be made of their potential and if employment levels among women are to rise , particularly in traditionally male professions , low carbon sectors of the economy and senior decision-making positions .
my answer is yes , we are in dialogue , and that can only be a good thing .
you have broken down more barriers in a fortnight than in all the previous years put together , and I want to encourage you to continue along the same lines .
in your desire to be the liberator , you got involved in the negotiations with the FARC terrorists , but it was not you or Mr Chavez who freed the Colombian Senator Mrs Betancourt .
this parliament was born fifty years ago , and its members were appointed by national parliaments .
on 2 October , the Irish electorate will be asked - for a second time - to vote for the Lisbon Treaty , a treaty cobbled together to circumvent the people 's rejection of a European Constitution .
as regards the negotiations in the Council , the Commission appreciates the commitment of the Member States to discuss the proposal in an open and constructive manner .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , new results from research into the progress of climate change are obtained daily , and they suggest that the change is advancing all the time , and faster than was previously predicted .
we need to be ahead of the markets ; you cannot buck the markets as others have tried to suggest we can , so we need to have strict and timely supervision and scrutiny and then immediate action .
in the report , he says there is serious overcrowding in some of the transit sites .
Mr President , the Commission 's suggestion that the 2012 budget should limit its increase to the absolute minimum necessary to meet the EU 's legal commitments would mean freezing the European Union , and the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament cannot agree with that .
it has been repeated many times and I repeat it now : it is important for the Commission to propose a directive as soon as possible in order to tackle the problem from this angle .
I declare resumed the session of the European Parliament adjourned on 22 April 2010 .
far too many of us .
Mr President , there are many reasons to vote against this resolution but too many to cover in just 60 seconds .
it is rather a question of whether we could achieve something at G20 level .
market support measures are recognised as being an important part of the CAP .
I am convinced that this draft strictly reflects the institutional balance established by the Treaty of Lisbon .
current legislation states explicitly that Member States have the right to enact national regulations which differ from those of the internal market if they believe that this is necessary for health or environmental reasons .
it is not growing .
Mr President , yesterday afternoon , in an unscheduled announcement in this Chamber , the President made a show of imposing financial sanctions on a number of Members because of the protest in December .
I would like to ask Vice-President / High Representative Catherine Ashton to take the floor .
I would therefore like to ask you to reassure me , if possible , that this law will not put oil processing companies that process Russian petrol at a disadvantage , and will consequently not put Central and Eastern European Member States in a discriminative situation .
we need economic governance .
these examples demonstrate our collective commitment to work on this issue both internally and more widely with partners worldwide .
I just wish to make three or four points .
the Commission vigorously implements financial corrections with rates of up to 100 % of the allocated funding , depending on the gravity of the irregularities .
the vote will take place tomorrow .
at first glance this is a very difficult decision , because it is extremely sensitive for the Member States .
first , the conversation with Mr Ping .
so the Arctic summer ice will not vanish by 2013 and polar bears have not , and will not , drown because of global warming .
on the openness of European schools , in our view the key issue is the European Baccalaureate , and the certification of schools which want to award the European Baccalaureate .
this is good news .
in December 2007 , when the first debate was held in the Council , certain Member States - and there is an echo of this in today 's discussion - were formally opposed to the principle of a directive .
( HU ) Mr President , numerous factors of equal importance guide the internal market .
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( FR ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the comprehensive economic and trade agreement negotiated with Canada will strengthen our links with a large and long-standing EU partner country .
they are mainly Tunisians and Egyptians , but they also come from about 30 different countries , mainly in Africa .
the European Union has raised issues relating to human rights , including women 's rights and the promotion of gender equality , with the Iranian authorities and will continue to do so .
putting European industry is a situation which is greatly disproportional to that of other developed economies would be a mistake for the economy and of little use in ecological terms .
this is a step in the right direction .
in the decisions of 10 December , the Council expressed its deep concern and called on the Chad government to cooperate with Sudan and Libya in creating the necessary conditions for reaching a lasting political solution based on the Sirta Peace Agreement .
thirdly , the Commission agrees that a longer-term strategy should be considered , in order to provide predictability to car makers .
( ES ) Mr President , the vast majority of farmers and stockbreeders are waiting on the decisions and agreements that the Agriculture and Fisheries Council will adopt between today and Thursday on this common agricultural policy ( CAP ) health check .
I believe that the subject is extremely important , since food quality has an ever-increasing effect on the quality of life of European citizens .
as a Member of the delegation of the European People 's Party , I reject this .
voting in favour of amendments like the one on direct trade of 26 April in a divided Cyprus , unnecessary though in a united one , encourages intransigence , the failure of efforts for a solution and perpetuates the freezing of chapters .
there should be no distortion of competition among EU fishermen resulting from the different ability of Member States to mobilise public or Community funding . '
with this in mind , I believe measures such as promoting reciprocity in terms of the flow of students , ongoing training of teachers in the various areas of study and developing means of financing student mobility are essentials for achieving the Bologna Process objectives .
regional strategy and multiannual indicative programme for Asia ( vote )
nevertheless , I am concerned that an integrated management system - allowing costs to be allocated to specific work packages and funding sources for operational costs to be identified - was not in place by December 2009 .
so that is clear .
secondly , conclusions made by the IPCC Panel are the only valid results .
this week , while the European Parliament has been in session in Strasbourg ( on 12 January to be precise ) , a further six people were arrested .
it is a positive sign that the country which has not applied the monitoring and administration system for agricultural expenditure properly is mentioned by name , i.e. Greece .
it was my very great pleasure to cooperate on this as one of the shadow rapporteurs .
I am simply saying that you have to pull all those things together and then make a decision .
( NL ) My compliments to Mr Goepel on his work .
concerning Structural Funds , the Commission has now included health as one of the priority areas for funding , so the funds can be used for health infrastructure , including cancer .
we are also developing a tool kit , together with UNICEF , that should not only address child participation but also overall child protection , legal reform , child budgeting .
we need to be clear in our final proposal . are we asking consumers to give up some of the rights they have under national law ?
ASEAN would be the EU 's fifth most important trading partner .
I am the shadow rapporteur for the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) for the directive on the health and safety at work of pregnant workers .
I have established really good contacts and cooperation with my colleagues , including Commissioner McCreevy on the internal market , on the various aspects of copyright protection .
the last person to appeal to have the Halki Seminary opened was President Barack Obama .
the entire international community mobilised , which is extraordinary : the African Union , the Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS ) , the United Nations , Europe , and so on with a single voice , and that marks a historic milestone .
Commissioner , when you took up your post in Brussels , the price of a barrel of oil was USD 25 .
however , we should nevertheless try to do so .
if we consider this instrument for human rights and the promotion of democracy , which has only been in existence since 2004 , we can see even now that a great deal can be achieved with relatively little money .
this I believe is the purpose of our work in Parliament and in the ITRE Committee .
we left many issues to one side but now we should perhaps revisit them .
throughout its history Europe has always been defined more by its expansion throughout the world than by its own identity .
firstly , I have introduced the principle of civil society representation into this report . I would like civil society to be suitably represented at the level of the European Union , that is to say , I would like it to be represented by partners that reflect and represent the interests at issue correctly .
is a banker a better person than a shipyard worker ?
I have received a motion for a resolution tabled in accordance with Rule 108 ( 5 ) of the Rules of Procedure .
if we want to promote true change , we need to concentrate on the level at which the problem presents itself ; in other words , what is needed is targeted , complex measures at the level below that of the regions as well .
lastly , concerning the security issues : we need to discuss those , but credible solutions are being put forward , and we can involve the lawyers in that .
that is why , unfortunately , I cannot answer this question , but it is very understandable .
the European Parliament rightly takes a positive view of the Commission 's initiative and of the judicial procedure under preparation .
in the light of the terrible events in Madeira , we see more clearly than ever that we need a Solidarity Fund which could effectively meet the challenges and allow the Union to deliver prompt and effective assistance when Member States suffer a disaster .
the requirements of Amendment 138 are therefore met and the various threats that existed have been eliminated .
in particular there was a detailed discussion on the contribution the European Union could make in the face of rising food and fuel prices , for which the European Council clearly believed that Commission communications on food and oil prices provide the right framework .
since aviation emissions have already doubled since 1990 , to call for an initial allocation equivalent to average emissions over the period 2004-2006 , or even 80-90 % of that , is simply too generous .
this violence is apparently purely religious , but it does have an obvious political element .
one illustrative example is the proposal which the Commission tabled recently on the energy efficiency of buildings .
let me finish with the question of long-term sustainability .
in writing . - ( RO ) As a Member of the European Parliament from Romania , recently acceded to the European Union , as well as a former Rector of a prestigious university in my country , I would like to emphasize the importance of cultural-educational exchanges between the candidate countries and the Union Member States .
I consider the proposed harmonisation of the underpinnings of corporation tax to be particularly inappropriate .
over the last 10 years the Eurogroup has been a huge success and , particularly during the most recent crisis , other countries have expressed an interest in joining the group .
the EU was the region of the world that was best prepared and had the best reactive capacity for dealing with this outbreak , although the considerable differences in the Member States ' preparedness and the lack of any real cooperation between them weakened this .
in addition , we wish persons arrested and charged with piracy to be judged in the countries of the area , as provided for in the March 2008 treaty with Kenya and the Seychelles .
author . - ( PT ) Madam President , Commissioner , in a recent letter to The Times in London , nine former British military commanders urged the Government of the United Kingdom to join those campaigning for a ban on cluster munitions .
this issue had been dealt with in a disorganised manner and , I would say , disastrously managed recently , and this is good news for all citizens of Europe .
I think it is good that traditional communities have been taken into consideration by means of an exemption , and also that consumers or tourists importing products they have bought as souvenirs are to be spared a witch hunt .
these measures are neither new nor temporary .
7 .
so why is it that until recently , this has been stuck in the Council 's in-tray ?
this in turn demands long-term action from the European Union , which I have already mentioned and which would pursue two directions .
I voted against the joint motion for a resolution on the prospects for the Doha Development Agenda following the Seventh WTO Ministerial Conference .
that is why we are concentrating on those that can have the worst effects on innocent civilian populations .
this report raises the problem of the banks ' debt reimbursement guarantees .
we have a moral duty to ensure that everyone can enjoy these rights .
we have taken a reasonable approach .
we proposed that , together with the UN , the EU should prepare guidelines to combat caste discrimination and raise the problem at summit meetings with the countries concerned .
we are aware that this approach also calls for solid and stable institutions to be set up by the African Union , bodies that will be capable of acting and interacting with our own .
the prodemocracy demonstrations that began in Tunisia and Egypt have received much support from the local youth .
I close again with the words of our national poet : ' prevent it , resist it , let it not be so , Lest child , child 's children , cry against you , ' Woe ! ' '
we are opposed , however , to many of the specific proposals made in the report .
in particular , this report called for funding to Eurojust and Europol , agencies that operate outside of the boundaries acceptable to British law .
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today , Israel must not obstruct the will of the Palestinian people .
I also believe that we need to maintain the current quota system to stimulate the consolidation of the existing farms and to stimulate new ones .
it was not the first procedure of this kind , but in this form it was probably the most fruitful .
if we in the sector want innovation - as indeed , yesterday , we voted on a climate report - there is much room for improvement in the cattle feed sector too , so that the emission of all kinds of gases caused by livestock can be reduced .
due to the existence of common standards , passengers will get the same services for the same prices , and cost-effectiveness will be the only criterion used by airports in the management of their equipment and services .
I am certain that I would also call this budget one of reconciliation : reconciliation of current needs , of the current time of crisis , and the requirements that these times impose on the institutions to respond efficiently , in terms of keeping up with what the people want , with what the European public wants .
I firmly believe , however , that it would be wrong to follow the approach of protecting religions per se rather than individuals or groups of believers , as affirmed by international human rights standards .
it gives women in particular completely new opportunities in the area of self-employment in small and medium-sized enterprises .
it strengthens the democratic principle because it recognises Parliament 's right to control , increases transparency through the annual report and incorporates a review clause in order to perfect it based on experience .
businesses ?
let us not forget that it is SMEs , through their innovation and flexibility , that provide a significant boost to economic growth and improvements in the competitiveness of European business .
as this is not happening , I am abstaining .
in order to ensure that more and more young people engage in active citizenship , we need to establish stable aid schemes in the field of youth policy .
I assume that she will take note of your comment .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( FR ) Madam President , I propose an oral amendment to be inserted after paragraph 1 : ' demands the immediate and unconditional release of all the aid workers of the Belgian section of Médecins Sans Frontières who were kidnapped yesterday from the offices of Médecins Sans Frontières Belgium in Saraf Umra , 200 kilometres to the west of El Fasher , the capital of North Darfur ' .
contrary to what has always happened in this type of agreement , the Commission is proposing to violate a basic principle that has been a fundamental tool for ensuring justice and equality between Member States and , in practice , a tacit agreement between them .
( PT ) Mrs Malmström , Baroness Ashton , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to return to a subject addressed by a number of my fellow Members , particularly in the last speeches by Mr Papanikolaou and Mr Luhan .
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this way too we will create jobs in our own countries .
I request the Commission and the Council to ...
Visceral attitudes , condemnation and insults will not be the way to help Venezuela to find the way onto a democratic , pluralist and free pathway .
the Council has shown its reluctance to accept that the procedure under Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union applies to the instruments in question .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , after the tragedy of Fukushima , we all need to stop and think .
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I would like to welcome President Barroso to our monthly Question Time .
finally , we reached agreement on several points concerning the environment and access to employment for the disabled .
Mr President , my group agrees with the mandate for negotiating with the governments , which we are here to adopt today , but I would nonetheless like to raise a political issue that is not in the document in question , and which relates to what is currently happening in Greece and my country , Portugal , and to recent statements by Jean-Claude Juncker .
the next item is the Question Hour with the President of the Commission .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the need to modernise measuring systems while improving regulation prompted us to repeal European directives on metrology .
the recent adoption of the European economic recovery plan by the Commission on 26 November last year also breaks new ground as far as governance and budgetary coordination is concerned .
on 30 April 2009 , the European Commission published its proposal for a directive on alternative investment fund managers .
the fall-out from the financial crisis is still very much evident in Iceland .
I believe that the approach demonstrated so far by the Commission and the Council will be maintained and be successful .
I also hope that we can go further and ensure that the information in the register for financial contingent liabilities or ownership becomes mandatory rather than voluntary , as it is at the moment .
that is to say , a public authority must carry out an assessment to ensure that a medical professional determines what constitutes ' turn ' and ' need ' .
last week , a particularly significant event took place .
global warming will bring more pests : we cannot continue endlessly to increase the amounts of pesticides used .
the Assembly is becoming the strongest pillar of cooperation between the European Union and the African , Caribbean and Pacific countries .
so your comment is very important , but of course the relation between this fund and CDMs could be seen and could be of importance .
these proposals will be examined by the Council and this House within the framework of the regulation procedure with which you are familiar .
the fight against cross-border crime and terrorism often requires the exchange of personal data which , to some degree , forces us to make certain concessions with regard to fundamental freedoms and rights .
the Romanian citizens from abroad , who are , most of them , correct and hard-working workers , bring incontestable benefits to the economies of the countries where they work .
it would truly be a shame for the many committed people in this country if it were given no opportunity to take a leap forward here .
this is something that we will study .
the Taliban , as far as I know , have no ambitions beyond their borders .
how can you ensure that the strategy is properly implemented under these conditions ?
Israel 's definition of humanitarian goods is absurdly restrictive .
Turkey is increasingly pursuing an anti-European and an anti-Western foreign policy .
although the work of this foundation is aimed at countries that are not members of the EU and have therefore not adopted the Lisbon objectives , it is nonetheless meaningful to talk about the objectives in this context .
I hope that the national bodies will also do their best to prove that this is a valid text .
these policies , like the majorities promoting them , leave a bad taste in the mouth : the time is coming when the people will be able to reject them .
there were four areas in which we sought assurances .
I believe that they are fighting against morality , fellow human beings and humanity itself .
that statistic alone shows how much has to be done !
it is estimated that the total cost of domestic violence within the 27 Member States could be as high as EUR 16 billion .
I imagine that , next year , under the next Association Council , we will hopefully come up with proposals for that .
the statements I have just heard are , regrettably , far from reassuring .
effective legislation at European Union level changed employers ' attitudes .
credit rating agencies play a very important role as they have a direct impact on the operation of the financial system , its soundness and stability .
the process is even more incomplete since the pay-off required is to implement the Competitiveness Pact , re-christened the Pact for the euro .
security of supply can be achieved by diversifying sources of supply , for the more suppliers we have the less dependent are we on each individual supplier .
this mainly concerns those chapters where opening benchmarks have been set .
in writing . - ( PT ) I voted for the motion for a resolution because I believe that electric vehicles can contribute to achieving the priorities for the Europe 2020 Strategy , which consist of developing an economy that is based on knowledge and innovation , and promoting an economy that is more efficient in terms of use of resources ; in other words , one that is more environmentally friendly and competitive .
as a result , residence and work permits are being combined into one .
over the past year I have kept Members informed , both in plenary and particularly the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs , of the work we have been doing on improving capital requirements in banks , as well as my ideas for regulating credit-rating agencies .
if we take a careful look at the categories of data regulated by the Prüm Treaty , we see that it is more than necessary to have framework legislation on the matter .
finally , two projects will be financed to foster cooperation between marine science and maritime industries as well as a stronger integration between the different actors within the marine scientific community .
it is better for citizens to have twice the rights than to have zero rights .
I can see the need for the High Representative Vice-President to have a degree of managerial and budgetary autonomy .
I am counting on Parliament to help this happen .
I voted in favour .
( the President cut off the speaker )
attendance at talks during the forthcoming Nice Summit on 14 November would show once again that the European Union 's leaders are totally incapable of coping with Russia .
I want to say particularly to Cecilia Malmström , the Minister here tonight , how impressed the committee was with the work that Sweden was doing when we went to visit Sweden on a mission back in September .
Mrs Kaufmann , you have again today rightly emphasised the links between Eurojust and the European Judicial Network .
I think it is time for the European Parliament to take a stand and firmly respond to this situation .
in many ways justice delivered in this way is as valuable as financial assistance from the European Union .
this also applies to the documents drafted by participants in the debate from other countries .
by taking these sorts of decisions , we are building a Europe that is an attractive place for investors and our own businesses .
I voted in favour of the Angelilli report on combating the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography , because it demands compliance , which should go without saying , by all the Member States with current international law and a review of the Council 's framework decision , in order to improve the protection of children at European Level .
this report highlights the fact that , although earthquakes can have a devastating economic and social impact in seismic-stricken regions , not enough attention has been paid to them by the EU .
Commissioner Frattini , you are of course well aware that Members of this Parliament , and especially members of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs , are getting more , not less , unhappy about developments in data transfer without adequate data protection and without any codecision or real parliamentary scrutiny , including by national parliaments .
it is true that the Council will discuss the case of Greece , logically enough as it is one of the Member States of the Union and , obviously , what happens in another European country affects us all .
it is about a deepening of our relationship at the regulatory level which improves the openness and efficiency of our industrial performances and which does away with the weak excuses of the past .
the FISIM represent a part of the product of financial institutions which does not come from direct sales of services at a fixed price , but rather by charging an interest rate on the loans which is higher than that applied to deposits .
in addition , regulatory convergence could do much to promote fair competition , particularly with regard to state subsidies and social and environmental standards .
I believe that we took a significant step forward in this respect as well .
for this reason , as I have already said on several occasions , both in the Committee on International Trade and in plenary , Parliament could not blindly accept the Protocol amending the TRIPS Agreement as if it were a universal panacea , and then consider the matter resolved .
the people of Ukraine have expressed their will to choose the leader of their country .
author . - Mr President , the Small Business Act was given a warm welcome by SMEs , but that was two years ago .
other activities include the proposal on technical measures in the Atlantic , the proposal on a revised cod recovery plan , the revision of the control regulation and several studies and impact assessments for the legislative proposals .
furthermore , let us define a durable partnership structure that uses a win-win approach to allow Turkey to take up its role as a regional power , and the EU to continue the construction of its world identity .
( FI ) Mr President , the facts speak for themselves : 26 % of all energy consumption and 24 % of CO2 emissions .
we should examine with some concern the possible contradictions that may emerge between the activity of the future EU diplomatic service and that traditionally carried out by the Member States .
this solidarity is expressed by the agreement to open negotiations with Turkey , the implementation of the Neighbourhood Policy with Georgia and Ukraine , and the strategic partnership established with Russia .
in practice , Schengen , and European visa policy as a whole , means something quite different from freedom to travel for students .
when the Council talks about the big picture , please can they talk about the little picture as well ?
however , now that a new government has said that it is changing its policy , we Europeans are now starting to cast doubt on what we ourselves have been calling for .
I think there is a majority here in Parliament in favour of going in the direction of a single supervisor .
the application of the principle of decentralisation must be encouraged up to local authority level so as to improve the absorption of European funds .
PNR systems have been evaluated by the authorities in each country .
it is also an absolute insult to the southern European economies , which may have the impression that it is a question of a lack of money in the countries in question .
21 .
it won , because it was all about having rules from which everyone could benefit .
thank you for your attention .
reduced inflation is a positive development , in my opinion , but , at the same time , there is rising unemployment .
in this context , artistic education has become an important element in preserving identity and promoting intercultural and inter-religious understanding .
however , and this still needs to be stressed , there is a need to conduct climate policy more fairly , in other words , in a way which does not , by its excessive burdens , mean the countries of Central and Eastern Europe will always be the poor relatives of the European Union .
I think that the European Parliament should ultimately be informed - how that is achieved from a technical point of view can be discussed - of what , where and how much has been authorised , because we are clearly the body that has to ensure that everything is carried out properly .
if , for instance , we station Galileo or observation satellites in space to find out what is happening , it is done for the security of our citizens .
despite the minor reservations that I have expressed here , I consider the text which has emerged from the debate to be a positive step in the area of registering drugs and , bearing in mind how difficult it was to achieve this compromise , I recommend it as shadow rapporteur to colleagues from my political group for approval .
creating an area of justice , freedom and security is a top priority for the European Union .
one-minute speeches ( Rule 150 )
for me , the answer is clear .
I also wanted to speak about something which has also mentioned - by a colleague who unfortunately has left - the protection of Christians in third countries .
EULEX , the Union 's mission in Kosovo , is , in the case in point , merely the UN 's ' military ' arm , in charge of overseeing the implementation of a permanent Kosovar government and administration , in breach of UN Resolution 1244 , which recognises Serbia 's sovereignty over this province .
I believe that the best form of protection for the Arctic would be a global climate agreement , but in the meantime , we must draw up more short-term solutions in order to limit the warming of the Arctic .
that would be showing utter contempt for democracy .
the original proposal , for example , was wholly destructive to both the Czech and the European chemical industries .
we should not forget that , together , those countries are responsible for three-quarters of carbon dioxide emissions ; nor should we forget that many of those countries were previously outside the Kyoto Protocol .
another success was the drawing-up and approval of the Stockholm Programme , targeting core issues , which can be regarded as a pragmatic action plan for a more secure and more open Europe , based on common values , principles and actions .
of course , creditworthiness is based on earnings , whether you are an employee , a company or a bank .
in writing . - ( SV ) We Swedish Conservatives have today voted in favour of Mr Cashman 's report on the revision of the Public Access Regulation No 1049 / 2001 so as to work towards increased transparency within the European institutions .
that decisions cannot be taken above the heads of employees lies at the heart of a flexible and secure labour market .
which brings me to my final point : it has been made quite plain in these discussions and during the committee 's work that there are different interests at stake here , depending on how many bilateral agreements one 's own country has concluded .
as we have some spare time - according to the sessional services - I am going to make an exception and give the floor to those Members who have asked to speak .
in the current state of affairs , it is important to point out that there is controversy , there are very different opinions and there is a majority opinion according to which we need to look at the figures very closely once again .
indeed , the report 's provisions do not exclude other areas .
firstly , they want to prevent financial transparency .
if the experts are unable to predict the development of the birth rate even over five to seven years , how can their forecast for a period of more than 30 years have any value ?
it is definitely not about helping the African nations and the African people on their way to truly sustainable economic development .
in this context , this report takes as its background the negotiations that took place 20 years ago to reach a free trade agreement between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council ( GCC ) , making these the oldest trade negotiations initiated by the EU , but which have not been concluded to this day .
the execution of children in Iran will be one of the issues included in the report to the General Assembly by the United Nations Secretary General , Ban Ki-moon , in September .
if this is to be done , however , it will require everyone 's cooperation - the cooperation of the Congolese and Rwandan governments in the first instance , and of MONUC , the United Nations , the rest of the international community and the European Union in the second instance .
the UN and the new US administration as well as several European governments have also recognised that in order to emerge from the global crisis , we need not only a fresh , effective energy source but also an engine that runs according to new organisational principles , for the current economic recession is concealing the true problem facing humanity and Europe , namely the environmental crisis .
my second question is : who is behind the attacks to which the euro has been subjected for months ?
this predicament affects young people particularly badly and is creating a worrying situation that will have dire consequences for Europe 's future competitiveness .
in my opinion the only way to boost confidence in the banking sector and also the confidence of the banking sector is to clean up these banks .
Mr President , Tibetans , like all nations , have the aspiration to live under their own laws and their own people , and , in denying their national aspirations , the Chinese Government uses a series of arguments about abolishing feudalism and overcoming serfdom and superstition .
one positive thing , though , is that the document is comprehensive and that it actually covers all the priority areas which the European Union defined even before the negotiations had begun .
this will allow the ' patients ' voice ' to be heard .
we are not going to re-open the debate .
( HU ) Thank you , Madam President .
it simply restates the facts and calls for there to be a mechanism for international justice , which one knows must be approved by the government . that is the very least .
the report welcomes Turkey 's active participation in the imperialist missions and interventions of the EU and NATO .
discriminatory Internet sites and government reactions ( motions for resolutions tabled ) : see Minutes
the efforts of this House to be ready for a first reading by June are central .
with one exception , I have not seen any major objections either to the two annual summits or to the establishment of a transatlantic political council , nor , of course , to the improvement or upgrading of the level of dialogue between legislators to a more structured dialogue , a sort of transatlantic assembly , as recommended by the report .
the Commission welcomes the second-reading compromise between Parliament and the Council since , irrespective of its technical nature , this is a dossier of great importance .
there are many types of transition : from training , redundancy , internships or precarious employment into full-time employment .
I also believe that Mr Sharif should be allowed to return to the country and campaign if he so wishes , and again have his security guaranteed .
I welcome the fact that , in this regard , it has already been announced in the statements that there will be close cooperation in connection with the legislation relating to the External Action Service .
as the current scheme expires on 31 December of this year , the Commission already presented a new proposal back in May 2010 .
are there any comments ?
are you not pre-empting it ?
on behalf of PPE-DE . - ( RO ) I endorse the rapporteur 's proposal of setting the deadline for this new legislative package for 30 June 2010 ; this is important in order to prevent any possible delays in the implementation of the second generation of the Schengen Information System , SIS II .
we are experiencing a financial crisis and large-scale discussions are taking place but the ladies and gentlemen from the world of finance are already taking up their positions again .
we should bear in mind that this proposal by the Commission has come about following Parliament 's refusal in 2007 to allow the inclusion of health services in the directive on services in the internal market , because of the crucial struggle of the workers and the public , which defeated that part of the infamous draft Bolkestein Directive .
this linkage , in short , is imperative , and we support it .
the idea is that everyone can watch these films in the European Union .
" I don 't care , my son , ” said I .
the creation of a common European asylum policy is necessary because , under the rule of law , we have an obligation to guarantee that these people are received equally throughout the European Union .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , after the structural crisis - and I do not imagine that we have dealt with that yet by any means - it is essential that we secure a safe financial platform in order to limit speculation or , better still , to ban it entirely .
or imagine , the chickens on the top level in the lorry are not , in fact , totally prohibited from letting their faeces drop down onto those below .
I am from a generation which grew up with hundreds of thousands of so-called Yugoslavian foreign workers .
( PL ) Madam President , I would like to say one more thing on the subject of Serbia .
I therefore call on the Commission and the Council to submit legislative proposals to correct this unjust situation .
the competitiveness pact and its evolution is a case in point .
for the most part they were empty promises which , on closer inspection , evaporated into thin air .
in this respect , dialogue on human rights is of particular importance .
in spite of the CAP , the incomes of farming families are considerably lower than those of families who support themselves by other means .
there is a saying that a revolution devours its own children .
over 150 people were killed and tens of thousands displaced .
in addition to Turkey 's relations with the European Union , I should also like to refer to its relations with Armenia .
such a document must contain , among other things , rules on the distribution of seats in Parliament .
part of the Hizbollah 's raison d 'être is the ongoing occupation by Israel of the Shebaa farms .
we want a North Pole that is clean and above all without troops .
if work is to be carried out in future on new opportunities for informing consumers about textile products , for example Europe-wide size harmonisation or RFID technology , let us remember to take a pragmatic approach , in line with consumers ' expectations and what industry can achieve .
it is about restoring a competitive European Union capable of ensuring the sustainability of its unique social model - a competitive EU that is a global leader in terms of tackling climate change , an EU that invests more in its people through more and better education and , finally , an EU that strengthens social cohesion by combating poverty .
more freight on the EU 's major rivers - great , but how do we take into account the fact that in recent years , water levels have often been too low for a fully laden barge to navigate them ?
I am delighted that the European Parliament has stood by its commitment to promote renewable energy sources and energy efficiency .
firstly , can it now be certain and confirm that none of the contaminated eggs or any single product affected entered the food chain via their utilisation in processed foods ?
it does not recognise testimony obtained in this way as valid .
the alternative would have meant leaving the Dispute Settlement Body to sort out the problem .
we also appeal for a change in lifestyle patterns .
it might therefore be more appropriate to ask the Commission to undertake an impact assessment to examine how the legislation has worked and been received , rather than calling for even more stringent implementation .
we have to wait for the US and other stakeholders in the process to inform us of their plans , and that is what we intend to find out about at the meeting with Mr Obama 's Administration in Prague in early April .
although the telecoms sector is going through an unprecedented period of development , it was crucial to support the report by my colleague , Mrs Trautmann , as it will mean that consumers are offered better services at fairer prices .
I do not see how an agreement in Copenhagen would be possible without this essential prerequisite .
according to records in the UK , only one person has died as the result of an earthquake and that was in the mid-seventeenth century .
there is no justification for ignoring all the existing European legal provisions and the dedication of farmers right down to the present day and to enact new provisions running parallel to the European directives , national statutes and cross-compliance rules that directly or indirectly affect the protection of soil .
the gulfs are increasing and poverty is increasing .
however , we do need to take into account the fact that Tajikistan has recently made progress both in combating corruption and improving the human rights situation , as well as various other sensitive areas .
this was very important .
this report strengthens our relationship with China , which is necessary to underpin the global economy .
we want to cooperate with our partners in the fight against terror .
I am particularly alarmed by the violence exerted by the police force against peaceful demonstrators .
that political achievement now has to be put into practice .
I would like to conclude by voicing my support for the swift adoption of a complete and effective framework directive on non-discrimination , enabling Member States to join forces in this area and to adopt coherent and effective policies aimed at allowing citizens to feel truly protected by clear and comprehensive legislation at a European and national level .
I suppose I am celebrating slightly that we are having this debate and that my colleague , Simon Busuttil , is going to have a report and prepare information , but I think the Council needs to be a little more proactive on this , and indeed the Commission likewise .
economic cooperation which goes hand in hand with respect for the basic rules of democracy and the wellbeing of its citizens is the foundation of the European Union .
those are concerns that we should all emblazon on our banners - and I am not referring only to the new Member States and their development aid policy but to all of us .
to this end , common comparison criteria have been agreed on for the purposes of assessing the respective advantages and disadvantages of each solution .
will you meet the challenge ?
but we could never get back what we lost in the crisis .
however , we should not forget that unregulated competition can also lead to an increase in unemployment , so that the gap between the rich and poor grows ever wider .
however , you are unaware of another unacknowledged genocide committed by the Turks over five hundred years : the Bulgarian genocide .
to this end , it is not credible to pursue a policy such as this aimed at maintaining guidelines for the Member States ' employment policies .
( RO ) At the present juncture , which also coincides with the moment when the United Nations is preparing to announce the extension of MONUC 's mandate , I think we need to reflect on the international community 's actions in light of the situation on the ground in the RDC , which is , unfortunately , continuing to deteriorate .
the regulation of rights and obligations contained in the package is no more than sugaring the pill of passenger transport deregulation .
it is not realistic to suggest that we should be financing job creation schemes , for example , and indeed I have already heard such a proposal .
Madam President , both the Untied Nations and the European Union have agreed that the growing world population is going to demand greater global output of agricultural productivity of the order of a 50-100 % increase .
last time in 2004 we could only speak out after the falsified elections and we were united .
we voted in favour of Amendment 3 , as there are concerns which should be raised regarding any further build-up of conventional or unconventional weapons on the European continent , and we support continuing bilateral discussions between the US and Russia on this issue .
obviously , no matter how good we are in the European Union , we need other people to follow what we are doing and , in particular , we can see now , with China and India and other concerns that they have , that America may lag further behind again .
the Commission declared it would be ready to support all initiatives aimed at a peaceful solution of the crisis and at restoring the constitutional order .
I voted for rejection initially because I believe this issue should be left to Member States under the subsidiarity principle .
we have absolutely no choice at all on that matter .
I know that the European Parliament is devoting particular attention to these two dossiers .
in addition to our contributions to the United Nations negotiations , we see that , following the success of the European Union 's emissions trading system , carbon markets are being established in many parts of the world .
despite intensive discussions , it was not possible to bridge gaps on the remaining issues , such as duty drawback and rules of origin .
the group which I am part of in the European Parliament , the S & D , wholly endorses the ' Active and Healthy Ageing ' pilot European Innovation Partnership and puts forward suggestions for two additional partnerships in the areas which would benefit urgently from the created value added .
for Members of the Polish Parliament this provision is not applicable .
I have indicated that we are sending the election assessment team shortly , which I hope will help us deal with the issues that honourable Members have raised in that context .
they call on us to totally abandon fundamental rights to protect something else .
in writing . - ( RO ) The Danube 's job is to provide the backbone for a macro-regional structure which features Länder , regions and Member States , along with countries which do not belong yet or at all to the EU , all in search of common prosperity .
it has been noted that the proposed legal basis is not appropriate .
therefore , it can be misleading .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , in a set of four communications adopted in 2007 and 2008 , the Commission has developed its strategy for improving the performance of the systems of freight transport in Europe .
the post-crisis world , which will be a world of interdependencies , will thus have to protect itself from economic nationalism and excessive protectionism by focusing on the regulation and preservation of a fair trade environment .
emphasising that ' the fight against hunger must be based on recognition of the right to food sovereignty ' ,
if we make ourselves dependent on comparable efforts by others , it will take forever and Mexico will also come to nothing .
this is the main point which I had expected given my knowledge of Parliament 's position .
the rules for the mobilisation of this Fund , which under no circumstances serves to provide compensation for private losses , but rather to restore infrastructures , are laid down precisely .
in Europe , the strategic partnership with India that was agreed in 2004 should not be a reason to close our eyes to the discrimination against the 170 million untouchables who do not belong to any caste and have no rights .
it does not seek to regulate cross-border provision of health services , freedom of establishment or the mobility of health professionals .
you may say anything you want to , I guess , or you may stick to the two minutes that are in the agenda for your closing remarks !
the second thing that is sensible about the Commission proposal is that it is time-limited and does not unilaterally attempt to alter the GSP resolution .
we understand them and we also understand the Irish political situation that has been created in the Irish Parliament , and what efforts are being made on this difficult path .
I am convinced that only a technically well-prepared EU will be able to achieve success in competition with the USA , Japan and Korea where there has been considerable activity in this field .
well , there are a small number of points , but some of them are important in terms of content .
the Podimata own-initiative report adopted by Parliament does not entail a definitive yes or no to the issue of a financial transaction tax .
we need to engage with citizens , producers and consumers regarding reduction , reuse and recycling of waste .
the common agricultural policy needs to be radically reformed , and for a few years now we have been calling for a discussion to start as early as possible .
it does not make any difference after it has been released into the environment whether the substance was produced as biocide or as a plant production product .
the Fisheries Commission has thus decided to introduce a new procedure starting with the Mauritania Protocol , whereby we will submit an oral question and receive information on the future negotiations from the onset of the process .
Mr President , we once again have an urgent debate on Vietnam and Laos .
the Committee of European Securities Regulators ( CESR ) will play a strong coordination role .
within a single Member State a company can usually offset losses incurred by its branches and subsidiaries in the taxation of the parent company .
the rapporteur writes that the renewed Lisbon Strategy is delivering results in , among other areas , a rise in GDP in the EU in recent years and a fall in unemployment , and that the employment guidelines do not need a complete revision , but merely amendments to a number of individual points .
payment terms in business transactions are a priority issue for the proper functioning of the European economies .
neither of the two parties can exclude a trade relationship with the other , even though , of course , that relationship has to produce concrete results and lead to an improvement in our populations ' living conditions .
if this destruction had taken place on land - if we had treated our forests in the same way as we are now treating the seas - we would have had rioting on the streets , but the destruction of the oceans is happening out of sight and in silence .
Carbon-14 dating revealed that the cold-water coral matrix taken as by-catch in this fishery was at least 4550 years old .
the annual report on the protection of the Communities ' financial interests for 2008 records that the financial impact of irregularities , as far as they have been identified , fell from EUR 1 024 million in 2007 to EUR 783.2 million in 2008 , with reductions being recorded in all spending areas except direct expenditure and pre-accession funds .
conscious of the fundamental importance that 2011 will have for the success of the future of the Union , and the challenge that this poses to the European Commission , and in a general way to the Union as a whole , I am voting in favour of this draft resolution .
we are hearing about the harassment of journalists and the intimidation of human rights activists , who are facing criminal charges .
Mr Turmes called me a junkie .
it is important to act with the aid of a long-term strategy to avoid stopgap or one-off measures - I refer to the new financial rules that the EU is preparing to implement .
hence , as a result of the planned criminal campaign , in Ukraine itself , millions of people died .
President Aliyev has often said how important the rights of every journalist are and that they must be defended by the state .
surely , this is about innovation , but you do not get that by wishing it .
the reform of the common fisheries policy marks a new stage in the development of the sector , with more active participation by all those involved at a national , regional and industry level .
there is a development opportunity here in terms of providing jobs , particularly for women .
however , the financial resources allotted to them should be mainly directed as a matter of priority towards constructing basic infrastructure , supporting human resources or employment , greater investment in science , research and innovation , and the target of green growth .
if we cannot identify new projects and develop new technologies , we will not be able to retain our leading position in the field of space-based applications , because we will simply not have the necessary foundations in science and research .
my final request is for us to investigate the effectiveness of our decisions to ensure that our intentions really do become reality .
if , here , we restrict the criteria according to which social housing can be subsidised in such a way that actually only the poorest of the poor , the most disadvantaged of the disadvantaged , receive a subsidy and can be helped within the framework of social housing , we will actually be putting up obstacles to this segment of the population mixing in disadvantaged districts , something that is , in fact , urgently needed .
of course , at the same time he must take into consideration operational limitations .
on the strength of our involvement with the region , the European Union must , in fact , indicate to Brazil the importance of a strong Mercosur and must encourage the country to itself invest strongly in this cooperation agreement .
how can a Commission president praise a Treaty in which all the executive functions are hand-picked behind closed doors instead of being the result of the voters ' choice ?
in writing . - I shall be voting in favour of the report that has been prepared by Ms Batzeli , because it is quite obvious that a restructuring of the sugar industry is required .
also present with us are representatives of the Belgian Presidency and the Commission .
if a fair comparison is to be made with the European Parliament , the equation should include only directly elected chambers .
the latter development is something that I must highlight as a representative of the Netherlands .
therefore , Madam President , Commissioner , the EU must use its political influence on the parties involved in the conflict and call for a peaceful solution to the political solution in such a way that Thai citizens do not pay the price for the political disputes between leaders of individual groups .
I would prefer us to speak of monopolistic practices as something we could overcome .
this would be an important signal of hope to all the most vulnerable persons in Europe , those who are currently affected by poverty and social exclusion .
then , at a later stage , we can clearly see the grey area that can exist between what is still part of the humanitarian effort but is already becoming reconstruction and will eventually become development assistance .
declaration of financial interests : see Minutes
I intend to couple this internalisation strategy with a proposal for amendment of the directive on charges for heavy goods vehicles .
on the other hand , I do think a number of important points are missing from the report and I do not agree at all with most of the assumptions and aims of the rapporteur ; on the contrary .
the same goes for the European consumers who find themselves confronted with food which is not manufactured under the high production standards of the EU .
however , India 's contribution to progress in the fields of medicine , technology and space research is in contrast to the shortages of food and clean water which affect the country .
secondly , on the introduction of a 0.01 % tax on financial transactions that would result in a fund of EUR 20 billion , also for the purposes of aid to the poorest countries .
that means , has meant and will mean a great deal for the EU 's strength in Copenhagen and also in the very important climate work that we will have to do afterwards .
this is a good thing in an economic crisis .
with regard to non-proliferation and disarmament , cooperation between the EU and the American administration has gained new momentum , and Barack Obama is giving priority to this issue .
another particularly important point is that I am supposed to have said that 80 % of expenditure had got the red light , if I may express it in these simple terms .
a week ago , my colleague , Mr Cohn-Bendit , said that Greece needed more time to put a reconstruction plan in place .
it is easy to foresee , therefore , what should happen in Côte d 'Ivoire : a quick end to the fighting , the departure of the former President from the country , which will stabilise the situation significantly , the administration of justice to all those who have committed war crimes or murders , and stabilisation of the country .
only then can the aid actually have the desired effect .
this provision is very useful , in particular , for those consumers who have an allergy to leather goods , and to consumers who , for ideological reasons , do not want to buy textiles containing elements of animal origin .
the clearest demonstration of the change in approach from President Obama is the intention to close Guantánamo Bay .
during the conversations which I had with the most eminent monetary experts between 1995 and 2000 , they were all sceptical about the possibility of introducing the euro and making it a success .
this subject has a profoundly foreign policy dimension .
furthermore , I agree that we need to guarantee that any financial assistance granted to Russia contributes to strengthening democratic standards in that country .
I argue that there should have been provision for a study of the impact on the Internal Market with such exceptional access .
once again I offer my congratulations and thanks and recommend adoption of this report to the House .
( DE ) Mr President , I just wanted to thank Mr Grosch and the members of the Committee on Transport and Tourism for enabling us to postpone this item until today .
President-in-Office of the Council . - Mr President , I am grateful for all your contributions and comments in this debate .
the recovery of states from the crisis and their further stabilisation is closely linked with European Union policy in relation to those states .
the European Parliament is showing that virtuous courses of action are within our reach .
the report strengthens and supplements the provisions of the Commission 's proposal , improving it by :
thank you to the presidency .
human dignity will have no meaning in Uganda if such a law is adopted .
if nothing has changed , then what was said seven years ago should be reiterated now : ' it is inappropriate ' .
therefore , the economic models that we are going to implement for the online movement of our cultural heritage exclude services that are free of charge .
( CS ) There is huge proliferation of medium and medium-long range carriers at the start of the 21st century .
perhaps this money should have been designated for reducing the disproportion in subsidies for medium-sized farms , especially in the new Member States ?
all of these things stemmed from the trialogue among the institutions and , in my opinion , have enabled us to find solutions that lower the economic cost for manufacturers at this sensitive time , without affecting the general targets .
some of the Commissioners emphasised in their hearings that Parliament must have access to documents on the same terms as the Council of Ministers , and Parliament expects the Commission to stand by its promises .
do all Member States plan to draw up an action plan in this regard that will gradually also take into account the sewerage works coming from the tributaries , so that we will also have cleaner tributaries and there will be an improvement in water quality in the Danube right down to the estuary ?
our citizens often do not understand us .
the Madrid Conference on food security for all on 26 and 27 January is certainly a key event to move the debate to another level , one that seeks to identify the key priorities to address world food hunger .
first , the issue had transferred to a new Commissioner , and second , we faced a problem over whether to continue the work started , or to throw away the existing document and start afresh .
Germany 's banks will not meet new international rules for bank capital , so transfer to German banks should also be the issue on your lips .
concerning the parliamentary assistance allowance , I believe that the contractual freedom of MEPs has to be maintained , which is a condition of their independence , under the supervision of national authorities in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity .
secondly , we do not feel that the shadowy Europol agency should be involved in any kind of law enforcement .
the situation after the election has shown that Lukashenko 's power is not unlimited .
my report , on which we are to vote today , therefore concerns not just the impact on small and medium-sized companies , but also the fundamental question of who makes rules for whom , and who supervises the application of the rules .
Nasrin Sotoudeh was sentenced , after months of isolation and torture , to 11 years in prison because , as a lawyer and campaigner for human rights , she defended opponents of the Tehran government , including a Nobel Peace Prize laureate .
it is necessary , among other things , to monitor the situation in the Ashraf refugee camp in Iraq , where there are more than 3 000 Iranian refugees from exiled opposition organisations , and where there is a risk of a humanitarian catastrophe , and it is necessary to provide protection to these people .
the Charter of Fundamental Human Rights , which has legal power , confirms the fundamental rights .
( PL ) Mr President , Mrs Ashton , I would like to congratulate Mr Belder for an excellent report .
secondly , the quality of the products must also be controlled .
it is neither of those things ; as a politician I do not act on behalf of corporations or trade unions , I act on behalf of citizens .
( RO ) The agreement between the European Commission and the Philip Morris company is a very good example of a Community financial instrument that simultaneously aims at several objectives .
would a representative of the Committee like to say something about this ?
this report is astonishing in its contradictions .
a BBC poll shows 55 % want to leave the EU and 84 % want the UK to keep its powers .
at the Agency we are working very hard on interoperability : that is something that you asked about , and the answer is ' yes ' .
through a common culture and a partnership format , it provides the decisions to be taken at future world summits on the information society , in addition to those to be taken by our own states .
I would like to remind you that this is not a CMO .
in any case , dividing the proposals into three different chapters does not provide a complete overview of the Single Market Act . indeed , this criticism was included in Mr Campos 's final report .
it is also interesting that the largest producers and users of armaments containing depleted uranium are already signatories to the above-mentioned Convention .
uniform requirements on establishing and carrying on an activity , a low share capital requirement and simplified registration methods will definitely make the European private company a success .
a political agreement will not suffice in Copenhagen .
I appeal , therefore , to the Commission and the Council to redefine Turkey 's perspectives for membership of the European Union .
we shall accept this because we too believe that the European aspect is more important than all the others .
6 .
that Europe cannot copy the United States in financial deregulation .
President Obama is committed to bringing to an end President Bush 's outrageous legacy of running over international law in the name of national security .
can you believe that the Committee on Employment expressly rejected them , in flagrant contradiction of its obligations under Rule 47 ?
I think that is a very good idea .
from this perspective , it is important to pursue the objectives set out in the forestry strategies .
an example of this compromise is the approach taken with regard to the Community financial resources needed for an effective cohesion policy .
this resolution has managed to bring the main political groups in the European Parliament together to make a declaration which is absolutely necessary , given the current humanitarian and security situation in the Middle East .
this is because , amongst other things , there is a fundamental element of European Union policy in relation to Cuba , which is political dialogue .
( FI ) Mr President , human trafficking is always an act against humanity .
it is clear that the European Commission does not refer to any sort of government concerning the northern part of Cyprus , but at the same time , of course , there are two communities on the island . there is the Greek Cypriot community and there is the Turkish Cypriot community .
I would like to conclude by referring to the statement made by Mr Posselt that culture is often destroyed by nationalisms .
however , in order to facilitate its task , and that of all the beneficiaries , advances need to be made towards greater simplification .
we must limit the influence of pharmaceutical companies , not just as regards distribution , but also the carrying out of studies into vaccines and antiviral medications .
to say that the situation in Zimbabwe is tragic is unfortunately an understatement .
the SBA is a series of political principles aiming to support small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) in terms of access to finance and markets , as well as of improved legislation .
after all , we in Europe have made ourselves the part of the world with the greatest purchasing power , and our 500 million citizens have the right to have the research results drawn up as quickly and efficiently as possible .
nevertheless , regardless of who is elected , trade will continue to play an important role in relations with the United States .
we cannot forget the importance of SMEs as job providers and as suppliers of proximity .
it will be up to it to take a responsible decision as to the choice of level of representation on the Governing Board .
I hope we can improve the report tomorrow .
this is the reason why the Commission presented its proposal in the way that it did , because we wanted to produce a proposal which had a chance of being accepted and this is now what has happened .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
what is the response to this show of power ?
you can count on me at the Commission to be uncompromising in my defence of the European interest .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , from my economic experience I know that strategies are only as good as their specific implementation measures and the means of monitoring them .
in light of the recent Commission publication on the Review of the Single Market , what measures does the Commission intend to take to promote the financial education of consumers , financial inclusion and adequate redress for consumers , particularly in light of the recent sub prime crisis in the US and the current financial turbulence ?
this year is the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion .
I fully support the resolution on the situation as regards SIS II and VIS .
as many of those who have already spoken have pointed out , we are getting perhaps 10 % more in primary materials prices , but retailers are marking that up by 40-50 % in some instances .
this was the focus of the EU 2020 strategy agreed by the European Council earlier this year .
the report aims to simplify procedures and reduce costs .
I side with the rapporteur 's call for the Commission to present a legislative conclusion on the transparency of hedge funds and private equity .
despite the fact that illegal immigrants are treated as victims and protected by the directive , they too are being given a dissuasive message that it will no longer be easy for them to find employment and , consequently , that there will be no attraction in obtaining work even on unfavourable terms .
the report I am presenting is based on the European Commission communication of 28 April 2009 on Promoting Good Governance in Tax Matters .
it is an area of conflict between the economy and growth on the one side , and the environment and security on the other .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , I am in favour of introducing uniform conditions for issuing visas in order to prevent what is called visa shopping .
we have to deal with widely differing developments .
a woman in the city will have a flat with all mod cons , easy access to equipment , education and culture , a right to maternity and parental leave , and the opportunity to work and enjoy the benefits of civilisation .
it also omits to analyse gaseous biofuels ; it fails to stress the need to encourage research into and development of biogas and does not mention the Target 2020 Programme .
climate change and new shipping routes do not solely entail risks , but can also offer opportunities .
a recent requirement now means that a note about religious identity also has to be included in passports .
it highlights the importance of listening to and examining the points of view of the interested parties as much as possible in the decision-making process in order to achieve a realistic and balanced regulatory framework .
for this reason , the socialists and social democrats fully agree with your speech , Mr Buzek .
the concern about the appointment , composition and powers of the media authority , in particular , is perfectly understandable .
even if it is not yet sinking , it is high time we started bailing .
I am proud of the way the Commission worked with the last Parliament and the Council to put this legislation in place , and I want to work closely with you and the Presidency in the run-up to Copenhagen .
now I appreciate that this is an alarming concept in Europe , but it may be that the ultimate direction in which we should go is beyond ownership unbundling to privatisation .
at the same time , however - and that was one of the thorny issues for us and I thank the rapporteur for being so stubborn - we must ensure that the question of responsibility for wagon maintenance is resolved clearly and unambiguously .
membership of Parliament : see Minutes
in our talks , we upheld the importance of political dialogue , in the spirit of President Arias 's proposal .
as the largest donor of aid to developing countries , the European Union plays an essential role in providing necessary leadership in terms of the adoption of measures at international level to enable the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals .
in recent weeks the global finance system has stared into an abyss and we need concerted action to pull it back .
this is what I was specifically referring to .
we are talking about countries in which the term humanitarian crisis is tending to become the rule .
recognition of the importance of amateur sport is therefore in line with the idea of bringing sport close to the citizens .
we will highlight , in particular , the most recent events in the North Caucasus , which has been the scene of violence against human rights defenders , crime prevention personnel , representatives of the authorities and the population at large .
the situation in Europe , and this is my second observation , is very specific .
this would have been our contribution to the concept of improving the quality of work .
in fact , Denmark fulfils all the criteria to join the euro area according to the Treaty , but it is up to the Danish authorities , the Danish Parliament and maybe the Danish citizens in a referendum , to decide .
you have failed to say it again today .
this is a fully consensual issue that will make the lives of a number of Europeans easier .
in addition , it is also increasingly about persisting in primitive , fundamentalist opinions in the northern federal states , in which it is assumed that Man has been commissioned by God to eliminate their sinful fellow men .
we will need to involve regional actors more effectively in this process , as well as the World Health Organisation ( WHO ) .
what she actually said was that the effectiveness of the arrest warrant has justified the instances of rights violations .
I would like to make two calls : firstly , I would like to call on the European Commission to analyse the situation and adopt the appropriate measures to compensate for the social costs inherent in the loss of jobs and sources of income for the inhabitants of the affected regions .
Mr President , this proposal for a directive that we are bringing to plenary today to keep away aggressors who pursue their victims until they kill them , wherever they hide , is a clear message that Parliament must send to European society and to the Council .
we are talking about direct support for the so-called government in Somalia , which is supported by Ethiopia and the United States .
fortunately we have been able to do something about this but , in my view , nowhere near enough .
all these paragraphs were adopted by comfortable majority .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , addressing radicalisation into violence is at the core of the Commission 's counter-terrorism policy , and I therefore welcome the report being discussed today and the very vital issues it tackles .
that is the wish of the Committee on Transport and Tourism when it calls on the Commission to report by the end of 2009 on the progress achieved on the issues raised in the report .
benefits which we can work towards are specifically and generally a positive .
Commission 's position on amendments by Parliament
Mr President , I represent a party that is opposed to the whole EU project and to our country 's membership of the EU .
I have taken the advice of the Commission 's Legal Services and can go further before the Court procedures are over in certain Member States .
true , in paragraph 47 the rapporteur does highlight common transatlantic trade interests , such as the enforcement of intellectual property rights .
however , due to conflicting information , many countries gave in to the pressure and bought millions of expensive vaccines , which have not been used , and have by now become unusable .
( FR ) Mr President , something very simple is going to happen for our European Parliament with the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon ; we are going to have another 18 MEPs from 12 Member States of the European Union .
we can only hope that Russia will respect the Charter and will not take any definitive action .
that said , we believe this is not just a matter of setting targets , it is also about work in the Member States , and so we believe that it is better for the Member States to establish their own national targets and then we shall see .
( HU ) Mr President , for years , a serious , recurring problem with our budget has been the significant gap between the funds committed and the actual payments made .
to all those people , we have to keep on repeating that yes , we do need common rules , we have to keep on saying that if the countries of Europe were not united , if they were isolated , they would now be dead .
this involves consent to safe and legal abortions .
on 1 December , the twentieth ACP-EU plenary session will be held in Kinshasa .
as it is important to protect consumers from ' hidden ' advertising and similar problematic advertising tactics , I have voted in favour of the report .
for this reason , let me remind the House that a European social model is judged by its fruits .
however , I would like to make it abundantly clear that our final target is to work together with the European Commission to ensure that the Schengen area is fully operational and that it works in the best interests of our citizens , without giving free reign to those with the wrong intentions .
instead , you are pushing for a public debate because you want it to take place for political reasons .
those of us who use these means of transport , we MEPs and I personally , who travel between three different borders , can say that it is not applied effectively .
the world 's developing countries have even been forced to deregulate their food policy and switch from production for national needs to export production .
fundamental rights is about the very foundations of the European Union .
the first issues involves the reduction in producer costs , which will lead to greater global competitiveness .
I have written to Commissioner McCreevy on this subject and it drives a coach and horses through Articles 6 and 7 of his own Human Rights Act .
in particular , for the purpose of restoring the balance of supply and demand , we should support the proposal temporarily to freeze part of the quotas assigned to individual States and to provide for a compensation mechanism for producers forced to destroy part of their herds that is proportionate to the percentage of the milk quota frozen .
finally , the financial support supplied by the Commission for awareness-raising campaigns should be stressed .
but the decision rests with the UN .
as eating habits are created in infancy , it is my view that it is not enough to start in schools but rather in pre-school institutions .
even more important in my view , however , is the message that we can send to countries from here , from Europe , and the responsibility that the European Commission needs to assume in order to ensure that minimum requirements are put in place , that an agreement is reached among the Member States regarding how they plan to go about changing the situation of Roma people in Europe in the immediate term .
let us also remember that despite these institutional matters , this Swedish Presidency - and this autumn - is , of course , very much influenced by the need to move on climate change , the need to move on the financial crisis , the worry in Europe that we need a policy for job creation - a lot of important matters that need to be addressed .
Commissioner , although you have achieved much encouraging progress for consumer groups and although your arrival gave the green light to consumer protection , I would ask for your help again in 2008 .
in writing . - ( LT ) I voted in favour of this document and discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Artemis Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2009 .
upgrading interinstitutional cooperation , i.e. cooperation between European agencies or institutions .
unfortunately the European Parliament is opting in too many cases today to spend more money .
the severe accidents in the past have proven that cyanide contamination can have an irreversible impact both on the environment and on human health .
rethinking how our societies work is much more urgent than establishing new European monitoring centres and institutes .
I also expect that the plan will include a reassessment of priorities in the area of stem cell research .
( applause )
resolute action is needed .
in February 2004 I was draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on Frontex , which came into being in 2004 and has been operational since 2005 but still lacks sufficient resources .
there will be two consecutive presidencies - Hungarian and Polish - with strong political determination to use all the possibilities at hand .
I was privileged to be present in East Timor at the birth of the world 's first new state of this millennium .
no other European citizens have ever had their right of free movement so grossly violated .
however , the satisfaction was short-lived because , in the penal code reform proposal currently under consideration by the Iranian Parliament , death by stoning for certain forms of adultery is retained .
it would help organisations to proceed more easily from ISO to EMAS standards .
all these the Commission has mainly just ignored .
I initiated Written Declaration 0095 / 2008 on this issue , which is ongoing .
if government revenues are not to dry up and run out completely in this process , the sectors not able to escape taxation at all , or only with difficulty , must be taxed even more heavily almost as compensation .
however , this does not mean that we have not noticed the document 's weak points .
the Western Balkans - I was pleased to travel to the region recently .
the future of Greece will largely depend on the growth of its neighbours - us - as we are its main economic partners .
firstly , just like the large majority of the people in the Caucasus region , we in Western , Central and Eastern Europe also want to see stability in this region .
this phenomenon can only get worse if this derogation is maintained .
it is relatively simple to make the rich poor , but it is a rather more intelligent , challenging and far-reaching task to make the poor rich .
that is why we must improve this so that education , promotion of health , democratisation and development can be ensured .
yes , as we discuss and debate our post-2012 package against a backdrop of serious global economic recession and financial crisis , we will need all the incisive governance , entrepreneurial flair and scientific innovation that we can muster .
instead of solving the issue of organisation and stimulation of production in Latgale , the Latvian government is continuously increasing taxes , which leads to widespread bankruptcy of small and medium-sized companies .
therefore I would suggest to Mr. Cappato that he visit Kim Chen Ir in North Korea if he would like to continue in the same vein .
what will happen when the last chapters are opened ?
that represents fairly considerable progress , because in the main these substances are PCBs , free cyanide , EDTA , dioxins and bisphenols .
the anti-social and anti-development Stability Pact therefore needs to be replaced by a development and expansion pact as described in the motion tabled by the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left .
that is why we speak of a tolerable risk .
the elimination of Bin Laden by the United States has also raised a number of difficult questions .
author . - ( ES ) Madam President , I wish to begin by saying that this Parliament would be making a most serious mistake if it succumbed to pressure from those who prefer us not to discuss issues that could cause discomfort in certain countries , particularly when they denounce breaches of human rights .
European solidarity must be reflected in financial terms by the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund and by means of other European-funded projects .
they will not get a new house or better accommodation from any airline companies or EU governments .
to come to the point , we are in competition with countries throughout the world for highly qualified workers .
it was also the Government that made it impossible for journalists and foreign observers to gain access to the most troubled regions , even though their work there could make a major contribution to the ongoing mobilisation of international public opinion .
we know that the market alone cannot solve the issue of monopolies , which in any case exist everywhere .
in writing . - The purpose of this report on the establishment of a financial instrument for development cooperation is to set at an early stage a Parliament position on this topic .
that is the legitimacy of Europe .
I did not think it was reasonable to explain to Member States that we would have a President elected for two and a half years , and therefore that the Presidency of the Council , rotating every six months , would remain , but would be virtual and that , at the same time , we would be removing the right for each country to have a Commissioner .
it must be said that in the areas where it has been implemented there has been good financial control .
if you can promise all this , then you will also achieve a 40 % reduction - and then we will all leave here with a smile on our faces .
I have one brief comment on Heading 3 : in relation to natural disasters , what has happened to former Commissioner Michel Barnier 's proposals on civil defence in Europe ?
this crisis may be deep , but if we work together , Europe has the necessary intellectual , financial , human and regulatory resources to continue to define and implement the appropriate responses .
we will each of us have to strive to speed up our responses so that the citizens see that their rights are not being violated .
a poor environment is therefore a health risk .
otherwise , there is a risk that we will move from being a Europe of regions to being a Europe of Member States , and that is not our aim .
perhaps I did not explain this fully earlier .
( NL ) Mr President , by no means do I want to detract from the sterling work done by the two rapporteurs on this report on the European Neighbourhood Policy , but I wish to point out that the report contains a gap .
protection and conservation of the marine environment : marine Strategy Directive ( vote )
one-minute speeches on matters of political importance
Croatia is situated on one of the main trafficking routes for drugs into the EU .
you have also underlined that more attention needs to be given to the role of the UN in this area .
I have , incidentally , highlighted these themes in my draft amendments to Mr Siekierski 's report on the future of the common agricultural policy .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , the world awaits a European Union with a stronger capacity to act across the world stage .
in recent weeks , we have looked on with pride at a strong political Europe , united in adversity , presenting a determined front to its partners , and listened to on the international stage .
it has the capacity to reduce the burden by up to EUR 6 billion .
the next item is the report by Duarte Freitas , on behalf of the Committee on Fisheries , on the proposal for a Council regulation on the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems in the high seas from the adverse impacts of bottom fishing gears - C6-0453 / 2007 - .
British farmers are amongst the most efficient in the world and they work , after bitter experience , to the highest standards of animal welfare and traceability .
it is therefore crucial that , during the process of revising the current public procurement directives , simpler and more effective rules be sought to regulate a sector that represents almost 16 % of the European Union 's GDP .
I do not know where Mr de Jong is .
the airport managing body will publish decisions on modifying the charging system at least two months before they enter into force .
speaking at the rally , Turkish Cypriot politician , Izzet Izcan , said that Ankara was violating international law by changing the entire demographic structure by moving people from Turkey , thereby putting the very existence of the Turkish Cypriot community at risk and emphasised that anyone who respects human rights , such as the European Union , cannot brook such violations .
this is something that is unbelievable , harmful and which should , as quickly as possible , be cut short and removed from this forum .
in practice the withdrawal periods are set using a high safety factor which will reflect the amount of data available at the current stage of product development .
Mr President , I voted in favour of the report by Mrs Rühle on simplifying the conditions of transfers of defence-related products within the Community because it contains many measures designed to make the operation of the market in armaments much easier .
as I said late last year , mutual recognition of our differing legal traditions is the way forward in an EU of 27 Member States , but basic security standards should be established in the EU .
we want to ensure that the high level of rail safety is maintained , while recognising the procedures and methods specific to each Member State in this area .
on behalf of the S & D Group . - Mr President , I speak on behalf of my group when I say that we are in a very difficult situation practically and politically , in which Member States have been talking about completing an asylum package since 1999 .
this is essential , however complex .
the economic benefits are clear .
all these issues have been recognised by Frontex , the Union 's specialist agency .
finally , we regret the rejection of our proposal underlining the fact that small-scale coastal and traditional fisheries , in addition to providing thousands of jobs , enable the sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources .
however , there are paradoxical figures worthy of consideration .
she says : ' in Germany , for example , there is a need for 95 000 engineers ' ; if they were well paid , I am sure that we could send several thousand from Italy .
protection of women and enabling their participation in the creation of peace and security is the main aim of resolution 1325 .
we believe that it is incumbent on us to improve the market for our citizens .
this is particularly true in relation to directives relating to Lisbon and climate change .
which question do you prefer - the first or the second ?
the evaluation also concludes that more than 50 % of the EU 's financial contribution has been allocated to the administrative budget for the country 's fisheries sector : this is in line with the agreement taken on by the national authorities under the old protocol .
ladies and gentlemen , I offer you the suggestion that , perhaps , the market is not to blame .
we sought expert legal advice .
bearing in mind the different practices and legislation of the Member States in this area , it is encouraging that Parliament , the Council and the Commission have reached agreement .
the legal question arises , however , as to how the Republic of Austria has transposed the EIA Directive .
China must now be involved in bringing pressure to bear on the junta in Burma to ensure that proper representation is given to the people , but Bangladesh and Thailand must also be given support to allow them to encourage the Burmese authorities to look anew .
it goes without saying that the deposit guarantee schemes are an effective preventive measure , but their impact is limited to the local environment where they operate .
thus , the European Union must learn the lesson of this crisis and implement the initiatives it adopted in all fields by coordinating joint action with the Member States .
that is the result of the failed policy our Union has been conducting with Iran in recent years .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Madam President , I would like to thank the Commissioner for the outline of the situation .
the Commission 's progress report last autumn sounded a note of concern about reappointment procedures being carried out in a non-transparent way , jeopardising the principle of independence of the judiciary and creating a high risk of political influence .
in September , Parliament hosted the biannual meeting of the standing committee for the first time .
the strategy and programming review will take place during 2009 in order to be ready in 2010 for democratic scrutiny by Parliament .
we need a new Treaty for a new era .
we have repeatedly called on all parties to refrain from politicising the issue , and to act only with the best interests of the Roma families in mind .
this , of course , is a commitment that it still valid .
let us hope that it can be followed by other actions , as has been said here previously , particularly with regard to the many other political prisoners .
please be assured therefore , Mr Farage , that we are going to pay a great deal of attention to this matter and are seeking to ensure that things run more smoothly every day .
it is not correct to designate a given product as originating in the EU when it is only packaged in an EU country , with the other phases of its production carried out in countries that are not in the EU .
let me say first of all , as a member of the Middle East Quartet for four years now , the European Union has a role to play , but of course we do not have the strongest role to play .
Greece is not the only State in the euro area facing financial problems .
after the elections in Ukraine , something will change . there will be a new President , and that new President should meet with a friendly reception in the European Union and the European Parliament .
I would point out that anyone who travels with the aim of carrying out a paid activity during a short stay cannot benefit from this agreement , and continues to be subject to the applicable rules of the Community and of each Member State in relation to the visa requirement or waiver and also access to employment .
I would like to draw attention to two cases in particular .
I have read the resolution that many of you referred to and that I understand you will vote on tomorrow .
I cannot fail to mention that we still have a hypocritical policy in Europe .
the language barrier and cost of the proceedings represent additional obstacles .
the findings in the study commissioned by the German Federal Environment Agency have led us to ask the Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks to issue another statement .
we need a regulatory framework at EU level , so that we do not end up discussing this every year .
that is why I support strengthening the agreement on which our priorities and criteria for action are based .
the regions concerned will be able to replace unhealthy housing in socially excluded communities and develop global , integrated and lasting solutions to their housing problems .
what price does he put on the prevention of torture ?
the business is also global in nature .
I was a little concerned that the Presidency was going to abandon its priorities .
they centre on a green , social , market economy .
such a levy system is usually known as a ' Tobin Tax ' .
the first of the three cases that we are dealing with today , the situation in Chad , is a sad example of how , in a context of war , women frequently tend to be used as sexual objects , where rape becomes a weapon of war .
( applause )
this is consuming energy that could be better spent on job creation , defending our interests and promoting our social model and Europe in general .
paragraph D : ' ... given current levels of suffering and health problems of surrogate dams and cloned animals , the European Group on Ethics ... questions whether cloning animals ... is ethically justified ... '
at the same time , we must be clear that we need a comprehensive approach that is sustainable in both the short and the long term .
- Before the vote on paragraph 9 :
with regard to the internal political situation in these two countries , the Council considers that the mission should maintain its independence , impartiality and neutrality .
economically , Ireland must stay at the centre of decision-making in Europe , where we have traditionally been and where our enterprise needs and wants Ireland to be .
Mr Böge , your support was accompanied by several comments , in particular , two points of a budgetary nature which I have already had an opportunity to discuss in the previous debate and which I would like to return to today .
I agree with the allocation of greater funds to support this policy , above all where this concerns raising the percentage of the budget allocated to interregional cooperation .
however , I think that the biggest effort is still to be made .
however , we do not share the rapporteur 's ambition to set up a further EU mechanism for distributing financial assistance .
I shall refrain from drawing any conclusions , just as those who have spoken before me have done .
it is sad that the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe continue to believe in their nuclear dreams , even if , as has now been made clear by Japan and Chernobyl , they will ultimately end in nightmares .
it is not the same .
similarly , we must place greater emphasis on promoting environmentally sound renewable energy sources , as opposed to subsidising fossil fuels .
we are pleased with agreement on several directives which required a long time to be harmonised .
as required each year , the European Parliament has delivered its opinion on whether or not the Union budget has been properly implemented by the various agencies and institutions who are responsible for it .
( ES ) ' History will absolve me ' was the famous statement of a young lawyer who stirred his people .
it has increased unemployment , inequalities and social upheaval at national and regional level .
the report is harsh , the presidential elections have changed nothing , or rather they have : they have radicalised the Iranian regime even more , if that were possible ; there is also radicalisation with regard to the outside world , with the volte-face of the Iranian authorities on the draft nuclear agreement negotiated in October 2009 in Vienna .
for instance , only eight of the 27 Member States have adopted national action plans on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 .
the events that took place in Italy were tragic indeed .
first of all , with regard to the China helpdesk .
one of the expenses is that we translate votes , but these are only numbers , so we need only one edition of the votes .
Madam President , I welcome and support this report and commend the rapporteur on its production .
in that context , cohesion is at the very heart of the implementation process .
things need to be improved rapidly , with regard , for example , to housing and infrastructure .
finally , I should like to call on all the Member States of the Union to join the call , the desire of five Member States - including Spain - to reduce CO2 emissions by a further 30 % .
whatever the case , these factors are part of the problem , which is not just short-term and is not just about energy .
the tax on financial transactions and eurobonds should therefore be the cornerstone .
acting under pressure , we invested huge sums in vaccines , which , as we now know , was irrational and unjustified .
it is indeed crucial that this strategic partnership should mark a qualitative leap in EU-Mexico relations both multilaterally in terms of issues of world importance and in strengthening the development of bilateral relations .
guarantees are very important to us .
let our surgeons do their work .
that means that the decision on nuclear energy is to be made by each and every Member State .
finally , apart from improving the application of the directive , the basic objective of the reform is to simplify the legislation and reduce administrative costs to both industry and the competent authorities , in accordance as ever with the principles of the European Union 's better lawmaking programme .
naturally we are speaking and have spoken here about Brazil 's importance politically and economically , and as regards the environment and energy , which are fundamental realities in the contemporary world which we cannot ignore .
it calls on Member States to swiftly adopt Commission proposals for directives on administrative cooperation and mutual assistance in the recovery of taxes and savings taxation .
- ( SK ) The creation of the Schengen area , which does away with controls at the internal borders between all the participating states and thus makes free movement of persons a reality throughout the EU territory , can rightly be considered to be one of the EU 's greatest achievements .
there needs to be agreement between the Member States and the European Commission on specific assistance .
the world is cooling .
paradoxically , the management system is the only one that was not a fundamental part of the major reforms of 2002 and , because of this , the Commission has to paper over the cracks here and there , dealing with unsustainable discards , inventing control measures day after day and establishing recovery plans , but without tackling the substantive issue : establishing a coherent and up to date framework for the fisheries management model .
of the Roma children in these camps , 50 % are left to their own devices , not sent to school and not immunised .
our proposals aim to promote a change in attitudes towards victims , to do more to ensure their recovery , and to minimise the risk of their being further harmed by repeat victimisation during the proceedings .
we should make every effort to ensure that Europe regains its leading position in this respect .
this is an objective which I fully support .
we should continue the reform of the common agricultural policy from 2003 by reducing support , and we should seriously discuss further transfers of agricultural support to rural development policy .
that is why we particularly support diversification projects like Nabucco and LNG - not that they completely change our relationship of interdependence with other countries , but they give us additional safety margins .
tomorrow we can answer this question with a good , clear ' yes ' .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , anti-dumping represents one of the most incisive instruments for defending commercial decency in the European Union in order to compete fairly on the market .
I refer to Europol , the European Asylum Support Office , Eurojust and Frontex .
as part of the dialogue on issues of mutual interest between Pristina and Belgrade , the working group on missing persons which has representatives in both governments has met periodically since March 2004 under the auspices of the Red Cross .
provided the elections proceed in a fair and democratic way , we will have to recognise the result and must not be so arrogant - as we were at the time in Palestine or even in Algeria - as to decide whether or not we will recognise those who are elected .
this is how it should be .
economic contributions alone can be fruitless if they are not accompanied by close and effective coordination at all stages and for all forms of EU aid .
as a member of the Basque Friendship Group ' Toward a peace process in the Basque Country ' , I was among those signing the declaration aimed at requesting the Spanish Government to reconsider its position and take all necessary measures to ensure that the elections held on 22 May respect basic democratic principles .
hundreds of people lost their lives and we should like to make our sympathy felt .
if the European Union is to further multilateral approaches to global challenges , its Member States must act coherently and consistently at the UN level , particularly in light of the forthcoming review conferences for the Millennium Development Goals and the Non-Proliferation Treaty , as well as the review of the Human Rights Council 's status and working methods .
that is why we gave our very strong support to the French initiative by calling on the Member States to ratify the Hague Convention of 13 January 2000 .
there are further indications telling us that Iran is an untrustworthy partner and we should act accordingly .
I am convinced that Ryanair has done more for understanding among the peoples of Europe that the EU 's cultural projects together .
they must agree on mandatory targets to cut their emissions and , at the same time , find money to help developing countries deal with climate change .
in this respect , Ladies and Gentlemen , we all agree that the definition of the public service remit is , in principle , a matter for Member States , rather than the Commission , to decide .
a large part of US society is opposed to actions combating climate change .
we must not discriminate against them .
therefore , it is necessary to increase the competences of the Regional Advisory Councils , which should work closely with the fisheries administrations of Member States and the European Commission .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , we have expressed our will to cooperate with Russia on many occasions .
in order to ensure that the provisions of the regulation on microeconomic imbalances in the euro area can be properly implemented and achieve the objectives outlined , a differentiated system of sanction allocation must be established .
I also wish to stress another aspect on which we often draw a blank .
we would like to thank Mrs Haug for her enormous efforts in coordinating the extremely diverse requests submitted with more general political objectives .
I want to use my remaining time - since this is as you say our last legislative day before the election - first of all to thank you , Mr Onesta , for your forbearance and your good humour throughout this session and to extend my thanks to the staff , to the ushers and to the interpreters .
we need to do this internally in order to establish our own common standards and rules in the area of asylum and migration , but we also need to act externally , in partnership with countries of origin and transit , in order to manage migration flows more efficiently .
I supported it because individual Member States cannot cope with this situation alone : cooperation and sharing must guide the way we handle it .
the Council will be urged to strengthen Frontex and to introduce common rules for Frontex operations at sea .
should this happen again , I will cut you off because that is a road down which we do not want to go .
it is our duty to try and reduce smoking and especially to prevent young people from starting .
the consequences are also well known : the domination of markets by a few , an impact on weaker production systems , and increasing pretexts for attacks on rights , and on working and living conditions .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - Mr President , you cannot put a price on peace , but the series of PEACE programmes in Northern Ireland since 1995 have supported the peace process in Ireland with a goal of reinforcing a peaceful and stable society and promoting reconciliation in the region .
Commissioner Rehn has spoken in somewhat optimistic terms about the negotiations in Cyprus .
that is why I voted for the report on the European Ombudsman .
my concern with this report is that it is a missed opportunity .
we are only 50 , maybe 60 people maximum , out of 785 MEPs .
however , I hope that we will get through this period and that we will be able to vote for the new budget during the December sitting .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , at the close of your speech you indirectly mentioned eco-labelling .
the question is whether the objective of the Commission , and in particular of the Directorate-General for Competition , is to justify its existence by producing laws , rather than implementing regulations that satisfy demands for quality and safety of services and products , demands that are necessary everywhere , but particularly in the motor vehicle sector .
for example , both the Lifelong Learning and People schemes provide invaluable opportunities to those who want to learn new skills and find new jobs .
this is a regulation which this Parliament adopted in February and which was also mentioned by Mrs Ţicău .
I also welcome very much the partial decommissioning aid to allow fishermen to trade down to smaller , more climate-friendly and energy-efficient vessels .
are we ourselves actually contributing to a more proper and wiser way of dealing with finances ?
why should you care about this or the crazy counterproductive laws you continually rubber stamp ?
however , what worries me most is the image of this issue in society .
given , on the other hand , the lack of staff , a lack which is particularly acute in Greece , I would point out that we really must ensure that this resolution , this directive is applied very quickly .
we have seen the unfortunate conflict in Georgia , where there was fault on both sides .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , as always when someone acts outside international law , Europe is divided and undone .
on a proportional basis , this equates to nearly 4 million US citizens dying in the Iraq war .
it also makes the Charter of Fundamental Rights , including the right to good administration , legally binding .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( ES ) Mr President , firstly I wish to remind the House that here we are discussing a summit with a dubious process , the results of which are certainly unpredictable .
I think the situation in the Gaza and the large amount of violence that we have seen in January is one of those very difficult situations , among many other things - including the rocket and mortar attacks that have injured the Israeli civilian population - that could make the whole process derail .
I am pleased that , during negotiations , an agreement was reached on minimising the duplication of assessments , tests and controls .
thank you .
during the successive rounds of negotiations between the EU and the United States , it was touch and go several times whether the Protocol would be signed .
given the wage and social security cuts that we are facing , we must double and triple check that the new regulations do not drive simple house builders or residents to wrack and ruin .
EFSA has also accepted every single application to use GMOs that has been submitted to it .
therefore , the rapporteur has done a very good job , and she deserves praise .
against a background where food production needs to increase by a minimum of 70 % by 2050 in order to meet the world population 's food demands , food security must be the topic at the heart of the debates conducted at both global and European level .
the figure given is 48 103 216 , whereas the correct figure is 63 103 216 .
Madam President , I will try to adhere to your advice .
at the same time , we call on the Member States to cooperate actively with the Commission in developing and evaluating the temporary rules established in response to the financial and economic crisis by providing accurate , detailed reports on their implementation and effectiveness .
the next item is the vote .
of course , we acknowledge the principle of competition , and we want European companies to make profits and ensure a decent wage for their workers .
to develop the internal market through boosting cross-border transactions and e-commerce , it is vital that European consumers benefit in these contracts from a standard level of protection , regardless of their country of origin .
Mr President , I rise under Rule 151 ( 3 ) to ask whether we have legitimacy , in fact , to vote on this .
( applause )
we have now learned from an actual case in Germany that these gentlemen - for they are mainly gentlemen - not only earn very good money but do not want to pay tax on what they earn , which is why they go to Liechtenstein and elsewhere .
the EU , within the limits of the powers conferred on it by the Treaties , will continue to tackle racism and xenophobia , both within the Union itself and in the context of our external actions .
the extent to which the 2 000-strong force can guarantee safety and stability in the region is also in doubt .
we have millions of people unemployed .
does Spain want to lose seats ?
in the current times , we know what we are up against but we have lost the capacity for action .
I think that the introduction of ECVET will make a major contribution to the creation of a European labour market , as long as the associated administrative burdens are eased .
on the other hand , I find it incomprehensible that , at crucial points , Tajikistan is described as a relatively stable country .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , on behalf of the Commission , I would like to give the following explanation .
in conclusion , I would just like to say that the change that this will mean for the budgetary procedure is a good example of the simplification and reduction in bureaucratic procedures that the whole of the EU is in dire need of .
in writing . - ( DE ) Biogas installations operated by small farmers are a rational solution : here , slurry and other waste can be utilised for the production of biogas before being composted into high-grade fertiliser or coupled to fodder drying , in both cases closing the ecological cycle .
I am encouraged by the Commissioner 's response , and he did say he would work with us and would try and get the balance right and establish a level playing field .
very well .
it seems to me that we should include secondary school children in it as well .
in June 2008 , the Irish people voted against the Lisbon Treaty .
as to the matter in hand , we have come here to resume work on an issue which goes back some time .
for this reason , a single system for use at European level has been designed and developed and is currently being installed on major international lines and trains in Europe .
fourthly , it is clear that the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon will result in the formidable launch of the Area of Freedom , Security and Justice , as a new aspect of the European Union 's remit , and a new field of European policy on which this Parliament will also decide .
I enjoy this because it is one of the last basic freedoms that we have .
this injustice must stop .
that is why the reform proposed by the Commission , which is based on regionalisation and which was adopted by Parliament this afternoon , is essential .
we would be better instead investing in building crèches and nurseries and creating stable jobs for those working in this sector .
EMU @ 10 - The first ten years of Economic and Monetary Union ( Commission communication ) ( debate )
( SV ) Mr President , the problems that the European car industry is facing are to a large extent a result of the economic and financial crisis .
coordination inside the EU does not depend on our international partners , nor on those to whom we provide aid and the costs of uncoordinated aid are very high .
in fact , we are delighted that the Commission 's legislative proposal incorporates most of our recommendations .
President-in-Office of the Council . - Mr President , the European Union is fully committed to the success of the Fourth United Nations conference on the least developed countries , which will take place in Istanbul on 9-13 May 2011 .
we cannot allow a situation in which we do not know what comes under the directive .
the debate is closed .
in the run-up to the new Treaty , the time has now come , Mr President , to translate this report into definitive action .
he led the single market project and was a key player in the preparation and implementation of the Maastricht Treaty , which was very important for the whole European Union .
furthermore , Internet connections are often not personal .
allow me to make a third comment .
apart from the legal aspect , it is important for the government to adopt decisive measures to prevent violence .
my first question concerns the need for fair competition conditions .
if you get this power , you can come back year after year .
this is the aim of the European Commission , which is backed up by the real commitment of the European Parliament , partly as a result of the implementation and development of the Small Business Act .
( NL ) Madam President .
the government has a very important responsibility to uphold such a privileged position and to lead by example for the benefit of its own citizens , but also for the region as a whole .
at the same time , the type of message that Europe sends its citizens regarding fundamental rights is , of course , very important .
it strongly supports prosecuting anyone carrying out FGM , as well as providing medical and legal support for victims , and protection for those at risk , including the granting of asylum in certain cases .
my congratulations once again and thank you very much .
all I can do is point out , once again , and thankfully the Commissioner has already highlighted this , that while the initial PSD study indicated that 80 % of pesticides would disappear from the market , this figure has been considerably reduced in the meantime .
the second is to monitor the structural deficits , which are still close to equilibrium , despite the deterioration in actual budget deficits , in order to send a reassuring signal to the markets as to the state of public finances .
besides , for the EU Africa is a natural partner in international contexts in the fight against climate change .
after all , buildings are responsible for approximately 40 % of CO2 emissions .
we have heard a lot of talk about identity .
this instrument was created in 2006 and is the best funded instrument in the areas of the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction , conflict prevention , civil post-disaster support , civil peacebuilding measures and also for justice and policing in the anti-terrorism sphere .
I firmly condemn violence and offences and I deeply regret what happened in Italy !
States are concerned about granting this facility now when the blow from high oil prices needs to be softened , which raises the question not only about high prices , but also about the sector 's survival in general .
these are the oil extractions from bituminous shale , which may pose a hazard to the environment and the local communities in the area , as well as the lack of reciprocity in the case of compulsory visa requirements for Bulgarian , Romanian and Czech citizens .
the setting of a date was considered to be a technical question .
nobody can tell me that ownership unbundling will achieve what we want , which is to break up the market and create competition .
at such times in Cuba , inaction would be the worst possible option for the credibility of the European Union as a global actor .
the free market will not solve the problem .
firstly , the post offices that enjoy the derogation must focus , in the years to come , on being able to meet the requirements supported by European competition , that is , that they really do use the time benefits that they are being given now .
composition of Parliament : see Minutes
what main threats could the Council highlight for the Eastern European countries and Baltic States in particular in this financial crisis ?
this is not about us lacking trust in the existing institutions , but about ensuring , at the institutional level , the highest possible safety in the future too .
as for me , I would argue in favour of a very respectful and humane , but at the same time unambiguous , approach .
to that end , I believe that voting citizens should also be given the possibility of checking on the activity , participation and attendance by MEPs in Parliament 's work , in absolute , relative and percentage terms , and that steps also should be taken to facilitate access to data on Members ' allowances and spending .
I therefore believe , Mr President , and this is my proposal , that my fellow Member should ask for the resolution to be further amended and then referred back to committee for re-examination .
although there are huge differences between groups and individuals that face discrimination , we need to address the problem of discrimination as a phenomenon consistently , without specifying any particular group or groups .
we can easily be accused , instead of peacemaking , of fuelling local conflicts in vulnerable parts of the world .
on the other hand , I believe that , even on the Internet , racist , hate-filled or revisionist discourse must be prosecuted .
we can see a need for a European agricultural insurance fund against climate and health risks .
for my part , what I find rather striking , when we speak to the citizens , is that we ultimately have motorists - the Member States - who are , at the same time , behind the wheel and by the side of the road acting as policemen .
the third point is the entry of the younger generations on to the labour market .
Vice-President designate of the Commission . - Mr President , can I just say that the issue of where I sit , I suspect , will keep coming back .
my group has always supported the right of the consumer to know what foods contain .
I personally regret that the Czechs do not have the proper tools for the job .
these are things that we welcome .
the commitment to consolidation needs to become stronger in good times .
we can be pleased about this .
according to reports , Saleh was tortured after arrest and then taken to an unknown location in Khartoum , a personal tragedy that requires Europe to get involved .
police raids on offices of human rights organisations , such as the Zimbabwe Human Rights Forum and several others , allegedly in searches for subversive material , and the arrests of various NGO workers and members of the MDC itself , along with students and young activists , which have intensified since February , are tactics in an unacceptable campaign of intimidation .
when is something going to get done ?
that is why the European Parliament will be providing information on the funding disbursed to parties and foundations every financial year , and this will be available on our website .
in writing . - I voted for this report recommending that , in order to prevent fraud , transit movements be computerised , the legal framework be revised and the Commission and the Member States improve physical checks based on common risk analysis .
regarding Mrs Roithová 's question about the US Congress 's hundred percent scanning initiative : even before it was adopted by the Congress we had made a number of efforts to change the proposal , but failed to do so .
it looks like it is going to happen , but it is still some way off .
I therefore call for a vote in support of the request .
some Member States consider that PNR data could be of general use in combating illegal immigration , in safeguarding public health and for air safety .
as you know , the Water Framework Directive provides for an approach linking emission controls and environmental quality standards .
Irish universities face a 6 % cut , and Britain is not exempt from this because in England , the Higher Education Funding Council reckons there may be a cut of up to EUR 500 million from higher education .
we are going to have a discussion on the budget review .
environmental data currently available at European level should be expanded in the medium term by adding information to facilitate policy assessment .
there is no nuclear power at all .
it has been suggested that these questions should be included in the screening report .
( SV ) Madam President , as the basis for cooperation within the EU the Member States have signed several treaties laying down the basic rules governing what the EU is and what the EU must do .
its legal basis is in cooperation on criminal matters , and we understand that it is therefore perfectly possible - as the legal services of the Council have said - for it to be implemented through this legal text , which will have to be examined and debated in this House .
increased marginalisation of physical education within the school curriculum means that the time allocated to physical education in schools in EU Member States is gradually being eroded .
I would like to underline the strong political commitment to the strengthening of the EU-NATO strategic partnership expressed by all , especially from President Obama .
the above measures will consist of temporary derogations from the rules of the European Fisheries Fund so as to support faster adaptation of the EU fleet to the present situation and provide temporary relief during the transitional phase .
we need to maintain the stability of the eurozone in the principle of responsibility and solidarity for all Member States in need .
it is also growth for humanity , and this should never be forgotten when speaking about culture .
allow me to mention two aspects in this respect .
it also does not make sense where it may support the grey market , which is something that we should all avoid .
as other colleagues have said , if we could accentuate the positives , both for economies and for citizens , in the climate change debate , there might be more traction - because there are positive sides to this debate .
flagrant inequalities between men and women still exist today in the employment sector , particularly when it comes to differences in pay or even reconciling work and family life .
for this reason , the Commission undertook in June 2010 to analyse the topics in depth .
I also welcome the commitment to pursue vigorously the energy and climate change agenda .
there is a direct causal link between the current crisis , with its origins in the United States , and the persistence of major world imbalances .
there are also other questions .
the internet is a medium which is founded on free exchange of information and views on every subject , and that on a world scale .
as you know , we attach great importance to the relaunch of the interinstitutional dialogue on the role and place of agencies in European governance , a dialogue aimed at developing a coherent vision and a common approach vis-à-vis regulatory agencies
I say this especially in view of the disturbing declarations of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs , Mrs Ashton , that she is going to conduct quiet diplomacy .
all the ideas that seek to limit the maximum rate of VAT , including that proposed by President Sarkozy of France , are worthy enough and should be investigated , and I would like to put forward one of my own .
last Friday , I co-chaired with Secretary-General Rasmussen the meeting of the PSC Committee and the North Atlantic Council in our first ever discussion on Libya .
those who have been tasked with establishing this fund do not appear to feel confident that Member States are budgeting prudently or that they are adhering to the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact .
so we also need to look at the demographic situation in the context of the current crisis and how we are going to use this opportunity in terms of increasing training .
Mr Trichet spoke of 4 % in the euro zone .
similarly , you said you would not criminalise individuals for downloading from the Internet , but then you talked about the external borders of the Community and what might happen with people going away rather than coming into the EU , so again , we do not want anything in ACTA which criminalises anyone for individual use .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the public should be able to benefit in two ways from the potential for greater road safety .
today , the priority concern are some 10 000 to 30 000 people living in makeshift camps in flood-prone areas .
we make up 8 % of the world 's population .
over the past decade , aquaculture has been the fastest growing sector of the agri-food industry and European aquaculture currently provides more than 80 000 jobs .
the amendments adopted by the Committee on International Trade are , in my view , a move in the right direction .
there has been the most extraordinary harmonisation in the justice and home affairs field .
on this subject , I will be quite plain : there is still a lot to do , particularly on energy efficiency , the diversification of energy sources , the interconnections , the development of infrastructure , cooperation with the big supplier countries , transit countries and the major consumers .
the vote will take place on Tuesday , 14 December 2010 .
that is why I would opt for a measured tone in relation to the situation so that we leave an opportunity for negotiations , which should take place very urgently and , I hope , reach a conclusion .
it is well known that the human rights violations in Iraq , under the responsibility of Saddam Hussein , Tariq Aziz and the like , assumed grave proportions .
in the interest of the safety of our smaller citizens - a matter the Commissioner addressed specifically - we should , therefore , definitely decide to take action , to do so rapidly , and not to let funding prove an obstacle .
we await your ambitious proposals , Commissioner .
the beneficiaries of these new rules should , ultimately , be air transport users , and I am delighted about that .
yet I would add that it is bound to be relatively difficult to negotiate a redefinition of the Guidelines among twenty-seven countries .
I am already aware that Parliament , to which this package means a great deal , will make sure that the transposition is undertaken with respect for past agreements .
the limit was , after all , somewhat closer in the case of Iraq .
in this context , I also very much appreciate the support given to the proposed framework directive on consumer contractual rights , which is the tool for achieving the goal .
our neighbours are found around the Mediterranean Sea and in Eastern Europe .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , two weeks ago , four and a half thousand dairy farmers descended on Brussels from all corners of Europe .
I recall , in particular , the important role played by the EU 's ' Television without Frontiers ' Directive which , since 1989 , has made sure that citizens in all EU Member States are free to receive , without restrictions , broadcasts from other EU countries ; an EU directive which has substantially contributed to the free flow of information across borders and to a more pluralistic media landscape in all Member States .
the overwhelming majority of Flemings do not want any new immigration , and certainly not from countries with cultures and religions that advocate values that are completely at odds with our own .
for 22 days , he played in various locations in the ruins of Sarajevo .
( SK ) Mr President , it is necessary to take account of many aspects when evaluating the report on the progress of Iceland .
as the Commission says , there is scope for Member States to make more and better use of the existing instruments to promote the integration of the Roma .
I recognise , however , that in the context of the current economic crisis , the rules and commitments adopted within the WTO have largely prevented its members from turning to restrictive trade measures and have led them to adopt economic recovery measures .
( FR ) Mr President , on the very day in which the political declaration ' Communicating Europe in Partnership ' has just been signed by Parliament , the Commission and the Council , with the latter thus indicating their common will to enhance and to harmonise information on the European Union that is intended for the citizens , we are debating the 2009 budget and the ' Communication of the institutions ' budget .
are you , the Spanish Presidency , perhaps hampering President Van Rompuy with these statements ?
it is primarily the result of the production-driven rationale of modern-day globalisation and is therefore still perfectly legal .
I voted in favour of this report which aims to help ensure that positive measures are taken to encourage health in the new generations .
there must be no restrictions of this kind and it pleases me to hear that the Commission shares this view .
but it could be the rebels .
( EL ) Mr President , may I start by expressing my condolences from this tribune of the European Parliament for my three fellow countrymen who were killed today in incidents in Athens .
even if food products derived from cloned animals were allowed on the EU market , I am convinced that , if they were clearly marked and people had to take a conscious decision to buy them , they would not find too many takers among EU consumers .
it is excellent , of course , that the whole agricultural sector has received a green light for the first time , but we should not pat ourselves too hard on the back .
I therefore call on the Commission to give this issue top priority .
I therefore cannot fail to stress that , basically , this Council is part of the implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy : it is part of that half - that side of the coin - that is the side of growth , competitiveness and economic recovery .
in writing . - ( DE ) In matters relating to cross-border marriages it is important that there is a standardised legal situation in Europe .
yes , to carry on as I am !
I would like to answer a few questions and clarify a few things very quickly .
President Ahmadinejad has declared on many occasions that the destruction of the State of Israel is his main policy objective .
another basic issue should be improved contacts between our citizens , promoting cultural exchange and setting up a special programme of grants for young people to study at European schools , thus becoming familiar with EU values and standards .
a single voice is not as strong as a multitude of voices singing in harmony .
a wider application of impact assessment on , among others , comitology regulations and important Council and Parliament amendments to legislative proposals .
we all agree that this Reform Treaty is a mere clone of the Constitution rejected by the French and Dutch ; one that , as Valéry Giscard d 'Estaing said , is even less readable than the original .
last but not least , as a person who has been working for women 's equal political representation over the last 15 years , I would be glad if this person were a woman .
the armed attack that took place on Tuesday of this week on the Parliament in Grozny was the latest reminder that the situation remains volatile and dangerous .
I am sure that is the priority for all of you .
the fight against illegal immigration cannot only be waged in the underground stations in London or Madrid but must also be carried out in the human resources departments of the many companies that employ illegal workers in order to exploit them and deprive them of their rights .
that is the view of the Swedish people .
Mr Gauzès , I want to thank you for your resolve , your commitment and your determination , without which the European Parliament 's adoption of the directive probably would not have been possible .
it is crucial that the issue of geographical balance has been addressed comprehensibly , and in a legally binding way , which means that in case of serious problems , it is enforceable by law .
it will result in an 11 % unemployment rate in our European Union by the end of the year .
in this case , just the European Commission and the Member States in whose waters the activity is being carried out need to be informed beforehand .
faster capitalist restructurings , the dismantling of industrial relations , the demolition of social protection and insurance systems , productivity-based wages and unemployment are at the heart of the new storm signalled by the decisions taken at the EU Summit .
with the open skies agreement between the US and Europe , we now finally have the opportunity to establish airline routes from the European Union via the United States to third countries such as Mexico and South America .
well , how much progress have we made to date ?
that is , of course , something that we found repeatedly during the detailed negotiations , because it was already clear at that point that perhaps one person may interpret something one way and others may interpret it somewhat differently .
that is why I was reminded a little of the film Minority Report , in which the local police used clairvoyants to convict people before they had committed the crime .
we are now four or five months down the line , and this period has been marked by a deafening silence from the Council , while the estimated fraud involved is between EUR 60 and 100 billion annually .
I voted against the report on the World Bank energy strategy for developing countries , mainly because a very negative amendment by the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) was adopted , which alters an important point in the initial motion for a resolution .
it is unacceptable to me for countries like Cuba , Saudi Arabia , Egypt , Pakistan , Jordan and a number of African regimes to be issuing resolutions which denounce the human rights situation in other countries .
for once , therefore , I am less in agreement - you could say in disagreement - with the more Eurosceptic voices .
as a result of the quest for resources and climate change , the Arctic region is on the brink of a profound change .
what is needed is to transmit , clearly and concisely , to the public , what our actions are based on , what we aim to achieve and in particular the resulting benefits to citizens .
that is very important if this initiative is going to be successful , to create the kind of jobs we want and to deliver what we expect it to deliver at the end of the day .
the political message is about how this Parliament would like to lead the European Union to greener pastures .
it is not fair to set conditions for the start of negotiations with candidate countries for EU membership and then fail to open negotiations after their fulfilment .
it is not surprising that respected magistrates - not politicians , note - claim that either the system is flawed or there is a deliberate policy of regression .
there is no need for me to say any more , since this is an issue which everyone understands .
artistic trades are part of our heritage and this knowledge needs to be passed on .
we cannot accept the development of a military nuclear programme in Iran .
I believe that any movement in this field should be within the existing legal framework .
I have already had the opportunity on previous occasions to explain , justify and inform the European Parliament about the first EU-Brazil Summit , its results and objectives .
investment projects in energy infrastructure are crucial if a free and therefore competitive energy market is to be established .
we will do this with the necessary flexibility , but we will also exert pressure to ensure that you , Baroness Ashton , are able to succeed in your task .
( PT ) Madam President , prevention is always better than cure when it comes to disasters .
the European Union 's current budget is insufficient to achieve the related objectives ; neither will we be able to resolve this major funding problem by calling on national budgets or private funds .
thus , the Commission has negotiated an agreement with the West African Economic and Monetary Union that replaces certain provisions in the existing 47 bilateral air services agreements concluded between EU Member States and Member States of the West African Economic and Monetary Union .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
we must strongly support and develop this broadly neglected area not just of education but also of training , both at the EU level and where Member States are concerned .
at present , the number of employees from the countries of the ' old 15 ' is significantly and disproportionately greater than the number of those from the new Member States .
( NL ) Madam President , in this House , I represent the most pro-European party in my Member State , the Netherlands .
it is apparent that after so many months of debates on the situation in Europe , we have come to the conclusion firstly that there is a very high level of threat , and secondly that cooperation is necessary .
the Anna Lindh Foundation has a particularly important role to play in this area .
on the negative side , the text is sometimes too much oriented towards the economic role and competitiveness of research and innovation rather than towards what research and innovation can bring to society as a whole .
however , what I strongly fear is that instead of channelling its support in constructive endeavours - health , education , poverty reduction and infrastructure - China would continue to engage in feeding the tragedies of the continent and will do it by arms trafficking and undermining whatever steps African countries make towards democracy , good governance and respect for human rights .
I would like to begin my speech by raising again the idea which I spoke about on Monday during the opening of the plenary session .
the additional costs involved in renting are increasing to such an extent that , in future , those on low incomes will have to wear thick jumpers because they cannot heat their homes .
we also need to provide technologies for citizens to communicate freely and to access information , and the EU needs to be a safe haven for free thinkers .
the summit should also address the subject of reciprocal visa-free travel .
the European Parliament expressed its opposition to the proposal in a resolution of 19 June 2008 and asked the Council to reject the proposal .
as we stated in the Europe 2020 strategy , it is vital for Europe 's future as a knowledge-based and inclusive society that education systems are reformed and modernised to match the best in the world .
a joint statement by the European Parliament and the Council .
this is the essence of its credibility .
the costs entailed by the ship dismantling are very high and make the recycling of ships unfeasible from the economic point of view .
on the West Bank at the moment , there has been no improvement with the borders , or with freedom of movement .
the ABB-ABM method as a management tool for allocating budgetary resources (
I think that it is right and proper to say here that we are actually talking about the introduction of new European taxes , and we already know in advance who will have to pay them .
the policy of closure is unacceptable and counterproductive .
I wanted my vote to explicitly reflect my disapproval of the Italian authorities placing any pressure on European national newspapers or intimidating them .
we must join forces : a coordinated European approach is crucial .
I would like to reiterate that the regulation and the amendment to the directives are necessary , but are still inadequate .
this approach , which is aimed at improving the supervision of the market , will enable us to prevent low quality products from being imported by dubious import companies .
rapporteur for the opinion of the Committee on Legal Affairs . - Mr President , we have all been on a very long journey together and we are still travelling , hoping that we will reach our destination soon .
in addition , I am convinced that there should be greater cooperation between the European Parliament and national parliaments , in order to promote and indeed to add force to the application of Community law at national , regional and local levels .
it has attempted to reallocate budgetary resources from the Progress programme to the microfinance facility before the European Parliament has reached a decision .
therefore I welcome the fact that , now this Agreement is here , we can talk about institutionalised cooperation .
according to the document presented by Prime Minister Victor Orbán , the Hungarian Presidency declares : ' we would like to admit these two Member States to the Schengen area as soon as they fulfil all the necessary conditions ' .
parents - adults with young children - certainly also need support from our rules on all our modes of transport .
( applause from the centre and the left )
if we have to wait for a complaint from industry and the opening of a procedure on illegal subsidies , how long will that take ?
43 .
we should therefore take note of the recent calls by European energy companies to liberalise the market and implement EU energy legislation in full .
I put it to Mr Szymański , how can one seriously argue against the Charter in a country that was the birthplace of Solidarność , thanks to whose leadership the whole of Europe gained its current understanding of the right to freedom , the rule of law and democracy ?
therefore , I am calling on the Commission to subject nanomaterials to a detailed investigation .
the financial and economic crisis has shown that no pension system is immune to such events but that large budget deficits , high unemployment and very limited scope for increasing the burden of taxation and other levies particularly hit pay-as-you-go systems , and some Member States , such as Lithuania , even had to take drastic measures , that is , reduce pensions , which in my opinion is intolerable and unacceptable .
the concept of an interinstitutional EU Cancer Task Force with the aim to increase by 50 % by 2018 the number of EU citizens participating in a cancer screening programme should be welcomed .
certainly , as always , we worry about the Council 's approach to administrative expenditure and I agree that the budget has a certain Finnish colouring , especially in the European Parliament .
you may be for him , or you may be against him .
although I am a German Social Democrat , I share your criticism of the Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia , who is a member of the CDU , having said that he was pleased that it was the plant in Antwerp , rather than the one in Bochum , that was being closed down .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Madam President , President-in-Office of the Council , Madam Vice-President , ladies and gentlemen , the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union is a core element of the Lisbon Treaty ; indeed , we could even call it the soul of the new Reform Treaty .
although legislation adopted by the European Parliament provides sufficient guarantees and compensation for passengers , if , due to the fault of the airline , they are unable to take off on time on the planned route or have problems with luggage , this can only be guaranteed if the airline is not experiencing financial difficulties .
given that most of these actions fall within the competence of the Member States , we need to find ways of involving the Member States and Community bodies in order to guarantee that SMEs can gain added value from the measures affecting them .
the debate today and the resolution that we are about to adopt are indeed directed in the first instance at the Commission , because we intend to have some input into the progress report .
tabling deadlines : see Minutes
we had a project to benefit support networks for the most vulnerable - the Progress project - to which the European Parliament was highly committed , and , in order to fund microfinance , the Commission is proposing to us that we should simply tap into the funds allocated to the Progress programme .
food price rises have hit the most vulnerable sections of the population hardest .
these changes can only be successfully achieved if there is a climate of trust between social partners , and this can only be developed by promoting social dialogue .
in this way , decisions on the admissibility of proposed initiatives would lie equally in the hands of the representatives of the electorate , and not only of the executive .
now investment banks have gone from the market , and we are feeling good with the current rules for the banking sector .
perhaps some people thought that Parliament would become more amenable after the elections in June , or that Parliament 's demands for openness and transparency smacked of election promises rather than a real change of attitude .
the second is that if a citizens ' initiative is successful , it should be followed by a legal act .
we remember today someone who is no longer with us , but who played a huge role in bringing about this package , and that is Mr Piecyk .
this is not because important steps forward have not been taken ; it is because we cannot use the past and what we did in previous times to stabilise and strengthen the euro area as our benchmark today ; our benchmark must be how efficient we are in dealing with the crisis .
there is just embarrassed silence .
the Commission is particularly satisfied with the result of negotiations and considers all the proposed compromise amendments to be acceptable .
in fact , this issue , which really should be specific to the Committee on International Trade , is becoming less and less so , while the same committee is increasingly doing the work of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs .
it is crucial to preserve tax competition as a tool to facilitate cohesion and boost EU economic growth .
Mr Sarkozy , the path to be followed lies elsewhere .
today we have resolved to ban the import of products from seals which have been killed with cruelty , we have resolved to impose higher standards for the protection of experimental animals , and now we are debating higher standards of animal protection at the time of killing .
of course , Russia gained a military victory over Shakashvili 's army , an army that was trained by the Americans and Israelis and armed by the Ukrainians .
everybody boasts of having been in Ljubljana and of having enjoyed it .
the proposal merely invokes the status quo and maintains the present line with no additions .
I say this because it is the truth . I do not say it in order to favour one person or another .
I also have to mention here the case of Ernest Vardanian , a journalist arrested , held incommunicado and indicted for high treason by the so-called authorities in Transnistria .
you were always available for us .
( FR ) Mr President , since 2005 , we have been greatly moved by the catastrophic situation of the migrants held on the island of Lampedusa , whose numbers are well in excess of its real accommodation capacity .
we need to make them aware that they can seek help - and this help must really be real and accessible .
I shall repeat , therefore , that we must target sanctions at those responsible for human rights violations and - as Mr Rack said - opt for instance for freezing accounts and visa bans so as to deprive those leaders or those responsible for human rights violations of any positive possibilities .
some innocent people lose important medicines , not to mention the tonnes of confiscated shampoos , lipsticks etc .
that is how the Single Market Act came into being .
you have guessed that I am speaking about Sharia law .
I hope that this report can give us tools to deal with the problems and challenges posed by the uncertain trade in raw materials .
I therefore support the conditions based on social values and human dignity imposed on third countries in order to negotiate with the EU .
Israel must realise its responsibility to measure its use of force right away in compliance with international law .
we can certainly expect further falls in income and market turbulence .
this new period should not be seen as a threat , even taking into account the introduction of rights for fathers .
the whole European Commission is strongly represented , because the subject is extremely important for all of us .
it is within this context , then , that I express my full support for the approach mapped out by the rapporteur , and I hope that this debate will be the first stage in the formation of a genuine European Community police service capable of dealing with problems .
agenda of the next sitting : see Minutes
the new political context and institutional framework in Ukraine , as well as the readiness of newly elected President Viktor Yanukovych and the Ukrainian Parliament ( Verkhovna Rada ) to confirm Ukraine 's determination to join the European Union , are another step towards starting the accession process .
of course , this presupposes , among other things , communications that are accessible and comprehensible to citizens .
our offer is on the table and the moment any ACP state provides a WTO-compatible offer to complete a deal , we can move quickly to propose to the Council that it should benefit from the EPA market access regulation .
at least 90 people have been killed since the first round of polling on 29 March and just this Monday residents were attacked and abducted from an IDP camp east of Harare .
talk of forcing these countries to reduce their herds is crazy in terms of food security and climate change .
only the interplay between the first and second pillars enables both innovative competitiveness and sustainability .
that is true of this resolution .
it must investigate the budgets of the individual Member States to determine whether they represent a risk for the euro area .
moreover , our vote tomorrow will be a decisive step forward in the global campaign to ban the trade .
Africa is a continent where many crimes have not yet been punished .
this aspect , too , should be borne in mind in the context of EU maritime transport , so that measures taken as part of the policy under discussion will contribute to the development of the Community as a whole , and not only of coastal areas .
I merely wished to take the floor and to take advantage of this opportunity so as to broach the subject of fisheries , but by going beyond the normal Green Paper - and the White Paper that has been announced for June - and addressing the needs that exist in relation to Europe 's seas , and to the Mediterranean in particular .
in this report we have tried to analyse China 's presence in Africa in an objective way , acknowledging both the positive and negative impacts .
this had never previously been formulated in jurisprudence or in our legal system .
they will have an overarching view and enhanced cooperation .
clear and strict rules are needed , otherwise European Union funds will be laid open to inappropriate use .
it proposes to adopt a special block exemption regulation only for repair and maintenance services , as well as for the spare-parts distribution .
given the prevalent political situation in the region , it is crucial for the EU to play a more active political role .
( FR ) Mr President , I asked to speak when I heard Mrs Ibrisagic describe the crisis which occurred in the Balkans , in which , as you probably remember , I was involved .
nevertheless , this still leaves a huge number of legal pitfalls in place , which could prove disastrous for micro-businesses and small tradesmen and could even put their very existence at risk .
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if you look at the Eurobarometer web site , you will see the number of infringement cases that the Commission takes out against individual Member States .
( CS ) Mr President , I only want it to be recorded that I voted for Mr Foglietta 's report but my voting equipment failed .
he is a pleasant and able colleague , but he is wrong about most things , and he is totally wrong in this case .
the reintroduction of some kind of quotas should be considered in this evaluation of supply-side management tools .
there are many economic and financial obstacles , although it is clear that the more serious sticking points are distinctly political in nature .
the Economic Partnership Agreements seek to guarantee continued trade and development in some of the world 's poorest countries .
there is only one way to rescue this European Union , and that is to have real transparency on the Swedish model plus that of the US Freedom of Information Act right now , immediately .
like many Members , I welcome the initiative taken by the EDPS and the Assistant EDPS to publish an annual declaration of their financial interests , in a form similar to that of Members of the European Parliament .
last week I met the Luton workers , one of whom told me that IBC 's chances of survival are just 50 / 50 , in a town which has had vehicle production for more than 80 years , and where 50 % of jobs are still in manufacturing .
the perpetrators must not be allowed to go free .
it is time we finally worked together on a real internal market for rail transport and thus invested in a green and sustainable future .
I supported this important document .
we need to send out a signal that we are in it for the long haul - not least for the sake of the women and children , as many Members have mentioned .
it will be a difficult negotiation and we need the time .
this has led to positive results , in particular the follow-up resolution on the death penalty .
I can understand that Mr Higgins will probably not be happy , but I think it is a difficult issue and one that probably deserves a question of its own at some point .
with regard to international transfers , I am also in favour of the protection of youngsters and the promotion of training and education .
what assessment has been carried out on the contamination of daily food with active pharmaceutical substances ?
thousands of EU citizens continue to have their liquid duty-free purchases confiscated because of the failure of the Commission to speedily implement Regulation ( EC ) No 915 / 2007 , which amends Regulation ( EC ) No 622 / 2003 laying down measures for the implementation of the common basic standards on aviation security .
Croatia remains one of the main trafficking routes for drugs to the EU .
I take note of your requests for further funding in the areas of unemployment , transport and the environment , to add to our ongoing efforts .
( HU ) Madam President , we all know that economic immigration is a real phenomenon in the Member States of the European Union .
this is my first remark .
we shall , of course , keep you fully informed of all aspects of the next European Council meeting , and I will ensure that Prime Minister Topolánek is fully aware of the views expressed here this morning .
the Taiwanese authorities did not have access to meteorological information indicating how serious the typhoon was .
Mr Van Hecke has prepared an excellent report for which he deserves our thanks .
however , I believe that the environmental disasters resulting from this military regime should also be emphasised rather more forcefully .
we also urgently need to think about initiating the visa dialogue with Kosovo , as that will help advance structural reforms .
more democracy .
you are blocking much of the work we are doing here in Parliament .
there must be no repeats of the shipping accidents involving the Erika and the Prestige .
we simply cannot afford to ignore this issue and wait fifty years to see what the consequences may be .
one Conservative still stands in my way , and that is Mr Berlusconi .
there is no clear picture as to whether the funds were lost or stolen , and whether the errors are systemic or one-off errors .
it would be nice to have detected at least an element of this in the words of the Commission President or Commissioner McCreevy .
since the 1990s a political majority have tried to create ever broader scope for such companies , and this proposed decision gives them almost an entirely free hand .
we hope it will not be needed but we have made that preparation as well .
Parliament has drawn attention to the problems and delays during the start-up phase and has called for its internal audit system to be improved .
1 . consents to the conclusion of the agreement ;
we merely request that the Israelis meet our wishes .
so far , so good .
Baroness Ashton , European leaders should strive to convince the Iraqi authorities to abolish it .
why then do we not simply do a ' copy and paste ' and make it possible for citizens , and also for us in Parliament , to obtain the relevant documents independently , and not by act of grace and through massive amounts of intervention by political groups ?
the measures put in place in these two areas do not meet sustainability requirements , and besides , they fail to offer a market-friendly response to the problem .
now we have the problem that some factors cause high external costs which the public has to pay .
in this regard , we must also make it clear that private investments are necessary , because the situation will be impossible without them .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , my fellow Members have already cited some examples .
this is the area of global inequality and the question of the whole global currency system in the future .
many proposals and new programmes are being put forward .
( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , it is high time for the EU to begin negotiations with Macedonia at last .
on many occasions , Europe has committed itself to adhering to high environmental protection standards .
it deserves our full support .
as such , I would say to you that what is needed is a change to the Stability Pact .
for instance , the Chinese Government accepted the Japanese offer to send a rescue team .
shipyards in what we call ' the old EU ' have been receiving aid for many years and everything was fine .
in this resolution , there is too much of a paternalistic attitude towards a great country that does not deserve this treatment .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Madam President , I think the Minister is correct in saying that we can be content with the agreement , and we can congratulate those involved in securing it .
if these concerns are properly addressed , then we will be making some progress towards improving the credibility of , and confidence in , the Union as a whole .
it is now down to the Commission to take up Parliament 's ambition , presenting its proposals for the next European financial framework and not falling victim to the restrictive budget policies of Member States .
if we had a Frontex operation in Tunisian waters , we would , of course , need to do this in cooperation with the Tunisian authorities .
examples include the definition of the approval criteria , the length of the approval and , most importantly , data protection .
since 99 % of the housing stock in Europe is made up of old buildings , I call on the Commission and Member States to increase the rate of the ERDF allocation which each Member State can use to boost energy efficiency in housing from 4 % to 15 % in the future Multiannual Financial Framework .
the Swedish Government has worked using silent diplomacy , it has been said , but , after seven years , still nothing has happened .
but , there you have it : just as we are discussing the challenge of climate change , what should appear on the negotiating table but the financial crisis .
with regard to the post-2013 regional policy , I endorse the idea of setting up intermediate regions , thereby enabling regions with a GDP between 75 % and 90 % of the EU average to receive real support , however , through finding suitable solutions .
this will not happen on its own , of course .
in writing . - The European Parliament has used its new powers in a creative and responsible way , introducing new balances into the External Service 's architecture .
we must bridge the digital divide and ensure that all European citizens are connected to high-speed broadband by 2020 .
how do we move forward from here , to prevent this report from merely remaining a naïve dream or a mixture of different opinions , and to allow it to work in practice so that we can see the status of the Roma improve significantly in the European Union ?
therefore , I would like to raise the matter of digital signatures in the citizens ' initiative , as an additional channel for attracting interest in European politics .
this is the only way to create the preconditions to the successful implementation of the EU 2020 strategy and the only way that allows us to discuss a real , proper and strong internal market that will benefit its citizens .
what has happened to all the tough language of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) ?
Mr President , firstly I believe that what has happened is very serious .
thirdly , the idea of strengthening , using the neighbourhood policy , the structure of the Euro-Mediterranean policy , the aspect on which I worked most closely in this report .
creativity , and involvement in the creation of added value , are what determine the important economic role of the cultural industry .
other markets , such as the cereal , olive oil and fruit and vegetable markets , are showing some alarming signs too .
there is a critical sticking point between what Parliament would like and what the Member States think is good , and this is the question of who will pay for additional security measures taken which go beyond what we want in Europe for passengers .
there were related cases of serious attacks on freedoms during the second round of the elections , not least a climate of tension and violence that led to several deaths and injuries .
it is , therefore , very important to develop targeted and intelligent sanctions , including against individuals .
Albanian separatists behave in a similar way in the Preševo Valley in the south of Serbia , where they threaten to boycott elections .
the ruling of the Strasbourg Court presupposes a concept of religious freedom which , if taken to its logical conclusion , would go so far as to ensure , to impose a sense of predominance over each citizen , required to live in an environment in keeping with the Court 's beliefs .
the adoption of a number of my amendments , which were aimed at highlighting doubts concerning the need and the proportionality of the system and at criticising the culture of suspicion that increasingly pervades decisions relating to external border management , have led me to endorse the report in plenary .
with its stubborn adherence to the planned economy , Cuba is no longer even capable of meeting the most basic needs of its own population .
one of the fundamental objectives of the European Union is to link human and social development to economic development .
that is why I think that we can approach this harmonised standard of consumer protection only by first establishing certain minimum standards , and then , on that basis , taking the path to a completely harmonised standard .
yesterday we were talking about intelligent roads , without actually calling them intelligent roads .
there needs to be a particularly close bond between all these links , along with open communication .
Przygotowania do szczytu Rady Europejskiej ( 17 czerwca 2010 r . ) - UE 2020 ( głosowanie )
Europe does exist now , and you are quite right that the status quo is not an option .
general Motors is not closing Opel Belgium because it is in difficulties : it has made a EUR 3.4 million profit , but this has not prevented it from getting rid of 2 600 jobs .
United in diversity is the motto of the EU and should also apply to Macedonians .
many of these obstacles are due to excessive bureaucratisation and difficulties in obtaining finance .
we should note that Iceland - precisely because it has reservations concerning CFP - does not want to join the European Union .
this recast was born because the original directive was being poorly implemented .
I would pick up three particular messages , the first being that it is essential to relaunch the reforms in full so that the fundamental freedoms of Turkish citizens are enhanced and Turkey is itself helped to meet the EU Copenhagen criteria .
to conclude , ladies and gentlemen , I wish to point out that everyone must have the right to freedom of sexual orientation , without fear of imprisonment or death .
it is not right for a private body to be set up de facto as a real legislator , without any political control , especially since the technical legitimacy of the IASB is increasingly being called into question by its approach to the issues involved , which is more theoretical than professional .
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politicians should set aside their arrogance and comfortable situation .
for this reason , we are duty-bound to guarantee them safe access to the new media .
the anchovy fishery in the Bay of Biscay has been closed since 2005 due to the poor condition of the anchovy stock .
in writing . - ( LT ) I voted in favour of this motion for a resolution , because I would firstly like to express my condolences and solidarity with the Japanese people following the natural disaster that claimed many lives and the catastrophe at Fukushima nuclear power plant .
of course , we should not conclude an agreement at any cost but only if the substance on the table is right .
this area is definitely vulnerable , as my country is fully dependant on one supplier , without any other alternative so far .
I am ready to do all I can to respond .
in Sweden or Spain , if we were continually increasing the size of our regions , the number of members of parliament we had and our functions , any Member State would need to increase its parliament 's budget .
the time for the groups was shared between Members so that everyone could have a minute , but almost nobody has spoken for less than a minute and a half , and so there is no way of responding positively , as we would all like , to anyone who wishes to contribute outside the time allocated to their corresponding groups .
the vote on the motions on economic partnership agreements is postponed until December and the deadlines proposed are as follows :
since its independence in 1958 , Guinea has only ever known dictatorial regimes .
he owns an abattoir in Yorkshire and at one stage - and this got into the Private Eye magazine - there was a visiting vet supervising a vet supervising a meat inspector supervising two slaughtermen !
the Commission has reinforced the financial corrections- action No 11 in the structural funds - : in 2008 , an amount of 1 billion 500 million was recovered .
as the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety said , the EU 's share of funding should be around EUR 30 billion a year up to 2020 .
however , we must not forget that here , we are debating the amendment of a regulation and therefore , the continued cooperation of all European Union institutions and common agreement on the revision of transparency rules are imperative .
the position of consumers needs to be strengthened .
we have resolved to take the lead worldwide in the fight against global warming .
the consequences of the crisis are unemployment , poverty , lower incomes and less education .
( applause )
by adopting this report , Parliament approves the granting of discharge to the Commission in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009 .
I believe you are all aware of the efforts we have made .
I listened with great attention to everything you had to say , the expression of your vigilance , and also , in general - and I am very conscious of this as it is something we need - the expression of your encouragement and your support for our approach .
I think you will agree with me when I say that Europe and the Europeans have good reason to feel satisfied with political developments over the last six months .
what changed the north-eastern part of our island was that people invested in universally small pieces of land .
furthermore , the report highlights quite rightly the need to make use of new information and communication technologies in order to provide modern , quality teaching , in line with young people 's aspirations .
that is the key task .
as things stand , the Council has not yet received any legislative proposal for a Council decision with a view to establishing an integrated European policy to support and provide vocational training for citizens with special needs and ensure their integration in society .
this has been especially true over the last few years .
it is time we took the subject seriously .
2 .
however , in order to prevent and mitigate the unwanted effects of climate change action must be taken now .
we also have to put ourselves in the shoes of employers , particularly small and medium-sized enterprises , who undoubtedly find it very hard to survive in the market if they face too many formal obstacles .
in my opinion , the situation has improved a lot and we have returned to the Community approach .
the European Union , as the true repository of human rights and humanitarian protection , must do everything to make these ideas and organisations withdraw , and even to make them disappear from our everyday lives if their aggression , which disturbs the healthy life of society , so demands .
the package for the financial markets was wrapped up quickly , the governments took action , and there was a demonstration of an ability to act in a crisis , including by the Commission , but the question is , are we now going to cast aside the principles that have contributed to the stability of the euro , or are we going to succeed in developing and maintaining those principles ?
one of the lessons learned from the crisis was the need to create independent European agencies for monitoring the banks and insurance in the financial markets .
do not forget that that new ideas come up all the time .
hence , Greece should expect more from us than we have given so far .
at the same time , it is clear that it enhances the facility for us to exercise our fundamental rights , such as freedom of speech , freedom of political action , freedom of knowledge and education and freedom of association .
there are many other reasons , besides prostitution and forced labour , for the exploitation of human beings : forced begging , illegal adoptions , organ trafficking , and so on are all cases covered by the text of the directive .
it is a scandal not worthy of a Europe of values and human rights .
Baroness Ashton , I welcome your trip to Tunisia in two weeks ' time , but I also believe that we must improve our capacities for prediction and reaction .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Mr President , I am happy at this crucial time in the work of the European Union that Spain takes on the Presidency of the Council .
once again I would like to emphasise very clearly that without this link with innovation the European car industry will not be competitive in the long term .
we need the technical experts to respond .
I think attention should be paid to fighting discrimination not only in the professional area , but also outside it .
linked to this discussion is that related to security .
however , it concerns me to hear that President Chávez equates the new social networking sites with State terrorism and to see how the Internet is under serious threat .
as rapporteur for the package in Parliament , I have placed an emphasis on the central role of national action plans .
two thirds of people feel uninformed .
mark Twain observed that , when all you have is a hammer , everything starts to look like a nail .
the Commission also made clear that it cannot accept a limited number of proposals which , in their current wording , would depart from the governance improvements envisaged or would remove safeguards contained in the current Regulation .
the new treaty has cemented the new understanding of European subsidiarity already deeply rooted in the cohesion policy , that is , subsidiarity extended to local and regional levels of governance .
I would like to take this opportunity to remind you that , without the latest revision to the regulation governing the fund , during which the economic crisis was added to the eligibility criteria , many of the requests currently reaching us could not , legally speaking , have been given a favourable response .
creating different types of licence for transferring defence-related products and services within the EU would reduce the barriers which currently impede the free movement and exchange of defence-related products within the internal market , while also making competition less distorted .
turning a blind eye to the money wasted will not solve the problem , and it is also unfair to European taxpayers .
the ball is now in the EU 's court .
they had dismissed their internal auditors .
one Member is able to speak in favour of the proposal and one against .
nearly 10 people a day die whilst waiting .
lack of investor confidence and realistic assessments are currently preventing a return to normal levels - a process that will undoubtedly take some time and will not even spare the professionals of banking supervisory bodies .
this will move us towards stable political institutions that will operate on the basis of equality , power sharing and mutual respect .
the European Union and the United States are two areas that have been severely affected by the economic and financial crisis ; and , at a time when the effects can still be felt , we have desired to reaffirm , in the European Parliament , our will to find a common response to this crisis and the need to strengthen economic cooperation in order to emerge together definitively from this difficult period .
concerning open access to new technology and new investments in broadband , the honourable Member knows perfectly well that the Commission has vetoed the proposal by the German Government to establish a new monopoly on fibre .
even the coalition government in the UK , which includes the Liberal Democrats , is opposed to these changes .
the package confirms the leading role of the EU in the global fight against climate change while at the same time respecting the actual possibilities and economic conditions of each Member State .
let us also say , as we do in the report directly : yes , this policy needs money .
( SV ) A mixed message is being sent today .
the response to climate change lies in strong international governance and financial commitment .
we must therefore find new sources of funding , not least by reforming the current system .
in view of the above , such a system cannot be successfully introduced without penalties , and without restrictive penalties , as some have said .
we view the way things are developing in the European Union with great concern .
I believe that your initiative will certainly lead to greater public awareness across the EU .
I must , at this juncture , compliment both the Commission and the Council on their new position regarding cooperation with Parliament .
the European Central Bank should play a greater part in scrutiny and oversight .
this is considerable progress .
we did want the regulation to abandon the idea of three rigid zones , but the Council did not agree , and so it has been retained .
if only the same could be achieved with other products as well .
the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament agrees with the position adopted in the Brok report , which it played an active part in drafting .
this is particularly important for Lithuania , because now at a time when the crisis has hit the Baltic States hard , the material status of many families borders on poverty .
I want this Parliament to stop the flow of EU funds to the regions where this enormous breach of human rights is taking place .
I should also like to welcome the President of the European Commission , José Manuel Durão Barroso , who , like the President-in-Office of the European Council , has just returned from Japan .
that of a catalyst , of course .
I am opposed to the project of extending maternity leave to 20 weeks with full pay .
the other group , my group , firmly believes in a Europe which people can understand , trust and believe in .
this becomes all the more important if globalisation continues , as we expect it to .
he has got through a great deal of work , starting with the draft directive , which he approached in an innovative way , as he wanted to properly prepare the report in collaboration with the Commission and the Council , in which he was successful .
the Joint Undertaking final 2009 budget included commitment appropriations of EUR 325 000 000 and payment appropriations of EUR 157 000 000 , and the utilisation rates for commitment and payment appropriations were 97.1 % and 43.2 % respectively .
for this reason I believe that the next six months will be fruitful in stabilising the situation in the Western Balkan region .
in addition to these four areas , I would like to add one more which is missing from the framework , and this is specifically the fight not only against discrimination , but also against verbal or physical expressions of racism .
we support the Commission in using this package of initiatives to increase efficiency , promote scientific and technical progress , provide benefits to end consumers and , in short , improve the overall competitiveness and sustainable development of our businesses .
there is a lack of consistency among the European Union 's various forestry-related policies as well as those of the Member States .
let us hope that , through its firmness , which has also been set in motion , some governments will not be deaf but will listen to this intelligence , French intelligence , and will cooperate in a measured way in order to achieve the objectives that they and we are committed to achieving .
you are surely aware that there is already a great deal of criticism in this regard , firstly with regard to the size of the Board , because it has , once again , been put together according to a typical European Proporz system .
I do not need to have your support to say it ...
the EU 's image has suffered in this conflict , even more than that of other international players .
yes , we should share some information , but we should always think how much , for what purpose and for what benefit , and we should not consider that all circumstances are identical .
evaluation of EU sanctions as part of the EU 's actions and policies in the area of human rights ( debate )
I should like to make just one observation .
( LT ) Today we have heard mention of the Espoo Convention on several occasions , mainly with regard to the need for all interested countries to observe international environmental protection standards .
furthermore , I regret the rejection of our criticism of the Commission for linking the Recovery Plan to the expansion of neoliberal ' structural reforms ' and to strict compliance with the Stability and Growth Pact , when what was needed was to dispense with these and change tack .
( DE ) Mr President , what happened today was not a victory for the Brussels camp over the Strasbourg camp , as we also reduced the number of Brussels sittings by one .
the fishermen hope that the wording of the regulation has arisen out of ignorance on the part of the European Commission with regard to the true scale of fishing in the Baltic Sea by individual countries .
for this stage , a distinction is still necessary and is an important step in creating an integrated railway network in the European Union .
derogations from the prohibition are now to be restricted to substances that are approved in food and have so far not been shown to cause problems and that vulnerable groups , such as small children and pregnant women , are able to tolerate .
this will require the Commission to strengthen its internal organisation all the more , if it is to function as a college .
the Commission 's proposal on which we are working mainly argues for regional priorities and then , within the regional ones , priorities that I would call ' humanitarian ' .
indeed , EU food price inflation accelerated in the last quarter of 2007 .
Mrs McGuinness , I assure you that I have been looking at you nearly the entire time , and that I have seen you asking for the floor .
it is like being in a dream !
Mr President , I draw the attention of this House to the impact of the unlawful blockade of the cross-Channel ports of Calais , Boulogne and Dunkirk by members of the French fishing industry last week .
( FI ) Madam President , it is very important that the cultural dimension is also included in the debate on foreign policy .
finally , I also appeal to the EU 's Member States to respect human rights in their own domestic policy , because failure to do so weakens the Union 's position in the UNHRC .
the humanitarian context has changed profoundly in recent years , making it all the more relevant that the Humanitarian Consensus be applied rigorously and robustly .
supplementing the funds already allocated is one of the conditions for this scheme 's success .
in all other respects , however , we need to look for ways to make savings and increase efficiency .
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moreover , this should not be seen in terms of competition between the national level and the European level .
we need a moratorium on nuclear energy , and what is needed is massive investment in sustainable and renewable energy .
the situation is ridiculous : things could be different , but the main responsibility lies with the nation-states .
I would have welcomed it if the Council in particular had agreed on more objective solutions that were sympathetic to small businesses .
is this the way they intend to resolve the problems that are currently facing the whole of that population ?
I would urge the Commissioner to talk with Commissioner Mandelson to ensure that the WTO negotiations do not water down or compromise the EU 's standards , particularly in relation to what are , frankly , substandard imports into the European Union .
now in the face of a sudden and devastating food crisis , alerting the world to the urgent need to find a long-term global and balanced solution , these countries expect a clear response from us to guarantee their food security .
this will provide an additional safeguard to prevent misuse and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction .
will the country remain at peace or will it sink into another war ?
where we find it impossible to accept another person 's point of view , it is still necessary to treat such views with respect , to exchange ideas and opinions peacefully and , wherever possible , to pave the way for joint action and thereby defuse tension .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I appreciate the great interest in this proposal , the proof of which lies in the large number of amendment proposals it has given rise to .
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there are also other aspects that I want to highlight here , which concern other reports .
we have no redress ...
lastly , the events in South Sudan and the Abyei region must not make us overlook the situation in Darfur , which is considered to be the worst humanitarian crisis in the world .
disturbing reports from Ukraine , however , indicate developments that distance the country from Europe .
but I would invite the Commission and the Council to stand back from the detail of this document and look it as a whole .
I believe that political parties should not use the initiative instrument , because that is what the political parties and Parliament are there for .
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I therefore welcome the enlargement of the euro area .
in this context , Europe should assume its responsibilities .
my party , the Dutch Socialist Party , does not believe that harmonising asylum policy and dressing up an agency to govern this in future would lead to a more even distribution of the number of asylum applications among the various Member States .
unfortunately , there is no doubt that when Member States get a bag of money from the EU they are not so inclined to subject this money to as much control and as many rules as would be the case if it was national money .
he is responsible for taking action to have behavioural and learning difficulties recognised as health problems rather than disabilities .
we must seize this historic opportunity to reverse the climate change trend .
EU Member States who champion human rights causes can surely offer no excuse for failing to adopt this Convention , which was adopted in Warsaw over three years ago .
I trust Bulgaria and Romania .
enough is enough .
although both bodies will probably approve an overall budget of EUR 100 million for this instrument , identifying the sources of the finance continues to be the main obstacle .
the European Union and its institutions are being very proactive , giving all their political support to projects such as Nabucco , Nord Stream and South Stream .
I will conclude with two points .
we expect that , with easier rules , credit claims will be used more frequently in the future .
we need to state very clearly that it is the shared task of the European Union , the African Union and the various powers of southern Africa to ensure that the opportunity now created , following the elections , is properly used .
we want journalists to be able to move around freely so that the situation as it really is can indeed be reported .
the resolution explicitly mentions and criticises measures introduced by the current government , but forgets that the current Mayor of Naples , Mrs Iervolino , belongs to the centre-left and , worse still , forgets the long reign of Mr Bassolino , who was Mayor of Naples from 1993 to 2000 and Governor of Campania from 2000 to 2010 , as well as special commissioner for the waste crisis for many years .
this is a call to the Commission - we want measures to reduce private motoring and meat consumption so that we have more grain to feed people !
this resolution comes at just the right time .
I have brought in a piece of this iron curtain to Parliament - as I have many other times .
on the other hand we do want to see all non-agricultural uses of plant protection products included in the scope of the statistics , and hence also within the scope of future legislation .
we Europeans are strong and united .
unfortunately , though , sanctions and isolation of the regime have in recent years not really done anything to help bring about change .
if we look at the current debate about oil prices , for example , and see what has been proposed in this House in order to apply the brakes to the Commission , which after all wanted to make cars more energy-efficient , the question we should be asking ourselves is whether the idea that prices will remain high for the long term is actually being taken seriously .
first and foremost , there is the need to achieve a balanced result ; to balance negotiating rights in the context of the Kyoto Protocol and of the Convention on the one hand , and within the frameworks themselves on the other .
all these efforts are being made in terms of agriculture .
I think that right now , it is important to stress that with this report , we have succeeded in striking a good balance between the main issues , a broad consensus , and that overall , the report has the capacity and potential to make an adequate response to the needs , or should I say demands , of the sector .
instead of taking umbrage , the EU should accept the Irish ' no ' vote for what it is : a chance for a new direction , towards policies which are geared to the people and the citizens of Europe .
how can it be that an EU that stands for human rights and the elimination of torture has offered no true accountability or establishment of the truth , but only blank denials and bland assurances for its own involvement in this barbarity ?
it is important for the European Union to take up a strong position on this matter and use every possible legal instrument and political instrument in general to draw international attention to the matter and denounce infringements of international law .
the financial , economic and social crisis has now been raging for two years .
2009 discharge : European Aviation Safety Agency (
it is also absolutely vital that the criteria should be established according to uniform standards .
indeed , including a capacity to tax such institutions in a way which prevents them from playing one country off another .
in writing . - Small and medium-size enterprises will play a vital role in reinvigorating economies across Europe that are currently witnessing economic contraction or , at best , slight economic growth .
what sort of skills ?
the new 2011-2020 strategy for transport will be adopted , along with the amendments to the directive on the transport network that are essential in order to achieve the internal market and social , economic and territorial cohesion .
I hope that we shall see the fruits of this valuable and judicious political measure next spring and that European laws will be put into practice in the form of an enforced ban on illegal spring hunting .
'The standard time limits for the regulatory procedure with scrutiny are laid down in Article 5a ( 3 ) and ( 4 ) of Decision 1999 / 468 / EC .
as you know , Oleg Orlov , together with other members of the organisation Memorial , was awarded the prize last year for his uncompromising and courageous fight for the truth about Russian crimes committed in the Chechen Republic .
perhaps some kind of humanitarian programme could be provided for cases where some impediment exists , such as political persecution .
now , there is just Ireland to go , you may say , and then we will have a treaty that will also provide more opportunities for my Committee on Development to make better policy .
we have seen that there is democratic support in Ireland for the European integration process .
the clashes resumed , proving that the war which began over four years ago is continuing and intensifying .
the worrying increase of the number of individuals who suffer from cancer , cardiovascular diseases , diabetes and obesity in spite of the progress made with the cures for these diseases is an important issue to be dealt with .
people who think rationally on this matter are accused of lacking moral principles , and simply - as was the case with me today - they are not given the opportunity to speak in a ' democratic ' way .
there are other Member States , and you have referred to some of them here , where the national regulations are not adequate .
for Europe 's security it would be very important to launch the cooperation on crisis management agreed at the meeting of November 2003 , especially in respect of frozen conflicts .
up to 80 % of mitigation and adaptation policies will happen at the regional and local level .
this was always a bilateral issue but should in no way preclude Croatia from joining our Union .
secondly , I want to say that Uzbekistan is also a good example of a country that says to us that the European Union has nothing to teach them about democracy and human rights because the Union has its own defects and problems .
I hope that our vote will mean that more firms and workers in the West Midlands will benefit from these rights .
at that time , no one said that the euro was at risk .
we welcome the fact that the European Parliament is critical towards the Commission 's proposal and would like to point out that it is doubtful whether this type of EU legislation is required .
I therefore welcome Mr Karas 's call for the requirements for the liquidity standards to be made independent of system-relevance .
that was the idea of the compulsory licence , which would have meant that any manufacturer could reproduce parts subject to payment of a licence fee to the owner of the design rights .
although it is not enough to meet the huge demands of all Member States , or to fully implement all priority policies , I believe that it lives up to the fundamental principle of the EU , which is solidarity .
what effect do current European Union policies promoting the deregulation and privatisation of public services , including health and education , have on failure to enforce children 's rights ?
agreement on this report is within our reach .
existing bilateral contacts aimed at forming functional airspace blocks have achieved hardly anything , so we really do need to pull our finger out .
we can observe that both institutions have a lot in common as regards sound financial management and European added value .
it is therefore necessary to take measures to increase monitoring , detection and correction .
there is probably no one here who would stand up and give three cheers for the Muslim Brotherhood .
the most difficult area has been the sustainability criteria .
( SL ) The two reports on the framework decisions form two further pieces in the jigsaw of a broad range of regulations , directives and other documents relating to the fight against terrorism .
all commitments to the welfare state are in vain if there is no growth and if there are no resources for the social policy , so I think that these are in the correct order .
the result means that I can now express my support for the EIT , insofar as it is a new and promising instrument for integrating the three axes of knowledge : education , research and innovation , which we hope will add value to the existing instruments .
what do you plan to do to overcome these problems , to establish the necessary common objectives and to create credible European instruments , so that we are able to act effectively and provide the right answers ?
the OECD Working Group , on the other hand , is seeking to determine how we ourselves should behave in response to the influence exerted by sovereign wealth funds .
this will be an important subject in the future FTA negotiations with Ukraine .
lastly , I would like to thank the Commission once again for the constructive way in which it has responded to the needs of the cotton-producing countries .
it is an excellent and well-balanced report , which , in my opinion , is written in the spirit of Antoine de Saint Exupéry 's words about our future : our task is not to foresee it , but to enable it .
in other words , if a Spanish company applies for a European patent , it will be able to use it without being discriminated against if Spain does not participate in enhanced cooperation straight away .
Europe 's strength lies not in concerning itself with as many issues as possible , but in taking more time for important questions .
we also congratulate Mr Verheugen on the initiative he has taken with regard to this .
I support the adoption of the European Charter for Small Enterprises and congratulate the French Presidency .
it is commendable that less than a year after the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon , we have on our desks the revision of the framework agreement on improved cooperation on joint tasks of the European Commission and the European Parliament .
this is the case unless it is considered that the European Union does not have any power or any competences whatsoever , but it does have powers and competences that have been transferred by the Member States .
the press has asked me why we did not cite any countries in this summary report .
Member States are interested in just one thing , which is how much money they can scrape back from the European budget , and that would be combated by a system of own resources .
will you commit to action that will root out supermarket abuse of their monopoly positions ?
as far as that goes , I am very mindful of my responsibilities .
I therefore welcome the Czech Presidency and the well-established cooperation with the next country to hold the presidency , Sweden , and I wish you good luck .
Mr President , I do not know what rule this is under , but my voting list has another report to be voted on - Ayala Sender .
in fact , renovation of houses of extremely poor quality might result in a waste of public resources .
the European shipyards are not in a position to compete with the breaking yards of South Asia .
it is not possible to hold a proper debate on all these issues this afternoon .
it is also important to try and coordinate our policies on development aid in order to be more effective in this endeavour .
the next item is the report by Mrs van den Burg on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs , on the proposal for a Council directive amending Directive 2006 / 112 / EC as regards reduced rates of value added tax - C6-0299 / 2008 - .
as for creating an intermediate category for regions whose GDP is between 75 and 90 % of average European GDP , I am in agreement , provided a double condition is met .
I do not speak of other very cruel methods of killing people .
if we are to do so , we have to find ways of facilitating access to employment and of training a skilled , flexible , mobile and motivated labour force .
for this reason , I call on our authorities not to go to the celebrations for the anniversary of the Islamic Republic .
it is essential to take into account the ageing of the population and its consequent effects on society : economic effects , social effects and health effects .
I voted in favour of this report , which seeks to reject a proposal by the European Commission that will not make it possible to remedy the failings identified in the implementation and monitoring of the rules in relation to driving times and rest periods directly linked to safety and social rights .
ten years ago , there was nothing .
I hope that the European Union will also follow the same code of conduct - the same road map - so that any action carried out by that government will not be considered legitimate .
the Commission supports the rapporteur 's view with regard to the need to develop a solution for the secure final disposal of irradiated fuel elements .
I supported his report in today 's vote .
this contribution is crucial for the Mauritanian national budget considering , as I said earlier , that annual payments under the Fisheries Partnership Agreement represent 15 to 20 % of the country 's budget .
it is not a question of ratifying the Treaty of Lisbon here today .
local governments and non-governmental organisations should join the efforts to help in the area of tackling social exclusion .
the Commission is ready to come back to this specific point in two years ' time , when we submit a report to the Council and to this Assembly on the regulation 's implementation and effectiveness .
to be frank , I find this sickening .
as Ms Hennicot-Schoepges said , we are not going to lose identity ; we offer to share the identity between universities or existing centres and the EIT which is going to be established .
this is why I asked in the explanatory statement for the retention of a separate budget heading .
do you want a return to the Communist utopia , as in North Korea , in Cuba and other dictatorships ?
what , then , was the reason , particularly when we are aware of the difficulties this can entail , such as with Iran at the moment ?
I agree with the objectives set out in the report , particularly the support for widening access to broadband Internet , the efforts to reduce differences in this area between the various Member States and the need to invest in education and training in this sector .
this should be recognised as such by sectoral policies .
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Americans are coming closer to the need to reinforce the welfare system .
during the Danish presidency in 2002 , when there was a flash flood , they managed to mobilise themselves and prepare the relevant documents in a matter of weeks .
if the flexibility aspect can be reviewed , it means that the Solidarity Fund as an instrument can be improved and made even more effective , thus enabling it to resolve the huge problems that we will increasingly have to face .
you have only yourselves to blame , Italian and European citizens , if you have decided to do something other than pursue a career in one of the Italian parties that govern or have governed cities , regions and nations , and which in governing are governed by the banks .
this impasse is serious for two reasons .
we have brought the law before Parliament .
the EU must speak to China and India , who are in a better place to pressurise the regime , asking them to intervene to protect the demonstrators and help return Burma to democracy .
it is beyond doubt that minimising risks to human health and environmental protection take priority .
however , the possibility of applying such a tax exclusively at European level should first be the subject of a feasibility study by the European Commission .
I consider that the Agency should be independent of Euratom as the roles of promoting nuclear energy and controlling it should not in effect be joined .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( HU ) Mr President , I too am very happy that we could still find time for this question .
even in good times , the German Government of Mr Schröder went through the 3 % ceiling , and Greece , of course , broke all the records , because the Greek political class is utterly unable to manage money .
we are living in times when the European public feels excluded from the Union project .
finally , as regards the impact of a possible agreement , a sustainable impact assessment of a trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur has already been carried out and has been publicly available since March 2009 .
Mr President , I would like to say to the President-in-Office of the Council : what a wonderful summit .
in particular I am thinking of the ' single branding ' obligation , which will have a negative impact on consumer choice and the independence of dealers with regard to manufacturers .
we also need to raise the general awareness of consumers in this regard .
at this rate , it will take more than six years to clear the ruins in Port-au-Prince .
I am asking you , Commissioner , to try , above all , when we debate the budgetary review , when we are about to start to talk about the budgetary perspectives for post-2013 , not to remain completely absorbed by this context of crisis , unless you are going to tell me and tell all European citizens that , in effect , Europe will remain in the crisis for a long time .
we are trying an experiment where I would invite all Members to take seats at the front of the Chamber so that we make this a little more intimate and friendly , and perhaps more of an exchange .
Mr President , I wish to comment on two aspects of this excellent report by Elizabeth Lynne .
we have already seen a good many ugly examples of such conflict in the recent past .
I would like to encourage all EU institutions and Member States to provide the members of society with more detailed information on combating poverty and social exclusion in order to increase the sense of common responsibility and help disperse the prejudice of being a financial burden on society .
whilst the intention to simplify contract law and expand cross-border trade is commendable , I nonetheless have doubts about the relevance of this approach : indeed there is a high risk that national rules , which provide maximum protection for consumers , will be bypassed .
recovery is still slow for some countries even today , and the ongoing fragility of financial markets makes global coordination and the choice of appropriate economic and industrial strategies key aspects in combating the financial crisis .
as regards the fuel crisis , we already have the possibility of medium- to long-term measures that are in place , and this would be in combination with the restructuring of the sector .
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Mrs Dati , in my capacity as President I must also thank you and the Presidency of the Council for the work you have accomplished and the efforts that have been made , not least by you personally , over the last six months .
in writing . - The vote in favour of Mr Fazakas is disappointing . it sets a serious precedent .
when many developing countries now want to develop wind power they must use old and unpatented technology .
President of the Commission . - Regarding the situation of Greece , we believe that Greece has taken the necessary steps to reduce the government deficit this year .
there is a group there which , by international standards , is classified as far-right .
the Commission will seek to advance the development of the guidelines referred to in Annex VIIb of the Directive by 2011 and will cooperate with Member States to develop the data and the methodologies needed to estimate and monitor the contribution of heat pumps to the fulfilment of the objectives of the Directive .
temporary employment agencies will be treated as employers and will have to ensure that employees receive all the rights they are entitled to .
Mr President , there is guilt on both sides , but an overreaction on the part of Israel over this report and indeed over Operation Cast Lead .
we voted on the President of the Commission five months ago in this House and although we did not give him our support then , he received the majority vote .
we know that agricultural policy is to be the subject of a health check , but not a general review .
we passed a resolution in which the proponents declared themselves to be alarmed by the situation in my country .
the levels of coordination provided for in the recommendations , including with partner and professional organisations , extend the scope of feasibility .
you will be aware of the fact that the tenth European Development Fund places greater emphasis on rural development and investment in agriculture than the ninth EDF , for example , where the budget allocated for projects on rural development and agriculture represented - if I remember correctly - 9 % of the appropriations .
thank you .
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I think therefore that it is important and necessary to review this directive .
with the Swedish Presidency , we have celebrated once again the International Convention on the Rights of the Child , which is in its 20th year .
I should like to say to all the Members who disagree with this that , as long as you are not out to get a quick headline , but instead have the objectives of cooperating to achieve something for the minorities in Europe , and of all groups in this Parliament , both large and small , pulling together , then jointly we can achieve something for these people .
we are opposed to a ban on the whole idea of nuclear power .
however , unfortunately no change has been made in connection with the fundamental grounds for all matters that fall under the internal market .
I propose that specific fuel payments be made to fishermen , to help them cope with the difficult situation they are currently experiencing . these payments would be linked to the price of fuel oil .
to achieve this , we must also equip ourselves with modern , competitive industry that makes a clean break with the old method of industrial policy making .
in the near future , a whole new set of rules will provide the basis for stable , sustainable growth and job creation .
this agreement not only compensates financially for past losses but also covers their future prevention .
Madam President , my group has visited several Roma communities in Europe and seen the horrendous conditions there .
the separation of powers is the basis of democracy and the constitutional state , and the freedom of the media is essential for democracy and a respect for fundamental freedoms .
after all , freedom , justice and security go hand in hand .
as in all compromises , there are points on which we successfully make our opinion prevail and others which we find harder to accept .
it is an action about which I should like to inform colleagues in writing , calling for the respect of democratically spoken words , and is emblematic not just as regards the situation in Italy .
I have now seen again that in politics there is a real risk of staking everything on a cure-all and then railroading it through with all vigour while promising the people that this will solve all their problems .
we react to it by also making sure that our actions uphold human rights and the values which we hold dear .
currently , by decision of the Member States , the airlines use all necessary devices , be they child seats or safety belts .
there are no easy solutions or prescriptions , but we urge everyone to be aware that the only solution is a political solution , one which emphasises a strong engagement with Afghan institutions and citizens in their country 's development which will have an effect over the long term by creating stable prerequisites for halting opium production and eliminating poverty .
in writing . - I am completely in favour of more stringent rules regarding financial activities and credit rating agencies .
I know that you are known for your gentle approach , but in this regard I agree with my fellow Members that we need to be loud and clear .
I wish to emphasise the positive impact of supporting the Digital Agenda initiatives as part of the flagship initiatives for new skills and jobs , and I would like to see the Commission coming forward with concrete legislative proposals to address the development of the online environment by creating facilities , both financial and administrative , to promote online businesses and e-Commerce .
I wish to thank Commissioner Barnier and the fellow Members who provided positive feedback , not only on my first report , but on the SOLVIT network itself as well .
the report words the proportionality and purpose of data processing more precisely , imposes stricter controls on transfer to third countries , and calls for a group of experts , which is to function as both supervisory authority and performance location .
firstly , there is an unfortunate tendency to put small and large companies in the automobile industry up against each other .
I am lodging with Parliament 's secretariat a full list of the Commission 's positions on the amendments .
I defend parliaments and I want to engage with you in this debate .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , in October last year I had the opportunity , as part of a delegation from the Committee on Regional Development , to see all the wonderful things that are being done with EU funds on Madeira , for which reason I , too , feel personally very affected by this disaster .
given the scope of the threats and total EU forest area , common agricultural policy ( CAP ) financing through pillar 2 for forests should increase , subject to the existence of national forest programmes ( NFPs ) and operational management plans , which incorporate the EU biodiversity strategy and long timeframes for forestry projects in sustainable forest management ( SFM ) .
the Zaleski report has its basis in a Commission proposal whose aim is only to renew some of the cooperation agreement with Ukraine following the country 's accession to the WTO .
for the above-mentioned reasons , therefore , we vote against this report .
in writing . - ( SV ) I voted against in the final vote with regard to the Statute for a European private company ( SPE ) .
these opposition rallies are due to last for three days , despite a government ban .
now despite my antipathy to the Bush Administration 's foreign policy , it seems to me that it is a perfectly reasonable position for Bush to take on the basis of US self-interest .
I have been here for 16 years .
in the weeks and months ahead , will he follow up forcefully what he has asked already and for which he has not received answers ?
we consider that this approach is the best .
what use are advanced technologies if we no longer have any raw materials ?
the European Union , however , must play a stronger political role on the international stage and be able to address major challenges .
here , the Commission took the views of this House fully into account .
Mr President , I would point out to the Commissioner that the concept and practice of corporate social responsibility has spread rapidly through the business sector during the last decade .
however , ideally it should actually be feasible too .
overturn the capitalist barbarity and the sovereignty of the monopolies . '
it also has value as a positive example for our partners in the world .
at the end of voting time in the plenary session of 6 May 2009 , the European Parliament approved a draft directive setting out the terms and conditions for electronic communication .
the economy needs culture and culture needs the economy .
it reminds me a little of the tax return forms in the Czech Republic , which ordinary citizens cannot complete without a tax advisor .
I would also like to point out that these protection systems must be obligatory , otherwise they become arbitrary .
it is also known that progress is possible without altering the central architecture of the Lamfalussy method but , as many of my fellow Members have said , one of the most obvious and urgent tools for obtaining improvements involves stronger and more effective coordination between national regulators and supervisors through greater efficiency at Level 3 , increasing powers and competence , strengthening the mechanisms for managing turbulent situations and crises and ensuring consistency of principles and practices .
trade policy can support climate change objectives by minimising those costs and generating part of the finance required and by fostering regulatory frameworks that support investment and trade in low-carbon goods , services and technology .
it is a step towards political innovation , which must help us to be more transparent and restore people 's confidence in politics .
why has the Commission not been waging war to see all of its proposals approved , and not have them approved separately ?
several have asked about the 30 % .
( RO ) Shipping and the shipbuilding industry contribute significantly to the economic prosperity of EU countries and provide valuable services to European and global industry , as well as consumers .
in part 2 of your question , we believe that the coordination of information is absolutely necessary .
financial support to numerous projects created under the auspices of the Regional Competitiveness Programme could be stripped , threatening thousands of associated jobs .
while the anti-terrorist operation in Chechnya was officially declared over last year , violence and the climate of impunity continue there , but even more so in neighbouring Dagestan and also in Ingushetia .
I voted for the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) in favour of Spain because I consider that instrument to be a valuable resource for the support of workers in difficulties on account of the economic crisis .
this would undoubtedly have led to job losses .
it seems to me that this was clearly the main concern for the European Parliament .
this is obviously welcome by those who have been working on damage control day and night for more than a week .
lastly , one element missing for me is the digital agenda .
you cannot ask a skeleton to tighten its belt .
agriculture is heavily dependent on EU subsidies .
this often concerns weaknesses , irregularities , trickery - sometimes even fraud and deception .
what remains to be resolved ?
the EU proposal was good ; it went in the right direction , and we should have liked to improve it .
in the part of the world which I come from , we could not use this market for many decades , and we know what that led to .
that brings us to the end of the list of speakers .
for this there is still no solution .
the borders between the Member States are not impermeable walls , but nets through which society filters daily .
all along , I have defended human rights , but human rights are the same all over the world .
in order to better define the position of third countries , on 22 March of this year the Council adopted a decision authorising the Commission to negotiate with non-EU countries with a view to signing agreements on their associated membership for participation in the European GNSS ( Global Navigation Satellite System ) Supervisory Authority ( GSA ) .
the fact is that new expenditure should not necessarily - and indeed absolutely must not - lead to budgetary increases .
Moldova is a divided country .
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this work has been going on for several months now .
furthermore , the Commission 's disability action plan 2003-2010 contains actions which are also relevant for people with Alzheimer 's , such as promotion of independent living , quality support and care services , accessibility of mainstream goods and services , and assistive solutions .
our vote in favour of this measure is a consequence of the formal distinction that has been made between information on medicinal products and advertising .
I am disappointed .
I urge , in this respect , the agencies to :
we should finally stop pursuing this blind alley towards supposed accession .
I should also like to highlight Mrs Wallis 's involvement in the area of electronic justice .
I would remind you that there is a figure of 7 for nuclear .
the first is to set ourselves a date , a deadline - we are proposing 2015 - by which to lift these exemptions , launching a real withdrawal strategy , including measures that will then be required to demolish these plants in safety and also ensure safety as regards export .
unfortunately , we had the same situation when we discussed the Slovak language law .
development challenges increasingly do not respect administrative or political borders .
some progress still needs to be made : we should remember that neighbourhood and cooperation policies underpin the region 's progress towards EU membership and that in the Western Balkans region certain bilateral issues between the various states , both Community and non-Community , are still to be resolved .
but the election of such parties raises the level of fear and , therefore , we need to think about how we react to that .
willingness to cooperate may help advance the understanding that it is not a matter of choice , but of necessity , for the European Union to integrate immediately this sizeable potential workforce , one that has centuries of experience adapting to their milieu .
( DE ) Mr President , I would like to start by commenting on what Commissioner Dimas said .
however , if you appoint a climate commissioner , you must also show that she has real power and will have access to areas such as energy , industry , transport , the environment and agriculture .
as far as technology goes , electric vehicle technology already exists .
the Chagos Archipelago is in the middle of part of this region : Seychelles-Mauritius-Madagascar .
Parliament , the Council and the Commission each have their role , which should be respected , and I hope Parliament will speak with one strong voice , because that will benefit us all and benefit the end result , which I hope will be a balanced and workable compromise text .
in conclusion , I would like to point out that it is important to bring to the fore the issues that can engage Russia in implementing the policies that we have in common - I will not list all these issues here .
it will also result in a rise in xenophobia and a growth in the influence of parties proclaiming populist and nationalist slogans .
resources are needed , however , to provide the necessary equipment and staff training for example , so that the new principles can be properly implemented and offences against the environment reduced .
then somebody suddenly called from Commissioner Frattini 's office telling me a different story , saying that the letter was still pending .
in writing . - ( LT ) I agreed with this Protocol to amend the EU-US air transport agreement .
the resolution incorporates the priorities set out in the Commission 's communication of last October - to reduce the number of injuries and deaths resulting from alcohol-related road traffic accidents .
I agree with the need to support the moderate Iraqi groups and the Christians who have fled to Kurdistan , and also with the need to remove the references to religious affiliation from identity documents .
Member of the Commission . - ( EL ) Madam President , it is a top priority for the Commission to conclude a far-reaching international agreement on climate change , covering the period after 2012 .
the situation is getting better , but there are still control systems to be improved , problems to be tackled and solutions to be found .
they will be sold at a very low price , which means that we will lose several years of the changeover necessary in order for us to be able to deal with this in the long term and it also means that , after this recession , we will be less well equipped and have a poorer ability to cope with this development if we do not establish such supplementary measures as emissions requirements for large combustion plants .
we have to send a clear message .
this Directive contains a set of general provisions for EC model approval , initial verification procedures and metrological control methods .
however , in territorial terms or , in other words , on the ground , I believe that the European Commission , in exercising its legislative initiative , must act carefully with regard to the different local situations and the differences between sporting disciplines .
this is why I find it incomprehensible that the new Hungarian rural strategy excludes assistance for agricultural raw material production aimed at energy production .
yet another European Council summit is to deal with the Lisbon Strategy , which is deemed to have failed and needs to be reviewed .
the issue here is the drinking culture and the promotion of social responsibility by alcohol producers in Europe .
ultimately , I believe that , with the Christmas festivities only a few days away , the adoption of this regulation represents a nice gift for European citizens and Europe itself .
that , in turn , offers us an opportunity to learn from our past mistakes .
President of the Commission . - I think the European Union 's position regarding the settlements has been fully in line with that of the international community , including Israel 's closest allies .
in this motion for a resolution , the European Parliament encourages Member States to make equal contributions to the content of the Europeana project and step up their efforts in providing works to libraries and national cultural institutions so that all Europeans can have full access to their own cultural heritage .
in this context , I would like to welcome the vision of the common agricultural policy outlined in the report .
my third point is that it is true that there are overcapacities in the market , and indeed that these are on a stupendous scale .
Mrs Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou asked me if the new rules will accelerate mergers between banks ; that is not the aim of the reform , but if some banks failed to comply with these new regulations on time and therefore had to merge with their competitors or even their partners , that would lead to greater protection for their depositors and creditors , and to increased financial stability .
the principles of the EU include freedom of movement and solidarity between Member States , and we should not take retrograde steps in that regard .
however , products imported into the EU from third countries very often do not conform to those same high standards .
EU food aid is very important in a period of crisis , as the number of unemployed increases and the subsistence level falls .
at the moment , very little account is taken of the environmental costs of human activities , particularly industrial and economic activities , in other words , to use a more technical term , the external costs .
I supported this resolution , in particular , the European Parliament 's aim of ensuring legal certainty for stakeholders .
the landfill must be re-covered by a final layer in order to prevent the dispersion of fibres .
it is true that the initial analyses that were carried out for the EURES system did not indicate the need and level of demand for short-term work abroad .
if we do not act , there is a serious risk that these undertakings may disappear and with them one of the most important economic activities , if not the only one , in many of Europe 's rural areas , which will pose a serious problem in terms of land use management .
I know it is not included but , again , please do us a favour , look into it and see what you can do when you continue to negotiate .
the main objective of human trafficking is sexual exploitation or enforced slave labour .
we talked about this during the celebrations .
it really must be dealt with .
please give us an alternative so that we have something on the table and can discuss , otherwise I am afraid deforestation will continue and so will biodiversity loss .
after all , Europe also has interests that it pursues in the Black Sea region .
there are really too many obstacles hampering citizens wishing to study , work or go and shop in another Member State .
the draft compromise would create an even safer framework for the use of plant protection products in the European Union , and would strengthen our environmental safeguards , and the protection of our citizens ' health .
to be continued then !
I would like to highlight a symbolic measure that President Sócrates mentioned earlier : the Council 's recent approval of the European Day against the Death Penalty .
my PPE colleagues will raise important issues for each area , and I would like to mention only a few : competitiveness must be based on innovation and research .
I think that it is essential that we create a tripartite committee involving the public authorities , the unions and the shipowners .
the Commission also shares the view set out in the report that - in particular in the freight sector - it is vital to facilitate co-modal chains in which waterborne and rail transport play an important role and intelligent transport systems help to optimise infrastructure use .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , apart from any possible assessments by individual Members or political groups , I believe it is appropriate that we should be able to deliver an opinion on such an important issue .
but surely basic courtesy and basic fairness ought to have prompted us to allow the Government to invite a group from this Parliament to assess the facts of the case , before voting .
( RO ) Mr President , I , too , would like to stress the importance of promoting energy efficiency as it can provide significant benefits for the whole economy .
I am thinking here of democratic legitimacy based on scrutiny by the European Parliament .
the concept of human rights has now been expanded to cover new aspects , its definition has become semantically richer , and it is our task to defend these rights .
instead we stood on the sidelines with passivity and complacency ; refusing to read the signs that clearly indicated a situation of political and social turmoil , one which ultimately drove people to the streets in protest .
in the political sphere , we saw on Tuesday this Parliament 's attitude to freedom of expression when it voted to hand over a Member of this House for a show trial in France for a thought-crime offence , without even being given the opportunity to defend himself .
the financial crisis that the world has gone through has shown that international financial exchanges need to be subject to minimum rules .
I am very glad to see that the rapporteur , Mr Surján , when discussing aspects of European budgetary policy , emphasises that Europe can stand for opportunities and protection ; that is , guaranteeing both internal and external security , offering European citizens protection , and helping to deal with the current problems by giving new momentum to growth , innovation and jobs .
the global financial crisis also gave us a good opportunity to reconsider our priorities and actions , especially in the long-term management of sustainable economic recovery .
I invite the French Presidency , which I congratulate on its rapid action this summer , to consider the idea of the Union for the Black Sea , along the lines of the Union for the Mediterranean .
in conclusion , credit and micro-credits should be given to those who need it via the banks , but without passing through the balance sheet of the latter , only using their expertise and network to facilitate the borrowing of such finances .
let me also add that it is an honour and a great pleasure to address this prominent audience both on behalf of His Excellency , the Secretary-General of the United Nations , and in my capacity as High Representative for the Alliance of Civilisations .
( PT ) Mr President , despite the austerity budgets , despite the International Monetary Fund , despite the Stabilisation Fund , and despite a penalty-based mechanism for economic coordination , the attack on the euro continues through the speculative attack on the sovereign debts of several countries .
furthermore , Jordan has a well developed network of universities and higher education institutions , and well equipped research and technological applications centres in fields that are very relevant to Europe , such as agriculture and agronomy .
given that the main general goal of Regulation ( EC ) No 1905 / 2006 is to eradicate poverty by achieving the Millennium Development Goals , cooperation is essentially limited to financing measures that have been designed to satisfy the applicable public development assistance ( PDA ) criteria .
by strictly applying the Consensus and its associated action plan , we can respond to humanitarian challenges .
let me end by reaffirming the satisfaction we all feel at the official recognition of sport by the Member States in the reformed Lisbon Treaty .
I also look forward to receiving contributions from the members of this Parliament .
in writing . - The European Union is without any doubt at a crossroads in its evolution , when it is of the utmost importance to acknowledge the need to move forward by tackling all the current complex issues that potentially could stalemate the dynamics of the European integration process .
we hope that the Council will now accept the European Parliament 's position , which increases the Commission 's proposal from 18 to 20 weeks , and aims to amend the directive that is currently in force and which only sets aside 14 weeks for maternity leave .
projects involving funding for scientific research aimed at developing clean technologies .
that is what we want , and not for a number of Member States - the ten which have written us a letter - to be penalised for having made good provisions for the future , for their pensions .
the vote will take place shortly .
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composition of Parliament : see Minutes
currently , the Commission is in the process of preparing such a report for Cyprus .
women continue to endure discriminatory laws and deeply entrenched cultural inequality .
Finland has demonstrated and proven that aggressive intervention at an early age does make a difference , and that is very much to be welcomed .
environmental , transport , economic and industrial matters are not yet included in a wise compromise , but they will be , I believe , after the result of tomorrow 's vote .
given that public opinion in our countries is calling for truth , the silence of the Council - and , I must say , of many of our governments - constitutes a missed opportunity for Europe .
so , I am very hopeful that , thanks to the constructive approach of the Presidency , the Council and Parliament , we will have this new and very important instrument in place well before the first anniversary of the Lisbon Treaty coming into force .
I am asking you to take this issue seriously .
( EL ) Madam President , I must congratulate Mrs Andrikienon the integrated report which she tabled .
( ET ) Ladies and gentlemen , the enlargement of Schengen is an event for all 500 million Europeans and , in fact , for the whole world .
that goes without saying , but we must do it to the same extent everywhere ; to the same extent and with the same criteria .
at the summit with Russia , the European Union intends to express its full support for the partnership for modernisation , which will enable us to strengthen our cooperation in all areas , particularly in key areas such as innovation and energy .
I urge that we revise this view in order to enable us to negotiate with the Council on the basis of a position taken by this House .
( GA ) Mr President , I would like to thank the Commissioner .
let me also briefly touch upon some other topics which you will discuss here today during your Social agenda debate .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( CS ) Mr President of the European Parliament , Mr President of the European Commission , ladies and gentlemen , I come before you today for the first time as President of the European Council .
however , up to now , there has been no objective report that assesses the forecasts .
the urgency is there , however , and only radical measures can enable stocks to be replenished .
EUR 55 million have been earmarked for action under that priority for the period 2007 to 2010 .
Europe 's Left instead demands that the European Union implement a consistent peace policy .
they should mention the European College of Security and Defence which plays an important role in the development of a common agreement of PESA by means of the training provided on a strategic level , especially in the context in which the chairperson of SEDE , von Wogau , sent a letter addressed to SG / HR Solana in which he showed support for the activity of ESDC .
( applause )
we need to have full information on the traders , with their names , addresses and contact details .
the first is that I consider the CAP an important instrument that should be maintained even after 2013 , because it supports enterprise .
Mr President , I have lodged an amendment to the Technical Measures Regulation to try to resolve the anomaly that Ian Hudghton just referred to , which has arisen off the west coast of Scotland .
but Amnesty International has also , not unexpectedly , created a lot of enemies .
but efforts to develop this capacity have been sadly and consistently blocked by France .
however , in the present case , I feel that this report must be clearly welcomed , bearing in mind that it represents the only way of controlling quality and guaranteeing good health .
these projects will ultimately contribute to reducing costs and to ensuring informed customer choices in line with Community legislation .
I do not wish to wait for the common agricultural policy post-2013 reform , when we will certainly come here with more solid answers for the entire agricultural sector .
how can we mediate for citizens in a dispute with their country without the country attending the Committee on Petitions ?
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in standardising technical norms , the regulation brings together Member States and establishes a procedure for official EU certification , defined in Directive 2007 / 46 / EC with regard to every type of vehicle .
following the recent elections there are one-third fewer women in Silesian politics .
it is naive to place hopes in a database covering the whole of the EU , with all its different languages and IT systems , when the failed attempt to produce a Health Service database for the UK alone has wasted billions of pounds .
it took us two and a half years to agree that instrument because we simply would not give up on certain core rights of Parliament , but we did have to compromise towards the end .
concerning advertising for credit loans : if there is a figure in an advertisement on credit , it will be mandatory to provide the same standard list of essential information all over the European Union .
Mr President , commissioners , Haiti has demonstrated that poverty severely aggravates the damage done by natural disasters , and also that a lack of governability hinders the possibility of an effective response .
Mr President , we should use more than just words to show our solidarity with a country that has suffered a disaster , as Chile has , and we have heard this today from the Commission representative .
( FR ) Madam President , I have one minute to say to you that , despite the determination and the blindness of the European institutions , one thing should be obvious to everyone : the time has come to put an end to Turkey 's accession process .
once again , as in other regrettable situations , the interpretation of Union law seems to give priority to freedom of competition over all other social and economic precepts , even where there are bilateral agreements between Member States .
I call for the whole Quartet , including a strong Arab presence , to make a joint commitment to sending troops with a robust peacekeeping mandate to the Gaza Strip and the surrounding area - in the interests of the people in Gaza , Israel and Egypt .
there will then be numerous opportunities to block the country if Greece should so wish , but to block the country now in this situation , and with the particular geographical location of this country , is totally irresponsible .
the second question , once we have the answer to the first , is whether the European Union should work on a legislative basis or start by issuing recommendations .
I think the bottom line on this debate is that human beings are social beings : they are not machines and they should not be treated as such in the workplace .
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as the spokesperson on the environment for the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) , I am concerned that we should create as many sustainable jobs as possible and provide added value on the labour market as a result of the leading role played by Europe in protecting the environment .
it is also necessary to establish measures against the circumvention of deadlines in the registration process in the form of the Commission coming up with more and more comments and supplementary questions .
since last year it has received a great deal of concrete attention and support in the public domain in the Member States as well as in the Council .
a balance must be struck between strengthening consumer rights and cutting red tape .
given the objectives and overall structure of the directive , I am in favour of adopting it .
I would be tempted to say yes , but in the medium and long term .
nevertheless , the structure of the Solidarity Fund should also continue to be developed .
( FR ) Mr President , a few weeks ago Ireland said ' no ' , and I think that , as we all know , this illustrates the increasing split between European citizens .
the legislation regulating the trade in deep-sea fish stocks needs to be thoroughly reviewed .
it is high time for a rethink as regards the use of nuclear energy in Europe .
we fear for her life and are demanding not only adequate health care for her in prison , but also her immediate release .
it is unacceptable that consumers should pay a lot and producers earn little , while speculators reap the rewards .
we , of course , have no choice but to vote against the report and the alternative motion for a resolution .
the programme is aimed at natural and legal persons .
with these regulations , as we have been debating and adopting them here today - particularly with regard to cabotage - there is little sense in going into too much detail when the countries as a whole are not being given the necessary funds to carry out accurate monitoring of these cabotage journeys .
in any case , it is a shared concern , and therefore we must ensure that we provide high-quality training and that there is guidance available .
despite average health levels within the European Union having improved over time , health disparities still exist between Member States and within Member States in Europe .
we most certainly do !
what also matters a great deal to us is to put an end to the wastage that is occurring everywhere in the existing network structures .
at present over 140 nuclear power stations are operating on the territory of the European Union , with over 190 on the European continent .
in writing . - The EU has ambitious plans , matched against a risk that resources will be increasingly constrained as populations around the globe demand more energy .
while the Internet and the inability to impose any regulation right from the outset have meant that the degree of freedom of our society has been positively enhanced , they have exposed everyone to the uncontrolled risk of terrorism , which , as a result of cryptography as well , is increasingly threatening democracy and everyone 's freedom .
I have already said that it is not business as usual and we must absolutely reform the financial markets in a very profound way , in order to be sure that we do not start another crisis of the kind that we have had to cope with .
please start timing .
discussions with the Council have shown clearly the shortfalls existing in some Member States for their own citizens at present , especially in relation to legal aid - crucial if people are to have access to the law and some defence against those who have the power - and also where effective systems are not in place to adequately represent lone children and young people in their own right .
the Government has to show its willingness and ability to take more effective action .
President Pöttering confirmed the EU makes 75 % of the law .
if we want to maintain a high level of consumption in the future , we must act more responsibly with natural capital that remains and not waste it .
Mr Costa has put an initial question : is the Commission satisfied with that situation and does it believe that the introduction of Regulation ( EC ) No 551 / 2004 on airspace organisation is progressing satisfactorily ?
if the Commission does not act , stocks of fish species will be endangered .
on the other hand , I would like to applaud the report for stating that the Czech Republic , along with Estonia , Latvia and Slovenia , had a zero level of fraud in drawdowns from the pre-accession SAPARD fund .
I can tell you , however , that I believe that the Greek Government , the Commission , the Eurogroup and Ecofin acted swiftly .
it would therefore be desirable to draw up a yearly European Parliament report on religious freedom in the world which responds in a structured way to a problem that is crucial to the stability of many countries .
that proposal is also subject to Council and Parliamentary approval under the codecision procedure and we will therefore have the opportunity to debate it again here in the coming months .
we feel that the applicable law regime and the jurisdiction rules that are set out are not clear enough : it could have been more patient-oriented to make sure , as we have done in other areas , that patients could bring claims in their country of residence and could receive compensation according to the law of their country of residence .
so far , this programme has not exactly lived up to its promise .
having seen in recent months some punitive fines on local fishermen in the United Kingdom , I for one reject the suggestion that we need more and stiffer regulations and penalties on our own fleets .
I absolutely endorse the view that a special line should be set up in the budget for the Black Sea Synergy .
this vote will help in that regard .
I believe that this reflects Parliament 's constructive approach .
these are two very different concepts .
these figures are low in comparison to the official mortality estimates for seasonal influenza , which the Commission put at 40 000 deaths in a moderate year and 220 000 in a particularly severe season .
when are we going to reach the same level as the United States , and what is the Commission doing , and what can it do , to ensure this level is reached ?
the countries were divided into four groups , and my own country , Slovakia , unfortunately obtained a very unflattering place in only the third group , investing just 0.48 % of the original 2 % it had committed to investing in science , education and research in Europe 2020 .
access to water , which will be one of the main challenges in the years to come , could further delay the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals .
the production of renewable energy provides additional jobs and helps to reduce CO2 emissions and the dependence on fossil fuels .
it is agreed that discrimination in pay based on gender is diminished by existing legislation .
I urge the Commission and the governments of the Member States to vigorously oppose the use of sexual aggression , intimidation and harassment of women in Libya and Egypt .
the report by Gianluca Susta , on behalf of the Committee on International Trade , on the impact of counterfeiting on international trade and
it is well over a year since the Alliance for European Integration has been in power and significant progress has been made in reforming the Republic of Moldova 's society and economy .
this has to do with acceptance by the people and transparency .
in its most recent report on these matters ( February 2011 ) , the Commission stated that Bulgaria needed to improve further the way the judiciary , police and other investigative bodies are structured , managed and cooperate .
although this was not one of its overt aims , the Erasmus programme succeeded in making students understand the very essence of the European Union : freedom of movement within this diverse yet united family .
given the levels of overfishing and concerns over fishing stocks including cod and bluefin tuna , we still need good management of existing stocks .
subsidies should be channelled into these areas and not into short-term support determined by fluctuating oil prices .
out of those same tragedies and catastrophes , however , sprung forth the democracies of Europe and , in the last fifty years , a season of peace has been built on those ruins , a peace that we have a duty to defend , and to carry beyond the borders of the Union : fifty years of peace that have been the greatest achievement of a united Europe .
however , likewise it is incorrect that the world has stayed silent for so long ; we can no longer remain silent .
( PT ) The Green Paper on climate change draws attention to the natural phenomena aggravated by climate change .
it was the Council 's failure last time to come to us with a serious offer of improvement meeting MEPs ' concerns that made it necessary for us to strike down the interim agreement .
I would like to thank the authors of the May resolution for the excellent team work we have had and the very constructive cooperation on this file and your constructive way of finding solutions to move forward within the new institutional framework .
instead of keeping the PMOI on our terror list , we should put the revolutionary guards of Iran on the EU terror list .
gradual integration of the former Yugoslav republics is crucial for stability in the Western Balkan region .
in the case of cars , available studies show that , on average , the foreign content of Korean cars is between 10 % and 15 % .
we accepted all the socialist rapporteur 's proposals .
I believe that we ought to strengthen customs barriers because the EU should protect not only consumers , not only its industry , it should not only support free competition by means of equal market access opportunities , but it should also take action on social and environmental grounds as regards the highly speculative output of Chinese industry .
we need to engage more with our neighbouring countries , particularly after the three conflicts that have occurred in the last six months , in Gaza , Ukraine and Georgia .
the directive that we have very recently put in place includes a lot of limitations , requirements , restrictions and demands , in order to provide maximum protection as regards the effects on the environment and human health .
Mrs Macovei and Commissioner Füle have explained what this brave action entails .
I , as a member of the US delegation working on the Transatlantic Economic Council , hope that we can take further the work that we have already done there and transpose that into real efforts within this House , instead of seeing some of the silly efforts from some , on issues like chicken , which help blight that particular relationship .
we could have lost a whole year !
we shall now proceed to the signing .
Parliament has already presented its reports .
because of this , I was also a little disappointed that in the EU 's 2020 strategy , a minuscule amount was invested in agriculture and forestry .
how can the Commission have given the go-ahead for this kind of project , merely proposing compulsory labelling and a review of the provisions in 2 years ' time etc . ?
it is also important that , where Member States have poorly functioning control mechanisms , this be made known so that farmers and the organisations representing their interests are able to call those authorities to account if they suffer damage as a result .
this is precisely part of the work we have been developing with Turkey over the years .
at the same time , Europe is bringing its legislation into line with that of its most influential trade partners .
as we know , disasters are deeply unfair , and they almost always have the greatest effect on those who are least able to protect themselves , be they people or countries .
we have a system that is an improvement on the internal system .
teachers should , at all events , have the necessary qualifications , which are so important for a multicultural environment .
( HU ) Mr Barnier , Commissioner , like every initiative , this one too has many masters .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
thus , the Daily Telegraph today reported that documents have come into its possession indicating that the cost of this project has risen to the astronomical figure of GBP 137 million .
there will be reciprocity .
we have not seen his position on modified products .
by way of illustration , it has been stated that in 2030 the EU 's reliance on oil is expected to reach 95 % .
Madam President , first of all , I would like to thank Mrs García Pérez , Mrs Jöns and Mr Angelaka , who have submitted excellent reports , and all the Members who have spoken .
a consistent approach to climate change should focus on reducing this dependence .
you should take the credit for the fact that all the nuclear power stations in the EU are finally going to be inspected .
in cases where an upgrade is technically or economically not feasible , reactors will have to be shut down and decommissioned .
we must safeguard the right of free expression .
( DE ) Madam Vice-President , when the latest information is available , rapid decision-making is needed .
lastly , this resolution chooses to overlook the need to harmonise the tax base , which is of vital importance to the creation of a European social model .
in writing . - I voted against this resolution because the amendments adopted left us with a text which paid insufficient attention to nuclear safety issues .
this confirms once again that the common agricultural policy is not about efficient production .
employment guidelines were set out .
that is why it was necessary to indicate which road to take and where to cross borders .
it is without a doubt the worst atrocity in Europe since the Second World War .
there is a crisis of confidence , and that means that what we need to ask ourselves is how we need to change , how our attitude needs to change : our political , institutional and personal attitude .
it is also important that Member States ' health services know their obligations , and that they retain the right to choose , manage and provide their own healthcare services as they see fit .
in the face of the economic crisis , the coordinated recovery plan adopted by the 27 should be applied without delay , to protect industry , competitiveness and European jobs .
against this background , then , the primary objective is to settle and define the limits within which the public and private media can cooperate and intervene .
today , I would personally like to highlight the agreement concluded between the Commission and the working party of the European Parliament on the framework agreement , and thank you , Mr Vice-President , for your personal involvement .
we have made many new joint discoveries during the debate in committee .
we need clarity , we need to define who is responsible for passengers ' rights , what the scope of those rights is going to be and the deadlines for exercising them .
the proposed amendments , however , could negatively affect this delicate balance .
the European Union , in roundly condemning what has happened , must respond with appropriate political initiatives .
this report is a first step towards the beginnings of freedom of expression and clear-sightedness .
however , at this point I would like to draw the attention of the Member States to the fact that this is possible only if the Member States also take their duties seriously .
in several of the countries concerned there is widespread corruption , with the effect that the money from the agreements does not benefit the local population .
reducing health inequalities (
yet there is also a great deal of work still to be done closer to home , and indeed even in our group , particularly with the support of our Chair , Mr Daul .
this is an unacceptable limitation of the choice consumers ought to have , and I expect the Commission to bring solutions to change this type of situation .
it took five years for the Member States to implement this .
in order to prevent this from happening , we need the solution to be a European one that is economically viable now , and in the medium and long term , in which employment is prioritised in the form of the competitiveness and productivity of emblematic plants such as Figueruelas .
ladies and gentlemen , today we are also talking about the future , because within a year , Europeans will be confronting the greatest budgetary adjustment programme in living memory in each of our Member States .
if we are going to deal with market forces we are going to have to face up to the realities of life .
EU-Uzbekistan relations have to be put in this context , where encouragement to take positive steps to improve human rights and democratisation are the basis of dialogue and cooperation .
before doing so , let me say that the report from Mr Deprez and the entire committee is excellent , and the PPE-DE Group would like to vote in favour of it .
we consider it essential for the liberalising trend seen in successive CAP reforms to be reversed and measures to be taken to maintain national sugar beet production , supporting agriculture that is essentially focused upon food production and thus helping to safeguard the two factories ' production as well as employment .
as I said yesterday in the debate on the financial crisis , the Commission , for the first time , has managed within 24 hours to get proposals on the table .
( ES ) Madam President , over the last five years , as an MEP who is a member of the Committee on Petitions , I have examined hundreds and hundreds of petitions , complaints and questions regarding the environment , and I have seen the very limited extent of cooperation by the national authorities .
why not ?
for similar reasons we should take a critical view of the support evinced in the text for tax base harmonisation .
much has changed in the last 50 years though .
we want to do that ; we want an internal market that can perform .
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I am going to be strict with the times , not least because Mrs Malmström has to leave Parliament at 18 : 00 .
labels must simply be shorter , so that manufacturers can target a single market and do not need to sew whole newspapers into items of clothing , thus confusing the consumer ; food labelling has already shown us how far this can go .
the June List has previously pointed out in this Parliament - and now does so again - that the Member States alone are responsible for the organisation of teaching and the content of education systems .
then Chancellor Merkel ensured that EU-Mediterranean relations would be developed further within the existing EU structures .
( FR ) Madam President , Commissioner , I simply want to congratulate the rapporteurs and also the Council Presidency on the results achieved at this stage of the debate and preparation of the texts .
( DE ) Mr President , for years , we have been observing a phenomenon that seems to leave the European Union powerless , namely an enormous rate of farms going under which undermines EU states ' self-sufficiency .
unfortunately , both the main parties have tried to mitigate and reduce the constitutional protection of forests .
fellow Members , let us not delude ourselves that ordinary Greeks are totally blameless for what has happened in Greece .
as far as we are concerned this is unfinished business .
for non-national minorities , and I am only talking about them , the community approach has to be rejected because it will inevitably destroy the coherence of many European nations .
after eight years of tinkering , we know that the aim of the measure proposed by the Commission - the migration from SIS 1 + to SIS II - is unachievable by the Member States , both on technical and legal grounds .
the established parties and groups decide who gets funding .
the lack of a regulation on the designation of origin of goods undermines the right of citizens and consumers and prevents the proper functioning of the market , which , to be free , must have common and shared rules .
indeed , they often sacrifice their own careers , their own chosen path , as it were , in order to try and do this .
concerning ITER , the way in which we have used this flexibility mechanism for ITER 2010 clearly shows that we will need this mechanism and that we must take up what is before us today .
the system in place up to now is an anachronism from the times of agricultural overproduction , which fortunately are now a thing of the past .
President of Georgia . - Mr President , I am humbled by the immense honour that your invitation signifies for my country , and I would like to thank you and all the political groups for this exceptional opportunity .
here , appropriate measures are to be taken later , if they prove necessary .
10 .
a basic tool for the rational delimitation of uses of the sea is cross-border maritime spatial planning .
Madam President , Sudan has been ruled for many years now by regimes founded on a combination of military force , Arab national pride and a conservative interpretation of Islam .
a group of extremist settlers - not poor Jews who were persecuted and escaped from the dreadful tragedy of the Holocaust , but fundamentalists who believe that that land is theirs by divine right - is claiming ownership of the house and 26 other homes in the same district , on the basis , as Mr Matsakis said , of an Ottoman code dating from the nineteenth century of undoubted authenticity , disputed even by the US authorities .
unemployment is falling in some countries .
however , we must put under the microscope activities that were undertaken in the past on the basis of a surplus in this budget .
but the report has faced opposition from scaremongers who claim it will strengthen the Commission .
in physical and life sciences , the proportion of non-Americans is more than 50 % .
Mr President , the author of this report , Alejandro Cercas , is as engaging and intelligent a socialist as you could ask to meet , and there is a measure of reason in his assertion that there is an asymmetry caused by some derogations and opt-outs .
further delays carry with them budgetary , political , legal and even socio-economic consequences .
should we go for the system we have in the Commission , where we are trying to create a conducive environment and managerial incentives for those DGs which can actually fulfil the goals established for women ?
we do not have one ; we have a President of the Commission .
since it may well prove politically too difficult to implement a Community method for both evaluations and suspension , however worthwhile , would it not be better to make European substance the priority by launching infringement proceedings when necessary against Member States in breach of Schengen rules ?
ladies and gentlemen , I , too , regret the ruling of the Turkish Constitutional Court .
why do we actually need such a high number of academics when there are no suitable jobs for them ?
this means that choices have to be made and that , unfortunately , we cannot always play Santa Claus to everything and everyone .
it is important to make clear our positive approach to Ukraine .
I believe that Europe must be the citizens ' Europe , and this can only happen if we make it more democratic and transparent .
across Europe , the death toll will run into hundreds of thousands , but , because this truth shames the political elite and because it highlights the inconvenient truth of global cooling , this scandal will be buried as quietly as are our elderly dead .
broadening the driving and rest period rules to include drivers in lorries under 3.5 tonnes would do more for safety .
our market access conditions are important conditions because they affect food and they affect the health of our residents .
excessive fines would eliminate general manufacturers .
there are two equally important conclusions to this statement in the UN Charter .
it recommends no derogations on seasons or minimum sizes .
furthermore , the number of passengers rescued was higher than that recorded in the official passenger list , which raises serious concerns about ensuring general passenger safety and the possible threat of terrorism .
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since the Directive was adopted at second reading , I believe that the Member States will , in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity , solve this problem to the satisfaction of people who are blind or partially sighted .
and therefore they could spill over in all Europe ; this is a European problem .
this is why I fully support the practice of including legally binding clauses regarding human rights in the European Union 's international agreements .
however , awareness of the fact that the key to greater competitiveness and innovation is appropriate care for the quality of human resources goes back much further .
I voted in favour of the report on the appointment of Mr Montalvo to the post of Executive Director of the European Supervisory Authority ( European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority ) .
I would therefore ask the Commissioner to place these two points from plenary on the Commission 's agenda and ensure that the Commission has an answer for the European Parliament in this regard .
furthermore , Parliament has made it very clear that in future no delays will be tolerated , and the setting up of the Galileo Interinstitutional Panel will contribute to this .
therefore , the stepping up by the EU of the fight against human trafficking is to be welcomed .
it is also intended to steer efforts by the Member States in the right direction .
he therefore had to hurriedly leave Strasbourg to return to his residence on the order of the Italian courts , which ordered the search of an MEP , that is to say of the private residence of an MEP , in clear breach of the fundamental aspects of our prerogatives and immunities .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , my group , the Confederal Group of the European United Left / Nordic Green Left , rejects the resolution that has been tabled on Kosovo .
the response of the European Union to this crisis is vital .
this requires an adjustment of the scope of application .
actually , as we speak , I must put on record that our Government has recently launched the Home Energy Saving Retrofit grant scheme .
finally I would also like to say that it is one thing to draft legislation , but the legislation also has to be applied .
finally , I congratulate Commissioner Oettinger for finding a consensus on the criteria and the practical details of implementing the stress tests for nuclear installations , which will enable us to ensure the highest safety levels in the world .
there are two final elements .
in the course of the next couple of months , there will be a meeting of the Subcommittee on Human Rights , and you can be sure that there will be a dialogue of substance , which will deal with the issues that we are all concerned about and how to approach them .
in this area , it is essential for people to feel that they are supported both by national governments and by the EU as a whole .
no matter what happens at the UN climate conference in less than two weeks in Copenhagen , extreme weather conditions , like the flooding in Ireland , will become more frequent .
my appeal to the Greek leaders is to explain in honest terms to the population of Greece the difficult choices that the country has to make .
we must therefore tackle this problem with the Russians in an extremely subtle but firm manner .
if ever there was a subsidiarity issue , this should be it .
the only measure that we can take is to ban these stores from operating , after which we need to focus our efforts on halting the online sale of these substances .
what is established between governments is of a rather different nature .
the quality of the work they produce is first-class , because it comes from the European Parliament .
in view of this , it is crucial that Parliament have an effective opportunity to evaluate this instrument and ensure that it is being used correctly in supporting people and institutions working in their respective countries , under very adverse conditions , to counter oppressive regimes or trends .
we must also harmonise the principles for recognising administrative documents , in order to make the everyday lives of our citizens easier and to make it simpler for businesses to operate . indeed , this is what they expect of us .
but I want to say , too , that there is greater coherence than perhaps anyone listening to this debate might imagine .
only a united Europe will be able to realise the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy .
however there is still , as you know , on the one hand , the bilateral aspect , concerning the relations with each country and , on the other , the multilateral aspect , which is now one of the core concerns of the Union for the Mediterranean .
the system of transferring from one type of gear to another is made more flexible so that it is possible to respond to external circumstances , such as rising fuel prices , which , even after the fall over the last few weeks , are at a particularly high level .
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I am pleased that the Commission accepts that business has an important role to play .
ensure that the Structural Funds contribute to the objectives we have set for 2020 .
it is more than fair to highlight the role of the universities in that respect .
what we are discussing today are the sad remains .
the first is : is there not a fundamental problem with an economic system in which profit is privatised and the costs and the damages are nationalised and paid by taxpayers , most of whom are poor people - or a lot of them are poor people - who have to pay for the bad decisions of a narrow , rich corporate elite ?
that is why this package of measures is essential for giving the authorities that deal with the problem - namely approval and certification bodies and customs services - the weaponry they need to combat abuses of the CE marking system .
the report must be readable .
they should be an absolute last resort .
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Union diplomacy in general should devote more attention to issues related to raw materials .
I wonder how you can talk about common values when , in a country like Mauritania , there is no religious freedom to speak of because , there , Islam has been dominant for well over a thousand years .
we should , however , be consistent and also tackle the other factors that attract immigrants .
we can be proud - as the Commissioner has just said - that other monitoring missions have subscribed to our judgment , for instance the Commonwealth Delegation and the International Republican Institute from the United States .
there may be lots of theories and such speculation , but the truth is we do not have the answer , and we need that and to be given the extra support .
we need to be very clear on that .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , I , too , would like to congratulate my fellow Member Mr Groote on this report .
I would like to underline various facts regarding these assertions by the current regime .
let us act together .
finally , I applaud the report 's appeal for multilateral dialogue between the EU , Africa and China .
the debate is closed .
( DE ) Madam President , Mr De Gucht , ladies and gentlemen , this may seem an unusual way to open a speech in the European Parliament , but I must admit that I am not sure that this is the right time to conclude a trade agreement with Japan - or indeed whether such an agreement is advisable at all .
I call on the Chinese authorities to accept possible contributions by ICOMOS , which has impressive experience in the management of urban historic landscapes , and I ask the Chinese Government to agree to lift Kashgar to UNESCO world heritage status that will include several cultural sites along the ancient Silk Road .
furthermore , I am pleased that particular emphasis is at last being given to small operators and not just to large movements of capital .
I expressly welcome the fact that the Commission has already taken a positive stance in relation to several proposals from the Parliament .
our European Parliament must not stop at this joint resolution .
once again this summer , forest fires have devastated the south of France .
the adopted text does not make any mention of this .
our response to the crisis cannot be limited to technical measures to address regulatory problems .
I also congratulate the rapporteur on the work he has done .
thus we must be all the more careful with the funds , particularly in view of the crisis weighing on people 's minds .
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the Commission has not as yet proposed any specific measures .
there are other key aspects such as access to education , the overturning of social stereotypes , the issues and difficulties facing women in rural communities , which we cannot ignore .
we are generous , too , when it comes to infrastructure and adopt very comprehensive prescriptive measures here .
ACTA is about establishing a new tool that will ensure that existing intellectual property rights are effectively protected .
funding is not enough ; funding alone is no longer sufficient ; what is required is substantial renewed political action .
our leverage is limited : Russia is not a candidate country ; it does not want to join the European Union ; it is following its own course .
( FR ) Madam President , I would like to thank Bernd Lange for his excellent work .
the criticism that I have is that we in Parliament allow the way in which we deal with the programme to be dictated to us .
Mr President , the Wojciechowski report on the proposal for a Council regulation on the protection of animals at the time of killing raises the very important subject of animal welfare .
thank you for calling attention to this .
I voted , therefore , in order to help Member State governments , but that should not be read to mean that I want a Member State government to interfere in the affairs of finance houses and banks .
mortgages increase as the price of property rises and decrease as it falls .
it is about time we put exploitation , extraction , etcetera on the agenda .
I am thinking of instances such as phallometric testing in the Czech Republic , right here in Europe , or the documents of the Committee against Torture , which brought to light many cases such as forced repatriation without the right to appeal or based on hurried-through procedures .
a more active European involvement would mean a real opportunity for this area which has a huge , insufficiently exploited potential , considering the frozen conflicts and tense relations between some countries in the area .
Mr President , last week it was stated in the EU Observer that Jacques Delors had a pessimistic view of the future of the euro zone .
I will conclude by reiterating the need to review the regulatory framework currently in force , represented by the General Product Safety Directive , according to the guidelines set out today by the vote of Parliament .
in relation to actually ensuring the protection of intellectual property , it can be said that on a global scale there is now a whole range of recognised , functioning and sufficiently proven instruments , institutions and contractual arrangements which currently ensure protection against counterfeits .
that is why it is vitally important for the Commission to continue to play an active role in the current negotiations , attracting a greater number of participants ; there are , unfortunately , only twelve at present .
it will define a methodology that can be used for the various means of transport .
I must say that if we cannot understand the tough situation Member States are in today , we do not understand the reality for citizens .
he tells us than in 2001 no poppies were being grown in Afghanistan , whereas now , after nine years of conflict and allied influence , Afghanistan supplies more than 90 % of the heroin in Europe .
Greece and Ireland will eventually default on their debts , and we will all be shown to have thrown good money after bad .
it is also one of the cheapest .
it has been a great honour for me to serve Europe in this way and I would like to express my thanks for this opportunity .
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on the other hand , it is unacceptable to keep full harmonisation regarding chapter V , relating to unfair terms .
( EL ) Mr President , the discussions in Poznań , and in Copenhagen a year from now must succeed .
during 2009 , the European Commission tabled a proposed amendment to Regulation 1905 / 2006 , which establishes a financing instrument for development cooperation .
the next item is the report by Mrs Grabowska , on behalf of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs , on the perspectives for developing civil dialogue under the Treaty of Lisbon .
the MONUC head claims that they have instructions to open fire if necessary .
the delegation will become fully operational towards the second half of 2008 .
Commissioner , you say that the Member State is committing itself to this .
for the past ten years , we have been telling citizens that research and development can be better accomplished and financed at EU level .
that agreement is due to be signed and come into force in the near future as soon as the Russian Federation has completed its domestic procedures for signature .
I voted in favour so as to ensure that funds are coordinated better and that regional and local authorities are involved in the development and implementation of partnership contracts .
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they forget that the important issue is to choose the correct activity , project content and quality , efficient implementation and project benefits .
farmers generally receive around 8 % of the final retail price .
however , I voted against the report , owing to its pro-abortion stance . it is particularly perverse to appear to act in the interests of children whilst , in fact , promoting initiatives that would deny their very right to life .
anyone having supported East Timor from the beginning cannot fail to feel renewed sadness at this incident which we vehemently condemn .
in contrast to the large stimulus packages which , over the last year , have been set up predominantly to rescue the financial system as such , this programme is aimed directly at entrepreneurs , not banks .
therefore , these discussions are needed as is the resolution .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , although I am replacing my colleague Günther Oettinger today , it is a real pleasure to discuss with you the future of low-carbon technologies .
European solutions are not developed by a single Member State ; they must be developed by Community institutions .
the way women in developing countries are disadvantaged by religious rules , cultural practices and poverty is usually further worsened by the lack of education .
we are gathering scientific evidence .
it is time we learned the lessons of the financial crisis .
as for gas storage , we are considering this , but 90 days should not be necessary for everyone , because it very much depends on imports .
prompt action is required to translate the political agreement reached into action , as well as to put into operation the EUR 7.2 billion earmarked for ' fast-start financing ' for developing countries .
Commissioner Figel ' , what is your view on this ?
the same situation applies to Kosovan citizens too , so that anyone who can obtain their passport in Serbia will enjoy visa-free travel .
that will be built into the structure at headquarters as well as throughout our delegations in order to be able to monitor the human rights situation and promote an effective realisation of EU human rights policy goals .
in writing . - I voted against this report as I question the propriety of granting Iceland any concessions regarding the importation of fisheries produce into the EU when they continue to persist with their approach on the management of mackerel , with the negative impact this is likely to have on EU pelagic fishermen .
Greece and other countries in southern Europe have to make a huge effort with scant resources to control illegal immigration .
the idea that it is possible , or desirable , to isolate and protect an economic sector from competition , where this competition is healthy and fair , is an economic error and a political deception .
( DE ) Mr President , all those of us who have spoken here have voiced our commitment to more species protection and more biodiversity .
has the European Union joined in those discussions in trying to bridge the gap with the United States and others to try to bring the remaining issues to a resolution ?
there will then be further discussion and an informal meeting of Foreign Ministers - the Gymnich - in the month of September and we will continue talking about these issues among ourselves here in Parliament .
I voted for this report which supports the application of the proposal to both Geneva Convention refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection .
Taiwan has most recently been struck by tragedy . however , we are fully aware of the fact that many disasters of this kind have occurred in the past , and that many more will occur in the future .
the public has not been consulted , and neither has the democratic opposition .
the report should definitely have included a text listing the excessive burden of taxation and the high social security contributions among the principal reasons for the existence and even the growth of the grey economy in certain sectors .
yet now people are acting as if they are the scourge of the European Union .
and for two years Sanji Fati was in charge of enforcing Guinea-Bissau 's fishing rules .
we have made a great deal of progress as a result of eCall and at the end of this year the Commission will present a new communication to Parliament and the Council setting out the final stages for the achievement of eCall .
the debate is now focused on a reference made to the 2001 and 2004 Directives on copyright and on cooperation among the various stakeholders .
the United Kingdom , for example , already has a rigorous regulatory authority , the CAA , while at the same time most of the airports want to be deregulated and indeed the trend is in that direction .
tyres for motor vehicles and their trailers (
( SK ) Mr President , in the submitted proposal , the Commission proposes applying a minimum standard VAT rate of 15 % for a further 5 years up to 2015 .
thank you once again for the report and your attention .
furthermore , Turkey continues to hinder progress in the search for a solution to the Cyprus problem .
nevertheless , many - in this House and elsewhere - are , understandably , now calling for a boycott of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games , if not for a total boycott of the Games themselves .
an EU Commissioner must not be abused for the purpose of socialist propaganda and for internal political ends .
partly as a result of new scientific knowledge on the subject , the text - a recast of the 2003 directive - seeks to introduce restrictions on the use of materials such as cadmium , chlorine , mercury and polyvinyl chloride ( PVC ) , which have been shown to endanger human health .
this is what I want to stress .
I also welcome the acceptance by the Commission of many of the concerns expressed by this Parliament when we rejected the interim agreement as inadequate .
five Member States do not have a coastline and do not supply the data provided for in the directive .
this time it is the Unity Government of Zanu and MDC .
me ?
particular attention must be focused on this , but it is not an issue which only Bulgaria will face .
Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , as you know , the European Union has , for ten years now , been trying to arm itself with legislative instruments in the area of economic immigration .
Madam President , I strongly supported paragraph 25 of this resolution which ' regrets that with the limited increase foreseen for the Progress programme ... ' , because the Commission committed back in 2010 to reinstate the EUR 20 million that was going from Progress to microfinance and that obviously is not going to happen .
secularism , hand in hand with religious tolerance , human rights and freedom of speech are values which our Parliament supports with all possible means .
since the package was presented by the Commission , through the work of several presidencies - most recently the Slovenian Presidency - the Council has adopted six Common Positions on the following proposals : investigation of accidents , classification societies , port state control , traffic monitoring , and the Athens Convention , all while taking account of European Parliament opinions such as those adopted in April last year .
there is a growing awareness in Scotland that discards are a direct result of EU regulation and , in particular , the cod recovery plan .
this may be due to a number of factors .
overall , the most targeted sectors are agriculture and food products , iron and steel , metal , automobiles , textiles and toys .
( DA ) Mr President , at the core of the problems that we are concerned with here is the demographic imbalance in the world .
this motion for a resolution is idle talk designed to make people forget that Parliament can only accept or reject .
however , it is incompatible , under EU law , with the new exclusive competence on foreign direct investment .
I refer to the work carried out by Mr Durão Barroso .
only a well-informed consumer is able to detect misleading advertising and avoid the disappointment it may cause .
furthermore , it comes at a terrible moment when Brazil is facing the worst natural disaster in its history .
the Guard 's aim is to protect Hungary from attacks from neighbouring countries but its officials are stating that they will never abandon their demand that all Hungarians should live in one state .
he is wrong because he is watering down the position adopted by this House previously in the Berès report .
the debate is closed .
the compulsory buffer zone of 10 metres from surface water is not a good idea for some Member States .
our sixth point is that there is a direct link between families ' social circumstances and children 's growth .
the report nevertheless calls for a ' free trade ' agreement between the EU and Korea and for trade liberalisation , when it is known that such policies have favoured and will continue to favour the concentration of wealth on the large economic and financial groups both in the EU and in Korea .
that brings us to a question and to seek answers on what we might call market regulation and the way in which we can limit this infamous price volatility .
if we look at corrections to stock markets over recent weeks , they have not been greater than previous market corrections over the last two years ; however , what happened recently is unusual in that it gave rise to a liquidity crisis in the interbank markets , which obliged the central banks to inject large amounts of money .
as it did in the negotiation of the SWIFT agreement , Parliament will succeed in safeguarding citizens ' privacy .
this is happening while the dictator Mugabe declared that the people were extremely happy .
this situation would benefit both Greenland , which exports 87 % of its fisheries products to the European Union , and the Union ; Denmark in particular , which is the recipient of the majority of these exports .
you must therefore be bold .
we are in favour of this directive on indications or marks identifying the lot to which a foodstuff belongs , not least because criminals all too often falsify codes for illegal purposes .
( HU ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , although Cancún in itself does not yet represent a turning point , without it , we would not have the chance to reach a turning point one year from now in Durban .
are they aware of the report by the Italian Carabinieri of the Ministry of Agricultural , Food and Forestry Policies concerning milk quotas ?
( NL ) Madam President , Commissioner , it is vital that we set the bar high with these stress tests and that the tests are actually conducted according to the same criteria across the whole of Europe .
I believe a good way can be found to share out the digital dividend so as to take account of broadcasters ' legitimate interests while providing as much flexibility as possible for new services too .
however , who forced us into it ?
for God 's sake , let the centre unite .
offering these countries a clearer prospect of accession would be a stabilising factor and would act as a catalyst to internal progress in candidate countries .
I work very closely with Commissioner Fischer Boel when looking at trade agreements to make sure that the agriculture side of our agreements represents a real strength and a real opportunity .
our support for this report does not imply support for the paragraph in the report ( Paragraph 56 ) which calls for the UN resolution on a death penalty moratorium to be implemented .
if wrong decisions and unwelcome developments are to be avoided , statistics must be meaningful , reliable , open to only one interpretation and therefore comparable too .
the European Union , the UN and the African Union must make joint efforts to renew the peace process in Darfur and to help to find a just and lasting agreement that is signed by all interested parties .
we had a good compromise in the Agriculture Committee and it should not be picked apart at this stage .
we should support efforts to make books searchable , readable and downloadable .
2 .
this problem needs to be watched closely .
what can the Commission do to assist the survival of those airports and allow them to function economically ?
after all , development aid alone will not be enough to achieve the Millennium Development Goals .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I would like to express my appreciation and admiration for the efficient handling of the Solvency II file by the European Parliament and for your willingness to compromise .
( SK ) Madam President , I would like to turn to the head of the Hungarian Government .
that means not just preaching to others in a paternalistic way , but also offering a helping hand .
I will mention three .
Mr President , I would like , first of all , to welcome the report by Mr Goepel and thank him for his hard work and that of all the people involved in this .
if that were true , would not the Commission include some suggestions for abolishing these tax havens ?
interim Trade Agreement with Turkmenistan ( vote )
for these reasons , I voted against this report .
it affects young lesbians and gay men - teachers , public officials - and could be used to prevent young people having access to any material - films , books , plays , works of art - created by a gay man or a lesbian .
anyone can say that they are cutting costs by 25 % when no one knows how high the bureaucracy costs actually are in Europe .
the progress in the development of these guidelines is , so far , very encouraging .
the independence of the Central Bank must be protected , but that does not stop us from offering an opinion .
however , I regret the fact that the Commission is receiving no , or only insufficient , information from the Member States .
these targets are accompanied by measures which provide incentives for the industry to manufacture energy-efficient commercial vehicles .
it is a fact that no biometric characteristic stays the same from childhood to adulthood except one : DNA finger-printing .
the action of the government against those who have reservations about the regime has now reached such a level that we must seriously begin to consider a change of policy towards this country and to consider other possibilities for more effective pressure on the Iranian administration so that we can help the Iranian people to breath more freely .
he was driven by a firm conviction that Sweden belonged in Europe .
here we keep finding weaknesses in the area of space , satellite-based reconnaissance , satellite-based telecommunications and satellite-based navigation .
it is hypocrisy for EU countries to condemn Russian aggression in Georgia , yet fail to condemn the means of that aggression , which causes excessive harm to civilians wherever cluster munitions are used .
it needed the Council to give you the order to act , and I regret that , but that is how it was .
let us retain our dignity .
I believe we can avoid such an experience with the prudence shown in the European Investment Bank 's operations , and I would like to encourage it to further develop its interventions in developing countries , because there is certainly still some margin for manoeuvre there .
the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty above all aims to make the public aware of the need to eliminate worldwide poverty , particularly in developing countries , and to stress the fact that combating poverty is our priority .
( RO ) The common denominator which the three reports we are currently discussing actually have is that they examine the instruments intended to fund development cooperation and the actions taken to promote democracy and human rights globally .
it makes low rolling resistance tyres mandatory and requires the installation of tyre pressure monitoring systems and gear shift indicators .
I particularly welcome Parliament 's additional proposals because they make it easier to decide who , for example , should bear the costs at the end of the day , namely the Member State asking for help , or to decide which regulations should apply if officials are active in another Member State .
if European geographical indications are genuinely to be protected , the Canadian authorities will have to recognise the European concept .
I believe in a powerful Europe that shows solidarity and I am one of the supporters of the vision promoted by the EU Hungarian Presidency , expressed by the slogan ' Strong Europe ' .
let us make no mistake : the road to Copenhagen will be long and difficult .
minimum coherence between statements and actions forces us to do more than make citizens aware .
I remind you that use of this additional 1 % in CDM projects should be in the least-developed countries .
I support the Commission 's proposal on the temporary suspension of the application of Common Customs Tariff duties , as I believe that the EU must demonstrate , and not just declare its solidarity with regions fighting the consequences of the economic crisis .
at all costs , we have to avoid a retreat into old-style sovereignty , territorial claims and intergovernmentalism .
I know there is a view that , with the economic downturn , investments in the whole energy issue and climate change will actually yield dividends , results and jobs .
any success in changes to labour law would be greater if employees felt more secure .
I have also heard others saying ' hands off ' : the market will regulate itself , we do not need all that .
I think this is very important .
can the Commission specify if it is going to investigate the issue of supplementary charges for ATM , debit and credit cards used across border areas , especially in light of the fact that many banks have operations on both sides of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland ?
I would like briefly to touch on the decisions reached following the review of the Lamfalussy process , adopted at the December session of the ECOFIN Council , and the attached schedule .
Mr President , you said earlier you would not be allowing questions to the Commissioner from people other than from the questioner .
international development aid should not be allowed to become a football for global financial players .
to achieve it , we need to shift our views on our legal traditions , which should no longer be perceived , used or misused to prevent us having minimum standards , particularly in criminal law .
here , as on the other side of the Atlantic , nobody wishes to see people 's health put at risk by food , but if there really are misgivings about the substances used in the United States , then I ask myself why these substances are permitted here in the European Union as an additive to animal feedstuffs , potable water and other foods ?
nowadays , anyone who changes their mobile phone generally needs a completely different charger .
sadly , we have precedents , notably in Ethiopia where the President also used force to get himself into office , despite the evidence of fraud followed by much repressive violence .
it is not the first time that Mr Farage has said when addressing me ' You have not been elected ' .
it was only when the euro zone countries met in Paris last autumn that the crisis could be stabilised and the recovery could begin .
it is time to put an end to the way the CAP separates the old from the new Member States , and it is my sincere hope that you will all support this cause .
the European Parliament wishes to play a constructive part in this process , primarily by fostering a structured dialogue between the EU and government institutions .
men , women , teenagers , students , MPs and mayors , some 10 000 people imprisoned out of a population of three and a half million ; there is a ban on visits for those aged between 16 and 35 , with the result that prisoners have not been able to see brothers , sisters , mothers and fathers for years .
this is because the treaty contains no appropriate legal basis for adopting other measures .
naturally , the most important concomitant of Parliament 's credibility is that we ourselves are all beyond reproach .
I would therefore like to thank Commissioner Vassiliou and the rapporteur , Mrs Paliadeli , for their initiative and their hard work , and I would like to take this opportunity to say that , although initially , it was an initiative by the Member States , we now need to give it a clearly EU dimension .
our Commissioner for Energy , Mr Piebalgs , eloquently dubbed this gas pipeline ' an embodiment of the existence of a common European energy policy ' .
in addition , there are the new Basel rules that are now to be implemented in the forthcoming Capital Requirements Directive .
however , I should also like to say this : we are also addressing the Greeks .
EU law has allowed additional aid in similar situations .
this communication bears the stamp of Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner .
as far as infrastructure is concerned , the European Parliament and the Council have adopted legislation regarding safe management and safety requirements for roads and tunnels of the trans-European network .
in writing . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I wish to vote in favour of the Díaz de Mera García Consuegra report on the establishment of the European Police Office ( Europol ) .
caution is therefore called for .
he should then have read the riot act to Italy and France in the way that Manfred Weber of the PPE did earlier in this debate .
I count on your support .
in order to provide the Union with its own capacity to prevent risks of a pandemic , the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control ( ECDC ) must be guaranteed the support it needs to perform this task entirely independently .
China joined the World Trade Organisation some time ago , and has enjoyed many benefits as a result of this , starting with the ban on reintroducing quotas on its textile exports .
therefore , I remain convinced that it is possible to make Internet users , especially those who hijack copyright , liable without comprising respect for fundamental rights and civil liberties .
that will lead to a reduction in costs and an increase in competitiveness for the economy , and will also create wealth and jobs , which are important in terms of a healthy trade balance .
I agree that VAT reductions must be applied with the economic and social considerations that every citizen should be able to acquire the goods and services they need most and with the aim of strengthening and supporting locally-based services .
how should we revive the European project ?
most towns and cities also struggle to finance their infrastructure and the European Union can play a positive supporting role in all these areas , although - and I readily acknowledge this - the situation varies from place to place .
there is nothing wrong in knowing that we are eating feta from Greece , white brined cheese from Bulgaria or mozzarella from Italy .
confidence in the social cohesion of the European Union can be achieved only if fundamental social rights are defined as primary European law .
the war of independence was bloody and involved heavy loss of life .
( SL ) With his populist and hard-line nationalist rhetoric , President Ahmadinejad is causing great damage to Iran 's image and reputation .
Mr President , Commissioner , I support your first steps as Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development because , since your hearing and on several other occasions , we have been pleased to hear you expressing your wishes , as you have understood that the extreme volatility of prices is a serious threat to agriculture and its future .
at the forthcoming summit we need to lay down a credible political policy in support of the decisions that have been taken .
when this review is carried out , it must , in particular , take account of the availability and reliability of alternative products as well as the socio-economic impact .
Iran has signed and ratified this Pact and hence it must allow the offices of the Centre for the Defence of Human Rights to be reopened and it must provide them with the legal status they have been requesting for many years .
the package has arrived at a time of increasing reaction and popular displeasure with the social face of Europe .
first , there is the demand to scrap all non-tariff barriers ( NTBs ) to trade without any attempt at differentiating what really constitutes a legitimate NTB and what does not .
I believe that we should focus instead on finding ways to increase the consumption of lamb and goat meat . both are very beneficial from a nutritional point of view .
both of the Commission 's reports - like ours too , perhaps - do of course have their weak points .
the debate is closed .
as regards on-call time , it is clear to me that it is absolutely essential that this time , including inactive periods , be wholly considered as working time .
therefore , if we do not want anyone to accuse us of those double standards , we should treat everyone equally .
rapporteur . - Madam President , I should like to say a few words in my capacity as a shadow rapporteur on the other two reports and to thank Mrs Kaufmann for the way we worked together , and Mr França for his work .
organisations which want to gain our approval , our respect , must not hold hostages .
Mr Posselt , please allow me to explain the facts .
what we would like to do , and what I would like to see , is that GBP 48 million a day being kept in the United Kingdom and spent on essential public services , and not handed over , when the EU 's accounts have not been audited for 14 years .
( NL ) I should like to join previous speakers , including the Commissioner and the President-in-Office of the Council , in expressing the concern we all share about the situation that has arisen in the region - specifically the Caucasus - regarding Georgia and the problems with South Ossetia and Abkhazia .
this strategy must be based on the principle of solidarity aimed at reaching a balance between rich countries and developing countries , which need assistance in reducing their vulnerability to the adverse effects of climate change .
the highly disproportionate and biased composition of the Media Council , the exceptionally steep fines for newspapers , and all the factors that led to censorship and self-censorship of the media are still in place .
this would allow the importance of the completion of the internal market to be stressed throughout the European Union .
there is a need for strategic investment to enable cultural and creative industries to invigorate cultural diversity , social and territorial cohesion , growth and employment .
in a few days time , these safeguards will no longer exist and trade in textiles will be subject to joint European Union / Chinese surveillance , which I hope will be attentive and vigilant .
thirdly , I can confirm that the Commission will provide guidance on the compatibility of multilateral , interbank remuneration with competition rules .
we would like the Directives to be adopted , even , if possible , in the first semester of the Spanish Presidency , but in any case , up and running by the end of 2010 .
in writing . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to support the Dunn report .
and until you learn about it and apply it , there is no place for you here .
( PL ) Madam President , Commissioner , cohesion policy is the most transparent European policy , which means that its successes can be seen very well and very quickly , but that also very quickly visible are its failures and difficulties , which are a result of the weakness of the Brussels administration as well as very often the weak administration of Member States .
we want openness , we want transparency and we want a full insight into how taxpayers ' money is being spent .
we are aiming to ensure that 30 % of children under the age of three are able to register for and benefit from care services for children in this age group .
if the objective were effectively respect for human rights and the security of the region , it would be necessary to unmask this situation in other countries in the area such as Israel and Saudi Arabia , and to apply the same criteria to those countries .
the Commission fully agrees that it is now very important that Member States adequately transpose the new concepts introduced by the directive on unfair commercial practices and that national authorities also contribute to uniform implementation of the directive right across the EU .
I also welcome the amendment that would make it possible , under certain conditions , to count parental leave as maternity leave .
the main objective of these measures is to revitalise the economies of the Western Balkans through privileged access to the EU market .
consequently , we have the framework and instruments to enable the European Union to become more actively involved in the region .
that is why we need to raise the matter and talk about it .
nonetheless , the financialisation of agricultural markets is not called into question in structural terms .
4 .
the adoption of this report must not make us forget the need to reinforce the financial support mechanisms for start-ups , an area where many difficulties still exist , particularly for young entrepreneurs who want to start a business experiment .
nevertheless , inequalities still prevail and there are many battles yet to be fought , not least of which is a persistent wage gap and the place of women on the boards of large companies .
I therefore voted in favour of this resolution , and I hope that the mobilisation of the EGF will contribute to the successful reintegration of these workers into the labour market .
as for road-pricing , which has been much referred to here , including the Eurovignette , I would of course like the Commission to bear the social impact very much in mind .
there is also a lack of social sensitivity , which is quite clear in the proposal to exclude small farmers .
it has not been possible to achieve this ambitious goal .
we hope that this report will turn the spotlight on this serious situation and therefore help to ensure that , in the various countries concerned , the necessary steps are taken to end feminicide and violence against women .
we know that we are in a tough starting position ; the crisis is deep .
let us take a look , for example , at the upbringing of children and at schools .
I believe that the EU 's relations with Moscow must be established on a pragmatic basis , avoiding any preconceptions .
( the sitting was closed at 0.25 a.m. )
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , I would like to congratulate you on this package in particular .
there are two other points that I think should be emphasised today .
Europe is making significant progress .
Macedonia is exemplary in meeting the criteria , but we should not cite this to Macedonia as compensation for its justified wish to have a date finally set for accession negotiations .
industrial accidents can and should be avoided .
it is also important for us to try to find solutions instead of making accusations .
at the second reading of the European budget , the Council of Ministers should not perform additional reductions in the agriculture funds or structural funds .
the Commission has undertaken to assess the impact of all these options to allow the best decision to be taken by 2015 .
of course something is still missing : the question of data protection , for example , has not been clarified sufficiently .
in writing . - I share the view Mr Sacconi outlines in the motion for a resolution on the Commission Green Paper on ' Adapting to Climate Change in Europe ' .
another issue is to ensure that transport matches people 's needs .
we would also have set an example by wrapping up this complex issue of the liberalisation of postal services , which has exercised this House for 15 years , without once having recourse to the conciliation procedure .
it is regrettable , however , that the compromise reached in Parliament does not include the temporary suspension of quota increases or other measures to reduce production , which would be very important in helping European farmers to face this crisis .
in this instance , the duty is to accept the rules , languages and customs of the receiving countries .
we must focus on measures that have clear economic benefits in the short to medium term and which lend themselves to relatively fast adoption .
it is glaringly obvious that the European Union must lay down precise rules and actively regulate who will be admitted to work in the EU .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund is a tangible expression of solidarity with workers who have lost their jobs due to major structural changes in world trade patterns .
for the moment , geopolitically speaking , the course of events takes Belarus away from Europe , and Europe is in retreat as it is in Ukraine .
( the sitting was suspended at 21.10 and resumed at 21.20 )
it greatly increases the likelihood of accidents .
millions will be saved through product approval procedures and mutual acceptance of shorter , simpler and cheaper certification findings .
security has a price , and the demand for greater multilateralism on our allies ' part imposes an added cost .
this is happening in my country , as it is in the majority of EU Member States .
the Tulip revolution in 2005 once again raised immense hope .
it is without doubt the run-up to Christmas that is inspiring us to make this progress , to offer this gift to Europeans .
ladies and gentlemen , I believe that we all agree that Georgia is a key player in our neighbourhood .
we would also welcome the fact that this report contains - if there is going to be a change in pension provision - adequate time for adaptation for people to reconsider their financial futures .
these include monitoring the implementation of international commitments in the field of human rights , actions to support the ratification of the Rome Statute of the ICC and electorate education .
why not develop a major European tramways project ?
could you please tell us what specific proposals the parliaments of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania have debated with a view to introducing sharia and on what dates these debates took place ?
3 .
I would stress that this is a project that must succeed , and in this context it is particularly important , in my view , to promote innovation , which brings with it progress and competitiveness .
Edinburgh City Council , financed by European Social Fund money , conducted a campaign called ' Zero Tolerance ' in relation to violence against women .
for this reason , in addition to current issues which are very important ( such as the release of political prisoners or a slight improvement in the quality of the election process ) , I believe that we should underline that the important point for us is to answer the question : what can the EU do to promote democracy in its neighbouring countries ?
Russia claims it cannot export gas because Ukraine will not transport it , and Ukraine claims it has no gas to export because the Russians have switched the transit route .
I will therefore report back on my side ; please pass on the information on yours .
in 2008 , rising food prices caused riots in 30 countries .
more specifically , Romania is prioritising the development of the Curtici-Brasov-Bucharest-Constanza railway line .
in particular , I would like to emphasise the need to differentiate between transport modes in the conditions for funding , on the basis of safety , environmental performance and energy efficiency , the need to set up demand-driven assistance at the application stage , taking account of the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises , the recognition of economic recession as an exceptional reason for extending the duration of projects , and product-specific lowering of eligibility thresholds .
it is , therefore , necessary to improve the substance , too , of the framework known as ' synergy ' if one wants to maintain its credibility .
this has enabled it to throw off the shackles and to grow in an admirable way .
the role of the European Ombudsman has become more important over the years for the European Union institutions and the citizens of Europe .
the report focuses mainly on transactions that are highly risky and speculative , and it will therefore lead to greater responsibility in the financial sector through the future taxation of financial transactions , which will paradoxically lead to greater stability in the global financial sector .
however , under the EIB 's external mandate , this sense of urgency for counter-cyclical action has not been shown by the EIB in developing countries .
it is clear that , while we want to have a role in the world today , our Member States alone do not have the influence required to negotiate on equal terms with the United States , Russia or China .
the penalties for such infringements are different in Member States where , in some , road traffic offences are covered under administrative and formal fines , and in others , like Ireland , they are domestic criminal matters .
access to energy is increasing .
I also hope that the Commission and the Member States will enhance their monitoring of minimum health and safety requirements in the workplace .
shame on them .
cohesion policy is vital to an improved socio-economic environment in Europe and is a practical expression of solidarity between the Member States .
( SV ) One of the arguments that is put forward for why the EU is not an attractive immigration destination for qualified workers is the fact that there are different entry and residence rules in the different Member States .
however , I cannot understand the scaremongering that has been associated with the phrase ' climate change ' .
I should like to add that our Hungarian friends are in the same situation as our Polish friends in terms of floods .
we need to develop a proactive broad energy diplomacy aimed at strengthening our cooperation with all major producer , transit and consumer countries , and to create an energy market based on the principle of reciprocity .
colleagues , the lively debate today has shown the importance that we in the European Parliament attach to ensuring a successful outcome to the G20 Summit .
piracy is a problem all over the world and especially off the coast of Somalia , where it has risen to epidemic proportions .
it calls on the European Union to account for what is being achieved through our human rights dialogue and to set clear benchmarks for improvement in moving towards a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Vietnam .
freedom of expression is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of democracy .
also with regard to the role of Mr McCreevy , I would say that he should play a smaller role than previously and he should not be allowed to delay now under any circumstances .
these rules have no place in a free trade agreement .
to explain and justify the Treaty to national parliaments and to public opinion , we ought to put greater stress on the social and cultural dimension of the single market , such as migration policy , as well as on the fight to combat climate change .
we will therefore have to invest in innovation and in promoting the renewal of our vehicle fleet .
I therefore consider it my duty to praise the rapporteur , Mr Catania , on his sensitivity to , and his insistence on , protection for human rights within Europe as well .
adjournment of the session
this assessment of the overall impact of the different research activities will be carried out by high-level experts .
they are essential for the internal market to function properly and constitute a necessary economic and logistical network .
this speaks volumes about double standards , hypocrisy and cover-up .
we heard the Indian President tell us in this House how , in a Christian school , he learned not only to love knowledge but also to distinguish between religion and politics .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , globalisation is not a natural process , even though some may like to present it that way .
the greatest attention must be paid to long-term sustainable growth , providing the conditions for the creation of quality jobs , rather than short-term profit , which has done huge harm to the financial stability of European markets .
I am convinced that the way forward will be found with the United States .
the aim of the ongoing negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement ( CETA ) is the conclusion of a very wide-ranging agreement , with more ambitious goals than any of the economic and trade agreements negotiated to date by either the EU or Canada . bilateral trade and investment links are already strong , and this may result in them becoming even stronger .
this is the last plenary sitting in which our Secretary-General , Harald Rømer , will participate .
we must first of all guarantee to protect the ordinary person .
these are the priorities of a government that is facing an enormous social crisis .
we do , however , also have strengths , and we should remember them .
accessibility of information will undoubtedly play a fundamental role in this change .
if women do not see that they are represented , they will hesitate before they give their support to our different projects and decisions .
it would not have been possible without our joint efforts , as everyone involved played their part .
I hope that the schemes will also produce positive results .
it is too complex .
in the spirit of European solidarity , without any differences or barriers , we should assist them in this endeavour .
a further meeting is planned in April 2011 to conclude the work .
I am sure that the Commission will be able to provide some additional information in response to the questions raised .
regarding the proposal to reject the fisheries agreements in general on the grounds that they are not sustainable , it should be recalled that the Council , in its July 2004 conclusions , indicated that the aim of the new fisheries partnership agreements ( FPAs ) is to contribute to the sustainable management of fisheries resources .
the big question is whether this is the best procedure for adopting the budget .
my second question is : at the committee meeting , the Council President mentioned that cooperation with the Balkan countries is also one of the important tasks on which the Council is focusing .
we must really care for the food security of our continent .
I think it is important to retain and reinforce provisions on the prescribing of certain routes for the transport of dangerous goods .
those are fine words , but here we are with yet another attempt to bulldoze wonderful diversity into a common , harmonised , featureless landscape .
the Commission has made two requests in this matter : besides the united approach , it especially asks for backbone , backbone and more backbone .
the demographic challenge and solidarity between generations are the key points for a better future .
we shall now move to the next speaker .
one example is energy , which is also a red-hot issue there .
the recommendation on the limitation on the civil liability of statutory auditors is part of a strategy to reduce the concentration in the auditing market .
we will make sure that we have the resources to reach our targets .
some issues can be improved through set regulation without major cost impacts and by working together with the European Forum of Deposit Insurers ( EFDI ) .
- ( HU ) Serbia had to be bombed to make it understand : the rights of minorities must be respected .
the technical measures that apply to European vessel owners also need to be clarified as they are discriminated against in comparison with other fleets that fish in Mauritanian waters .
as an MEP from one of Europe 's outermost regions , my attention is focused on what the new Presidency will do with development policy for island regions .
the European Parliament , as the pivotal democratic body of the European Union , has every reason to promote the symbols of Europe as a means of connecting itself with the voters of Europe .
( the session was suspended at 1 p.m. and resumed at 3 p.m. )
I think there are basically two issues .
in this context of a changing world order , we need close coordination between Europe and the United States .
Turkey must tackle these issues and dismantle these deficits of its own accord .
yes , we seek clear and closer cooperation and partnership with our neighbours to encourage a process of increasing congruence with those on our borders where there is a genuine mutual commitment to do so , but this will not work if there is an absence of actions when that mutual commitment is missing and things are going wrong .
all of this fills me with suspicion , and only strengthens me in my no-vote for this budget .
I can tell Mr Giegold and Mr Klute that there will be further discussions and that we will be returning in particular to the question of passive marketing and the role of the European Securities and Markets Authority ( ESMA ) .
when pointing out a historic date associated with women 's struggle for their rights , the series of social problems faced by women cannot be ignored , particularly those of working women : worsening unemployment and insecure jobs linked to low wages , the pay gap , and discrimination based on motherhood .
Mr Stockmann , as rapporteur , you will have the opportunity to speak at the end of the debate .
it is good to have all the relevant scientific information on climate change collected in this report .
Europe 's policy of systematically liberalising visas is an ideological attempt to destroy the European Union 's external borders , after having first demolished its internal borders .
the wish of many to reduce the number of airports covered by the directive is proof of this .
to return to the subject at hand , though , which other European citizens , albeit victims of poverty and insecurity , and excluded , in their own country , from the social benefits already allocated as a priority to others , are the object of such deep concern on your part ?
financial controls and regulation are already being made more effective , but we still need more measures to ensure that all financial products are brought within the scope of effective and viable regulation .
in writing . - ( RO ) Timely implementation , accurate transposition and appropriate enforcement of the internal market directives are prerequisites for the effective working of the internal market and for consumer protection , with effects on competitiveness and the economic and social balance of the EU .
there is also no visible progress in the matter of freedom of religion within the territory of the Republic of Turkey .
for this reason , I agree with the rapporteur that it is essential to abandon - and not only here - industrial scale fishing .
these are all measures that highlight once again that those who , often by demagogy , accuse the Commission and the European Union of paralysis or weakness are mistaken , and deceive our fellow citizens .
that is a great success .
it is clear that drilling for oil in the North Sea or the Gulf of Mexico represents an attempt to reduce dependence on a number of countries .
one need only think of the register of interest representatives adopted by the European Parliament in 1996 , or of the Commission 's 2006 proposal to the European Parliament for a ' one-stop shop ' register for lobbyists .
the Commission 's experts state that thrombin is not hazardous to health , and this opinion is scientifically based .
I supported the aforementioned report because of the specific examples of how the European Parliament can improve the transparency of the procedures applied to external organisations .
( HU ) I would like to mention the Slovak language law , which has raised grave concerns ever since its approval .
Croatia is excluded because it should be in a different category anyway , namely in the expansion category , because it is already negotiating for membership .
the total number of cities committed to the Green Digital Charter has increased from 14 to 21 .
the action undertaken will significantly reduce the administrative costs incurred by Parliament , interested parties and those affected by the legislation introduced .
I must point out , however , that Slovakia has much stricter food standards than the 15 old Member States .
'is this the real life ?
accounts show that the pain is so great that victims often lose consciousness .
as Roma children become more educated , they increase their chances of becoming productive members of the workforce .
the emphasis should be given to prevention , by promoting campaigns to make parents and children aware of the risks of child pornography , specifically on the Internet and , in particular , the risk of sexual exploitation in online chat rooms and forums .
as a good customer , we are in a strong situation .
( applause )
he at least sent me an email in the last 20 minutes saying that he intended to speak on it .
in writing . - I voted in favour of the European statistics on tourism report today .
ladies and gentlemen , we must not put ourselves in the position of putting the brakes on the lifting of visa requirements for all the countries of the Western Balkans which have a clear European perspective .
they vary significantly in their present form from one country to another .
we have accepted Turkey as a full member of the Council of Europe for more than half a century .
similarly , the EU has made extremely limited progress on the preservation of air quality , implementation and enforcement of Community legislation , protection of biodiversity , reform of environmentally harmful subsidies , and promotion of sustainable production / consumption models .
Commissioner , I would refer you in particular to paragraphs 52 and 53 of the original resolution on transparency of penalties .
think , for example , of house parents in group homes , or weekend in-house respite for carers .
unity is the most important signal that we can send out .
what is the consequence of this ?
can I please request that we delay this vote until 15.00 so that we can consult both the parties and the groups , and also discover what is actually happening on the ground in Morocco ?
however , it also includes elements that might have been relevant in the case of Xynthia as well - a proposal to lower the thresholds and the possibility of paying advances of the expected aid .
Europe cannot however , fail to take responsibility for European interests in the world , particularly today .
in some countries such as the United Kingdom and Ireland , which are by no means the poorest , the rate is zero , and in others , like Luxembourg , it is very low - only 3 % .
I regret the presence of the President of Zimbabwe , Mr Mugabe , at the summit held in Tripoli on 30 November , and the absence of numerous European Heads of State or Government .
unfortunately , thanks to the opponents of the country of origin principle , we lost out on the opportunity to provide a better definition in the Services Directive .
at least 40 Somali human rights defenders and humanitarian workers were killed between January and September 2008 alone .
two days ago , the Socialist opposition leader of the country , Mr Crvenkovski , was here in this House .
it is not quite as black and white as you might think , therefore .
job retention and creation should receive most attention .
I would advise you to look at the rules governing access to the European Court of Justice .
the report does not claim that non-violence is the only means of promoting human rights , but that it is the most appropriate means .
the U.S. Government and this Parliament have struggled over how best to protect citizens without yielding the foundational rights on which all of our societies are built .
of the issues mentioned in the Energy Council Conclusions , I would like to mention the following .
I do believe our resolution should have focused more on major issues such as terrorism , climate change and the economic strengthening of this partnership , which I hope this summit will go some way towards tackling .
2 .
there you have it .
I want to stress the importance of protecting bluefin tuna , but we also need to strike a balance that guarantees the continuation of the species without punishing Mediterranean fishing methods such as the almadraba technique .
we must also ensure that this tool , which we are proposing to the ILO , will enable us to define , in this area , what we mean by the notion of decent work , whether with regard to the question of working hours , the question of paid leave , or the question of housing conditions .
I think therefore that it is indeed wise to postpone this vote until Strasbourg .
I express regret that the EPP group did not join the common draft resolution , but it has the chance to support it by vote .
therefore , I would like to ask Mr Kallas whether next year there will be exceptions within the area of agriculture for which there will not be a full presentation of accounts on the Internet , and for which we will not be able to see who receives what and the corresponding amounts in other areas .
the author , Herbert Reul , has indicated that he is running late .
the beneficiaries of EU funding which has been allocated illegally are only required to repay 10 % .
nonetheless , we are concerned at consistent and widespread reports of a deterioration in respect for fundamental freedoms and democratic principles in Ukraine .
fish , like other animals , cannot be restricted to certain territories , so assessing whether one country cares more than another would be the subject of endless arguments .
- Report : Cristian Dumitrescu
yet , as you rightly said , this has not stopped a single Member State from developing its own system or starting to use a kind of embryonic version of ERTMS at an early stage .
furthermore , this renewables directive is surely sending to Europe 's industries a very strong , clear message that will encourage them to act with confidence and certainty .
your support has been much appreciated .
( PL ) Mr President , we need convince no one of the importance of energy for developing countries .
the ENP must continue to be founded on the principles of democracy , the rule of law , respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms , and must support the political , social and economic reforms of our closest partners .
this is what this is all about , after all .
that is why I proposed random checking and fingerprinting at border crossings .
11 .
for this reason I would ask that we proceed with this debate , because it is so essential and because we must simply change our way of life .
the first concerns the point raised by Mr Weber as to whether Europe can or should have its own passenger name record data system , and what scope it might have .
the three principal rating agencies rate 95 % of economic activities ; we are therefore talking about a monopoly , with all the adverse repercussions that can have .
- Report : Klaus-Heiner Lehne
it has thus expressed the will of the Czech people to have the Treaty of Lisbon in place .
we are also clarifying that , under specified circumstances , Member States are entitled to introduce limits on the reimbursement or payment of hospital health care obtained abroad through prior authorisation , if there is a clear risk - even potential - of undermining the national health system .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I will take both questions at the same time because they are almost identical .
what I also do not understand is that it is so easily overlooked that , by banning the AKP and the DTP , about 90 % of votes in the south-east were declared invalid , with all that that entails .
people have a right to keep details of their lives confidential , but authorities have not only a right , but a duty , to safeguard the lives of their peoples .
the inability to resolve this situation is highlighted by the fact that according to estimates , almost 40 % of the logging in the world is carried out illegally .
in writing . - ( BG ) Ladies and gentlemen , the timing of the European programme for supporting economic recovery , including the investment of almost EUR 4 billion in energy projects , is ideal and it will have at least a two-fold positive effect : boosting the recovery of important sectors in the economy and resolving the substantial energy problems .
we also called for immediate appropriate consultation with the interested parties . in addition , we asked for a draft flexible framework text to be submitted to Parliament and to the Council concerning collective management of copyright and associated rights in relation to cross-border on-line music services .
it also means better scope for free media to exist across Europe 's borders .
that some African countries appear to be ungovernable and central governments have lost control of parts of their territories are , unfortunately , phenomena that have yet to be eradicated .
we should look at the standard applying to the food that we allow into Europe , and the Commission should take action , instead of bothering farmers , who are doing their best in all parts of Europe , and that certainly includes my country , Ireland .
6 .
( ES ) Mr President , given that I have been mentioned , I stand by each and every one of the words I have spoken .
in writing . - I voted in favour of the Kauppi Report because there is a need for continued detailed debate on the various contentious issues that arise in this report .
in this regard , it has become imperative to institute closer cooperation between the immigration liaison officer networks and Frontex .
but what happened subsequently is that that Committee on Transport view has been altered .
I have also confirmed that the Commission does not intend to propose a further prolongation of this transition time .
why do we not have in different hospitals coordinators , specialised doctors and nurses , able to recognise potential donors so that transplants can go ahead and we can thus increase the availability of organs ?
that is uncontested .
due to the absence of many fellow MEPs , we have had to break our agreement with the Council .
we therefore ask the Burmese authorities to respect rights of association and freedom of expression and to free political prisoners , and we trust this remarkable woman , whom we are awaiting in the European Parliament , or whom we will visit if she cannot receive her Sakharov Prize , to maintain a spirit of freedom in this shattered country .
it also struck me that the Spanish Presidency is continuing to advocate an active immigration policy at a time of very serious economic crisis , when no one knows how many million Europeans are unemployed .
I should mention that during the negotiations with the Council , Romania managed to achieve a balance between the initiative 's accessibility and stipulating provisions preventing its abuse .
at the age of sixteen , I had already taken to the streets of my country to fight against a dictatorship , against the colonial system .
it is an excellent proposal and they have done a fantastic job and should be congratulated for it .
could I also say , in response to Mr Mitchell 's first outburst - his Republican outburst about getting rid of all the British out of the island of Ireland over 700 years - that he should be glad they did not entirely succeed because he did need the help of some British subjects from Northern Ireland to attain the rugby victory in the Six Nations .
the reforms are important for those countries but also for the EU .
we want greater solidarity , not only in financial terms , but also in the form of teams of rapid response experts , created by the office .
in the years 2007-2013 Poland will receive over EUR 67 billion from the European Union budget .
the Commission needs to think carefully and weigh up the consequences before reacting too hastily to this problem .
knowing what they knew then , why on earth did they not do more to save all of us from the unbearable impacts of a warming planet ?
I think we should .
many of their nationals are now working to the north of the Mediterranean and their transfer constitute an essential development issue , as has already been said .
( HU ) Thank you , Mr President .
on 10 October Hu Jia took part in a press conference on human rights , which was held at the European Parliament in Brussels .
it is my belief that our steady vigilance and open dialogue is crucial to the people of Burma and a clear signal of unity among this Parliament and other global organisations must be sent .
Madam President , there is a natural relationship between the current health of a state 's economy and the value of its currency .
I hope that the European Union is luckier in Portugal than the Russian writer was in Wiesbaden .
my point is that we should address this issue with all seriousness .
I would particularly like to welcome the private placement regime , which was also mentioned by the Commissioner .
does the Council have everything that it wanted ?
we should bear in mind that the realities for women in rural areas have changed in recent years and are very highly differentiated .
I would also like to say a word about those who were more critical in their remarks , specifically those who spoke rather sceptically about development cooperation policy , and those who always refer to the taxpayer in order to reject any support for development cooperation policy .
do not sound as though you are throwing the baby out with the bathwater and adding to the panic which raged on in the financial markets last week .
there are other tools which are also important .
it should be for Member States , and let us call upon the Member States of the European Union to do their bit to help our American friends at this time .
in this instance , a restructuring plan is only seen as convincing if it provides for 1 000 workers to be laid off .
I find it totally unacceptable !
regarding the proposed exclusion of organ transplantation , I simply cannot agree .
the problems we have seen in post-election Armenia have been compounded by violent clashes , resulting in eight fatalities , and by the imposition of an extraordinary measure in the form of a state of emergency .
should the same principles function in relation to public aid in social housing ?
I shall begin by saying that I did not say ' no ' to the Barnier report .
if it materialises , we should see how we can best provide support for this initiative .
therefore , we need to help this opposition , which is currently not organised , but is democratic , and which is fighting for the values of the Tunisian transition and for the consolidation of those values .
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a state will become stronger and not weaker by granting rights to its minorities .
but to do this we need clear evidence about the questions we want to answer .
the fishing industry is of fundamental economic and cultural importance to our coastal regions .
I welcome the creation of a European fund for energy efficiency and renewable energy to support the implementation of this directive .
I should just like to make one patriotic comment in this multinational Chamber .
we also want to take account of existing reporting obligations , provided the information available within the context of the analyses that are to be carried out by the Commission is useable .
now I will get to the point .
the principal aim of this document is to find a way of determining and comparing different qualifications within the labour market and education system .
these have been respected .
does the Council not think that we could and should do a lot more in this area up to 2011 than we have done to date ?
the European Union has not acted in this way , though .
a great deal has happened and a great deal has changed since the 1990s , and we need to move forward towards this new agreement , in which we are ambitious .
it is in the interest of all of us that the take-up of this programme be good .
I therefore believe that this aspect , which is the most important aspect of democracy , namely representation and not , as we have sometimes heard in this House , referenda , is what is vital and essential in democracy , which is to say , representation and not direct voting .
are you ready now to introduce rules of transparency , disclosure and accountability which give us a real chance of regulating the market ?
the additional financing needs in 2011-2013 , totalling EUR 225 million , must be addressed in a mid-term review of the multiannual financial framework .
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I believe that social assistance must guarantee a sufficient minimum income to guarantee a humane life that surpasses the poverty line and is sufficient to help a person out of poverty , and must not further exacerbate that poverty due to its inflexibility .
that involves the dimensions of asylum and refugees , and also compliance with the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum , which was signed in October 2008 .
for this reason , I voted in favour of the alternative proposal tabled by the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance .
on the other hand , both the environmental effects and the safety of the technologies used in storage must be thoroughly investigated .
I believe that in terms of a forward-looking worldview , it will be necessary to make greater efforts for the sustainable use of rural areas , which must be efficient both in terms of energy and quality .
the only people entitled to do so are security and technical experts .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I wish to thank the honourable Members for all the efforts which Parliament in general , and the Committee on International Trade ( INTA ) in particular , has put into securing prompt assessment - and , I hope , ratification - of the EU-Korea Free Trade Agreement ( FTA ) .
moreover , it has the advantage of bringing Europe closer to its citizens and the people of southern Italy , which is Europe 's true logistical platform with regard to the countries of the Mediterranean .
I know that the situation is not easy , but we need that legitimate discussion in order to speed up the improvement of the situation in Haiti .
the three key areas that promote economic growth are the following : knowledge , innovation , education ; or ' intelligent growth ' that puts digital society in the centre , sustainable development that promotes more efficient energy use and enhances competitiveness , and inclusive growth that increases participation in the labour market .
we must act with force to stop this violence .
each Member State - and that is the level on which this should operate - needs to protect children within its own borders .
could we do more ?
there is still a lack of sufficiently reliable and comparable data both at national and EU level determining social indicators , including the poverty of women , violence against women and institutional mechanisms .
it is high time to profile EU policies more clearly in this area .
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of course , this will require major investment , particularly in research .
we also call for particular emphasis to be placed on combating corruption , organised crime and unemployment , especially unemployment among young people .
I can well imagine that the Commission will also have something to say about this when you , Mr Dimas , are able to speak again in a little while .
the IMF examined the funds ' current practices , organised a round table focusing primarily on these topics and set up an international working group composed of 25 countries that possess such funds with a view to drawing up a report , which is due to be published at the end of October of this year .
could we have taken those measures a year ago ?
I also wish to recall the principle of sincere cooperation stipulated in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union .
on the question of discards , we have already started to take measures to reduce discards , in particular within the parameters of the North Sea and of the cod recovery plan .
another important framework is the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and here too the European Union will continue and , we hope , step up , its efforts to bring about de-escalation .
it will take due process .
the President is considering these two points .
I believe that the Pakistani authorities must demonstrate through action their declared commitment to the fight against extremism in this country by abolishing the blasphemy laws .
this is particularly important if we realise that 80 % of EU expenditure is administered by the Member States .
we must keep sexual criminals away from children , and we must take the necessary steps to ensure that .
I support this report because it is absolutely essential at this time that we in the EU make our voice heard on behalf of the people of Gaza .
I consider regrettable the comments that link Ankara 's attitude to Nabucco directly with the country 's accession to the EU .
the Council could usefully examine ways in which to tackle the crisis and to promote growth and jobs , on the basis of a strengthened mandate .
there are risks as well as hopes .
the more we anchor our partnership in shared respect for our common values , the more strongly we can act to resonate those values in the wider world .
I am therefore pleased that the proposal contains provisions for the coordination , organisation and conduct of investigations and operational activities in conjunction with the Member States ' competent authorities or by joint investigative teams .
the European Union 's laws cannot only protect minorities and put national communities at a disadvantage because we are allowing positive discrimination .
but the solution is not ethnic profiling , but rather a specific policy that brings together the three pillars of citizenship , decency and security .
because when something happens the people look to the Members .
I voted in favour of the Cercas report , which opposes some of the proposals made by the Council in June 2008 , which were intended to substantially amend the Directive concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time , in place since 1993 .
I believe that this question is still pretty unresolved and I am also awaiting the reactions of the Commission and the Council in that regard .
this strategy and policy initiative should also be complemented by broad awareness-raising activities .
often , with a sometimes exaggerated feeling of responsibility , we and all politicians who are concerned by this phenomenon , try to minimise the significance of such attacks : we must not be alarmed , we say ; at the end of the day these are isolated incidents , there are not all that many madmen about , we must not exaggerate , it is not a serious problem .
we believe that technological and economic progress and the widening of the Panama Canal will accentuate the current trend towards larger vessels , and will bring about changes in the international routes .
however , services are a key source of growth and employment .
at the same time that the Commission is sanctioning the pumping of billions of euros into the saving of the Irish banks , we have an Irish Government which is planning this very minute to destroy local development , to destroy community development programmes which are supported by the European Union .
Madam President , on a point of order .
most of all , I would like to congratulate Hungary on its new constitution .
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small and medium-sized enterprises provide more than 100 million jobs and are a key factor in economic growth .
Georgia is of particular strategic importance in the Black Sea region for energy security , as supply routes such as the Nabucco gas pipeline , the Baku-Tbilisi oil pipeline and the oil terminal at Supsa are closely linked to the stability of this country .
with MiFID , the trading monopolies for exchanges have been abolished , investment firms have better access to providing their services across the European Economic Area using the MiFID passport and consumer protection has been strengthened .
that is why the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament decided , with the consent of Mr Kalfin and of the other rapporteurs , to table amendments in plenary on these two subjects .
from this point of view , the social partners have their rights and can assert those rights , and obviously this has implications which must be taken into consideration .
Technology-related research programmes , trade agreements and nuclear fuels are also things Moscow is interested in .
this strategic review of the European Union 's energy policy has therefore , in my opinion , come at the right time .
I am also convinced that it is right to provide for experiments on animals to be kept to a minimum and carried out only in the event of absolute need and for the use of alternative methods to be promoted so that animals are spared needless suffering .
it is extremely important to raise patients ' awareness of prescription drugs in order to prevent overconsumption of medicines as a result of commercial considerations .
we wish the representative for Kazakhstan success with his task on behalf of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe ( OSCE ) .
therefore , it is crucially important for the EU to investigate this particular case and take action to ensure that such a situation does not occur again .
Parliament has now made it clear that we in Europe must persist with this action , even though the rest of the world may , for the time being , be holding back because they have got cold feet .
I do not know whether there are Members in the House from Germany who would be prepared to enter into a wager with me about whether presumptive German taxpayers would be supporting Opel in this way if such an important election were not taking place in ten days ' time .
the World Alzheimer Report published in 2010 states that the worldwide annual costs of Alzheimer 's disease and other forms of dementia amount to USD 600 billion .
by the way , this was quite clearly expressed at the last summit .
and to act in a way that we cannot start the political process for economic recovery when jobs are threatened all over Europe is not responsible .
what is also true is that , when we have to negotiate in 2008 in an attempt to secure this regional integration , we must be extremely convincing , and we must of course have arguments .
it must give them rights and a new future .
thus , the majority of FRONTEX 's work concerns that area .
the Kiev ministerial meeting will provide a forum to discuss and bring forward and coordinate EU initiatives with ideas coming from our partners .
I feel that proposals enabling a professional career to be combined with family life are worth considering .
( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , I agree with many of the arguments put forward by Mrs Thyssen , Mr Karas and Mrs Castex .
I think that introduction of the provisions of this directive will increase costs incurred by enterprises which provide transport services .
since the present report , in my view , is not a suitable basis for the resolution of all these problems , I have voted against it .
why specifically on textiles ?
now we are faced with a call for eurobonds .
the WTO must therefore be revolutionised in order to curb speculation and support producers rather than a minority of profiteers benefiting the global financial markets , so as to encourage the populations to become independent in terms of food and industry and to urge the nations to cooperate rather than compete .
why can we not be more realistic with regard to the Structural Funds ?
Madam President , I welcome the fact that this report looks at what can be done at European level to stimulate the economies , whilst I recognise that most of the instruments to do so remain at national level : 99 % of public expenditure is national , not European ; most regulation is national , not European .
farmers are required to produce more and more with less and less .
still on the subject of adapting to climate change , I agree that there is an urgent need to implement the new framework directive on soil protection , and that cohesion policy , water protection policy and the Natura 2000 network need to be adapted to cope with the expected impacts .
do not worry , however , we will have those concerned follow up this matter .
although we are now waiting with interest and hope to see what political changes the demonstrations in the Arab countries will lead to , we cannot for a moment close our eyes to outrages which contravene international human rights agreements , such as the death sentence for minors .
Mr President , I came down to the Chamber while I was watching the debate in my office just to make , I suppose , a broad point .
the Moroccan authorities cannot even decide how many people were killed in the raid at the camp in Laâyoune .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Madam President , I think it is important for us to have this discussion in the light of the upcoming adoption of an ILO Convention on Domestic Workers .
this is precisely why we should not be in such a hurry in our quest to solve environmental problems .
all the analyses to date objectively state that all these countries are adequately prepared for the enlargement of the Schengen area .
this has a significant impact on the independence of young people living in cities and causes major demographic challenges , because starting a family in urban areas is becoming a difficult task .
if every European citizen could see the chaotic and shambolic way in which legislation is voted on in this Parliament , then there would be a party like the UK Independence Party in every EU Member State .
( FR ) Mr President , we cannot seriously discuss the issue of carriage of goods by road without tackling the problem of dangerous materials .
this time we should go beyond superficial policy differences and evaluate our deeper common interests which , until now , have simply been taken for granted .
on International Women 's Day , there is one thing we Europeans must all acknowledge : in our continent , we still have not achieved equal rights , but the dramatic injustice towards women in other parts of the world , ranging from genital mutilation to the compulsory wearing of the veil , all these basic fundamental rights that women and , above all , girls worldwide are deprived of , should not only concern us on 8 March .
they have no respect whatsoever for our principles or our values .
I welcome the general thrust of the intent of the banks , particularly in relation to climate control and energy , and I hope the House will support the main thrust of the report which I have brought forward .
then we can also be constructive regarding the development of a real economy .
giving these people a legal migration status and allowing them to work would be the one guaranteed positive measure our Governments can offer : it would also mean that , when return is possible , people are going back with active skills and potential financial resources which will help grass-roots development .
that is why we need joint action , not only in the field of customs and excise services , but also close , administrative cooperation between the Member States , which I think currently leaves something to be desired .
the vision of the Stockholm Programme is for a safer and more open Europe where the rights of individuals are protected .
we want competitive companies and confident consumers , in order to sustain the level of jobs and economic growth in Europe , and that will be achieved by having a really effective single market .
in the 21st century we all have to contend with globalisation , which can be an opportunity but also a threat to humankind .
we should respect commitments given at international level .
we do not believe that this is the case .
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we , as the Commission , fully share the agreement achieved , which is reflected in the compromise amendments tabled by Ms De Sarnez , Ms Pack , Ms Novak , Ms Prets and Ms Trüpel .
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in her presentation Mrs Rajavi clearly stated how important women 's rights are for the democratic Iranian opposition , showing once again that the opposition gives us hope that change will take place in Iran .
on a personal level , I feel that I should ask the Commission for a detailed study from which the various systems of information and communication , including labelling , can be drawn up .
everyone has seen the pictures , and the most important thing with regard to these and other effects of climate change is that the polluter must pay .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( NL ) It is the prime duty of any state to guarantee the safety of its people , and that is entirely consistent with international law .
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in writing . - ( DE ) The entry and residence of third-country nationals are an issue , but in the past the rights in relation to these have been extended more and more .
the tone of the report is manifestly dictatorial and the proposals for cooperation given are presented almost exclusively on the EU 's terms and with the EU 's own interests in the foreground .
unfortunately , most of the European Union budget continues to be spent on preserving the conditions of the past .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I , too , would like to thank Mr Søndergaard for his successful work , as a result of which the Council ultimately accommodated Parliament in the discharge procedure .
it should lead to more operational management of projects that often involve local authorities and concern environmental protection , innovation and energy for instance .
( SL ) Mr President , I would like to commend the excellent work done by the rapporteur , Mrs Sylvie Guillaume .
at this point I would like to state my disappointment , since , if the constitutional treaty had been ratified , it would have introduced a more appropriate legal framework in Article I-3 , which had a direct application to the rights of the child .
last year 's decision to suspend visa restrictions after Minsk had released the final prisoners in August 2008 helped bring about some progress in our dialogue .
this will be a better solution for you .
if it had been , the figures - the volume of EU trade with those countries - would be far higher than they are today .
nonetheless , it seems bizarre that at the same time , some Member States wish to override common understandings and even agreements , such as the EU Common Position 2008 / 944 / CFSP .
barely 12 months after the European Union 's election observation mission declared that the elections had integrity , there was a second coup in two years by the generals in Mauritania .
in this overall context , Frontex is the security instrument on which the campaign against illegal immigration and human smugglers depends , and it is being deployed in those areas where the Member States are finding it difficult to cope .
Spanish Members from all parties have made important contributions to the work of this House , holding distinguished office in both Parliament and in our groups .
we , in our European work , would do well , therefore , to give that sector a shot in the arm .
certainly combating inflation is and will continue to be our main task .
it is also clear that Member States which have left it to the social partners to fix wages must continue to do that .
this is what has happened with the Stability Pact .
the development of a crisis reaction mechanism will also facilitate a rapid response in larger-scale emergency situations .
the European Parliament points out that better guaranteeing of human rights , including those of women and minorities , is crucial , as is an independent judiciary .
the harmonisation of goods transport , in particular in regard to multi-modal transportation , is an absolutely vital and logical step that should have a positive effect on the EU 's internal market .
in addition , the current outbreak of bluetongue and consequent restrictions imposed on the movement and marketing of animals has created additional socio-economic difficulties .
according to the EU Treaty , Sweden has the decision-making authority .
regrettably , I had to vote against the measure .
I therefore abstained during the final vote .
it has been a great pleasure to be involved in this work .
we must evaluate the experiences of lifting visa regulations for the Balkan countries , bring the Schengen Information System II ( SIS II ) up to date and monitor the implementation of the visa requirements in Moscow .
evolve : namely , make the Europe 2020 strategy a positive synthesis of the demands of businesses and those of workers , in support of a labour market where it is the flexicurity of employment contracts that responds to the instability of market demand .
it is only a case of finding some documents relating to the case against General Gotovina , but Mr Brammertz himself has said that he does not know whether these documents still exist or whether they have already been destroyed .
for example , hardly anything is said about posted employees , and the way charitable services and the social clause associated with the Single Market are described is , regrettably , very vague .
consequently , I would like to ask the Commission whether it would not be a good idea nonetheless to implement veterinary border controls at which the owner of a pet animal must demonstrate that the animal travelling with him or her is free of dangerous diseases , has been vaccinated and has its papers in order in respect of the destination country .
that said , the end result that we have is an open and reasonably balanced one .
in the maritime sector , the European Commission is currently looking into the best way of taking account of discharges from ships , and it is what we are proposing today with this text for the transport of freight by road .
I refer , in general terms , to the type of dialogue that must be established as soon as possible between citizens and institutions at different levels .
access to the debates in each language would then only be guaranteed by way of the audiovisual recordings available on the internet , though individual Members of Parliament would be able to request the translation of certain extracts .
the more support we have , the more real actions on the ground we will be able to conduct .
secondly , local permit authorities are clearly in a better position to take account of prevailing conditions , such as an installation 's age , location and , for example , its water intake , which is a guarantee of flexibility , in contrast with the totally inflexible ESN .
the Commissioner will tell us whether this is an inadvertent error .
furthermore , individual Member States will not only be able to retain shorter payment target deadlines in the form that has been customary up to now ; we assume that , in fact , they will be retained , because we cannot imagine that the Late Payments Directive will lead to a deterioration in payment practices within the Member States .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Madam President , I thank the honourable Members for these questions and for this opportunity to discuss these issues in the European Parliament again .
in general , Baltic Sea countries are all very sensitive about environmental issues and maritime transport issues as well .
in writing . - The reaction to the conflict in Gaza has to be more balanced than it currently is .
human rights enjoy a high-ranking importance in the European Union .
there is an urgent need for the principle of secularism to dominate the organisation of our society .
we have the answer : we have Europol in place .
we would also ask the Council to stop thinking like an accountant and put on its politician 's hat for once , and not to do its calculations by trying to work out how to cut back on payments , because we could end up in the Court of Justice given that , as you have reminded us Commissioner Lewandowski , the payments are legal obligations deriving from pre-existing commitments .
Member States know , governments know , but do not always agree when it comes to money .
the assumption of the costs of banking deficits by the public purses ultimately led , in 2010 , to a deep crisis in national budgets .
in spite of these reservations , I have chosen to vote in favour of the report .
it is a situation which , together with production of more than 70 % of the world 's opium output and increased activity from terrorist groups , shows the complete impotence of the occupying power .
I am particularly pleased that that the report specifically highlights non-discrimination and equal opportunities .
like the rapporteur , I firmly believe - and I say this as vice-chairman of the Committee on Regional Development - that many Member States are not fully aware of the significance and use of the European Social Fund and other structural funds as instruments in the pursuit of lifelong learning .
in October , Serbia and Montenegro hosted missions led by the Commission , in association with the experts from the Member States , and those missions confirmed that all of the criteria of the respective road maps had been fulfilled properly .
in writing . - I voted in favour of this important resolution on textile fibre names and related labelling and marking of fibre composition of textile products .
the Council 's willingness to promote Article 9 in practice is also evident in the European Semester , which has to reflect , in an integrated approach , a balanced position between the Europe 2020 Strategy and the Stability and Growth Pact .
there is no point saying anything now about the host of difficulties encountered to implement the international force , which was scheduled for deployment in November 2007 , finally commenced only at the end of January , and will not be completed until May this year as per the current schedule .
perhaps , at the end of the year , it will be time to present further initiatives , new agreements : with regard to the multilateralisation of the nuclear fuel cycle , for example .
however , we must not ignore the importance of the cohesion policy in achieving the European Union 's economic and development objectives .
I think that there are good grounds to consider and resolve this problem , either as regards the date of the election or the date of the constituent sitting .
( PT ) Mr President , the cooperation between the European Union and Latin America has been a success story .
the European Progress Microfinance Facility will make available up to EUR 25,000 to people who want loans to start or grow very small firms , and who have been unable to obtain credit through conventional markets .
there are different health care systems , different social service systems , different support for those families with such a patient .
the microfinance facility itself , although it is very small , plays a really important role in ensuring access to credit for micro-enterprises in the social economy and it is crucial , now that financial institutions are not lending money .
there has been a lot of emotion in Italy following the murder of an Italian woman by a Romanian citizen .
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( PL ) Mr President , I would like to refer to the discussion which took place in this Chamber on the integration of Montenegro into the European Union .
two recent examples , outside the European Union , illustrate the level of tolerance of a population which has constantly been forced to make sacrifices in the interests of national governments which pay too little attention to their citizens ' needs .
however , I am not convinced either by the alternative presented by the PPE-DE Group amendment that we are supposed to vote on tomorrow .
however , the Treaty of Lisbon allows us to go further , opening the way to creating a true energy community within Europe .
nonetheless , under European legislation , drilling for oil under the sea is exempted from the scope of the Seveso Directive on major accident hazards involving dangerous substances .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , once again I want to thank the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development and Mr Goepel in particular for their hard work , resulting in an excellent report .
so , I believe that the best way is for the budget to finance any agency , but if there is the possibility of supplementary funds being raised , it should be evaluated .
my third point relates to Japan .
on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Jean Monnet 's death , I would like us to think about the task ahead of us and our obligations for the future , which are to commit to continuing the great work started by Jean Monnet of unifying our continent .
unfortunately , the present model for effort-sharing proposed by the Council would mean that the European Union would reduce emissions mainly outside the EU through CDM / JI .
this is a key issue , as Brazil has a rich but fragile environment .
I believe that people , whether in Tibet or in the nations of the European Union , do have an understanding of their wishes and desires , and they should be allowed to express that through the ballot box .
Europe must continue to be a continent of production , not only of services , but an area in which we maintain a productive base , and that is also the objective of a number of the proposals that we shall make about long-term investments .
I am glad Parliament has finally initiated an in-depth examination of this issue .
( RO ) Mr President , the political crisis in Madagascar has led to this country being isolated on the international stage .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , with President Obama in the US we now have a political leader who shows foresight and courage .
we have significantly tightened the transparency requirements and set out the details concerning public participation , the information which is to be given to the public and the method of communication and participation in procedures .
both the National Study Group and the Presidential Commission working in Nigeria itself recommended that the death penalty be abandoned , as it does not reduce crime .
all that is included in the compromise , and I think that , on the basis of this compromise , the work that the Commission and Parliament will be undertaking in the very near future will have a solid foundation that will underline the rights of our citizens and the intrinsic values of our Europe .
we are really counting on you when it comes to simplification and to the important messages we are sending you , Commissioner .
although Member States remain fully responsible for the choice and organisation of their pension systems , the fact remains that European economies have become interdependent and that economic governance discussions also focus on the viability and sustainability of pension systems .
I want to make the point very clearly that it has not yet been determined whether this measure will ultimately be a success or a disappointment .
in writing . - ( SK ) Education and vocational training is the moving force behind the Lisbon Strategy .
( EL ) Mr President , we should not have been able to debate the proposal to recommend a European Qualifications Framework ( EQF ) today had not our fellow Member , Mr Mantovani , made good use of the experience of former MEPs working on the subject or collaborated so well with the Commission and the Council .
these were created in response to the 2004 Railway Safety Directive .
we are all aware that the strategy 's effective implementation will depend hugely on the way it is devised .
cooperation between RFMOs is essential , but we should also take the initiative of drawing up a global register of fishing vessels , including all support vessels , which clearly shows the beneficial owner of a vessel .
so far , however , only isolated and national initiatives have been taken .
the low pay sector in Europe must be reduced in size rather than continually being fostered .
therefore , I believe that the institutions have a responsibility not to underestimate this disease and to take concrete action to support patients and their families .
if we want the South Caucasus to be free from war , we must go for modernisation , because Georgia at least , but also Armenia and Azerbaijan , have recorded such high economic growth in recent years that they deserve our support .
however , there is no room for complacency .
this relaxation reduces the incentive to develop new low-carbon technologies .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , these are my last words on behalf of the Belgian Presidency , so I will be brief .
the proposed regulation is undoubtedly a good step in the right direction , but much more may need to be done in the future as more knowledge and experience is gathered on deep-sea marine biology .
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( the sitting was closed at 4.45 p.m. )
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faced with the global economic crisis , some groups have surely been harder hit than others .
these are simple , common sense measures .
so , we need to act , and to act now , on the basis on which Parliament has worked so far .
( PL ) Mr President , the current situation makes us realise and testifies to our impotence before the forces of nature .
I want to stress that by continuing to deny the role of the opposition , the Iranian regime will be unable to convince us of its will to work for the good of the Iranian people .
it would be good if Turkey understood that this is not meant as an anti-Turkish stance .
we also need the exchange of good experiences , and research , product development and pilot projects .
therefore , Baroness Ashton , we must express our opinion loud and clear .
so we need to adapt our labour markets and introduce flexicurity , that is to say new securities and flexibilities for both workforce and employers .
in conclusion , I will briefly sum up some of my previous points .
burdening road transport , alongside the taxes which already have to be paid , with the additional costs of excise duty on fuel and vignettes , when we are faced with the problem of a crisis to which no end is in sight is socially irresponsible .
however , research has shown that human impact on climate change is negligible .
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yet whether the country will be able to turn a page in its relations with the EU depends largely on the Serbs themselves .
Europe must not be naive and must ensure that there is reciprocity .
I would like to know whether there are really as many unladen journeys represented in the long lines of trucks that we have to overtake on the motorways - or are not allowed to overtake , as the case may be - as we are always being told .
the manufacturing rights of the producers of feed must also be safeguarded , as Mr Mulder said earlier on .
thus there are two aspects here , I believe .
the truth is that in the last decade , despite the strong - and uninterrupted - international presence in Afghanistan , security in the country has deteriorated .
I have obtained an emphatic assurance that the technicians will be very discreet and will not interfere in any way with the progress of the sitting .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , I believe that we must try not to fool ourselves but realise that , although Valery Pal has been released , the Turkmen Government will continue to abduct , imprison and torture other people in Turkmenistan for thought crimes .
support for , and closer integration with , the Black Sea region as part of the EU 's Neighbourhood Policy will be a means of increasing political stability both in the EU and more widely in the Black Sea area .
I will defend this approach personally at the November Development Council , and the global financial crisis will be at the centre of my political concerns during the weeks ahead .
according to what I am hearing , eight other special zones are planned .
this has been an interesting and diverse debate , and I commend you for the continued interest and energy that you put into our engagement in Afghanistan .
soil damage , damage to biodiversity , oil dependency , greenhouse gas emissions , groundwater depletion and the development of consumption patterns put us in a very fragile situation , more fragile than 40 years ago .
many people in my country wondered why the Dutch Party for Freedom ( PVV ) had to be elected to the European Parliament , and here is why .
25th annual report from the Commission on monitoring the application of Community law ( 2007 ) (
these questions are not only a matter of politics , but also a matter of conscience .
the Commission should include all euro area sovereign debt as high quality liquid assets , regardless of its specific rating ;
Mr President , Baroness Ashton , we have spoken about it all day long : the tremendous hope that has emerged following the revolutions in the Arab world shows us that democracy is something that we all aspire to , and that there is nothing exclusive about it .
it is also important to emphasise that there will be no additional costs for businesses in the sector , which are protected from the risk of unbearable adjustment costs , thereby ensuring a fair balance between passenger rights and guarantees for small and medium-sized enterprises .
the devastation that happened on the ground had enormous impact on the United Nations , which has lost many members of their senior staff , and on NGOs , which have been unable to respond as quickly as they would simply because people of theirs have died .
for them , the common agricultural policy makes a real difference .
the Lyon report defines these tasks of the common European agricultural policy extremely well , and it explicitly acknowledges the two-pillar structure of the common agricultural policy .
as I have already said , we will carry out an assessment of the effects of the BAM on the ACP countries 18 months before the programme expires .
we need to call things as they are , as Putin 's Russia is probably where Hitler 's Germany was in the mid-1930s .
this openness should , however , go hand in glove with mutuality and respect .
we hear that there are some troublemakers - including in this Parliament - who are already starting to fish in these troubled waters .
'However , the position followed by the Commission in this file shall not be considered as a precedent .
I welcome the rapporteurs ' inclusion , in a compromise amendment , of maintaining that interinstitutional balance .
so the current pace of migration is too slow to attain critical mass migration by 2010 .
this leads to reduced business confidence in e-commerce and fuels the fragmentation of intellectual property protection rules , which stifles innovation in the Single Market .
therefore we can do nothing other than regret the decision of the Republic of Korea 's Constitutional Court that the death penalty is not a violation of that country 's Constitution .
it is therefore essential that the Commission clarify these points before concluding a trade agreement .
in spite of the efforts of the Commission , the Council decided not to follow our compromise suggestion on the broad economic policy guidelines .
the other amendments seem less important to us .
the experience of Lithuanian investors raises reasonable questions over the business environment and the protection of investments in Serbia .
I think it was simply a matter of a formal obligation for the Germans to assist Mr Guardans Cambó and his delegation , if we are quoting Article 20 and the decision as a whole .
( PL ) Madam President , the strength of the European Union is the cooperation of states and regions on solving common problems , and also the implementation of development programmes .
then , there is what I have to tell you from a legal point of view , as well as the two points on which the Commission position , which consists of a legal assessment by our service and by my colleagues , Mr Šefčovič and Mr Oettinger , is based .
we have worked with many candidate countries which have become Member States of the European Union .
there are many reasons for this .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I think we all agree on the approach of the proposal for a regulation under discussion today , especially the aspects concerned with cutting down on bureaucracy , with promoting a more innovative industry , with clarity and , above all , with the consumer - and I must emphasise this last aspect .
( DE ) Mr President , economic governance as it is being developed here focuses solely on savings and competition policy .
it is our role as parliamentarians , unencumbered by the weight and limitations of executive power , to show our governments , and therefore the Council , the way in this field .
it also becomes clear that free trade agreements are important and , above all , that we must focus more closely on the transatlantic partnership .
to those who speak of human rights , I think that the application of the rule of law , an independent judiciary and full respect for human rights - including free and independent media - are necessary to promote stability and prosperity in Russia .
we must also ensure that Community legislation does not jeopardise or set aside important constitutional principles , such as those governing freedom of expression .
the European Commission presents the proposed Community budget , this time for 2008 , the Council proposes significant cuts to the Commission proposal , and Parliament comes forward with a proposal for reducing the cuts in the Commission 's and Council 's drafts .
rapporteur . - Mr President , as we did not have a plenary debate on this item and there was no possibility to table amendments following the vote in the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , you either have to trust your rapporteur - myself - or reject the whole resolution .
I wish the programme every success .
the EU must cease to subsidise failed European agriculture , end the hidden protectionism which characterises its trade policy and abandon its immoral fisheries agreements .
finally , as permanent rapporteur of the Parliament for Montenegro , I should just like to add that in my view , having recently visited this country , it is well on its way to candidate status , and I hope to see that happen as soon as possible .
for other sectors and companies , it is absolutely clear that compliance with the legislation is to be monitored by independent authorities , but this does not apply in the sector that produces the very food that we eat .
despite the severe budgetary restrictions we currently face , the message that the Council will send out in its meeting on Friday will be one of commitment , using positive terms to express the significance of this matter at European level and the vital importance for each Member State to invest in low-carbon technology .
secondly , as announced in June , work has begun on a review of EU human rights policy .
nevertheless , in the Parliament text just adopted , this fact was stubbornly and unreasonably presented in the plural , and it was even mentioned six times that allegedly there were many bad amendments .
the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development has proposed extending the funding until the end of the financial perspective and has increased the percentage rate to 6 % .
in my own country , there are about 22 000 people employed in the dairy sector .
( DE ) Mr President , we must not forget that misinformation and poor decisions made by the US secret service have repeatedly made it possible for acts of international terrorism to happen .
if this viciousness and abuse applied to Muslims or the Jewish community , I would be equally concerned .
the European Union is unquestionably committed to the environment , both internally and at international level .
Mr Medina Ortega has presented us with an excellent report on the European Authentic Act .
the solution lies in reducing bureaucracy to a minimum and finally reaching an agreement on a European patent .
( LT ) Probably no one would argue with the fact that gambling , like other forms of addiction , causes serious social problems that affect not only the gambler , but the whole of society .
sooner or later Mr Lukashenko and his party machine will pay dearly for acting in this manner .
he did sign it , despite the fact that very few changes were made in terms of quality .
it is therefore essential that Taiwan , as an island vulnerable to such meteorological phenomena and as a major global industrial power , is enabled to participate meaningfully and with dignity in appropriate international organisations , not least those related to weather and climate change .
in a time of economic and financial crisis in particular , our challenge is , as a matter of priority , not to send the money we need for energy to the Russia oligarchies and oil magnates , but to keep it in Europe and strengthen rural areas here .
however , I must reiterate that you cannot expect me , and likewise I cannot expect you , to make a decision in respect of the disagreements among scientists regarding methods .
they talked of how they longed for the end of the regime , so let us also be clear : Gaddafi must go from power and must end his regime .
it also ' stresses ... the need to ensure that precarious domestic care jobs are transformed , wherever possible , into decent , long-term jobs ' .
of course , we believe that the opportunity to have negotiations and the opportunity of reaching agreement under such an umbrella agreement are possible only if in line with the principles and once the Lisbon Treaty has been adopted , which means jointly with Parliament , with the Council and with the Commission .
we have , therefore , designed the proposals to ensure that the demands on the poorer Member States are realistic : all will contribute , but in line with their capacity to invest .
we believe that in the European lighting and light bulb market , it will be possible to achieve a total saving of 40 billion kilowatt hours , which corresponds to electricity costs of between EUR 5 billion and EUR 10 billion .
obsessive policing of the borders under these circumstances will not solve the problem .
for us , these are the absolutely key issues in this resolution that we want to address .
the EU Member States may have taken steps towards improving natural conditions , but where is the rest of the world ?
( EL ) Mr President , it has taken a long time to release the Balkans from unproductive nationalism which is out of step with European standards of behaviour and values .
this is a Communication from the Commission , which in 2005 set up the CARS 21 High Level Group in order to draw up proposals for a future regulatory framework for the EU automotive industry .
it should stress that , as a rule , the purpose of genocide is the liquidation of the feeling of national identity , through the extermination of the intellectual and cultural elites .
the last few months , moreover , particularly in the east of the country , have seen an increase in massacres , rape of little girls and women , and forced recruitment of girls and boys .
this dedicated activist is subject to accusations because of his commitment to the environment , his fight against the dangers of HIV and AIDS and his efforts to ensure that human rights are respected .
and so we have seen that the euro leads to common economic government .
that is why our group will vote against this agreement .
the situation in the Mediterranean is not primarily a border control problem .
adapting to climate change will require ambitious financing in many areas , and in my view the most important of these are : health , agriculture , water protection , housing and population migrations .
well , give Europe those powers , at long last !
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , my thanks to all those who have contributed to this discussion .
in writing . - According to European law , 12 plenary sessions must take place every year at the Strasbourg seat of the European Parliament .
a key element in the whole of our discussions has been whether certain airports enjoy a dominant trade position .
naturally , my group , the delegation of the Dutch Freedom Party ( PVV ) , thought that that approach was quite right .
thank you , Madam President .
we are relying on the fact that progress will be made by other governments throughout the world during other global conferences and also after the elections in the US in the late autumn of this year .
the vote will take place on Tuesday , 7 June at 12 : 00 .
firstly , the opposition of trade union and farmers ' groups to the free trade agreement with Korea and , secondly , the case of the industrial zone .
I should like to emphasise three elements : firstly , we need precise information on the state of the environment in the Member States ; secondly , we need a procedure for renewing that information every five years ; and , thirdly , we need to carry out a joint progress evaluation of all environmental actions undertaken in the European Union .
we must therefore not hesitate to provide help to people in these countries in abolishing such mediaeval punishments and customs , if we can do so by means of diplomacy or in other ways .
after all , they provide two-thirds of Europe 's jobs and pay 80 % of taxes .
the railway companies pay track access charges for every kilometre travelled , but the same system does not apply to buses and coaches , which benefits bus companies .
there will be a time limit for restricting emissions from shipping .
he knows perfectly well that , unfortunately , it is the governments of the Member States who decide on the seats of the institutions and , unfortunately , under the chairmanship of the former leader of his party , John Major , at the Edinburgh Summit in 1992 , they imposed a legal obligation on the European Parliament to have 12 part-sessions a year in Strasbourg .
the chapter of the Belgian Presidency 's programme entitled ' Education , Training , Youth , Sport , Culture and Audiovisual Policy ' states that the Presidency will pay particular attention to the problems associated with the failure to complete schooling , as well as to the role of education and training in social inclusion .
Madam President , on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs , I would like to emphasise two points today .
in writing . - ( PT ) We believe the report contains positive points in its assessment of the Dublin system in relation to asylum applications in signatory Member States .
otherwise , it seems that we are returning to the Middle Ages , with despotic rulers granting their subjects only those rights that they are prepared to allow .
that is wrong , and it is why our delegation has voted against this report .
we gained a lot of benefit from having this process in Cancún , because we were coordinating a lot across different regional groups .
the ball is now in the Council 's court .
similarly , I do not in any way doubt that people of Pakistani and Indian descent in London , which I represent , would share EU values .
it is regrettable that hundreds have died , others lost their loved ones , and many more were injured .
it will not be possible to extract this gas without the acceptance of the people in the regions and the local residents .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I believe that none of us has any doubt , we have had enough : as far as Turkey is concerned , the European Union must stop talking and take action .
we Socialists take the opposite view , namely that the economy is there to serve the people , and we must fashion our policies accordingly .
as regards compliance with EU legislation , the information provided has to make sure that the situation is covered by the Data Protection Directive .
we must also make the necessary resources available .
the coexistence of different options , including the infamous third way , now enhanced and clarified , strikes me as being a good thing - which is an obvious statement given that I was co-author of this amendment .
the one in ten which succeeds pays for all the rest , but the motto is ' fail fast ' .
maybe the Commission will start to think innovatively .
many of them are manufactured from chemicals and , in long-term use , may have a negative effect on health .
as regards the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia : Mr Wiersma , Mrs Berès and others have mentioned the danger of political instability in this country .
I therefore invite the Commission and the Member States to increase the amount of aid for translation .
we have had the Stability and Growth Pact , but the problem lies in the fact that the Member States have not complied with it , and so we now have acute deficits in public finances to deal with .
in writing . - The Europe 2020 Strategy is one of the most important projects we 've created , yet , there is no guarantee of its success .
personally , I am worried about the quality of jobs .
in other words , businesses should not bear the responsibility for the shortcomings of administrative cooperation between Member States .
I would suggest that what constitutes ' discreet ' behaviour in Iran is rather different from what that might mean in our own Member States .
safety does not become an issue only if products reach Europe .
I trust that the Commission , in their discussions with various national authorities , can keep the momentum moving .
as you are aware , in March 2002 , the Council and Parliament came to an agreement , through conciliation , on Directive 2002 / 15 / EC , which establishes the requirements that have to be fulfilled for the working time of persons performing mobile road transport activities , in order to ensure their health and safety , to ensure road safety and also to align conditions of competition for all enterprises .
fourthly , we have to use the next R & D to develop storage technologies and , finally , electric plug-ins .
by delivering stability , by being credible in delivering stability in the medium and long run , we trust that we are contributing to sustainable growth and sustainable job creation .
Madam President , this report expresses concern that the new Kyrgyz Constitution , voted on in a referendum in October 2007 without wide-ranging debate , could alter the balance of power .
the next item is the report by Mr Christensen , on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs , on common principles of flexicurity .
it is also important to consider the nature of the constraints affecting the outermost regions which , by reason of their permanent and pervasive character and joint presence , differentiate those regions from the Union 's other regions with geographical disadvantages and / or demographic problems .
this is therefore the second time I have addressed Parliament this year .
it is a good thing that , however timidly , we are now attempting to deal with this problem .
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in this regard , the authorities of a state which makes no provision for divorce and which does not recognise the type of marriage in question will not be obliged to dissolve that marriage .
this summit was rather successful : it protected the single market , spoke up against impending protectionism and , last but not least , offered new assistance to the Central and Eastern European Member States , which are struggling with increased difficulties .
whatever name we choose for this structure , it is clear that the current Neighbourhood Policy must be strengthened and reinforced and that we must invite everyone in the region who has an interest in the integrity and stability of this region , from Turkey to Kazakhstan , to get involved .
in my opinion , collection of the relevant data , which has been voluntary so far , should become mandatory .
we must make it clear in all these cases that the bilateral problems must not be allowed to block the accession negotiations .
I cannot understand - and I think the same can be said of the rapporteur and the entire Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development - why the Commission has not made the simulation results for the effects of these eight criteria available to us .
as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council , Mexico pledged to adopt a state policy on human rights and to remain open at international level with regard to human rights .
the increasing gap between the richest and poorest countries , as well as the unstoppable flood of economic migrants , is eroding the world 's foundations .
moreover , not only are all the generals mentioned by name in the Strasbourg judgments not brought before the courts , but they are put forward for promotion .
author . - ( FR ) Mr President , Mr Vice-President , Minister , ' it is high time to rekindle the stars ' .
( FI ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I agree with my fellow Members that the work done by Commissioner Hedegaard at the Climate Change Conference in Cancún is to be applauded .
I listened carefully to the words of my fellow Member from Hungary , Mr Tőkés , and I have to protest against the one-sided view of current events and its presentation as a universal attack on the actions of the Slovak Republic in this area .
increasing the collection of these appliances and raising consumer awareness about this should reduce the amount of these small appliances ending up in the general waste stream and thereby escaping adequate treatment .
we need stronger protection for intellectual property , a stronger capacity to defend ourselves within the major world geopolitical regions , and to protect ourselves from the large countries which are appearing on the world market .
in this respect , the Commission holds the view that it is important to specify that compensation should not be restricted by any upper limit laid down at the national level .
this has also been toned down , so that people with reduced mobility cannot even find out about where they can get assistance and so on .
therefore , until we have a set of rules that are internationally recognised , it is crucial that we retain and do not water down our existing trade defence instruments , which are our only effective tools against dumping .
author . - ( FR ) Mr President , I do not intend to discuss the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo in its entirety , but rather the north-east of the country , and the Kivu region , where a vile war has been raging for years , and even more intensely in recent months .
whilst the Commission has clearly stated that the directive on misleading and comparative advertising outlaws the misleading practices of these directory companies , it must also look at the transposing of that directive by the Member States in order to clarify whether citizens are protected equally across Europe .
you should not let them get away with this .
the Baltic States talked a lot about cooperation and interconnections with the Nordic market but , until the formulation of this package , we had somehow stopped short of real development on Baltic interconnection .
author . - ( PL ) Mr President , here in Strasbourg we have considered the situation in Burma on Thursday afternoons almost every month in recent times .
recently , I read in an American report , but things are fairly similar in Europe , that on 29 November last year , in one day , online trade accounted for a turnover of more than USD 1 billion .
resolving disputes by diplomatic means guarantees equality of treatment between countries .
like other EU member States of the 21st century , whose GDP per inhabitant is not great , Lithuania will have the right to increase these emissions by 15 % .
her quiet diplomacy , rather than an ' ego on legs ' , has ensured agreements where others have failed and where it has proved difficult in the past .
there must also be support for the establishment and development of innovative rural businesses in the future .
until now , Directive 86 / 609 / EEC has guaranteed the protection of animals used for scientific purposes : just after it was issued , this directive was implemented and applied in different ways within the various Member States .
they may be adversely affected , for example , if the merger is subsequently cancelled .
European countries must individually - my preference - or collectively protect our industries .
firstly , it has always been recommended that resources and mechanisms should be made available by the European Union and its Commission to support Almadén in restructuring its activity , so that the people will not suffer as a result of the closure of their traditional mining industry .
in June , it adopted an Agenda for Action .
- ( EL ) Mr President , I certainly support the resolution because the present situation in Afghanistan happens to be unacceptable and disappointing .
perhaps that is the key to success tomorrow , too - in other words , that the politicians who are competent here need to achieve the necessary recognition in Belgium , too .
in the 2005 UK general election , all three main political parties committed themselves in their manifestos to a referendum on the European Constitution , as it then was .
if the position of the Commission and the Council on this issue does not change , we will forever have two common agricultural policies : a richer one , targeted at the old Member States , and a poorer one , which will become the lot of the new Member States .
I want to make three points to respond to some of the views expressed in the course of the debate .
I believe that the environmental disaster that struck Romania cannot go unheeded .
moreover , when we compare this gap in the third year of the current Financial Perspective with the gap in the third year of the previous Financial Perspective , which was only 3 % , we simply do not see how such an enormous gap can be justified .
secondly , we have been used to treating stability-backed rules in a very liberal way .
thus , a few weeks ago we also announced which objects can be carried as hand baggage and which objects cannot .
this is a matter that crops up in this Chamber time and time again , but it is nevertheless a highly important one !
where protectionist or trade-restrictive measures are identified , we will take action against them with all available trade tools , such as our market-access strategy or even the WTO dispute-settlement mechanism .
we shall attempt to find out whether you have struck the right balance , or whether there is a need for any further fine-tuning or improvement .
later , however , Chernobyl became a symbol of effective cooperation between the authorities of the countries affected by the disaster and the international community .
the award of the Sakharov prize to Memorial shows how much remains to be done and demonstrates the close attention that this House devotes to Russia .
it must contribute towards creating a European Union that plays its part in an effective multilateral system and , above all , Mr President , it must help to ensure that human rights and democratic values prevail in every part of the world .
what I am trying to understand , therefore , is this : what is the point of such a statement and for whom is it ultimately intended ?
who should take action ?
since then , the EU 's Charter of Fundamental Rights - and I believe its Articles 12 and 21 - have come into force , further guaranteeing in law citizens ' freedom from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation at EU institutional level .
to be able to get all Member States involved in innovation , the EU should take a more active role in directing the flow of investments required to combat the imbalances between Member States in terms of resources supporting infrastructure and management .
I have never requested or been paid a penny for my work ; I do it because I believe in it .
this being the case , should we really be presenting feeble reform proposals such as these in this field at this historic juncture ?
given that it is a framework legislative act , the Ecolabel regulation does not set specific criteria for products .
I believe that the possibility of using the pre-accession funds for that purpose should be studied in depth .
unfortunately , however , listening to Mr Schulz , Chair of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament , I note that such unanimity is not to be found in this House .
in my opinion , given the emergency situation of an estimated 170 000 civilians who are trapped in the battle zone between the Sri Lankan army and the forces of the Liberation Tamil Tigers of Ealam ( LTTE ) without access to the most basic aid , an immediate temporary ceasefire by the Sri Lankan army and the LTTE is needed , in order to allow the civilian population to leave the combat zone .
there are no longer any formal excuses to abstain from them .
Monetary union can only be maintained if there is convergence in the well-being of Member States and their citizens , regardless of where they were born .
Europe has developed asymmetrically , and there are currently many countries that are at doctorate level in terms of soil policy while others are only doing their A-levels .
of course , dialogue with Serbia on the outstanding practical issues must be conducted with full transparency and a lot of intensity , but I think that realism should be the guiding principle for us .
the European Commission rightly acknowledged that support was required for both the creation of alternative supply routes and the interconnection of energy networks .
EU strategy on Roma inclusion ( debate )
there is such soil diversity in the European Union that the subsidiarity guarantee is essential , while ensuring the protection and sustainable use of the soil .
at the Doha Summit , I was stunned , Mrs De Sarnez , to find myself the only Western Head of State present around the table .
we need a European solidarity and cohesion policy , backed up with specific legislative , fiscal and financial measures .
I also want to thank the two Presidencies involved - the Czech and particularly the Swedish Presidency - for their more open attitude on this than we have seen in some negotiations , as we were able to negotiate rather than feel we were there to do what Council wanted - well , sometimes anyway .
we can simply create a certain environment to keep up the pressure , but it is up to Russia to respond .
before the Seoul Summit , we were convinced that the toughest and most important test was going to be maintaining our momentum .
bluetongue is a very serious disease affecting cattle breeding in many European countries . the vaccinations themselves will be better , and they will be easier for cattle breeders to use .
these are politicians that we can never trust , so , Mr Rehn , how are you going to guarantee that Dutch taxpayers are not going to be terribly swindled once again ?
extremist movements of paramilitary groups , ultra-nationalism , xenophobia , calls to violence and local ethnic and religious conflicts threaten the stability of the European Union , characterized by a rich cultural and traditional diversity of its Member States .
the result of this is terrible unemployment figures for university graduates .
during the ' talks ' , which we call ' EU dictates ' , we were required to close down reactors 1 , 2 , 3 and 4 at the Kozloduy nuclear power station .
however , it is not only necessary to make an assessment .
in this regard I view the setting up of a joint EP / PAP ( Pan-African Parliament ) delegation as crucial for completing the institutional architecture that will have to be put in place .
we have to be very careful when we talk about the fight against terrorism and we have to do it in a very professional and very careful way .
( the President cut off the speaker )
that was all the more reason to come forward with these proposals .
the next item is the vote .
it also has a significant social dimension , insofar as it fosters the social , economic and cultural integration of EU migrant workers and members of their families into the host Member State .
the European Arrest Warrant was trumpeted as the perfect example of mutual recognition in the area of justice and policing .
we should regret the fact that , in Copenhagen , ambitions were lowered in the fight against climate change , that a binding agreement was not signed and that the procedure lacked transparency .
in all this , women , and women 's choices of course , have an exceptional role .
one option is , as Mrs Cornelissen has already said , taking responsibility for managing the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance ( IPA ) funds away from the government and returning it to the Commission .
it has spent millions of euros on campaigns of lies and misinformation .
I am in close contact with his family .
I thank the Commissioner for her response and for her facilitation of a further question .
in today 's vote , I unequivocally supported Doris Pack 's report , in which the rapporteur emphasises the partnership approach and cooperation in policy-making and implementation of the Bologna Process .
we must not forget or overlook the massive uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East and the fact that the Muslim communities are turning towards a political Islam .
today , the time has come for us to be vocal in our demands for Christians and followers of other religions to be free to practise their religion .
newspapers reported publicly last November that one of our Members , Den Dover , had paid expenses worth GBP 750 000 intended for the employment of staff to a company owned by his wife and daughter and had used some of this money for the purchase of expensive cars and for other matters of personal gain .
the key points of my report can be summarised as follows : with this fourth revision of the Community legislation regulating the activities of inspection bodies , we have succeeded in strengthening the surveillance mechanisms by creating an independent assessment committee with permanent powers and the ability to act on its own initiative .
or can the Commission explain to us perhaps why it has not initiated any legal product recall campaign , and why it was a voluntary product recall campaign by the toy manufacturers ?
that shows it becomes self perpetuating .
I believe that , with the concerted action of all the European institutions , we can achieve more .
there are big problems around the verification , monitoring , reporting and liability regimes .
violence was rightly fought , the perpetrators of violence have been defeated and there is nothing about violence that can be glossed over .
in conclusion , I wish once again to make the general point that success in achieving the aims of this piece of legislation will depend very much on its proper implementation and to this end the constructive involvement and full commitment of Member States authorities is of paramount importance .
this recommendation on the draft Council decision concerning the conclusion of a protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States , of the one part , and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , of the other part , to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and of Romania to the European Union , deserves my vote .
in its reports , Amnesty International has described some of the extreme forms of attacks on unarmed civilians .
President-in-Office of the Council . - I definitely agree with the honourable Member about the need for such a directive .
this is because the banks are aware that they are still faced with a series of problems .
thirdly , the intention is to make the updating processes and the decision-making process more transparent and democratic .
a compulsory set-aside of the present 10 % in the old Member States , the EU-15 , is not compatible with the present market situation .
President-in-Office of the Council . - As I mentioned in the previous answer , the Council is following the situation in Burma / Myanmar closely and is receiving reports from various sources .
in Europe there are only three states where divorce is not achievable : the Vatican , Andorra and Malta .
however , the internal market cannot function effectively without correctly transposed , applied and enforced Community rules .
this was not the case for many German , British and French banks and that is why we are having this debate today .
we keep coming back to the same situation .
other issues covered included Russia 's pending accession to the WTO , human rights issues in Russia , the climate for investment and ongoing concerns over the upholding of the Conventional Forces Europe Treaty .
20 .
this is a particularly necessary and sensitive issue for professional qualifications .
we know , however , that third-country nationals entering European territory without supporting or legal documentation do in fact work for various employers after being released from detention .
taken as a whole , these texts should enable us to carry out a significant assessment of the European Union in respect of these issues .
currently , a joint mission of the Presidency and the Commission is leaving for Guinea this Wednesday .
this is the only effective means of changing the way in which people in Europe think in the long term and this is the only solution to reducing smoking in the private sphere .
in fact , certain socialist leaders in the European Parliament and even heads of governments have been misled by this information .
without wishing to pre-empt any findings as to whether this was murder or natural death , or whether it was a politically motivated murder or not , it is worth pointing out that this sad event is unfortunately not an exception .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , at their spring summit the Heads of State and Government took good decisions on the fight against climate change .
this is a real step towards the soft totalitarianism that is this new doctrine of political correctness .
my heartfelt thanks go to all my fellow Members for their constructive cooperation .
I believe it is essential for civil servants to be accountable to the general public .
for example , the Court of Auditors states that , for projects in the area of cohesion , the level of error is higher than 5 % , which , in my opinion , is too high , despite the fact that there has been an improvement in recent years .
the recovery plan is now a bit Keynes , a bit green , but really underneath it is still the same old thing .
this is a given which we think should be reflected in the Commission 's priorities .
the first is discipline .
during the last four years , 40 % of its wine producers have either ceased trading or gone into liquidation , while the companies still operating in this key sector of its economy have accumulated losses .
it is also crucial to record the contribution made by this sector accurately in national statistics in different countries .
the aim is absolutely not to encourage cross-border healthcare as such , but to ensure its availability , safety and quality when it is of use or necessary .
in order to reach agreement with the Council , there was , on the one hand , a need for an independent committee to take decisions on places of refuge .
all Member States can benefit from mutual exchanges of their know-how within the framework of best practice .
pilots are trained to manage extraordinary flight conditions , the commercial airlines ' safety manuals are reviewed , overseen and confirmed by regulatory authorities , and airlines have the necessary experience of operating over volcanic areas , as is shown by their safety record .
these measures are geared to scrupulous respect for human rights in reception centres .
what can the Commission do to ensure that States with a larger population have electoral districts which are closer to the people ?
I would like to wish you all , ladies and gentlemen , a Happy New Year and a successful 2009 which will hopefully bring us nearer to European unity .
please look at it again .
Mr President , who were they ?
you have the chance to be the first Commissioner - before you eventually step down , and I do not know when that will happen - who can say that during his period of office , the amount of bureaucracy has been reduced rather than increased .
the aim of the regulation proposed by the Commission is to achieve a harmonised legislative framework , whilst retaining flexibility and reducing administrative overheads and costs .
between the deliberations of the committee and the plenary proceedings , the voting procedure was changed to a joint vote of representatives of both parliaments .
freedom of movement means the ability to choose .
I should like to take advantage of the Commissioner 's presence to ask him if there have been any evaluations on the part of the Commission on the loss of jobs in European aviation companies over the last eight months since the economic crisis broke and , if there are , what measures do you believe could be used to reverse the situation ?
reach offers a good example of such an alliance .
the fact that President Mikhail Saakashvili declared a state of emergency to overcome the riots and conducted a violent crackdown is highly alarming .
consequently , I voted in favour of Mr Corbett 's report .
however , it is a very serious and urgent matter for some new Member States , such as Romania , where there is a very high proportion of rural areas with an extremely low employment rate .
( FI ) Mr President , people are worried about climate change and its effects .
I ask my colleagues to support it unanimously .
( applause from members of other groups )
concerning the Copenhagen Summit , I fully endorse the position stated by Mr Barroso .
I represent southern Italy , which is located in the south of Europe in the Mediterranean basin .
it forms an excellent foundation for the debate and the discussion on the results of your work over the past year , Mr Diamandouros .
Tuesday :
although I am a member of the board of a large Slovak national association , the Forum for Life , I know that the volunteers who act independently rather than through specialised associations also represent a ray of hope that penetrates the darkness of loneliness and support the fight against temptations of violence and egotism .
I refer in particular to the targets on methane and nitrous oxide , and the assault on meat and dairy consumption .
Mr President , Mrs Geoghegan-Quinn , ladies and gentlemen , I wish that the Chamber were full to bursting , not on my account or because this is my first report , but because of the subject matter , which is unfamiliar to many people , but nevertheless highly important .
the European Union , due to the openness and transparency of its market , due to being the second world importer of goods and services , and due to its economic specialisation in high value-added products , is particularly exposed to the evils of counterfeiting .
- Report : Belohorská
I have written to the Foreign Minister of Iraq and I spoke to him again yesterday .
in writing . - Notwithstanding the progress mentioned during the debate , and the ' opening ' , problems remain in relation to women , minorities , freedom of opinion and the press , social imbalances , poverty , rights of the child , education , an independent judiciary and army intervention in politics .
were we to concentrate our work in Strasbourg , we would both save money and have an independent democratic face in Europe !
today the Federal Reserve and the US Treasury would like to paper over the cracks by lowering rates .
at the same time , the action plan also establishes common quality and safety standards for the Member States , which not only contribute to the protection of patients but also facilitate cooperation between countries .
secondly , as regards the issue of lawyers , we cannot make the sweeping assertion that every lawyer is by default a lobbyist because he or she has studied advocacy and all that it entails .
( FR ) Madam President , at this stage of our debate , I am inevitably going to have to repeat or to support some of the things that have been said previously .
in these cases , much smaller amounts are sufficient , and that is something that we should take into account in this programme .
the World Bank estimates that it causes an annual economic loss to Africa of USD 52 billion .
I was with Kamal Nath in London last week , debating Doha , and he as Trade Minister for India raised exactly same the point as Mrs McGuinness about the incredible importance of low-level subsistence farmers .
it does not make sense to support democracy in the South by weakening it in the East .
Member of the Commission . - ( CS ) I do not think that the speech by the honourable Member contained any questions but I would like to endorse the opinion she expressed in any case .
of course the Portuguese Presidency , as it should , will consider all proposals and suggestions made by the institutions in order to more effectively fight the threats posed by these criminal groups which , due to the type of crime perpetrated , cannot fail to have a major impact on our societies .
up to now , only one legislature , the Council , had this opportunity .
I did so in the light of new expert opinions that have concluded that the strictest limit values for heavy metals are not strict enough , given the latest scientific knowledge .
I am very pleased that growth that saves on resources and on energy is to be a flagship of the European Union .
I hope that the Ministers adopt this Pact today and that it contains reference to this common responsibility .
I also voted in favour because I am convinced that this assistance complements the redundancy aid provided for in all national legislation and collective agreements .
we can see this as an indication that the German and French governments need to move once again on two significant points .
in this respect , the Committee on Culture made a very specific reference to one of those problems , which I would like to emphasise here on behalf of my colleague Viktória Mohácsi , who headed this topic in the Committee on Culture .
that seems to be slightly at odds with some of the statements we have heard so far , so perhaps he could clarify exactly what those responses were .
in the interests of effective protection , I would like to recommend the introduction of the so-called free family information packages in Europe .
Mr President , I should be recorded as voting against Amendment 7 .
hence , I agree that this issue should be assessed under the Treaty of Lisbon , given its bearing on cooperation policy .
on the contrary , what we want is just the possibility to facilitate the transposition of those decisions into European law .
3 .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , first of all , I would like to say that this is yet another case in which we are debating the fact that different legal cultures obtain on either side of the Atlantic when it comes to personal data and , in particular , when it comes to police and judicial cooperation .
at the same time , it is true , Yanukovych has certainly improved relations with Russia , but has thereby accepted a degree of subordination to Moscow that is new .
the EU should set an example in all its negotiations and call for fair employment conditions and the sustainable use of resources .
the correct procedure is that we vote on whether or not to meet the request by the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance .
for years since I have been an MEP , I have been receiving letters and e-mails from constituents who have inadvertently been misled into signing up for a business directory , then being invoiced for a rather large amount of money .
I support what the resolution says about giving careful thought to the importance of regional development , and taking it into account in the EU budget , and about promoting a strong European regional policy with appropriate funding to achieve social , economic and territorial cohesion .
the second problem is that the Council 's and the Commission 's current emphasis is on tightening up the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact and budgetary discipline and reform , with no convincing answers or solutions for the effective implementation and financing of the Europe 2020 Strategy objectives .
is there nothing we can do about this over-allocation for a number of activities within the Union ?
Europe now needs to have a comprehensive directive on preventing and combating all forms of violence against women .
it is unacceptable that young people originating from poor families or from a rural environment are obliged to leave school because of their financial situation .
however , I really want to use this opportunity in the House to turn to fisheries agreements in a more general way and to stress the need for cooperation from all of those parties to these agreements .
to explain two of our Socialist amendments : firstly , I do respect his and your position about Gandhi and non-violence and I think it is a very important tradition that you draw our attention to in Parliament .
the 2010 Strategy marks out the direction of the Union 's operations and its main priorities for the next 10 years .
several of you have stressed the importance of aiding small and medium-sized enterprises in the current climate .
what about the rising fuel prices ( diesel and especially petrol ) ?
in order to fight against AIDS , tuberculosis , malaria and other infectious diseases , these countries need vaccines to which they currently do not have access and which they cannot buy .
German energy providers could soon find it worthwhile generating electricity in Poland instead of at home - if they are not bought up by French providers , that is .
in writing . - ( PL ) I voted in favour of the report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of the environment through criminal law because the introduction of new legal provisions and the establishment of a common list of offences against the environment for the entire Community will ensure more effective implementation of Community legislation .
one of the main priorities is to secure a positive and concrete outcome from next year 's Non-Proliferation Treaty review conference .
I am thinking in particular in this respect of the supervision of intelligence services .
( PL ) Madam President , today is the 61st anniversary of Schuman 's declaration .
to close , I should like to congratulate Vladimir Maňka on his excellent report .
it is very good that the Union has declared its support in this matter .
I think we have got to revert to the excellent recommendations made on 10 March 2009 , which are worth looking at again .
Kosovo (
something which should also be a collective concern for our institutions is communicating with the public on matters relating to Economic and Monetary Union , so that citizens have a perception of the euro that is in line with the objective benefits it brings to us citizens who have this currency in our pockets .
half of all meat products inspected in shops in the US contain dangerous bacteria ( MRSA ) .
we do not need to be reminded of the need for intensive development of the information technology sector and that we must ensure that our citizens have access to digital technology .
( PL ) Madam President , the Democratic Republic of Congo is the largest country in Africa .
we are not paying any state assistance for the capacity that remains .
I think that this positive atmosphere has brought us very close to the historic decision of tomorrow .
the report clearly highlights , as often happens in conflict situations , that no single party is to blame for the conflict .
that is why I want to reply to you now .
these Member States have demonstrated solidarity with Greece and determination to reinforce the stability of the currency by undertaking to provide bilateral loans in the event that the country is unable to resolve the problems with its public finances by other means , specifically intervention by the International Monetary Fund .
I think that it is a good idea to set up a task force analogous with that for Croatia , as proposed by the Slovenian Presidency , to help Serbia cooperate fully and effectively with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague .
I hope that Council will be able to take this decision this spring .
Parliament hopes that all democratic forces , which respect freedom of conscience , arrangements for the democratic handover of power and freedom of speech , will be able to take part in that election .
Mr President , I am pleased that I was present in Priština last Sunday , when , in a truly dignified fashion , independence was proclaimed .
the Commission document entitled ' Towards a new Energy Strategy for Europe 2011-2020 ' makes an excellent contribution to a comprehensive EU policy for the energy sector in the context of the EU 2020 strategy .
therefore the European Council in March called upon the Council and the Commission to submit before the June European Council a plan for the development of capacities to manage migration and refugee flows as a response .
I congratulate Commissioner McCreevy on his willingness to take on this issue and to tackle some of these areas .
this mechanism , by contrast , subverts this principle , encouraging the movement of capital and putting economic power before political power , and the interests of capital before the interests of countries and their peoples .
what further measures does it intend to take to tackle this challenge ?
otherwise we jeopardise our progress towards our aim of continued European integration .
furthermore , a toll may significantly reduce the demand for road transport .
this is something that we need to be mindful of .
in addition , it is silent about the repression of workers , trade unionists and leftist forces in Turkey , as well as of the Kurdish minority .
I have to say to Parliament that this is entirely true - he is a reactionary !
I think that a key factor is how we respond to the financial crisis .
he has a financial and economic crisis at home , bordering on a meltdown of financial markets , that has impacted the world economy and is a still a long way from being resolved .
the many exceptions and derogations will mean that the scope of these rights will be considerably limited , to the detriment of coach passengers .
taken together , aviation markets in the European Union and the United States account for around 60 % of the world 's air traffic .
I also oppose individual attacks against Jewish workers that further divide Israeli and Palestinian working class people .
we can cut undue expenses and then debate how we can increase our means for law making .
in the resolution we have tabled and are shortly to vote upon , we point out that relations between Brazil and the European Union are based on mutual recognition and respect of the rule of law and of fundamental rights .
the unacceptable situation of millions of people dying of AIDS every year demands that the European Union face up to its responsibilities .
( applause and cries of ' Hear , hear ' from the EFD Group )
I think it is also important to note , from the point of view of development , that leaders in the G20 also agreed on a trade finance package worth USD 250 billion over two years to support global trade flows , to which Europe will contribute substantially .
this affects the new Member States of the Union in particular .
we greatly appreciate the compromise that has been reached to allow for a second decision from the Irish people with regard to the Lisbon Treaty .
the reform of the global financial system for which we are all hoping and praying will only be possible - I am absolutely convinced - if Europe is in a position to make its presence felt , and , for that to be the case , we will need to find new resources .
since the Treaty of Lisbon has not entered into force , we felt it was necessary to provide a temporary solution .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , the business of data exchanges between the United States and the European Union has been fraught with major problems from day one .
in this way , thanks to the Council 's and Commission 's decision , we can hope to have approval at first reading .
the European Commission has undertaken to investigate these substances further .
however , it was also important for Parliament to be absolutely clear about the legal basis , and we hope that the Commission and the Council will support this .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , I would first also like to thank the rapporteur for her help and cooperation .
the Commission must therefore be able to present to us a detailed work programme for 2009 as regards cohesion , which is , I repeat , the European Union 's largest budget item and also the most tangible expression for citizens of our achievements , so that 2009 is not a ' blank ' year but a year of progress within the 2007-2013 programming period .
however , the Council 's conclusions have failed to emphasise this priority .
I would stress the important role of the Comenius , Erasmus and Leonardo da Vinci programmes in the development of European education and training policies .
like Yitzhak Rabin , I also believe that diplomatic peace is not quite a genuine peace , but it is an essential step towards it .
however , it has now become so militarised that humanitarian issues have now come to the fore .
all the countries of the Western Balkans are important to Europe , to the European Union .
can the Commission tell us how it intends to adapt to the recommendations contained in the European Parliament resolution on simplification of the CAP in view of the anticipated reform of this policy ?
one final point - Mr Groote spoke about a subject of special interest to him , namely the ' Volkswagen Law ' .
these are challenges for a stronger Europe and a better world .
I would like to ask you to see to it that the conditions are improved .
however , I refuse to accept the demand for the introduction of minimum wages in all Member States , as called for in paragraph 14 of the report by Mr Silva Peneda , whom I would otherwise like to thank for his work .
they too , by supplementing the monetary policies operated by the Central Bank , have to introduce sound policies capable of supporting price stability .
the internal conflict is still continuing , despite many efforts and substantial international aid . people are losing their lives , livelihoods are being destroyed and cultural heritage damaged .
unfortunately , Member States have made little use of the Marco Polo programme for the transfer of a larger volume of freight transport from the road to the sea transport system .
this is not a criticism , Baroness Ashton , but rather a question of powers .
that is why this important tool is a good step in the right direction in the recycling of electronic waste , allowing us to guarantee better resource efficiency and the return of raw materials to producers .
of these innovations , I am pleased to mention those that relate to the procedures for revising the treaties and to Parliament 's role in submitting proposals , as well as the changes relating to the role of national parliaments which confer a special responsibility on Parliament : to be able to make this enhanced role a source of democratic legitimacy for European integration , rather than a bureaucratic obstacle .
( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , I think that our goal is the same , we want to achieve parity , but we are not unanimous about how to achieve it .
I fear that I hear you saying ' No , I am waiting ; I am waiting because I want a global package , a global package including the President of the Council ' .
the problem is that there is no principle for deciding what the EU should do .
the Lisbon Strategy does not work because of the asymmetry in Europe 's economies , growing pressure of competition and the hypermobility of the capital markets .
the Hungarians in Romania , the people I represent , are such a case .
agriculture and Romanian forestry can play an important role in combating climate change , whose impact has been strongly felt in recent years , especially through flooding , high temperatures and prolonged droughts .
we will have the bland leading the bland , but I am not celebrating because they will press on with political union and , whilst our leaders may have saved face for the moment for themselves on the international stage , they have all betrayed their national democracies .
a further consideration is that one thing totally absent from this report is an urgently needed plea for the restoration of the right to freedom of expression in a number of our own European countries , including Belgium .
Europe must not only drastically reduce its greenhouse gas emissions ; it must also adapt to global warming .
concerning peace and security , it is true that we do not have too much conflict , but that is because we have an extremely active external policy in order to prevent any conflict as soon as it starts .
the same applies to symbols .
welcome back to Brussels all of you .
we certainly noticed that it has not included the pilot projects and preparatory actions in the tables attached to the Annual Policy Strategy for 2009 .
the new measures are intended to improve the operation of the retail energy market and provide additional consumer protection .
the European Council broadly welcomed the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative proposing a partnership for democracy and shared prosperity in the southern Mediterranean , following a differentiated and incentive-based approach and bringing together all EU instruments .
moreover , within the framework of the planned fiscal adjustment , the choice of the mix between expenditure and revenue measures made by the Greek Government takes into account important social and economic aspects , in particular , in terms of potential complementarities with a package of structural reforms and measures to improve the micro-economic environment and the functioning of the public sector .
this is because they think - like we do , like I do , like most people here do - that it is important for the European Union to be able to act in a more coherent and stronger way if we want to promote our values and work towards peace and democracy all over the world .
this is not purely a socialist issue .
it is now time to act .
Mr President , I completely share your viewpoint and , first of all , I would like to thank the many Members who have spoken throughout this debate in support of this directive .
in fact , I have personally supported this in discussions in the European Council .
Mr President , it has in fact been fun .
we want to be involved in this .
if they have an obligation , they should be the first ones to set an example .
when I say ' we ' , I mean the Slovenian Presidency - and I very much regret that it is not represented here , especially since I put on a tasteful tie in its honour - the Commission and the shadow rapporteurs , to whom I wish to pay special tribute for their amicable , constructive and informed cooperation .
we cannot abandon it to its fate and to the hard and fast rules of supply and demand ; these are the very reasons why we now have this crisis in the financial sector and consequently in all other sectors , including the car industry .
the Commission yesterday adopted a strong package of reports and measures on fighting the corruption that is costing the EU EUR 120 billion per annum - roughly equivalent to the total EU budget - but eight Member States score less than five out of ten on the Transparency International index .
in addition , and this is something I must highlight and which I assume Mrs Gräßle will also highlight , it can appear before the Court of Justice , as can the Director General , who can also bring the institutions before the Court of Justice .
we are aware , of course , that we need a low-cost solution which is virtually free of red tape .
Gaza is the largest prison in the world , with 1.5 million prisoners ; it is now also a slaughterhouse , unfortunately , with men , women an children dying simply because they are Palestinian .
as developments in this region , which is geopolitically situated between Europe , the Middle East and Central Asia , also have an impact on EU internal affairs , there is a need for stronger involvement in the area .
however , I hold on to what Commissioner Almunia has said , and that is : act quickly and effectively .
moreover , the draft supports the introduction of a common tax base for company taxation , which will clarify matters both for taxpayers and for the Member States .
the distress of the Sahrawi people should in no way be exploited to incite further acts of violence .
in other words , as we move into the next phase of our relations , Bosnia and Herzegovina itself must assume full ownership of the reform process that underpins its EU perspective .
we Europeans have a duty in this regard , and we shall perform it .
there is no doubt that the constitutional changes make a great impression , and they make a fundamental contribution to the democratisation of life in Turkey .
I think this is really what we have to do now .
I am pleased , therefore , that we can finally adopt a directive codifying Council Directive 86 / 298 / EEC of 26 May 1986 , and which approximates the legislation of the Member States on rear-mounted roll-over protection structures of narrow-track wheeled agricultural and forestry tractors .
it increases judicial scrutiny and democracy - and if there is one area where you have to work together , it is this .
we need an objective and transparent report - that is , a public report - on that stress test , the starting point of which has to be the highest security level .
structural reforms are also helping economic growth and improving the prospects for European long-term prosperity .
the average fertility rate in the European Union is 1.5 children , which is clearly among the lowest in the world .
it seems that aid is granted partly in order avoid dangerous anti-democratic tendencies .
dementia is a disease characterised by the slow and progressive loss of memory , concentration and the ability to learn , usually in people over 65 years of age .
the opening of a multi-ethnic European university college will receive our support once all local stakeholders reach an agreement to make this effort a sustainable project .
this resolution is an important reminder of the fact that we need to continue the fight against the death penalty .
the Tory MEPs in the European Parliament have one objective in mind with their proposal to reintroduce their discredited health voucher system by the European back door ; under their proposals the wealthy few would get vouchers to take NHS money out of the UK for private treatment in the rest of Europe .
would you tell me where you got these figures from , and do you believe them to be correct ?
( PL ) Madam President , the unprecedented ecological catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico should persuade the Member States of the European Union to carry out close monitoring of drilling platforms in waters where crude oil is extracted .
I should therefore like to thank Mr Costa for his report on such a dynamic sector of the economy .
Manders report
more adequate and sustainable financial instruments should guarantee that SMEs have better access to capital .
what used to be the trademark European position in international trade was that we at least wanted bi-regionalism ; in other words , to discuss things region to region .
we therefore do indeed need a development policy .
that is a good thing .
we cannot allow misguided economic interests from a state neighbouring the EU to cause an ecological disaster in the Danube Delta .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , when we speak of reconciliation , we mean those initiatives which , taking into consideration the needs of the family and the needs of workers , allow a balance to be struck between professional and family life .
as expected , much of the President 's agenda has focused on the economic and financial crisis .
we clearly need to make very substantive progress on our top priorities in this semester .
it will also enable the citizens concerned to carry out , from their place of habitual residence , the formalities needed to obtain attachment on wages or on a bank account , to activate the cooperation mechanisms , and to have access to information making it possible to locate debtors and to evaluate their assets .
I would really like to know the outcome of the meeting .
I have spoken to many of my own farmers who find it difficult to find the money to invest in difficult financial and economic circumstances .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , it has been great to listen to you here tonight , because I still feel that you have got all the passion , you have got all the energy and you have got all the emotion that I experienced about the wine sector when we had our discussions on the wine reform .
however , it is a fact that the European countryside , which accounts for 90 % of European territory , is suffering from abandonment and economic stagnation .
for this reason , my group supports the report 's call to make users sign on or register when using the information .
we hope that this potential will be utilised , and that this can become a reality .
however , the questions raised and my previous question to the Commission about the very high cost of this particular endeavour have remained unanswered .
we have constructed an impressive framework of high-level interactions where we regularly address the global challenges that our citizens are facing without , however , neglecting the issues where our views may differ .
the submission of the Serbian Government 's replies to the European Commission 's questionnaire , which Prime Minister Cvetković will hand over to Commissioner Füle this month , will be an historic step for the Serbian state and for all its citizens .
this would spell disaster , both for our climate and for our credibility .
poverty is therefore synonymous with a lack of freedom .
after the EP unanimously called on the Council to define the term ' citizens ' as provided in Article 9a ( 2 ) in good time before the next elections in 2014 , I decided , in the interest of my country and the working of the EP , to vote in favour of the report , as this shows some progress in relation to what had been agreed upon before .
we have not seen any benefits from the increase in the number of committee members from 25 to 40 .
one , a deep interdependence in political , economic and security terms : technologies , ideas , diseases , money - everything moves .
this will make it possible for payment delays to incur consequences which will make them disadvantageous .
the issue of counterfeit drugs and medicinal products is another very important issue from the point of view of the common market .
now , honourable parliamentarians , we need to sit together - Parliament , the Council and the Commission - in order to get this telecoms package up and running by 2010 .
in order to avoid talking about full membership of the Union , in the case of the left , or of a privileged partnership , in the case of the so-called right , they have struck a deal .
this is not only a danger to democracy and an unhealthy way for the democratic institutions of a state to operate .
at the same time the Member States are members of the World Health Organisation , which has issued the International Health Regulations : they also deal with the fight against diseases that can spread from one country to another one .
here we also need to act in the international dimension to be most effective .
thank you very much .
I also have some major concerns , as I have stated before in explanations of vote , about how we do these draft amending budgets .
· The date of its entry into force .
almost 10 million children under the age of five die each year , and of these , 4 million are newborn infants less than one month old .
in order to prepare for an informed political debate , in 2007 , the Commission asked the European Food Safety Authority ( EFSA ) to assess the actual and potential risks associated with the use of this technology in food production and also asked the European Group of Ethics ( EGE ) to issue an opinion on the ethical aspects of animal cloning for food supply .
Mr President , European action on this issue is long overdue , so I was very pleased to hear Mr López Garrido 's remarks on children , the Commissioner 's remarks and , this morning , that Commissioner-designate Malmström plans to bring forth a new directive in this area as a priority .
an emergency ?
Slovenia is a great example of the success of the enlargement .
I would also want to mention that the Eurovignette directive allows Member States to include an additional tax for certain roads in sensitive areas , such as the mountain regions in the Alps and Pyrenees .
( applause )
one example is the replacement of the term ' risk area ' with ' priority area ' .
I have no faith in this chamber 's way of handling this task , as I had precisely the same job of examining these seven institutions two years ago and then , ladies and gentlemen , discovered the most appalling things going on in the Committee of the Regions .
I am most grateful for Parliament 's support for MDG contracting .
we have listened carefully and are taking due notice of everything that has been said .
these requirements will be broad and flexible , to maximise the number of transplantations taking place .
more must be done in the European Council .
what is even more important today is that the European Union has , through the European project , to a large extent already affirmed itself as a world factor , as a world actor .
agenda for next sitting : see Minutes
all the European institutions that depend on the European Union budget have to be thoroughly audited by the Court of Auditors and by all entities with that function .
I am therefore opposed to the proposal to introduce an ex ante declaration .
Mr President , Russia 's use of interrupting gas flow as a diplomatic weapon has once again proved why we need a common EU external energy security policy by intergovernmental cooperation .
Kosovo 's inhabitants must enjoy a viable democracy , with a fair , impartial judicial system , and a society free of corruption where human rights and the rights of minorities in particular are respected .
from another perspective , it is wrong to say that we want all these people to stay outside Europe and we do not want to take them in .
we are talking about a strategic partner here .
in writing . - ( PT ) In addition to the many other issues raised by this resolution that we value , we consider it essential to stress that we unquestionably support the deepening of genuine and effective cooperation and friendship between the countries of the EU and India .
to this end , it is necessary for every Member State to collect harmonised and comprehensive data and for the system to be fully harmonised at EU level .
last autumn , this Parliament voted unanimously on a series of recommendations to simplify that bureaucracy .
Mr Fazakas is suspected of being an ex-collaborator of the Communist secret services .
Romania is pursuing and will continue to pursue a proactive policy aimed at supporting the Republic of Moldova 's integration into European structures .
given that 70 % of global SALW stockpile is in civilian hands , EU should recognize and support the indispensible efforts of civil society in monitoring SALW trade and production at the local level and in raising public awareness .
employees in every country must have the unconditional right to take industrial action in order to ensure that migrant workers receive at least the same salaries as themselves .
with reference to other recent EOMs , I can confirm that , for instance in Rwanda , in Cambodia or in Yemen , we have been giving support to the respective electoral commissions .
in answer to Mrs Wortmann-Kool , who mentioned the need for drivers to find a safe place to park and fought for more such places , I would say that the regulation makes it possible to drive for a longer period in order to find a safe place to park .
a new approach must be established on how to bring EU closer to citizens .
- ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , we have recently had news from Japan that will certainly have delighted the rapporteur , Mr Buzek .
on behalf of the S & D Group . - ( RO ) The creation of an evaluation and monitoring mechanism to verify the application of the Schengen acquis is an important measure which will put into practice the decisions concerning the area of freedom , security and justice , especially the provisions of the Hague Programme .
for this very reason , whether we are dealing with illegal or legal migration , we must not go down the path of a one-size-fits-all approach .
we know that , when all is said and done , that is what will stabilise the euro in the long term .
the representatives of the European people had gone beyond partisan divisions in order to end this anachronism of the opt-out .
first of all , we really share the Commission view that at this point it is maybe too early to have a far-reaching new horizontal tool to solve the liability issues .
only two of 161 indictees remain at large .
Viktor Orbán , as the Hungarian prime minister , has ridden roughshod over fundamental democratic principles .
as Europeans , we should not be satisfied with the situation of the European education system .
I would also like to thank the Commission and the committee secretariat .
the Commission 's Extended Impact Assessment analysing the options to solve the problem demonstrates this .
the licences lay down restrictions on use and end-use , which are a fixed component of the product and its supply and which the recipient is obliged to comply with .
if there is a crisis , the rescue package will be made available .
one-minute speeches on matters of political importance
( SV ) Mr President , congratulations on your appointment .
last Saturday , I stood outside 10 Downing Street in London with my Coptic constituents demanding that the UK Government do more to pressurise Egypt and its government to protect its own citizens .
they were happy with the proposal as a working base and said they could negotiate to overcome points of disagreement .
as I said , we are considering the possibility of using the temporary protection mechanism .
in order to attain better results in Member States in terms of achieving the objectives of the Beijing Platform for Action , reliable , comparable data on the situation of women is an absolute must , both at European and national level .
last year the European Parliament warned the Council that financing for the European Galileo navigation system was too inadequate .
thanks to the euro , Europe is now stronger .
that was the reason why we initiated an action programme and I made it very clear to my new partner that what we expect from China is concrete measures and concrete results in the market and I think that he understood the message .
I have thereby decided to support the rapporteur and vote in favour of this report .
the debate is closed .
we Swedish Social Democrats believe that the partnership between the EU and NATO should not be developed solely on the basis of the UN Charter .
the lack of a sense of political responsibility on the part of certain governments and the Commission , added to a kind of blindness in part of the sector itself , has brought us to a scenario in which we have to ask ourselves not whether we will be able to help stocks recover , but when we will stop seeing and finding tuna in our seas and oceans .
in any case , given that the financing of this new cooperation instrument must be compatible with the 2007-2013 financial framework , it is worth pointing out the importance of the mid-term review of the financial framework .
it would be so much better if we did not have to deal with people wishing to deprave and exploit children for reprehensible purposes . I have no compunction in referring to such people as evil .
regional cooperation and correct neighbourly relations are undoubtedly one of the other preconditions for a successful Euro-integration process .
the main task of this organisation is to foster international cooperation to improve the sustainable management of marine resources in the open seas , based on the fundamental principles of scientific research .
we need this change and we should support it .
moreover , Regulation ( EC ) No 736 / 96 , which the proposal in question repeals , is no longer applied consistently and is incompatible with the recent developments in the energy sector .
we urgently need to adopt effective Community measures on immigration and asylum .
it is therefore our duty as legislators to strengthen the right to international adoption within the EU in order to help these children .
I urge the EU institutions to build upon the experience of granting Ukraine macro-financial assistance and avoid further delays .
it is also true that the Commission somewhat regrets this situation .
trusting the cat to guard the cream is not the way out of this crisis !
I had some doubts in the first few days of the Presidency , when Mr Schwarzenberg said that Israel was exercising its right of self-defence and aligned himself with one party in a period when the European Union was needed as a mediator .
these include dedicated income support and abatements , and incentives to improve the energy efficiency of domestic households .
clearly , we would have preferred Parliament to have been more directly involved in the pilot project - this has been said and it is the subject of our question .
turning specifically to the European Parliament 's budget , the Bureau 's guideline document contained the following objectives for Parliament 's budget : developing expertise to Members , as far as research capacities and library briefings are concerned , and adapting institutional aspects deriving from the Lisbon Treaty .
on sheep , the Aylward report has raised huge expectations which we in this Parliament support .
moreover , one of the most fundamental characteristics of any constitutional state is that they offer access to the courts to any citizen who feels wronged .
the vote will take place today at 12 noon .
on human rights : I want to describe that as a silver thread .
you were hiding somewhere else .
the marketing of medicinal products is prevented by the procedure of enquiry and readability .
12 .
this amendment introduces a requirement to indicate the presence of non-textile parts of animal origin in textile products .
we are convinced that these objectives can be achieved , and it is reasonable to expect tangible progress to be made .
this applies especially to the countries at the heart of Europe .
I think that this is something that we should remember , and which , in any case. we should go return to in the debate on relations between the European Union and Central Asia .
the motor insurance expert group , set up by my services a year ago , brings Member States ' representatives and stakeholders together and has proven to be a very useful tool to this end .
the cooperation that has been launched between the European Parliament and the national parliaments is immensely important .
this report is not geared as much to animal welfare as I would have wished , but any improvement is something and I shall therefore wholeheartedly support it .
the real competitive disadvantage to our industry , however , would arise if it were forced to jeopardise health , the environment and international law in order to survive .
I hope that when we come to vote on this tomorrow the Members will see the reason why we are asking for a voluntary system and not yet fixing a mandatory date for the introduction of electronic ID .
I would also like to take this opportunity , however , specifically to thank the AFET secretariat and of course also Group colleagues , who should not be forgotten at this point and without whom this report could not have come into being .
2 .
Commissioner , is it Europeanist rhetoric if we ask the European Commission to be independent and authoritative and not to have regard for governments that cook the books ?
the forthcoming tenth anniversary of this sinister episode will , of course , be passed over in silence , but I am determined to recall it here .
it was a huge mistake to treat detainees as they did .
the CAP was created at the same time as the European Economic Community .
I thank my fellow Members , so many of whom have spoken , especially those who approved the key parts of the report , praising and endorsing its content , but also those who expressed criticisms and who , above all , did so in a desire to overcome the regrettably tragic instances where force has been used , and to dream of a peaceful world .
that concludes Question Time .
if nothing else , the rapporteur 's report recognises the problem .
we know how much it costs .
finally , I do not think we should support the proposal to reduce fleet overcapacity , which could have adverse consequences on fisheries in the context of a severe financial and economic crisis .
nonetheless , I agree with the view that both parties should negotiate with caution towards full liberalisation of trade exchange .
rapporteur . - ( FR ) Mr President , behind this obscure title , each person is assessing the importance of the discussion we are holding this evening following Hungary 's request for financing , which was first made to the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) .
the more active involvement of the European Parliament in this process is also important .
those speeches did , indeed , run over by some seconds .
I do not think that this is related to equal access to the labour market for women .
this also requires the harmonisation of rules and procedures as soon as possible , which should be done even during the Seventh Framework Programme , but certainly during the preparation of the eighth .
Mr Higgins , I would like to tell you that we very much agree with your reflections and also that the truth is that , in terms of biodiversity , the Spanish Presidency 's objective is to intensify conservation and sustainable use , that is to say , to have an advanced , profound vision in the context of biodiversity .
( SK ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , the free trade agreement with India is clearly an exciting opportunity , offering tremendous potential for trade with the world 's largest democracy .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , nobody can underestimate the importance of water and the need to manage our water sources well .
Mr Booth has really misunderstood this !
( FR ) Mr President , through a ruling given on 19 March , the Court of Justice of the European Union has just declared that the majority of our Parliament violated a clear rule of law by refusing to defend my immunity on the basis of Article 10 of the international protocol , as requested by my foreign colleagues , led by Mr Romagnoli .
the call for new nuclear power plants in Europe is unacceptable .
courts should have the necessary instruments available to act swiftly and freeze the assets of the debtor or alleged debtor , however not under any circumstances .
even though Directive 2006 / 114 / EC is in place , not enough is being done by the Commission or the Member States to aid businesses affected by the fraud schemes or to eliminate the fraud schemes entirely .
it will also be crucial for a good example to be set in public construction projects .
today , the side to choose is quite clear : as my colleagues have said , it is the side of freedom , it is the voice of the people .
and please do not take the issue back to the level of national claims or , worse , reduce it to a mere quantitative issue .
that is why prevention , healthcare and job security are essential .
for some time now , in various forums and also in Parliament , the possible relationship between the Community Framework Programme and the EUREKA intergovernmental programme has been the subject of analysis and debate , as both involve considerable aid to SMEs .
many amendments that are being proposed can be supported by the Commission .
the Mon report raises the subject of transatlantic relations in the aftermath of the presidential elections in the USA .
we want all Member States to build these goals into their existing Roma strategy , if they have one , or to develop a Roma strategy if they do not have one , for the period up to 2020 .
( SK ) Within the scope of my parliamentary mandate I come across citizens ' complaints that during the transposition of EU legislation some Member States impose on them obligations that go beyond the requirements of the laws in question .
that is why we have to reinforce our efforts in terms of economic governance , reinforce our efforts for financial regulation , and also achieve better economic , social and territorial cohesion .
in fact , imported products are often cheaper , but they are also of inferior quality and their safety cannot be guaranteed .
this will be a decision of the European Council , adopted by unanimity , on the initiative of the European Parliament and with its consent .
maybe we are allowing ourselves to be overly influenced by the French presidency , but please let 's not allow the initials EPP to stand for the European Protectionist Party .
the top priority of the Recovery Plan must be to stimulate the economy and competitiveness of the EU , and to avoid increased unemployment .
no one else needs this protection , hence the introduction of models for cooperation with Internet service providers .
on the supply side , the crisis may lead to a reduction in the level of funding for public health , at the same time as it may lead to increased demand for health services .
whoever makes early use of them will create millions of jobs for their citizens and a prosperous society .
she sold her own little girl .
first , the Commission 's forthcoming proposal to reform the EU data protection framework will focus in particular on the challenges posed by globalisation and modern technologies , most of all when third-country operators target EU consumers .
airlines will also benefit , and the Canadian and European aviation markets will become even safer .
I also sincerely hope that we will finally have an open debate on the purpose and uses of nanotechnology .
this will also be an important message from next week 's meeting .
Europe imports 98 % of its uranium , and in the statistics , in Europe 's statistical yearbook , nuclear was shown as a native energy source because the statistics had not been adapted .
the intelligent approach would be to agree measures there that not only safeguard biodiversity but also combat the effects of climate change , help to achieve the Millennium Development Goals - about which a good deal has been said already - and create green jobs , not least in the European Union .
the impact assessment that you have presented is very good .
I also think that the report contains a few proposals that may sound very appealing but tend towards symbolic policy , such as a year for this , a monitoring centre for that .
through the sharing of literature , film , music and heritage , doors of understanding are opened and bridges between people are built .
I am referring to the radical price reductions in voice roaming calls and Internet access . this is the first step , and I think that others will follow .
the EU economy is a social market economy , promoting a large degree of competitiveness .
for example , we shall not support a cap of 75 % , and we should still like to obtain relief for small and medium-sized enterprises .
I am glad that the European Union has decided to extend cooperation in accordance with the programme of the instrument on cooperation with industrial countries by adding more countries .
it has to be a report for action .
the Union supported the government 's efforts to stamp out the para-state .
public procurement is of crucial importance , especially for overcoming the financial and economic crisis and protecting against any future crisis , because it serves as a catalyst for the revitalisation of the EU economy , and consequently employment and welfare .
the first thing I mentioned was pan-European parties .
in Germany alone am I aware of numerous standards governing the procurement of environmentally friendly vehicles .
according to the estimate of the International Energy Agency , there may be up to 991 billion cubic metres of non-traditional gas reserves in Europe .
Israel can conduct much larger-scale operations in this area than in the past .
that system is very important and is already used in our cooperation with China and other countries , but we really need to enhance it in order to face all the challenges mentioned here .
we must continue to urge the Belarus regime to release the iron grip it has on its citizens .
how can one claim , for example , that some Member States are dependent on third countries when the Structural Funds are not being used for energy at all , or practically not at all !
the current Slovak opposition that deserves most of the credit for Slovakia joining the European family will give its support to the Lisbon Treaty as soon as Slovakia 's press law that has been criticised by such European institutions as Freedom House , the OSCE and the European Federation of Journalists is re-written in accordance with their recommendations .
however , I must put on record that neither the Socialist Group in the European Parliament , nor the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats , or any of the other groups were informed about the wish for us to adopt a resolution on Russia this time , even though this has been repeatedly rejected in the Conference of Presidents .
above all , I would like to stress once again that there is enough money in principle , at least for the time being .
finally , the way the situation is handled will be a crucial test for European foreign policy .
the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is an incentive by the UN and the Council of Europe which aims to discuss and give greater visibility to the victims of domestic violence and other types of mistreatment .
this resolution calls for the Commission to analyse options for such a tax and sends a clear signal that Europe will push for a global agreement to deliver on the public 's demand for action .
the European recovery plan will have a greater chance of success today if gender equality policies are an integral part of it .
personally I believe that if we want to respect our partners , then we must accept this .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I would like to start by saying that the deadline of one year for the adoption of national rules was , in fact , very ambitious .
poor energy efficiency is a sore point with post-Soviet era buildings and many owners do not know how and by what means they can save energy .
( ES ) Madam President , I agree with the author of the amendment and suggest that , where the text refers to the regional authorities of Andalucia , the words ' and local ' should be added so that the phrase reads ' regional and local authorities of Andalucia ' .
they are set to create a better social climate in Turkey , better environmental and health legislation and better labour law for Turkish people .
I am opposed to financial aid for any kind of extremism or disorder .
finally , my third point concerns the prevention of climate change , which is one of the budgetary priorities for 2009 . this will put additional burdens on the economies of Member States , unfortunately without making any allowances for the delays in their development .
political relations with neighbouring countries are not always good and this might improve them .
I share some of the concerns that run through the report by Mrs Matias , and I support the appeal to the Council to declare dementia an EU health priority .
Northrop Grumman and EADS North America remain under contract , albeit under a stop-work order , which places on hold the work under contract .
we are talking about further enlargement of the European Union , and we are doing so in spite of those who are saying that the EU has reached the upper ceiling of its possibilities for territorial development .
I look forward to the debates that will now ensue .
we need to respect the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact .
not only must the gap between Member States be decreased but we must also reduce the gaps within Member States as well as the gaps between regions .
of course they want to eliminate child labour .
my thanks , ladies and gentlemen , may be considered in the context of a stable : the Barroso stable .
in the European Union this implies creating a collective identity between its citizens - regardless of their origins and their ethnicities , languages , philosophical beliefs , political and religious affiliations - to share values , attitudes and projects , and make room for a common future to build on together .
called for a stronger role for workers ' representatives in company boards and in fundamental organisational decision-making .
eradicating prejudice about different cultural models is a prerequisite for the successful integration of immigrants , which also complements solidarity between the generations and cultures .
nevertheless it is important that this report be debated in Parliament .
because , whatever we do with sugar , we have to be sure , as I said , that we move in the direction of reducing the amount produced in Europe - but we must still allow the farmers to have a living from the land .
for me , two points are essential .
in the communication , both governments reaffirmed their intention to cooperate fully and work together to combat terrorism .
I think that a thorough discussion involving stakeholders and the Court of Auditors is needed .
the violence that has taken place in the streets of Lhasa and Dharamsala and the censorship of foreign media are intolerable and our institution must , together with the international community , use all of its influence to ensure that it stops and that China respects its international commitments in the field of human rights and minorities .
also Mr Gaubert , your report suggests new or additional features that the Commission can support .
Mr President , I wish to mention a few issues that I hope will be on the agenda of the summit on 10 June .
the delay resulting from the method chosen - including Public-Private Partnership , international cooperation outside the European Union , essential participation by all Member States , prescribed role of the European Commission - is estimated at five years .
it might be said that the way that some Member States deal with a complex situation depends on their degree of decentralisation , which requires them to identify strategies in the field of territorial cooperation .
I am referring by this to the agreements between the European Union and Canada .
the Commission has also failed to say how it intends to reinforce the producer organisations going forwards .
I am also pleased to see that better communication at all levels is central to the agenda of the Ombudsman .
European institutions are obliged to comply with it , not least during the process of drawing up and adopting draft legislation .
so it was quite a group of people who contributed to today 's success .
Romania is by no means a unique case .
it is easy to see that the Heads of State or Government who make these decisions travel by private aeroplane and do not lose dozens or hundreds of hours per year getting to Strasbourg .
recent events in Libya have shown just how much work remains to be done on this front .
the overall target will be apportioned between car manufacturers in a sustainable and socially just manner .
overall the report will do much to help small businesses and enterprising individuals to overcome a significant obstacle to their success because they lack the resources of large enterprises to track down debtors and bring legal action against them .
in the 1970s , Haiti was almost self-sufficient where food was concerned .
stress is the second biggest cause of time off work in the UK : 13 million working days are lost through stress , depression , anxiety , with a cost of GBP 13 billion a year - if we are looking at economics , and some of us like to look at economics in the round , Mr Clark .
an investigation is also warranted into allegations that external forces are instigating violence in Armenia in order to destabilise the country .
I think it is not necessary to respond to some attacks .
finally , migration inflows represent the third decisive factor since immigration is an important premise for ensuring demographic equilibrium and economic growth .
the directive will be revised before 2017 .
the next item is the vote .
it is so much better to work together to overcome crises and resolve problems than to face them alone .
continuing the debate on the Report on the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion , we now move on to speakers on behalf of the Groups .
in anticipation of the forthcoming European Union-US summit , it needs to be reiterated that out of 27 Member States , four , including Poland , are still subject to a restrictive visa regime .
if you do not vote in favour , then I would have to say that you are a person who makes big speeches and then does not vote accordingly .
it is what is going to allow us to meet all of the objectives and guarantee affordable prices for fleet renewal , i.e. purchasing vehicles , and for maintaining them during their useful life .
it must be possible to provide cross-subsidies between various energy sectors in order to secure the energy supply in Europe 's most remote regions and valleys and on its islands .
former ministers have been charged with corruption .
this is a one-sided decision that is difficult to explain and it is damaging neighbourly relations .
that is not good enough , because Article 9 is intended to promote the objectives of the European Union as outlined in Article 3 of the Treaty .
yet once again , you make no protest when the authorities in Slovakia , a European Union Member State , want to limit the right of minorities to use their own language .
this is a popular revolt because the people are subjected to abject poverty .
( Parliament agreed to accept the oral amendment )
in this way , we - Council , Commission and Parliament - shall prove together that the European Union has the means to effectively take control of its destiny and to do what all Europeans expect , that is , to act as a global player .
that is a very timely message .
in terms of overall cooperation , I think that the European Union , together with many other partner countries , can build stronger links to governments which are really acting more in a preventive mood and sharing more intelligence actions against networks .
what I think is needed is , firstly , to create conditions for stable development for the most competitive sugar producers in the Community , to enable EU production to compete on an increasingly open world market .
firstly , the draft excludes the need to check the instructions for servicing and use when type-approval is being performed .
another important new element is including smart meters and control and management systems focused on saving energy .
the oldest MEPs among us will remember that , back when the pharmaceutical legislation was being revised , we wanted to talk about teaching patients about medicinal products and treatments , but that , unfortunately , there was some confusion between information and advertising .
it sets out sound , transparent regulations on the authorities competent to consider international protection applications and guarantees that these applications are handled as quickly and efficiently as possible .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I would like to thank Parliament and , in particular , Mrs Paulsen , for the own-initiative report on the EU Animal Welfare Action Plan .
the citizens ' initiative was a very important part of the Treaty of Lisbon being passed in Ireland a little over a year ago , but it did seem for a while that the whole process would be stymied by complication and regulation . thanks to the work of the rapporteurs , simplification has been brought to the process and particularly welcome is the idea that a seven-member panel from seven different countries would initiate the process .
let us now come to the report .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( SV ) Thank you Mr President .
I voted in favour of the report by Mrs Geringer de Oedenberg on wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors .
secondly , you also talked about the fifth freedom and the flow of knowledge .
in writing . - I voted for this report .
the numerous amendments presented by my group and by others correct these flaws , and the current text is a balanced one .
in a period of economic crisis these appropriations should be in fact rather increased .
all in all , yesterday 's decisions are a critical step forward in the joint efforts to stabilise the Irish economy and thus safeguard financial stability in Europe .
- Report : Papastamkos
the right to religious freedom must be respected and guaranteed everywhere , without exception .
if we speak about frozen conflicts , a good recent and well-known example in this respect refers to the conditions under which the political prisoners Andrei Ivanţoc and Tudor Popa were released , they being living proof of the fact that there is instability in the area , that there is an area of insecurity that affects the entire region .
the current and previous food scandals in Germany have shown that routine state checks on the feed manufacturers and animal producers are essential .
the measures taken in the Commission are totally consistent , as we have already presented the broad outlines of this policy in the communication sent out by the Commission last November .
our committee 's opinion , passed with unanimity , has been largely reproduced by the Committee on Transport and Tourism , in a spirit of cooperation that we succeed in creating on long-term projects .
at the same time , it is imperative to ask misleading business directory companies to cease and desist their deliberately misleading business activities , because they are contrary to the spirit of the Union 's competition policy .
I voted in favour of the report by Mr Moreira on autonomous trade preferences for the Republic of Moldova because it is consistent with the Union 's neighbourhood policy and the economic agreements already in place with other bordering countries .
it is stated clearly in paragraph 25 that it is possible to transport it overland , so it can pass through Poland purely for political and economic reasons .
this could also be a big opportunity to prove to the people that we are stronger together than we are alone .
Mr Duff , the rule on when there are a large number of amendments in plenary and the President can ask a committee to look at it : it is not a referral back to committee of the report .
my third point is that the money must be spent in Europe .
Mr Oettinger has neglected the area that was managed well by Mr Piebalgs , or - and this is the negative way of looking at it - he has once again chosen not to promote future-proof technologies such as renewable energies and energy efficiency and has reverted to the old energy mix .
the increasing resistance of this disease and insufficient scientific research mean that today almost 2 million people die of it every year .
and my answer to that is that we cannot do anything about this here .
until now , only the European taxpayer has borne the brunt of the financial and economic crisis in 2007 and subsequent years .
they can be used to learn from each other 's best practices and it would be desirable if more women 's associations made use of these existing networks in order to connect women in different rural areas with each other .
the Romanian Government and the prime minister personally are committed to improving the conditions for the absorption of these funds .
studies have shown , for example , that a waist measurement greater than 88 cm for women , apart from during pregnancy , and above 102 cm for men is the definition of abdominal obesity and constitutes a health risk , and this applies irrespective of the person 's height .
I welcome what Mr Füle said about providing electoral assistance to Tunisia , but I think that it is even more important to go a step further and support Tunisia through a European Union electoral observation mission .
this is to say that liberalisation of the gas and electricity markets is still a work in progress .
for all my support for the initiatives taken , I must say that we have known for some time that Ukraine is refusing to build the monitoring stations it promised ; the money provided by the European Union remains unused , and we have not reacted . we have also known for at least two months that agreement was not reached by the deadline of 1 November that was laid down at the beginning of October .
we are also ready to consider , with the Member States , mobility-related measures and increased market access .
President-in-Office , how do you plan to achieve this together with the Commissioners with responsibility in this field ?
now we need to learn lessons from this .
that is a poor starting point , because the end of the recession does not mean that this is the start of the recovery .
I remember the fines on transport of empty lorries and the so-called ' full-capacity freight transport centres ' that existed in the people 's democracies .
the rapporteur has certainly put a lot of work into this , but when we see that rules that are implemented by other directives have priority , that is unacceptable : we do not have top-priority directives and then lower-priority directives .
we also need to make it clear that a statutory minimum wage will bring about changes particularly in sectors primarily employing women .
those who remember the tensions and conflicts that devastated the Western Balkans cannot fail to see that considerable progress has now been made towards the pacification and stabilisation of the region .
cod is the most valuable fish in the Baltic Sea and the majority of Lithuanian fishermen are dependent on cod stocks .
this is hardly surprising for such a complex subject and perhaps we have not yet reached complete agreement in our views .
cultural genocide is going on as we speak , because this decision expresses the clear intention to wipe out this people , not only geographically but also culturally , by preventing younger generations from learning about their own culture and , first and foremost , their linguistic heritage .
for decades we have been trying to improve the quality of our wines , and those efforts have been extremely successful , which I , as an Austrian , can say of my own country 's efforts too , particularly those of my home province of Burgenland .
Central Asia is a region vital to the EU 's political and energy security .
it is different from the Member States ' budgets as it is primarily an investment budget that contributes to growth , and we know how much we need this investment right now .
the European Parliament has played a key part in negotiating with the Council over finding the resources , particularly in view of the private sector 's failure to commit funds , in contrast to earlier promises .
( ES ) Madam President , the crisis has certainly highlighted the importance of industry as the driving force of the economy .
if adopted tomorrow by plenary , it will give the European Union the clear regulatory framework needed to ensure a properly functioning internal market and to promote much-needed investment .
in writing . - I voted in favour of this important resolution on Investing in the future : a new Multiannual Financial Framework ( MFF ) for a competitive , sustainable and inclusive Europe .
in this sector , the effects of working conditions on health are not recorded at all .
the hauliers have cited huge financial burdens , particularly those of tax on fuels .
however , those who have listened to the Presidency and the Commission will believe that this was a genuinely historic event , a moment with a before and an after , which is clearly an exaggeration .
things like this are usually completely ignored , even though that is just the way it is .
where do you come down in the argument concerning the percentage of CO2 reduction ?
in response to Mr Deprez , I am going to start by thanking you for the congratulations you have extended to the French Presidency of the European Union .
3 .
- Before the vote on recital D
- ( SK ) I would like to begin by expressing my pleasure that right at the beginning of its presidency our fraternal neighbour the Czech Republic has dispelled any doubts as to the ability of a new Member State to manage and administer the affairs of the European Union .
no , they are the same old Tories , still helping the privileged few at the expense of the many , still putting dogma before the interests of the British people .
I am really pleased that the draft conclusions already published show that the Council is continuing to focus on the four key areas of the Lisbon Strategy .
any such silence , unbelievable as regards the oil futures bubble , is worrying , as we know that on Wall Street global finance is trying to plug the budget holes wreaked by the cataclysm of sub-prime lending , speculating on poor people , on people who work and produce .
in many instances - as Mrs Jöns has already said - we were surprised that it has taken an economic crisis to actually make a reduction in bureaucracy possible in the Commission .
we have reduced the field of application to airports with either five million passenger journeys or more a year or 15 % of the national passenger throughput in the Member State concerned , for in the case of regional airports with less than five million passengers a year the risk of an abuse of market power is either small or absent .
as protectionist and liberalising measures accumulate , a situation will arise in which they are mutually exclusive and will have no effect on world trade .
animal epidemics can still destroy the livelihoods of farmers .
development of a joint migration policy based on the classification of immigrants according to a scale of desirability , and in its most repressive form , the use of Frontex , violates migrants ' rights and ignores the human tragedy taking place in many countries .
the EU is Serbia 's main trading partner , which speaks volumes .
this measure will only apply in cases where there is an explicit commitment that the enterprises benefiting from it will be included in a restructuring plan within a period of six months .
I should point out that the single market is not in operation yet in the services sector , which is having an adverse impact on SMEs ' business activities in the European Union .
I would remind you that the EU 's share of international shipbuilding is three times smaller than that of South Korea alone , which subsidises its shipbuilding industry .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I wanted to express , Mr Buzek , how proud I am to be part of an institution as important as the European Parliament , which you chair .
how will conflicting interests be arbitrated ?
tolerance is one of the cornerstones of the European Union and combating discrimination of any kind must be our top priority .
however , we can offer to develop stronger cooperation , together with these countries , and we expect more Commission initiatives on this than have so far been included in the existing papers .
here , I could also mention the implementation of the Services Directive , which affects a significant part of the internal market , a major element of which is simplified electronic administration .
I await eagerly an honourable outcome of the declaration from next week 's meeting of Heads of State and Government .
other studies talk about EUR 300 billion per year , an amount equivalent to the Greek public debt .
these are all positive elements , and I sincerely hope that Turkey will now apply itself to addressing these reforms with the new negotiator .
China 's interest in Africa 's oil is another problem facing the country , which is in a deep economic crisis , with hundreds of thousands of people leaving to find a better life elsewhere .
this promotes a move towards the centralisation of powers , with no parliamentary control mechanism , which will turn the EU into a military player on the international stage .
the more developed and wealthiest countries in particular have responsibilities that they cannot shirk .
in writing . - I will be voting in favour of this report , not because I enjoy WTO disputes or have a paranoia about the United States , but because I am fed up with the protectionist actions of the United States over many years , particularly in the area of civil aviation .
in view of what has been said here now , at very short notice , I would urge you to look again at that matter of voting at the next session on 5 and 6 May .
I have to say that the Commission does not of course regard the fund as something immutable which has emerged like Pallas Athena from the head of Zeus .
thank you .
it is , unfortunately , necessary to act in time and quickly .
it is a great problem .
we will negotiate on an equal footing .
the Youth on the Move programme is an initiative that is central to the EU 2020 strategy .
we already know that small enterprises have been the main engine of job creation over the last decade .
it has a positive effect on the European Union economy in general : increasing efficiency helps create new jobs , stimulates economic growth and improves competitiveness .
the misleadingly entitled citizens ' initiative is not only useless ; it may prove to be dangerous for the people .
firstly , is the Commission taking steps to carry out initial analyses of the possibility of exploiting gas from alternative sources in Europe , and is it preparing technical and economic feasibility studies of such extraction in the context of work on the energy infrastructure priorities between now and 2020 ?
there are some cases where municipalities are now considering the use of cables , which will be ground-breaking cases .
in writing . - ( DE ) The fight against terrorism requires international cooperation governed by agreements .
history has not given us a mandate merely to engage in political chess games and tactical prestige battles , but to serve a cause , to strengthen cohesion and seek consensus .
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however , in a crisis such as the one we are going through , I believe that we must not go overboard with conditions .
many airports would prefer no change whatsoever to the status quo .
in my opinion , strong ties between the EU and NATO make a significant contribution to the European Union 's raison d 'être , which is based on establishing peace both within its whole territory and beyond its borders .
none of that has been incorporated into the strategy .
I have only given you one example in the short time available to me .
you will be able to make your explanations of vote after the vote , in the sense that it will be tonight .
around half of this amount should be channelled into developing the fisheries sector on which around 30 000 of the 800 000 inhabitants of the country depend ; it should be recalled that the country has practically no other resources .
the lip service paid by the European Union to religious freedom is not enough .
the banana sector is a vital sector for some EU regions , especially the French overseas départements and territories ; that is why , faced with competition from Latin American countries exacerbated by agreements under negotiation , Parliament has adopted funding measures aimed at helping this weakened sector .
therefore , I do not think that the report can be criticised in this way .
it is essential for us to draw up our budgets according to the guidelines , but it is equally important for the Member States to have room for manoeuvre in an economic and social context .
a measure discussed in this House which is unrealistic for Irish farmers is the set limit for animal transport .
Mr President , we are touching on many different areas here this afternoon , and that is what is so wonderfully exciting about sitting here in the Council Presidency chair .
there is indeed much in the report with which the Council is in agreement .
but we can live with them , so long as the Ioannina Compromise is not anchored in the Treaty for all time .
the Member States should apply uniform procedures for issuing visas , because Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina are waiting their turn .
now we need proper cooperation and defence against these things too .
moreover , Internet piracy is not yet classed as a crime in either European law or international law . therefore the idea of systematically imposing penalties on such a large scale is unjustifiable , all the more so given that Internet access , in the name of one 's right to information , is still a fundamental freedom .
however , we must be vigilant on this point and guard against any kind of demagogy .
but whatever it is , we must make sure that we do not discard it out of ignorance .
we have asked for 70 000 m2 to be proposed and we will then examine all the possibilities .
if there is one thing that nobody questions across all parties , it is that we are going through a period of economic crisis , which affects countries and makes government decision making difficult .
there are currently 208 political prisoners in Cuba .
could the Commission please act a little faster in future ?
but we must admit that they are listening to our voice ; some corrective measures have been taken , for example , on the issues of electoral law and some electoral practices .
under these circumstances , and with the data that has been brought to light on several occasions , not least regarding unemployment , what kind of immigration policy does the Spanish Presidency propose ?
'They must be worse than blind who do not see with what undeviating regularity of system , in this case and in all cases , they pursue their scheme for the utter destruction of every independent power . ...
I think this is a breakthrough , but obviously there are those of us who would want more liberalisation and a move away from the protectionism which still hinders this industry in many ways .
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in this report I proposed specific amounts of funding to support new technologies .
in spite of that , however , we have been able to make sure that the European External Action Service can see the light of day .
my concluding words are directed at Minister Samardžić .
the truth is that , in the European Union , it is not states we want to unite , but people .
in the plan that I shall be presenting to you in the autumn , on fighting piracy and counterfeiting , I have provided for several sections that we shall be financing and supporting ; on technology for detecting counterfeit goods , on communicating with the European public , and on training personnel in customs or at the external frontiers of the Union .
the parliamentary passage of this report is not over , therefore .
let me just add though that , for the reasons the rapporteur himself said , the European political parties are important because they express the political choices we face as a European Union .
indeed , it will only be possible to guarantee the Union 's active voice at international level if it has sufficient defence instruments of its own .
( NL ) Madam President , Commissioner Hahn , ladies and gentlemen , cohesion is firmly anchored in European policy and in the Treaty , and has been given an even better footing thanks to the territorial dimension of the Treaty of Lisbon .
we have therefore tabled an alternative resolution which contains all the elements of her report which we do support .
spending someone else 's without their permission is not budgeting , it is theft .
it is a signatory to many international agreements ; it does not need to be told how to behave by an EU that has overridden the results of the French and the Dutch referendums , which were perfectly constitutional .
I know preparations at technical level are being made .
thank you very much .
therefore , all we can do to overcome the humanitarian crisis is to appeal for an immediate ceasefire .
lastly , could it be that the crisis we are going through will finally make the Commission aware of the devastating impact of an over-valued euro on the European economy ?
the Commission and the Council , too , should insist on this ; remaining silent is no longer an option .
if , on completion of the impact assessment , the Commission decides to submit a relevant proposal , there is little doubt that this proposal will be approved by the Commission in 2008 .
the Commission 's Green Paper raises a number of questions about one of the major issues which Member States are faced with at the moment : the education of migrants ' children .
if we do not invest in sectors such as energy performance and energy savings , we shall lose twice over .
it is therefore not an acceptable solution to hold new elections , as that would entitle the military junta to use force .
secondly , I am apprehensive about the proposal to introduce a prior market test conducted by an independent supervisor .
this is all the more pertinent as the Members of this Parliament are currently examining a proposal for a directive on the return of third-country nationals , which could have very serious consequences for the detention of foreigners .
a recent study by two Belgian universities demonstrates the high risk of the bluetongue disease becoming endemic in northern Europe .
this is intolerable for the textile sector , which works with large volumes and low profit margins .
the thankfully small number of times their deployment is required made it clear that a derogation from the maximum working week is necessary in their case .
this House fights for the right of people to emigrate .
I would like first of all to thank the Commissioner and remark that , although his answer was long , it is not the longest we have received in Question Time , but it has the merit of having provoked several requests for supplementary questions .
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the launching of a new governance cycle gives us the opportunity to reflect on the path we intend to follow .
to those who think that this directive is not ambitious enough , I say , ' You are right , I , too , would have liked it to have gone further ' .
I cannot do this because this accession , or this date , will in all likelihood depend more on Croatia than on the European Union itself .
this means that it would have the highest number of MEPs and the most significant percentage vote in the European Council ; the balance of Europe would certainly be destabilised .
I ask the Commission once again to ensure that these national management declarations are signed by the relevant minister or a minister from the national government .
it is not enough to call for improved governance , or better framework conditions ; political bodies also need to become more involved in this matter than they have been in the past .
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furthermore , in an act of extreme contempt for our country , a group of left-wing Brazilian members of parliament went to visit Cesare Battisti in prison and took photos of themselves celebrating with him .
it is one of the most effective instruments we can introduce to protect the health of workers in the workplace , and especially children and other innocent victims of smoke .
( SK ) I should like to congratulate the rapporteur , Mrs Ries , on her report , which describes the extent of implementation of the Action Plan and puts forward many recommendations for the next stage .
Saleh al-Mutlaq has been an outspoken critic of Iranian meddling in Iraq , and now the mullahs have insisted on his removal from the election .
at the same time , I would remind you that the Globalisation Adjustment Fund was established relatively recently .
it is therefore absolutely vital that we pursue this directive .
I will speak first of all on behalf of the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy , for which I was draftsman of the opinion , and then I will speak on behalf of my political group .
this asymmetry causes tension and demands a response from the European institutions , from the Commission and from the Council and Parliament .
such was the regulation .
I do not believe that Europol officials should have any immunity from prosecution whatsoever and therefore I voted against this amendment .
I believe , however , that this programme does not take any account of food safety , which will have to be covered by concrete measures and not just expressions of regret .
the Council of Energy Ministers , meeting last week , also stressed the importance of increasing our investment in infrastructures , not to mention the energy and climate change agreement , which was endorsed by the European Council last weekend and adopted by you yourselves here in this House today .
Mr Swoboda , it can be done .
it is clear that accession to the EU is not to promote the right to development of Croatia and its people , but above all to benefit the great powers and their economic groups .
let us therefore do everything possible to ensure that they are not forgotten .
whether it is efficient is another matter .
we did not get all we wanted , but it is still a good compromise which bodes well for the future .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , Umberto Eco said that whoever reads books lives twice .
a more significant role should be given to methods of granting subsidised micro credits or interest repayments by the State .
unfortunately , the resolution only highlights the harmful consequences of alcohol and not the benefits of moderate consumption .
we are today voting in favour of this regulation , bolstered by the increased authority that the Treaty of Lisbon confers on Parliament within the context of defining energy policies .
the first half of the year was marked by a rise in prices caused by an external , extremely virulent inflationary shock .
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this brings with it greater responsibility as well as a duty to take steps which may be risky but can give hope of a future peace .
the gas crisis between Russia and Ukraine is also giving the citizens of Latvia justified cause for concern .
however , for the majority of Members it is important that we do not give the Commission and the Council a free ride .
in writing . - The Harangozó report makes some important points on social exclusion .
historical criteria are to be removed and objective criteria are required .
I absolutely agree with the points that have been made in respect of the national standards institutes .
the urgency is great , and decisiveness and energy are the order of the day .
we are open to this process , but the task of convincing us is still to be done by the executive , in other words the ministers .
it is important that such exchanges of experience take place between the Member States .
Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner ( who regrets not to be able to attend this debate today ) had accordingly instructed her services to lend every support to the rapporteur in her difficult task of scrutinising the functioning of the human rights dialogues and consultations with third countries .
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for that reason , Mr Barnier , I am waiting to see the final texts before making my mind up and possibly supporting you in this major challenge for the future of Europe and of all its citizens .
what we do not want - and I say this as a German born in the 1950s - is for this processing of history and this proper writing of history to deepen the rift between nations .
for the time being , you are aware that the Council is still examining these two issues and that any possible solution must indeed be endorsed by your Parliament .
I will not take lessons from Mr Schulz because Mr Schulz is not the repository of the truth , either in this Chamber or outside it .
given that the new technologies and , in particular , the constant development of the Internet and the new online methods used by paedophiles , it is of paramount importance that the level of child protection be increased .
I abstained from the vote on this final version of the telecoms package because it is unsatisfactory .
yet , I think that we do not simply have doubts but also suspicions about the way in which these provisions have in fact been implemented by a number of Member States , by those that wish to unravel European supervision and prevent financial regulation at European level .
secondly , our strategy must engage all parts of our societies .
the cohesion policy and the use of the funds now and in this subsequent period up to 2020 forms a key part of this .
this is evidence that double standards apply in the European Union .
many will have questions about EU enlargement in the middle of an economic crisis , and discussions are likely to intensify as we approach the next elections for this Parliament .
it appears that the Court itself is inviting us to make this legislative change , and I think that it is now the responsibility of the Commission , first of all , but also of Parliament and the Council , to change the legislative texts in order to prevent this case law from becoming permanent .
Parliament will be included in these discussions as it will in those needed for producing financial perspectives .
this is why we must enhance efforts to maintain a strong industrial base in Europe .
well , many of us have indeed considered them and consider them extremely worrying , when we are constantly being asked to justify measures on the basis of their not disturbing markets rather on the basis of their delivering a high quality of services and quality of workers rights etc .
or have we obstructed it ?
although some headway has been made in this area , the shortages remain to this day .
the Energy Roadmap will be focusing not only on 2050 , but also on 2025 and 2030 , in other words , the next decade , during which we must invest in technology , power grids and storage facilities .
I would like to emphasise firstly that in the economic sphere , a pragmatic approach predominates but it cannot be merely a one-sided process .
we have quite a range of studies showing that the EU could cut its CO2 emissions by 30 % or even 40 % by 2020 in a way that would be economically viable and economically profitable .
the Government must end its military campaign that has brought - as others have said - humanitarian disaster to hundreds of thousands of ordinary people in the north of the island .
several Members have asked whether it is possible to have a European directive on violence against women that would ensure the prevention of violence , the protection of victims and the prosecution of perpetrators .
I can sympathise , however , with the Council when it says it fears that citizens ' rights could be abused when it comes to lodging an appeal in order to slow down projects or establish a level playing field for fund-raising campaigns staged by organisations .
but I expect that several Member States will also carry out specific opinion polls to check on public opinion in the respective Member States .
there also needs to be active continued development of higher education in Europe , however , even if it is easy to acquire trained and educated people from elsewhere .
cooperation , solidarity and innovation combined will ensure that we meet the targets we no longer have the luxury to miss .
this remains an important point .
for the Commission , the implementation of effective , sustainable solutions requires the action of all the key players , including , essentially , the Roma themselves , to develop , implement and monitor the policies that affect them .
my final question is , is the Commission prepared to involve Parliament in the follow-up procedure and to await further discussion with Parliament ?
in fact , Serbia is a bridge between the east and west of Europe , a key country for European unity , and , ultimately , even the novel by the great Serbian writer , Dobrica Ćosić , ' A Time of Death ' , shows that Serbia is of key importance where the unity or break-up of Europe are at stake .
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global development requires the exchange of different expertise and scientific achievement as well as the encouragement of young researchers to take an active role .
my group hopes that this does not occur and I therefore take my opportunity to ask the Council what steps it plans to take to ensure that this convention enters into force .
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these are age-old problems that deserve a less superficial approach and which cannot be addressed with a decree rushed through Parliament to satisfy public opinion .
the best way to increase the resilience of the fisheries sector to fuel prices is to ensure that fishing levels are in line with maximum sustainable yield .
we are simply saying in a reasonable and restrained way that we consider Egypt to be one of the most important partners in the Mediterranean area , but we are criticising by way of a number of specific points and using categorical facts that some things still have to change as Egypt moves forward towards democracy and the rule of law .
this is a starting point .
the Commission places a high policy priority on health and safety at work , and shares your views on a large number of your recommendations .
how much more often do we have to say , ' never again ' ?
at this sensitive time of not only economic but also political international crisis , not to revise and update the conditions for access to or exclusion from the list is a choice that goes against the best interests of the European Union .
thus far , a great deal of attention has been focused on the banking sector .
I voted for both Casini reports and I look forward to the strongest possible proposals from the European Parliament 's working group on the transparency and regulation of lobbying activities .
that I think is the appropriate way of dealing with this .
the victims of this are , among others , the peoples of Palestine , Iran and Lebanon .
we , as the European institutions , should foster interaction of all kinds between organisations , the academic world , communication media and those active in the social sphere to ensure that this breach can be healed .
apart from the fact that we adopted a resolution in 2005 which we now see has in fact had a negligible impact , I also consider it important that dialogue should start between the parties as soon as possible , with the involvement of the Commission and civil society .
I should like to stress that there is an absolutely clear understanding that the threshold that was introduced does not exclude small projects , but aims to encourage those projects to group together thematically or regionally to reach the required threshold .
Korea has left the non-proliferation community .
Cancún must signify a global , legally binding agreement , which will help maintain global warming below two degrees Celsius .
I believe that the government of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has made significant progress in 2009 , as is also highlighted in the resolution on the 2009 activity report .
on the contrary , it might even be a strong incentive to speed things up .
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we need a bold vision and cooperation , but also financial investment , so that the people who live in the region can sustainably exploit what it may have to offer .
Hungarian Members here are attacking the Slovak language law .
the primary point in the programme was of course the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty .
since that time , Tibetans have not been allowed to commemorate that day freely .
it is not acceptable that these passengers have no recourse if the airline they bought their ticket from goes bankrupt .
therefore , we ought to involve unions here to protect the interests of our people .
it is right to grant the benefits of the programmes to Switzerland , but it is also right to safeguard all the financial and other interests of the European Union .
as we are all aware , the issue at hand is that of Hungary but , unfortunately , I believe that we must look ahead and therefore enhance this facility of the European Union to provide assistance to its Member States , including those that lie outside the euro zone .
Mr Millán Mon is right to say that Latin America has developed very positively in recent years , both politically - as the vast majority of its countries are democratic - and economically , and also , albeit more modestly , in social terms .
we cannot expect Parliament to introduce lower amounts into the budget , however , and to subsequently plunder other policies in the course of the year because there has been no serious planning .
we would actually be creating a split personality for ourselves , considering that we have adopted resolutions on the implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy and that we are drafting reports , as I am doing myself , on implementing the platform to combat poverty .
( LT ) I think that all us taking part in this late-night sitting will remember this meeting for a long time to come and will have something to tell our children and grandchildren .
we have also recently heard that Alexander Milinkiewicz was arrested and fined just for meeting Belarus citizens and for discussing public issues with them .
I am in favour of the European Union knowing how to intelligently align its own ambition , which it has laid down for 2020 or for the period 2020-2030 , with the demands of other players with regard to reducing their emissions .
just yesterday we debated the situation caused by the mortgages given out in the United States to groups with limited resources , with high prices , in predatory circumstances and with irresponsible promotions .
( FR ) Mr President , the vote that has been cast , although a majority one , is , in fact , a move to undermine the letter of the Treaties , which is very clear and which stipulates that 12 part-sessions must be held in Strasbourg .
otherwise , we risk falling back into a cycle of delays and procrastination , which was typical of the Voronin administration .
however , the Lithuanian situation is truly dramatic , and also unique , as we do not have a connection to the western European electric grid .
well , I have got news for them : I do not .
in this case , the President-in-Office of the Council has to take into account the legitimate interests of each of the Member States .
as I said , and I am responding here to Mrs Lichtenberger , the directive allows the Member States to establish charges or taxes on the basis of noise pollution or other environmental aspects .
( NL ) Madam President , first of all , I should like to offer Commissioner Potočnik sincere thanks for his commitment to the conservation of biodiversity .
in the conclusions from the Council of Foreign Ministers there is no reference to the Middle East Quartet .
however , these incidents are a constant reminder of the constant risk of destabilisation there .
so I urge that double taxation is ruled out , as the Commissioner has said , perhaps through the mechanism of electronic cooperation .
I would like specific attention to be devoted to the issue of the Eastern Partnership at the forthcoming summit meeting because this is the only way in which we can guarantee success for this new policy of ours .
in that the clause allows for incitement or provocation , both these terms are at worst even a bluff .
furthermore , the collection of data by type of goods is already mandatory for road , rail and inland waterways transport statistics .
instead of just doing this , let us also make their lives easier by preventing unnecessary administrative burdens that will dissuade them from participating .
I have a general thought . it is not that protectionism is increasing , but rather that it is a case of not removing rights that already exist in some of the Member States .
Mr President , firstly I wish to thank and congratulate the rapporteur , Mr Alves , for his excellent work on this report .
Two-one down and , despite her best efforts , her team faces relegation ; then a goal is scored .
rapporteur . - ( NL ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , we are discussing the report ' One year after Lisbon : the Africa-EU partnership at work ' , which is to say the implementation of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy for the development of Africa , as set out at the EU-Africa Summit in December 2007 .
the EU ought to invest a great deal in research and development .
I feel that it is particularly important to enhance social partnership and social dialogue with specific measures at all levels - EU , national , regional , sectoral and company .
what I want to do is draw those two things together , to find a way in which we can enhance what we do , to support the work that is going on , to make the Quartet more effective , to bring together what has been , in a sense , the Council and Commission operating side by side , and to meld it into one so that what we do on the ground really makes a difference .
yet even in these two policies , the basic rights of the child are not being respected .
today , therefore , I voted in favour of the resolution - a document which gives details of the prospects for this cooperation .
these are predominantly Member State competences .
it is true that current European legislation already provides for controls and procedures to guarantee that the food that ends up on our tables is fit for consumption and that the risks of contamination are reduced to a minimum , but we must now aim to make a daily contribution to improving the quality of these measures .
however , we do need a positive policy for growth and employment .
what madness .
I feel it is important that , using lifelong learning and the framework of the Bologna process , we can promote mobility and continued training for trainers and PE teachers , we can mutually recognise the degrees that attest to their qualifications , and we can assist with more effective cooperation among organisations of sports experts .
therefore , we have to be very careful and responsible during its setting-up .
we need to see changes in Burma leading to freedom of assembly and association , the release of prisoners of conscience and a full transition to a multi-party democracy .
we have allowed Bosco Ntaganda to take over the leadership of the CNDP from Laurent Nkunda , although there is a warrant against Bosco Ntaganda , and you see what happens .
when I was a university teacher 25 years ago , I taught my students about the rules on equal pay deriving from Brussels and from the European Member States at the time .
they are protesting against tax laws that they consider to be unfair .
( it ) Mr President , as shadow rapporteur of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe , I am completely satisfied with the outcome of today 's vote .
the fact is that Europe has for some time been faced with internal and external challenges in the international community .
in spite of the rapporteur 's denials , the draft regulation assumes that third-country nationals enjoy free movement , freedom of establishment and free access to the labour market throughout the European Union ; it must be remembered that these are all things that , thank goodness , have not yet become a reality .
in fact , I shall never tire of repeating : there is no growth , there is no competitiveness , if there is no innovation .
we support this initiative .
these negotiations are moving very quickly .
it must start to be given serious new resources , already in 2009 .
the government has set a mandatory long-term target to achieve an 80 % reduction in Scotland 's emissions by 2050 .
the enlargement process was , and is , an enriching experience for every single Member State , as well as for the EU as a whole .
there are European names in the US disclosures , and it would be an altogether healthy thing for EU central banks to follow suit with similar disclosure about support during 2008 and 2009 as an accompaniment to the new stress tests .
it is leading to the continued weakening of the most vulnerable economies , to the privatisation of key sectors of the economy , to the commodification of ever more areas of social life , and to the attack on public services .
according to Article 6 of the EGF regulations , we must ensure that this fund supports the individual reintegration of workers made redundant in new firms .
for its part , Turkey now needs to improve the democratic functioning of its state institutions and work towards the necessary compromises to continue EU-related reforms .
I am pleased that , at the beginning of this term of office , it is not necessary to call on the Commission and the Council to take basic steps in order to combat cancer because we have the Council 's clear conclusions of June 2008 and an ambitious project , the European Partnership for Action against Cancer , which the Commission presented in September 2009 and which forms the subject of this report .
the next item is the Commission statement on GM / Opel : current developments .
the EU budget will fund part of the costs of the reforms .
when I hear certain ' declinists ' - the ' crisis-lovers ' - say that it is now the Americans and the Chinese who are controlling everything , I say to them : be that as it may , but what is President Obama doing ?
all these things need to be included in our consideration of aspects of the Security Strategy that may need to be expanded upon .
since January , 23 000 immigrants have entered Italy .
the debate must therefore be held , and decisions on the debate must be taken not only in Parliament but also among the citizens .
we in the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance in this Parliament have campaigned for the introduction of high , mandatory safety standards .
we might have differences in opinion about how the state of play is today .
this reflects the changes in the Commission 's priorities .
we have been dealing with this dossier for over a year now and it was a way forward .
is it possible that in banks that have been nationalised , these derivatives are still a toxic asset but obviously also worrying for development ?
Mr Martin , I did read your question very carefully .
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the fact that in 2010 , the total amount of bilateral trade between the EU and Japan was EUR 120 billion demonstrates that both sides are extremely important to each other as partners .
I congratulate the rapporteur on tackling a difficult dossier and producing a comprehensive directive which , I hope , we will all support unitedly .
certainly my vote was motivated in great measure by consideration of some of those .
I believe that by using the budgetary instruments we will be more accountable in 2010 for energy and transport networks , and the EU 's internal energy networks will be well planned so that they guarantee an alternative to the countries most affected by the energy shortage .
firstly , a veritable Marshall Plan for Tunisia and Egypt which would provide tangible help across the board but , at the same time , expect in return the full cooperation of the Tunisian authorities in blocking their coasts so as not to allow further illegal emigration by sea .
let me also thank my colleagues in the committee , in my group and in my own office for their work .
the resolution must be followed by resolute joint action , as Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner has made clear with her encouraging statement today .
Mr President , I should like to talk to the Commissioner about one of the reports on food additives , and in particularly about the food colourings known as azo dyes .
in this draft decision , the Council exceeds its executive powers .
the current Russian leadership has chosen its own path , and it is one which causes great distress to those of us who wish to see freedom and democracy and the rule of law for the Russian people .
on the issue of the amendments to the draft European Regional Development Fund Regulation tabled by Mrs Schroedter , three relate to the recitals and one to the substance .
Mrs Lienemann referred to a news report a fortnight ago that showed that PCBs were bio-accumulated in fish and that man then ate those fish .
however , this seems to bother some people in Parliament and elsewhere , who are critical of what they call an attack on subsidiarity and the suffocating presence of the European institutions , which are using measures such as the Soil Framework Directive to harass groups of farmers or businesses , with unfair laws , unjust provisions and new administrative and / or financial burdens .
a resolution to the problem of banking secrecy in Singapore is essential if there is to be a real prospect of concluding a region-to-region free trade agreement .
I welcome the Commission communication and the report by Mrs Pack .
this is certainly true of the Treaty of Lisbon .
I formally ask the Conference of Presidents to reconsider and to revoke the decision of 14 February 2008 , going back to the previous situation of giving freedom to the intergroups .
the forthcoming ' Standardisation Package ' will also build on the White Paper of 3 July 2009 on Modernising ICT Standardisation in the EU - The Way Forward .
the world political climate has changed , culminating in Bali with an acknowledgement by everyone of the validity of the IPCC research and , in recent months , of truly important changes in the positions taken by leaders .
we must now ensure by the audit system that we are meeting those targets .
I found in them a lot of things that resonate with what we are thinking and doing .
with the Treaty of Lisbon , issues relating to children will become objectives within the EU and will gain a legal basis .
until we define these choices , we shall be pursuing a strategy of failure .
I think that it is wrong that you were put in the position whereby you were forced to cut us back , but likewise , I do not believe it is all the leaders ' fault either , because the running of the schedule on the day is for whoever is in the Chair .
we need a more systematic and rigorous preventive budgetary surveillance , so that cases like the Greek case will never happen again .
this was in 1939-1940 .
Russia has got used to the equivocation of the EU .
- Madam President , for years this House has criticised the United States over the suspension of civic freedoms inherent in the maintenance of the secure facility at Guantánamo .
however , we are not really becoming sufficiently involved .
I must admit that I have specific expectations of this Presidency .
I can also announce that the Commission will be a holding a rapid and in-depth review of the wider aspects of the EU 's external policy in energy and that we will definitely make the results of that work public .
therefore , given its importance at global level , a strategy is required that is ambitious and takes into account its maritime and territorial aspects .
the degradation of aquatic life is full of negative consequences , since it influences the ecological security and the quality of life and health of the population .
as regards the organisation of surveillance ; this was one of the items that was raised by Mrs Mazzoni . here , I have to say that the Commission , as I said , monitors tomato imports from Morocco using a cross-checking system .
the lengthening wait for a judgment of the European Court of Justice in the matter means further fatal road accidents involving pedestrians .
Europe is well acquainted with the tragedy of wars in which , for centuries , Catholics and Protestants have fought against one another , not to mention the Jewish Holocaust .
they allow the Ombudsman to point out cases of blatant bad administration when all means of resolving disputes have been exhausted .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - Mr President , I wonder if I might perhaps offer a few words of wisdom here .
I join with the Commissioner in admiring the actions taken by the European Central Bank .
thank you .
the CCCTB is scheduled for adoption by the College of Commissioners on 16 March 2011 .
( PL ) Mr President , presidential and local government elections are planned in the Philippines for 10 May .
extending the Commission 's mandate without any deadline is a terrible signal after these delays , both to the European institutions and to the European public .
preparation for the European Council meeting ( 23 October 2011 ) (
Parliament would have full influence over the entire budget , including the agriculture budget .
we voted on the report , we did not take the final vote , so people may well wish to express themselves on the earlier votes .
this example shows most conspicuously that ideal cooperation between Member States and European institutions is needed in order to achieve transposition in time in all Member States .
having said that , I think it was a useful discussion because , when there is corruption , someone is corrupted but there is also someone doing the corrupting , so in a way , the G8 members were also scrutinised when we discussed the issue of Africa .
I would like to know why Parliament was not consulted .
perhaps you will be able to investigate on your way home tonight .
incidentally , I was surprised when I saw this : it is a fact that the active ingredients , the most important components of the medicine , very often , indeed even usually , originate from non-European countries , third countries .
( PL ) Mr President , I would also like to congratulate you very sincerely , not only on your election , but also on your speech today , because you have shown that we have one Europe , and that there are no old and new countries .
finally , I would like to hear from the Commissioner how it is possible that the Commission 's website lists Greenpeace as a participant in Implementing Geological Disposal of Waste - Technology Platform , while I am in possession of correspondence between Greenpeace and the Commission which suggests that Greenpeace 's application for participation was explicitly rejected by the Commission .
there is an urgent need to adopt reforms that will enable us to take a big step forward in quality terms with respect to economic governance and to introduce transparent and targeted supervision instruments .
over the years , we have tried to improve the fisheries agreement by saying that some of the money from the agreement should go to supporting local fisheries .
a set of minimum requirements must be drawn up and incorporated into a legislative act which should be part of a comprehensive strategy addressing all forms of gender-based violence .
I ask you : at the Summit Conference tomorrow , as well as utter fine words , will you adopt any specific measures , and what would these be regarding the rules and regulations to reduce speculation over fuel and foods ?
we really do not need this , considering the serious problems we are facing with integration and resolving the extremely severe problem of the Roma .
furthermore , competition must be tightened up both at Community and Member State level , together with measures aiming for an improvement in energy efficiency .
I think that Parliament should back her in these three claims and hope that she expressed these three elements , these three concerns , in her contacts in Egypt .
in Bulgaria we have a large number of problems which we associate with the Roma and this has driven us to introduce steps for the preparation of a framework programme to resolve the social preconditions causing their ethnic discrimination .
so I too would like to join the call for MEPs to enter into much closer and more intensive cooperation with US counterparts .
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one of these is anorexia , which generally has a psychological basis linked to the fact that thin bodies tend to be presented as more attractive . we are all aware of extreme cases in which this disorder has resulted in death .
I think that the proposals tabled by the European Commission will , in terms of strengthening relations between both continents , facilitate the adoption of a specific action plan during the Summit .
innovation is top of the European agenda and , as it is a pillar of the Europe 2020 strategy , it will have to be served by new financial instruments so that it does not succumb to budgetary constraints in the current situation .
the sum of EUR 50 million was therefore adopted by Parliament during the vote on its reading of the budget on 20 October 2010 .
the precise arrangements for their funding cannot be determined in advance and will clearly evolve over time , but the objective is to maximise the share of contributions from the private sector .
however , perhaps in future , for educational reasons , we should agree that the final statement by the Commissioner will only respond to those speakers still actually in the Chamber .
it would be deeply destabilising for the European Union if the College of Commissioners and the European Council were to take the view that these new treaty articles change nothing and continue treating social objectives as secondary to market objectives .
we need to be faster in this regard in general .
this Presidency had two faces .
he must now keep that promise .
this is such a gap in Europe 's credibility that we cannot invoke the spirit of compromise here !
the first relates to the budget , of course : 150 million euro is nowhere near enough - and this has already been stated here - for a sector that you yourself said is going to become one of the booming sectors of the future .
this is the spirit of article 6 of the Treaty .
because I want to make it clear that this is not just a French obsession , as many people have said , and it is not a waste of money , as a previous speaker has stated .
- Newton Dunn report
by contrast , Poland , for example , consists of 16 regions .
those in the Council who are criticising , for example , the increase in payment appropriations , are being unfair to this budget .
that is why we cannot continue to adopt the watering can principle in European research policy .
reciprocal investment in the two economies is worth EUR 200 billion a year : the EU is Japan 's third largest trading partner and , in turn , Japan is the sixth largest trading partner for the EU .
that is why I voted for the motion for a resolution , given the policy of integration and expansion toward the democracy and market economy of south-west Europe .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Madam President , I would like to thank our colleague , Raimon Obiols , for his report and resolution .
to conclude , I would like to recall that negotiation on the 2009 budget has required compromise on all sides .
the Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region , which was adopted in the middle of last year , is a model of the coordination of EU policy and the financing of macro-regions - geopolitical territorial units defined on the basis of particular criteria .
in a period of 10 years virtually none of the countries in the Euro Zone had implemented all of the Maastricht criteria .
at the same time , however , we need to tell the US that we also have other partners .
I think that the report has also shown all the linkages and the interlinkages between all these issues and we have to look at it from a political point of view .
that is why a single , common European policy will not work .
I am sure that , as democrats , you would all welcome a referendum on the EU in the United Kingdom .
Europe has the necessary credibility and liquidity , and it is on this basis that it will be possible to bring down Greece 's interest rates without a single euro of taxpayers ' money going to Greece .
they protect them by guaranteeing that they can claim back what they have earned , without , of course , this resulting in a right to remain .
it is a mechanism which contributes enormously to the continuity and smooth handover of the Presidency and I appreciate it very much .
increased reliability of steel structures and increased operating efficiency of various items of machinery and equipment require considerable volumes of empirical research in this sphere .
they are simply recognised by the institutions .
today , we could be faced with institutions without effective power : due to the low status of the staff appointed ; due to the fact that the Member States did not choose the best , and perhaps because the salaries were not attractive .
from the ethical point of view , there are still controversial matters to be debated and entirely clarified .
indeed , I fully agree with that sentiment and I become more convinced of it with every committee meeting I attend .
the final point concerns GMOs .
the Commission has heard Parliament 's concerns on the decision-making aspects of the GSP regulation loud and clear .
I would like to endorse what has been said by fellow Members about the importance of transparency with regard to air ticket prices .
there is a lot at stake in the budget negotiations for the next programming period .
( the sitting was opened at 9 : 05 )
the report by Mrs Gräßle and Mr Rivellini , on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control , on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation ( EC , Euratom ) No 1605 / 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities as regards the European External Action Service - C7-0086 / 2010 - ,
apart from this , we must not forget that one of the biggest challenges in Europe in the medium- and long-term is the demographic situation .
yes , Mr Cohn-Bendit , there were not very many of us in the 1960s and 1970s who opposed your friends at that time and their revolutionary thinking and rejected the Asian people 's enslavement to the Marxism so extolled by your friends .
it used all its negotiating skills to brilliant effect during a difficult discussion on the 2011 budget of the European Union under the new budgetary rules of the Treaty .
however , it is more difficult to influence people 's actions by calling on them to change than it is by setting them a good example .
the Wall Street Journal recently reported on a private dinner in New York on 8 February , involving 18 major hedge funds , where speculation against the euro was discussed .
in writing . - ( SV ) The collection of independent and accurate statistics helps consumers as well as business and the public sector to take a variety of decisions .
the end of all and any trade barriers , especially with the developed and emerging economies , is the course of action .
I would like to mention one topic in particular : the delay in setting up the European Institute for Gender Equality .
tell them where to go .
at the moment , if a multinational company wants to establish itself in Hungary , the way to proceed is as follows : it receives free land from a local municipal government , is given a reduction on taxes and contributions , employs people for minimum wage and does not even allow them to unionise .
this deals with the issue of the property rights of almost 350 000 Thracian Bulgarians , who were forcibly driven out of Turkey at the start of the last century .
why should we annoy them even more ?
we are already suffering as a result of EU legislation , as the EU will not let us exempt non-governmental organisations from VAT .
with regard to those who succeed us , I can only hope that they have such an excellent staff working for them .
the substance here is that we have an integrated financial market and a Central Bank conducting a monetary policy in the interest of the European economy as a whole , but we have no European financial market controller to deal with the challenges and problems involved .
I regret that this measure was not adopted today by Parliament , and I shall campaign , during the negotiations , for this visible eco-contribution to be maintained in those Member States in which it is practised .
why did you not say thank you ?
all the energy sources covered in the report have been given a sufficient amount of attention , while at the same time , the importance of alternative energy sources and new energy technologies was duly pointed out .
nevertheless , in only a few weeks , it was possible to set up a G20 meeting which delivered concrete results , the most notable of which was the decision to use 2 % of GDP to stimulate the economy and help the financial sector .
however , the proposal concludes with the following extreme measure : to combat terrorism on the Internet , we should imprison any citizen who writes anything that could be interpreted by the police as being intended to encourage terrorism - not even ' instigate ' it , mark you .
EUR 40 million were allocated to this objective in 2007-2010 and EUR 50 million are planned for 2011-2013 .
look at the issue of Taiwan today , where the progress made by President Hu Jintao on Taiwan is remarkable .
we are not here to run errands for the EU 's opponents ; we are here to highlight the points that are worthy of criticism and come up with good and constructive proposals for solutions .
the Commission has been a very constructive and cooperative partner throughout the whole period , and thanks are due to them as well .
agenda for next sitting : see Minutes
this is not a way to decide close to the citizens or the Members of Parliament .
we should not forget that the European Union is made up of 27 very different Member States .
it is not for me to criticise , but maybe you would note the comment .
the problem with Japan is , indeed , not so much tariffs but the fact that EU exporters and investors still face all sorts of non-tariff barriers .
the Structural Funds should be used only to support sustainable projects .
( CS ) If European integration is to last , there must be deepening and strengthening of international law .
we are constantly piling on more and more burdens and regulations that force industry out of Europe , and we have no chance whatsoever of meeting any of the goals of the Lisbon Strategy .
this work is crucial for the establishment of a future state of Palestine and crucial to finding a way to a two-state solution .
and two : what on earth has it got to do with the European Union ?
these poor benighted parliaments , by the way , are only the democratically elected sovereign legislators of 27 European nations , unlike this absurd consultative assembly which does not and cannot represent anyone but the Commission and its associated elites .
we need independent institutions working at European level that can monitor and guarantee that States commit themselves to the principle of equal treatment not only in theory , but also adopt concrete steps in order to implement this directive effectively .
agriculture is responsible for 9.3 % of the European Union 's total CO2 emissions , whereas in 1990 it represented 11 % of those emissions .
the European Union is endowed with a Charter of Fundamental Rights .
let us look at the current Multiannual Financial Framework ( MFF ) .
in view of this , the forthcoming European Banking Authority should play a leading role in drawing up and implementing measures relating to capital requirements and the rules on countercyclical buffer standards at EU level .
however , if we regard this concept of maximum sustainable yield as something radically new , we are mistaken , since that concept , which is a theoretical concept , was always the concept underlying the setting of all quotas and TACs , which could only be set on the basis of that concept .
an amendment needs to be made to the Member States ' legislation with regard to harmonising sanctions in order to ensure that the maximum penalties are imposed on traffickers , as they currently vary considerably from one state to another .
there is no point in paying lip-service to disabled people 's rights .
thank you in advance for your support in tomorrow 's vote .
extending the directive would place an even greater burden on those Member States with a high social standard , which already have huge problems in any case , making it harder still for refugees to be integrated .
in all honesty , I only had modest expectations of the report , given the mood of political correctness that normally prevails in the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs .
we saw from the Ecofin conclusions last week that they want to see a withdrawal of labour market support measures from the end of 2010 .
the report , supplemented by the accepted opinion recommendations , is fully supported by my group .
Hungary reported 1 367 tonnes of dead fish .
for the population in the region , it can only result in insecurity , lack of confidence in the authorities , and vulnerability to manipulation .
I voted in favour of the report on mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund in favour of France because I believe this fund helps countries to respond effectively and flexibly to situations created by natural disasters , in this case the storm last January which affected south-western France , causing severe damage .
it is therefore necessary to amend the Regulation on credit rating agencies in order to organise the accreditation and supervision of credit rating agencies by the European Securities and Markets Authority .
the third word is ' effectiveness ' .
we should , rather , have the courage to speak out and not fear confronting populism .
in my opinion , this was another fundamental point .
our response to this phenomenon through the European Union 's Solidarity Fund provides important support in the task of rebuilding the areas affected by disasters , along with reducing their potential cross-border effects .
secondly , as regards Dublin II , I should like to point out the following , to add to what Mrs Koppa said .
health inequalities vary from country to country and from region to region .
obviously , that is not something that we can do with our extensive trans-European networks .
in Spain we have seen some extremely negative effects along our entire coastline as a result of very aggressive building projects .
however , we will give a lot of attention to your resolution on this matter and will always bear in mind the human rights aspect when we resort to the instrument of sanctions , within the EU and in the UN .
I requested permission to speak here .
in the context of the resolution under discussion , I call for the immediate withdrawal of Poland from the Protocol on the Application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights to Poland and to the United Kingdom .
in writing . - ( PL ) As a member of the Committee on Culture and Education , I endorse the report on Europeana - the next steps .
in writing .
the fact is that Adam Smith 's invisible hand is a pickpocket .
environmentally friendly investment should be promoted , along with clean energy and energy-saving installations . above all , priority should be given to convincing people to save energy , and to increasing their knowledge and awareness .
however , we are not changing the main priorities of the European Social Fund .
in the separation of powers , there are those who decide and those who control .
our wish is that progress be made as soon as possible in finding solutions for the remaining issues , which are crucial for the Albanian community .
I worked on this proposal personally , and I hope that after acquiring legal basis , this preparatory action will give rise to a programme with a substantial budgetary allocation .
this Treaty adopts , without alteration , the enlargement of the European Parliament 's participation in the legislative process , as well as the innovations in the budgetary process , thereby enhancing the Union 's democratic legitimacy ;
it is a fact that our European electoral spectrum spans an ever-wider variety of opinion , which is good for democracy .
I must say that I am pleased with some key aspects of Bulgaria 's position in the CAP debate :
the result is that , owing to lack of solidarity within the European Union and ineffective EU diplomacy , our countries are letting Russia and China push them out of this important region of the world .
it is an island off the west coast of Europe .
I consider it truly important to establish this solidarity .
I am saying this because I would not like our debate to turn into a very political debate , where the European Parliament takes the role of a prosecutor acting against someone .
I should like to start by paying tribute to the role played by the Council of Europe in defending and promoting fundamental rights .
I would like to remind you of the joint agreement by the European Parliament and the Council to designate 2010 as the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion .
on behalf of my group , I can say that we are interested in a cohesion policy that will be comprehensible , simple , flexible , unencumbered by excessive bureaucracy , and focused on investment and smart growth .
as I have said to you , the efforts and initiatives to discover the truth of the matter are welcome .
for the medium term , there are three measures to highlight : last week 's proposal on capital requirements , our forthcoming proposal on rating agencies and a review of our 2004 recommendation on executive pay .
I have to highlight at this point that for me personally , an increasingly critical issue is the plausibility of forecasts and the quality of the PRIMES model used by the European Union , particularly in view of the failure to achieve a consensus in Cancún .
as stated in the document adopted , information guarantees safety , and consumer safety and informing consumers must be underlying principles .
there are Members who urge the Commission and Member States to take concrete coordinated measures in the spirit of solidarity and who propose to act like the EU already had such a policy .
the Latvian authorities , the government , keep their eyes closed on obvious violations and are not going to put legislation in order .
we consider it to be essential that the decoupling process initiated in the 2003 Reform be extended to all sectors so as to allow farmers to produce what the market demands and achieve a genuine level playing field .
Mr President , Mr President-in-Office of the Council , Mr Barroso , perhaps it is a coincidence - although a happy coincidence - that this debate is being held immediately after the speech by Václav Havel , a man who has reminded us how important this process was twenty years ago .
we need to combine public , private , national and European funds .
I am Sicilian and , unlike many Members who have spoken , I visited the former identification and expulsion centre .
we shall certainly be doing this ourselves , but this is also an appeal to the Council and particularly to the Commission : not only Commissioner Frattini , but also his colleagues .
in my own city of Galaţi , the Damen Shipyard is also facing the effects of the economic and financial crisis , making around 600 workers redundant in 2009 alone .
nevertheless , we have to reassure the ICCAT parties that the European Community will do its utmost to ensure that quotas allocated to the vessels of our Member States are scrupulously monitored by those Member States and by the European Commission , in order to ensure respect for the quota set for 2008 and the forthcoming years .
again , this is a case of the Europe of big profits and of small , arbitrary handouts .
mankind - you and I. Who are we , you and I ?
as such , Mauritania urgently needs to demand that third countries with which it also establishes partnership agreements respect these same rules that are observed by ships flying the EU flag .
the cultural and creative sector is a driver for Europe .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( HU ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , first of all , I would like to thank those who commented positively on the efforts of the Hungarian Presidency .
in my country , beekeeping involves around 27 000 producers who manage more than 2 300 000 hives .
if , however , the national electoral system does not allow for such a calculation , we can resort to appointment by the national parliaments .
we are eagerly awaiting these proposals and would urge you to react promptly .
let me say quite clearly that we are not against financial support .
14 .
if only we could learn the rule of law , and if only we could apply property rights to fisheries policies , we would have sustainable fisheries policy not just for the common fisheries policy of the EU but globally , and we would have no need for these agreements .
these objectives are ambitious and we all need to make an extra effort to achieve them for the good of the EU and its citizens .
usually , we talk of the European Union 's demographic problems from the point of view of young people .
I would like to ask you if that is the case , because it is extremely unfair since this is an issue that has been debated for some considerable time now .
what is more , EFSA itself has decided to issue new assessment guidelines .
Mr President , I would also like to congratulate Mr Lambsdorff for the excellent work he has done and of course his shadows , particularly , Mrs Cederschiöld , but let me also underline something that Mr Toubon said : the fantastic work done by the French presidency in achieving agreement on this directive .
under these circumstances , the development of policies and capabilities for crisis management and conflict prevention is actually an investment in the security of European Union citizens .
today they are still fit and healthy .
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and what are the major lessons ?
it would be useful if the mechanism for Greece had been adopted with the speed at which the support mechanism proceeded for other economies , when Europe finally realised the risk which we were all running .
all these targets are interconnected and the primary concern therefore is to ensure that we achieve the proper legislative framework .
they affect more than seven million Europeans , a figure that will probably double in the coming decades as a result of our ageing population .
this demonstrates yet again how the House views these recommendations .
significant efforts have been made to strengthen not only political , but also judicial , cooperation , thereby strengthening the ties between Eurojust and analogous institutions in the United States .
( RO ) The European Union is founded on the principle of transparency , which is referred to in Articles 1 and 6 of the Treaty on European Union , as well as in Article 41 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union .
yes ?
we specifically ask you , however , for it is the substance that is important here , to relaunch the European social agenda .
I agree with what Mr Tannock said , that President Lukashenko should not be present in Prague .
the green restructuring of the economy will ultimately result in lower , not higher , unemployment .
both of these things relate to the European perspective , but they use different toolboxes .
I am familiar with the disastrous financial situation of many Member States and I believe that some of them need time to decide what should be done .
therefore benefits for young people , the disabled and the elderly are relevant .
Mr President , this afternoon , on behalf of the Commission , I want to welcome the President of the European Investment Bank , Mr Maystadt , and the President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development , Mr Mirow .
in order to combat poverty effectively , there is also a need to improve the quality of jobs and salaries , introduce the right to an income , as well as the wherewithal to provide social welfare benefits , pensions and allowances .
we therefore voted in favour .
we have nothing to be ashamed of .
these countries also fail to fulfil international obligations in the area of nuclear safety .
I would like to give you a few more figures : 81 % of the funds allocated to research and development were used in the industrial sector , but only 42 % of industrial companies are involved in innovation activities .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( PT ) Madam President , Mr Vice-President , ladies and gentlemen , the Council will take from this debate the firm belief that the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership must be developed and solidified and that it is right to hold the Ministerial Conference in Santa Eulália .
but I think we need to re-examine the effect these changes have made in the industry .
I abstained from the final vote because it included a proposal to put through a moratorium on new reactors .
( PL ) Mr President , many fellow Members have spoken of evidence of the existence of detention centres in Poland and Romania and evidence of the use of torture .
( EL ) Mr President , the conflict between supporters of the integration of Turkey and those favouring a special relationship between Turkey and the European Union illustrates the imperialist infighting within the European Union and the competition with the USA and other major powers .
( the President interrupts the speaker )
this would not have been possible without the constructive and responsible role played by the European Parliament and the Council throughout the negotiations .
the Commission will thoroughly analyse the replies to the questionnaires and the steps taken by the Serbian authorities in the coming months to complete its assessment with a view to issuing the opinion in the second half of 2011 .
over the years , the European Union has taken relevant actions in this area , and the measures adopted have ensured an increase in the level of consumer protection in areas such as package holiday services and passengers ' rights .
I would encourage you to continue it in the corridors , if necessary .
no one can say that the legal instruments ignore women 's rights .
( ES ) Mr President , the Universal Declaration of UNESCO on Cultural Diversity recommends that , among other things , we promote the making of high-quality audiovisual productions , particularly fostering the creation of cooperation mechanisms allowing us to distribute those productions ; the European Commission has clearly borne this statement in mind when drawing up this initiative .
I remember the sense of hope that came with the Orange Revolution , and the break with the Soviet-influenced past that it brought about for the Ukrainian people .
Mr President , I should like first of all to thank Mr Kalfin for the excellent work we have been able to carry out together and , on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs , for which I was the rapporteur , to thank my colleagues Mrs Hautala , Mr Lambsdorff and Mrs Giannakou .
the people in theatre , the people in operations , are those who are most in my thoughts when I look at how we can collaborate together .
the next item is the Council and Commission statements on migration flows and asylum and their impact on Schengen .
Mr President , I should like to highlight another point in this package , namely the improved regulation of maritime passenger liability .
clearly , global competition , as encouraged by the WTO , is the main reason for the widespread impoverishment and lack of dynamism of Europe .
we are calling for the peace negotiations to be resumed as soon as possible , as we are convinced that there cannot merely be a military solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict .
Mr President , in your speech to us here , you said that it is extremely important to strengthen the single market , and that strengthening the single market is a prescription for the crisis in Europe .
on the Committee on Budgets I note with satisfaction that the responsible committee has adopted a positive position regarding our proposal for an amendment to the legal basis , although that would only be done in respect of future proposals on macro-financial assistance .
I am grateful to Commissioner Lewandowski for already having opened this debate with our ministers of finance .
the other aspect concerns the activities of statutory television broadcasting that exclusively serves the interests of the present right-wing government and is so tendentious in news coverage and journalism that the term statutory does not apply to it any longer .
the next item is the joint debate on the following :
you can certainly count on the Commission 's support .
just imagine if people were suddenly banned from fighting for the equality of all people regardless of sexual orientation .
at a time of economic crisis , when it is essential to reduce public expenditure , I do not agree with the European Parliament going in completely the opposite direction and sharply increasing its expenditure .
I am an optimist and a realist .
no , it is the private sector that will have to do that .
the achievement of the European Union 's growth , employment and social cohesion objectives depends on it .
the real problem , however , is to what extent we , today , the Commission and the European Union , are capable of withstanding that outbreak of nationalism , which was mentioned a moment ago , and of autarchic ideas and new protectionist illusions , which is liable to make your work , Commissioner , and the work of our European Union too , very difficult .
the length of stay in the Schengen area is limited to three months during any six-month period .
we can both look back over the 20th century , and you can be sure that the verdict will not favour the ideas that you have loyally followed for decades .
years ago we were criticised , as Jim Nicholson said , for the over-production of food .
it is the absolute priority of the Swedish Presidency to try to reach agreement regarding the European Asylum Support Office and to improve practical cooperation .
of the millions of new jobs , more than half are full-time jobs and there can be no question marks over their quality .
in my view , what we therefore need to do is as follows : confirm the Balkans ' suitability for EU membership ; remember that enlargement and consolidation are inextricably linked ; insist , in the case of Turkey , on compliance with the accession criteria ; and , in the event of the negotiations ' failure , propose a special association agreement .
currently , our monitors are blocked from Ukrainian dispatch centres .
President Lukashenko 's repressive policies must be replaced by greater democracy and greater tolerance .
that is not necessarily a good thing .
perhaps you will allow him the opportunity for a brief reply later on .
we have also spent some time discussing the amount of funding to be earmarked for this .
we must ensure that antibiotics are used responsibly in all the Member States .
therefore , I believe that we should aim for a postponement and then ultimately ....
from 11.00 to 13.00 , the following items will be discussed : a statement from Mr Barroso on the Commission Legislative and Work Programme for 2010 and a statement from the Commission on coordination of humanitarian aid and reconstruction in Haiti .
I think that the decision should be made by each Member State .
basically , Turkey is still a long way from respecting the values of the European nations , as demonstrated by the situation of the countless ethnic and religious minorities which make up the country .
Europe must continue to act as a bastion of safety and quality of life .
climate change is now a first priority in international policy ; it is an issue of direct concern to Heads of State or Government around the world .
the bulk of resources necessary will simply be transferred from the sections of the European Council , Council and Commission .
you need to explain this .
the speeches given by my colleagues have covered a number of the issues .
under those circumstances , the Americans need to shoulder their responsibilities and accept the consequences with us , but I do not see how we , on our own , could have told them to put a stop to this strategy .
will this ultimately not lead to a situation which is the precise opposite of that intended ; that is , there will be fewer jobs available for young women , because employers will simply not be inclined to bear all on their own the consequences they risk entailing should their young female workers get pregnant ?
with imports , however , adherence to our own rules can hardly be monitored .
to do this we need data exchange , but we have to ensure that there are uniform standards across Europe for this .
Member of the Commission . - The Commission has actually already responded to similar written questions from the honourable Member Mr Ziobro on the cost of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union by 2020 and on the question of carbon leakage , back in March and April 2010 .
as for the Blue Card , we must be able to welcome migrant workers , while making sure we do not pillage countries by holding on to the players needed for their development .
I would ask you , Commissioner , to ensure that this decision takes account not only of performance range and performance level , but that , above all , we also establish a common European market with regard to price level that enables people to use data services even when they are not in their own Member State .
that is called a free mandate .
the new Member States already have national soil protection legislation that functions well .
anyone listening to this debate would get the impression that I had not spent several months making my contribution to the social dimension of this dossier that we are now dealing with .
obviously good governance , a functioning rule of law and stable democracy are conditions for stability and development .
nonetheless , they are only one part of the European response to the crisis .
I urge you , Mr President , to convey this matter to Commissioner Špidla and Commissioner McCreevy , both of whom have a role in this matter .
may I say that , if you are thinking about ignoring it , I would advise you to think again , because it is only through productive democratic dialogue that we can find mutually acceptable solutions for the benefit of the many , not just the few .
my body and brain wanted to go home and sleep , but it has been too good to miss , and too important - because I am Irish - not to be here .
what do you intend to do about this Commissioner ?
it is another paean to free competition , although it glosses over its contents to disguise the dynamite contained in this gift sent to workers , small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) and especially the people of countries with weaker economies .
ladies and gentlemen , at our January meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers , we unanimously invited Serbia to sign the political agreement constituting a new step towards membership of the European Union .
the Babeş-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca is an outstanding example of the promotion of multilingualism .
this can either be because independent repairers do not have proper access to the necessary technical information or because car manufacturers interpret warranty terms in an abusive way .
on 11 March , Japan was hit by a massive earthquake , followed by a tsunami that has caused the greatest nuclear crisis in the country 's history , with the Fukushima nuclear plant suffering serious structural damage , and since then having been in imminent danger of triggering a nuclear disaster of major proportions .
however , we also think that the suggestion made in Article 1 , point c ) that the period between the delivery of the goods and the receipt of notification referred to in the second subparagraph should be two years is fairly short and , in our view , creates additional opportunities for restricting the scope and results of the European Commission 's proposal .
we have taken a very important leadership role in the European Union with regard to food assistance by untying our food assistance or , in other words , not making it a requirement that European food assistance includes food produced in Europe .
the decision by the Czech Republic to sign such an agreement is an infringement of Community jurisdiction .
we also appreciate that the European Commission is prepared to support the training of young players .
we also welcome President Obama 's early engagement in addressing the Arab-Israeli conflict , including the appointment of George Mitchell as the special envoy for the region .
we know too that the stocks of 18 % of fish species are in a poor condition and scientists recommend that we should stop fishing them immediately .
in any civilian missions of the European Union , this responsibility lies with the head of the mission under the civilian operation commander 's leadership .
the retention periods are still too long and , last but not least , I have two questions .
it is a recasting of Regulation ( EC ) No 1334 / 2000 in the light of the current international framework .
we have an ownerless capitalism .
deputising for the rapporteur . - Madam President , the Chair of the Committee on Transport and Tourism , Mr Simpson , is not able to join us today and has asked me to read out his statement .
Slovenia has the opportunity to bring them all the self-confidence of being truly equal stakeholders in the European process .
Europe is founded on the principle of free movement of persons ; this freedom , this mobility of citizens must apply to patients , too .
that is the outcome of a statement such as the one you have made : nor have you mentioned the Uighur people simply because they do not have a transnational leader supporting non-violence , such as the Dalai Lama , and I believe that that is serious when we are talking about China .
a ' bottom-up ' approach , with support for civil society and the processes of democratisation , is a prerequisite for long-term sustainability and growth .
primary industries and power generation require many years of investment and concentration of capital , which means they need to be subsidised .
in my view , it is very important that both the Ecolabel and the energy label adhere to the same principle , i.e. that the criteria become stricter as our knowledge , our skills and our technology improve .
Commissioner Michel also referred to this complexity today .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I voted in favour of this resolution because I believe it represents a further step forward towards the creation of a well-functioning , integrated single European market .
I would emphasise that the GNSS ' made in Europe ' programme has not been carried out simply in the interests of one or another Member State or one or another industrial concern .
I am told that 60 % of them happen to be British animals , which may say something about the British character , but we will not go there in this forum .
I see no reason for things to be done differently in this case .
their marginalised situation is compounded by their lack of awareness of their rights .
so it was not a failure to recognise ; I met , indeed , with a gentleman last night .
on the other hand , I must thank and congratulate Mrs Willmott on her report on this strategy .
Commissioner , I should like to start by asking a very simple question : when consumers go to supermarkets to buy milk or yoghurt , why do they buy it ?
procedures to detect and eliminate conflicts of interest are missing . we need a procedure to detect and eliminate these .
many thanks .
why is it a small and bitter victory ?
furthermore , the Greek crisis has revealed the shortcomings that are undermining the economic governance of the European Union .
not only has the organisation not been allowed to register , but recently , the police removed all of their computers , and on Monday - and this is the news I have for you - I started a collection of laptops in Poland to send to them .
we are therefore dealing in this case with rights and commitments at the workplace and a comprehensive system encompassing them , which the countries who accept and ratify the conventions must comply with .
in an industry already constrained by limitations of the number of days that can be spent at sea , time spent catching and sorting fish of no commercial value is regarded by fishermen as valuable time lost .
we now expect this ' Barroso II ' Commission to surprise us with its unfailing determination to advance the European Union .
the need for democracy in countries with a long record of political oppression should not become the undoing of future democratic process .
in short , it confirms equality for all in claiming their own rights .
I therefore believe that the EU should reach agreements with third countries on common fisheries policies , or improve existing arrangements .
the Member States and the Commission also agree that the legal status of the External Action Service should reflect and support the unique role , sui generis , that it has within the EU system .
the European Union must first of all find a happy medium between ultra-free trade and protectionism .
going back to the June Council , many of you were talking about the future Commission .
it is an extensive service , and such an extensive service does not deserve to have the agricultural budget cut if it is at all possible .
on behalf of the EFD Group . - Madam President , one of the totems of a sovereign state is that it controls who can and who cannot come into its own country .
finally , there needs to be an inquiry into why the price increase is so high , when agricultural commodities only represent a very small percentage of the total price of processed food .
( CS ) Mr President , land and sea frontiers have shifted with enlargement , increasing customs officers ' work from simple custom duties checks to combating counterfeiting , money laundering , drugs , and evasion of antidumping duties or health measures aimed at consumer protection .
the road that leads to this goal is a difficult one , and deliberate work will be required to complete it .
last but not least in terms of importance , I believe that the internal market would also be strengthened by the prudent and prompt expansion of the euro area , which will result in the economic integration of European states and make the European economy even more influential in relation to its international partners .
if we simply doubled this , so that 20 per cent of SMEs made 30 per cent of that turnover in the internal market , we could achieve what we want .
we welcome the participation of civil society and human rights defenders , as well as the special procedures , which are at the core of the UN human rights machinery , and play a critical role , especially in the Human Rights Council .
we anticipate that leaders will express a wish to maintain a general balance while paying attention to the complexity of the package in respect of its economic and financial effect .
I thank you that we worked together so well across party and country boundaries and that we were able to advance the European integration project together .
most of them have not ratified , and they certainly have not implemented - something we have called for in numerous parliamentary reports .
( EL ) Mr President , for the second time in six months , Europe is facing a food crisis which has caused serious health problems for many people and has even resulted in loss of life among our fellow men .
you also mentioned the EU 's Baltic Sea strategy , which the Commission is currently working on .
one billion .
I welcome the view expressed in the report that ICT products for the elderly should be affordable and user-friendly .
( DE ) Commissioner , in the case of road vehicles , noise emissions may not exceed defined ceilings .
for example , it recognises that some fish species are known to have a high survival rate on release and that derogations from a discard ban are possible .
we do not want to see these rights increasingly restrained and constrained , so we will support the widest possible and strongest range of rights in tomorrow 's vote .
Mr President , I would like to thank the Commissioners and rapporteurs .
we must therefore encourage young people to vary their diet and to consume more fruit and vegetables .
I am willing to come to your committees as often as you call me , Madam President , and we will discuss this over , element by element .
this will allow the management of ' spill-over effects ' , such as making local and regional economies more dynamic through small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) , social integration or the attractiveness of regions .
we are voting in favour of the report , not because it is excellent , but because it represents an improvement .
the simultaneous consideration of these texts is a challenge and constitutes a heavy workload for each of our institutions .
nevertheless , the effects of this crisis have repercussions for the EU and the ECB in terms of having to orchestrate a solution , international confidence in the euro model and the future smooth operation of the euro sovereign debt markets .
I think the core issue is : how are Member States going to finance adequate pensions for their citizens ?
texts of agreements forwarded by the Council : see Minutes
Europeana - the next steps (
I hope that the beneficiaries will gain from this simplification , those whom the funds are actually targeted at .
it is often not clear under what legislation those who produce look-alike products might be pursued , whether this falls under unfair competition or intellectual property legislation .
Madam President , it seems we will all live longer but enjoy fewer grandchildren .
in the light of the recent events in the Mediterranean basin and of their direct and indirect consequences for European countries , we must carry out a swift and thorough review of European Neighbourhood Policy .
blood diamonds are proof of the cynicism displayed by governing circles lacking scruples and respect for their own citizens .
the issue here is mainly the environment .
with regard to the report text , I would like to see tougher sanctions for punishing labour market intermediaries .
on both these , the ball is in the European Parliament 's court , for the second reading .
its purpose is to ask the public about their opinion and their awareness regarding cloning and food derived from the offspring of cloned animals .
the question is how should consumer protection and the improvement of the same be organised ?
Heads of delegations , in particular , will have to be able not only to carry out their political role , but also to handle all the Commission activities that are such a substantial part of a delegation 's mandate .
I know that the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance and the Socialist Group in the European Parliament have tabled another amendment ; ours has the same wording as the decisions of the Bureau and the Conference of Presidents , which all group chairs voted unanimously to support .
the report deals with some very important issues related to regulation of the organisation of sport , and emphasises its economic dimension . I am very pleased to note also the prominence given to so-called sport for all .
the world is currently experiencing a major growth process in globalisation terms , in particular , with the revolutions and transition to democracy of countries that have traditionally been closed and governed by totalitarian regimes , which constitutes a set of opportunities that the EU should not neglect .
it is a sign that we cannot ignore .
publication and translation obligations of certain types of companies (
for this reason I argued strongly in the past for the publication of parliamentary attendance .
the European idea came about because one day great Europeans reached out to each other over the borders , borders for which so many people had died .
as far as the economy is concerned , you have told us that somehow you are the economic guru ; you are the man who can save the world .
there is a need to reduce discards by introducing new mechanisms to encourage fishermen to engage in cod-avoidance programmes .
naturally , this is a very unpleasant situation for these citizens , and we must come up with a solution and an answer .
in China , for example , people can still be executed for what is purely a crime against property .
the Regulation , in the form proposed by the Commission , only specifies that the suspension is required when the key components of the national control system are not efficient due to the gravity or persistence of identified deficiencies .
we do need to face up to the fact that transport is at the expense of the environment and will continue to be associated with accidents .
you sat many times in this seat , Mr President , and chaired the proceedings of our Parliament .
each country has its own profile and must be regarded as distinct .
I agree with those who say that our monetary policy has room for manoeuvre , without having to jeopardise the independence of the European Central Bank or other central banks .
a larger amount of annual funding than is allocated at the moment needs to be provided so that this global navigation system is implemented in a suitable , uniform manner in all EU Member States .
the north of the Korean peninsula has become an enormous ghetto , incarcerating millions of Koreans , who , under the militaristic administration of their regime , can only dream of a free life .
because the truth of the matter is that there is no correct number of species , whether it is on a Cumbrian farm or a Liverpool suburb or even in a Cheshire forest , and I defy the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety to come up with a proper definition or stop using such ragbag words .
thirdly , the structure of the Supply Agency 's Advisory Committee is distorted , having a disproportionately large share of countries producing nuclear power on it , something which will be made worse by the amendment adopted by the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy .
otherwise they lose all meaning and legitimacy .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , unlike many other economic disciplines , marketing is a true science and as such it has its own definite laws and rules , which remain the same regardless of those involved in them .
Commissioner , I think this is going to be the major issue for us this year and the main point of conflict between Parliament and the Commission .
we are also watching developments in Korea and Japan etc .
up to now , it has been an important forum but it could , of course , be better , not least when it comes to the broader strategic issues relating to the transatlantic economy and common economic challenges .
the next item is the debate on the oral question to the Commission ( B6-0480 / 2008 ) by Mr Parish , on behalf of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development , on the situation in the bee keeping sector .
so I think we really do have to wake up to the fact that we in Europe need to produce food and we need to produce it safely , make sure that we reduce the amount of chemicals we use , which we are already doing , and we have got to make sure that we are training farmers to spray properly , which again we are also doing .
as for the ICC , I would like to express two wishes .
let me assure you that combating geographical market segmentation , be it the result of state measures or the behaviour of private parties , is a high priority for our policy in the internal market .
I agree that this report should assess , inter alia , the effectiveness of the regulation , the progress made towards ensuring closer coordination between economic policies , and sustained convergence of the behaviour of the Member States ' economies , pursuant to the Treaty .
this is not simply a question of commemorating the famine .
to pursue our goals of highest standards on nuclear safety , we interact with Russia both at the bilateral level and in multilateral fora such as the International Atomic Energy Agency and the G8 .
celebrating this year is a good time to take that on board .
secondly , I would like to emphasise again that the EU and the Member States should not incorporate into trade agreements provisions on intellectual property rights which prevent poverty-stricken people in developing countries from having access to basic medicines and which contribute to the high mortality rates in these regions .
it does not look as though the agreements made in Madrid back in June were set in stone .
if it could , we would be in danger of ending up with an indicator that gives nothing more than a distorted , partial and therefore one-sided view .
when it was tabled for debate in committee , it was further shaped by a procedure of 50 compromise amendments , from all the political groups and areas represented in Europe .
what systems will they put in place using some combination of the three pillars to ensure that their pension systems are sustainable ?
the main findings of the report are contained in the recommendations which should improve the system for managing expenditure of European funds : improving control systems at various levels - first , second and third - and the links between them , which is a particular obligation of the Member States ; and simplification of procedures to make them easier to control , and also easier to implement risk-free .
( applause )
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , the effects of the volcano ash cloud on Europe 's airspace , which , as is well known , caused many thousands of flights to be cancelled , are a good example of why aviation security is important .
the time to assess the way in which the Member States have used European aid will be when any new aid is granted , and it is then that we will perhaps be able to draw conclusions from measures that were unsuitable , particularly in the social sphere .
lifting the visa regime in the Western Balkans will benefit security , the freedom of the citizens of those countries and the entire European Union .
the Union , through the common fisheries policy , seeks to make fishing activities more effective , so that the sector , including aquaculture , is economically viable and competitive , ensures adequate living standards for the populations who depend on fishing activities and meets the interests of consumers .
finally , the third issue is foreign policy .
more than a billion people are currently suffering from starvation .
at a time when there is much thought about the European cohesion policy after 2013 , it is indeed important to present it as an indispensable tool of compliance with the EU 2020 strategy , reiterating the statement that cohesion policies are essential for enforcing the original plan of EU integration .
the Swedish Foreign Ministry defined a ' no ' to the building of minarets as the ' expression of a prejudice ' .
you will notice , Commissioner , that I have mentioned neither my country nor its Prime Minister .
a massive bloodbath has been avoided .
more than ever before , we are plotting a course for a Europe based on results .
in this communication , it will also be made very clear that the Commission cannot and will not accept that the Roma are discriminated against and excluded from our society because of their ethnicity .
firstly , I think we need to conduct an audit of all the oil platforms to check their state of repair , their level of safety and their compliance with standards .
in writing . - ( SV ) Demand for organically produced food and other goods is high and growing , and in order to meet this demand , consumers must naturally be able to identify these products on the market .
the joint debate is closed .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( SV ) Madam President , hundreds of thousands of women and children are transported like commodities in the EU .
frustration is spreading everywhere .
however , Europe cannot sit passively by while Moscow and Washington discuss its strategic future .
his effective activities highlight the distinction between good and bad administration , offering guidance on recognising mistakes , and seeking satisfactory solutions for complainants , likely to transform bad conduct into good .
in more than 600 patients , the dangerous haemolytic uremic syndrome ( HUS ) was diagnosed , which can also result in neurological disorders .
I personally would like to support this position in the Berès report , as countries which have a huge deficit and debt and , in particular , countries which no longer have access to the international capital market , must reduce their deficits before recovery can take hold .
looking back to five years ago , 2004 turned out to be the golden year of reforms that brought Turkey really closer to the EU .
one day the territorial integrity of Serbia is infringed by recognising Kosovo , and the next the people of Abkhazia are denied the chance of independence and told that a different set of rules applies to their country .
it is extremely important , it is a symbol , and naturally we need to reduce the institutional crisis solely to the issue of Ireland .
this will , in all probability , involve continued appeals for respect for Georgia 's territorial sovereignty and integrity and continuation of the EU monitoring mission , as well as our very important role of mediator in the Geneva talks .
it was also proclaimed that we would make agriculture within the EU ready for increased free trade - and especially for the new period after 2013 when the current agreement period is due to expire .
ladies and gentlemen , Thursday 's European Council brings us one step nearer to achieving a more open , more democratic Europe and one with a capacity to act . and remember , too , that a Europe which guarantees unity in diversity contributes not only to stability within its own borders but also to peace throughout the world .
texts of agreements forwarded by the Council : see Minutes
verification of credentials : see Minutes
the fourth idea which I shall take away from this debate is how to move on , to put it a little bluntly , from final documents to tangible action .
in my opinion , we will need to put our own house in order for some time to come before we can send out a more positive image of our Europe .
countries then transformed that private debt into public debt , and this is the problem Greece is having to contend with now : an unbearable level of public debt .
Mr President , I believe that the events taking place at the moment in Tunisia , and especially over the last few hours in Egypt , are both historic and very tragic .
as fishing rights form the backbone of fisheries management in the leading countries in terms of fishing potential ( US , New Zealand , Norway , etc . ) , it is totally appropriate to discuss this possibility in the Community 's fisheries management .
another illustration of efficiency is the fact that the majority of the new Member States support developing countries on the basis of adding value in specific sectors - an approach informed by their own experience of political and economic transition .
we need to continue with what we discussed in Tampere and the work that we then did in The Hague in order to consolidate what we said : the balance between freedom , security and justice .
our hope is that the people who are elected in the legislative elections and the president will have the necessary capacities to lead the reconstruction of the country .
with a view to the future , therefore , it is absolutely essential to reinforce cohesion policy with major economic resources to cope with all the challenges involved .
it then unilaterally decided to notify the Commission that it was stopping fishing because it had reached the limit set .
as I stressed everywhere , progress on the path to the EU depends on the commitment to reform at home .
in writing . - The situation with credit ratings agencies must be addressed in Europe .
the Council intends to keep Parliament informed of progress , and it will cooperate closely with Parliament on all those aspects of the preparations for implementation of the Lisbon Treaty which are of interest to both institutions .
Community statistics on the information society (
in writing . - ( FR ) Although the report on the role of women in industry rightly emphasises the many difficulties facing women in the labour market and certain economic sectors , the proposals in the text raise two questions .
there is a huge number of victims , even among those who should intervene in the event of an accident .
now we will see whether the Member States have been able to utilise the appropriations in time .
( RO ) Madam President , I would first of all like to welcome the commitment expressed by the Commission in the recent communication it presented to continue the process for simplifying the common agricultural policy .
I would like to start by congratulating the Belgian Presidency , which demonstrated outstanding abilities while leading the European Council for the last six months .
much is happening within various multilateral fora .
I still have doubts about certain aspects , such as the explicit reference to new legislation on resource efficiency , the creation of task forces at national level to manage restructuring operations , and especially enhanced cooperation on the European patent .
personally , I am in favour of maintaining the best possible relations with Turkey and other Muslim states , but it is not in Europe 's interest to allow constant humiliation of a Christian country whilst favouring Muslim ones .
with this document , the European Parliament has once again demonstrated its determination to maintain a strong , ambitious CAP with a high level of funding .
we need to find out whether there has been a breach of anti-dumping regulations with regard to the prices which industry in China pays in some cases for raw materials for processing and the surcharges imposed on European industry .
I am not in favour of creating a new fund because it would simply lead to a lot of red tape , a lot of procedures .
we look forward , subject to the approval of this House , to seeing you on that side .
this is enough for us to strive for a more effective provision of aid .
in my opinion , the automatic application of a 50 / 50 gender balance policy across the board is not really a sign that we are concerned about gender equality .
here we cannot and must not avoid difficult questions .
what is stopping us from using it ?
recently , in November 2007 , there was a high-level conference in Lisbon which debated the economy and biodiversity within this framework .
we must therefore establish consistency between the realisation of the objectives of the EU 2020 strategy and those of the cohesion policy , and the other policy areas must also contribute to an appropriate degree to the achievement of the objectives of the strategy .
( PL ) Mr President , continuation of enlargement of the European Union and the future of the Treaty of Lisbon are among the objectives of the Swedish Presidency .
my scepticism , or indeed my opposition to some of the statements contained in the resolution of the Staes report , should not be masked by my vote in favour of the discharge of the European Parliament 's 2008 budget .
( ET ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen .
insurance is more or less impossible because you cannot describe the product , or you can describe the product but it will be so expensive that it is not affordable .
instead of tearing children away from their families , we should think about how to support parents and families in their mutual responsibilities .
only a month ago , I reminded the House that pensions were exclusively the competence of the Member States and here we go again using the same language of coordination and retirement-setting mechanisms .
ladies and gentlemen , I think that this is a good day for Europe .
what is actually happening ?
we must do our utmost to eliminate digital illiteracy .
but my group , the PPE-DE , also wants to see enhanced political cooperation in the many challenges , such as the current issue of global financial instability , that we both face for the future .
the dangerous downward spiral must end .
a Middle East of new horizons and growing hope : for peace among neighbours , opportunities for our people and a future for our youth .
this will be a genuine challenge , because the Member States are busy defining their reform plans , and therefore their policies for achieving the quantified objectives , and , at the same time , they are busy working on their national budgets , which limit their financial freedom .
initial estimates , Commissioner , suggest that damage will exceed EUR 1 billion , so this will fall within the criteria for the Solidarity Fund .
1 .
the EU must also support the process by using the Millennium Development Goals as a roadmap , by keeping to its promises and meeting the financial commitments made by the EU and by the Member States and , finally , by recognising the role played by the African parliaments .
this could possibly be reinforced by a further downward correction in oil and other commodity prices , although this remains to be seen .
yet when it comes to Greece , it was agreed that the country 's situation must reach rock bottom before Brussels would be ready to actually help .
the use of any products of animal origin must be clearly shown on the label of the textile product .
the Greeks and other nations are afraid because they can see the measures that are being taken on the social side .
the Member States of the European Union have already been collaborating for a number of years in the context of intergovernmental cooperation .
( PL ) Mr President , I endorse the draft decision of the European Parliament granting discharge to the Secretary-General of the Council in respect of implementation of the budget for the financial year 2007 .
we have heard many such arguments , and we have to be honest about it : not all of them are relevant and deserve to be considered .
in the Copenhagen Communication , the Commission has addressed these questions by putting forward concrete proposals - proposals that are not only ambitious but also realistic , and will make a significant contribution to the success in Copenhagen that our planet so desperately needs .
in 1994 , a Timeshare Directive was approved which has given the sector a thorough overhaul .
on the other hand , we must not impose unnecessary burdens on small and medium-sized enterprises with regard to off-premises contracts .
in addition , Parliament 's role in drawing up legislation on the Single Market can be strengthened further .
these effects have been compounded by the inflationary pressures of the rising oil and other commodity prices and the severe housing-market corrections in some Member States .
I think it is you , the Council , that is delaying it by means of not granting us these rights .
on 21 May 2007 , Mr Tomczak again requested that the European Parliament defend his immunity .
at the same time , the Prime Minister of Turkey , Tayyip Erdogan , has said that his Government is ready to give orders to the army to attack the bases of the Kurdistan Workers Party in northern Iraq .
I know that the impact assessment has been completed and , as I said , the Action Plan is in the legislative programme and hopefully will proceed this year .
they have a great deal to hide , and Parliament cannot be a party to the systematic concealment of everything that this repression means .
we want them rather to discuss , coordinate and cooperate as much as possible , because the effects will be felt on the whole economy in Europe .
( applause from the centre left )
by my side you see my colleague responsible also for much of the response , as well as Mr McCreevy behind us here , and they will know better than anyone else that we have had to work on this from the very first moment .
( FR ) Mr President , yesterday evening , my group discussed amendments that the services have told us are unacceptable .
the analysis of the first 10 years reinforces the case for strengthening the effectiveness of budgetary surveillance in good times .
if we wish to renew the debate , we will do so .
while many of us who voted or campaigned for a ' yes ' vote are disappointed in the result , I think it is important that we reflect on that result .
there is nothing wrong with seeking care and treatment in other countries , but the practice does need proper regulation .
this study should be available next year and will form the basis for a general evaluation of the Directive , including the notification thresholds .
for this they must be held accountable .
I wish to state very clearly that we need a children 's rights approach and need to move away from a common focusing , in this debate so far , on issues such as child-trafficking , abduction and pornography .
( the President cut off speaker . )
allow me to underline the encouragement of fathers to take part in parenting with a personal remark .
explanations of vote
this is no longer acceptable .
the abundance of cod is too low .
the institutions of Europe are all focused in the same direction .
it is unfortunate that the Eastern Partnership summit could not take place during the Hungarian Presidency .
it is very important to gain the confidence of citizens of the European Union in the preparation of European directives , especially in a period when Europe is being shaken by the scandal of ' rotting cheese recycling ' .
that may be a very good thing in general , but for me , the question is whether South Korean trade and industry has been sufficiently liberalised and whether the roadmap for the free trade agreement can be met , taking into consideration the fact that South Korea still gives extraordinary subsidies to certain industries such as the pharmaceutical and electronics sectors .
I know that in the national parliaments too , particularly the Dutch Parliament , the realisation is slowly but surely sinking in that implementation involving gold-plating and cherry-picking can be detrimental to the operation of the internal market and also to the domestic economy .
we virtually had to make them up on the spot .
but let us think for a moment of the problems facing this summit .
it happens in school , at work , in peer groups , in public and also in private family life , or life with a partner .
this is hardly likely .
the catch certificate has also been considered too cumbersome or complex , and the level and nature of the sanctions have also been fiercely debated .
I should like to add a couple of words about the results of our efforts this year .
she , in particular , should be here , today , and should not only participate in theatrical performances as she did yesterday , when she spoke to the Members of six Committees about her plans on the subject of the European External Action Service .
for we live in an interconnected world , a world that requires solidarity at global level as much as it requires solidarity between European citizens .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
around 30 % of all those in self-employment in the EU are women .
the scandalous manner in which the institutions are trying to make Ireland hold another referendum is a caricatural illustration of their idea of democracy .
I would also like to assure you about the consistency of the Czech Presidency and if the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic defended the Czech President Klaus here in the debate in the European Parliament , then in the area of climate change and climate change policy I must distance myself from these statements and the position of the Czech President .
( SV ) Mr President , I would like to thank Mr Belder for a very good report .
I am glad we are to have a report on the human rights dialogue .
they allow us to be optimistic , insofar as we can , that Europe has the facilities and that , with solidarity and close cooperation by one and all , we shall be able to achieve even better results in future .
I abstained on this report , because many of the decisions proposed are socially sensitive and there is also insufficient evaluation of the benefits and risks in the report , particularly when we are talking about increasing the retirement age or Member States losing influence in pension policy .
fortunately , at least we have finally got round to tackling all the risks now .
moreover , I encourage the start of discussions regarding the launch of a global mechanism supervising wood cutting and trading .
( the sitting was closed at 11.55 p.m. )
I should like to thank Mr Moraes for his excellent work and I share with him the idea of adopting a constructive approach that includes most of the amendments proposed by the Commission , as well as numerous technical amendments agreed in the Council during negotiations on this instrument .
evaluation and future development of FRONTEX EUROSUR (
ACP countries will only open their markets gradually , with the possibility to maintain exceptions .
however , there is a lack of funds for the development of enterprise and technical and social infrastructure in rural areas , and this should be the role of cohesion policy .
there has , therefore , been no cooperation , coordination or consistency whatsoever in the application of EU legislation .
given that context , this issue really needs to be dealt with .
in another , less serious situation , I would not agree with the proposed amendment of the Treaty of Lisbon , which came into force so recently .
those pretending to understand the benefits / disbenefits of the rebate query whether or not it is more correct and efficient for countries to make direct use of EGAF monies at local level .
it falls short of what is needed in the discussion on the distortions introduced by so-called flexibility mechanisms and the need for their abolition or recasting .
I would like to remind you that 3 912 women stood quite openly in the local elections in Iraq last year . that is roughly ten women standing for each seat .
I would , however , like the content to be put to the test at the first available opportunity , namely during the 2009 European election campaign . I would like us to take advantage of that occasion and take a first step towards contact with European citizens , making them aware of the best the Union has to offer and learning from them what we should be fighting for in this House .
we take medicines to relieve pain , to alleviate the symptoms of diseases or to save our lives .
nor indeed do I deny that Commissioner Špidla has struggled hard in a hostile environment to get this package approved .
( MT ) I had intended to address a question to the President of the Commission concerning the Commission .
nevertheless , these three countries chose to adopt European values , in the 1980s , by becoming members of the Council of Europe and , later , by signing partnership and cooperation agreements with the European Union .
the debate is closed .
however , I understand the concerns , and to respond to the question at the end of the debate , I want to tell you that in the Council it is on the table , but not as a concrete proposal .
( PT ) I very much enjoyed listening to you .
the Commission has indicated that it is in favour of incorporating the fisheries plan and we hope that the Council will also lend it its support .
I think not .
firstly , let me mention the major elements as regards increased transparency and accountability .
I very much welcome the introduction of origin marking by the European Union .
this is something that we have to talk openly about and we need to come up with strategies to eradicate it .
we Social Democrats believe that it is important for everyone to be guaranteed a decent wage that it is possible to live on , and we think that the EU should encourage this .
the structure of tolls will depend on the time of day , which , in my opinion , will help to discourage people from using sections of road which are at risk of congestion during peak periods .
there is a question mark over the extent to which these values are sustainable in the context of the call for global competitiveness based on reduced labour costs , the loosening of labour law , reductions in social protection for workers and the weakening role of the state .
agenda of the next sitting : see Minutes
extending this would cost EUR 17.4 million per year for each further week .
in addition , Europe must look at ways of promoting new technologies , including with European funds , for example , by promoting the construction of CO2-neutral greenhouses that are also capable of producing energy , instead of us always viewing agriculture as a problem .
first of all , at an internal level , it is essential for the local and regional actors to get involved in promoting culture , as factors of economic development and Lisbon Strategy implementation , as well as of consolidating cultural heritage and promoting cohesion in contemporary society .
on the issue of milk quotas , we voted for greater flexibility and a higher percentage increase in quotas , giving farmers the opportunity to produce milk should they wish .
- ( PL ) Mr President , in view of the particular nature of stocks and the marine ecosystem , deep-sea fishing constitutes a unique micro-climate , a micro-world that most starkly reveals both the familiar assets of fisheries policy and its permanently apparent shortcomings .
fishing is an important economic sector for the European Union and needs to receive support at a time when the average price of a barrel of oil will remain at USD 80-100 .
it is a charter for the policies of failure .
this approach should be adaptive so that as we learn more - or , as environmental and ecosystem conditions change - new knowledge can be applied to the approach .
why make this sort of proposal ?
let me also point out the responsibility of the media .
it is going to be done immediately , so I will keep you informed in the next few minutes .
some proposals have been on the table since autumn last year .
the next item is the statement by the Commission on behalf of the Vice-President of the Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on Ukraine .
without a proper and precise finalisation of the mechanism to regulate the bankruptcy of insolvent countries , activated within the framework of the eurozone , the proposed permanent mechanism will instead become a permanent instrument for European indebtedness .
as far as Europe is concerned , we all know how slow has been the evolution of the parliamentary institution , and how great the challenges are to enforce a specific European model of democracy .
support for a measure of this nature without being aware of its implications shows that the majority of the European Parliament is on the wrong track .
that would help to establish a level playing field while facilitating the investment climate .
it is not just about money .
the non-gainful employment of women and men who , for instance , educate children , care for the elderly at home , provide inter-generational solidarity and work for the common good , is still not considered economic work to this day .
I assure you that everything is being done , both at the political level and at the technical level , to incite the Ukrainian and Russian negotiators to re-install full contractual gas supplies to Europe and to minimise the negative consequences to our citizens and economies until that is the case .
a third avenue for exploration would be to strengthen the audit committee provided for in our Statute , and to convert it into a quasi-banking supervisor .
I certainly wish the Slovenian Presidency good fortune in its efforts .
if we consider that fact , then , it is clearly better to be a commodity than a human being in Europe .
he is becoming a presidential candidate in Egypt , as I understand it .
something called ' integrated ' is dealt with as a whole , not bit by bit .
( EL ) Mr President , the European Parliament is a political body and I think we ought to consider the issues we are debating in a political manner .
it is now time that you did so .
the duration of contracts will henceforth be limited to 24 months , with an obligation for operators to offer 12-month contracts , and in the event of a change of operator , this will have to take effect within one day .
I say this , moreover , as a person who has devoted 10 years of his life to organising sporting activities .
personally , I believe a coordinated approach should be adopted : while , on the one hand , Europe wants to put some kind of pressure on the Belarusian Government , on the other , it must not completely cut off cooperation with the Minsk authorities , without thereby endorsing their policy .
Mr President , on a point of order , yesterday , before the vote on the motion for a resolution on Georgia , our colleague Mr Schulz - officially , before the whole of Europe - accused President Saakashvili of triggering the whole conflict .
I honestly hope that - aside from one country , and even then I hope that will not be the case - Member States will in fact never make use of the possibility of restricting the opening up of the networks .
we welcome this .
I consider it necessary to include the issue of nuclear non-proliferation among the European Union 's priorities and to start a constructive dialogue with all the nuclear powers , not just the USA and Russia .
there is therefore a need for us to have a fundamental debate about the whole issue of cash flows in the EU .
last year 's devastating earthquake brought Haiti to the attention of the global public .
I should like to thank both Mr Andersson and Mr Mann for their reports .
this authority will be endowed with its own supervisory powers , but also investigatory powers , and it will be able to punish failure to apply this Regulation .
few mainstream politicians dared to follow Salmaan Taseer 's lead and suggest a reform of the blasphemy laws and even fewer will be able to do so now .
let me address the issues which were brought forward by Mr Boştinaru and Mr Czarnecki on the issue of greater cooperation with national ombudsmen , particularly also beyond the EU 's borders .
so we have shifted the burden of proof .
more specifically , the one which made reference to the fact that in France buildings were allowed on floodplains and natural wetlands and that housing speculation caused the construction of buildings in vulnerable areas , and the one stating that all Community funds for the implementation of such plans , particularly from the Structural Funds , the EAFRD , the Cohesion Fund and the European Solidarity Fund , be conditional on sustainability measures .
now more than ever , it is time to give them tangible signs of our ability to reconcile the objective of economic prosperity with that of social cohesion and of our will to defend and promote the European social model .
the strength of the applause is symptomatic of Parliament 's backing and solidarity , and of the strong support shown in the debate for freedom and democracy in Libya .
moreover , in recent years it has done so faster than before .
Mr President , the purpose of this proposal is to reduce administrative burdens on small enterprises .
I would suggest that this uncertainty and these rumours themselves are harming the fight against piracy and counterfeiting .
furthermore this boosts cross-border electricity sharing and , with that , also protects states and consumers from sudden electricity shortages .
the EU 's commitment to effective multilateralism is the guiding principle of European external action .
but this is only going to happen if the international community can work together to step up its efforts and exercise pressure to end the political violence and the political impasse in that country .
( FR ) Mr President , the next Council is probably the last chance for Europe 's leaders to remember that we founded Europe in order to uphold values and to act together when fundamental issues are at stake .
I now come to the problem of assisting the population .
it is time our Commissioners heeded the message of European workers if they do not wish to widen the gap between themselves and the citizens , who will believe less and less in the European project .
I believe that acting in the abstract , thinking that the little musician , the little composer can defend himself is absurd .
( HU ) Thank you for the floor , Mr President .
however , we realise that the high expectations that surround the ECI may lead to disappointment and frustration .
we will not solve the immigration issue by being permissive on all fronts .
your 3E priorities certainly sum up the current problems facing the European Union , although I trust that in the economy section you will not forget its social aspects which are so important for the majority of EU citizens .
Mr President , when it comes to our position , Europe 's position , in the world , we are currently open to blackmail .
the programme also presents an opportunity for small and medium-sized enterprises and fully complies with the Lisbon Strategy objectives and our values .
addressing the Commission and the Council , let me add that in the course of the debate we finally want an answer to the question how we can at last restore health to our foreign and security policy that is suffering from several years of chronic under-funding , to bring an end to the annual disputes in this area that benefit nobody and are also damaging to the Commission and the Council .
how can we produce more without risking the sustainability of resources and what alternatives can be found , especially for animal nutrition ?
the next stage will be joining the euro zone .
their reluctance to increase the EU budget is quite understandable .
key areas of governance must be adapted to the requirements of the acquis , and some of these changes - let us be clear about this - are likely to go against the grain of tradition and expectations .
just this morning , I had one relating to property transactions across the European Union .
they will be a credit to the Premier League , to Wales , and will give a much needed boost to the local economy , as fans , tourists and , hopefully , businesses come to the region .
I consider the support for activities related to the sea and the creation of a new category for regions that have between 75 % and 90 % of EU per capita income to be very positive for Galicia .
the whole world , including European countries , would suffer .
however , the current reality leads us to a single conclusion : to extend the deadline for closing coal mines which are not competitive in order to support them in finding viable alternatives for all those involved in this sector .
the document adopted today will create the conditions to plan a clear framework for information on prescription-only medicines to consumers with a view to promoting more informed consumer choices and will ensure that the direct advertising of prescribed medicines to consumers continues to be prohibited .
do you think that the budget of one billion is sufficient and that the Fund reacts quickly enough to the various crises that it has to deal with ?
now what about the action ?
if infants or children do not occupy a seat they are not recorded in the statistics .
many years ago , I learned from Milan Kundera and others that the Czech Republic was an important part of Europe ; you have demonstrated that and I thank you for it .
linking ratification of the energy charter with accession to the WTO is a backward step .
we must make sure that they will not see it as another administrative exercise but that they will see it as an approach on how to improve life in Europe and in their countries and regions .
the joint debate is closed .
I applaud the approach taken by the rapporteur , and I agree with her assessment of the proposal from the Commission , and with her views on amendments and additions .
as we know , the EU 's dependence on countries supplying oil and gas is increasing .
we consider these results to be very positive as well .
this is without mentioning the foreign students that we train , who thus have French degrees and who never leave .
we should be completely open with regard to the forthcoming major reform of the credit rating agencies and today , we should discuss what seems to be almost impossible or hard to imagine .
job uncertainty is , of course , accompanied by an increase in cases of bullying .
ladies and gentlemen , in concluding this brief address , allow me to congratulate Mr Ferber and the rapporteurs of all the political groups involved , i.e. the shadow rapporteurs , on their contributions to our fruitful and constructive discussions .
however , I have to remind you that on most of the issues you mentioned - democratic reforms , social issues , the Working Time Directive , taxes - your Government was on the wrong side .
( SL ) This week , overnight from Friday to Saturday , after more than two decades , the citizens of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia , Serbia and Montenegro will finally again be able to enter the European Union without a visa .
considering the importance of Georgia , I wonder whether Georgia was discussed during the recent EU-Russia Summit , because Russia is not implementing the six-point agreement and the EU mission is in the embarrassing situation of not being allowed into the separatist territories .
this is why food and animal feed prices have risen .
if this is not achieved , then we are all going to have to have further sittings during the 2008 budget .
only essential regulations are necessary .
in writing . - This proposal invites Council and Parliament to authorise the addition of a further 718 pharmaceutical and chemical products to the already existing list of 8 619 products benefiting from bound duty-free treatment upon importation into the EU .
in order to emphasise the international dimension of migration , the issue of cooperation with the countries of origin and transit within the framework of the global approach to migration and development should have its starting point in the Stockholm Programme .
thank you for your attention .
on behalf of the S & D Group . - Madam President , debates on Russia very often divide us into ideologists and pragmatists , confrontational geo-strategists and conciliatorists , Cold War veterans and new utilitarian opportunists .
I am in favour of that , but should we not also inform people of the fact that African nations spend more on arms than they receive in development aid ?
we know the results of the voting on this Emissions Trading Directive that took place yesterday in the European Parliament in the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety .
money is allocated here and there , and no longer these days to the poorest regions and where it actually might be needed .
a break with these policies is required , ascribing value to the roles of women , to their rights and to equality , and ascribing value to and strengthening , among other things , the network of services relating to rural resources , health , education and family assistance .
hardly a ringing endorsement for the Lisbon Treaty .
Member States need to promote the image of their agricultural products , both among Community consumers and with the consumers of third countries , particularly with regard to quality and nutritional information , food safety and safe production methods .
could the Commission detail the changes to the EU competences held by DG Admin that the Lisbon Treaty would have brought in ?
they were laid down in the informal Council statement of 11 February .
I absolutely deplore the fact that , after not having had , for the first time in modern history , a single person condemned to death in Europe in 2009 , the Belarusian authorities have condemned two people to death and are likely to execute them during this year .
however , this is a long-term solution .
Madam President , I have to say that this was not an easy report to wade through .
in addition , we support the need for each national parliament to be fully involved , in accordance with their budgetary and control rights , in order to increase the transparency , ownership and accountability of decisions taken , including at European level .
Parliament in particular has already adopted a resolution on the crisis at its last part-session .
this is the only acceptable basis for renewing the Lisbon Strategy .
in view of these circumstances , external assistance to support South Sudan in the fight against extreme poverty , to strengthen local organisations , and to speed up the benefits of peace for its inhabitants , will be more important than ever for a long time to come .
that is why you will often find it difficult to present a credible case to citizens .
Italy 's relations with Brazil on criminal cooperation are governed by a bilateral extradition treaty concluded in 1989 .
scientific findings on the ' greenhouse effect ' have been available for more than 180 years .
this is the equivalent in payments of just 0.9 % of the EU 's GDP , which is substantially below the already extremely compromised financial framework , at an average of 1 % .
vulnerable groups and communities should receive our support in the fight against exclusion and inequality .
the success story of VAT cannot and must not prevent it from adapting to new times .
this attack marked the severance of their previous alliance and the secret Hitler-Stalin pact of August 1939 , which divided up Europe .
it is a large portion of the EU 's budget and the Member States have a clear responsibility in this regard .
equally I have been ensuring that the EU representatives on the ground are cared for : we have contingency plans in place for their safety , as you would expect .
secondly , it is not possible for the directive to establish new competences for the Commission because they are not vital .
( DE ) Madam President , I am pleased to be able to speak after my successor on the Committee on Constitutional Affairs , because I supported this project for 10 years and the European citizens ' initiative was included in the text of the treaty almost at the last second .
Europe must actively involve itself here .
we must use the budget to give citizens to understand that the budget is a political tool with which we not only reply to fears but also provide political prospects for the future .
the greenhouse models predict maximum warming in the high atmosphere , but observations show that what little warming there is is at the surface and largely a result of the urban heat-island effect .
it also represents progress compared with the Commission 's proposal , since it improves transparency regarding the funding of campaigns to collect signatures .
agenda for the next sitting : see Minutes
when I was a newly elected Member , I had the privilege of hearing the speech made here by the French President François Mitterand in his role as President-in-Office of the Council .
what is more , there is little clarity about what the objective of such an intervention would be .
encouraging sports and religious studies on the curricula at school and outside school can raise considerably the awareness of children of the deadly influence of drugs .
I believe that the new proposal will help instil greater awareness among local decision makers and make them take more robust action to protect the environment .
I call on the governments of the Member States and the institutions of the European Union not to cut resources for education at this time of financial crisis , because high-quality education that is available to all sections of the population is the best weapon against poverty and the best tool for finding a solution to the crisis .
you have a two-thirds majority in parliament and it is a legitimate majority .
broadly , Conservatives support the aims of this report although we reject the need for a single powerful co-ordinating figure to speak on this matter .
this , of course , is what Rhodesia - now Zimbabwe - successfully did .
the diseases that we are discussing today - Alzheimer 's disease , although Parkinson 's disease is also referred to in the text - are diseases of the brain which constitute a major challenge for Europe .
as confirmed by scientific advice , this bluefin tuna stock is now at high risk of collapse .
we managed to put through some of the better amendments , or so we thought , and then when we voted on the whole text , we realised that it was not going to work .
I therefore ask you , sincerely - all of you - to support me and the hard work that all of us have done across political groups to bring this matter through as quickly as possible .
2009 progress report on Croatia
this reactionary policy is giving rise to popular uprisings , such as those breaking out right now in Egypt and other countries , thereby proving that the people are the protagonists of history .
if the European Union 's aid is indeed effective , then it must be focused on one objective : that of ensuring the growth of this Palestinian constitutional state where the rule of law protects the weak and helps the strong .
in writing . - ( PT ) I welcome efforts to promote prosperity beyond the EU 's borders , because I consider our aid important in order for some third countries to be able to tackle their balance of payments crisis and restore the sustainability of foreign debt .
last week I organised a round-table meeting back home in Bulgaria .
in 2007 , only 5 % of the Romanian employees earned more than 2000 RON , approximately 500 Euros .
yet they were only mandatory criteria on paper .
however , I believe that we need to go beyond the no-fly zones by providing support to those who need to defeat Gaddafi , while also showing solidarity with our southern Member States which will receive a wave of refugees .
it is due to the excellent cooperation of the groups .
however , in terms of political freedom and political plurality , there has been absolutely no progress .
on the way in here he did indeed call me a psychopath .
given that there is a common strategy , known since Barcelona as the Euro-Mediterranean strategy , and given that some countries are implementing it to a greater extent than others , I think those countries should be given an incentive , some positive recognition .
it is to be welcomed if , under this prestigious title , whole city districts gleam in renewed splendour , and new building works and projects are started - provided sustainability is not forgotten in the process .
the only way of turning the page is to go back to international law and an independent vision that sees the whole of the Balkans in Europe , recognising the right of the whole area .
while apples and oranges perhaps both produce a good fruit stew , that is completely the wrong approach to take in politics .
it all depends on the Czechs .
this aid is essential in helping the unemployed and victims of the relocations occurring in an era of globalisation .
nevertheless , it is a start , and it is to be welcomed because , as Commissioner Špidla pointed out , financing is the biggest issue at hand .
the EU is dependent on energy imports for 53 % of its requirements .
we must also ensure that this kind of behaviour is appropriately punished .
Madam President , there are plenty of examples of sound EU environmental polices which improve the lives of citizens across the Union and there are , of course , also many examples where unnecessarily bureaucratic measures come from the EU and restrict the potential to sustain our rural economy and way of life .
so this money is being managed by the Member State administrations and I think we should definitely show Greece the red card here .
the crisis in Georgia temporarily opened Western Europe 's eyes , especially those of our socialist colleagues , to what Russia can be like .
in writing . - ( FR ) Sovereign wealth funds , these state-owned funds that are invested all over the world , are they a good or a bad thing ?
on 25 and 26 March decisions were made in the European Council on issues that will have a considerable impact on the lives of thousands of Europeans , especially those who share the euro .
the new management approach will provide for closer monitoring of the project , thereby allowing for early warning of any potential difficulties .
some of them are there only because there is no safe country to which they can return .
is the Commissioner aware of the interest and involvement that bees have sparked and inspired across Europe ?
furthermore , in most Member States , public authorities customarily pay late in situations of financial difficulty .
we must admit that , being a new Member State , we are confronted with various difficulties in their specific implementation .
( the speaker spoke in Arabic .
the lower standard of living , but also lack of knowledge in using the new technologies , transforms this category in a priority target for future efforts at European level .
and we should not be trying to impose the template of the EU 's institutional structure on another continent without reflection on the appropriateness of such a structure for Europe , let alone Africa .
as if the very idea of stress tests was going to reassure our fellow citizens or the financial market .
this should eliminate the existing obstacles to the free flow of information by enhancing the cross-border mobility of researchers , students , scientists and university teaching staff .
in writing . - ( LT ) I welcome this resolution because we must encourage honest business practices and halt the spread of misleading business practices .
according to this report , we need to cater more closely to the needs of women , particularly in non-urban areas .
we welcome the fact that the assessment by this Parliament has also led to similar conclusions .
I would like to ask you , Commissioner , how it is that we can know the news through reports from Hungarians , yet the authorities see and tell us nothing ?
that concludes Question Time .
no one knows better than the European Union how hard it is to build this collective leadership .
in China and India they are now starting to eat meat , which means that they need to import much more cereal than they used to do .
in the UK , last year alone , 325 children were identified as being suspected victims of trafficking .
it is an approach that obviously reduces Europe 's agricultural production .
the EU has not been eager to offer Ukraine the prospect of EU membership .
this approach should create the conditions essential for realism , such as technological innovation to reduce CO2 emissions from cars and the development of biofuels , the reform of the taxation system to take account of environmental impact , and accompanying measures to make better use of infrastructure and encourage citizens to change their habits .
third and last , experts estimate that the average annual inflation rate in the EU in 2009 will be around 4 % , which will result in an appreciable increase in Parliament 's administrative costs .
( RO ) Mr President , I believe that there are certain disparities within Romania 's agriculture sector in terms of structural problems , compared with other Member States .
in the case of Belarus , it is not possible to fulfil this aim in its entirety due to the measures adopted .
( the President cut off the speaker )
this serves absolutely no purpose and is also harmful to European construction .
the second group are women over 50 , who are seen as less productive and less creative .
I am certain no one in this House is in the slightest doubt as to the important role the European External Action Service will play in the work of the Union .
such a finding is not always negative for the complainant , who at least has the benefit of a full explanation from the institution concerned .
are the Council and the Commission prepared to provide Parliament and civil society with adequate information concerning participation opportunities ?
without competitive electricity and gas markets , an emissions trading scheme will never work properly and our aims regarding renewable energy will quite simply fail .
it seems amazing to me that anyone would wish to deny people their basic rights at EU level just because of their age , disability , religion or belief or sexual orientation .
for instance , the reciprocity principle should be applied in the context of the legal remedies available in the event of commercial disputes , and there is a need to improve the protection of intellectual property rights , including trademarks , patents and geographical indications .
today in this debate I am replacing my colleague Louis Michel , who unfortunately cannot be here ; I take this matter on with great interest , both in its own right and also because it affects Europe directly - the need , for instance , to mobilise our navies to combat piracy , and this is only one recent example .
in writing . - We all wish this new Commission well .
the European Union 's neoliberal social security policy must be changed .
one of the results of the crisis is unemployment .
the report contains important lessons for us to learn from the financial crisis with regard to risk , boards of directors , supervisory bodies , shareholders and remuneration .
climate change poses a threat to the Millennium Development Goals .
the report has been adopted by a large majority and contains proposals to require imported goods to comply with the same social and environmental standards as European products .
( DE ) Mr President , over the last few days , we have seen great turbulence in the US financial system , and that is putting it mildly .
secondly , we need greater ambition in the transatlantic dialogue in relation to subjects to which both the rapporteur and the Commissioner alluded : Iran , Iraq , the Middle East , Afghanistan , etc .
it represents both an obvious fact and a step forward .
for the better administration of this process the Western Balkan region should follow the example of the Nordic Council .
there should be zero tolerance of waste , fraud and mismanagement .
if it is going to be , please tell us .
that is not what we are trying to do .
I support the proposals of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) for a definition of common safety standards and for greater vigilance within and around nuclear power stations .
some of our crown jewels are about to be sold off to China , which is an unwelcome development .
last but not least , I strongly believe that the involvement of Eurojust in the decision on the choice of jurisdiction is of the utmost importance .
making the import of GM soya easier will not help to resolve the crisis in the livestock sector .
the country is , we know , an area of Russian influence , and also has an American military base . the European Union 's active participation should be based , principally , on building the foundations of a democratic country , and also on ensuring internal security .
ladies and gentlemen , we need a policy revolution in this area of human rights .
Commissioner , we must establish a Commission delegation in Tehran as soon as possible in order to begin a dialogue with Iran 's government institutions on the worsening human rights situation in this country .
the banks need to realise that they need SMEs and have made money from them in the past .
however , I would like to clarify once again that the parallel trade in medicines is an activity which is permitted under the EU Treaty and will remain so .
if you do that , we will not need the money .
the first is obviously the current crisis that has come from the United States , which reflects the fact that we are in the second stage of globalisation , where inflation is back and which is marked by a euro / dollar exchange rate unfavourable to our exports - though it does have its advantages - and which is also marked by an unbelievable rise in the prices of commodities , oil and food .
why ?
( PL ) Madam President , I have expressed my opinion many times during debates in the European Parliament on EU policy in the field of limiting greenhouse gas emissions , a policy which is very strongly supported by the European Parliament and the European Commission .
many people are also ignoring the election results of 7 June 2009 which form the democratic basis for today 's debate .
my colleagues in the Bundestag , the lower house of the German Parliament , and in each of the German federal states will have to play their part , as our country has an 18-month period of detention pending removal .
clearly we are in the midst of a classic debate for all democratic societies seeking to combat terrorism effectively while respecting the fundamental rules of the rule of law and fundamental principles , such as freedom of expression , that govern all democratic life .
measures that can be considered to alleviate the impact of high oil prices on poorer sections of the population should remain short-term and targeted , and should avoid distortionary effects .
an agreement without China 's signature is not an agreement .
strengthening and promoting a ' well-functioning ' internal market do not make it more ' consumer-oriented ' , nor do they lead ' to lower prices ' , as they are trying to make us believe .
the option of an independent operator of the transmission network may be used by countries in which , on the entry into force of the new directive , the transmission network will fall to a vertically integrated undertaking .
this was a gesture to help bring about peace talks .
we need to move forward to a common asylum policy by 2012 , to have a common migration policy and to facilitate legal immigration for work while combating irregular immigration .
the Belgian Presidency has been very active .
Mr Silvestris , may I respond ?
some of this is positive but that is not always the case as the unaccountable administrations make decisions that maximise short-term profits at the expense of countries , communities and families .
this means that every region must assess the sectors that most urgently need to receive support , instead of nominating all possible sectors without deeper analysis .
I would also like to draw your attention to a view which has been voiced many times today , namely , that the balance in the Western Balkan countries is very delicate .
we have to demand the following from the Council and the Commission : this fundamental principle , and these guidelines , now also have to be implemented in negotiations with the United States .
I am confident that the Council will find a solution acceptable to those countries that have already ratified the Treaty , to Ireland , and also to Member States that are undecided as to how to proceed .
I want to give my view that there is no doubt that stability in the Mediterranean is certainly good for the wider European Union .
of all the major world economies , Europe is the most dependent on the transport of goods using oil .
we must agree on the Economic Recovery Plan , which is of the utmost importance for Europe 's development .
we cannot remain inactive , however .
Member of the Commission . - ( CS ) Since I am going to try to give a very brief reply to all of the questions together , I will concentrate only on the most important issues .
economic growth does not automatically mean quality jobs - for that there has to be a clear commitment on the part of Member States .
this document goes much wider and demands automatic exchange in all areas .
there is also the late implementation of the increase announced by the Commission as part of its support for the development of agriculture in southern countries .
despite these successes , there are more than 69 countries that have not yet abolished landmines .
I think that it lacks financial consistency .
how do the Member States view the idea of introducing a European Border Surveillance System ?
European broadband - Investing in digitally driven growth (
as you know , their Parliament prohibits that and they are not ready to do it .
for example , companies could find it more profitable to officially relocate their headquarters to countries outside the EU and then to post their workers to their European branches to avoid having to provide the same rights and conditions for their workers that are legally applicable to EU citizens working in the EU .
this proposal aims to consolidate the existing structure , in the form of a network , without creating , at least for the time being , a new agency or a new observatory at EU level .
after all , there must be compulsory cooperation at European level if maritime safety is to be improved at the end of the day .
one of the success stories of this relationship is NATO , an organisation we should all support and strengthen as it has secured peace in Europe and developed deeper ties between the EU and the US .
eventually , though , Turkey will need to do most of the groundwork , and the Oomen-Ruijten report contains many points which we have looked at in a critical light and should continue to do so .
all three are competing with each other , to everyone 's detriment .
Mr President , I would like to follow on from what Mr Barnier said at the start about the considerable importance of the internal market in the current crisis .
perhaps you think I am naive , but I am not alone .
Malaysia has a vibrant society and a thriving economy , and it plays an important role within the Association of South-East Asian Nations ( ASEAN ) .
in 2005 , we came up with an action plan to boost this partnership and , in 2006 , a free trade agreement was concluded .
however , it would be a big mistake to turn away before addressing the long-term causes of this problem .
in writing . - ( SV ) We understand that there may be major problems within the construction sector in Spain and that it may be the case that unsuspecting citizens purchase properties in good faith which it later transpires the construction company did not have the legal right to build .
I am pleased that despite the many complications , it has been possible to agree and adopt the EU budget for 2011 after the modifications made by the Council .
it is clear , however , that , in this context , your report and the study prepared by the European Parliament will be very useful .
secondly , we will secure uniform treatment and mutual assistance between national authorities for the surveillance of marketed products , effective safety checks on products manufactured by European companies and those entering the EU from third countries , and , of course , more coherent future technical legislation .
we may each have different views on the Treaty of Lisbon .
the matter of transit journeys by coach and bus has been dealt with well too .
we can see that the health situation is disastrous , the reconstruction of the education system is an absolute must , not to mention the process of getting rid of the traces of the disaster .
for the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) , an end to the crisis and the creation of jobs cannot be achieved by more public spending but by an economic , fiscal and environmental regime that is favourable to enterprises , especially small and medium-sized enterprises .
the authorities of the Member States must take care to ensure that they do not have schools exclusively for ' elite ' immigrants , but ones that serve as models for other immigrant schools .
how is a farmer to produce crops - I am indeed one myself - when he has no seed ?
the current protocol to the Fisheries Agreement in force between the European Community and the Union of the Comoros , one of many fisheries partnership agreements of which the European Union is a co-signatory , expired on 31 December 2010 .
the disruption caused in financial terms to the entire economy shows that the industrial sector requires a huge amount of support , since it is still a sector of fundamental importance for the economy , especially the real economy .
during the Lisbon debate in Ireland , many citizens said to me that the EU was intent on pushing to have abortion available in Ireland .
without it , this news would unfortunately be nothing other than a publicity stunt .
however , developments in the region are often unpredictable : tensions accumulate and misunderstandings abound .
there is a wide range of different causes for this .
do you agree that it ought to be possible to consistently refuse to carry out arrest warrants on behalf of countries where conditions in prisons and houses of detention remain inhumane , that the EAW will be subjected to a human rights assessment and that Cor Disselkoen need not fear even more misery ?
first of all , the Commission will be putting forward a proposal next month to relax the visa regime for Taiwanese citizens .
unfortunately , it prefers lies , manipulation or even force .
the next TEC meeting will take place on 17 December in Washington .
Hungarians were among the greatest victims of this dictatorship .
I agree with the respect of the subsidiarity principle in the proposal , leaving it to the discretion of Member States to decide how intensively ' road safety impact evaluations ' , road safety audits and safety inspections are to be applied .
given the above , there must be a European strategy for electric vehicles , supporting industry in developing clean and viable technology and supporting the creation of a single market in electric vehicles .
how can we eliminate tax irregularities and the illegal transfer of profits out of poor countries by various firms ?
the truth is that the European Parliament is mid-way through the discussions and negotiations that are ongoing .
at the same time , it is sending out a clear message that the developed countries will continue to set an example .
if thousands and tens of thousands of European families are now to fear for the future of their jobs in the motor industry , the Commission , too , the Commissioner and CARS 21 must all bear some responsibility for this .
Mr President , I have voted in support of the Graça Moura report , as we spend too little time and money on supporting culture .
in my opinion , Parliament has already taken a stand in this question .
in November 2007 Parliament adopted resolution ( P6 _ TA ( 2007 ) 0507 ) on an integrated approach to earthquakes by the EU ( prevention , response and repairing damage ) in which it called for the adoption of specific measures as regards a policy for protection , reinforcing buildings ( with special emphasis on buildings of historic and cultural significance ) , funding , research , public information , etc .
there were many other issues that were discussed at this European Council .
it is , however , full of ideology .
this could not be done under the Charter of Fundamental Rights .
the reason why I did not vote ' yes ' to the amendments is because they were phrased in a very old-fashioned way , as though we were having a discussion on the Tobin tax 20 years ago .
we in Parliament and all of the groups have called for this to be done much more quickly , because the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development ( OECD ) and the United Nations have already been discussing these matters for 15 years .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , after 10 years , the growing space carved out by the euro in international trade and its use as a reserve currency show that it has become a world benchmark .
the strategy is mainly understood as a document that relates to the countries along its shores and their coastal areas , but it definitely has a robust regional dimension .
Member of the Commission . - ( ES ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , in 2005 the Commission , with the support of the Council and Parliament , embarked on a process to reform statistical governance in the European Union with the aim of strengthening the independence , integrity and responsibility of the national statistics institutes of all the Member States of the Union and , of course , of Eurostat , the European Statistical Office .
this will turn into a bottomless pit and the citizens in the states that will have to foot the bill will find themselves duped once again .
France and Spain were the first Member States to introduce joint investigation teams within the European judicial area .
after all , a number of delegation members are present here .
if we want to be able to take on the political priorities of the European Union , the new expenditure made necessary by the economic crisis and the new powers conferred by the Treaty of Lisbon , we must support an ambitious draft budget , capable of delivering the investments required for more jobs and a return to sustainable growth , or , in other words , a budget that lives up to the Europe that we want .
the trafficking of children and women is flourishing .
one cannot but note that citizens are only protected if they travel further than 250 km by coach or bus .
before we begin , I would like to make an announcement .
but I am also equally happy that you , President Trichet , referred to financial stability .
it is a real pity that the European Commission is not as involved in this as it should be .
in spite of the crisis , education budgets announced for 2010 have remained constant or increased in many Member States .
this proposal will be submitted in early 2010 .
I hope that one outcome of the forthcoming meeting to be attended by Commissioner Damanaki , who is here today , will be that fishing for whitebait can resume in 2011 , at least in certain districts , such as Schiavonea and Corigliano Calabro in Calabria , with a possibility of a review for 2012 .
I have also received first notifications from the regulators concerning the third-party access issue , and Nabucco is looking for new supply sources - Azerbaijan , Turkmenistan , Egypt and in time Iran .
more efficient use of energy and our already scarce water resources is one of the measures which must be taken .
she has put a lot of work into making many serious and sensible improvements to this proposal .
we all know that for all of us , including many people in the United Kingdom , doing nothing in this case would be much more expensive than taking this step .
during the negotiations on the wider ' six pack ' a number of suggestions for improving this Council directive were made , many by the European Central Bank and by Members of this House .
the report states that the ' transparency of political institutions is a prerequisite for legitimacy .
I am fully aware of the work of the co-rapporteurs , Ms Jiménez-Becerril Barrio and Ms Romero López , and of both the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality and the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs , who have added a lot of value to the ongoing work in order to improve the protection of victims .
this is an EU success .
one word on offsetting .
secondly , since , in the majority of cases , natural disasters are also caused by human acts , it is important to ascertain who is responsible for them , to pursue the culprits and to increase the penalties .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
the potential of the Arctic is impressive .
twenty weeks is liable to have a negative impact on female employment : it would put a brake on their employment .
I would like to point out that there is nothing the Ombudsman can do in over 30 % of cases .
those flows of data are facilitated by the use of the internal market information ( IMI ) system , which already allows for the electronic exchange of information on the five main health professions .
this may also lead to the greater involvement of private entities , or contributory organisations , and thereby to the more effective use of resources .
we need to examine the question of what is more sensible in particular cases : the EU Pilot or the previous treaty infringement proceedings .
it is important to note that , while the definitions contained in the MiFID and the Prospectus Directive offer a good starting point , there may be some additional issues which might also need to be addressed .
there has been an intensive exchange of ideas and visits by scientists , even in the times of the Iron Curtain , and the scientific community is almost borderless these days .
it is closing its doors to us ' .
though Croatia has never produced any mines of this sort , there are life-threatening antipersonnel mines along some 1 000 kilometres of its territory .
it is vital to improve communication between the judicial authorities and to ensure that requests for information from Member States concerning criminal records are replied to properly and in a comprehensive , exhaustive fashion .
yesterday evening , the debate was very spirited , Mr President , and our fellow Members voiced a lot of criticism .
and indeed it is vital to maintain and improve Europe 's economic and competitive position and to maximise its social and cultural impact by enabling innovative services for the benefit of citizens .
the Commission has a long and healthy tradition of interaction with civil society organisations .
this is an area where savings can be made that will be evident in the final accounts .
and what progress has been made to date in this area ?
one thing we cannot live without , however , is a definition of European citizenship in Article 8 of the Treaty of European Union , because citizenship is a symbol which , unlike a flag or an anthem , has a real life , real implications for over 450 million people .
I would like to use this debate to draw attention to something that appears to have been forgotten .
however , the main lesson to be learnt from all this is that the euro is a millstone round its Member States ' neck and that the European Central Bank 's policy , like the euro exchange rate , is geared solely towards Germany .
their migration will become our migration .
we insisted on advanced research and a programme financed at the European level .
the restrictions on spraying by aircraft will surely be welcomed by EU citizens , as will the buffer zones for protecting drinking water and aquatic organisms .
( RO ) The European efficiency and renewable energy fund is an innovative solution to maximise the efficiency of public funds used in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources by mobilising private investments .
there is a blue card .
these crises show us how dependent we are on one another , how global , how interwoven the financial world is these days .
as a last resort , the EU delegation actively carries out démarches to halt executions .
it was a provisional system that became a definitive system : the so-called ' Bolkenstein VAT ' was not introduced .
there is no reason for bringing all that negativity to this proposal today .
the purpose of this brief review is to underline the essence of this matter .
Madam President , as a new Member of this House , I have listened to the many speakers who have focussed on Mr Barroso 's track record in office and have voiced many concerns .
critical Infrastructure Warning Information Network ( CIWIN ) (
we have had too many over the last few years .
it seems as though the Eternit trial , which began in Turin concerning the events at Casale Monferrato , where there is not one family that has not suffered a loss , counts for nothing .
on all these occasions , we have said that the peaceful practice of religion is a right and that it should never be considered as a threat to the State .
( DE ) Madam President , Mr Cioloş , ladies and gentlemen , it is extremely dangerous to talk about an increase in bureaucracy , because this sort of discussion often backfires .
you have done the right thing .
this can , and must , be greatly improved .
alternatively , Irish troops currently in the Lebanon could also join this mission .
this idea is today the subject of a consensus .
I believe that only those countries that have land frontiers with the European Union should be included in the neighbourhood policy .
communication of Council common positions : see Minutes
( the President cut off the speaker )
deficits are the effect and not the cause of the crisis .
Noels believes this is the reason for the closure of Opel Antwerp .
in summary , the present situation of the maritime transport market in the EU is not a bad one , but the prospects do not make us feel optimistic .
this would take out small and medium winemaking facilities at one fell swoop , and once again leave a market so culturally ours in the hands of half a dozen or so multinationals .
there would be no other changes to the text .
you have to admit that there is something obscene about that .
transparency and access to information during the course of projects is extremely important , both as regards the actual internal administrative processes between project coordinators and contractors , and as regards the citizens of the European Union .
in this case , those working conditions that are applicable at the place where the work is carried out shall apply .
finally , I add my own thanks to Commissioner Rehn for all he has done for enlargement in the last five years , not only concerning Turkey but - also close to my heart - the Western Balkans .
I would also like to say - to explain the vote that has just taken place - that when any part of the entire compromise is not adopted , it is the whole package that is subject to conciliation .
for more than two months , 12 000 employees of the now privatised former state tobacco monopoly , Tekel , fought mass redundancies , short-time work and the loss of the social rights they had won .
under the Culture programme ( 2007-2013 ) , the Commission is supporting projects and activities which promote cross-border mobility of those working in the cultural sector , encourage the transnational circulation of artistic and cultural works and foster intercultural dialogue .
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we assert the right of the UK as a nation state to govern itself and make its own laws , transport and environment laws being no exception .
today , Mrs Ashton is like Pontius Pilate , who washed his hands .
this is why I did not endorse the report .
in future , policies must not - I quote - ' result in the transfer of individuals to other nations to face torture or otherwise for the purpose , or with the effect , of undermining or circumventing the commitments or obligations of the US to ensure the humane treatment of individuals in its custody and control ' .
European cohesion policy has been an example of a successful EU policy , which has abided by the principles on which it is based , and which has helped to remove inequalities .
documents received : see Minutes
no , the aim of media governance is to uphold pluralism and to guarantee that any initiative in media can be developed .
hitherto , significant investment has been provided for coal-fired power plants , and this continues to make these poor countries dependent on fossil fuel , which heavily pollutes the environment .
for example , the Commission might at this present point in time be shelving infringement cases against various Member States , when it comes to gambling , to hide this away from the general public for a couple of years .
wake up and smell the coffee , Europe , before we have food riots on our streets !
the Environment Commissioner has said that this must never happen again .
in this report we call for a ban on trans-fats , but the Commission refuses to propose it .
there is an ongoing meeting that is trying to work out a road map with the opposition , now that European leaders are busy on our behalf talking to other leaders in the region and getting them to put in the calls as well .
in writing . - I voted in favour of this report which highlights ways in which the EU 's industrial base may be strengthened . industry provides roughly a third of employment in the EU , which is why it is so vital that we ensure its ongoing viability .
the aim , therefore , is to use them as best we can , and the Commission proposes a simplification , a harmonisation of our external mandates .
Commissioner , since 2007 , 4 % of the European Regional Development Fund ( ERDF ) has been set aside to improve the energy performance of buildings , but has been used only to a very limited extent .
putting such a proposal at the top of the agenda would strengthen the signal being sent to our eastern neighbours and to their Community aspirations .
if we do not react responsibly and correctly in the weeks to come , we could see a split starting to form .
( FR ) Mr President , I too should like to join in congratulating the Portuguese Presidency .
these two debates are linked .
there is no connection between gambling monopolies and a restrictive gambling policy .
however , this is a step in the right direction and an attempt at the maximum possible protection .
fortunately , no one was injured but there was significant material damage .
when the Council asks the Commission to put a proposal on the table to harmonise the bank deposit guarantee , the proposal is there three weeks later .
unfortunately , a different philosophy is being applied to the case of the Polish shipyards .
in writing . - ( DE ) The Gruber report views immigration , in some parts , solely in terms of the usefulness of the immigrating workers as capital .
clearly , this also applies to relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina .
the development of the market in terms of demand and the significant development of new products , marketed in a similar way , have created substantial problems for consumers and businesses .
at the Human Rights Council , we are ready to discuss our own challenges , share experiences and offer support to those working to improve respect for human rights around the world .
scientific advice calls for additional data both in terms of quantity and quality .
I can understand its reluctance to reveal unnecessarily information about people 's origins or opinions .
some time ago , Parliament laid down the requirements that body scanners must comply with if they were to be introduced .
in my view , all dictatorships , whether we are talking about the cruelties of National Socialist or Communist systems , spring from the same source .
congratulations on your report , Mrs Pagano .
this hinges on training .
we learned this first hand from Senator Piedad Córdoba .
specifically , how quickly will we be able to utilise this mechanism in the case of serious market disruption ?
that was what we had and that fact has clearly done more for bringing Europeans closer to the EU than any public relations strategy or institutional debate .
( LT ) I must commend Mr Sacconi regarding the significant additions to the Commission 's timely Green Paper on the issue of climate change .
towards Europe-wide Safer , Cleaner and Efficient Mobility : the First Intelligent Car Report (
5 .
in particular , the motion calls for an improvement and facilitation of services to the Roma community , which is defined by the motion as a ' marginalised ' community .
all that will happen without the mandatory reallocation of sufficient resources to improve transport infrastructure and the efficiency and environmental performance of the haulage industry , something that should be an essential outcome of this directive .
the most important thing from the perspective of boosting confidence was the way the G20 participants behaved .
for that reason we should vote against it .
the Pakistani education system must be reformed and the preaching of hatred for Christians to young children must be stopped .
the energy summit in February also brought a real breakthrough .
it was people from social democratic circles who came to me and said ' exactly ! ' - and not only because the title echoed a famous statement by the great Willy Brandt .
the vote in favour of the report on improvements in the safety and health at work of pregnant workers , workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding , is the culmination of a long discussion process in the European Parliament , which was already left over from the last session and in which we have actively participated , contributing to the report 's adoption .
action taken on Parliament 's positions and resolutions : see Minutes
I have to admit that it is very rare for me to be lobbied , in Northern Ireland , to vote on an EU directive in a positive way , but I was on this one , and I was delighted to see such a positive vote today .
we are therefore also appealing to the trade unions to do more to prevent this type of wage discrimination when taking part in pay negotiations .
enhanced cooperation and good-neighbourly relations between the European Union and Russia are of major importance for the stability , security and prosperity of Europe and beyond .
I find this a little fishy , even by the standards of this House , so I do not think she was the right and proper person to be rapporteur for this report .
- Mr President , Mexico has long been a primary conduit into the world 's largest market for illegal narcotics , the United States .
as regards the budget side - and now I am speaking on behalf of Vice-President Kallas - the Commission can accept the solution as now agreed by the three institutions , though its approach differs from our initial proposal of December 2008 .
( GA ) Mr President , since 1973 , my country has received roughly EUR 18 billion from the European Union Structural and Cohesion Fund .
now , Commissioner Dimas , what is rather strange in all this ?
environmental inspections are vitally important .
2011 budget (
we are also going to see a strengthening of national regulatory authorities .
it must also consider that the system of fishing for tuna with fixed nets is also a cultural and historical activity that does not damage the environment and provides employment for thousands of people .
but there is no certainty - not in the outcome in any country - and no quick fix or short-term solution that will create the world so many people want to see .
I call for increased training and technical support for Members , as these provide the necessary resources for Parliament to perform its duties well , with the scientific and technical backing that is so necessary in the 21st century .
these policies need fundamental change ; we must finally open a new chapter .
the images from Japan are heart-rending .
in Parliament , we are pushing for more ambitious proposals , but I think the temptation for the moment in the Council is in the opposite direction .
how Hungary represents the fate of Hungarians living abroad is in complete accordance with the same principle .
in writing . - I support this Resolution welcoming the proposed pilot project for joint programming of research activities in the field of neurodegenerative diseases .
thus , we Latvians , having over many years lost our revenue , competitiveness and , possibly , quality of society , saved the banking sector of the Scandinavians and other investors , at least in the Baltic States , since the domino effect in the event of banks failing would go far beyond Latvia 's borders and would reach as far , let us say , as Scandinavian pension funds , as the banks ' shareholders .
I am sure you are right , Commissioner , that figures can mean many things and we need to look very carefully at them .
this is urgent and necessary , and we insist it must be done .
a country that is denied greater freedom to trade and new export opportunities will not find it any easier to meet the commitments and the demands that we make of it .
I am therefore also hoping that the Member States which have not yet fully implemented these measures will make every effort to ensure that this process is completed as soon as possible .
however , several days ago , the Commission published the Internal Market Scoreboard for 2009 .
Commissioner , I wish to take advantage of this opportunity and debate to reiterate my request to the Commission to capitalise to the maximum extent on the European Union 's direct access to the Black Sea , a region of particular geostrategic importance .
Member of the Commission , on behalf of the Vice-President of the Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy . - Madam President , I thank this House for a very timely discussion on Western Sahara .
we urgently call for calm and restraint , and urge the national authorities of Guinea-Bissau to fully investigate these events and bring to justice those responsible .
in particular , I fully support the need to strengthen the decision-making and implementation process , providing the Commission with the requisite instruments in the common interest of the European Union , the Member States and all economic operators .
I should also , naturally , like to thank the Commissioners and the members of their staff , and the President of the Commission , who often participated with me in these debates and with whom I was able to establish much common ground in our work , objectives and efforts .
the London meeting is that opportunity , of course , to pull together our thinking and to do so with the United States and with others .
what I can say , to give you a concrete answer to your question , is that my relationship with the Bulgarian Government , when Sergei Stanishev was prime minister , was always characterised by extremely loyal cooperation .
that concludes voting time .
many pieces have already been put in place , not least , the launch of a new EU supervisory authority as of next month .
it must be based on solidarity and the willingness of Member States and regions to implement their programme objectives as quickly as possible .
the Member States with good governance in tax matters have been able to respond much more quickly and effectively to the economic crisis .
Madam President , I cannot understand why the Socialists are trying to escape from the responsibility of Socialist policies .
is it right that the 2010 budget provides nothing for this force ?
but equally important for us is , I think , the question of voice within this : that those who find themselves excluded should also be included when we are looking at measures that are being put in place and considering whether they are really going to meet the needs of the long-term unemployed , of older people , of younger people trying to gain access to the labour market , or whatever .
Petitions : see Minutes
( RO ) In the current situation where the number of refugees has increased worldwide and the European Union is receiving more than half of the asylum seekers , establishing a European Common Asylum System must be an urgent priority .
this one is about qualified majority voting in the Level 3 Committees .
Schengen cooperation can take many different forms .
this activity has an impact on the food supply for the general population and on the cohesion of the outermost regions of the European Union .
in addition to safety concerns , ethical questions in relation to novel foods are also very important .
thank you for this report , which I promise I will put to good use and from which I will undeniably draw inspiration .
socio-economic and security indicators have not visibly improved and decisions have often been made without sufficient Afghan involvement .
however , I think that it is necessary to make changes to the systems in Member States in order to eliminate or at least significantly limit this shameful situation .
thank you . this certainly calls for a separate and far-reaching debate .
it is a highly ambitious task .
for these reasons , I am in favour of the revision of the fourth and seventh directives on company law , because this will lead to consistent regulation and relief .
I voted in favour of the EU resolution on Belarus as I feel that any move capable of introducing more democracy in any country in the world is a positive step .
Serbia is an excellent neighbour to Romania , with centuries of history linking us .
if there are distortions , we can have different opinions - if they are there .
nevertheless , the cooperation framework still has a long way to go : we could say from Barcelona to Barcelona and looking beyond .
Madam President , I have a question for my honourable colleague .
what about the others , however ?
, in writing . - ( DE ) Ireland 's rejection of the Reform Treaty may have been a setback for European development , but it is no reason for the Union to grind to a halt .
therefore , once again , a new European impulse is needed , because Ukraine is part of Europe , and we must implement this policy in our own interest .
mass unemployment , social unrest and growing tax pressure then await us .
this means that you cannot blame Israel for maintaining an economic blockade , allowing in only essential humanitarian aid .
the main political strategies of the European Union have nothing to do with combating poverty .
some six months ago I was promised an exercise where the numbers of the reports and the numbers of the amendments would be shown alongside our voting .
however , I regret to say that the priority measures which will give new impetus to the single market and competitiveness do not include any mention of the need to ensure the free movement of all European workers , focusing only on the free movement of services .
the detection of dioxins above the minimum threshold in a sample of pork fat under the National Residue Monitoring Programme enabled the source of the contamination to be quickly traced to an individual feed manufacturing plant .
( applause )
in her question , Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou referred to child poverty in particular .
it is necessary that we carry out more work , tailored to our specific circumstances .
our common objective is to formalise in a joint declaration by the three institutions our vision and our common approach to humanitarian aid policy .
as regards victim protection , there is a piece of European Community legislation , which the Commission has promised to reassess by 2009 .
we also have to avoid creating loopholes in the legislation when granting derogations to Member States .
I would like to say to all new Members of the European Parliament that the Minister is a former Member of this House , and so is one of us .
I am pleased that it has happened in these two important debates that have been held tonight in this important and mighty Parliament .
I supported Amendment 23 which recognises the need to support the sheep sector at Community level , which is in serious decline .
the services of Parliament must increase their efforts to modernise and rationalise administration , reducing their dependence on external services , and applying strict management of human resources .
three contracts have already been signed : Zambia and Rwanda - which I signed personally - as well as Mali .
however , I get the impression that instead of answers , there are even more questions raised after the discussions about SIS II .
even though there was this terrible tragic death of Benazir Bhutto and of many other victims , I continue to believe that Pakistan has a chance to make real progress towards stability and a more inclusive form of democracy by electing a new government which enjoys broader popular legitimacy .
despite the high degree of political instability in recent years , it can be seen that democracy in Ukraine has solid foundations .
firstly , I would like to say something about the regime for assistants .
I cannot comment on Mr Mitchell 's question because the Council has not debated this phenomenon and does not have an opinion on it .
the EU must shoulder a particular responsibility for maintaining free and fair trade .
as the Chairman of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) has complained , these attitudes are rife with bad faith and do nothing to build public confidence in the European institutions .
furthermore , I think we are right to emphasise yet again that the EU was actually founded on measures to combat all forms of racism and xenophobia and indeed all forms of discrimination .
Vice-President of the Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy . - Mr President , this has been an extremely useful and valuable debate for the preparations for the summit .
this is the reason why , on this matter , the Belgian Presidency , following on from 15 November , immediately resumed contacts to try and make progress on these other points too .
the next item is the statements by the Council and the Commission on preparation for the European Council meeting to be held on 24 and 25 March 2011 .
it can provide an income for individuals and their families who would otherwise go hungry , and therefore , ending illegal logging is also linked to ending the poverty and deprivation of many communities in the relevant countries .
this is focused on the promotion of cross-border trade , based on the principle that free competition is what best serves the interests of consumers .
we are pleased that this has been achieved and also quite proud of the result , however I must say that we are not happy with all aspects .
the reference for capital announced by the EBA is based largely on the current provisions of the Capital Requirements Directive , which already takes into account the different banking structures and the management models which exist in Europe .
this would still be supporting the European Parliament , which expressed itself here in the debate and in the vote that took place on the report , for which I had the honour to be the rapporteur , on the EU 's negotiations with Mercosur , which was adopted a year ago , and to which I refer .
( GA ) Mr President , the European Commission should now review the operation of the Habitats Directive in the European Union .
I support all activities that will help maintain a high level of food safety , and those who talk about ...
this includes making allocations in the first pillar , in particular , fairer .
Mr President , the report on the prohibition of illegal logging , which was adopted by a large majority in the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , is a balanced one .
a better relationship between sport at school and sport in leisure time also needs to be created .
however , some of our Member States are clearly incapable of thinking outside the economic box , which considers social and environmental policy costly luxuries to be dropped as a restriction on the market .
however , there is a nice link that connects the two issues , because in relation to the migration issue , in particular Schengen , we also see the same principle at work , namely that one of Europe 's major successes is now being called into question as a result of national egotism .
I hope that your visit will give us the opportunity to strengthen the bonds of friendship between Europe , Costa Rica and Latin America .
( CS ) Mr Chairman , today , after many years , our discussions have come to an end and we have agreed to provide all citizens of the European Union with a fully open market in postal services .
the common agricultural policy and global food security ( short presentation )
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , three years ago we modernised the industrial policy of the EU and established it as a cornerstone of our entire economic strategy .
that is , once again , a change of paradigm , because if you want to motivate the citizens for the European idea , we have to share with them those priorities and not just think about ' some people in Brussels or in Strasbourg ' telling the other citizens what they should or should not do .
it lies with those who speak ill of Europe , and who do so simply because they are afraid .
if we can move forward and achieve results at the summit and later in the autumn , then I believe that it will create a very good basis for increased legitimacy and trust in the European institutions .
yet again , people have died just because they wanted to live and work in Europe .
we say this because we are at the crossroads of intellectual currents , and it follows that it is our mission to mediate , and especially to mediate between east and west . '
all of these things will mean something when we assume the responsibility in this House to legislate .
this degree of consensus was a message about Greece 's acceptance of its responsibility to cut its deficit in a credible way and of our solidarity with it if needed .
naturally you will understand that , in the light of our experiences with the bank stress tests , we have become more sensitive about stress tests , including those relating to nuclear power .
in writing . - This consists of a simple codification of texts without any change to their substance .
in total , this is a big response in a short time .
in any societies , including Lithuanian society , there are lesbians , gays and bisexual .
in Austria , although the principle of organ removal is enshrined in law , an intensive-care specialist with psychological training will also discuss the procedure with the family of the deceased donor , and this system has been very successful .
their effort has had its reward in the form of the agreement we finally reached in December .
we need clear guidelines that everyone can have confidence in .
on many occasions the bank has not been as ' nice ' as it should be .
I am convinced that the effective identification of existing barriers followed by their removal will do the most to stimulate economic growth .
( RO ) Mr President , the European Commission published a report last week about the implementation of the 2007 strategy on nutrition and obesity .
I hope that the recommendations we are going to adopt will be implemented as soon as possible by the European Commission and Member States because we cannot afford to waste time in such circumstances when European citizens are being hit by the effects of an extremely deep economic recession .
population growth and the reduction in the amount of precipitation in this region , due to climate change , make drinking water one of the main elements at risk in this area .
this will be our guiding principle for the June European Council .
( applause )
we are not there yet , but the EU has nevertheless taken a huge step forward .
Greece 's only reservation has been about the obligation of Member States to provide free legal aid .
in other word , the MSY approach is providing us with a direction and not necessarily with a fixed target .
it is not very common in a Parliament with so many political parties and political groups to nevertheless have unanimous support for what you are proposing .
overall , this crisis caused by the volcanic ash has shown how vulnerable our highly equipped air transport system now is - that is something that is obvious to all of us already at our airports .
what do we find now in this work programme ?
economic and intellectual relations with ASEAN countries may give rise to an increase in prosperity and peace in the region .
it has taken us a long time and has involved the efforts of many people , many Members and many experts , even people who followed this debate very closely outside the House because it was so important to them .
the general principle governing the use of languages on the webpages is to adapt the language of each site to the target audience .
however , we are suggesting a new way of working , with which we hope to obtain the necessary information more quickly .
the first is that , one year after the solidarity shown by all European states regarding the banks , you must start a European debate on the tax on financial transactions or on the contribution that the banks must make to Member States ' budgets to ensure solidarity in return .
I think this is an unacceptable discrepancy .
I hope that this programme will be a success story for the Swiss too , as it has been for us , the citizens of the Member States of the European Union .
those who hold power in Ukraine today should not be allowed to believe that they can escape just because the broad European public takes no notice or because the previous government admittedly did have failings in relation to good governance and combating corruption .
we cannot , however , allow our Eastern neighbours to be isolated . we cannot deny them the opportunity which we are giving to other European countries .
yes , good governance and human rights are on the agenda .
economic literature has been asking for years whether it is necessary to continue using the rate of growth of GDP as an indicator of the progress made by a geographic area over a given period of time .
Mrs Juarez Boal formerly worked in the European Parliament , until 2002 .
( FR ) Mr President , Baroness Ashton , the revolutions in the Arab world are consistent with the aspirations of the Palestinian people .
the solution to the problem of reviving the entire European economy instead entails ( and this is the single market solution ) removing the persistent obstacles to the free movement of goods , persons and services , and to equal treatment of economic operators and citizens throughout the EU .
I believe that there is a permanent need at European level to supply consistent statistics on the information society every year .
I want to bring the Minister 's attention to the fact that in Scotland , the constituency which I represent , a debate on a minimum pricing of alcohol products is currently happening .
this is due to Regulation ( EC ) No 1049 / 2001 , which is a very important regulation , and I am proud to have been able to take part in the birth of this regulation .
I am in favour of close cooperation with the USA and exchange of data , but the devil is in the detail .
what I support is country of origin labelling .
can we afford to risk that kind of relationship ?
the economic crisis was used as a lever to force people to vote ' yes ' .
as regards trade relations , although the Lisbon summit was not the appropriate forum for technical negotiations , there was an interesting exchange of views .
the resolution highlights that this promotion should not be binding , but rather should be the result of interaction between the stakeholders on a voluntary basis .
I voted for the Zver report .
without lobbyism , politicians ' knowledge , facts and opinions with regard to all aspects of society would be far too limited .
they are excellent measures .
it is essential for the economic effectiveness of road transport and useful for ensuring sufficient income to fund new transport capacities and I believe that the compromise we achieved constitutes a sound basis for discussions with the Council .
Mr President , Portugal urged an EU agreement on resettling persons from Guantánamo , and this is strategic for transatlantic solidarity as well as being a humanitarian gesture towards people cleared of suspicion who endured detention , torture and deprivation of justice .
in addition , Commissioner , the situation is not similar or the same in all Member States .
it is also important to consider the Treaty of Lisbon , which will , I trust , enter into force as soon as possible and be the foundation for new EU actions , and to ensure that one of its outcomes is a set of instruments that are as efficient as possible .
among other things , the measures proposed in the report are an attempt to redeem slaughter and destruction by using money from the workers of Europe .
thank you for giving me the opportunity to answer them together .
this excludes people who are entitled to asylum , need political protection , or risk mistreatment in Libya , while the principle of non-refoulement applies to everybody .
the target of 20 % renewable energy by 2020 is extremely ambitious but necessary if we are to win the fight against climate change .
European action must focus on those challenges where the EU can bring a tangible added value .
two remarks concerning them raised observations .
it is , moreover , absurd , not to include on-call duty that can be spent asleep as working time .
these models of agriculture have always made , and continue to make , a valid contribution to food security because they often represent the most effective way of utilising land in diverse geographical regions of the EU through the use of methods which have been specifically developed in distinct regions over long periods of time .
I really think that we have laid the foundations for future action .
the aim is to give a crystal clear signal to the Chinese .
the events that took place in August in the sub-prime market highlighted a number of issues for all of us .
I am pleased that Parliament , in adopting this resolution , recognises in principle that the rule of law and democracy do not exist in Russia .
to achieve this , when the airlines are first issued with allowances , for example , this must be done in such a way that the lack of such allowances can be realistically balanced out on the market , otherwise flights would have to be cancelled , and I do not know how much of that we and our society could cope with .
we should note the fears coming from Italy following the recent pressure exerted by Silvio Berlusconi on the Italian and European newspapers , as well as on the European Commission 's freedom of expression regarding the Italian authorities ' diversion of migrants at sea to Libya , in violation of the principle of non-refoulement .
on this occasion , the Italian police insisted on the removal of a banner bearing a phrase from the Gospel : ' my house shall be called a house of prayer , but you have made it a den of thieves ' , while the same police force put up posters that were homophobic and against common-law couples .
we left the more difficult questions for the strategic ENP review .
in writing . - In order to succeed in this era of globalisation , the European Union needs to develop a Foreign Direct Investment Policy for Europe .
in addition , in order to avoid ' dummy companies ' , further guarantees must be supplied as regards companies ' registered offices .
you spoke of the ecological rehabilitation of the environment .
since then , the area has progressed dramatically .
we must put a stop to the export of waste to poor countries .
let me give an example .
it appears to me that the call for a European multidisciplinary network to be set up for specific training and learning problems , which is part of the written declaration , goes some way in this direction .
in other words , apart from insurance , we need one centre and we need greater capabilities for giving help .
our rapporteurs have done an excellent job .
violence against women in conflict zones is often an extension of gender discrimination ; also considering that this year , the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women coincides with the 10th anniversary of UN Security Council resolution 1325 , this could and / or should mark the start of a reinvigorated agenda for the implementation of that resolution , which cannot be advanced without political leadership at the highest levels and increased resources .
clearly , the crazy world of finance is today speculating on the food markets , without ever wanting to touch the goods themselves , which are constantly bought and sold .
given that the Internet is the main instrument for creating better conditions and development and knowledge for citizens in cultural terms , particularly through the broadcasting of audiovisual content , I welcome the adoption of this report and hope that the EU will play a leading role in the radio spectrum and in the creation of development and innovation software .
nor could we identify better targets than we did during the 2005 review .
energy security is a priority area , and the establishment of a common energy market should be a common European objective towards which we must strive using integrated measures .
the European Union continues to be engaged with Morocco on reforms in areas such as good governance , the rule of law and respect for human rights .
the decision on financial market supervision has still not been finalised .
I would say to you that we have to be very careful .
following numerous contacts with the Nicaraguan authorities which gave credible commitments that corrective steps would be taken , the Commission proceeded at the beginning of October with a single payment of EUR 10 million of our budget support programme to the education sector .
some of the lessons it teaches us are still valid today .
we cannot negotiate for weeks and then have the compromises undermined at the very last moment .
I cannot , therefore , comment on that .
it is important to mention that EU Member States and the EEA associated countries comprise more than 50 % of the membership of the Arctic Council .
it is essential to abide by the principle of partnership at all levels of management when implementing regional policy .
there are two aspects to that question : how large will we be in ten years and what will our surrounding environment be like ?
we see this as being part of developing a comprehensive and integrated energy policy for Iraq .
I should also like to draw attention to another somewhat neglected aspect of this debate : appropriate training for health service professionals , notably as regards caring for diabetics and the treatment of diabetes . such training has been somewhat neglected , especially in the new Member States .
moreover , I would like to draw your attention to the fact that this is not about stealing a hen but this is a case of murder , and so here I prefer to be a little restrained and more measured than the speakers so far .
Technocracy , however , is not about having technical knowledge ; it is about never putting any feeling into it .
we all know that the most important issues are peace , democracy and human rights , but for every one of us , what is of more direct relevance is something which makes our everyday lives easier - the common market .
if Amendment 943 on the EPSO budget line 26 01 20 is adopted , the corresponding budgetary annex for this Office should be adjusted accordingly .
I would like to stress that there should be an ongoing review of the EU 's human rights policy when it comes to the elaboration of a comprehensive human rights country strategy and to the evaluation of the EU guidelines on violence against women and girls and those EU guidelines concerning children and armed conflict , as well as combating all forms of discrimination against them .
this is a joint debate on the whole package , but right now we are talking about the renewables directive , and I would like to highlight some points specifically about this subject .
moreover , I am shocked by the practice of guilt by association that results in the imprisonment of entire families , including children .
there is a plan to privatise the beaches , so that Greece 's debt can be serviced .
EU - Russia Summit on 18 November 2009 in Stockholm ( vote )
whichever way you look at it , this , once again , is an additional channel for immigration , which , as far as I am concerned , is in itself more than enough reason to vote against this resolution .
some of our partners are announcing their intentions by press statements ; but we have announced our intentions by law , law that is already agreed by all the Member States .
common , comparable and reliable indicators are essential to present a realistic analysis of progress and to meet the requirements of effective monitoring .
finally , I would like to apologise to all those members of the Committee on Budgets who have , at times , felt that I have provoked them .
certainly , we agree with the opinion already presented by MEPs that the biggest horizontal cuts ... I would like to repeat that the method of horizontal cutting was applied again in all categories .
the ban on political activities has subsequently been lifted .
unfortunately , I am unable to agree with him on the issue of International Financial Reporting Standards for SMEs .
they should be viewed in a broader context - in a context where women 's participation in the labour market is supported and encouraged .
last but not least - it is worth repeating - the base at Guantánamo must be closed , and Cuba must regain control of its entire territory .
this shows that postal service providers can gear themselves to new market requirements while continuing to provide their universal postal service .
in addition , both parties are dependent on each other in both economic and political terms .
accordingly , we feel it is essential to alter the legal basis .
I have seen the European Union Landfill Directive , which has had industrial waste - laughingly called ' compost ' - thrown upon the land .
in August 2008 , a package of security measures was adopted which aims at reorganising the Mexican law enforcement and justice system .
however , still you insist on continuing this now meaningless debate .
I received 3 830 complaints in 2006 .
our Irish fellow citizens also realised that the European train does not wait indefinitely for those who miss their appointment with history .
I voted in favour of the joint motion for a resolution on the recent earthquake in Haiti .
I would like to ask you , Commissioner , what the Commission is doing about this matter , whether the Commission has acted or is intending to act ; because we are very concerned about what might happen to those people who are still on board this freezer tuna vessel .
this means we need measures but primarily we need to raise awareness of what it is like for women in rural areas .
( CS ) Allow me to make use of this one-minute speech to call on the Council of the European Union and the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy to discuss the American anti-missile defence system at European level .
( the President cut off the speaker )
the effects of this policy have helped to stabilise and mitigate State aid .
I would ask the competent authorities to be more proactive in the fight against corruption , organised crime and the trafficking of people , arms and drugs .
( EL ) Madam President , Commissioner , my congratulations on the completion , to all intents and purposes , of negotiations on these two agreements .
for the same reason that we have a strategic partnership with China , India and Russia , and not having one with Brazil is a mistake , because nothing is achieved in the world - I am just stating the politically obvious - nothing is achieved in the world in the environment , or in trade , without Brazil .
the Rural Development Fund contributes , together with the other funds , to the economic and social cohesion . the efficient use of the rural development funds represents a timely solution to these problems .
indeed , very many infringement procedures had been initiated against Italy over the years and the Court had ruled against Italy on many occasions .
the EU climate package passed in December 2008 was important in showing the seriousness of our commitment to climate change , and what has been agreed in recent months under the Swedish Presidency has also been important - particularly the recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive , which will slash the carbon footprint of both new and renovated buildings .
I would mention JEREMIE , the joint initiative of the Commission , the European Investment Fund and the European Investment Bank , which is aimed at improving access to funding for micro , small and medium-sized enterprises , in particular , through the channels of risk capital , loans , securities , micro-credit and other forms of repayable aid .
in the end the legislature did not incorporate these proposals into the final document .
I need to make the point that with regard to cephalopods licences were utilised on 22 occasions and in the new protocol there is provision for 25 , so we are actually catering for creating a buffer , allowing for utilisation .
the question arises , therefore , as to why we are amending the Treaty today at express speed to transfer these competencies - at least in part - to Union level .
the European Commission will submit a proposal to this effect within a year and we should be able to implement such a system of our own within three years .
( CS ) The current state of the digital content market is unsustainable , fragmented and rigid owing to monopolies .
we know from the interim versions of the Commission 's document that in an initial phase , within the EUR 1.24 billion , EUR 150 million was for the east and all the rest was for the south .
let us in conclusion together assert once again : the PPP is therefore not ultimately washed up .
we cannot but vote against this new Commission .
the committee and I therefore propose that we postpone the granting of discharge until Cepol has provided a full declaration in this regard .
the programme of the Swedish Presidency is truly very ambitious , especially , among other things , on trans-Atlantic dialogue .
I would like to congratulate the committee on its work .
my point is this : the European Union will only be able to achieve its objectives if we activate all policy areas ; if we capitalise on the relationship we have with all our key partners ; if we use the leverage available to us in an integrated way at all levels - at national , European and global level .
Mrs Lulling asked a very specific question .
more than 70 % of children ask their parents to buy them the foods they have seen advertised on television .
as far as the experimental laboratory is concerned , we have four interesting questions to resolve .
in the course of this short period of time , barely one and a half years , Montenegro has made appreciable progress .
thank you and my apologies to the interpreters if I was speaking too quickly .
we of course urge her to do whatever more she can .
I understand that we may , in some specific cases , have different views .
it has resulted in an enormous pressure for rationalisation in the industrialised states .
unfortunately , that is not the case .
it is not merely a matter of arresting criminals ; it is about dealing with them afterwards .
there has not been a single step forward .
as a result , since 1993 , the number of non-citizens has fallen by 59 % .
previously , we would have described the members of the governments of Russia and of Ukraine as friends , but the way in which Russia is now behaving towards Ukraine is far from fair .
in April the Commission issued the communication on clean and energy-efficient vehicles , which is to say on the European strategy for encouraging the development and eventual widespread use of vehicles that are ' clean and efficient ' in terms of low emissions of carbon dioxide and pollutants .
this instrument should offer a means of reviewing the human rights situation in all the Member States under the same conditions .
Mr Simpson 's absence demonstrates that the issue is indeed still current , and that the consequences of such eruptions are unpredictable and can be far-reaching in terms of our citizens ' mobility , and also in economic terms if the situation is protracted .
in writing . - Ria Oomen-Ruijten 's Turkey 2007 Progress Report is a comprehensive and encouraging analysis of the country 's progress towards accession .
like Bernadette Vergnaud , some MEPs regretted the fact that this text does not cover all the difficulties encountered by patients within the EU , and more specifically in their country of origin .
I am saying that the proposals must be made public by 2013 .
European agricultural policy is currently facing , and will in future face , great challenges .
yet this does not mean we should throw the baby out with the bathwater .
the unresolved conflicts in regions such as Nagorno-Karabakh , Transnistria and Abkhazia and South Ossetia should be ended as soon as possible , in accordance with international law and the obligations undertaken by Russia .
in that regard , it is indeed true even within the European Union that , if culture is in competition with internal market law or competition law , it always draws the short straw in case of doubt .
at the same time , the solution of a European common energy policy could supplement the incapacity of the Bucharest right-wing governing people to promote Romania 's energy interests in the relationship with Russia .
worst of all , though , is the conclusion of the report .
this applies to the European Union above all because there is no way we can acknowledge a stolen victory but neither is there any way we can stop exerting maximum pressure on the Ivorian leaders over this massive fraud .
in these circumstances it would be difficult to suggest that any carmaker would be able to exercise a dominant position , be it individually or collectively .
I also think it is very important to monitor closely how local culture is preserved , especially Orthodox monasteries in the area .
in 2008 alone , the EIB paid out EUR 10 billion more than it anticipated .
it would be desirable for Slovakia , regardless of the Nagy-Duna matter , to cooperate with Hungary in stabilising the water supply to this area .
elected representatives enforcing a slashing of living standards for workers should , at the very least , accept that their own privileges undergo the same treatment .
the objective is to improve the functioning of the market for consumers and undertakings , boosting consumer confidence and reducing the reluctance of undertakings to operate at a cross-border level .
yet despite everyone 's best efforts , these disparities persist .
I shall accept no more blue card questions .
finally it is worth emphasising that the proposed solutions , particularly as regards the introduction of the European Reference Network , and also the European Network for Health Technology Assessment , provide an opportunity to raise the standards of medical care and also to make more effective use of healthcare resources in the European Union .
first , I believe that we should move towards innovation and new technologies in both areas - the energy efficiency of buildings and , above all , the energy efficiency of transport .
harmonised risk indicators and reliable data from all the Member States will now make that possible .
the UNHCR 's figures confirm this .
the debate is closed .
what is currently happening in the Economic and Financial Affairs Council shows that among them there are a huge amount of scattered , incoherent and inconsistent ideas .
it is the threats to freedom of expression that concern independent and free journalists throughout Latin America and in particular in Venezuela and which led to the closure of Radio Caracas Televisión .
19 .
let us be firm and act politically .
the ERTMS will , therefore , probably coexist with national systems for a period of 20 years .
the question therefore arises as to how we should deal with such situations in the future .
for instance , we will certainly ask for a gesture of clemency on the part of the Vietnamese authorities in favour of the two journalists who were recently imprisoned and have been judged in Hanoi for having used their freedom of expression .
the Interim Partnership Agreement signed between the EU and Papua New Guinea and the Fiji Islands is the result of shameful pressure .
thank you for your attention .
I would have liked to ask him then whether he has read the Treaty of Lisbon because , if he has read it , he would probably be familiar with the article on minorities which I have just mentioned .
the Irish Government should learn a lesson from its people ; it should learn to lead .
the Communist Party of Greece condemns this report and believes that the interests of the Balkan peoples will be served if we do not forget , but struggle against the EU and the barbarity you are nurturing .
the next item is the joint debate on the Council and Commission statements on the EU Annual Report on Human Rights and on the French initiative at the UN on the decriminalisation of homosexuality .
in writing . - ( IT ) The new European stability mechanism requires an amendment to the Treaty of Lisbon , to ensure its legally valid inclusion within the institutional framework of the European Union .
in addition , one of the aims of the European Disability Strategy for 2010 to 2020 , which the Commission adopted on 15 November , is to give impetus to Member States ' efforts to ease the transition from institutional to community-based care .
Mr Mitchell , when I give the floor to an MEP for a 30-second speech , I do not know whether he will ask a question or make a comment on the questions which have already been put .
the Commission should adopt a more open and proactive attitude towards information relating to infringement proceedings .
I supported the vote of the European Parliament , which today , Tuesday 14 December 2010 , approved the release of EUR 35.6 million for France , whose Atlantic coastline was partly devastated by storm Xynthia in February .
I demand the retraction of this accusation , an apology and a condemnation by the Presidency .
what sort of effect will EU exclusive competency on bilateral investment have on Member States ?
to that end we need intelligent solutions , and we need network security , for security is paramount .
the Council and the Commission are trying to counter that by looking to the private sector .
in many respects , this has been very successful but there is equally little doubt now that , without the active support of the citizens , the integration process runs into obstacles .
they have made it possible , in just seven months , for a very important proposal for the free movement of citizens and the bringing down of excessive charges to become a reality .
I want to express my gratitude to Parliament and in particular to the rapporteur , Ms Jeleva , for their support for the European Community 's conclusion of this UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its optional protocol .
this is the goal of the talks currently under way in Geneva .
in June , the Council asked the Council Secretariat and the Commission to put forward specific recommendations and political priorities to strengthen and enhance our commitment in the region .
episodes such as this have been occurring in Calabria for a long time now , possibly due to the effects of climate change .
I welcome the fact that relevant sections of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament also felt unable to endorse the final version of the report , as the outcome of the voting shows .
( DE ) I welcome the fact that the Commission is dealing with this subject from a competition perspective .
the debate is closed .
the next item is the one-minute speeches on matters of political importance .
the EU may have the best intentions , and it may prepare the best legislation and support measures , which all of the countries might even implement to the best of their ability , but if firms and entrepreneurs are not aware of this , the outcome will always be mixed .
how do you intend , do we intend , to fashion ENISA 's mandate in such a way that it can operate like an agency that deals on equal terms with the agencies that exist in the United States , Japan and China ?
I say this with the utmost respect , and from the outset , I offer my complete solidarity with all victims of terrorism in all corners of the world , not least this one .
from Korea to Australia , Bulgaria to Sweden , film makers head to Sarajevo ; co-productions take place .
finally , I would like to wish John Bowis a speedy recovery .
we need this period of time , of course , to look forward .
as far as the Globalisation Fund is concerned , it is as open to the textile sector as to other sectors .
the morbidity and mortality rates resulting from drinking water unfit for consumption remain , in these circumstances , alarmingly high , especially among children .
for this reason , Mr Barroso , I expect you and , more particularly , your Budget Commissioner Mr Lewandowski to produce a committed and ambitious draft budget for the EU that actually facilitates the developments that it demands .
when we had this discussion on the redistribution between Member States ' envelopes , we made a positive correction for three Member States so as to limit their reduction in view of the important divergence for these Member States between their share in historical expenditure and their share in the two other criteria .
this is an opportunity , politically and economically , to actually change that regime and move things in the right direction .
the number of abortions is at an all-time high and a large proportion of women use hormonal contraceptives , so the number of women who are actually physiologically capable of conceiving children is very small .
yet , no solution will be good unless it is controllable .
with regard to the problems mentioned in connection with Parliament and the information given to Members of Parliament about the agreements , the Commission has given all information - even restricted information - to Members of Parliament and this is what we will do in the future .
a new improved regulatory system will deliver benefits for all patients , for the approval bodies and also for the pharmaceutical companies .
let us say it plainly - we know from international experience that this is not the first time this has happened .
a number of actions at least are required to do this .
we still have the same old pack of paper that shows what is going through plenary this week .
nevertheless , the revision of the European Works Council directive has long been an important matter for both companies and trade unions .
therefore , for the second time today , I would stress my utter lack of understanding why the Commission has completely ignored the project proposed by Bulgaria for further expansion of this storage facility .
that leads to credible results , as we can see .
we therefore needed to hold the summit , or at any rate the first one , in November , regardless of the timetable in the US .
I should like briefly to answer the question raised by Mr Pribetich as regards timing .
lastly , I should like to congratulate the Centre on its contribution to the measures to fight the H1N1 virus pandemic of 2009 .
of particular concern are grievances voiced regarding freedom of the media and freedom of assembly and of association .
this draft directive aims to fill a gap in existing legislation regarding the victims of crime , which does not address the issue of preventing crime and the need for a rapid and effective , Europe-wide early warning and prevention mechanism to protect victims .
we continue to talk about the importance of reducing CO2 emissions , even while the theory of man-made global warming is falling apart in front of our eyes .
these experts have been brought together in the Expert Panel for the Review of the European Standardisation System ( EXPRESS ) , which delivered its recommendations in February 2010 in the form of a report entitled ' Standardisation for a competitive and innovative Europe : a vision for 2020 ' .
of similar importance is the maintenance of visa exemption for the Hungarians living in Vojvodina , for those citizens who live on either side of the border , speak the same language , and cultivate close family and cultural ties .
this Treaty signs away our ability to rule ourselves , yet a BBC poll says that 84 % of the British people want no more power surrendered .
death by means of a brutal and illegal rule .
this ultimately ensured , since we were also under time pressure , that the funding could be made available and could be used .
President-in-Office of the Council . - Madam President , I think this debate is a timely one and that Mrs Neyts-Uyttebroeck 's report includes a number of important recommendations .
I look forward to Parliament adopting this directive for two main reasons .
( applause )
at the same time , there is a strict ban on discrimination .
it expresses its deep concern regarding the imposition of the death penalty on minors and on persons with mental or intellectual disability and calls for their immediate and definitive ending .
the opening of discussions on territorial autonomy would also fundamentally threaten the unity and successful progress of the European Union .
commodity price hikes have become a destabilising factor in the global economy , which have helped spark riots and unrest in a number of developing countries and most recently in Algeria , Tunisia and Egypt .
in writing . - ( RO ) I voted in favour of Armando França 's report on the enforcement of the principle of mutual recognition to confiscation orders and of the Framework Decision 2008 . / ... / JHA on the recognition and enforcement of the principle of mutual recognition to judgments in criminal matters imposing punishments or measures involving deprivation of liberty for their enforcement in the European Union .
clearly , the provisions on animal experimentation must be amended , but European research must not , however , suffer negative consequences from this new legislation .
unfortunately , in a situation where we most need solidarity and well-functioning European cooperation , the threats to the European idea are also growing .
we welcome the success in reaching a compromise on the sectors in which adaptation to new conditions will take time .
how would the citizens of major EU countries feel if a non-democratic country built an insufficiently tested nuclear power plant close to Brussels , Berlin , Paris or London , without consulting its public or sharing reliable information with its neighbouring countries ?
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , may I remind the honourable Members that what I said was not that we cannot impose rules on third countries .
we voted for this for air transport last June , when aviation was integrated into the ETS system .
establishment , operation and use of SIS II ( decision ) ( vote )
fourthly , the systematic refusal to consult with groups that want to change that situation , even though they once won the only free elections this regime dared to hold .
it is a fact that today , our farmers are faced with overwhelming obstacles when it comes to achieving a fair price for their produce .
but you should not conclude from this that we regard the spring summit and the Lisbon Strategy as less important .
the Commission has always supported dialogue between the social partners and it has therefore welcomed this initiative .
reducing differences in payments in different Member States is essential to achieving this objective .
in writing . - I supported the Thomsen report and strongly believe that more effort should be directed towards the promotion of renewable energy .
what we need - as Baroness Ludford rightly said - is the International Criminal Court , and common rules .
although all the Member States have been implementing reforms since 2005 , some are doing better than others .
in writing . - ( FR ) I fully support this excellent report and would like to add three comments of my own on the subject .
how many times has Europe watched passively whilst the one of its own laureates was detained ?
furthermore , in order to enable people at different times of life and specific groups to have access to vocational education and training , financing opportunities should be broadened , simplified and made more readily available under the Lifelong Learning Programme and by implementing Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs .
to achieve all this , we need to mobilise available resources and focus research , coordinate our efforts and fund specific projects .
it is therefore essential to develop and promote the diplomatic aspect and to make use of the options afforded by the Treaty of Lisbon to prepare the way towards the next COP with ambition , speaking with a single voice and creating strategic alliances with our potential allies on this subject such as , for example , the African , Caribbean and Pacific countries .
this group is carrying out close monitoring of this pilot initiative so as to define and specify certain matters and , therefore , to enable much more specific decision making , such as you raised in your interventions .
I think it is important for requirements in the proposal regarding notification of investments not to place an excessive administrative burden on the authorities of Member States .
in addition , the Bangladeshi Minister for the Environment has three months to lay down rules , complying with the Basel Convention , for the recycling of ships for scrapping .
I also welcome the calls in this report for closer cooperation and contact between local and regional authorities and other levels of governance , especially with the European Commission .
a number of speakers referred to inequalities in health , for example Mr Janowski , Mr Adamou , Mrs Belohorská , Mrs Doyle , Mr Kuźmiuk and Mrs Westlund .
on behalf of the European Parliament , I would like to join the President of the European Council , and the President of the US , in demanding Roxana Saberi 's immediate and unconditional release .
thirdly , the energy and climate package is the result of a historic compromise .
we were reflecting then on the new opportunities available both to the two new Member States and to the European Union as a whole .
such health questions are once again going to raise the question of the quality of the controls at our external borders as regards both people and goods .
President-in-Office of the Council . - On behalf of the Presidency I would like to stress in a concluding comment that the Presidency is aware of the fact that efficient monitoring of the application of Community law is essential if the law is to be universally respected and if the general legal principles on which the running of the Community is based are to be safeguarded .
in case of a disease outbreak , our rules facilitate the tracing of potentially infected animals to limit the spread of the disease .
this resolution by the European Parliament approves and supplements the commitments of the Commission , which is why I supported it .
the defence budget has been building up over recent years in Georgia , which is then short in other areas , such as social issues , civil society and media freedom .
this will allow all patients , and not only the best informed or richest , to benefit from rights that have already been recognised over the years in judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Union .
( CS ) Mr President , I am glad that what we have always been saying here has proved to be true : no one has infringed obligations arising from their agreements , EU legislation or the competences of the Union , and bilateral negotiations can take place alongside multilateral or pan-European negotiations .
it is high time civilised countries discontinued the practice of abortion .
it is done through a phased market opening in four phases .
- Remek report
however , to put the icing on the cake of what will be not so much a democratic ballot as a complete electoral farce , political prisoners and monks have now also been excluded from the ballot .
while it has been argued by the Member States having ex-post DG systems that this is a problem specific to Scandinavia and Nordic markets , this is not .
in fact , we tried this at the end of 2006 , during the Finnish Presidency of the European Union .
this very balanced compromise text will hopefully facilitate the adoption of the proposal at a single reading .
in August , the President of this Parliament participated at the congress of the German Landsmannschaft .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , Europeans are entitled to safe food .
I should like to thank Mr Costa for all the work he has done preparing the report .
you know you have Parliament 's support : you said so yourself .
we shall see shortly whether Scotland Yard police agree .
of course it is unacceptable that some of the guarantors of OLAF 's independence , in other words the Council , are not taking part in this debate .
no one replied and even France - please excuse me Mr President - even France refused when we called for OSCE forces on the border .
I support the proposal , which calls for a complete overhaul of European legislation on animal feed , to involve not only simplifying existing standards , but also bringing this legislation into line with food law .
from July 2011 , the real victors in this agreement will be the consumers and citizens of both sides .
finally , the rapporteur also covered one fundamental issue : opposition to absolute strategic autonomy as the final outcome of the CSDP .
in the framework of the current economic crisis , it is crucial that social policy goes hand in hand with economic policy , aiming at a recovery of the European economy .
denying innocent children the opportunity of being loved and guided through life by loving parents who are there for them would be cruel and unjust .
however , I feel that we all made a major effort to reach agreement and allow this regulation to be amended .
who will provide us with healthy , cheap foods in the future ?
in the face of scourges such as racism , mafia-style groups , violence inside and outside sports facilities , doping and the purchase of young disposable players from Africa or elsewhere , action is needed !
for the first time for many years , the European Parliament is not proposing anything more than what was planned as far back as in 2006 in the multiannual financial framework .
compared to native pupils , many migrant children perform poorly at school and have higher school drop-out rates and lower rates of enrolment in higher education .
as a result of the harmonisation of payment periods for public bodies , which will have to pay their invoices within 30 days , I think we will inject a substantial amount of extra cash into companies ' coffers .
however , I was rushed from the office when I heard comments made about standards , and I think paragraph 10 is particularly important in this resolution and should be read and perhaps added to .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , it gives me particular satisfaction to open today 's discussion on the proposal to include aviation activities in the scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading , known as the ETS , within the Community .
they need to go back to the origins of a river that has spent centuries being governed .
they will respond if they have two basic elements : one is decent prices and the other is stable incomes .
I also wish to thank the Ombudsman for having shown the strength to fight , almost in vain one might say , for greater transparency in the administration of the European Union .
similarly , labelling and traceability are not enough to enable consumers to make informed choices ( para . 28 ) .
we must not lose sight of the fact that , although the bluetongue situation has improved greatly in recent years , the disease has not been eradicated .
there is already talk of increased taxes in the near future to keep public finances afloat .
the debate is closed .
the package of climate measures that we have taken perhaps could have been better , but they were a start - they were a step forward .
by including energy among its three major priorities , the Czech Presidency fully grasped what will be one of Europe 's major challenges in the years to come , namely our energy independence and the necessary diversification of our energy resources .
butter is cheaper now than it was 20 years ago .
they have put in a great deal of commitment and political will to improve enforcement in a number of key areas .
let me highlight two main issues : the Lisbon Treaty and all institutional matters on the one hand , and the fight against climate change and the prospects for Copenhagen , on the other .
I would like to thank all my fellow Members for their willingness to compromise on this matter .
we have to appreciate them dearly .
finally , I would invite the Commission to call on the Member States to revise their national action plans .
I had to find the answer out for myself in the EU Observer on 10 December .
in writing . - I welcome this proposal for a regulation on population and housing censuses .
there are of course many different types of expert groups .
I believe that this will reveal many of the main pathogenic ingredients of cigarettes .
these rules state that no treaty can enter into force without unanimous agreement and we do not have such agreement at present .
ladies and gentlemen , I should also like to say just one thing : we have rightly complimented the Portuguese Presidency , we have commended the Commission , but without the European Parliament , this Treaty would no longer even be on the table and therefore we also have cause to be proud that we have always held our course with the great majority of the European Parliament .
it was , of course , here in Parliament that the idea of the Baltic Sea Strategy was born , so we are very pleased that it is now in place and in force .
someone said earlier that this is a package of two parts .
that was why , when we opened this debate on cross-compliance , we commissioned from Rambøll Management a report on simplifying the CAP that was specifically linked to cross-compliance .
work with us and the Commission to ensure that solidarity means solidarity , burden-sharing means burden-sharing .
four years on , we see lists drawn up in France in relation to the expulsion of Gypsies .
future of the CAP after 2013 (
I think that , if a person does not make a good impression on his or her own Members there should be little chance of that person being posted abroad .
in the plenary sitting of 6 April 2011 , the President announced , in accordance with Rule 6 ( 2 ) of the European Parliament 's Rules of Procedure , that he had received a letter from the National Anti-Corruption Department ( Prosecutor 's Office of the High Court of Cassation and Justice of Romania ) on 5 April 2011 requesting the waiver of the parliamentary immunity of Adrian Severin .
I find all that discriminatory towards our female workers .
what instruments does it have at its disposal to facilitate the adaptation of the Mediterranean area to climate change and avert the serious risks arising from flooding , coastal erosion and further land deterioration ?
it then became very complicated as we found ourselves negotiating whole new delegated acts without precedents for future acts , so congratulations to her and to the Council and Commission .
the EU budget is fixed at about 1 % of EU GDP ; the Commission and Parliament say , ' that is not enough , we want more money ' .
it left much to be desired and we hope that it will not be repeated .
today , we must answer the question as to whether this goal is attainable .
the Ukrainian people have freely elected a change because the democratic orange powers have run the country into poverty , hopelessness and decay .
at the same time , they are often required to work at a greater intensity and speed than other workers .
it also has to be about intellectual property rights .
( SK ) Ladies and gentlemen , I regret very much that Amendment 3 , identical to Amendment 18 , concerning free postal services for blind or partially sighted people , was not incorporated in the Ferber report .
we could have completed the negotiations this year quite easily , as the European Parliament has demanded on several occasions and will probably demand again tomorrow .
we must safeguard access for all Europeans to the artistic and cultural treasures of Europe that constitute their heritage .
are you prepared to bring about an urgently needed change of policy to put people ahead of profits and social interests ahead of competitive ones ?
I hope that this unanimity will continue , because we are now entering into a very original process , and there is a very short timespan during which we can try to achieve this better legislation that all the Members who have taken the floor from all the political parties want to have .
our primary concern was that the individual citizen should not be hindered in any way from benefiting from his or her rights .
they bombed , shot and murdered their way to success at the ballot box .
the second important reason for tax evasion is the opacity and complexity of tax systems .
I think and hope that values for Africa do not come from China , with its aggressive economic invasion that we are witnessing at the moment .
it is unfortunate that the Irish Government has not done likewise in relation to those six counties .
so we very much rely on national efforts .
( FR ) Madam President , I thank Mr Ortega for his constructive , pertinent questions .
we are expecting some clear signals from the Commission and the Council here , especially in the next few days .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , on 1 June , on the basis of information received through the European Community Urgent Radiological Information Exchange ( ECURIE ) system and guided by the principle of precaution , the Commission released a public statement about the alert message from Slovenia at 17.38 local time .
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for these reasons , as well as the methods requested by the rapporteur , I would welcome the support programme for increasing the birth rate of qualified people with a responsible approach to life , rather than the maladaptive , as is currently the case .
( SV ) The possibilities for culture have changed radically with the emergence and spread of the Internet .
the system that has been in place until now must be changed .
when my mother reached 80 , she needed a fax machine for communication .
a review of the regulation will also need to be considered in order to move further towards creating an autonomous status for this type of company .
we have a debt to pay there , namely that we owe it to the people of Kosovo and of the entire region to provide them with quite intensive help them along their route into the EU .
Bulgaria has also contributed in this respect .
( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , I expect the upcoming Transatlantic Council to seek first and foremost solutions to prevent further rises in food prices .
we need , therefore , to have the contract law project , the common frame of reference .
it is therefore impossible to agree with the frequently-heard argument that discouraging the use of PVC in electrical and electronic equipment is justified because of dioxin emissions when it is burned outdoors .
the Council has therefore sought to demonstrate the particular importance it attaches to the issue of human rights .
it is indeed vital to raise awareness among European citizens about the cultural elements which are important to Europe and which form points of reference for our European culture and common values .
and it would only result in frustration , bitterness and a worse outcome for everyone if we must come back to these files in September .
what is irresponsible , on the other hand , is shifting the responsibility onto Egypt , which is completely blameless in terms of the escalation of the current situation .
we can argue whether this is sufficient or not , but the main thing at the moment is to check this legislation and be absolutely sure that Member States are complying with it , because we know , for instance , that there are problems in some Member States between national governments putting the legislation in place and the regional governments having to implement it .
narrowing disparities in those regions must be perceived as a long-term undertaking .
this will be the first task of the new Commission .
I think that the legal and practical situation in Germany is shameful from a health policy perspective .
the decision to extend the suspension of the visa prohibition list sent a signal that we are serious about rewarding positive steps that are taken .
the right to abortion has been banned and highly discriminatory laws against homosexuals have been introduced .
in writing . - ( DE ) Greater coordination and closer monitoring of economic policy in Member States is essential if we are to learn from the mistakes of the economic and financial crisis and combat the current debt crisis in some Member States .
if they ceased to benefit from this concession , they would be forced to raise their prices , which would impact on their activity and the employment that it generates , with dire consequences for the region .
( RO ) Madam President , the exceptional migration flows , such as those from the southern Mediterranean , must not pose a threat to the Schengen area .
instead , they have created a single economic area with Iceland .
nor can he look the other way as cooperation on Venezuelan soil between ETA and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia grows , which has already been condemned by the Judge Eloy Velasco .
for example , the role of the Frontex border agency needs to be strengthened and also better funded .
to seize the opportunity offered by setting up the EAS , we expect the Council to take into consideration the position of the European Parliament adopted this week in the Committee on Constitutional Affairs , and especially the following .
some countries will be challenged by the reviewed ETS legislation , some by the effort sharing targets .
IAs show legislators the possible consequences of their policy options and help them to make a decision .
it is not therefore by weakening the implementation of these instruments that we will be better able to adapt the European Union 's trade policy to a changing global economy .
what is needed , therefore , is a social Europe which provides secure jobs with decent wages , which offers the same training opportunities to all and which also ensures that the development is good and even across the regions .
let me turn now to the Lux film prize : Mr Itälä has made several comments on this prize in his report and , by the way , I congratulate him on the work that he has done .
the importance of health to the economy is clearly stated in the Lisbon Strategy .
this is the heterogenesis of purpose .
it is therefore advisable to coordinate the actions of the Union with those of other major powers such as the United States to avoid duplication of funding in the same areas or dispersal of financial resources , as has often happened in the past .
Madam President , I too would like to thank all the speakers who talked about financing instruments in general and about those relating to the report that I have submitted to you this morning in particular .
finally , the second challenge is the challenge of effectiveness .
I should also like to express my warm thanks to the Commission , as it was proactive and admitted that the legislation on liability is not clear and that , quite simply , there are gaps between European and national legislation .
I will tell you what our objectives are in terms of external relations for all the summits that we are going to hold .
according to the text agreed between Parliament and the Council , before the end of 2020 , all new buildings must have zero energy consumption , producing as much energy as they consume .
this was clear proof of discipline and rigour .
do not worry comrades .
another very important point , which has concerned me for many years , is additives .
this is the main challenge facing us .
there is often a lot of scope for foreign companies to get involved , which then maltreat and exploit the environment and their employees to ruination .
in other words , the European Union forced the privatisation of a sector that is strategic to economic development and is now trying to take steps to deal with the serious problems created by the economic groups that have taken over the sector .
the EU should focus its efforts specifically on women .
although the world 's eyes are on China because of the approaching Olympic Games , its government is now using harsh means to silence anyone who criticises its policies and to quash peaceful demonstrations .
I have also called for more open recruitment procedures .
we do not know whether it is lawful for the Member States to decide which services they would like to have under private or public control .
all EU Member States have ratified the Rome Statute .
regrettably , that is what the motion for a resolution aims to achieve .
we need to grasp this reality and make it central to our approach to this strategic continent and our relationship with it .
while ambitions should be high , a fully open aviation area with India may take time to develop and may best be developed in stages to allow a smooth transition and market integration based on a gradual implementation of new rules on a level playing field .
however , if we can agree on this , then we will be on the right track .
the EU 's responsibility is not to impose and / or increase taxes , but have the courage to face the market .
therefore , Ms Thomsen 's report will play a crucial role in the formulation of the Commission 's proposal for promotion of the use of renewable energy that I intend to present to the College by the end of this year .
first of all , if Europe is what it is today , it is thanks to the men and women who have built it with us .
we need to hear stakeholders ' opinions on which option is the most attractive for companies .
nonetheless , it will also not be difficult to recognise that , as Qimonda is considered one of Portugal 's main exporters and as it is also an essential part of the conversion of the economic fabric of the region , we cannot accept that only market forces should decide its future on their own .
I also propose to amend paragraph 8 linguistically because the term ' practitioner ' is a bad translation ; in French it is even ' médecin ' .
finally , I would like to once again apologise to my fellow MEPs from other Member States who are here , for wasting their time in this , unfortunately , very Bulgarian pre-election debate .
changing the budgetary and therefore political priorities does not come under the management of current business .
cooperation between Parliament and the Commission on the label has been extremely constructive over recent months and I am delighted that our approach coincided on numerous basic issues .
perhaps it would be best if the Commission put people on bread and water .
the amendment would have been essential to understand the scale of the debate on lobbying , not just as a reminder to the Commission but also to a wider audience .
most importantly , Europe must lead the Member States in a strategy comprising certain key ingredients : a decent level of continuing training , adequate welfare measures , quality services beginning with childcare services , and social security systems to support workers during periods of inactivity .
it should begin its work as soon as possible , to increase Europe 's importance in the world .
the presence of Saudi and other Gulf forces in Bahrain was requested in the framework of that agreement and was provided for by more than one GCC Member State .
the fact that many projects do not go beyond the planning stage must be taken into account .
in my view the European Union 's Charter of Fundamental Rights ought to be adopted without reservation , and also by my own country , Poland .
Commissioner Kovács insisted on the concept of centralised customs clearance insofar as the customs union constitutes a single unit .
this is in the common interest of all of us , and thankfully it is in the interest of the entire European Union .
I am grateful to the Members of the House for adopting my amendment , which points out that the interests of overseas communities lie at the heart of these preferential , reciprocal agreements with the ACP countries .
on the one hand , they must be able to develop quickly and to maintain their competitiveness , whilst on the other hand they must fulfil their social and regional responsibilities by anticipating changes , ensuring that the parties involved are properly informed as early as possible and , in particular , introducing mechanisms to prepare employees and regions for the foreseeable restructuring .
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not only are these people poorly paid , but they are also working without any social protection or health insurance and are under constant threat of expulsion from the country where they are staying .
I would like to thank the INTA draftsperson , Mr Kazak , for the constructive ideas presented by his Committee , and the contribution of the ITRE Committee , many of whose suggestions found their place in the report .
it did not mention the protection of workers .
I shall not repeat what many of you have already said .
only then can we talk about more financial resources .
however , I must conclude by saying that there will surely be no need for a third relaunch .
this makes the clone susceptible to diseases and parasites .
this legislation is too complex for that .
however , as Mrs Gebhardt said in her speech , these rules for the liberalisation and development of the market also provide real guidance on safety , which is of great importance for construction sector workers , but also consumers .
the Gini coefficient is a good example of this type of criterion .
however , just two years into the five-year programme , only 18 % of project funding has been spent because the local development companies who manage the projects have found themselves caught up in red tape and excessive bureaucracy .
on a personal level , I hold you in high esteem and I have read all your books .
furthermore , in view of the positive progress that the Council has already made , support for this report would throw a spanner in the works with regard to the Council 's work .
they comply with the following : they comply with the data protection requirements , they comply with the Schengen Information System ( SIS ) , they comply with police cooperation , they comply with the issue of visas and they comply with the control of external borders by air , sea and land .
the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs has produced a balanced document on this subject .
as far as my own report is concerned , I would like to say the following : the existing Dublin Regulation is also the product of a fragile political compromise reached in the Council .
I note with satisfaction that the resolution proposed by Parliament on the review of the Rome Statute requires the crime of aggression to be officially included as a war crime and that no jurisdictional filter will be necessary to determine whether such a crime has been committed .
these causes , which are rooted in the capitalist relations of production , cannot be eliminated as long as these relations exist .
Mr President , tragic information about the disastrous earthquake in Haiti reaches us every day .
I ask the Sittings Service to make the necessary corrections in the Minutes - if the plenary will support me .
over the last few years , it has become crystal clear that what Member States need is a carrot-and-stick approach .
( the President cut off the speaker . )
we have been pioneers when integrating that principle into our proposals for a fairer and more sustainable development , not only economic , but also social and environmental , knowing that we are strengthening international security in the process .
they are wrong .
we should take forward these measures , for they said that they were facing very directly what the consequences would be , in so far as climate change will not stop .
it is part of a general solution introducing common rules for all Member States on every type of aeroplane that enters the European Common Aviation Area without a flight plan .
the next steps , after an initial decision from the Council , should then be taken by Parliament .
this programme promotes excellence and the equal representation of the sexes and also enables people with special needs to participate on an equal footing .
collective bargaining and the role of the trade unions are severely weakened in this new model .
the package indicates a forward step , but only a small one , because it is only natural for Governments not to relinquish protecting their citizens - Mrs Hedh summed it up exactly - for as long as firstly , there are Governments which fail to establish the highest level of control , and secondly , there is no control system operated by the European Union .
we have had considerable quantitative success .
I therefore voted in favour of the report .
additionally , I think that micro-credit should be targeted mainly at projects in the less-developed European regions in the same way as cohesion policy , and also towards disadvantaged groups of citizens or highly innovative projects , in accordance with Lisbon strategy objectives .
the role of the High Representative , according to Article 18 , is to conduct the European Union 's common foreign and security policy , as mandated by the Council .
it is crucial that we launch this legislative instrument , which is essential for adaptation and , in particular , for tackling the risk of deterioration and desertification .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I think this has indeed been a very constructive debate .
the more warranted criticism , in my view , relates to the percentage of women , which is very low .
it is the first step towards the regulation of data exchanges for legal purposes within the framework of the European Union , the application of which can be controlled much more effectively than within the Council of Europe .
the customs services are therefore responsible for maintaining the smooth flow of trade and the controls that are needed to provide for this , while at the same time ensuring that the safety and security of EU citizens is protected .
I do not think so .
I would like to draw your attention to two problems .
my abstention backs Parliament 's stance , which is critical of the position of governments that seek greater European powers with less money , but does not endorse poor agreements or a mediocre budget .
the European Union must have a clear objective in relation to these issues , namely , to make finance less dependent on ratings .
the prompt definition of adaptation measures for agricultural activity , water resource management , land-use planning and public health forms part of a desirable attitude towards defining Community-level environmental policies .
the construction and transport sectors feature among the large consumers of energy and may accelerate the implementation of state-of-the-art technological systems .
in writing . - ( FI ) I want to say how satisfied I am with what we have achieved today with regard to the regulation on cosmetic products .
we need to make stronger efforts to set up a tangible common energy policy .
do we need to change existing structures ?
the agreement being discussed today is more than welcome as a means of accelerating economic cooperation between the EU and this country .
we should try to find a reasonable , pragmatic solution in the spirit of what you are always telling us you want also .
instead , it is a natural result of the fact that the countries are different and public democratic elections have resulted in different political systems being voted through .
in order to increase the global competitiveness of the European Union , particular attention should be paid to small and medium-sized enterprises , providing them with the required assistance and financial support .
it is certainly not restrictions and bans that will help strengthen the Schengen area and establish stability in it .
in writing . - On 9 November 2009 , the report on the request for the defence of the immunity and privileges of Tobias Pflüger was voted and adopted in the Committee on Legal Affairs ( JURI ) in the European Parliament .
it is important that every government makes significant national pledges to improve our competitive position .
we agree with the creation of a strategy for the Danube Region , based on an earlier consultation and cooperation between the countries and regions that are located along its course .
we would stress the need for measures which value work , which give priority to employment with rights and a fair distribution of wealth , which help to overcome pay differences and stereotypes linked to certain tasks and business sectors that discriminate against women , and which value the professions and activities in which women predominate .
the budgetary framework is very tight , and the Commission 's lack of initiative has led the European Parliament to create new PPs and APs that will underpin future innovations .
however , problems of its implementation have dragged on for far too long and in my opinion this needs to be resolved as soon as possible .
first and foremost , however , the increasing pressure to perform which characterises the contemporary workplace creates not only physical problems but psychological problems too .
citizens must be able to move freely and to make full use of their rights in this area without internal borders .
we have also advocated it whenever we encountered antagonism at home .
in principle , anything that does not directly disrupt our work does not have to be banned , but if the House thinks that these placards are disrupting the work ...
this is what I wish to address .
what we are talking about now seems very strange to me .
dates for next sittings : see Minutes
the question of values was raised .
so we see that if we proceed on a particular course with profound faith and conviction , then those impossible things become possible .
it calls on the Member States to better implement the 2002 framework directive , in particular , by :
defending every country 's right to produce in a sustainable way has been necessary for the future , in the name of a new economic , social , energy-oriented and environmental rationality that the neoliberal model not only fails to deliver but even renders impossible .
I can tell you , Mr Gargani , that I have commissioned a comparative study for the 12 new Member States to ascertain whether the legislation , not just Polish legislation , but the legislation of the 11 Member States which acceded to the European Union between 2004 and 2007 , whether the national legislation in those Member States complies with the provisions of the European Act of 1976 .
( EL ) Mr President , for some months now , we have been talking about the need to strike the right balance between maintaining security and defending citizens ' personal rights , emphasising that citizens must be at the epicentre of the Stockholm Programme .
talking about women is important but letting them talk is even more important in order to improve the political climate , peace processes and to reduce corruption all over the world .
agenda of the next sitting : see Minutes
the decision to open borders to these Member States will provide improved freedom of movement and , on a more practical level , will enable Bulgarians and Romanians to feel more integrated with a Union of which they are fully-fledged members .
so no , 2010 was a very hot year , climate change is real and the measures we are taking are good for the economy .
therefore , it was no wonder that in the 1970s the rest of the world was very critical of suggestions that Europe was going to undertake such a venture .
we ought instead to be worrying about the fact that the anti-discrimination directive we have today is being changed and watching to see how it pans out .
it can be said that the policy is a list of successes - different kinds of success - because it is not possible to say in a word what has been achieved in those years by Moldova in comparison with Ukraine and , for example , with the tragic situation in Belarus .
Commissioner , I would be interested to know how the Commission is attempting to confront these issues in the long term .
this risk remains as the agreement between Ukraine and Russia is a one-time agreement and the situation will undoubtedly be repeated .
President-in-Office of the Council . - Let me react to Mrs Harkin 's question .
like her , I too observed that , earlier , a majority in Parliament voted to defer the vote for the reasons she raised .
we know that the cause of this is some financial instability coming from the other side of the Atlantic .
the population has very high hopes here , particularly in the ' live a long and healthy life ' sector . do you too see totally new opportunities here in the medical sector for being able to live a long and healthy life ?
the report before us on EU security and defence policy is a manifesto for EU military integration , deliberately confusing military and civil crisis management in order to justify an EU role .
there is a probability that Malta has fossil-fuel reserves beneath its seabed .
however , I feel the situation clearly demonstrates the dire straits of the agriculture industry , certainly in my region , if farmers have to queue for days outside , during winter months , in an attempt to secure modest sums of EU funding .
we have to ask : who does the EU represent if it is not the Member States ?
incorporating bluefin tuna into Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ( CITES ) would ban international trade without solving the underlying problems .
today , more than ever , the European single market needs regulatory instruments that will establish uniform controls on the safety of goods sold in our countries .
however , in the issues that emerge in impact studies , we have the criteria used in those IAs .
in order to provide better support for the different types of wines , not only traditional types but also those referred to in the present report , we need however simple , flexible regulations which comply with European principles for promoting quality .
I say so again today .
we are convinced that free trade and the market economy benefit economic development and we are therefore , in principle , opposed to financial assistance for countries or regions .
I welcome the report 's positive comments about the improvement in cross-straits relations .
Finland outside NATO is in good company with Sweden , Austria and Switzerland .
the importance of this issue was outlined .
the Commission is currently opening investigations into the British , French and Belgian postal providers as well , since these postal markets will be liberalised this year .
Srebrenica 's future can be best secured through economic development and job creation to improve economic and social conditions of the population of the Srebrinica region .
some political figures and specialists have raised the possibility of achieving an agreement between the Member States which would combine the monitoring of the Union 's external borders with a new ' revolving door ' immigration policy to allow legally established immigrants in the Union to return to their countries of origin without fear of encountering a closed door when returning to the EU .
I also have a question : you , Commissioner , promised Latvian farmers that direct payments would be evened out with this budget .
finally , the proposal for coordination between the European agencies responsible for maritime surveillance would discourage and prevent attacks on European vessels and at the same time combat illegal activities such as smuggling , drug and human trafficking , thereby rendering international waters decidedly safer .
already in Greece , the debate by distinguished economists at international level and the markets has taken off again .
the current system of domain names and registrations works brilliantly .
it is intended to avoid toxic waste once this equipment is thrown away , to ensure that Europe 's unwanted mobile phones , computers and fridges do not damage the environment or human health by the seepage of chemicals in landfills or by giving off toxic fumes at incineration .
we do , however , live in exceptional times .
in writing . - ( RO ) The beginning of the new 3-year cycle of the Lisbon strategy was a central part of this European summit .
this is a good example of how cooperation between the Council , the Commission and Parliament can help countries to overcome their problems .
the no-fly zone must be implemented urgently and we should use all other possible means to assist the pro-democratic Libyans to defeat the forces who , through bribery , intimidation and tribal manipulation , are still supporting Gaddafi .
in that spirit , ladies and gentlemen , I ask for your confidence and support to enable us to carry out that process .
I would now like to move on to three points with which I believe the Commission should move forward .
Madam President , grinding , mixing , cheating - these are the three buzzwords of the feed industry in Germany .
the backbone of any democratic polity : a well-functioning - and I stress well-functioning - civil society is essentially absent in all of our eastern neighbours .
subject : taking account of biodiversity in the reform of the CAP
( Parliament agreed to accept the oral amendment )
as is well known , there were several spillages of fuel and oil from the vessel between August 2007 and February 2008 .
Mr Reul 's report is extremely important in the context of the current economic crisis and the challenges linked to climate change .
the failure today inside and outside the EU to comply with basic international social standards constitutes a form of social and environmental dumping detrimental to European enterprises and workers .
this undermines consumers ' confidence and can sometimes put lives at risk , particularly when it comes to children , who are extremely reliant on the products sold in shops being safe to use .
it is interfering with our work as parliamentarians .
unfortunately , I have to say that , today , we are also facing a problem which is seen so often in Europe , namely that ideology and politics are more important than the economy .
when we draw up the balance sheets to see which countries of Europe have got into difficulties there is no need to defame anyone ; it is easy to see .
the entire statute book serves no purpose if consumers cannot assert their enshrined rights , be it because there is a cross-border dimension which makes the law very difficult to enforce or because there are many small claims for minor losses , although these can certainly suck people dry over time .
we should only be afraid that the ECI is used not in the spirit of the Treaty , not for its intended purpose but abusively or not at all .
the radio spectrum is a natural and hence a public resource .
so several of my amendments aim to be more forward-looking , highlighting the advantages and benefits , alongside the need for further adaptation , both to the standards themselves and the IASB that oversees them .
the Commission 's effort to adopt a multi-year approach towards the strategy for preserving fish stocks and to place greater emphasis on finding an appropriate compromise between fishing and the environment is particularly valuable .
therefore , it calls explicitly for a new strategy from the international community with a focus on civil reconstruction .
I would like to emphasise the fact that you are doing an excellent job and we will continue to give you an occasional nudge , perhaps a little roughly , in the right direction .
in my group , there is one Member , Mr Miguel Angel Martínez Martínez , who was subjected to torture in Spain because of his opposition to the Franco regime .
in line with the European Council conclusions , most of these policies focus on vulnerable households .
the European Neighbourhood Policy of the future must be founded on cross-border relations between people ; this particularly applies to the Eastern Dimension , as the countries involved in the Eastern Partnership also have the prospect of obtaining candidate status .
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this contribution should also enable it to increase its capacity , particularly in the field , to hire more scientists and to fund more equipment as necessary .
it must also have instruments available to allow necessary projects to be undertaken which would otherwise gain no financial backing from commercial banks , and which would find it very difficult to obtain funding on favourable terms elsewhere .
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I would also like to thank Commissioner Barrot for his fundamental role in achieving a step along the path towards improving the efficiency of rail transport in Europe .
I am talking very specifically about the Europe 2020 strategy .
as regards stress tests , I would simply point out that now , based on the current regulation , there is a voluntary option for these .
rapporteur . - Mr President , thank you firstly for your tolerance and for your presence .
that is absolutely essential .
Bosnia and Herzegovina is really not that far behind Serbia in complying with the criteria .
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I am grateful for the privilege to address this august institution , the embodiment of Europe 's rich cultural diversity and its democratic political culture and institutions .
EUFOR , of course , is an essential contribution by the EU to the protection of the civil population in eastern Chad and to regional stabilisation .
the reasons why the Council has blocked reform of the Solidarity Fund , given its inability to reach agreement on a common position that would allow the legislative process to continue , should be spelt out .
all Europeans , as well as the European institutions , should feel satisfied about all this .
we need someone in this position who understands the significance of the present crisis .
in 1918 , the Romanian National Assembly held in Gyulafehérvár proclaimed the right of the Hungarian minority of Transylvania to self-government following the annexation of Transylvania to Romania .
the proposal follows the principle of diversity .
greater assistance will be required from the EU , focused on institution building through reform of the police and the judiciary and guaranteeing media freedoms and plurality .
( ES ) Mr President , by congratulating the rapporteur , Mr Cornillet , and also the Commissioner for his proposal and his speech , and echoing the words of my group spokesman , Mr Hutchinson , at this time of night , I am wrapping up my speech and donating the minute saved to you , Commissioner .
67 % of European citizens feel that job losses are their main concern .
we were thinking of introducing a pilot project and putting aside a bit of money , under the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy , to run this and to finance the impact assessment from EU funds .
it would be more appropriate that we in the European Union set ourselves limits - over and above the Treaty and its detailed provisions - and make decisions in Europe which manifestly need to be taken at European level .
that is why the Commission is proposing that the experts from the Member States be fully involved in planning the visits , the in situ visits , and in drafting the evaluation and follow-up reports .
written Statements ( Article 142 )
certainly there is still a great deal to be done to combat the harmful environmental and health effects of pesticides .
thank you for your answer .
whilst cohesion policy plays an essential role in efforts to combat the economic crisis and climate change , the Council had proposed substantially reducing the payment appropriations allocated to it in 2010 .
can we do more ?
we all know that the credit crunch has had a direct impact on strategic projects .
this is the case with student mobility , the cornerstone of a richer and more competitive education and an essential contribution towards developing the concept of European citizenship .
this is why I believe that it is our duty to encourage interethnic dialogue .
this , I think , is a great challenge , because we all know that the education institutions in our own countries have in many cases developed as a result of traditions going back a long time .
however , I would rather have seen the social dimension given a more prominent role in relation to energy prices , food prices and local involvement , but these are just some of the areas that we will be working on further in Parliament .
I believe that we can manage this globalisation not by force but with inspiration .
this is therefore an ambitious but flexible model , in that it attempts to meet the targets for reducing polluting emissions while , at the same time , allowing undertakings in the automotive sector to gradually adapt .
legal immigration and illegal immigration are two sides of the same coin and it is not possible to combat illegal immigration without at the same time establishing channels for legalised immigration into Europe .
the proposal to fund a study on means of preventing waste is totally inadequate in this regard .
we must establish an ambitious electrical and electronic waste management system which involves at the same time public authorities , manufacturers and consumers , all of whom must be reminded of their responsibilities .
however , there may be specific medical needs .
let me repeat that the Lisbon Treaty should be put to a referendum .
furthermore , in some Member States , minimum income schemes do not meet the relative poverty threshold .
the EU 's involvement should therefore be reconsidered without delay .
responsibility is still the best guardian of security .
I look forward to hearing about improving Europe 's competitiveness , about progress towards Europe 's ambitious goals for tackling climate change and about Europe 's commitment to working with the developing nations to alleviate poverty .
homes , churches and monasteries in Christian communities are being ransacked and destroyed .
if that becomes a reality , you will be able to count on the full support of our group .
of course we must patrol Europe 's borders .
we need to make sure that there are adequate transition periods for small and medium-sized enterprises because , quite frankly , apart from some mining enterprises in Papua New Guinea , they are all small and medium-sized enterprises .
this proposal for a regulation provides only for the collection and compilation of data regarding air emissions , environmental taxes applicable to economic sectors , and economic material flow accounting .
more than 70 % of young Internet users have accessed pornographic or erotic material , and more than half of them have viewed cruel and violent scenes .
for them to become integrated effectively , apart from the issue of education , their living conditions also need to be improved and they must be actively included in the labour market .
- Report : Herbert Bösch
this is an important moral issue .
however , as always we find the same shortcomings just beneath the surface .
the Council 's budget only partly concerns administration , as a large share of the funds go on operations , such as the Common Foreign and Security Policy .
we really must carry out research to find the necessary technology , because today , it is only a visible observation by the police , who then send people for medical testing , and only then can it become clear that there is a problem .
will you tell us please , Commissioner , that you will insist on precise commitments in an EPA to development programmes and that trade liberalisation has to be linked to development benchmarks ?
you are on the right track .
but we cannot ignore the reality of coal .
the contribution of air transport to global emissions of greenhouse gases is equivalent to the total emissions of the UK or Canada .
congratulations , therefore , and good night .
unfortunately , this is not the case with the citizens of most of the new Member States , including Bulgaria and Romania , who are facing restrictions .
the Treaty of Lisbon ensures not only that Parliament will be listened to with regard to international treaties , but also that it has to agree to them .
Madam President , allow me to thank all my colleagues for their contributions and to request the adoption of a report by means of which the Committee on Fisheries wishes to call on the European Commission first to clear up all these uncertainties before forcing the introduction of a type of model for some species of great economic importance whose effectiveness is , for many fisheries , scientifically and economically questionable .
Montenegro is a major hope for the process of European Union enlargement across the Western Balkans .
one is to provide assistance following the misfortune that has recently befallen it . we cannot react otherwise .
on the basis of this wealth it is entirely possible to build a decent life for all the people of Nigeria and on that basis also overcome the communal divisions .
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Member of the Commission . - We are aware that the Commission is not a price setter .
in writing . - I supported this report which puts forward proposals to tackle violence against women across Europe and calls for all Member States to prioritise this issue .
our conflict has done nothing to harden feelings between our two peoples ; I want to tell the Russian people that they will always be welcome in Georgia as partners , tourists , students , businessmen , journalists or simply as friends - but not as occupation forces .
we have therefore abstained in the final vote .
I therefore propose to you that the debate this evening be included as the last item , and the vote will take place tomorrow at 12 noon .
it is defamatory towards these people .
Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the Internet service SOLVIT has been in operation for eight years now and has succeeded in resolving 83 % of complaints from citizens and enterprises caused by the incorrect application of European law in the Member States , and it has managed to do this within 10 days .
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fifthly , Parliament will produce a separate report assessing the potential utility of a European legal framework for hedge funds and private equity .
lastly , there is a series of interrelated matters .
in writing . - There is not much to say on this report that is not self explanatory .
are these real errors ?
a hearing with EMEA has been scheduled to this effect for mid-July .
one of the main criteria for evaluating the degree of civilisation of a country is the way it treats its youngest members , its children ; the Member States of the European Union and all of us Europeans aspire to lead the world in terms of the way we treat children and the opportunities we offer them .
as has rightly been pointed out , timber and fish are two key products for the economic and social development of West Africa .
the Services Directive also imposes a series of clear obligations on the service provider , including ones related to conflict resolution .
the second concept is that humanity is itself the guarantee of dignity , and therefore nobody may be treated in an undignified manner , not even the worst of criminals .
it is undoubtedly essential that , by way of an authorisation process , the Member States ' existing BITs remain in place and that , under clear conditions , Member States be allowed to renegotiate existing BITs , finalise pending ones , and enter into negotiations for new ones .
certainly , Commissioner , stepping up work with our trading partners is one measure .
the report provides an important instrument for financing and implementing projects in the energy sector that will aid economic recovery at difficult times and help to complete the internal energy market and attain the climate and energy targets set by the European Union for 2020 .
that is what the Iraqi delegation which was here this week also confirmed to us , while assuring us that the Iraqi constitution binds the Government of Iraq to fully respect the human rights of the residents of Camp Ashraf , who , with the help of UNHCR and ICRC , wish to leave for Iran or any other destination , or wish to stay as political refugees abiding by the laws of Iraq .
safeguarding enhanced protection for geographical indications within the framework of bilateral trade agreements and the WTO is of primary importance .
so I would urge the European Commission to take a different approach which combines competition policy , consumer protection and the protection of personal data or privacy into a single whole .
what does a rapporteur do when everything I and the different committees requested is there , although perhaps not in the form we want ?
this is why , by adopting Act no 263 / 2010 , Romania has introduced a series of major reforms which will ensure the sustainability of the public pension system in the medium and long term .
right now , we are debating the future of the common agricultural policy and we are asking that policy to deliver more for Europe in terms of environmental issues , food security and the territorial dimension , and yet all of the debate thus far has been about how can we shrink the agriculture budget .
however , unfortunately , she is mistaken in saying we are unanimous on this .
where would we be in Ireland today if the euro and the European Central Bank were not in place ?
I therefore think that the tourism statistics are necessary and also relevant in terms of assessing the social aspect of this sector .
in France , as Mrs Lepage pointed out , eight licences were signed without any debate , without any consultation , without any impact assessment .
as it is impossible to mention all the aspects raised in the report , we welcome the adoption of our amendment that ' points out that the impact of small-scale fishing on discards is minimal , and therefore calls for greater Community support for the promotion and development of small-scale inshore and artisanal fishing ' .
indeed , we marked its anniversary only four days ago when we celebrated International Civil Aviation Day .
I believe that global trade has been beneficial to the world economy , but at the same time I acknowledge that more needs to be done , especially in the transport sector , to reduce harmful emissions .
if there is one African country that has made considerable efforts to try to resolve this question in everyone 's best interests it is South Africa .
on economic , social and environmental issues , the European Council will review the work that has been done in the relevant areas with a view to the preparation of the next cycle of the Renewed Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs , to be approved at the European Council in Spring 2008 .
not a single Member State of the European Union has voted in favour of adopting the Goldstone report as part of the United Nations Human Rights Council .
my plea to Israel is : for goodness ' sake , you are not winning friends by doing this .
I will now listen carefully to the comments from the various speakers .
it has to be possible for every European Union citizen to live and work in surroundings that are free from tobacco smoke . this must be emphasised particularly in connection with public institutions and premises .
we must now ensure that the implementation of this directive is overseen properly and that it yields real healthcare results for patients in Europe .
I wish to give the following explanation of vote on behalf of the Christian Social Union of Bavaria ( CSU ) delegation in the European Parliament .
in his interview for Die Welt Söder demanded that an investigation be carried out and the EU funds be stopped for Bulgaria .
in the opinion of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe , democracy and the role of Parliament are being undermined .
the fight against the violation of human rights is the main goal of the EU and its institutions .
the German Presidency had set three objectives - the ' triple 20 ' - and , at its heart , the agreement that we sealed at the European Council , and that I hope will be adopted by the European Parliament tomorrow , meets the objectives you set yourselves .
the Commission is also committed to protecting privacy and the personal data of citizens .
the far-reaching effects of globalisation are resulting in more and more people losing their jobs .
governments propped up their postal provider just before entering the private market .
this is the procedure applied by the US and other countries which have managed to deal with volcanic eruptions without major disruptions to air traffic .
for the sixth day yesterday , millions of people marched throughout France , with the backing of 70 % of the population .
in writing . - ( NL ) The Dutch People 's Party for Freedom and Democracy ( VVD ) delegation in the European Parliament voted in favour of the Siekierski report , as we support food distribution to the poorest population groups in the EU .
the next item is the report by Jan Andersson , on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs , on challenges to collective agreements in the EU .
it is an appeal to citizens , because European civic identity develops when it is put into practice ; not simply when a right is obtained , but when that right is put into practice and exercised .
in our thoughts , we are with the people who are working day and night in the nuclear reactors at Fukushima in order to prevent a nuclear disaster .
the European Parliament cannot agree with the use of capital punishment , and Belarus is the only country in Europe which applies this kind of penalty .
I believe we could have reached agreement there .
with this debate and the vote which will follow , we will conclude a task and a period of negotiations in the working group chaired by Mrs Wallis and composed of fellow Members from all political groups , as well as a Commission delegation led by Mr Šefčovič , which has resulted in the drafting of an agreement for the establishment of a common Transparency Register .
I am , however , dissatisfied with certain elements and I would like to say a few words in that regard .
the decline in the number of colonies is therefore regrettable , and we need scientific data to enable us to understand the mechanisms that help the spread of this species and develop ways of ensuring its preservation .
I believe that the transparency register will also contribute towards the greater credibility of the political environment .
the passage of time has not yet resolved these conflicts and neither has it healed wounds between the three nations that make up Bosnia Herzegovina .
how can we have free and fair elections when print and electronic media are censored , other civil rights and liberties suspended and the independence of the judiciary has been undermined ?
the aviation markets of the European Union and the United States , taken together , account for around 60 % of world air traffic .
I agree with you about the support and the issues of debt .
you have not given me an answer to match the consequences of these accidents and the problems created in addition to the tragic effects on human lives .
there are many countries among the Member States of the European Union , including my homeland , Hungary , which would like to play an active role , as full and equal members , in cooperating on European security and defence policy .
Hungary and Budapest , the city selected as the centre of the institution , have a great tradition in the field of scientific research .
we were elected to defend the interests of European citizens , to defend our peoples ' interests and to ensure that money reaches the people , not the bureaucrats .
thus we have not only made it possible to process visa applications quickly but also ensured that security screening prevents abuses .
professional users will only be granted authorisation after they have completed a training course .
it is true that a week after the elections , the Nobel Peace Prize winner , Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi , was released . however , nothing suggests that the same fate will meet the other political prisoners in the country , numbering over two thousand .
do not complain that the Union ...
today we are adding even more pages by incorporating Regulation ( EC ) No 479 / 2008 on the common organisation of the market in wine .
this negotiation was launched on the basis of evidence that we could achieve those things if we were willing to be ambitious .
recital F of the report makes reference to the European External Action Service , which is likely to cost more money .
in connection with this , I would again like to draw the attention of my fellow Members to the fact that so many of the gypsy settlements in Europe are still targets for extremist forces , even today .
worse still , you are now so fearful of public opinion - you know that you are losing the argument - that you have sunk to abuse .
the European Union as a whole is and remains the main producer of food .
that is fundamental for any open and democratic society and it is fundamental also to further discuss such sensitive issues as the Armenian issue , the Kurdish question or the Cyprus problem .
also , we need a disaster management fund .
it is therefore hardly surprising that no precise figure appears in the text numbering forty or so articles , not even the USD 44 billion that the FAO says are needed annually in order to sustain the agricultural systems of the poorest countries .
( BG ) The condition of dairy production in Bulgaria is an example that there is something wrong in the economic system of the European Union .
secondly , a clause on the legally binding force of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and a clause on the accession of the European Union to the European Convention on Human Rights of 1950 have been included in the Reform Treaty .
the battle for hearts and minds requires us to avoid demonising whole communities of religious believers .
( ES ) Mr President , Commissioner , on behalf of the Committee on International Trade , I should like to thank Mrs De Sarnez for the way she has worked with us .
quarterly data on job vacancies is the only one of those indicators for which a legal basis has not yet been developed .
in writing . - ( PT ) The common fisheries policy ( CFP ) groups together a series of measures designed by the European Union to ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of the European fisheries sector .
this proposal was tabled by the Commission in June 2007 using the same legal base as the act it was supposed to amend , i.e. Articles 63 ( 3 ) ( a ) and 63 ( 4 ) of the EC Treaty .
the first aim is to recover from the crisis .
Sam Rainsy , the opposition leader in Cambodia , has been subjected to serious persecution .
( applause )
the very poorest countries have the right to fair access to our market and the stopping of unfair competition on their markets .
we must ensure this , and I can assure you that , together , the European delegation will do whatever we can to achieve this , and we will do so in such a way that the world can hear that we are speaking with a now famous ' one voice ' .
the rules on which Parliament is about to vote will permit a wider use of by-products of animal origin , which currently cannot be put to any good use , but does so while ensuring appropriate safety conditions .
take my own country , Germany , for example : the individual Federal Länder are currently transposing this directive .
the absolute is what we all understand as support for the poorest regions , but the relative dimension , within individual states , is equally important .
and to add to this we have the June elections to the European Parliament and the latest military conflict in the Gaza strip .
millions of people who work in family businesses will at last gain the ability to benefit from voluntary social protection based on affiliation to a system of social insurance , without which they have been in a worse situation .
it stands to reason that the governments of individual countries and also the European Union should endeavour to support these areas of manufacture , in the hope that it might be possible to exploit the cutting edge solutions discovered across the economy as a whole .
it is in this spirit that I invite you to undertake the tasks that await us , in a spirit of comradeship ' .
the objectives are well known : it is up to Montenegro to meet the required priorities and , once ready , to engage in the negotiation process .
moreover , I agree on the need for the agency to put in place more precise mechanisms for setting its objectives and for evaluating the results .
Madam President , could I have assurances from Commissioner McCreevy that the single set of global accounting standards - with the consequent drive for increased standardisation of procedures - will in no way increase the justification , or even the requirement , for an EU common consolidated corporation tax base ?
I would point out that , just a few days ago , when I was on a mission to Tunisia with Mr Panzeri , the Chair of the Delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries , we noted that the provisional government is introducing profound changes to the legal system and to the laws governing this subject as a whole .
we need to have the courage to say this to our fellow citizens .
that is why I would like this new directive to give me real freedom of choice as a consumer .
in addition , the Regulation provides that when Member States pass a decision on maintenance obligations , such a decision will be binding in all Member States .
then perhaps you would see the change and the challenges being experienced in Tunisia , and you would be able to monitor the situation and be their champion in the Commission .
in this context , the treatment of small and medium-sized enterprises is especially important .
we are , therefore , also of the opinion that a substantial reassessment of the budget is absolutely necessary , along with an immediate review of the maximum limits of the current MFF .
this and the strategy for the Baltic region will function as pilot projects and will provide best methods and mechanisms for their application to other ' macro-regions ' .
there are many issues of interest at global level .
however , the Commission cannot justify the priority given to only one area proposed in Amendments 37-41 and therefore cannot accept those amendments .
the new challenges of climate change , water management , renewable energies and biodiversity were not fully taken on board at the time of the CAP health check .
a 16 % increase in the number of officials for some years , as in the EU , would never be authorised ; nor would an increase in pension costs of more than 10 % in one year .
the initiative for this to be done came from Hungarian MEPs , myself among them .
there have been long and difficult discussions during the trialogue which the rapporteur has steered with great dedication and skill , and I thank her for that .
all the Schengen acquis conditions have been met .
my question is whether the Council would like to respond to those amendments .
how do we otherwise intend to speak about democracy in the Mediterranean with any credibility if we do not implement it ourselves in Europe ?
we considered this with regard to human medicine .
another thing which has been overlooked , Mr President - and which is perhaps our greatest failure of all - is the matter of marketing .
helping them to get to safety , mostly in Egypt , has also been a priority .
for that reason , my party supports the continuation of this dialogue .
the internal market represents a huge opportunity for all of us .
the Treaty of Lisbon gives Parliament new budgetary powers and new ways of working and Mrs Guy-Quint 's report provides the forthcoming Parliament with an excellent basis for this work .
we want simplified rules , not only in words , but also in deeds .
my apologies to whomever has to come up with an interpretation of that at this late an hour but , although we in the Netherlands have hardly any monks left these days , we still use that proverb when we want to say that you have to apply the same standards in equivalent situations .
however , if we do not have a strong EU agency , these regional markets will be a regulatory no-man 's-land : E.ON , RWE and EDF are too big for a regional market - France , Germany and the Benelux countries .
there are important lessons to be learned in this regard .
however , the time has come for them to be coordinated at EU level , for example in relation to the functioning of the internal market and the requirements of the Stability and Growth Pact .
high Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy . - ( ES ) Mr President , as quickly as possible and given that the contributions of the various speakers have , in general terms , been along the same lines , allow me to mention to the House three or four issues that come to mind having heard the speeches .
there is a general agreement that the economic crisis was a logical outcome of a widespread crisis of values .
I tabled amendments on strengthening equality bodies , which already exist .
I ask Parliament and President Hans-Gert Pöttering to keep a close eye on further developments concerning the referendum in Romania , and to extend protection to the local governments that are under threat from the authorities .
this criterion is used whenever it is shown that the damage caused has affected the majority of the region 's population and that it has had serious and lasting repercussions on living conditions and economic stability in the region in question .
a week ago the Commission announced a proposal to take cash away from administrative bureaucracy and to support agriculture , wine and potatoes if you like , and to put it into innovation .
you show that even in the dark days of recession , one can dream of Utopia .
either is preferable to an institutional life , provided , of course , that there is no corruption or exploitation involved .
space has , from now on , multiplied its spheres of action and application .
I consider it necessary that Member States prepare further coordinated strategies and methods , and implement them effectively in practice , and also that they provide real political support .
( PT ) Mr President , Commissioner , I must firstly congratulate the rapporteur and the shadow rapporteur of my Group , Mr Guellec and Mrs García , on the quality of the report and their openness to dialogue on cohesion .
I welcome the proposed Small Businesses Act and I trust that we will move beyond the stage of ideas so that in the European elections we will be able to say to the European citizens that we have fulfilled our objective of achieving a more effective and secure economic area .
this kind of provision was exceptionally useful as a stick for beating not only individuals but also , and above all , the press .
trafficking in human beings is going on in all countries in Europe and the human traffickers move their victims across national borders every day .
Mr President , it has always been economic nonsense for a number of differently performing economies to share the same interest and exchange rates .
it is also very important that the interests of investors and of transparency should be considered too .
how is it possible that in a united Europe , there are cases like this ?
so , as well as looking at racism and xenophobia , is the Commission focused on how it deals with the abuse of the Internet by terrorist parasites ?
Madam President , the closing of European airspace was doubtless a necessary preventive measure in the interests of safety .
preparation of the informal summit of heads of state and government ( Lisbon , 18 / 19 October 2007 )
Mr President , I would like to thank Mr Cadec warmly for such a bold report , which is of extreme importance to the common fisheries policy currently being constructed .
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I shall make it clear now that nobody is interested in regulating the internet .
it is our ambition to continue this work at the seventh and eighth working sessions .
it is , I believe , supposed to end next March .
I think it is a disgrace that the European Parliament adopted this report , albeit by a narrow majority , because this was a very biased move , and it has to be said that there was a considerable amount of internal disagreement in this House .
we too will insist on Amendment 14 , concerning Article 6 , because we believe that to make optional for the assisting spouse or life partner that which is , however , obligatory for the main worker is to lower protection and to open the door to conditions that undermine the Commission 's aims .
in a week where we started with only three women in the Commission , we finish with nine .
we should also ensure that the burden of rebalancing global growth is shared by all G20 members .
should we not be implementing this process through work in the field of culture ?
in the Netherlands this is used to buy nature areas .
she cannot be here today . she arranged everything together with you , and was also completely satisfied .
people can come in here and speak at all sorts of great length .
many people also believe that it is possible to play off Europe and democracy against one another .
we are fully aware of the appeal made in Parliament to the European Union to deploy a military mission in this region of the Republic of Congo .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I could have limited my speech to simply recalling the images of this summer in Russia or southern Asia , to reminding you of the absolutely urgent need to combat climate change and , since we are talking about Europe , to move immediately , or as soon as we possibly can , to a target of 30 % by 2020 for greenhouse gas emissions .
without trying to underestimate the environmental issue , this does not seem to me to be the time to burden European companies with another charge .
undoubtedly , of course , there are possibilities for the EU itself because questions which relate to migrant workers also relate to their social security , the transfer of social contributions and a range of other issues .
efficiency of the European agencies linked to employment , working conditions and training ( debate )
some 25 million people in the European Union are unemployed .
Russia - disregarding Georgia 's territorial integrity - wants to bring the two breakaway regions of Georgia gradually under its control .
I come from an outermost region which currently has a level of energy self-sufficiency of around 27 % , and which aims to achieve a figure of 75 % by 2012 .
finally , there is the question of taking a credible , firm stance on unlawful conduct .
that is because we have had to balance many different things here in this package : classification societies have had to be brought together with marine equipment ; all interests have had to be put clearly on the table ; and , above all , Parliament has had to show leadership .
meanwhile , closed-minded protectionism should be left to fall by the wayside .
from an economic perspective , it is , of course , a disaster for an industry which is now suffering its third crisis , following 11 September and the economic crisis .
therefore , providing drinking water is of the utmost necessity .
this directive will thus help protect Dutch consumers and improve the internal market , and the PVV is fully in favour of that .
( BG ) I should like to draw your attention to the problem of the renewed schism in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church .
I agree with and support the measures which you are proposing because , being aware of how important trade is in the current economic crisis , we need to realise how important the measures are which we need to take to protect jobs .
all of these will be crucial factors in whether or not the elections can be counted as a true record of the will of the people and whether or not Pakistan can start to emerge from the long shadow cast by that assassin 's bullet on 27 December 2007 .
for this reason too , on behalf of my group , I support the proposal that Mr Moreno has put to the Commission : let us try to design a Blue Card that is not linked solely to the 3 % of highly qualified immigrants , but one that seeks to find specific legal instruments with which to open up the market to immigration .
job vacancy figures are part of a series of major European economic indicators and they are needed for evaluation of prevailing conditions on the EU labour market and within the euro area under the EMU Action Plan .
naturally it is related to the Baltic Sea , but it is not part of the strategy .
I agree that it is regrettable that considerable differences still remain in the application and enforcement of Regulation ( EEC ) No 3820 / 85 on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport .
States make a solemn , but usually unwritten , covenant with their troops to send them into battle and risk their lives , but only when the vital interests of the nation or nationals are at stake .
I believe that the European Commission should play a greater coordinating role in order to ensure the timely and safe closure of these nuclear reactors , to guarantee transparency as regards the use of funds , and to encourage these countries to develop alternative energy and create new jobs .
I think that cutting our budgets on education is a very short-sighted policy .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I had the opportunity to experience the independence referendum in South Sudan as an electoral observer for Parliament and I was impressed by the major backing given by the South Sudanese people to the idea of deciding on the fate of their country themselves in future .
if anybody in the world - including the Chinese Government - has any doubt that you are a personality of dialogue , your speech today was the proof that you are a personality of dialogue .
twenty years ago we could still laugh if someone bought a ' Rolex watch ' for USD 10 .
this means that in the future we have to be even more careful to ensure that the Ombudsman has sufficient resources and that the code of practice under which he operates is relevant to the current climate .
however , this report is very welcome .
the introduction of penalties for this kind of activity under the criminal law of all Member States is essential .
in my view he has put forward intelligent and realistic proposals about the need for the institutions representing the Union to be more proactive in this process of setting standards which are to be incorporated into the Community legal order , also concerning the internal operating rules of those private entities .
I deplore the fact that the conservative majority in the European Parliament has refused to face up to this state of affairs by rejecting an amendment which highlighted the European Parliament 's concerns over the use of children for work , children who are frequently exploited in dangerous and unhealthy conditions .
closure of the sitting
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I support the spirit of the ETUC call for a social progress clause to be inserted into the Treaty I believe that the only way to secure workers ' rights into the future is to reject this Treaty and send Member States back to the negotiating table .
the Council and Parliament should be prepared to do that .
since the EU now wishes to side-step referendums so as to avoid another rejection of the Treaty , as happened in France and the Netherlands in 2005 , in principle only Ireland will have a referendum .
selecting Romania as the host country for the European Institute of Technology would stimulate economic development in the entire region and would contribute to balancing the gaps still existing in the European Union .
in Sri Lanka , the civilian population was bombed , among other atrocities .
are the EU decision makers adequately addressing the problems of national and ethnic minorities in the potential candidate countries of the Western Balkans , when some Member States are incapable of doing so at home , and in fact their practices are diametrically opposed to this policy ?
however , the resolution is not only about the election , but also about what happened after the election and what has been going on in Moldova for quite a while .
it is a question of the health and safety of the EU 's women and children .
then the question of why we need binding CO2 reduction targets was raised , and why the Member States cannot do this .
the nations of Europe balance the rights and responsibilities of children , parents and the State in the light of their own history and political situation .
the vote will take place on Wednesday .
yet even the most ambitious target the EU is currently proposing - a 30 % cut by 2020 - will give us only a 50 / 50 chance of avoiding the worst of climate change .
the EU also supports the initiative to create a Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran , as proposed by several countries and regions .
this should be done in the same way that environmental impact assessments are now taken for granted as a way of informing legislators , and are a prerequisite for the formulation of most EU policies .
( FR ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I should , of course , like to thank Commissioner Dimas for his presence and his answers and for the attention that he continues to pay to all these disasters .
we have progressed from conceptual goals and several lines of text in the Treaty of Lisbon to a directive through which the EU will be regulated .
Europe 's fiscal and monetary policy makers must be ready for this .
the present report is a typical example of the meddlesomeness and zeal for regulation that characterise the European Parliament .
by November of this year , all Member States should put into place criminal penalties for racist and xenophobic crimes , as laid down in the framework decision .
the Irish Government has already turned our country into a vassal state of the IMF , which is acting blatantly on behalf of the speculators and the financial markets .
the Ombudsman has said very clearly that we can keep documents confidential , and what we have been doing is making a large additional step in the direction of transparency .
it can therefore count on my wholehearted support , because respect for all people and their fundamental rights lies at the heart of the Greens ' policy , irrespective of gender , age , nationality or socio-economic background .
it would therefore be all the more inconsistent , if not indeed harmful , to adopt ' political ' amendments to the measures implementing the Europol decision that do not follow the legislative procedure envisaged by the Treaty of Lisbon .
Mr President , banks were once revered in Ireland .
the Treaty on European Union lays down Member States ' responsibilities in connection with the application of EU law , while the Commission , as guardian of the treaties , is granted competence and responsibility for ensuring that the law is applied correctly .
politics for the countries that had ratified it , and I want to pay tribute to them and the parliamentarians here who had supported the draft Constitution , meant agreeing to open negotiations on a new , less ambitious text .
in 2005 , the EU Member States jointly became for the first time the top arms exporter in the world .
this is why the recitals in the 2005 decision refer to housing for disadvantaged citizens or socially less advantaged groups which , due to solvency constraints , are unable to obtain housing at market conditions .
let us hope that Prague Castle is soon occupied once more by someone as European as this .
( applause )
finally , the Burmese government must respect the rule of a secret ballot , and must allow the elections to be monitored by international observers and Burmese media .
I will never tire of fighting for equality for the smallest , the poorest and the defenceless .
it was established in 2002 when the floods happened .
perhaps Mr Cohn-Bendit overestimates the significance of a resolution , but with the Security Council 's resolution we have a basis which we should support and , as the President of Parliament has already said , we should require both sides to seek peace , to lay down their arms and to comply with the Security Council 's resolution .
let me conclude by focusing on the motion for a resolution on the European integration process of Serbia as a well-prepared contribution to today 's political debate . I am therefore grateful to the rapporteur , Jelko Kacin .
firstly , all of the world 's parliaments make their plenary debates available in written form and archive them so that people can consult the records to find out what has been discussed in Parliament .
continuing with this subject , I would like to point out something of which we are all aware , but which there is no harm in saying : the energy situation in Europe is not exactly an optimum one .
however , crises can spread .
that data must be handled safely , because the safety of the EU citizens and Member States depends on it .
tobacco smoke : policy options at EU level ( debate )
I agree with the criticism made by Mr Mulder regarding the Strasbourg building programme : in our view it will be a swindle if we have to carry out renovations due to asbestos .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( SV ) This report has the support of the Confederal Group of the European United Left / Nordic Green Left .
the key is to change consumer motivation .
do you have any information on this issue ?
it is true that this was not a success on the part of Georgia which had been very widely warned , in particular by the Americans , against provoking this reaction , even if Georgia itself was provoked , as this reaction would be well-prepared , something of which I was completely unaware .
the Commission is demanding measures of a permanent and lasting nature : additional measures to cut social spending , especially on public health and care , while at the same time the private sector in this sector is growing richer .
the situation of the American economy is going to have an impact on the economies of all the EU Member States and the economy of the euro zone in particular , perhaps .
however , we should keep our poise because there is no infallible local or national economy in this world , and however much we believe in social justice , not all citizens can always be winners at the same time , in the same place and all the time .
for over a week we have observed the spread of infections in Mexico , in the USA , in Canada , in EU Member States and in other countries .
Europe needed Ireland , not only for technical reasons relating to its mechanisms and organisational structure , but also for Ireland 's contribution to what we are all seeking : the essence of Europe .
nor would it appear that the Commission has coordinated this crisis very well .
however , the amount of waste generated depends on the specific features of the consumption market , products ' different life cycles and the habits of the population in each state .
we will see how we can do , but really I am doing my best to be fair to all concerned and indeed to the Commissioners who are waiting to participate .
I fully support the remarks made by Mrs Flautre , and share her alarm at some of the comments made .
we cannot accept your leading role and that of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , which goes even further and wants to see 2010 , because this completely overlooks the global dimension of aviation , the nature of the competition between airlines .
a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base in Europe would not improve the competitiveness of the European Union or the operation of the single market and , on top of that , the CCCTB could interfere with small open economies , like that of Ireland .
therefore , two packages of changes in regulations have passed from the Commission and I hope it is already somewhere in Parliament , at least in the Committee on Regional Policy and Planning , and in Council and we hope that it will be passed very fast for Member States to use it .
Poland , Lithuania and Latvia used to issue 400 000 visas to Belarusians , i.e. three times more than the number issued by the old Schengen countries .
could you also make a promise that you will issue a separate report on homophobia in the European Union as soon as possible ?
it was not easy to reach the compromise , and therefore I too would like to congratulate the rapporteur and all members of the negotiating team for the work carried out .
the challenges which the strategy for the Danube region needs to address clearly exist in other , broader , geographical areas , such as the Balkans and the Adriatic .
the more Europe there is in Belarus , the faster the last dictator in our continent will fall .
the multi-level approach must stimulate the integrated development of disadvantaged areas by involving local and regional authorities as well as civil society .
they are the real conduits of change , and that is why they , too , should be able to benefit from this aid .
I would also like to highlight the concern with the need to prevent situations of public debt , apart from public deficits .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , equal treatment is a fundamental principle of the European Union .
Mr President , may I express my warmest thanks to my colleagues who have taken part in this debate and say that they have certainly made clear what a perilous and difficult job we have had to complete this telecom package .
it also contains the abolition of the national quantities for butter as an eligible criterion for aid , removal of the obsolete aid for military forces and abandoning the compulsory use of import licences .
secondly , I think it is important that we carry out an SME test in connection with all regulatory impact assessments and also examine the effect on industrial competitiveness in Europe .
as the content of the renewed agreement will be identical to the content of the agreement which expires on 20 February 2009 , there would be no sense in continuing talks on the renewal of this agreement in the usual manner .
the most problematic paragraphs as far as I am concerned are those advocating binding targets for the Member States with regard to gender quotas .
it moves me to hear the calls and renewed calls for economic policy coordination that are mainly expressed in the language of Voltaire .
as they are amended , it becomes difficult to understand which provision is currently in force .
we must not forget that these , too , are crucial areas in the forthcoming EU negotiations .
then Mr McCreevy said yesterday : ' by the way , I do not intend to do anything about private equity ' .
the efforts made as regards Bosnia have been inadequate and insufficiently successful , and by this I mean both our efforts and theirs .
many hundreds of people were put in prison and had sham criminal proceedings brought against them .
we should vote in favour of this report - provided that Amendment 15 is rejected - as it is a sound report .
farmers suffer enough red tape and bureaucracy at present and they see this all emanating from Brussels .
we know full well , however , that there are contradictions in this area too .
I think we need to tackle the problem of governance , the stability of institutions and economic development in the region .
this must also be taken into account when we are talking about including these aircraft emissions .
I support this document and agree that it covers the most acute health-care problems .
we also think that it is positive that it stresses that the administrative burden is relatively higher the smaller the company is , and therefore calls for differentiation between micro , small and medium-sized enterprises .
I must conclude , however , and so I will finish by saying that this resolution exposes a problem that it is worth examining in more depth , in other words , the problem that we have already highlighted many times of the relationship between the Courts .
if we fail to handle the demographic changes and make rural areas more attractive to young farmers , we run the risk , within a certain period of time , of this situation becoming a real obstacle preventing stable , high-quality agricultural production .
the Portuguese Presidency was therefore well advised to focus on Africa .
if I may say so , Mr Chatzimarkakis , your report falls behind what Chris Davies produced , because instead of footprint you are now giving priority to vehicle weight , and because instead of 125 grams based on vehicle technology you are now calling for an integrated target of 125 grams .
social security , health , welfare and education systems are being laid on a Procrustean bed , with sweeping changes being made to the detriment of workers , further paving the way for the penetration of monopoly business groups in these wealth-producing sectors for capitalism .
this debate is not just about showing our support in Parliament , but is also about appealing to the Council to get on and agree to this now .
what is important is that we break the silence and that we show that there is support for these vulnerable people .
although it was not possible to achieve total consensus , I welcome this further advance towards the EU 's final commitment on this matter to be included in the next round of negotiations , and I express my full agreement with the revocation of the tariff rate established in Council Regulation ( EC ) No 1964 / 2005 of 29 November 2005 .
I would like to say a few words about paternity leave .
the Member States are aware of this and fully intend to safeguard them .
moreover , the ad hoc delegation that recently visited Palestine documented serious violations of humanitarian law and human rights , clear violations of the Oslo and Annapolis commitments .
we fully support the work of the EU 's representative , Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger , and we will leave no stone unturned in seeking a negotiated solution .
and in the immediate future these things must be done on behalf of small and medium-sized enterprises .
firstly , we consider that the practical difficulties pose an obstacle in themselves .
he undoubtedly set the tempo of dynamism that has clearly contributed to the success of these six months .
consequently , we are now bound to steer the process to its conclusion .
once again , we have not seen any evidence of a joint , let alone firm , European response to the Kremlin 's power machinations .
it seemed that the times when Washington acted unilaterally in the international arena were coming to an end .
however , although the Commission has the right of initiative to set up such advisory groups , it is not necessary for any such provision to be included in the regulation .
I am talking about human rights , property rights and obstacles to economic activity .
according to this Communication , the particular beneficiaries of energy efficiency measures are SMEs , and it adds that an average household could save an average of EUR 1,000 a year through energy efficiency measures .
at the end of this week , I am going to Lampedusa and Malta to look at the practical requirements and at how the Union can offer its support .
- ( MT ) .
in four countries - Poland , Slovakia , Hungary and Romania - the disasters qualify as ' major natural disasters ' according to the definition given in the EUSF Regulation ; in other words , the damage is estimated to exceed 0.6 % of their Gross National Incomes .
however , the Treaty of Lisbon is a great step forwards .
I believe that credit ratings must serve the purpose of increasing information to the market in a manner that provides investors with a consistent assessment of credit risk across sectors and countries , and consider it important to enable users to better scrutinise CRAs .
since the TDCA entered into force , the trade in EU goods with South Africa has increased steadily .
this needs to be based on a sustainable and ecological concept if we are to ensure that fishing continues to provide food for future generations .
therefore , I voted against the progressive abolition of the right of workers to opt out from the maximum 48 hour working week .
author . - Mr President , Staff Sergeant Gilad Shalit has now been held hostage by the Jihadi fanatics of Hamas for over three years .
these famous words , most often attributed to Jean Monnet , who worked so tirelessly for European unity , remain strikingly relevant today .
in view of the size of the economy of the euro area and the fact that the majority of its trade is internal , the euro area has proven to be much better equipped to withstand economic shocks than the Member States previously were with their national currencies .
the majority of our citizens want the Union to deliver a strong and growing economy .
bearing in mind :
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Europe must not deviate from this path .
Mr Juncker , this is not an issue of sincerity ; it is a political proposal for organising our Community instruments .
in writing . - ( SV ) The legislation addressed by Alejandro Cercas is not uncontroversial .
this is what we are trying to do now .
I sincerely hope that , as a result of those comments , the overall report will receive widespread positive support across and within political groups , because making patient needs a priority should surely be above party politics .
the EU has certain advantages to draw on by comparison with the new players in the Gulf region , provided that political will is shown at the highest level .
I would first of all like to thank the rapporteur , Mrs Estrela , for her report and the effort she has put into this .
I would also like to stress that it is very important that cooperation actually works and that we also conduct surveys and studies on how well these operations have succeeded .
with this directive , Europe is taking one more step towards the full implementation of the decisions taken at the G20 .
the example of Serbia showed us that the result was a great influx of asylum seekers .
I am one of those who believe that these are the foundations , the cultural foundations of Europe , and can act as a secure , stabilising factor for further dynamic support for the process of European unification .
I see that the tough version has still not been adopted today .
if Azerbaijan wants to be a nation respected in Europe , it must uphold the fundamental principles of a democratic state subject to the rule of law .
Europe needs to protect - but it must avoid the temptation of becoming protectionist .
my father was head of Voralberger Kraftwerke , the power generating company for the Austrian Province of Voralberg .
next time this figure will probably fall below 40 % .
I was also concerned with safeguarding the incomes of Madeiran and Azorean producers of wine from hybrid varieties banned by the common organisation of the market in wine , enabling them to continue growing these varieties for consumption by their families , which means that they are not forced to grub them up .
when we met with delegations from other countries in Cancún , with NGOs and with the leaders of UN institutions , we emphasised very many times how important it was for us here in Parliament to have shown the way and how much we hoped that we , as a European community , would decide as quickly as possible to take on the commitment of the 30 % reduction .
we expect that additional business risk capital will be drawn from the private sector , amounting to at least EUR 300-500 million , or perhaps as much as EUR 1 billion , in the slightly longer term .
many people fear that the small EU Member States , for example , my home country of Austria , will have less influence , because the large Member States will be able to decide everything as a result of the new voting methods .
the objective of reducing pesticide use , and not only the dangers associated with it , has been added to the list of commitments to be met under the respective national plans only .
of course this initiative , in my opinion , will provide a suitable stimulus for the further development of national policies aimed at greater protection for the health and lives of citizens .
we are able to support this motion for the reasons stated .
there is , of course , the issue of standardisation , technology , but also the question of the integration of electromobility into the whole transport system , because we may need new forms of mobility , particularly in urban areas .
dates of forthcoming sittings : see Minutes
when parties there are not permitted to take part in elections , that is something that you can criticise even before an election , as , in such circumstances , the results of the election obviously cannot meet democratic and European standards .
explanations of vote
the Spanish Government has urged that goods from Japan should be checked carefully for radiation , the Netherlands has cautioned dock workers to handle all containers from Japan with care , France is demanding a check on all goods before being exported from Japan and German customs is demanding random checks for radiation on all goods , including cars , imported from Japan .
once the negotiations are over and that chapter is closed , the European Union must concentrate with increased consistency and renewed confidence on the challenges that are of concern to the citizens of Europe : economic growth , employment , security , the environment , energy , and globalisation .
on the other hand , let us not forget that in the agricultural sector , we need to identify and use alternative fuels , a strategic area for the whole world .
will this era really come to an end , though ?
lamentably , the report limits itself to proposing a residual increase in current EU budget values of 5 % , despite opposing the freezing of the post-2013 EU budget , as advocated by some Member States .
most airline passengers are decidedly against this , seeing in this form of search a violation of fundamental human rights , including the right to intimacy and protection of personal dignity .
we cannot consider that strategy without using the tools at our disposal .
the approach taken by the US authorities and the fact that the courts do not view the publication of names , e-mail addresses and banking details as a violation of privacy are certainly symptomatic of overseas data protection provisions , which are obviously still in their infancy .
the former assist in interpretation of national law adopted , guaranteeing its implementation and supplementing binding Community provisions .
I would like to mention one example : in my particular region in Eastern Germany , cohesion policy has had a significant effect since 1990 .
I think that even if we authorise the reforms we need to make policy once again the focus of the monitoring procedure .
we must share with them this political need for effort and dare to tell them the truth about what is missing .
I would therefore like to thank Commissioner Barnier , who has provided us with valuable information in this connection .
we must be glad that , for administrative expenditure , we have a positive opinion , with low error rates and , from what we have been told , no fraud .
for only then can joint discussion and common evaluation of the situation lead to our reaching appropriate conclusions - this is what the involvement of Parliament in making these decisions is for , and I hope this will happen .
it should certainly be the main criterion , but not the only one .
in a generation , in the next 20 years , we must create an alliance of civilisations between Europe and Latin America , and why not even integration !
firstly , it is a tragedy that the events themselves have taken place , due to their cruelty and the loss of human life .
the omnipresence of the market and the defence of economic interests which aim to achieve their own objectives within their sectors are not compatible with the defence and safeguarding of the common good .
I would say that these documents have been approved at the right time , at the start of Baroness Ashton 's term of office , and that we have demonstrated in a detailed way what we want from the European Union 's foreign policy .
here in Strasbourg this report is also accompanied by an irrational fear of mentioning the country of origin principle , notwithstanding the fact that in many professions service providers do not have to know the neighbouring country 's legislation in order to provide cross-border services .
in any case , these costs should be within sensible and comprehensible limits .
Mr President , obviously we have limited influence on the situation in Lebanon .
but is there any other solution ?
in addition , universities need to be more receptive to the business world so that they can better adapt their education offering to the labour market 's demands .
the report by Marie-Thérèse Sanchez-Schmid , on behalf of the Committee on Regional Development , on Objective 3 : a challenge for territorial cooperation - the future agenda for cross-border , transnational and interregional cooperation ;
all this requires direct participation on the part of local authorities and civil society , and the involvement of cities ' political representatives in strategic planning and in defining and negotiating partnership contracts .
President-in-Office . - ( SL ) The European Union is committed to multilateralism in many forms , including the World Trade Organisation , which in our view is an excellent example of a multilateral organisation .
I voted in favour of the report , because I believe that it is important to monitor not only the development of technology to ensure active safety , but also to consider the possibility of introducing stricter provisions in the area of passive safety , relating to vehicle construction .
by integrating people who are capable , professionally qualified and willing to contribute to its future and its welfare Europe can gain considerably .
however , I can maintain that as the Presidency we will strive for a detailed and mindful debate of all the amendments to be approved .
the second Irish referendum shows what can be achieved when we are truly inclusive .
we have therefore made provision for a safeguard in any case .
what is left over from the manure will be an even better fertiliser that is more versatile than aggressive fertilisers .
let me also say that the report , firstly , underlines the need to further develop consultations with civil society and local authorities , which is what we are already doing .
we want an agreement with sound guarantees to protect the rights of our European citizens .
let us also remember that management of the Strategy 's guidelines from a free-market position has worked much better than management from Member State level .
I seriously wonder what else we can expect in the year to come and what more needs to happen before Europe stops all too casually selling its system of values in return for economic interests .
if people are not aware of the problem and use counterfeit medical products , the consequences may be tragic .
it is worth pointing out that the Baltic Sea has been classified as a ' particularly sensitive sea area ' ( PSSA ) by the International Maritime Organisation 's Marine Environment Protection Committee .
the Porsche affair is very significant in this regard .
the two-pillar model that was introduced for private and public television and audiovisual media services has developed very well .
Forty-eight of the 50 states in the American Union have a deficit budget .
we would like to contribute to the strengthening of the realisation that the Roma , like all peoples and ethnic groups of Europe and the entire world , are not a problem , but an economic , cultural and human resource .
combating poverty amongst women is a moral obligation but also a social investment .
with regard to external trade , the most recent figures published by Eurostat show that , for 2007 , the initial estimate talks about a trade deficit in the European Union of 27 of EUR 185 000 million , which is a substantial trade deficit , but in any event lower than many of the other areas of industrialised countries , and the euro area has a trade surplus of EUR 28 300 million .
prioritising youth in connection with the training and mobility programmes is a very worthwhile investment , with good opportunities for development for the labour market .
I also want to congratulate Mr Mitchell and thank him for his report .
it is not about the song : it is only about its recording by a performer , so Mr Holm can sing Happy Birthday any time he wishes and he will not be in danger of being penalised in any way .
Madam President , when the EU talks of a common foreign policy on energy , you need to be very aware of exactly who you propose to do business with .
it is true that we need considerably more input , but this is a good place to begin .
there is also a complete lack here of a clear standpoint on the plan to construct elements of the US national anti-missile defence system in Central Europe , which by the way has become a bone of contention in international relations and is sparking off a militarisation programme in space .
my country for instance , Sweden , has taken a national target of a 40 % reduction until 2020 , and this is true for Germany as well .
in writing . - ( HU ) It is important that in a difficult , critical period in the life of the whole of Europe we appraise the objectives ahead of us and the positive changes made towards them together .
moreover , EU support will certainly help to broaden people 's horizons .
the capacity of the forest to recover from these threats and resume its normal development in the face of the impact of climate change depends on biodiversity , not just of trees , but also of all the other organisms that live in the forest , particularly wild animals .
we need common , uniform definitions for access to 27 labour markets .
what we need are legal immigrant workers with rights and obligations , not slaves .
in writing . - ( DE ) I voted against the Catania report .
it is extremely important that information about the directive 's main instruments reaches business operators .
these materials must be prepared according to the current stringent regulations for protecting human health and the environment .
with more qualified majority voting , the Council is taking on more overall responsibility , as co-legislator , for its legislation and thus for the execution of these laws .
this means that Parliament has the power and the duty to monitor negotiations - in this case , trade negotiations - and to intervene politically using the parliamentary means at its disposal , such as hearings , resolutions and oral questions , in order to stay informed on the progress of these negotiations .
that is why we must be practical .
I must highlight the fact that the Court of Auditors found that none of the formal conditions required for the award of a direct grant of EUR 1 399 132 ( 0.31 % of the available operational budget ) to an international organisation had been fulfilled .
the European Parliament should be proud of a job well done .
in order to deal effectively with this phenomenon , Member States need to criminalise every form of coercion of children to take part in sexual activities .
in writing . - ( PT ) I voted in favour of this report because of the importance it attaches to issues that I consider to be fundamental , i.e. the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) in the European Union .
so I am happy that this quest for cooperation between stakeholders in the area of sport is now much more visible and fruitful .
indeed , last week , four people were condemned to death because they were involved in post-election incidents .
in this context , and looking in particular at Africa , we find that certain emerging countries have an extremely large presence there .
recognition by everyone of the symbols of the Union constitutes an initial step towards the shared intent of building a common European home capable not only of giving Europe 's citizens political answers but also of restoring to politics the pride of place it deserves in our understanding and management of the ' public good ' .
over the last year or two , we have had many examples of such State protectionism being extended to the producers of various goods , and also a variety of reactions and decisions from the European Commission .
perhaps I should have had the floor to raise a point of order on the matter regarding Mr Arlacchi 's report .
in reality , not all reports are equal .
while there are still people in the world who need goods and services , there will still be opportunities for growth .
the electoral rights of their parents are being restricted .
also , the FRONTEX border security organisation must finally be expanded so that it can be deployed efficiently .
firstly , the political context .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , to begin with , it is right that common procedures should go with a common currency .
it is crucial for market regulation measures and intervention mechanisms to be implemented , in order to ensure that products are fairly priced and that farmers receive an adequate level of income that guarantees the continuation of production and a regular supply of food .
the establishment plan of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union ( Frontex ) is increased by 25 posts , from 69 to 94 , having regard to the budgetary increase already made for that Agency - approximately EUR 30 million - approved during the debate on the 2008 Community budget .
they have a complex role to play because they have to respond to global challenges .
I wanted to use my vote to reaffirm my confidence in this extremely ambitious scientific adventure , which is expected to have significant benefits .
it is only interested in the profits of the economic and financial groups , even if it occasionally refers to small and medium-sized enterprises , which the neoliberal policy of the European Union is putting in jeopardy .
I have received two motions for resolutionstabled in accordance with Rule 115 ( 5 ) and Rule 110 ( 2 ) of the Rules of Procedure .
I devote more energy to this probably than to anything else that we do .
the European Parliament must redefine the cohesion policy for the future to meet the needs of the European regions .
the only policy that can consolidate and raise the level of consumer protection is one that revolves around man and his prosperity and not around increasing competition .
60 % cofinancing would be good if it can be obtained , and I regret that the Commissioner was unable to be as forthcoming as we hoped she would be in that regard .
thank you for your attention .
it is not a referral back .
to reiterate , I by no means feel the need to turn up for a resit in June .
Commissioner , traceability to the origin worked , but how much time was lost in directing attention to the origin , focusing on agricultural production , whereas other forms of contamination , such as handling or distribution at the point of destination , were dismissed ?
the draft resolution is a response to the concerns of public opinion over issues of animal welfare during the culling and skinning of seals .
Corrigendum ( Rule 216 ) : see Minutes
in the past , Europe was described as a political dwarf .
their accession will not be able to take place in the near future , but each of these countries has this prospect .
it is true that , in recent years , improvements have been made in this respect as , through Parliament , the Commission and the Council working together , the comitology procedures , for example , have been amended .
in writing . - I voted for the Oomen-Ruijten report on Turkey 's progress towards membership of the EU in 2007 .
firstly , we really need Europe as a whole .
this process will take years .
the usefulness of statistical information depends on its comparability in time and space , which entails the adoption of a common set of definitions and classifications .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue-card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
there are more than 600 displaced persons who have lost their homes and personal possessions .
insofar as this is a cut-and-paste of the European Constitution , it deserves to be put to a referendum on ratification in each country , starting with France and the Netherlands .
this is the only way to successfully cut bureaucracy for micro-enterprises and create a balance .
I personally am glad , on this occasion , that she is single-minded when it comes to monitoring the transposition and the proper implementation of this directive , which is a prerequisite for completing the internal market in services .
history has proven the beneficial effect of our culture on the world .
neither should the release of funds for the reform of banana production - Banana Accompanying Measures ( BAM ) - be at the expense of current development programmes .
however , the debate we are having today shows that the real facts have now been confirmed : Member States of the European Union have been complicit in the programme of secret detention and return that has been set up within the territory of the European Union by the CIA and in doing so have broken the law .
on the other hand , we also know that progress is being made at state level , in business circles and , more generally , in the way in which public opinion perceives this issue .
the next item is the continuation of the debate on the Council and Commission statements on the preparations for the European Council meeting of 23-24 June 2011 .
we should not forget , however , that the global fight against the death penalty is a success story .
it is surely not fair for taxpayers to bear the full burden of the financial crisis , as some of this burden should be transferred to the financial sector as well , so that it can share in the costs .
they deserve our full commitment and it is incredibly important for the international community to help in matters relating to human rights quickly , efficiently and in a targeted way .
we must ensure that children have the opportunity to do more exercise than is the case today .
thus they should act according to their own Constitution , which is not respected .
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon last week indicated a belief that a solution for Cyprus is possibly within reach .
there is only one recipe for an economically strong Europe , and that is less bureaucracy and fewer officials in Brussels , and also less bureaucracy in the Member States ; tax cuts instead of tax increases ; and putting a stop to mass immigration .
however , the purpose of the question was that the difference of outlook between the US Administration and the European Union , with regard to finding solutions and building partnerships around the world , seems to have got greater ; the distance between the two seems to have got greater in the last number of years .
ladies and gentlemen , we are now seeing the importance of energy self-sufficiency for each State in the European Union .
this is a particularly shocking situation , when such young people are awaiting execution .
in writing . - ( DE ) This report concerns the bringing together of four different directives on consumer protection and thus contains the acquis communautaire since 2004 .
( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , on 4 November , Parliament was given the Council 's guarantee that any restrictions on internet access can only be made if certain conditions are met : prior , fair and impartial procedure ; a guarantee of the principle of presumption of innocence and the respect for privacy ; and respect for the European Convention on Human Rights .
the European Union must , without question , be responsible for defining Europe 's political aspirations in terms of space , by using it for the European people and economy , and by guaranteeing independent and reliable access to it .
Afghanistan and drugs have been mentioned .
so I agree with Mr Burke that there should be more positivity about the good things that we do here in Europe .
there are , of course , quite a few areas where they could be made - I am thinking of the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions , and the trips between Brussels and Strasbourg which cost EUR 200 million per year .
it is not perfect , it is a compromise .
( the President cut off the speaker )
adult education is one of the most important parts of the education system .
as regards the European institutions , European citizens can also assert their fundamental freedoms and rights in accordance with the fixed jurisdiction of the Court of Justice .
Mr President , I welcome the moves for Switzerland to increase its cooperation with the EU in the fields of education , training and youth .
specific proposals are needed on the European Monetary Fund .
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this is not a failed state ; it is a state with failings that we must support .
I therefore think , and I support the previous speaker , that it is important for the Commission - and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Commissioner for being here - to act and take measures : that there should be investigations and the necessary means put in place to bring an end to these practices , which are unfair , and in many cases abusive .
there is widespread poverty affecting almost 80 % of the population , unemployment , disenchantment and illiteracy . all this is having a negative effect on the people , leading to despair and inciting revolt .
this outcome was foreseen by Polish MEPs , as witnessed by our speeches both before the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development and in the plenary of the European Parliament .
its five main indicators are surely crucial in evaluating how the internal market is functioning generally and from the point of view of consumers .
over the last two days , they have discussed a wide range of topics , including the environment , immigration , equality , the role of citizens , education and many other issues .
as the rapporteur , Mr Arif , emphasises in his report , Lebanon is in a very difficult situation both politically and economically .
around four to five years ago , I was in Kampala and one evening I met a group of lesbians , gay men and transgender people in a pizza restaurant , where the owner allowed the meeting to take place .
the Irish people , by a resounding majority , recognised the importance of the Lisbon Treaty , a Treaty that offers a more democratic and effective Europe , a Treaty that gives us the right platform to deliver the modern , successful European Union our citizens wish to see .
meanwhile , we in the European Union are still unable to draw up a legislative document or adopt a charter which , as a Charter of Fundamental Rights , would be a binding document .
finally , Mr Maystadt , I believe that I can say , on behalf of my fellow Members , that you can count on the European Parliament 's support in the future .
( the House rose and observed a minute 's silence )
within the European Union , I would like to reiterate the importance of two aspects : first of all , the negative consequences of migration and the precarious condition of children left behind in their home countries by migrating parents .
the pesticide passport will make it possible to trace , through wholesale and retail outlets , which pesticide was used when .
the first development I would like to mention is that the European Union has made good progress in 2008 in consolidating its external policy instruments , in order to tackle discrimination and violence against women .
if the number of migrants exceeds a certain percentage , they lose interest in becoming part of European society and , on the contrary , create their own society within the EU .
of course , the emphasis is on competitiveness and the need to respond to the global challenges which we are now facing , but we should do that in conjunction with promoting economic , social and territorial cohesion in the European Union .
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we also need to update the WTO rules to ensure that environmental sustainability and climate change are taken into greater account in WTO negotiations and that social and labour clauses are also included in WTO negotiations .
the bottom line is that the European Union , the United States , India and China must work together to ensure that there are common rules and standards in place to control international financial services from now on .
it goes without saying that creating a suitable infrastructure must be a priority .
at the European Council , we made significant progress on strengthening financial supervision .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the proposal currently on the table is to be welcomed .
at the same time , the number of students in the new Member States is much lower .
in addition , the VAT system , as currently designed and implemented by Member States , has weaknesses that fraudsters use to their advantage .
decisions concerning certain documents : see Minutes
the response from the Irish Government was lodged on 28 September 2007 .
Madam President , President-in-Office of the Council , Commissioner , the Western Balkans need Europe and we Europeans need stability in the Western Balkans .
2008 discharge : European Railway Agency
the availability and safety of these transport routes are therefore of the utmost importance .
the European Union can assist by offering every type of help if a ceasefire is agreed to achieve the stated aims : closing the smuggling passes , closing the tunnels , guarding the sea etc .
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we are pleased that it supports the essential aspects of the Commission proposal , which is intended to be an important building block in the development of a comprehensive European legal and regulatory safety system at the highest possible level .
what we can do and what we are committed to doing is to make prices transparent .
now in the present crisis in which the country finds itself , more than even before , that rings out as a cruel lie .
the Bureau shall pass this matter on to the relevant services , so that the lift service can be improved , by one means or another .
I would also like to urge Serbia to make a firmer commitment to employment policies and social cohesion .
removing the Ukrainian elite 's sense of impunity may provide an opportunity for the beneficial reforms which will bring the country closer to the European Union and offer its citizens prospects for the future .
the compromise found for Article 5 represents a step forward for consumers .
( RO ) I welcome the initiative supporting the European Parliament 's resolution on the major natural disasters which have taken place in the autonomous region of Madeira and the effects of the storm Xynthia in Europe .
these people queue for long hours , for dozens of hours .
that is because all of our amendments have been rejected by the socialists and the liberals .
is this not a shortcoming of the EURES system ?
without this bottom-up approach , we will fail to use the opportunities that exist .
it is a question of finding the right balance .
firstly , because this resolution links this catastrophe and this crime to Ukraine and people of Ukrainian nationality alone .
thus , things must be done differently with the EU 2020 strategy .
the Action Plan is , in fact , included in the Commission 's work programme for 2009 , and I know that Vice-President Tajani is personally committed to progressing with the Action Plan .
according to the resolution , women 's rights should be included in revisions of codified law ( constitutional law , criminal law , family law and all bodies of civil law ) , and should be included in the dialogue on human rights conducted with the ENP partner countries .
investment projects in energy infrastructure within the European Community (
as underlined in the report , negotiations and collective bargaining are vitally important in the fight to abolish discrimination against women , in particular with regard to access to employment , wages , occupational health and safety conditions , career progression , and vocational training .
of course , we are not indifferent to the fate of the al-Kurd family and we want to discuss their fate .
irrigation systems and clean desalination units are the solution in this case .
new priorities are necessary , however .
this arm-twisting by the EU , which has undermined the environmental integrity of Korea 's vehicle emissions rules , is nothing short of scandalous .
in addition , the Commission justifies this in the Green Paper , alleging that proceedings may now be delayed , given the codecision procedure that Parliament is going to apply to the area of fisheries for the first time , once the Treaty of Lisbon comes into effect .
this scandalous utterance was a comment on the statement made by the Polish President relating to not signing the Treaty after the Irish referendum fiasco , as this would be irrelevant .
I believe that by taking this kind of action we are fulfilling our duty not only to the current generation but to future generations as well .
this is why I believe that we must focus very closely on respect for human rights in Colombia before liberalising trade with this country .
I was yesterday informed by an insider of a potential new hotbed in Serbia .
when we transfer that from national to European level , we are treating the EU as a single jurisdiction with its own external borders and the other trappings of nationality .
in conclusion , pollution and the post-Kyoto scenario , oil prices , moral and human rights imperatives , political and economic instability due to dependence on hydrocarbons , the potential of new environment-friendly technologies to stimulate a new industrial revolution in Europe and throughout the world , everything around us means the EU must develop a multi-faceted yet coherent external policy .
a similar list already exists , however , and the industry uses this existing list to classify and label mixtures .
this work programme really must be consistent with that of the European Union and must - this is my hope - be monitored by our three institutions .
( it ) Mr President , this is not a point of order ; I simply could not understand what you just said .
it would , therefore , be very difficult to define a comprehensive Community strategy and a detailed action plan addressing all these diverse situations .
India and China will not forego progress in the name of climate alarmism .
the Member States cooperate in the area of the protection of public figures within the legal provisions in force in the country concerned as well as in accordance with international agreements .
everyone here knows that the cooperation of the Member States on economic and financial issues is long overdue .
I think that the public would like us to help in a generous way with food aid .
above all , 2009 is an election year , in which we must strive for rigour and financial discipline . an expansion of European bureaucracy - European administration , in other words - is not the best message to send to people whom we are asking to renew the mandates of members of the European Parliament .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Madam President , Serbia 's progress towards EU membership is gathering pace , and rightly so , as evidenced by the excellent Kacin report .
we should be enthusiastic about what is being achieved in these countries and what is going well , but , at the same time , we need to be very clear about what still has to be done .
as to the specific proposals on the table , the Council welcomes the start of the trilogues between the Parliament and the Council concerning the Qualification Directive .
this process must be resolutely continued .
I am aware as someone who has behalf on the UNDP on advising the new Indonesian Parliament in 1999 on revisions to their Rules of Procedure , of exactly how useful this can be .
I would like to comment briefly on Mr Gargani 's report .
I should like to illustrate this with an example : Uzbekistan is the world 's third largest exporter of cotton .
in his report , Mr Susta makes a number of very pertinent remarks on the practicability of compulsory licensing .
I would like to point out that , with regard to the imposition of sanctions , the European Union should cooperate more closely with other countries and international organisations and coordinate its policy and actions with a view to making the sanctions more effective .
for the individuals concerned , we want to see a clear improvement in the quality and consistency of decision-making .
they do not participate .
we are being accused of all sorts of outrageous things , and we are entitled to proper conduct and ethical behaviour by our colleagues here in this House , and indeed outside the House .
that fact that , as part of this minor revision , we are prepared to make funds available for the European Institute of Technology is , for us , worth only passing mention , due to the size , well , actually the smallness , of the amount initially required : EUR 2.9 million from 2008 to 2013 .
we are talking about transparency and there is also a need for common courtesy .
obviously , the Justice Forum , which is a meeting place for the various networks of legal professionals , will also be used to play an essential role in raising practitioners ' awareness of the European dimension of their activities and , with the Union 's help , these practitioners will have to cooperate to ensure a true exchange of best practice .
this point aroused concern and controversy .
we have to tell Canada to back off .
to ensure that vocational training matches labour market needs , I feel that it is advisable to incorporate information about changes in the labour market into national education strategies and programmes .
I do not say this in order to make the European Parliament ill disposed towards Montenegro . on the contrary , I believe the European Commission and all the EU institutions should do a great deal at the present time to help that country prepare properly for closer relations with the European Union , especially in combating corruption , strengthening the rule of law , building a market economy and countering the black market .
the fact is that it is the Bosniaks who have been omitted from the visa liberalisation process .
besides , for non-formal and informal education , because of its diversity and the special circumstances under which it is acquired , automatic certification is not possible , but a mere reference .
however , the Commission 's position seems to me rather unambitious in this direction .
on 4 December , Russian public prosecutors organised a raid on the offices of the Memorial organisation , during which a database containing the details of thousands of victims of Stalin 's regime was seized .
war , concentration camps , genocide - never again !
the outbreak of another epidemic in Haiti was to be expected .
we had to put an end to the double standard that existed when a substance was strictly regulated in the European market to protect the environment and the health of European citizens , but could be freely traded with third countries without any precautions or any obligation to provide information on risks .
the debate is closed .
allow me to quote a few that have been at the heart of the agenda for the Commission of which I am President : the internal energy market , maritime security , measures to strengthen the regulation and supervision of financial markets , and the EUR 5 billion package of recovery measures to transform Europe into a sustainable economy .
from each according to his means , to each according to his needs .
this is not just a problem for women .
no one knows the true effect this is having on our health .
instead , we call for a fundamentally different approach to tackling social challenges .
the current challenge , as mentioned in the report , is to ensure that EU funds are fully absorbed and are used in a way that will benefit the Roma people .
it comes down to the question of whether it will be binding or non-binding .
the European Union will face major difficulties in relations with Russia unless the two partners rely on the same values and principles .
we need to show that we can take certain issues very seriously and can make the changes necessary to bring about the lifting of any unfortunate barriers , which are basic harbours for national protection .
2009 will be a year that will bring much change to the way the Parliament works and we believe that , in order to maintain this discipline , it will be necessary to closely scrutinise all spending proposals to ensure that they deliver value for money to the taxpayer .
this way of thinking pervades the resolution that is before us .
we agree with the general spirit of the present report : to bring Ukraine 's economy as close as possible to the EU by means of a new enhanced agreement , of which the deep and comprehensive free trade agreement will be a key pillar .
also , not only is our resolution addressed to Hungary but notes that , unfortunately , freedom and pluralism of the media can be undermined in countries with conservative governments .
although I supported Thijs Berman 's report , I have serious doubts about reaching the targeted Official Development Assistance level in the next couple of years .
I am saying this , Prime Minister , because all this relates to Europe , in particular European credibility .
to cite an example , we would call your attention to the various funds channelled towards the enlargement policy - sometimes we do not know where they end up .
my second point concerns parental , paternity and adoption leave .
( applause )
Member of the Commission . - The Commission adopted a report on the first year of implementation of the Black Sea Synergy on 19 June 2008 .
given that the Netherlands has requested assistance in respect of 598 redundancies in eight companies operating in the NACE Revision 2 Division 58 ( publishing activities ) in the two contiguous NUTS II regions of Noord Holland and Zuid Holland , I voted in favour of the resolution because I agree with the Commission 's proposal and with the amendments to it tabled by Parliament .
by accepting this , the Commission would lose a very important instrument for the protection of stocks .
in addition , the Member States need to change their attitudes .
the next item is voting time .
the policy mix at national level is mainly responsible for the trade-off between austerity and growth .
we need to remember that , although this is a highly competitive industry , what is most important is not the competition in itself , but the end result .
I am honoured , but to be honest , I am also slightly disappointed , because this report should really be called the Corbett report .
the joint resolution between the European Union and Serbia , adopted by the United Nations General Assembly , is mentioned , but at no time is it spelt out that this cannot be regarded as an official recognition of the independence of Kosovo by Serbia , or by those Member States of the Union that have not recognised it .
there is no reason for pessimism ahead of the G20 discussions , as Mr Rasmussen fears .
the first challenge , of course , is to start protecting and restoring biodiversity .
this report deals with that extreme violence , with the death of many women in Central American countries and Mexico .
we also discussed justice and home affairs .
however , it is clear that we are paying the price , as are other industrialised countries , emerging economies and developing countries .
we can also remember how well representation of the Union worked in the World Trade Organisation or in the Food and Agriculture Organisation .
it said that internationally coordinated macroeconomic responses , based on promotion of environmental investments , including in developing countries , are important .
this is a point that we have to take .
it is about values more important than party differences .
they did not look right or left to see if anything was coming - they looked up because they were afraid of what might come down from the sky .
and we will want to ask Mr Musharraf this himself next week at a meeting of the international committee in Brussels .
Mr President , I think that if Mr Cohn-Bendit ,
this draft amending budget proposes inter alia to carry part of that unused amount forward to the budget currently in force ( EUR 772 million ) , and to carry the remainder forward to subsequent years .
I welcome the Swedish Presidency 's proposal to focus on questions of policy instead of constitutional questions during its presidency .
that is a task that all Europeans must take on together .
we take pride in the fact that human rights are the foundation of the Union .
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the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs voted by an overwhelming majority across all groups to continue to develop the EU strategy for combating poverty and social exclusion and I hope that the entire plenary will do the same tomorrow .
for , although the proposal has been halted for the moment , the ideas must not be buried .
Mr President , at the beginning of this week , Ukraine made headlines in the Dutch press - and I will say it in this auditorium - not very flattering headlines , unfortunately .
that will enable the citizens themselves to exercise influence and help shape a sustainable society .
this specific motion for a resolution , which I supported , emphasises and highlights specific policies to reverse this situation , both at national and at international level in numerous sectors , such as trade , fisheries , the environment , the agricultural sector , climate change , energy , investments and the financial sector .
thanks to the amendments which the members of the presidential majority tabled in the Committee on Regional Development , eligibility for the fund is vested not only in the new Member States of the EU , but in all 27 , all of which face the same difficulties .
Lisbon stands for growth in employment rates , significant increase in the employment of women , demand for the provision of proper conditions for the employment of female employees , and wide-ranging support for equal opportunities - over and above the positive role of women in the economy .
the reinforcement of political ties and greater closeness to this giant must be regarded as strategic .
this proposal is well balanced and calls for a wide range of instruments to be developed to deter people from breaching the rules , including individual liability , transparency and accountability of firms , the right of defence and due process .
before moving on to the next speaker I would like to inform Members that Mr Bronislaw Komorowski , President of the Polish Parliament , is in the official gallery , accompanied by a delegation .
the Polish delegation of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament voted in favour of extending a vote of confidence to the new European Commission . we are , however , conscious of the weak sides of the newly-appointed Commission and of the reservations expressed over the competence of some Commissioners .
I would therefore like to ask you to examine new proposals , speed up procedures and adjust the European budgetary framework .
then , on the issue of the supervision - the road map you have described - I do not think we disagree on the measures , but I would have expected - and I said this very clearly in the level three committee at the annual joint meeting held in November - that these measures should also have been the elements of a clear proposal for legislative measures from the Commission .
the ICAO is the organisation which deals with aviation matters at an international level .
I am leaving Parliament tomorrow - this will be my last legislative report for the European Parliament - so please accept my sincere apologies if I am a little bit emotional tonight .
speedy ratification of the amendment is in the EU 's interest and I therefore commend it to the House .
situation in the Horn of Africa ( vote )
same-sex couples : well you know perfectly well that it is the prerogative of subsidiarity , the competence of Member States to regulate the way they treat same-sex couples .
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what is happening increasingly is the transfer of commercial data , notably passenger data but also banking and telecom data , to public authorities for security purposes .
( applause ) .
I ask Louis Michel , European Commissioner for Development , and the Council to attempt to end the fighting and establish peace .
a dialogue on visas is another measure that would have a clear stabilising influence that would also promote reforms .
in writing . - ( PT ) I voted in favour of the report on discharge of the budget of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions ( Eurofound ) for the financial year 2009 , since it contributes to scrutiny of how funds are used by the European institutions .
now that the Bulgarian people have voted them out of office , there is nobody to step forward and take their place to help Bulgaria absorb European funds effectively .
nobody is stopping them finding better solutions - where is that written ?
food security is a central issue to which the European Union must respond effectively .
the European Union is both the main investor in Latin America and an important trading partner .
finally , the new arrangements make allowance for the calls the European Parliament has hitherto made for more information for consumers .
I believe that Romania , as a European Union Member State neighbouring the Republic of Moldova , must contribute , under the terms and on the basis of an agreement promoting cooperation , good neighbourliness and mutual respect , to the economic and social development of this country .
likewise , it is our joint responsibility that the individual and community rights of national and ethnic minorities are rendered unquestionable , not only by prohibiting discrimination but also through the requirement for positive law enforcement .
our primary objective must be to ensure high-quality and sustainable food production in Europe and for our rural areas to be active and vital .
today , we are debating a country in the context of the ' Spring of Nations ' in Africa , and although Harare is 6 000 kilometres away from Tunis , the most recent case of Côte d 'Ivoire shows that sometimes , democracy knows no barriers at all .
I would like to make a little joke here .
in writing . - ( IT ) I should like to stress the importance of safeguarding pluralism in the media ( already cited in Article 11 of the Charter of Rights of the European Union ) in order to underpin a democratic process through which the various citizens of Europe can be provided with information in a transparent manner .
I congratulate the rapporteurs on these results .
( DE ) ' The rejection of the Treaty text by one European Union country cannot mean that the ratifications which have already been carried out by 18 EU countries become invalid . '
Fuller harmonisation at this stage would not have been possible .
active steps should be taken to repatriate illegal refugees and political refugees whose applications have been rejected .
the other method is to invite and organise all stakeholders or those who have responsibilities in this area , to get them to cooperate and contribute to the efforts to protect intellectual property rights while developing access to electronic networks in modern communications .
this relates entirely to further facilitation with regard to documentary evidence and the length of the visa application procedure , the extension of the provisions for the issuing of multiple-entry visas and a visa-free waiver for a number of well-defined categories of applicants .
the main risks are rabies , echinococcosis and diseases transmitted by ticks .
specifically , we need : the issuance of common European bonds , the outright rejection of competition between the bonds issued by the different Member States , the establishment of a genuinely European treasury and the harmonisation of fiscal policies to ensure equality , combat tax fraud and help to define a progressive European social policy based on efficient public services .
this accounted for approximately 50 % of the Fund 's total resources .
I declare the session of the European Parliament adjourned .
in writing . - I support this own-initiative report because it supports the creation of a European Order for the Preservation of Assets and a European Order for the Disclosure of Assets .
the hunting methods fail to comply with even the most elementary principles . the animals are skinned whilst still alive and their bodies then dumped in the water .
while merit is an essential component of efficiency , it is unacceptable that research should be hindered because researchers have to deal with bureaucratic requirements of doubtful value .
however , this requires adequate means and Europe must not merely discuss , merely criticise , merely look at the problem through binoculars .
in the wake of the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon , Parliament will have to give its approval to the text of the ACTA Agreement before it enters into force in the European Union .
the Commission will continue to give its full support to Croatia , which is working hard to achieve its goal of accession to the European Union .
the request made , on the rapporteur 's initiative , to adapt the Financial Regulation to the new rules in the Treaty of Lisbon in the shortest possible time is another measure which is an immediate necessity .
I therefore agree with the rapporteur on the need to improve the transparency of estimates and responsibility of projects ; to strengthen their procurement authorisation at the financing decision and work-programme level ; to correct failings in the recruitment of personnel , and increase its objectivity and transparency ; and to implement and comply with the Financial Regulation to which they are subject .
the decision proves how slow and sporadic the action has been in creating an area of freedom , security and justice because this decision is only one of many measures that should have already been taken , and because it took such a long time to prepare .
as regards the governance-related aspects , respect for the rule of law and for everything related to our traditions is not a dividing element ; we must also tell the Afghan authorities this .
and it should not be underestimated - I am addressing this particularly to one side of the House - that , above all , these binding rules will help to prevent corruption .
we cannot afford to wait until 2012 for this to come into force .
I cannot find any of these things in your programme , Mr Barroso , which is why I cannot vote for you .
for many years , in my work , I have represented thousands of people who needed my help in front of the Courts .
the two states have a lot of issues to resolve .
the events of these last days show failure on the part of the government to bear criticism .
the global overview of this practice of IUU fishing can result in better monitoring of fishing activities overall .
in writing . - I voted for this report on the Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EC and Moldova .
all attempts so far to establish a generally accepted unity government and to help Somalia function again as a state have failed .
the European Union is a major international player on issues regarding the management of fishing .
the European Court of Human Rights should administer justice and not become a puppet for ideological and anti-Christian interests .
given the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) , the appropriate financial resources must be put towards improving their operating conditions .
child trafficking and child laundering - the stealing of children who are subsequently sold to adoptive parents as legitimate orphans - is a phenomenon which does not receive adequate attention at an international level .
I am therefore appealing to the European Commission to set up a special fund that will help districts in border areas to manage this infrastructure for public utility purposes , including trans-border purposes , thus promoting cultural integration .
I should like to welcome the representative of the United Nations .
as a result of the screening of the Commission 's human resources carried out at the request of the European Parliament , the Commission confirms the need identified in 2002 and 2005 for additional staff exclusively in relation to enlargement-related tasks : 890 new staff for 2008 , broken down as 640 new staff for EU-10 enlargement and 250 posts for EU-2 enlargement .
we do not want mere token gestures .
I would also stress the Lithuanian authorities ' reaffirmation of their determination to respect the European legal framework and not go against it , as well as to promote respect for human rights .
I want to keep the tried and tested Community method - with the Commission as guardian and judge of common European interests - from which the exclusive right of legislative initiative stems .
education , vocational training and lifelong learning are increasingly important .
we are opposed to the European Parliament attempting to determine how the individual Member States should , for example , structure their national childcare or apply a quota system .
too often , that issue is literally kept behind closed doors , because that is where most of the violence happens : in the family home .
to his credit I must say that this is the second modification of the Rules of Procedure .
European solidarity is being shown with difficulty and sparingly .
this can be achieved through effective cooperation between bodies at national , regional and local levels .
this justifies an increase in staff for Parliament 's and the groups ' secretariats .
in a similar vein , it is crucial to improve the status of women engaged in a self-employed capacity .
while the EU has facilitated freedom of movement and the right to live and work in other EU countries , clarification regarding patients ' rights to access healthcare in other Member States was urgently required .
another factor to be taken into account is , of course , the economic crisis , and the new functions of the budget intelligently targeted could serve as an anti-crisis small sectoral and local package .
( HU ) Madam President , I am once again compelled to ask a fellow Hungarian Member a question .
Kenya 's political leaders urgently need to size up their responsibilities and immediately and seriously commit themselves to finding a political settlement .
such common ground can be found , in my view , in the emissions trading mechanism .
my question to you , Mr Barroso , is can you confirm that this is also the position of the Commission ?
Madam President , the issue of food security needs to be mentioned in this debate on climate change , for the developing world in particular .
Thirty-eight thousand Turkish soldiers are garrisoned in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the island is divided in two by walls and fences that even divide towns and villages .
as part of the budgetary conciliation procedure scheduled for 19 November , the European Commission , European Union Council and European Parliament must reach an agreement on adopting transitional guidelines .
obviously in Europe , in terms of Cancún , Kyoto , etc. we want to push the renewable agenda , and that is absolutely correct .
the next topic is the European response to the tragedy in Japan .
this applies particularly in regard to possible regulations for social services .
it may be stated quite unequivocally that cohesion policy is a great success for the Union and for all its Member States .
1. it is time to recognise all mass media in the Internet ;
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , five days ago we celebrated the 100th anniversary of International Women 's Day .
I think that the interest in the report in the Committee on Constitutional Affairs was kindled by the notion of the European party system becoming even more flexible , attractive and logical , not to mention suitable for the processes in Europe , by establishing a general political , legal and fiscal status for European parties .
the agreement we have on the table now gives the EU a clear mandate to negotiate with third countries in the run-up to next year 's agreement .
I would very much like our activities to serve this true European Community , this unity , and every euro to be spent for a good purpose , not for the wealthy to become even wealthier ...
statistics plays an important role in the development of more effective tourism policies and in making business decisions .
internalising external costs for pollution and noise is a positive measure .
( ET ) I also supported this report , the adoption of the report , because the result from the Conciliation Committee - apparently the Conciliation Committee does not proceed very straightforwardly and quickly - was positive : to implement the recovery plan for the European economy , to implement the stated aim of this plan .
we also know that the distribution of costs varies widely , depending on the size of the enterprise .
without that , we cannot hope for success .
that is why I voted for the report on the European Environment Agency .
I would ask the Commission and the Council to help these countries .
( PL ) I voted in favour of adopting the Belarus resolution .
the proper functioning of the Internal Market depends on the stability of the financial system and on the trust put by European citizens and consumers in financial institutions and transactions .
I will try harder to pronounce your name correctly in future .
in my opinion , under no circumstances should the debate on the financial review anticipate the review of the common agricultural policy for the post-2013 period .
instead , however , many of them are shedding jobs , partly due to the recession , but also due to a preponderance of regulation and red tape .
'7a . calls on all Member States in the Gulf Cooperation Council to recognise a continuing popular movement for democratic reform within the wider region , and calls for the full engagement with emerging civil society groups to promote a process of genuine peaceful democratic transition , within their own countries , with partners in the region and with the full support of the European Union ; '
documents received : see Minutes
the recent onerous legislation on hedge funds is the clear signal of this .
this right should soon be embodied in a law that honours all those who make this possible , whose first article should state that support to victims of terrorism entails recognition of their right to justice and that no government should ever pay a price for this .
most mental health services , at least those which generate a profit for capital , are being privatised within the framework of the Lisbon Strategy .
I think the economic crisis has forced us to take a long , hard look at our past economic behaviour .
firstly , I would like to stress that I think you have either misunderstood or missed something when you tried to convince me that modulation means taking the money away from the farmers , which is definitely not the case .
this is quite an important issue , and its complex nature needs to be taken into account when it is analysed .
if they wish to mobilise society fully , national and regional authorities must aim to include and engage local residents , both in planning changes and subsequently in monitoring use of structural funds .
recent events have obliged the European Union to give new impetus to proposals for supervision and to implement a strengthened strategy of economic coordination .
instead of a debate about the future of the Union , we should have a debate about the convalescence of democracy in the institutions of the European Union .
if Lukashenko does not understand the language of European values , he will certainly understand the language of sanctions . however , not sanctions which hit at Belarusian society - we do not want sanctions like that - but sanctions which make life difficult for politicians and officials responsible for discrimination against Poles and the democratic opposition .
this applies to the national parliaments of the Caribbean as much as it does to the European Parliament .
the social control of market processes is indispensable , not in order to thwart competition but to place it under necessary regulatory oversight .
passengers are also concerned that different airlines behave differently towards passengers , and to always obtain compensation from these airlines through the courts is not the easiest thing .
I do not have the power to do some things , but what we can do is use our economic and political muscle - in the best sense of that word - to be able to try and support this process going forward .
to give just a couple of examples : the massive-scale , uncontrolled printing of additional ballot papers in many regions and the photographing of ballot papers , and what about the massive pressure on officials , teachers , doctors and professors to refrain from standing for opposition parties ?
European External Action Service (
- The next item is the vote .
if it was not such a tragedy , it would be a farce .
( CS ) Mr President , I too would like to express my irritation that we have not managed to agree today on the condition that European funding in the development aid budget must not go towards activities such as family planning through enforced abortions or mandatory sterilisations .
and I want to ask the colleagues who have gathered in this hall : " what are you waiting for , colleagues , that my throat be slit open in actual fact ?
I can reassure you that we want to support 12 demo plants .
the Greens hope that the EU Energy Summit will also address this crucial issue .
unless we look at the package as a whole , we shall leave here with a ' hobbled response ' , because the only way to stop another ' Erika ' or ' Prestige ' happening again in the near future is to take the package as a whole , and this is the only approach through which we can effectively ensure maritime safety .
we are right behind you .
corporal Gilad Shalit , who has been held hostage for 1 355 days , must be released as soon as possible .
first it was Greece , Spain and France .
( HU ) The supporters of the Treaty of Lisbon are celebrating not just a victory , but a victory for democracy itself on the pretext of the current ' yes ' vote in an imposed referendum .
this is laid down in the European Convention on Human Rights .
I am waiting and hoping .
what were the main achievements of the Commission at the Seventh WTO Ministerial Conference ?
whilst it is true that the European Commission is one of the most important institutional organs of the European Union , it is also true that the College of Commissioners is composed of commissioners nominated by the Member States of the European Union .
we will continue this cooperation .
with regard to the debt issue , work is under way as part of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative .
as a human rights activist in France , I am well placed to know what has caused these results .
this report promotes the eco-innovations associated with reduced CO2 emissions , supports research and innovation into reducing emissions , and also promotes the biofuels and filling stations needed for that .
given the fact that we are now looking at climate change legislation , that is very serious .
either in expectation of more flexible rules , or simply to be able to put pressure on the politicians to relax the rules very quickly .
much as I appreciate that you have to deal with the regulations as they are written , we are here to rewrite the regulations - and that is what we are looking forward to doing .
in its 2007 communication on the Black Sea Synergy , the Commission stated that ' Community accession to the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution is a priority ' .
in the same way , a high-level seminar on the issue is being prepared as part of the ASEAN Regional Forum under the co-presidency of the European Union and Indonesia .
the knowledge-skill-till chain is encountering increasingly strong competition worldwide and requires even more intelligent organisation .
in order to make sure that antibiotics remain effective in combating disease in animals and in humans , we must take a coordinated approach at an EU level .
these differences are apparent here in Parliament as well .
now , as then , we pay tribute to these people for their heroic commitment despite their enforced absence .
today , we have to congratulate Rapporteurs Jean Lambert and Emine Bozkurt because , by solving the issue of details , we are expecting a fluidization of the information flow , under conditions of data security and more efficient coordination .
creativity , however , will be the same one year on .
however , as far as I am aware , none of the EU Member States has recognised Taiwan .
what measures will the Commission put in place to ensure that the commitment to reducing EU emissions will be increased to 40 % ?
a few days later , on 23 September , Commissioner Kroes approved more than EUR 54 million in State aid for the creation of a Dell factory in Poland .
it is quite unbelievable that no progress has yet been made in this field , because it is a relatively simple matter .
today , in the midst of a recession , this will not be an easy debate .
it strikes me that the parties have an excellent opportunity here to improve relations by turning their attention to practical issues such as the trouble-free crossing of borders .
our resolution , which expresses concerns over the erosion of a democracy , is of course directed at the government and the authorities , particularly in connection with these protests , in particular the interior authorities of Ukraine , to urge them to allow these protests to continue .
the European Union is endeavouring to take steps in the case of companies like Opel , and if any plan is implemented , it will also involve direct help .
the second goal is to ensure that it is a budget which provides added value .
it is clear that much data is still lacking and I believe that this is an area in which the Community , with its research problem , could yet do something specific .
the third point is that , in order to find a long-term solution in Somalia , the Council lends its full support to the Djibouti process within the transitional Federal Government and the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia , and there is no plan B to this process .
so we must combine efficiency with price if we are to deal with this matter adequately .
the second point concerns the application of permanent bans .
the debate is closed .
lastly , I would like to wish the Commission good luck .
this issue is of course linked to the strategy on biofuels .
transferring a key economic policy mechanism from Member States to the control of the ECB has helped capitalists to reduce the cost of labour and multiply profits .
the Black Sea is a border of the European Union , a geostrategic crossroad and a transit region , an area of cooperation trade , fishing , tourism , shipping , a strategic area in the European energy policy .
what steps is it taking to prevent additional problems in connection with the Roma gypsies and the nuisance and criminality associated with them ?
I am among those who will strive to see that it does this , because I believe it is very important , a few months from the elections , that our citizens know that European solidarity does exist and that Europe is not just dominated by the market .
in fact , 48 hours ago , the Competitiveness Council examined and supported the plan put forward by the Commission in July , while our Parliament is still considering it .
secondly , are we looking - as Mr Skinner said - at best practice in the different Member States ?
let us have this sort of discussion and see what we can do to stop this gender-based abortion .
so there is a real divergence between those two sets of views .
there are best practices , specifically in Portugal , as regards crèches and nursery schools , improving maternity , paternity and parental leave systems , as well as policies to balance family and working life .
China 's policy in Africa , for example , does not hold any reference to human rights or democracy .
( the President cut off the speaker )
Madam President , we welcome the lack of agreement between the European Parliament and the Council on the amendment of the Directive on the organisation of working time , because what was proposed was worse than what currently exists , in relation to both the average working day and on-call time .
I am not blaming the Commission , then .
Mr Sarkozy , the first steps have been good .
we must not forget , however , that in the interests of protecting the environment and limiting climate change , we will ultimately have to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases .
finally , I appeal to our Greek friends to demonstrate good will and flexibility to reach a reasonable compromise that would enable Macedonia to free itself from the stigmatisation of Tito 's communist federal state .
some of these people even have bogus self-employed status .
although there have been many voices during these weeks which have protested at a European and global level , unfortunately , the situation in the Republic of Moldova has not improved .
will you offer tangible assistance , i.e. expertise and material resources , to the central government of Bosnia and Herzegovina to help it achieve its roadmap and the criteria needed for its citizens to travel freely within the European Union ?
I doubt that these provisions , and more broadly those in the energy and climate package , will encourage the European economy to make the necessary changes and put the European Union on the road towards a society that is abstemious in terms of carbon .
if we are able to help to bring together an abandoned orphan child and a family that is longing for children , we will have made a very important contribution .
Lebanon is also one of the few Arab states which have accepted a European Union election observation mission .
the conflict cannot be used as an argument for such violations .
that would have created new problems , not only for investments , but also for industrial development .
the announcement last week that the Euro Zone is in recession now means that urgent action will have to be taken both within the EU and globally , but the one thing we cannot do is blame the euro for the current crisis .
with regard to citizenship , the Union should put the citizens back at the heart of the European project , and the increase in financial allocations should not only focus on security aspects , in particular , on managing migratory flows .
we support the joint motion for a resolution , but we do not wish to be associated with references to a proposal for a directive by the Commission on concentrations in the media and the protection of pluralism , because we consider that this competence , on such a serious and necessary matter , should be vested in the Member States .
very small enterprises account for more than 85 % of European businesses ; in other words , they are the backbone of our economy , which urgently needs a boost .
we must focus sharply on securing the supply of raw materials to European industry .
only the European Union has approved binding climate change reduction targets and intends to adopt even more ambitious targets .
yes , we need to examine other tools such as risk insurance and future markets .
however , continuing the reform of the Bologna Process is even more important .
I believe thanks are due to Mrs Berès for initiating it , enabling us to join the ILO initiative , on the one hand , and , on the other , making us think about all that needs to be done for a category of workers whose conditions we often do not know about and , when we do know something , it tends to be depressing .
it is a right that we all have .
at the same time , I regret that this report was not prepared in accordance with Rule 39 of the Rules of Procedure , requesting that the Commission submit concrete legislative proposals .
trade creates the prosperity we need in order to meet future environmental challenges .
Parliament 's report clearly underlines the benefits of biogas production to the agricultural sector , but also to society .
these are very specific examples which would allow the Belarusian authorities to show goodwill and a desire to conduct real dialogue .
it would also be advisable to implement European institutional reforms under which the children 's rights coordinators reporting to the Commissioner would provide links between institutions , NGOs and governments , to give continuous dialogue and cooperation .
that concludes this item .
the next item is the report by Maria Da Graça Carvalho , on behalf of the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy , on simplifying the implementation of the Research Framework Programmes .
we have heard all about this .
the real function of politics is to establish the legal framework to ensure that such a situation never arises .
there are two distinct categories of contract agents .
this means I have made a mistake , and therefore I apologise to those involved .
I would also like to emphasise that the United States and Canada are leading the way in the field of development and manufacture of hydrogen powered vehicles , while Japan is catching up , and we ourselves should not fall further behind .
however , this détente makes little sense unless it is accompanied by Taiwan 's integration into international organisations , especially those related to trade , like the World Health Assembly and the International Maritime Organisation .
the American way of producing chickens does not meet these standards .
we have reached a turning point , however .
the co-location of consular facilities is also under consideration .
unfortunately , none of these issues have been dealt with appropriately in the draft resolution .
secondly , I agree with the assessment of both Commissioners that the manufacturers and producers have to bear the brunt of the responsibility for managing a supply chain where they do quality checks and they ensure that they are producing consistently high standards of product .
( Parliament accepted the oral amendment )
fortunately there is one free nation that has a sense of its own freedom in its DNA .
giving Europe an identity through an anthem , a flag and a motto gives the citizens living and working in Europe an opportunity to see themselves as part of a single entity united in diversity .
against this backdrop , one main principle must be applied : social rights and objectives take priority over economic freedoms in the event of any conflict .
this text is an acceptable compromise for the Socialist Group and , during the negotiations , we succeeded in adding some valuable provisions to preserve the European audiovisual model .
furthermore , in the event that an air carrier is on the blacklist , does the Commission have any information about how travel agencies and ticket sellers have notified and compensated travellers , or offered them alternatives ?
Mr President , it is not just the Members of this House who have been outraged by developments in Gaza .
you have therefore understood perfectly .
in 2009 the Commission will continue to promote the exchange of best practice by supporting , among other things , existing activities such as MEDIA 2007 , the MEDIA International preparatory action and the directive on television broadcasting activities , the AVMS Directive .
integrity of online gambling (
that proves that it was at least possible to perfect the Barcelona Process and we will all focus our efforts in that direction .
for that reason we have to future-proof the decisions that we take today .
firstly , it is important to review Europe 's security strategy every five years , since we can see that in recent years , such security issues as energy security , cyber security and climate security have become very topical , and also the possible conflict zones have moved from one region to another .
pursuant to Rule 4 ( 1 ) of the Rules of Procedure , Parliament notes the vacancy of her seat from said date .
it is unacceptable that in May 2009 , there were 22 directives with deadlines that had expired more than two years previously , and for which the transposition had still not been completed by one to five Member States .
as I finish talking to you , I will head back to Brussels to be with my colleague , Commissioner Cioloş , during this extraordinary Agriculture Ministers ' Council .
I , too , would highlight how important it is for all 18 MEPs to take up their seats in the European Parliament at the same time , in order to avoid upsetting the delicate balance between the nationalities represented in the House .
repackaging the cosmetically enhanced EU Constitution as incomprehensibly as possible after a deal done behind closed doors and avoiding referenda is also certainly detrimental to the envisaged and much-vaunted objective of generating enthusiasm for the EU among the citizens .
the excuse of the alleged plot of a coup d 'état , implying some Russian influence , is highly controversial to say the least .
in order to do this , we have had to perform a delicate balancing act , all the more so because it is sometimes difficult in practice to work out where freedom of expression ends and the violation of people 's rights begins .
it is important that victims of violence should not only be prevented in their country from being harmed by offenders , but should also have these kinds of preventive measures within the whole of the European Union .
it is able to adapt to changing circumstances .
media law in Hungary ( motions for resolutions tabled ) : see Minutes
by the same token , the Union is ready to provide all its technical expertise in the nuclear arena in order to help Japanese and international experts to take control of the situation in the proximity and in the very heart of the Fukushima power plant .
migration from the Schengen Information System ( SIS 1 + ) to the second generation Schengen Information System ( SIS II ) ( amendment of Regulation ( EC ) No 1104 / 2008 ) - Migration from the Schengen Information System ( SIS 1 + ) to the second generation Schengen Information System ( SIS II ) ( amendment of Decision 2008 / 839 / JHA ) - The establishment of a joint EU resettlement programme ( debate )
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on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - Mr President , we see in Haiti one of the hugest humanitarian aid operations ever .
of course , part of this is spent honouring its obligations as a member of NATO .
as the Commissioner said earlier , to enable consumers to become better informed and more confident and to exercise that critical choice , we want innovative and safe products and services .
but the only legal base it has at the moment is a flimsy cat 's cradle of communiqués , of press releases , of resolutions in Council .
the Council and the European Parliament are largely of the same view concerning this .
at this stage , I cannot claim that there has been a lot of activity with the Chinese .
secondly , as Europe we should understand once and for all that we are not competing alone on the market ; we have to ensure that the systems used by other Member States - and by the European Union as a whole - are attractive to serious companies wishing to enter the market and establish themselves as true European operators .
Mr President , as the shadow rapporteur on the active inclusion report , I shall concentrate mainly on that one .
it is equally important to realise that there have been failures as it is to acknowledge progress and offer support for it .
this WTO order allows the poor countries , the poor in the rich countries , to make the rich in the poor countries even richer .
the creation and funding of a permanent European structure , which will gather and spread good practice in this area , as well as promote dialogue between the interested parties from every region of the European Union , will mark a new , important step towards encouraging sustainable mobility in urban areas .
thank you to the Czech Minister and congratulations through him to the leader and all the members of the Czech Senate .
lessons have been learned and debates have taken place in Parliament and in the institutions .
here again , I am looking in the direction of the Commission , which ought to examine whether we should introduce insurance solutions in order to be able to provide appropriate compensation to people who have suffered damage .
the producer does not have to come from the country in which he wishes to register and , finally , we want close monitoring of shipments .
in Europe there is a great variability in popular sports in different Member States - from skiing in Finland to soccer in the UK , from hockey in the Czech Republic to cycling in the Netherlands .
that would have a certain institutional logic .
Slovakia can learn from many of Slovenia 's experiences and can use them in its own preparation for the introduction of the euro .
my party , Fine Gael , has recently made a number of concrete suggestions , following the subcommittee 's report on its analysis of the Irish ' no ' .
good supervision : yes !
( EL ) Mr President , Jean-Claude Juncker said yesterday that we have been putting pressure on the Greek Government to take appropriate action since 2008 , but that we have not gone public with the problems , because Eurogroup is an unofficial body .
( FI ) Mr President , as I come from the gold country of Northern Lapland , I want to make my contribution in this debate .
for this reason , it is important for us to know if the environmental costs , such as climate changes , will be a part of this proposal .
in writing . - Recent elections held in Belarus can be described as anything but free and fair .
if we are to have a reinforced High Representative for Foreign Affairs , the main task should be working closely with Member States in coordinating common policies where they have shared objectives .
I would like to mention two other aspects of this directive that I think represent progress .
they are desperate , dangerous criminals who need to be brought to book .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , about a year ago now the Commission adopted the mid-term review of the European Environment and Health Action Plan 2004-2010 .
at the same time it still expresses its concern for the situation regarding freedom of speech , gender equality , the Kurds and other minorities , and the use of violence by the authorities .
so these are the crucial issues to deal with .
( FI ) Mr President , Commissioner , unemployment and exclusion among young people are a big problem .
there are no black holes .
I believe that future cases will demonstrate the need for clarity and will demonstrate the need for the sort of guidelines that we have originally drafted .
thanks to today 's vote , employing illegal workers will henceforth cost employers dear and may even put them in prison .
in this regard , let me point out that , in my view , what we need to do is to strengthen regional development .
if the Council concludes this is the case , it would make recommendations to Cyprus and would establish deadlines for effective corrective action to be taken .
in this respect , we look forward to the resolution that you are planning to adopt on the India FTA , which I believe is very timely .
we see neither the financial investors nor the members of the political class , but we see the employees : the workers are fighting this accident .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , as you are well aware , the New Year started with a serious incident of dioxin contamination of animal feed in Germany .
anyone rejecting the view that each individual woman in those countries should be entitled to full control of her own destiny is obviously refusing to regard these women as the equals of men .
we should remember that enlargement is about a better future , not about a better past .
I support the report of Mme Aubert .
cooperation within and between regions and gathering and exchanging good practices in the area of regional policy will improve the ability to absorb European funds .
it is a pity , therefore , and I address this little aside to the Commission , that we still have to wait for the publication of both the recast procedure and the Recognition Directive .
if the unresolved question of the name is added to this unfortunate internal environment , this will severely try the European prospects of this country .
this is that we are coming up with a proposed solution well ahead of time , creating conditions for modernity .
firstly , we plan to establish an effective partnership with our African partners ; this partnership must also prove to be effective in terms of ownership .
when introducing new market instruments a number of basic guidelines have to be followed : the public have to accept them , the taxes cannot be seen as yet another obligation imposed by the European Union and also the taxes have to be introduced gradually .
Madam President , Mr Papastamkos is asking about governance in the euro area .
we simply need sufficient sanctions for misuse of the existing CE marking .
media law in Hungary ( debate )
I believe that the wine industry is very important for the EU economy , since a number of countries , including Italy , France and Spain , rank among the world 's leading wine producers and export their celebrated products all over the world .
another totally new aspect is the provisions covering allergenic fragrances , to which , surely , we do not want children to be exposed .
this is especially so because in a contradictory manner even the Commission 's impact assessment itself considers the original collection target realistic for the old Member States and not for the new ones .
the reason - and , Mr President , you might wonder how I am going to get to the report , and so do I sometimes - we do not need the Lisbon Treaty is proved within this report .
returning now to the contentious question of Article 5 , it has to be said that Parliament won an outright victory here , reflecting the close and friendly cooperation between the rapporteur and shadow rapporteurs .
neither party to the conflict is interested in peace for the other party .
for example , compensation payments for minimum pensions were fraudulently claimed by EU citizens from nine Member States , with these compensation payments clearly exceeding the actual pensions .
one of the most difficult areas to understand is how to access these funds in the fields of regional policy .
this is why misleading business directories cause harm to the people who use them .
most would agree that this is excessive .
new rules on textile labelling are proposed which will help customers avoid the risk of buying textile products which contain natural fur or leather .
the agreement lasts for three years .
that is our strategy .
as regards animal welfare , this is an excuse for serving external interests , mainly those of the transport companies , at the expense of stock breeders and consumers , since the cost is being increased with no substantial benefit to the community .
whether one 's pension was EUR 100 or EUR 1 000 , 10 % was taken off .
it extends the duration of the regulation until 31 December 2013 in order to allow sufficient time for the new regulation to be drafted by the Commission and for Parliament to exercise its new powers in international trade policy .
we have done that and thus protected the ongoing recovery in the real economy in Europe .
here , the European Commission has done noteworthy work .
for these reasons , in April 2005 the Commission adopted a proposal for a revision of the Regulation .
I think he recently visited Cuba but , of course , to date , we have not had the chance to develop this context .
in their opinion , is ACTA a binding or a voluntary agreement ?
I cannot assume this responsibility .
the main questions we have to pose now are , first , where we want to bring Belarus and , second , how we can do it .
good progress has been made , and the texts have come along very well where the vast majority of points are concerned .
the European Council will endorse the broad economic-policy guidelines and adopt the conclusions on employment policies .
I am myself an example of the fact that in today 's Czech Republic there is no anti-German aggression since I was elected as a German citizen to represent the Czech Republic in this Parliament .
this freedom is among the key European values and it cannot be called into question .
in writing . - I voted against this report as I have serious concerns in relation to the EU 's economic and political approach towards the countries that are covered by the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement .
I am very grateful for your suggestions .
despite all the difficulties and mistakes , we have adhered to this principle in the initiative .
that is the picture .
we know that the poorer people are , the greater the proportion of their income they have to spend on food , and that they are more seriously affected .
we need to balance these connections by facilitating and strengthening the alternatives that are currently severely lacking in comparison , such as railways and sea transport .
2 .
it is estimated that more than 2500 women living in Ireland have undergone FGM in other countries .
I therefore understand why numerous posters calling for a referendum were held aloft in the House today , as the Treaty of Lisbon itself , of course , gives us the option of offering the European people such a referendum .
they very often pay the price of having poorer qualification and education structures than the rest of the population , and this naturally has very negative consequences for their chances of integrating into the labour market .
there are some positive aspects , but I have no need to go over them again .
since the first reading in 2007 , the Council has rejected most of Parliament 's recommendations on the other five .
I believe that when revising the Energy Efficiency Action Plan , the European Commission must seriously take into account the fact that the Member States are not exploiting energy saving opportunities sufficiently , which is preventing an increase in energy independence .
secondly , I ask you to reaffirm your commitment to European targets and guidelines that allow for the massive participation of women on the labour market , especially the Barcelona targets for daytime childcare , which we know , are far from being met in the EU .
the third and final thing I would say is about legal certainty .
the first cases were reported almost two years ago - on 25 March 2009 - and the WHO declared a phase 6 alert level on 11 June 2009 .
we must , of course , be sensitive about forcing our more liberal and tolerant values on others , because it can sometimes be counterproductive .
to this end , the Commission 's initiative is a step in the right direction and has the merit of concentrating on specific regional projects , which will make it possible to provide an effective response to the needs of the citizens of this region .
Madam President , 2009 started with disruption to gas supplies for Bulgaria and Slovenia , along with a sharp reduction in volumes for other countries in Central and Eastern Europe .
in writing . - The Greens / EFA voted against this report , although Green MEPs voted in favour of the Gauzès report in the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs .
I voted in favour of the draft Council regulation amending Regulation ( EC ) No 1339 / 2001 extending the effects of Regulation ( EC ) No 1338 / 2001 laying down measures necessary for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting to those Member States which have not adopted the euro as their single currency because this extension is beneficial in the fight against counterfeiting of the euro across the whole of the EU .
if the Scientific Committee is unable to produce an estimate of the current biomass because it lacks sufficient information , the sector must not be doubly penalised with a 25 % reduction of the TAC on the previous year .
in the first of these amendments , we emphasise the importance of reducing the ' black ' or ' grey ' economy .
I support a dialogue with China on harmonising policies in Africa with a view to reducing poverty , but I am not holding my breath .
it is clear , therefore , that the WHO definition is not binding on or even accepted by governmental and parliamentary institutions .
we need more purchasing power .
Commissioner , you have also emphasised that we need to have the same standards in all Member States .
secondly , we will argue the need to take full account of the changes envisaged by the Treaty of Lisbon when we present proposals , both for future budgets and for the multiannual financial framework as a whole .
in order to achieve this , several major challenges have still to be overcome .
in that case , will the Irish taxpayers get some , or all , of their money back ?
we should reinforce this respect for the consumer with labelling that includes details of the wine-making practices followed .
they have been discussed in detail in the dialogue on counter-terrorism and international law .
I voted in favour of this report .
in writing . - The 2011 budget has been decided in challenging and unstable times .
I welcome the fact that the KAD project in Luxembourg is making progress , that it would seem that the costs are under control , and that things are going according to plan .
I would like to draw attention to the fact that the shortage of jobs and difficult working conditions have an impact on the life of every individual , and young people in this situation are particularly vulnerable .
the vote will take place tomorrow , Thursday , 26 November 2009 .
it is now vital that we begin to think seriously about the energy issue and about investment in renewable energies .
at the same time they allow it to be controlled , ensuring that users have greater security and feel better about their lives .
we should aim at a set of concrete action-oriented measures which can deliver confidence and trust in the process and bring us closer to our final goal .
needless to say , we have discussed this 10 % objective in great detail .
the reason for differences is the spread of extreme poverty , social exclusion or deliberate exclusion , regions with multiple disadvantages that have been left out of the information society , and whose citizens cannot even be expected to have a common European awareness .
I therefore agree with the issue tackled in the European Commission 's report on the need for gender equality to be integrated into all policies , as well as into the education of European children from the very beginning .
with an explosion in population and food prices , we cannot dismiss the opportunities offered us by biotechnology and genetic engineering .
this is particularly important in view of the new competences to be acquired by the European Parliament pursuant to adoption of the Lisbon Treaty .
( DE ) Mr President , I would like to highlight once again the European Union 's transport strategy .
to translate this new framework into action , a major task for the Commission will be to help establish the European External Action Service - all this for 2009 , if all the timetables , as we hope , are respected .
for that , I need the Council to take some decisions .
it has been a challenging process , mainly due to the very restrictive nature of the recast .
colleagues , you cannot do all this without having mutual trust .
in order to be more competitive in external trade , we also need to stimulate high-quality internal demand .
I am asking you now , Commissioner .
Member of the Commission . - I just want to thank the honourable Member for this information .
what happened in Turin happens to some extent everywhere and , on the basis also of the very good Willmott report , underlines the need for a commitment to a very real reduction of accidents and deaths at the workplace .
and if anyone , in any country or continent , is in any doubt about how the human will and the courage of representatives with a mission can build a new future out of past decades of despair , let them simply reflect upon how , 60 years ago , Europeans talked of enmities that were forever entrenched and relationships that could never be repaired .
could the Commission provide information on the current situation with regard to the counterfeiting of euro bank notes and coins as well as an analysis of what the EU is doing to combat counterfeit fraud ?
conflicts also deepen because the Airport Users Committee does not establish areas for ground handling service providers .
Mr Ortuondo , the Presidency will seek information on this matter , even though it is something that we have discussed many times and the answers are well known .
it must also support agricultural communities which provide European citizens with a wide range of high-quality and wholesome foods .
if we want to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change , it is one of the very efficient ways , but we need to make sure that our gas supply is competitive .
we have information exchange systems and the facilities to deal with any problems .
order of business : see Minutes
EULEX itself cannot do this job .
we have discussed the expulsion of and discrimination against Roma people in France and Italy , and there have been many other examples of debates about fundamental rights being under pressure in one Member State or another .
if the ESF is to remain in existence and play an effective role , we need to have a clear overview of this issue in advance .
first , let me commend Ms Gomes and all the other Members of Parliament involved in the preparation of this important report .
this said , I should like to make a small digression as someone who unfortunately has had first-hand experience of these matters .
we wanted recognition of the gap between the emission reduction pledges of the Copenhagen Accord now being anchored in the UN text and the challenge of keeping global warming below 2 ° C. It was very important , to state the obvious , that we are not there yet .
ladies and gentlemen , some of what is being called for here is quite simply nonsense , and I will therefore be voting against the report .
they expect the international community to support their national systems , mainly in the fields of education and health , as these systems also benefit Iraqi refugees .
governments have rediscovered the need for state intervention in the public interest , the need for flexibility and discretion in responding to their people 's needs , and they have learnt a costly lesson .
despite the fact that the paper was non-existent , a press conference was held on the subject during the European Council summit .
we therefore need to assess this agreement from this viewpoint .
we have produced a number of effective , practical solutions to the problems concerning the collection and transfer of fingerprint data by Member States .
I too , as a European , am nostalgic for the future and I am nostalgic for the time when Europe discussed the future , showed leadership , and I am nostalgic for those days and I believe that this Treaty provides the conditions to enable Europe to do that .
the road still to be travelled is , however , not just long , but extremely long .
in spite of what you said - that we managed to achieve something - I would still like to ask whether you really would not have expected a somewhat greater result in Cancún ?
specifically , the 65 new posts planned were integrated into the estimates , with some of the money placed in reserve .
the purpose of this report is to establish at an early stage Parliament 's position with regard to a new financing instrument for EU development cooperation , based on the lessons drawn from our scrutiny of the implementation of the DCI .
on the one hand , the EU must continue its policy on the consolidation of the education , training and innovation system , and 2009 , declared the year of innovation , must be fully used to this end .
had that money - that USD 880 billion that escapes out of developing countries and is deposited in our banks - been left in those developing countries to develop those countries , how much better would it be that they would grow faster , have capital formation abilities , have property rights and commercial practices ?
I would like to say a few things about the report , which details the problems in the sheep sector and does it particularly well .
this money could be between EUR 30 billion and EUR 50 billion every year , and we have recommended - and I hope that the European Parliament will agree - that part of it should go to adaptation policies .
it is of key significance that the resolution establishes compensation rights for passengers who have been injured in coach accidents .
the high-level group is meeting and its members are , as I understand it , high-calibre individuals : it is not just producers who are represented , but distributors too .
the blame that was put on those same people was wrong - we must be clear in saying that the biggest victims here are people , the innocent people of Gaza .
do we have similar figures for the Third World and developing countries ?
as we are currently seeing , these days , nobody is impervious when the desire for freedom explodes like this .
most of the perpetrators are soldiers from both sides , members of the Congolese security forces and the police .
together , we have a range of problems .
devastated , Japan and its regions need all types of aid and support - humanitarian , financial and technical .
Belgium is about to fall to bits and the rest will follow .
it was also a debate looking to the future .
some even say that we have already gone past the point of no return .
I would not have spoken again at this point if Mr Wathelet had not made these remarks .
in accordance with the legal basis of Article 165 of the treaty , the Council Recommendation on measures to combat neurodegenerative diseases calls for Parliament to be consulted .
the Commission published a green paper on the transparency of debtors ' assets in March 2008 , and all the replies - including a summary - can now be accessed by consulting the public web site .
it is entirely essential ; the African countries need to have the resources to become self-sufficient in terms of food , and undoubtedly part of the money that we have dedicated to developing large infrastructures needs to be invested in agricultural micro-projects .
the next item is the debate on :
however , this cooperation and the facilities that we have prove that we can move forward even more efficiently .
we are , after all , able to organise various kinds of training or workshops , during which we can provide real help in accessing EU funds earmarked for the development of rural areas .
Mr President , Commissioner , I would prefer to use five minutes to start with and leave one minute for my conclusions .
at present , solidarity between Member States is of paramount importance .
it appears to me that such a flexible system , which lends itself well to the diversity that exists within Europe , would stimulate healthy competition between universities and between research projects .
today , the teaching profession is not attractive .
once again let me congratulate the rapporteur , Mr Vakalis , on his excellent report .
I welcome the Commission 's proposal tackling the problem of late payments which is becoming a serious issue , particularly in cross-border commercial transactions , because it violates legal security .
although the second reading of this report and the final agreement with the Council include some positive aspects , we must not forget it focuses on the principle of consolidating the single market .
I think that the dispute which we in Europe - here in this House - are having about Israel and Palestine is always very difficult .
it is therefore necessary to build on the sustainable aspect of agriculture .
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in this regard , I wish to take up a few ideas that have been voiced , ideas with which , I might add , I am in particular agreement .
Mr President , I agree that tailings dams such as the one that caused the accident in Baia Mare in 2000 should not be created .
social innovation supports people with disabilities in finding their own solutions to their social problems , a work-life balance , equal opportunities for men and women , quality of family life and the ability to care for children , the elderly and the disabled .
twenty-five years on , the wealthiest one per cent has 17 % of total income in the European Union .
the current state of the negotiations on data transfers still does not ensure effective legal protection of the data in the United States , as they can be retained for years after the security checks have been carried out and there is no legal protection for anyone who is not a US citizen .
now it is time to act .
first , regarding our priorities for 2010 to 2020 and the launch of the European industrial initiatives , those six initiatives really match our priorities - wind , solar bio-energy , sustainable fission , smart grids , and carbon capture and storage are priorities that were strongly endorsed by Parliament and the Council .
another possibility is nuclear power .
I think that the 2011 budget is not the place to translate into a budgetary instrument the conclusions of those important debates and difficult decisions that will have to be made for the future financing of the European Union when the next multiannual financial framework is negotiated .
you must make sure that we receive the results of the investigation soon , otherwise this debate will place a heavy burden on the Hungarian Presidency .
the Commission 's website should indicate very clearly that travel and accommodation expenses will be reimbursed and , also , that a reimbursement scheme exists for other costs directly associated with work in expert groups .
the regions hardest hit will be the poorest countries in Africa , Asia and Central and Latin America , where environmental migration is envisaged .
in writing . - All EU Member States must play their part in making possible the closure of the Guantánamo Bay prison .
meanwhile , you have spoken about bringing the guilty parties to justice .
they have used pressure and intimidation in attempts to break the opposition movement , which now has a majority in the lower house of parliament .
the Lisbon informal summit is going to be a crucial event , having had the publication of the draft Reform Treaty , which heads of state and government will focus on when they meet there .
the Commission firmly believes that it is important to include price data , since prices are one of consumers ' principal concerns .
I should also like to take this opportunity to thank , in addition to Mr Liberadzki , the dangerous goods committee for their work , bearing in mind that that work has been carried out continuously in accordance with the international agreements in force in this field .
President-in-Office of the Council . - Mr President , I welcome this opportunity to speak on these three important legislative proposals , and am grateful to the rapporteurs for the extensive work which has gone into their reports .
Europe is not alone in having problems activating its bureaucracy - the Americans have the same problem .
in light of this , I believe that the proposed new Protocol for the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU and Seychelles serves the interests of both parties .
the work required to ensure compliance with the Union 's standards and membership obligations is difficult and demands continuous efforts and determination .
fortunately , however , Parliament can give opinions and can do so openly .
the adoption of this strategy will allow for cost-effective , value-added development of new and innovative solutions , and so I supported this proposal .
I find it appalling that anyone should behave towards me in such a downright aggressive manner .
this should be rectified .
they are , first and foremost , the problems of our citizens , the residents of Europe .
the vote will take place on Thursday , 21 January 2010 .
there is also good news , though .
it is not a conflict between Palestinians and Jews , it is not a conflict between Israel and the Palestinian authority , it is a conflict between extremists and moderate forces in the region .
we are delighted with the energy and commitment that the Commission has shown on this and are pleased that the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety has made clear , firm proposals .
up to now , surveys by NGOs have shown that 20 % of the Congolese timber imported onto the European market is of illegal origin , whether it is for production , sale , processing or export .
I urge you , Commissioner , to pay a little less attention to the newspapers and more to the documents that the Italian Government officially forwards .
today , we are also raising the issue of the famine in Ukraine to manifest our conviction that this fragment of the dramatic history of our common Europe is still not sufficiently well known .
I do have a question for her concerning the role of Sberbank , the Russian savings bank .
there is , therefore , an urgent need to develop a programme of research to document the protection and development of regional culture in all its spiritual and artistic expressions .
poor use is being made in Poland , for example , of money from the Cohesion Fund earmarked for public communications projects , such as railways , trams and the Internet .
we insist on compliance with the fundamental standards of the International Labour Organisation as a preliminary condition for entering into trade agreements .
I support the excellent report by Mr Fernandes , because at a time when we are experiencing a severe financial , economic and social crisis in which so many sacrifices are required of the public , we must be the first to set an example by adopting guidelines for a budget marked by restraint and austerity .
it would be a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul .
( the latter solution was chosen )
at the same time , I would like to express my reservations regarding the order of preference of standards examined during the process of drawing up technical specifications for the purchase of defence equipment .
we are living in a time when we have been given a reminder of what can happen ; we are discussing a community of 500 million people who for the most part consume foods from abroad .
the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) has taken the initiative for this debate because the problems in the euro area countries make a strong European approach very urgent .
we need more , not less , Europe .
I refer in particular to cooperation in the areas of transport , the environment and economic development .
on the key threats that the strategy contemplates , I think those identified in 2003 were the right ones .
in a context where European economies are mutually dependent , the adverse effects of the crisis affect every economy .
therefore , I am calling on my fellow Members to support this new intermediate category when it comes to the vote .
healthcare is after all a specific sector requiring a specific approach .
the cooperation of the Member States is of vital importance .
we should keep this in mind when we take account of the torments women have to endure in armed conflicts .
Mr President , we are about to make some important and necessary revisions to the limit values for radioactive contamination of foodstuffs .
in the meantime , however , I welcome any steps in the direction of giving people greater rights to know what they are sharing the roads and waterways of Europe with , and that they are safe .
the men wait for a sign that a war is beginning , in order to take up arms and begin fighting each other .
in the ensuing crisis , we then rack our brains about whether we should export agricultural produce to the developing world at dumped prices , therefore ruining the market over there , along with the situation of smallholders and producers .
the process will be a painful one not only for the individual Member States but also for the Union as a whole . the latter may be faced with losing its competitive edge and with a fall in economic growth compared to the situation in other parts of the world characterised by swift demographic growth .
deals can only be done if there is an established law .
of course , we support , too , the creation of the Airport Capacity Observatory because we believe that with the Commission 's support it will be a positive tool for the future .
( SL ) The events that will take place in Lima in April and May on the parliamentary and governmental line must strengthen the southern dimension of the transatlantic cooperation .
however , food scarcity means hunger in the world , and if we have a system which makes it possible for hunger in some regions of the world to generate profits in others , our 700 billion dollar rescue package will not help us .
however , greater fairness is needed in the distribution of direct payments , both among Member States and farmers .
Mr President , my thanks to the rapporteur for this report .
I feel that it is especially important for the process to progress via good cooperation with neighbouring countries .
further animal welfare standards that have negative effects on the competitiveness of producers must not , therefore , be introduced until our trade partners in the WTO sign up to them .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , my Group has expressed valid criticism of the Marty report and voted overwhelmingly against the Fava report .
this good news does of course give rise to a whole series of questions .
the question which my fellow Members and I asked the Commission today calls for the Commission to clarify its intentions and to ensure that the decision it takes will be based on full consultation with European producers of rosé wine .
we currently have a 20 % target .
Taiwan is , as we all know , a well-developed and stable democracy .
secondly , use of cross-border healthcare must be based on the informed choice of the patient , and not on coercion .
although they have gone down , prices will not return to the relatively low level they were at before .
but we must be very precise in defining the purposes so as to ensure proportionality and to ensure adequate legal safeguards .
some previous speakers have criticised both the President and the High Representative , which I consider quite inappropriate .
we have had considerable difficulties with this in the past when dealing with other legal acts under company law .
if we compare the situation now with Copenhagen , we can say that we went to Copenhagen with high expectations and we were very disappointed .
blind faith in untrammelled markets and competition has failed abysmally , and now is the time for Europe to be more courageous in creating a new social contract between workers and businesses , and indeed for Member States and Europe to build a new social market economy , as provided for in the Treaty of Lisbon .
all of us take an oath , when we assume our duties , saying that we are not there to represent countries , and , in fact , the credibility of the institution comes exactly from that fact - that we try to be independent and to serve the general European interest .
may I ask those who bang on about the EU being this magnificent machine to ask themselves that question ?
the Court also took a historic decision in 2004 to refuse to recognise the applicability of a national amnesty for the perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity .
directive 2004 / 22 was an important step in this movement .
I have been told that , in accordance with our Rules of Procedure , it is only possible to vote on Wednesday .
the Presidency is currently endeavouring to find a compromise solution in the Council .
this year will clearly be a test of our ability to demonstrate our commitment to the sustainability of this endemic stock .
( RO ) I would first of all like to congratulate the rapporteur for her efforts to create a legal framework which will provide the basis for implementing the biometric identification system .
are you not concerned that this actually undermines national parliaments and democracy across the European Union ?
our UK solution is to mechanically stamp eggs with the code numbers that represent their method of production at the laying farm itself .
the Commission believes that the most productive approach to Belarus will be one based on pragmatism .
I wait to see with interest how the Commission reacts to those proposals .
the dual pressure exerted by the issue of global warming and the inevitable increasing difficulty in obtaining oil supplies and to a latter extent gas , is forcing us to think of new solutions .
a whole raft of states have adopted the Minority Languages Charter alongside their own legislation in support of this diversity .
for hundreds of years the history of Poland has been intertwined with the history of countries like Ukraine and Belarus , where a significant Polish minority lives . these people do not hold Polish citizenship , but they often cross the border to visit their relatives .
in our committee , as elsewhere , one of the most hotly debated issues is that of the purpose of corporate social responsibility .
since we believe it is important to have a permanent stability mechanism , the Commission played a constructive role supporting this limited revision of the Treaty .
DCM is used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and as a paint stripper and degreaser , amongst other uses .
I therefore call for long-term political , social and legal measures to do away with gender-based violence and to achieve true equality between the sexes .
my thanks to the rapporteur for drafting such a comprehensive document .
pressure must first be exerted , of course , to ensure that the winner is acknowledged .
today , as the CIS talks about diversity , only Russian troops are present .
( NL ) Madam President , I have voted in favour of the Susta report , because counterfeiting is , of course , a serious problem , and the text before us shows evidence of common sense .
with the creation of a framework for sustainable soil use , and with the adoption of measures at source , this policy will prevent further degradation of the soil , whose vitally important social , environmental and economic functions will be preserved .
I should point out that every state is responsible for deciding its own fiscal policy .
Member of the Commission . - ( EL ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , allow me to begin by thanking you for this opportunity to debate both the results of the climate change conference held in Bali late last year and plans for what is to come after agreement on the commencement of negotiations has been reached .
this is a report created by Parliament in the course of an ongoing legislative procedure .
poverty amongst women is a really serious problem that the EU needs to solve .
we politicians need to step in here .
however , like the rapporteur , and given that one of the fundamental conditions of achieving sustainable fishing is ensuring up-to-date , accurate knowledge of fish stocks , I regret that it has not been possible to raise the co-financing rates as regards data collection , management and use .
it is , indeed , important .
both ways are , ultimately , ways of achieving the same objectives .
the whole situation could be described as a permanent state of emergency .
as regards the internal political situation in Georgia , I would like , at this juncture , to express the European Union 's hope that the forthcoming parliamentary elections on 21 May will be free and fair .
in my view , both the European Commission and Council should introduce a census of the generations as a means of providing information .
so , rapporteur , thank you for this very fruitful and very encouraging debate and I look forward to a very strong vote tomorrow in plenary .
it is true that there is concern , serious concern , that , despite good intentions , the proliferation of networks may lead to abuse and possibly to serious mistakes .
we have already heard about possible challenges to the results in the courts .
I expect a lot from this new cooperation and , personally speaking , her presentation in the Committee on Environment , Public Health and Food Safety convinced me of her qualifications and her appetite for solving certain problems , for example those related to smoking , which is a subject dear to my heart .
however , I should like to point out to her that public opinion in Europe is unfortunately not aware of the European Union 's presence .
the recent crackdown on peaceful protesters , who were demonstrating their right to associate , has merited yet another condemnation by the European Parliament .
we outlined all our main criticisms to him .
we have banks that are ' too big to fail ' , as the catchphrase goes .
we must not permit such unequal terms of competition for European farmers .
the pitiful GBP 50 million she put into Axis 1 - and only GBP 15 million of that into the modernisation fund - is what caused the spectacle of Tuesday .
we want to see better working conditions , with particular emphasis on working hours , and maternity and paternity leave - here responsibility is shared on both sides by the couple or the family - thereby guaranteeing working men and women the opportunity to take up their posts again after such leave .
can the European Council outline the initiatives that it is pursuing so that closer political and economic relations can be built up between the European Union and the United States of America ?
Madam President , as one of the other co-sponsors of the original written declaration nearly three years ago , which called for this ban , I should like to congratulate everyone who has worked to bring this draft proposal forward .
in the Youth in Action Programme , the European Union has launched the European Voluntary Service .
those rights , in particular , apply to persons with a disability , or indeed , persons with reduced mobility .
it is true that imported inflation , especially in the case of energy products , can be kept somewhat in check by this means .
Madam President , I think this report is too optimistic by half .
the report by Mr Schmidt - an excellent report , on which we worked well together - specifically welcomes that .
unfortunately , the world 's developed countries are closing their eyes to a tragedy which will affect us all through its complex implications .
this is an important first step in strengthening relations between the EU and Brazil in the aviation sector , which has allowed them to continue to strengthen their cooperation at this level and proceed towards negotiating a comprehensive air services agreement between Brazil and the EU .
this report deals with the decommissioning of nuclear power plants that have fallen into disrepair and present an immediate threat to the health of all EU citizens .
for this reason , I am convinced that the European institutions should rise to the common challenges , such as the protection of consumers - and more specifically of children - and the prevention of crime and fraud , but also to the challenges concerning the fight against the illegal and unauthorised supply of services , which the national governments alone cannot cope with .
however , structural funds should be used only within the Member States to which they have been allocated .
this means that should one EU Member State be faced with a threat to cut off its energy supplies , all the other Member States would have a duty to support it .
I almost reached my limit yesterday evening when I put the Aarhus Convention debate ahead of asparagus consumption on the famous asparagus evening .
at this point , however , I would like to emphasise that not all countries will be able to pursue this policy in the short term .
motion for a resolution :
people watching the decision-making from outside are not interested in the smallest detail .
we should be encouraging the uptake of new farming technology and not vilifying it .
the main aim of the Council 's draft proposal on patient safety and the quality of health care , including the prevention and control of hospital-acquired infections , is to define an integrated approach under which patients can transfer safely to high quality health care centres and where all factors having an impact on this will be taken into account .
Mr Cercas 's report seems to have attempted to reach an acceptable compromise .
there , civil rights , such as freedom of expression , of marriage and of demonstration , rights of which we in the West do not even realise the importance any more because we are used to them , are not even vaguely close to the concept of inalienability guaranteed by our Constitution because , quite simply , they do not exist .
in writing . - ( HU ) We must not allow Europe to pay the price of the financial crisis and speculation that originated in the United States .
if climate change is not dealt with , it will result in disasters all over the world .
I think this has helped us a lot : we have learned from it , and national parliaments have an opportunity to anchor better and explain better what happens at European level .
in writing . - ( PT ) It is of course desirable and necessary to reduce unwanted by-catches and discards , but it should not be done by legislation .
thank you .
in this regard we would appeal for the Erasmus Mundus programme to be better resourced and for the Euromed Audiovisual programme to be refinanced .
these concerns have arisen once again in this case and demand an appropriate response which we believe can be given .
this meant the elimination of the leaders and elites of a nation fighting for its own , and Europe 's , freedom .
Mrs Aubert , I obviously agree with your concerns and the need to exert maximum pressure on President Déby , and in fact on everyone concerned , to ensure that human rights are respected .
in Africa it is certainly the case that the leading cause of poverty , hunger , insecurity and the enormous social and economic problems in developing countries is actually the fact that they are very badly governed by totally corrupt regimes .
- Report : Ioannis Varvitsiotis
the example of Eastern Germany shows that where these companies received adequate investment , they joined the ranks of the some of the best operating companies in the world .
all due respect to Mr Albertini , however , for taking a brave position .
when we know that we have to get agreement from a number of Member States for any new idea , this does not appear today to be the best possible solution .
my second point is that the European Union plays a particular role in the second pillar , as well .
what are we really talking about here ?
instead , the stress tests should be conducted by independent experts and in full transparency .
Mr President , three years ago Richard Corbett and I presented the Constitutional Treaty to this House , and we are now European Parliament rapporteurs on the Lisbon Treaty .
( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , we are talking today about improving the safety of nuclear power , not about calling civil nuclear power into question when it is an essential component of energy independence and of the fight against greenhouse gases in many Member States of the European Union .
debates on cases of breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law ( announcement of motions for resolutions tabled ) : see Minutes
unfortunately , in the European Union , we still have several sectors where there is no real competition .
you have ensured , by dint of an oppressive tax burden , that Flemish workers cost significantly more than their counterparts in other countries and that , at the same time , they have less to show for it - this is also a factor - and it is time you gave this some more thought .
therefore , it is so important that this programme be given high subsidies , not forgetting , at the same time , how important it is to continue to promote it and maintain an appropriate information policy .
so we need to support the creation of a smaller , more fuel-efficient fleet that is better matched to fishing possibilities .
outside this Chamber , equality means the right of people to be treated the same .
this is not just about one euro country competing with another , but about us being able to hold our own against the USA and Asia .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Madam President , sovereign debt spreads have widened dramatically over recent months for certain euro Member States , leading to much speculation in the markets about defaults , bail-outs and even the viability of certain Member States within the euro framework .
the Western Balkans needs a clear European perspective .
on that occasion , the issue of minorities in Pakistan was raised .
Polish fishermen have joined the increasing criticism of the archaic data base that is too heavily based on estimates .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to congratulate Commissioner Verheugen on having taken the initiative to create a high-level group , CARS 21 , to examine the European automotive industry .
( HU ) As a Hungarian living in Romania , I would like to congratulate President Jerzy Buzek , in the spirit of solidarity , a worthy successor to our former president , Hans-Gert Pöttering .
I was the rapporteur for the ERTMS .
probably for the first time , I support the proposal made by Mr Panzeri for continued dialogue within the parliamentary committee on certain matters that bind us to our Moroccan colleagues .
so I do not want to go further because we will have a number of occasions to be in contact with Parliament .
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we want to delete this because the authorities have already abolished this system of exit visas , so it is obsolete .
ladies and gentlemen , I am pleased to welcome to this House the new Commissioner , Mrs Androulla Vassiliou .
for this reason , in addition to current diplomatic activities , the European Union must continue its efforts to build the Palestinian infrastructure , with the training of security forces and reinforcement of the authority of the Palestinian administration .
I would , however , like to express some reservations .
Europe 's cities are its centres of economic activity , innovation and employment , but they must face up to a number of challenges .
on behalf of the EFD Group . - Madam President , there is an ideology that is gaining ground in Europe that teaches inequality between men and women .
if I pick up two of them , the first is - and , in a sense , Mrs Salafranca began with it - about how we should support regional initiatives , which are often dominated by individual countries but do not include all the members of the region , and how best to try and provide the kind of support that ensures we engage with all the countries of that region .
however , we must not , under any circumstances , allow the US to monopolise Europe in economic terms .
we also need to ensure the utmost respect for privacy and data protection .
to this end , the European Council must decide on several important steps .
this decision was accepted for two reasons , firstly to allow evaluation of the new political and security situation , and secondly to carry out an unhindered evacuation of the Europeans and of civilians from other countries .
but can I address another issue which has not been raised here yet ?
in order to achieve an internal market for electricity , we need to establish harmonised rules and regulations , ensure that all the players are using the same rules , promote interconnections and have independent regulators with sufficient powers to guarantee investments .
please submit a written request on this matter .
the crisis has also highlighted a marked contradiction at a time in which the ECB has been forced to make financial movements in the market and at the same time to raise interest rates to tackle the risk of inflation .
no country can combat tax evasion effectively on its own .
a major distinction therefore needs to be made : on the one hand , we are combating ideas with which we do not agree .
missing traders then fail to remit the VAT to the national exchequer .
conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement with Korea is part of the strategy to provide Europe with a global dimension .
in my view , it is necessary to launch a comprehensive analysis to obtain a more precise identification of the possible scenarios and means for operation and exploitation after 2013 .
however , the Council is the most conspicuous by its absence .
this is not possible , because the constitution does not allow it .
therefore , Parliament 's vote naturally carries the appropriate weight and the issue of the Integrated Guidelines was fundamental in the debate we held with Parliament .
following the Lisbon Treaty , however , the European Parliament has much more power and the task as MEPs sitting here is really to defend the interests and rights , the fundamental rights , of the 500 million citizens of the EU Member States .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , this was a very interesting debate .
manufacturers of active substances based in third countries should be subject to inspections by the Member State to which those substances are destined , to be mediated by the competent authorities of the third country in question .
these trade preferences were granted for the period that ended on 31 December 2010 and which currently apply to Bosnia and Herzegovina , Serbia and Kosovo .
Pierre Werner , a former Prime Minister of Luxembourg , along with Valéry Giscard d 'Estaing and Helmut Schmidt , when they were still Finance Ministers , submitted blueprints heading in this direction .
we have identified these differences specifically in the approach to children with learning difficulties .
I would once again like to thank Mr Galeote for the report and the Committee on Regional Development for its attention on this very important issue .
we need balanced or pluralist information since we were elected to serve all citizens equally .
what I do not think the report conveys sufficiently well is the reason why people , mainly young men , become or are lured into becoming terrorists and place themselves outside democratic society .
however , it is very important to note that the objective is to protect the electronic format of works per se , without allowing users to modify them .
we have therefore tried to do some tidying up , to clarify and to consolidate , but that does not make it a revolution .
if we want to achieve something in maritime transport and aviation , however , it is necessary to re-intensify our negotiations with the 20 Annex I states . what has taken place in aviation with ICAO has so far failed to produce any results .
who creates the legislative framework , who creates the rules for such businesses ?
we could unanimously adopt a different text .
the next item is the report by Petr Duchoň , on behalf of the Committee on Transport and Tourism , on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning a European rail network for competitive freight - C6-0509 / 2008 - .
it is also important that these solutions do not only benefit our citizens today and tomorrow , but also provide for our children 's future .
also necessary is improved coordination between immigration policy and development aid policy .
in fact , tuna boats are particularly vulnerable , insofar as , on the one hand , they have a very low freeboard and , on the other , they are immobile and not manoeuvrable during seine fishing : that is , during a four to five hour period .
it is indeed right that it is the task of the Member States to ensure that market surveillance functions properly .
it will be difficult and expensive to respond to this wave of immigration after it starts rapping on the doors of Europe .
any re-admission agreement between the European Union and Libya has to exclude all those who claim to be asylum seekers , refugees or persons requiring international protection , and it must be applied completely in accordance with the principle of non-refoulement .
that is clearly a contradiction in terms .
with this in mind , a task force has been created , which is going to meet for the first time this Friday , 21 May , chaired by President Van Rompuy .
secondly , I agree totally with the Commissioner when he said that we must transport our safety standards throughout the world , because if something happens in the Gulf of Mexico or anywhere else , we are not immune to the fall-out from it .
Parliament and the Council should work together to define the status of a party at European level and their foundations , and should establish rules for funding both parties and foundations .
in the age of electronic communications , I cannot understand why a ' report ' on an agreement requires work trips and participation in meetings on the part of specialists and officials from the EU and Ukraine .
I want to validate the notion of necessary statistical instruments even if I reject the policies that they may serve .
furthermore , it is unacceptable that they intend to replace the term ' illegal immigration ' with ' irregular immigration , ' thereby attempting to further legitimise this otherwise illegal act .
I completely agree with this report , as I believe that following the Joint Declaration of the Prague Eastern Partnership Summit , the EU should strengthen its partnerships in the East , particularly with the three southern Caucasus countries , through a clear and well defined strategy .
secondly , rescuing Opel is in the common interests of Europe as a whole .
but in the face of the recurring violence , we have recycled those tired phrases so often that they have lost whatever impact they once had .
( EL ) First of all , I should like to take ten seconds out of the proceedings to restore the truth .
the conclusions drawn by Mrs McGuiness in her report about global food security are now also evident in Romania .
that will be complementary to the Energy Council , which we will re-energise as well .
compatibility of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights : see Minutes
it is not right that you should call this lobbyism .
lapsed written declarations : see Minutes
the Treaty also encourages cooperation with relevant international and regional organisations and groups of states , offering the Union an opportunity to become an effective global player .
( NL ) Mr President , nearly a year ago there was an uprising in Burma .
what we are referring to here are respiratory diseases , asthma , allergies , cancer and endocrine disruptors , especially those that affect the most vulnerable sections of the population , as Mrs Ries has already pointed out , including children , pregnant women , the elderly and the disadvantaged .
in reality , Mr Barroso , I pity you somewhat because you are now part of this system of the Treaty of Lisbon - Lisbon being the capital city of your country , a wonderful city and one that deserves better than to lend its name to such a document .
the ILO 's conventions are an example of this approach .
I do not think there is any particular reason for this .
Mr President , according to the report , timber and fish are two of West Africa 's most important resources .
that they became victims of a clash of bureaucracies is now a matter of history and hopefully this report will compel an equitable solution .
those are crucial issues and they are indeed addressed in the dossier .
1 .
borders , at least on the continent , are mostly rather artificial .
I have one announcement to make .
the crisis we are experiencing is the crisis of European policy 's inability to govern the market .
waste electrical and electronic equipment ( WEEE ) represents the fastest-growing waste stream in the EU and we therefore face a range of challenges .
the second volet , of course , is employment .
however , if we are honest with one another , we know what will happen and this is why my group decided against an amendment .
therefore , it is extremely important that this motion for extradition be adopted .
impact Assessments ( IAs ) are a key instrument for the legislative process , of which European legislators should make greater use in future .
the Europe 2020 strategy has been agreed , its priorities are clear and its objectives are measurable .
I believe that we have reached a good compromise , as Mrs Grossetête has said .
we have brought together these facts in numerous thematic strategies , during which we invited two Nobel Prize laureates to Brussels and Strasbourg .
this attempt to water down the enlargement strategy and blend it with the European Neighbourhood Policy poses problems .
we also adopted the addition of sugar to wine .
( SK ) In March 2003 , when Castro 's regime unjustly convicted and imprisoned 75 Cuban dissidents , the European Union introduced sanctions against Cuba .
I want to hear the state of play from the Council this morning .
in this way , the European Union will also address the objectives which it has laid down in its neighbourhood policy .
by refusing to countenance in the report any consideration of , or reference to , the problems of contraception , the UEN is effectively refusing to recognise that women in the southern hemisphere are entitled to a decent life .
nevertheless , I would like to encourage a broader view of events and to recall that Parliament , as early as the beginning of this year , put forward some valid proposals which were not accepted by the Council and the Commission .
it would be nice if we could acknowledge his existence in the budget , too .
written declarations ( Rule 142 )
however , there is also a name for what is blocking this comprehensive action : the hypocrisy of the Member States .
the situation is worsened by the fact that the refugees are now also bringing disease into South Africa .
I would like to express one more wish for the future above and beyond the Lisbon Treaty .
of course , there needs to be progress in Europe and , in this respect , it is unfortunate that there has been some slowness to act .
the ECB lowered its own base rate too late , after a short-sightedness that has already cost the more fragile economies and those who are in debt to the banks dearly .
nonetheless , the Commission feels obliged to fully inform Parliament about the social , environmental and economic consequences of any new proposal .
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Member of the Commission . - I hope the honourable Member will respect the fact that I will not go into detail about one draft out of many that has been leaked .
rights do not exist in this form .
EC-Swiss Confederation Agreement on Scientific and Technical Cooperation ( vote )
former world powers , in particular , obviously find their nuclear weapons much more attractive than an ambitious European policy for nuclear disarmament .
( DE ) Madam President , I would like once again to point out that the Kurdish Democratic Society Party ban means that a total of 27 Kurdish parties have been banned by the Turkish Government in recent years .
( SL ) Ukraine is a large and important partner of the European Union and a country which undoubtedly has a European future .
moreover , the Ombudsman serves as a resource for the institutions .
is it a lot to ask for this technological breakthrough ?
furthermore , the European Union is in a position to ask Ukraine to tackle more decisively vital reforms which will help consolidate the rule of law .
in this context , I think that the European Union needs to implement an independent system for assessing pandemic risks , as well as better coordination in terms of managing these risks .
EU policy in areas such as climate change , energy , transport and fisheries have a direct impact on the Arctic .
all this must also be reflected in the European budget , however , which is why new priorities are necessary .
this proximity also relates to our institution , however .
we must take notice of what our citizens are saying to us .
if your response to our three requests is positive , our approval of the agreement might then be a possibility .
we need to remove the threat of indigenous coal mining coming to an end , and instead enable this strategic sector to survive in a reasonable manner .
firstly , the rapporteur not only draws the wrong conclusions ; he also starts from the wrong premise in formulating his proposals , given that he claims that ' the single European market , along with the euro area , best illustrates the true meaning of EU economic integration and unity , and is certainly the most visible achievement of European integration for EU citizens ' .
I am convinced that the current Irish law that is operating in this regard is in breach of the European Union Directive of 2004 on mobility and on residency and also in breach of European Union anti-discrimination laws , because this is being applied only to the spouses of non-Irish EU citizens .
what is needed instead is a systematic approach and coordinated , long-term solutions in the areas of education , healthcare and , most importantly , labour market policies , since employment and education facilitate social acceptance and integration .
urgent , too , are steps to curb IUU fishing , not just to help maintain the price of legally caught fish , but for stock conservation .
this is what the report states .
let me concentrate on three issues that are very much linked with our responsibility .
I firmly believe , fellow Members , that this report marks an important step towards improving SOLVIT 's operation .
it is essential to facilitate women 's access to farming and agricultural credit .
we are working with the US side on delivering tangible results in priority areas .
in writing . - ( IT ) International public opinion has been shaken by the recent tragic events in Rome .
we also need to be looking not just at reducing poverty but reducing inequalities , because that has known demonstrable benefits , and we need to make sure that our financial institutions do not undermine the ambitious goals that we might put in place .
this is not a question of ideology .
Mr Stockmann has always distinguished himself as an impartial politician who listens to all sides .
the serious problem of the lack of identity documents was raised even by the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe on 19-20 June .
the second aspect I wish to emphasise is the volume and complexity of the European rules : another issue that has already been raised by many fellow Members .
not just seat belts or ecological engines .
the regulatory procedure with scrutiny was thus introduced . this must be used for adopting measures of general scope which seek to amend ( by deleting or supplementing ) non-essential elements of a basic instrument adopted in accordance with Article 251 of the Treaty , i.e. under the codecision procedure .
as far as the procedure is concerned , the Commission believes that the conditions have been met for undertaking a simplified revision of the Treaty such as that envisaged in Article 48 ( 6 ) of the Treaty on European Union .
we have to provide better protection for our fishing and merchant shipping fleets in international waters and we therefore need European as well as global action .
the organisation which is supposed to provide translations often instructs external translators automatically without even checking whether there is any spare capacity available in the internal organisation .
and it has - by proving that together the member states are strong enough to not only survive globalisation but even gain from it .
however , I am confident that the regulation that we present today tackles many of the challenges that we could imagine during the preparation of the regulation .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , this is a really important moment , because today , for the first time in the European Parliament , we are commemorating the Roma and Sinti victims of the Holocaust .
naturally , Greece 's fiscal effort must be continued ; it is the only way to secure a lasting reduction in the cost of debt financing .
there were always problems that went far beyond the need for fulfilling the strict criteria for accession .
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( PL ) Madam President , women are discriminated against in every area of life ; they are beaten and raped .
the autocratic regimes in Libya , Tunisia , Egypt and other countries have been in place for years and we cooperate with them .
I would like to point out another failing of the compromise .
( RO ) Nabucco will provide for a large part of the European Union 's demand for gas .
thanks to this database it is now possible to gain online access to all documents relating to each petition .
composition of Parliament : see Minutes
the secretariat , which will be located in Barcelona , will promote the projects .
the terrible risk is that , despite the talk about building Europe , it may in fact be undermined , and while hoping for a stronger Europe , the failure to address its underlying economic problems will in fact just make it weaker .
once more , I would like to stress that the OSCE must be led by countries that respect human rights and defend human rights and democratic values .
in the meantime , we can advance on concrete issues , such as fast-start finance , reduce emissions from deforestation , and facilitate adaptation to climate change for poor and developing countries .
author . - Mr President , I am sorry the Socialists have chosen to vent their old prejudices about profits and social issues in what is , essentially , an economic and industrial question .
we cannot fail to consider the data supplied by Interpol reporting that at least 500 000 new original child pornography images are put online each year .
like Parliament , the Council places the utmost importance on the democratic process in Afghanistan .
we should all do our best to make its accession to the programme as quick as possible .
while I carefully monitor the adoption of measures in this regard , I am aware that there are legal relationships that , because of their nature , are more likely to call on the laws of more than one country .
( SV ) Mr President , I would like to say a big thank you to the rapporteur for his excellent work on a very difficult subject .
however , the development of intelligent transport systems can certainly help to minimise these negative effects of transport .
another reason why this strategy is good is because the Danube links the old Member States and the new Member States , and this provides inspiration for us to homogenise these regions and lead them towards development .
we have an unfolding humanitarian disaster and a diminishing humanitarian space in Somalia , including a crackdown on the independent media and journalists , who are dying in targeted killings .
this should be the case when a Member State , even with a deficit below the 3 % of GDP reference value , deviates significantly from the medium-term budgetary objective or the appropriate adjustment path towards it and fails to correct the deviation .
the Spanish Government did not give me any visible support on the subject of the thorough stress tests .
the Committee on Budgets was able to obtain all necessary additional clarification at the meeting in May attended by representatives of the countries that suffered natural disasters in 2007 . the countries concerned were Greece , which was affected by forest fires , and Slovenia , which was affected by floods .
there is no Macedonian ethnic minority .
therefore , surely it is clear - and here is the nub of the matter - that in a market as large as the European Union , which encompasses 500 million European citizens , we need more vigilance ?
it is to be hoped that the debates such as the present one in the European Parliament will contribute to achieving a consensus in the Council .
nevertheless , the choice made in Ireland is a sovereign decision of the Irish people .
I do not believe that what we have before us will help us particularly in that great challenge .
climate change grabbed the headlines and popular imagination .
and Mrs Ţicău 's question ?
the incidence of some kinds of cancer can be predicted by genetic predisposition , lifestyle and so on .
I believe that action is needed and it is the European Union 's task , as part of the current security policy , to create an initial code of conduct to be used in both conflicts and post-conflict operations , although we have a convention , in the form of the Geneva Convention , which condemns violent conduct during conflicts .
I take note of your remarks .
the correct ' concerns ' included in the report do not tackle or respond to the main causes of the problems identified , particularly with regard to economic policies , job insecurity , liberalisation and privatisation of public services , and so on .
neither is it a country which enjoys an independent judiciary .
we absolutely must make use of them .
rather than thousands , we have only dozens protesting , possibly because we are attempting to include in our free trade agreement an associated political cooperation agreement - social , political and labour clauses that will help protect labour standards in the south and may well enhance them .
I do , and you have also , set very strong demands for Turkey as regards the reform process and rightly so .
of course , the proposal to establish the group has not been subject to questioning .
Europe needs it .
I would stress again that , unfortunately , the EGF has been very sparingly utilised in the face of Europe 's high rates of unemployment .
it is hard , here , not to mention the decision to build Nord Stream , the Northern Gas Pipeline , which was a political decision which did not take account of the dangers this investment may present to the Baltic Sea ecosystem .
I therefore elected to abstain .
the society of football saw how a referee chose a team that will take part in the World Cup finals , but society as a whole failed to see or to understand how and why certain arbiters chose the champions for European office .
( NL ) Mr President , I just wanted to let the Commissioner know that Mrs HennisPlasschaert is no longer here , as she had to attend another meeting .
rapporteur . - ( PL ) Mr President , in autumn we embark , as usual , on the decisive phase of the budget procedure , this time for the year 2009 .
my second question is as follows .
I am informed that they are making available additional capacity for testing so that this is done and finished in the shortest possible time .
they pointed out a paradox whereby , while there is reinforcement of the reliability and security of visas by introducing biometrics on the other hand , if you have means of collection which are not of the same level of security as can be ensured in a consulate or consular section of an Embassy , this weakens the reliability of the whole process .
on behalf of the European Commission , I would like to congratulate Mr Busuttil on the important report he has drawn up .
what is even more serious is that the Hungarian Government is using the EU Presidency not to contribute to the construction of a united Europe , but to support the resurgence of a nationalism which we thought had been forgotten .
Mr Frattini and the Minister have both said the same .
the euro 's success therefore means success in the process of building an entity designed to promote European values at international level and confirm the European Union as the main player in business and financial relations within the global economy .
suddenly the European Union 's commitment looks a little on the weak side .
aid for less-favoured rural areas is an essential element of the second pillar of the common agricultural policy ( rural development policy ) , as it is natural that regions with natural disadvantages should be targeted by specific tools and policies .
during the last 30 years we have brought prices down , but what has happened during the past year has trumped all the warning signals .
however , according to Mrs Schaldemose , that EUR 3 billion is only 5 % of the total gambling market in the European Union .
the Commission will monitor textile imports from China in as close to real time as possible .
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this does not augur well .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union ban discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation .
if they do give you what you want , it will need to be reratified in 25 Member States , which will mean that the British will have a referendum , and I am sure , as democrats , you would all like to see a British referendum on this Treaty .
Mr Schulz , I have been informed that this motion was tabled an hour earlier , from which I conclude that it was done as a preventive measure .
I would like to begin by emphasising that the Presidency genuinely regrets that your institution and ours , the Council , were unable to reach agreement .
the European Union ought to set an example by continuing its traditional protection of citizens ' private lives .
in writing . - ( FR ) The Lynne report on combating discrimination in the Member States , in particular in employment , is entirely in keeping with the texts adopted by Parliament on this subject .
the European Commission firmly believes that the key to the process of reconciliation is for the parties to take responsibility for their own actions .
Mr President , we will not overcome the deep financial , economic and jobs crisis - or climate change - as independent , protectionist nation states .
a balance needs to be struck .
we can also work on finding substitutes for rare raw materials .
as a result of joining the European Union we had to ' offer ' , so to speak , 100 % of our markets and , in exchange , we received 25 % of subsidies .
the way forward should be a new policy of global commitment , in which the EU will play its key role .
the key priority of the EU 's Black Sea strategy should be to secure energy supplies to the EU , and related support for energy projects which are in the interests of the EU and which focus on diversifying gas supplies to the EU .
where is our opinion on the reunions and actions of former members of SS units in EU countries ?
you have to keep the big stick in reserve , but preferably reach a solution through coaxing and self-regulation .
there are two points I would like to stress here today .
this is the most important question of our generation ; we cannot fail .
we have made specific proposals for the training of civil and military personnel .
after all , last year the discussions of the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy on the budget were concerned primarily with two major areas , Galileo and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology .
its official task was to defend the Member States ' common territory against foreign invasions , without taking action outside of that territory .
this is about global warming ; it is about global climate change and not just about climate change in Europe .
we have to give our citizens reasons to go out and vote .
for example , it contains provisions ensuring protection for victims of discrimination and dealing with harassment and victimisation , as well as provisions concerning the establishment of equality authorities .
Lady Ashton says there are storms in the neighbourhood .
this is why I voted for adoption of the resolution .
this poses a challenge not only to car manufacturers but to all stakeholders .
nevertheless , the reasons for which they were imprisoned have not been eliminated .
if on the other hand the whole of Parliament focuses on solidarity - as envisaged by the Commissioner - then I believe we might be able to find solutions and get results .
we therefore demand an independent investigation under the aegis of the United Nations .
they relate to the political objectives of the time in which we are living .
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for these reasons I abstained in the vote .
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania are using a clear roadmap for the lifting of visa requirements and are aware of all the conditions that need to be met before that can happen .
I would be very sorry if this is the position of the PPE-DE Group , because we all agree on the need to maintain development aid at the level it is today , and we all know that it is shrinking with the economic crisis .
the only drawback is that they will not be compulsory .
otherwise , our dear European Commission will be caught with its pants down .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , let me congratulate the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection , and in particular Mr Karas and Mr Schmidt , for their excellent work in producing a thorough and consistent report .
before introducing a new tax , the European Commission must examine very carefully the pros and cons this tax will entail .
however , apart from a few words of solidarity , the Italian Government has been left alone to handle this biblical exodus of such unforeseeable dimensions
you have struck the right balance and it is an intelligent one .
with the experience Mr Landsbergis has of the political preconditions for a region to be created and shaped in a climate of security , I think we all have reason to listen when he speaks .
you spoke of minimum standards , Commissioner , but that is not enough .
this event is aimed at strengthening public perception and knowledge of issues relating to all antimicrobial resistance .
we are witnessing an extraordinary contradiction .
I agree with the rapporteur when he insists that both the EESC and OLAF keep the discharge authority informed about the progress and outcome of the case in question .
Commissioner Barnier , in December , I raised the issue of SOLVIT in the Chamber when you were present and mentioned that in the autumn in committee , we were told that in your own Member State , the person running the SOLVIT centre was an intern .
finally , the European Union must fully uphold the action required with regard to combating illegal drug importation , people trafficking and in particular the diminution of respect for individual human lives .
do you have this impression as well ?
this process is linked to the high crime rate and violations of law and social rules .
the integration of all EU policies so as to combine all aspects that have an impact on industry is crucial .
the Protocol covers a period of three years from the adoption of the Council decision on the signing of the Protocol and its provisional application , and the expiry of the current Protocol on 17 January 2011 .
Mr President , I am sorry .
the Lisbon Strategy is being energetically implemented as a result of the last spring summit .
whilst we must look outward for future energy supplies , Member States must also make the best use of the resources and potential they already have .
I should just like to address a few points .
therefore , we must not forget about them , because violence is not only physical ; it is also cultural .
given that Ukraine 's gas debt to Russia is USD 2.4 billion , the debt could have been wiped off in about five years by scrapping this payment , which , allegedly , according to the deputy prime minister of Ukraine , ends up in the pockets of corrupt politicians .
to finish , Madam President , I hope that many of my fellow Members will heed the voice of reason and vote for Amendment 28 by my group , which will lead to no less than allowing the Member States a free choice between withholding tax and exchange of information .
its responsibility is to provide a concerted , effective and sustained triple response to stimulate demand and the real economy with future investments , to re-establish lending and to promote robust international financial regulation and supervision that provides transparency , stability and appropriate incentives , that eliminates systemic risks and that ensures that we do not go back to square one .
the output per head there is USD 714 a year .
at the same time , this report reveals that Europe is dependent on supplies from third countries .
this is essential particularly in the case of cross-border services which is where equal treatment is needed .
there are governments which take no interest in certain sections of their population and which refuse to tackle their problems .
although a compromise was found to resolve the situation temporarily , a long-term solution must be sought .
given that some exceptions for the recreational sector are being proposed , I feel it would at least be good to see Member States commit to providing the necessary information rather than be forced to do so because , I repeat , we either share responsibility or , in the end , we will all - the recreational sector included - find ourselves affected by the lack of regulation .
the calls to support cultural and creative industries through better qualification , education and training systems , in particular by seeking to provide students at all levels of education in cultural and artistic disciplines with professional training , reflect this situation .
we reject the one-sided version of flexibility which is presented .
you should keep your energy because we need another stimulus package and we will need it quite soon , already by the spring .
I am also alarmed that thousands of people have been obliged to abandon their homes due to the clashes on the border between Thailand and Cambodia .
this need for a violent struggle has laid the foundations for continued violence and intimidation .
the whole package which we are signing today will start to apply in the European Union from 1 January 2011 , so very soon .
in this regard , I would like to ask the Commission and the Council whether they believe the objective of prevention has been achieved .
as a matter of fact such criteria already exist .
this is of particular importance for the citizens of my country , Poland , who , enjoying the benefits of the common market and freedom of personal movement , live and work in many EU countries .
the CSD has also been advocating the possibility of compensation of claims between state debts to companies and corporate debts to social security or the tax authorities for several years , attempting to make life easier for companies that , not being paid by the state , are still being confronted with the obligation to pay its social and tax contributions .
thus , I regret that the Striffler-Ponga amendment has been rejected , as it proposed a tax on financial transactions to be added to official development assistance , so that the least developed countries could benefit from it .
these technologies are part of everyday life in the contemporary world .
we do not accept this .
based on the above doubts , I voted against the proposal .
if the Commission is to help Europeans obtain healthcare services within the EU , they must ensure this is universally and equally applied .
this very simple benchmark is still not being sufficiently recognised by GPs .
all this will have to be considered in the future in the context of sustainability and effective spending .
most of all , though , it is a strategy , not just for the present , but for the future , too , a viable future .
I would like to know what your opinion on this is and what you think are the chances of the Tobin tax being introduced .
over 1 400 victims in the Gaza Strip are obviously too many .
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structural reforms have improved the foundations of the European economy .
on behalf of the entire Commission , I truly can promise you that in all the instruments that we are applying , we completely respect the rights of Parliament and will keep Parliament fully informed in the interests of mutual respect between our institutions .
it is not just about the market , but also about the public importance of our public broadcasters , which is universally acknowledged , not least by the Commission .
our goal is to promote ACTA standards to key emerging partners , namely through our future trade agreements , but also in multilateral venues .
as a matter of fact , it is essential to ensure that VAT facilitation measures for businesses would not be implemented at the cost of the consumers .
I would therefore urgently call on the Commission to closely monitor the application of this derogation and to submit a report to Parliament in a timely manner on the impact on Papua New Guinea 's development and on the European canning industry .
for example , the EP :
that is why we need greater capacity , and it is obvious to all members of the Petitions Committee that the Secretariat has too much work and needs more resources .
for me , education must be a political priority .
at this time , it is also important to stress the topicality of this fight for equality in law and in life , considering that the crisis of capitalism has specific consequences in the lives of women , as the main victims of insecure and underpaid jobs , and of poverty !
in an era of globalisation , capital subject to taxation is more mobile and barriers to trade are being abolished , which reduces tax revenue and poses a challenge , not only to the poorer countries .
we are constantly being told that a minimum revision of the Treaty is needed and that its potential must be fully exploited .
we do need this new tool .
each is valued for her contribution .
it is possible to consider the establishment of specialised centres in countries of key importance for the trade with third countries or regions respectively .
what would be desirable is for universities , especially those receiving public funding , to be more receptive to the needs of the SME sector .
it is important for all Union citizens to become aware of the important part the soil plays in the ecosystem and also in our daily lives and in the economy .
following the attacks in Spain four years ago and those in England three years ago , this is a very relevant message .
it is a real problem .
it brings considerable advantages , and all studies show that it could increase trade significantly .
we succeeded - not without difficulty - in finding formulas to which a large majority could subscribe and which conveyed the message that airing these ideas is part and parcel of a full debate but that the decision to adopt or reject them is a matter for the Member States .
secondly , as recognised by the Greek Prime Minister and emphasised by the public perception recorded in Eurobarometer in 2009 , corruption was a key factor leading to Greece 's economic situation .
the EU has committed itself to defining and pursuing common policies and actions to preserve peace , prevent conflicts , consolidate post-conflict rehabilitation and strengthen international security , in line with the principles of the United Nations Charter .
as we can see , energy imports from Russia are likely to increase , bearing in mind that many European nuclear power plants will be closed down after carrying out the stress tests .
therefore , optimising the management of this rare , public resource will no doubt bring important benefits , particularly in this time of economic crisis , and is sure to help us to emerge from the crisis .
European citizens have also fallen victim to waves of legalisation on the status of illegal immigrants that certain countries have decided to carry out .
I am missing the Fifth Cohesion Report in the plan for next year : it was promised for June 2008 .
I would , of course , like to thank personally the rapporteurs for the Committee on Constitutional Affairs ( AFCO ) and the Committee on Petitions ( PETI ) , Mrs Gurmai of course , Mr Lamassoure , Mrs Wallis and Mr Häfner for their efforts and constructive contributions to drafting this regulation .
certainly the document 's tone of solidarity and mutual help is a step in the right direction .
this distorts the market in haulage flows and , in fact , whereas the roads are maintained by payments by taxpayers in these Member States and the European Union taxpayers , the benefit is gained by third-country carriers , the infrastructure stays undeveloped , and external costs are not recovered .
we would not have achieved enough if we handed on the baton after a year with the same number of people still in the camps .
the result was a large tome amounting to several hundred pages , in which one could seek the pertinent information in vain .
well , the writing is on the wall .
these systems are important for controlling emissions while vehicles are being used .
I want to thank Mr Vlasák - I hope I am pronouncing the name correctly , because my Czech is non-existent - for his remarks , because it gives me the opportunity to say that I am actively looking forward to the possibility of making use of the facilities of the Eurobarometer in order to be able to find out more about what citizens think and feel about the Ombudsman and about the handling of complaints .
I believe that the Member States which have nuclear fuel cycle activities and also contribute the most funds are entitled to an additional member on the Advisory Committee .
in addition , the existing practice of declaring the holder 's religion on identity cards is currently resulting in discrimination in the job market and in people converting to other religions , amongst other things .
a security agent compared it aptly with filling a water glass with a fire hose , in other words , particularly inefficient .
I am in favour of starting discussions on the accession of Montenegro to the EU , inasmuch as I am in favour of expansion on principle .
in summer 2007 , the same system was used to identify the financial activities of Germany-based members of the Islamic Jihad Union .
the 27 Member States are now building a new social Europe which will bring prosperity to all citizens of the European Union .
Hungary will thus be the first country where the Charter of Fundamental Rights will be an integral part of the Hungarian legal system .
as regards voluntary adjustment of the additional levy scheme , commonly referred to as ' fines ' , intended to secure internal funding to restructure the dairy farming sector , I believe that it is a measure that creates national responses although , in my view , it would be more appropriate to adopt European responses to a crisis that concerns Europe as a whole .
in addition , the actions of the Burmese military regime and the acts of violence against the Rohingya minority should be strongly condemned , and calls should be made for them to have full citizens ' rights restored .
this shows that there is still a great deal to do and that the market is not functioning properly in terms of openness .
potential for growth is rising , although we would like it to rise further .
in writing . - ( PL ) I voted in favour of the report by Mr Reul on conventional energy sources and energy technology .
first , the benefits from efforts to reduce errors need to be weighed against the costs .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , in the Globalisation Adjustment Fund , the European Union has a budgetary instrument that provides financial support to workers affected by major structural changes in world trade patterns .
despite the involvement of experts from the Commission and the Member States , SIS II continues to come up against various obstacles .
they originate from the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment and from the Technical Supervisory Association ( Technischer Überwachungsverein ) .
this money from the Commission will help defray some of the costs that arose at the time of the crisis .
this increase reflects the great importance that the Council attaches to efficient implementation of the Lisbon Strategy which , as I have already mentioned , is an essential element in the economic development of the European Union .
furthermore , in the political declaration the Council made a clear commitment , if I may quote : ' the Council states that the implementation of this Directive should not be used in itself as a reason to justify the adoption of provisions less favourable to persons to whom it applies . '
at the same time , we have also made sure - in accordance with your proposal - that these two new bodies in the European family can function properly and with more independence from the Commission and Eurostat .
the Russian Federation must therefore work very closely with the Court , and must respect the Court 's judgments .
in the present crisis , this stabilisation is very important .
United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief . - Madam President , distinguished Members of the European Parliament , ladies and gentlemen , dear friends , it is a great honour and an immense pleasure to be here with you today .
you are Italian , I am French , I respect you as an Italian .
the Commission 's figures suggest that , currently , consumers are paying a 6 % to 10 % premium for these spare parts in Member States which provide for design protection .
we then voted on Amendment 27 , which has been adopted .
the Council of Europe issued statements on these cases earlier in the year .
it would be desirable for the review also to take into account the Danube Strategy which , although not mentioned directly in the Presidency 's programme , is a European Commission commitment for 2010 .
( PL ) Mr President , the European Union is founded upon respect for human rights .
we have been debating the issue of the Roma in this Parliament for years , and we have to admit - even on our visits to the various countries - that there are still very major problems , that the cycle of discrimination and disadvantage has still not been broken and that many children are today still being taught in separate schools .
the European Commission has withdrawn two proposals intended to put in place statutes for European mutual societies and associations .
no chance !
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( ES ) Mr President , Commissioner , it is eight months since the shipwreck of the New Flame and there is still a risk of further oil spills , especially oil emanating from the cargo contained in the wreck .
however , once all environmental reservations have been dispelled nothing else should stand in the way of the Baltic pipeline , for the EU is reliant both on the diversification of energy sources and on the diversification of energy transit routes too .
however , the package also contains some very unfortunate aspects that the previous speaker considered .
helping someone does not mean replacing them , it means contributing towards a better solution to problems !
I would like to thank Mr Mikolášik for the clear commitment in his report to achieving results and for the explicit references to the importance and the future development of the strategic reports , the impact of these reports and the way in which they can be used .
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however , it inevitably raises serious moral and strategic questions as well .
I saw her shortly after she had heard the news , so my sympathy goes out to her .
clearly , if a member automatically forfeits his or her seat as a result of an event for which immunity cannot be upheld , there is obviously a further problem , a further uncertainty .
in actual fact , it is the central idea that , in my opinion , we should follow up on or pursue in the near future .
other steps that can be taken are , for example , offering a choice of different working methods , technical measures to reduce the emissions , changing the design of workplaces and workstations , limiting the duration and intensity of exposure , making adequate personal protection equipment available , etc .
the Presidency will conduct the discussion in the European Council in this way to make it clear that Europe has not ground to a halt , that Europe continues to function , and for this reason we will be addressing numerous other topics in line with the planned agenda .
the prospect of accession , and especially the obligation to comply with the Copenhagen criteria , has been a huge motivation for the candidate countries to modernise and develop into constitutional states .
it is , in fact , absolutely right to say that intelligent traffic systems , intelligent traffic management systems , cutting-edge , innovative solutions for the personal and mass transit of the future must be found and that this crisis perhaps offers an opportunity to push such solutions forward more strongly .
in any case , the choice of mechanisms must simply be decided on at a later stage .
( FI ) Mr President , a growing European trend at present is rightwing populism , whose core ingredient is opposition to the EU .
as for the second question , which was a double question , the answer to the first part is ' no ' .
let us not forget that governments such as those of the USA and Britain have for years supported , armed and kept in power the well-known monstrous dictatorship of the Shah of Iran .
why did the Pakistani authorities deny the Minister 's request for a bullet-proof official car , as well as his request that he select his own bodyguards that he trusted ?
on the specific issue of a legal statute for European political parties , I am aware that this is not the first time that Parliament has called for such a statute .
also , a significant contribution to the restructuring plan must be made from own resources , including the sale of assets that are not essential to the shipyard 's survival , or from external financing at market conditions .
in order to make that possible , I think that the European Union might again be a facilitating factor .
it was in order to encourage the Member States to join this movement of collective solidarity that I voted in favour of this report , which aims to encourage the reception and resettlement of refugees in Europe .
I support this report because I believe that this Union will end up being what we manage to make of it .
I wish to emphasise today that the participation of women in these elections and balanced gender representation in the European Parliament are particularly important both to the democratic development of the European Union and to our society as a whole .
the Commission , in its proposal , claims that the EU has been able to assess the value of PNR data and to realise its potential for law enforcement purposes .
every armed conflict has a political solution , but there has to be a will to find such a solution .
up to the present day , the Internet does not forget .
rapporteur . - ( SV ) Thank you for the debate .
the current economic crisis has had an enormous impact on increasing unemployment , on unchecked impoverishment , and on the social exclusion of people all over Europe .
if it fails to do so , Parliament could reject this text negotiated in secret , just as it rejected the SWIFT Agreement .
( HU ) Madam President , the issue of the social exclusion and the economic and social situation of the Roma has provided the grounds for debate since the accession of the Central and Eastern European countries .
( HU ) We must face up to the fundamental question of whether free trade , the current system controlled by the WTO , is good for the people , or whether we should be contemplating a new guiding principle , which I would rather not call protectionism but economic self-determination ?
not a single document refers to the Anna Lindt Foundation , which for some years now has been striving to promote cooperation .
governments which use guns against their own citizens lose all democratic legitimacy .
3 .
I support the present proposal to mobilise the sum of EUR 6 199 341 to assist Germany , in response to the German request made on 13 August 2009 , with the intention of providing assistance to workers made redundant within the Karmann Group , an automotive firm .
in writing . - The ECR Group is very much in favour of all efforts to minimise the suffering of combatants and civilians and thereby voted in favour of this resolution .
this is a commitment from Commissioner McCreevy that I am happy to pass on to you .
this has not been a neutral crisis but a crisis inflicted by specific policies , mostly by right-wing governments .
secondly , the important thing is how it is used .
I should also mention that the European Council plans to debate the issue of migration at its December session this year .
more precisely , it is a concrete responsibility of every Member State to bring about the ratification in accordance with procedures laid down by its national constitution or legislation .
the Convention is binding on all the Member States and performs its function well .
particularly during this economic crisis , we must do something for the citizens in the fight against unemployment and similar problems .
( FI ) Mr President , the fight against terrorism is important , and the EU must be part of this .
it is money coughed up by you and me and all taxpayers and so it has to be subjected to proper scrutiny .
it thus maintains the specific characteristics of our sports organisations , which , after all , largely work on an autonomous basis and wish to continue doing so , especially as they tend to be highly reliant on volunteers ' input .
in cases of immediate expulsion , the urgency must be duly justified .
our primary role in this Parliament is that of legislators , but , in order to be good legislators , we need to be aware of the impact of our legislation so that we can improve our efforts in Parliament .
Member of the Commission . - ( CS ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the Commission welcomes this own-initiative report on the principle of equal pay for men and women and I congratulate the rapporteur on the quality of her work .
I voted against this report , because the EU budget continues to constitute a minimum percentage of European GDP ( 0.97 % ) , which does not cover the need to strengthen weak economies and societies and finance enlargement .
it is unacceptable because the scale at which it gives undue preference to students from outside the EU compared to European students is too great .
Europe was thus able , and I believe this is very important , to speak with one voice at the Washington meeting on 15 November .
as Mr Busuttil , Mr Coelho , Mrs Cederschiöld and Mrs Vălean put it so well , it is clear that FRONTEX has saved many lives up to now , and I cannot allow it to be said that FRONTEX is therefore in some way a militarisation of Europe .
I am glad that the reports are strong on the need to avoid debts and deficits , and they have certainly been drafted according to an economic philosophy that I support .
however , we need to remember that the protection achieved by legislation is not the same as that actually enjoyed by citizens , as we have seen from its application to date in the two sectors of air and rail travel .
finally , we would like to see the European budget be given its own resources and a tax on financial transactions finally introduced .
I believe that in this respect , we can take account of the Treaties in their current state and also the needs for market regulation .
Mr President , thank you for your congratulations on the anniversary of the enlargement of the European Union .
common EU rules to prevent exploitation and the employment of illegally staying workers are therefore one way of raising the bar for many EU countries .
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if this error rate is to be reduced , the European Commission must strengthen its supervisory role in relation to local and regional policies .
welcome Commissioner Šefčovič !
with regard to the amendments , I would say that Amendments 27 and 28 make changes to the civil liability regime of the recognised bodies , and these seem to us to be inconsistent in practice .
as shadow rapporteurs for Mr Buşoi 's report , we have created a clear road map for the Commission .
the Council has taken a different position to Parliament here in both the gas and electricity sectors .
we wish the Slovenian Presidency every success .
I think Geneva is the place to continue talks about the political solution .
this is no reason to triumph over the failing opponent , but to help the people of Zimbabwe .
Mr President , you fought against the Soviet Union .
I would refer you to the previously mentioned letter addressed by a hundred distinguished scientists to the UN Secretary-General last December .
this is also what the European Parliament and Mr Ehler want .
in the face of new challenges the European Union has to find ways of tackling them quickly and flexibly in order not to lose in the dynamism and competitiveness stakes .
in writing . - This report highlighted many of the problems facing Afghanistan .
may I also thank you for allowing Mr Corbett an extra half a minute to make a political aside that might not have been truly relevant to the subject of the matter ?
the last seven years have not been easy for Georgia .
today in Lisbon José Sócrates and Durão Barroso spoke against the death penalty .
these include climate policy ; jobs and growth ; and foreign and development policy .
in that new context , the ETF 's tasks therefore need to be adjusted , while remaining guided by the clearly established priorities .
in these tragic days we have seen victims ; we have seen a great tragedy of society in China .
the gender pay gap is still there .
President Bush admitted six European countries to the programme at a lavish ceremony two days ago , but stated that he would not admit a further six , including Greece .
so fishers are faced with this enormous problem .
join it . join the world market of an ever-growing population .
I therefore voted in favour .
the EU should not just be ensuring a high level of protection on its own doorstep but should also be advocating the same for the rest of the world , and this paradoxical softening of the export rules would have done nothing for the EU 's credibility .
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liberalisation of the visa requirements that apply to citizens of the Western Balkans is an important measure that will strengthen ties between this region and the European Union .
the third contribution that I want to mention here is our experience with the crisis in the banking sector which we went through at the end of the 1990s .
what Iraq needs and what Iraqis are asking for is technical assistance and institutional empowerment so that the State and civil society can function properly and so that the country 's vast resources can be put to good use for the population , including the millions of internally displaced persons and refugees in neighbouring countries .
the market is there .
I would like to point out that having harmonisation at European level is necessary in order to ensure a level playing field across the European Union so that its citizens can fully benefit from the single internal market .
here too we are respecting agreements in the sense that we have the result of a referendum of the Swedish people in 2003 .
the issue of climate change , for example , is split between a number of portfolios ; that is most worrying .
during the 20th century Arctic air temperatures increased by approximately 5 ° C , which is ten times faster than the observed global mean surface temperature .
what are you doing here now , Mr Corbett and Mr Leinen ?
given the fact that only 17 years ago it was a republic of the Soviet Union , Kazakhstan 's presidency of the OSCE in 2010 will further consolidate the momentum towards greater political freedom and human rights in that country .
equal opportunities must be underpinned in every area of industry : in employment , pay , promotion , the provision of vocational education and training , the availability and monitoring of different forms of flexible work , and the reconciliation of work and private life .
today we not only have to improve safety conditions , we also have to strengthen the European Atomic Energy Community and move towards a European Energy Community .
it proved - if anybody needed further proof - that collectively and with strong leadership we can achieve an awful lot more than mere military might or economic wealth can bring to us , simply by the example that we give and the tactics that we employ .
real progress in the field of human rights is now crucial .
the crisis that this country has been experiencing for several months obviously goes beyond the challenges of a simple presidential election or the formation of a government .
that is the conclusion .
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firstly , we need to have a much sounder basis for the requirement for a proportionality check , so that minor offences are not covered .
I am sorry for my pronunciation - my Spanish lessons are continuing .
we condemn global warming , yet our monthly peregrination between Brussels and Strasbourg generates hundreds of thousands of tons of greenhouse gases .
now , however , beyond this cohesion , we must move forward with implementation , for it is all well and good to achieve cohesion among ourselves , but this must produce some specific results .
in view of this , we will be voting in favour of this proposal , because we have already come so far in the subsidy process that if support is not provided , then competition would be distorted .
I would inform you that we have established a contact group between the European Parliament , the Russian Parliament and the Ukrainian Parliament .
this is a moral and ethical problem that undermines the credibility and efficacy of health systems .
the EU should finally face up honestly and openly to Communism 's enduring legacy and to Communist regimes still surviving today , which includes China .
I voted in favour of this important motion for a resolution and I agree that combating tuberculosis should be included in the Europe 2020 strategy .
this Commission is not just any Commission and this Parliament is not just any Parliament , not only because of the Treaty of Lisbon , but also because we are experiencing a crisis that is unprecedented in the European Union : an economic and social crisis .
to this end the action plan on disability has urged and supported access to social services and it has increased access to goods and services .
will we really contrive to make legal provisions stricter and tighten them up so as to prevent inappropriate lobbying and corruption ? sadly , the answer is obvious .
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first of all , climate change .
I share the concern , through this resolution , of making progress in the battle against passive smoking imposed on those who do not smoke .
that is why I welcome this resolution .
that is making the Afghans disillusioned and that has to change .
a series of caucuses bringing together Heads of State or Government who say to each other , ' I would definitely put forward such and such a person ' .
given that European creative works are being undermined by the growing plethora of pirated copies , what measures does the Council propose in order to afford real protection ?
on 2 March 2009 , the Environment Council , and later the ECOFIN Council and the spring European Council , will be the first opportunities for further developing the EU position in this respect , on the basis of the Commission communication towards a comprehensive climate change agreement in Copenhagen , which we received a week ago , and on the basis of your input .
I welcome the creation of this food facility for the world 's poorest farmers which has finally been agreed after long negotiations .
we need to convince those countries ' governments that it is ultimately in their interest to cooperate with the European Union .
it is because we are entirely aiming at anchoring , preserving the solid anchoring of inflation expectations , that we have taken the decision which has been mentioned .
( FR ) Mr President , yesterday the President , quite rightly , made much of respect for the Community method .
but let us keep the policy as it is .
but in Europe as well people are infected with the virus daily .
we are strongly in favour of a robust and effective Non-proliferation Treaty .
it was clear that it would not be possible to incorporate something like this into the Staff Regulations systematically .
also , will the United States really do the same for us ?
today 's resolution is a relatively mild call on the Sri Lankan authorities to respect the rights of their citizens .
the incidents in Italy clearly show that measures taken so far against exclusion and discrimination have had little effect and have not been implemented .
European satellite navigation programmes ( EGNOS and Galileo ) ( signature )
Mr President , perhaps there will be a new majority in the new Parliament , but we are certain of one thing : the long fight for strong , respected , pluralist and sympathetic European democracy is not over , and at least in this we will always have you by our side .
it is important that our citizens see that our updated institutions are capable of providing solutions to real problems .
as regards public services , the Commission 's chosen ' negative list ' approach is dangerous .
Europe 's environment remains in peril as climate chaos draws ever closer and voters must see that the European Union can lead the fight back .
I voted in favour of the motion for a resolution on passenger compensation in the event of airline bankruptcy , since I believe it is necessary to increase protection of European passengers in the event of airline bankruptcy by introducing new legislation or revising existing legislation , and by creating a reserve fund for compensation .
essentially , it is a billion-euro business that is all too often associated with criminal activities .
rapporteur . - ( RO ) Madam President , the air transport agreement between the European Union and Canada can be described as the most ambitious air transport agreement between the European Union and a major world partner .
we are talking about criminal networks that have no consideration at all for human dignity , as the lives of these people become a bargaining chip .
that is why the existence of a long-term agreement between the European Union and the United States dealing with the prevention of terrorism financing should be welcomed .
the debate is closed .
the credit crunch is having a particularly tough impact on the small and medium-sized enterprise sector , which provides the majority of jobs and is sacking employees in huge numbers as a result of the contraction of export markets and reduction in development opportunities .
firstly , the burden of combating climate change has been distributed very unfairly within the European Union .
I regret , however , that our Parliament did not express itself more clearly on an issue that is undoubtedly sensitive but no less important : I am talking about the Armenian genocide .
then , it will be up to local authorities to decide what is more suitable for them , according to their own objectives and needs .
this represents a guarantee for sheltering them from market globalisation and for ensuring that the ' informed ' consumer can reject produce that does not bear the obligatory geographic indication of origin , that is not certified clearly , and that does not comply with marketing and anti-counterfeiting rules .
a fourth is local armed conflicts .
after all , the role of Brazil has until now predominantly been the achievement of individual successes in relation to agriculture , whilst the country is not truly prepared to compromise with regard to NAMA and services .
on the Lefrançois report : in 2002 we adopted a framework decision in which we harmonised the definition of ' terrorism ' and the applicable penalties .
we believe the EU would have a stronger leverage on Syria if the association agreement was signed .
I believe that the ' polluter pays ' principle is not a solution , as it limits itself to leaving the decision up to the market .
the way of setting the inflation rate based on non-euro area countries is actually not right and should be revised .
seven years ago , Georgia was formally an independent state , but it was still part of this world of fear and hatred .
third , when preparing the framework of the next financial period , it will be important to engage , in time and on an equal level , representatives of the regions and the business sector .
certainly , the honourable Member is right in saying that we must take particular care in maintaining our cultural heritage and especially that of our architectural masterpieces .
Mr President , on Thursday this week , this House will vote on the 2008 budget .
another important matter is the ability of women to participate in public life .
this is something we already have for pharmaceutical products .
it is , in fact , unreasonable to change a general rule to suit a specific case .
the Commission cannot accept Amendments 18 and 19 , since the provisions proposed are already in force , subsequent to a political agreement in Council on a proposal from the Commission based on scientific advice , and no new information is available to justify any modification .
the priorities set out in these documents make Europe and the regions more attractive in terms of investment and jobs , increase the level of knowledge and innovation for growth and create more jobs of better quality .
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the first page declared that the Council took note of the Irish referendum result , and then promptly proceeded to ignore it .
I do not believe that we can measure who has suffered more in this conflict .
on the other hand , I am concerned that no one has challenged the practicability of six-year-old children travelling unaccompanied .
( FI ) Madam President , Mr Barroso , renewable energy sources are not only a cost but also a process that creates jobs , innovation and competitive ability .
profound changes are going to be needed to face stiff competition in a globalised economy and to safeguard long-term employment in the EU .
finally , and this is the most important thing , we must agree on the future financing of the Union .
but what we should be talking about is an entry strategy , a strategy for positive intervention in the labour market , not just at Member State level but at European level .
decentralised power supplies are in the hands of the people .
this is why the effects of the crisis are being felt extremely hard .
the temporary cessation of fishing activities mentioned in Article 6 , with the obligation of inclusion in fleet restructuring plans , the non-inclusion of engines in Article 7 , all of Article 9 , and Article 12 ( 3 ) , which merely defends the interests of trawl fisheries , seem less successful points in this proposal .
his legacy to Britain will be not only to leave us bankrupt but also to deny the British people a vote on this latest transfer of power from Westminster to Brussels .
SMEs need a solid technological base to enable them to boost their contribution to economic growth and development .
I have been pleased to hear a unanimous opinion expressed here .
this text is the first binding European legislation on the subject .
however , the development of a culture of animal rights and animal welfare has been hard-won in Europe over the past 30 years , and we should not sacrifice it on the altar of political correctness .
now in Europe we are faced with several approaches : the two-tier system of Sarkozy , the Atlantic nationalism of Gordon Brown and the rather formal but very sincere pro-Europeanism of Romano Prodi .
with regard to the measures we are advocating here , it is not only a question of penalising dishonest bosses but also of defending a specific number of social rights such as the right to be represented by a trade union .
it appears that the Latvian Government and the Saeima have chosen an ombudsman - Mr Apsītis - who is convenient , silent and devoid of initiative ; someone who is actually blind to serious infringements in Latvian legislation .
nevertheless , cigarettes are still dangerous .
on these grounds , I believe that the European Council must address the issue of energy security and successful implementation of Nabucco project , while taking account of the alarming situation in some of the neighbouring countries following the recent elections in the area .
this diplomatic service , for which the Commission has called so enthusiastically , will be a total departure from national heritages .
it is not about endowing the fund with more money .
we would also like education and health to be priority action areas and to be allocated 20 % of EDF funds .
as has been pointed out , the Chinese ambassador has responded to the criticism expressed .
my wife works in the management of a car company in Germany , and in Austria people are pleased that Opel appears to have been rescued in this way .
this is another kind of project that we need in Europe , because the European Union is regarded as a community of values , but it is also a strong cultural community .
no to persecution and bludgeoning .
these differences should be rectified with the help of development programmes financed by the EU .
Mr President , much has been written about the Northern Ireland peace process and this is another non-legislative report .
airports in unfavourable regions will be able to apply the relevant preferences .
I get a sense from this that this is what you would like to do , and I think my committee would give you full support in coming up with such a proposal .
Mr President , the French Presidency has tried to base all its actions on two convictions : the first is that the world needs a strong Europe , and the second is that Europe cannot be strong if it is divided .
I am referring to the document entitled ' Structural Funds : guidelines on the principles , criteria and indicative scales to be applied by Commission departments in determining financial corrections ' .
in order to improve relations , this resolution argues that Belarus should become a country without political prisoners , that the government should guarantee the free expression of opinion , and so on .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( PT ) Mr President , Mr Ó Neachtain , as the honourable Member is certainly aware , following the presentation by the Commission of the Mid-Term Review of the European Road Safety Action Programme in March 2006 , the Council adopted conclusions at its meeting on 8 and 9 June 2006 .
I would like to start by thanking you all for a fascinating debate , for many interesting ideas , and for the enthusiasm and support you are showing for the EU 2020 strategy .
we have been firmly supporting the Arab League 's Initiative since it was launched in January 2008 and our Community instruments have allowed us to provide a targeted response to some of the major challenges .
in the EU , the preference is still for bilateral , rather than multilateral , action which diminishes the efficacy of our approach .
this is a domestic competence , and the Member States are free to take their own decisions in this respect .
in essence , it is now possible to monitor the application of these rules much more rigorously than it was in 1985 .
I presume that a similar passage will be written again this year at the next summit , and also at all the other summits .
the lack of information , distorted reporting and , occasionally , downright lies from EU states ' governments , has led to dreadful results .
under the new Presidency , there is perhaps a chance that it can act a little more independently than previously .
Europe has been making environmental policy for more than 25 years and it needs to review some of its methods , because this is not the only thing that explains the failure of some policies .
by working together we have been able to come up with what , I believe , is a good compromise .
without a doubt the pensions problem at this point is a ' bomb ready to explode ' , and it will be worse in the future .
this is often a matter of life or death for them .
however , this amendment is not worded appropriately for meeting this objective and , moreover , adoption of this amendment would result in the demise of the whole compromise .
the great success of the past weekend is that we are now finally able to concentrate on what needs to be done politically and on what the people expect from us .
I advocate measures to mitigate the impact of the economic crisis on the health sector by investing in infrastructure .
in writing . - The current RoHS restricts the use of six hazardous materials that were once contained in certain electrical and electronic equipment .
this is because it offers companies the opportunity to establish the right to apply a transitional regime , in other words , stagger the times specified for registering substances .
too often I seem to sense a lack of awareness within the Commission , by its President and its Commissioners , of which initiatives should be implemented to aid the recovery of European industry , the recovery of the European manufacturing industry .
Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights declares that everyone has the right to freedom of thought , conscience and religion ; and freedom of thought , conscience and religion applies not only to adherents of religions but also to atheists , agnostics and people without beliefs .
when discussing this Passenger Name Record ( PNR ) agreement , we all remember what happened in the case of SWIFT ; it has already cropped up several times in this debate .
in writing . - Malta is the only state in the EU where divorce is not possible .
yes , Mrs Doyle , I do think that we have respected the confidence pact .
Mr President , the internal market is the EU 's absolute greatest contribution to freedom and prosperity in Europe .
the seas provide the environment for a multi-directional communication among countries , people , activities and policies .
India is an important developing country and a significant trade partner for the European Union .
firstly , I believe in tax competition .
the cars must be sold in order for the bonus to be granted .
the margins available have already been spoken for and we in the Committee on Budgets do not know now how these priorities are going to be financed .
the ban on the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party ( DTP ) is an attack on the infant democracy in the country and , in particular , on the Kurdish minority , which represents as much as 20 % of the population .
this also means that , without additional steps by Member States to fulfil their individual targets , the collective targets for 2010 will not be achieved .
for their part , the EU Member States have already set out to do this and on 26 May expressed their determination to work together to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia .
Mr President , I have no doubt that you will try to cut me off , as usual when it comes to freedom of speech , but I really want to talk about the hazardous substances and toxicity .
I therefore welcome the motion for a resolution on the future of the European Social Fund ( ESF ) , which we are debating today , because this fund plays a crucial role in achieving the Europe 2020 targets .
in my opinion , we should be bolting the door against Brussels ' creeping desire for ever more centralisation .
it is necessary to check whether Union funds are being well used , whether these institutions are meeting the objectives outlined for them , and whether any resources are being wasted .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( ES ) Mr President , from the outset the INTERREG initiative was the germ of a truly polycentric idea of the European space through cross-border , transnational and interregional cooperation .
this is an area in which the European Commission and the European Central Bank does not really have any remit - the supervision mechanisms are essentially national in nature .
quality must come before timeframe .
they will also be looking at the particular challenges facing developing countries .
the partners are providing their financial contributions to the budget of the ITER organisation and are pursuing conscientiously the necessary joint technical preparations for the technical and scientific contributions to which they have committed themselves .
fortunately , matters concerning family law fall within the competence of the Member States , and it is therefore absolutely illegitimate and a blatant attack on the subsidiarity principle for Parliament to seek to coerce them towards a common understanding on these issues by seeking to promote radical agendas .
( RO ) First of all , I wish to thank the rapporteur and those who have worked on perhaps the most important piece of legislation from this last parliamentary term .
last year , at least 714 people were executed by states .
the Europe 2020 strategy is going in the opposite direction of such a claim .
I spoke to him not long ago .
this project confirmed the hypothesis that front-loading the asylum process - in particular , by providing access to competent legal advice for asylum applicants at the start of the procedure and allowing the legal representative to interact with the decision maker - leads to significant improvements in the quality of first-instance decisions .
without change ...
subject : UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
in writing . - The Treaty aims to maintain an economic union with healthy competition and properties that are similar to those on the domestic market .
we will take the necessary steps as quickly as possible to confirm the agreement between our institutions on the basis of your position adopted today .
Parliament has also stressed the necessity of having an initiative in all three sectors - electricity , heating and transport - and I am also pleased to see that the Commission will require the Member States to set sectoral targets .
I therefore want you to know that we will follow this discussion very closely .
let us not forget the small and historic peoples of the Caucasus , the Abkhazians and Ossetians , whose right to self-determination should be taken into account in the framework of multilateral dialogue with the Georgian authorities .
we must show leadership and keep our promises .
that would also solve a lot of political problems .
since young people are Europe 's future , it is our duty to help them by applying a well prepared strategy for youth .
my vote could not be anything else but in favour .
I would like to emphasise the importance of making better use of the potential of renewable forms of energy in the EU , along with putting EU consumers and the public at the heart of European energy policy .
( PL ) Our debate is taking place literally two days before a meeting of ministers of the 27 Member States of the European Union on the same subject .
I would like to say that the robustness of euro-denominated CDS markets is of direct relevance for the Eurosystem as regards control over its currency and financial stability in the euro area .
I also think that young people are extremely important at the moment and in the EU 's future .
therefore , I think that the European Union needs to combat speculation involving food prices through regulation and transparency .
it must be stated objectively that the situation in Europe at the time of planning this document is very complicated and that the document has come into being against the background of one of the worst economic crises in living memory .
( FR ) Mr President , I would like to draw the European Parliament 's attention to the arrival of the President of Belarus , Mr Lukashenko , in Prague .
we do not need to be lectured about democracy by those who have plenty of homework to do in their own backyards .
this system will contribute to better performance in the areas of public health and safety , as well as administrative operations .
the end-product may not be exactly the same and therefore you will have to adjust , and I am afraid that does entail some cost .
( PL ) Madam President , I would like , above all , to say something to Mrs Ferrero-Waldner .
the only people responsible for these standards are the people sitting in the offices of this private organisation in London , who are undoubtedly influenced in making their standards by the desire to keep themselves in a job .
Mr Chairman , in conclusion I would like to bring up one technical issue .
the Commission , certainly , considers that this approach and methodology is unsound , particularly in categories 1a and 1b , where we talk about innovation and research , even more so as we have an additional problem with the European Institute of Technology and the Galileo programme , which has to be solved as an additional parallel problem of the annual European budget procedures .
the Gaddafi regime undertook an unprecedented lethal repression using air force , helicopter gunships and ruthless mercenaries shooting to kill unarmed civilians .
the Brazilian Supreme Court has granted the extradition of Cesare Battisti , who has been found guilty in some seven trials and sentenced in absentia to four life sentences for as many murders , with definitive judgments issued by the Italian judicial authorities .
who brought us to this point ?
concerning our second focus of work : I must of course mention the proposal for a directive on protection from discrimination beyond the workplace , which the Commission also adopted on 2 July .
in writing . - MEP Queiró has responded to the Commission 's communication ' An Agenda for Sustainable Future in General and Business Aviation ' and has highlighted several areas where policy considerations for the non-commercial air transport sector in general and business aviation have additional impact .
Estonia has experience , for example , with revolving funds , which guarantee risk , rather than giving out grants and direct assistance .
I welcome the areas of action identified , namely : improving quality and safety , increasing organ availability and making transplantation systems more efficient and accessible , in addition to a mechanism to strengthen cooperation between Member States and the adoption of a Community legal instrument setting quality and safety requirements for organ donation , procurement , testing , preservation , transport and allocation across the EU and the resources needed to meet these requirements .
one of the fields in which women are hugely underrepresented is scientific research .
I think it is acceptable to raise the opinion on GM , but there are no GM crops grown in Ireland - and I think the same is true of the UK - yet we have problems with bee populations , so I think we need to be very careful about comments we make in relation to the causes of the problem .
the third point is financing .
Madam President , I repeat what I said in my opening speech : the Commission and I are taking very good note of all the arguments that have been put forward here by all of you , and we will take very good note of Parliament 's position once Mr Rapkay 's report is adopted .
Mr Lehne , this amendment raises a question that could very well be open to different interpretations .
let us not forget , however , that there is still a great deal to do in terms of simplification .
moreover , the European reference framework should be supplemented by programmes that would establish veritable European qualifications , recognized over the entire European Union territory .
this is a completely ludicrous argument which only a Belgian Member of the ALDE Group could possibly have come up with .
if we can work together to raise awareness , we can tell all the citizens of Europe the story referred to by Mr Chichester , the story that European space projects can be the cause that brings us all together .
that is why we should support the European Parliament 's initiative aimed at reversing the present situation .
Mr President , Commissioners , I think we must note the convergence of this Parliament 's Committee on Fisheries and its Committee on International Trade on this matter and on the proposals presented in connection with it .
we are sending the message that a society can only have a healthy economy when its members are able to contribute fully to its development .
written explanations of vote
the situation between Georgia and Russia is indeed increasingly tense .
we therefore support the rejection of this shameful Council position and call on Members , in their voting , to listen to the protests of workers and prevent more serious social tensions , more backward steps and a return to a kind of slavery right now in the 21st century .
the International Monetary Fund needs to become much more democratic and focused on human development , education and employment .
tuberculosis is , unfortunately , one of the main causes of death in the world .
this is directed at global initiatives and programmes aimed at improving the shantytowns , namely the ' Cities Alliance ' and the UN programme ' UN-Habitat ' .
how many Member States have such an institution as the one in Hungary that is actually functioning and is mentioned in the Hungarian constitution ?
another point I would criticise is the fact that the objective here is free trade that is not based on standards .
for the most part these are countries that require considerable expenditure and considerable support funds for modernising and transforming the economy .
lastly , the Commission , as guardian of the treaties , will be the final judge of whether the proposed legislative procedure should be undertaken .
this is another thing that I would certainly emphasise .
the second point is the inclusion of EU staff pensions in the budget .
Mr President , we have taken another step towards European integration .
I would like to draw your attention to some of the things my fellow Members have expressed .
it may also show its passivity and risk marginalisation .
the Irish delegation of the PPE-DE Group is firmly opposed to any harmonisation of direct taxation , including corporate taxation , and we will continue to reject any proposals which weaken that position .
we now recognise that we have many more international competitors to deal with .
the support of public / private partnerships is vital to achieve this goal .
President Medvedev 's proposal for a wider discussion of Euro-Atlantic security has led to a new process of talks under the aegis of the OSCE .
the Commission intends to propose an action plan with 10 priority actions to meet the challenges of organ donation and transplantation in the EU .
during a period of deep economic crisis like the one we are just going through at the moment , rating agencies should remain , regardless of the economic conditions , transparent and credible instruments , providing support as Europe steers through these troubled times .
our position on this matter does not mean that my colleagues or I do not have our reservations and concerns about the proposed agreements themselves .
the low national income it proposes will bring law and order to the EU .
that would make Europe grow in stature , and it is urgent !
in 2050 it is likely to account for only 5 % .
he dreamt of a society where the colour of your skin did not lead to discrimination .
I should like to stress the important role that the European Aviation Safety Agency will play as regards the monitoring not just of aviation but also of company practices .
ladies and gentlemen , we support reforms .
questions which have not been answered for lack of time will be answered in writing ( see Annex ) .
in particular , cooperation between Belgrade and Pristina , especially at a local level , is fundamentally important to citizens , above all in the worst-affected sectors such as the environment , infrastructure and trade .
in debating the proposals that have been tabled today , both in the Council of Ministers and in the European Parliament , we must bear in mind our own commitments , of which the most important is that we take care , that our objective is achieved when we decide all the details , in other words that the global temperature does not rise by two degrees in comparison with the pre-industrial era .
they have been supported by their banks ; however , these are controlled by their board of directors , auditors and regulatory authorities .
certainly , we might have hoped for a little more , in the sense that some issues have been left in the background of the report , such as the creation of an observatory or the laying down of provisions on traceability .
this is how the first President of the European Parliamentary Assembly , Robert Schuman , addressed this respected House for the first time on 19 March 1958 .
or is there another hope for Gilad and all the other victims ?
I voted in favour of Mrs Ţicău 's report as Canada should be seen as a priority partner for agreements of this kind , given that both Europe and Canada have world-leading aircraft manufacturers .
a prerequisite for such an initiative will , of course , be a globally accepted agreement on the maintenance of fisheries .
I agree that coordination is required at EU level , with the best arguments for this provided to us by the effects of the crisis , which we hope we have emerged from .
in writing . - ( PL ) During the last few days and weeks the Russian authorities have taken some provocative steps with regard to Georgia , causing a conflict with the threat of war .
as a member of the European Economic Area , Iceland already fulfils a large proportion of a Member State 's obligations .
IAs merely contribute to the preparation of the specific content of a political decision .
at the same time , the European Commission values highly the regional ownership of the agreement and acknowledges that CEFTA is fundamental for deeper regional economic integration and for preparing the ground for the eventual full participation of the Western Balkans in the EU single market .
I was also ready to go up to the north to start mediation , like my predecessor , Chris Patten .
the debate is closed .
moreover , looking at the device , I would like to know - although I can imagine the answer - why certain companies have no interest in a different product coming onto the market .
the Member States were not sufficiently consulted during the negotiation period , resulting in a protocol under which fishing opportunities have fallen considerably while financial compensation is held at virtually the same level .
please could you answer this ?
the same day , 4 June 1989 , the Chinese regime crushed protesting students under the caterpillar tracks of its tanks in Tiananmen Square .
in all the eighteen years when Mr. Dimitrov was in politics , to all of us who knew him , he served as an example of honesty , openness and a man who to the very depths of his soul believes in the European , Euro-Atlantic choice of our country , in the freedom of speech , in democracy and human rights .
if I had miracle powers or healing power , I would not have needed surgery in the first place .
that is all well and good , so let us see how it works out .
immediate steps must be taken as a matter of urgency to put a stop to this degrading treatment , and to ensure that all the security and army forces are clearly told that torture and other forms of ill-treatment will be the subject of a thorough investigation .
this partial improvement of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund falls short of what is needed in this serious crisis that we are experiencing .
subsequently , under Article 174 of the Treaty of Lisbon , territorial cohesion has become one of the three components of cohesion policy , alongside economic and social cohesion .
therefore , I fully agree with you that this instrument must be used as efficiently and effectively as possible .
I would like to add that , on 10 chapters , we have agreed opening benchmarks - or they have been agreed by the Council , to be more precise - which have been communicated to Croatia .
that has to be protected , and I believe we have obtained a very good compromise on this point .
this report is important in terms of extending the Single Market to the area of cross-border pre-financing .
it is totally unacceptable and liable to cancel out the culture of welcome we have had for thousands of years , and the deep roots of a European identity that has been forged through the practice of hospitality .
( FI ) Mr President , over the centuries , people have left Europe for reasons of work and to escape war and political and religious persecution , and now Europe , with its stability , attracts people from outside Europe , and that is a good thing .
urgent issues should not be overlooked , of course .
however , in contrast to the USA , the Commission has omitted to do a number of things .
composition of committees : see Minutes
I believe that the partnership with the mass media aimed at raising the profile of the European programmes and projects for young people is a key factor in helping us achieve our objectives .
what power !
I voted to extend this regulation until 31 December 2030 , as opposed to 31 December 2026 proposed by the European Commission .
in a Europe of independent states , every country must have the right , in accordance with the Helsinki agreement , to join an alliance or not , as it sees fit .
this is particularly true in certain Member States that joined the EU after 2004 .
I am satisfied that the Kauppi report strikes the correct balance .
we can achieve that aim by ensuring a linkage between the various policies conducted in these areas and targeted at these fragile groups and , therefore , drawing more on the complementary nature of the various available financial instruments .
I would like to point out that members of the Tibetan community organised this process with the aim of making their institutions democratic .
for instance , some of the 9th EDF ' B ' envelope funds will be allocated for housing programmes in close coordination with our humanitarian support .
however , that will be our starting point as we do this thoroughly .
pace vouǎ !
when it comes to the order of speeches and speaking time I would , however , like to stress the need to keep the principle of equal treatment of Commission and Council .
the current debt is not , therefore , indicative of a lack of prudence , but is the effect of changes whose long-term objective is the reduction of budgetary expenses allocated to making pension payments .
you have got a commitment from the Commission to do a study on euro securities within six months of the entry into force of this legislation .
when we are talking about security , political games should be set aside .
in writing . - The sentencing of Roxana Saberi on 18 April 2009 for ' spying ' was done without her having any access to a lawyer and on the basis of a trial that was neither fair nor transparent .
I naturally welcome the greater role given to Frontex and the additional human and material resources for the agency , along with the reinforcement of the Schengen evaluation mechanism , but not the new requirements imposed on Bulgaria and Romania and the obstruction of their membership .
many of these irregularities are detected and / or reported belatedly , jeopardising the protection and proper usage of the public purse .
the penalties must be clear , transparent and , above all , comparable .
we should remember that the objective of , and the assumption behind , European regional policy is the reduction of development differences between individual areas within the European Union , and the phenomenon of territorial exclusion has not yet been taken into consideration in policy instruments .
I was one of the MEPs who abstained .
work is also ongoing in the regular framework of the Four Common Spaces and all its technical dialogues .
that is the PPE-DE 's approach and we will take part in the debates on the long-term financial perspective - referred to in part two of paragraph 13 - and take the lead in possible reallocation or reprioritisation , but not at this time : that can be done more successfully by committing budgets and sectors than by redistributing at the moment .
we must also point out , however , which areas of the report we particularly approved of .
( PT ) Madam President , fossil fuels currently provide the vast majority of the world 's primary energy needs : more than 80 % of the whole , with oil at 34 % , coal at 26 % and natural gas at 21 % .
there is a reference to a wide range of new proposals for the end of 2008 .
it is of far greater importance for Europe 's consumers that consumer protection should be improved at EU level .
this concentration of activities calls for serious thought to be given to the issue of managing maritime safety in that area at European level , as part of a joint strategy .
yes , those elections were not conducted in the way we wanted .
the panorama is always the same : the persistence of stereotypes in the choice of educational and professional guidelines , over-representation of women in certain sectors such as the textile industry , the pay gap , working conditions and career prospects .
in a changing world , our Union needs to be more than a purely economic Union .
to this end , the Greens pushed for greater transparency as regards the relations between industry representatives and the authorities and their chairs , and we are happy that all three candidates have committed in writing to ensuring this .
every recall of dangerous toys is a cause for concern , and an immediate examination of each case must be made .
resumption of the session
thank you very much , Mr Martin , for your interesting views .
Kosovo is not ready .
while there is a modest approach to limit common agricultural policy expenditure , there is a more radical attempt to eliminate the British rebate .
I hope that we will be able to bridge the last differences over the next few weeks so that we can finalise an agreement before the summer .
the next item is the vote .
the aim of the proposal is to add a further , simpler , method of spending the European Social Fund , so that its contribution to addressing the economic and social challenges facing Europe during the crisis can be faster and more effective .
I thought and hoped it was all just a bad dream , but today we have got you , Mr Barroso .
when I look at how many of the claims contained in your draft resolution were then immediately denied by the people in question , it shows how much false information is often passed on here .
I congratulate the rapporteur for the work done .
at the same time , however , I should like to make it abundantly clear that what many fear or believe they should fear will not happen .
firstly , I would like to thank all honourable Members for the energy and passion with which they have conducted this debate .
it is almost certain that these will not impact on the UK , and I have a number of questions surrounding them , particularly in that I feel it will create an uneven playing field between the regions of Europe and it seems contradictory in the light of the Commission 's current policy .
I might mention that in my own country , in Denmark , we have just adopted a plan to allocate EUR 40 million for ITS over the next five years .
this fund is utilised precisely where society needs it most , namely to help the affected people themselves .
I also ask for your understanding on this .
let us put a stop to that waste !
our actions must always be well conceived so that citizens can see specific benefits from them .
we believe that this is a major step , but we also believe that further small steps are needed in order to really make the horizontal approach of this legislative project complete .
the International Monetary Fund puts the cost of the financial crisis at USD 4 000 billion , two-thirds of which can be attributed to the banks .
explanations of vote
allowing them to follow the most suitable educational pathway , to make it easy for them to learn foreign languages , to approach the world of work equipped with the appropriate skills , or perhaps to enter a new educational or working environment , means building a future for all the countries of the European Union through the energies of university students and young workers , who come together in the same economic and cultural melting pot .
it seems to me extraordinary that this continent , which exported the idea of representative government and parliamentary democracy , which carried the seeds of democracy to far continents where they found fertile soil , should now have taken the axe to the ancestral tree here in Europe .
innovation may result in the development and reinvention of the European Union once the current crisis is over .
the concrete steps taken and planned by the EU are important .
it is therefore of the utmost importance that Europe continues to be seen to be engaged with the environmental impact of this proposal , and a heavy burden therefore falls on the shoulders of Commissioner Dimas .
the capital that sovereign wealth funds bring to the global market is needed to keep investment flowing .
the Court 's judgment states , and I quote , ' In the case in the main proceedings , it must be pointed out that the right of trade unions [ ... ] to take collective action [ ... ] is liable to make it less attractive , or more difficult , for such undertakings to carry out construction work in Sweden , and therefore constitutes a restriction on the freedom to provide services ' .
I therefore believe that if , during the implementation of the strategy in practice , the interests of water source protection and energy production , or water source protection and inland shipping and transport , potentially clash , concessions must be made to this as the number one priority .
that is why it is important under the presidency now to expand this idea of partnership with the East , that we look to the East and to the Balkans because they are the fault lines within the European Union at the present time , not only because of political instability but also because of our interdependence on energy and economic activity .
the information is there .
let me say a few words on specific policies and initiatives in the area of volunteering in which the Commission has been particularly active .
for example , the Commission 's paper makes no mention at all of the word ' speculation ' .
I hope the Chinese authorities will use the opportunity of the Games to show their people that rules apply not only in the sporting arena , but above all to the duty incumbent on officialdom to respect human rights and freedom of expression .
despite the fact that approximately 500 000 hectares of EU forest are lost every year as a result of forest fires and illegal logging , the long-term trend of increasing forest coverage in the EU appears stable .
that is why I am voting for this resolution .
why ?
secondly , with regard to the energy dossier , I believe that joint action is required to coordinate research efforts and identify new clean energy sources .
like Thailand and Brazil , why does Europe not start by introducing a tax on foreign currency , to ease currency tensions ?
( RO ) We are living in a world where we have gone from getting around using one horse per person to getting around with tens or hundreds of horse power .
as an Englishman , I find it absolutely incredible that people would eat their horses .
last but not least , we are very focused on results .
the vote in Parliament on the proposed directive on the European Protection Order for victims sends out an important signal for the protection of people who have suffered from violence .
it is these improvements which , hopefully , this House will adopt tomorrow and which , let us hope , the other institutions will take into account .
meanwhile , Mr Barroso , the summit did not even place it on its agenda .
in writing . - ( PT ) The toy safety directive represents an extremely important step towards ensuring our children 's safety .
I consider it unfortunate that Article 95 has been chosen for this purpose .
we therefore regret the rejection of an amendment tabled by our group , asking the EIB to extend its strive for transparency to disclosing the financial beneficiaries of global loans lent through financial intermediaries .
further positive developments include the fact that many Member States have revised their mental health strategies or are setting up action plans , for example , in Finland and Hungary .
I welcome the report 's firm commitment towards their membership perspective .
in writing . - I voted in favour of the protocol amending the agreement on TRIPS and Access to Medicines because I strongly believe the EU should be a key actor in the promotion of public health and access to medicines to all in the third world .
however , we can find alternative solutions , provided that we have the political will .
no .
I would also like to congratulate Mr Swoboda , the rapporteur , on his report .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , in thanking the rapporteur , Mr Manders , and the shadow rapporteur , Mrs Comi , I would like , with all due respect , to disagree slightly with Mrs Rühle .
moreover , in exceptional cases , where this is specifically provided , this will be extended for a further12 months .
there have been some calls from our SNP and Conservative colleagues to vote against the mandatory introduction of electronic and DNA-based genetic identification and registration of animals at EU-Level .
I shall finish here - please excuse me for my rather lengthy speech , but I really wanted to give a detailed account of the progress of SIS II and VIS .
we cannot reward Serbia for holding back from a violent reaction over Kosovo .
draft Amending Budget No 5 / 2012 : solidarity Fund response to earthquakes in Emilia-Romagna ( Italy ) and modification of the budget line for the preparatory action for the European Year of Volunteering 2011 (
this is why , in close concert with international partners , the EU has been , and will remain , very actively involved in trying to defuse the crisis in Yemen .
this incident raises many issues regarding future cooperation .
I am certain that one of the European Parliament 's fundamental roles is to uphold human rights .
our presidency may not be on such a large scale as the French and as high-profile as the German , and perhaps our civil servants do not have such long-standing and excellent traditions as the British .
welcome
I also wish to thank the rapporteur , Mrs Zdravkova , and the Committee on Petitions for their excellent and constructive report .
I hope that this new pesticides regulation will enable us to raise health and environmental protection to new heights in Europe .
the fact that the EU and its Member States have signed the UN Convention on Biological Diversity is of course good and it can act as an important tool .
rapporteur . - ( ES ) Madam President , at this late hour on a Monday the Commission will probably have other things on its mind more worrying than this report .
nevertheless , we believe the report could and should have gone further , on each of these points , especially in advocating consistency between the goals stated in the area of development cooperation policy and the EU 's various sectoral policies .
this also demonstrates , however , that the data being collected does indeed transcend the domain of agriculture .
I hope they will be accepted by the other institutions to give this process the democratic legitimacy it needs .
given the situation regarding the consumer acquis , the approach in favour of complete harmonisation in this proposal is not practicable at present .
Mr President , I would question why , if the Lisbon Treaty is such a good thing , it is so inaccessible .
the risk of disease spreading - if the animal epidemic situation remains as it is , we must always presume that - no longer exists in this form with pets and domestic animals .
one : we have to work more , nearly as much as the Americans .
forests provide 2 million jobs , many in small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) , and represent an annual turnover of EUR 300 billion .
we should indeed remind the Council of its responsibility in this .
Mr President , firstly , let us be clear that this Parliament will today support the UN Security Council Resolution 1860 .
thirdly , I fully support Mrs Muscardini 's suggestions concerning the establishment of a WTO parliamentary assembly , changes in the classification of countries into developed and developing , the need for closer cooperation between the WTO and the UN , and departure from the principle of consensus especially at the level of working groups and committees within the WTO framework .
it is a problem that , to be sure , would not exist if the European Union - as well as condemning it so many times - had truly rejected it , rather than passively and , at times , actively , collaborating in the very existence of that black hole of international law .
neighbouring countries which are interested in the construction of the pipeline are also saying so .
we must be ready for the early provision of additional payments from budgetary resources , especially in the event of an accelerated implementation of structural policies .
I urge that a package of political measures be prepared in order to remedy this problem , which in any case must take into account national differences and tried and true practices .
the affordability of energy for consumers throughout Europe is also highlighted in this area .
we feel that modernisation and additional simplification must be carried out for the future framework programme .
the conduct of the diplomats of some Member States in Mumbai did not only violate the rights of the EU citizens , but also pointed out deficiencies in the EU integration process .
I would also like to draw attention to the fact that it is very important for the Commission to distribute EU money allocated to the ESF in a targeted manner , because only then will this instrument directly help people to gain employment , find better jobs , overcome poverty , avoid social exclusion and lead life to the full .
I would like to say that we would rather look to the present and the future than back to the past .
what does the word ' pact ' mean ?
( NL ) Madam President , I abstained on the motion for a resolution on aircraft safety and body scanners , not because I object to the reservations it expresses with regard to the right of privacy for travellers , quite the reverse .
if such a delay was meant by some colleagues as an attempt not to disturb too much the new Ukrainian administration , it is certainly a short-sighted policy .
some might say that if you object to this , why does your Foundation accept funding ?
I do not believe it is plausible to speak of the death of the Tibetan language .
in the international domain , EUR 880 billion come out of the developing countries through all sorts of corruption and other activities which are not recorded or taxable or deposited in proper banks .
Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to begin first by thanking Parliament for allowing me at this key moment to address this sitting with a matter as unquestionably sensitive as the Economic Partnership Agreements .
such an important legal act , of constitutional rank , should be adopted in this particular form .
all of this indicates that the Member States should both plan carefully and discuss the issue of minimum standards , and in that way contribute to the elimination of poverty .
Parliament will merely be consulted , which reflects the anti-democratic nature of the scheme .
in view of the large number of verifications to be carried out and the constraints on time , it was considered appropriate for the Committee on Legal Affairs , and therefore its Chairman , to present an oral report to Parliament .
so what will happen under the Swedish Presidency in 2009 ?
that gives you an idea of just how important his role is , and I would like to salute the excellence of the work done by President Costea , and at the same time draw your attention to the fact that he will be replaced in June .
we also raised the problem in the three hearings with Commissioner Verheugen and with the President of the Commission , Mr Barroso .
on behalf of the EFD Group . - Mr President , yesterday indeed was Europe Day and in the courtyard here we had armed soldiers , we had the Luftwaffe band and imperial eagles , we had the flag being paraded , being raised , the European anthem ; it was the display of militarism and EU nationalism .
I was not shocked by your defence of industry in general and German industry in particular , because I see too often - I say this to Mr Schulz , as well as to Mr Daul - I see too often the devastating effects of the financial crisis in countries that have not defended their industries strongly enough .
the Commission proposal updates the ETF 's tasks and governance to ensure that its activities are founded on a solid legal basis .
as climate change and other factors increasingly impact on our fish stocks , our management will need the necessary flexibility , based on sound peer-reviewed science , to adapt to the new conditions and ensure sustainability of resources .
it is crucial for the European Parliament and other responsible European Union bodies to demand an immediate end to the attack on Gaza and an immediate end to Israel 's blockade .
perhaps we sometimes tend to forget , but we are speaking here about the common destiny of 1.5 billion human beings and it is they who are the most important actors in the partnership that we are now setting up .
a lasting peace in Darfur cannot be achieved without justice and reconciliation .
Mr Brown should have attended the conference and taken the opportunity to tell Mr Mugabe to his face that he is a bloodthirsty tyrant who has no place in the modern community of civilised nations .
therefore , the first thing we must do , as many colleagues have already said , is start to establish relations with the Interim Council in order to legitimise their activities .
by 2012 carbon dioxide emissions produced by passenger cars should not exceed 130 g / km .
this is happening firstly as a result of people working abroad being sent back home and then due to the reduction in the number of jobs being offered by foreign companies , which are scaling down their activities .
we might already have passed the point at which we have used over half the world 's supply .
( EL ) Madam President , the historic NATO Summit in Lisbon was a turning point for the future of the alliance .
there are some doubts about whether that cooperation is always satisfactory , and whether the Council 's response to the threat that has been described many times today is always adequate .
- Regarding the Lisbon Strategy we stressed that a new integrated strategy for sustainability and solidarity is needed to replace the current Lisbon Strategy and provide an effective implementation tool .
while I agree with much of this report , I am wary of proposals for a corporate consolidated tax base and voted against accordingly .
the time has come to wake up .
lastly , the proposals should be treated as a single package and not separately , since they both represent common aspects of the same issue and have the same shortcomings .
on behalf of the IND / DEM group . - ( CS ) Mr Chairman , the proposed wine sector reform puts the Czech Republic at a disadvantage and discriminates against it .
it is the history of how moral will took root in the institutions and transformed the old political paradigms .
we recommend the Council and the Commission should enhance the prestige of Europe 's classical heritage and the historic contributions of national cultures in all their dimensions down through the centuries , while also allowing for the needs of the culture sector in the future .
( applause )
firstly , the Strasbourg-Kehl-Appenweier and the Munich-Mühldorf-Salzburg cross-border projects are also highly complex .
however , of what use are the euro and the Eurogroup if they do not promote a culture of responsibility and stability ?
Vice-President of the Commission . - I can assure you that the Commission always tries to be balanced .
it is important that Europe presents a coordinated approach to the G20 .
if it does this , there is reason to fear recession .
the rights and the freedoms which I have referred to form the heart and the centre of our society and of the European Union and our community of values .
he was a Member of this House for over two decades , or , in other words , nearly five parliamentary terms .
we should be delighted with this situation .
in this , Commissioner , you have the full support of MEPs .
voting time
it is not as simple as that , however , as pensions are , and will remain , the responsibility of Member States .
the black economy , which exists in all our countries , is something which is disadvantageous to the taxpayer and something which we should all be concerned about , because it means that the taxpayer loses out .
it was reopened in January 2010 , just five years later .
the resolution sets a positive tone for future discussions and illustrates this Parliament 's willingness to engage positively with our oldest trading partner .
we cannot draw on past experience , particularly with regard to arrangements relating to third countries , but I think that we have made a good start towards providing an effective supervisory framework .
the rapporteur successfully argues the need for a better coordination and division of tasks between civilian and military forces in crisis management .
( PT ) Mr President , Commissioner , Mrs Merkies , this strategy is important to all European countries , especially those whose economies are not competitive enough .
it has exploited every single line of defence and has shown no inclination to take part in constructive cooperation .
precious few , because pigs will fly , as we say , before Ecofin ministers agree on EU-level fuel taxation .
furthermore , as leakages from pipes result in much wastage , I suggested that Member States could use the Structural Funds to improve and renew existing infrastructure and technology .
however , I do not believe that this justifies indefinite support for coal mines that prove uncompetitive .
however , these agencies present certain problems , in particular , concerning their lack of competition , their oligopolistic structures , the excessive trust placed in them , and their lack of transparency and accountability .
my second point is that what we are doing here is establishing a mechanism outside of the Community method .
in the Commission 's view , such decisions should preferably encompass all additional protocols and should be taken together with the decision concluding the accession agreement itself .
in 2006 , we , in the European Parliament , launched an own-initiative report on the harmonisation of vehicle tax , which we hoped would be based on CO2 and consumption .
thanks to this ' maritime safety ' package , the Member States will finally have to fulfil their obligations in the International Maritime Organisation and , in particular , carry out technical audits before issuing a flag to a ship .
we need fast Internet access throughout the whole of Europe , and not just in cities , but also in rural regions .
I therefore think that we need to provide all possible support and that our review package regarding the regulatory framework can boost the revitalisation of this sector by providing a stable , solid and effective legal framework .
I think - as the philosophy of Mr Lehne 's report shows - that a large part of this growth is to be found in the five million very small businesses in Europe , if we are happy to make their work easier .
as this initiative can only be yet another pure pro-EU-Constitution campaign , on which enough money has already been spent , I voted against the Grabowska report .
that is the object of the ' General Affairs and External Relations ' Council decision of 17 November 2007 .
this marks a new development in which we must all make greater and more cohesive efforts .
we can do this during final negotiations in Council .
this will keep the debate on track .
this leads to many wrong decisions , especially by those less well off .
we in Europe must say ' our view is to go beyond that ' .
I can tell you today that we now have in place the test criteria , the methodology and the timeframe , which , in my opinion , will meet the expectations of European citizens with regard to this stress test .
the alert was made public via a procedure that has been described as unusual , but its causes and its consequences are still totally confused and unclear .
it is therefore essential to promote the diversification of modes of freight transport , particularly with a strong commitment to rail .
the second section discusses the Commission 's IAs and highlights scope for improvement .
however , time has shown that Europe is closely linked to these countries in the Black Sea region .
following the advice of the committees , we move on to the speakers on behalf of the party groups .
this would have a negative impact on the freedom of access to the countryside , which is an important part of the everyday life of people in a country like Sweden .
we need to be able to hold on to our best researchers and innovators .
in reality , if we do not remove paragraph 20 from this motion for a resolution , we will be adding to the Council of Europe 's European Convention on Human Rights , to the European Union 's Charter of Fundamental Rights and to the brand new European Institute for Gender Equality a fourth instrument which would take the form of a special new charter dedicated to the promotion of women .
this is a joint action at several levels - global , European , national and local - which means that the main priorities that we have indicated are of course energy saving , energy efficiency and the development of renewable energies , since the European Union 's potential in this area is great .
I would like to say that I am generally opposed to sanctions , whether they are imposed against the Palestinians or against Israel .
but I remember his condition the summer he first came to stay with my sister , and it is this experience that allows me , personally , to understand the difficulties , especially of someone disabled , raised in an institution in such an unstable environment .
I feel that protecting the environment and security of energy supplies are not mutually exclusive .
I am convinced that the provision of equal rights cannot stop at the prohibition of discrimination on the labour market .
I just want to stress that Parliament is very interested in the outcome of the ongoing peer review at the Court .
the next item is the explanations of vote .
a person closely associated with the Chinese Embassy in Poland attacked a woman distributing the opposition periodical The Epoch Times .
so , what can we do ?
they are exclusively a matter for the Member States .
the embargo has brought poverty and oppression to the people of Cuba , as many different speakers have highlighted .
we must complete the missing energy links and establish an EU coordinating mechanism , aimed at reacting to similar crises .
author . - Mr President , Bangladesh is a country that I have visited many times and one of which I am very fond .
we might say that the Neighbourhood Policy was once designed as a kind of ' consolation prize ' for countries which were not going to accede to the European Union .
in many countries , the food supply situation has improved .
this report argues that rising life expectancy must not have the effect of reducing employees ' rights .
it is definitely part of my agenda to assure coherence on the issue of consumer acquis .
the EU should now concentrate on giving our neighbours our backing and support .
we are in close cooperation and monitoring this very closely , and you can count on the Presidency to demonstrate understanding and tolerance , as you indicated .
Europe has faced many challenges in the past and it has overcome those challenges through mature and wise leadership .
these are things that we have to push further and bring conclusion and finality to .
questions are put in an order to suit the Commission and the Council , not Members ; then questions are amalgamated , and supplementary questions are taken together .
we therefore need more energy efficiency in the area of transport .
I believe that the proposed system of codification drafted using a data processing system is more efficient .
the report legitimises not only the occupying armies , which it terms a ' Multi-National Force ' , but even the private firms of murderers active in Iraq , provided that rules are set for their criminal activities !
on behalf of the EFD Group . - ( SK ) Mr President , since October 2005 , when the decision was taken to commence talks over Croatia 's accession to the EU , the Croatian Government has made extensive changes to the running of the country , with the aim of best preparing Croatia for EU accession .
this Treaty is not the treaty of our dreams , and it is not a treaty that illustrates the visions and dreams of Europeans today .
the European Union must also increase its expenditure on agriculture , since the 4 % allocated to development policy so far is decidedly too little .
will we , one day , have the will ?
I agree with you that it is important to provide accurate and objective information to citizens about the advantages and limitations of the use of cord blood stem cells .
EU-Canada cooperation has extended to other fields such as foreign and security policy and closer cooperation in the field of justice and home affairs .
I am going to tell you how the Spanish Presidency should not be measured .
we can lecture the entire world on human rights but we are incapable of enforcing them on our own territory .
we had a problem with designating an additional 18 Members of this House because certain Member States did not actually plan for a procedure , but we decided that representativeness is the most important issue , that this is the principle which we should be guided by and that this House should have a balanced representation as quickly as possible .
these are unacceptable developments that show how retrograde , reactionary and anti-democratic this European Union really is .
we are not able to avoid natural disasters but , at the same time , we must not simply allow them always to have such tragic effects on the lives of the people .
Mr President , I am extremely concerned that the Commission is adamant in continuing trade talks based on a mandate from 1999 , which will undoubtedly have a negative impact on agriculture across the EU .
if he lives near a school or a youth club , for example , the police and the public should be given that information .
investments in prospecting for raw materials , particularly in mineral deposits , involve a long and expensive process with a long wait for returns .
in this regard , there is a great need for the national regulators to take action , as this is a starting point for a future expansion in the field of digital communication in Europe and beyond , and for Europe to take a leading role in this field at international level .
making people feel guilty helps no one and is , moreover , a poor policy , but the facts have to be stated .
the Committee on Budgetary Control calls on the EIB to play a more active role and to introduce a more active policy to combat fraud , involving zero tolerance for fraud , corruption , money laundering and terrorism financing .
in fact , my group proposes that Parliament limit the time granted to the Council by demanding that the required information be supplied to us next month , not in May as requested by the Council .
in this situation simply saying our citizens are stupid and calling for a general lesson in ' financial education ' is a real slap in the face , particularly because not even the self-appointed financial gurus were able to see through the various layers of speculation .
'Let us examine the Barnier proposals ' : this is hot air , for you have kept these proposals filed away a very long time .
what I am seeing is a head of state , certainly , but also a somewhat frank Prime Minister .
we consider that document to be a red line : it reiterates what can and cannot be done .
therefore let us not forget that the cheapest and cleanest energy is saved energy .
I am convinced that this package of actions , which will be soon undertaken at EU level , provides an important basis for moving forward in the field of urban mobility .
as always happens with new phenomena which must be considered and assessed , there is of course a procedure to be followed .
I therefore voted strongly in favour of this resolution .
the destruction of the smallest and most defenceless individuals in the shape of unborn children cannot be considered a way of confirming women 's dignity and freedom .
I hope that repressive measures will not be used against them .
so it is important that what we do should also have the backing of neighbouring countries and of the Zimbabwean people themselves .
( FR ) Madam President , to correct what has been said , Mr Arlacchi is quite right , the final text proposed to us no longer contains , in Recital B , the words ' occupation force ' .
the next item is one-minute speeches on matters of political importance .
in the first three months of this year alone , there were 175 disruptions to the operation of drilling platforms in the North Sea , of which 8 were described as very serious incidents .
so for me , promoting wilderness tourism is a mere contradiction of the term ' wilderness ' .
however , it is very clear that there is an African Union .
we also need clear labelling and products so that consumers can make an informed choice .
we also need to improve vocational education and training .
if the companies responsible cannot be located , the country of origin in the Union must pay a fee to have the waste repatriated and treated .
the new constitution needs to lead to a strong and common state if the country is to be able to continue to draw closer to the EU .
that is clear .
in conclusion , I believe that , before we go ahead with this , we should have a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty .
this should be a dialogue based on respect for international law and the territorial integrity of states . the report points out too that events in the Caucasus and recognition of the independence of both enclaves , Ossetia and Abkhazia , cast doubt over whether Russia really is ready and able to build a common area of security in Europe together with the European Union .
they are available in the political groups for you to see at any time .
it will be available for the Council on 3 and 4 June .
action taken on Parliament 's positions and resolutions : see Minutes
this process was untransparent .
the Presidency will keep you informed about progress in the talks that are underway in the Council .
firstly , the text does not affect the protection of fundamental rights , privacy and data protection .
that is a first stage .
I therefore voted in favour of this decision .
I wish to stress , however , that , in order to reach agreement with the farming lobby and the pesticides industry , we had to make a few concessions .
the new directive on timeshare properties will entail much better protection if the same rules apply anywhere at all in the EU to the purchase of timeshare properties .
I agreed with this report , because one of the main advantages of innovative financing tools is that they can bring a double dividend , as they can contribute to the achievement of important policy goals , such as financial market stability and transparency , and offer significant revenue potential , but the effects of these tools on the negative externalities produced by the financial sector should also be taken into account .
most of them are trafficked for prostitution .
Mr President of the Commission , we listened to Commissioner Andor and we have this dream , this hope .
it is a good initiative and , the sooner it is introduced , the better for everybody .
in this , the Commission will be able to count on the support of the European Parliament .
all these factors impact strongly on the implementation of the Lisbon Agenda , through complicated , unavoidable trade-offs .
consideration should be given not only to the pupils but also to the position of teaching staff .
we also supported the amendment that called for every increase in a budget line to be matched by a reduction in another line .
this is not only a great virtue , but , more than anything , a huge advantage .
a voluntary system of registration was introduced ; it was quite ineffectual .
why did it refuse to host EU observers if the elections are as democratic as it says they are ?
we also support the fight of workers from Pirites Alentejanas , in Aljustrel , against the halt in mining activity which the multinational decided to suspend six months after it was resumed , sending more than 600 people into unemployment .
more specifically , we ought to set up consistent approaches , together with Ukraine , on important issues , such as the reliability of energy supply , nuclear safety , agricultural matters and environmental sustainable standards .
he rightly emphasised that the countries were not all , dare I say it , in the same boat regarding the economic or budgetary situation , but that this does not exempt them for making a really coordinated effort .
on behalf of the EFD Group . - Mr President , I agree with what has been said until now and also that we have to think about the moratorium tomorrow , as Mr Chichester suggested .
furthermore , consumer protection measures alone are still not able to encourage any suppliers - and we know this - to go beyond the borders .
it also pays clear and explicit attention to those that find themselves in great difficulty , such as North Africa in particular at this time .
Dutch legislators , however , have laid down this limit of their own free will , probably because they were afraid that otherwise , the Commission would , at some point , require clear criteria to be put in place .
we therefore have potential , and we estimate that , by 2020 , between 20 % and 30 % will be coming from the second generation , and we might be able to do better if we push the research investments .
our citizens have been waiting for this new instrument , which will give them some influence over EU policy .
this parliamentary report on lobbying will be a valuable step in strengthening transparency , accountability and citizens ' participation in the democratic process at the European level .
it is a rehash of earlier proposals .
together with the African partners , we need to support a structural policy that promotes growth and climate protection in order for the African people to escape from the poverty trap .
the report before us is very welcome and should serve as a warning . the so-called fast food provided for school pupils on outings and trips is a danger .
they also contribute to investment for the longer term .
it is , indeed , the high price of innovative equipment which is the greatest obstacle to its coming into use .
I do not have to point out that it would largely benefit only a small group of Member States .
so I cannot accept the accusation that these are just words , because I was speaking about specific measures already adopted and those that will be addressed at Council level , primarily the Agriculture Council and also the Economic and Financial Affairs Council .
it is a major challenge to which we must all contribute , in each of our respective Member States , to ensure that the forthcoming French Presidency can put this new common foundation definitively in place before the European elections in 2009 .
however , I do not think that this intervention is really a good means of achieving this , because it will result in stocks piling up which could burden a recovering market later on .
faced by the ageing of European society , it is essential to achieve the professional activation of people of retirement age .
finally , let me refer to this morning 's speech by Sergei Kovalev who said , citing Sakharov , that the Western world should offer and demand .
hopes are high regarding the very important and sensitive matter of the common agricultural policy .
such derogations should be part of the regional regulations .
rapporteur . - Madam President , I would just like to make a clarification , because several different terms are used in the report and in the amendments , and I would like everybody to know what we are going to vote on .
agricultural policy must be adjusted by promoting traditional and local agriculture , not least , organic and locally sourced food .
first of all , the Union should , of course , address the Iraqi authorities , who , sadly , are still in a weak position , and support them in taking action .
instead of going all out to tackle a common energy supply , create a functioning common market , improve the general education system and attract investors to the country with credible policies , party political bickering and boundless mistrust rule current politics .
Madam President , would not Ms Harms accept that her position and the position of her group is that they are not interested in the stress tests : they are not interested in any objective evidence at all .
the rules in force condemn us to slow , muddled procedures where the most effective measure - a fine - is rarely applied and only after a very long time , decades even .
that is a huge difference which we envisage .
we consider the creation of a Eurobonds system to be an interesting and promising idea , but we believe that the matter must be investigated properly before it can be considered appropriate to go on to actually implement it .
( SK ) Mr President , although we have been drawing attention to violence against women and the violation of their rights for several decades , it has not proven possible to stop this reprehensible form of criminal activity .
I voted in favour of the report on the amendment to Parliament 's Rules of Procedure following the establishment of a common transparency register because the principle of transparency should govern all those involved in decision making and in implementing EU policy .
if there has to be a CAP , let it assist farmers and not hinder them .
it is fairly clear that the Government of Chad is supporting rebels in Darfur .
however , if you look at the policy 60 years later , let us look at the cost to the EU citizens .
so allow me to draw a parallel with the licences of professional and private pilots - a text which will be debated before the summer - because pilots , of whom I am one , face a dilemma .
I voted in favour of Mrs Haug 's report on the amending budget for the financial year 2009 , which takes account of the serious damage caused by the floods that hit Romania in July 2008 .
they would ensure the continuation of indigenous production and the preservation of thousands of jobs on which significant regions of Spain and of Europe as a whole are largely dependent .
the things that have been achieved here within that framework are very interesting and important .
this prize is awarded jointly by the Foundation of the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen and the European Parliament .
the issue of consultations and worker participation has been much discussed here - and not only today .
I can only agree with colleagues around the House that , when we look at the attempts , time and again , to make changes in Burma , we see nothing but failure instead .
although the Court of Auditors believes that the revenue and commitments are free from material error , it is , however , concerned about the high incidence of non-quantifiable errors in budget support commitments and the material level of error in the payments .
in the first half of 2009 the Presidency was held by a second country from the group which acceded to the European Union barely five years ago .
on the contrary , the result will not be a patchwork of subsidies .
( FR ) Madam President , it is obvious from this debate that there is still some way to go where this matter is concerned .
the European Union has asked the Chinese Premier to appreciate their currency and put an end to unfair commercial practices which have , for years , fuelled tariff wars , highlighting this as a basic condition before addressing the issue of recognising China as a market economy .
we may , in fact , see an avalanche of similar requests from other countries whose traditions regarding data protection and respect for human rights give greater cause for concern .
it is essential that there is independent third party verification of compliance , and I am glad that this report highlights this .
it is a structural policy which must have as its primary and principal objectives , as has already been stated , the reduction of disparities between the levels of development of the various regions , the encouragement of the least-favoured regions that are lagging behind , the promotion of real convergence and the stimulation of growth and employment .
that means , first of all , that we need figures , perspectives and forecasts that have authority .
where is there controversy , however ?
( NL ) I am very pleased to be allowed to speak using the catch-the-eye procedure .
to his parents ' knowledge , he is held in a cell where there are 26 prisoners , but only 6 beds and people smoke in the cell constantly .
concerning the second issue , customs cooperation is an important part of the EU-China strategic partnership .
( EL ) Mr President , it is important that the Treaty of Lisbon has finally entered into force .
I say this because the last proposal that you submitted to us on alternative funds and investment funds was unreasonable , and the fact that you will not even agree to come and discuss it with the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs proves it .
one-minute speeches on matters of political importance ( continuation )
it so happens that we are doing this at the expense of Europe 's majority religion .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality . - ( SK ) As draftsman for the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality I would like to thank Mr Bowis for his close cooperation and our many discussions when preparing this report .
I hope that the European Parliament 's decision will be approved by the Council and that the new provision will even enter into force this year .
Ukraine was on a very good path .
however , in setting up a European database , it is important that we take care not to introduce an unnecessarily rigid framework or create additional red tape that would hamper the current perfectly proper and efficient process .
above all , we need to put a stop to the self-controlled tests .
for this reason , on 14 November 2007 , I am launching a written declaration in the European Parliament calling for more research and resources for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) .
thirdly , each country should indeed come in based on its merits .
Turkish situations , Turkish self-disqualification .
what we have to do is to persuade and help developing countries to invest in agriculture and to abide by their own declarations that 10 % of the national budget will be designated to the development of agriculture . it is only in this way that we can increase the agricultural potential of poor countries and help in an effective fight against hunger .
I do not know whether the Commissioner is aware of the structural difficulties that have arisen in the Saharan fishing ground since the last agreement .
Council and Commission statements on preparations for the G20 summit ( 11-12 November ) ,
oral question to the Council : Beijing + 15 - UN Platform for Action for Gender Equality , by Mrs Svensson , on behalf of the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality - B7-0007 / 2010 ) , and
Turkey is the most Western of Eastern states and the most Eastern of Western states , so its unique role is not only European but also global .
to the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania , the European Union sometimes seems a lot further away than it really is .
they have to show the political will to do what is necessary ; and if they do not , I say to the honourable Members , we will have to do more to keep the pressure on .
gender equality is a fundamental principle of the European Union , and is enshrined in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union .
I think today 's report gives us a great advantage in achieving this .
for a long time to come , assistance from neighbouring countries will be more important than ever to South Sudan as it seeks to fight poverty , strengthen local communities and accelerate the benefits of peace for the population .
the rapporteur , Mrs McAvan , added valuable additional modifications .
in writing . - ( PT ) The gender pay gap is a problem throughout Europe .
we have adopted the Leipzig Charter and now we must gradually start putting it into practice .
the opinion of the Committee on Economic Affairs underscores the improvement of competitive environment , overcoming existing barriers for new market entrants to access the network and promoting investment which is crucial for national economies and individual consumers .
together , the people who have been in the region in the last few days have made this point consistently that we need to see the importance of reform as central to what happens next and I agree completely about the political stability of the region .
( the President cut off the speaker )
in short , it must be focused on those who are furthest from the labour market .
I believe we could hugely increase the effectiveness of our aid if we had a better division of labour , if we were more coherent , more coordinated , and if we could indeed cut back on some of the intermediate , and often entirely useless , controls .
- ( CS ) I consider it necessary to add biometrics to the security features of travel documents .
the euro and Economic and Monetary Union have undeniably been a success .
citizens are guaranteed the right to healthcare both by their national constitutions and by European Union law .
calls also for an agenda to eradicate the pay gap that exists between women and men . '
this is about people 's health .
last night in the Environment Committee , Members voted by 55 to 1 to back an ambitious negotiating position of the European Union in Copenhagen .
naturally , I would also like to extend my sympathy to all those who have been so badly affected by this horrific violence .
Commissioner McCreevy brought up 15 % and was then beaten down to 5 % by the industry .
lastly , for the future , we propose in this report to double the amount of research funding in order to create this European research area , with the help of the European Research Council .
more than ever we have to be belligerent in defending our values , using and strengthening the instruments available to the European Union and its Member States .
you asked Paris and London to ensure that the deported Afghans did indeed have an opportunity to seek asylum , that this request was rejected and that their lives were not in danger in the region to which they were returned .
that is a way of making the Barcelona Process and our neighbourhood policy more ambitious .
we should also be considering which tasks the Commission itself can take responsibility for and whether an agency is needed at all .
you are quite right .
actually it is not uselessly . it is not just useless .
we can accuse Mr McCreevy of many things , but being overhasty is not one of them .
Mr President , firstly I just want to say that everybody would agree at this stage that the car is no longer a luxury : it is a necessity .
'calls on the Member States , the Commission and the Council ... to assist in ascertaining the truth by opening inquiries or collaborating with the competent bodies , ... and by ensuring effective parliamentary scrutiny of the action of secret services ' ;
we shall continue the discussion , and in this section the discussion will be opened on behalf of the political groups by Mr Fatuzzo , on behalf of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats .
after all , we are not merely talking about the passengers in the air , but also the people on the ground .
we are sending a signal to the outside world that the European Parliament considers gender-related violence to be a violation of fundamental human rights .
the magic word is prevention .
to claim a place at the table of the great international powers , Iran must now present itself not as a military superpower , but as a country capable of protecting the human rights of its citizens .
yesterday , the European Parliament awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to the Cuban citizen Guillermo Fariñas , who was absent .
however , I do not agree with Mrs Estrela 's proposals on obligatory paternal leave and the length of maternity leave .
bilateral issues need to be resolved by the parties concerned in a good neighbourly spirit and taking overall EU interests into account .
while strict regulations apply to foods produced in the EU , goods are being imported at give-away prices which are not subject to these regulations .
Mr Fleckenstein raised the problem of the sulphur emissions .
( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I support the compromise reached for the resolution .
when Germany was going through a period of stagflation several decades ago , Chancellor Schmidt said that for him 5 % inflation was better than 5 % unemployment .
the Albrecht report brings up for debate the list of third States and organisations with which Europol is intending to conclude agreements .
concerning the general health conditions of clones , the EFSA opinion states that there is no indication of adverse effects for the sexually reproduced progeny of cattle or pig clones .
we consider there to be a big risk that the stabilising effects that we hope a financial transaction tax will have on the financial market will not be realised if the EU introduces such a tax independently .
my second point is about secrecy .
in many places in the world , the problems are even greater .
in 2003 , the ILO Office and its tripartite constituents began working on drawing up updated and comprehensive international labour standards for the fishing sector , aiming to provide appropriate protection for fishers around the globe , in view of the special nature of the sector and its specific living and working conditions .
I am there two weeks a month and like you , ladies and gentlemen , I have a good time there and I do a lot of work there .
I agree , too , that it is essential to improve relations between the government and the opposition , to respect freedom of the media , including the Internet , to make improvements in the area of civil rights and the right of freedom of assembly and to carry out a thorough reform of the electoral system .
as you also said , we have a lot to do and must work together on this .
the funds are needed , the investment is needed , but we need rules of play and regulatory systems applicable to all , under which transparency must be exemplary .
once again we have crucial developments going on along the EU 's borders , catching us unawares .
I hope that by the time the next summit takes place in June , there will be genuine proposals on the table for more concerted action .
of course , we also believe that there is a general need for us to have a good dialogue with the customs authorities with a view , among other things , to ensuring that there are better and safer products on the internal market .
unquote .
it is a reminder of the evils and of the human cost of war , a warning to those generations and a safeguard for peace and against conflict for future years .
on the point of underspending of the budget or the fact that the budget has been decreasing , it has not been possible to spend the money , because there has been no interest on the overseas markets from producer organisations .
this would weaken the role of the Commission as the guardian of EU law ensuring that all Member States are able to take full advantage of their fishing opportunities .
no , it is not ' failure ' - although it could be .
apart from falsified medicines , the problems which patients face include a lack of reliable information on the contents of packaging , and also the issue of repackaging , during which the contents may change .
unfortunately , reports and surveys done by independent agencies reveal that minorities in Pakistan are deprived of basic civil liberties and equal opportunities in jobs , education and political representation .
since this is extremely doubtful in my opinion , I have voted against the Cashman report .
in writing . - I welcome the report and what it seeks to achieve .
that is the problem , and that is the point originally raised in relation to the recast versions under review .
I think that the history of the draft directive on works councils is proof of that .
Sri Lanka has a double challenge to overcome .
unfortunately there are some amendments tabled by some of the spokesmen for Tehran , those who believe the lies told by Tehran .
quite a few farmers said to me this was nice as long as it lasted , but the result was that because of increased production responding clearly to the higher prices , we then saw a very steep drop in prices .
although it is acknowledged that small and medium-sized enterprises are the backbone of the European economy , the measures provided for in the report will , however , create difficult conditions precisely for these small and medium-sized enterprises .
for our part , we in the European Parliament are responsible for making the public aware of the daily decisions taken in the interest of the people of Europe .
as is often the case with the web , the picture is one of stark contrasts .
President-in-Office . - ( SL ) Mr President , Commissioners Almunia and Verheugen , ladies and gentlemen , thank you for this debate .
I consider it essential that we recognise that the phenomenon should be called by its correct name .
this must include an increasingly strong emphasis on environmental , social and indeed employment policy aspects .
( applause )
in this context , I would like to highlight , in particular , the current Mercosur negotiations and those with India .
it is paradoxical that in a lay and democratic State , as Italy is supposed to be , public freedom of expression is suppressed by the authorities in order not to offend the papal sensibilities , while Prime Minister Berlusconi is able to swear in public without this representing a problem for the Church .
they are trying to regroup , taking revenge in Afghanistan for the defeat they have suffered and are still suffering in Iraq .
I am also happy that the Spanish Presidency of the Council gave high priority to this file .
I am also happy that I see more openness now when it comes to the Member States for this purpose .
in an open Europe , it offers an effective means of combating the scourges of trafficking in human beings and illegal immigration .
but the first step must be to turn the 1998 code of conduct into a legally binding instrument .
we could improve these checks if we had more employment inspectors in each European country with wider roles .
in writing . - ( DE ) I am voting against the report because there is no longer a clear line between the various amendments , which I consider important .
thirdly , the spectators must be civic spectators : they must go to the Olympic Games to watch their countries ' athletes running , jumping and swimming , but at the same time without wanting to see gold medals hanging round their necks and blood on their shoes .
however , Mr Coelho , this enhanced role is being challenged strongly by the Council .
the flexibility that is essential if we are to reach , and I hope exceed , the 20 % target together is provided by genuine cooperation mechanisms .
it is our common philosophical heritage and safeguards the principle of civil peace around which the EU was built .
I think that part of the compromise is being voted on by the Committee on Transport and Tourism - the part relating to the use of earmarked taxes - but the plenary sitting will clearly be voting on a certain part , such as congestion .
as we have said , albeit in a very moderate manner , the report makes some relevant points , which are in line with what we have been saying for a long time : the current Community budget is less than what is needed , and every year significant amounts are unbudgeted for ( about EUR 29 billion short between 2007 and 2009 ) .
we have this energy dependence , but we can only defend our interests effectively if we send out a strong and clear message .
( RO ) Madam President , the EU-Russia Summit is taking place against the background of regional developments which influence this partnership .
the subject matter of this report and its scope mean that it inevitably ends up tackling important issues , in some cases correctly , in others , incorrectly or very insufficiently ; it is contradictory in some places .
that is a conditio sine qua non .
it represents an important step on the road towards the third industrial revolution in Europe , to the transformation of our European national economies into national economies with low-CO2 production .
all these measures must be accompanied by a clear timetable which is easy to implement and monitor .
this is something we reject , but , unfortunately , exactly the same thing is being attempted right now in Macedonia .
I am convinced that the Council can very usefully take on much of what has been debated here and will be agreed .
let us establish a complex , long-term energy infrastructure plan for the entire Union , based on the principles of cooperation , trust and solidarity .
it is not enough to espouse common principles only to allow the Member States full freedom in the end - common principles must be adhered to through common rules .
this is due to the not very pro-European atmosphere among the governments , which contrasts with the polls that President Barroso referred to concerning the will of the European people , and also because the Lisbon Treaty ultimately includes many made-to-measure elements for governments that want more and more for themselves and less and less for Europe .
so I think that will be when we have to discuss that .
it is time that we , as the European Parliament , reminded all 27 Member States that they made those commitments back then and that they also have to keep to them .
it is obvious that true democracy can only exist when all citizens of a nation are given equal rights and equal opportunities .
( PL ) Madam President , the United Nations and numerous non-governmental organisations continually report information to the international community about the repression which is being imposed on tens of thousands of North Koreans .
however , a solid economic basis must be created in order to enable the European Union that we have envisaged to really serve its citizens .
they can follow a similar life path to their parents or do the exact opposite .
ten years ago , no one would have believed how quickly and how dramatically the production of gas from rocks , which is extracted using water pressure and chemical agents , would transform the market .
( the sitting was closed at 11.55 p.m. )
after this disappointment , it is important to regain the initiative .
thirdly , and now I am coming to the heart of the matter , the 2006 directive only covers unfair practices in business dealings between businesses and consumers and not between one business and another .
if we are serious about protecting the rights of Iranian citizens , we need to be prepared to cause the dictators real pain .
Parliament 's report also recognises the importance of fairly redistributing income among sports associations , however small , and between professional and amateur sport .
at the first step of paying our tribute ...
the rapporteur recommends balanced relationships with NGOs and international organisations to facilitate the ratification of conventions .
what is the EU doing to ensure that all political prisoners are released immediately ?
voting time
I would also to thank the team working for the Hungarian Presidency of the European Union for their cooperation .
therefore , it is likely to be very efficient .
our aim is to provide high-quality parliamentary services .
I support the measures adopted by the European Union in a situation where the transition to a democratic system is being jeopardised indefinitely by the illegal and , by extension , unconstitutional way in which Rajoelina took power .
these are the two Pacific island states that have the highest levels of trade with the EU and have key exports destined for the EU market : tuna and sugar respectively .
I join my colleagues in condemning the Zanu-PF party 's behaviour throughout the elections and would also stress that the elections of 27 June cannot be regarded as legitimate .
a working visit by the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection in China from 16 to 21 March in which I participated confirmed my belief that it is high time for Europe to kick-start its knowledge-based economy , and to encourage the creativity and innovative abilities of small and medium-sized enterprises for the future development of the European economy .
by creating an External Action Service that utilises men and women recruited from all of our Member States , we are also utilising Europe 's greatest strength and resource .
both initiatives involve ground-breaking projects of vital importance in terms of policy on innovation and industry that deserve our full support .
( applause )
they do not see what the Union does to invest , to support growth , to integrate those with fewer opportunities and to make up for development imbalances between regions .
the starting point is to recognise mass redundancies by companies which report a profit in the same country as an abusive practice .
documents received : see Minutes
our European Parliament delegation mentioned Tibet at every opportunity , at every meeting with the Chinese , in the Chinese Congress , at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs .
people will tolerate a lot from incompetent , corrupt governments , but push them too far and they will rebel .
the murders of both Mr Bhatti and Governor Salman Taseer must be investigated thoroughly and the perpetrators have to be brought to justice .
the implementation of the Instrument for Stability reinforced the EU 's potential to respond to crisis or emerging crisis situations .
( DE ) Mr President , I rejected this report because it misses the target on three important points .
yes , indeed , in relation to Europe the Africa Summit has given back to Africa part of that dignity of which we Europeans have deprived Africans for a long time .
they include stress , depression , sorrow , heavy drinking , a poor nutritional state and medications .
with the two amending directives that have now been agreed between the Council and Parliament we are improving rail safety and also have a chance to improve interoperability and advance towards our aim of actually shifting more freight from road to rail .
I certainly regret what the EPP is asking for on paragraph 26 , in which we were proposing a minimum Community tax on CO2 .
the first of these is flexibility in the sense of fully exploiting the options for asymmetric arrangements , timetables and protective measures within World Trade Organisation rules .
covenants belong to families , communities , charities , which are arenas of cooperation .
a recent European congress on the family at the University of Ružomberok ...
I am also just as convinced that consumers will favour companies , producers , which have a conscious advertising policy and which do not permit gender-stereotyped advertising .
moreover , the report fails to mention a single word about the legal uncertainty which will arise as a result of the fact that no clear alternative has been formulated for the principle of the country of origin .
the debate is closed .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
composition of Parliament : see Minutes
I will quote from one of them : ' the European Parliament proposes to introduce changes to the law which will affect my access to the Internet , and which may restrict or create conditions for the use of certain Internet pages and sites .
I think Mr Schulz said it first , but it was repeated very often : we need to be very clear-headed about what we do and very determined on what we should do .
it is therefore clear to me that a review of the directive is necessary and would undoubtedly be useful , but whatever happens , we must not replace a legislative vacuum with worrying ambiguities .
lastly , I am delighted by my fellow Member 's initiative , the aim of which is the legal regulation of a topic that is of paramount importance to the Community .
poor sections of the population are especially affected by the reduction in biodiversity and the loss of ecosystems , as they often rely on natural products in order to survive .
as a result , this country has become one of the European Union 's most important and significant partners .
the current directive is hopelessly out of date .
prevention of age-related diseases of women (
we have , on the one side , consumer organisations , and on the other side producers , who would also like to follow the same goal of providing more energy-efficient products to consumers .
I voted in favour of Mr Moreira 's report on customs security measures because I feel it is important that well-defined trade rules be established for a country which , while not part of the EU , is an enclave within it , and thus perfectly placed for commercial integration .
there are problems in other Member States , but in Italy it is at its worst .
we hope for widespread involvement of civil society and social partners , not least because the economic crisis can worsen the already endemic and terrible problems such as unemployment and increasing migratory pressure , making this phenomenon even more difficult to manage .
the debate is closed .
in fact , the strengthening of growth and employment , to be achieved through equal access to education opportunities and the labour market , is , in my view , a step that needs to be taken in order to attain certain important growth targets , such as improving competitiveness and innovation potential .
you do not need a lot of money to teach skills like this and others .
Commissioner , you emphasised just now this good work that has been done with Parliament 's Committee on Regional Development , in particular .
this is a difficult and sensitive issue for all of you , as it is for Member States , and I would emphasise the need for agreement by both Parliament and the Council .
( the President cut off the speaker )
now a second : if someone is absent , there are no grounds for doubting whether or not there is a quorum .
the most frequent types of errors are missing documents , failure to respect eligibility criteria , inaccurate declarations and failure to comply with procedures .
the fight against terrorism and its financing is an inescapable reality and deserves our full attention , so transatlantic cooperation is imperative .
obviously , the EIB can monitor and improve these efforts , but it cannot be a substitute for EU budgetary policies .
examination of the harm caused by alcohol abuse gave an extremely bleak and worrying picture : very high mortality among young people , in particular as a result of road accidents , ill-treatment in the family , growing numbers of cases of foetal alcohol syndrome , increasingly widespread liver disease and alcohol dependence , among young people as well , in all the Member States .
I am sure they are looking at that very carefully .
this is both a clear demand by consumers and a requirement that must be respected in order to develop the internal market .
these days , changing consumption patterns equal a change in our lifestyles .
President I fear that these concerns have been exacerbated for political ends by certain factions here and elsewhere in Europe and I wish to make a clear stance regarding our future energy mix that is free from fear and panic and approaches the subject of nuclear energy based on science and evidence . I would like to thank the rapporteur and my friend and colleague Ms Edit Herczog for all their efforts on this .
therefore , when balancing these interests , we must continue in future to consider whether higher CO2 emission reduction targets are feasible , whether they will help to retain jobs in ' old industries ' and whether we can prevent these jobs from being moved elsewhere .
therefore , now is the time to act .
thus in view of such occurrences , I am very reluctant to accept the transfer of personal data from one country to another .
the fact is that nuclear energy and nuclear research will be a part of future energy demand and that 's why I 've voted the way I did in order to ensure that the waste and spent fuel is dealt with in the appropriate way .
I already mentioned yesterday that we must give proper consideration to the Court of Auditors ' report and set about implementing a policy aimed at the long term and that we need to look at what the Court of Auditors has said .
it is crucial that we have uniform European standards , since rivers cross borders and cyanide is , of course , also an environmental hazard that crosses borders .
we are also planning a dialogue with Uzbek civil society on freedom of the media , which should take place in Tashkent early next year .
to finish , I think we need to take the final step to complete the single CMO .
Eighthly it requires a guarantee for victims that the attacks suffered will not be repeated , which can also happen .
let us continue the process ; this is what we have to continue today .
- Report : Robert Sturdy
I also want to say that we have always considered support for flood victims in Pakistan an ethical and moral imperative .
and lastly , a third matter - our success depends to a large extent on relations with our neighbours .
one of the main issues in our discussion was to find an appropriate balance between the flexible and effective implementation of our goals .
however , the CCTB is a long-term project , the realisation of which lies far in the future .
for its part , by offering genuine development projects , the European Union will be a key partner in the future of both countries .
legalising illegal immigration will not solve any problems : managing immigration in accordance with a uniform set of rules even less so .
( ES ) Mr President , I would first like to thank you and your officials for your patience during these explanations of vote .
EU cooperation should be reinforced and the EU should lead the way in creating effective international agreements to combat tax evasion .
certainly , when I met with the Prime Minister of Pakistan on 22 September , he was very appreciative of the EU 's response to date and he believed it to be a very courageous response ; courageous in the way that Commissioner De Gucht has described it .
in that country , as in many others in Africa , the European Union is demonstrating its political impotence , and we are not going to change things by calling for harsher economic sanctions to be imposed on that country .
the Treaty of Lisbon enhances the EU 's capacity to join various international organisations , entrusting it with a wider range of competences in its external action and offering it an opportunity to have a clearer and stronger single voice in the world .
20 .
a revision of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund is under way and the European Council of March 2009 called for a swift agreement to be reached .
I hope that both the European Commission and Member States will make every effort for information about the new regulations to reach manufacturers as soon as possible , so that they can start to prepare and adjust to the resolution 's new provisions as soon as possible .
excluding the symbols from the Treaty was the umpteenth act distancing the European institutions from the citizens .
we must press ahead with a ban on these weapons .
the situation in Romania is not unique in the European Union and that is why we have to act together based on the principle of solidarity which the European project is founded on .
on this subject , the Italian government complains of having difficulty in identifying the exact date of entry .
I would like to endorse fully what Mrs Goulard has said .
freedom of expression and , hence , freedom of the press , are some of the most important fundamental rights .
we want to contribute to solving problems , so I want to make one thing very clear .
let me now turn to the fifth and last point regarding the Commission 's role in promoting exchanges of best practice involving policy on domestic workers .
at the same time , we would like to have a clear view that the proposals for the citizens ' initiative have a genuine potential to be successful .
we speak of European Union expectations and standards , but meanwhile there are persistent problems within the EU itself with regard to democracy and human and minority rights .
instead , we have concentrated on our own interests and on our ideas of how neighbouring countries should develop .
however , Prime Minister Cameron was absolutely correct to ask for trade preferences to be granted to Pakistan .
ladies and gentlemen , I feel it is absolutely necessary to stress that this is a very fundamental issue .
in recent years , the value of private pension fund assets has decreased a great deal .
many of my constituents would profoundly disagree ; they would rather that the EU were kept well away from anything to do with employment policy .
this approach is also supported by the European consumer organisation BUC .
the government has indeed introduced harsh measures , and the European Commission has indeed ratified the government 's programme and a very harsh programme has indeed been ratified in order to monitor the application of the measures , which the government instigated and which it wants .
lastly , it is essential to improve access to redress by proposing a European system of collective redress that will allow consumers to exercise their rights in full where there is proven harm , while at the same time avoiding the pitfalls of the US system .
this means that we have a duty to manage the soil , precisely to combat these challenges , to increase water retention times across the entire territory to prevent flooding and encourage groundwater absorption , particularly along the coasts , and prevent saltwater infiltration , most likely due to rising sea levels .
I finish by quoting Famiglia Cristiana : ' today with digital fingerprints , the police state shows its harshest face to Roma children , who are Italian citizens after all .
Mr President , during your 10 years as Prime Minister of Portugal , you consolidated the country 's democratic institutions and successfully promoted its economic development .
if we granted citizenship , that would probably solve a large part of the Roma problem in Italy .
indeed , two amendments were submitted to us : amendment 812 , which perhaps had the Council 's backing , for only EUR 300 million , and Amendment 70 , for EUR 600 million .
it is time for a different strategy .
Macedonian citizens ' entry into the EU countries has become an urgent problem .
as I reach the end of my speaking time , I must also mention those areas that the majority of my group find regrettable .
the Commission is ready to support initiatives to set up partnerships in the textile and clothing sector designed to anticipate restructuring with the aim of protecting employment and , overall , the sector benefits from the fact that there is a long-standing framework for social dialogue .
I am sure that you , Commissioner , will be the first to complain if that happens .
we cannot accept this .
the package itself actually illustrates the tensions inside the Barroso Commission , between those , on the one hand , who want to stick to the neoliberal agenda come hell or high water , and those on the other who see an urgent need to make Europe matter to its citizens .
during our presidency we will organise four summit meetings : with the United States , the Russian Federation , Japan and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean .
if we required it recently of meat from Brazil , we must also require it of chicken from the United States .
as a result , fresh plaice is sold at far below the cost price or withdrawn from the market and auctioned off .
I voted in favour of this report .
one of the sector 's challenges is to improve the range of tourism experiences on offer for the whole world without discrimination .
the internal market scoreboard is an effective way of displaying the relative performances of Member States in implementing this legislation .
this will take account of experience in applying the rules on public services , and of the differences between Member States .
the conference was organised by our friends from the Swedish Parliament , and also from the Spanish Parliament , which currently holds the presidency of the European Union .
therefore , I appeal for the appointment of an independent , international expert group , which will compile a thorough report stating whether human activity really does affect climate change and if data has been falsified .
that is a strategic mission to promote stability , well-being and prosperity in our eastern neighbourhood .
the EU 's acquiescent stance on the Georgia issue gave rise in Russia to a real explosion of enthusiasm .
the Commissioner said a great deal , but he spoke in general terms and about matters of secondary importance such as racism at football matches .
liberalisation , in fact , means that the number of operators on our networks is continuing to grow , and we must therefore continually assess the quality of the operators present .
I would like to congratulate Mr Casini on the excellent work he has done .
I would ask the Council and the Commission not to give way in this area , just as I would ask the rapporteur to support our other amendments on respect for the rights of minorities and of Chechnya , which have been somewhat forgotten in the report .
why on earth have we got this situation now , within the European Union ?
my suggestion therefore is as follows : let us begin at the point where we can demonstrate that a sensible administration will use money sensibly , that is , with ourselves .
the development of European industry will not happen without ambitious funding , especially in the areas of research and energy , telecommunications and transport networks ( TEN ) , and therefore in the public services which sustain the business environment .
it is obvious that this kind of conflict cannot be solved by armed force .
in short , it will advocate a Europe of greater solidarity , preparation and effectiveness ; a Europe for all , with different voices but singing from the same hymn sheet ; a Europe with Council , Commission and Parliament positions .
for example , EU-funded cross-border projects are tools for resuming dialogue and increasing confidence between the parties , but that requires the relevant countries to agree not to hamper the programmes and projects designed to bring this about .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Madam President , as rapporteur I would first of all like to thank the shadows for their excellent , pleasant and fruitful cooperation resulting in a joint resolution .
you have to have read it to believe it .
I , personally , do not agree with that , and , I suspect , neither would most of my group .
( ES ) Mr President , Commissioner , Mr Pribetich , in my opinion your proposal is very comprehensive and balanced .
finally , I have another specific question for the Council and the Commission .
the Commission 's draft came somewhat earlier , but it would have been nice , of course , if it had been subsequently reworked .
we are most concerned that this partnership should preserve , in particular , the consistency of all European Union policies - trade policy , budgetary policy - with objectives in the area of development , but also in relation to the promotion of peace , security and democracy and human rights in ACP countries .
all the European institutions that depend on the European Union budget have to be thoroughly audited by the Court of Auditors and by all entities with that function .
in terms of the lack of control mechanisms for financial markets , we do not need to go into greater detail here .
I also believe that it is important that the Council and the Spanish Presidency clearly demonstrate a willingness to collaborate with the Commission and Parliament , so as to clarify how relations between the Commission and Parliament will play out in the context of the Treaty of Lisbon , as the Spanish Presidency now has a unique opportunity to set precedents .
I believe that this is justified given the non-contradictory nature of its subject matter .
thirdly , they also have to involve themselves clearly in the division of labour proposed by the Commission .
secondly , how do the agencies perform against the criteria ?
we shall see , in two , three , four months ' time , whether the governments - and the political parties to which you belong are very often part of the governments that you would address - have done what you demanded of them .
second , Christians have become the single most persecuted religious group in the world .
the final compromise that emerged from the trialogues this weekend evidently bears the hallmark of this commitment , be it on the emissions trading scheme , the division of labour , renewable energy or carbon capture and storage , in which connection the arguments put forward by Parliament have made it possible to increase the quota volume available for this funding to 300 million tonnes .
rest assured that I shall report them to today 's Council and to the Council of 11 December .
in line with the renewed enlargement consensus approved by the European Council , the Council confirmed in its conclusions of 14 December 2010 that the EU firmly supports the continuation of the enlargement process in the Western Balkans countries on the basis of the principles and conclusions adopted .
common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals ( debate )
we must now return to it .
they do not , in fact , lose anything at all , but gain the opportunity to benefit from particularly generous rules of origin .
( DE ) Mr President , as far as our oceans are concerned , time is running out .
here we have something that has been developing for quite some time , but we have to continue along this path .
Mr President , although you were in favour of the idea , we are not suggesting that the euro should be used as a symbol .
I hope that no one is deterred by stringent measures for fear of the European Union being depicted as the bogeyman by the Member States , as the truth is that Member States need external pressure , possibly even a bogeyman , because they cannot cope with the task alone in the age of globalisation .
these freedoms became even more important after EU expansion to the countries of Eastern Europe , as once the Eastern European countries had joined the EU , economic migration from the new Member States to Western Europe intensified greatly .
I also think that some of the practices , such as pair trawling and others , which do have an awful lot of by-catch , again , will emphasise what is happening .
these mentalities can be seen in all countries , but in particular in disadvantaged regions .
however , where it is technically and politically feasible to conclude these , visa facilitation agreements do help , as I have said , with the ' human dimension ' or ' humanitarian dimension ' of the Neighbourhood Policy .
secondly , a dialogue must be established with all the insurgents , and note that I did not say ' with the Taliban ' , because the word ' Taliban ' is very restrictive .
the main reason for this is that a large number of primarily European , Romanian and Bulgarian citizens , and other citizens too , live in the Republic of Moldova .
we need this message at the range of ongoing talks to which we are committed , whether on Doha , with a number of ASEAN and African partners , or with the Mercosur countries .
it is interesting that when food prices are rising , the Commission will act to look at it and I would urge the Commission to come up with statistics that show us the share-out of the final retail price between producer - and I mean farmers - and consumer , because that information is not available .
it should be possible to identify those cases in which the Ombudsman can observe that an institution or other EU body has not complied with the rules and principles applicable to it .
it is crucial for the minority communities living in the Member States that legal regulation of the protection of minorities in the Union be established .
this was a very difficult process and really did require a huge effort to bring about an understanding .
this has achieved a more integrative text in which logistics should not only contribute to the sustainability of transport in general , and of freight transport in particular , but also to improving mobility by including logistical solutions for all modes of transport and support for green corridors as models of mobility and convenience .
of course , we hope that the mediation efforts by Egypt and the Arab League can continue .
there are different Member States who have different problems : disability , age , sexual orientation , religion or belief .
I remember the optimism of 2006 .
the Union 's effort on the social front is , however , particularly puny .
in addition , we need to ensure European dynamism today .
now it has a deficit of EUR 2.4 billion euros , because private industry is unwilling to get involved in the project , as has happened in the United States of America .
secondly , what negotiating mandate will the negotiators have in terms of agricultural products ?
there is also ' smart productive debt ' - intelligent debt if that debt is invested in people .
these should be complemented by facilitating social inclusion like housing , education , training and lifelong learning as well as income support schemes for individuals and families .
in spite of this objection on grounds of principle , I have chosen to vote in favour of the report .
now that we have reached this point , I fear that we have few solutions left to save the tuna , although there is one that we can still use : we must work to have the tuna included on the CITES list as an endangered species and thereby , by banning its commercial use , guarantee its future .
we need to give the Americans the impression that we are not necessarily reliant on them .
we must all be particularly careful on the subject of Kosovo .
when Israel took non-violent action , such as imposing blockades or cutting electricity , it was castigated .
for example , in 2009 , the Chinese authorities adopted a system of accreditation of innovative local products , which restricted yet further access on the part of international businesses to the Chinese market .
( NL ) Mr President , it is a matter of fact that anyone who denies a problem , who denies the truth , will obviously be unable to solve that problem .
it must also build the economy , and the Commissioner rightly states that good progress has been made with regard to the ENP , although much remains to be done . it is a difficult task for the Georgian Government at a time when the country 's territorial integrity is at issue and is threatened by Russia .
I think it is at least unlikely that all have been fully implemented , and it is important to bear that in mind when we start making demands of others .
as I said at the beginning of the debate , we will set the wheels in motion tomorrow .
we held a hearing at which mayors complained that they often receive instructions from Europe and then , when it comes to implementing them , find that the Member States have left them out in the cold or , to be more precise , left them without funds to implement those European measures .
however , I find it extremely regrettable that the resolution fails to mention and criticise the illegal fisheries agreement between the EU and Morocco , which allows European fishing fleets to operate in waters within the occupied Western Sahara territory .
I hope , however , that you are not discouraged by this and will develop further initiatives in these six months , too .
let me illustrate what I have in mind when I say ' comprehensive approach ' with a couple of examples .
it is a result that puts Europe at the forefront in this field and shows that , even on such a complex issue , we can reach agreement unanimously , between 27 , in record time .
I would also like to emphasise that when misfortunes of this type occur , it is much more difficult to address their consequences if they occur in poor countries and poor regions .
then Mr Batten confessed to us that the parliamentary group 's money has been used to interfere in national referendums .
an estimated two thirds of major ecosystems in the world are over-utilised , and we are depleting natural capital .
during this serious economic crisis which has hit Europe and affected all the Member States , housing problems are now even worse .
what is clear is that there should be no new - or at least completely new - instruments , but rather better ones .
composition of committees and delegations : see Minutes
however , the recent report on fundamental human rights presents a few problems in this respect .
in 2006 , European investment in research and innovation amounted to a mere 1.84 % of GDP , compared to the 3 % target set by the Lisbon Strategy .
even though we might frown on it , nobody should be criminalised for personal use of copyright material .
however , oil extraction operations must be appropriately insured to cover worst case scenarios .
that is clearly of great significance .
the car models that were supposed to be manufactured in Antwerp are now most probably going to be manufactured in South Korea , and European workers will ultimately have to foot this bill through pay restraint .
however , to have a real impact on the human rights situation , we expect the Council 's rapid and positive reaction .
that is the first point I should like to emphasise .
I appeal to you to ensure that this unfortunate case , for which Václav Havel has already gone on hunger strike , is resolved under your Presidency .
Madam President , when the Commissioner answers , could she say something about the possibilities of increasing the tolerance level from zero to a higher percentage , say 0.7 % , 0.9 % or whatever it is ?
some wanted the series of provocations that probably preceded the bombing of Tskhinvali to be denounced .
( the President cut off the speaker )
the clear aim of these reforms was to improve the competitiveness of the European fund industry , to enable it to reduce its costs , to develop and make use of economies of scale , to ensure that all fund providers do indeed have access to all markets in the European Union , and to achieve all of this without reducing protection for investors : on the contrary , we wanted to improve protection for investors .
I am delighted that EU Member States have headed off protectionist tendencies for now .
this is what we will judge you on again .
I call for the recovery of organic waste to be given greater emphasis , particularly in this largely agricultural region , for data to be verified , and for a system for exchanging best practices to be established .
some butchers ' shops have ceased trading .
however , I would like to highlight what was said by the Commissioner in particular , comments that are very much worthy of approval .
all of them are going to be involved in this .
( PL ) I would like to begin by correcting something which was said by a fellow Member .
these considerations have formed the basis for Amendment 34 .
with this common agricultural policy , we are facing precisely this task of fulfilling these expectations of European citizens in us as politicians , but also in politics in general .
its businesses , workers and public services rely on that possibility .
the Spanish cotton growers want - we want - to continue growing cotton .
we have now included inspection requirements in our proposal to revise the IPPC Directive .
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an amendment of this article might negate a fundamental principle of the functioning of the EU , in other words solidarity , and this might lead to a loss of solidarity .
is it the International Monetary Fund ?
now that is exactly what happened .
the demand for a more socially responsible Europe has long been on the agenda .
( heckling )
the Council has accordingly seen to it that better use is made of new technology in managing our external borders .
for example , you tackled the opposition head-on when you wanted to sort out mobile phone roaming rates .
for this reason alone , we should support Europe 's initiatives as best we can and push for further relaxations in the Communist system .
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the search for Mrs Boal continues .
in other words , it is undermining the role of the elected representatives of EU institutions , which should , however , demonstrate greater awareness in their demands of the citizens ' fight .
this would also improve cooperation on issues such as transportation , energy security , scientific exchange , the development of tourism , security and the fight against illegal immigration .
due to abuses of their market dominance by large retail chains , the prices paid by European consumers are , on average , five times higher than farm gate prices .
it was fine in its own time but now it is certainly not equipped to meet the modern challenges of the travelling public .
it is further harmful to European agriculture because the level of risks increases , the danger of resistance increases , production costs rise , and because , as many of my fellow Members have mentioned , we will not be able to monitor the products of third countries .
we should ask at this point what difference this has made in reality .
for decades , these were two sides of the same coin , until the neo-liberal mainstream began to tell us in the early nineties that lower wages , longer hours and less say in company management were the basic recipe for faster economic growth .
this evening the outgoing Parliament is handing over to the new Parliament , which will be elected from 4 to 7 June .
the new institutional framework must , however , fully include Parliament in the legislative process aimed at modifying the legislation in force .
( BG ) Ms Bowles , I admire your desire to overcome tax fraud at European level .
as for the ' fair value ' principle , it favours a short-term approach and makes financial results the dominant factor in company management .
in view of the ever-growing number of Internet users , better regulation needs to be put in place in this expanding area .
in view of the fact that problems concerning small and medium-sized enterprises and the economic context of integration are of particular interest to me , I shall take the liberty of referring to several important points that are contained in the strategy .
when you speak of enrichment with grape must or sugar and say that there must be a shift in the balance between these two methods , that is fine by us , because it basically means that chaptalisation will remain legal .
if this is the case , I would like to know whether you agree with the company having the freedom to revise the distribution and restructuring of Opel according to its own economic and production criteria and maintaining the greatest possible number of jobs .
it also includes EU support for milk and fruit in schools , which in itself is important , but we believe this matter should instead be dealt with at national level .
what we require is action for the long term , rather than short-term reactions .
we therefore need to step up work on the creation of a unitary patent market .
the proposal also incorporates provisions concerning equipment for transport operations in the internal market , thereby creating a general framework for marketing products on the single European market .
Japan is faced with an intensive task of restoring its devastated territories , which will require significant resources , including inward investment .
I agree with this new regime ; the role of the European Parliament has become more substantial in terms of the rights of individuals , as decisions will now be taken under the codecision procedure .
the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty changes the procedure for the adoption of the budget and therefore requires even closer cooperation and dialogue among the institutions .
the introduction of harmonisation of the three-cycle system of higher education in the countries of the European Union , quality assurance and , above all , the recognition of qualifications represent a fundamental objective of this intergovernmental initiative .
another essential factor will be the modernisation of electricity grids .
first , I want to raise the ' Nelson Mandela ' question .
the report emphasises the importance of the switchover from analogue , which is on track in the UK but lagging in some other EU member states .
it has been tried before and failed , and this Parliament would ensure it would fail again .
Opel is clearly not a manufacturer of large vehicles , but of energy-efficient vehicles .
we need to concentrate on legal security in an umbrella agreement instead of - and I quote a Member of this Parliament - ' fire-fighting on each individual data sharing agreement ' .
the European Union has become the main actor taking specific measures by adopting policies which tackle head on the global challenge triggered by climate change .
( SV ) We say ' yes ' to transparency , but we want to avoid the naivety that can expose people to danger or abuse .
indeed , our requests for increased protection of European citizens ' privacy have been granted , with Europeans being offered a dual guarantee : firstly , complete transparency as regards the way in which their data are accessed and used , and , secondly , proper appeal procedures to ensure that their privacy is protected .
- ( CS ) I have supported the regulation on vehicle CO2 emissions in the version which has resulted from the complex trialogue negotiations .
the preservation of the forest is crucial to the interests of the whole of humankind .
I would like to say a final word to this industry as a whole .
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the multi-annual financial framework will become mandatory , the classification of expenditure into compulsory and non-compulsory expenditure will go , and budget proceedings will be shorter .
they are of no benefit to anyone , nor do they resolve fundamental , structural problems .
the measures we are debating today represent the greatest collective flight from reality that we have ever seen .
the EU budget needs to make full use of the financial margins to respond to the economic crisis .
where are the post-Kyoto commitments ?
such an attack on solidarity , which can already be witnessed in a dangerous form within some Member States of the European Union , should not be permitted between the States of the EU .
my last comment relates to the fact that members of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament have said that we should implement the 2020 strategy , and not merely cut spending .
in writing . - ( PT ) We voted in favour of this motion for a resolution given the current situation and the estimates of the International Agency for Research on Cancer .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , Palestine is Islamic territory , inalienably so .
( EL ) Madam President , Commissioner , as I have said in my question , there are three companies making a profit .
the principle of subsidiarity is , after all , one of the pillars of the Union and it is important that the Member States themselves should in future still be able to determine which potentially hazardous substances are allowed to cross their borders .
we have had an opportunity to listen to their views and debate matters with them , even at times when there was great uncertainty about the future course of the European Union .
at times , we negotiate with the US Administration and we subsequently discover that Congress does not follow exactly the same line as the US Administration .
with regard to regulation mechanisms , we can in fact go down the road of insurance , but we must also retain public mechanisms that enable prevention and regulation ; this is what is in this report , and that , in my view , is very important .
I am much obliged to all my fellow Members .
the economic crisis tested our faithfulness to the idea of integration to the full , adding an even more urgent significance to the Czech Presidency 's motto .
we also believe that there are many improvements in the present regulatory and supervisory framework , the so-called ' Lamfalussy Framework ' , and we support completely the Commission 's work on that area .
( FI ) Mr President , the motion for a resolution is good , and it adopts a position in favour of democratic and peaceful forces of change .
I therefore fully support Croatia 's participation so that it can play an active part in combating this problem , the scale and devastating effects of which are dangerously on the increase in Europe .
the European Union - and here I can refer to various European Parliament resolutions - supports every initiative to prevent the weaponisation of space .
anything else would threaten the strict quality and safety requirements of the European agricultural sector and would therefore have a negative impact on European producers and consumers .
we are not at all convinced that what is currently on the table is enough to combat the growing poverty within the European Union .
its intention is to strengthen employees ' positions following the Laval judgment , but the content of the report is , unfortunately , very far from being on a par with this intention .
to that effect , it calls for a White Paper which would trigger a public debate and raise the profile of the CSDP , establishing a clearer relationship between objectives and interests , on the one hand , and the means and resources to attain them , on the other .
I am also astonished that European parliamentarians and journalists were refused access to Western Sahara and call on the Moroccan authorities to allow the press and non-governmental organisations access to the region .
today we are analysing European Union strategy towards Belarus and the strategy of openness pursued over the past few months .
for example , the French human rights commission expressed , and I quote , its grave concern about the amendments made to the articles on social rights - I am still quoting - that threaten to remove the social content of the Charter .
finally , one last thing , Mr President , do not forget that the reason that Europe has a unique influence throughout the world is because it is a cradle of culture ; because it is culture that cements our differences ; because culture is the platform for our political systems , and that is why we are viewed in a completely different way .
it concerns instead activities of a purely regional and local nature of Bruno Gollnisch as regional councillor for Rhône-Alpes , a mandate which is distinct from that of a Member of the European Parliament .
it is important for Parliament as a whole also to devote its attention to this subject .
basically , it reflects the real significance of the much-proclaimed role of the EU in the world , in particular in the current proposed Treaty : its ambition to achieve political and economic domination .
however , the core of the issue is that the technical standards must be upheld ; the criteria must remain .
so please consider timetabling this earlier to give us the possibility of participating , as we did previously .
it is true that , as Mr Savary says , completion of the Single European Sky is not progressing quickly enough , given the importance of the objectives : competitiveness , sustainable development , combating climate change and promoting safety in the air .
the new agreement should facilitate the creation of low-carbon plans on a national level , supported by legislation .
there are still a number of countries in the EU that are applying the transitional rules .
rapporteur . - Madam President , I apologise for taking up everyone 's time and delaying lunch but I do it only once in 10 years so maybe you will not mind .
finally , the issue of the job market , as Mr Andersson , Chairman of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs , mentioned , is an important issue in the demographic question .
Europeans have , however , had a mandate for access to Gaza since 2005 .
of course , that will also play a very important part in increasing the confidence of citizens .
his report notes that the approach to development aid needs to be reformed .
this coordination also encourages compatibility and interoperability .
the EU , furthermore , should not boycott the dialogue .
the Commission , for its part , is doing its job , and it will do it in such a way that by the end of next spring , we will have submitted to you and to the Council all the texts that are expected of us for implementing the recommendations of the G20 .
it is primarily the result of the production-driven rationale of modern-day globalisation and is therefore still perfectly legal .
the idea is to maintain the harmonised fiscal structure , with two obligatory rates of VAT and harmonisation within a 10 % band : in other words , between 15 % and 25 % .
it concerned the establishment of cooperation between EU Member States for combating disasters in the North-East Atlantic .
however , there are many other points with which I fully agree , and for this reason I abstained , not only because I believe that the text was substantially improved by the excellent work carried out by Mrs Gál , but also because I could not under any circumstances , in all conscience , vote against a report in defence of fundamental rights .
I should once again like to thank all the Members who have spoken , those who followed this dossier -particularly the shadow rapporteurs - and those who played an enthusiastic part in the final negotiations .
for instance , DDT and lindane have been banned in the EU for many years but their presence can still be detected in the blood of our citizens .
the report calls for the Commission to present a strategic plan for introducing binding minimum standards at EU level for these priorities , including penalties for Member States that do not comply with the objectives .
all of this , Mr President , argues in favour of a revision of the guidelines .
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in earlier times , we experienced any events in Soviet Union as ideological pressure but now we discuss trade under conditions of absolute individual freedom .
I am deliberately looking at it through the eyes of the citizens in our home countries who are concerned because after residing for five years in a Member State , refugees are then to be granted long-term resident status . this will then apply throughout the territory of the EU .
we must give the industry a second chance and the industry must grasp this second chance .
we face trade and investment restrictions , rampant counterfeiting and regulatory barriers in virtually every sector .
we agree with the actions in the six priority areas , but a large majority of the respondents of the Commission 's own consultation said that it was necessary to fix an end date in order to incentivise the reluctant .
several generation changes will probably be required for this minority to assume certain rules of social coexistence .
the Northern Dimension has been missing in all this , however , and I hope that you will do a lot to promote it , although you made no mention of it .
we believe that this is the way , the only possible way , to move on from a form of solidarity which , hitherto , has all too often been just a façade , to proper solidarity between European Union Member States in the overall management of migratory flows .
this will also help citizens to know what is it you can and should ask for in order to get full information .
that is why it is vital to create synergies between the national budgets of Member States - I would have preferred the Commission to have expressed it in these terms - which is why it is probably vital to reform our tax system and to direct it more towards development and growth and to harmonise it .
statement by the President
the European Parliament 's increased powers following the Treaty of Lisbon are very important for further cooperation with the European Commission and for future relations regarding the implementation of further agreements .
expenditure on health care will also rise .
in 2009 we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of communist dictatorships in Central and Eastern Europe and the fall of the Berlin Wall and I therefore believe that all EU governments should take this opportunity to declare August 23 European Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Stalinism and Nazism .
I would therefore like to thank Richard Corbett for his collaboration and cooperation , which has always been loyal , and has always , I would like to stress , been aimed at doing things together , building , not at being negative or destroying .
today , we must listen to the vast majority of Israeli citizens who seek the accession of Israel to the EU and are disregarded by the Israeli , and also European , ruling classes .
that is something that I would like explained in more detail , as it is absolutely justified to say , in relation to the textiles industry , that the aid does help Pakistan overall , but whether it reaches the right people , I am not so sure .
very efficient buildings , whether they are called low- or zero-energy buildings , or next-generation buildings , are a new feature introduced into the Directive by the Commission .
the tension that existed on the food products market prior to the current economic crisis has demonstrated the fragility of the balance across the world between production and consumption .
( PL ) Mr President , the way in which protests have been dealt with in Xinjiang province has provided further confirmation of the authoritarian nature of the Communist authorities in Beijing .
I must say that I am not an expert on cancer .
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we must do our best to slow down this process if not to halt it .
recognition is all very well , but what are the solutions ?
the new model being promoted by manufacturers would be the equivalent of continually calling a record in sport going back decades the world record , and when the record is beaten , calling it the world record minus 5 % , the world record minus 10 % , the world record minus 20 % , and so on .
the Committee on Development opts for a narrow interpretation of Article 179 and must therefore resort to articles intended for domestic policies as a legal basis .
the EGF has been used in the past by other EU countries , so it is now appropriate to provide aid to the Netherlands , which has submitted a request for assistance in respect of cases concerning 650 redundancies in 45 companies operating in the NACE Revision 2 Division 18 ( printing and reproduction of recorded media ) in the two contiguous NUTS II regions of Gelderland and Overijssel .
a financial transaction tax could provide Member States with sufficient revenue to balance their budgets and keep their economies going .
nowadays , transparency means publication on the Internet .
why spend time on a report that is unnecessary and not easy to comprehend just to put a ' tick ' for a rapporteur ?
this undermines faith in European institutions , especially in the smaller countries , and creates fertile ground for nationalist political groups .
the amendments initiated by the European Commission are aimed at allowing interested Member States to devise a relevant programme where the organisations involved in drawing up proposals do not wish to present programmes to be implemented in third countries .
it is a further step in support of an open and inclusive Europe 2020 .
the efforts of the PPE to delete the paragraph concerning nuclear free zones , including in the Middle East , was defeated .
if we do not do this , the basis of our democratic society may erode .
Mr President , I shall try to be brief and , of course , I must begin by also extending my warmest wishes to Commissioner Kroes in the hope that she recovers from her fall .
therefore , she knows what Parliament is all about .
the truth is that without European cohesion funding , the gap between rich and poor regions would widen .
these are some of the independent newspapers that I bought yesterday at the airport : this is Il Manifesto , a communist newspaper ; this is L 'Unità , a newspaper founded by Antonio Gramsci , of the Democratic Party-Democratic Party of the Left ; and this is L 'Europa , the newspaper of the Margherita party , which has joined the Democratic Party .
however , even those of us who are not cynical naturally admit that Schadenfreude is a form of joy , and it is this sort of joy that I am feeling now .
( the order of business was thus established . )
as representatives of the European taxpayer , we have the task of ensuring compliance with this agreement .
eight Member States already have legislation along these lines in place , but we also need to be able to regulate relationships between subcontracting chains at Community level .
the Belarusian opposition is united and possibly stronger than ever .
Germany decided to take a similar step immediately after the disaster in Japan .
thank you very much .
I find this unacceptable .
I believe that it ought also to be considered in terms of its legal and penal scope within our globalised world .
as a clergyman and member of a Hungarian minority subject to discrimination , willing to compromise if necessary , I voted in good conscience for the Catania report on fundamental rights , as I consider it a significant step forward in many respects , for instance as regards social rights .
( NL ) Madam President , as has already been said repeatedly in this House , it is ultimately Parliament 's credibility that is at stake in this debate .
the proposed penalties are proportionate and necessary , and it is hoped that they will discourage the improper commercial practices that have been adopted by commercial operators .
Mr President , we need to offer concrete help , as has been said many times , but that concrete help must also have real substance .
in conclusion , there is a series of amendments emphasising the scientific impact of the consequences of climate change on the world 's oceans .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( SV ) Madam President , in the debate on the recall of the toys in question it has often been said that responsibility for the fact that dangerous toys are on the market rests with the country of manufacture , in this case China .
I want to emphasise that the existing distribution criterion for EU cohesion policy support - GDP by purchasing power parity per capita ( up to 75 % of the EU average ) - is an appropriate , tested and safe criterion for defining the arc of regions qualifying for support within the convergence framework , because it reflects the genuine disparities between EU Member States and regions .
that is shameful !
( FR ) Mr President , Mrs Győri , Commissioner , the primary merit of this agreement is that it provides a degree of legal clarification , as my fellow Members have said .
beware !
the later you intervene , the more painful is the treatment and there comes a point when it is even too late for treatment .
I want to call that into question .
secondly , tools such as employment guidelines , integrated recommendations and common principles on flexicurity , and political guidance of the Member State in the transposition and implementation of their policies .
this has been opposed by the British and Polish trade unions as they believe that this is an attempt by Cadbury Schweppes to race to the bottom , with people prepared to take the lowest wages being taken on board .
it helps us to view culture as a creative part of society , not as a consumer , not as ' something , sometimes ' , but as a permanent part of the economy-creating process .
in the previous debate on that subject , a member of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats said that what is called European solidarity must take precedence and that that just has to be explained to the people of the Member States concerned who are the victims .
I believe a new reality is emerging .
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this partnership is extremely important to our Arab partners , who are looking to the European Union to support the democratic transitions in the southern Mediterranean .
in 2011 the priority has been on young people , and this will no longer be the case in 2012 with these guidelines .
without the proper protective mechanisms , this important European project of creating a single market will not be completed .
we need more money in the crisis instrument , otherwise we can forget any ideas of providing assistance to Spain and Portugal in the near future .
there is already a new US administration , currently defining its foreign policy priorities .
the European Parliament should today declare its solidarity with Georgia and , more generally , with all the nations of the Caucasus .
immigration policy across Europe must not add to the loss of vital skills , the ' brain drain ' , in developing countries , Member States and the EU Commission must not pursue policies which undermine development .
unfortunately , it is rather a sick joke .
so from that point of view , as in the case of renewables , we should also have incentives for the first movers on CCS .
I am satisfied with the rules on GM products .
but if a doctor is on call in a hospital , for instance , and a patient with a life-threatening condition could arrive at any moment , that cannot be regarded as a rest period , which would be possible under the Council 's compromise .
in writing . - ( EL ) Tax policy is used to redistribute income for the benefit of capital .
I think it was interesting .
( DA ) Mr President , the Court of Auditors has my heartfelt thanks for a sound and very serviceable report .
is that consistent , Commissioner ?
we might get the odd committee visit to them , or express general opinions on what their mandates should be , but , in general , the role of this Parliament is to vote through the necessary supply , annually and unconditionally .
the alarming fact is that , if at the beginning the users of this method were small enterprises , now there are well known names which avoid taxes and social security contributions resulting in a very small pension for the employee which will bring him / her close to the poverty threshold .
I voted in favour of all the amendments which significantly improved the original text , by shifting the focus of the legislation away from the right of the pharmaceutical industry to advertise their products to the right of patients to have reliable , objective and independent information .
we need to support sustainable tourism in these areas and teach the site managers how to preserve and protect the wilderness .
this cooperation is important not only to get us out of this crisis but , even more , to avoid another one .
having worked on this resolution , both at the working group stage and in Parliament 's Committee on Regional Development , I have secured significant progress on two fronts : that more consideration be taken of the needs of potential beneficiaries and that the concept of GDP not be held needlessly sacred .
as enablers for democracy these political parties must have a uniform legal and fiscal status , which would ensure that European citizens have a better understanding of political parties and are better represented .
that point - not interfering in the competences of the Member States - is something that I believe is extraordinarily important .
the European Union has shown good will , partially lifting visa sanctions against Belarusian officials .
the designation ' mountain produce ' is therefore particularly important .
Mr President , Mr Rehn , first of all , I would like to say that the situation is indeed getting worse , as you have described .
as other speakers before me have said , we need food produced locally by local farmers .
there have been some very important successes , but unfortunately these have been dragged down by this lack of good transposition and good implementation of what could be a very important directive for the future in the field of justice and home affairs .
on the mandate , let me say that a mandate dating back to 1999 is way out of date and indeed most of the current Parliament would not have been around in 1999 .
by creating jobs and increasing investments in these countries , the Union would encourage their citizens to become involved in their own community .
these should undergo the necessary impact assessments and scrutiny , and should not be a shot from the hip , which could be counterproductive , increasing the barriers to entry into the markets and the risk of more conservative ratings , with subsequent effects on the real economy and lending .
trusting Member States is fine , but trust has always to be earned and if there are concerns , I believe they need to be dealt with .
it is also possible to identify other topics that the European Parliament and the Council have in common : the importance of providing full and correct information to patients about options for receiving cross-border healthcare or the emphasis on ensuring high quality and safety in the provision of care .
the agreement will ensure that EU citizens have access to non-discriminatory administrative and judicial rights .
that is why it is so important to conduct this coherence review in order to ensure that the other policies we pursue do not impair and undermine our development policy .
needless to say , Europe should press for a stronger and better MONUC mandate and more troops .
to this I add the hope that the Commission will rectify its behaviour and , at the very least , will provide some precise answers concerning the issue of the asthma device 's withdrawal from the market , so as to clarify what happened .
( the President cut off the speaker )
we also share the rapporteur 's concern about the problem of piracy in the Indian Ocean , which is increasingly affecting fishing .
on Burma , the report reflects the position of the EU that , although part of ASEAN , we are not negotiating FTA commitments as such with Burma .
I am referring to what Mr Barroso said , which I almost completely agree with .
it was a very important ceremony : a European ceremony , and one which was important even beyond the borders of Europe .
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ladies and gentlemen , please allow me , finally , to express my most sincere wishes for prosperity and success in the new year 2010 .
the 2020 Strategy is based on important priorities - namely research , innovation , development and growth - that were not initially contained in the report by Mrs Balzani , but which have been strongly emphasised by the PPE Group , as well as achieving the employment objectives initially set out .
the European social model will not in any way be damaged by implementation of the new Lisbon Treaty - on the contrary .
even though the EU 's policy has been pioneering , the pay gap has remained stubbornly wide since 2000 .
it must be based on goals that will help citizens to understand why we need a common agricultural policy .
for that the ECB deserves praise .
we appreciate the Chinese authorities ' latest efforts on the path to attaining the political , economic and social standards of the free world .
that is in the joint statement too , Mr McMillan-Scott , and if you hold the opinion you have been expressing , you are against the joint statement .
the second industry affected is that of poultry , sheep and cattle farming .
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I voted in favour of this agreement as I believe that its renewal contributes to strengthening the creation of the common European Research Area .
I would like to share a few comments on the multi-annual programme 2010-2014 regarding the area of freedom , security and justice ( the Stockholm Programme ) . ensuring the citizens of the European Union freedom , security and justice is one of the main responsibilities of Member States .
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this cooperation has never weakened .
this wording has shocked many people , and not only the ethics experts and the representatives of disabled groups , but scientists , too .
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a number of honourable Members quite rightly raised the importance of the Balkans .
as Europeans , we share the aspirations of Tunisians and want to go with them on the road to achieving these aspirations in full .
I am very pleased that the Swedish Presidency has been able to play a part in putting this in place .
in writing . - The debate on an integrated policy on climate change is vital if we want a 50 % cut in carbon emissions by 2050 .
persons acting as contact points should certainly have good foreign language skills in at least one other EU language and should have gained experience in international cooperation in criminal matters as well as have served as a judge , public prosecutor or other official in the justice system .
one more question : is it right that the EU 's main priority for the future would be the development of technologies ?
if it meant that a master 's course had to bear the name of Mercedes or Sony or some other corporate brand , so be it !
do you think that , while there is such high unemployment and all these problems in Greece , we can get back to growth with new cuts and new redundancies ?
I would be most obliged if , as soon as these negotiations are concluded , as soon as there is an agreement , you would update us .
could the President of this House , in addition to his message of sympathy read out earlier on today , send a very stern warning to the junta of Burma and indirectly to their guardians in Beijing telling them to stop frustrating international assistance efforts and start at least trying to behave , if not democratically , at least humanely towards their own people ?
the first step to combat this terrible disease is awareness .
we have to be careful in our statements and criticism because , while insisting - as I do - that decisions be made on the basis of well-sustained evidence , we should not terrify those who are called upon to take risky decisions , sometimes in very difficult situations , fearing that afterwards they will be put in the dock and everyone will pass judgment on their decisions . I think this aspect of situation management is very important .
I have already had an opportunity to speak at the plenary session in January , when Czech Prime Minister Topolánek presented the priorities of the Czech Presidency here , and I am speaking today as Czech Prime Minister Fischer submits the report on what the Czech Republic has achieved .
( RO ) The recent gas crisis refocuses attention even more sharply on the importance of developing alternative routes and sources of energy by developing transport infrastructures and establishing interconnections .
I must , however , stress how important it is that all medical devices brought onto the market in the EU comply with all Union safety standards .
the report does not involve any change of substance but brings together a number of different directives into a coherent text .
and yet the stakes we are playing for in Copenhagen are a lot higher than that .
in my group , what is paramount is that the capacity is kept at the same level to finalise the cases that are still in progress and to bring the last two suspects who are still on the run , Messrs Mladić and Hadžić , before the Tribunal .
I do not know whether the solutions put forward by the rapporteur are the right ones .
like Caesar Augustus , Mr Barroso is sending his emissaries to tell the Irish people what they should do .
approval of Minutes of previous sitting : see Minutes
with our responsibilities , our doubts and our mistakes , we are on the brink of momentous events and I think we should shoulder this responsibility to the full , making sure that that the decisions taken by the Council tomorrow and the day after tomorrow are reasonable , but above all bold .
while it is important to prevent illegal immigration and the exploitation of illegally staying third-country nationals , we must also ensure that we increase the opportunities for people to settle and seek work within the EU on a legal basis .
( applause )
this is not merely an abstract concept ; it is one that affects people 's lives .
it is time that we reached the necessary agreement in Copenhagen for the sake of the planet .
currently , the figure is 3 employees per pensioner .
the Commission will make every possible effort to support the Rotterdam Convention to enable these goals to be achieved .
you will have a second European Council in June .
our resolution is an expression of our shock and outrage , and of our solidarity with those who are being persecuted .
I have not been given the floor for six months .
the tabled document represents a good start , but it must now be promoted and publicised as much as possible .
as a result , this capacity - which is what guarantees life on Earth as we know it - is at risk of ending up in the hands of the very corporations that are defiling the planet , its natural resources and the climate .
what a fast changing flexible firm needs - a firm changing its production line every six months , its IT configuration every four months - is an adaptable , skilled , loyal and dedicated workforce , not a casualised and fragmented labour market .
the European agricultural model should genuinely make us stand out in the world and be an example to it .
I should like to say that the Slovenian Presidency is making efforts for a new common platform to be adopted at this session .
it is imperative that the means provided in the joint draft budget be restored .
I am happy that Parliament 's main recommendations for further simplification have been taken on board .
the ECURIE system requires that Member States promptly notify the Commission and all the Member States potentially affected when they intend to take counter measures if necessary , in order to protect the population against the effects of a radiological or nuclear accident .
it urged support for vulnerable groups , namely children at risk due to abuse and lack of education , healthcare , proper nutrition and opportunities to develop and achieve their potential .
however , I must at the same time express my disappointment and that of our group that the report was significantly altered during the voting on amendments in the relevant committee .
Seventhly , a review of existing import quota management regimes by the European Commission so as to ensure that EU-produced lamb is not exposed to unfair competition and that the option of sensitive produce status for sheep meat products be available to the European Union .
but should it not be for the people of Greece to have their say , not the dictators in this place ?
however , the courage of Madeira 's people in overcoming adversity was equally striking .
gross domestic product must remain the principal eligibility criterion , but we must take other indicators into account to provide a more complete picture of the regional situation .
I welcome the prospect of having a country with a strong democratic tradition and a solid civic culture as a new EU Member State .
against the background of the impressive progress Macedonia has achieved I strongly suggest that the Commission could start accession negotiations already in 2008 .
therefore , it is with pleasure that we note the progress being made concerning the countries of the western Balkans and Turkey , as well as the fact that Iceland has submitted an application for membership .
however , our recommendation and claim are extremely well formulated in paragraph 8 of the resolution , in which we call for exactly the same thing , in other words for research work on links between bee mortality and the use of pesticides to be stepped up with a view to taking appropriate measures in terms of the authorisation of these products .
( ES ) Mr President , Commissioner , I would like to begin by congratulating Mr Turmes on his report and the Commission on its initiative .
on behalf of the S & D Group . - Mr President , the model of power sharing between the state and the members of society determines the content of political decisions , while the predictability of the decision-making process and the correct enforcement of decisions are guaranteed by the honesty , professionalism and independence of the judiciary .
I am ready to look at it and see what the Commission can do to help .
fourthly , supervisory rights should be defined more precisely at EU level , such as in the case of possible intervention into the activities of financial institutions , which will include the right to stop paying dividends or stop activities that pose unjustified risks .
this death sentence came as an enormous shock , even in countries with a large Muslim population .
we know that , however small the amounts of money we are talking about , if malpractice starts to appear , our reputation will be damaged for a long time .
it is in this spirit , ladies and gentlemen , that I intend , together with French ministers , to shoulder this responsibility .
there is no universal solution to the problem of low aid effectiveness but one step should be serious and swift changes to the administration framework through further centralisation , as we are continuously losing time and human lives .
discrimination of this kind has no place in a modern society and I reject the efforts of some political groups to weaken the legislation in this regard .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , Belarus is the last European country with which the European Union does not have an agreement on mutual relations .
this will lower costs for companies in this sector .
since then we have been working out a whole series of new proposals to begin to reply to the challenge of high and growing oil prices : on energy efficiency , on cars , on fuel quality , on renewable energy .
the electorate has given you a clear mandate to do this .
I welcome the strategic approach of the smoking issue , including passive smoking , as well as the proposal of concrete and exigent actions to fight against it and its negative consequences at a European level .
before authorising a ship to fly their respective flag , Member States have to check that it complies with international rules .
the oral question to the Commission by Michael Cashman , Monika Flašíková Beňová and Claude Moraes , on behalf of the S & D Group , on violation of the freedom of expression and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in Lithuania - B7-0005 / 2011 ) .
nor , indeed , has any attempt whatsoever been made to ask the question of whether Europe would not be wiser to confine itself to a number of carefully defined core tasks .
I would simply like to mention that I had a meeting with the Tunisian Prime Minister yesterday .
transparency is essential so that policy-makers and investors can make informed judgements ; so is the willingness to follow through with tough indispensable decisions .
we have completely rehabilitated the national drug quality control laboratory .
the western stocks are , economically speaking , the most significant stocks of horse mackerel living in EU waters .
ship inspection and survey organisations ( Directive recast ) (
( NL ) Mr President , Jerusalem is the only , the eternal and the indivisible capital of the Jewish State of Israel .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , it is a great pleasure for me to have an opportunity to speak to you this morning .
however , we object to the wording in paragraph 8 , which states that a gradual and sharp reduction in the tax burden on mid to low-level salaries and pensions must be introduced , with tax deductions , revised tax rates and compensation for fiscal drag .
we need to bring protection and production together in the management of our forests in order to ensure the viability of their environmental , social and economic functions .
there was a time when Europe knew who was good , who was bad and why .
as an integrated strategy , it is , in principle , not bad , but ...
in absolute terms , it seems that most of the defendants are Muslims , but I am aware that the blasphemy laws have often been used against religious minorities , and that false accusations have been made as a way of settling personal scores or for reasons of financial greed .
that is the reality !
we shall keep an eye on you , and shall support you again if further proposals are needed .
so , between these two extremes , what should we do ?
I think it is unanimously agreed that logistics should be developed and made more efficient , more environmentally friendly .
it is essential as I said in my report from more than a decade ago that we have a binding legal basis for our code of conduct on arms exports .
but we have plenty of time to come back to that , should the Treaty indeed come into force .
the first one , as you will remember , was in July 1988 , in Brittany .
fifty seven people were killed , women were raped , people were injured - they convey a bloody message .
combating deforestation and forest degradation , as well as the sustainable conservation and management of forests , are key elements of a future international climate change agreement .
the University , which is appealing for financial support , provides education and training in a universal value system , and particularly for students from poor families .
preventing this threat is obviously a political priority .
we have work to do now and we must not waste any time .
as Europe , we are well schooled in concluding intra-Community agreements .
however , we do need to ensure that the situation does not get completely out of control .
I would like to highlight the work of Marianne Thyssen , who has managed to secure agreement at the first reading .
I would like to look at two elements of the media law .
Commissioner , indicating ' rosé wine ' on the bottle is pointless , since good rosé wines , such as the Bandol that I have brought you , do not specify the word ' rosé ' .
it also involves the provision of interpretation services at meetings of coordinators , trialogues , delegations , parliamentary assemblies and others .
we must therefore strengthen all possible control procedures . the CE system must be reinforced both on our borders , as some Members have said , but also in our internal markets , and especially in the commercial networks .
it was prevented from unloading in Durban , but there are reports of it heading to Angola to deliver those weapons to be used to harm the people of Zimbabwe .
so I will submit a report towards the end of 2007 on the development of service quality and on suitable measures to tackle the problems .
consumers should be provided with all the details regarding the trip they intend to make .
Mr President , the Belgian Presidency has rightly received praise from all quarters .
I do not understand why we are not taking the following route . Eurobonds are a sensible solution .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , tomorrow , you will adopt the resolution on the 2010 progress report on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia .
we believe that the EU also has to be honest about itself , and really to consider to what extent it was also implicated in corruption .
cohesion policy resources must be made available immediately and promptly to the real beneficiaries at regional and local level .
this is not the position taken by farmers in other Member States .
the whole of Europe , except for Belarus , is already on board , and more and more states from all continents are joining an ever-growing list of abolitionist countries .
it is a catalogue of all the rights , privileges and exorbitant rights of ordinary law which , according to him , should necessarily be granted to minorities , especially if they are non-European .
Mr President , it is both good and necessary for this House to concern itself about the fate of the Roma .
the vote will take place at 12.00 noon .
if , however , we want to take a real political decision , then we must strengthen Frontex further with a logistical infrastructure and proper jurisdiction .
you have my sincere thanks .
( PT ) Yesterday was International Women 's Day .
I am going to finish , Mr President , and to conclude I would like to thank sincerely all those who worked on this report .
the European Union has the power to ask it - and I believe that there is an urgent need for this , both in the interests of security and in the interests of the policing of shipping and climate preservation - to continue initiatives which could produce surplus energy .
due to the changes that have taken place in the meantime , particularly as a result of the 2005 World Trade Organisation ( WTO ) Agreement on Textiles and Clothing , the removal of the first proof of origin for products seems to be justified , and I therefore voted for the repeal of this regulation .
it is therefore even more important to adopt appropriate rules for the markets quickly .
I have thrown the full weight of my support behind this agreement .
I would like to thank Mr Watson for his excellent work .
I personally hope that inspections are intensified right now - before Christmas .
regarding global governance in particular , efforts aimed at implementing the UN reform agenda should intensify .
there has to be a break with the free movement of persons , which has led us , which has led you , to accept and even to recommend , as the only means of replacing future generations , a mass immigration policy , the disastrous consequences of which we can clearly observe today .
it is purely a propaganda term .
we should be alert to this .
these are public political commitments .
I voted against the report .
the vote will take place tomorrow , Thursday 31 January 2008 .
I think they are among the worst as regards mortality , and very tough measures are therefore needed to enable these very valuable stocks to recover .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I appreciated the exchange of views on the report , which testify the commitment of Parliament to the cause of human rights .
what part of the research from the 7th programme is to be used in the areas you have mentioned - that is , in furthering knowledge in the fields of language , culture , history and linguistics ?
it is easy to predict that if the promised USD 5 billion does not arrive , then it is people who will arrive .
we , as Europe , can take the initiative , as was suggested by the Slovenian Presidency at our Human Rights Subcommittee in Brussels only last week .
I doubt it .
violations of children 's rights , violence against children , the trade in children for illegal adoptions , prostitution , illegal work or for begging on the streets : these continue to be an enormous problem for the EU .
it is very clear that in certain circumstances , better exchange is needed , and indeed , like the savings tax , the automatic exchange does have benefits .
it is clear that the major players for the future of cohesion policy are the regions and not the Member States .
the implementation , especially in large urban concentrations , of intelligent transport systems in order to control traffic will prevent traffic jams which cost the European Union approximately 1 % per year of its gross domestic product .
they were negligent .
thank you .
22 .
the Commission is not convinced of the need to put in place a specific and separate post-electoral protocol mechanism for that purpose .
I hope that he will continue the work with the same impetus .
the fight against climate change is an absolute priority globally .
the EU 's trade policy plays an important and decisive role in allowing agriculture to continue providing a positive contribution to the accomplishment of objectives .
finally , the defence of the EU regime for authorising and marketing GMOs is a point to which I attach particular importance .
our group would expect the presidency and the Commission to undertake swift and radical actions and measures vis-à-vis our energy partners , Russia and Ukraine , to restore gas supplies .
if we are talking about a low-carbon economy , how are we going to deliver that ?
we should listen to their demands .
some MEPs are mistaken when they proclaim that ' the Europe of health is now a reality ' .
increased attention needs to be focused on defining a new digital agenda , 2015.eu , which is intended to be more competitive and innovative than the i2010 strategy launched recently , especially with regard to its educational and cultural aspects .
Madam President , I would like to thank the Commissioner for his response .
Europe 's vision must be freedom and opportunity for all .
currently , all of these areas are significantly under-funded .
in writing . - ( RO ) I supported , by voting , the proposal for a decision regarding the designation of the year 2010 as the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion .
this is repeated constantly .
that is the credibility of a statesman and a politician .
two hundred and fifty thousand people are being held in overcrowded camps with poor drinking water and medical supplies .
Mr President , like many of my colleagues in the House today , I welcome the amendments that are intended to improve the Commission 's proposals in line with the rapporteur 's proposals .
those responsible should not complain if this fear of citizens again goes against official Europe in the subsequent European elections .
the rest has gone to developed countries , European ones in particular .
if we are to get off on the right foot , the first thing we need to do is to establish solid cooperation on these issues with Turkey , as the basic country of origin .
it re-establishes the double penalty for Internet users denied access to the web but required to continue to pay their subscription .
whether you are a believer or not , looking back into history , it is thanks to international trade that our countries have become prosperous .
we need everyone who is in favour of this common Europe to make it clear that President Klaus , too , must sign the treaty and that we do not need anything to undermine the process leading to the realisation of the Treaty of Lisbon .
it represents an appreciation that the EU is rooted in strong values such as freedom , democracy , respect for human rights , cultural diversity , tolerance and solidarity .
( EL ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , over the past few days , we have experienced an unprecedented upheaval in our lives .
consequently a new kind of crime emerges .
1989 was a year of profound change in many parts of the world , with , as I recall , the fall of the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile and the Tiananmen uprising in China .
over the course of its history , mankind has to a large extent developed in line with each society 's ability to accept the priority of agricultural policies .
almost every family in Latvia , Lithuania and Estonia , as well as in other former Soviet republics , suffered as a result of the horrific violence perpetrated by the totalitarian , Communist regime .
this document is important as the interconnection of the energy infrastructure must be a priority .
seventy percent of the protein rich crops required for animal feeds are imported from Brazil , Argentina and the US .
on Thursday we shall adopt a set of rules that promotes trade in goods in the internal market to best effect while at the same time - and this is so important - protecting consumers by means of better surveillance .
migration from the Schengen Information System ( SIS 1 + ) to the second generation Schengen Information System ( SIS II ) ( without the United Kingdom and Ireland ) (
together , we should make the most of this opportunity because we can provide an excellent example here .
if the Commission would like to come and look at my farm , it has been farmed for 3 000 years before Christ was born , and continues to be farmed .
despite some populist measures against poverty when he was in government , Mr Thaksin represents the capitalist elite and deceives the masses .
in times of economic difficulty , such as those we are experiencing just now - incidentally owing to serious erroneous decisions by incompetent managers - there is ever increasing pressure on workers .
we must not dilute it by using it for other purposes , such as debt cancellation , where money is simply moved from one post to another in the donor countries .
the reason for this is that we have got some new proposals from the European Commission and maybe it is possible to polish up some of the wordings of the resolution .
( applause )
I believe that it is necessary to improve governance in the area of regional policy with a view to making the management of the Structural Funds and of cohesion policy not only more effective , but also more balanced .
there are two new challenges .
I therefore welcome the Commission 's intention to assess the results of the German or British model first and only then to consider the possible way forward , not being pushed into a blind alley by the Socialists .
for the wife , it is considered normal , but the husband gets asked why he spends half the day changing nappies and does he not feel this has set him back career-wise .
last , but not least , I want to tell you that , at the end of November , we held , organised by the Commission , the first European Sport Forum in Biarritz , where people from sport - 300 participants from different associations , federations , but also the Commission and Member States - met .
the main objective of this exercise is to align the timetable for presenting the stability and growth programmes and the national reform programmes , with a view to ensuring consistent structural surveillance at every level of budgetary discipline , macro-economic stability and growth , whilst preserving formally separated individual procedures .
as far as we are concerned in France , our consumers can continue to take advantage of the protection offered by the ' latent defect ' guarantee or the preservation of our very protective legislation for door-to-door selling .
Romania and Bulgaria , which joined the European Union on 1 January 2007 , only now have the opportunity to propose a commissioner for an entire five-year term .
we shall also be voting against the amendments by the Confederal Group of the European United Left / Nordic Green Left , as they are contrary to sound proposals by the Greek Government , and it is wrong for the European Parliament to put paid to these .
( applause )
we have a number of questions because we feel , quite honestly , that the European Union - and this applies to the Commission and perhaps also to the Council - has devoted too little attention to oil price trends .
however , it is right for us to give guarantees for investments , for example .
however , the question I wish to ask you relates to the question that was asked by my colleague , Mr Tavares .
what we are lacking is a social union .
what the world has learnt from the last few weeks is that our approach to market regulation is outdated .
Mr Costa is therefore putting the following question to the Commission .
this is why the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs was keen for the whole package to be based not only on Article 121 of the Treaty , which deals with the coordination of economic policies , but on Article 148 also , which deals with employment policy in terms of coordination between the responsibilities of Member States and the European level .
in the opinion of many eminent scientists , however , man 's influence on these changes is not very great .
it is an identification system which enables us to know the provenance of any animal transiting Community territory and be assured that it is in good health ; it is a guarantee for the consumer and that has to be good for the farmer , because he is going to get more for his meat .
I am generalising on purpose because I do not wish to point the finger at individual Member States that refuse to express their opinion on this important issue .
this has a significant economic and social dimension .
additional funds must also be allocated , taken from the contributions made by the states signing the global agreement , which reflect the economic development and solvency of these states .
I must say that I am also personally pleased by the introduction of a European rail driver 's licence - for that is what is meant by ' certification of train drivers ' .
I would like to remind you that 8 000 Russian troops are currently stationed in Abkhazia and South Ossetia , including in places where they were present before the start of the conflict .
surely this compromise risks the result that the vast majority of European industries will be exonerated of any ecological constraints ?
I thank the rapporteur , Mr Romeva , for his political sense and cooperation .
we cannot continue to stand by and remain indifferent to the play that is being enacted , to the sideshow of sexual exploitation that is unfolding before our eyes .
we have the basis on which to act .
by the end of September 2008 , around 12 000 SMEs had received financing through the SME Guarantee Facility , with applications received from 17 Member States .
this leads to financial and legal problems for these women in relation to the right to maternity and sick leave , the acquisition of pension rights and access to social security .
there will be teenagers in council estates in my constituency who are now facing higher charges so that a number of businesspeople , MEPs and Commissioners can talk more cheaply when abroad .
the EU ought to be a frontrunner , as it is so splendidly put - in other words it should take the lead and set a good example .
I count on your support .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , I congratulate Mrs Lynne on a very hands-on report on this important subject .
( SL ) There is nothing more destructive and humiliating than a feeling of exclusion , insignificance and impotence .
what is your view of these unplanned liabilities within the euro system ?
we were never meant to be the policeman for the farmers within the Union and the fairy godmother for the farmers in the rest of the world .
the trans-European networks have not always been successful .
participation by citizens , therefore , and issues dealt with at European level .
I believe that the Commission 's Declaration , especially what it said about negligence and the establishment of liability , will help us to continue making progress on this issue .
how can we finally bring an end to the inefficient and wasteful allocation of funding and to the political connivance in this area ?
it is therefore vital that the proposed stress tests take into account the multiple , complex , geometric consequences of a disaster event .
I am fully confident that the review will be carried out by the Irish Government in a way that recognises the importance of social dialogue , includes all the social partners , and complies with Community law .
in the economic recovery plan approved by the Commission and endorsed by the Council , we propose that , between now and 2010 , an additional EUR 4 billion from unused Community budget resources be mobilised for trans-European energy networks and related investments .
is that what it is ?
as has been said , spectrum is a scarce resource , but it is also a public good , and we have the responsibility to use it as well and as efficiently as possible - a point that Ms Trautmann also made .
guaranteeing independent impact assessments (
I am therefore pleased that we can now also give our support to the oral amendment , which I hope will gain the support of everyone and which will give us more resources to be able to provide to countries like Egypt and Tunisia .
I think that this absurdity is unacceptable in Europe .
in the event that a project is altered as a result of changes to the ownership of infrastructure or the ending of production activities and this change influences the nature of the project or the conditions under which it is implemented , or where the changes provide the firm or the public body with an unfair advantage , the grant must be returned .
remaining obstacles call for a policy response , and that is why we still need policies geared towards gender , both at national and European level .
the efforts made by these states through improving their own economies and fiscal policies in order to adopt the single currency must be welcomed .
I sincerely hope that , together with Guillermo Fariñas , another Cuban laureate from 2005 , the Ladies in White - Las Damas de Blanco - will also be able to collect the Sakharov Prize in person .
but what I would say to my colleagues in the House is , actually , let us look at what the real problem is .
therefore , long-term development strategies are often lacking .
the law also makes it hard to justify the international community 's massive military and financial assistance to Afghanistan .
experience shows that cars are an early indicator of economic trends .
the next and last item is the debate on the report by Frithjof Schmidt , on behalf of the Committee on Development , on policy coherence for development and the effects of the EU 's exploitation of certain biological natural resources on development in West Africa ( INI / 2007 / 2183 ) .
I think that is a further step in the direction that you have pointed out .
who would ever have thought it ?
this is something that far too many signatory states seem to be ignoring today .
so , Mr Hans-Peter Martin , who has also asked for the floor , can see an example of how we can deal in a very efficient way with this type of co-decision procedure .
in other words , the causes of a number of supposed terrorist activities must be tackled .
in light of the delays and of the general mismanagement , Parliament is calling for the Commission to put together a coordination team to oversee planning and scheduling , review the use of the funds allocated to date and decide whether EU aid will still be required after 2013 .
the Directive legitimises up to 18 months ' detention for people whose only ' crime ' is to seek a better life for themselves and their family in Europe .
it is therefore also fitting for the motion for a resolution to highlight the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal as one of the specific cases on which to focus in the coming period , among other things , by representatives of the EU taking up the case with the US authorities , the US administration and , of course , the US President too .
we deleted the name ' Macedonia ' .
the purpose of the directive cannot be to throw the book at everyone who commits even the most trivial environmental transgression but rather to combat significant offences .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to express my sincere thanks - including specifically to the President for giving me one minute longer .
the fact that the construction of the European judicial space finds such a broad consensus in Parliament is important .
( DE ) Madam President , President of the European Council , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to briefly address two points .
very many European companies have invested in China , building or acquiring factories there .
instead of learning from this fact , EU bodies have approved an incredible 519 regulations and 68 directives since 1 July last year , in other words over the space of 9 months .
the Agency will in fact have to play a crucial role in the introduction of the ERTMS system , not only by laying down the specifications of this harmonised signalling system , but also by guaranteeing the technical compatibility of fixed equipment fitted with different versions .
Mr Bhatti was the only Christian in the government of Pakistan and a well-known advocate of respect for human rights and religious freedom .
the June List is therefore of the opinion that the updating of current legislation in the area is welcome , but at the same time I would like to warn against ill-concealed protectionism .
every one of us in this House knows that even if the Slovak Parliament adopts a resolution of this kind , the Beneš decrees can no longer have any legal effect .
people are quite simply afraid of mass immigration to Europe following the major events in North Africa recently .
for the time being , though , we need to concentrate on real change , and that is why I urge the Commission , and in particular the Council , to support the modification of the European Solidarity Fund .
under President Ma , Taiwan has made great strides towards normalising its trade relations with China and trying to end the obstructionist attitude that Beijing 's communist rulers have previously taken towards commercial relations with Taiwan .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
at the same time , I would like to point out that many women consciously and freely choose to work in the home on behalf of the family .
I would give only one example : crisis distillation , which has now become a routine structural measure and is no longer a means of responding to emergency situations .
as the report stated , these losses and frozen resources were basically imposed due to irregularities regarding invitations to tender and eligibility of expenditure , failure to use investment funds for their intended purpose and to a lack of administrative capacity , amongst other reasons .
( the President cut off the speaker )
I want to join my colleagues in their initiative to introduce consistent implementation of the Posting of Workers Directive in all Member States .
because it is a collective body that can reach decisions with due regard to the pros and cons in each case .
in our group , we are of the opinion that amendments are very much part of the political culture and political debate and , particularly , of the rights of individual groups - and this right of the groups should not be curtailed .
in writing . - ( RO ) I voted this report because it renders very well the moment of the intervention required to reduce the negative influence of marketing and publicity on equality between men and women , namely : the first years of a child 's socialisation .
yes , there is a need to control the use of agrochemicals - we all accept that - and , if not used sustainably , they can be hazardous to the user and the environment .
not many jobs will be created immediately with that money .
the second point naturally concerns the energy issue .
outstanding features of European poverty are child poverty , growing youth unemployment , the inferior position of women in the labour market , the exclusion of immigrants , the status of ethic minorities such as the Roma , and the plight of the unemployed of preretirement age .
in writing . - UKIP is totally opposed to people-trafficking as it is a modern day version of slavery .
that was a mandate that already existed in the Treaties of Rome .
what came through in those speeches was a fear that patients from Member States with a lower standard of living or a lower national health budget would clog up doctors ' surgeries in the richest countries , meaning that patients from those countries would be squeezed out .
it also means continuing to see Kosovo within the wider framework set for the Western Balkans at the Thessaloniki Summit in 2003 .
250 km is clearly too large a distance , since it completely excludes Malta , Cyprus and Luxembourg .
it is very important to us that we quickly reach a new negotiating mandate and , if possible , before the summer break , so that we can quickly gain clarity in detailed questions on how we should handle this data and what data should be included .
I am voting against it for two main reasons : because the pact it aims to regulate is responsible for a decade of mediocre growth in Europe , and because its disciplinary measures are founded on sanctions that aggravate the problems it aims to solve .
in writing . - On the Pieper , Sanchez-Schmid , Stavrakakis , Vlasak and Mikolasik reports : Conservative MEPs have elected to reject these reports on the future direction of Cohesion policy , with the exception of the Vlasak report where we have abstained .
they strike in places where ordinary people should feel safe in their countries .
or perhaps it is the politicians who have lost touch with ordinary people ?
one recent example of this from Bulgaria are the events which took place on 20 May , when representatives of the nationalist party Attack became involved in clashes with Muslim worshippers outside the only mosque in Sofia .
I support this report , mainly because it talks about a common energy policy , and in particular about a common foreign energy policy .
this , in particular , is something that you need to disclose , because as yet , we have only seen the tip of the iceberg in terms of responsibility and we have not seen the system of irresponsibility that lies beneath it .
without protection for victims , we will never be able to prosecute the human traffickers .
in writing . - I abstained on the vote on Amendment 80 because , while the case for national governments to scrutinise the control of EEAS must be guaranteed , this amendment also guaranteed the right of the European Parliament to do the same .
we also have , as several Members have said , a club that not only accepts the largest and most developed countries , but also welcomes anyone who is prepared and ready to accept the rules of the European Union .
the success of the EU to date is due among other things to the fact that the opinion and voice of every Member State had the same weight in voting and thus could not be ignored .
I therefore call on everyone in this House to assume his or her responsibilities .
can the Commission comment on the views expressed by some food producers that the registration process is long and bureaucratic and therefore discourages applicants ?
they are also crucial to our future , because the food security of Europe and of the world depends on them .
in the last few weeks it has been abundantly clear that those who are sick of hearing about human rights are often the same people who apply that other principle of Realpolitik , namely erst das Fressen , dann die Moral , or ' food first , then morality ' , as Bertolt Brecht put it .
it is a great privilege for Slovenia and for Europe and I wish you great success in the Presidency .
at the last plenary session , we discussed the crisis in the car industry with Mr Verheugen .
Turkmenistan is one of the Central Asian countries the rapporteur mentions .
( DE ) Mr President , Mr Tannock referred to the Iranian ships that passed through the Suez Canal .
Madam President , in its neighbourhood policy , the Union 's objective has always been to export stability and not to import instability .
today I have added some complements and clarifications , but it is the same programme .
in other words , to put the tyrant and the oppressor in a good light , while condemning their victims and the ones they oppressed .
does the man on the street know when it is possible to appeal to the Commission ?
it has been said a number of times that if you increase energy efficiency , you save money .
I believe that we can expect a fruitful cooperation with all groups .
I suggest the Commission , through the efforts of the High Representative , should develop an international agreement on this matter , which would be a guarantee of our common security .
here gender policies have been imposed consistently , and gradually stereotypes are being overcome .
one issue of transatlantic cooperation concerns a healthy environment - novel foods and the use of new technologies in food production .
this matter will have repercussions for generations to come and so requires firm , guiding , immediate and sensible action such as the EU has taken with other issues , for example , the financial crisis .
the next item is the vote .
the committee meets this evening , and the debate on the report remains on the agenda for Wednesday .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( CS ) I first of all wish to thank my fellow Member , Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou , for her good report and pleasant cooperation .
the Commission has made this commitment and it is included in the statement that I have submitted to the Presidency .
air travel has changed dramatically in a very short period of time , benefiting passengers in a world that is becoming ever more globalised .
from this year on , however , 28 September will be a day marking the massacre perpetrated against opponents by the government installed by violence in Conakry .
finally , Prime Minister , well done on your initiative to stamp out gender violence ; I look forward to hearing the details .
the important role of public authorities in guaranteeing quality , access and sustainability of social services is mentioned and it is stated that investing in social services , in particular during the present financial and economic crisis , pays and can strengthen the growth potential and the cohesion of economies and societies .
the Commission is aware of the confidential nature of the information relating to planned projects .
when we get to Cancún , let us not be distracted by arguments about form .
I therefore expect that the published document will not only include new trends but will also evaluate new approaches and measures such as support for healthy forms of transport , for example cycling and walking .
we are aware of the extent of the current crisis in the motor industry , and doing this at this point in time sends an extremely important signal .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
however , it does not refer specifically to domestic violence .
these reassuring statements are naturally consistent with our thoughts on the application of Article 5 of Directive 2001 / 55 / EC .
this seminar , together with the meeting of Directors-General of compulsory education , which incidentally took place the day before , focused on the difficulties pupils experience in acquiring basic skills , that is to say , their mother tongue , sciences and mathematics , as well as on the experience of Member States and the policy guidelines to be developed as regards the prevention of early school leaving .
for example , if one of them is Fessenheim , a power station which , as the French supervisory body has said , is not adequately protected against high water or earthquakes , then you should publicise the names of the sites which represent a risk .
this is firstly the case because they are going to respond to the type of crisis that occurred as a result of this serious economic situation affecting the whole of the EU and , in particular , the euro area system .
how are we to implement it ?
however , in spite of this progress , this regulation 's scope of application does not enable us to tackle completely the problems relating to illegal , unreported and unregulated fishing .
there are indications that mortality and morbidity rates in clones after birth are higher than in sexually-reproduced animals .
the EULEX mission , the largest mission under the common European Security and Defence Policy to date , is already underway .
nevertheless , I emphasize the fact that this act refers only to countries that are not part of the European Union area ; therefore , the measure cannot be justified in this way .
we have taken the difficult step of allowing product placement so that private TV broadcasters , in competition with Google and other rivals , will be able to offer free-to-air TV services in future .
we need this cooperation at local , national and international level .
on what we said about India , Prime Minister Singh has made it clear he is very committed .
with this in mind , I can therefore fully support the text before us today .
thank you very much .
there should be an emphasis on decentralising the public sector and extending transport networks .
I have to say I am astonished at how things are presented here .
just because Turkey is a NATO member state does not mean that the country should also be able to join the European Union .
like any change , there are some concerns about its outcome .
since 1990 , approximately 6 000 companies valued at EUR 700 billion have been privatised fraudulently .
ensuring that animals are healthy is the best means of avoiding infection and the use of antibiotics .
the inappropriate russophobia of the text is partially redeemed by the objective statement of the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy , which should become the guide to formulating a new document .
I would just like to mention one thing , which has not come up throughout the debate : 50 % of the survivors recovered from the rubble during the first 78 hours were saved by teams from Europe and the Member States .
regarding inclusion , I would like to draw your attention to the Commission communication on active inclusion , which is one of the documents outlining the Commission 's strategy in this area .
in the context of energy security , it is particularly important to promote energy efficiency and the development of renewable energy , and secure the required financing for such projects .
that is why I have pleaded for moderation .
in addition , in connection with language rights , I would consider it important that along with making buildings accessible , documents ( including electronic versions ) should also contain appropriate information about how the visually impaired can gain access ( what the recommended software packages are ) .
this report allows us to make the aid we grant an already devastated country dependent on that country 's undertaking to give up all forms of trade protectionism .
in writing . - GDP ( gross domestic product ) is the aggregated added value of all money-based economic activities .
( GA ) Madam President , without a doubt , this is a much more important question than the publicity it will receive .
this is something that we need to weigh up together .
a nice sum of EUR 3 000 per member for a staff allowance , a good job on the side in the House of European History ( for those fortunate enough to have the right connections ) , a totally unnecessary and terribly expensive European TV channel , a prestigious satellite project called Galileo , all of which is leading increasingly to financial disaster .
despite the good harvest forecasts - the fourth in a row now - stocks at the beginning of the harvest stood at a low level .
he is a Head of Government whom I value and who has been extraordinarily helpful in the battle against the financial crisis , but he decides , for his country , to reduce VAT .
furthermore , we must not merely be happy for Europe to be a continent of consumption .
the increase in the number of reported cases was caused by the introduction of new communication technologies .
( CS ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I welcome the enterprising report by the rapporteur , Mrs Jensen , because the decreasing quality of ground handling services has , over the last while , become an increasingly urgent issue and the true Achilles ' heel of the aviation industry .
this in no way reflects our views on the content of the report .
quite a few of us know the Freedom of Information Act , and quite a few of us have experience of the way in which things are done in the USA .
in writing . - ( NL ) Madam President , the tax authorities face a challenging task in the globalised , all-digital world .
( FI ) Mr President , I find it odd that people here have spoken of visibility and have doubted the motives of the United States of America , because right now help is needed .
it is very important for stakeholders to take the initiative , and I expect cities to put forward proposals and put pressure on Members of the European Parliament and on Member States to create Europe-wide instruments in the areas concerned .
they also wanted to protest against the intolerance and repression of a flawed regime .
this means the end of the European spirit .
in my opinion , the creation of a joint foreign and security policy cannot be achieved in the absence of dialogue with Russia .
will the protection of our common borders be more effective ?
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , a short time ago I heard some very serious and even slanderous statements made by a Maltese fellow Member against the Italian Government and Minister Maroni in particular .
there is no obligation for the countries to do anything new if they can prove that the objectives of the directive have been met .
symptoms include diarrhoea and dehydration .
I welcome the call on the Somali Transitional Government , in collaboration with the United Nations and the African Union , to treat piracy and armed robbery committed from the Somali coast against vessels carrying humanitarian aid as criminal acts to be pursued by arresting the perpetrators under existing international law .
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there is also a need for dialogue at grassroots level and participation in civil society .
why did we not seize this opportunity ?
it is the Commission which is charged with assessing and acting on such issues as are laid out in the Treaties , and as requested by this Parliament only a few months ago .
I myself took part in drawing up the alternative resolution , and it is perhaps apposite to mention why we set about drafting an alternative to Mr Graça Moura 's highly commendable work .
Mr Barroso , the PPE Group has faith in you ; it asks you to be bold , to reform .
Madam President , I , too , wish to speak about the current economic crisis , but from a different perspective .
it recognises the prime role of Member States in promoting the health and safety agenda .
if you had said that women had to work for 46 % of what a man earns , we would have said that this was discrimination .
it is a symptom of the success of programmes such as ' Youth in Action ' that Switzerland requests that the mobility of our European programmes be extended to their young people and therefore , it is of significant importance that Switzerland is not only requesting a larger economic area but also a larger educational area .
ladies and gentlemen , it has very frequently been said over the past year that relations between the European Union and Russia should be made more pragmatic , and already I myself have heard people question this point : whether therefore , the European Union is just throwing aside human rights , basic values and the subject of democracy .
I accept that , and that is why I have suggested that Mr Gollnisch makes his point of order when the President is present .
this is a very big problem - not only for Third World countries , but also within the European Union , as there is a very serious brain drain from the east to the west .
- ( FR ) Mr Borloo , Mr Piebalgs , Mr Dimas , ladies and gentlemen , first of all I would like to congratulate the French Presidency on the efforts it is making to conclude this climate change package .
thirdly , reforming the Trans-European Energy Networks ( TENs-E ) ; here , the energy security legislation package approved by the Commission in November 2008 also includes the Green Paper on European energy networks .
( NL ) Madam President , Commission President , President-in-Office of the Council , ladies and gentlemen , these are difficult times , transitional times , times of change - but interesting times too .
what is more , I would like to remind you that Benazir Bhutto spoke of this in an interview for Al Jazeera on 2 November 2007 , and also named bin Laden 's assassin , Omar Sheikh , whom President Musharraf in his latest book claims was a former agent of the British MI6 .
I also agree with the request for the institutions involved in the process to make the necessary efforts to speed up the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) and with Parliament 's position , deploring the Commission 's serious shortcomings in carrying out programmes for competitiveness and innovation , particularly during an economic crisis which greatly increases the need for such support .
the UK has been politically taken over .
we need to remember that , although such new approaches as these applied in the fishing sector are necessary , woefully little is known about the recovery of deep sea fish species , and all in all the threats to the deep sea ecosystems are much greater .
I warmly congratulate Mr Schmitt on his election to the Hungarian Parliament and on his being elected speaker .
the tourism industry plays an important role in the economies of every European nation and is absolutely vital in many rural areas such as the Scottish Highlands and Islands .
today , however , thanks to the tenacity of our rapporteur - and I should like to pay tribute here to Mr El Khadraoui - and of the shadow rapporteurs in their negotiations with the Council , we have a compromise before us at long last .
I would now like to address the issue of the House of European History : I am all for this idea in principle .
I cite these because I believe that all the arguments that have been advanced are ultimately spurious and have not provided clear answers to the fundamental question .
as you have rightly said , it is estimated that by 2050 , the number of people with dementia will have doubled in Europe .
finally , I have to say that I do not agree with the section on immigration , because anyone who thinks that the concept of circular migration can put a stop to the brain drain from Africa and the pressure of immigration on Europe is , I fear , seriously deluding themselves as far as this is concerned .
this committee is chaired by Professor Jane Grimson of Trinity College , Dublin , an eminent academic in her own right .
emissions rights at the exchanges will also be added to the price of the electricity for whose production they are not needed .
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we stand up to China over Tibet ; we stand up to China over human rights ; it is time we stood up to China over Taiwan .
such is the case with the polluter pays principle , which may just serve to protect those who have the money to pay for pollution .
naturally , this is not to say that GMOs , which are artificial , are bad , but as yet we do not have conclusive scientific data proving beyond any doubt that they are good for you .
from the perspective of national health , it is of the utmost importance that the medication should be effective , high quality and safe .
this is a false problem because there are not two armies in our Member States , a NATO army and a European Union army .
objective 2 programmes must focus in future on strengthening the regions ' capacity to contribute effectively to sustainable economic development in Ireland and Europe that is greener and smarter .
what actions are you intending to take , then ?
I wish to point out that there are rules on small businesses and combined heat and power that are very important for the industry .
we have a register of documents .
I call on the Commissioner to make DG SANCO 's policy mandatory for all DGs .
this is why the Commission wanted to put forward a balanced proposal and why it has outlined 10 key principles so that we can go forward together .
the problem that arose most often in this debate , apart from the specific challenges of 2009 and the need to manage European taxpayers ' money frugally , was definitely the problem of Members ' assistants .
I believe it is wrong to treat privatisation and liberalisation of public services as the standard response to globalisation .
in my opinion , this Parliament would do better to reflect on the impact of such decisions on ordinary Europeans for once instead of thinking about the day-to-day practical worries of foreign students .
perhaps we should do the opposite .
the current situation in Bahrain - which is of strategic importance with regard to the equilibrium in the Gulf - and which , underneath the appearance of normality , is very tense , with the ongoing detention of people who are accused of nothing more than violating the right to free expression .
what we actually expect , in the greatest economic crisis for decades which is combined with environmental challenges , is a Presidency which shows leadership and vision .
an overwhelming majority of the public are finding this difficult to understand , and they are increasingly refusing to accept such powerlessness .
so it serves no useful purpose to decry it as some kind of ' Bolkestein directive ' .
the debate is closed .
all of us - the Council , the Commission and individual governments must strive to ensure that the first thing that young people experience in the labour market is not unemployment , but training and further education , so that they are better equipped for the labour market .
to begin with , I should like to congratulate Mr Swoboda and Mr Meijer for preparing the two reports on the progress achieved by Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia .
in these cases , either we will very quickly rise to global level with the help of scientists , or by the end of the twenty-first century , we will be going to the cinema to fish for the last Nemos .
the potential agreement covers a broad range of topics : trade in goods and services , intellectual property rights , public procurement , regulatory cooperation , investment , temporary migration , competition policy and employment and environmental standards .
this is the DRUID project , of which you are well aware .
holding people in detention centres is an extremely restricted measure of last resort and the 18-month detention period is the absolute upper limit to be used in very exceptional cases only .
in writing . - ( NL ) As a lawyer , I cannot possibly accept the imposition of a reversal of the burden of proof at European level , as proposed in the new anti-discrimination directive .
last but not least , the EU is doing too little at the moment in terms of research into this disease about which too little is still known .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , as regards the regulation on additives , my group welcomed the proposal to modernise and harmonise European legislation and supported the rapporteur Mrs Westlund in her efforts to secure sustainable protection of consumers and their health , in particular the vulnerable groups of the population .
from a global point of view the situation around the world is not encouraging .
solidarity is not so necessary when all is well and everyone is happy .
the Committee on Development approved my report unanimously .
instead , the Council and the European Parliament are in fact proposing the BERT recommendation , with fundamental responsibility for better implementation of the regulatory framework for telecommunications services , without getting involved in issues of network security or integrity .
if , every year , we lost an asset with the value of the New York Stock Exchange , I am sure everybody in this room would be up and running around , but because it is biodiversity , nobody seems to care .
Mr President , I should like to start by conveying my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has contributed to this report .
for various reasons , this Statute did not enter into force in this form until 8 October 2004 .
where there is a risk that the harvest might be lost , ignorance and the lack of proper assistance to farmers can lead to the uncontrolled use of pesticides .
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the EP rightly calls on the EU to eradicate abuses of tax havens , tax evasion and illicit capital flight from developing countries .
even so we must make every effort to get democratic conditions restored and the rights of the opposition reinstated .
the Commission is conducting an intensive debate with the international community and the Thai Government , in a search for possible solutions .
the authorities are systematically persecuting opposition activists . they have brought in restrictions on travel abroad by members of the clergy and religious instruction teachers .
anyone who says that it is not possible to distinguish between information and advertising is insulting hundreds of thousands of journalists who clearly demonstrate every day in their work in newspapers , on the radio or on television that there is a difference between information and advertising .
however , changes are also needed and I shall mention two .
he has also announced giveaways of GBP 20 billion , while taking back GBP 40 billion in higher taxes .
under the original regulation , Article 31 EAEC ( which focuses on the group of persons who might be subject to radioactive contamination ) was considered the most appropriate legal basis as Article 168 TFEU ( which regulates public health ) did not exist .
energy efficiency and a sustainable energy supply must become long-term EU objectives .
the European Union recognised the particular nature of the cooperative movement in 2003 in adopting the Regulation on the Statute for a European Cooperative Society .
those organisations provide essential services to millions of Sudanese in Darfur and in other areas of Sudan .
that spirit is the context for the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund .
this means fighting piracy and therefore strengthening Operation Atalanta .
in response to today 's crises , the national dimension and intergovernmental decisions are not sufficient , nor are simple solutions , even if they are based on statistical models .
however , particularly in the area of human rights , as well as social and environmental standards , the EU repeatedly hits a brick wall when other countries with which it has concluded bilateral trade agreements have different opinions in this regard .
( PL ) Mr President , it appears worth pointing out during the budget debate , too , that the law is a fundamental element in the life of society , and its cohesion unites our continent .
the importance of improved energy savings is undeniable .
there is no prospect of an opening up in 2014 , as per Parliament 's request .
we voted against the Sacconi report on cars , as the agreement severely weakens the Commission proposal .
debt restructuring would , it appear , be a catastrophe - for private investors .
are we responsible for the Convention on Human Rights ?
we should therefore take prompt measures to change this situation , since the guarantees we have given that European food will be safe , healthy and of high quality will otherwise be proved empty words .
secondly , I would like to say that it is important to aim for two-way mediation between large and small systems , because concentrating on large systems will not bring the desired results .
the ENPI country programmes underpin the implementation of ENPI action plans and reflect the ambition of the EU and the partner countries .
there are technologies that do meet all of these requirements , meaning that x-rays , radiographs and naked images must be outmoded , which is where we are going wrong at the moment .
the result achieved in the trialogue will create the preconditions for this .
however , I believe that the CAP should make its priority the production of the so-called first generation of public goods , and its guiding principle food sovereignty , so that Member States can be self-sufficient .
these rules , which are carefully modelled on the rules the Council and the Commission already apply , define limits on the public 's right to access to documents , just as Article 255 requires , and there is nothing in the Treaty to prevent the institutions adopting these in the regulation .
meanwhile , air traffic over Europe continues to increase year-on-year .
as a result , we need to analyse , for example , what happened in Detroit to try to prevent mistakes , but we must not respond with a knee-jerk reaction after every attack because this would probably result in us adopting measures that , in some cases , would simply not make sense .
I really think that we should take a stand on this and consider whether we should not have tightened up the rules .
Sarajevo deserves a European spring .
this is a blemish on your Presidency .
however , experience shows that it is also a good thing to publish contracts on the Internet , as this makes it possible to familiarise the broader public with these contracts and to convince them of the advantages of the contracts .
my second point concerns ageing and the top-heavy age structure in this society .
the creation of a new EU strategy for youth is of crucial importance .
a working party was also set up between the three institutions specifically to deal with the technical aspects of the proposal in a number of meetings with the Belgian Presidency and the Commission .
the vehicles in question include , in particular , service vehicles ( special trucks and buses for operational support , infrastructure maintenance , road sweeping vehicles , etc . )
lastly , I would like to recall that this problem is not restricted to a single sector or a single country .
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we Social Democrats are absolutely clear in our opposition to this kind of arms race , this increase in weaponry , and also the laissez-faire attitude towards corruption .
the European Commission originally called for a 15 % retention in the consultation process but then bowed to pressure from industry and proposed 5 % .
my final point is that I am very surprised that EUR 450 million from the agriculture budget is being transferred to the ITER nuclear fusion project .
ENISA 's mandate expires half-way through next year by rotation .
one thing is certain , however : the rules of the system have to change .
the Dess report also calls for the development of food quality policy with geographical indications ( protected designations of origin ( PDO ) and protected geographical indications ( PGI ) ) , a necessary measure if we are to ensure the authenticity of local and regional food specialities .
they are not luxury goods that are only relevant to a particular gender or only to adults .
however , this also strengthens the need for the establishment of a peace and reconciliation commission as a confidence-building measure .
indeed , I would like to thank you and draw your attention to the need for our work together to keep the Galileo project as a great European project , and I would also like to thank you for support for the EIT project .
an operational plan is needed ; sea and air forces must be used in order to allow effective action .
I therefore encourage everyone in this Chamber to show sympathy with the hardworking taxpayers and with small-to-medium-sized businesses and put this prospective law in the waste bin .
I voted in favour of the report amending Regulation ( EC ) No 861 / 2006 .
I therefore support Parliament 's position which aims for a clearer definition of information and advertising .
a lot of money , of course , is involved in this decommissioning process .
there must be transparency within public bodies , but not within the parties , the privacy of whose debates must be guaranteed .
dozens of participants in the protests have disappeared without trace .
if we want a Europe that produces results , we cannot tolerate such projects . hence my question : what is your view of the funding of this project out of European resources , to which Nord Stream representatives recently referred ?
we should also set an example .
it may be relevant in future debates of this nature to listen to the opinion of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development also .
in other words , the Union does not prescribe or order , but helps .
the second problem was linked to Frontex , especially to the agency 's ability to use the resources allocated to it .
here they might get 300 votes , but that is about it .
we must strive to achieve the best results regarding these grey areas .
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this applies to the European Commission too .
accounting as it does for a mere 5 % of the ENPI 's total budget , it is overlooked by central government and its programming is subject to alarming delays .
that is for one simple reason : the outermost regions are almost exclusively dependent on air transport and any increase in the price of that service , which would inevitably arise from the implementation of the directive , will make access more difficult , increasing their isolation , which was a determining factor in granting the outermost regions special status at European level , as enshrined in Article 299 ( 2 ) of the EC Treaty .
firstly , I would like to say thank you , because you have fought to ensure that it was not EUR 114 million , but EUR 146 million , and that the Member States were prepared to go slightly beyond their rather restrictive limit .
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a lot is spoken about the Portuguese situation , but a report this month by the International Monetary Fund concluded that Portugal has been one of the countries putting the most reforms in place to ensure the sustainability of the public finances and social security .
will European powers once again be deciding the fate of African people as they did in colonial times , but this time with the support of the UN ?
I personally shall do so .
it could decimate our economy ; make us uncompetitive while the developing world gallops ahead .
( ES ) Mr President , it is curious that in every parliamentary term , we have pointed out the non-existent or fragile legal and material protection of one or another minority group within Member States .
after all the discussions we have held , you will be aware of how much this means .
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absolutely not .
offer more help than was promised in 2007 for reform of the judiciary in Afghanistan ;
nevertheless , it is good that we are dealing with these issues .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , the abrogation of the bilingual system in Tibet is an illiberal act that runs counter to respect for the cultural identity of a minority and respect for human rights .
I will be very brief .
this threshold means exercising great responsibility .
in that report , as you may remember , I highlighted the fact that too many Member States have still not transposed that 2004 framework decision , dating back four years now , on the sexual exploitation of children .
I welcome the scope of the proposals in relation to social and economic aspects , the environment , spatial development and territorial cohesion , and likewise the close attention paid to proposals intended to improve the report submitted by our Socialist Group .
this massive exposure explains the vicious austerity applied by the Commission and the European Central Bank to working people in the peripheral economies .
thank you for your reply .
consensus building is vital to justify necessary , yet unpopular reforms .
the review merely expresses concern that progress is not being made as quickly as envisaged in the timetables .
I wish to assure Parliament that the Commission will continue to follow developments in Venezuela closely .
if , however , we want to invest more in crisis prevention and responsible action in hot spots around the world , we need appropriate resources , which we currently do not have to an adequate degree .
when we began discussions on the new interinstitutional agreement a year ago , we stressed the point that in view of the strengthening of Parliament by the Treaty of Lisbon , the time had come for a new quality in our cooperation with the Commission .
arithmetic is not always right , and laws and geography cannot be outvoted .
on the one hand , it now enables us to seize opportunities for proper competition , for growth in this sector , and also , in economic terms , to seize opportunities for jobs and economic advantages .
this , like all other matters , should be the prerogative of independent , democratic nation states .
we all remember the attack against Coptic Christians that took place over Christmas , right there in Egypt .
after all , many of us in this Chamber and many of our ancestors have very often paid a high price fighting for their national languages against the will of an invader or dictator , because we knew that the loss of our language is the loss of the last hope that one day we will be able to be ourselves in our own country .
thank you very much for the invitation .
I voted in favour of Mrs Ries 's report on health concerns associated with electromagnetic fields .
however , we are utterly opposed to several of the far-reaching wordings relating to the Member States ' criminal law .
I must add that despite the obligations on consular services most Europeans do not know their rights and it is a sad fact that even the employees of these organisations are unaware of this .
they know that these radical changes are also complex .
we have learnt the lessons of 2005 , and I hope that we can enter the next 50 years of the Union with , hopefully , much more confidence .
it is not a totally new process , but a preliminary procedure in which we require additional procedures or in order to achieve a solution more quickly without instituting treaty infringement proceedings .
in strengthening our neighbourhood policy , how can we ensure continued cooperation with Russia while showing that a full ' strategic partnership ' is no longer credible ?
Mr President , on a point of order , I would like to reply to Mr Howitt under the ' catch-the-eye ' procedure , because he was incorrect in what he stated .
we must start now if we are to have any chance of achieving anywhere near zero emissions by 2050 .
in this case we are considering a price increase from a health perspective among others , but we cannot be so fanatical as to introduce a price increase that certain Member States simply cannot sustain , or that would increase smuggling , especially in Member States on the periphery .
the directive opens up European borders to consumers looking for the best credit deals : they can choose the best offer and be guaranteed the same rights and the same standards of information , comparison and , above all , protection against getting into too much debt .
please do not paint too rosy a picture of Europe . '
if we managed our own fish resources at least according to the maximum sustainable yield ( MSY ) , European catches could increase to double what they are today , while at the same time we would have strong and viable stocks .
the only official information which has been given out is that he died as a result of being involved in a supposed plot to assassinate the President of Bolivia .
it is very important , however , that we define our object correctly , because an equation that is poorly expressed is impossible to solve .
I understand that it was very difficult to get an agreement in Council .
in writing . - EU-US relations in many issues have been through substantial changes over the last years and are moving into a phase of consolidation for many items of cooperation .
furthermore , the meat industry is seriously helping to hasten climate change .
why ?
we have also led a European delegation to the area of the Middle East conflict .
we therefore have to reflect further on the question of a possible election observation mission .
under the treaty , the responsibility for the organisation of the Commission falls to its President , and I have no intention of renouncing it .
a high level of protection of human health is one of the European Union 's objectives .
the exchange of best practices is very important .
as has already been mentioned , I believe that , based on the Cooperation Agreement signed with the European Union , the Cambodian authorities have to abide by their clear commitments linked to human rights .
the European Parliament will also have to be more involved regarding data protection .
nevertheless , of great concern is paragraph 6 which deals with abortion .
there is one major risk in this affront to sovereignty .
that also means that we need to invest more money in research and development .
agreement between the EC and Israel on certain aspects of air services (
in order not to allow this , the Commission will certainly need the help of Parliament .
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what is needed , then , is multiple and cohesive actions in all Member States , including in our universities .
( PL ) Negotiations with the Mercosur countries were suspended in 2004 . this year , they have been reopened , and are being conducted on the basis of a mandate dating from 1999 .
so a European solution was there .
accepting this report means voting in favour of abandoning the policy of concerted stimulus that was implemented in 2009 .
so it is up to the citizens to assume their responsibilities .
I voted in favour of this document , which aims to strengthen patients ' rights in cross-border healthcare .
during the summer , Commission officials remained constantly available and gave feedback to the Polish authorities on the draft submitted to them .
I should just like to repeat our call for a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty : Pactio Olisipiensis censenda est !
worse still , in 2005 , the European Commission defined social housing as housing reserved exclusively for , and I quote , ' disadvantaged citizens or socially less advantaged groups ' .
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it is very unfortunate that websites , including YouTube , are still not available in Turkey , and there is unacceptable pressure from the government on parts of the media .
above all , though , do not let yourself be discouraged - I say this frankly , both to you and to Mr Moratinos - by the German Minister for Economic Affairs , who did not hesitate for one second to criticise your proposals .
I share your view that we must continue to reform policy delivery .
in these circumstances , the EU 's European Neighbourhood Policy ( ENP ) has a vital role in its strategy for development and growth .
he also refers to his colleague , Mr S. Kanakaratnam , who is living right in the middle of the ' safe zone ' .
we have seen the potential for the political abuse of the dual-use list , particularly in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe .
the report calls for continued investment in youth education , mobility and employment , supporting and promoting small businesses , scientific innovation , social integration and poverty reduction .
the vehicles are available but the customers , the drivers , are still holding back from purchasing them because availability of the fuel is not guaranteed .
you have managed to maintain a high-quality debate , taking into account very short deadlines for rather complicated legislation .
I have voted in favour of the appointment of Mr Montalvo .
we must focus on ensuring that we apply the best available technology that exists globally .
secondly , we wanted an EU foreign minister , not as an embellishment but as a genuine mouthpiece of the European Union .
economic theory never tires of telling us that international trade makes the world as a whole richer .
this is a new threat which was not known to us before and which we were not used to fighting and tackling .
in any case , dependency on Russia will for the most part remain .
I am convinced that we will be good hosts to this institution .
finally , it uses the European dimension to best effect through appropriate coordination to ensure that action in one Member State has a positive knock-on in the others and sparks a positive interaction .
in this context , let me stress that I fully agree with the political ambition to place the proposals on industry-generated information on medicines , which we are discussing today , in a broader and more comprehensive agenda on patient information .
the President of the Council , Ambasador Costea , was in Brussels last week to brief the Council and Parliament on preparations for the Seventh Session .
although we have the Hague Adoption Convention and a Council of Europe convention , these are not enough .
no one said this was going to be an easy undertaking .
I have twice appealed at least for a mission to be sent there .
I did it myself as a kid actually .
in writing . - All European countries which fulfil the EU accession criteria should have the prospect of EU membership .
at the same time , there was an incredible response in the city of Cologne to the same issues , to the issues of racism and discrimination .
under the new system to be adopted by Member States participating in enhanced cooperation in this area , the unitary patent will fall under a much more affordable translation regime consisting of solely the French , English and German languages ; resulting in the cutting of costs .
the European Union has to foster the dissemination in the Member States of market-based instruments that make it possible to internalise the environmental costs of products and to promote energy efficiency and the thermal insulation of buildings .
this is actually about the rights and the protection of children and young people .
this matter will be addressed in a totally new way if , as laid down for the first time in Article 11 ( 4 ) of the Treaty on European Union ( EU Treaty , new version n.v. ) , citizens are directly involved in the European legislative process .
they relate , for example , to living conditions , education and training , occupation , the prevention of disease and services that promote health .
as there is a lack of reliable scientific data on the basis of which fish catches in industrial fisheries can be assessed , it is essential that full documentation of catches should be introduced immediately , together with full monitoring on the vessels engaged in these fishing activities .
Mr President , I wish to thank , firstly , the shadow rapporteurs , who really cooperated very effectively with me in order to draft this report , and , secondly , all the members of the Committee 's secretariat , because this was a very demanding task .
no one knows at present how best to plan this gigantic transformation .
finally , let me thank you , Ms Kinnock , for a very fruitful collaboration on children and child-related issues , not only as regards this report , but also over the years .
in the light of the Copenhagen criteria , the Council , the Commission and Parliament have no other choice either .
in short , I am convinced that if we want to defend the person from the outset and in their entirety , we must also defend those aspects that characterise the person from a religious point of view .
action must be taken against the Internet as a virtual training camp , as the new information and communication technologies mean that it is becoming increasingly easy for terrorists to disseminate their propaganda .
as the Commission does not wish to comment , I note that the budgetary procedure went ahead in accordance with the Treaty and the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 , and that , pursuant to Article 13 of that Agreement , the Council and Parliament have established that they agree on the maximum rate of increase for non-compulsory expenditure resulting from Parliament 's second reading .
this means that we are not in the business of giving a free ride to those who do not respect certain key principles .
( CS ) Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the collapse of the airline company SkyEurope has focused attention on the general problem of poor consumer protection for airline company passengers .
particular attention should be paid to products arriving from third countries , where hygiene and health standards , production processes , and the use of materials not permitted in Europe , carry the risk of contaminating items that end up on our tables or in our hands .
we need reform of our structural policy to ensure that the EU remains strong .
that is why other forums - also having started with higher retention proposals - are tending to settle on 5 % too .
using eight compromise amendments , Ewa Klamt was able to come to an agreement with the other groups in the Parliament on the essential criteria .
in order to assess whether a rule breached EU competition rules , its effect must be proportionate to the legitimate genuine sporting interest pursued , so this proportionality test can only be applied on a case-by-case basis .
I went there for a democratic debate .
North Africa , especially Morocco , is of strategic importance to the European Union .
instead of mentioning that such and such a section of the border is in dispute , it simply marked the border as it sees it .
creating a European bond market is the only way out of the crisis .
therefore , Mr Füle , there needs to be a thorough reflection around why the Neighbourhood Policy , in the spirit of the Barcelona Process , has not had the intended democratising effects , and how we could or should make adjustments to it .
moreover , the Office can help by coordinating the deployment of officials from other Member States to Member States under particular pressure .
the draft EU Reform Treaty is , in the end , too important a document to be smuggled through in the secrecy of political meeting rooms .
but if , at the end of the day , it is not enforced in the way that our citizens expect , we might ask ourselves : what is the point ?
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , after many years of work involving this Parliament , today we are going to adopt , to universal satisfaction , a measure designed to have a significant effect on work within the Community institutions .
we cannot , and this is a risk that comes with our jobs as politicians and it is one that we cannot avoid .
when , in addition , we bear in mind the changes to parental leave made last year , we may conclude that protection of the family is improving in the EU .
the Commission would also like to point out that Structural Funds , and in particular the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund , could be used to cushion the social consequences of job losses .
if we speak with one voice , we will be effective and listened to ; if we do not , we will not be listened to or effective .
on this point , where the digital divide between small and large nations and between small and large economies remains , overcoming it between generations is the most economically difficult task .
on behalf of the S & D Group . - Mr President , in 2010 , we mark the 15th anniversary of the launch of the Beijing Platform for Action .
if the body scanner is a sound instrument , then it is presented in the wrong manner .
at the same time , a number of elements of measures already taken , planned or tested to improve aviation safety already exceed the strictly aeronautical or aviation safety requirements .
I support continuing the negotiations in the 5 + 2 format .
British Conservatives opposed the creation of this service , fearing it would erode Britain 's prerogative to exercise an independent foreign policy .
the motion contains useful ideas and should surely be seen in a positive light , yet I am convinced that we need to provide adequate financial resources in order to properly tackle the challenges posed by the Copenhagen Process and the EU 2020 strategy , for instance through the Structural Funds and , in particular , through the European Social Fund .
Member States shall establish the necessary rules among themselves and start the international negotiations required to secure this protection . '
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , we are aware of the structural causes of the crisis in the automotive sector and its subcontractors .
it is estimated that the CAP causes prices to be at least 23 % higher than those prevailing on the world market .
the destruction of the environment , the disappearance of the village , the displacement of the inhabitants , churches and cemeteries and a death warrant for the priceless remains dating back to Roman and pre-Roman times .
on the other hand , traceability rules applying to third countries exporting to the EU are aimed solely at ensuring that imported meat does not pose unacceptable risks for the EU .
it is a corrupt scandal .
thank you for your comments .
in so doing , we must concentrate on the procedural and also the technical aspects , by imposing the necessary safety systems .
Member States who have failed to present summaries will be subject to legal action as provided for in Article 226 of the founding Treaty .
in fact , European citizenship is highly artificial in nature .
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nevertheless , I call for a reform of the European Union Solidarity Fund so that it will become an effective tool for responding to crises .
renewable energy has a high priority in our energy and climate policy , in particular , with regard to reducing our dependency on imported fossil fuels .
and yes , Mr Busuttil , the Commission does monitor this very closely and the expert missions are composed also of experts from Member States .
we even agreed that it was necessary to avoid a blanket approach and to proceed on a case-by-case basis for each bank and each country and we considered the one-size-fits-all approach to be dangerous at this point in time .
only if there are watertight rules for these things will the revision have succeeded and better protection be afforded to millions of EU consumers .
it shall ensure the application of the treaties , and of measures adopted by the institutions pursuant to them .
this being so , it provides a solid platform for achieving ambitious results .
the starting point for our policy is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ( IPCC ) findings .
I abstained from voting on the alternative resolution on Europeana - the next steps because this resolution was tabled by the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) in spite of the vote that took place in committee .
this proposal is aimed at tackling the crisis in the industry , resulting from the exponential increase in imports from third countries , particularly in the regions most dependent on the sector .
fast policy reaction is likely to be a bad reaction .
the report also makes clear that such regulation must be proportionate and non-discriminatory , as set out in the EU Treaties .
thirdly , by being both principled and creative because we must be both : principled in the defence of our values and creative in how we forge bespoke solutions to complex problems .
the strategy 's high profile will facilitate wide-ranging , intensive , simultaneous development in the various sectors , which is also a condition for rapid , high-quality growth .
we also believe that by encouraging Turkey on its course towards Europe , assuming that Turkey simultaneously fulfils its obligations to the EU , we can exert pressure on it .
what is of paramount importance is who counts the votes .
however , following the referendum in Venezuela , we should also like to have a resolution , during the December part-session , on the situation in that country .
at the same time , I would seriously welcome a much higher allocation for energy efficiency and renewable energies - currently EUR 9 million - as well as a higher allocation for measures to combat climate change , which , at EUR 48 billion , is less than required at the moment .
but this particular city is probably the headquarters of the world lobbying industry .
the selection of projects to be financed by the Eurostars programme shall be made according to the scientific excellence and economic impact .
urban cohesion is essential in delivering sustainable economic and social progress .
smart Cities are planned for the following year .
there are also many options whereby the EU may provide back-up for national responses in this area .
what does surprise me is that the Commission cannot figure out that the cross-border group model cannot survive during downturns in the economy .
and as part of that , the talks on World Trade Organisation membership , which have been going nowhere for a long time , could be a way in which we could find the kind of debate and discussion and support to enable the regime to move forward .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , Mr Vice-President , Minister , before I begin I should like to thank Mr ° Díaz de Mera García Consuegra for his constructive and outstanding cooperation .
I thank the European Parliament for appointing the rapporteurs within the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs and for setting an indicative timetable scheduling the submission of the report for the end of September , and the votes within the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs and then in plenary , for October and November .
I have received six motions for resolutiontabled in accordance with Rule 110 ( 2 ) of the Rules of Procedure .
we also think that it sends out a bad signal when four Members agree to a text in trialogue and the whole House simply follows suit .
this report opens the way for resolving many of the technical legal problems that are going to arise , because we must not forget that the convention was designed to be ratified and applied by Member States .
with regard to the national quota buy-back scheme , which I note will include powers to raise super levies from producers exceeding quotas , I have reservations .
after all , just now a clear signal from us is of particular importance to our friends in Ukraine , especially at a time when there are further threats from Russia .
one is the reorganisation of the milk support and the other is the school milk programme which is an excellent initiative by the Commission .
thank you for your attention .
I would like to draw attention to the fact that tuberculosis is a sensitive world health issue and the second greatest cause of death among infectious diseases worldwide .
but I will inform Commissioner Reding about the question and perhaps , in contact with Member States , we can find a solution .
I would like to conclude this brief comment by reiterating that , at the global level , we are working on establishing a network of protected regions on land and sea .
it also helps to show whether Member States are doing enough to enforce new consumer law and to inform , educate and empower consumers .
matters may be 80 % agreed , but we need the other 20 % .
there is no confrontation of ideas .
thirdly , on the matter of deforestation , which I would point out accounts for 20 % of today 's greenhouse gas emissions , it is absolutely imperative that we uphold the target of zero gross deforestation by 2020 .
to achieve a social market economy which is sustainable , more intelligent and greener , Europe must define its priorities , agreeing on these together .
it seems to me that Mr Saryusz-Wolski is absolutely right in that we must have an institutional representative , whether it is yourself or whether it is , as we foresee , a double-hatted responsibility - both the Commission and Council .
of course it is very important for the quality of the CDMs to be high ; we discussed this in United Nations conference in Poznań and we made some progress .
( SV ) Thank you very much , Mr President , Commissioner .
for my part , I admire your rhetorical skills .
in view of this , culture urgently needs to be restored to its rightful place on the Lisbon agenda .
thirdly , in 2006 , the socialist liberal government of Hungary of the time ordered shots to be fired into crowds of peaceful demonstrators .
we should not therefore succumb to the illusion that winding down coal mines is a sort of political end in itself .
I would like to see the US remove its barriers or its restrictions on foreign ownership , and I think passengers across the world would benefit from more open skies agreements .
there is undoubtedly a tendency - and we have heard from some of its exponents here - to underestimate , probably in good faith , the effects and effectiveness of lobbyists ' work , possibly in ways that none of us can even imagine as serious Members who operate in good faith and are decent and respectful of others .
we must stop saying that the social dimension is not part of the European remit .
however , I regret that we have heard far too often today the message that Israel is a democratic state .
I would therefore call on you not to make use of the EU institutions to solve problems which should , under our Treaties , be solved at national level .
it is time the United States and the European Union lifted Israel 's impunity and went beyond words and suggestions .
the number of unemployed in Lithuania this February was 16 times the number of jobs available .
( ES ) Mr President , Commissioner , we agree with the aims of this ' health check ' , but not all the proposed measures .
as we have said on several occasions in this forum , and as Europêche said in a letter to you , Mr Borg , there is not much point in negotiating marvellous fishing opportunities - which is not the case in this Agreement - if we then accept technical conditions which prevent us being able to take proper advantage of those possibilities .
( FR ) Madam President , it is clear that this topic of genetically modified organisms is a democratic urgency , an economic necessity and a legal imperative .
then there is this : some are arrested and will not be entitled to asylum .
we had been debating this topic but it was left in the air when the Swedish Presidency ended .
several instruments and resolutions have been adopted to this end , particularly the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument ( ENPI ) and the crucial choices of the common foreign and security policy .
( SV ) Mr President , as a Swede it is with pride that I listen to the Swedish Presidency 's priorities and I am also proud to be able to welcome the Prime Minister of Sweden back here again .
that is why we opposed the proposal for trading these guarantees of origin .
Mr President , Baroness Ashton , you said a moment ago , Baroness Ashton , that we must respect peoples and their desire for freedom .
it must be of some reassurance to the UK that we never joined the euro .
in writing . - ( IT ) Mr President , I welcome the report by Mr Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra on an EU-Mexico Strategic Partnership .
the European institutions were silent accomplices of this attack on the people and on the ecosystem .
small and mediumsized enterprises , in particular , are at risk of facing difficulties .
Russia , a State that is not a State with a rule of law and where human rights are flouted on a daily basis , does not deserve the attention that France pays to it .
the EUR 26.5 billion which are available under the Structural Funds are not being utilised as they should be .
( DA ) Mr President , firstly , I would like to express my sincere thanks to the rapporteur , who has tabled an extremely good report .
however , I believe that there are a number of problems with this particular fund .
on the contrary , medium- to long-term solutions will have to be considered , and the reasons why this market is not working properly must be assessed , together with the best ways to maintain sustainable production , not forgetting the consumers ' right to a fair price .
I agree with the rapporteur 's position that we must urge the Commission to ensure that any readmission agreement signed by the EU and its Member States fully respects human rights and the principle of ' non-refoulement ' and does not put at risk any persons in need of international protection .
a number of projects that had been started up in those countries now lie in ruins .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , 2 October was a great day for Europe thanks to the Irish who voted in favour of the Treaty of Lisbon .
this should simplify the market for construction products .
( PL ) Mr President , in relation to the critical remarks of scientists concerning the reliability of the IPCC 's conclusions and the revelation of falsification of data , and this undoubtedly influenced the outcome of the Copenhagen conference , I asked the Commission about the possibility of conducting research to verify the disputed findings .
all the partnerships must be characterised by an efficient and intelligent approach to natural resources , and must start with the most urgent problems : energy and the depletion of raw materials .
we owe our voters that openness .
a fifth is being prepared .
mankind established all of its orders and prohibitions in the Ten Commandments , and they are spelled out there in succinct form : thou shalt not kill , thou shalt not commit adultery .
we must also , finally , persuade the United States to urgently re-engage on the same basis we outlined last week .
consequently , free trade in services plays an important part in all development strategies , because it facilitates swift and effective transfer of know-how on a large scale .
Mr President , only one remark : I think Ankara 's increasingly active foreign policy poses new challenges and opportunities for European foreign policy .
can the Commission state whether it has any permanent indicators that can alert it to an explosion in certain consumer prices , and also whether any investigations have been conducted recently into distribution channels , following the sudden price rises recorded in certain Member States ?
we should give priority to tackling all indications of failure to comply with this principle .
but , as honourable Members know from the letters I have received individually and collectively in this House and beyond , there is no simple solution here .
the Committee on Agriculture considers that biomass and biogas have a crucial role among renewable energy sources ; however , in the case of biomass , it is unacceptable if it involves the destruction of forests or the removal of land that is suited for the production of food .
these include Europe 's approach to climate change mitigation in coastal regions and to sustainable coastal tourism , support for greener , safer and more competitive shipping through the common maritime space without borders , and further action on maritime safety and accident prevention .
so the measures in place so far are not adequate .
while respecting the common rules , the Member States must be allowed to keep their current systems for levying charges .
the Commission very much expects Parliament to be actively involved in events such as the annual forum .
after all , Europe is already home to between 15 and 20 million Muslims .
could the Commission outline its position in relation to this aspect of the abovementioned and similar projects across the EU ?
there are other laws against homosexuals in Africa .
( HU ) In the new Member States , in times of stress the old reflexes of those in power , unacceptable under the rule of law , still operate .
in these circumstances , I consider that it is now a matter of urgency to implement the Banana Accompanying Measures contained in that agreement , which will enable the ACP countries to modernise this sector and to cope with global competition .
people actually want to save energy , and mostly do this for two reasons , economic and environmental .
people who celebrate their birthday in public hardly dare sing that song in certain places in the United States out of fear of reprisals and fines .
it is extremely rare for me to say that I fully agree with the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance , but in this case , I have to admit that I do .
in writing . - ( PL ) We are today debating the future of the European Union .
these two groups are the most vulnerable and the most susceptible to violence or sexual abuse and it would therefore be very positive if a decisive step were taken on this matter at the upcoming ILO conference .
the result of the negotiations is the compromise package submitted for your vote , which amounts to simplification and modernisation of the current legal framework .
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what is innovation ?
firstly , may I congratulate the rapporteur on his excellent work , completed in a very short space of time .
we voted against the report .
finally , there is a counter economic argument to the economic argument made : the linguistic diversity of the European people and the mastery of numerous languages has to be a competitive advantage , not a cost .
I would also like to emphasise that I think that the Commission and the Commissioner have made extremely good and constructive contributions to this issue in recent years .
it is their development that we are talking about .
Mr President , the International Olympic Committee ( IOC ) decided in July 2007 to grant the right to host the 2014 Winter Olympics to Sochi , Russia .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , let me begin by thanking the Commissioner for his remarks .
I believe that the peoples will respond by stepping up the fight against the repressive measures and imperialist interventions against them .
the same applies to minor projects implemented with cofinancing from the European Regional Development Fund and the Cohesion Fund .
in my opinion , as well as making up lost ground , the new strategy should focus on development - on forms of development clearly determined by the concept of realising our potential .
2007 discharge : EU general budget - Council (
in addition , it values training as a very important factor for the success of professionals in the artistic and creative sector , since artistic studies that focus on developing a career and profession require of the students , in addition to talent , a solid cultural basis that can only be acquired through multidisciplinary and systematic training .
experience shows that , where assisting spouses have to take it upon themselves and apply to join a social security scheme , the large majority of them do not do so .
I call , Mr President , on you and on all wings of Parliament to do as the Greek parliament did in memory of this fifteen-year-old boy and for the European Parliament , as the guardian of human dignity and human rights , to observe one minute 's silence now in memory of the young , fifteen-year-old boy who was murdered in Athens a week ago .
( ES ) Mr President , Commissioner , nothing that we do here or in the European Union is going to bring the dead back to life , but I hope that what is being done will prevent more deaths and halt the chain of people who are ill and who are suffering without having done anything to cause the problem .
( the President cut off the speaker )
so the national authorities of the relevant Member States can address this issue if they want , but at that particular stage there was no majority of Member States in favour of action at EU level .
let me tell you something .
that is why the parties involved need to be as clear as possible on the procedure to be applied and the material content of the law .
consequently , the current initiative needs to be consolidated by a policy to encourage young Europeans .
thirdly , I believe that the EU must use the European security and cooperation policy to strengthen stability in the Western Balkans , following the clarification of Kosovo 's status .
it is also the Achilles heel of the European Union .
the president in the chair right now is certainly Italian , but the debate was far from being purely Italian .
in conclusion , I , too , would like to thank Commissioner Reding for all the actions she has taken to strengthen the procedural rights in criminal proceedings .
similarly , we shall have to revisit the issue of financial regulation .
full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague is an important prerequisite .
prison administrations must ensure decent conditions for persons serving prison sentences or under temporary arrest .
will we say ' yes ' or ' no ' to these ?
I therefore abstained from voting .
let us make sure that is delivered upon .
we must guarantee the issue not only - it is right to deal with it not only in the seas closest to the European Union - where there are also fishermen operating and Mrs Fraga told us , with concern , about events that are taking place even closer to us .
lastly , the infringement procedures opened in recent months against some Member States for their failure to respect the 2007 catch quotas are undoubtedly called for and necessary , but the short period for the entry into force of the current provisions during this year should also be borne in mind .
in particular , I want to stress the fundamental aim of saving lives , whilst recognising the important scientific advances in organ donation .
a flexicurity approach should contribute to making transitions pay , not least by providing the necessary element of security .
agriculture must be supported in this evolution .
I would like to extend our thanks to the Commission staff that I have worked with , as well as members of the Committee on International Trade , such as Mr Musquar , and rapporteurs from the political groups , such as Mr Assis .
we need a Europe that protects , a Europe that reassures and a Europe that provides opportunities to Europeans , to citizens , to consumers and to businesses .
after the election , Delhi 's incoming administration , whether new or old , must put up , or we the EU must move on to those who want not just to talk , but to arrive at a conclusion .
I would recommend that everyone walk to Parliament for three reasons .
but first of all they have to stop acting as a terrorist organisation .
we need to provide patients with information , but we also need to help them through the medicinal product jungle , for example by agreeing on the daily routine , package designs or special labelling .
Mr President , in July 2007 I went to Castletownbere in West Cork , which is in the south-western part of Ireland , and met with the fishing community there .
in view of this , I cannot press the proposal further or do more than I have done .
there has been an agreement , an agreement was finally reached , a consensus in the Council , which was not easy .
I think that is a very good point .
I hope that it will be a good example of a new way of cooperating .
the increase in consumer confidence brought about by a compulsory system would be outweighed by the increase in the cost of the insurance itself and the delays resulting from settlement of cases by the courts .
it was indeed the Commission 's wish to have these points in the agreement .
if you read the dossier , you can find where we made the changes , so I will not repeat this here but will stick to my wish that these two bodies will really bring some consciousness and some improvement in the way the statistics systems function , and will help us to really have reliable figures and base our economic activities on reliable data .
this is shown , in particular , by the statements made by Members of this House on homosexuals , for example .
we want collective redress for citizens so that they are also genuinely able to assert their consumer protection rights .
the issue of simplification is essential to promoting innovation in European industry and increasing the amount of information given to consumers .
if we conduct a national comparison , we will see that there are only a few Member States of the European Union who have already established a transparency register at this level .
therefore the European Union must support the awareness campaigns promoting gender equality and human rights .
indeed , we need to find a way to involve as well the international state actors which are more reluctant to follow our lead .
we must call a spade a spade .
the debate is closed .
the third point is that for any new policy priority we must also have new possibilities of funding .
subsidising disadvantaged areas is a core element of the common agricultural policy , with the aim of maintaining the universal spread of agriculture throughout Europe .
nevertheless , the presidential elections in Tunisia have just been held in lamentable conditions that are unworthy of the provisions contained in the agreement with the European Union .
we have to avoid any changes to the final text of the resolution that would complicate the situation or endanger the lives of these defenceless people .
as far as our institution is concerned , then , there is no before and after 11 March 2011 .
in relation to the conclusions of the summit , President Barroso and I have proposed the creation of a platform for Roma inclusion .
cross-border programmes under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance within the Western Balkans started in 2007 .
I would also like to say that Mrs Reding , Commissioner for Information Society and Media , to whom I put the same question in a recent interview , admitted that she had not been convinced by the French President 's proposed reforms unveiled in January .
the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left supports this improved territorial cooperation programme .
( it ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the exceptional flow of immigrants besetting the Italian coast and , hence , the whole of Europe , must spur us on to developing a common approach at last for managing this phenomenon .
CRAs should not be seen as a scapegoat , given that equally at fault were the banking and regulatory culture that relegated risk strategies to the back rooms .
for that reason , one topic I shall raise at this conference is how our policy on visas and the movement of persons can be used as a political incentive for those countries , for example in terms of greater mobility for students and business people .
my fear is we cannot do it twice .
we want to maintain this agreement and help it to be fulfilled , but we also want this agreement to be used to benefit the development of Papua New Guinea and Fiji and not to damage the Spanish industry .
it is , however , not easy to regulate web content in a globalised digital environment .
the aim is to define mechanisms of cooperation between institutions and processes that would simplify and speed up calculating and paying social benefits to their recipients .
there needs to be a substantial change in the international order so that the EU can better overcome its challenges using concerted global action .
personally , apart from support for the diversification of transport routes for the import of gas , I consider the appeal to expedite the achievement of internal market energy in the current legislature and the necessity to revisit the entire problem of gas storage as major contributions of the report .
this is in complete contravention of the principles of the internal market and , in addition , indirectly pollutes the environment .
the Chinese Government certainly has shortcomings in its policy towards minority groups and it has its failures too . however , it is also showing the will to improve in many areas .
the right to be properly informed is fundamental , because it forms the basis of all other rights .
the second area that was prioritised is support for small and medium-sized enterprises : we increased our loans to the banks so that they continue to lend to small and medium-sized enterprises , with a new product that will allow us to have better control over the actual use of the funds that we lend .
Member of the Commission . - With regard to the application of the Community rules regarding aircraft operations , the Commission has no indication of weaknesses or safety-related loopholes in the respective air safety legislation which only recently became applicable in the Community on 16 July 2008 .
I believe in your desire and determination , which you have expressed to us on numerous occasions , to work towards genuine , suitable geographical representation for the new service so that you can be the High Representative of the whole EU .
although the EU 2020 objectives are defined at Community level , it is vital that the local and regional authorities are involved more in their implementation ; a bottom-up approach is essential if we are to implement the economic objectives of the EU 2020 strategy efficiently .
our overall conclusion is that , because of the need for confidence among everyone involved , we will continue with the gradual implementation of the regulation .
I believe that it is our moral obligation , and I am glad that this resolution has been passed today .
I cannot find any justification , or any mitigating circumstances , for those who , in this way , trample underfoot all those values which are so important to us .
this last point was covered in last October 's resolution .
that , Mr President , is simply ridiculous .
( LV ) Mr President , Commissioner , the extent to which this debate interests the authors of the question can be seen from the fact that not one of them is in the Chamber any more , and so they will not have heard what Inese Vaidere has just said - that Russia 's real visa policy was a weapon it used not to foster the naturalisation process in Latvia , but to achieve quite the opposite .
I am also mindful , on the subject of mobility , of the need to reach agreement on the implementing regulation on the coordination of social security schemes .
imagine if we simply did not agree with anything you or I said with regard to this catastrophic , inhuman situation in Gaza and behaved as if nothing were happening there ?
it is necessary to check whether Union funds are being well used , whether these institutions are meeting the objectives outlined for them , and whether any resources are being wasted .
in writing . - ( HU ) The situation in the Middle East fills me with anxiety .
it is necessary for us to start a study as thorough as possible in this regard : to show its causes , what keeps the terrorists so fierce and capable of giving up their lives in order to become martyrs , whose martyrs they are , how the recruitment is done , who finances it and how we can intervene in any way to discourage this phenomenon .
the resolution also condemns , in the strongest possible terms , the attempts by ex-President Gbagbo and his supporters to usurp the will of the Ivorian people by fomenting violence and undermining the integrity of the electoral process .
Deputy Prime Minister Vondra , 20 years ago you personally contributed to the fall of a regime that oppressed its neighbours , held its citizens in contempt and lied to its people .
the first is the need for a new vision of the Neighbourhood Policy .
I voted for this report since it proposes appropriate measures for combating poverty in the region : education and a reduction in the disparities between the richest and poorest countries in the region .
the Commission already involves Parliament in the process of democratic scrutiny of strategy papers .
composition of Parliament : see Minutes
I would like to ask you : what is the situation with financial liabilities ?
as a result , without resorting to measures contrary to WTO principles or the UN climate change principle of a common but differentiated effort , we shall be able to provide the necessary guarantees that there will be no carbon leakage and that this kind of migration of enterprises will not occur .
in writing . - I note that the Court of Auditors has once again drawn attention to a large volume of carryovers and cancellations of operational appropriations by several agencies in the financial year 2009 .
the EU must appoint at least five women to management positions in the European External Action Service and comply with the gender balance in terms of specialists employed .
we did not even manage to adopt a resolution on the subject of safety because you wanted 150 % and were not satisfied with what was actually possible as a result of the various responsibilities involved .
the visa policy of the USA and the accompanying requirements have , however , somewhat shaken these principles .
I believe it is important , at least for all those who believe in the European project - and I think they are in the majority - to be more upbeat in conveying the European message and not to keep succumbing to cynicism or inertia .
well , we are talking about inventions and processes which can be widely introduced in the world of business .
we have a responsibility to ensure that events in this country do not ' fall off the radar ' .
other countries , which nonetheless state that they are very content , as am I , with the result of the Irish referendum and are keen to see the Treaty of Lisbon implemented , have still not done their duty , as far as their own will is concerned , by stating their method of appointment .
it is very important for them and , above all , for their own economy , but it is also important for others .
this might be a possibility if China respected international intellectual property rights .
the question is , how much are we willing to pay for it ?
it is true that we have a particular link with this remarkable woman , who won one of the first Sakharov Prizes here , in 1990 , and who , over 20 or 21 years of her life , spent nearly 15 years in prison .
I believe that once this programme has been adopted , it will be possible to do this even better .
it also recognises that taxation through a progressive tax system is essential to democracy .
now more than ever , we need to help each other in this field .
in addition , the High Representative will , naturally , be a well-known figure , but I believe that the other members of the service should also be people who inspire a high level of confidence .
I hope that an agreement between Parliament , the Council and the Commission can be found on the increased aid level for school milk , up EUR 18.15 per 100 kilograms .
we have already been able to debate the various ideas and positions regarding the report made earlier by your fellow Member , Mr Grech .
we can see that the United States has mobilised a significant economic aid package and has developed a policy that is producing results .
in relation to the products previously mentioned , it is also necessary to inspect actual samples , and to integrate this with verification of locally used agricultural processes and resources .
let us stop scaremongering with this notion of duplication .
I am very satisfied that we agreed on amendments regarding the emergency number 112 and , after the directive has been adopted , Member States will make further efforts to inform and educate the public on the use of 112 .
the countries of Central and Eastern Europe have felt the effects of the economic crisis exceptionally hard .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , mutual fear and mistrust - as Mr Mauro was saying just now - are guiding the decisions made by European governments on the crisis .
there is a piece of old and practical wisdom which says ' better ' is the enemy of ' good enough ' .
I support the proposal to convene a European Conference on Non-Violence in 2009 .
that is out of all proportion .
China is a big and powerful country and it is inevitable that our governments must maintain political , diplomatic and trading relations with them .
the European Union 's 27 Member States have different pension systems .
equally important , it will enhance the European perspective for the wider region .
situation in Georgia ( motions for resolutions tabled ) : see Minutes
instead of what we might describe as a culture of subordination among clients , farmers and officials , we need a culture of cooperation .
I am voting for this Parliament resolution on the process of integration for the Republic of Montenegro , which recommends that the process of integration be speeded up .
if , in the next few months , by the end of this parliamentary term , we have acted sensibly , we will have closed the gap between the business world 's perception and what it views as the real world , and what the ordinary people , the people in the companies , perceive as being the real world .
furthermore , it constitutes a forum for contact between Europe and Asia .
during that time , I argued with all the top officials about the need to fine-tune the South Korea-EU FTA , so as to get on board deeply dissatisfied industries , particularly the EU automotive industry .
what will prove possible , however , depends on the Croatian Government and the cooperation between it , that is the ruling coalition , and the opposition in the Croatian Parliament .
we should add to that the fact that the inability to overcome the situation by military means alone predestines the European Union , with its extensive range of tools , to play a special role .
do you not think that 30 years - because many years have passed since these people were killed - are not enough to ask urgently for justice , at last ?
any legislation in this field must avoid the creation of any and all new administrative bureaucracy , which could add to already existing costs .
Mr President , Gazprom and the Nord Stream consortium have been laying what is known as the Northern Pipeline since 9 April .
this is why the indicators for monitoring macroeconomic development and their thresholds must not be adopted automatically by the Commission , but must be analysed from an economic perspective .
in this respect , the Commission welcomes the resolution on Korea voted by Parliament in December 2007 .
exceptional circumstances are frequently cited for this bilateral cooperation .
the sectors most under this stress are agriculture , construction , house maintenance , and the hotel and tourism services , where uncertainty and unfavourable wages are typical .
with regard to the point made by Mrs Stihler concerning the fact that these could be harmful subsidies for new construction , I need to underline the fact that we will not be paying one cent for decommissioning for vessels whose capacity is maintained .
one significant factor is the continuing exposure of war crimes , in which Croatia is fully cooperating with the International Criminal Tribunal .
on this issue , in searching for at least some convergence on basic rules from both the majority and the opposition , it is necessary to guarantee , in all possible ways , that the next round of elections is hallmarked by the highest possible level of transparency and democracy .
for example , one of my constituents , Jeff Stockdale from Hull , a former fishermen , has invented a revolutionary pot trap that would encourage fish to enter it in order to escape from the tidal flow , but it would allow small fish to escape and larger ones to be released before being brought to the surface , if that should be necessary to avoid exceeding one 's quota .
I also agree with the objectives and principles applied in the common fisheries policy , but I think all coastal Member States must guarantee the right balance between protection and the socio-economic value of ecosystems .
however , that must not mean that we leave everything as it is .
Commissioner Verheugen has already said on certain occasions that in future it may make sense to make more use of the regulation instrument for internal market legislation , in order to avoid all kinds of problems such as cherry-picking and gold-plating during the transposition of directives .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
the next item is the report by Agustín Díaz de Mera García Consuegra , on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs , on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation ( EC ) No 377 / 2004 on the creation of an immigration liaison officers ' network - C7-0055 / 2009 - .
the vote will take place today .
today the economic crisis is growing into a social crisis .
I am therefore convinced that the real number of violations of human rights is much higher than our information leads us to believe .
in view of the Court of Auditors ' statement that it has obtained reasonable assurances that the annual accounts for the financial year 2009 are reliable , and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular , I voted in favour of granting discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Joint Undertaking for the Implementation of the Joint Technology Initiative on Innovative Medicines for the financial year 2009 .
it should be noted that , although using an out-of-date cosmetic product does not pose any risk to consumer health , it also does not bring the suggested benefits .
I firmly support this simplified regime since third country nationals holding a visa issued by another Member State who would benefit from this system , have already been subject to a strict screening process in that Member State and were not considered a threat to public order or a risk in terms of illegal immigration .
Internet cafes could be used for this in very remote parts of Europe , where several computers are put into a single room , and all the inhabitants could use this location .
as soon as we have finished reviewing the consultations , if you would like , I will inform you straight away , and in any case we will be presenting our report on this whole sector before the end of the year , as I said earlier .
we might just as well organise a lottery .
we do not have reports on the damage to air transport .
such an agreement was easier to reach in Bali , Indonesia , than elsewhere on our planet .
this urgent problem can be debated and the best solution found by complementing the regulation adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on general rules covering the supply of air transport services .
Madam President , on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women , the Commission would like to reiterate its strong political commitment to combat violence against women .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , Mr Romeva i Rueda , yesterday in a touching press conference held in Parliament , the relatives of the victims of the indiscriminate murders of Cesare Battisti spoke fairly and with dignity to once again present the issue at the heart of this tragic affair .
we Swedish Social Democrats today supported the call for the Commission to carry out a more detailed investigation of the conditions for establishing a European Credit Rating Foundation or a public European credit rating agency .
either we find a good digestive quickly or we will be obliged to starve for a long time .
( ES ) Mr President , thank you very much for your compassionate and supportive words .
approval of the bill being tabled by the Romanian Government will only serve to make life more difficult for people with disabilities , making them dependent on the state , instead of enhancing their protection and promoting their social inclusion .
as a new colegislator on this issue , the Treaty of Lisbon now guarantees us the right to full information at the same time as it is received by the Council .
this extension of the previous system significantly threatens the rights , freedoms and guarantees of citizens by adding new elements to a database which is , in addition , shared by numerous bodies .
we are clearly seeing Islam becoming a state religion .
in my opinion , reducing emissions in this industry will be a very difficult task .
before the vote on Amendment 3 :
I believe that the European Union cannot allow reference to be made to such documents .
I would like to thank all those who have contributed their work and ideas .
we are calling for more resources to improve the infrastructure in our border regions and to strengthen the Trans-European Networks .
the Union needs to diversify its supply of crude oil and natural gas .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue card question from Mr Martin under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
on behalf of the UEN Group . - Mr President , I should like to ask the Commissioners for their response .
secondly , I would like to say that the method of self-regulation in the banking area that we have chosen for SEPA is a method in which the organs work well and several hundred banks have joined the SEPA area in a very short space of time .
this recommendation for second reading concerns the Council position on the adoption of a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on textile fibre names and related labelling and marking of fibre composition of textile products .
we have heard them here tonight about the car industry .
- ( DE ) Madam President , I should like to make a verbal declaration regarding the very good Angelilli report on the EU strategy on the rights of the child .
they have bowed to the power and influence of the tobacco barons and have continued to hold back on taking effective measures to protect their citizens against the plague of smoking .
we must ensure that the market works as well as possible and that consumers are offered services whose price and quality match their expectations .
the European Union immediately and forcefully condemned these brutal and shocking events .
( RO ) Honourable President , eradicating poverty and social exclusion is one of the major objectives of the European Union .
it means simplifying the technical measures , and it means embracing flexibility .
the report provides for the possibility of using the ERDF for the renovation and replacement of existing buildings and for new structures designed to help marginalised communities in rural or urban environments in each of the 27 Member States .
Prime ministers have cancelled the results of two referendums .
my understanding , therefore , is that there would be nothing to stop me using your passport , Minister - providing you were to lend it to me - to go through a check , because there is nobody there to see whether the picture and the person is the same , or I could be using the passport of a distinguished person like Mr McMillan-Scott .
I am , of course , in favour of the right for defendants to have proper representation , but there is no need for harmonisation .
you yourself were often present during the trialogue negotiations .
it is sufficient to recall the examples of countries like Denmark and Finland .
the euro is also an important stabilising force .
in writing . - I voted in favour of the Coelho report .
it was then that the Commission also prepared an integrated approach in the sphere of the industrial policy .
I am pleased that the European Parliament was able to ensure this money did not come from the ' Progress ' programme , which is designed to help vulnerable people , but was created using money from the 2010 budget for the first year .
the resettling of refugees from this region should be the responsibility of the states which the refugees head to , and if the influx becomes unsustainable , the response should be to tighten up EU asylum and immigration policy .
last Monday , the same committee adopted the report on regulation of hedge fund managers by a large majority .
far more of a problem are multiple contracts and the definition of autonomous work .
the role of culture in the development of European regions ( vote )
with the exception , perhaps , of Daniel Caspary 's contribution , it has been rather negative .
Eurostars should become the starting point for relaunching the European economic activity , a programme of European innovative stars , a transparent , flexible and non-bureaucratic programme .
written Statements ( Rule 142 )
( DE ) The terror list has obviously been produced on the basis of information which is not always reliable .
I think the summit has come up with a number of important decisions , but at the same time I am of the opinion that we need more , and we need to move faster .
it is an under-recognised , under-diagnosed and under-treated disease , neglected by health care providers and the public .
this proposal will achieve the best possible balance between an effective approach to illegal practices , the facility to apply these measures without encumbering operators unnecessarily and , finally , their compatibility with the rules of the World Trade Organization .
let me go straight to one particular point of concern for the agriculture budget , namely , the clearance of accounts line .
we need general standards for this .
this will be a splendid opportunity to show that the agenda to combat climate change is not an agenda against economic growth . on the contrary , it will perhaps be an agenda that encourages modernisation of European industry .
however , as regards supply infrastructures , I must regret that , in the end , we have not been able to use an instrument from the field of transport which has been rejected to a certain extent by this Parliament , namely trans-European energy networks , which were previously proposed but not in the end accepted .
thank you and good luck !
there is also the Turkish issue .
I should like to believe that long-term positive results will emerge from the European Parliament 's effort to draw attention to the inadequacies of the European educational system in this regard , and from its suggestions for remedial measures .
nothing new emerges from this report .
that is why , for example , we recently proposed that our smallest business should be exempt from excessive burdens in terms of accounting rules and statistical reporting .
undoubtedly , your report will be a valuable contribution to a future debate on this matter .
no , what did we go and do just now ?
is there anything more ridiculous ?
we need greater clarity .
we have been presented with legal excuses .
the steel and car industries are worried about this , and not entirely without reason .
what is the benefit ?
of course , there are still some ambiguities , and of course we should have liked to go further , but still .
the European Council next week will be key to reaching agreement between the Heads of State and Government of the 27 .
what the IFRS organisation then presented - regarding providing its own governance - is a correct , but long-overdue step towards appropriate legitimisation and governance .
until the emergency services arrive , however , each of us should be able to administer first aid .
the oral question to the Council on the European area of freedom , security and justice ( FSJA ) : progress in 2008 , by Mr Deprez , on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs - B6-0489 / 2008 ) ,
I think we need to focus on the results .
the EU should also call on the countries neighbouring Burma to bring their influence to bear on improving the human rights situation .
they also contain a number of key provisions that aim to ensure that the chair and executive director of each authority are selected in the most objective way , on the strict basis of the criteria set out in Articles 48 and 51 of the regulations .
as far as the United Nations is concerned , we can warmly commend UNRWA for its work and perseverance and underline that the European Union will continue to support all its efforts .
following the agreement with the African Union and after opening a debate with the Russian Federation on the issue of raw materials , I shall travel to Latin America at the beginning of June to discuss the raw materials issue with Brazil , Argentina and Chile .
the report by Gabriele Albertini , on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs , on the report from the Council to the European Parliament on the main aspects and the basic choices of the Common Foreign and Security Policy ( CFSP ) in 2008 , presented to the European Parliament in application of Part II , Section G , paragraph 43 of the interinstitutional agreement of 17 May 2006 ,
this office risks being a dangerous first step towards European competence for aspects of criminal law and the focus on its creation is a distraction from making existing systems and bodies work effectively .
for reasons of logic , I oppose this new consequence of the legal personality of the EU , as provided for in the Treaty of Lisbon .
what I would ask is to use the words ' safety assessments ' or ' risk assessments ' .
after such a period , the techniques have moved on far ahead of us .
Turkey 's 2007 progress report ( debate )
in compliance with the Commission 's proposal , Member States should therefore be provided with a methodology , common standards , definitions , classifications and accounting rules , which should be put together within a binding framework for each of them .
explanations of vote
this takes around nine months .
I am very glad that Europe is playing a leading role by providing for an energy and climate policy that aims to reduce emissions by 20 % in 2020 compared with 1990 .
let us guard that advantage ; let us strengthen and protect it .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , to tell you the truth , out of the three urgent debates taking place this afternoon , this really is the one in which we feel the most impotent .
so far you have not said precisely how you intend to set about this task .
I am not afraid of emphasising that nuclear energy is an important resource for electricity generation , because it contributes to greater energy security , particularly for states with limited reserves of solid fuels .
it is regrettable that the Court of Auditors was compelled to comment on the budgetary and financial statement of the Foundation , especially to the effect that the initial provisional accounts presented by the Foundation contained serious shortcomings , pointing to significant weaknesses in the financial organisation of the Foundation .
when green , efficient transport choices are made , especially in our cities , this benefits citizens ' health and the environment .
the objective once again , though , is an increase in the powers of the Brussels bureaucracy .
thank you everyone for signing this written declaration .
throughout the reporting period , the EU took numerous steps on the death penalty , trying to convince countries to change their positions on this issue and also trying to save human lives .
in my opinion , this is much more important than the debate about posts and people .
you have to face up to it : the enterprise aimed at introducing pure and perfect supranationality , launched eight years ago by the great Giscard convention , has well and truly been aborted .
on the other hand , what we are seeing today in Italy is the ugliest face of the dangerous phenomenon of the renationalisation of Europe .
examples of such initiatives could be : providing tax incentives for the companies employing young people or extending the range of flexible labour contracts .
we are all currently seeing a demonstration that the oft-cited phrase ' external energy policy ' stands for a common strategy that does not exist in Europe .
at the same time , the EU is using health as a pretext to promote its expansionist , imperialist plans by proposing the involvement of health services in the CFSP , international trade and relations with third countries .
has it increased cooperation in different areas and expanded too fast ?
amendment of the Directive will bring the European Union 's provisions into line with the most recent technological advances .
climate change makes it particularly difficult to draw up a list of criteria and fixed standards for subsidies .
he would have noticed that economies are stagnating , jobs are being lost and industries struggling to compete in a fast-changing world .
here , we value and protect each and every life ; we severely punish anybody who endangers human life ; and the punishment is more severe if attacks on life are against any minority and motivated by hate .
as a confirmed philhellene , I believe Greece has contributed massively to our Union .
I voted against the Coelho report for two reasons .
enzymes can improve the texture , the appearance and the nutritional value of food , and can be used as alternatives to chemical-based technology .
the debate is closed .
it is important that new functional blocks be implemented following consultation of all the relevant parties , and Member States take effective actions in order to achieve an integrated management system .
you have given me a mandate , an exceptional and strong mandate , and at an exceptional time .
in addition , we are in the grips of a cruel financial , economic and social crisis , which has had devastating effects on goods transport .
the EGF is among them .
on the oral question to the Commission on the volcanic ash crisis , by Marian-Jean Marinescu and Mathieu Grosch , on behalf of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) - B7-0015 / 2011 ) ;
Mr President , while European Central Bank President , Jean Claude Trichet , has repeatedly expressed concern about inflation indexation of wages , he has failed to take into account the plight of workers , particularly the low-paid , struggling as the cost of living escalates .
however , if , in addition to our work on the internal market , on competition , on State aid policy and on other policies , such as external trade policy , there is no social dimension in Europe , we will have difficulty in ensuring the legitimacy of the European project .
we are counting on you to live up to your reputation in this dossier , too , and ensure that the authority of the European Commission is not undermined .
however , I am very proud of the fact that a Roma strategy was devised during the Hungarian Presidency which determines clearly the obligations of every Member State in connection with the community of this difficult fate .
perhaps they are not comparable with the terrible injustices committed in other countries , but there are shortcomings internally within the EU .
in the context of inspections , it should , however , be pointed out that there is no uniform system of distributing quotas or reporting catches by individual Member States .
( Mr Mann begins to speak without a microphone . )
( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , I should like first of all to acknowledge the speed and effectiveness of the French Presidency in brokering a truce between the parties to the conflict .
therefore , I do not think that we can separate the two issues , although I know that other interested parties are also holding important debates on the subject .
there are many technical and financial questions that are yet to be definitively resolved .
my Group remains opposed to the system .
we continue to be alarmed about the human rights situation in Sri Lanka , against the background of reports of extrajudicial killings , abductions and serious intimidation of the media .
( DE ) I appreciate that Mr McCreevy has a tight schedule , but others have pressing engagements too .
we do not need this bureaucracy , nor do we need the gilt-edged soil-protection system that Europe is now demanding from us .
as someone who hails from a large region heavily hit by the crisis , when it had already been affected by industrial restructuring , I have listened to the message of the unions , which have constantly challenged us .
the Commission will prepare a new European Union Energy Savings Action Plan that will strengthen and better focus European Union actions , helping EU Member States and EU businesses and EU citizens to save energy in a cost-effective way .
Mr President , yes , I am replacing Mrs Sartori , who is in fact detained in Italy , and I pass on her full apologies because she was particularly keen to be present here today .
I voted in favour of the recommendation on the EC-Comoros fishing agreement , since the parties undertake to promote sustainable and responsible fishing in the Comorian fishing zone and since it provides for a suspension clause in the event of human rights violations in the Union of the Comoros .
( DE ) Mr President , the Irish people have said ' no ' to the Treaty , and the EU grandees ' response was to infuriate the Irish by summoning the Taoiseach to the European Council in order to give an account of their ' misconduct ' .
the Security Council must send Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to Burma .
after 2006 I was given the honour of drafting the opinion of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety regarding the implementation of the budget of the five European agencies coming under our jurisdiction for the 2007 financial year .
the idea of a multilateral agreement to combat piracy and counterfeiting may be an effective mechanism for curbing such activities .
I think that , drawing on its internal experience of cooperation among nations and institutions , the European Union has a global responsibility which it should continue to uphold .
it is clear to us that we need to join efforts and increase our pace towards achieving the European Union 's basic standards .
a flood of petrodollars is making Russia a resurgent power but , regrettably , it sees everything in zero-sum terms .
we welcome the open attitude President Medvedev has taken in discussions with the EU concerning these issues .
to make its presence felt , Europe must be seen to be stronger in this area .
Central planning has never shown to produce positive results ; nor will it do so in the wine sector .
much remains to be done and we will see it through together .
we have all seen the dispiriting images on our television screens .
impact of tourism in coastal regions ( short presentation )
there has been criticism regarding their policy in China over the years , questioning the motto .
in its most serious form , it is known as ' carousel fraud ' which is a criminal activity carried out by expert and professional fraudsters .
6 .
the 2009 budget is also making a significant contribution to this solution .
there is only one solution for the challenge of our ageing society : to respect older workers and provide proper jobs for the older generation as well .
only when we have completed this process will we be able to say to what extent we can give what is technically known as a ' discharge ' - in other words , the extent to which we approve the accounts and the implementation of the budgets for 2006 .
in any case , I would like to thank the Commission for the proposal it made after the discussion we had here in Parliament , because it is really urgent , on account of climate change , to protect the only area that is sheltered from human predation .
to be honest , however , the reason for that lies in the vote we ourselves held in this Parliament on 18 January this year .
as regards non-proliferation and disarmament , the cooperation between the EU and the United States has been reenergised and the Obama administration has been very keen on this .
new skills and competences acquired by graduates of various types of educational institutions have strategic significance for economic growth and open up new possibilities for people , creating a basis for sustainable development .
I should therefore like to stress this question anew : is it not time for the Commission to review the procedure for its own fund and funding model ?
( ES ) President Chávez , Judge Afiuni must be freed immediately .
I hope we can resolve this issue very soon in order to avoid an impact on our relations with Greenland .
2 .
the fear of death must not be the key in which the future of our people is written .
the harmonisation of value-added tax and the corporate tax base that we are now discussing will also give a boost to the internal market .
it seems that this system did not generate debt .
is there a new proposal of the European Council for Copenhagen with a 30 % target - a greater offsetting than the 20 % target - for 2025 ?
let us look towards our future , Mr President , and accept our duty to build it .
I agree with you that for the policy to be more effective we also need a stronger focus on results , stronger monitoring and an evaluation culture .
I look at the climate change conferences , the enthusiasm with which Saudi Arabia supports the idea of carbon capture and storage being put in the CDM .
this judgment by the ECtHR will not lead to the improved integration of refugees and is not an effective way of resolving the asylum challenges faced by the EU .
we can endorse the proposal .
we shall have pressures in agriculture , not only because we are using codecision for the first time , but , above all , because we are intending to use it through Parliament and we will not agree to further cuts to the agricultural budget to fund other areas .
indeed , our sympathy goes out to all those who have died or are lying in a hospital bed .
therefore , as has been said , we need to be prepared for this by enhancing civil protection .
the EU and the Member States should therefore create a favourable environment for these enterprises .
furthermore , the day after the G20 summit , the Europe-United States summit will represent an important opportunity for taking these results on board and developing a common approach to several current economic issues .
the treaty means sweeping changes and I therefore support the proposal for a pan-European referendum , an interesting alternative to a Swedish referendum which I think is necessary to give the citizens the opportunity to express their opinion on matters which are of crucial importance for them .
the arrangements apply only in a qualified way to goods vehicles weighing over 3.5 tonnes .
( PT ) Mr President , this is an important debate , since I believe that it is the last in which we will be discussing names .
we need to clarify certain points .
consequently , there must be an efficient control and monitoring mechanism , and a reduction in bureaucracy and the administrative burden .
( BG ) I would like to congratulate the rapporteur Mrs. Jäätteenmäki for that fact that since the Lisbon Treaty and the Charter of Fundamental Rights were signed a new framework on the Ombudsman 's role in modern social relations has been proposed .
indeed , they are damaging not only to my country , Poland , but also to Europe as a whole .
the economic crisis has made poverty considerably worse .
the most common manifestation of discrimination in the labour market is employers being guided by prejudices and stereotypes when selecting a candidate for a job - nearly 62 % of respondents saw that as a major problem .
it is simply different , and as a Hungarian , I would be grateful if you could respect this in the spirit of unity in diversity .
voting in favour of this proposal would preclude any future , more effective , measures .
then you have to find a lasting , sustainable and systemic solution for the longer term .
it is now up to activists in France and in the UK to make sure that their governments respect this .
the first is that , contrary to what one of you said , we do not use taxpayers ' money .
only in this way can these nations and societies become long-term parts of the global ...
thanks to amendments from this House , which I wholeheartedly support , this information will have to be provided on a standardised information sheet , which will make it easier for consumers to assimilate the information .
this way , we will be able to combat poverty and ensure economic , social and territorial cohesion , by means of sustainable economic growth .
so everyone agrees on the diagnosis , but clearly we are not in agreement about what we need to do to extricate ourselves from this financial deadlock .
'Anxiety to maintain internal control ' , with ' little interest in seeking popular consent ' on which to base the rule of a political elite .
thirdly , you referred to the issue of innovation .
this looks to me like political editorial control over things on the Internet - the new medium .
you can imagine the implications of this .
the study shows that this is technically possible .
back in February , in the resolution on the revised framework agreement between the European Parliament and the Commission , we asked the Commission , and I quote : ' to make available to the European Parliament summary details of all proceedings in matters of breaches of regulations on the basis of an official request , if the European Parliament so desires ' , end quotation .
what are we doing in Europe ?
the ' cooperation ' and ' communication ' principles appeal to me .
the proposed strategy will allow a coordinated and integrated policy which can achieve synergetic effects , promote cohesion and foster economic growth and competitiveness , all while protecting the environment .
the report calls for the creation of legal cooperation mechanisms between the EU and signatory states and under trade agreements in order to guarantee recourse to the justice system for victims where multinationals and their subsidiaries fail to comply with social and environmental legislation .
we need more cooperation and coordination , not least in light of more Europe with respect to economic practices .
I hope that we can continue to work together in this way in future .
Mr President , this is not the first time we have discussed the method of governing employed by Robert Mugabe and his party .
that is not good enough .
in some cases we have had heated arguments and have gone into very great detail . I should like to emphasise , however , that you have put the discharge at the top of the agenda in the College , in the Commission .
it is against this background that a European Council was held which , to top it all , has just deferred by four months consideration of possible measures to combat rising oil prices that , as has been said , are strangling tens of millions of ordinary people .
I voted for Amendment 1 , which proposed combining the two October part-sessions and holding them in the same week in the European Parliament 's session for 2012 .
I had also mentioned the French Presidency in my notes , but regrettably its representative has already disappeared .
secondly , I thank my fellow Members for having supported the numerous important recommendations I made to the budget package .
I welcome the fact that these two are now being joined by key political figures each fasting for 24 hours .
the Commission 's proposal before us should nevertheless be welcomed .
the situation of migrant workers must be regularised by guaranteeing their labour and social rights , which is a necessary condition for ending unacceptable situations of exploitation .
I approve this report , taking into account the amendments proposed by the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament .
it is important for the Treaty of Lisbon to enter into force as soon as possible so that , among other things , we can continue the work of appointing the new Commission .
I also know that the basis for agreement must be a long-term vision and not hastily drafted plans .
they have also been in touch with the competent authorities in third countries , providing a clear picture of the incident to our trade partners .
may I assure you of the Commission 's willingness to look again at the various points in this report in close cooperation with Parliament .
this recommendation by the European Parliament is over-prescriptive at the EU level .
it does not mean challenging the independence of the European Central Bank or artificially coordinating economic policy decisions , which must continue to be made according to the circumstances of each country .
he does not say a thing that he thinks will make life harder for Israel . '
murder , which has been deeply rooted in Turkish tradition for generations , is often interpreted favourably for men , who are supposedly acting to clear the disgraced honour of their family .
I cannot deny that a few problems still exist , in particular the clauses relating to unfair contract terms in Chapter 5 .
after all , ordinary citizens rightly expect the European Union 's institutions not only to help the banks , but also to provide them with social security .
we can do it , if we want to .
having a single patent will significantly reduce administrative costs for small and medium-sized enterprises , stimulate innovation and help create new jobs at a time when the EU has an ever-growing need for them .
investments in sustainable energy , in infrastructure for green energy and energy efficiency in buildings create millions of jobs , and this is not to be sniffed at .
we must reconcile ourselves to the fact that the Slovak Republic will lose one Member as a result of the agreed principle of digressive proportionality .
the purpose of the report on the revision of the directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment was to encourage the separated collection , recovery and recycling of this kind of waste .
this is a signal that this issue has begun to be seen in its true dimension : the European one .
Mr President , I welcome this report on public finances .
that is a perverse system .
however , a country which - despite international support for the securing of its borders - claims the right to violate international law as it sees fit disqualifies itself from accession to the European Union once and for all .
if you really were concerned about safety , and not purely about money , it seems to me that the facts to quote should relate to foreign drivers responsible for fatal accidents , and not simply the offences they commit , the number of which , by the way , increases in direct proportion to the proliferation of automatic radar devices .
I find it shocking that many errors are occurring in procurement with regard to projects .
its response was ' no follow-up ' .
as a founding member of the EU , the Netherlands has almost always been the largest net contributor to the EU budget .
the publication by the Council last December of guidelines on the implementation of the consular Lead State concept in the event of a crisis is a first positive step and they contain important ideas .
that is the President of the Commission , but I have not heard a word from him on this matter .
I think that it not always quota , but also quality , that should also be important .
the amendment would , however , tend to weaken the impact of the measure in providing incentives to beet processors to dismantle their plant .
ladies and gentlemen , the initial aim of the European Union - the security and wellbeing of the people of Europe - has not altered .
nevertheless , it is important to ensure that geological capture and storage technology for carbon dioxide , which has been little tested , is applied in accordance with the strictest safety standards , as set out in the directive on this issue .
this is hampering significantly the operation of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission , the main body tasked with the efficient management of the resources released by the international community .
fiscal sovereignty must remain with the Member States .
Mr President , democracy , the rule of law , human rights and fundamental freedoms are what the EU stands for .
GNSS are important for developing Intelligent Transport Systems ( ITSs ) , because ITSs can provide more efficient , cleaner and safer transport solutions , and proper implementation of a number of ITS services requires fully operational GNSS systems .
I thought you were finishing , then suddenly you continued your speech , so I did not know whether or not to bang the gavel .
undoubtedly , our hard-pressed farmers will be faced with yet more bureaucratic headaches .
this concerns both the level and the scale of healthcare , and it is evident that more fears are being expressed by the poorer countries , which are at a stage of transformation and are trying to catch up with the wealthier ones .
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this is due to several factors , such as limited financial resources , the lack of qualified workers and inability to respond quickly to change : hence the need for additional funding .
the EUR 50 million made available by the Commission will not be enough .
this is something which it would be good to discuss with the new Commissioner for External Relations .
however , nobody can say that tomorrow we will be passing a package that includes equal competitive conditions .
in the immediate future , the urgent problems concern the measures to be taken for the fateful date of 1 January 2008 .
many political elements are appearing and exerting pressure to bring about the partition of Kosovo , which is not an answer .
( ES ) Thank you , Commissioner , for your highly relevant , correct and complete answer .
the Spanish Presidency 's main interest is the Mediterranean area , which can bring major benefits to Romania as well .
now that Gordon Brown has bottled out of an election , the need for a British referendum is greater than ever .
( PT ) This debate is about road safety .
( PL ) Mr President , I am glad that one of the specific measures to bring about development through knowledge mentioned by Mr Barroso was the provision of an Internet connection for every school .
the text on which we have voted not only proposes to combine the three directives on the labelling of textile composition into a single European regulation applicable to all the Member States , but it is also designed to simplify the procedure for recognising new fibres .
it is a summit that perhaps may not even be very high profile , but we need to make that relation thrive .
nonetheless , this is a measure that we applaud , having advocated an extension of parental leave to six months in our 2009 government programme .
we know that the situation there is far from satisfactory .
Madam President , I am touched by the words ' smart ' and ' intelligent ' , which are very much part of this debate , because the solutions we try and use in our house to reduce energy consumption are certainly not working and they are neither smart nor very intelligent .
the US demand for an end to subsidies to Airbus , as a condition for holding negotiations , falls outside an acceptable framework for settling the dispute .
I find it regrettable that the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) have not thrown any weight behind this text .
there is a danger that Ireland will no longer be perceived as neutral .
in the context of the European Union , it is also necessary to state that the definition of marriage and the family belongs to the family law of individual Member States , and the EU should not interfere in this area .
the European Union as a whole has been extremely active in recent weeks both on the political and practical fronts .
decisions are taken by the Council and the European Parliament - not by the Commission .
I hope we will reach agreement on the idea of going over possible areas where savings can be made for each individual institution .
global problems require coordinated solutions on a global scale .
it has been widely reported that , at that meeting , several of our colleagues , in particular Mr Daniel Cohn-Bendit , addressed the President of the Czech Republic in insolent , insulting and intolerant terms , in such a way as to bring this House into disrepute .
however , free movement is significantly hampered by concerns about the possibility of recouping the cost of medical treatment abroad .
this allows us to approve an appropriation of the necessary funds without eroding the other budget lines dedicated to financing important actions among the Union 's objectives and programmes .
I voted against raising the retirement age because I think that people who pass a certain age , but who will and can work , should be encouraged and not forced to work , especially at a time when the unemployment rate in the EU-27 is 10 % , and 20 % among young people .
these risks are of direct concern to investors in those funds and to the stability and integrity of European financial markets , as well as seriously affecting financial market participants .
they cannot cope alone .
in writing . - The Fine Gael MEPs do not support the proposal for a directive on a common consolidated corporate tax base but did not see this as grounds for voting against this important report as a whole .
the first is the institutions ' policy on buildings and property .
this will give all stakeholders an opportunity to consider how the first months of the strategy have gone and what lessons might already be drawn at that stage .
this is the beginning of a new era for us and , therefore , we are asking , in accordance with Article 60 , to be admitted to the EU coordination meetings and not to be left standing outside the door .
of course , we will be faithful in our application of the Lisbon Treaty , and I would like to point out that it was my government that promoted the use of Spanish co-official languages in the European institutions .
that did rather disappoint me , I must say .
in writing . - ( PT ) I voted in favour of this report since I welcome the fact that the compromise changes introduced into the proposal initially presented by the Commission will have contributed decisively to guaranteeing patient access to reliable and independent information on prescription-only medicines that are available on the market .
those responsible for the post-election violence a year ago must be brought to justice and a period of reconciliation and tolerance is now essential for Kenya .
for years on end Bulgaria was required to make greater efforts in the fight against crime .
why not harmonise those ?
with this report , the European Parliament is proving that the EU , far from wanting to sacrifice childcare in the name of free competition of services , lets Member States choose their educational model .
the situation is a sensitive one and the conflict between the parties has become polarised .
the European Union is nevertheless prepared to take on its role of coordinating , supporting and facilitating national policies .
it is they who make the decisions , they who are in charge of their own firms , they who decide what to do and how to spend the money and they should not suffer discrimination .
although they were inspired by the highest intentions , I do not think that at the European Parliament we ought to support a rule that is restrictive and that is directed against a single person .
it is excellent that we are adopting a clear position against passive smoking .
honourable Members , indeed , there is still work to be done , but we certainly place our trust in the dialogue and what we could refer to as the impact of the dialogue and its effects .
small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) account for around 99 % of all EU businesses and make a key contribution to economic growth : as well as a source of jobs and wealth , they are particularly suitable vehicles for innovation .
the 26th , the Czech Republic , has just taken an important decision , in that the Constitutional Court has stated that the Lisbon ratification process can take place , and Prime Minister Topolánek has indicated , in a courageous and responsible statement , that his ambition is to propose the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon .
however , the current discussions in the Council suggest that a system of prior authorisation is likely to be limited to specific types of health care .
they have done none of those things and the report should be rejected by this House .
we have recently witnessed the results of deregulation in the United States , which allowed the financial sector to self-regulate , with extremely serious consequences for the whole world economy .
like you , the Commission believes that all Member States face significant challenges as they seek to improve their educational and training systems , especially vis-à-vis higher quality .
it is estimated that the peak in the unemployment rate will be recorded only in the next two to three quarters .
my thanks also go to Commissioner Reding - Commissioner of the Year 2007 , congratulations ! - who tabled the proposal for the revision of the Directive with great resolution and willingness to cooperate , in equal measure , and worked on it with us .
with the Koralm Tunnel , the EU has a unique opportunity to shift traffic to the railways on a scale that we have been striving for for decades .
this also relates to the question of the source of supply and transport routes .
our response cannot be to carry on as if nothing has happened .
it is not practical to start a debate , today , in the very few hours that remain , on a subject that will only be concluded in 2012 or 2013 .
therefore , we must ask the Commission to pay serious attention to national action plans and their implementation , and to ensure that the EU directives adopted thus far are transposed into national legislation , as the implementation of the 2020 energy strategy and the achievement of the CO2 emission reduction targets can depend on this .
equally the proposal to invite the Dalai Lama to the General Affairs Council is absurd to anyone who is not deliberately trying to undermine the EU-China relationship .
although we have to define our position on certain points raised in the amendments in more detail , the report undoubtedly represents a step forward , on clarity in particular and on safety .
apart from this , all EU countries have ratified the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms .
I support the rapporteur 's idea that the fulfilment of key priorities can work as a catalyst for boosting investment , growth and job creation throughout the Union .
now , of course , we cannot simply imagine nuclear power away .
( EL ) Mr President , Minister , Commissioner , I understand why numerous members take a stand against Russia .
in keeping with the commitment it made right at the outset of the mission , my country will not withdraw its troops until Afghan territory is completely secure .
we welcome the development of a peaceful and democratic Lebanon and are keen to see the EU Member States contributing actively to the peace process .
I should just like to state again that the draft directive respects Community preference fully .
we asked , and will continue to ask , the Chinese authorities to put an end to the harsh treatment imposed on Falun Gong followers .
as part of the trialogue , the Commission , which has now spoken in detail , has already finished its work , at least in large part for the time being .
together with my fellow Members in the Confederal Group of the European United Left / Nordic Green Left I have therefore drawn up a number of amendments in favour of civil rights , to protect citizens ' rights on the Internet .
secondly , it talks about a so-called leading role for the EU in the world and blindly believes that the rest of the world will develop in line with the EU 's own wishes .
I do not think that we would be having this debate if everything had gone well .
this is the big challenge .
in reforming the CAP , we must not forget the principles of integration , solidarity and community .
lastly , Mr President , while it is vital to restore confidence among savers , it would be a fatal mistake to impose unviable solutions .
I would like to remind you that the military coup in Fiji in 2006 was unanimously condemned by the European Parliament , the Council and also by the Commission .
the great debate concerns the areas in which the aspect of equality should also be included .
as a result , I am going to support the amendment which proposes a longer transition period for discontinuing the subsidies granted to unprofitable coal mines .
a project has been tabled before us which may assume the same strategic importance as Nabucco .
a vital element of ideological ferment has been introduced .
discrimination , of whatever kind , cannot be tolerated .
I am also excited , particularly as a British citizen , that the new government in Juba is committed to recognising the independence of the Republic of Somaliland - the former British Protectorate of Somaliland - and I am convinced also that many other African and European states will shortly follow thereafter .
the dialogue between Member States and between regions is also very important , and I am delighted that we have managed to include a number of comments from the Committee of the Regions as well as other organisations , such as the European Youth Forum , for example .
in conclusion , I wish to send out a clear message . we have to act and we have to do so immediately .
thank you .
I have voted in favour of Mr Wijkman 's report on building a Global Climate Change Alliance between the European Union , the Least Developed Countries ( LDCs ) and Small Island Developing States ( SIDS ) ; I believe that we cannot postpone taking tougher action outside of the EU in respect of the joint challenges of climate change and the reduction of poverty .
( DE ) Mr President , yesterday we received very sad news from Grozny in Chechnya .
all that remains for me to say is that , from our point of view , there are some reservations regarding the guarantees needed in order to ensure that ports of refuge are the ports that we all need .
there is no point in us having common standards if there are major deviations between the different Member States in their practical application .
I am sure that you are counting on the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty in all countries this year .
2007 discharge : Community Fisheries Control Agency (
the decisive factor for us is once again parliamentary control , including control over the External Action Service and the foreign policy drawn up by the High Representative , although , of course , we acknowledge the role of the Council .
how is it possible to draft the projected new so-called ' horizontal directive ' , which at the moment is nothing more than an extension beyond the workplace of protection in a number of areas , when the question of positive action is still being regarded in terms of safeguarding non-prohibited measures rather than seeking new measures ?
( ES ) Thank you , Mr President-in-Office of the Council , for that response , which I consider quite comprehensive .
I trust it will prove possible to reach agreement on all cross-border issues .
I advocate a realistic and feasible budget , but one that provides the various institutions with the material means necessary to carry out their duties .
when the demonstration was over , the group was attacked by about a dozen thugs who beat them up and snatched banners with the logo of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament .
I am not .
I would like to express my appreciation to the rapporteur , Mr Castiglione , who has taken such a balanced approach to a topic as emotive as wine .
taking into account border permeability , we need high standards when putting the Schengen acquis into actual practice in order to be able to maintain an increased level of mutual trust between Member States , including in their ability to implement measures accompanying the abolition of controls at internal borders .
with the changing climate in Europe and throughout the world , there is an increasing number of natural disasters resulting in loss of human life and major damage .
nevertheless , much needs to be done along the road towards genuine religious freedom in Pakistan .
I am , therefore , pleased that the report puts an emphasis on the need to analyse the impact of the existing EU provisions and of additional Member States ' rules in this field before one embarks on introducing any new legislation .
I believe we should first deal with the situation in our immediate vicinity .
- Mr President , first of all I would like to thank Mr Deutsch for his excellent report .
as of 31 January 2011 , 23 FAO Members had signed the Agreement and two instruments of accession had been deposited .
we must also remain vigilant as to the potential harmful effects of promoting biofuels over world food supplies and deforestation .
to grow biofuels by cutting down whole areas of rainforest , burning the timber where it falls to get a few years ' worth of nitrates and then moving on , gang-raping the precious forests , is criminal .
you have the monetary report .
what is politically useful is not always politically correct and after listening today to the Grand Mufti we have to decide in a manner that is clear and unequivocal for all of us whether we in this Chamber follow the democratic provisions of the Rules of Procedure or follow the interest each individual may have according to circumstances .
so much for the consensual issues : the question which in my view will undoubtedly arise is whether we will still be able to work together when it comes to substantive issues concerning the policy course that we should take , and when we start addressing points of detail .
having said that , problems still exist , and we in the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe have also pointed that out all along .
Georgia is an integral part of our neighbourhood policy and so we have an obligation to ensure the maximum support necessary for rebuilding the country .
there are various reasons for this , ranging from its geographical location to its long coastal border .
I believe that the report is necessary in view of European Union objectives relating to global warming and emission reduction .
the second I would say is Islamic totalitarianism , above all in connection with Sharia law .
you have to have a sound EU food policy .
furthermore , I encourage new Member States to continue to build up effective partnerships and to consistently reinforce the partnership principle while implementing the operational programmes .
under today 's conditions it is no longer possible to obtain that kind of picture without the use of space technology , because otherwise the other side would have it .
public opinion is very sensitive and completely opposed to unnecessary , painful practices .
on the Council travel website it says ' under construction ' , which I think is a metaphor for the fact that we are failing our citizens in failing to put flesh on the bones of the promise of European citizenship .
that is why the European Parliament has repeatedly called for all the institutions and organisations of the European Union to be given the financial and human resources needed to ensure that citizens receive immediate and in-depth replies to their complaints , questions and referrals .
( RO ) Madam President , this debate is taking place at a critical time for the future of the European Neighbourhood Policy .
now there are real deals to be had at bargain prices .
what we do need in Europe is a clear commitment from the Commission as well that Europe is socially responsible .
I believe it is time for us to realise the fundamental importance of Serbia for European unity .
children below that age are more vulnerable and require greater protection .
so keep quiet and leave the politics to other people who have a better understanding of the situation ' .
I would like the Minister to comment on the experience to date of Czech farmers and the Czech agri-food industry of the common agricultural policy , whether they are satisfied and whether it has made good improvements to their particular lots in different enterprises .
I believe that we are gradually making ourselves look ridiculous .
in Afghanistan , I hope that we have learnt from the mistakes of the past and that we will adapt our policies and structures accordingly .
I want to talk , in particular , about paragraph 29 of the motion on which we will vote on Wednesday .
( PL ) Madam President , the climate change conference in Bali was a test of whether there is generally a chance of worldwide cooperation to combat climate change .
it is here , ladies and gentlemen , that we must act .
therefore , they must objectively and rigorously account for how the public funds made available to them have been used .
I also support the provisional implementation of the agreement pending its entry into force .
Mr President , I would like to address the issue of democracy building with regard to our eastern neighbours .
European citizens are in favour of development aid .
I hope that Parliament will now stand united and that we can proudly say to our voters in the EU elections in June that the EU will become increasingly open - that we have no hidden agendas and that we want to be scrutinised on and judged by what we do - and with a transparency of which we can be proud .
well , if you insist , we will record it in the Minutes .
the next item is the joint debate :
it is the tax with the least negative consequences for the global competitiveness of the European economy .
we have also gone to great lengths to reach common positions , as Mr Staes has rightly demonstrated , and this has also been amazingly successful .
as you all now know , that is what we got .
the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) should support the reintegration of individual redundant workers into employment , and I would reiterate that assistance from the EGF is not a substitute for measures that are the responsibility of companies by virtue of national law or collective agreements , nor is it intended to finance the restructuring of companies or sectors ;
a further result of the improvements is that we still have a separate , independent directive - independent of REACH - obviously with the necessary coordination between the two .
a body empowered to award public funding must be entirely above suspicion , if only for the sake of people 's trust in public administrative authorities .
in 2001 , EU Member States accounted for 79 % of Russian foreign investment to the tune of nearly USD 30 billion .
this incident is now being considered by the UN .
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the EU 2020 strategy also goes in this direction .
the directive provides legal safeguards for mobility and at the same time offers a statutory basis for existing initiatives in the area of cross-border healthcare .
this recommendation is based on a draft Council decision on the conclusion of a protocol between the European Union and Jordan , the aim of which is to implement a dispute settlement mechanism as part of the Euro-Mediterranean agreement .
better regulation is a top priority for this and we have made significant progress in the years of impact assessment , simplification and the reduction of administrative burdens .
yesterday , we voted on the role of national parliaments and their powers on proposed EU legislation in the area of subsidiarity under the new Lisbon Treaty , so we have to be very careful that we are coherent in the way we vote .
subject : canned fish products as part of food aid
the inclusion of two weeks of paternity leave is also an important step in the struggle for equality between men and women .
risks and costs must be apparent and comparable from the outset .
secondly , there is the issue of the House of European History .
in spite of this , accession negotiations have not yet begun .
you may say that , in the current situation , nothing more can be done .
will the Commissioner look seriously at Oxfam 's proposal , which has had an indication of support from the British Prime Minister , and put his weight behind it as a European Commissioner for Trade ?
we cannot allow any uncertainties when it comes to these .
those guidelines should take into account the demands of families with children .
I am confident that this House will rise to its responsibilities and we will come up with a good package tomorrow .
it is not the only body of laws we are proposing .
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Sweden has applied for assistance from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund in respect of redundancies within the automotive sector in Sweden .
I wonder , therefore , if the procedural representatives who made the compromises have a real mandate from their group and I shall bear this in mind in future negotiations .
Mrs Patrizia Toia 's report can help eliminate the suspicion legislators and market stakeholders have that the money and products generated by the social economy are simply organisations seeking to evade competition rules .
in the draft document , there is not even a repetition of the sums which the European Commission is proposing - that the needs of developing countries in this area are estimated at EUR 100 billion annually to 2020 , and what the EU 's contribution to that amount might be .
it has been a fantastic event , and I am delighted to have had the opportunity to meet you .
it is very true that in the Council the right-wing governments have adopted the same position , regardless of whether their geographical location is in the east or west .
we , as the European Union , have a unique opportunity here to show that we are on the side of the workers - of the 200 000 Opel workers in Germany , Poland , Austria , Spain and Belgium , to name just a few .
it explains the tragic situation of the people of that country and the powerlessness of national authorities , international institutions and the peacekeeping forces .
we take the view that the surveillance of arms exports is best achieved by each Member State working through its national legislation .
however , we depend on the cooperation of the Polish authorities to arrive at a viable solution .
the scope of public services concerned covers healthcare , education , security , climate change and energy efficiency , all issues which benefit the entirety of society .
I agree with the rapporteur that it is necessary for Parliament , along with all Union institutions , to find the most cost effective ways of using financial and staff resources , including possible savings , as well as electronic tools and methods , to provide efficient services .
that is where it all starts and then moves down the chain .
policy must lend itself to implementation , and so simplification is in order .
we have put in place , for example , legislation on barometers .
diversity and compatibility in the job market and in society are fundamental .
we are concerned about the situation of the refugees , who have had to leave their homes under pressure and cannot return to them , and we appreciate the efforts made by the Georgian Government towards securing dignified living conditions for all of the refugees .
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the vote will take place during the next sitting .
because the yard has received less aid in the past , we can be less demanding in this respect .
however , the interim results with the car , for example , where we have found a responsible compromise which does not suit the industry but ensures adequate transitional periods , we can endorse , even if a few Greens protest against it or a unified lobby of different interests tries to disparage this useable compromise .
codification of the directive on marks identifying the lot to which a foodstuff belongs aims to achieve this approach and to simplify consumers ' understanding of the legislation .
go on then , I dare you !
so whether this directive becomes law is now in the hands of the co-legislators .
we only have to imagine what would happen if a disaster struck a Member State in a difficult financial situation .
the perfect example is the Globalisation Fund : a little poke of financial sweeties .
but a currency is also far more than a means of payment .
you will not be speaking again but you will nonetheless be staying here to listen to further speakers .
we are , however , unhappy that Parliament supports a voluntary , as opposed to compulsory , 2 % increase in milk quotas .
due to its excellent financial standing , it was able to do so even at a time when it was difficult to raise finance from the markets .
the ideal scenario would be for the reverse charge to be applied as a rule rather than the exception .
religious intolerance is becoming an increasingly frequent phenomenon in various parts of the world , and the terrible attacks against Christians in Egypt and Iraq over the last few weeks are the latest dangerous challenge posed by fundamentalist terrorism .
we do not have the right to ban , but we do have the right to protect .
the report ought also to point out the responsibility of Roma families who , instead of sending their children to school , send them out to commit offences and keep them in such a way as to prevent their integration .
I call , therefore , on the Russian leaders to make the choice of the future .
that is why it is proposed to distribute the resources in such a way that really effective use can be made of them .
Member of the Commission . - ( EL ) Madam President , I welcome the opportunity that we have this evening of debating the proposal to revise the directive on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes .
we are , however , being stretched on the basis of the present Treaty texts to tackle these problems .
does she envisage the possibility of launching some specific programmes or projects that we might begin to consider in terms of university exchanges , cultural and artistic exchanges , and , if so , what ?
Member of the Commission . - I admit that , but of course this is of such importance , and this is such an urgent issue , that the leakage from last week 's meeting was discussed in the College .
we have done that several times , and I sincerely hope that they will take advantage of our flexibility to bring us a concrete proposal .
I would remind the House that the 2007 slogan for this day was : ' global Air Transport - a driver of sustainable economic , social and cultural development ' .
the first is how we must deal with excessive antibiotics prescription , which is handled very well in the report .
the European Union is committed to the absolute prohibition of torture and of cruel , inhumane and degrading treatment .
however , the Commission will play an active role in the stock-taking part of the conference , and we count fully on the Spanish Presidency to lead the European nations so that their voice will make a big difference in this conference .
it is thus important that we focus on the role they play in agricultural businesses and in rural areas .
again , I would state that the decision was taken by the Council of Ministers , and that is it .
furthermore , the Resolution states that any strategy relating to macro-regions must be incorporated into the cohesion policy , which is the coordinating policy at European Union level .
the main factors which contributed to the failure are double standards and a tendency to think in military terms .
finally , we come to the lotteries .
the area is an integral part of the EU 's energy strategy , so that this new strategy is an implementation of the higher energy strategy and will bring synergy and continuity to our work at European level .
however , it emphasises that the country needs to complete the remaining section of the journey towards full membership .
I think that it is excellent that the report mentions the importance of an Arctic Information Centre and also states that the University of Lapland in Rovaniemi , Finland , would be a good place to locate it .
but these responsibilities should be seen as having a subsidiary character .
I believe he is the right person for the job and his track record has been impressive .
this will mean that no burden will be placed on the EU budget .
the conclusion was to replace all other terms included in amendments by ' former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ' .
most consumers would therefore reject products from seal hunting that does not come close to meeting requirements corresponding to those to which Swedish hunting is subject , results in unnecessary suffering and takes place on a large scale under uncontrolled conditions .
the recovery framework plan , due out on 26 November , is supposed to include short-term measures to help head off a recession .
relations between the European Union and Russia are of enormous importance for stability , economic growth and security in Europe and the whole world .
we have witnessed repeated threats and boycotts which we absolutely cannot accept .
only the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty will enable the more effective management of European priorities in the energy sphere and these are now changing .
Alzheimer 's is an insidious disease for which there are no effective drugs , despite extensive research .
the Arctic Centre at the University of Lapland in Rovaniemi , on the Arctic Circle , has indicated its willingness to function as the EU Arctic Information Centre .
the ' made in ' stamp on knives has been demanded for some time by social groups such as Aprecu , and the government of Castilla-La Mancha has been fighting for it with the unanimous support of its regional Parliament .
Article 1 lists the European Union 's institutions .
this looks , in particular , at the so-called comitology aspects .
I believe , however , that all these issues will be successfully dealt with and that Europe will not in the process become some sort of enclosed fortress .
I refer to the EMU because , whether we like it or not , it is the strongest link between the European nations that share the same currency , with the rights , but also the obligations , that this entails .
Georgia lost the war but should win the peace , and we have to do our utmost to make this happen . it means two things : helping Georgia with strong financial support for reconstruction and helping to consolidate democratic reforms .
( ES ) Mr President , I , too , of course , would like to add my support for the residents of Lorca .
Commissioner , it is not true that workers can decide for themselves .
you have split up some of them in such a way that it will , in future , be very difficult to conduct specific negotiations in the committees .
in my opinion , we need an emergency measure for this case of urgent need , which should unite the European Commission , the Member States and the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) .
because it has still to be accepted in the Council : I have heard about four Member States objecting .
we are using the means we have to send a friendly signal to Israel , saying , ' Please get a move on ! ' - .
however , I have the impression that this is just an umbrella concept to disguise your lack of action .
improving the energy efficiency of buildings is the most effective way of reducing energy consumption and emissions .
- Before the vote on paragraph 20 :
in writing . - ( HU ) The report entitled ' Towards a common European foreign policy on energy ' makes the important point that Europe 's energy supply depends to a growing extent on unstable and non-democratic countries .
results in the immediate future will depend on how we prioritise existing obstacles .
in writing . - ( IT ) The situation in Chad has now become critical .
I shall vote in favour .
he had discovered that a subcommittee of a committee of a subcommission was meeting in the House of Commons , and so he could not be present at the signing of the thing he did not want to sign but intended to sign nevertheless , but then later , at the meal , he signed it after all .
the EU as well as the USA were caught by surprise and still have to improvise in reacting and accommodating themselves to these revolutionary developments .
14 .
following the negotiations , the draft protocol on Liechtenstein 's accession to the Dublin agreement with Switzerland was presented .
in writing . - ( IT ) Export controls of dual-use items , meaning goods which can be used for both civil and military purposes , have been the subject of EU-level actions for around 15 years .
we have been in discussion for months with the Commission , with the European Central Bank , with the Slovak Government as well as with the whole of Slovak civil society to ensure that the process can truly help Slovakia to meet all the criteria laid down in the Treaty .
( ES ) Madam President , I am also going to talk about Venezuela , because there are some people who do not understand that democracy is not just about casting votes .
Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mrs Jeggle on her excellent report and all the hard work that went into it .
integration can proceed quickly .
think about that , and let us base your majority on a pro-European majority in this House .
please answer this question .
while it is true that the area around the temple was not demarcated by the Court , I believe that Thailand and Cambodia can reach an understanding by means of negotiation and not through the use of weapons .
from now on , we need to observe closely how accountable the new parliament and government will be to society ; whether the new institutions will ensure respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms ; and whether they will deliver better policies to improve the economic and social situation of the citizens .
I agree with her that we must also be more forward-thinking regarding the status of these regions and Russia 's neighbours .
we all know that the European Union had a fairly unpleasant experience this winter , finding itself to a large extent without any gas supply .
their suppression is a matter for all of society in the European Community , even if we know that everyday racism and xenophobia are concealed by citizens who otherwise demand democracy and human rights .
the 2007 Decision establishing the Daphne III Programme , which has been so important in combating violence against children , young people and women , has also been significant .
an important element in the strategy should also be a consolidated approach to the question of strengthening the role of European states in the field of research on the maritime economy and the development of technology and maritime engineering as well as the development of maritime resources .
let us not fool ourselves .
this is why we have other instruments , other occasions , and other frameworks in which we can fulfil our duty of dealing with fundamental questions such as pensions and the dependence of Europe 's citizens .
these reports have all proved to be false .
we have inherited a large number of years of management of fisheries , in a way whereby it was overtaken by the scientific advances , by the enormous increase in the number of vessels that went beyond any limits of capacity so to speak as a counter to what can sustainably be caught .
I also agree with Mr Moreno that we wish to help countries with a high level of emigration develop so that their citizens are more inclined to stay at home .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , many thanks for finding the time to be present here this evening despite the late hour .
but this can only be decided at the national level because the support - apart from the European Investment Bank mentioned by Mr Verheugen - can only be provided by national taxpayers .
only forty or so amendments were tabled .
the policy conditionality established under an enhanced surveillance or a macroeconomic adjustment programme will be consistent with the European Union surveillance framework and must guarantee the respect of European Union procedures , and thereby also the role of the European Parliament .
I firmly believe that it is important to create a clear , comprehensive and flexible legal framework in this sensitive area .
I think there are too many agencies , and so there is no need to create new ones .
it is true that I have referred to the public hearing requested by the Committee on Petitions in January , in which both I and my colleague , Mr Piebalgs , Commissioner responsible for energy matters , spoke , and I have repeated what was said regarding the need for natural gas imports , as my colleague Mr Piebalgs said .
there are even organisations that seek to defend them !
the Commission has addressed that .
without protection against discrimination on these grounds , our ambitions for a social Europe will be meaningless .
Opel Europe has a significant role to play in industrial policy in Europe and this is not only about jobs at Opel , but also about jobs in many automotive supply companies in a number of European countries .
rest assured that as far as the European Council is concerned , the ministers shall convey this message to the Heads of State or Government , and that we , as the Presidency , shall argue for the most stringent application possible .
it seems to me that the European Union , too , should do something to ensure that the dialogue is genuine .
the people who are bringing up future generations and educating the young people who , in the future , will govern us , provide us with medical treatment , build our bridges and look after us in hospital are not fairly paid .
we also have to change our policy , and I will be discussing this later today with several MEPs responsible for this region within Parliament 's Committee on Foreign Affairs .
while some of the report 's recommendations are already becoming part of normal practice , such as those concerning briefings and debriefings , the three institutions should carefully consider the different suggestions and find solutions , while taking into account the EU legal framework and the arrangements between Parliament and the Commission , which are foreseen in the framework agreement of May 2005 .
you cannot make a plant grow by pulling on its leaves !
this will help eradicate more effectively the lack of job security , the low level of wages , in most cases , not declared for tax purposes , the lack of social protection for people employed on a casual basis , as well as a working environment devoid of minimum health and safety standards and of protection for workers against accidents .
for this reason I would like to repeat once again : the European Union should have its own forces to be able to intervene in cases such as Burma .
in view of the talks between the European Union and Russia on the subject of human rights , and as the EU is still committed to strengthening and further developing EU-Russia relations , with respect for democratic principles and fundamental rights , I believe that Russia remains an important partner for the EU , in line with greater development of cooperation between the countries .
the large number of injured and arrested is also a cause of great concern , and all parties have to show restraint and stop the violence .
the fact that the African Union has suspended the country 's membership , declaring the political regime illegal , along with the suspension of assistance by the IMF and the World Bank , have led to the government 's international isolation and deepened the problems of a population deprived of foreign aid .
I have therefore decided to vote in favour of this proposal , as enhanced by the amendments introduced by the European Parliament .
yet what happens ?
Madam President , President-in-Office of the Council , Commissioner , following Mrs Berès 's question , I should like to focus on the economic model on which we in the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) base ourselves : social market economics .
there must be no political and social pressure on parents in Europe to consciously decide against having a disabled child .
Mr President , I would like ask the Minister if he is happy that , whereas there is sufficient and advanced testing for driving with alcohol , the same advanced testing is not there for driving with illegal drugs .
in early 2007 , human rights activist Yang Chunlin was collecting signatures for a petition in China entitled ' We Want Human Rights , not the Olympics . '
the question arises , for instance , as to whether increasing the proportion of people with a university degree to 40 % is worthwhile everywhere , or whether we are not simply increasing the number of unemployed university graduates .
nobody believes that !
we certainly cannot divert our brave troops from their vital task of fighting terrorism , but it might just have some beneficial effects all round .
dichloromethane , in fact , has many adverse effects on human health : it has a narcotic and depressive effect on the central nervous system , as well as causing cardio-toxicological effects at high exposures .
that is the condition governing transparency and it is also , in my view , the condition governing the citizens ' support .
there has also been a very lively discussion here - and not only here - on licensing nanomaterials and of course the elimination of carcinogenic materials from cosmetic products .
I would urge the Council and the Commission to address these matters urgently at the coming summit .
I have heard what our colleague has said .
some are more private-oriented and some are very much State-funded .
how can we improve our technologies in the interests of aviation , the people and goods ?
these values cannot be allowed to sink into oblivion on the pretext of stabilising our relations .
all in all , this is a very cautious step forward .
I am chairing this sitting , not Mr Cohn-Bendit .
in fact , by means of the open declaration , the compromise protects the rights of purchasers to be informed and of manufacturers to retain ownership of their know-how by indicating that information should be provided without prejudice to the 2004 Directive on intellectual property rights .
the first is ensuring a safe , sustainable , competitive supply via an effective , operational and interconnected network .
while the text does not encompass all that I would want , by supporting it and strengthening the rights of all disabled passengers , I believe that an important step will be taken towards enabling Europe 's guide dog users to move across the European Union on an equal footing to other citizens .
it is important that Parliament takes its responsibility for international agreements very seriously .
the case of detention ...
this is a welcome initiative , but in its external policy the European Union should aim to make other banks , operating in third countries , implement or carry out their activities based on these principles as well .
in January 2009 , the Commission adopted the proposal for a new regulation on textile names and related labelling of textile products .
although we can see certain ambiguities in the examples or in the definitions , I believe that all steps will be taken to obtain as much information as possible from the social partners , all of the provisions have been clarified and the Council has therefore adopted the agreement as a whole .
currently it is trying to wriggle out of legal requirements that it uses air-conditioning coolants with a much lower global warming potential than those used at present , and already it is lobbying to try and weaken the Commission 's proposals on CO2 emissions from vans and light commercial vehicles .
my son is seventeen years old and is studying English very intensively , because he knows that English is the working language , and he hopes that it will help him to get an appropriate job .
as the European budget is constrained , and Member States have seriously ailing public finances and cannot allow more money to be sent to Brussels , it is also necessary to state clearly where cuts might be made .
on the other hand , European legislation on trafficking in human beings should also include organ selling and trafficking , even if it is still hidden but becoming an increasing global problem .
we need a mechanism that is stable , which means it will be able to prevent and discourage speculation and have the capacity to respond as and when needed .
the Minister said he had not received satisfactory answers from the Chinese authorities so far .
this is a disgrace , Mr President !
on 2 January 2009 , he violated the provisions of the Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter of Human Rights by sanctioning amendments to what is known as the Kenya Communications Bill of 1998 , giving the national authorities new rights , including the right to dismantle broadcasting and communications equipment , as well as to control and alter the content of mass media publications .
I would like to remind you about the interview you gave during the waste crisis in Naples .
I ask you to take that commitment forward and to do that .
Mr President , as EPP shadow rapporteur I would like to start by expressing my gratitude to the rapporteur and to the other colleagues from the political groups for their excellent cooperation .
however , Europe will only become more dynamic if it has a stronger involvement on the part of its citizens .
it is becoming increasingly urgent to reach an agreement on issues relating to climate and energy matters .
the energy strand of the European Economic Recovery Plan contains some striking proposals .
this context projected to the top of the European Parliament 's agenda the necessity of a gender approach to poverty , in the report on the face of female poverty .
it is of huge importance for these new emission requirements to enter into effect very soon .
thus , both sides profit from the Chinese model .
guaranteeing a minimum level of protection for temporary agency workers is part of constructing a social Europe .
I hope that we are on the right track here .
we need to strengthen our legislation to protect victims of trafficking from two perspectives : prevention and protection , and integration into society and the labour market .
after all - and as the resolution points out - the Euro-Latin American partnership has an overall population of more than one billion people , who make up one third of the UN member states and account for more than a quarter of world trade .
the Commission is fully committed to the promotion of a high level of protection for intellectual property and respect for intellectual property in countries outside the EU .
I shall not discuss economic cooperation , as Commissioner Verheugen has already touched upon that point and we had an extensive debate on the issue a few weeks ago .
( FR ) Mr President , pursuant to Article 1 of the code of honour of the European Parliament , on behalf of my group I should like to thank you for the sittings you have chaired .
documents received : see Minutes
the governments tell us that it is a diplomatic conflict .
I have also spoken to the French Presidency of the Council this afternoon ; the Council Presidency will address the issue and ensure that the Council produces an analysis of the Commission 's proposals as quickly as possible so that the new provisions can enter into force on schedule on 1 July 2009 .
the secession of Kosovo , which remains a deeply controversial subject , has heightened tensions in the region and continues to have an immense potential to cause instability .
I want the timeframe in which complaints are dealt with to be improved as we go forward .
this is a work in progress and the Commission will present a report every three years on the implementation of the initiative .
the Brueghel economists have really lost their faith and now plead in favour of more spending .
statement by the President
it is clear that there is a definite link between certain financial activities and increased volatility and prices for raw materials .
I hope the key messages will not be lost because it is so long .
we should limit them to a manageable period , so that we in Parliament can also get our hand back on the tiller .
what direction the ECB 's decisions will take in future , I cannot say .
eight years after Laeken , we are now on the threshold of a new treaty .
balanced growth and employment must be understood in a wider sense , not just in strictly economic terms but with regard to the social , cultural and environmental aspects .
it was also discussed with the Commission and with the Council .
Madam President , the Court 's value is considerable , not least because there is still so much work to be done in the judicial system in the Balkans .
however , I have voted against the report because the proposed measures , particularly the import controls , do not , in my opinion , go far enough .
as the head of a police authority , this minister should pack his bags and go .
EU law bears witness to this , but so do constitutional provisions of each of the Member States .
judges who are not elected and who therefore do not have to account to anyone , are increasingly interfering with the legislative and executive powers of Member States .
I would like to delve further into the subject of CE marking .
therefore , the development of a Member State or region cannot be assessed solely by an economic indicator such as GDP : quality of life , which is determined by factors such as health , education , culture , employment , housing and climate and environmental conditions , must also be taken into account .
Sam Rainsy , as the main opposition leader , must be allowed to resume his duties in the Cambodian Parliament as soon as possible .
protectionism is doubtless another of the reasons .
keeping a sense of proportion means ensuring that the great objectives that we want to achieve are also feasible .
at present , the producer price bears no relation to the consumer price .
regions and cities carry the key to re-energising Europe in order to overcome its extraordinary difficulties and to successfully achieving the transformation of our economy .
I therefore hope that specific financial instruments for social housing and other housing policies will again be among the priorities of the new Commission , to which I offer my sincerest wishes for its work .
( PT ) The ' yes ' vote in Ireland is good news for Europe and for me personally , as a Portuguese citizen and a committed pro-European .
we have lived the greater part of our lives , perhaps the best part , at a time when the doors and windows of opportunity have been open .
an analysis of the experience of several Member States shows us what an important role minimum incomes play in fighting poverty and social exclusion , and that is why I voted for Mrs Figueiredo 's report .
it is also important for the resolution to be adopted tomorrow by all the parties that make up this House , so that unity might lend the decision more force .
it is necessary to develop diagnostics , promote healthy lifestyles , exchange information effectively and invest in modern technologies , since it is better to prevent in advance .
for this reason , I sent a letter to Prime Minister Berisha one week before the January demonstrations , in which I set out a road map based on these 12 priorities , to help Albania emerge from the current impasse .
clearly , if this goes ahead , there would be an onus on the coalition government in the UK to hold a referendum .
God created religion , but we create cultures .
( NL ) Due to the very limited time allotted I can , of course , only pick a few of the very many reasons why we did not throw our support behind this European Commission .
they need to define clear , healthy and viable foundations that will ensure a better future .
( GA ) I do not have much time , Mr President .
the process of educational reform requires the involvement of not only State institutions but also of non-governmental organisations which no longer need to make it their main objective to identify acts of discrimination , but to educate ethnic groups .
this report seeks to cover all the dimensions of immigration , supporting the establishment of a common European immigration policy founded on a high level of political and operational solidarity .
we are engaging with the United States .
she was an hour late for a dinner because she expected her question to be taken .
clearly , those worst hit by this are those in disadvantaged areas , such as the outermost regions , but also farmers in mountainous regions like we have in Austria .
for the European Union , and especially for a country like Portugal that has a calling to the sea and to fishing , as well as large-scale fishing and canning industries , it is essential to maintain fishing as a viable and sustainable economic activity .
closure of the sitting
it will be invited to adopt an operational programme , which will last over several years and consist of a series of actions that the partners concerned with the migratory flow along the western African routes will be asked to implement , especially related to the prevention of and fight against illegal immigration and human trafficking .
our group feels that media pluralism is not just an Italian issue .
long-term commitment from the international community will not prevail if Haiti quickly slips back to a ' business as usual ' approach .
I just want to reassure him that from our side of the House we will certainly give full support to the strategy that he is talking about .
but I think that , for Afghanistan , it is maybe not useful at this stage .
in a time of crisis , it is not by means of a new tax that one can solve any problem .
this proposal refers to the conclusion of a new protocol to the Partnership Agreement between the EU and São Tomé and Príncipe .
in the Black Sea region , it is vital to continue the European objective of guaranteeing the EU 's energy security .
Mr President , I rise in support of the Costa report .
rapporteur . - ( NL ) Madam President , I , too , would also like to thank everybody who has participated in the debate and everybody who has supported us with such clear arguments .
in writing . - ( RO ) I voted for this report as I think that we need to guarantee external competitiveness and uniform treatment for all EU investors .
they do not a priori pose a threat to global financial markets or the European economy ; rather they are very beneficial to it .
as a result , the first micro-loans will be provided starting from this month .
I personally support the positive conclusions of the report and praise the author for them but , although I can understand the political reasons for amending the recommendation - the basis of politics is , after all , compromise - I cannot ignore the fact that the new conditionality suggested might facilitate a subjective interpretation of it .
without a concrete improvement of the human rights situation , our common objective of developing substantively the relationship between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Iran is hindered .
( SK ) Lobbying is a legitimate part of every democratic system .
here , Linate has 126 000 on its waiting lists , while Alitalia-Air France does not want to make these journeys .
let us not get our enemy wrong .
through the appropriate means we must ensure that media and advertising professionals respect human dignity and oppose direct or indirect discrimination or stereotypical depictions .
it is crucial to increase public funding with a view to developing energy saving , energy efficiency and renewable energy projects .
however , the significant increase in the level of arrivals underlines the need for this policy to be strengthened and further developed .
in writing . - I hope that the written declaration on ACTA that I submitted two weeks ago together with my colleagues , Castex , Alvaro and Roithová , and today 's debate will serve as a belated wake-up call to the Council and the Commission .
- Before the vote on Amendment 1 :
now , in an all-new phase , the idea is to draw up a harmonised set of infringements to be sanctioned by criminal law in all the Member States and to harmonise the criminal penalties in cases of environmental infringements .
on behalf of the EFD Group . - Mr President , this oral question is not about the guilt or innocence of Mr Assange in the rape accusations against him in Sweden .
I therefore share the view of Mr Cadec : investigation and monitoring is required so that the development of EU policy in this area does not result in differences in treatment between producers from the Member States and those from third countries .
it also supports the EU emergency and crisis coordination arrangements which may be implemented in order to help coordinate an EU level response to serious crises , which would potentially include terrorist attacks .
no more ' reflection ' thing .
as we all remember , two years ago , in November 2009 , Mr Havel was a guest in the European Parliament .
I will be bringing it up with the group leaders because , I am sorry to say , that is where the problem lies : in the Conference of Presidents when they set the agenda .
Britain 's asylum system is already a mess , with thousands upon thousands of cases pending and applicants simply lost and gone to ground .
I am pleased that we still have the good old Danish krone in Denmark !
I would also like to mention timber logging in West Africa , where only 5 % of forests are managed sustainably .
therefore it is the priority duty of politicians to protect children from any abuse , in particular , to free them of the risks of sexual abuse .
in anticipation of legislative proposals , I should like to point out that , unlike what some Members have said today , this issue is clearly still a concern for the Council .
in truth , I believe that there are weighty arguments against the current three-language solution , using English , German and French ; I therefore believe that it would have been preferable in every way to have opted for the English-only regime .
however , I would also like to point out that in 12 years only 86 applications have been submitted , 28 new food products have been licensed and 3 rejected .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - Mr President , I had the privilege almost a decade ago to visit Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest in Rangoon , when she made it absolutely clear that the way forward that she saw for Burma was for the EU to impose rigorous sanctions against the regime .
we have laid down certain organisational principles for world trade and indeed for the environment , too .
thirdly , the report offers greater legal certainty with regard to the application of EU legislation to sport .
will the Commission , therefore , say how European policy is formed to protect consumers in regard to the quality and price of such products ?
explanations of vote
the European Union itself is the best example of this , along with the internal market and enlargement , in other words , with the renewal of ties between Europe 's geography and history , and along with the Economic and Monetary Union , whose 10th anniversary we celebrate today .
in writing . - The Hegyi report concerning the promotion of a dialogue with EU citizens is based on the assumption that people 's sceptical attitude towards the EU is due to the fact that they lack adequate knowledge .
what recent scare stories have taught us is not to overreact and ban some toys altogether , but rather to ensure that we step up our enforcement of rules already in place .
programming implementation of the 10th European Development Fund ( debate )
since we are at the beginning of the proposals on this issue , we are in the process of preparing an energy package and we know how much resistance there will be to achieving the level of results we desire , which is nonetheless a minimum minimorum .
has there been a change in the Rules of Procedure ?
the debate is closed .
it is a limitation of a fundamental freedom of the Treaty .
I would , therefore , like to stress again the importance of reaching first-reading agreement on an issue which is so important to European Union citizens .
it needs to be said that Europe must find a way to speak to Russia with a new , different , stronger voice .
in 2010 , the Commission intends to present several proposals in key areas , such as the derivatives markets , deposit-guarantee systems and market abuses .
it must better exploit territorial cooperation potential .
measures to tackle discrimination should remain the exclusive competence of the Member States .
as Mr Toubon said , it is absolutely right to issue a strong call to all of us and particularly to the Commission in its work on a new strategy to come up with some radical , new ideas and particularly to raise the whole political profile of the single market and its importance to all of us .
the risk that many businesses will not be in compliance alarms us .
firstly , on the institutions , I would like to remind everyone that the Polish President 's decision to sign the Treaty means that every country but one has cleared the way for Europe finally to move forward without wasting time .
I voted for the report on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund ( flooding in Madeira , Portugal , and a storm in France ) .
the potential of the services provided by farm businesses in addition to their own food output depends on the creativity of the people involved , the women among them having already contributed a great deal .
but surely the European Parliament should be setting an example .
I am not only talking about Iran , Iraq or Afghanistan .
they are people who have had enough of being ignored by the current UK Government , by people in this place and by the European Commission .
in particular , the Interim Partnership Agreement has been concluded with Papua New Guinea and the Republic of the Fiji Islands , which hope to achieve the objective of protecting their sugar and tuna industries .
if we can achieve that , Mrs Kuneva and Mrs Patrie , we will have done a lot of good and we will be making real progress .
this directive takes certain steps in this direction .
otherwise , the problem will arise that the freedom offered by the internal market and the principle of equal treatment on the ground run into difficulties .
the debate is closed .
we also need to do more to promote fair trade , so that the developing and emerging countries finally get a fair chance .
( Parliament agreed to accept the oral amendment )
using the language of fables is not the way to move from promises to action .
teachers must benefit from remuneration which reflects their importance to society .
therefore , the European Union will have to respond to increased demographic pressure as well as growth in demand from the internal market .
I would ask you to consider the fact that , if too many farms in too many regions are forced to cease operating because we are not able or prepared to take the necessary short-term measures that are called for in our resolution , the cost to the EU and the Member States would be many times greater than the cost of taking appropriate short-term measures within the framework of the common agricultural policy .
the abhorrent assassination of Benazir Bhutto is proof of this , if it was required .
but then , I would not be surprised , because , after all , you are prepared to ram through a constitution without asking anybody either .
the subject we are discussing has another aspect .
( EL ) Madam President , today we are honouring the struggle by women through the ages and female achievements .
our companies need workers who are capable of responding to new challenges and the demand for change .
the EU also supports financial police cooperation with Ukraine through a twinning project , increasing the capacity of the Ukrainian police and the European Union Border Assistance Mission ( EUBAM ) .
it will ultimately be the Commission and the Court of Justice that decide whether the Member States ' prior authorisations are proportionate .
deputising for the author . - ( NL ) Mr President , I would like to thank the Czech Presidency warmly for answering my question .
so now I do not know what we are talking about , after all .
in writing . - We support the general thrust of the report on the Health Check on the CAP .
draft amending budget No 7 / 2011 - Mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund - Spain and Italy (
regarding cooperation , in early 2009 , there was a big operation against counterfeiters together with the Italian authorities , so cooperation is working .
otherwise the idea of competition will certainly be harmed .
that is why I endorsed , in particular , the two oral amendments tabled by my colleague , Mr Brok , which stressed the need for better coordination of monetary policies within the context of transatlantic relations .
I fully agree on the need for counterbalancing .
but our concern for the fate of the Palestinians remains alive and well .
the Commission has adopted five legislative proposals relating to the Small Business Act , two of which have already been implemented : the block exemption regulation on State aid and the directive on reduced VAT rates ; the other three , the directive on late payment , the directive on VAT invoicing and the regulation on a European private company statute , are still under discussion here in Parliament and in the Council .
( DE ) Madam President , I have followed this debate very closely .
we can perhaps postpone them until the week after next .
it is quite right that we stand back and examine it .
however , I do not agree with the part which condemns the Russians for blocking the gay pride march in Moscow and not giving same-sex couples the right to marry or adopt children .
these arrangements will be binding and Parliament will make sure that they are complied with .
the level of payment appropriations must be sufficient but without being overestimated and must take into account past implementation and real needs for 2011 .
such a move would please me all the more because the Commission has already taken that step , as has the Committee on Fisheries .
to those of us interested in social policy , it would of course be ideal if the ESF funds were spent entirely on ESF objectives and the EGF funds came from other residual funds ; then we would be able to do twice as much good for workers .
in writing . - ( PL ) I would like to express the hope that the six months of the French Presidency will be marked by fruitful , effective work for the good of all citizens of a united Europe .
it is particularly important for the EU to demonstrate to Moldova 's young people the benefits of future EU membership .
today , 8 March 2011 , the centenary of International Women 's Day , Parliament had a duty to adopt , by a large majority , this report on equality between women and men in the Union for 2011 .
a wide-spanning media system is essential for nurturing democracy and free thought .
unfortunately , I also have some regrets about the way in which the EGAF works .
the fact that the European Parliament is now rejecting this initiative is precisely so that this measure will have even stronger legitimacy under the Treaty of Lisbon and that we can become more actively involved in it .
to be specific , the use or the threat of use of military means , especially as regards Iran , is extremely dangerous , will not have positive results for peace , and contradicts the perception of the left on military action by the EU .
as the aims of this regulation cannot be satisfactorily achieved in our Community just through action on the part of the Member States , we need to address the problem globally , in the context of the global economy .
not long ago , there was a conference on the Borsa Merci Telematica Italiana , an online stock market system , and so we have to examine to what extent the stock exchange systems can be used .
in our resolution , we would therefore urge the Czech Presidency to negotiate with the Belarusian authorities about an EU-wide solution .
the major common objective is to ensure the European Union 's energy security , with Romania entering on the agenda in this area : Nabucco , the Constanţa-Trieste pan-European oil pipeline and the interconnection of gas networks in neighbouring states : Romania-Hungary ( Arad-Szeged ) , Romania-Bulgaria ( Giurgiu-Ruse ) Isaccea and Negru Vodă .
the Iranian problem is at the heart of the debate in preparation for the Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty ( NPT ) review conference .
this horizontal approach is a prerequisite for successfully achieving the targets proposed within the Europe 2020 framework , as well as for achieving social , economic and territorial cohesion .
as required by the principle of subsidiarity , Member States should , when determining the target group , be granted sufficient flexibility to enable them , in keeping with their needs , to supply school fruit to as wide a circle of consumers as possible .
the Greek Government has come along and announced another fragmentary approach : a fence in Evros , but we have no overall solution to the problem .
in this context , we must regard the AKP 's victory more as a commitment to economic reform than as a vote for Islam .
I also believe that the adoption in March 2010 of a five-year strategy represents progress in terms of its actions and improvements to future work .
this is because , if as a result bioethanol / biodiesel becomes a scapegoat , we will see a situation where nobody wants to invest .
the Schengen Convention abolished checks at the internal borders of the signatory states and created a single external border with common rules on external border controls , a common visa policy , police and judicial cooperation and the establishment of the Schengen Information System ( SIS ) .
despite this , I voted in favour of the submitted report .
secondly , as you have mentioned , financing models .
this report aims at proposing solution for improving the operation of EU dialogue and consultations with third countries in the field of human rights .
the point we are at today is the following : we believe it is important to set priorities for the future , to see what we have to spend at national level and what we have to spend at European level , and then to have a discussion about the fair way of sharing that investment .
moreover , we are trying to promote this concept through the Commission 's active participation in global initiatives such as the Global Fund to Fight Aids , Tuberculosis and Malaria , as well as by interacting with other public and private players active in this field .
it is also pursuing convergence objectives ( despite the damaging changes in this field since the last enlargement ) .
however , these measures should be targeted in the right direction .
the measures will combine increased energy efficiency with lower costs .
we have consensus at first reading , and that is a good sign .
we will be calling for this now and in future from the Commission .
Commissioner Kuneva is leading a wide-ranging review of Europe 's consumer protection laws .
the CFSP relates to our values , to your values , to the values of our people .
for this reason , I have decided to abstain rather than voting against the report .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
( applause )
the Commission had also issued a document listing the various technical methods for making data secure .
also , how does Mr Netanyahu propose to stop the rapid colonisation of Jerusalem and the West Bank ?
in that case , ladies and gentlemen , it is necessary to be in favour of the Treaty of Lisbon , because the Treaty of Lisbon establishes , for the first time , an exit clause .
to my colleagues from the ECR , I would say that this is not grandstanding but legitimately asserting our role in this process .
I voted in favour of this recommendation because I fully support its contents , particularly in terms of the desire to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the European Union and the Republic of South Africa .
- Madam President , there is a further dimension to this debate .
I first of all want to congratulate the rapporteur on the presentation of her report on financial assistance for energy projects .
( EL ) Thank you , Minister , for your reply .
we do not feel that is appropriate for the current situation .
this time , the conditions exist for having a reinforced system of governance in this strategy .
I am convinced that in our efforts to secure this , Europe must speak with one voice .
forestry is a natural part of an integrated rural and regional policy , and this must be taken into account in the discussions on the future of the common agricultural policy after 2013 .
an end must be put to high risk speculation through a financial transactions tax .
this is , in my view , a very important step , which will pave the way for a global governance system of food security based on sound scientific advice but one also more open to key actors in the public and private sector and non-governmental organisations .
I congratulate my fellow Members for the work they have carried out , and they can count on my support tomorrow .
I hope that it is true that this directive will have been revised by the end of this year , or even before the end of this year , so that we can actually bring it completely up to date .
nothing less and nothing more than that .
we must decide whether or not it is right that , when buying a product , a consumer knows where it has been made .
this proposed modification is restricted to public provocation to commit terrorist offences , and recruitment and training of terrorists , which now covers traditional and modern methods for sowing terror .
however , it should not budge one inch on the conditions put forward regarding emissions .
these initiatives from the Presidency and the Commission must encourage all of us to focus on what should be done , rethink what we have achieved and discover where the current deficits are .
there are Israelis who understand that one day an independent Palestine will be their neighbour and that actions of this kind are unlikely to make it a benign neighbour .
careful consideration is also needed here .
therefore , our aim with the directives must be to regulate temporary agency work for the European Union as a whole , and particularly to stipulate that temporary workers be treated as equal to the employees of the user undertakings in terms of working and employment conditions .
unlike the Soviet Union of 30 years ago , in the European Union we have very good legal instruments to enforce our safety standards .
the Commission and Member States must finance public awareness campaigns and create conditions for training people for new careers adapted to the specific challenges of the labour market brought about by structural economic changes , which are accelerated by climate change and its effects .
as it is not really possible to change the shape of the vehicles , the engineers will have to focus on the engine and the mechanical components , which , according to the experts , is a long-winded process .
these are regarding property owners in Spain .
perhaps I can give you an example : it used to be possible to use washing-up liquid only in large bottles containing several litres .
is it to be applied to all Member States ?
little to nothing !
we can achieve this and I believe that we can live peacefully .
Mr President , Commissioner , the possibility of strongly stimulating the economic and social development that is so necessary in our times is , in fact , integral to innovation .
however , I would like to bring my question up to date .
first reading agreements may be a very good thing , but when they basically result in all majorities being changed and the roles and functions of the individual institutions being brought to bear in a very unbalanced manner , then I do not think it is a good thing .
this is what those who died fifty years ago gave their lives for ; their sacrifice was not in vain .
I have always been in favour of market liberalisation , as , in my opinion , it is the main prerequisite for competition among market participants , which is always beneficial to consumers , enabling them to choose and purchase goods at the lowest possible price .
that is why the Commission has put forward a communication setting out the steps needed to reinvigorate international negotiations .
it is also to denounce an unfair and dishonest attack on the government of a European Member State in which the rule of law is applied as rigorously as it is in the rest of Europe .
that is encouraging , but it is not enough if we want to respect the 2 ° C target .
if we take these clean development mechanisms , in other words , these joint implementation measures , and the other measures out of the equation and consider only our own measures for reducing CO2 emissions , then we can see that our balance sheet is not as good as we maintain .
I believe , in fact , that the limited trade policy measures applied by the EU in the textiles sector can be managed entirely without imposing the excessive burden of presenting proof of origin for all imports .
against the background of these developments it is important that the EU approaches the Arctic in a comprehensive and strategic manner covering a whole range of issues , such as environment , transport , biodiversity , climate change , maritime affairs , energy and research , as well as protection of the livelihood of the indigenous peoples .
the participation of women is necessary for positive development .
it cannot be the task of research alone to protect the world from such catastrophes .
they should seriously consider these things before deciding which way to vote in their referendum .
this way was blocked one year ago by Members of your political group , among others .
- Report : Françoise Grossetête
as every year , we , along with other institutions , will be asked to adopt the EU budget .
it has been through strong cohesion policy that the Union has succeeded in reducing development disparities between the various European regions .
supporting democracy underpins our foreign policy goals of preventing conflict and reducing poverty .
in a state governed by the rule of law , and only in such a state , the death penalty is not a state crime .
I therefore think that the particular reference in the resolution to research into this disease is very important .
focus rather on the Orwellian Ministry of Love bit of the title ' Perspectives for developing civil dialogue ' .
at the same time , I call on the Commission to release as quickly as possible cereals from the intervention stocks to support this sector which has been hit hard by the crisis .
we have to reflect on the recent negative signals sent by China on human rights that are damaging our mutual trust .
therefore , we have an opportunity now .
( PL ) Mr President , Ukraine should have priority as regards the European Union 's foreign policy within Europe .
I think that we must ensure that cancer screening is accessible to as many people as possible so that achieving the target number becomes feasible .
Madam President , Commissioner , just as in 2007 , world cereal prices are soaring , and farmers are seeing a sharp rise in their production costs as they did two years ago .
we call for efforts to be focused on extensive , large-scale studies , aimed both at diagnosis and at identifying cures .
the Commission is financing CSFP joint actions establishing planning teams in Pristina .
5 .
they went to stock up with emergency goods .
the violence that took place in Kishinev is no justification for the cruel measures imposed by the state authorities .
hospital acquired infections are also attracting ever more attention from the media and politicians .
worse still , it no longer even offers protection against unemployment .
the aim is to enable the EU to respond to the great societal challenges that concern all Member States and to which they cannot respond alone ( ageing population and health , energy , water and food supplies , sustainable development , climate change , and so on ) , as well as to develop the knowledge to enable our businesses to innovate more and enhance their competitiveness .
these were the guiding principles of the opinion that I presented to the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs , on behalf of the Committee on Industry .
I am also going to say this to the future Commissioner responsible for climate change .
this is something that is done by many of our governments of all political orientations , but that this report avoids .
let me be clear : this crucial transatlantic friendship is not a one-way street .
obviously , I am not insensitive to specific cases that some people have raised .
I wish you a very warm welcome !
( DE ) Mr President , the United States and Europe are the West 's companions in fate .
having not allowed these students to train and thereby creating an artificial shortage , we then , of necessity , bring in medical personnel from third countries - even the poorest countries - leaving their own people without medical help and creating a brain drain .
we must help Serbia to deal with its loss by speeding up convergence with the European Union .
the European Parliament is not asking for a generally ambitious budget , but for an instrument that is strong on all the priorities that are today clear and easy to see .
nothing is closed from this point of view .
we need effective measures to adapt human society to new living conditions .
( NL ) Mr President , I voted against the Martens report .
8 .
the link between the report under examination and the first European Maritime Day celebration is pleasing .
it was a small loss that he fittingly celebrated with his colleagues as being the first to break the psychological barrier of USD 100 a barrel .
this means that the immigration problem is a European one ; it concerns us all , and we must address it jointly .
at the same time , relations should be strengthened with national parliaments , who are the mirror image of these activities .
Croatia has come a long way in its efforts to achieve membership and has taken many difficult decisions in order to deal with the European dimension .
I believe that they will be sincere and support adult education that is accessible and of a high quality .
Sri Lanka deserves to live in peace , as we in Europe do .
for more than 15 years we have been trying , or rather the Commission has been trying , to lay down a regulatory framework in the form of an EU directive on airport charges .
the area of human failure is incomplete .
that will give them enough time to conform to these new provisions .
it astonishes me that the French socialists , communists and greens in this Chamber do not think it is worth using this debate to denounce the dubious practices of ' sarkozia ' !
we place great importance on an overall analysis of the impact on nature .
the CAP must assume responsibility for how EU money is spent by focusing payments on cultivated land areas only and , in the case of the livestock sector , only on the animals currently on the farm in the year relating to the payments .
in this connection it is also relevant to ask how things stand with regard to safety .
it is their only way out of this tragic situation , almost unprecedented in Europe , which they have had to live through .
all this is in the communication from the Commission and I am very happy to see that , although the details might vary , your communication is very much in line with this .
the people who killed Ronan Kerr are trying to block the progress of the peace process and we will not allow them to do so .
this situation is as stormy as the Bermuda Triangle , and dependence , climate problems and prices that the poor just cannot pay are making the sea churn - not to forget the speculators and the price of food .
since the situation in the region has deteriorated significantly recently , with this resolution we appeal to the government of the South Sudan to ensure democracy in the country and to demilitarise its territories .
regulations governing political parties at European level and the rules regarding their funding ( debate )
now I would like to say something about this word ' protection ' .
I voted for the European Parliament resolution on preventing trafficking in human beings as I believe that it is extremely important to step up the battle against human trafficking , which has assumed alarming proportions and constitutes a serious violation of fundamental human rights .
organised crime , corruption , drug trafficking and terrorism , as we all know , do not respect national borders .
Europe and the UN have a wealth of objectives and interests in common , which , in my view , justifies even closer cooperation and resource synergies .
if there is evidence that Western missions are not living up to this standard , then their presence and practices must be urgently reassessed .
naturally I hope that tomorrow Parliament will accept the proposed amendments that help to harmonise cabotage services in the European Union and , in particular , will accept the proposed abolition of empty road traffic , as I have already emphasised and which I wish to stress once more at this point .
it is high time to set the right priorities .
in the last two years , we have witnessed around 100 prison sentences and other punishments meted out to people who have signed the movement 's petition .
we were discussing this a year ago .
the flood which hit five areas of north-east Romania in July 2008 caused serious material losses ( 0.6 % of GNI ) and disrupted the lives of over two million people in 214 districts .
we believe that predictive profiling and data mining are issues which have long been unexamined and I very much welcome the Commission 's positive approach to both recognising this issue and understanding the possible indirect discrimination that can be caused by ethnic profiling .
it has to be the right Europe , however - not the wrong package .
in writing . - ( DE ) The removal of borders very quickly and demonstrably makes itself felt in a massive decrease in turnover from cigarettes , not only in the border region but in the interior as well .
it is of vital interest that this is realised in all European countries , including my home country , Hungary .
the majority of Roma in Europe live in poor social conditions and the problems they struggle with have remained unchanged for years ; the chief of these are the problems of social exclusion , lack of employment , school segregation and the multiple disadvantages faced by Roma women .
the minimal use of Irish in this Chamber is self-evident , although Miss de Brún , as part of her aggressive Republican agenda , may regale us in that dead tongue , with the only relief being that hardly anyone who tunes into Parliament on line can understand a word she says .
in its work on its proposal on the fight against counterfeit medicines , the Commission has been guided precisely by the deliberations presented by you , honourable Members .
education must be designed to reach out and capture people 's attention , to address tailored messages to specific target groups in their own vernacular .
with this Framework Decision , the Union is contributing to improving the situation of individuals from minorities when they suffer certain types of behaviour .
it is all delusional stuff .
so the problem we are facing with a view to addressing this situation is the need for a public consultation , and we have now already had a public consultation for some months .
in my opinion , the EU should campaign within the WTO for the preference system to be given priority as part of its work on harmonising the rules of origin .
the Council has not done this task justice in the past .
this will be the key to success .
many of the issues that I wanted to mention have already been raised here .
secondly , he talks as if every disaster that befalls us comes from the European Union .
we should not only be discussing whether a merger should take place .
- Before the vote :
it claims that , in 2002 and 2003 , only 4 % of expenditure was approved , compared to over 45 % at the moment .
dying forests throughout Europe represent both an environmental problem , in terms of natural habitats and climate change , and an economic problem .
he held confidential talks with Commissioner Füle , and afterwards - which is against all of the EU rules - a press release was issued from these internal talks , claiming that the Commissioner had agreed that he was right to pursue his internal political polemics .
is this a practical response to the expectations of 12 million workers in the sector and to the concerns of 6 % of the European Union 's working population ?
let me close by mentioning Eurosecurities , which were one of the things that I championed .
what we must also see is essential reforms of the way the emissions trading scheme works .
we are all sure that 2008 is going to be very exciting , to say the least .
the Treaty of Lisbon provides us with the legal foundations to do so .
we must encourage the immediate inclusion of young people in the labour market and their ongoing training to promote professional growth .
heightening our cooperation with a view to increasing international security and stability is without a doubt more necessary now than ever before , in view of the current tense regional situation in southern Africa and , especially , the crisis in Zimbabwe with which we are all familiar .
to conclude , I would like to reiterate the words of the French philosopher who said that if a law is not essential it must not be written .
why is it that instead of condemning terrorism and human rights violations , they use economic and trade packages to encourage Tehran to condemn the victims of terrorism ?
the EIT is like a rose in the garden of Europe .
while we have rightly expressed our support for the popular desire for an open society , we should be aware of the complex , and yet unsolved , problems in Egypt and in the Middle East .
secondly , we all agree that what is happening , whether we like it or not , marks a break and that , as Mr Watson stated , we cannot go back to business as before but must be imaginative in the ways in which we respond to this crisis .
we should work together to ensure the existence of conditions which enable people to earn enough to participate in the life of society and to support their family , especially where they have many children . we should also tackle discrimination in the job market , especially as it affects people with disabilities .
thank you .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
because of Lisbon , investment treaties can become an instrument for the Commission 's political objectives - and not just the Commission 's : we can be absolutely sure that the Greens will try to advance their political programme , and we have seen that in the trade treaties time after time .
within the context of these reflections , we must equally take account of the socio-economic criteria in managing GMO-related risks , and look into how we can improve the application of scientific expertise , establish harmonised labelling thresholds , and finally take into account the fragility of certain sensitive or protected areas .
I am sorry , but that is a bit much .
it is time to replace idle talking by real work .
I feel certain that the new instrument will enable us to perform what is one of our fundamental duties - the effective saving of human life .
Mr President , the Berès-Langen report is an excellent one because what it does is give us the history of the EMU over the last 10 years and say how it should go forward in the future .
consequently , it will be possible to apply the European Union 's cooperation mechanisms referred to in the 2002 framework decision .
concerning possible changes to the system for ultralight aircraft , the Commission will ask the Agency for its opinion on this matter .
in particular , it notes that financing of priorities in connection with the future EU 2020 strategy through a possible reallocation of funds must not be detrimental to fundamental EU policies , such as the cohesion , structural or common agricultural policies .
the conclusions from the European Council meeting which took place on 25 and 26 March 2010 certainly highlight the major ambitions which Member States have for the forthcoming period up until 2020 .
general safeguard clauses are currently in place for major market disruptions and for the duty drawback system .
( ES ) Mr President , I would also like to take this opportunity to highlight two matters that have already been mentioned , but which I consider to be fundamental .
respect for human rights should form the basis for political dialogue .
such a decision would pave the way for funds to be allocated on a sectoral basis , thereby creating an undesirable precedent for this .
a few days before it began , emissions trading fraud worth EUR 5 billion was exposed .
five years ago , on their accession to the EU , every new Member State committed to adopting the euro .
however , a cautious approach should be adopted here , taking account of the cultural characteristics and circumstances in the individual Member States ; otherwise , overregulation will be the result .
( RO ) Madam President , Canada is currently the European Union 's 11th biggest trade partner , with trade relations between the European Union and Canada accounting for 1.6 % of the EU 's total external trade in 2010 .
a potential tax on financial transactions could reduce the immense volume of speculation capital that has again had a detrimental impact on the real economy recently , and thus also represent a step towards sustainable growth .
Madam President , I entirely agree with the sentiments expressed by the previous speaker .
can I take this opportunity to briefly express my concerns about the administration of EUR 60 million of funds in Northern Ireland .
in July 2008 , the European Commission adopted a proposal on applying reduced VAT rates after 2010 .
we therefore think a more careful approach to these issues is required .
as Mr Florenz has said , there is more than one way to tackle climate change but we know that it is right to begin with improvements in efficiency and in the management of resources .
some Members have said that not enough substances were listed , that Parliament had backtracked in relation to the first reading .
I think , however , that it must have taken a great deal of time to achieve this proposal .
on partnership , the report rightly insists on the centrality of inclusive processes and full ownership .
let us await its report , and only then will we decide on further action .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
sanctions are an instrument .
the development of the new service should spring from the same spirit which brought together these two foreign policy roles and which will result in the unification of the Council 's and the Commission 's foreign policy efforts .
this sum of EUR 280 million sends an important signal from the European Commission , but it is inadequate compared with what producers actually need to overcome the crisis .
I also have great faith in other things mentioned by some of you , such as investing in human skills and ensuring mobility in the labour market .
but it becomes more and more complicated in this very rigid atmosphere .
and its core features retain the essentials .
citizens need to buy into that process , but it is there for them to do .
in response to Mr Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra 's question about the 50 detainees whose fate is not decided yet , we believe that the US Administration will proceed with those 50 cases and they will achieve a state or solution similar to those achieved in the previous ones .
this is the only way to prevent the citizens of Belarus from becoming increasingly isolated .
this is because it increases integration and security .
with the adoption of the package , Community control mechanisms will become available .
once she has left the labour market , returning to it is yet more difficult .
as stated in the communication from the Commission , this relationship can and must be a driving force for developing dialogue with Mercosur .
I would like to thank Mrs Tzampazi for her report on mental health , which I voted in favour of .
Iran has signalled that it might run in the elections for a place on the Council .
the right to access to water is already being denied and is likely to be denied more and more for millions of people .
that does not mean money leaving the region : oh no , it means money being spent .
I would like to remind you that economic growth itself did not reduce poverty and social exclusion and the hard times are only increasing poverty , but minimum income schemes allow us to defend the most vulnerable people .
Thursday : no amendments .
in writing . - Conservatives abstained on this report as it forms part of the European objective to develop an area for freedom , security and justice - instead preferring an intergovernmental approach .
Petitions are about bringing to light the wrong or non-application of Community legislation .
today , the mines are closed .
the Commission always emphasised its importance under your predecessor and I also believe it to be the case .
it is estimated that the increased cost of borrowing and the reduction in the flow of credit are responsible for approximately 10-15 % of the slowdown in trade .
the European Union condemned the violence in Kenya .
the debate on violations of human rights and democratic standards should therefore cover the entire region of the South Caucasus .
it should be noted , however , that those services linked directly or indirectly to companies are an integral part of them .
( applause )
I will therefore ask you again : when Mr Oettinger says ' We suspect that some of the plants currently connected to the network will not survive the stress tests ' , I interpret this to mean that you are aware that safety at these plants is so poor that they will not meet the criteria .
today also , we are talking about the automobile industry and the construction industry , in other words , two male-dominated industries .
in this case , too , there is a world of difference between the law - which is sound and guarantees the freedom of the press - and the reality on the ground , where journalists have to impose restrictions on themselves .
the Internet in particular provides details about our private lives , something which was unimaginable a few years ago .
we are discussing the issue of how to do our citizens a favour , and make the vehicles we use as environmentally friendly as possible .
this is the context for the agreement we are examining today between the European Union and the United States concerning the transfer of financial messaging data .
whether people support or criticise the PMOI , in a human rights debate no one in this Chamber should disagree with amendments which seek to support human rights obligations on any or all parties anywhere in the world .
the Council needs to adapt its logic and spend the resources efficiently , targeting specific individuals and focusing the time on them instead of going for ethnic registration , which is in complete violation of any human rights standards .
it was an excellent collaboration and I hope that we can also use it to achieve what we need to achieve for our fellow Members .
( SK ) Mr President , I would like to point out one danger .
this redistribution of financial power is also shaping our political discussions .
( ES ) Mr President , next weekend the Council of Agriculture Ministers will likely take the political decision on this reform of the COM in wine .
the Commission should produce an assessment of the impacts and consider the possibility of increasing the ceilings for EU public contracts , which would allow SMEs to take part in contracts that would otherwise be subject to special requirements , on account of which SMEs would not be able to participate .
rule 45 ( 2 ) was recently amended to prohibit amendments to motions for resolutions contained in own-initiative reports .
in any case , we must emphasise that these are serious crimes , and that in order to detect them , it is essential to remove any obstacles in the way of the smooth exchange of law enforcement records among Member States , to allow the creation of centralised databases for information on offenders .
Congo started out as a colonial mining project in the poorly accessible interior of Africa .
I would like to say that in many issues in this debate Parliament and the Council expressed very similar opinions , which are too numerous to list here .
in writing . - ( DE ) In Germany , between 20 and 30 clinics annually are being forced to close because doctors are being driven into insolvency by claims for damages for supposedly prescribing drugs which are too expensive , and entire swathes of the country are at severe risk of healthcare under-provision .
neurodegenerative diseases pose a major health problem in Europe .
the Budget Committee recognises the importance of these proposals and their urgency .
in particular , we need to address the major global economic imbalances which can compromise growth .
the Chaldeans in Iraq and the Copts in Egypt are in danger of disappearing from regions in which they have lived for centuries .
huge advances are being made today in photovoltaic technology .
I have had a long dialogue with your colleague Ms Wallström about citizens ' summaries , so that citizens understand our law .
despite these threats - or possibly because of them - a large number of Irish people voted against this Treaty .
as children develop , one difficulty generates another , and each complex leads to the next .
fishing is an important economic resource for this small country , and its financial contribution represents a very significant part of the State budget .
( applause )
however , our amendments call for further steps towards harmonisation and liberalisation .
we rightly call for improvement in that area .
Madam President , the single CMO Regulation has been in force since December 2006 .
yes , we are in a Europe of austerity , meaning socially painful savings , politically costly and economically necessary , but challenging to some extent for the very fragile recovery of the European economy .
however , while this approach is quite attractive at first sight , it presents important practical and political difficulties .
it does seem , however , that inflation and interest rates are inter-related .
yes to greater choice in health and to patient mobility .
( LT ) As shadow rapporteur , I would firstly like to congratulate my fellow Member , Mrs in ' t Veld , for preparing an excellent report .
the EU-Africa Summit is imminent .
when I was in Serbia last October , I was impressed with the commitment and effort of Serbia 's dynamic , western-orientated democratic government .
in this respect the European Union will provide him with every support .
that was wrong , because what was needed was to strengthen the size and mandate of this mission , especially since the centre of organised crime in Guinea-Bissau targets Europe directly .
Mr President , we have a special debate today on three major reports on foreign policy , on security and defence , and on EU-NATO relations .
( PL ) Mr President , Polish farmers and farmers from Central and Eastern Europe joining the European Union have been treated as second-class citizens , and this applies , inter alia , to subsidies and milk quotas .
in this particular instance , the main purpose of publishing companies ' annual accounts and other financial statements is to apply the principle of transparency and publicity in commercial activities .
we welcome the EU 's initiative to simplify and harmonise the current regulations .
this anti-labour travesty divides the concept of working time into active and inactive time - the latter is not considered to be paid working time - and gives employers the right to employ their workers for up to 13 hours a day , 65 hours a week , while paying them nothing whatsoever in overtime .
I wholeheartedly support the principle of including energy and environmental impacts in tenders for vehicles .
we are now reaping the rewards of this !
however , the directive does not apply to activities which fall outside the scope of the EU treaties .
I would like to take issue with someone who said we have not been clear enough .
when it joined the euro , Greece was as unpredictable as the Oracle at Delphi .
to reduce these differences and to make the regions more competitive , the European Union implemented a regional cohesion and convergence policy based on solidarity and endowed with the appropriate financial resources : the European Regional Development Fund , the European Social Fund and the cohesion funds .
I am delighted that the European Union is undertaking this pioneering work to protect the environment - it will benefit each and every one of us .
what about eggs , cheese , vegetables or fruit ?
within this spirit , the nomination of the individuals of which it is made up must be governed by capability and independence criteria .
it states that the EU Commission should immediately publish all project documents and define a clear and strict mandate for the research goal , the application and end users of INDECT .
hence , we can see how , on the one hand , Turkey has launched reforms , incentivised , no doubt , by the European perspective , but , on the other , inadequacies still clearly persist in the specific area on which this debate is focused , the area of democracy and respect for fundamental liberties .
I wish to emphasise the responsible attitude demonstrated by this sector and its total cooperation with my country 's authorities .
it will ban the use of weapons by young people under 18 .
this compromise does not fully satisfy me , however , particularly because the proposed modulation of over EUR 10 000 , even if it is apparently only 1 % , cannot reasonably be expected of farmers in my country .
even though the single patent will not cover the entire EU , I do not doubt that it will be a beneficial instrument for development , and for boosting the competitiveness of SMEs .
( applause )
my colleague from the French Government , the Minister for Housing and Cities , and the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , paid tribute there to the exceptional way in which Europeans from all backgrounds rallied around this summit .
as regards the external dimension of the euro , let me only say that our currency has established itself internationally .
of course , the Treaty lacks the simplicity of its late , lamented predecessor , but it preserves all the principal reforms .
the report also identifies further areas where reforms are required in order to build the critical mass necessary to ensure fiscal sustainability and economic recovery .
if you ask a question , then at least wait for the answer ' .
nonetheless , promises once made have to be kept , as in the case of the protocol concerning the conditions for the accession of Bulgaria to the European Union , which contains the EU 's commitment to finance the decommissioning of Kozloduy .
moreover , I should like to emphasise that the European Parliament has always been in favour of granting financing measures for the banana sector to the 10 ACP banana-producing countries .
it is true that , exceptionally , this year there were severe forest fires in northwest Span and in Portugal as early as March , and that conditions for forest fires are therefore favourable , but the problem itself lies not in any progressive change to natural conditions , but elsewhere .
a selective approach to visa lifting will not strengthen the European prospects of any Western Balkan country whose communities are divided , because selectivity brings with it new divisions .
President of the Court of Auditors . - ( DE ) Mr President , Vice-President Kallas , ladies and gentlemen , I am delighted to be able to take part today in your debate on the annual reports of the Court of Auditors for the 2006 financial year .
the Internet transcends national borders , however , and there is no common Union legislation to deter potential perpetrators and penalise those who commit actions of this kind .
since we were the ones that gave ourselves so many airs and graces as leaders , if we cannot put this money and these measures on the table , we will not succeed in obtaining a deal and most of the responsibility will lie with Europeans .
that is I think the right policy .
what I want is for all our countries to come together and discuss a neighbourhood policy as ambitious and successful for the South as the one they were able to make in the 1990s for the East .
he quite simply trusted her . just as we human beings do not always trust doctors , that horse did not trust the vets , but he did trust a familiar person .
I supported this report , just as I support the economic governance package as a whole .
the EU , meanwhile , should improve the coordination of the currently fragmented system of development aid and step up the fight against tax havens .
the joint motion for a resolution expressly supports and welcomes these training missions .
levels of youth unemployment in some Member States , even in good times , are a scandal .
for a start , instead of the budgets of Member States being aimed at social justice , they are aggravating the struggle to control the markets regardless of the means .
Twenty-one chapters were opened , of which three are provisionally closed .
I believe the version we have agreed with the French Presidency in relation to parent companies offers adequate protection against positive discrimination in favour of certain airlines .
this issue will not be discussed at this summit , but we will discuss enlargement later in the autumn , with a possible decision being taken in December .
the solution , which we will surely approve tomorrow , will therefore also be an interesting test for other directives , as to whether the mutual recognition of regulations at the national level will be sufficient and will not lead to legal uncertainty , and will therefore be more advantageous than an amendment or full harmonisation .
in actual fact , many Member States have already been applying this principle .
in writing . - British Conservatives believe it is unfortunate that paragraph three appears vague in seeming to support " any " initiative in the enforcement of Community law .
the European Commission has undertaken to elaborate the Baltic Interconnection Plan and to present it to the EU energy ministers in December .
therefore , the planned contact points will give patients all the required information , more clarity , confidence and self-care .
I would like to assess not only the role of the European negotiators , and the mission led by Karel Schwarzenberg which has departed for the region , but also , of course , the role of the Arab states in the region , which has been positive .
nonetheless , my Group has been extremely concerned , since the adoption of the Frontex Regulation , about the serious incidents in the Mediterranean area , in which people who have set out in search of a better life often lose their lives in the attempt .
in external affairs , we are working hard with the countries of the western Balkans and Russia to prepare regional assessments of threats from organised crime .
Madam President , I would like to thank the Commissioner for his work to date on this matter .
at the same time , Latvia , with considerable financial help from other countries - with the exception of Russia - has made significant efforts to facilitate the naturalisation process and integration of non-citizens in Latvia , bringing the percentage of non-citizens down to 16 % at the end of 2008 .
( the sitting was suspended at 1.05 p.m. and resumed at 3.05 p.m. )
the inclusion of Bulgaria and Romania in the Schengen area is very important both for these countries , their economic growth and investment development , and for the whole of the European Union , for increasing integrity and solidarity among Member States .
this necessitates , forces even , a mini-revision of the financial perspective .
the only references - which anyhow are already in the Commission 's proposal - concern the Roma population .
by now Polish skiing resorts are empty .
at the beginning of February the Chad rebels advanced on the capital N 'Djamena and took the larger part of it .
the Commission 's work is centred on three main areas following this agreement of the road map adopted last December .
with this decision , the bulk of the money goes outside the European Union in the form of CDMs , while our legislation contains too many exceptions , too many flexibility mechanisms and too little compulsion .
the only way to overcome the democratic deficit whereby the citizens of Europe do not feel part of the European project is to build real European politics .
Mr President , along with many Members of this House - perhaps most Members , in fact , given our resolutions - I am dismayed that the European Union intends to allow the Zimbabwean tyrant , Mugabe , to be invited to the EU-Africa Summit in Lisbon in December .
( PL ) Madam President , I would like to make sure I am understood correctly .
it is true that we passed a vote of confidence and what you say in your letter is also true in that not even the new checks on liquids that are being trialled will be able to absolutely stop all possible explosive liquids .
the obligation to give full pay for on-call time , including rest periods , whether in the health and emergency services or in the fire service or in any other sector of activity , therefore remains in force , in accordance with existing law .
( SK ) Mr President , Baroness Ashton , I would like to address you and to make a strong appeal to you in this matter , as it is simply unacceptable to us that Christians in the Middle East continue to face such merciless attacks .
for the sake of clarity , I think that what we have to do is not to write a new text but to maintain as much as possible of the core , i.e. the mandate we have , and try to add elements .
( CS ) Madam President , I was also hoping to speak under the ' catch the eye ' procedure about this report but I understand that there will probably not be enough time now .
activities surrounding the deployment of the EUFOR mission resumed after a temporary interruption .
through a well considered , balanced regional policy of this kind , we might finally also help to make the new Europe 2020 strategy truly successful .
concerning education and training , which is the subject of the second question on Europe 2020 , I would just like to say the following . as early as the crisis recovery plan of November 2008 , the Commission called on Member States to retain investment in education and training , and we will maintain this focus .
the second phase of the consultation of social partners on work-life balance concluded in July .
these fears were allayed through declarations adopted by the European Councils of December 2008 and June 2009 .
I assume from this that the Commission will take our amendments seriously this time instead of largely ignoring them , as in the case of the own-initiative report on reform two years ago .
while they contain nearly 70 % of the population and produce four-fifths of the Union 's GDP , urban areas need to become highly competitive zones with a dense economic fabric , poles of attraction for technological excellence , and they must be directly connected to their regional support base .
when it comes to freight transport in Europe it is probably right to say that we must rank these three priorities differently , according to reverse alphabetical order , no less .
trade and development issues are to be dealt with within the wider regional framework .
however , states that demand annual financial statements from micro-enterprises because they do not have effective tax administration and exercise no control , apart from the receipt of the annual financial statement , should hardly be surprised if they have missing tax revenue or tax fraud .
we have to enhance and promote further activities aimed at climate change treatment .
you are obviously a good politician .
moreover , land-based pollution of the seas constitutes a significant proportion of overall maritime pollution .
each year , because Turkey is a candidate country to the European Union , the Commission assesses in very objective terms the reforms made by Turkey in the rule of law and all matters related to fundamental rights .
a group of parliamentarians today , in a hooligan manner , called for direct so-called ' popular democracy ' which would replace elections with referendums .
the next item is the joint debate on :
I have a sneaking feeling that what took centre stage in Rome was the political interests of the wealthy countries , rather than the interests of the one billion hungry people in the world .
I say this because we are at a historic juncture .
however , in reply to Mr Ortega , I know of no direct link between low-cost flights , if that is your question , and the number of accidents ; what is true is that there is a link between companies seeking to reduce costs , especially in terms of maintenance , security and the lifetime of aircraft , and the number of accidents .
as a second point , I would like to recall something that Commissioner Barrot said when he mentioned that the negotiations with the Council were difficult .
we also demand the implementation of technological safety measures : weight controls in ports , improved lashing equipment and stacking strategies , and adequate marking to locate the containers in case of loss , traceability being one of the services potentially provided by the Galileo project .
I agree with Commissioner Rehn that the message to Serbia must be that the time has come to turn the page and , as others have commented , in that context it was somewhat disappointing to listen to Mr Jeremić , the Serbian Foreign Minister , this afternoon .
I am well aware of the difficulties associated with the goal of achieving an unambiguous outcome of the negotiations .
important steps have been taken to respond to the threats posed by counterfeited , pirated and dangerous products .
we can see this in the regional policy , but we should also be able to see it in defence .
Europe has an abundance of fertile agricultural land .
we call on Israel and the Palestinian Authority to abide by existing cooperation agreements and to abstain from unilateral measures that could hamper progress and further reforms ' .
also , if one looks at other key performance indicators , the employment optimism index has fallen by three points from + 4 to + 1 in the last nine months .
our investments in the green economy will create new job opportunities and drive growth in the decades ahead .
unfortunately , the amendments , which were largely tabled by the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) , heavily diluted the original intention of the report .
I would like to know whether the French presidency finds itself isolated at the Council table in any way in terms of its historic fondness for regulation of the market and , in this particular instance , for financial services .
in a democracy , it is inconceivable for electoral law to be changed between the two rounds of an election .
every effort should be made to implement the pan-European programme known as the School Fruit Scheme .
finally , the EU acts through the financial instruments of the European Commission such as the African Peace Facility and Instrument of Stability .
in writing . - ( RO ) I believe that the fight against climate change can be won only if we manage to ensure global solidarity .
I am glad to see that the hard work of the last few years on the revamped Lisbon Agenda has helped foster a broad consensus on where we stand and where we want to go .
moreover , the Commission should , as a result of the European Transparency Initiative and the Corporate Governance Codex , ensure that all companies covered by the Works Council Directive also form European works councils .
I think the President is right and we should consider this procedure of discharge with the committees , the Commission , the Council , Parliament , the national parliaments and the national courts of auditors , which are very conspicuous by their absence from this debate .
the big task for us all in the next few weeks or months is to find common ground .
efforts are also being made in the field of judicial cooperation The EU is providing EUR 17.5 million to fund a technical assistance project for the modernisation of the judiciary .
in writing . - I voted for this report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on rear-mounted roll-over protection structures of narrow-track wheeled agricultural and forestry tractors ( codified text ) .
with regard to the catalogue of prevention measures itself , I have to say that mainstreaming is surely crucial in this regard ; in other words , that we try to take these aspects into account in other policy areas .
Mr President , first of all , many thanks to the rapporteur .
the European Union must therefore establish measures to provide the required funding in a timely manner when such disasters occur .
more than anything , I was surprised by the original budget that the Secretary-General produced , which put forward an increase of over 5 % , much as I was also surprised by the fact that he is not here today .
the upshot of this will be a fall in productivity in certain sectors , such as the cereals sector .
I consider it to be the European Union 's duty to make sure that aid gets to the people of Pakistan quickly .
it is in order that we can build democracies , support human rights , the instrument for stability , development and so on , which I know you and other members of your group - and I think everyone in this House - absolutely supports one hundred percent .
patients , too , are to have their rights in the internal market .
we understand that Commissioner Michel , the EU Presidency , the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator , President Obama and many others have involved themselves in trying to affect a reversal of this decision .
I believe it is also possible to reach this win-win situation based on political will and far less prejudice .
they need to know that we care and that we will not ignore them .
the enormous State aid that shipyards have received in the old Member States has bypassed the Gdańsk Shipyard . this does not create a level playing field for competition and also takes no account of the differences in the methods used to calculate the profitability of shipyards .
this situation is disastrous and requires effective measures , particularly on the part of the wealthy European Union .
this applies to investments of up to EUR 50 million which , until now , have been evaluated by the EU , because we are responsible for taxpayers ' money .
we shall start now with the agenda and after the agenda , we can start again with all your questions about the part-session on 5 and 6 May .
is any progress being made on that idea , because I think citizens want us , as politicians , to take action ?
some Member States - although it is not compulsory - will provide information on working rights and labour laws at their contact points .
in writing . - ( SV ) We four Swedish Social Democrats in the European Parliament have chosen ultimately to vote in favour of Mr Moreno Sánchez 's report .
that was the whole idea behind the proposal .
it is interesting to reflect that what we achieved in our agreement in May 2001 was somehow historic , amongst 15 Member States moving from different traditions and cultures , and different approaches , to openness and transparency .
I will not need to remind you that what we do in the first half of next year will also set the scene for the European elections .
- ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , Mr Barnier , ladies and gentlemen , I am extremely grateful to our colleague , Mr Capoulas Santos , for this tremendous work he has done , and in good humour , it has to be said .
Malta prefers to keep it as it is so that it can keep its request for contributions from the European Union high as well .
it is time for Europe to develop a common vision and strategic planning for space exploration .
however , we very much welcome the Hungarian Presidency 's focus on seeking a better solution regarding the integration of Roma , and on the Danube strategy .
how will they go about distributing the nearly EUR 4 billion for projects in the area of energy and the nearly EUR 1 billion for - apparently - the promotion of broadband in rural areas ?
can I reinforce that the Copenhagen criteria are non-negotiable , especially when it comes to minority rights and human rights , and Macedonia and Croatia are therefore failing to reflect the Community acquis , especially as regards non-discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation .
it welcomes negotiations on the EU-Libya Framework Agreement with a view to eventually bringing Libya into the Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area ( EMFTA ) that eurocracy has been preparing for the past 15 years .
that description could apply , with respect , to university professors in the past as well , as they lived in their ivory towers immune from the world and the world immune from them , but , thankfully , that now has all changed , and changed utterly .
one of the pillars of the proposal before us is the ' polluter pays ' principle .
alternative fuels are also treated with far too much restraint .
to close , I hope for the European Commission 's cooperation on the proposal for the new directive .
a total failure , in other words .
honourable Members , as you can see , cluster munitions are an issue that presses the European Union to act , and it must continue to press at an international level for the adoption of a universal instrument .
if we are failing to deliver on the commitments , then we must put that right as a matter of urgency .
as this resolution today illustrates in graphic detail , Lukashenko has intensified his campaign for persecution and harassment against those who dare challenge his iron-fisted rule .
the current European Parliament report and the Commission 's Green Paper on the review of the consumer acquis are essentially well balanced , however , and create a simpler and more predictable regulatory framework .
I think that is the overlying situation that we should support .
concrete steps have been taken to make European citizenship a reality .
I hope that the forthcoming European Council will officially confirm his appointment and that Mario Draghi will be able to lead the ECB from November for the next eight years with the same high-level and unquestionable professionalism that he has shown in the past , and accompany the economy of the European Union towards a phase of recovery that will guarantee stability and strength in Europe 's finances .
with all due respect to Mrs Le Pen , leaving the euro is simply not an option .
it is therefore right for there to be prior authorisation for certain kinds of treatment .
at the international level , one of the instruments that the EU can use to promote good governance in tax matters in third countries is to negotiate tax fraud agreements with them , which include a clause on an exchange of information .
the use of solar energy to generate electricity in the south of the Mediterranean can become , if we so wish , one of the major North-South projects , in response to the economic crisis , on the one hand , and the climate-change crisis , on the other .
I think we , the European Parliament , have to take the initiative in this field .
( DE ) Madam President , President-in-Office of the Council , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to congratulate the Czech Council Presidency on its assumption of office .
that also means taking our share of leadership and leading others to lend their support and provide means towards the goals set .
the turnaround has also been spectacular in countries such as the United Kingdom , Ireland and Spain , which were cited just now as an example .
finally , the last item of information .
the citizens of these countries will have great difficulties in understanding the binding nature of taking over those European norms involving economic sacrifices into the national framework , as well as a series of public policies that citizens consider much too restrictive for the economic stage in which these countries are now .
this report , in fact , covers a good many of the replies received during the consultation , or some of them at any rate , which the Commission decided not to include at the time .
lastly , our Parliament , I believe , condemns the death penalty , no matter who it affects - children , women , adults - or which country in the world carries it out .
for what is often forgotten in discussions of biodiversity is the role that animals and plants play in our ecosystem .
I do not see that any other position would be possible .
a common concept would prevent the ' migration ' of refugees within European States , while allowing more appropriate management .
I will allow myself one joke today .
I am referring , in particular , to the security problems affecting the areas in the immediate vicinity where the alliance can play a key role in the creation of democratic defence and security institutions in the Balkans and extended region of the Black Sea .
these must be opened to European citizens .
I would like to call for this in the strongest possible terms .
I am worried about the fact that , while hundreds of billions of euros ' worth of electricity , gas and CO2 emissions quotas are changing hands on the markets , there is a clear supervisory and legislative gap .
if that is not possible , I regret to say we shall have to vote against it .
I shall , as I said , inform the Commissioner responsible of the view expressed by several Members this evening .
( EL ) Mr President , I too should like to comment on the question of natural gas , given that we have become witness over the last ten days to the conflict surrounding this issue , a conflict in which many of the Member States of the European Union who are dependent on natural gas for their energy have been caught up , causing problems for citizens , businesses and industry .
the Germans themselves agree with this view , as the White Paper on security in Germany clearly shows .
I voted against the report .
this is why the Dreamliner is the most subsidised aeroplane in the world .
with regard to mobile satellite services , fundamentally the final result offers a balance between political ambition and economic feasibility .
that freedom demands tolerance and equality of treatment between all faiths and beliefs , so that democracy can be complete democracy .
as we know , in many third countries , very poor and vulnerable people are being exploited for the purpose of organ extraction .
we voted to abstain on this resolution , as although we support many of the points contained within , we could not support a call within the resolution for there to be a single UN Security Council for the European Union .
of course we welcome this initiative .
however , I think there has been a certain election fever today in Parliament , and it seems to me that much of the criticism we have heard here , especially about the European Commission , is entirely unjustified .
the European Union should cooperate with the government of Mauritania and with the African Union in order to resolve the situation .
the Czech Republic , one of the smaller countries in the Union , sees the Galileo project as an opportunity for the future .
where are we going to find coal for steelworks all over the world if the emerging countries develop in line with existing technologies ?
( PL ) Mr President , for the third year in a row , I am acting as rapporteur for the Socialist Group in the European Parliament regarding the progress report for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia .
the agreement today with the Commission is not bad , but lobbyists must be obliged to put their names and their real interests in a register .
the damage it causes is jeopardising the existence of many fish farmers and fishermen .
we have therefore chosen to vote against this report concerning , among other things , the European Parliament 's budget for 2010 .
Madam President , today is 25 November , which marks the tenth anniversary of the establishment by the UN of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women .
I would like to start by thanking all the rapporteurs on the electronic communications package for their work , starting with the organisation of hearings and ending with the preparation of the reports .
end of story !
like the Council , the Commission has concluded an agreement with its staff trade unions , putting a certain amount of human resources at their disposal .
this new legal basis must ensure that civil rights are respected .
now we in the Committee on Budgets , however , have voted against this money by a majority , and we Members cannot spend any more money on inviting the local media here .
the EU must take a strong position in order to protect consumers and their health .
that is the aim .
it is not just the European Union that will implement reforms .
according to official figures , there are 2 113 000 displaced persons in the east of the Republic of Congo .
we need to back Parliament 's proposal to mobilise EUR 9 593 931 , which will provide specific personalised services such as assistance with job search , training for job interviews , assistance with self-employment and individual vocational training .
unfortunately , this is due to the fact that the European Council did not take its decision any sooner , with the result that we cannot have the Commission in place .
the time of cheap energy , at least that from fossil sources , is probably over for some time , probably for a long time .
this means that , in the European Union , we remain bound by the principle of unanimity .
once again military force is destabilising countries which are trying to free themselves from Russian influence .
thirdly , we ensured that the information on medicinal products coming from companies is checked and is reliable in that it must have passed through a pharmaceuticals authority somewhere .
even if they can afford a car , they are not allowed to drive it .
I have no doubt that it will not be easy to convince our partner across the Atlantic of our concerns in detail .
the adopted report helps to improve the functioning of the internal market , while at the same time bolstering consumer confidence .
obviously , every subsequent expansion will encounter an increasingly strict application of the criteria .
they suffered with low interest rates , a false boom and a massive bust .
the next item is the debate on
Mr President , let me first mention the action taken during the crisis .
the explosion in oil prices has triggered an orgy of speculation in raw materials , including foodstuffs .
( PL ) Madam President , in my view , this directive is an example of sound and effective dialogue within the European Union .
this directive concerns more than 52 000 industrial plants which account for a large proportion of emissions in the Member States of the EU and are even jointly responsible for the failure to achieve the targets set by the European Commission itself for reducing atmospheric pollution .
however , the problem is that there is no flexibility in this respect in the Community budget .
on the other hand , it is far from clear whether there will be sufficient oil production to satisfy global demand .
that is why we must all support the Commission , so that Europe continues to be a major force .
indeed , international adoption should have a framework of specific rules in order to avoid abuses , such as child trafficking for example .
in writing . - ( PT ) I voted in favour of the motion for a resolution on the 2009 progress report on Croatia , as I believe that Zagreb will succeed in surpassing the challenges put before it and conclude negotiations for the country 's accession to the European Union in 2010 .
the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is also called upon to make immediate contact with the people currently being held hostage .
premature , because the outcome of the investigation into the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico is not yet known , and some preliminary conclusions confirm that it was due to a combination of behavioural , organisational and technical errors .
as a part of this Commission programme supporting the judiciary , a specific component is dedicated to feminicide .
the screening process was completed one year later , in October 2006 , and all 33 screening reports have been submitted to the Council .
it is hard to imagine how the United States could otherwise pay the enormous debts it is only now incurring and how , in a time of inflation , the weakening of the value of money , it will respond to its own worsening ability to pay off its debts and normalise its overpriced assets .
I proposed that food and all drink should be taxed at the same reduced rate , if it is applied .
it is positive that agreement can be reached at first reading .
we are lacking a major economic recovery plan , we are lacking in major areas such as the revival of the infrastructure policy with Eurobonds , and we are lacking a high-profile European approach .
this means that clear rules should operate for every manufacturer , exporter and importer .
Frontex 's role in ensuring the effective control by Member States of the EU 's external borders is becoming increasingly important .
I am pleased to learn that Parliament fully shares the Commission 's philosophy .
( PL ) Madam President , in Mr Tarabella 's report on equality between women and men in the European Union , several very important suggestions have been made to the European Commission and the Member States .
it is estimated that across the UK one dairy farmer is leaving the industry every day .
the Galileo question , of course , is very sensitive to all of us and I fully understand the concerns of the Committee on Budgets .
specialists make proposals about how existing scientific mentality and culture can be broadened and made more open , but the challenge now is to put that into effect .
therefore , the Commission must also press for our European standards to form part of the WTO negotiations and to become a global standard - then we need not fear this global competition .
the first step , which should apply for all Community resources , is to simplify procedures and make allocation of funds more flexible by reducing bureaucratic barriers , the excessive administrative costs and other obstacles that hamper policy goals regarding employment and the fight against poverty .
verification of credentials : see Minutes
I fear that this is what happens when groups do not coordinate and start acting out of order .
I believe that the financial and economic situation is much more serious than he described .
the aforementioned pilot projects are completely insufficient and will hardly do anything to relieve the pressure that is already affecting Italy and Malta , but will affect other Mediterranean countries in the near future .
finally , I hope that this Parliament will stand with our citizens this week in supporting the citizens ' amendment package , thereby standing in favour of the freedom of Internet users and civil liberties across the Union .
I , too , would like to appeal to the Member States to be guided only by the integrated guidelines when they draw up their national reform programmes , as these enable a much better balance between social protection and economic growth .
during an economic crisis there is a risk of increasing the level of protectionism .
the Commission 's proposal for a ' soft landing ' policy and a 2 % increase in quotas every year until 2014 , when the current regulation expires , amounts to an intensification of the unequal distribution of quotas between Member States .
thank you all for your patience and , as it is the last Question Time before Christmas , may I wish you also a happy Christmas and New Year !
what is the answer to this great demand ?
she belongs to the Coptic Church and was unaware of the fact that her father , also a Coptic Christian , had converted to Islam for a time , and then returned to the Coptic faith .
they are not decision-makers and they clash with each other .
so are we voting and are we deciding with our hearts rather than with our brains and our heads on this ?
this state , at the European Union 's border , will not be able to get through the current deadlock without such messages which inspire the belief in Moldova 's citizens that Europe is the right option .
being located at the EU 's eastern border , Romania is aware of both the risks and benefits accorded by this geo-strategic position .
we must be vigilant and try to convince Russia that an intense relationship of mutual trust between true partners and European neighbours requires us to share basic principles and rules .
it is important that we , as elected representatives , now take charge of the debate .
little Slovenia has got in ahead of great big Poland , and that should be food for thought for us Poles .
the last European Council showed this clearly once again .
acting as the European Parliament , we must put pressure on the authorities in Burma .
there is an urgent need to prevent overdevelopment of the coastline , and land and property speculation must be curbed .
teaching at schools and universities and continuous training must be reviewed , and certainly enhanced .
moving on to the substance of this issue , the immigration liaison officers ' network was created by Council Regulation ( EC ) No 377 / 2004 .
therefore , I do not agree that my British constituent convicted there in his absence should have that conviction automatically recognised in the UK .
in writing . - ( PT ) I must say first of all that our vote against is a protest against postponement of the entry into force of a directive on workers ' health and safety , a directive that in this case was adopted in 2004 which lays down the exposure limit values of workers to electric , magnetic and electromagnetic fields , and prevention , information and training measures .
we need more public services whose role is to provide childcare and care for dependants .
a few legislative measures are already planned , there will be communications from the Commission and it is worth debating .
in writing . - ( PL ) The Agency 's work programme for 2010 is a matter of some concern to me .
I believe it is a very important institution that can strengthen and develop European disease surveillance , and assess and communicate current and emerging threats to human health posed by infectious diseases .
the children 's self-image can suffer serious damage and their potential can be squandered .
in the future , such enforced cooperation must be used as often as is necessary .
( EL ) Madam President , Commissioner , thank you for your kind words about the measures being taken by the Greek Government .
there is still just one person left who believes that ratification of this Treaty must be blocked , even when the parliament of the country he is leader of has ratified it .
in this sense , our Parliament is voting on its position on Mr Brok 's report .
we must do everything in our power to prevent another tragedy in Africa .
my question about this is , are we really treading risky ground here , or is this fear unfounded ?
dwindling cohesion policy funds will continue to crush our economy .
the European institutions seem to be preoccupied with appeasing the most fanatical and the worst offenders , those who are butchering the human rights of all Muslims , because Muslims are - and we need to realise this - the main victims of this situation .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I would like to thank you for raising the human rights situation in the North Caucasus .
Mr Takkula , one moment : the procedure ... we are going to give you the floor soon as an additional speaker , because the representative of your group was indeed not present .
I consider it extremely important , however , for the EU to take on the task of coordinating national strategies and supervising them , with the aim of ensuring the quickest possible genuine integration of the Roma .
I welcome the Commission 's proposal .
( HU ) In my opinion , nuclear energy has not received the place it deserves in this report .
the European Union is a democratic institution which comprises many Member States .
the Irish are denounced for the way they exercised their powers but no one is laughing at the Hungarians , although the parliament there voted yes even before the unreadable treaty had been submitted to it .
while we welcome the Czech Presidency 's inclusion in the work programme of improving the transparency of Trade Defence Instruments , this is not enough .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - Madam President , education is the bridge from misery to hope .
as long as the European Union refuses to admit that it cannot accommodate all economic migrants from every conceivable quarter , hundreds of thousands more will make their way here .
we should not allow this to happen , and that is why I think that legitimacy is good .
regular consultations between the ambassadors of the Member States and those of the EU will be an important step along this path .
in the debate earlier today , Mr Booth reminded us of the Oregon Declaration , which 30 000 relevant scientists have signed , challenging the whole basis of climate alarmism .
2 .
the nomination of the President of Burkina Faso , Mr Blaise Compaoré , as facilitator in the crisis on behalf of ECOWAS and the International Contact Group , is a very positive sign , and the European Union has welcomed this appointment via the Presidency .
as the United Nations has pointed out , the parties involved in the conflict need to agree to seek a realistic political solution that is fair , sustainable , acceptable to both sides and in line with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions .
the road transport sector is the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the European Union and its emissions are continuing to rise .
sheep farming plays a vital role in many parts of rural Scotland and the EU must act in such a way as to protect these rural economies , not impose additional burdens on sheep farmers .
I would like to express my thanks to the Belgian Presidency .
until today , the Commission has refused to launch an investigation into the very serious human rights violations in that country .
how can we be the guardians of others when we dare not address our own problems ?
they need to have growth and investment and we can deliver on that within the European Union .
legislation is unfortunately not enough to achieve efficiency .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I think our aim has to be to keep things as simple as possible for our stakeholders and to ensure - insofar as we can - that beneficiaries can directly apply their usual cost accounting practices for personnel costs , avoiding the need to implement a parallel accounting system as they had to up to now .
the cautiousness with which some regard this new country will certainly be based on political and strategic motives , but also on reasons of a more practical nature , resulting above all from the worrying way in which corruption and organised crime are rife in that territory , preventing Kosovo from truthfully claiming that it has rule of law .
the next item is the statement by Mr Barroso , the President of the European Commission , on the Legislative and Work Programme of the Commission for 2010 .
that is what we do .
yesterday and today , these young people surrounding us now were sitting in your places .
as you pointed out , Commissioner , much of this will depend on the Member States themselves , in terms both of application , in particular , and also of follow-up in due course .
we should have resolved the matter with high compensation payments at the time , which would have achieved an effect similar to that achieved for denied boarding .
in this connection , I would stress in particular the importance of the small and medium-sized enterprise sector and the innovations that come from this , as it can be truly inventive .
the next item is the Commission statement on the restructuring of the European car industry , in particular the Opel case .
as a teacher , I would like to remind that positive results in education cannot be obtained by fear , constraint and physical punishment .
on behalf of the S & D Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , we in the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament already voted against this amendment at the committee stage .
I am pleased at the adoption of this report , which welcomes the Stockholm Action Plan and , more specifically , the elements it contains in relation to civil law , commercial law , family law and private international law .
subject : gender equality in decision making
establishing European research infrastructures guarantees that research will reach a high level .
I voted in favour of this report because anything that improves road safety has to be welcomed .
in France , professional fishermen are blockading the Atlantic , Channel and Mediterranean ports in reaction of course to the sudden rise in diesel prices and the quotas policy imposed by Brussels .
this would undoubtedly have helped show the separation of powers , which works very well at European level , in its true light .
the capital , the talent and the individual enterprises are highly fluid .
the next item is the statements by the Council and the Commission : conclusions of the European Council held on 25-26 March 2010 .
there cannot be a first-tier neighbourhood policy and another , second-tier , neighbourhood policy .
with respect to the Pacific , for which I am the rapporteur , we have a collection of 14 - plus one if you include East Timor - very small nation-states .
nevertheless , clearly Moldova is not the same as Morocco .
if we in the Commission were to put forward a binding target for each Member State , these would , today , be rejected by the Member States , of which we are all also citizens .
so far , we have heard only about slogan-like targets , and an extremely tight schedule for adopting it .
I have big concerns for the future of the Spanish tourism business now that the press is writing about the bad fortune of these people .
what I would say is that cultural monuments , such as the Acropolis and other monuments in Greece and other Member States , are a source of inspiration and cross-cultural wealth and just today , the European Commission adopted a new system for labelling the major cultural monuments of the European Union , including the Acropolis .
this at least will not be too hard , considering the low number of fines recently imposed .
the text , as arising from the trialogues , can be supported and adopted .
zero tolerance of drivers who commit offences , whether or not drink-drivers , would be more effective in fighting the increase in the number of road accident victims .
we must then also consider whether or not derivatives should be traded compulsorily on the Stock Exchange - possibly with the exception of interest rate swaps .
as you will know , we are also hoping to improve matters with the reform working group , but thank you for your comments , and thank you to our interpreters .
one branch of our culture is now disappearing before our very eyes and we are witnessing the obliteration of one of its sources .
forwarding of texts adopted during the sitting : see Minutes
finally , the report should have suggested that the Commission examine the possibility of prior European Securities and Markets Authority ( ESMA ) approval of all ' structured financial products ' .
we are coming to the end of a long road of negotiations , and I would like to congratulate all those involved , in particular my fellow Members from my political group .
this is what I meant when I referred to the European Parliament 's calling card : limited increases , as well as clear self-restraint .
but , given that you have not answered the question that was asked , I want to put one or two others to you .
we , too , can have the kind of assurances the Swiss enjoy .
these improvements concern the expansion of open application areas , though we would have preferred them to be introduced more quickly .
in writing - ( FR ) Human rights are not negotiable .
I supported this agreement and the participation of the Republic of Croatia in the work of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction , which will allow factual and objective information to be collected from Croatia at European level concerning drugs and drug addiction and their consequences , and will enable the Republic of Croatia to gain information on best practices to understand the nature of its drug problems and improve its response to them .
the European Court of Auditors has stated that it has obtained reasonable assurances that the annual accounts for 2009 are legal and regular , and the revision of a multiannual work programme carried out in 2010 as well as the start of an initiative to review its budget procedure convince me that the Community Fisheries Control Agency is implementing the recommendations it has received .
in addition to this matter , we were also unhappy that the energy efficiency improvements were completely left out of the support package .
without a climate check of this kind , the co-financing must not be increased .
that is why I voted for the report .
this is only partly true .
( PL ) Mr President , despite having been reformed several times , the common agricultural policy is still not living up to expectations .
before Parliament can give the approval that is required for the ratification of this agreement , significant improvements still need to be made , and not only in terms of content .
such victories were only possible because we cooperated across political lines .
the European Union is about security in the broadest sense and this is part of the whole exercise of opening up minds , of fighting nationalism , of fighting ethnic conflict , of building a continent on peace and prosperity , and that is what we want to open up the eyes of the citizens of those countries to .
what I am therefore appealing for is for us to work together .
Commissioner , I would like to ask you once more about our famous Ignalina atomic plant .
the fact that those who try to introduce counterfeit goods into the Community choose the European ports that are not equipped with advanced technologies , such as scanning and registering the pallets of merchandise , is a reality .
in fact , the main problem is not related to criminality .
there is one thing that I would like to add .
in mountain areas , the Directive aims to internalise the external costs of environmental damage and congestion through an additional toll of up to 25 % of the infrastructure toll .
therefore , although it is true that the Moroccan Parliament has set up an investigative commission , I think it is essential that an international commission be set up , that European and politicians and journalists have freedom of access to the area and that the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara extend its mandate to the protection of human rights , both in the area controlled by Morocco and in the area controlled by Polisario .
there is no denying that this is the case .
( HU ) Madam President , I suggest that we speak clearly .
the rulers of the European Union , who wish to break up the nations of Europe , cannot in fact forgive the Serbs for having resisted the destruction of their state , and in particular the secession of Kosovo , the historic heart of Serbia .
if we do not wish to still be setting up bad banks in ten or twenty years ' time then we must get banks and credit institutions to assume a significant business risk if they continue to deal in critical products .
logically , this new edition follows the strategy of the Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs .
all these measures can help reduce the incidence of these activities .
we are in a situation where it seems increasingly obvious that the reality of the current team 's chosen strategy , under the leadership of Mr Barroso , is a strategy à la japonaise : in other words , acting too late , and thus in an inefficient and costly manner .
Parliament is now once again throwing its doors wide open to a type of all-encompassing European anti-discrimination policy , which leaves barely a single social domain untouched .
the three tuna processing facilities in Papua New Guinea which are authorised to export tuna to the EU employ around 5 700 people , most of whom are women .
as already stated , as a farmer , I believe wholeheartedly that the first priority should be to produce healthy food , the second priority to produce fodder and the third priority to produce energy materials .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to congratulate Mr Duchoň on his brilliant report .
we have not had any discussion , so it was agreed that I should comment briefly .
you therefore need to make an effort in this respect .
in writing . - ( FR ) If , despite a certain amount of reluctance due to a totally unbalanced text , I eventually voted for it , this was because an oral amendment tabled by the Group of the European People 's Party restored the truth to a certain extent as to the current situation in Gaza .
my political group has therefore decided to support inclusion in Appendix II as a compromise between the proposal of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety and those of us who think that fisheries management cannot be snatched away from regional fisheries organisations .
within the internal market , international transport between the Member States has been fully liberalised , although a number of restrictions still remain for cabotage .
the directive on inland transport of dangerous goods updates four Commission decisions and combines them in a single legal act .
they should not be allowed to succeed .
this , in terms of Europe 's decision-making process , is very fast .
we must use these funds to improve our ability to work in an integrated way by improving public / private partnerships , incentivising inter-regional clusters and ensuring good coordination between cohesion funds and funds for research and innovation .
I voted in favour of the Casa report on the adoption by Slovakia of the single currency on 1 January 2009 , in which the European Parliament is won over by the positive recommendations of the Commission , the ECB and the Council .
in writing . - ( FR ) The EU Blue Card , which it is claimed is reserved for highly qualified workers , offering cardholders freedom of movement and establishment in all the Member States of the European Union , will be a new suction pump for immigration which will be no more controlled at EU level than it is today in many countries at national level .
the first person to be awarded the prize was Nelson Mandela , whom I will be meeting next week in Johannesburg as part of an invitation to speak before the Pan-African Parliament .
the current , well advanced , project is intended to strengthen OLAF 's role by first , streamlining its working conditions , second , improving the quality of its operations and third , as noted by previous speakers , strengthening its independence - may I at this point thank the rapporteur .
we wholeheartedly reject this .
many thanks for your request to speak .
if this were to take the form of fundamentalism , the results could be catastrophic for us .
there is an urgent need for a functioning government .
why is this ?
I should like , in this sense , to make an observation that stems from my having seen , as so many others have , on television screens everywhere , the crowds that in some way stirred up the protest of the last few days .
the only things that come in are food , medicines and a few humanitarian goods - but people cannot live on just flour , lentils and medicines .
the first is , naturally , to implement Kyoto and to sign , at long last , the post-Kyoto agreement , a multilateral agreement providing the frame of reference for a different future .
together we sought European solutions to European problems .
my second point concerns the particular situation of urban areas - I speak here as Chair of the Urban Intergroup and I see a number of my fellow members of the Intergroup here this evening - because it is in urban areas that the problem of unemployment is concentrated , unemployment at three times the mainland European level .
I wish to congratulate Mrs Patrão Neves on her excellent report on the reform of the common fisheries policy .
in order to address this problem , we need to invest more in the education and training of young people so that they are equipped for future challenges on the labour market , which is becoming more and more demanding .
in offices , schools and homes we all spend the overwhelming majority of our time in enclosed spaces .
there have been calls , including in the G20 last September , to make the financial sector pay for setting up stability funds and recompense for the damage that they have caused to the real economy .
let us recall that , in the context of establishing the financial backstops last 9 May - Schuman Day - and the following night , the Commission made a proposal for a European Financial Stability Mechanism , a Community instrument , which in fact was adopted up to EUR 60 billion , based on loan guarantees by the Union budget under the own-resources decision .
this was a task that required discipline and concentration and that could only be achieved by adopting an approach characterised by openness , solidarity and mutual trust .
the Commission makes the final check on the admissibility of a citizens ' initiative .
as has been stated by the rapporteur , the JPAs have a central role in monitoring talks and creating links between the two sides : the EU and countries of the South .
the Commission has a completely clean record on that matter , and we are ready to work with the Parliament in full transparency on all those matters .
thus , industrial policy is central to one of the most important political issues : work for everyone , full employment .
( RO ) One of the main objectives of the European Union is to develop a low-carbon economy .
I was particularly pleased to note that the Commission is now obliged to introduce measures to define specific criteria for awarding the Ecolabel for each category of products within nine months of the start of consultations on the Ecolabel with the Council .
in a sense it is my baby , as I was the rapporteur on the system itself .
the number of transplants in the European Union has increased , saving and prolonging many lives .
the compromise reached in this second reading process is the result of cooperation between the Commission , the Council and Parliament .
( the speaker stops again )
it may have been quite good yesterday because feelings were not running so high there as they would perhaps otherwise have been .
it was simply what the Council agreed at the time .
however , I would like to talk about something which has not been mentioned in this Chamber .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , for decades now , the European Union 's common fisheries policy has controlled fishing within the Community and in the territorial waters of third countries .
- Report : Christopher Heaton-Harris
the report by Mr Rangel , on behalf of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs , on adaptation of Parliament 's Rules of Procedure to the revised framework agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the Commission .
it is a personal decision that prompts women , after considering the facts , to move into urban areas or stay in the villages .
it is important , as we have been talking about the problems of reducing VAT for three years .
allocation of FISIM for the establishment of GNI (
what is more , we have been appalled by reports of the torture and ill-treatment of people detained on political grounds , including ex-presidential candidate Mikhalevich .
in addition , Parliament calls on the Commission to propose a legislative initiative on media freedom , pluralism and independent governance before the end of the year with a view to defining at least the minimum essential standards and in order to ensure , guarantee and promote an adequate level of media pluralism and independent media governance in the EU Member States .
I know that we will be able to count on strong support for this from Parliament , and I thank you for this support .
it was a central theme of my joint visit with Commissioner Michel to the African Union and a number of African countries earlier this month .
nor do they call for the obligation for the European Medicines Agency to exercise total transparency with regard to its research and to the collusion between its officials and the pharmaceutical companies .
the Biometric Matching System must be the same for SIS , VIS and Eurodac to ensure their interoperability and keep costs down .
( CS ) As far back as 2000 the Council of Europe expressed its wish to transform the European Union , within 10 years , into the most dynamic and competitive part of the world .
the American trade unions also fear losing their grip on the sector through foreign interference , chiefly because it is felt that they could be successful and because there is an assumption that the European airlines are better organised and will easily be able to grab chunks of that market .
the rapporteur is proposing a compromise that deserves praise for its sharpness , but it contains an obvious legal weakness which the Commission denies , even though it can see it , not to mention the confused message that we send out to citizens when we establish European rules that the Member States are free to implement or not as they see fit .
this is our first and greatest responsibility .
secondly , it is also regrettable that only 15 out of the 27 Member States are prepared to sign up to this enhanced cooperation , which will be detrimental to the citizens of the countries that do not do so .
no such legislation yet exists .
faced with this new information , Parliament calls on the authorities of South Sudan - whose independence will be declared , starting from 9 July 2011 - to make efforts towards bringing together the essential foundations for establishing a democratic state anchored in human dignity .
subject : Irish as an official working language of the European Union
the experience of implementing the European Union Emission Trading Scheme has completely discredited the value of regulation through the market and clearly demonstrated the ineffectiveness and perversity of its instruments .
children need good fresh food , grown as locally and naturally as possible .
the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs , Mr Lavrov , said explicitly last Thursday that the reform of Europe 's security architecture is a priority in Russia 's foreign policy for 2008 .
we disagree with a budget that focuses on supporting the reconstruction of monopolies and the growing militarisation of the EU , on the liberalisation in numerous sectors of economic activity and the lack of job security , as advocated by the EU 2020 Strategy .
some of you asked me - sincerely , I believe - to show more boldness .
( applause )
it is very important to have a budget in place , so that we can carry on the discussions in the other areas without the additional complication of working under provisional twelfths .
it would bring necessary and substantial added value to efforts made at national level , according to the subsidiarity principle , and would allow better protection of Europe 's energy interests .
that is why I have a problem with paragraphs 2 and 4 in the Virrankoski report .
( the President cut off the speaker . )
I would like to give a few words of explanation .
in what way does referring to these allegations help us identify the means by which we can prevent capital punishment ?
this holds true not only in Europe , but also in Egypt , Libya , the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other countries in Africa and the Middle East referred to in this resolution .
Mr President-in-Office , I am grateful to you for the fact that we are utilising the opportunity afforded by single legal personality and are acceding to the Strasbourg Convention .
the introduction of biometric identification data as part of VIS marks an important step in establishing a reliable link between the visa holder and the passport , thereby preventing the use of a false identity .
this area must also be supported in order to improve the economic conditions so as to help resolve the problems in relation to the minorities .
creativeness that is undermined is creativeness that is doomed to disappear .
indeed , you made your desire for this charter very clear , and I believe you did so , Mrs Jiménez-Becerril Barrio , by drawing on all the painful first-hand experience you have had .
we need to clarify in the research where exactly there are risks and where there is also a certain scope of responsibility .
I agree with the purposes and goals , which are to ensure a high level of protection for human health and the environment .
on the one hand they get paid less for the same job , and on the other their shorter period of employment because of the responsibilities of motherhood are both reasons for the poverty of women when they reach retirement age .
( LV ) Mrs Malmström , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the formulation of a strategy for the Baltic Sea region is a very important achievement for Parliament , in which the members of the Baltic intergroup have played a leading role .
milk quotas are like a pressure cooker : you cannot keep the pressure on right to the end and then take it off , because it just bursts .
I just wanted to agree wholeheartedly with both Mr Corbett and my group chairman , Mr Daul .
it is down to the EU to preserve its image by strengthening its commitment to ITER and demanding that its partners do the same .
the proposed changes relate to : firstly , the optimum exploitation of fish stocks ; secondly , the correct method for fisheries management and appropriate fishing methods ; and , finally and thirdly , preventing illegal fishing .
institutional reforms , the dynamism of civil society and respect for freedoms and civil rights have contributed to political stabilisation in Taiwan .
admittedly , certain precautions have been introduced to ensure that it affects neither the 20 % target nor Member States ' control over their national support systems , but to me they do not appear sufficient .
nuclear energy is an important component of a European energy policy mix , and today we are witnessing a renewed interest in nuclear energy , both at European and international level .
therefore , I very much welcome the fact that the Hungarian Presidency is following up this issue and making it one of the focal points of its work .
this requirement is made clear from Commission data , which shows that , every year , in the EU alone , an estimated 9.3 million tonnes of electrical and electronic equipment ( EEE ) are sold .
we are talking about new resources - we need money - and I should like you to tell us whether you will indeed be raising money by these means ?
everything should be done to support the country 's progress towards genuine democracy and economic development .
but we need to be mindful that we are legislating for the real world , not making a wish list for an ideal world , and that Parliament should stick to its areas of competence in future .
long-term care for older people ( vote )
my second remark , Commissioner , is that the ' monitoring system ' currently only monitors the volume of the imported goods .
why do you then think that , if quotas are imposed on companies , that one-third will include just those illiterate women that may also exist in our society ?
would it be in order for the Commissioner to send me a copy of his reply to Mr Cappato , because I have an interest in this subject ?
however , I have discretion , and there is also the way in which the request is worded : it concerns the vote on urgencies , which is all the urgencies ; not just one of them but all of them .
let me also say that we have read with great interest Parliament 's resolution on the recognition of agriculture as a strategic sector in the context of food security , based on the report by the honourable Member , Daciana Sârbu .
however , it is equally important for me to say again tonight that the technology used in the system to register the field crops does not make it possible to use the same system for control purposes .
concerning policy implementation , I generally agree with your suggestions , with a different focus , however .
moreover , this will not cost us taxpayers in the European Union anything , as Switzerland is itself paying for its involvement .
in the UK a general reduction in VAT has led to a fall in inflation of 1 % and an injection into the economy of GBP 12 billion .
as I have said , the E3 + 3 is already considering these options .
in this case the rapporteur has no official speaking time , which I believe is an appalling situation .
given the incomplete resolution of certain disputes under the trade provisions of the Euro-Mediterranean agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , I acknowledge that the diplomatic approach has been ineffective in this context .
I wish the Congress every success in its work .
I put my name forward at 17 : 00 and cannot quite comprehend the procedure .
we must work to create a pluralistic world that keeps its aptitude for creation intact and that can give rise to the new and to diversity .
no , Mr El Khadraoui , at the beginning , some initial accounts appeared , from which it was clear that , through the problems of the tax burden , there was an increase , and then they simply disappeared .
honourable Members , several of you have rightly pointed out the importance of the conference in Nagoya .
Angela Merkel and President Sarkozy were also here , and they did not pursue a domestic agenda ; they talked about Europe .
( DE ) Mr President , first of all , as regards Mrs Kallenbach 's report and the Leipzig Charter , yes , we must consider spatial planning in a European context to a greater extent .
in view of their importance , a delay in adopting them would not be justified , especially as we have already approved them and harmonised them among the Member States and among all three institutions to this current level .
I am also hearing from the Member States today that there are indeed complaints about the bureaucracy .
I agree with a wide-ranging approach in order to include the victims of several types of crime , and with the amendments that provide for arrangements for revoking the protection order , for ensuring continuity of legal protection , for laying down a deadline for execution of an order and for clarifying the position as regards victims moving from one Member State to another .
the Commission therefore knows that it can count on these agencies also effectively swinging into action .
it would also be a welcome step towards its inclusion in the international community .
( NL ) First of all , I welcome the warm words the Council has spoken about the cooperation with Parliament , but I should prefer to see it taking on board Parliament 's recommendations .
there is an identical Media Council in Poland , where it is dominated by the governing party , and it is responsible today for dozens of people - journalists with conservative leanings - being thrown out of the Polish public media . no one in Europe , Mr Schulz least of all , is defending them .
in this European year for combating poverty and social exclusion , it is particularly important that women who are barely above the poverty line should receive suitable protection , since a change in their employment or family situation - such as job loss , divorce , widowhood and even childbirth - means that the danger of impoverishment threatens them exponentially .
I think the question of geographical balance , which is emphasised so often , could have been resolved in a much better way .
Member of the Commission . - The Commission uses all the instruments available to ensure the effective enforcement of consumer rights across Europe .
we also need a framework for adapting to climate changes as well as for technology transfer and capacity building .
I urge to you to vote ' no ' on 12 June , just as we should do in Parliament tomorrow .
it is essential for the Member States to use this fund to invest in training and retraining activities with a view to improving people 's qualifications and creating more and better jobs .
however , I regret the fact that this House has postponed the vote already two times , which has resulted in a situation that the EU-Ukraine summit , for which the resolution was drafted , has taken place before our vote .
the European Organisation of Military Associations , EUROMIL , is closely monitoring this issue and its position , based on information received from military personnel throughout Europe , is categorical : depleted uranium munitions must be abandoned as soon as possible .
any future strategy must be built on a comprehensive and concrete approach and cooperation between the Commission , the Member States and , in particular , Roma organisations .
either we address the situation and redouble our efforts at mediation , or unfortunately we will have the terrible responsibility of not having desired or been able to do enough .
I ask you to accept that there are deep-seated reasons for our differing positions , but also that this position is not irredeemable and that in conciliation , there will undoubtedly be formulas that we agree on , and that we will be able to accept a formula that everyone can understand that provides a solution not only for the countries that have vessels , but also those of us who suffer because we have coastlines .
however , it must be pursued independently of this strategy and we must ensure that it does not appropriate or absorb any of the funds allocated to cohesion policy under the pretext of regionalising a specific objective of the EU 2020 strategy .
especially during the current crisis , public funds , and in particular Structural Funds , must be used by Member States to ensure economic development and increase the number of jobs .
so , the members who are absent but will receive a written reply , in the order in which the questions were submitted , are Mr Balčytis and Mrs Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė .
public trust in the EU is low .
so please push those who you are close to so that they give us the information .
I was glad to find such a level of ambition around the table .
many people believe that smart regulation is bad regulation , or that any regulation is not very smart regulation .
as we all know , after the European Parliament won a case before the Court of Justice , the respective Council decision was annulled , but to remain in force for one year until a new decision is adopted .
I make no secret of my cynicism .
like the other elements of the reform programme for the financial sector , the directive also aims , on a more global level , to prevent , or at least limit , the scale of further financial crises .
it is too soon to say what the new instruments will look like because they are subject to extensive consultation with stakeholders and to Commission proposals .
for this reason , the preparation of our proposals is taking longer than we would wish .
the reason for this is obvious : the ECB is and will remain independent in conducting its monetary policy , but independence does not mean a ban on constructive dialogue between institutions tasked with defending the interests and common destiny of 500 million Europeans .
even if he now tries to promise to remedy the serious attacks on social and workers ' rights that the European Commission , of which he is still the President , carried out in the previous term of office , he has never got to the bottom of those issues or the causes of the current crisis of capitalism that we are experiencing .
it is not about the niceties of correct procedures : it is about the effect .
they must be replaced by a UN mission geared solely to guaranteeing security ; all belligerent activity must cease .
the text includes a call on the EU for the strategy to deal with maritime and territorial issues .
if we consider the training situation today , looking at continuing training and adult education , we notice that it is those who are already well educated who get the most training .
Member of the Commission . - I very much share the concerns expressed in this question about the welfare and well-being of Europeans , the questions on employment and social protection and fighting poverty .
the quantified targets for this 2020 strategy - increasing the employment rate , reducing the poverty rate , and so on - are just pious hopes , because they use the same model as the Lisbon Strategy , which failed .
Mr Deprez is right : if you read all the articles together , then what we can achieve here becomes clearer .
in writing . - Mrs Niebler has presented the report on renewal of the existing agreement between the EC and Russia on cooperation in science and technology .
I would like to express my very sincere thanks to the Council in particular for the position it adopted as part of its work with the European Parliament .
together with general aviation , where it is calculated that there are between 30 000 and 50 000 aircraft , the sector represents around 9 % of all recorded air traffic and boasts the fastest growth in Europe , twice as high as that of all other traffic .
however , it is regrettable that total ecological footprint labelling for products is not proposed anywhere , when we really should implement it as quickly as possible .
they have inferiority complexes in relation to those children who have grown up in a normal family .
that is clear and the mutual legal assistance agreement would also really like to go there .
as I stressed earlier , the first-reading agreement on the proposal in the area of applicable law has an impact on the other proposal in the area of family law , given that the two texts are largely identical .
in writing . - ( RO ) I voted for this report because what we all want is a stable , prosperous neighbourhood .
this would amount to around EUR 3 billion from 2020 onwards for a country like Germany .
( SL ) Ladies and gentlemen , the conference in Copenhagen will soon be upon us and yet we have only moved a small step forward since last year 's conference .
the fight for human and civil rights has always been at the heart of my activity .
but , despite the fundamental importance of preserving biodiversity , progress to date has been limited .
in order to tie these countries to the EU in the long term , the development of their market economies and regional cooperation must be fostered .
it is also vital that opposition parties participate fairly in these elections .
the EU is the largest importer of agricultural produce from developing countries , and imports more than the US , Japan , Canada , Australia and New Zealand taken together .
I must also ask to be excused , as I have to be at the press conference .
may I say , personally , that I support your proposal for a European regulator : it makes sense .
( FR ) Mr President , a law on women 's rights which , according to the Afghan senator Humeira Namati , is worse than that which was in force at the time of the Taliban , has been signed by President Hamid Karzai .
if the technical preparations make good progress , maybe we shall be able to open two new chapters at the EU - Turkey accession conference in June .
2009 can be regarded as a key test year for the functioning of the Human Rights Council .
well , cohesion policy with thousands of small-scale regional and municipal schemes is the most visible form of action of the European Community .
this learning from past experience was indeed a key element in defining the priorities in the Framework Programme , as you suggest in the third part of your question to which now I turn .
first of all , it must be made clear that human rights do not mean that we should ignore the concept of , say , subsidiarity , or that we should trample upon the different values that Member States embrace .
I voted against the report on the creation of an immigration liaison officers network because it is designed to further reinforce Frontex , which does all it can to promote the idea of Fortress Europe .
therefore , this FTA - whether its intellectual property rights chapter , its investment chapter or any other chapter - will not undermine the capacity of India to promote , produce or export generic medicines , including through compulsory licences .
on Croatia , I find that the Swoboda report addresses the main issues where Croatia will face challenges on its path to the European Union , focusing particularly on the political sphere .
for example , can anyone explain how we can currently be discussing the implementation of guidelines against torture with Jordan in the Subcommittee on Human Rights , the first subcommittee to be set up under the neighbourhood policy , today held up as a model , when we know that European Member States have covered up the subcontracting of torture by the CIA ?
it is a well-known fact that there are more than 15 000 lobbyists active in Brussels trying to influence the legislative texts that are adopted there , and that they intervene at all stages of the legislative process .
I would also like to support the idea that , along with the EU 's accession to the Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms , serious consideration should also be given to the wide-scale adoption of legislation setting out the area of social rights - the adoption of a revised European Social Charter at a Europe-wide level for the Union as a whole , for example , would clearly be a welcome step .
our role should be to safeguard respect for our principles , respect for the environmental integrity of the area , the prevalence of principles such as international competition and respect for UN institutions under whatever new regime arises in the Arctic from the huge environmental catastrophe under way .
that is also an area where you see a lot of European countries acting in a way that is lacking in other parts of the world .
I received confirmation from the Commission , in response to my questions , that the waste discharged into the environment from the accident in Hungary , including into the Danube , was actually toxic , even though this had initially been denied by the authorities .
we are the leading donor of development and humanitarian aid .
this ambitious agenda requires building on the success of the Lisbon Summit in 2007 and on the results achieved since then by the Joint Africa-EU Strategy and its first action plan .
as a consequence , the sector suffers , we have unfair competition , and the Member States receive less revenue from customs duties .
I hope and believe that the Commission will quickly finalise a proposal that can be implemented .
I am pleased with the outcome of this report , which stresses the importance of a clear commitment and ownership by Member States to relaunch the Single Market , which is vital for its success .
the willingness of the most disadvantaged to vote is falling , since they lack information and at the margins of society there is less awareness of the significance of the fact that of all the EU institutions , it is only the composition of the European Parliament that they can directly influence .
that is exactly what happened .
in particular this instrument should be used for dairy farmers in disadvantaged areas and in areas completely given over to grazing land and pasture .
when we have a major piece of legislation coming through this House in the next few months , I hope that colleagues will bear in mind the natural disasters of this summer and make sure that we make our contribution to tackling the long-term issue of climate change , and I hope there will be no more of these natural disasters on the scale we have seen this summer .
efforts should concentrate on ensuring the rule of law and equal treatment of ethnic minorities , as well as fighting corruption and organised crime .
our meetings with the students of the European Institute at the university in Auckland and at Canterbury University in Christchurch were very inspiring .
that applies in everything we do , whether it is the sanctions we impose - where we need the 27 because we need unanimity - or whether it is in the approach that we take on support for the countries of Egypt and Tunisia .
why is this House hypocritical ?
I welcome the adoption of the Audy report on the mid-term review of the Seventh Framework Programme , taking into account the impact of the recent economic crisis , which has particularly affected the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises to invest in research and development .
remarkable progress has also been made regarding the promotion of gender equality , especially the adoption of the gender equality law and the national action plan for improving the position of women and promoting gender equality .
the joint motion for a resolution that will be before the House is one that , I think , reflects representations that have been received on this occasion from all of the parliamentary committees .
it would be a laughing matter if it were not so serious .
we need to make it quite clear to Russia that aggression does not pay .
I followed it very closely and there are many things which we will certainly take into consideration when developing our future work .
it is very important , as you say , that we address some of these critical issues : the Balkans and the transatlantic relationship are absolutely core and central to what we do .
the legacy of these last five years is very important .
does one need further arguments to do more ?
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( PT ) I congratulate the rapporteur , André Brie , on his careful analysis of the serious problems that we are facing in Afghanistan and , in particular , on his efforts to find a wording that would allow all the political groups to vote in favour of the compromise amendments .
likewise , we shall do all we can to finance the necessary technical measures in full within the international community with the involvement of the European Union .
I very much hope that this will not be done maliciously , just as the Member States may not defer implementation of this directive for four years twice over , until the latest possible date .
please be aware , however , that aid from the Solidarity Fund cannot be paid out immediately .
this means that our task is clearly to help in ensuring that the existing legislation contributes towards solving this long-standing problem in such a way that the labour market becomes a fairer place .
other factors will come in to that particular equation .
it did so out of consistency as long as Europol continued , in the intergovernmental context , without being subject to democratic and jurisdictional control .
looking at the situation from the perspective of the economic and financial crisis , I think that the strategy proposed in this resolution is a necessity , in particular , the point about achieving greater coherence for the European common external trade policy .
in accordance with this judgment , from 21 December of next year , it will no longer be possible to distinguish between buyers of insurance on the basis of gender .
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today , many of those businesses have gone bankrupt or closed , not least because of unfair competition , as the students from Barletta who are here today are well aware .
or , let us say , German schools in France ?
it is an important agreement for the EU and our aviation sector .
a badly made road is so often all it takes to cause the death of a person who may have been travelling at a normal speed merely because some of the structural elements are faulty .
in writing . - ( SV ) We Swedish Social Democrats support the conclusion of the Geneva Agreement on Trade in Bananas between the EU , the United States and several Latin American countries and the fact that the ACP countries will be guaranteed support through the Banana Accompanying Measures ( BAM ) programme .
on the figures , let us be very clear .
the penalties provided for by the Stability and Growth Pact must be implemented more actively in order to enforce compliance with the rules .
the European Council that took place on 24-25 March made a number of decisions which I believe to be important and which could not be put off any longer .
concerning Article 9 , Amendment 102 , if all of them are adopted , Amendment 60 will fall .
nevertheless , this is an important step towards better consumer protection and trade .
the Human Rights Council is a forum for debating the human rights situation in all the regions of the world , and the efforts of the international community to improve the human rights situation , which is one of the principles , one of the elements , one of the essential characteristics of the spirit of the European Union , the thing that gives it its true identity in the world .
( the President cut off the speaker )
in my opinion , rural development is about supporting active farming communities , especially young farmers and farmers who wish to diversify their businesses .
this tragedy came a few months before a very important summit between the EU and Japan , scheduled for 28 May 2011 , which is set to define the direction of our relationship for the years to come .
Mr President , agrofuels are not the main driver of this crisis , but boosting inefficient first-generation agrofuel production at such a moment is not a good policy choice , so 10 % mandatory agrofuel is a bad policy choice .
the S & D Group has decided to support the Commission , because at a time when Europe is plagued by an endless economic and financial crisis and ever increasing unemployment and its citizens are disillusioned with Europe , the European Parliament and Europe in general must not become the place where there is division into camps of position and opposition .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to add a paragraph to the resolution , which we feel is important and will not affect the structure of it too much .
the report emphasises the role of culture in Community politics , and also the role of cultural education in the development of personality and a sense of identity .
it is necessary to strengthen a stable neighbourhood area , which would have a positive influence on the Union 's internal security and would be a prerequisite for the economic prosperity and development of the countries concerned .
one by one , its most contentious articles and provisions are being brought in : the foreign minister and the foreign policy , the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the harmonisation of justice and home affairs .
I would like to see that violation brought up and resolved as a priority item within EU policy towards the PRC .
I am grateful to Mr Moreno Sánchez .
firstly , to line up with the position of Parliament itself , which had been hiring freelance interpreters over the age of 65 when it was deemed convenient or necessary .
incidentally , criticism of the proposal is shared by all groups across their dividing lines , and I think that this unequivocal message should give the Council food for thought .
I fully subscribe to the description of lobbying provided in recital D of the report .
they should sort it out themselves .
as a result of the constitutional reforms necessitated by the Treaty of Lisbon in 2010 , the ruling parties in Austria introduced a kind of standardised nomination procedure for some EU posts .
under the double pressure of demographic growth and climate change , the water crisis has been made worse by the inadequacy of the political reaction .
( it ) Madam President , the plague of trafficking in human beings is a phenomenon that has taken on particularly worrying dimensions .
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in doing this , we must also guarantee employment for a good proportion of the more vulnerable part of our workforce and their families .
however , there must be clear rules , otherwise the money will not get spent .
market surveillance - and I have to say this very clearly at this point - is the sole responsibility of the Member States .
this verdict is the last of six rulings by the High Court and the Court of Appeal in Britain , as well as the CFI , in favour of the PMOI , all of which emphasise that the PMOI is not involved in terrorism and does not plan to engage in terrorism .
( it ) Mr President , Mr Barroso , ladies and gentlemen , Directive 2001 / 77 / EC lays down the definition of renewable energy sources with the aim of identifying those for which public incentives may be provided .
according to Community legislation , there are three possible schemes : the general scheme , with organised accounting ; the option of the scheme for small and medium-sized enterprises ; or the flat-rate scheme in which there is no repayment but there is a right to compensation .
we have acknowledged the progress made with the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy since spring 2006 , and we support the continued efforts aimed at adopting directives on issues relating to the overall economy , but even more importantly , ensuring that these extend to all Member States .
it is not the case that economic growth and social welfare are mutually incompatible .
shall we , as the European Parliament , brook this violation , Madam President ?
it is unacceptable , in fact , to go ahead with advanced status .
we cannot hide the fact that both the Commission and the Council were even ready to start discussions with Tunisia for an advanced status agreement .
this pollution response vessel , the Mistra Bay , is still on site , ready to assist on the basis of instructions given by the Spanish authorities .
in writing . - At the heart of the financial crisis were banks taking excessive risks and failing to hold enough capital to cover those risks .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
Europe 's prosperity must be a long-term concern .
in particular , I should like to emphasise the constructive role of the European Parliament in shaping this satisfactory agreement .
it is crucial that the Member States take responsibility for the proper use of EU funds , and develop serious and transparent control and simplification policies .
alongside the diverse measures which the Union is taking , I would like to propose two specific measures , because it seems to me they are missing .
the Baltic energy market initiative now falls under the wider umbrella of the Union 's Baltic Sea Strategy , which was one of the Swedish Presidency 's main priorities .
it is also about providing European financial markets with better conditions for expansion and growth by providing a better credit market for small businesses through the efforts of the European Investment Bank and others .
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( SL ) Mr President , Commissioner , today we are deciding the course of energy development up to the year 2020 , but this period is much too short .
3. increasing its operational coverage by reinforcing its relations with other providers of similar services - or with the private sector - and gradually opening up its activities to workers from other parts of the world , as I already explained in my answer to your first question .
there are two conditions for that .
no more and no less .
the Commission and the governments of individual countries also need to lavish particular care on generators of this type of energy and support this development through the mechanisms of specific financial incentives .
in Katyń , thousands of Polish officers were murdered on Stalin 's orders .
the CAP is an artificial , expensive and unnecessary burden on farmers and consumers .
as for Mauritania , Mrs Isler Béguin , it participates only in multilateral relations , namely the Union for the Mediterranean , but is not involved in the neighbourhood policy .
France has a central role in this force .
I would therefore like to thank the rapporteur and Mr Menéndez del Valle for their social conscience in this matter that is so important for my region .
attached as I am to the Blue Angel ecolabel that we have in Germany , it must not be a question of personal preference , at the end of the day , but rather it comes down to conveying to consumers at a single glance what specific qualities a product has .
we all support this process , because we believe that democracy and democratisation are values which are worth striving for .
it is indeed essential to institute a dialogue between the Council , the Commission and Parliament so that action taken in the area of human rights can be better coordinated , and to prevent contradiction and duplication from interfering with the message to the outside world .
this is why I hope that in the future , the European Union and Member States will invest more in these care facilities for children of a very young age .
it is to no one 's benefit if Europe is threatened with ' carbon leakage ' and businesses move elsewhere , when businesses here in Europe produce twice as energy-efficiently as those in other parts of the world .
it means supporting a civilian surge .
this situation has arisen because of the unrestricted industrial and commercial turf-cutting right across the EU , which has resulted in virtually all of Europe 's raised bogs being destroyed .
it is therefore important to guarantee that , in the International Year of Biodiversity , the fundamental strategic objectives of the European Union in the context of the forthcoming Conference of the Parties to CITES will address the objective of protecting biological diversity , something which is fundamental for the well-being and survival of humanity .
the Commission has contributed to the information need of both traffic accident victims and motorists through the publication of a number of motor insurance leaflets placed on the ' Your Europe ' portal .
we are all aware of the ups and downs which the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement has gone through .
for dialogue and debate , however , we need instruments , and some of the most important and indeed essential instruments - although not the only instruments - are political parties .
with initial data that is more precise we can reduce the probability of errors in the scenarios forecast .
I hope that the European institutions , Commissioner Rehn and the Czech Presidency will take note of the letter .
this is indeed very good news .
one billion people do not have access to safe drinking water ; two and a half billion people do not have access to sanitation ; five thousand children under the age of six die every day from diseases caused by lack of clean drinking water or sanitation , or by their poor quality .
in our view it constitutes a very positive result for consumers and businesses , and is an eloquent demonstration of the highly effective contribution that Parliament can make in the codecision procedure , even on very tricky issues such as this .
Mr President , after 10 years in this Parliament I did not think anything could surprise me any more , but I was shocked by the fatuity of the proposal of extending the common fisheries policy to recreational sea anglers , requiring them to log every catch and count it against their national quota .
2006 discharge : European Network and Information Security Agency (
the tangible results achieved in this respect are being applauded both by Bulgaria 's international partners and civil society within the country .
additionally , the failure to meet with the Socialist Group in the European Parliament sends out a very bad signal : it has never before happened that a President-in-Office of the Council has not found the time to hold a dialogue with a large political group in Parliament .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I wish to begin by thanking the rapporteur , Mr Golik , for his excellent report on the Commission proposal for a single Council regulation for the promotion of agricultural products on the internal as well as the external markets .
I will present three of them to you in one minute .
by helping the developing countries , we will also help ourselves .
the second aspect in the implementation of the programmes is the procurement process during the Galileo development phase .
let us hope they will accept that .
there are currently over 23 million people in Europe who are without work .
these levels offer the best potential for a meaningful and well-targeted use of EU means .
however , as this report rightly points out , negotiating such an ambitious agenda on a region-to-region basis is not the easiest , nor the fastest , route .
the second field in which we must do this - in which we must keep up the momentum - is that of the Union 's role in the world .
I shall gloss over , then , the pace at which we in Parliament have dealt with the dossier , which I hope will serve as an example for the future , because we have broken records of some significance in favour of a speedy and efficient legislative passage .
you say that you support the proposal , but when we voted on it in the committee , you abstained .
although the texts being proposed by the Commission mark a step forward in the development of transport which respects and protects the environment , they can and must be improved .
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we must prevent illegal immigrants arriving by sea ; these immigrants are also risking their lives .
it is all about conformism .
what we advocate is a healthy balance between security and personal freedom .
second , the report suggests that certain Member States have failed to take any action in promoting European works in broadcasting .
that is why I can also agree to temporary border check arrangements , as my fellow member Mr Iacolino suggested .
we need to act quickly , not just with regard to Azerbaijan or Turkmenistan - which we will be discussing shortly - but also in relation to Iraq .
the provision of paragraph 5 makes the Italian system more consistent with the scheme of the directive , enabling current procedures to be maintained , provided that the independent regulatory body provided for in Article 10 , which monitors the correct application of the charges , and the body which approves charging levels nationally are combined into the same authority .
one illustrative element is the measures announced recently for cars .
what is it exactly that we expect we will be able to achieve with the citizens ' initiative ?
all Member States should ratify the Council of Europe Convention and implement in full the framework decision in order to establish a united approach at European Union level .
that is just a start .
an important role in combating harmful behaviour on the Internet should be played by hotlines serving to gather information on illegal content .
it is very unfortunate that , in one country , Bosnia and Herzegovina , the Commission proposal permits a disparity between different sections of the population : those able to benefit from visa-free travel to Europe on Croatian or Serbian passports and those - the Bosnian Muslims - who are not in possession of such a passport .
oral questions and written declarations ( submission ) : see Minutes
to do so would be to open Pandora 's box .
it looks like the attempt to organise this punishment between 2000 and 2010 is set to fail .
the possible exchange of good practices and preparation of analyses cannot justify a greater levy in areas that call into question the principle of subsidiarity .
this is one of the six priority areas of the Presidency .
furthermore , we would like to see the words ' the European Parliament emphasises the positive effects of tax competition on economic growth in the context of the Lisbon Strategy ' deleted from the report .
it damages the environment , causing serious climate change with devastating consequences for mankind .
let me just tell you that in our programme there are many legislative and non-legislative initiatives in this area .
Commissioner , we also await the results of the White Paper to which you have referred .
we must make sure a similar approach is taken to the collateral in the derivatives language .
our objective is indeed to get this abolished , for all the reasons that honourable Members have quite rightly indicated .
governments will receive more details by early December , when the Commission is to present the findings of its audits .
resolving problems relating to the transit of natural gas across Ukrainian territory is strategically important .
I believe this would be the time for Parliament to come in and provoke a real debate on how the charter is being applied in practice .
I have my doubts about that .
the Stability Pact would be an excellent tool for this .
yet within this proposed climate change package we have emission-reduction demands which , if met , would reduce food production when we need it most .
the Treaty of Lisbon was a step forward for the EU .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I voted in favour of this report , which proposes to review the General Product Safety Directive .
there will be no reconciliation if the sides consider their own sins to be taboo and do not allow them to be mentioned .
the contents and achievements of this Treaty can be seen in detail , and few they are not !
it is important that we bear in mind that this EPA is a stepping-stone agreement , which means that it is only a temporary solution .
I am , furthermore , in favour of the provision for an additional pre-financing instalment for 2010 for those Member States that have been worst hit by the economic crisis .
there will be a new situation following the referendum which is about to take place in Venezuela .
therefore , the development of the Danube as an inland waterway , the modernisation and improvement of its ports , locks and passability will provide an environmentally sound method of transport .
the Committee responsible has kindly adopted all our respective amendments .
however , if we want to tackle it successfully , we also need to back up such action with robust and decisive political measures .
( ES ) Mr President , President-in-Office of the Council , Vice-President of the Commission , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to welcome the report by my colleagues Mr Corbett and Mr Méndez de Vigo , because it is a report that is consistent with what the European Parliament has done from the start .
ladies and gentlemen , I would like to thank our rapporteurs as well as all the teams from the Commission , the Council and the European Parliament .
the principles must be retained . there are individual items which must be amended and tailored to more recent realities .
is that the way we should deal with this very difficult issue ?
in writing . - ( FR ) Although I voted in favour of the progress report on Croatia 's potential accession , I must stress that no future accessions can take place in the near future .
the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left agrees with the general parts of the resolution , but has serious doubts over the points specifically mentioned , and therefore will not support the resolution .
who is responsible for this ?
I think it is great , especially for the new changed reality in which we live .
the EU is an area of solidarity , and the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) is a part of that .
we will have plenty of time to debate the sensitive political choices ahead of us .
the consequences of the crises will undoubtedly affect every citizen of the European Union , whether Slovak , Pole , Hungarian or German .
following the earthquake , there was genuine political will to reconstruct Haiti differently , and there were many promises of donations .
I would like to know why the Conference of Presidents has chosen to interpret intercultural dialogue exclusively as an interreligious monologue and whether it feels a part-session is an appropriate platform for religious messages .
in the case of liquids , Parliament has already suggested the alternative of scanners specifically to avoid all these difficulties .
as we know , along with the CAP , regional funds represent the biggest part of the EU budget .
but let us be clear on this , ladies and gentlemen , some Member States , notably Greece , are refusing to be part of the system .
I agree that it is necessary to move away from badly conceived agro-fuels to policies of sustainable energy use from biogas and biomass and that it is necessary to motivate conservation technology innovation so that it can be as efficient as possible as well as of the highest possible quality .
Mr Rogalski , you saw that I asked for it to be checked immediately whether it was true or false .
this is done not out of solidarity , nor charity , nor even generosity , but purely to comply with our international commitments .
instead , as has been the case on a number of other occasions , it is some stubborn ideological remnants of the Left that prevail , who , in pursuing the indiscriminate opening of borders , end up denying the need to protect honest foreigners who come to Europe for work .
I hope the European Commission will not drag its feet over taking the appropriate steps to protect small and medium-sized businesses from these dishonest practices .
the most important revelation to emerge from the financial and economic crisis was that we have an extremely greedy system .
the level of duties that Korea can refund under the duty drawback are gradually being reduced .
just recently , as some of my fellow Members have already mentioned , the Christian , Asia Bibi , has been sentenced to death for supposedly having insulted the prophet Mohammed .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( IT ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , the economic crisis is far from over , although membership of the euro zone has given Europe a certain stability .
we must , of course , give our full support to the peace initiatives by displaying a continued , rather than a sometimes indefinite , political interest
I believe that SOLVIT offers consumers a practical solution .
may I ask you what solution can be envisaged in view of that situation ?
in conclusion , I will say that it is the diversity of culture that makes it rich and not the other way around .
the opposite can also be the case , and it can prove a source of disquiet and conflict .
then you will see that the compromise most definitely does contain statements - and indeed very strict , legally binding statements - on this matter .
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Mr Kovács , having listened to the other reports as well , we need strong commitment by the Commission and we now also need these priorities to be emphasised to the new Commission at the time of handover .
Mr Wielowieyski , who has just left us , has criticised that point , but at the moment there is no right to amend initiative reports whatsoever .
I voted for this report because I advocate reform and stronger coordination of the economic policies within the euro area , given the dysfunction that the financial crisis has caused in the current system .
I am glad to see that Parliament 's report also argues in favour of this .
Chancellor Angela Merkel is an obvious example that we women also have our own firm position in world politics .
the number of accidents at work is also reported to have increased .
just recently in Portugal , there have been various curious situations where news programmes have been suspended , and news anchors and heads of television stations have been replaced without any apparent plausible reason , suggesting that this is taking place on political orders .
and if they have eased sufficiently , what sort of timescale are you talking about for the necessary reforms to be implemented in full so that the full negotiation process can get back on track ?
what a contrast between them and their colleague .
certain sectors within this market were not regulated , and that is what sparked the crisis .
multilingualism is an essential element of European integration , allowing EU citizens to choose freely their place of residence and where to find work .
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in this context , it is necessary , Baroness Ashton , to be aware that the funding for the work of all European institutions is provided by the individual Member States of the European Union .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , can I say to Mr Simpson that the number of speakers on a very technical report shows what important work he has been doing and how important this is .
in other words , it establishes and affirms the EU as a political-economic-military bloc which hopes to share control of the world ( by seeking to rebalance its relations ) with the US .
it was for precisely this reason that the Commission presented its Green Paper on Urban Mobility in September 2007 , and the consultation that followed the adoption of the Green Paper has demonstrated that there is broad agreement on the fact that the European Union has a role to play in this area .
I have a second comment to make .
in addition , we will also have to implement , within a maximum of one year , clear , stringent and costly slaughter rules .
I have no other comment to make apart from to say that we must work together intelligently , Mrs Rapti .
in Germany a young man killed 15 people and then killed himself .
and here we are talking about a relatively small amount of money to promote all of Europe 's food , both throughout the world and internally .
I do not understand the contradiction , nor do I understand why , if someone does not want to use an instrument , the solution must be to prohibit it for everyone .
therefore , it is very important for us to change the time a complaint takes to be resolved and for the Committee on Petitions and the European Commission to work to shorten those times so that Member States do not evade the need to implement the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive .
in the face of the dangerous and severe build-up of actions , which , instead of helping to reduce tension , are aimed at preparation for acts of aggression by the US and NATO against Libya , the majority of Parliament is endorsing acts of interference , aggression and occupation in Libya .
Prime Minister , Spain - you put this very well - has won out as a result of its integration into Europe .
I therefore believe that we can continue to work practically on this issue , and I thank everyone for how the work in Cancún has been pursued .
what is also true , however , is that sanctions are an instrument that must remain political in nature .
he notes that , according to the Commission , energy-saving benefits could amount to over EUR 1 000 per household per year .
we need a system of global governance which includes transnational regulation of the financial markets .
I want to point out even so that the PNR exchange of data is governed by the 2007 agreement between the European Union and the United States .
inequality between men and women is a contributory cause of the vulnerability that leads to human trafficking .
this form of management is also the best way to protect the agricultural landscape and the environment .
this effort begins in schools , where the alarmingly high number of drop-outs must be sharply reduced in order to prevent any further widening of the gulf between those people who have qualifications and those who have none .
many people would not believe that could be possible in 2007 .
subsequently , in October 2009 , 1 192 people received redundancy notices .
we therefore think it very unfortunate that the European Parliament is seeking a single seat for the EU in the UN Security Council in future .
in the new perspective , it is explicitly possible for the first time .
these deportations were chiefly designed to deprive Estonia , Latvia and Lithuania of their social and political elite .
this is not only because of the Commission 's inertia ; it is also and , above all , because of the petitioner Mr Klein 's inability to take legal action .
the third area that we were asked to prioritise is the fight against climate change .
I voted in favour of the resolution to ask the European Commission to prepare and report on the negotiations on the planned strategy no later than June .
the vote will take place on Thursday , 27 September 2007 .
well , I would prefer to say that the course has been set for improving the liquidity of SMEs , the small and medium-sized enterprises , and for securing investments in new products , new jobs and new processes .
in writing . - ( PT ) Prior to their accession , the rules regarding nuclear energy and radioactive waste in place in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe were less stringent than the rules applicable in the EU at the time .
we also need to implement a precautionary policy through the principle of compulsory substitution of hazardous materials in ships , because ships that leave to be dismantled in Asia are not a means of transport .
in writing . - I voted in favour of the Szájer report on power of legislative delegation and Speroni report on Ransdorf 's immunity .
therefore , it is unacceptable that in schools for indigenous national minorities , instruction in a language other than the mother tongue should be introduced from the first and second years , something which was recently decided by the Lithuanian Parliament .
those professions and sectors in which women predominate , such as the retail and services sectors and some industries , need to be valued more highly .
it is true that in emergency situations , it is even more difficult and there is a need and also the room to restructure available ESF funding .
who depopulated villages where they tended vines and reared cattle , Madam President , in Greece , where they produced tobacco , cotton and olive oil ?
when disasters happen - be they man-made or natural - we must stand together in Europe .
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the point is not to prevent laws from being enforced in the Member States , to ensure reconciliation with fundamental rights , and not to prevent new technologies and the new economy from acting for the benefit of our cultural diversity , our cutting-edge industries and the intelligence and talents of European citizens , for these are our most important weapons and our greatest assets in global competition .
there is also , of course , the aspiration to regain the citizens ' confidence in politics and politicians , which is somewhat lacking in Europe .
( PL ) A European Union that is united in diversity need have no concerns about its future .
however , we disagree with other points , such as maintaining emissions trading .
I should like to ask you , Mr President , to be honest enough not to deceive us tomorrow , but to tell us how many Members have in fact legitimately taken part in this vote .
we have always kept the citizens of Europe informed . the Schengen Information System II will be functioning perfectly and on schedule and now we find out that problems have arisen and that there does not seem to be an end in sight to the dilemma .
during a time when emissions trading , according to the Commission 's calculations , will cost EUR 70 to 90 billion per year , which must be raised by those affected , we cannot seriously believe that this entire structure will not be affected by the financial crisis and the crisis in the real economy .
development of the services and Internet market and changes in consumer attitudes require a reaction on the part of the European Union .
furthermore , if we create a pocket for terrorist networks , we would expose the country once again to a trial of strength with the foreign armed forces .
noble intentions have not always translated into effective use of the Synergy , and it is very good that the rapporteur stresses this .
the next item is the debate on the oral question - to the Commission by Neil Parish , on behalf of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development , on the cloning of animals for food supply .
not merely governments and the European Parliament , but also individual citizens must play their part .
the Annual Statement of the Commission on the euro area aims to stimulate a broad debate on euro area economic policies .
there is a growing need for mobile , flexible employees with international experience .
the evolution of distribution in Germany , for instance , is symptomatic of this trend , with 67 % of cars sold through dealer networks , as opposed to 90 % before the Regulation came into effect in 2002 .
the European Parliament has reduced the scope of the directive .
it is crucial for the Foreign Office in the UK to send their top people to the service rather than their discards .
Baroness Ludford is right - that is what is definitely lacking the most within the European Union .
we have attempted - and we have succeeded somewhat - to get a European response in some of these particular areas .
without this campaign we would not have been successful in delivering the very ambitious targets on raising employment and reducing poverty in Europe .
nevertheless , Monday 's decision by the General Affairs and External Relations Council was not easy .
the report states that Mr Gobbo 's behaviour did not comply with Article 9 but Article 9 refers to the words and acts of the Member in the exercise of his functions , notably in this Chamber .
the measures to reduce transport time and handling costs in ports are certainly positive initiatives .
it is clear that the best structure to guarantee safety is to maintain the rail infrastructure in public ownership with democratic control and necessary investment .
one of the most important tasks will be the containment of piracy and , in this context , we strongly appreciate the effort of the French presidency that accomplished the difficult start of deploying the first EU naval mission .
however , the Directive does not include self-employed drivers .
I would like to thank the rapporteur , Mr Casa , because in his report , he took into account the objections that were raised .
our common goal is to limit global warming to the celebrated 2 ºC .
nonetheless , I have to say that we in Europe are naturally dissatisfied with many areas of the interplay between the institutions of the European Union and that is why we have negotiated this reform treaty over the last eight months .
it has no respect for the principle of free , prior and informed consent by locals to projects being financed , nor has it integrated ( and it should integrate ) a full cycle analysis of the projects it finances .
double standards are being applied to religious freedom .
( DE ) As far as this discussion is concerned : we would just like to establish and hope that all groups can agree that this debate should include a discussion on the fact that Slovakia wishes to illegally reopen a nuclear power station .
I believe that in welcoming the plans of the Slovenian Presidency for tomorrow 's Council I would propose that it also discusses this - a new communication strategy for dialogue between citizens and the European Union - not just with a view to concluding the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty , but also in other respects .
with such an approach , the development of alternative clean transport fuels must be part of the EU 's response to the challenges of oil prices and climate change .
just last week I was present in the Netherlands at the launch of the first EU-supported microfinance facility and there are more in the pipeline in order to support potential entrepreneurs , perhaps after the experience of being unemployed : women coming back to the labour market after childbirth or people who have already been working and want to seek a new form of enterprise beyond 50 , or even 60 .
the question is , how do we utilise them ?
that is according to the IEA , not a green grass-root organisation .
in fact , we need more effective tools .
clearly Council and Parliament had a very different understanding of what should be a serious return directive with sufficient safeguards .
in the case of toys the situation is further complicated by the fact that the manufacturer does not have to issue a declaration of conformity .
we have chosen to focus on one of the most vulnerable groups : early school-leavers .
Mr President , Mr Brok 's endeavours are indeed commendable , and I wish to thank him for his speech , in which he provided some very useful explanations .
many of them are arriving in flimsy craft , and several thousand Africans are drowning without anyone protesting .
the difficult conditions for agricultural production , high transport costs , inadequate transport and communications networks , as well as the cost of transporting people and services , affect the economy and everyday living conditions of citizens living in hill and mountain areas .
the only people who complained to me about it were from New Zealand , which is not a developing country .
citizen-friendly solutions are where we want to go .
inadequate bus frequency , two light-rail lines that do not interconnect either with each other or with the main-line rail system , no link to the airport , no metro and still no integrated ticketing system - so much for efforts to reduce hydrocarbon use and greenhouse gas emissions !
on the basis of the recommendation made to the European Parliament in the report by my Polish fellow Member , Mr Czarnecki , I voted in favour of granting the European Data Protection Supervisor ( EDPS ) discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2008 .
unfortunately , the main victims of the military pressure that the DRC is exerting at present and which is aimed at cutting these extremists off from their bases and their sources of income are the civilian populations , who are victims of collateral damage but also of the condemnation of some and the violent acts of others .
well , a quick glance at the scoreboard will show you that Ireland has misapplied EU directives on no less than 67 occasions and is in danger of missing out on the 1 % transposition deficit target as agreed .
we support the statement that Mr López Garrido gave us this morning .
this is nothing to do with populism , nor is it to do with fear .
it would be naïve to say that there were no illegal domestic workers in Europe .
the report by Mr Moreira , on behalf of the Committee on International Trade , on providing macro-financial assistance to Georgia - C7-0269 / 2009 -
Marilyn Monroe once said ' lead me not into temptation , I can find it myself ' .
this was the Rüffert ruling .
outcome of the European Council on 29 and 30 October 2009 including the mandate and attributions of the President of the European Council and of the High Representative of the Union for the foreign and security policy / Vice-president of the Commission , as well as the structure of the new Commission ( continuation of debate )
is that proportionate ?
these include , above all , the coordination of financial support , not just between EU Member States and the European Commission , but among the Member States themselves , as well as coordination with other donors .
( DE ) Madam President , the European Union , together with numerous other countries , has recognised the catastrophe known as the Holodomor which took place in Ukraine in 1932-1933 as a crime against the Ukrainian people .
we should also take this into account , as the resolution was carried by such ' representatives of human rights and democracy ' as Cuba , Nigeria and China .
for a year the price of fuel has been stifling our fishermen economically .
Islam and democracy do not mix .
the Council says the American visa waiver programme should finally create the same rights for all EU citizens .
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despite constant changes to the common agricultural policy ( CAP ) - seen as a symbol of European integration - the situation in this sector continues to be very precarious , as it is required to comply with exacting environmental protection and product safety standards , exacerbated by the current financial crisis .
however , I also want to stress that the Commission cannot launch a major reorganisation exercise during the last year of this Commission and , therefore , there will be no action plan in this regard .
this report was created in this new era , and I believe we in the European Parliament and the European Investment Bank will have to respond to the most important questions and challenges of this new era .
the auditors have refused to clear 92 % of the European Union 's expenditure for 2009 , and they estimate that at least GBP 6 billion should not have been paid out - a similar amount to that of last year , which has not yet been recovered .
specific issues relating to all the areas - disability , age , religion or belief , and sexual orientation - can , I believe , be covered in one comprehensive directive .
firstly , in all our countries , the crisis has made people withdraw and has given rise to nationalist and protectionist temptations , and we in Parliament are therefore particularly vigilant when it comes to respect for the internal market and its non-fragmentation .
in any case , I should ask the proposer to modify the amendment with the words ' those who have the right of asylum ' .
this is a genuine citizen 's initiative , and will show how citizens can guide Europe to a better future .
- ( SK ) As a Member of the European Parliament and a physician , I welcome the Commission 's plan to reduce industrial accidents within the European Union on average by 25 % and I am aware of the need to implement more effective measures in all the Member States , among which there are huge disparities .
as the largest combined aid donors , the EU Member States must fulfil their Official Development Assistance ( ODA ) commitments , improve aid effectiveness and coordination and strengthen their efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 .
( PL ) Madam President , today one of the most important challenges facing the Union is the creation of an effective mechanism for project coordination and information exchange among participants in Afghanistan .
through our analytical institution , ESPON , which we have strengthened very substantially , including financially , for the years to come , and which now has a significantly higher budget , we will endeavour to measure some of the new dimensions and some of the existing dimensions of territorial cohesion .
many will say that it did not go far enough in terms of certain aspects , while others will say that it has gone too far in other respects , or even the same ones .
( PT ) I am neither an expert in criminal policy nor a Minister for Justice .
this , unfortunately , did not happen , and the Commission has not been willing to put pressure on other countries that tie their people to certain pensions .
I regret the fact that the Commissioner cannot respond to the amendments that we have drawn up .
we therefore also need to consider cases of domestic violence , crimes of honour and female genital mutilation which stem from the Muslim vision of the roles of men and women .
the country which the chairman of my group , Mr Cohn-Bendit , visited carrying the European flag in his rucksack so that he could give it to the President was in reality weak .
although the budget strikes a delicate balance , I , for my part , regret the Member States ' failure to take account of strong political signals sent out precisely to those people experiencing difficulties .
I can tell you that , with respect to the energy projects , we intend to launch the call for proposals by the end of May , and I expect first decisions on support by the end of this year .
so regulation for cars is in place .
eight committees have done so , and you know as well as I do that it is very rare for eight parliamentary committees to prepare opinions on one set of reports .
I voted in favour of this report on trade , economic and financial relations between the EU and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council ( GCC ) , namely Saudi Arabia , Bahrain , United Arab Emirates , Kuwait , Qatar and Oman .
I am fully in favour of that .
11 .
the Christian traditions which shaped Europe are generally being questioned today , and it seems that Europe does not have another conception of its own identity .
it is vital in my opinion that , even though China has turned its spotlight on the hitherto forgotten continent of Africa , its conduct must be kept within limits so as not to slip into a potential new form of colonialism , which has after all marked and written shameful pages of our own , European , history .
Mr President , the volcanic ash crisis last year prompted the cancellation of close to 100 000 flights , resulting in absolute chaos for passengers .
some groups are disunited ; we are united in that position .
it should design policies and bodies which will safeguard an autonomous and peaceful role in international relations , far removed from US military opportunism and intervention .
( FR ) Mr President , I am very sorry to hear the consequences of the earthquake in your country .
I was in Islamabad not long ago and I would like to report on that trip , if the sitting allows me the time .
the signing of bilateral fisheries agreements between the European Community and third countries has always been a practice of the common fisheries policy and , hence , a central aspect of its foreign policy dimension .
Madam President , first of all , I , too , would like to welcome Commissioner Füle to this House .
this does not only mean its own citizens , but also its reliance on the contribution of thousands and thousands or even millions of citizens of third countries who pass through the European territory , who reside here , and who come here for long or short periods in order to work and to study .
tax competition is why we have lower taxes .
the United Nations is backing us in this process .
I am speaking on behalf of these perhaps 100 or so people in the gallery who have come to hear people speaking and all they are going to hear at the moment is me rabbiting on for two minutes about nothing - but making a very serious point .
first , the role of national parliaments in shaping development aid in the new Member States needs to be strengthened .
I voted in favour of the report .
it is therefore essential to consider the presentation of measures for the mobilisation of information and communications technologies , in order to make the transition to a more efficient energy economy possible at the least possible cost to the public and to companies .
it is still possible to place unregulated products on the internal market by using passive distribution .
as such , Europe urgently needs to finish what it started .
this means that we need to focus on reducing the amount of bureaucracy .
however , the motion for a resolution also includes important liberal requirements for pragmatic thresholds for GMOs in imported feeds and a review of the ban on feeding meat and bone meal .
however , it was true that the Austrian state prosecutor 's office did not want to follow up on the results of OLAF 's investigation .
the joystick is no equivalent to an hour spent with one 's grandfather in the garage .
instead , we are trying to provide an analysis and invite the Members of Parliament and the Council , among others , to take part in the debate .
in writing . - I supported this Interim Economic Partnership Agreement with Papua New Guinea and Fiji as it is important to develop strong links with exporting countries in the Pacific Region .
this work has allowed us to reach agreement at first reading and furthermore , has been an excellent running-in process for the codecision procedure that will be standard practice in our committee in the near future .
farmers and workers are fighting against this policy , fighting to overturn this system of exploitation and secure sufficient , healthy , safe food for everyone .
but in recent years they have reached common agreement on several measures proposed by the Commission that are designed to tackle the erosion of tax bases and investment allocation distortions .
what we have , then , is a report that intends to expand liberalisation in basic sectors in order to improve people 's living conditions , but without thinking about the effects on employment , prices and people 's lives .
the financial system is international by nature , and we need international supervision of these markets in a global context .
so the question I ask is whether these huge fines , which always make the front page of the newspapers in which they are delivered , really have any role in terms of prevention .
it stresses the importance of the separation of powers and the respect for an independent judiciary , calling for particular progress to be made on the issue .
in countries where the market has already been fully liberalised , experience to date is anything but positive .
the new Directive on renewable energy sources requires the Member States to provide support and to introduce reforms at administrative level and to infrastructures , so as to facilitate the development of renewable energy sources .
I must repeat our request that the rapporteur take account of these .
the existence of a ' pseudo-state ' under ' supervised sovereignty ' , protected by the EU / NATO , specifically by means of their ' EULEX ' and ' viceroys ' , the ' International Civilian Representative ' and the ' EU Special Representative ' , who have judicial , police and customs powers , as well as ' executive functions ' and monitoring functions , constitute unacceptable acts of neo-colonialism .
I would like to underline the importance of reaching an internationally binding agreement on climate protection , and I strongly support the launching of a public debate on the establishment of a World Environmental Organisation .
( FI ) Mr President , one of the most common proverbs in my country describes alcohol as the drink of the wise .
it is difficult to define the scale of the problem on the European market .
I believe that you are on the right track , Mr Diamandouros .
the GUE / NGL Group strongly recommends voting in favour of the report .
2009 discharge : EU general budget - Council (
the balance , the just and fair balance between large , medium-sized and small countries , is lost here .
I support the establishment of a solid legal framework for European environmental economic accounts and encourage the need to compile reliable , harmonised statistics .
I would also welcome the development of EU educational programmes that teach children and other vulnerable groups how to understand the pitfalls of advertising .
we have countries in Europe that are under balance-of-payment support , so of course we cannot have a one-size-fits-all approach .
( RO ) The automotive industry in the European Union , including both car manufacturers and car part manufacturers , must remain economically efficient and innovative .
it is only in this way that the doubling of funds available via the European Neighbourhood Instrument and the principles governing the Structural Funds , such as partnership , sustainability , effectiveness , non-discrimination and decentralisation , will yield the beneficial effects that we all expect .
policies relating to young people , whether they concern early , continuing or vocational education and training , must be seen as an investment , not a cost .
let me point out that , in its efforts , the Commission has relied on the negotiating framework , which is the very foundation of the EU accession process for Croatia , agreed by Croatia and all the EU Member States , including Slovenia .
we can and must fan that spark into a blaze of confidence , action and tangible results .
we also support the highlighting of the morbidity and mortality burden of health-care-associated infections and the need to recruit more infection-control nurses .
is the Commission expected to contribute to help these countries and provide them with financial assistance so that they do not have to bear the entire cost of providing these services to illegal migrants involved in legal proceedings ?
I also believe it is correct to include airports and require them to be integrated with railways and to place emphasis on developing the new concept of ' green corridors ' .
I have received six motions for resolutions tabled in accordance with Rule 103 ( 2 ) of the Rules of Procedure .
in general , the respect for fundamental rights and European values are always mentioned in this regard so there is no exclusion for Turkey in that respect .
our discussion on Tuesday showed that there are other challenges before us , for instance , a greater accountability for the key financial actors , in particular , the Member States , and a cost-effective control policy based on risk and performance .
Mr President , the benefits of trade and economic integration are evident , particularly in an increasingly globalised world .
thus we have never before lent so much to countries such as Hungary , Lithuania and Romania .
the report by Hans-Peter Martin on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control for the financial year 2006 ( C6-0386 / 2007 - ,
the European Arrest Warrant offers the perfect expedient .
in writing . - After several dramatic experiences with energy supplies , it has become clear that energy is a key factor of EU security .
- ( LT ) Last summer , prices started rising in all EU Member States .
I am willing to believe them , but this claim has to be substantiated : we need proof of necessity , proof of proportionality .
how can those demands be justified in relation to a Treaty that requires the Union to aim to eliminate inequalities , promote a high level of employment , guarantee adequate social protection and fight against social exclusion ?
our citizens are worried about climate change , about energy supplies and about the curtailing of their individual rights in the fight against terrorism .
it will be the result of our efforts , not an instrument .
the case of the Bulgarian Government appears to be completely different , since it seems that it was using wiretapping to criminalise the opposition , causing widespread fear in complex societal organisations and attempting to link the opposition to common criminals -which allows it to act with no respect for human rights and to install a police state .
now this represents between 13 % and 20 % of all undiscovered oil in the world .
this will lead to the development of a modern social agenda which will contribute to fostering opportunities in the field of education and employment .
on all continents and increasingly often , honey bees are dying in large numbers at the end of the winter .
this is particularly true on some of the work that we are doing internationally .
the euro will have a key role to play in this new stability .
but I have to say that ultimately , it will be the consumer who will pay because , if all the farmers stop producing , you are going to have to import this food from abroad , with all the problems this entails .
please tell Mr Barroso this , on my behalf .
trade is the key to greater prosperity .
this is part of a very comprehensive set of proposals that is creating , for the first time , a real European energy policy , but we want this energy to be secure and also sustainable .
they offer concrete signs to the citizens of the region that the partnership works in their interest .
I cannot take decisions solely on the basis of personal opinions .
I certainly held the view that we should thrash out our differences here in Parliament .
greater fiscal coordination linked to macro-economic stability is an option .
cost of examining asylum seekers ' applications in Member States ( debate )
current challenges are pressing and new challenges will arise .
the fisheries sector is not independent of the wider economic situation of each Member State , nor do the working methods of professionally active fishermen remain unaffected by social and political developments , both locally and internationally .
this report follows on from the evaluations carried out under the auspices of the Council 's Schengen Evaluation Working Group .
it is the net contributors which finance the EU , are responsible for restarting the engine of the economy after the crisis and which are rescuing the countries with large budget deficits , as well as the euro itself .
it is important for us to resume the negotiations on this dossier and to achieve a result by the specified deadline .
let me focus on some specific points : I have written a letter to the members of the European Council outlining the positions of the Commission on what I believe are the most important items on the agenda , and I would like to share our positions with you .
as Parliament , it is our job to bring about the combination of what the research produces and what can be done with that in terms of innovation .
why on earth would any EU Member State want a common system for the application and processing of visas for third-party nationals ?
other factors , such as actually giving proper weight to German as a working language , as laid down in the treaties , have been ignored .
in this context , only a temporary moratorium on all new offshore drilling in EU waters could have reduced the risks , and also sent a clear signal regarding our dependence on fossil fuels .
in writing . - ( PT ) People who administer public funds are expected and required to exercise the utmost rationality in managing them , the utmost rigour in presenting the results of the activity carried out , and total transparency .
devastation will come to agriculture .
the budget is small , and is not keeping pace with the enlargement of the European Union .
there was an approach to building Europe that people said was a bit distant , a bit technocratic .
in this respect it is necessary to strengthen civilian democratic control over the military , and to additionally strengthen the Parliament 's control over defence spending .
what is the situation with regard to the European train driver 's licence ?
it is , therefore , essential to build a common foreign policy , to include a security and energy policy , and therefore also a common policy towards Russia .
the Copenhagen Summit has come and gone , but why is Mrs Hedegaard still trying to have us believe that the EU is the leader on climate policy and the one to show the way in the world ?
EU - Canada Summit ( debate )
although the role of the Commission is strengthened , the report should clearly support the reversed qualified majority voting as planned in the first place to ensure independent and fast procedure of applying needed measures .
it is not the first time and I request the Presidency of this House to write to the Council and complain about this .
the directive will make very ample provision for seasonal patterns , production peaks and the needs of certain activities .
overall the EPLP feels that this report did not enhance the capabilities of EU States to deal effectively yet humanely with the returning of third country nationals residing illegally in the EU but has instead added extra burdens to an already complicated and highly emotionally charged issue .
coming out of an election campaign , we know what this is all about .
the next step will be a memorandum of understanding between Germany and Austria on this section and the infrastructure management planning process will have to start .
in 2007 , around 11 000 migrants arrived in Lampedusa .
throughout 2009 we are going to see exactly which improvements could be envisaged and whether we will need a Community initiative on this subject in order to make it easier formally to implement the provisions of the Hague Convention .
it is also worth recalling what was mentioned too by some of you , that Chile is a good example of development .
the solution is found in the treaty , which ought to be appreciated and respected scrupulously .
once again I refer specifically to the facts which , under your responsibility , Mr Weber , have thankfully been placed on record at long last in points 10.9 to 10.12 inclusive .
the additional protocol , which found a solution to the conflict and an acceptable wording for subheading c ) of Article 3 , was only signed in May 2008 by Portugal , Spain , France and Morocco .
unfortunately , I live on an island where there is a lot of smuggling and much of the alcohol and tobacco which people think that they can use for their own particular purposes is in fact later sold on to other people through commercial resale .
the motion for a resolution on the state of affairs in Ukraine addresses the current state of affairs in that country and the situation around the presidential elections extremely well .
15 .
this is also why we are singling it out for communication in connection with the legislative proposal .
but we cannot be asked to open everything up while Russia is closing everything down .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , thank you for this debate .
the great strength of this popular uprising is that it is happening across Egypt .
all of the public opinion polls indicate that they want President Klaus to sign the Treaty quickly .
the joint resolution we are proposing today asks for a clear commitment from the European Commission and the Member States on several points .
in writing . - ( PT ) We voted against this resolution because we are opposed in principle to the communitarisation of Justice and Home Affairs , an area at the heart of state sovereignty .
we have to work together with the authorities , the opposition and civil society , but also with Russia , which has an important presence in the region .
we should not adopt this resolution .
all the measures have a precise objective : to value human dignity .
Mrs Merkel dared to say it and she was shouted down .
some Member States , such as France , have been doing well , but the problem is that there is a divergent level of funding across Member States .
we are sceptical about these proposals .
Mr President , I would like to thank all the Members who took part in the debate and expressed their support for my report .
the Commission does not claim to be able to solve the freight transport problems facing Europe on its own , but , on that point too , the report by Mrs Ayala Sender sends a message to the Member States to encourage them to develop their own logistics initiatives , especially by investing in infrastructures , in close collaboration with the European Union .
it is realistic and achievable .
the Convention regulates matters such as minimum age , medical examinations , the location of the crew , rest periods , employment contracts , repatriation , the recruitment and location of workers , pay , food and accommodation , medical care and social security .
rural areas can implement projects aimed at developing broadband Internet links .
proportionality , protection and redress are the key to reforming this tool .
the US is one of our most important trading partners and one of our main allies , and as a German , I am acutely aware that what the US has done for us is something that can never be repaid .
the definition of ' least developed country ' used by the United Nations is not based exclusively on per capita income levels , but also takes account of human capital and problems with economic development .
finally , by seeking to intervene between the Coptic Christians and their fellow Muslim citizens , we are adding fuel to the fire of the extremists , who want to portray Eastern Christians as agents of the West .
according to this programme , trade policy remains a very important tool for addressing the opportunities and challenges of globalisation and fostering economic growth , jobs and prosperity for all citizens in Europe .
the next item is the joint debate on :
I cannot guarantee you that we will succeed with that because a Presidency has to listen to all the capitals and find candidates who can achieve a consensus among the 27 Member States , but I would very much welcome the candidacy of a woman ; it would make Europe much more representative than today .
indeed , after several years it was rather overdue .
now it has become 12 months , but I am nevertheless pleased to have a compromise , because I am essentially a positive person .
co-rapporteur . - ( SV ) In 2010 , people are being bought and sold as slaves in Europe .
Mr President , Mr Chastel , Mr Barnier , after the comments that you have heard , you can draw two conclusions .
Thrombins would only be of benefit to producers , who would be able to bring to market pieces of meat that would otherwise be of no use to anyone .
Israel 's behaviour is an affront to humanity , to civilisation .
the third major transformation is the change to how things work in practice .
the European Union has a responsibility to convey clear messages on the importance of democracy , human rights and respect for the rule of law .
the rights of the child - they concern the Union 's policies as a whole .
for 20 years , British trade unions , having being seduced by Jacques Delors , thought the European Union was in their interests .
we are ready to do the same .
may I take it is as PPE-DE time ?
Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , Montenegro has made a considerable effort in the attempt to fulfil the criteria set out for successful integration into the European Union , and it is therefore time to consider granting candidate country status .
the Commission 's commitments to supporting development of democracy and the promotion of human rights will continue to be reflected in our cooperation policies and relations with Venezuela .
it also shows how they can help to make our pension and health care systems sustainable .
it is therefore urgent to launch Europe 2020 at the June European Council and make sure that both the EU and its Member States start the implementation immediately thereafter .
striking an intelligent balance in the Basel measures themselves and the way in which we transpose them into our legislation .
anti-government protests - clearly inspired by the events in Tunisia and beyond , and organised mainly through social media and word of mouth - have , I think , taken the whole world by surprise .
there is much work before us , but we now have the essential tools , so let us not hesitate to use them .
consequently , my recommendation to the authorities and institutions that are concerned with the issue of media concentration and pluralism in the EU is to pay increased attention to the situation in the Czech Republic in particular .
the question of food provision has now become absolutely crucial , as has the future of small farmers who are all too often neglected by development aid policies .
is there support for this proposal ?
cars are the bogeyman , and drivers are squeezed dry as taxpayers - often as a result of policies championed in this House .
we will now proceed to today 's explanations of vote .
that will depend very much on how it is implemented .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , we are living in unprecedented times .
bad news : China has arisen , yet we have slumbered away .
the same naturally applies to freedom of religion and many other issues which will be covered by other colleagues later in the debate .
the fact is that even now the lobby register only covers 2 800 of the 20 000 lobbyists in Brussels .
this is really important and we need to develop synergies between research and innovation funding , on the one hand , and structural funds , on the other .
since criminal law is the responsibility of the individual Member States , we voted against the paragraph concerning the introduction of a directive at EU level .
the question which we have already asked in the discussions within the Committee on Fisheries is why the Commission has threatened to terminate the fisheries agreements with Mauritania barely a year after they were signed .
( FI ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , we can actually congratulate ourselves .
( EL ) Mr President , a year has passed since the decision of the group for the revision of the European Parliament 's rules of procedure made it hard for intergroups to operate by deciding that they should only operate on Thursday afternoons .
I want to get to the situation where we can adopt IFRS standards in the EU with full confidence that the process and content of these standards are exemplary .
although vehicle manufacturers may be in a strong commercial position vis-à-vis dealers , they compete fiercely with each other , and today there is no need to deviate , to preserve competition on these kind of agreements , from the Block Exemption Regulation for Vertical Agreements , which was adopted recently by the Commission and will also come into force at the end of this month .
with the contribution made by the European Parliament , we have accelerated the application of the directive by one year , broadened the scope to service stations in residential areas , strengthened information and control mechanisms for service stations and information mechanisms for citizens .
after all , we have , here , the opportunity to help our citizens to both a better environment and new jobs and to help our small businesses .
this priority will also reduce CO2 emissions and should be included in the strategy .
it is interesting that both the Council and Commission concentrated on internal travel .
however , and this is my message this evening , although Parliament has been able to react quickly and well , it is important now for the Member States to organise themselves so that they can rise to the challenges , as delays , representing billions in aid , can be seen in the administrative inertia of the Member States themselves , in their difficulty in deciding on their strategic objectives and in their refusal to cofinance projects .
these are what we need to highlight and stress the importance of if we look ahead and want to build a better and healthier Europe .
I have been personally involved in fascinating talks with many members of this House .
ladies and gentlemen , allow me to finish by saying that cooperation and mutual respect , rather than unsubstantiated and often populist criticism , are the only successful way forward for the Union , in all respects .
that is Icelandic : ' we have to solve the problems together ' .
this does not augur well , in particular in the context of the continued protests following the closure of a broadcaster critical of the government , in which students and opposition members have time and again clashed violently with the security forces .
relations between the European Union and Moldova remain very important to us , but one should not hope that the European Union consists of blue-eyed naïve people who believe everything that the Moldovan authorities present to us as the truth .
in poorer countries such as Haiti , food shortages have already led to incidents of riots and civil unrest .
airspace is therefore gradually being opened up , but this will naturally depend on the conditions and on nature .
any delay in finding solutions that ensure the fairer and more consistent application of measures in this area is unjustifiable in the present economic situation !
in writing . - Whilst many people within the EU live reasonably comfortable lives , the reality is that across the EU , and including within the very richest areas , numerous people are living in slavery .
at the same time , important opportunities will be created for our foreign trade as markets for clean technologies rapidly expand .
that was all I wanted to say in my brief speech .
in the situation of economic and financial crisis that we are currently experiencing , combined with the problem of ageing , young people are one of the most vulnerable groups .
as rapporteur for the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality , I do believe , though , that more thought should be given to gender issues when dealing with this group of people who are staying in the European Union illegally and , as has already been stated , are often the victims of exploitation .
one issue that is causing concern to providers of social housing in Northern Ireland is the rules around public procurement .
we already have price regulation in place as a result of the Roaming I Regulation . the result has been that operators cluster around this price ceiling , which does not benefit consumers .
I , too , would like to separate my comments on the process from the actual contents .
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we finance security in quite difficult conditions through the government .
the Member States need to take full account of these groups .
there have , however , been too many drawbacks associated with this alliance and mutual solidarity .
one of the worst consequences facing the Member States is the reduction in employment and the corresponding rise in unemployment rates and the extreme difficulty of creating new jobs that are stable and of good quality .
international cooperation in this major climatic challenge will ensure that European industry is able to remain competitive and is never placed at an economic disadvantage .
the liability of carriers of passengers by sea in the event of accidents (
Frontex cannot be a substitute for a comprehensive migration system - which we still do not have - which covers illegal immigration and legal migration and which has proper legal migration channels , as well as preserving the asylum channel .
I think what we have is a very good compromise package for water quality standards .
to be honest , this place would be very much better served to talk about growth and jobs if at least more than 1 % of this Chamber had had any experience at all of commerce .
in these days not only the priest , but all adults should learn during their adult years .
( RO ) As has already been emphasised in this Chamber , violence against women is really an extremely serious issue to which we do not always devote the appropriate attention .
it must not be the goal of this rapid reaction unit to promote the EU throughout the world .
first of all , there is the monitoring of State aid measures .
the fear and uncertainty arising from the current economic situation must be countered by decisions rather than by words .
education obviously requires the investment of money , but if you do not support making this investment , then you will have to accept ignorance , which I think will be more costly for us .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , we have now been debating the subject of Turkmenistan for three-and-a-half years in various committees in this House .
it should , when implemented and taken up by EU citizens , lead to people availing of cheaper credit .
we also consider the unblocking of the accession talks with Croatia to be important .
they need to give everything in order to ensure greater economic competitiveness within the global market .
I would ask the Commission to investigate that heatwave , investigate the level of deaths and realise that France did nothing about it , and yet when the autumn came and all those people had been buried , there were 14 000 fewer people on their social services register .
immigrants come because it is easy to get here and no one sends them away , but precisely for this reason we have decided on a change of tune ' : these are the words of the Italian Minister for the Interior , Mr Maroni .
female prisoners belong to a special category ; they probably represent a minority of the total number of prisoners in Europe , on average only 5 % .
one priority will be to step up efforts to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of our cross-border networks , which must send strong messages to traders that there is no safe haven in the EU where they can hide from pursuit .
we particularly welcome the fact that the Commission gives a positive assessment of the results of the Copenhagen study that was commissioned by the Commission itself .
thus , we must find means of developing an appropriate and effective tool to complement GDP , which could be applied in a practical way , using clearly defined indicators and relying on high-quality data .
entrepreneurs and companies that are not in the picture yet will have to do some rethinking , because a good and motivated workforce is a company 's most valuable asset , and can give it that fine but all-important competitive edge .
I fear they simply have not understood so many of the lessons of the last 30 years in politics .
after Fukushima , the first victims there were the workers and the firemen .
EU budget money cannot be used for that : it has to come from elsewhere .
we need to have a guarantee that the standards of criminal justice and the prison conditions in the European Union do not result in a lack of confidence among the judicial systems in Member States .
it is all the more sad for the fact that children from disadvantaged families should benefit the most from the opportunity to use these services .
certainly , we cannot remain indifferent to the suffering of these people who are subjected to a treatment of exceptional cruelty .
it will be this group that decides which countries may be traded with , removing this power from Member States , thus calling their sovereignty into question .
how will this change the structures in our countries , for example , with regard to the bookshops in the regions ?
EU trade policy has an essential part to play in combating poverty and achieving the Millenium Development Goals .
these recoveries to the Community budget continue to be funded by national taxpayers and not by the beneficiaries who have obtained Community resources by irregular means .
the entire organisation needs to be reformed from the bottom up .
an ambitious goal , to complete the transatlantic market by the year 2015 , has been set .
nevertheless , the Commission is following technology development in the sector and , if alternative techniques emerge in the coming years , the debate might very well be reopened .
under the Treaty of Lisbon , the common policy on visas in relation to third countries is the exclusive remit of the EU , so it is up to the EU to negotiate this agreement so that it ensures equal treatment of all EU citizens .
I would like to finish by thanking Commissioner Špidla for everything he has done in promoting gender equality and for his involvement with the European Parliament .
this will be an international conference involving - and why not , because , for nearly 20 years , the United Nations have been involved in this issue , although more so in Abkhazia than Ossetia - a number of partners so that the political negotiations can begin .
the proposals submitted by the IMCO Committee for the 2009 budget follow this direction .
as I recall , when Thomas Ilves visited Parliament in Strasbourg , he pointed out that Russia has a neighbourhood policy and an external energy policy .
for my part , I have been blessed with Mrs Merkel 's solidarity and friendship , and I should like to pay tribute , once again , to her actions when she had the Presidency .
do not use this as a weapon to beat farmers with .
employment remains the most important problem .
it is also important for information to be accessible via other channels , in addition to package leaflets , and I therefore welcome publication on the Internet .
as for the transparency of oil stocks , this question was broached at the time of the second strategic analysis .
Madam President , Article 208 of the Lisbon Treaty states that the main aim of European Union development policy is poverty reduction and eradication .
furthermore , what solutions does the Commission envisage , if it should not withdraw its proposal to lift the ban on blending , in order to prevent the collapse of this fragile market in rosé wine , which has a short shelf life , and the weakening of the economic fabric of a whole region , which offers a whole range of cultural and tourist activities based around the wine-growing industry ?
official letters offering assistance were sent both to Ukraine and the Russian Federation and , while Ukraine answered positively , requesting assistance , Russia declined the offer .
this is simply a matter of fulfilling Article 12 ( 2 ) of the Council of Europe 's European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and the Audiovisual media services without frontiers Directive .
I voted in favour of the report precisely because we need a new European legal framework that includes measures to combat discrimination and protect human rights , to integrate Roma in the various Member States with a plan that guarantees their education and health coverage .
5 .
however , there are also foreign policy aspects to immigration .
such events undeniably instil optimism about the future of our common European project .
since their customers are putty in their hands , they will simply pass on the extra cost to them .
this working group included Mr Friedrich , Mrs Lulling , Mr Nicholson , Mrs De Vits and Mrs Wallis - I hope I have not forgotten anybody - and I must say that there was a great deal of solidarity within this working group , which is why we have succeeded .
firstly , they should accept that the Lisbon Treaty is dead and that any pressure on the Irish citizens to make them change their opinion is unacceptable , and they should halt the ratification process .
it is not only power stations lying within the Member States which are a potential danger , but also those located in countries which are neighbours of the Union .
is there an intended use for these data other than that of combating terrorism , and what is it ?
the next step must be visa facilitation , for which this House has called on several occasions .
they are good for Spain and what is good for Spain is also good for Europe .
however , the Presidency has made a commitment to try and complete the negotiations as soon as possible , in order for the Convention to be concluded soon by the Community .
we must learn - and I believe we have learnt - the lesson from the crisis of the twenty-ninth that the stimulus measures cannot be withdrawn too quickly , when the economy - as some of you have said - still needs crutches .
in this way , he will once again strengthen the democracy of the exiled Tibetan people , who are spread across all of the continents of the world .
3 .
Madam President , this is the harsh reality : thousands of prospectless immigrants from Barbary are abusing the instability in their region in order to seek a better life in rich Europe .
there is the problem of trust accounts .
bans are now in place in Russia .
one day , Europe will arrive at a situation where the selling of rights can also be done at a European level .
this fine result would not have been possible without the involvement and assistance of my colleagues on the Committee , the shadow rapporteurs and the cooperation between the political groups , for which I would like to thank everyone .
should we now tell them that they have been deceived ?
the Framework Programme is only partially a solution for that .
today I have heard social democratic speaking : Nicolas Sarkozy , long-standing leader of the UMP , conservative French President , speaks like a veritable European socialist .
some people are arguing for sanctions , penalties and a show of toughness .
multilingualism contributes to improving the transparency , legitimacy and efficiency of the Union .
the report contains some important points , including increasing the quota of women in work , recognition of informal learning and promotion of languages with the goal of providing mobility programmes .
Commissioner , apart from the boost and the confidence that we can give our farmers with these new measures , we are on the way to future reforms , major reforms that will be discussed further in Parliament .
however , compliance with these regulations incurs significant additional costs for Europe 's farmers .
Corrigenda ( Rule 204a ) : see Minutes
such agreements would , of course , constitute considerable progress , and if those countries do their homework - and at least some of them are really trying seriously to do it - then the prospects for intensifying trade will be much better .
that is three times the budget of the European Union !
however , the aim of this report is to increase financial aid .
what exactly are you telling them , in terms of what they are permitted or forbidden to do ?
I am very sorry , Mr Higgins , I have taken two supplementary questions , which is all I can take , and we have dealt with it as appropriately as we can .
we hope that the Second European Roma Summit focuses on strategic policy commitments that demonstrate a political will to close the gap between Roma communities and majority populations in various countries .
I would like to apologise on his behalf since the problem is that he has a train to catch .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
thirdly , thanks to this proposal , it will be possible to integrate the railways into the freight transport system more successfully , and to develop co-modality in Europe .
the sex industry today uses the Internet and the sexual violence that many women and children suffer .
composition of Parliament : see Minutes
I actually welcome the free trade agreement with South Korea .
on behalf of the S & D Group . - Mr President , Commissioner , you are right that this is a public health issue , a very serious one , and our focus should now be on caring for the sick and identifying the source , but then we have to look to the long term and find out how we stop it happening again .
this proposition has definitely been a key element in the debate here and one that should be given consideration .
however , I am aware of the problems of people in many other Member States and I feel ashamed about this , because it is not worthy of the European Union .
is the ambition contained in the words of the 2020 Strategy compatible with the budgets cuts that have been announced ?
so I say to myself - I couldn 't care less about their photosynthesis , what I want is to go skiing , to sunbathe and to lead a normal life .
the EQUAL programme , which focuses on support for marginalised groups , has proved that it has a good practical use .
this debate concerns not only the rise in food prices , but also deaths caused by hunger .
the benefits of e-learning have also not escaped the attention of terrorists .
the management , staff and governance structure of the new ECRF would be fully independent and autonomous .
Parliament and the Commission have declared that a strict deadline would be set .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , Mr Alexander Kazulin , the former Belarusian presidential candidate , has served two of the five and a half year prison term imposed on him for vandalism .
Parliament has always stressed the significance of questions such as human rights , energy security and minority rights , and so this time too , these matters cannot fail to be raised at the summit .
we hear a lot about the Lisbon Process , but very little indeed about the Lisbon Treaty , which , as we all know , is in effect the failed Constitution .
these include the technical and administrative barriers to trade , the registration requirements , the import licences , state aids , the assertion of intellectual property rights and other discriminative practices and provisions .
let us not forget that 70 % of people in Europe currently live in cities and it must be our aim to secure as soon as possible urban transport which offers greater levels of accessibility , safety and especially reliability while also taking far greater account of the environment .
( EL ) Madam President , I thank the President-in-Office of the Council for his reply and wish the French Presidency all the best in attaining its goals .
although some countries are still living in the Middle Ages as regards compliance with human rights standards , Europe would be well advised to give up on adopting too arrogant a stance .
we discussed very thoroughly the questions of organising the vote on the resolutions on the Europe 2020 strategy .
in particular , the Commission 's assessment of progress in the field of the judiciary and fundamental rights in March will be very important as regards the possible closing of Chapter 23 later in the semester .
Junilistan has therefore opted to vote against this report .
on the contrary , in our view , cross-compliance should even be strengthened in certain areas , such as water use and management and water quality .
it would be a mild punishment for the behaviour he has exhibited .
in writing . - The European Union wastes more than 20 % of its energy due to inefficiency , representing about 400 Mtoe ( million tonnes of oil equivalent ) less energy , and would also represent a huge cut in emissions .
in a compromise the various concerns have to be taken on board , while of course respecting the treaties .
agenda of the next sitting : see Minutes
it is very well balanced between these challenges and I hope very much that in the House it will find broad support , because this broad support would mean better support also for the Commission proposal at the end of the year .
in fact , I believe that the European Union must propose decisive action on certain subjects that its citizens hold close to their hearts , including that of the safety of nuclear power plants .
the ball is now in Parliament 's court , and Parliament does not have to start from scratch .
the European Union must not play the part of a supranational fruit police .
they also look to us , however , to guarantee their food supply and food security ; yet only last summer a sharp rise in cereal costs sent consumer prices rocketing .
the solutions may emerge through research , particularly biotechnology , bearing in mind , of course , the principle of food security .
if I may give you my answer : I will take what you have said very seriously .
consequently , I am unable to support the present agreement reached between the Council and Parliament , and I regret that the Commission proposal came to nothing .
as for explaining the causes , I would like to draw everyone 's attention to the fact that the document which we have before us shows that we have very serious improprieties in the public procurement system .
it has also been doing so for some time in relation to existing nuclear power stations .
Mr President , in my opinion , this debate is fairly fundamental to democracy in the European Union .
Adam Smith , in the Wealth of Nations , foresaw many things , and there are many lessons there for us in what he said .
this report also lays down important markers underlining the importance of the principle of decentralisation ( the ' bottom-up ' approach ) with a view to improving the ' partnership principle ' with local authorities who are often best placed to recognise the needs of citizens across the EU , and especially in Wales .
for these reasons , I voted in favour of this report .
what we do want is to end the trade in animals that have been slaughtered inhumanely .
we corrected this mistake with the Africa summit .
I am referring to the cases where the children have stayed behind with their grandparents .
on this subject , a Council directive of 2001 had laid down common rules at European Union level as a means of simplifying , modernising and harmonising VAT invoicing rules .
Mr President , when we speak of governance and partnership in the Single Market , we in Parliament consider that one of the major requirements for putting the Single Market into practice is to ensure that it has political leadership at the highest level .
here too , we are working with the Commissioner along these lines , just as we are going to look for solutions to improve financing conditions .
it will not be enough actually to provide the transparency and consumer protection promised here by many well-meaning Members of this House .
when is the Commission going to base all its decisions on the scientific research that his department is executing and to counter the public opinion that militates against the use of GMs , that is disadvantageous for our farming community and indeed for the cost of food , and is negative for the economy of Europe ?
finally , I voted for Amendment 107 , seeking to maintain compulsory distillation .
women cannot be expected to feel they are in the wrong , or to expose themselves to poverty , every time they bring a child into the world .
I believe that this mess is the unfortunate result of a tragic lack of political strategy on our part .
first-class work by the Commission - I warmly congratulate you and Mr Uusitalo .
I should have liked mine to have been here too , but that is no longer possible .
your report , Mr França , underlines the need to harmonise the existing instruments and that the right to be heard during proceedings must be guaranteed .
we need a global Europe which sets a completely new agenda for globalisation , resting on the principles of openness , fairness and the importance of cooperation between Member States .
again I appeal for some type of rational approach , and at least some coherence .
the cultivation of protein crops , along with extended rotation of other crops , brings great benefits , not just in environmental terms , but also because it reduces costs by enriching soils in terms of nitrogen .
people who wish to take part in such organisations out of a love for their country and nation , protecting their environment , must be allowed to work and must be valued members of society .
I also consider it necessary for the European Union to cooperate with the US , including coordination of their policies towards countries that export raw energy materials .
the rationale is therefore completely different , and that is why patients are the priority .
we believe that the regulation reflected in the compromise text is citizen-friendly and does not create cumbersome obligations for , and frustration amongst , the organisers .
we need ladies at all levels and I wish them well .
if the financial system , responsible for reckless trading and speculation , is being held up as one of the major causes of the financial crisis , then it is right that those responsible should have to pay their share by offering the most significant economic contribution .
the US has just put in a free trade agreement on that .
they are united by the common fate of the worker , the exploited , the producers of the wealth seized by capital .
another purpose of the directive was to improve competition in the area of payments , and Title II made provision for the creation of payment institutions , which were intended to break the monopoly of the banks .
all that interests us here , and it is a point that is clearly also a little divisive , is the issue of whether or not the targets are binding .
it should be emphasised , however , that our vote in favour does not mean that we are satisfied with the formulation of the current legislation .
I believe that this proposal fits in perfectly with the European Action Plan for Sustainable Production and Consumption and , consequently , with the general aim of developing a voluntary , integrated system that will encourage companies to improve their products with a view to improving product quality in terms not only of diet and consumer protection , but also of the environment , by achieving higher standards of energy efficiency and environment-friendliness .
can the EU really trust a state that selectively applies international laws ?
our engagement in the Black Sea region can develop into a long-term endeavour with clear potential to enhance stability , progress and prosperity in the whole region , and Parliament 's support is extremely important for that success .
what is most surprising , Mr President , is that we are here to applaud the proposal made by Mr Botopoulos , because we think that it is a good proposal , a consensus proposal , a proposal which , I can announce , will have the approval and political support of my Group .
responsibility means walking .
the intention was to do this at a conference on 20 November when the Permanent Intergovernmental Group L 'Europe de l 'Enfance is to meet , but I have now heard that the Presidency will not be raising this issue .
I hope that the European Parliament resolution , which we will adopt in a few minutes ' time , will fill the gap created by the absence of the much-anticipated ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly resolution .
in our opinion , the following keywords must play a leading role in the maritime transport sector in the future : efficiency , environmental friendliness and equal market conditions .
a longer sentence was suppressed and all that remains is ' proposes that the Commission should check if existing sites in protected areas have been extended and if some of them are in Natura 2000 protected sites ' .
an amendment to create a 10-metre buffer zone has been approved in the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety .
fourthly , foreign aid : here , I would like to mention Kosovo in particular and the issue of cooperation with the United Nations .
I voted in favour of this resolution as it strongly condemns the regimes in Libya and Egypt for resorting to sexual aggression in the course of the conflict which is part of the current revolutions .
the European Union should adopt a wide-ranging approach to this challenge , because demographic tendencies affect many areas of politics , including employment , housing , education , social assistance and health care .
I believe that this is a fundamental point .
and we agree on the need for enhanced international cooperation to face a global challenge .
all the reports being debated today will certainly present us with enormous challenges , and we know that in order to respond to these challenges we also need a sound budget , but we must make a clear distinction between budgetary aspects and policy objectives .
while seeking the legalisation of adequate compensation for damage experienced , I agree with the proposal to set limits for compensation which the Member States will have to follow .
in some EU Member States , parents regard physical punishment as a normal method of education and children assume this as being normal .
therefore , I am delighted with the result , and hope for strong support from my fellow Members in tomorrow 's vote .
the directive is correct and necessary , and must be implemented .
what is key here is that the plan must provide stranded passengers with not just safety , of course , but information and help , as well , so that those who are affected , at the very least , have someone they can turn to and are guaranteed shelter .
we are caught up in our procedures , we have no flexibility and so we cannot offer a rapid response to these countries ' reconstruction needs , for this is where the real problem lies for Burundi .
please respect my freedom of speech .
in the three stated areas , Europe purchases four times as much from the Americans , and so , to that extent , we already have a very intensive mutual ' partnership ' .
of course , it is important not to undermine the competitiveness of Europe 's agri-food industry .
there are people , now statesmen , who have been honoured guests in this Chamber , who have a past as freedom fighters .
the Greek Cypriots have made a very brave move by showing moderation and compromise but in order for things to move forward Turkey must now reciprocate with an appropriate goodwill move such as the return of the ghost city of Famagusta to its lawful inhabitants or the withdrawal of a significant number of Turkish troops of occupation from the island .
question 1 will not be taken as the subject to which it refers already appears in the agenda for this part-session .
the report on collective agreements strikes a blow at these judgments and also at the compromise reached in the debate on the Services Directive in the European Parliament .
emphasis has been given to the need to give assistance to women who want to set up their own business .
the causes of these allergies are chemically treated foods and polluted environments .
in my opinion , the original Article 7 of the Council proposal was prudent and balanced , but Parliament - whose political correctness is legendary , of course - amended it .
I believe it is important to strengthen the fight against corruption , and ensure that it extends not only to more minor cases , but also to the ' big players ' , as Croatia has not made much progress so far in this regard .
I think it was John Maynard Keynes who wrote ' He who controls the currency controls the country ' .
it is a question of energy efficiency in homes , which provides jobs now , but which also makes homes better for the future .
this applies not only to Ukraine , but to all other countries which lived under Soviet communist rule and , of course , to Russia itself .
we Europeans keep learning from His Holiness , the Dalai Lama .
for the energy market , this means not holding back .
but other measures are needed for a realistic assessment of what is happening .
Latvia is grateful for this expression of solidarity .
the fact is , such disparities are incompatible with a common asylum system which ought to offer equivalent protection throughout the EU .
an agreement which I regard as a very important step , one which I hope will enable us to move on from a period marked by a certain erosion of the process of European construction .
however , Member States departing from the hierarchy would need to provide a sound justification .
only 10 % of Roma women use contraception .
it makes sense , and here I do agree , that one should never be dogmatic .
producers will also assess risks in respect of processing aids , all of which has been happening for years in the Czech Republic , for example .
could you , as President of our Parliament , demand the Czech Council Presidency , on all our behalves , to make good this serious omission before its Presidency is up ?
on 16 September 2009 , the Swedish Presidency stated in its answer to my question that it ' shares the Honourable Member 's view on the importance of increased transparency in the work of the Union ' .
we welcome the joint investigation by the United Nations and the East Timorese police which has already been launched .
the new rules will facilitate the processing of petitions , thereby supporting citizens ' interests .
I would like to clarify one thing - the report is from the European United Left , nothing else .
this by no means signifies disrupting the ACP Group , and our ACP partners largely share this approach .
anyone wishing to work in an EU country needs to be well aware of their rights and responsibilities ; similarly , Member States need to protect the social rights of their citizens and ensure most favourable working and living conditions .
civil society urgently needs to have a stronger voice in all areas , in order to remind the politicians of their job .
I congratulate the rapporteurs because , with these two proposals , we are taking a qualitative step towards a common immigration policy and we are promoting legal migration which is a key element of our global approach .
are there any mining technologies that endanger our waters and our environment ?
although the purpose of creating an EU patent is positive in the sense that it would help to revitalise and promote innovation in Europe , nevertheless , I would argue that this cannot be pursued with the violation of the fundamental principles of European citizenship itself , with the breaking of Community cohesion and fragmentation of the internal market or with the introduction of new factors of discrimination , inequality and imbalance .
the report here says that editors and journalists complain about undue political pressure .
indeed , the generation and maintenance of a culture of service to citizens lies at the very heart of the principle of good administration .
this is something that takes place right under our noses , but it seems there is a certain reluctance to talk about the problem using the correct terms .
( ES ) Mr President , sexual exploitation is a reality endured by boys and girls all over the world , since there is a supply of child sexual exploitation , particularly in poor countries , and a demand for Internet pornography and sex tourism on the part of rich countries .
this is where the European Parliament comes in .
I am pleased to welcome the European Commission White Paper on healthcare strategy although , like the rapporteur , I am of the view that the White Paper does not set specific quantifiable and measurable objectives whose attainment could and should produce tangible results .
restrictions in the Regulation aim , in particular , to reduce the likelihood of social dumping and to ensure that within the framework of the European Economic Area carriers operate more transparently .
I believe that the ownership unbundling of natural gas production assets and transmission networks is necessary for this , but not per se a sufficient condition .
as we are living through rather unstable times , and we can see certain examples where man 's negligent economic activities are often the cause of major accidents , we must pass legislation laying down clear provisions on how to react in critical situations .
( ES ) Mr President , while not wishing to take the comparison between terrorism and immigration too far , I have observed that unfortunately , EU action is driven by emergency situations , such as a serious attack or a mass landing of immigrants , as is currently happening in Lampedusa , where the exodus of Tunisians to the Italian coast could culminate in a chronicle of a death foretold .
at present , whilst tax demands continue to be intensified in every one of the Member States , mobility is almost impossible .
Mr President , my third , fundamental point concerns the implementation and the enforcement of legislation that has been adopted .
Japan is in an extremely sensitive position with regard to food security , and there are many reasons for this .
I believe that the concept of solidarity is connected to the idea and values underpinning the European Union .
the first is the ideology of dismantling protection at our borders , thus placing our workers in unfair competition with Asian slave labour .
finally , the most important thing is that the European Union is itself a simplification process , because by having one set of rules instead of 27 we have cut business costs enormously in comparison to what life was like before many European Union laws were passed .
we should have spoken out much more loudly .
in Libya , there is a civil war in which the divided Europeans are intervening half-heartedly with half of their resources .
the European Parliament 's Temporary Committee on Climate Change has now submitted a report on how the EU should act in connection with climate change .
in effect , we have come up with a response which not only offers an effective form of protection , at a high level , for members of the public , but also makes it clear that we cannot have a scenario of competition between Member States ' social systems ; what we want is cooperation between the different social systems , based on the highest possible values .
there should also be considerable flexibility as regards foreign policy , taking into consideration the political complexity in Ukraine .
it is not up to us to dictate to anybody what advances can and cannot be made .
everyone obviously understands that there are some areas , such as matters to do with a private individual 's health and so on , which need to be kept private , but in the legislative process , everything should basically be transparent , and in this respect , I am happy with this result and believe that honest and open decision making are the way we will be able to gain the trust of the people .
anti-Hungarian , racist and xenophobic displays have been getting more numerous , chiefly due to Mr Ján Slota , the chairman of the ruling party .
smoking is expensive for society , and , furthermore , the 70 % of Europeans who do not smoke end up paying the bill .
we time it up here and he started at 18.32 .
even though it is illegal , however , that country is the source of half of the raw materials needed to kill our young people or make them fall prey to drug traffickers who , as we know , draw them into the use of drugs , which harms them and society as a whole .
this is an extraordinary anomaly .
we have some different views on a few things - how to define documents , etc . - but these are still the kind of negotiations that we should engage in and make sure that we move things forward .
I also supported amendment 30 , which sought more restrictions on GMO crops , noting that it is impossible for GMO crops to coexist with conventional and / or organic crops , and calling for the withdrawal of the GMO species already introduced by some Member States .
we need an integrated strategy policy and an action plan cutting across all areas relevant to economic and social belonging .
we are finally , a decade overdue , but finally building the mutual trust necessary for mutual recognition .
( DE ) Madam President , I have a question for Mr Chatzimarkakis , if he will allow me to ask it .
the crisis has shown that complete freedom of movement for goods , services , capital and people leads not to prosperity but to catastrophe .
as regards financial regulation , I have one piece of bad news and two of good news .
for a start , it goes to the heart of problems that many small businesses are experiencing in an economy in which they are finding conditions very difficult at the moment .
however , we now need to go much further .
there is little doubt that a coordinated approach in this area makes sense .
we need to ensure that new plants in Kaliningrad and Belarus are subject to the same standards and tests as such facilities in the European Union , especially now that Russia wants to invest in nuclear power plants .
the fact that families live in a Member State must permit them to develop their capacities as sources of wealth production .
the European Investment Bank mainly got what it wanted .
in writing . - I support the waiver of Bruno Gollnisch 's immunity so that he can stand trial for the offence of incitement to racial hatred .
risk-based controls alone are not sufficient .
the European Union is of course France , the United Kingdom , the Federal Republic of Germany , and Italy - all members of the G4 - but it is also Austria , Belgium , Estonia , Latvia , Romania , Poland , Hungary , Luxembourg and so on , which were excluded from an important phase in the decision-making process in 2008 .
in addition , a more open migration policy combined with effective assimilation and integration could mitigate the results of insufficient population growth .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - I will continue a bit on what the previous speaker said .
however , I also see the irony in the fact that in this House it is also still very difficult to even criticise - not offend , criticise - religions , and one main European religion in particular , and there is another amendment tabled by myself and my colleague Cappato to the Obiols i Germà report criticising the Vatican for its position on condoms in the fight against AIDS .
Lisbon is not dead .
I personally would like to say , being fully aware of the disagreements between certain countries , that I cannot imagine someone explaining to me that , in the face of the financial crisis , we needed a united European response , but that , in the face of the economic crisis , we do not need the same united European response .
this is why we wanted to ask the Commission and Council these questions .
the EU peace-keeping mission has unfortunately suffered its first fatality , after a French peace-keeper mistakenly strayed into Sudanese territory .
they are weak but they are there and they need our support , and that support will continue .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue-card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
I believe it was absolutely right - and I say this advisedly as a Green German MEP - for Angela Merkel to meet the Dalai Lama , because it shows that we mean what we say about respect for human rights .
thus , only by tightening animal protection legislation and its implementation can we ensure animal protection and avoid animal products that do not comply with the conditions laid down by the general law being offered on the internal market .
dates of forthcoming sittings : see Minutes
however , this became an issue for debate , naturally , on the priorities of the Union 's environmental policy , which unfortunately faces mutually contradictory issues .
access to all categories of cultural material , including that which is protected by copyright and related rights will be another major problem .
finally , within the framework of various studies , independent experts expressed their reservations , particularly about the definition of ' public provocation ' and about the level of legal certainty of the text .
the image of European politics remains male .
these reports have been modified , but not for the better .
they will not flinch .
he has worked extremely hard on this .
I have one more thing to say .
we would have liked a robust choice in order to meet the challenges set out in his report , the choice of a green economy , of a green new deal which is the only choice capable of moving Europe and its regions upwards .
added to this inequality in productive capacity and in the development of the production process are other measures , policies and instruments that have made the situation worse , most significantly the creation of the internal market , international trade liberalisation , the Stability Pact within economic and monetary union and the neoliberalism of the Lisbon Strategy .
I am disappointed that Parliament has not shown any backbone to the Council and has told the Council : this is what we have voted on and we are going to stick to our guns .
furthermore , today 's vote instructs the Commission to work out how to implement a ' targeted global system of food stocks ' with emergency stocks to reduce hunger and other stocks to be used to regulate commodity prices .
I think it could send the wrong signal to the sector to continue production and thereby prolong the pain to the point where we see an increase in prices - here I am talking specifically about the pigmeat sector .
in the draft budget , the Council has automatically cut 36 lines on administrative expenditure , among other lines accompanying the instrument for pre-accession assistance ( IPA ) .
we have also asked the Court of Auditors to act promptly .
once the agreement has been ratified , which will be tomorrow , I hope , we must move resolutely to the next stage , which is its implementation .
I have cases of that in my constituency in London where community-led organisations have been crowded out by local government .
this was the main objective of liberalisation .
( PL ) Mr President , the Eastern Partnership is a complex set of proposals which should support our eastern neighbours along the path of democratic change .
however , Mrs Lefrançois , you have also expressed concerns about the proposal , and the wish for a number of amendments .
( PL ) Mr President , I had the pleasure of being an observer during the presidential elections in Ukraine , at both the first and second rounds , as , indeed , I had several years ago .
despite this , the European institutions need to be vigilant and ensure that neither human rights in the region , nor the environment , are sacrificed to energy needs and trade agreements .
this method is based on improving cooperation with the Member States before it gets to the stage of instituting official proceedings , except , of course - and this is very important , Mrs Frassoni - in the event that it is obvious from the start that , in all probability , a treaty is being infringed .
it is also important that there is no renationalisation of the CAP through cofinancing .
we should rationally scrutinise this programme , which prohibits the creation of fire belts and access paths for fire-fighting vehicles .
the problem here was enforcement .
13 .
first , it affected developed economies , then it spread to developing and emerging economies .
having said that , the Directive offers some Member States the opportunity to detain illegal migrants for longer with a view to their deportation .
what we want , Mr Barroso , is the publication of raw data .
the vote will take place tomorrow at 12 : 00 .
employers and workers will have to pay the price , while emissions continue to increase beyond our borders .
there are a few tiny , remote settlements in the far north with a population of just 10-20 people who live from hunting seals .
unfortunately , the measures proposed may have a negative impact on the Czech Republic .
I am counting on you .
the European Commission is the only body in a position to request this information , in order to be able to stop this environmental disaster from spreading to the other Member States bordering the Danube and take immediate action to combat the effects of this disaster where this has already happened .
the aim is to focus on prevention through better integration of immigrant families and to raise awareness by promoting educational campaigns and initiating dialogue forums on traditional practices .
at best , you could say that they have embraced democracy by taking two steps forward and one step backwards .
it has done so boldly ; naturally , there will always be those who think that the time is never right , but I believe that the debate has at least helped and will continue to help us to clarify some of the difficulties we have in achieving greater and better regulation of this sector .
Minister , we must maintain our leadership for the sake of the climate , for the sake of the European Union and for the sake of all humanity .
this is a man who is already in prison for life .
that is the reason why , in the last 20 years , tens of thousands of migrants have died in an attempt to reach Europe ; faceless , nameless men and women reduced to food for the fishes .
Mr President , I think this report is going to be a test case whether the European Parliament has to serve the interests of the citizens first - and citizens are really worried - or yield to the pressure of big companies , a pressure that has become really embarrassing .
provisional entry into force of the agreement pending the debate in the European Parliament in February would constitute a huge violation of the fundamental principle of democracy .
Europe 's citizens are expecting concrete , tangible results from the EU .
the first is long-term innovation for supporting the ecological transformation of economies .
I am grateful to colleagues for their cooperation on this very important resolution .
this is part of the package of six legislative texts on economic governance and aims to strengthen surveillance of budgetary positions , and the surveillance and coordination of economic policies .
that is why we are calling for the following three-pronged approach .
the Council always emphasises to the Commission and the partners that these agreements are a development instrument and that the advantages for development can be exploited to the full only through comprehensive regional agreements .
( for the results and other details on the vote : see Minutes )
I must underline that the spirit of cooperation amongst the Transport Ministers was high and we have had several telephone conversations where everybody stated they were ready to take responsibility and cooperate .
such changes of use , which sacrifice vital environmental functions , are the opposite of any definition of sustainable development .
I support the creation of an independent , sustainable Palestinian state , but a reasonably good economy and a proper political plan must be but in place .
however , Conservatives remain concerned that the report 's call for further Commission proposals on internalising external costs should not begin until the impact assessment is fully completed , and the Parliament has properly debated the issue .
those are contrary not only to the norms and values that we represent but also , obviously , to the wishes for a more open and more reform-oriented society expressed by so many Iranians .
cohesion policy is extremely important , and it cannot be a measure for adapting , or a measure or policy which suffers , for example , if money is taken from it in order to be given to the Europe 2020 Strategy .
it shows political will , and that is very important , but the achievement of this goal can only be very technical and very strict .
an important objective will be to create market opportunities for the European GNSS technology and applications industries .
that does not mean a total exemption , however .
that being the case , we need to rethink how we might genuinely encourage people to take part in political decision making .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( LT ) Ladies and gentlemen , learning is an inseparable part of the European social dimension , because it reveals the significance of solidarity , equal opportunities and social inclusion .
and this is the same Ministry that is trampling on teachers ' rights , leading to the largest demonstration of teachers in Portugal - the ' March of indignation ' - with 100 000 teachers , mostly ...
a wider interpretation of security is needed .
the Commission has concluded the negotiations on an agreement to facilitate a visa waiver and ensure readmission , the text for which is available in the Council .
the report contains measures which will help open up new markets and make our farmers ' agricultural production profitable .
the European Commission is conducting the negotiations .
Madam President , thank you Mr Fernandes for this excellent report .
the al-Kurd family has been expelled for the benefit of a Jewish family which only recently emigrated to Israel .
it will thus make other countries ' qualifications more readable and so enable individuals to move to another country if they wish to work or study .
I would like to stress the crucial importance of the non-governmental sector in this area .
finally , I would like to thank the rapporteur for his work and Parliament for the importance it attaches to this issue .
nevertheless , I should like to respond to certain things more generally .
the previous Commission left a considerable amount of work prepared , including the general outline and what is termed the public consultation over the strategy which will give continuity to the so-called Lisbon Strategy .
the existence of EU countries with sustainable fisheries and aquaculture sectors is , from an economic , environmental and social standpoint , incompatible with the trade policy which is being conducted by the EU .
this report also reminds us of the need for a strategy for the future of education and , above all , for guidance on all the professional needs that Europe will have in the near future .
concerning the other Eastern Partnership countries , there have been other steps as well .
let us not forget that this package goes hand-in-hand with another decision that you adopted in December : I mean the proposal for a regulation on vehicles , which in a sense forms part of this package .
I lose to an ideal candidate from each group .
I would like to highlight something that other fellow Members have already pointed out .
I am therefore going to be quite clear .
I hope that this will also help to simplify the cooperation between countries and , therefore , I am very pleased that we have voted in favour of this report with a large majority .
in its statement , following the NATO summit , the Slovenian Presidency has called for the negotiations on the name issue to be continued , and to be concluded as soon as possible .
it is the principle of foresight which must be applied appropriately .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , thank you very much to all Members of Parliament for the recommendations they have conveyed .
what path would reunited Germany choose ?
we talk about the milk market , but these are real people and the rural areas that we discuss and that we are always saying we want to protect when we are debating other subjects .
( FR ) Madam President , as a result of the austerity policy conducted by the Cameron government , the United Kingdom has just decided to stop funding the large tugboats designed to assist and rescue ships in the English Channel , a unilateral decision that has been condemned by the port , maritime , trading and political bodies of that area .
the Treaties do not give you the power to come up with tax proposals .
I fully support the part of the resolution which addresses the need for human rights in North Caucasus to be observed .
I think that two very important things are needed , as my fellow Members have also mentioned before me , or we could do this simply to support mutual trust and transparency .
( RO ) Mr President , dear colleagues , the measure of simplifying the common milk market is , also from the Member States ' perspective , a great initiative that brings the European Union closer to the farmers ' real needs .
the EU must stress at the G20 meeting in November the importance of having a supervisory and regulatory system whose actions will include making it compulsory to register financial transactions and instruments .
contrary to the advice of their own legal experts , the majority of the Member States are refusing to accept the European Parliament 's right of codecision - a full year after the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon !
Mrs Mikko 's original proposal - which , among other things , covered the possibility of registration , a right to reply and facilities to prosecute authors of blogs - was far removed from the conception I have of freedom of expression and opinion-forming .
instead , however , the report essentially focuses on punishment , namely by suggesting infringement proceedings and the suspension of interim payments to Member States .
I also very much hope that the situation regarding ratification of the Treaty will change soon and that attitudes will be significantly better by the end of the French Presidency than they are at present .
it is nevertheless important to focus attention on pointless test requirements and eliminate them , so that we can reduce the administrative burden .
the ' generation check ' is intended , firstly , to introduce a statutory impact assessment of the desired effects and the undesired side-effects in connection with the burdening of the generations .
the presidency of that Board will be held by the president of the ECB , and we will need to ensure that countries within the euro area - as well as those outside it , such as the Central and Eastern European states - receive equal voting rights in the new organisation .
I have written to all the Heads of Government on this .
these crimes are spreading throughout the country on an alarming scale , despite President Kabila 's announcement of a so-called zero tolerance policy .
with regard to the report by Mrs Ţicău , I am in full agreement with a strict approach towards people who are starting out in the business .
I therefore firmly believe that together we democrats must stand up for genuine transparency and in particular we must stand together in the fight against the extreme right .
there are other possibilities , but I think we should try to find the right balance because , if it is only a question of prolonging the pain , then we gain absolutely nothing .
consequently , one has to emphasise right now the importance of a common agricultural and cohesion policy for the next seven-year budget beginning in 2014 .
these industries are in real danger because their production levels have been steadily declining for a number of years .
first of all , the establishment of national contact points is extremely important for obtaining information - that is , obtaining information by patients .
it is essential to bear in mind that the fisheries sector is extremely important to the Mauritanian economy , and that this is one of the poorest countries in Africa , which is financially dependent on foreign aid and subject to severe political instability .
ladies and gentlemen , the report duly notes that steadily decreasing populations in the European Union and the continuing tendency of low birth rates are creating numerous challenges for Europe 's economy and society .
based on this information , I believe this is a positive agreement for my country and I vote in favour .
thank you .
I want just to assure you , Mr President-in-Office , and assure France , that we found the solution for Denmark and we will find a solution for the Irish people .
people have objected to the definition of marriage , the definition of life and so forth but , as I have said , if there are flaws , they can be addressed in a referendum .
on behalf of the Italian delegation of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament , I call on the Bureau of this House to be more vigilant with regard to the topics debated and the speeches that are made .
I would like to send out , today , before this House , an optimistic and purposeful message , which somewhat contradicts what we read in today 's press .
in the mean time , I thank Parliament for its support for our approach as expressed through this report .
under the impetus of a handful of national delegations particularly concerned about the protection of fundamental rights , the Council itself added a number of safeguards to the text of the framework decision .
I met with the families of those who have been imprisoned and I know that he left us with no other option than to adopt strong sanctions in response , targeting those in the regime responsible for the crack-down , including President Lukashenko himself .
removing these women from assistance aimed at helping these most vulnerable people is as illogical as it is inhuman .
in our view , that also implied a strict disclosure obligation for the authorities and provisions on public freedom of information .
this is why I welcome regulations that indicate the place of immigrants in our labour market situation .
the mission launched in Afghanistan must be brought to a conclusion .
as you know , Commissioner , we have been having this discussion about the assessment of external costs since the 1920s , and we Members also proposed various models when we were adopting the Eurovignette Directive .
for the rest , and in this regard , we should be pleased that Europe - the European Union in general and the Eurogroup in particular - which is today faced with one of the most serious crises that it has had to tackle over the past few decades , has competently managed the crisis in which we currently find ourselves , not least by avoiding making the mistakes that were made in Europe during the 1970s .
I wonder whether I might ask Commissioner Kallas , at his next meeting with the Council of Ministers , to have a particular word with the British Minister of Education to see whether or not it is possible that he might learn some of the lessons of the successes of the European School model .
indeed , as a result of this report , from this day forth , the rights of bus and coach passengers - the only ones hitherto not specifically protected at European level - will also be guaranteed .
then those nations that have the lightest and simplest taxes will attract the most businesses .
we have more victims coming from Member States and , in addition , we have more children among the victims .
however , the system did not work properly , and before we come up with another one , I believe that we must carefully and comprehensively look at the reasons why the problem was discovered so late , and we must ask ourselves about the causes of this delay .
they wanted a free market .
I am particularly pleased that the Member States can say , as is currently the case in France , that no compensation may be demanded for credits of less than 10 000 euros , and that is why I voted in favour .
on the subject of the Union 's priority energy projects , I should emphasise the importance of the Southern Gas Corridor .
so I am afraid I cannot share Mr Sarkozy 's celebration of compromise , not when that compromise is made up of countless corporate concessions which put the profits of industry literally before the liveability of this planet .
I am very pleased to see that , with the rare exceptions who have admitted their obvious ignorance of the situation in the Balkan countries , the vast majority of this House agrees that it is time we supported the tearing down of visa walls in the Western Balkans .
in fact , the European left is interested in discussing own resources .
here we may see a real challenge : creating the basis for a new , long-term technological era in the energy sector .
whether we need a fourth package or not will depend on the Commission ensuring implementation and good policing of these new laws by national regulatory authorities and competition authorities .
the north-eastern part of Romania was severely affected .
I also regret that the compromise on the table is not more ambitious in increasing the level of coverage .
this is unacceptable when it concerns the protection of nature .
that is why I am so disappointed by the information I got yesterday in the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs under the leadership of Mrs Berès .
soil is the only element of the environment that we have not yet been able to regulate , so there is currently no Union instrument to halt the pollution of soil and the erosion of its quality , even though this causes many tens of millions of euros ' worth of damage for all of us .
as far as the outside world is concerned , beyond specific interventions in developing countries , about which my colleague will speak a little later , the fight against violence against women has become an important focal point in the EU 's human rights policy , and the action is reinforced by the specific guidelines adopted in December 2008 .
this approach remains crucial today as we face one of the worst economic crises in recent times and also has its part to play in this week 's summit .
I would like to thank the two rapporteurs , Ms Anastase and Ms Polfer , because I think you have brought about a very interesting debate .
I wholly subscribe to what my colleague , Renate Weber , eloquently said : I do think it a bit rich for those of the same political persuasion as the ruling Fidesz party in Hungary to accuse critics of that constitution of being politically inspired .
clearly , this is a tragic situation .
the debate is closed .
- Before the vote on Amendment 1 :
what are the main points ?
establishing European statutes for mutual societies , associations and foundations ( written declaration ) : see Minutes
as far as the business environment is concerned , some of you advocated the internal market without protectionism , that is to say that an efficient market is what gives Europe a competitive advantage .
the truth is , the supervisory authorities are national authorities .
one is the rather political issues that you quite rightly raise .
we would , of course , like to continue with this same effort .
Mr President , we are changing one word : ' all electoral material ' should be replaced by ' the electoral material ' , so ' the ' instead of ' all ' .
it is the Court that has said that the right to strike and the right of association are fundamental rights , but not as fundamental as the economic freedoms .
the treaty says that a Member State cannot be forced to take on debts .
I think that the programme Mr Dehaene has produced for the legislative period is very good .
in the Europe 2020 strategy , the priority is first and foremost investment in work .
the proposal shows the effects of the emergency gas supply situation that emerged in January 2009 , when the Commission realised that the Union 's energy infrastructure was not fit for purpose .
on the substance of the matter , it is right and proper to protect the freedom and pluralism of information as a core value of all European Union countries , but freedom of the media must not contradict public morals and , above all , must not invade anyone 's privacy .
we have called a halt to the way , unlike the Americans , we have been locating the institute out on its own and pumping a lot of finance into it .
it continues by advocating the successful conclusion of the Doha Round .
this gentlemen 's agreement has never applied to the operational part ; indeed , at the time the agreement was made , there was no operational part .
the joint debate is closed .
of course , security is not just some technical process .
we export USD 30 billion to Korea , only USD 20 billion come back in the form of cars exported from Korea to Europe , and USD 1.5 billion will be the indirect aid that accrues to Korean cars in Europe , without mentioning the textile and other sectors .
I would like to give Mr Andor a clear message .
for instance , we already know that most of the costs go back to a very small number of rules .
from the Congo-EU VPA concluded on 9 May 2009 , I would stress the fulfilment of the criteria derived from VPA definitions , including those applying to the negotiation process , which culminated in an innovative agreement , the aim of which is to combat effectively the bad governance practices from which illegal trade in timber , and corruption , stem , and to establish an effective , transparent system for monitoring the legality of timber and derived products .
it is a region of fantastic natural beauty and a wealth of natural resources , on the one hand , and appalling suffering , on the other : natural disasters , war , expulsion , famine , disease , massacres , mass rape and ethnic conflicts - worse than almost anywhere else .
while this information can be gleaned from environmental accounts , it is essential for this purpose to ensure the cooperation of all Member States and full data harmonisation at EU level .
the need for an integrated and more coherent approach to the transport network should therefore be underlined .
the best idea in that situation is to have a siesta and not to disturb a debate where respect for the speaker should prevail at all times .
its mandate , it declares , is to save and preserve life , to find sanctuary for the displaced and to help the world ensure preparedness for natural disasters .
why is there this scandal in Bulgaria ?
in a similar way with regard to the recruitment of Moroccan seamen , we have raised this issue with the Moroccan authorities - with the Minister himself - and there has been a widening of the list of persons that are included and from which the European Community vessel owners can choose .
there are currently 13.6 million citizens in EU Member States employed directly in the agricultural , forestry and fisheries sectors , with an additional 5 million people working in the agri-food industry .
only the first six weeks are paid at 60 % , while 33 are at only a token rate and there are 13 weeks unpaid .
the Arctic is also ' cool ' because of the lucrative possibilities emerging on the horizon , even though they bring with them very complex and difficult problems .
I believe that the draft from May 2010 contains some important changes , particularly in the areas of standards and the exchange of information , as already discussed .
we must create the conditions for them to be creative in the area of culture and awaken an interest in art , science and new technologies .
as a result , commitment to the correction of inequalities at source , by reinforcing development cooperation , is the first point .
if we consider just these few points , we realise that we could achieve a great deal if only the European Commission gave us its backing .
there continues to be an alarming lack of knowledge both of the risks of cancer and of the opportunity for cancer screenings , and only through continuous education of these facts will this initiative enjoy the success that it and European citizens badly need .
we support President Obama 's commitment to multilateral engagement with the European Union .
we have identified the areas where we need this : at national level .
bearing in mind the importance of protecting personal data , I would like to welcome the cooperation between the European Data Protection Supervisor and the European Ombudsman .
nevertheless , I will gladly begin my speech now .
given the erratic behaviour of the clock , I shall not go back over some of the provisions that were achieved in accordance with Parliament 's wishes .
every time I ask Mrs Ferrero-Waldner or anybody else in the Commission , they close their eyes , they close their mouths and their ears and give no proper answer .
after all , the wolf may actually appear one day .
I invite the European Commission and the European Central Bank to review once more the Economic and Monetary Union 's principles , government , and the Maastricht criteria , asking whether they are being implemented in the current global economic and financial situation and what the future holds for the Economic and Monetary Union and candidates to the Euro Zone .
improvements can be made in relation to insurance and in the structural adaptation measures relating to disabled entrances , and the requirement for a law on class actions could be eliminated , but we foresee serious problems for the Member States if , for example , we were forced to include the concept ' belief ' in the prohibited grounds for discrimination .
but with respect to the ESA we need to look at good-governance issues in particular .
I would like to thank very warmly the small but select band of colleagues who have contributed to the debate .
with some further improvements , I am confident that these enhancements to the IASCF 's governance will improve the quality of accounting standards and ensure that they meet the needs of all stakeholders - including the European Union , which to this date remains the largest user of IFRS .
this not only includes the fight against terrorism and crime ; it also includes addressing the very important priority of a common approach to migration .
I agree with you that normally , it is quite often the case that it is the implementation that is lacking , and there is not always necessarily a need for new regulation .
Commissioner , we are delighted that you were so resoundingly endorsed as a Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection DG .
those who are reluctant to acknowledge the situation perhaps have unfinished business with the minorities in their own country .
unfortunately , we need to be prepared to face even more natural disasters .
the Lisbon Treaty is the Treaty for the Europe of the 21st century , with strong institutions which are able to deliver concrete results in the Europe of 27 and more members in the future .
we are in a time of crisis , and I think this is exactly the time when we need a strong institution , and it is a great opportunity to raise the importance of Jean Monnet as one of the founding fathers of European integration .
the global financial crisis has swept through Europe , and the accompanying economic shakeup once again severely affects the most vulnerable social groups , and in particular the Roma .
how can we divide up the portfolios so as to take account of the lessons learnt from this crisis ?
that would spark innovation and bring it to the fore , whilst also providing clarity to consumers about the future strategy of the motor industry in Europe .
but Hungary is also entitled to have a constitution and certainly this is far better than the old constitution of 1949 brought in by the Communists .
with this motion for a resolution , we call upon the Russian Government to do its utmost to ensure that the road to democratic reforms taken by Russia , and its consequent cooperation with the EU , are not put in jeopardy by the human rights violations still occurring in that country .
in fact , I believe that a Treaty cannot simply be ratified by the national parliaments , but it needs a referendum .
in writing . - ( PT ) I obviously supported the creation in February 2007 of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights as I believe that this Agency could significantly help to increase the coherence and cohesion of EU policy on fundamental rights .
however , differing economic potential has led to a situation where , for some Member States , the link to the common currency complicates the options for using standard procedures for handling insolvency .
there is a problem in relation to the differences of approval methods between the European Union and the US and we need to look at that .
the next item is the debate on the presentation by the Council of the draft general budget for 2009 .
no database has been set up .
you are going to have Baroness Ashton , the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy , who was an out-and-out pacifist in her youth when it came to the true Soviet threat , but who we have no doubt will be extremely combative towards Iran .
therefore , show a new culture of subsidiarity !
during the hearing process I have therefore asked the candidates to commit to the highest standards of transparency and open government .
Commissioner , I look forward to seeing you tomorrow at Patients ' Rights Day , because this is extremely important for all patients ' groups , and your commitment matters to all of us .
there are no other options available to us at the moment .
the UN Council of Human Rights is hereby rightly going against its own official objectives , the protection of the right to free expression of opinion and thus also the protection of human rights itself .
we are lacking that vision .
it is supposed to be an opportunity to debate the progress made in the application of asylum and immigration policies , and the consequences of the Arab revolutions , at Europe 's borders .
we must reverse the trend towards radical restructuring , prevent job losses and stave off further pressure to cut salaries and social security payments .
( before the vote )
( RO ) I would first of all like to congratulate Mrs Stavreva for the quality of the report which she presented to us today .
simply lost .
this is the night of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats . four members of the PPE-DE Group speaking in the debate on the Botopoulos report !
at a time when governments across the EU seek to cut public expenditure , you seek to increase employment costs , which will hit a sector where women are disproportionately represented and therefore more exposed to the possibility of job cuts .
the cradle of global wine production is here in Europe .
I do not look on this as a race .
I was very surprised by this judgment and I would very much like to know the Commissioner 's point of view on this matter , in the context of the lasting impact of the fundamental rights guaranteed in the Charter on current and future EU legislation .
I voted once more against the SWIFT agreement on the processing of European banking data and its transfer to the United States under the pretext of the fight against terrorism , as I believe the United States ' claim to be unacceptable and to be a threat to the freedoms and rights of European citizens .
even small contributions from biofuels result in less dependence on fossil fuels and a change in prices .
Madam President , I must say that 15 Member States have notified the Commission of their instruments transposing the Data Retention Directive , and the Commission has initiated infringement proceedings against all Member States who had not notified it of these measures by the end of November 2007 .
most of the sometimes wistful memories of the old currencies , whether the mark , the guilder , the schilling or the franc , have given way to the conviction that the introduction of the euro brought advantages not only for the economy as a whole , but also for individual citizens .
this used to be perfectly OK when we had massive surpluses - milk lakes , butter mountains and beef mountains - and were required to distribute this food to the poor , using the CAP budget to finance that distribution .
the stocks , particularly the eastern stock in the Mediterranean , remains critically low and there is a very real risk that we will soon witness the extinction of this endangered species .
the Council has received its share of criticism for not addressing this issue .
I expect a rise in the quality of life and numerous good and inspiring ideas .
we shall therefore have to ensure that a general change of political direction takes place , a change of direction that will actually put the European social model back where you want it , Mr Bertrand , so that every economic advance achieved by the European Union will also have a beneficial impact on the lives of all citizens of the European Union .
the failure to award the Sakharov Prize to the North African opponents during the years of the regimes that are today in trouble attests to the blind ideological nature of the anti-communist Eurocrats .
if the Conservative Party had ever thought to patent lies , deceit and hypocrisy , they would have made a fortune in royalties and would perhaps be in a position to pay off the national debt !
if we do not want our rural areas to continue to decline and the numbers of farmers to continue to reduce , posing a serious threat to the self-sufficiency of the EU Member States , then it is high time we stopped paying agricultural subsidies to the big agricultural concerns and instead gave the money to those who really need it in order to survive - in other words , to small farmers .
it is certain that simplifying technical provisions and an enlargement of purely administrative provisions will have a beneficial effect on the growth of competitiveness of the EU feedstuffs sector and on food safety , which Mr Parish has just spoken about .
I believe it is absolutely vital that everyone understands this because this draft Common Frame of Reference ( CFR ) that was presented to you at the end of last year must be considered in relation to all the work done on this issue , and not just the draft presented to you .
which means , as I have already quoted from Saint-Exupéry , that the Little Prince tamed the fox .
in this way , an authoritarian federalism is established .
our respect should go to those who did not give in and conducted themselves with honour .
in the face of figures like these , it is urgent that we act to combat this violence against women in the European Union .
if we really want to successfully carry off the objectives of the 2020 agenda , we first need to attend to the job in hand .
of course , none of this would have been possible without the work of the rapporteurs .
it is time we finally stated clearly that Croatia can and should join the EU within the current decade .
colleagues , I urge you to look seriously at what is proposed and think how this will affect your constituents and their right to a fair trial .
today , it is the Union for the Mediterranean that is stagnating , and the political disputes that have gone unmentioned have come back to haunt it .
so that was the proposal in favour .
6 .
the situation has been the same this year too , when we have huge commitments regarding food aid , Kosovo , Afghanistan , Palestine , which have been mentioned frequently in this House , as well as Georgia , where the question is not just of the country 's orientation , but also of the security of alternative energy supplies , has been raised .
the Member States are conspicuous by their absence today even though , as I would remind you , Mr President , we placed this item on this afternoon 's agenda especially to accommodate the Council 's scheduling problems .
in April I am to present the first assessment of how the code is being implemented , a year after its adoption , with analyses and proposals for increasing aid and making it more consistent .
firstly , we Europeans are technologically advanced people .
in writing . - Social developments in the Balkans in terms of gender equality have unfortunately been notorious for the lack of improvement in this field .
I welcome this fact as proof of the modernisation and democratisation of politics in 21st century Europe .
it was a strategy that was too much for Africa , but without involving Africa , and Parliament and civil society were not sufficiently involved in the development of this strategy .
( applause )
political groups like yours have stirred up feelings against the European Union , have said very little about the importance of the currency and the opportunity , the political will ...
I have not joined the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) ; I am still with the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left .
it is difficult not to be suspicious that the Commission felt it was going to be too difficult to negotiate modern sustainability , development clauses and labour clauses with the Gulf States .
after ten years , it is high time that we looked at the aspects that have not worked .
this directive is already being prepared and is in response to the possibility established by the treaty for governments to take this initiative , and which , in our view , has a correct , adequate legal basis , because it concerns judicial cooperation on criminal matters .
we are not in the business of prohibition - that does not work - but we need what is proposed in this report , and much more .
we also spoke with Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia and others .
I think you will like the document we adopted today .
in addition , the European Union also cooperates closely with UN agencies , as well as Israeli and Palestinian NGOs , actively involved in monitoring , reporting and advocating the rights of the child .
( FR ) Mr President , I myself was not a friend of either Mr Ben Ali or Mr Mubarak .
we had so much information at the end - conflicting and otherwise - that I , and I think many others , would have welcomed the possibility of a third reading , or of conciliation , to make sure that we have protected all interests .
we will need to invest in quality education and basic research in the future but , as we all know , innovation is Europe 's Achilles heel .
at the same time , special attention must be focused on the humanitarian situation of these immigrants .
data must not be used for a purpose other than that for which it was collected .
the Commissioner will be aware that the Shadow Home Secretary in Britain , former Minister of European Affairs , David Davis , resigned his position in Parliament last week on a principle in relation to the intrusion of the state into the privacy of the individual .
in order to prevent another blockade of gas supplies to the EU and ward off the temptation of using monopolistic exporters , our primary requirement is greater diversity in terms of energy sources and transit networks .
the results are there : the common fisheries policy has been a failure when it comes to conserving fishing stocks .
in the EU today we continue to see inadequate outlay on scientific research and academic education .
regarding the specific provisions of the agreement to be voted on tomorrow , and most particularly the new safety features to be implemented , I would like to ask the Commission to clearly monitor the impact of this directive .
I simply pointed out - and you have noted my group 's position , so I have in no way taken sides here - that Members must rise and remain standing because if they stand for a split second and then sit down again it is impossible for us to do a count .
it is therefore important for us to ensure that it is signed as soon as possible .
it was a long and very controversial debate and the question at issue was essentially to decide whether extending the Ombudsman 's powers was a rational step .
we currently have a community of values and principles , reflected in a complex system of human rights protection , which includes the Charter of Fundamental Rights , the most progressive regional code of human rights .
I glanced up at the public gallery for an instant as I have the good fortune that a visiting group from Hungary also happens to be present right now .
it also embodies such European values as solidarity , civic participation and non-discrimination in sectors as varied as education , culture , the environment , social welfare or health .
I would like to thank the Secretary-General of the European Parliament and all of the representatives of the Directorates-General of the European Parliament ; we have been working together since January looking for the best solutions to help us make effective use of the financial resources of Europe 's citizens .
having announced 575 job losses at Gandrange in Moselle on 4 April 2008 , Arcelor-Mittal is agreeing to keep 124 jobs on the site provided that it can have CO2 emissions certificates .
in addition , almost EUR 3 billion - 2.77 to be precise - from that allocation goes to supporting self-employment and business start-ups , and the beneficiaries are very often women .
I would like to draw attention to a problem that very many women are dealing with every day and in relation to which very few of them receive a favourable sentence , namely sexual harassment .
nevertheless , the most important thing is to create conditions for patient mobility , to provide the opportunity to be a European Union citizen , i.e. the most important thing is to also be able to obtain services easily while moving freely throughout the European Union .
let us look at our energy policy and let us attune it more to countries like Belarus and Ukraine .
the text that Parliament is about to adopt is , therefore , an important addition to the third maritime safety package signed by the presidents of both Parliament and the Council at the end of your last plenary session .
in the light of the existing agreement , I also think it is right that the relevant evaluation of the functioning of the existing interinstitutional agreement - I would say technically as well as from a budgetary policy point of view - should properly be integrated into this process of the overall package to implement the Treaty of Lisbon .
we wanted to save the process .
I ask you to clearly define what this State aid is going to be and what the criteria are going to be for granting it , and that we monitor and control the consequences that this crisis could have for airline workers .
we are also waiting for them to present the measures they will be taking to correct the continuing macroeconomic imbalances and to improve competitiveness and growth for jobs .
as the world confronts the issue of global warming impacting on the melting of the two caps and causing rising sea levels , and as frozen Arctic maritime passages re-open to navigation , it is important that an analogous arrangement be found for the frozen - or should I say thawing - North of the Arctic .
as if we didn 't know that there are 3-4 million Roma living in difficult circumstances in Romania ; as if we didn 't know that there are 12 million Roma living in Europe .
European responsibility means paring back national expenditure in order to pool resources at European level .
I have heard many of you speaking about schooling .
based on the opinion of the Consultative Working Party of the legal services of the European Parliament , the Council and the Commission , this proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to units of measurement concludes that the proposal in question is restricted to the straightforward codification of the existing texts without any change in their substance .
I would say that that is largely unjustified if we look at the major issues and not at the other matters on which Mr Leinen and I are divided .
the rules therefore provide that any measures taken regarding access to , or use of , services and applications must respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of natural persons , including the right to privacy , freedom of expression and access to information and education as well as due process .
Kathalijne Buitenweg cannot be here , but I will represent her views .
where do we want to be in 10 or 20 years ' time ?
only binding international rules can guarantee that there will be no repetition of the casino economy we have witnessed in recent years .
allow me to explain in greater detail the conclusions of the Ecofin Council .
this is fine if it is a one-off .
I will give you five reasons : more innovation , greater competitiveness for Europe , the environment , obviously , because this could have saved us raw materials , and it would have been cheaper for the consumer , too .
let us have a new European treaty and let us put it to a referendum in lots of countries , particularly in Britain , and the British people will conclude that this is a very bad deal for Britain .
the investigation concerns a substantial amount of operating aid to the Szczecin , Gdynia and Gdańsk shipyards .
from it we learn that in order to guarantee the success of this agenda , we also need to strengthen economic growth in Europe .
now , if you will , let us get to the heart of the matter .
assistance provided to a euro-area Member State should be based on a rigorous programme of economic and fiscal assessment and a thorough analysis of debt sustainability conducted by the Commission together with the IMF , and in liaison with the European Central Bank .
I am sorry but the questions by Ms Harkin , Mr Cashman , Mr Mirsky and Mr Crowley will not be reached tonight .
it takes time , effort and especially commitment and strong will to overcome the scars of a conflict .
( SK ) The motto of the Czech Presidency ' Europe without barriers ' should not be just a slogan , but must be a clear response to current challenges .
in the case of Central America , as a region , the country where the issue is most critical is Guatemala .
historic decisions have been taken to fight against climate change and to strengthen our energy security .
another cause for concern is the cavalier manner in which some transport operations are carried out .
accordingly , we should focus attention on the case of human rights defender Yevgeny Zhovtis .
he was thus directly opposed to the Bundesbank . it turned out that the policy of the Bundesbank to combat inflation immediately and decisively was the right one .
that is why we have voted against .
it is the European Union 's duty not to restrict itself to promoting these values only within its own territory .
since the activities of the Fund are important for the citizens of the Union , and will continue to be important in the future , as the Commission has underlined , we consider that its continued financial support is necessary for 2007 and for 2009 .
this is , as the honourable Member said , a very big problem and it causes enormous suffering and has economic costs as well .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , we are part of an industrial system , at European level , in which the good reputation of goods greatly depends on the integrity of the production system .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , it is difficult .
women are greatly disadvantaged in top-class sport , and it is high time that we made sure that fair play applies to everyone in this regard , too .
the developments in America have demonstrated that the market itself is not capable of dealing with these and similar crises .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , although they have a growing importance in the European economic landscape , small and medium-sized enterprises still do not have sufficient incentives at their disposal .
the vote will take place on 11 October .
the Commissioner mentioned , quite rightly , sustainable development .
it is important for the European Parliament to make its full pressure felt on the Commission and on Member States - Member States that do not conform should be penalised - and for the European institutions responsible for controlling corruption and the fight against organised crime to be strengthened .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , as has already been said , Kenya has been an important example of democracy and stability in the region since 2002 .
we must develop it further , but it is not an end in itself .
it can be seen , then , that the common agricultural policy needs to increase food security by increasing efficiency , while at the same time promoting an environmentally sustainable food policy .
over the last few years a series of highly significant political acts , such as Georgia 's accession to the Council of Europe and to the European Convention on Human Rights , have brought it closer than ever before to the European Union .
in my opinion , if we are to exit the crisis then we need greater economic integration within Europe , not additional sanctions or restrictions .
indeed this latest stage of the financial crisis is proving increasingly systemic in nature , which calls for an equally systemic response from the European Union .
they are disappointed with the lack of support offered by the United States during the recent heavy economic crisis .
therefore , given the confusion that had arisen from this Communication , Parliament needed to ensure that this point would be clarified and that we would be kept informed .
my Group attaches great importance to encouraging the European Parliament to give far more priority to this policy in future than we have done in the past .
particular thanks to the rapporteur for this .
these reforms are good in their own right , but , those of us who say in this Parliament we want accession : we have to make their pain worthwhile by ourselves doing what we say , opening and closing chapters on merit , delivering the promises of the Council , ourselves acting in good faith .
let me just mention one of many examples : the follow-up to the Copenhagen conference on climate change .
in writing . - ( LT ) We must strive to make Community law simpler and clearer so that it becomes more comprehensible and accessible to all citizens , who would then acquire new opportunities and would be able to take advantage of particular rights which they have been granted .
a great Greek philosopher , Plato , said that only the dead will see an end to war .
I would like to stress that I could not vote in favour of the final text of the resolution because of its ideological and radical attitude to the question of abortion , an attitude which conflicts with Christian values .
, in writing . - ( RO ) One of the fundamental principles of the European Union is the free movement of people .
( the President cut off the speaker )
7 .
however , pensions remain a national responsibility and the purpose of the subsidiarity principle is to establish the limits of European intervention .
finally , I would like to say that the confirmation of the Union 's participation in EXPO Zaragoza 2008 - Water and Sustainable Development - is the right decision and is a good opportunity to bring European policies closer to the citizens of Europe , which we need to do .
because it is precisely those states with no true media pluralism which most want tighter control over the Internet .
( HU ) Mr President , first , I would like to express my deep sympathy , second , my respect for the Japanese people and the Japanese nation , and third , my greatest admiration for and appreciation of the Japanese heroes who are working at this moment in the power station .
yes , ladies and gentlemen , we must not go backwards , but neither must we allow the huge vacuum in fruit and vegetable policy that means that , today , distributors are the only ones calling the shots .
otherwise , the split vote would not make sense .
I am concerned that , because of the dominant position of certain airports , passengers will pay excessively high security charges with no direct impact on the level , speed or quality of security measures at check-in .
the main task of the agricultural policies has therefore always been , and still is , to eliminate this instability .
today , we are debating the first post-Lisbon energy strategy , which the Commission has prepared for the years 2011-2020 .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , unfortunately , everyone is now well aware of the situation that Campania and particularly the city of Naples have been living through for years , and the European Union has had to deal with this issue many times .
so , to conclude , and in the interests of efficiency , pluralism , coherence , fairness and liberalism , please support the committee 's position and reject the amendments .
( LT ) Madam President , safeguarding nuclear safety is an issue relevant for all countries , whether they have nuclear power plants or not .
however , Commissioner , the problem is that we are dealing with a major problem , which I regret very much was not even mentioned in your speech .
illegal immigration must be combated above all by seeking agreements with the countries of origin , which cannot stand by and watch the unfolding of a tragedy that is no longer just national but also European , and by sending out a strong signal to those preparing to enter Europe illegally .
employers are dragging their heels as regards opening a dialogue .
they think in terms of strategic balance .
of course , this is another of the baleful consequences of the Lisbon Treaty .
( applause )
it is time we combated illicit financial flow from developing countries and reformed European Investment Bank ( EIB ) policy in the direction of greater transparency with regard to tax havens .
computers have been confiscated with a complete disregard for legal guidelines and without any expert record made of the data currently stored , allowing the authorities to falsify evidence and settle scores again with political opponents .
( DE ) The last few months have demonstrated another advantage of the euro .
when our committee had the opportunity of talking with Mr de Vries , it was admitted to us that the function was completely devoid of content or tools .
we should estimate these costs and use them as an argument to finally , after years of debate , place restrictions on animal transports and alleviate the suffering of animals .
we have to try to create a situation where , at the end of this year , we have some report , some specific data , on the situation in individual Member States , what is missing , how can we make comparisons , because we have never made this type of comparison on the European level , not properly .
for ten years there has been a debate about whether this Code of Conduct is legally binding .
the military have a phrase ' no names , no pack-drill ' ; however , a member of the PPE Group voted against this report in committee .
combating tax fraud falls largely within the competence of Member States , but they should not act individually .
I want to be perfectly clear on this : the Council believes that it is absolutely transparent in the way in which it implements its budget and therefore that it correctly applies the requirements that have been made , as demanded by the Financial Regulation .
I will speak in English .
it also demonstrated that the numerous subsidiary budgets which have come into existence make it more difficult to control the situation and also result in the Commission losing its overview .
the Parliament , like the European Council up to now , refused to take the hard decisions .
cooperation with third countries is obviously very important , and is paramount for us as well , and I know that developing pilot projects with third countries is on the Commission 's programme .
I myself like to debate everything with people with different views , different attitudes and different assessments .
taking inspiration from Nordic cooperation , the Balkan countries could establish a cooperation forum along the lines of the Nordic Council or the Baltic Council .
compounded by the social situation , this has resulted in the recent unrest , and I hope we are now strong enough to ensure , together with President Saakashvili , that a dialogue is initiated and that transparent and free elections are conducted with genuine freedom of expression , resulting in truly democratic choices .
fourthly , I would like to thank the Belgian Presidency for its very hard work during the trialogue negotiations ; finally , my thanks go to Jos Vervloet and Isobel Findlay from the ENVI secretariat , who have provided some incredible support throughout the process .
in many areas milk production is , as you know , the only agricultural option , therefore this system has helped ...
'Several hundred cases ' remain to be investigated and prosecuted ; the fact that the Croatian judiciary is ignoring these cases ensures the continuing distrust of the Serbs .
otherwise we have to vote on the corresponding part of Amendment 60 .
it is a proactive response by Parliament and not a reaction to recent events - which unfortunately have just served to confirm its relevance .
the Commission should show its result in an annual report to Parliament with particular attention to the ODA eligibility of all projects .
we want to ensure that compensation is awarded , but only to those who actually sustained losses .
we are also pleased that the Dalai Lama remains committed to the middle-way approach and to dialogue as the only means for achieving a mutually acceptable and lasting solution .
yet what is remarkable today is the great disparities between the Member States with regard to the implementation of our waste requirements .
this uncertainty creates risks and we must not create additional space for these risks .
work on human rights often takes place under very difficult conditions .
the final version of the draft agenda for this sitting , as drawn up by the Conference of Presidents at its meeting of Thursday , 30 April 2009 , pursuant to Rule 132 of the Rules of Procedure , has been distributed .
everyone shares the view that the rules are good .
I would like to say to you that the logic of this new procedure dictates that we go beyond technical budgetary matters and discuss real budgetary policy .
finally , I am aware of the concerns expressed by many of you , and can promise you that , well before the end of the five-year period , I would be ready to make full use of the Commission 's powers to request the Agency to go beyond the scope of Article 2 , namely in the field of justice and security cooperation .
let us hope it will be resolved by political means , although that is not at all certain .
I am particularly proud of the Scots , for their voluntary system of real-time closures .
I think the European Parliament has shown latterly that it does that .
every accident is one too many .
we shall all have to bear in mind that the spread of music piracy has the greatest impact on small countries where the music industry is mainly of a local and regional nature .
a dual approach of politics and consumer economy is needed .
bearing in mind its objectives and actions , the specific programme ' Drugs prevention and information ' developed at EU level may help to increase knowledge , improve the exchange of information and prevent drug use by supporting and complementing the measures taken by each Member State .
it cannot engage , as has already happened in this Chamber , in crude , theatrical performances in the argument over what the Italian Government or other governments are doing .
( the oral amendment was accepted )
we can therefore say that this is an important resource for Greenland , in addition to what Europe offers in terms of financial support in exchange for maintaining their fishing rights in Greenland 's waters .
situation in China after the earthquake and before the Olympic Games ( debate )
Georgia , led by Saakashvili , is a committed partner to the EU , and despite numerous problems it is showing significant progress in the areas of reform and economic growth .
hopefully , the Commission will now come forward with a proposal to revise the directive on residence permits for victims of trafficking so that we get a truly holistic approach to tackling this hideous crime , as envisaged from the beginning .
these costs will still admit of some exceptions , provided that the Member State requesting them has a good reason for doing so .
even then , it applied only to the administrative part .
the money which can now be released to benefit the population of Europe through tariff reductions , removal of export restitutions and reduced national support must not be frittered away in more appropriations for sales promotion measures and information campaigns .
you are very popular here .
criteria of transparency , information exchange and fair tax competition are fundamental .
such a requirement could lead to a situation in which some Member States are left without anyone to represent their interests in negotiations .
I feel that the general level of budget line implementation in this area , which is 94.6 % , is satisfactory overall .
I should like , first of all , to highlight the fact that , in recent days and weeks , the country which I come from , Greece , has been under attack from a specific credit rating agency , a consultancy firm , as regards its creditworthiness .
we believe that this area is nothing to do with the European Parliament and have therefore voted against it .
research shows that two-thirds of European fish stocks are under threat , including very well-known species such as sole , plaice and cod .
UKIP opposes the way CAP has historically been used in corrupt ways ( e.g. phantom vineyards ) or the way it is used to top-up the income of certain politicians in EU countries who own ' farms ' .
the UN report at long last publicly acknowledges the crimes that were committed against the Tamil people .
the current situation is that 60 % of graduates are women and only 40 % are men .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , the idea of a one-stop shop is to be welcomed , but it is a paradigm shift for some European countries - including my own , Austria , where residence permits are issued by the authorities dealing with third-party rights and work permits by the authorities responsible for the labour market , the Austrian Employment Service , with the involvement of the social partners .
it is time that we put some of the people who are attacking Europe on the defensive .
this is the first annual report presented to you since the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon .
in this instance , I consider the proposal to set up a European observatory on pirated products to be a good idea , so that we can achieve better coordination between the competent authorities , Member States and Commission services and also conditions of effective cooperation with the private sector .
we will continue to play our role in peacekeeping , once we have a United Nations mandate , and if the European Union steps into the breach , we are quite prepared for , and have in the past been involved in , that peacekeeping role .
if you talk to people in the field , however , it seems that not enough people or resources are being deployed in order to protect children 's rights in armed conflicts .
unemployment is the Commission 's main concern .
the own-initiative report did not just deal with the issue of a financial transaction tax , but also with the smooth functioning of competition policy in the EU and the introduction of a carbon tax following the VAT model , to be charged on every product in the internal market .
the army derives most of its strength from the support of the West .
Madam President , Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner opened her remarks a few minutes ago by stating how serious this situation is , a view also expressed by Mr Lenarčič on behalf of the Council .
nonetheless , in my report I have criticised several points .
during this preliminary phase , moreover , the Commission should concentrate on removing the barriers hindering European small and medium-sized enterprises .
this is the wrong way round .
fourthly , the call for greater transparency when awarding resources should also be noted .
they account for almost 99 % of all enterprises in the EU .
I will just make three remarks .
I am pleased that you have launched a number of actions and also that you are going to present your report .
sometimes we need to consider what happens when we say to the markets , ' We need to change the Treaties , it must all be done by this date ' , and then hope that it will be done .
on each litre of milk , some small farmers are losing up to 30 cents .
the question is : what is the Commission going to do to ensure that this initiative is more than a mere flash in the pan ?
we must find a joint solution , since youth must be considered a precious and essential resource that must be mobilised in the pursuit of social and economic objectives , particularly in an ageing society .
I sincerely hope that , following on from this excellent report , we see significant and coordinated action at Community level to support the invaluable work that is being done by and for microenterprise at local and national level around the European Union , as it is a very important part of our economy today and a very important part of our economy into the future .
Mr President , I am glad the Commission 's 2020 Energy Strategy refers to the ongoing review concerning the impact of indirect land use change .
I have encouraged Parliament to convene an interinstitutional exchange of views on better regulation in the near future at the highest political level , be it in the context of the high-level technical group for interinstitutional cooperation , the Conference of Presidents or the Conference of Committee Chairs .
Mr Lechner 's report certainly reflects a tremendous amount of work , on which I congratulate him , but I think that the task now , in the final stage of the process , is to strike a compromise that will enable us to demonstrate the importance that we as parliamentarians ascribe to the consumer .
( applause )
the first thing we need to do as far as I can see is to establish a dialogue .
we should take a more differentiated approach to the factor of debt leverage .
another related problem is the transfer of factories to countries outside the European Union , where the workforce is cheaper .
I voted for this report which sets out such a coordinated approach .
clear and secure methods of conducting transactions over the Internet are required .
moreover , the topic was not even included on the agenda of the plenary at the beginning of last week .
the compromise also strikes a balance between protecting patients ' health and the costs which the new regulations will incur for pharmaceutical manufacturers .
finally , there will be another Transport Ministers ' Council as soon as possible to discuss all of these issues .
I would argue that a two-pillar common agricultural policy ( CAP ) should be retained , with each pillar 's structure and objectives being clearly defined and designed in a way that allows each to complement the other .
the fact that a TAC is set does not mean that the stock is in good shape because most of our fisheries are regarded as being fished above sustainable levels , and you set TACs which would be on a diminishing scale .
the S & D Group will support this Commission .
that would be very important to us .
I am a member of a Swedish organisation - I actually helped to found it - which aims to increase contacts between Sweden and Azerbaijan . I therefore say this as a friend .
according to current projections , even at a low rate , an FTT would generate almost EUR 200 billion per year at European Union level and USD 650 billion at global level .
the EAS should be based on the Community method with the clear involvement of the Commission and the European Parliament .
it has a highly negative impact on human beings , particularly on civilians .
on a recent visit to the country as a member of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee , I noticed enormous progress within civil society .
those who seek financial gain from the Brussels juggernaut by making false claims are sometimes seen as latter-day Robin Hoods rather than as criminals .
under paragraph 22 , it calls for getting rid of fixed-cost systems by which people buy their energy , be it electricity or gas .
for example , we have succeeded in providing EUR 1 billion more for food aid ; that is , for the poorest of the poor , and hopefully for sustainable agricultural policy in the poorest countries .
on the contrary , it is agreed that these are existing formalities which will be retained and we obviously reject the introduction of new formalities .
agricultural land accounts for 45 % of the EU total and is a valuable habitat containing a wealth of biodiversity .
the Energy Charter is a multilateral instrument .
the new Member States are able to support the West in North Africa in a unique way because the West does not have the necessary credibility .
across the world , and in Europe in particular , food prices have been rising far more quickly than inflation .
( NL ) Mr President , I abstained in the final vote on this resolution , although I did do so with some reservation and a number of doubts , as this text does , without doubt , include many positive elements , things that no one can really oppose .
the rate of unemployment amongst young people : Romania ranks second at Union level , with an unemployment rate of 21 % among young people .
depending on the outcome of the final reading , this regulation has the potential to contribute to that process .
the Committee on Budgets and the Committee on Foreign Affairs urged this very strongly and managed to obtain it .
this mini court where everything and nothing is discussed is quite important but also interesting , and different from what we do .
figures like these have not been seen since the 1980s .
it should be said that , in their time , some Members of this Parliament were advocates of paedophilia in the name of universal freedom and of the right of all , no matter how young , to sexuality .
on the network implementation side , we fully agree with the view set out in the report that Member States have a crucial role in deciding , planning and financing transport infrastructure .
I would also like to thank all the shadow rapporteurs of the other groups for their very good cooperation .
I should add , by way of a reminder , that he won 90 % of votes , but that the elections were neither free nor democratic .
what is important is not , as some are asking , for the High Representative to be present wherever the European foreign policy is involved .
so why do we not include privacy protection in competition policy ?
Arbitrating between these two necessities is something governments do not know how to do .
I hope that we will be able to deliver on this plan .
in order to manage immigration it is vital to adopt an approach that is based on respect for human dignity , realism and a solid legal framework .
Parliament is now sending a clear political signal in this regard .
I will not discuss the disgraceful , short-sighted decision taken by the Bulgarian Government that has made my country a hostage in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine , as this is obvious to everyone .
you said that there is a strategic study , but has Pakistan 's industrial capacity been evaluated ?
I would add that we are in the process of establishing passengers ' rights , based on the notion of European citizenship .
after all , a solution to this problem is in all our interests .
even though the purpose of this review was to help Member States combat the economic and social crisis , it took the Council six months to reach an agreement .
this shows , to some extent , the influence of European employment policies on the labour market .
just to remind you , ENISA is the European Network and Information Security Agency , which we , together with the Council , brought into being five years ago .
we considered similar exclusions on all members but that is not really practical .
( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , thank you for this debate , which has been highly productive and constructive .
public consultations on the fifth report on cohesion policy reveal an overall desire to pull away from the Brussels-dictated policy .
I also want to express my long-held view , which is a view of the vast majority of Europeans as well , that the EU should not offer Turkey the prospect of full membership .
( PT ) Mr President , I believe that the political direction taken by this proposal , as well as its timing , are absolutely right .
and we should continue to fight on for final agreement to a treaty - a binding treaty .
it is , in fact , our duty to intensify efforts to promote transparency within the Community institutions by increasing awareness regarding the use of the Community budget and by making the European institutions and , first and foremost , the Council , more answerable to the public .
there is one point , however , on which we as Social Democrats must withhold our approval , and that is the ' Internal Market Test ' .
the next item is the report by Ivo Belet , on behalf of the Committee on Culture and Education , on public service broadcasting in the digital era : the future of the dual system .
I know that the Council in particular , but also the European Consumers ' Organisation ( BEUC ) and the Danish Consumer Council , would have preferred that to the compromise we currently have with regard to these two chapters .
we are getting new powers in environmental protection and climate change .
the Commission should find a solution that will deal effectively with the situation in the foreseeable future to assist consumers and to boost confidence in the sector .
pre-accession assistance funding has proved to be especially susceptible .
Sudan : killing of African Union peace-keeping soldiers ( vote )
mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( application EGF / 2010 / 017 DK / Midtjylland Machinery from Denmark ) (
I should like to see more commitment in this area .
all the Member States which are now in charge of the new external borders of the European Union have invested great efforts in securing these borders properly in order to protect them and ensure that the infrastructure is suitable and facilitates implementation of the Schengen standards .
I can only agree that our situation is very fragile .
I am therefore of the opinion that this report is on the right path , for what we must do is secure our Lisbon agenda and strengthen our social model .
however , it did have one particular , fundamental cause : the liberalisation of rail transport and the separation of the management of the network from that of rail transport itself .
it seems to me that such a strong warning will be understood in Moldova by the opposition as well at the moment .
in practice this will help to create a safe working environment and to protect health workers from blood-transmitted infections caused by sharp injuries .
3 .
this is not the system we should be bringing in , with a bureaucratic Europe and major corporations and multinationals that want to invade Italy and overpower our enterprises .
changes should only be made where necessary , or where such changes arise naturally from the practice applied over recent years .
this is only supportive action so the Union will not have any power to decide but only to support Member States in the promotion of the integrity of sportsmen and sportswomen .
if no progress is made in Cancún , the entire negotiating process will be in danger .
President Rajapaksa declared last week that only 100 000 Tamil refugees would be released .
against this background , it is astonishing that the Commission is proposing a EUR 5 billion recovery package while , at the same time , it has not even used up the funds budgeted for structural policy .
another measure which Mrs Lucas touched upon is to attach conditions to trade agreements and ensure that both European businesses and producers in the south have a responsibility to live up to , and that international conventions and agreements are observed .
Madam President , I have read the report by my fellow Member Mrs Oomen-Ruijten with great interest and respect , and I congratulate her .
I agree with what Mrs Vlasto just said .
paragraph 19 is about disregard by the Council and Commission of the ruling of the European Court .
I am also satisfied with and support the decision that Member States must take account of national and regional labour markets .
( LV ) Ladies and gentlemen , Mr President , I would like to draw your attention to the very dangerous economic situation in the Republic of Latvia .
together with Vice-President Verheugen and with all the College , I very much look forward to deepening our joint work as we move into the next cycle of Lisbon .
unfortunately , in parallel to the Temporary Committee on Climate Change , climate policy is being pursued in the European Parliament 's other committees as well : in the Committee on Industry , in the Committee on Environment and in the Committee on Development .
I would like to say something briefly about the criticism that too much money is being spent by Parliament on human rights and the development of democracy .
under the terms of this agreement , the Opel site in Antwerp was given the assurance that SUVs would be produced there .
I should now like to ask you and Commissioner Rehn and the rapporteurs to come to the table where I and Minister Nečas will sign the acts in your presence .
I hope many of my constituents who have been badly let down by the Labour government 's mismanagement of the NHS will be able to benefit from the ideas in this report .
Member of the Commission . - In response to the first question , from Mr Tarabella , on energy prices , I can state that with the adoption of the third internal energy market package , the importance of the citizen in the internal energy market has been elevated considerably .
I would like to explain to the parties that if we concentrate now on other topics , such as the financial crisis , the goal of Macedonia 's accession will be pushed further into the background .
this was a major piece of work , and many European Parliament committees also contributed .
it is also the case that the EU is one of the chief global players in terms of humanitarian aid , and it is important that this role be maintained in spite of the crises that we are experiencing .
I think the only instrument by which we can respond efficiently to the situation is the common agricultural policy .
it is charging farmers a global warming levy on their electricity bills , whilst those same farmers have lost thousands of tons of sugar beet and potatoes in the ground due to very cold weather .
tomorrow , though , we cannot avoid discussing Europe 's strategy towards the whole of Africa .
the debate is closed .
on the economy , you have said that barriers to the market - internal and external - must come down , and that Europe 's answer to recession must not be Keynesian spending alone , but that we must strive for fairer competition , trade liberalisation , and freer movement of people and goods across national boundaries .
Madam President , I am not an illustrious film critic , as the previous speaker is .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Mr President , Commissioners , Mr Pittella , first of all I should like to emphasise once again that the Commission proposals , Members ' aims and demands in the two reports and the effects of these reports on Europe 's citizens deserved a better time for debate and a bigger audience .
by this I do not mean the fact that 80 % are carried out by agencies , but the fact that those agencies have a distinct lack of accountability for the monies which they handle on behalf of the European Union .
today President Sarkozy said , and I quote : ' I have tried to make Europe move , but over the last six months Europe has actually changed me .
on Thursday , the people of Scotland voted in the Scottish parliamentary elections and the Scottish National Party won an overall majority of seats .
I am sorry that you cannot attend this workshop .
it is essential that the Member States adopt political strategies aimed at combating this problem that are based on the objectives set by the Europe 2020 strategy of reducing school drop-out rates to below 10 % per year , and of enabling at least 40 % of young people to complete higher education .
countries which adhere to such voluntary schemes are able to give certain guarantees about the legality and environmental sustainability of their timber sources .
Europe is the cradle of an exceptionally rich and varied culture .
the second strategic priority for the European Union is to conclude negotiations on the Protocol on access and benefit sharing as a key contribution to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity beyond 2010 and in line with the commitment taken by all the parties at COP 8 in 2006 .
that is our task in the coming weeks .
life is changing before our very eyes , career women are a new phenomenon , fathers are increasingly busy , and women are fighting for their rights .
obviously , problems should not be shifted to areas where there are none .
I understand some of my colleagues ' concerns about allowing on the market new products that might present a danger or mislead the consumer .
I do not think that this idea is crazy because it is in our DNA , in the nature of our political project : in the nature of our political project because it embraces solidarity .
the crucial thing , however , is that we do not magnify and heat up conflicts that often fundamentally only exist between political powers and not between the people themselves , who get along well .
updating our tourism statistics database can , in turn , play an important role in giving policy makers a good basis for implementing successful tourism policies .
( EL ) Madam President , Commissioner , President-in-Office of the Council , we all agree on this , and we all want to see the land protected .
in 2006 , for example , 202 foreign families decided to take care of 311 of our fellow citizens - 214 Polish children found Italian parents , 25 found French parents , 22 found American parents , 20 found Dutch parents , 15 found Swedish parents , seven found German parents , six found Swiss parents , one found Belgian parents and one found Canadian parents .
however , I do not wish to speak again about the objectives and obligations stemming from the Lisbon Strategy .
guaranteeing reciprocity in bilateral relations is one of the European Union 's basic principles .
tuberculosis is currently a fully treatable disease .
the Council Decision referral for the European Parliament for consent procedure constitutes the legal instrument for the conclusion of the Protocol between the European Union and the Principality of Andorra extending to customs security measures the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Economic Community and the Principality of Andorra concluded on 28 June 1990 .
the greater emphasis now being placed on governance and the rule of law is intended to reinforce the action in other areas .
in February the Council , on the basis of the Commission 's guidelines , Commissioner , adopted conclusions containing a number of operational elements , which I will mention here .
furthermore , on the basis of scientists ' decisions , it clearly concluded that the criteria for the inclusion of bluefin tuna in the CITES Appendix I have been met .
action at Community level is therefore needed in order to encourage the investment needed for the manufacture of vehicles that are more energy-efficient and less polluting not least because , in the long term , the cost of this type of alternative will be lower .
Commissioner , please do not just fob us off with the same old line that Member States are responsible for implementation and checks .
in the midst of an economic crisis and with galloping unemployment , we must provide incentives to keep women of all ages in the countryside , to support female entrepreneurship and to invest in their training , in order to achieve development and innovation in the agricultural sector .
we have to think about the pace , and convince Member States .
this is our position .
we are calling , first and foremost , for the agricultural policy that we want to be defined , to finalise the contribution of the agricultural sector to the production of public goods , and then to decide on the resources to be made available for the targets set .
those who lose out will be small producers , who can no longer cover their production costs owing to such low prices .
given that a five-year delay on the onset of Alzheimer 's means 50 % less prevalence rates , I welcome the focus on prevention and early detection by the European Commission .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the European Parliament has been called upon to express an opinion on whether the amendment to the WTO agreements on intellectual property - the ' TRIPS Agreements ' - can be made permanent , as this would represent a swift solution to the problem of access to medicines by developing countries .
if the Stockholm Programme is to be successful , EU citizens have to know their rights .
I admit that the words from the Swedish Presidency and from President Barroso are encouraging in that respect .
however , when cases such as this one on dioxins occur , it clearly emerges , as we have heard today , that there is , in fact , a need for certain control systems that are currently in place .
according to the Eastern Partnership , the External Relations Council agreed in September that the directives on negotiating new agreements must be prepared for all three countries in the Southern Caucasus , including Georgia .
and that is all I have to say about dialogue , and yet I want to add that dialogue may not be quite enough .
the logic behind Schengen is unchanged : ever more efficient management of the external border is the precondition for travelling without border controls within the Schengen zone .
17 .
as I already said earlier it was possible to move forward thanks primarily to the good cooperation and synergy we achieved between the Council , Parliament and Commission .
unfortunately , the answer is no , but an increasing number of targeted programmes have been set up to improve the situation , including , for instance , the Danube strategy .
we voted in favour of this own-initiative report which highlights the aspect of gender in unstable employment , denounces various situations and insists upon a set of measures to combat discrimination against women .
he has been banned from participating in the forthcoming elections .
this is patently obvious from the different definitions of democracy that exist , and I would like to draw your attention to the fact , for example , that the United Nations attempted to define democracy in 2005 .
we all want sustainable fisheries , but that means sustainability for fishermen too .
it is refusing to talk to the anti-Castro dissidents in Cuba .
again , Europe will provide leadership on this issue and we hope that our global partners will follow .
the University of Lapland deserves praise for being the only university , the only agency , that has really worked to ensure that such a centre would be established , and has devoted much time and effort to this .
I will support these amendments , as I have already emphasised during a meeting with the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection .
it is in the Lisbon strategy that we first linked technological and economic issues with artistic issues .
in writing . - I was Parliamentary rapporteur when discharge was being granted for the last time in respect of the European Coal and Steel Community 's activities .
it is therefore high time that we put this matter on the agenda .
in Russia last year , Stalin was voted one of the 12 greatest individuals in history .
ultimately , the pace of Croatia 's progress towards the European Union will be determined by its own ability to meet all the necessary conditions on the basis of its own merits .
that is the situation in a distant country court on the outskirts of Europe , where the big landlord esquire cannot be sentenced in any case - but she can .
today 's vote clearly demonstrates that all citizens desire a better , safer and more secure working environment .
he , too , must focus on achieving this social Europe .
however , what I think we are doing at the moment is being reactive .
we shall try to facilitate entry into Poland for their citizens within the framework of the Schengen commitments . allow me to emphasise , however , that we shall only do so in accordance with our commitments as members of the Schengen area .
with this document the European Parliament confirmed that Croatia has made significant progress in the talks on integration into the European Union .
I think that this is something we have got to give very serious thought to .
naturally , we send our condolences to Mrs Klamt and thank Mr Weber for assuming the responsibility of acting as rapporteur in this debate .
these decisions are difficult .
however , EFSA has already put in place new guidelines that are much stricter .
precisely for that reason , the Commission has indicated its intention to start a dialogue early next year , with each of the countries of the Western Balkans , on a roadmap for visa liberalisation , by defining its requirements and conditions .
( RO ) In the case of the former Communist countries , one way for girls from this region to escape from the state of oppression they were subjected to was to get married , sometimes actually for love , but in most cases for gain .
we have already heard that only 20 states have so far done this , including European countries such as Sweden and Great Britain , but also African countries , for example , Liberia and the Côte d 'Ivoire .
skills are at the heart of Europe 2020 for smart , sustainable and inclusive growth .
rapporteur . ? ( PL ) The main idea on which the Animal Health Strategy is based is that prevention is better than cure , which is obviously the case .
in the other direction , very little progress is being made with regard to repatriation .
the combined forces of Bosnians , Serbs and Croats , through their main political parties , should therefore aim to strengthen the administration of the country at all levels .
I am wondering why we have to apply this fast-tracked procedure when there has been an agreement in place between the EU and the United States since 1 February on provisional legal assistance , Article 4 of which describes precisely how bank data is to be passed on where there are justified grounds for suspicion .
these policies risk nipping growth in the bud when it has barely become positive again , even though capacity utilisation rates remain low .
it is therefore scheduled to end at 2 p.m .
however , I once again agree with my friend Mrs Berès : how about some competition between our institutions ?
I have been following with concern the flare-up of tensions in Transylvania , where the small communities are turning inwards as a result of tension , harassment or fear , shutting out the communities living together with them .
lastly , does anyone need reminding of the tragic fate of the Kosovo Serbs , persecuted on the now colonised land of their ancestors ?
Institutionally , it is inclined to side with other anti-democratic empires , not free nations .
I think they show that the European Union has the capacity , the will and the intelligence to take measures arising out of the lessons we have learned from the economic crisis .
I have the impression that there is the possibility today of ending Mrs Haidar 's hunger strike and finding a solution for her .
the time has come for Europe to reward the efforts of these states for coming into line with the democratic and economic requirements which are typical of the EU-27 .
for once , I can say that , broadly speaking , I approved of Mr Schulz 's cautious speech .
since Parliament had - as I said before - already adopted the text using the consultation procedure without any problems , such manoeuvring was uncalled-for .
the needs of citizens , of individuals , will form the basis for future cooperation in this area in a way that is much more evident than it was previously .
if this House takes itself seriously , it must stop this practice .
this anomaly could soon end , as indicated by the proposed strategy of the Council and the Commission on Belarus .
( DE ) Madam President , I too would like to thank Mr Blokland .
this text establishes exclusions and unequal treatment in social security , pensions and access to employment and training for legal migrant workers , which runs contrary to my values .
after several months , I am still waiting for these guarantees .
composition of Parliament : see Minutes
that in itself is something to be proud of .
this enters surface and groundwater along with the rain , and ultimately ends up in our bodies .
your security is important for us .
I hope they do so in practice now and live up to the expectations of our colleagues in ACP countries .
in writing . - The EU took an important step with its political decision .
yet this sector is one of the most fundamental elements in the fight against climate change .
however , the central feature of the democratic nature of the Union remains the European Parliament .
composition of committees and delegations : see Minutes
the idea that the Commission should be advised only by investment bankers , and US investment bankers at that , with regard to changing banking rules seems totally surreal to me after the financial crisis we have gone through .
Community financial aid in the field of the trans-European transport and energy networks ( vote )
his approach to its production was a very collaborative one .
of course , I do not mean that entirely seriously .
I am afraid , given past experience - and please allow me to be pessimistic here - that this may be a process that is very much money driven , funding driven .
if the Council would agree to attach it to the Minutes or give it some kind of legal status and transparency , then that would help further the process on this issue .
the French Government also deserves praise for its constructive role , but the rapporteur , Mr Lambsdorff , has , of course , been the most important contributor .
to this end , the Commission intends to propose a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council based on Article 136 of the Treaty clarifying the necessary procedural steps in order to enshrine the policy conditionality in Council decisions and ensure consistency with the European Union multilateral surveillance framework .
thus far , 22 countries have submitted an Annual Summary , meeting the basic minimum requirements of financial regulation , but not all are satisfactory .
they should support the opening up of the markets and make sure that we support the entrepreneurs and support poor citizens .
this is a clear sign that Ukraine is continuing its integration with the European Union .
I should point out that Moldova has employed for a period of one year nine senior European advisers who will provide assistance to the main ministries in Chişinău .
I pay tribute to the speed of the action of the Finance Ministers over the last week and I underline that this illustrates the level of determination of our concern to safeguard the stability of the euro .
special attention should be given to last week 's far-right rally in Prague , which attempted to celebrate the 1938 anti-Jewish purge known as the Kristallnacht on 9 November .
the world is going through a serious crisis , with its epicentre in the financial system , which has already contaminated the real economy .
we therefore choose to invest our taxpayers ' money in a much cleverer way , in the foreign policy of the Member States , rather than in the foreign policy of the European Union .
it means arguing for squandering public services , which are a public resource , as well as transferring them to private groups .
this is not a conflict between the EU and the Member States .
we are talking here about regions that will be , or might be , affected by a high level of unemployment , but , on the other hand , we need to remember the regions that have already gone through restructuring in this sector of the economy , and which have endured high unemployment and coped with it .
they must be defined according to each country 's particular situation .
in addition to its other activities , the main tasks of the joint undertaking are to oversee the preparation of the site for the ITER project , to provide the ITER organisation with material , financial and human resources , to coordinate scientific and technological research and development activities in the field of fusion , and to act as an interface with the ITER organisation .
for a very long time , the European Parliament one-sidedly rewarded the Albanians and punished the Serbs in every statement it made on Kosovo .
I particularly appreciate the idea of linking the industrial world with universities in order to boost European universities , thereby harking back to the EU 2020 objectives .
follow-up to a request for the defence of immunity : see Minutes
the European Union can support these policies , but it cannot completely replace them .
perhaps it would therefore be wiser , Commissioner , to conduct a thorough analysis as soon as possible into the reasons why the previous challenges did not produce the desired result , and then to come up with a pragmatic definition of new and genuinely effective measures for achieving real cooperation of a high standard between universities and manufacturing companies .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
Baroness Ashton called for the ceiling applied to the European Investment Bank to be raised .
the ' polluter pays ' principle must be applied to all vehicles as well as in emissions trading and the incorporation of external costs .
the availability and use of harmonised , comparable Community statistics on pesticide sales play an important role in the drafting and monitoring of legislation and Community policies in the context of the Thematic Strategy on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides .
this is a good thing .
the Member States of the European Union must support demographic renewal , incorporating their action into the renewed Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs , in line with the policy of equality between men and women .
in addition , I should like to welcome the recent ruling by the Court of Justice to the effect that a postal service provider is entitled to enter into an agreement regarding the distribution of social welfare payments .
I wanted to know whether the Presidency and the Council are aware that certain regions of Europe remain uninhabited .
do these personnel decisions convey an important message to us ?
I am French .
for all these reasons , and because I have few illusions about the outcome of today 's vote , given the wonderful unanimity ...
this is , in my view , a serious matter and I would urge the President of Parliament and the Vice-President of the Commission , who is here today , to make it clear to the Irish Government and to make a public statement to the effect that they are free to charge or not to charge schools for water and that they should not be taking risks with the future of Europe with cowardly political tactics .
how would the indigenous peoples view it if the European Union were to tell them what to do from above ?
let us not delude ourselves : the example of Kosovo may be used by Georgia 's northern neighbour as a pretext for infringing the territorial integrity of that country .
it has been a pleasure working with all my colleagues in the Committee on Culture and Education for these past two years .
there are , as you know , two funding methods under discussion .
over time we have sought and claimed the success of the capitalist model , which has allowed us to produce more and better and to offer better living conditions .
this report uses the term ' minimum income ' , which is a controversial term defined as an instrument that makes it possible to accompany beneficiaries in moving from situations of social exclusion to active life ; it also underlines the importance of broader policies that also take into consideration other needs : healthcare , education , training , social services and housing .
that is one of the reasons why the Commission adopted the third internal market package on Wednesday .
the consumer will not have to pay any more for their milk .
I would ask the Commissioner , when he brings forward these proposals , as he suggests , next year , to please bear this in mind .
( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , this is a really interesting , good debate - for the simple reason that , looking at the reports , we are combining two aspects that do not , at first , appear to be directly linked but which are related to ways of coping with the crisis and reviving the economy .
we furthermore agree to temporary relaxation of the OECD rules on medium- to long-term credit insurance .
I would like to go back to the request for solidarity that many of you have made .
( DE ) Mr President , Mrs Győri , Mr Füle , I was one of the first or perhaps the first rapporteur on Macedonia in this House and I am watching with regret how the situation has and has not developed .
I can see three cases where the European Union is applying double standards .
thanks to the excellent cooperation between Commission , Council and Member States in handling national reform programmes and recommendations , the first European Semester has lasted a semester , and not a day longer .
as is well known , the EU and ACP countries have today agreed on areas and articles that will be revised in the Cotonou Agreement , in which the above has also been partly taken into account .
I am happy to say that I called it correctly .
we would like the Commission to see the Lamfalussy process as a good experience that has opened up financial markets in harmony with reality .
we are all deeply shaken by what has happened .
all languages are equal , the same way that all human beings are equal .
we have already seen within Europe the positive impact that low fares airlines have on the aviation sector in terms of the huge increase in passenger numbers .
at least 14 journalists are currently in prison and I should like here to highlight the case of Hla Hla Win , a young 25-year-old journalist , who has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for illegally importing a motorcycle because she dared to visit a Buddhist monastery .
I am confident that the objectives of both Parliament and the Council are the same , namely to strengthen the economic governance of the EU and the euro area , prevent future crises and build a stronger framework for economic governance in the euro area and the EU as a whole .
the application of funds is not helped either by the fact that Latvia counts as one region .
data roaming is extremely expensive .
it is important for us to support this when we vote tomorrow .
it is clear that belonging to Europe , sixty years on , is still an attractive possibility .
but today , humanitarianism cannot let politics be forgotten .
in the event , a large number of bilateral contacts between Member States and myself , the conclusions of the meeting of the eurozone ministers on 15 March , proposals by the Commission on loans by the Member States and intense negotiations between France and Germany helped pave the way to finding a compromise acceptable to all .
each of our countries has different climatic conditions and different traditions .
however , we are convinced that this Regulation should be significantly improved so as to avoid another case of continuous blockade of transport between Member States in total breach of the fundamental principles of the internal market , such as free movement of goods and persons .
if we are going to continue with this kind of asylum lottery , we are not paying attention to the realities of asylum numbers going up .
lastly , as regards tax havens , some very simple measures must be taken .
the losses incurred by the violation of intellectual property rights amounted to EURO 62 million in Romania in 2007 , according to the analysis conducted by the International Alliance of Intellectual Property .
the answer is ' no ' , and this is why we have proposed the mandatory reduction by 2012 .
in writing . - This postpones Parliament 's decision on granting the Executive Director of the European Medicines Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency 's budget for the 2009 financial year .
thus , the ACTA agreement will leave the existing legal situation in Europe almost unchanged .
the proposal on the table involves the development of 27 national PNR systems , not a European PNR system .
the disaster also caused an extremely serious nuclear accident which is affecting the Fukushima nuclear plant and constitutes a new threat .
it would be self-defeating and against our own interests if we were to go down the road of protectionism .
I want to point out that this economic governance package brings greater transparency for the institutions and a better and larger role for Parliament .
the concentration on larger airports is sensible , therefore , and so I disagree with some of the previous speakers .
these objectives , Commission President and President of the Council , have already been formulated in the 2020 objectives .
it is also important to strengthen the position of renowned European wines that boast centuries-old traditions so that they do not lose out to wines from the so-called New World .
they demanded respect for human rights and democracy .
there are signs of opening up and of a civilised attitude , which are quickly followed , even at times in the debate within this Parliament , by signs of rigidity , particularly from the Council , and of considerable protectionism .
we confirmed this in 2006 with the adoption of a resolution on chemical weapons and inhumane conventional weapons .
this is an important point : the Member States must show that they believe in the sites and therefore manage them in an educational way , involving the people .
this legislation took as many as 40 years to be completed , although it naturally has many exceptions , from 1967 ( Directive 67 / 458 / ΕEC ) to 2007 , when the REACH Regulation entered into force ;
we must not forget that if the European workforce is affected by alcohol , it will not be very competitive in a global world .
over the last 10 years we have seen enormous growth in the interdependence between the European Union and Russia .
Convention to Combat Desertification ( debate )
as far as this is concerned , unfortunately , Europe also obviously bears responsibility as regards the fight against terrorism .
I do not understand why the College of Commissioners has introduced environmental reasons which are completely irrelevant .
the fact that the Social Democrats chose to jeopardise our Swedish system in favour of more EU legislation is strange and calls into question their support of the Swedish labour market model .
I believe that Scotland 's efforts have a vital role to play in the EU 's targets for renewable technology .
the French President , Nicolas Sarkozy , introduced a noteworthy argument into the debate when he wrote to the Commission President that the ability to spend a lot of money on a car - in other words to buy a big and expensive vehicle - did not entitle you to produce more pollution .
of course , we also need to have honesty on the markets .
I welcomed the fact that Mr Manders considered other aspects too , such as the reduced administrative burden for Member States resulting from the transposition into national law of the technical adaptations required by the addition of the names of new textile fibres to the harmonised list .
( BG ) I voted in support of the report on territorial cohesion because I firmly believe that this concept should be developed and applied as a horizontal principle underpinning all the Community 's policies and actions .
I want it to be part of everything that we do : a silver thread , not a filigree thread , a silver thread that is strong but that shines and is there for everyone to witness .
it is therefore right that the regulation on new foodstuffs includes a ban on the sale of cloned animals and their offspring .
thus , competitors share the risk , costs are saved , investments , know-how and product quality improve and variety and innovations can be more quickly implemented .
I think this is another example , where we are looking at safety measures and at using the most modern technology to help them when they come into difficulties ; we are trying to argue that cars should be better equipped .
during yesterday 's peaceful demonstrations which took place in many towns throughout Belarus , hundreds of people were arrested and have been put on trial today .
however , violence , intimidation , threats of attack and blackmail did not deter millions of courageous Iraqis from going to the polls .
I voted in favour of this motion for a resolution on innovation partnerships because I consider them an essential element of the actions committed to as part of this flagship initiative .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , I should like to thank Mr Sacconi , the rapporteur , for an excellent document which I fully support .
I would also add that it is through simple , tangible and sensible actions such as this that people will learn to like Europe again .
we do want to legislate , and we are legislating a great deal and successfully with the Council of Ministers .
we have to act in solidarity with Italy and we can do so .
you talked about access to towns and cities by urban transport .
also , the cutting of red tape and bureaucracy by the Commission has to be welcomed .
I am sure that the Year will help to promote the exchange of best practice and see the launch of new initiatives in every field , especially in connection with poverty prevention , monitoring , financial mechanisms and combating child poverty .
opening of the sitting
does the Council finally intend to act in a unified , perceptive and uniform way ?
however , I should like to conclude on a very positive note , which I am particularly pleased about , and point out that the framework decision on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law , to which the report refers , was formally adopted by the Justice and Home Affairs Council of 28 November 2008 , after seven years of extended debate .
this item is now closed .
however , what can we ask for in return ?
at the risk of being described myself as a fascist dictator , I have taken certain actions this morning .
I believe it not only protects consumers but is also good for investors .
only strong , representative and effective non-governmental organisations can succeed in increasing consumers ' awareness of their rights .
and who is lecturing us on extremism ?
delegated acts ( Rule 87a ) : see Minutes
the EU heads of mission have raised this issue with the Ugandan Government on several occasions at the highest level : with the President , the Prime Minister , the Minister for Foreign Affairs , the Minister of Justice and the Uganda Human Rights Commission .
to our knowledge , the Commission will publish the Energy Roadmap 2050 in November .
there were some questions on the EU criminal procedures .
one of the key directions in job creation in the coming decade will be towards so-called ' white jobs ' - jobs in healthcare and long-term care .
there is now talk of a ' two stage solution ' .
finally , I would like to draw attention to the rise of extremism , anti-Semitism and xenophobia in Europe .
we should improve the help available to our SMEs and reduce their costs ; we should strengthen European patents and the fight against counterfeiting with ' made in ' origin marking .
I must make it clear that today we are talking about additional funding for R & D based on an existing fund , based on a protocol - to be more precise , we talk about the technical guidelines .
the strategy actually aims at inclusion and not merely integration .
the debate is closed .
the emergence of tendencies is very worrying .
Mr President , honourable Members , young people - I see that the future of Europe is sitting up there in the gallery - it is a great honour to be present here today at the debate on Parliament 's first reading of the budget for 2010 .
of particular importance is reviving the SBA in accordance with the objectives of the EU 2020 strategy and all actions to facilitate SME growth through simplification and support , not only for investment , but also for the challenges that globalisation and climate change bring today .
the question is whether it will be possible for this money to be absorbed .
I congratulate Mrs Roth-Behrendt , Mrs Grossetête and Mrs Wallis , who have tabled the motion for a resolution - they have done an excellent job .
I am therefore very conscious of this and you can count on the Presidency and on myself to ensure that your words will be followed by action , without , of course , there being the slightest conflict of interests , I say that before you all .
they are being followed .
if we get this right , we will be laying the foundations for a common agricultural policy continuing well beyond 2013 .
the text completely overlooks the situation of degradation in which the Roma communities live , in certain states such as Italy , not due to lack of integration policies but , quite the contrary , due to a deliberate decision to reject any rule of civil living .
it does not do justice to this policy and its importance in any way .
as such , on 5 March 2007 , the Council adopted a general approach intended ' to enable ENP partners to participate in Community agencies and Community programmes ' .
doctors are now also telling us there is a serious connection between obesity and dementia / Alzheimer 's disease .
it is vitally important to us that supplies are guaranteed .
what is this debate for when everything has been arranged and done ?
the EU must not require others to do things which it cannot do itself .
the variety of proposals clearly shows that we need broader debate on the activities of the European Investment Bank and the direction in which those activities should be developed .
the other critical point is that this transport is slow because it has to wait for passenger trains , which have priority .
it is not the Trade Commissioner who decides what agricultural offers will be put on the table .
let us not forget that we are speaking of a common policy for 27 different Member States with different energy mixes , different priorities , sometimes different concerns when it comes to security of supply , also - let us be even more frank about this - very often with different levels of awareness of the problems of climate change and environmental commitment .
the joint debate is closed .
personally , I fully endorse the idea of ownership unbundling , but I am well aware that unbundling could under no circumstances be imposed in my country at this time .
why is this interest important ?
when we adopted the second version of the Schengen Information System , SIS II , with the agreement of all the political groups , this Parliament refused to allow private companies to have access to the data , even though at the time this merely involved car registrations .
I stress the special intellectual and political importance of the Czech presidency .
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thank you for your attention .
I firmly believe that the European citizens ' initiative will , in future , become a true expression of European citizenship .
it is what the electorate of Europe now expects , and will enable us to act together with strength .
this policy must guarantee the defence of our interests in the world and protect and provide security for our citizens .
it is unfortunate that the Council has yet to grant the Commission a mandate to open negotiations on a global air transport agreement with important trading partners , such as the People 's Republic of China and India , despite the proposal dating from 2005 .
in addition to guaranteeing the fundamental rights , this strategy should also promote access to education , especially to education for tolerance in the context of the 2008 Year of Intercultural Dialogue .
from the very beginning he set out to make his name known and he has certainly been successful in that regard .
however , even though the weapons have fallen silent , the legacy of the war lives on in politics and society in the region .
concerning Kosovo , we are working with UNMIG and supporting all the activities there .
I declare resumed the session adjourned on Thursday , 12 July 2007 .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( FR ) Madam President , thank you for allowing me to speak at this point ; I must apologise for having to leave shortly to return to Paris .
I welcome that amendment , and we have put it in my report .
for legislation that is easy to understand and apply , impact studies and consultation of the relevant parties are essential , especially with regard to the social impact of the legislative proposals .
( HU ) I have been involved professionally for 25 years in protecting human rights .
also , a significant number of disabled people are simply unemployed .
the thinking behind it slots perfectly into the overall ' philosophy ' of the package in question .
Europeans deserve nothing less .
in the merciless price war that is currently raging , companies are using outrageous methods to improve their profit margins .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , first I should like to thank both rapporteurs on behalf of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament .
I need not remind you that , on 5 September 1972 , 11 Olympic athletes were massacred in Munich .
while the decommissioning team , dominated by military experts , monitored the rapid and successful disarmament process , the civilian team of AMM worked to turn the process into a platform for further political dialogue and for both parties to credibly commit themselves to permanent peace .
Mr Tannock , the point of order raised by Mr Schulz is the ongoing point of order .
( EL ) Madam President , Commissioner , two proposed measures that stand out are those of grubbing up the vines and adding sugar to wine .
there is a quite unanimous view that , for the sake of the quality of the project , there should be an element of national financing as well .
in writing . - I am delighted that the European Parliament has today approved a scheme for ensuring that additional loans will be made available to small businesses .
this dual use means particular care is needed with regard to their export , to prevent the proliferation of weapons and , above all , of weapons of mass destruction .
we have taken action on some of the worst abuses on the internet , such as paedophilia .
the Committee stated in its reply that since there was less than a month , which is the normal cooling-off period , between 28 April , when the Committee voted on this report , and this plenary , this report could therefore not be tabled at the May plenary .
after all , when all is said and done , how many jobs have been created with all the State aid that Ireland , Poland and the European Union have pumped into Dell ?
after all , it is abundantly clear that this all centres on stimulation , knowledge sharing and monitoring .
if such people and , above all , those who ordered these actions later say that they only did what the law stated at the time and it was not possible to prosecute them later on , that would demonstrate an unbelievable weakness in the law and in humanity .
we regularly come up with umpteen ' Christmas lists ' in this Parliament and they do not necessarily go much further into actual reality .
what we are doing right now , namely comprehensively and quickly abolishing duties and barriers to trade on all 75 different tariff lines , corresponding to 27 % of Pakistan 's exports , is an excellent response to the disaster that this country is facing .
I would like to ask the European Commission to give extensive aid from European Union funds to the modernisation of these buildings and entire housing estates , especially in Central and Eastern Europe .
- Report : Adamos Adamou
for example , the trial being held against Chiranuch Premchaiporn for comments on his website criticising the Royal Family .
we need to evaluate the operational efficiency of the agencies objectively if we are to get away from opinions and assumptions and get a clear overview of what the agencies are actually achieving .
European Space Policy ( vote )
that goes without saying .
firstly , all the requirements issued by the Organization of American States must be met .
the first is that this debate has demonstrated as much division on this issue as in the Committee on International Trade itself or even more , and the second is that the merits of the proposals adopted by the Committee on International Trade , some of which the European Commission considers inconclusive ... the plenary sitting tomorrow will decide on the merits of these proposals and the Commission 's objections .
I would like to conclude by emphasising the importance of vocational training , a symbol of excellence in our nations .
I would like to say to the leaders of the political groups and to members of parliament that we in France , with Bernard Kouchner and Jean-Pierre Jouyet , have taken a decision that was not easy to take .
this would enable us to determine even more effectively the repercussions for the economy , jobs , the environment and so on , and hence to respond to a number of issues in all political fields connected with tourism .
it will take joint efforts worldwide to preserve the quality of our world and safeguard our future .
it is neither appropriate nor necessary to restate this .
the Commission hopes that the bold step taken by the European institutions to mobilise the one billion euros which will complement other financial instruments which have been earmarked to respond to the food crisis - of both a short- and medium- to long-term nature - is followed up by other donors .
a large part of them live in settlements on the outskirts of Rome , Turin , Milan and Naples .
it is the Member States ' right and also their responsibility to choose their priorities and projects .
( ES ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , Mr President-in-Office of the Council , Commissioner , as you said , Frontex works .
I would like to express my opposition to the report , which , in denying the aims for which the Council of Europe was set up , amounts to the promotion of murder of the most defenceless and of contraception .
these are just a few examples from this excellent report .
in addition to these measures , geographical financial instruments such as the European Development Fund and European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument also help to give practical expression to the Global Approach to Migration .
what we need are activities that inspire a high level of ecological awareness .
on 18 May , the journalist , Fahem Boukadous , will no doubt be sentenced to four years ' imprisonment .
when we return to the matter in 2010 , I can guarantee that disposal in solid form will be a safe method which complies with the EU legislation .
we have , rightly , embarked on a procedure for codifying such legislation - putting it in a single , readable , manageable text .
for all these reasons , Mr President , and once again appreciating the efforts of the rapporteur , the Council and the Commission , I ask for the return directive to be supported .
( DE ) Madam President , there is not much point in playing Realpolitik and Moralpolitik off against each other , as Mr Watson has said .
we would emphasise that there is also a need for consistency in this area between other EU policies and the objectives of this Regulation .
civil society organisations for allergic illnesses and many millions of European citizens who are affected expect us to act against allergies at European level too , and for us to do something towards prevention , stopping the triggers and ensuring that such illnesses are symptom-free .
the first question that arises is , of course , how we can guarantee that the US will abide by the agreement .
the complete opening up of the markets of the developing countries to exports from industrialised countries has sometimes resulted in the destruction of the local economic structure , an increased level of poverty for the people and , as a consequence , more people wanting to migrate to Western countries .
in this respect , it is proper to acknowledge Mr Sterckx 's tenacity in carrying through this difficult undertaking .
this step may seem nowadays , in the post-Lisbon period , to be completely obvious , but it has been hoped for on a regular basis during the last 30 years .
one of these is the single euro payments area ( SEPA ) .
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therefore , what we are saying is that this Parliament must not put pressure on the legitimate authorities in Brazil .
that would enable consumers to have access to competitive cross-border offers , benefitting from better choice , better prices and the clear advantages of the internal market , whilst also enabling them to place greater trust in a high level of protection of their rights .
the starting point for targeted action is an analysis of economic data from the female labour market , all of it negative .
this matter is inextricably linked to the following issue - I would like to express my concern regarding the way in which the German youth services , known as the Jugendamt , operate .
adequate exceptions must therefore be included in the directive , hence the proposal that , for airports situated in these regions , the rules laid down in the directive will not apply where they will not guarantee compliance with the universal public service obligations .
ladies and gentlemen , there is no doubt that the Commission implements active policies for disabled people and that we have achieved significant progress within the European Union .
in addition to structural problems , the acute discrepancy between the import tariffs of the European Union , on the one hand , and of its most important competitors , on the other hand , is playing a negative role .
the seven-year framework for the EU 's budget is devised in such a way that the framework becomes steadily tighter during the course of the seven-year period , particularly in the area of agriculture .
when I took office , there was no crisis mechanism , and we had to rectify that .
therefore , by limiting themselves to an informal meeting on the subject of employment , the European leaders have backed away from the crisis , and are running the risk of a very serious social and political crisis .
what we want is a first real analysis of cohesion policy programmes for the period 2007-2013 .
this has been slow to happen due to Germany 's disastrous management of the crisis .
civil protection structures have to prioritise preparedness for floods and droughts .
I agree that reforms are needed , the regulatory framework must be revised and we need to make an enormous effort to achieve greater cooperation among European regulators , so long as we do not have a single European economic regulator .
I have seen today in the press - and not only in the Eurosceptic or Europhobe press , not only in the tabloids , but also in the quality press - that the European Union now admits that it was mistaken in deciding to suspend flights .
a rushed approach which might result in a negative note on PNR agreements with the US and Australia would stop the flow of data and that might result in landing rights being cancelled , with disastrous consequences for the airlines .
we need , above all , to get to work on education in this regard , as we did , for example , for the football World Cup in Germany , in order to bring the issue of forced prostitution to light , and to show that this really happens everywhere , and also to inspire debate amongst the populace so that there is an awareness there which will lead to the victims being helped .
long-term investment , the principle of solidarity , market access , regulation of cross-border flow - the important objectives of these regulations are all about this .
here again , as I have mentioned , we will ask for a special field mission .
that is the issue , if there is to be stability in the Middle East and any prospect of peace .
I also believe , particularly in view of the current economic situation , that Parliament must review its expenditure and identify savings and ways to increase efficiency .
I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to them and thank them for their work over the last five months .
as a result , as long as regional policy and social policy are interconnected policies which operate successfully together , I believe that we should not agree , under any circumstances , to the separation of the European Social Fund from the Structural Funds .
it has also considered the need to appoint a European Union judge to the Court , the participation of this Parliament in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe , and the participation of the Union in the Committee of Ministers when it exercises functions relating to the application of the European Convention on Human Rights .
in the debate on biofuels , it must not be forgotten that their production in Europe , where fuel crops are grown on two per cent of all arable land , has an extremely minimal effect on food prices .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , the proposal we are debating today is a tangible sign of the commitment of all EU institutions to promote integration of extremely marginalised and deprived communities into mainstream society .
this is why educational work is also so important .
the outcome of the present constitutional crisis in Côte d 'Ivoire will send a strong signal to all forces on the African continent , both those in favour of democracy and those who are against .
this contradicts common sense and the basic interests of the environment .
to have cancelled the mission would have sent all the wrong signals to Bangladesh - and the Bangladeshi community I represent in London - which is bravely seeking to strengthen its fragile secular democracy after two years of quasi-military rule .
repression has been brutal .
but we have had to agree to the process being slower than we had actually wanted , for example the provision that allows a five-year exemption for long-distance services which may be extended twice more .
that was clear , but what is less clear is the identification of investors and counterparties which may be , and continue to be , under stress , and that identity is absolutely vital for us to clear up .
we therefore voted against this report .
what we need instead are reasonable conditions for food production in Europe , decent animal protection and incentives for farmers to produce green energy .
we must aim to further diversify transport routes and acquisition sources .
that makes it seem like a project for legal migration but also for a multi-layered European labour market , where each category of workers would be assigned , according to their worth , a sort of portfolio of rights .
we are nevertheless going to try to enable everyone to speak , among other things , until the President arrives , as he has stepped out for a moment and I am replacing him on an impromptu basis .
in general the management of migratory flows in the EU and in individual Member States requires the effective management of borders .
Mr President , Mr Bussereau , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , today we are returning once again to the debate that we brought to a close at first reading a year and a half ago .
the report seeks to ensure that not only consumers but also small and medium-sized businesses buying and selling cross-border services can benefit from additional legal certainty , simplicity and reduced costs .
the Lisbon Treaty has once again made Europe ready for a new era .
it should be coordinated by the key economic actors , in particular , the G20 .
we need a new strategic vision and new targets that take into account the consistent species loss and reflect the importance that we attribute to this problem .
the emphasis on quality will allow European production to strengthen its position .
it is an extremely important issue , and I think one we should perhaps give more prominence to than we have done , but in the context of a Europe which is changing .
we have lodged some amendments and we are looking forward to some support from fellow Members .
of course , it is better for there to be some regulation of financial transactions by private brokers and / or financial institutions .
the risk of territorial aggression , implicit in the classic conception of defence , has largely been superseded by the dangers arising at regional borders in areas adjoining the territory of the EU .
for many refugees it is not a matter of choosing to improve their circumstances but purely a matter of survival .
( ES ) Mr President , this is indeed a point of order .
the enforcement of EU data protection rules is generally the responsibility of Member State authorities , and , more specifically , data protection authorities .
in addition , the following changes have been requested :
money that is not used can be allocated to other beneficial projects by means of this type of revolving fund .
the requirements of the market operators call for a flexible regulatory procedure .
it was not easy to find a balance between maintaining competition between the airlines and guaranteeing the independence of travel agents , while enabling passengers to receive useful , unbiased information .
the Commission must do more to address social dumping .
will talks even take place ?
this step is especially important as cohesion policy is the most powerful instrument in terms of granting aid to the real economy .
a political resolution is the only way to re-establish peace and reconciliation in the area .
Turkey is an important neighbour , an important , respected NATO partner .
the European Council is playing an active role in this , along with the Commission and Parliament as the legislative and controlling body .
I should like to make a few suggestions , starting at European level , which might frighten some who have already spoken .
however , solidarity could be expressed by making more flexible the criteria for ERM2 , the eurozone and the adoption of the euro for those countries wanting to join .
a compromise is therefore necessary .
to help alleviate the growing problem of food shortages , I strongly urge the European Commission to include food aid - such as processed canned fish products - as part of the EU response for the people of Haiti .
the report states that ' these imbalances pose considerable difficulties for a suitable monetary policy within the eurozone ' and reiterates that ' the financial crisis in some countries within the euro area is a serious matter for the area as a whole ' , reflecting this ' dysfunction of the euro area ' .
it has adopted a proposal for revisiting the VAT directive to remove barriers to electronic invoicing , with cost-saving potential amounting to billions of euros in the medium term .
however , what will happen if they receive this confirmation , whereas in practice , the products , after a certain time , do not comply with all the requirements or all the parameters described on the labels ?
in my personal opinion , these concepts that we have developed , whilst very important , are not suitable for a security policy , as they can be misused to justify military intervention all around the world .
this strategy forms an integrated framework for dealing with the challenges we face and contributing to economic , social and territorial cohesion within the EU .
we can show what has been done .
other very important cases ( and at this point I would like to thank Commissioner McCreevy , who is here today ) were the Valencia urban development law , where Mr McCreevy and his team acted effectively to defend the Public Procurement Directive .
it will give the new Commission a chance to create a new momentum on this difficult dossier and it would also give the European Parliament more time to see how we intend to process this further .
having followed many of the Commission 's infringement proceedings , I can assure the Commission that , when it intervenes , citizens , and even the public authorities , feel strengthened by the action of the Commission in this area .
investments in improving energy efficiency will result not only in lower energy bills , but also in creating 2.7 million jobs in the EU by 2030 .
I note , Madam President , that at this very moment one of the groups has withdrawn its signature from this compromise .
this at the same time as imports of shellfish and fish have become increasingly available .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to offer my sincere thanks to the rapporteur , Mrs Roth-Behrendt , and her two shadow rapporteurs , Mrs Ries and Mrs Grossetête , for their constructive and intensive collaboration , which helped us to reach consensus at first reading .
the problems affecting the global economy - and therefore the European economy too - are deeply-rooted and long-term in nature .
at the same time , I think that we need new business models which will support these industries , by leveraging the benefits offered by the single digital market .
I also have to say that at this time , in the wake of the Fukushima accident , our work has been extremely difficult and I am pleased that , despite these difficult times , the text adopted by the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy ( ITRE ) has been prepared to an adequate standard and that we did not get carried away with ideological debates .
this threshold will hit particularly hard regional airports such as Newcastle .
I would have liked the proposal to go further on this front .
you made it clear that freedom of movement was obviously very desirable .
I voted in favour of the joint motion for a resolution which highlights the importance of strengthening cooperation between the EU and Ukraine .
in the wake of the events of the last few years , it is no coincidence that the agenda for the negotiations reflects the growing role of energy exchanges .
the level of unemployment in the EU could be around 10 % in 2010 .
do you have any proof , and if so , what ?
in the UK , our Government gave a written promise , now denied .
I voted in line with my expressed views on this issue .
each place in the market has its role .
I welcome what the EU 's 2020 strategy contains about encouraging high quality jobs and training to help and support the development of the industrial base , and therefore I voted in favour of the report .
I am pleased with the Commissioner 's promises on this .
in addition , I wish all of us a positive and , above all , a forward-looking outcome .
written explanation of vote
I therefore welcome Europe 's decision to commit to providing financial assistance for the reconstruction process in this country , amounting to roughly EUR 1.2 billion , as well as the proposal from the EU 's High Representative for Foreign Affairs , Catherine Ashton , to adopt an economic plan for the next 10 years , focusing on both development and growth in the region , along with the country 's reconstruction .
it is a good coincidence that we are talking , today , about the fact that the resolution is not for one or other party in Ukraine .
so we always have to be sure that what we are doing is helping people in the most effective way .
what was the signature act of the revolution ?
I would emphasise this once again beyond the limits of the groups .
what we Europeans can and should do is to make our position clear and to help to build these democratic structures in order , ultimately , to be able to bring the rule of law as well as a free market economy , which are necessary for a democracy , into these regions .
now we have to shape the right future for Europe , its economy and its society .
naturally , I welcome the fact that the proposal has been passed at first reading , and I did not fully understand the comments by our fellow Member just now , when he said that he preferred second readings .
I was this Parliament 's general rapporteur for the enlargement round of the 12 countries and now seeing a country from this line-up take over the Presidency for the first time personally gives me great pleasure .
it is a good thing that they will now get the chance to exploit their competitive advantage of greater environmental protection in the internal market .
in spite of the positive confirmation that the European Ombudsman is playing a more functional role , given the increased number of successfully resolved cases , we as Parliament , having received around 10 % of the complaints , and as a committee , having received 60 % ...
however , the funds allocated to those programmes can do nothing to counteract the consequences .
that is impossible .
thank you , Madam President , and I offer my sincere wishes to the Czech Republic for success in its work .
by voting for them , solely on account of their support for European integration , this House is judging itself .
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we need greater clarity as to what commitments the European Union assumes in such situations .
Madam President , I just wonder if the speaker appreciates that just this one time , we are actually not discussing aid but are actually simply discussing trade preferences .
as an initiative it meets with my full approval , and I acknowledge the effort made by the rapporteur , but I beg to differ with the way the issue has been elaborated .
for years we have been told that the effects generated by the market would ' trickle down ' and that in the end , everyone would benefit .
the targets which the Commission has put on the table were carefully chosen .
the Assembly plays a crucial role in monitoring the implementation of legislation and implementation of the Peace Agreement .
there can be no exceptions : commercial vehicles will also have to go green .
the EU has a responsibility to incorporate aspects of environmental policy relating to trade into its international trade policy .
in my report , I strove to make it clear that Parliament insists on these rights .
it is regrettable that we are not able to make binding our opinion on our priorities relating to the provision of European funds to the countries concerned , in spite of the fact that Parliament has the power to exercise financial control .
they must understand what they are paying for .
( PL ) Mr President , women do not get equal pay for equal work .
I am pleased that the majority of this House voted in favour of the proposals that I made as rapporteur for the opinion of the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy , such as the need to give greater encouragement to public-private partnerships to stimulate research and screening , particularly in the field of medical imaging .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , the tragic events in Japan have not only revealed mistakes and flaws in Japanese reactors .
I support the recognition given to small and medium-sized enterprises in the construction sector , just as I support the particular attention paid to the need to recycle construction products , which is an issue of the utmost importance in the fight against climate change .
( LT ) I voted for the report on the Regulation of European Statistics prepared by Andreas Schwab .
poverty eradication is highly important and this is one of the major parts that we focus on in the country strategies .
in other words , EU legislation that is primarily based on statements by banks and large groups is irresponsible and dangerous for EU citizens , and should therefore be stopped immediately .
I voted in favour of this resolution which sets out the general framework and priorities for the 2012 budget in the area of funding the EU institutions .
we hope that fate and God will have mercy on these disaster-stricken regions .
when it comes to the so-called new Member States , it must be taken into account that they became Members after many years of intensive transposition of Community law into their internal legal system , since when they have found it easier to continue the process on a smaller scale .
the debate is closed .
documents from trilogues in the first and second readings should be fully accessible throughout the whole processes .
it is sowing the seeds of its own destruction , because the legislation will allow us to fund the referendum campaign that many in my country have for a very long time been waiting for - the one that gives us the opportunity to remove ourselves entirely from its control .
the Member States have made political commitments at EU level and must now make the commitment to adopt the legislation needed and ensure that this legislation is effectively observed .
finally , I would like to say a few words on Parliament 's discharge .
but of course the devil is in the detail .
this is one of the main points of our document .
I would like to make one last point .
Mr President , the condemnation of the use of contraceptives and the prevention of legal abortion has been one of the most malicious crimes committed against humanity , as some contraceptives also provide protection against sexually-transmitted diseases such as HIV .
if there were a genuinely fair referendum that asked the British people if they want ever-closer political and economic integration with the EU or to leave , an overwhelming majority would vote to leave .
it is very strange , however , that this decline ( or alleged decline ) in democracy in Italy should arise only now and in such a striking fashion , given that the centre-right , but also the centre-left , governments - of which I too have been part - have taken turns in governing my country .
it is therefore vital that the revision of the European Neighbourhood Policy ( ENP ) reflects these developments and allows an adequate response to the challenges that these present , with an emphasis on the uncompromising defence of democratic values and fundamental rights and freedoms , with a commitment to greater involvement by civil society and local communities .
it is therefore a political statement that can also be regarded as a roadmap for the coming years .
the Chinese Government is extremely ill advised to talk only of terrorists , to claim that these people want to destroy the unity of the state and to say that outside forces like Al-Qaeda and others are behind this .
and I am certainly very pleased that the exchange agreement has been signed with Hezbollah .
Montenegro has everything that it needs to bring this process swiftly to a conclusion , starting from its status as a candidate for accession .
the first outcome of this stalemate is the increase in bilateral trade agreements , which are often even more unfavourable to the countries of the South .
we have a strong foundation : young Europeans have never been so well prepared , and yet we lack engineers , we lack young entrepreneurs , and we lack innovative policies for managing human resources .
however , in order to avoid misunderstandings , may I remind you that it is not up to the Commission to lay down rules for Parliament .
the next item is the Commission statement on the reform programme of the Polish shipyards .
the challenge is now to transform this political support into practical action .
the second aims to concentrate on a few urban areas and from there to launch large-scale operations against Al-Qaida .
is there a time limit to this bilateral agreement ?
that is the point .
the Commission has rejected the plan to abandon this airport regulation with cryptic statements which indicate that it will still be possible in future to turn away asylum seekers at the border , if they come from a safe country .
as far as I am aware , this is the first , or one of the first , directives to be adopted which introduces this requirement , and I think it does so quite rightly .
to conclude , I wish Kosovo and all its citizens every success and all the best for the future .
moreover , the Belarusian power plant is to be built on a site that experienced a seven-point earthquake , the biggest in Belarusian history .
thus , they are well placed to contribute to Community policies and objectives , particularly in the field of employment , social cohesion , regional and rural development , environmental protection , consumer protection and social security .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( PL ) A few months ago Mr Lukashenko freed all political prisoners with the exception of Mr Kazulin , who was offered the possibility of leaving the country . this is reminiscent of the methods used by the Communist authorities against the opposition in Poland .
I believe that the freedom to make political decisions really stops where human rights are violated and people die .
at present , we have 28 000 flights each day in the European Union .
if consumers decide to change providers , comparable offerings are often unavailable and the process of number transfer still takes far too long .
the opposition parties are rightly going to boycott them .
the 2003 and 2004 reforms were important stages in the reformation of the common agricultural policy ( CAP ) .
Mr President , it will be up to the new College to take up its responsibilities .
thirdly , I assume that the process launched will be dynamic rather than static in nature , which is why this problem will need to be brought before the European Parliament at regular intervals .
this financial reform package will hit the poorest in Europe the hardest , while leaving the cause of the crisis - the financial sector - untouched .
even in countries where anti-retroviral treatment options are severely limited , important contributions to health can be achieved through the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases , tuberculosis and other opportunistic infections among HIV-infected persons .
it is reported to me - from the USA - that 10 EU Member States are not taking part in the 24 / 7 emergency contact network for cybercrime .
the groups have a statutory responsibility to participate in the debates .
in this area , Mr President , the role of the European Parliament as the House representing citizens is inalienable .
the position of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs , adopted by a large majority , finds it unacceptable that a significant portion of the Roma population lives in conditions like those in the developing world .
however , it raised serious concerns in business quarters , and respondents argued that because of the complexity of the issue further careful analysis was needed .
( RO ) In the coming years , in addition to the impact of the crisis , there are numerous other major challenges to be faced .
it is true that in order to reduce these constraints , we need to diversify the forms of our dependence , from the viewpoint both of energy sources and of supplier countries .
we cannot discount the possibility that there is a breach of international law in relation to criminal proceedings .
without a thorough and rigorous review of this financial framework , the budget that we are set to approve at the end of the year will be condemned to stagnation and mediocrity even if we adopt the best priorities in the world .
there are different capabilities for obtaining and purchasing this raw material .
secondly , I must say I am rather taken aback that the strategy fails to mention the Economic Partnership Agreements .
I think that the European institutions realised that returning to stable and balanced budgets by 2013 would take time , particularly in view of the recession and the Member States ' situation .
children with foetal alcohol syndrome are damaged for life .
as Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs , he presented the initial proposals for the creation of a European economic and monetary union within the framework of the Barre Plan in 1969 and 1970 .
it is thoroughly incomprehensible why the actions being taken in response to the crises are not much more consistent .
all parties need to take their responsibility and to take it seriously .
I will finish by calling for this debate and discussion to be undertaken with the proper level of calm , and not on the basis of the ideologies of those little concerned with the growth of the economy and of businesses , and with public wellbeing .
restoring slots to the concept of public goods that can be authorised for use but cannot become the property of companies is a fundamental issue , although it must be handled with great care so that it does not instead become an instrument that threatens the viability of many of the airlines that we all depend on .
AMR in humans is often caused by inadequate doses of antibiotic medicines , whose transmission of pathogenic bacteria constitutes a particular threat to farmers and farm workers , who are in daily contact with animals .
the fact that there are only a few ratings agencies , their area of operation is global and their head offices often lie outside the EU causes me to wonder how effective European legislation can be in this area .
( DE ) Mr President , Mr President of the European Court of Auditors , Mr Vice-President of the Commission , ladies and gentlemen , it has now become a tradition that once again no statement of assurance can be issued about the relationship between spending at a European level and administration at a national level .
the Council has yet to adopt a position in this respect ; it will only adopt formal decisions on the basis of the legislative proposals it receives from the Commission in 2011 , and it will do so in accordance with the rules on the ordinary legislative procedure .
we shall now move on to the order of business for Thursday .
( HU ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the political analysts and politicians - for example , Henry Kissinger - who predicted decades ago that besides the United States of America , the European Union , Russia and China , and India , too , would have a leading role in the new world order were right .
that is why this report argues in favour of adding a thirteenth indicator to the Paris Agenda .
as a rapporteur on VAT fraud , in my report that was approved on 4 December , I clearly asked the Council to answer a number of questions .
this will be headed by my colleague Martin Říman and Vice-President of the Commission , Günter Verheugen .
just some of the priorities in terms of the development of the region 's transport infrastructure include the modernisation of ports , the integration of the Danube 's navigation systems , the elimination of bottlenecks on the Rhine / Meuse-Main-Danube waterway to improve navigation , the improvement in intermodality in the region and increased connectivity with the Black Sea through road and railway routes , by which I mean railway freight corridors and high-speed trains .
prominent among them was the desire for food to be as natural as possible .
the first fundamental issue is the field of application of the new regulation , which relates to international railway passenger services .
nevertheless , the time series is too short to draw any conclusions or to allow us to forget all about the earlier warming pattern .
Cesare Battisti is a convicted murderer in Italy , and the stance taken by the Brazilian authorities to protect him from the reach of EU justice is not only unacceptable but also condemnable and deplorable in the strongest possible terms and we , and any other authority and any other body in the EU , have every right to say so .
I would point out , too , that it is precisely the lack of control and current laxness that allow , both legally and illegally , European weapons to end up in the hands of terrorist groups , dictators and armed factions , who mortgage the present and the future of millions of people , to whom , as needed but not without a certain cynicism , we subsequently send our development aid teams .
it is hardly surprising , consequently , that the German Government continues to oppose CO2 limits on vehicles , that it is not in favour of the single market for energy as proposed by the Commission and that it is attempting to organise an alliance against the ' new definitions of emissions trading ' .
preventing and reducing poverty is an important component of social solidarity and I strongly believe in women 's solidarity .
I would even say that I would have no problem with subscribing to it personally , but we must admit that it goes against recent practice in the Member States , with their cuts and austerity measures .
too often over the last few years we have witnessed sudden decisions to make collective redundancies without the possibility of employees really being consulted or their representatives really being able to have their say .
in writing . - This report highlights the importance of the free trade and fair competition principle and affirms the importance of what was signed in the Treaty of Rome .
the Parliament 's team have a mission to increase Parliament 's power and influence , and they have had a measure of success .
as Parliament , we have to be disciplined , because we are going to have - to put it simply - only one chance .
therefore , I would urge the strengthening of the pillar that was agreed back then : not only the negotiations , but also the investment in getting to know each other .
the fact is that there remains a great deal to be done in our Member States to sweep our own backyard and make the fine words that constitute our common values a reality .
the rapporteur has produced some good work .
Turkey is a nation-state , one of the last of its kind , one of the strongest and one of the most aware .
to give but a flavour of the pace of activity we have all been involved in : for instance , I was at a working dinner of the Paris Co-Chairs on 15 January , the Summit meetings in Sharm el-Sheikh and Jerusalem on 18 January , and EU ministerial meetings with Israel on 21 January and with a group composed of Egypt , the Palestinian Authority , Jordan and Turkey on 25 January .
we all agree - and the Commissioner also touched on this point - that product safety is a matter of credibility .
they will not agree with some of them .
these include the energy agenda 2020 , our communication on energy infrastructure priorities .
and so I urge you , the fight against poverty ...
as usual , we will look carefully at each case and will present our opinion at the beginning of November through the so-called ' executability letter ' , which will come in time , well before conciliation and the second reading .
in my view this is clearly much more important .
( it ) Mr President , Commissioner , Minister , ladies and gentlemen , through this new regulation on textile product labelling , which we will vote on in plenary tomorrow , Europe will reach an objective it has been pursuing for years .
there is also , in terms of public health and communicable diseases , a major factor : the global fund on AIDS , malaria and tuberculosis , where , again , the Central Asian countries are eligible .
Mr President , first of all my thanks go to our rapporteur .
it is expected that the approaching G20 Summit will place a predominant emphasis on the Copenhagen climate talks .
introducing new debts will exacerbate the European debt problem .
now we need to strengthen Europe 's role in the supervision of the financial markets .
the unemployed and people from social groups which are in an unfavourable situation need active support and advice if they want to become independent .
the distinctive nature of different models is recognised .
seventeen per cent of accidents are caused by failure to wear a seat-belt , and approximately 4 % by jumping red lights .
in the western region of Darfur , the government seeks to prevent such a secession by all means .
this is therefore an excellent example in the health sector where Europe can add particular value , which is why the Commission has approved the strategic action .
( LT ) I would like to congratulate my colleague on the preparation of this important report .
we can impose tolls according to the number of kilometres travelled or according to types , or we can impose tolls uniformly for the whole of Europe .
I wish to thank Commissioner Orban in particular for mentioning the Council of Europe 's Charter for Regional or Minority Languages among the rights and useful documents he referred to .
a business must therefore wait 18 months before receiving permission to place the product on the market .
the fact that we simply authorised the addition of this tariff charge to the existing surcharge , decided in 2006 to fund the great tunnels through the Alps , amounts to a double tariff charge and this is an obstacle to achieving a single market in my opinion .
you know that I am in one of those minorities that would have liked the Lisbon Treaty to also have been submitted to a referendum in Spain and in all the Member States .
I have no problem with this .
firstly , we have not been lacking in respect for anyone , especially not people who might be victims , but we considered that compassion , moral indignation and insults do not add up to a policy .
the statute also benefits Members of this House .
the aim should be to raise the status of access to high-quality education so that it becomes a basic objective of the Community 's policies .
with this new regulation , we will at the same time succeed in both offering better protection to users of these substances and in making our firms more competitive and efficient .
the present government , headed by Mr Chávez , obviously has an axe to grind with the USA and its supporters and allies , but that must not lead to such gross violations of the Venezuelan people 's rights as the institution of so-called ' administrative disqualification ' from elections or the persecution and murder of opposition activists .
I should mention , too , that the implementation of the EU Gas Directive in Lithuania is closely followed by other Member States where conditions are similar .
the European Union must decisively increase its involvement in order to resolve the conflict in Somalia and should call on the parties to the conflict to take all possible steps to provide humanitarian organisations with unimpeded access to victims in that country so that they can bring them aid .
when we go to the climate summit , there is one important thing that we must remember to take with us : realism .
( LV ) I would like to commend the attempts by Mrs Flautre to strengthen the European Union 's capability and increase its authority .
I wonder whether this is the tip of the iceberg .
however , I also voted in favour of the final directive , even though these amendments were not approved .
things must be coordinated internationally .
this is truly unacceptable .
we are going to need a lot of courage in the years to come if we want to strengthen our countries in the arena of global competition and if we want to use taxpayers ' money in the most effective way possible .
alternatively , the chips might set off security alerts at airports .
it would not be right for this to be just discrimination against European carriers and European passengers , particularly in the new Member States .
in fact we must do the opposite .
it is certainly essential for the European Union that these fractures are healed and so this is what we are going to work towards .
what is this bureaucratic term ?
in addition , I think it is necessary to provide this country not only with emergency aid , but also with the tools required to stabilise its situation and ensure there is no repetition of this type of event .
its findings will be useful for setting acceptance conditions for the final disposal of mercury , as provided for in Amendment 56 to the proposed regulation .
firstly , then , we need to invest in something that will keep demand high .
if we advise young people to express their views violently , then we must fear for the European Union .
I have one reservation , however : micro-credit is necessary only because the ' banksters ' , who are so quick to pocket State aid , are not doing what they are supposed to be doing : pumping money into the economy .
( the sitting was closed at 23.40 )
I consider that the policy of consolidating Community law should be one of the European Commission 's priorities and that the current situation is not in order , particularly in relation to the Member States and Europeans .
this is also what my director reported to me .
( applause )
thank you .
the Treaty of Lisbon gives the EU the means to undertake far-reaching reforms to achieve this .
with regard to EU-Brazil relations , it should be remembered that the strategic importance of this country has long justified the establishment of a specific delegation , as already happens with the other countries making up the quartet of Brazil , Russia , India and China , as well as with countries that are objectively less important in the international arena .
this is also a discussion on the adjustment of the emissions trading system .
my speech today is directed to all those ...
no , they are not farmers ' funds : they are granted to farmers .
Mr President , I would to thank everybody who contributed to this extremely important and high-profile report on media pluralism and concentration in the European Union .
on the other hand a 2 % increase in quotas does not necessarily imply the same increase in milk production in all regions .
they also continue to work together on common challenges such as climate change - the major issue for us - the fight against drugs , in which we are relying greatly on President Calderón , who has a major fight on his hands , and the sensitive and difficult question of migration .
the European Parliament once again expressed deep concern at the delays in commencing operations and requested information from the Commission and the Council on the results of the technical tests , demanding full transparency regarding the implementation process for the SIS II .
unfounded accusations , improvisation , lack of coordination , millions in losses , attacks on the honour and credibility of a sector : is it not sufficient reason to demand who takes responsibility ?
a strategy for the Atlantic region in which the Member States and their regions participate should also prioritise new areas of innovation in the economy and science , in particular , new products and services linked to the environment , to renewable and marine energy , to food-related marine biotechnology , to health and smart technology-intensive products and services .
please allow me , ladies and gentlemen , to raise with you and the Commissioner , albeit briefly , the well-known and serious problem that is threatening the connection between the Iberian Peninsula and the European rail network , particularly in the Mediterranean area .
transport providers must , moreover , provide basic assistance in case of an accident ( food , clothing and medical assistance ) , and lodging for up to two nights .
I can assure you that this impact assessment will be conducted very thoroughly .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , Mrs Dati , Mr Barrot , firstly I should like to commend the efforts of the French Presidency and the efforts that you personally have made , Mrs Dati , to promote a better area of legal freedom and effectiveness for the benefit of our fellow citizens .
on behalf of my Group , I welcome the fact that the Council acknowledges that the guidelines on an integrated economic policy must be revised .
each EU Member State is an autonomous member of the UN and therefore has the right to express its own opinion .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
secondly , in the case of my country , Belgium , the position of consumers is likely to be weakened , in that the database has to be consulted but there are no related sanctions for the banks .
in this situation it was important for the new Member States to receive not only moral but concrete , tangible financial assistance from the European Union , and for the EU to extend its protection to those countries that have not yet joined the euro area .
Madam President , yesterday the IND / DEM Group asked for all the votes to be roll-call votes .
Mr Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra was right .
women are fighting and deserve all the support and all the protection of their country .
I believe the margin currently stands at 121 or 123 million .
we will , of course , maintain a close dialogue with the European Parliament throughout this process .
it is vital for free , democratic elections to be organised as soon as possible so that legitimate constitutional order can be established and the country 's reconstruction can get under way .
resettlement is , without doubt , one of the durable solutions for refugees whose protection cannot be assured in countries of first asylum .
therefore , the objective of this proposal cannot be limited to harmonising European legislation , but should also promote health , through the improvement of knowledge in the area of health .
the international community unanimously denounced the methods used .
these negotiations reached a stalemate in July 2008 and I regret Pascal Lamy 's stubborn insistence on securing , at any cost , an overly ambitious agreement , forgetting that Doha is first and foremost a development round aimed at helping the least advanced and developing countries .
we need to be more confident than before that they are able to build a society and a state on foundations that are close to their definition of freedom and their traditions and values .
finally , since there is no time to mention any more points , I welcome the Commission 's communication and its approval by the Council .
the subject should be debated at the Justice and Home Affairs Council of 9 and 10 June .
EU experience of nuclear decommissioning is limited .
the European Union must size up the situation and support the democratic process without prevaricating .
it is very important that the Palestinians can carry the people with them .
thirdly , Article 7 of the regulation should include not only the risk analysis but also the audits and reports on the security inspections carried out by the Member States in accordance with the rules introduced by the statutory instruments of the SIS and the Visa Information System ( VIS ) .
furthermore , I would like to know what progress has been made in the negotiations on the bilateral agreement between the EU and Libya , already underway for a number of years .
provided it is implemented in a professional and transparent manner , regional policy easily proves itself to be a strong pillar of the EU .
the Belgian Presidency has been excellent .
the Commission needs to speed up the procedures , to issue delegated acts , so that the countries know the details and what they need to do to adapt .
Mr President , the EIB is providing up to EUR 1 billion for the construction of wind turbines and other renewable energy projects in the UK .
we have to face the challenge of an ageing population , and this will put even more pressure on the European health workforce .
the report by Mr Feio is dedicated to the central issue of European economic coordination .
as I mentioned , there were many more people requesting the floor than we were actually able to accommodate .
( SK ) Mr President , I would like to talk about the vote on the bilateral safeguard clause .
I do not know whether a vote will be held tomorrow , whether a consensus will be achieved on governance .
I have spoken with both research workers and fishermen .
I have just been down to the press room and I note that eight journalists are actually listening to the vote - others may be watching on the screens , where every single vote is being broadcast .
we therefore welcome the political signal given by the Commission with this package of measures .
I end by echoing what was said about Ambassador Richard Holbrooke , and the fact that his final words as he went into his last surgery were on Afghanistan .
consequently , I made some public statements saying that , in our opinion , the task was therefore not as difficult as negotiations concerning certain restructuring plans for other financial institutions in many Member States .
as it is merely a codification of a previously existing legislative text and does not involve any substantial change to the text itself , I believe that we should endorse the Commission 's proposal and the recommendations of the legal services of Parliament , the Council and the Commission itself .
I would like to thank our fellow Member , as well as all of you who signed this declaration .
therefore , the unique ability we have enables us to go to any crisis spot and be a doctor or a referee .
obviously we speak of cod because that is of particular relevance to the North Sea , but we have various other stocks of fish that are discarded , and this is a very sensitive issue around the European Union where public opinion is mounting in a very negative way .
these weapons are not only immoral , they are increasingly useless in military terms .
Europe 's ageing process continues and decisive action is needed in the following areas , among others : protection of human rights and employment rights , promotion of a pro-family policy , medical care and social aid , and improvements in human resources management , and immigrants must be included in this .
I hope that we can achieve our objective .
we have worked for this for many years .
that is something , at least .
modification of concessions with respect to processed poultry meat between the EU , Brazil , and Thailand (
our disagreement with you is about policy .
finally , citizens are today facing the cold .
this is not right or normal , so the Union needs to give women a greater role in the rural sector and find suitable solutions for the combination of economic activities that they carry out .
as an instrument of economic purchase by public authorities , procurement law is clearly designed to be related to the product , its suitability and its performance .
the peoples are also particularly at risk from the fact that the enlargement process continues to rely on a change of borders and the creation of protectorates for the imperialists , such as the protectorate of Kosovo , which will lead to a new cycle of imperialist antagonisms and clashes , with the peoples of the area as the victims .
the other is to tax speculative capital movements and financial transactions .
when , since that wonderful photograph with you embracing him , Mr President , did you suddenly come to realise that he was a " wrong 'un ” ?
we had one microphone for the EU .
for example , 112 000 illegal immigrants entered my country , Greece , last year , and 58 000 return decisions were issued .
we are now talking about around 30 % of the costs .
this is important , not only in order to keep prices down and to allow more competition , but also in order to ensure that the various Member States who , as a result of the climate package , may find themselves in a more vulnerable situation , do not become isolated .
I believe that the adopted report makes an effective contribution to these objectives .
I come firstly to SIS II .
they also want more information on the economic impact of the proposal , not only on the impact of the information requirements .
these days , stunning equipment is complex and difficult to evaluate in relation to their welfare efficiency .
for the many medium-sized companies and , in particular , small contractors in Saxony these measures go significantly too far .
12 .
this is why it is important that the European Union reacts and helps the Serbian and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonian authorities to adopt sufficient measures regarding the requirements that must be fulfilled to benefit from refugee status or subsidiary protection status , thereby avoiding improper or fraudulent use of them .
at the upcoming EU-US summit , both partners must cooperate on moving forward with a common agenda based on shared values such as the defence of democracy , of the rule of law and of human rights .
the crisis has been going on for a year now and we have failed to notice it ; no measures have been taken .
in writing . - ( NL ) Patient mobility is a fact , but the necessary legal certainty for patients and healthcare workers is not yet here .
support for the development of educational systems , with the assistance of interdisciplinary investment , is also strongly justified . the money must be invested in enterprises which guarantee that graduates will find employment .
in writing . - ( PL ) Growth and employment are key elements in the Lisbon Strategy .
the problems of agriculture have no sympathy for the whims of the political calendar , however , and farmers are expecting us to provide solutions to their problems , difficulties and anxieties .
particular attention must be focused on removing all those difficulties that hamper access to Community funds and discourage people from obtaining EU financial support .
the reality is that the EPP in this Parliament has the same agenda as the coup conspirators : they want to overthrow Hugo Chávez 's government because this government has not carried out the bold dictates of world capitalism implementing privatisation and deregulation across the board , and they want no opposition to the neoliberal agenda .
now free trade agreements , bilateral agreements , are the norm at this point in time and I think we have much more in common with Canada than any differences .
to that end , it would be wise to think about new North-South partnerships , particularly in the area of alternative energy production .
I almost have the impression that we should be handing out membership forms for the Social Democratic Party to the PPE-DE Group : it seems that they cannot change their opinions fast enough , and the Liberals , I have to say , are even worse .
even if it means overriding the strict criteria for fund activation and even without the approval of the 2011 budget , we must respond immediately to our fellow citizens who are still experiencing , even now , the effects of such a great crisis , and who are entitled to feel that Parliament is behind them and the European Union is providing substantial support .
a detailed analysis of the budgets of the decentralised agencies was also carried out .
the Commission asked for this last week .
if we are to impose restrictions on emissions , let us introduce a specific emissions system , as we have with cars .
in the Commission 's White Paper on Sport , which was adopted on 11 July 2007 , issues such as free movement of sportspersons were also exhaustively addressed , especially in the accompanying document entitled ' The EU and Sport : background and Context ' .
I am referring here to the European Semester , the growth survey that has already been mentioned .
no one is seeking to prejudge the outcome of the implementation of the Hungarian constitution but I do think that this Parliament is concerned that the Hungarian constitution must also adhere to the rule of accreditation of political pluralism and the alternation of different political projects under the same set of rules of play .
the foundations have been laid for a new state and a new constitution has been adopted .
I believe this European approach is a core element of our strategy to promote peace and security in our neighbourhood , but also beyond .
initially criticised for being over-active , the European Central Bank was able to note with satisfaction that all the other major monetary authorities had adopted its instruments and methods .
on the other hand , it is now my conviction - and I would simply like to share it with the Members of the House , Mr President - that , once the Directive has been adopted , the Member States will have 18 months to transpose its content into their national laws and it goes without saying that the Commission will scrutinise the transposition process in great detail .
Colonel Gaddafi must relinquish power immediately .
I would like to make another three brief comments on the keynote debate that has taken place here today on the subject of globalisation .
it could fulfil its purpose if the individual countries of the Union were starting from the same place .
Commissioner Damanaki has also made reference to the incapacity of the Mauritanian Government , which will need to develop its administrative structure so that it can assimilate the funds provided by the EU ; this will also be a contribution .
that is far too long and does not inspire trust in the notion that the Member States are acting with sufficient vigilance .
what should be their response to Israelis who are perfectly justifiably applying for permits to build in an area where they are quite entitled to live ?
the European Union must help this country to turn its back on this trade by fighting it both here and there and by a return to development based on that country 's own resources .
I should like to ask a specific question : how do you rate the plans already under way to decontaminate the Mediterranean and for energy transfer , how do they fit in with maritime policy and what added value do you expect the new policy plans and programmes which you mentioned to have ?
in writing . - Madam President , The Gulf of Mexico oil disaster serves as a reminder of the inherent risks involved in maritime oil exploration .
the definition to which he refers has been somewhat superseded by the criteria listed .
in writing . - ( LT ) I endorsed this report and discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy for the financial year 2009 .
again this week in Scotland , it was revealed that so far this year , Scottish police have seized half a million CDs and DVDs with a street value close to GBP 5 million .
the debate is closed .
the report tackles cross-border issues between Member States and will increase regulatory oversight at European level .
I have therefore voted in favour of the Agreement in which both parties undertake to adopt environmental and social standards that will considerably reduce noise pollution and mitigate the effects of air traffic emissions on air quality , whilst also committing to developing sustainable alternative fuels .
meanwhile , the real beneficiaries are almost exclusively the greedy fleets from China and South-East Asia and their processing industries .
the gravity of the financial crisis is clear to all of us and it is absolutely right that it should be at the core of the European Council meeting next week .
I am convinced that it will strengthen the process : cultural dialogue as a process , rather than as a one-off event .
at the same time , the motor vehicle industry in Japan , which is focusing its efforts greatly on manufacturing clean cars , poses a threat to the European Union market , which needs to invest more in the technological development of vehicles which emit less carbon dioxide and in promoting alternative fuels .
we are following developments closely and seeking ways to promote dialogue and reconciliation between political forces in the country .
the resolution also calls on Israel to take steps to ensure the free passage of humanitarian supplies and essential utilities .
to enable them to do so , we need a legislative framework and legal certainty .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , in the face of the financial crisis , enormous amounts of money are suddenly being freed up , including sums to ease the economic crisis .
I would also like to emphasise the importance of providing support for NGOs fighting for the rights of women in the Balkans , to be undertaken both by governments in the Balkan region and NGOs in EU Member States .
this year , the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection agreed the new goods package , which created the new framework for market surveillance and for the enforcement of all EU law to ensure the safety of goods available on the internal market .
the European Parliament has already shown that it has a broad vision of the future of the European Union .
I wish like to stress , however , that this programme will require a comprehensive approach .
DNA databases and digital fingerprint records are a very important tool in the fight against crime .
they seem to be based on the idea that these states can deal with the difficult situation themselves , and that they are capable of improving their situation by themselves through a ' disciplined ' approach .
we , more than anyone else , want these authorities to set to work , since we have contributed personally to their emergence .
EC-USA agreement in the field of higher education and vocational training ( vote )
eight years after Nice , decision-making on these issues in the area of police and justice cooperation unfortunately still takes place behind closed doors , not subject to any meaningful democratic scrutiny .
however , there were also arguments saying that we need a strategy which we will adopt by a huge majority .
on that basis ... yes indeed , I am quite right .
for the simple reason that EU external policy already included annual summits with India , Russia and China but has never had an annual summit with Brazil .
as regards fiscal policies , the ECB shares the view expressed that all Member States must fully respect the Stability and Growth Pact .
in writing . - I voted in favour of the Van Lancker Report dealing with Member States ' employment policies .
entry into the euro zone by the other new EU Member States seems to be just a matter of time .
I said that we are prepared to accept the definition that is proposed in one of the amendments .
due to its enhanced role in the area and its active involvement in the UN , Brazil can , I believe , play an essential role in preventing and resolving regional conflicts in Latin America , thereby helping to consolidate peace in the area .
however , I have not noticed any mention of a couple of matters which are , in my view , extremely important and which I have included in the report .
the proposal for a directive and the report aim to eliminate the high level of centralisation that still exists in certain countries , in order to complete the penetration of EU monopolies into the market , thus accelerating the implementation of liberalisation , while also imposing sanctions on the Member States that have not yet fully implemented it .
we talk a great deal about extreme weather conditions and their consequences and hazards , and how they increase the risk of natural and industrial disasters .
this proposal , which is in line with previous measures , aims to make the lives of major European importers , which are its main beneficiaries , even easier , as they will be able to access raw materials and low-cost finished products , while sacrificing national industry and thousands of jobs .
I voted against and so I am very pleased with the outcome of this morning 's vote , in which Parliament has given the green light to the appointment of the Chairperson of the European Securities and Markets Authority ( ESMA ) .
this proposal is confined to the codification of the existing texts relating to access to the driving position and the doors and windows of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors , without any change in their substance , so I am voting in favour .
was it that the structural funds and cohesion policy were no match for the CAP ?
it is therefore important for every Member State to implement existing directives consistently and for the Council to extend protection to every group at risk by accepting the new , comprehensive draft directive .
you have mentioned several areas where new Member States are developing their activities in both programmes .
the Commission has assured us that it allows for an assessment to be undertaken in the two years after the directive is implemented and for new aspects to be introduced as appropriate at that time .
given the changes that await us , regionalisation is extremely important , as is ensuring that this policy is built on the basis of this very regionalisation .
in my opinion , this is clear from the relevant passages in the conclusions of the summit , which state that , in the current crisis , the renewed Lisbon Strategy , including the current Integrated Guidelines , remains the effective framework for fostering growth and jobs .
I personally have always supported the efforts made by the UN and its envoy , Mr Ross , aimed at holding bilateral political , negotiated and sustainable talks between the two parties .
the initial disturbances in Lhasa and elsewhere were orchestrated attacks on people and premises with arson , injury and murder of Han Chinese and the Muslim minority .
a Commission which will guard , above all , the common interest , and which will undertake bold reforms of EU policies , which we have to embark upon after the years spent reforming our institutions .
the first major objective to be attained is that of the air quality standards , to be met by 2015 .
Pakistan : murder of the Governor of Punjab , Salmaan Taseer (
I also predict that the Members on the left , who are arguing against this Directive today , will tomorrow ask the Commission , or Commissioner Barrot , to implement what we have passed here .
we have heard that there are 8 million illegal residents doing illegal work ; we must assume that as soon as these measures enter into force , we will have 8 million illegal immigrants on the streets , and we will have to deal with them .
I regret that the reference to the right of non-EU nationals to vote and to the guarantee of access to health care for ill migrants has been left out of the resolution .
we intend to continue to respect its organisation and hope to have the discussion , and I hope that this will not be misconstrued as anything else when it is discussed around Europe .
however , one governing party in Germany is constantly calling for tax relief , while at the same time , the Greek Government is being called on to increase taxes .
moreover , we can see that effective application of the legislation and actual redress mechanisms are of crucial importance for the proper operation of the market .
Madam President , 8 March 2011 , the one hundredth anniversary of International Women 's Day .
these stereotypes continue to represent one of the instruments of discrimination against women on the labour markets .
though I might not experience it from this place , I can guarantee that I will keep an eye on you when you take upon yourselves the new responsibilities for the agricultural sector .
due pressure needs to be exerted on Israel .
my response would be yes , we do need a kind of Marshall Plan for the whole region .
we also need to enhance the Competition and Innovation Programme ( CIP ) .
we should be clear about this .
in fact , the slight recovery that we have seen cannot reabsorb the number of people made redundant over the last three years .
I fundamentally disagree with this type of criticism .
the people remember their country 's violent past .
the current regulation is not in line with technical development or the possibilities and challenges created by Internet .
I should like to start by expressing my sincere thanks to the rapporteurs and shadow rapporteurs for their cooperation on the devil of a job this has been .
the European Union Police Mission ( EUPOL ) has failed and should not be extended or developed .
not far from these , however , one can see poverty-ridden old people 's homes , the inhabitants of which struggle to survive .
I totally support the report , especially in the context of human rights violations in the Latvian Republic .
the current turbulence on the financial markets also shows that enterprises are all too quick to turn to the State for help if they run into difficulties .
this is what is known as ' winning every which way ' ...
that was a first initiative .
Georgia is part of Europe .
the irony of short-term thinking , of focusing exclusively on the economics of a society , is that it is the welfare of the people and the family at a human level that ultimately has the greatest impact on the economics .
this will take time , mind you , and we may not manage to approve them before the end of the legislative term .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
subject : environmental damage caused by lignite mining in the Czech Republic and central Germany
a foreign policy like the one that the Union is proposing to develop cannot neglect the cultural dimension , but rather must keep it in mind as an asset ; as a value that is not always tangible but is particularly important in a world increasingly susceptible to the ' soft power ' of states and international organisations .
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all four rapporteurs in particular for preparing , negotiating and conceiving this collection of clear-cut measures , as well as the entire Parliament for its active and positive contribution , the Commission for providing support and preparation throughout the approval process and the French Presidency for its exceptional level of engagement .
this way , it will be possible to get the aid to its destination and achieve the best possible result .
3 .
a thriving market with job security are not achievable within the context of the CFP and control of fisheries management must be returned to the nations dependent on fisheries .
I wish you all a Happy Christmas and a successful start to 2010 .
we succeeded in agreeing the wording for all of this and for arrangements relating to the implementation of Article 290 of the treaty in relation to this dossier , and we kept all of this as consistent as possible with regard to the European Parliament 's powers under the Treaty of Lisbon .
finally , for the Railway Agency , the use of expired contracts and irregular extensions to regular existing contracts means that it cannot be stated that all transactions were legal .
the utmost attention should indeed be given to the most vulnerable groups in the population , those who suffer the most from the consequences of the economic and social downturn , to avoid further asymmetric impact of the crisis which jeopardises the balanced development of all territories within the Union .
seen in this light , the primary importance of the fund as a policy tool and its double value , in supporting employment policy and cohesion policy , on the one hand , and in real and harmonious regional development , on the other , can be understood .
if the European Parliament does not defend this fundamental right , who will ?
I would be interested in finding out about this , because companies have come to me in the past with their concerns .
we agree that it should be made a major political objective because it also lies heavy on our consciences .
as long as these Member States ( Cyprus , Bulgaria and Romania ) are not part of the Schengen area , the visa waiver confers a right on Brazilian citizens to stay for three months on the territory of each of them , irrespective of the period calculated for the entire Schengen area .
the overall budget level for 2009 will have to meet the challenges despite being below Parliament 's traditional voluntary limitation to 20 % of outlay on administration .
antimicrobial resistance ( AMR ) is an animal health issue for the European livestock sector , especially when treatment failure occurs .
obviously this agreement is a significant breakthrough and it is to be welcomed .
constantly increasing the use of renewable energy resources is one of the main pillars in European policy to achieve sustainable , competitive and secure energy supplies .
we do not have enough knowledge at this stage of the consequences in terms of risk abuse , higher costs for consumers and businesses and more regulation .
as Mrs Roure mentioned , the question of SIS II is ultimately a question of the Union 's credibility when it comes to guaranteeing internal security within the EU .
we are asking that they do not reduce their contributions as a percentage of their reduced GNI .
technical studies have also backed this up .
( DE ) Thank you , Minister , for that sound and exhaustive reply .
this is the only way in which Kosovo will flourish .
the integration of the so-called new Members is not complete , the Treaty of Lisbon is not yet ratified by all Member States and our dependence on imported energy is increasing .
this is a barrier that we must overcome with a policy of services that , via the new common agricultural policy ( CAP ) , will facilitate the processes of development and activity in the rural fabric of many areas .
Mr President , I thank the Commissioners for their presentation and for all the effort they are putting into the Haiti case .
in writing . - I support the recommendations outlined in Jean-Pierre Audy 's report ' Implementing trade policy through efficient import and export rules and procedures . '
a similar situation now seems to be evolving in European waters .
we have flexible guidelines , as I have just mentioned , and , in particular , this year has seen the introduction of best practices .
unfortunately , that is not currently the case .
better safety and more environmentally sensitive and sensible proposals are always welcome .
as a Hungarian , I will be very happy if the Hungarian Presidency is as successful .
I would like to thank the Commissioner for his cooperation in this area and put on the record the urgent need for review of the Veterinary Medicines Directive .
the representative edifice has firm foundations , but from time to time it needs reforms and new ways to express itself with greater quality .
the former deterrent effect of nuclear armament is thus out of the picture .
may I draw your attention to an important amendment , namely Amendment No 3 , which I support and which calls on Britain and Poland to redouble their efforts to rethink and reverse their decision to opt out .
under these circumstances , it is tempting to consider the implementation of a tax on financial transactions .
4 .
the problem is that the European Union produces lots of fine talk on the subject but never puts it into practice .
I am thinking of certain diseases in particular , such as rare diseases .
for , like us , the people of Iraq demand democracy and have a right to good governance .
however , the so-called rescue operation also has some absurd elements .
now Iran plans to build 5 000 more centrifuges .
it should be a minimum of 1 % of the gross budget of the European Union .
in Germany , on the other hand , we have two Federal Ministries that are responsible and these ministries clearly could not agree on who was to take responsibility .
that is disastrous for the Lisbon process overall .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Culture and Education . - ( DE ) Mr President , I am speaking here for the Committee on Culture , which is responsible not only for culture , but also for education , youth , media and sport .
( SK ) I believe that Ukraine is one of the closest potential partners of the European Union .
they turned down offers of international humanitarian aid , claiming that the famine did not exist .
it is hard to rejoice in the creation of six million jobs , as this took place during a period of cyclical growth acceleration during the last two years .
however , if we can manage to agree on more safety and more Europe , we will be sending out a signal to the Member States .
to this end , the European Commission and individual publishers should ensure that disabled people are provided with special digital versions of works , such as audio readings .
measures should be implemented even at primary school level to ensure that adequate media literacy is provided so that children acquire the skill sets required to take an active part in society .
domestic violence is not a private family matter .
I agreed with the report and the requirement to submit annual reports to the European Commission and the European Parliament , because currently there is very little data showing what ECAs finance or have financed in the past , and some national ECAs do not even report the overall balance of their annual operations regularly , which violates the principles of transparency .
Madam President , I have a short comment and two questions to put to Baroness Ashton .
today 's reports have shown that help is needed both by countries in economic difficulties like Spain , and by one of Europe 's richest welfare countries , Denmark .
this will be a programme of exceptional harshness for our economy .
from this stems my support for a report that is necessary in order to evaluate advances made in the common security and defence policy following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon and to identify what scope there is for improvement .
this is simply not true .
in the midst of an economic and social crisis that is having terrible effects on employment and people 's living conditions , it is unacceptable for the Community draft budget to have EUR 11 billion less in payments than was projected in the financial perspective .
I intend to make this a regular feature of the European Council meetings .
through specific measures it seeks to control a difficult problem in a branch of the economy where effective policies have not hitherto been successfully developed .
I believe , in fact , that what transport does is to improve and promote tourism and that , therefore , just now when we are reviewing the trans-European transport networks in Europe , we should bear this very much in mind , as there is evidence that better , smoother running transport , with greater capacity and less environmental impact , is a key element for the tourist sector .
I come from Portugal , from the other end of Europe , and next week I shall be going to Russia .
I would also like to mention here that the joint declaration from the presidents of Romania and Turkmenistan has marked the establishment of an energy partnership for exploiting and transporting natural gas and crude oil , including through the transfer of experience and equipment .
( PT ) Mr President , Commissioner , I should like to begin by thanking Mrs Castex for her excellent work .
prostitutes are not just victims of wars that took place 50 years ago ; it could also be women of today who are being exploited , in the Belgian Congo , for example , as reported in the press , and indeed in many other countries , even rich ones .
despite this , considering the importance of the instrument under discussion , I will vote in favour .
the elections , which were monitored by the United Nations ( UN ) and the European Union , took place in a generally satisfactory way .
if we knock down that ' nomination ' wall , whereby the future candidates are selected on the basis of balances among nations and not of their personal qualities , then we will have finally built the nation of Europe .
we therefore draw special attention to the clearly defined exemption in the Convention for the next generation of " smarter ” munitions which are designed to self destruct and present a minimal risk to civilians .
I think that there is rather large support for such a policy in the European Union , that it is growing and that we need to live up to the responsibilities that this gives us all .
I think we have made some progress , but not very much .
while I welcome these regulations and these proposals , I think we also need to implement the regulations that are there for the product that is coming in from outside the European Union .
the report notes that there is an additional need for more money for the Visitors ' Centre .
several Member States are making a contribution , either bilaterally or through various coordination mechanisms operated by the Commission or the International Atomic Energy Agency .
in general , I voted in favour of the efforts to simplify the common agricultural policy ( CAP ) .
are there any comments ?
everyone can benefit from it .
I find the willingness of employers to give women allowances to help them with childcare and thus facilitate their further professional and career development to be very unsatisfactory .
but carry on the fight with us and do not accept this procedure or the proposal that is on the table for the time being , as it will not do the job and will not stabilise the euro in the coming months or years .
my response to Mr Herczog about the waste of money : administration accounts for only 5.7 % of the total budget of the European Union .
however , this report called for the naked politicisation of volunteering for EU purposes , and for the use of the British taxpayers ' money to achieve this politicisation .
the legislative process must speed up .
Mr President , three weeks ago , the global financial crisis that had threatened America 's banking system with meltdown began to take its toll on this side of the Atlantic .
Madam President , I would like to ask our fellow Member a question , if he accepts it .
I want to know from you , Commissioner , what steps you are taking proactively to ensure that the rights of individuals to go about their business and their privacy is protected .
this , in brief , is what I wished to say , dealing with each speech point by point .
enhancing the quality of life of older people ( debate )
so the security of Europe is directly connected to the Middle East .
my objective was to talk about strengthening the role of school PE and sport in education .
either they will be held in accordance with standards which we accept and will indicate significant openness , or they will not be held in this way and we will simply have to stop thinking about openness from Belarus , because it will be obvious that Mr Lukashenko knows what he wants , while we do not really know what we want .
many of the deaths from cancer could be avoided by prevention measures , such as access to information and to comprehensive screening programmes .
the ÖVP Europe Club in the European Parliament welcomes the proposal for a regulation on a modernised Community Customs Code .
it is not acceptable that at present , depending on which country they live in , not all victims of these hateful crimes enjoy the same opportunities to obtain justice and reparation for the violence done to them .
this problem is at an appalling level in developing countries , especially in countries ravaged by wars and conflicts .
we need a critical mass of players involved .
it is good that a proper investigation is being carried out at EU level into how a tax like this could work .
at such a dramatic moment for Europe , a recommendation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 % is consistently being put forward , for example - something which will stifle the economies of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe , including Poland .
may he continue to do so .
the size of the state alone is something akin to that of Europe ; the governance for much of that state is non-existent ; corruption levels are quite extraordinary - Transparency International puts the Republic of Congo almost bottom of its league table .
we will have to improve the way that it operates , we will need to have more of a development model and less of a free trade model , certainly , and we will , of course , need to have political will .
we must set the priorities for the strategy which we are launching so that the reforms which will be generated by EU 2020 will survive in the medium and long term .
( FR ) Mr Jouyet , when Nicole Fontaine was putting her question , the Council was already answering .
it will pay special attention to further measures relating to the reliability of supply and to external energy policy .
this is precisely where we have a contradiction - the money that is to be used to stimulate the Tunisian economy is also used to finance and support a dictatorial , anti-democratic apparatus .
it is , of course , a major change that will see the ordinary legislative procedure being replaced by one that gives the European Parliament a stronger role in the legislative process in a number of areas .
we must also , as the organisations themselves agree , set up a forum at which regular meetings are held to facilitate communication between donors and recipients , and not only donors from the European Union , but also from elsewhere .
I would like to make three points in this respect and the first concerns the rules of origin .
the Commission has always been prepared to consult the stakeholders involved , as it remarked , moreover , in its statement of reasons .
these rights concern non-discriminatory access to transport for persons with disabilities , as well as awarding compensation in the event of the passenger 's death , physical injury or of loss of , or damage to , luggage .
the use of new technologies can cut energy consumption in buildings by up to 17 % and carbon emissions from transport by up to 27 % , while introducing smart metering could reduce energy consumption by up to 10 % .
it is a victory for road safety and social Europe .
we will therefore continue to explain our view that the political and economic stability encouraged by the Eastern Partnership is , finally , in the interests of all parties .
in writing . - ( PT ) The Commission proposes to exclude pet animals from the scope of Council Directive 96 / 22 / EC which would enable their treatment with substances having a thyrostatic action and with beta-agonists .
I have voted in favour of this resolution which seeks to identify a number of important issues that should be addressed in Tajikistan .
does the Commission accept that under the Treaty - as opposed to the Stability Pact - the 3 % is not a limit , it is a reference value ?
in the case of the eurozone , the foundations , the stability foundations , were laid with the Stability and Growth Pact .
full consultation with my colleagues involves two days ' work - this is fantastic , but it takes time .
our mandate to work towards less costly EU cooperation leads us to reject this frivolous treatment of taxpayers ' money .
in my opinion , the European Central Bank should cut the interest rate tomorrow by one percentage point .
it is a sign that serious problems are diverting global trade from what should be its main objective : ensuring the development of all , notably the poorest countries on the planet .
so we probably do not need to create a new Community - a new institutional - framework , but we do need to commit decisively to the goals that we have agreed and even , if agreed , to set more ambitious goals .
if we are rejecting illegal , clandestine immigration , it is because of all the trafficking and all the organised crime behind it .
in a nutshell , guaranteeing EU citizens ' security .
the European Community should continue to support the measures that have already contributed to progress in the country , especially those that help to provide for the basic needs of the population and make health care available .
now I believe that we are hopefully over that .
but I know that when preacher of hate Terry Jones , who threatened to burn the Koran , said he would come to Luton - also in my constituency - to stir up religious hatred , he was told he would not be welcome .
trade can provide an excellent contribution in this case .
there are already indications that it may be profitable to control such production , just as the designations of origin are strictly controls .
linked to that is making sure that they are prosecuted and treated properly by reference to our own judicial standards in the countries of that region .
this is the culmination of the determined work that we have done in collaboration with the Council and the Commission .
the mandate of the EP delegation for the trilogue should be much more modest , and at the same time more realistic , if Parliament wishes to remain relevant in the light of the huge challenges the EU faces for the future .
today , we have repeatedly heard about the illegal trade in organs - about an illegal activity and about trade .
I support the report because it gives smaller companies the opportunity to attract better custom .
anyone who does not love animals does not love people either .
we continually assert that solidarity is of particular importance in the current financial crisis , especially coming as we do , as I do , from a country which is brimful of bank branches , affiliated organisations and subsidiaries , so what is essential here is how the head offices in their key positions , and their supervisory bodies , react to the problem facing us .
no , we are not being overly critical .
if that is how you see the situation , why do you not go to the relevant committees in Parliament ?
however , many of these places , funded by public money , have disappointingly not been taken up .
the advantages are huge in terms of both economic growth and job creation .
already at first reading , Parliament came out in favour of this directive , but , unfortunately , the Council did not take all of Parliament 's amendments into account .
I therefore voted for this report because it respects these balances .
however , some have pointed out that education is a national or indeed , in many states , a subnational or regional responsibility .
obviously it is up to the individual to act responsibly in this regard , but it is also up to financial institutions , and increasingly retailers , to act responsibly in offering advertising and granting these cards .
now I see democracy failing here in Europe .
in connection with the unquestionable need for exploitation of rare earth elements by industry in the EU Member States and the need for research into them , I would call for dialogue with the People 's Republic of China on increasing exports of these raw materials and for our efforts to be focused on searching for alternative sources for their extraction .
the conflict in Libya has shown the importance of Europe 's ability to mobilise a range of resources for rapid reaction .
statistics point to a higher survival rate and lower mortality in the old EU , and I therefore appeal to the European Commission to apply special monitoring to the implementation of the EU programme ' Europe Against Cancer ' in Central and Eastern Europe in particular .
over the past few years , I have sought to promote a green transport policy in order to secure the future of the transport sector .
given the institutional changes to come and , in particular , the end of the legislative term , the Commission has made every attempt to ensure that the new legislative proposals included in the 2008 work programme are scheduled for adoption by the College before the end of 2008 .
the 10 reports from the Committee on Legal Affairs focus solely on the codification of various acts , as established by common accord by the Legal Service .
in some countries , like my country of Lithuania for example , the government is also hurting pensioners , as pensions and benefits have been cut .
and we will continue these negotiations and continue this fight , so he can count on us .
as for the general issue you raised , the situation of the euro area was also discussed .
we will therefore highlight the objectives and principles that the EU must respect in relation to our energy partnership , in particular reciprocity , transparency , openness and creation of an effective legal and regulatory framework .
these are under discussion .
if this proves successful and if the first initiatives that are being launched prove successful , then we can go to the Member States to see whether there is a willingness to proceed further in the direction of greater integration of maritime affairs .
the Court also gives an unqualified opinion on education and citizenship , estimating that the error rate has fallen below 2 % .
Mr President , the package has been a very difficult one for Parliament and the Council .
we must come down on those rules which seek to favour businesses in their countries which have foreign operations and which act against other foreign players .
these are the directive on bank capital requirements , the directive on deposit guarantees , solvency II , and the directive on Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities ( UCITS ) .
this is also why I fully support the Commission 's proposal to have the national budgets inspected in advance by the EU , with the proviso , however , that the national parliaments and the European Parliament are involved in these inspection arrangements .
with this first experience of the ordinary legislative procedure , my colleague , Commissioner Cioloş , and his services have learned a lot , and this has set an excellent precedent for future work .
through its political manipulations , the Constitutional Council confirmed in office the outgoing leader , who unfortunately continues to be the acting representative of Côte d 'Ivoire .
the limits of the intergenerational contract have been reached .
I think we should place emphasis on the principle of an even geographical distribution of the Knowledge and Information Communities .
if we now agree to an increase because of the Treaty of Lisbon , then this is the only occasion on which we can use that argument .
the proposal adopted by the Commission last October is the outcome of extensive consultation , a process that started before the financial crisis .
I would remind the Commission that they informed the European Parliament in 2006 that the 2004 directive on residency should be interpreted by Member States in accordance with the European Court of Justice decisions in July 2002 ( Case No C / 459 / 99 ( MRAX ) ) and again in April 2005 ( Case No C / 157 / 03 ) .
they happen unexpectedly .
freedom of movement is a sensitive issue , particularly for people who have borne the yoke of occupation and have been deprived of freedom .
why does nobody see that we have written a whole section , a whole article especially for children and families , in order to set minimum standards ?
Commissioner , we have already heard you and we appreciate the strong stand that you have been taking on this particular issue .
Joseph Daul rightly said that we have an initial agreement in connection with the Car Emissions Directive .
all of this leads me to believe we are going to have a different financial services sector when this is all over and we will have a different regulatory framework as well .
there are some challenges , particularly the possibility of a freeze on oil and gas connections . it has put the brakes on investment in renewable energy .
in writing . - ( PL ) The purpose for which the World Trade Organisation was created was to bring about free and multilateral trade .
in writing . - ( PT ) I voted in favour of the Busk report on the proposal to set up a scheme to distribute fruit in schools because I feel that Community support for the free distribution of these products to children is vital in promoting healthy eating habits in the European Union and , consequently , improving the health levels of Europeans .
nearly zero energy buildings are buildings with very high energy performance .
they guarantee high quality information and thus make a significant contribution to the functioning of our democracy .
welcome
this compromise became the basis for the subsequent request for a WTO waiver .
negotiations should be taken in cooperation with other national governments , not forced upon from above by the EU .
we believe that these decisions , taken together with the decision to close Guantánamo , which I have already mentioned , will further strengthen cooperation with the US in countering terrorism .
the Commission 's main contractor for developing SIS II has performed a series of operational tests on the central system running interactively with some national systems .
the European Union and the United States are an important , the most important , system which has a considerable effect on international relations .
whether Irish sovereignty is represented by UKIP 's ideology is debatable , in my view .
I join my colleagues in expressing my profound regret for the suffering of the civilian population in Gaza and I believe that the only possible solution , not only in this territory , but throughout the Holy Land , is dialogue , negotiation and diplomacy , and never war , which can only exacerbate hatred .
we know how important biodiversity or , when it comes down it , nature protection is for our own survival because we can see that , despite the measures taken at European or global level , the erosion of biodiversity is continuing ; the extinction of species is continuing .
honourable Members , what does the strategic partnership mean for us ?
regional Strategy Papers and Regional Indicative Programmes for Mercosur and Latin America ( vote )
this is why it is so important that they are also included , and Parliament has worked , through all the amendments from the shadow rapporteurs , to ensure that all these victims are also included in this legal instrument .
the second point is the question of the place of origin .
( it ) Mr President , it is highly significant that Parliament is using this resolution to send a strong message to both the Member States and the younger generations to ask for greater commitment to European cooperation on learning , vocational training and higher education in order to bolster the Europe 2020 strategy .
these are not normal goods - they are not sweets or leisure goods - but objects that need to be carefully controlled .
however , some of our partners , like the United States , Russia and China , have not joined the International Criminal Court in its work .
I believe that we should not remain idle on this transit issue .
written declarations included in the register ( Rule 123 ) : see Minutes
we want to use this neighbourhood policy , of course , to project our stability and to encourage reforms .
in my opinion , what is now happening in Belarus and the kind of actions that Mr Lukashenko has dared allow himself to take when it comes to the Polish minority in this country are signs that he also is looking more to Moscow than to the West .
by supporting the report on the European Urban Agenda and its Future in Cohesion Policy , I am advocating a new approach to urban policy based on close cooperation between operators at the various levels of decision-making : EU , national level , urban areas and peripheral urban areas .
if you have something private to discuss , you can do so outside .
( DE ) President-in-Office , I think that the Czech Presidency is taking a very positive and proactive approach to this issue .
however , more international cooperation and cyber controls are needed to eradicate falsified Viagra , slimming products , dermatological creams , and so on , which are available at the click of a mouse .
if this is not the case , could the Council outline what the outstanding issues are ?
( PL ) When we accede to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights , we must , at all costs , avoid a number of serious dangers .
I would like to conclude , then , by stressing the need to guarantee an equal gender mix in the decision-making and consultative bodies involved in recruitment , promotion , rewards and funding , as well as in the other branches in the sector , in order to introduce statistical monitoring to produce comparative analyses of the working situation faced by women in the various countries of the Union
I have no sympathy for the Liberals ' proposal to postpone all these measures to strengthen Europol to provide more security in the interest of citizens until the Treaty comes into force .
two fundamental principles are being called into question : solidarity and the unity of the internal market , due to protectionism .
investment in energy and , in particular , in energy infrastructures , should promote job creation , drive innovation , encourage the development of new activities and the use of new technologies , and foster economic confidence .
in March 2000 , when the Lisbon Strategy began to be implemented , the Council instructed the Member States and the European Commission to take measures to radically reduce poverty , leading to its eradication by 2010 .
these are the people most at risk of disease and death due to the record prices of their staple foods , namely cereals such as rice , corn and wheat . this has a direct impact on the number of starving people , which increased by another 50 million in the year 2007 alone .
as on so many other occasions , however , the report lacks the capacity to state clearly that , if there is to be free competition , there absolutely must be equal conditions for cabotage and compliance with social and environmental standards .
Europe is subject to intense pressure of all kinds , such as pressure on the euro and the pressure of the conflict between EU and national perspectives .
economic growth and an atmosphere of job creation should be incentivised as part of this programme , in order to reserve a particular role for small and medium-sized enterprises ( SME ) , which are the engine of European economic growth .
they do not double- and treble-tax the funds that decide to locate there .
turning to Mr Désir 's report , we could not agree more with him when he names the transnational corporations as a source of negative effects on the environment and on our social standards .
the good thing about the Irish ' no ' - trying to see the positive side - is that Europe is being talked about once more .
please pay no attention to Mrs Merkel 's simplified financial ABC , Mr Trichet .
the current crisis has also shown that the European car industry is strongly interconnected .
while I note that the Commissioner says that it was a sincere and in-depth exchange of views - and I am sure that was true on the side of the Europeans - I am not convinced that would be the case on the side of the Chinese .
can this new partnership bear fruit ?
in this period of economic and financial crisis , it is imperative to have leaders and people in charge who can show composure and independence .
for its part , Europe is still sending ambiguous messages about accession , which are doing nothing to help .
and yet Europe is filled with millions of Muslims who have come here from all sorts of backgrounds and causations ; just as Europe would still be filled with Jews , had it not been for the horrors of the Second World War .
what was once the engine of European integration is today a stumbling block to a liberal European economy .
when liberals and left-wing politicians assert that day-to-day work with refugees is sufficiently covered by non-governmental organisations and state funding , it reveals their short-sighted cynicism and hypocrisy .
my personal opinion is that the situation we have already been tackling for some months now in Greece is not a unique situation , and it seems to indicate that a new approach is required in terms of adhering to , or , as the case may be , not adhering to the Stability Pact .
it divides rather than unites men and women .
to do as this report does and categorically reject the work done by private care providers and non-governmental organisations is definitely not the right way to go about things for someone who genuinely has the welfare of the poor in mind .
Parliament has also improved the text by highlighting the importance of training legal professionals to cooperate and to bring our legal structures closer together through mutual recognition and trust , so that we can integrate the response instruments in order to make the European Union a true area of freedom , justice and security .
we must now work to build on these good intentions and this consensus to put in place real improvements in teacher education .
for example , Germany has increased its production from what was around 240 000 tonnes a year and France from what was 350 000 tonnes a year .
this is a key issue which demands the ability on our part to define a social vision for Europe and to translate that vision into concrete action .
my second criticism concerns the extension of the concept of sexual and reproductive health , as is done in recital X , beyond physical and mental aspects , to include social aspects as well .
however , I must also express my rejection of the improvised procedure of this Chamber , which clearly had not thought of formally inviting either the Court of Auditors or the Council until 09.00 today .
the European Parliament , through the Committee on Regional Development , is constantly calling for greater simplification of administrative rules .
the third part deals with future crisis and risk management .
subsidies which continue to be paid to agriculture should be given in the form of direct aid entirely decoupled from production .
Serbia , after all , is ready to engage in talks with Kosovo even though the EU 's attitude is manifestly inconsistent : in Bosnia , multiple ethnic groups are to be forced into a multicultural State while in Kosovo , it is deemed legitimate for a single ethnic group to hive itself off from a State .
the report correctly emphasises the need for Member States to implement guidelines in a way which seeks to combat discrimination whether it is based on sex , racial or ethnic origin , religion or belief , disability , age , or sexual orientation .
this time , moreover , the fact that we have six political groups participating in writing a resolution means that we intend to use the voice of Parliament in a clearer and more united way .
the case that you mentioned dates back to 1995 , which means that I had nothing to do with it .
it is wrong to say that ending subsidies for coal mining will help to protect the environment .
I welcome the report 's call to establish our own independent rating agency , which , according to the proposals , would initially be called the European Credit Rating Foundation .
this will make it possible for anyone in possession of a document showing that he is legally resident in a Member State to move freely in the Schengen area for short periods of no more than three months in any half year .
it is the over-generous and therefore tempting conditions for asylum seekers that are to blame for this . they literally provoke abuse of the system .
in other words , Greece must regain its credibility .
it is a fact of life that our children are often more computer literate than we are .
we have to bear in mind that we must address the concerns and demonstrate that Europe is serious about creating a social market economy and not a single market on its own .
Europe and its institutions must do all they can on the ground in the countries in question to neutralise and fight the evil , obscurantist influence of these agents of intolerance , who are instigating a new wave of hate crimes in Africa .
this is just to underline the legal basis of the question but , of course , the whole question is a ' what if ' question , because nothing concrete is on the table .
the main operational tool is the EU Joint Situation Centre ( SITCEN ) of the Council Secretariat .
under the amended Directive 1999 / 62 / EC , Member States will also be able to charge road users for some ( limited ) external costs , so that finally , the ' polluter pays ' principle is introduced in road transport .
the Commission proposal for a successor regulation can therefore be expected to be ready during the first quarter of 2011 .
we have a highly attractive way of life .
we can also use funds from the European Regional Development Fund .
in this instance , even Mr Lukashenko has adopted such a stance , but events speak for themselves .
yet human beings are not machines , able to work through without a break .
we should have a Community budget that prioritises real convergence , based on social progress and on protecting and promoting the potential of each country , the sustainable use of natural resources and environmental protection , with the aim of economic and social cohesion , in addition to effective development aid .
optimising existing systems and introducing processes for the more efficient use of these systems are to be welcomed , but other issues are problematical for the reasons stated , and I have therefore voted against the report .
we are on time , for the first time in a long while : Parliament is going to draw up a report that can be used by the Council to determine its ultimate political decision this weekend .
I have consistently opposed the federalism of the Lisbon Treaty and the ceding of powers from nation states .
we are making a contribution to the best possible financing scheme for our films and to access for Europeans to premium content schedules on free television networks : so it is this evening that , with you and thanks to you , I have the feeling that our mission has been accomplished .
there was no serious debate in committee .
firstly , on the extraction of oil sands , which damages local diversity , we insist on the EU 's right to use the Fuel Quality Directive to inhibit their use .
I would even say the opposite .
there is a rumour going around that the Commission would pay its employees a salary during a strike .
the wage disparity significantly influences women 's position in economic and social life , both during and after their active working lives .
( PL ) Madam President , the Employment Guidelines are and should be treated as a fundamental tool in the process of economic governance as expressed in the concept of the European Semester .
we condemn the recent escalation in hostility towards the Roma ( Romaphobia ) in a number of EU Member States , regularly displayed in the form of hate speeches and attacks against the Roma population .
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I shall start with our common assumption that combating crime is not just a national issue ; it is also a European issue .
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with this vote , Parliament is thus showing full solidarity and unity with the affected populations .
it is vital , therefore , to press for more effective criminal prosecutions , and to ensure that the subsequent punishments reflect the seriousness of the crime .
in this context , I would particularly like to congratulate your Delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries for the agreement reached during the visit to Tripoli , which indeed provides for regular consultation with the Libyan Parliament .
the further development of qualitative and quantitative metrics should be based on the European Quality of Life Survey ( EQLS ) indicators , covering the core areas of quality of life .
on behalf of the S & D Group . - Mr President , our S & D Group joins Commissioner Rehn in expressing our condolences after the death of the Nigerian President , Umaru Yar 'Adua .
the objective is to reduce the negative effects of plant protection products as much as possible by reducing the risks .
the particular ways in which the influence of European cultural heritage has over the course of history found expression in other continents must lead to special measures emphasising those factors which serve to build civilisation , mutual understanding and a constructive approach uniting the peoples represented .
what this means is that the Commission does not go into the detail as to how Member States are to conduct such assessments , but rather we fix the minimum standards relating to scientific information and then leave it up to Member States to see how to achieve the required results .
the debate can take place .
we are now ready to introduce this operation for the next period .
but do you know how that comes across to our citizens ?
this is a very delicate subject where we need to give rights holders adequate protection and a reasonable return on their investments without , on the other hand , infringing civil liberties , restricting access to medicine or criminalising individuals for trivial breaches of copyright .
we are doing so by establishing a European model for donation and transplantation around values and principles that we all share : solidarity , fairness and cohesion , which are the symbols of the Union 's identity .
because we must be able to show our citizens , economic actors and the international partners that the European Union really can in future prevent a fiscal crisis such as the one we have recently experienced , in the case of Greece for instance .
we shall be returning to this subject in due course .
we also need to keep a strongly funded CAP - pillar one to ensure that the rural society is not denuded of people , and pillar two to ensure the delivery of public goods .
I am grateful to him once again for the work he has done on the issue of urban transport .
however , for that to happen we must fill the gaps enabling illegal operators to profit from their activities .
climate change is happening , it is happening fast , and therefore we must act promptly and , as Karl-Heinz rightly said , it is not only a problem but an opportunity .
as you know , the Commission has proposed a 12-point action plan to support the Millennium Development Goals .
( CS ) Mr President , the report on early years learning is not and cannot be an attempt at the unified arrangement of this highly individual matter .
unfortunately , the leaders of several Member States are behaving as if Russia 's invasion of sovereign democratic Georgia had never taken place .
I was in Portugal just a week ago and that country could serve as an example of how to develop a sustainable , dynamic programme for a renewable source of energy , which is very important for the Mediterranean region .
nevertheless , I would like to draw attention to another problem , namely the way in which some Member States implement important instruments , such as the European arrest warrant .
its action in favour of small and medium-sized enterprises , education and vocational training is essential to the success of the EU 2020 strategy .
coordination and clear lines of information and communication remain the core of our ability to be effective in such situations .
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such a ban would only multiply closures and job losses .
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deciding who are the good Palestinians and helping them to get rid of the bad ?
one of the most important aspects for strengthening Belarusian civil society is the European Union 's visa policy .
( CS ) Today it is no longer tolerable for serious environmental crimes and crimes concerning public health to be considered merely an offence , as they have been to date in some countries , for example in Italy or Cyprus .
the report also called for a review of Parliament 's expenditure in order to guarantee savings are made in future .
it is a matter of days , perhaps even hours , before the point of no return is reached with a land offensive , particularly in Gaza town .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue-card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) ) .
the significance of the European Union 's motto - unity in diversity - is worth stressing here .
Mr President , before speaking , may I be allowed to join in the grief that this Chamber has already expressed for the death of the two European soldiers killed this morning in Afghanistan , following a terrorist attack .
the challenge facing the international community in the following months is to support Guinea in its transition to democracy and in the arrangement of free and democratic elections for a law-making assembly and a president .
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together , we have said , ' This was actually already an agreement under the Treaty of Nice ' .
globalisation has fostered an unprecedented exchange of ideas and contacts between people .
exceptions are allowed only in special circumstances .
I believe that our help , help from the European Parliament and the European Union in general - and I agree here with Mr Füle - must be supplementary , must be auxiliary and , obviously , must not be coloured by party affiliations and political friendships ( if you will pardon the expression ) .
EU funds should not be used to promote programmes and projects which damage the climate .
more than half the EU 's Member States are affected by Russia halting the supply of gas .
the experts of this agency support a one-sided policy agenda , without trying to reach balance and objectivity .
I voted in favour of the initiative on Italy .
no , quite the contrary in fact .
customs cooperation came after the event and the European Union is paying to establish customs cooperation .
it is very disappointing that the Lithuanian Parliament has gone as far as criminalisation of the dissemination of information about sexual orientation on the pretext of protecting minors , religious feelings and political convictions .
if you look back to the Renaissance , one of the greatest ages the world has ever seen , we cannot attribute its impact on the world to a single date or person or breakthrough .
this commitment will support public awareness activities and the fight against illicit content and harmful behaviour , in order to promote a safer environment .
after six months of procedures , it will be up to the Member State in question to prove that the applicant is not being persecuted , making the task much more complicated for the relevant authorities .
responsibility for the eastern land border of the European Union rests on the new Member States , and they are meeting this obligation extremely well .
however , I have mixed feelings regarding the conditions for implementing this procedure , which could present risks of unequal treatment among patients from the Member States .
on the issue of human rights , we all know that at the root of our Union lies respect for rule of law , democracy and human rights .
it is almost as if Croatia , another candidate Member State , were to attack Montenegro .
I find this to be an extremely serious allegation and call on the President to somehow highlight what has been said and establish whether this can be considered appropriate in such a sensitive debate that touches on the suffering of human beings , who are clearly not considered to have the right to eat , as it has been said of them ' they even demand food and are lot of freeloaders ' .
the Council has examined the European Parliament 's resolution that was adopted on 24 October 2007 on the Green Paper ' Towards a Europe free from tobacco smoke : policy options at EU level ' .
despite all the political differences between the various groups , our work was characterised by a struggle to find joint European solutions .
I also wish to tell our colleague that Belgian workers have been on strike on many occasions , and so where would this Parliament go if the Belgians went on strike ?
part of the context for that cooperation is , however , the power to present a special report to Parliament .
this does is not an automatic process , as we have heard several times today from the floor , of 18 months .
this case has little implication on the wider issue of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict .
clarity and consistency is required on our side because the European Union does have the ability to influence Ukraine , which has a neighbourhood policy status , right across the board , including the rules and regulations regarding national minorities .
last week , Mr Tőkés , Vice-President of the European Parliament , hosted the official inauguration of an office representing the Székely Region , which does not exist in Romania , in the Hungarian House of Regions .
the Italian authorities have already provided the Commission with a plan to restore legality .
our task , then , is to establish a framework in which lobbying activities can be conducted in a fair and acceptable way .
the insertion of one word : ' sincere cooperation ' .
the use of several centres for collecting and supplying this information will improve the risk evaluation and relevant flight scheduling .
my view is that it would have been better if the EU had just signed up to the Council of Europe 's European Convention on Human Rights .
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I thank you , Madam President , and I thank Parliament in particular for the high standard of this debate and all the contributions it has made in the course of the debate .
determined action has succeeded in preventing the worst .
it is clear that the International Tropical Timber Organisation ( ITTO ) cannot put an end to over-exploitation and illegal logging on its own , since the main reasons for these often come from outside the forestry sector .
cyanide is an extremely dangerous chemical used by the mining industry , despite the risks that it poses to the environment and human health .
we voted in favour of this report , which endorses the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund ( EUSF ) to assist six countries : Poland , Slovakia , Hungary , the Czech Republic , Croatia and Romania .
you cannot spend your way out of recession or borrow your way out of debt , and when you repeat in that wooden and perfunctory way that our situation is better than others , that we are well placed to weather the storm , I have to say you sound like a Brezhnev-era apparatchik giving the party line .
I would like to remind you that in modern history , during periods when freedoms and rights were curbed in the name of security , policing and strict control , and when persecution based on stereotypes was allowed to gain ground , ideological bigotry , racism and xenophobia intensified and unspeakable crimes were committed .
on several occasions in this Chamber and elsewhere I have asked the Commission and the Council to now apply Article 9 in their proposals on economic governance and , of course , in their response to the current economic crisis , which is a real test of their commitment to the social clause .
the treaty for which I was the rapporteur was scrapped with the agreement of the various parties on grounds of obsolescence .
the Berès report conducts such an analysis , and it is excellent .
it is right that you should work together with the Council .
as you are aware , and as the rapporteur said , the Commission already presented this report in 2007 .
this is an aspiration that the European Union supports , but it must be translated into concrete agreements .
for my part I think the French will do as they always do and look after themselves .
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the Green Paper that we published precisely addresses some of these real concerns .
there should be no question at all of the Council not being authorised to remove an elected Member 's right to vote - irrespective of position .
( HU ) Mr President , Commissioner Malmström 's response was reassuring in respect of Serbia and Macedonia in that we do not intend to throw the baby out with the bath water .
let me make one final comment that I think is very important : I believe that in a situation such as the one facing the people of Greece today , it is very important for them to feel that they are not alone .
we have to engage directly on our human rights agenda with the authorities , and we will continue to do so .
a further EUR 200 million is to be added to this for the coming 16 months , but that will not suffice .
hopefully , the Iranian authorities will not order Mistral aircraft carriers in Saint-Nazaire , but will be able to acquire them a little later in Russia , built under a French licence .
it is very important that we strengthen and coordinate cooperation between the Member States on asylum issues still further and , ultimately , that we try and arrive at a uniform approach from among the various national practices , especially as we all recognise the huge differences which exist .
finally , in paragraph 15 there is a call for the Commission to establish clearly that the state with jurisdiction over waste is the responsible state .
we call on the European Union to supplement the funds allocated significantly .
as a consumer , I would be extremely unhappy to have to experience a situation of this sort , as would all European consumers , because it threatens to shake our trust in the safety of European products .
in writing . - ( PT ) I abstained in the vote on this proposal because the Portuguese Constitution provides better protection for Fundamental Rights and because the opinion , held by some , that Community law has primacy over Member States ' domestic law could lead to very damaging legal disputes .
I voted in favour of this resolution .
this is not , of course , in accord with our law , which assumes that before scanning a book and making the scan available , it is necessary to obtain the author 's consent and to pay the appropriate fee .
to better monitor the impact of my criticism and advice , I have this year launched a study of the follow-up to all critical remarks made in 2006 , as well as to the 38 cases involving a further remark made during the same year .
( NL ) You have described the fact that a number of Member States are opposed to the increase in the 2011 budget , and that , as a result , fewer projects will be possible , as ' alarming ' .
( NL ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to start by expressing particular thanks to our rapporteur for his tremendously hard work , and also for his perseverance in this extremely crucial dossier .
( FI ) Mr President , in February , the EU Foreign Affairs Council adopted conclusions concerning the situation in Zimbabwe .
please do not make matters worse .
in writing . - ( LT ) I believe that appropriate financial sanctions should be imposed on Member States which fail to comply with the fiscal framework of the Union .
( it ) Mr President , I was unsure as to how to vote on Mrs Schaldemose 's report on the integrity of online gambling and for what reason .
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the Member States are the main players . the EU only has a supporting role .
I have a question for Mr Hahn : does he not want to follow this good example with another ?
I believe that the mandatory collection of data by type of goods with a view to collating maritime transport statistics is vital in order to promote co-modality and the possibility of combining different modes of transport .
I have received letters signed by many organisations in Sweden , such as Amnesty International , the churches through Diakonia , the Red Cross , UNICEF , Svenska Freds ( the Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society ) and the United Nations Association of Sweden , demanding that Bombkapsel 90 ( BK90 ) , carried on Swedish JAS aircraft , should be treated as a cluster bomb and included in the international work on a comprehensive ban .
I think that is the challenge .
the crucial point here is that the Chinese approach is definitely incompatible with Western standards .
subject : more flexible interpretation of the Stability and Growth Pact
I want to assure you that I and the college that is present here are committed to subsidiarity .
the critics should understand that there are problems in the existing system . a High Representative with no direct responsibility to us in Parliament , duplication of functions between Council and Commission , splits between EU Special Representative and Commission heads of delegation , human rights sometimes ignored for trade and geopolitical interests , etc .
Mr Harbour gave you some ideas , but what I want you to do is to raise specific things that I did actually raise in my intervention at the beginning .
there , it was not democracy that had triumphed , but a small group of people who had gained experience in the old state apparatus and the security forces .
my country , along with others , has experience of this .
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this is arms for bonds .
this includes , inter alia , the Danube strategy , a strategy on the Roma and issues relating to the Eastern Partnership .
( SV ) Mr President , violations of human rights in Iran are extensive and are also thought to be on the increase .
better maternity protection would help spouses in agriculture , commerce and small businesses and encourage women to become involved in these vital industries , where they are now currently under-represented .
how much equality do the Dalits really enjoy ?
on 23 July the Council approved the conclusions setting out the European Union 's priorities - those that the EU must uphold at that Conference of the Parties , which is the eighth conference since the Convention was approved .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , this report was strongly disputed in several Groups and , to guarantee the fairness of the vote , I would ask you to give me the floor before the vote on Recital 3 so that I can give my opinion on the voting order .
there should be a system of the protection of religious values , not active persecution of people of other faiths .
without touching on the issues related to the enlargement process , I would like to address a message to all the Black Sea sceptics .
I would like to underscore what Mrs Pack said : the ability of the country to function must be established .
I therefore warmly support the decision of the authorities in Wrocław who are seeking to get the Governing Board or one of the knowledge communities to set up their offices in the city , where as many as 140 000 students are studying .
on the other hand , it is well known that the language of ' reproductive and sexual health ' is used to surreptitiously include abortion , understood as a right and as a social service .
so this issue is still looked at very much from a national perspective : ' my fair return ' .
the way to get around this is not merely to prevent it , but to publicise our work in full , foiling the people who want to peer through keyholes and opening our doors by broadcasting parliamentary committee work , meetings and all the proceedings of this Parliament over the Internet .
the Council 's Hungarian Presidency has also committed itself to adopting and launching the implementation of the EU Danube strategy .
in view of this , I recognise the need to call upon UN agencies to propose the creation of a mechanism to monitor human rights in Western Sahara .
Correlatively , your proposals for ' positive action ' , as you do not dare to use the real words , are well and truly reverse discrimination , the first victims of which would be , and already are , Europeans themselves in their own countries .
thirdly , I would say that it is something that gives extraordinary encouragement to the connection between institutions and citizenship , something that we are always demanding and never achieve .
so let us wake up !
that said , I endorse what has been said by other Members , who believe that we need to vote in favour of this , as otherwise , everything will go down the drain .
let me take two examples from our discussions .
through your various contacts with colleagues in other parliaments around the world , with representatives of industry and with civil society , we are counting on the support of the European Parliament in promoting the EU 's ambitious aims regarding the issue of climate change .
subject : lessons from the financial crisis
in Latvia , SS punishment battalions destroyed 130 villages and killed more than 150 000 people in Latvia , Belarus , Poland and Russia .
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you may think that you are outsmarting the competition authorities but , in reality , you are doing harm to the consumer .
principles supporting effective protection of intellectual property and equitable sharing of intellectual property rights are actively promoted .
the issue that will be on the table in June is crucial , and not only for the Alpine region .
we will start with the agenda .
in addition to all these measures , there is also a need for better coordination between the financial support allocated to rural development and the other regional policies and for the maintenance of CAP funding at a level ensuring that all the proposed tasks can be achieved .
history teaches us , after all , that the Balkans , for example , were the source of many conflicts in the 20th century .
I can also say that I am delighted at how lively this debate has been , which was in fact just what I had hoped for .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( PT ) I will be as brief as possible , but this debate involved many contributions and various questions have been raised .
thus , the report on developing a new European Union strategy for the Black Sea represents our commitment to the region and to our Member States who belong to this area by giving them our full support in facing the challenges linked to their specific geographic situation .
in several respects , Croatia has achieved a higher degree of development than some EU Member States .
Member of the Commission . - I believe that producers can be induced to produce healthy foods through market tools .
therefore , the focus on the role of sport in education is important .
it certainly does not add a lot of quality to the work-life balance if people are too tired to read to their kids when they get home .
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this is crucial .
naturally , Sweden and the other countries neighbouring the Baltic have a great interest in the strategy for the area , but we also believe it could serve as a model for other regions and other regional strategies that would be useful to the entire EU .
the second is that there is overwhelming support for the requirement for all parties involved to accept the state of Israel 's right to exist within peaceful borders .
Serbia 's market has now been opened up to European Union exporters .
I would like to highlight the fact that Ireland has a long-standing tradition of tripartite consultation on economic and social policy and that the successive pacts between the government and the social partners since the 1980s have been widely recognised as major factors in the success of the Irish economy .
Sheepmeat consumption is in decline , as some feel it is too expensive and difficult to cook .
it is clear that the European Union will only attain the ambitious targets in its climate policy if it succeeds in ensuring broad use of CCS ( Carbon Capture and Storage ) technologies in power stations .
we need a common policy because gambling transgresses borders .
I believe that this can be seen in microcosm in Norway , for example : they catch fish , they drill for oil and gas , they practise the highest environmental standards on land and sea and they develop their northernmost regions for the people who live there .
therefore , let us also rethink our old , very old mistrust when it comes to Russia , or rather mistrust of this country which is , whether we like it or not , one of our partners .
Mr President , the report by Justice Goldstone provides the most blatant proof of the crimes and of the infringements of international law and international humanitarian law by Israel against the Palestinian people .
for this reason , we must carefully consider ring-fencing at European Union level some of the resources exclusively for bringing some of the LAU level l statistical units up to standard .
I would like , in the time I have been allotted , to speak about Nigeria 's prisons , which are full of prisoners whose rights are systematically violated .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , honourable Members , let me almost in telegram form answer some of your detailed questions and add a couple of points .
incorporating CSR principles into the rules governing international trade would enable the EU to exert pressure on undertakings to improve their behaviour and on the States which sign trade agreements with it to comply with labour and environmental standards .
in voting for this draft resolution on the process of including Albania in the EU , I have chosen to back its two principle ideas .
we will also hear from Commissioner De Gucht , but the first to take the floor will be Baroness Ashton .
particularly now that banks are being much more reserved than they were when the debate started - which , in the Netherlands , was in 2005 , when the situation was quite different - it is clear that some people are really getting into difficulties .
I am all in favour of the transfer of technology , but our enterprises must also see the sense in investing in it , and therefore the intellectual property must not be watered down .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( ES ) Mr President , I am one who always listens carefully to Mr Stevenson whenever he speaks , and I have been listening to him for several years now , but this speech surprises me , because it is one which would have been better made in 2003 and not 2007 , nearly 2008 in fact .
in writing . - ( PT ) The establishment of a ' network of contact points ' in a framework of cooperation between the various Member States , with the aim of sharing experiences and good practices , could form another asset in the fight against corruption in each country .
it expressly rejects a ' three-strikes ' regulation , which has been discussed as a measure to be used in the event of copyright infringements .
in January we called again for an integration strategy for the Roma , and today we have debated and passed the Framework Directive on Anti-discrimination .
so I would urge all Members to vote for it because we want a really resounding result in the morning .
it is a citizens ' right that you cannot simply relativise .
I voted for the report on the impact of the Treaty of Lisbon on the development of the institutional balance of the European Union .
we also have to deal with the protection of personal data , which is recognised by Article II-68 of the draft constitution .
Gordon Brown has also said so in the past .
the residents of Camp Ashraf are protected persons under the Geneva Convention .
the report by Mr Ferreira on Community financial measures before us today deals with key issues as far as the reform of fisheries policy is concerned .
a mechanism is provided to deal with those situations where the Commission , on the basis of its assessment , reaches the conclusion that the negotiation or conclusion of an agreement should not be authorised .
because we are dealing with a mixed fishery where the cod is caught together with prawns , whiting and haddock , we have all these discard problems that we have just heard Jim Allister talking about .
transparency is the key to European democracy and its principal construction material .
it is obvious that the two big political groups have now found a point of contact in this matter , but we in the ALDE Group will fight for our views in this Chamber .
in fact , the EU was virtually inaudible during the final negotiations .
our Member States should expect results ....
this is a particularly sensitive issue , with reservations on the part of the Member States , which have always reaffirmed their sovereignty over their airspace .
instead , the European Union and related organisations , including the European Investment Bank ( EIB ) , should take the lead in this .
the report also mentions other important factors that need attention .
otherwise , we will have medical problems .
we keep the Palestinians going when it should be Israel footing the bill , not our taxpayers .
while we should welcome this Court of Auditors ' special report , its conclusions are worrying in many respects , particularly in the light of the observations that Regulation ( EC ) No 1798 / 2003 on administrative cooperation in the field of value added tax is not an effective administrative cooperation tool , given that several Member States are standing in the way of its implementation and that the Commission 's role is limited .
government organisations understandably place emphasis on the practical virtues of the communities , treating them as a kind of uplifting force for the triangles of knowledge : education , research and industry .
education is not less important , as a premise of a prosperous future , as well as the policies of promoting protection of young people and children , intercultural dialogue and mutual tolerance .
this statistical survey would also enable a greater understanding of the costs associated with the outermost regions , both in terms of goods and passengers , which may influence decisions on other policies such as trans-European networks and , more particularly , the ' Motorways of the Sea ' , which should include maritime transport between islands , as well as between islands and the European mainland .
one day , you should have a European budget that is strong enough to compete out there in the global world ; the guys are going to be very tough out there .
my commitment to the protection of the weak and women afflicted by violence compels me to vote in favour of legislation to guarantee the protection of victims of violence .
of course , talks are continuing , but they have become bogged down by Turkey 's maximalist claims .
therefore , unfortunately this part of your programme , which for us is substantial , does not change or alter anything and does not introduce anything new .
he received DKK 1.3 billion and was the biggest Danish beneficiary of EU funds .
we now have some studies on the potential of tax incentives for energy and environmental purposes , and the Commission is preparing a proposal to amend the VAT directive to allow reduced rates of VAT to apply to certain environmentally-friendly goods and services .
as noted by Eurostat , we must not forget that Europe also has two or possibly three speeds as regards the spread of the Internet .
the provisions of Title 10 , social policy , cannot be disregarded .
we can observe similar tendencies in our countries now .
it is of important environmental benefit throughout the EU and will contribute to the development of a sustainable and competitive agriculture sector .
I have voted in favour of the joint motion for a resolution on the EU-Canada Summit , held today , as I think that it is important not only to maintain relations at a high level , but also to deepen and improve them further .
Mr Chávez 's new Left-Wing doctrine is known as Christian Socialism but it has little in common with the social teachings of the Church . that is why representatives of the Venezuelan bishops have criticised the lack of democracy .
the view that the construction of buildings constitutes the provision of building services and not the marketing of products , and that construction activity also includes the incorporation into a building of any non-serial manufactured components , has finally prevailed , which is something I welcome .
I have tabled a parliamentary written question to the Commission in the hope that the European Union will stop this unacceptable aggression .
we should strive to combine openness and maximum access to the Internet with safety not only for children but anyone else who might be as risk as a result of Internet abuse .
we need a major change of course and this calls for an act of considerable humility on the Commission 's part in reopening the debate on foreign policy towards the Mediterranean and taking a fresh look at the Union for the Mediterranean , whilst at the same time ensuring that Europe has a role within it .
in order to meet the two degree target that the European Union has been saying for years it wants to meet , rich countries must reduce their emissions by 40 % .
while developing the creative industries economically , we must not forget those who work in this sector .
countries which today are part of our neighbourhood may lose their stability and slide towards other principles for establishing regional order .
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I also want to thank the members of the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy for having adopted this report by a fairly large majority and I hope that tomorrow many of the Members will vote for it here in this House .
( DE ) Madam President , I , too , should like to thank the rapporteur , Mr Dess .
we have heard a great deal .
we have a responsibility to the economy and we must first of all be strong at European Union level to enable us to lead the way globally .
( PL ) We are all aware that due to the continuing food crisis many people , especially those living in the very poorest developing countries , are experiencing great difficulties .
many heating and cooling renewable technologies are highly economical and there is a lot of potential in this area .
I understand the problems and I am proud of Commissioner Michel who , instead of wringing his hands and convening working groups , just got down to it with the motto ' deeds , not words ' .
in particular , these deficits will always have to be close and also temporary .
we are not doing people any favours in the end .
therefore , since this additive does not pose any risk to health and has a genuine role to play in food preparation , there was no reason to oppose its authorisation .
many Latin American countries long insisted that this import regime illegally discriminated in favour of bananas from ACP countries and violated WTO rules on quantitative restrictions .
we will identify the key challenges for the future and set out our response .
I am sure that here , in this chamber , the necessary vision , will and energy will be found to pursue this admirable aim of uniting the peoples of Europe and strengthening Europe 's position in the world .
this fund can provide for those who have lost their jobs to retrain and acquire qualifications to get back into the workforce .
I am also glad that many European citizens are listening to this very important matter for our everyday lives - the so-called ' Green Paper ' , which perhaps sounds a little distant .
this means that energy conservation , or using less energy , is a target that we are going to fail to meet .
the new threats to our environment and our health caused by climate change must be met head-on and in an effective way .
the Commission is providing urgent measures of limited duration , and mainly of a social nature , which are welcome .
follow-up to the Monterrey Conference of 2002 on Financing for Development (
the aim is to strengthen the Union by allowing the Member States to have a greater involvement and increasingly to pool their currently separate efforts in relation to the CFSP .
you are indeed the face of the fight for this particular regulation and for openness and transparency in Parliament .
solidarity within the community will be assured by an agreement between Member States with the consent of stakeholders .
we can use it to back up our arguments worldwide .
in fact , for the time being , we are not going to pay ( applause ) the corresponding financial contribution .
I will come back to this again later .
there is therefore no reason to suspect that Croatia is a nation hostile to the LGBT minority .
we have drawn up a list of measures that must be regulated by the rating agencies .
we must prevent all distortions of competition .
OLAF provides intelligence to its partners about the emerging threats and cooperates with Member States , so this is really an area of international cooperation .
but , in the second place , at a more global level , in 2008 the Commission will organise the ex-post evaluation of FP6 .
the agreement with the Russian Federation to put raw material agreements on the agenda is another definite result - not just an announcement - and two meetings have been held .
they were very humble people .
only then should we take a look at how best to give shape to the Stability and Growth Pact .
frankly speaking , I do not understand why Fidel Castro 's European friends are so doggedly defending the idea of a bankrupt and demoralised revolution .
in writing . - The Maltese delegation in the S & D Group will be voting in favour of the motion for resolution on the subsidiarity principle as presented by Mr Mauro , Mr Busuttil and Mr Weber .
after the negotiations , the question of funding has still not been resolved .
I voted for the report because the transmission of pathogenic bacteria carrying AMR genes constitutes a particular threat to people , through the intake of said bacteria and / or through daily contact with animals .
for this reason , I have asked for time to work with all the countries of the European Union , with all the Member States , to look at whether we need to incorporate this type of consideration into the new agreement .
this report establishes a set of recommendations aimed at enabling the EU to respond effectively to this challenge .
therefore , the European budget must have funds reserved to support language learning , intercultural dialogue , increasing the mobility of young people and integration of graduates in the job market .
the Buşoi report concerns the SOLVIT network , created by the European Commission to give citizens and businesses free help in asserting their rights within the Union , particularly in cases of dispute .
explanations of vote
firstly , we must acknowledge the limitations of the Financial Perspective agreement adopted in 2006 by the Member States .
we cannot say about people who have fled from their country and sought asylum in Europe , for whatever reason , and about people who have voluntarily climbed into an overcrowded boat and put their lives at risk : ' we want to send these people back before they have even arrived ' .
report : Mojca Drčar Murko
( PT ) Tomorrow the Prime Ministers and Heads of State will sign the Lisbon Treaty in Lisbon .
Parliament has an official car service which most of us use and which works very well .
the Council has also invited all Member States to continue their support for UNHCR , the International Organisation for Migration , the Red Cross and all relevant actors , the efforts of which are paramount in helping those displaced as a consequence of protracted violence in Libya .
of course , approving measures and procedures to deal with the crisis does not in itself take you immediately out of the crisis .
a repeat of a situation similar to the experiences of the recent past must be prevented .
secondly and importantly , the reputation of European wine will be damaged yet again .
Halabja was not a one-off ; there were many Halabjas throughout Iraq .
Thich Quang Do , the leader of the church , is still being held under arrest , and the land belonging to the Catholics is still confiscated .
both the European Parliament and patients ' organisations have for some time been asking for an adjustment to the current regulations which , as they stand , do not guarantee the necessary information .
they do not do this because they have to , but because they want to .
we have already done a lot together .
however , before arriving at a definitive wording of this draft directive , I will be careful to consult those MEPs , yourself included , who are most involved in this issue .
we have to build a new economic model based on knowledge and high employment .
nor do we consider it appropriate for every disabled insured person to be entitled to the costs of travel and stay for an accompanying person .
once again , what message would we send if we failed to conclude this conciliation with an agreement ?
our flagship initiatives are all construed in a way that means that European Union-level action complements those actions by the Member States .
the two regions account for 60 % of world trade and have been able to mobilise 75 % of the world 's net investment .
the other element we want to concentrate upon is the six legislative texts .
we are notably looking for child development and child education , and not only female child education - if you teach the woman , you teach the family - but also primary education .
the EU will see to and encourage further freedoms for all Burmese citizens and remains concerned about Aung San Suu Kyi 's wellbeing and safety , as she is being kept under surveillance by state security services .
Europe must focus its creative and innovative abilities for both social and economic reasons .
subject : Commission 's communications strategy for the Irish referendum
a storm of protest erupted in some parts of Germany a few days ago over the issue of fruit and apple wines .
in financial terms , although there is no additional financing from the EU budget , the strategy proposes a more coordinated use of existing funds and a more imaginative approach to other funding sources such as the European Investment Bank or the Nordic Investment Bank .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , President-in-Office of the Council , you just said that we are at the start of the budgetary process .
I also endorse the importance of an energy market development strategy for the EU , as advocated in this report .
that is why we have to develop a whole policy in order to bring this barrier down , because we will need ICT to enable older people to stay active and productive for longer , to continue to engage in society with more accessible online services , and to enjoy a healthier and higher quality of life for longer .
this new approach , this breath of fresh air that you want to bring into European policy with this ambitious programme , is therefore the right one .
I welcome the efforts towards the effective liberalisation of national gas markets and third party access to the network , which increases the level of transparency .
we know that this measurement is very complex and can be manipulated , since fossil fuels , after extraction , are transported and processed , and their by-products distributed and used in many ways , at thousands of end points .
this is not the moment for those who bear primary responsibility and are to blame for the entire policy to evade or deny it .
I protest against this rule of the lowest budget proposal at the expense of farmers .
firstly , it seemed to us that the Maastricht criteria were going to drag Europe into at least five years of pro-cyclical recessionary policy and , secondly , the way in which the monetary policy was incorporated into the general economic policy by the Maastricht Treaty was not satisfactory .
first of all , it differs from the European Social Fund in both its methodology and its objectives . the two instruments cannot therefore be confused , either formally or in practice .
because they happen to show that Europe is not built on flawed legal texts , which are necessary but are difficult for the various nations to understand .
calendar of part-sessions : see Minutes
they not only constitute the main source of state revenue , but also allow social objectives of the utmost importance to be achieved .
the threats posed by new climate , financial , health and other risks indicate that the common agricultural policy , far from being obsolete , is needed to play a fundamental role in global food security and the preservation of our rural communities .
a final remark on Iran : Mr Solana , I wish you good luck in Iran .
the Charter of Fundamental Rights must be legally binding in full and for all because the Charter of Fundamental Rights is the application in practice of our shared values .
in view of future needs , there is no doubt that agriculture has to become a strategic sector , or indeed a crucial sector for the economic development of the EU and the whole world .
it is also the Member States ' opportunity to show that they are not merely paying lip service to this , but that they do indeed have competent , capable candidates who are women and who they are prepared to put forward .
( DA ) Mr President , democracy , for me , means posing a question and then getting an answer .
concerning the increase in GDP , statistically of course it is not possible to have a direct link , but you can do correlation analyses from which you can find out that this is correlated in the long term .
finally , I would like to say that the Commission believes that this proposal will also enable it to improve budgetary control .
it is worthwhile recalling that Turkey is a modern , secular country and that in Turkey , women got the vote long before women got the vote in some parts of the EU - something we should remember as we look back over one hundred years of feminism .
up to now , 20 % of the Congolese timber imported onto the European market is of illegal origin , whether it is for production , sale , processing or export .
the Energy Labelling Directive has a crucial role to play in the achievement of the EU energy efficiency target of 20 % by 2020 .
after more than a year of negotiations with the Council , Parliament has quite responsibly decided to bring the reports to first reading with the aim of exerting pressure to break the current deadlock , which affects not only these two proposals but also all the others that are to be put before us in the near future .
despite efforts made and initiatives carried out by the IWC ( International Whaling Commission ) , the situation with regard to numerous species of cetaceans is still worrying , as a large number are threatened with extinction .
while these developments create suitable conditions for economic activity , we can also see that capital often takes precedence over people , endangering their health and even their lives .
I do not doubt that they mean well but the road to hell is paved with good intentions .
to hear President Sarkozy argue the case , before this House , for a mission to protect Europe , one would almost think he had never accepted either Maastricht or the Lisbon Treaty .
otherwise , we run the risk of becoming irrelevant .
we need a more active labour market policy and one which covers many areas .
women , unlike men , still bear the main responsibility for the care of the child and other dependents , and are often forced to choose between motherhood and professional development .
look also at the Euro Emergency Fund , which is beginning to resemble a Ponzi scheme .
this position makes provision for active ingredients used in pesticides to be approved following an assessment of the dangers and risks which they pose to human and animal health and to the environment .
Romania and the Republic of Moldova have particularly close economic relations .
the content of this proposal is both wrong and unenforceable .
in writing . - I believe that the EU 's right to regulate in the public interest needs to be protected and also that we need to ensure the responsible behaviour of European investors outwith the EU , which is why I supported this report .
the rights of our citizens have to be respected by the Commission , the Council , and obviously Parliament too - by all the EU institutions .
the report presents convincing arguments in favour of the gradual implementation of this project .
I shall try to judge it on its merits and demerits .
the integrated approach provides a unified policy framework which makes it possible to coordinate efforts aimed at solving the impacts of the crisis on employment and the social area and may help to establish a balance between short-term measures aimed at solving short-term needs , for example , temporary reductions in working hours , and long-term reforms involving , for example , better qualifications and active policies on the labour market .
it is especially important to agree on economic partnerships to strengthen the compatibility of EU policy for the good of development and , inter alia , the promotion of suitable work , welfare and job creation and ensure the appropriate implementation of trade commitments and the application of a suitable transition period for these commitments .
for Luxembourg , Article 5 of the regulation is vitally important .
which are the right mechanisms to avoid damage to competitiveness , or for consumers to have a choice ?
Turkmenistan is a country that matters as the European Union seeks to diversify its sources of energy supply ; that much is beyond dispute .
and of course the whole issue of globalisation is one that will concentrate our minds over the next number of years - not just in the short term for 2008 - and I welcome the initiatives taken in particular by the Commission to prepare Europe to deal with the effects and impacts , both positive and negative , of what globalisation will mean .
there is a danger that protectionism will increase because of the current world economic crisis .
I believe that we should be on our guard .
in the end , it is the two sides who come together to make the decision and to find the peace .
I believe that the answer to this is as follows . accession provides an additional external check at EU level in terms of respecting rights .
nothing .
Europe occupies a smaller role in current American plans and concerns .
as a full member of the Committee on Budgets , I am particularly interested in developments in the area of increased financial supervision and the permanent crisis mechanism .
we must be quite clear about the fact that we do not want cloned meat to be approved in Europe , for both animal welfare and ethical reasons .
here I would like to mention three examples of measures that have either already been taken or are due to be taken in this regard .
there is also the question of the composition of the expert groups .
we are not here to re-found the EU .
the new partnership and cooperation agreement will provide us with an instrument to deepen our dialogue with Tajikistan in this field , and there is the human rights clause .
thousands of Tibetans have campaigned against the possible end to bilingual policy in peaceful protests in schools and universities .
I would like to mention just one of these discriminatory measures , which affects traditional national minorities .
the papers that I have so far ...
the decision to travel to Europe is not a decision which is influenced mainly by price but by the quality of what Europe has to offer .
for me , and the majority of Lithuanians , it is therefore important for the new rules on the labelling of textile products mentioned in this report to help protect the reputation of our textile sector .
the effect of sanctions in Zimbabwe , Sudan and Burma , to name but three countries , has been very detrimental to ordinary people in those countries .
the rapporteur , Mrs Jackson , has been getting money from a recycling company or a waste-disposal company , which was undeclared , when she was actually rapporteur of this committee .
human rights violations in Russia , and especially in North Caucasus , can no longer be ignored .
of course , we would not get by on our EUR 116 billion in payments , but the whole of Parliament would be standing by to guarantee the relevant payments in supplementary and amending budgets .
I therefore believe that it would be useful to embark on a path with the aim of guaranteeing appropriate solidity of public finances to maintain confidence in the markets and ensure that the public can again believe in the worth of the European project .
we still have another 10 minutes ' ' catch the eye ' , each with a minute at the most .
we cannot talk in generalised terms about the overcapacity or the overfishing or the lack of compliance .
with regard to the financial crisis and the need for the economy to go on functioning properly , I am in favour of Member States using their financial strength to intervene in order to restore confidence .
there is a need for the production of food - we saw that clearly last year - and we need to free up farmers from bureaucracy ; we need simplification .
I believe that the small and medium-sized enterprises package contained some of these elements .
the Court of Auditors judged that the Authority 's annual accounts for the financial year 2009 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular .
what is the Commissioner doing to promote knowledge and understanding of consumer rights , which vary across the Member States of the European Union ?
these tests have been restricted to life-threatening illnesses and brain diseases .
regarding the last mission to Brazil , there were indeed problems , but I challenge you to look at all the reports of our FVO missions to any of the Member States and make a comparison .
we will continue with the joint debate on the report by Jacek Saryusz-Wolski , on the 2006 annual report on the CFSP , and the report by Helmut Kuhne , on the implementation of the European Security Strategy and ESDP .
it required the European Stability Mechanism ( ESM ) to be made permanent .
if the President is not a President per se , then say he is a Chairman ; why not call him a Chairman ?
as a result of many years ' research , not least by Lord Pearson - at his considerable expense - it has become obvious that the BBC has , in effect , been bought by the EIB on behalf of the EU .
what has happened in Madeira has dramatically shown us the importance of strengthening cooperation and solidarity in the European Union as well as in the area of disaster prevention .
however , this is a new challenge which calls for well-balanced efforts without giving way to the natural human temptation - inevitable , given the attacks we have suffered in the years since 11 September - to generalise or to build a Fortress Europe , or to sideline a priority that is central to the process of EU integration , namely the safeguarding of fundamental rights .
these objectives should be pursued alongside the Millennium Development Goals , which are closely linked to political stability , and should frame the entire process .
the 30 % emissions reduction target will now appear in the legal text , following the international agreement .
I also want to remind colleagues that our new power of control over the EU executive requires from us more work than before .
on the other hand , we have to stress the fact that different scenarios involve different costs .
however , I can speak on the financial assistance to those affected .
Georgia should also be allowed to go on the path for NATO , eventually for full membership .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I wish to thank Members for their contributions .
exactly 70 years ago , on 17 September 1939 , the Red Army - in collusion with Hitler - occupied one third of Poland , which was then fighting against the German invasion .
for that reason , these are the right proposals .
I know that votes took place in the different committees , but I also know that there are many colleagues in the two big groups who feel deeply uncomfortable with the current position .
at the moment there is no European fleet competing with the non-industrial fleets of these countries in West Africa , although the same cannot be said of other foreign industrial fleets .
it is therefore only natural that a large number of questions should arise concerning the safety of nuclear power plant in all EU countries and of the nuclear power plants to be constructed in Turkey and other Balkan countries and the guarantees provided concerning their safe operation .
to this end , we need clear policy lines , coherent economic policies and stable social criteria .
we had banks being nationalised in the United Kingdom , banks going bankrupt in Belgium , an Icelandic system - outside Europe but so close to Europe - that was collapsing , very bad news in Switzerland and , little by little , contagion : Germany , France , all swept along .
the atmosphere in Cyprus is full of renewed hope , but one thing is threatening to destroy the euphoric climate .
author . - Mr President , the persecution of Nobel Prize Laureate Mrs Shirin Ebadi is only one example of many that are taking place in Iran currently , and such persecution should come as no surprise to us considering the blinkered vision of the anachronistically theocratic rulers of that country .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( NL ) On the afternoon of Wednesday , 18 June I had an appointment with three respectable , peaceable Chinese citizens at a hotel in Beijing .
in Egypt the Muslim Brotherhood , which could potentially win 30 % of the vote , is the only well-organised opposition force ; the EU should have no illusions here , but should instead give serious consideration to how it will deal with an electoral victory by Islamists .
likewise , agricultural methods that prevent the compaction and erosion of soils should also be supported .
I heard various examples of what is happening right now , for example in the important issue of water .
Georgia has practically eliminated the cancer of corruption in state institutions and the civil service by means of a series of public sector reforms ( concerning the public prosecutor 's office , the judiciary and the police ) and political reforms .
you , as a Swede , understand what this is about .
( PL ) Madam President , Commissioner , we would all like European Union policy to be effective , but for it to be effective , it must be fully consistent both in terms of the Eastern Dimension of Neighbourhood Policy as well as the Southern Dimension .
I am convinced that , at the time of the economic recession , it is essential to strengthen institutional mechanisms for gender equality .
this is the level below which a family is deemed to be living in poverty .
we made proposals to improve the text .
( SV ) Madam President , having listened to the debate today and read all the amendments , I get the feeling that certain people believe that only dialogue is good and helpful and that any military presence is bad and counterproductive .
the vote will take place tomorrow .
tensions that are turning into open conflict are threatening to overshadow South Sudan 's independence and plunge the region once again into chaos .
there is more awareness of the importance of mental health and wellbeing across all sectors , compared to a few years ago .
the organisers will have to be identified : who they are , what they support , for whom they are working .
the VVD believes , in fact , that Turkey must first adhere to a number of firm commitments .
approval of the minutes of the previous sittings : see Minutes
again , I think it is regrettable that no one from the Council is present at this important debate .
( SK ) Ladies and gentlemen , I have been enjoying today 's very good atmosphere during the debate on the internal market and I would like to thank all those who have contributed to it .
can we please marry these two concepts ?
a major concern for me and the people I represent is that these animals travel in inhumane , crowded , filthy conditions , with limited food and water .
such organisations should be dissolved and attitudes similar to those expressed by the Hungarian Guard should be forbidden and punished by law .
the chaos and the diplomatic disaster at home will distract the government and the European public eye from Europe .
the vast majority of the European Parliament is an ally .
this report therefore proposes finally giving the EU the resources to match its ambitions , by arguing for a substantial increase in the EU budget of a minimum of 5 % and a mobilisation of the budgetary resources of the Union for the benefit of the EU 2020 strategy .
in paragraph 13 , the report suggests the need to strike a balance with regard to investors ' rights .
however , it is absolutely vital that we admit only skilled labour and I propose that we select professions which are in short supply on the labour market in Europe .
it is essential for the Council , the Commission and the European Parliament to work together on the matter ;
the second element , clearly , is the economy .
let us revere and honour them .
we believe that only a Europe that makes full use of its economic , human and cultural potential can hold its own , economically and politically , in global competition .
it figures in the priorities of the Barroso Commission and the Commission is vigilant in exercising its role as guardian of the Treaty .
I consider it a disguised subsidy for the re-election of a number of our fellow Members and I will be voting against this provision .
these services are already being used .
finally , concerning Afghanistan : not only have we already delivered a lot in the past , but , as I have said before , we are ready to contribute to the civilian search , and there will be some additional funding that we will find from our Asia budget for the elections , the police and , most probably , for agriculture because it is important to have additional alternative livelihoods .
I hope that all interested countries and institutions will pay appropriate attention to this report and will adopt its valuable recommendations .
Ukraine must also , as a matter of priority , have good relations with its neighbouring countries , the countries of the Eastern Partnership and EURONEST .
( PL ) Mr President , I voted against the report on equal treatment of persons , despite , and perhaps precisely because , I am opposed to discrimination .
at present Russian and Belarusian intentions to build nuclear power plants are a major cause for concern for the countries of Eastern Europe , in particular the Baltic States .
it remains blocked in the Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs , and all the international pressure exerted did not manage , in the end , to bring about this effect , namely , the withdrawal of the project .
that is a democratic right .
furthermore - and it is worth recalling because it is rare - this was the conclusion reached by all the European countries , none of which have supported it in front of the worthy prosecutors and great defenders of freedoms and of human rights that are China , Pakistan , Saudi Arabia , Russia and Cuba , to cite just a few examples .
this should bring us one step closer to a more sustainable transport system .
evaluation mechanism to monitor the application of the Schengen acquis (
in response , the aim of this proposal is to adopt a new regulation with the aforementioned dual legal basis .
our fundamental concept is to make individual European social policies compatible in such a way that will ensure competition and development from the bottom up , with a view to progress that always includes a social dimension .
subject : transparency with regard to management pay
to achieve all this , we need to raise awareness , and this is a very important factor ; this is something where we are lagging behind - I will come back to that in a minute .
I welcome the report by my colleague , Mrs Doyle , and I voted in favour of it today .
this is why I think that forest owners should be given a direct payment per area .
to ignore Libya and the Maghreb would truly be a very serious mistake .
Mr President , I would like to congratulate the Swedish Presidency on its historic opportunity to steer the EU toward implementation of the Lisbon Treaty .
it is to connect the European project to the concrete needs of our citizens .
in order to resolve these problems , it is essential not only that the EU should cooperate more effectively internally , but also that it should operate in a coherent manner worldwide .
unfortunately , this has met with only partial success , since the Council and the Socialist Group in the European Parliament insisted on the excessive - ultimately 80 % - use of Clean Development Mechanisms ( CDM ) .
however , it is also important for us to take a long-term view and to meet important challenges in both the medium and the long term .
Lenin said that extremism is the infantile disease of communism ; we could paraphrase Lenin and say that extremism is perhaps an infantile disease of all political , religious , economic and ideological programmes .
the high standnards that we , Europeans , wish to have , are achievable only through solidiarity action .
France expressed its regret and disapproval at the time .
G20 labour and employment ministers meeting ( Washington , 20 / 21 April ) ( debate )
interpretation of the Rules of Procedure : see Minutes
how can you justify this distinction ?
however , it is just as important that this targeted approach should also look at how matters are implemented in the regions , so that these funds do not impede one another , so that we do not duplicate subsidies , so that we do not promote nonsensical programmes - in other words we must coordinate the objectives pursued with these funds .
in the long run the conditions for world peace and a response to the greatest security threat to the modern world cannot be created without it .
both are bound to grow in the future .
at the same time , we are aware that so-called reformers are promoting new solutions , such as , for example , renationalising cohesion policy . in essence , that would amount to negating the policy of solidarity .
it must be emphasised that the aim of the scientific and political world should always be to phase out the use of animals in research if and when alternative and effective methods not using animals are made available .
the importance of the European Parliament and its role in adopting European legislation is irreplaceable .
however , fisheries partnership agreements should not simply be a legal way of allowing European vessels to have access to fish stocks in third countries ; they should also be a tool to promote sustainable exploitation of all maritime resources .
( ES ) Mr President , I would be grateful if you would use your authority as President of this sitting to call to order a group of Members who seem to think they are at the circus and not Parliament and are spoiling the quality of this debate by their joking and cheering .
I thought you were going to ask me whether I was speaking in Lithuanian at the beginning !
it is becoming necessary to adapt the budgetary instruments to the new reality of the European External Action Service ( EEAS ) .
I am delighted to hear that there is a will to develop this special relationship at parliamentary level .
the European Commission deemed this request for printing and recorded media reproduction companies justifiable , and was backed overwhelmingly by the relevant parliamentary committee .
you have often heard about communication deficit .
it will not be within the power of the affected countries to fund this exclusively from their own sources .
the condition for doing so , of course , would be the creation of a post-Kyoto system or support from the European Council and the Commission in our efforts to get proper value for our remaining climate resources .
I think it is good that , in our report , we establish a system for dealing with countries that fail to fulfil their commitments , in other words a requirement for the problems to be remedied directly .
the Commission and the European Investment Bank have the most comprehensive ethical rules of the EU institutions .
I worry about Article 69 .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , first of all I should like to express my admiration for the way the Chinese authorities have been dealing with the aftermath of the destructive earthquake that shook the province of Sichuan and affected almost 10 million people .
Mr President , I welcome the debate tomorrow on the air crisis because we need to remember that this has an impact not just on this Parliament , but on individuals and businesses across Europe .
however , we are also concerned that there are still forces at work that are trying to destabilise the country .
also , during my time at the Council of Europe , I was a rapporteur for a report on maternity in which it was found that , in the developing countries and also in Europe , women were often not given basic protection during pregnancy .
such is the case with Mr Amato , the former Italian Prime Minister , who said that the text was made unreadable because if it had been a simple text , everyone would have realised it was a Constitution and would have called for a referendum .
I think it exceptionally important for the start of the discharge exercise that you explain to us clearly and unequivocally what is really involved here .
Member States are also going down this road , and I am convinced that the private sector will do the same , once the framework conditions are right .
it would be correct to supervise the implementation of Parliament 's recommendations to Montenegro , and if these recommendations are implemented , I believe that the accession of a country like Montenegro can only be a benefit to the EU .
so there are vulnerable ecosystems - as shown by scientific evidence - at that depth .
( Interjections from the floor )
asylum policy should be an act of humanity and solidarity .
I disagree entirely with that view .
for that reason , and with the imminent entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon , this report was referred back to the LIBE Committee .
you are delighted that the Commission - listen to me , Mr Barroso - was invited to sit on the Financial Stability Forum .
our proposals are clear , but now I think the crucial issue is another .
- ( CS ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , as a member of the Committee of the Regions I had a chance to see with my own eyes the storm-damaged forests in the Slovakia 's High Tatra mountains , the fires in Portugal and the floods in the Czech Republic .
I say this because the representative of the Council and the Spanish Presidency said that , in fact , the Americans still have not done everything they promised .
eighty per cent of Irish mothers drink .
however , the key competences continue to be at the Member State level .
only with this attitude and with people who have sound qualifications can we , after the crisis , look forward to the future again .
I would like to remind you of the controversy which has surrounded the report and the amendments to the directive concerning the correlation tables proposed by the Commission .
today 's debate conveys the message to the countries concerned that the long list of tasks that lies before them as a result of their commitment does not end after being granted visa exemption , and that they still need to provide their citizens with information about what visa-free travel entails in order to prevent abuses of this opportunity .
it has simply increased the dependency of the states in question on external aid .
it is time that the Posting of Workers Directive was amended such as to prevent requirements on wages and on minimum standards being limited to minimum requirements .
in the current period of uncertainty it was also vitally important that the G20 participants confirmed some of the fundamental economic paradigms : the core or the heart of our global recovery plan must be the jobs , needs and interests of people who are not afraid to work , and this applies across the whole world , not only in the rich countries but also in the poor countries .
in writing . - I support De Keyser and Salafranca 's report as someone who has been on two occasions a Chief Observer on behalf of the European Union ; Indonesia 2004 , Aceh 2006 / 7 .
I am sure that Parliament 's support today represents an important step .
I know that there are a lot of challenges , questions and even criticisms here and there , but I am confident that these changes will deliver on a more coherent EU policy on external action .
we know how to prevent human error , we know how to train workers and we know how to provide good automatic protection , and we must strive to ensure that we provide such mechanisms in the future .
what we have before us is a compromise .
the Women 's Charter will be followed , in September 2010 , by a new comprehensive strategy for equality between women and men .
this fills me , personally , with very great optimism .
if these amendments by the left were to be adopted , the European policy on the return of immigrants would be finished before it even started .
the draft has been aligned with omnibus proposal EU / 2008 / 0032 .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , as you know , last week there was a European Council meeting and once again , as has been the case for several months now , MEPs were not able to enter .
virtually unaltered , apart from a few cosmetic changes .
( loud applause )
the Commission therefore very much appreciates Parliament 's approach , focusing on the long-term benefit of investing in early years learning .
the Commission has recently released a very disappointing report on the implementation of this directive .
the issue is the inhumane way in which seals are being killed and the inability of professional hunters to deal with that .
they have a deeper political basis .
to conclude , Madam President , I am disappointed with the Commissioner 's response , in which he leaves the areas of consumer rights to Member States in the name of subsidiarity .
I am thinking of measures like bans on pursuing certain occupations , compulsory psychiatric or sexological treatment and the whole area of supervision of people released from prison on parole .
in Pittsburgh , the leaders invited the US Labour Secretary to convene a meeting of G20 labour and employment ministers .
on this point , cooperation ought to involve not only customs authorities but also the police , the judicial authorities and , in general , all those who are capable of taking action on surveillance and the control of counterfeiting and piracy .
Mr President , the gas crisis has left hundreds of thousands of households across 17 European countries without heating during freezing temperatures .
the vote will take place on Thursday 6 September 2007 .
for Roma women , life expectancy can be up to 10 years less than those of the majority .
that is why the European Union remains firmly committed to concluding the negotiations and is keen to advance in negotiations once there is more clarity in the Doha Development Round .
a strategy which includes culture , creativity and art will contribute enormously to improving quality of life for inhabitants of cities and rural areas .
otherwise , in a year 's time we are going to have to repeat many of today 's remarks .
I would also like to say that I think the measures are necessary , like everything that we have done , and everything that Mr Frattini says is going to happen , and that the work done by the police is also very significant , but not sufficient .
( Parliament agreed to accept the oral amendment )
without the necessary structural changes , this money has clearly seeped away and , despite years of funding , the country has been brought to the brink of ruin .
using this instrument , the Commission , applying its own criteria to decide what is meant by promoting democracy and human rights , and what constitutes the risk , abuse or repression of those rights , has the option of using its own discretion to finance and support associations , political parties , foundations and even specific individuals from third countries without communicating or coordinating with the government of the country in question .
religious wars replaced the bridge that had been there with a chasm , but in a way , that bridge is still there .
I call on the United States to carefully consider the criteria on the basis of which visas are granted to citizens from the eastern part of the European Union .
this is a serious problem , as the rapporteur said .
we voted against the references to the Lisbon Treaty in line with our long-standing policy of opposing it .
furthermore , the low temperatures this winter have caused serious operational problems to electrical power suppliers who have registered record consumption levels .
since the initiation of the political dialogue with Cuba last year , the EU side has brought up the issue of political prisoners at each and every meeting .
it requires a step-by-step approach , whereby we first reach a stage of 3 % and then , in the medium term , budgetary equilibrium .
in future , there will no longer be 27 national licensing authorities but only 3 licensing zones for licensing plant protection products .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , Mr Barroso 's slogan is ' delivering results for Europe ' , but these results must also be in the area of intangible business , not only in the market .
a few weeks ago , I was in Haiti to follow up the visits made by my colleagues Baroness Ashton , Mrs Georgieva and Mr Piebalgs , and it was clear that , even outside Africa , there are challenges to be overcome in disease prevention and public health in the poorest countries .
( HU ) Madam President , Madam Commissioner , 150 years ago , a countryman of mine by the name of Ármin Vámbéry was the first European to bring news of the closed societies of Central Asia to the wider world , and information on the cultural , administrative and economic situation of this region prior to the Russian conquest .
( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , it is often said that money forms the sinews of war .
the increased frequency and intensity of disasters in Europe should also provide further incentives for Member States to invest in preparedness and build up their capacity .
these 80 per cent include nuclear energy which is currently underestimated and continues to be overshadowed by apprehensions and dogma over the past two decades .
according to the Court of Auditors , as much as 11 % of the total sums spent on cohesion policy are sums that should not have been spent at all .
the Commission should increase its efforts , ensuring that Member States apply directives correctly and that citizens are informed about their rights and , most importantly , that they are able to exercise those rights in practice .
this is the only way in which the EU can maintain its credibility with regard to the promises it has made - the goal of accession , with all the criteria being met .
( MT ) I would also like to congratulate my fellow Member , Carlos Coelho , for his report on this initiative which is granting third-country citizens the possibility of greater freedom of movement within the European free zone .
( GA ) Mr President , without a doubt cancer is a terrible disease , and as they say in my own country , it is killing the country , as both young and old people are dying from the disease every day .
we should bury the ideas of a military victory once and for all .
what do you think about the statements of Tony Blair ?
I am also very pleased that this proposal for a directive allows the application of reduced VAT rates to some services linked to the construction sector as well as catering services .
the changes to financial market regulation and market supervision represent a whole chapter in the effort to combat the current financial and economic crisis .
we want , in the long run , to make it easier to travel to the European Union - we want the visa system to be easier .
Mr Bouazizi , who immolated himself , is the Jan Palach of Tunisia , and when Jan Palach immolated himself , this whole Parliament was behind him .
the main task the European Union has to address is to draw up a credible security strategy based on the various facets of possible European action : cooperation and development policy , regional programmes , coordination strategies for highway security , and security training policies .
now this initiative has come in response to what we have constantly been requesting in this plenary , with the aim of converting Europol into an EU agency , financed from the Community budget , and strengthening our role of democratic control .
I will take all the supplementaries together - remember that you have 30 seconds for the supplementary - and then I will ask the Commissioners to answer all the supplementaries en masse .
nowadays , Member States are facing economic , financial and social crises , creating the need more than ever for solidarity and respect for the Union 's basic principles .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Legal Affairs . - Madam President , the Legal Affairs Committee supports the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on cross-border payments in the Community .
Mr President , I just want to touch on two issues as far as assent is concerned .
I too , as a Member of Parliament and as a European citizen , expect to obtain full access to all the correspondence that has taken place with France and possibly other Member States .
the following questions are addressed to the Council .
the implementation of this inherently toothless directive must be legally strengthened and this should be linked to sanctions in order to ensure that it is possible to implement the directive .
only then can the EU achieve its goals of growth , employment and social cohesion .
among other things , the report proposes the introduction of a single student ID card in the EU .
Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou has drafted a very good report - I can say that on behalf of the PPE-DE Group and on a very personal level too , Marie - which gives us the green light for the designation of 2010 as the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion .
then I think we should have a glass of wine , or port , to celebrate what the Portuguese Presidency has achieved on this very important file .
this will certainly not reduce the disgraceful trafficking in human beings .
for the same reason , this kind of commerce also guarantees greater participation by the least developed countries in international trade .
what exactly is its purpose ?
protection of fishermen depends on protection of catches .
Mr Vondra has already gone into this .
the Commission furthermore strives to promote a responsible use of media and the Internet .
in paragraph 127 of the original report there was a proposal which called on all the EU Member States to ban the wearing of headscarves and the hijab at school .
women must be involved in the measures taken to try to prevent conflicts and promote crisis management and peace negotiations .
this model has clearly been unsustainable , resulting in the build-up of significant fiscal , which means a high general government deficit and growth debt stock , increasing interest payments and macro-economic , which implies a high current account deficit and external debt outflow of income imbalances .
the Commission will issue a report on these areas in October .
some concerns arose in the Council about certain aspects and parts of the proposal .
I agree that we must define the division of powers between the EU and the Member States more clearly .
this is why we need to make more headway .
I believe that the multiannual work programme will improve cost-effectiveness through enhanced regional cooperation and the pooling of means under joint deployment plans .
therefore , we have to attack the root causes which make medicines big business : one of the biggest businesses on a world scale .
any direct application of the previously-mentioned safeguard mechanisms based on the bilateral safeguard clauses of the EU-South Korea FTA would be a very sensitive matter , and the result could contrast sharply with the euphoria surrounding the adoption of this agreement .
I am pleased that my proposal to call on Turkey to retract its plans for the expropriation of the Monastery of St. Gabriel in Tur Abdin has been included in the motion for a resolution .
we must , today , take action to mitigate these effects .
at its worst , this could even appear counterproductive .
the European Union is ready to do its part by keeping Member States united and respectful of European common legislation and competence .
in addition to the human suffering , Madagascar 's biodiversity is under threat .
what would an auditor say to a set of accounts if he did not have access to all the annexes ?
thank you very much for your attention .
the Commission will therefore be asked to carry out a more in-depth analysis of the issue of mandatory ' made in ' labels for textile products manufactured outside the EU , and by 2013 it will produce a report on the possible launch of a system for country-of-origin labelling for products .
as you know , there is no resolution and no vote .
however , we all need to be proactive in seeking those , with emphasis on the small rather than the medium .
trust is good , control is even better .
I would also like to remind our liberal fellow Members , and , in particular , Mr Rohde , that the reason he was in favour of free trade was because of its devastating effects , since he maintained that the fact that the British bourgeoisie was driven by dishonourable interests was of little consequence : Indian society needed to be destroyed in order to precipitate the dawn of the global revolution .
such an imbalance is an increasingly serious practical and moral obstacle for further progress .
she was then my special representative for the Caucasus .
again , that is pretty important in the current situation .
small Moroccan producers are not the ones who benefit from our agreements , as they do not have the capacity to produce in conditions acceptable to the European market .
and so to the wedding that Martin was so keen to describe . it is indeed an interesting state of affairs , for the bridegroom is marrying the same bride for a second time .
I have also tried to prevent what I see as a precedent which would exclude the older Member States , particularly Portugal , from this funding , and possibly from using other additional sources of Community aid .
meanwhile there is time for discussions , which I know José Manuel Barroso has also stated , and to have this type of dialogue concerning how European policy is to develop in the years ahead .
internally , Europe has a big task ahead : it needs to implement the energy and climate package , to invest in clean technologies , scientific research and energy efficiency , to invest in a new industrial policy based on innovation and the efficiency of natural resources , to promote policies on low-carbon cities and sustainable transport and mobility .
so , for example , are we going to support proposals that appear to be on the table , according to what is on the blogosphere , that MP3 players and laptops can be confiscated at borders ?
first of all , I agree with those who say that those employed in this sector - and they are mostly women , of course - are entitled to fair pay and fair social services .
I am counting on this and I am already looking forward to seeing what you are going to do in the near future .
we need to support our security forces with the equipment they need to prevent terrorism .
1 .
I agree with your idea that the Global Programme Management Board must not be an assembly .
the transparent citizen is increasingly becoming a reality and all of this is based on data and information from the secret services whose role and reliability have become highly controversial , not least since the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq .
improving the quality of our ambient air remains a major challenge to be addressed .
it is important for it also to consider the changes that the Commission 's 2000 report identified as necessary .
it is extremely difficult to open new chapters .
can I conclude by informing colleagues of some good news from the United States which I have just received , which is that the US Administration has decided to put the Revolutionary Guards on the terrorist list .
I said ' in the middle ' , Mrs Harms .
we want to develop a financial framework that can sustain our solidarity commitments with third countries in the Copenhagen Green Climate Fund and , at the same time , foster improvements in accounting rules and our response in terms of both reductions in emissions caused by deforestation and technological cooperation .
- ( CS ) Mr President , in times gone by , the slogan that the ' customer is king ' held true , lifetime guarantees were not the exception , and quality was a matter of honour .
examples of these countries include Israel , Columbia and Morocco , to name but three , on different continents .
in your response you spoke about forthcoming summits on climate change .
they run up against the new United States policy , if they consider that the Obama administration , in particular through the statements of Vice-President Joe Biden , has changed its style , then the European Union will fall behind the new American policy , although this would not be in our interest .
the increasing mobility of EU citizens is leading to any increase in the number of marriages in which spouses are of different nationalities and live in different states , or live in a Member State of which neither is a national .
it is only natural that they should be concentrating on other measures , such as agriculture , services - although not by questioning the right of developing countries to regulate public services - and industrial tariffs , but not at the expense of a successful outcome to this development round .
meanwhile , how is the corps of the European External Action Service being created ?
the Commission considers that such differences , some of which the Commission is solving through cooperation with the Member States , are marginal , and that the desired level of harmonisation seems to have been attained .
the fact that the Czech Republic , which will hold the EU presidency in the first half of next year , is the only EU Member State that has not yet ratified it is , in my opinion , an embarrassment to what , unfortunately in this case , is my native country .
examples of this are the recent resolutions on Pakistan and China , which were not nearly as strong in tone , nor was there such evident support for the internal opposition .
I am very sorry about this .
with its EU 2020 strategy , the European Union must , therefore , give an effective response to the economic and financial crisis and ensure that the economic capacity of this bloc of 500 million people remains competitive , in other words , that the EU27 do not fall behind their economic and political rivals .
there is a long way to go to achieving European standards , but some progress needs to be made .
Germany and France have been blackmailed by the United Kingdom .
the question of ownership , industrial management and network security has not , in my opinion , been sufficiently analysed .
the conclusion of the agreement will result in increasing opportunities of economic and social development for the air carriers and passengers as well .
some countries of the European Union have been members for 20 or 30 years and are still part of these programmes , and we all have the same rights .
if it has nothing to hide , the inquiry should be carried out .
the point has been made , but needs to be made precise , that the US and Europe are totally different .
public confidence in Europe will decline even further as a result .
I also think that the Horn of Africa is possibly the poorest region in the world .
as part of the discharge report , we took over , word for word , passages provided by members of the main Groups expressing opinions that were critical of the agencies .
you will have heard many stories , largely put about in eurosceptic circles , of how the European Commission and the European bureaucracy want to regulate a whole host of minutiae .
I have witnessed earthquakes in Turkey .
I have no illusions about this .
you proposed quartering the assets of Poland 's shipyards , selling them in an unconditional tender , and then putting them in the hands of private investors .
it fully deserves to be included in the existing TNT network of Pan-European Transport Corridors .
they are an essential component of truly open , innovative and competitive societies .
we cannot accept a resolution that welcomes the intention to develop an external dimension to the Lisbon Strategy , specifically the promotion of market liberalisation on a worldwide scale , accentuating its neoliberal nature and interference in the economic guidelines of third countries .
I would testify to this under oath if it were the practice of Parliament .
but I would like to give you a word of warning .
the recent international financial instability , which put a severe strain on international and European banking systems , was a cause for deep concern among ordinary European citizens , who did not see any solutions proposed at EU level or any sign of European solidarity during that critical period .
only then will we also be able to relaunch the European budget .
I am moved by the view that we cannot behave unreasonably towards these human beings .
that is something we should and must respect .
Mr Schwab 's report has the aim of merging four different directives : those on off-premises sales , on distance sales , on guarantees and on unfair contract terms .
many of those were UK citizens trafficked within the UK , not externally sourced , if I might use that expression .
if we give this matter even a moment 's serious thought , we cannot deny that a parliament which sets itself apart from all other parliaments in the world by no longer archiving transcriptions of its debates is thereby sacrificing much of its parliamentary identity .
however , child mortality also depends on other factors such as nutrition , housing , access to safe water , sanitation and education .
it is important to ensure that money earmarked to combat illegal immigration is used as it was specifically intended .
however , let us now look at what we could do in the future .
as you have already pointed out , there will be a lot of very concrete examples : concrete examples which will help the citizens because - and this is something new - they will now have a double guarantee .
Iraq should understand that the Iranian regime has no future and is holding on to power for repression and executions .
this is a regrettable fact .
another aspect which was addressed , for example , in the Tagliavini report on the conflict between Georgia and Russia , is the need for disarmament on an intellectual and linguistic level to counteract inflammatory language and the manipulation of history .
Vice-President of the Commission . - As I said , I have had personal experience and I do not see any reason to start changing the system again or to make some changes to this system .
however , the concept of the Mediterranean diet goes further than that , and in this respect my comments complement his .
perhaps I will have the chance to see you again .
this not only damages the sector economy , with serious implications for employment , but also undermines any possibility of developing our rural areas .
in practice , in order to meet the strict limit values , it is necessary to install specific equipment destroying most of the cyanide before its storage in the pond .
the use of a unique system for communications with a legal character will provide for rapid , safe , integrated and easy access by interested parties to the information required .
in the context of the scandalous judgment of the European Court of Human Rights , which ordered crosses to be removed from an Italian school , it should be stated emphatically that no group of judges appointed by politicians , not even the Council of Europe , can order the removal of a cross , which has universal and religious significance .
in writing . - ( PT ) I voted against this joint motion for a resolution .
as we take the principle of subsidiarity seriously , we are of the opinion that Parliament should vote against this report and that Parliament 's Committee on Culture and Education should be abolished .
finally , I would like to thank Mrs Estrela for the work she has done with such enthusiasm .
the period from birth to the age of three has a fundamental effect on the development of thinking , and on physical and cognitive development .
to conclude , the European Union is one of the most successful peacemaking organisations in the world .
the struggle against monopoly interests to overturn this policy is the only way to meet the current needs of working-class families .
in writing . - ( PT ) I could only vote in favour of this report .
in Romania at the Arcelor Mittal sites in Galaţi and Hunedoara , several thousand employees will be made technically unemployed in rotation , receiving just 75 % of their salary or will just be made redundant .
( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , the time has come at last : yes , those who want the independence of Texas to be recognised by the United States , those who want to see the west of Romania separated from it as a purely Hungarian territory , those who want an independent Scotland , Catalonia , Basque Country , and all the other states that will no doubt come into existence in Latin America and Africa .
insisting on ratification of the Treaty is an anti-democratic attitude .
indeed , the debate on legal migration is being held elsewhere .
but what steps should the Union take now ?
if Iran had had a real chance of becoming a modern nation under Prime Minister Mossadeq in the early 1950s , it would never have become a breeding ground for the rulers of today .
they should not be in conflict : both deserve protection from our Constitution .
as for its claim to draw a partner country 's attention to the need for a separation of powers when this House demands no such thing within the Union , it is , in fact , unbearable .
for a country which has made much progress towards democracy in recent years , this coup is a setback to such advancements .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
secondly , we need a long-term plan - which I call a Marshall Plan - for each country that , like Tunisia and Egypt , plan to take the road to democracy .
we need a functioning Galileo system as soon as possible and , what is more , our own European system .
in addition , we are urgently putting into place changes to our accounting rules to ensure banks in the EU can avail themselves of the same flexibility that is offered to banks in the United States , namely the option for individual banks , if they wish , to move assets from their trading books to their banking books .
I know that this has only just started , so my question is probably premature , but I wanted to ask the Commission the following .
analysing the various causes of the financial crisis has shown that there was an urgent need to enact legislation on rating agencies .
the only thing I find regrettable is that it has been considered indispensable to formally table a new proposal , leading to a delay in formalising the agreement at first reading .
this report meets the needs of the industry by creating simplified , transparent legislation through replacing no fewer than 50 basic directives , thereby reducing the administrative burden .
it must not be restricted only by a clause saying that it is permitted when essential and that safeguards are sufficiently guaranteed - this is too general , exceptions must be spelled out .
( applause )
none of this has happened , and during the debate within the Committee on Petitions , the European Commission unfortunately avoided answering our questions once again .
that is why I am asking the Commission to ensure that the Member States assume their responsibilities , for once and for all .
at this point , we are assessing what has been achieved and how to proceed .
a framework of Commission guidelines should be established ; binding sustainability criteria should be introduced , including mandatory national forestry programmes ; payment for ecosystem services should be formalised ; and forest protection policies should be strengthened by reintroducing the fire prevention regulation .
in the European economic recovery plan , the Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund measures laid down , the simplification of the rural development fund procedures and the speeding up of fund acquisition , the payment of EU fund advances and the increase in the share of EU co-financing have not yet been reflected in the amount of payment appropriations set out in the European Union 's 2009 budget .
for this reason , although the peculiarity of the moment has brought many views to the surface , we shall refrain , for now , from submitting further amendments for the sake of the swift procedure and real benefits to the public intended by the proposal .
piracy causes victims and generates huge revenues for the practitioners of this ' profession ' .
the European Union must not only ensure that an impact assessment is carried out in relation to these agreements ; it must also amend its legislation accordingly so as to promote sustainable production and sustainable economies .
( SK ) Madam President , the European Union wants to become the most competitive economy in the world .
they are a major political issue .
I would like , at this point , to reiterate our gratitude to the French Presidency of the Council for the success of Europe as a partner .
on the one hand , there is the rule that since the entry into force of the Amsterdam Treaty in 1999 the Council has been responsible for establishing the rules on EU visa policy .
nonetheless , there has never been a more pressing need to resolve the Yugoslavian crisis once and for all , be it the Kosovo issue or speeding up the accession of its Balkan neighbours .
therefore , they need to be modernised with a long-term perspective , while also preserving their original values .
the current EU legal framework on the scientific information provided to European consumers presents many problems , particularly as regards the different interpretations of the directive by individual Member States .
the agreement reached in the Council and the will of the European Parliament send out a positive message : we cannot tackle this serious economic crisis without changing our strategy .
similarly , the year should take innovation into all spheres : innovation which reaches all Governments , and here I do not mean only the governments of the Member States , regions or non-State bodies which have plenty to say during the year .
the European Commission , the Monitoring Information Centre and the Crisis Platform are working together and are keeping the Member States and China up to date with EU assistance .
when vessels are designed and built , the perspective of future recycling should be incorporated , and facilities for recycling boats should be provided .
it is about using our leverage to bring about the maximum possible in terms of a global effort to cut emissions .
was the United States happy years ago about the close proximity of Soviet missiles in Cuba ?
( FR ) Mr President , my speech relates , in fact , to Monday 's agenda .
Mr President , on 15 February 2007 , we discussed the state violence of dictator Lansana Conté in Guinea as a matter of urgency .
the report proposes improvements for half a billion citizens when exercising their rights concerning withdrawal from a contract , delivery of goods , statutory guarantee , methods of calculating the withdrawal period , unfair contractual terms , contracts providing digital content and on-line auctions .
those who oppose reform should stay at home in their nation-states and support those who are working for Europe .
producers in other parts of the world have managed to produce wines which appeal to the tastes of European consumers and at the same time are cheaper than European wines .
illegal ship-owners exploit underpaid crews and sell fishery products at very low prices .
within this time , we have managed to find a political solution to the complicated problem of Russian gas , and to negotiate an agreement between the two sides in the dispute .
at the same time , it was noted recently that the judiciary in this country has shown a clear repeated tendency towards the abolition of the government along the same lines as events two or three years ago with Erbakan .
this strategy proposes a series of measures aimed at fostering cooperation between Member States to fight against crimes such as child pornography , terrorism , attacks on information systems and fraud .
there are going to be even more opportunities when the complete reform of the European Union budget is discussed , which , as we already know , will be done on the basis of the total analysis to be conducted by the European Commission itself in 2008 and 2009 .
the Commission is also called upon to bring forward incentive-based measures to promote the cultivation of fallow land , which could contribute significantly to reducing the protein deficit in the EU .
what this means , of course , is that it must take action against fouls and violations of the rules .
it is all the more astonishing that , during the vote at first reading of the Breyer report on the placing of plant protection products on the market , in other words on the reform of Directive 91 / 414 , many of those who today voted in favour of a resolution spoke out against the amendments guaranteeing better protection for bees .
you simply go to iTunes and buy songs for 20 , 30 , 40 or 50 cents .
perhaps the Commission can explain to me how I , as a politician , can tell the general public that we can consume a whole lot of products here that we are not allowed to produce .
sovereign wealth funds can make a global contribution to financial stability , as we have seen , and also to economic growth in order to ensure solidarity between generations .
those Member States in this Assembly who have lived through occupations will know what a word like this means .
you will find that it is people with the lowest level of education , perhaps living in local authority complexes , lacking access to education and on social welfare who have the highest levels of unemployment .
Chávez has , therefore - unashamedly - identified himself alongside China 's authoritarian and hard-line rulers .
the adopted conclusions reflect the positions of the European Parliament and European social partners .
now , it is not enough to have the right approach ; we must apply it .
there is one thing I am sure of , however , and that is that your party is a right-wing extremist , neo-fascist party .
the effects of globalisation make social protection even more important for workers and for communities .
secondly , as someone who grew up with the movement for more equality , I worry that young women think the battle is over .
there are parallels - both cost lots of money , and Copenhagen will be about reaching an agreement on the financial tools for the third world and the developing countries .
I think it is necessary to develop a new conception regarding the functioning of the EU 's external service in which the areas of the Community 's operation and the principles of establishing the service are defined , as well as principles for the division of roles and for cooperation with Member States ' diplomatic services , to make clear what roles are played by individual EU institutions .
we must take consistent measures to combat Islamist terrorism , but we must put a stop to EU citizens constantly ...
finding an answer to the question ' what should the school be like ' is very difficult .
we also have to ensure the safety of these vessels .
we also need to protect farmers , especially those from the new Member States who still do not enjoy the same support as farmers from the other 15 Member States .
you are thinking more about deceiving the citizens , the voters .
the next task now will be to set up the European Union 's foreign service .
the fall in the number of employees and companies has a powerful impact on the budgets allocated for public expenditure , as well as on European citizens ' quality of life .
I would therefore welcome the introduction of a solidarity clause among Member States on such issues .
of course the written answer is also very detailed and correct , but it is easier to ask and make inquiries verbally and it makes the result even more interesting still .
in the meantime , the Schengen evaluation of Romania and Bulgaria on all chapters was completed in March with a positive outcome .
cross border selling will become easier , helping both consumers and traders alike .
on the third question , the priority of the Commission is to ensure correct and consistent implementation of the directive .
I am voting for this report , given that the current Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and São Tomé and Príncipe has been in force since 2006 and that the protocol for this agreement expired on 31 May 2011 .
( the sitting was suspended at 11.35 a.m. and resumed at 12.05 p.m. )
for the first time , the 2 ° C objective is acknowledged in a UN document , the pledges are anchored and the obvious has been stated , namely , that countries need to do more for the world to stay below the 2 ° C rise . we also started a process to strengthen transparency and , as we said in Cancún , it is not enough just to say that you are in favour of increased transparency .
it is very clear that the first directive has failed to meet that objective .
cross-border crime-fighting cooperation has been developed , but we still have more to do to achieve effective European police and criminal law cooperation .
the rapporteur was right when he talked of the need for a frame of reference : publication alone is not enough .
finally , I would like to stress that national parliaments will need to strengthen their administrative capacity and ensure there is adequate funding so that they can fully exercise their new powers .
from a text that initially stigmatised Islam and Muslims in a quite disgraceful way , the progressive , centre-left majority managed to craft a balanced document highlighting the whole range of factors ( economic , social and so on ) that favour support for terrorism , asserting the need to respect fundamental rights , and emphasising the importance of combating discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity , especially in education , training and employment .
however , since a new EU body is involved , we must examine the new agreement on cooperation with the Council of Europe to ensure that what appear to be two similar institutions do not compete with each other but cooperate .
here the Commission has from the beginning actively supported and facilitated the investigations launched by both the Council of Europe and the European Parliament into the renditions and the secret detentions .
they can find no direct link to climate change as yet .
I think it would deal a crippling blow to their vibrant activities .
as you can see , we have other reasons for not considering the Europe of these treaties as ours and for hoping that we will soon be celebrating the De profundis of the ridiculous Prodi Government .
secondly , centres at local level should develop action programmes which take account of differing life situations and needs in the area of early childhood education and care .
thirdly , we need to combat tax havens , the black holes of globalisation .
achieving open , competitive and reliable markets is not something that occurs by happy chance ; this is shown by the experience in Europe .
I therefore think it is a step backwards , as is automatic alignment without any time limits from the old comitology system to the present system in the agricultural field , which strengthens the role of Parliament .
( PL ) Mr President , by mobilising the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund , the European Union is once again jointly facing up to economic difficulties .
to mention just one of these , are we going to further arm the rebels - the collective term for a diverse bunch of people , some of whom by European standards have not yet mentally outgrown the Middle Ages - and if so , what guarantee do we have that such weapons would not be used to plunge the country into greater chaos , as happened in Iran after the Shah was expelled ?
( ES ) Madam President , Commissioner , we have to be careful how debates develop .
this means that it is out of the question for every country to continue to insist on its individual privileges against a background of parochial politics .
after intensive consultations based on the political guidelines that I presented for the next five years , this Parliament entrusted me , in September , with the responsibility of a second mandate .
each of these policies would achieve less by itself than they are all achieving together at present in the integrated system of programme planning and fulfilment .
at this time of crisis , it is important to strengthen the European Union 's trade defence system .
I know that human rights are a high priority , and I am at a loss to understand why the European Union , which prides itself on being the champion of human rights in the world , should even contemplate a trade agreement with a regime like that of Colombia .
if directives are not complied with , if the Stability Pact is not complied with , it is natural that there should be sanctions .
it is a very bad thing that many of the leading members of a party that was democratically elected to the Turkish Parliament have been arrested .
there are many reasons for developing new standards in the area of domestic work .
nonetheless , this report plans to establish more instruments , thereby expanding development aid .
I would ask you to read the whole report through once again - you will most certainly not find the words ' European army ' in it .
some weeks ago a number of us had the opportunity to visit Washington and to speak not only with under-secretaries at the State Department but also with our counterparts in the Congress , the Senate and various scientific institutions .
finally , it must be understood that the material situation in Europe is quite different , since most of the drilling in the Gulf of Mexico takes place at a depth of 1 500 metres , which clearly makes it difficult to shut down operations in the event of a disaster such as that which occurred .
the following step is to ensure the recovery of sums unduly paid .
they face ever-rising taxes and ever-rising prices .
it is now clear that it would have been better if the European Parliament had held an extraordinary session earlier on the subject of Georgia .
in writing . - Mr President , although the result of the Irish referendum was a great disappointment to the European Union , it is not the proper time to panic and look for a scapegoat .
the agreement on trade in bananas will also have a significant impact on other developing countries aiming to export bananas , and we will have to help these countries adapt to the considerable changes in the competitive environment on the world market .
please help me answer this question : what are we supposed to tell the people in Borsod or Szabolcs County ?
my second question is as follows . the French Government has put forward a proposal to incorporate importers from developing countries into the ETS system in order to make the market bigger and to allow these countries to participate in this system .
this country has made huge efforts to be part of Europe and therefore , we must assess them accordingly .
nevertheless , for the sake of compromise , I regard this situation as progress mainly because the current compromise also advocates that the draft regulation on the integrated supervisory system should be produced quickly based on the De Larosière material , which will already be good , in our opinion , as well as providing a very significant benefit for communitarisation .
during the economic crisis , public service broadcasters should better exploit the opportunity to obtain soft loans from the European Investment Bank which would help to modernise infrastructure and would raise the level of public service broadcasters , thus helping them to adapt to the challenges of the 21st century .
( CS ) I would like to make a few comments ahead of the European Council meeting concerning the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty in my own country , the Czech Republic .
the EIB should immediately be given an additional EUR 500 million mandate for microcredit financing to increase access for the poorest people to bank finance in eligible countries .
the amendments adopted by the Committee on Legal Affairs , which are quite numerous , are designed precisely to prevent the European private company formula from forming a basis for , as Mrs van den Burg was saying , the emergence of a European Delaware .
let us defer .
I am confident that democracy cannot be built in non-democratic and violent methods in any country of the world .
I supported this initiative on the creation of a European professional card for service providers by voting for it as it represents a new way of ensuring the free movement of persons and services .
the rapporteur finds it regrettable that the 2020 strategy has not duly incorporated an assessment of the Lisbon Strategy , and we share that opinion .
there is no lack of ideas and investments from the developing countries themselves , but there is a need for stability .
in the case of unleaded petrol , unfortunately , there will be no change by this means .
President of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste . - Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I will start by remarks in English , and then I will switch to Portuguese , and then back to English .
however , I often wonder what these individual areas of policy themselves achieve .
I am therefore in favour of the request for an instrument of criminal law which would define violence against women as a crime in itself , through the development of a directive against gender-based violence , to be brought in line with the multiple training , prevention and awareness-raising initiatives in order to fight all forms of abuse against women .
firstly , the regulation should not apply to overseas territories of EU Member States .
the protection of public safety and order , which includes maintaining order in railway communications designated for public use , should be one of the basic tasks for which the EU is responsible .
this creates serious obstacles in the way of the social development of Europe .
regarding the commitment on the EU side , we have made a political commitment and we will deliver .
that is why there are two things that I regard as being important .
today , when we have the technological means to transcend the horizon of our own cultural self-awareness , we nevertheless continue to witness the terrible effects of human fragmentation .
this viewpoint is very focused on the 2008 conflict between Russia and Georgia , and on issues of territory and Russia 's sovereignty over South Ossetia and Abkhazia .
in the European Union , around eighteen thousand eco-friendly vehicles are in operation , while the number of hydrogen pumps available is not even worth mentioning .
( PL ) Madam President , I have heard the debates on the Polish shipyards with satisfaction , and believe that the majority of the Polish delegation has proved up to the task and put forward water-tight arguments , whilst at the same time refraining from pinning the blame on anyone .
child pornography is a delicate subject which should always be a main focus for European and national authorities .
we are very pleased to note that Mrs Kosor , the new Croatian Prime Minister , has quickly and successfully taken steps in the areas where we have met the greatest obstacles so far : in the fight against corruption and organised crime , in implementing a programme of administrative reform , in addressing war crimes and in ensuring legal or constitutional protection for ethnic and other minorities .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , Mr Tabajdi , respect for minorities is an essential principle among the conditions to be met before a new country can accede to the Union .
finally , in order to bring these principles into being in a better and more cohesive fashion , Parliament and the Council decided to establish a European organisation bringing together 27 national operators .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , Azerbaijan is important to the European Union as an energy producer and transit country , and also as a contributor to regional stability in the Southern Caucasus .
the report by Mrs Trautmann is based on shared responsibility .
the PPE members of my Group hope that the European Council will ask the Member States that have not yet done so to continue with their ratification procedures as is only fit and proper .
a few days ago , on the occasion of the start of Mr Sarkozy 's Presidency , which received such a lot of media attention , MEPs were given gifts .
yet we are also worried about the attitude of resignation and shirking of responsibility on the part of the European institutions , which does not give us any greater power in negotiation .
the things we should be doing are common things that individual Member States cannot manage , to build the EU into a common market , a real common market .
the initiative to create the most favourable conditions for SMEs to obtain funding ( risk capital , micro-credits , etc . ) is very important .
it has already struck far more people and in far more places than a normal outbreak and , unlike in normal outbreaks , it has not been rapidly traced to one or two food suppliers .
the measures contained in the package lie so far in the future that they are more likely to create jobs during the next recession than this one .
even though trade between these two regions has intensified , mutual trading between the EU and Latin America is less dynamic compared to trade relations with other regions of the world .
the EDF is the main Community instrument for development cooperation aid to the ACP ( Africa , Caribbean , Pacific ) countries .
in other words , what we have today is a compromise - we are not completely happy with it , but in my view , it is a way for us to move forward .
according to published statistics , the European Union earmarked funds of EUR 972.5 million for the Global Fund to fight AIDS , Tuberculosis and Malaria between 2002 and 2010 .
in writing . - ( PT ) Georgia has faced serious problems recently , particularly after the military conflict between the country and Russia due to the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia .
this is a sad role .
the effects of the new administrative system therefore need to be explored primarily at regional rather than European level , because every Member State 's fishing fleet has its own distinctive features .
in writing . - ( PL ) I am in favour of the rapporteur 's view concerning adoption of the Council common position without any amendments .
Parliament has also secured a significant improvement in passengers ' basic rights on both international and national lines : there are provisions for liability in the event of accidents , and rights for people with disabilities or reduced mobility .
in this regard , naming this year the Year of Intercultural Dialogue sounds almost like a mockery .
I have just spoken to Baroness Ashton - or Commissioner Ashton as she is now - and I do believe that she is taking us forward in a progressive and futuristic way .
I hope that this directive shall be adopted - as soon as possible - so that it can be implemented by 2010 as a support for local authorities and for public bodies who value the environment .
obviously we must remember not only , as our colleague reminded us , that Georgia is vulnerable - and we do know that - but also that Georgia has to compromise with a ' big brother ' constantly lying in wait to catch it out .
overall , though , there is , again , a negative DAS concerning the legality and regularity of transactions .
I regard it as important to encourage stable employment relations in which there is a high level of confidence .
it is our moral duty and it is possible .
we must be more ambitious in our police and judicial cooperation .
today , the rules are changing , and we need to use the conclusions of the G20 to go back to an equal departure point .
the place for information on passenger rights is at the ticket counters themselves , or on board the buses , coaches , aeroplanes and similar modes of transport themselves .
I am delighted that these two considerations have enabled a balance to be struck , so that this matter can be reopened .
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I myself have received some of their accounts .
a few manufacturers use cadmium , which is a toxic substance , in their solar modules .
many Members will recall that the Directive was adopted in 2002 following an arduous conciliation procedure , on the basis of which a complex clause was approved .
in dealing with disruptive events such as this , a key element is collaborative decision making between Member States and industry .
( FI ) Mr President , I would just like to say that one important point in the Finnish version of this resolution has been translated wrongly .
firstly and most importantly , you say that General Motors bears responsibility , as though no responsibility lies with either the regional , Belgian , or European authorities .
in writing . - ( SK ) The aim of this proposal is to ensure that consumers in all 27 Member States of the EU can rely on a high level of consumer protection , and that companies of all sizes are capable of supplying goods and providing services to consumers in all 27 EU Member States without unnecessary legal obstacles .
I would advocate leaving drinking water supplies in the public sector .
for this reason I would also like to thank Commissioners Kuneva and Verheugen , the Commission staff and our negotiating partners from the German and Portuguese Presidencies and particularly from the Slovenian Presidency for their intensive , constructive and considerate cooperation .
moreover , all too often , we wait until the press drags a scandal into the public arena and the statute of limitations has run out on offences .
in 1998 a special session of the General Assembly of the United Nations set itself the goal of creating a drug-free world in the course of 10 years .
in writing . - I voted for this report because , according to the Consultative Working Party of the legal services of the European Parliament , the Council and the Commission , the proposal in question contains a straightforward codification of the existing texts without any change in their substance .
Europe must also continue to do everything it can to meet today 's challenges , and I believe that we have reason to be confident .
the only treaty-based dialogue consists of a meeting of a joint committee at officials level once a year .
many thanks for your attention .
this means that everything the institutions do must be measured against social rights .
it drew attention to the far-reaching implications of environmental change for the Arctic and it recognised that these could have consequences for international stability and for European security interests .
the demand for total transparency , mandatory individual registration of everything under the sun , an ethical control committee and so on , are , in the best case , expressions of something naive and , in the worst case , part of a populist political agenda that will do more harm than good .
in public , discussion of the crisis is limited to the state of public finances , although the rapidly increasing unemployment in some Eastern European Union Member States has already reached a critical level .
I know that it is different in some respects in Spain , but this is so that it can combat home-grown terrorism .
Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the customs union , which celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2008 , was one of the first stages of European integration .
the embargo affects the Cuban population and is a constant and recurring excuse for the shortcomings of the Castro regime .
these aspects have survived throughout the whole long history of punishment until today .
this is a particularly weak argument , but any stick will apparently do to beat a dog and to hold debates , to provide real arguments for an issue such as pay for stay-at-home parents .
author . - ( PL ) Madam President , Commissioner , the Members of the European Parliament who are concerned with the issue of Belarus and who are monitoring the situation in Belarus are faced with contradictory information .
ladies and gentlemen , I really must insist now that you keep to your speaking time .
this is an important step towards a new beginning in US policy .
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I want to reiterate that I am talking about fees and not about bank interest .
this story , going back to the late 1940s , is a sad story which ended in creating a false idea about them .
now , because of a poor European Union policy , we have become a net sugar importer ; that is the result of incompetent decision-making in Brussels .
in writing . - Due to the vast quantity of European legislation , it becomes essential that any defunct material is efficiently repealed .
it is a development that has continued with particular intensity within the new Member States .
this is how it happens , with half a minute here and 5 minutes there , and these delays do add up , so let us feel jointly responsible for keeping to schedule .
Spain and Italy are responsible for the highest number of cases of irregularities .
this will promote their recognition in Member States and thus increase opportunities for consumers to access foreign service providers more easily , thereby helping to increase integration in the European internal market .
attention has been given to incorrect statistical information in the case of Greece , but the core of the problem is a badly managed economic policy .
secondly , we also have a growing requirement for energy within the European Union .
thirdly , the principles of equality between men and women and non-discrimination will be abided by .
a number of recent developments have shed more light on Member State involvement in the US rendition programme .
indeed , I believe that sport is an indissociable element of European culture and citizenship .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , if you will allow me , I will start with some figures because they were referred to by several speakers in their statements .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , let me first thank Elmar Brok and the committee for a highly interesting report .
I did not agree with postponing the vote on the resolution because the situation is urgent and the fingerprinting of children must stop .
I think we need to remain very aware of that when we make a balanced assessment of our negotiations with Turkey .
it is a fact that individual local authorities , municipalities , and regions must cope , on a growing scale , with the impact of European law and European policies .
for example , a proposal was made by the Committee responsible to remove Article 37 ( 2 ) and incorporate Article 175 ( 1 ) , by removing Article 37 ( 2 ) , retaining Article 152 ( 4 ) ( b ) and adding Article 175 ( 1 ) .
finally , Mr President-in-Office , you spoke earlier about how you felt the legitimacy of your position in bringing the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty before the parliament was the only way to do it .
how can the Commission support the Committee 's ' Red Card to Forced Prostitution ' campaign ?
there is , then , one matter which has not received enough attention : what are you going to do about the recommendations of the International Atomic Energy Agency in response to the Fukushima disaster ?
in order for all of this to be fulfilled , the European Union must be ready and able to complete the job of integrating these countries into the new Europe through political and financial support and other mechanisms as well .
I can find no definite opinion on the current global economic crisis and the approach of the EU and the US .
indeed , if it did , it would be corrected by the Council of Ministers .
I am convinced that if the nations of Europe were given a voice , the treaty being signed tomorrow would share the fate of its predecessor .
when a producer consciously uses the CE marking , he is saying that he abides by EU rules .
at the conclusion of this debate I have received five motions for resolutions tabled in accordance with Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure .
as I have said several times in this House , a crisis signifies an opportunity for change , and we must not be afraid to change some of our customs , which have not had the positive effect we were counting on .
I voted for this report , because with the complicated economic , financial and social situation , it is more important than ever to implement one of the most important fundamental principles of the European Union - equality between men and women .
a prosperous and dynamic internal market depends on our capacity to put forward policies which can support growth , employment and innovation .
here , too , the principle holds that cooperation is more productive than confrontation .
we have to recognise our responsibility in upholding international obligations when dealing with people seeking protection within our borders .
I believe that the proposed directive will improve access to organs for European citizens requiring a transplant , increase trust in the donor system and encourage the exchange of good practices which can be applied at supranational level .
experience shows , though , that when everything is a priority the result is that nothing is a priority .
the Hungarian Presidency 's aim is to close the first European Semester by the time of the European Council in June 2011 .
the government has received the support of the main opposition parties and the main trade union - the Tunisian General Labour Union .
the violence in Guinea received worldwide condemnation .
let us hope that this report will not go completely unheeded and that all the European institutions will be able to refer to it in order to forge other relationships with the ACP countries .
donors , partner countries and civil society have been aware for a long time of the need to be more effective in particularly unfavourable situations in order to meet the objectives of sustainable development .
at first the term ' flexicurity ' frightened people , alarmed them .
the Africa summit .
they evolve into a language of distrust and hatred , pass into everyday usage , become a model to imitate and mould a certain attitude .
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firstly , corporate registration , so that a company or organisation with more than one site can actually register once in one country , which is very important .
another failing is in relation to the child trafficking for adoption , prostitution , illegal labour , forced marriage , and begging on the streets or for any other illegal purpose , all of which continue to represent a serious problem in the EU .
in relation to Schengen suspension , the Commission is proposing an EU mechanism instead of Member State decision , but this has been widely ( mis ) interpreted to mean that the reintroduction of internal borders will actually be easier in practice .
however , that is precisely what distinguishes us from terrorists : the fact that we regard human rights as universal .
please be honest and say what you are really doing instead of giving the public the opposite message .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( NL ) Madam President , I have signed the compromise as coordinator for the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe in the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection .
it is not possible to say in a general way ' ' it is this group 's fault , and this group has to go , because none of its members have work permits , or because they do not fit in with our idea of our culture , or because they are all unemployed , or because they are begging ' .
this budget line will be allocated about EUR 65 billion for next year .
it is not necessary , therefore , to go too far in punishing them , but banking activities should be based on what is happening in the real economy , not on an inter-bank virtual market , which was the main reason for the recent crisis .
living together in Europe is about learning to change one 's habits slightly for the benefit of Community and general interest .
as far as vocational education and training are concerned , the key factors listed in the Europe 2020 strategy for smart , sustainable and inclusive growth need to be translated into practical steps at European Union level and in the Member States .
debates on cases of breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law ( announcement of motions for resolutions tabled ) : see Minutes
the enlargement process of the European Union continues on exclusively geographical premises and , as I have already stated in this House , the Council is being hasty in granting the status of candidate country for accession before the countries in question reach democratic quality standards that at least approach a basically adequate level .
the Commission 's proposal for a directive is a welcome clarification of pan-European rules .
the fishery sector must be able to use any fishing opportunity there is just at present . one possibility , for example , might be to switch the Mediterranean tuna fishery to Mauritania .
it forms the ideological and spiritual foundation of a struggle which we must take part in during this parliamentary term .
I wish to say a few words about the background .
but we do not manage any better with our birds either .
the internal market thrives on the fact that the consumers can depend on what they perceive to be valid legal norms .
not only is this an infringement of the doctor 's employment rights , but it is also an infringement of the patient 's rights .
as far as I am concerned , the debate on pro-cyclicity is too brief at the moment .
in terms of timing , it fits exactly in the current window , which we should use , because in the area of package travel , there is a whole range of issues when consumers are not properly informed about their rights .
by way of conclusion , therefore , Mr President , I should like to emphasise that the Presidency is striving to have the negotiating mandate for this comprehensive agreement dealt with at the same time as the three mandates for the PNR agreements with Australia , Canada and the United States , and that we should very much like to discuss the matter at the Council meeting on 2 and 3 December next .
Romania has supported unreservedly the expansion of this region towards the EU and NATO , with a particular mention for Serbia .
with regard to hospital care , the State of affiliation may ask patients who decide to seek treatment abroad for prior authorisation , and this is obviously necessary to protect the stability of its health system .
the Markey-Waxman bill has been voted on in the House and is now going to be voted on in the Senate .
moreover , let us not forget the serious precedent that this measure is setting , and will set , for future European Union negotiations .
I believe that the tax system must remain under the competence of each Member State , and it is consequently inappropriate to oblige the Commission to put forward a set of proposals on a fully fledged common European system of taxation .
the Court accepts that , as it explicitly expressed once again in its judgment last September .
those who are trying to make globalisation out to be a threat are quite wrong .
I voted in favour of this report as I agree that , in order for the EU to meet its responsibilities to preserve peace , prevent conflicts , strengthen international security and assist populations facing disasters , it is vital to foster better coordination between civilian and military resources and to ensure that the necessary resources are available to strengthen their global crisis management abilities .
this enables people to help the environment directly and to reduce emissions in their everyday living and buying .
those who are HIV-positive today have a good chance of a long life , in western Europe at least .
I welcome especially the transparency as regards both political and financial support .
( ES ) Mr President , the tomato growers of the Canary Islands , Murcia , Andalusia and the Community of Valencia , all of them European Union producers , need the Commission to take robust action with regard to an unfair situation which is causing them serious damage .
we of the Committee on Petitions , perhaps more than any other members of this House , must show respect for the legal realities and the democratically expressed voice of the people , in this case the people of Ireland , who have consigned the Lisbon Treaty to the dustbin of history .
I can refer to one of the latest cases where human rights were included in the trade agreement with Montenegro .
however , I should also like to have a section - and I have asked my colleagues for this - on cooperation with the countries where these counterfeit goods originate and where they could cause considerable harm to health , particularly if they are counterfeit medicines .
however , the Commission should not now simply sit back and do nothing .
( DE ) Mr President , on behalf of the Social Democratic Group , I too would like to thank Mr Toubon for a report which , overall , we can support because it contains a great many positive aspects of particular importance to the members of our Group .
that is where we have to react .
Parliament 's priorities for this budget may be considered to be the affirmation and strengthening of funding for education and innovation .
it is an essential tool for strengthening coordination of economic policy inside the EU-27 and , of course , within the euro area .
it does not concern a ban on displaying religious symbols in public , but only in a very small section of public space , in state schools .
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there are concerns that Member States are being over cautious in their implementation of no-flight zones and that aeroplanes are safe to fly amid higher densities of ash than are currently allowed by EU rules .
we are afraid of finding ourselves in a somewhat similar situation to Burma after the tsunami in 2006 , where the junta prevented access to humanitarian aid .
however , precisely because we cannot yet fully trust the Government of Kazakhstan in respect of the rule of law , we must insist that the case is investigated in an objective manner .
nevertheless , I believe it was impossible to achieve more at this point in time .
this is why I understand the regulation as the next step , to simplify implementation .
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in fact , I note that , just this month in Ireland , a number of training courses are under way for drivers of vehicles transporting cattle , sheep , goats , pigs , horses and poultry - a point raised by Ms Jeggle - and perhaps other Member States need to do the same .
one of those possibilities will be our new Eastern Partnership idea where we will want the eastern partners to work together .
that concludes the item .
under Article 20 of the Treaty establishing the European Community , every citizen of the Union , when in the territory of a third country in which the Member State of which he is a national is not represented , is entitled to protection by the consular authorities of any Member State , on the same conditions as the nationals of that State .
the Energy Strategy for Europe 2011-2020 sets out general guidelines which seek to strengthen the recently defined internal energy market .
of course we support a resolution that contains not only our opposition to the persecution of the Nobel Laureate , but also the proposal to release other political prisoners and to carry out an investigation , under the auspices of the UN , into the allegations of killings of prisoners by the army during the recent disaster .
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it was also in the context of these guidelines that we presented a declaration on the death penalty in 2006 to the United Nations General Assembly which led this year to the adoption of the resolution against the death penalty on 15 November .
however , the shops were empty .
our duty is to use all our new parliamentary prerogatives to influence the policies that will result from the new powers guaranteed to us under the Treaty of Lisbon .
obtaining the best service for our constituents is , I am sure , in the interests of us all .
this is a sound and positive document . as I stated earlier , it is part of the ongoing work of the European Parliament aimed at improving road safety for our citizens .
I have been there many times .
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apart from the fact that the current financial framework would need to be sufficient to cover these objectives , if there were to be an increase , significantly smaller amounts have been planned .
I hope that Commissioner Michel will provide an answer to the questions ' Where do we go from here ? ' and ' How do we move forward ? '
it is true that this report foresees much less than we initially strived for .
that is a question to which our citizens are quite rightly expecting an answer .
it is perfectly possible to do both things at a European level and not to deepen ideological differences which , if we do not handle them correctly , will only help populists at the extremes in their stance against the European project .
the presidency intends to promote their progress in this direction .
like this Parliament , I share the views of so many on the issue of human rights in Iran .
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if they were home-grown , then it is a matter for the police in China and we must support them .
Europe must not underrate the strategic value of maritime transport to its economy : 90 % of the European Union 's foreign trade goes by sea , as does 40 % of our intra-Community trade .
psychologists say that aggression is much more prevalent during the crisis than at other times .
the old agreement has already generated numerous jobs both for the population of Seychelles and in Europe , where it has induced jobs in areas related to the sector .
secondly , where animal health is concerned , the common agricultural policy is one of the most integrated areas of European Union policy . that is why I believe it should be a priority when allocating funding from the Community 's budget .
our resolution of today is another appeal by this Parliament to end attacks on civilian populations in the eastern provinces of Congo , and for the victims to be provided with basic health , social , humanitarian and legal assistance .
I would like to understand which of the two statements is true .
prominent persons in Moldovan society are asking for an explanation .
this same justice also applies to resolving the situation of minority ethnic communities .
in this regard , the talks in Geneva are extremely important , even though they will be difficult .
certainly I never spoke to you when I was drafting the report on them .
under the pretext of the crisis , they want to force another noose around the necks of the more economically fragile countries , using the established conditions for the application of a European Stability Mechanism to , in fact , transform sovereign states into mere protectorates .
I did so after lobbying from supporters and opponents .
( DE ) Madam President , I consider the debate on the reintroduction of border controls and the modification of the Schengen mechanism to be absolutely excessive and superfluous .
European cities are so diverse , and there are so many good ideas , that we should not just try to apply a top-down approach to each and every city .
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according to the Act of Accession , verification , by means of evaluation procedures , that the necessary conditions for the application of all parts of the Schengen acquis ( data protection , the SIS , air borders , land borders , sea borders , police cooperation and visas ) have been met by the new Member States is a precondition for the Council to decide on the abolition of checks at internal borders with those Member States .
in particular , we need to form a consensus on certain basic issues and then tackle them together with the other players .
you cite the eruption of the Icelandic volcano in order to amend at last the regulation on air passengers , but for 10 years , we have been calling for a comprehensive regulation on the rights of all passengers .
this overturning of a ruling and judgment of a case by the Court of Cassation became part of our legal history for the first time during the Dreyfus affair .
this range is unacceptable to me because it offers the prospect of payments to few areas that require support , including in the western part of the EU .
this is a fundamental right , as well as a vital condition for achieving Europe 's goals in the areas of growth , employment and social cohesion .
it is the Commission which is naturally in a position to properly answer the questions that you have just asked me .
such was recently the case in the voting on my report concerning the relationship between Macedonia and the European Union .
so there were a lot of worries and a lot of real concerns and mainly , I would say , a lack of information and a need for their concerns to be taken seriously .
the first is on the question of combining a response to immediate priorities with long-term reconstruction and our staying power .
this tragic scene of Israeli incursions and aggressions in the West Bank , including Eastern Jerusalem , confirms to us and to the world that what is going on is an aggression against the entire Palestinian people , its future and its legitimate national rights .
( RO ) Mr President , I would first of all like to express my admiration and respect for the attitude of the Japanese people towards the extraordinary situation they are going through .
I do not , however , share the opinion that we have a different Union or a new Union .
there is therefore a genuine problem with the way in which the euro was constructed with the Maastricht agreement , and we need to address this .
that is why a proactive approach to creating jobs and addressing the scourge of poverty are essential .
unfortunately this type of approach has become more common in the run-up to the European elections .
questions which have not been answered for lack of time will be answered in writing ( see Annex ) .
one institution which does much to promote intercultural dialogue is the British Council .
the liberalisation of international trade and globalisation stimulate destruction of the environment that spans the continents .
but this change has not happened with some other religions , unfortunately .
it is perpetrated by criminals and murderers who detest our liberal democracy and freedom .
these regions are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of climate change .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , on 13 and 14 January , a referendum was held at the Fiat plant at Mirafiori in which both blue- and white-collar workers were asked to vote for or against the recovery plan for the plant in Turin .
how do you think we can create a Union for the Mediterranean , bringing the northern and southern shores closer together , if the southern shore does not come ?
this is an essential policy for a prosperous and sustainable society that is prepared for the challenges of climate change , energy security and globalisation , and that is a world leader in the sphere of clean technologies .
the failure to involve civil society and NGOs , or to develop materials on prevention such as books for schools , makes this network completely ineffective .
the aim is no longer to supply food products at the best price , but to make as much profit as possible out of them .
in more recent years , of course , Yemen has both developed as a terrorist incubator , where terrorist acts have taken place , and exported terrorism to other countries .
that pressure is coming from various quarters .
these companies make and break governments according to their own needs and to the detriment of the needs of the country 's population .
why is there an exit procedure for the European Union itself , via the Treaty of Lisbon , but not for the euro area ?
the main bone of contention was the proposal by the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety to ban the use of pesticides within 10 metres of water bodies .
what is not happening , however , is any budget increase for the EASA , nor are other sources of financing being identified .
we need to instil confidence in the expert working groups .
much as I love the Member States , I am afraid they often adopt a practice of ' I 'll scratch your back and you scratch mine ' , which means they do not criticise each other , so actually they are not good people to evaluate each other .
the Republic of Belarus is one of the European States for which involvement in the European Union 's Eastern Partnership marks an important step forward in the development of bilateral relations , as well as in the relations between Belarus and every EU Member State .
it has still not ratified the Kyoto Protocol .
we have tried to implement several general recommendations that appeared in previous reports and which have been recast very well in the report that we are studying today .
I shall tell you - a civil war will break out in Latvia .
the European Parliament cannot pretend to be immune from this .
special transitional periods are planned , up to a limit of seven years , during which Switzerland will have the right to maintain quantitative limits for workers and self-employed persons from Romania and Bulgaria , in order to gradually ease access for the two nationalities to the Swiss labour market and increase the number of these new workers admitted each year , bearing in mind market needs and the availability of work in Switzerland .
this concerns , for example , the social dimension .
we will work as much as possible in a comprehensive framework and I am convinced we will find the necessary consensus .
I would like to make it clear to everyone that these proposals were drawn up with the aim of enabling the internal market to operate more effectively .
that is why I have chosen to speak again now that this package is to be concluded because I have an important question to ask about this package on behalf of my group .
this action can restrict those concerned in some of their rights , such as the right of access or the right to information , if this is necessary for the protection of important financial or economic interests of the European Union or of a Member State .
I regard such a course of action as discriminatory against Member States such as the Czech Republic , which , for historical reasons , have larger farms than elsewhere in the European Union .
I an convinced that , with this report and its proposed measures , we are heading in the right direction .
according to European Environment Agency figures , not only have carbon dioxide emissions not fallen since 2000 , they have in fact risen somewhat , by 1 % .
the next item is the vote on two reports by Mrs Gräßle :
however , we also need to work on underdevelopment as a form of prevention .
this report rightly reiterates that NATO is the cornerstone of transatlantic security and proposes a new transatlantic parliamentary assembly , which will reinforce a mutual commitment to our common values of democracy , liberty and human rights .
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we cannot ignore the difficulties of legislating in an area of shared competence where harmonisation is only infrequently an option and overlapping needs to be avoided .
turning people back at the borders is a reactionary utopia , and I believe that it is very difficult to curtail the natural need for free movement of men and women .
all this , of course , constitutes acts of legal barbarism which , however , are measured by the numbers offered to us by newspapers .
the EC-Moldova Partnership and Cooperation Agreement was signed on 28 November 1994 , and since 2004 Moldova has been covered by the European Neighbourhood Policy .
it is extremely important , and I am glad that both you and your Minister for Foreign Affairs have mentioned recently that you want to look carefully at our neighbours and take what I hope will be a sympathetic view of the idea of enlargement of the EU .
this morning , the Commission acknowledged that we do not know where the WTO is heading at this point , and therefore how it knits in with the strategic partnership .
today , however , we are talking about someone for whom diamonds may become a curse .
respecting constitutional constraints : yes .
these targets should be given a central place and these targets should also be used for the budget review .
multiannual plan for western stock of Atlantic horse mackerel (
I voted for the resolution because the Europe 2020 programme considers research and innovation to be central for emerging from the crisis by means of smart , sustainable and inclusive growth .
many of those detained in the last few weeks have been released .
in writing . - ( DE ) Before long the population pyramid will be turned on its head in the EU : the over 55s will represent the largest proportion of the population , life expectancy will continue to increase , the birth rate will remain low and young people will start their working lives ever later .
at least in this one respect , with their cross-border mobility , the people we call gypsies are ahead of us .
these useful acts include investing in clean energy and improving energy selfsufficiency .
the directive meets the needs of patients better as they can receive medical assistance in another Member State in a situation where this cannot be provided in a hospital in their country of origin or there is a delay in providing it .
Parliament now has greater opportunity to make demands as regards the content of the agreement .
at the same time , it cannot be defended at any cost .
a mature democracy also recognises the rights of minorities .
Mr President , Prime Minister , Commissioner , Kenya is more than just the problem of President Kibaki 's electoral abuses .
the motto and goal of the Hungarian Presidency is a strong Europe .
of the key areas of the strategy , education and access to education must be highlighted .
it is by no means a new text , however , because it has already been debated by Parliament and the Commission , with the resistance of Member States .
nevertheless , respect must be had for the different financial cultures and traditions of the EU 's nations and I believe that the Karas report strikes the right balance in recognising the need for subsidiarity in this area .
history has shown that every financial crisis is followed by a technological shift .
so I give my full support to this important and cogent report .
it is therefore an extremely important programme .
after all , it is not credible to stand up for the health protection of workers on the one hand and advocate a continuation of the opt-out on the other .
the EU blindly followed the WHO in its response to the swine flu outbreak , and this clearly needs to change .
I see there are still many limitations and colleagues underlined the problems in Tajikistan in terms of human rights , poverty and so on , but I believe this agreement is Europe at its best and I am very much in favour of it .
social inclusion of prisoners must be prepared during and after imprisonment with the cooperation of social services and other relevant organisations in order to ensure a smooth transition from prison to liberty .
as you said , the Commission has committed itself to ensuring that migration to the SEPA instruments does not result in a more expensive payment system for the citizens of the European Union .
we cannot set figures in stone ten years ahead when we do not even know what the European economy is going to look like in two years .
so please accept that it is part - and a fundamental core - of the structure , but I will be determined to make it everybody 's responsibility .
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the use of the fake passports in this situation has jeopardised that position , especially in Dubai .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , the negotiations with Canada are being conducted with a country that has a strong economy and a highly developed legal system .
there is a consensus on how to assess the anthropogenic influence ; that is covered in Article 3 .
( FR ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I wish to say , Commissioner , that as I listened to your reply to the two reports by our colleagues Mr Guellec and Mrs Kallenbach , I felt there would be no need for me to say anything at all , since it was so obvious you were showing you had fully understood us .
the high quality of Israeli researchers and Israeli universities makes Israel a highly interesting and valued partner .
furthermore , great strides have been made in the fight against corruption , a topic which often has been associated wrongfully and , to an exaggerated extent , with accession to the Schengen area .
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if we truly wish to move towards real equality , then paternity leave must be introduced at European level .
this sums up the racket in the rosé market .
I conclude by adding something that I also consider to be of immediate importance , in order to generate results : optimisation of the use of the Solidarity Fund and of the Civil Protection Cooperation Mechanism .
in writing . - ( PT ) Access to quality information relating to medicinal products that are subject to medical prescription will contribute to achieving better results in terms of patient health , because the better informed they are , the more likely they will be to better understand decisions related to their treatment .
we had more than 74 requests to speak under this item .
we also believe that it is important for the EU to have the resources it requires to be able to carry out its new tasks under the Treaty of Lisbon .
( ES ) Mr President , we approved the Lisbon Agenda with its very ambitious objectives in 2000 .
but we still face the risk that unemployment will continue to rise , and we need to make a judgment about when to switch the focus to restoring our public finances .
care must also be taken to ensure a reasonable timetable for practical implementation .
before that , I shall perhaps let Mr Barrot - is it my job to say this , Madam President ? - take over the floor .
to what extent are these facts influencing the development policy of the European Union ?
on the basis of this assessment , the Commission will submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council in 2011 and , if deemed necessary , will propose additional measures .
I will be committed to the speeding up of the granting of visas for my friends and people there until we get it next summer .
I would like to warmly thank the rapporteurs and all those who were involved who helped us reach the position we have today .
oil production in the short term is unlikely to keep pace with the sustained strong demand of developing economies .
the trading of foodstuffs on international exchanges has resulted in spiralling price increases and , hence , spiralling profits for the food multinationals , a perceptible reduction in rural output and global food reserves and an increase in the number of malnourished people .
it concerns a sensitive subject : the dialogue between the European Union and the ACP countries on immigration , fair treatment of immigrants , the principles of non-refoulement , the underlying causes of immigration and , finally , the fight against illegal immigration and readmission , and it is these two aspects that the European Union has mostly concentrated on .
for that reason , I voted against the motions tabled by the committee responsible at second reading .
part of the credibility of and the confidence in the capital markets relies on the ratings produced and published by these agencies .
the Serbs in Kosovo must ensure that they avoid this type of situation .
this is a good thing .
coupled with Africa 's rich natural resources and biodiversity , these could prove highly effective .
I am wondering whether the establishment of an agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom , security and justice would be of help in implementing this strategy .
this is why first we must call for the prompt , full , thorough and concrete application of the Directive in each Member State .
it is high time that this game came to an end .
however , in order to minimise the distortion of competition in the internal market resulting from aid , the Commission will have to ensure that precise and effective conditions of competition are established , maintained and observed .
I am therefore delighted that the financing of investments in the housing sector , and particularly in the area of energy efficiency , is increasingly being covered by the Structural Funds , but we must go further .
the report adopts a highly selective approach to the voicing of criticism , as the choice of countries selected for criticism and the scope of this criticism demonstrate .
they look to us to play a pioneering role .
the difficulties in forming a government in North Rhine-Westphalia highlight how current this issue is even at the moment in Europe .
I support the communication system which mentions various strategies that could be implemented , such as supporting the development of teachers ' competences , updating assessment methods and introducing new ways of organising learning .
however - and my third point is very important - repeated minor ship-source pollution should now be regarded as a criminal offence , because it contributes to the overall pollution of the oceans and that is not a trivial matter .
there needs to be some glimmer of hope , and above all these reforms have to be carried out fairly , so that all Member States get treated the same way .
special thanks on behalf of the Council are owed to the rapporteur Mrs Jäätteenmäki , the chairman of the AFCO committee Mr Leinen , and Mr Méndez de Vigo MEP .
( EL ) Mr President , we returned last week from Palestine where we in the Committee on Development were fortunate enough to see the current situation both in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip .
the rapporteur also mentions something to this effect , suggesting that pilot studies into their practical application should be carried out .
I think I can allow myself to say that it is also thanks to us , the Commission , in a small way , for the proposals that we have put forward .
those départements have been French since the 17th century .
maybe , over that period of time , the electronic tagging technology , which at the moment is far too expensive , may , like many other areas of technology , become more affordable with a combination of lower costs and better returns to the sheep producer .
I would also like it to remain that way .
the Hellenic Capital Market Commission should therefore be able to supply the data for Greek companies .
these interconnected topics are of concern to a great many Europeans .
what measures are planned for offshore oil exploitation at greater depths and , in particular , in the Far North ?
the Council decided to pursue the dialogue with Cuba because it provides an opportunity to discuss open issues of mutual interest and concern , including the human rights situation , but we remain seriously concerned about the situation in Cuba and we will continue to follow individual cases , particularly prisoners with serious health conditions .
however , the crises of the recent past have also illustrated what can happen when the fate of people is approached from a purely financial or technocratic aspect and the major objectives , the principles holding things in place , are forgotten .
in order to enable security , stability and peace to be maintained in the future , the EU therefore needs to have a greater presence in the region than we have at the moment .
this is also in accordance with the Treaty of Lisbon .
European parties should grow politically , organisationally and financially from the bottom up .
so let us take a global view and find constructive solutions in the EU and the UN together with Afghanistan , to support peace and democracy and to combat terrorism and drugs .
access to funding is therefore one of the greatest obstacles confronting SMEs today .
on administrative burdens , the mapping exercise of the main EU information obligations which is being carried out for the Commission by an external consortium has been completed and the costing of these obligations will be finished by the end of the year .
while most carers are unpaid , in that particular area , does the Slovenian Presidency have any initiatives to put forward on the issue of carers and , in that context , family-friendly policies ?
( PT ) Madam President , what is contained within the NATO Strategic Concept , adopted in Lisbon , with regard to the doctrine of nuclear deterrence is not new , it is old .
in all cases , we want to take a positive and constructive attitude towards the new US administration .
I am sorry to have to disappoint further questioners , but in view of the time I am afraid we are going to have to leave it there .
the proposed resolution is a good one and it merits our full support .
all this will be destroyed if we do not equip ourselves with the instruments provided for in the Treaty of Lisbon , especially those pertaining to social rights , namely the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the ' social clause ' , which states that social issues must be taken into account when defining and implementing all policies .
that , to my mind , is the core of both the Rasmussen and the Lehne reports : the need to establish European financial regulation .
let me stress once more the importance of cooperation with the European Parliament .
I would respectfully ask that you abide by the speaking time allotted to you .
I ask the Commission to pay particular attention to the call in the report for improved statistical tools to allow more accurate measurement of the extent of cohesion and better assessment of the contributions of local actions aimed at achieving it .
consumers , entrepreneurs and businessmen all accuse us of imposing barriers that impede things from functioning smoothly .
thirdly , and this is the question that I believe needs to be discussed most urgently , the need for coordinated action to stimulate the global economy and minimise the consequences of the crisis for the jobs and purchasing power of our fellow citizens .
allow me to emphasise again the need to provide the resources to implement the future regulation effectively .
we should nevertheless achieve more , for example - and this is where the value of a Green Paper lies - where the actual free movement of health services is concerned .
finally , I should like to thank the Commission for the Eastern Partnership project , which it is going to propose to the Council .
ideally , we will be able to decide on a common solution at European level .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
this is not a problem specific to the European Union .
that is the purpose of this new Regulation : to inject some flexibility into financial management .
it is not a badge of honour that in 2007 Latin America 's military expenditure amounted to 36 billion dollars , in a region that , with the sole exception of Colombia , is not currently experiencing any armed conflict .
the vote will take place tomorrow .
this will still allow you to give your constituents the reasons that prompted you and others to vote in a certain way on the various issues .
I think that , on this point too , we could take matters further after the debate .
moreover , I note that in Jeddah at the end of June , where Commissioner Piebalgs and I attended a gathering of all the producer and consumer countries , the common message was absolutely clear .
Ukraine is part of our neighbourhood .
sanctions such as these must be the last resort available to Member States and international organisations , yet the report hails them as the principal instrument of EU foreign policy .
considering that the Treaty on European Union and now the TFEU obliges EU States to respect the ECHR , this is shameful and unacceptable .
the Commission will continue its efforts with a view to finding , together with Parliament and the Council , an appropriate solution to this horizontal institutional issue ' .
an agreement must therefore be concluded with the government of Southern Sudan regarding the readmission of its own nationals who have entered the European Union illegally .
the sitting was closed at 11.45 p.m .
the Barnier document and others submitted by Parliament have already been mentioned here .
there is a charge on the physical recipients .
the most significant progress is the recognition of a European passport for management companies .
that is good , as I interpret it as meaning that we do not need to take a roundabout route via the European Commission and still run the risk that it will be thrown out by lobbyists from the tobacco industry .
we have tried , over the last six months , to ensure that Europe is united and strong , and that it thinks for itself .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , Minister , I want to keep my contribution brief and would like to focus on the fact that we are responsible first and foremost for 500 million consumers in the European Union and then for the farmers in the European Union , who produce food for these consumers .
and it must be said that small countries are often the most successful as regards the Presidency of the Council because they get fully involved in this business .
however , in order to address these challenges we need concrete proposals and solutions .
we will now take what will be the last question this evening , and indeed the last question of your presidency .
otherwise they will be in opposition to the European Parliament and the elected representatives of the 27 countries of the EU .
in civil law we have seen it in cross-border matters .
the plan is ambitious , diversified and comprehensive and it will solve the problems of growth and employment differently according to the situation in each country as well as problems linked to the economic situation of course .
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we have disagreed before , we will surely disagree again , but I am equally convinced that the United States and Europe can meet the challenges of the 21st century - as we did in the 20th century - if we talk and listen to one another ; if we are honest with one another .
if we have made a questionable decision , we have the right to amend it ourselves , but the amendment must be made in accordance with the proper procedures .
in writing . - I am pleased to see that Ana Gomes ' report on the EU 's role in Iraq looks forward and formulates a strategy to build a robust democratic Iraqi state that respects human rights and the country 's rich ethnic and confessional make-up .
we in the Commission have made a declaration that is contained in the minutes of the JHA council meeting of 23 October 2009 .
the main challenge is how we can guarantee fair and genuine remuneration for every right holder and each individual cultural industry for the work done , at the same time ensuring that consumers have choice and easy access to cultural products .
we do need to support SME finance , but the European Union can and should also take other steps to support this sector .
given the potential for illegal migration from these countries , as well as alarming radical Islamic tendencies , in particular in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania , I am voting against the adoption of this report .
I voted against Resolution because I think that piracy is not a military problem but a development problem .
( PL ) Mr President , President-in-Office of the Council , first of all I would like to offer you my sincere congratulations on taking over the Presidency of the European Union .
the conflict in Georgia in 2008 caused a serious worsening of the economic situation in the country .
it is tragic that so few Member States have made use of these , and personally I would be in favour of legislating in this regard .
I am voting for this report , as I agree with its proposals and hope that culture helps find solutions for emerging from the crisis , and that it will be an asset to the welfare of the European public .
although the use of cyanide is banned in certain Member States and allowed in others , Member States must consult each other and aim at forming partnerships .
I therefore also assume that the vote on the matter this week will have a positive outcome .
this is a highly symbolic act , if there can be such a thing , demonstrating how keen Croatia is to join the European Union .
but above all , I invite you to explain to our fellow citizens how the European Union is providing protection , not by taking action on behalf of States , but quite the reverse , by increasing the effectiveness of the actions taken by States , combining our efforts to stimulate demand and restore confidence for the benefit of all our citizens .
only in this way will they be able to defend their rights .
at current prices this is approximately EUR 4 billion .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Madam President , the ALDE Group firmly and consistently supports the goal of EU accession for all the Western Balkan countries .
the reason is that we started this whole exercise in the aftermath of the Nice Treaty , with a declaration in Laeken , and it has taken eight years - so I promise not to restart this whole process , Mr President .
the Final Report of the High-Level Group on the Alliance of Civilisations contains detailed , useful proposals on both subjects .
can I just raise one typical example of an area in which we have no comeback : that of a Member State failing to act on a European Union directive .
not really .
this is fundamentally wrong .
most of the 85 million people living in poverty within the European Union are women .
these recommendations result in an increase in transport costs , and hauliers with older vehicles will obviously be in a worse situation .
the only practical thing that this Parliament can do is to seek the freezing of the association agreement with Israel ; anything else is just talk - positive and attractive - but just talk .
for this reason , I request that the European Council examine very carefully , in December , the issue of the free movement restriction in the European Union for the new Member States and that it adopts a mandatory common position to reduce at a minimum the barriers to free movement of labour .
it has been said that this action was excessive , that this was not the way to solve the problem , that this town should not have been bombed at night and that such a heavy attack should not have occurred in reply .
the report as a whole is a step in the right direction , and future social developments will oblige us to pay more attention to this topic .
( PL ) Mr President , if the objective of our actions is the reduction of poverty in third countries and economic integration , then the European Union 's tariff preferences programme really is the right way to go about it .
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I am pointing out these facts because the relevant paragraphs merely look good - in reality , they change nothing .
back then to the subject of our debate : Mrs Jeggle 's most excellent reports .
otherwise , I really find the question quite relevant .
now we also have the opportunity to request that the Commission goes further in providing consumers with greater power .
Europe needs policies which are motivated by a real desire to strengthen the Union .
with these changes , I think that Regulation ( EC ) No 55 / 2008 can contribute to supporting Moldova 's economic recovery , providing workers in the country 's wine sector with better prospects for the period 2011-2013 .
I also believe that ill people should benefit from bone marrow transplants according to the seriousness of their condition and not their nationality .
the report seeks to provide a framework highlighting the integrating role of cohesion policy and the contribution it makes to increasing the EU 's global competitiveness .
the language law creates an imbalance .
we wish that the Bavarian Government also knew how to respond to this situation with a great sense of responsibility .
to conclude this debate I have received six motions for a resolution1 tabled in accordance with Rule 103 ( 2 ) of the Rules of Procedure .
the Caucasus .
cross-compliance could be a force for good , and those who do the inspections should have clear and proper training and know their responsibilities .
and finally , the only industrial activities allowed in 21st century Europe should be those which ensure the decontamination and recycling of their waste .
we have them already , but now it is a matter of implementing them and , of course , working , as I tried to tell you , on the seven points that we aim for in the negotiations , to make sure that we also work internationally with partners to ensure we have a good scientific basis which we will move into very concrete implementation .
given that demographic changes are fuelling the need for training and adding to the necessity to participate in lifelong learning , workers must be provided with a means of determining and planning their own training needs .
differences in the development rates of different European Union states are becoming increasingly more pronounced .
I know that one of our most successful Irish businessmen , Denis O 'Brien , is playing a leading role in that regard .
rapporteur . - ( HU ) Mr President , on 22 March , I received a reply from the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs to my request that this report be tabled at the May plenary .
by resolving issues linked to the rights of persons with reduced mobility and also by laying down clearer rules in the event of death or injury to passengers , and also in the event of loss or damage of luggage , this report helps to increase the security of both passengers and undertakings .
the amounts will be allocated mainly in 2008 ( approximately 56 % ) , and during 2000-2013 the influence of this transfer will be insignificant .
thirdly , the fact that the common agricultural policy system is distorted , it over-subsidises grain farmers , and supports neither pig nor poultry farmers or livestock farmers in general , is another factor contributing to the current livestock crisis .
Madam Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to congratulate Mrs Kallenbach and Mr Guellec on their excellent reports , both of which are milestones in the debate on cohesion policy .
our verdict on the Swedish Presidency is that it has been an almost total success , basically in four fundamental areas .
it is important , although for one proposed theme , communications technology , the funding has already been found .
first , if the times are tough for everyone , we need to work together .
it must be able to tackle , and keep up with the pace of , the phenomena that fall within its remit : migration and illegal immigration , organised crime , smugglers , trafficking in all its forms .
as the first policy to have been implemented and the main item of expenditure until recently , agriculture occupies a central place in the European project .
the real problem is the existence of nuclear weapons generally .
energy , food and raw materials are not just products like any other : people 's survival depends on them .
in the case of the Czech Republic , there is a sum of CZK 125 million to cover some of the damages caused by the floods in Northern Moravia last May and June .
she is considering improving the content and looking at the conclusions to be drawn from misleading practices .
the second matter is that certain duties are applied to a number of basic items from which the poorest people benefit , such as bananas .
the Commission , like the Council and Parliament , is satisfied with the speed with which the European Central Bank and other central banks have acted today , with a coordinated reduction in interest rates , which should relieve some of the tension in the market .
I very much hope that Parliament and the Council will be able to reach a compromise .
furthermore , better access to the European funds could be facilitated by temporarily reducing the national cofinancing requirements .
I believe that the necessary conditions for the existence of a single electric vehicle market must be created , while at the same time guaranteeing efficient coordination of policies at EU level , in order to avoid negative impacts , particularly on employment .
this would mean the end of national legal traditions and the laws that every Member State has laid down on issues as sensitive as civil and contract law .
as for the content of the report , which I regard as fairly balanced and capable of responding to current challenges and providing good guidelines for the future , I must say that Parliament acknowledges as positive and accepts many of the Commission 's proposals .
sometimes calmer , at other times violent , this crisis has no end .
this package would finance the creation of national resettlement programmes where they do not exist already , as well as the coordination of activities at the central level .
but in a series of contentious judgments - Defrenne v. Sabena , Barber v. Guardian Royal Exchange , and others - the definition has been progressively widened , first so as to include holiday entitlements and pensions and so on , and then so as to include work of equivalent value .
the value of the citizens ' initiative will not be measured in terms of the interinstitutional compromise reached between the Council and the Commission , but in terms of whether it is really used .
I assume that the decision will be that both parties have violated applicable WTO rules .
in writing . - I supported all the amendments to the Committee on Transport and Tourism 's report on the amendment of Regulation ( EC ) No 881 / 2004 establishing a European Railway Agency .
it may , however , be easily extrapolated to any other terrorist cause that may be invoked amid patriotism and flags .
finally , on the scope of the Atalanta mission , we note calls in the resolution for its expansion to be considered .
since Gertrude Mongella 's visit on 6 March 2008 , marking International Women 's Day , I would also say that we have a lot to learn from African wisdom with regard to gender equality : it is something that is lived there and is passed on in oral traditions among women and men who are blessed with good spiritual and mental health .
Tuesday :
to combat demographic decline in Europe by accepting immigrants from other continents , while at the same time destroying the institution of the family and family values , is suicide , since it increases the likelihood of culture conflicts in the future .
why do governments have to keep their statistics and their budget procedures secret ?
the EU has committed to achieving the Millennium Development Goals , such as reducing the maternal mortality rate by 75 % by 2015 .
with what degree of probability that the necessary unanimous agreement of the 27 Member States will be secured ?
I think , however , that some of the amendments adopted in the Committee on International Trade go too far .
I should have preferred the Committee on the Environment to have gone further and requested similar guarantees from other European non-Member States such as Norway , 90 % of whose GDP is linked to oil extraction from the sea .
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furthermore , any evaluation needs to be made on the basis of quantifiable social targets .
I voted in favour of this text on migratory flows .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , Gaddafi , the Libyan dictator , has defined the International Criminal Court as a ' new form of world terrorism ' .
I agree that the Member States should be represented in the structure of the new service and that a large proportion of women would be appropriate .
I hope the Member States will know how to react to the strong message being sent out by the European Union at this time of particular economic downturn by speeding up the transposition of the European directive into their national legislations .
I view this as a process , a step towards a more global role of the EU as a whole rather than of any single country .
if a Member State is unable to meet its external border responsibilities , support measures and the involvement of Frontex are required .
the European Union is working to create a ' European judicial area ' , and that area is based on the idea that judgments , like people , must be able to ' move ' within the Union , in order to help European citizens gain access to justice .
for this reason , I can assure you that , during the final discussion in the Council , the Commission will support most of the amendments tabled by Parliament .
the recent disastrous stream of migrants from North Africa and the trouble we have been having with the failing Schengen Treaty indicate that asylum and migration policy should be handed back to Member States .
a few days later Fortis Bank and Dexia Bank were also caught in the stream of the financial crises .
furthermore , the authorities responded to the recent protests which took place on 11 March and 2 April with arrests and harassment .
but it could also have grave implications for the operation of the Suez Canal .
our humanitarian assistance in East Chad is ongoing ( an average of EUR 30 million each year ) , and needs are adequately covered .
in my opinion , the environmental and social circumstances must also be taken into account .
why should this principle be restricted to sovereign debt , however ?
there are very many internal administrative problems associated with it , and the administration of Russian programmes , at least , should be transferred to the DirectorateGeneral for Regional Policy .
it is clear that Member States that now have to make great efforts to maintain a stable currency exchange rate need more support to be able to pass all the necessary steps to become members of the eurozone and thus prevent the effects of the economic crisis .
this means that there is widespread illegality , which cannot be tolerated as it generates a strong distortion of competition between companies and territories and makes work and workers less secure .
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seriously , though , committees meetings here in Strasbourg cannot continue to clash with plenary sittings and group meetings to the extent that this has been happening , especially over the last two years and in spite of all the declarations that such clashes were to be avoided .
health , education , agriculture , the development of transport and energy infrastructure and investment in research and innovation and in the modernising of public services must be priorities , both for the Member States and for the EU .
on the US agreement , let me start by thanking the rapporteur , Mr Zasada , for his very positive recommendation in relation to the outcome of the negotiations with the United States on a second stage air services agreement .
however , there are some delegations , some politicians and some Member States who want the Agency to fail .
hence , these programmes are important and so we were a bit concerned when we did not see them on the Commission 's Work Programme for next year .
for the Commission , it is clear that the international community must maintain its full support for the ICTY to complete its remaining tasks .
the reference to specific groups should therefore be deleted .
these will be highly relevant in many of our areas of activity , be it in research policy , in the area of freedom , security and justice or in our permanent quest for good governance .
for example , agriculture in Austria consumes approximately 2.2 % of the energy generated .
the issue with regard to the International Criminal Court is a matter for another day .
we do , after all , continue to be the greatest donor to African countries .
we will need time and resources to carefully prepare these measures , to consult stakeholders and adopt them .
we are well aware that one of the problems we must face is that of Italy 's organisation in cofinancing the funds that the European Union is sure to grant , and on this point we Members must be extremely vigilant .
this vote represents an important step towards creating a genuine European policy on asylum , which we have long requested .
and , finally , when will the Spanish state revoke the international treaties which prohibit flights from twenty three countries into Barcelona airport ?
it is therefore particularly important for the EU to speak with one voice .
therefore , if these rights are not acknowledged , it cannot stand aside and look the other way .
we therefore really need to very closely monitor what happens .
there , US strategy has freedom of manoeuvre , but if President Obama listens to his hawks , he risks another Vietnam .
at the same time we have done little to change the situation and increase women 's opportunities for better employment .
some time in the future , and it is still not clear when , bilateral investment treaties will fall under the Commission .
this mainly resulted from speculation engaged in by companies which have made very high profits from the speculative valuation of oil stocks purchased at lower prices .
we in the EU must be able to react quickly to the challenges that await us .
moreover , I consider it fitting that the European Ministers of Energy have decided to give priority to safety in European nuclear plants , emphasising the importance of greater European coordination during the modernisation of nuclear facilities .
systems in this area continue , however , to be assessed as only partially effective .
I think that setting it before the European elections is a reasonable target .
strengthening passengers ' rights makes a considerable contribution to promoting rail travel , which will result in an increase in the overall share of this mode of transport .
such suffering is inflicted particularly on so-called low-value animals such as animals for slaughter .
we are confident that the future of the Treaty of Lisbon and the EU will be defined not by the rekindling of collective disenfranchisement from the Second World War , but by safeguarding the rights of minorities according to the customary European practice of guaranteeing autonomy in cultural life .
I already had a very good discussion on the South Caucasus with the members of the Foreign Affairs Committee on 28 April , shortly after my visit to the region .
people were pushed into a Utopian vision , and despite its horror and its cost , many still find it attractive and it is defended by some members on the left side of this House .
it is vital that this afternoon in this House we put aside our prejudices and we defend those who have no one left to defend them .
yet , sadly , you want to have a Europe that is not based on those decent values , a Europe that believes and respects that all human beings are born equal .
now things are getting easier , the help is getting out , but do not underestimate for one moment how difficult the circumstances have been on the ground .
again people are shouting about the EU being in crisis , because the Irish rejected the Treaty of Lisbon in their referendum on Thursday 12 June .
firstly , I disagree entirely with what was said by my fellow Member Mr Czarnecki , that this issue is the subject of differences within the European Union .
as soon as the Commission submits its proposals concerning the Procedures and Reception Conditions Directives , work can continue on these two laws as well .
it was in 1893 that New Zealand gave women the vote .
the measures proposed here are somewhat flimsy , but they are nonetheless necessary and imperative .
these motives include dissatisfaction with their own situation , discontent with what is happening in international politics or with the polarisation of their own society , a need for meaning , and frustration with world politics .
it is not a far distant place of little relevance which occasionally comes to our attention .
this report is part of the package of six pieces of legislation on economic governance and reveals the contradictions that exist in the European Union .
in view of the amount of work ahead of us , we should work as quickly as possible .
identity is not a disease in Europe and so really any surplus energy ought to be put towards unity .
the response can be seen on the streets of university cities throughout Europe , where students are protesting not against the idea of a European education , but against the deterioration in higher education ostensibly in the name of a European idea .
however , it should not become a precedent in all other cases .
as Mrs Bauer has said , the topic we are debating is as old as the Treaty of Rome .
the upside is that it facilitates the punter and it makes it easier to get and to place a bet .
the activities carried out under target 1.1 of ROP ERDF 2007-2013 and measure 1.7 of ROP 2000-2006 have been greatly restricted by the spending conditions imposed as a result of the infringement procedure launched in relation to the waste management situation in Campania .
the other issue that this Parliament is working on this week is human trafficking and violence against women .
the Europe 2020 Strategy aims at an employment rate of 75 % among men and women aged between 20-64 .
if the other regions of the world have the right to protect themselves against dumping , why shouldn 't Europe ?
we must now look at the negotiations with the Council to resolve a few differences of interpretation on several points .
there has been a worrying deficit in the production of protein crops in the European Union over the last 10 years and the situation now is one of considerable decline .
unfortunately , though , as only three subjects may be dealt with , the motion relating to Mr Gao Zhisheng could not be included .
and that is serious , as the Commissioner knows .
it is for these political reasons that my group has withdrawn its signature .
the answer to that is still not quite clear .
also , Article 19 of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights mentions explicitly that collective expulsions are forbidden .
that is why a better European policy in relation to the United States , inner strength and one voice in foreign and security policy are conditions for creating a genuine partnership .
why , I ask myself .
so we need to step up the pressure .
in reality , the European Investment Bank is the only international financial institution that answers voluntarily and that is accountable to a parliamentary institution .
in this context , it emphasises stronger activation regimes , retraining and improving qualifications and better links between skills offered and the needs of the labour market and stresses the need to support the most vulnerable .
transport seems to be the most appropriate way to implement modern , energy efficient solutions .
pardon me .
that is a significant step backwards in the pursuit of the goal of devoting 0.7 % to development but also - and that is very important - in the pursuit of the Millennium Goals and , more generally , in the battle we say we want to wage against poverty in the world .
we should , however , also continue to help the authorities build the institutions that they need to function as a democratic and modern state , support civil society and , most important of all , continue our commitment to the security of Afghanistan .
in this context , the review of the Neighbourhood Policy is absolutely necessary .
however , it is not the trading in itself that leads to reduced emissions , but the total emissions ceiling which we choose to establish .
tomorrow 's debate is about the credibility of the European Parliament and whether we can take a rational , logical and fair decision .
I am pleased that the Nabucco project has been declared a priority energy project and that our efforts as Members of the European Parliament in support of this project have yielded results .
in an organisation of sovereign and independent states which have joined together as a means of ensuring , through cooperation , the best advantages for their citizens without having at any stage waived their status as free and sovereign states , multilingualism is the recognition of the relationship of equality between all the members .
that is more than in the whole of 2008 !
in addition , the European Commission needs to improve budgetary transparency so that we can properly monitor the use of public funds .
as the Apostle Paul , whose 2 000-year legacy both the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Churches are celebrating this year , says in one of his most famous epistles , the Epistle to the Romans , ' For we know that until now , the whole of creation groans with us and shares our birth pangs ' .
decisions on pension systems are political decisions and are fully and exclusively the responsibility of the individual Member States ;
that is the information I wanted to pass on to you today and I look forward to listening to the comments here in this House concerning these difficult problems .
for the establishment of practically all PDB lines , I would like to express my thanks to Parliament .
here too we must - particularly when we are talking about universal services - ensure that it goes ahead , and that too is very positive .
we must therefore support all measures aimed at making better use of money granted under the Structural Funds and at making more effective use of its integrating role , all the more so because the effects of cohesion policy measures are most keenly felt at local level and , therefore , to a significant extent in rural areas too .
all we need is sufficient time , which is why we should also be allowed time on Thursday afternoons .
I fully approve of the need for timeshare retailers to increase the cooling-off period for buyers , as well as the obligation to provide full details of the purchase before the contract is signed .
a slight ambiguity that I have noticed in the report by your committee relates to the external representation of the euro zone .
it is why what we have seen happening in Cote d 'Ivoire is so important , seeing President Ouattara finally take his place , and the role we have played has been significant in supporting that process .
it is essential to help the least favoured areas to develop ; to enhance the efficient allocation of funds for innovation , technology and education ; and to implement measures to stimulate employment and competitiveness , in particular .
we already have a plan ; now we just need to ensure that it is implemented consistently .
however , the June List is critical of the establishment of a new European agency in this area and of the desire to conduct an ' external policy ' .
I would like , therefore , to ask the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic to speak and to present the opinion of the Presidency on the past six months and on what should happen in the near future .
we do not think that legally binding standards should be avoided in the field of corporate responsibility .
it is a useful and necessary measure , in that sporting activity constitutes such a significant dimension of European society .
the European Banking Authority is the result of that .
I am very sorry .
I would like to add another point : gender equality has been mentioned , and you raised that , and I think we really should invest heavily in that .
Mr Commissioner , after having been in our respective posts for some weeks now , it is time to roll up our sleeves and get to work so that these objectives are reached , which will increase employment within the European Union .
14 .
questions from 24 committee members were dealt with en bloc in a cursory manner .
given the wide range of topics covered by the two reports , I would like to limit myself to several aspects that are particularly relevant for the Commission , that is , the implementation of the Lisbon Reform Treaty , the European Security Strategy , the Neighbourhood Policy and the issue of joint action , particularly the Commission 's role within the framework of crisis management .
we are also counting on the new President of the European Council to embody the Union on the international stage , to initiate and chair meetings of the Heads of State or Government , and to act as a reference point .
this is not how things are done in the European Parliament !
the benefits of the internal market should be in the interest of the Member States .
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the health and well-being of freight transport drivers as well as the safety of other road users depend on clear rules concerning issues such as working time , driving hours and periods of rest , as well as on effective inspections and penalties for non-compliance .
we are thus increasing the level of protection afforded by Community law .
I can compare the discussions this time with the discussions five years ago when we were discussing the Lisbon Strategy .
we urge the European Commission to contribute to this task .
subject : programmes and initiatives to modernise higher education
a sovereignist , nationalist , anti-European way of thinking is emerging and developing on our continent .
but the mind inside was good and needed to be protected and stimulated if she was to have a real and full life .
it must , however , make every effort - and so must the Member Countries of ASEAN , as Hartmut Nassauer stated - to ensure that the international teams of experts and aid materials , which have been in place for some time now , are allowed to enter the country .
I am pleased that the report emphasises that fishermen and other stakeholders need to take responsibility and ownership concerning any policy to eliminate discards .
a similar figure is given for the proportion of the workforce engaged in service provision .
therefore , more specific attention should be directed at the most vulnerable groups of people , including women , children and people who have been forcibly displaced ( whether internally or as refugees ) .
this is an objective which I fully support .
if , however , public provocation is included in this legal act , there is the possibility of intervening if general disobedience to a law is provoked or action is provoked that is punishable in relation to terrorist activity .
this is because the Roma population is the largest marginalised community in Europe , with a high level of cross-border mobility within Europe .
crises generate opportunities .
I call on them not to use ultra-nationalist and chauvinistic elements or ' head speeches ' just to win a few extra votes .
however , the citizens in the European Union equally expect security .
this will last a few more months and then it will be over and done with .
I therefore propose that the Commission should encourage the introduction of such an approach and should facilitate inter-regional exchanges of experience , whilst at the same time ensuring that European laws are properly applied .
however , with greater power there should be greater accountability and transparency .
I voted in favour of this Agreement because I learnt that the Agreement concluded by the Commission replaces , for the better , certain provisions in the existing 17 bilateral air services agreements concluded between EU Member States and Vietnam .
even though the EU does not have any direct intervention mechanisms , Member States must be allowed to take the necessary measures to prevent the collapse of an industry on which the jobs of thousands of European citizens depend .
therefore no overhaul is appropriate at this point , nor is it the wish of most stakeholders .
every woman should have access to shelters , to free legal aid and to psychological aid .
we have to do more for SMEs ; I think it is a priority .
why list the problems posed by the poor and say nothing of those caused by the rich ?
I ask people on that side of the House not to be blinded by their own dogmatism either .
the banks persuaded the weak and needy that with loans at 1 % they could live the good life , while failing to point out that this 1 % was for a limited period only and would soon shoot up .
reducing and simplifying the rules and making fair , open trade simpler can only improve its relations with Europe .
the future of Europe depends on the demographic performance of the generations living now .
France followed this two-step approach , so as of next year will have a similar situation .
if we do not start this work now , the costs will be enormous , and what we have to do now is to take responsibility in the vote tomorrow , for the environment , for industry and for the population of Europe .
this makes European industry more competitive and means less administrative hassle .
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we must bear in mind that when poultrymeat is sold as ' fresh ' , the consumer expects that it has never been frozen before , even quickly , which is a guarantee of quality for the consumer .
in 2007 the ECB operated in a challenging environment with rising and volatile commodity prices and , since the second half of 2007 , heightened uncertainty stemming from the ongoing correction in financial markets across the world that was mentioned by the rapporteur .
the Treaty of Lisbon acknowledges the outermost regions ' disadvantages and constraints , and that is exactly why we must now adapt and update the current system , taking into account the challenges faced by the outermost regions , in terms of both its dimension and its content .
together , we have achieved a great agreement and I am happy to commend it to you .
not 27 different plans , as we have today , but a common , consistent approach set out by the Commission .
in addition , the situation is made even more difficult by new , strong challenges , such as climate change , the declining population or the global economic recession .
dip into the flexibility instrument ?
at least here in France they have got the right idea , generating at least 70 % of their electricity by nuclear power , and it is about time the EU formulated a policy to promote that right across the Union .
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in short , the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe will be backing this compromise .
furthermore , the chemistry industry is a strategic sector in Europe , with 25 000 companies that employ , directly or indirectly , five million people .
therefore , what we have to do is continue our ongoing work and never lose sight of our long-term projects .
I think that is very important , because the European Commission should not only intervene when market rules are being violated but also , and in particular , when European values are being violated .
the PNR system will remain unchanged , the same as it is now , the same as it has been adopted and approved , and this is not about fingerprints being taken at travel agents ' or anywhere else .
that is a scandal .
finally , I would like to ask the Commission if it has any further information on possible European Union cooperation with the Security Council to guarantee maritime security in this area .
it should be noted that India has a clear legislative framework , especially as regards the procedure for the registration of geographical indications and their coexistence alongside trademarks .
we will debate this matter and conclude the parliamentary procedure with the necessary speed because we want security , but not only for the security bodies ; we want security for the citizens who are supposed to be protected by these security bodies , too .
we must promote all forms of synergy between the actors involved , such as enterprises , schools , associations , employment bodies , youth workers , researchers , families and also the social partners .
there were sceptics at the very highest levels of this Parliament , which I find absolutely incomprehensible and totally unacceptable .
in four minutes it is impossible to do justice to what is in the report , but let me just highlight some of the issues which I believe are of importance .
in other words , when numerous farms in the Union are in danger of going out of business , due to enhanced animal welfare standards , products will be imported from third countries that do not even meet the specifications which apply in the Union today .
( PL ) Mr President , Commissioner , we are today discussing very important issues of employment , social rights and health protection .
drugs that are grown and produced in Afghanistan find their way onto the streets of Europe .
we work through the United Nations : the General Assembly adopted a resolution condemning the situation only last month .
this has nothing to do with party politics ; it is simply a fact .
this is not budgetary efficiency ; it is quite simply an accounting trick .
precisely because the Common Frame of Reference ( CFR ) needs to take account of the SME sector as well , over recent months the Commission has been holding workshops on selected problem areas in the business-to-business ( B2B ) arena , and the outcomes of these workshops need to be taken into account in the forthcoming Commission text as well .
( HU ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the destiny of Europe is affected significantly by whether it is capable of developing societies that include and support children .
negotiations with Croatia are now in the final phase .
as for small companies , we all know that the EU , its economic partners and the World Trade Organisation will continue to crush them .
once again , the resolution places the aggressor and aggressed , occupier and occupied on the same level , thereby ignoring the terrorism of the Israeli State ;
on behalf of the Committee on International Trade . - Mr President , I have a mandate to ask for the postponement of the vote on the legislative resolution .
I make no secret of the fact that it is my great hope that this additional protocol will make it possible to combat a great many forms of pollution of the Atlantic .
cheap products are produced in countries outside the European Union under completely different conditions and are then imported cheaply into Europe , putting pressure on European wage levels and weakening our economy .
all this needs to be done .
since 1990 , emissions from the European transport industry have increased by over 30 % .
these tasks should be implemented within the framework of functioning institutions that have in any case already been expanded .
likewise , the call for the UN Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrants and Members of Their Families has been removed .
in Kosovo and Afghanistan , it is more difficult because of the political issues .
in the same spirit , here too , we would also like to think more proactively about improving our regulation system , out of respect for the principle of subsidiarity .
they represent our suggestions .
the major challenge for poor countries is food self-sufficiency , so we must help them establish agriculture which is economically viable .
whilst we almost never vote for any legislation , we would like to point out that we did vote in favour of Amendment 75 , which rejected the Commission 's proposal for a common expulsion policy , but not for the reasons / justification given by the group which tabled the amendment .
these obvious measures will contribute to creating a strong Europe , making it a community of half a billion citizens who profess the same values and are guided by the same ideas .
such events will also affect our own security and we should , therefore , also think of the problem in entirely selfish terms , namely the interests of the European Union , so that our neighbourhood will be an area of stability and affluence .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , Belarus is a neighbour of the European Union .
as was the case in central Europe in the 1990s , the agreement will boost investment , in particular , for indirect investments .
I also regard software-defined radio as a joint project that offers great opportunities ; it sets a common standard for protected telecommunications that could lead to interoperability between armed forces on the one hand and the police on the other , and also with the forces that have to stand by for disaster aid .
( PL ) Mr President , this week is a good one for EU-Ukraine relations .
this situation can also reinforce mistrust of these NGOs , which can sometimes see their action confused with the geo-strategic positions of the donor countries or the Union .
what are you going to do about that ?
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what remains is the important homework that the service needs to do .
author . - Mr President , thank you for allowing me to ask for clarification on two points .
the aim is to keep all administrative costs as low as possible and to work with those who have responsibility locally and nationally for the various flagship projects .
the Commission has also organised several informal meetings with the European ministers responsible for this matter .
it is economically fragile because the global financial crisis and the devastating floods in the country have set back its development by several years .
one point we have stated is that fair competition must be restored ; in other words , the Blair House Agreement must be brought into question and ultimately abolished .
in times of financial instability , it is crucial to ensure that our economy uses all the resources it has .
on behalf of the EFD Group . - Mr President , there is an anecdote going around the bazaars of Karachi roughly as follows .
can we expect any additional proposals ?
I think that the current globalised world hardly allows one to determine the country of origin ; in the end , a guarantee of the quality of this or that product is far more important than its trademark or country of origin .
we must answer the question as to where the money comes from .
Sharon Bowles rightly points out that tax fraud has serious consequences for national budgets .
I think it is appropriate that the European Parliament appreciates such a disparity and that we refrain from formalising the precise methods of collaboration and response to the operation of the subsidiarity mechanism at the present stage of affairs .
I hope such a summit may be held with Mexico this year .
did you know that the Netherlands has been the biggest net contributor to the European Union for years now and that the Greeks have been the biggest recipients of Dutch money for years ?
as a socialist , I do believe that a framework directive is indispensable for effectively tackling poverty , which affects 17 % of the European population .
I believe we must all show our sympathy and offer our condolences and our solidarity both to the families and to the areas that were hit .
that is why I feel we can say that this is the moment of truth for Europe .
the European Court of Auditors has stated that it has obtained reasonable assurances that the annual accounts for 2009 are legal and regular .
moreover , I agree with the development priorities and believe that the accounting procedures are perfectly calibrated for the ex-ante prevention of errors , fraud and hoarding by subjects with no entitlement .
I therefore wonder , although I am not biased in any way , about the motives behind this decision by the Hungarian Government .
what this means is that the policy would be disastrous for the economies of many developing countries . it would not be a good example for the rest of the planet , which is supposed to implement this principle at global level on the basis of the results achieved in Europe .
together with Mr Sócrates you are going to open the borders .
the quality of soldiers and equipment is very poor and the size of the DRC is enormous .
your neoliberal guidelines do not reveal a strategy for more social justice , nor do they provide better protection for Europe against crises .
there is virtually no reference to it in this report and only a passing mention in the Commission 's comprehensive strategy for achieving a climate change agreement in Copenhagen .
like the rapporteur , Mrs Gomes , I have no doubt that we need to adopt an EU Action Plan but I regret the fact that the Commission has not been more ambitious , because the proposed Action Plan shows a lack of strength and coherence on certain matters .
however , let me stress that maintaining or even increasing capacity of these fleets is not the solution and can indeed be part of the problem .
as Mrs Jeggle has already said , the report was adopted unanimously in the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development .
we appreciate that the taxation debate is not closed and I should like just to mention three points at this stage in the discussions .
in fact , our negotiating guidelines provide for a conclusion with fewer than 10 members as the LDCs within ASEAN - Laos , Cambodia and Burma / Myanmar - are not required to take on commitments in the FTA but will be following the negotiating process .
in fact , we can do everything it takes ; we can condemn all this time and again .
crime in this area is not restricted by national borders .
I should also like to pay tribute to Mrs Niebler , Chairman of the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy , your rapporteur and those leading Members of the European Parliament who have made the adoption of this Regulation possible .
I believe it is crucial to give citizens this freedom of choice and also to give them the opportunity to complain when malpractice occurs .
it is in the same spirit that I will present to the European Council some of the major challenges for the G20 that will take place in June in Canada .
I voted for this report because I think that an EU-level strategy for integrating the Roma minority is a positive and welcome step .
this is implemented by Article 15 ( 1 ) of the same text .
however , the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon , together with decisions designed to boost European integration , such as those adopted last week in the European Council and this morning by you here , create the necessary framework for economic and monetary integration to forge ahead in the direction in which it needs to go .
Mr President-in-Office of the Council , I congratulate you on presenting a truly high-quality , realistic programme for Europe and also on your personal growth .
for sustainable management , the economy , ecology and social aspects must be in harmony .
as to the last question , regarding dialogue between the European Council and the USA , non-governmental organisations and individuals , I can only say that until now in the dialogue with the United States this issue has not been raised - nor has it yet been raised with the other parties mentioned in the question .
those of you who visited the Children 's Pavilion in Jerusalem would agree with me that you leave the pavilion shaken and you cannot believe that such events were possible in Europe and only 60 or 70 years ago .
this means that demand will not be met , even with all the projects currently in hand .
I will briefly point out some of the contributions that the report makes .
I am pleased that the rescue succeeded .
it took office with a very heavy agenda and has been able to achieve a great deal , much of which we welcome .
that is a great success .
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firstly , agency heads must continue their efforts to observe stricter compliance with budget discipline .
for we cannot rely solely on monitoring systems , Ms Rühle , relevant though they may have been in relation to some toy manufacturers ' recalls : we also need to appeal to the pride and the characteristic quality of our own European manufacturers because we shall never be capable of monitoring everything .
I doubt it , because everything has been prepared to manipulate these elections and to obtain results in accordance with Mr Putin 's wishes , including artificial opposition parties and the creation of phoney NGOs .
it was born in the United States because of their lack of regulation , their lack of supervision and their lack of proper implementation .
it opposes the dispersion of funds by confining its use to a limited list of high-priority countries .
( DE ) I have only one brief question .
is it flexible enough to reflect changing times ?
that would be our task as the EU ; NATO can take care of the military side .
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at this time , we ask the EU and Russia to take full advantage of this summit to step up negotiations on a new partnership and cooperation agreement and to resolve the latest issues on Russia 's World Trade Organisation membership .
in writing . - ( LT ) The Commission communication on ' Supporting early demonstration of sustainable power generation from fossil fuels ' is a very important step towards further discussions on political and financial measures .
- ( DE ) President-in-Office of the Council , you have rightly pointed out that bilateral contacts can help in resolving problem cases such as these .
given the amount of money that governments are currently taking away from hard-pressed taxpayers , surely it is time to encourage more tax competition to reduce the burden on working families across the European Union .
the majority represent projects which in fact are of no particularly great benefit .
the European Union will be judged on this contribution and on this commitment .
replacing , on political grounds , local administration policy-makers during the current economic crisis highlights a lack of responsibility on the government 's part .
how can we exchange all the good ideas that form the basis of associations in small and large cities so that we can learn from them ?
the European Parliament is encouraging the Croatian authorities to overcome these obstacles and step up their efforts to resolve all the border disputes with neighbouring countries .
I would remind the House that expanded access to essential vaccines is a key lever to achieving Millennium Development Goal 4 : a two-thirds reduction in child mortality by 2015 .
I would ask the Commissioner to do his job , as he did , and ask the Bulgarian Government to stop this kind of wrong implementation and wrong law enforcement tending towards a very restrictive practice concerning these interceptions .
this resolution calls for a targeted and coherent EU policy plan to combat all forms of violence against women , as stated in the EU Roadmap for Equality between women and men .
as far as this specific situation is concerned , I recommend Mrs Kallenbach to request the minute under the ' catch-the-eye ' procedure because that would make things significantly simpler .
I would caution against this belief , certainly with regard to fisheries .
I would like to thank him for being personally involved in this project .
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it is unacceptable that to date , there is no concrete schedule in place .
they are in oil , they are in the North of Sudan , but it is definitely a great help when the broader international community tries to find a solution to the issues .
we took measures , we tried to tighten up our use of antibiotics and to understand what could happen .
bearing in mind the interest which Parliament has shown over time in this area and the importance of this dossier , which is a pilot project for the joint programming of research activities , it is vital that Parliament 's position is taken into account when drafting the Council 's conclusions .
we support the greater dissemination of information on medicinal products , if this improves patients ' awareness .
we will compare notes on the G20 results , especially financial and banking reforms and the need to deliver a global trade deal , and look for EU-US added value there .
as regards the data protection aspect that was addressed here , Prüm has its own data protection rules , and then there are the implementing rules and the treaty rules .
at the same time we must strive to make the European Union open and accessible .
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famines which already exist will worsen drastically .
( NL ) Madam President , this is an important moment for stability in the Balkans .
one piece of fruit one day a week is not sufficient to change eating habits or to have an effect on public health .
European states are bombing their recent partners ; at the same time , however , they are bombing and destroying the arms they themselves sold .
on behalf of the PPE Group . - Mr President , I would also like to thank the Commissioner .
I hope Parliament will think twice about going as far as that .
it unites us in the community of shared values of the European Union .
what action is being taken to address the shortcomings ?
the anti-discrimination principle must also be introduced in other areas , such as inheritance taxes and wills , and the Commission must recognise modern family set-ups in this respect .
it is a country with a great European tradition and great European commitment , in its government as well as in all its political forces and in public opinion , and a President , José-Luis Rodríguez-Zapatero , whose European credentials are unquestionable .
but we also sound a warning on activation measures , particularly those that sometimes introduce penalties which can have an indirect effect , for example on the families of those affected , or indeed where you find people undergoing several training programmes for work that simply does not exist .
why hide behind the Commission ?
it is to propose setting up a simplified cooperation system that allows the Commission and Member States to supply the aid they have promised to partner countries in the throes of particularly grave crises more rapidly than they can today - and I will not dwell on these crises because Mr Deva has just explained them at length .
however , it did combine correct scientific data and false polemics .
further , we call on Uganda to prosecute those who call for the public murder of gay people .
we all witnessed the unrest which occurred after the elections in Moldova , but one month on from the elections , I think that it is particularly important to emphasise once more that relations between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova must continue to be developed and that we want this as we strive for greater European stability , security and well-being , and as we strive for new dividing lines .
it is obvious that bee health is an important matter and that it must be protected by the most suitable actions , while taking into account the sector 's particularities and the different players involved .
a lot of concerns were voiced .
have we taken note of the fact that the political and economic weight in this world has shifted sharply in the direction of Asia ?
China currently accounts for 6 % of world trade .
this is a moral and ethical question .
on behalf of the majority of Canadians who are opposed to the hunt , thank you for the leadership you are taking on this issue .
that applies , as I have said , in all environments of life .
we should be careful , because the negotiation on these amendments might delay the adoption of the decision , and we might consider not engaging in lengthy and complicated negotiations in the framework of this decision .
when the Soviet Bloc collapsed , presenting a united front , we all gave practical answers and easily dealt with the problem of the thousands of Poles who arrived on our streets , because we looked at the problem of integrating the whole of the East into Europe .
the debate is closed .
the actions of the EU cannot , however , impinge on the economic interests of sovereign states , for example by making unjustified restrictions on carbon dioxide emissions , which will bring serious harm to the economies of countries such as Poland .
Mr President , let me , on behalf of the Group of Socialist and Democrats , express our concerns about the human rights situation in Belarus , and particularly with regard to the recent developments with the Union of Poles .
without common rules , those border crossing points where the VIS is not systematically used could be exploited by illegal immigrants and criminals .
I voted in favour of the Niebler report as scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and US is an absolute necessity .
in the Commission 's view , this could translate into agreements to move forward quicker in negotiations on selected initiatives of particular importance to attaining our political objectives .
in short , the Directive creates a basis for the stigmatisation and criminalisation of migrants who , without having committed any crime , will be deprived of their liberty and held in detention facilities in conditions unworthy of human dignity .
SEPA is primarily a market-driven project , but given the substantial benefits to the wider economy , the Commission has sought to encourage SEPA migration , for example by acting as a catalyst to raise the political profile of SEPA through our SEPA Progress Report and by encouraging early migration by public authorities .
and it seems that owing to this decision Croatia may be rewarded with fast-track negotiations .
soft power is the capacity an international player has to influence others by non-coercive means , such as cultural dynamism .
all the main Christian Democrat parties support it .
this is why it must be stipulated in the permanent guidelines that such reallocations cannot be made any more than twice a year so that we can preserve the budget 's unity , stability and transparency .
most of the countries in the Baltic Sea area are small and are dependent on exports .
however , these uniform standards must apply throughout Europe , otherwise they are pointless .
it is the responsibility of all of us , all colleagues , to maintain that decisive competitive advantage on behalf of all our citizens .
at national level , budgetary discipline is based on stupid penalties like those that the Franco-German communiqué is attempting to state and ratify today .
finally , I would like to go back to sources .
our joint assistance of EUR 78 billion shows the strong commitment to help Portugal and safeguard the financial stability of Europe .
consequently , I give my full support to the rapporteur 's suggestion to invite the Commission to submit a new improved proposal to the European Parliament to provide Parliament with the opportunity to assume its role as colegislator .
I look forward to delivering that message next week in Australia .
however , we do not want to fund these measures in developing countries either .
this is a fair way of encouraging hauliers to clean up their act .
as regards ECDC ratification , I also support the rapporteur .
we need a fully joined-up approach .
it is a country which can be seen as a future member of the European Community .
Commissioner , together with us , with the European Parliament and the Member States , you are committing yourself to an increase in creativity and innovation in Europe in 2009 .
our policy towards these countries must be based on the principles of solidarity , dialogue and cooperation .
I would like to warn against the danger that meetings , conferences and information , in the broadest sense , and after its involvement , will focus on a few main cities , while the remainder are left outside these processes .
what we are arguing about is the route , and that must be a legitimate subject for discussion , even by the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats .
Mr President , I feel much the same way as Mr Duff .
this has nothing to do with racism or discrimination .
that will continue under the Lisbon Treaty .
we draw attention to the carefulness necessary to ensure the best possible transparency as regards the reassignment of frequencies released and the investments in next-generation infrastructures , so that all the European Union countries could have access to them .
Turkey is an Islamic country and the Islamic ideology is completely at odds with our Western culture .
sick and neglected animals , most taken far too early from their mothers , are transported to the West in the most deplorable conditions to be sold here for a lot of money .
every case of suffering is unique and deserves our respect , whether the people involved are Jews , Tutsis , Kulaks , Russian prisoners of war or Polish priests .
I should therefore like to welcome a delegation of mayors from this region .
we should return to our society 's traditional economic vision of social justice and genuine production .
in relation to the EU 's new priorities - the EU common energy policy and the fight against climate change - the current amount of EU budget resources for these objectives is obviously insufficient .
the job of the EFSA is to determine whether something is dangerous .
the commission tabled a proposal for a directive on consumer rights in 2008 , has drafted two progress reports and has now tabled a series of measures in the form of a Green Paper , to which this report seeks to respond .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , I should like to start by expressing my warm thanks to Mr Seeber .
however , the environmental problem is not the only issue with Nord Stream .
nevertheless , the idea of a moratorium on current and future oil drilling in our waters is clearly premature and inappropriate .
against this backdrop , it is important to increase the mobility of young people in the EU so that , where necessary , they will have more chance of finding work on another labour market .
they show that they have double standards when they refuse the proposal to include cases from other countries , such as Germany , Hungary or Portugal , where the unjustifiable cancellation of Jornal Nacional on TV1 was mentioned .
this decision makes the EU part of the international system of protection of rights , thanks to which it has strengthened its credibility in the eyes of third countries , and also of its own citizens .
in this area it seems that legal regulations are not adapted to the current situation and the developing Internet service market .
furthermore , I would like to highlight the fact that training and education , research , innovation and the transfer of knowledge are vital to the Europe of today and of tomorrow and should therefore command joint effort at national and Community level .
the EU and the governments within the UfM must prioritise the setting up of its institutions and infuse them with a coherent political strategy which keeps at its core the promotion of democracy and the advancement of human rights , including social rights .
during the eight years of her presidency , Latvia became a Member State of the European Union and of NATO .
the particular significance of this transparency is that it can help to overcome the remoteness that exists between individuals and those who exercise power .
Mr President , today 's message should be that the CFSP should more than ever be based on common European values .
we have said that three countries are not directly affected .
nearly one year ago , when marking the 10th anniversary of the creation of the European Central Bank ( ECB ) and Economic and Monetary Union ( EMU ) , we highlighted the fact that : ' in the ten years it has been in existence , the results achieved by EMU are a resounding success . '
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regarding the core issue of defending human rights , we are in agreement .
everyone knows that a military solution will not work in the Middle East .
in writing . - ( SK ) The European Union has a commitment to solidarity , which arises directly from our Christian heritage .
our thoughts should be with Adam 's family and all those families , European , Afghan and Pakistani , who have suffered such loss .
( PT ) Madam President , Commissioner Malmström , ladies and gentlemen , we have all been saying how we are faced with an increase in migratory flows , in terms of both scale and complexity .
the weakening of the previous common policies cannot be allowed to be the price paid for stronger cooperation in the above areas .
however , the proposal which we have before us today is one that is only the first part of a long process if we compare it with the programmes of China and the United States ; it also fails to define its goal sufficiently clearly , and this goal must be employment ; finally , a European programme cannot be an amalgamation of national agendas .
I call on the President of the Commission to produce an ambitious set of requirements for the commissioners and the Member States .
faced by demographic problems , the EU must not allow itself to have a low percentage of educated young people , because this would lead to a still greater rise in unemployment in that age bracket , which is something the EU simply cannot afford .
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contrary to what the report claims , it is clear today that the process of liberalising markets and privatising public services , which is still ongoing , has not brought any appreciable gains in terms of prices , quality of service or reduction in public spending .
economic governance and , potentially , EU matters are other factors in resolving the financial and economic crisis that is currently plaguing some of the euro area Member States , and therefore , the Council should be aware that the fund does not solve everything by itself , and that it must be integrated into economic governance mechanisms and into the Europe 2020 growth strategy .
the Commission is considering the scope of proposals to this effect .
as I read the Hebrew Bible , I hear from the very beginning God 's call to dialogue .
in 2006 , half of the loans granted were made without a check on income .
therefore , when the Committee on Budgets voted for mobilising the EGF for the Danish employees mentioned in the Matera report , I pointed out , along with the Belgian Socialist MEP Mr Daerden , the need to work towards defining a separate budget heading for this funding .
once more , we are witnessing here a squabble between emerging countries , on the one hand , and least developed countries , on the other .
I will attempt to concentrate on two points in particular , two points that I feel are crucial .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - Mr President , I would like to congratulate the rapporteur on the excellent work he has done and for his concrete proposals .
I voted in favour of the proposal for a European Parliament recommendation to the Council concerning the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and Australia on the processing and transfer of European Union-sourced Passenger Name Records ( PNR ) data by air carriers to the Australian customs service .
I hope that the Greek Members will see the sense of this .
the only honest answer to that is that these things cannot be reconciled , and the problem is that these things have now , as a result of the Annual Growth Survey , become the general rule .
( ES ) Mr President , the increase in asylum applications on behalf of citizens of Serbia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia requires measures protecting the amendment of Regulation ( EC ) No 539 / 2001 .
we should renew our commitment to LDCs and show that in 10 years , we have learned the lessons of the previous period and are in a position to provide effective , quality support that will enable us to meet our objectives , not in 2021 but in 2015 , by fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals .
it is already quite late in the day ...
a loan at prohibitive interest rates , with decreased salaries and continued fiscal dumping in terms of large companies .
( PL ) Thank you very much , Mrs Malmström , for your answer , and especially for emphasising that the Council will oppose all forms of discrimination against national minorities in the European Union , including the Polish minority in Lithuania .
this reminds me of a time when , in Europe , the construction of motorways was used to justify the construction of concentration camps .
firstly , that it should be clear and simple .
with regard to the advancing integration process in the Cariforum States it was natural that you should also draw attention to the compatibility of these agreements with other regional programmes , such as the Single Market and economic space of CARICOM .
we must make substantial efforts to successfully help enterprises and users adapt to climate change .
many Member States have not defined homelessness at all .
ninety per cent of all European films shown outside their country of origin are promoted by the MEDIA programme .
it is a dangerous situation , partly from the perspective of the states that border Russia and partly because Putin and his men have created a dangerous precedent for themselves .
in the coming months , we should watch the development of the political situation there carefully .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I would very much like to thank the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs in general and , specifically , the rapporteur , Mr Díaz de Mera García Consuegra , and the shadow rapporteurs for the work done on this very important dossier and I welcome the agreement reached with the Council .
this is a fundamental first step in the process of national reconciliation that is required if the 2010 elections are to be able to be regarded as free , fair and credible .
these amendments must also be line , as far as possible , with the various situations that may be encountered in practice .
Article 8 concerns protection against exposure to tobacco smoke .
in addition , particular importance must be attached to monitoring and analysing sets of areas with direct budgetary implications , and every way of distributing and saving resources must be identified .
I call on the Commission and the political parties represented here to be resolute and help make prostitution a thing of the past and support a ban on purchasing prostitution services in their home States .
the situation is no longer deteriorating and stability is taking hold .
Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction ( motions for resolutions tabled ) : see Minutes
we should pay attention to the need for balancing the policies aimed at the development of professional and amateur sport .
so I would like to ask the Swedish Presidency when such a strategy for the Black Sea region will be delivered , and when Parliament will be informed and involved in this issue .
I voted against this report as the EU should be seeking ways to improve our competitiveness in line with the Europe 2020 strategy instead of introducing legislation which threatens our competitiveness .
a second aspect of the Regulation was frontal protection systems .
the International Energy Agency regards it as necessary to come to an agreement in Copenhagen in order to direct the investments which were delayed due to the crisis into investments in the environmentally sustainable energy sector .
there is therefore going to be a need to concentrate on that level ; we could perhaps use the open method of coordination to look at best practice across Member States .
no fair and sustainable solution to the problem of climate change or other environmental problems can come out of the irrational system that caused them in the first place .
until now , farmers would have lost the right to vaccinate their animals if the UK was declared entirely free from bluetongue .
I am afraid that in reality , in countries as lax as France in this regard , all this will not limit the influx of illegal immigration .
rapporteur . - Mr President , with regard to the four reports to be voted on , let me point out on behalf of the Committee on Culture and Education that the multiannual programmes in the field of culture , education , youth and citizen participation in community activities are some of the most important activities of the EU and especially of the European Parliament .
you talked with pride of Slovenia and you talked with some emotion of your experience in the prison cell .
that is why I voted as I did .
financial stability is a sine qua non of a competitive and economically safe Europe .
( ES ) Mr President , I think that it is clear that the judgment of the Court of Justice threatens the very foundations of the European Union .
we will not change this , and we will ensure that ACTA parties can continue to apply such an exemption .
I also expect that stronger support from the Member States will help the Commission in further shortening the time line of the authorising process .
this crisis was already at the heart of the French and Dutch ' no ' votes ; it is expressed differently elsewhere but it is always an underlying element .
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finally , I would ask you to support our Amendment 16 in which we make it clear that we would appreciate a legal and academic appraisal of the instrument of class actions .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( FR ) Mr President , I am honoured and privileged to be speaking here before the European Parliament for the first time .
in this connection , I note that the scope of Member States ' competence will not be limited thereby , with regard to Article 176 of the EC Treaty .
that is what we all here want to achieve , and I think that the many and varied views that have been expressed by this Parliament are directed along these lines and are calling for the adoption of balanced decisions in order to make it possible to reach a consensus .
the PASOK parliamentary group voted against the motion for a resolution because it compares Nazism to communism in an unacceptable manner .
this year 's Commission report highlights the topics of risk analysis and risk management , exclusion databases and early-warning / whistleblower tools .
democracy and human rights are founding principles of the EU , and they should be at the heart of the EU 's policy in relation to other regions .
registration should be made mandatory and the Council should also join this agreement as soon as possible .
we consider that maternity leave must be linked to paternity leave .
a decision was taken to prevent the temperature from rising to a point of no return , but it was taken in the knowledge that failure to act would create other costs for the global economy , while investing in efficiency and renewable energy sources could be profitable .
however , it is up to the Member State concerned whether to include this item of expenditure within its operational programme for the European Fisheries Fund .
they have also repressed journalists and activists . the arrest of Hu Jia , a leading human rights activist who was nominated for the Sakharov Prize in 2007 sent shock waves through society .
we did not do that ; instead we changed the rules .
I do not really see that there is a need then to have yet another accounting advisory group that advises the monitors that monitor things .
( EL ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the report by our fellow Member Mrs Harkin on volunteering is a way for the European Parliament to demonstrate its social aspect to European citizens .
the advent of new electronic means of communications is having a fundamental influence on changes to the structure of the demand for postal services ; liberalisation will thus lead to a better , and in particular more flexible , response to a wider range of services for postal items .
it is important now to make this solidarity tangible , by quickly mobilising the necessary means and resources to relieve the damage caused by bad weather .
the current crisis and the heavy burden of public debt lead to an urgent need for self-restraint , taking into account the principles of economy , efficiency and effectiveness .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( FI ) Mr President , Commissioners , the objective of the report before us for discussion is the liberalisation of energy markets , this time for gas .
Poland is losing the most in the Council with the transition to double majority voting , and it also loses out in Parliament .
for many reasons which I do not want to go into here , the European Union is still primarily a Western European institution .
trust in the EU will only return when our citizens are convinced that the Union serves their values and interests .
I still remember the debate on renewable energy , heating and cooling and all the issues we discussed .
this report is a true reflection of the consensus possible between Members from all 27 Member States and various political families , which is particularly significant in itself , and even more so in the context of Parliament 's new co-decision powers .
the investigation will determine the responsibility of the company , but I think we can already draw one conclusion .
with the clear legal framework provided by the draft directive concerning citizens and the various issues we are trying to give clear information to the citizen about their rights and how they can exercise them .
I think we are still struggling with that in some cases .
so be a little bit patient .
here in our Parliament , we complain all the time about citizens ' disinterest in the European Union .
finally , a policy of naming and shaming shipowners and Member States who have their ships dismantled according to methods that are unfriendly to the environment and people would be an effective initial step that we could in fact commence tomorrow .
this is therefore about strengthening the role of the European Parliament .
political power should not be usurped by superstructures such as those we have here , and in that respect the failure of the Treaty of Lisbon should set you thinking .
you wanted to start your part-session with a joint debate on justice issues .
however , I regret that the objectives of the migration policies have been ignored again and have taken a back seat behind the issue of combating illegal immigration and strengthening the Frontex Agency .
you cannot expect them to be available in a week or in one , or indeed several , months .
it must result in fair prices and security of supply .
that is why this directive is an important step , but no doubt it is not the last word on the matter .
then the Council comes up with nice little resolutions , such as the fiscal stimulus of 1.5 % of GDP this year or next year .
as you pointed out , in the absence of a framework , either couples go ' forum shopping ' or the dominant partner has the final say .
therefore I welcome this debate and the clear confirmation of the commitment to future expansion .
I hope that the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy will be met , in particular , the EU 's commitment to invest 3 % of gross domestic product ( GDP ) in research and development by 2020 .
discrimination against people living with HIV / AIDS must be effectively outmoded across the European Union .
this represents a very material , very qualitative development of regional policy over the forthcoming financial period .
Mr Hannes Swoboda has an excellent understanding of the complexities of the Western Balkan region .
we have no alternative .
currently , many vehicles that are homologated as passenger cars , such as SUVs , are registered as LCVs , often because this latter category is subject to reduced taxation or because of other fiscal incentives .
rather than expending efforts on that cause , the EU 's interests and objectives are better served by building greater multilateral cooperation and making better use of the existing legal instruments .
if so , can the Court send those declarations to Parliament , and if not , why not ?
who can and should interpret the limits imposed by the principle of subsidiarity in this field ?
it found they were likely to be more beneficial to businesses than even the Commission had estimated .
Madam President , Commissioner , the incidence of tuberculosis worldwide remains a cause of great concern , despite the progress made .
this applies in particular to Amendment 69 , which refers to maintaining duty-free shops at customs points in the Union other than at ports and airports , until 2017 .
it also means the adoption of a firm stance in the negotiations on trade facilitation procedures in order to lower the costs of customs formalities , which can account for up to 15 % of the value of the goods traded , as well as effective recording of the origin of goods and updated customs controls .
we welcomed what Commissioner Verheugen said and we hope that none of his colleagues hold him back too much in this determination .
Dink 's death was , of course , a great tragedy , and as a friend of Turkey , I did not hesitate to point out the damage to Turkey 's standing of restricting freedom of expression and being oversensitive about criticisms of the Turkish State .
the return of France to the military structures of NATO , together with the energies devoted to European security and defence policies , provide an excellent opportunity for harmonising European security strategies and potential new strategies for NATO .
we know that the Commission has proposed a reform of our rules and we will deal with this in the Cashman report , but this resolution is our first opportunity to lay down some points of reference for this Parliament .
Montenegro is at the start of a journey which will neither be easy nor simple , but it has a prospect of accession and a road map , and it can benefit from the experience of the countries in the region which have completed the path of accession not very long ago .
democracy will , I hope , one day be the norm throughout the whole of Asia .
in writing . - ( SK ) I would like to comment on the report by my colleague Mr Ouzký on the International Health Regulations , which I supported with my vote .
as for discrimination against groups in China , such as trade unionists , there is rightly cause for concern , but criticism coming from those who want to stigmatise Italy 's Roma community is a little rich .
this is a serious matter .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to take a few seconds to express my disapproval of the Council 's decision to reject the report by Mrs Estrela on maternity leave .
it was quite simply about at least reviewing compliance with the existing minimum standards governing working hours in the European Union .
as for the rest of the report , the general approach appears to be going in the right direction , and I will support the rapporteur 's excellent work .
I must reply on one specific point to Mr Lambrinidis , who was rather vehement : in the agreement between the United States and Europe , the purpose is terrorism and crime , full stop .
I would like to stress the need for more suitable legislation , with the aim of reducing systemic risk and ensuring fair competition on the market .
the first is that , while there was some confusion in the Conference of Presidents as to what types of amendments should be adopted or accepted , based on whether they are as a result of the Treaty of Lisbon in the strictest sense , I would like to express our desire for it to be the President of Parliament who decides whether any of the reforms of the Rules of Procedure are not appropriate .
everything points to the fact that nuclear energy will become a significant source of energy in the near future , and therefore it is absolutely crucial to ensure that the highest feasible level of safety is achieved in the energy sector .
I find it difficult to understand the Commission 's action for two reasons .
it is true that the crisis is putting the Member States ' budgets under pressure at the moment .
I am therefore minded to vote against a ban , since otherwise we risk not getting either a ban or a warning text , which would really not be in the interests of children .
the agreement will be renegotiated if it transpires that it entails detrimental consequences .
I would call on the Ugandan authorities to apprehend the perpetrators of this crime .
we also had to ensure that the adoption of this legislation did not disrupt the architecture of the insurance market and , in particular , that it enabled mutual associations to occupy a place within this legislation .
( HU ) We would like to make the addition ' but with its own rules ' to proposed Amendment 1 , which was submitted by 40 members .
this Directive has already been transposed into the national law of the Member States and it is for the Commission to ensure that the provisions set out in this Directive are properly and fully applied .
in view of the current conflicts in North Africa , for example , which are causing repercussions on the fuels market , we should therefore ask questions about whether such alternative sources may be found in Europe itself .
it is irresponsible during a global economic crisis for someone to feel the need to provoke ethnic minorities .
there is an urgent need for the European Union to establish a water policy that enables us to guarantee for the people of Europe , businesses , public bodies , flora and fauna , etc. that we will have sufficient water of an appropriate quality to meet their needs .
thanks to our critical stance , we have managed to reduce electricity consumption by 25 % over three years .
I also support the provisional implementation of the agreement pending its entry into force .
however , I am pleased to inform you that the fifth , i.e. last , conference on the shaping of the forces was successful and the European Union now has all the necessary capabilities at its disposal .
it should be noted that the EU Member States were also faced with the complexity which , in this respect , typifies the system of sorting and processing requests for overflight , landing and on-the-ground inspection authorisations .
perhaps , in the context of a revisiting of the Eastern Partnership , things would improve .
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I think that is a deeply held belief that we all share .
technical measures used in the individual sea basins differ according to local conditions .
is this really a country that we can do business with ?
nevertheless , we have to make sure that a bigger share of this money reaches every student .
thus I reject this contrivance of European citizenship , which of course is a complement to the ongoing efforts to be advanced by the Lisbon Treaty to build the statehood of the EU and thus this notion that we all have to be , whether we like it or not , want it or not , EU citizens first and foremost .
this inevitably requires priority to be given to deep burying solutions , such as permanent storage in dry rock or permanent storage in deep cavities ( 3 000 to 5 000 metres deep ) , which are still being examined .
Parliament came up with a number of suggestions and proposals on this matter , whereas there was no such proposal forthcoming from the Council and Commission which would have helped reach agreement .
I think that , in striving to improve the quality and attractiveness of education , what is important is actions taken at both European level ( the European Parliament treats mobility as a priority issue ) and national level .
fifty years ago Robert Schuman presided over a new single Assembly .
without funding for civil society programmes , those who believe in the importance of the European project will have a hard time confronting criticism of democratic deficits and unresponsive institutions .
this must be the starting point of a new Israeli policy .
in view of the ongoing issue between Libya and Switzerland , Mr President , hundreds of European Union citizens and workers are being prevented from entering Libya to work .
labour rights must not be violated .
appropriate financial resources are required if these ambitious aims are to be achieved .
I appreciate as positive the development of sport tourism over the last years , and the promotion of winter and nautical sports .
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I hope European constructors will contribute to making the ideas of the 2020 strategy a reality , creating modern solutions for connecting electric vehicles to smart electricity networks .
I would invite Mr Davies to examine what we would be proposing and , if he has any specific comments to make , I would certainly welcome them .
these very exacting rules are necessary to restore the confidence of the market in the ratings business in the EU . '
it is absolutely essential that human rights are respected and observed .
from the point of view of their rights and dignity , their situation is much more like that of women in Third World developing countries than that of their sisters in Western Europe , who are fellow citizens of EU Member States .
I am calling for a suitable hierarchy to be established when it comes to the priorities ; I cannot make one out at present .
I believe that our economic and social situation demands a radical shift from the status quo , and the new treaty allows this .
the strengths of multi-level governance were also stressed by the Committee of the Regions in its White Paper of June 2009 , where it called on the Union to strengthen mechanisms of multi-level governance and pointed to the leverage effects generated by cohesion policy , which contributed to the implementation of other Community policies as well .
we shall follow his position , with the exception of Amendment 1 , for which we can find no reasonable explanation why it does not meet with Mr Blokland 's approval and for which we shall vote positively , and we trust that others will do the same .
next , the government will eventually have to produce reforms , which will inevitably have to lead to a new draft constitution .
I should like to call on all citizens to vote in the elections and to cast their votes for the future of Europe in the 21st century .
that is why our cooperation should be closely linked to improvements in the fields of human rights and the rule of law .
as does Parliament 's resolution , I welcome this commitment made by Member States , which shows true European solidarity .
I wish to emphasise the need for action to prevent psychological violence as well against women .
however , the reduction in demand for such products in the European Union as a result of the crisis promises to threaten yet more job losses , not only in Spain but throughout the Union , and , as a consequence , it is important that utilisation of the EGF can effectively assist a sector which is so important to the European economy .
the directive is still sound , but there is a need for improvements .
it is true that women suffered particularly heavily during the wars , but we must bear in mind that they are not solely victims , but play a constructive , active , useful and indispensable part in democratic stabilisation and reconstruction .
the EU welcomes the fact that both parties continue to hold talks even if we note with regret the lack of results and the lack of momentum .
we are hoping that the new action plan just announced by the Commissioner will be implemented as soon as possible in order to improve existing mechanisms by extending technical and human support , guaranteeing financial support and increasing planned budgetary resources .
certainly one of the issues on the ground that I came across when canvassing was that people do object to different standards .
the HACCP system was officially accepted by the World Health Organisation in 1975 . in 1993 it was adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission as an appropriate tool with which to regulate the production of food .
we must not wait for a new Rwanda before we react ; human rights must be defended in Africa just as they must be defended everywhere else in the world .
if there are other ways that equally solve the problem but , in fact , invite us to get a better trade agreement , then I will explore them .
let us just say that that route carries the risk of being objectively useful for dictators .
food additives should be constantly monitored and reassessed on the basis of changing conditions of use and new scientific information .
all of our Member States have ratified Kyoto , and we are in favour of a binding treaty for the future .
that would be a way for us to take forward matters which are important to people .
the response from European citizens and their record generosity and solidarity have been immense .
we hope that by 2020 renewable energies will make up 20 % of the overall European energy mix , and we would like that approach to be included in the second Energy Action Plan for 2010-2014 , which we hope to see adopted under the Spanish Presidency .
it is this kind of concern that must always be present when discussing EU budgets , so that everyone in the Member States is able to have a say in EU policy and see that their contributions are being properly implemented .
( FR ) Mr President , President of the European Council , I have four comments .
the purpose of this proposal is to provide additional economic stimulus to certain Member States , which had seriously suffered from the economic crises .
to be more specific , this subject requires us to reflect on a fundamental question : the direction impressed on the EU 's cooperation policy .
even so , it has already launched an integrated waste collection and disposal plan , which also includes putting the necessary facilities in place and reaching agreements with five regions of Italy for the temporary transfer of waste until the plan becomes fully operational .
the implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement continues to constitute a fundamental element of democracy and the rule of law in the country .
this data needs to be aggregated at national and regional level .
( RO ) Mr President , at the European summit on energy taking place on 4 February , the European Union needs to reach agreement at the highest political level on priority measures aimed at establishing the internal energy market and developing the energy infrastructure , as well as on measures for reducing energy consumption , boosting energy efficiency and promoting renewable energy sources .
as man-made greenhouse gas emissions rise , the scientific prediction is that dramatic changes such as warmer oceans , melting of the poles , rising sea levels and ocean acidification will pose severe threats to marine ecosystems and the fishing community .
in writing . - ( PT ) I voted in favour of the motion for a resolution on the Commission Green Paper on ' Adapting to climate change in Europe - options for EU action ' as I share the belief that adaptation measures constitute a guarantee against the negative and unavoidable effects of climate change .
once ENISA has been modernised , the latest information will be gathered from European countries , there will be encouragement to share best practices and the European Union and the Member States will be better prepared to prevent , detect and respond more effectively to network and information security problems .
it relates to family laws that Member States have and develop , and therefore it is appropriate that it should be addressed at that level .
with regard to the revised directive on electronic money , this is a particularly ambitious piece of legislation that will offer a well-received second chance for the establishment of a market in electronic money that will be genuinely useful .
the vote will take place at 11.00 today .
other aspects will need to be dealt with by national legislation , but I absolutely cannot agree with those who say that this proposal undermines the ability of Member States to organise their healthcare .
support for women and their plans would lead to progress in the development of rural communities as a whole .
the EUR 400 billion European aid programme will help us overcome the crisis .
most people would agree with that , which is why we welcome this discussion .
this new version enhances transparency by providing new and more accurate information , notably on the type of entities listed and the procedures used to select members .
the costs of long-term pit closures continue to be incurred years and even decades after coal mining comes to an end .
nobody can expect good administrative work , be it from the Commission or from decentralised agencies , if they do not provide a large enough budget for staff , and we therefore cannot accept the Council 's cutbacks .
it is clear that the financial crisis we are now facing can be avoided if consumers are well informed of the risks that various types of credit entail .
in addition , with regard to including the ' territorial ' concept , we must be aware of the need to take account of the specific features of certain regions , such as their geographical disadvantages , their outermost position or the depopulation processes in certain regions .
the first of these is the composition of the Governing Board , and the second is the procedure for appointing the Director of the Foundation .
after all , these women are not fighting for themselves , but for a better and more humane world .
as to the first tranche of the secretarial allowance increase for 2010 , this will be voted tomorrow as part of the Maňka report on the amending budget No 1 / 2010 .
Russia should uphold the legal commitments which it has entered into as a member of the Council of Europe , the United Nations and the OSCE .
secondly , access to public contracts .
finally , I also voted for - again thinking of Portuguese textiles - the introduction of a safeguard clause , which provides for the re-establishment of common customs tariff duties on a given product at any time if it is being imported from Pakistan under conditions that cause , or threaten to cause serious problems for an EU producer of similar or directly competing products .
how will this be policed ?
thank you .
it is high time that the Europe 2020 strategy put a stop to hedge fund speculators .
the so-called ' second instrument ' provides funding for data collection , and control measures , scientific advice , common fisheries policy control systems and enforcement .
there are modern , viable , smart and efficient ways for countries in earthquake zones to satisfy their energy balance .
I do not believe that this is religious freedom : this distorts the true sense of religious freedom ; we are dealing with a negative right , or rather the right to be free of the obligation to perform religious practices .
I have one final comment to make , and that is that the programme is being complemented by corresponding national programmes in all the Member States .
the Commission 's action plan for saving 20 % by 2020 is not a stand-alone plan .
the humanitarian crisis , ladies and gentlemen , will not be resolved by the political agreement that is currently being hammered out .
in writing . - ( IT ) Women are the backbone of the agricultural sector in rural areas .
and the Committee of the Regions does the same in a report brought out at the same time .
particular attention was focused , among the topics discussed , on the ' Europe 2020 ' economic strategy , as well as on the preparation for the international climate change negotiations .
Eastern European countries experienced a true demographic shock after the fall of the communism .
so I invite Parliament to discuss this seriously and I invite Parliament to respond to this question in an own-initiative report adopted by a majority of Members .
meanwhile , the political situation in Haiti remains alarming , following the first round of presidential elections .
we also have further tasks ahead of us in ensuring the free movement of services and respect for the rights of posted workers .
subject : Burma
this means artificially creating new Russian citizens to be defended according to Medvedev doctrine , so preparing new international hotbeds of crisis .
we know this much : fewer priorities , pinpointing bottlenecks , tighter economic policy coordination .
however , our votes should not in any way be seen as us pre-empting the individual Member States ' ratification processes .
by their nature , such activities do not qualify as development assistance .
I can tell you that seeing the new message , strategy and philosophy that I detect at the World Bank makes me quite optimistic .
I am referring here to ecological issues , global warming , ACTA , CETA , the banking sector , bringing stability to financial and economic markets , the CITES conference and the EU-Canada agreement on PNR information .
it has nothing to do with science and everything to do with the globalist common purpose to tax and control us , while making billions for corporations in the green industrial complex .
after all , the mood can turn again just as swiftly , and we would be deluding ourselves if we believed that the European Union 's image has already fundamentally changed .
the 32 crimes included only relate to organised crime , unless piglets or ties are being stolen by armed and organised criminal gangs .
the next item is the report by Mr Dumitrescu , on behalf of the Committee on Legal Affairs , on the law applicable to contractual obligations ( Rome 1 ) .
10 .
the directive lays down a training and certification system for distributors and professional users of pesticides .
well , we have found out today that there are still Member States , such as Belgium , which reward illegal immigration , for political and ideological reasons .
shame on you , cowards !
it is important to give attention to the mid-term review of the budgetary framework for the years to come in 2009 , even though the outcome of the new negotiations will not yet have an impact on next year 's budget .
if we are to conduct a dialogue in Europe on contemporary challenges to humanitarianism , we cannot restrict ourselves to the death penalty , on which we do , after all , have a common opinion .
they see this Darusman report as a weapon in this campaign , and just want to put the Sri Lankan Government in the dock .
our overriding aim was to facilitate the provision of services throughout Europe .
at the very least , consumers must be able to identify eggs and egg products produced in compliance with European standards .
second , it is in the European Union 's best interests to promote culture and intercultural dialogue at an adequate level in its foreign policy .
the second directive , on common rights for economic migrants , will naturally be equally important , since we shall have work permits and residence permits in a single document for the first time .
many of us thought that this was already in place , and we were surprised to find that a lot of data does not exist at all , and that in the statements we make with regard to the state of the environment in the European Union , we are therefore actually completely blind .
we are not trying to harmonise health , now is not the right time for that and maybe it cannot be done anyway .
how do we move forward from this situation ?
the Arctic region is attracting more and more attention , due to the effects of climate change , the main trigger of developments .
in writing . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I am voting in favour of the report by Mr Panzeri on stepping up the fight against undeclared work .
if we truly want to protect fishermen , we must support the inclusion of bluefin tuna in Appendix I to the CITES Convention .
we need to move forward in the world trade talks in the fields of industry , trade , and services .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , dictatorships and regimes that employ violence , or regimes that persecute their populations seldom fall as a result of some general diplomatic pressure .
worse still , the report does not call for regular monitoring of the effects of the subsidy , leaving this evaluation to the general assessment of the programmes within the process of the 2007-2013 multiannual financial framework .
amongst these negative aspects , two stand out .
I differ from some of my colleagues here in the European Parliament in that I do not believe the solution to the challenges facing mountainous regions is to throw more CAP money at these regions .
however , we believe that a life free from poverty can be achieved by political means by developing social security systems in which pensions and minimum wage levels above the poverty threshold are guaranteed and working hours are generally reduced .
yes to greater labour mobility , yes to greater joined-up social security , but yes also to fairness and non-discrimination .
the consensus is only superficial , as there is a huge difference in interpretation regarding this economic governance .
the swift and timely adoption of the package could prove that the Community method is the right approach to use in going forward .
I also want to answer the specific question that was raised about the sanctions .
terrorists continue to be supported and trained and , on top of this , the main socio-economic indicators are unsatisfactory .
a fact that should not be ignored is that an unprecedented increase in fish mortality has been noted recently in the Black Sea .
what specific measures will the Commission take to support this dialogue and to make full use of the powers relating to sport laid down in the treaty ?
the earthquake also caused damage to 391 reservoirs .
the Commission is aware that such a problem exists , and in our forthcoming proposals we will try to address that issue .
in cross-border situations fiscal competence must be fairly distributed between the Member States concerned , avoiding the double offsetting of losses and risks of tax evasion .
the new provisions are to apply to 67 large airports .
to introduce and empower a European immigration policy , we must do together what others cannot do , in other words , achieve the consensus of governments .
we are debating meat glued together with thrombin and we are debating driving times for self-employed drivers , as if the major problems of the Union will solve themselves .
as Mr De Castro is not present , Mr Le Foll , who is replacing Mr De Castro , has the floor .
five thousand .
( RO ) On a different note , I would like to reply to Mr Preda .
I would especially like to draw your attention to the need to increase transparency and to adopt indicators for given benchmarks in order to achieve practical results that could be supported by other EU foreign policy tools .
90 % of our external trade and 40 % of our internal trade passes through our European ports .
this will be achieved by making responsibilities clearer and reporting obligations more effective .
taking these circumstances into account , I decided to vote against adoption of the joint resolution at the final vote .
I voted in favour of this report as I believe it to be essential for guaranteeing that all products placed on the single market are safe , ensuring a high level of consumer protection .
Mr President , my report is a contradiction because I have used a contradictory expression : ' soft law ' .
there is some concern that if the proposers commission an environmental assessment it might lack objectivity .
by Mr Fjellner , on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control , on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Food Safety Authority for the financial year 2007 ( C6-0440 / 2008 - ,
this proposal , therefore , contributes to promoting a common approach from the 27 Member States with regard to economic migration , which is why I reiterate my vote in favour .
the European Union is the world 's largest market , but we are not exploiting our huge potential .
you are perfectly aware that , again , between the somewhat disembodied big ideal and all of the technical issues of daily life , the problem for each of us is having to constantly decide on what to do about the big ideas that sometimes go far beyond the day-to-day difficulties experienced by our citizens , and what to do about resolving the technical issues that affect their daily lives .
that poses a huge difficulty .
poverty is the biggest polluter and the ambition to mitigate climate change does not conflict with growth and modernisation .
allow me also to refer finally to the situation within the West Bank , which should not be forgotten .
the proposed European stabilisation mechanism itself raised new questions on the financial markets and the existing Financial Stability Mechanism is now regarded as insufficient .
they relate , for example , to ship inspections and coordination of the various national control systems by the Agency .
the fact is that the EU response to the financial crisis has been sluggish and minimalist .
16 .
first , through ensuring that there is a clear and proper legal framework in place that provides confidence that information supplied will be treated in an appropriate manner and , secondly , through stimulating as many shared international experiences as possible , including joint training exercises so that people working in the field get to know and appreciate each other .
these people are not train drivers but they nonetheless save lives because , on board trains , it is their job to do so and it is very important that there should be a system of certification for them , even if it will naturally be at a different level from driver certification .
unfortunately , these recent events have shown us that we need to make more effort to consolidate these rights and ensure they are enforced adequately throughout Europe .
they have a quota of 15 % for books that can be censured .
I voted in favour of this report because , with regard to the implementation of the directive in question by the Member States , it puts particular emphasis on unjustified delays and failures , as well as a number of issues relating to its interpretation and application .
the OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities , Knut Vollebæk , praised the Slovak Republic .
the Europe of values cannot accept that those starting their careers , the elderly , those who are isolated by poverty , those forced to learn new skills , and the gypsies who carry the burden of many kinds of disadvantage , will not have work .
there are some significant differences between NATO and Russia when defining security .
many domestic electrical appliances could also consume much less energy during use , and energy waste caused by keeping appliances on stand-by must also be avoided .
however , this crisis should not make us backtrack , nor lessen our diplomatic firmness or the political and military commitment consistent with our obligations as allies , nor turn our backs on the collective economy nor allow the reappearance of protectionism , which would be fatal to the recovery of our economies .
the purpose of these measures is to help countries in the process of stabilisation , such as the countries of the Western Balkans , through preferential trade measures with the EU compared to third countries .
despite this , I consider the clause to be backward and needlessly submissive to the populist pressure of the French and Italian premiers .
a medical examination established 34 injuries sustained from the thugs in police uniforms .
thank you for your kind attention .
transparency , open bookkeeping and supervision must render tax havens impossible .
Serbia is not just a part of Europe 's geography .
author . - ( ES ) Mr President , we have a new episode today in this tragic serial set in the Democratic Republic of Congo .
in my opinion , it could be much more effective if we could count on support from the states which surround Central Asia .
( it ) Mr President , the problem of falsified medicinal products is one that is having an ever greater impact at international and EU level , in terms of the increased number of cases as well as the advances in the development of these products .
in addition to the systematic persecution of religious and ethnic minorities , human rights activists are regularly being murdered .
secondly , we will need to invest heavily in innovation , research and training , particularly if we want to move towards a green economy .
even when desperate times call for desperate measures and simplified procedures , in the long run , it is not possible to ignore transparency , parliamentary scrutiny and democratic accountability .
Mr President , this is on the question of the discharge to the Council .
the second option , proposed by the French Government on the American model , is counter-cyclical regulation .
I await your response .
France is a great country and a founder member of the EU .
rising food prices in the European Union and worldwide pose a major problem in 2011 .
that is why I do not agree with Proinsias .
in my homeland of Hungary , the picture is typically two-fold : on the one hand , there is land of excellent quality and a high degree of legislative protection but , on the other hand , there is industrial pollution caused by forty years of Communism , and cleaning it up will take at least another forty years and EUR 4 billion .
I would like to remind the House that the LTTE refused a supervised international surrender offer and preferred instead to choose a bloodbath as their kind of exit strategy , which was appalling .
• on-the-job training is compulsory only in 11 Member States ( Austria , Belgium , Germany , Estonia , Finland , Hungary , Lithuania , Latvia , Romania , Malta and the United Kingdom ) ,
that is why I would also stress that , in the period of transition from Nice to Lisbon , we need to remain in close consultation with the European Council as well if we want to avoid beginning the next term in a state of absolute confusion .
it will be followed by a proposal for amendments to the Savings Taxation Directive , and we will do our utmost to strike a proper balance .
the Member States possess the main instruments for ensuring balance between the generations and ending unfair discrimination .
if the European Union wishes to assume the global role described by the Commission President , among others , in the matters of energy security or the Gaza conflict , it cannot allow itself to disintegrate ; we need the Union of 27 as a strong economic and political bloc .
( applause )
I am not surprised that our citizens are asking with justified scepticism what exactly the European Union 's position is on this issue .
it is only right that this should be made clear for once .
we will bring more transparency on skill needs and promote better matching , namely through the EU skills panorama to help people see more easily which skills are most needed now and in the future .
transparency and information are among the most fundamental principles of a democracy , particularly in respect of fundamental freedoms and citizens ' rights .
I am in favour of Mr Feio 's report because it supports the Commission 's proposal , which , to my mind , is a balanced compromise proposal .
its costs have an effect on the price of all the products we consume .
secondly , I would like to thank all the colleagues who participated in today 's debate for their positive assessment and for their critical remarks .
the European Union imagines itself to be an active force in international relations and a global political player .
Mr President , I voted in favour of Mrs Petre 's report on ensuring food quality and harmonisation of the relevant standards .
I believe that the Union for the Mediterranean is not only about trade , but also about defending international law and human rights .
let us wait and see what happens .
I supported the report on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia , as it sends an important message to the Macedonian people .
Parliament for its own part promises to enforce this declaration .
the Commission is in favour of it and I think that , both from the point of view of the economic development of Pakistan and from the point of view of the security issues that are certainly linked with Pakistan , it would be a major mistake on the part of the European Parliament not to take up this responsibility and vote this down .
with the change of regime which is taking place , we cannot miss any opportunity to facilitate a move towards democratic values in Kyrgyzstan .
in conjunction with a ministerial conference that the Presidency is holding in Brussels on 19-20 October , which will focus on overarching EU measures against human trafficking , the report from the Agency for Fundamental Rights will be presented and discussed in detail and the conclusions will be presented to the Council .
like my colleague , I , too , would be concerned about rural development policy - albeit not as part of the cohesion policy , more in line with the CAP - but , at the same time , it is absolutely vital that it is not squeezed in any future proposals because rural development , and particularly the family farm , is vital for the social infrastructure of society .
I want us to be able to deepen our relations with the State of Israel .
I am reminded of that terrifying closing scene of Orwell 's ' Animal Farm ' where the animals look from man to pig and pig to man and find that they cannot tell which is which .
however , they are useless if we cannot compare them , and this report by Brian Simpson goes a considerable way towards ensuring that the information which is now being collected , and will be collected in the future , is easily accessible and can easily be used positively for the benefit of the industry itself .
I am a bit discouraged by the delays put forward by the French presidency .
although the incidence of each rare disease is very low , millions of Europeans are affected because there are many rare diseases .
in your question , you indicated at the outset that the Swedish Presidency made significant progress .
in order to ensure legitimacy and openness , the Commission and the Council will therefore be wise to include Parliament in the ongoing work of the 2020 strategy .
regarding higher education institutions , I want to ask the Commissioner whether she is satisfied that the European institutions have both the will and the capacity to raise their game , improve their ranking on the world stage and develop their ability to cooperate with one another in order to avoid duplication in research .
thank you for your attention .
we all know that on energy and climate change we face an enormous challenge .
it is now time for the European Parliament to approve the introduction of CO2 limits for new light commercial vehicles .
the Schaldemose report last year built on the work Council had done under the French Presidency and the same line has continued also under the Swedish and the Spanish Presidency .
the agreement applies to books from all over the world published in English in countries which are covered by the Convention .
the forthcoming Employment Summit on 7 May is being prepared on the basis of this strategy of serving the interests of capital .
just as every gram of CO2 emitted must be regarded in the same way , the reduction of emissions , too , has the same effect everywhere .
I should , however , like to offer my sincere congratulations to Mr Marty .
society does not take revenge against an offender and does not want to degrade his or her dignity .
but we also need a good policy on democracy and promoting human rights .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , President Doyle warns us about the risks of simplistic solutions .
I would therefore like to make three proposals .
I do not need to read it out , as you have the motion in front of you in writing .
they relate to a non-binding text which is the subject of a debate in the parliament of an EU Member State .
ladies and gentlemen , I believe that it is only through an integrated package that we will promote maritime safety .
a first step might be to appoint a number of banking supervisors , who would bring to the audit committee the necessary experience to check that the EIB is actually applying best practices in this matter .
second point : in Angers , the delegations from the 27 countries all praised the quality of the work done over these past months and agreed that they had been listened to during the recent consultations .
the Stockholm Action Plan often mentions citizens and their rights , but very clearly emphasises the freedom of business without sufficient regulations , which is at least surprising , particularly in the context of the current financial and economic crisis .
that is also very important .
we shall work on more favourable accounting and fiscal conditions , on progress in innovation , patents and copyright , which Mr Manders mentioned , on access to investment and also , I believe , on public / private partnerships .
in writing . - Poor corporate governance in financial institutions - and particularly banks ' murky pay culture - was a key factor in creating the conditions for the financial crisis .
in saying that , I know we imply that the Government was behind the bombing ; I do not believe that , but we need to make sure that the security of all the candidates is guaranteed and the Government does its best to protect Ms Benazir Bhutto .
we must maintain Pillar 1 payments , rewarding farmers for work , securing the industry with direct payments .
Mr President , honourable Members , I would like to start by endorsing Mr Swoboda 's comment that implementation takes place on the spot - regionally and locally .
as you informed us , with these agreements , citizens of these six countries and , reciprocally , EU citizens , will , in future , be exempted from the short-stay visa requirement - at least some of them will be , since excluded from this exemption are those who wish to work or to perform a paid activity , as an employee or as a service provider , in short .
the EU must support all efforts made leading to the democratisation of this regime and an improvement in the lives of its population .
certainly , the vehicle itself is the most important aspect of this , as well as ensuring that vehicles are of a safer standard .
this latter lacuna should not , however , be laid at the feet of the Commission , as neither the industries concerned nor national administrations could provide the necessary data .
Mr President , far more freight is currently carried by road than is good for the quality of our air , our protection against excessive noise , our safety and the amount of space we need .
I fully share your views and the views of other Members who talked about this issue .
I support elected politicians in the UK having control over our own borders .
if that means Member States , and indeed the EU itself , repudiating other international agreements , then so be it .
given the influx of refugees from North Africa and the uncertainty in our neighbourhood , we are seeking additional EU policies and we do not want renationalisation .
the WTO will not grant us an exception for the ACP countries - and it is all very well pretending that they might - because our current system is harming other developing countries that are asking to be treated in the same manner as the former colonies .
studies of the January crisis clearly show how different the situation was in the western and eastern parts of Europe .
with the continued application of strict criteria for entry and with constructive assistance available to all those who become members of the euro group , the EU 's economy will become even stronger .
that message has come from me while I am also sitting here talking to you .
documents received : see Minutes
the rapporteur 's recognition of this idea as a strategic objective is no surprise and has my full support .
when Mr Mingarelli goes to Tunisia - something that I view very positively - inform us so that we are aware and so that the public is aware that Europe has a presence there .
the primary question - as the report we are going to vote on correctly identifies - is the fact that ' there can be no stability or peace in Afghanistan without the state first of all guaranteeing security for its citizens on its own responsibility ' .
whether we like it or not , all human activities have an impact on the environment , and such a provision is disproportionate in this context .
I would like , today , on this second day , to thank you very warmly once again , to thank you for the trust which you have placed in me .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , honourable Members of Parliament , Europe is very concerned at the devastating impact of the floods in Pakistan , which destroyed livelihoods and communities throughout the country .
furthermore , certain events are given undue prominence in the text , whilst others are totally overlooked . this is particularly true of the period of the Second World War and also of the most recent two decades .
from 1 May 2009 , the scope of the EGF was broadened to include support for workers made redundant as a direct result of the economic and financial crisis .
what I am asking is whether it is important to change legislation that is really only in place and only working effectively for two years .
added to this , the report supports the creation of a budgetary structure for the Research Executive Agency and the European Research Council Executive Agency .
particularly relevant here is support for projects involving sustainable energy sources and the improvement of energy-network links with third countries .
although at times he does well , Mr Andersson is too attached to the ultra-liberal principles which gave rise to this situation for his report to secure our support .
we are very interested in what you are going to say .
in addition to these clauses , the preamble of the agreement refers to the need to strengthen the process of economic and social development in the GCC countries , while protecting the environment .
suitable mechanisms should be devised , allowing Member States to support each other if energy crises arise .
long before the elections , the Communist Party managed to gain and consolidate its absolute control over all the mass media channels .
firstly , European consumers must be able to know what they are eating .
in writing . - Alexander Graf Lambsdorff has presented a proposal concerning the Commission 's ' Defence Package ' , covering procurement for both military and non-military security purposes as well as covering public contracts concluded between EU operators .
we know what is at risk , so why is it then so difficult to act ?
it is absolutely impossible to get a realistic picture of this country , mainly because its government does not let us take a proper look at it and because we , as the European Union , unfortunately have no foreign office to take the necessary action there .
much is being said at present about the improvement in conditions for small and medium-sized enterprises in the internal market of the European Union , especially in the context of the proposed Small Business Act .
you are therefore considering whether you should say that at least 50 % must in future go to these alternatives , because my home city of Berlin argues , for example , that EU funds should not be spent on local public transport .
the current rotating presidency gives priority to strengthening this partnership .
should we in this situation therefore introduce legislation on energy taxation that is progressive ?
we do not yet live , I am afraid , in an ideal socialist society , where no one has a different view , no one has a different need and no one has a different interest .
I would say that most people know the singers of their favourite four songs or records , but I doubt very much that many of them know who actually wrote them .
according to the international credit rating agency , the rise in unemployment and the fall in disposable income may cause additional pressure on the Greek banking system , which is already facing lower profits and further depreciation of its assets .
they also called on demonstrators - in Bahrain that is - to refrain from any acts of deliberate intimidation .
Italy is truly a champion of liberty , indeed of libertinage - so to speak - as one can infer from reading its newspapers , which Mr Berlusconi wants to gag , which he is suing because they reveal , among other things , his personal relationships , through which channel he also chooses political candidates .
for this reason , I should like to ask : what is the Commission going to do now ?
let me run through our criticisms once again , by which I mean our criticisms of Russia , just to be clear .
if we look back over the debates in Parliament or the reports on financial stability by the Monetary Fund or the Central Bank , the analyses by the European Commission and our own speeches in the recent past , we did not know where or when , but we did know that turbulence of this kind could occur , given the evolution of the financial markets , and the sophistication of the instruments and techniques used by financial institutions .
we tried to see what could be done on the ground in order to make the situation move forward , not to have only negative experiences .
I would also like to make reference to some comments made about imported food .
you are right . it is very difficult to hold together different cultures .
the first is piracy , on which the recommendations are all good , but inevitably general .
if we want to be successful , we must seriously consider using all the technologies available .
what is the Commission 's position on this issue ?
particular attention in relations with Turkmenistan should be paid to the fact that if there is no economic cooperation between the EU and Turkmenistan the standard of living in that country will fall .
subject : European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion
I hope that these powers will be used not only for feel-good policies , but also as part of the responsibility of governing Europe with the other institutions .
I should like to ask you when the Commission intends to launch such an evaluation .
in CEPOL we were expecting to find problems dating back to last year 's report .
what is the European Parliament doing , besides what the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection is doing , as Mrs McCarthy has told us ?
however I believe that there are some demands that are essential if we in Europe are to ensure high levels of animal protection and I fear that today 's result goes against this thinking .
it will just happen .
however , efficient market surveillance would also enable toys manufactured within the EU to be tested to see whether they , too , comply with the limit values .
we also need to ensure a level playing field , fair competition and the future viability of European agriculture .
the fund to secure the external borders is to receive 12 % more funding next year .
what will be the role of multilingualism in this context ?
in writing . - ( LV ) A new financial transaction tax will not solve European Union Member States ' budgetary problems .
I voted for this report because the European Union has strengthened its economic and trade relations with Latin America , becoming its second most important trading partner and the leading trading partner for Mercosur and Chile .
it would be more appropriate to regulate cloning in a separate regulation .
the European Commission - Commissioner Verheugen - has already responded very promptly to our question , which asked for action to be taken to standardise this equipment , and so today we are here to ask the Commissioner what point we are at .
secondly , I think that this is an absolutely crucial sector and we do need to keep it under review , as many colleagues have said , to make sure that there are , in effect , no market barriers put in place that are going to stop it contributing vitally to the European economy .
I am therefore thankful that , after the difficulties during the start-up phase of our new service , the External Action Service and the Commission are clearly now making progress and coming up with sensible proposals .
and here I would like to say that the convention we are debating includes a specific article applying to women , so multiple discrimination has not been forgotten here .
it has been a long process for us to reach the point where this internal market , although unified , is not homogeneous .
among them is a line in the definition of EMAS which I saw as particularly important .
however , it is still a source of great frustration .
however , what we need to agree and put greater emphasis on is the importance of prevention rather than cure .
the EU cannot have a romantic vision of the political regime in Cuba , which is a genuine communist dictatorship , based on the logic of a single party that violates human rights , oppresses its citizens , persecutes and eliminates political adversaries and imprisons countless people simply for the offence of having an opinion .
Mr President , as rapporteur - of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats , that is - I wish to say that tonight we are discussing an issue that concerns the organisational autonomy and sovereignty of the European Parliament .
I would remind the House that the right to an eight-hour working day was won before the Second World War .
an energetic , growing cultural sector is clearly necessary for Europe 's success as a creative , knowledge-based economy . the cultural sector also attracts well-qualified , creative people .
it will deal with three fundamental elements of the reform , namely governance , stock management and the differentiation between large-scale and small-scale fisheries .
Madam President , Mr Medina Ortega , you ask me about the course of inflation in the euro area and its consequences , in terms of how the euro area has reacted .
we could also establish a relationship on another more ambitious level .
the next item is the statement by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the Commission on the situation in Yemen .
it is important that the Commission quickly finds a solution which will resolve this problem once and for all .
in other parts of the world , such as Africa , it is a different matter .
it is this dynamic and progressive definition that we are defending today in this sensitive area of electromagnetic waves .
and there is also a need for compassionate words , which can efface the humiliations .
I think they have been very consistent and very restrained .
this strategy is a specific response to the European Commission 's White Paper on health policy for the period 2008-2013 .
priorities include medical personnel and other personnel specialised in water , sanitation and hygiene , as well as medical supplies , beds , water purification units and tablets .
before we can talk about establishing a tax on international financial transactions , though , we need to carry out a study on its potential impact .
to achieve the desired result , which is , as we have said , an international agreement , the EU really must continue to play a leading role , as it certainly did up to and of course during the Bali Conference .
White Paper on damages actions for breach of the EC antitrust rules ( debate )
at the same time , I call on the Thai Government not to resort to unwarranted and unjustified violations of human rights during the declared state of emergency .
however , we should add that the advantages of market liberalisation can only bear fruit where a diversified supplier market already exists today , and that means most of the countries of Western European .
in practice , this approach is not effective and has led to situations where disputes remained unresolved or were blocked .
as rapporteur for the opinion of the Committee on Fisheries , I believe we need thorough clarification of the progress being made in the current framework .
I myself submitted an amendment in this regard .
from now on , I will pay particular attention to which sittings are conducted by you , and I will attempt to attend all of them .
the report by Mrs Guy-Quint , on behalf of the Committee on Budgets , on the financial aspects of the Treaty of Lisbon , and
I think that support needs to be given to the efforts to find a mutually acceptable solution under the auspices of the United Nations , rather than making biased statements .
1. the extra costs incurred for extra rights will translate into permanently higher ticket costs across the board for all passengers ;
you make no connection with public investment and raising the level of private investment , and you seem to lack any connection with the workers and their demands , workers who - at least in most European countries , the core countries that have been the bedrock of economic growth - are suffering from the lack of any margin of distribution .
anyone who compares the key figures for the debt crisis from different countries can only be surprised at how successful the speculation against the euro has been .
we have to work with our international partners to promote the Union 's energy interests .
when it comes to implementing the commitments , what we believe is lacking is a serious approach .
to be quite clear , the state aid investigation in these cases has been pending for around four years .
the churches , which used to be your partners , are now coming to us and saying that they have difficulties with certain wordings .
this is the top priority task for all of us , for every Member State .
but let me just say that those of us who thought they were educated have been prone to the odd financial accident .
this amendment completes the new European supervision framework .
we should tell the people of Europe that we cannot be sure that the environmental legislation which we are adopting is being complied with .
Madam President , the renewable energy directive is a milestone in European energy policy .
in writing . - The liberalisation of postal services is an important area of the European internal market .
in writing . - I support the Fava report on sanctions against employers of illegally staying third-country workers .
they also form an essential instrument for clarifying the European perspective .
thank you also for the guidelines that will help the Member States .
we have achieved almost half of this already by means of our enlargement to the east , where emissions are lower in absolute terms , and there remains the target of a 12 % reduction below 1990 levels .
the Summit will also provide an opportunity to assess progress with the implementation of visa facilitation and readmission agreements .
I am pleased to see that the Commission , the Council and my fellow Members concerned were determined to come up with a good solution quickly .
for this reason , new deposits , such as gas in rocks , will be a useful supplement to existing deposits and will therefore reduce our dependency on imports .
in the meantime , there is a tremendous amount to do and I can also confirm that many Member States are doing a tremendous amount , as everyone in all the Member States has been made aware of the effects that alcohol consumption has on health .
these are just a few of the ideas on which the SOLVIT report is based .
this regulation concerning statistics on plant protection products will plug existing gaps relating to the use of pesticides in Member States .
its objectives were to facilitate cooperation and exchanges of information and experiences at national and European level ; to collect and analyse relevant information aimed in particular at the exchange of best practices ; to organise conferences , seminars , meetings and initiatives with the objective of facilitating the exchange of experiences and best practices ; and to provide its expertise to the Council and the Commission concerning crime prevention .
the gender pay gap in the UK is wider than the European average and women have recently received the dire news that this gap is now increasing .
although the rapporteur also tries here to gloss over the consequences of his support for liberalisation by advocating the social clause in all legislation on the Single Market , in line with Article 9 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union ( TFEU ) and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union , the truth is that he is not unaware that neither the Commission nor the Council comply with it .
I could also add some other points and underline some that sometimes have deserved less attention but are also important .
as the Russian Government has failed to prove that it is not giving the orders and even refuses due cooperation with the British investigating authorities , this shows , consequently , that Russia 's official involvement in the murder is politically proved .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I would like first of all to congratulate all the rapporteurs , Ms Morgan , Mr Chichester , Mr Vidal-Quadras and Ms De Vits , on their excellent reports , as well as the shadow rapporteurs and all the members of the committees involved .
there was no need to create super-systems , and this is clearly spelled out in the amendments .
we frequently discuss the renewable energy sources , but it is very easy to forget our electricity consumption .
it is therefore the task of labour inspection bodies and trade unions to draw attention to the crooked practices that go on in some countries and not to allow any restrictions on the right of agency workers to join trade unions .
the transport sector is one of the key sectors contributing to the European Union 's economic and social development .
the free movement of persons is one of the fundamental rights of the European Union 's citizens .
Mr President , not for the first time and assuredly not for the last , I find myself asking what any of this has to do with the European Union .
in that context , it holds a key role regarding the fight against climate change , the transition of the EU to an efficient , sustainable and competitive economy , and the strengthening of Europe 's energy security .
we are in favour of a firmly based and meaningful trans-Atlantic relationship , but we also want to develop a policy of good neighbourliness and to pursue EU enlargement .
the free movement of citizens without internal borders is a very positive thing and one of the most important freedoms of the European Union , and I welcome the fact that the inhabitants of the nine new Member States will now be able to enjoy it .
what we need , then , if we are to do more than simply pay lip service to equality , are quotas - but they must be ambitious quotas , so that they really achieve something .
the September legislative elections are widely seen as a milestone for the future of the country and it is now timely for the EU to underline the importance that these elections be held in a peaceful , transparent and fully democratic environment .
I am convinced that Croatia 's accession will encourage the other Western Balkan countries to launch and implement new democratic and transparent reforms , and also an excellent neighbourhood policy .
there is no point in their existence if they do not .
for instance , the standards that I have just referred to have been turned on their heads by the vote in the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development .
I trust that our Turkish partners will continue with their efforts and that we will soon be able to see results .
what is the confidentiality requirement ?
the large majority today sends a powerful signal to the Council , and I look forward to adoption in the near future .
in conclusion , I would like to express my warmest thanks to the shadow rapporteurs , who have collaborated on this report in a truly cooperative manner .
whilst I believe that all the emission allowances should be auctioned as early as 2013 , the compromise that is before us is still acceptable .
although it has been stated that the proposed level of increase does not jeopardise the EU wine industry , we believe that there are still some doubts as to whether this is indeed the case , and that is why we have abstained .
it is important that we avoid more cases like this one .
in other words , anyone at all can employ people and there are virtually no controls at all over the activities of some dubious employment agencies .
that is why a common framework for regulating railway safety must be established .
it is essential to create European projects designed for pupils with special physical qualities .
the EU is not here to create social engineering with its policies .
will the United States and China cooperate ?
low-income countries are offered a lump sum payment and , in return , they open up their waters to commercial fishing by EU Member States , mainly in Southern Europe .
in the last plenary sitting we once again discussed and criticised the failure by the Commission to fulfil its commitment on transparency and parliamentary scrutiny in the context of the financing instrument for development cooperation .
today , we have just a single indicator , gross domestic product , which is an excellent indicator and an excellent instrument for measuring economic growth and the production of wealth .
I met not only our own servicemen , but soldiers from Estonia and Denmark who are sharing their camp .
since then , inflation in the euro area has risen further and , in the wake of renewed sharp commodity price increases , arrived at the worrying level of around 4 % in mid-2008 .
I think it is a bad sign that two of the parties in this conflict - such as Morocco and Algeria - are not cooperating with each other , on top of the unstable situation in Tunisia .
I therefore believe that these aspects of the Podimata report deserve our support , and I would at this point like to call on Parliament to be true to itself , reminding the House that introduction of the levy was approved by this Chamber in March 2010 in a report on the impact of the crisis on developing countries .
cases often arise where consumers are disappointed when they do not obtain the services for which they have paid in advance .
what kind of dictatorial , racist Europe do we live in then , where the Beneš Decrees can be regarded as a basis for negotiation ?
I can recall some of the heated debates on this subject ; they were often interesting and , at times , slightly irrational .
firstly , there is already a framework at EU level laying down exposure limits and production standards and also a defined level of protection in terms of known effects .
1 ) Based on the demands for full transparency in financing for the coastal regions a database of the projects supported from various Community funds will be created by the autumn of 2009 .
on the eve of the European elections , this report would have been more welcome if certain objectives were not suffering from a clear lack of ambition .
you put forward this proposal .
Mr President , finally , I would like to reiterate , once again , that , this year , too , my aim is to produce a report that offers a very clear message that is critical , but also balanced .
I have therefore always advocated the deepening of relations between the EU and Turkey through the gradual implementation of partnerships in various areas .
in addition , the aggregate value of EU investments in the Mercosur countries in 2005 was around EUR 100 billion .
we have noted other initiatives that can improve the functioning of Parliament , namely in the Parliamentary library , particularly the Knowledge Management System .
Bulgaria , Romania and Cyprus only partially apply the Schengen acquis at the moment and checks are therefore still carried out at the borders with these three Member States .
written statements ( Article 142 )
I am actually grateful that the Commission has reopened negotiations .
given the countries that make up the Danube region , such a strategy can contribute to mending previous splits and prevent old disputes from being reignited , enabling increased European cohesion and opening the doors to future expansions of the Union .
more and more countries are becoming involved in space projects , with space having started to play an increasingly large role in our lives .
the strength of the euro against the dollar , which makes EU exports less competitive right now , is also a disruptive factor in the European market .
I have sat down with the Indian and Chinese leadership .
I would conclude by mentioning our Amendment 1 , as presented in plenary , and would call on you to support it , as it has been put forward by most of the parliamentary groups .
( RO ) I wish to congratulate Mrs Vălean for this report .
domestic coal will be replaced by imported coal .
tobacco is a crop that requires little water , little fertiliser and few pesticides ; it is grown in infertile soils by poor farmers .
furthermore , Parliament intends to improve the Commission proposals in order to establish a robust and coherent legislative framework guaranteeing economic growth and employment for the next decades .
and it is our duty to give them proper answers .
is the Commission considering the introduction of competitive funding mechanisms for the late-stage clinical development of innovative new vaccines that address the neglected diseases , such as TB ?
these measures are targeted and must resolve a crisis here and now .
the poor compromise - in my opinion this compromise is very poor - that some of my fellow Members will vote for tomorrow - without me , because I will vote against - is being put to the vote on the eve of the EU-Canada Summit .
incredible as it might seem , the Lisbon Treaty limited the role of the European Parliament in this particular case .
it is in our common interest to have these alignment instruments adopted as soon as possible .
the report introduces several important aspects of the mid-term review of the Seventh Framework Programme ( FP7 ) of the European Union for research and technological development .
( PL ) Madam President , this debate reminds me of another debate , held several months ago , on the media laws in Hungary .
it is common knowledge that it is the European Commission 's duty and responsibility to ensure effective implementation of European law and to intervene to remove barriers which may hinder its implementation .
a few nations that are focusing on protecting the environment have at last realised this .
some of these issues are extremely sensitive from the point of view of the markets , so it does not seem prudent to me to be announcing intentions that have not become definite , but it is a work in progress in terms of the euro area .
it signals 27 States ' agreement on a Treaty and it marks their acceptance of a common commitment to Europe .
Mr President , better economic governance is required with earlier warnings and earlier actions .
rapporteur . - Mr President , I look forward to this debate , and particularly to hearing from those who are not so keen on enhancing transparency and public access to documents .
there are enough powers already that would be better regulated at a national level instead of at EU level .
the Russian Federation is one of our most powerful partners in political , economic and military terms .
for these simple reasons the European Union should try to establish a relationship of dialogue and cooperation with Russia .
( applause )
I hear some dream of a new Delors , while they forget that we have changed the world ... and Europe .
the conditions are thus created for better information to be provided to passengers , before , during and after the journey .
I believe that aid for emerging countries , while promoting sustainable economic growth , should still focus on reinforcing the partner country 's fiscal policy and promoting mobilisation of domestic revenue which should lead to the reduction of poverty and aid dependence .
I am certain that we will still be able to address one or two of these specific issues directly today .
the standard says that the 1985 toxicity data are sufficient .
I am very pleased to see that the Council , the Commission and Parliament have stuck to this position by deleting the relevant clauses and maintaining the status quo .
the forests and the forestry industry are already making a significant contribution to the production of local raw materials .
Parliament will also be represented by a delegation delivering well thought-out proposals , although its observer status will not allow it great visibility , and I hope that this represents a significant boost in winning the ' battle ' of sustainable development and equitable growth for these countries .
we are setting an example to the rest of the world , which will give a positive dynamic to the international negotiations .
the ACP delegates , with the connivance of the Socialists , Communists and Greens , succeeded in removing all of them from the report .
the extension of airport capacities is inevitable and should mandatorily be correlated with solid regulations on noise reduction , as well as on reduction of aircraft emissions .
the country 's actual human rights situation , however , is poor .
we Europeans therefore have the right to tell others not to take that path .
the EUR 1.1 million will target almost 1 000 workers in this highly sensitive and hard-hit sector .
the first issue to address is that of governance : how transparent is this organisation ?
please , Minister , take these banks in hand , tell them we are giving them taxpayers ' money and we expect them to take the public interest into account , not just the interests of their shareholders - some of them very wealthy shareholders .
if not , Member States will be given too many liberties .
what other evidence do we need to provide in order for you to act and react given this failure to uphold the principle of non-discrimination ?
I voted for the new EU-Vietnam Partnership and Cooperation Agreement , which will include a clear clause on human rights .
the work on the report on the A / H1N1 virus pandemic in 2009-2010 lasted nearly one year .
in addition to improving efficiency , there is a need for other transport models .
the Commission remains committed to following up the report of October 2010 which , I recall , proposed the following : a temporary suspension for five years of the use of the cloning technique in the EU , of the import and use of clones for food production , and of food from clones , which would be combined with the introduction of traceability systems for imports of semen and embryos from clones .
on this point , then , no-one disagrees .
cooperation between the Fundamental Rights Agency and the Council of Europe ( vote )
inflation and the fight against inflation are also a concern and obligation for the euro zone governments .
now I believe that we have reached a turning point .
even though we no longer have our smokestack industries , we are full of small , innovative businesses in the creative industries and fashion industry , creating jobs all the time in a real growth area .
the truth is , on the contrary , that it is essential for the EU now to focus on getting its run-away debt under control .
I would like to draw your attention to one such case .
the first concerns the independent scientific opinion that is due to be published in October 2010 and approved by the CITES meeting in September 2011 .
that is the most important point .
I have in mind in particular a study of the situation regarding human rights in Russia following the elections in that country . I am also thinking of the situation in China in the run-up to the Olympic Games due to take place there next year .
it would be justified to develop increased professional and social supervision , similarly to the practice which has evolved in recent times at other non-bank financial institutions .
Twenty-six of the twenty-seven Member States of the European Union will ratify or have ratified it , and that includes the British Parliament .
changes leading to the elimination of the procyclical nature of decisions on mortgages are also needed , however .
a good deal has been discussed , but if one subject is absent from the report , it is the appalling inequality between men and women in the European Muslim community , where women are totally subordinate to men on the basis of the rules in the Koran .
it is thus necessary , too , to ensure that we manage future conflicts with neighbours over noise , pollution , even spatial use , and I think that in this regard it would be very interesting to be able to assess the new demands : the types of shuttles , private jets , open-air leisure aspects , etc .
now you all have a calculator tool on your mobile phone ; if Europe is to lose 120 000 jobs because of an additional EUR 50 million of imports on the European market , then there is really a serious problem with the European textile industry , regardless of what happens with Pakistan .
this experience , which is shared by our countries , regions , churches , parties , civil organisations , etc . , is also valid at EU level .
this energy is safe , environmentally clean and will reduce our dependence on imports .
for that we will do the prudent work and then come to our authorising environment , to the Council and to Parliament , for your approval of the approach we are proposing to fill gaps .
construction work on the Bystroye Canal in Ukraine continues .
these analyses were carried out in accordance with the EN 71-3 standard .
the institutions are not the only subject in Europe , and it would be very wrong to devote ourselves too much to this issue , to the exclusion of everything else .
we should anticipate events , but we do not .
an arbitrary percentage reduction across the entire range of plant protection agents runs counter to the aims of good agricultural practice and integrated pest management .
unfortunately they are not faring too well at present and are not highly ranked , in contrast with the situation just a few decades ago .
the initiative is particularly praiseworthy , as the rapporteur and several other MEPs facilitated an interesting dialogue with Arctic third parties and civil society , in which we participated actively .
the Council has stated that it would be willing to help think things through , if the result is positive and attainable .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , Commissioner , our debate occurs on the eve of the tenth anniversary of the establishment of OLAF .
the problem of abandoned children is becoming more serious in Europe .
over the last few days , it has become clear that the Member States want to retain these powers .
regarding the proposals now on the table , I believe that Parliament has an enormous responsibility in the coming months .
that means that one child in every 10 either suffers from motor disorders , cannot express their thoughts or cannot do so clearly .
a year has passed since the launch of the Black Sea Synergy initiative .
if we really take our principles concerning the protection of refugees seriously , we must first make sure and , if necessary , check in individual cases what situation these people are in and then guarantee that their human rights will be protected .
words were at the beginning of human communication .
improvements can be made to the way in which the European Payments Council governs , which would encourage transparency and the recognition of users ' concerns .
these are : the safety aspect ; whether there is a reasonable technological need ; information aspects ; and advantages and benefits to consumers .
if this is to be repeated , I shall be inclined to side with those opposed to Parliament 's seat being in Strasbourg . after all , situations such as the one I have described do not arise in Brussels .
it is regrettable that exporting spent nuclear fuel to Russia and Ukraine for processing is not prohibited .
due to the broad and vague nature of this formulation , it is an attempt to exclude homosexual circles from the democratic right to free criticism .
we are making very slow progress in combating the crisis in the financial markets .
however , I would insist that the Member States have sole competence to organise and fund health systems .
instead of more freedom , hauliers are faced with more restrictions .
I welcome this report and I have voted in favour of it .
finally , I should like to draw your attention to the problem of the people who went missing in Cyprus following the Turkish invasion and events between 1963 and 1967 which led to the partitioning of the island .
the committee advocates restrictions on competition .
I think that the contents of a report touching on such a sensitive theme should remain neutral .
that is our policy .
we must have comprehensive and flexible guidance on best practice in reporting , in testing , in treatment and in care .
it is the practical embodiment of Robert Schuman 's saying : Europe will not be made all at once or through overall integration ; it will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity .
for a quarter of a century , he was a Member of the European Parliament and presided over the Group of Liberals and one of Parliament 's committees .
the text must be in black lettering , with a black border of minimum 3 mm and maximum 4 mm thickness , the font must be Helvetica , and so on and so forth .
the evaluations will be far more frequent and will be clearer .
would you possibly be prepared to take a look at the link between Sombor in Serbia and Osijek in Croatia ?
it is merely that these changes have not yet come to an end .
in recent months , we have witnessed an upsurge of violence against Christian minorities around the world , particularly in countries where Islam is the majority religion .
for that reason , the EU must help the new state to maintain its independence and to protect its sovereignty , because development aid for Southern Sudan may also play an important role with regard to Europe 's oil supply in the future .
raising the profile of this issue among the public through education and awareness campaigns implemented in areas of everyday life is a vital step in this direction .
in the 2007 Green Paper , the Commission points to the legitimacy of the debate concerning the need for it to be involved in the issue of increasing mobility in cities within the Union , on the basis of the principle of subsidiarity .
this statement would apply rather well to the European Council today .
secondly , some sort of temporary institutional framework must be created for the decision implementation mechanism .
quite the contrary , the EU should particularly support the new direction of biomass production .
( SL ) Ladies and gentlemen , it is , of course , clear to us all that passenger safety must be our top priority and that we are having this discussion today primarily because nature has reminded us of this .
I should also like to point out that we shall debate product standards in Brussels .
energy Performance Contracting ( EPC ) whereby a customer purchases a guaranteed energy saving creates leverage as the investment is paid back over a time span of 2-15 years .
this is more than a crisis ; it is a structural issue for the fisheries sector that we must tackle at European level .
it cannot be evaluated according to such a criterion .
following the earthquake , the international community decided to reconstruct Haiti differently , without repeating the errors of the past .
I know that the Commission can count on strong support from this House , and I hope we will have a final agreement by June .
I too therefore welcome the efforts which everyone has made to achieve the Commission 's objective , which is none other than maximum safety in the use of the Internet , especially by children .
other aspects which are equally important , however , are strengthening and protecting civil rights , expanding research , and finding a solution to climate change .
( PL ) Mr President , Mrs Schauvliege , Commissioner , adoption of a resolution for the 16th Conference of the Parties in Mexico is the first step in a global discussion .
another good feature is the greater emphasis on support for small and medium-sized enterprises .
fourth , begin the important task of implementing the 12 priorities outlined in the 2010 Commission opinion .
Madam President , if ever there was an issue that cried out for subsidiarity , it is surely that of smoking .
firstly , we need to demonstrate maturity and make it easier for citizens from the state of Belarus to have access and come to the European Union to have contact with the European Union 's values , with what the European Union stands for , with the European Union 's politics , with everything that we represent .
many questions pertained to the integrated guidelines and whether they solved current issues .
many aspects of the Treaty are of fundamental interest to you , to the European Parliament and - as we are talking about foreign and security policy - on that particular issue .
last Wednesday the steel roof of the 1 100-seat capacity municipal theatre of Nicosia collapsed , suddenly and without warning .
as you stated not long ago , proposals have already been prepared on derivative products and short selling , and we are also discussing taxation on banks and the levy on financial transactions while awaiting the Commission 's final proposed revision .
emergencies often involve a high human , financial and environmental cost .
we should work together because this is very important for Europe ; it is very important for the world .
the Union 's population is getting older .
in fact , in order to enjoy a solid European defence , which we do need , the Lisbon Treaty must be accepted , which brings us back to our own institutional difficulties .
the Social Democrats and Greens have quite unnecessarily proposed amendments which would mean a less controlled way of spending money .
in January 2008 a study published in the US magazine Consumer Report revealed a 70 % increase in the incidence of zoonosis in chickens treated with antimicrobial processes in the United States , compared to 2003 .
only legislative reform and multi-party elections can bring democracy and , at the same time , a respect for human rights in the Lao People 's Democratic Republic .
it must include the strengthening of the common agricultural policy , an appropriate fiscal policy and maintenance of its budget , in consideration of the many beneficial effects of agriculture on the environment , health and climate change .
Madam President , the accession treaties of the three Member States , Slovakia , Bulgaria and Lithuania , included the request to decommission a number of nuclear reactors which no longer met the safety conditions and could not be upgraded in a cost-effective manner .
I would like to congratulate the rapporteur for an excellent piece of work , and to thank her for accepting my amendment proposals .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Culture and Education . - ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , on behalf of the Committee on Culture , I would like to state that our goal is to promote cultural diversity in Europe .
an adequate response to crimes committed in the name of religion is only appropriate .
it is the furthest point before you go to the United States .
author . - Mr President , the judicial system of Nigeria is fraught with inadequacies , neglect and corruption .
Mr President , Mr Barroso , ladies and gentlemen , we are fully aware that we need a provision in the Treaty in order to bring about legal certainty .
I trust that the forthcoming EU-India Summit will help to weaken the caste system in India and to improve standards of human rights and citizens ' rights in the world 's largest democracy .
a single market that functions properly is the key to a healthy economy and , in all certainty , economic recovery .
a hospital has even come under fire and , according to humanitarian organisations , the overall situation is disastrous .
( LV ) Mr President , unfortunately , Ireland is not the only country , and Greece is not the only country either .
the quality of democracies and societies , of course , is demonstrated time and again by their treatment of minorities .
however , they further tighten international agricultural markets to the detriment , especially , of the food-importing developing countries .
the cohesion policy has its supporters , but also its critics .
the relationship between the quality of teacher education and the quality of teaching , and consequently the level of knowledge of pupils , is obvious .
save the Children say that the killing of 139 children since the conflict began , with 1 271 injured , cannot be justified as self-defence .
I should like to draw attention to the work of REPER , to mention the skills of Ambassador Mendonça e Moura and to express thanks for the effective liaison with the European Parliament provided by Dr Alexandre Leitão .
now , we are aware that the key question will be how much we can do regarding capacity-building .
should we relieve the burden on large companies and high wage earners although they have benefited from tax concessions across the whole of Europe for years ?
the benefit is an expansion of Class A , allowing distinctions to be drawn among the constantly increasing group of energy-saving appliances while , at the same time , motivating producers to make appliances that are as energy-saving as possible .
( BG ) President , Commissioner , the report on Women in Science is very well scoped , and it deals with the participation of women in one of the most important development processes , scientific research .
cutting subsidies is certainly the wrong approach if we wish to safeguard vital rural areas and lower middleclass structures .
I trust it will prove possible to resolve it in due course , through investment in technology .
( it ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , we are tackling yet another debate on the violation of human rights and democracy in Iran .
we have a very clear long-term energy strategy for the whole of the European Union .
I will now listen with interest to the contributions from the Members and I again thank your rapporteur , Carlos Coelho , who has done an excellent job .
America 's anti-missile defence system would increase the risk of nuclear war .
that is not sustainable .
we cannot in any way endorse the military solution for the Libyan crisis or for any other crisis .
every year , the European Parliament adopts a report on the European agencies to accompany the debates on budgetary discharge .
let us not fool ourselves : nobody pays EUR 100 000 for a bull only to put it through the mincer and sell it as hamburgers .
it is worth emphasising that the amendments will automatically apply to those Member States that are not in the euro area ; this is an excellent point .
I support the request for the Commission to present a study every five years on the added value of each agency and not to hesitate to close an agency if the analysis concludes that it is not useful .
in the same way , the reports on the investment facility should include information on the results of programmes financed .
when consumers are preparing for the important decision of going to a dealer - because , as one of you said , it is a major expense for all consumers and households - they want to find out about prices and quality , to be able to make comparisons , and they can do that .
I agree with the rapporteur when he emphasises the need to educate customers on how to approach innovation in public contracts , since the profession is highly skilled and needs well-trained staff .
it follows that , as some of my fellow Members have already said , the reduction in the number of Russian soldiers in Abkhazia and Ossetia to the level before the conflict in August should clear the way for effective negotiations .
let me give you a concrete example .
countless factors have a bearing on this growth , which is not unconnected to the deepening of the crisis of capitalism and its social effects in many countries .
we already have the technology to help us meet these targets and there can be no better example of this than the cutting-edge work being carried out at Loughborough University , in my own constituency , which is world-renowned for its development of green technologies and has recently unveiled a new hydrogen refuelling station , one of only two in the UK .
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it is even worse in my country , where we do not have a minimum wage .
yet the universality of that respect is failing across the world .
I also welcome the Commission 's commitment to a communication on hospital-acquired infections .
this new protocol provides fishing possibilities for shrimps and for fish , in particular cephalopods , up to a total tonnage of 4 400 t per year for each of the two categories .
it will have to identify the various national procedures and technical rules currently in force for the approval of locomotives . it will then have to draw up the list of equivalent rules and thus requirements that , once verified by a national safety authority , no longer need to be verified by the authorities of the other Member States that a locomotive may have to enter .
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you will remember that when this Commission proposed a ' globalisation adjustment fund ' , a new instrument , there were some arguments against that instrument concerning subsidiarity and questions why something that should be done was being done only at European Union level .
as long as I hold my position in this House I will , of course , fight for unity between the North Atlantic democracies in promoting a common vision for the future .
the latter implies protecting nature against exploitation . in my view , nature needs to be protected , but through human action .
( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , Europe is facing two challenges .
I expect the Commission to take a legislative initiative on this matter very promptly .
yet all the progress that comes with this technology of course has side effects , like everything else in life .
that order made nations prosperous .
the Treaty of Lisbon lays the foundations for the European Union to establish itself as a credible and influential player on the international scene .
there are also commercial renewable installations and companies are doing business - nothing else - and I very strongly support these incentives for renewables .
finally , with regard to Turkey , a great many speeches have been made and I would like to begin by saying that negotiations are continuing at a reasonable pace - they have not been halted - and I say this in response to Mr Van Orden 's comment concerning the speed of those negotiations .
it is precisely this principle , which exists , indeed , not only on paper , that distinguishes the EU from other international organisations .
the Egyptian people are out on the streets at the moment to make their voices heard , just a few weeks after a similar scene in Tunisia .
it is women , often the very elderly or the very young , who are the victims .
district heating is mainly a social question in many new Member States .
for the financial year 2009 , almost half of the money carried over to 2009 was not spent , and 43 % of the 2009 budget was carried over to 2010 .
it is clear that we must do much more in the area of funding .
the workshop that we have arranged for 6 November , which will include representatives of the Member States and MEPs , will be an opportunity - not that it is the only one , since it might be the first of a series of specific meetings - to assess all aspects of the use of body scanners , starting with what I consider to be the most important , human health .
it does not provide those who had stopped believing in Europe with any reasons to renew their faith in it .
but for me , the most important message is that , when the Lisbon Treaty comes into force , we need to reduce the complexity , to provide better conditions for our expenditure at local level and to get the money in time to those who are applying for it , whether they are small- and medium-sized enterprises , researchers or farmers , back in our countries .
after all , a good vaccination policy stands or falls on the willingness of livestock farmers to take part in these vaccination programmes .
do we want to bring into play Eurobonds , European investments and treasury bonds so that we can politically enhance this Europe , without which we will go nowhere ?
it is not just a question of increased resources , but also of having the political courage to reprioritise aspects in the budget and utilise the skills that women have .
I would like to ask the Commission about its stance on illegal betting , the illicit bets that are such a feature of football and other sports competitions , and if it intends , as part of the programme we have just heard described , to devote special attention to this aspect , which risks blighting every competition and spoiling the fairness that should characterise sporting competitions .
I believe this plan to ban cluster munitions globally to be a matter , as I was saying , that goes to the heart of civilisation and humanity .
this is a fast-growing phenomenon in many armed conflict zones .
it is important to remember that hazardous goods are also transported by rail , which could have devastating consequences in the event of an accident .
under the terms of the Homeland Security Act , data can be stored for up to 90 years .
it will also establish an independent audit to analyse the legality assurance system and its effectiveness and efficiency .
I also welcome the postponement of a decision over financing climate moves .
that brings me to Uzbekistan .
Parliament has a clear view on the Dublin regulation and we are now waiting impatiently to be able to start the negotiations .
it appears to us that a system of preventive measures - reduced exposure to heat , an early warning system and of course aid for the elderly - needs to be put in place here .
there is an urgent need for broad-based confidence and the banks must play a role in this in their own interests .
Mr President , I have four quick questions on climate change .
indeed , one of the interesting aspects of France 's initiative aimed at creating a Union for the Mediterranean - which , for that matter , I supported from the very start - is that it brings a stronger element of regional cooperation .
there is also the issue of cybercrime , an entirely new problem affecting many people .
the burdens placed on employment law and economic activity are too great , tax rates are too differentiated , and the regulations are too complicated .
there is only one thing I cannot do , and that is to promise them the money promised by the Member States at Gleneagles .
when you look at the details in the Americans ' election manifesto , the talk is of billions in support for industry , to really bring industry up to world market level .
it would appear that the governments do not basically understand how critical the situation is .
there are also plans to include new , innovative products and , for example , certain types of life insurance policies in the directive .
I voted in favour of this report because , although it concerns important environmental issues such as energy sources and climate change and economic issues such as the durability of uncompetitive production units in the economy , at a time of economic and social crisis , it is important to stand up for the social issues .
every member of the PLC that we met , both in the West Bank and in Gaza , wants secure Israeli and Palestinian borders based on the 1967 green line .
I would like , first of all , to excuse the Chair of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development , Mr De Castro , who is unable to be here with us this evening for reasons that you know .
it is an entirely different kind of document .
it can be said that their safety is ever more theoretical : everything will be fine , as long as nothing happens .
author . - ( PL ) Madam President , Saudi Arabia is a country in which the law is put into effect according to Wahabi principles , this being the most radical Sunni trend in Islam .
in my view , the port sector , as any other sector , should be allowed to operate on an equally competitive basis .
the specific form of the accession process itself will certainly create some problems , and it is therefore important that we find the best solutions for the extremely difficult technical and legal problems quickly and constructively and with open-mindedness and creativity .
the Union will have to re-engineer this operation , and the foreign affairs ministers will have to debate it at the Council of 10 November .
who can pick them up ?
this service has largely been supplied by INN in recent years .
however , ten years after the end of the conflict , the graves are still deep and ill-feeling is still simmering beneath the surface .
we have built up a very high level of credibility in respect of animal welfare , and this is something we must also defend .
in Rwanda substantial aid was given after the genocide .
you know yourself that all European elections since 1979 have been held on the second or third weekend in June .
if the other groups assert themselves , however , and the demand for a framework directive persists , I see myself being forced to vote against the report , not because I am against protecting against discrimination , but because a framework directive at European level is the wrong way , in my opinion .
I believe it is vital that the Tunisian people see the strong support of the EU , and in particular the European Parliament , in what is a critical moment of transition towards democracy .
that is why I voted against this indigestible and pointless report .
I should like to thank the rapporteur , as this is a genuinely good and comprehensive report .
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the European Union does not need only to reform its own institutions quickly , but must also provide its citizens and businesses with a policy which alleviates the side-effects of intense competition and the opening up of the market .
with this in mind , the new regulations must take into account the need , in the medium and long terms , to create conditions for the sustainability of the European automotive industry , allowing it to remain at the forefront of technology and innovation , and economically sustainable .
the Internal Market is without doubt the most important instrument that the European Union has to foster growth in the wake in the recent financial crisis .
if we create a protectionist climate , then the whole question of trade , not aid , to help alleviate poverty will be blown off course and thrown out of the window .
( GA ) Mr President , I welcome what was agreed at COP 16 in Cancún .
this requires the payment of excise duty in the recipient country for distance selling of alcohol , for example .
let us prevent the destruction of a noble , heroic people group that is a friend of Europe .
I therefore welcome the European decision to reopen negotiations on the association agreement with Mercosur , although I regret and condemn Argentina 's recent protectionist actions , which are totally in contrast with the spirit of openness shown by the European side .
this means that Croatia 's involvement in the EMCDDA 's work programme requires a link to the European Information Network on Drugs and Drug Addiction and an exchange of data with the EMCDDA .
the next item is the report by Alejandro Cercas , on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs , on the implementation of social legislation relating to road transport .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( IT ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , please allow me to thank both of the rapporteurs for their work , which has been valuable and absolutely to the point .
without getting preoccupied with the past , we would like to see clear actions in the future and observation of the agreement signed between our two countries ; that is why I supported the report .
although the Hungarian prime minister said that ' Hungary is strong enough to overcome the consequences of such a catastrophe on her own ' , I would like to thank the European Commission and the Member States for the support extended and offered so far to overcome the consequences of the disaster .
'that the public authorities must take the initiative in promoting the legislation and arrangements required to ensure access to water by all ' .
this is a new step in the direction of a more advanced and effective policy of responsibilities , which will be more respectful of the rights of victims and more effective in imposing liability on the infringer .
ladies and gentlemen , I firmly believe that the idea of creating a joint European Union strategy for the Danube Region is a good one and deserves our political support .
to be honest though , Mr Zapatero - I said that we have to tell the truth - I am not sure that the solutions that you and the political family to which you belong are proposing in order to end the crisis and to make social Europe a reality are the most suitable .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the European budget starts with a zero ; 0.89 % of gross national income is to be spent in the way of payments next year - EUR 116 billion .
more people in work means more resources to build welfare solutions for people who are not able to work .
there was a Palestinian exile who took Latvian citizenship .
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Mrs Lichtenberger is right to say that the blocks are essential for a much more efficient and environmentally friendly sky .
( FR ) Commissioner , after everything that you have said , let us examine China 's presence in Africa .
most importantly , the issue is about human lives and about regional stability .
in addition , practical measures , such as the use of electronic invoices , should be encouraged in parallel with the implementation of the directive .
gradually and progressively .
in order to ensure the success of the EU 2020 strategy , the regions also need to be more involved , and the European Commission must continue to simplify the procedures for accessing funds .
these new components stray from the principle of focused and proportionate legislation based on a scientific approach .
the relationship is based on deep economic integration : 40 % of Turkey 's foreign trade goes to the EU and 80 % of foreign direct investments in Turkey come from the EU .
I would inform you that the EPP-ED Group has now withdrawn its motion for a resolution .
I call on the Italian authorities to cooperate fully with intergovernmental institutions , international organisations and domestic civil society to swiftly and effectively end the human rights emergency of the Roma in Italy .
effectively , what we are doing is to simplify the process so that we can actually address proper control , instead of issuing pieces of paper that really do not make a single bit of difference to the SMEs concerned .
you are pretending to be naïve here , when you call for a better future for Egypt , but at the same time refuse to acknowledge the dangers which Islam represents .
the application of civilian and military expertise should not be restricted by the technical labelling of the nature of operations , but should instead be decided on the basis of appropriateness and cost-efficiency .
the Commission does not intend , of course , to force the Member States to offer incentives , but it does wish to coordinate the exchange of information and to propose a set of guidelines on this subject in order to prevent , precisely , fragmentation of the market .
in addition to simplification and making use of the concept of tolerable risk , in its response to the Commission communication ' Reforming the Budget , Changing Europe ' , the Court suggests applying the principles of clarity of objectives , realism , transparency and accountability when designing arrangements for European Union spending .
the points made by the Court are the motivation to amend the listing procedures of the regulation .
this directive is part of the legislative package on so-called ' economic governance ' , which is made up of six legislative texts , and which is a veritable attack on social and labour rights , as well as democracy itself .
regional cooperation with the EU in the Union for the Mediterranean must not , as some powers would like to see , become a substitute for integration into the EU and membership of the European Union .
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it is a big step forward for environmental protection .
it has been said that his speech was an ideal speech .
I believe that we need to understand clearly that the situation in Libya will have many serious consequences for the neighbouring countries too , if the current situation continues for a long time .
the overall budget of this programme is EUR 1.36 billion .
the absence of a genuine penalty mechanism if the objectives are not met , or even if insufficient efforts are made to that end , means that this ' 2020 strategy ' is flawed in the same way as its predecessor .
hundreds killed and injured is the price paid by unarmed civilians for this conflict .
if the European Union forgets this , it acts against itself and weakens itself .
Fausto Correia will be sorely missed by his family , his friends and by us , his fellow Members .
this is what defeated the Lisbon Strategy and it will defeat this strategy also .
however , all Member States should give strong support to low-carbon technologies , energy saving and renewable technologies .
I would add that the Commission will be present in the governing bodies of the authorities and that , in this regard , it will , of course , be vigilant so as to ensure that any decision that is taken in the interest of the Union .
this is a time for all of us to fulfil our responsibilities and our commitments .
we need to take note of the fact that cohesion policy is a very special instrument , because it combines , on the one hand , reduction of disparities with the support of measures which lead to greater competitiveness .
Madam President , I think the three institutions have made their viewpoint in this debate very clear .
I do not want to draw a veil over the many problems which exist and which have to be resolved ; these have to be addressed as well .
I am very happy I was born , and I am sure my colleagues are happy that they were born .
it is up to individual countries to decide their own tax bands and these bands encourage competition in the single market and not the opposite .
since the beginning of July 10 vessels have been captured and 250 seamen have been taken hostage .
of course , I would also like to congratulate our fellow Members , Mr Andersson and Mr Mann .
we need a more automated system .
then again , in my view , we need to make better use of the instruments we have available as part of the global approach to migration in order to encourage synergy between migration and development .
I also think that there is room for the proposal made by the second speaker within these directives , which you will be able to debate in this Chamber , for example , in relation to the regulation of hedge funds , which is within the supervision requirements which have been discussed , or something which the current President of the Council of the Union mentioned here this morning , the eradication of tax havens .
we cannot , 20 years on , allow Mr Le Pen a second opportunity to bring Europe into disrepute .
for this purpose , the second paragraph of Article 3 ( e ) of the amended directive includes a requirement that all Member States and the Commission encourage media service providers to develop such codes .
as Mrs Lepage pointed out , there is a wide range of European legislation : the Mining Waste Directive , the directive on emissions from certain industrial installations and the Environmental Liability Directive .
there are significant challenges , and honourable Members are right to remind us of those significant challenges .
one area that is particularly important , it seems to me , is the question of civil society .
the process must be evidence-based , impact-assessed and with full parliamentary involvement , and on that basis , as I have said , the time for talking is over and we need to move forward .
I therefore call on the House to vote for the proposals and to support my report , because it will give the citizens more reasons to go out and vote in the European elections .
most cars will in future be sold in India and China and other developing countries , and they want low-energy cars . our planet wants low-energy cars and Europe 's consumers want low-energy cars .
in writing . - I welcome and support this report .
it can help to maintain the diversity of our agriculture , and can do so in a competitive way , because farms that can sell their produce are competitive .
with regard to the Fukushima accident , the European Union will push for equivalence of approaches regarding stress tests for both existing and planned nuclear power plants .
in conclusion , I think that the result reached in the trialogue between the Commission , the Council and Parliament on reducing long-term CO2 emissions is still out of proportion with the special characteristics of the automotive sector and I should like to express my concern about the risk of damaging the industry and employment levels in the sector .
coming up with a European solution to the problems which the Roma are facing requires us to take into account that they are citizens just like we are , even if they are subject to exclusion .
with the exception of seasonal and highly qualified workers who will be covered by specific directives , all migrants will benefit from a set of labour rights equivalent to those enjoyed by nationals of the host Member State .
( it ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , over the last decade , beekeeping has made great advances from a financial and entrepreneurial viewpoint .
as far as I am aware , this will affect some 80 airports in the European Union .
Mr Romagnoli is no longer here to take the discussion further .
the next item is questions to the Council ( B6-0013 / 2008 ) .
have the Greek authorities re-examined the list of sensitive regions and identified other waters to be designated as sensitive ?
this gives rise to all too familiar consequences : an explosion in migratory flows and cross-border traffic , without even mentioning the extraordinary opportunities offered to terrorists of all persuasions .
what other impact can that have than to decimate services of general interest , and in particular social services of general interest ?
this is not true , as we have seen that , given good work , a good understanding of matters , good groundwork and good political opponents , things can be staged very quickly .
when my wife asks me to do something , and wants to know if I will be sure to do it , I always say , ' Yes - after all , I am a politician . '
the questions have been justified , and that is why it is very important that the Portuguese issue should be made a model example of how a crisis can be held in check , dealt with , and prevented from spreading .
we have strengthened the internal market , we have improved food safety and we have increased the responsibility of food producers and suppliers .
Mr President , in Azerbaijan , for fairly mild and delicate criticism of the government , two people have gone to prison after being given stiff sentences .
ladies and gentlemen , it is therefore quite right for us to engage in a solution to this problem and , together with the governments of the affected countries , to help to find a civilised solution to the problem of the Eritrean refugees .
for example , we feel that this means banning wage dumping and tax dumping , or setting minimum standards to stop competition being distorted on the labour market .
what can I say in conclusion ?
it is only because of these underlying problems that I am not voting for this resolution now .
they are the building blocks of what is called the ' knowledge triangle ' .
if he is preparing his future , we are interested in that too .
Mr Kasoulides : the action plan takes the regional perspective as its starting point .
for my country , Bulgaria , being a border of the European Union , this is an opportunity to integrate actively in the European electricity network .
vocational education and training are a crucial part of Europe 's efforts to tackle the social challenges presented by ageing societies and to realign its position in the global economy and resolve the economic crisis .
it is now , especially , that the citizens of Georgia require our help and the feeling that they are being treated in the same way as other countries which are working with the European Union .
my final point is in the form of a question to Commissioner Barnier .
this was done in order to safeguard a level playing field for of all European Union citizens and , beyond that , as an expression of solidarity .
Madam President , Commissioner , we have already held a debate about the ash cloud and the associated problems for aviation in the immediate aftermath of the volcanic eruption .
in this reform , however , the role of the Committee on Petitions has been killed off , in the sense that it will no longer be possible for the Committee on Petitions to find its way directly to the Chamber except after unspeakable complications and possible conflicts with the competent committee .
as I experienced myself during my recent visit to Tehran , a very strong and active civil society exists in Iran .
Ukraine has borne much grief throughout its history , and I do hope now that the next stage in that glorious history involves Ukraine rightly taking its place , in the not-too-distant future , as a full member of the European Union .
( RO ) Vocational education and training are essential tools , offering Europe 's citizens the ability , knowledge and skills required to become an integral part of the labour market and a knowledge-based society .
we are delighted that the EU 's education programmes are so attractive and effective that other countries are joining them .
these Poles were born on 4 June , on the day of the first partially free elections held in our country . a meeting with people born on 4 June may not allow us to feel young any more , when we see that they are now adult people .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to begin by taking up what Mr Schulz said .
it was recognised and valued both culturally and politically .
whether this is the way to avoid the problems that Mr Barroso has quite rightly described is doubtful .
( NL ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the debate about design protection of visible spare parts has indeed been going on for almost an entire generation of Members of this House .
on the other hand , we must beware of slipping into a situation in which we attempt to reduce road risks to zero , as it is impossible to exclude all risks .
we also have a responsibility to the unemployed .
it is really important that Parliament should unanimously call on the Council not to limit the scope of the CFSP annual report to a mere description of policy activities but , as the report rightly points out , to ' make it a policy- and solution-focused tool ' .
yes , the science is complex and dynamic , but with a ratio of five to one of the scientific community supporting the case we make , we must challenge , we must question and above all we must respond - and respond adequately - to the peer-reviewed work of some of our best and brightest in the fields of climatology and meteorology .
the death penalty is a matter of conscience for each Conservative MEP .
good progress was made at last week 's Council meeting with the Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers .
how can we achieve this ?
there is a consensus on the need for coordination at EU level and for establishing EU rules on cross-border issues .
examples of this include the projected reductions in the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund , the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance - Community programmes from the previous Community framework , 2002-2006 - or LIFE + , the Financial Instrument for the Environment .
what contribution will the Council make , in the context of discussions to update labour legislation , to combat discrimination so that men and women have access to quality jobs offering flexibility and security ?
increased attention should be paid to monitoring public debt developments while medium-term budgetary objectives should be strengthened to address implicit liabilities .
it welcomed the Commission 's preliminary commitment of EUR 100 million for early non-humanitarian assistance , for instance , in rehabilitation and reconstruction , and it took note of the Commission 's preliminary indication that EUR 200 million would be available for longer-term responses .
there must be no more rejection of migrants through violent collaboration with countries like Libya .
of course , it is also important to take into account that Canada has a different legal tradition and a different legal system .
on the contrary .
there is no escaping this .
the report reminds us - and Mr Elles said this a few minutes ago - that the most important strategic relationship that the European Union has is its relationship with the United States .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , at a time when circumstances dictate the need for exceptionally responsive policies , the subject on which I am going to speak to you shows that perseverance is also a virtue .
such meetings were held under the Austrian and German Presidencies .
the people of Europe are waiting for clarification that competition rules and single market rules will not suddenly just be imposed on them .
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how can we have a debate without the question , and without the author of the question ?
other regions in the world , too , must do more .
( FR ) Mr President , I am going to focus my comments on the report by our colleague , Mr Itälä , who has done a good job .
however , as I have already said , I think that at the earlier sitting of the European Parliament , when I received a similar question .
the Charter has become a standard for the creation and application of EU laws by both the EU institutions and by the Member States .
it is also important that international standards be respected in these temporary camps .
there ought to be enough time before tomorrow 's vote for the Commission to make an appropriate statement of some kind .
it is glaringly obvious that if we do not provide suitable resources , we may face extremely serious consequences for the environment and human health .
this need is even more pressing and essential at these times of crisis .
nevertheless , our group strongly opposes the extensive introduction of biometrics .
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this situation must change without delay .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( PT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , in answer to this question I would say that , as you know , the current European Union Solidarity Fund was established to respond to disasters of major and extraordinary proportions , following the floods which affected Central Europe in the summer of 2002 .
the basic Regulation dates back to 1960 , when our countries were separate , and when rules on hygiene and food could mask discrimination and obstacles to competition .
this is why I voted in favour of the report , in the expectation that regional policies will be given the importance they deserve .
putting the proposals of this report into practice will therefore mean obtaining a text as soon as possible to resolve the current problems of European legislation , where several directives overlap , sometimes without covering all fields of application and all possible case studies on the safety of the marketed goods .
so the reason for putting forward this proposal was to reduce administrative costs for small business .
for example , there is no provision at all for sanction mechanisms .
one of the issues to be addressed in combating obesity is the effective labelling of food products .
the policy is one of every man for himself , which is regrettable , and decades of political corruption in Greece are also responsible for this situation .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( PT ) Mr President , Mr Juncker , Mr Trichet , I would first like to say that this report 's main objective was to analyse the European Central Bank 's activities during 2007 .
therefore I am happy to note that Mr Chatzimarkakis received 100 % support in the committee .
it is interesting that the regulation applies only to the transport of animals undertaken in connection with an economic activity .
author . - ( FR ) Madam President , Commissioner , colleagues , after losing ten men in the raid at Haskanita , the head of the African Union mission in Darfur , General Martin Luther Agwai , sounded an alarm call , highlighting the fact that his forces were ill-equipped and too few in number , and that they could be defeated in a very short time .
I should also like to thank the commissioner for the file he submitted to us .
billions are being spent on pet subjects of the left , such as the climate and development aid , whilst in the Netherlands , people are failing to receive treatment in care homes , the qualifying age for the state old-age pension ( AOW ) is being raised to 67 years and the police force is having to make cutbacks .
we will start with the Green Paper to see what the different opinions are . I welcome this .
in our negotiations , he just dismissed and laughed off as propaganda allegations of rape by Sri Lankan soldiers , so what you can expect ?
we need to stimulate private sector research funding through a variety of measures , such as venture capital financing initiatives .
a roaming system for oil products : that would be quite something !
I am encouraged by the fact that the Chinese Government has informed the Commission that it is now organising a foreign press trip , including European correspondents , to Tibet for coverage from 26 to 28 March .
simply because - and I do not want to be naïve - the market demands it .
Ecofin has been following and continues to follow the measures which have been adopted by the Member States .
experience has now taught us that corruption has actually increased in a number of countries that have acceded to the European Union before they were actually completely ready to do so .
at the same time it is ever more urgently needed , due to the spread of hunger and disease .
I am looking forward to proposals regarding the entry and exit systems because it will be very interesting to find out how many overstayers we have in Europe .
it needs to be objective and transparent as to how money is allocated between Member States .
illegal phone tapping has become prosecutors ' investigation method of choice .
the majority of these cases relate to Articles 6 and 8 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and concern proceedings on infringements of competition rules , such as the cases involving National Panasonic , Hoechst AG , Niemetz , etc .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , during the public minutes of silence ordered by the Chinese authorities , people stood still - people in the streets , on buses and in shops - and their facial expressions left no doubt of the sincerity of their feelings .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I very much welcome the positive and supportive reaction of Parliament to the new Animal Health Strategy .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the Commission regularly monitors the development of the situation in Iraq , particularly in relation to Camp Ashraf .
Member States have to specify what level of income they obtain from the charges and what they are going to do with that money in order to bring about a better transport system .
the peace process launched in Annapolis must not be destroyed by violence and terrorism .
we must recognise it and praise it .
the third thing is enriched material , which is in breach and is continuing to be produced .
the report by Mr Catania , on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs , on the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union 2004-2008 ,
in recital 21 , in particular , Mrs Balzani has rightly pointed to that fact .
our country is an island without land borders and we are perfectly capable of reaching sensible proportionate bilateral or multilateral agreements with each other .
however , it is a fact that this is attributable to one particular year class - the 2005 year class - now that the cod has matured to sizes whereby it is caught within our nets .
we have consistently passed this message on to our Chinese counterparts and listened carefully to their views , and we make every effort to understand their position in a spirit of mutual respect .
building efficient , environment-friendly cars is a necessity , given all the evidence of climate change .
we have very often discussed , both in the chamber and in other bodies here , how ENISA might perhaps be further developed .
indeed , the European Union must equip itself with exemplary legislation on the protection and assistance of victims of terrorism as part of this multiannual Stockholm Programme .
we began development work , trusting in our own strengths as we took advantage of globalisation .
as we know , the external audit of the EU 's budget is carried out by the Court of Auditors itself .
I think that sometimes there is a tendency to forget how much we have already done in Europe .
I believe I should add a specific note on the subject of the surplus .
it is important to note that the objective of the fund is not to compensate private damage but to repair infrastructure and is a tool for refinancing .
the European Union must protect its social model , the social market economy , and must promote the implementation on the world financial markets of a market supervision system similar to that which prevails in our countries .
the old Labour government did not opt in , and the new Lib-Dem / Con coalition government must stay opted out .
under the present proposals , alternative investments such as hedge funds and asset-backed securities , which are often also exposed to sub-prime risk , will be subject to own-capital backing of 45 % as a standard consequence of Solvency II .
this is why I agree with the researcher that actions must be taken to change the stereotypical ways of thinking in these countries .
the Treaty of Lisbon strengthens European foreign policy : there is a President of the European Council and a High Representative , and there is going to be a European External Action Service .
the past few weeks have proven this to be the case : the previous model does not work and the current model does not work properly .
those who carry out illegal , unreported and unregulated fishing are in a more advantageous position than legal fishing operators , whom it is our duty to protect .
you tell us that the European Social Fund cannot be the only source of funding .
if this comes about , we may well find ourselves in a difficult situation if we recall the statements made by the Prime Minister of Chad , who recently called upon the international community to remove the refugees . the Prime Minister also threatened that if no action was taken , the Chadian authorities would remove the refugees from Chad themselves .
three years ago , I was sure that at the end of the present Parliamentary term , we would be able to talk about success in negotiations with Macedonia concerning accession to the European Union .
we will have to reflect on improving the way that the WTO operates and its legitimacy , and the role in this Round of the ' emerging ' countries , who choose whether to be developing or developed countries as it suits them .
the mass migration of Han Chinese and the arrival of the high-altitude railway at Lhasa have further consolidated Beijing 's hold on Tibet .
the people of Myanmar deserve a better future .
and once given residence in EU Member States , those illegal immigrants would find it easier to enter Britain , thereby adding to the burden of illegal immigration in the UK .
in the past five years we have seen a huge influx of US think tanks into Brussels telling us what we should be doing on particular aspects of policy , but there is very little about Europeans in Washington being able to communicate to the Americans what our ideas are on the shaping of European policy .
regarding Eurobonds , again , there are possibilities here for major infrastructure projects .
it says in this document , about the annual growth survey , that the Commission considers that the effective financing capacity of the European Financial Stability Facility ( EFSF ) must be reinforced and the scope of its activity widened .
therefore , we have learnt some lessons from the major crisis that we have just experienced .
as Horst Schnellhardt has already mentioned here , we have been campaigning since the last legislative session for progress to be made over this standard .
that is why I think that for once I am nevertheless going to continue to speak in that language .
as it stands currently , I am voting against this report .
these should show the extent to which the power plants are capable of withstanding similar disasters .
oral explanations of vote
as Mr Billström explained very well , the European Council wanted the border control operations coordinated by Frontex to be strengthened .
in accordance with the spirit of the treaties , these features demand the application of a regional policy at EU level throughout the entire EU area , covering all European regions .
the violence against them just goes on increasing , despite their shrinking numbers .
the EU can only achieve its objective by being active and organised on the world stage , and this is particularly true of migration .
on the contrary , it offers every possible support to Georgia 's policy and its accession to NATO .
foreign policy is about acts that change the course of events , not about words , series of meetings , fruitless persuasion and floods of statements .
regarding the economic dimension , priority must be given to the need to ensure energy security in the European Union in particular .
our aim is to help create a multipolar world .
no !
the next item is the report by Mrs Fraga Estévez , on behalf of the Committee on Fisheries , on the implementation of sustainable fishing in the EU on the basis of maximum sustainable yield .
this change could have been the precursor of an improvement .
that now has to be discussed politically , and it will be the task of the High Representative to then develop the details .
in addition , more efforts ought to be focused on incorporating gender and protection against sexual violence , which is increasingly being used as a weapon of war , into humanitarian responses .
VAT on insurance and financial services ( debate )
it is something that we must change .
the practical result is the transfer of these increases to real market prices , even in a year when cereals are widely available .
in order to have a real effect in halting gas-induced climate change , two further goals must be achieved .
some Member States have missed the deadline for preparing action plans by months or more ; for example , there are seven countries which , to date , have still not submitted them , even though they are already 7 months overdue .
however , I would also like to mention the points which I believe are problematic .
I could say that I think you and your two colleagues will probably owe me lunch after this .
it has facilitated cross-border investments within the Union in a way that the Member States could not have managed to do if left to their own devices .
I want to stress , once again , that marine transport and aviation must be included and that , of course , the forests and agriculture have their own , significant share .
to overcome this situation , international rules and Community legislation are already in place .
you say that anti-Europeans ran up and down steps , went out canvassing .
it is the most sensitive and fragile place in the Union .
Commission 's Legislative and Work Programme for 2009
Mr President , with this in mind , I would like to ask you to allow Mr Weber to speak when I have finished in order to clarify the following matter .
good luck !
it is now high time we finally started looking for alternatives to coal resources , which are beginning to run out .
thank you and may God 's help be with us .
notwithstanding its relatively modest share of the farm budget , it must be said .
these are the successes .
I think the European Council achieved very important results , namely on two matters .
I will , however , stress that we still particularly need the following things : to extend the scope of the 2003 Savings Directive , to fight VAT fraud , to create an EU public register listing the names of individuals and undertakings having set up companies or accounts in tax havens and to give new impetus to tax harmonisation projects , beginning with the common corporate consolidated tax base .
it appears that in September this year two prisoners ' wives were once again refused permits to visit their husbands , whom they have not been able to visit for nine years because of successive refusals .
Iceland 's accession to the EU offers the Union a unique opportunity to strengthen its presence in the Arctic region in general , and on the Arctic Council in particular .
I , as an academic , would claim that there has to be more justice and evenness .
the Treaty is also changing , and with it the opportunities for the European Security and Defence Policy .
in contravention of the agreements adhered to since the beginning of the Olympic Games and signed by the Chinese authorities and the International Olympic Committee , and religious symbols such as the Bible , the New and the Old Testaments , places of prayer and even the crucifix on a chain round the neck of a male or female athlete will be banned .
an erupting volcano ?
crisis in agricultural sectors other than the dairy sector ( debate )
I will , in the meantime , propose a set of three recommendations for negotiation directives to the Council as a part of a PNR package .
I look forward to our continuing discussion tonight .
however , the Commission cannot accept other amendments , such as introducing systematic and automatic exchange of information in the area of recovery , because it could lead to a disproportionate administrative burden , as it would also cover unproblematic recovery situations .
I am informed that next week you are to meet with the responsible Greek Minister with whom you will be discussing these matters .
in our globalised markets , CSR entails much more than making a donation to the local football club .
SMEs must be able to operate without hindrance and to act quickly .
of course , this requires cooperation with other countries , especially China , India and Russia .
we do not have the luxury of acting only in the interests of our own nations ; we need to strengthen the Union which every one of us represents .
as Members of this House , we do not want a service that is the result of intergovernmental checks and balances , but a service that belongs to the Union .
the debate will undoubtedly rumble on .
the resolution adopted by the European Parliament is our first contribution to the debate on the future financial perspective .
the complementary tool should have practical use and be based on clearly defined indicators and reliable data .
Mr President , I would like to raise the issue of the travel ban imposed by Belarus , which prevents children affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster from travelling abroad .
in view of the fact that the European Union is Canada 's second largest trade partner , and that Canada is a major partner for the EU in the field of foreign direct investment , I voted in favour of the motion for a resolution on EU-Canada trade relations .
this proposal is another step in this direction and therefore is to be rejected in the strongest possible terms .
in any case , I repeat , on 25 January , you will have the agreement and we will be able to discuss it as much as you like .
solidarity and subsidiarity are the basic principles of the European social model .
we hope that the European Council will be able to urge all of the relevant players to start implementing the strategy very quickly .
the Economic Committee would therefore urge the Commission and you personally to adopt a more active policy on this matter .
in writing . - I welcome this report as an important step forward in the battle against dementia .
we are going to re-examine this concept in the coming weeks and it will be very good if , by that time , we are ready to respond in a constructive manner to a very important problem on which we are engaged , the European Union is engaged , the Member States are engaged , and I think we should maintain this engagement .
these benefits must take into account the fact that women have less earning power and that this affects their pension entitlements .
20 .
regarding the economic situation , I think it is too soon to make an overall assessment of the damage caused , and it is probably better to avoid very dramatic - or let us say , panic - scenarios .
to that end , we have drafted guidelines describing our idea for a Europe-wide child alert mechanism .
in addition , the provisions of the future multiannual financial framework should include specific provisions for macro-regional strategies .
I do not see how we can give explanations of vote when the vote has not taken place .
Commissioner , your statistics are well put together , they prove that the road is long and laborious and that you have done the right thing by introducing quotas for nominations in committees , because , without a proactive policy , we will not find women , because in order to find them we first need to have the will to find them .
the EPP has been talking on behalf of big business , of the manufacturers , instead of on behalf of all the businesses which use light commercial vehicles and which need more fuel-efficient technology to drive down costs .
the motion for a resolution on the subject seems to be skewed in favour of a ban on the use of many resources .
actually , the Romanian Government deals fully with the integration of this minority .
two important steps have thus been taken .
with regard to products , businesses and states , we have the right , considering the importance of these ratings , to expect and to take steps to obtain an evaluation or rating which is objective and credible .
we can develop lifelong learning as a cooperative process between Parliament and the foundations working on these matters .
the present draft budget eliminates a number of the Council 's savings and gives a more realistic assessment of the needs for payment over the coming years .
however , the fact that you do not include your strategic weaknesses , as it were , over recent years - your inability to get behind environmental innovations - on the balance sheet , that I find dishonest .
negotiations on an EU-Libya Framework Agreement started in November 2008 .
particularly the part allowing the introduction of border controls in the EU , even if they are only emergency ones and on a temporary basis .
I voted in favour of the Bureau 's proposal for a decision extending the applicability of Rule 139 of Parliament 's Rules of Procedure until the end of the seventh parliamentary term .
in writing . - ( PL ) Madam President , I supported today 's resolution because I think that we must be tough on violence in Zimbabwe , increase sanctions and call for recognition of the Mugabe regime to be withdrawn .
I am especially pleased to see that private companies and public authorities are now placed on an equal footing .
Mrs Jensen spoke of 24-hours transport - not necessarily .
in order to achieve this , we need greater political coordination between the Member States and strong supervision at an EU level .
let us all hope , therefore , that the new directive will bring the expected improvements , and that the deliberate holding back of funds will become a thing of the past in the European Union .
in writing . - I and my British Conservative colleagues are supportive of a number of the general principles outlined in this report , including support for carers , work-life balance , and parental leave .
while the pioneering European approach is a duty , it should nevertheless also be seen as an opportunity to gain environment-related technological and innovative comparative advantages .
apart from these new provisions , the proposed Directive will entirely recast and update the old Horizontal Excise Directive of 1992 .
do we really want to be subject to a court that wants to ban the cross in classrooms ?
things have largely depended on the sending country 's very latest regulations .
I will remind you , if I may , of some of the important ideas , the main one being maintaining the level of the CAP budget during the forthcoming financial programming period .
this is why I am calling on the Commission to present a proposal in the autumn which will not only cover the period after 2013 , but will also include a review of the Financial Perspective and open up new prospects for the future .
I did not have the opportunity to mention in my introductory remarks that for me - and for us I hope - Afghanistan is one of the challenges that we have on the table and we have to be able to construct a resolution that has to be political .
he has talked about industrial lobbies .
many European countries have introduced scrappage schemes and efforts in this direction have now begun in the UK .
they are now responding . for example , we are now being asked to provide greater strategic input on Afghanistan .
those responsible for the education and supervision of children should regard what is best for the child as their guiding principle .
I think it is time for an update of the Convention on the Law of the Sea , so that we can improve the legal basis for implementing various methods of combating the problem .
over 150 million EU citizens live outside the euro area .
through their support , they were confusing the European Parliament with the political groups and endorsing elections run by a de facto Government that were held under conditions that did not guarantee their legitimacy .
so that is your first task .
I hope that in the future , the Bureau will come forward with recommendations and proposals , not only about spending , but also about ways in which we can make efficiency savings in the future .
the review of this list of products is necessary to cater for the rapidly changing product environment in the pharmaceutical industry .
I am pleased to see the representatives of the Commission , including Mr Figel ' , who is among the most active and enthusiastic in his work , because there is a real need for commitment , since this issue - that is , the education and learning of younger , working or older people - is one that could really bring citizens closer to Europe .
in order to achieve the best possible neighbourhood policy it will now be important to pursue tariff preferences , with the aim of halting the decline of Moldova 's economy whilst at the same time reducing fiscal losses for the EU as much as possible .
dumping works through illegal employment practices and circumvention of the directive .
the emergency in Campania has become a European emergency , and that is a decision in favour of the people of Campania .
( CS ) Allow me to add to Monday 's debate on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies .
your debate takes place while the EU is reflecting on the situation created by the Irish ' no ' .
the separation of train operators and separation of the rail network is leading to major problems , courtesy of the EU .
I welcome the plans now to strengthen that Directive .
yesterday I visited the Institute of Technical Thermodynamics , not very far from Strasbourg , in Stuttgart .
it is also essential to improve budgetary control .
documents received : see Minutes
I would therefore like to express support for the Commission , which has roundly condemned the use of force against innocent civilians , who have been , and still are , the victims of intervention by the Sudanese army occupying this region .
I believe that it is vital for us to implement the European directive to ensure that discrimination against women on the labour market is eliminated , at a time when additional efforts are required to change the attitude towards this issue , especially in rural areas .
when we talk about the reliability of the policy , we will defend the long planning periods for the structural funds .
whichever tool we choose , Mr Barroso , I expect to hear one sentence from you .
this is in response to the deplorable attempts by some to manipulate the conference for anti-Semitic ends , attempts against which the European Commission has reacted strongly .
it has drawn up a new map and a new set of regulations in which the Member States and the social partners now have their tasks taken away from them and , contrary to all regulations , find themselves dictated to .
as a member of the Delegation for relations with Switzerland and Norway , I voted for this report as I think that the agreement signed between the Commission and the Swiss authorities is completely appropriate and in their mutual interest .
finally , I was also very pleased that Erasmus and the importance of educational programmes in that context were mentioned .
my final point concerns compromises and Mr Turmes 's attack on me : the first reading is not a time for compromises , but rather a time when we fire off all our amendments and ideas and discuss them .
the Libyan situation also confirms the inadequacy of Europe 's military capability , which is well below the overall high level of national defence budgets .
although the report acknowledges this need and suggests some important measures that we consider positive , it nonetheless opens the door to solutions that we view with concern and cannot accept , such as lifting the zero tolerance for the presence in imported feed of GMOs , which puts the strict application of the precautionary principle at risk .
in the European Union , we only have limited gold mining capacities .
'Hopenhagen ' may have largely failed , but we must set to work again , as next year will see new opportunities , first in Bonn and then in Mexico .
nor should we forget the continuous ratcheting up of the tax load on diesel and , recently , the biofuels adventure .
the southern hemisphere and the US were calling on the WTO for a monopoly on wheat and oilseed .
( PT ) Following Kosovo 's unilateral declaration of independence , the worst thing that could happen now would be for the political impasse to place us in the unwelcome situation of looking on as tensions mount .
if a result is not achieved , one must ask why that is .
for the sake of consistency , I do not believe that we can forbid our farmers from using a technique that we then tolerate in the production of imports .
I think that the European Union has an excellent opportunity to take on this role .
our farmers need certain plant protection products if they are to combat resistance .
if nothing else , tendering and public procurement must also be made more SME-friendly in order to give these companies a chance .
in addition , in recent years , the number of cases in which employees have been dismissed while on sick leave or following an accident at work has risen .
delegated acts ( Rule 87a ) : see Minutes
I have to end by saying I was very struck by the phrase that President Obama used in his Nobel Prize reception speech when he said that , when we look at the value of continuing with engagement , ' engagement with repressive regimes lacks the satisfying purity of indignation .
in effect , according to Article 328 ( 1 ) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union , ' When enhanced cooperation is being established , it shall be open to all Member States , subject to compliance with any conditions of participation laid down by the authorising decision .
first of all , what action should be taken to prevent the crisis deepening ?
the current government is attempting , by means of a series of initiatives , to improve both the legislative foundation and the effectiveness of the battle against corruption .
( HU ) - Mr President , the Coelho report determines that both Romania and Bulgaria have proven that they have prepared properly for the appropriate application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis .
- Before the vote on Amendment 8 / rev :
may I ask the rapporteur to comment ?
through this report we are helping to create a European market by removing obstacles .
the point is that , when looking for the supreme symbol of temporal authority , the absolute sign of sovereignty , it is the coin !
the creation of a European civil protection force provides a clear structure for this kind of rapid response .
when , in addition , some candidates are prevented from standing , when only the government-endorsed candidate has access to press , radio and television , when the opposition or foreign observers are not able to monitor the count properly , when peaceful protests against the officially declared results are broken up by army and police and opposition leaders are arrested , there is every reason for very serious doubt that the will of the electorate has been upheld .
I would also like to respond to Ms Liotard 's comments , which go beyond the WTO reform .
barely one third of the 32.5 million self-employed are women .
after all , our own experience - gathered from the referendums in the Netherlands , France and , last but not least , Ireland - has taught us how the eurocracy responds to the will of the people and expressions of this will .
( DA ) Mr President , I would like to take some time to talk about the social and employment aspects of EU 2020 and the Commission 's efforts in this connection .
therefore , what matters is the skill capital that workers manage to build to sustain their inclusion in the labour market , not the name or type of enterprises providing the training .
we have a general product safety law , we have a toy safety law but we need to step up enforcement and inspection regimes .
violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo ( debate )
there is no mention whatsoever of the principle of preserving and improving the ratio of exploitable water reserves to available water reserves and the precipitation rate .
I was talking about it in a Conservative meeting in the village of Harpole at the house of a man called Michael Orton-Jones who raised it with me personally , about the consumer credit directive and the money-laundering directives that are passed in this House .
in terms of energy dependency , we are not in the position to miss any opportunity .
I am talking about colonies held by EU Member States , for example Britain and France , which between them have dozens of colonies around the world , two of them in my own country , Cyprus , yet these people have no democratic rights to elect a government to govern them .
defence ministers should be responsible for establishing implementation priorities .
in 2007 Myanmar 's Peace and Development Council continues its oppression .
that is why , among other things , I wish to thank you for your suggestions concerning the organisation and structure of the Commission .
for instance , two elements of the programme , the freedom and security of EU citizens , clearly should be included in the evaluation of the Schengen project .
we might well ask ourselves whether wine from these countries is better .
the WTO is necessary ; the regulation of international trade is essential .
Member States must be strongly committed to protecting and supporting their own cultural heritage .
Hungary is taking over the Council Presidency from Belgium .
the crisis of confidence in the markets and in our financial sector has got even worse over the last few days .
another good thing is that the report refers to hedge funds and private equity , because more and more asset managers are investing in alternative investment products .
in Rome , Naples and throughout Italy , a disgraceful television campaign has emerged .
meanwhile , subject A does not pay VAT , as he is not the end-seller .
Mr President , Commissioner , exactly one year ago , we adopted a resolution in this House concerning gays and lesbians and the Bahati Bill in Uganda .
the labour clauses in the contract are good , but they do not go far enough .
all the major economies must be involved in this post-2012 framework . the framework must be ambitious and effective , environmental integrity must be guaranteed and progress must be made on reforming the current market mechanisms and on introducing new mechanisms .
I am also proud about the manner in which we did it because it was an EU common pledge , which consisted of support from many EU countries , like Spain , France and the wider Community .
life becomes a highly dangerous ' now ' , where there are no past memories and lessons learnt to build a bridge of security to the present moment .
problems will also crop up associated with having the necessary workforce and the extent of their training .
( LT ) Mr President , soon the world will once again receive good , or as has been the custom of late , bad news on climate change , this time from Cancún .
the first priority must now be accorded to poverty reduction .
as regards the issue of women , Mrs Isler Béguin , we are naturally also involved as it appears in the Barcelona acquis .
unemployment remains a major concern for European citizens , although there has been significant improvement compared with 2006 .
I hope there will be , as the gravity of the dispute and its intense politicisation will undoubtedly put the jurisdictional robustness of the WTO system to the test .
with this vote , the European Parliament has signed the defeat of a system of unfair competition , and has thereby ensured that those European businesses which have opted for high quality and employment are not unfairly penalised by more lax regulations applying to their competitors throughout the world .
we are in favour of the bilateral safeguard clause of the EU-Korea Free Trade Agreement because it mitigates the damaging effects of this instrument .
we cannot agree to the liquidation , which ultimately will result in the assets of the shipyards being broken up .
this is not the case in China .
I would also like to say to those who are concerned about Croatia that I am of course in favour of us continuing the negotiations , and I think that it would be a serious mistake to close Europe 's door to the Balkans , because the Balkans need the peace and democracy that the Union can bring them , but I will not go back to the Lisbon debate .
the people of Côte d 'Ivoire have watched the military advances of the respective factions with concern and dread , fearing for the breakdown of security and the further destabilisation of the country .
considering how much it costs to build that wall , we could actually allow Christian , Jewish and Muslim children to attend the same school and to live as brothers and sisters in a school of peace .
of course democracy demands that we listen to contradictory views as well , such as those expressed by my fellow Member Mr Bloom .
indeed , I recognise the important role played by sport in the life of every individual and society , in that it is a means whereby everyone can overcome personal challenges , discover their own passions and talents , identify with a group and understand the importance of abiding by rules .
progress has been made in several poor countries , for example in Egypt and Bangladesh .
more than a year has passed since the debate held in this Parliament on 12 December 2007 .
in this Parliament , we have seen excellent cooperation between the President of the European Commission and the Commission itself with Parliament ; all the MEPs worked together well - the Portuguese Members can attest to that - and the PSD members are proud of having contributed to the success of this Presidency .
the EU-Canada Air Transport Agreement is very important for the future of relations between both sides .
needless to say , public and animal health should be at the heart of cattle feed legislation .
this is essential , because the states party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea , as I said before , are responsible for the vessels flying their flags .
so I think we can say - to conclude , Mr President - that it is true that the crisis has clearly demonstrated the shortcomings of the European monetary union in the absence of economic union , something that is provided for in the treaties but does not exist in reality .
it will not work like that .
therefore , I am asking the Commission and the Council to : 1. recognise the fight against poverty as a principal , strategic objective ; 2. establish and precisely quantify particular objectives relating to the systematic curtailment of poverty ; 3. elaborate and adopt ( at the June summit ) specific indicators of poverty ; 4. specify dates for the realisation of individual partial objectives .
secondly , the model was created based on the exploitation of a single population , while the large majority of Community fisheries are multi-species , which means over- or under-fishing many of them , which is obviously contrary to the actual definition of maximum sustainable yield .
however , it is , of course , important that the Copenhagen criteria are met in every case , including the integration capacity of the European Union , because we must be aware of the risk of overstretching ourselves .
no additional costs must be involved for small and medium-sized businesses .
they must not result in dependency , which could have negative effects on growth , salaries and employment .
this report was submitted to the European Parliament and the Council at the same time as this proposal .
thank you .
to this end I have insisted on the introduction of a service regulator , to ensure that monopolies do not hinder service quality .
it does not mean making citizens of a Member State with a gross domestic income per inhabitant of only 38 % of the EU average , such as Romania , understand that they must allot part of the budget resources for the development of other countries , but it is a fundamental value of the European Union that we undertook ; and Romania , which is a Member State in this situation , will take action in this direction .
in other words , they have maintained the stigma of collective guilt for the Sudeten German and Hungarian ethnic groups .
in this context , I am calling on the Council to speed up its deliberations and to adopt common positions on the remaining legislative acts in the third maritime package on maritime safety .
this solidarity cannot under any circumstances be called into question .
ongoing negotiations between the authorities in Tripoli and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs ( UNOCHA ) have not yet resulted in an agreement on humanitarian access to western Libya .
allow me to examine our problem .
in writing . - ( LT ) I agreed with this document , because there are still too many human rights violations in the world .
we need to adapt constantly to changing circumstances .
I believe that it is important to reinforce the healing and preventive role of healthcare , extend screenings , and not only extend improved vaccination but also make it available to everyone .
Madam President , we need to reject this proposal from the Commission for three clear reasons .
( RO ) Mr President , I , too , must begin by congratulating my colleague , Claude Moraes , for this report .
I agree that the proposals must be coordinated with each other , coordinated with other legal acts , but there is no doubt that we had to solve these problems and I once again congratulate both rapporteurs and the presiding country .
for the agricultural markets there are sources of data on production , consumption , trade and stocks .
I am not certain whether my services have it either , but I will ask .
however , I should have liked to see more specific details in the Court 's report , with names and cases that were analysed .
these require common and coordinated solutions , a common vision and a strengthened European reform agenda for the next ten years .
thank you particularly for your sensitive handling of the forthcoming Irish referendum needed for the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty .
so , in the event that the Council adopts this regulation on the wrong legal basis , I consider that Parliament should pursue this matter further at the European Court of Justice , and let me assure you , it will .
this would mark a resolution for all victims of totalitarian regimes and a strong and unequivocal guarantee that these events shall never be repeated in Europe .
Mr Barroso , you are on a good enough salary , sir .
basically , however , I believe this report above all represents a missed opportunity .
their rights must be protected and recognised , regardless of their documentation situation .
it is essential to develop sustainable agriculture in developing countries and to allocate an appropriate share of EU development aid to the agricultural sector .
we agreed to remain ambitious and constructive in the international negotiations , but we agreed also that a stepwise approach should be followed , building on the Copenhagen accord .
Ukraine is one of the most important partners in Poland 's Eastern policy .
yet they do not say what .
at the same time , I believe that it is linked to two particularly important factors .
there is too much dependence on external credit rating agencies and an oligopoly exists in the sector .
we do not need a colourless , flavourless , odourless figure who dances to the tune of the European Commission .
the opinions expressed are a useful tool for our negotiations on free trade agreements .
the European Commission is proposing 18 weeks and the report 20 .
those who wish to represent their interests are free to have access to our premises but they must be listed in the Register , where all information needed to identify their legal and financial status will be recorded .
introduction of new legislation in this area will limit the unnecessary suffering of animals , and this is why the legislation is needed .
the honourable Member seems to have alighted already on certain aspects of the Commission 's proposals which have not yet been submitted to or agreed to by the Commission , so I suggest , with respect , that he is slightly jumping ahead of himself in some of the assumptions that he appears to be making .
however , fulfilling the criteria for EU accession demands considerable efforts .
oral explanations of vote
passive smoking inflicts great harm on public health and entails costs for the European economy .
one was even found in an impromptu inspection by the Ministry of Agriculture in my own country .
for the sake of democracy , they should refrain .
but I would like to echo what the Commissioner said and use the word ' incentive ' .
it means inflation below 2 % but very close to 2 % over the medium term .
the disadvantageous situation of women is structural .
in total , 17 000 children have come since the charity started .
I believe that families in particular stick together very strongly in that country and that the woman of the family has an important role .
the different sizes and characteristics of EU countries may make it difficult to apply the regulation in some of them , especially in the smallest ones , where it is difficult to include many journeys within the adopted concept of a ' long-distance ' journey , which may result in their passengers being deprived of the rights in question without reasonable justification .
I confirm that I voted for the Capoulas Santos report , but I would like to point to two aspects that may become untenable for farmers in my country .
we must not fail that test and therein lies the challenge .
as you know , we do not now have a physical presence there ; we are available for deployment as soon as we are called upon but currently have no presence there ; we have not been present on the border since Gaza came under the control of Hamas , because we were not given permission to be .
the banks in Central and Eastern Europe which have turned out to be healthy have not received any injection of capital from anyone .
however , any country whose energy supply is based on 90 % coal will find it more difficult to get down to 0 % .
( HU ) Mr President , with the accession of Romania and Bulgaria in 2007 , part of the Black Sea became an inland sea of the European Union .
therefore , I believe that it is fundamental to implement specific legislation on the subject in order to deal with international differences .
we look forward to close cooperation with the Council and the Commission in implementing this joint action .
investigations and trials alone are not enough : we need cooperation , and for that purpose the EIT has been established .
we must show that all the parties involved clearly understand the implications of the treaty and that close cooperation between the institutions at the highest political level is a natural consequence of our mutual commitment to adopt the best financial framework for the future .
I would like , at the end of this speech , to give you some concrete examples of how this can work and how it has already worked .
firstly , on cars : through the compromise proposal our first achievement will be that we are going to have mandatory standards for European car manufacturers , which is very important , so this alone is a reason for voting for the proposal which is part of the package .
of course , I am fully convinced that the common agriculture policy should include fisheries and that the social pact which was referred to by some Members needs revision , a change to incorporate the interests , legitimate representation and the constructive position of a large proportion of those who represent workers in Europe .
you may be complacent today , but you are increasingly being held in contempt .
with the Czech Republic , or some other great presidency ?
in my view , Montenegro is now ready to start negotiating EU membership as an official candidate , and it is curious that the Commission should be insisting on a significant time-lapse between the granting of official candidate status and the opening of negotiations .
the June List is in favour of increased cooperation between Member States to combat terrorism and other serious cross-border crime .
amendment 10 - our amendment - is about clarifying conditions to minus 40 .
no Member State may enact laws that contradict these documents .
we have therefore asked for a split vote on this topic tomorrow .
regarding the United States , I shall be leaving for there in two weeks ' time , so it will be possible also to talk about your proposal .
why is it that we fail to learn from previous crises ?
in this respect we not only need to understand the capacity of Europe 's cross-sectoral policies , but also revisit new financing instruments , such as Eurobonds .
in fact the general feeling is that this is an overly regulated area by world standards , which creates particular difficulties for small enterprises .
next time perhaps .
this is something that I welcome with all my heart ahead of this important vote that we are to hold very soon here in the European Parliament .
can you tell us today whether you are going to do things differently in your second term ?
we Europeans are constantly being charged with wanting to make life difficult for large , successful companies .
our borders have been ready for some time to defend Europe 's borders .
back then , this House decided to ask the Commission to undertake a more in-depth study of a number of questions that were raised by Parliament but were not addressed in the fourth Motor Insurance Directive itself .
Parliament 's amendments also played an extremely important role in guaranteeing the credibility of the label among consumers and environmental organisations .
it is also tasked with developing a culture of network and information security among citizens , consumers , businesses and public organisations in the European Union .
if the EU is not strict in enforcing its environmental policy , public expectations will be frustrated and the EU 's role as an effective guardian of the environment will be undermined .
I also agree with Mr Aguilar , Chairman of the Committee on Civil liberties , Justice and Home Affairs , that one way to tackle illegal immigration is to open the way for legal immigration .
systematic free trade is not necessarily beneficial .
7 .
the results of the public stakeholder consultation , as well as the selected pilot projects , will be presented at the dedicated conference organised in June 2011 , this year in Budapest under the auspices of the Hungarian Presidency .
the decision to take incandescent light bulbs off the European market will save the equivalent of the annual electricity generation of Finland .
in 2007 the European Parliament adopted the report on the role of sport in education .
there is also the question of combating social exclusion and taking into account the most vulnerable sections of the population - the young , women , people with disabilities and the Roma population , to name but a few .
ceterum censeo - France has decided to sell a Mistral class warship to Russia ; we believe that it will sincerely regret its action .
this signal would confirm the EU 's support for the defenders of human rights in Russia , who operate in especially difficult circumstances .
the second very important aspect is the fact that the role of the consumer is strengthened , something that in principle is reflected in several provisions , although I would have liked to have seen it in more .
another mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund has been approved , in this case for the application from IE / SR Technics from Ireland .
I must point out that the importance of this debate consists , in fact , in outlining the guidelines underpinning the future legal framework which , following the expiry of the regulation , should govern the agreements on the distribution of motor vehicles and on the associated after-sales services .
finally , could I restate the case for competition ?
Europe , wake up !
this is not a matter of political bargaining or any special arrangements , as that would be contrary to the Treaty .
I would like to ask what specific conclusions the European Commission reached from the slow provision of aid at the time .
it concerns the question of whether exports should be authorised after they have taken place or before they take place .
a word also about another sensitive subject : that of illegal migrants .
the other possibility would be to freeze the IPA funds .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I would first of all really like to thank Mrs Hassi for the difficult work that has been done and , why not say it , for her sense of commitment , which has enabled us to converge towards what is most important .
I would point out that it has very strong political and symbolic significance , which is manifested not least in the fact that the leaders of the three big political groups introduced the debate .
you have also heard the many questions by colleagues about who and which Member States are blocking our common efforts .
I therefore consider that the resolution must make it clearer that this concerns processed honey products , so that there can be no misunderstanding on this question and so that our work does not cause the public to take a negative view of the work of Members of the European Parliament .
the Structural Funds , too , must respond to new challenges , such as energy .
in the wake of what has been done for the banks , China has financed the modernisation and technological adaptation of the sector .
national judges play an essential role as guarantors of the rule of law , including Community law .
if the International Olympic Committee mediates about the quality of the air , why not judge Beijing on respect for the Olympic ideal in its relations with its own citizens and those of other countries ?
this is horrifying , but true .
in my opinion , we need to take a critical approach in particular to the call for energy efficiency criteria to be applied to public procurement policy .
the implementation of the Treaty of Lisbon is a real necessity .
now , for some years , recreational sea anglers have been lobbying for their sport to be included as part of the CFP .
the Union 's development policy aims to reduce and ultimately eradicate poverty .
migration is based on the false assumption that we are the products of our culture and that exposure to European culture will transform non-Europeans into Europeans in the second generation , if not the first .
apart for the obvious function of collection of duties , the Customs Union plays an enormous role in protecting the health and safety of our citizens .
if there are questions as to whether aid is getting through or not , let us build the capacity to get the aid through .
I voted in favour of Articles 49 , 53 and 54 for the following reasons .
there is no point here in constantly reiterating the importance of states such as the US , India or China .
conversely , India accounts for 2.6 % of the EU 's total exports and 2.2 % of the EU 's total imports .
the experience from the Netherlands has clearly shown , of course , that the majority of the Roma community refuses to adapt and integrate , whatever we do .
Mr President , own-initiative reports are usually just hot air , but if adopted they are an expression of the political will of the European Parliament .
we would like to see slightly more substance in the measures which the European Commission and Council are adopting , as well as slightly more focus on the actual citizens of Belarus , because this is the way to get the citizens themselves to rally behind the cause which we are trying to promote there in dialogue with the Belarusian authorities , namely , democratisation , openness and the holding of free and democratic elections .
we should not miss the opportunity to let it happen once again .
in fact we will recover a large part of that money and allocate it to resolving the problem of rising prices and the food crisis .
I would like first of all to offer my heartfelt congratulations to Baroness Ludford for the energy she has put into and the results she has obtained from the difficult negotiation of this matter .
specifically the procedures applied for portfolio reshuffles should be lighter than those applied for approving the whole Commission , and should respect the prerogatives of the President of the European Commission for the allocation of portfolios .
however , you know , Commissioner , that the safeguard clause is not automatic and that it will be very difficult to implement and impossible to activate for five years .
the European Parliament services will be here .
regarding the financial collateral directive and the notifications , I could have wished that all the Member States had already abolished the notification requirements , which in my view only add bureaucracy and do not advance any particular objective ; however , as I learned that this issue was extremely sensitive to some Member States I am quite satisfied that we got a review clause written in .
in my last speech , I would also link to what Ms Berès has said and would say to Mr McCreevy that it is a pity that what he has done to regulate these financial markets is really too little and too late .
let us look at ourselves critically , as we all need to do , but let us try to avoid a simplistic response to a very complex issue .
I would also like to point out to Mrs Handzlik that the Commission is working with the Member States to exchange good practice on issues such as the Internal Market Information System ( IMI ) and the Internal Market Problem Solving Network ( SOLVIT ) .
three quarters of the Members of this Parliament were and are in favour of Kosovo 's sovereignty , so it is not possible to say that the European Union is divided , and I am happy that we are now entering into a good European future for the entire region .
finally , I can say that it gives me great pleasure to be able to extend my stay here with you , particularly since this mandate is coming to an end .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
perhaps you remember that , some time ago , at the start of the Hungarian Presidency of the European Union , the Hungarian Prime Minister , too , made it clear in this House that it is not enough to cope with and manage the after-effects of the crisis , to encourage Member States to follow a tighter fiscal policy and to also inspect this .
the debate is closed .
these are our major challenges , and this is why the Treaty of Lisbon will provide us with an exceptional tool to meet those challenges .
I declare the 2007-2008 session of the European Parliament open .
this will enable a thorough analysis to be conducted , so that the consequent actions necessary to ensure compliance with the Treaty and legislation in the area of equal treatment and opportunities for men and women can be determined .
explanations of vote
otherwise they will not consent to donation .
I would like to highlight a few areas in which we need to continue to work .
the next item is the Question Hour with the President of the Commission .
in the months to come , I look forward to continuing this work with you in the new Parliament .
we have simply decided that , in the event that the Lisbon Treaty is ratified , if a related issue is ever raised in a petition submitted by a million citizens to the Commission , we in Parliament would check whether we were dealing with an identical issue and whether or not the petition submitted to the Commission could affect our work , in which case we would simply inform the petitioners .
Parliament 's efforts to spread democracy and protect human rights continue to make progress , and in today 's globalised world we know about injustices at a faster rate .
- Before the vote :
I would like to comment briefly on both reports .
what is certain is that this will not strengthen medical tourism , but will give European citizens the facility to obtain the best possible healthcare , knowing their rights and without the inconvenience of obtaining a refund on their costs , as the Member States will have set up a clear system of prior approval of such costs .
we also actively promote peace and security through regular political dialogue with Nigeria under the Cotonou agreement and we engage in regular dialogue with Nigeria on human rights and democratic principles including ethnic , religious and racial discrimination .
possibly .
I agree with the previous speaker on that .
after more than six years of legislative work , the directive on consumer credit agreements is a significant step forward in the protection of contractual freedom and encourages responsible decision-making by consumers .
she has found balanced positions that respect the need for subsidiarity in the choice of methods , because there is enormous disparity between the Member States .
we have already mapped out a very ambitious and far-reaching programme in the field of justice and home affairs .
my challenge to you , Commissioner , is that this is their third year visiting and little has changed .
at the same time , in order to protect retailers and service providers , the report provides for consumer obligations , such as covering the cost of postage when returning goods to the seller , and in the case of provision of services , the recipient will have to pay for the service share that has already been provided .
that would be the only way to exert real pressure and bring about the necessary changes .
however , I would also like to point out that I think that Parliament is acting irresponsibly by granting the EU system and itself such large sums in the form of programmes and subsidies and aid for bureaucracy , while the Member States are being forced into making brutal cuts in order to meet the requirements of the Stability Pact - in other words , the neoliberal pact that the majority of Parliament wholeheartedly supports .
there are alternatives available , so why take the risk ?
using these few examples of large landowners fed on hormones from Brussels , public opinion will be made to believe that farmers get a huge boost , particularly because the public does not know that farmers are paid against their will because they are banned from producing .
( the President cut off the speaker )
in writing . - Inefficient use by the Police College of funds allocated to it has already led to disruption in financial support for small agencies .
we must therefore be very careful .
I must also say to the Commissioner that if we reallocate what are exclusively Progress resources , this conveys the message that , when it comes to resources for social inclusion , we can only envisage support for the most vulnerable if we take the resources from places serving the same purpose .
the International Monetary Fund recently made public an analysis of the current state of the world economy , showing that the recovery process is still fragile and patchy .
we are , however , far from finished .
in Poland , the opinion of the German Chancellor is much more important than that of Mr Van Rompuy , and the loudly resounding voice of Mr Cameron is more important than the opinion of Mr Barroso .
indeed , this must include access to sexual and reproductive health services .
the food crisis has been swept out of people 's minds by the arrival of the financial and economic crisis .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( PT ) Madam President , Commissioner , President-in-Office of the Council , we are here to discuss the reinvention of a European energy system through investment in low-carbon technologies .
many such products are imported into the European internal market from third countries .
I therefore hope that it will finally take seriously our call to present an amendment to the Directive before the end of the year .
on the one hand , we cannot pretend that Europe is the Island of the Blessed where we can do what we like without the global financial markets reacting to it .
this lack of certainty is due to the low profile of those Roma who were victims of the Holocaust .
unfortunately , the proposal was weakened by Tory and Liberal MEPs to allow for a higher emissions limit and a longer phase-in period .
Member States which , for geographical reasons , have been more affected by these migratory pressures , have also seen their ability to respond considerably reduced .
I think this initiative will be a welcome moment to take stock of developments at national , European and international level since 2008 .
furthermore , such provisions may also cause difficulties for firms during the present financial crisis , when many firms are facing increased difficulty in obtaining credit .
we want to have fewer health problems caused by smoking , however we support the retention of subsidies for cigarette manufacturers , even though they are gradually being reduced .
if used well , I believe that this new formula will herald the coming of a new virtuous cycle for the revitalisation of the European economy .
we must address the international , political and economic injustices which certain demagogues are using to tap into a youthful hunger for justice .
Mr President , I voted against the Bowles report .
children are eating too many sweet things instead of well-balanced meals , and spending whole days in front of the television or computer . this is because adults are failing to guide children 's lifestyle appropriately and provide good models of behaviour .
author . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , religious freedom is , in fact , the subject of this resolution .
this mainly concerns assessments of the time during which employees are supposed to be available or on call .
Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , this week , in the so-called Single Market Forum , we discussed the European Commission 's proposal that is intended to lead to a highly competitive social market economy in Europe .
the establishment of borders is returning to where it has to be : democracy .
I say ' right ' because this right has still not yet been sanctioned .
urgent steps are needed to redeploy them , starting with the efforts initiated by local government bodies .
instead of trying to understand this clear vote for what it is , namely an unambiguous message by the Kurds that a solution must be found within the system , an attempt is being made to repress this political success , and with police brutality , if necessary .
I welcome the call for stress tests but they do not answer the bigger questions .
I cannot give my consent to that .
this not only results in underinvestment which undermines the quality and performance of the rail network ; it also builds up indebtedness levels .
in this regard , Parliament is being called upon , together with the Commission and the Council , to decide , precisely , on simplified procedures .
the Forum is also looking at the contribution the ICT sector can make to improve the efficiency of other sectors , such as building and transport .
there needs to be an independent investigation into alleged breaches of human rights .
anyone can see what the reasons are .
in an effort to deal with the constantly increasing tide of opposition to the anti-grassroots policy of the EU , of the euro-unifying construct itself , they are calling on the EU to step up its false propaganda and to promote the non-existent advantages of European citizenship .
the entrenchment of peace , the precursor of reconciliation , the platform for a whole region - as the fall of the Berlin Wall was for Eastern Europe , so let independence for Kosovo be for former Yugoslavia .
the increased use of GMOs by your main trading partners in commodities also has an important influence .
about a year ago , Prof. Monti said in his report to President Barroso : ' ... the legislator should find without delay an agreement on the draft directive on consumer rights , in order to ensure a high level of protection for consumers in an integrated retail market ' .
it is no different than asking to close down the whole salmon industry in Scotland in one swipe .
I voted for the report 's recommendations .
we cannot let this happen again , and at the same time we have to learn from the failures of the past .
the consequences now of the international community 's ambivalence towards Sri Lanka are clear : a loss of influence and an inability to shape developments .
the debate is closed .
you mentioned the wine reform - previously , we were taking a lot of low-quality wine out of the market , buying it into intervention and then making it into biofuel , which was absolutely the wrong way to go .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Madam President , let us be frank and open : as Frontex is a coordinating agency , we cannot expect it to stop the influx of irregular migrants in itself and of itself , nor to put an end to the trafficking in human beings .
since then , a new election has been held and the new government has secured a large majority .
the EU is taking on its largest civilian mission ever and it will be very important that it is successful .
as a transit region , the Mediterranean countries experience a disproportionate influx of immigrants travelling to the EU and thus require specific measures .
in short , I am opposed to a European federal state and so I am also automatically opposed to EU citizenship , and this right to vote and right to stand as a candidate for election for EU citizens in Member States other than their own is an integral part of that .
Commissioner Kroes , Commissioner Špidla , I entreat you : do be men and women of steel , do ensure that all the rules are properly observed .
after all , the history of Europe proves that simple explanations for complex problems never give good results .
we have succeeded in this : the provisions relating to transferable individual quotas have been withdrawn , and support for small-scale and coastal fishing has been maintained .
because the cost of fishing is higher than the price they get for their fish .
as well as ensuring more effective intervention , a great deal of work must be done in the area of active and passive prevention .
in effect , it proved that the aviation market is possibly the European Union 's domestic market to an extent unlike no other mode of transport across Europe .
firstly , we believe that the Commission also needs to take account of the fact that there is so little knowledge about the European Union in Belarus and that a satellite TV station will not change that .
Mr President , I am glad to see you smiling at me - you were a little intemperate in your remarks about me earlier on , but you have obviously calmed down a little over the lunch break .
let me also mention in this context our future Green Paper on territorial cohesion , which will be an essential feature of the French presidency .
let us make sure that we do not undermine either the right to asylum or the visa waiver agreements .
by supplying reliable information on prices from one end of the chain to the other , we will be able to help combat the lack of transparency , whilst improving our understanding of how the chain operates .
under normal circumstances , I would judge the results and agreements achieved by the European Council as satisfactory .
the despots often remain in power and we roll out the red carpet for them far too often .
secondly , I was rather delighted to learn at the hearings that Commissioner Tajani has not ruled out the undertaking of an impact study on the possibility of imposing this carbon tax at the borders of the European Union .
we would like the construction and urban planning sector to be included in particular , as this is where the largest public contracts are awarded .
decent work is an aim of both the UN global community , under the auspices of the International Labour Organisation ( ILO ) , and the EU .
we have continued to undertake coordinated efforts in international fora , most particularly the UN Human Rights Council , as recommended in the Andrikienreport , as well as at the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly .
defending life is sacrosanct .
business is demanding , workers are demanding , we are demanding : do more !
Somalia : routine killing of civilians
this time it is not a case of human rights or environmental pollution , but the decision by the Organising Committee and the authorities of the People 's Republic of China to ban any type or form of religious worship by participants in the Olympic Games .
basically we have identified the costs of red tape for European enterprises as costs arising from reporting , documentation and information obligations .
draft general budget for 2007 ( Section III ) ( vote )
the rising number of redundancies in the Galician textile and clothing industry is adding to the external perception that all its European counterparts are in a similar weak position ( not least in my country , where this sector has been particularly badly hit ) due to exposure to international competition , particularly from developing countries , where production costs are lower .
while detailed harmonisation of training in the various Member States is not mandatory , Member States should work towards mutually compatible training curricula for road safety auditors .
( HU ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , as responsible decision-makers we must be aware that every measure has an effect that goes beyond the area it was intended to target and may even be contradictory to what it was supposed to achieve .
however , certain essential issues have been relegated to secondary status .
true , this amendment is aimed at reducing the negative effects on developing countries , but the Commission believes that this would lead to an excessively restricted application of the directive .
I voted in favour of the report .
when the euro was strengthened , what were the speculators then ?
it is a good example of how Europe must work together towards financial recovery .
explanations of vote
I am in favour of such extension and have therefore voted in favour of this report .
we must tell the Council clearly that if it refuses to take the path indicated by us today , it needs to indicate which political priorities are to be struck off the agenda and no longer financed .
I am grateful to all those who have supported me ; I cannot name them all .
I can only hope , and I would ask you to ensure , that this style of cooperation between the Commission and Parliament does not continue in future .
in this case , we demonstrated what the EU can do when we fully mobilise the resources we have .
I do not want to go into the detail of the interim report , which I think is excellent ; I would simply draw your attention to one example .
we are on the brink of the year 2008 , declared the year of intercultural dialogue , and are forced to immediately correct these deficiencies , which are contrary to the European Union 's fundamental values .
( RO ) The gas crisis which we recently faced was between Ukraine and Russia , but unfortunately it affected some of the European Union Member States .
as the next item we have the Council and Commission statements on preparations for the meeting of the European Council in Brussels on 13 and 14 December 2007 .
is it a qualified majority or a majority by consensus ?
here I am very pleased to recall the agreement reached recently between the Council and the Parliament on the setting up of the European Institute for Gender Equality , which will operate precisely in that area .
Member of the Commission . - ( FR ) Mr President , I should like to begin with a brief personal comment .
we cannot always be talking about sustainable transport on Sundays and doing the opposite from Monday to Friday .
the debate is closed .
everything should therefore be done to find the proverbial golden mean .
is the Commission planning to table proposals for guidelines for a more coherent EU strategy , and will the Council support this ?
I decided to vote in favour of Mr Falbr 's report which , on the one hand , captures the strategic importance of corporate social responsibility as a motivational tool to stimulate business growth and , on the other , underlines that this issue can only be tackled on a voluntary basis .
how to achieve it ?
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( PL ) Madam President , the draft resolution on sustainable European transport policy , taking into account European energy and environment policies , attempts a complex approach to a highly sensitive issue .
I consider both the other points - namely the increase in posts for committees and groups - to be sensible and necessary as a consequence of Parliament 's new legislative powers under the Treaty of Lisbon .
in 2007 , this figure stood at 923 million people .
the time has therefore come to revisit the Dublin regulation urgently , so that we can take joint responsibility for these situations throughout Europe , showing solidarity and a humanistic approach .
a general strike will take place in Greece and a major demonstration is planned in Barcelona .
this man has been given no health care in prison .
• The Commission should submit an implementation review of the agreement to Parliament and the Council before the agreement is renegotiated ;
you can count on our solidarity .
however , we disagree with a policy that seeks to deregulate and privatise a strategic public service such as air transport , in this case promoting ' a truly competitive airport market ' , or the incorporation of principles such as the ' user pays ' and profitability in a service that should be public .
that is why we have raised this question with the national regulators , and we are monitoring this problem with the European Regulators Group .
you will quickly recognise the key elements of the package , I believe , because they reflect in large measure the priorities you yourselves have expressed .
in other respects , Mr Pieper 's report contains a great deal of light and shade .
now , it is the anti-Europe movement which has the heart and soul , and you can see that they are extremely active .
the Union for the Mediterranean cannot act as the waiting room or back door for Turkey , provided that it meets the accession criteria , and the Union for the Mediterranean cannot be an add-on to the European free trade strategy , without any social integration policies .
it is just taxpayers ' money we are dealing with .
on Monday , we were able to discuss this matter in the Foreign Affairs Council , and we were able to have a thorough debate that I am sure will be repeated in future .
indeed , it is important to improve the social situation of artists through greater protection , provided by the institutions .
however , if we are talking about people 's right to self-determination , we should note that all these refugees came from either Abkhazia or Ossetia .
I am convinced that the prime victim of this lack of courage is agriculture itself .
the European Parliament and the Union as a whole have talked about the preachers of hate and have taken preventive measures to cut off the flow of funds to terrorist organisations .
unfortunately , both Lithuanians and citizens of other EU countries have difficulty in using their qualifications in other Member States .
significant progress has been achieved in preparing the impact assessment but the work is not yet completed .
the debate is closed .
the second event is of course the subprime crisis , which has shed light on the strategic role these sovereign wealth funds could play .
the application of the death penalty to Troy Davis by the authorities of the State of Georgia runs completely counter to the moratorium on the death penalty adopted last December by the United Nations General Assembly .
- Before the vote on Amendment 12
so far we have managed to agree on twelve principles and we have established that they are identical .
the opposition did not participate in the work in the absence of this guarantee ; it was not a case of being deprived of this right , as this rule had been changed .
however , for one country in the Middle East , this was exactly the outcome it had sought : Iran has supplied missiles , munitions and other sophisticated weaponry to Hamas for years .
the behaviour of certain Members of this House in shouting down representatives of Parliament , the Commission and the Council during the signing ceremony was intolerable and must not be tolerated .
what if the Commission was to think about adopting different approaches ?
closure of sitting
Mr President , let me place the matter at issue in a larger political perspective .
our concern must be to offer social protection to all employees and to enable their social inclusion .
Croatia has to wait until 2011 , Macedonia will not be in before 2014 at the earliest and for the other five countries of the Western Balkans the wait will be even longer .
simple and perceptive policies are necessary for those who have not mastered the Union 's code and do not speak ' Europese ' .
but is he aware that , in his own government , one of the first acts of the Home Secretary , Theresa May , when coming into office was to opt into the European Investigation Order , which means we now cannot opt out and will be stuck with whatever comes through the legislative sausage machine , because this will be subject to qualified majority voting and the final outcome is something we cannot determine ?
it strikes me about these annual debates on competition policy that there is a very friendly and polite exchange of views , and then the Commission just carries on with business as usual because the Commission has the exclusive powers in this area .
I hope that we can definitely achieve the goals you mentioned in your question with this amount of money .
support for initiatives to limit disaster risks in third countries ;
over the last three years , I have also made strenuous efforts to raise awareness about the services I can offer to businesses , associations , NGOs , regional authorities and other target groups , that is , anybody who is involved in EU projects or programmes and who has direct dealings with the EU administration .
quite the contrary , of course , but the problem with this report , and all similar reports , in fact , in this politically correct House , is its patronising tone .
we have been too rash in making comparisons with the KLM flight that was engulfed in the volcanic dust of Mount Redoubt over Alaska in 1989 and too rash in making references to the British Airways flight which found itself in a cloud of volcanic dust over Indonesia in 1982 .
I am afraid that as long as this does not happen and as long as someone who was a member of the government which sanctioned shooting at people can be Vice-Chairwoman of Parliament 's Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs , , we cannot have any real confidence and the moral authority in another country , to ask for this kind of investigation to be carried out in a country outside the European Union .
seventy per cent of the population of the European Union is non-smoking . we must bear this in mind and ensure that these people are able to live in a clean and safe environment .
education in healthy eating is mainly the responsibility of parents , but schools can also play a part in this regard .
simply voting against this despicable report does not suffice .
Mr Queiró highlighted the need for a classification of hotel facilities .
only 6 % of payments are granted to projects in countries where the gross domestic product is lower than the EU average .
we know that implementation is related to the degree to which people are aware of their rights .
it is therefore critical to ensure that access to raw materials in third countries is free from unjustified distortions such as quotas , export duties and export bans .
Mr President , the EU often shows interest , with good intention , in my constituency of Northern Ireland .
however , I should like to ask you whether you seriously expect the European Parliament to negotiate on something that is our right under the treaties .
for example , a cartoon connection between the EU and Latin America and Canada for training and developing a cartoon specialist .
now it has stopped increasing , and global cooling is predicted to continue over the years to come .
they are the fruit of our experience over the last five years .
that is why the call for us to take certificates of origin more seriously , e.g. for natural resources , is justified , for often it is the Europeans who brutally exploit the people 's suffering for their own economic interests .
the broadening of the scope of the Globalisation Adjustment Fund to include workers was an important step to enable us to support European citizens directly .
the common sense behind the questions that have been asked goes beyond a mere evaluation of doctrine and the consistency between declared intentions and their interpretation .
such matters will be decided jointly by the governments and labour markets of the countries concerned .
I will come to Parliament with that in April .
where are we , essentially ?
in conclusion , ladies and gentlemen , it is also high time that the Council moved more swiftly , especially in the tax field .
it was also good that during our debates we did not discuss the location .
I should emphasise that investments made in nuclear safety must be guaranteed for every nuclear reactor until the end of the period envisaged for their operation .
the idea is to divert attention away from this fact .
the common approach also includes specific well-formulated provisions for the future revision of the opt-out .
the Commission subsequently tabled a proposal for a directive , which was debated in the European Parliament , featuring the following three objectives : guaranteeing quality and safety for patients across the EU , providing protection for donors and facilitating cooperation between Member States .
although these regulations are formally enshrined in Turkish legislation , we often see a very ' un-European ' approach in dealing with individual cases .
indeed , the people who participate in such attacks should not believe that they are fighting for something .
economic history , too , has shown that those societies that enjoyed the most success over the long term were those societies that made this efficiency - whether in relation to raw materials or energy - the motto that they lived by .
it thus raises many health and environmental issues when it is disposed of or reprocessed badly .
in writing . - ( CS ) The introduction of the stability mechanism for states paying in euro marks the first use of the simplified revision option in the Lisbon Treaty .
when the revised EU Treaty takes effect from 2009 , we shall have other processes through which the involvement of the European Parliament in these debates will be channelled .
this Treaty creates a future in which the European Union has a political dimension .
it is good that we are honest about the lobbyists that we see in this place , and it is good that we get a record of who the Commission is seeing .
this is more than just a worrying trend : we need to fight this scourge with all the means at our disposal .
( NL ) Mr President , I would very much like to hear a response to this from the Commission and the Council .
it appealed to the Chinese Government and the Dalai Lama to enter into a concrete and constructive dialogue which would lead to a lasting solution acceptable to all and entirely respectful of Tibetan culture , religion and identity .
it is high time we stopped applying the mistaken logic that says that the use of waste cannot be developed because it would result in more waste .
I strongly agree with this idea .
I would like to conclude with a few words on the dangerous phenomenon of the re-nationalisation of Europe .
in fact , it is great to start with this gem , which starts small but has great power , particularly from the bottom up , if that is recognised in future as a special designation for quality .
for Parliament , it is crucial that we have a political interlocutor to negotiate the establishment and future programme of the External Action Service , so , please , states - bring us your people for all these posts .
food security is and will remain the main challenge facing EU agriculture .
the Commission is proposing to solve soil problems at European level - and , as far as I am concerned , there lies the problem .
we are looking forward to the many initiatives that I am sure will be taken in the year ahead .
the UN runs an index of happiness and it places the Democratic Republic of the Congo above only Zimbabwe .
I am persuaded that it will be necessary to grant powers under Article 186 in order to deliver this benefit in a timely manner to the producers , so it has my support .
I believe that to that end the desire to resolve the situation in Pakistan is incompatible with supplying it under those policies .
Japan and its Canadian allies had spent months beforehand doing the rounds , winning friends and buying a bit of influence here and there in order to get the votes they needed to get the result they wanted .
it can , I believe , help to sustain our social systems when times are hard .
I therefore enthusiastically welcomed this report by Mrs Grossetête and I hope that it will promote public health in Europe and that , as a result , we can save a lot of people and speed up their recovery .
the latter would be directly subject to the new banking authority .
towards the end of last year the European Union and the African Union agreed an EU-Africa Partnership on Science , Information and Space .
it is also our duty to express our complete solidarity with the Japanese people and their government , and to send our condolences to the victims of this threefold disaster .
the Commission understands the difficulties encountered in outermost regions in executing the decisions on fleet modernisation taken in 2006 .
I hope that as a result of this crisis , the tendency to reduce the budget will not increase still further , because then we will be even weaker and more helpless .
we want to revise the programme of 50 proposals , we want to set priorities , we want to help to ensure that all European Parliament committees are involved and that we achieve the institutional consensus that such legislation requires .
for EU 2020 to be a success and for the mountains of cash that remain to be spent to be used to stimulate economic growth and support competition , two types of intervention are needed : simplification and review .
finally , bearing in mind that the European Parliament 's opinion is required to sign any international treaty , it must be involved and consulted right at the initial phase of any project .
it contains nothing about small and medium-sized enterprises , yet you wonder why states like China are fighting back with dumping measures .
we also want some progress on the information to patients - Mr Verheugen 's proposal .
I welcome most of all that now consumers will benefit from guarantees in relation to privacy , freedom of expression and access to information .
at the same time , those changes are affecting other regions of the world , through rising sea levels , on the one hand , and consequences for adjacent regional climates , on the other .
( EL ) Madam President , as far as I know , we allow each Commissioner 20 minutes .
the second point is the inclusion of EU staff pensions in the budget .
I would first of all like to take this very good opportunity to inform you of a package of measures which are in preparation by my services , and which will be adopted by the Commission this autumn in very close cooperation with the Portuguese Presidency .
we have not yet reached that point .
we know that difficulties exist for countries of that region , and we in the European Union must be active in helping them to overcome their problems , in particular in regard to drugs and crime , and in cementing democratic principles in their governments and institutions .
in addition , the European Parliament would like the new financial framework to be structured in such a way as to increase competitiveness and promote social integration .
this is why it is important to narrow the chasm between regular and organic farming in a responsible manner .
it is not just about averting the threat of a nuclear bomb .
this is necessary according to the principle of equal treatment , because island Member States and island regions of Member States to some degree face the same severe territorial and geographical disadvantages as outermost regions .
apart from the introduction of multiannual financial frameworks , it should be remembered that the budgetary procedure has remained practically unchanged since 1975 .
therefore , I sincerely wish the Czech Republic success meeting new challenges and leading the European Union up to the middle of this year .
9 .
implementation of the Ahtisaari Plan , on the other hand , which provides a secure regime for minorities , may set a positive precedent for Europe to follow in future with regard to protection of minorities .
my final comment concerns Mr Rübig .
the aim of the ' Innovation Union ' flagship initiative envisioned by the EU 2020 strategy is to launch innovation partnerships to streamline research , development and the arrival of inventions on the market , starting with the area of healthy ageing as a pilot project .
( CS ) Finding and punishing foreign drivers who commit traffic offences in the European Union may be an unpopular proposal but it is completely logical and practical .
on the one hand , I am concerned that it will become ever harder to find moderate leaders in Palestine with enough political support to be able to conclude agreements with Israel , which is no easy task .
we have a network of public authorities through which we are making our sweeps around the Member States .
the vote will take place tomorrow ( Thursday , 26 November 2009 ) .
( DE ) Madam President , I believe that we can organise competition by introducing uniform rules , which is why I am interested to know what options are available to us in the telecommunications sector , specifically in the area of frequency licensing , to enable us to regulate auctions or so-called beauty contests in telecommunications processes .
oral questions and written declarations ( submission ) : see Minutes
why introduce more services to be financed at EU level , thereby risking a cut in appropriations for consumers organisations ?
we disagree with the communitarisation of justice and home affairs and the creation of surveillance and control structures and instruments at EU level , promoting securitarian policies .
the Czech Presidency has done a very good job , but I hope that the way we have tightened up the Commission 's proposal will make the directive more palatable to the Council , because it is a directive that we are seeking .
we need to follow up on these steps by continuously strengthening the cooperation of rescue forces in neighbouring regions and countries , improving the qualifications and skills of civil protection experts , ensuring widespread use of information technologies and promoting training for , and simulation of , possible disasters .
I would stress that excellence in law making must be Parliament 's main priority .
the report published by the World Bank several days ago does not leave any doubt that the EU Member States in Eastern Europe need aid , and not only in the area of their internal affairs .
12 .
therefore , I ask two things of the Council ahead of its upcoming meeting .
Commissioner , I therefore expect some slightly more concrete initiatives over the coming months and years .
if such movements are not regarded by the state as a legal opposition that can peacefully develop into a participant in government , the chances are that these movements will fall back on the use of force out of the need for self-preservation .
I just wanted to ask what the situation is with regard to supporting police training and reinforcing the justice and interior authorities in Ukraine .
Mr Barroso , at the G8 summit , the participants debated their commitments to the neighbourhood policy in the Mediterranean .
Madam President , I represent Scotland , a nation with a long maritime history and a nation with tremendous potential for its future .
Cancún is an opportunity to do things better ; let us not miss it yet again .
I do not understand all the ' commotion ' that the issue has caused , especially in French-speaking Belgium , amongst consumers ' associations and mutual societies , supported by certain MEPs who , even before the discussions had started , had already condemned these two laws .
the EU is already a frontrunner in research and in environmental and climate change policies in the international context and will continue to be so .
it is this proactive spirit that guided the drafting of the document that I sent to you all before this sitting .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , some months ago , we witnessed the sudden and unexpected collapse of some low-cost airlines , such as Myair and Sky Europe , with the consequent immediate cancellation of all their scheduled routes .
the Group of Governmental Experts decided , however , to postpone any decision on a legally binding instrument until the 2007 meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention which will be held next month .
social integration and the policy of equal opportunities must be taken into account at every stage of the implementation of projects undertaken in the area of cohesion .
of course , I do not know if future historians will call it the ' Greek crisis ' or the ' financial crisis ' or perhaps they will call it the ' monetary crisis ' .
finally , I would like to thank not only this House - which I have done already - but also our partners in the trio , Spain and Belgium , for their excellent cooperation and for the fact that we were able to complete the 18-month trio programme , and may I wish Poland all the best and a Parliament-friendly Presidency .
this is over !
this sum must be used wisely for retraining these workers and reincorporating them quickly and sustainably into the labour market .
the work of the relatives ' and victims ' associations must also be strengthened .
however , there also needs to be European added value in the response .
we must , however , provide more funds to ensure that our young people are able to access , partake of and utilise this opportunity to the full , because this is one of those rare occasions when we can offer something .
I am thinking in the first place of the important separation of church and state and especially of the equality of men and women .
the early school leaving scenario is particularly serious in view of the expected demographic evolution in Europe , which by 2030 will have 18 million fewer children and young people and 52 % more people aged over 65 .
composition of Parliament : see Minutes
the Member States must draw up a list of measures for achieving the objectives of this directive by 30 June 2011 at the latest .
2. to avoid duplication of data collection ;
instead , I will refer to the significant institutional challenges they are creating , which must be resolved .
I do know that the Commission 's offices have been involved and I am still receiving quite a lot of vexed representation in this area .
this new chapter in relations between the EU and the USA should also be used to increase the activity of EU institutions in the United States .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Mr President , it is just under 100 years since all women were given the right to vote in the United Kingdom .
I do not want to discuss the content .
it has acted quickly , but also erratically .
the initial reception given to this directive did not make it possible to envisage substantial progress in the near future .
Mr President , Commissioner , your answers have failed to convince me .
nothing else .
the Commission 's proposals do not fully deal with these reservations .
Mr Osman champions the cause of dialogue and justice against violence and tyranny .
the report does not seem in my view to fully reflect the fact of the disproportionate response by Russian forces , which involved bombing civilian areas of Georgia like Gori , and allowed systematic ethnic cleansing of Georgians from South Ossetia and the occupation of Georgian territory by Abkhazian forces .
it thus proposes to repeal the conditions of acceptance of proofs of origin for certain textiles and textile articles originating in third countries .
however , these measures need to be backed up by a coherent economic recovery strategy and by control and sanction mechanisms .
I want to point out that we as a European Parliament - and I have already written to the President too - should send out a clear signal that this is not the spirit that should inspire us in Europe but that we should be working together on the construction of Europe and building up a common future .
however , as the translation of my speeches into Polish sometimes does not even render 50 % of what I have actually said , my Amendment 2 should therefore be included in the report .
conflicts presented as religiously motivated are often triggered by other causes , including conflicts between traditional rulers , land and resource struggles among communities , political in-fighting , and tensions between state and federal authorities .
the possible reduction in duties for the next three years on clothing products from Pakistan risks plunging the manufacturing sector into an even greater crisis than the one we are currently experiencing , with the loss of 120 000 jobs across Europe , and 40 000 in Italy alone .
the new Euro VI regulation for heavy-duty vehicles and buses is one of the measures we have been calling for .
there is no doubt that we must recognise the suffering of the Palestinian population .
( FR ) Mr President , aside from questioning the actual content of this resolution , I would also like to question its principle .
the widely held belief that the promotion of trade relations between this region and the EU should encourage and increase trade , sustainable development and regional integration , while also promoting economic diversification and poverty reduction , is a particularly important feature of this European Parliament resolution on the Interim Partnership Agreement between the EC and the Pacific States .
this is particularly the case because a lively debate and open and transparent discussions about the institutional structures are of great importance for their legitimacy in future and for their public accountability .
that is not true of everyone , though .
therefore , we are facing the possibility of future generations bearing the financial burden for these demographic changes .
the European Union should make every effort to counter this threat .
we should remember that , yes , there is a role for a fast-food chain , but it would be a terrible thing if , in years to come , all we found when we travelled through Europe was fast food .
I wish to say that the European Arrest Warrant is a fundamental example of European Union and of cooperation against organised crime in the European Union . I am entitled to shout this from the rooftops , coming as I do from a country like Spain , which still suffers from terrorism and for which the European Arrest Warrant is an essential weapon in the struggle against terrorism .
secular celebrations deserve the same treatment as religious festivals .
perhaps that is what they mean .
what has been observed in practice is that visa applicants who are rejected by one state try their ' luck ' in other Member States .
trade for trade 's sake - no , I definitely do not believe in it .
unfortunately , I was late for this vote because on my way to the plenary chamber , the lift was not working .
rapporteur for the opinion of the Committee on Budgets . - Madam President , I would just like to focus on the microcredit issue , which the Committee on Budgets completely supports as it will help people without access to normal sources of funds - the very sort of people who need help in the current environment .
another important debate concerns transparency .
it is not by means of a new tax that we will solve the problem of public finances .
so , ¡ viva España !
we must work with the local authorities and with the government of Haiti , as the country is already fragile enough without us making it even weaker by having the international organisations stand in for its authorities .
until we are certain of an effective plan setting up a system with the necessary infrastructure and have robust guarantees that projects will be implemented effectively , Commission funding of relevant waste management projects in Campania is interrupted .
this is completely unacceptable .
I hope that this will be the case , and I thank Commissioner Vassiliou for the statement she made today .
in writing . - ( RO ) I feel it is beneficial that the Europe 2020 Strategy supports an active , focused labour market policy , which will help increase the employment rate of older workers , women , members of minority groups and the long-term unemployed .
the Council considered Parliament 's proposals and incorporated them into this package .
we must take steps to ensure the recognition of professional qualifications within the EU , the transferability of pension rights , and access to basic banking services .
agreements on air transport fall into this category , as they are part of the ordinary legislative procedure .
it is a very serious subject and , as I hope you understood from my introduction , we share your concerns about the horrible breach of human rights that has happened in Conakry .
the request submitted by Spain to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) in relation to 300 of the 528 redundancies at 66 companies operating in NACE 2 Division 23 ( manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products ) in the NUTS II region of Comunidad Valenciana fulfils all the legally established eligibility criteria .
young people must have the opportunity to start a family .
Europe needs a sustained high-level political leap , above the rights , the lefts and the extreme centres , in order to combat threats that are returning with a violence that we have experienced in the past .
I believe that the very swift adoption of this resolution is a good indicator of the way in which we will be able to move on quickly to the other states and , in particular , to Bosnia and Herzegovina and to Albania , without forgetting , of course , Kosovo .
this does not mean calling into question the principle of competition .
Sloth or negligence , like State secrets , are not acceptable where people 's health is concerned .
farming groups were strongly in favour of the treaty and they were very active in this campaign .
to avoid any uncertainty , the fat content percentage of the milk should be clearly visible on the packaging and directly linked to the product description .
the protection of persons under threat at the level of individual Member States appears to be insufficient in many cases .
issues relating to the diet and health of citizens are extremely sensitive and must be considered carefully and objectively .
more important from the United Kingdom 's point of view is the fact that , uniquely or semi-uniquely ( because Cyprus is in the same position ) we are an island .
the man is now serving his life sentence in a prison in Poland , although Polish law does not provide for a life sentence for rape , only for murder - rape carries a maximum sentence of 12 years .
I want Member States who are compliant to be able to protect their consumers and their producers by being able to ban imports of illegally produced eggs from those producers and countries which are not compliant .
in the minutes that remain , I would like to present this legislative project once again in connection with two important issues .
I agree with Mrs Hedegaard : the Union can regain its leading role only if it shows concrete results , by investing in research and development , creating green jobs , developing an intelligent energy network , and pursuing a policy of sustainable green growth .
I should like to thank you for your support for this initiative .
my clear preference will be to distribute it .
I am particularly surprised because there would be negative consequences for the countries of the old Union , as their taxes would be reduced .
I fear that President Yanukovych is trying to neutralise the only Ukrainian political figure with enough gravitas , courage and popularity to challenge his authority .
in writing . - ( HU ) Madam President , in its current review of the sugar reforms , the European Commission is requiring European farmers and the European sugar industry to make yet further unreasonable sacrifices in the name of restoring a balance in the sugar market .
quite apart from the medical consequences of albinism in the tropics , including a high risk of terrible skin cancers , the long-suffering albino people are at best traditionally considered as freaks or curiosities , and at worst they are murdered to satisfy demand for traditional medicine that is more akin to medieval sorcery .
in this fundamental sector of air traffic safety , another important element is the establishment of the European Aviation Safety Agency , whose mission is to promote the highest possible level of safety and environmental protection by civil aviation .
it is an essential piece in our efforts to make Europe more crisis-proof .
what evaluative standard on human rights can one suppose the Governments of Libya or Zimbabwe share with democratic states that are answerable to their populations ?
I particularly thank him for accepting some of my amendments including those concerning the problem of malnourishment , particularly in hospitals and care homes for the elderly .
it started in the United States , and it spread through the City to the other large financial centres .
lastly , it must be appreciated , and this is my final point , that the crisis should not cause us to slow down or to be faint-hearted but rather to respond more quickly and to remain ambitious in our development objectives and in our environmental aims and our fight against climate change .
I note the tribute in this report to ordinary soldiers who have been killed and to the Afghan people who are victims of this war .
the list of establishments to be audited is jointly decided between the national competent authorities and the auditors from the FVO .
it is particularly shocking that around a quarter of the dangerous products are products aimed at children : dolls , water pistols , children 's cutlery , child seats - according to RAPEX in the past week .
I must therefore thank you for giving me this opportunity to set out my thoughts and proposals on the present and future of the Union .
on 14 March , a community club of some kind in Košice unveiled a bust of János Esterházy - a war criminal condemned to death in 1947 for collaborating with fascism .
this was a victory for the Irish people , not necessarily for the government or political parties .
for that to happen , Frontex would have to cooperate and provide the UNHCR with full information ; for that to happen , Frontex would have to include humanitarian concerns in its policies , which it does not do at the moment .
the militarisation of the EU does not serve peace or the interests of the people .
where immigration is concerned , the programme is embarrassingly weak when you look beyond the official documents : what is the point of promising to strengthen bodies and agencies if there is then no political strategy ?
the EU and its institutions , including this House , must increase pressure on governments where these incidents occur , particularly in those countries where the state has weak policies or turns a blind eye to such incidents .
do you think it is important that we have a common policy in Europe , given our concerns about global food security ?
we are talking about a catastrophe for people who have devoted their lives to the production of tobacco .
( FR ) Mr President , the present situation of young people in Europe is very worrying - as you are aware - since there are five million young people out of work .
the first lesson is that the European Parliament has new powers , it has clear powers ; it has a say and it wants to exercise those powers .
so there we are , and we must maintain this pressure without fail , in order to put an end to this unacceptable breach of the law .
thus , prevention is cheaper than cure .
there are many proposals made by the European Commission which tend towards the integration and liberalisation of European markets , resulting in measures to support small and medium-sized enterprises , in particular , to have an effect on innovation and the protection of creativity , improving the efficiency and sustainability of both material and non-material networks and infrastructure .
all of these factors represent serious failings in this agreement .
it can now concentrate fully on its substantive task ; back to work with an agenda ranging from the further development of the social Europe to a better-coordinated foreign policy .
the statement by the Czech constitutional court and the subsequent procedure will be crucial for determining when the Treaty of Lisbon can enter into force .
( FI ) Mr President , I voted in favour of the report on the European External Action Service because I know that this is the result of the Treaty of Lisbon , the Reform Treaty .
Deepwater is merely a symptom of peak oil .
I must say to him that , in the Committee on Foreign Affairs , we did not want to get too bogged down in technicalities given the extremely serious and tense situation in Lebanon , as I have said , following the succession of President Lahoud .
it is time for us to consider new options in any medium- to long-term restructuring plan , as well as the necessary decommissioning grants to match fleet capacity to available resources .
substances that pose a risk to health must be withdrawn , and the overall amount of pesticides we use must be reduced .
this is the first time that Parliament will have voted on the same text as the Council .
of course , a framework will also be provided for cooperation between the competent authorities in the Member States and the European Securities and Markets Authority .
( applause )
the financial crisis shows that international solutions are needed to tackle international problems .
I will give you just one example : the property market situation .
the decisions that we are refusing to take today will lead to new crises .
the peoples of Europe can therefore look back today on a history of groundbreaking achievements , and specialist firms are in demand worldwide on account of their wealth of ideas .
you do not have the right to free expression , association , public debate and not even the right to decide your identity yourself .
let me tell you that this is a priority for the Commission too .
for the first time since the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon , we have the opportunity to express our opinions on the reform of the common fisheries policy ( CFP ) .
have we gained in maturity ?
the fact that , in addition to a process of approval , there is also a process of registration is due to the desire to reduce bureaucracy .
so I am sure Mr Bonde has had no difficulty in finding a consolidated , readable version of the Treaties to help him in his work in the Committee on Constitutional Affairs .
they contribute to wealth and employment for European businesses and their employees and will act as one of the most important factors in stimulating the EU economic recovery .
secondly , this design needs to be a European design that does not divide Europe in two - let us not stumble into a two-speed Europe - and that pursues two objectives with equal intensity : budgetary discipline - as much as is necessary - and economic growth to bring us out of the crisis that we are in .
( FR ) Madam President , Commissioner , Minister , I would like to present a statistic , an observation , and three courses of action .
we do not support Parliament 's position in this regard .
that is what I had the opportunity to say a moment ago with regard to Mr Paparizov 's question .
( EL ) Madam President , developing countries have contributed less than anyone to climate change .
in this respect , we have explored all avenues in order to obtain maximum flexibility and this issue may , if necessary , be re-examined when the functioning of the authorities is reviewed , which is scheduled for the end of 2013 .
the meat brings with it the risk of contamination such as foot-and-mouth disease , as we have heard tonight .
last week , the European Commission announced funding for 43 major energy projects , including four involving Romania .
in writing . - I supported the Podimata report which includes a number of good ideas regarding a global financial transaction tax .
before I finish , Mr President , I would just like to say one more thing : some of our fellow Members have repeatedly claimed that people in the ACP States had too little time to conclude these agreements .
we hope that a new Polish Government will be able to cooperate with Moscow better and as a result perhaps create some room for progress .
patients have unlimited access via the Internet to uncontrolled and frequently incorrect information about prescription-only medicines in a few seconds .
I welcome what is said on that subject in the report .
thanks to them , we have maintained an extremely cohesive position throughout this very lengthy trialogue and I think that the only positive aspect of the dossier is that the European Parliament has been united in defending public health and the interests of consumers .
with 80 % of EU stocks at worrying levels we need real capacity reduction , not renewed boat building at the taxpayers ' expense .
so , to have other sites as well is a necessity , especially to moderate the costs .
the European External Action Service ( EEAS ) represents considerable progress in this respect .
I particularly like the very clear reference in the report that food production is the primary purpose of the common agricultural policy .
the employment offers no security .
we need to return to a secure labour market .
by cooperating more closely with the European Commission , the EIB is today presenting itself as a modern and dynamic bank , and this is thanks to the increase in the number of types of financial projects designed to help restore the socio-economic balance of less-advantaged European regions .
the creation of this information network will make it possible , based on the exchange of experience and good practice between EU countries , to achieve a better understanding of and higher standards for protecting critical sites and activities which are crucially important to countries and their population .
protection of the environment in maritime territories and coastal zones is necessary because this is exceptionally important .
a rethink is necessary in this area , and not only because of the ever dwindling supply of fossil fuels and the impact on the climate that non-renewable energy sources have .
in addition , there was no interpretation into Polish for a certain time , and that was not dealt with either .
but we must do something about it .
I think we have respected these rules scrupulously .
in this area in Portugal too , the delays are very long and it is acknowledged that many magistrates find it difficult to reach a decision on very specific subjects .
the details of the negotiations taking place in Egypt today , in particular , are of crucial importance .
( DE ) Madam President , employers , in particular , are taking every opportunity to call for more and more mobility and flexibility on the European labour market .
it is very irritating if lifestyle medicines are found to contain no active ingredients .
we are responsible not only for the climate but also for the prosperity of our citizens .
in my opinion , we need to help Macedonia , to offer it all the help it needs to be a stable country , but we must refuse to give any help to Albanian separatists because we can see clearly that the 10-year attempt to transform terrorists into democrats has failed completely .
it is in this framework that we can help Tunisia to conclude the efforts it has undertaken by removing all potential barriers to the full development of human beings in that country , and all this within the context of a more advanced status .
we have reached the clear conclusion that the European Union must offer more , more than the Neighbourhood Policy .
I would remind you that the role of special rapporteur has been created within the Human Rights Commission specifically to deal with these issues , these rights .
on the other hand , in the case that several Member States are attacked simultaneously , as is the clear possibility with cyber-attacks , we do need transparency and a certain consistency of arrangements throughout the European Union .
until now , international air transport has been relatively favourably treated compared with other branches of the transport sector .
and this is a great opportunity for the High Representative , Lady Ashton , to use the power and support of the European Union in a way that could not have been done before , to bring these countries to order and to try and alleviate the terrible suffering in these places .
this also applies to the other text under discussion concerning the European initiative on Alzheimer 's disease and other dementias , which is a preliminary step towards submitting a legislative proposal aimed at achieving integration between the various existing policies .
the last European Council agreed the necessary guarantees that allow the Irish Government to call a second referendum , fully reassured that the concerns expressed by Irish people have been addressed satisfactorily .
the accession countries naturally must take greater strides towards guaranteeing human and minority rights , but current EU Member States must set a good example .
this new article provides an opportunity for good cooperation between and across the borders of the fourteen participating Member States .
the climate change conference in Cancún ( COP 16 ) is crucial for all Europeans and for people all over the world .
however , three years after the conflict with Georgia , Russia is still not respecting the agreements of 12 August and 8 September 2008 relating to the withdrawal of its forces from the occupied Georgian provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia , and does not provide the European Union Monitoring Mission with free and total access to its territories .
these measures overturn the most basic freedoms enjoyed by the English for centuries , as enshrined in Magna Carta and the 1689 Bill of Rights .
one of these is the United Kingdom .
cabotage is more important than we realise and I have to say that I cannot agree with my dear friend , Mr Savary , when he expresses fear that the social market will be distorted .
in my report , I emphasised the importance of keeping the three systems for registration of geographical indications separate , since they represent the link with European regions , representing their traditions , history , taste and unique knowledge handed down over time .
in addition , we are in constant contact with third countries , in particular Russia , to ask them to lift their ban , which is considered disproportionate .
Mr Stevenson said that longer journeys were unavoidable - I say : not so .
if the pay gap narrowed at the current pace and did not increase again from time to time , pay would perhaps equalise after seventy years .
( applause )
due to low pay , such work is unattractive to young people .
however , I find remarkable the levity with which we heap praise on Japan 's heroes .
knowing the consultations being carried out at present in the Council , we are waiting to hear how the Commission will work to safeguard national autonomy of action and create an effective basis for cooperation , so that the question of habit and the question of fraud can be combated .
we are focusing on saving lives through prompt treatment of those affected , increasing access to clean water , promoting better hygiene behaviour and supporting epidemiological surveillance in order to know where and how the epidemic is evolving .
there are also three private firms charging parents to store umbilical cord blood cells .
to mention abortion in the same sentence as contraception without even considering the right to life does not reflect the will of Christian Europe .
( PT ) Mr President , I have already said , and now repeat , that this is not a truly urgent matter .
in 2008 an appropriation of EUR 285 million will be made to the common foreign and security policy .
¡ Bienvenido al Parlamento Europeo , señor Rodríguez Zapatero !
after all , that is the only way we can give the reestablishment of peace negotiations any chance of success .
without this aid the populations of these countries see their chances of survival diminish each day .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - Mr President , I would like - I do not think any of my colleagues have done it officially - to congratulate the Portuguese Prime Minister , Mr Sócrates , on a very successful Council and , most importantly , on getting the signing of the Lisbon Treaty .
Deontological questions related to companies ' management (
specifically , a medium-term objective of gross domestic product growth ( GDP ) is introduced .
the prevention plans established in the EU and its Member States for future influenza pandemics must be revised in order to be more effective , coherent and sufficiently autonomous and flexible to be adapted as swiftly as possible , and on a case-by-case basis , to the actual risk , based on up-to date relevant information .
the way to promote growth is to ensure that there is proper funding for innovation , particularly through the creation of European loan securities for funding EU projects .
in other respects , of course , the rules in Europe today are rather strange in that anyone can say whatever they like about medicinal products that are subject to medical prescription except those who manufacture these medicinal products ; in other words , those who should know most about them .
the thinly disguised aim is the monitoring of all remarks under threat of penalty , whether they are made in writing or spoken at meetings .
we should concentrate on disease prevention through the promotion of healthy lifestyles and the provision of optimum treatment , as well as on investment in new technologies and research .
a return to budgetary discipline should not just be a non-binding target ; it must be verifiable and , if necessary , enforceable at a European level .
I have a question for the Commission .
you will surely be pleased to know that I had the honour of being part of the jury that awarded the Charlemagne Youth Prize .
at the same time , we must bear in mind that the EU is in recession .
secondly , under the text of Article 10 , the European Parliament will have no power to exert pressure nor a margin to negotiate with Council over the adaptation of CAP legislation to the new treaty .
this report may be accompanied by a legislative proposal .
Madam President , honourable Members , our discussion this afternoon allows us to address issues relating to economic governance and , in particular , its social aspects .
the next item is the report prepared by Mrs Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs on a proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion ( 2010 ) - C6-0469 / 2007 - .
taking into account how topical this problem is - at present approximately 8 million illegal immigrants are living in the EU - and how complicated it is , I think that creating a common legal framework is unavoidable .
this is much welcomed .
regulation ( EC ) No 1889 / 2006 on establishing a financing instrument for the promotion of democracy and human rights worldwide needs to be an effective , practical instrument that has the flexibility to cope with exceptional operational situations .
this really is no good .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , Prime Minister , President of the Commission , it is not easy to weigh up the progress that ought to have been made during the period of the Czech Presidency .
it was high time to take these measures , which do indeed restrict the vast room for manoeuvre that shipowners have been allowed for centuries .
when I am an ancient 87-year-old , there will be just 66 million children of that age in Europe .
hopefully , in future we could progress towards a better system of reporting , with reference to this directive , so that we might actually know how well the different Member States and actors are implementing its aims .
maybe the Council and the Commission do not like it , but we got everything .
it is important that this procedure be followed in future .
finally , in the context of a package of measures to deal with the Afghan drug problem , the rapporteur 's proposal for a pilot project for the legal production of opium-based analgesics should be studied .
as shadow rapporteur , I have tried to contribute to the report on the European Ombudsman 's activities , with amendments that I have tabled and supported .
firstly , for the first time in the history of Europe the Treaty of Lisbon incorporates a legally binding Charter of Fundamental Rights of the citizens of the Union .
now we come to the structural funds .
as long as we do not have a common army , we will not have a common policy on security and defence .
that is why , with a great deal of determination , we can further improve this text during the dialogue that we are going to have with the Council .
moreover , it often occurs within the family environment , and these women are ashamed to admit it .
therefore , a country such as Lithuania , which faces a tough economic situation , risks losing , for some time , educated people , who are the basis for the country 's growth , and not just in an economic sense .
( PL ) Madam President , today the European Parliament is remembering the victims of one of Stalin 's greatest crimes , the victims of the famine that was deliberately caused by the despotic Bolshevik regime that ruled the Soviet Union and whose intention was to weaken and destroy the Ukrainian nation , and thereby strangle its desire for freedom and to establish its own , independent state .
that is why the EU has implemented the Europe 2020 strategy , which aims to focus greater attention on vocational education and training .
we fought not only to achieve origin markings but also for traceability .
in my own constituency of Munster , Ireland , many workers face a very uncertain old age because the pensions that they have paid into have lost a great deal of value , or in some cases they have lost their pensions completely with the closure of their companies .
moreover , in the report before us , major software developers have attempted to put stumbling blocks in the way of their smaller competitors .
in this setting , the recently-held presidential elections were not perfect , but in the words of the international observation mission , were ' administered mostly in line with OSCE and Council of Europe [ ... ] standards ' .
young people , education and mobility require specific cross-sector investments within the suitable policies in order to promote the EU 's growth and development .
the migration of labour is continuing to grow , not only at global level , but within the EU as well .
the long-term strategy proposed by the European Commission for managing borders is welcome in these times when Member States with southern external borders are faced with major problems caused by illegal immigration .
good cooperation so far has proved essential to maintain peace in this area .
I believe that it is important , and I support this , that agencies are not only subject to totally objective scrutiny , but also that we should examine their own individual development .
the G8 itself has finally got the message .
( SL ) Last year we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty , and the year before that in this House we adopted a resolution which called upon the Bureau , the Council and the Commission to strengthen their efforts towards more effective multilateralism and more stringent implementation of this treaty , which we know has curbed the proliferation of nuclear arsenals , but , unfortunately , failed to bring about a reduction in their numbers .
( ES ) Mr President , I would like to celebrate the fact that there is innovation , attention to innovation , and also partnership , but I would also like to say that we do not know what this thing is that we are talking about .
both questions are linked , although they are dealt with in two different reports .
in the United States , the funding allocated to orders in the area of research and development is 20 times greater than that allocated in the European Union .
at the moment , this is much more of a mirage than a realistic plan .
it is encouraging that Prime Minister Orbán himself will participate .
the next item is the vote .
for example , it is currently estimated that , in 2009 , the fins of 26 million to 73 million sharks entered the global trade .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( NL ) On behalf of my Group may I echo and endorse what the Council President and the Commissioner have just said about events in Turkey .
what has happened , and does Sweden want to lead the way in the future on equal-opportunities issues ?
Prime Minister , thanks to you , over the last half year , we have developed new ways of cooperating at different levels between the two chambers of legislation of the European Union : between Council and the European Parliament .
I think this is still something that we have to try to tackle and deal with .
what we need is a concerted maritime operation locally , with the ships from the EU Member States that are already there .
I would like to thank Commissioner Füle for having voiced the central concern of European integration policy : reciprocal loyalty .
out of two hundred billion , we are still trying to work out how to spend five billion , which some Member States want back instead of putting towards competitiveness .
there are two ways of interpreting Paragraph 26 .
for the European Union it does not make sense to welcome the presence of the last European dictator on our own doorstep .
the problem , which is starting to cause serious difficulties , lies in the imposition of a congestion charge .
it was a real pleasure .
as far as Basel III is concerned , I would simply say to Mr Rübig that we are following the work closely .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( PL ) Madam President , it is very easy for destabilisation , which has tragic consequences , to occur in poor African countries , such as Guinea-Bissau .
the agreement concluded on 26 October 2004 with the Swiss Confederation concerning the criteria and mechanisms for establishing the state responsible for examining a request for asylum lodged in a Member State or in Switzerland , the Dublin agreement , provides for the possible association of Liechtenstein with the Dublin acquis by means of a protocol .
the crisis is affecting us all , and all of us must fight the crisis .
to do so , appropriate education is needed , for there is greater opposition to integration among those with low levels of education .
a lot of time is spent , at committee level as well as plenary , in debating amendments in relation to single versus dual legal bases and different views .
I am pleased to see that there is broad consensus between Parliament and the Council with regard to the importance and necessity of both the objectives of the plan and the resources that need to be made available .
the redundancies are linked to the impact of the economic and financial crisis , which has resulted in a drop in exports for the companies Huta Stalowa Wola SA , HSW - ZZN and DEZAMET SA of 47 % , 34 % and 58 % respectively , meaning that the companies meet the eligibility criteria laid down in the EGF Regulation .
Mr Mann , I understand your frustration .
in writing . - ( RO ) I wholeheartedly support the provisions in the report aimed at raising the level of the European Union 's political commitment to the states targeted by the ENPI , along with the prospect of signing association agreements which are tailored to each country .
I think that the way in which we are debating these problems is also indicative of a lack of will in this House to introduce rules , laws or directives on media concentration and pluralism which are increasingly urgently needed in the European Union .
I am in complete agreement with the Commissioner , as is evident in the report , when he says that the rapid disbursement of aid or European funding is vital for Africa and that coordinated action and the sharing of tasks between Member States and the Commission is essential if we are to compete with the ease with which China finances Africa at the moment , without weighing up the consequences , apart from its own interests .
free and fair competition was supposed to lower prices .
to summarise , the objective of European Union maritime policy of achieving productive fisheries in a clean marine environment requires that the scientists that work in this field have access to horizontal funding mechanisms in the Seventh Framework Programme .
this is something that will become more and more important in the coming days .
large areas , such as the Middle East , Asia and Africa , are the scene for stiff imperialist competition and intervention to control wealth-producing resources and energy transportation routes , which is causing tremendous poverty , harsh exploitation and repression , in collaboration with the bourgeois classes at home and to the detriment of the people .
where there is separation and division , security is replaced by uncertainty and guns do the talking instead of having negotiations .
the Conference of Presidents will decide tomorrow on the final timetable , but the most likely date for the hearing of the new Commissioner-designate is 3 February , with the vote on 9 February .
there are various arguments that could be raised that give our group cause for concern , considerable concern .
I would entreat you to bear in mind the time for which you applied .
I would like to remind you that all the progress recorded in the last few years in a certain number of developing countries - even those that are doing best - will probably be wiped out , preventing the Millennium Development Goals from being achieved .
I think that is also a welcome adjustment to the procedures that we have at the moment .
secondly , today 's debate indirectly raises the very important question of the present and the future of agricultural spending under the Community budget .
however , only a few Member States - I think it is three so far - have either a PNR system in place or plans for such a scheme .
there would be a single speaker and things would be shared more easily .
it allows businesses the flexibility they need to be internationally competitive , whilst protecting workers at the same time .
children need to be , first and foremost , educated and encouraged to eat this type of product with increased nutritional value so that the scheme will achieve its intended objective , in terms of preventing obesity-related illnesses , malnutrition or diabetes , which may occur in adult life .
one of the priorities identified is the need for improved access to finance for SMEs .
there is social and political disorder and monetary disorder is knocking at the door .
in Belarus , elections are not free , there is no freedom of expression , association or demonstration , and repression by the authorities is increasing .
we shall not meet these challenges if industry fails to support scientific developments and new technologies , and if local authorities fail to invest in education .
but we can hear the eggshells cracking as the Commission tries to edge forward on this and we urge the Commission to be really brave and really lead on this issue .
( LT ) I would like to draw attention to some circumstances which seem important to me in resolving the matter of retaining and creating new jobs .
in writing . - We accept that experimentation on animals is sometimes necessary , but we also understand and accept that the necessity of some experimentation is questionable .
in this way we will have proof of their usefulness .
and it is in this context that I would draw your attention to Africa , a continent that is close to Europe and not only in geographical terms , a continent that we would do well to consider and treat as a priority partner .
in view of the complex problems faced by SMEs , the Environmental Compliance Assistance Programme ( ECAP ) proposes a multiple action plan :
this is an important part of the EU 's role .
his title implies some sort of oversight role which is wholly inappropriate .
the first guideline concerns the procedures and principles for improving cooperation and conduct in international financial crises .
Mr Assange remained in Sweden for five weeks to answer the allegations , but he was not questioned as the investigation was unduly delayed .
we expect a resounding response from the Union on Friday .
I have been asked to prepare this report .
concerning Turkey , does not the President think that there is much that Turkey still needs to do in the field of human rights ?
I am well aware that the worth of an MEP 's work does not lie solely in attendances and absences , but I cannot understand the reason why we ourselves should half conceal this information , opening the door to the worst and most demagogic kinds of manipulation .
it is therefore of great importance that , with the revised framework agreement , our institutions will now get a solid and formally agreed basis for mutual relations and will be able to start implementing all elements of the agreement in daily practice .
from now on , with the Framework Agreement , you are going to have the President of Parliament and the Conference of Presidents , from which the non-attached Members are excluded , in flagrant breach of the provisions of the Rules of Procedure .
this voice from the European Parliament is striving to make up for 10 to 20 years of delay .
in writing . - I support Mr Konrad 's report on the programme for the modernisation of the European enterprise and trade statistics .
I think it was not without reason that in your speech , you did not mention foreign policy .
European neighbourhood policy (
for after all , the total chaos in air traffic experienced by passengers , and their complete lack of knowledge about when flights would be resumed , show the EU institutions , including principally the European Commission , in an extremely bad light .
if there is a desire to do something about the difficulties being experienced by the poor in paying for essential consumption , there are many other methods that can be used which do not involve green taxes .
worst of all , they call into question the implementation of initiatives and investments which constitute gains and added value for the EU .
drugs prevention and information ( 2007-2013 ) ( vote )
the Commission has come forward with proposals to enhance parliamentary scrutiny and offers other compromise solutions , but these have failed to gain traction both in Parliament and in the Council .
why do we have to learn through leaked documents that torture was inflicted and condoned in Iraq ?
there are Roma in Finland too ; there , the problem is mainly the low standard of education and consequent unemployment .
there are very significant health inequalities between countries and regions in the European Union .
I voted in favour of this report as I believe that the current financial , economic and social situation in the EU cannot prevent the institutions from employing strict management procedures so that the necessary savings may be achieved .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , this debate has briefly but clearly shown once again our great concern at the situation in Tibet .
unfortunately , only EUR 7 billion , or 1 % of this money , has been received so far .
we are at a turning point .
my reaction upon reading the report was positive , which is why I voted in favour of it .
happily , this did not happen in these countries .
in difficult economic times , it is easy to end up with a symbolic debate on Parliament 's own costs and cost increases .
it will also assess the situation of other social economy enterprises and propose new actions if necessary .
as Mrs Ţicău pointed out , the UK is not party to the Visa Information System as the country is not in Schengen , so the UK has full control of its own borders .
in this regard , I would like to highlight the important role that will come to be played by the EU Parliamentary Assembly - Eastern Neighbourhood countries .
Frontex takes a step too far when it comes to coordinating the border controls and immigration policies of the Member States .
countless dozens of texts have benefited from the work of our intergroups ; there are tens of thousands of people , Mr President , and hundreds of institutions who have been received in Parliament thanks to the work of the intergroups .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , paragraph 41 of the report reads : ' urges that under no circumstances should European space policy contribute to the militarisation and weaponisation of space ' .
HU Jia was born on 25 July 1973 in Beijing and is one of the most passionate defenders of human rights in the People 's Republic of China .
as you know , this idea was launched here in Parliament three years ago , but there is still a long way to go and we still have to wait for this dream to come true .
- ( EL ) Mr President , Commissioner , the remit of the Bali Conference is to promote an ambitious and realistic post-2012 framework .
this monitoring system should be specifically designed to prevent social dumping .
from the Hungarian perspective , what is particularly valuable in the new institution is the opportunity to offer our own distinctive contribution to the process .
moreover , Mexico itself , as a country of 100 million people and a vital EU strategic partner , has increasingly - and sadly - become an important market for cocaine .
thirdly , we have given the package of pilot projects and preparatory measures , which was agreed between all the groups and has already been evaluated by the Commission , a range of impulses for new policy elements , new Community actions and possibly new legislation .
marine regions are therefore working together in a variety of ways .
my conception of the social market economy is rather different - it would not include decentralised wage negotiations , quite the opposite , in fact .
as the shadow rapporteur of the PSE Group , I put forward the following proposals :
we think that this is good for Europeans - that it is good for our citizens .
what is preventing the Commission from doing something in this case ?
the European Union 's goal must be to eliminate the disparities between the new and old Member States , which are still quite significant .
I fully agree with Mr Trichet that the euro is not only a technical monetary arrangement but is rather the core political project of the European Union , which must be defended and developed in this European spirit , not least today and tomorrow , as the European Council is convening at a very critical moment .
Washington , with a happily retiring President , is responsible for having fuelled years of tension in the region .
I was therefore pleased to see the broad support in Parliament , as we have already achieved a great deal : firstly , a stable food supply for the population , secondly , maintenance and preservation of the cultural landscape and , thirdly , the renewal of important resources and protection of the environment and of the flora and fauna .
your introductions , refreshing in their objectiveness , should set the tone for the whole of 2008 .
Madam President , honourable Members , the Council would obviously like to reiterate that the free movement of persons is one of the fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the treaty and secondary legislation deriving from it , and that this includes the right for citizens of the European Union to live and work in another Member State .
a more efficient - and that means a more coordinated - approach among Member States brings about the prospect of a win-win scenario , whereby the achievement of social and cultural goals is enhanced alongside the great benefit for Europe 's economy .
- ( PL ) Mr President , during the last plenary session in Parliament we discussed the problem of rising food prices .
the vote will take place on Thursday , 7 October 2010 .
the referendum on the constitution is polarising Venezuela because the new proposals concentrate political power and will not lead to an open , ideological and democratic society .
therefore , I support this proposal and recommend to the Council that it should give careful consideration to this report .
therefore , we cannot support this part of the amending budget in this respect .
it is even more amazing that the Council is hindering this from happening .
I regret the considerable step backwards from the position initially adopted by this House , on three main points .
everyone knows that using the name Macedonia without any prefixes will meet with insuperable objections from Greece .
we also require a system of benchmarks , based on the horizontal social clause , to assess the relevance of all Single Market measures based on their social impact , tangibility and feasibility , to be used as a basis for future policy .
what are the formalities for collecting the signatures ?
Madam President , on a point of order , I should like to inform the Members of this House that this morning the Court of First Instance in Luxembourg ordered that the People 's Mojahedin Organization of Iran should be taken off the EU terror list .
what binding legal instruments does the Council propose to ensure that companies respect the principles of due diligence and reporting and are punished in the event of violations of human or environmental rights within their area of responsibility ?
there were no votes against , and I see no new reasons to change my opinion on this .
this objective needs to be brought into play more in the future .
the law in continental Europe , in particular , the former Eastern bloc , simply does not have that priority and it is ridiculous to pretend otherwise .
at any rate , I will try to be a little slower if that would make it better .
it is absolutely paramount to focus this support in the areas most affected by land abandonment .
23 .
we tend to say that our children are our treasure . all treasures have to be protected against burglars .
under the Czech presidency , talks will also continue on enlargement covering the countries of the Western Balkans and Turkey .
it is unacceptable , for example , that a website can explain how to make homemade bombs with complete impunity .
as Socialist coordinator on human rights , I also want to congratulate the High Representative on her strategic review of human rights and on the commitment in her letter to foreign ministers to integrate human rights with trade development and other EU policies and to achieve ' specific deliverables ' .
there are , in fact , Member States that reward illegal aliens , the mass regularisations in Spain , Italy and Belgium , among others , being a case in point .
- Resolution :
the answer is ' not really ' .
finally , Mr Daul , who is the chair of the group which includes the representatives of Nea Dimokratia , should be a little more restrained in his criticism of other parties .
millions of people have lost their jobs .
we must strive to ensure that our research is attractive and accessible for the world 's best researchers , European enterprises and universities .
tea drinkers are to oust the men who live by harvesting grapes and making wine in the Minervois , in Corbières and Costières and the Picpoul vineyards .
as rapporteur , I would like to point out that the majority of the Committee on Budgets decided to place the additional money in the reserve - it has thus not yet been agreed by the Committee on Budgets - and to demand a precise evaluation .
this is to the detriment of undertakings and workers in the European Union who , unlike their trade partners in non-EU Member States , are required to comply with more stringent social , environmental and fiscal standards .
as a new Member of this House , I would like you to clarify , with respect to Rule 2 , whether a Member of this House is free to express his or her opinions without any censorship .
my second point is that the report mentions CCS technology as having the potential to meet our environmental targets while exploiting a source of energy - coal - that is largely available in Europe .
the Council must send the proposal for a Council decision and the text of the agreement to the European Parliament for its opinion .
but now I have to speak here on behalf of the Council so you need to respect certain legal grounds which are available to us , and the fact is that the budget and all those issues are important .
but we know that Greece has no intention of leaving the eurozone .
Madam President , when we Romanians were a candidate country , we were lectured amongst others by people like former Commissioner Frattini about the absolute need to respect the rights of minorities , including the Roma .
we must be sure that our children are safe , not only on the Internet , but in public and private institutions as well .
the previous speakers have said it already : the European Union must stop supplying weapons to the region immediately .
manufacturers ' results are falling .
we need to coordinate information better in order to combat this growing phenomenon more effectively .
I call on all those who rightly advocate a dialogue , a debate with Hamas , not to be naïve , to bear in mind the fact that a debate must be held with Hamas in order to improve the situation in Gaza , since they hold the power , but , at the same time , to realise that Hamas 's strategy requires there to be casualties .
what is most important at this moment is that the EU finds a way of liberalising the entry visa regime .
personally , I am prepared to talk and there are ways of achieving an effective level of transparency , but I beg you , do not keep talking about ' transparency ' , ' control ' , about how things should be ...
I found an answer in the strategic nature of the document , which showed me the two pillars on which I came to base my work : firstly completeness , so as not to leave any gaps or underestimate the importance of any of the numerous aspects of the subject in hand ; and practicality , so as to be able to draw up a genuinely future-oriented document identifying effective instruments and solutions .
secondly , as has also already been said , I am in favour of the Commission setting up a network of independent experts responsible for proposing the most appropriate restrictive measures to the Council based on the situation , producing regular reports on the development of the situation on the basis of the criteria and objectives established , and , if appropriate , proposing improvements in the application of sanctions .
if the industry wants uniform cucumbers in uniform jars of uniform weight , that is up to the industry and not the European Union or the European Parliament .
I should like to say to Mr Dos Santos that these indicative limits have nothing to do with health or with Luxembourg .
the fight against terrorism is , and remains , a foreign policy priority for both the European Union and the United States .
now at last it is time to open our eyes .
it expects to inform Ireland of its results in July of this year .
consequently , I believe that it is very important that such a tone , a tone demanding the restoration of constitutional power and the restoration of President Zelaya , serves as Parliament 's identifying feature .
furthermore , if the members of the European Council had opened the windows of their meeting room on 18 October , they would have been able to measure the strength of this disaffection in person , as expressed on the streets of Lisbon by the largest demonstration seen in Portugal in the last 20 years , and I think that neither Mr Sócrates nor Mr Barroso will contradict me on this point .
( FR ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , this is a fascinating debate , and yet I should like to say , perhaps rather bluntly , that we should not confuse the issue .
however , this plan must not detract from the EU 's focus on the Eastern Partnership .
it is also a fact , however , that the Commission is not forcing anyone to do that .
financing options for cross-border projects already exist in the Civil Justice Programme , where the use of videoconferencing features as a priority .
the Treaty of Lisbon was signed under dictatorial circumstances , which means that it cannot have any democratic consequences .
irrespective of our analysis of what is happening in Belarus , we cannot be complicit in this blatant attack on the independence and national sovereignty of this country , encouraging direct interference in its internal affairs and manipulating events that only the Belarusians and the authorities of the country are entitled to resolve , in order to try and align the state and its authorities with the interests of the European Union .
I shall read the following , from the French response .
Baroness Ashton , you are quite right to be concerned , because the situation in Afghanistan is extremely severe , particularly from the viewpoint of human rights .
several amendments would have considerably worsened the report , including the proposal that the EU should become a ' nuclear-weapons-free zone ' .
you are now going to ask them to include an additional phrase : ' traditional wine ' , for wine made in the conventional way , because our Spanish friends need to sell their surplus of white wine , since they have not been grubbing up .
the people whose situation is continuously worsening are those with actual needs , those who are incapacitated and live with severe disabilities : we see more and more examples of widespread abuse , for example , in the area of disability pensions , which bring down the standard of provisions .
I do not wish to reiterate the importance of these companies to our socio-economic fabric , and therefore I hope that a dialogue can be initiated with small and medium-sized enterprises that will help speed up procedures and eliminate as much red tape as possible .
I believe it is one of the greatest innovations of our Lisbon Treaty and I am committed to reinforcing cooperation with the European Parliament in the field of external affairs in general .
in Greece alone , the estimated number of victims of trafficking for prostitution has been increased to 40 000 a year , including women and children , but excluding other forms of trafficking .
I believe that announcing 2009 as the European Year of Creativity and Innovation will be effective in helping to raise people 's awareness , to spread information about good practice and to stimulate research and creativity and , above all , will stimulate a discussion about policy and the changes that should be initiated so that creativity and innovation gain more support from companies , European institutions and Member States .
both must ensure the stability , growth , fairness and sustainability that our citizens demand .
if we fail to denounce this ethnic cleansing , why would the occupiers ever even consider allowing them to return back to their homes , towns and villages ?
that should go hand in hand with real progress in the area of democracy and the rule of law .
in their missions , they are working to protect the civilian population , mainly women and children , against violence . the Polish armed forces have also been involved in the peace missions .
in addition , I call on the Commission to support the claims for damages being brought against the companies responsible by the duped farmers who unknowingly poisoned their own cattle .
they expect answers from us , they expect protection and , above all , they need answers now and not in a few months ' time .
otherwise , all EU Member States , not just Greece , will face serious problems , because two thirds of EU Member States have an excessive deficit .
studies of individual accidents have shown that , among other reasons , they took place because of negligence and a failure to comply with the law .
that is a challenge .
it goes without saying that the banks cannot be allowed to lead Parliament on a merry dance any longer .
overall , what is certainly clear is that we have a shared agenda as globally relevant partners and we have to find ways to sort out our differences and seek convergence .
the essence of the ' Green New Deal ' development plan put forward by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and President Barack Obama is to link economic stimulus with environmental investments and with support for increased energy efficiency and environmentally friendly technologies .
they cannot imagine what war might be like .
we are not protesting against justice , but against politically imposed abuses .
while there was profit all around the world , there was normalcy ; now that losses occur , it is the fault of capitalism .
however , I will be very happy to consider this problem further .
'Evidence ' of non-respect will be much harder to prove than ' reason to believe ' .
the key individuals have left .
what sources are available to support the further evolution of solar thermal electricity ?
I refer here to Mrs Parvanova 's question about possible stand-alone proposals on interoperability .
especially in times of economic turmoil , it is important that we offer solutions to the people .
I intended my presence to be a message : even if this decision is painful for many , it was announced in circumstances where we were not afraid .
secondly , the proposed catch certificate is positive .
this legislative initiative on the control of ' executive instruments ' by the Commission has been imposed by the Treaty of Lisbon , which includes this under the legislative powers of the European Parliament .
however , since the voting procedure forces me to take a view of the group of amendments as a whole , I have chosen to abstain from voting on Block 3 .
airline companies have no legal obligation to insure against a collapse and so some of them do not take out such insurance .
solutions to such problems can be found through the flexibility provisions in the regulations to be adopted at national level .
we must hope that the Commission is doing its homework and will be more specific in the 2008 Green Paper on the rights of the child .
the report sets out a list of transparency rules that apply today to the different players in the financial markets in the EU .
a review , if it is to be carried out , must not focus solely on the single aspect of the internal market .
what we should have at the end of this crisis is a more sustainable economy with decent work , with quality public services and fair globalisation , moving towards the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals .
after losing visual perspective , an untrained pilot has about 50 seconds to regain it before losing control of his aircraft .
coordinated action means , above all , cooperation within the EU , as well as strong links with the United States : cutting our links with the United States in the fight against terrorism would be an extremely serious mistake , and would cause very severe damage to the population of the European Union as a whole , but there should also be links with the moderate Arab countries , including those in Al-Qaida 's sights .
I echo the conclusions of the rapporteur , especially those that concern the importance of SMEs to European economies and the need to facilitate access to finance as well as the need for greater encouragement for SMEs to enhance innovation , thus increasing competitiveness .
these principles are , and must also continue to be , the starting point for cooperation in the area of asylum and migration .
the first one is the almost total concentration of the daily newspapers in the hands of foreign ( specifically German ) syndicates , whose economic and political interests clearly contradict the objective interests of the Czech Republic , in particular with regard to the pluralist view and media independence .
the proposal included in the report is aimed at improving the comparability and completeness of the statistics transmitted , as well as the efficiency of the data processing , including improved data evaluation .
the presence at the negotiations in Geneva of the Commissioner who is here today was also appreciated .
on the other hand , however , it does not criticise or propose alternatives to the neoliberal and restrictive policies of the Stability and Growth Pact , which are causing so many problems for SMEs and the general public .
having said all this - and I am about to finish - and with the understanding that shared aims should not exclude reasoned and reasonable criticism , I am convinced that the imminent summit between the EU and India will be a success .
( it ) As regards the Ţicău report , I voted in favour of the common position on updating the directive on the energy performance of buildings , because the aim is that , from the end of 2020 , all newly constructed buildings will have an energy balance equal to zero , an aim that the European institutions must make every effort to achieve .
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I am also convinced that , together , we will succeed in building this criminal justice area , this area of law which should characterise a community of citizens which quite rightly have the right to enjoy quality justice , in whichever Member State they find themselves .
I believe I do not need to point out how extremely important these two sectors are for European economic growth and employment .
I believe it should help to ensure proper linkage of relief , rehabilitation and development operations .
it is , after all , an important question , as it ultimately affects every single citizen .
democratic governments cannot turn their backs on the victims of terrorism ; they have already paid the highest price in the fight for liberty .
it simplifies matters considerably , and we are seeing the effects of that .
I therefore disagree in this regard with the decision of the majority in Parliament and the Council .
the question that I want to ask and that we are all going to ask is : who are you ?
the Swedish Presidency will work towards agreement on this in the Council by the end of the year .
as many as 1 500 websites where children are sexually abused were discovered in 2008 .
I support all the efforts that have been made in this regard , which are restoring public confidence in the markets .
the Commission in its communication 823 on coordination put forward a proposal to create a mechanism for an effective resolution of disputes connected with international double taxation problems in the EU but due to insufficient support from the Member States , as the MEP mentioned here , the Commission abandoned this request in favour of other initiatives .
( PT ) The aim of this report on the ERDF is to broaden eligibility for intervention in the housing sector in favour of the marginalised communities of our Member States .
at that time , he was appointed Minister of the Interior .
we have a compromise in which one of the priorities is combating proliferation .
that being so , it seems to me that a certain number of guarantees have been obtained on the purpose of the data , on the use to which the data may be put and on the storage of the data .
I fully support the Committee on Budgetary Control 's decision to postpone granting discharge to the European Medicines Agency in the light of what I feel are some very serious points .
all matters worth discussing .
I am afraid that attempts to speed up and deepen integration and to shift decision making affecting living standards of Member State citizens more and more to a European level may have repercussions endangering everything positive that has been achieved in Europe over the past half century .
meanwhile , the Commission will continue preparatory work on the pilot project within the framework of an ERA-NET network and within the framework of an administrative arrangement with the Joint Research Centre in Ispra in close collaboration with the Member States .
the European Union must make every effort to establish at global level a policy on adapting to climate change .
this is why I fully identify with the principles for its provision such as humanity , impartiality , neutrality , independence , immediacy and effectiveness .
I want to speak for the record and for the sake of democracy in this Chamber .
Madam President , Commissioner Ashton , ladies and gentlemen , I think it is very important for the European Parliament to take the opportunity offered by this debate with a view to the March elections in Iraq .
by the way , at my recent meeting with President Medvedev , I once again made the point about the supply of energy from Russia to Lithuania .
this is why it is essential to adapt the Community policies to take account of this constraint resulting from insularity and remoteness .
ladies and gentlemen , I endorse the Wallis report .
this should be an important criterion for future assessments of other measures taken by the central bank .
as long as we continue to consider the 2020 Strategy as too big and too ambitious to be squeezed into a practical document like the budget , I think we will achieve nothing more than increasing the risk of another failure , which is exactly what nobody wants , starting with the Commission , if I remember the first communication on the 2020 Strategy correctly .
however , there is only one Internet service provider who has a monopoly of broadband in the town and , although it is expanding , the connection is extremely slow and simply not conducive to running a business .
may I be so bold as to hope that Afghanistan will rapidly introduce a moratorium on execution of the death penalty .
as someone who hails from the only region in France to share a border with three other EU Member States and who represents a constituency that is particularly affected by cross-border issues , I am very sensitive to these problems .
I therefore ask the European Parliament to decide on expressing its consent to the banana trade agreement tomorrow .
indeed , as is argued , finding solutions for common problems in Europe is a challenge for faster development , greater cost efficiency and increased creative strength .
at the same time , financial speculation on food commodities that leads to volatility in food commodity prices is adding to this scenario , as are extreme weather events and the constant increase in bioethanol production instead of food .
it is also most unfortunate that the Members of this Parliament were not properly consulted or kept informed ; this has never happened before - a major opportunity has been missed by the Commission and the First and the Deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland , and not one extra euro has been given .
I would like the European Union to consider the ramifications of the application of such inhumane laws on relations with Pakistan .
for example , they confiscate lipstick .
as yet there are no test criteria , even though judgments have already been made - judgments that the stress tests are too soft , disappointing or inadequate .
that will be crucial in order to guarantee all the rights that Parliament is going to reinforce on the basis of Mrs Gräßle 's report .
especially during the current financial and economic crisis , we are being very clearly reminded once again of the negative effects of globalisation .
it is the competence of the national authorities and courts to apply that right , and we are awaiting the outcome of court decisions in some countries .
I would reiterate that reaching a legally binding international agreement in Copenhagen that is ambitious , realistic and involves all parties is also a matter of social justice .
lastly , Mrs in ' t Veld and Mrs Stihler brought up the issue of more sophisticated programmes and more sophisticated instruments .
so did Italy 's .
if this is to change in future , it is important that the balance between freedom and security is preserved .
this is only an offer ; acceptance is voluntary .
since preventing and fighting terrorism are one of the top priorities among the European Union 's internal actions , this objective is explicitly included under Article 75 of the Treaty of Lisbon .
our group supports free and equal access to the treatment people need , so we reject this proposal .
the EGF was set up in 2006 to provide practical support to workers made redundant either for reasons associated with the relocation of their companies or , following the 2009 amendment , on account of the economic crisis , in order to assist their reintegration into the labour market .
furthermore , I voted against the EEAS , because it is designed to be a tool for the further militarisation of the European Union , as it also includes military action , even in cases of humanitarian assistance and intervention .
Mr Ferrari , you propose continuing to observe and monitor the use and improvement of passive safety systems and the potential use of new active safety systems and then , if necessary , suggesting amendments to existing legal provisions .
I therefore call for a solution that would respect the principles of openness and transparency .
in writing . - ( SK ) Reserves of raw materials for the production of traditional hydrocarbon fuels are constantly declining and therefore the subject of research and development of new alternative drive systems in the motor vehicle industry is most urgent .
this is the first application to be examined under the 2011 budget , and it relates to the mobilisation of the total sum of EUR 453 570 .
this is the key point , and it is why we believe that the Commission 's proposal was better .
good cooperation between the European Union and Ukraine is very important , especially for neighbouring countries .
independently of all this , which is already rather a lot , we also need to understand we are facing a difficult economic and social crisis , the extent of which we do not yet know .
the Commission has just told us that there is clear research , but the opinion being expressed here is that this is not the case .
the general aim of the report , namely to strengthen coordination between EU economies , is undoubtedly a good one , but the same cannot be said of the mechanisms that are meant to achieve it .
this amendment reconfirms the principle that life forms and living processes must not be subject to patents .
this is needed to boost hopes of maintaining the comparative advantage of the EU 's developmental capabilities .
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with regard to the social aspects that have been raised , there is the social dialogue committee which , in 2005 , discussed an agreement on working time for international traffic .
against a background where speculators are jeopardising the stability of the single currency on a daily basis by isolating and exerting pressure on Member States , the solution can only be achieved by maintaining solidarity at EU level .
subject : protection of the textile and clothing industries in the context of international trade
we must not allow a message to be sent to the car industry to focus on bio-fuels instead of more efficient cars
Moldova needs the European Union to be a trustworthy partner .
look at my date of birth ; I was born on the 13th , so it is excellent .
sustainability and growth are two buzzwords often heard , above all , in industrial policy , but their implementation is seriously in doubt , due , primarily , to the lack of available resources .
Irrationally enough , the Chinese Government does not take hold of this helping hand , but strikes it down repressively .
the current situation is bizarre , trekking as we do backwards and forwards between Brussels and Strasbourg at vast cost in time and money .
the amendment which called for the phasing out of nuclear power was voted down .
mutual aid and assistance in the event of natural disasters is a true sign of active European solidarity and is therefore to be welcomed and supported .
at the same time , nor is the creation of a framework of specifications for legal immigration a way to combat illegal immigration .
or should we not exercise a little restraint in these matters ?
first , it has claimed that 90 % of energy efficiency measures can be financed by developing countries themselves .
they have not done so - Italy , for example has not - and so we find cities , such as the capital of Christianity , invaded by Roma and Romanians who commit crime , rape and other unlawful acts but are not thrown out .
the Council took into account , thanks to the excellent cooperation we have had with Mrs Klamt , numerous areas of discussion from the European Parliament , be it the definition of the card beneficiaries , its delivery conditions , the attention paid to the ethical recruitment method and the possibilities for circular migration , as well as the elimination of discrimination based on age or the necessary flexibility regarding card validity .
( PL ) Mr President , Belgium , which is one of the six founding states of the European Union , has recently ended its six-month Presidency .
you also raised the question of subsidiarity , and wondered whether a European initiative was needed .
the recruitment of teaching staff from the relevant communities is one way for us to ensure that these children have contact with the culture of their country of origin and that the experiences derived from immigration are shared .
they end up as huge documents that lack transparency and are difficult to transpose into the legislation of all countries .
in general this report and our White Paper agree that the general orientation of physical education does not necessarily correspond to today 's societal needs .
critical words were spoken by my colleague Mr Duff regarding the position of the British Government , which demanded an opt-out .
the effects of these regulations chiefly impinge on women , and they should be changed as soon as possible .
what a contrast to the openness and promptness of China in helping the survivors in Sichuan !
there is no reason to believe that , given a concentrated , targeted effort and substantial research resources , Europe should not be able to achieve the objectives it has set itself , and make itself the leading industry within the automotive sector that it already is .
questions Nos 14 , 15 and 16 have been withdrawn .
I had a choice : I could ask for everybody 's opinions and take no action , or act and then check whether the others agreed .
resumption of the session
we shall see what it does with it .
events in North Africa demonstrate the important contribution Turkey has to make , spreading stability and democratic values .
that we set up a fund in order to aid these refugees is completely acceptable to me insofar as there are currently millions of citizens in the EU living in existential uncertainty and extreme poverty .
I shall fight to safeguard the European added value of cohesion policy at regional level .
in writing . - I support the recommendations in this report on improving market access to China , lifting barriers to trade by increasing accessibility of foreign companies in China and focusing on creating a level economic playing field .
President Sarkozy , I was under the impression that you were speaking here in your capacity as President of the European Council , and I responded in my capacity as chairman of a group in the European Parliament .
1 .
I believe the European Parliament should take a position on this question at the first reading , since it will be difficult to persuade European taxpayers to continue providing unconditional aid to Russia when it is spending money on wars beyond its borders .
openness will strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness in Government ' .
thirdly and finally , the full implementation of the repair clause should result in falling car insurance premiums .
how are you going to ensure this , and what timetable are you working to ?
as Mr Barroso said earlier , the Commission has today taken a decision on the first measures that we are to be responsible for , namely the citizens ' initiative .
they can either recognise the rights of Parliament and its projects or they can humiliate Parliament , in which case there will be no budget .
we need to have better co-ordination of economic policy but taxation policy must remain in the hands of Member States .
I would like to make you aware of the Green Weeks that are taking place in Brussels this week and in Luxembourg and Strasbourg in the next two weeks .
the implementation of the so-called San José Agreement , which should provide the necessary framework and conditions to restore democracy and the constitutional order in Honduras , has not progressed after the National Unity Government nominated on 5 November was rejected by President Zelaya .
the European Court of Justice , in view of the public interest , acknowledged the right of governments to ban or to restrict online gambling .
political responsibility for the way forward now rests with the Irish Government and its Taoiseach , Brian Cowen .
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these efforts have been artificially stimulated by the increase in costs of generating energy in coal-fired power stations .
this report is on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council directive amending Directive 2000 / 25 / EC as regards the provisions for tractors placed on the market under the flexibility scheme .
finally , a word on the delivery channels for climate funding .
this would strengthen the national regulators and take care of health and safety issues in Europe .
however , the subject of photovoltaic modules remains a problem .
the procurement decision would thus in future not be based solely on the price of the vehicle but also on the environmental costs that it involves throughout the vehicle 's life .
we must look at how those political parties , so necessary for shaping the people 's will , are funded .
if we all pull together effectively , we should be able to use our power to open up these markets .
Vice-President designate of the Commission . - Mr President , as the Presidency said , the questions you have put forward raise important issues in relation to the future management of restrictive measures or sanctions in the EU .
Burundi was spared the massive campaign by the Hutu majority in neighbouring Rwanda to the north to wipe out the troublesome Tutsi minority .
we must also demand an adequate assessment of the effect of the northern gas pipeline on the environment .
10 .
economic immigration is a reality that must be organised , but it is also a necessity with regard to the democratic and economic challenges which will face the European Union in the near future .
Russia collaborates directly with EU Member States because the EU does not have any coherent or coordinated energy policy .
it is very clear .
four years passed and nothing happened .
this triple legislation package will simplify paper work whilst making it easier for Member States to improve surveillance on the EU market , which does not work at just one level today .
the UNRRA ( United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration ) is obliged to block aid to the poorest families .
the issue is that Europe , I repeat , must be ready to meet international timescales , bearing in mind the 2009 timetable , and must be ready to take the desired initiatives in Poznań , at the conference which has just opened , and in Copenhagen next November .
if you are now telling us to wait for better times and if you agree with Jean-Claude Juncker , who said yesterday that we have done enough , then I say : you have not done enough - people expect more from Europe than you are saying today .
the main concern I and many of my colleagues had in relation to the 2008 budget was ensuring full Community financing for the launch of the Galileo project , and consequently the European Technology Institute , without jeopardising the funding for programmes aimed at implementing the Lisbon Strategy .
should we cut back on agricultural aid ?
I would like to ask you to participate fully in this debate , explaining that this is not about a centrally imposed diktat .
I can assure you that Spain is not the worst and certainly will not be so in the next few years because we are going to make a huge national effort to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions , to invest in alternative renewable energies and to pursue a policy of energy efficiency and saving .
deputising for the author . - Mr President , unfortunately , Mr Evans has had to return to the United Kingdom .
everyone says that it will never be introduced unless all the Member States do so at the same time .
in granting discharge for the Council 's budget for 2007 , we have demonstrated our positive attitude .
he lost his case in the Belgian court system and in the European Court of Justice , but now he has been cleared by the European Court of Human Rights .
in Agenda 2020 , European leaders came up with a plan to revive our economy , but they did not say how it was going to be financed and controlled or what the incentives or possible sanctions would be .
by that , I mean both the basic principles and the sums allocated .
European efforts should be directed towards seeking an agreement that places an obligation on all parties .
we want a strong Europol .
in any case , one of the French Presidency 's ambitions , looking in particular towards the October European Council , is to raise these issues and to look at them together .
the European project will only be viable if we are able to ensure that disadvantaged groups in society are able to exercise their rights .
one is the deputy head of al-Qa 'ida in Yemen , and one has blown himself up .
the solution lies in concerted action ; local authorities , governments and the European Community all have a role and a responsibility in this regard .
the vote will take place on Thursday , 13 December 2007 .
the funding for the new CAP must be linked to results , so as to prevent waste and various kinds of speculation .
in writing . - By adopting this resolution , Parliament emphasises the need to maintain a balance between the three dimensions of the OSCE , developing them coherently and comprehensively and building on what has already been achieved .
everything that was good about Britain is gradually being destroyed by membership of this malignant organisation known as the European Union .
firstly , in an integrated Europe , systemic risks cannot continue to be regulated at national level .
we have no wish to be fobbed off any longer ; what we want is efficiency at long last .
the political and economic situation in Zimbabwe has reportedly assumed ' life-threatening proportions ' .
in the second week of March , we are planning to have a comprehensive text , including a recommendation , which will be open to discussion and amendments and which will wind up with a debate in plenary with the participation of the High Representative , who , to our knowledge , is not available this week .
we therefore call on the Commission to launch , in conjunction , of course , with the 27 Member States - as the Commissioner mentioned - an information campaign aimed at parents-to-be , so that these donations become a reality , if not a necessity .
in the case of Romania , this will have extremely severe consequences on the whole economy , and the industry will be seriously affected .
lastly , I believe that we must hold a genuine political debate at European level on what we mean by services of general interest and on the rules that we wish to apply to them .
approval of the guidelines for the Europe 2020 strategy and the ' alleged ' Community economic support mechanism are two sides of the same coin .
such guarantees will make the European Union and its institutions more democratic , and more directly accessible and more verifiable for half a billion European citizens .
nuclear disarmament ?
the authorities in Zimbabwe seem not to notice the seriousness of the situation and have taken no action .
often , it has simply been reinvested in assets bearing higher interest .
unfortunately , it is this question that we are forced to ask the Council .
of course , Iran can always derive a degree of influence through proxies , but that would probably not prove decisive in gaining control in those countries .
we cannot go on as we did before and Mrs Grossetête is absolutely right about that .
the idea of a charter that would create a single piece of legislation covering consumer rights that are currently included in a number of European directives and numerous national implementation instruments was rejected for legal reasons .
we all want an effective and credible Commission , one that makes full use of its power of initiative and that is not scared to practise the Community method .
we must ensure that they can continue to fulfil their vital functions unimpeded in future , too .
on that point , I consider its advocacy of the establishment of a minimum income threshold in all Member States to be of great value , so that everyone , whether or not they are employed , can live with dignity .
it is therefore important that we here in Parliament and in the Commission really look closely at how PNR data will be used .
the agreement also provides for the compulsory employment of local seamen , that is from Guinea-Bissau , in accordance with the vessel 's gross tonnage .
the future needs Europe more than ever .
this category must also be clearly defined and taken into account in the statistics .
the Council 's climate policy has such large holes in it that it can only be compared with a fishing net for catching whales !
to date , restrictions have already been imposed on mercury , lead , cadmium and a number of flame retardants on the basis of the current RoHS Directive .
further reductions in asbestos in Europe must be welcomed unreservedly .
I believe we must be very careful not to put the European Union 's internal cohesion at risk .
that is a real shame in all senses of the word .
at the very least this is what I will take home with me , in order to work on what must be good democracy : the democracy of respect for pluralism and for the pursuit of our common goals .
I believe that this would deepen the partnership even further and really help us to make more progress .
we have six legislative proposals , two of which are Council regulations and four are joint regulations of the Council and the European Parliament .
despite the fact that most measures concern female victims of sexist violence , it should be specified that any other victim of violence , including children , can enjoy the benefits of this initiative .
owing to current deficiencies in this regard , a great many women may still be subject to negative discrimination in the workplace even today .
it is more than natural that I say a word about Georgia .
this is a reminder to all European Parliament delegations that all of them are entitled and obliged to exercise their duty in respect of human rights when they visit countries .
companies throughout Europe should be able to operate in an environment free from excessive burdens .
we must also have specific requirements and standards concerning the quality of information and the method of promotion .
other amendments above the draft budget are also proposed and some of them could be implemented if there were a legal base .
note the growing use of information and the ever-increasing storage of data - including biometric data - available to a wider set of bodies , including third countries , for example the access of US bodies to air passenger data .
the fact that they are doing this , and personally witnessing the level of destruction , makes them privileged witnesses of what happened and focuses people 's attention on what is most important now : urgent aid .
Frontex is responsible for the coordination of the Member States ' border controls , but it has no mandate within sea rescue , for example .
we should link countering climate change with limiting changes in the global market that are detrimental to us . I am referring , in particular , to the meteoric rise in the price of gas and oil , of which we are the largest importer .
not an easy undertaking .
will the European Parliament be more vigorous in order to take an active role in the approval of these reforms ?
that is the progress that has been made , the improvements on last year 's tests that you quite rightly hoped for and which have been made this year .
whilst the Dutch Party for Freedom ( PVV ) supports animal welfare , this is a matter for the Member States and not for the EU .
hence , it is vital that we continue to work to establish peace , stability , democracy and human rights .
now , about parliamentary assistants , you know that at present parliamentary assistants are not covered by the Staff Regulations , they are a kind of special staff members in Parliament , but you know also that negotiations are ongoing to settle this and to have more precise rules , and then we can also consider what to do about access to the European Schools for the children of parliamentary assistants .
as it happens , in the countries where the people were allowed to speak their minds - in France , the Netherlands and Ireland - the Treaty of Lisbon , otherwise known as the European Constitution , was consigned to the wastepaper basket .
in addition , there can be no effective , lasting fight against terrorism , in particular , by means of weapons , as terrorism always finds a way .
as far as the management of external borders is concerned , Frontex has an important role to play in a number of ways , including the monitoring of the EU 's external borders and providing operational support .
what follow-up will there be on those safety assessments ?
the framework agreement text as negotiated will , in practice , give us all necessary possibilities to find solutions in the interests of both Parliament and the Commission without disregarding the rights and interests of other institutions .
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we have been working on a European directive since 2001 without seeing any results .
may I add that preventing crime should not mean more - and only more - coercive measures .
dates of forthcoming sittings : see Minutes
therein lies the greatness of the European Union and also its unpredictability given the necessary process of establishing a common will shared by 27 countries , 27 flags , 27 states , 27 nations , 20 languages and a wealth of ideologies that can be seen here in the European Parliament .
ladies and gentlemen , we urgently need to tackle this problem .
now let us be clear : some Member States are against it .
let me conclude by thanking the rapporteur , Jo Leinen , the shadow rapporteur , Mr Martin , and all the members of the Committee on the Environment and the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs for their constructive approach and their very valuable contributions .
judging by the newspaper stories on the integrity of police forces in certain Member States , we should all be concerned about that sharing of data .
they have not understood a thing , for teaching someone a lesson is a dismal way of educating them and one that has never worked .
the new European regulations establish common requirements for the authorisation and supervision of hedge funds , but they are far from preventing the continuation of serious systemic risk .
the upshot of this report is that no single restriction is stopping the development of ever more and exceptionally polluting coal-fired power stations , in which case the football pitch serves as a fig leaf for a distant future .
future trialling of the joint strategy and the action plan adopted will be in the hands of the Portuguese Presidency .
just imagine that the EU had no budget next year while the euro was in a tailspin .
however , we also stand to gain from an ideological point of view .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the ever-increasing mobility of European citizens clearly means that consulates must work together .
we should not believe that we can get away with simply bashing Belarus , because there are severe problems in Azerbaijan and in several other Eastern Partnership countries , and I hope that the forthcoming study commissioned by the Subcommittee on Human Rights will give some guidance on how we should talk to these countries about their human rights situation .
( BG ) Madam President , I congratulate Mrs Oomen-Ruijten for the fine job she has done .
in the ex-ante procedure , we do not engage with governments where we see no hope of good governance .
for the Commission this judgment means that it loses one of the key arguments that it has used in all infringement cases .
I now add that we must help Bulgaria and Romania .
I understand that some people in this House interpret the Rules and I understand that to mean that we are within our Rules on this .
the Hungarian Presidency will carry on the work of its Belgian predecessor .
as I said , it has been doing and will continue to do everything it can , as was , in fact , recognised by Qimonda 's German workers during the recent official visit by the President of the Portuguese Republic .
however , we do not believe that the overall level of the EU budget needs to be increased .
these findings by the economists and the academics are quite surprising to me .
we must ensure that masters ' students , doctoral candidates , researchers and academics from less-developed third countries can return to their places of origin once their period of study has ended , thus avoiding any ' brain drain ' .
we must continue on this path and convince the public that their money , which is funding the European Union budget , is in good hands .
firstly , women gained access to education and training on the same footing as men .
it is particularly ironic that states who have already achieved a great deal in this area are being given additional ambitious tasks .
the European Union 's current Treaty provides quite clearly that the EU budget cannot be used for military purposes .
we have to make a distinction between delocalisation outside the European Union and relocation in Europe .
Mr President , the reason I wanted to make a one minute speech tonight is because I am concerned that , in Ireland , Ryanair are about to make a bid for the national airline , Aer Lingus .
( EL ) First of all , I should like to express my condolences to the families of the victims of today 's attacks in Athens .
in my view , if Member States dropped their current reservations , we could have a Single European Sky in next to no time .
the people of Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina are expecting that from us .
where else on the planet could you find such a dramatic imbalance as this in the area of human health ?
now we should go the rest of the way together .
yet there is no coherent political message to them on land use and using their land to grow energy crops .
young people in particular are in a quagmire .
but there is also the mid-term budget review , and it seems to me we have almost forgotten about that .
quite apart from the ethical arguments , however , it is also economically insane at a time like this to be imposing additional costs on Europe 's economies .
in addition , no differentiation must be made between the Roma population and other social groups in similar situations when this financial support is allocated .
I trust those measures will have some important results .
to talk figures , violence against women in the home - to mention just this one , unfortunately very widespread , type - today costs us EUR 1 million every half an hour .
agriculture has been and will remain the main source of food globally .
it is the number one priority .
the European Union currently imports about 50 % of its energy needs , of which approximately 20 % are sourced in the Gulf .
thank you for the discussion .
to Europe 's south , the picture is just as bad .
with all due respect for the Irish vote , the EU of 27 cannot be taken political hostage by the limited number of opponents to the Lisbon Treaty .
the vote will take place on Thursday , 2 April 2009 .
I voted in favour of this own-initiative report by the Italian Member of the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left , Giusto Catania , on the future of the European Common Asylum System .
I believe , therefore , that we have grounds for holding a debate on this matter , and I think that recent events have shown that this is not really clear for any of us .
implementation of the Baltic Sea strategy will be a long process that needs parliamentary supervision and , occasionally , reports .
I hope now that we can agree this directive at its second-reading stage .
type-approval of hydrogen powered motor vehicles (
this new provision has the advantage that certain elements are determined in advance , so as to ensure a more efficient use of such an instrument .
it must be appreciated that shipping is one of the cleanest ways of transportation .
only in cases where security interests require confidentiality will a lower level of transparency be permitted .
I am convinced that clearer and more readable information given to consumers will make it possible for consumers to make the best choices .
it would not only be wrong in principal , it would also give out the wrong signal , especially to our young people , who are constantly surfing the web and use these modern means of communication very heavily .
as concerns the cofinancing of waste management measures in Campania , in the 1994-1999 programming period , EUR 88.1 million were devoted to waste management projects , almost 49 % cofinanced by the ERDF .
at a time when reducing emissions of CO2 and greenhouse gases along with investment in renewable energy and ' green ' technology are priorities , this report is extremely timely .
we are not exposed to the imponderables of the age or the storms of globalisation .
as I have already said , it is essential that the European Union maintains , shall we say , its role as a leader and as an instigator paving the way for others in order to protect the environment and our planet .
we have a good system in England , under which when you are given such an interim measure , you have to provide an undertaking to the court , in damages , to respect the interests of third parties .
I agree with the proposal to include legally binding requirements concerning the inspection of specific facilities and operations in sectoral regulations .
we will certainly not contest the fact that we need to change our consumption and production patterns by switching to cleaner products .
there is something else we should do .
for the record , I would ask Vice-President Barrot to repeat his commitment to submit a report by 31 December 2012 and also to take further steps to open up the rail market .
today we can thus deal with setting up the eight qualification levels covering general education , adult education , vocational education and training , and the three levels of tertiary education qualifications .
the report is , of course , the result of a lot of compromises , but in essence it takes a particularly critical stance while at the same time pointing in the right direction with regard to future discharge procedures .
in relation to remarks made by Mr Farage during the last plenary mini-session and pursuant to Rule 153 ( 3 ) of the Rules of Procedure , I have spoken to Mr Farage and have decided to penalise him by withholding his daily subsistence allowance for a period of 10 days .
taxation of unleaded petrol and gas oil ( debate )
( FR ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , the launch of what was at the time the Mediterranean Union gave rise to controversy and concerns both in Europe and among our Mediterranean partners .
FGM not only causes very serious and irreparable injuries to the physical and mental health of women and girls , - in some cases has even been fatal - but is a violation of fundamental rights enshrined in international conventions , prohibited under the criminal law of the Member States and in breach of the principles laid down in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU .
draft scoreboard for the surveillance of macroeconomic imbalances (
the amount mobilised in support of these countries - EUR 182.4 million - represents only about 3 % of the total damage , which is estimated at about EUR 5 512.7 million .
two : the directives .
this is why I will now ask you to give the name of this person who is being talked about , because we must name people whose rights have been violated .
systematic enforcement of human rights criteria is essential in preserving the credibility of the Union .
I voted in favour , above all because the increase affects two programmes , namely the Lifelong Learning and the Competitiveness and Innovation Programmes ( CIP ) , that deserve the greatest support and the most resources from the European Union .
as someone just said , it has also been confirmed that small and medium-sized enterprises will be able to participate in the work of the EIT and enjoy its benefits .
in order to achieve this objective , Parliament must be informed regularly of any initiatives in this field .
there is evidence that , in the period 1992-2001 , approximately 10 000 lorry-loads of cigarettes were smuggled into the EU via Montenegro , particularly heading for Italy .
I appreciate that very much and I wanted to make that point here in Parliament .
up to 80 % of mitigation and adaptation policies will be implemented at the local and regional levels .
a lack of cohesion is bad news , even for strong national economies .
they have very good reasons for doing so .
their best interests must be taken into consideration , which means that compliance with relevant international conventions is required and recommended .
tax revenue and the reduction of allowances and subsidies to tenants , pensioners , farmers and the working classes as a whole have been channelled into funding the monopolies .
as mentioned previously , the situation is particularly acute in Ireland , Greece and a number of other states .
what do you think about the various transport sectors , about the differences in their handling of passenger rights ?
in my view , the new guardians of the external borders must actually have the capacities to perform their role .
although the assessment carried out by Germany shows that the fear of an increase in forced prostitution and trafficking did not materialise in 2006 , we welcome all initiatives aimed at informing public opinion , raising public awareness , preventing such heinous criminal phenomena and helping victims .
that just leads to hostility and ultimately to conflict .
however , if ever the fishing industry suffered a real crisis , it is the one it is going through right now .
the resignation of the President , on the basis of Article 50 of the present Kyrgyz Constitution , and his departure from the country is expected to reduce political tension .
both are equally important , but the method need not always be the same , because the eastern neighbourhood policy also has this dimension of the European perspective , which means that there can be different starting points and , to a certain extent , different prospects too .
nature has been kind to the country , from the beautiful coastline to the natural Bay of Kotor and the Durmitor mountain massif which is on UNESCO 's World Heritage List .
for long-distance travel we have secured a system of compensation and assistance in the event of delays , which also covers people who regularly suffer delays , for example commuters and season ticket holders ; we have assistance for the disabled at stations and on board trains , certainly on long-distance services and hopefully for all passengers as soon as possible ; we have got provisions on the handling of complaints included in the directive .
the Commission is convinced that in the run-up to this summit , the opportunities and risks of European integration will become clearer than they have seldom been before .
as a Hungarian who was once forced to be a citizen of the Russian empire , it is especially difficult for me to draw this conclusion .
the GSP also releases countries from dependency on aid .
furthermore , more work needs to be done to ensure the compliance of environmental standards in Canada with those in force in the EU .
unfortunately , we have to wait for the effects of these provisions .
the first is : what budget is required for the 2020 growth and employment strategy ?
both the EU and China are acting to promote security , peace and sustainable development in Africa , but the EU is the greatest donor and the main trade partner for Africa as things currently stand .
if this humanitarian crisis is not tackled , we risk being faced with a situation that quickly spirals out of control .
they need help to become better qualified , through vocational training and advice .
it seems to me that we are shooting the messenger rather than getting to the heart of the problem .
the final text is very clear on this matter .
Commissioner , I know that you and your staff are fully aware that this is a controversial proposal that merits further examination in a number of areas .
this was a fact well noted by the many participants .
throughout the EU , unemployment is also growing .
mention has also been made of the arbitration agreement between Slovenia and Croatia .
this measure will facilitate legal immigration when it is necessary in order to meet the needs of the European labour market .
Russia is a gangster state where troublesome political opponents , dissenters and journalists are simply murdered .
we are now beginning to see the full effects of the economic crisis on people 's health and on the health services .
meanwhile , the global warming clock quietly ticks on .
on the other hand , the development of the legal framework allows us to encourage cooperation between the European Union and its eastern neighbours , because it ensures a stable environment for capital investments and for the application of human knowledge .
it is just as well - and congratulations to the rapporteur - that we are making a priority of policies concerning young people , education and mobility .
at that time , five-year contributions were agreed upon by those states in order to reduce economic and social disparities within the EEA ; naturally , we support this aim .
what about Jerusalem , though ?
mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund : Aragón - Retail trade from Spain (
the word ' ban ' frightens me .
the EU clearly had to send out a signal that ships in very poor condition , uninsured and failing to comply with basic safety rules , were not welcome on European shores .
however , I do welcome it .
so I say to all these EU leaders who have kissed and hugged Gaddafi : shame on you !
so let us not get carried away in believing that everything is so rosy and everything is wonderful in the dairy sector - because it is not .
so , has this happened ?
it looks like we are saying to people that we can change the Treaties , that we can go that far amid all the legal red tape , but that when it really comes down to it , we are not doing it either for the 2020 strategy to be taken seriously or for them to have jobs and growth .
we should not build a service which preserves the old national competition or the present bureaucratic structure .
today we cannot imagine an event without the presence of church and charity organisations , without the presence of the Red Cross .
this must be said , Baroness Ashton , and we must not turn a blind eye .
less travel must therefore not be an end in itself .
on this basis we will implement the discharge procedure for the European Commission .
second , the directive clarifies the entitlements of patients and related conditions to receive health care in another Member State .
I want to support the statements of Members Nicholson and de Brún here today .
the content of the motion is the result of a consensus on many points and I shall just recall the main ones , with heartfelt thanks to the rapporteur for her constant willingness to cooperate .
I think this is a good start , but we can go further .
President Barroso , you should have enforced respect for the Community method in 2008 , via the same statement you made yesterday .
the Commission does not have any enforcement powers ; consumers who have purchased cross-border services can , however , complain to the European consumer centre in their home country , which should be able to help them receive redress from traders in other EU countries .
power stations predating 1980 must be decommissioned .
the recommendations contained in the report are realistic and relevant , addressing real issues in this area .
nonetheless , I hope that any potential relaxation of the Stability and Growth Pact will not be the only outcome of the European Commission 's plan .
cross-border healthcare is a fact , and patients ' rights need to be protected in this regard .
however , lessons were learned from Piper Alpha and regulations were tightened up .
cannibalism : never again !
since the first Action Plan ends in 2010 , I do not think it will be possible to achieve those targets .
we cannot have legal migration that works if we do not also work with integration and we cannot fight irregular migration if we do not have a proper and decent return and readmission policy .
in terms of strengthening relations with the EU , some countries in the region will progress faster than others .
one of the core objectives of the European Union is to have an area without barriers .
in the Green Paper , the Commission is proposing to achieve the environmental targets at a lower and a reasonable cost .
these are crucial missions which , in the space of around 10 years , have succeeded in proving their worth , but for which Parliament has already requested more resources and certainly more follow-up action - thank you , Mrs Malmström - but also more political consistency in terms of the way in which we monitor their legitimacy , and here I fully support what Mrs Joly said regarding some of our missions .
the regulation also states that the request must be presented in one of the official languages of the Member State in the receiving court or in any other language that the receiving Member State has indicated as acceptable but , as you have just underlined , language is not the least of the problems .
you were one of the best - thank you .
so I know how much we have to do and I am glad that finally the European Union has done much more than in the past , together , as I said , with the German Presidency .
poor-quality EU tobacco grown with EUR 18 million of our taxpayers ' money every year was dumped where it did most harm .
however , you , the members of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats , could now demonstrate whether you will put into practice what you , Mr Lehne , have said when you attacked me for saying something wrong - I may have been mistaken .
sometimes no distinction is made at all and one situation is judged in the same way as another .
the Solidarity Fund was created in 2002 to be able to provide financial assistance at EU level to Member States affected by serious natural disasters .
to date we have squandered about EUR 1.5 billion and , if this state of affairs continues , we shall squander another 3.5 billion by 2013 , compared with the real value of destroying the gas , which is a mere EUR 80 million .
tackle the work on these two concerns that is overdue and get rid of any superfluous initiatives .
in order to ensure that the Union 's values and interests are represented in a coherent and effective way in the UN system , it is necessary that the EU speaks with a single voice .
without such a declaration , it is difficult to expect them to undertake all the difficult and comprehensive reforms , which involve many sacrifices and hard work .
this was in spite of statements made by international organisations that the elections in Kyrgyzstan had been conducted relatively correctly .
it sets requirements for the construction and functioning of motor vehicles , including frontal protection systems .
it is essential to build mutual trust , and we can build that mutual trust by an initiative in the area of regulation , such as , for example , the Arctic Charter .
a final word on the subject of Romania : I have listened to the Romanian MPs .
Madam President , my particular perspective in this debate is on the impact on the more peripheral airports and on airlines which are already in economic difficulties .
( PL ) Mr President , five years ago , the Baltic Sea effectively became an internal sea of the European Union .
hence , in France , the numerus clausus , or the number of students allowed to proceed to the second year , is around 7 000 , whereas every year almost 3 000 doctors with degrees obtained outside Europe are allowed to practise in France .
for example , Boeing 's current knowledge about composites , which is being used extensively in its new 787 Dreamliner , stems - by its own admission - from its work on developing the V-22 , the F-22 , the B-2 and the Joint Strike Fighter .
as stated in the resolution , the Commission and the Member States must make every effort to ensure that a proper portion of the money available for health care reaches poor people in developing countries and every effort must be made to ensure that health care services in poor areas are improved and supported .
of course , to achieve the moderate savings pursued by the rapporteur and others within the Parliament , we need to ensure we also identify savings within the budget .
we can no longer leave the fate of the civilians in the hands of the opposing sides .
thirdly , we recognise that many extremely valuable things have already been accomplished .
we shall always oppose this internationalist vision , the sole aim of which is purely and simply to destroy the peoples and nations of Europe .
this should not , however , prevent the necessary public investment which translates into medium- and long-term gain .
Mr President , honourable Members , as you know , our relations with the US and the transatlantic cooperation between the US and the EU are extremely important .
perhaps I might expand on this by saying that our citizens also have a right to know how the European Union spends their taxes and where resources are wasted .
that was the case at the last Ministerial Troika meeting between the European Union and Turkey held in Ankara on 4 June .
I must also say that sometimes our focus is skewed .
the EU is indeed the world 's largest economy .
in this context , I think that it is appropriate for me to remind you that the European Union must do its utmost to ensure that its Member States are treated equally by third countries which apply visa exemptions only for certain Member States .
it was not easy because some Member States opposed those measures , but we took them .
Mr President , the politicisation that is happening here has nothing to do with that .
the second thing is that you will see the structures very soon , and it is in there .
rapporteur . - Mr President , before starting to vote on the budgetary amendments , I would like to inform you of a limited number of technical adjustments that need to be made .
the vote will take place tomorrow .
otherwise we would have had a dramatic crisis .
the second question is - we were talking about discrimination in providing public funds geographically or between nations and states - how about sectors ?
added to that there is the threat of terrorism and the huge upsurge in migration flows , the radicalisation of fundamentalists and extremists of various kinds , the increase in trafficking and the risk of a proliferation of weapons of mass destruction .
we are seeing huge fluctuations in the price of commodities .
it is perfectly clear that the ratifications should stop now and the implementation of the Treaty should stop now .
there has never been an inspection process for nuclear power plants at European level .
yes , we are facing serious challenges but , if you stand back and look at the facts , the European Union is meeting those challenges head on this year .
we also need to consult them about preventative measures .
the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty will modify the rules in the budget sector , with the European Parliament and the Council as codeciders on an equal footing on all expenditures .
Mr President , last time some of us voiced our frustration over the mild tone of our public - I repeat , public - pronouncements , not activity , on the events in Egypt before Mubarak 's resignation .
in the future , Arctic policy will be a test of whether together , we can increase stability or , on the other hand , cause new conflicts .
11 . (
experience has shown that such measures , whilst in many ways politically very attractive , in fact only make the longer-term transition to dealing with high energy prices and saving carbon more difficult .
it is time for the European Union to fully exploit the shared opportunities for the sustainable renewal and further development of the industrial base , with good quality jobs .
it would also be desirable to apply other indicators in addition to gross domestic product , which must continue to be the main criterion for determining eligibility for regional policy assistance .
it is true that a great deal of progress has been made in this area .
( the President cut off the speaker )
( SK ) I am proud to say that Slovakia has made a great contribution to linguistic diversity and to the preservation of the linguistic cultural heritage .
such measures could take the form of an interim payment order , giving the creditor immediate payment pending resolution of the underlying dispute .
for these reasons I support the reform , which will result firstly in the establishment of a European Advisory Committee on Community Statistical Information Policy and secondly in the creation of a European Statistical Governance Advisory Board - both bodies capable of actively helping to monitor implementation of the code of conduct throughout the entire European statistical system .
13 .
the third principle , which was not clarified and , to my mind , remains quite obscure and raises quite a few questions , is the principle of isolation from third-party investments in European transmission systems , which could possibly ...
I would also like to stress the importance of raising awareness of the Scoreboard amongst consumers themselves and the general public .
I voted in favour of this document because democratic change cannot be imposed from outside or even by military means but has to be achieved through a peaceful democratic process .
I would just like to comment on one thing concerning the Stockholm Programme .
for instance , if a Member State does not want its citizens to enjoy this new opportunity , they will improve the level of their own healthcare service and waiting times .
by ratifying the abovementioned UN Convention , Member States have pledged to implement it in their domestic systems without ceding any powers in that regard to the Union .
the next item is the debate on the question to the Commission on EU-Canada trade relations , by Vital Moreira , on behalf of the Committee on International Trade - B7-0213 / 2011 ) .
on the other hand , globally it can mean extreme poverty for the losers , but even within Europe this issue of losing is important for us to address , because there are citizens within our Union who are losing by not reaching the benefits stressed in the Strategy .
therefore I have retabled an amendment to delete it from the final package .
Russia is the EU 's third-largest trading partner , as well as having major strategic importance in terms of Europe 's energy supply .
no !
we no longer weaken ourselves through strife , and so Europe has become , in every respect , one of the most appealing regions in the world .
for example , 74 % of all antibiotics used in the US are applied in animal husbandry , for preventing diseases or boosting the growth of healthy animals .
for example , why not form a single governing board for these four agencies ?
however , the most important thing is to safeguard and promote a public approach to the disease overall .
in Mauritania , the average use of fishing opportunities ranges from 90 % for crustaceans to a mere 22 % for tuna .
it bears little resemblance to democracy , and still less to a social Europe that is equipped to face the future .
ladies and gentlemen , I am among those who are convinced that we need urgent reform of our social systems ; I , too , believe it is entirely possible to reconcile economic efficiency with the hope for social improvements and to reconcile freedom with justice , which is precisely why we must establish limits and minimum social standards for all Member States .
dates for next sittings : see Minutes
we ask : and what about the citizens ' right to know ?
it ensures that , if patients travel to receive care , it is safe and of good quality .
in writing . - ( DE ) With regard to amendment 4 to the Lewandowski report , I would like to state that the PSE Group has not signed this amendment due to an error , but has fully supported it and continues to do so .
I am not naïve , however , and I know that in the Islamic world , it is difficult to take these values forward .
however , if this area is to fulfil its potential , which I recognise , there needs to be a way of effectively evaluating its implementation by the various Member States .
I voted for the report on Innovation Union as it highlighted the importance of innovation in terms of laying the foundations for a sustainable , competitive economic model and creating new jobs in the European Union .
we have research which shows that health workers working outside hospitals are more likely to be dissatisfied with the response of employers .
in countries such as Egypt , Tunisia and Libya , we should concentrate our efforts on consolidating nascent democratic awakenings into a lasting legacy of stable , secular and enlightened governance .
no attempt is being made to tackle the outrageous waste caused by the three seats of this Parliament .
Mr President , thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to offer my explanation of vote .
- After the vote :
the Court 's Chief Prosecutor , Luis Moreno-Ocampo , has skilfully helped the Court to strengthen its impartiality globally .
Moldova 's current situation is the result of eight years of rule by communists , and if we do not want to be instrumental in returning that incompetent team to power , let us help the present Moldovan Government and the Moldovan people .
I think it is a completely worthless thing , because Europe was meant to be the leading knowledge-based society by 2010 .
19 .
we are not thinking in terms of the generations existing alongside each other , but in terms of them coming together .
those threats are familiar enough for me not to have to list them here , and the European Union also hopes that the issue of energy security will be addressed within the sphere of conflict resolution .
tax rates remain a matter for the Member States .
it enables not just greater coordination , but also greater accountability by governments at national and EU level .
without the support of the Chinese , the junta would not survive .
planting trees helps to combat desertification .
the Data Retention Directive requires Member States to force providers of electronic communications services or of public communications networks to retain data concerning the exchange of communications for a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 2 years .
this key clause has never been put into practice , it has never been activated .
the question is whether they can be resolved in this agreement or , as Mr Rübig said , whether other agreements are necessary .
anyone who looks at the papers from the public consultation will see that the Member States , in contrast to the other bodies which expressed an opinion , are attempting to shirk their responsibilities and the undertaking they have entered into by moving directly to the subsequent Financial Perspective .
the report which I voted for underpins the guarantee to respect this principle throughout the entire European judicial area , and not only as part of national proceedings .
for example , these security measures lend themselves very well to the concealment of what would be less than entirely legal funding arrangements for the various national airlines .
( EL ) Madam President , the international system is in a transitional phase and there are huge challenges for all of us .
to demand that the criminal US embargo against Cuba be lifted immediately .
as a matter of fact , Turkey is today a member of the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe .
at the moment I am wondering where you draw the line between the terrorist and the irate citizen around the regulars ' table who is denounced by his neighbour .
therefore , I sincerely congratulate Mr Diamandouros on his achievements and on his re-election as European Ombudsman , and am counting on fruitful cooperation during the current term of the European Parliament .
after all , it cannot be illegal to flee for your life , since human rights and freedoms apply to everyone , wherever they live .
all in all , a renewed focus on EU-related reforms is absolutely essential , which should also assist in overcoming the current political crisis .
I believe my colleagues will also come forward with issues .
they do not have the means to adapt .
in its present form , this second report is just as muddled , counterproductive and overloaded with texts that do not belong in a legislative act as the report that was referred back to committee in May 2009 .
in many ways , Iranian society has the hallmarks and the capacity of a free society .
it is not only this Parliament that is starting anew ; Europe is in a period of transition between the Treaty of Nice and the Treaty of Lisbon , and - as we all know - it is a time of uncertainty in which we nevertheless need clarity with regard to economic , financial , labour market and climate policy decisions in the European Union and its Member States .
the Mediterranean area is extremely dynamic , and the young generation are asking for more jobs and better opportunities .
these are not even British dud banks , they are foreign dud banks , and I hear today that the British taxpayer is being asked to fork out for Portugal .
finally , in my opinion we should increase the staff of MEPs and the European Parliament 's committees in order to ensure their independence and the high standard of their work , for example , when dealing with the other European institutions , lobby groups or national parliaments .
fourthly , and lastly , the Commission has started working on the implementation of the November 2009 GAERC conclusions , and will come back to the Council of EU Ministers with proposals as soon as possible .
it has been proven that it is possible and so it also had to be done .
I would also say that we have a further tool in which I have a lot of faith , in other words , the informal public-private group created by the Commission , which has introduced a European financial coalition against commercial child pornography images .
I totally agree with the rapporteur 's opinion that all those developments in the global situation that have taken place could , if they are not dealt with appropriately in the process of revising the agreement , make it difficult to achieve the objective of the Cotonou Agreement and the Millennium Development Objectives by the year 2015 .
well , then , regional policy now and in the future constitutes the European integration framework for the realisation of these objectives .
we should not forget that these funds are paid out to be used efficiently .
approximately 40 of those condemned to death are juveniles .
naturally , this support must be in addition to regular aid .
however , this does not diminish the level of protection of PNR data transferred to Canada .
however , in my opinion , it does not provide clear , decisive and positive answers to the important questions , such as whether the EU will be able to stand on its own feet in the long term or whether it will maintain its very close links to NATO and , therefore , will hand over its foreign policy responsibilities to the USA .
it is there that I see the parallel with dancing on a volcano ; a volcano filled not with lava or ash but with distrust .
when dealing with sustainable agriculture , we have always made progress in both areas .
I was disappointed with the Commission proposals , which were very limited , and I hope that Parliament 's proposals will be taken over and that the Commission will come up with more ambitious suggestions during the Health Check .
one of the most burning issues in EU law involves the harmonisation of contract law .
Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina have made their borders secure , they have ensured the security of biometric passports , and they have made significant steps in the fight against corruption and organised crime .
I also want to mention one aspect that has come out of the debate .
therefore , Mr President , I think that the importance of initiatives such as those within the framework of the Area of Freedom , Security and Justice - let us bear in mind that , of the Commission 's 26 strategic proposals , a third come under the Area of Freedom , Security and Justice - gives us a huge responsibility when dealing with the draft legislation that we have under way .
Mr President , in the light of this debate and of Earth Day yesterday , I would like to highlight the urgent need for greater understanding of the concept of biodiversity and its implications for our society .
are we talking about a partner who also in some sense does more than just propose , but actually demands ?
we entirely agree with his proposal that enrichment should be banned .
this is the fifth enlargement of the euro area since the single currency was introduced in 1999 .
capacity building in these areas is vitally important .
no one is interested nowadays in a two-track Europe .
I greatly appreciated the good cooperation with the Council , especially with the Portuguese Presidency , and the European Commission .
Mr President , I would like to remind the House of the double standards which we are applying .
therefore , the conclusion is that Euronest should be launched as a matter of urgency .
speeches about action do not guarantee that the action will be effective .
monitoring capacities are insufficient , and often the governments concerned are unwilling .
the summit must serve to review security and energy policy , which must be implemented on the criteria of interdependency , transparency , supply guarantees and the fight against climate change , as well as improved energy efficiency .
I would also want the delta and estuary areas to be protected and to be part of the common maritime policy ; also , I would like the measures for combating sea pollution to be extended to internal waters that flow into seas and oceans and to the industrialized areas along the coasts as well .
the International Monetary Fund , the World Bank and the United Nations recognise that developing countries , contrary to what was said at the outset , will be seriously affected by the global recession .
the Council has cut the funding under the draft budget for 2011 to less than EUR 1 000 million because the Member States have no clear idea about fulfilling their obligations .
I am in favour of clearly defining financial business responsibility and the competitive conditions which investment business follows .
the joint debate is closed .
( PL ) There is an American saying that there are no free lunches .
we should support such amendments - in accordance with the views of civil stakeholders - that allow for much better integrated projects involving the building industry , tourism , the labour market , rural development and social integration at the same time .
as a mutually beneficial agreement advancing scientific knowledge and technological progress , I am very pleased to support this measure .
we are also concerned about the major administrative burden which the recommendations in the Cappato report would entail .
the rulings of the European Court of Justice have not come out of the blue , however . they are based on the fundamental treaties of the EU , supplemented by a vague Posting of Workers Directive .
the courts in both Slovakia and Egypt had decided to entrust the child to the care of the mother .
as rapporteur for Kosovo , I also call on the Commission to finally give the government in Kosovo a road map so that a start can be made on the work , and so that freedom from visas , freedom to travel , can finally be on the horizon for the citizens of Kosovo as well .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue-card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
we need solutions that are acceptable to everyone .
( NL ) Madam President , we all know that Europe must evolve further into a knowledge-based economy that is better able to compete in world markets .
the vote will take place at 12 : 00 tomorrow .
a few points should be emphasised heading by heading .
this means that settlement building by Israel is a provocation to the Palestinians and the Hamas rockets are a provocation to the Israelis .
I should like to think that tomorrow we shall be bold in moving towards more climate protection , and I hope that tomorrow we shall set it in motion .
we will be witnessing a situation worse than that of Rwanda , to the shame of all humanity .
the European Union must provide support in this situation .
it is not only contract law which is not fully harmonised , but also consumer law .
electronic communications networks and services - European Electronic Communications Market Authority - Common approach to the use of the spectrum released by the digital switchover - Electronic communications networks and services , protection of privacy and consumer protection ( debate )
once again , thank you for your initiative , Commissioner . and we look forward , Minister , to cooperating with you .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - Mr President , I must declare an interest in this subject .
we need means of control and incentives to stop doctors meeting with patients to make money , so that they do not prescribe antibiotics when they are not necessary .
by setting emissions limits that the Member States must adhere to as an absolute upper limit when granting permits to large industrial plants , we will be putting a stop to the inflationary use of derogations that has thus far taken place in certain Member States .
terrorism develops because there is instability due to internal conflicts .
after all , here we have a democratic country treating Poland , the Czech Republic , Hungary and other countries like this and at the same time calling them its closest allies .
we need to extend not only our solidarity to the Ukrainian nation and , indeed , to all nations that have suffered under totalitarian crimes , but also to pass a moral verdict .
I initiated Amendment 34 with the aim of modifying the text in paragraph 87 of this report , which referred to the development of the anti-missile shield in Europe in the wake of a bilateral agreement between the United States and Member States , including Romania .
it is necessary to ensure territorial diversification of supply , with a greater variety of countries and routes .
I would argue , however , that , taken as a whole , the maintenance relationship has a mixed character .
yet the creative people in the world are not only leaving Europe , they are now even quitting the United States .
any decision in this area will inevitably have to be taken in consultation with all the parties involved .
Poland and the Podkarpacie region is an area which has particularly suffered as a result of the disaster , and it is my hope that the financial resources made available for the reconstruction of infrastructure will be used effectively .
the suggested implementation of ownership as the sole means of guaranteeing the independence of transmission operators along with the exclusion of third countries from controlling the transmission systems and transmission systems operators , the priority of the protection of consumer interests - these are the means that will guarantee energy security in the EU and the wellbeing of its people .
the funds from the Rural Development Programme should provide larger allocations in favour of producers .
unfortunately , help is not reaching people at risk of losing their job in time , and it is they who will feel the effects of the present crisis the longest .
its importance is reflected in the growing number of cases brought over the last year .
can we in Europe work with China to try to perfect what is happening , to try to improve the situation rather than simply to decry what China does or the shortcomings that China has ?
I was also in favour of the Association Agreement during the war in Ljubljana which , thankfully , was brief , and later as rapporteur for Parliament .
Parliament has rightly commented that the greatest progress has been made in those subsections of the Programme concerning which no separate thematic strategies ( e.g. climate change ) were drafted .
I see in that the danger of creating an opportunity to remove the social fund from the cohesion policy in order to bring it closer to the richer countries and , conversely , to distance it from the reach of poorer ones .
in ever more areas - the social sphere , the policy on aliens and fundamental freedoms - we will see how it will be possible to use accession to the Convention on Human Rights as yet another argument in favour of more decisions being taken at EU level , which means fewer decisions being taken by the Member States .
in June 2008 , the Prime Minister of Romania sent me the report from the Romanian Senate 's investigations committee .
right , you are in a hurry , let us conclude very briefly .
there obviously should be a solution but that would require the willingness of Ukraine to give up a stake in the pipeline .
I travelled here with great difficulty from part of the European Union and I do not accept the response from the Commissioner that he has no time .
there is all the more reason to promote the relationship if we consider that , due to the desire of the Latin American people themselves , but also due to Europe 's consistent support of democratic institutions , those institutions have achieved a high level of consolidation .
the answer is , of course , no .
thanks to FLEGT , international trade in timber can become fairer , more sustainable and more environmentally friendly .
without titanium from Russia , for example , it would not be possible to produce a single airbus .
every 16th complaint submitted to the Ombudsman comes from my country .
with regard to the right to interpretation and translation , which is the first provision of the roadmap , the Commission has noted the initiative presented by a number of Member States .
nevertheless , at the informal meeting of the Council in San Sebastian in February it was agreed that the EU must lead a common strategy regarding electric vehicles .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , we have once again moved for the subject of the licensing of the genetically modified potato Amflora to be put on the agenda for various reasons .
it has done remarkable work ; it is a credit to the work of Parliament , it is a credit to the European Parliament .
my region , Veneto , has 150 000 farms , and through their efforts they not only provide quality products but also ensure protection of the rural environment , which we believe is an asset that should not only be safeguarded but also encouraged .
I think it is important to underline that this Seventh Ministerial Conference was not a negotiating conference : it was more a discussion on various topics .
another example could be competitiveness and the need to take into account the constraints coming from a low-carbon economy and climate change regarding infrastructure investment .
today , the financial resources of the Solidarity Fund seem difficult to implement .
on the question of financial aid used by the end of September this year , the total amount contracted under the aid programme for the Turkish Cypriot community came to EUR 24 million - that is , 9 % of the total - and the amount tendered came to EUR 44 million .
sometimes , however , in my country , my fellow party members and I are called communists merely for opposing the current government .
do you think it possible to introduce identical legal provisions here ?
we have approved an amendment favouring small and medium-sized enterprises , the purpose of which is to reconcile fighting tax evasion with simplification of the administrative burden on small enterprises , to which this Parliament and the EU as a whole have a commitment .
the Green movement must feel our support , as the opposition is once again looking for options for how to organise legitimate protests against the Iranian authorities at the risk of their own lives .
it is my understanding , for example , that one of these companies was convicted in one region of Spain , and yet all it did was simply move to another region and continue its work .
the great variety and number of European Union human rights dialogues and consultations with third countries - which , moreover , are steadily increasing - make any global evaluation very arduous .
however , we have added a requirement that the Board provide a range of complementary skills and experience .
to be frank , even after your statement , I am still at a loss to understand the precise reasoning behind this change in direction .
however , a certain hesitancy as to the legal basis of the report leads us to doubt the outcome of the vote at the conclusion of this sitting , which is regrettable .
( PL ) Madam President , as a Pole , but at the same time a citizen of the European Union for five years now , I would like to express great satisfaction that we are talking here in such illustrious company , including people who are closely involved in the enlargement process , such as Mr Rehn and Mr Bildt .
furthermore , Ireland fulfils all of the criteria .
I feel that this is the response to give to those colleagues who have been emphasising that the labour market operates under a different set of requirements .
I therefore believe that the unifying and integrative character of the strategy expresses the conviction held by all EU Member States that it could represent a significant contribution to overcoming past divisions in Europe and to the overall success and greater efficiency of Europe .
everything is therefore still possible , or , to be more specific , amendments can be made to the European Commission 's proposals for regulations .
the same thing happened in meetings in Turkey .
a proactive , long-term strategy from Europe and from the new US Government must include the right of Palestinians to a sustainable state - based on the borders that were there before 1967 .
I think we all agree that it is necessary , precisely because in some Member States the electronic society is not yet completely in place .
I believe that the Commission must take immediate action to stop crops with even a low presence of GMOs from accessing the EU market .
the administrative detention of hundreds of thousands of people , systematic torture in prisons , religious and political repression , executions - all these methods are incompatible with the People 's Republic of China 's obligations as a member of the United Nations .
segregation in towns and schools must be eliminated , real opportunities must be created and Roma communities must be involved at European , Member State and local levels .
the second part of my report concerns ground handling - that is , all the handling surrounding the aeroplane and in the airport , from fuelling and baggage handling to the check-in procedure .
may I ?
with its exemplary recent past , Croatia has demonstrated that it is an integral part of the European family .
it will also be advisable to consider new and effective financial instruments for the next multiannual financial framework , for example joint instruments with the EIB .
I remember very vividly how , when I was there , universally all the Haitians I talked to had one message for me consistently , which was ' Do not give money to the government ' .
we must at last put an end to the constant demand for more and cheaper food .
it is a political meeting , at which we will find out whether the Member States have the political will to meet their commitments .
subsequently , and I am personally very pleased with this , there will be a checklist , a standard information form which sets out your purchase in detail and also states that you have the opportunity to dissolve the contract within fourteen days with a no-quibble guarantee .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , we are currently experiencing the most serious financial crisis in decades , and the European Central Bank and the euro have so far passed the litmus test of this financial crisis with flying colours .
we urge a coordinated approach at Community level , bearing in mind Community solidarity and the adoption of collective responsibility in this regard .
we face demographic challenges , as you said , and we face many economic challenges , given the reality of globalisation , of technology .
the territorial integrity of Georgia is guaranteed by 36 UN resolutions adopted in 1993 .
taking this figure in conjunction with the recorded trends in the unequal distribution of income , it becomes apparent that the situation is even less encouraging .
companies need a strong message that they also benefit from voluntary labour and we must make best-practice comparisons as to how voluntary activity can continue to be made attractive , so that we can achieve our goals .
although this will be an intergovernmental mechanism , which was the only option the Member States could consider , it is important that it is set up in a manner fully consistent with the Treaty and that it reinforces our stability rules , in accordance with the principles and instruments of budgetary surveillance .
specifically , this report analyses the issue of Member States ' excessive debts and considers the problems of the European Union as a whole , not just in the sense of resolving the deficits , but also the level of public debt , so as to ensure that procedures are implemented with a view to correcting the infringement early on and thus prevent corrective measures from being implemented when it is already too late .
I did not think it possible in such a short space of time , and I think that we can all be proud of the way you managed to achieve this .
the adoption of this third package , and this proposal in particular , will lead to more competitive , more sustained and securer European energy markets .
however , I believe that it is only possible to measure the reduction in emissions during the life cycle of the fuel if there are corresponding standard values in place .
you are strong enough .
( PL ) Mr President , it has given me great satisfaction during today 's debate to see the two camps which have emerged in respect of the reasons behind this state of affairs and the recommendations ; the neo-liberals on one side , and the left-wing Members on the other .
the question therefore arises as to whether assistance should not be provided from the Globalisation Adjustment Fund , particularly to workers in Madeira , because many work places will , of course , have been destroyed , and whether we could not support the small and medium-sized enterprises in the reconstruction work .
what is the point of having ambitious aims if we do not have the means to realise them ?
the goal of a single currency , eventually for 27 plus countries , is based on the false assumption that one currency can be appropriate for many very different economies .
a country that wants children must put children at the centre of its policymaking .
we would like to thank you for voting with us on the closure of tax havens and on solidarity with the Member States .
why am I mentioning this ?
we need solvent financial institutions , a stable financial system and , above all , the restoration of the flow of credit into the real economy .
in this respect , the current starvation policy within the executive must be ended once and for all .
these regulations must clearly define the marking of the goods and classify the transported goods according to the degree of danger involved .
I believe that this initiative will serve as a spur to Member States to draw up prompt payment codes .
I wonder : what kind of industrial policy do we want for Europe ?
the verification requirements pharmaceutical manufacturers are subject to should be stepped up in order to avoid these risks .
the internationally recognised scientist and peace activist Professor Ukshin Hoti , Foreign Minister of the democratic underground Republic of Kosovo led by President Rugova in the nineties , was arrested by the Milosevic regime and disappeared without a trace many years ago .
however , instead of doing that we must focus on rebuilding the economy from the bottom up .
at the same time , we have seen the growth of subcultures within our own societies that are scornful of our liberal values , deliberately seeking to establish alternative political and legal structures , sometimes through the use of violence , and sheltering behind our complex and generous legal systems and our liberal view of human rights .
however , Macedonia still has a number of reforms to implement .
in order to tackle health inequalities , specific measures need to be taken , particularly as regards the most vulnerable groups .
the next item is the vote .
your proposals are sound , Mr Jouyet , they should also incorporate support for the offer .
I am thinking mainly of the expenditure that does not concern the central objectives of the European Union and the budget lines whose implementation is already falling behind in respect of the planned expenditure .
I still believe that further savings should have been included in the proposal but , as I played an active role in the negotiations , I have chosen to support the compromise achieved .
the Accra meeting in September will test the credibility of the entire process and all the players involved .
the legal basis of the immunity of Members of the European Parliament is laid down in the 1965 Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Communities .
the Swedish Presidency sees you as our allies .
it is also important to take account of the position of women within the framework of the fight against poverty .
I was rapporteur last year on a report to ensure that older citizens can stay healthier and live longer and independently .
is this transitional or permanent ?
we note that this vote includes the creation of a budget item to provide supplementary funding to the High Flux Reactor ( HFR ) at Petten , Netherlands .
this is how Europe can be made safer and the natural environment more habitable .
as a result , paragraphs 11 , 12 , 14 and 17 of my report are omitted from the alternative .
however , I would also like to stress the social aspect of this legislation as regards the rights of disabled people , especially blind or partially sighted people , and their right to avail of free postal services .
I look at India , with its caste-based discrimination , its appalling record on bonded labour and sex trafficking , and widespread religious freedom abuses .
we have to send a strong signal to national governments that reducing social payments and pensions in a time of crisis is a crime against the population .
the highly competitive nature of research , the inherent geographical mobility associated with scientific work , along with establishing a career at a relatively late age all make this activity difficult to combine with family life .
sometimes you need luck and I think I have been lucky in having Linda McAvan , Lena Ek and others - shadow rapporteurs - on the ETS directive .
I ask you to apply the resolution that Parliament adopted in December for this Operation to protect fishing boats and to extend that protection .
more than half the amendments tabled are acceptable to the Commission as they are in principle or in part .
energy policy is something very specific from country to country .
I am convinced that European politicians must pay particular attention to the protection of the environment , and must support all efforts aimed at or assisting in the protection of the wellbeing of our environment , not just in Europe , but on a global scale as well .
electoral fraud and the mild form of authoritarianism which has begun to operate in Kyrgyzstan cannot and will not be a matter of indifference .
the problem arose solely on the back of the crisis situation at Opel 's US parent company .
a deluge of information can cause greater confusion precisely in the case of an inexperienced consumer and the objective of simplicity and transparency is missed .
the answer is no .
the EU 2020 strategy is critically important for the competitiveness , sustainability and social characteristics of the Union and I voted in favour of what the report says about directing more attention towards initiatives related to the energy , research and innovation sector , as well as health and education matters in the years ahead .
what has been condemned is the possibility of setting interbank margins unilaterally , arbitrarily and without consultation , when these rightly appear excessive .
the Commission hopes that the Lisbon Treaty will come into force and stands ready to take the necessary action to put its provisions into practice and to continue developing civil dialogue .
however , the difference does not extend beyond the borders of the euro area , which might be assumed to be the case from an economic perspective .
I think it is only right that we remember those victims too .
Europeans from La Palma , the Canaries and the rest of Europe are waiting for answers on this .
it is a horizontal responsibility , a dimension to be integrated into all of the Union 's policies .
I want to see our cap tightened .
I secured agreement on a text consisting of two sentences , to be added to Article 136 of the Treaty .
with this measure , we can resolve a troublesome problem faced by thousands of citizens of third countries and do it well , strengthening both freedom and security along the way .
I also appreciate his comments on food security and about finding a balance when imposing regulations and restrictions on our own businesses and farmers .
every effort by the European Union to impose a structure of this kind has failed and will do so in future .
so the European Union , which respects the cultural traditions of Russians , should not put pressure on Moscow on this matter , and should leave the questions of the rights of sexual minorities to marry and adopt children in the hands of national legislation .
there are some economies that are 95 % dependant upon coal .
the final text includes my amendments .
but I think that is wrong .
the Human Rights Council is on the right track here .
if they prevail , it will mean that we complete the discharge process without making any progress in this very important aspect , and that would be the absolute worst case scenario for us all , because a cheery ' carry on ' will not get us through the latest report by the Court of Auditors on the secretarial assistance allowance .
farmers , not unjustifiably , feel they are being exploited , while consumers are being expected to pick up the bill for increased milk and food prices , none of which reaches the small producers .
the timing is very much in the hands of Kosovo 's government .
but I repeat the point .
during the Monday evening debate on several own-initiative reports , it turned out , however , that this change was not the most felicitous .
we need to improve dialogue with these authorities in order to better understand the problems that exist and face up to the challenges .
the Commission points out that the British House of Lords concluded in a special report that there was no evidence of widespread corruption within the Commission and that the level of fraud against the EU budget is no higher than in comparable public spending programmes , including in Great Britain .
the first the absolute necessity to protect the geographical indications and designations of origin , which are often questioned but nevertheless establish the link to the land that characterises the European agricultural model .
the primary aim of the report is , however , to illustrate how discrimination and harassment can still destroy people 's chances in life and prospects of empowerment .
however , we have no idea how to deal with them .
I was the Latvian defence minister for five and a half years .
well , there are three main areas of action .
in my opinion , Mr Daul hit the nail on the head at the beginning of this debate .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( ES ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , according to the United Nations Environment Programme , desertification threatens a quarter of the earth 's land surface , as well as 250 million people and the livelihoods of more than a billion inhabitants in 100 countries because of decreased agricultural and livestock productivity .
however , I want to put on record that we believe that at the current time , this is not a prospect , and to underline that we must focus on the continued success of the current mission as it stands .
I do not know whether a government will once again say that it has everything under control and can finance its bonds , even if interest rates are rising , and then suddenly change its mind and say : ' we need a rescue package .
one of the most important of these is climate change .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , of the proposals being presented to us I am happy to support the draft regulation for establishing a European Asylum Support Office , the European Refugee Fund and the Eurodac Regulation .
- Mr President , Mr Millán Mon has presented an important and excellent report .
I think that rulings of this kind may also create a certain bad atmosphere , where some symbols and emphases are open to misinterpretation .
on behalf of the S & D Group . - ( ES ) Mr President , Commissioner , Mrs Giannakou , thank you for drawing up this report , which I think will be very helpful in spurring the Commission to make progress in forming a better system for recognising and protecting European political parties .
even my proposal regarding the restoration of the north-south railway connections to Nikšić on the Bosnian border and Shkoder in Albania has been accepted .
what sort of history books must it have read if it did not know how the state of Israel came about in 1947 ?
in the case of poultry and pigs , there has been no evidence of the danger of any disease spreading as a result of this type of feed .
the European Union is the only organisation , and Mr Barrot knows this very well , that can get Italy and other countries out of this situation .
the social system in the United States is nothing like the social system in Europe , in each one of our countries .
and we are worried because the negotiations are dangerously close to deadlock at the moment .
we did not succeed in doing this .
( Parliament approved the request . )
'Europe without barriers ' must mean the removal of all barriers , including physical , social and architectural barriers , and the prevention of any discrimination against handicapped people .
that was eight years ago .
there were close contacts throughout the period , and they fully support us in seeking to change the focus .
with regard to Articles 53 and 54 , I wish to remind you that European farmers have to comply with the highest standards of quality , food safety , environmental protection and animal welfare .
apart from the general impairment of human health , approximately 35 000 people in Europe died as a result of the heatwave in 2003 .
the development of such technologies is a vital component of our strategies to achieve our climate change targets .
throughout the production of this report , our group often expressed fundamental disagreement with the line suggested by the author .
besides believing that food security is a basic human right , I also regard agriculture as a strategic sector which is absolutely essential to the future of our continent .
other activities are also coming , and rightly so , but I think we should not underestimate what is happening here .
Commission Member . - ( RO ) Looking at the demands faced by the European Commission , we are pleased to say that they were not only met , but also exceeded .
I have just been informed , unfortunately , that we have a problem with the availability of our Commissioners .
if the Mediterranean is a graveyard , the moral responsibility lies with those who opened up the gates to illegal vessels .
this EUR 400 billion amounts to 3.3 % of EU GDP and represents an unprecedented step and together with the automatic stabilisers which the EU has and the US , for example , does not have , I believe that the example quoted today by José Manuel Barroso is highly informative .
I wish to cite two figures .
as regards civil society and non-state actors , I am more convinced than anyone that the principle challenge for 2009 consists of speeding up the achievement of tangible results before the mid-term assessment planned for autumn 2009 and achieving the ambition of a partnership centred on people outside of institutions .
secondly , this year , the arguments for this are even stronger than usual .
in particular , I am in favour of solutions aimed at increasing levels of employment among women in rural areas .
I think the whole House will want to send a strong , unified message to General Musharraf .
when these have been addressed , and only then , questions of health and safety at work can , of course , be resolved in the ongoing process of common standard-setting .
most of what Ms Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou states in her report is , of course , correct .
I hope that the Agency will rise to the challenges we have posed .
Afghanistan was once upon a time famous for its pomegranates , now very much ' in ' with the health food lobby .
in writing . - ( LT ) I believe that the new rules contained in the report provide clarity and set out acceptable criteria , for both consumers and businesses , when concluding online transactions .
in this case , we agree that we want the highest possible level of safety , and that of course also applies to the nuclear waste that we will be responsible for , irrespective of how long we continue to use nuclear power - and so will many , many generations after us .
that is why I am so pleased to see that progress really has been made .
author . - ( SV ) Thank you Mr President .
it took three months for that idea to come from Parliament , to get approval by the Council to unlock the door , but 12 months later , we still have not agreed how to choose the projects or use the money .
while the approved compromise package is not perfect , I consider the text of the directive to be a politically ambitious instrument in the area of waste management for future generations of Europeans , which is why I supported the report by the rapporteur , Mrs Caroline Jackson .
I welcome the fact that 13 Member States to date have ratified the Lisbon Treaty .
at its last meeting at the end of last year , the Council , under the French Presidency , adopted the Code of Conduct as a legally binding instrument .
we had to take these measures to remain attractive in order to attract and keep the best scientists in Europe and remain competitive in a global economy .
Belarus has taken the decision to build a new nuclear power plant which will probably appear quite close to Lithuania 's capital Vilnius .
this guarantees , at the same time , protection for the intellectual property rights for products .
Madam President , I voted in favour of adopting the report by Mrs McGuinness , but I would like to draw attention to the following issues in particular .
Madam President , if I may misquote John Dunning , an English MP in the 18th century , the EU budget has increased , is increasing and ought to be diminished .
I regret that this debate should not have been accompanied by a vote on a resolution .
if we want to continue to swell the ranks of anti-Europeanism , then carry on , Commission .
it will never again be business as before .
we will cooperate fully with all competent authorities to explain everything that has happened and to verify all the information .
I think it is most important that Parliament is involved in that process .
I hope that , in the end , together with our friend Mrs Gutiérrez-Cortines , we arrived at a sensible result , including with regard to the significance of the overall topic of soil protection , a result that can be a model worldwide as well as in Europe .
from the cultural point of view , moreover , Kazakhstan is more European than Asiatic .
the current gas crisis shows once more how weak and ineffective our EU energy policy is .
at the same time , our relations go far beyond that .
if , in order to adopt the Treaty of Lisbon , they shied away from national referenda - and disrespected the few that were carried out - they now do not hesitate to escape even the scrutiny of the national parliaments .
the efficiency of the pre-accession funds spent in the area of justice reform and the combating of corruption must be assessed .
it would be a first step , it should be noted , in the wrong direction that would mean that the Member States ' current right to implement this legislation would become an obligation , that the charge per kilometre would only rise and , above all , that car drivers would soon be next .
you are missing the target .
this is why we must reaffirm our position from first reading .
we are also used to answering questions via Europe Direct , for example , and through our representations , so we will try to help as much as we can .
in recent years , air transport has had a clear lead over other means of transport .
the situation in Egypt is similar , even though things are moving fast .
'Does not alter their status in any way ' !
in many countries , that whole area of dealing with unfair practices was not really developed at all in national legislation .
although I shall be voting , and will be doing so in favour of the resolution , the text is not perhaps exactly as I would like it to be .
however , I am pleased that as new fellow Members ...
the issue , therefore , is not about rigging so-called elections more than usual .
where are the sustainable forests in the Amazon or in Vietnam ?
under this arrangement , which is not an exemption scheme , supplies remain taxed but the person liable for the payment of the VAT to the tax administration is no longer the supplier but the recipient taxpayer .
having failed to take the lead against the exemption from international law in the fight against terrorism , the Union is now attempting to go along with Mr Obama 's commitments .
( DE ) Madam President , I am happy for us to talk about this again , but I have a very big problem .
in the majority of EU countries , an often disgusting view of womanhood is propagated , where the commercial aim is pursued not only with vulgarity but with a real contempt for women 's dignity , not to mention the use of subliminal advertising and also television programming - above all in my country , I have to say .
it is common knowledge that , to establish themselves in China , operators must comply with the Chinese authorities ' request to install software filters , which even Google has ended up agreeing to do .
an analysis really needs to be carried out of all the national adoption systems to see what their strengths and weaknesses are and to recommend the best practices for adoption by Member States .
although we are shocked , we must still remain calm and level-headed , as frenetic activity and hysteria would be out of place here .
however , I will finish by saying both to you , Mrs Douay , and to all MEPs : we have made quite a rough sketch , if you like , because we did not want to confine answers at this stage within certain restricted rules .
since announcing the referendum , the government issued Law No 1 / 2008 , which denies voting rights to members of religious orders , including monks and nuns .
since 1988 , Parliament has awarded the Sakharov Prize to people and organisations with a record of particular distinction in the fight for human rights .
Moldova is one of Europe 's poorest countries , facing major economic and political problems .
as politicians , we will establish frameworks that ensure that those who wish to provide competitive , effective and modern transport services have the opportunity they need to deliver .
progress in the area of electrical and electronic equipment means a longer usable life span , a reduction in the weight of individual appliances as a result of miniaturisation and a reduction in energy consumption .
cooperation between the EU and ΝΑΤΟ is being stepped up under the guise of military missions , supposedly non-military police and legal forces .
we have to be aware of this danger and make sure that it does not happen .
the following questions are addressed to the Commission .
the idea is to improve the efficiency and the area of application of the new directive .
as you know , the European Parliament is sending a delegation chaired by Mr Salafranca to Tunisia today and they will be reporting back next week .
indeed , a key objective of the Common Foreign and Security Policy is to consolidate democracy , rule of law , and , respect for human rights .
the integration of the Roma is one of the priorities of the Hungarian Presidency .
it is in this spirit that we have discussed a new Framework Agreement , the principles of which are embodied in the resolution before the House today .
on the other hand , this rule seeks to ensure that we give ourselves time to test how this new regulatory approach works before we allow our fishers to expand into deeper waters .
people then tell me , even if they agree , that you have to wait for a crisis to appear because the sense of urgency is not there .
this does not diminish any of the fundamental rights guaranteed to European citizens by the legislation of the Member States due to the fact that they are citizens of those Member States .
it is important , first of all , to act on the request of the Dalai Lama for an independent commission to go to Tibet so as to let the world know the truth and the true scope of this tragedy .
the bilateral agreements and projects of some Member States , such as the ' Nord Stream ' gas pipeline , cause distrust not just environmentally , but also in terms of the overall principle of solidarity .
after all , my colleagues and I have had the honour and the opportunity to tackle more specific problems .
the cultural and creative industries are currently also important drivers of economic and social innovation in many other sectors .
it is intensifying , Mr President , the frustrating perception that Brussels and Strasbourg all too often deal with obscure issues and not those which concern the public .
I welcome the general agreement on the compromise reached between Parliament and the Council .
if there is anything in particular that is worth highlighting , it is the fact that , unlike the original Commission proposal , we managed to retain the principle of contractual freedom in commercial and contractual relationships .
the substantial increase in oil prices is having a strong impact on fishermen 's operational costs , and this caused their revenue to fall between 2008 and 2010 .
5 .
on behalf of the PPE Group . - Mr President , the PPE Group does not agree with the change to the name that was on the agenda regarding Honduras , and disagrees with the suggestion that the title referring to the 29 November elections be deleted .
Parliament shares this view and , in this context , I have to say that we are deeply disappointed by the Council 's approach .
we cannot support the possibility of migration to SIS II - the new tool for achieving ' total security ' - with impunity .
( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the sand in the Kosovo hourglass is trickling down relentlessly , and 10 December is almost upon us .
mass persecution occurs on a huge scale , with political opponents , Christians and also thousands of ordinary people as victims .
there is no doubt that the Kremlin is prepared to maintain and increase its authority in the EU gas supply sector .
and now not just us , but everybody from the liberals to the PPE demand an explanation for the failure .
I worked with - to name a member of the DG - Jan on this very important principle , namely that , if you are refused a visa , or you are refused entry into the Schengen area , your appeal may not be suspensive , but the authority that refuses must make itself accountable .
this situation will discriminate against our own territory and it is simply intolerable that it should arise .
as was pointed out in his report from last year , the crucial work is about building citizens ' trust in the EU , and we can all subscribe to that .
it improves transparency , and my group , in particular , sets great store by the setting up of a register in which the raw materials mixed into feed must be entered .
so I think I have a role here to speak for the people that I represent and to fight for those jobs which , when things get bad , are very often the first jobs to go .
we aim to be flexible and to achieve a good compromise for the transitional regulation .
we need the Commission , Parliament , the Member States but also , as Minister López Garrido said , local and regional authorities working hand in hand .
I agree with you that we have indeed taken some steps forward .
in the meantime , preparations will continue with regard to codecision with Parliament and to the European External Action Service , which we will discuss this afternoon .
as the title of the report suggests , however , we are looking at the long term in this debate .
this motion is a statement of the seriousness with which this House takes ongoing developments in our agricultural markets .
firstly , because accounting is an opportunity for directors to take stock , at least once a year , of their businesses ' situation .
even the Internet presence of the current Presidency , which is in English , French and Czech , takes no account of the fact that German , with an 18 % share of mother-tongue speakers in the EU , is the language with the most native speakers in the Union , while a further 14 % of EU citizens speak it as a foreign language .
this is also the rationale that has led numerous Member States to resume their development cooperation with Cuba over the past few months , representing a diverse range of the political parties represented in the European Parliament and reflecting , therefore , the shared view of the important role to be played by development cooperation in Cuba .
this is why I would like to add a few words on this point .
our other priority , as you have pointed out , ladies and gentlemen , is simplification .
we will , of course , examine all these applications on an individual basis , but very many of them are unfounded and this is why we need to address these networks .
however , from this moment on , many people across the Eastern bloc states knew that the system that we lived under could not be reformed , but only overcome .
the European economy is based heavily on the construction sector , which accounts for 10 % of EU GDP and directly employs 12 million EU citizens .
he was fined and had to go through disciplinary action .
it means , firstly , that we need to strengthen Frontex further and that is why this Parliament is committed to increasing Frontex 's budget and not to decreasing it , as the Council is trying to do .
I regard that as a major consideration .
so it is up to the Member States to really strengthen these fines , because , from the Commission point of view , we do what is required and we cannot prescribe the fines for not implementing vigorously enough EU legislation .
Madam President , while the details of some individual proposals in this report require careful study in relation to the principle of subsidiarity - especially any tax-related matters - the overall aims of the report deserve , nonetheless , to be supported .
nevertheless , in order to operate effectively in the interests of EU citizens , the Commission should give MEPs observer status at all international conferences and , where possible , facilitate our presence at other significant meetings to an even greater extent , as well as inform Parliament of the negotiating positions adopted by the Commission at such meetings and conferences .
as the chairman of the Political Affairs Committee of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly , I have had many discussions with many of these small , peripheral - and extremely remote - states in the South Pacific .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Mr President , this was the worst natural disaster ever to hit Pakistan .
now to the coordination that one of the speakers mentioned .
I agree with the rapporteur that European political parties are basic instruments of parliamentary democracy , even if , at this stage , they are only umbrella organisations of the affiliated national parties .
we must not make the euro weaker , if those countries which are affected feel that the euro protects rather than weakens them .
in writing . - The external dimension of social policy includes activities and initiatives of the EU aimed at promoting labour and social standards in non-member countries .
he has produced a balanced report , showing a grasp of the problem and presenting sensible and generally speaking suitable proposals for dealing with the situation .
this is one of those proposals that could make Europe a reality for those we serve .
globalisation - normally a positive force that increases global welfare - can , unfortunately , wreak huge havoc on regional economies when large companies move location .
whatever happened to the Europe-Turkey agreement on the return of these illegal immigrants ?
the report should be ready towards the end of the first quarter of 2009 .
rather than imposing a very rigid and inflexible timetable for change in the industry , we should be seeking to support the industry and give it the incentive to make the changes that are necessary to bring about their future .
in other words , it is true that the Doha Round may ultimately find a solution , but that solution has been postponed all too often in recent years .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , as far as I am concerned the answer is a clear yes .
however , I consider that what is of the utmost importance is not only to criticise and condemn the current regime but also to eliminate any possibility of European funds intended to help the people of Guinea being misappropriated .
I will not stand for that .
at other times , however , it arrives unobtrusively .
so the Commission is doing a lot to make life easier for businesses across the continent , implementing the internal market .
let me just add that already , with a view to the next Foreign Affairs Council , the preparations for the draft Council conclusions emphasise very clearly the dire situation in Gaza and underline the importance of uninterrupted emergency and humanitarian assistance without obstruction .
what is more , in order to save the banks , you invented ' stress tests ' .
in that respect , the Commission is carefully monitoring and assisting Member States in the transposition of that new provision into national law , which has to be completed by 25 May 2011 .
I also strongly support the introduction of a European system of collective redress that would enable consumers in different Member States to take their complaints jointly to the courts and seek redress , while avoiding the pitfalls of the US model .
on 16 December 2010 , the European Council decided to consult the European Parliament under the simplified revision procedure laid down in Article 48 ( 6 ) of the Consolidated Version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union concerning a proposal to revise Article 136 of the Consolidated Version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union with regard to a stability mechanism for Member States whose currency is the euro .
nonetheless , it is regrettable this success was not more pronounced , and more work is certainly required .
try as we might , we are unlikely to reach 200 this afternoon unless everybody turns up .
as a former journalist , can I suggest that while a meeting of the Commission might be interesting for the Commission , we cannot force people to watch it .
the message of these events is clear : freedom and national independence were what Hungary aspired to as it shook off Communism .
the prerequisite that will enable us to get through this agenda is , in my opinion , agreement within the EU and clarity in our message towards the outside world .
the issue of counterfeit medicines is unrelated to intellectual property .
a minute ago , you also talked about setting up a kind of coordination cell .
why does Greenland have the name it does , and yet it is entirely frozen today ?
this week , the United Nations published figures on foreign direct investment in 2010 .
in writing . - ( DE ) People 's health is the greatest asset of our society and we should use appropriate means to promote and maintain it .
I think that it is unacceptable , with our neighbourhood policy , for a government - the Government of Morocco - to create a serious problem of freedom of expression and to threaten the whole of the Spanish accredited press in the Kingdom of Morocco , unlike the rest of the European press .
nice speech , Mr Brown , but what are you ready to do , really ?
in fact to do that would be even more unpopular than your hated Lisbon Treaty .
furthermore , a future quality policy must also be linked to the major potentialities of agriculture which , as in the European case , is modern , dynamic , rich and diversified and can offer not only high quality food products but also services of great value to a constantly evolving society .
instead , with the assistance of the United States , they attacked Airbus for exacting so-called ' illegal subsidies ' - the very government assistance that Boeing had originally agreed to in the 1992 agreement .
it is our duty to work for compliance with and the protection of the rights of all women , so that they can be fully integrated into society , regardless of their situation , origin or status .
high levels of skills and expertise and the knowledgebased economy are , and must be , the foundation of European society now and in the future .
with regard to unemployment and youth unemployment , I would like to highlight the proposal to review the Erasmus programme .
if we want to comply with the Lisbon Treaty , if we want our development policies to be coherent , we need to take action now and I ask you to support this report in full .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , first of all I would like to add my thanks to Mr Kalfin for his ambitious report and I would like to remind you once more that it was the European Court of Justice that demanded that the external mandate be approved under the codecision procedure .
imagine what would happen if the referee were to hold a vote among the players each time to determine whether this really was a foul .
I am convinced that mountainous regions require new means of protecting their territory against flooding with the emphasis on flood prevention , whilst farmers and foresters could support anti-flooding measures by means of the direct area-related payments which they receive under the common agricultural policy .
reshaping the microcredit framework can help us reinforce and rebuild our economies from the community upwards .
I also believe that we need greater coordination of economic and fiscal policies , so that we avoid unfortunate situations like the Greek one .
the construction of an integrated , fully functioning single market is a process that is essential to deepened European integration , social cohesion , economic growth and the sustainable development of the EU .
we must set only attainable goals , taking into consideration their effects on the economic crisis .
however , what has happened with regard to India , Canada , Colombia and Peru ?
Madam President , Commissioner , we find ourselves in a very complicated situation .
we already condemned in this Parliament the criminal sanctions applied to consenting relations between same-sex adults in private and the Bahati Bill , which provides for stiffer penalties right up to capital punishment .
it is vital to stop not just the armed conflict in Chad but also the fall-out from the crisis in Darfur .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , I should like to say , firstly , that I am sorry this is a joint debate because the crisis in Georgia ought to have been the subject of a debate in its own right .
as for the scope of the service , it needs to have a comprehensive overview of the Union 's relations with the rest of the world , so it needs geographical desks as well as horizontal services to cover questions such as CFSP and CSDP , human rights and relations with UN bodies .
I know that I was too long , but you can never be too long when you are talking about children 's rights .
it must be possible for Eurostat to carry out investigations in the Member States when it wants to and its employees must be able to speak to the necessary people while being aware that this is the right thing to do .
consumers very often complain that their right to benefit from all the privileges of the single market is incomplete , and this is reflected in the lack of trust in online transactions and in the feeling of legal uncertainty concerning the scope of the protection which should be enjoyed by consumers .
of course , progress is not always straightforward with positive developments .
I would also have liked to have heard some clear statements from the representative of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany ( CDU ) , because , as we know , it is the Conservatives in Germany who have so often stood in the way of this .
in writing . - Despite my stated opposition to a proposal for a Directive on Soil Protection , I voted in favour of this report at the final vote .
without a Europe of defence , defence in Europe will be threatened .
I am afraid that now - as in the Balkans - we cannot break the deadlock without committed American leadership : leadership that the European Union , unfortunately , is incapable of providing .
it establishes Montenegro as a democratic , liberal and environmental state based on the rule of law .
in our opinion , there is no doubt about the importance of simplifying the establishment of world class research infrastructures in Europe with the added value that these may represent in terms of improved quality of research and education , the ties established between public and private researchers and , in general , their positive socioeconomic impact .
nevertheless , the standard visa fee of EUR 60 does not apply to Ukrainian visa applicants .
however , the point here is not to try to impose the Mediterranean diet throughout the EU or attempt to favour it over other diets that are better adapted to non-Mediterranean climates and regions .
the people of Haiti - and our own people - expect a swift , effective and coordinated response .
with regard to Mr Ziobro 's argument , there is no problem with the Strasbourg Court interfering in the Union 's competences .
I believe that the excellent report by Mr Mitchell successfully highlights the areas in which Europe could and should do better .
the adoption of the agreement follows the Euro-Mediterranean road map for trade after 2010 .
the Commission President has a great deal of the primary responsibility .
fourteen EU Member States are included in that region , including Germany as well as Romania and Bulgaria , and it is primarily for those countries that we call for the effective application of the principle enshrined in Article 3 .
it was , in fact , about the way in which it was conveyed .
these proposals undoubtedly include a whole series of very delicate aspects and it is clear that they will be discussed seriously and in depth but , nevertheless , their basic trend and consequence will be an improvement in health care for European citizens .
we must continue to be guided by these words in our efforts to build a stronger and more cohesive Europe .
when Sweden joined the EU , many people were worried that documents would leak out via that country , which has a very strong public access principle , but this has not happened at all .
the European Union must not let them down .
in many countries in Europe , when the public authorities are in a difficult situation , they are known to generally pay late and very often cause some companies to go bankrupt .
today I am proud to be leading this institution at the beginning of the 21st century as we face new challenges and require new solutions .
this Treaty clearly lists the areas in which the Member States have transferred powers to the EU ;
although healthcare provision in the new Member States in accordance with clearly defined standards of quality and security does not apply uniformly to all types of healthcare , the demand for dental services in Eastern Europe is constantly increasing .
at that time , you had just launched the network of national ombudsmen and committees on petitions and it seems clear from the report that this network has been extremely well received by the citizens of Europe who are the main focus of your work .
for it must not be the case that in the European Parliament or in other EU institutions , we encourage citizens of the Union to use the services of e-commerce and also to buy services in cross-border trade , while at the same time not offering the same protection to the people who do this .
it therefore happens that the most vulnerable groups , migrants , the elderly , children and the disabled pay , sometimes with their lives , the high price of having the right to health denied them .
if it is the case that one party in a negotiation uses the negotiation solely to draw out the process and there is no agreement after nine months , then we will get no directive , and then we will get no change .
we are holding European taxpayers to ransom , and those taxpayers are becoming more uneasy with each passing day ; this should not be forgotten .
what is more , this regional aid has not protected those affected by the world economic crisis because it forms part of the ultra-liberal philosophy of the Lisbon Strategy .
we have not yet realised that prevention would cost a great deal less than a cure .
considering the overall importance of the construction sector in all Member States , I think that further liberalisation is a necessary step forward .
the main tools available to the Union in this area are funding programmes , particularly the Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-2013 .
I also believe it is worth encouraging this activity through collateral measures , and that any scientific contribution in that respect should be welcomed .
after the major crisis we now have a good and balanced proposal for a regulation , which in my view will secure the construction phase .
the European Union , through the Commission and the Member States combined , is the world 's largest donor of humanitarian aid .
I therefore abstained on this text .
let me read you if I may two lines of a poem by Louis Aragon : ' Celui qui croyait au ciel , celui qui n 'y croyait pas , et leur sang rouge ruisselle , même couleur , même éclat ' ( ' The one who believed in God and the one who did not , their blood runs equally red and equally bright ' ) .
the reverse charge system introduced by some Member States , including Romania , has worked very well .
I hope the common guidelines in the strategic framework document will indeed guide the national committees in planning effective action .
I should like to ask the Council , now it is here , whether it can give its response to this , and whether it agrees that it is possible for the two institutions to monitor each other effectively without a gentlemen 's agreement .
moreover , the absolute majority of these loans were taken out on terms that left all the exchange-rate risk with the borrower .
I think the House should express its total solidarity with the ushers .
ladies and gentlemen , Parliament is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary as a directly elected democratic European Union institution .
firstly , for the principle of reciprocity , the European Commission is asked to implement a monitoring system to supervise the quality of eggs imported into the European Union and guarantee total respect of European standards and rules .
the policy of presence must not be underestimated - although it should not be turned into a religion .
mortar attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip must stop .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , yes , of course I will follow up on that .
that is the point which we are debating .
we have deliberately chosen a different path in Europe from the US , with which the situation is often compared .
the same applies for the definitions of the different actors in the chain of supply , clarifying their roles and responsibilities .
more than 7 500 cases of rape and sexual violence have been recorded in the first nine months of this year alone , which is more than the figure for the whole of last year .
these are positive signals which without doubt are also the result of the European Union 's attitude to Belarus .
I am sorry I do not have that information myself - I have nothing to do with that case .
in recent years , the EU as a whole has increased its dependence on energy supplies from particular third countries .
in this regard , and as a very specific example , we are going to join our efforts to encourage Belarus to abolish the death penalty , especially by organising joint events in Minsk during this World Day .
France has traditionally had a long-standing connection with Christians in the Near and Middle East .
I think that this problem that has come up , which must be examined and presented realistically , has been satisfactorily resolved .
my group has been generally supportive of the common position originally adopted by the Council , as I am well aware of the need to try and agree a speedy implementation of this regulation .
the 2005 general assembly of ICOMOS , in turn , resolved to protect the historic heritage of the ancient settlement .
Madam President , that is the end of my speech on the subject we are dealing with at the moment and , like you , I would like to dedicate a few minutes , which are my last , to saying some words of farewell .
in conclusion might I add that an invitation to Mr Lukashenko to participate in the Prague Spring Summit would be incomprehensible and hard to justify .
any Member State can take part in this programme .
common agricultural and coherence policies are the true results of European integration and symbols of solidarity between Member States and nations .
it has to be said that a fruitful working relationship has just begun .
I was also pleased to see Parliament support a multi-tiered safety net in the event of market disruption and , indeed , emergency situations .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
we know that a Member of this House was prevented from going to the camps and was expelled by the Moroccan authorities , and we know that the same thing has been happening with members of national parliaments , journalists and members of non-governmental organisations ( NGOs ) .
in accordance with Protocol 26 , Annex to the Treaty of Lisbon , it falls to national , regional and local authorities to implement and organise this type of service .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Mr President , I wish to express my concern that we have been prevented from debating the Brok amendment on implementation of the Members ' Statute .
therefore , there is a need for a strategy to coordinate the actions of these countries in the region .
I suggest a standard approach to monitoring , control and sanctions throughout the European Union , and above all a targeted policy to encourage Member States to contain the level of accident casualties so that it would not significantly exceed the EU average .
unfortunately , the visa fee will be EUR 60 instead of the EUR 35 suggested by Parliament . hopefully there are a number of waivers and reductions for children , students and active youth .
once again I would like to thank everyone who has taken part in the good work of the Committee on Petitions .
many others do not report disaggregated data of their sectoral lending or the geographical distribution .
there can be no doubt that the issue of human rights and good governance was an important , in fact , a very important issue in the dialogue that we held in Lisbon during the EU-Africa Summit .
the report by Mr Winkler , on behalf of the Committee on International Trade , on providing macro-financial assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina - C7-0278 / 2009 -
to date this has occurred on two occasions .
that can be done in a spirit of good cooperation between all institutions and in full respect , of course , of our Member States .
I am taking advantage of this explanation of vote to criticise the delay in the codification of European law .
the crisis of the euro may not end with Ireland and we may have not seen the worst yet .
the criteria when it comes to money are clear .
this is a well-balanced protocol which conciliates the different interests : the need to adjust the EU financial contribution to reduced fishing possibilities for the EU fleet , and the importance of giving greater support to the fisheries sector in Mauritania so as to encourage the integration of this sector into the Mauritanian National Development strategy .
the EU should be able to act to prevent this flouting of international rules .
what the Commission tells us is that citizens should be put first in 2009 .
in the words of leading climatologist Professor Lindzen , ' Future generations will wonder in bemused amazement that the early 21st century 's developed world went into hysterical panic over a globally averaged temperature increase of a few tenths of a degree and , on the basis of gross exaggerations of highly uncertain computer projections [ ... ] , contemplated a rollback of the industrial age ' .
restrictive measures affecting the rights of individuals following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty ( debate )
that will make the people of Europe really very unhappy .
today , as Estonia is about to enter its fifth year as a member of the European Union , we are no longer ' new members ' , learning the ropes .
now , what we have seen since the establishment of the Financial Perspective , which I followed from a different angle for a certain period of time , is that the Community budget has always been subject to an under-utilisation , and this has been the case since 1988 .
Misspending and mismanagement of Community money is something which regularly features in the press and media across the EU .
I can say that the Commission will not stand in the way of finding a pragmatic solution .
they are supporting a bill that would impose the death penalty , or life imprisonment , on homosexuals , depending on the nature of their so-called crime .
the Chinese Communist Party is a party of murderous gangsters that has no more purpose than the continuation of its own existence .
the Commission regards the strengthening of corporate governance as central to its financial market reform and crisis prevention programme .
I would like to use my speech to highlight two of the issues mentioned by the shadow rapporteur from my political group , Mrs Macovei .
now , within the Commission itself - which is , after all , a collegial institution - there is not always a clear , unified position on certain issues .
the final point I want to make is how I think that , more than anything , we have to look , within the review , for practical and innovative ways of getting our messages across .
the problem in Athens , Mr Cohn-Bendit , affects the Dutch , Flemings , Germans - all of us - and the contamination risk remains .
can the President of the Council indicate which additional measures the Council will take in order to turn the tide ?
the export of radioactive waste to third countries must be banned .
everything that can be done to improve the situation should be done .
under the Treaty of Lisbon , therefore , you are now obliged to be transparent with Parliament , because in the end , you have to have a ' yes ' from Parliament , and that is not a certainty , given the state of the negotiations and of the text with which we are dealing .
we will carefully examine the recommendations of the Barnier Report when the proposals are submitted .
in 2005 , the Republic of Croatia asked to participate in the activities of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction .
in all probability , the attitude of Parliament will lead to greater use of the opt-out .
from the first day of the coup , our position has been clear .
it will assess the integration of human factors in the creation of the single European sky no later than 2012 .
this example alone explains my total opposition to opening negotiations on a visa waiver agreement between the European Union and Brazil .
however , we must not forget to go on working continually on what are the real reasons for , and root of , all trafficking in human beings , namely poverty , social exclusion and demand .
Member of the Commission . - I do not have that information available to me .
what is more , as you are all aware , in each case , at each stage and for each chapter of the process , there needs to be unanimous agreement .
in the energy sector , it would be an important development for the European Union and Russia to reach agreement after withdrawing from the Energy Charter .
we do not need a Council President who shows off , dazzles everyone and tries to pull the wool over our eyes .
how do you intend to implement that Commissioner ?
I feel that arrangements should be made for them and that they should be taken into account in view of the progress they represent .
finally , I am glad the Commission supports the need for tightening the requirements for tax information exchange as stipulated by the OECD model agreement applicable to 12 States .
the view of the Member States that not everything can be solved at European level is a blatant error .
the protection of personal data is a sensitive issue in EU-US relations , as in the case of the agreement on the transfer of banking data ( SWIFT agreement ) .
Mrs Dührkop , the Commission has consistently supported the integration of the Prüm Treaty into the European Union .
we clearly stated that this is not meant for small companies , but that the SPE Statute is available for all companies .
this is what we have to follow up in this process as well .
unfortunately , a reading of the report on mutual evaluation confirms these fears .
at the same time he called on the Chinese authorities urgently to release protesters who had peacefully expressed their opinions .
you talked about the fact that it was a lie to believe that the nation state could exist in the 21st-century globalised world .
I voted for this report .
the European Union must fill this gap .
any attempt at embarrassing individuals or any form of attempted blackmail - be it political , financial or otherwise - should be a particular offence and should be strongly condemned by all right-thinking people .
another alarming fact is that the European Union has become a net importer of beef for the last six years .
citizens use public services .
the level of investment required clearly differs significantly according to the development stage of a particular European area .
Member of the Commission . - I am very happy with your question , for you can be of help because we need more information .
this may perhaps be explained better than I have explained it by an interview with Mr Cohn-Bendit , which I quote word for word : ' it is absurd to compare Mr Berlusconi to a dictator : there are no prisons for dissidents , he has the support of the majority , and the centre-left has simply lost ' .
naturally , this strategy should cover a number of aspects , and in particular , those aspects related to the environment and its protection , to sustainable economic development , and the development of transport infrastructure and logically call for the involvement of all the countries that use the water resources in this region .
many people in Europe perhaps tend to forget this .
Mumia Abu-Jamal has been sentenced to death and has been waiting on death row for 30 years .
the Black Sea region consists of countries with diverse traditions , cultures , political practices , territorial spans and population sizes .
for the majority of people in Belarus , resonant phrases about a constructive dialogue and the discussion of fundamental problems failed to show clearly what policy the European Union will pursue in the future .
however , the research and transport infrastructures are also important concerns .
this is a great advance for the treaty .
'Expresses serious concern that a majority of the Member States ( 18 out of 27 , especially Latvia , Italy , Portugal , Greece and the Czech Republic ) were unable to raise their level of ODA between 2006 and 2007 and that there has even been a dramatic reduction of over 10 % in a number of countries such as Belgium , France and the United Kingdom ; ... ' ;
the country report on the progress made by Croatia in 2010 indicates the determination of the government in Zagreb to meet the European Union 's accession criteria .
let me take an example of something which affects us all : Alzheimer 's disease .
we will have to develop that ourselves first , and neither of our proposals prevents the groups from participating in this .
in writing . - I support this report which recommends faster , more flexible payments for structural funding .
let us work together to find this balance between rights and responsibilities .
the main task of these international export control regimes is to update the lists of goods to be controlled .
the best answer to that is the recent decision to call off the European Union-United States Summit .
however , as has already been said , this question must be dealt with by the technical experts and later by the courts .
Malta is against abortion .
( applause )
I give the floor to Catherine Ashton to sum up the debate and answer many of those questions .
if we are exercising more freedom for expenditure on the one hand , we must also make sure that the Member States are subject to appropriate obligations .
we need to coordinate that research across the European Union so that we find answers .
let us join forces and do it .
this is also reinforced , however , by an attempt to legitimise the system of sanctions , with an attempt to include a system of incentives .
on this rests the future of a whole economic sector , which in the European Union is very concentrated in regions that are highly dependent on it , and therefore it has huge social repercussions .
according to reports , women make up 38 % of scientific workers in EU countries in Central and Eastern Europe , although a large number of them are employed in fields in which expenditure on scientific research is low .
whether we look at the current difficulties and ambitions of the EU and its regions from a regional or a global perspective , the most pressing issues remain the energy shortage , the slowdown in economic growth and unemployment .
this is not acceptable .
what the rapporteur has argued for here is greater transparency , and I warmly support that .
I request the French presidency to take into consideration all these aspects and include on its half-year agenda a real European policy for the integration of Roma people .
the European economy cannot be revitalised unless , at the same time , we use the strength of the euro on international markets and the resulting improved credit rating to heal it .
the authenticity and the power of democracy come solely from the attitude of the citizens .
military capabilities will be developed at an EU level among those Member States which want this by means of a Permanent Structured Cooperation ( PSC ) .
perhaps not in the form of an emergency resolution .
people will say : why bother with all these renewables , why bother with all these other things if you are still building coal-fired power stations in this way ?
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , today , certain areas of the Balkans are still unstable and are communication routes for illegal traffic controlled by organised crime networks .
sexual exploitation leaves children with psychological scars and sometimes even physical ones , thereby diminishing their hopes of leading a life of dignity .
there is no doubt that the European Union was exemplary in the way it chose to proceed with the regulatory and supervision measures .
the written history of Europe goes back two and a half thousand years , and how rich and various is its content .
the next meeting of the European Council will be on 4 February , and after that , also in February , the next report from President Van Rompuy .
2008 was announced as the year of reforms in Turkey .
I therefore ask you , ladies and gentlemen , to lend your support to those of us who believe that this proposal must simply and clearly be rejected .
at the same time , Slovakia became the 16th country to use the euro .
in terms of legislative policy , the provisions of the Rules of Procedure concerning the composition of the Conference of Presidents should thus not be confined to cases where the number of non-attached Members is small .
Mr. President , do exercise your influence over Bulgarian politicians to prevent a situation that might , after the 2009 election , return MEPs to this House who would have been elected in this unfair and ugly way .
the truth is specific .
that is the recommended route through the Gulf , and all ships benefit from naval protection irrespective of their flag .
on 31 March 2008 , the anniversary of the Security Council 's referral of the situation in Darfur to the ICC , the EU Presidency adopted a Declaration on behalf of the European Union expressing its outrage at the Sudanese Government 's failure to cooperate with the Court .
we not only wish to ensure a higher level of protection for European consumers , but also that European companies , whatever their size , should be able to provide consumers in all 27 Member States with goods and services without unnecessary legal obstacles .
I should like to explain why .
this is not only causing confusion , but also playing into the hands of those who are abusing the system .
it is worth recalling again the position of Poland , the advocate of the EU 's successive enlargements , which urged the Member States two years ago , in partnership with Sweden , to strengthen the Eastern Dimension of the ENP in the form of the Eastern Partnership initiative .
( PT ) Mr President , 2010 , which was declared the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion , is over .
( the sitting opened at 10.00 )
it is clearly a balanced report , which is the result of consensus and an in-depth examination of the matter .
so this is not the end of our work .
- President-in-Office of the Council , I would like , without further ado , to invite you to take the floor before the European Parliament .
I support this report but I do think that sanctions are limited .
demonstrators in Bahrain , Syria and Yemen have expressed legitimate democratic aspirations and strong popular demand for political , economic and social reforms aimed at achieving genuine democracy , fighting corruption , ensuring respect for the rule of law , human rights and fundamental freedoms , reducing social inequalities and creating better economic and social conditions .
in Romania , 381 296 workers lost their jobs between March 2008 and March 2010 , including 13 667 in the county of Galaţi alone .
in the meantime , I would like once again to thank Ms Fraga Estévez and Mr Wałęsa for their reports and the Committee on Fisheries for its work on these important issues .
( PL ) Mr President , the Nazi invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939 was yet another act of violence perpetrated against my homeland .
( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , terrorism represents a serious threat to peace , stability and prosperity in Europe .
better preparation , of course , also entails institutional reforms and consolidation of the European Union .
we understand this too , and you undertook , on behalf of the Commission , to ensure that there would be compensation for those EUR 40 million as part of development policy .
European ports policy ( debate )
Mr President , no one underestimates the enormous difficulties of creating the balance mentioned by the chair of our committee , and of the migration pressures which face the European Union and the pressures that we face in the Mediterranean .
I also welcome the fact that it deals with the question of speculation in commodities .
this was resolved in Parliament 's proposal , and it would not have been necessary for so many countries to use the opt-out .
it is important to underline that we are facing an energy price increase , not only for oil : it also goes for coal , it also goes for gas and , as a result , it also has an impact on electricity prices .
you begin of course by reiterating the fact that the free movement of peoples is the embodiment of the European project .
I do not know where Ms Delli is getting all this nonsense from .
the online gambling sector has expanded in recent years and is now an area where huge profits are made .
I think today 's proclamation of the Charter is also symbolic of another important achievement of the negotiations , a symbol of the fact that - except for special arrangements in two of our Member States and as long as the Treaty enters into force - the Charter will be legally binding , guaranteeing the fundamental rights of Europe 's citizens .
today the Commission has also approved the abrogation of the excessive deficit procedure for Portugal and Italy .
I would also welcome the context change that was strongly put out by the Commission in terms of anti-racism and xenophobia , and would hope that every Member State government would commit itself to those ideals .
nor does it promote the need for an internationally binding agreement between the EU and the US on a framework for the exchange of information for the purpose of imposing the law .
these questions are naturally being very closely monitored in the G7-G8 , but also by the IMF with , of course , the participation of the EU Member States .
the proposals also stress that creating more and better seafaring jobs , particularly in the fishing industry , also depends on guaranteeing a fair and adequate income for people working in the industry .
Europe must take the lead in the process referred to by some as the third industrial revolution , the essence of which is to shift to a low-carbon economy .
the European Union is convinced that the developing countries are also responsible for and masters of their own development and that it is up to them , above all , to take responsibility for achieving the Millennium Development Goals .
thanks to the release of very substantial appropriations , which will total EUR 2 848 million by the end of 2013 , it has been possible to shut down all of those plants and to ensure a partial conversion to other energy sources in those Member States .
their crime , apparently , is the practising of their religion .
in increasing the number of possible transatlantic routes it may even lead to lower fares for passengers .
I voted in favour of the report by Mr Costa on the EC-Nepal Agreement on certain aspects of air services .
imports of fishery and aquaculture products have increased enormously , but that increase has been necessary .
in practice , this means that entrepreneurs who wish to set up a business abroad or provide cross-border services should be able to use a point of single contact .
we should like to give greater visibility to the future accession of the European Union to the European Convention on Human Rights as an opportunity to prove its commitment to defending human rights inside and outside its borders .
when we first began discussing this issue , we were all hoping that the Union was actually moving towards an EU strategy on Roma inclusion .
I abstained from the final vote because I could not vote in favour of a report that links one good idea , a transaction tax , with measures that would place an even greater burden on the people of Europe .
gambling - and online gambling in particular - is the hidden addiction and , unlike the other major addictions of drug and alcoholic abuse , there are no obvious physical manifestations of the disease .
I will now turn to another very important item at the European Council meeting , namely the adoption of a new five-year work programme in the area of freedom , security and justice .
consequently , we also believe the Rules of Procedure have been applied incorrectly .
the European system 's independence will enable certification to be issued for the services supplied to users , and will furnish guaranteed quality .
the report quite rightly urges that , in future , cultural aspects should play a more significant role in external policy , into which they should be more systematically incorporated .
we have heard it said many times in this Parliament that markets should be opened up in order to prevent prices rising .
in spite of this warning , it would seem that the current version of the law adopted on 14 July last does not dispel the concerns expressed by the Commission beforehand .
I would like first of all to congratulate Mr Trichet on the annual report he has just presented .
cooperation with Russia is simply a fact , and it is in the interest of both sides that this cooperation succeeds .
( PL ) The resolution we are discussing , today , is not of a political nature , and we are not trying to solve the Middle East conflict .
our scientists and young researchers , mainly in mathematics , physics , chemistry and in the life sciences , are very respected all over the world .
Nicaragua ( vote )
I will conclude now , Madam President , by saying that truly , moderation in character or temperament is always a virtue , but moderation in the defence of human rights and fundamental freedoms , especially freedom of expression , is always a vice , always a weakness and always cowardly , and as representatives of the people of the European Union we cannot allow ourselves to act in that way .
a total of 90 % of the victims of war are civilians , most of them women and children .
all Member States must help maintain stability , whether they are part of the euro area or not .
in my report last year I pointed out that consumer confidence in e-commerce would be enhanced by sample consumer contracts and by better mechanisms for dealing with complaints , as well as by the European trustmark and the consumer charter .
doubtless this will help improve safety and prevent risks to the health and safety of consumers and workers and the environment .
the European Community 's concerns about the crisis in the Caucasus , the imperialist aggression and menace of Russia , and the dangers facing Ukraine and Moldova are justified .
I want to say one more thing , because it is my very profound belief .
we will strive for maximum transparency and efficiency in that process .
finally , we must update and improve the teaching of vocational training with all due haste , and adapt it to the new challenges posed by the extension of the working lives of Europeans , which increases socioeconomic and educational expectations in adults , without neglecting training on non-discrimination between the sexes at each and every level of education .
the purpose of our proposal is to introduce a compulsory marking of origin on imports of certain products and to establish clear rules on how origin shall be established .
we need a clear , European energy policy , and we need it now .
there is 3 % less oil production each year due to stocks being exhausted , and 2 to 3 % more oil consumption , due to the growth of emerging countries .
during your captivity , many members of the European Parliament worked tirelessly for your release and I know that many representatives of the various Ingrid Betancourt committees are here today - active champions of your cause , people who are working for the freedom of all hostages in Colombia .
( FR ) Madam President , President Barroso has set us an ambitious target for the production of renewable energy , with a view to reducing greenhouse gas emissions without hindering our prospects of growth .
thank you very much for that .
nor do I believe that such a meeting could ever happen .
it is not just about retaining the stimuli which were put in place as part of the economic recovery plan .
we have also noticed a great need for financial support from the EU at local authority and private individual level where the necessary funds are not available for making buildings more energy efficient .
I believe that there can only be sustainable innovation if there are rigorous , sustainable and demanding public policies .
if I may personally give you a piece of advice , Mr Davies , it is the following . in your homeland it is perhaps also worth noting that we in Europe have regulations on cosmetics which do not exist elsewhere , namely the prohibition of the testing of cosmetics on animals .
Commissioner , yes , you should go ahead with the moratorium , which will be permanent , not temporary , and which will be a new step towards clean energy .
I would like to thank you very sincerely for this .
the development of the Trans-European Networks , in which , as Mr Albertini has just pointed out , we are banking on the development of railways , brings about a modal shift which obviously leads in that direction .
my personal recommendation would be to be a little more realistic here , and perhaps to pare down the agenda .
in fact , this risks becoming a zero sum game vis-à-vis human rights as impunity meanwhile continues .
the agreement will seek to make up for Libya 's shortcomings by providing greater protection of human and democratic rights and developing commercial cooperation , as well as by establishing strict joint controls over illegal immigration .
Mr Barroso has dubbed it a cornerstone , but I do not think that the cornerstone is yet firmly in place , and in the coming months we will have to move forward .
these are a few explanations we could give to our fellow citizens who are a little lost here .
this is an historic opportunity that must not be wasted .
Petitions : see Minutes
11 .
first of all , however , the Ahmadinejad government needs to realise this and take the necessary measures .
( SV ) Mr President , we have all noticed that extremism is growing in the EU .
I want to congratulate the rapporteur , Mrs Neves , on her hard work in bringing together different positions into a consistent document .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the ever-growing and increasingly widespread uprisings that we are currently seeing in the Mediterranean certainly show a strong desire for democratic participation , above all , from young people , who are being pushed on by Facebook and Twitter towards a different world that is more responsive to their aspirations .
let us begin with the situation on the world 's agricultural markets .
the altered scope of the proposed directive appears to offer a possible solution to the difficulties that have arisen , as , in addition to the introduction of many sectoral variations , the scope of the directive would be mainly limited to off-premises contracts , which make up the greater part of cross-border transactions .
for this reason , Member States should ensure that vocational education and training is better adjusted to the needs of the labour market , and that vocational education provides employees with the skills needed to take up new , sustainable jobs that will be created in the future sustainable economy .
in future , I think it would be better to consider that , if we have to reduce this activity again , then there should be public control of that choice , rather than leaving it purely to the profitability criteria of individual businesses .
this is the framework , therefore , on which the strategy for the Atlantic region ought to have been built , as well as on the basis of the indications of the Council of 14 June 2010 , as noted by the Commissioner when speaking in this House .
- Report : Speroni
we are now waiting in particular for the US and China .
assets held offshore are now equal to a third of global assets ...
in addition , Directive 95 / 46 / EC on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and Directive 2002 / 58 / EC concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector also apply to data retained under the directive .
inviolable rights of minorities are always an attribute of democracy , but the Lithuanian Parliament has mistaken populism for democracy .
as a matter of urgency we must diversify our energy supply , reduce consumption , encourage low-carbon energy and establish a stable competitive internal market .
( HU ) I would like to thank Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner and especially Cecilia Malmström , who is currently among us as a minister but is soon to be a commissioner as well .
it is in everyone 's interests that we guarantee the stability of Europe and of the European Monetary System .
the European Protection Order should ensure that any protection granted to a person in one Member State will apply in all the other Member States to which he or she travels or has travelled .
I think that after certain conditions have been met , such as a clampdown on arms smuggling from Sinai to Gaza , we could jointly achieve a situation - within the global security architecture , or through the European Union alone or only a part of that global architecture - where conflict could be ended , although I am not convinced that it would happen quickly .
in this respect , I wish to remind you that there is not yet a single statute for fire fighters across the European Union and that , in my country as in others , fire fighting is still not considered to be a hazardous profession .
the vote will take place tomorrow .
an initial Trade , Development and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States , of the one part , and the Republic of South Africa , of the other part , was concluded in Pretoria on 11 October 1999 and came into force on 1 May 2004 for an indefinite period .
is it able to protect the EU 's borders ?
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to report to Parliament what has happened with regard to the exhibition ' The Promotion of Cultural Values through the Protection of the Cultural Heritage of Occupied Cyprus ' , held from 17 to 26 November through the Committee of the Regions .
it is now for the Member States to implement this provision as swiftly as possible so as to reinvigorate those companies that are still in difficulties today , as the Commissioner and a number of my fellow Members have emphasised .
the events of the Second World War gave birth to the EU .
I was a member of the delegation of the European People 's Party that travelled to Honduras and had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the situation there .
I agree entirely with the report that we must determine the value of environmental protection assets , including the market value of biodiversity , which is very difficult to determine .
at a time when supposedly magical cost-cutting policies paradoxically require more income , I think it is more than necessary to institute the tax .
I voted for this regulation as I believe that it will provide more clarity both to textile manufacturers and consumers .
finally , if the detailed conditions for the activities of service providers are described in an annex to the text , they must be defined as a whole by a binding legal instrument .
it could be carried out by the Joint Research Centre , and I would ask the Commissioner whether this is really being considered .
the Maritime Transport Strategy until 2018 has been very much used in preparing the Commission 's Europe 2020 strategy , and the process for a new White Paper on Transport is on its way .
so much for informing the citizen !
I welcome all the actions outlined by the Commission and my thanks also go out in advance to all my fellow Members for the support that we will give them .
2 .
with regard to the new agreements that the Member States are continuing and are entitled to enter into , we could undoubtedly have agreed on a policy in which there is a reasonable balance between the rights of investors and other rights .
this is why we decided to abstain .
however , thanks to the victory of democratic protesters in December 2004 , the credibility of multi-party elections and the freedom of the press was established .
there are Member States in which 90 % of energy is sourced from coal .
nevertheless I would like to say that this draft requires unanimous consent in the Council and we must therefore remain realistic .
it is finally worth mentioning that smaller Member States , such as Belgium and Ireland , already implement such tests .
these commitments reflect values and include the obligation to respect the decisions of the bodies they set up .
1 .
again , I want to mention the issue of forestry in this whole climate change era .
our national leaders like to talk in shades of green , but now we are going to see the colour of their money .
I believe that it makes sense to introduce a permanent system for monitoring Christian persecution .
this Group will support those special arrangements if they are in that context .
in practical terms , the conclusions show that , while attention has been focused on improving long-term competitiveness , the objectives of improving the environment , enhancing quality of life and promoting coordination and communication have not been implemented strongly enough .
they mark great , and I hope irreversible , progress for humanity .
I do not agree with the European Parliament taking on an additional 150 staff , nor do I agree that Members of the European Parliament should receive additional new funding for their assistants , over and above what we already receive .
the most obvious obstacles which consumers and small and medium-sized enterprises face with regard to the Single Market are complex contractual relations , unfair terms and conditions in contracts , inadequate and insufficient information , time-consuming procedures , language barriers , different taxation systems , reliability of online traders , demographic composition of the population of individual Member States , concerns regarding confidentiality , complaint handling and intellectual property rights .
European nations and the European Union are already providing help , a commitment respected by people throughout the region .
there are two options in the world : longterm storage , which is the United States ' chosen option , and we , the European Union , have to choose a different approach , which is recovery by means of recycling .
the Union has therefore called on the Security Council to redouble its efforts in the fight against impunity .
in writing . - ( DE ) It should now be clear to everyone that the documents submitted in approval procedures are often embellished and that there are no long-term findings .
in a time of such high youth unemployment due to a lack of education adapted to the needs of the labour market , and a lack of appropriate professional training for graduates , we must concentrate on making the maximum possible use of the opportunities afforded to us by the Lifelong Learning programme , and find a solution for such a difficult situation .
I welcome the new College of Commissioners and President Barroso and congratulate them on the result of this election .
so , overall in 2008 , only a slight overall increase was realised and markets have absorbed that reasonably well .
it enhances democracy by empowering the European Parliament .
subject : reduction in VAT rates for environmentally friendly technologies and products
I have therefore abstained from voting .
therefore , our common agricultural policy must , from 2013 onwards , create a market for environmental public goods so that farmers may receive additional services and compensation for these additional services which they perform .
these methods relate , in particular , to duty drawback , an advantage that has never before been conceded , not even to our developing trade partners .
the changes to the global situation regarding the production , trafficking and consumption of illicit drugs is worrying .
the citizens ' initiative gives inhabitants of the European Union the possibility of getting a proposal onto the European political agenda .
( the President cut off the speaker )
I want to be perfectly clear on this .
on balance , therefore , I was able to vote in favour of the report .
in writing . - ( RO ) I voted in favour of adopting the Strategy for the Danube Region .
let me briefly restate the Commission 's reasoning for publishing the Green Paper last year .
( SK ) Mr President , the Commission Communication concerning the European Initiative for Alzheimer 's Disease and other Dementias improves the current piecemeal measures and existing differences as far as access to treatment is concerned , and leads us to better health and social conditions for the ever increasing number of such patients , the proportion of whom is also increasing in relation to Europe 's ageing population .
linguistic diversity is part of Europe 's cultural legacy and a unique treasure that we all have a responsibility to protect .
farmers produce goods for use by society as a whole , but they are not the only ones affected by the CAP , because there is a relationship between agriculture , the environment , biodiversity , climate change and the sustainable management of natural resources such as water and land ; there is also a clear link between agriculture and the proper economic and social development of the EU 's vast rural areas .
the main problem is that the Member States are not implementing the inspection requirements properly .
I strongly suggest that , in this case , you follow the clear message of the European Parliament from April 2009 : we need a clear and convincing message that the EU really cares about the lives of 34 unarmed members of the Iranian opposition and will no longer tolerate the brutal crushing of their liberties and dignity .
today 's report from Mr Florenz is based on scientific principles and maps out the challenges that face our society in various fields like transport , land-use , energy and waste management .
the last thing I want to say is that what has happened in Haiti is grounded in poverty , and , when this terrible tragedy eases and it goes off the screens , let us not forget Haiti .
no amendments .
we co-signed an amendment to Article 4 on national action plans , setting as the EU-wide target a 20 % reduction in frequency of application within 10 years and 50 % rates of reduction for dangerous substances by 2013 .
it should also go hand in hand with political and diplomatic activities , notably to protect humanitarian workers and to ensure that they reach the areas of intervention .
it is essential that the Commission not shy away .
we must , of course , take note of the decision .
I wish to see this for the sake of us all , particularly the citizens in the region .
I voted in favour of this report because I consider it essential that the Commission pursues its efforts to ensure a better definition of the creative cultural industries ( CCIs ) as part of their greater recognition by civil society .
the second issue is that I , personally , tried to introduce a transition period , which I still think would be a very good way forward .
I also urge the European Commission to draw up and present a plan detailing its course of action with regard to the implementation of those provisions of the Treaty of Lisbon which safeguard minorities .
it emphasises that substantive steps need to be agreed in Cancún to pave the way for the conclusion of a comprehensive international post-2012 agreement in South Africa in 2011 , which should be in line with the latest developments in science and consistent with at least achieving the 2 ºC objective , without prejudice to moving to a 1.5 ºC temperature increase limit in order to safeguard the survival of all nations , peoples and ecosystems .
that is why we will remain extremely vigilant regarding the application of the commitments made by the Council and the Commission today , and at the same time we will continue to demand that all our concerns receive a rapid , adequate response in the coming months .
we should not miss this opportunity .
let us therefore pull the plug .
Mr President , I would like to thank Mr Dalli for his measured comments at the start of the debate .
that principle is central to the Counter-Terrorism Strategy adopted by the Council , as you know , in December 2005 .
( SK ) At the start of a new term in office , we should bear in mind our joint responsibility for the peaceful development of the continent of Europe in such a way as to ensure a peaceful and prosperous life for our citizens .
the managers of these funds have to keep to legislation and standards which enable the provision of services in the territory of Member States , and supervision of financial markets has to be accurate and effective .
finally , I disagree with the paragraph on repatriation : the procedures to be used in repatriating an individual cannot be assessed solely on the basis of these parameters .
the list of expectations is very appropriate , though perhaps not complete .
( FR ) Mr President , my question is very simple .
thank you , Madam President .
in September 2009 , the Commission organised a public hearing bringing together European stakeholders and the settlement parties to exchange views and seek clarification on the various elements of the agreement .
we had a frank exchange and debated our respective views .
we should always remember that the Turkish Cypriots agreed the UN plan for reunification in April 2004 .
as far as Mr Susta is concerned , I am not speaking here of his alternative proposal for a resolution , which unfortunately we are not going to debate .
in October , I congratulated all my Turkish counterparts on daring to hold that debate in spite of public opposition .
does it consider that the new conditions will place smaller banks in an even more disadvantageous position in relation to the big banking groups ?
I say to Mr Deva that I did not expect anything different from him .
the process of strengthening relations between the European Union and the countries of the Southern Caucasus , including Georgia , is vital if we are to create a solid , coherent and effective foreign policy .
this is one of the European Union 's main priorities .
the EU launched the EGNOS project ( and Galileo ) to provide signals guaranteed for civilian use and to ensure that European industry at all levels has an opportunity to compete in this growing strategic market .
however , we need simpler , clearer and more transparent structures and better controls in the cohesion funds , so that the money is used sustainably and efficiently .
both sides are pointing fingers at each other as to who is to blame , who the instigator is , and who is ultimately responsible for these violent acts .
I wholeheartedly support the rapporteur 's idea that the EU should , under the banner of territorial cohesion , stimulate greater interoperability and the transfer of knowledge between research and innovation centres and their surrounding regions , in order to achieve the maximum impact for European citizens from the investments made .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , this is obviously not the first time that we have discussed biodiversity and that we have asked the Council and the Commission to defend biodiversity .
the most recent studies have indicated that 31 % of employed women work part time , compared with only 8.3 % of employed men .
Member of the Commission . - I should like to thank Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou not only for her question but also for her commitment to better and more cooperation in education .
there are still a few problems , for example , in the definitions .
this measure supporting the food industry is becoming increasingly necessary , Madam President .
we all remember the tragic media images of the affected coastline areas where thousands of volunteers who were brought in to tidy up the mess looked on powerlessly as birds and other creatures and plants suffocated in the black tide .
commercial policy can harmonise closely with development policy .
the cold truth is that cotton production in the EU is unprofitable and should therefore be closed down .
this is all the more true since the results of the tests should form a basis for the drafting of guidelines for the Member States which are only just starting to develop their nuclear programme .
I have seen easier situations than the one in which Europe now finds itself .
if , when the Capital Requirements Directive is revised , we require the banks to hold 5 % of the securitisations that they place on the market , it will be necessary immediately to harmonise , and under similar conditions , the retention obligations in the UCITS field , because the same risks must lead to the same rules .
the common agricultural policy benefits every consumer in the EU .
in relation to your question whether the Commission intends to publish a White Paper on Territorial Cohesion , at the current stage , a separate White Paper on Territorial Cohesion is not foreseen .
the vast majority of eligible countries under the EIB 's external mandate are developing countries .
the fact is that when it comes to the buildings of the European Union , we can certainly save resources .
it began in 1983with a Council of Europe convention , which was accepted by all the Member States .
all the institutions and businesses must focus on R & D , using the wide range of possibilities offered by the Seventh Framework Programme , and we need to anticipate the changes and , at the same time , take into account the effects of restructuring by adopting the social measures needed to support workers .
the Council supports the adoption of a directive on cross-border healthcare and patients ' rights .
it is in fact ownership by the people that will guarantee a strong partnership and greater regional cooperation in the Southern Mediterranean .
Mr President , in keeping with the vision on enlargement , the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe supports the immediate commencement of negotiations .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I come from an area on the border between Hungary and Romania , in the county of Arad , where problems concerning minorities were overcome a long time ago .
Madam President , having had the traumatic experience of Russian Communism in the past , the Czech Republic has now gone to the extreme of attaching itself firmly and with obedience to the USA .
this was a very important debate here , but the horrific humanitarian situation has been spoken about by other colleagues , and there is a group of people who is always forgotten ; I just wanted their voice to be heard here today .
the complex procedures involved in many national systems do not always turn out to be beneficial for the child .
I was not in favour of basing this joint project in Europe as the host pays a disproportionate part of the total budget .
I am unable to support the proposed Amendment 22 , especially the second part of it .
this reminds me of Thomas Friedman , the New York Times columnist , who said in his editorial of 4 September that credit is a drug , banks are drug dealers , and the central bank is the Godfather .
particularly after Lisbon , Parliament can only help , and this is exactly what it is doing here and now .
Turkey has been receiving billions of euros of structural money for years .
it is important to note the conditions for non-application of the country of origin principle in certain matters or activities , in particular , with regard to different legislation contained within other EU instruments and to the set of guarantees that the administering state should provide for posted workers .
it is also indicated that restocking from aquaculture may be an instrument to replenish wild fish stocks .
allow me to explain , therefore , where the Commission 's immediate priorities lie in this connection .
an area of my own country , the dripstone cave of Aggtelek , is also classified as wilderness .
I think that there are important factors which must be examined carefully before making a decision on this .
however , such incidents must not be allowed in future as the financial and social price that must be paid afterwards is exceedingly high .
surely the time is coming when all our pomp of yesterday will be one with Nineveh and Tyre ?
the Internet is increasingly being used by potential and actual sex offenders as a medium for the sexual abuse of children , in particular , through grooming and child pornography .
I would have understood completely if the quota had been raised by 2 % for the new Member States because consumption of milk products there is way below the EU average .
we need better accountability in the agencies and greater transparency , particularly among staff members .
I would like to talk a little about the role of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo ( MONUC ) , since everyone in the House seems to be calling for MONUC to be re-supplied .
that is important .
I was also the rapporteur on that occasion .
finally , I would like you to remember the European Union 's political commitment to other countries also successfully joining the European Union .
at the same time , I feel that most of the issues from the Emissions Trading Directive which caused Member States major problems have been addressed properly and that the final outcome has been fair and will allow the European Union to embark on a real mission to combat climate change .
the first is the issue of the ' responsibility to protect ' .
if the past is dead , then there is no sense in leading a life guided by norms and values .
it is clear that , as Mr Swoboda emphasised , an effective foreign and security policy is only possible if all 27 Member States and the governments of these Member States , including the large ones , take concerted action .
theories such as , because Greece is in economic crisis , it should say ' yes ' to whatever everyone else wants .
( NL ) Mr President , I believe that we should exercise extreme caution and should reconsider whether it is wise to offer Bosnia and Herzegovina the prospect of EU membership .
with this revised ΕΜΑS , participating companies will have a net benefit , given that they will be able to use their environmental reports to promote their environmental performance to consumers , to the public and to other companies and inspectors and auditors .
the new EU Member States will need to make a particular effort .
I hope that we will be capable of changing , our enslavement to the past , that we will be capable of closing the divide between Eastern and Western Europe and forming a single unit that is free from complexes about the superiority of the United States or anyone else .
the President supports nationalisation of the mining sector , which is the main economic sector in Zimbabwe .
you have overseen the Lisbon Agenda : it was sunk without trace way before the credit crunch hit us .
it would appear from the current debate that the CO2 debate is the most important issue .
that is our European path , and it may differ from other paths .
the most important point , however , is that such cooperation should primarily aim to avert destructive flooding .
the electronic exchange of data envisaged in the directive , complete with a guarantee of data protection , will ensure efficient cooperation between countries that enables road traffic offences to be prosecuted as though they were committed in the driver 's home country .
Mr President , last Saturday , in response to an appeal from opposition politicians , tens of thousands of Nicaraguan citizens demonstrated against the policy of President Daniel Ortega , a policy which is leading directly to the introduction of a dictatorship in Nicaragua .
today , we have an agreement on a boost to the economy of around 1.5 % of the EU 's GDP , as the Commission recommended .
I hope that the ratification process will be speeded up by the vote of approval given today in the European Parliament .
it is up to us to clean up the remaining ruins .
Europe 's share of the world 's population is 7 % , down from 25 % a century ago .
we are not going to apologise for having won the elections , even though we are aware - we are well aware , I would say to our fellow Members - that we will have to surround you with more ideas than those of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) alone .
further debates represent an opportunity not only for the Czech Presidency but also for Europe .
I would like to congratulate both the Commission and the rapporteurs for their work , and I believe that this electronic updating system will have a timely and very positive effect .
Mr Kallas , you personally deserve much praise for the enormous contribution that you have made in connection with this .
I am the rapporteur for the Committee on Petitions for the subject we are about to vote on : finding a breakthrough in the ongoing waste crisis in Campania , which is the region surrounding Naples in Italy .
I echo very much the words of Jan Mulder that we do already have the Nitrates Directive and the Groundwater Directive .
this misappropriation of international law to the benefit of the richest countries and their closest allies is wholly intolerable .
that is why we have also called for price transparency .
however , two years ago , during the election campaign for the European Parliament , the key demand of the Danish Social Democrats was that the borders should be closed again .
( the sitting was closed at 24.00 )
and I believe that one of the proudest achievements of the European Union and its Member States in the last decade was the establishment of the International Criminal Court .
I hope that we will actually manage to eliminate the deficiencies of existing measures which have resulted in a lack of transparency and coordination between states and in an unjustified delay in the recovery process .
moving negotiations to NATO guarantees implementation of indivisibility .
( ES ) Mr President , President-in-Office of the Council , Vice-President of the Commission , ladies and gentlemen , we say ' Bravo ! ' to the French Presidency .
the poor cannot afford to pay for lobbyists in the European Union .
as a precondition for this , some reforms had to be carried out both in the United States and in the European Union .
if Parliament really wants to strengthen its role in the discharge process it should revise its practices .
since our shared vision is to see a real European diplomatic service which is not just an extension of the diplomatic services of the 27 Member States , the Financial Regulation and Staff Regulations , which we will discuss today and vote on tomorrow , are of paramount importance .
Europe deserves , I believe , us to put feelings into it .
however , if changed circumstances make it necessary to amend the legislation , the Commission will have to do that .
there needs to be a much bigger information campaign if the economic players are to be more involved than at present .
the full participation of the European Parliament through the ordinary legislative procedure pursuant to this treaty should therefore be a matter of course .
I have great hopes that this service can lead to greater coherence between our policy objectives and decisions , particularly as they impact globally on sustainable development , on human rights , and on the eradication of poverty .
however , I believe that the EU needs to be attractive not only to highly qualified workers from third countries , but also to young Europeans .
this is completely incomprehensible and should be condemned .
in those countries where there is existing effective legislation such as America , Canada and parts of Spain , it is clearly mandated that all three of these elements must be implemented to prevent needle-stick injuries .
you have to look back into the past in order to understand one another and look to the future together .
if there is to be any continuation of opt-out arrangements , workers must be protected from exploitation .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
we have a responsibility to lead the world in producing more , not less ' .
is it worth considering whether we should open a further short period of consultation , so that we get the most up-to-date information possible , on which a review could then be based ?
the renewed social agenda is based on three main principles : opportunities , access and solidarity .
we would have been happy to support the Commission proposal to take the fingerprints of children from the age of six years upwards , in order to prevent the risk of people trafficking .
we could not approve a package of this scope in a fast-tracked procedure .
I would finally thank the Minister for his reminder to those who may need reminding , that , when the Council put together this common position , it was done as part of a package with the working time directive .
I would also like to thank the Council and the Commission .
as a purely spiritual institution , our Ecumenical Patriarchate embraces a truly global apostolate that strives to raise and broaden the consciousness of the human family - to bring understanding that we are all dwelling in the same house .
it is difficult for any member not to vote for a resolution addressing humanitarian concerns but by linking those concerns to an unfair portrayal of Israel its value falls .
no decision has been reached about such an agreement in Cancún .
we all recognise that the European Union is the only possible platform for tackling some of the major challenges we are facing .
Mr President , let me say how much I agree with Mr Brok and how much I disagree with Mr Bushill-Matthews , but I will come to that in a moment .
while I welcome this work by the Commission , I cannot help feeling that it is overdue .
Mr Micheletti has tried to form a government of unity without the participation of Mr Zelaya and Congress has delayed the vote in order not to reinstate him .
I agree with the Commission 's basic idea that the administrative burden on small enterprises must be reduced and that - as Mr Lehne said - a distinction must be drawn between large and small enterprises .
- They had all been informed , Mr Posselt .
our proposal lacks a clear ambition and plan for cooperation with other industrialised countries in the world and internationalisation of the world fund .
the fact that the much talked about globalisation of the markets has led to more people living beneath the poverty line throughout the world is worrying .
but it does something else .
however , we need to be vigilant , because it will clearly not help anyone if we relocate half our canning industry to the Pacific region .
assessing the danger of pollution is a matter for experts , and if there is such a danger , then it is up to political leaders to protect citizens ' interests .
if we look at the situation with regard to administrative expenditure , for example , we can see that we have an effective control system and few errors .
I doubt this will bring the expected effects , taking into consideration the fact that most Euro Group Member States have more public debt and a less competitive taxation system than the other Member States .
the Industry Committee is prepared to support the entire package .
can it be that the largest steel company in Europe will have earned GBP 1 billion by 2012 from emissions , having been allocated too large an amount as a result of its lobbying activities with , among others , the Commission ?
I would also praise the Commission for acting on this ahead of the health check , because this is a good piece of work which is long overdue .
on the basis of the mechanism of solidarity we put in place , we stand ready , should market financing prove insufficient , to step in and provide support through a European-led operation of bilateral loans from the euro area Member States , in cooperation with the International Monetary Fund .
finally , I would like to mention one other welcome thread running through the report - the recognition that traditional economic growth as measured by GDP is no longer an adequate or accurate measure of true well-being .
Jerusalem is a final status issue and we have made it clear that , if genuine peace is to be achieved , Jerusalem 's status as the future capital of two states must be settled through negotiations .
given that the report still contains several contradictions and negative aspects , we voted against it and will closely follow developments in the situation .
the Commission has in fact been too quick off the mark with its proposal on the complete unbundling of ownership rights .
the Belarusian authorities need to understand that if they fail to respect human rights and the rule of law , in compliance with the joint declaration made at the Eastern Partnership Summit on 7 May 2009 , of which the Belarusian Government is also a cosignatory , the European Union will not be able to offer any commitment of support .
in any case , it was during the Belgian Presidency that the greatest deception so far , the greatest betrayal of European citizens since the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon , became a reality , namely , the introduction of the now permanent crisis mechanism .
firstly in 2007 , I remember clearly in August and September , we saw huge increases in dairy prices and then we experienced last year the same or an even worse reduction in prices , so the situation today is that prices are very close to intervention prices and in some parts of Europe even below intervention .
first of all , the importance of the European Parliament actively participating in allocating projects for new energy links , in particular between Member States ' gas and energy supply networks , has been noted .
despite what some subjective studies would have us believe , it is not the 13 % of Europeans downloading cultural content illegally who are threatening our culture , but it seems to me that it is the concentration of our culture in the hands of a few large groups that is damaging our diversity and therefore the richness of our cultural heritage .
accession of the Member States to the Convention relating to international exhibitions signed at Paris on 22 November 1928 (
there should be interpreting !
the Palestinians , in turn , used rockets and mortar shells to deliberately kill civilians , according to the report .
that is why we did everything we could for the Charter of Fundamental Rights to become binding under the Treaty of Lisbon .
it is therefore gratifying to see the European Parliament place such a crucial matter as equality between women and men on the agenda .
Mr Schulz expressed them here today in no uncertain terms .
( RO ) On the subject of mobility under the Erasmus programme , this morning radio stations in the Romanian city of Iaşi were publicising extraordinary events due to take place on Wednesday .
the resolution from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament highlighted the importance of a free trade agreement with India , while mentioning the continuing inequalities in this country and the need to include in the agreement some clauses on human , social and environmental rights .
this report , which has withstood pressure from the People 's Party ( PP ) and the Socialist Workers ' Party ( PSOE ) , highlights the leniency of both political and judicial resolutions on this issue , which has led to impunity within the authorities .
however , the scientific literature does not present evidence that fingerprinting of children below the age of 14 can provide for reliable identification .
we therefore welcome the clear statement by President Obama , who has refused to give Israel the green light for an attack on Iran .
the agreement has in fact generated 230 crew jobs for the population of the Seychelles , 2 900 jobs in the Seychelles and 760 induced jobs in Europe in areas related to the sector .
as we know , foetuses , babies and children are particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of hazardous chemicals .
our group 's response therefore at this point is : the principle of ' equal pay for equal work in the same establishment ' must occupy an equivalent position in the internal market with regard to the criteria of freedom .
today , even the large Member States have trouble funding new defence systems .
think about it - the abolition of controls on the internal borders and the creation of freedom of movement are some of the most important achievements and values of the European Union .
I am proud of the work I have done .
I think therefore that we can count on the Commission presenting an opinion at the beginning of next year and hopefully , the Council can take a decision on further measures .
this must be a key issue in the context of EU development aid policies at all times .
it says that because we are not currently regarded as lobbyists under this legislation ,
there are other amendments we cannot accept because they go beyond the scope of the Commission 's proposed changes , but in some cases , such amendments nevertheless point to important issues that may well be addressed in another context .
we therefore need to help promote sustainable forest management .
that is why we now see - acting according to its foundational doctrines - this intolerance for tax competition masquerading as an attack on tax havens , by which it in fact means jurisdictions which have run a more efficient system and kept their taxes lower .
the debate is closed .
then we can only congratulate the rapporteur .
a network of reliable , politically independent NGOs is needed .
I would like to tell you that it is far too early to be doing this .
I agree that the European Union must take action to improve the coordination of humanitarian aid and stop any kind of abuse of this aid .
the Commission has not adopted a position on the content for the moment .
( RO ) Madam President , competitiveness is not an option for the European Union .
what are the next steps in this very detailed process of surveillance ?
it was during the discussion with the Council that Parliament saw some interesting and perhaps sometimes even deliberate ploys to move national industries one way or another , so I cannot pretend that this has not been a very difficult dossier to try to negotiate with the Council : it has .
however , as long as that is what the rule says , it is incumbent on us to obey it in letter and spirit .
I share the growing conviction of the importance of creating a Migration Observatory that would allow us to increase our understanding of migration between Latin America and the Caribbean and the European Union .
secondly , the explanations concerning the global energy assessment do not belong on budget line 08 03 01 , where they have mistakenly been included , but on line 08 05 01 .
however , to my surprise , I recently discovered that one third to more than half of any of my speeches simply disappears in the English version , not to mention the other languages which are used by smaller nations .
Mr Vondra said absolutely nothing about this and you , Commissioner , have explained to us that it states in the contract that this can be done .
it has been decided - that is actually an agreement that I proposed with the German Chancellor , Mrs Merkel - that we should stop talking and make a decision next March , in the Ecofin Council .
we need to apply the principles of protection of human rights with common sense , with a European nationality , and not on the basis of the ideology of those who lecture us on the protection of rights while speaking in the name of parties whose symbols include the Communist hammer and sickle .
in addition , your education campaign , which has resulted in more admissible complaints being received , is a successful example of the fact that efforts to educate citizens about their rights and their opportunities for obtaining help are well worthwhile .
we also intend to continue the good work in establishing Europe-wide coordinated enforcement - so-called sweeps .
I voted in favour of the proposed changes to Parliament 's calendar of plenary sessions for 2012 and 2013 because I think that , even fully respecting the Treaties , it is , in any case , possible to bring two part-sessions of Parliament together in a single week , avoiding going over to Strasbourg twice in the same month .
whilst we find ourselves agreeing with some of the group 's criticism of the European Union , our view of what should replace the EU would be quite different .
the alternatives for mobility on the seas and the challenge of wave power are some of the promises already being developed and they will certainly bring great expectations as regards future economic solutions and naturally are sustainable and deserve to be supported .
I would like to see practical results in the wake of that proposal .
many projects were affected and their goals could not be achieved .
Member States must be free to determine their own taxation policy as part of national fiscal policy .
it stresses the importance it attaches to the fact that each new constitution or constitutional reform should reinforce democracy and the rule of law .
the precautionary principle also comes into play here .
I call upon the media to play their role in giving correct information , and on Member States to respect personal data so that the people will feel enough trust to participate .
the report on the European Neighbourhood Policy summarises the ways and means of imperialistic intervention in neighbouring countries .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to begin by thanking the rapporteur , Mr Schlyter , for his hard work on this proposal .
in view of the intrinsic link between these two policy areas in the context of EU strategy regarding energy autonomy and independence from neighbouring countries , can the Council indicate how it intends to structure the actions envisaged ?
( EL ) Madam President , Mr López Garrido , you have reminded us of the articles of the treaty that deal with the excessive deficit procedure .
as Mr Mulder said , we already have a plethora of directives and legions of rules on cross-compliance . this is a Member State issue .
I believe that we should congratulate ourselves .
I believe that , through the dialogue we have begun today with the Commission , we must continue to ensure that our CSR objectives and our sustainable development objectives are consistent with each other in international trade agreements .
the continuing political crisis harbours very serious dangers to the stability of the country .
without a significant increase in targeted subsidies for Bulgaria , the agriculture sector there could collapse .
economic governance ; common spaces of cooperation in the fields of security , justice and freedom ; and the fight against organised crime while safeguarding inviolable rights .
the report by Mr Fernandes concerns the guidelines for the 2012 budget procedure for the European institutions .
protection measures exist within all EU Member States , but they become ineffective when victims cross borders .
national and regional authorities must take advantage of these opportunities and make intensive use of the Structural Funds in order to boost employment , SMEs , the spirit of enterprise and work-related training , whilst making their contribution under the cofinancing rules , so that the allocated funds can be utilised in full .
( CS ) Madam President , Parliament has received over 400 petitions , and I myself have received many complaints from businesses , non-profit organisations , schools , charities and even government institutions which have become victims of the fraud perpetrated by business directory companies .
I will also be proposing to the Bureau - and I hope that you will all support this - that permission to speak during ' catch the eye ' proceedings should not be granted to Members who are not present when the debate begins , when the rapporteur presents his or her report , or when the Commissioner takes the floor .
as I said , there were two obstacles .
you even , I believe , put the French Prime Minister forward as a candidate , which shows ... but no , you did not , because I was thinking that that was yet another favour like the one you did Mr Sarkozy , by dividing the left in France .
let me stress that ACTA will not change the EU acquis .
the first of these values is the fight against all forms of nationalism .
defining the competences of the EU is clearly a very encouraging achievement , linked with the increased role and responsibility of the national parliaments , because our citizens should perceive that the European Community will address the problems of the Community efficiently and , at the same time , abstain from intervening in their lives where it is not necessary .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
legislative harmonisation is therefore essential to ensuring that we have fair , accessible , safe and effective procedures at long last .
please bear in mind that these products are sold in our shops , to our citizens .
lastly , it is important to stress that extreme forms of violence against women must be combated with the harshest of instruments .
I think that all these reforms are one of the best ways of investing in Tunisia 's future and helping it establish a stable democracy .
we need to break out of this spiral , which affects women more than men .
first , we had Secure Widespread Identities for Federated Telecommunications ( SWIFT ) , and now Passenger Name Record ( PNR ) .
finally , concerning Croatia , I thank the speakers for their support for the Commission 's initiative on mediation - an initiative that is based on international law , and here I refer to both the UN Charter and the negotiating framework between the EU and Croatia .
against the background of the accident in Buizingen it is , of course , important for us to show respect towards the victims and also towards the investigation .
in writing . - ( SV ) This report calls for yet more financial resources for area after area within the EU , while in the Member States , savings need to be made in areas such as healthcare , schools and social care .
Mr President , Mr van Dalen , ladies and gentlemen , 41 % of fleets worldwide belong to Europe , yet unfortunately , some other countries give more support to their fleets and shipowners than do the European Union Member States , or impose less stringent requirements on the safety and environmental friendliness of ships .
what would the future for humanity be if the whole of society gave such support to mothers of families as we give to the protection of surrogate animal mothers ?
this position is not new or unexpected .
today , the Commission is reiterating the measures that it had announced to us .
I hope this attitude towards Turkey will change over time , and I hope this Parliament will show a stronger commitment to the goal of having Turkey in the EU soon .
these cuts are proportionately more significant for Headings 1A and 4 , and sent a negative message in the priority areas of growth in jobs and the EU 's international role , not least in relation to pre-accession assistance .
it certainly has major effects on economic growth and job creation in Europe .
a total of 7.9 % of people of working age were unemployed .
Mr President , I just want to echo my colleagues .
I say this only as a warning .
therefore , I understand your emotion , but to add something that will not be discussed on Wednesday morning anyway is not the solution .
firstly , I would like to ask the Council if it accepts that what we need are specific targets for each Member State in relation to reducing the numbers of deaths and fatalities on our roads .
Baroness Ashton , I am sorry but I do not share your optimism .
the financial crisis also calls the EU 's understanding of itself into question , however .
I believe that the Commission has done a great deal towards achieving these objectives .
as we have all observed , because it has been the main topic of news , since early April , Thailand has experienced an atmosphere of political violence that it had not seen in the last decade .
I have voted for this report because the new regulation introduces preventive mechanisms and mechanisms for guaranteeing the transparency of prices for roaming data services so that citizens / customers have a better understanding of the charging method used , allowing them to control their costs and avoid any ' bill shock ' .
I support the sanctions , comprising a visa ban and an asset freeze , imposed by the United Nations Security Council , the African Union and the Council of the European Union on all persons and entities that oppose the legitimate President 's authority , and the fact that these sanctions are to remain in place until the return of legitimate authorities to power .
administrative bodies should adjust to their needs and family orientation in order to facilitate their existence , their transfer , particularly in cases of illness , retirement or bankruptcy , and their winding-up .
( it ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to thank the rapporteur , Mrs Muscardini , and all the shadow rapporteurs with whom I have worked on this issue , which is extremely important for us .
this reminds me of the efforts of Polish Communists , who , 25 years ago , said the same about Lech Wałęsa .
I think it is now our duty , dear colleagues , to help His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama to ensure that his people , the Tibetan people , have a good future and can live within their culture and their religion .
this is one of many measures aimed at promoting reforms , modernisation and transition in countries neighbouring the European Union .
now you are saying that you will do everything I have asked for .
the fact that few things remain to be put to the vote and even fewer are in dispute is thanks to the constructive cooperation among all the Members involved - both in the specialist committees and in the Committee on Budgets - for which I should like to express my sincere thanks .
despite the fact that Europe is still behind the US and is losing the lead it had over the developing economies , the results of the Seventh Framework Programme demonstrate the added value of this European programme for research and development in Europe .
I would like to congratulate Mr Perello Rodriguez of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats for Europe on the report on which we have just voted .
solidarity is a two-way street .
President-in-Office of the Council . - Mr President , on behalf of the Presidency of the European Union , may I say that it is a particular pleasure for me to address the plenary sitting of the European Parliament today .
a departure from the system of global redistribution , which is primarily responsible for the crisis , is not even being attempted .
it is very important that we have new structures , especially in the field of foreign and security policy , and I agree with those people who have stressed the importance of good common foreign and security policy , but it is not enough just to have good structures in place .
progress in agriculture does not have to mean the concentration of production or the concentration of feedstuff production .
Mr President , one of the key issues in the new Lisbon Treaty is the increased role of the European Union in the world .
the fisheries sector represents a strategic resource within the EU where supplying the population is concerned , and it makes a significant contribution to local development , employment and the preservation of the cultural traditions of coastal communities .
the European Union had , in the past , a human rights dialogue with Iran , but since 2004 the Iranians have been unwilling to participate .
the original natural disaster of the cyclone has now been overtaken by the man-made disaster created by the Burmese Government 's response .
I have a vision of how the European product of the future will look .
so you have almost got your Treaty .
but what is the European quid pro quo ?
I do not actually believe in that very much .
their proliferation , which brings well-being to Europe , should not be burdened with red tape .
( applause )
I believe that the Commission has made an effort to keep the European Parliament fully informed during all the phases of the negotiations on the international agreements .
also the Rural Development Fund can be redirected but of course only at the request of the Member State .
formal sitting - Latvia
this need is indeed being addressed to a large extent with the proposal for the amending regulation , but unfortunately only on the question of maintenance .
the EU 's concern with minorities , including disadvantaged social groups , is also an answer to enlargement including former communist countries with a significant Roma population .
economic assistance can be provided .
thank you .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I should also like to thank all the Members for a very interesting debate .
we are a major monetary power , we must accept the consequences of this in full , and this is also a matter for a consistent , concerted debate within the Council of Ministers .
these countries - Ukraine , Moldova and Georgia - have not even officially received road maps , which is something we have already appealed for during the present term of office of the European Parliament .
we hitched our cart to the American political wagon and returned to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation - I am speaking for France here - which was a response to the Warsaw Pact .
in addition , the annual budgetary process is becoming a special legislative procedure with the budget approved through a regulation , which is liable to be seen as a special codecision procedure or , to avoid confusion , as a joint decision by Parliament and the Council .
that is why we brought in the pre-registration process and , subsequently , the authorisation process .
that project is making good progress .
Mr President , deceit is a weapon of war approved of in the Koran under the doctrine of taqiyya .
I say this because , in the debate , we sometimes talk as if it was a matter of formulating the best solution here in Europe or in a particular country .
to my great regret , a majority of MEPs voted in favour of an amendment ( to which I was strongly opposed ) merging the two October part-sessions into one , in the same week .
flexicurity , when used correctly , is a good model for Europe to continue to develop positively in a global economy .
moreover , this indignity will cost dear , because once again they will lose the support of the Italians , who will vote in even higher numbers than today for Mr Berlusconi , not least because they believe he is committed to fighting for the well-being of Italy .
I welcome the commitments made in the Voluntary Partnership Agreement ( VPA ) between the EU and the Republic of Congo with the goal of improving forest governance and reforming existing legislation in this area .
there is a democratic deficit in the EU because the ever-closer Union was designed as irrevocable .
4 .
personally , with regard to the requirement for insurance against damages to third parties , in other words , serious pollution and damages subsequent to a maritime accident , I think we need to ensure that , in particular , the major international conventions are ratified , because that is a commitment made by the Member States .
that is why , Commissioner , we need a radical change in our policy towards Iran .
these programmes should completely avoid discriminatory actions , such as the recent fingerprinting decision adopted by the Italian Government or force actions that could affect honest citizens .
in this context , I lend my support to Mr Zver 's report , which proposes a series of recommendations aimed at improving the education and professional training systems for young people .
my own political and governmental responsibilities in my previous political incarnations have taught me that none of this will be simple .
I am thinking mainly of closer economic integration and of more intensive free trade with our partners .
however , this project is of great importance to all our institutions , and we are now coming to the politics of it , and the major issues concerning the democratic legitimacy of the creation of a CFR .
however , obtaining a legal judgment is only part of the process : citizens and companies must have the right to ensure that these judgments are effectively enforced .
it is important to focus closely on the growth of broadband connections and the application of digital technologies in key market sectors , such as energy , transport and health .
however , I use the word ' reaction ' because , if that reaction was disproportionate , it is because an entirely inappropriate act had taken place beforehand .
it is the third time I have been rapporteur for the European Parliament discharge , and I sense a change in perception .
( ES ) Mr President , as a member of the Committee on Budgetary Control , I would like to say that I , of course , voted in favour of the EU 2020 strategy , because I felt it was important for Parliament to give its opinion .
ladies and gentlemen , let us continue .
in remembering this anniversary , an anniversary which is important for Europe , we express solidarity , today , with the people of Belarus , who are also our neighbours , and who are still waiting for freedom and democracy to come to their country .
the European Union has made big strides towards its transformation into an environmental society .
( CS ) I think we have now reached a kind of notional half time in the Czech presidency and I would like to thank those of you - and you are not few in number - who have shown your appreciation for our work to date .
I would emphasise once again that we are not making an honest assessment of the Lisbon Strategy if we ignore the fact that , while Europe is indeed a major winner from globalisation , the winnings are very unevenly distributed .
if they do not , then they will not .
in the meantime , he will keep you informed on the issues you have raised and , in relation to paragraph 4 of Parliament 's report , the services of DG COMP will be instructed to respond to you in more detail .
through the amendments tabled , we have called for education and vocational training plans to maintain and develop the expertise and skills required for spent fuel and radioactive waste management .
and , because it is a criminal law issue , it is a sovereign state matter , and it is up to the nation state to lead .
we therefore believe that he deserved to receive a list of Commission candidates with the talent and ability to help make a reality of his ambitious plans .
I agree that the current financial , economic and social situation of the EU obliges the European Parliament and other EU institutions to respond with the quality and efficiency that is required and to employ strict management procedures so that savings can be achieved .
moreover , it is the EU 's moral duty to support these countries in the development of democracy and the rule of law by enabling fair trade .
the crisis is not over , but our national budgets all point to salaries being frozen or reduced , reductions in pensions and increases in the most unfair tax of all : VAT .
through your own history - individually , as well as a country - of totalitarianism , freedom , and greatness in education and innovation , we now look to you to give us the next step to where the European Union must move .
thank you , Madam President , and thank you to everyone for your proposals , your encouragement , your suggestions and your requests , which I and my team have noted carefully .
in fact , all this stems from exactly the same aim , namely to find new products generating ever more profit .
this is why we need an integrated approach .
I would like to warmly congratulate the newly elected College of Commissioners and President Barroso : congratulations to all of you .
I am therefore very pleased to welcome Mrs Budreikaitè 's report , which is the first report in the history of the European Parliament that attempts to analyse the commitment of the new Member States to EU development policy and the challenge it involves for them .
the debate is closed .
we need to give increased attention to the situation of children affected by this conflict situation .
with a population of 46 million , Ukraine needs stability in the region .
to do so , however , we rich countries must be brave enough to adopt new technology and to move away from our past experience .
counterfeiting is a very serious problem that carries enormous risks for European industry , the economy and innovation .
this I would like to say to the honourable Member Mr Tannock , because I think he is addressing only us , the European Commission and European Union , but there are many other important actors there .
the number of Members who hold opinions of this kind has increased .
we thank you most heartily and wish you a very pleasant stay among us .
this is therefore a solid achievement .
( DE ) Mr President , like the Green Group , I voted against the report on national quotas for milk .
we must also get other continents and countries on board .
now we have , as has been said , the opportunity to act , and we need the will to act .
in the latter instance , special attention was paid to people with restricted mobility , since the maritime transport sector was in fact lagging behind somewhat where these people were concerned .
free movement is thus guaranteed within a territory of almost 43 000 km of external maritime borders and more than 7 700 km of land borders , covering 25 countries and 400 million people .
'denounces the lack of action taken so far ... to shed light on the extraordinary renditions programme ' ;
some sharing has to be done there , for it is here we can control the migratory flows .
under these conditions , we chose to insist on compliance with those requirements that we control and for which we have the action means .
what they are worried about is the future .
within the climate and energy bundle the European Parliament and the Council are currently debating the contribution of each Member State in order to achieve the above-mentioned Community 's target .
I think that is wrong .
the successive budgetary cuts and the restructuring of the state sector have particularly threatened jobs in which women are primarily employed .
the possibility exists to exchange best practice through cooperation and working together , before it is too late .
in this instance , ' excellence ' stands for ' world leader ' .
the programme to protect children using the Internet and new technologies is one of the basic forms of protecting children , both in terms of dissemination of technology and of increased familiarity with the use of computers .
sometimes we are successful and sometimes , unfortunately , we are unsuccessful , because the matter is not in our hands , but in theirs .
it is not going to be measured by the number of meetings that we hold .
who is on it from the EC side , and what are the qualifications to become a member ?
I agreed with his last remark as I heard it in translation .
sport has been part of European culture for many thousands of years .
churches and religious communities should take part in the dialogue with the Union 's institutions in the same way as all the other organisations .
it is imperative that we do not confuse the two systems , ESTA and PNR .
we all know that freedom of the media is under pressure in several Member States ( see the most recent Press Freedom Index report , published yesterday by Reporters Without Borders ) .
partnership as a factor in managing the Single Market should be based on dialogue with the parliaments of Member States , and also on cooperation with local and regional authorities .
we have a long-standing and robust relationship with Tunisia and close links between our peoples and our business communities .
I am particularly delighted that agreement has been reached at first reading , thanks in large part to the positive and constructive contribution made by Parliament .
I therefore think , of course , that Mr Stockmann 's work is worthy of support and that the proposed text should be adopted , so that Parliament , I repeat , can send out a positive message tomorrow to the entire European Union .
however , I have serious objections to many of the formulations that are used .
if this had been a phasing out arrangement , what would have happened , for example , to the ECSC 's assets ?
do you think it is necessary for the national regulatory bodies to take action in this case ?
border regions are still faced with particular challenges .
we need to continue to be fearless in using the instruments at the EU 's disposal to defend our trade ; being protective is not the same thing as being protectionist .
class C1 , C2 and C3 tyres that do not meet the provisions of this regulation as set out in Annex 1 will now be permitted , under the compromise on transitional periods , to be sold for a further 30 months .
fourthly , the free movement of goods and services has opened up new opportunities for business .
we all want a strong Union , and a strong Union means a Union of strong parts .
key objectives for the Conference of the Parties to the CITES ( debate )
the reason why I finally abstained , however , was the second sentence of paragraph 6 , which encourages the use of quotas .
as we all know , trust is important in economic as well as political matters .
there is also the fact that I made a direct reference to the EU 2020 strategy where the green economy has been introduced as well .
firstly , are we heading towards a society that imposes blanket bans ?
you had four minutes plus two .
on the use of reduced VAT rates to achieve environmental goals , the Commission services are currently studying the issue .
why ?
let us solve the problem of visa-free travel with Russia .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Madam President , Mr Lobo Antunes , I definitely think that you should take all the credit that you deserve for hopefully being able to conclude this particular file before the end of the year .
in writing . - The report was adopted in the Committee on Foreign Affairs by an overwhelming majority where I voted ' in favour ' too .
also , we do not support the establishment of the European Institute for Gender Equality .
the 2020 strategy must be built on such a foundation .
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they must not be allowed to know what is going on .
the specific nature of the agricultural sector should be taken into account - its dependence on climatic conditions , questions of quality related to food security , conditions of production and the problem of safeguarding the world 's food supply .
the standard you are asking about is in fact already in existence .
nevertheless , I do not agree with quotas in the private sector , lists of vulnerable women , or the guaranteed minimum wage , which I consider impossible to implement .
we should take this opportunity to start investing again .
the Commission needs to draw up implementing regulations and adapt these to the new process , and that needs to be done just as quickly as here in Parliament .
his manoeuvrings to get the Irish electorate to get Britain to leave the EU demonstrated , I believe , his poor grasp of the shared British and Irish history .
let me explain what I mean : accounting needs to be simplified , and that is the meaning of the resolution that states that the Commission has to propose to us , as soon as possible , and , more specifically , by the end of 2009 , an accounting framework suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises .
finally , the family here has an identity crisis .
a great deal more could be done in those areas .
likewise , steps leading to the simplification of the management and implementation of cohesion policy are still highly desirable and justifiable in order to fulfil the aims of this policy and thus contribute to European solidarity .
we must use all available opportunities to help Ukrainian industry integrate with the European Union as soon as possible .
are we convinced that there will be strong enough oversight of implementation , despite what Mr Dimas has said , and rapid action against states that do not put into operation even this weakened package ?
it produces a disproportionate situation from which only the big European sugar companies profit , with no benefit whatsoever to consumers and growers .
there is a lack of clarity on the use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel for road transport ;
but I think that those who want to point their finger at the quota system for being the reason for all the problems in which dairy farmers find themselves are wrong .
Mr President , the motion for a European Parliament resolution on priorities for the 2011 budget contains a paragraph which reminds us that the financing of priorities must not be detrimental to fundamental areas of European Union policy , such as cohesion or structural policies or the common agricultural policy .
furthermore , the Community contribution cannot exceed 50 % of the public funds used in the project , an atypically low percentage for such an important project .
I agree with Ms Wallis concerning the need to ensure coherence between the work on the preparation of CFR and the review of the consumer acquis , that we will maintain the same speed .
membership of committees and delegations : see Minutes
regretfully , this is the understanding of aviation safety shared by the Council and , alas , the Commission today .
should conglomerates perhaps be making the relevant investments themselves , and should we perhaps be involving ourselves in only those fields in which support from taxpayers is really desirable ?
I support the request for the Commission to present a study every five years on the added value of each agency and not to hesitate to close an agency if the analysis concludes that it is not useful .
however , I would really like to be finished with this , and I would stress that I am here as a representative of the Council , and the Council has not deliberated over this .
Madam President , I have a confession to make .
however , European small businesses need more than merely the political will of the Commission , Parliament or even the Member States .
on the other hand , the efforts made by professionals to adapt to the legislation in force today will be undone .
it is important for the Scoreboard to be written in comprehensible language , easily understood by a range of users , as its results are undoubtedly an interesting source of information about consumer outcomes in the single market .
although setting the retirement age and the size of pensions is the responsibility of the Member States themselves , the European Parliament and the Commission are proposing measures that would help to overcome the threats to pension systems .
not for the first time in discussing integrated maritime policies , the Parliament has led by example .
one of the most crucial areas of cooperation in EU-Russia relations is specifically that of energy and energy security .
there is a need for improved data and indicators to complement GDP , or else it will not provide a reliable basis for policy debate .
finally , Coreper ( Permanent Representatives Committee ) will discuss this issue of Burma in more detail tomorrow .
there are the one-minute interventions , for which we probably will not be able to take everyone either .
one of the aspects that has been touched upon has been that of information about third countries - the countries of origin of those seeking international protection .
the appearance of the Carabinieri at the school was intolerable .
converted weapons are now a cheap , popular choice for criminals , and they are a growing problem in Europe - not just in the UK .
- Report : Davies
State of the negotiations on the climate change and energy package ( debate )
the EU wants to help support Pakistan 's civil institutions .
it is also vital that the states bordering Burma / Myanmar are made aware of their particular responsibilities .
do you think that it would be possible to also provide information for doctors in the 23 languages of the European Union , so that information could be provided rapidly and efficiently ?
but it can only be done at European level .
Mr President , Mrs Malmström , first of all , I would like to thank and congratulate my fellow rapporteurs , Mrs Bozkurt and Mrs Striffler .
I think it is important for the Irish to vote again , and I will fight with all my might alongside the Irish Government for them to say ' yes ' .
what is more important at the moment for the development of urban areas - broadband Internet , further modernisation and development of the transport infrastructure , or measures connected with increasing jobs in rural areas , especially during the crisis ?
I would urge the President and the Conference of Presidents to look into this - to take their time and do it properly , but this , surely , is an instance where the imposition of penalties as foreseen under Rule 147 should be , at least , considered .
the funds will go to those communities that were hit the hardest and lend support to those families and business that were most affected by these floods and assist them with rebuilding and recovering some of the revenue lost because of the devastation of their businesses .
tax incentives that quite simply lead to any old cars being bought are really of little use .
we do not consider that the Committee on Fisheries ' amendment adds anything positive to the Commission 's proposal , but is instead a step backwards .
( ET ) Mr President , Commissioner , Minister , ladies and gentlemen , some time ago , when we were discussing Georgia , I reminded you that , on the eve of the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall , it was the right time to raise the question of when we could mark the day when South Ossetia and Abkhazia would once again be united with their mother country , Georgia .
in this regard we would like to have seen full decoupling of direct payments but appreciate that many Member States have a difficulty with this .
I am informed that Malta was considering the importation of energy generated from nuclear plants in France .
these are the principles of universality , the right to good quality care , equity and solidarity .
it will also be the duty and responsibility of the justice system , national judiciaries , solicitors , accountants and workers who operate within individual States to build Europe , to interpret the laws that unite our continent .
Parliament , I am sure , is ready to follow you in this matter .
thirdly , a social level must be accepted that is not perfect .
it is the main duty of all European institutions to monitor the observance of these rights .
equally as important as action at national level is external help .
I have had the opportunity to go there and I know the people in that area are very much inclined to go forward and to be progressive .
that is just madness .
that was not a wise move on the part of the Commission , for it bears political responsibility , and we expect the Commission to exercise that responsibility and to ensure that improvements finally materialise .
this House has previously called on all EU Member States to recognise Kosovo 's independence and Serbia should implement the same measures and controls on its Kosovan border as it does on other internationally recognised borders .
we cannot , however , fail to acknowledge the ally that we have always been able to count on in this battle against extremism and terrorism .
I am glad that the European Parliament has endorsed that proposal in Mr Dess 's report .
the Commission has taken note of the explanation provided by the president of Rosales ' party , according to which he has gone into hiding for his own protection .
I propose that when main insolvency proceedings are begun against an employer who is in debt the receiver should be allowed within a six-month period to order the preservation of assets , with backdated effect , where the company has taken steps to move its funds .
ladies and gentlemen , I would like to thank you on behalf of millions of citizens for your solidarity , and to applaud the fact that the draft of your joint resolution , which we will vote on in Brussels , includes a clear call for the amendment of the Canadian asylum system and the quickest possible lifting of the visa requirement for almost 50 million European citizens .
( FR ) Madam President , Mr Barroso , there are several elements to , and reasons for , our show of confidence and our very clear vote tomorrow .
at the same time , the actions taken to improve air quality , as well as those set in the Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution and the objectives regarding ambient noise reduction are not enough to achieve the EAP objectives .
a healthy Union cannot exist without healthy citizens .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I voted in favour of the report by Mr Díaz de Mera .
this is a great challenge for us .
to move in this vicious circle means we will get nowhere .
that is where we are in Europe , and the Council shows no leadership at all when it comes to energy , climate , competitiveness and jobs .
this value is the foundation on which the European institutions are built , the power source that enables the market to drive a varied and complex economy , and the air that our citizens breathe as they travel to study or work in cities that once were places that they needed a passport and even a visa to reach .
I see two other Commissioners in your seat , including the Commissioner responsible for the health sector .
it is a legitimate request , but could I ask him what price he puts on human rights ?
the negotiations on the new agreement on the transfer of bank data now under way will , above all , answer the crucial question as to where Parliament and the European Union stand on respect .
very well !
Turkey , too , has made significant progress .
they need to be well-administered and well-managed , but most of all they need to be well-led by a leadership team with a clear vision of high quality education for all of its pupils .
six months after the 30 June deadline , a third of Member States have still not submitted their national energy efficiency action plans .
this autumn an EU-Nigeria ministerial form is to be held , and I think this problem should be on the agenda of the meeting .
so what is the main problem ?
the next item is the vote .
the European Union continues to support international efforts to bring about a peaceful resolution of the conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia .
that concludes this item .
both the outgoing President and the President-elect must do all they can to prevent violence breaking out again in a country that has suffered far too much for years .
however , I am a man of moderation - believe it or not - and I believe that there are certain limits to how much attraction and fascination a man can take .
( PL ) Mr President , Commissioner , the situation of the sheep and goat sector indicates that the common agricultural policy is in crisis .
then there are the Mafia organisations that organise clearly illegal imports of drugs and weapons and continue to undermine the economy and law and order of our country and Europe as a whole .
the global financial crisis has hit Europe 's states , citizens and businesses extremely hard .
the Portuguese Presidency had the issues of health and immigration as a theme of its Presidency , and access to treatment , testing and treatment and healthcare of the immigrants - even undocumented ones - is an important aspect .
by the way , I am still impressed that the founders of Europe in the 1950s were already aware of the pitfalls of using State aid in the wrong way .
none of us wants to go over the top in our descriptions of the dangers .
we know that the Czech Presidency has been sensitive to this , and hope that the Swedish Presidency , too , will be willing to accept this message .
in fact , greater knowledge of gender-based violence would make it possible to increase society 's sensitivity to this problem .
it is rather staggering to note how poor the national statistics - and , consequently , the European statistics - are , particularly as regards buildings and consumption by household and office appliances , and also as regards transport .
the British Government does not want to confront that fact .
I want to take a clear stand today in opposition to the thinking behind this report and that is why I voted against what is simply a compromise that subverts the declared aim .
employment has continued to drop and production has fallen again - and that is after a couple of years of relative stability .
in other words , this is a case of ' glass half empty or glass half full ' .
rapporteur . - Madam President , thank you to all colleagues who have taken the time to speak this afternoon and evening .
we will give our firm backing to all who want a peaceful solution to the many challenges across the Middle East region .
this implies much improved and extended grids and pipelines .
a few years ago we thought that the EBRD would not play a major role in those Member States , for instance , which are outside the euro area , and that the EBRD would instead move eastwards ; now we are pleased that along with the World Bank , these two institutions have made a large Central European fund possible .
I strongly support the call issued yesterday by Parliament to the International Ice Hockey Federation for Belarus to lose its right to host the 2014 World Championships unless it frees all its political prisoners .
it is only with adequate funding that we will be able to translate the words spoken in this House today into action that has an impact on European citizens .
President of the Commission . - I will be extremely happy the day that happens , but unfortunately it is not true .
after all , Members have a right to have their say .
this is my valedictory speech to the European Parliament , since I was first elected a quarter of a century ago and my father was elected 30 years ago - Peter Beazley , a Member of the European Parliament for Bedfordshire and North Hertfordshire .
climate change will not stop as the economy slows , and the poorest countries will suffer - still - from our carbon consumption .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to thank you , Baroness Ashton , for your words and the brilliant and self-contained manner in which you set out your position , as well as your analysis of the situation in our Southern Neighbourhood and in Libya .
finally , Commissioner , I want to thank you for coming to me directly , as chair , to discuss the issue of the safety of toys .
it would not be totally unjustified if , by means of a tax on financial transactions , part of the profit saved by the banks from these decreased costs made its way back to the public authorities that saved them .
this means that more than EUR 4 billion in grants has been handed out erroneously .
what we can say is that we are going to negotiate and afterwards try to bind them to our track .
other countries outside the eurozone appear to be in a less-favoured position .
we are talking , fellow Members , about those companies where our voters and our citizens work , and we are jeopardising their income by jeopardising energy security .
today , Europe has become the world 's biggest economy .
this scourge must be tackled , and my delegation supports this report which sends a strong message that the European Parliament will not tolerate fraud , evasion or tax havens operating with impunity .
we must not lose sight of the objective of the proposal .
I believe that the sustainability of the pension system , loan facilities for self-help projects and job creation and alternative income creation schemes can improve conditions for precarious women workers .
since the Commission presented its proposals at the end of last year , Member States have reached a broad consensus on the need to strengthen the ENP and the measures required to do so .
who among us never makes mistakes ?
although I was pleased with the remarks about Guantánamo Bay , I am a little dismayed at the CIA .
Mr President , I would like to begin by thanking Mr Lambrinidis and everyone else in the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs who has made this such a constructive and well thought-out report .
these court rulings have given the green light to the wholesale exploitation of workers .
this directive is one of the cornerstones of a functioning internal market . unfortunately , however , many states have implemented it late and often incorrectly , in a bid to apply the principles of economic nationalism , and the Commission turns a blind eye to this .
for some years now we have been hearing the constant refrain that governance must be improved .
I voted against the joint motion on the 10th anniversary of UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women in peace and security because it has a distorted view of gender equality .
situation in Nigeria (
recent studies show that our natural resources are seriously threatened , particularly marine areas of Mediterranean countries .
I hope that you will show the necessary initiative , and hope that in this period , you will be able to put Belarus back on track for democratic development .
there is a certain contradiction here .
in short , we must not confuse the end with the means .
( applause )
to say here that the conflict that has been going on for decades will shortly bring ' positive results ' is nothing more than a pious wish .
that is the way to play as a European team for the benefit of the whole of Europe .
we should be saying , through Mr Solana , ' sic stantibus rebus ' , we are not going , rather than continuing to present this shameful spectacle .
the next item is the one-minute speeches on matters of political importance .
above all , however , it stresses the need to implement a large-scale vaccination programme , which is the only way of achieving one of the Millennium Development Goals ( MDG 6 ) and eradicating the disease by 2050 .
I am pleased that we are starting to make some serious progress on it .
what we want , and what we hope to achieve , is that many of the tasks which have been transferred to the European Railway Agency in this context will be carried out by that Agency as quickly and purposefully as possible .
the proposal for a regulation presented by the Commission is intended to provide financial assistance for the decommissioning of Units 1 to 4 of the Kozloduy Nuclear Plant in Bulgaria and to ensure that the resultant radioactive materials are dealt with .
in today 's vote on equality between women and men in the European Union in 2010 , I voted against , and today is International Women 's Day of all days !
in the communication adopted on 9 March 2010 , the Commission concluded that Greece is implementing the Council Decision of 16 February 2010 and that , based on available information , the fiscal measures announced by the Greek authorities on 3 March appear sufficient to safeguard the 2010 budgetary targets .
in Albania , we have been in discussions with the Prime Minister and with the opposition to try to get the dialogue moving .
your votes will do even more to give prominence to and further this process , due to the unanimous support that was expressed by all political forces at the meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on 1 December .
it is vital that the EU is given a budget for the implementation of priority areas and the new powers that were bestowed upon it by the treaty , such as energy , space and foreign policy .
it is absurd to first applaud regime change in Tunisia and Egypt and to then immediately accept migrants en masse , or , more precisely , so-called refugees , from those countries .
3 .
if the outcome of a referendum is not to the liking of the Eurocratic nomenclatures , this does not necessarily mean that the voting public is lacking in brain cells .
now , it often happens that after the Member States have resolved their problems , they shut up their judicial systems ; after allowing their political systems to communicate , they forget to take care of everything else and forget to lay their foundations by creating a basis of trust among the citizens of the European Union .
we are now about to adopt the agreement on Iraq .
as regards the supply of alcoholic beverages , however , the existing regulations should remain in place .
individuals then have a choice to stop work and take their pensions , or to continue working and either take their pension or defer it until they choose to stop working .
the item is hereby closed .
the purpose of the resolution before us is not to quash the comitology decision to which it refers .
the debate is closed .
deputising for the author . - Mr President , like Mr Caspary , I welcome the three preference regimes we have under the GSP - Everything But Arms , GSP and GSP + .
lastly , if the European Union is to continue to play a leading role in this sector , then food quality and safety , which are the raison d 'être of agriculture at EU and world level , must be strengthened further .
Mr President , on 20 March , around 80 000 exiled Tibetans worldwide participated in the direct election of a new prime minister and the members of the government .
finally , we need independent and timely research into bee mortality so that , whatever actions we take to deal with the situation , we can expect that they will yield positive outcomes .
should it not be recommended to every Member State to use the presumption of consent system ?
we are also against the suggestion that a novel food cannot be approved if ' it has a negative impact on the environment after being consumed or becoming waste ' .
I should mention as a reminder that the European Parliament will ratify this agreement .
I would also call on Commissioner Kuneva to intervene in credit agreements because following this financial mess we are now in , most banks have changed these credit agreements too as they continue to dupe consumers .
however , the changes taking place in the world demand further measures .
figures also reveal that , out of 9624 women now residing in Ireland who originally came from countries that practice FGM , 26.9 % have undergone a form of female genital mutilation .
bearing this in mind , the Commission wanted to simplify and stimulate cross-border sales of UCITS , provide fund managers with effective tools for increasing the size of their funds and benefit from economies of scale .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Mr President , we should never forget in this House that the freedom to debate and dissent that we so much enjoy in Europe is scarce and non-existent in many parts of the world .
Mr President , Mr López Garrido , President of the Commission , thank you for giving me the opportunity to say why I firmly believe , on behalf of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) , that Mr Barroso and his College of Commissioners , assisted by members of staff from the Commission , will be equal to the challenges that they face .
the removal of tariff barriers would play against the interests of our productive sectors .
with this amount of money we could have combated the most severe poverty in the world and saved the climate .
in this regard , I think that one of the report 's key elements is the support expressed for the new counter-insurgency strategy .
in Lisbon we achieved the strategic objective : we agreed on a Reform Treaty .
I am convinced that Parliament needs this learning process ; it needs to learn how to handle these matters .
I am sorry , but that is not possible .
this is something we are discussing not only for their protection and the human rights aspect of it , which , of course , is a priority , but also for the protection of society as a whole .
the level of protection of human rights is decreased .
what should we do , though ?
it is our tragedy to live at a time where , just as Asia has discovered the secrets of decentralisation , diffusion of power , enterprise and personal responsibility , we in this part of the world are going in the opposite direction , copying the old Asian empires - the Mings , the Moguls and the Ottomans - in regulating , uniformising , standardising and taxing .
it is important that during work on the text of the directive , and thanks to the compromises which were reached , it was possible to change the attitude of Member States which initially blocked its provisions .
in a large port in one country , 420 containers containing high-quality electronic waste were checked and 360 of them were illegal .
what happened to your great redistribution of wealth , when we know that inequalities between the richest and the poorest continue to increase everywhere in Europe ?
much alignment remains to be done , particularly on fisheries , social policies , justice and home affairs , and the customs union where longstanding trade issues remain unresolved .
Nigeria is one of the most corrupt countries in the world .
mobility , as you know , is , quite rightly , a fundamental freedom guaranteed by the treaties and a foundation of an efficient internal market .
it is right to subject products to a safety assessment that also gives distributors a responsibility for completing the necessary checks before marketing the goods .
it is mandatory to resurrect the debate on co-financing the Transeuropean transport networks because , in order to make these massive investments in European infrastructure , national financial efforts , irrespective of their significance and however well-intentioned they may be , are insufficient especially in the case of the new Member States .
besides the fact that the EU and the United States share a number of common interests and values , such as the promotion of peace , democracy , respect for human rights , and the market economy , they have the world 's most important bilateral trade and investment relationship : the transatlantic economy is worth USD 4 280 billion .
they are not complete .
secondly , the Member States need to work together across borders to combat water scarcity and drought .
I hope that the vote is completed quickly tomorrow .
this is why the euro is attractive to countries that have joined the European Union but are not yet members of the euro zone .
we want to make a difference .
there are issues obviously regarding the confidence of the European Parliament vis-à-vis the Council , but , as she said herself , a pragmatic solution will be found and that is obviously desirable .
at this point , I must stress that good neighbourly relations continue to be of the essence .
you surreptitiously initiated a review of the European treaties , which you told us yesterday were inviolable .
so , today , Mr Sarkozy is calling for an opt-out from employment policies .
in view of the fact that both bodies support the micro-financing instrument , it was possible to make considerable progress over the essential wording of the proposal .
ensuring them access to safe food of the highest quality should be a top priority .
therefore this is a very mixed debate on how we are going to make sure we can make the European Union run effectively .
moving to the European Parliament : I see that our Secretary-General is sitting next to the Vice-President .
however , an increase is still an increase , even if it is probably below the inflation rate .
national cofinancing continues to be an obstacle to accessing funds , particularly for countries with weaker economies , which continue to see many millions of euro returned to the countries that benefit most from the main EU policies , specifically the Economic and Monetary Union and the internal market .
this is particularly necessary in connection with the natural environment , in terms of noise , emission of pollutants , road traffic density in the vicinity of the airport , the proximity of fuel tanks , and also in relation to meteorological factors .
thirdly , I do not support an increase of additional payments to producers or any increase of temporary restructuring aid ; nor do I support an increase in additional payments to suppliers .
it needs to be said very clearly : just ten countries have a period of less than six months . just ten countries out of 27 Member States have a period of less than six months , and all the other countries will have to adjust their legislation to the period of six months , which we propose in this directive , which signifies major progress in our available options and of course in the area of restricting movement .
we would like to highlight and to welcome the Commission 's , and specifically the Council 's , initiative to help put an end to the Baltic region 's isolation in the energy sector .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
I know that many of you are wondering about the highly intergovernmental character of this permanent mechanism .
there is a clear democratic deficit today , and if the Council and the Commission continue to make proposals that fail to take Parliament 's opinion into account , our fellow citizens will reject our project even more .
the aim of this assimilation is to implement the climate market and its stock rights relating to pollution .
the June List supports measures to prevent pollution from ships .
so this Minor Use / Minor Species ( MUMS ) issue is a problem urgently in need of resolution as it creates potential animal welfare and food safety issues .
subject : EASA airworthiness assessment procedures
consequently , I welcome the proposal on visa liberalisation for Serbia , Macedonia and Montenegro .
this topic will be dealt with in the Commission communication due to be adopted in 2008 , which will be based on lessons taken from the 2007 European Year of Equal Opportunities for All .
a year later I was criticised for emphasising absorption capacity and stopping the motion of enlargement .
in the European Parliament we have , on a number of occasions , discussed what policy to conduct in a globalised society .
Madam President , Mrs Jiménez García-Herrera , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I , too , would like to agree with the preceding speakers and open with the words ' life is beautiful ' .
the best way to guarantee a secure gas supply to the EU is by having one internal market for 500 million consumers .
the EU should play an active role in supporting the reform process of the UN system and especially , the reform of the Security Council .
( PL ) Mr President , cohesion policy makes a crucial contribution to the integration of societies within the Union , as is emphasised in the report .
the synergies between these two areas should be exploited to draw them together in order to increase flow along streets and make travel more comfortable . other benefits would be better travelling conditions , shorter journey times , energy saving , fewer emissions , less expenditure on managing the vehicle fleet and on the maintenance and renewal of the surface .
the situation in the European Union is very special , since bananas are the world 's fourth most important crop and there is only a limited number of banana-producing countries .
I voted against for these reasons .
this is not required for other groups , so why the web-bloggers ?
( PL ) Madam President , it is to be welcomed that we have succeeded in provoking discussion on a subject which has been somewhat neglected in the European Union , namely , obtaining gas from alternative deposits .
the report by Georgios Stavrakakis , on behalf of the Committee on Regional Development , on the state of play and future synergies for increased effectiveness between the ERDF and other structural funds .
just special pleading from one industry after another .
there is still the question of employees ' rights - it is especially in this context that trade unions are concerned about abandoning previously achieved standards .
at the request of the French Government , we have been presented with a text making provision for customs administrations to cooperate with Europol and Eurojust .
this will certainly not be an easy task , given the delicate nature of the matter and the potential impacts of decisions taken in this context .
( PL ) Mr President , one of the fundamental issues to consider is that of guaranteeing security of supply .
our group has tabled a series of amendments with a view to having other categories included immediately .
nothing scares terrorists more than our ability to react .
nonetheless , again : congratulations .
Europe is undergoing difficult times , and the reforms proposed by the Lisbon Treaty will give an impetus for a more effective institutional structure which will undoubtedly lead to more coherent policies in many areas .
in any event , I do not believe that there is a need for more regulation .
very often , in fact , money is the fuel for terrorist activities .
it also means that we are firmly committed to the separation between religion and politics and we condemn the rise of fundamentalism in Europe and elsewhere , which is often a response to social unrest and the inability of public policy to address it .
I do not plan to measure the success of the summit by the length of the final joint declaration .
some abstained , others voted against it and others - such as the United Kingdom and France - refused to take part in the vote at all .
I recall that the resolution that we adopted itself also gave this warning .
the dramatic images convey one clear message .
I would like to congratulate Mrs Westlund on her report ; what she has managed to achieve is that , under the new legislation , additives that are harmful to human health and to the environment may no longer be used in future .
finally , I believe that it is essential to also consider having transitional periods .
my first question is : are they also in our field of vision ?
but if we do not accept the proposition , the logic falls apart .
the number of enquiries opened , based on complaints received in 2009 , rose from 293 to 335 .
there is a great deal more scope for improvement there and they need to be examined critically by the European Commission .
we waived numerous parliamentary rights , but we got things moving .
we must urgently ensure right now that all those people who have remained in camps enjoy freedom of movement and that full access to these camps is given to humanitarian agencies , including to record information there , so that they can provide humanitarian aid and protection .
the circumstances in the case of Kosovo are exceptional .
at a time of crisis , it is all the more important to talk about finance and to talk about how the European Union is to be financed . furthermore , the European Parliament is all the more necessary and it is not , at the moment , the right time to make the budget a taboo subject .
it is the natural setting for children .
moreover , what is true of national budgets is also true of social and fiscal policy .
let us speak plainly : identifying macroeconomic imbalances is a complex and completely novel process .
in writing . - ( DE ) I reject the framework directive on soil protection , because it is a gross breach of the principle of subsidiarity and is therefore unacceptable as European legislation .
- ( CS ) Mr President , it was one year ago last week that a very comprehensive bill on labelling textile products , as tabled by our Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection , was passed by a large majority at first reading .
the French presidency announced its priorities for the next period : climate change , immigration , the common agricultural policy , the Union 's defence and security .
of particular concern is the relevance of micro-supervisory oversight and whether the ECB , by dint of its role in the recent crisis , is automatically qualified to be involved so directly in this endeavour or whether it will carry with it significant reputational risk .
I believe that longer periods of maternity leave are important for children 's development .
we are the most transparent in the world when it comes to the press conference that immediately follows the Governing Council .
( PL ) Mr President , Commissioner , helping the poor and the needy is of great value .
at a time when the economic crisis is intensifying , we must avoid having an outright war within the European Union between poor people , citizens discriminated against because of their social conditions and citizens discriminated against because of their living conditions , or their expectations , or even because of their arrival in the European Union and the fact that they have been welcomed in the best possible way .
( FI ) Mr President , the free trade agreement to be signed with India is the most remarkable of the EU 's free trade agreements negotiated so far .
my fellow Members have already mentioned how important the fight against corruption is in the accession of a Western Balkans country , but there are two other key areas .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , in this period of crisis , public finances have been heavily used , initially to save the financial system and then to cushion the social and economic impact .
Wednesday
with regard to monetary policy , of course , we respect the independence of the Central Bank , but we also respect the Treaty as a whole , and Article 105 , beyond price stability , stipulates that the Central Bank must pursue the Union 's other objectives .
especially in the light of food shortages , we must emphasise the importance of a strong CAP which will take on a key role in future in overcoming global challenges .
I agree with the rapporteur that employers who exploit immigrants should be punished with financial , administrative and , in some cases , criminal penalties commensurate with the extent and the severity of the exploitation , and that Member States must monitor at-risk workplaces and introduce mechanisms to facilitate the reporting of cases of exploitation in the underground economy .
I must also of course welcome the progress made in relation to the possibility of the free movement of Serbian nationals within the European space .
I would like to consult you and move forward soon with concrete proposals .
that will hardly be the case for regional airlines .
we are now 75 years down the line , and it is only right and proper that much attention should be devoted to what went wrong then and the many victims in this .
anyhow , we will demonstrate goodwill tomorrow , by issuing our opinion , and we hope that the Council will respond and consider this Parliament 's first reading , as I have said .
in the UK in May 2008 , the Misleading Marketing Regulations came into force .
a great deal of work has gone into it , and congratulations to all those who were involved in it .
crossing a border by train can still be difficult in many cases .
we therefore call for effective diplomatic action that vigorously opposes the use of sexual aggression , intimidation and harassment of women in North Africa and the Middle East , or in any other place .
the areas where the Court finds too high levels of errors are those where there are complicated and unclear legal requirements , such as eligibility rules .
at the same time , this well thought out game highlighted the serious competition between the imperialists and the fact that Community bodies are jostling for position as to who can best serve the interests of the plutocracy following the adoption of the Treaty of Lisbon .
besides , Europe can take initiatives .
therefore , I cannot understand the position of the Commission , Commissioner Piebalgs , or of the other groups .
especially in such times of economic crisis , it is all you can do to shake your head when it comes to proposals like this .
I am also thinking of the scandalous MAI , the Multilateral Agreement on Investment , which sought to exempt multinationals from the laws in force in the countries in which they were operating .
I thank the House for its forbearance as regards the usual time allocation .
Galileo has already been discussed .
the Commission will therefore not be held back by the conduct of the social partners .
now it is time for action on the part of the Community , and above all on the part of the Member States .
an EU-wide coordinated FTT would be the first step towards a global FTT .
Professor , may you , as the Ombudsman , be an effective guardian of the interests of the Community 's citizens , and may Parliament , the Council and the Commission , as well as national parliaments and national ombudsmen , assist you in this work .
parental unemployment is a cause of child poverty .
I hope these things will be addressed in the forthcoming White Paper , as well as the opportunities that exist in synergies between research , innovation and regional development .
how many times is a Greek MEP going to meet his Slovak voters ?
my only concern regards the effect any restructuring could have on sugar cane producers from developing countries .
there are very few elderly people in the workforce today .
furthermore , the TRAN Commission delegation , which visited Romania in early October , supports the need to give the Danube a higher priority in the development of European transport policy .
time is running out for Africa .
in my view , this requires not only the various justified and accurate assessments and clever words , of which there are many in the report ; the common security and defence policy needs to be looked at seriously and from a different angle .
we want China to be governed in accordance with the principles of social justice .
with growing unemployment , there will be an increase in the number of people who may become victims of human trafficking or may be exploited for forced labour .
I am glad to hear you say that you think the Posting of Workers Directive needs improvement , because one of the things we want is a revision of that directive to at least make it clear how collective agreements can be used to put minimum terms and conditions in place and to say how collective action can be used to protect those rights .
I wish to ask , however , for the support of the European Parliament out of respect for minorities , to set an example for our fellow citizens .
for example , we could decide that the banks , building societies and financial institutions must establish funds for times of crisis or also , Madam President , that off-balance-sheet transactions and unproven securitisation processes are prohibited .
the vote will take place tomorrow .
following approval of the 2010 budget , this sum will be paid out at the start of next year .
the right to the presumption of innocence must apply in this case .
as a Liberal , I have no difficulty at all in arguing in favour of clearer rules and more effective legislation .
however , the summit was not just about Zimbabwe .
in addition , the continued existence of tax havens leads to very great losses of revenue for developing countries every year .
today , one third of children have an allergy and , if we do not do something about it , in time half the European population will suffer from this illness .
Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , today we have the duty to strengthen the most European objective of the cohesion policy .
this will be a difficult policy .
that is why it is vitally important to avoid certain risks .
increased biogas production must not be an end in itself , however .
there are some subjects which we cannot ignore , such as personal data protection , legal protection , data transfer volume , proportionality , reciprocity or the European Parliament 's permanent involvement in the monitoring process .
as a result , it is vital to link immigration and employment policies in order to achieve a fair and practical position , while observing the Community preference principle .
let me end with one final remark : we really must see the difference here between what happens in practice in the Council and what happens in our own institution .
some general points to begin with , since they bear repeating .
the report is firm on keeping the policy an EU one , rejecting attempts to re-nationalise it .
at the same time , of course , we must help to build democratic societies that have legal certainty in Tunisia and Europe .
this proposal could jeopardise what should be the central objective of the Community budget , in other words its function to redistribute wealth among the ' cohesion ' countries and the ' wealthy ' countries , particularly since it would eliminate funds which are only intended for the former ( in addition to jeopardising Community funding of ' common policies ' such as agriculture and fisheries ) .
it is the Commission 's prerogative , as a negotiator , to determine the point at which negotiations are technically finalised and at which the agreement can be initialled .
I find it unacceptable that these members should include numerous NGOs that have similar interests and a similar scope .
I must also stress that , in most cases , the rise in food prices does not result either in an increase in farmers ' incomes .
third , the existence of the WTO Dispute Settlement Body is a considerable step forward in the international trade regime , because it delivers reliable directions in the event that differences of opinion arise from different interpretations of the Uruguay Round agreements .
it was because analysis of the situation showed that the possibility of achieving them was zero , or close to zero .
generalised tariff preferences for the period from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2011 ( debate )
( PL ) Madam President , the objective of the Doha Round was to help the poorest countries with their development , to lift them out of poverty .
Commissioner , do I detect from your answer to Mr Seppänen just now that you actually have indications of major interest from companies wishing to invest in the EIT ?
therefore once again , Mr President , I urge Parliament to approve this report because it is politically balanced and it is a partnership agreement which is mutually advantageous for the parties concerned .
I would also like to emphasise the results that Parliament obtained in the discussions with the Council , as the latter demonstrated genuine openness .
according to the latest available data , 31.5 % of employed women work part-time compared with only 8.3 % of employed men .
if our group were to vote against this resolution because of this manoeuvre , this would not in any way diminish our support for all the Romanian and other EU nationals who obey the law and respect their host country .
Madam President , Baroness Ashton , the European Union is involved in a number of missions in Afghanistan on the basis of United Nations resolutions .
it will be necessary to address issues which have surfaced recently , such as the subprime crisis and fuel and food prices , but when we do so we must bear in mind that the our circumstances are sounder , that next year we will celebrate the tenth anniversary of the euro and that we must strengthen international economic cooperation .
ladies and gentlemen , this law begins by claiming to protect children against the promotion of homosexuality in public information .
I therefore voted in favour .
( applause from the left )
if this is the case , if it wishes to retain all control , I believe that the Council is making a big mistake , because what the Council needs is to have a strong Parliament that it can work alongside .
the lack of democracy within the EU remains unchanged after the Treaty of Lisbon .
I particularly agree with the rapporteur 's assertion that synergies and coordination do not imply one-size-fits-all solutions , but call for close strategic coordination between instruments , policies and actors in order to produce carefully designed interventions and programmes which take into account the territorial specificities and comparative advantages or special features of each region in an integrated place-based approach .
the Lisbon Strategy failed due to a lack of political commitment on the part of Member States to take the lead in meeting its objectives .
we likewise intend to call on the Peruvian Government to do all in its power to allow civil society 's Enlazando Alternativas encounters to be held also , thereby offering criticism and alternatives .
the 2020 strategy presents significant and ambitious challenges for Europe in five areas that are seen as strategic : ( I ) employment ; ( ii ) innovation and research ; ( iii ) climate change and energy ; ( iv ) education , and ( v ) combating poverty .
for that reason , the Commission cannot accept Amendments 4 , 5 , 21 , 23 and 24 .
I believe that this has been a useful exchange of views , taking some concrete suggestions and remarks to reflect on .
- Madam President , I voted in favour of paragraph 43 of the Vatanen report only because of our colleague Mr Landsbergis 's oral amendment to it that the House finally approved .
of course , administrative factors are not the only ones which play an important part in attracting highly qualified workers to Europe .
I really want to emphasise what has been said here .
moreover , it has to be remembered that legal immigration is essentially the immigration not of workers but of people .
FI ) Mr President , following the elections in December , President Lukashenko of Belarus began purposely to crush the already weak political opposition and the independent media .
we need policies which will cover the steps that young people have to take when making the transition from education to employment .
from this point of view , Ukraine is much further advanced than the others , and I assume that it is not very happy to see that our offer now has to be shared with the others .
I believe the two go hand in hand and should work in parallel with one another , otherwise we will not be able to move forward .
we have heard some comments and very many good examples have been given .
this programme must cover the whole trajectory of the food distributed to ensure that it reaches citizens in all the Member States .
I supported this report because it has a review clause assessing by 2014 the impacts of increased use of renewable transport fuels which ensures that by reducing our CO2 emissions , we are not having an adverse effect on food prices or land use .
we must have a full and open debate to prove exactly who is right .
like other colleagues , I wish to express my own concern , not least at today 's rumours that President Barroso is looking to make swingeing cuts to the budget and Pillar Two in particular .
in writing . - MEP Sender 's report proposes to improve road safety in Europe by making penalties incurred in one Member State applicable in another .
a regime which fires on its own people has no place within the concert of nations .
what is evident , however , is that the capability to react and mobilise all of the possible resources at EU level or through the EU is enormously important and is still insufficient at present .
I was very pleased when at the plenary session last month you adopted the report on the Lisbon Reform Treaty with a large majority .
these issues are too important for us to be able to support this type of wording or requirement .
legal protection of computer programs ( codified version ) (
I would like to thank the rapporteur and his staff for all their hard work and for finding a compromise when , at times , it looked impossible .
this is why it is so important that we work together on this issue , and why we regret the fact that Parliament and the Commission have not agreed on the same text throughout this procedure .
we cannot sweep aside the judgment of Hague prosecutor Carla Del Ponte that the Serbian Government has deliberately failed to deliver Mladić and Karadžić to justice .
in retrospect we must say , first , that this has complicated proceedings , as we did not consider it right and appropriate that new proposals should be presented just a few days after agreement was reached on the budget and , second , that it would have been virtually impossible to reach agreement with the Council both on the food aid facility and on these elements of the economic stimulus package on completion of the 2009 budget .
as regards Daphne ( protection of children , women and young people against violence ) , we voted in favour of increasing the appropriation up to the level of the Commission 's proposal .
after all , this is not just the responsibility of Mediterranean EU countries but of us all .
there is also an urgent need to find a solution for kick-starting the review of the European Solidarity Fund Regulation .
we liked the sustainable development chapter in FTAs but wish those standards to be binding , not voluntary .
that is excellent news for this sector of the economy which has everything to gain from this new development .
however , the serious state of health of the Baltic Sea area is not the only challenge faced by the region .
the peoples of Europe are experiencing an extremely deep identity crisis .
a European action plan with objectives , with strategies , in which the improvement of fast intervention within the necessary time window , as is done in road safety , could perhaps help us and also improve working conditions and training for professionals .
on the other hand , Hezbollah 's continuing position of military power is guaranteeing the continuing influence in domestic affairs of its two great sponsors , Syria and the Islamic Republic of Iran .
they also summarise the complicated relationship between Turkey and Europe .
for this we ought to thank the French Presidency , and we are well aware that this is a role with which it is not entirely unfamiliar .
the winner here will not be the one who spends most , but the one who spends most sensibly .
we will resolve it by endeavouring , through our results , to reinforce our democratic legitimacy and by recognising that all of us must act , in the European institutions and in the national governments , and that we have a shared responsibility to keep our ideal , our European ideal alive .
on the second question , from Mr Harbour , he knows that I am always pleased to answer his questions but , as far as the Small Business Act is concerned , this one comes a little bit early .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , we have been addressing the Interim Agreement with Turkmenistan here in the European Parliament for nearly three years .
there is common agreement that despite the progress that has been made , there is still much to be done .
as a result , we will have better labelling and a higher level of safety for consumers once we have finally implemented this legislation .
it is therefore only a matter of potential conflict during crisis situations , but as I have already indicated the key issue here is to leave enough power in the hands of rail operators and this document does exactly that .
it deals with problems of human and financial resources .
some have qualified the package of measures as being extreme .
in this way , the Swedish model of collective agreements is protected .
however , I am pleased that most of the issues have now been resolved for 2011 within the Committee on Budgets itself .
this subject was also raised in your resolution in February .
we need diplomacy and also popular diplomacy , a good example of which is the very successful Russian theatre festival that just ended in my country , Estonia .
I voted in favour of this resolution to harmonise the various national systems while better protecting applicants ' rights and improving the quality of procedures .
the Danish Liberal Party 's MEPs have voted in favour of the Karas report .
moreover , the financial crisis has complicated the European Central Bank 's task enormously .
non-proliferation is absolutely fundamental .
now it is unable to do so , after being destroyed by the actions of Robert Mugabe and his henchmen .
also there is no possibility of reopening a general discussion on how large the envelopes of the different Member States should be .
in countries in which it is still not easy to complain , particularly when corruption exists , have complaint mechanisms been provided for - in particular , independent ones - so that these members of civil society can complain about poor implementation and report that they are no longer being listened to ?
in view of the shortage of carers and the appreciation of the importance of the services they provide , it is necessary to improve their working conditions as well as ensure that carers receive high-quality training .
but let 's face it , there is disagreement as to what should be done at Community level .
it is a horrible phrase , and no doubt very few people in Germany will concern themselves with this topic , despite the fact that it will be one of the most important topics in coming years .
as Mrs Madurell 's report also indicates , one of the biggest problems in combating gender discrimination on the labour market is also the lack of information about the rights which the victims of discrimination have .
the body is nothing more than an instrument in order to improve regulatory consistency .
Madam President , I too wish to congratulate the rapporteur , Mr Costa , who is chairman of the Committee on Transport and Tourism and who began by pointing out that the Treaties allow policies that impact on tourism .
Madam President , I understand that the Council must meet formally with the Permanent Representatives Committee .
for Turkey clearly a sui generis rule applies .
you radiate enthusiasm and pride .
these products often contain previously EU-approved GM varieties yet if the smallest trace of unauthorised GM is found they are banned and destroyed .
it is unacceptable , above all , for the free movement of persons and non-discriminatory access to the social security benefits of countries of residence to be used as a pretext for demanding mutual recognition of civil status documents , because the real aim behind this proposal is not to make life easier for European families who have moved to another EU country .
quite honestly , I would set four conditions .
my request has been signed by 75 Members and five political groups .
according to Articles 206 and 207 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union ( TFEU ) , foreign direct investment ( FDI ) is an exclusive competence of the EU .
therefore , as has been stated by my fellow Members , we should focus on the houses that are there currently .
we also need to discuss this subject .
the Commission must clearly state that it will combat the selfish attitudes of Member States which see no danger in a continued dependence on one supplier , such as a reliance on Russia for gas , for example .
we also share the view that their potential is not fully developed .
we therefore need to look very closely into this .
this is why the International Tropical Timber Organization has such an important part to play .
( MT ) Madam President , as the rapporteur for the Frontex Regulation , I am happy to welcome the latest development that has been made to the law that we have before us , as it will help us throughout the process of strengthening the Frontex agency .
it is a serious report .
the current situation is that the EU has left Austria , Tyrol , northern Italy and also southern Germany in a state of uncertainty and there is a risk of the tunnel becoming a black hole for billions of euros .
last but not least , I emphasize the importance of the social integration of the ill ; they should not consider themselves disabled and , for this reason , I believe the psychological condition of these patients could help them fight this disease .
however , we vehemently reject and criticise the intention to move towards new forms of private appropriation of nature and natural resources , such as the introduction of ' payment for ecosystem services ' , which is advocated more than once in the resolution .
it is by no means certain to say , as the resolution does , that the current Generalised System of Preferences ( GSP ) is a mechanism to help developing countries .
in writing . - I am fully aware that international nuclear disarmament , and therefore the strengthening of the NPT and its ratification by all states , are of vital importance and that every effort should be made to implement the treaty in all its aspects .
the report describes several interesting measures , but does not examine their financial impact .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , as shadow rapporteur for the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats , I am able largely to endorse this report .
ladies and gentlemen , such a squandering of public resources shows nothing more than contempt for the realities of the situation .
unfortunately , the current Chinese policy in Kashgar is proving to be quite the reverse of what was called for then .
I believe it is high time for the co-legislators to find a solution .
as usual , in EU parlance , ' simplification ' means more standardisation and more control by the Commission .
the cohesion policy continues to draw one third of the European Union 's annual budget .
in writing . - ( GA ) I wish to suggest that the Committee on Regional Development take initiatives and exert pressure for action enabling ability to be pooled in a European grouping of territorial cooperation with a view to bringing policies to light .
jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters (
since we are talking about this , let us be consistent .
this demands longer-term measures .
that is very important .
the participation of workers in works councils is used by employers to control workers ' activities in the workplace .
what we have done is this : firstly , we have broadened the scope to all waste , with just a few exceptions .
the summit cannot replace negotiations in Geneva , but it can urge Russia to take constructive action .
through this system of majority voting , though , Socrates was condemned to death .
this support must actually reach the micro-enterprises and SMEs and not get swallowed up by bureaucracy .
the reports in front of us include a number of good proposals , such as moving the Services Directive forward , the European patent and addressing excessive roaming charges .
I would like to stress that applying the Blue Card directive policy would disadvantage European citizens in relation to those from third countries .
but let me just make a comment .
I believe that the Rivasi report takes a very broad approach to the problem of H1N1 influenza , discussing it under several headings such as cooperation , independence and transparency , which will be absolutely vital in the event of a future pandemic .
( for details of the outcome of the vote : see Minutes )
this is the will of Parliament .
even now , in the 21st century , we are still discovering cases of slavery in Europe , and every one involves a woman .
the European Commission , one of our most Community-oriented bodies , has an important duty in every element of our comprehensive economic answer of the six laws , and therefore the European Parliament has also been given guarantees that it will have access to the information .
I voted in favour of the resolution .
we just need to increase the binding standards , starting from the level we have now , and working together , thus demonstrating to the world that standards can be increased in the nuclear industry .
will the citizens of the Central and Eastern European Member States have to give up hope of catching up to the EU standard of living within a reasonable deadline ?
the Commission has presented a series of initiatives to counter the short-term effects of the food price shock , to increase agricultural supply and ensure food security in the longer term , and to contribute to the global effort to tackle the effects of the price rises on poor populations .
to stimulate the EU 's economic growth , maybe we should start thinking outside the box and accepting the various interests and specificities of our 27 Member States .
the countries that have already done this have done it without any help from Europe .
that is not our job .
I would suggest first voting on the procedure , and then we can discuss whether we have just the statement .
I voted in favour of this motion for a European Parliament resolution on recognition of agriculture as a strategic sector in the context of food security because , due to the increasing amount of consumers , the large amount of people suffering from hunger , the situation faced by farmers , fluctuating food prices and speculation in equities , it is particularly important to use certain measures to regulate the agricultural sector .
Commissioner , I am glad you are dealing with this .
under the current conditions , the United States authorities would have access to a large quantity of private data on millions of Europeans .
I support market liberalisation , but when it comes to natural gas , in most of the new Member States we must first do away with the market monopolies and introduce more suppliers ; only then can we proceed ( for example ) with ownership unbundling without any risks .
I sincerely regret that false expectations were raised with unrealistic timetables , and I am pleased that the other part of this House has finally joined our realistic path , accepting that , unfortunately , there were no possible shortcuts .
the reality is that the protection of fish stocks is best left to local fishermen and national government marine scientists , not EU bureaucrats .
OK , 23 then , but that is still not bad .
to create a platform for future growth , the strategic policy agenda must be included in the EU 2020 strategy .
I believe that the act we are focusing on today is much more important than the effects of the 2006 EU regulation .
that means that poverty will not have been halved , the maternal mortality ratio will not have been significantly reduced , and not all children will be benefiting from primary education .
last year gave us hope that relations between the European Union and Belarus can change and that the fences I mentioned can be lowered .
only in this way will we be able to restore confidence amongst the voters .
and those parties pushing themselves and Britain to the sidelines of Europe will cost their country dear .
the new law is blamed because it implies that there would be only one person appointed responsible for the management of the national mass media and telecommunications .
the sin of taking out loans at enticingly low rates of interest automatically produces imbalances between monetary and real-economy performance .
it is not as grave as what you are discussing here but in all Member States there are occasional natural disasters and I think of counties that I represent - Offaly , http : / / en.wikipedia.org / wiki / County _ Laois " \ o " County Laois " and Louth - where there was very unnatural and unseasonal flooding .
this means , I am pleased to say , that the Members on our committee also supported my amendment proposal for Parliament to look at some of its areas in earnest from the perspective of an outside observer , so that we might discover everything you were talking about and perhaps even more .
firstly , the idea of a permanent stability mechanism for the euro in itself constitutes a vital contribution to strengthening the single currency , to greater monetary integration in the EU , and to making the public debt markets more stable .
then I think we may also come to these points .
transferring the responsibility for one 's own failings or incompetence onto a teenager , carrying out inhumane sentences , including the death penalty , on children , that truly is a crime .
( HU ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , this House is debating a topic today which rightfully outrages all people of good will .
consumers must have access to accurate information on which to base their decisions .
there is indeed an urgent need when it comes to the damaged infrastructure .
I also hope that the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy , Baroness Ashton , will establish relations with the Interim Transitional National Council as soon as possible for it to be recognised as a legitimate interlocutor pending democratic elections .
thirdly , Mr Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou 's report understands the importance of lifelong learning and stresses the need to give everyone equal opportunities in order to hone their skills to reflect changes in the labour market .
I would like to thank Commissioner Dimas , his team and Jos Delbeke .
7 March : journalists silenced during Russian vote .
these amendments will ensure consumers greater security , and will contribute to companies , small or large , being able to provide goods and services without unnecessary legal obstacles .
most of us here agree that we should boost the role of biogas .
we have tried .
instead of punishing Romanian farmers , we should be helping to sort out the system of subsidies .
this crisis shows us that the European Union is strong when it speaks with one voice .
I have to say I find this extremely irritating .
( protests )
it removes the carbon sink ; it destroys a way of life , by virtue of the fact that the Amazon Red Indians are being wiped out ; thirdly , from the point of view of agricultural production , we know that the standards of production in no way meet EU standards of compliance .
we discussed only yesterday in the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy this specific activity which is devoted to marine and maritime matters .
that is very true .
that means we really are establishing what costs these rules actually create for enterprises so that we can then see where the costs come from and whether they can be reduced .
however , the situation in Madagascar is absolutely chaotic .
one example will suffice : the report wants , through incentives and subsidies , to boost the low level of interest shown by young people in agricultural work and country life .
given the current financial and economic crisis , reaching a new agreement in Copenhagen on combating climate change is fundamental .
there has been a definite violation of the principles of international law .
thank you .
the main objective is now to continue to turn the progress achieved to good account , and to speed up the rate of reform .
there will certainly be one challenge or another that will need to be analysed .
my country , Sweden , is contributing a few hundred soldiers to the EUFOR mission .
for my part , from a very early stage , I made a point of listening to views on all sides and also of sending a timely and reliable message to companies and consumers in order to build or rebuild their trust .
a united Europe in the fight against tax fraud remains a pipe dream to a large extent .
without legal provision , it is hard to see how voters in the new Member States will feel that they own the service .
not only does Kosovo create a dangerous precedent , it also has an historical precursor .
in order to succeed , the European Union will have to speak and act clearly and not in a disorganised manner .
there was recognition that the EU was becoming more remote from the people and that there was a need to do something about it .
fourth , the participation of the EIT and KICs in the Community programmes : there should not be a shadow of doubt on this .
we therefore asked ourselves what we , as Social Democrats - as Socialists and Democrats - can call for and get accepted .
I agree with the report 's objectives .
at a time when bee deaths are rising and the number of beekeepers in Europe is falling , we must waste no time in assessing the difficulties faced by this sector and implementing the appropriate measures .
the last point that I want to touch on is the financial crisis , which you have mentioned , because that is also something that causes us great concern .
the fraud rates in France and Spain are , for example , considered ' suspiciously low ' .
according to the experts ' report we have received , it therefore complies with the rules of international trade law .
we have four weeks and negotiations have a momentum of their own .
I am voting for this report .
we must address these anxieties and guarantee maximum nuclear safety .
this is why the Commission will be representing a coherent series of instruments intended for SMEs .
the adoption of this measure will , in addition , encourage legal immigration and will enrich the EU with professional skills and human experience , within that perspective of exchange which has always constituted the true essence of the European spirit
today we need especially close contacts and cooperation between our citizens and our peoples .
I would add that the directive leaves the Member States a considerable freedom of choice , with two precise targets to be achieved within generous deadlines : within , respectively , five years and seven years from transposition of the text , they must compile a list of contaminated sites and adopt a national remediation strategy .
in writing . - ( DE ) A customs union has existed between the Principality of Andorra and the European Union since 1990 on the basis of an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters .
the pretexts for EU intervention , the so-called ' threats ' against its security , are constantly expanding , including sectors , in addition to ' terrorism ' , such as climate change , energy security , cyberspace , regional clashes , maritime transport and even space .
furthermore , it is unacceptable for immigrants to be treated as criminals and possible terrorists .
it would be a disaster if this mission were not permitted to operate where the help is most urgently needed , namely in the border area .
the Kenyan people , I believe , want to get to the bottom of this situation and are calling for new elections to make things perfectly clear .
I would like to highlight two points from the conclusions of the first summit following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon .
talks must also achieve results in the area of citizens ' rights , and not just when it is a matter of goods .
this is what both we and the Commission clearly understand the treaty to state .
as representatives of the interests of European citizens , we need to contribute to defining a European defence policy .
the third fundamental misunderstanding is that it will destroy the competitiveness of agriculture .
I do not know whether the European Parliament is able to hold a fundamental debate about the European Arrest Warrant ( EAW ) .
President Van Rompuy would like to present to this House his points of view on other issues , on institutional issues , at the beginning of his term of office .
why are we once more giving way to US policy when it comes to security policy matters - as in the case of the SWIFT agreement - without reason , and without having a comprehensive debate on the matter in this House once again .
in all other industries , the European Union is trying to combat fabrications and forgeries .
many consumers simply cannot afford the systems in question .
the European Union 's desire to support the consumption of fruit in school is certainly to be welcomed .
tests have , indeed , been carried out on these machines at some airports - including in my own country at London Heathrow - but as yet , I understand , the results of this process have not been scrutinised by experts or the relevant parliamentary committees .
you , as a Commissioner from Ireland , know that the outcome of the referendum in your country , the perception of many of your fellow countryman about one model for all of Europe , cost us dearly .
I think Pakistan has to move ahead , and the way forward is to organise democratic and transparent elections which result in a broad and also a credible popular mandate for new governments , both at the federal but also at the provincial level .
just a few weeks ago in this Chamber we declared our openness to work together to close Guantánamo Bay and resettle former inmates .
however , I believe that the amendments tabled by the rapporteur are important .
I actually find it deplorable that today , shortly before this debate , it became clear that Connie Hedegaard is working as hard as possible in the Commission to try to get the minimum target for the European Union implemented .
a new version of the document is currently being written .
because the Commission is all about bargaining !
I think we all understand what is at stake .
we cannot therefore delay further or spend any more time on debates based on taking a false sense of security for granted .
innovation is not just new production methods or new uses , for example , of local products .
the free public expression of opinion and ideas is a guarantee of participation in the democratic process and makes possible free and fair elections and good governance .
in this area it is not about announcing more and more measures .
as I said to this House only two weeks ago , I hope to see a breakthrough soon on our proposal for hedge funds and private equity .
and I can assure you that the Council will continue to be prepared to provide help .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I voted in favour of Mr Lehne 's proposal for a Council regulation on the Statute for a European private company .
there has been inefficiency , delayed response and neglect of those affected , particularly the most disadvantaged .
in particular , it should be borne in mind that all these facilities were built with respect for the environment .
the rapporteur 's assessment indeed demonstrates that some Member States have still not adopted all the horizontal legislation that this directive requires in order to be correctly implemented , which is why work is still required to try and put in place all the mechanisms provided for by the Services Directive .
the European Parliament has expressed itself very forcefully on the fact that it has not played the major role that it would have wanted in that agreement .
many of the issues contained in the European Commission 's proposals fall short of the expectations of new Member States , which demand a fairer direct subsidy system .
at the same time , we must also think about the support measures which are required to prevent the loss of thousands of farming jobs and , above all , the destruction of an entire sector .
the Commission has a weighty responsibility here .
I am proud to say that the European Union today is alive and delivering .
but I have little doubt that it has been heavily promoted by the large multinationals , because it is they that stand to benefit most .
the European Parliament is duty bound to condemn violence arising from discrimination on ethnic or religious grounds .
'Yes , we can ' .
this situation falls well below our initial ambitions and , given the geostrategic , geopolitical and economic importance of the area , we only have one choice : to strengthen our policy and action on the Black Sea .
it is simply not right .
in fact , our proposal fully relies on them .
this is something that is close to the people , in the regions and in the cities , and Europe has a role to play in this regard .
it is reasonable for us in Europe to be able to mutualise part of our sovereign debt , although Mrs Merkel does not approve .
we were told that there had to be a study using exactly the same methodology .
however , whilst I was saddened to see the deal voted down , I was not altogether surprised .
the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) should support the reintegration of individual redundant workers into employment , and I would reiterate that assistance from the EGF is not a substitute for measures that are the responsibility of companies by virtue of national law or collective agreements , nor is it intended to finance the restructuring of companies or sectors ;
Ireland is not a southern European country , as far as I know .
Mr Turmes , moreover , seems to forget that gas oil is currently less expensive in Belgium than in Luxembourg and that any petrol pump tourists there may be are not heading for Luxembourg , but for Belgium at this point in time .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , the subject of today 's debate is breaches of human rights in Chad .
the British Council offices in St Petersburg and Ekaterinburg were closed , against all normal diplomatic practice .
I hope that it will have a future as great as its past .
( DE ) I , too , would like to congratulate the Commissioner on her election as Commissioner of the Year .
the right of asylum and immigration where similar types of civilisation are concerned is not the problem .
it has channelled over EUR 1 trillion to the banks and monopoly groups .
we congratulate you on the democratic election of your Head of State and Parliament and , on behalf of this Parliament , I hope that your meetings here are fruitful and that your visit to Strasbourg can actively contribute to bringing our two institutions closer together .
EC-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Agreement (
we cannot ignore it .
I am therefore pleased that my observation has borne fruit , and I would like to thank the rapporteur , Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou , for that .
we must ensure that consumers have a well-founded sense of security when shopping on the internal market and that , even when they end up in dispute , they can easily get help and redress .
therefore , I feel that this motion , which considers the Roma to be victims of marginalisation and calls for their privileged treatment on the basis of this presumed marginalisation , cannot be approved .
the same politicians want to teach us all about democracy , while they themselves have little respect for it and little respect for equal treatment under the law .
their educational prospects are hugely diminished because they are the water-bearers , if you like .
mediation may also be sought from the European Commission so that the path to European Union membership can finally be opened to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia .
the competence of tribunals of a strictly sporting nature is not at issue , but the restriction of these rights by certain sports organisations is unacceptable .
this report seeks to add an umpteenth : a European Migration Network , the supposed first stage before the creation of a new European observatory or agency .
could I just start with some facts .
these answers are not , for the most part , national , but European in the world in which we live .
the European Union cannot carry out more measures in more Member States with a smaller budget .
now the ' war on terror ' is being waged worldwide , for example in Afghanistan , where Iraqisation is increasing progressively , whilst at domestic level more and more fundamental and civil rights are being invalidated .
it may gravely impact on respiratory health and increase the incidence of vector-borne diseases .
others said : ' there are participative and organisational issues which will be difficult , if not insurmountable ' .
lastly , I would mention that the amendments that we have adopted follow on from a mid-term review of the programme and are aimed at more effective intervention and greater monitoring by the European Union .
it will subject them to the supervisory powers and ability to apply sanctions of the competent authorities of the Member States and of ESMA .
it is now proposed that it be extended for an additional period of 18 months , or until 1 January 2013 , with the aim of establishing a new set of technical measures in the context of the ongoing reform of the common fisheries policy , pending a Commission proposal during 2011 .
I think it very important to carry this through at European level , too .
in particular , Greece is taking measures leading to a reduction of its deficit this year by 4 % of GDP .
it is violence .
Europe wants to lead by example in the fight against global warming but Europe cannot accept unfair competition from countries that do not impose any ecological constraints on their own companies .
with this aim in mind , the European Commission has tabled a proposal to amend the regulation , concerning the dissemination to the general public of information on prescription-only medicinal products for human use .
I strongly get the feeling that the Commission is interpreting the EU 's competences in a very one-sided and , dare I say it , right-wing manner .
if a job is done in one country , the same pay should be received for the same work .
( RO ) I think that we need to say right from the start that it is consumers who are the main victims of the crisis we are debating today , and not farmers .
right now we are spending Union money on remedying this , but we would like to speed this process up in future , and this legislation would be a great help .
in the light of this , allow me to summarise the basic aims of the measures proposed by the Commission :
we must do everything in order to minimise our disadvantage .
the failure of last week 's Parliament-Council Conciliation Committee meeting has caused significant concern throughout the European Union .
I hope that the Council will be granted enough time , as in previous debates .
surely not what it has been doing to date , with the lack of solidarity on the part of the North for its partners in the South ?
you see , Mr President , these systems are known as ' lobbies ' in Europe , whereas in Italy we call them ' economic entities ' , ' the mafia ' , ' camorra ' and ' ndrangheta ' .
this gratuitous use of violence caused a progressive deterioration of the basic human rights of the Iranian people , who are continuously subjected to a punitive system contrary to any convention on the civil and political rights of man .
I therefore think we can put this into practice , as it is one of the aspects of the new stage that is now beginning in the European Union that is most exciting for the public .
I feel that Parliament must also rebuff this , especially when it comes from the representative of a party that is characterised by a hate and persecution that it bestows on the Roma minority in Hungary that is unparalleled across Europe .
composition of committees and delegations : see Minutes
we need better coordination of economic policies , not only budgetary policies .
furthermore , we need to focus particular attention on protecting the biometric data of those who have supplied it .
let me say that the ECB appreciates the recent statements by the US authorities , namely the Secretary of the US Treasury and the Chairman of the Federal Reserve , reiterating that a strong dollar vis-à-vis the other major convertible currencies is in the interests of the United States .
this report contains important and specific recommendations and proposals that should enable us to make a qualitative leap in European economic governance .
however , I too want to thank everyone who took part in this report and underline one very important point : what Parliament is offering today in relation to the legislative review of the electronic communications sector , as already stated by Catherine Trautmann , is wholly consistent and , we believe , will be very positive in terms of developing this market .
only 5 % of all digital books are available in Europeana and almost half of these come from France , followed by Germany ( 16 % ) , the Netherlands ( 8 % ) , and the United Kingdom ( 8 % ) .
I do not think that the schedule has at any point or in any way affected the reality of the codecision procedure , which is just as essential as unanimity , which was not compulsory , was essential for the Council and the Heads of State or Government .
I think we have managed to get a proposal put into practice in the shortest ever time in the European Union - only seven months from proposal to implementation .
questions which have not been answered for lack of time will be answered in writing ( see Annex ) .
on this note we wish to commemorate him in gratitude .
it is to many , but it is by no means the only system that exists , and it is quite legitimate for us , as a European Parliament , to look at the various systems that exist and choose one which is suitable for our circumstances .
this has certainly been subject to criticism , partly because of the aspects of disintegration which it has involved , and Europe should now counter this by promoting peace and rapprochement , encouraged by the very relationship with Europe .
all older people should have the right to have access to health care , whatever their age .
there is more to come as the Commission works towards meeting the Council of Transport Ministers ' expectations , as expressed in their conclusions of 4 May 2010 .
in my opinion , this increase is remarkable in itself and something we need to reflect on , namely the question of whether this is an appropriate instrument and whether this type of increase is reasonable .
I believe in institutional competition .
we have to state what construction projects we have right at the stage when the budget is being planned , and we should not engage in a transfer of appropriations in this way , which is contrary to budgetary discipline .
what is happening in Belarus must be of concern to all those who believe in democracy and the rule of law .
we will confirm our obligation to deliver the mid-term review and evaluation of how the IIA is working .
the amendment relates to the fact that the current directive from the year 2000 was adapted to conditions at the time and , in particular , to the vaccinations which were then available on the market .
this flexibility will allow individual countries to use the financial resources according to the needs of their farmers and rural inhabitants .
progress means having on the boards of publicly listed companies 30 % women by 2015 and 40 % by 2020 .
this is not done out of helplessness .
it will have a positive employment effect and is expected to offer significant new business opportunities for EU airlines as well as benefits to the travelling public .
all too many European wage earners work 60 or 65 hours a week while millions remain unemployed .
we know financial markets are global and very fluid .
unlike those who are raising the spectre of security and the fight against illegal immigration , we must defend here the need to develop a knowledge-based society in Europe , as elsewhere .
we therefore need to think about and use cars differently .
I am very pleased to be chairman of this committee .
instead of costs , we really should be talking about gains for the European Union .
protection of the Communities ' financial interests is a subject of capital importance which affects us directly as States and as citizens ; it must therefore be tackled with all due rigour and determination .
the EUR 3 million EDF-funded Civil Society Programme will help to create awareness : workshops are being organised to highlight the albino situation and a new sensitisation campaign is shortly to be implemented in the Mwanza region of Northern Tanzania .
this is a good result .
however , let us be clear .
half of the Member States in our Union have gone from dictatorships to democracy and freedom .
today , the agreement has been extended to the following areas : the fight against poverty , the effectiveness of development aid , the implementation of the MDGs , the fight for security , the fight against weapons of mass destruction and the fight against terrorism .
how are the EU funds for cancer prevention used ?
I have received seven motions for resolutionstabled in accordance with Rule 115 ( 5 ) of the Rules of Procedure .
we are talking about small projects and more flexible adjustment .
in 2020 , the target increases to 10 % for renewable transport fuels with a 40 % sub-target for the use of electric and hydrogen cars .
we have had , as colleagues have mentioned , our own experience of platform disasters in the North Sea .
this is exactly why we have increased energy security , are supporting the creation of jobs and introducing a microfinance facility .
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all of these issues illustrate how we as a political group - how all political groups - can add value to the Stockholm Programme and can create legislation which is meaningful .
section VI - European Economic and Social Committee
in the next few years , the effort to prevent nosocomial infections must lay greater emphasis on information for health professionals and for the population as a whole .
this is the wake-up call , and everyone , including us here in this Chamber , is affected by the fact that there is a crisis of confidence , a crisis of mistrust , vis-à-vis the national institutions , and indeed the supranational institutions .
in the declaration made by the Slovenian Presidency on 17 March on behalf of the European Union , the EU expressed its deep concern about the ongoing reports of unrest in Tibet and conveyed its deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims .
the European Union has no interest in further delaying the launch of FTA negotiations and is ready to start as soon as the decision on the accession package has been approved by the members of the WTO .
as regards the coordination of the Member States , I would say to Mrs McGuinness that I think it is important that the early warning team , this coordination team , should function correctly in the framework of the Economic and Financial Committee plus the representatives of the Member States and the various institutions concerned , whether this be the European Central Bank or the Eurogroup .
I therefore accept the principles proposed in this report , which are aimed at conducting trade in a manner consistent with the EU 's objectives , especially its foreign policy .
during the forthcoming Council , the Prime Minister of Ireland will inform us of the steps taken to incorporate the Treaty of Lisbon .
the majority in committee then delivered an opinion which accorded with a sensible approach to soil management , and this has been taken on board in the report .
another sector in which change is needed is freedom of the press and freedom of expression .
thank you for your attention .
there is , however , significant untapped trade potential .
in conclusion , mobility is a horizontal issue , and I therefore urge my colleagues , on the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection , and also on other committees , not to lose sight of the mobility dimension in their work in all areas .
the real solution lies in the creation of a European public air transport service .
we cannot and will not remain indifferent to a country like Pakistan .
I believe that Turkey 's eventual accession is of vital importance if the Union wishes to increase its political , strategic and economic influence at international level .
I will never ever forget , Commissioner , how you hugged and kissed the members of the Israeli Government during that terrible time .
they have supported the functioning of the money market , contributed to improving financing conditions and allowed for a better flow of credit to the real economy than could have been achieved through interest rate reductions alone .
the second point is that the Commission must get better at utilising the opportunity to suspend payments .
thank you .
the situation is not completely straightforward .
how refreshing it will be to hear someone who has the intelligence and honesty to doubt the ideological orthodoxies of ever-closer European Union and climate change .
all are involved in the whole procedure and doing their utmost to make it a good proposal .
we have to reserve appropriate mechanisms for Union action to permit the development and implementation of the policy at EU level .
I would also like to thank the shadow rapporteurs Mr Capoulas Santos , Mrs Reimers , Mr Gróbarczyk and Mrs Lövin for their contributions to all the discussions and the amendments .
( SK ) Despite the fact that time-wise the second half of the year is not the most ideal , during their Presidency of the Union , the French have proven that they are justifiably considered a leader and driving force of the Union .
I do not believe that problems of this type should exist when we have tragic situations to deal with .
migration policies will require a number of coordinated objectives at the level of the European Union as a whole .
since SOLVIT was established in 2002 , its workload has been growing exponentially year on year , so much so that in 2008 , there was an increase of 22 % of cases coming before it , leading to 1 000 cases , and with an 88 % resolution saving EUR 32.6 million .
we tread on eggshells , both politically and diplomatically .
competition must work .
for that reason , the language chosen for the command and operation at local level should be English , so that the people at least understand that these Europeans are obviously different from the ones they are accustomed to seeing .
yet I echo your sentiment that it is very important to get this funding off the ground quickly , as projects are ready and waiting , and can be started immediately .
this report also makes a number of forward-looking recommendations .
it is simply the upgrading of relations which has been blocked and suspended , not cooperation , which is still forging ahead .
I also wish to take this opportunity to congratulate President Lugo on the results obtained in Paraguay , as an example of these changing trends of which we ought to take due note .
in regard to solidarity with the weakest , there is nothing worse than pouring foodstuffs into car petrol tanks and watching people die from hunger .
it is imperative that this inhumane blockade be lifted , with Israel being ordered to end its aggression towards the Palestinian people and to fully respect and comply with international law and UN resolutions .
equally , it is important to have tax incentives for energy saving : there I share his point of view .
we seem to be closer to finding a solution to financing this enterprise since the European Commission proposed reviewing the 2007-2013 financial perspective , in particular , raising the limit for Heading 1A , whilst reducing it for other headings .
as to saying that it is aimed at silencing minorities , there is not one single amendment in that report , or indeed or in any rules report that I have produced , that has that effect .
such coherence also implies a serious response to the demand for innovation from the public , from the recipients of EU policies , and from Europe 's social groups and industries .
at this point in time , when we are preparing to reform the common agricultural policy after 2013 , today 's vote shows the direction that Parliament is intending to take .
what I mean is that , although I personally am in favour of project bonds and of many of the ideas that are circulating at the moment , I am very anxious to ensure that we do not rush into the solution of public-private partnerships without looking more closely at exactly how they are set up and what they will ultimately cost taxpayers and all those who are involved in them .
I do not agree , however , with paragraph 17 of the resolution , which attacks Russia for not giving gay and lesbian people the right to marry or adopt children , and neither do I agree with the condemnation of Russia for blocking the gay pride march .
the people of Egypt want and are entitled to participate in the political life of their country .
educating young consumers who are particularly active online is crucial .
therefore , reason and environmental concerns dictate that we should concentrate on the targets and leave the means to the Member States themselves .
we should not be casual with our values either .
I would like briefly to mention the preparation of the European Union 's position in view of the summits with the United States , Russia and Ukraine .
in writing . - ( NL ) I have voted in favour of the adoption of rules for the European citizens ' initiative .
moreover , as the Commissioner rightly said , it proposes flexible rules , which are ambitious in their objectives and not excessively prescriptive in their content .
China 's citizens have benefited from the presence of the UNFPA and the initiatives that it has brought to the nation .
however , is the European Union ready to commit 0.3 % of its GDP to its policy for halting biodiversity loss and to convince the OECD countries to do the same ?
indeed , I have proposed in Ireland that vat on labour for such work should be reduced from 13.5 % to 5 % to encourage retention of jobs and demand for these renovations .
allow me to recall Antoine de Saint-Exupéry , who said : ' all grown-ups were children once - although few of them remember it ' .
we are currently preparing - as announced previously in the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy - the reallocation of at least EUR 150 million of unused funds from the European Economic Recovery Plan for projects in the area of renewable energy and energy efficiency .
anyone who tries to expose this evil is immediately targeted .
all too often , there is not only confusion between victim and perpetrator , but there are governments - and sadly the Italian Government has not paid much attention to this matter - which put victims of the same type of crime on a different footing from each other .
the anniversary is an excellent opportunity to think about the present and the future of the European Union .
we are of the opinion that the recent elections in Turkey demonstrated the wish of the Turkish people for democracy , stability - both political and economic - and progress .
that is the fundamental and most important need .
we are talking about collective redress .
and it is preposterous for Israel to claim to be merely defending itself when ordinary Palestinians are seeking a life free of the suffering being inflicted on them .
I believe that , regardless of the positions held by the conflicting parties , dialogue is the only way to resolve any problems for the common good .
indeed , our country will soon receive substantial financial aid to deal with the consequences of storm Xynthia in February 2010 .
the report on how marketing and advertising affect equality between women and men is nowhere near being a good one , but opens up several problems , which Parliament would prefer to avoid .
we must learn lessons from the mistakes made so that they can be avoided in the future .
the agreed compromise was reached only because healthcare services were excluded from the scope of the Directive due to their specific nature .
however , I felt that specific elements were missing from the common position , but the rapporteur succeeds in rectifying this at second reading .
the maritime and terrestrial areas of this region are vulnerable and represent the essential components of the terrestrial ecosystem .
something I regard as a very important aspect of the resolution that will be put to the vote tomorrow - and this remark is also addressed to Mrs Figueiredo , who played a leading part in this success - is that we have managed to present joint proposals for new indicators with which progress towards achievement of the Lisbon objectives can be measured , particularly the objective of improving people 's quality of life .
lastly , there are the family carers , the largest single group of health workers who labour day and night without pay in the health sphere .
there is an evident mood of anxiety among the population , who fear that a policy of repression will be imposed .
it is important to talk about monitoring the problem , so I endorsed the Florenz report .
ladies and gentlemen , we are facing huge challenges : an economic crisis with higher unemployment , increased exclusion and social insecurity .
transparency in the political institutions is , in my view , crucial for an open dialogue with civil society .
in this regard , legal procedures should minimise the possibility of illicit organ selling .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I would very quickly like to thank Parliament , all the committees , the rapporteurs and the shadow rapporteurs for their work on this report .
( it ) Mr President , Mr Reinfeldt , ladies and gentlemen , there are a number of points in the conclusions arising out of the latest European Council on which we should be able to agree and which we could describe as encouraging for the immediate future .
one is technology and the other energy .
it is our common responsibility to deliver what was promised , what is expected by the beneficiaries , what has been built up , as a budget , on the revenue side , while fully respecting the fiscal sovereignty of Member States .
this chair would allow us to determine to what extent the blame lies with the Conservatives , driven by exaggerated US neoliberalism , and to what extent with the Social Democrats , who have not pressed firmly enough for social balance .
secondly , the supplementary budgets : from the beginning of 2010 , a first supplementary budget will be required in order to give all the institutions concerned the financial resources to exercise the new powers provided for by the Treaty of Lisbon .
I welcome the excellent work done by the rapporteur , Mr Karas , in preparing an invaluable own-initiative report on the reform of Basel II to strengthen the banking system in the light of the financial crisis .
such an example is provided by the case of the Swedish-Eritrean journalist Dawit Isaak , who has been imprisoned without trial since 2001 .
however , over time , they have entertained serious doubts about the benefits it might bring to their daily lives .
one-minute speeches on matters of political importance
we also know that Greece has introduced severe austerity measures to the point at which it has exhausted its citizens .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I am afraid we may have the same passion in this discussion on democracy in Turkey as we had on the wine reform during the second half of Arsenal v Manchester United , which is a snapshot of Europe in 2009 .
I share her concern for those who are most exposed to this scourge and who are experiencing the greatest difficulty in overcoming it .
nevertheless , the political debate in the United States has changed considerably , and it is moving in our direction .
these are the concerns that have been very well documented in the report and I can only support the significant new ideas that Parliament has put forward for monitoring and supporting the implementation of this strategy and the action plans that will follow from it .
yesterday , I was talking about the Hague Court here in Parliament .
China must follow the democratic rules of the game and respect human rights , instead of merely offering itself as a cheap alternative .
the Member States of origin must make the biggest contribution to the integration process , but an EU approach also has an extremely important role to play .
( DE ) Mr President , I would like to express my thanks to the people of Ireland and also to the CAEUC , which campaigned against the Treaty of Lisbon in Ireland .
that is why I am asking the Spanish Presidency to complete negotiations with the Member States on the common definitions of punishments and sanctions .
the rapporteur also suggests developing a ' red button ' which offers parents the opportunity to disable a game with content not appropriate for the child 's age or restrict minors ' access between certain hours .
in too many instances , road carriers apply the rule of using their own discretion , especially in the countries which have recently become Member States .
we can thus state , calmly and in full awareness of the facts , that the Belarusian democratic opposition can claim a moral victory in these elections .
in particular , can trade sanctions be taken against those two areas ?
investment in energy efficiency is one of the most important tools in this respect , and must be a priority objective of the Member State governments .
cohesion policy can make a significant contribution to this .
that being so , neither the ENP nor any other project directed at the Mediterranean countries should be allowed to obscure or replace the Barcelona objectives , based on the three pillars of partnership in political , economic and social development , which are the only way of promoting effective regional integration .
it should be noted that the Chinese authorities exercise strict control over local access permits for international teams .
the European Commission is therefore disregarding the precautionary principle and is disregarding the adoption and strengthening of the food safety and hygiene standards that already exist at EU level .
however , the honourable gentleman is completely right that the significant part of this is to make sure that people 's rights are not violated and that we ensure humanitarian support is given .
I deeply regret the fact that the Council is so closed in this process .
is this not then a fake ?
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consumers have a right to know what chemical substances were used in the manufacture of a product , where the raw materials come from and other relevant information .
Mr President , firstly I would like to say that I , too , am delighted that we have today voted through the budget funding for the dairy sector , which does show that the European Union listens and reacts - obviously within the limits of its budget .
the European Arrest Warrant ( EAW ) was brought in by a 2002 decision and has , to date , been shown to be an effective tool in the fight against cross-border crime , organised crime and terrorism , as was , in fact , stressed by the Commission in a recent report .
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the principles proposed in Pittsburgh should be the foundation for common world economic development .
in recent years , the Italian Government has tried everything possible to resolve the long-standing issue of the waste collection and disposal system .
the discharge procedure should be simplified and streamlined for the decentralised agencies , which are growing in number ( from 8 in 2000 , to 20 in 2006 ) and represent a total budget of around EUR 1 billion .
there is a major uncertainty there that continues to remain , but I understand that income support will always be available , in any event , and that does put my mind at ease .
if Mr Helmer had remained in plenary , I would have turned to him and said that he is a living proof of how European democracy works because European taxpayers pay his salary to be here to oppose , to be against the European Union and all the rest of us .
I think senior officials are linking with them well at the moment and we need to continue to do that .
I have received one motion for a resolution tabled in accordance with Rule 103 ( 2 ) of the Rules of Procedure .
in adopting the resolution of June 2008 , Parliament had already expressed strong opposition to authorising the marketing of ' chlorinated poultry ' on the European market , and it was followed in that respect by the ministers of agriculture at the Council of last December .
its renewal therefore confirms this success and we hope that it will continue to do so in the future .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Culture and Education . - ( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , representatives of the Commission and the Council , why are the Council 's cuts , which we have to implement every single year in different policy areas , so stupid , so wrong and so short-sighted ?
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finally , the last point , if the US Administration would propose to US Congress something equivalent to this to transfer in bulk bank data of American citizens to a foreign power we all know what the US Congress would say - don 't we ?
I believe that today 's debate should be a debate on how we can contribute to resolving problems .
the European Union should aim towards standards of clarity and efficacy within the regulatory framework .
there is no proposal for a European plan , no prospects for the automotive industry , and no will to coordinate national policies .
carrying out the death penalty by stoning is uncivilised , inhumane , and completely unacceptable to any democracy .
moreover , in my view it is essential that all Member States ratify the Council of Europe 's Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism .
the next important matter is that I cannot possibly justify to the public the fact that every three weeks we change our place of work .
our capacity to be an attractive environment for knowledge and innovation is under question .
nevertheless , the new Lisbon Treaty - and this is an interesting point - provides for new initiatives in connection with justice , freedom and security .
in reality , it is the world 's agriculture which must undergo root-and-branch structural reform .
already , Mr President , your initial declarations have encouraged me greatly : ' yes , we are going to change ' , you say .
all levels of public authority must join forces with the social partners , civil society organisations and individual citizens .
unfortunately , at present , both motherhood and work in the home , caring for children and elderly or disabled people , are completely denigrated .
we will then have to present a common European response , of which the Spanish government will be part , whilst respecting the international legal framework and assessing , case by case , the legal situation of every citizen , every detainee - his origin , his detention and his situation .
such cooperation can , of course , be deepened further , but it is questionable what value there is , for example , in having a separate EU reaction force .
without wanting to neglect the issues of the future , it is a question of simple humanity to concern ourselves with people who are suffering from hunger today .
only when we speak to the United States , China , etc. with a strong voice will we be able to assert the interests of our citizens .
the vast majority of rules come from no more than some 42 directives .
subject : outcome of the EU-Brazil summit
it is a young policy and one has to give it a chance .
these PSCs are aimed at providing the required information and creating an opportunity to carry out all procedures by electronic means and not only in the national language .
many of the speakers today have said that these are ambitious targets , from the initial ones for 2012 to the final ones for 2020 , and that it was a wise decision to choose this single timeframe , which also applies to other reports that we will be adopting over the next few days .
since the early 2000s , several epidemic waves of disease have occurred in many Member States , including in central and northern Europe , causing significant losses in terms of morbidity , mortality and disruption of trade in live animals .
we need to continue to work to generate more solidarity and maintain the social value desired by everyone who has been involved in creating and launching this directive .
the result of the study was that the particulates discharged from these engines are predominantly hydrocarbons .
concerns of European citizens and business with the functioning of the Single Market (
by the end of the Partnership , the objective is for all Member States to have integrated cancer plans .
the Commission 's autumn forecasts predicted a significant downturn in growth in the European Union for next year .
so it is not up to the Commission to say whether or not Member States should have nuclear energy .
but we in UKIP were on to this from the start .
consumers want to buy high-quality food that is produced as close to home as possible .
we can only hope that all parties will permanently adhere to the agreement made at the Goma Conference and that the madness which has already gripped North Kivu for too long can come to an end .
I deem it imperative that the power plants entitled to free quotas be designated by the European Commission according to the principle of regional balance .
( DE ) Mr President , Mr Kohlíček , it could be that I have misunderstood you .
like many politicians he came from this House .
there was a high level of participation .
as regards the second question , I would like to say that it is one of principle , which should of course be resolved pursuant to international law and the United Nations Charter .
it will therefore take good politics , what we make together as institutions , to determine whether we currently have solutions to go beyond today 's atomic age into the future or whether we must carry on taking these tools into account in the long term to enable the further development we all need .
however , this partnership must be based on a strong position for Parliament and for the Commission .
thirdly , European added value for innovation means a more innovative Europe .
will Mr Barroso make public the legal opinion he then asked from his legal adviser , Mr Carlos Blanco de Morais , in order to impose special navigation rules for ships approaching US military vessels carrying prisoners through Portuguese waters ?
there is also no mediation solution , for example , in the form of ex-post transparency .
I have one other point in relation to competition .
Mr President , the eurozone imposes a single currency value and standardised interest rates on 17 different economies .
these countries are making contributions to the Galileo programme in terms of system definition , research and industrial cooperation .
there have been no miracles , however ; responsibility has simply been assumed for a drastic situation that has been consolidated over 15 years of ineffective or non-existent action .
this is a good thing .
many of the issues which concern us in other areas of the world , such as wage , social and environmental dumping , are not problems in the transatlantic relationship .
just as energy policy and the generation of energy is a matter for the Member States in Europe , we must also concede that it should be the Canadians and Canadian democracy that decide how energy is produced there and what environmental impact is ultimately to be taken into account .
the Member States and the European Union have applied the open coordination method for exchanging experiences between Member States on this issue .
a new Multiannual Financial Framework ( MFF ) for a competitive , sustainable and inclusive Europe ( debate )
it is therefore essential for the Commission to submit to Parliament the initial report on the results obtained in the first six months of the pilot project that began on 15 April of this year , and involved 15 Member States .
producer organisations account today for 40 % of the total output of fruit and vegetables .
at the time , however , your disapproval was so much more discreet - when it existed !
this will only happen , however , when the Commission provides guarantees that the emission trading system will not hamper the replacement of existing power stations , e.g. coal-fired power stations , by more modern systems with lower CO2 emissions .
Member States are still responsible for controlling their respective borders , but only a general agreement and a common policy will allow us to tackle the fundamental challenges of managing borders and migratory flows .
the head of unit in the interpretation service is responsible not only for administrative tasks but also for overseeing the transposition of European Union terminology into Hungarian .
unfortunately , we have witnessed what is almost a type of tourism on the part of various officials who have visited various countries and have often not even managed to speak to one another because there were no interpreters .
we are pleased about the recognition of the need for the environment agreement secretariats to acquire observer status at the World Trade Organisation , which is something we tried to achieve for the current round of trade negotiations .
countries with high rates of taxation are ready to freeze their current high rates in the interests of convergence , while low-rate countries are willing to accept some increase relative to the legislation currently in force in relation to diesel .
I voted in favour as I believe that Taiwan should be transferred to the positive list for granting visa exemption .
the vote will take place on Wednesday .
after the electoral campaign , I shall bring them to his attention .
and the window is open .
in writing . - While this report points to a rather less awful CFP than the monstrosity we have now , it nevertheless recommends leaving fisheries under the predatory control of the undemocratic and anti-democratic ' European Union ' , and , for this reason , cannot be endorsed by UKIP .
therefore we need the legal basis for a new scheme and I hope that the honourable Members will be satisfied when they see what we are considering as a way to continue or even increase the economic basis for such a scheme .
I therefore call upon the European Trade Union Confederation to reconsider their position and sit down at the negotiating table in order to examine this draft directive , along with employers ' representatives .
more than anything else , early intervention is crucial .
in writing . -- ( IT ) These days , I would expect that a report into violence against women would highlight the absolute emergency represented by the increasing levels of violence against women in the Muslim communities of Europe .
Mr President , Minister , Commissioner , we clearly appreciate all the efforts that you have mentioned and which have , in fact , already gone quite far , but we want more .
in writing . - Youth on the Move is a fantastic initiative , and I strongly support the group in giving it my full support .
secondly , I would like to say that , as we know , the best is the greatest enemy of the good .
now back to report we are discussing today .
our proposal clarifies the situation and would oblige Member States to apply the required labelling rules .
unfortunately , that was not the case and now he has suffered the same fate as his predecessor .
but it is a more complex debate , as we have heard from our eastern European colleagues .
Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , Latvia 's liberal law has allowed anyone to testify to their loyalty to the Latvian state and Western democratic values .
we have to look at the energy wasted in existing buildings and not just at new buildings , because 75 % of the buildings which exist today will still be standing in 2050 .
- The next item is a brief presentation of the report by Mrs Madeira on behalf of the Committee on Regional Development , on the regional development aspects of the impact of tourism in coastal regions .
I firmly believe that water is one of humanity 's common resources and that it should be regarded as a fundamental and universal right .
increased consistency between the EU 's international trade , budgetary , climate change and development policies is also necessary .
I welcome this decision .
if I , Martin Schulz , can buy Mr Daul 's fire insurance policy and if I receive the insurance payment instead of him when his house burns down , then I simply need someone , for example Mr Cohn-Bendit , who is prepared to set light to the house and I am a made man .
regarding this report , I was extremely pleased that the rapporteur embraced the views of people from the various groups and that we reached unanimity .
the last time we met in this Chamber as an Assembly , speaker after speaker spoke about respecting the Irish vote , ' but ... ' .
against the current backdrop of economic , financial and social crisis , it was essential for the budget of the European Union for 2010 to place a special emphasis on this situation and for it to become an effective tool to overcome the crisis .
what is the situation going to be when increased discharges from the incineration plant will be allowed into the atmosphere ?
so , yes to greater oversight of financial markets and players , but also yes to greater consumer choice and greater consumer redress .
( PL ) Mr President , public consultations on the European Citizens ' Initiative have just ended , and it turns out that the consultations attracted only 323 respondents .
I believe that an organisation-to-organisation relationship must be adopted .
as Europeans we have a significant responsibility in this area : we were in the majority in the Contact Group , the UN Special Envoy and his team were Europeans , and it was the European Council which , in December , hastily decided to send a mission to Kosovo without legal basis .
the accounts have not been signed off for 15 years , and all the time our constituents have been asking us why we are not spending their money better .
what the European Union is going through now , a search for its form and the purpose of its existence , is something we know very well from our own history .
in writing . - The US financial system has been jolted in the last few days as Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy and Merrill Lynch , fearing a similar-type collapse , agreed to be taken over by the Bank of America .
almost 40 % of the European Union 's gross domestic product and 40 % of its population are concentrated in coastal regions .
the present requirements necessitate a 20 % industry contribution to funding when the EU provides a maximum of 50 % of the funding .
in addition , the directive will not make a significant contribution in the area of subsidiarity in health care but adopting the policy may be delayed , perhaps for years .
the next item is the joint debate on the following reports :
therefore , we have also declared our faith in four directives .
however , it should also be remembered that the European Union is a separate entity , and cooperation with the OSCE should not make us subject to decisions made by the OSCE , whose membership , as you know , is not restricted to European countries .
and the sanctions scheme we proposed must be such that these can serve as effective punitive measures and , therefore , be dissuasive by their very nature .
most statistics show that the number of cases in the EU remains lower than in our main trading partners .
it must also take due account of the studies and investigations carried out by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work and by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions .
a good friend said to me recently that she had been in the United States and she had been surprised by the lack of knowledge regarding the new institutions and the new procedures created by the Treaty of Lisbon .
in writing . - Dossiers that analyse the effectiveness with which EU legislation has been transposed within Member States are of crucial importance .
we need to have some reality check here on those who suggest wild reforms .
the EU has confirmed the importance of the Baltic-Adriatic Corridor by giving priority status to the northern arm from Gdańsk to the Czech Republic and declaring its commitment to the Brenner Base Tunnel project .
the customs administrations in 27 Member States have to work as a single administration .
we must take note that the agreement is based on the principles of mutual benefit , promotes participation in cooperation activities , such as ' coordinated calls for joint project proposals and access to each other 's programmes and activities ' .
in this society of ours in which the individual is often regarded as a mere production factor , too little emphasis is placed on the human aspect of this problem .
I also believe that the Council will adopt our compromise version , including my proposals regarding an obligation to indicate the interoperability of computer equipment and electronics , the readability of contractual terms , the rights of consumers in organised sales tours and the option for Member States to extend consumer rights , including guarantees , to voluntary organisations and small businesses .
although I feel that some of you are a little pessimistic about the progress that has been made , I want to approach this from a more positive side .
where do the reasons for this lie ?
farm prices cannot therefore be the cause of high food prices !
this situation is frequently associated with dysfunctional families ; families in the most marginal social and economic strata .
I should like to finish by saying that addressing alcoholic-related harm is a difficult challenge , precisely because we have to deal with one particular aspect , the excessive consumption and not the product itself .
I believe that through the Commission , the work carried out by Parliament and with the Council , we really are doing a good job for all our citizens .
( LT ) I would also like to check something .
the main objective of the framework is to limit the fallout of the crisis by facilitating companies ' access to finance .
the European Economic Recovery Plan is especially important because of its two key elements : firstly , short-term fiscal stimulus measures aimed at boosting demand , protecting jobs and restoring consumer confidence and secondly , smart investments to boost economic growth .
is the Commission aware of the pollution problem from scooters ?
now , some months having passed since the new Treaty entered into force , here they are , once again , trying to change things quickly without any kind of public debate , for fear of the reactions of citizens of the various Member States of the European Union , in particular , those which are suffering the consequences of increasingly neoliberal policies .
in writing . - I voted for this resolution , which challenges an authorised claim about baby food .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , it is essential for Europe to ensure a fair balance between the need to support a vital sector , in other words , the agriculture of Member States , and the need to strengthen Europe 's international trade policy .
hence the reason why I think we should be more ambitious .
this report contains a proposal in paragraph 8 that seems to me to be well-intentioned overall , but it includes a suggestion to ban fishing activity over seamounts , which would be impracticable in the Azores , since almost all deep-sea fishing is over seamounts .
I believe that delivers a very bad signal to the many countries around the world which persist in retaining the death penalty , some of which execute children and people with mental disabilities .
let me make three brief points in response .
I therefore call on the Commission to develop more rapid instruments that make it possible to face up to the crisis situations within each individual Common Market Organisation speedily .
not only does an increase in food prices threaten the lowest income groups , but it also reveals much deeper and more serious problems that will pose a major threat in the future .
I would like to see a Europe in which the citizens regard themselves not just as observers or as the object of the European Community , but as its subject .
we need not just criticism but also cooperation .
we need to talk ever more loudly about the status of human rights defenders and the environment in which they work and also about economic , social and ecological human rights .
it will need support from a range of partner organisations if it is going to work .
in this perspective , Parliament will staunchly oppose , as it has always done , any attempt to renationalise the policy .
existing initiatives , such as the Strategic Energy Technology Plan , the Lifelong Learning Programme and the Energy Efficiency Action Plan , have already been adopted , but you in the Council failed to bring the money to the table .
( SK ) Madam President , I would like to begin by expressing my appreciation for the way that the European Commission , in launching a transparent review of all 143 nuclear power plants in the European Union , has acted swiftly to assuage Europeans ' concerns that the large number of nuclear power plants throughout Europe could be a risk to them .
we are analysing the feedback we gathered from the recent online public consultation .
the dominant debate has shown that there is hunger for more Europe in foreign policy and that more pooling of European political and material capital is needed .
because it is a recommendation , it is not binding on the Member States .
in 2009 , there definitely was no progress in terms of respect for fundamental rights .
anti-dumping is a good servant but a bad master .
the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism for the justice system does not feature among the criteria for joining the Schengen area and cannot be referred to in connection with Romania and Bulgaria joining the area .
the principle of proportionality and the administrative burdens carried by farmers already must be taken into account in any new legislation .
such a step would prevent Hungarian producers from increasing their production .
what we need is a well-coordinated system of organ donation and transplantation .
Europe must take a decisive and united stance at the negotiations if it wants to achieve real results .
Mr President , we raised several warnings during the debate on trade agreements on agricultural produce between Morocco and other Mediterranean countries , such as Egypt and Israel .
if you are addressed in person , you have the opportunity to respond briefly .
I therefore suggest that these amendments be rejected , because they add nothing , and they would spoil a text that is clear and properly worded .
and the list continues : torture , mistreatment , non-existent rights of defence , lack of a judgment , and so on .
the low level of funds committed in this instance mitigates the impact of this problem , but in future we would of course need to be able to give our opinion before such agreements are signed .
finally , I want to express my appreciation and gratitude to the Committee on Budget 's secretariat and the administrators responsible for the budget in my own group and the other political groups for the enormous amount of work they have done .
this is because we believe , in fact , that the right to privacy of search engine users should also be duly taken into account .
I cordially congratulate Mr Böge and Mr Virrankoski on their very good reports .
will the Europe 2020 Strategy be put into practice , or will it go the way of the Lisbon Strategy - good ideas that are buried in an office drawer ?
there is a growing emphasis on the need to establish and consolidate a shared European culture and identity .
with a clear result , it would not be necessary to make adjustments later on .
that is why I voted for Amendments 10 and 11 and for paragraph 25 .
I am going to focus on two reports , given their importance .
quite the contrary .
I am , however , concerned at the proposal to ensure a gender balance in evaluation and recruitment committees .
however , the EU has very few raw materials and is therefore forced to import in bulk .
the current crisis is not only giving us the challenge of reversing the fall in demand , but also an opportunity to encourage the consumption and promotion of dairy products .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( SK ) Although the present turbulent domestic politics in Ukraine have weakened the country 's negotiating position , they must be seen as part of a democratic process .
the text of this review before us simply provides a legal basis for the current practice of extrapolation in the interests of veterinary medicines availability and animal welfare .
we have seen much evidence of solidarity when member countries helped other member countries .
in the wider context , we have received written assurances that this report will not set a precedent for the future use of delegated powers .
thank you very much .
communication of Council common positions : see Minutes
this package also , incidentally , regulates the rating agencies , because - in relation to one of the suggestions or questions put forward by Members - the rating agencies are going to be subject to supervision by the European authority .
I am therefore voting for this report on an agreement whose established goals are to prevent , deter and eliminate illegal fishing by applying effective measures in the port state and , in this way , to enable long-term conservation , and the rational and sustainable exploitation of marine ecosystems .
I would like to thank the Committee on Legal Affairs for the support that it gave me and to thank the rapporteur , Mrs Lefrançois and say that in conducting this task she has been open to understanding and dialogue in order to seek a consensus , which on this matter is absolutely essential .
I therefore voted in favour of collaboration with them .
on the other hand , there is a lack of clear rules on the obligations of service providers .
for example , Member States must enforce the rule stipulating that if immigrants cannot demonstrate their ability to support their family they must be repatriated after three months .
I firmly request the Hungarian Government to not create the nationalist impression that the criticism is directed against Hungary .
it will be no different with this agreement .
naturally , stakeholder groups have an important role to play in this project , and we need their support .
so there are some measures that we can take at European level , Community level , to complement the action of our Member States regarding the problem of youth unemployment .
in your opinion , can we speak of the low effectiveness of the Leonardo da Vinci programme in the area of education and vocational training ?
it must be made clear to the Turks that they are our friends and partners in many areas but that accession to the EU is just not possible .
for these reasons , it is essential to take measures in good time and at Community level .
finally , I urge the European Union to collaborate closely with the African Union on a resolution of this political crisis .
one of my reasons for giving this example is to say that we cannot close the door on Parliament 's need for democratic monitoring , but it is perhaps the manner and time frames of this strict compulsory review procedure that pose problems for us .
nor would it make sense to call for trade defence instruments in relation to China , whilst simultaneously supporting the setting up of a Euro-Mediterranean free trade area .
if we fail to do so , we will be faced with competition over which country gets more seats and which fewer .
combating racism and xenophobia ( vote )
if we are to respond to these changes in a sustainable way , based on human rights , we will need a comprehensive outlook and policy .
therefore , until a decision is formally taken , there is no room for legal action .
change is always difficult but the agriculture sector must adapt to market realities .
the Commission has never used this exception , but it is important that we are very clear .
a covenant is not a contract .
if the tax record system and the exchange of information are working well , I believe that traffic for personal use by private individuals will not cause great harm .
the next item is the report by Mrs De Keyser , on behalf of the Committee on Development , on health care systems in sub-Saharan Africa and global health .
I therefore genuinely call upon you , please , to act wisely .
the EU should therefore proceed without further delay to include energy efficiency in all its sectoral policies , with clear proposals and support measures , and to increase Community aid in this direction .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the European Commission is closely monitoring developments in the situation faced by Mrs Shirin Ebadi and it regards as unacceptable the threats made to her and her colleagues following the search carried out at their office in Tehran on 29 December .
last year , we also tabled two legislative proposals : one in March , a directive on child online exploitation , was adopted by the Commission and I know it is now being negotiated , and also a proposal for directives on attacks against information cybersystems . that was last September ; it is also being negotiated between you and the Council , and I know that a lot of progress has been made .
there are two things that we should not forget .
we very much welcome the way in which you and your President have embraced this particular initiative , and offer you our full support .
I am confident that , based on the various contributions received , the Commission will be in a position to find support from the Member States to complete this reform .
Mr Barroso does not want to improve the integrated guidelines .
your report will certainly make an important contribution to our internal discussions and I can assure you that we will be able to consider many of the proposals it contains .
thank you very much , Madam President .
it is illegal for Irish trade unions to act against this Court judgment except in relation to the minimum wage .
Mr President , Chernobyl has been a point of reference for European policy for the 25 years since the tragic disaster .
furthermore , we know that a third of the population of Zimbabwe are already surviving only thanks to international aid .
in writing . - ( GA ) I don 't agree with everything written in Gisela Kallenbach 's Report , but despite that , I welcome it and voted for it .
the European Parliament is ready for this , the Commission supports it and so does Parliament , and Africa must be invited to use these offers in the interests of stabilising North Africa and also in the interests of the security of EU citizens .
the report also rightly notes that the European Union is the world 's leading maritime power and that its outermost regions ensure that it has the world 's largest exclusive economic zone .
I am also glad to see that there are penalties . I am pleased that we have been able to find common ground regarding penalties which are the same as those applied to passenger vehicles .
and why is that ?
they are a minority who are entitled to full rights .
fortunately , thanks to a series of trialogues in which I participated as shadow rapporteur , a more than satisfactory compromise has been reached , with a commitment to conduct an audit and a possible review within three years .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
as a concrete example , by clarifying the rules on collectively managed copyrights , we can simplify the current framework conditions , encourage further cross-border activity and release important job-creating potential - not least in the promising digital sector .
Europe 's voters are interested less in constitutional questions than in practical solutions to the problems they face , and I urge you at your summit to recognise these problems .
the Commission has agreed with Serbia to begin dialogue on the liberalisation of visas after the entry into force of these agreements .
consequently , the provisions laid down in Directive 2003 / 37 / EC relating to agricultural and forestry tractors , their trailers and interchangeable towed machinery , together with their systems , components and separate technical units , apply to this directive .
I agree that we have to invest in that card .
these are the issues we need to address , and we need to address them now .
you have it also with the reserves that still exist ; three on the part of the European Union , three on the part of the United States .
the adoption of a regulation of the European Union would also guarantee application of the common standards in respect to the production and exploitation of hydrogen-driven vehicles manufactured in third countries - the United States , the Asian Economic Community - and would help defend the interests of Europe .
today I am encouraged by the determination of Member States to work together , as demonstrated by the statement of the 27 leaders of the Member States and myself on Monday , the Eurogroup and the Ecofin meetings .
it is these citizens and their well-being that should be the main focus of democratisation , political pluralism , and respect for human rights and for religious , cultural and ethnic diversity in both South and North Sudan .
it is very much up to the Presidents as to how they want to monitor this , but we are monitoring this situation on an hourly basis .
the specific and practical form of the strategy will also be hugely influenced by the action plan being drawn up for achieving a low carbon economy by 2050 , which is due to be published at the beginning of next year .
I met victims in a country where rape is seen as an instrument of war , where armed groups continue to practice mass rapes and other systematic crimes against civil society , especially against women , old people and children .
without the Treaty of Lisbon we are left with the Treaty of Nice and with fewer social rights in Europe .
is the Commission going to renege and make his eggs uncompetitive ?
this is why the Commission must have a powerful voice .
what is being considered in the regulation is the future role of the European Parliament in trade policy once the Lisbon Treaty has been adopted , as I hope it will be .
we should be careful .
the next item is the vote .
you have acted correctly , but if you had acted earlier , it would have been possible to prevent many of the things from happening which now need to be resolved .
I would like to welcome very warmly the President of the European Council , the French President , Nicolas Sarkozy .
in spite of this , we essentially defend the EU 's budget , even though we are now keeping to very low levels , particularly when it comes to new policy commitments for next year , where Parliament , too , is keeping its increase below a rate of 1 % .
as the institutional framework does not allow this , we must take advantage of every possibility to reinforce Eurojust , on the basis of established law and without delay .
it is also needed in medical training so that the use of violence can be better recognised .
in view of the circumstances , it should be applied with prudence , in order to avoid U-turns , and it should be accompanied by a more ambitious revision , in accordance with international developments .
( DE ) Mr President , I will be brief .
the agreements reached in Kyoto , Bali , etc. have proved ineffective : their primary objective is not environmental protection , but the protection of capital and its profits .
the government is drawing up a coherent action plan to redress the situation , and has informed the Commission that it intends to seek assistance from available EU programmes .
finally , I should like to thank Mrs Wortmann-Kool , a colleague from my group , for her exemplary work whilst negotiating and concluding this package .
this was done against the will of many nations .
today 's report will make it possible to implement a criminal-law instrument in the form of a European Union directive to combat gender-based violence .
2 .
the incorrect application of the rules on public procurement is , in fact , one of the most frequent causes of errors in the payment of the European Structural Funds .
your Majesty , we want close cooperation with your country and you are one of the very few who have visited the European Parliament more than once .
we have been asked to do that as soon as possible , and will do so .
that means more people-friendly or citizen-friendly , and that is something which we really need to share , maybe more than in the past .
this is a very sensitive area of national legislation , which has developed over hundreds of years .
( it ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , your words are in line with what we wanted to hear .
( HU ) Ladies and gentlemen , the shortcomings of European immigration policy and the difficulties experienced so far surrounding joint action have now succeeded in undermining support within society for shared values such as the free movement of citizens within the European Union .
the energy exploitation of countries - suppliers ; 7 .
it has absolutely shown the need for some forum where those two groups can come together and discuss this matter .
at the same time , we cannot forget that checks will be even more stringent at the external borders of the Schengen zone .
your words expressed that you and your country represent democracy and freedom ; you work against violence , against terror , against dictatorship .
it is generally possible to welcome any agreement which improves cooperation with states neighbouring the European Union .
they are dealing with difficulties in providing the co-financing required for their participation in the research framework programme .
now , only books either registered with the US Copyright Office or published in the United Kingdom , Australia or Canada by 5 January 2009 are covered by the settlement .
however , the foundation stone that is the essential prerequisite for the introduction of the euro , namely the Stability Pact , clearly only exists on paper .
our very debate tonight allows for important clarifications to be made .
there is a large enough percentage of the EU population who consider themselves Eurosceptic for it to be deemed inappropriate that Brussels be at the helm of education and training .
it is evident that China is pursuing its economic , diplomatic and strategic interests in Africa .
does this not seem a bad symptom ?
the crisis , presented as financial , has finally exposed the limits of economic growth , as understood by capitalism , namely the availability of fertile land for the production of food and other organic raw materials , and geological reserves for the extraction of mineral raw materials and energy to run industries .
that is why I propose that the European Union , in cooperation with the Member States and the regions , should establish a consistent sustainable reconstruction and development plan that takes account of the geography , environment , biodiversity and activities along the coastline .
- Before the final vote :
unfortunately , nothing has changed since that time and this is crucially important for my electorate who travel to Russia for private visits .
this whole area of oceans is extremely complex , but our life , the way we live , also influences the ecosystems there .
parents may be vaguely aware of the fact that they can activate filters in Internet browsers , but this demands a modicum of knowledge of browser software , as well as a conscious decision to activate the system .
let us not forget that , on the one hand , we want to ensure consumer confidence - as the Commissioner highlighted in her speech - and for consumers to feel that they have a well-developed set of rights that are really meaningful .
we also have a common line among the committees : the rapporteurs in the Committee on International Trade and the Committee on Foreign Affairs - respectively responsible for instruments for cooperation with industrialised countries and instruments for human rights and democracy - have adopted the very same approach as I have .
in the Schaldemose report I was responsible for the EPP line and I share her view .
how do we convince the Member States that a common resettlement policy is better ?
this report proposes helping the Commission to find the best instruments for measuring the political failures of leadership for which governments might be responsible .
with this resolution , Parliament is quite rightly urging the Malaysian authorities to put an end to corporal punishment and torture immediately , both in its legal system and in practice .
fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (
everyone can read the screen .
in some countries there is a preponderance of heavy primary industry with huge long-range investments , whereas in others industry is dominated by service businesses and light engineering .
I think that in the field of foreign policy , particularly in two areas , the Swedish Presidency and the last six months cannot be accounted successful .
for my part , I will not support a measure of which the only consequence would be to penalise the European financial sector over our competitors .
in writing . - ( PL ) In recent years , many new financial products have appeared on the market .
it is also hard to accept a method of calculation , which apparently originates with the Commission , which does not include administrative expenditure in the Union 's expenditure in this context .
I would also like to underscore the profound need for additional investment , both in research into nuclear power and in other important research aimed at anticipating and combating accidents and their adverse effects in the future .
this is now so serious that all measures need to be taken to cut this sort of crime .
Mr President , I believe we have all been following with approval and admiration the efforts of the Tibetan people to win the right to run their own country .
only 35 % of the European Union citizens are over 50 years old and only 16 % of the European Union population is under 14 years old .
Mr President , I would also like to express my deepest sympathy - my own and that of my Group - and my solidarity with the affected regions , while regretting the serious economic consequences of these disasters and offering in particular our condolences to the families of the victims .
I belong to a generation which experienced food rationing .
Mrs Niebler is smiling because she knows what I am talking about .
at the same time , I do not take sides .
we should not , however , confuse patient mobility with the medical tourism that has developed over recent years .
most importantly , it will remove nationality restrictions in bilateral air services agreements between EU Member States and Vietnam .
having had the opportunity to meet with Mwai Kibaki , the incoming President , we all felt , alongside the conviction of the fairness of his election , that Kenya 's future looked brighter with a new era of more efficiency and less corruption beckoning .
I welcome this vote , as it reaffirms Parliament 's commitment to the Agency , which plays a crucial role in monitoring and supervising Europe 's seas .
when using the facilities of the Seventh Framework Programme , we must be sufficiently transparent not to invest resources only for research into diseases which afflict the European population .
as regards Mr Désir 's report on corporate social responsibility , I note the statement that ' Commission initiatives should focus on supporting rather than regulating CSR activities ' .
Mr President , I agree with my colleagues on this matter .
wholesale automatic exchange , which forms the basis of the Alvarez and Dominici reports , is the scanner that strips you at every turn ; it is the SWIFT agreement on an even larger scale .
so too with Member States : the opportunities to travel , to study .
we have designed the right strategies to get us through this crisis .
- Madam President , there are two brief points I wish to make .
all of this has taken place without losing any of the growing rigour and professionalism of the Court of Auditors which , moreover , has been the first to apply to itself all the principles stated by Mr da Silva Caldeira .
so even there , Commission , you must look before you leap .
I therefore voted in favour .
it cannot , however , embrace only representatives of the highest authorities , as is the case with Belarus , for example ; it must also take in individuals from the middle level of the apparatus of repression and violation of human rights .
Mr President , I understand Mr Duff 's point and , as ever , the theory is right but the practice is not .
new measures need to be implemented in the fisheries sector , bearing in mind , in particular , that European fishermen are facing strong global competition .
Mr President , for the last two decades , the European Union has been successful in many areas , from three ambitious enlargements to the introduction of the common currency , the euro .
we would stress that such attacks can only increase the instability of the East Timorese political situation , created by the events of 2006 and 2007 and maintained by the political process resulting from the recent legislative elections in that country .
of course , the issue of the monopoly could have been combined with the phasing out of the common agricultural policy and the new regulations which will apply from 2013 .
the gradual opening up of the EU 's programmes and agencies to the countries belonging to the European Neighbourhood Policy will encourage these countries in their efforts to carry out reform and modernisation .
they should themselves take care of SMEs , but to a large extent they are not doing so . here , I agree with what Mrs Herczog said .
well we know how fragile the banking system is , and so I should like to ask you to look at this issue closely and I invite us collectively to learn the lessons of the past , in other words to define the public expenditure that is useful for our long-term objectives in a coordinated manner , otherwise that public expenditure will be pointless .
did you penalise them for doing that ?
to promise to pay a reasonable proportion , as you have done up to now , is not acceptable .
I can imagine what a useful role the Foundation could play there .
in writing . - ( PT ) Importantly , the rapporteur has recognised that , pursuant to the Court of Justice judgment of 23 October 2007 in Case C-440 / 05 , criminal law and the rules of criminal procedure do not fall within the Community competence and therefore the type and level of the criminal penalties to be applied cannot be determined .
the complete lack of social sensitivity of these monetary policies , with high interest rates and an over-valued euro , is exacerbating social and territorial inequalities , contributing to an increase in poverty and creating more and more problems for micro and small companies , especially in the countries with the weakest economies .
I have therefore tabled an amendment on behalf of the PPE Group that makes it possible to achieve such a financial equilibrium .
the EDF should also contribute to that .
rapporteur . - ( CS ) Let me please try to summarise why the maritime package should be discussed as a single entity and not as a set of reports from which the Council and the Commission can pick and choose , push some forward , set some aside and wait for the next presidency or the one after that .
now it is the Council that is going to decide whether Europe is truly getting involved in combating violence and defending fundamental rights .
the best possible result could therefore be achieved if notification concerned only those projects that have obtained the necessary authorisations and permits or those for which a final investment decision has been taken .
there are no questions .
I must also refer to the guarantee issue : I do not understand why the guarantee being granted in this way is not remunerated .
the Czech Republic did not sign up to the mechanism for enhanced cooperation in the area of compatibility of the rules applicable concerning conflict of laws .
( HU ) Mr President , I apologise that I did not sign up , I did not know .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
I shall not have used up all my allotted time , but that is the essential message for this House .
this reason alone would suffice for us to defend the continuation of this multilingualism in the functioning of the Community institutions .
obviously I was not particularly pleased with the comments made by my fellow Commissioner , Mr McCreevy .
consequently , I support Mr Draghi 's candidacy .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I voted in favour of Mr Guerreiro 's report on the CFP ( common fisheries policy ) and the ecosystem approach to fisheries management .
I am therefore prepared to support this part of the proposal for a new EU constitution specifically relating to the distribution of seats .
the vast majority wants freedom ; they want to maintain their privacy , to have access to culture without fear or anxiety , to retain the neutrality of the Internet ; they do not want screening or discrimination when it comes to data transmission .
I would remind you that food prices are also increasing within the European Union and it is abundantly clear that the constant increases are due to rising energy prices which in turn relate directly to the mounting profits of multinational energy firms .
on this basis , I believe that not only can we develop a policy on legal migration that deals with the granting of the Blue Card to highly qualified workers , but that down the line , we can begin work on other proposals that I know the Commission will put forward in the coming months , and which concern the possibility of employment for less qualified workers .
I therefore agree with the rapporteur that there needs to be a sound strategy to prevent and stamp out FGM .
the regulation which we are going to adopt tomorrow is a short-term solution .
as a result , parties in other Member States that stand for the interests of their own countries are little concern of ours .
I voted in favour of the report by Mr Feio , but as I have already had the chance to emphasise , Europe badly needs major reform in this area even if Europe 's new economic governance cannot consider solely the sum of the public debt .
we have to take those objections extremely seriously and , indeed , my fellow member Mr Itälä has rightly done so .
does the right to take industrial action also apply to public sector employees ?
thus I believe that , thanks to the encouragement received from this House today , we at the Commission - I can assure you all , and Mr Matsakis - are pressing onwards ; we do not intend to stop because , I repeat , when it comes to saving human lives , no legal objection can block the actions of those who have political responsibilities towards half a billion European citizens .
that is what I have to say quite simply in reply to your objections , to which I have listened with great care .
however , this means that we need to educate and provide further training for our workforce .
let us accept , as a basic principle , that companies should not invoke business confidentiality when they place hazardous chemicals on the market .
I am certain that , knowing the determination of the European Parliament , we shall not stop at this point and we shall gradually act to extend these rights .
I will therefore omit the facts in this regard and endorse what he said in his speech .
Mr Bloom may not have been able to hear it because his colleague , Mr Batten , was trying to get the attention of the House on the question of the referendum and spoke throughout the early part of my speech .
it is a sound proposal .
this should have been signed here yesterday and was shouted down by a large proportion of the members of that group .
the text points out the difficult living conditions , discrimination and difficulties in accessing essential services that the Roma suffer .
in the wake of the financial crisis and the ongoing need to reduce budget deficits across Europe , Parliament must recognise that the cohesion budget cannot continue to grow , unchecked .
further extensions to the scope of this law will further increase the environmental benefits , but economic operators should , of course , have sufficient time to adapt , and all scope changes should be based on solid information .
it calls for greater priority to be given to the strengthening of human rights , democracy and the rule of law .
the Open Skies Agreement thus takes the first important step towards an Open Aviation Area without any restrictions on either side .
in addition to designing and building safer vehicles , Member States should also invest in the safety of road infrastructure .
all the alarm bells are ringing , so we must act on time , in the short term and in a targeted manner .
I think this is worth underlining .
I would like to focus my introductory comments directly on Bosnia Herzegovina because stability there is vital for the future of the Western Balkans as a unit , and also because the current situation continues to cause concern .
on the other hand , producers in those regions are known for their quality agricultural products and for their experience in the sustainable exploitation of forest and pastureland .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Culture and Education . - ( FR ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , tourism is extremely important to the EU .
for years , you have been our partner in the search for solutions .
( FR ) Commissioner , first of all , I know that I am the first person to ask you an oral question today .
indeed , banks in other EU countries are exposed to the Greek crisis mainly through their holdings of government debt , with France and Germany the most concerned .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , Mr President-in-Office , many thanks for your closing words which are very encouraging .
an integrated approach is needed when addressing deficiencies in equal opportunities .
the proposals , which should be adopted by next summer , will be based on long-term dialogue with the European Parliament , on experience from the 2007 European Year of Equal Opportunities for All and on extensive public consultation .
the opinions adopted by these two committees in fact supplemented and enhanced the proposal , making it more efficient and easier for end users : by these I mean consumers , businesses , trade associations , supervisory authorities and Member States .
human rights are constantly being violated by the brains behind the current regime , whether we are talking about the disgraceful conditions in which the residents of the Ashraf opposition camp are kept , the constant violation of women 's rights , discrimination against homosexuals , the censorship of artists , etc .
Mainline railway lines are still closed .
nevertheless , the European Union wants to underline the interdependence of progress in the least developed countries with human rights , gender equality , democracy , good governance , peace and security .
the Charter has not appeared from nowhere .
debates on cases of breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law ( announcement of motions for resolutions tabled ) : see Minutes
while the police in all countries make sure , as part of their duties , that politicians or members of parliaments can carry out their work , the French police tries to prevent the Members of the European Parliament from working .
that is important if actual life on the ground is to be able to run along reasonable lines .
I regret that that has not been possible .
I was keen to support this report , which outlines the new international investment policy and reinforces the position of the EU as the largest recipient of FDI .
I therefore suggest that we now proceed to the vote and respect the law of the European Union .
( protests )
it is very important to balance EU priorities and local needs .
( for the results and other details on the vote : see Minutes )
let us come to facts now : do we have to respect the Lisbon Treaty or not ?
this is a major success , but at the same time , during discussion of the future of the Union , there is talk of a diminution of the budget for the years 2014-2020 .
on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs , I would like to emphasise the importance of the reports that we are discussing here today , which strongly echo the spirit of the Monti report , with the idea of promoting a successful liberal economy , promoting competition and promoting a dynamic , innovative market .
their representatives are only informed a few minutes before the decision is made public , generally at the time the stock exchanges open .
in writing . - I took the decision to support this motion for a resolution as I oppose the suggestion made by the Commission to reduce the financial envelope of the Programme for Employment and Social solidarity - Progress , by EUR 100 million and to reallocate this money to the European Microfinance Facility for Employment and Social Inclusion .
I do not have the time to answer this today in two minutes though .
on the other hand , Member States also have to show solidarity with the community by faithfully carrying out jointly decided obligations .
the best way is not to generalise but to assess each individual case , and that is exactly what must happen in Europe .
I support the position of the European Parliament in its request to the Comission to conclude the negotiations and technical consultations so that the European Union may accede without further delay to the European Convention on Human Rights .
so I cannot support the rapporteur 's amendment which would allow healthcare professionals to distribute additional , unapproved material from the pharmaceutical companies directly to patients .
the importance , usefulness and significance of this summit demonstrate , without any shadow of a doubt , the need to hold another summit in the short term .
( DE ) Mr President , Mr President-in-Office of the Council , the European Commission has unveiled a package of measures for the safety and security of nuclear power plants .
the previous application benefiting the United Kingdom ( EUR 162 million ) together with the application currently under consideration to benefit Greece and Slovenia ( totalling EUR 98 million ) leaves considerable scope for manoeuvre in the second half of 2008 , bearing in mind that the annual ceiling for Solidarity Fund resources is approximately EUR 1 billion .
with regard to Amendment 1 , this is a matter that needs to be dealt with , but separately from this report .
permit me to conclude with the following thought . I think that this debate is being held at a highly appropriate time , the day before the start of the European Council meeting , at which one of the main points of discussion will be high oil prices .
otherwise , I find that the request is either a political manoeuvre or it is tactical , but it is dilatory .
the other Member States have bilateral visa agreements with Brazil , allowing their nationals to enter Brazil for short stays without a visa .
it is a shame that in the end , an agreement has not been possible .
we know that ADS is closely connected to excessive television consumption and over-stimulation .
I plan to travel to Tunisia the week after next .
therefore , there is a strong incentive to bring this long-lasting saga to a successful resolution as we will then be in a position to fight the nasty impact of globalisation with a truly powerful tool .
( DE ) Madam President , unfortunately , none of us can undo the Deepwater Horizon accident .
it has already been stated that we have an unavoidable need for a real European policy on asylum and immigration and for solidarity at the Union level .
I would , however , like to highlight the delay in mobilising this type of support .
( SV ) This is a terrible catastrophe to have hit Hungary and I have a great deal of sympathy for the people who have been affected .
it is very striking that we have European quality legislation for safe toys , where a child comes into contact with a toy only for a short time , but we do not have adequate standards for shoes and slippers that children have on their feet all day .
fourthly , the European Union reaffirmed its commitment to the European perspective for the western Balkans .
in the contiguous regions of Noord Holland and Zuid Holland alone , 598 workers lost their jobs in publishing over a period of just nine months .
these are issues for which we are going to need the authorities and their credibility .
Belarus was used to block Euronest .
President of the Commission . - I am following all the developments in the Member States , but let us be clear : the Commission does not have the power to intervene in some internal matters of the Member States , and this is the kind of issue on which we cannot provide an answer here because this is an internal debate that is going on in Hungary .
Mr President , first of all , I want to thank you for issuing the statement of condemnation yesterday .
they will offer consumers a broader choice as well as lower prices .
rapporteur . - ( FR ) Mr President , representatives of the Council and the Commission , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to begin by thanking my colleagues , who entrusted me with this report , and the shadow rapporteur for their respective contributions .
many thanks , Mrs Morgantini .
I am sure we will have the opportunity to meet again .
I share many of the criticisms levelled at the European Union , but we cannot ignore the fact that this Treaty provides sound solutions to many of these points of criticism .
I would like to thank the rapporteur for his involvement in the trialogue negotiations between Parliament , the Council and the Commission and emphasise the importance of these safeguard clauses for the European economy .
we are EU sceptics , but this does not mean that we do not support cooperation between EU Member States .
in writing . - ( FR ) The Commission in Brussels has been telling us since 1992 that there were grain mountains , to say nothing of the oceans of milk and other larders full to bursting .
culture should indeed be accessible to all but it should promote high values instead of pandering , set higher targets instead of reflecting our low demands , because the general public does not need a great deal to satisfy it .
Parliament cannot simply make decisions every year concerning cost increases without also trying to find a way to finance them by reprioritising and improving efficiency .
mobility between higher education institutions , the business world and vocational education and training must be promoted in order to promote student-centred learning and the acquisition of competences , entrepreneurship , intercultural understanding , critical thinking and creativity .
we asked Greece to take some measures .
as a Member from a small Member State , may I ask for reassurances that members like Malta , Cyprus , Estonia or Slovenia will be included , because if they are in trouble , they may not be indispensable for the stability of the whole ?
we cannot underestimate the importance of this proposal to the competitiveness of the European economy .
the truth is that citizens expect to be protected by European legislation and they cannot understand why European legislation does not protect them in this respect .
Commissioner , there is only one conclusion that can be drawn : the human rights situation in Iran must be further monitored by the European Commission and the whole European Union .
we did so this time with those Members who were in the Chamber .
I ask you to approve the recommendation and would like to express my thanks for the broad support I have received .
it is clear , however , that the judicial framework negotiated in 2007 will no longer be operational since the data will no longer be located in the United States , after the change in the architecture of SWIFT , scheduled for the end of the year .
some Members of this Parliament put questions to me regarding energy security .
however , I want to see the other measures , including that cross-border health promise , because if we do not have that in place quickly , then the courts will go on making policy for us in this area , and that is our job as politicians .
well , he is banned as well ; he is number 83 on the banned list .
to touch briefly upon the compromises for the second reading , which are important for my group : the first is the issue of punishment , which has cropped up many times .
it is thanks to the fact that there is no common policy in the field that we can now set flexicurity , the Nordic model , the Anglo-Saxon model and the continental model against one another and compare them .
it is also worth remembering that peace is not only the absence of war .
drivers , no matter how experienced , should always fasten their seatbelts .
they have become a spare parts inventory for the sick .
however , on this week 's agenda , I have not seen any General Affairs Council meeting to prepare this extraordinary European Council meeting .
in the spirit of our motto , ' Europe without barriers ' , we have also invited all representatives of disabled persons to events connected with this issue .
we need to have faith in ourselves and in what we have accomplished , and not to excuse ourselves for who and what we are .
additional investments in the first-instance procedure improve the efficiency of the asylum process .
instead , the overriding priority must be to increase numbers in our police forces , which have been cut back in recent years .
under the German Presidency , in June 2007 the Council endorsed a courageous decision to discontinue the unsuccessful negotiations on concessions .
this is not the first time : this Parliament has always stood by the Dalai Lama and the cause of the freedom of the Tibetan people and we cannot draw back now , not least because the situation is not getting any better .
we , the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left , demand that the Arctic should not be allowed to become the next geopolitical hotspot .
the Council shares the Member of Parliament 's concern regarding animal welfare .
this report discussed a central issue that is tied to the continuous development of the European Union ; that is , a common immigration policy .
thirdly , transparent and truly democratic presidential and parliamentary elections , monitored by local and foreign observers and , fourthly , we support the efforts to create a government of national unity which would represent all Tunisians .
the restrictions weigh a little more each day on the shoulders of farmers .
nevertheless , in cases where the person really needs to receive planned treatment in another Member State and there are objective medical reasons for that , there is already in existence Regulation ( EC ) 883 / 2004 , under which the patient will receive health care without actually bearing costs himself .
information provision and promotion measures for agricultural products on the internal market and in third countries play an enormous role in creating a positive image of the ' Made in Europe ' brand .
Nabucco will only be successful if it receives long-term political guarantees .
- ( EL ) Mr President , I would like to thank the Slovenian Presidency for their reply and to ask , in addition , what specific exchanges of technological experience it has discovered so far and who is responsible for the management of these provisions of technical assistance .
thank you , Mr Stockmann , for having listened to both sides because it is not easy to establish , to some extent , the rules for good dialogue that allow balanced solutions to be achieved and that ensure that airports in dominant positions cannot abuse that position .
the correct distribution of EU and Member States ' resources will be of great significance .
over the past four years , the Member States have designated 64 sites with particular significance for Europe .
the Commission decided not to lodge an appeal against the judgment of the Court of First Instance of 13 June 2006 .
Member States have the exclusive right to decide themselves whether to rely on nuclear energy .
the seas that wash the shores of the European Union are very important to international trade and young people should see a future in seafaring professions and come to the assistance of shipping .
for example , Polish legislation contains no definition specifying the characteristics of a counterfeit medical product .
it would mean that there is no economic determinism , that there is a voice for politics , a voice for citizens , a voice for our future in our own hands .
I would like to tell her that I myself have met with the various business organisations in Portugal and they have told me of their great concern at the clauses of this free trade agreement with South Korea .
in writing . - ( PT ) The sustainability of fishery resources is essential for guaranteeing fishing activity and the viability of the fishing industry in the long term .
much can be done in regulating all financial entities ( including hedge funds and private equity funds ) , constraining leverage , dealing with pro-cyclicality and accounting , coordinating policies better , dealing with the rating agencies .
Madam President , honourable Members , like you , I am shocked , not only in my role as a Commissioner , but also as a citizen , when I see how nature is disrupted and destroyed in such cases for many years .
( applause )
( loud applause )
Formentera is one of the Balearic Islands .
other measures now under way include the creation of a standard helpline telephone number , 116 000 , which will be the same throughout Europe .
the asylum package is very much greater and , indeed , there is still much to be done .
in fact , it is a disgrace that it is not the EU which is dealing with the balance of payment credits for Member States outside the euro zone which are in dire straits , but that we are handling this jointly with the IMF , somewhere between the credits for Turkey and Pakistan .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Firstly , on the operators and social questions .
it is obvious that these measures only offer a partial , incomplete solution to illegal immigration and black labour .
other demands include rules restricting long distance journeys by official Parliament cars .
the Commission 's main objective is to have a preventive approach .
I do not agree , however , with the European Commission 's proposal to use funds reserved for agriculture and I hope that the Council will oppose this and will reach a compromise on this funding .
therefore the Commission has already suggested - and this was adopted last week - a simplification of the rules for the Seventh Framework Programme for all innovation policies .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , my best wishes on the occasion of International Women 's Day .
I would also like to thank Parliament for your recent support of the Commission 's proposal for a horizontal anti-discrimination directive .
I asked that it be examined , particularly because it seems to me that it is likely to be used for criminal purposes .
we must be clear in our own minds that food security is an integral part of our European national security and the primary public benefit of the CAP which is worth paying for in its own right .
indeed , we should also expect a lot from it , but I still want to highlight a couple of points on the instrumental side , in particular , including those of the European Union .
by the end of this week , we intend to send a first letter to the government of Hungary to which the Hungarian authorities should respond .
the same goes for the flexibility of loans .
I know there are people in this room who cannot see the value of it , but I do not share their opinion .
there is a lot of room for flexibility , but there is also the need - and you , with the Council , are the budgetary authority-to begin to conceive of the European budget .
I encourage Members - and I am sure most of you have already done so - to look closely at the interim agreement .
today 's vote should be a wake-up call to all those who are concerned about the conservation of vulnerable fishing stocks .
( PL ) Mr President , we are witnessing yet another crisis in East Timor .
a successful Eastern Partnership , however , needs determination on our side and a positive openness .
we must also mention the Turkish authorities ' inexplicable insistence on keeping the Theological School in Halki shut .
we would like to see a more democratic approach within the country as regards freedom of organisation , religious freedom , freedom of the media and the development of civil society .
apparently their words were worth nothing .
an act of God prevents her from being here today .
but the hypocrisy of the European Union lies in the fact that - to give but one example - barely a week and a half before the G20 summit , we entered into an economic partnership agreement with the Caribbean countries .
we must pay by giving financial support to developing countries .
everyone had their own particular issue .
thank you .
the overcapacity of the EU fleet was estimated a few years ago at around 40 % .
furthermore , the changes to the report seem to restrict the Member State 's scope for action .
- ( FR ) Madam President , first of all , I too would obviously like to express my condolences and offer my sympathy firstly to those families who are in mourning , and to all those who are victims , in particular the many who have been cut off and who today still lack electricity , water or public services .
it is my view that these negotiations should also include discussions on the topic of missile defence .
despite the fact that the principle of mutual recognition is beginning to be put into practice , there are still many practical difficulties and an increasing number of highly complicated transnational cases where the provision of assistance and support to the competent national authorities is becoming increasingly necessary .
let me stress that the nomination of the High Representative will have to take place before the new Commission is appointed , and that this should be preceded by appropriate contacts with this Parliament .
1 .
on the one hand , this is inefficient and costly to the economy while , on the other , it prevents the internal market from functioning smoothly .
according to Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union , the legislator can delegate a certain amount of power to the Commission , in which connection the Commission may only supplement or amend a legislative act .
it was indeed absurd to impose on Member States legislation that goes against consumer rights and to force them to revoke some of their national laws that were considered too protective in relation to the directive .
currently , more than four million passengers per year fly between Brazil and the EU .
if so , I point them out in a further remark .
the Commission uses all instruments available to monitor the impact , including on future safety .
I have one final word to add .
as regards information , we are supplying continuous information as we receive it .
the legitimacy of the next Parliament is crucial in these times of deteriorating democracy .
they are doing this intentionally , proposing transition ' dialogue ' to help their allies ( Bahrain and Yemen ) , and pressuring those who do not defend their interests ( Syria ) .
in the same way , the regulatory obstacles to the internal market that still hinder the development of these technologies must be removed as quickly as possible .
many of these recommendations were already contained in previous Parliament resolutions , but unfortunately nothing was done and the Commission bears particular responsibility for this delay .
the Commission will of course take these into account and put them to good use accordingly .
work must become worthwhile again for EU citizens .
as Parliament has also come to have powers in relation to air agreements , it is important to ensure that it has access to information throughout the negotiation process .
I particularly welcome paragraph 38 , which stresses the need for compulsory use of renewable technologies in all new and renovated buildings .
that being said , your comment is obviously noted .
what we must do is ensure that any regulatory changes are proportionate and sensible .
does responsibility lie with the EU ?
this is our first and foremost task , and we will have to do it with diplomatic and political support .
( FR ) Mr President , the Georgian Constitution contains the terms ' referendum ' and ' plebiscite ' , which are not the same thing .
( LT ) I would like to underline that currently , one of the most important tasks for the European Union is to curb the mass unemployment caused by prolonged inactivity and the social crisis .
in writing . - ( LV ) I fully supported Mr Simpson 's report .
the aim of the project is to develop , within a European cross-border context , the use of new information and communication technologies .
I have been spending more time working on Ukrainian issues than on most of the Member States of the European Union , which shows the attention we give to Ukrainian concerns .
however , it is more important to tackle the root causes of the problems , and not just their most obvious manifestations .
I support Mrs Berès 's report , which calls for more Europe and not less , for more efficiency and less bureaucracy , and for one European Union voice on the international stage .
it is therefore crucial that e-justice aims to develop the use of information technologies by the judiciary , all the more so when we consider that almost ten million European citizens are involved in cross-border civil proceedings and that this figure is likely to increase in the future .
in writing . - This report evaluates the 2009 annual report of the European Central Bank ( ECB ) and the work done by the ECB during that year .
I am voting for this report , which stresses the grave situation of 17 % of Europe 's female population living in poverty , especially mothers and older women .
however , there are certain sensitive issues which require particular attention in the process of developing these relations .
France , for its part , has already announced that it will shortly refer the matter to the Court of Justice of the European Union .
there were 32 700 redundancies in the Galicia region between 2007 and 2009 , including 4 414 in the textiles industry , with women accounting for 80 % of the redundancies .
I see this year of promotion as a great opportunity for disseminating information concerning creative processes and various practices .
with oil at USD 90 a barrel , it is time for Ms Harms to recognise that nuclear power is the cheapest , safest , cleanest , most sustainable and most predictable base-load-generating technology available .
Gaza is experiencing an unacceptable humanitarian crisis .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( IT ) Madam President , I wish to recall the true significance of the word subsidium in the language of my ancestors , Latin .
these three reports were drawn up following the proposal for a Single Market Act published by the European Commission .
as a result of investment in the production and maintenance of the infrastructure and in renewable energy generation facilities , the cost of energy is rising faster than can be compensated for by the possible savings from energy efficiency measures .
it particularly appeals to me personally that we should focus support on those who use environmentally-friendly means of transport such as trains and buses , for they too are suffering from the high oil prices and , compared with the airlines , sometimes have to cope with all kinds of different taxes , which in my country also means having to pay an ecotax .
we therefore underline our call for greater consistency between all EU policies and the priorities set out in the EU 2020 strategy for growth and jobs .
the European Union also represents an influential supporter in development terms , in particular , in the context of the Millennium Development Goals , which ensure an important place for 50 % of the citizens who contribute to this development globally .
stage 1 would be voluntary .
ticket prices for long journeys are most often kept as low as they can go in order to be able to compete with air traffic .
in that case , the Commission would also propose changes to Annex III to Directive 2004 / 35 / EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on environmental liability with regard to the prevention and remedying of environmental damage ( Environmental Liability Directive ) as appropriate to ensure that all Seveso installations handling supercritical CO2 are covered under the Environmental Liability Directive .
I am sure , Mr Mulder , if he was here , would agree with me .
( EL ) Prime Minister , what you say is very true : we should fear not a strong but a weak Europe .
Parliament 's answer to this Commission initiative was the report by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs on the development of the framework for the activities of interest representatives in the European institutions .
we have made a number of proposals to this effect in the ECON Committee and we would hope that these proposals could also be taken on board .
I would like to congratulate the rapporteurs on having reached agreements at first reading with the Council to revise two regulations that adapt the fisheries policy to the Treaty of Lisbon and highlight the European Union 's commitment to sustainable fisheries management and the conservation of biodiversity .
we call for the European Commission to safeguard the interests of the indigenous peoples when it negotiates trade agreements .
we know that some sectors of Venezuelan society have criticised the proliferation of measures which they consider adversely affect the right to freedom of expression and the freedom to exercise political rights .
in writing . - ( SV ) The Swedish Conservatives do not share the enthusiasm expressed in the report for the use of the structural funds in cohesion policy .
Mr President , I note with some surprise and regret that , first of all , the Council has not replied to any question on PNR .
( applause )
at the same time , we should avoid irresponsible calls for an international armed intervention against the current tyranny .
with regard to rural development , more attention must be paid to the real situation than to historic indicators .
before the vote on Amendment 2 :
that is how seriously this problem is being taken .
but this does not mean , and here I agree with Commissioner Malmström , that the system should not be perfected .
the shutdown may have a direct effect on the energy supply of the country concerned and neighbouring Member States .
the European Parliament and its Members are not independent .
but you are missing the most important point : is any of this necessary ?
as you will know , the amendments on the table are compromise motions .
in writing . - I voted for this report .
the report also recognises that , like any other modern industry , farming needs to be competitive , efficient and able to respond and adapt to market demands .
I have to repeat here that there is no final position on this issue .
secondly , we have always supported a peaceful reconciliation through dialogue between the Chinese authorities and the Dalai Lama 's representatives .
the Ombudsman 's annual report is a splendid example of how we too should present the work that we do to the public .
regrettably , up to now the response from the Mexican authorities has been ineffective , which is why we can now accurately say that we are looking at a case of almost total impunity .
today , we must demand respect for human rights , but also take blame where blame is due .
Copenhagen is important because God 's creation is highly vulnerable , and is deeply affected by man 's actions .
legislation is clearly secondary in what primarily needs local support .
Mr Florenz 's report on the reuse of electrical and electronic equipment , on which we are voting today , is important not only for the future of environmental sustainability in Europe , but also for another aspect : the loss of raw materials .
for this reason , it is crucial that the members of its executive committee are equipped with exceptional qualities and experience .
however , it is essential that these programmes are not only coordinated at local , national and European level , but also find ways of coordinating with partners outside the European Union .
Presidents , Ministers , ladies and gentlemen , we cannot remain silent in the face of the tragic events which took place last week in Guinea .
it therefore requests a breeders ' exemption , enabling the further development of plant varieties to take place freely .
the final version of the draft agenda for this part-session as drawn up by the Conference of Presidents at its meeting of Thursday 16 October 2008 pursuant to Rules 130 and 131 of the Rules of Procedure has been distributed .
all the relevant bodies should cooperate , first of all the European Commission and the Agency for Fundamental Rights , as well as the relevant institutions in the Member States .
Mrs Saïfi , who did an excellent job as rapporteur , discusses constructively the different levels and aspects of human rights , and environmental and social standards at differing levels .
with the consistent endorsement of the Ohrid Framework Agreement and the Badinter principle , political issues are imbued with a new spirit supporting proportional representation and the preservation of the identity of minorities .
please do not say that simply combining efforts - which is what governments always have done - is coordination , because it is not .
we have reached a stage where we can no longer afford further rescue packages .
although there is an attempt in the report to introduce increased democratic controls and transparency , there are certain key issues preventing us from voting in favour of it .
in particular , the agreement does not help to promote the autonomous development of these states ; to create those capacities that in the future will enable the countries concerned to continue to develop even without outside help .
the present directive applies to more than 14 million workers and 820 employers .
Mr President , I think it is wonderful that both the Commission and now , especially , the Swedish Presidency , has breathed life into Parliament 's ideas and ambitions in this fragile area .
Poland , which I represent , is experiencing for itself the effects of a divergence of interests in energy policy between individual Member States .
under the Customs Cooperation Agreement , the EC and China are developing substantial interaction in key customs areas , organised clearly to reflect the interest of the European Community .
we must also avoid , for example , the risk of many multinational companies transferring their headquarters to countries such as Morocco or Turkey and sending their employees to work in European branches because it is cheaper .
it is therefore important in all traineeships , exchanges between educational institutions and other such opportunities for improving one 's occupational standing that access criteria should not be discriminatory .
that is exactly due to the capability of the institutions to use this rigid environment in which we operate in financial frameworks today to the best of our capabilities , to deliver where it was needed .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , of course , the attempt to reach good international agreements is very praiseworthy and I freely admit that this is a far from easy task .
therefore , any measure which is adopted must be case-specific .
unfortunately , the salient feature of this report is its manifest desire to advance the positions of the European Parliament on matters concerning forestry policy in general .
in great European cities , there are already parking facilities that provide tourists with bicycles , free of charge , during the entire period of stay of the vehicles .
quite often , they are the governments who are worried about their aid budgets being cut because , with less aid money coming to them , it is more difficult to keep corrupt and inefficient governments in power .
executions or death sentences have never resulted in improved crime figures , which is why the European Union should promote alternative sentences at the disposal of criminal justice systems when dealing with countries that still apply this punishment , which is contrary to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights .
the discussion on how to meet the Millennium Development Goals is an important discussion .
the debate is closed .
the implementation of this new security strategy represents a move from the traditional defence of member countries of the Atlantic Alliance to a concept of global security for the 21st century .
today , however , Parliament has enacted some important measures and we therefore believe that any programme that is genuinely aimed at protecting human rights can only be developed truly and effectively through strong , concrete dialogue with third countries .
now we have to balance this with realism because there has to be realism in economic forecasting as well and people will have to be realistic .
it referred to four points that needed to be resolved : firstly , a consistent European supervisory mechanism , secondly , consistent economic governance , or whatever you want to call it , thirdly , consistent external representation and , fourthly , a consistent crisis mechanism .
let me give you a few examples on this point .
this is a good sign that the new Member States too can successfully seek assistance to help with the changes globalisation requires .
Mr President , I welcome many of the aims of the EU 2020 strategy : the focus on growth led by innovative businesses , on sustainable growth and on achieving high employment .
I voted in favour of the motion for a resolution on joint programming of research to combat neurodegenerative diseases , because I believe it is necessary to strengthen measures to promote research into these diseases , in particular , Alzheimer 's disease , at European level .
in recent months , this reality has begun to dawn on - among others - President Obama , the British Government and the German military .
similarly to other European policies , the integrated maritime policy can help achieve an important objective - creating a competitive , social and sustainable European Union with a high level of employment , which may make the maritime sector even more attractive to young people or other job-seekers .
in this context it is pleasing that the report mentions areas in which these countries still have much to do .
this is why I hope that citizens will understand the message and attitudes of the parties , and that politicians themselves will also understand the wishes of the people expressed at the ballot box .
the only possible way out of the legal stagnation brought about by transferring Member States ' powers to the European Union would appear to be a principle allowing both sets of agreements to coexist over a transitional period , in order for Member States to renegotiate existing bilateral agreements or , in line with EU investment policy , to complete negotiations on agreements under preparation .
there are also scrivener notaries . the latter cannot issue authentic acts and are only authorised to certify signatures .
unfortunately , therefore , the GUE / NGL Group cannot support this report .
another two issues that I considered important to include in my report are as follows : the importance of an intensive campaign of consumer education and information , which the European Union should undertake concerning the various European labels and the guarantees they represent , and the inclusion in international registries and international recognition through the WTO system of geographical indications .
the quality of democracy can be measured by the way in which the opposition is treated .
the idea that China , which is the largest source of counterfeiting in the world , will sign up to a negotiated agreement later is unrealistic .
the proposal will alter the way that data is collected in that it will be organised by the type of goods , as is already the case with regards to other forms of transport .
we in the European Parliament had the honour of hosting His Holiness the Dalai Lama two weeks ago in Brussels , where he gave a speech to the plenary .
finally , the Union must grant itself financial resources that match its ambitions .
remember , ladies and gentlemen , that it was a very difficult matter .
she escaped from the Vilna Ghetto and then worked with the partisans fighting against the Nazis .
finally , I would like to call upon our House to make a definite reaction which will put an end to the current slow international diplomacy and to develop a solution which will protect the Sahrawis from further cruelty .
the railways have highly skilled staff and this must remain the case in future .
under no circumstances can the European Union shirk its commitment to sustainable development .
the Europe 2020 Strategy 's employment targets call for an increase in women 's employment .
no-one wants us to lose our high hygiene standards .
indeed at this point not all problems have been solved but , as the debate has also shown , we have achieved success in all aspects .
there are also concerns regarding the quality of the training undergone by physical education teachers . the overall picture hardly inspires confidence .
he has managed to negotiate a viable compromise , which takes into account all the different aspects of the wine sector .
Mr de Grandes Pascual raised the issue of sea basins .
it pays attention to environmental protection and at the same time provides suitable and realistic terms for the European car industry .
for decades now a mantra has been heard worldwide : that not much can be done in national policy-making because global markets would punish a government .
the development and implementation of the ABS Protocol must be regarded as an integral part of the process surrounding the CBD .
however , we must be mindful of encroaching too much on European citizens as there are obvious personal privacy issues with such technology .
lastly , we are working to create mentoring programmes for women entrepreneurs in at least 12 EU countries .
I am proud that Scotland was one of the first countries to introduce a smoking ban in public places .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , the train accident in Buizingen on Monday , 15 February 2010 was a shocking tragedy .
I am sure that it will probably be voted for unanimously tomorrow .
decisions need to be taken urgently , especially at a time when the availability of jobs for young people and the sustainability of pension systems for older people are at risk .
I also told them that America cannot prevail in this new struggle by acting alone .
opening of the sitting
firstly , the humanitarian chaos in the Mediterranean is the inevitable consequence of the shortcomings , indeed of the lack of a common migration policy , within the European Union .
in writing . - ( ET ) Today I voted for the motion for a resolution supporting the financing of small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) .
my personal view is that Internet access is a significant factor which supports the education process , and it shows that people are able to use their freedom of speech and have access to information and the job market .
God cannot want forced observance .
it is also important for the well-being of the elderly for them to continue participating in the shaping of society by using their knowledge and experience .
we will see later today how they vote on Amendment 11 .
your report makes constructive suggestions about these and related points .
we need to push for deeper involvement of national and transnational parliamentary assemblies in the works of the UN system , so as to strengthen its legitimacy and democratic nature .
I voted in favour , as I have done on previous occasions relating to mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund .
the first was the fact that , on the African continent , peace processes and the gradual consolidation of democratic systems coexist with persistent conflicts such as that in Darfur , high levels of poverty and the emergence of situations such as the massive waves of illegal immigration .
Mr President , Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner spoke of the importance of getting the relationship between the EU and Russia right .
that is the truth , and in the interests of democracy , it is time that this House talked about an Italian left that is anti-democratic and addicted to the culture of hatred .
if it indeed proves to be the case that here , too , a lazy compromise will be reached , this will once again undermine the credibility of the EU .
everyone had their say and gave their own personal interpretation of what are confused and woolly texts .
there is no mandate , with your blue card hanging up there , let me tell you .
fifth , the earthquake in Haiti once again demonstrates - if proof were needed - the importance of implementing without delay a rapid humanitarian aid system aimed at pooling both the material and the human capabilities of all the Member States of the European Union .
due to the irresponsible policy of right-wing governments , Latvia risked going bankrupt without financial assistance from outside .
we must seek to build a new peaceful world in partnership with Russia , not in opposition to it .
the limits set for the stage that has just begun are much stricter than for the previous stage .
the scope of these commitments is broader than that of any comparable agreement .
they are giving priority access to their own company ; they put obstacles in place which could stifle competition .
many of us hope that the Home Secretary , Jacqui Smith , will now intervene on the basis of new evidence .
on behalf of the S & D Group . - ( FR ) Madam President , President-in-Office of the Council , Commissioner , I fully agree with the remark that Mairead McGuinness has just made on the fact that there is a fundamental link between the issues of food and agriculture .
we cannot ignore the fact that SOLVIT is faced with an ever-increasing case load and , from this perspective , it is somehow a victim of its own success .
I would like to clarify that , even though transit was not a priority during traditional own-resources inspections between 2001 and 2006 when change was ongoing , nevertheless it was not being ignored .
with the rapid growth in the world 's population , the agricultural sector must meet a growing need for safe and sufficient food , despite the obstacles of limited natural resources , high energy prices and climate change .
in their report , the authors praise the fall in unemployment , which over nine years has admittedly been just over 1.5 % , but forecasts now predict a significant increase in unemployment in the Euro Zone in the coming year .
banks have not picked up fraudulent cheque practices .
6 .
I am delighted therefore that your debate has confirmed the view of the Commission and I expect that the vote will go in the same direction , or at least I hope it will .
this reform was drawn up in 2005 and was supposed to restore equilibrium in this market .
that is something that we will certainly have to come back to after Copenhagen .
however , it is important that ECAs ' activities be closely supervised , so as to prevent future problems .
in Poland , there is a saying that the woman holds up three corners of the house , and the man only one .
the Commission sees itself as the governor of all European countries , as the ultimate decision-maker under the leadership of Mr Barroso .
some people are refusing to deduct EUR 100 million for micro-credit from the paltry sum of EUR 700 million allocated over seven years .
this agreement , which is applicable for periods of four years , tacitly renewable unless either party rescinds it , entailed the repeal and replacement of the first agreement between the EC and São Tomé and Principe , concluded in 1984 .
I should like to point out to my fellow Members that , for as long as Greece is in economic crisis , no government will agree to start negotiations in the Council and the proof of Greece 's good faith was demonstrated when it agreed to this country 's candidature .
we must not dismiss all proposals to increase its role in European Union policy simply by saying that it is a competence of the Member States .
according to official statistics , 34 000 workers left Lithuania within four years , but only 405 did so within two and a half years with the assistance of EURES services .
the debate is closed .
in order not to disrupt trade , it is therefore desirable to extend the application of Council Regulation ( EC ) No 1215 / 2009 to 31 December 2015 .
that is a good thing .
I have the impression that the funding pool which we have for Erasmus and other programmes has remained the same for several years .
one example is the question of a uniform European safety mark , to which Mrs McCarthy also referred .
I voted in favour of the report by Mr Audy because the Seventh Framework Programme ( FP7 ) needs to be thoroughly revised in order for it to achieve and come into line with the goals of the Europe 2020 strategy .
the European Commission official also acknowledged this on the eve of the seizure and we therefore ask that this protection be extended to fishing vessels .
let us not forget the problems of recruitment and promotion that women of childbearing age already face .
please allow me therefore to name some of the most important points .
farmers need security too .
if it is doing all it can , why can it not ratify the Treaty of Lisbon ?
in these committees , we have taken a very clear position .
Madam President , I shall also speak on the Schengen Information System .
thank you for your remarks .
I would emphasise the two proposals made by Prime Minister Berlusconi in recent weeks : a coming-together of all energy-purchasing countries and hence the setting of a maximum price ; and the launch of a major plan for nuclear power stations .
however , I would like to take the opportunity to recall what it is that we are actually talking about .
the Union budget is a tool for global and integrated development at a time when the Member States alone cannot ...
why is the motive not mentioned , in other words , the fact that they were Christians , which was the unequivocal reason behind the attack ?
the Czech Prime Minister , Jan Fischer , was also with us and we tried to asses this situation .
that is Amendment 161 to the Morgan report , pushing for better access to the grid for renewable operators .
the only solution for the countries that were part of the former Yugoslavia is swift accession to the Union , in accordance with the established criteria .
instead , we need effective coordination of economic policy that takes into account not just public debt but also private debt , and that deals with economic imbalances not just in deficit countries but also in countries making a surplus .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Yes , but as I said there will be a staff freeze after the enlargement , so this comparison with a municipality is not a similar situation . we have a big political project - the enlargement of the European Union - and we have taken on new officials .
we are not threatened by it ; it does not trample our crops ; it does not destroy our villages ; and it does not damage human health .
more ambitious targets , such as those adopted within the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety of the European Parliament , should have been upheld .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( PT ) Mr President , Commissioner Michel , ladies and gentlemen , the second EU-Africa Summit that was held last weekend in Lisbon was undoubtedly a success and marked the start of a new relationship between the European Union and Africa based on strategic dialogue .
the third point is , of course , safety , and safety certification has to be a prerequisite for obtaining a licence to operate .
besides this , the London summit produced a commitment that the G20 countries would support a new SDR ( special drawdown rights ) issue , in other words an issue in the IMF 's own currency which can be used by IMF member states for mutual payments .
this strengthens our argument and it is important that we maintain this whatever happens .
how many of the general public will elect Europe 's prime minister , the President of the Commission ?
Mr President , I would like to begin by thanking all the speakers in this constructive debate .
I declare the session of the European Parliament adjourned .
however , the 2005 directive does not lay down the legislative framework for imposing criminal penalties on persons responsible for maritime pollution .
in writing . - ( PT ) This report focuses on a proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation ( EC ) No 460 / 2004 , which established the European Network and Information Security Agency ( ENISA ) .
to recap , Mr President , this is indeed a success story , one that it may well be possible to apply to other products , such as alcohol and certain agricultural products .
my sincere thanks to all of you for your cooperation .
finally , allow me to highlight the particularly constructive part being played by my country , Greece , with its dual identity as a Member State of the EU and of the BSEC , in strengthening cooperation both within the BSEC and at cross-regional level within the EU .
our human rights dialogue , in the context of our Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Pakistan , is the appropriate forum to address such issues with Pakistan and reach sustainable solutions .
in the not-too-distant future , in the run-up to the EU-Russia summit , we shall have the opportunity to debate the overall state of relations between the EU and Russia .
the report itself makes perfectly plain that the largest quantity of drugs in the world , about half , comes from Afghanistan and that opium growing is illegal in Afghanistan .
in addition , the proposal continues to impose special obligations on CRS parent carriers .
it will promote a few key activities and targets in four priority areas .
the vote will take place on Tuesday , 15 February 2011 .
but you should never regard the experts as some kind of decision-makers .
( applause )
it seems that the Council has either completely or partially failed to grasp the fact that improving quality and ensuring greater consistency and solidarity is not only in the interests of the asylum seeker , but also in the interests of the Member States themselves .
Mr President , Commissioner , for a year we have been celebrating the development of this new process , this new agreement between the European Union and Africa .
the problem with hedge funds , in particular , is that they contribute to increasing systemic risks .
I think there is quite a lot more to be said on this subject , which should not be pushed into the background .
two important new developments are the provision for monetary compensation in the event of personal injury or damage or loss of luggage and the guarantee of assistance in the event of delays or travel disruptions , which will be based on the model used for trains and aeroplanes .
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what a dramatic situation we would have on our hands if , tomorrow , an oil spill were to occur in the highly fragile and sensitive waters of the Mediterranean Sea .
this could now be the moment of truth , and we are reminded of that by the changes that are currently taking place in the Mediterranean .
of course , I am in favour of reasonable fiscal pressure , and I do not represent any opposing model , because while I have been in government , I have reduced tax on businesses , income tax on workers and personal taxation .
the Council has yet to prove itself as an effective human rights organ within the United Nations ; that much is clear .
( it ) Mr President , Mrs Győri , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I think that our condolences should go to all the victims of the great disaster which has hit Japan .
Europe has contributed to increasing this funding whilst also assuming its own responsibility .
in the case of the Allied Irish Bank , we are also negotiating the conditions of the restructuring plan .
regarding the way in which to defend those human rights , acknowledge that there can be a debate and that the debate will not end with the issue of the Olympic Games .
I was in Washington in July on a mission as Chair of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection .
the procedure as a whole relies on improving dialogue between the competent authorities of individual Member States .
this Parliament and the Commission should take the necessary initiatives and recommend to all the Member States that they take the appropriate measures to ensure that when Euro coins are being minted , equal consideration be given to references and images of both men and women .
on that basis , it must inevitably be flawed .
the existing flexibility provisions in respect of reporting requirements do not distinguish between different size classes of companies .
politically , I fundamentally object to the driving motive of EU accession to ECHR as ' a move forward in the process of European integration [ involving ] one further step towards political union ' .
that is why I am so happy that Jean-Pierre Jouyet has just said that the support from the European Council will be strong and clear .
the two are mutually supportive and make a very important policy contribution .
it is not yet too late to strengthen the foundations of a common European energy policy based on solidarity .
at the present time , however , the European fund landscape is extremely fragmented , which breeds relative inefficiency and excessive costs , especially by comparison with competitor countries .
however these plans are not mandatory and do not include any specific obligation to deal with deficiencies .
the worst part , because it is irreparable , is the loss of human life , including innocent civilians and children .
in fact , it is just this example , that of Ireland , that should make us aware that we cannot just ignore subsidiarity , or sacrifice it to what are allegedly higher goals , such as road safety .
this is perhaps something that could be developed .
Madam President , I have a few observations .
all too often , we are only moved by headline news .
it is clear , after this debate , that all of this must take place under parliamentary supervision and on the basis of a proposal from the Commission .
we are profoundly disturbed by the loss of civilian life , and the matter has been repeatedly declared in our presidential statements .
in a number of decisions the Israeli Supreme Court has upheld the rights of both Palestinian prisoners and petitioners against the actions of the Israeli defence forces or Government .
2005 was long before the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty and , therefore , long before this House received equal legislative powers regarding trade policy , but the lack of legislative powers did not prevent the European Parliament from twice expressing its support for this proposal .
I would like to quote at this point from Special Report No 1 / 2010 from the Court of Auditors of the European Union , which points out the following : ' the control carried out on these simplified procedures is very limited , while the number of errors identified by the Court is alarming ' .
as you know , the Rules of Procedure make provision for five to speak .
we must strongly reject the allegations of the Venezuelan Vice-Minister for Europe that the European Parliament refused to vote on this resolution in September because it was seen as a vote against the anti-corruption fight .
we have some weapons now , but the legal weapons at our disposal now refer only to fresh fish , including mackerel , and not to the products of mackerel and especially not to fish oil and fish meal which are the main export products from Iceland and the Faroe Islands .
when the Slovak prime minister , Mrs Radičová , returned home from Brussels , she found that she lacked sufficient support in the national parliament for the position she had taken in the Council negotiations .
in writing . - Mr Lehne has proposed an own-initiative report proposing a Council Regulation that aims to make it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) to facilitate cross-border transfers within the Community of the registered office of a company formed in a Member State of the Community .
( PL ) Madam President , the public expects us , as politicians , to be pragmatic , rational and efficient in all of our actions .
to an extent Europe has recognised the need to invest more heavily in research and development , and this is synonymous with the current subject of creative and innovative ideas .
I also welcome the emphasis placed by the rapporteur on the need for transparency and the provision of accurate information for all stakeholders , particularly by means of a large-scale implementation of economic and financial reporting systems based on information and communications technology .
in the follow-up to this White Paper , I want to examine the role insurance products could play in supplementing these measures .
therefore these events were inevitable , particularly if you go back to other events or other times before the 11th .
in specific terms , this is where we need to work to strengthen the opportunities for young people and , in so doing , invest in our young people .
the European Commission has continued to monitor closely the situation in Sri Lanka and to initiate an appropriate dialogue with the government of this country , aimed at providing the basis for new relations where both parties make efforts to cooperate on resolving the main issues which cause problems .
why are we not using this ideal instrument to create transparency concerning where , how and under what conditions such products are actually being produced ?
we want a sustainable , ecological and social agricultural policy .
finally , we believe that in order to make the European Union budget more equitable and transparent , the existing exceptions and correction mechanisms should be progressively phased out .
in the coming period , freedom of movement between the EU and Belarus must be promoted , and dialogue must be held with both the government and the organisations not under government control .
however , to achieve this , it is vital for us to have solidarity among EU Member States so that they can present a united front during the negotiations with Moscow on gas imports .
the Member States , both individually and jointly in the Council , are studying in detail all aspects of the questions concerned .
it calls for the money of the workers of the Member States which finances the EU budget to be used to promote capitalist restructurings , to sweep away labour rights , to support the profitability of euro-unifying monopolies , to consolidate the mechanisms of the ' memoranda ' and secure lenders in the debtor Member States and to support repressive mechanisms and imperialist interference by the EU .
releasing all the political detainees in Myanmar , starting with Nobel Peace prize-winner , Aung San Suu Kyi , would be highly symbolic on the part of the authorities in this state , indicating that they are open to international dialogue and do not intend to become completely isolated from the rest of the world .
I voted in favour of the report on the proposal for a Council Regulation concerning the notification to the Commission of investment projects in energy infrastructure within the European Community and repealing Regulation ( EC ) No 736 / 96 , as this will allow the Commission to monitor this infrastructure and anticipate potential problems , especially environmental problems .
I would also insist on the need to set up a prevention system on the model , for example , of the Universal Periodic Review mechanism within the United Nations Council .
we also call upon the Council and the Member States to step up democratic control by involving the European Parliament before agreements are finalised .
this will not be solved overnight , and I commend the Commissioner ( I am talking about judicial training ) for ensuring that we fix the issue of trivial cases dominating and creating a credibility problem for the European Arrest Warrant .
this seems to us to be a good beginning for the re-establishment of the rule of law .
I find it unacceptable that in its relations with China , the European Union keeps putting economic interests first .
in addition , the industrial concentration in the seeds sector and the fact that they are controlled by a few multinationals are a cause for concern .
firstly , it has been estimated that tax losses due to fiscal fraud relating to VAT and excise duty amount to more than 2 % of the European Union 's GDP .
we arrived at a proposal of a 5 % increase in appropriations for the next period compared with 2013 .
that is precisely the problem , of course : the fact that the issue of whether people are entitled to strike in various Member States is now decided by the European Court of Justice .
voting time
this agreement is beneficial for the EU Member States , as Turkey is an important transit country for migration flows to the EU .
I feel that these amendments are appropriate and I hope that this initiative will be supported by as many MEPs as possible .
this is a very disturbing and downright scandalous situation .
( DE ) Mr President , a week before he was murdered , I spoke with Shahbaz Bhatti in his office in Islamabad and he was aware of the danger he was in .
this also applies to the gassing of containers to control vermin .
I was therefore forced to vote against Mrs Buitenweg 's report on the proposal for a Council directive .
we hope that the 50 measures tabled here can contribute to further developing the internal market and taking full advantage of it , as it may prove a source of extra growth for the European economy .
our citizens will be able to check and find out for what purposes we are handing out EU money .
I highlight these points not to imply that the assistance received by Boeing ( repayable in Japan but not in the US ) is somehow worse than the repayable European loans received by Airbus .
why do we not make this into a right , given that we are already taking the great risk of having thousands of delegated legislative acts ?
Swedish trade unions established a blockade .
I therefore believe that we need a technological revolution , and this summit ought to be setting us on the right course .
the point is that we must send clear signals to Ukraine and to the other countries of the Black Sea region that are covered by the neighbourhood policy .
we may have to complement and we may have to act , but I do not characterise the strategy as a narrow vision of security .
the very concept of this proposal is alien to many judicial systems within Member States , especially those who have a legal system based on common law .
people drive cars that are French , Italian or German , that are made in Spain or Britain and assembled elsewhere and , of course , we must have transnational legislation to support the highest possible standards .
firstly , in the event of cross-border problems , the law is often not even applied in many cases , as a result of the less than ideal cooperation between the authorities in the different Member States , and , therefore , these cases are not investigated at all .
this represents a potential danger for the interpretation of this directive .
the third T , tolerance , makes it possible for everyone , including the marginalised and weak , to participate in the processes leading to improvement , social inclusion and new knowledge .
as the work has progressed , I have argued especially for the application of reciprocity , i.e. there should be a reciprocal agreement to prevent those countries which are holding back their liberalisation from competing in those countries which are commencing theirs .
the sharing of cultural heritage between individuals is important both within the EU , for the consolidation of a European identity , and in terms of the Union 's relations with third countries .
despite these conflicts between logic and the version of the recommendation discussed here , the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left supports the position of the rapporteur .
that is the challenge facing us .
5 .
I voted in favour of this report because I agree that there needs to be a balance between theoretical study and practical initiation in every area , including artistic studies .
we all realise that we need to take the special features of individual nations into account .
therefore , Parliament , in following the lead of certain national political leaders , is assuming its responsibilities .
by launching Operation ' Atalante ' to protect vulnerable ships and the delivery of food aid to Somali refugees , the Union has demonstrated that it can find real and effective solutions when confronted with an emergency .
therefore , there are health inequalities not only between Member States , but also between regions in these states .
since the new Commission has not yet taken office , we should ask the President of the Commission to attend such a discussion himself or to send somebody who will have a post in the new Commission , such as Mr Almunia or Mr Rehn .
I am pleased to say that there was excellent cooperation between Minister Schauvliege and her team and my team from the Commission .
meanwhile , the potential for farming them under managed forestry conditions is limited by the lack of nursery methods enabling them to be farmed .
financing of the EERP should not be postponed to subsequent years , and I therefore welcome the agreement that was reached .
that being the case , I also oppose the commencement of accession negotiations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia , which this Parliament is calling for , as well as the granting of a European perspective to the entire Western Balkans .
however , the environment has reached a parlous state , as can be seen from natural disasters , and a credit crisis has been reached .
I believe that the European Union really must establish concrete plans as a matter of urgency and begin to research possible deposits of such gases and their use .
next , I call on the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) to have the intelligence and the credibility to withdraw its amendment that says that emerging countries must do the same thing , must make the same commitments as rich countries .
this would , in my opinion , have been the right approach to climate change , including in times of economic crisis .
what is the fact that a referendum for self-determination should be held there , if not a question of respect for human rights ?
it does lead me to a number of questions , however .
exploiting the potential of mountainous areas is key to their sustainable development , not simply throwing more public money at them .
there are excessive EU employment rights and American-style rights too for damages , and national legislation such as the UK 's disastrous Human Rights Act , which allows foreign terrorists and criminals to stay in Britain because their rights are now seen to be more important than those of the decent citizens they threaten .
this will allow all citizens to be treated equally , which is something that everyone is waiting for , including my own countrymen .
our aim was , and still is , to clarify the facts properly first of all .
Parliament should have its own readings , and then the European Union would be governed bottom-up instead of top-down .
we shall both have to change examples of unsustainable manufacturing and consumption .
so the question is whether delivery will be satisfactory .
I want us not to hide behind that fact and leave it to our successors .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , that is true .
joining forces to innovate so as to solve common problems in Europe means more focus , more rapid development , efficiency , including cost-efficiency , and greater creativity .
indeed , the fact that oil prices have continued to rise does not mean that our policies have failed .
it is a policy based on an open network and an open internet , which has always been , and will continue to be , the mindset , approach and target value of Europe .
it is of critical value to ensure that all stakeholders in our society , politicians , industry and consumers themselves believe in this priority to be able to make informed decisions .
in my opinion , these include the simplification of legislation and the abolishment of unnecessary regulations in all areas where this is possible .
each of us knows that , as long as European public debate is monopolised by the institutional issue and as long as Europe does not have the tools needed to make decisions both democratically and effectively , the real political , economic , social and ecological issues will not be addressed with the speed and seriousness required .
we need to show much greater flexibility .
it is therefore very difficult for us to weigh up the benefits .
I can only get that in areas where enough taxes also can be obtained .
according to Eurostat , life expectancy at birth varies among EU countries by 9 years for women and 13 years for men , and infant mortality rates vary sixfold .
Madam President , on 9 May we celebrate ' Europe Day ' in all our countries , but the truth is that we should sometimes hold a ' No Europe Day ' to see what Europe would be like if the European Union did not exist .
I am also entirely in favour of ecological footprints - I mean legislative footprints - which publishing the number of lobbyists and the names of the people they met in the reports could provide , and I am in favour of being able to find out exactly who said what and who influenced whom .
I wonder how we will ever have anything in place to deal with the hundreds of ships which the Commission has identified .
if we are to remain market leaders here , we must send out a clear and unequivocal message , and that means setting the priority where it is needed .
long live the European Council !
the Black Sea Monitoring and the Framework Programme for the Black Sea Development is a pilot project which I am confident that the European Parliament will support ; it is a right step towards good development of the Black Sea region and towards integration of the citizens of the Black Sea region into the EU membership policy .
I have received two motions for resolutionstabled in accordance with Rule 115 ( 5 ) of the Rules of Procedure .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy . - ( FI ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to thank the rapporteur , Mrs Ayala Sender , most sincerely for a very creditable report .
I also support the initiative by the AGE platform to declare 2012 the year of intergenerational solidarity .
secondly , I wish to emphasise that the Corfu Process must focus increased attention on settling unresolved conflicts , an area where the OSCE can provide real added value , compared with other regional organisations of this kind .
my question was No 3 in a session .
we must continue moving forward .
tomorrow an urgent resolution will be debated in this House on the financing of the special court to judge war crimes in Sierra Leone , set up by the United Nations .
at the same time , however , I wonder whether we are just tilting at windmills .
I just want to reject emphatically the fact that this side of the House is against consumer rights because we are not committing an advance to a proposal for which we do not even have the information .
the Roma emergency was declared when the media reported that a 16 year-old Romany girl had attempted to kidnap a 6 month-old baby from her mother in Naples .
some of these consequences have already been mentioned , because a provisional twelfths budget means a ' zero growth ' budget , not to mention inflation .
I asked the Commission and the Member States to examine the way in which transport infrastructures and the applicable tariffs influence urban development and future demands for transport services .
our second concern is the fact that , as you have said yourself , you are going to draw up national reform programmes on the basis of this Annual Growth Survey . however , it is here that important matters will be decided .
in spite of this , the key issue continues to be the access to areas that have been affected , and how to distribute help quickly .
in this connection , I would like to welcome again the European Commission 's decision to reinforce the election observation mission in Pakistan , and I would like to repeat our appeal to the Pakistani authorities to use the remaining time leading up to the election to improve the situation and the conduct of the elections .
the Structural Funds can participate in this effort , supporting not only housing but more importantly actions improving the productive capacities of these communities , such as support for SMEs , women , entrepreneurship initiatives , etc .
there are two points that I would like the Commissioner to shed some light on for me .
it shows that improved legislation is required , but also improved monitoring .
I firmly believe that if we fail to make the teaching profession more attractive , there will be a shortage of high-quality specialists in education .
29 .
I do not deny that nuclear energy can form part of a well-balanced European energy basket and that its use may lessen our external dependence in this field , but I believe the European Union cannot avoid sharing in the effort to close down that obsolete nuclear facility while also ensuring that economic recovery projects deserve adequate funding .
in writing . - Members of the European Conservatives and Reformists strongly support equal treatment for all regardless of race , religion , sexuality , or disability , and strongly condemn discrimination in all its forms .
in other words , we still need more ambitious and clearer energy efficiency targets .
we realised at that point that an internal energy market , a fully-functioning , interconnected , effective market , is a precondition for security of energy supply to Europe .
in the case of forceful deportation to Iran of Camp Ashraf residents , necessary representations towards the Government of Iran will have to be made .
it is in all our interests that our workers , wherever they are in the European Union , have good and equal rights .
it is needed in order to legally replace the existing one after the move of the data storage out of the United States .
next week I go to the Security Council , on your behalf too .
let me talk for a few minutes about how we got to where we are today , and what will come in the future , and about child participation , which is most likely our biggest challenge regarding children .
however , I believe that we have good substance with which to make an agreement because all the rapporteurs are working very closely together .
the rules on security controls at airports , for example , were introduced in response to pressure from very topical events at the time .
we must not squander Mother Earth 's treasures .
lastly , there has to be a break with the free movement of capital , which was the trigger factor of the crisis , since it allowed the crisis in the US home mortgage market - which was an entirely circumstantial crisis that should have remained confined to the US market - gradually to contaminate all our economies and to ruin our savers , our workers and our employers .
the militarisation of the EU is not in the interest of any of its peoples .
at the same time there is no denying that a section of the Iranian population approves of the killing of homosexuals , discrimination against women and the suppression of ethnic minorities .
the European Union has sufficient strength to make this step forward .
when a third country on the positive list maintains or introduces a visa obligation for nationals of one , two or more Member States , the reciprocity mechanisms apply .
I also welcome the annual publication of declarations of financial interests of the elected members of the European Data Protection Supervisor ( EDPS ) , containing relevant information on remunerated posts or activities and declarable professional activities .
'Free access ' to the research infrastructure of every Member State provides an opportunity for the direct exploitation by capital of every research activity funded by the Member States , for the control and programming of research to be restricted to the mechanisms of the EU and the monopolies , for the idea of excellence based on market rather than scientific criteria to be promoted and for research to be concentrated in fewer and fewer research centres / companies .
it is judged not only by the number of times the world ' social ' appears in the document , Mr Schulz , but how much responsibility and social commitment it contains .
we therefore need to develop a joint policy on buildings in order to achieve better cooperation in this area .
you have also held the Conference of Presidents in your official residence , the Élysée Palace , on several occasions and you invited the Commission and the Parliament to the capital of your country for an impressive celebration on 1 July , the day on which you took over the presidency , which was also an inspiring demonstration of your determination to unite Europe .
the European Union , and also the EIB , as the power behind it , is the largest provider of funds to the other side of the Mediterranean .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( PT ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , Mr Borrell , I should firstly like to thank you for your three questions on this specific issue of the ban on cluster bombs .
a second matter is that of visas .
dear colleagues , I would like to thank you all for your attention and solidarity , which the nations of the Baltic countries have been looking forward to for so many years .
however , this step should be taken after an in-depth analysis of the impact on the budget .
if we dash these hopes again , we will be limiting our influence in the East in every respect .
they are starting to be characterised by an ever-greater awareness of social and environmental protection issues .
Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy . - Madam President , let me begin by being absolutely clear .
our duty is to kick-start European integration , which is in a seriously bad way .
this is how important our laws are , our treaties are , even our economic regulations , which sanction the value and right of mobility and residence , which are the legitimate rights of European citizens , and not concessions , which can be regulated but not denied .
the island of Lampedusa and Italy were left without any answers .
that is a recent comment by a new president .
that , it seems to me , is a very fixed and rigid arrangement when it comes to the issue of social mixing .
in one of the amendments which I tabled to the Laperrouze report we stress the significance of supporting ' the Nabucco gas pipeline , which is the only existing undertaking which will diversify energy sources and transit routes for gas ' without the involvement of Russia .
on the screens , we then saw that we voted on Amendment 1 .
by Mr Mitchell , on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs , on 2007 Annual Reports of the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development ; and
I wonder if you could assure us that when you start those discussions - for example , on the fifth Cohesion Report - that you will have those discussions with local authorities and regions on the future of cohesion policy - and , of course , with this Parliament .
in our view , GDP must include a set of welfare indicators , as well as indicators which will take into account broad external economic factors and environmental pressures .
instead , the European Parliament should demand Israel 's withdrawal from the West Bank occupied territories .
VAT is the classic example of us all being on common ground .
this is mainly due to small banks ' higher level of initial capitalisation and their simpler business model .
I welcome the agreement which has been reached with the Council at second reading .
it can be said that that lorry classification has enabled CO2 emissions to be reduced by 30 to 40 % .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
Member of the Commission . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I think that a good job has been done in approving a legislative text which will contribute to making the roads in the European Union safer for citizens .
above all , I undertake to take great pains on the issue of health .
the Commission fully supports the principle and the content of these statements : there can be no justification for the use of the death penalty by the Iranian authorities in the case of juvenile offenders .
an important solution for the financial system , the introduction of which is worth considering , too , is what is known as the Tobin tax .
the environment , social justice and sustainability have always been marginalised in favour of older and , in my opinion , outdated priorities relating to industrial , economic and even research policy .
the Greek case has also highlighted the need to look at the issue of divergences of competitiveness inside the eurozone and the Union , on which we began a discussion that will be pursued in June and is an aspect of the eurozone economy to which we have paid insufficient attention .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I believe that it is not necessary to particularly emphasise the importance of the European satellite navigation programmes to the creation of new jobs and European competitiveness .
it is appropriate too that the draft resolution clearly identifies the need to link policies on vocational education and training with policies on employment , the economy , social integration , improving the competitiveness of higher education and enabling everyone to access it on equal terms .
thank you for your attention .
by promoting higher safety standards and better pay , the EU is helping improve workers ' lives .
the same fate that met Iceland , which is not part of the EU , would have awaited Ireland .
as to the assistants ' allowance second tranche increase for 2011 , this means that the appropriations are currently entered in reserve pending a detailed financial statement of all related costs .
for the Latvian language , it is not possible , as small as we are , as few in number as we are .
we have always pointed out that agriculture in the southern EU countries has special characteristics that need to be respected if we are to safeguard their production of high-quality foodstuffs , including wine , olive oil , fruit and vegetables , and rice , as well as meat and milk produced under very different conditions from those prevailing in other areas .
you , like Ulysses returning to Ithaca , must not listen to the songs of the sirens , because they want to lure the ship on to the rocks and for the ship of Europe to sink .
thank you Mr President , ladies and gentlemen .
moreover , the Commission has called for amendments to the agreement between Ukraine and Hungary with regard to the demarcation of the border area in order to bring this agreement into line with Community rules ; this is also the case for the agreement between Ukraine and Poland .
the next item is the statement on the earthquake in Haiti by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy , and Vice-President of the Commission , Baroness Ashton .
in Poznań last week it was the one that was in question but we achieved it ; the results have come by trust and by hard work .
we must act quickly and with sufficient force .
I hope that the mechanisms of solidarity will not permit market distortions or give rise to excessively onerous procedures .
the committee was clear with regard to noise and health .
thanks also go to the staff in Parliament and the groups , and to my own assistant , Elizabeth , who played a big role in making sure we were here today .
the figures speak for themselves .
thank you for your attention .
it is about time we listened to them , just as the European political élite should listen to the voters when , in referendum after referendum , they have rejected the Lisbon Treaty .
it is obscene to present as a right the obligation for a sick person to have to move and fund a trip abroad in order to receive proper treatment .
President Hugo Chávez 's opponents are still sitting in prison cells , sentenced on what are clearly political grounds .
I would like to begin by thanking the Court of Auditors for its excellent work , especially chapter 2 of its report , which is very well presented .
what ways are there to put into effect these principles and objectives ?
I fear that this agreement will bring new sales markets for the EU countries , but will seriously damage the economies of the SEMC .
that is why Europe must intervene .
I also find it somewhat surprising that , in the midst of an economic crisis with rising unemployment , in which the effects of globalisation can be felt , the EGF has received and accepted so few applications from the Member States .
when they have to , they can overcome difficulties and reach an agreement for the greater good of the half a billion Europeans who live within our borders .
( LV ) Thank you , Madam President .
let us hope that the new Putin-Medvedev double act will be coming in a genuine spirit of reconciliation with the European Union and not hoping that the ' no ' vote in Ireland means an end to an EU common front for the 27 Member States vis-à-vis Russia .
in writing . - ( FR ) I am in favour of the report by Mr Florenz on behalf of the Temporary Committee on Climate Change since he analyses the incidences and effects of climate change , insofar as they are vouched for by scientific proof .
along with Mrs Merkies , we will keep a close eye on you .
on the demand side , there is , at this moment , no demand for additional licit opium for medical purposes according to the International Narcotics Control Board .
subject : common Agricultural Policy : planning and application in favour of small producers
can you tell me please , honestly , if this is the case , and how you intend to raise such taxes ?
Mr Adamou 's own-initiative report makes a significant contribution here and I thank him for it .
in writing . - ( FR ) The defence of the rights and the protection of people who are victims of discrimination must be a priority for the EU , but this can only be effective and useful if it guarantees legal certainty for the persons involved whilst avoiding a disproportionate burden for the economic players targeted .
Member of the Commission . - The Commission has advocated a minimum income and also a minimum wage , but we are speaking here about Member State competences and Member State responsibilities , and the subsidiarity principle comes into this discussion very strongly .
now , when we are voting on the discharge , we , elected MEPs , assume full legal responsibility for the 2008 budget .
entrepreneurship is meaningful insofar as it contributes to society as a whole , but if someone engages in pseudo-business in order to lure other , honest traders and companies to a directory purely for the sake of their own enrichment , and in doing so uses subterfuge , this is downright fraud , no matter how much they protest that they are not doing anything illegal .
so we are talking here about effectiveness as well as civil liberties .
however , it is also the case that stable financial markets require us to have stable growth , stable investments and the creation of new jobs .
in all countries these two sectors nevertheless have higher proportions of women researchers than the business enterprise sector with an EU average of 18 % women , but there are large cross-country variations .
my view is that we should support a report that is aimed at helping to shape a plan of action in the area of logistics at European level .
I hope that we will use that opportunity for a plan that is supported by major economic and environmental groups .
a little selfanalysis and selfcriticism would do the European institutions a power of good .
the offer of a joint working group is very important .
as regards the transatlantic relations which have been mentioned , the Council reiterates that , in general , in the fight against terrorism , generalised internal security measures , not limited to one Member State of the European Union , can only be put into practice in the framework of very strict cooperation with the US .
internal Market Scoreboard (
the second focus of negotiation was the levying of a charge towards the financing of public services .
we believe that global trade has been beneficial to the world economy , but at the same time we acknowledge that more needs to be done , especially in the transport sector , to reduce harmful emissions .
in closing , allow me to express a note of warning .
let us not forget , however , that these slogans must be backed up by practical measures , and that the appropriate legislative decisions must be taken and laws implemented which will contribute to the achievement of the objectives which have been mentioned , namely , the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy .
I would also like to emphasise that the rapporteur 's conclusions are fully in line with the dynamic of the European Semester , which , as a new instrument for strengthening European economic management , has the objective of increasing cohesion and complementarity , as well as coordinating the EU budget and national budgets in the implementation of common EU investments , in relation to achieving the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy .
the priority for us at the moment is not to add new regulations , but to make existing ones operational and effective .
many points are worded in a long-winded way or duplicated .
irrespective of that , however , it is important for the EU and also the United States to apply the same standards everywhere .
the competitive disadvantage that arises from this situation therefore appears to be very clear .
that is why I am disappointed in the outcome of the vote in the Agriculture Committee , which yet again - it appears to me - has resulted in that committee turning its back on a fundamental reform of this discredited system .
faced with the need for sustainable economic development and the need to reduce pollution , logistics , planning , exchange of best practices as well as efficient cooperation between all relevant players - authorities , producers , carriers , beneficiaries - are the only viable solutions .
I am grateful for the Lange report , the excellent work done by our fellow Member , and Vice-President Tajani 's communication .
when it comes down to it , that is a prime example of how transport policy , sadly , is still not taken seriously enough .
during the subsequent period , the national target set for the use of renewable energy sources in generating electricity will be met if the following measures are taken :
in addition , the capital that is freed up as a result of the lower power bills releases a major potential for consumption which , furthermore , can contribute to our economic growth in the long term .
it is a pity that the warnings from the Commission were too gentle .
we know this is well below what has to be done .
Mr President , the memory of the Council of the European Union on Agriculture , held on 19 July 1999 , is fresh in my mind .
so we have to reflect on what would be a good way of combining these two .
with this report we are supporting one of the most ambitious goals of the Commission , that we reduce the burden of cancer by 15 % over a period of ten years .
in Iceland , the myth of the economic miracle has been exposed and pressure can be heard for it to hitch up to the European imperialist chariot .
in writing . - ( NL ) The EU is one of the largest donors of development and humanitarian aid to Afghanistan .
this is a good day for the building of a ' Europe for health ' .
the main function of the organisation is to establish international labour and social standards .
the Union has clear duties towards its Member States , clear duties towards the rest of the world , clear duties towards its own citizens .
this is very important news for the sporting world and , above all , for the millions of Europeans who are involved in sport and recreational physical activity at grassroots level .
after years of research , the scientists concerned can be justifiably proud of themselves .
EU legislation on the transport of animals is strict .
farmers have held protests about this .
secondly , the system for assessing development policy needs to be improved .
now Europe needs allies , and support for its existing proposals .
my fellow member , El Khadraoui , has already said that there is scope for better cooperation , but not just in terms of airspace management .
I welcome the opportunity this afternoon to address this issue , which I know is of particular concern for you .
however , I would like to make a couple of clarifications about my position on this matter .
it is very important for this matter to be one of the priorities once the new Commission begins work and Spain presides over the Council .
we want to put more of our shared resources into research and development , growth , infrastructure and security .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , yesterday Mr Maroni announced that one had to be unkind to illegal immigrants , but for days and months , Mr Maroni has been practising unkindness towards migrants whose position is irregular .
1 .
finally , I should like to ask the European Commission and the Council to offer China help if necessary to train the authorities and the civil service in drawing up plans for dealing with crises and disasters .
I look forward to hearing your questions on the specific case in Hungary as well as any comments you might want to make on the broader issue .
the victims of these actions include children , young girls and women , not to mention civilians involved in protecting human rights and journalists .
( FR ) Mr President , I would like to remind our fellow Member on the left , Mr Murphy , that Karl Marx was in favour of free trade with India .
it is also important that a Cohesion policy covering economic , social and territorial aspects be incorporated into the Europe 2020 strategy .
diffuse water pollution is an immense environmental problem , and plant protection products are part of that problem .
when we start on the 2008 discharge - and we are doing that even now - we will not be starting from a blank sheet .
I am afraid not .
that is pretty much what I wanted to say on the subject .
SOLVIT is an instrument that should and will gain in strength .
in reply to Mrs Ayala Sender , as regards heavy vehicles , in November 2007 the UNECE World Forum for harmonisation of vehicle regulations approved a text relating to the compulsory installation of ESC and related technical standards .
for far too long , the worrying developments in the labour market and citizens ' concerns have been ignored .
now , though , it seems to be once again the case that one form of guardianship has simply been replaced by another , albeit a more subtle one .
all the best , then , in successfully establishing these fundamental principles .
the second will be one of ambition .
a strong Europe , Prime Minister Orbán , must be a credible Europe .
I should like to underline here that all the checks carried out up to now , by Member States , of Japanese food imports demonstrate negligible levels of radioactivity , which are significantly below current European or Japanese standards .
the directive on misleading and comparative advertising ( 2006 / 114 / EC ) , which applies to business-to-business transactions , is insufficient in providing an effective remedy and is also inadequately enforced by Member States .
it goes without saying that we need such cooperation more than ever .
that is largely due to the forward-planning strategy used for employment , which sets out which factors to address and how to achieve the desired targets , and also to the use of the ESF as an operational instrument of this strategy , acting on education and training and furthering employment .
to take away the jobs of the fishermen of all future generations , that is , if anything , a poor socioeconomic assessment .
I say this because we are opposed to every violation of fundamental human rights , always and wherever they occur .
there is no way out without creating jobs .
we should like to point out that Turkey has made some progress , but we repeat that if its accession is to proceed smoothly , it must do as previous accession countries have done : comply with its Convention obligations to the EU as a whole .
the Kosovan example should compel us more than ever to reaffirm the right of the peoples of Europe to be themselves and to make their own decisions , in other words to preserve their identity and sovereignty , and in an enlarged European Europe of nations and homelands there should also clearly be a legitimate place for the people of Serbia .
therefore , seeking joint solutions to the world economic and financial crisis , drawing up ambitious strategies for the success of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change to be held in Copenhagen , developing a structured dialogue on immigration , or collaborating to achieve the Millennium Development Goals are some of the things that can be achieved at the annual summits between the European Union and Mexico if the strategic partnership that we are proposing is set up .
on 28 February 2011 , in record time , the Council adopted decisions concerning restrictive measures against the regime .
( PL ) Madam President , we do not often deal with tourism in this House and I am therefore particularly grateful to Mr Costa , the rapporteur .
thirdly , the single market : adding an external dimension is all very well , but let us get the internal dimension first , completing our own single market before we develop grand ambitions outside .
for example , in Poland today , journalists are dismissed purely because they have conservative views .
I think that that is a very different relationship to the one that we had as a Parliament with the Congress going back three or four years ago .
after the end of the war , the Sri Lankan President , Mahinda Rajapaksa , promised to investigate all suspected violations of military law and international humanitarian law during the military conflict .
I of course participated in the referendum that we organised in my country and we won .
an artist with whom I discussed this told me that a redistribution was taking place here between the quick and the dead .
that is true .
we ought to be aware that , with our resolution on the Roma in Europe , which is a document full of politically correct nonsense , we will not be able to come up with or offer a single solution because what we are doing is denying the problem .
wherever possible and necessary the EU and US should cooperate in these areas and promote a common agenda .
these financial circles pay no attention to employees anymore , and their money-grubbing practices are not even halted by an ecological disaster .
ensuring the European funds are spent optimally places heavy responsibilities on all of us : on the Commission , when proposing legislation and implementing the budget ; on the Member States in managing , day-to-day , some 80 % of the European budget ; on Parliament and on the Council as legislator and as the discharge authority ; and on the Court as the Union 's external auditor .
I believe that it is vital for the European Union to equip itself with a general reference framework designed to protect citizens in a sector which has grown significantly in recent years .
consequently , I agree on specific information being made available to the general public and the local authorities responsible for implementing these new measures .
that is the current situation , however .
at the same time , however , a multi-speed Europe is emerging .
now to Yemen .
energy efficiency is one of the key priorities of the Europe 2020 strategy and the Energy Strategy for Europe 2011-2020 , which also makes the submitted report highly important and topical in relation to the recent summit in Cancún .
the country has made progress in meeting the political criteria set by the Copenhagen European Council and the requirements of the stabilisation and association process .
I am very proud that we here in Parliament have agreed that we do not consider this to be acceptable .
it invests substantially in research and development , and is growing fast .
I also see a country that has very openly communicated , and continues to communicate , the pain and despair of the people in Sichuan and the problems the rescue teams are facing , rescue teams that have even lost a couple of lives .
the aims of these proposals are firstly to draw attention to the severe crisis that the textile industry is currently undergoing , which was partly caused by the exponential rise in imports from third countries , and secondly to help fight the rapid growth in job instability , unemployment and poverty .
China should anyway receive more attention .
the EU 's role as a global player in this area should therefore be strengthened , and particular focus should be placed on partnership and cooperation with third countries .
this is a first , very clear demand from this Parliament .
in my opinion , the way the report analyses this issue is quite interesting : it proposes new approaches that will now have to be debated over the coming months , specifically as regards the need for aid to developing countries that is more differentiated , dividing them into groups .
the debate also offered more insights , additional stimuli and further suggestions that I hope will be valuable to the Commission and Member States as they fulfil their duties .
the equation is a difficult one .
Ireland welcomes the inclusion of increased Carbon Capture and storage measures , specifically Carbon sinks in the - 20 % scenario as we are the only country in the EU that has more cattle than people and together with generous cost effective offsetting to trading emissions between Member States while it will be difficult , we can reach our target of 20 % less without reducing our herds .
I was elected for the first time to the Portuguese parliament when I was 29 years old .
in my opinion , that would be honest on our part .
in a sector-by-sector comparison , inflation is clearly higher in the services sector .
however , on repeated occasions I have heard the Commission say that Sweden sooner or later must join the EMU .
Mr President , I wish to speak on energy policy .
we were all deeply affected on a personal level by the immensity of the suffering of the Palestinian people , and also of the devastation .
( PL ) Mr President , if the Union does not support Tbilisi politically and economically , we will make it easy for Russia to realise its neo-imperialistic policy towards Georgia , and this will destabilise the situation in the Caucasus still further .
Jean Monnet said that people only accept change when they are faced with necessity and only recognise necessity when a crisis is upon them .
Mr Scicluna 's report reflects this approach .
Hamas must be told this , too .
I join with all Members who want the Member States to respond quickly , and that is what we are doing with this resolution .
he has done an excellent job here on Parliament 's behalf .
for those two reasons also , this is an extremely important compromise that we have successfully negotiated between Parliament and the Council of Ministers and that we shall , I hope , adopt tomorrow .
one year is not much when the fate of almost 100 000 families hangs in the balance .
at the end of this year , the scheduled revision of the Financial Regulation will take place , and our aim with this reserve is to help the Commission out a little , as we believe that we need simplifications and that we must implement certain proposals in the Financial Regulation .
last but not least , I hope that the Irish example will provide a valuable lesson for other countries throughout the world .
the state of the economy of Greece requires a depreciation of its currency .
according to the Commission statement , Iceland 's preparations to meet European Union requirements are generally good and on schedule .
it is therefore very important for all citizens that decisive action should be taken to rid the internal market of successive barriers and obstacles to the flow of people , capital , goods and services .
the return on investment is highest during this period because the fruit of such investment lasts a lifetime .
this would be my appeal and the appeal of the Commission to the Greek political representatives : cooperate , show us unity , show us a united approach to the very difficult issues .
of course , one of the watchwords that will appear in many of these reports is the word ' democracy ' .
( PT ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , increased life expectancy and a constantly falling birth rate will mean that the current European demographic dependency index will rise from the current 49 % to 59 % by 2025 and 77 % by 2050 .
the heart of the problem is that , whilst Serbia certainly has some of the characteristics of a democracy , it is still some way from having a stable , democratic infrastructure .
this must remain an exceptional case .
but I do regret that the social , environmental and labour clauses that we are negotiating with the Gulf States are significantly weaker than those that we are negotiating in our modern round of free trade agreements .
we cannot close our eyes to the serious human rights violations that exist , in contradiction with the pledges made by China itself .
they would both make an important contribution , not only to the recovery efforts , but crucially to the long-term effectiveness of financial supervision and the strength of the EU financial sector .
with this Road Map we intend in the next year to consider the next 40 years with you and the Member States and to submit forecasts for energy requirements , the energy mix , environmental targets and the security of supply for four decades .
it is a paradox that alcoholism , lung cancer and AIDS are treated in Europe , yet infertility is not treated in all countries .
I voted against it .
their experience and practical sense should be seen as a valuable contribution in efficiently implementing the future regional policy and in obtaining additional resources .
the European Parliament plays an important role here as joint lawmaker .
it is all very well to speak woolly words here in Parliament about the importance of immigration and allowing the free movement of people .
the next Commission will definitely take all these issues very seriously and this will be a high priority .
the first of these is the absolute necessity for the EU to speak with one voice in international negotiations , as only then can we secure world leadership in dealing with this important issue .
what is interesting about this report is that for the first time we are , in many ways , looking at the key for future development .
the framework correctly defines four key areas for Roma integration : access to education , availability of employment , access to health care and the availability of decent housing and basic services .
objectors tell us that it will only be effective if it is global , but make a start we must , as some countries have done with the tax on flight tickets .
as ever , the focus is on nuclear energy : an industry which squanders capacity , finances and energy .
one example from 2008 was the refusal of the Commission to change its stance in an age discrimination case .
the travelling circus between Brussels and Strasbourg has not even made it onto the agenda , Mr Reinfeldt .
a key element is that we will now have a commissioner who will meet with the committee once a month in order to follow this process .
thank you .
a wish list has been put forward in this regard .
any shareholdings I have ever had have always been declared in the declaration of interests , and they have never stopped me from criticising some wind-power projects .
I personally was very responsive to the argument that small businesses also should not be pushed , as it were , into a situation that would ultimately leave them somewhat sidelined from economic life , all on the pretext of simplification .
Mr President , the situation in Azerbaijan is very disappointing .
the Union should continue its strategy of expansion in a gradual and strict manner .
he asked me who would give back to his eyes the light of hope , the light of life and to his people the light of freedom and peace .
I welcome the issue of Eurobonds .
we are happy that the European Investment Bank operates a zero tolerance policy with regard to fraud and corruption .
firstly , the importance of spectrum for the Digital Agenda to provide all citizens with high broadband access .
I hope therefore that the Commission can really take account of this work and recognise how excellent it is .
I believe that it is essential to properly regulate and control the sale of medicines on the Internet , because this is one of the main routes for falsified medicinal products to enter the European market .
that would have taken place in addition to the financing slump , which would have been a fatal combination .
Mr Salafranca 's report includes an integrated programme and proposes the creation of a foundation , which is also hugely important to the European Parliament , and , of course , it calls for a new and stronger role for the European Parliament in relations with these countries .
women are employed mainly in the textile , clothing , footwear , food and food processing sectors , where pay is generally low . women are significantly under-represented in the more highly-paid advanced technology sectors .
that is what is most important to us today .
the third priority is that we must remember time and time again that , under the European treaties , healthcare in the Member States is a matter for the Member States , and we must respect that .
grooming , sexual abuse and child pornography should have no place anywhere in the EU , nor should we tolerate any of it .
this should be continued in future reports .
furthermore , it is worth saying that it is the only policy which is extremely complicated in terms of putting it into effect , because it is based on a common administration which is shared with the Member States .
that is why , together with a group of Members , we are highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring of the effects of the regulation adopted regarding the use of pesticides .
finally I have to say that I have doubts on specific targets for biogas , and I heard a remark by the rapporteur .
however , I found myself unable to vote in favour of the report as a whole .
at the same time , we must not forget that the country has already proved its importance for stability in the region .
the Green Paper takes a holistic approach , because my fellow Commissioners , Rehn and Barnier , and I are convinced that adequate , sustainable and safe pensions call for coordinated , joined-up policies spanning our three areas of responsibility .
finally , I would like to draw attention to the need to devise common principles governing the procedures required for issuing travel documents or passports as this phase is crucial for both ensuring the databases ' security and preventing the forgery of these documents .
the rights of European consumers , whether current or potential customers of timeshares or holiday cards and clubs , have been reinforced at various levels .
the growth of protein crops not only mitigates the impact of climate change , but also has a positive effect on farmers ' incomes .
we are respecting the principle of proportionality while eliminating minimum sanctions , and we are establishing the principle that you cannot prosecute conduct if there is no sanction available for such conduct .
I would like it to be noted that the hotbed of abuse occurring with excise duty is due to the increase in minimum levels , since it stimulates the spread of the black-market economy and the manufacture of home-made produce , which contradict all the Community 's policies .
may I say that this very banana which I bought today in the European Parliament supermarket is illegal !
there is no way around the fact that this Treaty has to be acceptable to all Member States and ratified by all Member States .
at the end of this month , we will be putting forward proposals on the future financing of all sectors , including culture .
our responsibility to ourselves , as Europeans , is not to be obliging towards anyone .
yet each of them , each of their families deserves a lengthy speech .
it always strikes me , when I arrive in the United States or Australia for example , that the border controls there are much stricter than in Europe .
firstly , the introduction of a new environmental sheep-maintenance scheme which would allow sheep farmers to be paid under on a per-ewe basis , in recognition of the positive environmental attributes associated with the maintenance of sheep production , to be co-financed by national and European Union funding .
the differences in pay between women and men is ultimately yet another indication of the continued discrimination against women in all of the different areas .
its recommendations and judgments help us all in our work .
for this reason , the Commission will have to create a transparent procedure , so that its acceptance by industry and by the Member States can be assured , for we are dealing with very large sums here .
this report is obviously a step forward for solving this challenge that the European citizens and institutions are dealing with .
why does it have one with Cuba and not with the People 's Republic of China ?
while remembering the dark times of segregation and persecution , we must draw strength from these uplifting moments of our shared history , and find hope that , by uniting , we may become a dignified , harmonious community .
the figure of 8 000 relates to road fatalities in the most vulnerable group : pedestrians and cyclists .
we need to get rid of the barriers to the single market that still remain , we need to get rid of bottlenecks and we need to use the new areas of the economy .
the Commission has the role of supporting the Member States in their development of quality education .
Mr President , to start with , on a point of order , I would like to ask the presidency of this House to write to the French presidency and indicate that we find it unacceptable that the French presidency is not available for the whole duration of such an important debate .
finally , the application of the implementation of the tobacco advertising ban is now everywhere .
President of the Commission . - First of all , Mr Farage , do not be so sad about the result in Ireland .
I would appreciate your reaction .
I am a little surprised , since , in the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality , we - and here I refer to all of the groups - had agreed to abide by the definitions contained within the Commission 's proposal , which is legally sound and acceptable to everyone , to the effect that assisting spouses should also be understood to mean the life partners of self-employed workers recognised by national law .
( the President cut off the speaker )
this will also be dealt with in a meeting with the Ukrainian authorities in only a few weeks time .
the report was difficult because it had to establish rules for the special case of Europe-wide mobile satellite services before the Telecom package was revised .
as a neighbour of Afghanistan , and the associated problems of the large-scale production and sale of drugs , terrorism and growing extremism , and with another increasingly unstable neighbour , Pakistan , Tajikistan could be a natural ally of the European Union .
we need to make progress .
there are no particular groups that are affected ; it is found throughout society .
the clearly formulated intention that retirement systems should emphasise equity and social effectiveness also combats poverty .
no breakthrough can be achieved for the scientific sector , energy , transport , economic governance or digital technologies unless they are supported by common European policies .
here the European Union has already demonstrated its strong commitment and , in the EU Aid for Trade strategy of October 2007 , has put in place a firm basis on which to make yet further improvements .
( the oral amendment was adopted )
Baroness Ashton , I suppose you must have felt the same sort of anguish by now , and that is why we greatly appreciate the fact that you are initiating a debate on Arctic policy so early on and that over the weekend , you are going to Lapland , which is part of the Arctic region .
in writing . - ( PT ) Energy is currently a central strategic issue .
that environment needs to move on from Bali , which was a great talking shop .
in its childhood and early youth , the EU was almost totally secret , even down to the Commission 's internal telephone directory .
that , Commissioner , is why I would like the Commission to take the initiative to go further , to propose that the Member States go further .
I support the creation of the stability mechanism , and accordingly I also supported the report , which paves the way for a legal framework enabling the creation of this mechanism .
we have , as Members , challenged the operational and cost implications of the compulsory electronic identification , and the disastrous consequences for an industry already in serious decline .
the answer is simple .
in this communication the Commission set out proposals on reinforcing compliance with the Stability and Growth Pact and deeper fiscal policy coordination .
I hope , Mr Kyprianou , that I am not being unduly harsh in my criticism , but you can imagine that , as I drafted the report and prepared myself for this evening and consulted the relevant documentation , I had to rub my eyes when I saw all the things that can happen in our European institutions .
firstly , agricultural products produced within the European Union have to meet very stringent environmental , sanitary and health requirements , and meeting these requirements significantly increases production costs , thus making European agricultural products relatively uncompetitive in price terms on world markets .
the Council of Europe and this House have not remained silent in the face of these monstrous events ; instead , they have gathered the facts , investigated the abuses and criticised them clearly and unequivocally .
we also agreed that we were basically of the opinion that , from a point of view of principle , legislation at European level can only be an opt-in solution and that an opt-out solution would only be permissible here where the Member States already have a similar solution and national constitutional law so allows .
that must be very clear .
in this context , I would also like to applaud the activities of the Office of the European Parliament in Slovakia , which did a great job of organising the event .
this is yet another case in which those who portray themselves as the champions of free trade give in to protectionist national temptations out of self-interest .
Madam President , first of all , I would like to pick up on what Mr Brok said .
do the agreements include a net exporter clause , in order to prevent the development of a trade triangle ?
we should ensure greater financial support for current EU programmes ( Erasmus , Erasmus Mundus , Leonardo da Vinci ) and establish new initiatives which will help young people to learn and to gain experience abroad , and will also provide the financial and administrative possibilities necessary to use this support at work in their own country .
I believe we would be well-advised to draw on their know-how in order to promote best practice , in school dining halls among others , and to develop a taste in young people for quality food and healthy eating habits .
it is high time to act , because today 's generation of children has orthopaedic defects due to cheap , but physically harmful Chinese shoes .
there are 26 so-called fragile states in the world as we speak and the most vulnerable people in the world are facing catastrophic consequences , not through their own fault in some cases , but sometimes through bad governance , sometimes through internal conflict , sometimes through civil wars , sometimes through genocidal dictators as we found , not many years ago , in Sierra Leone and Liberia .
to cite just a few of the most visible initiatives , this has meant a series of key actions like the Strategic Energy Review , the recent proposals on labour migration , flexicurity , the wine market , market access .
the second observation that I want to make is that the construction of the European Union - what we are doing right now - also requires an adequate education .
as the PPE-DE 's shadow rapporteur , I am also confident that , together with the Council and the Commission , we have reached a good , balanced and practicable compromise .
creation is also threatened by the emission of atmospheric pollutants , 40-80 % of which originate from large industrial installations .
however , if we are to be fair , we must also be strict with Turkey .
however , I would like to say that we in the Green Group have now got through a report which can essentially be used for good negotiations with the Council , but there the name becomes a little silly .
this is , then , a clear signal .
this is why best practice and benchmarking are absolutely essential if we are to explain to the European public how much importance we attach to agricultural policy .
we want greening and we want it in the first pillar .
therefore , we should avoid any corner-cutting in trying to reach our renewable goals .
one of the principles of providing public goods is solidarity .
CSR Europe has even created a toolkit for wellbeing in the workplace .
the reduction target is inadequate .
you may be assured that I will be monitoring this matter very closely ; it will not be forgotten .
the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon creates a new paradigm in the area of fundamental rights within the Union , and makes the Charter of Fundamental Rights legally binding .
we want trade to be a proper instrument that helps to create jobs and growth , to combat poverty and to promote development .
unfortunately , a coherent , coordinated strategy on the role of culture in the EU 's external actions does not currently exist .
the government there has now issued a new draft constitution that is due to be adopted in mid-April .
to conclude , in order to strengthen these dialogues , ladies and gentlemen , next week Parliament will adopt a resolution on Belarus , and the Commission will genuinely pay very close attention to your recommendations .
there are also data protection problems .
some of you said that there will be a ' President of Europe ' .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( FR ) Mr President , Mrs van den Burg , ladies and gentlemen , the European Parliament is today going to give its verdict on a proposal for simplification .
our duty is to make sure that the famous ' never again ' will equally apply to the Ukrainian nation .
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I am also keen to point out that the purpose of sanctions is not to replace judicial proceedings against those responsible for human rights violations .
the people of Croatia do not deserve to be ostracised in any way .
even though the Italian legal system is more innovative , the increase in the number of weeks of maternity leave at European level represents a strong boost in favour of family assistance to newborn babies .
the new name - transparency register - makes it easier for non-commercial organisations to join the register .
( RO ) Thank you for the information and answer you have provided .
for this reason , the European budget - the medium-term financial plan - must cover five years and therefore be linked in political terms to the responsibility of an elected Commission and an elected Parliament .
we want to produce these by February or March .
the aim of the proposal is to abolish visa requirements for citizens of Taiwan .
the Socialist Group in the European Parliament is doing everything it can to ensure that the goals of Barcelona Process are met , and notes with disappointment that this objective is visibly absent from the Czech Presidency 's programme .
citizens of Moldova and Georgia are confronted with considerable difficulties in obtaining visas for the EU Member States .
for additional innovations and additional activities , however , we could have done with extra funding .
moreover , it is a responsibility that applies to all market operators , from public authorities to consumers and producers .
then he should say so clearly and act accordingly .
in addition , I endorse the idea of improving the efficiency of application of Community law through closer cooperation between the European Parliament and national parliaments .
for all these reasons , I recommend that we grant discharge .
in the next few weeks , you will have the time to prove that you really take this seriously .
fishermen in all European seas complain about the painful drop in income , which may be severe enough to threaten their existence .
finally , let me tell you that the Greek Government wishes to support a viable solution : it has undertaken to cover the maintenance expenses of an ENISA office in Athens in order to facilitate the body 's work and operations .
currently , requests for tax information sharing take so long that tax administrations often simply decide against waiting for the information .
great attention will be paid to the social reach of the Lisbon Strategy , efforts to solve demographic challenges , the lack of qualifications and future political measures to increase social cohesion .
this broad social role of payments should constantly be emphasised . a significant sector of society is unaware of this role and it should be explained to them .
Christians are still suffering acute persecution today in many countries , some of which have close contacts with the EU .
that will be one of the points I intend to put into the next European Union budget .
( FR ) Mr President , as has already been highlighted , Tunisia is an important partner of the EU ; mention was also made of the extremely important role played by the social field in Tunisia .
this clearly smacks of the envy of those circles , both political and economic , with the government 's success in its uncompromising war against criminality and corruption , and with its honest and open way of conducting policy .
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thank you for your reply , Commissioner , which I believe .
without this new vision we will fall into perpetual crises where usury by the banks will continue to control people and injustice will be central to our lives .
I shall come back to this in just a moment .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the American political scientist Samuel Huntington once predicted a clash of civilizations .
the events over the recent weeks , in which the European Commission has discontinued the resources under the PHARE and SAPARD Programmes for Bulgaria , are a further testimony to the fact that most of the irregularities in the spending of these resources are associated also with corrupt practices .
I voted for this report in order to give the green light to the negotiations on the accession of the EU , as a legal personality in its own right , to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights .
we welcome the stance of the Serbian President , whose new approach has given a powerful impetus to a lasting reconciliation in the region .
the aim of the Services Directive should be to eliminate barriers to service provision across Europe , and it should bring dramatic improvements .
( RO ) I would like to mention again the situation which faces trained and accredited rail sector staff during a time of crisis .
the text we are discussing is one of the measures taken to achieve this , and I support this initiative .
there needs to be an independent investigation , and freedom of access and movement needs to be given to those responsible for the media and information .
the review of the Stability and Growth Pact permits controlled flexibility , to be used with care and long-term perspective .
it is just that , whenever public money is involved , everyone needs to be able to account for how that public money was used .
Mr Guardans Cambó , you know how much I like and respect you , but I have to follow the procedure here .
I also stressed that the European Union condemns all forms of intolerance and violence against people because of their religion , wherever it takes place .
moreover , on the basis of different experiences within the Union , there is still no common perception on Russia between the east and the west as a precondition for a common position .
the most recent statistics indicate a difference of more than 17 % .
we have already introduced a test for SMEs which is designed to take into greater account the procedure used in assessing the impact of the various policies and obligations that constrain SMEs .
governance and partnership in the Single Market - Single market for Europeans - Single market for enterprises and growth - Public procurement ( continuation of debate )
the fact that today male colleagues have participated in this debate may , I believe , be a reflection of the fact that men must also stand beside women in the fight for equality .
Mr President , I would like to congratulate Mr Skinner on this report .
they had the overwhelming majority of this House behind them .
in actual fact , however , I feel that the process is advancing too slowly .
in closing , I would like to make two key points .
( LT ) I would like to congratulate the rapporteurs for their splendid work .
today more than ever , we need strong tools with which to solve these problems .
in writing . - Amendment 10 : a framework directive is not proportional and does not respect subsidiarity .
it would do well , today , to follow its own advice .
with this FTA and the Safeguard Regulation we have an excellent package that I hope you will support tomorrow .
how can we curtail its effects on the additional problems of growing isolation in an increasing number of areas and regions ?
it is over 100 internal market directives .
that is the reason why , to my mind - and this is a personal opinion that I am now voicing , and not necessarily that of my entire group - it is essential that we have a tax on financial transactions that would enable us to obtain the USD 100 billion we have provided for 2020 .
the European strategy is supplemented by the proposal for a Council recommendation on action within the Member States .
I think European citizens understood that the EU was not yet prepared for taking a single action , but we have to make sure that we are ready to take a single action in the next similar case .
it is essential that it does that as otherwise , we will end up fragmented again .
to close , I should like to point out that , while supporting the accession of Turkey , Cyprus cannot consent to the opening of the energy chapter until Turkey has honoured its commitments towards the European Union and Cyprus and until it has eliminated the obstacles it is placing on the Republic of Cyprus in its efforts to enlarge its economic area .
the preventative detentions and the ban on leaving the country which has been imposed on the most important members of the opposition and former members of the government cast doubt on the objectivity of the Ukrainian prosecution service .
energy supplies have a significant impact on the way citizens function in social and economic life .
there are 23 million SMEs , which corresponds to 99 % of European companies .
I can reaffirm clearly what Commissioner Piebalgs said : at the moment neither is acting responsibly , nor as a responsible partner of the European Union .
consumers will gain through more affordable purchases and enhanced access to high-quality services .
the world has changed .
the need for increased funding to guarantee health and safety measures are met in areas such as mining , steelmaking and shipbuilding is essential , especially in such high risk industries .
it can simply help , together with other initiatives , to address the problem .
this proposal , which is in line with previous measures , aims to make the lives of major European importers , which are its main beneficiaries , even easier , as they will be able to access raw materials and low-cost finished products , while sacrificing national industry and thousands of jobs .
every country on this planet is connected with others , as in the ' law of connected vessels ' .
the EU 's Aid for trade ( vote )
I hope we shall also look at medium- and long-term solutions .
Mr Daul , unfortunately , as you said , there have been episodes of this kind on numerous occasions , and therefore I obviously regard them as unacceptable .
this prevents frozen fish whose legality has not been confirmed from being landed at European ports .
dates for next sittings : see Minutes
finally , no-one can disagree that the shipping industry needs to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions .
with this proposal , we do not address the conditions for granting or withdrawing a permit .
rather , they should draw on existing best practices in some Member States .
I shall table this communication to the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development on 17 November .
Commissioner Louis Michel recently heard the President of Sudan himself , Omar al-Bashir , say that he would not hand over those who have been indicted for crimes against humanity to the International Criminal Court , just as the United States does not .
it is simply to motivate the candidates to make efforts , to work with them and to support them by means of various instruments , including the neighbourhood policy .
today , we shall commemorate Isaías Carrasco and all the victims of terrorism , in order to assure the victims of the madness of terrorist attacks of our respect and our sympathy .
his report effectively covers trade in goods , services , investment and intellectual property , and development issues .
apart from duly expressing our condolences regarding these bloody events , I believe that we must offer our strong support to the Philippine Government so as to establish how Europe may be of use in resolving the serious armed conflicts and opposition which are bathing this unfortunate country in blood .
the fuel crisis is undermining the growth of competitiveness in our small and medium-sized enterprises ; reducing the consumer purchasing power aggravates the situation and , Mr President , I dread to think what is going to happen this winter - many millions of people will be unable to afford to keep themselves warm .
we must not fall into the same sort of crisis we had in the 1930s .
we must put an end to the impunity too often enjoyed by those who commit violence against women , and we must establish a proper complaints procedure in this regard .
yet the importance of our partnership with the EIB and with the European Union in meeting our commitments , both to our shareholders and to our countries of operations , is clearer than ever .
I voted for the decision not to convene a Convention for the revision of the Treaties with regard to the transitional measures concerning the composition of the European Parliament .
four out of five Europeans live in urban areas .
we must ensure transparency , here and in the Council .
Mr President , I totally endorse what my colleagues in the ' catch-the-eye ' process have been talking about .
however , the accession of these countries cannot be thought of as the end of European Union enlargement .
certain Member States introduce artificial obstacles , making access to calls for tender even more difficult than we ourselves do .
there could be some discussion about whether this might discriminate against smokers .
in writing . - ( PT ) Leaving aside the aspects criticised , which we have already had the opportunity to highlight , once the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights becomes operational in due course , its actual purpose will be clarified .
we should take this situation seriously and urgently try to find out the causes of these diseases , provide more intensive treatment and compare the results , as well as raising social awareness and providing more information about their social , legal and employment impact .
for a long time , gender inequality in the labour market has been a very important subject for the EU , and for years , it has tried to find a solution .
however , there is still an obstacle to the opening-up of the networks that we absolutely have to remove : the absence of technical interoperability , which is caused by numerous elements , including the many different types of control-command systems , stock recognition - which we are discussing here - and , in particular , track gauge .
let me refer to the letter , which says that now , with the increasing numbers of refugees from North Africa in the wake of the current revolutionary developments there , the EU is caught between its public support for them and the quiet necessity to keep its gates closed .
at the time of the volcanic ash crisis , the costs were estimated to be in excess of GBP 200 million a day in UK flights alone .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( EL ) Madam President , the European Parliament budget for the coming year will have three new elements .
it is important for its success - the success that we all hope this initiative will experience - that it is , quite simply , the citizens who take the initiative .
opening of the sitting
lastly , I believe it is vital to promote equal opportunities in access to university so that no fraction of European talent is wasted .
with regard to fisheries and agriculture , I believe that Europe and Iceland must find the best solution to meet the criteria established in the Treaty and to preserve the Icelandic economy , ecosystems and the country 's specific characteristics .
the designation of a product 's origin is important so that consumers know the exact source of the product that they are buying .
this debate has revealed that the package is of huge importance and we simply cannot forget how complicated it was for the Commission to prepare it and to ensure that this agreement is adopted .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I would like to thank all the speakers in today 's discussion for their very constructive contributions and I urge you to support this compromise package before us today .
that power , of course , also enables them to play off countries against one another as potential business locations and thereby compel them to create conditions that are increasingly conducive to profit maximisation .
Mr Hasnain has subsequently said that this was based on personal estimates and did not mention the year and did not carry out any formal research .
I know that , when you are President-in-Office of the Council , you are not defending the interests of your country , but the interests of the Union .
this is why the concern for high-quality aquaculture in Europe will yield economic benefits and also ecological benefits at the same time .
Mr President , that is why I voted in favour of the report .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
in regard to this question , you want to reply to this deserted Chamber that it should vote on the basis of those who were given the floor and not those who wanted to express an independent view !
this is a grey area outside the scope of the control to which budgetary expenditure is subject .
secondly , at your press conference you were very clear about peak oil and also the risk of reaching USD 200 a barrel , so how does this link in with the transport policy at Commission level ?
I should like to thank the two rapporteurs , Mr Grosch and Mrs Ţicău , once more for the constructive exchange of views .
on the one hand , it is right to urge the automobile industry to make CO2 reductions .
to guarantee energy security in Europe , the Union needs to invest in the establishment of a common main grid and a common energy market , and better coordination .
this outrageous behaviour exposes the lie that Iceland is at the forefront of sustainable fisheries management .
the measures to improve the Stability and Growth Pact , surveillance and the European semester all aim at prevention of another crisis and serve to monitor emergence from the current economic crisis .
what is particularly worrying is that the secret police have acquired the capacity to intervene very extensively in the affairs of the country .
I , too , think that it is of paramount importance for the transition period to be as long as possible - 2018 , as has been proposed .
in 2006 we managed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for the first time , while still enjoying intense economic growth .
Mr President , can the President of the Commission foresee any circumstances in which all Member States , including the United Kingdom , are forced to adopt the euro against the wishes of their peoples - possibly expressed in a referendum - and even against the professed wishes of their governments ?
we must remember this .
otherwise , we can just do deals all day long with countries we do not much care about , and we can open markets because we are not really interested .
besides the fundamental goal of a modal shift from road to rail , drivers ' behaviour and vehicle safety , as well as considerate driving and compliance with traffic rules , are of course all key factors .
the European Parliament and European citizens are not being kept up-to-date about progress in the negotiations .
I suspect they will have more work to do in the future but that , as I have said , is for another day .
second , we need to tailor our approach to individual situations .
solutions to some of the questions could be at hand in the near future .
the European Union has gained new powers on the basis of the Lisbon Treaty and must ensure that those powers are fully and effectively used .
and why not ?
there can be no return to imperialist policy , no repetition of previous actions , and no reversion to the use of force in international relations .
the previous Presidencies , for example in 2007 , included countries of the western Balkans , in particular , in these activities .
I would have liked to have seen Parliament 's resources being enhanced first and foremost by means of redistribution and measures to improve efficiency , so that the total budget is not increased .
I see that as the best way to obtain the support of the G-77 .
a few points bear constant repetition .
furthermore , the Presidency decided to change the theme of the informal meeting of fisheries directors to be held in Slovenia at the end of this month , so that fisheries directors will also be able to discuss this burning issue .
this is simply untrue .
we have also benefited from the European Parliament 's report on the EPC statute and its recommendations on the possible content of such a statute .
if that happens , we are going to be back to square one , with a sectarian government , backed by both al-Hakim and Muqtada al-Sadr at the behest of Tehran , and we will have a destabilised situation where the party who won the election is no longer in government .
however , weak points must be exposed by the Ombudsman with a certain amount of advance notice and appropriate restraint .
this also means that , without additional steps by Member States to fulfil their individual targets , the collective targets for 2010 will not be achieved .
nuclear technology is not at fault in Japan ; the location is .
thank you , Madam President .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( IT ) I thank Mrs Harkin both for underlining the work that the Commission is doing , and also for calling for greater commitment on the part of the executive .
it is a tax that penalises speculators and would force all those who have profited by gambling with our money to pay up .
I would like to say that , as a newcomer to this role , I had expected sharp altercations , particularly since the report has a certain military aspect to it , but as it turned out , the work progressed very peacefully .
lastly , EU occupational and safety and health legislation provides minimum requirements and does not , therefore , prevent any Member State from introducing more stringent measures at national level .
the Presidency is committed to taking this work forward , and I would like to thank Parliament for its support .
on my way to Parliament this morning , I found some leaflets in the lifts which demonstrated that this ostensibly simple issue of labelling is not so simple .
only three out of 40 laboratories misinterpreted the results of the analyses .
so we have a system of human rights .
I hope that we will be able to work with Tunisia to move that atmosphere forward towards a new , freer democracy .
there are currently occupying troops from the US , the United Kingdom , other Member States and many other countries stationed in Iraq .
it is not easy to strike a balance between international trade policy and climate change imperatives , but an effort needs to be made to significantly reduce the levels of greenhouse gas emissions for which international trade bears responsibility .
that also brings us to the subject of tax havens .
I agree with what Mrs Malmström said about making a commitment and , of course , we need to make a commitment .
I call for the adoption of harsh punitive legislation and for closer cooperation between Member States and the authorised European institutions : Europol , Frontex and Eurojust .
I hope that we will be able to do all of this .
in November , I plan to launch a Green Paper and public consultation to gather views on how to improve our policies and instruments to better act on the enabling factors for sustainable and inclusive growth in partner countries , thereby tackling the root causes of poverty , bringing strong added value to our development cooperation .
although the Dutch Party for Freedom is unable to join action against this problem at a European level , we are nonetheless in favour of these proposals and urge the Member States to take integrated action at an individual level .
however , this is a particular measure which would put passengers and crew at risk and which we cannot therefore support .
we need credibility for the protection of innovation that you are putting forward here as the main argument .
this is something I described in my report as an example that is worth following , not because it is a Dutch approach , but because it is tailored to , and meets the calls from , the western Balkan states themselves to support the accession process actively and appropriately .
support for Roma integration into the labour market through funding measures for training and retraining , measures to promote independent activities among Roma , offering concessionary credits and public grants , as well as devising innovative forms of agricultural work , are all objectives which the EU has a duty to coordinate .
we also have ambitious environmental goals , and the Commission has always emphasised the need for global solutions , especially on the reduction of greenhouse gases .
I was disappointed to see that the Council blocked the possibility of increasing the proportion of EU cofinancing to 100 % , even temporarily and in the form of an advance payment that would be offset in the later years of the programmes .
this year , it is important to analyse existing obstacles as well as the opportunities for strengthening this process in the future , after 2010 .
also the recent sinking of a South Korean naval vessel was undoubtedly a deliberate attack by the North .
in writing . - ( PT ) Sometimes we need to remember that India is , demographically speaking , the biggest democracy in the world .
Mrs Haug said quite rightly that many of us were optimistic when awaiting the results of this communication , and we genuinely expected that they would bring a revision of the current financial framework to the table .
Mr Jouyet , I appeal to you : politics is about anticipating ; Parliament 's position enables us to anticipate while respecting the rules to which the three institutions have chosen to submit .
another important aspect of this measure , aimed at job security for women , is the ban on making them redundant during the period from the start of their pregnancy until at least six months after the end of their maternity leave .
I have no doubt that the Commissioner , who is with us this evening , will spearhead this .
the Republic of Croatia is a transit route through which illicit drugs are smuggled on the way from the production countries to consumer countries .
today there are thousands of examples of well-established partnerships between cooperating local authorities , non-governmental organisations or various associations based on the people-to-people dialogue in civil society .
we , in the working group , are discussing this issue at great length .
he was also denied the right to leave the country .
however , like some of the speakers , I also have a few doubts .
the next item is the proposal for a Council regulation , under examination by the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development , derogating from Regulation ( EC ) No 1782 / 2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers , as regards set aside for year 2008 - C6-0302 / 2007 - .
Commissioner , European anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures represent less than 0.45 % of the value of total imports into the EU .
we should be pleased that the European Union is opening up new opportunities in terms of relations with its eastern neighbours .
I also note that the people of Wales have been among those to benefit from funding following the terrible floods of 2007 .
in writing . - I was pleased to support this report in its vote through Parliament .
this decision and the way it is implemented at national level mean that the reduction in production to date has been no more than 2.2 million tonnes , whereas the target is approximately 6 million tonnes by 2010 .
I would just like to make a couple of comments .
at a stroke , through a ' regulation holiday ' , we could save businesses billions per year and allow them to grow .
Mr President , for my party , one thing is clear : the UN Human Rights Council is a dreadful body and one that cannot be taken seriously .
it was the United Kingdom which taught me that in a representative democracy , Parliament can speak for the people , and I will not let UKIP destroy what I have learned from the UK .
I have often visited Chernobyl , including the exclusion zone .
we must focus our efforts on combating unfair commercial practices in the advertising sector by broadening the scope of the existing rules .
this is partly due to the people involved , whom I would like to congratulate , but it is also due to the fact that we have ourselves become clear about various things , one of which being what control ultimately means to European taxpayers .
we will keep Parliament fully informed as it will be asked to grant its consent for conclusion once it is concluded .
we have our different opinions about the tool bag - how we reach the Lisbon goals - but I think everyone in this House wants to reach the goals .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , food and hygiene go together ; there is absolutely no doubt about that .
another concern is the neutrality of the Internet and the issue of limiting access .
between 1997 and 2001 I was the Prime Minister of Poland .
prompt accession of Croatia to the European Union will foster peaceful coexistence among the peoples of south-eastern Europe and contribute to stability and development in the region .
( RO ) Mr President , just as the rapporteur has also emphasised , the eradication of poverty is one of the main objectives of the financing instrument for development cooperation , launched by the European Union to provide support to developing countries .
Madam President , Minister , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the Committee on Budgetary Control has delivered an opinion containing a number of suggestions .
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I support , too , the idea of the Central Emergency Response Fund , because disasters always require speedy intervention .
I object to a ban on sugaring in Eastern Europe , including Moravia , unless wine acidification , practised in Southern countries , is also banned .
this is the big issue .
in fact , 97 % of all unsafe abortions are carried out in developing countries .
we have a joint interest in ensuring the positive development of our relations with Libya , which is an important neighbour .
there may be an attractive website , but I have noticed that a number of Member States , including my own country Belgium , place information on it which is woefully inadequate and wholly intransparent .
you state , on the subject of immigration , that you want to ' serve our values ' , but you supported the shameful directive , condemned by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights , by all human rights organisations and by European churches , precisely because it violates essential human values .
the Commission therefore considers that an interinstitutional dialogue is needed before presenting any legislative proposal .
we must push the Commission into action that it should already have taken .
as you mentioned , Madam Vice-President / High Representative , you doubt that a new initiative of this kind would end in a more positive way .
we have seen leaks purporting to be official documents .
in July of this year , 24 organisations for the protection of human rights from all over the world called on Iran to suspend use of the death penalty for minors and also to suspend all use of the death penalty on its territory .
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in my view , this is not specific enough .
information on what we manage directly must be made available , but we are partners in very big international poolings .
in writing . - I abstained on the vote on the Swift resolution ( TFTP ) .
in my conversations with representatives of the various general secretariats of the European Parliament I have collected some very useful suggestions and information .
regulatory frenzy frequently stifles small enterprises , while groups of enterprises can afford experts to take advantage of any loophole .
when it comes to freedom of movement , we have to check , in each individual case , what right a citizen of the Union has gained and , when he moves from one country to another , what rights form the basis of the way he should be treated .
Mr President , civil aviation seemed to be a luxury in the past , when mostly the rich and the so-called jet society used the advantages of quick flights .
President-in-Office . - ( SL ) The practical realisation will rest with each Member State .
where there are clear public benefits to supporting farming in mountainous regions , such as environmental benefits , I believe that public funding under the rural development pillar would be more appropriate .
illegal immigration is also associated with the high number of deaths which occur when people try to cross borders illegally .
Commissioner , you personally blocked your fellow Commissioner Mr Dimas 's proposals on CO2 regulation for cars for years .
I am , of course , ready to follow the debate carefully and to take note of all your comments .
its remit is to provide objective , reliable and comparable information enabling the European Union and its Member States to have a wide-ranging perspective on the phenomenon of drug addiction and its consequences .
yesterday , the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety gave its support for a figure of EUR 30 billion as the EU 's share of financing .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I think these are very timely questions and this is a very important debate .
the situation in the North Caucasus is one of the vilest examples of that .
the next item is the joint debate on :
ensuring a stable energy supply is a fundamental concern of the European Union .
that concludes this item .
Belgium , for example , is unlikely ever to produce a Joe Meek or a Richard Branson , and , let 's be honest : the Singing Nun was never really on a par with The Beatles or the Rolling Stones .
by producing fast , effective solutions , we can preserve the credibility of the EU ; we cannot afford another three years ' ' thinking time ' , since in 11 months ' time the whole of Europe will be giving its opinion on the EU in the European elections .
by doing this , we will not be creating problems ; we will be acting responsibly as legislators , defending Parliament 's right to work at its pace , not at a pace dictated to it by industry lobbyists and the Council of Ministers .
I believe that this is a good start .
we tried to demonstrate just that with the various proposals that we tabled during the debate .
in particular , it is becoming increasingly difficult to get a start in one 's career .
( DE ) Mr President , on Friday , 15 October , the Rheinische Post ran a headline report concerning the Commissioner for Transport , Siim Kallas , who had apparently said that the high-speed rail link between Paris and Bratislava was an extremely important trans-European east-west axis and that the Commission considered it of the greatest importance that it be built .
I just wanted to make this clarification ; the funds for Mauritania will still come under the ACP heading .
( SV ) Mr President , the Treaty of Lisbon has granted increased powers to the European Parliament and with this also comes an increase in responsibility .
we are talking about a country whose progress in recent years has already been impressive , and I think that further political and economic integration on the basis of the SAA will give the final boost that Serbia needs on its path towards the EU .
could you tell us the terms on which this cooperation , which is so important and so necessary , is taking place ?
that is just the way of our democracy .
either we take the declarations seriously , therefore , or we simply put on a show , presenting slogans and swearing blind about reality , whilst actually taking action that has the opposite effect and impedes development .
like the Air Safety Agreement with the US , the key objectives set out in the negotiations were to minimise the duplication of assessments , tests and controls and enable both the EU and Canada to rely on each other 's certification systems .
it is devoid of meaning if you let public authorities off the hook .
in short , this accident obliges the European Union to do some soul-searching and carry out an evaluation , and there must also be the readiness and political will to make adjustments if necessary .
it would be more attractive too , more in step with the priorities of our African partners .
there is little point in establishing the principle now but then postponing its implementation for years until the Commission has worked out the details .
if we are going to have a federalist President of the Commission - and I can see that is the will of the House - it might as well be him as anyone else .
I regret to say that in Luxembourg the other day , the finance ministers cast aside these proposals at the behest of our Franco-German couple - a missed opportunity and a bad day for our citizens , who quite rightly feel betrayed by politics yet again .
safeguarding this universal human right is also the best guarantee we have that conflicts can be prevented before they start and be resolved .
Member States unfortunately condone undue concentration of investment and other elements of development in national capitals .
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these are the order of the day and this is what our people have to face .
the particulars provided by Mr Barrot , within the context of the Green Paper , seem to suggest that , on the contrary , the Commission is very well equipped with technical information .
European thought has left us with a long record on the meaning of symbols .
Mr President , Mrs Malmström , the crisis in Guinea is , in my opinion , symptomatic of a wider problem which occurs , unfortunately , in many African countries .
we will still have huge debts which countries like Greece or Ireland will never be able to repay .
this state of affairs will not be changed by assurances about equal opportunities and equal access to health services . there is a requirement for real social protection and for statutory protection of human health and life .
it includes clauses that are not limited merely to restricting access to the Internet but that also include all devices that may adversely affect users ' rights .
of course not .
this is in contrast to countries where nuclear energy has become a pawn in pre-election battles to an extent that is almost unethical , bearing in mind the situation in Japan .
it also recognises , very validly , the important role of farmers as the custodians of the soil .
Vice-President Tajani and Commissioner Dalli intend to present jointly a proposal for a single and coherent EU framework for market surveillance .
the credibility of the European Union on the international stage and , more importantly , with its citizens , depends on it .
in writing . - ( SK ) I have been making a special effort to ensure that the committee I chair would be able to complete the work leading to the approval of the resolution .
does assimilation mean that immigrants should absorb and be absorbed into European civilisation , or does it mean that they should join the descendants of old European nations to create some sort of new European man ?
we have to be very careful - and I know honourable Members would want me to be - in not imposing what I think upon any other country .
the vast majority of the population still feels positive about the euro .
the Commissioner touched upon this earlier , and Mrs Pack devoted much attention to this aspect in her fine report .
congratulations , and all power to your elbow again .
this is a logic that sacrifices our rurality , but not for the good of poor countries or less-favoured or desertified areas in Europe , and which justifies renationalising the CAP as soon as possible .
specifically : Parliament once again states in this report that the particular civil and military capabilities of the European Union are one of the most important instruments in its foreign policy and common security and defence policy .
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Madam President , in the short and medium term , our dependency on the import of rare earth elements ( REEs ) from China certainly presents a problem .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I too would like to thank the Community institutions for the support they have shown for Italy and the people hit by the earthquake .
I believe we need to think about this because , fellow Members , your dear democratic Turkey , that human rights paradise on earth , is knocking at Europe 's door at the very moment when a dreadful , unpredictable , tragic scenario of war is opening up on the Iraqi front .
in November 2002 , the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that certain provisions in these bilateral agreements were incompatible with Community law .
practices referred to as renditions and secret detentions are a violation of human rights .
on behalf of my group , I call upon all parties involved to show openness and calmness , to tone down statements and to engage immediately in a constructive dialogue .
the suffix ' -stan ' means ' state ' and Tajikistan is the last of the countries whose names end in ' -stan ' to be recognised as a state by us .
in Europe this means learning from our experiences and taking advantage of the lessons of capitalism which is an interest-based system in which , without rules , if you are too greedy , you can end up with nothing .
I welcome the report by the rapporteur , Mr Hannes Swoboda .
it also does so by introducing basic regulations to make the sugar sector in the Azores - and I particularly welcome this , as that is my home region - more viable , as it is hundreds of years old .
this policy has failed .
they are very welcome .
I would like to remind you that additional requirements were established for imports of Brazilian beef in January last year .
if there were adequate reforms , the people would not have revolted in the way they did .
it talks about the ' significant progress [ that ] has been made towards the establishment of a Euro-Mediterranean free-trade area by 2010 ' , pointing to the need for the EU 's Mediterranean partners to pursue ' further and faster reforms ' .
energy generation from these sources can be increased many times without any accompanying degradation of the natural environment .
a second issue that is different and that we have difficulty in accepting concerns spectrum for broadband satellite access ; the Commission wants to be able to actually ensure its availability .
the satellite should be placed on its final orbit around seven hours after the launch , and it will be controlled directly from the Fucino Control Centre in Italy .
it is not going to go away any time soon .
let it continue this way , although , unfortunately , there are many signs that , in the next two decades , the world will get cooler .
indeed , his report calls for greater resources so that the Union can better implement its objectives as set out in the Treaty of Lisbon .
June this year is much too late .
taking into consideration the great number of employees in the field of sport , as well as the revenues sport generates , we should pay more attention to the manner in which the labour law is implemented in this field ; many times , performance is achieved at early ages , but this is only one step away from exploiting minors .
the Commission also needs nine months to take a risk management decision .
the European Commission and the Member States must draw up an action plan to this end .
we do not support the parts of the report that deal with the EU having its own resources through power of taxation .
hundreds of people were killed in Lockerbie , many of them Europeans and then we see European leaders meeting with this murderer .
we implored China to give the media and international organisations access to the area and I am glad to say that we , as Parliament , called at that point for a serious dialogue between China and the Dalai Lama .
it follows that greater autonomy , together with a closer link with NATO and with the other existing bodies , can only increase Europe 's authority , credibility and cohesion .
I would particularly like to mention the shadow rapporteurs , who I believe have contributed very constructively to the matter .
what is happening in France and Germany can also happen in the Czech Republic and Poland or anywhere else in Europe .
the GSP scheme is due to be reviewed this year , a process that should take into account the concerns expressed in the Committee on International Trade .
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on that principle , it would have been nice if he had stayed in the House , so that he could follow the debate in Parliament .
even if the current discussions are problematic , especially on the issues of local markets and the list of sensitive products , I would urge the Commission to seek compromises that respect the particular interests of the outermost regions and the Overseas Countries and Territories in question .
this is the European citizenship that we are strengthening by extending the Schengen area .
where I depart from him of course is when he goes over the top , as he usually does , and claims that these agencies have been created illegally .
that is why I introduced a few derogations when I voted .
it is an excellent report because , of course , it condemns any kind of discrimination or racism against the Roma , and we like it because it promotes true integration by taking an admirable cultural approach .
'Considers that Chinese engagement in Africa , on the one hand , and the newly launched EU-Africa strategic partnership , on the other , should be compatible with each other ; '
it cannot continue like this in the future , and in this regard , I hope that we can initiate a constructive dialogue with the Council concerning the future .
what seems to me a grave error , which I frankly wish that no one will do again , would be to go back to attacking Brussels , or attacking the European Commission , or resort - on the right or the left - to facile criticisms of the European institutions .
listening to the local authorities is more important than ever : they are on the front line and have a real , comprehensive oversight of their own region .
I should also say that we are drafting the Stockholm Programme in a world in which organised crime , cybercrime and terrorism are spreading , and in which we obviously need to protect ourselves .
we all agree that the process needs to be much more flexible , there need to be fewer bureaucratic obstacles , and the controls need to be simpler .
their efforts deserve recognition by the European Parliament .
I am in favour of free world trade , but we must be able to feed ourselves from our own soil , and so we need to preserve our farming structures : this cannot be left solely in the hands of the market .
it is now up to the European Commission to draft final provisions based on the proposals in this report in a coherent manner with the principle of subsidiarity and with one aim : to ensure that the Roma become fully fledged European citizens .
I am glad that the European Parliament and Mr Özdemir have taken up precisely that question with this sound report .
that is why long-term impact assessments are required in relation to the relevant chapters and aspects of any economic and trade policy cooperation agreed in the future between the 27 EU Member States and Japan .
if we do not make the effort that is needed at this stage to create a sustainable banking sector , it will sooner or later result in a burden on public finances that even the strongest countries will find it difficult to cope with .
open economies also need rules - the rules of transparency , sensible regulation and sensible supervision .
( EL ) Madam President , I have consistently supported the programme to restructure my country .
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it is important that we review our funds so that they take account of the Roma minority .
one definite problem is a lack of shelters in Europe designed for women and children who have suffered violence , so the objective to build one shelter per 10 000 inhabitants for victims of crime is an entirely reasonable and necessary one .
do I really need to point out that this vote does not necessarily reflect the majority view of Parliament ?
in practice , the consistent use of the three working languages : German , English and French , would make it possible to reach a majority of the population .
we need a Commission that delivers on its promises .
as the former Prime Minister of Jamaica once said , the only thing worse than being exploited is not being exploited .
we take this as a promising signal from the Russian authorities , in the hope that the appeals of the European Parliament made over the years for further democratisation of public life in Russia have not gone unheeded .
I think the primary concern can be summarised as the one underlying the impression that what is certainly a very large political majority , a two-thirds majority , but nonetheless a circumstantial political majority in the Hungarian Parliament , has succeeded in forcing a constitutional reform that places constraints on the achievement of political pluralism and , consequently , on the possibility of alternating between different political projects under the same set of rules of play .
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the scope or quantity of these activities are thus in a way adapted to the enlarged European Union .
of course , there are also things that make me feel sad .
with over 60 million jobs in the EU generated by industrial manufacturing , a robust policy will help the EU overcome some of the challenges faced by manufacturers .
yet I think it is unnecessary to set a tolerance margin of + / -0.2 % when indicating the fat content , since that would not improve clarity but be more likely to hinder implementation .
the first of the priorities identified is the fight against sex tourism , which worryingly is on the rise , partly because of lower travel costs .
I accept that some religions attach fundamental importance to the way in which an animal is slaughtered in order for its meat to be consumed .
we are therefore able to welcome Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen area , and I hope that the Council will adopt the same position as soon as it receives our positive opinion .
the first is that the Ombudsman is an indispensable part of a democratic European Union and , most importantly , one that is close to the citizens .
I welcome the fact that it was possible to reach a compromise between both parties and that the protocol on the renewal of the agreement includes a suspension clause on breaches of human rights and non-compliance with ILO principles .
in writing . - ( SV ) We support the work being done in the Member States to modernise and adapt penal policy in order to make better provision for the needs of prisoners and , as part of this , to take account of the specific needs of women .
the coins need to be covered with some special security features to limit the scope for fraud .
to give just one example : in Hungary , nearly 1 million hectares are lying waste .
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the EU must help simplify the legal frameworks that facilitate these partnerships and encourage the mobility of teachers and young entrepreneurs .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the Services Directive has always been surrounded by inexplicably optimistic language .
however , when we talk about a ' gentlemen 's agreement ' between the Council and Parliament , I have to say that , if there is such an agreement , please can we see it .
there are also specific examples of the way in which we support these languages .
secondly , a strict commitment to fundamental freedoms and rights , including religious and minority rights and , of course , women 's rights .
the measures need to be clearly thought through in order to ensure sustainable assistance .
none of the EU 's Member States are succeeding in addressing these problems on their own .
the budget of the Agency for the year 2009 was 3.5 % less than its budget for 2008 .
we should not be afraid of debates generated by citizens availing themselves of this tool .
if you add together the millions paid to various managers and the salaries of minimum income workers , the figure might be considered very unreliable .
I take a contrary view .
the Council and Parliament did invite the Commission to consider the possibility of an initiative for a European year for combating violence against children , young people and women .
the European Union 's common position must not be wasted .
the Moskovsky Korrespondent daily newspaper has disappeared from news stands because it showed an interest in Vladimir Putin 's supposed divorce .
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there is the argument that the State aid scheme adopted in 2002 , which is about to expire , was a phasing out arrangement for coal mining .
the report by Ramón Jáuregui Atondo , on behalf of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs , on institutional aspects of accession by the European Union to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms , and
today , this register , in which lobbyists will have to register themselves , is being reformed .
Finland has suspended the use of this vaccine until more information is available .
we all oppose indiscriminate fumigation of poppy plantations , as has been advocated by the US , which will simply swell the ranks of the Taliban without substantially altering the production of heroin .
an agreement has been rushed through which we ultimately welcome , but we cannot forget the Commission 's excessive passivity when a modicum of prudent and forward-looking vision was needed .
it is important to act in good time ; which is why we need more resources for the Instrument for Stability .
( PL ) Mr President , it is shameful for Belarus , a country that lies at the geographic heart of Europe , to be the subject of debate at the Council of Europe today because of its violation of human rights .
these amendments include proposals to improve the confidentiality of data relating to installations and staff working with animals .
do you all know the film ' Jules et Jim ' ?
restructuring is an inevitable response to the significant economic and social changes in Europe brought about by technological progress , globalisation and the ageing of the population , as well as to the necessary steps enabling us to tackle global warming and the threats to the natural environment .
the Customs Union was the first cornerstone in building the internal market and remains one of its essential components .
the examination of consumer protection issues is therefore extremely important , particularly when consumers sign digital content supply contracts .
where we have the tools , we will continue to move forward quickly with any necessary measure .
the 5 % increase will not raise the EU budget substantially above 1 % of Union GNI .
its proposal - which I did not endorse - lacked such a strategy , and the distinction from advertising was too vague .
our group , the Socialist Group in the European Parliament , is delighted with the proposals to combat the problem of multiple discrimination that now form part of this report .
the assessment will provide a description and evidence of the existing cross-border company tax obstacles on the internal market , and will define the objectives to be achieved by the reform .
Mr President , I would like to acknowledge the enormous amount of work my colleague , Syed Kamall , has put into this report on trade in services , but I am afraid I cannot unreservedly congratulate him on his work , as I have fundamental disagreements with some elements of his approach .
this would prevent many of the risky gambles that at the moment are based on nothing more than small change .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Mr President , I should also like to thank the rapporteur , the shadow rapporteur , the Council and the Commission for their effective cooperation .
he has every right to do so , but he also has a duty to stay to hear the response : that is my complaint against him .
the objective of this proposal is to create better legislation for the future , as people are buying more and more over the Internet , and so we need an internal market that works , one in which 500 million consumers can obtain the information they desire in a fair manner .
Mr Zaree 's execution has brought the number of juvenile executions - as you have said - since the beginning of this year to the very high number of six .
this is at a time - and I want to emphasise this - when there are already millions and millions of former immigrants of non-European origin in Europe , some already third or even fourth generation , who are still unemployed and have barely educated themselves to the point where they can be integrated , let alone assimilated : a proletariat on social security .
the next item is a short presentation of the report by Mrs Vălean , on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs , on the application of Directive 2004 / 38 / EC on the right of EU citizens and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States .
the aid the EU is providing to support producers in the ORs has been calculated on the basis of the laws approved at the WTO in 2006 .
for example in my own region of Stará Ľubovňa in the north east of Slovakia you will find Slovak , German , Ruthene , Goral and Roma cultures .
it also clarifies what assistance should be provided to persons in danger at sea and where to disembark persons that are rescued .
I am concerned .
we are receiving positive signals regarding increasing freedom in Belarus , such as the registration of Alexander Milinkievich 's ' For Freedom ' movement and the publication and registration of the two independent newspapers Narodnaya Volya and Nasha Niva .
at present , there are many conventions in force on child protection and parental responsibilities .
'calls on the EU to encourage the creation of an African Partnership Forum engaging all major donors and investors ; '
this concerns so many people that I would like to ask Parliament to find an occasion where we could schedule a sitting , an agenda item , where we could discuss the matter of the autonomy of both Székely Land and Érmellék .
we should also remember that it has great significance for intercultural dialogue and dialogue between generations , and it contributes to the development of social responsibility .
instead of publicising the benefits and advantages it has to offer , Europe should be taking practical action and attacking the factors that actually place working people at risk , namely insecurity , unemployment and poverty .
another group that will not benefit are people who live in the country or in remote areas and will have to rely on private postal services , for we shall see a creeping erosion of service levels down to the minimum possible and permissible .
for instance , in the Data Retention Directive , we left it to Member States to decide if they would compensate telecoms companies .
there were a number of amendments which directly or indirectly made a reference to abortion .
I voted in favour of granting discharge in respect of the 2009 budget of the European GNSS Supervisory Authority because it has been well managed in accounting terms and the figures provided are considered reliable .
is the Refugee Treaty being respected by the African countries ?
I also wish to inform you of the official launch today in the European Parliament in Strasbourg of the annual report on cooperation between the European Union and the UN on crisis management , development and the promotion of democracy and fundamental rights .
today we should ask ourselves what can be done from now onwards in light of the events that have taken place .
how are we going to influence this global governance if we are incapable of establishing our own European governance ?
we should therefore streamline both the infrastructures and the financial budget , and we in the House should therefore support the document which will be put to the vote tomorrow .
now that the main blockage of the river - the situation in Serbia - is going to be removed , let us not miss this opportunity and give our full and serious consideration to this river , thus making it the truly European waterway we all will benefit from .
many people , especially younger people , lose sight of that or choose to ignore it .
it follows that they should be given a different categorisation in the Fuel Quality Directive , otherwise there is nothing to stop transport fuels getting dirtier under the Fuel Quality Directive instead of cleaner .
allow me to thank you once again for your contribution , support and splendid cooperation in this important , sensitive and very popular area .
I voted for this report because I believe that the authorities need to focus more attention on the vulnerable social groups , which also include women .
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the Baltic Sea has been classified as a ' particularly sensitive sea area ' ( PSSA ) by the International Maritime Organisation 's Marine Environment Protection Committee .
we have not yet made a decision in the Commission on what we are actually going to do , because we still have a couple of reserves that we want to settle with the United States before making up our minds .
of course , the Treaty of Lisbon , so frequently criticised , would bring the great benefit of enabling us to work together a bit more , for example , in the matter of energy policy and of the Common Foreign and Security Policy , to address effectively the dangers and risks of this world .
yes , I have experienced this before .
it is nevertheless surprising that the nationalist rhetoric and opinions go together with the common interest of all Balkan communities and their political representatives in a European future for Bosnia Herzegovina .
if it is a right - and it is absurd to deny it - then it cannot also be a commodity .
a complete ban on all fragrant substances would be a disproportionate measure and would have a negative impact on certain toy manufacturers .
while we are on the subject of language : language is not the issue at stake today .
at European and Member State level , there have been many initiatives to fill the gaps highlighted .
Europe has reported a success but it is doubtful that Africa will do the same , particularly those men and women fighting oppressive and kleptomaniac regimes .
Eurostat predicts that the number of people affected at the age of 65 years or over will double in the European Union between 1995 and 2050
Turkey is strategically important to us , but not at any price .
the change of name was accompanied by the introduction of new mechanisms and procedures increasing the potential of the Human Rights Council .
I also welcome the fact that Parliament has accepted the possibility that part of the funds resulting from the emissions-quota bidding scheme might be used to reduce the negative impact of this project on the accessibility and competitiveness of the outermost regions .
European Union participation in this programme will ensure that it is better able to address the demographic challenges .
ladies and gentlemen , it is unacceptable that such a basic universal principal as accessibility to healthcare should be established solely under the rules of the internal market .
in the latter respect , I should like to congratulate the Council Presidency on its setting of the agenda .
as my fellow Members have already said , at least three years have passed , three years during which these people , these hustlers , as they have rightly been called by numerous fellow Members - and I am with them - are misleading colleagues and are misleading small and medium-sized enterprises , which are the backbone of the European economy .
we are well aware that there can always be strong doses of populism and demagoguery surrounding budgetary issues , and we repudiate these .
citizens are , moreover , seeing their rights extended to the legal opinions of the Council with , in return , obligations extended to all the European institutions .
I thank Romanians for their trust and I thank you for the positive messages you sent to the Romanian voters .
one of the problems has been access to the grid .
on a more personal note , having heard your debate , I must say that the Presidency will be looking very carefully at the proposal made by Mrs Buitenweg , which she has submitted to me .
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the European Parliament and the MEPs have always attached great importance to this institution .
the elimination of unnecessary obstacles and delays could make a significant contribution to increased competitiveness and the creation of new jobs .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , the Haug report presents our first reflections on the Preliminary Draft Budget at a very early stage , and we are combining these with a plenary mandate for the conciliation that will take place on 17 July .
we have known for a long time that local governments have not always met all the expectations of their societies .
you ignore the social question - which , you say , should remain the sole responsibility of Member States - but you say nothing about the European Court of Justice , which delivers ruling upon ruling placing the different social models within the Union in competition with each other and basing itself on Articles 43 and 49 of the Treaty .
that would be an invitation to all Europe 's opponents to take undue advantage of these elections for a show fight , for the For and Against regarding a treaty which has already been ratified by 25 States .
with the Green Paper published by the Commission one year ago , the cultural and creative industries obtained their rightful recognition , carving out a crucial role in a European vision of culture based on the information society , innovation and entrepreneurship .
I hope that the EU 's Swedish Presidency will mark the start of an age of prosperity , guaranteeing a period of economic growth for the next 40-50 years .
why have policymakers not learnt from previous crises , though stern warnings were sent ?
this directive on cross-border health will also ensure that Member States establish contact points to provide sufficient information to citizens wishing to travel abroad for treatment .
in this regard , we follow with great interest the Coleman case currently pending before the European Court of Justice .
I wish you all the best and God bless !
I am glad that energy policy will also be one of Slovenia 's priorities .
in view of the fact that a compromise has been achieved in both the Council and the ENVI committee , of which this report constitutes a part , I have voted for its adoption .
social movements in Africa are vibrant and calling for what Mr Öger was referring to just now .
industry and our economies cannot now afford this ever-higher green taxation burden .
the Kurdish issue , including its cultural and economic aspects , must likewise be addressed .
therefore , we should do everything possible to conserve this rare resource .
however , I must really draw your attention to the fact that , when talking about energy efficiency , and particularly about security of supply and therefore diversification of energy sources , one particular energy source is ignored to a certain extent .
so I am very enthusiastic about the work of the European Commission in this area .
more than this , Baroness Ashton has been maintaining constant contact with key partners , as well as with key players in the countries themselves .
( DE ) Madam President , we have had two reports from two committees which recommend applying Solvency II to occupational pension systems .
I would point out , however , that the report will not deal with substantive consumer law .
let me say at the end of my remarks that further work is ahead of us in the area , as the Commission has already announced its intention to table further legislative proposals for the purpose of completing the common European asylum system .
I shall also be presenting you , probably by the end of this year , with a text on electronic signatures and on the cross-border interoperability of electronic identities and documents .
we heartily congratulate President Obama on this decision , one that he justified with the need to reinvest the United States with the moral authority which it previously enjoyed in the world .
it is important that the process of ratifying this document , due to be signed on 13 December this year , also goes without a hitch in the Member States .
the motion 's authors are not as concerned about freedom of the media in Europe as they are of disparaging a civic government that was elected by an overwhelming majority of its country 's people and which has the difficult task of rebuilding a country that suffered badly as a result of mismanagement by the previous socialist government .
as far as the hedge funds and the private equity funds are concerned , we want the measures now .
I think it is important to emphasise , as did the last speaker , the difference between irregularities and fraud .
the proposal for a regulation on energy statistics is part of the energy package adopted by the Commission last year .
last Friday , 15 February 2008 , was the deadline for Member States to send in ' annual summaries ' .
if there are difficulties , decisions will not be taken by the Commission alone - Parliament will also be involved .
Mr President , I wish to add own my congratulations to the Slovenian Presidency .
the EU has been supporting the Member States in their efforts to implement effective policies .
that is why this rejection in plenary was so important , with the current directive remaining in force , which requires the same labour legislation to be applied to self-employed workers .
this discussion should therefore be held at a global level and not merely within the EU .
driving times themselves should not be extended , but if this amendment by the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance and the Socialist Group in the European Parliament were to enter into force , drivers would not be able to maintain their vehicles or do their accounts during their time off , for example .
in the meantime , I would like to ask the Commissioner if he can confirm the report in the Financial Times , according to which a study commissioned by the Directorate-General for Fisheries bitterly criticised the effects of the micro-management of ecosystems from Brussels , delivering a disastrous review of the Common Fisheries Policy over the past twenty-five years and stating that fisheries subject to the CFP suffer a much higher rate of overfishing than occurs on average worldwide .
the European Union must maintain an open-door policy towards Ukraine .
the EU must continue to take a leading responsibility through measures at home - everything from tougher requirements for the cars of tomorrow to increased aid for alternative sources of energy .
we should not just barge our way in , however , but exercise diplomacy , negotiate , engage in sound political cooperation and , above all , be at the forefront when it comes to assessing environmental impact .
that is why I voted in favour of this report , even though , as some colleagues said earlier in this House , the references to the Lisbon Treaty are , at the moment , unjustified .
the EU and Member State systems need to be better connected so that we do not find ourselves in a situation whereby we have European legislation that will not match the preparedness of the Member States to respond quickly .
in 2011 , the European Commission will publish proposals on amending thecommon agricultural policy and the common fisheries policy .
food security at Member State level is achieved by maintaining a stable agricultural sector , which is not jeopardised by external trade policy , against the background of increased market volatility .
the vote will take place on Thursday 14 March .
fundamental rights have been undermined , unquote .
cash flow in the sector is drying up .
any comments I make this evening are purely about the process that has been followed to get to this point .
I declare resumed the session of the European Parliament adjourned on Thursday 4 December 2008 .
( SK ) Mr President , due to constant population growth , we are obliged to adopt a more intensive approach to the issue of food security , and access to an adequate , healthy and nutritious diet .
instead , young people in Switzerland should be given the opportunity to participate in the programmes and things should therefore be taken forward on a reciprocal basis .
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we believe that this debate is important because with the threat of ethnic profiling and the constant criminalisation of the Roma and Sinti we shall no longer be safe .
how can the Commission ensure that the supervisory bodies apply the regulations in a uniform manner and have sufficient resources to respond rapidly to challenges , in particular , in view of the rather chaotic way in which airline passengers were dealt with following the Icelandic volcano crisis ?
congestion , then , is one problem for which we undoubtedly need new and better technology .
eggs should no longer be produced in battery cages after January 2012 and the then illegal eggs should no longer be allowed to reach the shops , putting an end to their negative effect on competition .
it allows us to implement the new legislative framework , including the provisions for public services .
however , in the long term , extending the minimum period of leave to 20 weeks would be disadvantageous for young women planning to have a family and a professional career .
a tonne of wheat might be resold several times before it gets to the mill .
now some light will shine on what is going on , but most of this will be thrust back into the murky depths of the stagnant pond ; it will be business as usual .
the Commission , aware of the importance of renewing this partnership and on the basis of the mandate granted by the Council , negotiated a new partnership framework based on the development of a sustainable fisheries policy with the Government of Seychelles .
it is a fine piece of work .
in addition , now the elections are approaching , and we are increasingly hearing questions from our voters , as well as criticisms .
this is a truth well known to skiers , and I think , rapporteur , that you found a way to bring Parliament 's strength to the trialogues , in particular on the essential issue of the second stage .
during this debate we should not , however , forget about energy security , which must be guaranteed through diversification of the supplies of imported raw materials for energy .
I congratulate the rapporteur .
achieving such a peace will also make a substantial impact on other issues .
this is a debating chamber where democracy rules , and there is no need for a carry-on such as we witnessed this morning for the benefit of the TV cameras .
if they fail to establish transparent relations , it will still be possible to play off Member States against one another in the future as they continue to pay different prices for gas supplies .
this also means including in all future agreements specific clauses laying down the possibility for public authorities to legislate and regulate in the areas of national security , the environment , public health , workers ' and consumers ' rights , industrial policy and cultural diversity .
the energy of our belief in the potential of this initiative must not be expended on halfway measures or the mere mouthing of generous-sounding ideas which are basically much less ambitious than we would like .
first of all , with regard to freedom of speech and opinion , even though the notorious Article 301 has been changed , the situation is still unsatisfactory .
it is indeed an enormous change compared to the archaic paper-based procedure .
let us therefore hope that there will be effective regulation and that the agreement will include a review clause so that it can be easily updated .
the internal market and consumer protection are therefore not conflicting issues , but rather are entirely congruous and this is a path that we must continue to follow .
I agree with Commissioner Kallas that there also needs to be monitoring of the processes that the airlines are going to use in order to allow for these claims .
we should at long last be dealing with specific issues of content .
from the Council and the Commission we have heard too much Realpolitik and not enough Moralpolitik .
one of the most important measures which has been stressed over and over by many representatives of the people and interest groups , as well as Professor Monti himself , is ensuring political leadership in this project which is particularly important for the whole of the EU .
on that point I am in full agreement with the approach taken by the rapporteur , Mr Florenz .
Mr President , nearly three weeks have passed since cyclone Nagris hit Burma destroying the harbours and the deltas of the Ayeyarwady .
in the meantime , it has become so prevalent that whole ponds and rivers are being eaten bare .
Mr President , Commissioner , you will surely not be surprised to hear that I am not happy with the answer you have given us , especially as we made great efforts several weeks ago to make contact with a very wide range of representatives of the Commission , in particular , Commissioner Verheugen , and demanded clear answers .
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strengthening the control options in the destination country represents an important step forward .
we are , however , concerned , as various experts have said informally that it is more than likely that this date will once again not be respected .
the not-fit-for-purpose single currency , founded upon idealistic ideology and not economic sense .
there have been questions relating to the recycling of red sludge .
while the interests of the first group entail promoting their resources without being protectionist , citizens are concerned with always knowing the provenance of each product , even at the expense of waiting some time for this regime to be applied to all categories of goods .
only 10-20 % of cereals change hands on the global market , and yet a reduction in production can result in a state of panic .
I think that the final thing that I would say is this , that some of the current members of the government in formation are the former human rights defenders on the opposition who were oppressed by the former President and who were supported by the European Union including , of course , Members of this House .
they are not blessed with an abundance of natural resources and of course they are extremely remote and inaccessible , which makes it extremely important that we should facilitate access to our markets for their products and allow our own products to help and develop their own markets in their locations .
nevertheless , we must still remain on our guard , especially when it comes to agencies .
we are therefore talking about fundamental civil rights .
it is due , above all , to the fact that we now have ownerless capitalism .
I would ask , Commissioner , that you study the possibility of introducing to the CFP , as you have proposed , new measures limiting fishing 's fuel dependence , which is excessive .
in addition to that , the problem of the method of reimbursement of prescriptions issued in other countries still remains .
these directory company practices are also clearly outside the law , according to the directive on misleading and comparative advertising .
what occurred has produced and will continue to produce inevitable economic and financial difficulties , creating unavoidable repercussions in the European and world markets .
it is very important .
imports from third countries , particularly the so-called emergent economies , are the greatest single cause of trade imbalances and the inability to compete .
but I do think that an efficient and thorough implementation of the legislation would reduce the dissatisfaction related to the internal market operation .
in connection with this report I will first of all respond to the current problems in the Euro Zone .
it is no coincidence that the Members of the European Parliament are organised into political parties , and thus seek to represent the interests of the public in line with an agenda of priorities defined by their political orientation .
observed from Beijing , Washington , the Cape , New Delhi or from Brisbane even , these values give the European social model its originality .
here in plenary , we will be having a debate tomorrow to prepare for this European Council , so why , when it comes to financial markets , can we not prepare these questions with the European Parliament too ?
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I support the words of Mr Harbour when he stresses the importance of the text that we are debating and that will be adopted thanks to this agreement from Parliament .
there is also a need for better control .
this is because of rising unemployment , precarious work and low wages , combined with pay inequalities between men and women , which have risen again and exceeded , on average , 17 % at EU level .
many people deride the idea of food security as if such an idea belongs to the dark ages .
( EL ) Mr President , Commissioner , it would be extremely embarrassing if you did not give an answer right now to the question asked .
my third point is that cars must remain affordable for people .
the Commission therefore put forward a regulation on accreditation and market surveillance , which was adopted by the Council in June 2008 .
we hope that the European neighbourhood policy review concludes with a proposal for appropriate corrections ensuring coherence between policy aims and financial instruments which guarantee these aims .
based on some speeches that we have heard , it seems that everything happens 200 years later , Madam President .
I have already explained that explanations of vote on emergency resolutions are not possible .
the fact is that the current growth model and concept is not sustainable .
nonetheless , I do not believe that we should be engaging in self-righteous meddling in the internal policy affairs of other States , all the more so given that the EU is by no means in a position to assume the role of a model of democracy .
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all of us here know , of course , that space is a fascinating topic .
presented after the unprecedented floods that devastated last summer a vast portion of Pakistan 's territory , the Commission 's proposal seeks to extend autonomous trade preferences to this country concerning 75 product lines of interest to Pakistan ( mostly textile and clothing ) in the form of exemption from custom duties , with the exception of one product ( ethanol ) for which a tariff-rate quota would apply .
congratulations to the Commission so far , but more efforts will need to be made in future , something which Parliament is prepared to do .
however , I would like to discuss the subject of Turkey .
this issue is also listed among the priorities of the Hungarian Government , which currently holds the European rotating Presidency .
in writing . - ( PT ) This report discharges the accounts of the Community Fisheries Control Agency ( CFCA ) in relation to its activities for 2009 , renewing the discharge granted by the European Parliament on 5 May 2010 , in relation to the implementation of the CFCA 's budget for the financial year 2008 .
there is an immediate need to review and , if necessary , adapt the redundancies in terms of the plants ' safety systems , particularly with regard to the cooling systems .
I would like to stress that a credible external security policy requires closer cooperation between the Member States , mutual trust and solidarity .
after much insistence by Parliament , there has been a substantial increase in the degree of transparency in the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement ( ACTA ) negotiations , and since the round of negotiations in New Zealand Parliament has been kept fully informed .
it is also a major energy supplier and an important trading partner .
the resolution on the Second European Roma Summit , which takes place in Córdoba on 8 and 9 April , expresses concern about the discrimination suffered by the Roma in education , housing , employment and equal access to health care systems and other public services , as well as the astounding low level of their political participation .
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many associations of elected officials have already informed me that they are enthusiastic about this Erasmus scheme for local elected officials .
the most frequent causes of death are haemorrhaging , infections and illegal abortions .
the official reason for his expulsion was that he had failed to attend classes .
firstly , reinforced institutions .
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it is true that , under the German Presidency , we could not reach agreement on the minimum procedural guarantees .
Hungary also speaks out against discrimination , and calls upon the EU to consider the cost of pension reforms when calculating national deficits .
the European Union cannot afford a fragmented patent registration system .
the EU possesses no ships and none are flagged EU .
it means taking adequate measures to improve energy efficiency .
this debate is a further demonstration that the proposed soil policy is very controversial .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioners , rapporteurs , I believe that this report as adopted by the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs is a good one , and we should be grateful to Mr Rasmussen , in particular , for having insisted over so many months on the need for wider-ranging EU intervention in the areas that are the subject of tonight 's debate .
even today , the cost of caring for the elderly is estimated at almost 2 % of Europe 's GDP .
it is therefore possible .
this church houses the international memorial for civil maritime navigation .
while all the Member States are currently suffering severe cuts in their public finances , the EU cannot be left out and it , too , must make choices about what to do and what not to do .
when we think , for example , of nanomaterials , that appears very urgent .
I think Member States should work together to introduce a network of contact points for the public to reach in order to report illegal and harmful content and conduct .
diplomatic protection is vital to ensure effective protection of the personal rights of individuals .
apart from leading to a huge loss of biodiversity , tar sand oil also emits extremely high levels of CO2 .
it is necessary to ensure sufficient resources for the EU institutions so that they can perform their functions properly .
it has been said that I need to ' act decisively ' .
women in self-employment and the partners of the self-employed clearly must be covered by the Member States ' social insurance systems .
that is why we are asking the Council to maintain the level of expenditure for these two policies beyond 2013 .
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however , they are nevertheless allies .
it is true that at the European Council meeting in Nice Mr Chirac originally initiated the process by agreeing for the first time to uncouple France with respect to Germany , contrary to the spirit of the Treaties .
I agree with the opinion expressed in the resolution that this initiative is an appropriate response to the need for cooperation between all institutions of the European Union in the interests of a well functioning , citizen-focused system .
this project poses a dual challenge to the energy security of the European Union .
in no way does this diminish the enormity of the problem you are talking about .
I think that the European Parliament has a legitimate right to take part in this dialogue , to perform the democratic scrutiny that is assigned to it by the European citizens .
when looking for the source of the deadly bacteria , and in the absence of hard evidence , we accuse each other , restrict imports and exports of commodities and claim compensation .
President Obama has also announced today his intention to invest 129 billion in renewable energy .
let me also comment on the appointments of a new High Representative and a new Council President .
the idea that problems can be eliminated by eliminating people is one of the principles of Stalinism .
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our research has shown that undeclared work in the Member States differs from country to country .
how is the Presidency ensuring that appropriate account is taken of these new scientific findings and that consideration is given to the aquatic environment when setting fishing quotas ?
finally , I would like to pay tribute here to the work of Co-President Glenys Kinnock .
I am convinced that the transfer to the new authority for the supervision of credit rating agencies will strengthen and improve the regulatory framework that we in the European Union have at our disposal .
a number of honourable Members indeed raised this as a particular point .
they promised it will be ready by the end of April .
rather than focusing on all the other stuff we focused on this week , let us make sure the EU works better .
speaking as a woman , I would also like to give you something to think about : when we fight against the misuse of alcohol , do you think that we are giving new generations a good service by handing them a low quality drink that I will not even call wine , a cut-price alcoholic drink that has nothing whatsoever to do with any area , culture or quality ?
because of this I wish to stress that the country holding the Presidency does not drive European affairs separately , although it does have the right to propose certain items for the order of business .
the European Parliament has for years officially sanctioned the right of representatives of monopoly groups to have free access to the European Parliament in order to apply pressure , bribe and insist on legislative interventions ensuring and increasing their profits .
it has taken 83 years to reach an international agreement and set up the ICC .
I voted in favour of this report as I agree with the need for financial and human resources to be allocated with a view to the participation of women and gender mainstreaming in the field of foreign and security policy .
sometimes this expansion in organised crime is used as proof that the EU is needed .
I call on fellow Members to take this step with us and thank Mr Lehne and the committee for their excellent work .
this is not a protectionist proposal ; in fact , I find it to be very balanced .
they also condemned the tendency many rich countries have of favouring the use of chemical fertilisers and new technologies in Africa instead of encouraging the sustainable development of agroecology .
I am pleased to note the recognition of this indication .
for the agreement to be positive , we need to change the way we look at the whole complicated issue of copyright , overcoming the conflict between the demand for freedom of access to online cultural products and the exclusive protection , without exception , of copyright .
that is why we have a European Parliament , so that Europe is not just left to government ministers and technocrats , diplomats and bureaucrats .
on behalf of the PPE Group . - Madam President , the PPE Group is committed to speeding up visa liberalisation for all countries in the Western Balkans by July 2010 .
the high seas fall outwith the responsibility of any nations or fisheries organisations and fishing activities have been largely unregulated .
those social models will be put at risk if we do not adapt to a much more challenging global environment .
however , for me it is vital that this directive get the balance right between freedom of movement versus patient safety and accountability .
Madam President , the second EU-Africa Summit is to take place in Lisbon in December after a gap of seven years .
a successful car industry is important to the Union .
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ladies and gentlemen - and this is something to which the ALDE Group attaches a great deal of importance - we now need to take the appropriate measures to also make the Danube Strategy a regional policy priority in the new funding period .
however , we are also entering a stage of the negotiations where things are getting more difficult : in particular , because some of the outstanding issues are related to inherent differences in our economic structure or regulatory systems .
we are hopeful that the United States will meet this initiative with an open and positive response .
Parliament has received a request to waive the parliamentary immunity of our fellow Member , Mr De Magistris , who has been summoned by the Court of Benevento , on behalf of Mr Mastella , Member of the European Parliament , in relation to an interview which Mr De Magistris gave to an Italian newspaper , on 31 October 2009 .
we welcome the fact that , despite the seriousness of the events , dialogue between the parties has so far been maintained and fresh rounds of negotiations are planned .
please allow me to say that these were not minor problems .
another result of the evaluation was the establishment of a dispute resolution mechanism , but it has taken far too long for the EU to transpose this into legislation .
I also welcome the fact that the cooperation between the European Central Bank , the Commission and the financial services sector has contributed to the successful launch of SEPA , cross-border payments .
again , now is the time for the political leaders to concentrate their efforts on finding guarantees that the elections are not going to bring further tensions and prolong the crisis .
in the same spirit , if we are asking the European Union and the international community to adopt strong sanctions in respect of Zimbabwe , a prospect which you raised , Minister , we would also emphasise that they must not harm the population but must target members of the regime responsible for the attacks on human rights and the current reign of terror in that country .
the CFSP 's toothlessness is proof of the fact that the EU is led by business interests .
we want to disseminate green technology to the developing countries , for example , by making fundamental changes to patent and intellectual property rights .
I would like to say that the retention rule has emerged as something that is not nonsense but plain common sense .
the situation is serious , as you know .
it is also essential to help reduce poverty and prevent food crises .
the thematic working group will identify and disseminate policy measures to improve the situation of low achievers in basic skills at national level .
the European Union will have a definite focus on innovation .
we share the concern that Parliament sometimes feels as regards the need to ' go beyond the elections ' .
moreover , parents also have control over their children 's consumption , especially when they are young .
on the point that was raised by Mr Jarzembowski concerning the European coastguard , to whom I paid particular attention , I would like to underline that this is a very sensitive matter .
there is no point in saying that Member States have already ratified the core ILO conventions .
no .
it is important to consider the fundamental causes of these recurring protests and clashes in order to find a viable political solution .
I believe the Commission has made the right choice of areas in which partnerships should be established with the countries which are in these associations with us .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , first of all , please forgive me that I was not able to be here at the start of the debate .
the transport sector is entering a new era .
let us have a show of hands .
I also think that the Treaty of Lisbon will strengthen the European Union 's democratic legitimacy , especially when increasing Parliament 's powers to apply the codecision procedure .
like Mr Busuttil , I want to set out an explanation - which is a joint explanation - of our serious concern regarding the significant delays in migration from SIS to SIS II and the development of VIS .
today , we heard Jean-Claude Trichet and Olli Rehn speaking of the need for fiscal rectitude and calling on Ireland and Portugal and other countries to adhere to the Stability and Growth Pact .
in Europe , this virus was responsible for 2 900 deaths , well below the number of deaths caused by seasonal influenza .
we want fresh products on the tables of our consumers , products of which we can know the origin , and not the rubbish that we get from other countries : powdered milk passed off as fresh milk from our own producers .
all these countries are encouraged to cooperate in areas such as river transport , social protection and development , sustainable economic development , transport and energy infrastructure , environmental protection , tourism , culture and education .
the starting point now should be the equal treatment of all financial market players ; that is to say , the introduction of stricter capital requirements and regulation , including for hedge funds and private equity .
this process involves wide boys acting in cahoots with the country 's politicians to dupe entrepreneurs .
the recent financial crisis has highlighted that there are major problems with this business , such as over-reliance on external ratings in the regulatory framework and no liability for ratings by CRAs .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Madam President , since the adoption of the UCITS Directive in 1985 , European fund markets have experienced meteoric growth .
furthermore , we will fully support the five additional amendments submitted by the Greens and others .
rapporteur . - ( DA ) Mr President , Commissioner Fischer-Boel , Minister Barnier , ladies and gentlemen , the Commission has tabled an extremely constructive proposal for setting up a school fruit scheme in order to reverse the unfortunate trend of increased obesity amongst European schoolchildren .
the Protocol to Amend the Air Transport Agreement provides for the market to be opened up to EU and US airlines on a non-discriminatory basis and offers passengers and freight operators improved services , in terms of both variety and cost , provides substantial economic benefits and creates jobs .
Madam President , there are other ways of enhancing the rights of nursing mothers , such as more flexible leave systems .
in the European Union we do not have a common language .
the EU urgently needs a Commissioner for Human Rights .
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in this context , I believe that the incidents which Italy has encountered in Lampedusa highlight the need to devise an EU migration policy focused on the following areas .
with regard to the comments from Mr Radwan and others on the financial crisis , clearly we are taking action to protect citizens , to protect savers , and to ensure that those responsible for the crisis in the various institutions have to pay for it .
similarly , the regulations providing for the introduction of a European organ donor card will be insufficient if all the amendments concerning guidance by ethical and moral principles contained in the European Parliament documents are rejected .
finally , we can never highlight enough the geo-strategic importance of Turkey in relation to the security of Europe 's borders , energy supply , particularly as an alternative to dependency on Russian gas , as a partner in dialogue with Islamic countries and on the Iraq issue .
there is not one common policy , is there ?
what is certain is that we should try to exert a greater influence over the development of the situation .
also missing is effective prevention and education focused on children and parents alike .
mortgage bonds are used for long-term financing and investment in the wider economy .
disciplinary action is not being taken because they held up posters and banners .
it is possible to achieve compromises within a matter of days , if you take time to seek these compromises , and that is precisely the purpose of Mr Swoboda 's proposal .
clarification is an area in which the European Commission could make a genuine difference which I think would be welcomed by people everywhere and would provide some significant assistance to us in trying to reduce our global warming emissions .
I think it right , however , to point out that rail is still one of the safest modes of transport and certainly it is the intention of my committee to do all that we can to ensure that this remains the case .
we believe that the people of France and the people of Europe want something different .
we have seen some progress in the last three months .
as a result , I did not vote against this report because I support the changes to sugar refining in the Azores which will allow this activity to continue in a region without any major economic alternatives .
to this end , I was happy to give my support to Madam Angelilli 's report , and I commend her for all the work she has done on this subject .
we , along with President Barroso , have tried to achieve two things .
we cannot exist without the economy but it is culture that lends meaning to our relations and our identities , and that defines the values that unite us in the Community .
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the days of the Hitler-Stalin pact are long gone and in a democratic world , we should be practising a kind of European Monroe Doctrine ; in other words , that the fate and the policies of Europe are decided by Europeans .
I refer to five of the seven species of sea turtle , dolphins , numerous whales and numerous important sea mammals .
we are assuming that the Council and the Commission will take this into serious account , in the interest of all Europeans , and that they will move with us in this direction .
history is on the move in much of the world .
nevertheless , I hope that we , the Committee , and you , Commissioner Andor , have helped put things on the right track , that we will be able to rally round the White Paper , as well , in this Parliament , and that everyone will also vote in favour of it .
although history has given us ample evidence that this path leads nowhere , we are following it again .
the risks of attacks and pillaging of aid are also unfortunate daily realities , be they in Darfur or Somalia , Sri Lanka or Myanmar , Colombia or eastern DRC .
codecision and qualified majority decision-making are now the rule in legal terms .
sustainable industrial development therefore requires coordination , consistency and conformity .
these are measures to be applied retroactively from 1 January 2010 which do not represent any obstacle to free competition in our single market and constitute important contributions to the economies of these regions , whose natural frailties make them more vulnerable at a time of profound crisis .
this must hold appeal for Mr Mandelson , as Commissioner for External Trade .
particular attention should be paid to the amendments proposed in Mrs Roure 's report , which require collection of personal data for lawful purposes and observance of Convention 108 , as well as mandatory informing the data subject of the purposes for which the data concerning him are being processed .
the candidacy of Iran that has been announced is yet another sign that the path taken by this body may be lacking credibility and security , and that countries with a history of repeated human rights violations can use membership of the Council to try to whitewash their own violations .
the key is the scientific , comprehensive testing that accompanies the licensing process , guaranteed by the proposed regulation .
to reduce claims for ineligible land by farmers , the Commission could also provide legislation which clearly defines active farmers across the EU , which would then be used by all Member States , whereas at the moment , they have some discretion .
the EU needs to continue the support being given to Afghanistan .
at the global level , coordinated action to restart economic growth is essential .
the first version was excellent and we supported it .
here , too , it will be important for the Member States to follow our lead .
here I have a suggestion in line with what Margrete Auken was saying : an effective , but perhaps also bitter medicine - scrap the EU 's agricultural policy !
women are going to have not only the babies to look after , but also the elderly .
association agreements are the key element of this and should be similar but , at the same time , differentiated according to the possibilities and performance of every one of the six parties in this multilateral framework .
my vote is therefore one of abstention and of scepticism about this text : I am abstaining in the hope that Parliament will take off its diplomatic hat - it is not its job to be diplomatic - and embrace more courageously the battle for values and for human rights .
like others of my fellow Members , I agree that civil society has a vital role to play in this development .
the EQF will relate the countries ' different national qualification systems to each other , acting as a translation device .
in particular it may be due to the fact that there has been too little transparency concerning how the funds that the EU manages - that is , the funds that the EU pays to individual countries for good , well-intentioned projects - are used ; and it is a problem !
it is true that human rights problems abound and there are also a lot of countries that could be mentioned and called upon to act .
the issues of the environment , purity of ground water and also prevention of natural disasters and environmental disasters are all topics which must be incorporated in a sensible way .
it should also function as a driving force for the implementation of important reforms in countries that are candidates or potential candidates for Union membership .
we must acknowledge that this was anything but an easy task , as witnessed by today 's debate .
( applause )
the assistance for ' sustainable cities ' would have enabled wide-ranging projects to develop district heating and combined heat and power as well as improvements in housing .
despite the continuing training of police officers and the provision of the necessary equipment , the results of investigations and prosecutions of drug-related crime need to be considerably enhanced .
what bothers me most is the frequent hypocrisy of some who wish to ignore these situations and poke fun at the problems of these young girls and yet , when it happens to one of their children , they have the resources to pay for them to have ' revitalisation ' therapy , in Switzerland or elsewhere , without it attracting much attention .
the arguments for a single sky are growing stronger : we have 57 control points for 28 000 daily flights ; the US has two .
it is our common responsibility of all of us in the European Parliament to also oppose the rising extremism and intolerance to the east of the European Union , which is dangerous to all of us .
production and exports are rising and we are witnessing a reversal of the trend for relocations .
furthermore , this bill criminalises the legitimate work of non-governmental organisations , international donors and humanitarian associations which strive to defend and promote human rights in Uganda .
as regards people with disabilities , we must ensure that they are no longer discriminated against for using a wheelchair , because access to many places is all too often difficult .
for the time being , I only hope that tomorrow , after a night of reflection , we will have a vote that will indeed reinforce the credibility of this institution .
today , in spite of some still painful wounds in certain European regions , this sector has been able to change direction , not least through the development of technical and innovative textiles .
we have a financial mechanism to improve the management of these flows at the European level and to strengthen the solidarity between Member States .
in this way , we can ensure that the aid gets to those who need it .
the Balkans , with their reputation as the ' powder keg of Europe ' , remain primarily , in spite of the progress made in recent years , a potential hotbed of interethnic tension , with political instability and the economic and social crisis added to this .
as the rapporteur , I was not seeking complete exemptions for herbs and spices from the limits set out in Annex III .
it is this part of the Commission 's proposal that I am quite dubious about .
last spring , Mrs Svensson and others voted down a proposal requiring a judicial review to be carried out if someone was to be excluded .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( NL ) Madam President , it is always difficult to highlight a few points in a resolution like this one , because it can so easily turn into a Christmas tree .
in both cases , violent colonialist policy pursued by nationalist-communist police states has resulted in bloodshed .
the report glosses over the continuing Turkish occupation of Cyprus and avoids categorically and unconditionally demanding the withdrawal of Turkish military forces .
ladies and gentlemen , I believe that in one week of discussions in the Transatlantic Council it will become clear whether the EU and the US really feel a true global responsibility or whether they are maintaining a purely populist stance .
after Houston , Antwerp has the highest concentration of chemical companies in the world , providing work for 64 000 people directly and 100 000 indirectly .
on the contrary , some of the biggest scandals we have seen in Europe have affected countries with monopolies .
we must ensure that these measures are applied in an equitable manner .
4 .
coal is undoubtedly an abundant energy source .
( for results and other details of the vote : see Minutes )
they should produce useful results , not only at the time of legislation or amendment , but also under changing circumstances in the future .
I am very concerned that the limitation of delegated powers to the Commission will be followed by a higher risk of having no timely transposition .
we must , as a matter of urgency , put the Europe of exclusive interests behind us and build a Europe of the general interest .
with this in mind , we all agree on the need for financial institutions to be well managed and supervised .
Mr President , I rise on a completely different matter .
I am concerned about this succession of proposals on the monitoring of individuals , which are multiplying at an alarming rate .
I should like to see this House feel able to support the reinstatement of these oral questions .
however , today I would like to respond to certain key elements of your report , Mr Cappato .
the recent EU-China follow-up summit is a welcome sign of hope .
Mrs Trautmann , your report emphasises the need to continue to promote competition , especially infrastructure-based competition ; that is the view of the Council .
while the GNP forecasts for 2008 and 2009 put forward by individual Member States are lower than the growth rates achieved in 2007 , it appears that the reality will be even worse .
I do not believe that failing to mention the name and surname of the President of the Italian Republic will change a great deal , given that it is the President of the Italian Republic who is the subject of these amendments .
however , you are pursuing - not for technical reasons , but for political reasons - a different objective : you are racing to reduce costs and to cut wages , you are racing to conclude bilateral free trade agreements to the detriment of multilateralism , thereby causing social and fiscal dumping .
we put this on the Council table , but it was rejected .
work on European regulations concerning rating agencies has begun and is expected to be completed in spring 2009 .
the result of that is that surrounding the European Union , where in past decades there was hope for countries such as yours , today , instead , there are wars and tensions in the Middle East , the Balkans , the Caucasus , the Urals and the Maghreb .
on the one hand , we must allow flexibility in working time agreements , especially for employees of small- and medium-sized companies , and we must also protect Sunday as a day of rest .
however , there is immediately a dimension that is clearly lacking from our examination of the situation today , and that is the context in which this debate is taking place .
the cost to the manufacturer has been estimated at less than EUR 0.01 per tyre , which is negligible , in case anyone were to feel inclined to voice any criticism .
this is the message that we Georgians brought to this region .
this is also why this review conference is very important .
development is impeded if there is no freedom , and freedom is restricted without democracy .
President Barroso , will you explain to what extent plans for the EU to sign the European Convention on Human Rights will take into account the differing positions of the Member States ?
Louth .
all of a sudden , all my English colleagues had become poorer , and the pound has still not recovered today .
the woman refused a bank loan , the disabled person refused access to a building , the gay man refused accommodation , a black person barred from a club , and so on , should all be protected on the basis of similar principles .
is it really true that it is not included in the EU 's Hazardous Waste List ?
Mr Borloo is right to stress the need for an agreement at Heads of State or Government level , but we must not dispense with the contribution of Members directly elected by the peoples of Europe .
protection of soil ( vote )
in any event , some advisors have said that things did not happen at all like the international press told it .
this is particularly the case if , as has been stated several times , the aim is to have a closer partnership with NATO .
we must not , however , forget to put in place systems for protection and monitoring , in order to prevent child trafficking .
I am referring to projects such as the extension of the Konrad Adenauer Building , projects such as the House of European History ; these projects will go ahead under this budget of restrictions .
the budget for the European External Action Service is EUR 460 million .
the same kind of danger has not been ruled out in the case of Poland .
the issue of AIDS was also mentioned in the debate .
- Report : Johannes Blokland
it is also clear that EGNOS and GNSS generally can make an important contribution to safety and environmental protection .
we will retain our neutrality under the Lisbon Treaty - the Treaty will not change our position on that .
we should make sure that our policies help people to stay in their own countries .
the Commission will only consider its proposal after the two branches of the budgetary authority have adopted their positions .
as dialogue is very much a sine qua non for success , I would like to say to you , on behalf of my group , that you represent the personification of dialogue .
I agree that , within the law and with respect for the freedom of expression , the terrorist propaganda aimed at encouraging terrorist acts must be prevented .
we have prepared a broad range of support materials including PowerPoint presentations , elements for speeches , questions and answers , fact-sheets on different areas - all aiming to help communicators provide the facts on the issues .
human contribution to carbon emission is only around 4 % .
Member of the Commission . - ( EL ) Madam President , the Commission has to date been managing the problem of carbon dioxide emissions due to its activities , through the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme , better known as EMAS , and has been complying with the rules of that scheme .
if we want to speed up the process of settling the unresolved conflicts in the region , we need to start from the observation that this action has been greatly delayed by sponsors of the various plans vying with each other , thereby holding the process up for more than 15 years .
the European Parliament 's work on the budget has resulted in major achievements and I will mention just a few .
mobilisation of the flexibility instrument (
change is inevitable in the dairy sector , but there needs to be a well managed transition to provide the farmers of Europe with a stable and bright future .
I would like to begin by highlighting the excellent report produced by Mrs Patrão Neves .
many of the old ones have , in any case , proven to be totally untrustworthy .
finally , it is necessary to define agriculture 's contribution to climate change and sustainable development .
I would , however , like to add that we must now proceed to take action , since the situation in Jerusalem is deteriorating on a daily basis and cannot be tolerated any further .
I therefore propose that the Member States act now to establish closer European coordination to regulate migratory movements in the European Union .
efficiency in administration is also important and in this respect , I have to underline that the Commission , despite the adjustment to the Lisbon Treaty , will not request any new posts this year .
those are the reasons why we are registering below average representation of women in high-tech sectors .
the threat of horrendous penalties is not a solution .
we could do better .
this is my first concluding point .
- Before the vote :
this is precisely not the case with the current practice of lists of terrorist organisations both in the European Union as well as in the United States .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I do not have much to add .
if the ratification procedures go ahead as planned , the new treaty could enter into force in mid-2009 , at around the same time as the European elections .
I share the rapporteur 's view that priority should be given to the introduction of measures to reduce the number of injuries , and above all , the number of fatalities amongst pedestrians and other vulnerable road users .
( DE ) Mr President , the media play a very special and important role in our democratic society .
Mr Osanlou is in need of urgent medical treatment , which , we have reason to believe , he has still not received .
the third priority - or if you will the third ' E ' - of the Czech Presidency was about the EU in the world , and events demonstrate clearly how important it is for the EU to develop and pursue a common foreign policy .
what will you do to ensure that some of our diplomats think about human rights as a full-time job , every day ?
closer trade cooperation between Latin America and the European Union would facilitate the implementation of economic and social cohesion policies aimed at promoting economic development and prosperity in both regions .
( CS ) I am originally a doctor by profession and I know how difficult it is to save human life .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I look forward to a constructive and interesting debate .
- Report : Cristian Dumitrescu
would it be possible to have any influence on price increases when there are no reasonable grounds for them ?
these cells are also precursor and stem cells ; they are very valuable , as you know .
( Interjections from the floor )
it is important for the European Parliament to share its vision for EU maritime transport policy from now until 2018 .
the European Union and the United States would do well to draw inspiration from the Cuban example rather than to feel complacent behind media performances that ill disguise their perception of aid as charity when , in fact , above all , it serves their own economic and political interests at the expense of sustainable reconstruction of the Haitian State and its economy .
authorisation to fish will be given to 45 tuna seiners - 22 of which are French and 22 Spanish - and 25 surface longliners : this is more than the protocol currently in force , which authorises 40 seiners and 17 longliners .
I am confident that these problems will be dealt with and taken into account by the Commission and that an effective trade agreement will be agreed .
nevertheless , we coped ; we were independent .
what shall we do about profiteering ?
- Report : Manuel Medina Ortega
those who did not consider a moratorium when Romania and other countries joined the EU should also be indicted .
in Albania the political tension over the parliamentary election results that has already gone on for a year is harming the country 's efforts to become an EU Member State .
I look forward to the Council making a wise and well-considered decision .
therefore , the most realistic option seems to be the creation of a new instrument for actions other than public development aid for countries falling under the Regulation .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , this has been an important debate at an important and difficult moment .
author . - ( PL ) Mr President , I have the feeling that this matter differs from those we discussed before .
we should support an incident-assessment mission to be sent as soon as possible by the European Union .
as the ageing of the population in Europe can be expected to lead to increasing numbers of older people with a severe disability and in need of long-term care , this issue is among the priorities for the follow-up to the current disability action plan .
on the other hand , we must be aware that there are a number of questions expecting an answer .
this is what we are going to do , in full transparency and based on the best available expertise .
one potential and very important source for Central European and Baltic States would be the use of the emission credits accumulated under the Kyoto Protocol 's emissions trading system , thereby profiting from these countries ' climate resources .
I would hope that in our discussion on climate change we can tie our climate change objectives to our development policy objectives .
it is true that there were also regulatory problems .
in writing . - ( PT ) Among the many aspects that warrant criticism on this subject , I would like to focus on one of the priorities for 2008 , described by the President of the Commission as one of the most significant : the ratification of the proposal for a Treaty on European Union .
in writing . - ( IT ) I am voting in favour .
Azerbaijan is party to the European Convention on Human Rights and a member of the Council of Europe , and it has a responsibility to safeguard its citizens ' human rights and respect them .
industrial additives in tobacco have to be monitored , researched and restricted .
the cross-border healthcare issue has been under negotiation for a long time , and it caused an outcry when , in a previous draft , the risk emerged of creating two-speed healthcare specifically promoting medical tourism for better-off patients and harming those Member States which could not have planned their healthcare provision on the basis of a demand that depended on the quality offered ...
this is why I urge diversification of supply through interconnections and genuine regional markets which can ensure increased energy security .
I would like to take this opportunity to ask the Commissioner a question .
( FR ) Mr President , I would like to draw the attention of this House to the fate of two French journalists , Pierre Creisson and Thomas Dandois , who are currently in prison in Niger .
can you also tell me anything about this , Commissioner ?
today it is urgent , right , legitimate and necessary to ensure the security and recognition of the State of Israel .
so we addressed as a matter of urgency the electricity grids and interconnection between member countries .
if there is no such Agreement , someone might trigger the suspension clause , which would deprive the EU 's passengers and airlines of the significant gains that have been enjoyed since March 2008 .
the killing of Mr Kato has to be investigated thoroughly , and the person or persons responsible have to be brought to justice .
so , I would say to those who object to our agreement on this particular point that they have the possibility in their own countries to persuade their governments not to exercise this option when the time comes .
debates on cases of breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law ( debate )
Japan is highly innovative , partly through its ' top runner ' approach .
( ES ) Mr President , I have no doubt that the legal procedures have been followed correctly ; with a minimum of compulsion shall we say .
I remain painfully aware of the situation of Dhondup Wangchen , the Tibetan film maker , who suffers from hepatitis B and is in need of urgent medical attention in prison .
( NL ) Mr President , I wonder what is really the point of this report and the amendment to the Rules of Procedure that is the purpose of the report .
we would particularly like to strengthen Community procedures for epizootic control , both in the Community and regarding imports , and to review legislation on biosafety and compensation .
many people probably question why it is necessary to take action at a European level and why the solution to this problem cannot be left to the Member States .
however , it is not possible to achieve economic union simply by having a strategy for growth and creating quality employment .
in this last regard , I believe that European schools should be taken as the model for a world school , where an ' after-school learning ' component should come into play .
I would like to say that we live under the rule of law and as such anyone who asserts their rights cannot be punished for doing so .
she said the changes were those required by the British Government and they involved changes in names and symbols .
if these efforts continue to be blocked , we are ready to take additional measures by way of sanctions directed at the Zimbabwean authorities .
I would say that we , ourselves , would like all that has already been decided to be implemented - for nobody to take the pretext of a second stage , not to do what has been already decided .
because of the blockade , environmental pollution is rife to an alarming degree .
these businesses will have to keep supporting documents clearly showing transactions carried out and their own financial situation .
we also have a common interest in pursuing the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction .
there are no sealed borders and we are not being invaded by immigrants !
this amendment is a reminder that the debate on Nord Stream has not ended but is to be continued .
we must keep the EU agricultural budget at the current level until 2020 to ensure that farmers receive incentives to provide stocks of safe food products , to protect the environment , to create new jobs and to ensure the competitiveness of the EU agricultural sector .
( DE ) Madam President , thank you very much .
we have seen that what were previously very liberal conditions have not been changed , and this applies in particular to the loans that were granted to some European States .
as Egypt , like Turkey , may yet discover , overthrowing the deep state is much harder and that is why the Ergenekon case and similar investigations are so important .
this budget also clearly demonstrates the need to revise the multiannual financial framework , given the tight margins for its items , and particularly for items 1A , 3B and 4 .
now , at the beginning of this Parliament and new Commission , it is time we turned our attention to other members of staff of the three institutions and examined the role of those staff .
the economic crisis in Ukraine is not just a crisis for Ukraine , but is also a matter for all of us .
international protection .
we want to put in place a European legal framework .
the European Parliament resolution must state loud and clear that the law must be thrown out .
the EU and Council of Europe have provided significant assistance and should continue to do so to overcome this impasse in a timely manner .
the capacity to spend the investments planned in the budget , while growing , is still limited .
we therefore request that all the documents are put on the table now and for all citizens , since this is , of course , only what is expected of a democracy .
I support scrapping the current information exchange system while keeping the individual declaration not to vote or stand twice .
daughters are in some countries seen as an economic liability and , according to UNFPAs , the sex ratio at birth , although it is slightly higher , becomes more accentuated because of this .
I personally believe it is not very appropriate to link this kind of proposal to the specific situation in Greece today ; in fact , it could send the wrong signal .
the estimates were made with the aid of all available data from the Member States and industry .
again , congratulations to the Rapporteurs .
this report gives agricultural policy a strategic role in terms of food security and sustainable development .
if you do not mind , ladies and gentlemen , we shall not re-open the debate .
the approaching electoral campaign should not give rise to attacks and insults targeted at a legitimate state which , through its legislation , has offered a model in the area of interethnic relations .
I agree very much with Gunnar Hökmark who said earlier that we should not let Member States get away from their responsibility .
of course , there will be work in this area between the European Parliament and the Council , and I think we will be able to obtain an ambitious text regarding procedural rights .
the third challenge is combating climate change .
a net climate benefit must emerge , preferably worldwide .
one possible way out of the impasse that now exists is for the Security Council to strike down the indictment , as it has a right to do under the Rome Statute , on condition that Bashir goes into exile and the killings and repression stop , and in partial recognition that Sudan was never a signatory to the Rome Statute .
the protests brought to power a pro-European coalition and , one year on , the new government proved its European stance .
this good path serves to strengthen a community rather than a government approach .
constructive negotiations have taken place between the European Parliament , the Commission and the Council , during which the three institutions have together managed to solve a number of difficult issues .
1 .
this does not mean that the EU should not quickly conclude new agreements now that the Union has been reconstituted under the Treaty of Lisbon .
the second issue : thousands of passengers are still grounded and are having to stay in hotels , to change ...
however , as a supporter of the Friends of a Free Iran , I hope that the democratic opposition of Iran will also be involved .
I would also like to mention and to emphasise that we should not forget in this context adequate and all-round focused movement activity aimed precisely at this age group , which can assist in the development of the individual and contribute to better health in the future .
Parliament 's consultation process with regard to the latest GSP was insufficient , and did not allow for wide-ranging negotiation .
dates for next sittings : see Minutes
there are disparities , however , with the rules in the different Member States , particularly as far as e-invoicing is concerned .
what goes for Azerbaijan should certainly go for a Member State of the European Union as well .
even without these elections Armenia was in an extremely difficult position .
it has seen numerous conflicts since its independence from the United Kingdom in 1956 .
the text ultimately adopted lays down no legally binding target for waste reduction .
nevertheless , I regret the fact that it boasts about the Europe 2020 strategy and retirement at 64 , and that it states that ' the family is a cornerstone of our society ' .
following the rejection of the SWIFT agreement by the European Parliament in February 2010 , a new agreement must be negotiated between the European Union and the United States for the transfer of bank data in the context of the fight against terrorism .
at the same time , they will enable us to enhance the competitiveness of our industry in major strategic technological fields .
therefore , when it comes to defining research as financial investment in knowledge , innovation would be the reverse process .
Eastern Europeans have been able to work legally in the old Europe from the time of accession to the Union .
on the subject of the Baltic States , I believe that one of the issues - which , incidentally , is addressed in the text that was approved on 30 June last year - is the relationship with the new emerging classes , with the new middle class in Russia .
if that leads to real solutions , it will make sense for Europe to support it .
however , the civil war that has continued for almost 50 years has claimed at least two million victims in that country .
this autumn , Parliament also received the Commission 's letter of amendment proposing an additional EUR 262 million for external actions .
in addition , compliance with international agreements on social , employment and environmental matters ; and especially , we would like to stress , the fight against child labour .
in view of the crisis , the forthcoming summit , the necessary stringency of financial market regulation and the fact that the Council has left the Commission to its own devices over the last few months , where is your strategy ?
the Italian Government and the Interior Minister should , however , have looked for other means , fully in line with European standards , and informed the European Commission beforehand rather than late in the day .
I would like to extend a special thank you to the European Parliament 's Vice-President , Alejo Vidal-Quadras , the Committee Chairman , Herbert Reul , and the three rapporteurs from Parliament , Catherine Trautmann , Pilar del Castillo Vera and Malcolm Harbour , who , like my colleagues in the Council , have done some extremely important work to enable us to put the telecoms package together .
this concerns both the promotion of good experiences and the propagation of innovative , technical and organisational solutions .
in writing . - British Conservatives support the Böge report and we particularly welcome the rapporteur 's proposals to make the Budget more flexible and better equipped to respond to changing circumstances .
( SV ) Mr President , though the crisis in Albania has been going on for a long time , it is only now that it has really started to escalate , and this time , the EU has acted immediately and in the right way .
as a result of the harmonisation of European Union visa law , legislation which has often hindered the process of obtaining a visa will be repealed .
soil biomasses and natural carbon sinking - carbon in soil - could bring added benefit for farmers by reducing erosion and fertiliser inputs .
the Italian national railways have been neglecting both goods and passenger transport here for years .
the resolution also points to the fact that application procedures are too complicated and have an excessive number of checks which discourages potential beneficiaries of cohesion policy , as well as to the requirement to consult the general public in order to legitimise the decision-making process .
profits from gambling should primarily be used for the benefit of society in order to promote amateur sport , amongst other things .
there must be an end to the legal loopholes that have existed up to now for fiddles .
in summing up the Belgian Presidency , we should , first of all , appreciate its highly active role in designing the European financial stability system .
these are wonderful results , proving that Europe is taking the sustainable route .
during the first few months of 2011 , I am going to take the necessary steps to obtain community support for a grand project .
no , it is the representation of the electors and nothing more .
my excellent colleague , Mrs Gräßle , is right to hold the Council to account on the issue of the long-awaited revision of the 1999 regulation for , since then , provision has been made , on the basis of a Commission assessment due to be performed three years after the creation of the Office , to review this regulation that had to be adapted .
before the vote on Amendment 88 :
we have got to make it easier for the public to dispose of their electrical goods , and particularly small electrical goods .
on ' Legislative procedure and planning : mutual cooperation ' it includes improving the involvement of Parliament , the review of all pending proposals at the beginning of a new Commission 's term of office , taking due account of the views of the Parliament , and the commitment by the Commission to report on the concrete follow-up to any legislative initiative requests pursuant to Article 225 TFEU .
on behalf of the EFD Group . - Mr President , you are all very downbeat this morning .
in the agricultural sector , Galileo will be able to support improvements to agricultural output by guaranteeing more efficient use of land and water , thereby reducing the need for fertilisers and pesticides .
I have said as much on other occasions in Parliament : the crisis of the 1930s , which also started with a financial crisis , was never fully resolved .
us agricultural support is worse than ours , and the EU should lead by example .
everyone is pointing their fingers at Greece but there are also other Member States that have avoided benchmarking , deceived Europe about their deficits and cheated with their financial statistics .
so here we are asking ourselves , in this Parliament , how many angels are dancing on the head of a pin when , in fact , the main area of the work is covered by the ODA instrument .
this is a necessary step that needs to be accompanied , from now on , by other steps as part of an overall European approach .
our consistent behaviour will create confidence among our voters and neighbours alike .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the partnership between the EU and Canada works very well , not only in the area of the economy , but also on questions of foreign policy , such as Iran , Afghanistan , Haiti and other similar cases .
now , following the judgment against Liu Xiaobo , we have even seen a homosexual party banned by the police , which clearly threatens to result in a political ice age in China for dissidents , human rights defenders and homosexuals .
when we discuss Belarus in this context , Commissioner , I find it interesting how we are managing to find a suitable way to link the instruments for human rights and democracy in a situation in which the neighbourhood instrument cannot yet have the same impact .
we all know that the consequences of this kind of accident have no respect for the borders of states and harm both the environment and coastal populations .
this is a great help for our citizens .
but criticism is easy ; what is being attempted has never been done before .
- Before the vote :
Mr Borloo gave the answer and the solution reached by the French presidency was very wise .
it would be easy for the Commission to present new ideas every day , knowing full well that they would have no chance of implementation .
along with this , however , it must be ensured - and this is the duty of the European Parliament and the Member States - that normal social security continues to be provided .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - Mr President , it is a pleasure to see the Prime Minister here in Brussels .
in my view , the only honest response which is in line with the wishes of EU citizens would be to bring the accession negotiations to an end and to aim for a privileged partnership .
I think it is necessary to correlate the TEN-T ( Trans-European Network of Transport ) strategy , where the Danube comes under point 18 , with the new territorial and economic development strategy , so that development takes place in a cohesive manner .
would you please allow the Commissioner to answer ?
in spite of the lack of agreement with the Member States on the proposal for a directive , we have persisted , and will continue to do so .
in the case of animals that are dosed preventively , it is added to their food , and it thus also weakens man and his ability to combat the infections he gets , despite being in hospital , through hospital strains .
8 .
it is gratifying that one of the priorities of the Slovenian presidency will be the Western Balkans .
in the Netherlands , for example , they perform some social care services .
in view of the latest spectacular cases concerning Khodorkovsky , Lebedev and Bachmina , my question to the Council is : how does the Council respond to Russia in cases of such unlawful and corrupt court decisions ?
however , what is particularly important in respect of these guidelines is that consumers should be kept informed .
is it not the case that in the next few weeks , your group will vote in favour of the discharge of the Council in the Committee on Budgetary Control , although the Council has not given adequate responses ?
in writing . - ( IT ) Export credit agencies ( ECAs ) represent the world 's largest source of official financing for private-sector projects .
however , further to a decision by Parliament 's Bureau yesterday evening , the Conference of Presidents , in their sublime wisdom , will decide on Thursday if the group chairs wish to make use of this aspect of the system on a permanent basis in the future .
these are alarming voices and we have to adopt a clear standpoint quickly .
it has also been a discussion about legitimacy .
in writing . - ( PT ) When it launched the Energy Package at the beginning of this year , the European Commission highlighted the need for a technological action plan for fossil fuels and underlined the fundamental requirement for a pragmatic approach towards nuclear energy .
the 2009 initiative for security and development in the Sahel has so far proved ineffective .
it would be damaging if the spirit of solidarity , which for historical reasons has placed greater demands on France than on others to the extent that we have the largest contingent , were to be turned by your absence into a climate of post-colonial suspicion .
in writing . - ( PL ) I would like to express my thanks to Mr Marcin Libicki , Chairman of the European Parliament 's Committee on Petitions , for working on a subject that has aroused a great deal of anxiety .
the Swedish Presidency aims to maintain the debate on animal welfare and good animal husbandry .
we cannot solve the current or previous problems , or perhaps the next challenges to the functioning of the global economy , without tackling the global imbalances that are still there .
similarly , in the case of court decisions , we do not want the Committee on Petitions to get involved in legal developments , and we want it to respect the decisions of the European Court of Justice .
first , on behalf of the Council , I would like to welcome the South African delegation who are here with us , and to tell them that we shall be seeing their country 's leaders very soon , as that will be the first European Union summit that will take place in France , at the end of July .
the fund should help slow the trend of increasing unemployment in Munster and will provide a major boost for the local economy as those affected by the closure of the Dell plant return to the workforce .
report : James Elles
I think that although a lot of concerns were expressed - there were a lot of proposals , and many of these were taken on board - and everybody is a little bit dissatisfied , this does not mean that the package is not equitable and is not ambitious .
European Union Member States should severely punish any kind of child sex abuse and any kind of online grooming .
it is essential that we consider the situation of women who have entered Europe and are being held in detention centres .
it has , in particular , stymied the European Parliament 's plenary session in Strasbourg as almost half of MEPs have failed to get here .
that is why I would like to impress on the Commission the need to include technology transfer measures in rural development .
although the Member States are responsible for providing education , there are major advantages in establishing cross-border links and in promoting enhanced cooperation between the European business community and European universities .
if there should be a No vote , the money would not be handed back to the taxpayer .
to say that GMOs are a bad thing , just like that , is an ideological prejudice .
I understand that you may feel that this is not sufficient for you to have a clear picture on where we stand in these negotiations .
at the same time , I would like to emphasise my disagreement with the other issues raised in the report , which should not have been included in this report :
I would single out the main aspects and priorities of this integration as building good neighbourly relations , advancing EU-Turkey cooperation , enhancing social cohesion and prosperity and fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria .
as Mr Carlgren said , certain countries , such as Brazil and South Korea , have announced that they will be taking measures .
Russia is a neighbour and important partner .
the financial and economic crisis , climate change , the introduction of new information technologies and the war on terror further exacerbate human rights issues and new forms of human rights violations emerge .
that is why I voted for the report on the Community Fisheries Control Agency .
however , the documents which are going round are general and fail to provide any clear statements referring to the future challenges .
on the basis of the above , I voted in favour of rejecting the report .
high Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the Commission . - Thank you all again for an important and interesting debate .
however , police intervention involving water cannon , tear gas and rubber bullets resulted in four deaths and more than 150 injuries .
this is the context in which this report was written .
this will enable citizens to truly participate in the political process and to ask the public authorities for clarification .
the public consultation has made a strong call for the improved effectiveness and efficiency of the European budget , in particular through the simplification and proportionality of the administrative budget and control .
several here have already spoken of how he vigorously defended a Christian woman who had been sentenced to death and tried to overturn her sentence .
however , when Mrs McAvan tabled her question , I had the feeling that she would have preferred to have stopped production in this energy sector .
I feel that the European Union and Member States should encourage and support forms of implementation of the social economy , e.g. cooperatives , mutual societies , associations and foundations , in their legislation and policies .
why not approach the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund with a single voice ?
in writing . - ( SV ) We Swedish Social Democrats agree that consumers have an important function to perform if sustainable use of water resources in the EU is to be achieved .
I am talking about women who work in the home .
I am interested in Commissioner McCreevy 's recent comments to the effect that some of the problems in this area have been caused by Member States ' regulators building empires .
( PT ) Mr President , we join with the rest of the world in expressing our sympathy and regret at the tragedy that has befallen the people of Haiti , and wish to show them complete solidarity , but we must highlight certain issues that we believe to be crucial .
there is no such decision and it is not possible to make one .
in the light of the serious socio-economic impact of pit closures , particularly in thinly populated regions , consideration should be given to the possibility of providing help and support .
I would therefore repeat what Mr Verheugen said at a conference on textiles that was held in Milan at the end of last week : ' trade defence instruments are beneficial for the competitiveness of our industries and can never be considered as instruments of protectionism . '
the European Commission and the Council should not linger at the halfway stage , but continue to demolish this obstruction , together with financial and bureaucratic barriers , while maintaining a strong level of protection against criminals and lawbreakers .
I warmly welcome this proposal and its three principal objectives : guaranteeing quality and security for patients at Union level , ensuring the protection of donors and facilitating cooperation between Member States .
I believe that it is vital to focus aid on the fleets which are most dependent on fuel and thus most affected by the current overcapacity .
the death of this boy was without doubt a tragedy which saddened us all .
no time was deducted , however , from the other question periods .
digital television and wireless broadband can develop successfully in parallel and we should not forget that broadband Internet access also offers high cultural and social value .
however , care must be taken not to hinder donations from living donors , which must be a matter of free and informed choice .
the financial crisis has drawn attention to the shortcomings in supervision mechanisms , including consolidated supervision .
I use it for practical reasons , because it pays off for me , as it is quicker in the Prague traffic and I can ride it wearing a suit .
in writing . - I am disappointed at the Parliament 's position on the revision of Europe-wide rules on animal testing .
we must develop genuine cooperation with this region , and this is why I support European Union efforts to promote WTO membership for the countries of Central Asia and their integration into world trade .
it will make Lisbon a reality .
now there is a need for action , for decisions and for restored confidence in public finances .
in my opening speech I stated that the social partners had reached an agreement over parental leave , and it would be logical to include the possibility of paternity leave in this agreement .
I hope that the British Government will implement these new rules without delay to ensure the protection of consumers across the UK .
after many years of work and quite serious ratification problems , the Treaty of Lisbon is finally in force .
will you also take action to support fair trade at world level , fair trade that is capable of promoting development , decent work and respect for human rights ?
it is an instrument of development for the country itself and for its policies on the fisheries industry .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
let me add that , when it comes to political asylum , it is not logical for one individual to be able to submit 27 applications to 27 democratic countries and not get the same answers every time to the same problem .
I consider the extension of the EIB mandate to include regional operational guidelines , which will be developed by the Commission in cooperation with the EIB , following consultation with the European External Action Service , to be a step in the right direction for meeting the external policy objectives of the EU .
the European Union has limited itself to verbal declarations , conferences , and in particular flirting with Russia , giving Russia the courage to use energy resources as an instrument of political pressure .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , the global financial crisis has spread through the markets with unforeseeable consequences .
only then will we be able to guarantee a safe environment for victims without restricting victims ' right to mobility .
it would be in this context that the High Representative / Vice President would pursue increased participation by the EU in international coordination .
at the time when this 120 g target was fixed , there were a number of questions about the extent to which these 120 g should be regarded as an average , in terms of the entire industry and in terms of similar measurements .
moreover , I think our discussion has also underlined the necessity for both parties to resume dialogue promptly .
maybe other Member States have their own dirty linen that they do not want exposed or maybe these institutions do not really believe in the principles of democracy and justice they claim they stand for , or maybe the EU cares for human rights only when it does not concern its own members .
nor must we focus solely upon toys , even though one in four products in which a defect is identified is in fact a toy .
we could say much more , but there would not be much point .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , exactly 20 years ago , as a legal adviser in the office of the Belgian Secretary of State for Health , I had the opportunity to draw up regulations that led to the first national Decree banning smoking in public places in the then European Community .
it is this common will that allowed us to come together , because we know that the economic stakes , the demographic stakes , the geopolitical stakes that we are facing , like the social and cultural stakes , presuppose that we are capable of working with the other side of the Mediterranean .
in writing . - ( SK ) The EU is endeavouring to improve the situation in the Balkans because establishing a permanent peace in this part of Europe is a matter of great importance to it .
under the guise of combating mafia organisations and organised crime in general , the Eurocrats of Brussels wish to further impose their federalist views , which destroy nations , peoples and identities .
yet advertising comes about not only as a result of professional offensives but also of occurrences in the region from which the foodstuffs originate .
as a Parliament in a free Europe , we must ...
stigmatisation and incitement to hatred on the grounds of religious affiliations are considered offences in France and this situation is equivalent to flagrante delicto .
to talk about human rights only masks the reality of the situation : Europe is being swamped by illegal immigration , which in essence cannot be controlled , and this is coming on top of the legal migration that is being encouraged by national and European authorities alike .
the Commission will use this test as a basis for planning additional measures to support implementation and the exchange of best practice .
what will the future hold for the workers in this industry , and what will happen to the farmers ?
you are doing great work on the energy issue , as well as on R & D and innovation .
nonetheless , we expect an accession candidate to show a European spirit when the security of European personnel in missions such as EUPOL and EULEX is at stake .
the report acknowledges the challenges posed to the print outlets by the migration of the advertising revenues to the internet , but points out that the new commercial media landscape is dominated by the established public and private media content providers .
in recent times , in countries such as Poland , this kind of training has been cut back .
the most important thing is for there to be a change of attitude in terms of steering all the European institutions towards greater political ambition .
I endorse the appeals voiced by previous speakers , especially the measured comments of my colleague Geoffrey van Orden .
the implementation of the European semester , the adoption of the permanent stability mechanism , along with the commitments made before Parliament , including the legislative package , which will have to be balanced by Parliament , are all steps in the right direction .
recent years have shown that strategic blueprints cannot be cast in stone - they have to adapt to reality on the ground .
to me this seems to be much more important than any ideology-laden discussion of network ownership .
Mr President , when China was selected to host the Olympic Games , I initially hoped , after all China 's promises to improve the human rights situation , that this would perhaps actually happen .
recently , we have been saying a lot about the need to revive the internal market .
EU agriculture and climate change ( short presentation )
if the Member States or other donors want to contribute to the United Nations funds for front-line intervention , that must not be to the detriment of what is already being done and should be over and above this .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , it is a great pleasure to be addressing the plenary of Parliament on an issue , as David Martin described it , of fundamental importance to the European Union 's relationship with the African , Caribbean and Pacific ( ACP ) nations .
the illegal transitional regime headed by Andry Rajoelina is in the process of plunging Madagascar into chaos .
that is why , as you rightly say , we must discuss a European revival plan , but a European environmental revival plan , that which the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance call a Green Deal , and not just any old thing .
do we need to know any more in order to conclude who is the guilty party and who is the victim in this war ?
only once a detailed assessment of all the risks has been carried out will the authority finally decide whether to admit the vessel or to send it away .
I would remind Mr Cappato that the European Union has no competence over competition in respect of the delivery of public services .
the United States has lost significantly in terms of credibility in its fight for leadership in Internet freedom .
I reiterate this approval of a strategy that seeks to mainstream gender equality in development cooperation .
I have now been a Member of this Chamber for 10 years and it was not by chance that , when I arrived here - not with this intention , but it came to me very quickly - I found myself saying , ' oh my word , transparency is the crucial issue ' , and for that reason , I set up the European Transparency Initiative back in 2000 .
the report by Mrs Estrela , on behalf of the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality , on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 92 / 85 / EEC on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health at work of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding - C6-0340 / 2008 - .
I am convinced that this would act as a magnet to all countries in the Balkans , including the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia .
hence , the Stability Pact and hence , in Maastricht in its time , today Article 123 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union forbids deficits or the granting of credit to cover those deficits by the European Central Bank and the central banks of the Member States whose currency is the euro .
as an aside , I would like to say that it is not easy to understand how these texts and the voting procedure are handled in this Parliament .
this mechanism could also function in the opposite direction .
it cannot be that funds are available for some problems but not for this humanitarian situation .
it is an excellent initiative , especially as it gives rise to cross-border projects .
I welcome the opportunity through this resolution to condemn it .
an example of preferential treatment is free travel on public transport for older people : this supports mobility .
that is the situation .
isolation , sanctions or any other forms of boycott would be harmful to talks and negotiations aimed at achieving a sustainable solution to the conflict .
we are , of course , also following Parliament 's written statement which clearly demanded the ban .
it is well known that the Verts / ALE Group strongly opposes the extensive introduction of biometrics until its necessity is proved beyond reasonable doubt .
what it comes down to is that those Member States that have kept their own houses in order will end up paying .
I have tried to answer most of the questions that were reiterated in the questions put by the Members , but of course I am ready for further discussion .
I also wish to thank the rapporteur , Mrs Zdravkova , as well as the Ombudsman for all his hard work .
between the Committee on Legal Affairs and the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection , we followed a common cross-committee strategy .
at the same time , however , all the international players need to work to eliminate the practice of double standards when it comes to citing human rights .
however , many years and many laws later , it is time to stand back and look again at this policy area that affects all Europeans , to update it in the various aspects indicated in the Green Paper itself and to make it more coherent as regards both the definitions and the concepts .
a compromise has been reached on the 6 + 4 , to put it simply .
the Services Directive should be implemented at the end of the year .
I suggest , though , that we keep out of Belgian internal debates and interests .
this is true .
we ought to avoid the same errors of conception and implementation .
I hope that the Commission will also present proposals on that issue next year .
of course , pending such a measure , I would ask the Commission to do everything necessary to get the ' common visa centre ' in Chişinău , up and running .
I will focus on the two main areas of expenditure : agriculture and cohesion .
this seems to me to run completely counter to all the EU 's documents , to contradict the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and also the resolution we adopted this morning on the rights of the child .
we have always said that the success of a presidency depends in the first place on the presidency itself , but that it must also rely on the commitment , cooperation and will to move forward of all the Member States .
there is a symbolic dimension to this , since we hope that our successes at home will serve to inspire our partner countries around the world .
I therefore urge the Council and the Commission to link any form of aid to the Pakistani Government to the urgent abolition of this pernicious discrimination against the country 's religious minorities .
with the proper adaptations , we need to provide all the guarantees of traditional commerce .
their coming together is determined by globalisation and the multicultural economic environment which is still developing .
only the Belarusian people themselves can reach a decision on the country 's integration processes and only under conditions of democratic self-determination .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , allow me to make a brief comment with regard to the interinstitutional agreement and the resolution that we have before us .
my opinion is that one could overcome this clash of principles by combining regional integration following the European Union communitarian model with an appropriate use of the internal self-determination , devolution and autonomy .
it is my view that these countries , as well as those that have used them , including the UK , have blood on their hands .
( the sitting was suspended at 12.50 p.m. and resumed at 3 p.m. )
the Netherlands has made an application for EGF funds for redundancies in the automotive sector , which are in line with the fund 's regulation .
in the mean time , all possible pressure should be put on the Burmese rulers and their allies , including China , to engage first in the humanitarian relief phase before starting the self-proclaimed reconstruction phase .
the proposal aims to deal with competition problems in the automotive industry by an unprecedented curtailment of the legal protection that industrial design rights afford to spare parts .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , first of all , allow me to say that I am pleased that we are continuing the debate that started last month .
in other words , the figures differ completely from those you cited just now .
clearly there is much progress still to be made before Uzbekistan can be considered a properly democratic country .
the question of delegated acts has dominated the discussion around the financing instrument for development cooperation , as in fact has happened with other financing instruments .
there must be better traffic monitoring , better quality control of ships and better exchange of experience on what constitutes an incident risk .
regarding the legal basis for the proposed directive , many of you would like to add Article 152 to Article 95 .
the new emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles relate to a reduction in pollutants , not in greenhouse gases : the two are sometimes confused .
secondly , I think it important to underline the strategic importance of this whole game and , thirdly , the need to intensify collaboration with developing countries and emerging countries , without taking money away from the poorest countries .
crisis in the dairy farming sector ( debate )
however this is just an audacious way of pre-empting a political decision .
finally , I also welcome the efforts of the Swedish Presidency to reach a satisfying conclusion .
could you please , in this case , let the Commissioner answer very quickly ?
yet is it Mauritania 's responsibility , is it Mauritania 's fault , if the European fleet has gone elsewhere for certain fishing categories ?
without taking common action , no European Union Member State will be in a position to restore sustainable public finances 10 years from now .
I have no reason - and I say this to you in all conscience - to think that it has not enabled good candidates to be selected .
as a result , I cannot agree that the EU should unilaterally limit its CO2 emissions by 30 % , rather than the target of 20 % , if this is not going to be duly matched by other countries , notably the United States .
in fact , we are subject to a demographic study only by an unjustified simplification and ignorance of what we are .
I voted in favour of this report and would like to emphasise the call by Parliament to the Commission that it makes provision for the establishment of a clear definition of the investments to be protected , including both FDIs and portfolio investments , stipulating that investments of a speculative nature , as defined by the Commission , should not be protected .
in this respect , it should be pointed out that the European Union applies much more restrictive regulations than the Convention itself , using the principle of precaution in order to maintain or , if necessary , reduce the loss of biodiversity .
it is time to have more faith in the market .
very few .
in part , of course , this derives from the crisis , but as a result of past mismanagement , it is much greater than in other countries where conditions are , objectively speaking , similar .
firstly , governments - and the EU in particular - must invest more in research and development ; we simply do not have the information upon which to base a plan for the future .
the Commission has therefore no legal basis for intervention in the matter of supplementary charges on cross-border payment services in the UK and Ireland .
we all know that unemployment is highest late in the economic cycle - and it is unemployment that drives protectionism and populism .
Turkey should address this issue .
as regards control , I support the introduction of national declarations , endorsed by the Court of Accounts of each Member State , which would force the governments and payment agencies to take responsibility for the correct and objective assignment of Community funds .
contrary to the impression given , the Copenhagen criteria do not apply here .
the stand against Turkey is a most important issue which will be discussed , within the framework of enlargement , at the European Council Summit in December .
one important item on the agenda should , of course , be the nomination of the next President of the Commission , but that nomination cannot be seen in isolation .
as such , we must approach it with an ambitious focus , with the aim of working towards the inclusion of all citizens of the Community , and we must implement it in both public policy and administrative operations , as well as in relationships between individuals .
4 .
therefore , it is important that Parliament 's resolution insists on greater attention being paid to human rights , especially political rights , in the negotiation and implementation of bilateral trade agreements , even when concluded with important trade partners .
it is sad , but true .
it is also important to provide access to education and qualifications , especially for people with financial difficulties , including those living in small towns and villages , who still do not have easy access to educational services .
the driver 's seat on wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors ( codified version ) (
there is a second cartel , within the European market itself , Commissioner ; your fellow Commissioner responsible for Competition is still observing it without interfering .
worse still , who will ultimately be footing this bill ?
deforestation now accounts for around 18 % of the world 's total greenhouse gas emissions and highlights the insanity of current policies .
however , Article 51 of the Charter states that its provisions are addressed to the institutions , bodies , offices and agencies of the EU , with due regard for the principle of subsidiarity , and to the Member States only when they are implementing EU law .
focusing only on what lies within the ombudsman 's mandate neglects the fact that the network ensures that the bulk of the complaints go to the right national regional ombudsman concerning EU law and that are dealt with there .
I give my full support to Mrs Vălean 's report on the application of Directive 2004 / 38 / EC , all the more so as the recent events which have occurred in some Member States have highlighted the blatant violation of one of the four fundamental freedoms , namely , the right of citizens to freely move around and settle on the territory of Member States .
- Madam President , to save time the Socialists are prepared to accept Amendments 8 and 10 as additions , but we will vote against if they are not accepted as additions by the PPE-DE Group .
Commissioner , there is the major issue of the Nabucco pipeline , on which the energy security of Europe depends in large measure .
the consequences of the storm are tragic .
it is no wonder , then , that most people would like the election campaign to focus on economic issues affecting their everyday lives , such as unemployment , economic growth , inflation and purchasing power .
secondly , by its very existence , the South Stream project undermines the NABUCCO project , which is believed to be of strategic importance for the success of EU energy security policy .
I do not believe , however , in the idea that we should regulate it uniformly throughout Europe .
yet alcohol is widely available at affordable prices everywhere in Europe .
the rules are absolutely clear on this .
is the Commission prepared to suspend the ban on conventional light bulbs , at least for private households ?
large parts of the north have been brought under control and strongholds of the Tamil rebels have been taken .
I think that contributed a lot to the general impression that this time , Europe actually was speaking with one voice .
we wanted it to think for itself , because the world needs Europe 's thinking , and for it to be proactive .
this is not a good time for Mexico , as for any other country in the world in the current crisis .
the first example is our one-minute speeches .
one is mobilisation of the Community Mechanism for Civil Protection and the other is activation of the Solidarity Fund .
I would like to end by saying that we greatly appreciate the opportunity to belong to a community of states built on values and on foundations that we , after November 1989 , have been able to adopt once more as our own values and our own goals .
these improvements may increase the price of new cars but , then , reduced emissions mean improved fuel economy , so those who buy the cars will save money as they drive them .
or do we want to outlaw patio heaters at the Christmas markets that we know from Germany and - yes , Claude - from Luxembourg as well as from Belgium and Austria ?
the aim of the regulation was to enable the cooperating partners to use legislation which would have same effects in both countries , because until then the method of simultaneous application of two legal systems had not been effective .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to congratulate Mr Berlato and voice my support for his report .
this is what is on the agenda .
when we vote , everyone can look up how individual MEPs have voted .
I hope that such conduct will continue because that is the best way of contributing to the success of the ratification procedures and the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty .
I have not voted in favour of the motion for a resolution , because in my opinion it is primarily a statement of opposition to the right-wing government and does not take an unbiased approach to the problem .
of course this is not relevant to my question but let me tell you that I would not be speaking here now had I not run around to another part of the building .
too many Europeans , in Europe , have no access to a nutritional meal for two days at a time .
( RO ) The situation of minority groups in Romania was one of the intensely debated subjects during the period of accession negotiations .
adjournment of the session
thirdly , restrictions in the area of CO2 emissions will only weaken humanity economically , and so will make the catastrophe worse .
we have to question whether there really is a will among the Member States to do something about this .
I wish to propose that you undertake an initiative for this Parliament to mark 10 October in a special way , and that you encourage the Member States of the European Union , and all the parliaments of the Member States , to do likewise .
a review clause has been included requiring the Commission to re-examine the situation and submit a report on the matter to the European Parliament and the Council no later than 15 March 2013 .
in writing . - ( PT ) The changes in our globalised world and their consequences on the institutions are undoubtedly resulting in ever-increasing exposure to various social actors .
- ( CS ) Madam President , the 2012 budget of the European Union should continue the tradition of balanced budgets .
stress tests of the EU banking sector ( debate )
these regulations are particularly important for the workers themselves .
in general , I also consider it dangerous to measure everything by the same yardstick and campaign for enforced conformity everywhere .
that is the key question for the tomorrow 's Council .
( mixed reactions )
given that the promotion of a more competitive agricultural system in an open global trade environment is one of the duties assigned by President Barroso to the new Commissioner for Agriculture , I am going to take advantage of the commissioner 's presence in the Chamber to ask him how he views the cooperation with his colleague responsible for agriculture in terms of concluding the negotiations as part of the Doha Round .
there is also a suggestion here that we have now a culture of dependency because of direct payments to farmers .
the communities that thrived on this employment have not just lost their jobs but also their sense of purpose and belonging .
the PVV also attaches great importance to protecting the privacy of Dutch citizens and takes the view that , where these interests clash , they need to be carefully weighed up against each other .
another cartel is gearing up to grab the gas market .
Madam President , the new demon , I think the Commissioner will agree , seems to be short-selling .
furthermore , it is Parliament that gets the blame very often , although it is of course the Member States , the national governments , who have the power to rectify this situation .
they must be able to contribute through their representatives in the EEAS to achieving the EU 's foreign policy objectives and to ensuring this institution 's credibility in the eyes of all European citizens .
I would like to conclude by thanking the Commission once again , and also all of the shadow rapporteurs .
this will ensure that European citizens have better institutions and effective control over them , making the EU stronger , fairer and more united .
there is a huge body of independent evidence that has proven that the introduction of improved training , safer working practices and the use of medical devices incorporating safety-engineered protection mechanisms will prevent the majority of needle-stick injuries .
( PL ) - Mr President , once once again , Parliament is debating the situation in Egypt which is dynamic and requires monitoring .
this is a real step towards considering the special conditions in which 19 % of all EU citizens live and work .
as a member of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development , I think it is very important that we aim for a greater degree of harmony and synergy between regional and rural development policies in the future .
EUR 146 million has been provided for projects which will be crucial for Europe and for the various countries and , in particular , as the Commissioner has said , for the local and regional authorities which will , I hope , be handling this money or these grants .
the EU needs to ensure that common standards and systems facilitate cross-border rail travel and important projects are promoted within the arterial roads .
this new European regulator will make a strong contribution to enhancing cross-border competition and consumer choice .
firstly , I would like to know whether the pledged money has arrived - the money that was promised - and whether it was disbursed and absorbed .
once the system has been introduced , a number of reporting requirements will be removed .
in writing . - ( PT ) In 1968 the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development ( UNCTAD ) recommended the creation of a Generalised System of Preferences ( GSP ) under which countries that were considered to be more developed would support developing countries by granting trade preferences .
the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats performs its work in full awareness of this responsibility .
many may say that , for the moment , we can trust that the negotiations of the European Commissioners and the Russian delegation at the Moscow summit will bring substantive results and lead to significant progress as regards the gas pipelines , and that in future it will not be the Russian gas monopoly alone that dictates prices .
( SK ) The results of the three-year study by the World Health Organisation on health inequalities between different populations in the world are alarming .
the spirit of these new articles , Article 8a and Article 15a is that , as far as possible , children should not be detained .
the process refers to the redundancy of 594 workers - all potential beneficiaries of aid - from the company Unilever ČR , spol.sr. , which operates in the retail sector in the region of Střední , during the four-month reference period between 16 September 2009 and 16 January 2010 .
which team in which hospital in which Member State has news to report ?
one last thing : this House is very open to saving money from both the EU budget and from Parliament 's budget .
it has determined how certain powers have dominated other countries .
as soon as they find a crack , in they go .
I hope that this Treaty which we are getting will at least have a much higher added value than Nice .
on its side , the Commission is finalising its response to the consultation process .
the fact that you were able to buy it means that its size and curvature conform to European standards .
more Russian-owned oil and gas pipelines from Central Asia is not the independence in the energy sector that we should aim for in the EU .
that is why I should like to point out some of what I see as the arguments in favour of electric vehicles .
another aspect is the inclusion of Israel on the list of destination countries for dual-use products .
the removal of barriers to mobility and the harmonisation of institutional regulations , with the aim of fostering integration , economic growth and European solidarity , are major benefits for the Single Market .
remember how many said that an EU of 27 would never be able to agree a treaty text again .
but let us ask also for more ambition from others , because only with this ambition can we have a deal which is compatible with our ambition .
when we allocate funds for water infrastructure , priority must be given to those which include clean technologies , use water efficiently and also involve risk prevention measures .
this report is absolutely unacceptable since it reiterates on a number of occasions that the inclusion of the Roma is an economic necessity and that it would bring financial advantages for the Member States .
I should like to urge the Commission , too , to monitor the situation very closely and to do all it can to ensure that the Roma - and other minorities too , but here we are particularly talking about the Roma - do not need to live in fear again in Europe : they should not have to do so in this day and age .
we can end up voting for one thing this month and something else next month .
at least two new nuclear projects at the EU 's external border raise serious concern , owing to a lack of transparency and of consultation with the countries affected .
I am also delighted with the excellent ideas from Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn .
on the basis of the recommendation made to the European Parliament in the report by my excellent colleague and friend , Mrs Mathieu , I voted in favour of granting the Director of the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union discharge in respect of the implementation of its budget for the financial year 2008 .
I understand and I share some of the concerns expressed about such a course of action .
the support for energy efficiency included in the revised regulations for the European Regional Development Fund also makes a significant contribution to energy security .
such a thing exists nowhere on earth .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( PT ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the forthcoming European Council will first note with satisfaction the signing of the Lisbon Treaty , which is to take place in the Portuguese capital tomorrow , and the proclamation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights , which will take place here today in a little while .
will the EU support having a proper database ?
however , we need to change the rules of the game and I undertake , for as long as I remain Commissioner for Transport , to move towards the European Railway Agency being able to function along the same lines as the European Maritime Safety Agency or the European Aviation Safety Agency .
neither citizens , nor we , their elected representatives , can understand the apathy that has greeted Parliament 's many specific initiatives .
Mr President , I just think that it is important to ...
apart from this , the EU counts amongst its Member States no less than three Arctic nations along with two other EEA neighbours , accounting for more than half the numeric membership of the Arctic Council .
while these cyber attacks are going on , carried out on ideological grounds or for the fun of hacking , there is the chance that hackers who are only after financial gain will also get into these systems .
at that time , everybody was talking about a crisis .
that concludes the vote .
this resolution does not hold back on criticism of Mr Lukashenko , but it sets out a kind of road map for him to normalise relations with the EU .
biodiversity is endangered by many factors , for example , climate change , uncontrolled suburban development and invasive alien species .
personally , I would also be glad if the inclusion of religious and sexual data were reviewed or , at the very least , if it were worded better than it currently is .
however , as many as 72 % of well-educated Turks have concerns about the secular nature of Turkey , 60 % of citizens in all the large cities and almost 50 % of other Turkish citizens .
the situation in the Abyei province is closer to a crisis than to peace , there is violence in Darfur , and Sudan needs our attention and generous help .
the average age of patients participating in clinical trials of treatments for high blood pressure is 63 , yet 44 % of patients are older than 70 when first diagnosed with this problem .
otherwise our free internal market will become a deadly pond where the big fish will eat the little ones and then probably eat each other .
this is , in fact , a more realistic approach but the calculations are more difficult than they are with volume reduction .
with regard to the request made by Mrs Ticău , Mr Kuc and Mrs Ayala Sender for safe car parks , I fully agree - I alluded to this during the speech I made when seeking the confidence of the Committee on Transport - and the Valenciennes initiative is a first step .
the Protocol provides for essential changes to bilateral agreements on air services between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Romania pursuant to the accession of the latter two countries to the European Union .
the Council accepts this common text and the President of the European Parliament can thus declare the budget finally approved .
for 20 years , Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Authority recognised the State of Israel with nothing to show in return .
the Commission welcomes the agreement that has been found which will improve consumer protection and at the same time takes into the account possible impact on traditional uses .
therefore , in order to ensure a stable situation for populations working in agriculture , rural development policy should focus more strongly on creating innovative and sustainable living and working conditions in rural areas .
we have also pursued evolution rather than revolution .
I want to begin with you , Mr Salafranca , because you asked me about some very specific points .
this I can imagine , as we had to too , we individual MEPs .
this fact is extremely significant because it is every political assassination , intolerance within society and the impunity that still prevails that are being put on trial here .
pesticides are expensive to use and therefore , provided they are used correctly , the less they are used the better it is for competitiveness .
at least , this is what we all want .
English respect is destroyed .
Mr President , there has been an alarming increase in the Sahel region of the type of incidents mentioned in the oral question .
the report by Mrs Mathieu , on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control , on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Railway Agency for the financial year 2008 ( SEC ( 2009 ) 1089 - C7-0197 / 2009 - ,
Europe 's citizens must be informed about the process which has led to decisions being adopted because these decisions have a direct impact on their lives .
in February 2009 , the Jordanian authorities contacted the EIB seeking support for their nuclear energy development project , which involves , in particular , the construction of a nuclear power station by 2016 .
unfortunately , subsequent to such an agreement amendments were tabled on behalf of the PPE-DE and PSE Groups which , if voted for , will mean that the whole compromise package collapses and the matter will go to conciliation , with inevitable further delay in the adoption of measures to protect public health and the environment from continuing contamination by mercury .
we did of course see each other yesterday .
secondly , on transport , the Commission is preparing a White Paper on the future of transport , which is due to be adopted in March 2011 .
they have to cut flight costs .
for our part , we will continue , with unshakable determination , to fight neoliberalism , federalism and militarism within the European Union .
what is key in this respect is cooperation .
as such , they are an important factor in shaping people 's values and opinions .
in writing . - ( PT ) A common legal framework for consumer credit must lay down clear , simple and concise rules , so as to offer European added value with the aim of promoting the internal market .
through the European neighbourhood policy , we have the means to support Ukraine 's own reform efforts .
to this end , it is important that entrepreneurs in Ireland are fully informed on how to make best use of the Small Business Act .
( SL ) This is quite a sizeable report and I wonder what its purpose is .
there is now a need and a use for such people .
our strategy for growth and jobs , also known as the Lisbon agenda , is in fact nothing other than an attempt to compensate in the most intelligent way possible for the fact that we do not have a common economic policy in the European Union and - we are currently in the process of ratifying a new Treaty - will not have a common economic policy on the basis of the new Treaty either .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
fails to denounce the fact that the detention and illegal transport of citizens have not been questioned by the new US Administration ; and
we cannot have a candidate country in which the army , even after so many years , is not subject to full political control .
Madam President , exaggerated claims have been made and fears expressed by all sides on this report .
in the Foreign Affairs Council that I referred to , there was an express request made to the European Ministers to draw the attention of the authorities in Belarus to this situation through the appropriate channels and in the appropriate forums .
I see a letter from the AEA - the Association of European Airlines - stating that even after the compromise has been reached other governments will understandably reject it .
there were a few points on which I voted differently from my group , because I believe that in certain situations we need market regulation and intervention .
with regard to the latter , the EU has just made additional funds totalling EUR 200 million available for South Sudan , making our envelope today roughly EUR 300 million .
although I have cited the example of Portugal , I feel it is equally important for all EU citizens that this regulation be negotiated as quickly as possible .
the citizens are not allowed to have their say on Turkey , just as they are not allowed to have their say on the new Constitution that we are not allowed to call a constitution .
having to face the EU on their own , they have a far weaker negotiating position and tend to be backed into a corner .
finally , consolidating relations with the pro-European government in the Republic of Moldova may be an immediate , beneficial step towards a good neighbourhood policy .
at the moment , the Czech Republic is the only Member State which has still not ratified the Treaty .
I mention this because it was not quite clear .
we should actually be learning from our past mistakes .
while she is on the topic , she might also wish to examine an allegation in the British press of the torture routinely carried out in Palestinian jails against their own people both by Hamas in Gaza and , perhaps more surprisingly , by the Palestinian Authority itself .
I therefore feel that solidarity , common sense and impartial information are ultimately not things that can be classified as an extra demand .
other countries within and outside the continent want something similar , as the Commissioner said .
in writing . - I voted for this proposal which gives an opportunity to strengthen the contribution of EEA and EFTA states to the reduction of economic and social disparities in the European Economic Area .
we have to find not only new sources of growth , but also to look at what was wrong with the previous model of growth .
( DE ) Mr President , in the opinion of the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy , it is , of course , also important to protect small and medium-sized enterprises .
likewise , 9 May has a different meaning for us .
this report tries to help , in a friendly and yet demanding fashion , to draw the road signs for this important path .
there was criticism from some Members that human rights , democracy and the rule of law were not our major objectives .
yesterday , on the same day , I met two major political figures : the Israeli Minister for Foreign Affairs , Avigdor Lieberman , in the morning , and the President of the Palestinian National Authority , Abu Mazen , in the evening .
this is the only way to ensure the conditions for achieving the central objective , which is to transform the Bali meeting into the departure point for all global partners to assume clear and quantified policy commitments for combating climate change by 2009 .
victims can be women or men , children or adults .
earlier on , Baroness Ashton , you said that Europe needs a credible foreign policy .
I believe that Parliament can be proud of the results obtained , because the task was far from easy , as we have observed .
item 7 of the document I am referring to shows plainly that the European Parliament will not be able to monitor actions taken by Hamas , but only those carried out by Israel .
in order to achieve this , we need an EU regulator who has joint powers with the national regulators and who is entitled to disconnect from the grid any power stations which fail to meet these standards .
the mass legalisations of recent decades also cast doubt on whether it is sensible to proceed with harmonisation .
we have organised a conference on the role of education in preventing radicalisation , which brought together educators , religious leaders and policy-makers to brainstorm new ideas .
the war between Russia and Georgia has highlighted differences in dealing with crises .
during the Hungarian electoral campaign , we largely won the elections through an uncontrolled Internet and Facebook .
Commissioner , you said that next week , you have to justify the CAP to the Committee on Budgetary Control .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( HU ) Madam President , the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats is of the view that one of the most important pillars of European transport policy is intelligent transport technology .
so you should not be so worried about it and about ratification by Parliament .
( DE ) Mr President ,
we have to look at these things together .
the Council and these three proposals must therefore be supported .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
within the Union and following on from what the Commission has just told us about banking levies and the tax on financial transactions , the conclusions of the European Council of 29 October clearly state that work on these two issues should continue , both within the Union and on international issues .
it will not do .
if we look to the future , we will see the space available in our seas and oceans becoming more restricted .
I hope that we can continue to count on her during the consultations with the Council .
the code of silence must end here .
it also sends a signal that this is an area of great potential for EU added value .
President Musharraf spoke of the need for national reconciliation when he addressed the nation on 2 January .
we do not want to punish Kosovo for private differences between inhabitants of the Member States , but the European Commission and the Council should quickly take steps to include Kosovo in the process of abolishing visa requirements , which would encourage Kosovo 's state and government bodies and politicians to make the necessary structural reforms , and would strengthen political and economic cooperation with the European Union .
we must remind young people where we came from , who we are and where we are going .
we therefore also need a ' join Europeana ' campaign to hopefully find additional private sponsors .
this report points out a route to be followed : I hope that is what is done .
I am particularly happy that they managed to vastly improve the sustainability criteria for biofuels .
I think that the most solid wall we know in Europe is on the eastern border , between Romania and Moldova .
Member States are obliged to ensure that applicants for certain jobs working with children undergo criminal records checks , which includes setting out clear rules or guidelines for employers on their obligations in this regard .
however , it must be seen in its entirety and not viewed selectively .
the European Commission closed its negotiations with Peru and Columbia on 1 March 2010 .
we want to discuss this in a debate on the EU-China Summit and to summarise it in a resolution .
Twenty-one years ago , we were not required to fight for freedom .
let me express my grateful and heartfelt thanks and appreciation to rapporteur Willi Piecyk for having coordinated the keen interest of the various committees and for having produced this impressive report .
it is my belief that the job of the European Parliament is to legislate in the real interests of citizens .
European Consensus on humanitarian aid (
for example , political decisions determine how much fertiliser we should add to a corn field .
Madam President , yes , we continually raise issues of human rights in our dialogue with Russia and human rights will be on the agenda at the summit that we hope will take place between the EU and Russia during the autumn .
I 'm not saying I agree with you , but I am not qualified enough to give an opinion so I took your opinion as gospel .
29 .
well , I do not believe that is so .
I therefore believe that the Treaty of Lisbon represents progress .
for far too long they have relied on British and other ex-colonial masters ' guilt to rely on preferential treatment for bananas and sugar .
now , claiming that the car industry is experiencing problems , Yasaki Saltano wants to make more than 400 workers redundant in Vila Nova de Gaia .
finally , I have one point to make about the Iranian regime .
we should not , therefore , get too bogged down by short-term events .
my question is this : which of these two options would you favour ?
in writing . - As part of the European Economic Recovery Plan , an extra € 1 billion has been earmarked for the development of broadband internet infrastructure in rural areas via the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development .
in consequence , we voted against .
the report binds Parliament politically to the disastrous neoliberal proposals by Merkel , Sarkozy and the task force to tighten up the treaties and the Stability Pact , which will break up the social state and disenfranchise the workers .
I am thus also certain that far more public authorities in Europe will make the correct - that is to say , the green - choices rather than the short-term , albeit perhaps cheaper , options involving calculations merely in pounds and pence .
recently , following the discussions about Nabucco , I get the impression that we are playing with fire .
these are cases where I consider that institutions or bodies involved responded to my inquiries in an exemplary fashion .
the international community is there .
I ask you : will you , as President-in-Office , propose on 10 December that the Council examine what the European Parliament recommends , namely that this auxiliary civil protection force should be set up , or will your successor again tell us , 18 months from now , another tale of yet more delays ?
investments at EU level can achieve considerably greater savings at national level , especially in the areas where the EU unquestionably provides greater added value than national budgets .
at the same time , these countries have also been hit hard by the credit crunch .
those who suffer most from travel restrictions are ordinary people , and particularly the young .
I voted in favour of authorising discharge of the 2009 budget of the Court of Justice because I believe its formal and substantial accuracy is the result of extremely competent work done by all the staff of this institution .
it is through economic and social patriotism , national and European preference and national and European protection that we will be able to breathe new life into our industrial sectors .
I voted in favour because the audits carried out by the Court of Auditors and the Committee on Budgetary Control showed that all the transactions made by the Agency were perfectly legal and regular .
I warn the Irish Government not to think it can foist this change to the Lisbon Treaty on the Irish people without a referendum .
control of fraud must not be restricted only to European institutions , but should be ensured in individual Member States .
in writing . - ( RO ) First of all , I share the sentiments of my fellow Members maintaining that we should show solidarity with Greece .
the Forum allows for open exchange , without the pressure of defending a particular outcome in a binding document .
independent verification procedures are also provided for by these agreements .
this regulation will also help create a level playing field with many trading partners of ours which already impose mandatory origin marking on imported goods .
( abbreviated in accordance with Rule 170 of the Rules of Procedure )
it leads us to ban active substances which do not pose any problem at all in practice .
the ETS has shown its worth since being set-up two years ago .
when it comes to Germany and France wanting to take over the leadership of the European Union together in matters of content - not for major declarations of a global political nature - then we are on your side .
there is also a broader context to this process .
we ensure free competition and cheap goods , and that is all very well and good .
in my opinion , the evidence shows that it is most certainly happening in the case of Julian Assange .
therefore , the Irish company SR Technics Ireland Ltd is fully entitled to funding , because it has made 1 135 people redundant .
I would therefore like to thank Mrs Frassoni for drawing attention to these threats .
now five years later , as you have said again today , the EU might establish a ' quality framework for public and social services ' .
thus , as regards the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon , you are required to ensure that no Member State apart from Ireland sets the bad example of organising a referendum , including countries that have made firm commitments to do so .
there have been many laws here that have affected local authorities : on the pitting of the Stadtwerke , or municipal utilities , against one another , for example ; on public service obligations in the transport sector ; and on the directives on public contracts .
2 .
the rapporteur for the other institutions , Mr Itälä , has had both an achievable task and a very difficult one .
that is well recognised in the reports and I appreciate that very much .
as a group , we recognise that the 13 amendments tabled , even if adopted , cannot alter the political tone of the report .
I believe that in times of crisis , it is particularly important to ensure that the equity and venture capital in enterprises can be exploited equally by women .
let us be clear in our deliberations : firstly , this is a completely personal decision by the parents , and secondly , I see this as presenting a risk of further discrimination against women of childbearing age .
there are three major demonstration projects in the world which have other targets , that is to say , to accelerate oil and gas production .
I hope to see a comprehensive agreement reached in Copenhagen in 2009 , but adjustment of the European effort within the framework of this comprehensive agreement cannot take place via comitology , as the Commission proposes and as my fellow Members in the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance , in particular , want .
the addendum tabled replaces the call for therapeutic treatment of rare diseases with the objective of preventing the birth of sick people .
the isolation of Tibet must stop - for the inhabitants , for tourists , for journalists .
we also need to remember , as the Members who have already spoken have said , that desertification contributes to climate change , as it causes the degradation of the soil and the loss of vegetation , which is associated with an increase in emissions , therefore it would be very helpful to support reforestation policies in order to re-establish and change conditions in arid areas .
we have had the arguments and we have had the counter-arguments .
2006 Annual report of the EIB ( debate )
well , we should go and ask some euro-zone exporters what they think of the strength of the euro .
written explanations of vote
according to MEPs , taxpayers have a horn of plenty with money to throw into agricultural policy and rural development .
allow me to finish simply by saying that trade union and social rights and collective agreements must never be viewed as administrative barriers .
do you envisage CCCTB as being voluntary ?
their economy has been crushed .
but the agreement among the six political groups was that there would be no amendments - oral , written or in any other form - and therefore I think it is a breach of the understanding , and makes a nonsense of the negotiations , if we now have an amendment put forward in this way .
it includes cooperation outside the EU .
our task is to work together to avoid these errors occurring in future .
finally , I would like to say that we welcome this agreement , because , as I have already said , 27 agreements are ultimately being replaced by one .
according to the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice , embryonic cells are considered to be human embryos , and therefore beings from which life arises .
nor should we forget that sheep and goat farms are often located in isolated , mountainous or insular areas .
finally , I would like to ask the Commission what deliberations it has engaged in on the issue of sports and intellectual property rights , especially with the growing accessibility of sports footage on the internet .
however , we disagree with the references to the Lisbon Treaty .
it remains to be seen whether this really will happen with the Commission and Parliament .
France has entered into a transaction with Russia involving warships ; a Russia that , in the recent past , occupied Georgian territories in the course of hostilities .
Madam President , I would like to say first of all how pleased I was to attend the Development Days in Stockholm and to congratulate the Presidency on the way those days were organised .
the case involved a 41-year-old man and a 12-year-old girl .
I would like us to point this out especially since there is only one language , the Romanian language , recognized in the European Union .
I would like to pay particular attention to the emphasis she rightly places , in her report , on consumer education , which is essential and which must continue throughout life , since it is not only a matter for young children but also for consumers , given the extent to which products change and marketing forces become more sophisticated .
the Committee on Regional Development believes this strategy can bring growth and sustainable development for the region .
Mr Oettinger , before the events at Fukushima , you produced an energy efficiency action plan .
that is an extremely important issue in our view , because indications of the geographical origin of wines are , of course , a matter of intellectual property .
I fully support our draft proposal that the Commission and the Council should work towards establishing a moratorium on the exploitation of the geological resources in the Arctic for a period of 50 years , pending fresh scientific studies .
firstly , the recommendation notes , somewhat misleadingly , that this partnership is not to be at the expense of the Union 's relations with Mercosur .
so , here we are at the very first hurdle towards that , and I do not think it is time now to fail in this European Parliament .
it is presumably a question of price , but that cannot be regulated by the market alone when the safety of children is at risk .
will we continue to have 27 simultaneously existing decisions , or does the Commission already have other proposals , and to what extent will the airlines be involved here ?
in particular , the package proposes to give consumers the right to switch supplier at any time and to have free access to their consumption data .
additional financial resources and the removal of legislative barriers are required to complete this process .
I trust that there will be progress in this respect , and I truly do not wish to see for months on end that we are still unable to open another chapter .
roughly speaking , I would say that it is the syndrome of the half-empty / half-full glass , depending on who is looking at it .
we cannot allow Gazprom - the principal ' Nord Stream ' shareholder - to completely ignore our Parliament 's resolution on the threats the gas pipeline poses to the environment .
in summary , this means that there is currently no sustainable pension system , especially not without active people with disabilities .
given the above , it would not appear that the current drop in the price of lobsters is strongly linked to imports from North America .
we want to continue on the path of a pragmatic , intelligent and effective regulation .
( FR ) Colleagues , I have taken one speaker against and one speaker for the motion .
I welcome the European Parliament 's support for the introduction of a tax on financial transactions at European level during the vote in plenary .
it is something we have to keep working on .
I certainly welcome the repeal of the metrology directives and cutting red tape by 25 % .
its terms are very clear : any countries signing association agreements with the European Union must observe international law and human rights .
this is not about changing the current food hygiene rules .
( ES ) Mr President , we are currently facing a major fisheries crisis in the whole of the European Union , which is going to demand a rapid response from the European institutions .
Mr President , we have clear expectations of the Council and the Commission .
you can expect no applause for this from my group .
the annual reports and accounts on the Agency 's 2006 and 2007 work programme contain relatively little information on the budget implementation , financial information , risks , evaluation and auditing of the Agency , which needs to improve the quality of its information and publish its annual activity report on its website .
it was inserted into the Maastricht Treaty at the last moment without any real discussion about the implications .
this subject is the social responsibility of businesses in terms of creating markets , fighting corruption , protecting the environment , and defending human dignity and human rights in the work place , especially given that the European Union is the largest economy in the world and the greatest contributor to development cooperation .
by 2015 a maximum of 25 micrograms of fine particulate matter ( PM2.5 ) will be permitted .
firstly , because it is necessary and useful .
in order to turn these legitimate wishes into reality , the European Parliament should rally and also rely on the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights when it proposes actual measures to support NGOs in Moldova , should encourage and support the publishing of newspapers and magazines in this area and should build a broadcasting network on the right bank of the Nistru in order to ensure that Moldavian national radio and TV channels can be received .
all of us agree that bee health is important , and I am pleased to hear that the Commission will put forward key measures to deal with the current , very serious situation .
the measures being proposed to safeguard a humane approach to immigrants do not satisfy us .
lastly , Commissioner , while I thank you in any case for what you have done with great energy and determination , can you confirm to me what you wrote in your reply to my question on 5 November 2009 , namely that the Commission will continue strongly to support the adoption of the proposal submitted in 2005 and that it will continue to honour its commitment ?
these elements are the subject of much debate with our friends in Africa .
another point , with which I will conclude , Mr President , is one on which , as the Council representatives also said , there are differing views , in Parliament and between the various Member States , and that concerns the level of collaboration between the various authorities in this field .
however , the basic conditions for competition within the European Union between the North and the South must remain at the same level .
- ( SK ) Madam President , we are addressing the 2012 budget priorities with an eye to the future as well , and in my opinion we should therefore also look at the possibilities for making savings in the future .
( BG ) Mr President , Mr Swoboda , I would like to ask you a question .
Glances exchanged between Europe and Russia have always been characterised by mutual admiration and , simultaneously , by mutual fear .
this is essential if we do not want Europe to be a fortress and if we want it to be open , but open within the framework of rules that we believe to be reasonable , that respect individuals and , at the same time , that focus on ensuring that the integration efforts succeed in the various Member States , for the immigration policy cannot succeed without integration .
as a result , we should ensure a comprehensive and integrated approach under the various associated policies ( including cohesion , environment , maritime and social ) .
in writing . - ( LT ) The enlarged European Union is seeing a rise in the number of international families , that is , spouses of different nationalities .
the reversal of the burden of proof laid down in the directive will mean that it is possible to open legal proceedings on the basis of accusations not backed up by sufficient evidence .
not only do the perpetrators have to be brought to justice , but the broader context of intolerance , discrimination and threats to LGBT people needs to be analysed , and changed .
have we really needed to wait to see children killing children or children assaulting children for us to take this sort of decision ?
the U.S. government took control of AIG with an USD 85 billion bailout on 16 September .
given that these agencies essentially support environmentally harmful industrial activities , not least because of CO2 emissions , and that , according to the World Bank , they have an insignificant effect on poverty reduction , I agree with the rapporteur 's position that ECAs should contribute to EU policies and objectives , meaning there is no need for the OECD Agreement to be reviewed .
that is because the revising of the regulation from 2003-2004 would simply not be sufficient because it targeted the funding issue and not the issue of the statute of the political groups .
last night he told me : ' I want to know that French people ...
Mugabe did not like the result of an election and has since fixed it ; he now arrests parliamentarians to try and achieve a new balance , and does worse .
there is an unavoidable price to pay for safety in this area .
that is what the President of the Commission said about the Council , which you are telling us is in complete harmony .
this proposal , which I fully endorse , will prohibit the use , production , stockpiling and transfer of cluster munitions as an entire category of weapons .
late enough to still espy the obstacle - the financial morass - on the road ahead of us , but no longer able to avoid it .
we are well aware of the terrible crisis ravaging our continent .
public authorities must be encouraged to base public procurement on environmental , social and other criteria .
you have the majority in Europe , in the Council , in the Commission and also here in this House .
I voted in favour of the report presented by Mrs Wortmann-Kool .
this objective has been met : if Parliament takes our lead , Frontex will receive 30 million in additional operating appropriations , that is , more than double the 2007 allocation .
I expect the Commission to finally do its job and reach a positive decision on this matter .
we must not ease the pressure on this issue on account of the failure in Copenhagen , but instead must work hard to carry out our own task , namely to find solutions to the problem of financing .
this ageing of the agricultural population is worrying for the future of European agriculture .
the fact is that we need towns and cities as partners in a new energy policy .
we can no longer negotiate about the end of occupation .
as such , the concept of intercultural dialogue must be broadened .
( PL ) The introduction of passports bearing biometric identifiers of the holder is a response to appeals to engage in the fight against the falsification of documents , terrorism and illegal immigration .
we are also starting to see more consistent signs of stabilisation in some Member States .
I very much welcome the support for the transfer of part of the tobacco aid into the Community Tobacco Fund .
yesterday 's negotiations made a plea for us to seek a compromise , one whose text was fully consistent with the reasoning used by Mr Corbett in 2002 .
the citizens of Sri Lanka deserve true democracy and a decent life .
there is no relationship whatsoever between the two questions .
the present proposal is part of the first set of proposals announced in this communication .
rapporteur . - ( PL ) The report illustrates the role that we envisage for Ukraine against the background of our own economic activities as well as as a partner in the context of trade with other countries .
pressure from the European Union to implement Economic Partnership Agreements - essentially free trade agreements - has come to reflect the current priorities of the European Development Fund , which needs to be revisited , and is indicative of the path that is now being followed .
fighting the tobacco producers is not the way to reduce smoking .
anyone who claims that only Christians killed Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina and that the opposite did not happen is a hypocrite .
one particular form of divergence between Member States is how far transfer for economic value is permitted , either formally or informally , and thus amounts to a tradable right .
on the contrary , it has actually been kept active , even over the past few weeks , and it is our intention to contribute constructively to this activity in order to facilitate full ministerial resumption in due course , once the necessary technical analyses now being undertaken by key countries on the remaining problematic issues have been completed .
I believe concluding this agreement will be a good idea , as it is a step in the right direction .
I also see the significance of the report in this light .
in this regard , the Commission recognises and welcomes the vital role that the Special Court for Sierra Leone has played and continues to play within the context of the reinstatement of peace and stability in Sierra Leone .
secondly , it means setting up indicators to allow proper evaluation of the results achieved by a dialogue and informing MEPs of them so that , for example when a delegation visits the country , they can check what progress has been made and discuss it with civil society and human rights activists , to be better able to question their partners on the commitments made within the framework of the dialogue .
in particular for the middle-income countries , the mobilisation of domestic revenue is crucial for reducing poverty and aid dependency .
once again , thank you , and I am counting on a compromise in Wednesday 's vote .
this is an issue we must address , and we must cultivate in Europe the risk-taking spirit that exists in the USA among the young generation of Americans .
no wonder , either , given that , in fact , it concerns real increases and cuts but also - as always in politics - symbolic issues .
I must emphasise a cross-cutting aspect to the proposals and initiatives : we have to come to terms with a world that is changing ever more rapidly , with marked repercussions on social and welfare systems .
Madam President , discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Eighth , Ninth and Tenth European Development Funds inspires me to make the following comments .
calling for one product to be banned will not solve the problem of irresponsible drinking .
the role of crisis management institutions must be clarified to ensure that operators receive this information which they need for making decisions .
Mr President , I would like to thank Mrs Kauppi for her report on the electronic company register , which I fully support .
I voted in favour of the report by Mr Provera on one of the founding principles of the Union : solidarity among peoples .
I would like to emphasise one point in your speech , in particular .
I , for my part , am proud that the PPE Group made this choice and , dare I say it , I am proud that it took this risk .
I would like the Europe 2020 strategy to be a link between the economy and ecology that precisely young people would help implement , so that this becomes an opportunity for young people to offer their knowledge and create the European Union 's future .
we have had enough of that .
our approach consists of allocating the savings that the rise in international prices allows Europe to generate as part of its agricultural support policy to those who are hit hardest by this increase .
before the vote :
unless we address the cases of fraud in our own ranks , we lack any credibility and have no right to criticise others .
this report tries to introduce some positive changes on tactical topics like crisis management , the fragmentation of the EU defence technological industrial base , and the ineffectiveness of the 24 EU security and defence missions around the world .
we are the worst hypocrites when it comes to this than any Chamber I know .
in the ALDE Group , we are determined to achieve a conclusion to Doha .
what Parliament should be asking for is a solution that includes all the Member States and that enables each one to feel comfortable with the supervision system .
the Treaty has radically changed the institutional framework , as I have already stated in my report on the previous term .
we are talking about a regulation that is very ambitious in its wording , which will compel the Member States to be extremely vigilant and not to spare any material or human resources - one of the weak points of the whole control policy - to turn words into deeds .
in particular , civil society maintains the transparency of the Partnership mechanism , helping to reinforce cooperation between Belarus and the EU .
unfortunately , at the moment , there is no European mechanism or institution capable of coordinating an integrated continental recovery and therefore we are reapplying patchwork solutions that may fail as a whole , since Member States ' economies are highly interdependent .
there is also much that we can do in practice on regional integration .
in particular we must make progress in the introduction of a permanent European Observatory on the food supply chain and food prices .
as for Yemen , we have a standing agreement on arms exports ; we should consider suspending this agreement .
women play an important role in universities , research institutes and the private sector .
just before Christmas , Serbia applied for EU membership , and Croatia could join as soon as 2012 .
we can , of course , deplore the fact that this rich country - the leading oil-exporting country in Africa - is unable to invest this wealth to combat poverty .
we were informed that representatives of Memorial were not able to come to Parliament to receive the Sakharov Prize last year .
it states that the EU has large areas of land in Sweden and Finland , but does not mention that these are Swedish and Finnish areas .
what I ask myself is this : how can 10 percentage points of GDP be overlooked ?
the Commission 's earlier work programmes were only partially realised according to plan .
the only approach which serves grassroots interests is the path of rejection of the measures being imposed by capital , and on which basically all the forces that support Maastricht and the European Union agree , and the formation of a socio-political alliance for a grassroots economy and grassroots power .
there is no difference between poverty caused by the lack of material goods and poverty caused by a lack of resources for buying goods .
we need extra funds to develop through further R & D in an attempt to assess what is the reason for this calamity hitting the beekeepers .
with regard to citizens , it is worth noting the increase within the Competitiveness for growth and employment heading and the ' Cohesion for growth and employment ' heading , although there is a reduction for education and training .
secondly , both parents are equally responsible for bringing up their children .
Mr Schulz bemoans the predominance of centre-right governments in the European Union , but we live in a democracy and people choose their governments .
this is the opportunity that is now before us .
I will be brief .
migrants who entrust their lives to unscrupulous traffickers are , in the vast majority of cases , people fleeing war or persecution .
in the good years - in the booming years - we were able to make reserves , and nobody else - only the Member States ' governments - is responsible for that .
it must be left to each Member State to adopt measures - based on the existence of data which is reliable and as complete as possible for the purpose of fisheries scientific research - to ensure proper management of their marine biological resources .
they will set targets on the basis of a common measurement framework for the ICT sector 's own energy and carbon footprints , to be developed by the end of 2010 .
the open method of coordination in the field of social protection and social inclusion pays particular attention to the modernisation of pension schemes to take greater account of new forms of work , career breaks and long-term care for dependent people .
now this will not be the case , and I am sorry for that .
like many of those who have spoken before me , I believe the planned nine-country hurdle is just too high .
author . - ( PT ) Mr President , the systematic violation of human rights in Iran brings us together here once again .
we must remember the extraordinary strength of the earthquake and of the tsunami .
if that is the case , then it is clear that we need to revisit the directive .
to achieve goals in public policy , a budget is needed .
yes , because there are also specific European industrial sectors that are proving that they do .
if you and your group are not up to this task , if you are no longer capable of representing the general interest , you can be sure that our citizens will be able to draw their own conclusions , for the future of the euro area is now at stake .
approval by the European Parliament of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union ( vote )
VAT on insurance and financial services (
an important point is the fact that cultural diversity is often associated with regions .
those who have ended up there live in terrible conditions , to which the authorities choose to turn a blind eye .
ladies and gentlemen , permit me to conclude with the following : the summit will place particular emphasis on the endeavours of both sides to ensure the stable and democratic development of countries in the common neighbourhood area .
the 1 181 redundancies at four production sites of the enterprise Druckmaschinen AG in Baden Württemberg ( manufacturing of printing machinery sector ) fall exactly into this category and I therefore supported the mobilisation of EUR 8 308 555 to assist them .
( the oral amendment was accepted )
this is why I supported it .
I should also like to call on the Commission to look at the possibility of checking that the commitments have been fulfilled by periodically carrying out investigations that would also involve Parliament and representatives of civil society in the country in question .
the Commission counts on Parliament 's support in making sure the Europe 2020 strategy can be launched rapidly and successfully .
the next item is the report by Mrs Wallis , on behalf of the Committee on Legal Affairs , on policy options for progress towards a European contract law for consumers and businesses .
for this reason , we will certainly not be able to afford to do everything that we would like to do .
a transfer of funds from East to South would send a disastrous signal to our eastern partners .
on 17 June , intergovernmental conferences were held at ministerial level with Turkey and Croatia to open negotiations with Turkey in Chapter 6 , ' Company law ' , and Chapter 7 , ' Intellectual property law ' , and with Croatia in Chapter 2 , ' Freedom of movement for workers ' , and Chapter 19 , ' Social policy and employment ' .
Member of the Commission . - ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to congratulate the Committee Chairman , Mr Costa , on his report .
to supply arms to this country at this time is to encourage the possibility of an outbreak of civil war and is equally deserving of condemnation .
5 .
( HU ) The new Hungarian socialist government was formed yesterday .
it is time to reinstate Irish fisherman as stewards of Irish waters .
this initiative aims to develop opportunities for cooperation in the audiovisual market , boosting research and training as well as financing coproduction projects in order to boost cooperation between audiovisual professionals .
this strategy fosters safe , clean and effective shipping and the creation of jobs in the European maritime policy industry .
however , the environment and climate change must also be a matter for the people , for the citizens of the European Union themselves - it must be an autonomous concern , in other words a concern for those who purchase cars or buses in the European Union .
it is high time we evaluated what has been happening and the kind of consequences being produced .
I was fortunate to have competent and experienced colleagues , who listened carefully and were present at the negotiating meetings .
supranational edicts may appear to be an easy option , but the centralised unaccountable power they contribute , directive by unmandated directive , is not just their sting in the tail but their principal awful effect .
in its conclusion last December , the Council gave a clear welcome to the communication and considered that it constituted the first layer of a future EU Arctic policy .
agenda for next sitting : see Minutes
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , let me say that all of us have at some time experienced environmental , natural or man-made disasters in our respective countries .
that , in particular , is the source of deadlock in the negotiating chapters : let me reiterate that .
we have a directive which clearly cannot be implemented , and what has been the reaction of this Parliament ?
secondly what treaty changes are you talking about ?
because without that coherence and without that structure , individual regulators cannot guarantee patient safety ; so I would like to hear his comments on that .
in areas where there is already broad-based regulation , it cannot pull down higher standards .
we must act quickly because , if nothing is done in this respect , the financing problems being faced by those countries with the largest deficits in the eurozone will lead to the deepening of the recession , a continual rise in unemployment and the loss of income for companies and families .
it is also going to require us to learn new skills so that we can be more visible as political leaders in virtual communities , in the digital society , and lead in different way that is closer to the people and more human .
regarding the question put by Mr Zahradil on the use of the trade defence instrument as a protectionist tool and the risk of this happening , the only factor that influences the number of cases is the number of complaints received by the Commission and the quality of the evidence provided .
in writing . - ( HU ) Towards a post-Kyoto Protocol ...
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the Euro clique , removed from reality as they are , thought they were just going to get a little bit more money for their own hobbies .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Madam President , that was an interesting debate .
this new process started in January 2011 with the presentation of the Commission 's annual growth survey .
in the meantime , the President of Egypt has resigned , but this has not lessened the fear of destabilisation in this country and the whole region .
it is nice to have her with us .
this is the message that we should give the Member States and their decision makers , and we , representing the European Union , should encourage them in this .
I believe that patients , and particularly the patients with conditions like neurodegenerative diseases , are very anxious to see this information to patients coming in in a way which is certainly not advertising but does give them confidence that what they read - whether it is on the internet , in the package or in advertising or announcements , shall we say - is bona fide and trustworthy .
Mr President , the speaker talked of strengthening Schengen .
opening the European Union to further Balkan nations will bring many positive results for all parties concerned .
yesterday , the Italian Parliament launched its first day in favour of legalising the corruption of MPs .
the information obtained could be extremely valuable for the purposes of environmental policy making .
before I finish , I would like to emphasise that I have made a note of what you said today , your commitments for the future .
there is no article of this law that infringes European law , and in most cases the law does not even touch upon European law .
the firm appeal made by France , Romania , Bulgaria and Finland to the European Commission is certainly to be welcomed .
Athens Convention on carriage of passengers and their luggage by sea - excluding Articles 10 and 11 (
to that end , we must set out effective means for redress .
( DE ) Mr President , the question of human rights and respect for minority rights has been a constant source of conflict for years , if not for decades , in the relationship between the European Union and the People 's Republic of China .
there was therefore an urgent need to establish procedures to combat illegal trade in timber by more effectively analysing and overseeing the often complex trading patterns .
as I outlined in my introduction , we are planning several measures on this .
there are indeed urgent measures that the Member States need to take in these areas .
I believe having the target and a date to achieve it is vital , not just for our own self-interest , but also for the sake of the European Union .
as the main objective of the regulation is the protection of public health , I consider that the legal basis should be Article 168 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union .
in this communication the Commission concluded that , although the recommendation has led to improvements in environmental inspections in some Member States , it has unfortunately not been fully implemented in all Member States .
wine is a fermented product , not a mixed product .
I would like to thank the rapporteur for his excellent work and his engagement .
not all .
the involvement of this age group affords communities an opportunity to benefit from their wealth of experience and reinforces their essential place in society .
as the basis for the reduction here in the current proposal is 2005 and not 1990 , some older Member States could raise their emission values without any consequences .
Madam President , I believe this debate has shown the European Parliament 's unanimous commitment to the protection of children .
Russia 's President Medvedev recently expressed his concern about the stagnation and problems in his country and called for support for his efforts to bring about reform .
by the way , regarding the auction revenues of the Member States , we are proposing that the Member States assign a part of them to the fight against climate change .
during my career , I have often seen conflicts within my party .
I am thinking in this respect of subsidiaries and transfers of registered offices throughout Europe .
instead , it is talking for the umpteenth time about curbing the freedom of expression of those peacefully standing up for the right to individuality , the right to protect and preserve our languages , identities , cultures and freedom .
in this respect , the proposal that I , together with my counterparts in the US SEC , the Japanese FSA and the International Organisation of Securities Commissions , made last November goes in the direction advocated by your report .
it also spoke about a number of roadblocks that are there , for example the absence of a European IP patent and the need to reduce the fragmentation of the regulatory framework already in place .
I consider the Council to be at Parliament 's disposal so that real progress can be made on these proposals .
lifting the barriers preventing the free movement of workers guarantees proper , decent working conditions for all European workers and provides an effective means of combating social dumping and tax evasion .
in writing . - Due to the fact that Parliament has yet to conclude its examination of the microfinance facility , it is not yet clear whether the funds that should be made available to this facility might originate from Progress .
today , oil is the most important source of energy in Europe , mainly due to its widespread use in the transport sector .
I voted in favour of this important document .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , you have done a very good job and earned a good lunch , as have we .
this country is often described as a success story - and we heard it today from the Council , too .
( DE ) Madam President , Mr Dalli , ladies and gentlemen , I also very much regret the fact that the negotiations have failed , in particular , because we will now have to wait for years until we have rules governing , for example , nanotechnology in foods and products from third countries which are currently unknown in Europe .
if we act responsibly , we can combine our individual potential , resources and policies .
the Commission welcomes the fact that the legally binding force of the Charter has been preserved through the negotiations in the Intergovernmental Conference .
however , as you well know , Professor Monti states in his report on the single market that current differences can also adversely affect the single market .
however , in view of the globally interconnected markets , close cooperation in connection with all regulatory measures - if only to prevent various different standards from being applied - is imperative .
I hope the tragic death of one of Cuba 's best known political prisoners has reminded everyone that the question of human rights in Cuba has not been settled .
we should change State aid rules so that relocation subsidies are no longer paid , including by the Member States .
what I should like , above all else - and this gives me many sleepless nights - is for there to be projects taking into account the experience , capacities and memories of older people , who can teach younger people a great deal in SMEs and so benefit all of the EU countries and the European Union itself .
the irony , of course , of an IRA / Sinn Féin MEP being rapporteur on a report on peace will not be lost on thousands of people in Northern Ireland whom her wicked organisation made victims through its pernicious terrorist campaign .
this is why we voted in favour .
I hope that this will not happen again .
given that it is impossible for us to stop emitting carbon gases over the next 50 years , increasing carbon storage in the ground is our only hope and should be the priority of policies to combat this problem .
Parliament and the Commission are setting a good example by establishing a common transparency register to provide accreditation for lobbyists and other interest groups .
- Before the vote :
later , in 2009 an agreement was adopted in Rome , and the intention now is to approve it on behalf of the EU .
that is how we will make progress .
finally , you are right about the gender dimension .
together with the contact group , of which the EU and the US are members , we have - in answer to your question , Mrs Lövin - called for Captain Camara 's resignation .
it is a genuine effort to reflect modern values within the European context .
we do not have armed police as a rule in the United Kingdom .
thank you very much .
we must prepare for this kind of situation in the future and solve the problems of the crisis which exist outside Europe , too , and not just those inside Europe .
everything that we have already agreed on by way of the Euro 5 and Euro 6 standards , which have already come into force , will make European motor cars much more expensive .
it is a matter of trust , to adopt the word used just now by Mr Rochefort and Mrs Rühle , of mutual trust .
there is no mention even of how Directive 2004 / 38 / EC on the removal of Community citizens who are unable to demonstrate a certain level of income after a three-month stay in an EU State should actually be applied .
( RO ) Prior to Romania 's accession to the European Union , there were many voices in this Parliament claiming that the Roma people are discriminated against in Romania .
we want all of them to be released .
I would like to say that Alex Stubb also asked me what I would take out , and I must say that , for instance , I would remove the reference to a spouse 's activity .
I am delighted at the fact that no changes can be made without the 27 governments agreeing .
( FR ) Mr President , we indeed welcomed this joint debate because it is impossible today to have a truly effective and coherent European immigration policy without tackling these two issues together and on a Community level .
I voted in favour of this resolution , following the debate with the Council and the Commission in which we discussed the European Union 's plans and main strategic objectives for halting the loss of biodiversity , on the eve of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance will vote against the report on the Brazil partnership and will abstain on the issue of partnership with Mexico .
this is how the Maastricht Treaty and the Nice Treaty were achieved , and now the EU is following the same tactic and forcing Ireland to vote again on the Lisbon Treaty when it has already rejected it , as did France and the Netherlands .
there appear to be no lengths to which the rapporteur will not go in his paean to the EU 's cohesion policy , despite the fact that this policy is an alarming example of what increased centralisation can lead to .
I am pleased to see that we are moving in this direction , for example by calling for the target of a 60 % share of renewables in our energy mix by 2050 .
the Stockholm programme adopted by the Council on 10 and 11 December 2009 acknowledged that the migration of labour can increase competitiveness and economic vitality .
particular emphasis must be placed on implementing those actions intended to prevent obesity in children .
an increase in cases of leukaemia has been reported recently in Taranto through the Ilva steelworks , as well asbestos removal in schools in Crotone and dioxins in Campania .
the EU energy strategy advocated in this report , and which is advocated by the Commission in its various communications on the subject , is closely linked to the definition of a Union policy described in the Treaty of Lisbon : ' completion of the EU internal energy market ' .
nor do I understand why the only vessels covered by the partial reduction programme are those that use one and the same fishing gear and represent 70 % of the fleet using that gear .
the European Union could play a similar role in the countries in the area .
the bilateral problems between that country and Greece must not hinder the start of accession negotiations .
it is unfortunate that State Secretary Luc Chatel is unable to attend , because it is , of course , wonderful to be able to observe that we have a compromise , and at first reading no less .
it would not be sensible to apply the standards of the Seventh Framework Programme in the case of small and medium-sized companies .
this agreement has resulted in the creation of 230 crew jobs for the Seychelles population , 2 900 jobs in Seychelles and 760 jobs in various areas of the sector in Europe .
I will not go into detail on all of them , but let me highlight the most important ones .
I also want to thank the team from the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs , led by Alexander Alvaro , because an important element of my reforms includes the E-Privacy Directive , which they have handled .
( PL ) For quite some time now Russia has been trying to fuel a sort of spiral of fear with regard to Georgia .
the issue of the unequal participation of women in industry should be approached rationally , because the branches of industry defined as ' female ' may involve less physical and mental effort . women could be advised to consider them but that need not imply lower pay .
at the end of the process - according to Belgrade 's calculations - the EU is expected to provide compensation , in the form of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement , for concessions which have not actually been made in the Kosovo issue .
( CS ) Thank you , Madam President , I have just one brief remark on the whole complex subject of the textile industry and the impact of globalisation on it .
just so that we clear that up , so that everyone knows what is happening .
Mr President , I would like to pick up on what Mr Surján said .
I hope , in conclusion , that the process of rapprochement with Europe will be strengthened by means of action aimed at filling the gaps that still exist today .
energy prices in Ireland have risen , affecting ordinary families and workers the most over the last few years .
it is incredibly important in this debate to restate that perspective .
Zoli , is it the same for you ?
we all expect emergency proposals from the European Commission that will help us to eliminate this legal impasse .
currently , we hardly have the support of the electorate for any further pressure on the citizens ' purse .
what has happened ?
I am counting on the vigilance of Parliament to remind each institution of its commitment .
just one final mention : I consider the 24-month transposition period for this directive to be excessive .
otherwise we are heading towards communicative chaos .
the fact that there were four weeks between the nomination of the Austrian Commissioner , Johannes Hahn , and the allocation of his portfolio is in itself evidence of this .
it is vital that we fight for this Europe-wide deadline in the interests of animals and of producers who have already invested in alternative farming practices .
as we all know , the initial suspicion raised by the German authorities that cucumbers from Spain were the cause has not been confirmed by any test results available .
Ironically enough , the parties that cry blue murder about fraud , but refuse to spend money on strengthening the management of EU delegations , are often one and the same .
we have a very good example in Spain , where a few years ago the Law against Domestic Violence was incorporated into the national legal order ; it recognises the rights of mistreated women and implements a comprehensive policy ranging from prevention , to treatment and reintegration of the women affected .
we would like to know from the Council what support they are giving to that .
I think it is essential to ensure stable sources of finance as part of the new Financial Perspective for 2014-2020 .
as a member of the European Parliament 's Delegation for relations with the People 's Republic of China , I have noted with interest your response .
clearly not .
Mr President , according to The Times newspaper of London , the recent US Congressional resolution on the Armenian genocide was appallingly timed .
the Commission was alarmed to read in the press that the Italian authorities were taking fingerprints from people living in ' nomads ' camps ' with which to create a database .
we must restore peace and ensure that there is peace in Georgia .
who would be given the responsibility for such a task ?
we have already talked about Gazprom , Chinese activity in Africa and Venezuela 's use of the funds to export the Bolivarian revolution , and we will be talking more today as a result of the financial crisis .
yesterday Russia resumed gas deliveries to Ukraine in relatively small quantities that meet less than one third of the normal flow , but decided to use an entry point which , according to the Ukrainian company , is difficult to use , and this led Ukraine to stop transport .
this prospect led your Parliament to set up a temporary commission to study the impact of the German reunification process on the European Community .
first , much-needed growth can be achieved without the cost to the planet of increased carbon emissions and , secondly , developing countries can achieve , through renewables , a degree of energy independence and energy security .
fifthly : choose poverty reduction .
the Council did not discuss the development of the rule of law in Serbia with regard to the specific procedure referred to by Mr Posselt .
is the EU apparatus too cumbersome and bureaucratic to deal with this task ?
at the same time , however , these consumers must make decisions far more complicated than any in the past .
I should like to reiterate my thanks to the spokespeople for the constructive cooperation we enjoyed .
to use medical terminology , I have heard a lot about diagnosis but not a lot about the cure .
the new constitution , and now the pseudo-elections that are supposed to be taking place , will not , of course , improve the situation in any way .
what will the procedure be for approving such a plan ?
that is all for now .
to those banks that complain that they will no longer be able to make the same profits they made during the golden years , I say that all businesses working in industry or retail in the real economy are having to make do with net yearly profits of between two and five per cent - and that is nothing to be ashamed of .
our charge is related to the fact that they are not even able to guarantee the security of people who are part of government structures but who profess a different faith from the rest of the country .
on the adoption of the Stockholm Programme , we support the principle that the Member States of the Union must cooperate more to combat problems related to immigration , cross-border crime and terrorism .
the report passes over all that in silence .
however , we dare not settle for what we have achieved , for what is to be put to the vote tomorrow .
antimicrobials , when used properly , are a useful tool to help farmers keep their livestock healthy and productive .
then , and only then , can we talk about their accession .
the main benefit derived by ordinary citizens from the renovation of heating systems in residential buildings is that their maintenance costs will be reduced .
we see not only significant benefits in a larger single market , but we also look - unlike some Members of this House - for a dilution of the federalist ambition at the heart of the European Union .
I will be voting in favour of this report because we seriously have to address the waste that goes on , with perfectly good fish being thrown back into the sea because of the workings of the complicated quota system .
yes , we need to deal with soils that are contaminated , but we have directives that already do that ; they are in place .
it remains committed to working closely with the European Parliament to stem violence and to find a political solution to this crisis .
not only are there rights , there are also duties and rules which must be respected .
the agreement , as it is now , is not a perfect one , not least because it is not a comprehensive EPA , but only an interim one .
I am convinced that we can achieve a positive vote on this report tomorrow .
in my opinion , our request for 20 % cofinancing from domestic sources gives the Member States enough motivation to address these tasks .
this is a common threat requiring a global response - one that provides the means , resources and specialist knowledge to deal effectively with major crisis situations that a Member State would have difficulty tackling alone .
my question is as follows .
Europe has secured the withdrawal of an occupying army and Europe has sought international negotiations .
I agree that in this Parliament there is consensus about ( the fact ) that we all agree that Slovakia is ready to enter the euro area .
I believe it is essential to support Europe 's SMEs , along with the full liberalisation of the free movement of people , goods and services , so as to maximise the gains of the Single Market .
the following amendments to the agenda have been proposed :
but , also , let us be honest with ourselves : we are not the United States of America - we are not an integrated nation state - so of course we have different situations .
the Council will be clear in its stance on the respect of human rights , the rejection of violence wherever it comes from , and support for the freedom of expression , including the right to peaceful demonstration .
notwithstanding the fact that voters in many Member States are clearly sceptical of an increasingly supranational Union , the federalist majority in the European Parliament indicates the possibility of making the Union even more supranational under the Treaty of Lisbon and shifting even more power to the EU without having to agree on a new treaty .
unfortunately , not all Member States have transposed this text into their legislation .
I would also like to reiterate that ' education and training are the fundamental preconditions for the development of the EU and can make it more competitive in the face of global challenges ' .
but you have got to be there to see the conditions under which the aid workers are working and when you talk about a health service , I am sorry , Mr President , Haiti does not have a health service like the rest of us and you know it : they are dependent on Médecins Sans Frontières , the British Red Cross and many other organisations from all around the world .
the Commissioner responsible , Jacques Barrot , has promised to present an informative report by the end of July , and our group was keen to wait for this .
it means empowering people for the future with the right skills and with a labour market ready to seize the opportunities for job creation ; and targeting action on the big problems , like youth unemployment .
following the Rio meeting , consultations will be held in Geneva next month to collect views on the outcome of Rio and the preparation for the next meeting in New Delhi .
the United States and , thus , also European countries , can request all data that has been provided voluntarily by passengers .
it is good to be back for what is my last week in this Parliament - or any parliament .
providing fair working conditions for all European citizens , no matter what their Member State of origin is , guarantees them a decent living .
observance of human rights is one of the EU 's fundamental values , and one to which the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament pays particular attention , since it appears on the agenda of practically every meeting held by our group .
of course , we had to make concessions , but we have the satisfaction of having served the interests of self-employed workers well .
that has been irrefutably demonstrated .
I therefore believe that the World Bank must review its policy of exploiting energy derived from fossil fuels - making aid to this sector more transparent - and encourage green energy so as to reduce , not just atmospheric pollution , but , above all , the dependence of developing countries on outside energy sources .
this is a very important step in this process and we now look forward to the Commission proposals in the near future .
thank you , Madam President , I have voted in favour of Mr Deva 's report on development perspectives for peace-building and nation building in post-conflict situations , which calls attention to the international community 's responsibility towards states , or local groups , involved in conflict .
at the same time we have to use these defensive measures in compliance with principles as simple as those that have already been set out here : the principle of reciprocity and the principle of the permanent fight against unfair competition .
temperatures today are below the maxima of the last 2 000 years .
mobilisation of the European Union 's Solidarity Fund (
I have received six motions for a resolutionpursuant to Rule 103 ( 2 ) of the Rules of Procedure .
improvements are also expected in public procurement procedures , especially in terms of ensuring transparency and combating fraud .
in addition , the growing financial crisis shows that the European Commission and the Council are completely detached from the everyday problems of society .
Europe 's conscience cannot be clear without fully examining and remembering the past .
( SV ) To create market access means abolishing tariffs and non-tariff barriers to trade around the world .
at the same time we should be very cautious as regards changes in the taxation regime .
there is , however , work to be done ; we have European neighbours that have not fully abolished this practice and it should remain our focus to continue our efforts toward complete abolition .
as the problem with regard to wine lies in the reform already approved and carried out , albeit with our opposition , it is now somewhat irrelevant whether this sector is included in a single CMO or not , as this does not alter the practical effects .
they should be free to do their work and support the state in removing corruption and organised crime .
since we have already discussed this in the previous debate , I will not go into detail , but , of course , the priorities are macro-economic stability , namely , fiscal consolidation , structural reform and , of course , frontloaded economic growth , employment being , of course , our most important concern .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Mr President , the ECR Group favours enlargement of the European Union .
, in writing . - ( HU ) In Europe more than a hundred million people work as civilian volunteers for the public good and for others .
opening of the sitting
at this time of global recession , that may not be easy .
the reality is that while I fully support a coordinated approach in the fight against fiscal fraud - and we do need serious examination and coordination in this area - any suggestion of tax approximation and / or a decrease in tax competition throughout the EU of 27 Member States as part of the solution in the fight against fiscal fraud is wholly unacceptable .
I insist on this point : let us not target the wrong enemy .
some people , such as monks , were prevented from being able to vote .
what I am sure about , however , is that there is one argument which must carry weight even with those of you who take that view .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , the main aim of the Commission 's proposal for this directive is ' the smooth functioning of the internal market ' .
we also have industry in other sectors , and we must also think about the competitiveness of that industry beyond Europe .
however , it then forgets the need for a different set of energy policy priorities geared towards reducing costs for consumers , rationalising consumption in order to reduce it ( and not merely through energy efficiency ) , less polluting public transport and a public policy that is genuinely in the peoples ' interest .
there is only one way to get the commercial vehicles market going again .
colleagues , I have a short speech , as I promised you one year ago .
in the light of information that has recently been received , a new dimension needs to be introduced into the debate on European security .
I am told that if I say anything which upsets you , then the microphone will be cut off .
yet that affair could be something that breaks the bad habits of a bad relationship between neighbours .
this report provides an additional incentive for the Member States to develop further joint actions based on the exchange of good practices .
now , following the unexpected reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas , which commits to establishing a technical , non-party interim government and early elections , Europe must grab this opportunity to play a positive role in the region .
I will try to give you the Commission 's view on the five questions included in the oral question .
the last execution was carried out 13 years ago .
it is most important that we have a record of such important declarations .
I feel that the key words here are ' patient oriented ' .
it is also crucial for external relations and development .
let us wake up , because Europe needs it !
there are growing concerns about the lack of transparency and , certainly , growing public concern about the way in which data is being used and exchanged without any clear information to the public as to what exactly is happening .
the present compromise addresses some of the existing inequalities .
that is why the European Community quite simply needs an infrastructure that meets its needs and equitable transport rules for all modes of transport .
the extensive discussion here has focused mainly on labelling because this often misleads consumers , and I therefore warmly welcome the fact that new claims about the effects of products must be documented .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I believe that if we can now talk about a reduction in errors , we owe this to the skill , independence and professionalism of the Court of Auditors , and I should like President Caldeira to take note of this .
that issue is now on the table ; it is serious , it is unresolved .
he enjoyed race-going and obviously was a man to place a bet .
Madam President , I would like to join Lady Ashton in paying tribute to Richard Holbrooke .
Switzerland is the only European country to take part in these programmes without being a member of the EEA , a candidate or a potential candidate country .
I approved of this report because the global financial crisis , to which the credit rating agencies made their contribution , showed the need to set up a mechanism for monitoring and supervising credit rating agencies .
while we need to be more vigilant in the face of genuine threats , we also need to respect people 's individual freedoms .
over certain issues , we eurosceptics in the Northern League are ready to say yes to a high degree of harmonisation , but only when it coincides with common sense , the public interest , the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises , and why not , the prerogatives of Member States .
so you have now ceased negotiating with Colonel Gaddafi ?
why ?
the Group of the Greens therefore calls upon you to put this subject on the agenda for the United States / European Union Summit in early November .
some 43 000 people die every year on the European Union 's roads .
the main factor in the lack of safety across Europe 's rail networks is a direct consequence of the separation between the management of our rail infrastructure and the management of our rolling stock .
this worrying fact alerts us to the severity of the economic crisis in which we are immersed and to the need to find increasingly effective and creative ways of increasing Europe 's ability to compete while , at the same time , helping workers who have been made redundant return to work .
the conflict in the area is the most cruel and barbarous to have occurred since the end of the Second World War . sadly , it is still ongoing , claiming the lives of almost 50 000 human beings every month .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the EU is undoubtedly going through a particularly difficult period of crisis in credibility .
I should like to remind the House that in the financial perspective 2007-2013 the ceiling for commitment appropriations for 2008 was set at 1.08 % of gross national income . it was set at 1.06 % of gross national income for payment appropriations .
let us not make the situation more complicated , but let us add leave covering the same period of time as maternity leave to the directive regulating it .
I would like you , Madam President , to draw the European Commission 's attention to the flagrant contradiction between Parliament 's expectations and the Commission 's action in this matter .
currently , people do not have enough food , and 80 % of Haiti 's population live in abject poverty .
the debates we had with our congressional colleagues showed just how broad an agenda has now developed between the US Congress and the European Parliament in this transatlantic framework : economic issues , which we heard the Commissioner talk about just now , political issues , which could also be economic , like climate change , but also difficult issues like Afghanistan and the broader security concept .
finally , three amendments - 18 , 19 and 20 - are designed to add to the directive a mechanism to resolve any disagreement between Member States regarding a single investigation .
however , if we are to use this principle effectively to have serious political leverage to encourage reforms , the European Union itself must stick to its own commitments .
the Chinese Communist Party warns foreign governments not to attend the ceremony .
I propose the inclusion of volunteering into the education system and interregional programmes based on projects for establishing connections between Member State citizens .
4 .
the completion of the internal market has to be finalized .
I would not object to recipients of aid being expected to implement and retain democratic institutions and procedures .
European cooperation to draft a single policy is needed in this sector .
in encouraging technological innovation and market-based instruments , such as the Emissions Trading Scheme or tax incentives , particularly in large cities and environmentally sensitive areas , there is an opportunity to ensure that means of transport and infrastructure are used efficiently .
in fact , it will take not only volition , fine words and pious hopes , but also genuine action which challenges our present lifestyle .
then there is the establishment of new partnerships between industry and the academic world .
in writing . - Parliament has received more than 400 petitions concerning widespread misleading business practices by business directory companies , affecting thousands of mostly small businesses in the European Union , with a significant financial impact .
I have received a request from the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left , and also from Mrs Harms , for a roll-call vote .
the proposed amendments are the result of consultations with the political groups .
I will say it again : we did not expect that a few months ago - and yet it is happening .
despite these facts , there are over 20 000 people around the globe on death row ; dozens of them are European nationals .
it must be the other way round .
finally - I think I am still within the five minutes , Mr President - I also believe it is very important to find the right balance , as it were , between European policies and action at local level .
the report correctly points out that the changes introduced by the new Treaty will make the principles by which the EU acts more democratic and more appropriate to the future development of the Community .
in any case , deaf journalists may have some difficulty if you announce the results .
it addresses the situation in various parts of the world where regions and countries are in crisis , like the Western Balkans , countries neighbouring Eastern Europe , Central Asia , Russia , Turkey , the Middle East , the Mediterranean region , Asia , Africa and Latin America .
in order to have the privilege to host this year 's Olympic Games in Beijing , the Chinese Government undertook additional commitments to meet internationally recognised human rights standards .
it is important now for Europe to speak with one voice , for Europe , its nuclear powers and the others , to speak with one voice .
further to this , the proposal to create a European and Community Patents Court is ' incompatible with European Union law ' according to the Court of Justice of the European Union .
the creative , but cynical idea was then devised that , if the people of Europe do not accept this constitution , let us call it the Reform Treaty and political leaders will vote for it in the various parliaments .
I am glad that the rapporteur and the other groups have finally reached this compromise .
we do not support a special Erasmus Mundus visa as per the brief descriptions contained in the proposal .
the need for this change was justified by energy saving slogans , and the change has taken place despite signs that the financial costs to be borne by EU citizens would be too great , particularly over such a short period of time .
in this spirit , France , the country that I know the best , decided , in May 2008 , to withdraw from service 90 % of its stock of cluster munitions , without delay .
it is a higher stage of the nation state .
this network has shown itself to be effective in the resolution of problems , but it is still underutilised by the general public .
unfortunately , I cannot promise that this will be solved before the referendum .
the second question is solidarity and our defencelessness .
in writing . - In general , this report is good and well balanced .
we must retain the competitiveness of this European industry .
that is what this is all about .
Member of the Commission . - We have to define the role of the EIT itself , which is the institution for running the competition selection , the evaluation monitoring and organising the framework for a whole range of knowledge and innovation communities .
we are then caught between the national state and European offices .
this has put us in a situation where there are blatant discrepancies such as with the ' EU Blue Card ' as well as with that guaranteed under other particular directives , including the Directive concerning third-country nationals who are long-term residents of the EU .
important criteria for the provision of humanitarian aid should be speed , responsibility and administrative costs which are as low as possible .
I hope that you understand that .
however , general and business aviation contributes significantly to economic growth , especially at a regional level as we in north-east England can attest .
as we have noted , the Internal Market Scoreboard performs its function as a means of exerting pressure and there is still considerable development potential .
from this perspective , it is not a matter simply of transferring from one pot to another but of a new use for the resources .
it is our obligation to give the best possible protection to our children .
my support for the ' Youth on the Move ' programme goes without saying and is based on principle .
it is necessary to prepare the citizens for the changes and to persuade them that accession to the eurozone will be beneficial to them .
simplified Treaty , Reform or Reforming Treaty , Modified or Modifying Treaty , the name matters little .
we have adopted an important resolution evaluating the state of accession negotiations with Croatia .
we cannot contribute to this .
this is true not only for the highly developed economies here in Europe , but also and in particular for the so-called developing countries .
at the same time , this tax will allow us to pay our climate-related debt to posterity by helping to fund energy independence from coal .
speaking of priorities , I should first wish to mention the development of a common European Union energy policy , including a competitive Baltic energy market .
2008 discharge : Eurojust
half a loaf is better than no bread at all .
the decision for the Defence Agency to concentrate on that tactical issue of helicopters is operational from today and I hope very much that you will receive information from the military in the European Union .
what we are now presenting - or what we will be presenting on 20 November - is the health check of the agricultural policy , and this is not a new reform .
we must then declare that exploitation must not upset the biological balance of the region .
you do not get stable public finances by cutting expenditure .
through these efforts , the Member States and Frontex will help to reduce , as far as possible , the disappearance at sea of those who to reach Europe in makeshift vessels .
so I welcome your support for enhancing the environmental sustainability of arable farming .
that is why it is very important that he or she is present not only at the European but at the national level as well , especially in countries where democratic principles and supervision are still in the process of being built and where government structures cannot provide effective remedy for their citizens at the national level , yet those citizens are also citizens of the European Union .
it should read : ' calls on Serbia to enter into dialogue with Kosovo without any longer referring to new negotiations on its status ' .
perhaps it would be possible to use one or other of the mediators here .
there is something we can do immediately to tell Mr Mugabe that our opinions do matter .
this is the thrust of this resolution , which I endorsed .
there must be further clarification on this .
I can report that the PPE-DE Group last night agreed that we would support the draft agreement in the plenary vote .
the organisation of a European Year , called for several times by the European Parliament , could have the right amount of European and international impact to build a more consistent and effective policy .
tomorrow it will be 30 years since the imposition of martial law by the Communist authorities in Poland , trying to crush the Solidarity movement .
oral questions and written declarations ( submission ) : see Minutes
if the quotas are abolished it will mean the investments that farmers have made buying quotas and thereby stabilising production conditions will have gone to waste .
concentration and pluralism will continue to be at the centre of debate at national and Community level .
this will be a separate topic here tonight , and we are yet to talk about this .
( NL ) Mr President , no one can dispute that the citizens of Europe must be armed with fundamental rights and freedoms , vis-à-vis their own countries as well as the European Union .
we want a realistic and practicable negotiating strategy , but as no clear priorities have been set in this report , we feel that this goal has not been fulfilled .
the world 's population is increasing , the amount of land available for cultivation is limited , the standard of living - and with it the ability to purchase and consume food - is rising in many parts of the world .
I would like to express strong support , both for the position which has been presented , and for the resolution submitted by Mr Rouček .
we need to stop opposing the strategy for growth , the establishment of the single market and the strengthening of the social pillar .
moving in this direction provides us with the freedom to prioritise and with a helpful way of combining a career with family life , thereby establishing the sound , harmonious basis for sharing equality and responsibility between the sexes .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , when it comes to discussing CO2 emissions , we are very quick to talk about cars , simply because the way to a person 's guilty conscience is through their car .
the Council will assess , on the basis of this report , the progress made on SIS II development and , as far as the alternative scenario is concerned , will examine the prospect of achieving the objective of SIS II as set out in the legal framework governing the establishment , operation and use of SIS II , on the technical basis of SIS I + evolution .
as the rapporteur for the Socialist Group in the European Parliament on this directive , I had been looking forward to standing here this morning with a fully negotiated package .
we are jointly responsible for ensuring security at global level .
the Management Committee for Sheep and Goats issues opinions on the legislation relating to the sector .
one example I would like to give you of this is the arrest of the former Iraqi trade minister .
I also think that it is important to remember that in the years to come , we will have huge global competition for funding .
I cannot , however , support the conclusions of the rapporteur , our fellow Member , Carlos Coelho .
how , for example , does the provision of an article of the Charter of Fundamental Rights that says that ' Any discrimination based on ... political or any other opinion ... shall be prohibited ' square with the forcible snatching of pieces of paper with the legend ' REFERENDUM ' from the hands of Members ?
my group ( the S & D Group ) used the report to push for our core macro-economic policies , including : coordination of macro-economic policies by the Member States ; a permanent crisis-management framework ; a strengthened Growth and Stability Pact ; the possibility of creating a European credit rating agency ; credit for SMEs ; and flexible exit from government support following the crisis .
trivial matters are causing violent clashes .
Mr President , Commissioner , on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs , we subscribe to the logic of the report drafted by Mr Désir within the Committee on International Trade .
among the greatest achievements is the involvement of all countries , developed and developing , in the common reduction of emissions .
however , waiting for the Treaty to enter into force before acting would be to wait for the time when we can cry over spilt milk .
following their entry into the Schengen area , the Slovenian Presidency started work on the introduction of the second generation Schengen information system , known as SIS II , as soon as possible .
the approach being taken to the idea of a large transatlantic market , which was Sir Leon Brittan 's hare-brained scheme back when he was Commissioner , poses certain risks .
I will give you an example .
my feeling is that now , as well as strong recovery action , Haiti needs greater protection at the international political level .
they are taking Médiator as a case study to see whether something like Médiator could still happen with the latest pharmacovigilance processes .
what nation is going to let its soil erode away and degrade ?
in Greece , on the other hand , the reason for the intervention is the somewhat reckless management of public expenditure , which made a cash infusion from the sale of government bonds necessary .
the issue of police behaviour in the context of the massacre of representatives of religious minorities is also of concern .
Burma - conduct of elections and the release of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi
the European Parliament building is not a meeting house for every group that wants to have a protest at this or that problem throughout the world .
their income for the coming years will be significantly reduced .
clearly there is a balance to be had between the necessity of action to prohibit CO2 emissions where we can , and economic costs .
this means we can ' Lisbonise ' the large budget that we have in the sector of agricultural and regional policy and we are evidently at a point where we are talking about the subject of Galileo and EIT being lumped together .
we should remember what happened in Iran : it is hard for democratic development to go hand-in-hand with revolution .
I would like the Commission , in addition to the prevention measures that it has drawn up , to look , in particular , at the areas of droughts and water shortages .
( PL ) Mr President , terrorist attacks like the recent attack in Islamabad clearly demonstrate that terrorism is in fact a terrifying reality .
I rely on your support and determination within the framework of the legislative procedure just begun to approve the package of measures before the end of the current parliamentary term and well before Copenhagen .
I therefore support the Commission 's proposal to put off the creation of a common VAT system with the aim of giving enterprises the necessary legal certainty but , at the same time , I call on the Commission to conclude its analysis as quickly as possible and draw up a Green Paper on the review of the VAT system with the involvement of this Chamber .
do we agree on values ?
we do not have to reconstruct but rather to construct a country whose foundations and governance have never been strong .
we are hardly in a position yet to say how much European countries and citizens lost from the gas crisis .
in a real sense , the single market touches the lives of every citizen in the European Union .
let us make sure that we coordinate .
I support this resolution .
unfortunately , the international forces were slow to act , with the exception of the Portuguese GNR ( National Republican Guard ) .
the Community needs to act simultaneously and with real substance in several directions :
firstly , two Members , one of whom was Mr Batten , mentioned specific examples of how citizens are affected - perhaps in another country - and it is their opinion that conditions are not very good .
in the assessment of information on the medication recommended in the event of a health emergency , especially in pandemic situations ;
now it is especially important to realise that the European common currency is a common value for which every member of the eurozone bears individual responsibility .
the support that is needed for the car industry indeed represents failing industrial policy .
the international adoption procedure also needs to be simplified , because all too often there is too much red tape , which deters families from trying to adopt .
so the Commission , the Council , the European Parliament are therefore confronted now with a period for taking serious decisions to improve the situation in the future .
we should note that this policy is evaluated well by Member States and local governments , and I would also like to point here to the favourable position of the Committee on Regional Development .
there is no difference between someone who is murdered while attending mass and someone who is sentenced to death for adultery or for belonging to a Muslim , Christian or Jewish minority , or for having been born in a particular place rather than for practising a religion .
incentives should be permitted for the launch of new routes linking the least-favoured and outermost regions .
Parliament 's contribution is essential to guarantee that the means of applying intellectual property rights will not obstruct innovation , competition , protection of personal data and the free movement of information .
this would bring us closer to our citizens and give us more time for our real work .
this does not necessarily mean military engagement but we have to engage in a more efficient manner and in a more coordinated manner amongst ourselves and with others - the United States , the international community at large , the United Nations .
in two or three years we will be able to debate more options when we have more information available to us .
or are there other proposals ?
I voted for this motion for a resolution which supports the dignity , welfare and development of every person as values which ought to be the main objectives of economic development .
I certainly embrace that concept .
can Greece restore confidence on the financial markets ?
greater coordination with national and regional programmes , and more synergies with other European programmes ;
that , ladies and gentlemen , is why we have succeeded .
Uighur jihadists have also exploited recent unrest in Tibet to foment their own violence against the Chinese Government .
I would like to make a very important point . the real reason why this conflict stalled was that South African workers refused to unload Chinese weapons .
in the Commission 's opinion , this should not happen .
the idea of an open European sky and a Single European Sky is the right approach , although of course it needs to be implemented .
the European Black Sea Dimension should be similar to the Northern Dimension and based on equal partnership and adequate infrastructure for priority projects in the fields of nuclear power , research and safety , transport , tourism , and combating climate change .
the leading forces in Ukraine must ultimately address the problems together , because the gas crisis is linked to a dispute within the political spectrum of Ukraine , and that , to us , is totally unacceptable .
I would like to remind you of the great public responsibility resting on us as representatives elected by the people .
the Committee on Budgets has recently stressed that an effort will be made to avoid big losers as far as future allocations from the structural funds are concerned .
yet at the end of 2006 , and based on the Agency 's own accounts , it held EUR 14.3 million in cash !
in Vienna , we have an international meeting , under the umbrella of the United Nations .
I will take another speaker in favour if there is a speaker in favour .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I welcome this very important debate on Turkish democratisation .
as companies assess the need for new qualifications and the requirements of the labour market , adult education will adapt to these requirements , thus helping to overcome the discrepancies in the labour market .
can the Commission back up its response with sound reasons ?
in practical terms , the European Commission notes in its communication of 23 February 2011 the quite significant progress which has been made since the Small Business Act was adopted in June 2008 , but warns about the challenges remaining .
immunity of Europol officers , as is regulated in the codicil , does not make sense .
this is unbelievable and a heartbreaking denial of the Burmese people 's most basic human right . but it is also verging on criminal negligence .
the Commission subsequently monitored the agency 's operations very carefully and discussed improvements to the software and even an emergency plan with the agency .
we end up with a patchwork that is meaningless , when we should be focusing on the health and safety at work of pregnant women , in the same way , of course , that we will have to focus on gender equality in pay .
the electronic register has been retained .
this is an important first step in strengthening relations between the EU and Brazil in the aviation sector and will allow both parties to continue to strengthen their cooperation at this level and proceed towards negotiating a comprehensive air services agreement .
I believe that this is an unacceptable argument that contradicts itself , because the fact that we are not going to achieve 20 % energy efficiency is precisely why we do not set binding targets to do so .
the report reveals the extent of the irregularities in the migrant detention system in Europe , pointing the finger at problems to do with legal advice , medical care , hygiene , promiscuity and information .
we cannot allow a situation to arise where we mislead farmers by encouraging them at European Union level to produce the raw materials for bioenergy production , while in some countries the regulatory framework at national level does not provide an optimal environment for doing so .
today , differences exist between the Member States that adversely affect the fair functioning of the internal market and road safety .
I could imagine some even more ambitious measures in this area , but I think that Belgium succeeded in coordinating at least the things that were possible , and to achieve at least some progress .
today 's vote concerned a request for assistance for 2 554 redundancies in Mura , European Fashion Design , an enterprise which operates in the wearing apparel sector , amounting to a total of EUR 2 247 940 financed by the EGF .
counterfeiting can be the destroyer of jobs , the cause of ill-health and the source of funding to international criminal gangs and terrorists .
as Vice-Chair of the Delegation for Relations with Iraq , I will continue to monitor the situation and will be happy to hear what the Commission thinks about this .
is there an age limit as regards the child or the adoptive parent ?
does he really believe that terrorism in the world can be combated by counting on his country 's national defence alone ?
Mr President , I want to raise the case of Mr John Zafiropoulos , who is in prison in Greece .
a sustainable structure cannot be built based on fear and terror or against civil and political liberties .
it is vital to strengthen regional cooperation in the area of human and citizens ' rights , to develop democracy and educational systems ; to strengthen regional cooperation in the fields of transport , energy and the environment ; to strengthen regional cooperation in the fields of trade , tourism and investment .
( NL ) Tomorrow , the European Parliament will be voting on the abolition of the short-stay visa requirement for Balkan countries .
as the report mentions the need for information campaigns to raise consumer awareness of their rights , the Commission would like to inform the members of its recent ' Is it fair ? ' website which includes for example educational material on the blacklist of banned practices .
Turkey has continued to express public support for the negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to reach a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem .
( DE ) Mr President , it is definitely not a bad idea to apply the regulations on asylum uniformly in order to reduce secondary immigration within the EU and to support those Member States with a very heavy influx of asylum seekers .
a player who is respected and who respects others .
we expect the Commission - and I have no doubts about it as I respect Mr Dimas ' work - and the Council , to acknowledge the value of this work .
the borders between freedom and security do not end at the borders of the virtual world .
the last point that I would make - and Mr Schulz touched on this in a very important way - is that the success of the European Union over the last 20 years has been predicated on the twin-track approach of economic growth and social development and protection .
I am looking forward to this .
I welcome a coherent programme for promoting European audiovisual works worldwide , given the fragmentation of the market at European level , compared to the audiovisual industry in the United States , for instance .
here , I would like to say a special thank you to my colleague , Mrs Jackson , for her Amendment 134 , which my group has decided to support .
second , the year 2009 - according to expert forecasts - will in all probability be the fifth successive year in which there has been a steady increase in the prices of foodstuffs . this will cause increasing social problems among the poorer Member States , and also in the countries to which the European Union gives food aid .
the Union for Europe of the Nations Group will support this resolution .
I hope the collaboration between the European Union and Libya brings about the same results that were achieved with the Friendship Agreement between Libya and Italy , which , amongst other things , has settled the long-standing dispute over the country 's colonial past .
I can tell you that the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance will follow the results of this summit between the United States and the European Union very closely , since it comes at a key moment in the path leading us , on the one hand , to Copenhagen and , on the other , to the reform of the international financial system .
I would like to begin by expressing my solidarity with the families of the victims of the natural disasters in Madeira and of the victims of storm Xynthia .
the regulation of the free movement of posted workers was left out of the 2006 compromise Services Directive , but the problem remains , as shown by the reaction to the Court 's rulings , and has now hit us over the head .
( ES ) Madam President , Mr President-in-Office of the Council , Mr Vice-President of the Commission , ladies and gentlemen , the best homage we can pay to Jean Monnet is to act with unity , decisiveness and perseverance , as he did in organising the logistical effort during both world wars - the effort by the Allies which enabled them to win the war .
I know that this is something that many people were concerned about in some countries , including Sweden , where , for a long time , we have had a system called Fass .
so far , this is a staff working document , which will be discussed with business leaders in two months ' time , and then the public consultations will start .
nomination of a member of the Court of Auditors ( Iliana Ivanova - Bulgaria ) (
for some 50 years now , the European Union has brought peace and stability to the peoples of Western Europe .
the European Union has shown itself the pioneer of action on climate change .
this remoteness - I think we can all agree on this - is an unavoidable feature of modern life , so every institution should do what it can to bridge the gap .
the transport sector uses 70 % oil , and in cities and built-up areas it accounts for 40 % of CO2 emissions and 70 % of emissions of other harmful compounds .
the work relating to this legislation and Parliament 's proposals concerning passenger rights has actually inspired the rail companies in my own country , Denmark , to voluntarily implement rules on passenger compensation .
the Member States can play a part in this in order to underline their willingness to make savings .
there are , therefore , very few organic potatoes to be had .
this discrepancy , which amounts to 17 % , is quite simply unacceptable .
these are all good steps forward and very solid issues , but this cannot be a shopping list .
as specifically concerns the situation regarding the care of dependants , the Commission has already put the following actions on the table .
these do not fit in with the ideas which the European Union represents .
this is why I will curiously await the results of the impact study assessing the usage of national markings alongside the CE marking that the Commission should prepare , as requested by the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection .
it is worth emphasising that last year the European Ombudsman received fewer complaints than in 2005 .
in a Europe that is socially conscious , fair , evolved and cohesive , it is imperative to ensure measures that eradicate and minimise the risk of social dumping and the degradation of living conditions for its people when faced with the devastating effects of the current economic crisis .
there are three issues I would like to raise , namely the rights of children , support and opportunity for women caught up in people trafficking and , finally , how we can be better prepared in the event of a sudden crisis in the world .
Mr President , the global economy has been turned upside down in the past few months .
given the fact that they murdered nine activists on the flotilla last year , these threats have to be taken extremely seriously .
finally , I should like to ask if the said concessions will benefit the flood-stricken inhabitants of Pakistan .
their victims are ordinary citizens , companies or even public , local , national or European institutions .
the report now highlights more clearly the significance of this issue .
nothing at all has been done to redefine the role and independence of some countries ' secret services in view of the obvious supremacy and command exerted by those of the USA .
they are demanded on the streets of Tunis and Cairo and it is our duty to listen .
( PL ) Mr President , fiscal fraud has been a global problem for some time now .
of course , Turkmenistan still has to ratify and implement many of the conventions of the International Labour Organization - that is not in question .
it is as serious as that .
the institutional engines of European integration will be operating at full power once Parliament 's vote of confidence in the new Commission gives these two institutions a strong , solid basis in order to move forward with an ambitious political agenda .
the European Commission White Paper on adapting to climate change contains many ideas on which we must focus , now and in the future , in order to curb this threat linked to global warming .
in writing . - The future instrument for supplying EU development aid must be adequately equipped in financial terms .
in that way , security and competition will be able to sit side by side .
this was just Mr Borghezio , who gagged himself as a protest , and so the Chamber is not subject to any risks from the security viewpoint .
and yet at the same time the Union faces different kinds of serious challenges .
therefore , let us not be mistaken , let us not cheat : we have an historical responsibility to this species , and to the people and the families who depend on it for their livelihood .
the EIB achieved some positive results in 2009 , when its activity increased by 40 % , its funding for small and medium-sized enterprises increased by 55 % , its funding for less-developed regions increased by 36 % , and its funding aimed at combating climate change and promoting energy efficiency increased by 73 %
finally , under no circumstances should we attempt to finance banana-producing ACP countries by reallocating funds from development cooperation .
ask the people of Vaxholm or the workers of Irish Ferries about the EU 's commitment to the vindication of workers ' rights .
they use the word ' woman ' only six times .
it could be a key to better economic success .
going forward , surely we should look to be more flexible in our application of GSP + , perhaps as an alternative to the EPAs .
I think that it would be very disappointing if Council does not have a qualified majority behind it and does not come up with proposals on how to reach a compromise .
if we are serious we must have a policy that gives amnesty to those who expose the exploiters .
we have already had a hearing on this and we have our research report .
protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community (
I sent you a copy of that correspondence , Mr Coelho , because you are the usual rapporteur for SIS-related issues , and you follow these issues closely .
you did not touch on this in your speech , but we in Parliament want to know about it .
as a whole , too , Europe 's institutions must demonstrate to European citizens that in economically sensitive areas they are able to show genuine European solidarity , so that we do not end up with a new energy solidarity stipulation , just like the introduction of the free market principle in European territory with the Services Directive .
the issue of gender equality has been given a big role in the report .
for this reason , I believe that it is vital for our transport system in Europe to have airlines and other transport options in place which passengers can use .
the Commission is aware that more needs to be done ; this has been underlined by several Members , and I fully agree that the well-being of small and medium-sized enterprises is crucial for Europe 's recovery , for growth and for employment .
burning down camps , chasing people through the streets - this is unacceptable !
the regulation which we are discussing has also established the terms under which a company can employ a transport manager , has reinforced authorisation and monitoring procedures , has provided regulations for electronic registers and the protection of electronic data , has dealt with the issue of penalties for non-compliance with the regulation and has set up a system of mutual recognition of diplomas and prior rights .
just through preparing the whole debate , I am , of course , already in contact with certain ministers in certain Member States that are even more confronted with the neighbouring country aspects .
in addition , we have endeavoured to make as clear as possible our wish not only for public stations with high quality , attractive content , but also for the integration of new platforms , taking into account the latest technologies .
of course , there must be transparency - I shall always defend that - but can we deprive our ACP partners of an essential instrument of their sovereignty in supporting their industry and their local services by imposing liberalisation of public procurement ?
I do not agree with the latter point .
what is going on in Lebanon ?
please allow me , however , to point out the difficulties that Haiti is facing at present .
however , this requires an exemption from the stringent EU competition rules in agriculture .
it is a rich region with strong economic capacities but that requires coordinated efforts in order for it to develop in a cohesive , integrated and sustainable way .
in this specific case , therefore , rather than relying on the free market , we must not just allow Member States to take restrictive measures but actually encourage them to do so .
Russia is our closest neighbour , a country with great potential and cultural heritage , a proud nation ; proud of its country from the Baltic to the Baring Strait .
the Directive allows Member States to determine the length of time during which an applicant cannot have access to the labour market .
we have acted quickly and efficiently to translate pledges into concrete commitments to help developing countries cope with the crisis .
that is why I am asking you not to vote for or against Mr Barroso , but to vote after the people of Ireland and to postpone the vote today and to vote next month if necessary .
when planning the new strategy , we should place special emphasis on raising the proportion of women in employment , for research carried out by Eurostat shows that the crisis has affected working women more than men , among other reasons , because they work in jobs which are much less secure .
will he be in a position to give any indication to the Assembly there , or when will he be in a position to give an indication to the Assembly here , of precise statistics on the way to reaching this objective ?
over half of the population of the European Union are overweight .
rapporteur . - Madam President , this is a very broad and , for me , satisfactory , debate about successes , gaps and actions in progress .
furthermore , I do not feel able to support the extension for a second year of the pilot programme on enhanced cooperation between the EU 's Bureau and the Committee on Budgets , since I do not consider it worthwhile or effective .
you go to your bank and say : ' here is EUR 1 000 and I would like a 25 % rate of return . '
last but not least , domestic violence must also be combated in migrant families and the proportion of foreigners in schools limited in order to defuse spiralling violence .
I think they can assert the input , strength and dynamics to create an ambitious , political commitment .
negotiations concerning Turkey 's accession to the EU began in October 2005 , and that process is still ongoing and a long way from reaching an outcome in the near future .
if we do not do it , China and others are going to do it .
this additional formulation is worded :
consequently , I totally agree with additional measures being taken to limit or even ban ozone-depleting substances .
within the context of the 2009 budget we should also properly evaluate the return on individual ambitious projects .
the answer is ' no ' .
we must not lead drivers and pedestrians to believe that they are safer than they really are .
( HU ) Madam President , if we want to obtain results in the Roma strategy , we have to simultaneously improve the educational , employment , healthcare , and housing situation , and combat anti-Romanyism , hate speech , and discrimination against the Roma people .
that is what I propose .
I will provide the technical details when reporting on the Governing Council decisions of our next meeting on 8 April .
secondly , it is necessary to help build democratic structures in these countries , enabling them to decide independently on strategic priorities without foreign interference .
I should like to respond to our UK fellow Members with regard to paragraph 19 on the fruit and vegetables sector .
Hungarian public opinion witnessed a remarkable manifestation right in the middle of the Georgian crisis .
the fact is , the WTO 's work is crucial to the global economic recovery .
I think it is important , apart from party closures , to discuss the democratic transformation more broadly .
the draft report presented by Mr Manfred Weber to the European Parliament in plenary contains nothing more than ( more or less ) cosmetic changes that do not go to the heart of the matter .
as a train driver , one is responsible for passenger safety .
in my view , regulation must be brought forward very quickly now .
under this proposal , Member States are allowed to go on playing with the euro and the euro area .
Parliament has decided to raise the bargaining level by treating all instruments in a package approach .
to avoid two-speed healthcare in Europe , we would like to see European support for health services .
( ES ) Mr President , the Commission 's Work Programme for 2008 states that the citizen is and should be the core of the European project .
the adoption of an European Union regulation would guarantee that all hydrogen-driven vehicles released on the market are manufactured , tested and identified in accordance with a common standard and that their safety level is at least the same as that of conventional motor vehicles .
that is where the problem lies .
OLAF must also act transparently in the matter of its investigative procedures and guarantees , verification of the lawfulness of its investigations and appeal procedures for those already suspect or soon to become suspect .
nowadays , the OSCE is frequently the organisation permitted to enter regions in crisis , where others are not allowed in .
secondly , we need to reinforce the fight against the political and criminal dimensions of this phenomenon , by also tackling those organisations which traffic human beings .
while our children were celebrating Christmas , how many children died in Gaza ?
then we look at managed migration .
I believe they are going to do it .
it is unfortunate that there are references to the so-called Reform Treaty - the revived EU Constitution - to which I am fundamentally opposed .
for this - and I urge the President-in-Office , the Commissioner and Madam President to remember this - we need a tripartite declaration from all three institutions .
the three reports presented by the Commission in February were debated for the first time at the conference .
I have written to the Australian Prime Minister to convey the sincere sympathy of the European Parliament .
oral clarification concerning voting
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there were many other issues at the European Council about which I am ready to respond .
that is why the Icesave dispute must remain a bilateral issue between Iceland , the UK and the Netherlands .
yet another weighty levy is being imposed on the masses and on poor and medium-scale farmers because water is being completely commercialised .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , the murder of Governor Salmaan Taseer is not only a private tragedy but a tragedy for democracy in Pakistan .
the debate is closed .
our concerns were not about figures but rather about political demands .
( DE ) You have stated before this House , Mr President of the Commission , that you have moved closer to the European Parliament 's way of thinking .
it was not therefore a matter of excluding a certain number of workers from third countries .
your Government has apologised for the Amritsar massacre ; you have apologised for slavery ; you have apologised for virtually everything .
this has also been a success for the European Union , which has supported and monitored the electoral process , as it will be doing soon in Chad and Uganda .
we think this is really very important , as has been shown by what has happened .
the report spells out very clearly the causes of this and emphasises the remedies required , as well as our share in the responsibility for this .
I would actually have voted in favour if only English were to be used , since today it functions as a lingua franca .
despite our opposition to the development of the European internal market , on which the premise of this report is based , the concrete proposals that it sets out and the pivotal question that it analyses involve the improvement of conditions and safety for consumers .
( DE ) Mr President , Vice-President of the Commission , our Italian fellow Members have rightly viewed this debate as a very important one for their country and requested the floor , yet it is also a debate for all Europeans .
as well as patients , we must protect doctors from hidden advertising as their relationship in the treatment process is particularly important .
I do not consider it to be consistent for governments , as the Italian Government has done , to cut EUR 8 billion in three years from education and the universities , without reinvesting the savings in these areas , especially as we have a 19 % early school leaving rate and 25 % youth unemployment .
I think we should see very active dialogue and engagement in this matter on the part of Mrs Ashton .
however , on balance I believe it to be a good starting point for a comprehensive debate on the issue and shows that the Committee can work together .
( ES ) Madam President , as the 2009 figures show , and as has already been indicated , the financial crisis which broke out at the beginning of 2008 has considerably reduced trading figures .
what they do not understand is why so much time , effort and resources are devoted to the institutional processes and so little to the policy outcomes which actually might make a difference to their lives .
however , to do so , you have had to accept being yoked together with the governments concerned .
she has more courage than all the male Commissioners combined , as she dared to oppose Mr Sarkozy , even though Mr Barroso had tried to dissuade her from doing so for a long time .
against this background , I am very pleased that it will be easier to access reliable , high quality cross-border healthcare and to have treatment costs reimbursed .
all across Europe , from Ireland to Latvia , governments are struggling to respond to the financial crisis , to the credit crunch , by reducing their costs but we in this House , uniquely in this House , are massively increasing our expenditure in both relative and absolute terms .
nevertheless , I regret the fact that the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) managed to pass , in particular due to the abstention of a number of socialist MEPs , an amendment which refuses to put immigrant workers , especially undocumented immigrants , on an equal footing with other workers .
( DE ) Mr President , we have just seen a tragic accusation being made against Germany .
we must therefore return to these own resources as the basis of financing .
you are right also in asking about the quality of the staff .
finally , I am glad to see that the final report strongly advocates the significance of raw materials in the industrial sector of the future .
- Report : Ole Christensen
Hamas is stronger politically , it is intact militarily , it is holding out against recognising Israel , and the expected coalition in Israel will be more hard-line than ever and broadly resistant to seeing a separate Palestinian state .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I wish again to thank the Commission for its communication , which we have adopted for the most part .
we need an instrument that we can use to enter into a serious dialogue with the Member States while matters are in progress if there are indications that something is going wrong , so that we do not end up in the same situation as in this case .
gentlemen , you came late , but the main thing is that you came .
it is the Community method that drives Europe forward , not governmentalism !
I call on the countries that supported the carve-up of Serbia to withdraw their recognition of Kosovo , and on Russia to withdraw its recognition of Ossetia and Abkhazia .
instead of reforming the common agricultural policy , the committee wants to increase the subsidies and ensure that taxpayers increase their economic stakes .
this is not inconsistent with free market principles .
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I voted for this report because I agree on the importance of the Galileo project , as part of a European global navigation satellite system .
whilst the Dutch Party for Freedom ( PVV ) supports animal welfare , this is a matter for the Member States and not for the EU .
as I speak , these forces still occupy 20 % of Georgian territory , in blatant violation of international law and of the 12 August ceasefire agreement brokered thanks to the efforts of my good friend and great European leader , French President Nicolas Sarkozy , who was then President of the European Union .
further , is it possible both to promote the break-up of state energy , electricity and liquid gas providers and to claim that this is for the public good and helps towards achieving energy self-sufficiency - at low prices , of course ?
we should not build walls around our continent .
I think that we are a small step further ahead and that this GSP + system is very valuable and necessary as part of the European Union 's trade agreement .
long-term growth must be based on a sound macro-economic foundation .
they have suffered the worst possible repression by a regime that was already devoid of all legitimacy and which , that day , lost all dignity .
to help with assessment , Member States will therefore have access to a register of serious infringements committed by road transport undertakings , linked to the national register of these undertakings .
however , this is precisely the reason why we must ensure that it is properly designed and has a political structure .
what does ' successfully ' mean ?
a rise in the unemployment rate and the austerity measures could exacerbate the health inequalities which already exist in the EU .
on Monday evening Mr Verheugen gave a very precise account of the content of the three declarations that Mr Barrot has provided .
this can be achieved by promoting clean and renewable energy , by providing geological storage of carbon dioxide and by limiting the amount of gas emissions causing the greenhouse effect .
finally , I want to congratulate Mrs Oomen-Ruijten on her resolution , although there is one topic missing : why do we often forget that Turkey is not just a candidate country but also a vital Euro-Mediterranean partner in the Barcelona Process ?
it is therefore vital to call a halt to deforestation as far as possible in order to protect biodiversity .
rapporteur . - Mr President , I would like to thank my colleagues for their kind words and also the Commissioner for his cooperation over the years .
in writing . - ( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , it is perfectly normal to consult the parties affected by legislation that is being prepared or adopted .
I believe this represents a major step towards transparency and control in an area which is undoubtedly surrounded by a great deal of myth .
it is , however , regrettable that the text does not go even further .
it was a very difficult situation in the Council , because some Member States do not produce an environmental balance sheet and we first need to create a foundation in all 27 Member States .
the suffering of innocent people makes the desire to excuse and seek justification for the Gaza situation irrelevant .
last June the UN warned that over the next 10 years desertification could drive 50 million people from their homes , mainly in sub-Saharan Africa and Central Asia .
Parliament and the Commission must be encouraged in all policies designed to increase support among the citizens for the European project .
the protection and defence of freedom of information must be guaranteed in all circumstances .
the European Union ought to give first priority to the possibility of mobilising additional capacity , and equip itself with extra fire-fighting facilities by approaching either non-EU countries or the private sector .
. - ( RO ) Reducing the financial programming period to five years , as also recommended in the Böge report - and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mr Böge for his particular contribution to this report - would provide concrete proof of the European institutions ' maturity and an indication of cutting red tape .
the measures are included there and we need to have well-honed proposals as regards energy efficiency and how we invest in new technology .
we now know that we urgently need to establish a alternative secondary mobility system , trans-European networks , rail networks , an alternative to air transport , such as has wisely been done with regard to electricity and telecommunications networks .
after all , restrictions of cabotage are , by definition , blatant violations of the rules of the European internal market .
I am sure that with the help of Parliament we can achieve those goals , and can achieve a positive outcome at the June European Council .
the Commission is of course highly concerned at this situation .
there has been a very constructive atmosphere and I think this shows the necessity for the European Union of achieving this and also the interest on the Turkish side in reaching an agreement with us on re-admission .
what will happen is there will be job losses across rural Europe and a reduction in our food production capacity .
then , of course , there are the directives on temporary work and working time .
it is therefore necessary to consider whether the taxpayers ' money invested has brought the desired results .
however , equality of opportunity always has to do with quality and performance as well .
we support our common cohesion policy and believe it is important for European integration .
we are now working in this direction on other projects , notably , this project on competitiveness and convergence , but that will be another debate for another day .
she is also right to propose a model where there are strong public sector media outside the competitive media market coexisting with private media companies that are motivated by profit .
changes to Article 310 of the penal code and Article 214 of the administrative code are being debated in Lithuania 's Parliament that will criminalise , with the threat of a fine , community work or imprisonment , anyone involved in the promotion of homosexuality in any public space .
the figures speak for themselves : 100 countries , most of them poor , account for only 3 % of global emissions .
I fully support this House 's call for a clear distinction to be made between therapeutic information and advertising .
with this directive , once again we are showing our commitment to developing a common migration policy based on a global approach .
Mrs Sinclaire , I have been told that your staff did not notify your speaking time .
what is more , I believe even less in the effectiveness of a code of conduct on excise duty matters : this is likely to provide even greater temptation to unpick the EU 's rules and practices , which would in turn create the sorry situation of unfair competition in this area .
we welcome the initiation of negotiations between the government of the Republic of Moldova and the IMF and World Bank .
there have been problems , but the Commission is on the case .
however - at least on the Commission side - we cannot say that there is any reluctance to cooperate with us concerning standards and the quality of the products .
I make no secret of my opposition to dialogue with the terrorists of Hamas , an organisation committed to Israel 's annihilation , but , if we are ever to deal with Hamas , it must only be after Gilad Shalit has been liberated from his squalid captivity .
we have to help equip fishermen to fish more selectively in order to protect the cod and , at the same time as we hopefully reduce discards , we must start using them and putting them to good purpose , land them and give them to hospitals .
there must be no tendency , just because one dislikes nuclear power and is against its use , to underplay the importance of the rules we need .
however , as others have said , we have only got the paper .
in some cases the consequences are fatal .
I voted in favour of this report as I agree with this first step towards developing environmental accounting that is more comprehensive , since , according to the relevant European and national statistics offices , it is only in these areas that data for the whole of Europe is currently available .
I therefore voted against the report .
is it not the case that the visit of the Lithuanian President , Mrs Grybauskaitė , served to lend credence to the regime ?
Mrs Jensen , thank you very much for your question .
I congratulate Jerzy Buzek on his election as President of the European Parliament , along with all of the Vice-Presidents elected yesterday , and I wish you all much success in your important work and in the fulfilment of all the ideas with which you commence your work in the European Parliament .
the birth certificate of a child guarantees the child his name and nationality as well as access to medical care , for example .
the last year has shown us that , with the same treaty and with the same outdated principle of unanimity , it was possible to make progress with Europe but that it was also possible to reach a deadlock .
the other thing is : the Lisbon process will only be of any use if there are sanctions attached to it , as there are in the case of excessive deficit .
I hope that the new regulation will make its impact as quickly as possible and that we , as ordinary people , will notice that we have made progress and that the construction industry as a whole is no longer one of the most dangerous sectors of activity .
the report contains many important proposals for the development of the Single Market .
what action will you take to prevent PNR data being used in the profiling and definition of risk factors ?
it means preparing for life after work with flexible retirement ages and the gradual movement into retirement that I have seen in the Netherlands .
we have to understand that more visa facilitation agreements are designed to facilitate travel within the European Union , not immigration or other illegal activities , such as human trafficking .
this must not happen !
we cannot be satisfied with the situation of the Roma on our continent today .
in my experience , although many people feel a moral and political obligation to stop such extremist ideas from gaining ground , many stop short of specifically condemning it in a written statement or in another way .
I also recall that the Conference of Presidents has set the objective for Parliament 's budget at 20-22 % , with this year below that figure .
those in question are usually , but not always , women .
it is , therefore , a good thing that a European agreement exists but , at this stage , its scope is not up to meeting expectations or needs .
on the refugee issue alone , the neighbouring countries cannot reach an agreement so as to prevent the influx of refugees from being held up at the borders .
I voted in favour of this report as I believe that it asks for funds to be mobilised for that purpose and that it therefore aims to make correct use of the mechanism available .
I believe that we , too , must send out a message of support by abstaining .
the debate is closed .
the focus should be on international treaties on the environment .
will various countries contribute to a joint fund ?
two points remain before I conclude .
in recent months we have learnt that pirates have carried out attacks on Europeans and European ships off the African coast .
we need to be able to push ahead with an agenda this Parliament supported when it elected me President for a new term .
this is a very hopeful sign for the Citizens ' Initiative as contained in the Lisbon Treaty , but again I wish to put on record my strong support for a comprehensive directive .
this need for a more coherent response was also highlighted in the latest communication from the Commission on ' reinforcing the Union 's disaster response capacity ' , which dates back to March 2008 .
this must be understood .
the European Council should cement its place at the heart of our recovery strategy by agreeing principles that should shape the European recovery , including a shared commitment to openness and a level playing field internally and externally , thereby clearly rejecting protectionism but , of course , protecting the single market , the bedrock of European prosperity .
we should stress a number of times that this aid is to be retained and - where necessary - extended .
situation in Western Sahara ( debate )
it also makes this legislation important in terms of simplifying and harmonising the way in which we handle products in Europe that can be used for both civil and military purposes .
I regret that President Klaus is nonsensically delaying ratification of the Lisbon Treaty , but it is clear that soon after that happens , the Commission will have to submit the legislation again , this time under the codecision procedure of the European Parliament .
the fact that we are sitting here at all is a classic example of how , in the European Union , it is often the minor detail which causes the hitches .
by implementing this Directive , the Member States not only commit themselves to establishing equality bodies that promote , assess , implement and support equal treatment , but also undertake to instigate social dialogue , with the aim of promoting equal treatment in the workplace through collective agreements , in a planned manner .
it must be noted , however , that the Commission services have asked Ireland to send specific additional technical information in for all the requests for increase in capacity .
at the same time we know that this is only an interim phase and that there is still a lot of work ahead of us to get to the more or less integrated transatlantic aviation market for which we are aiming .
every day , 800 000 litres of crude oil are flowing into the Gulf , which means over 22 million litres since the disaster began .
we must put it into practice .
here , Europe must establish and deepen its dialogue with the developed countries , because we have to reduce and eliminate the burden of our historic emissions together , while at the same time listening to developing nations and the poorest countries and enabling them to espouse sustainable development , even if it carries a higher price tag .
it must be considered carefully whether it is useful to close coal mines at all , if all we achieve in doing so is that the remaining power plants must substitute domestic coal with coal imported from outside the common market .
that is why , taking a responsible attitude , we say that we are prepared to examine our proposal with the Spanish Presidency at the very beginning of January : EUR 40 million taken from the budgetary margins , EUR 60 million taken from the Progress programme , with EUR 20 million redeployed , enabling the burden to be distributed fairly .
we Hungarians belong to a relatively small nation , but we are proud to have 50 Nobel Prize winners , mostly in the natural sciences .
however , the rapporteur deserves all our appreciation for her efforts .
one last word on the Treaty : political agreement by the European Council is an important step , but , as we all know , it is not the end of the story .
I agree that in order to achieve the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy , especially in the areas of employment and social affairs , we must strengthen the ESF and increase its effectiveness , while improving this fund 's financing procedures .
Europe is a community based on law , a democracy .
may I thank the President of Parliament today for expressing his condolences and those of Parliament to the family .
our businesses , researchers , scientists and universities all find themselves having to compete on a global level with markets that have enormous amounts of resources available to them , often with very much lower costs than our own .
this time , unfortunately , Styria has also been hard hit .
what I can tell you , obviously , is that recourse to the EFSF and to International Monetary Fund aid was seen to be a last resort : ultima ratio .
then they will see the differences .
this agreement will allow preparations to continue for the launch of the Visa Information System scheduled for the end of this year .
furthermore , the Commission notes that Parliament 's motion for a resolution emphasises certain topics which are included in the plan 's priorities .
it is a compromise that we have reached and there are some things colleagues might have liked in this compromise that we did not manage to get in , but Parliament managed to secure 75 % of the amendments that we thought were important within this text , and that is no mean feat .
an overall initiative is required .
it would appear that the United States of America is to bring good news along to Copenhagen , which is a very significant move .
after all , we recall that , in all the discussions held by the Troikas travelling to the various Member States that we are trying to help , ultimately , it is the IMF - and it almost pains me to say this after everything that we Greens said about the IMF in the 1980s and 1990s - that is the most reasonable today , while the Commission and the Central Bank are the ones setting the toughest conditions .
that is why we organised the largest ever quantification , through which we wanted to determine what the actual costs arising from European legal acts and their implementation are for European businesses , insofar as relates to documentation , statistics , information and the like .
Parliament has reminded us of its wish to see competition policy operating within the framework of the codecision procedure .
but what happens in our own backyard ? !
I fully support the proposal that measures should be taken with the aim of minimising the problem of trade in falsified medicinal products , and also of trade in medicines sold in places not authorised to sell them and other falsified products fulfilling the criteria for medicinal products .
late payments have become a routine practice for public authorities in many countries ( and this certainly includes Italy ) .
by reaching an agreement on the directive , the Community institutions have demonstrated that the European Union is able to adopt specific measures to accomplish its ambitious objectives on climate change .
another proposal is the need for real partnership , based on dialogue and consultations , in which support for democracy is treated as a separate topic and in which various dialogues are more coherent and coordinated .
thanks to this , Russia has increased its influence in Kyrgyzstan , both militarily and also economically , which was to be expected given the previous economic ties between these two countries .
in conclusion , I welcome the reform of the fund and urge the Council to outline its position on this without delay .
I visited Zagreb in early March and found that Croatia 's European vocation was strong enough to settle this problem if it was hampering the accession negotiations .
this is the work that has been done .
nor does it justify more market-supported milk subsidy programmes .
I think we all want seas with satisfactory fish stocks .
once again , together with experts working on religious freedom , such as Christian Solidarity Worldwide , I say that this resolution simply increases the danger for those we want to protect .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , the Commission confirms that it will continue monitoring the developments relating to this Directive and its implementation , and that it will consider , in the light of the results of that monitoring , applying follow-up measures .
this would be a very big step in the right direction .
paragraph 36 , Part 2 , and paragraph 37 shall be put to the vote by roll call .
I believe that the revision the Commission placed before Parliament , on which we subsequently voted in committee and the first reading of which was deferred in March of this year , did not go far enough , and I know we have a difference of opinion on this .
we need someone more experienced .
in writing . - ( FR ) I voted for the Chatzimarkakis report , which seeks to improve the CAP 's budgetary execution and transparency , in other words to identify the beneficiaries of aid for agriculture .
what can we expect of Turkey if we are still battling with problems like these within the EU ?
now we are suggesting looking at another possibility , that of market-based instruments . the report is based on the Commission paper , which contains a number of proposals and ideas that I welcome .
I should like to thank Mr Silva Peneda for his cooperation in this field of late .
however , about 80 % of the budget is for the cohesion policy and agriculture .
we cannot agree to hypothetical climate change objectives being achieved at the cost of increased energy prices , by transferring power generation and cement , metal and glass production to outside the Union , so that the aims would be achieved at the cost of slower economic development and mass redundancies . no one in Poland could agree to that .
it is my view that using the full procedure involving the consent of Parliament or a parliamentary consultation would be impractical in such circumstances .
what interests are they really defending ?
once again , I would like to emphasise the importance of building the sustainable constitutional framework which is necessary for this country and its institutions to work more effectively .
I have , however , taken note of the remarks made in this regard .
Mr President , I would like to thank all the MEPs who have spoken and I can assure you that I will certainly be present at the Council that is to take place this week , where I will report on the comments that have been made .
they asked for the past not to be revived .
Mr President , yes , the Commissioner is right .
I believe that , from now on , the US Secretary of State 's opposite number will be Baroness Ashton .
the need for increased dialogue in the context of the Bologna Process is not worded clearly enough and , for this reason , I have abstained .
the situation is extremely serious and desperate and I would just like to remind you that Dawit Isaak is a Swedish-Eritrean journalist who has been imprisoned without trial since 2001 .
this proposal achieved the first constructive framework agreement .
in this way , the EU must act as an area of solidarity , combining this assistance to Armenia with the aforementioned appropriate aspects .
( it ) Mr President , we are about to proceed with the ban on the use of cyanide mining technologies , because - as my fellow Members mentioned a short time ago - they have caused and continue to cause severe environmental effects and they pose critical dangers to human and animal health .
I consider , however , in line with what has already been proposed in the Transport Committee , that there should be a free vote on the amendments in question .
that is why , when I mention the discussions I would like to have with you , I talk about real discussions , because your input is very important .
in writing . - ( ET ) Ladies and gentlemen , the Blue Card will relieve several labour and immigration problems .
we should expand the concept of European solidarity .
I understand now from the United Kingdom that there are real concerns about this .
instead of this , the cultural and economic differences between the markets , companies and business practices are being sacrificed in favour of a globalised market .
Poland , which will take over the Presidency from Hungary , and which has included the matter of energy security in its agenda , will also intensify the debate on modern legislative and non-legislative solutions that will allow the European energy sector to stay competitive while , at the same time , improving energy efficiency .
with others , I myself demonstrated in front of the Ugandan Embassy in May of this year .
thank you for your support .
a statute of the European political parties is a significant step forwards towards greater interaction with citizens , more democracy and greater public interest in European issues .
in writing . - The UK Conservative delegation and the ECR Group voted in favour of the Baudis Report on EU-GCC relations , including the extensive oral amendments submitted by the rapporteur today in plenary , as it is important to condemn any disproportionate use of force in Bahrain by the authorities , in particular allegations of the shooting of unarmed peaceful protestors .
it is crucial for European satellite radio navigation programmes to be adapted to multi-modal services and applied throughout Europe , not only in certain countries , because the effective implementation of the programmes mentioned would improve freight transport efficiency and help to address many transport safety and environmental issues .
otherwise , we will be jointly responsible , at least indirectly , for gassing human rights and democratic values in Russia in exchange for gas from Russian pipelines .
it will hamper the equalisation of EU residents ' mobility if terms are not laid down in the rules for greenhouse gas emission trading to specify how rapidly growing aviation companies will be able to continue their growth , so that the resources spent on the acquisition of emission quotas do not act as a brake on their development .
it is easy to make a large profit .
it is precisely for this reason that support should go , for example , not only to major improvements in the quality and accessibility of education , but also to the relevance of education .
( RO ) Mr President , epidemics , like bluetongue , have a serious impact not only on livestock farmers , but also on consumers and the European economy in general , as a result of causing animal mortality and trade disruption .
in the current economic context , there is a pressing need to conduct a wide-ranging political debate about the desired level of ambition , which will determine the level of service provided , and on the resources available , during which it will be necessary to make a political choice between a model whereby it is exclusively funded by the EU and one whereby national or private contributions may be permitted .
any action taken which alleviates the burden of energy costs placed on the most venerable in society gets my wholehearted support .
if we look at the subject of the base load , it is currently around 8 000 hours per year , while the figure for wind power , depending on the situation , is between 2 000 and 5 000 hours and for solar energy between only 600 and 2 000 hours .
anyone may contribute to the common good .
it would be very sad if requests for exceptions upset this fragile document , which is so necessary for Europe and the entire world .
what would matter would be the substance of any changes proposed , not the precise legal framework in which they were proposed .
I would also stress the essential contribution of the European Anti-Fraud Office to reducing these figures .
the theme of this budget is ' a budget for results ' .
the priority of the package is ensuring the safety and quality of shipping , while respecting the environment , as well as improving the competitiveness of the European maritime sector .
secondly , combating clandestine immigration , especially inhumane immigrant trafficking rings ; and upholding respect for human rights at detention centres .
the nagging question of whether these agencies are effective and useful unfortunately remains unanswered , year after year .
thus , we have allies in the Council , namely , those states that do not want these cuts , and these include , in particular , the next two states to hold the Presidency , Poland and Hungary .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , what we are discussing tonight and will be voting on tomorrow will be a small but important building block in the cooperation between the institutions , the Commission , the Council and Parliament .
in the EU , emphasis must be placed on ensuring that funds are not blown on one-off events , so that structures set up do not disappear into the ether immediately after the year ends .
what I have in mind is renewable sources of energy that essentially provide new solutions to supplementing diminishing conventional sources of energy and reducing the volume of harmful emissions .
we should not forget that stability is not the only thing people want and need .
Padania is a land of honest , hard-working people .
I would argue that the new CAP should aid this and keep that production within Europe .
another example of how the European Union is not doing what it should in the Sahel is the way in which it has washed its hands of seeking a solution to the conflict in Western Sahara .
although Mrs Lambert 's report on the evaluation of the Dublin system contains viewpoints and proposals that I do not support , I decided to vote in favour of the report in the final vote .
nevertheless , we need not only to take account of the impact on our diplomatic relations but also to evaluate the impact on the international activities of our economic operators .
agenda of the next sitting : see Minutes
I therefore take this opportunity to encourage Parliament and the Council to engage in trilateral discussions on how to implement the treaty provisions on Union programming .
in writing . - ( PT ) We do not agree with the opinion expressed in the report on scrapping production aid in favour of a single payment scheme for producers based on a history of their production , thus forcing them to meet the objectives of the cross-compliance system .
I therefore believe that the Turkish authorities must adopt immediate rigorous reforms in all branches of government or consider the possibility of becoming not an EU Member , but a strategic partner .
the current agreement with Mauritania has been contributing to the economic development of Mauritania , where the fisheries sector is one of the fundamental pillars of the economy , representing almost 10 % of gross domestic product ( GDP ) , 29 % of national budget revenue and almost 50 % of exports .
the new version of the common agricultural policy includes values such as consumer protection and regional cohesion .
thousands of people have had to flee their homes in the Czech Republic , Slovakia , Hungary , Austria , Poland , Italy and the United Kingdom , and numerous factories have had to cease operation .
I totally agree .
in all these cases Italy has had to intervene , although our reception centre at Lampedusa is by now well beyond its capacity , as we all know .
secondly , we need to dare to tell the truth about what is happening to us .
I take the view that now is just the right time to renew the European Union 's support for Tibet .
it is in fact clear to everyone that if we look at Libya , there is a substantial difference between the whole of Europe taking joint action and action only being taken by willing countries , as is the case at present .
the European Commission is working on a proposal to change EU law , to give Member States greater freedom in deciding if they want to allow genetically modified organisms , because at the present time under EU law , it is not possible to introduce a ban on GMOs in Member States .
statistics on plant protection products ( debate )
it is a Union that behaves like a thug and a bully , and when Mr Cohn-Bendit put the European flag on President Klaus 's desk and told him to fly it from the Castle , he could just as well have been a German official from 70 years ago or a Soviet official from 20 years ago .
we cannot go on as we have up to now .
that is why the report advocates a harmonised system of protection for designations of origin and geographical indications , clear and transparent labelling , and positively identified oenological practices .
we have to tackle this new responsibility resolutely .
I think we have a compromise that adds real value for consumers and for businesses , particularly in the areas of internet and cross-border trade .
I would remind the Commission that the agriculture and food sector is vital for food security reasons , for environmental protection reasons , and for jobs in rural areas .
without the participation , interaction and commitment of all players in this common effort , the strategy will run the risk of being nothing more than a statement of good intentions .
the state of the road infrastructure has in fact been shown to play a determining role in one in every three accidents .
I would like first of all to congratulate the rapporteur , Mr Turmes , since this is a most important directive .
this is why we find unacceptable new attempts being made through new amendments being tabled during the plenary session to push through texts against coal plants or to present the direct disposal of the spent nuclear fuel as a foregone conclusion .
as each country should be assessed on its own merits , the basic values must be equally respected in every country , notwithstanding concrete economic and political interests of particular Member States .
the statement , which I tabled jointly with my fellow Members Mr Tabajdi , Mr Szent-Iványi , Mr Vigenin and Mr Amezaga , condemns the operations of paramilitary extremist groups within the Union , which are one of the most obvious forms of extremism .
if Russia does indeed do so , this will in a sense imply a return to the Cold War era .
we have seen how this procedure was used to allow the rescue packages for the banks , amounting to billions of euro , to bypass Parliament .
future rescue packages must involve continuous controls , a rapid and coordinated approach and effective sanctions .
this sets a new record for absurdly detailed regulation .
Mr President , driving around the beautiful downlands and copses of my South East constituency , I have noticed little roadside cairns made up of white goods and other eliminated electrical items .
there is evidence of a huge trend towards monopolisation , particularly in the private sector .
13 03 16 ERDF - Convergence
I agree we should make the political point and we should also be asking for some of the other things that he is asking for , but I think there are a number of aspects here where he has exceeded his role as rapporteur for this committee and it has become rather a Christmas tree of some of his own ideas .
after all , on Tuesday , he also said himself that , even if the Greek debt disappeared by magic , the problem would not be resolved .
I believe that we have a major debt to discharge in this regard , and there is still much that we need to do , and urgently so .
the President has ruled Amendment 88 admissible .
this is in line with the emphasis which President Medvedev has placed on the importance of the rule of law in Russia .
for the last 50 years we have had a clear statutory framework .
closer cooperation is required between EU and Latin American countries so as to push jointly for the swiftest possible conclusion of a fair , ambitious and comprehensive WTO Doha Agreement , in accordance with the commitments made in the Madrid Declaration .
I believe that at the end of this Intergovernmental Conference a Europe is looming in which for the first time in history people will no longer be able to recognise the political order under which they are living .
the European Union 's motto " united in diversity " does not only stand for different nationalities of the EU , but first and foremost involves the citizens of the European Union with their individual differences .
I voted in favour of this report on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) in support of the food industry employees ( UNILEVER ) in the Czech Republic .
it is not right for the Greek Government to keep on insisting that other States in the euro provide the solution because they were supposedly partly responsible for the current crisis in Greece . that is turning the world on its head .
it is therefore especially important that we in the EU understand the importance of setting sufficiently ambitious targets in order to remain competitive in this sector .
in writing . - ( PT ) Since the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam , the common European policies on migration and asylum have been constantly developing .
I shall not support this resolution if the amendments calling for nuclear power to be phased out are rejected .
as an example , I would like to mention the Annex to the review drafted by the European Commission .
I also hope that the Kremlin will align itself with the rest of the international community on stopping Iranian nuclear proliferation .
a future in the European space specifically means a future in which these countries are rid of nationalism .
nevertheless , we feel that a strong and well-financed European budget is a valuable and essential tool for restarting the EU economy .
in other words , it would not disappear from the text .
we have spoken to Ms Bozkurt about this code of conduct .
there is real doubt as to the reasons for the relocation of this company and the suspicion is that either the Swiss Government or one of their Arab friends has brought in aids which are causing these people to lose their jobs in Ireland , in the European Union .
explanations of vote
this strategy accords well with our commitment in Afghanistan and our work on stabilising that country .
this is why I believe that we have a duty , first and foremost , to support them .
the operation of the power station is transparent and fellow members can find information on it on the website of the country 's nuclear safety administration .
( FR ) Mr President , as has already been said , it is clear that for a variety of reasons , some similar , some different , but in all cases exacerbated by the crisis , national budgets are struggling .
it was a balanced text that took account of the needs of both producers and consumers .
I welcome the support of MEPs for this report , which outlines clear proposals to this end .
concerning the Commission 's project of launching 12 new coal and gas power plants equipped with CO2 capture and storage technology , I would like to reiterate Romania 's willingness to host such a power plant .
as a result , we , in our resolutions , could simplify procedures even further .
and having seen the determination of the health ministers of Europe last week - and all 27 were there - I am confident of our ability to respond in the coming weeks .
we can no longer be held hostage by a few people whose sole aim is to work against the general European interest .
I thank the European Parliament for its cooperation on this sensitive issue .
this is something we have to do on a daily basis : to provide more openness , more transparency , to serve citizens because they need to know , and it has to be part of the culture and the attitude of all the institutions .
this is , in fact , an exercise in transparency .
I know , for example , that it is extremely difficult to find an airline 's complaints department .
the Council therefore unreservedly supports the statement issued by the Heads of State or Government of the G20 countries , made public on 15 November .
in this context , the Commission welcomes the announcement on 2 February of further measures , notably a nominal public sector wage freeze and an increase in excise duties on fuels to safeguard the budgetary target for this year , as well as the Greek authorities ' readiness to adopt and swiftly implement additional measures if needed .
this is related to the year 2007 , when OLAF indeed emphasised that the system as it stands at present could result in opportunistic behaviour but not necessarily involving irregular behaviour .
that is how the situation looks with regard to Russia , as I have said , with the European Union being Russia 's main trading partner .
however , the purpose of the decision is to lay the foundations required to ensure a minimum level of protection in the third pillar .
I also support all the measures advocated with a view to attaining the desired objectives .
we share some common values and we can use the ILO conventions as a basis for developing the European social model further .
we need a community which will be fully integrated into modern society .
I should like to ask how the communication works between the Commissioner for Trade and the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights in this regard .
since a discrepancy of this magnitude cannot be explained or defended objectively , this discrimination cannot , and indeed must not , be sustained any longer .
mention was made of carcinogens in the workplace .
that is quite clear .
information technology must be delivered and all the rest , but with regard to everything that goes any further than that , we have to be very critical , to ensure that it is actually connected with the work that we are here to do .
I really do believe that what we have here are extraordinary circumstances , circumstances that do not apply to other manufacturers in Europe and which justify the consideration of extraordinary measures .
the Council is always keen to delay issues and discussions and proposals .
Mr President , first of all , may I ask you to give our regards to Commissioner Dimas and convey the thanks of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) for his efforts over recent years .
the Irish referendum was a sharp reminder of the need to anchor the case for Europe within the national debate .
in Haiti , which is already occupied by imperialist forces , the suppressors have been the UN peacekeeping forces , who even shot at children .
it is also vital that , when exercising its supervisory powers , the ESMA gives the persons subject to proceedings the opportunity of a hearing in order to respect their right to defence .
apart from reducing the incidence of early school leaving and increasing the proportion of university graduates by 2020 , I would like to highlight some aspects which may provide support to young people .
obviously the idea is that Ireland now just has to sort out the problems for itself .
I would also like to remind you , in relation to financial regulations , and specifically in relation to how the money is actually dispersed to and within the Member States , that this must , of course , take place in a way that is secure against abuse .
I think she could not have been more accurate and could not have put it better .
as Mr Koch very clearly explained , among other things the regulation covers the provision of suitable access to trains , stations and platforms for persons with reduced mobility .
if we want reforms in the major international institutions , we shall only achieve that through a fairly far-reaching agreement between Latin America and the European Union .
regarding the procedural matters , I fully understand Parliament 's position .
however , it would probably be easier if I change to my mother tongue , which I shall now do .
the Commission certainly supports the country 's commitment to the consolidation of peace , stability and , above all , democracy .
the ever-increasing scale of biofuel production has contributed towards raising the price of foodstuffs , which has in turn had a large effect upon the people of the world .
we are going to be presenting big European projects .
I would like to state clearly that , even though I am in favour of paternity leave , I am still convinced that a directive that is designed to protect the health of mothers is not a suitable instrument for the introduction of this particular principle .
although studies have estimated the current economic costs of the loss of biodiversity to be around EUR 50 billion per year , this matter is not on the international political agenda .
for normal industry , the switch to fully auctioned allowances will occur in 2020 .
Commissioner Wallström said that a good tool can always be improved .
we must be in this for the long haul and we have to be determined in saying to our neighbours not just that they should start the journey towards democracy , but that they should complete it .
either way , they are values that we should promote and respect .
this communication and the consolidation of the European perspective for the Western Balkan countries will be the main topic at the informal session of the European Union Foreign Ministers which is planned for the end of this month in Slovenia .
however , let me add a side comment on that point .
therefore , the heading for this legislative procedure which we have brought to an initial agreement should not read Sarkozy but Sacconi .
( the sitting was suspended at 19 : 25 and resumed at 21 : 00 )
6 .
voting time
I am voting in favour of this resolution because it is necessary to begin negotiations for the renewal of the protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania .
in talking to the candidate countries and the prospective candidate countries , I always underlined the following four principles .
( FR ) Mr President , tropical timber tonight , the financial crisis this week , major pandemics , migration , the food crisis ... it all leads us to the same conclusion : the major political issues of today are global and require a global political response .
in writing . - There are still too many unsafe products available on the market .
I therefore call for the controls to be strengthened and the penalties against this illegal fishing to be properly applied .
the fundamental components are on the table , therefore , and so the task of the EU is to drive things forward with energy and determination instead of degenerating into a disunited talking shop , which - unfortunately - we have been in recent years in the matter of Middle East policy .
it is obvious that European competitiveness would benefit from simplification , modernisation and harmonisation of the rules and procedures with regard to the import and export of goods .
that is the reason why I wished to make this explanation .
( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I congratulate you on this excellent proposal .
there are clearly certain points connected with some amendments on which I have voiced a contrary opinion .
I am voting in favour of the report , as the mobilisation of the fund by the Netherlands is fully justified and all the criteria have been met .
the text makes provision for an increase in the retirement age of European workers and for retirement ages to be linked to life expectancy .
( FI ) Mr President , I would like to pay tribute to Mr Mitchell 's speech , as of course , the primary human right for each girl and boy is the right to be born into this world .
given that the construction sector represents 10 % of gross domestic product in the EU and is currently experiencing a period of severe recession , all measures that can be taken to help boost construction are welcome and will have my vote .
it is true that the Schengen evaluation was on an intergovernmental basis to begin with , and that the Commission was there only in an observer capacity .
Member States will then have the choice between child seats and loop belts .
turning to the issue of migration you say that the European Union should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize .
as stressed in the report , concrete steps undertaken by the Commission to spread aid and information can at least serve these purposes .
I am pleased that we are able to welcome the progress of all three countries discussed here and I congratulate rapporteurs Ria Oomen-Ruijten , Zoran Thaler and Hannes Swoboda on a job well done .
finally , we need to authorise lower VAT rates to assist labour-intensive services .
3 .
I voted against the report on the demographic challenge and intergenerational solidarity for it contained unacceptable stances .
the next Commission should assess the transposition of the Posting Directive in Member States .
I endorse all the action taken by Mr Barroso in this direction , but I should like to add something : there is also the American method , the method of quantitative easing .
there will be others who will find it even more difficult to start their working lives or to find promotion to build up their pensions : all those aspects of what happens if you are not working for a period of time .
it is important that the European Union play its part here , and I think we are doing so , to ensure freedom of expression and freedom of practice for religious groups not only within the Union but also in applicant countries .
the second word is ' democracy ' .
indisputably every person who commits a criminal offence must accept that legal sanctions will be applied undiscriminatingly and Mr Zhovtis , as an outstanding human rights lawyer , knows this better than anybody .
( CS ) Mr President , I voted against the ban on cloning .
since the Lisbon Strategy , education and training policies have been becoming increasingly important within the European Union . I therefore welcome this report in general and , very especially , the Commission communication ' Key competences for a changing world ' .
this fact can be interpreted in a positive light if we think in terms of European citizens exercising their democratic right to have access to information , but also in a negative light if we examine the content of these complaints .
for these reasons , there is no option but to reject this report .
please answer this question for me .
if Europe is serious about giving its car industries the means to meet the CO2 targets we have set and if , on the other hand , we want to keep people in their jobs , which is a problem for our continent right now , then we need to implement a coordinated strategy for providing aid to this sector .
the aim is obviously not to develop a framework that is so onerous to implement that it makes these activities unprofitable , but to ensure that they are carried out safely , particularly at a time when the earth 's resources are diminishing .
a country that wishes to guarantee healthcare for all must be able to plan for care in this way .
this so-called compromise will in effect not bring about any changes likely to improve the degree of protection afforded to persons living in those Member States that have the least acceptable immigration policies .
I am sure that the feeling of urgency with regard to the conclusion of a Treaty , in order to inspire us to win other battles , will be felt in Lisbon and that when we return here for the next Plenary , we shall be bringing you glad tidings , bringing you good news .
which Greek NGOs have taken part - or are taking part - in the current programme , either independently or on a transnational basis ?
unlike some members from the Conservative Party , I fully accept these facts and voted in support of Mr Florenz 's report " Scientific Facts of Climate Change : findings and Recommendations for Decision Making " .
in all our discussions and negotiations we focused primarily on the consumer .
the flag is not intended to be an icon , but to be used in our everyday lives to strengthen the unity for which we are known .
of course , I am prepared to clarify some issues , which were raised in the aftermath of this tragedy , and I will share with you my understanding of the situation .
I am not one of those who are constantly worshipping the Commission , but it was the right thing for the Commission to do in 2008 to draw up an accurate inventory , after the euro had been in existence for 10 years .
the first is simple : what is the legal status of this definition ?
why ?
Mr Speroni will now present the amendment . thank you .
the operation of gambling and betting is not the same as other economic activities , as some in this House believe .
we know about this from the media and from various inquiries .
we need to talk about the removal of non-tariff as well as tariff barriers , particularly with respect to banking , insurance and legal services .
Article 31 of the Russian Constitution , however , guarantees the freedom of assembly .
the EIB is a solid institution .
dialogue and negotiations are the only way out of this crisis .
in addition , after everything that has happened in Egypt and Tunisia , only yesterday , the Italian Foreign Minister visited Damascus in Syria and called it ' a democratic country that completely satisfies its citizens ' need for modernisation ' .
as Parliament has said before , the structural causes of the crisis need to be tackled .
I think it is very strange that the Commission cannot come up with one single woman who is competent for one of these authorities .
author . - Mr President , let me first emphasise the utter hypocrisy of the right-wing groups in this Parliament which condemned the Venezuelan government for the temporary withdrawal of broadcasting facilities for Radio Caracas Television ( RCTV ) and pretend to be champions of the freedom of the press .
I hope for the broadest possible support from Parliament for this report , as it would make our primary supervisory function , in particular , so much easier .
although the interinstitutional agreements do not alter the enactment of primary law , in this case , they clarify relations between EU institutions .
protection of these rights , too , is very important to me , and we do need an appropriate instrument to do this .
I also want to thank the European Commission for also having persisted with this issue , by presenting a revised text which is fundamental given that it uses an instrument that is already available , namely the capacity of local authorities to promote exemplary public procurement , particularly in an area such as clean road transport vehicles , which are now vital .
in writing . - I voted to change the rules on vaccination against bluetongue disease in order to allow the use of more effective vaccines and to reduce red tape for farmers .
it is a poor agreement .
I wanted to thank you for your interest as witnessed , firstly , by the two visits the European Parliament has made there and , secondly , in November 2007 , when you again received parliamentarians from the Wolesi Jirga in Brussels , which was an important sign for them .
whether it be about economic policy , Schengen reforms , asylum or enlargement , this is what we must build on .
but if you say that if there is no dialogue then you will introduce legislation anyway , where is the incentive for both sides to sit down ?
the upshot is that the pursuit of freedom , which was an important justification for the invasion , has been sacrificed in the process .
Commissioner , we therefore expect the Commission to shortly present its proposals on other labour categories .
this makes it difficult to achieve a compromise in which the wishes of the majority in Parliament have a chance of being accurately represented .
it is rates like those that would enable Member States under pressure to overcome the crisis and to return to the path of financial stability .
I must emphasise that the European Union should focus more attention on the management of its peripheral borders where there are conflict zones .
we need to know whether this Commission will have a vision , ambition and determination .
there have been doubts expressed that the Commission intends to let nuclear energy count towards the renewables target .
I find it absolutely outrageous that in the 21st century in the European Parliament there are still disagreements about something as natural as equal treatment of people .
I think it is also fair to say that all Member States recognise the need for a European-level approach and that we need more action at European level if we really want to succeed in the age of globalisation .
( ES ) Mr President , President-in-Office of the Council , President of the Commission , the spokesperson for my Group , Mr Daul , said that the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats is satisfied , and this is because we have got out of an impasse , but we are not happy .
( the oral amendment was accepted )
as we all know , it determines a great deal of the climate on our planet .
the European Union 's current strategy is unworthy of the ambitions declared by the leaders of environmental diplomacy .
however , we will also need to discuss what we want our revenue policy to look like in future .
it has peoples and nations , but it is also the focus of global climate change , with all its threats , challenges and opportunities .
it was not clear whether it was to be or not to be . my political group and I were numbered amongst those who wanted this directive and we still do .
and in this particular case , Commissioner , we are talking about an institution which was established by the aforementioned State .
one group not mentioned here are male and female convents , missionaries who either do voluntary work around the world or organise and promote such work .
( DE ) Madam President , the control of foodstuffs is a utopian fantasy .
the Piau and Meca Medina cases were the first Court judgments to apply EC competition rules to the sector .
with regard to taxation , I believe that in order to be developed to market levels , efficiency , saving energy and renewable energy not only need specific taxation measures , but also tax incentives in the form of the appropriate deductions or exemptions .
the real key here is the banning of offspring .
thank you .
the latest statistics are frightening .
the stabilisation and association process is a strategic framework developed by the European Union for its policies towards the Western Balkans .
the recognition and supervision of suspended sentences , alternative sanctions and conditional sentences , the subject of Mrs Esteves ' report , is certainly another step among the many that must be taken to implement the principle of mutual recognition and enforcement of court judgments .
surely this is unacceptable .
I urge the Commission to take action in this matter .
therefore , we should parallel having mobile border guards by having asylum expert teams , who could be deployed at short notice to deal with large influxes of would-be migrants , and making sure that they individually assess any potential claims .
( DE ) Mr President , a revision of the European Works Council Directive has been due since 1999 . this has resulted in a recast procedure - too little for a rapidly changing industrial landscape .
if you achieve this , may God reward you , and if not , may He hold you to account .
these solutions are all very beneficial for the consumer , particularly at a time when foreign travel has become so widespread and , as a result , consumers are increasingly exposed to the unfair practices of some operators .
virtual oil is , however , being sold on the derivatives markets for six times more than physical oil .
well , in Parliament , we do have a tendency to take the Commission to task , but I think that we are setting the Commission an impossible brief , because all Community law and all application of Community law is based on indirect application .
the level of paperwork and the complexity of the detail needed is creating a huge burden on farmers and increasing fears of penalties .
we envisage setting own resources at 15 % and subsidies at 85 % in the new Regulation .
( it ) Madam President , I mostly support the amendments proposed through this text , which in any case essentially does nothing more than codify previous legislation regarding the maximum permitted levels of radioactive contamination of foodstuffs and animal feedingstuffs .
human rights are once again at the mercy of economic or military control , as evidenced by the ' war on terror ' of the Bush administration .
in order to prevent a crime , or a new crime , being committed against a protected person , the executing state is now given a legal base for recognising a decision previously adopted in another Member State .
in writing . - ( RO ) Information and communications technologies ( ICT ) offer in every Member State a means of increasing energy efficiency and provide new applications and technologies for improving the use of natural resources and for transforming industrial production and processes into an eco-efficient economy .
the debate is closed .
under the original proposal , non-EU workers would get equal treatment with EU nationals as regards pay and dismissal , health and safety at work and the right to join trade unions .
the result is a huge disparity in agricultural subsidies between the new and the old Member States , and these disparities will persist after 2013 .
for us in the Socialist Group the key messages - and there are some very positive points here - are that we need good food-labelling regulation and we want to see front-of-pack labelling , if possible using colour coding , included in the forthcoming discussions .
as the Hungarians say , it is better to be frightened than to take fright .
if I did not know better , I would think perhaps there was a plot afoot here to stop the Anglo-Saxons going on doing all of their business .
the other fact is , frankly , habit on Thursday afternoons .
let us work with Russia on a sensible energy policy using new technologies .
they sink - the scales and the bones are clogging the sea beds , suffering - as the UK 's national poet puts it - a sea change into something rich and strange .
finally , Parliament cannot jeopardise the necessary conditions for giving all the Member States sound working conditions , on an equal footing .
the report also draws particular attention to the need for specific social protection for minority communities , and especially the Roma community .
for example , only eight students from GCC countries came to Europe last year as part of the Erasmus Mundus programme .
a regional approach is suggested - why not ?
in the 1990s Sweden experienced exactly the same economic crisis that we are experiencing now throughout Europe and the world .
( DE ) Mr President , extending the Schengen area to include nine new Member States is an historic step which completes the enlargement of the European Union and dismantles those borders where once the Iron Curtain separated our nations .
together we have been able to achieve a great deal .
I voted in favour of this motion for a resolution on rising food prices .
they are the guarantee of effectiveness , competiveness and growth .
from this point of view , I also recommend - as Mrs Neyts-Uyttebroeck did - reading a biography of the Countess of Ségur , in particular the one by Mrs Strich , published by the excellent Bartillat , and you will see the true importance which should be placed on a word which you said twice , if I heard you correctly : ' interdependence ' .
Vice-President Barrot is also ready to meet the Committee on Civil Liberties delegation while in Washington .
the one oasis of optimism , in my view , is in the region of Somaliland , which was formerly a British Protectorate .
the report urges the Commission to bring forward a legislative proposal to ensure implementation of an affordable , expedient and accessible Europe-wide collective redress system by May 2011 , which I advocate .
special provision is made in the Commission 's communication for children within the European Union 's external actions , and a consistent approach is recommended in order to advance the rights of the child and to improve the situation of children around the world .
I also wish to raise another point relating to security , which is extremely important and continues to hamper the smooth flow of global maritime traffic .
normalisation of relations with Cyprus is another important issue .
if an active substance is not approved for use in plant reduction products in the EU , the maximum residue level for this substance is set at the level of detection .
finally , our third amendment : ' expresses its solidarity with the demonstrators who demand democratic reforms and improved living conditions ; welcomes in this context President Saleh 's announcement that he will step down in 2013 and calls on the authorities to stop violence against peaceful protestors and to release all demonstrators who express their dissent peacefully ' .
resumption of the session
moreover , as a number of speakers have already mentioned , forty people were killed yesterday at the gates of the Indian Embassy in Kabul .
'Territorial cooperation ' is one of the pillars of the EU 's cohesion policy , which aims to remove the physical , administrative and regulatory obstacles and reduce the ' border effect ' between territories and regions , with a view to promoting a harmonious development that enables them to address their shared challenges together .
the proposed amendments are in line with this principle of solidarity , so I support them .
it wishes to establish close cooperation so that our three institutions can really offer each other mutual support .
a geostrategic element in this respect is enlargement and the previous enlargements , including the latest , of 2007 , have proved the unquestionable advantages of this process .
it is only by making a joint effort that we will be able to address the social and health consequences of dementia and provide services and support for people suffering from neurodegenerative diseases , as well as for their families .
on the other hand , we do not believe that it is the job of the EU to take decisions on equality policy , which have a far-reaching impact on the public finances of the Member States .
but in general we do not and should not need to ask for more time .
we also dealt with it in the opinion that we gave as the Committee on Culture and Education .
the Commission must start to monitor worldwide human rights violations in detail and , at the same time , must propose instruments through which Europe can enforce compliance , in case of need .
I was completely appalled when I read the comments , but unfortunately I am not particularly surprised .
this indicates that not only speeding , but the quality of road infrastructure and , in particular , vehicle safety can be responsible for road accidents as well .
following negotiations with the Council , the directive has been improved , especially on the following points :
that is exactly what they do , and nothing could be rewarded less in the prices currently being achieved at market .
( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , President-in-Office of the Council , ladies and gentlemen , the failure of the fifth MDG affects us all , in that it epitomises our failure to move forward with the emancipation of women all over the world .
I am also disappointed with the Commission for not being firmer in defending its own position - do not forget that it is your own position that we are defending now .
as yet there has been no ex ante agreement or policy dialogue , and until this happens , I agree with placing EUR 40 million in reserve for the CFSP .
let me try to touch on a number of points that have been raised , first of all with regard to the question concerning recreational fisheries .
we must express the hope that today 's debate will initiate true commitment on the part of the European Parliament to building a counter-terrorism strategy , and not just the token commitment we have seen hitherto ; this must be a strategy which truly aims to promote safety for all our citizens .
however , the report assumes that the problems can , to a certain extent , be solved by providing protection against competition from the outside world .
this report lays down rules which are firmer and clearer in different ways than the ones that were recommended by the Commission , although we did not receive everything that we needed .
I also welcome the agreement signed at the start of this month by FRONTEX and the Georgian border police , which marks an important step towards ensuring border security and combating illegal immigration .
I would be happy to see the British queen getting less ; in Hungary too there are a great many large-scale holdings at present .
I would like to add , since the rapporteur voiced hopes of government changes in Europe , that I can hardly imagine - if such a change were to take place in Great Britain - that a Conservative government would have different views to those of Prime Minister Brown 's government .
the role of the Commission is set out in Article 45 of the Official Control on Food and Feed Regulation ( EC ) No 882 / 2004 .
in writing . - ( SV ) As someone in favour of the European Union I usually see the added value of European legislation .
I am the rapporteur on the same subject in the European Economic Area Joint Parliamentary Committee , and we fully endorse Mr Medina Ortega 's conclusions .
the European Union believes that the United States should accordingly take steps to close Guantánamo as soon as possible .
one of the most tangible results of negotiations on climate change in Cancún was the agreement on a Green Climate Fund , with unprecedented financing in the order of USD 100 billion .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
the debate saw frequent mention and frequent criticism of the Commission over the issue of the Progress programme and its use within the framework of this new instrument .
what can we do to change this situation ?
the Council also stated that better management of biodegradable waste would contribute to more sustainable management of our resources , increase land protection , help combat climate change and , in particular , enable targets for diverting waste from landfill , recycling and renewable energy to be met .
it shows there is little interest on the part of EU leaders in developing the social dimension .
forests provide livelihoods for millions of workers , entrepreneurs and 16 million forest owners .
industry accounts for 60 million jobs plus two extra jobs in related services for each job in industry , that is to say , 180 million jobs in total .
the consultation that resulted in the proposal and the work within the Council have shown that there was hardly any support for extending the scope of the directive to unfair business-to-business commercial practices .
the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus responded positively to the Eastern Partnership Initiative and expressed interest in becoming involved in it .
in writing . - ( PT ) I voted in favour of the European Parliament 's joint resolution on the preparation of the EU-India Summit because I feel that it is essential to adapt our strategic partnership with India , adopted in 2004 , to the new challenges that the EU and India are facing , such as the food crisis , the energy crisis and climate change .
cooperation with the largest developing countries is essential if Europe is to achieve the climate goals it has set itself .
apart from this , we are all looking forward to welcoming Croatia to this House .
otherwise , many thanks - to the Commission , too - for these negotiations !
in any case , we will continue to conduct it with determination so as to protect all human rights , each and every one .
this development makes it even more urgent to promote a mechanism of real participation .
people must not be blocked from the Internet without having their case heard by a court .
( ES ) I too , of course , am delighted about the happy ending to the Alakrana case , but I fear that unfortunately it may not be the last such case .
however , this policy is a responsibility that is incumbent on the European Union as a whole .
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this runs contrary to efforts being put in place by the Government of Afghanistan with the support of the international community , and also runs contrary to the wishes of 80 % of the Afghan people - the opium industry feeds the Taliban insurgency .
let us keep secret only what must be kept secret - military infrastructure facilities .
the Competitiveness Council thus provided for the authorisation of enhanced cooperation in March 2011 .
while Russian-EU relations have steadily improved in recent years , the parties involved continue to maintain a certain reserve and distance .
in writing . - ( DE ) Since the Treaty of Lisbon the Commission has had the exclusive power to negotiate and conclude bilateral investment agreements with third countries .
we must continue to resolve institutional issues .
to go forward with Europe and also to say what you have to say in the European Council , that you know so well - as I do .
a warm welcome to the European Parliament !
most importantly , a multilateral dimension should be developed and synergies created between the bilateral and multilateral dimensions of this partnership , including the revitalisation of the Union for the Mediterranean ( UFM ) and the strengthening of the role of trade unions among the civilian population .
we in Europe should focus above all on diversification , on representing our common interests and on solidarity in the event of crises .
it is very important for Croatia to face its responsibilities in terms of the war , and to allow the refugees to return .
in short , this report must be given very serious consideration in the short term , and perhaps also in the medium term , when it comes to any future policies on Iraq , especially budgetary policies .
it will also be successful if it realises that the major environmental challenges of our time , especially those relating to energy and climate change , can actually create economic opportunities too , and that these opportunities must be grasped .
in my opinion , two things are important in this debate .
this study modelled the impact of financial integration , of which MiFID is the cornerstone , in terms of its impact on the then EU-15 .
thank you , Mr Barroso , for your very clear words this morning .
( SK ) Why should the European Union have to put up with the consequences of American policies ?
the extension of the withdrawal period from 10 to 14 days has been mentioned .
if the actions which have led to an offence being committed fall under the jurisdiction of two or more Member States , the criminal proceedings must be conducted under the most suitable jurisdiction , with it being essential to create a common , uniform framework for choosing this jurisdiction in an objective , transparent manner .
all of this shows the urgent need for a European immigration and asylum policy , and I welcome the work done by the current President of the Council with responsibility for this field , my friend Brice Hortefeux , the French Minister for Immigration , Integration , National Identity and Mutually-Supportive Development , who has just chaired the European ministerial conference on the right of asylum on 8 and 9 September 2008 in Paris .
neither do I imagine that , in the name of religious freedom , we should be forced to deny what is , for us , an important and sacred symbol , irrespective of whether it be a cross , a Star of David or a crescent moon .
five times more employment created in the euro area since the euro has been in existence than in the decade prior to the existence of the euro .
may I nonetheless voice a point of criticism : on a decision of such gravity , the fact that the Schengen Information System is functioning properly is by no means enough .
on the other hand , however , the EU fleet is also a significant element of the European economy .
I strongly support measures to protect those who work in the cultural industries by protecting intellectual property .
the arguments stressing the new possibilities were accompanied by fears of an organisational and political nature , especially on the part of representatives of the Member States .
through more neoliberalism and austerity .
that is the only real requirement .
victims of violence can benefit from protection measures against their aggressors in their respective Member States .
'Simplification of intra-Community transfers of defence equipment ' is not a neutral process .
that is equality .
once again we can see that the foundations of Russian democracy are very weak .
I appreciate that the directive will accomplish its objective : diminishing uncertainty concerning the circulation of this type of product throughout the Community while retaining national decision-making in the matter .
but it is true - and I fully agree - that the relationship between regulation and markets will change because of this crisis .
our intention , I repeat , is not to limit the rights of Member States but merely to try to achieve harmonisation that can serve only to provide EU citizens with faster and more robust responses .
in addition , as shadow rapporteur for my political group for the opinion of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs on the report ' A Single Market for Europeans ' , I tabled an amendment which requested that Member States still applying restrictions on their labour markets to workers from the new Member States lift these barriers for the sake of the obvious economic benefits , especially during an economic crisis .
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at present , Member States are still fairly divided on this issue .
lastly , this week we have the very first World Diabetes Day - the UN has supported this , as have Member States , the Council and the Parliament .
I also call on you , Mr President-in-Office of the Council , to ensure that relations with Ukraine are also very quickly resumed .
thank you very much , Mr Parish .
another key to helping our young people secure opportunities is to allow flexibility in labour markets so that people can learn on the job .
only naive politicians in contemporary Europe can believe that Russia no longer carries out such blackmail and provocations , even though it is led by KGB officer Putin .
subsequently , the introduction of a common European system for comparing fingerprints should be considered .
it is a very important mission , but it is a mission that has to be connected to all the other things we are doing in that region .
it operates with complete independence .
they have helped establish a strong Bulgarian position , which has its worthy place in the debate on Mr Dess 's report .
that was the moment , Mr Barroso , to come with proposals that would have made it possible to reassure European savers on the deposit guarantee , on how we were going to manage these difficult situations .
the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic , Religious and Linguistic Minorities , adopted by the UN General Assembly on 18 December 1992 , is equally binding on developing and developed countries , including EU Member States .
in view of the rapid increase in pre-registration figures in recent weeks - up to 100 000 pre-registrations on a single day at times - the agency has taken additional technical measures and expanded its capacity .
certainly , the opinion of the European Data Protection Supervisors is that safeguards under the new agreement have been considerably weakened in comparison to previous agreements and that the new agreement leaves open serious questions and shortcomings .
regrettably , there is no social consensus on this in these countries .
as I said , the Swedish application relates to a total of 4 687 redundancies at the car manufacturer Volvo and 23 of its suppliers and downstream producers .
further simplification and clarification of the rules governing cohesion policy will undeniably have a positive impact on the pace of programme implementation , particularly by providing national , regional and local authorities with clearer and less bureaucratic rules that will allow more flexibility in order to adapt the programmes to the new challenges .
a question was asked about European shipbuilding .
with regard to the issue of education , it is particularly important to take effective action , first and foremost , to combat factors which contribute to children prematurely dropping out of the education system , as well as improving the level of vocational training .
I hope , and I am confident , that we can move ahead in a positive way , and I greatly welcome that .
its objectives are clear and include , as could only be expected , ' help ' in ' reform ' processes leading to the creation of institutions and a ' Rule of Law ' in the EU 's own image and according to the EU 's ambitions , namely through the establishing of a ' market economy ' , i.e. , a capitalist one .
this report had my full backing as it goes some way to encouraging the emergence of a European democracy based on parties with a properly clarified legal status and legal personality .
therefore , we do have to name the countries concerned .
that is what matters .
it is of great significance for Member States and the sporting world in general that the EU will in future be able to substantially contribute to and promote European policy on sport .
legislation should be based on typical case scenarios and not on exceptions .
even with the expenditure that we are going to approve on Thursday , this will continue to be a budget that skirts around the crisis .
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Mr President , it is my belief that much progress has undeniably been made with the Commission 's proposal , the Council 's position and what is now on the table - which will be put to the vote tomorrow - if they are examined objectively .
the additional measures listed in the report are necessary in order to turn a demographic development into a ' win-win ' situation .
when the Treaty of Lisbon , into which the rights of the child have been incorporated , comes into force , will the Commission have more clout in this area ?
I suggest we do not sweep these points of criticism under the carpet when we adopt the resolution tomorrow .
in our foreign policy we view anti-terrorism as being particularly important .
this poor guy will be skinned in the courts by his wife for not paying the contributions .
in writing . - ( DE ) I wish to give the following explanation of vote on behalf of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany ( CDU ) MEPs from Baden-Württemberg .
nor did it get into the G20 conclusions , other than as the penultimate point in the penultimate point , which talked about examples of other critical challenges , mentioning climate change as No 2 .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
for the future , it will be important to ensure coherence between the CFR and the Consumer Rights Directive .
the EU approach in all trade negotiations is certainly not to decrease the EU level of protection .
let me touch on two sensitive points .
any criticism by the European Parliament is limited to procedural questions and to the fact that European citizens are not being afforded the protection which they are allegedly afforded under EU legislation .
Vice-President designate of the Commission . - Mr President , I will just pick up , if I may , a few key points which were raised by honourable Members .
the debate that the European Parliament is about to have in the context of its own initiative report will also be a step in the right direction .
the same criteria that were set out in the visa regime liberalisation action plans should be applied to all the countries concerned .
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in view of the informal Council meeting that was held on 11 February , I would like to ask what commitment the Council , the Commission and all the European institutions want to make in order to strengthen the commitment to the social pact that was mentioned in the speech by the rotating President of the Union for the next six months , the Spanish Prime Minister , José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero ?
( DE ) Madam President , as shadow rapporteur for the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats , I would like to congratulate Mr Lagendijk on his excellent text .
the anniversary today of the collapse of Lehman Brothers is a timely reminder of the parlous state of the European economy and especially that of the UK .
Mr President , yesterday we voted on the permanent stability mechanism and we flunked it .
secondly , donor countries absolutely have to stop imposing innumerable conditions on aid and staking a lot on measurable results .
deforestation has now become a major issue at international negotiations , on both climate change and biodiversity .
because this means that you will have a tax on investments ; cross-border , you will have a tax on investments in countries where you have less capital than in others .
are you going to ensure that the minutes are made public and that conflicts of interest are avoided ?
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everyone has at some time in their lives eaten something that was ' off ' .
nevertheless , as part of Parliament 's negotiating committee I stand in favour of this compromise , as we need this directive now .
the Commission 's new proposals are divorcing aid from production and transferring direct aid resources for farmers to the second pillar , to the benefit mainly of businessmen .
the resolution voted on today sets out a series of measures to reduce the current dependency on a very few ratings sources .
in addition , there are no mechanisms in place for monitoring the measures adopted .
I think the free market is over , and it has left behind a crisis of unforeseeable consequences for humankind .
I come from a country which in recent history suffered famine , where the population today should be over 20 million .
furthermore , at a time of dramatic crisis resulting from the financial collapse , it is impossible to imagine that , in addition to our own unemployed , we will have the problem of the unemployed from outside the EU who will , by force of circumstance , pose a problem to civil order and the security of our peoples .
the existing moratorium on whaling has already produced good results in terms of increasing cetacean populations , although many key countries have not ratified it , meaning that whaling still goes on .
we can come back to that , however .
and what is the impact of specific distribution models ?
Madam President , Commissioner Kovǎcs , thank you for your answers .
we welcome the intention of the Government to declare a cessation of hostilities when negotiations commence in Libya on 27 October , yet the Government needs to go further .
the two most awkward issues for the treaty are the emission reduction targets of different countries and how the industrialised countries will contribute to the financing of investments in climate mitigation in the developing countries .
it is time to take into account the European reality , multilingualism , and the coexistence of cultures in all Commission decisions .
on behalf of the PPE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to thank Commissioner Dalli for focusing on the patients first .
we will be ignoring the work being done by our Member States at the United Nations and taking a different approach which is likely to encourage certain countries to exploit religious issues in their international relations .
indeed , in 2010 , it is reported that the number of cases of domestic violence is increasing .
I have a lot of sympathy for that .
the crisis generated by the issue of the Roma and the extremist manifestations in Italy must not create a dangerous precedent for the fundamental principles of the European Union regarding the freedom of goods , services , capital and persons .
however , there was one warning we overlooked .
so far , the indicators and the degree of compliance with the criteria of the Maastricht Treaty , now the Treaty of Lisbon , indicate that this target is possible .
the Commission is aware that , even though the efficiency of animal cloning has improved in recent years , adverse health affects on animal health and welfare still occur today .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Mr President , my Group and I welcome this opportunity to debate the issues and problems which Europe faces in the area of migration and the Schengen system .
as I have said and wish to repeat , the strategy on multilingualism adopted in 2008 is aimed at all the languages spoken in the European Union .
to date , the convention has been ratified by 13 Member States of the European Union .
they would be paid - through a regional compensation fund - a token amount , say about EUR 50 a tonne , which would not be enough to encourage targeting these fish and creating the black market that Ms Fraga Estévez fears , but would be too much to throw them , dead , back into the water .
those vaccines may lead to undesired circulation of the vaccine virus in unvaccinated animals .
the EEAS restricts the ethnocratic sovereign rights of the Member States even further , by allocating responsibilities to the EU in almost all the policy sectors of a state .
a new wave of legal immigration , with all the associated ' family reunifications ' , would only mean an exponential increase in the particularly serious problems of integration and assimilation .
I assume that there is a misunderstanding between the shadow rapporteur of that group and Mr Cocilovo .
I agree with the report 's assessment of the Green Paper and with its analysis of the concept of territorial cohesion , and I endorse its recommendations for the future of territorial cohesion , particularly with regard to :
a coup d 'état in Africa and more precisely in Mauritania can come as no surprise .
I would therefore like to call for a discussion , preceded by a thorough analysis , on how to reduce the devastating effects of a nuclear accident on the regions and people where it occurs .
these services can break the poverty chain and offer a positive alternative way of socialisation under the guidance of specialist staff .
as Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development I have already , and repeatedly , expressed my commitment in this area , in Berlin at the end of January for example , with my counterparts in the various countries involved in the G20 , but also recently , within the United Nations , with the Secretary-General , Ban Ki-moon , during a recent visit to New York .
this means that the cost of goods for the European population will fall , and that exporters will be able to charge prices for goods supplied from third countries more efficiently .
I believe that the Swedish example of the unilateral introduction of a kind of financial transaction tax in the 1980s , which resulted in the majority of trade in shares , bonds and options moving to London , should be taken into consideration so that we do not make the same mistake at European level .
what we particularly need is , on the one hand , suitably effective external protection with regard to imports within the European Union , but also , increasingly , on the other hand , harmonisation within the European Union , because that is also in the interests of consumers who , after a certain point , can get rather lost if different conditions apply to importing into country A than to importing into country B .
the European social partners have the enormous challenge of convincing those companies that still refuse to comply with the directive .
as far as the compromise text applying to EMAS is concerned , it will enable even higher visibility for organisations joining the system voluntarily , thereby increasing its attractiveness .
it has a lot of potential .
I voted in favour of this resolution because it is important for we MEPs to exercise our parliamentary control over decisions to impose sanctions against persons associated with al-Qaeda and the Taliban , as well as persons who threaten the rule of law in Zimbabwe and Somalia .
the mention made of the crimes of Saddam Hussein 's regime would be acceptable if sincere and if this were not done while ignoring the current crimes and their perpetrators which have resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and millions of displaced persons .
it has strong support from the public and from NGOs and Unions across Europe .
three successive packages of legislation have already been issued , public resources have been spent , and yet we still do not have competitive markets , investment in infrastructure or more accessible energy for consumers .
it is we three who need to reach an agreement ; let us not start dreaming about rallying I know not how many countries around a programme .
we are calling very clearly for the European Commission to make the Solidarity Fund available quickly in order to help the most affected people .
my question is : will it be a ' first come , first served ' procedure or do the Member States , and therefore Romania 's SMEs , have the opportunity to obtain similar financing ?
this requires clarification because 15 % of Europe 's citizens are indigenous or immigration minorities , which also includes 12 million Roma .
it is not just volcanoes that put it out of service ; it may actually be grounded on other occasions too .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , a reliable and sustainable protein supply is really essential for the EU livestock sector .
essentially , the Commission has no genuine plan of action in response to the growing crisis .
firstly , do we need more legislation to improve the safety of the offshore industry ?
one of the honourable Members does not seem to agree , but I think you have to take into account that quite a lot of the present increases in food prices stem from the high oil prices .
that is why education and training courses must meet both current and future market needs .
I should also like to welcome most warmly the President of the European Commission , José Manuel Durão Barroso .
we raised the issue of the need to take action regarding stock lending , the lending and borrowing of shares , long ago , as this was being misused in hedge fund campaigns against companies .
we must therefore act to reduce this , but the cost of these measures must not only be paid by goods and passenger transport operators .
your remarks on the nuclear front , Baroness Ashton , were very clear and also very forthright : Iran continues to produce enriched uranium despite warnings from the international community .
that is the only way to get the Kremlin to listen .
in my opinion , this strategy will not have an impact on the future allocation of structural funds for other regions .
an exchange of information on minor offences between countries in future was really not what we were after .
that concludes the vote .
this crisis does not remain static .
he deserves more than the culpable neglect to which he is condemned by the inconsistent indignation of some of my fellow Members .
however , what we actually need to strive for - particularly given how strongly we applauded Mr Havel 's speech - and what we actually need to achieve is to agree that we need strong men and women to be appointed to the top political positions in the European Union and that individual interests , including the interests of the countries that are actually opposed to stronger integration , should take a step back .
the Commission can accept the following amendments : 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 12 , 14 , 16 , 17 , 25 , 31 , 39 , 41 , 43 , 44 .
the prosecution rests .
I cannot see where the link is .
I feel I cannot end this speech without touching on two subjects which I believe are absolutely decisive for the future of the Union .
wage inequality has also remained stable since 2003 , and has only changed by 1 % since 2000 .
one point also concerns prevention .
one of the most obvious roles of European policy is to protect the life , health and fundamental freedoms of European Union citizens .
secondly , I believe that it is absolutely necessary for the international community 's money to benefit the Afghans .
the unforeseen massive rise in gas and oil prices is forcing us to decide on the scope we should give to developing atomic energy and other sources .
which brings me to the last point in my comments .
we agree that follow-up action must be taken regularly , not only because of the discharge procedure , but also because of the conditions laid down in the founding Treaty and their importance .
they want an election before the opposition is out of prison and Mr Ahsan , President of the Supreme Court Bar Association , is released from house arrest .
those who should be arrested , tried and sentenced for war crimes are Bill Clinton , Tony Blair , Javier Solana ( the former NATO Secretary General ) and the other leaders of the countries that attacked Yugoslavia .
both are not ends in themselves but must be conducted bravely with the aim that the people of Israel and Palestine can live in real security , in peace and with respect for their dignity .
they need trade , but our policy counteracts the establishment of healthy markets for agricultural products in developing countries .
the European Union has always been concerned with the free movement of people and goods .
what is an Authorised Economic Operator ?
the impression has been given in this Chamber that the motor industry is the only European sector able to make use of this credit facility from the European Investment Bank .
they obviously have a short memory , they who , in the 20th century , bankrupted every economy in their hands .
I will now set out the main elements of the draft conclusions .
the cost of regulation falls on the consumer and , in this case , the old-age pensioner .
I do , however , believe that representative actions can also play an important role in the effective implementation of competition law and the improvement of consumer protection , and thus we must also devote attention to this , both at the Estonian and European Union levels .
the new inactivated vaccines enable the risk of infection to be excluded , so that this vaccine can also be successfully used in areas where the disease has not yet occurred .
there is no contradiction .
I would like to give a small example that shows that things are not nearly as customer-friendly on Italian trains as Mr Rack described earlier , saying that much had already improved .
on the other hand , culture has of course a dual nature .
enforcement measures to correct excessive macroeconomic imbalances in euro area (
9 .
what are its conclusions ?
to achieve this and to have the institutions working properly , we do need ratification of the Lisbon Treaty if we want a strong , coherent and effective European Union .
as a representative of farmers , I am absolutely opposed to money being taken away from agriculture .
firstly , on the annual accounts , the Court of Auditors has issued a positive Statement of Assurance .
the national supervisory authorities will remain responsible for supervising the use of credit ratings by these individual entities .
that is how we probably will see the medium-term future .
at this point , I should like , if I may , to make a more general comment : we all recently witnessed terrorist action , with parcel bombs being sent from Greece to embassies in various cities in the European Union and from Yemen to various Member States .
of course , the screen unfortunately did not work for a while either , but that was an electronic error , not a human one .
this is in addition to ECHO 's humanitarian aid to assist neighbouring countries and the Burmese refugees in the region .
I also think that no amount of quotas for the employment of women will solve the situation .
this means knowing whether a Member State is acting in good faith , whether it is providing reliable information to the European institutions , and so on .
SMEs are of key significance for maintaining our competitiveness , for recovery from the crisis , for creating new jobs and for increasing innovativeness in the European economy .
automatic exchange of information between the Member States would be mandatory for directors ' fees , dividends , capital gains , royalties and life assurance products not covered by other EU legal instruments relating to the exchange of information and similar measures and the resultant pensions , property ownership and revenue .
this is the amendment that we are tabling .
if we are serious about fundamental CAP reform then an end to set-aside payments has to be at the forefront of any reform procedure .
the EU needs a broader innovation strategy .
intergovernmental solutions will not , in the long run , lead us anywhere .
there are two questions : what can the region do to redress the situation , and how can the EU contribute to a peaceful settlement ?
if the Commission is not speaking clearly - and evidently its words are not understood clearly - I would like to say that it will have a formidable ally in Parliament if it does want to speak clearly .
with regard to these three issues : the Commission is working on three studies regarding the efficiency of body scanners , their effect on health , and on their compatibility with people 's human rights and fundamental freedoms .
it is regrettable that the quotas for sugar exports have not been kept at 3 000 tonnes for the Azores , that the exemption granted to Réunion for milk production has not been considered for the other French overseas departments , and that the safeguards concerning the sustainability of the results achieved by the Réunion milk producers have not been upheld by the Commission .
Keynes and Dexter White led their experts for a significant period of time , despite it being wartime , in order to produce a workable blueprint .
Mrs Kristiina Ojuland , who organised a seminar a few weeks ago on the rule of law in Russia , was visited by a representative from the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry saying : ' do not push for this ' and ' do not push for a resolution in the European Parliament on the rule of law in Russia ' .
the alarming growth in numbers of cancer sufferers among local populations is a direct result of reckless extraction .
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everyone here in this room knows that such societal processes take their time .
furthermore , the provision that certain information concerning compound feed can be transferred from the competent authorities to the purchasers on grounds of urgency improves the appropriate information to the user in cases such as feed contamination incidents .
at the same time , however , we must not interpret this report as meaning that the EU 's borders are going to be closed .
the EU should not allow this kind of treatment ; when it comes to human rights , the EU should be a model .
framework Agreement on a Multilateral Nuclear Environmental Programme in the Russian Federation ( vote )
this matter needs to be investigated .
asylum is not a concession : asylum is a duty for states and a right for those fleeing war .
Parliament pointed out at an early stage that these funds could not be adequate because challenges that could already be foreseen had not been taken into account .
on the other hand , in the chapter on buildings , this House neglects to take a clear stance on the monthly travelling circus to Strasbourg that costs approximately EUR 200 million per year .
thank you once again , Mr Graefe zu Baringdorf .
I would like to return to the constantly repeated proposal concerning the necessity for all the countries of the European Union to speak with one voice when engaging in dialogue with Russia .
more engagement will be needed .
this is a long-awaited measure , though it is not a question of stigmatising farmers but of creating transparency in finance , which concerns us all as taxpayers and consumers , and over which we have a right of information .
on the one hand , the lack of rules opens the door to many cases of inhumane practices involving immigrants .
sometimes , however , for democracy 's sake , one has to be able to cross the lines a little .
the Member of the Commission is , I am sure , personally committed to the issue , but when I was listening to your official reply in which you said that the Roadmap had been adopted , and that there was commitment to it , afterwards one might naturally have expected to hear an account of what had actually happened .
after completing the hearings of Commissioners-designate , I know there are many people among them who are superbly qualified , but , unfortunately , we also know that among them are people with no experience at all , and who performed awfully during the hearings .
I voted in favour of the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund in favour of Slovakia , Hungary , the Czech Republic , Croatia and Romania following the severe flooding that affected these countries in May and June 2010 .
I do not have the solution , but I think this is a very pertinent question , on which we should all cooperate in order to provide a suitable response .
our credibility and our ability to be an effective partner depend on this .
Mr President , in the northern part of European Cyprus , on the Kyrenia mountain range , there is a mammoth one-kilometre-long Turkish flag , not an EU flag , to be seen .
many of the various methodologies identified referred to research projects financed by the Commission : unit , ExternE , and other more recent projects .
however , I should remind you that European rules must be the same for all Member States and cannot be changed during the game as this would amount to discrimination against Romanian citizens .
the intention is to maintain these kinds of agri-environmental measures , which take account of the specific nature of certain regions , and the area you are talking about is affected by erosion and it is possible certain shrubs will start fires there .
that is why the rapporteur himself raises some questions about the voluntary implementation of the codes and rules , arguing that they should be compulsory .
could I just suggest that , when you do have some information on some of the indicators , you might supply it to Mr Higgins .
it is not a problem you can hide behind , saying ' well , we need to assess this ' and ' we need to assess that ' , or whatever .
concerning the observations made by Mrs Lefrançois and Mr Lax , the Council can only apologise for the delay , but we all recognise the efforts made by the Commission , the personal pledge from Vice-President Barrot to get things back on track and the strict measures imposed on the contractor .
we must now show that we mean business and we need to have a clear message for the President of Eritrea .
the draft directive on the single permit for third-country nationals was rejected in plenary : that is a strong signal on the part of Parliament because the issue was a crucial one .
I will talk about the most important matters , starting with Mr Daul .
out of respect for freedom , peace and for what our citizens suffered , I simply request , if these gentlemen wish to be respectable and respected by myself , that they no longer accept the salary of an MEP , paid for by Europe .
I would like to congratulate Mrs Meissner on this positive report .
I do hope you will consider this again .
so far we already include observers for instance from Switzerland , Canada and Norway .
they will then become a constituent part of both the directives that are now in the process of being adopted .
the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum , which was adopted by the European Council in September of last year , confirms the Union 's commitments to the global approach to migration .
secondly , only EU support for political stability and democratisation processes in this region , and also the peaceful resolution of conflicts between neighbours , can provide the opportunity for rapid economic development in these countries and a genuine cut in the enormous unemployment and poverty rates .
( PL ) Mr President , the European Commission has proposed common agricultural policy spending limits for the various Member States up to 2013 and beyond .
when it comes to visas from third countries with a visa requirement , it is essential for each individual case to be examined .
despite a number of policy documents adopted at EU level on gender equality and women 's rights , the practical commitment to this issue is still weak and the budgetary resources earmarked specifically for gender issues are insufficient .
we are helping to build a healthy , harmonious society .
among other questions , that of the Ahmadis has also been raised .
however , they are not really hearing anything new anyway .
it is essential that the day-to-day business of insurance and reinsurance companies is actually watched , managed and monitored by regulators over a period of time .
atrocities have been committed in Côte d 'Ivoire , including cases of sexual violence , enforced disappearances , extrajudicial executions and the excessive and indiscriminate use of force against civilians , which amount to crimes against humanity .
instead , the Commission over-reached itself with an unnecessary article awarding itself the right to reallocate fishing quotas .
I agree with that .
I am looking at this issue from the point of view of the previous regulation and its enforcement aimed at protecting the environment , the seas and associated coasts .
however , the worst aspect of the report is the call , in paragraph 22 , to give European associations and European civil society organisations a shared legal basis at EU level .
it is time to change this , and to make EU law banning all discrimination a reality at last .
rest assured that , as far as the Commission and your Commissioner responsible for freedom , security and justice are concerned , I shall personally see to it that , at each and every level , we are truly vigilant in ensuring that European law is applied .
I have not known that in the past : all groups actually combining to show that they are in favour of a stronger transatlantic partnership .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , Mrs Lynne , your work and your commitment on this key dossier have been remarkable .
this is precisely my point .
( EL ) Mr President , Commissioner , if we are to address the problem of our energy security in a reliable and viable manner , we need a global strategy which responds to the need to differentiate energy sources and adopt common rules in terms of transit countries , because our dependence on a single energy source is as bad as our dependence on a single transit country .
already during this new parliamentary term , this Parliament has demonstrated that it takes democratic control and codetermination seriously , and I very much welcome that .
once again , the citizens will not understand why they are being called on to do so , or what purpose this Parliament serves . once again , therefore , the turnout at the elections will be low .
Mr President , tonight 's debate on an EU strategy to support Member States in reducing alcohol-related harm should be wholeheartedly welcomed .
in the 2006 elections the slogan of the Swedish Social Democrats was ' Everyone is included ' , and it becomes even more relevant in this debate , since the parties and groups we are discussing have programmes which do not respect the EU 's fundamental values and the equal value of all human beings .
I think that the matter of the other large countries , the developing large economies such as China and India , has also been dealt with and debated ; of course , an effective solution to climate change requires the participation of these countries , for instance through measures to reduce the rate of increase in carbon dioxide emissions , always in accordance with the United Nations principle of common but differentiated responsibilities .
Member of the Commission . - ( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would first of all like to thank the Committee on Development and its rapporteur , Mrs Martens , for this report which makes a first assessment of the Africa-EU Strategic Partnership one year after the Lisbon Summit .
finally , with regard to the removal of the wreck , I should like to inform Parliament that salvage operations are under way , sea conditions currently allowing them to be carried out safely .
all these issues should be included in the CAP after 2013 and should be taken into account when it is reformed .
I have voted in favour of this report , as we must stop the decline in farming by every means available to us .
I hope that the European Commission will accept Parliament 's recommendations and will find a way within the scope of quality policy in the next semester to resolve these long-standing issues .
I am thinking , here , principally of a common system for the management of copyright and serious treatment of orphan works , and also of reducing the burden on small and medium-sized enterprises .
also , how are we to ensure transparency in the management of development aid ?
as far as I know , European laws already have mechanisms in place to prevent similar accidents occurring in the Union because they are more stringent and more demanding than the equivalent American laws .
we have seen and we have heard of 15 000 minors in prisons , we have heard of hundreds of arrests on dubious charges , we are aware that the Kurdish problem is still continuing and above all the Armenian problem , the ageold problem that is absolutely still alive to this day .
we therefore need to start by naming the terrorist organisation that we are faced with , and at the moment , the fundamental future risk facing the European Union is a jihadist terrorist organisation , which is not a phenomenon but rather an organisation that has already overcome the fear of carrying out attacks on our continent .
I believe that it is not possible to do without these preconditions , as otherwise we would end up with Parliament rejecting bilateral agreements which , by definition , cannot be amended and which , in the absence of a partnership , would make the vote a mere formality .
an interregional approach requires effective coordination to bring the different structures in the different countries into line .
not even the European Central Bank is able to assess the full extent of the damage this crisis has caused to the European financial system and to European banks .
explanations of vote
I could give you a list of the products imported , but I have only one minute so I cannot do so on this occasion .
the vote will take place tomorrow .
our task , therefore , is to ensure integration , and that is what we are committed to doing .
the recent financial crisis reinforced the need for us to look at the moral issues relating to managing financial institutions in a more responsible way .
I believe that it is appropriate for us to firmly request the Ugandan authorities to guarantee respect for fundamental rights , conduct a fair investigation into this case and prevent other such crimes .
Mr President , I believe it is up to the G20 to show in the coming years that the globalisation process is not only economic but also , indeed primarily , political .
through the sharing of literature , film , music and heritage , doors of understanding are opened and bridges between people are built .
I want to draw the European Commission 's attention to the fact that , as a result of the social costs , the considerable rise in unemployment and swingeing budget cuts , these countries ' capacities to provide cofinancing for projects with European funding is also diminished .
I should like to give an example from a recent report by a decentralised agency on financial management in 2007 .
in fact in the whole of the northern part of Cyprus , there is a plethora of Turkish flags present , not EU flags .
we have achieved results , albeit only partial results , but on the basis of these initiatives , a special fund of EUR 300 million has been made available to deal with the emergency .
the project thus clearly became an EU project .
information and Communication Technologies ( ICTs ) play a part in a prosperous and competitive economy , and help to cement a more environmentally friendly , democratic , open and inclusive society .
it is about taxpayers ' money .
however , if red tape is cut and such companies move around Europe and then produce a case such as the Laval case , that strikes a blow against confidence in the European Union .
that is the reason .
the fact that this is a bottom-up programme , directly adapted to the needs of research-performing enterprises that participate in it , is a very positive aspect .
firstly , on the Baltic Sea strategy : the Commission is working on this strategy , and I have the pleasure of chairing the inter-service work on this strategy .
resistance in Iran is extremely difficult and fraught with the risk of death .
I also think that alongside concern for quality of service , the public authorities are responsible for ensuring Internet access for the poorest people and for those who live even in the most isolated regions of the country .
voting time
I am therefore sure that this , along with the Commission 's programme of work , a major programme of work that has always been a fundamental instrument for guiding this strategy , is going to mean that this aspect is included in the document which the Commission has promised us for 3 March on the 2020 strategy ( which has been mentioned by President Van Rompuy and the President of the Commission , José Manuel Barroso ) .
it is the most important supplier of weapons to Hezbollah .
( RO ) I would first of all like to welcome the idea of a substantial debate on the subject of cohesion .
however , in a dialogue there are at least two parties involved and we represent one of them .
all areas of society were subjected to fundamental change .
Mr President , with your permission , I just want to make a point regarding time-keeping because far too often here in this House , too many people are going way over their time - and they are allowed to do so .
organ transplantation is now the most cost-effective treatment for end-stage renal failure .
can you tell us when the Commission will finally face up to its responsibilities on this point ?
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( GA ) Mr President , the Union 's leaders are to be congratulated for reaching agreement on the new EU Treaty .
perhaps some of us also need to remove the blinkers from our eyes .
the additional money for energy and research and also for decommissioning the Kozloduy nuclear power plant in Bulgaria are positive aspects , but what I take issue with are the broad lines of the EU budget .
so we are imposing them : we are monitoring them and we are imposing them and will continue to do so .
in his first official speech , the President of the Council , Mr Van Rompuy , also said that the treaty was a powerful tool with which we can face the challenges of our times .
so there comes a point when this must stop .
I will leave you to reflect on this while listening to the Council .
we will work closely with the Hungarian authorities to make sure that the agreed changes are now adopted into Hungarian law and applied in practice .
we must undertake a closer examination of the reasons why Member States restrict online gambling services .
my own country , Scotland , is rich in renewable energy sources such as wind and tidal power .
I agree that further steps should be taken to ensure adequate implementation of the Services and Professional Qualifications directives .
Mr Barroso , it is right that we must regulate the financial markets and put safety nets in place .
we also need to do something about the bail situation , not least by implementing the framework decision on supervision orders .
however , it is important for us to make sure that all people are in a position to make these choices .
which parties have failed to agree to it ?
it is not just a question of normal post-Christmas depression ; we all know that it goes much deeper than that .
when I come to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 23 March , we will have an opportunity for in-depth exchanges in the presence of all the relevant committees .
the Commission is already considering the next stage : a public consultation was launched on 5 November 2010 to broaden this debate and to collect the points of view of all the parties concerned , and , as you know , there is nothing artificial about the debates regarding all these regulations .
Europe must give itself the means to achieve specific major objectives .
our primary effort has been to ensure that these priorities not only represent the Czech point of view , but also reflect the continuity of developments in the EU , and the positions and ideas of individual Member States and political tendencies .
this is because each country has its own specific economic structure and national expenditure policy .
the agreement also provides for seamen 's wages to be fixed by negotiation between the shipowners and the fishermen or their representatives , and accepts the ' principle of the country of origin ' , which introduces an aspect of deep and unfair inequality .
this indicates that my country had a suitable vision and will make a significant contribution to implementing the defence system .
this is why I hope that the Swedish Presidency will begin to establish an agreement with the most vulnerable countries in order to think logically and bring about what has been lacking until now , namely a robust , balanced , sound and rigorous common policy on immigration .
the agreement on the limits is due , among other things , to the negotiating skills of the Belgian Presidency .
therefore , all institutional actors - at European , national , regional and local level - must be called on , as well as civil society , to implement this strategy .
I also believe that the Council meeting at the end of the month will be an important opportunity to reaffirm the need to revive the idea of Europe beyond Lisbon and to revive the economy , as well as to ensure that Europe does not back down over the major issue of climate change .
we have taken note of the blueprint drawn up by the Government of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia .
women meeting in Katowice on 8 March 2007 proclaimed that ' gender policy is not promoted by the local authorities or the media - either publicly or privately - despite the fact that Poland joined the EU almost 4 years ago . '
I welcome the Agency 's initiative to include Key Performance Indicators in its 2010 unit plans .
I think what we have been through in the first few weeks shows that we chose our priorities correctly and that we were well prepared .
the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left will be voting against this report .
we might say that Pakistan 's particular problem is the misuse of the law on blasphemy with regard to religious minorities .
the amount concerned is EUR 828 million , 17 % more than even the year before .
( NL ) Mr President , in this time of crisis we should not lose sight of the fact that , over the past ten years , the euro has brought us a great deal of prosperity and stability , as well as many jobs .
the question and the concern are both legitimate .
the solution to the problem is simple - effective action should be taken to inform the citizens of their rights .
I voted against the resolution proposed in plenary as I consider it essential that claims for children between six and 12 months are able to be made and to be validated scientifically by the European Food Safety Authority ( EFSA ) .
in writing . - According to Article 37 ( 1 ) of the Financial Regulation , the Commission may present draft amending budgets if there are ' unavoidable , exceptional or unforeseen circumstances ' .
what is more , in future , the customs services in those countries that are signatories to the agreement will seemingly be given permission to search telephones , laptop computers and personal stereos on the pretext of combating piracy , in line with the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication ( SWIFT ) Agreement , which was meant to combat terrorism .
proximity and necessity controls - or subsidiarity and proportionality to use EU jargon - should be considered by the national parliaments , first in connection with the annual programme and then subsequently when the Commission submits the various legislative proposals .
coordinating and leveraging synergies in this growing sector may be crucial to the EU 's economic development .
they will already be meeting four times this year .
we must play a fair game within the world .
these activities represent 40 % of GDP and jobs within the European Union , and are an essential sector in terms of economic growth and combating unemployment .
Mr President , we have before us what is essentially a very short and succinct regulation .
the directive has applied to new facilities since May 2008 .
thank you for my extra time .
nevertheless , I believe that this is a significant agreement and that it should be welcomed because it is important that each country feels it is being represented in the Commission .
( EL ) Baroness Ashton , I was delighted to observe your sober stance , informed by respect for a country with the history and pride of Iran .
over the years we have seen a huge increase in the number of these products , and the most recent estimates indicate that about one and a half million medicines are sold illegally in Europe , particularly via the Internet .
if we were to amend this regulation , we would need two or three years without any control and compliance system , so we are going to implement this regulation .
therefore , while we are aware of the different competencies of the European Union and the Member States , it is important for the EU to do all it can in terms of guidelines , but also in terms of directives , which we are gradually tackling and drafting , together with resolutions and regulations .
the EU must simply follow Parliament 's lead and come forward with at least EUR 30 billion .
we have paid particular attention to the protection of workers who handle spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste , compliance with the ALARA ( as low as reasonably achievable ) principle which is established in practice , the need for education and training as well as the need for the development of scientific and technological skills .
the word ' thrombin ' and the phrase ' reconstituted meat ' have seemingly been clearly shown .
the intentions are good ; let us only hope that they are not cast aside in the face of the huge financial interests at stake .
what can be said about the content ?
( LT ) Madam President , the review of the European Neighbourhood Policy is one of our most important tasks .
the recommendation , the analysis of the Court of Auditors about the efficiency of EU policy has , in the last few years , been painfully disquieting .
the call for the establishment of a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East is obviously aimed at Israel .
for this reason , I would like to congratulate both the rapporteur and the Commission , as well as Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner and the Swedish Presidency , for finally consigning this delay to the past .
( DE ) Mr President , with regard to the thorough preparations for the energy summit and the political priority areas : Mr Reul , what then is your view of the fact that , in a major interview today in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in Germany , Mr Oettinger warned the European Union against setting too ambitious renewable energy targets ?
( RO ) I welcome the declaration from the Council and the Commission and agree that Lukashenko 's authoritarian regime must be monitored closely .
the employment rate among women ( 58.6 % ) continues to be lower than that of men ( 70.7 % ) , even though the majority of students and university graduates are women .
whereas the people of Europe were told the Union - on the grounds that it enhanced trade links - strengthened agriculture ties and promoted equality , the machinations of an increasing bureaucratic global Europe see the focus on farming and regional development decrease in favour of an unwanted ambitious global strategy , including increased emigration to countries like the UK .
in particular , we should send a team of observers to the next elections .
while it may be that no binding agreement comes out of Copenhagen , I think there is no doubt that there is a momentum for change , and we have to make sure that this momentum is not lost .
European institutions must not be shy at such times .
regarding the new agreement with Morocco , we in the Commission believe that it is modest and balanced .
on the one hand , it creates the framework for establishing the 2010 budget with the goal of enabling the European Union to function as smoothly as possible and to implement policy in the way that we want it to be implemented , while guaranteeing a controlled increase in payments , particularly in the times that our Member States are currently facing .
I made clear that I had invited the Members concerned for discussions because , despite my calls for order in plenary , they continued , by means of their heckling , their attempts to prevent speakers from addressing Parliament .
it affects sufficiency , it affects equity and it causes market distortions with really major amounts of money .
many of my constituents have mentioned this issue .
those observers shall take part in the proceedings of Parliament pending the entry into force of the Treaty of Accession , and shall have the right to speak in committees and political groups .
I have not seen anyone on any side of the debate saying disproportionate use has not happened .
where there is no dispute is that the accumulation of gases such as CO2 is certainly making climatic change worse , much worse , and even at this late stage , when the catastrophic effects of climate change have commenced , the world is awakening slowly , perhaps too slowly , to the urgent need to do something about it .
it is clear that everyone must take on their share of the responsibility .
in order to share best practice and to see how other countries are coping with similar problems , cooperation at EU level is essential .
we now learn from this shock that we need to adopt a different dialogue strategy with the citizens .
as regards the oil sands issues and your concerns in relation to this negotiation , for the Fuels Quality Directive to fall within the scope of CETA 's regulatory cooperation provisions , both parties would need to agree .
Madam President , the decision that we are going to take tomorrow to approve the granting of almost EUR 700 000 from the Globalisation Fund to 675 Maltese workers who lost their jobs with the companies VF and Bortex in Malta is a display of solidarity , and solidarity is a main pillar of the European Union .
it helps you to recognise a mistake when you commit it again .
what message , Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , can I pass on to Greek farmers who have converted or wish to convert their crops to produce first-generation biofuels following the restructuring of the CMO in sugar ?
we must be extremely clear about what we are dealing with and what the European dimension will be , strictly in relation to the EU institutions , so that we will not find ourselves on a slippery , or indeed counterproductive , slope .
if I had to answer the question of what creativity is , I know at least one answer , which the Finnish composer Sibelius is said to have given : he thought creativity was pain .
is the Commission able to do anything about this ?
how can we think of forcing countries with a weak economy to use it ?
the application of gender mainstreaming would mean that every piece of legislation is accompanied by a preliminary gender-specific impact study .
the main issue we have in mind is addressing the confidence of EU depositors for the long term .
surely this is something we need to discuss .
regulation ( EC ) No 1049 / 2001 will then apply to all institutions , bodies , agencies and offices of the European Union , albeit to a limited extent for the Court of Justice , the European Central Bank and the European Investment Bank .
and the truth is that we have , in the Treaty of Lisbon , if we truly wish to apply it , the instruments that we need to guarantee coordination and consistency , with no need for political or ideological divisions on this issue .
animals and food of animal origin could play a role in the transfer of antimicrobial resistance to people .
I am thinking of the Blair House Agreement , which sacrificed European farming to feed the appetites of the US agrifood multinationals .
it would be good if the Council could say to us after the summit : we are aware of the gaps and the mistakes , we know where we have failed and we understand the limits of the treaty .
the Single Market requires two things , as I see it : one , a greater awareness amongst the public and particularly SMEs as regards its potential and two , we need to unlock the barriers to its progress .
for the sake of clarity , the agreement provides that PNR data may be processed on a case-by-case basis where this is required by court order , for example in a case where the processing should be carried out in order to verify that the PNR data are being processed in accordance with Australian human rights law .
the legal proposals are acceptable , but they need to be implemented so that we can close the case .
Croatia 's path to accession of the European Union has progressed significantly ; progress has been noted particularly in attaining the benchmarks set in the negotiating chapters .
yesterday we worked on the subject of safety of pedestrians and cyclists . earlier today we discussed the transport of dangerous goods , and now we are discussing the safety of roads .
but , these objections aside , Liberals and Democrats are pleased to show support for this Union for the Mediterranean , with one important caveat : pragmatic cooperation on economic issues must not be a substitute for promoting peace in the Middle East through the common foreign and security policy envisaged in the Lisbon Treaty .
we have to have a common approach but with specific national responses , because that is the reality we are facing in European and will face in the near future .
the stock is currently stable at a good level , which means the TAC for 2011 is almost unchanged .
there is true growth potential there ; for example , developing strategic marinas in each country .
the biggest challenge the EU is currently facing is the dramatic rise in unemployment .
it is also important to encourage dialogue between the political , military or humanitarian bodies active in the same working environment , along with the creation of a European rapid reaction capacity , namely , a European civil protection force .
however , this process of overcoming problems is achieved through having the political will to break the ties with people who served in the former Yugoslav Communist secret services , infiltrated and engaged in acts of provocation in Macedonia 's political and economic , media and social life , just as happened , of course , in other Eastern European countries .
it will be built on the basis of the current MIC - the monitoring and information centre - and also on the basis of the emergency teams of humanitarian assistance that existed in ECHO .
what is the Commission up to in that secret kitchen ?
4 .
I would like to thank the rapporteur for the extensive effort he has made in preparing this very complex technical document , as statistical matters are usually of little interest to the general public and hold little attraction for them .
the point about openness and free trade and transparency is that you face that and actually deal with it appropriately .
therefore , on behalf of the PPE Group , I request a separate vote on recital F. This accuses the Philippines of showing all the signs of a non-functional legal system .
there are some responsibilities , of course .
1 .
and yet , two weeks ago , Messrs Barroso and Socrates left the summit early , having secured Europe 's economic interests , leaving officials to negotiate the conclusions - conclusions which , unsurprisingly , made little mention of human rights , supported the lifting of the arms embargo and opposed Taiwan 's bid to join the United Nations .
Member States themselves have agreed that they will adopt fiscal planning horizons of at least three years to include all levels of government and government funds in their budget processes and ensure that information on , for example , contingent liabilities is disclosed .
the majority in Parliament rejected the prioritising of ecological sustainability and voted in favour of an amendment stating that our policy towards countries outside the EU should be governed by the interests of European fisheries .
paradoxically , the European Union has not yet introduced in all its Member States as undeniably important a topic as oncology .
there is a good deal more work to do on this in your country , too .
however , at the same time , Mr Duff has said that the social dimension of the Constitutional Treaty - my apologies , you call it the Reform Treaty - must be the focal point .
the third pillar has to do with a common immigration policy .
I do not want to conclude without mentioning with satisfactory coverage of women 's rights within this report . !
as for the financial turbulence , I would remind Parliament that in February 2008 the Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány proposed a single European supervisory authority and a single supervisory rule book , in view of the crisis in the international financial markets .
it is quite clear what the common thread is between Soviet socialism and National Socialism .
we do not need to be ashamed of a text that introduces new safeguards .
it is important to emphasise that our strategy must be based on multiple elements and initiatives .
the next item is the vote .
SMEs also play a crucial role in overcoming the crisis .
the main objective is to increase competition , which will result in greater choice , lower prices and better quality for end customers .
access to information , including the Internet , remains limited .
climate phenomena , speculation and price volatility have been impacting negatively on farmers ' capacity .
they go against the free movement of persons and plunge the citizens of those countries into a vicious circle that encourages them to apply for short-stay visas and , once they have obtained them , not to return to their countries for fear of not being able to obtain another visa .
that responsibility is essential .
citizens can see the results of growth without any social face which , instead of creating permanent jobs , aims to further concentrate wealth and power into the hands of a few .
it goes without saying that in their actions , our institutions and Member States will respect multilingualism and cultural diversity .
the ground rules have changed and the Belgian Presidency is the first to have grasped that that is the case .
although we share the rapporteur 's desire to improve equality between women and men in Europe , we do not feel that interference with the sovereignty of the Member States through demands for so-called gender budgeting , by urging the Member States not to cut social benefits and by imposing quotas through legislation is the right way to go .
well-functioning practical cooperation is fundamental to us being able to achieve this .
in that case , Poland will have a permanent Advocate-General and no longer take part in the rotation system , while the existing rotation system will involve the rotation of five Advocates-General instead of the current three .
one final point remains : the matter of the service concessions , on which opinions differed greatly within the committee .
they all talk of urgency and invariably call for the implementation of promises made in the past .
I travel extensively throughout the Member States at all times .
I support bringing forward the dates for stepping up the type-approval requirements .
the world has watched in amazement , both at the immense flow of gas and oil from the ruptured pipe following the explosion and disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and at the seeming inability of both the industry and the US authorities to stem the flow ; we must hope that recent developments will prove successful .
let us reject this amendment .
in terms of commitments , the level to be voted is EUR 141.8 billion , corresponding to 1.13 % of GNI , with , I think , major priorities of Parliament taken on board relating to youth , small and medium-sized enterprises and research in headings 1a and 3b , and to Palestine in heading 4 .
this is mainly because , these days , the Lib-Lab-Con sit at Westminster and like to be told what to do , having given away control to the EU .
he is the first to have proposed a genuine partnership between these two institutions by means of a whole series of concrete measures .
it is a driving force that we need , someone who ensures that all our proposals take account of women 's rights , as this is so crucial .
thirdly : agriculture .
however , there are concerns about the increasing number of resistant bacteria .
to have a strong external policy , we need to equip the new head of European diplomacy with proper instruments to enable him or her to strengthen our foreign policy .
( DE ) Mr President , during the debate on the European Council here this morning there was an incident that I do not wish to go into again , because I was the target of an insult .
I am in favour of an approach where a trafficker who is arrested for a second or a third offence must receive a mandatory life sentence .
first , there is an apparent disinterest and unwillingness on the part of EU Members to address the area decisively .
these debates are only of any value if we look at matters of detail .
I have noted carefully what you have said .
for my part , I want no nuclear energy at all , but if it is President Sarkozy 's policy to conclude nuclear-energy contracts right , left and centre without any safeguards such as non-proliferation agreements , Europe 's foreign policy will become a proliferation factor instead of helping to stem the tide .
one of the lessons to be learnt from this disaster will have been , once again , the usefulness of the services of the Member States , of the municipalities , of the departments , of the regions , including the public services and the civil protection services , which have demonstrated their effectiveness .
the people in the streets , mainly students and pupils and the unemployed and underpaid , are voicing the crisis in a society which feels that it has no prospects .
in writing . - ( RO ) I voted in favour of setting up the European Asylum Support Office as , in the case of Member States whose national asylum system is under pressure , the Office can support the implementation of solidarity mechanisms intended to promote a better reallocation of beneficiaries of international protection from such Member States to others , while ensuring that asylum systems are not abused .
can the Commission demonstrate whether liberalisation has affected safety ?
I was asked by people who were replying to my speech what we could do to reform these global institutions .
we need to set priorities and not solve problems just by increasing budgets .
order of business
reaching agreement was no easy task .
appointment of a Member of the European Court of Auditors ( Mr Harald Wögerbauer - AT ) (
that is completely absurd , because this policy has run aground and we know that the US Administration has failed with this escalation , this unilateralism , and that it has cost many lives .
( PL ) Mr President , Mrs Uca 's report deals with the important issue of gender equality in development cooperation .
only about 38 % of the available energy is being used here ; over 60 % of energy is unused as lost heat and pumped into the environment .
as soon as an ever-increasing number of mass criminals are arrested and convicted , we will see a drop in the level of violence .
these measures will contribute to the development of a flexible , inclusive labour market and to a significant improvement in the positive impact generated by EU funding on the economy as a whole , but particularly on small and medium-sized businesses and on the labour market .
however , we are convinced that free trade is basically a force for good that benefits the development of Europe as a whole .
simplifying the cost eligibility criteria , increasing pre-financing from the European Regional Development Fund ( ERDF ) and the European Social Fund and speeding up the expenses for major projects are measures which , I hope , will help Member States to get out of the economic and financial crisis .
I would have preferred Kosovo to have been part of it , but at least we have ensured that there will be a start to visa dialogue with the objective of visa liberalisation .
Sects or political extremists may exploit this directive and the mass media will not be able to refuse them .
he is giving away apples outside so if any Members want to go and get one I am sure Mr Busk will be happy to give them an apple !
I would even like to say this : I do not think that we can boycott a quarter of humanity .
in writing . - The situation in Burma demands a unified and clear position from the EU .
rail transport has been mentioned .
it is a victory not only for consumers , but also for European exporting companies which are already subject to strict requirements .
what is lacking is a proper crisis-management mechanism that adds something new to the existing measures .
I mention this because we cannot speak of a new strategy for Afghanistan unless we open our eyes to the real facts .
our resolution on future enlargements must reflect the prevailing opinion in Europe .
consumption of meat in China , for example , is increasing rapidly .
in early December , I will go before your fellow Members from the Committee on Budgetary Control , which is also asking what the Commission is doing to ensure that public money is well spent .
from the Council 's point of view , Israel 's participation in the Community programme needs to be seen from the perspective of the upgrading of the Union 's bilateral relations with Israel , in which regard the Council sent a signal on 16 June at the 8th Association Council with Israel .
secondly , particularly in the case of cross-border mergers of funds , we are still seeing differences in the tax treatment of cross-border mergers and national mergers .
there is ample experience to prove this , because there have actually been good experiences in Europe as well .
I also support a distinction between fixed costs and variable costs , with the latter justified by a cost-benefit analysis .
we will not be able to speak with one firm voice - if fact we will instead show signs of weakness - if , at the next Summit to be held in Nice on 14 November , the European Union starts the negotiations with a view to concluding an agreement or partnership with Russia without that country fully complying with and respecting the agreements that it signed with the European Union on 12 August and 8 September .
these steps should be supported by the Commission and Council .
where are the carrots for those Member States that do well and the sticks for those Member States that do not ?
we will continue to monitor the situation , pending the examination of the decree by the Italian Parliament .
however , that really is not enough .
why ?
rather , it is part of the wider deliberations on how to come up with a global response to a global challenge .
I think the way this has been expressed in the paper , about the free movement of ideas and researchers being perhaps seen as ' the fifth freedom ' of the EU , is a beautiful way of expressing it , and I would like to see that developed .
phase one applies where the foreign ownership of airlines is limited to 25 % , as was the case when the negotiations on the agreement were completed .
we wanted the regulation to be adopted according to the codecision procedure , rather than the consultation procedure .
I do not believe that Woody Allen dictates to President Obama the line he should take .
we have an item with EUR 6.6 billion there , but administrative expenditure is also hidden away inside many other appropriations .
I would like to express my thanks and appreciation to the rapporteurs , Mr Jarzembowski , Mr Savary and Mr Sterckx .
what is required is better use of existing capacities .
we now continue with the debate on the Conclusions of the European Council meeting ( 28-29 October ) and economic governance .
this is not acceptable and , sadly , it gives a false image of the European Parliament .
in fact , lifelong learning must be much more accessible , with universities being much more open to accepting non-mainstream students .
we are grateful that this has gone through virtually unanimously in the Committee on Economic Affairs .
all European regions will be affected by those new challenges , but their impact will vary significantly across Europe , often resulting in losses of competitiveness , employment and social cohesion .
sanctions should therefore - as you pointed out - be part of an integrated , comprehensive approach to a country , which in parallel should include political dialogue , incentives , conditionality and other foreign policy instruments and , from that point of view , I am delighted that the report converges with the Council 's idea that all its instruments , including restrictive measures , should be deployed flexibly .
however , I am disappointed by the European Union 's failure to develop a more consistent and effective external policy towards some of its partners , so that it could contribute to bringing down the totalitarian regimes that still persist , like the one that was in power in Tunisia .
the things that the EU touches do not necessarily go ahead .
as a result of expected growth in unemployment , some relaxation may perhaps be expected within the labour market in the short term .
women must be granted equal opportunities , fair pay , equality on the employment ladder , equal access to education at all levels , access to health care and equality in family affairs .
I am voting for this report , given that the combined air space of the US and the EU represents 60 % of global air traffic , and current bilateral agreements between Member States and the US do not reflect reality .
you see , ladies and gentlemen , there are constant efforts in Europe to prevent a similar tragedy over here .
our particular focus is on education , as President Préval has requested , and we will also announce more budget support delivery .
if allocated properly , aid has the potential to help millions of people escape a hand-to-mouth existence .
however , if we want to provide the Taiwanese authorities and the countries of the region with structural help to cope with threats of this kind in the future , the European Union should support Taiwan 's admission as an observer to the World Meteorological Organisation and to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change .
still , if I wished , I could limit my intervention today to just saying that the Presidency is in full agreement with the motion for a resolution that has been put forward by Mr Albertini on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs .
in the countries in which referendums were promised , the Treaty is portrayed , as in the United Kingdom or in my home country , Austria , as just a minor detail , an extension of something .
even if both sides were partly right with regards to the need for a framework directive , I believe that the decision to adopt or reject the European framework will be a political one .
as these rules apply to around 70 % of airports , this very correctly avoids imposing legislation on smaller or regional airports where this risk does not exist .
thirdly , Mr Beazley raised the question of double standards .
I want to thank the Committee on Culture and Education , and particularly its chair , Doris Pack , for their constructive approach to the agreement .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , at the heart of the EU 's foreign policy on air transport lies the establishment of an open aviation area between the European Union and the United States of America .
to ensure effective multilateral efforts , they must be set within a well-developed vision of achieving a nuclear weapon-free world at the earliest date possible .
I must , of course , admit that , as always , the result falls short of our stated ambitions , ambitions that sometimes even seemed like they might be achieved .
on the contrary , they find all sorts of reasons and excuses for not discussing the problems of Russian democracy .
unfortunately , direct funding of research in this sector is developing in a very worrying direction .
in truth , they are closing down here so that they can go and exploit workers in South Korea ; that is the truth of the matter , Commissioner , and we should be told as much .
needless to say , I will be supporting the amendments by the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe , but as the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats is deliberately refusing to stand firm on this , it is delivering the future of the road haulage sector a fatal blow .
( NL ) I should like to start by saying that the good news in the proposal we are now discussing is that the 12-day rule for bus transport has been abolished .
we need to move on , and these sorts of daydreams , which the Council resolution largely consists of , should be abandoned .
I would also like to congratulate all of our colleagues , above all , the rapporteur and all our other fellow Members , for this successful review of the directive .
thirdly , funding .
but in order to prove that Georgia is definitely committed to a peaceful resolution of its conflict with the Russian Federation , we are today taking the unilateral initiative of declaring that Georgia will never use force to roll back the Russian occupation and to restore its control over the occupied areas .
it is a sheer waste of time to expand upon proposals for own resources and European taxes .
( BG ) My country has made great efforts to increase the excise tax over the recent years and the taxes rates for lead-free gasolene have grown from EUR 254 in 2004 to EUR 350 , while those for diesel fuel from EUR 203 to EUR 307 respectively .
why are all those boats heading our way ?
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I , too , would like to thank Mrs Oomen-Ruijten .
children 's safety has to be our paramount consideration and I hope that the toy industry will take heed .
developments on the US mortgage market have had major consequences for the entire global market over the last year .
it is unacceptable that the culprits should get away without being held accountable .
for me , I hope that you will vote in the spirit in which I have put before you what I am trying to do .
the Ombudsman 's Special Report regarding OLAF concerns the allegations made by the Office against a journalist who covered the story regarding its investigation into allegations made by Mr van Buitenen .
Mr Kallas , the buck does stop with you .
however , I would like to say something very clearly to the Commission : the sort of chaos we saw when determining who is actually negotiating here must not happen again .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( FR ) Madam President , Mr Vice-President of the Commission , the questions surrounding sovereign wealth funds have been perfectly summarised by Mrs Berès .
the idea that this is an attack on existing groups is nonsense .
a real internal market for renewable energies with clear rules must be introduced since , in a crisis , nothing will remain the same , and we must prepare for the new situation .
the EU should redouble its efforts to expedite that process in every way possible .
I think it unacceptable not to launch the Commission procedure straight away , by putting the names on the table .
importantly , these figures include premiums not only under Axis 1 but also other Axes .
why the huge success of the poverty elimination policies in China , Vietnam and Brazil ?
the Commission has been refusing to provide us with a working paper since November last year and in so doing , has obstructed the progress of the consultations about OLAF and its legal basis .
in the context of high food prices , the issue will be discussed also by Heads of State and Government during their meeting beginning tomorrow .
it sounds rather like a threat .
at the same time , in addition to external protection , the European Union is acquiring an international external protection agency , thereby enhancing its credibility towards third countries , from which it often demands respect for the European Convention on Human Rights within the framework of bilateral relations .
adapting the financial framework to the proposals in the report would not increase the flexibility of the Union , but would restrict it .
the content of the report on budgetary control of EU funds in Afghanistan once again shows that interventionism by the West in these regions has changed nothing .
indeed this could be seen as a way of influencing UN negotiations on the future of Western Sahara .
the ball is now in the court of those Member States that have yet to decide on our proposals .
currently in Europe , 17 % of the population , equivalent to around 85 million people , are living below the poverty line .
what this does , in fact , is pull together all the various strands .
some estimates say that women - and , indeed , men - are being trafficked at a rate as high in numbers as was comparable with the whole of the African slave trade in 350 years , but women are the main victims .
I do not see anything objectionable in this .
furthermore , the advantages brought by this type of aviation to economic and social wellbeing as a whole must also be acknowledged .
I believe that we have a duty to reach an agreement .
the case now before us in the European Parliament did not receive the same sort of attention : the stoning of Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow .
we shall , at any rate , keep a close watch on developments ; we shall not hesitate to take regulatory measures if the market remains unable to provide a solution to this problem .
this fact speaks for itself .
secondly , it is absolutely vital that we halt the considerable decline of protein crop production in the EU and that we reduce our already alarming dependency on imported plant proteins .
these new concessions are absurd , since they are concentrated in a sector - textiles - which is a dominant sector in Pakistan but which in Europe , on the other hand , has been destroyed precisely as a result of unfair competition from Asian countries .
in writing - ( GA ) Since 1990 , greenhouse gas emissions from EU international aviation have more than doubled and now account for 5 % - 12 % of the total EU CO2 emissions .
the proposal in front of you is a first step towards eliminating these inequalities within our Single Market .
most of the report concerns treatment , diagnosis , the acquisition of expertise and the creation of centres and networks .
unfortunately , in only one country - my own country , Ireland - will there be a referendum .
we must send out a clear message that the European Union is pursuing a unified foreign and security policy , and I would ask you once again to check that the Council presidency does indeed always act as the Council presidency and is not simply a separate rotating body from one Member State .
Europe must speak with one voice , demonstrating its consistency , and , as Baroness Ashton said in her statements , let us say that , at this stage , Iran 's candidacy is inconceivable .
I agree that it is important to regulate bonuses and tax havens .
so , my thanks again to the rapporteur and to Parliament for its engagement in this very important work .
the local food principle is important , and , consequently , at national level these matters can be examined more closely .
accurate indications and labelling must be sought , because these are the measures by which the added value of the European Union can be displayed for consumers .
the truth of the matter , and we should accept it , is that there have been forces such as these , fundamentalists and terrorists , in Afghanistan since the 14th century .
either France has given a purely formal commitment , which would mean that the Commission has not received an answer and has forgotten past history , or , alternatively , France has given a full answer , in which case we would like to know the details .
the consultation covered a broad range of issues , including maternity leave , parental leave , paternity leave , adoption leave and a new type of leave to care for dependent family members .
( PL ) Mr President , assuming that democratic systems , based on the rule of law , should be bound to publish provisions which are binding for their citizens , we should ensure that the activities of the institutions are transparent and open .
given the results of the referendum , the will of the people of South Sudan is now unequivocally in favour of independence , as has been repeatedly reiterated for many years now .
Madam President , at this time , it is important to consider carefully , and strike the right balance between , both the European Neighbourhood Policy factors .
Commissioner , I want to ask you a little bit more about financial education , which is the new buzzword .
the June List is of the opinion that the EU ought not to concern itself at all with matters relating to Member States ' social security and pension systems .
EMU protects the profits of the monopolies and facilitates privatisation and merger .
this may , however , cause huge congestion at the EU 's external borders , mainly at inland border-crossing points during holiday periods or on public holidays .
if we want to tackle climate change , we cannot ignore the motor sector .
I hope we shall be able to make use of those technologies .
this data shows that 66 % of the production sites in those 18 Member States were keeping laying hens with free range systems , 29 % with barn systems , 3.5 % with conventional cage systems and 1 % with enriched cages .
in writing . - ( FR ) On the basis of the report by my esteemed Spanish colleague , Mr García-Margallo y Marfil , I voted in favour of the proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation ( EC ) No 1798 / 2003 to combat tax evasion connected with intra-Community transactions .
Parliament is firmly committed to combating tax fraud and tax evasion and to strengthening the great EU principles of loyalty , transparency and fair competition .
even though adoption is an effective way of ensuring that children do not spend their lives in orphanages , it is essential that strict inspections are carried out , in particular , of international organisations , in order to prevent abuse .
key objectives for the Conference of the Parties to the CITES ( vote )
the Council 's conclusions from 2008 give the political priorities for the continued development of the Agency .
the most important one is to ensure that Parliament 's new powers are applied even during the transitional period and that the proposals that need to be tabled result in a new interinstitutional agreement in future and that a revised Financial Regulation must be viewed as a package so that we achieve a functional whole without overlaps and interpretation problems .
this fact may also be the reason that all the national social inclusion programmes have completely failed .
we have overlooked the fact that whilst chemical contamination can be reversed over time , biological contamination is often irreversible .
the main objective of the resolution adopted today is to remove the dependence on external credit ratings from the whole system , as far and as soon as is feasibly possible .
( DE ) Mr President , President-in-Office , ladies and gentlemen , the summit was a political success and sent out an important message , namely that the world is closing ranks and the political will is there to jointly find and apply global answers to crises and challenges .
the decision on the EUR 75 billion that we are taking to the G20 meeting in London also gives a clear signal that the EU is prepared to take its share of responsibility regarding the reform of global financial institutions .
we have stressed with the authorities the urgency of adopting the Civil Service Law .
this position should be based on the lessons drawn from its scrutiny of the implementation of our development cooperation .
I therefore voted in favour of the recommendations concerning the measures and initiatives to be taken following the financial , economic and social crisis as present in the Berès report .
we hope that the Hungarian Presidency will attach the proper importance to this matter .
furthermore , we were always in favour of allowing Member States to refuse patients in certain circumstances , for instance where there are serious waiting lists .
we have been successful not only during the last two and a half years of my term of office but also in the term of office of my predecessor , Josep Borrell Fontelles .
it is necessary , particularly when it comes to the financial sector , to put ethical issues at the centre ; not only from a moral viewpoint , but also and , above all , from a social viewpoint .
that is the only way it will be possible to create the necessary market confidence and , consequently , to secure investment as well as the purchase of applications and services .
we are positive that the authorities took rapid action to find and arrest those suspected of committing this awful crime , and a thorough investigation and bringing those responsible to justice will send a clear signal that violence based on religious influence is not acceptable in Egyptian society .
I hope that the directive is quickly transposed by the Member States so that it may be applied as soon as possible .
Europe is lacking unity , authoritativeness and transparency .
we have to recognise that for many families - for many individuals even - there are problems more complicated than simply low income .
in response to Mr El Khadraoui , I would say that it will certainly be possible to adjust the charges on an environmental basis .
Mr President , the integrated maritime policy is vital to the European Union .
firstly , in relation to an integrated maritime policy , we have already established a working group on such a policy , involving all the Mediterranean coastal states and regional conventions .
we call on the Commission and on the Council to submit this quickly for consideration by the European Parliament .
arresting the opposition is an even stronger signal .
as regards the press reports stating that Mr Barroso , the President of the Commission , wants to take an axe to rural development , I would state quite clearly that if the Commission cuts the programmes for rural development then it will be cutting off the lifeblood of rural areas .
in Russian , one would say : ' Kogda rak na gore svistnet ' , and in English : ' when pigs fly ' .
they really did a magnificent job .
Europe looks on passively .
the borders of the Soviet mentality were not abolished , and the Soviet Union still existed in the minds and the souls of the people .
for this reason , I have no hesitation in voting against the Garriga Polledo report .
I will now take a brief look at the individual headings .
effective enforcement of the Waste Shipments Regulation at EU level would encourage this sector , I believe , to invest and to create even more jobs in the future .
for this system to work , there should be controls that are equivalent to those that are currently in place in other areas , so as to ensure good communication between Member States and coherence between the issuing of long-stay visas , residence permits and Schengen Information System alerts .
there are still many things that must happen : the evaluation being carried out by the European Commissioner and her departments in the Commission , the Geneva talks , and the Donors ' Conference which will be held this week in Brussels , all of which are important in my view .
in contrast , much more attention should be paid to the traditional ties to Russia .
on behalf of the EFD Group . - Mr President , year after year over the last 16 years , the auditors have been refusing to clear 90 % or more of the budget , and this year is no exception .
as a shadow rapporteur I would like to note that a common approach was reached by the Council , the Commission and the Parliament .
protecting our coasts is an important issue which is also covered by integrated maritime policy .
under the new common agricultural policy , the generational change must therefore be regarded as one of the priorities .
we may actually have to fear , as regards economic questions in particular , that the airlines will soon face even bigger problems .
going forward as well , we also need to see a greater degree of understanding , a greater degree of flexibility .
medical staff must apply these criteria on a case-by-case basis , taking into account the patient 's state of health and the length of his stay .
they will bring fresh money for the Member States to get out of the crisis .
so we know what to do .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
these are the reasons for the delay .
that is the intention and this is a shared responsibility .
I should add that PNR may be useful in combating other kinds of serious crime that are nothing to do with the world of organised crime .
but as that great Englishman , Ken Dodd , once remarked , every cloud has a silver lining , plus VAT .
there are large numbers of them in Europe , which means that they create jobs and sustainability .
again , let me reiterate that I will join my efforts to Commissioner McCreevy 's report on financial services and I will keep the agenda of consumer protection , the citizens ' market , very close to the outcome .
the levying of a charge on heavy goods vehicles is a measure which penalises the outlying countries of the EU while , at the same time , providing additional revenue for the countries of central Europe .
I voted for this report because I believe that it is vitally important for us to establish trade links which comply with competition principles not only with Korea , but also with the other countries outside the EU .
this is the demand that must be met .
first of all , the rights of European workers to be informed and consulted .
the dramatically worsening situation on the market , where the quantity of fake medicines in legal circulation has recently risen sharply , requires a thorough tightening up of rules on monitoring , as well as sanctions .
earlier this evening , the Belgian Presidency said that mindless austerity is not inevitable , and yet that is what we are facing : mindless austerity , fiscal correction at whatever cost .
furthermore , the huge costs involved in building this gas pipeline would end up increasing the price of gas , a price which European consumers would be obliged to pay .
of course , these recommendations need to be transposed into single market directives so that they will be thoroughly implemented by the Member States .
that is the risk we are running and it is well identified in this proposal .
they represent barely 13 % of Members .
first of all these issues come back almost every week on the agenda of the European Commission .
for my Group , therefore , Article 7 was crucial to a resolution of the matter , in other words the article in which we are to return to the question of waste solidification .
electric vehicles contribute to achieving the ' Europe 2020 ' priorities of fostering innovation and knowledge ( smart growth ) , promoting a more resource-efficient and greener economy ( sustainable growth ) , and allowing the economy to grow by creating jobs ( inclusive growth ) .
2 .
first of all , Member States have a margin when they determine the volume reduction goals .
Madam President , I would like to thank all of the honourable Members for their contributions to this debate .
I hope the President of the Council will be here to report back to us from this summit , because he should be here today .
following the Barnier report in 2006 , the European Commission should submit legislative measures as soon as possible for the creation of a single , independent and permanent EU Civil Protection Force capable of carrying out rescue missions and ensuring an integrated approach to aid , rehabilitation and development .
a top-down EU approach is required to protect the information society sector .
I am also very grateful on behalf of my group for the statement made by Commissioner Piebalgs that he would support the finding of a compromise , though we have very many issues on which the Council has not touched and for which the Commission has reserved its position .
in my opinion , the pay-as-you-go system is the most economically sensible and sustainable system .
the second case involves young people in New York who have been told not to leave their hotel for at least a week , because they could be picked up at any moment .
( SK ) The Treaty of Lisbon entails new tasks and obligations for both the European Parliament and the European Commission .
we would like this matter to be debated in plenary so that we can decide what action to take in order to ensure that his death sentence is suspended and that Mumia Abu-Jamal is given the opportunity to prove his innocence in a fair trial .
in the first place , you will recall that in the beginning we were not very keen on talking about these Arab revolts , out of fear of Islam fundamentalism .
these changes contain two clear priorities : an increase in expenditure , to improve liquidity , and the simplification of the rules to allow projects to be approved more quickly .
that is the best way , the best pressure that you can put on those other countries that have to sign : formalise it , because they know that we want to go forward .
the main motivation of these migrants is purely economic .
keeping these same guidelines means perpetuating the concentration of wealth , maintaining divergence instead of convergence , and causing further damaging eruptions of a latent systemic crisis to occur sooner rather than later .
it is very important for European political parties that promote democracy in the Union to be awarded a common and uniform legal status .
however , we have negotiated a broad consensus because we believe the report should be given as much support as possible by this Chamber .
the ICT part of the sixth Framework Research Programme co-financed projects on e-accessible and assistive solutions .
therefore , a trader who has not fulfilled his reporting obligations in the Member State of departure will have to justify his shortcomings to the tax administration of the Member State where the VAT is due and not to the tax administration of his own Member State .
author . - Madam President , since being elected in 1999 , I have done my utmost to galvanise opposition from this Parliament to the massive catalogue of injustice that Mugabe and his henchmen have inflicted on the people of Zimbabwe .
the so-called rich countries are responding by creating their own ( mark II ) flag to combat the loss of freight .
this initiative will ensure that the Institutions continue to work on the issues closest to their citizens ' hearts , while encouraging cross-border debate on European issues .
extending the mandate for a guarantee for the European Investment Bank is very important , and I hope the conciliation procedure will achieve complete success .
indeed , the website of the Commission 's own anti-discrimination campaign is , like many others , registered only in English , and its homepage displays logos in that language only .
( FI ) Mr President , advertising is often a useful source of information for consumers and helps them to make sensible choices .
we are convinced that even with a strong euro , Europe will still be the world 's number one destination if Europe makes the best possible use of its advantages : its heritage , its beautiful natural environment , its geographical concentration of attractive sites and its reputation for a high level of service .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , I find this line of argument beyond belief .
I welcomed the announcement by the Commissioner last year on further liberalising the telecoms market .
from a legal and budgetary point of view this regulation is justified .
the turmoil in the financial markets continues and we urgently need to find a solution to the debt crisis in several countries .
in any case I have made the necessary preparations for possible deployment of an EU election observation mission to Pakistan should the conditions noticeably change for the better quickly .
we need to determine whether so-called soft law does represent an effective instrument in the context of the Community .
do you know that , right now in Europe , there are 30 million homes with leaking roofs and damp in the walls ?
experience has shown that a policy of high prices is not an effective method of combating nicotine addiction .
although the amount of the proposed assistance represents only a few percent of the total quantified damage for most countries , it is still significant assistance , amounting in total to EUR 182 million .
in all probability , the vote will not take much time .
unlike the USA , Europe is directly affected by events in the region because of its geographical proximity .
the Greek crisis has proven that .
not only through its direct consequences , but also by the moral stand that we show our citizens .
I think it is high time that the EU follows the example of the Obama Administration and comes clear on our role in the fight against terrorism .
because it is a first step .
in order to protect the EU 's partners from the consequences of a long-drawn-out procedure , I suggested initially to the Committee on International Trade that only those elements of the regulation should be amended which are necessary to allow Parliament to fulfil its new role .
these are hardly the ingredients of a free , fair and transparent democratic contest .
what is missing in Europe today is the liberal-democratic consensus of the period following the Second World War .
( DE ) Mr President , it is absolutely indisputable that body scanners quite clearly represent an invasion of privacy and a serious invasion at that .
if it did , it would not only damage India but harm the poor in Africa and elsewhere who depend on cheap medicine from India .
of course , this is not the final stage , as our talks on the topic and the text will continue .
the EU should not have the right to make laws for the UK .
the people of Burma have suffered both as a result of the cyclone and as a result of the behaviour of the military regime in power there .
in writing . - To make Carbon Technology a practical reality we need to address the shortage of engineers and other high-skilled personnel designing and producing advanced technologies .
( SK ) The demonstrations in Thailand have unfortunately been going on for several weeks now .
there is also justification for a budgetary effort based on ENPI , the new instrument to replace the TACIS and MEDA programmes , which supports the desired processes in our part of the world .
I therefore welcome two amendments tabled by the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament calling for Parliament and the Council to co-decide on matters relating to nuclear energy use and endorsing the fundamental ban on waste exports to third countries , a ban which demonstrates Parliament 's determination to shoulder its responsibilities .
the objective of the funding mechanism is to consist , and I quote , of ' incentives for the fastest possible return by the financial market to setting high-risk prices ' .
this is true not only because the Czech Republic still has to ratify the treaty , but because we must learn lessons from the difficulties we have experienced in achieving ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon .
European countries are therefore forced to compete with countries that do not have such strict plans for restricting emissions , In the meantime , all serious scientists now believe that the greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon that occurs on a cyclical basis and that the sum of mankind 's efforts can only make a difference of a few percentage points at most .
the Member States will be prevented from taking on excessive deficits .
no doubt this is an essential first step , but the solution must be global .
local authorities , particularly , where they are responsible for the provision of services such as housing , health care and primary and secondary education , are often confronted with the day-to-day problems of the new immigrants .
moreover , all these experiences show how important it is that we finally make some progress on the road map for procedural rights .
this is a fundamental right when there is persecution in a person 's country of origin on the grounds of race , religion , ethnic origin , political opinion or membership of a particular political group , and this is fairly common in the world today .
it is important that information on the quality of goods reaches the consumer .
then we could examine this all over again .
it gave people in Poland a vote , it introduced democracy to the entire former Eastern Bloc , and it even changed the face of Europe fundamentally , unifying a divided Europe .
as a consumer I would prefer to see well equipped garages with well-trained staff for a specific make of vehicle .
no revival of the single market will be successful unless we convince citizens that the single market truly represents their interests .
you have rightly pointed out that we have a lot of problems to solve .
thank you for your comprehensive answer .
it is founded on Article 207 ( 1 ) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union ( TFEU ) , which provides for the exclusive competence of the EU in matters of foreign direct investment as part of the common commercial policy .
indeed , it is our human qualities that give meaning to our political life .
I would like to conclude by thanking Mrs Kauppi for all her hard work in the European Parliament and I wish her every success in her new venture .
the African Union is emerging as a favoured discussion partner of the EU , with the agenda also including the issue of human rights and good governance .
unfortunately the amendments proposed by the Polish side were not accepted .
on the one hand , early this year visas became easier to obtain , certain procedures were simplified and visa fees were waived , but only for selected groups of citizens .
how social is that ?
the allocation of resources under these policies must be based on new criteria which will ensure the proper use of resources to achieve maximum efficiency and compliance with convergence and cohesion criteria .
now I hear that there are even discussions on giving Americans preferential treatment over Europeans !
thank you for your attention .
we need more Europe and not less Europe .
I personally favour the development of small farms , but this is a measure that will reduce the competitiveness of European farmers in some countries .
a proposal to increase its funding to 7 % of the next budget for cohesion policy .
the results that will be published as an annex to the minutes of today 's sitting will be the actual results .
the Czech Presidency believes that after the Council adopts the draft proposal on European action in the area of rare diseases there will be significant advances and improvements in the diagnosis of rare diseases , which is currently problematic due to the nature of rare diseases .
I am in favour of all actions to encourage the rational use of plant protection products , including advice , training , research , subsidies for modern plant protection equipment , the introduction of substitute products that help to protect the environment and health and that are compatible with farmers ' interests , instead of the use of pesticides .
if we agree , though this will be difficult , if we manage to come to an agreement , we will be in a position to oppose the Council 's constant manipulations .
subsequently , under the Convention on Biological Diversity , the world 's governments adopted an ambitious global vision and 2020 mission for biodiversity conservation , and a Strategic Plan setting out 20 testing targets .
large amounts of cheap imported fish are now posing a threat to European production , to both fisheries and fish farming .
I think Ukraine 's European aspirations , which , on the one hand , are hedged around with conditions , should , on the other , show a willingness to help in this .
not once are these types of extremism mentioned .
however , I am worried that by taking away the UK 's independent ability to monitor and regulate asylum entrants , we would potentially be exposing ourselves further to the threat of terrorist attacks .
we need to make sure that we have a more diversified approach , that we take each country and we work out what it is we want to achieve with the people of that country - yes , to do more with civil society , yes , to focus on human rights and democracy and , yes , to deal with the common foreign policy issues that we have with them .
it is in the compromise that we have adopted in the Committee on the Environment : we will say no to the mutual obligatory approval of pesticides , but yes to the mutual obligatory approval of data .
( DE ) Mr President , the ex-Communist Socialists in Albania are trying to destabilise the successful government there .
with the Lisbon Treaty in place , it is time for a review of the discharge process itself .
I think that Portugal must now first ensure that it repays the loans by selling its assets , as has been said .
this will also enable Parliament and the Council to put greater pressure on the Commission .
we have to ensure that our safety standards apply not only to Europe but also to Europe 's neighbours , and , in fact , to the whole world .
we must be very careful here ; we must think and not replicate the same measures in every piece of the prudential regulation where they may not be appropriate and would destroy investments in equities and the real economy .
it should take account of the fact that in Europe today there are serious demographic problems directly affecting social cohesion and solidarity between the generations .
the Presidency would like to accelerate the work of changing Europe into the most competitive economy .
however , I fear that you are not offering us any money , you are offering a budget line in which there is a zero .
Mr President , just as one swallow does not make a summer , neither does one cold winter disprove theories of climate change and global warming .
it is absolutely extraordinary .
as the rapporteur correctly pointed out , the last year of the Ombudsman 's work has seen good management and progress in reducing the number of complaints and a shortening of the procedure for investigating complaints .
every child has the right to a complete family and an education so that they can develop harmoniously .
what is termed the Annapolis Process must not be used as a smokescreen behind which the settlement policy remains in place and the Palestinian territories continue to be sealed off with countless security zones that restrict people 's freedom of movement .
the CoR is urged to carry out a comprehensive review of expenditure in 2011 in all areas of activity , in order to ensure that all expenditure is beneficial and to ascertain possible savings , because this would reduce pressure on the budget in this period of austerity .
we are taking strong action , with stimulus from the Commission , involving banks and financial operators and also the European Investment Bank , which sent two vice-presidents to take part in the debate .
small and large enterprises cannot be dealt with in the same way .
furthermore , I would like to emphasise the added value of undertaking actions in cooperation with the Commission and the EIB 's strategy of providing additional support and leverage to structural fund interventions .
Mr President , like the majority of Members of this House , I voted today to support the urgent procedure in relation to Article 186 .
the final point that I should like to discuss concerns the use of frequency bands that are currently used for military purposes .
the EU will ensure that the Action Plan reflects the priorities outlined by the Foreign Affairs Ministers at their June 2010 meeting in all three dimensions .
I consider it essential for SESAR to take appropriate action to resolve the problems identified now during the next financial year .
the problem as I see it is that everyone comes here to these debates and makes all the right statements , says all the right platitudes , but they are not prepared to take the tough decisions necessary to help those most in need .
in order to prepare them for life and society , schools should guide them toward lifelong learning , a comprehensive European Union programme , which sees people able to learn at all ages , thus remaining lively and active members of society .
we have a similar situation in this House .
therefore we join with today 's Parliament motions calling for his release .
double taxation must also be avoided , as well as the creation of obstacles blocking the free movement of capital .
( PL ) Mr President , in conditions of recession we should , as a rule , strive to create new jobs , increase competitiveness , foster price reductions , or , to put it succinctly , increase benefits to the consumer .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the common agricultural policy ( CAP ) is essential and will continue to be so for a long time yet , not least where employment is concerned .
furthermore , despite the recession , the sector of creative and cultural industries has been consistently making progress in the last decade .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Mr President , China began to trade and change in the 1980s , and it has lifted 400 million of its own people out of poverty , as Ms Gomes 's excellent report mentions .
investigations conducted by the European Anti Fraud Office ( OLAF ) ( debate )
what is more , totalitarian Islam was not even mentioned in the Commission and Council statements just now , when what we should in fact be doing is having the courage to contemplate that problem , too , and to take the necessary measures .
requiring Member Sates to accept electronically submitted VAT returns will also significantly simplify the process .
it is therefore time we finally started talking specifically about a privileged partnership between the EU and Turkey .
this is why our laws need to be harmonised .
the violence and murders committed in Italy must be strongly condemned and solidarity shown for the victims ' families .
the Commission is closely following this debate .
finally , the new agreement with the Republic of Moldova should be an association agreement as in the case of the other countries under the European neighbourhood policy .
we need real action , realistic action , and that must start next week with our climate change package .
it also referred to a series of financial measures for Croatia 's accession negotiations and noted that the negotiations were entering their final phase .
as you will know , in 2000 the Council adopted Directive 2000 / 78 / EC establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation .
regardless of their economic power , Member States have exceeded the figures committed to as the crisis has caused a sharp drop in budget revenue and growth beyond the public expenditure planned for .
finally , the Danish Liberal Party voted against allocating DKK 300 million to a European dairy fund .
can we realistically double the effectiveness of our screening throughout Europe ?
crucial elements in that policy would be support for the work of the UN and a clarification of the EU 's policy with regard to the UN .
author . - Mr President , the EU 2020 strategy proposes action to enhance the performance of education systems , reinforce the attractiveness of Europe 's higher education , open up more mobility and training programmes for young people , modernise labour markets , boost labour mobility and develop skills and competences to increase labour market participation .
does Europe still want to be one of the world 's great farms , together with Brazil ?
according to the proposals adopted , Member States can , from now on , pass on the cost of air pollution , noise and traffic jams to lorries .
one of these concerns visa-free travel , which you , Baroness Ashton , have already referred to .
this was followed in 2008 by the communication package on children in external actions , which outlined a comprehensive approach to children by the EU using all available instruments in external cooperation .
that will be decided by the Spanish Presidency later next spring .
the President-in-Office is right to put the focus on migration .
I would add that Directive 2000 / 78 / EC establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation does not exclude domestic workers , so no amendment is needed for the ratification of the ILO Convention .
I do not really understand why you said you were opposed to Amendment 4 , but perhaps we can talk about that again later .
it is essential to give young Europeans the tools necessary for them to be able to compete in a globalised world and for them to be able to enter the labour market using their knowledge and skills .
it should be an issue of efficient versus inefficient .
what though do the developing countries of southern Africa have to say ?
this is a clear signal that our Eastern partners want stronger political dialogue with the European Union .
the record increase in the prices of cereals , sugar and vegetable oils is a clear sign of the increasing imbalance between global supply and demand .
we need the same controls for the same risks throughout the European Union .
what , then , was I trying to do ?
I propose that we should proceed as follows .
the Commission has again fallen way behind schedule and is now asking for an unlimited extension of its mandate to carry out the migration .
I very much share the concern of the Russian Government and I would like to see the Latvian Republic prohibiting imports of vegetables until the dangerous infection is eliminated completely .
10 .
if we are serious about our resolutions and the objectives established in the EU 2020 strategy , then we must support the new financing instruments that allow us to achieve them .
it is very clear that it forbids war crimes , crimes against humanity , genocide and so on , but caning , in my view , is not forbidden by international law .
by Mr Albrecht , on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs , on the draft Council Decision determining the list of third States and organisations with which Europol shall conclude agreements [ 11946 / 2009 - C7-0107 / 2009 - ;
therefore , those who are following my advice will vote against the first part in this fifth vote and then we shall have an extra vote , which is not on the voting list , on this oral amendment , which I support .
the same European agricultural policy is causing land to be abandoned in the south , and across Europe , and the CAP is going to have a significant impact on desertification .
this money is intended to support the economic stabilisation of that country , finance its external balance-of-payments needs and help it meet the consequences of the global economic and financial crisis .
by abolishing protective tariffs and subsidies many developing countries have become extremely vulnerable to heavy fluctuations in food and raw material prices .
however , babies do not know , nor are they able to consider what their mothers must , or want to , do .
a majority of the European Parliament has today adopted the proposal for the Returns Directive .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
the men were at the front then .
we are providing finance for a whole series of labour-intensive programmes , including road construction and upgrading , small-scale maintenance projects and so on , that will provide people with work .
author . - Mr President , the policy pursued towards the Tamil people by the Government of President Rajapaksa has resulted in a nightmare for both the Sinhala and Tamil peoples in Sri Lanka , with massive repression by the Sri Lankan state against individuals and groups who have stood up against its chauvinist policies .
I regret , however , that during the current crisis , Parliament has not felt able to lead by example and has rejected the proposals on revising the current system of salaries for Members , as well as proposals for not updating salaries and allowances in 2012 .
I would also like to thank in particular the rapporteurs , the Hungarian Presidency and the Commission for their really exceptional efforts , culminating in the clarification of this legislative package .
the issue of data must be reviewed again .
this type of preparation is the primary responsibility of the immediate environment : parents , the family , the school .
the amendments in question provide for granting all European airlines access to routes between the European Union and Vietnam , and prohibit anti-competitive practices .
earlier you mentioned the tests in the insurance sector ; the EIOPA is currently preparing a series of tests in that sector , as the EBA did for the banks .
the next item is the debate on the oral question to the Commission by Gerardo Galeote Quecedo , on behalf of the Committee on Regional Development , on the European Union Solidarity Fund : obstacles for its reform - B6-0472 / 2008 ) .
the 20th century was the century of major popular movements that were blinded by the idea that they were on the verge of history .
in writing . - It is timely indeed that Parliament addresses this matter only days after the agreement between President Sarkozy and Chancellor Merkel to seek to change the Lisbon Treaty in order to provide for an orderly handling of future sovereign debt crises in the eurozone .
my vote should not be perceived as support for the EU 's ' subsidy gravy train ' , either .
women are frequently debarred from democratic participation in organisations by virtue of being employed on a part-time basis and on precarious conditions .
opt-out , opt-in , shake it all about , the British Government will claim victory , others will publicly indulge them , knowing that any apparent concessions are really without any substance .
until we strictly regulate the activities of monopolies , in whatever area , so that their profits are clearly limited , and the operating costs , salaries and bonuses are strictly controlled - i.e. , the provision of raw materials , manufacturing , product provision - then it is hard to imagine consumers receiving cheap and high quality goods or services .
secondly , we must find ways of tackling the shortage of health professionals in low-income countries .
I do agree with you that we have actually been under-prioritising our development aid in the agricultural sector for decades .
in addition , consumer protection levels should not be impaired by the dismantling of barriers .
there is a regulatory void out there that is also inhabited by credit enhancers , ratings agencies and hedge funds .
I should like to begin with a picture that has been in all of our minds for some months : the photograph of 40 shipwreck survivors clinging to a tuna net in the middle of the Mediterranean for two days and two nights .
voting time
in writing . - ( PL ) I agree with the proposal to replace certain provisions in existing bilateral agreements with Community agreements .
however , we must not overlook the fact that most immigrants come from Muslim countries .
another aspect concerns the instruments and schemes at EU level supporting the forestry sector , which are very lightweight compared with those applied in other business sectors and given the current and future contribution made by forests to achieving the sustainable development targets .
in response to Ms Sinclaire : the way that I was told to respond on human rights issues by Parliament , by decision of this House , was to attend regularly the Committee on Foreign Affairs ( AFET ) to which the subcommittees - of which the Subcommittee on Human Rights is one - would be invited and where they would be able to put questions to me .
the UMP is not opposed to Ria Oomen-Ruijten 's report , which is an excellent piece of work , but to a refusal to take into consideration the reality of Turkey and its policy , at odds with our project for European integration .
the achievement of this target has been set out as an independent commitment .
during our talks yesterday , we explored the possibilities for agreeing on the specific terms of facilitation .
African countries are now in need of renewable energy .
they have problems which will disappear under the new regulation and the new guidelines .
another of the innovative points of the report , which has been welcomed by the Commission , is the idea of using the so-called brief intervention to disseminate a responsible and informed approach to alcohol consumption .
Romania is one of the EU Member States which guarantees a level of protection and support above the European average for minorities , promoting education in their own languages .
for this reason , I believe it is very important to achieve the objectives of the Lisbon strategy , yet without neglecting the disparities continuing to exist between the European regions .
I take the opportunity to follow up on the first part of this question and to raise the issue about public contracts generally and the issue of restricted tenders , which a lot of people would suggest represent , or result in , poor value for money .
( EL ) Madam President , I must say that the Minister 's reply does not satisfy me in the slightest .
this is why it is so important to carry out an appropriate revision of the common fisheries policy , which guarantees sustainable fishing in the waters of our region .
however , we have no more desire to transfer MEPs ' assistants to the ' EU tax haven ' than we had to transfer MEPs to a pay system within the EU with a favourable EU tax .
women in a second-class position in Central and Eastern Europe , such as Hungarians , seek employment as domestic staff in the West , living as servants , as economic refugees , who often had to leave behind their children .
the Government expends more than 50 % of Croatia 's GDP .
this will be an excellent opportunity for the entire Union to fortify its political and economic cooperation with the Balkans , and to contribute to the expansion and consolidation of European integration in the region .
at the same time , we will continue humanitarian assistance and we will work to ensure that trade is part of the comprehensive approach .
time and again we hear the Council , and to a lesser degree the Commission , talking about fundamental rights , human rights and democracy , but this rings somewhat hollow when we learn that state control of citizens is growing fast .
my compliments also to our shadow rapporteur , Mr Groote .
we know that it is the very foundations of the political system that are in question , based as they are on the subtle balance between the different religious faiths in the Lebanese patchwork .
the point has already been made that the fight against corruption is an important element .
let us get to work !
ahead of the Istanbul conference in May , the EU has reaffirmed its support for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals ( MDGs ) in developing countries , and once more confirmed its commitment to provide specific aid programmes .
we always have representatives of the Council here and they always tell us , as Presidents-in-Office of the Council , that Parliament is very important and that we must work together .
during the February mini-session , I expressed my concerns about the deteriorating situations in the countries of North Africa and their resulting repercussions in Europe .
we are currently in the listening phase and we may subsequently take concrete action including legislation as educating the children of migrant workers forms a very important part of their adaptation and integration .
instead of having a Presidency that changes every six months , we have a permanent Presidency of the Council .
I believe that you can take the word ' common ' and remove it forever from the common agricultural policy .
Mr President , 2001-2007 has been six years of a politically motivated fight against terrorism .
I have nothing against that ; on the contrary , it is a good thing if the US tries to create new jobs again - good for America , and good for us .
finally , since I have a few seconds left , I would like to applaud the work done by Mr Piebalgs , which I think has been exceptional .
firstly , in the light of our experience of this crisis , the countries of Central and Eastern Europe need a much more balanced model for growth .
therefore , we cannot fail to monitor it closely and with concern .
I would like to see you recognise the strategic importance of this shipyard for Poland - and , indeed , of this industry for the European Union as a whole .
the citizens ' initiative , which gives a million Europeans the right to propose legislative initiatives , incorporates the concept of participative democracy into the European Union , which is actually stipulated in the Treaty of Lisbon .
the answer to that lies at the heart of this useless EU , which has demolished national frontiers .
allow me to tell you how much I appreciate this .
in contrast to the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund , I consider the Solidarity Fund , the resources of which are intended for covering damage caused by natural disasters , as a genuine manifestation of European solidarity .
how can a company operate properly without these basic needs being guaranteed ?
this obliges the EU to rethink its response strategy in terms of prevention , management and assistance , so that it becomes more concerted and efficient in operational terms .
to achieve that aim , I believe we need not only to support certain infrastructure works , but also to have a neutral approach to all the various projects .
we are simply asking that Syria , Camp Ashraf and the matter of the Christian minority , and , above all , the Coptic minority , in Egypt , be added to the topic under discussion .
as a result , I feel it is essential to develop legislation on data protection , security and freedom of expression .
solidarity with less-developed countries must also form part of the European Union 's global approach .
I should also ask you to explain whether the contents of our e-mails will be checked .
I think it is very important that in the current climate we are actually making progress on workers ' rights , rather than trying to imply that those doing work on a temporary basis are somehow less important as individuals or less important economically .
I think there are many useful pointers for adapting the fleet in response to the fuel crisis and I hope that these new measures will be enough to prevent job losses in the sector .
that is an undeniable success for the Council under the French Presidency and I would like to thank you , Mr Jouyet , and pay tribute to the good work that you and your colleagues have done , in particular Mr Novelli .
this is what local autonomy means .
( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I welcome the signing of this agreement , as it is going to contribute to the political and economic stability , not just of this particular country , but of the Balkans as a whole .
if the government of Haiti does not care about its own people , then we have to use the concept of responsibility to protect .
thank you very much .
following the schism within the Church which was resolved by canonical process in 1998 , the ECJ in Strasbourg has issued a judgment on the same internal ecclesiastical problem in a matter in which the Bulgarian Orthodox Church was not even a respondent .
for this we need stable political relations in these countries .
the criticism from Mrs Ries and several other Members of the fact that there are insufficient precautionary measures is serious .
yes , Mr Watson , the European arrest warrant has been very effective and very useful , even if it is true that , at the same time , we need to get the European judicial area up and running , and it is in this area that we must work for this Europe of justice , so that there really is confidence in the way in which justice is provided throughout Europe .
biocides must be included in the scope even before the first report is submitted to the Commission .
as a member of Parliament 's Committee on Regional Development and Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs , I am particularly interested in the EIB 's assistance for Europe 's small and medium-sized enterprises .
we are fighting together with the people of Europe for peace and social justice and against imperialist unions .
the Western Balkans are a central part of Europe and we must do our utmost to bring this important part back home to Europe .
unfortunately colleagues included ' sexual and reproductive rights ' in the list of priorities and I cannot and will not ever condone the killing of fellow human persons , in this case babies before birth .
I advise people to be careful when voting , especially when it comes to candidates from Poland , where neither the Civic Platform nor the Law and Justice parties know what all this is about .
this project has produced an operational definition of a closed aquaculture facility , which tightens up and enlarges upon the definition currently in use and embodies an approach whereby the degree of risk associated with alien species could be reduced considerably .
I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks for the hundreds of discussions , as well as the countless e-mails and ideas that I receive .
on the contrary , it is the Member States themselves that hold the responsibility for safeguarding and protecting the health of their citizens .
improving service quality , by improving occupational training and promoting tourism opportunities that fit in with changes in the market , in order to stand out from the competition .
now to my appeal , which is related to the fact that 80 % of the funds in Europe are not managed centrally but through the Member States or in collaboration with the Member States .
I will check with my colleague , the Minister for Health , who is responsible for that , but I do not think that particular issue is being discussed .
development cooperation has continued to increase and we will be using the bulk of our indicative budget of EUR 470 million for India for 2007-2013 especially to support health and education programmes related to the Millennium Development Goals .
- ( CS ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I am concerned about the suffering of laboratory animals as well , but at the same time I know , as a physician , that we must do everything we can to make vaccines and medicines available to our patients as soon as possible , for the treatment of new and old diseases .
I find some of the language in Kirilov 's report in relation to the Lisbon strategy regrettable .
we know that wage-earners and workers are having losses connected to putting money into hedge-fund speculating in this derivative market .
for this same reason , I consider it vital that the objectives of the EU 2020 strategy be strengthened .
we also expect - and I am pleased that this always comes through strongly in what you say , Mr President - that the foreign policy of the European Union will always be a banner for citizens ' freedoms , and that it will also promote our common European values beyond our borders .
( PL ) Mr President , according to the resolutions passed by the European Union , most Member States concentrate their aid activities on subsaharan Africa , which also includes the states of West Africa .
we have to do much more in this respect .
( PT ) Mr Crowley , I totally agree with you .
in writing . - ( LT ) It is very important for the EU 's Generalised System of Preferences to become more transparent .
we are however deeply concerned about all direct or indirect efforts by politicians or parliaments trying to influence the general perception of historical facts .
however , not only having failed to take any action to prevent the different types of fraud made possible by the current Entry Price Regulation , the Commission has negotiated a new agriculture agreement with Morocco without having first resolved the shortcomings of the import regime currently in place .
the external dimension of social policy is one of the key priorities of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament .
it is therefore necessary to change , and in an extremely positive way .
as they deal with the same subject , the following questions will be taken together :
Madam President , high oil and gas prices are here to stay and I doubt very much whether we will see the price much below USD 80 per barrel ever again .
it recalls the institutions ' commitment to ensuring a smooth and rapid procedure for the adoption of the decisions on the mobilisation of the EGF , providing one-off , time-limited individual support geared to helping workers who have suffered redundancies as a result of globalisation and the financial and economic crisis .
another major issue in these negotiations is the management of radio frequencies .
if , however , the EU wants to be a leader in the fight against climate change , it must present specific proposals and specific solutions , especially because part of the problem is our internal affair , as is the cofinancing mechanism .
to fund this increase , the Commission and the Member States must use at least 25 % of the revenue from the Community 's emissions trading scheme .
this debate was far too valuable for us to address the arguments put forward in a brief , one-minute reply .
the EU needs Russia in the same way that Russia needs the EU .
it appears that civic authorities in Spain , in cahoots with grasping , unscrupulous developers , have been a terror to those who thought they were buying legitimate homes and properties , and , if this report helps address that , then it can only do good .
it is a very important and also very interesting report .
( PT ) Mr President , the United States and the European Union , the first and second largest emitters in the world per capita respectively , have a definite and unavoidable responsibility for the failure of Copenhagen , which no amount of passing the buck can diminish .
we wanted to strengthen the original proposal , not to water it down .
I also believe that many will share the desire to ensure clearer and more comprehensible legislation , both for the responsible authorities and for farmers , to do away with all superfluous regulations , and to promote the exchange of good practices between Member States and local authorities .
despite recent concerns deriving from the accident at the Fukushima plant , nuclear energy forms part of the European ' energy mix ' .
we therefore warmly welcome this communication , which shows new ambition for single market policies , allowing us to restore confidence in our social market economy model .
with a budget of EUR 76 billion , we are wide of the mark .
however - and this is the problem , Mr Daul - no one can deny that there is a problem in Europe and in Italy .
this process should start immediately with practical measures being adopted at EU level and in the Member States in the field of vocational education and training .
this is only possible if individuals ' learning achievements are adequately appreciated when passing from one learning context to another .
we will not join in the glorification of this result , which contains only backward steps compared with the Constitutional Treaty .
today , I am acting as the spokesperson for millions of European mothers and fathers who , like me , are very disappointed by the Council 's decision .
it is such arrogance , such intent on browbeating those who thwart their design which has brought the EU to such disconnection with its people .
unfortunately , various Member States have been unable to resist the temptation of trying to make quicker progress , forgetting that the common visa policy is undoubtedly an area of Community competence , just as they are obliged to respect the principle of solidarity enshrined in the Treaty .
we must keep democracy alive , which means that we must engage in debate and at the same time create an image of a Europe that rejects immobility .
but children are very capable of understanding what is positive content and what is non-positive content .
in the next phase , you should add the three Cs : coherence , concreteness and the community method .
we have swiftly prepared the negotiation directives for an EU-Georgia association agreement , which are now currently under discussion in the Council .
another thing we need to address is the danger of " computer dependence ” .
investments in the transport infrastructure are crucial .
he has worked very hard on this report and I hope that he will get well soon .
in the context of the review of Directive 2005 / 36 / EC , as provided in Article 60 of the Directive , the Commission will assess in particular the implementation of its delegated powers under the Article 61 derogation clause of the Directive .
thank you for your cooperation .
the European Parliament has , by a majority , supported a fully paid 20-week period of maternity leave .
all I can say here is that this case shows that the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance was right .
representatives of the World Health Organisation ( WHO ) warn that falsified products are far from containing the active ingredients mentioned in the package leaflet .
the possibility of signing cooperation agreements with other third countries is another matter which the Commission must explore .
Mr President , the central component of EU 2020 should not be stabilisation funds and bailouts .
communication of Council common positions : see Minutes
as regards the call for the Commission to guarantee effective compliance with the directive on the posting of workers , made in paragraph 25 , I would like to point out that we have recently set up a high-level working party on the posting of workers .
on behalf of the PPE Group . - Mr President , we all strongly condemn the brutal murder of the Governor of Punjab on 4 January .
on the fifth point , I fully agree that failures in applying public procurement rules are an important source of errors and fraud .
therefore , I want to use the opportunity presented by this anniversary and my speech to call on all the people of Europe to strive to achieve all of the things that unite us .
the reintroduction of border controls within the EU does not provide a solution to migration and will , on the contrary , make life more difficult for European citizens and lead to a nationalistic outlook .
but , given that , as it now stands , companies can opt in or opt out , we would end up with 28 tax bases instead of the current 27 , and that is hardly simplification .
we are talking about the European Schools today , and I am grateful to Mrs Hennicot for that .
the negotiations that are in progress must be stepped up fast , and a way must be sought to restore constitutional order .
similar measures should be put in place throughout the Union , but with greater intensity and effectiveness .
and it is not just the Poles who have doubts about the global moratorium , or about the propaganda and social campaigns proposed by the Commission .
the implementation of projects of European interest for trans-European energy networks must also be speeded up .
I think the European Parliament 's role should be much greater , here .
the European Parliament , which adopts texts that are often difficult to read , must play a full role in this exercise .
that should remain the goal of Europe .
it is in the common interest for us to press for a return to rule of law and democracy in Russia in all our contact with the government , civil society and the business community .
let me give you an example about rating agencies .
this is no longer a relationship between donors and recipients .
that is why investments in treatment plants need to be promoted .
when Lithuania , Slovakia and Bulgaria joined the European Union , a shutdown and decommissioning plan was drawn up for a number of old nuclear power plants failing to meet European standards .
even before his European presidency begins , his house of cards is collapsing .
and yet this reform had been consigned to oblivion before the Belgian Presidency put it back on the Council 's table .
a first aspect has to be clarified , however , if we are to have a fair picture : it is not true that we have achieved no results !
Mr President , unlike many speakers , I would like to compliment Mr Van Rompuy and Mr Barroso for at least being proactive in the present crisis and introducing measures which hopefully will be successful in the future .
ladies and gentlemen , allow me to congratulate Slovakia on taking this big step and achieving this huge success .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , thank you , Mr Rübig , for your praise .
the European Union can prove itself to be a pioneering force , not only with respect to the continent of Europe but also in connection with protecting the climate on a global basis .
air traffic management has been included in the common transport policy since 2004 on the basis of the Single European Sky Regulation .
we believe that investment by producers must be borne in mind and that any disruptions to trade flows which could increase available supplies must be avoided .
I voted in favour of this report and endorsed discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Euratom Supply Agency for the financial year 2009 .
on the other hand , we have also realised that we are part of this great community of European peoples and part of the Atlantic Alliance .
therefore , I shall refrain from appraising political , legislative and jurisdictional acts that lie strictly within the competence of the Lithuanian legislative , executive and judicial authorities .
how many cases have there been ?
recognition of what happened in July 1995 is fundamental to reconciliation within Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the regional process .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , I would just like to make some brief comments .
China is probably best placed to stand up for Chinese minorities , but it would first have to appreciate its own minorities : the Tibetans and the Uighurs .
we are doing our best to make sure that Parliament has enough time to come to an opinion this year .
the new rules offer consumers more security and confidence when they make purchases , particularly using the Internet .
they should not see this as an imposition or a restriction but rather as a marketing opportunity .
we want decisions to be taken within the institutional framework , within the framework of a Community based on the rule of law , and this is what I would like to say to you very frankly and very sincerely : let us mutually strengthen our institutions .
the next item is the report by Mario Mantovani , on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs , on the proposal for a recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning - C6-0294 / 2006 -
( FR ) Madam President , I may be mistaken but I think that you have held a vote on Amendment 27 which , in reality , was a technical amendment that simply asked for paragraph 47 to be moved .
unfortunately , sport and tourism were excluded and I believe this should be corrected .
the World Bank states clearly that the amount concerned must be at least EUR 80 billion .
the Committee on the Environment welcomes the fact that , in its Communication , the European Commission intends to respond to the challenge of climate change and to support less intensive farming practices .
I appeal to the Nigerian authorities to impose a moratorium on executions and to commute the death sentences .
in particular , expectations have been created for European citizens on price reduction for voice , SMS and data roaming .
all minorities have the right to use their language in court proceedings , in official business , in place names and they have radio and television broadcasts in their mother tongue .
this is an interesting index which must give us food for thought .
I agree with the rapporteur that it is advisable to continue promoting the open standards developed by European Union standards bodies in relation to the switchover to digital and the interoperability of services , and to further this action by promoting European digital television standards in other parts of the world .
in this regard , it seems to me that the budget is not sufficiently coordinated with the ambitious goals included in the EU 2020 programme .
we certainly do not want to introduce US conditions .
so let us go . let us move .
we , as Members of a European Parliament strengthened by the Treaty , can help with this .
on the issue of EU-Afghan aid , we need a far more coordinated approach by the EU to developing Afghan infrastructure and fighting corruption ; otherwise , the Taliban will indeed prevail , as we are barely containing the Taliban in the south of the country .
indeed , a gradual increase in the retirement age is a natural solution in these circumstances , which is supported by the fact that life expectancy is much higher than 40 years ago .
there is now a large package on the table which does , in fact , include a ' buy American ' clause relating to steel for the construction industry .
on behalf of the PSE group . - ( HU ) Mr President , Mr Vice-President , ladies and gentlemen , the European Parliament considers protection of the European Union 's financial interests to be one of its most important tasks since , like all parliaments , it has the right and the duty to monitor expenditure .
( NL ) Mr President , listening to today 's debate one thing stands out , and that is the big issue - important to almost all the political groups - of economic governance .
I am also sure that it will be reflected in the conclusions that ministers are to debate and adopt next week .
compared to the beginning of the year , the euro depreciation in real effective terms amounts to around 7 % .
the Danube Strategy will facilitate , through a coordinated approach , a more efficient use and higher absorption of European funds , without however being restricted to these .
legislating on family support systems falls under national jurisdiction , and yet the assumption of obligations in respect of families with children is also a moral question , and an important part of European values .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I am pleased to note that your report welcomes the Commission communication and supports the proposed first set of policy options for action .
this report contained provisions related to this situation .
benefits of this kind should cover extra costs in connection with personal support , and medical and social care .
the global financial crisis has had a significant impact on both revenues and expenditure in all our countries , even if the extent and nature of that impact is not the same in all cases and the capacity of individual Member States to handle the consequences is also very different .
in writing . - ( RO ) I salute the fact that the Peterle Report approaches and emphasises the urgent need to take active measures to recruit and retain health professionals .
on the whole , we can be very content with the package on the table today .
I would be interested to know whether this is really the case , whether the Member States really do not want to share vaccines and whether they are only storing them for use on their territory , or whether they have agreed to share the vaccines .
in writing . - The situation in Lebanon is preoccupying .
these meetings all showed that , for our partners , the European Union is not only an economic union and a trade bloc , but also a geopolitical partner .
however , this financial measure is derisory and is intended merely to calm the producers down for a while .
my first question is this : can we expect a shake-up and the development of a balanced European migration policy ?
the work that was done has not only secured legislation which will provide necessary protection for EU industry , but it has also confirmed the joint commitment of Parliament , the Council and the Commission to efficient law making .
as I say , it has not been a path strewn with roses : far from it , because , although we were all united by a common goal , the Council 's initial miserly attitude made it a difficult journey .
this committee could also continue longer than the planned 12 months so as to be able to monitor and assess the measures that will be adopted in the current crisis .
in writing . - The Böge report on the use of the Flexibility Instrument can 't count on my support .
I can only encourage all Member States to take this into consideration when they plan their investments or the use of their rural development policy .
vulnerable groups such as the unemployed , migrants , the disabled , people who suffer abuse , and users of psychoactive substances are more likely to suffer mental health problems .
as far as the United States was concerned , it worked .
the report on the discharge , which refers to irregularities involving access to PHARE funds prior to 2007 , has retained the provision for drafting a special report on the management of Community funds in Romania and on measures recorded in the fight against corruption .
your response , Commissioner , is urgently awaited .
if these elections are recognised , we shall be carrying on with Lukashenko 's game with the West , in which Lukashenko will be the only one to benefit further .
( the President cut off the speaker )
as far as the implementing measures are concerned , I will do my best to encourage dialogue between the customs authorities and the Community institutions , including the Commission , with which there has always been a good measure of close and productive cooperation .
for example , the NorGer undersea electricity cable project could replace 60 nuclear power plants .
I should like to say a word about Cuba .
my vote reflects the need for improved consumer protection across the EU .
so there are four specific actions there .
the closing of airspace on the first day was a swift response to a problem with which we , in Europe , have , until now , been unfamiliar , a volcanic ash cloud .
when thousands of hectares are grubbed up , thousands of small and medium-sized vine-growers will be wiped out , and areas - particularly those which are mountainous or less-favoured - will be deserted and depopulated , with an impact on biodiversity .
I would therefore like to take the opportunity to urge the Commission and Commissioner Verheugen to follow up how , and how successfully , this is actually carried out so that we know whether the consumers of Europe understand what the labelling means from now on .
we dealt with this casually today , but we need to take care in future , because otherwise we shall go well over the time announced to Members .
in recent years , Ukraine has turned into a political football pitch : it must not be forced to choose between Russia and the West .
this is especially in the interests of Israel and its neighbours .
however , civil society , NGOs , trade unions , business forums and think tanks will also have a very important role to play in implementing and monitoring the planned measures .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the honourable Member has been speaking about the subject of renewable energy and asking what we plan to do to achieve our joint targets .
I look forward to continuing not only our discussions , but especially our cooperation on this important issue .
I hope that we can all agree on the fact that it is important that we have a budget available to explain to consumers the high quality of European products , both within the European Union and on the overseas markets .
as I said , this directive establishes a common legal framework which must enable us to limit certain risks in all the stages of the process of using organs for treatment , from donation to transplantation .
on the contrary , what we see is uproar .
there was scarcely room for Mr Obama even .
Twenty-six ratifications through parliamentary procedures : 26 ' yeses ' to the Treaty ; one ' no ' .
ladies and gentlemen , I would like to thank you once more for the debate , which , in my opinion , covered most of the important topics concerning the European labour market .
there is scope for ongoing improvement of the relations between India and the Union . such relations could be mutually beneficial .
the agricultural industry is the largest indigenous manufacturing industry in Ireland and it is of critical importance with regard to the economic recovery of the country .
is it an arithmetic graph - I must become technical - where equal rises in CO2 cause equal rises in warming ?
Ireland has decided .
the point was also made that we should have more information for young girls .
we also need to reduce red tape and pay greater attention to what is actually necessary , so that tax administrations can help us work more closely together and simplify our procedures .
citizens leave these third countries for Europe .
President of the Commission . - Let me tell you that we will be much more successful if we do it collectively rather than separately .
in Europe , innovation is not just a concept that can be limited to specific innovation centres .
some years ago here we had the pharmaceutical review .
it should end in transparent charging practices and ensure that companies can no longer surcharge consumers when using credit cards .
I do not take examples from the past .
on 5 July 2006 , as we know , this instrument was created by virtue of a European Parliament and Council Regulation .
this year in Poznań , in the framework of COP14 , the Polish Government will be proposing a worldwide review of the best technologies .
further to this , there remain innumerable structural problems and irregularities relating to the College that are detailed in the report .
the urgency of the situation justifies the practical approach adopted .
such a scenario would have enabled us in the European Parliament to say ' no ' to a common asylum policy and ' no ' to a system modelled on the Dublin Regulation .
to quote a great German , Schiller , in your native English , Baroness , ' The voice of the majority is no proof of justice ' .
the positives are that transaction costs are low , that partner countries have an increased responsibility for themselves and that there is a better dialogue between partners and donors .
entirely in favour of the implementation of a common European approach for early childhood learning - while respecting the diversity of each Member State 's approach - I lend my support to Mrs Honeyball 's report , which recommends establishing a European framework for ECEC services , highlighting common values and objectives .
the European Parliament has a vital role to play in reducing the availability of inappropriate and illegal materials and increasing public awareness of online dangers .
it is just as Mr Harbour said : these are trade barriers .
these came from all sides .
( PL ) Mr President , given the ever-greater repressions imposed by the Lukashenko regime , solidarity with the Belarusian people is our duty .
I think that is quite significant .
last year we witnessed historic commitments in environment and energy policies .
I live in hope that , as a result of this , we might one day - you never know , colleagues , you never know - we might just get a decent service into Strasbourg .
we have many times decried in Parliament the disastrous consequences of the liberalisation of world trade for many economic sectors , particularly in some Member States , such as Portugal , and the regions most dependent on these sectors .
we have one common mission : we need to do all we can to protect the lives of innocent citizens , including women and children , when no one else can .
it can help solve these problems as well .
the list includes a lot of well-intentioned , large and heavy presents .
this openness will hopefully also stimulate environmentally friendly farming and the protection of our unique natural interests .
the 10 year operating period of the Sixth Action Programme requires regular evaluations , especially as regards its priorities .
with the amendments that have been tabled and adopted , this report defends traditional horse mackerel fishing and , in particular , enables 30 Portuguese vessels to continue fishing in the Bay of Biscay , which is crucial to the national interest , as is clearly pointed out by Mrs Patrão Neves , the shadow rapporteur of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) for this report .
it has been believed that the internal market liberalization will turn the EU into an important actor on the international energy scene , but it has been found that , in fact , the Union lacks an external and homogenous energy policy dimension .
unfortunately that goal is a remote one today .
in addition , the inclusion of biocides in the scope of the regulation should be seen as an element that is already approved in both the Thematic Strategy and the Directive on pesticides .
our people appreciate this lively human conscience , but we must stress in this regard that the people of Palestine will not lose its will for freedom and life .
it is time for us to take stock of the situation .
the same is true of the European Cities of Culture and it will certainly apply to the European Heritage sites .
( PT ) Madam President , I am sorry if I did not make myself sufficiently clear .
the introduction of the repair clause achieves a fair balance between legal protection of intellectual property and the need for freedom of competition . it also protects 260 million European drivers against a monopoly in the purchase of must-match spare parts for the repair of motor vehicles .
abolishing internal borders and implementing several compensatory measures , such as the reinforcement of controls at the external borders , police and judicial cooperation and the creation of the Schengen Information System , are the best way to enable freedom of movement .
the second stage of the agreement does not achieve the ultimate objective of a complete opening of the market without any restrictions on either side , but it does contain a number of incentives to encourage reform . in particular , when the US changes its legislation to allow EU investors majority ownership of US airlines , the EU will allow the same for US investors .
there are a few issues that have yet to be resolved , such as data protection , perhaps even protection of the new Member States against the transport of toxic substances , such as in the case of Germany and the Czech Republic .
they go straight from being exploited in illegal work to being expelled .
in the wake of the economic crisis we can see ideas of increased protectionism .
the prospect of joining the European Union is the main factor guaranteeing stability and the continuation of the reform process in the Western Balkans , including the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia .
Madam President , the EU has followed the situation of Aung San Suu Kyi closely ever since she was imprisoned twenty years ago .
equality between men and women in the EU is increasingly a reality , and although there are still cases of discrimination , we are beginning to see very positive developments .
in the first instance , I received an answer after a serious delay , and I have still not received an answer to my second query , submitted on 30 November .
adequate financing also needs to be provided .
I have no doubt , however , that Commissioner Kuneva is committed to addressing this matter .
this vote will stand out in the history of the fundamental rights of European mothers and fathers .
with regard to ground handling , the evaluation of the first steps toward liberalisation , which have been underway for many years now , is not entirely positive .
so this debate is grotesque .
there has , for a long time , been an increase in cases of violence of all kinds suffered by Muslim women within their own families .
the significance of market incentives is that the aim of environmental quality can be achieved more cheaply and more effectively with them , and other social objectives can be achieved at the same time .
the allocation of EU funds to projects in the field of energy is a good stimulus for the heads of EU governments , local authorities and businesses .
( BG ) Minister , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to assure you that today 's debate on the three reports is of major interest both to the European Union 's citizens and my fellow lawyers .
territorial cohesion plays an important role in this respect .
this is the case in every European economy .
this month it announced that this will increase to 96 % .
support should be given to newcomers in the farming sector including young farmers .
research has to be undertaken in view of dwindling stocks .
according to the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats , this is a substantial step forward , since hitherto unregulated areas are now subject to regulation , and thus from 2013 every source of CO2 emissions will be measured and regulated .
above all , coming to terms with and regulating globalisation is a key issue for our democracies and for the very concept of effective democracy : will we be able to keep political control of the fundamental options in economic governance and so many other aspects of our life in the hands of our people and our elected representatives ?
we do not understand why this debate is taking place at the expense of the Bulgarian Government and the Bulgarian people .
farmers and gardeners must recognise that bees are totally defenceless when faced with toxic products and that they are precious contributors to their crops and need to be protected as a matter of priority .
thus , the adoption of this report is highly satisfactory .
I intend to vote in favour of it .
to give you just one set of figures : ships , which carry 40 times more freight than planes , produce only twice as much greenhouse gas , but we still use planes to transport our goods to optimise the production cycle .
in addition , as we know , the Lisbon Treaty is not yet in force .
it was first in line to help resolve conflicts such as the one between Russia and Georgia ; it will not diminish its efforts to help bring together parties in conflict such as in Gaza ; and , in fact , it is thanks to the European Union that at least humanitarian corridors have been opened up to help the people of Palestine .
there are still several regions under the sovereignty of Member States that do not share the same status as the outermost regions .
ordinary people usually have no idea of the enormous scale of trafficking in human beings .
the debate is closed .
at the least we need to make clear what we mean in one or other text , and this is the stage at which we can clearly settle questionable issues .
they cannot be curbed by legislation that essentially allows companies to pollute and pay negligible fines - if and when a legal infringement is discovered - while making huge profits at the expense of public health and the environment .
voting time
the rapporteur believes that these upgrades to the Euromed free trade agreements can contribute towards economic and political stability in this key region with a view to consolidating a single area of peace , development , justice , equality , freedom , plurality , democracy and respect .
two and a half years of intensive work on this document have led to the achievement of a compromise , which in its final form - I hope - will guarantee greater legal certainty to the consumers of the 27 Member States in the area of distance selling , and in particular when making Internet transactions .
this 0.01 % tax on speculative transactions would bring in USD 100 billion per year ; in other words , the amount that it is estimated will be required by 2020 to combat global warming in developing countries .
this is about banana accompanying measures and so far , the Parliament rapporteur has reconfirmed the position of Parliament which is very distant from the position of the Council .
we must stop being so nervous of the idea of making Europe the protector of women .
that is the best European good governance we can have .
we must discuss practical measures and see how we can implement them so that we alleviate the suffering of the survivors .
in writing . - We voted against the Casaca report on the 2007 Discharge of the European Parliament for three reasons .
things are different now , and I hope that the agreement we are about to conclude will facilitate and improve political relations between the politicians here in the EU and in Taiwan , and will also lead to Taiwan 's deeper involvement in the international community , on various levels .
'In previous times Martin Schulz has stood up and said that a " no ” vote will lead to fascism ' .
I hope that , with this report on justice between generations , we have , together , taken an important step forward .
we do not believe , in our region , in the multiplicity of religions : multiple religions do not exist .
its sustainability must be guaranteed by adopting a unified legislative framework for the protection of the natural environment and the coastline .
composition of Parliament : see Minutes
this is a success for the monetary union , as it is being entered by a dynamic and competitive economy unburdened by public debt , and this will surely serve to strengthen the euro area .
this is very demoralising for the economy as well as for the traditions and culture of work in Europe .
in writing . - I supported the Agreement between the EU and the USA on the processing and transfer of financial messaging data from the EU to the USA for purposes of the Terrorist Finance Tracking Program .
- ( CS ) I and many small-scale entrepreneurs would like to express our appreciation for the way in which the European Commission has reacted with unexpected speed , vigour and directness to suggestions from both Member States and MEPs in submitting this additional clause for Regulation 1083 .
Mr McCreevy , you have made your mandate as commissioner for the internal market one of regulatory standstill .
above all , we will do so thoroughly and seriously .
that is real democracy and that is real sovereignty .
nevertheless , on the basis of scientific development or regulatory needs in specific areas which the Commission closely monitors , regulatory changes may be proposed where necessary .
ultimately they can have the justice they deserve .
in the action plan which I intend to put forward - whose purpose is to coordinate and propose ideas for action - I shall draw on all the suggestions that have come to the fore during today 's debate , in an attempt to give ideas and suggestions , always in keeping with the principle of subsidiarity , because I am well aware what powers the Union has .
it is difficult when we currently have a system which , in principle , requires someone to be present within the European Union in order to submit an application for asylum , while at the same time , it is perhaps not always particularly easy for them to get to the European Union in order to do this .
thus , also , it is important to recognise that the EU 's collective contribution to the efforts to achieve a reduction and to fund the adaptation needs of the developing countries for 2020 cannot be below an amount of EUR 30 billion per annum .
Mr President , it is almost two years since Parliament decided to set up a Temporary Committee of enquiry ; a decision that was pushed through despite strong opposition and substantiated objections .
how should the fight against the crisis in Europe and the world be coordinated ?
in conclusion , I welcome the fact that the member states of the Alliance have proved flexibility and long-term vision , thus transforming the Bucharest Summit into an important benchmark for NATO enlargement and for the subsequent development of the security system .
the correct word , ' rule ' , makes the meaning an exhortation and a warning .
the organisation ' Doctors without Borders ' , which was represented here in Parliament this week , has said that it is almost impossible for it to provide humanitarian aid in the camps because people are constantly and generally completely arbitrarily being arrested and forced to return to Laos .
it is astonishing that the funding has not yet been clarified given that the decision is to be taken very soon .
today 's debate has focused largely on the party closure and rightly so .
in its newly recast form , the Members ' position does not guarantee what is vital in this negotiation : that there is not a repeat of the restrictive framework currently imposed by the richer countries of the EU in 2012 and 2013 .
otherwise , it is a legal outrage .
each time it intervened in the confrontations and the incidents to which I have referred , it did so because humanitarian missions were at risk .
you thought that the passage before Parliament would be a mere formality : it is not so , and this is just the beginning , for your response does not meet the expectations of the citizens , who are suffering in the crisis and who have demonstrated their anger towards our institutions through their low turnout .
this results mainly from the fact that there are too many differences within the Union .
why do we insist on emulating the United States ?
in view of the irregularities detected and the inability of the European Police College to account for its budgetary and financial situation to Parliament , I agree with the rapporteur 's decision to refuse to grant the Director of the College discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2008 .
for this reason , Member States need to be supported in making substantial investments aimed at modernising installations in the industries heavily involved in the energy sector , boosting productivity and developing the transport infrastructure .
we also need to take a victim-focused approach .
this plan shows that the basic principles established by the Stability and Growth Pact and the Lisbon Strategy have rendered us capable of providing a real European solution .
it may well be that spending is scheduled for many multi-annual programmes and the relevant funding cannot be cut at present because the EU would otherwise be open to accusations of breach of contract .
in writing . - ( RO ) We are all aware that the Development Cooperation Instrument ( DCI ) does not provide for any exception to the principle of non-eligibility for Community financing .
despite the repressive measures and the use of force by the security forces , Tunisians have , through their demonstrations , succeeded in putting an end to the dictatorial regime of President Ben Ali .
we can use a carrot and stick policy , but there must be more carrot .
at least three Member States are encountering major difficulties , and the delays due to these three States are even more significant than those caused by the central system .
however , let us also remember that these creative and cultural industries have a value per se .
I also clearly heard Mr Gauzès 's recommendation , which was both non-committal and clear .
was this brought about only through technical considerations , or is it that the authors of this work of genius are once again trying to hide something ?
further practical aid is essential in terms of creating real opportunities for young farmers wishing to continue the family tradition in the Lesser Poland Voivodship to obtain a reasonable income .
the truth is that the occupation as it exists today cannot continue any longer .
these costs that no one pays are diverted onto society instead .
Mr President , this directive is wonderful in theory , but it could turn out to be a nightmare in practice .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner Hahn , we are very well aware of the factors that have led to an increase in the number of disasters in recent years : we know about climate change , the explosive industrialisation in developing countries and the growing world population , among other things .
however , the mood I am now sensing here is : what conditions will we impose on Russia so that we can accept it as a reliable partner ?
Mr President , I should like to endorse what has been said so far .
that means that service providers must respect the law of the State in which they operate .
a public prosecutor in Stockholm can have somebody arrested in Seville by means of a Euro-warrant , without needing to become directly involved in local procedures .
( CS ) Madam Vice-President of the Commission , ladies and gentlemen , in connection with the forthcoming EU-Canada Summit , I would like to mention one of the fundamental principles on which the EU is based .
this programme contains four priorities on which we were , moreover , broadly in agreement with the views of the European Parliament during the September debate on the annual political strategy for 2009 .
the aim is to gather suitable information on planned investments in order to enable the Commission to monitor the situation regarding the infrastructure and anticipate potential problems .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( DA ) Mr President , rules of procedure form the basis of all work in a democratically elected House .
I am ending .
and , even if they are aware of this right , the rules and procedures are often far from clear .
with the second birth , they reduce their working hours , and they continue to reduce them with each subsequent birth , while men , on the other hand , increase their professional responsibilities with each birth .
another element of the reality - which , at least for those who support the treaty , must be a very uncomfortable element - is the method by which this treaty is becoming reality , and it is the only feasible method by which that is possible , namely in a climate of fear .
secondly , the high grain and animal feed prices point to the emergence of a shortage of protein in the European Union , on which Mr Häusling will draft a report .
Honorable Members , you have provided a strong input to this process since its beginning .
ladies and gentlemen , the blatantly racist comments made by Mr Silvio Berlusconi last week , in which he called for zero tolerance towards Roma , illegal immigrants and criminals , are shocking and unacceptable .
it is our responsibility to reach high-risk groups such as pregnant women , young people and drivers through well-structured educational approaches .
the vote will take place tomorrow , Thursday , 11 November 2010 , at 12 : 00 .
I believe that a lasting and healthy EU-Africa partnership is fundamental to development and progress , and I therefore believe that the investment that both parties have made in strengthening their relations is fully justified .
I believe it would be appropriate to regulate this matter at Community level .
we have recently dealt with clear examples of gender discrimination , promoted by publicity productions that could not be suspended from broadcasting in the European Union countries .
furthermore , these countries ' capacities to generate economic and financial incentives remains at such a low level that it is almost negligible .
I would like especially to thank Mr Barroso for presenting the 2020 Strategy and the way it will be coordinated .
even better , they propose that the sums thus obtained by the EU should be allocated to the EU-IMF stability fund , the effects of which are currently being suffered by the Greek , Irish and Portuguese people .
I refer to the continuing upheaval of the financial markets .
as for the other points , I do not of course underestimate the problems facing the Maldives .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( FR ) Mr President , we in the Presidency are very happy to discuss this scheme with the European Parliament , as proposed by the European Commission and brought personally - and I should like to pay tribute to her - by Mrs Fischer Boel .
on the one hand , in the period up to July 2008 , the euro area economies , all the other European economies and many others besides in both industrialised and emerging countries suffered a severe shock from the rise in the prices of oil and other food and non-food raw materials .
those who talk about intervention and export refunds must have forgotten about the 2003 reforms .
passengers do not know that theycan do -and implicitly do not request financial compensation in case of delay or cancellation of flights .
we may be talking today more about antibiotics and the growing resistance to them , but we must take note of the issue and assess it more comprehensively .
however , there is still a dangerous mismatch between the continuing police approach to illegal immigration and the reality in numerous Member States .
( RO ) The recent history of the European Union offers a record of the success stories in terms of protecting minorities ' rights .
( LT ) I would like to draw your attention to something that we talk very much about , the various shortcomings of the internal market , and emphasize the fact that the development of the internal market gives us many advantages .
targeted sanctions against representatives of the regime must also be extended .
the Commission has presented a range of proposals on the exchange of Passenger Name Record ( PNR ) data with third countries and on the opening of negotiations on the agreements with Australia , Canada and the US .
it is building the future , our future , by making sure that businesses once again have the means to create , to innovate and thus to create jobs .
only those who employ staff on slave-type contracts and other strange contracts have something to fear from more transparency .
I can assure the Honourable Member that the current government , which includes the Hungarian party Hid , has not changed the language law , and that the law is quite reasonable .
it is important that the Multilateral Development Banks ( MDBs ) have sufficient resources to be able to provide what are known as soft loans .
a future accession to the European Union is an impulse for the democratic opposition in the Republic of Moldova to continue the fight for establishing democratic legislative and institutional structures , a process that the EU has committed itself to encouraging .
we could not of course include everything we would have liked , but the most important thing is that the preconditions have been created for introducing the relevant derogations in mountainous areas .
I would like to thank Mr Špidla for having pointed out that the issue of demographics is not an issue about women only , and that it concerns women , men and couples .
EU consumers have a vital role in enhancing growth , employment and competitiveness , and their interests are a main priority in forming key policies such as health , business and industry , the environment , and energy and transport , among others .
it is true that nuclear power stations can , in certain cases , pose risks , but I am quite shocked because there is a certain mistrust here in this Parliament of staff who work in nuclear power stations on a daily basis and who ensure the safety of our nuclear power from day to day .
I wish to abstain on the report by Mr Hutchinson on MDG contracts .
people living in these places earn the lowest pay and are often unemployed or dependent on social handouts .
( RO ) I hope that the Ukrainian authorities will step up their efforts to cooperate externally with the European Union and to come into line with European standards internally .
I therefore call on Members to support the Committee on Transport and Tourism in tomorrow 's vote on the directive at first reading .
the US has only 29 .
we must hammer home the fact that the EU and the Eurogroup are now only taking action in order to please those markets that you believe to be rational and efficient , but which panic when the deficit becomes too great , and panic once again because they fear that the measures taken to reduce it may hinder a semblance of economic recovery .
the European Union has a duty to do more on the issue of establishing a clear-cut policy in the area of electromagnetic waves , by giving more information to the public on this issue and by adopting binding Community legislation .
this explains my support for the immediate fulfilment of obligations undertaken at the G20 summit in Pittsburgh on the matter of a shift in the IMF quota share to emerging and developing countries of at least 5 % , and an increase of at least 3 % in voting power in the World Bank for developing and transition countries .
I also feel it is clear from this debate that the prospect of Turkey joining the European Union has been the driving force behind fundamental political and social reforms in Turkey .
there is no serious condemnation of the barbarous persecution and crimes committed by the Turkish authorities against the Kurdish population .
if this measure were to be carried out , it would give the Taliban a new argument to defend its positions and eventually would most likely result in the farming communities ending up as rebel camps .
are they , perhaps , to bring about another Cyprus situation , or to occupy territory in Kurdish-speaking Iraq , further complicating the efforts of many , including European countries , to stabilise Iraq ?
for this reason , I believe that it is important for us to await the experts ' conclusions and closely analyse them and only then make a decision on a common position on this issue .
Croatia must make significant progress in the resolution of bilateral disputes with neighbouring countries , such as the border issues with Serbia , Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina , so as to prevent these disputes from becoming an obstacle to further enlargement of the EU once Croatia has joined .
this is an important dossier that , being very technical , may not make the headlines , but will help prevent the loss of a great many human lives and the resulting family tragedies .
we must avoid this at all costs .
in Congo , Europe has managed to prove once more how divided and how weak it is and what an illusion it would be to think that a common foreign and security policy would be possible at this stage .
we have the Intelligent Energy Programme and we also have the Seventh Framework Programme for Research .
the visa-free regime is not about asylum for political or economic reasons .
( the order of business was adopted thus amended )
I am talking about the advisers , the diplomats , about a great many people who are ultimately the ones doing the most important work .
it is in fact well defined .
I do not want to get into the internal UK debate and scaremongering , that we are creating some kind of FBI with some kind of superpowers , with European police coming into your house to arrest you .
the second element is a truly European solution for third countries .
I have received four motions for resolutionstabled in accordance with Rule 110 ( 2 ) of the Rules of Procedure .
in order to produce a blended rosé , the base - more than 95 % - must be a white wine , which is tinted with red wine .
in this regard , I must repeat that the austerity policy , promoted heavily by conservative governments , is deeply inequitable and even demagogic , especially since the economic crisis was not caused by ordinary people , but by the financial and banking institutions , which had an excessively liberal concept of the financial system .
proponents of the Treaty here today state that its primary purpose is to streamline decision-making powers .
this resolution would call for a moratorium on new deep sea drilling until the standards have been improved and met .
legal and illegal migration are connected .
nearly all political groups and all nationalities collected here are saying that now is the time to review , re-evaluate and , if necessary , amend .
after the introduction of a ban on writing Polish names using the Polish spelling and a ban on the use of Polish place names , and even instances of Poles being penalised for using their own language , we are dealing with a further instance of discrimination , this time affecting education .
usually the one that takes the lead - developing the mechanisms , the models , having the intellectual property - has the leverage , and the advantage of being the first as well .
furthermore , I would like to say how pleased I am to note that among the non-chemical methods of plant protection and pest and crop management suggested , the use of GMOs does not feature as an option .
it is really only by the grace of God that today we are not talking about multiple fatalities .
there is an enormous amount of passion from all parliamentarians , especially , if I may say , Mr De Rossa and those Members who have recently come back , and who have clearly seen for themselves the dreadful situation that exists on the ground .
in writing . - ( PT ) Although many other considerations deserve a mention with regard to this report , we should like to point out , in this explanation of vote , that we cannot understand why our proposed amendment , aimed at including a mention of the outermost regions - such as the Azores and Madeira - within the definition of the priorities for transport logistics in the various EU countries , was rejected .
'There is no love , there is only proof of love , ' Jean Cocteau told us .
the Community method is not being strengthened - instead , what we have is renationalisation , intergovernmentalisation , in an important area of future EU policy and the complete exclusion of the bodies of the EU .
( DA ) Mr President , welcome to Parliament Mr Barnier and good luck with your job .
this recommendation is once again to be found in Mr Eppink 's motion for a resolution .
another extremely important issue , which must not be overlooked in any way , is nuclear energy and its development in relation to the politicisation of this issue .
in fact , we are rejoining NATO even though the Cold War has been over since 1990 .
although we are not yet discussing EU membership for Ukraine , Moldova or the countries of the South Caucasus in concrete terms , such a prospect in the future can contribute to stability , economic strengthening , reduced corruption and the consolidation of the rule of law in these countries .
yet , ladies and gentlemen , defending Christians in the Middle East increases the chances of counterbalancing the rise of Islamic extremism .
food security is a basic human right that is achieved when all people have physical , social and economic access to sufficient food .
I also voted in favour because I am convinced that this assistance complements the redundancy aid provided for in all national legislation and collective agreements .
it was when yields reached 7 % that Ireland had to be bailed out .
( DE ) Mr President , this motion for a resolution represents another important step in the right direction , but no more than that .
we did exactly the opposite .
these are elements of production and commerce which serve to meet fundamental needs .
it also means taking urgent steps to launch infrastructure projects to enhance energy interconnections - this is certainly essential .
when the Basel II Accord is implemented in the future , there will therefore be a need to have structures in place that serve to make firms more creditworthy .
finally , the Commission wishes to avoid any possible interruption to scientific projects under way and to minimise the administrative burden .
one of my lifelong personal goals in the area of healthcare has thus been fulfilled .
thanks to everyone who took the initiative and helped in the work on this Resolution .
the legislation from 2000 was non-binding and not very efficient .
we in the Commission took advantage of our chairmanship of the Kimberley Process last year to push for the development of controls to prevent and deter the use of diamonds to fund arms purchases by rebel groups .
this is Europe , and Europe should not have to change .
( applause )
we would not try to stop other European countries from joining us in trading with our Commonwealth friends .
( DA ) Mr President , there is no doubt that European competitiveness is under considerable pressure .
the European Union has an obligation to lead this process at the global level , as it is only through such a stance that the goal of eradicating poverty and promoting peace throughout the world will cease to be utopian .
modern technological opportunities for networking should not be used to make all the information on names , dates of birth , flight details , credit cards , and so on , readily available in such a way that this information can be misused .
the information required therefore needs to be diffused and used .
the phrase ' from farm to fork ' means just that .
the ethnic cleansing of the southern Ngok Dinka people seems to have begun .
we were all horrified by the violent power of this natural disaster and its horrendous consequences .
we will have greater opportunities to retain our quality of life in Europe .
it is clear that the aim of the report is to give a new momentum to the consolidation of the pension system while keeping its sustainability in mind .
we will successfully achieve this because Mr Coelho 's report is successful .
however , numerous studies have shown that we need to invest our financial , intellectual and creative powers in generation and transmission capacities .
that is exactly the point I wished to make to you : if we fail to support those who are fighting for freedom , then they will end up in an impasse and the other side will win .
( PT ) Madam President , in many Member States today , there is a wide disparity as regards the payment terms to businesses , especially when the state , small and medium-sized enterprises , and large companies are involved .
to this I say , let us create it .
this means you can use the Internet everywhere in Parliament 's buildings .
as in other areas , harmonisation achieved through social progress and not by everyone ending up with the same , low standard of living is required here .
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we now come to the catch-the-eye procedure .
we have yet to find out how difficult the intergovernmental approach will be in the case of the competitiveness pact .
the stated priorities were not mentioned in any particular order in the sense that we would approach one when we had completed the previous one .
in November 2005 the EU-Israel Subcommittee on Political Dialogue and Cooperation established an EU-Israel human rights working group .
in any case , how would compliance with such a regulation be monitored ?
to make three or more is an indication of stupidity , insanity or deliberate mischief-making .
you think , however , that this type of discrimination is normal .
we must ensure that all security and armed forces are clearly instructed that crimes and torture cannot be tolerated , will be fully investigated , and the perpetrators held accountable .
ultimately , despite what some colleagues may say , turkeys do not vote for Christmas , so why would any present Member of the European Parliament look to see their seat being taken away ?
Madam President , I would also like to begin with the referendum in Ireland - that is , the Treaty of Lisbon .
but there are , as the Prime Minister said , only two posts to be created .
personally , I was not entirely convinced of the need for this legislation because most vans are bought by businesses , both large and small , which are already very conscious of the need for economy and fuel efficiency .
the draft abandons regional and local level control in multi-level governance , overturning the shared management principle .
Mr President , please allow me to express my most sincere gratitude to all the Members who made a sustained effort on such a technical item .
if that were not the case the report would not fulfil its primary objective and indeed would fail in its task .
some of our fellow Members persist in confusing this type of operation , which is compatible with international law , with recent attempts by some , especially the United States , to put arms into space and transform it into a fourth battlefield , in addition to land , sea and air .
in other words , why have we failed to galvanise sufficient political will ?
firstly , it would give the Charter of Fundamental Rights legally binding force .
we also wish to make progress at the summit in our strategic partnership with India through the launch or continuation of specific cooperation ventures .
public access to European Parliament , Council and Commission documents (
this work has taken on increased importance in the light of the recent turmoil and maybe there will be other aspects of Basle II that we will need to address in the time ahead .
emission performance standards for new passenger cars ( debate )
fifty years later , on your festive anniversary , we feel exactly the same .
that is another of the characteristics of the negotiating directives that the Council will approve and which agree with what you have said here and with the motion for a resolution proposed by Mrs Hennis-Plasschaert .
it is a great shame because there is no political consequence .
can the Commission outline the initiatives that it intends to pursue to promote volunteerism in sport in Europe to a greater extent ?
in the recent Bové report , the European Parliament declared in favour of farmers and deemed that the maximum settlement period for transactions of this kind should be no longer than 30 days .
the fact that two documents will be in force - the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Convention - will create problems .
in writing . - I support this report as it is key to the post-crisis recovery and to addressing the major challenges in society .
you are not yet responsible for this , Mr Cioloş .
the issue basically now is to see an orderly and peaceful transition in these countries and not a breakdown in law and order .
when it comes to the automobile industry , of course we know that there was over-capacity not only in Europe but in the world , and we are following this very closely with the industry itself , including with the trade unions in the sector .
in particular , I am very much concerned about oil plants and similar facilities which cause a severe risk to our coastal regions .
in achieving agreement on the directive , the European Union has proven that it has the political will to take effective measures to protect public health and the environment .
this protocol is aimed at extending the customs security measures of the established agreement between the EU and the Principality of Andorra .
that is a negative effect which we may be able to eliminate in the future .
but what happened ?
unlike the report , we believe that the one-percent model is a good one .
agriculture has much to gain by anticipating the harmful effects of climate change as far as flooded areas , a decrease in farming areas , deforestation and unpredictable returns are concerned .
furthermore , we reject the term ' flexicurity ' as a meaningless piece of word-juggling .
we can also do much more in Parliament .
I consider the 10-year period in which buildings can be adapted to enable disabled people to access goods , services and resources to be positive , as well as the fact that , where difficulties at the structural level that are impossible to overcome persist , it will always be possible to find alternatives .
but , since the report refers at several points to the Treaty of Lisbon in glowing terms and in the hope that it will soon be ratified , we have chosen to vote against the report in its entirety .
2.3 million people work directly in it and another 10-12 million in auxiliary sectors .
about 1 % of gross national income goes to the EU .
it is a tragedy .
given , as you are well aware , that all EU Member States have waived visas for Canadian citizens , in accordance with our legislation , we have , on the other hand , if I may say so , a problem of consistency as Canada has removed the visa requirement for one of the candidate countries , Croatia , while , I repeat , currently retaining visa requirements for citizens from EU Member States .
there are several potential avenues for European action here .
firstly , we endeavoured to draft a text which would be balanced and which would work to the advantage of consumers throughout the Union , but also one which would not have an adverse effect on traders , and in particular on the operations of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Union .
this is what created the financial crisis , this is what is creating the environmental crisis and this is what is causing world hunger to increase .
is it possible that such a move , if it occurs , could be followed by similar agreements with other non-EU States ?
the European Council therefore gave the President of the European Council a mandate to lead , in close collaboration with the President of the European Commission , consultations with the Member States of the euro area in order to determine the concrete means needed to press ahead with this .
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there is nothing it can do .
unfortunately , in the light of the constant acts of violence and the human rights violations in the east of the DRC , we are obliged once again to strongly condemn the massacres , the crimes against humanity and the acts of sexual violence committed against women and girls that are still taking place in the eastern province .
the intention is clearly not that our drivers and hauliers should pay for the noise and environmental impact if we do not , at the same time , introduce measures aimed at solving the problems , such as road treatment and other noise-attenuation measures .
the group is examining the legislative framework , the associated issues , between trade and the environment , and the rise in the prices for agricultural products and its impact on the GMO issue .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I welcome the compromise reached in relation to some specific points that I feel are of vital importance to effectively achieve the objectives that we are proposing to reach under this legislative proposal .
our third objective is to contribute to robust and enhanced governance arrangements to handle the multiple challenges that affect the Arctic region .
the Commission prefers to extend the current range of technical measures that are causing discards , including of haddock , for at least another 18 months .
1 .
the Commission proposal therefore requires significant corrections to diversify the sectors involved , including the production and exports of Pakistan , accepting a different vision and a serious reflection on the respect for human rights and the fight against terrorism .
in terms of economic policy , the economic logic of the Treaty of Lisbon is precisely the economic logic that led to the economic crisis : ' an open market economy with free competition ' .
we need to conclude the Bologna Process .
President of the Commission . - I am sorry , but I do not know about this specific case in Scotland .
the Commission shares the opinion of the rapporteur , Mr Alvaro , that it is regrettable that this proposal should be decided in such a hurried manner by the Member States prior to the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty .
according to a number of sources , the official death toll is around eighty thousand .
I therefore request that Question 33 be answered in accordance with the procedure we have decided upon .
it is our impression that this message has been heard and that significant efforts are being taken to prevent any disruption .
it would be a real shame if a lack of resources prevented us from responding to these requests from countries .
the European Union needs Russia as much as it needs Georgia , if not more .
this policy of trying to make Europe into a fortress at this time of crisis , which is a triple crisis in terms of food , finance and energy , is not understood by everyone , because our work is poor and heading in the wrong direction .
likewise , we have no intention of exerting advance pressure on the decision of the Irish people .
in summary , the Commission has provided strong input into this European Council , the first formal meeting under the successful chairmanship of the permanent President of the European Council , Herman van Rompuy .
it is also true that the Member States bear a great deal of responsibility for this inability to come up with a coherent , effective and visible policy on this matter , while our US friends relied heavily on Europe to act .
that said , consumers must also have choices .
alleged transportation and illegal detention of prisoners in European countries by the CIA (
( DE ) Thank you very much Mr President .
we decided to call a trialogue meeting but , to our surprise , on the same day of the meeting , the Spanish Presidency unexpectedly announced to us that , at the request of the French Government , the Spanish Government had decided to postpone the issue as it was unsure about its legal basis . after months of work , we had stalemate .
there must be understanding and national dialogue .
I prefer to leave to one side the reply that I had prepared , for I have listened to a number of comments , and I feel that it is my duty to state a few facts .
11 December 2007 : the Court quashed a trade union action claiming that the Finnish shipping company Viking Line should not be allowed to register its ferry in Estonia to reduce workers ' wages .
it is very important , however - particularly post the Treaty of Lisbon - that we as Parliament also have codecision rights in foreign policy , at the level of the strategic focus of financing instrument programmes .
in my home country , we give top priority to foreign investment in the automotive sector .
in order to overcome some of the global problems that we have caused , we need nanotechnology , and so I will vote in good conscience in favour of this legislative resolution , but we must not forget that every coin has two sides .
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experts are generally agreed that there is a gap in the law in the Directive on the cross-border transfer of registered seat .
I refer once again to the debates we have often had in this House in recent years on the importance of reliable budget data , or reliable data for other national public accounts , GDP etc . , or the need to have a price index upon which the public can fully rely .
when Mr Lamassoure 's report was being drafted , a small country 's voice was heard inasmuch as I , along the other Finnish MEPs , kept hold of Finland 's 14 seats in Parliament .
take Haiti , for example , which was previously self-sufficient in rice .
( FR ) ... to support measures for safe abortion .
all in all I think we reached an honourable compromise in our discussions with the Council .
we know and we feel the responsibility , since this is a very important element in combating terrorism , even if it is not the only or even the most important element , but this particular data exchange is very important .
the charter must be our compass and we must lead by example , in particular , when we legislate .
the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union ( 2004-2008 ) - European area of freedom , security and justice ( debate )
a longer-term approach will also allow for more stability and sustainability in the exploitation of fisheries resources .
this is a difficult but necessary field of action for the work inspectorate .
that is obviously due to the approval of the Reform Treaty and the prospect of its untroubled adoption in Lisbon .
Opel announced back at the beginning of 2009 that it intended to cut capacity in Europe by 20 % .
European citizens must be able to benefit from infrastructure ( including buildings ) , products ( appliances and cars , among other things ) , processes and energy services offering the best energy efficiency in the world .
the political , economic and social choices of the peoples of these countries in the immediate future need to be respected , and they need to be given all the humanitarian aid that they seek , without preconditions or any interference .
let me give you an example .
let us do something to help prevent allergies , to tackle the main causes and to safeguard those who suffer from allergies .
therefore , we voted in favour of this report .
but ' domestic action ' is not enough .
secondly , we are dealing with the strange role that the monitor of the Kimberley Process has played .
in my own city , London , the impact on young black men has led to tougher guidelines and safeguards - none of which , it must be stressed , should impede the intelligence-led investigation of crime .
I met Baroness Ludford .
millions of Ukrainians became victims of the famine engineered by the Soviet authorities .
these companies are like predatory sharks and they should be stopped .
on this point , I believe that the European Union has the tools to support whatever diplomatic effort may be of use here .
the debate is closed .
thirdly , 10 days ago in Baghdad , an attack was made on Christians who were at prayer in their church .
removing barriers to trading for manufacturers will , firstly , help companies to remain in business and , secondly , contribute to workers keeping their jobs .
we know that many initiatives are taking shape in China for the purpose of mass protest against the violation of minimum environmental standards .
for instance , you argue in your report that scrapping the visa requirement will contribute to the elimination of ethnic and political instability .
Mr President , like everyone in this House I know the statistics that are commonly available , that prove that we could save ourselves a ton of energy and a ton of problems in the future if we were more efficient about the way we use energy .
I am coming back with the obstinacy of a fool to take the opportunity to highlight the Swedish experience .
people who are afflicted by hatred for homosexuals deserve no sympathy .
by 1 January 2013 , after a complete review of them , a proposal will amend it , if appropriate ;
this will increase the problems in these countries and make worldwide inequality worse .
thank you .
it also shows , in exemplary fashion , the importance that Europe , its institutions and Parliament in particular attach to this subject .
simply saying that this is important is not enough .
should that not be the case , in line with the commitments made to the developing countries concerned , the EU should draw the appropriate conclusions to come up with a truly viable , sustainable solution .
Mr Barroso , you have made a wonderful speech .
after branded products and cigarettes , counterfeiting has spread to the medicine market , and the seven million medicinal products seized each year account for around 5 % of all counterfeits .
I believe that it would be useful for the Commission , following the memorandum of understanding of December 2008 between the Commission and the Agency providing for certain closing transactions and in particular for the Agency 's residual assets to become the property of the Commission after 31 December 2008 , to produce a detailed closure report on the closing transactions for both the social and the financial aspects .
the impunity of the perpetrators must come to an end and the rule of law has to be restored in the eastern provinces of the DRC .
up to a quarter of a century ago , Europe was protected from such emigration waves for two reasons : the Iron Curtain and the totalitarian regimes in North Africa .
finally , as you can see , the enlargement process has not broken down .
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there is a sort of growing belief that there is a faceless bureaucracy .
or are you simply pushing it aside ?
thank you , Mr President .
it is linked to discrimination based on gender .
nevertheless , it happens that some Member States fail to adhere to EU policy and even breach the legal norms .
through this agreement , Parliament has ' improved ' and strengthened itself and the democratisation of the European Union has been reinforced .
President of the Commission . - I am aware that there have been concerns at some point that access to the Polish ports concerned would be restricted .
we should punish him if Libya continues to allow so many refugees free access to Europe .
this is a most unsatisfactory situation and creates an unnecessary crisis in the production of meat and eggs .
national institutional constraints and a lack of previous programming experience are some of the causes for these delays .
its rejection has led to my final vote against a report that negates the right to life through pro-abortion legislation and breaks the principle of subsidiarity .
in writing . - The EGF is a crucial fund in the EU , the scope of which has been widened in order to provide support for those who have been made redundant as a result of the crisis .
with this motion for a resolution , the European Parliament is making its contribution to what must be the European position .
divergences between the legal approaches and constitutional traditions of the various legal systems can serve as a source of inspiration for a European legal culture , but should not constitute a barrier to the further development of European law .
finally , I am pleased to say that earlier this year , the Commission published a report on women 's health , which contributes to raising awareness of the need for policies that are more responsive to gender concerns .
finally , may I pay due thanks to the enormous and supportive work which I have been given not only by the secretariats , but by the tabling services .
the Council must therefore permit the Member States to ratify these parts of the Convention .
besides the implementation of tasks arising from the Lisbon Strategy , we have seen an increase in other joint actions in recent times .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to congratulate Diana Wallis on the excellent work that she has carried out .
in the specific case of the accident that occurred in Belgium , human error seems to have been the cause .
it is a small but decisive common denominator which will ensure the highest possible levels of safety for countries with and without nuclear power .
for European leaders are talking with the President and with a Belarusian Government which represents the Belarusian Parliament and political system .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Mr President , this year , we celebrate 30 years since your country , Greece , became a member of the EU .
the right to return to the same work position or an equal position with equal working conditions after birth must be guaranteed .
there is just one slight point of confusion for me .
we need to decide how trade policy can contribute positively towards solving the problem of climate change .
I declare resumed the session of the European Parliament adjourned on Thursday , 17 September 2009 .
these views can be incompatible with each other , however , and then governments have a duty to promote tolerance and stand up for those who face discrimination and violence because of their beliefs .
the Council decision goes on to say that responsibility for the Union 's military policy lies with the High Representative of Common Foreign and Security Policy .
I would like to assure you that the Commission is not shying away from the problems .
we have given up certain principles , and the citizens of one country , the Czech Republic , will benefit less from human rights than the majority of Europeans .
we need minimum standards of data protection .
gambling addiction will all too often and too easily put an individual in a financial predicament , which can also result in very serious mental health problems .
we urgently need better and more standardised statistics from all the Member States throughout the EU .
your report confirms that this has been achieved not in spite of engagement but by virtue of it , and by virtue of the new Member States ' willingness to shoulder the full weight of their responsibilities .
rapporteur . - Madam President , the positive result of the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty brings us one step closer to that moment in time when the European Parliament will not only be consulted by the Council , but will have codecision powers on matters which are now under the third pillar .
we do not deny the need for there to be ways for the various Member States to cooperate , link up and coordinate their activities to control and combat illegal fishing , but we were sceptical of the benefits of creating the Community Fisheries Control Agency ( CFCA ) because we believe that some of its competences clash with those of the Member States .
let me start by putting the Human Rights Council in what I believe to be the appropriate context .
in fact , it definitely gives an excellent picture of the US democratic machine .
I am pleased to see that many of the horizontal concerns , as regards the protection of vulnerable customers and the fight against energy poverty , have also been taken up in the gas report .
though Commissioner Almunia must be applauded for his favourable comments on the crisis today , we as MEPs also have the opportunity through this report to aid an industry which has just been brought to its knees for the third time in the last ten years .
this is why we need vigorous enforcement by competent authorities .
rapporteur . - ( ES ) Madam President , briefly I would like to reiterate my thanks to all those who have played a part in this already lengthy debate process on the telecommunications package : the Commissioner , the other rapporteurs ; in short , all those who have been involved besides the Presidency-in-Office of the Council .
( LT ) I agree with the Commission and my fellow Members who have said that the situation in Yemen is tense .
to conclude , I strongly believe the new framework will be more favourable to consumers .
I know it is forbidden , but I think it is actually quite fun , so it should be allowed .
whilst it is very important to manage financial crises , more needs to be done for the SMEs right now , because they are the real economy .
the exclusion from aid cooperation of countries that recognise Taiwan is a further symptom of the primacy of a particularist strategy over development policy .
no one .
so let us not limit ourselves simply to institutional considerations .
naturally , labelling is better than nothing .
I did so because , as it is an own-initiative report , it was not possible for us to take separate votes to call for the removal of paragraphs 5 , 8 and 16 , which I find absolutely unsatisfactory .
Europe has a great opportunity : to support , without discrimination , structural changes to the sector with long-term , low-interest loans and assistance for research .
I would like to remind you that gender equality is not only a fundamental value enshrined in the treaty , but also that gender equality policies have proven to be a driver for economic growth .
at Cancún , there will not be a ' binding ' agreement on the famous CO2 certificates for the good reason that the legislators of the United States , Canada and Australia do not want one , and that China , India , Brazil and others will not allow themselves to be straitjacketed in such a way .
in my opinion , we now have to fight against economic nationalism , and time is just one of our enemies in that fight .
the amendment proposed by my group calling for the introduction of a financial transaction tax at EU level without further delay ( such as the carrying out of more studies ) was passed by a narrow majority .
let us not forget that , apart from the threats , violence , deception and abuse of dependents , especially within the family , we also have exploitation from deliberate promotion , mainly of people at an age at which they cannot react .
( FR ) Madam President , my speech is addressed to the Commission and to my fellow Members , and I would also like to welcome the Council .
the new and confused situation that began after the flight of former president , Mr Ben Ali , must now lead to the objective that many have asked for : the start of economic and social reforms to match the expectations of the vast majority of the population and the opening up of democratic forums , to ensure that civil society and the various opposition forces are increasingly involved in public life and in government .
my last point to the Commissioner - and to the Council as well - is to ask for an assurance that that they will do their best to secure the kind of achievements agreed during the Doha Development Round .
safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships ( debate )
finally , for the continuation of the pilot project monitoring measures in the field of consumer policy for the consolidation of a scoreboard and related market study , as a preparatory action , the amount adopted is EUR 1 million .
so , on that basis , could I ask how united the Council is in its joint action , and , where you have a situation in which Member States have to act alone , is the system working effectively ?
the Nabucco project is the only realistic , feasible plan that is capable of mitigating Europe 's unilateral dependency on Russian gas supplies .
all of us in this House are engaged in ensuring that both dossiers provide assistance for passengers with reduced mobility , in particular , but shipowners cannot deal with access difficulties at ports ; ports themselves must do this .
he struck me as being a very reasonable , sensible , fair-minded person and he emphasised that religion is about tolerance and we should try to get that message through to the extremists and the fundamentalists .
in conclusion , do you not consider it opportune to strengthen the legal powers in Directive 2005 / 36 / EC to facilitate the mutual recognition of professional qualifications among Member States ?
that fight has now been won , and I am deeply grateful for her commitment , which has led to this remarkable achievement .
since Israel withdrew from Gaza , it has turned it into the largest prison in the world , and for the last three weeks it has turned it into a slaughterhouse , illegally using terror against terror , killing civilian men , women and children , and killing the possibility of a viable two-state solution in the process .
if we focus on finance , it is really undesirable for the International Monetary Fund or the World Bank to play a leading role , even for the worst of enemies .
of course , I support the Millennium Development Goals and I applaud the Conservative government which , while having to cut our national budget by something like 30 % , including our school budget , has ring-fenced and increased our development assistance budget by 27 % .
therefore , towns and cities have a particular role when it comes to actually improving the living conditions of citizens .
it is merely an inhumane and expensive solution to a complex problem .
the route has to be that of competitiveness , and the message of this concept has to be clear : more competitiveness , more stimulus , more growth , more support for companies , more Europe to support growth and jobs .
the second question is : do you think that it would be possible to introduce a risk premium for derivatives which would then be used to strengthen the banks ' own capital ?
however , there should be no doubt as to the long-term vision and commitment of the European Union regarding this initiative .
this is a step backwards , it is a slap in the face of a small state that is really making every effort to go along with us and open negotiations .
I strongly urge the Commission to continue its work in these areas .
we all know that asymmetrical measures and opt-outs will not bring the full benefits of the internal market in this area .
I also hope that this decision will help save disappearing fish species .
employment is often the best way to leave poverty behind .
the European Union needs to keep a close watch on EPA talks and developments and the JPA has done this .
those guidelines would serve to provide clarity in the interpretation of such notions as ' sufficient resources ' and ' public security ' .
the Commission should redouble its efforts to remove red tape from existing EU support schemes and facilitate cross-border banking , by removing all existing obstacles to the usage of competing clearing and settlement systems and by applying common rules on trading .
its purpose is , firstly , to strengthen jobs and industrial development in the European Union and , secondly , to improve conditions for people in other countries of the world .
however , the protection of animals , like the protection of public health , requires a fight against the monopolies , against the power of capital , which protects drugs with patents in order to secure huge profits from the commercialisation of health .
every year , between 70 000 and 80 000 tonnes of pesticides are poured into our environment in France .
as far as climate change is concerned , it is important that the Swedish Presidency does its best to achieve a robust deal in Copenhagen .
it is necessary for the Member States ' finance ministers to submit a national statement of assurance for all of the EU funds used .
however , it is vital to show the impact of this extension on the other provisions of the Commission 's proposal .
I welcomed this report because transparency of political institutions is a prerequisite for legitimacy .
those of you who raised the other issues , such as the visa waiver - because not all the EU countries are taking part in that - can remember how , a year ago , my country led efforts on that .
our fines must also effectively deter companies from engaging in such anti-competitive practices in the future .
prevention , diagnosis and treatment can indeed bring the spread of this disease under control .
- Langen report
I think that we all need to work together in the European Union , because we are talking about something on a European scale that affects the whole of the European Union and its main policies .
why is it filtered by the Ministry of the Interior ?
at the same time , given that environmental challenges cause serious problems for fishery resources , I believe that it is crucial for the new CFP to allow ecologically sustainable and economically viable fishing .
it is very curious that the latest charges relating to fraud against the medicines budget were not levelled against Zinovii Mytnyk , the Deputy Minister for Heath at the time , who signed off on the deal , because he has now re-emerged , curiously , as the new Health Minister in Yanukovych 's Government .
the way this report is so broadly imbued with compromise shows that this is something the European Parliament can be proud of .
a financial mechanism that would guarantee autonomy and room for manoeuvre with regard to the Member States which , crisis situation or no , have long since abandoned the idea of giving Europe the means for its ambitions .
with the future Multiannual Financial Framework , if we listen to the European Parliament , cohesion policy will be able to move into a new phase thanks to the creation of intermediate regions .
how will you change them ?
we did not get the chance to hear all sides of the debate .
after an initial phase of getting to know one another , we have worked together effectively , constructively and openly .
I voted in favour of this resolution , although not all of the amendments proposed by the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats were adopted during the vote .
I am pleased that the Commission has highlighted the subject of efficient and responsible raw material use , and I also consider it important that we are going to discuss rare earths soon .
( FR ) Mr President , I call for a debate , I call for two or three minutes ' speaking time .
these matters must be administered by the Member States in accordance with their own national preferences .
in the future , we should think about whether , along with liberalisation of trade in agricultural goods within the framework of the WTO on a world level , we should not also introduce standardisation of some elements of agricultural policy at world level .
for a start , I would like to tell you that we had reached an agreement with the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe .
in my country and in my experience every time there is a planning process for a green recycling facility or the use of meat and bone meal for energy production , there are objections , because people are suspicious of these developments and are fearful for their health .
our acceptance of dual pricing in connection with Saudi Arabia 's accession to the WTO , an arrangement that has caused severe difficulties for our European petrochemical industry , was also intolerable .
I am calling on the European Union to condemn these remarks and raise the matter with China .
in all of these countries , force has been used to suppress demonstrations being made by people who are demanding democratic change .
we shall also be measured by whether we have managed to keep older employees in work processes for longer , instead of shunting them into early retirement .
that would mean additional and burdensome controls .
there are many praiseworthy statements about anti-discrimination and the importance of equal treatment in this report which deserve attention .
Mr Iturgaiz should update his information , because on Saturday , the government of Venezuela and the government of Spain issued a joint communication regarding this matter .
therefore , it was not any institution but rather an institution of the UN .
that is why this vote will be very carefully followed by the Commission .
I must also mention the need to place the much-abused dairy sector on the CAP political agenda by adopting Amendments 16 , 12 and 5 .
the US Air Force has determined that the plane offered by Northrop Grumman and the EADS is superior to the Boeing and is the best tanker to meet its needs .
it is , of course , not the first report to commit this crime , but it shows a deep contempt for the Irish voters who have nullified the Treaty and , in fact , for all voters in Europe who have not had the opportunity to express their views about the Treaty of Lisbon in a democratic way .
organisation within the sectors that includes all the elements of the supply chain , as well as the new players - I am referring to the mass catering sector and processing companies for quick-frozen or even fresh-prepared products - can undoubtedly lead to the introduction of private tools for stabilising prices .
I will conclude with a rapid presentation of the ideas on which very swift action is needed .
illegal work interferes with the functioning of the internal market , preventing effective competition .
therefore , the stress tests must cover an accumulation of different risks .
transparency in the use of taxpayers ' money is of great concern and any evidence of misappropriation or misuse must be dealt with properly .
it was recognized that an open market based on principles of friendship and honesty is the key to stable economic growth and reducing world poverty .
I reject this social regression , including in the name of my European ideal .
I believe that I have responded in brief to all of the points you have raised , ladies and gentlemen .
by transcending the centrality of the oft-raised questions ' who governs and how ' , it calls attention to the question ' who is governed ' .
Latvia notes with pleasure the European Commission 's proposals in this regard .
and it is on this basis that we hope that Croatia will progress as quickly as possible , and the Slovenian Presidency will work towards this end .
2008 is the Year of Intercultural Dialogue .
we have opened this debate because what we are talking about here is an issue of fundamental rights , the right to privacy and the possibility that the irresponsible , bureaucratic and uncontrolled installation of a machine may represent a serious attack on passengers ' rights .
Europe has supported the peace process , and it is our duty to continue to do that .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , Mr Lyon , first of all I would like to thank you for the report .
I am therefore very pleased that , among other things , it has also been indicated clearly in the recitals that , on the one hand , we are of course not prepared to accept criminal activity , but on the other hand we are also not prepared to allow intervention without the verdict of a judge , without a legal basis .
we do not have to go very far - the proof can be found in the countries of North Africa - to realise the dangerous consequences that such uncertainties can have .
President Obama or the Senate , which has so far refused to find a solution ?
however , the increased flow of SOLVIT cases has resulted in several deficiencies with its response .
( the sitting was suspended at 11.05 and resumed at 11.30 )
this is a major challenge for the international and environmental image of the European Union , which is producing very positive results in this area .
3 .
I would like to remind you at this point of the reforms made to the economy , justice system and public administration .
I would like to say , Mr Schulz , that I have done and am doing just as you suggest .
the open scope of the legislation , as recommended by the Environment Committee , is a much better approach than that proposed by the Commission .
we must ask the following question : if we were starting today ( and not 50 years ago ) , what would we invest our budgetary resources in ?
through the Hermes joint operation , the Frontex border agency is coordinating a response to the strong migratory pressure .
so , will the Commission do more - far more - in order to make sure that Member States effectively promote the Mediterranean diet in schools and even ban the use of diets proven to cause damage to children 's health in such institutions ?
we did not manage to bring the negotiations to a close with a final resolution for an agreement .
no matter how small it may be , it is certainly one that works extremely hard .
so again I would like to thank the rapporteurs , who really did a huge job in putting forward Parliament 's opinion and getting the agreement of the presidency , with the help of the Commission , on the most ambitious set of proposals , which will revolutionise the energy sector .
I very much hope that that will be the case .
we will give you our support , and we will scrutinise the proposals , and we will discuss with you , because we have confidence in democracy and the majority we have in this Parliament .
I support this measure and I am fully confident that this committee will conduct an appropriate analysis of the scope of the financial crisis which has affected every Member State , and that it will put forward expert recommendations contributing to the European Union 's economic recovery .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I offer my very warm thanks to the Commissioner .
women are concentrated in low paid jobs and account for the large majority of part-time workers in the European Union .
that is a real bonus following the rejection of an official human rights delegation from the European Parliament .
of course , part of the delivery is from the Commission 's side .
Madam President , unfortunately , every day in the press , we read accounts of discriminative or racist acts against the Roma .
it is not in danger from the people who criticise and challenge policies , particularly on immigration , and who are therefore accused of being extremist .
I would therefore ask you to add my name .
it did not even come anywhere near to the hoped-for result , which is a problem , although the commissioner did make a number of very interesting suggestions .
it is a very topical question , with the third High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Accra meeting as from today and with less than a month to go before the high-level meeting on the Millennium Development Goals , to be held in New York on 25 September .
this is also the view of the Commission , and it is also the view of the majority of Member States .
in addition to the risk of accident , freight traffic , which has a tendency to break down , is untenable from the point of view of congestion , noise and environmental pollution .
that is why the use of reversed qualified majority voting is so important and so fundamental for Parliament .
so let us agree that what we are discussing now is a 2 % across-the-board increase .
the ministers actively oppose the notion that there must be a special reason for using dyes in otherwise colourless substances .
it is better that drivers be guaranteed rest at home than be forced to do so en route in the midst of surprised and displeased customers .
I must say that I also thank Mr Atondo , and am bound to report that the AFCO Committee on Constitutional Affairs - which I chair - has approved this document almost unanimously .
I know Member States have a responsibility themselves to say that , but is there some mechanism whereby the Commission could be more forthcoming with regard to highlighting the areas of expenditure ?
gender discrimination persists in the developed world and Europe today because it is a structural problem , and one with severe consequences in terms of inequality of opportunity .
in future , we will need sustainable and ecologically sound procedures which ensure that the environment is protected .
the assessment should therefore be carried out across the board , with account taken of the whole economic environment that surrounds very small enterprises , their relations with banks , with management centres - in the case of French enterprises - and , of course , with their customers .
the fact that this kind of shipping control does not exist puts lives in jeopardy and logically constitutes a threat to the local environment .
this means 1 million potential ambassadors for the European idea in Ukraine who have nothing to do with and are not guilty of involvement in oligarchic power games .
in the interests of the entire European Union , no further delay can be tolerated and should be immediately denounced on all the most relevant occasions .
EU-Serbia relations ( vote )
it has also been scientifically proven that the underlying causes of global warming are predominantly man-made .
the Lisbon Treaty has already been rejected by the Irish once , but ' no ' is always the wrong answer , as far as the European Union is concerned , when it comes to further political integration .
the European Union must also send out only one message internationally , and fight for the improvement of OECD standards to achieve the automatic sharing of information , instead of sharing on request .
Turkey 's cultural , linguistic and strategic influence in the region is one of the arguments for Turkish membership of the EU .
on some key points , however , the same countries have imposed on the others a ' lowest common denominator ' compromise .
without suitable rules against counterfeiting , there is no point talking about measures to relaunch the European economy .
we have given Europe the Treaty of Lisbon , and this treaty gives the citizens more of Europe .
Madam President , this provision is a little like the curate 's egg .
in writing . - ( PT ) I voted in favour of this report on the Action Plan for Energy Efficiency because it puts forward important proposals for the environment and for the economy , specifically the presentation of European legislation that introduces binding goals to reduce energy consumption .
in addition , premiums are likely to increase in those countries where either no or limited reimbursement of legal costs has been the practice so far .
among other things , the future activities of the FAO will be determined by a results-based management system that will promote greater efficiency as regards the allocation and utilisation of scarce resources .
we have heard that it is all due to the fact that in practice the Somali government is not functioning at all .
moreover , if reconciliation fails , the EU has to step in to offer its services to mediate .
think , too , of the political impact of the powerful strike in Dacia , Romania against ' low-cost Europe ' .
however , my key point is this : as the EU is based on the principles of free competition , we are committed to ensuring , not only in theory but also in real life , that in each Member State the consumer will be able to choose freely and without any difficulties between different electricity producers and distributors and to decide which is the best offer .
that is also a point on which I wish the Council would provide us with an account of what has happened .
proceeding with this harmonisation will only make sense if we genuinely harmonise the entire sphere of consumer protection law and leave the Member States no further scope to tinker on the margins of this harmonised acquis .
I would also like to answer the point on State aid guidelines for shipping in 2010 .
at the same time , we are living with the drastic effects of the Memorandum .
it criticises air and road transport for being major generators of CO2 as compared with sea and rail , and yet it sends out the message that freedom of choice ( for the multinationals ) is fundamental to world trade .
secondly , we would like to see the role and the duties of the Director-General of OLAF , the anti-fraud office , better described .
however , there are still other matters , because his rule is not only destabilising the situation in his own country , but it is destabilising the situation in the region .
in my view , this was not an ambitious summit ; it was fainthearted .
it has clearly demonstrated , if there were any doubt , how much the opinions and views of the many Members differ with regard to the negotiations on Turkey 's accession to the European Union .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , Mr President-in-Office , I should like to express my thanks for this report and remind the House that the CE mark of the European Union means that a product complies with European standards of quality and reliability .
the neoliberal ideology that is dominant in the European Central Bank ( ECB ) , which means that there is an ever-lurking threat of inflation , even when there is considerable untapped productive capacity , is making the euro area a hostage to the financial markets .
we shall vote against the MFA ( macro-financial assistance ) being presented today to the European Parliament .
refusing to hold referendums shows how much of a gap there is between the European elite and the hopes and needs of European citizens , and Euro-indifference and Euro-scepticism are strengthened .
that is the pivotal point of the strategy that I have tried to present here today .
within this context I therefore stress the advisability of increasing consumer protection , including through this directive .
however , I believe that a great deal of progress has been made in this area .
first , the EU is ready to work closely with Minsk and support its political and economic development and , should there be significant positive steps from the Belarusian leadership , we would be prepared to see Belarus as a full member of the Eastern Partnership .
a major prerequisite for building reciprocity is ratification of the Energy Charter Treaty by Russia .
secondly , in terms of content , our Parliament as a whole was unable to reach a decision on my proposal since it wanted to pass this text at first reading via an informal procedure that I oppose .
we should also remember that in 2012 , the European football championships will be held in Poland and Ukraine , so the possibility of free movement will be especially important .
the Market Access Strategy sets up a stronger partnership between the Commission , Member States and business to enhance the work of detecting , analysing , prioritising and removing barriers .
I also welcome the steps that we are taking to ensure ownership unbundling as a necessary measure to finally complete our liberalisation of the energy market .
we therefore call upon our governments to step up their efforts and set an example .
as you can see , the main policies that are concerned in this food crisis and can help resolve it are agricultural policy , development policy and trade policy .
if the situation becomes acute , Europe may face not only the issue of how to sort out production and sales problems in Europe , but also the problem of imported cars that have been produced with excessive state aid .
the European Union saluted the mediation by President Kufuor of Ghana , who is presiding over the African Union .
in order to avoid any misunderstandings , I would particularly like to state and be very clear that in the report I am definitely not recommending any new legislation in this area , neither at EU nor at national level .
indeed , this fragile species , like many others , is subjected to a veritable massacring at sea as a result of finning practices and the discarding of carcasses at sea following that mutilation .
I have said to Mr Madlener that if he takes the floor I will repeat the remarks that Mr Bloom made directly to Mr Schulz .
how will we manage this when already over 850 million people in the world are undernourished ?
the Commission immediately asked the ECDC to carry out a scientific assessment .
at the same time , the EU is trying to maintain a balance with our long-standing commitment to support the development and stability of this developing country and the Central American region more generally .
yes , it is one of the areas we are studying , but there are others , such as cooperation in research , science and education .
this is just something for you to think about , Mr Šemeta .
we consider that cultural programmes have received far too generous appropriations in the EU 's budget for a matter which in all essentials should be down to the Member States .
however , today , when traffic is gradually being permitted once again in secure zones , in unchanged weather conditions , and when the volcano is still active , one is entitled to wonder what additional safety guarantees for passengers we could not have provided earlier , sooner .
the next item is the report by Mr Kacin , on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs , on EU-Serbia relations , with a proposal for a European Parliament recommendation to the Council on relations between the European Union and Serbia .
yes there is violence , there are difficulties , but the situation is different .
the tight link between public finances and the financial and economic crisis is very clear .
however , the European Union will continue to demand from the Cuban authorities the release of all political prisoners .
the next item is the report by Mr Lange , on behalf of the Committee on Industry , Research and Industry , on an industrial policy for the globalised era .
this is the same as if somebody who is having their house built accepted the offer and then refused to pay the final bill .
I hail from a border area , and driving around the area for half an hour , you can face road tolls six times !
what is worse , some have even tried to divide the European Union into two classes of citizenship by saying that only individuals coming from a Member State in the Schengen area and in the euro area should be eligible .
we are talking once again about Burma here , a country which is not free , but which has been in the hands of the military junta for many , many years .
we in the European Parliament , however , must focus first and foremost on its implications for the security of the continent of Europe .
at the same time , the agreement should make it easier for citizens of the two contracting parties to move and maintain personal contacts , something which is essential to ensuring the development of economic , humanitarian , cultural and other relations .
( PL ) Mr President , China 's role in global economic development is a particularly important one .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( IT ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the text on which we are about to vote constitutes a good compromise and considerably improves the Commission 's initial proposal .
it is not a question of counting up the victims or of a re-run of the Nuremberg Trials ; this time we are trying an ideology rather than identified criminals .
this notion commits us to taking account of the differing interests of the Member States and developing countries when negotiating commitment schedules and economic partnership agreements .
( RO ) Mr. President , dear colleagues , I would like to congratulate my colleague Mavromatis and , at the same time , to thank him for cooperation because I proposed several amendments to this report .
if we want to manage the risk of its effect on the real economy , we must direct the economic and financial policies of the European Union towards securing macroeconomic stability and implementing the structural reform plan .
to reply to Mrs Doyle , I hope here that , as with other issues , we are not totally isolated and that the Presidency is confident .
the report makes a good contribution to this process .
in the last year , China invested more in renewable energies than Germany did , that is true .
I would also like to call for a reform of the decision-making process so that the poorest countries can have a greater say in decision making , particularly within the Bretton Woods system .
we must fight for the same principles , the same values and retain a permanent memory of the victims of all these forms of totalitarianism .
you can then send us your points of view so that they are taken into account .
you just do not get it , do you ?
I believe that the establishment of the European External Action Service will contribute to better implementation of these resolutions , while it should also highlight the role of the EU in this field .
as a rule they are men !
that is why there is nothing more urgent today than to find a new source of economic , social and political energy to start growing in a sustainable way .
the first is addressed to Mr Gauzès .
in many specific cases , the Arrest Warrant is not applied in a proportionate way , as we can see in the reports now available to us .
one of the points at issue , as has been mentioned , was the funding of security measures - the reason why is fairly obvious .
secondly , I have personal doubts about the merits and benefits of changing the Late Payment Directive .
welcoming the Commission 's support for the principle of mainstreaming for disabled people , on how many occasions has the Inter-Service Group organised by DG Employment and Social Affairs met during 2007 , and which Directorates-General of the Commission have not been present at these meetings ?
from the initiatives chosen in the context of an annual call for proposals , many are put forward and implemented by the Member States in collaboration with third countries .
the fisheries management system should abandon the traditional top-down approach and instead emphasise the principle of regionalisation , which makes it possible to take into account the prevailing conditions in individual sea basins .
the Community 's financial assistance shows that Ukraine is strategically important as a potential candidate country for EU accession .
the new US leadership could lead to an improved EU / US common policy , the two sides working together in an effective partnership on many global issues that the leaders of both continents must face , such as climate change , global challenges , regional issues , defence , economic matters and trade .
the EU will continue to play a leading role in international initiatives relating to adaptation .
a lot of work is being done , and Mrs Harkin 's report emphasises positive ideas for supporting volunteers and encouraging action at all levels .
many of the proposals featuring in it overlap with various other initiatives .
one hundred and fifty thousand Egyptians have returned to Libya , but this migration issue does not end here .
this package of measures will include proposals on the allocation of responsibility and obligations among the Member States in order to improve the EU Emissions Trading System and achieve the targets for renewable energy sources .
ultimately , we now have the agreement to pass on the costs for the use of infrastructure , for noise and for air pollution to the carrier .
finally , we propose to draft a European regulation that obliges groups to include their financial companies and all of their holding companies in their accounts , so that the authorities and the trade unions have an overall view of a group 's economic situation , rather than a case-by-case , factory-by-factory view , the sole aim of which is , in fact , to disarm the workers and confront them with a fait accompli .
political parties at European level are essential instruments of parliamentary democracy , raising European political awareness , promoting interest in EU affairs and expressing the will of the citizens of the European Union .
the Parental Leave Directive ?
in the light of this , I believe that the conclusion of the association agreement is particularly pertinent with a view to the effective implementation of the EU-Ukraine association agenda .
Mr President , the purpose of trade is to maximise prosperity and advantage to both participants .
there will be other reasons to do with human rights or to do with an international organisation that defends human rights being more legitimate , stronger and more solid .
the European Parliament should be given regular updates on the work of the Economic and Financial Committee .
'Perhaps there is a key to Russia .
now we hear that many raise objections against the very two-thirds majority that they had previously seen as a guarantee .
( DE ) Mr President , back when I was a child , I received letters from what was then Rhodesia .
we must insist that the Member States with large populations and which at present produce a very small part of their energy using renewable energy sources should close this gap .
I wish to pay tribute to the efforts of the rapporteur , Ms Lulling , to reach an agreement with the Spanish Presidency on this technically complex and politically sensitive matter .
particular emphasis must be placed on the condition of public buildings , offices and schools , so that we can protect the most vulnerable .
the Commission welcomes the European Parliament 's resolution on the Green Paper and I can tell you that it supports the greater part of it .
report : Klaus-Heiner Lehne
I think it is extremely likely that issues such as Iran , Afghanistan / Pakistan , the South Caucasus and , of course , the Middle East will be raised .
we should not waste any more taxpayers ' money on this pointless political gesture .
however , the melting of the Arctic ice cap has numerous , drastic consequences .
( NL ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to start by paying tribute to all those who have been working hard on this package of late , but I also support the previous speakers from my group .
I therefore request that the status quo continue to obtain in line with Mr Berlato 's report , his amendments and my own .
this is also the reality in each and every EU Member State , although one can identify specific differences depending on the country .
you are completely crazy .
we did stumble over a few points , however , and this is reflected in the amendments we have formulated .
the sector employs directly 12 million EU citizens and an additional 26 million jobs in other sectors are dependent on it .
I hope that those guidelines will follow the philosophy established in this House , from which I hope the Commissioner will not depart .
it represents an innovative approach to international health financing .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I thank Mr Ehler very much for his report on the communication of the Commission on supporting early demonstration of sustainable power generation from fossil fuels .
we obviously do not support this .
there are very big differences between these two things .
investing in SMEs is a means of making a significant contribution to the innovation , research and development activities taking place in the European Union .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , the present political crisis in Armenia is not the first .
there is no doubt about the ideas that everyone has expressed : the importance of our relationship with Canada , the importance of the partnership and our shared values with a great democratic country with which we have a strategic need to cooperate .
the existence of effective controls along our external borders must be an important factor inasmuch as the security of the Schengen area depends on the efficiency with which each Member State controls its external borders .
it has managed to get several projects and preparatory actions included , it has initiated debates and questioned the funding for a large number of policies , and it has truly played its role as a budgetary authority in full .
it certainly makes no sense to me that fitness to join the Schengen zone should lie exclusively in the hands of the Member States in any case , irrespective of any arcane split between pre- and post-Schengen accession .
the first is the integrated management of extreme water events , such as floods , water shortage , excess surface water and irregular distribution of rainfall .
( DE ) Mr President , in the last few days , I have seen and experienced the alternatives to air travel in Europe , on the one hand , during a car journey from Belgrade to Vienna and then on a train journey from Vienna to Strasbourg .
even if they end up not endorsing it , various countries could adopt it in their national generally accepted accounting principles .
that being the case , I would prefer it if we could completely reject the directive , but we will not secure a political majority in favour of that option in the House , and the Council is also insisting on rules that are devoid of content , which is why we have now agreed a compromise on the basis of the report by the Committee on Transport .
the events in the Baghdad cathedral are merely the culmination of a situation that we have been observing passively for far too long .
I believe , therefore , that the sanctions laid down for employers will certainly act as a further deterrent , because there are already sanctions for illegal work , especially involving illegal immigrants .
this Declaration heralded a new era in a world that had just survived the tribulations of the worst war in history , a war that began in Europe .
we need only consider the many complaints we have received concerning the long-standing waste crisis in Campania , despite a clear ruling by the European Court of Justice , and concerning the freezing of funds .
missing persons in Cyprus - Follow-up (
according to the experts , one third of cases can be prevented , but for this to happen , the EU must increase funding for the fight against cancer . this would make it possible to carry out scientific research and a wide-ranging programme of anti-cancer prophylactic measures in all the countries of the Union .
this resolution advocates measures that could end up helping to combat the crisis in this sector , which is being damaged by speculation on the commodities market , as well as by scrupulous compliance with EU regulation .
the resolution recommends that the Council adopt a common position on structural and pre-accession funding , reflecting the European political commitment to promote Roma inclusion .
we must not send out the signal that trade in organs could be legal in some circumstances .
the Commission 's initiative to mobilise information and communication technologies is a very important step towards helping to solve the problems of loss of memory , vision , hearing and mobility in the elderly .
freedom of expression and freedom of assembly are fundamental human rights for everybody , which the state has a duty to protect .
approval of Minutes of previous sitting : see Minutes
unfortunately , it was amended .
I doubt whether many external markets trust trade packages with the EU in the light of the failing euro and the Commission 's botched attempts to save three of its Member States ' economies .
that is why we want humanitarian aid to be strengthened , for judicial proceedings to be instituted and for the European Union to throw all its weight behind ensuring that civil society is involved in the steps taken .
the former British and French dependencies have now become dependencies in the fullest sense , tied to an artificial and unproductive export when they might have diversified their economies and integrated more widely into the world economy .
Member of the Commission . - You are absolutely right that , under the current circumstances , the Commission and the Member States must be very creative in improving conditions for young people to enable them either to keep their jobs or , if they have lost them , to retrain them and better prepare them for the next opportunity , the next possible employment .
the text of this report focuses on the situation of asylum seekers , whose fate is really something of a lottery depending on the country in which they land , and whose detention conditions are , at times , only just about bearable .
one clause you should look at is Article 27 , strengthened by recital 8 of this framework decision , which invites the Commission to extend the scope of the text after a period of five years , and it could concern national data .
until now , funding has been granted on the basis of GDP per person in the regions concerned .
Mr Oettinger , in the face of the drama in the Gulf of Mexico , drilling installations for extracting crude oil or gas should never be allowed to appear without a 100 % guarantee of safety for the seas and oceans concerned .
I therefore believe that we must stick with compulsory rules and that these compulsory rules must include a date and a report to the European Parliament .
it would also help those who do not want this information , because they would no longer have to read all this information on the item of clothing itself .
, in writing . - ( ET ) With the rebuff of the Irish referendum , the European Union became an interesting association : a union which had previously been galloping ahead on horseback lost its head in the first referendums , but now it has forced its own horse into an impasse .
these figures highlight the vulnerability of cyanide transport and underlines the need for stronger environmental and safety standards .
the idea of ultimately pursuing the defeated parties , in spite of the assurances that they are sometimes given , in order to reach a peace agreement would be to risk indefinitely prolonging conflicts ; this is the basis for our reservations about this report .
the Council of Europe has firmly condemned the fingerprinting initiative .
I would like now to turn to what you said about Europe 's future .
we therefore need an institutional framework limiting their investments in derivative agricultural markets directly linked to the food sector .
with the very strong support of the Czech Presidency , whose commitment and complete cooperation with the Commission I welcome , I am convinced there will be progress in four areas that the Commission defined a few days ago in its communication , namely , the financial markets , the real economy , employment and the social dimension , and the global dimension via the G20 .
illegal immigrants must be tracked down and we must be resolute in sending them back to their countries of origin in a humane manner .
( PL ) Mr President , the death penalty has always given rise to reflection and to many questions .
let us be clear . this is something that is not an EU malaise .
Ukraine knows , however , that the European Union will make no concessions on this issue .
one is the important role here of the Member States , of subsidiarity .
in fact , the experiences of recent years have instead shown that radicalism is growing stronger in both the old and the new Member States .
my first priority was that we could keep these important positions .
this has been achieved mainly thanks to a substantial reduction of the error rate in cohesion ; this progress reflects the Commission 's enhanced supervisory role through the ex-ante assessment of management and control systems of the Member States .
( PL ) Madam President , the cultural heritage of European countries is , in itself , something of value .
I would like to express our satisfaction at your visit , and our commitment to strengthening the cooperation between our governments .
cancer is the second most common cause of death in Europe , and due to the fact that the population is ageing , it is expected that one man in three and one woman in four will have direct experience of this disease by the age of 75 .
I do not know if we will reach a total consensus on this question .
if energy consumption continues to increase , achieving the 20 % renewable energy target may also be in jeopardy , since that target is calculated as a proportion of the EU 's final energy consumption .
we are ready to work for an early conclusion so long as the substance and quality of the outcome are right .
we should be pleased if , during the Portuguese Presidency , we could at least make significant progress even if we cannot reach full agreement .
today , with this initiative , we want to reflect on how education and training can contribute to reaching a 75 % employment rate by 2020 .
for me it goes without saying that data protection laws must be respected .
my particular village in Worcestershire was hit , along with the rest of Worcestershire and the surrounding areas in Hereford and Shropshire .
it is not too late .
I am confident that the solution that has now been produced and on which Magna , too , is working , and which involves many other European States , can be implemented .
however , those of us who are familiar with the Europol report OCTA 2011 on the subject of organised crime will be asking ourselves whether the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs is deaf and blind , and why on earth we indulge ourselves in Europol at all if we simply ignore its warnings .
the basis for this multi-ethnicity is the coexistence of different ethnic groups , the kind of coexistence that is based not on silence and humiliation , but on genuine equality before the law and equal opportunities .
instead we need to take a qualitative leap that will usher EU-Africa relations into a new era , one that brings together two partners with equal rights and equal responsibilities .
it is in this context that the report of which I am the rapporteur , which we are discussing here today , on the fishing agreement with the Union of the Comoros needs to be understood .
the austerity measures that are in place across Europe have increased the strain on all levels of public spending , and thus a better coordination of resources has become necessary in order to ensure the most effective use and distribution of such resources .
Parliament also particularly wants all meetings between MEPs and interest groups on a particular issue to be mentioned at the end of the reports .
in order to address the future needs of companies and consumers and to yield all its potential benefits in favour of public and social objectives , European standardisation must adapt to the challenges posed by globalisation , climate change , the emergence of new economic powers and technological evolution .
problems were also identified at three other holdings , mainly in relation to delays of notification of animal movements or to the consistency of the data in the database .
I think it is a success .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , let us draw a merciful veil over the unbelievable sum of EUR 30 billion per year until 2020 that the EU would be committing itself to paying out to the emerging countries , basically without any security .
however , I urge you , Commissioner , to do everything possible to bring together the scientific institutes involved to enable them finally to agree on a scientifically objective opinion .
starting with the second year of transition , the European institutions become actively involved in the process of authorizing the transition periods imposed by the Member States .
what can an ordinary EU citizen living from salary to salary say if the need to increase the use of renewable energy sources cause higher electricity and housing prices ?
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , this agenda item addresses an issue which will certainly be an important concern of ours in the months to come : what will the gas market look like during the next few decades ?
this is an absolutely clear position , and I would like to share this aim with you .
for this reason I , too , voted in favour of this horizontal legislative framework being created as soon as possible .
I stress the renewed expectations of a team that accepts the great diversity of cultures and identities in Europe as enhancing the best values of each Member State .
Madam President , the resolution on the situation in Belarus reveals what Brussels and Minsk could do in order not to lose the momentum for improving their relations .
it is essential , in the first instance , that the banking system lends normally to the car industry , that is to say at normal rates and conditions and at volumes corresponding to the needs of that industry .
the Pact also referred to the possibility of establishing separate divisions within Frontex , as conditions differ so markedly , for example , at the land border in the east compared with the maritime border in the south .
we know that this is easily the cheapest way of reducing CO2 emissions , guaranteeing the security of supply and , at the same time , ensuring that consumers have lower heating bills - and less expenditure on heating bills would represent progress , in particular , for the many Europeans affected by what we could term energy poverty .
in preparing the votes here in Parliament they take a lot of the burden from this House by voting in committee .
it should mean that everyone is given an equal opportunity .
but secondly - and they are linked - there are real concerns about the selling-out on agriculture in the European Union .
as Mr Verhofstadt said , many intellectuals , many Hungarian writers have supported us politically and intellectually for years .
rapporteur . - Mr President , before highlighting a few elements of this elaborate report on the role of culture in the EU 's external actions , I want to sincerely thank my colleagues from the Committee on Culture and Education for their constructive collaboration and for unanimously adopting our joint work in the committee vote .
four months later : nothing .
Member of the Commission . - As you know , Slovakia joined the euro zone on 1 January this year , so we now have 16 of the 27 EU Member States participating fully in the EMU and sharing the same currency .
meanwhile , consumers and distributors in developed countries throw 40 percent of their food products untouched into the waste bin .
it also needs to be borne in mind that the various dialogues and consultations are in different stages of maturity .
the mining conditions in the Marange diamond fields are particularly dreadful : forced labour , torture , contraband , even murders ; everything is under military control and done for the benefit of Mr Mugabe 's friends .
Parliament addressed five questions to the Council , and since they all deal with the Commission 's proposal for a recast of the Asylum Procedures Directive , I suggest we debate these five questions as one .
therefore , the new strategy for the coming decade must be based on a strong management system and it must ensure responsibility .
( HU ) The 10 new Member States have been in the European Union for five years .
we cannot accept a solution that is determined through unilateral measures , which then becomes a fait accompli .
however , this cannot be an excuse for any delays , and the Court of Justice has not accepted such delays in six judgments so far .
Mr President , this Parliament has united in recent times in the face of a global terrorist threat .
raising a child is an enormous task .
I therefore propose combating this monopoly situation with the means provided by and the authority of the Commission , along with the enforcement of the Charter on Freedom of the Press , backed up by European authority .
ladies and gentlemen , tell me , does Europe need such a sacrifice today ?
it is contemptible that the EU attempts to bury such provisions in these types of reports , and then requires MEPs to vote on them as a whole and not individual parts .
the only areas in which it is clearly defined relate to the sacrifices expected of the workers and the local area .
however , some issues remain outstanding , in particular , the need to establish a plan to combat possible pressure from illegal migration .
for example , a literary work , or even a work of art or music is , first and foremost , an essential manifestation of the talent of the artist and a social response .
it might therefore be useful to hear Mr Barroso 's view on the state of Eritrea in particular .
with rates of 16 kg and 1 kg , it is important not to keep quiet about those countries with a good record , but we also need to name and shame the poor performers and I intend to do that .
the resolution gives voice to Parliament 's firm intention to strengthen the Union approach and European solidarity .
it is not possible to recognise the right to translation without recognising the right to legal assistance or the right to information .
the United States and China must be called to account forcefully on this matter .
it is pointless to forecast it since we are going through it now .
in addition , strong economic interaction would provide more opportunities to strengthen the EU 's regional integration and would create more possibilities for the EU to contribute to increasing the stability of this strategically important region .
on the other hand , the disaster in Japan , especially the incident at Fukushima and the emergency situation following it , has brought back to the agenda the issue about the need for nuclear energy and its consequences .
in Laeken nine years ago , during the previous Belgian Presidency , work began on the Constitutional Treaty , which was intended to strengthen European Union foreign policy , making it cohesive and visible in the international arena .
this is what the Spanish Presidency wants to do and what the Council of the Union wants to do , and we are convinced that we are going to have the cooperation of the Commission .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , in the summer , the Commission adopted the Council 's recommendation urging the Member States of the EU to engage in joint programming of research into neurodegenerative diseases .
what we need today is economic governance .
Mr Barroso , I criticised you last week for demonstrating a lack of commitment .
the fertility of this land is greatly diminishing .
the majority of Members of this Parliament want it , all the governments want it , and the Commission certainly wants it .
some are not even designed with those who are in real need in mind .
given today 's energy situation , energy efficiency is the most effective tool in combating climate change , as the system of trading greenhouse gas emissions has not yet produced the desired results .
we are working to implement the terms of the modified Financial Regulation on transparency .
we need the White Paper as soon as possible , Commissioner .
the risk of outflow of patients to hospitals in other countries will force administrative decisions to be made on the best use of hospital beds and procedures in the countries which have the longest queues .
( SV ) Madam President , I am a staunch Eurosceptic , but there are two areas where the EU must play a central international role - trade policy and environment policy .
I hear my fellow Members talking about the need for the national parliaments to be respected , and this is true , but I have to warn you that a rigid and fundamentalist interpretation of subsidiarity will not allow progress to be made in the Stockholm Programme .
this means that the measures presented need to be implemented quickly , in their entirety , especially the ' think small first ' principle .
the resolution was meant to be an expression of solidarity with the victims of the natural disaster and the nuclear accident which followed it , and also an expression of gratitude and recognition for all those who are risking their own lives to prevent an even greater catastrophe .
the claims made on television by a young Libyan woman that she had been raped by Gaddafi 's troops shook the general public .
in our opinion , however , the proposal for a regulation presented by the European Commission did not seem to us to offer due protection of confidentiality or to respect the various aspects entailed in the whole complex process of collecting such data .
I am speaking here not on behalf of the Identity , Tradition and Sovereignty Group but as a representative of a small Member State - or rather a future Member State , as it is no longer a question of if but when Belgium will be split up and Flanders becomes an independent state .
the answer lies in a respect for those with views other than our own and for the convictions of others .
these are based on some so-called studies which are being hawked around the British Euro-sceptic press at the moment with ever more lurid calculations about these costs .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - ( CS ) Prime Minister , Commission President , it is a great honour for me to be able to stand up today as the first speaker from the many new groupings of European conservatives and reformers and also as a Czech MEP talking about the Czech Presidency .
after the many delays that we are guilty of , it has become obvious to everyone that Europe needs real economic governance , which must be particularly stringent for those countries that have adopted the euro .
it is a question of us accepting our full responsibility and laying the foundations for a fair and peaceful world .
part of this is due to errors and omissions ; part to fraud and misappropriation .
yet how can this new legislation be implemented if the main states that have committed crimes of aggression since the coming into force of the Rome Statute in 2002 ( the United States and Israel ) are not required to ratify it ?
the proposal for the amendment of the two Regulations , as put forward to the Commission , is among the measures designed to achieve that objective .
we have witnessed a massive rise in the price of food and this will remain the position for a considerable time to come .
Mr Trichet , if you really think that these families living on EUR 600 to 700 a month , or pensioners living on EUR 300 a month , should further reduce their daily food consumption only so that your colleagues from the banks and financial funds can keep their profits , pay out high bonuses and indulge themselves in ever greater amounts of caviar , then please do not call that solidarity .
in the words of Paul Morand , a French diplomat and writer , the Mediterranean is , above all , the anti-desert civilisation .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Regional Development . - ( PL ) Madam President , I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to Mr Graça Moura on a good report that , in a coherent and specific manner , presents the priorities in the sphere of culture and defines the long-term aims .
we are aware that all food hygiene legislation is a sensitive matter and therefore very time-consuming .
in addition , this system poses a problem of solidarity between Member States .
it is for this reason that I welcome ...
a dramatic rise has been seen recently in the number and severity of natural disasters , whether man-made or not , along with an increase in the adverse impact caused by violations of international humanitarian law and poor governance .
Greece must do its part , live up to its promises and reform its policy .
I would therefore recommend to Mrs Hübner that a study promoted by the European Commission be carried out with a view to identifying the difficulties the outermost regions face in implementing the Lisbon Strategy and specific ways of overcoming them .
it is not a mere internal or a single Member State problem .
it is also nice for everyone - for all voters , industry and citizens in Europe - to see that Parliament , thanks to Ms Thomsen 's work on this report , is also very decided that this is a good way to work and that this is the way we should do it .
this report initially concerned itself with funding housing in Member States that had acceded to the EU on or after 1 May 2004 .
the support of the Hungarian Presidency is required in this process .
as a result , I am not in a position to pass an opinion on what might happen in the future and on the actions which Serbia might or might not take in relation to Kosovo .
this practice must under no circumstances lead to a situation in which visas are issued arbitrarily simply to avoid such closure .
that also helps the countries by enabling them to use their resources for other things .
you will of course be aware of my viewpoint : we in Europe have to set the highest standards .
the debate is closed .
or when employers import labour and do not ask or care whether there are children back home or they ignore the fact that this is the case .
I would like to ask the Commission to bring its influence to bear to ensure that the CEFTA agreement is actually implemented by all the signatory States .
will you support him in this ?
again , these two goals are not mutually exclusive .
they can only form part of the EU 's external action and , in that way , they differ from measures to create our own area of freedom , security and justice , which is , of course , our goal within the Union .
shortly after that , on 3 November , there will be a summit between the EU and the US .
another good thing is that the new legislative proposal provides for clear rules on the maintenance of vehicles .
Commissioner , we must now move from political questions to technical issues , which will also decide the course of the CMO review .
the Greek Communist Party voted against and condemns this unacceptable report , which is purely and simply a manual for imperialist attacks against the people .
we need more education at school level , more training , but also more universities , so that we are working together with young people to ensure that the promotion of culture yields added value .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the Committee on Budgetary Control is allowing itself to say a few words on high-level foreign policy .
this is what we need .
simplification of the CAP must benefit farmers first and foremost and not only the national authorities and payment bodies in the Member States .
but , in this area , I believe that everybody shares the same objective , so I believe that the level of fines imposed today is not an issue .
I therefore agree with the amendments proposed by the rapporteur , as well as the extension of these measures until 31 December 2015 , subject to the necessary adjustments resulting from the new bilateral agreements with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia .
that would be more ecological and would be much more beneficial to the dairy farmers than what we are doing at present .
( EL ) Madam President , the general perception is that this sort of accident , like the most recent one , and like a series of similar accidents before it , alert us , and especially the rapporteur , whom I congratulate , to the need for certain provisions in connection with the future of all these extractions being carried out now and those carried out in the past .
to play a more active role , we must develop a vision for economic and political cooperation and join in projects , investments and programmes designed to meet the needs of Kazakhstan , the Kyrgyz Republic , Tajikistan , Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan .
this document contributes to orienting joint data collection activities in this area , analysing their results and proposing their respective solutions .
he knows that we wanted to be more ambitious on some points and that we wanted to sum up what the contribution of the European Union should be in more concrete terms .
we are just in a process of careful examination of these new technologies and we will come to you after April , after a substantial report which will examine all aspects of these new technologies .
this , combined with the fact that many of these funds do not have adequate transparency , which has been mentioned , as regards their investment practice and that some of them originate in non-democratic countries , I think indicates that we should be interested .
at present , four of them have already achieved this .
finally , it is unacceptable for the President of the European Parliament to censor MEPs .
our current Green Electricity Directive with implementing legislation in some Member States is an example of an important driving force .
in doing so , it completely disregards the fact that it ought to be within the competence of the Member States to decide whether and which third-country nationals are permitted to enter the country and who should be refused entry .
I voted in favour of the report by my German colleague Mr Mayer on the amended proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on passenger hand-holds on two-wheel motor vehicles ( codified version ) .
in my opinion , this is a small but vital piece of legislation which will protect those areas and those countries that are concerned by the threat of rabies ; the disease continues to occur in some parts of the EU , and hopefully by the end of 2011 , vaccination programmes will have proved successful in eradicating the disease once and for all .
stock of herring distributed to the west of Scotland (
the 3 400 people there are suffering psychological torture .
( DE ) Madam President , market fluctuations are important for the proper functioning of markets in order to create incentives for the buying and selling of goods .
however , we disagree that there is a policy of permanent political interference by the EU in the governance of each country , as stated in certain paragraphs .
they called for increased funding for courts to work fast and efficiently , unification of jurisprudence , and timely publication of all judgments .
1 .
in writing . - ( LT ) I agree with this resolution which proposes increasing autonomous trade preferences for the Republic of Moldova in the wine sector , which is vitally important for this country .
we want to examine whether European local authorities , hospitals or ministries are , in future , to be obliged to make calls for tenders in which Indian companies can also be included .
it was all reactionary ; there was nothing proactive in what you put before us .
balancing national public finances is a priority but that balance must be achieved by reducing waste and rejecting non-productive spending and by the fair distribution of income received .
I am sure that many across the EU would support this , as nobody would want to fool consumers .
( FR ) Madam President , Commissioner , unlike the French Government , I sincerely hope we will have a major public debate .
we know that the nature conservation Directives and the network of nature conservation areas created by Natura 2000 are a success story for the European Union .
the Union has Community legislation in given areas , but has no common rules for services .
I am convinced , in fact , that an effective cohesion policy that can reduce economic , social and territorial disparities can help to increase global economic competitiveness .
we call on Thailand and Cambodia to stop using these terrible weapons immediately .
Mr President , on 14 December 2007 the European Council asked the Commission to present an EU strategy for the Baltic Sea region by July 2009 at the latest , an initiative that was also welcomed by the European Parliament .
we therefore welcome the news that the Commission has finally addressed this matter and proposed , by means of a fast-track procedure , amendments to the 4th and 7th Company Law Directives concerning disclosure requirements for medium-sized enterprises and the obligation to produce consolidated financial reports .
we await Parliament 's response and , if there are important reasons why we should abandon this approach , then we shall consider them .
the Commission , in cooperation with the EURES network , is focusing on how best to help those affected with the specific problem of children left at home by parents who are mobile workers and providing job-seekers and their families with information on living and employment conditions in EU countries .
the more intramural trade like that between the Member States of the Union increases , the more useful it is , in my opinion , for such flows to be comparable , especially in terms of safety , but also in terms of inspections and related administrative procedures .
there is still enough room for future amendments and improvements .
in writing . - Commissioner Joaquín Almunia has said recently that member countries of the eurozone which are confronted with substantial difficulties could benefit from assistance from other EU members .
we hope , Baroness Ashton , that during the foreign ministers ' meeting at the end of this month , you will come up with a coordinated response and strategy to combat this violence against Eastern Christians .
third , it is a very positive demonstration of solidarity .
I should like to conclude by expressing my gratitude for the views I heard during this debate .
also , aside from risk jobs , we have very vulnerable sections of the workforce - elderly , disabled and workers who do not speak the language of their present workplace .
now we have obtained new and positive results from research into peat 's effect on climate , with reference to the lifecycle model .
speed restrictions are imposed on 66 % of the Romanian railways due to the condition of the railway infrastructure , and 77 % of the rolling stock is worn out .
decisions concerning certain documents : see Minutes
this would be economically sound and can pave the way for others to join later .
do you genuinely support it ?
for these reasons , as well as the human rights violations which it contains , this is a very important resolution .
it would have been more opportune , in my view , to concentrate on specific aspects and sectors , rather than to try and create a new competency shared between the EU and the Member States .
he asserted that this law not only runs counter to Church doctrines , but also violates the Hungarian Constitution .
for this reason , the decision in favour of coal , nuclear energy , gas or renewable energies is largely a matter for the Member States themselves .
I have taken a very keen interest in the subsequent work Parliament has carried out in parallel with the work of the Council , and we have all had what we could call a kind of enhanced dialogue between us .
is it going to come to Parliament ?
we must now send out a clear signal in terms of accountability to those who hold in their hands the future of this key treaty for the Union , for our institutions and for the 500 million Europeans that we represent .
that is why we will propose , firstly , that they reiterate their 2005 commitment and , secondly , present an agenda , a road map , a phased plan showing how they will achieve the objectives to which they subscribed .
the fact that this process is in force - and has been for years and decades - can be very clearly demonstrated by the data on tax receipts and taxation rates in the EU .
progress has been achieved and millions of lives have been saved .
broadly speaking , our SMEs are still running up against a great many barriers and , as a result , are missing out on growth potential .
in my view , it seems important that these amendments include new provisions on the simplified and the ordinary amendments to the treaty .
after all , if Europe does not stand up for the world 's Christians , then who will ?
I hope we can count on Parliament 's support .
I believe that this is the main issue that needs to be discussed during the European Council meeting in the next few days .
we are proud and humbled by the vote .
the situation in Europe is even more dramatic .
it also advocates that the burden of proof of the fact that something is not interoperable - even on safety grounds - should be shifted onto Member States : in other words the initial assumption is that , once certified , everything can go everywhere , unless someone can give me a serious reason why that should not be the case .
that is fantastic news , as it means that the Dutch Government can exercise its right to only approve the budget if it complies with the absolute no rises rule that my Dutch Government advocates .
does the Commission not believe that countries which are essentially buyers , such as Portugal , are being placed at a disadvantage because the latest proposal fails to lay down a compensation system whereby Member States would be able to secure industrial returns , of a civil or military nature , on purchases of defence equipment ?
I dare not imagine how absurd it would be if Europe failed to reach an agreement but nevertheless wanted , in Copenhagen next year , to convince everyone that it is right .
Europe shares some of the responsibility because the issue of nuclear safety is not a matter of national sovereignty , but rather one of European responsibility .
we have to continue combating poverty and social exclusion in Europe and around the world by taking urgent action and , more importantly , by working in solidarity despite the different fiscal or political pressures we might face .
I believe that the rapporteur has made amendments which improve the Commission 's proposal ; hence the reason I voted to adopt this report .
it does so firstly from a food perspective , since not only does it provide the raw materials for food , but the safety of that food is essential for our health .
it does not see women in the role of mothers , nor the value of the informal and therefore unpaid work of women .
in view of the late hour at which we started debating this item , there are clearly grounds for moving it to another day , particularly as the agenda for today 's session is so full .
therefore , if tobacco-growing is stopped in certain areas we will have social , economic and environmental problems .
firstly , towards supporting sustainable economic growth - I am glad that for several years now Latin America has been experiencing economic growth ; secondly , towards strengthening regional and inter-regional cooperation .
we want to give Europe a face , by putting an end to the system of a rotating Presidency , and thus providing a stable European Council .
thank you all for your deep and meaningful contributions , which have shed great light on our debate .
however , the financial aid must involve a detailed breakdown of the different plans , strict financial controls and regular monitoring of the use of the funding .
ladies and gentlemen , it seems to me that Europe helps many people change , ourselves included and , as for Belarus , even the leader of that country , Alexander Lukashenko .
at this one , a very clear issue is going to be at stake .
if we believe that there is scope for improving our regulations , we shall have no hesitation in doing so .
I am talking about one of the key environmental and health issues , and that is why only a change in the development paradigm can help us , not mere cosmetic actions .
today 's vote concerned a request for assistance for 598 workers made redundant by eight companies operating in the NACE Revision 2 Division 58 ( publishing activities ) in the two NUTS II regions of Noord Holland and Zuid Holland , amounting to a sum of EUR 2 326 459 financed by the EGF .
this is , for example , the case in Estonia , Finland and Poland .
we also want to see , through the paper , support with the training and exchange of students .
in implementing the priorities and the inherited agenda , I expect Slovenia to pay great attention to cohesion and the reduction of differences in Europe .
the facts have proved this to be wrong ; its usefulness has been proved , as has its need to be strengthened further .
the last electoral consultation was presidential and was won by the current president with the very narrow margin of 70 000 votes , coming mainly from the diaspora .
a return to war will mean more deaths , more suffering , more humanitarian tragedy and I cannot believe that anybody on either side of the House really wants that .
the other very important thing is the Adaptation Fund .
the increasing cultivation of biofuel crops , financial speculation , producers switching very rapidly to more profitable crops and , last but not least , the change in the eating habits of citizens in many states , are also new topics closely related to the subject of today 's report .
there were none : in other words , there was no acknowledgement of the issues around safety in the workplace .
( ES ) Mr President , just a warning : in one minute there is no time for subtleties and so I am speaking solely on my own behalf .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - Madam President , I am in favour of visa liberalisation and I am also in favour of attaching certain criteria to visa liberalisation , but what I am more in favour of is peace and stability in the Western Balkans .
the principles of the MiFID Directive on best advice should also be made to apply particularly , for example , to unit-linked life insurance and other long-term savings products .
I hope that the fund is only the beginning of a path which approaches this entire issue from a more European perspective and in a spirit of solidarity .
it seems to be a problem affecting our times and our organisations .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , it is precisely the complexity and , if you like , the toughness of the agenda for the Council of 24 June that bring us up against the shortcomings of the instruments available to us .
we must be certain that what unites us is stronger than what divides us , and in light of this , we must ask the Commission , as from tomorrow , to be ambitious and demand the necessary rigour from the Member States to ensure that they are capable of providing solidarity by means of a project which , in the long term , will be capable of giving tangible form to our European project .
Mr Zapatero has talked about many different issues .
it is believed that the collection of the relevant data will not impose any additional burden on respondents as the Member States concerned would compile the data by using already existing data sources ( for example , custom documents ) .
all of us on the Committee on Culture and Education can be pleased and proud of what we have accomplished in such a short time .
I would like to point out here that , in joining the EU , Poland was told repeatedly that it was not to incorporate the safety marks of other countries into its national system .
so the problem is serious , and the phenomenon of poverty has worsened further following recent enlargements of the EU .
it will also make energy efficiency a premise of our external relations .
those of us with ' dys 'abilities work much more than others and it 's very hard to live with ' .
what the Commission can say is that a proposal for the budget review will come early next year and will be the immediate task for the next Commission .
Internet crime has proliferated , however , and the Internet has become a favoured tool of criminal networks , given that it is easily accessible , cheap and very powerful .
we will , I hope , find out the exact trail of events so that we can avoid a similar occurrence .
indeed , the Copenhagen Criteria governing conditions of EU accession demand of candidate members " stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy , the rule of law , human rights and respect for and protection of minorities " .
the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe proposed a number of savings both last year and this year .
the changes made in 2001 opened new investment areas for UCITS but they left behind several bottlenecks .
in addition , the European Qualifications Framework will help international sectoral organisations to improve the links between their sectoral qualifications systems and national qualifications systems , thus helping to increase the mobility of workers and learners .
we should remember that when we are debating initiatives to make vehicles safer , there are two things to bear in mind .
we are relying on being able to continue our open and transparent dialogue in Kiev and in Brussels about internal reforms in Ukraine and about the country 's closer integration with the EU , both with the Ukrainian authorities and with the opposition .
Serbia has adopted a law on cultural autonomy which is unique throughout the whole of Europe , and which is positive not only for the whole of the European Union , but for the whole of Europe too .
composition of committees and delegations : see minutes
the proposal meets the request of Parliament and of the Council and confirms that the Structural Funds have a role to play , not only by contributing financially but also by promoting an integrated approach to tackling social and economic conditions of marginalised communities .
if the Czech Presidency wants to be credible and useful in its motto of ' Europe without barriers ' , rather than organising more summits , it should immediately check through all EU legislation and throw out as many environmental , gender , social and employment restrictions as possible .
if we have functional groups for air traffic control , we will actually have a chance of reducing delays and planes going round and round in the sky unable to land .
I believe that a code of conduct of this kind would provide added value for the European Union , marking a step towards resolving this issue .
Mr Medvedev said in Berlin that he wants to see an improvement in relations .
for my part , my choice is very clear : I will be voting for a better Europe and a better European economy .
while these exposures are not very large in terms of GDP , they are likely to be more significant in terms of the balance sheets of individual banks .
Mr President , Commissioner , first I wish to thank the rapporteurs for their excellent work .
Internet usage naturally has its positive aspects .
he seems to assume that we all agree with him .
thirdly , we need harmonisation of the licensing and registration formalities .
we have also inserted in the Work Programme the communication priorities , but have added a novelty in this respect : we propose a number of those priorities to the other institutions so that we can work together to promote them .
the Council wanted to prevent this but Parliament has ruled otherwise .
Commissioner , as you have the support of all the factions in Parliament , of the entire Parliament , you should act quickly , because time is money .
we should not see this happen again ; we can do better .
how can anyone be against lifting millions of Indian people out of poverty , and how can the Left be against fighting for an open market for European enterprises ?
the Commission should also make provision for three-yearly monitoring of the progress achieved in this area by the Member States and by the European Union .
progress in this area is of paramount importance for the general advancement of the accession negotiations .
it intervened in order to protect those missions .
in conclusion , I would like to refer to the fact that Russia recently supplied nuclear material to Iran .
the total combined costs , I believe , are something in the region of EUR 250 million per month .
regarding the issue of a harmonised bank resolution framework , that is precisely what we are working on , Mrs Ferreira .
before the vote on the amended resolution :
( applause )
there may be some slight degree of overlap , but Europe is not witness to too much innovation but too little , so there is room for new competing enterprise .
we need a real European recovery , and the only method you have for this , Commissioner , is funding with a European loan .
vaccinated animals can also be carriers of the disease without displaying a symptom .
however , we should remember that in past years the quality of pesticides was much worse , they were used in much higher doses , many times higher , and , as a result , the pollution in our environment is a consequence of activities in years past .
this goes for the whole of the Horn of Africa and not least for the Swedish citizen , Dawit Isaak , who is imprisoned in Eritrea .
as regards the resumption of negotiations on the partnership , I would say that the negotiation of the future agreement has been postponed , not suspended , for the legal reasons also referred to during this morning 's debate , and , as the European Council said on 15 October , the continuation of these negotiations will incorporate the assessment that the Commission and the Council have been asked to carry out .
at present , around 2 % of the EU 's inhabitants live and work in a Member State other than their own .
I think this is most lamentable , and indeed it is a slap in the face for the 80 million poor in the European Union .
obviously , it is unfair to penalise the manufacturers of the base vehicle when they are not responsible for what happens to the vehicle at a later stage of its production .
consequently , one can always insist , but the clauses need to be clear and you need to know exactly who to address your requests to .
I believe that it is important for us to observe the highest standards and principles of transparency and fair institutional cooperation in all relations between the Commission and Parliament .
as millions of children are still victims of rape , domestic violence and physical , emotional and sexual abuse , I agree that the EU must urgently take additional measures against child labour , and should apply more efficiently the instruments at its disposal .
my own country , Scotland , is home to a number of world class financial companies and they can benefit from access across the internal market .
poverty is one of the most serious problems currently facing the European Union .
I believe that the proposed changes are positive for the outermost areas concerned .
this is an extremely important issue and its importance is growing .
we now have a series of five questions relating to persons with disabilities .
if an investigation lasts over 18 months , then feedback should be given to the supervisory committee .
the policy of consumer protection aims to promote the health , safety , economic and legal interests of consumers , along with their right to information .
increasing and persistent poverty in Europe is a scandal .
like you , we shall also point out the fact that the leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina can either continue to quarrel and fall behind their neighbours , or get on with reform and move forward towards the EU .
in April 2005 , Germany had 10 % unemployment , while the UK figure was 4.5 % , but then the UK has taken less of the EU 's labour laws .
I come now to the substance .
the issue of the EU patent - formerly the Community patent - is an example of this .
this is a crucial year in the accession process for Croatia and for the whole of the Western Balkan region and we certainly attach importance to and welcome Parliament 's continued support in bringing Croatia , the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the Western Balkans closer to the EU .
in that respect we can use logistics to reconcile the economic and environmental objectives .
( FR ) Mr President , I would like further details on the consequences of the 40 % reduction in world fishing quotas of tuna .
moreover , I preferred to abstain during the vote on this report .
when you cut me off for your very interesting speech , which I am sure our fellow citizens throughout the Union will have found fascinating , I simply wanted to raise a point that the Commissioner himself raised , which is that corporate social responsibility cannot - he is absolutely right - replace compliance with the law and the responsibilities of the Member States .
it is for the European Union to permit free movement and non-discrimination .
the energy mix still comes under the remit of the Member States .
this must not be spoken of , however .
military actions by both sides have meant that mainly civilians suffer , unfortunately .
the military should stand back during the whole period of the election campaign , and I hope , before January - and , indeed , before campaigning begins - that the President will get himself out of uniform and turn his country into a true civilian government .
with regard to the amendments , I would like to remind you that 53 amendments from the different political groups were adopted by the committee , including four amendments tabled by Mrs Herranz García .
how is it possible that I can join in those congratulations , despite the fact that you scarcely mentioned the social dimension and that there is not a great deal of social stocktaking in the Belgian Presidency ?
in fact , Mrs Dührkop is correct in saying that the vast majority of terrorist attacks carried out in the European Union have an independent basis and have nothing to do with Al-Qaida , contrary to Mr Jouyet 's statement .
indeed , the EUR 600 million fund would have provided real support for the Member States facing this crisis .
freedom of expression is immediately brought up whenever the restriction of Internet freedom is mentioned - freedom of expression is the right to disseminate ideas , opinions , convictions and other information , but it also involves responsibility .
I could like to congratulate the Commission for its efforts in increasing the transparency of the negotiations , and I hope that it will maintain this stance , keeping Parliament fully informed of the progress of negotiations .
underlying the whole euro crisis , of course , is not a problem with the euro , but a problem with governments that are spending too much of their taxpayers ' money .
if immigration liaison officers can make the work of , for example , Frontex more efficient , then that is a positive thing .
we need to implement ambitious , concrete policy targets in Europe .
I believe it is appropriate to remind those present , in particular the French Presidency , that this instrument was set up with a laudable objective : to promptly , adequately and visibly show the Union 's solidarity with its citizens .
this is very responsible , and it is a very important signal for our citizens that the two institutions can discuss matters and communicate with each other .
( DE ) Mr President , Mr Karim is absolutely right .
Mr President , last week 's elections in Israel showed that the majority of citizens support the parties that see the reinforcement of the military as the best way to protect the country .
that is more than GBP 10 million a day !
realistic , because we need to recognise that only through engagement and long-term effort can we really hope to achieve genuine reforms in China .
I am sure that your nights are not very long and I promise that , on the day you return to a more decent life , I will gladly invite you to dinner .
in the long term , it is therefore inevitable that a standardised European social security system will be created , including a pension system , health insurance and welfare benefits .
incidentally , the most efficient form of transport is the one that is avoided .
it is basically up to the United Nations Security Council to decide on the situation .
as rapporteur I propose that this material be referred specifically to our Parliament 's resolution of 25 October 2007 and to the unanimous decisions of the Praesidium and the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament .
it was not born in August 2007 , as I have heard people say : August 2007 was when the problems started , but the systemic financial crisis that has been experienced throughout the world started when the United States decided , in what has turned out to be an extremely serious move , to allow Lehman Brothers to go bankrupt on 18 September 2008 .
in my opinion , regulation should focus on consumer protection issues .
the problems caused by VAT fraud must be eliminated .
I am certain that the public hearing involving citizens and interested stakeholders can help to get everyone involved in this legislative proposal and to give them a sense of being able to play their part in deciding what will ultimately come of this legislative proposal .
the EIT may produce more added value with a view to achieving the Lisbon objectives , but only if it does not cannibalise the Lisbon programmes .
the balance between imports and exports is clear , but my sole concern is with the production methods in South Africa for products exported to the EU : these should meet the same standards as those required of European producers in the same industry .
in writing . - ( DE ) The Albertini report states that better internalisation of external costs can help to eliminate market disturbances and an increase in emissions .
EU Member States must offer victims adequate protection .
a satisfactory margin for agricultural spending is especially important for dealing with unforeseen requirements in agricultural sectors , especially in light of price instability .
in this regard there is an urgent need to upgrade such cooperation , especially operational cooperation and the exchange of information between Member States ; we need to enhance the capacities of Europol and Eurojust ; we need - and this is something we keep calling for - to strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure , especially for transport and energy .
these are only the major examples of common standards among the 27 Member States , as encouraged by this initiative , and are the basis of my vote for it .
however , we are not faced with the desire of a subgroup within the European Council of Ministers to establish a language regime , but rather the wishes of 25 out of 27 Member States .
texts of agreements forwarded by the Council : see Minutes
we also need to finalise the common organisation of the market and work out how to stabilise the market and how to reconcile it with fish imports from third countries .
this is exactly what we need to generate the will to live together in mutual respect and appreciation of our ethnic , linguistic , cultural and religious differences .
( PT ) Mr President , Vice-President Barrot , ladies and gentlemen , today we are debating a second decision to establish rules necessary for the implementation of another initiative that already has the political agreement of the Council , but has not yet even been adopted .
the Haitian population feels quite helpless .
in the case of Lehman Brothers in particular , private individuals were massively hoodwinked , for example being told that risky share certificates were secure and even being advised against selling just before Lehman went to the wall .
the economic and financial crisis , the impact of climate change and an ageing society are all factors that the European Commission and the Member States must take into account in actions and policies that aim to promote gender equality .
the strategy shall also include information and education campaigns on the preventing , testing and treatment of HIV / AIDS .
it is also in line with the development of relations with third countries in a spirit of partnership and cooperation , with a view to reinforcing sustainable fishing outside EU waters while taking account of environmental , social and economic factors .
in writing . - ( DE ) The bilateral relationships between the industrialised nations and other high-income countries and territories , in particular in North America , East Asia , South-East Asia and the Gulf region , have been developed by the EU in recent years .
we heard this message very clearly in Kigali , and I must say to the Commission that the tone of negotiations is very important too , not just the substance .
for these to succeed , we must provide support , remove burdens and cut out unjustifiable red tape for those who are still willing to risk starting new businesses and joining innovative projects , despite the difficulties .
it says a good deal about this Parliament that no clear position is being taken on this .
the most effective way of doing this , in my view , is to lift the visa requirements for citizens from the Republic of Moldova within the Community .
I will leave it to the financial experts to investigate the matter more closely .
as you know so well , our Patriarchate is not a ' national ' church , but rather the fundamental canonical expression of the ecumenical dimensions of the Gospel message , and of its analogous responsibility within the life of the Church .
the initial work started in 2007 .
but then the ways of working of the Eurosceptics - not least in my own country - have always been a bit of a mystery .
these are all measures that benefit the environment and public health .
we still do not know about these proposals , and thus far , we have not voted in favour of this report .
we must not give up on creating something that is legally binding because of this so-called compromise .
I believe they will promote a fundamentally different viewpoint to that of the EU in these matters , many of which fall within the competence of nation states .
this is understandable in a time of crisis , but should we not be mobilising other instruments , as well ?
let us hope that all the Member States and political groupings can adopt the same balanced and wise approach as our rapporteur .
I shall watch its work with all the more interest for this reason .
this particular subject was also the focus of a report that was drawn up by my colleague Mr Heaton-Harris and adopted by Parliament last December .
yesterday , I received a letter from the Belarusian Ambassador to Poland .
in this instance , the newly appointed Mr Praet comes with an unblemished record and was approved with distinction at the hearing carried out by Parliament 's Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs .
for this reason , as has been said , prior medical and scientific studies must be carried out on the direct consequences of millimetre waves on the health of passengers and , in particular , in the case of the most vulnerable , such as pregnant women , children , the sick , the elderly and people with disabilities .
the medicines which help animals to remain healthy can , if used improperly , represent a major risk for people .
Member of the Commission . - I understand very well the strength of feeling .
the Presidency has not managed to overcome all the old shortcomings .
however , we must point out that for fourteen consecutive years the European Court of Auditors has been unable to give an unqualified statement of assurance for the general European accounts .
I believe that we should really be given the precise figures and level of irregularities which we need to know .
only 7 % of farmers in the EU are under 35 years of age , while the EU will need 4.5 million farmers in the next 10 years .
there are difficulties with the duty drawback system , with the question of the amount of parts from foreign suppliers that can be used in cars from South Korea and with the issue of environmental standards which remain unresolved .
I refused to withdraw the proposal from the Council , hoping that with the new report that we will produce and adopt as the Commission early next year we will have a new debate which will allow us to go on with amendments ; maybe we are now also having new ideas , maybe a broader scope of amendments to this Fund .
in the case of the Abruzzo earthquakes , an application is being processed for access to the Solidarity Fund for the reconstruction of the areas destroyed .
the ECB did in fact , in its role as lender of last resort .
Russia 's change in position with regard to the World Trade Organisation has created a new situation that we are in the process of analysing .
what are the national governments waiting for ?
composition of Parliament : see Minutes
we therefore await with some impatience the conclusion of the Court 's self-assessment exercise and in fact in my report I recommend that the Parliament should study it carefully at the end of 2008 when it is submitted , and that it should take up a position on the various options .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( GA ) Madam President , agriculture should not lose out in a World Trade Organisation agreement .
besides the insult to wine growers who are pursuing a policy of quality , in particular in Provence , it would be unacceptable to legitimise a by-product resulting from the mixing of finished products and to permit misleading references to the rosé colour .
in 2007 , sanctions were imposed in seven cases for a variety of breaches , including for external activities not in accordance with the dignity of the function , unauthorised absences and financial irregularities .
first , the need for European institutions to take a step forward in view of the current wave of chauvinistic violence , and to do so both in terms of legislation and to establish a clear legal basis to enable all forms of violence against women to be combated ; this should include , for example , recognition of the right of asylum on grounds of gender-based persecution .
in my opinion , it is absolutely vital and urgent to find a solution allowing speed , transparency and efficiency in the issue of visas for these students .
it is to make sure that for consumers , there are greater choices and for workers , there are greater opportunities .
finally , as the Dublin Regulation is not aimed at ensuring a fair distribution of responsibilities as regards the examination of requests for international protection , it seems essential , in my view , for other instruments to be created in order to strengthen solidarity , as you said , Commissioner Barrot , with the Member States located at the Union 's external borders .
finally , upgrading skills and matching labour market needs .
I know you share our concerns .
the vote will take place on Thursday , 27 September 2007 .
secondly , an infringement should not be considered to be serious unless it has been confirmed by a successful prosecution in accordance with the relevant national legislation .
it is time for a new wave of emancipation .
such movements frequently result in signs of breakdown both socially and environmentally and in the productive fabric .
he has succeeded in doing what many had thought impossible , namely to strike a compromise involving the revision of the multi-annual budget framework and the financial perspective , without us having to involve the Heads of State or Government or have a large-scale negotiation drama in late December .
then there is the second seat in Strasbourg .
during 2010 , we are going to present a Green Paper on pensions that is expected to encourage a rigorous discussion of the regulation of private pension funds .
this is the second Strasbourg part-session which we have had in Brussels , and we have proved that we can meet effectively and vote in Brussels .
we understand this to amount to some EUR 300 million , much of which will be channelled into EasyWay - first and foremost by the Commission .
more effort should be devoted to cargo transit and internal waterway transport , which is more cost-effective and energy efficient , non-polluting and safe .
we consider the ECB to be one of the world 's most transparent central banks .
it is , therefore , important that the Commission establish a strategy and set priorities , bearing in mind the development of Community policy concerning external relations in the area of judicial cooperation on civil and commercial matters .
the Committee on Development then started drafting a report .
subject : 2.2 billion children in need
finally , with regard to the EU speaking with one voice : I saw how this worked in Nagoya .
some Members have the habit of not reading out the number for roll-call votes .
paragraphs 15 and 18 together allow the plaintiff to choose the legal system that is most favourable .
( NL ) ' Prevention is better than cure ' is the motto of the European Commission .
business risk capital is required in developing countries , and in transitional economies it is estimated to amount to more than EUR 9 billion a year .
we would also point out that the objective of parliamentary control of pre-accession assistance is not only to examine if the funds available were used legitimately , but also to evaluate if they were actually allocated to accession priorities and if the desired results were achieved .
our unequivocal priority should be to restore employment and sustainable economic growth .
the number of starving people worldwide has once again risen above a billion , and it is the poorest people in the world who are most affected by the price rises on the food markets .
faced as we are with well over 400 petitions , as stated in a paragraph of the resolution , we find ourselves discussing this issue again in this Chamber .
( DE ) Madam President , I want to take up a subject nearly all speakers have addressed , namely greater transparency in pricing , and emphasise what Mr Simpson rightly observed .
however , the other countries are also perfectly entitled to continue the drive for a more democratic , more transparent and more effective Union .
vehicles must remain affordable .
the first opens up the programme to doctorates and will enable European students also to receive scholarships , although at a lower level .
I also regret that the reduction in the number of industrial injuries and occupational diseases in particular did not include , for example , migrant workers , workers with temporary contracts , workers with low qualifications , and women in certain companies , such as small and medium-sized companies .
we should , however , already be looking forward to the next technological steps , such as wider use of smart lighting systems using sensors , which measure movement and the degree of natural light so that lighting can be reduced - or indeed switched off when necessary .
I am pleased to have the opportunity today , ladies and gentlemen , to present the conclusions of the June European Council .
in order to counter the resulting general uncertainty felt by citizens and in the financial world , swift and decisive action is required .
rapporteur . - ( ES ) Commissioner Barrot , you have my support ; what you are asking the House for , you have from this rapporteur , at least , and you have it right from the first line of my report .
similarly , we have available a number of political instruments for boosting regional cooperation in order to counter this threat .
in the light of the successfully concluded negotiations with Liechtenstein and the amended legal basis , consent should be given to the conclusion of the protocol .
these are the reasons why we consider a dialogue with this country very important and significant .
the same must apply to promotion opportunities and pay levels .
show us how effective these measures are using open documents , not secret ones .
the past few months can give us confidence that we are up to the task .
at the beginning of this process I said that Europe had talked the talk under the German presidency , and now we had to walk the walk by taking these tough decisions on this legislation and the rest of the package .
Madam President , Commissioner , thank you very much for your explanations .
we need this stimulus because last year the number of the unemployed in Europe grew by 1.7 million .
I will mention some statistics here . in the European Union , around a million of these unfortunate sharp injuries occur annually .
Mr President , I want to support paragraph 22 , which - like the van Nistelrooij report - calls for Member States to strengthen the partnership principle in their programmes for the current period and in accordance with Article 11 of the General Regulation of the ERDF , the ESF and the Cohesion Funds .
- The next item is the vote .
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President-in-Office of the Council . - ( HU ) Thank you very much for the supplementary questions .
that is how it works .
disaster risk reduction and a clear commitment to link relief , rehabilitation and development are essential .
this is not necessarily always true .
lastly , I hope that systems of general water distribution subsidies , which undermine incentives for efficient water management by creating overuse , will be scrapped in order to free up funds for targeted subsidies in particular for poor and rural populations , aiming at affordable access for all .
the EU is sending them a message that we expect them to become members of the European Union .
in this way the majority in the EP - representing the same political forces that are at the centre of right-wing politics in each country - is seeking to take one more step along the path of dismantling this essential public service .
that can sometimes rather weaken our actions .
I had to rely on information from the Vice-President for Transparency to know that the Secretary-General had told the Bureau he would make it available to Members on request in the French and German versions in which it exists , although he would not translate it .
we need a different basis on which to calculate the number of corridors .
in the joint declaration on communicating Europe , to which this report relates , mention is also made of several different EU programmes , such as ' Plan D ' and ' Citizens for Europe ' , of which Junilistan is fiercely critical .
on the issue of proportionality and minor crimes , however , I would like to tell you , Commissioner Reding , that none of the crimes I have heard mentioned this afternoon - thefts of ties , piglets and bicycles - are covered by the arrest warrant .
women must have general access to employment at all levels of administration and the opportunity to carry out all public functions .
they may be unfinished , but they are well on the way to completion thanks to your efforts .
but the question is whether the protocol will protect the United Kingdom against the provisions of the Treaty .
all the political forces , both those in power and those in opposition must refrain from the illegal use of force .
determined implementation of the programme should strengthen credibility and the confidence of citizens and investors alike .
we know from what we have heard in recent weeks that Russian and Abkhazian separatists have apparently been involved in the spy plane incidents which have led to this rise in tension and we must all recognise that one thing has led on to another .
( DE ) We know that the costs are obviously passed on to passengers .
I wish to express our deepest condolences to all his family .
Parliament also reinforces democratic control and transparency and raises the profile of the EU in relation to international export control regimes .
( PL ) Mr President , I would like to extend my very warm thanks to Mrs Pack and the Commissioner for taking this initiative .
I leave this place today , hopefully to go back to my Member State Parliament , the House of Commons , to represent people in Woodford Halse , Daventry , Long Buckby , Guilsborough , Brixworth , Earls Barton and elsewhere across the constituency known as Daventry .
the energy needs of the Union are undisputed .
yes , it is true , they tabled a fantastic amendment and then eliminated the best part !
thank you for your attention .
above all , we must reject and refuse to renationalise and underfund it .
the elephant in this beautiful room is naturally the media law in Hungary .
it was also very clear in the conference that outermost regions have a wealth of unique opportunities and that they represent a living force as well as a strength for the Union as a whole .
that really is one of the vocations of the European Parliament - to be the House for the voices of freedom in this world .
as Portugal is also a tobacco producer , I think that this type of policy needs to be extremely carefully analysed ; otherwise it could be severely detrimental to farmers who find themselves unable to continue production without being given a viable alternative .
MEPs have also underlined the need to ensure greater transparency by multinational companies on their tax compliance in developing countries , notably the extractive industries , by ensuring country-by-country reporting .
we will , of course , cooperate with Parliament and will sit down and look at what has to be done in practical terms .
we have read many excellent documents .
the hold a lot of promise but at the same time by using them we run the huge risk of losing a lot , losing perhaps more than we can afford .
finally , macroregions are very effective , and here I would like to suggest to the Commissioner that , following the example of other strategies , we create a strategy for the Carpathians , one of the largest regions of the European Union and one of the best endowed in terms of natural riches .
no : it is more likely that what has happened in the last week marks the beginning of the end .
where will offshore installations be built ?
we are doing our utmost in two areas : to inform Parliament , and to convince our negotiating partners to agree to more transparency .
nonetheless , in this difficult process , I would say to the Commissioner that , in my view , it is indeed necessary to translate these bases of her White Paper recommendations as well , as this is the only way to ensure a meaningful debate .
you have the right and the duty to put forward proposals that we can then implement .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I will address three points only .
I will now start to place the proposal into its context .
China has overtaken Great Britain , France and Italy in the ranking of most industrialised nations , overtaken the United States as the major exporter of technological products , and accumulated enormous financial reserves .
by giving children the ability to realise their potential , quality education and care structures can contribute significantly to achieving two of the major objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy : reducing early school drop-out rates below 10 % and lifting at least 20 million people out of poverty and social exclusion .
we do not think that any compromise solutions will bring the results that either Turkey or the Union is hoping for .
a country must be rewarded if it undertakes to promote and respect human rights by signing specific economic , trade and financial agreements .
the key is clearly Egypt and it consists in a guarantee of tunnel checks and smuggling checks which would be acceptable to the Egyptian side .
to conclude the debate , I have received motions for a resolutionfrom five political groups pursuant to Rule 103 ( 2 ) .
this is , I have to repeat once more , exactly EUR 8.8 billion less than was the ceiling for 2012 .
the scheme should have a progressively tightening cap designed to reach that 20 % objective in 2020 .
as the resolution states , the basic preconditions for close cooperation in terms of the European Neighbourhood Policy are the abolition of capital punishment , a free media , freedom of speech and assembly , freedom of religion , a respect for democratic values , and the immediate release of political prisoners .
for this reason , too , I believe that scientific progress should be exploited if it can provide appropriate solutions aimed at alleviating hunger throughout the world , particularly by means of a more effective use of resources .
it establishes a level playing field for the industry by covering all aspects from capture through to the market .
however , the decisive factor is not what we put on paper in Parliament 's committees , in the Commission and in the Council , but what actually happens on the ground .
the rules are not complied with out on the ice .
the European public has no intention of paying for a service they are not getting and they are perfectly right .
the Council , by asking the Commission to submit proposals on this issue , has unequivocally indicated its interest in the subject and its desire to move forward in this respect .
the need for this type of aid is not diminishing ; on the contrary , natural disasters are growing in number and scope .
although the agreed compromise falls short of all that Parliament was aiming for , we have an agreement that ensures a coherent and sensible implementation of the Treaty of Lisbon .
the Commission can accept Amendments 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 11 , 14 , 16 , 17 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 27 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 43 , 44 , 45 and 48 .
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even though I understand the Commission 's argument that it wants , through this directive , to provide companies with legal certainty , I think that the VAT analysis requires some very intensive work .
the election of Václav Klaus as President also belongs to the politics of double standards .
ladies and gentlemen , just one closing remark .
this has also been mentioned by several people .
this is a great opportunity , as Mr Harbour and others have said .
honey bees are of great economic significance and ecological importance - we all appreciate that .
it is an important summit with a lot of items on the agenda and I look forward to hearing your views and suggestions when we make the final preparations ahead of this meeting .
we started work in 2004 and here we are now in September 2007 .
it is important for the public to know that money is not going into a vast black hole but to specific countries for specific projects .
the European Commission 's aim , which Parliament fully supported , was to have a constantly updated picture of the energy infrastructure system .
finally I would like to express my thanks , in particular for the remark that we should take moral responsibility for the sea and for future generations .
Mr Krzysztof Mączkowski is there , who represents many ecological organisations , and , I think , Mrs Morkunaite from Lithuania .
- The debate is closed .
in itself this large concentration of inhabitants by the coast illustrates quite well that we must analyse pragmatically the effects of tourism on coastal zones ; to be precise , its effect on the national , regional and local economy .
this is an important issue on which we would very much like to cooperate .
the implementation of the Nabucco project is exceptionally important in this regard .
( PT ) Madam President , as stated in Mrs Martens 's report with which I agree to a large extent , the fact that the current EU strategy for Africa was not established in partnership with the people of Africa is one obvious limitation on its potential .
we could dispense with a convention if this were merely a technical issue , in other words if we had agreed on the principle of compliance with the Treaties .
Member States must not be placed in a situation where they are at risk of being at the mercy of another state .
Minister Filipiová made a reference to the responsibility of Member States in this aspect .
in the face of this type of disaster , I think that the creation of a European Civil Protection Force is needed more than ever .
we voted against this report for three fundamental reasons .
I also wish to mention the rights of stateless nations , from Padania to Brittany , Corsica to Valle d 'Aosta .
this report also indicates our disagreement with the Council 's vision .
as a member of the Committee on Budgets , I am appalled to see almost the whole committee , except for me , approve all of these requests for transfers .
integration is a splendid measure for preserving peace and that measure can be used for the countries of the Western Balkans .
I think we have to be careful there to keep the neutrality of the EU humanitarian response , even if it is sometimes difficult in crisis areas .
that is why I call for the decision on who should receive the Sakharov Prize to be taken not in the Conference of Presidents but by Parliament as a whole .
many political prisoners are awaiting execution because they are said to have played a role in last year 's demonstrations .
Mr President , it is a great joy for me to take the floor for the first time in this Plenary to commend Minister Tobias Billström for his deep understanding - and , as an Italian national originally , I am in a position to say that - of the grave situation facing the Mediterranean people and countries .
in that respect I think we should use the example of the apparel industry to press for new thinking about the way in which policy ought to regulate markets for the benefit of all .
fisheries and aquaculture in the context of ICZM in Europe (
the recession calls for action in a spirit of international solidarity .
with reference to the content of the proposed measures , despite a lack of adequate operational details for them , I think that things are moving in the right direction towards solving the problems which our farmers are currently experiencing .
the crimes that are the subject of the report have been discussed in various global and European forums .
so said Jean Monnet , and it applies very well to our situation .
at a time of recession , we must all remember that our constituents need to protect their jobs and too hasty legislation can often damage this objective .
there were some questions on the CDM .
when will the Commission respect Parliament 's procedural rules and the position adopted by the majority of its 785 Members ?
as you know , ladies and gentlemen , since you are working on it , we must also have stricter supervision , stronger corporate governance , supervision of speculative financial activities and a framework for crisis management and for resolving banking crises .
young farmers have to leave the land while , at the same time , large landowners are remunerated for leaving valuable agricultural land uncultivated .
in this respect we also need to have the humility to recognise that the global challenge of tackling climate change offers a variety of technological and political options .
the theory is complete , but it still needs to be proven in practice .
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articulate clearly any figure that is mentioned .
it does not go far enough to prevent social dumping .
last year the European Union adopted a code of conduct setting out a number of principles for a better division of labour within the Union .
I would also like to add that enlargement has brought with it a rise in new forms of discrimination threat , such as those facing multiply disadvantaged people ; discrimination against the Roma is becoming increasingly violent nowadays .
the fight against terrorism and the rapid detection of suspicious bank transfers remain as much as ever at the top of the EU 's list of priorities .
however , the bottom line is that patients must be at the core of any policy and should have no worries about costs , safety and quality .
to that end , the SMEs must be able to make even better use of the opportunities offered by the internal market and global competition .
above all , it will develop fishing opportunities .
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I have just returned from Macedonia and Kosovo and should like to address three points .
at the same time , these measures must be implemented rigorously .
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in writing . - This directive deals with regulations on marketing authorisations for medicinal products .
we are joining the best of EUREKA - flexibility , simplicity , decentralised approach , market orientation - with the best of the Framework Programme : centralised management , common evaluation and common selection .
I also support Mr Coelho 's initiative to allow two exemptions from mandatory fingerprinting in respect of children under the age of six and all persons who for various reasons are physically unable to give fingerprints .
this is why I share the rapporteur 's view about the need to review this regulation devised in 2008 immediately , and to adapt it to the provisions of the Treaty of Lisbon , which subsequently came into force .
we must ensure that it is properly targeted towards sustainable political and physical reconstruction .
in my view , there is a leadership deficit in the European institutions when it comes to tackling these issues , a deficit in the Commission and in Parliament .
the Commission thus assumes , entirely in keeping with Mr Frattini 's earlier initiatives , definitive jurisdiction over the legal aspect of labour migration , whereas in my view it is solely the remit of the Member States .
job creation is needed for growth , but there are too many obstacles in the way .
you must tell us , though , under what conditions the European Parliament will have its say in the proposals this will contain for improving the governance of the euro , so that the potential of this currency is deployed fully for the benefit of citizens and so that in the future there is greater acceptance of the European Central Bank by our fellow citizens .
need I remind anyone that this same Parliament has always prioritised trade and that it is therefore jointly responsible for this situation ?
the Commission alone cannot be held responsible for the frequent lack of unity in this House , which is largely the reason why there is no European voice in the world .
the Commission is already obliged to draft a report on the readability of the package leaflet .
there are also a number of questions that I would really like to see answered in relation to Swift , as they were not answered on 3 September .
rapporteur . - ( HU ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , allow me first of all to express my thanks for the numerous remarks and recommended improvements that have been sent for my report .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , Commissioner Frattini has spoken to us today first about legal migration and then about irregular immigration .
decision-makers reacted to the turning off of the gas taps as if this had been completely unexpected .
I think that is unacceptable and it is not for me to report that to my group .
it was some decades ago that a French winner of the Nobel Prize for Economics came up with the obvious solution : free trade is possible and desirable only between countries or entities that have the same level of development .
I therefore consider the new budget to be excellent .
the millions mentioned here are far below the amount needed to compensate producers for the falling prices that they have been suffering .
abortion is not a solution and I regret the fact that some Members of the European Parliament refer euphemistically to ' reproductive medicine ' when they mean abortion .
we must take note of the fact that credit rating agencies contributed , in part , to the crisis .
I also have another question : what does the Council intend to do ?
I therefore voted against Amendment 1 because its aim is to delay the internalisation of external costs for road traffic .
I therefore voted in favour .
it is important , however , that the issue should be raised once again : the world and our society are changing all the time , and political decisions must stand up to present-day scrutiny .
a high level of consumer protection guarantees high-quality products and improves consumer confidence , thereby making the internal market more effective .
the brutal suppression of the student protests against the army at Dhaka University in August of this year gave rise to serious concern at international level .
be that as it may , you can all be certain that Greece is not bankrupt , Greece is not collapsing .
although the European Regional Development Fund does not concentrate on young people per se , it cofinances projects that directly involve young people , such as infrastructure for education and professional training , university research , and support for businesses , notably small and medium-sized enterprises .
I must also say that the damage from the bombing was not extensive .
chemistry has made possible vaccines and antibiotics that have doubled our life expectancy , and it is key to developing new energy sources and improving food .
we have evidence that warning labels raise awareness - and that is why Member States introduced them - but , at the same time , they have to be part of a broader strategy ; on their own , they cannot achieve the goals we wish for .
it has to ensure effective public policy returns .
the Commission is ready to share this experience with the European Union 's international partners .
the second point we focused on was the relation between direct and indirect taxation .
if this enlarges our debate , then all well and good .
today 's debate is not to do with special eavesdropping devices in Bulgaria , nor is it a debate for or against a particular minister .
it is also and primarily the responsibility of the drivers behind the wheel .
the Senate is sovereign and I cannot determine the outcome of the vote , but we have worked hard and I am pretty sure that there is no reason for concern .
it is what we in the Netherlands call a ' low-hanging fruit ' : if we seize these opportunities , then we can very quickly help to achieve the common targets we have set ourselves and that we reiterated in Bali and confirmed again in the Commission 's package of 23 January .
the Member States can give their own State aid .
it is also essential to provide Natura 2000 with the financial means for its management and the effective pursuit of its objectives .
however , Europe is at a turning point if it does not find a new modus operandi .
moreover , such is the degree of disparity in legislation on these matters in Europe that they are not readily manageable at Community level , and the big risk is that health and safety standards will converge towards the lowest common denominator .
on 14 December last year the Commission suddenly suggested that it should be terminated since the fishing opportunities were not being fully used by the European fishing fleet , particularly those relating to small pelagic species .
I also see that this report repeatedly refers to the procedures set out in the Treaty of Lisbon .
online sales and e-commerce in Europe were worth EUR 163 billion in 2010 and the Centre for Retail Research predicts online sales in Europe will grow by 18.7 % to EUR 202.9 billion in 2011 .
I would also like to remind you of the World Trade Organisation 's Global Jobs Pact , which offers an appropriate series of strategic options to enable us to emerge from the crisis .
when the chicken was imported , it had to be labelled , and I said specifically that compulsory labelling is necessary in the case of poultry meat .
the resolution does not condemn the criminal embargo imposed by Israel on the Gaza Strip and its population nor does it denounce the connivance or silence of the United States of America or the European Union in this respect ;
there is indeed a history of disappearances in the region .
in order to guarantee the coherence and substantive nature of employee participation procedures , reference should be made to the European Directive on works councils , the 10th Directive and the Directive on worker consultation and information .
the verification report should be regarded as an opportunity to adjust the regulation in the light of fresh developments and experiences .
it is the same message , whether it is said by the Chancellor of Germany , by the Prime of Minister of Britain , by the President of another country in the European Union , by any of the 27 .
the Commissioner has heard my colleagues say that if the Council and Parliament approve this text , the ball is in its court .
our economies could no longer function without migrant workers , and without their social security contributions our welfare system would be paralysed , threatened as it is by the plummeting birth rate .
we cannot agree that the Amsterdam test would involve an unjustifiable administrative burden .
I am thinking , for example , of extra-virgin olive oil , wine and fruit and , in particular , Sicilian blood oranges , unique in the world for their pigment that is rich in antioxidants .
I voted in favour of this report because preventing and reducing the poverty endured by women is a vital component of the fundamental principle of social solidarity , to which the European Union is committed .
whether generational conflict will become a socio-political apocalypse and potentiate the possibility of conflict between rich and poor depends on the here and now , and whether politicians are prepared to think politically and work sociopolitically .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , Vice-President , ladies and gentlemen , I think it is sad that we have to hold yet another debate about terrorism .
it could , in fact , be made very much better and much more could be done immediately .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - Mr President , I would like to thank the President-in-Office , Mr Jouyet , and the President of the Commission for their presentations here today .
Israel has been forced to admit the use of white phosphorous as a result of this inquiry , so why has there been no real investigation into the actions of some of their soldiers who have been involved in potential , if not actual , war crimes ?
finally , the 21st century economy has been mentioned .
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otherwise , we risk seeing unexpected displays of discontent by a population which is permanently being asked to make sacrifices .
this issue has already been discussed in prior years and particularly in 2007 , when the European Parliament and the Commission , together with various bodies and associations , held a conference entitled ' Beyond GDP ' .
if we are talking about financial instruments for supporting the spread of democracy , legal certainty and respect for human beings , we should also be talking about the effectiveness of these instruments , and about whether we might promote democracy and human rights in even more effective ways .
the winter festival took place even under the most adverse of circumstances .
we have chosen to put in place incentives that grossly distort the market in favour of renewables and against nuclear power .
the rapporteur and his shadows have succeeded in making the issue quite clear , and simply putting before us what has to be done to achieve a positive outcome .
unfortunately , our children 's chances of getting this kind of help in the future are being jeopardised because we allow doctors to prescribe antibiotics when they are not needed and even sell antibiotics without a prescription .
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this is caused , no doubt , by the absence of rail links between the ports and the airports .
I would also like to congratulate the rapporteur and the Commission on the proposals on this regulation .
moreover , the European Union is also continuing to improve the way that it joins forces with other international and multilateral organisations that work for the abolition of the death penalty .
a short while ago we debated the situation in Burma and criticised the completely unacceptable behaviour of the Burmese junta .
while in favour of the general objectives of the proposal and its focus on innovation , EU and Member States money would be better spent on existing Universities and EU research framework programmes .
you might perhaps suspect that the sudden interest in this area has been triggered solely by the different countries wanting to get their hands on raw materials , rather than anything else .
the European Parliament and the Council would point out that , in accordance with Article 248 ( 4 ) ( 2 ) of the EC Treaty , the Court of Auditors may at any time present its findings on specific problems in the form of special reports or give opinions at the request of one of the other Community institutions .
furthermore , we must not forget either the role of women in agriculture in Europe and their contribution to it : one-third of agricultural workers are women .
how patronising is that ?
on the one hand , launching the experimental programme which Parliament has been encouraging for two years now with EUR 2 million per year .
as far as the Council is concerned , the mandate of the two ESDP missions was reviewed following the investigation mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo in early 2009 with a view to helping to combat precisely this kind of sexual violence .
secondly , we also want a political debate with Parliament and the Member States in order to draw conclusions from this .
the Union 's contribution should not be less than EUR 35 billion per year by 2020 and , from 2010 , between EUR 5 and 7 billion should be made available to the countries of the South to cover the most urgent requirements .
when Regulation ( EC ) No 717 / 2007 was adopted , the price of calls between networks did not fall markedly , but remained near the upper limit set by the regulation .
we do it because there is a reality - and the reality is that almost two thirds of the banking assets in the European Union already have a trans-border dimension .
this is not the open Europe or the transparent Europe that I want .
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author . - Madam President , with this resolution , the European Parliament calls on the Burmese Government to put an end to human rights violations and to start genuine dialogue with the opposition and ethnic representatives of Burma , as well as with the international community , and to take concrete steps towards a peaceful transition to a democratic system of government .
out of that dialogue came the most famous statement of Renaissance values : Pico 's Oration on Human Dignity .
the space available is limited and , therefore , the various maritime sectors must take a responsible and thoughtful approach to working together .
this is a binding objective of the Charter of Fundamental Rights under the Treaty of Lisbon .
I should mention that they account for 9 % of the total workforce , but do not enjoy the same social guarantees .
the Member States should implement the EU 's health strategy without delay .
I support the idea that taking into account increasingly mathematical justifications for the measures taken should not serve as a pretext for calling into question part of the Union 's policy to assist the ORs nor deter actors by imposing conditions on them which are too difficult to meet .
we should not forget that micro-businesses of less than 10 employees actually make up over 90 % of all EU businesses .
the Commission is ready to process negotiating positions in the various chapters once benchmarks are met .
it has been found that 60 % of front-rear collisions could be avoided if drivers had brake assist systems and accident avoidance technology .
countries must have the right to choose the technology they use to obtain energy .
every rule adopted is the product of compromise , of protecting different interests .
in particular , the introduction of practical measures to help ensure that live saving organs are not wasted , such as the creation of a pan European organ database .
it is an exercise in juggling the accounts , making it impossible to provide a genuine Community-wide solution to the problems of our society .
in our opinion , the last five years have brought high points and low points .
the priorities for European cohesion must aim not only at promoting competitiveness at European level , through the efficient allocation of funding , but also at helping disadvantaged regions to overcome their social and economic difficulties and to reduce existing disparities .
that is why a coherent policy - at local and regional level , the level of the national ministers and the EU level - is the prerequisite for sustainable European cities and regions .
that is why I was rather disappointed at the Commission 's proposal regarding this regulation , although I would like to congratulate the rapporteur on the very good , dedicated and skilful work he has done in this context .
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we therefore need to radically overhaul the EU 's policies on partnership agreements , so as to give priority to cooperation and to economic and social development .
the motorway that is under construction in Transylvania could likewise cause serious environmental damage .
well , I ask UK voters what they think of the EU and the usual answer is ' I do not think we should join ' .
President-elect Barack Obama is said to have the intention of launching an economic recovery programme costing the equivalent of four per cent of US GDP .
we must ensure that we issue coherent legislation .
finally , we cannot hide from our issue of ever-ageing populations .
I believe that it is vital for European agricultural legislation to be implemented in Member States in such a way that farmers are not discouraged from continuing with farming .
the issues at stake here are innovation and investment .
democracy and human rights brook no ambiguity ; the European Union was founded on the basis of these principles and , therefore , has a moral obligation to maintain them in the future .
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I agree with adopting exceptional measures in the scenarios already mentioned .
the Internet and its various tools are not in themselves oppressive .
at the same time , they must promote models of success as part of the triangle of knowledge and the relations between businesses , research centres , universities and public authorities , especially those established via public-private partnerships .
I understand that the accession of Turkey is seen as grounds for a preliminary debate , yet this indicates that there are doubts which , at the very least , justify this debate .
as the rapporteur on buildings , I would particularly like to point out that I believe it is extremely important for us to maintain a high level of efficiency in relation to the financing of our buildings and to monitor the financial situation with care .
I have chosen to abstain in respect of the decision regarding Parliament 's draft budget .
the accession of Croatia is also on the agenda .
there is no threat to national constitutions ; it is simply an expression of our desire for more discussion within the euro area in particular , but also in the Europe of 27 .
a particular priority should be to help the eastern border regions of the European Union , such as the region around Lublin in Poland , for which a special budget line should be established as part of the 2020 strategy .
this brings two things to mind .
terrorism has to be well organised to survive , and for this it principally needs money .
the entire funds amount to more than EUR 6.6 billion .
the fact that some such obstacles still remain is regrettable , as a Europe-wide home market is a stepping stone to growth for European businesses and a precondition for creating more European world leaders .
if we look at the picture today and draw a comparison with the game of Monopoly that we are all familiar with , the banks have been re-established , they have passed ' go ' and did not go to jail , they have taken hundreds of millions with public approval and then simply started the game again .
it is a question of consular protection for citizens .
there is a common European problem but how it appears in various Member States , and how it should be translated into national strategies , differs from Romania to France or from Slovakia to Portugal , and we have to be aware of that .
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the Commission will also take into account the conclusions of our main international partners in order to identify the options with the most potential .
( PL ) Mr President , in thanking our fellow Member Mr Szymański for a good report , I should like to share a reflection on the subject of why neighbourhood policy is so important for us .
in addition , it states that the main objectives of this policy must continue to be promotion of the rule of law , democracy , respect for human rights and political pluralism .
the free movement of labour and services has brought fierce conflict to the surface .
we know that it is very critical , but we accept that criticism because at the end of the day we are trying to implement the 2002 reforms of the common fisheries policy .
( it ) Mr President , Mr Andor , Mrs Vassiliou , ladies and gentlemen , there can be no doubt that at a time of such great difficulty for the European Union , the fact of having the courage and determination to carry forward initiatives such as the one submitted by the Commissioners can only be looked on with great favour .
one example of this is the EU Strategy for the Danube Region , which will contribute to its prosperity , economic and social development , as well as ensure security in the region .
thousands of jobs are in the balance : whole families who depend on farming , and the dairy sector in particular .
cooperation should be increased with the countries of the Middle East , the Mediterranean region and North Africa .
just as I have done during the debates on combating poverty , I would like to stress the importance of achieving the Millennium Development Goals .
one of these is a factual account , laying down the principles of our involvement in Iraq .
it includes ways in which the performance of VET can be monitored and it measures the improvement of VET at both system and provider levels .
current regulations in this regard need to be simplified .
Israel denies this Parliament its democratic right to meet Palestinian Legislative Council members in Gaza and denies our Foreign Ministers access .
we call on European Union states and the entire international community to give Guinea Bissau the financial and expert assistance required to organise democratic elections .
one of the main obstacles to investment in the region is a lack of clarity about the stability of the national exchange rate and the introduction of the euro .
on behalf of the S & D Group . - Mr President , nearly 10 million Europeans suffer today from dementia , with Alzheimer 's the most common form .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I have welcomed the work done during this period in which Mrs Ashton has been carrying out her role as Commissioner .
Commissioner Kuneva has already promised to start considering what sort of system of collective redress might work in Europe .
Madam President , I have one thing to say regarding the vote that we are about to hold .
( FR ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , the Commission 's proposal intends to allow companies other than manufacturers to produce spare parts , on the basis that this will reduce the price of parts and insurance .
therefore , all the efforts to take care of this House 's powers of scrutiny have to be saluted .
this sort of abuse must not be tolerated .
in order to ensure leadership , I also agree with the rapporteur , who suggests that the President of the Council be mandated to coordinate and oversee this process , in close cooperation with the President of the Commission , setting the spring session of the European Council as the time for the annual evaluation of the Single Market .
my answer is : I believe that it is better to have these minimum standards , and I would like to congratulate my colleague Mr Weber on his work and the negotiations he has conducted .
in addition , Europe is duty-bound to set a good example to the booming emerging markets .
all EU Member States , not just Hungary , have made a formal commitment to respect them .
I find myself in an awkward situation , as Commissioner in charge of humanitarian aid and disaster response , when I can help the victims of the floods in Pakistan quickly , but there is nothing in my hands as an instrument to help the victims of this disaster .
2010 is really close : we have less than two years .
the report also addresses other important aspects , such as the declaration of financial interests of public office-holders in the EU institutions , suggesting that standards should be adopted , and that the composition of the ' expert groups ' ( formal or informal ) the Commission decides to set up to assist it in its initiatives , particularly legislative initiatives , should be disclosed .
as one sarcastic commentator said : ' the best Russian court is in Strasbourg ' .
I have full confidence in what you are going to do .
if the same happens in the other two sectors , European citizens will understand that the European Union is truly useful in securing a better standard of living for them and in protecting their safe travel .
but I have the impression that you have not just come here to listen to me .
I would urge colleagues , however , to consider the report as a whole .
will it create a transfer economy , with low growth and high structural unemployment , or will it have a wealth-creating economy that stands the test of global competition ?
if Parliament had been able to agree with the Council on banning the commercial use of dichloromethane , I would have voted in favour this evening .
a lack of border controls may lead to many negative phenomena associated with criminality and illegal immigration .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( PL ) Madam President , on behalf of the Union for Europe of the Nations Group , I should like to express our support for Mr Mulder .
this is a concern shared by many stakeholders , from pupils to their parents , the teaching profession and business leaders among others .
I would also like to point out , as does the report , the need to simplify the procedures for granting aid .
it is my duty to represent actual citizens , not what the EU institutions consider to be the ' European public interest ' .
it follows that this proposal should significantly reduce the diseases and the many types of cancers for which a link to pesticides has already been scientifically proven , together with the degenerative diseases whose effects have also been proven .
I would also like to congratulate the rapporteur on his sensitivity to gender equality by proposing measures to achieve a greater presence of , and participation by , women in a sector in which men are still in the majority .
in part , this financial problem is a balance of payments problem that has to do with the indebtedness of the private sector , which has to refinance certain amounts or pay back certain debts and does not have the ability to finance itself to carry out these transactions and , in part , at times , it is a public sector need .
in writing . - ( FR ) In my capacity as rapporteur I am very pleased with the adoption of this report on setting up an Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking ( IMI ) .
my thanks go also to the consulates of those Member States of the European Union who all according to the letter and spirit of the European Treaty showed solidarity in offering you assistance in an emergency .
I assure you that the Commission will examine these conclusions with great care when analysing areas where it can see policy gaps and when setting out priorities for the coming years .
then there will be no need for quotas .
recently , however , there have been worrying examples of our failures in some aspects of immigration policy .
and in the event that we actually do so , we come across as powerless and impotent in the absence of appropriate sanctions .
this is a real turning point for European economic governance , especially if we look back at the road we have come down to get to this point .
they must be involved , as the recommendation states , by the Member States and the sectoral dialogue committees at Community level .
we know what the problems are , and we have to find ways to help Romania and Bulgaria , so that things can be sorted out .
secondly , the report acknowledges that if the two countries were included in the Schengen area , their geographical position next to the Turkish border would create two new routes for illegal migrants who currently only head for Greece , which , at this precise moment , is the only Schengen State in the Balkan peninsula .
some level-playing-field issues are already being dealt with .
the stipulation that a European private company really is active across borders .
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collecting data leads to control systems and the vessels of our trading partners , especially of our Commonwealth , could be ordered away in an EU trade war .
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the first aspect was cast into doubt during the hearings . the candidates ' answers were often agreed in advance , and were couched in indecently general terms .
I voted in favour because controls carried out by the Court of Auditors and the Committee on Budgetary Control showed that all transactions were carried out in a wholly legal and regular manner .
another option would be to hold a conference to bring together all these people and their different experiences in this area .
the report calls for programming of the legislative work , including the multi-annual perspective of the budget .
this report reaffirms culture 's place in the construction of Europe and the need to protect it and to promote diversity .
from the start , the pilot project in the field of active and healthy ageing is a good example of what I mean .
the outcomes of the conference will soon be published on the website of the Internal Market and Services Directorate-General .
the legal clarity regarding LIBE reports is unclear in light of the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon .
this vote was scheduled for Tuesday .
we now have some information on the violation of fundamental rights , provided by the Council of Europe .
but how often do we as politicians hear of the democratic deficit , and how often are we therefore urged to engage with citizens ?
however , Europe must not stop or slow down the pace .
the Commission will keep Parliament informed about the progress made at the Washington DC meeting .
if you remember , in 2009-2010 , as a result of our H1N1 experience , we set up a system to coordinate public health communication , and our EU Health Security Committee has a network of communicators .
a second area concerns the issues of quality , coordination and consistency in the delivery of EU humanitarian aid , and a third aspect is the clarification of the use of military and civil protection capabilities in conformity with the Humanitarian Consensus and United Nations guidelines .
they have helped to settle down the markets , which was exactly what we needed to do .
the defence of the rights and the protection of people who are victims of discrimination must be a priority for the EU , but this can only be effective and useful if it guarantees legal certainty for the persons involved , whilst avoiding a disproportionate burden for the economic players targeted .
many thanks , Mr Diamandouros , for your work with our fellow citizens .
firstly , we want a successful multilateral round .
there is a lack of reciprocity and a lack of proportionality .
the Commission intends in the near future to present a package of initiatives relating to the work-life balance , in particular a report on childcare , a draft directive amending the Directive on maternity leave and a draft directive amending the 1986 Directive on ' assisting spouses ' .
I myself have roots in a trade union , which I was in for very many years , and it was an ordinary trade union .
paradoxically , for many years the Hungarians have been making Europeans believe that it is their minority that is oppressed .
I know very well the role you have played as Chairman , Mr Daul , and it has been a decisive asset for us .
I would like to say that I hope that , when they report our debates and the results of the work of the Court of Auditors , the media will not do what they usually do and talk about the trains which arrived late and say nothing about the trains which arrived on time , because most of the budget of the European Union has been spent advisedly .
accidents at work each year are steadily increasing in Greece and in the other EU Member States , with the result that thousands of workers lose their lives and thousands of others suffer insurmountable problems .
perhaps because he himself is not convinced by his own proposals .
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the Commission must take account of that factor today and adapt the Fund accordingly .
indeed , in spite of the opinion expressed by this House in 2005 , then in 2007 , via the vote on the resolution by our colleague , Mr Barón Crespo , the lack of a majority within the Council has always prevented the adoption of this regulation .
however , we must learn good practice from each other and strengthen our partnership in order to ensure the effectiveness of actions .
this can be done gradually by asking Member States that apply the legal migration Directive to repeal any labour restrictions that apply to nationals of other Member States referred to by the Directive .
it was Zeus who kidnapped Europa , and my fear is that you are kidnapping our democracy .
for all these reasons , I voted in favour of this report .
this is dangerous because civilisation cannot be built separately .
this document , for which the rapporteur is Mr Mikolášik , follows the Commission communication entitled ' Cohesion policy : strategic Report 2010 on the implementation of the programmes 2007-2013 ' .
I hope the monitoring centre will not desist from truly and accurately carrying out the mission entrusted to it , and that it will do so whilst managing its budget the best it can .
it contains some worrying - in my opinion - references to voting rights for minors , bans on abortion , bans on same-sex marriages , irredentism and curbing institutions to see that they carry out the government 's will .
as already mentioned by the Minister , the European Union established a two-tier framework to support the closure of Guantánamo , firstly through the Justice and Home Affairs Council conclusion of 4 June 2009 and the annexed information exchange mechanism and , secondly , through the Joint Statement of the European Union and its Member States and the United States of America on the Closure of the Guantánamo Bay Detention Facility and Future Counter-Terrorism Cooperation of 15 June 2009 .
however , that progress will not continue unless the European Union keeps pushing .
the toughest problem relates to the Galileo satellite navigation programme .
as one who has served on this committee in this parliamentary term , I believe that , because it deals directly with citizens , it has a great role to play in reducing what I discussed in a school in Ireland yesterday , the so-called democratic deficit .
this creates an imbalance that greatly affects both manufacturers and consumers on our continent , leading to anomalies that must be corrected .
we voted in favour of the European Parliament 's joint motion for a resolution on the possibility of receiving Guantánamo inmates who have not been charged with offences , since we believe that EU cooperation is essential to reinforce international law and respect for human rights , and to ensure that Guantánamo inmates receive fair , impartial treatment .
I appeal to consumers to actively contribute to the success of such collection .
in her report the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women demanded financial compensation for the victims and court sentences for the perpetrators .
her excellent report will now become an important general step in the right direction .
this is a very current issue given that young people , as one of the social groups most affected by the global financial crisis and one of the groups least involved in causing this situation , must be supported in terms of labour market access in order to safeguard their future and to boost the economy .
emissions of dioxins and furans can only be addressed via material choices at design stage .
according to detailed information received from the EASA , there has been contact on a number of occasions between the EASA , the civil aviation authorities in Norway and Denmark , the Canadian civil aviation authorities and the aircraft manufacturer .
I am glad that , in the Committee on Budgets , we have managed to reestablish the level of the funds designated to agriculture .
energy has become a geostrategic issue once again .
there is still quite a lot to be done , in particular for us .
freedom cannot develop without respect for the rights of others , and peace cannot flourish without fair accommodation of each other 's interests .
it was due for debate last night under catch-the-eye .
as far as centralised customs clearance is concerned , we have another novelty in that the Council has introduced a new Article 106 , taking the view that it is more logical and transparent for all of the provisions of the Code related to this concept to be encompassed within a single article .
each of us had a slightly different view of how it should look , and for me , Mrs Bobošíková , it is a compromise , perhaps a very complex compromise , and I shall support its ratification .
the objective of these resolutions is not to punish Iran but to persuade it to come to the negotiating table : as far as I am concerned , the sooner the better .
with this , I mean a competitive economy , deepening the internal market , creating better conditions for investment - especially for SMEs - a European economy able to hold its own in a globalised market place .
violence is erupting between supporters and opponents of the regime .
it shows that progress is being made in acknowledging and correcting administrative errors .
the report very clearly spells out the wide implications of poverty and social exclusion , not only as a social problem but also , and more especially , as a personal problem for those caught in the poverty trap .
we must insist that Member States implement this proposal as soon as possible .
the firing of shots by militia men at a UN helicopter at the end of May was an outrageous and cowardly act ; as outrageous as the call by the Khartoum government for UN Peacekeepers to withdraw after 9 July .
I have asked you to do something ; you should tell me whether or not you are going to do it .
with extra powers come responsibility , and the endorsement of the Lyon report on the future of the common agricultural policy ( CAP ) post 2013 shows the Parliament taking its responsibility seriously .
we need to adopt measures in order to map out financial risks .
therefore , we are against raising the evaluation threshold .
the next item is the debate on the oral question to the Commission on the prevention of natural and man-made disasters by João Ferreira , on behalf of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety - B7-0201 / 2011 ) .
it is clear that we have to be present , and it is also clear that the slogan used in Mrs Ashton 's communication is very wise : ' more for more'
I look forward to working closely together with my colleague Mr De Gucht in order to secure the necessary time for the adjustments that are needed , taking into account the pace of the ongoing CFP reform .
it is crucial that the enforcement bodies , such as the police and the courts , are made aware of how to actually recognise and to prosecute this crime .
the European Union must encourage their efforts : generously , free of ideological stereotypes , openly and with sympathy .
in terms of the reciprocity principle , we are negotiating with and training third-country officials so that they understand what the EU system is , so as to build their confidence in the level of protection offered to EU consumers and to their consumers alike .
we must not be prepared to compromise where this is concerned , and indeed we are not prepared to compromise where this is concerned .
thank you , Mr Vice-President .
I voted in favour of the report by my German fellow Member Mr Markov , on behalf of the Committee on International Trade , amending the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on Community statistics relating to external trade with non-member countries and repealing Council Regulation ( EC ) No 1172 / 95 .
my question is more broadly on energy and that is , firstly , what is the Slovenian position on increasing nuclear inside the borders of Europe ?
on average the total intake of saturated fatty acids is considerably higher than the World Health Organisation recommends .
we call for emphasis to be placed on the prevention of mental ill-health through social intervention .
the situation is similar with women living and working in the countryside .
we would urge the Commission to submit a plan to us on the subject .
it shows an extraordinary set of priorities that he should be the person that some in this Chamber have chosen to pick on .
the vote will take place on Thursday , 7 October 2010 .
I would also ask the Council to please ensure that the Member States handle the matter of the forced repatriation of asylum seekers in a sensitive manner .
the Commission has also mobilised its instruments to support , if needed , Italy and other Member States if a massive influx of migrants from North Africa were to materialise .
Mr President , I would just like to make one comment in response to Mr Heaton-Harris saying that he thought that Britain in 1975 was joining a free-trade area .
my aim with this informal Council was mainly to prepare our future deliberations on the issue of how to improve Europe 's economic performance as we exit the immediate economic crisis .
Mr López Garrido , the agreement was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 13 January .
lastly , it is important to emphasise that the European External Action Service will manage its own administrative budget and will also be responsible for those parts of the operating budget which fall under its mandate .
he has very successfully included as part of the motion for a resolution the need for Member States to implement measures aimed at achieving territorial cohesion .
we know what it means to live on Europe 's external border .
lastly , we expect the Commission , Madam President , to provide a proactive framework to maintain the competitiveness and the very existence of the European automotive industry .
paragraph 5 , for instance , states that there is a need for telecommunications , information management , observation and navigation in the military area .
now it seems that we are well on track .
I now move to more specific questions .
only by ensuring the correct implementation of the acquis communautaire in its entirety can the goals of the Sixth Community Environment Action Programme possibly be achieved .
I am thinking , for example , of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights .
recently the European Parliament forced through a reduction in the prices of international telephone calls from mobile telephones .
Parliament 's new arbitration mechanism in Article 7a shows that the Commission and Parliament stand together in seeing the need for operational consistency mechanisms that will make a real difference .
last year , Karen refugees fleeing the repressions took refuge in Thailand .
I see this as the major challenge facing all of us .
( FI ) Mr President , in the vote on establishing the Union 's External Action Service I supported the amendments that focus on the inclusion of national parliaments in the supervision of the service .
if it now emerges that there is still money in the agriculture budget , there is a moral obligation to redress this competitive disadvantage .
this , of course , greatly undermined confidence in the democratic process in advance of parliamentary elections .
we still hear all too often about complaints that were lodged years before and are still pending .
these lists are currently transposed almost automatically into EU legislation without Parliament having any say .
the establishment of a specific Commission on Gender Equality is an important step which I hope will help greatly to enhance political representation of women at all levels in Turkish society .
this statement reflected the disappointing findings of the ad hoc committee that , on your initiative , visited the Palestinian territories in early June and observed the Palestinians ' squalid living conditions imposed by the Israeli occupation .
rapid data collection and transmission can shorten the period of granting , or not , human rights , and that is very important .
that is , too few barriers against products from emerging countries such as China , with its low wage rates , grossly undervalued currency and its artificially impoverished home market .
the report by Mr Dess is a good basis for continuing the reform .
in all honesty , we must admit that the situation would be just the same in Europe .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I have already stated on another occasion how strategically important it is for Europe to conclude a special partnership with Latin America , given our obvious sharing of principles , values , culture and interests .
the Directorate-General on Competition and the Commission have gone straight for litigation .
the Presidency will ensure that this preparatory work is conducted under supervision at the highest political level , that is to say the European Council , which will follow progress closely .
2006 Annual report on the CFSP - Annual report on the implementation of the European Security Strategy and ESDP ( debate )
we need more controls , more traceability and more and better labelling , in short more guarantees of what is entering the European Union .
since then , the EU has become one of the many actors with a vital strategic interest in the Arctic - its environment and its natural resources .
in writing . - ( DE ) I am very pleased that Parliament and the Council were able to agree on a compromise with regard to the problem of falsified medicinal products .
the European Union can achieve a great deal on that point , especially through the three Cs : coherence , complementarity and coordination .
there have been two calls for proposals aimed at providing the poorest and most vulnerable with access to water and sanitation services .
I endorse his first comment about the economic crisis , its particular impact on the developing world and , indeed , the fact that we are not reaching our target of 0.7 % in aid .
the effectiveness of these is doubtful in terms of the effective pursuit of the stated objectives , while they represent an additional burden and may result in many companies going out of business given the current economic and social crisis .
common system of taxation applicable to interest and royalty payments (
the Commission 's initial proposal has been supplemented by two elements introduced by Parliament .
we know , today , that this was a vain hope .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to add my voice sincerely to the thanks to our rapporteur , Mrs Lynne .
I agree with the view that there is a need to put effective pressure on Member States to speed up the incorporation of the directive into national law , and to complete this fully .
I applaud the work accomplished by my fellow Member , which is designed to consolidate the legislation in force , but to take into account the fact that it is difficult to influence economic segregation through legislation of this type .
regions of Lithuania that are dependent on fishing have suffered significant economic and social difficulties in recent years due to declining fishing levels and stock conservation policy .
it speaks about the governance of structural policy , and we learn that , over and above a rebalancing of the levels of development of all regions in the European Union , the true aim of the regional policy conducted by Brussels is to radically change the territorial organisation of the Member States and thus their administrative and political structures .
on behalf of the European Parliament , I should like to voice my outrage at this monstrous attack on innocent people and to express our deepest sympathy with the families of all those who have died .
however , we cannot , Mr President , declare a crusade against one individual country .
and to emphasise this compatibility , the Treaty of Lisbon itself provides for the Union to accede to the Council of Europe Convention and thus recognises what the protection of fundamental rights now represents in modern democracies .
exactly one week ago , I spoke with his father in the heart of Jerusalem , and he was wondering whether Europe still cared for his son .
it should be noted that obviously , from a South African development perspective , extending cooperation to many new areas is a point in the revised agreement 's favour ; and , moreover , extending cooperation in this way , which was provided for in the original 1999 agreement as simply a possibility , is what both sides wanted .
however , the report does not advocate the provision of additional funds by the EU , and the role of urban areas as centres for growth is also mentioned .
the only way to counter a dictatorship is through democracy .
if proof were needed , we only have to look at the European Arrest Warrant .
it also corresponds to the growth of our economies through satellite telecommunications and navigation .
we firmly believe that a rapid and brave switch to more modern and efficient technologies will not only benefit our climate and provide the basis for a global solution , but will also be advantageous for the economy since it will make us much less dependent on imports of fossil fuels .
as responsible politicians in the European Union and in all the Member States , it is our task to do everything we possibly can to ensure that acts like this are anticipated at an early stage and prevented from occurring , if this is something that we can influence .
the Italian people will not allow this ; they will not allow devious European powers to try to rationalise Italy due to the culture of hatred of those in Italy who merely want to overturn the centre-right 's democratic electoral win .
( FR ) The next item is the Council and the Commission statements on the situation in Pakistan following the assassination of Benazir Bhutto .
it welcomes the actions of Member States which have signed and ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions , but also recognises that some Member States , in view of their situation , will not be able to sign the Convention at this time .
the fairest and most democratic way to proceed is to vote now on the agreement .
to paraphrase a famous saying , I believe that ' if you offer the patient a drug , you have helped him for a day .
( DE ) Madam President , I would also like to say a few words about Ireland .
in addition , tourism is an important instrument for promoting economic growth in the region .
in some countries , including Romania , in years affected by drought - which have been growing in number - there is a fall in the production of hydroelectric and nuclear energy .
I welcome the initiative to include Switzerland in cooperation in this area .
in writing . - I voted for this resolution .
I agree with the rapporteur that it is important to provide for the conditions under which unspent funds are transferred to the following year .
otherwise , you can come with me to the refuse tip where I became politically active and meet my street children in Brazil .
the European public was seriously alarmed when the oil tanker Erika broke in half on the Brittany coast in 1999 with 20,000 tonnes of oil on board , causing enormous environmental damage , and when three years later the tanker Prestige leaked 120 tonnes of oil onto the coast of Galicia in Spain .
not with us , the European Greens .
unfortunately , it does seem to be the case that in the Council , the Arctic Ocean has been trampled underfoot by the Southern and Eastern Dimension , and so this Northern Dimension 's Arctic window should now be opened .
there should be room for both to be able to provide quality content .
not only has Serbia expressed its willingness to talk to Kosovo , but it has also apologised for the genocide at Srebrenica .
there have been attempts in the past to build on the code by adding a common position that would be a legally binding document by which the Member States would have to abide when exporting arms .
it would be a great mistake if we momentarily failed to give the conditions political consideration or if we inconsistently offered concessions to countries that do not cooperate with us - concessions that we do not give to those that do cooperate .
the CFP has , for years , suffered increasingly justified criticism and it would be disheartening if , when we are being offered one last opportunity , this Parliament were to prove incapable of proposing alternatives to what we have criticised so many times , in particular , the obvious failure of the conservation and management system , as demonstrated by both the state of resources and the decline in the sector .
the humanitarian situation is becoming worse and worse : 700 000 inhabitants of Gaza no longer have electricity , one-third of them no longer have water or gas , and it will soon be three weeks since this situation first began , three weeks in which these people have lived or , rather , have done their best to survive .
the strategy might truly unleash the full potential of the region covering areas from the environment , economy , culture and education to security .
this is not interference in Hungarian affairs .
the report sets stricter criteria in order to assess if measures to safeguard effective and non-discriminatory access will involve disproportionate costs .
therefore , it is my honour , on behalf of the PPE-DE Group , to table this resolution , and I welcome Article 5 fully supporting the Maryland Convention .
this is why Hungary finds the Commission 's stance totally unacceptable and is insisting as firmly as possible on being able to sell its carbon dioxide quotas after 2012 as well .
so much , I think , is well known outside this Chamber .
it is good of Commissioner Barrot to go to Lampedusa in the next few days and I appreciate this .
there is no doubt that there are many UK politicians , here and at home , who would like Britain to join the euro .
globalisation is , in fact , only serving to pit the workers of all countries against each other in unfair competition , whether through relocations , the immigration of job-seekers or the infamous General Agreement on Trade in Services Mode 4 .
this is something we do not understand , unless the Commissioner is currently campaigning in Ireland for the Treaty of Lisbon , but if he is , he could at least tell us .
for that we have our framework for enhanced interinstitutional cooperation , which I believe works very well .
European societies need to shoulder their responsibility here and get the essential information about HIV and AIDS across to young people .
this would mark an important step towards simplification , given that hitherto , the European Community has just adopted annual regulations for the purpose of adapting and updating the existing rules .
a positive response was forthcoming on everything they asked us for .
economic growth will not allow for the rule of law .
we must continue to debate it and focus on what we are actually agreed on .
militarisation of the Union is also one of the reasons why our group cannot support the new constitution proposal agreed last week .
I will answer the very concrete questions which have been asked in addition to the French case .
Commissioner , I along with my colleagues am going to make a proposal to you along these lines .
the debate showed , I am afraid , that the words of Commissioner Špidla were either poorly translated or poorly understood by either Mrs Mohácsi or Mr Cohn-Bendit .
I , too , was in Santiago de Compostela with Seán Kelly where we visited the local university .
we shall await the findings of that examination and then draw our political conclusions .
the decision made by US President , Barack Obama , to close the Guantánamo detention centre is of symbolic significance to the whole democratic world .
the negotiations have not started , Parliament has not made a statement and the Member States are just starting their discussion .
19 .
of course , I do realise that particular governments may be , in a certain sense , hostages of their electorate , but if we are going to build a European Community for the good of everyone , we must make clear rules and we must keep them .
therefore , I should like to know how the Commission intends to deal with this kind of case in the coming period .
the removal of an estimated 22 substances , including Mancozeb and Opus , will affect product availability .
the railways enjoyed glory days in the beginning , but were then pushed aside by vehicles travelling on roads and motorways , due to their greater versatility , individuality and accessibility .
henceforth this will be a single transformation .
the policy of energy saving will characterise the sustainability of the European social model , which is why I decided to vote in favour of the report .
they therefore do not want to be cut off , that is obvious , and we must respond through cooperation , which will enable us to steer Russia in the direction we want .
we now need to move on and take action .
the level of coverage has already been outlined , and often approximates that of transnational or national journeys ; and the same goes , of course , for the technologies used and the application of the scheme to people with disabilities .
digital content and software : the Commission agrees that this issue requires further reflection .
however , the creation of a secure and transparent framework for the operations and financing of Europe-wide political parties constitutes a profoundly democratic act .
I voted for this resolution because the European Union must play a leading role in climate change negotiations , as trust in the international negotiations on climate change needs to be restored after the disappointing outcome of the climate conference in Copenhagen .
ladies and gentlemen , we can but express our disgust about this .
I strongly believe that aid should no longer be limited to help , support or assistance .
one of the key tasks of this Commissioner will be to develop a truly common approach to migration : promoting the integration of legal migrants , fighting illegal migration and related criminal activities , and ensuring solidarity between Member States .
this MRL is valid for EU production , but also for imported food and feed .
the safeguard clause is an expression of compromise , and ' compromise ' is a word which we welcome .
specific features of the implementation of these programmes mean , however , that most of the payments will be made in the final years of the programmes , that is 2013-2015 .
before a tsunami comes over us , we should take the measures and be proactive and prevent this type of thing from happening .
it comprises national policy makers and experts on the basis of mutual learning and the exchange of good practices .
unfortunately , there are politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina who are less concerned about the interests of their citizens , as they are secure in the knowledge that they themselves , of course , have visa-free travel .
the management of the European Union 's external borders and operational cooperation between the Member States as part of Frontex are vital for the EU 's security and may even prevent situations from arising .
( RO ) A solution for an efficient and less polluting Community energy transport is the development of modern railway transport , both for passengers and for merchandise .
it is an important issue at local , regional and national level , as well as at the level of the European Union institutions .
more exchange of experience can lead to better administration in the EU , but also in the Member States .
we must surround ourselves with the necessary safeguards so that Member States can have the best water treatment techniques available when identifying ' mixing zones ' .
the question is , however , whether attempts to weaken Russia help the issue of world security .
is this not a misinterpretation of diversity ?
on the contrary , it is now that the EU itself is assuming yet more responsibility .
the Lisbon Treaty will be signed tomorrow , and on Friday the European Council will start on its task of seeking concrete results for a Europe at the service of citizens in the age of globalisation .
this closed attitude is unworthy of this House .
this is why I believe it is necessary to monitor this process , and at the end of each stage it would be worth taking a look here in this House , in successive debates , at the results of the solutions currently being implemented .
most of all , we must also target people traffickers .
the sustainable economy must be a major point in shaping the immediate future .
it specifically focuses on the provision of information to the public on prescription-only medicines .
in 2009 , the Commission published a report by an ad hoc expert group on the switchover from institutional to community-based care .
but we have seen - as you have rightly said - Member States that chose to decouple totally from 2006 when the reform entered into force .
I was responsible for choosing the socialists in my government .
there ought to be a particular focus placed on the respect for , and protection of , intellectual property rights and patents .
the problem is Cyprus ; it is the relationship with Turkey .
under these proposals , people who wish to migrate to Britain illegally may come to another EU state perfectly legally , obtain a long-stay visa that gets them to France , for example , from where they may gain illegal entry into Britain .
that is to say , if an act is merely probative in its country of origin , it cannot be considered an enforceable act .
I shall perhaps focus on certain points that have been raised .
I also voted in favour of keeping paragraph 9 , declaring the end by 2010 of the direct production-linked subsidies for tobacco growing because of its implication for health issues .
I would like to finish by saying that we have had a prudent year in terms of our budgetary responsibilities , and this is why I am asking you to vote in favour of these accounts for 2006 .
I must warn you of this .
we want a strong economy , safe jobs , less energy dependence and a clean environment .
it is also necessary to expand the carbon trading market in order to send clear signals about the cost of carbon .
we would , however , very much like to avoid becoming entrapped in legal matters .
in order to be able to take these explanations of vote today , I therefore propose the following change in the order of business :
I would like to underline that only a strategy based on coordinated and joint action can encourage the Member States to honour and adhere to the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child throughout the European Union and beyond its borders .
now the Greeks , with their falsified figures , are already receiving financial support , and who is next ?
I want to challenge them outright to do so .
the consequences of the recession do not affect all of us equally , as the Commission reminds us in its Communication .
your rapporteur is satisfied that the concept developed by Parliament at first reading has been taken over ; this involves drawing a distinction between two types of authorisation , namely ' customs simplification ' , on one hand , and ' safety and security ' , on the other .
the report rightly highlights key issues like the need for monitoring implementation of legislation ; boosting the training of judges , prosecutors and defence lawyers ; and new legislation ensuring procedural safeguards , as Gérard Deprez has emphasised .
needless to say , this amount could be put to much better use if channelled , for example , into technological research .
in my country the Portuguese Presidency is taken very seriously and all our Prime Ministers , myself included , have had the good sense to regard its work as crucial and a priority whenever the Portuguese Presidency has come round , because the European project is also an internal political issue for Portugal , not just about foreigners and Europe .
yes , we have been working on data protection ; when fortunately you , Parliament , said no to the way things have been working before Lisbon was implemented .
I refer here to our framework for forensic laboratories .
I wish to state here the reasons for this decision , and also to voice our concerns to you , because I believe that they deserve to be heard .
it must involve the stakeholders in the day-to-day management of stocks .
the Presidency , on behalf of the Council , hopes and expects that it will be possible to reach a first reading agreement on the proposal in the area of applicable law .
Mr President , we would like to thank the Commission and the Council , Mrs Hedegaard and Mrs Schauvliege , for the daily briefings that the European Parliament delegation received in Cancún .
this is why it is paramount that a legislative framework is created which will monitor the proper implementation of these measures .
the third problem , as I told the Central Bank years ago , is that you cannot regulate the monetary system solely with measures aimed at the lending rate .
modern European culture only began when Dante and Petrarch began writing in Italian .
the value of the global market for cord blood stem cells was approximately EUR 3.34 billion in 2010 .
Hungary is hit particularly hard by this problem .
we should teach our children that they must not talk to strangers , and likewise on the Internet , shut the door in their face .
let me just mention one example : quality and safety .
the first of these - I don 't have to remind you - is the calendar .
the unanimous view within the EU is that one of its main problems is low population growth due to low birth rates .
we are pleased to welcome the Ombudsman this morning , and Commissioner Wallström .
I should also like to mention the case of Kosovo .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - Mr President , there are many things people want to know about medicines before they take them or give them to their animals : that they are safe and effective , and come from ethical sources , and how they will interact with other medicines .
this is why , apart from the association agreement , which is very important , we need to relax the visa requirement for Ukrainians and , in the future , lift it .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , education has played , and continues to play , a key role in the development of the European economy and the personal development of young people .
we need a European ' supergrid ' that taps into and links the enormous potentials in the North Sea , the Baltic and the Mediterranean region .
the EGF was set up in 2006 to provide practical support to workers made redundant either for reasons associated with the relocation of their companies or , following the 2009 amendment , on account of the economic crisis , in order to assist their reintegration into the labour market .
so far so good .
the parliaments of ACP countries should press for their involvement in the adoption and execution of the country and regional strategy papers , as these are the main programming tools for development assistance .
the enhanced economic governance framework will be underpinned by different interconnected policies .
Europe must be an international player and not merely an area of prosperity and of law .
if , however , they die in defence of values such as freedom or truth , we can say that their suffering is not in vain - as is the case with the recent victims in Iran .
however , this will require a decisive European summit and a whole lot more in the way of unity .
high Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , as I began , I wanted to come to this House to hear the views .
I voted for discharge in respect of the European Union general budget for the financial year 2006 and the report by Mr Jørgensen , which recommends granting discharge to the Commission .
explanations of vote
I personally , and President Barroso - I say this out of kindness - even more so than I , have fought to include these five objectives in the European Union 's programme and to keep them there .
a decision was then made which would allow , in the current situation , a budget of EUR 134 billion in terms of payment levels .
( PL ) Mr President , defence of human rights is the trademark of the European Union .
this is why the new Member States feel that it is very important that they play a reasonable role in this regard in the future as well .
2 .
we must relaunch it and develop it further - several people have mentioned this , Mr Stolojan , Mrs Gebhardt , Mr Karas , Mr Kožušník - from the cross-border perspective or even within each country .
the COM in wine would eventually become a COM in property .
they include the enormous amount of energy that is still being wasted , and there are also the negative consequences of the current energy system on ecosystems and in particular on the Earth 's atmosphere .
I did not support Amendment 15 .
I was disappointed that again , British Conservatives opposed this report on the 100th anniversary of International Women 's Day .
the Treaty of Lisbon is about to be signed and , therefore , the Charter of Fundamental Rights as an annex to the treaty will be particularly important .
in particular , the animal identification legislation must be reviewed to make it more flexible and less bureaucratic .
- Before the vote :
we cannot legislate in the abstract !
in your question , you began by talking about whether the approach to be taken by the European Union should be human rights centred , holistic , and focus on repatriation and reintegration , social affairs and social inclusion .
the agreement with Mauritania has become the most important in financial terms - it is the most important of our agreements .
however , it is still mainly the local authorities who are able to be active in the communities to tackle the causes of radicalisation and to trace the youngsters who are susceptible to it .
however , energy policy , a matter of sovereignty and independence , should fall solely under national competence .
ladies and gentlemen , as is also apparent from the above points , the members of the Committee on Industry are unanimous in their opinion that both removing barriers to trade and action against climate change can only be brought about with the broadest possible international collaboration .
in 2010 , 52 % of all unemployed young people ( 50 000 ) who registered with the Lithuanian Labour Exchange did not have any vocational training .
in writing . - I support the conclusion of the Statute of the International Renewable Energy Agency by the European Community .
however , I wished to make this explanation of vote to emphasise its importance .
it is also important for EU citizens ' social standards to be preserved , for us to protect the socially deprived , as well as for competition not to be distorted and the environment to continue to be protected .
it also emphasises that Serbia 's future lies in membership of the European Union , and encourages the country to continue its efforts to achieve that goal .
they still do it .
allow me to say that I do not think so .
mergers of public limited liability companies ( codified version ) (
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( NL ) Firstly , I should like to thank my colleague Mr Blokland most warmly for his excellent report .
in conclusion , the primary concerns in the international adoption procedures should always be in the best interest of the child , with particular attention to children with special needs , in order to guarantee children 's and families ' rights .
I had the privilege of going to Washington for the first time with the delegation of the Internal Market Committee last year when we were able to go to Congress and to emphasise the fact that engagement with these issues was widely spread across Parliament .
the successful model has several components , and there are also several reasons for failure in countries where youth unemployment has risen to one third of the age group .
should the Commission not have been alerted , and not for the first time , by the bans imposed by the authorities in Spain and Italy ?
do you not think that this flies in the face of the measures taken by the Commission and the individual governments ?
this is not a vanity project for the French Presidency , nor is it a question of finding out whether it will be one more feather in the cap of the Presidency .
as a citizen of Antwerp , what I find especially hard to take is that we have been convinced for months that the choice would be based not merely on economic arguments but on the ability of Germany , the German Government , to put a very large amount of taxpayers ' money on the table .
that is my first remark .
lastly , this specific aspect of the EGF calls for it to be regarded as a permanent fund in its own right , with sufficient payment appropriations to ensure that no transfers have to be made in order to mobilise it .
and so to my second question .
how does the Commission judge the implementation to date of Directive 2003 / 42 / EC on occurrence reporting in civil aviation ( adoption of a system of notification of accidents and serious incidents ) ?
a couple of months ago I was very shocked when my daughter , an extremely slim daughter , came home and did not want to eat her second slice of bread because she would get fat .
to debate what ?
in writing . - ( PT ) I support the European Parliament motion for a resolution on the impact of aviation security measures and body scanners on human rights , privacy , personal dignity and data protection .
Muslims who convert to Christianity , for example , are oppressed .
I voted in favour of the report on the management of H1N1 influenza because it highlights the importance of strengthening cooperation , independence and transparency in the management of future pandemic crises , specifically through improved application of the powers of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control as an independent agency .
but Mogadishu is a name synonymous with violence , murder , riots , hunger and a failed economy .
what is more , this is the very condition on which the economic and social viability of the fisheries depends .
that is the way forward .
it should be pointed out that the directive aims to oblige the Member States to lay down criminal sanctions within their own legislation for serious infringements of Community law with regard to protection of the environment , without creating any obligations for application of these penalties that may be invoked in individual cases .
however , I do agree with Mr Klinz 's second point about the bank structures in various Member States .
it seems that now everyone knows what the European Investment Bank must do .
to be honest , I do have some doubts whether this issue is going to be solved on the basis of the current negotiations directives .
we should carefully analyse the results of this funding to see where we have used best practice and where we were actually able to help secure jobs and , above all , where we have succeeded in reintegrating redundant workers into the labour market as quickly and as efficiently as possible .
( applause )
'Eurovignette ' is one of the directives that should enable road and rail transport gradually to be put on an equal footing .
the data protection discussed in that report is , of course , a fundamental subject as far as Europe is concerned .
the ECB must oppose any efforts to make it into a political body .
after that the Commission will monitor development cooperation closely .
however , I should like to add a few points to what has already been said and to draw our attention to the following three comments : firstly , we will need , from now on , to be particularly careful and strict in terms of compliance with obligations in the illegal immigration sector .
how far can they take this ?
the effects of the crisis have multiplied following the implementation of the directive in Member States where the postal market has been completely deregulated .
I would also like to compliment rapporteur Gauzès and the Council on reaching a reasonable conclusion to the regulation of credit rating agencies .
that is also why , in the Committee on Constitutional Affairs , we have actively collaborated on the report by Mrs Napoletano , whom I wish to thank for her patience and understanding .
the real danger is that weapons are stationed in space and used to destroy our communications satellites , because then our entire social system could be disrupted by relatively minor means .
we could discuss the first three years , but we could also discuss the target , set at 95 grams , which is the key factor for the development of our industry .
there are overlaps between the agencies and also with the Directorates-General of the Commission , with departments in Parliament and with national bodies .
suspension could lead to European passengers and airlines no longer being able to profit from the significant benefits which they have enjoyed since March 2008 thanks to this protocol .
in writing . - I supported this resolution as I believe the specific issue of safeguarding equal treatment and fair competition on public procurement markets in the EU and in third countries urgently needs more political attention .
then there is freedom of access to negotiating documents on the partnership and cooperation agreements with countries such as China .
but there is one big drawback : it is wrong to draw up such rules at EU level .
( SL ) Mr President , there are , indeed , thousands of victims in Japan and I personally deeply sympathise with them and think that the European Union should offer all possible assistance .
I would like to take this opportunity to ask my colleagues to reject unambiguously the proposals by certain groups aimed at undermining the importance of coal and steel and conventional energy sources in general , or , as the case may be , the importance of the future of this Fund , which has proved to be irreplaceable in terms of financing research .
the horrendous record of lawlessness in Russia is not a question of private delinquency .
as a result of all this , the situation is becoming increasingly threatening . support for independent action in Belarus and for civil society is all the more necessary .
the European Parliament has a strong track record in cutting red tape , and should do so again now , by giving its seal of approval to these regulatory provisions .
Parliament has worked hard , and has improved the document produced by the Council .
in binding the institutions and states of the Union , the Charter limits the power of the authorities in the name of protecting the interests of the citizens and their organisations .
it is precisely that failure , they conclude , that has allowed the Russian authorities to crudely violate human rights and international law .
we will offer them friendly encouragement to do so , but we know the risks .
but how will that role develop ?
thus , they duly bear in mind the interests of both the enterprises themselves and other stakeholders .
it would then be better to create a moratorium , or something similar , for these countries .
last but not least , I hope that retail , which is a pillar of the European economy , would also be high on the political agenda .
the aim is to ensure control over markets , finite energy resources and other natural resources vital to the capitalist method of production , in a context of greater international competitiveness .
in writing . - ( EL ) The PASOK Group supports , inter alia , the content of Amendment 50 , in order to ensure that the long-term objective of 95 grams of CO2 / km will be legally binding from 2020 .
I believe that the procedure for allocating these funds must be simplified to facilitate the affected enterprises ' access to the EGF .
the crisis has been caused by a number of complex and interrelated factors , and there will be no easy way out .
I therefore think that it is worth pointing out that as the Spanish Presidency is coming up in the next six-month period , and as the determination of the Spanish Government and Spanish society to fight all forms of terrorism is so consistent and persistent , it will certainly be an opportunity to include this harmonisation , this framework programme for the protection of the rights of victims of terrorism in the action plan .
( PL ) Madam President , the current need of EU legislation is for it to be simplified so that the law is clear and comprehensible to every citizen .
what does the Council then do to Europe 2020 ?
young people are not only our future , they are our today .
there must be funding to transfer technology and enhance the administrative capacities of these countries so that the reductions in question can be measured , recorded and verified .
the time has come for us to turn words into actions .
thus Mr Sarkozy , once again betraying his election promises , opened two chapters of the accession negotiations while he was presiding over the European institutions .
now the country of the former oppressors are to enjoy visa waiver - and I welcome this , because there is no collective guilt - and Kosovo cannot aspire to it .
for the Single Market to be socially oriented , industry must be restructured in a sustainable manner , and there must be constant consultation with social partners .
the alliance should not replace humanitarian assistance but help to minimise the extent of the expected catastrophes by providing support through innovative programmes , through strengthening administrative structures at national and local levels and also through educating the inhabitants of threatened island states .
it could lead thousands of illegal immigrants into poverty , ghettoisation and crime and , although we demonstrably cannot or will not deport them , these illegal immigrants may remain out of work .
I am likewise convinced that , through this report , it is possible to legislate better and make better impact assessments with regard to individual legislative proposals .
creativity is based on invention and talent , on an inspired ( or at least a good ) idea .
Member States also need to monitor their energy dependency closely , in particular with regard to natural gas and oil .
we now have to decide whether or not to allow the urgent procedure for the extension of Article 186 of the single CMO Regulation to the dairy sector , namely the possibility for the Commission to decide , in the event of a market crisis , to implement emergency measures without going through the normal procedure in Parliament .
( the President cut off the speaker )
we also need better rules , and this is something that we are working on at the moment ; this includes the product package for the internal market and subsequently the Toys Directive .
the EU will continue to follow closely and participate actively in this process .
in order to harmonise the legislation which classifies areas as eligible to receive payments it is essential , above all , to harmonise the classification criteria of such areas .
I therefore supported the resolution on EU-US relations .
the report touches upon the key issue of insufficient cooperation and exchange of information between Member States , which results in the duplication of individual projects .
another very specific point is the ICC - the International Criminal Court - for which there is strong support from the European Commission .
however , since the current certification procedures are complex , time-consuming and , above all , expensive , their results have been negative , especially for small and medium-sized farms .
in 2008 , the EU committed itself to a 20 % reduction in energy consumption by 2020 and for 20 % of energy consumed to come from renewable sources .
in addition , the need for financial assistance linked to accompanying measures for the bananas sector was not provided for in adopting the multiannual financial framework ( MFF ) in force .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , it is still a mystery how the Council could have treated an issue such as this so lightly .
the composure and decorum of the population of Japan is the only consolation in the apocalyptic vision and the media have shown this to the whole world .
even if Spain and Italy are not in favour of such a system for linguistic reasons , it is essential that the 25 Member States who are interested make progress together on this subject .
we must act to ensure that the package is ready for the international challenges that Europe will need to face .
outside the European Union , it is essential that we promote children 's rights on an international level , especially as part of the European Union 's relations with its neighbouring countries and its strategic partners .
in this regard , we need to be very clear and I believe that those who have criticised me , Mrs Rosbach for example , probably did not listen to my introductory speech , because I said very clearly then that we are concerned about developments in relation to human rights in Russia .
contrary to what you have just said , the problem is that a European Commission investigation is underway , and it has asked the Italian Government for information about the risk of competition law being infringed ; this exercise relates not to subsidiarity but to EU regulations .
subsequent accessions of additional countries should not be excluded , but everything must be done in accordance with rules and conditions .
1 .
it must be a fair and honest process .
unfortunately , at that time , no one paid attention to our recommendation .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I am grateful to the rapporteur , Mrs Kallenbach , and to the shadow rapporteurs from the other groups for having made themselves constantly available for consultations , enabling us to achieve an innovative but , I must say , well-balanced compromise .
one-minute speeches on matters of political importance
effective , coordinated steps must be taken to solve these problems .
I voted for the Alvaro report concerning the new SWIFT agreement , which outlines conditions for the transfer of certain banking data stored by SWIFT at the US Treasury Department as part of the fight against terrorism .
another important area touched upon also in Dr Swinburne 's report is to improve the functioning and regulation of commodity derivative markets in line with G20 principles .
Mr President , there is widespread anger and fear amongst our citizens concerning the collapsing financial institutions globally and their potential impact on pensions , savings and jobs .
I regret that Mr Bowis is not present with us in the House this morning , and I wish him a speedy recovery from his illness .
the question is whether this is workable in Europe , but we need to examine this , too , since the whole market is so volatile that every option must be considered .
now we are talking about new rules for capital .
there is a lack of medical care and of food .
that is why we have projects such as Nord Stream , Blue Stream II and also South Stream .
it is a particularly good thing for us to turn towards young people , for otherwise young people will turn away from us , away from the concept of Europe .
my own instincts are liberal on this .
under the French Presidency we are looking to organise a major event focusing on developing the mobility of apprentices .
I call on the EU , the Commission and the Council to make it clear to President Medvedev that Russia 's full compliance with the rulings of the Strasbourg Court will be a high-priority EU expectation with a view to resuming further partnership .
I would ask the Commission to look at this as well .
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this issue cannot be considered a Polish-Belarusian internal affair .
please be assured that the European Union will not move on this point .
this would be much more difficult in the future because you would need a qualified majority of the Member States representatives to block it .
the Council has just adopted a new overall approach to implement Resolutions 1325 and 1820 , which applies both to operations relating to the European Security and Defence Policy , and Community instruments .
that is why the clear need for a pragmatic and integrated view of the impact of tourism on coastal regions took hold in our minds and led us to start work .
language teaching and vocational training are both urgently needed , together with the opportunity to learn about European culture so that the time spent in these detention camps is not wasted , but instead we help people to help themselves .
when we talk about Member States , it sounds like an abstract person , but it is not : it is every one of us citizens who travels , as well .
it is time , ladies and gentlemen , that we defined a strategy for Latin America .
several times since the twin tower attacks nine years ago I think we have got that balance wrong .
European industry has shown that we can count on its commitment to searching for innovative solutions which will help in the fight against climate change .
it is important to emphasise that the new regulation will be applied in complete accordance with the principle of subsidiarity .
I also agree that :
this problem is clearly outlined in the report on this protein deficit and stringent standards are called for in relation to feedstuffs .
encouraging a lasting peace and promoting the economic development of Congo are only achievable if the Congolese Government and the UN are successful in their efforts to combat sexual violence against Congolese women and , more broadly speaking , if they ensure that a genuine rule of law is established in that country .
I am not the one saying this , I am quoting Nout Wellink , President of the Dutch national bank , who is repeating exactly what Mr Trichet said last week .
when there was discussion of the political problems , as we know , it was about the Barcelona Process .
that is why I ask that these languages be properly introduced and managed inside the youth external services and also taught in our schools , as a common asset , as second , third or fourth languages , because these languages , as our relations with Brazil clearly show , increase our EU capacity to relate closely worldwide : to mingle more , to really share , to be part of the same club .
the aim of this global approach is to deal with all of the main dimensions of immigration together and in a balanced way .
Mr Cramer will cycle , Mr Marinescu will go home on a new high-speed train , Mr Costa will use the vaporetto , Vice-President Tajani will travel by scooter in Rome and I like to travel on foot in my home town .
this gave me enough backing for a successful outcome to the negotiations with the Council and the Commission .
clearly , this can be reached only if the Council , Commission and Parliament agree on the working method , even before agreeing on the specific priorities .
after all , someone has to put theory into practice .
although the car industry is a strategic sector , it is not systemic in the same way as the banking industry .
the firm simply informed its clients , in an official statement , that they would have to write off the money they had invested in their tickets .
my answer is the following .
global Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund (
with these conclusions , the Council and the Presidency want to send a very clear and strong message from Europe that we hope may result in the negotiations between the parties being resumed soon .
as regards the recent military conflict between the rebel and Chad governmental forces in western Chad , the Council deeply deplores the attacks by the rebels which led to the present fighting .
we now await concrete steps leading to the economic , social and cultural development of the region .
as the President rightly stated , this report I drew up is extremely important as it concerns the VAT system that we are seeking to amend .
I voted for it .
decisions concerning certain documents : see Minutes
Václav Klaus is the icon of the Czech transformation in the 1990s , and it is , I might add , thanks to him that we are successful today and that we have emerged safely from those first ten years .
it is a long and complex debate and a solution cannot be found within the next few weeks in the relatively restricted context of the 2011 budgetary procedure .
I am grateful , in any case , to the European Parliament for helping us in this difficult task .
I do not know whether that is going to work .
I am in favour of adopting the motion for a resolution on the above matter .
despite my generally favourable opinion of President Sarkozy , I have to say that he did not respond adequately to that challenge .
we look forward to the intensive work of the next months , especially between now and the European Council in June , with you in this House and the Spanish Presidency in the sector Council formations .
as already stated , it creates a huge number of jobs for both highly qualified workers and unskilled ones .
respect for , and the promotion of , democracy and human rights , especially those of women , are fundamental principles of the European Union and must constitute common values shared with partner countries of the European Neighbourhood Policy .
I have to admit that I have a feeling of both hope and despair about this .
without the appropriate measures , there will be a threat both to fruit growing and to the developing cultivation of many field crops .
therefore I am looking forward to our first trialogue meeting on 30 March .
it will also call for the revision of Canadian copyright law to be initiated as soon as possible and preferably during the Parliament 's present session .
appointment of the Vice-President of the European Central Bank (
moreover , once it is operational , the support office will be able to give expert support to those Member States that request it .
we need a sensible and well thought-out migration policy to improve the demographic structure of the EU and to strengthen the economy and people 's welfare .
it is rather a shame , though , that Mr Mandelson is leaving at this point ; it means we have to change horses in midstream .
however , we can make things better today by supporting the amendment calling for a mandatory register of financial interests and real sanctions for those who break the rules .
it is true that all of our countries are members of the International Monetary Fund , but we can and must do it ourselves .
I am not sure that I understood all of the details , but I can , of course , look at them more closely later .
I will end here , so as not to go over my four minutes .
but we also need to hold the Saudis to their UN Convention obligations to remove discrimination against women , who cannot even drive a car or vote in their limited local elections .
a government sworn into office just six days ago is the target of fierce accusations from Spanish ministers , when much more serious incidents have taken place in Spain .
( PL ) Mr President , religious freedom is a right which has been acknowledged in international and European conventions on human rights for over 50 years .
we have seen it in churches , families and communities , where a blind eye has been turned , leading to some of the scandals of which we are aware in our various Member States .
this directive is about choice .
you must always learn from the lessons of your mistakes .
we need to encourage the inclusion of information about the Roma holocaust in the school curriculum for European pupils .
the second objective , I believe , is and must be to encourage the growth of that country from an economic and social point of view , because we know that it is one of the poorest countries in the region .
due to the irreparable damage that it causes , FGM must be regarded by society as a very serious crime and must be vigorously combated .
( NL ) Madam President , I fully understood that .
this kind of priority would penalise regional passenger transport in the main Italian centres , for example in the city of Milan , which is located on three TEN corridors .
I very much regret this slap in the face for a considerable number of European stakeholders : the European Large Families Confederation , the European Consumers ' Association , and the Standing Committee of European Doctors , which were simply asking for infants not to be considered ordinary consumers .
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everyone tells us that the brutal military intervention yesterday was a means of neutralising heavy arms .
whilst it is acceptable to combat racism - and by racism I mean the specific incitement to or the use of violence - it is not acceptable to confuse this concept with legitimate public debate , such as opposition to mass immigration , opposition to Islamisation or the defence of national identity .
it felt that a banking book shock was unrealistic , and so there was no point in carrying out tests on the banking book at this stage .
firstly : during the six months of your Presidency , do you wish to bring back to the negotiating table the introduction of a Tobin-type carbon tax on financial transactions ?
they clarified the issues raised regarding EU funding and the way this has been managed in Kosovo .
with particular regard to the question of listing bluefin tuna on Appendix I of the CITES convention , I would like to raise a couple of issues .
( NL ) Madam President , I very much welcome a strategic partnership with China .
it would have been better to wait for the results of the investigations to have a proper discussion on solid foundations and to enable fellow Members to gain a true idea of what is really happening .
( FI ) Mr President , I do not think that the EU should support polluting coal mines .
due to the effects of the current economic and social crisis , the fight against unemployment and social exclusion have attracted the particular attention of the European public and the European institutions .
but the commitment to the core goal has not wavered : to meet the 20 / 20 / 20 targets by 2020 ; to show the way for a global agreement at Copenhagen next year ; and to prove that we are serious and we mean business when discussing these issues .
Croatia should spare no effort to fulfil the remaining benchmarks , to maintain and improve what has already been achieved and , in line with the negotiating framework , to conclusively address all other obligations still outstanding .
symbols express a shared goal and shared values .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to start by thanking the Commissioner .
this idea has been highlighted by the vast majority of this House in the debate that we have had today .
it is just asking for something very basic .
this directive is without doubt difficult to bring to fruition , but after today 's debate - which has certainly been very intensive and high-calibre - I believe that I , and all of us , can now be somewhat more confident that a positive solution will be found .
in order to make the qualitative leap which we all want in the relationship between the European Union and Mercosur , it is fundamental to take account of the balance between the political and economic components .
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as a second point , the raising of the de minimis thresholds should be seized as an opportunity to also help fishermen to be able to work - and fish - in a more environmentally sound and sustainable way .
it is important that the development of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes should carry on under conditions of maximum security , safety and non-proliferation .
what sort of fleet do Parliament , the Commission and the Council have at their disposal ?
that is not such a silly idea in essence .
taking away a child is the worst possible violence that can be inflicted on a mother , and this sometimes happens for entirely trivial reasons .
other groups , such as those with differing political opinions , have their human rights violated and we must not tolerate this .
apart from many other objections to EU involvement in military matters , it is a distraction from a clear focus on humanitarian aid .
instead the Hungarian authorities could suspend transmission of such services on Hungarian territory , which is in line with the AVMS Directive .
as you know , imports do not of course come into the CAP , but they make up another essential piece of the jigsaw that should go alongside the CAP , because if we import cheap , poor-quality products our agriculture is bound to collapse .
exercise , on the other hand , increases the deposition of calcium in the bones , develops children 's social skills and is an important factor in the fight against stress .
it is evident that insecticides are , by their nature , toxic to bees .
I am very happy with these , if not with the proposals on Mauritania .
he has clearly shown us the way .
the Czech Presidency is particularly pleased that this has been included as one of the communication priorities agreed between the institutions for 2009 .
emphatically , enough is enough .
I have to tell you , from the preparatory work going on with our partners in the G20 , there are many who oppose this idea ; nevertheless , I think we should pursue it .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , I think that , with this budget , we have succeeded once again in developing new strategies .
I would also like to appeal to my friends in ASEAN .
that concludes the vote .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I only hope that what we are discussing right now does not end up being an additional and perhaps final death blow to our economies .
the EU will need to do more to cope with the challenge posed by climate change .
it mentions , specifically in the recitals , important issues like the decline of public investment in higher education , the increase in fees and the consequent widening social gap , but this issue is not properly taken up in the body of the resolution .
I have heard that there is still a possibility of it getting off the ground .
I am always willing - and hopefully able - to come back to explain our results , but we have to verify what we find .
we see non-violence as a technology , and so we propose that 2010 should be designated ' European Year of Non-Violence ' , that the European Union should have an active policy with the Commission and the Council of promoting instruments of non-violence , helping dissidents , helping democratic opposition .
this report urges Member States to develop capacities and ensure adequate resources for the bodies promoting equal treatment and equal gender opportunities provided for in Directive 2002 / 73 / EC .
that is the issue at stake in the debate and in the mandate that you have today .
one such substance is thrombin , which is obtained from edible parts of animals and which is not harmful to health .
the purpose of this resolution is not to deal with the exchange rate , and yet we know very well that the state of transatlantic relations will depend largely on our ability to regulate trade internationally .
in order for us to sustain dialogue with someone about culture , we must first know our own culture .
the European Union has been closely following the tragic events from the outset .
we are not about to go into reverse with regard to either the objectives or the timetable .
above all , our message must be clear and must be contained in a simple , understandable , comprehensible procedure which , if nothing else , functions for everyone , functions for the citizens , functions for Parliament , for the Union 's institutions , for the Member States and for all stakeholders in the procedure .
in this light , I consider the report submitted by the rapporteur to be very important , and I think that the processes he has outlined will enable us to modify the apparatus used to assess financial products so that the conclusions that are offered , either by rating agencies or by other mechanisms , will result in more objective ratings of financial products .
you have approached the IMO .
it is regrettable that the resolution has come much later than the statements by certain Heads of State and UN officials about the deployment of tens of thousands of US troops in the country .
we are going through an economic and financial crisis , therefore we need European institutions and we need a Commission .
that is why we are going to try to see how these rules can be developed and clarified so that Community law and international law can be applied better within the context of these operations .
we are now expecting that the 70 000 French people who work in Luxembourg every day , the 30 000 French people who work in Monaco and Italy , as well as in Spain and so on , will really be able to foster new forms of cooperation with the EGTC .
on 1 April 1987 , the Commission recommended that all acts that had up to 10 amendments be codified , so that Community legislation would be easier to understand .
as a Hungarian Member , I urge that the borders of the European Union are made permeable to persons travelling in good faith .
of course , we will not rule out going there if we believe that it could result in progress on this matter , but for the time being , there is no possibility of obtaining any kind of promise that we would be able to visit him or hold talks about him or to meet his family , who are there in Eritrea .
the Commission , however , wants to forge ahead with this . the fact that it does so is just another example of EU empire-building .
I myself heard your proposals .
the wording of your original proposal was not ideal .
I would like to go into one more aspect .
in the context of economic crisis , Mr Barnier , the internal market is an asset that we really must develop .
( MT ) The treaty lays down principles for the protection of fundamental human rights , and those countries wishing to become European Union members must ensure compliance with the European Union 's requirements , as Malta did , and as did all the other countries who became members at the same time .
from my point of view , it would be more appropriate if we used the term ' irregular immigration ' .
we must therefore be proud of our efforts and of our work and must not slacken them .
furthermore , I support the safety regulations that allow weapons to be carried only in the hold and only in exceptional cases with consent issued by the state at the time .
I have therefore voted against the report .
the ambitious policies that the international community has set itself for poverty eradication have all too often proved ineffective and difficult to implement or amounted only to social welfare measures .
in a nutshell , this is the most important part of the preamble to the resolution .
on 19 September the package with this report has finally begun to meet our expectations .
the things which you said about the European Union being a geopolitical stabilising factor and enlargement policy being a tool are all correct .
this policy should therefore be changed to do exactly the contrary and to prioritise economic growth and employment , eradicate poverty and promote social progress and development .
the preliminary draft budget this year proposed EUR 171 million in commitment appropriations and EUR 100 million in payment appropriations .
finally , this report shows once more that there is still a long way to go with regard to management of the EDF and their proper use , which is why I agree with all the rapporteur 's conclusions and congratulate him on his work .
as a result of technical innovation , newer vaccinations against bluetongue have appeared on the market which were unavailable when the Commission was drawing up its directive .
I hope that the joint exchange of experience will help raise employment levels and increase the mobility of the labour market .
another Member also pointed out that our contribution is 10 % .
the children imprisoned in Israel , in violation of the provisions of international law and the conventions on the rights of the child , must be released .
I believe it is important to promote a healthy lifestyle inside families , in schools and at work in order to set the path for a healthy life model and to promote healthy ageing , both for the current generation and future ones .
the European Union will continue to play its role , as we have done throughout this crisis , as a constructive , reliable partner , guided by its values and making a decisive contribution to stability and to peace .
for this reason , I welcome the fact that the Commission has said that it wishes to present its proposals to the Committee on the Environment prior to their adoption .
public authorities will still be free to organise public services themselves , but if they do decide to outsource them , I do not think anyone will object to a basic level of transparency and rules that ensure there is no discrimination .
in writing . - The report is an important step in forcing Member States to meet their renewable targets .
once again , I would like to thank the rapporteur , Ms Wallis , and Ms Brepoels and all those who worked towards reaching the compromise agreement .
addressing eating habits in childhood is key to preventing obesity later on in life , and the consumption of fruit and vegetables is proven to reduce the rate of obesity and cardio-vascular diseases .
but even by increasing the budget by 27 % , and even if we reach the Millennium Development Goals , we are not going to eliminate poverty in Africa until we help Africans to grow wealthier .
the ' two hats ' that the EU 's special representative has help to bring about better coordination and coherence between the EU 's various instruments .
the debate currently under way on the population of bluefin tuna is most certainly justified .
evidence of this is provided by names like Tunku Abdul Rahman , the founder of the independent state of Malaysia , or President Sadat , whose speech here in the European Parliament was like a Magna Carta for Christian-Islamic coexistence .
I am very grateful for the work Mr Buzek did for the seventh Framework Programme .
therefore , it would be more sensible not to waste any more of our effort , but instead to focus solely on the goal of partnership .
we are all responsible for the regulatory nit-picking which gives Europe the reputation for being a factory churning out complex detail .
that is something that needs to be addressed in the reform .
whether it be in the field of trade , energy cooperation , climate or nuclear non-proliferation , we can find solutions only if we work together .
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however , the Agency should remedy the shortcomings in the programming of its activities so that in future the procedures for drafting the budget are sufficiently rigorous and obviate any need to increase and / or decrease the appropriations against its budget headings .
they are not here and we are very surprised , as it is certainly not a problem of transport .
but Roma hardly benefited , and moved to the West as soon as they were allowed to .
I know that many of you have raised the objection that workers would work 65 hours a week , and I fully understand those concerns , but the fact is that the current directive allows for a working week of up to 70 hours .
we therefore urgently need to diversify our energy sources .
the Agency has monitored this case very closely , and is continuing to do so , given that 170 aircraft of this particular type have been supplied around the world and are therefore in operation today .
( DE ) Minister , the extension of the area covered by the Schengen Accords last December has raised concerns among many citizens of the EU that they no longer enjoy the level of security to which they had become accustomed .
I would ask : how many more general strikes , how many more demonstrations , how many more voices need to be heard before there is a climb-down , breaking the Brussels Consensus and respecting the people ?
( applause )
with a non-functional parliament , its members in fear of their lives , a destabilised government and a paralysed economy , Lebanon must now find a way out of this crisis .
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it was a very informative event entitled ' Prescription for a healthy planet ' .
I must remind you of what I have actually proposed in my amendments .
I want to assure you that we are determined to ensure appropriate follow-up and I want to assure Members of Parliament that the Commission is ready to intensify the fight against trafficking , against forced prostitution and the organised crime behind it .
this matter may not necessarily lie within your sphere of competence at the present time , Commissioner Barrot , but it will in the future .
they are currently entered with debate on Thursday between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m .
9 .
given the current situation , the European Parliament believes in the need to initiate a dialogue aimed at intergenerational relationships .
( PL ) Mr President , I was pleased to hear the result of the vote on the report on Turkey .
let us be clear , Mr President , ladies and gentlemen : in the rest of the world , socio-economic strategies are already being implemented for the medium term .
even when no transboundary issues are involved , the collective determination to address the pollution of both past and present years has brought about levels of investment to secure improvement in water quality that have far exceeded what would have been achieved if Member States had been left to act in isolation .
I endorsed the adoption of the resolution on the Commission Work Programme 2011 .
that is why I believe that the Commission and the Member States must be more proactive in eliminating all outstanding legal and administrative barriers .
the answer indicated in the report is that there are many deficiencies in the actual control systems of the Member States .
another important democratic element is the new mechanisms to allow national parliaments a direct say on subsidiarity .
the Commission negotiated with China a double-checking surveillance system for 2008 that will cover eight textile-product categories with particular sensitivities .
( PL ) It is good that Parliament has drawn up a report on SOLVIT containing suggestions for the European Commission and the Member States .
we recently visited the area on a pre-election observation mission for the delegation within the EU-Chile Joint Parliamentary Committee .
from 3 to 5.30 p.m. : Cashman report , Angelilli report , then the Commission statement on waste in the Campania region ,
I would conclude by saying that this is the European Year of Creativity and Innovation , and that it is very important to have an approach which brings forward the creative potential of our businesses .
rule 191 of the European Parliament 's Rules of Procedure states that ' any citizen of the European Union ... or ... person residing ... in a Member State shall have the right to address , individually or in association with other citizens or persons , a petition to Parliament on a matter which comes within the European Union 's fields of activity and which affects him , her or it directly . '
I voted in favour because I agree that , in its capacity as co-legislator , Parliament should be able to monitor the adoption of strategic decisions about where and how development aid is spent on an equal footing with the Council .
we all understand that nobody can return Russia to the path of freedom and democracy but Russia itself , its people and its civil society .
implementing the Global Approach has been an essential priority for successive presidencies .
if it were very simple , we would have done it by now .
however , what I want to know is what Frontex hopes to do , for example , in the countries of transit ?
we have now embarked on the process , specifically on the process of developing some tools which also match your request .
the construction of a single market has always been and continues to be one of the EU 's main objectives .
how nice it is to have a warm home-spun shirt instead of a threadbare EU overcoat .
this is a sign that the Ivorian affair should not be exploited to revive old stereotypes of black Africa being incompatible with democracy .
every Irish economist could see the crash coming but there was nothing they could do about it because there were no longer any Irish interest rates .
if we respond to it ambitiously , we will be able to report not only economic but also environmental success .
I am in favour of such an agreement and have therefore voted in favour of the report .
( Parliament approved the proposal )
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , Mrs Thyssen , ladies and gentlemen , the Presidency welcomes the importance attached by the European Parliament to the subject of toy safety , particularly during this festive season .
I would like to conclude by saying that I look forward to continuing to work closely with Parliament on all aspects of strategy .
if this is the case , we will have invested the money wisely .
as far as the CCS funding is concerned , an issue in which Parliament has shown particular interest , discussions are already under way on the use of reserves for companies entering the emission trading scheme .
for example , they include Mr Barroso , Mr Šefčovič , Mr Füle , Mr Piebalgs and Mr Potočnik , to name just a few .
my opinion received unanimous support in the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs , not because we reached hard-fought compromises , but because there was a common view from the outset .
would the Commissioner consider looking at that ?
growth and security in the European Union and control of migration flows cannot be achieved with approximately one billion citizens living in misery and poverty .
innovation is already seen , above all , merely as a means of giving value to ideas within the market and not as it should be : as a necessary means of helping respond to many of the problems and challenges facing humanity .
in writing . - ( PT ) We welcome the fact that various amendments have been adopted which improve the final report , including one of our proposals stressing the need to give the greatest possible value to the work of women , including that of immigrant women , who do not belong to families owning farms but provide labour in the fields and are especially affected by discrimination in the world of agriculture .
the Reform Treaty allows for the formation of a military core Europe via ' permanent structured cooperation ' .
I expect you to make the relevant proposals here in December .
the Commission has agreed to present an evaluation of this area .
these data constitute a serious threat not only to patients but also to European producers .
it is a pity that these countries have no interest in subscribing to multilateral agreements on climate change and are therefore encouraging unfair competition .
it is precisely the weakest in society , namely women , children and even babies , who are being barbarously abused , deliberately injured , mutilated , infected with HIV and other infectious diseases and even killed .
firstly , the role of Parliament in the democratic scrutiny of strategic documents relating to financial instruments on external assistance .
I hope that the Union will still be able to equip itself with independent global navigation systems , and will exploit its full potential , in order to promote the strengthening of the economy , increased employment and transport safety .
of course , this will also have an effect on the European tourism industry .
there has always been global warming .
piracy in the Indian Ocean is currently an extremely profitable business , which is growing day by day .
it is only through product diversification and alternative forms of tourism such as business , conference , cultural , medical , sport , agricultural , language and sea related tourism that this can be achieved .
such economic and political instability has already caused concern in neighbouring countries of the Arabian peninsula and threatens not just regional but global security .
he can do anything he likes now ; he can do everything that he was unable to do for five years .
the Council has also taken account of the impact on agricultural production , because the Council is determined to ensure that the new legislation has no adverse repercussions on costs or on the availability of foodstuffs in Europe or in other regions of the world .
on this day , the pro-Soviet OMON units attacked strategic buildings in the capital of the newly-reborn state .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , my group has always advocated mandatory referendums on the Reform Treaty throughout Europe .
I wish you continuing success .
I believe this will lead to tax harmonisation by default and I would be completely opposed to such a move .
the French Presidency is doing everything in its power to achieve the necessary compromises , while retaining these targets , but rest assured that we are taking on board the specific characteristics of Poland , other Central and Eastern European countries and the Baltic States and their requests in the area of energy security .
there are no simple solutions , no silver bullets to solve this .
as a result , the negotiations under way at the time under Norwegian mediation were blown out of the water and could only be continued with great difficulty outside the EU .
the 27 Member States have moved on , but the European Union has not .
this requires those involved to know what the rules are - that being the aim of the proposal .
the new security threats must be responded to with new strategies and new policies .
that is a practice I have wished to encourage from both Council and Commission for a very long time , so congratulations to you both on achieving that .
our cohesion and consolidation policy must cover all European regions .
we can clearly see that instead of a bilateral agreement between Germany and Russia , Europeans need an EU agreement and the consent of the Baltic countries to the construction .
Mr Wiersma also pointed out that it is a difficult year politically for the United States .
that is why it is so disappointing that Member States basically have no willingness at all to cooperate on the same premises , and that they want to apply different visa fees by topping up the EUR 60 .
commitment and coordination between European and national institutions , banks and SMEs are required if we are to bring down bureaucratic barriers and simplify rules .
I voted to approve the report on the work of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly in 2009 , because I consider its contribution to North-South cooperation to be fundamental .
given the high level of external dependency of the Member States , we need to move towards a common foreign policy for the Union in the field of energy .
we must therefore assess every kind of measure from the perspective of whether it will decrease or increase these tensions .
one country is already negotiating its accession to the EU , while others have signed stabilisation and association agreements with the EU - all of them except Kosovo , in fact .
in this regard , it is considered a sensitive and trusted partner .
the Commission 's main aim when drafting a legislative proposal concerning road transport working conditions is to ensure a high level of social protection and fair competition as well as improve road safety .
strengthening supervision also means that we must not only , as the Commission says , have the capacity to make a clean sweep of the banking system and review the system of regulation , but we must also make new proposals .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , Commissioner Špidla was right when he said that the recent attacks on Roma camps in Rome and Naples were very serious incidents , and that these must be dealt with by finding answers that neither absolve Europe of the blame , nor make scapegoats , nor use discriminatory and humiliating language .
subject : protection of investments in the context of EU-Russia negotiations on the new partnership and cooperation agreement
Madam President , I am very disappointed by this report and I have to say , taking advantage of the free vote , I voted against much of the report .
secondly , we need to make progress in pooling and sharing military capacity .
I welcome the adoption of this report , as it indicates that the EU is going to address the structural causes of problems resulting from migration flows through its foreign cooperation policy , without preconceptions of any kind .
we need binding commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions , not just from the developed countries , but also from developing countries , to ensure that global warming keeps below the 2 ° C target that science tells us is necessary .
however , I fear that they want to vote down this paragraph , which I feel would be deeply regrettable .
furthermore , Taiwan will extend the allowed period for EU citizens to remain in Taiwan to 90 days on the entry into force of the EU visa waiver .
I am , however , quite sceptical about the subject of desertification .
the Commissioner has answered many of the points , but I should like to mention some more aspects myself .
the discussions so far have also shown that there is a convergence of views on the main points to be included in the agreement for the period after 2012 .
you will thus be able to realise that , depending on the month , 60-70 % of those articles are against both the majority government and the ministers that make up the government .
2008 annual report on the CFSP (
as a result , immigration should surely not be treated primarily as a police phenomenon , let alone as a likely source of terrorism , as it has ended up being discussed in Europe .
export restrictions have only strengthened the spiralling increase in prices to the detriment of already fragile countries .
according to a study , it is possible at Community level to reduce energy loss by roughly 27 % , which means , by implication , a reduction in the costs which citizens are obliged to pay .
the reality is that Russia made it difficult for international actors to monitor the last parliamentary election .
therefore , I invite the Commission to enter into a territorial pact with the regions , towns and cities .
but again , of course , the human factor is always relevant .
the agreement approved today in effect authorises Member States to charge road haulage companies for the cost of air and noise pollution , in addition to charges on the use of motorway infrastructure .
yet , we have to say , that although Cameroon is the largest exporter of tropical wood in Africa , in no other country are the forests being so extensively cleared .
in November of last year I attended the conference entitled Beyond GDP .
furthermore , the EU has strongly supported the initiative of the World Trade Organisation to report on trade-related developments during the economic and financial crisis .
in order to make a good recovery from the crisis , we have to create common instruments and mechanisms which will not only eliminate the effects of the current economic crisis , but will also allow us to react appropriately to future crises and even not to permit them at all .
what is more , I believe that this problem of energy security is also crucial to the issue of combating climate change .
first , regarding monitoring the Council of Europe standards , there is no EU responsibility for the political independence of public service media .
we are spurred on by the need to adopt joint European responses and take a global lead .
I too have the impression that the transition process in Tunisia is headed in the right direction .
you can therefore see the two kinds of leverage that such an instrument affords , and so it seems clear to us that the EIB 's contribution to the Europe 2020 strategy will be all the more effective because we will be able to rely on pragmatic cooperation with the Commission and with other financial institutions , too .
as I have mentioned to you several times during the last three months , Mrs Kinga Göncz , a member of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs in this Parliament , used to be a member of a government which we call in Hungary the ' eye-shooter ' government , who were shooting at people on the streets of Budapest on 23 October 2006 .
therefore I consider the input from Parliament to be very valuable , also through the report of the rapporteur , Mr Kuhne , which is most welcome .
let me give an example of one crop : maize .
it was set up by the Czech National Council for Persons with Disabilities .
despite these arguments , the Committee on Transport and Tourism rejected the Commission 's original proposal in its entirety by a very narrow majority of just one vote , drawing attention to the Member States ' rights of subsidiarity .
no one did .
thus France , which contributes 16 % of European budget revenue , is giving more and more money to Brussels but getting less and less of it back .
well , as we know , we are 75 % of the way through and the thing has crashed in ruins .
for the security of energy imports , I think it is justified that the European Union should assist Ukraine by every possible means in maintaining and modernising its energy network , especially the vital gas pipeline network .
it is extremely difficult for me as a gay man not to want to include specifically homophobia .
many companies went bankrupt during the crisis and this is a huge loss .
these areas include the rapid increase in demand for natural resources , the diminishing of biological diversity , the increase in energy consumption by the transport sector and the persistence of global poverty .
we need judicial control before net access is blocked .
however , on the other hand the wall socket presents a problem that we are familiar with from European standards .
if so , what percentage were you thinking of ?
despite lengthy negotiations with the European Transport Workers ' Federation , which is currently the sole representative of employee interests on this committee , it has not yet been possible to find a compromise that would give ALE the possibility of directly defending its members ' interests .
I also believe that the labels placed on such products should be clear and comprehensible to all so that implications associated with the use of each individual element are known .
Ukraine , which has declared its desire to join the European Union , faces great , even enormous , challenges .
I would like to stress that , as part of our efforts , we are not asking for charity , but for support for our initiatives .
despite some initial difficulties , it was possible for the three European institutions to come to an understanding , which amounts to a very satisfactory result .
too many countries for too long turned a blind eye to what was going on .
the first of these was raised in most of the speeches made . it concerns requiring those exporting animal products to the European market to comply with the same standards and introduce the same requirements as are imposed on European producers .
however , it is hard to believe today that , just a stone 's throw from Slovenia , young people cannot get to know Europe or conceive of a future within the EU .
this represents a choice between social dumping and automatic handouts which is no longer bearable , neither politically nor financially .
one key is equal access to economic resources , and the second key is equal access to decision making in public life .
with the support of the European Union , which we were preparing to join , Romania carried out far-reaching amendments to its adoption legislation , in spite of the huge international pressure not to resort to a drastic measure such as abandoning international adoptions .
the European Union is weak because its budget is too small , and it does not have enough money for specific measures .
the changes proposed are based on accumulated experience and on the understanding that the profile of the European Investment Bank as a top-rated investment bank should not be jeopardised .
( applause )
provision will therefore have to be made , for the next financial perspective , to increase the resources for this programme .
as long as these advantages are granted only to certain nations , there will always be a risk of destabilising the region , as well as a danger that the political and ethnic mosaic will shatter into even smaller pieces .
I must say that , even though I do not agree with Mr Chichester in substance , I too have been annoyed by the flood of sometimes fairly threatening emails .
firstly , with regard to combating poverty : many Member States have questioned whether the EU actually has the competence to combat poverty and to set specific poverty targets .
it will have repercussions on the European Data Protection Directive that is shortly to be revised , on the data protection directive for electronic communications and on the forwarding of Passenger Name Data that is being negotiated by Mrs in ' t Veld .
I would say to my colleagues from the Black Sea region : learn from the mistakes of the CFP , examine the consequences the present regime has had on the small-scale fisheries of the north-east Atlantic and ask is this what we want for the Black Sea ?
my group commends this resolution to the House .
firstly , we need to promote the quality and effectiveness of aid by good assessment , a well-coordinated response and investment in disaster risk reduction and local capacity .
since your last debate in October , the year ended without a first-reading agreement .
actually only one issue remains open : the scope of reverse qualified majority voting .
there is no direct correlation between the way discharge is dealt with and the number of reports produced .
what I want to talk about is the importance of sticking with ambitious targets .
finally , does he feel that this instrument , the instrument he is now preparing , will prove sufficient on its own to provide finance for public works such as the large tunnels forming part of the trans-European road systems ?
sometimes a more appropriate and more effective method may be the supply of information , education or self-regulation .
we specifically call on Pakistan to quash the conviction of the poor woman who was accused by her neighbours .
approximately one fifth of the EU population lives below the poverty line , with increased rates of poverty among children , young people and the elderly .
some people find them too strong , but I think they reflect that sense of frustration .
therefore , the good examples set by states banning smoking in public spaces should encourage and inspire those states that are more sceptical in this area to defend the rights of non-smokers and they should encourage EU institutions - having heeded the opinion of the European Parliament - to find ways of adopting legislation of an obligatory nature .
on behalf of the ALDE group . - I would like to suggest changing the heading of the first part to read : ' external Lisbon dimension ' .
it will be important - as Commissioner Reding proposed - to optimise use of the spectrum through coordination on a European scale .
the declaration of the end of the war on terror was one of the first landmarks by President Obama .
I ask for your support .
I am under the impression that over the years , the institutions , for various reasons , have bought and leased buildings at a price that appears higher than the market price .
Israel is a democracy in a region where democracies are few and far between .
yet Europe is exactly the model of how such collaboration between States on their free initiative can be based on social cohesion and more democracy .
there were several databases where the processing of sensitive data was provided for and was notified by the Netherlands to the Commission in 2005 and 2006 .
the two-prong , double track approach will only work efficiently if the states are totally transparent in their negotiations with the United States .
I therefore welcome Mrs Gebhardt 's report .
in writing . - ( PL ) Madam President , the report we are today discussing on the promotion of agricultural products should contain the word organic in its title .
number and numerical strength of the interparliamentary delegations ( vote )
Europe will have to adapt not only to climate change but also to high energy prices .
the first directive set out the safety requirements that cars had to have , to be implemented in two phases .
improvement is therefore necessary , and we are also improving the protection of privacy and security , as in the case of junk mail .
( BG ) I would like to add my congratulations for the fine job that has been done by the rapporteurs , negotiators and the many people who were involved behind the scenes and who made a contribution so that today we can have our final debate on the energy and climate package .
we want our energy saving measures to be implemented not just in new builds , but also in renovation work .
we are likely to see the first shoots of economic recovery in 2010 , however , national budgets will be hit extremely hard by the efforts that were made during the last year .
the Commission understands the need for coordinated action at EU level to avert a serious crisis for the industry , and to ensure that the problem is not simply displaced but really tackled head-on .
finally , I would like to congratulate the rapporteur , my compatriot , Mrs Matias , on the work she has done .
in particular , we are extremely satisfied with the agreement reached by both banks with the World Bank , in a joint initiative to strengthen their financial instruments and improve their efficiency in the use of their lending instruments in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe , which are experiencing an especially difficult situation .
I would like to emphasise one other point , namely the amendments we have tabled to Mr Sacconi 's report today .
the other important part of the compromise is that EUR 60 million is reallocated from PROGRESS and EUR 40 million from the margin , while financing instruments of up to EUR 20 million can be reinstated in PROGRESS upon recommendation of the Commission .
the economic downturn has hit the EU construction industry hard with a number of companies in the EU going bankrupt and many workers losing their livelihoods .
I hope that the lyrics will be the same next week , because as we have all understood - as have you - that would mean that we can and must set ourselves objectives , and that we can choose our future .
with so many others in the face of climate change ?
these are countries outside the Economic and Monetary Union , in its third stage with the euro .
Europe 's dynamic growth has given Europe the opportunity to compete globally .
there are problems in using the sums set aside for rural development and the environment .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I very much liked what the Commissioner described here today with regard to the Desertec project .
however , some years ago , certain guidelines were adopted by the Employment , Social Policy , Health and Consumer Affairs Council .
I welcome the contribution made today to this debate by the Commission .
all this increases costs . at the same time , we want the products manufactured to be competitive on the market .
secondly , what may be just as important is that this is a natural step after both countries received fully-fledged member status of the European Union in 2007 .
since I made quite a number of very clear and practical remarks at the beginning , I will just make a few concrete remarks now .
I agree with the rapporteur 's position that one of the best ways of combating illegal immigration and undeclared work is to develop balanced legal immigration channels which meet the needs of our labour markets .
the people 's answer can and must be to join in the anti-imperialist struggle .
as regards the Hoppenstedt report , the positive outcome of Coreper this morning paves the way for an adoption at first reading .
fortunately , the National Bank of Romania also has a huge number of professionals and its course of action during the current economic crisis has been faultless .
in writing . - I voted in favour of Amendment 7 .
however , there is still some room for improvement in terms of budget management for the European Medicines Agency , the European Food Safety Authority and the European Chemicals Agency .
first and foremost , I applaud this partnership between the two continents , which has demonstrated added value for both partners and the importance of continuing to boost the regional and global integration of the African continent .
finally , I want to point out that the ' surplus ' from 2007 will reduce the Member States ' contributions to the Community budget , in particular as follows : EUR 300 million less for Germany , EUR 258 million less for the United Kingdom and EUR 233 million less for France .
with no direct military presence on Libyan soil , a no-fly zone should be considered .
the EU-China human rights dialogue is the longest-standing dialogue .
in my opinion , we must put an end to the illegal trade in timber and corruption , and establish an effective , transparent system for monitoring the legality of timber and derived products .
( DE ) First of all , thank you very much for your very good and thorough reply .
in addition , the income generated by this tax could help finance global public goods and reduce budget deficits .
my second comment relates to the word ' comprehensiveness ' .
however , the reason why there are two coordinators here from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament and the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) is to confirm that we fully agree with this increase in the budget as we consider that it does not infringe the standards of austerity that we have imposed on ourselves .
in other words , will they use it as an opportunity for a thorough review of the procedures allowing immediate access to documents ?
anyone guilty of murder has to pay the price , but that has nothing to do with Roma or Romanian citizens , who have seen some of their own people unfairly attacked .
one of the reasons is the lack of progress in the American Senate .
we now know that this is no longer so easy , and so we have requested a study , an impact assessment , to look into whether less can also be more ; less consumer information , that is .
this case is not the only cause for concern .
every year in the 27 Member States approximately 1 200 000 human beings are destroyed in deliberate abortions .
this will be especially beneficial to those living in rural or remote parts of the EU that currently have little or no Internet connection .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , it is an excellent thing that the Convention on Cluster Munitions has been introduced .
in writing . - Car manufacturing within the EU depends upon reaching standards which can facilitate stronger environmental rules .
there have already been more than a thousand deaths , and the number of people affected is increasing all the time , even though specialists say that the measures to prevent the disease from proving fatal are relatively simple to take .
Parliament also requests a full report on the implementation of the agreement and asks that its Members be kept informed during future renegotiation of the agreement so that they can have a positive bearing on the process of negotiation .
people must receive concrete help , and not just after a long period of time .
some of these positions are currently taking refuge in forms of nationalism .
we have some proposals in our EU 2020 strategy for new skills , for new jobs , for programmes for youth , but the basic thing is to restore the conditions for growth , including confidence in our economy .
it is absolutely nothing to do with a lack of respect - quite the contrary , in fact .
the aim of this would be real convergence , promotion of each country 's potential , the sustainable use of its resources , investment in production and the creation of jobs with rights .
since it is impossible to comment in this explanation of vote on all the important issues raised by this EP own initiative report , given its complexity and breadth , it is notable that the document does not address or incorrectly addresses aspects that researchers regard as essential in addressing issues of transport and energy and their impact on the environment .
I also believe that funding within the framework of this mechanism should be purely voluntary and should not in any way force anyone to use the mechanism under the threat that their social security benefits will be cut or reduced .
Germany , France , Austria , Luxembourg , Greece and Bulgaria : they think that strengthening these Chinese walls will be enough .
rapporteur for the opinion of the Committee on Legal Affairs . - Mr President , as a Vice-Chair of the Committee on Legal Affairs , I would like to present some important aspects that were the subject of the debates and amendments tabled in this committee .
in writing . - This is an extension of the 2002 tax derogation given to Portugal in respect of certain autonomous regions .
let us hope that today the Council will state its view on this issue .
I asked myself this question : to what extremes must the Israeli leaders push their inhumanity towards the Palestinians and their scorn for law and the most fundamental values before the main European political leaders dare to raise a finger and say finally , ' Enough is enough ' ?
in the latest wave of financial services legislation , there is a danger that this principle is being lost .
the ability for Member States and regional pairs to have the capacity to decide on eligible treatments with prior authorisation and a setting of a cap on reimbursements will go some way in alleviating concerns about the already overstretched and burdened healthcare systems .
electricity is dependent on a number of different sources of energy and different producers , while gas tends to be more dependent on distributors .
( PT ) Madam President , Mr Bloom , do you know what the United Kingdom 's problem is ?
Madam President , I will be very brief , as I have already spoken at length just now .
the aim of this measure is to enable adequate information to be given to asylum seekers whilst making it possible to combat potential cases of abuse on the part of some asylum seekers .
the result of this will be real competition between energy suppliers , greater concern for customer satisfaction and greater possibilities for consumers to have an impact on the decisions made by energy companies .
first of all , I would like to read out an important piece of information .
might they perhaps even resolve the Camp Ashraf drama in situ , since I am sure that your personal intervention could easily lead to a positive solution to it ?
this situation , which affects almost 10 million people at the heart of the European Union , which is now endowed with the Charter of Fundamental Rights and will soon be a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights , casts serious doubts over the policy of non-discrimination and effectiveness of rights , both at EU and Member State level .
Convention 188 shall take effect after it has been ratified by 10 of the 180 Member States of the ILO , 8 of which must be coastal countries .
I want to draw attention to these problems again to show that I am very much aware of them .
we are hesitating and starting a shameful period of horse-trading .
in writing . - ( LT ) Firstly , I would like to offer the Japanese people my sympathy following the earthquake and tsunami that have struck the country and claimed many lives .
we currently have in front of us the reports on the rating agencies and on the Capital Requirements Directive and one comitology proposal .
( DE ) Madam President , it is not simply the case nowadays that aircraft fly across national borders .
( the oral amendment was adopted )
development is an important topic , and in recent years the group of developing countries has become increasingly large and diverse .
however , that does not mean that the instruments of economic policy must be reduced to the imperative of territorial cohesion .
I would prefer to talk about ' change with security ' because any change involves risks .
there are some areas where further action is necessary .
in the policies of the European Union we are far from reaching a consensus on the evaluation of this analysis and , therefore , we are also unable to agree on the ways out of the crisis .
it is not very wise if you have producer organisations competing against each other instead of competing against the retail sector .
this must not just be a wish list .
we demand responsible corporate governance and yet the level of off-balance-sheet finance vehicles , special-purpose vehicles and undeclared contingent liabilities that our governments are engaged in does not show how to conduct responsible governance .
all we can tell is that Turkey is piling up the provocations .
however , the at-risk-of-poverty rate for those in employment was 8 % on average in 2008 - the so-called ' working poor ' .
the European dimension must also be understood now in terms of intensive political and legal integration within the Union .
the EU needs to go further .
we are in the process of finalising a communication .
we all know that the pharmaceutical industry is very big business .
I abstained from voting on the own-initiative report by my Finnish fellow Member Mr Lehtinen , in response to the Commission communication on Community consumer policy strategy for 2007-2013 .
in proceedings , the Jugendamt favours parents of German background .
if we want to use Europeans ' entrepreneurial potential , we have to make it easier for them to carry out their business and to free the European market from the restrictions which mean , today , that we are not making use of all opportunities for development .
a lot done ; a lot more to do .
I believe we all agree on this .
I would therefore like Mr Carlgren , as the Council 's representative , to once again state his position on this matter .
the European Union had to intervene and use all the instruments at its disposal to come to the aid of badly-housed people , especially marginalised communities who were previously unable to benefit from ERDF resources .
since this is the first time that I have spoken today , I would like , on behalf of the Presidency , to convey my sincere condolences to all the relatives of the victims of Cyclone Nargis in Burma / Myanmar .
that is the information that needs to be transmitted .
if there is a failure to reach a global agreement , Europe should still remain open to considering a second commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol , but imposing conditions , especially with regard to the environmental integrity of the protocol , the redesigning of the Clean Development Mechanism and the undertaking of commitments by the major polluters worldwide , such as China and the US .
Madam President , this new regulation properly implements the global Rotterdam Convention , which was adopted in 1998 but has only officially been in force since 2004 .
in addition , it is high time the European Union had these things checked by inspectors .
I would like to ask an additional question .
we do , however , need an approach other than the one which the Commission suggested in the first instance .
yesterday , we held an extraordinary meeting of the Environment Council in order to be able , with combined force , to make Copenhagen the milestone in our work on climate change that we want it to be .
prioritising the regions and granting them direct economic support could even trigger the beginning of a new era for the Hungarians of the Carpathian Basin .
if I may respond to Mr Corbett 's comment about my speech in the last debate , I was of course referring to his proposed rules on the formation of political groups in relation to the Independence-Democracy Group as it is currently constituted .
the keys to the solution , however , are mainly in the hands of China , Russia and India .
the vote will take place shortly .
the current state of affairs is as follows .
if you do not open negotiations now , you will be quite deliberately delaying the reform of the fight against fraud at European level until the next parliamentary term , and well you know it .
we need an international treaty between all parties involved , which no doubt includes the European Union , in order to protect the unique Arctic environment , to ensure the full sustainability of all kinds of human activity and to implement multilateral regulation of shipping in new sea lanes that become accessible .
that is why I voted for the report on the European Maritime Safety Agency .
similarly , the decisions of the competent judicial institutions must be enforced .
the principle of the right to a fair and public trial by an impartial and independent court is fundamental in a state governed by the rule of law , and we note that special courts may be put in place only in very limited and clearly defined cases .
good governance in European regional policy is essential if such policy is to be successful .
now , this swift about turn by the European Union regarding the possibility of sending a peace-keeping force to the region sends the wrong signal , as usual , because our preference is for focusing on diplomacy , as if diplomacy were enough to convince an ugly customer like Laurent Nkunda to withdraw .
it unifies enthusiastically , it simplifies documentation and it removes various unnecessary bureaucratic practices .
I voted in favour of this resolution on European cooperation in vocational education and training to support the Europe 2020 strategy .
we need an Internet freedom strategy to facilitate free expression , press freedom , access to information and access to cultural and educational content .
the Chinese came .
I understand that there is strong opposition within the Council to the proposal to frontload the European Social Fund to 100 % for the upcoming two years .
David Kato will be a great loss to the global community of human rights defenders and to Uganda .
indeed , if you look at what has happened in the marketplace , they would feel that that was the case .
the second dimension involves looking much farther ahead to consider whether we could perhaps manage to work with common standards .
we are in the process of drawing up a report on the subject with Mrs De Keyser as the rapporteur and we are evaluating what the requirements are .
this may be an opportunity , but it may also be a weakness .
before recorded music ever came into being , when you bought sheet music you had to pay a certain fee that went back to the creator of that music and every time it was performed the performer got a cut from it as well .
a sensible thing that the coalition government can do is to stop throwing good money after bad .
I think it is good for our Parliament 's image to show European consumers that we have the protection of their interests in hand .
with regard to the recovery of the economy and the economic recovery plan , in relation to the United States , I must correct some statements that have been made .
in the Committee on Transport and Tourism , we have agreed with the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs that the Commission will present us with a proposal for legislation on body scanners by the end of March or early April , in any case , before the summer recess .
the answer is far too little , far too timidly .
with respect for your fantastic asparagus reception , without the author of the question we cannot proceed .
at a time of economic stress and social pressure we must not forget people 's health .
the money that is spent on a single Sukhoi Su-30k aeroplane could buy around 200 000 MIT Media Lab XO laptops for our students .
I would like to underline that we should also discuss the employment of disabled people .
it is therefore vital for your Commission that you pursue the goal of creating and safeguarding jobs and ensuring that those who work hard also receive adequate pay for their work and have a greater share of the general prosperity than was previously the case .
in June , the Council was supposed to establish a timetable and specific steps for its implementation .
concerning the question of how the Commission will support the Barcelona criteria , it can be done through the structural funds .
is the percentage higher or lower ?
the weakness of the organisation is also evident from Iran 's candidacy at the election of the UN Human Rights Council taking place in May 2010 , which is quite comical .
this would , in any case , send a positive signal as to our intention to take the measures necessary to address the important economic challenge ahead of us .
in Islamic countries in particular , Christians are seen as fair game for suppression and , frequently , murder .
I will accept one statement from Mr Farage , the leader of this Group .
tens of thousands of jobs have been destroyed in rural areas .
there is an energy future for all of us .
for cohesion funds too , the Court still finds far too many errors .
therefore , we need to take action .
the summit will be arranged around three main thematic areas : discussions uon the G20 summit , cooperation over energy and the climate where the EU wants to remain a key player just as the US does , and external relations and the geostrategic area from the Mediterranean Sea to the Caspian Sea , which means Afghanistan , Pakistan , the situation in Iran and of course the Middle East .
no amount of help will actually correct that problem until you have got a stable political system and a stable legal system that allows farmers to flourish and to reap the benefits of higher market prices .
from 2020 onwards , EUR 100 billion should be available to help the developing countries to meet the obligations concerning climate protection that they must then take on and to carry out their adaptation measures .
this development would very much fit into the concept of Motorways of the Sea , which is also included in the EU White Paper on European transport policy .
openness and transparency are the democratic tools we have available .
for the time being , however , we would be interested to hear your views on this case , Prime Minister .
so there are on-going changes every day , practically .
we undoubtedly need a systemic approach that addresses and resolves the causes of the problems , nipping incipient problems in the bud .
has the Commission adopted economic , medico-pharmaceutical and humanitarian aid measures following the crisis in North Africa ? if so , what measures ?
at the same time , armed groups are re-emerging in other parts of the country .
I do not believe one can talk of a ' comfortable ' majority .
it expected our understanding and sensitivity .
what do you plan to do to re-establish our strategically important industrial sectors in Europe and what role is the Commission playing in making the automotive industry future-proof and in safeguarding jobs ?
the international community unanimously declared this to be a further step towards media censorship in Kenya .
in addition , without an observer on board , the very important ' move away rule ' in case the vessel accidentally encounters an uncharted ecosystem will simply be inoperative as it is impossible to monitor compliance with this rule by VMS .
the number of abandoned children has steadily increased over recent years , and this phenomenon can be observed in all of our Member States .
( SV ) Mr President , let me begin by thanking the rapporteurs for their very good work .
as one of the main players in world trade , the EU has the possibility of exerting an influence on the environmental effects of production and international transport .
another example is clarification of the participation of the Joint Research Centre ( JRC ) in the activities of the Joint Undertaking .
I therefore propose that we increase the coordination of this development aid with a broader agreement between donor countries , financial institutions and partners , and manage it more efficiently and transparently so that it does not generate costs and is not a bureaucratic burden .
outcome of the NATO Summit in Lisbon ( debate )
I believe that today , in the midst of this crisis , clear opportunities are there for the taking .
please could we be a little less emotional in dealing with this matter .
the Republic of Croatia has made appreciable efforts to come up to the required standards , particularly in combating organised crime through new anti-mafia measures , but it needs to make further efforts , particularly in the judicial field , before the 2010 negotiations can conclude .
Mr President , I supported Elmar Brok 's report .
further , it seems that particular concerns in this area , in our view - and in the view of the majority of respondents to our consultation - cannot be resolved through a financial reporting standard on segment information .
rapporteur . - ( FR ) Mr President , President-in-Office of the Council , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I am very pleased that today we are holding a joint debate on the report by my colleague Mrs Lefrançois on combating terrorism and my own report on the protection of personal data processed within the framework of police and judicial cooperation .
I should like the Council to tell us , for example , the situation with the High-Level Contact Group that is engaged in negotiations with the United States regarding the transfer of our private data .
this is surely one of its strongest elements with the greatest potential for results : the commitment of all industrialised countries to establish a target for reduction that can be applied right across their economies .
I realise that the number of Member States has increased more than fourfold since the start of the European integration process .
today , we have managed to obtain , in the Council and Commission statements , the assurances that are possible within the framework of the European Treaties .
it does not really matter how many people died in Ukraine .
I think that it is extremely important that all the political groups gave their attention and proper support to this subject .
one relates to the public registries and disclosure of information concerning investors in tax havens .
with regard to our Parliament - and I address my fellow Members - the law that we create , because we are legislators , must be clear and comprehensible , for only when it is understandable can it be transposed easily into national systems and will there be fewer problems associated with it .
we need the power to codecide on where the money goes .
what I can say , though , is that the Commission wants to make real progress , whilst nevertheless once again ensuring that we can bring along the majority of Member States with us .
from the beginning of the crisis , the European Union was at the forefront . it was the first to impose sanctions , the first to impose a travel ban on leading figures in the regime , the first to freeze Libyan assets and the first to recognise the Interim Transitional National Council as a valid interlocutor , at the request of this Parliament .
however , there are still many unresolved problems .
I also voted against the report because this Parliament has rejected the potential to appeal to the supreme form of democracy : a referendum .
history shows that in countries ruled by a totalitarian regime human rights violations are an everyday occurrence , but the situation in North Korea is appalling .
this is particularly incongruous at a time when the Council , last December , took a tentative step towards decentralisation , when it recognised the voluntary measures being implemented by Scotland and gave it an element of local control this year .
I cried in 1954 when Hungary lost the World Cup .
I will finish by mentioning services provided by the public administration .
both of those are crucial for women , as well as for other groups .
to a great extent , artists who dazzle us again and again contribute to making our lives complete , whether it be painting , sculpture , literature , song , theatre , graphics , photography , design or even film , which reaches vast masses of people .
as you all know , the right to good administration is enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights .
my thanks also to Mr de Grandes Pascual , to Mrs Vlasto , to Mr Sterckx , to Mr Kohlíček , to the Chairman , Mr Costa , to Mr Savary - whom I thank once again for his work - to Mr Fernandes for his contribution and his ability to ultimately close the negotiations by overcoming even partisan or entrenched attitudes in the attempt to give the public some tangible answers .
they have become more independent , both politically and economically .
( DE ) Madam President , the question that we must ask ourselves is what is this directive intended to achieve ?
subject : promotion of independent living for persons with disabilities
I am absolutely convinced that Member States and their Governments should be trusted in taking good care for their young generation .
but this lack of implementation and equal implementation is one of the biggest problems that people in this Chamber who are not like me - who are Europhile rather than Euro-sceptic - have to face in the future .
Petitions : see Minutes
and that is the problem .
firstly , to ensure there is no backtracking on political prisoners and politically motivated criminal prosecution .
the messages tonight about the mobility of a qualified labour force , lifelong learning , accumulation and transfer of knowledge , and a culture of quality are very important for our national education and training systems , and they should become a reality .
the EU needs to consider targeted sanctions and their use , since civil society should not be penalised given the current situation in Belarus .
while we are voting in favour of Amendments 612 , 131 , 132 and 133 because of the importance of the issue , we feel it would be more appropriate to create a separate budget line on children 's rights , which would include the issues dealt with in these amendments .
we need to rely on a common policy , and on faith in the credibility and capacity of the Member States to get going and carry out the best policies .
while the voluntary partnership agreements conceived under the 2003 FLEGT Action Plan have the potential to drive positive change , to date only one has been signed and , as long as their coverage is not universal , the risks of money-laundering and circumvention are just too high .
however , the obligation to provide accommodation does not apply if the cancellation or delay is caused by severe weather conditions or major natural disasters .
I will now turn to my subject : energy .
we are still facing a great deal of uncertainty , and the obstacles that we have to tackle are very significant , but there is light at the end of the tunnel .
I voted in favour of the report on the development of the common security and defence policy following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon .
at this point , however , I must take issue to a certain extent with the opinion of the rapporteur , Mrs Van Lancker , that the quality of the newly created jobs might arouse disquiet .
all this was achieved thanks to the professional efforts of the rapporteur .
regulation in this area must not be watered down , so that we can prepare to move beyond this practice towards a zero waste society .
that concludes the item .
lastly , I would like to talk about the issue of privacy and data protection , which is a major and important debate .
the new directive will change various acts whose regulations were incorporated into it .
- ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I believe that Commissioner Špidla was right to suggest that we on the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs should review this European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) , which came into being on 1 January 2007 .
in writing . - IRENA was officially established on 26 January 2009 .
why ?
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , there is nothing technology will not do .
it devotes a particularly small amount of space to the growing phenomenon of the persecution of Christians , which is now happening not only in third countries , but also in Europe .
the new Hungarian constitution does not prejudice the freedom of religion and freedom of conscience .
overall , the report represents progress towards a modern energy mix .
there is no incentive for those in the private sector to do this because , of course , the temptation is simply to increase the price to the consumer , rather than invest in upgrading the transmission system .
the economic situation is a matter of major concern for the citizens of Europe and for all of us .
Madam President , firstly , I would like to thank the Commissioner for clarifying some of the points which were raised in the questions .
( DE ) ( The speaker directs a blue card question to Mr Cadec under Rule 149 of the Rules of Procedure ) Mr President , I have a question for Mr Cadec regarding his opening remarks , namely , with regard to the supposed single seat of the European Parliament .
furthermore , what about the policy with regard to China , where it is clear to everyone that the trade and economic interests of the Union and its Member States take precedence over human rights ?
moreover , in the last two years , since the new president was elected , several of the proposed measures have been adopted - I do not wish to repeat those mentioned by the President-in-Office of the Council , particularly those concerning the ICRC .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I must apologise .
we note the auditors ' remarks that around 80 per cent of the transactions of the EU are carried out by agencies working within the Member States under joint management agreements .
furthermore , and as a result of this discussion , the Authority has taken the commitment to carry out the preliminary validity check within six weeks from the submission of the application , thus significantly reducing the timeline for the authorisation procedure .
increased pressures apply to the workforce because , as the population ages , so too do the workers .
I believe that partnerships that enable the modernisation of universities , especially those that promote better education and qualifications for individuals , are essential for increased European competitiveness .
it would not surprise me if this resulted in more investment in smaller airports in densely populated areas .
biomass production in reality means burning timber ; the harmful consequences of forced support for biofuels are becoming increasingly apparent .
there are two reasons for this : firstly , the global agricultural and food product crisis and secondly , market concentration , which has increased from 21.7 % in 1990 to over 70 % at the moment .
we will make every effort to ensure that this matter is decided on as quickly as possible .
I would say that only in use will we be able properly to verify the effectiveness but , a priori , everything suggests that increased security will come from improved identification of children travelling alone .
the recommendation by Jarosław Leszek Wałęsa , on behalf of the Committee on Fisheries , on the proposal for a Council decision concerning the approval , on behalf of the European Union , of the Amendment to the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries ( 11076 / 2010 - C7-0181 / 2010 - 2010 / 0042 ( NLE ) ) and
as for us , we are debating .
however , this fisheries agreement is not one that seeks to purchase fish .
that responsibility lies with the Council , the Commission and Parliament .
it is also worrying that this system gives rise to complex forms of fraud , such as carousel fraud , which we discussed recently within this very Parliament .
it is democracy that allowed Mr Vanhecke to make a vile , islamophobic and racist speech today .
today 's vote comes after a relevant success for the EU in the UN : the adoption of a set of modalities granting the EU delegation in the UN General Assembly the right to make interventions , as well as the right of reply and the ability to present oral proposals and amendments .
I voted for the Deprez report .
the projection for 2020 was a rise to 208 million tonnes , from which the 20 % was then to be subtracted .
a main priority for us in Cancún will be not to start reopening the Copenhagen Accord and not to start backtracking from what we already have .
no one can solve their economic problems in such a situation as this without coordinating their economic policies .
adjournment of the session
they were rejected by the same governments which today claim to be managing this crisis .
I would like to quote something in English from the Kenyan election observers , who write as follows :
this attitude cannot be tolerated .
they make me think about the Arctic , an area where the EU has no direct jurisdiction but much influence .
I look forward to working with my colleagues to do what I can for the people of Haiti .
personally , I do not support the proposals for a more regulated and controlled Single Market for retail finance , nor do I support the proposal for an automatic extension of the measure to regulate roaming , as this regulatory measure was only temporary and should have brought about the realignment of roaming prices .
thanks very much to Professor Lieblová and her students for their major contribution to furthering our understanding of European history , and for their commitment to the moral values that inspire the Union .
with regard to the fact that there are already many European organisations and institutions within the Union that deal with children 's rights , we must place the emphasis on uniting the old ones and making them operate more effectively , rather than creating new ones .
( DE ) Mr President , the question is whether developments in Georgia show that the neighbourhood policy has failed .
at the same time , very many tonnes of this toxic rock are created .
to expect Hamas to die out naturally , or by bombing them out , looks like a naïve expectation , so more courage is needed by Israel .
the second development concerns the Basel III agreement .
our shared interests are complex and overlapping , from economic contacts to , for example , our shared work as partners in the Middle East Quartet or , like yesterday , in Afghanistan and Pakistan .
I welcome the Foundation 's intention to improve the performance of Vocational Education and Training systems in the Foundation partner countries and to develop a common methodology with international organisations and bilateral donors to improve its role .
it is with special attention that I have been following the negotiations between the EU and the US on the SWIFT agreement since its last rejection , thanks to the action led by the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe .
I do not understand that .
a total of 75 fires rampaged through Greece alone , six of them completely out of control , the worst of them , as we have heard today , north of Athens , close to the capital .
to Mr Schulz I would say : turning up the volume is no substitute for knowing the facts .
perhaps he did not know who I was .
6 .
however , we do not wish to prolong the disagreement over legal issues .
following the IGC , there will be a report from the Committee on Constitutional Affairs , for which I have the privilege to be appointed rapporteur , that can address all these questions and propose a reform of the primary law of 1976 .
secondly , on access to files , the Commission is in favour of allowing the Ombudsman to consult documents that he needs in the course of his enquiries .
in a few weeks , many emergency teams and means deployed at the present time will have left and there is a risk - very typical of this kind of disaster - of a second-wave disaster if we do not sustain our assistance and support .
2010 was an often difficult and , at times , extremely demanding year .
you have also hinted that there are possibilities of co-financing .
it also equally concerns profits made directly from crime as well as profits arising indirectly from crime at a later time .
it was endorsed by the Conference of Presidents .
the Members who tabled the other questions are not present , and therefore written answers will be given for Questions Nos 51 to 58 .
it is not accurate to say that we have not legislated in financial services under this Commission .
Parliament and the Council must therefore clarify this issue .
Mr President , Baroness Ashton , Commissioner Piebalgs , honourable Members , I too , on behalf of the Council of course , should like to thank the rapporteurs for their work and their involvement .
they are unreasonable , out of context anywhere other than in the minds of their proponents , and alter our joint position .
there is no doubt that we need a legal framework that will gradually allow Europe to provide a truly European response to all these migratory problems .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
unified approval rules throughout the EU are the minimum prerequisite for placing hydrogen powered vehicles on the market .
we cannot have agreements with the European Union being applied in a divisive , partisan manner in different parts of the same country .
in writing . - The UK Independence Party feels that trade , not aid , is the best way to support developing countries ' economies .
it remains a fight to the finish , and eventually , only democracy and the credibility of a democratic European project are set to suffer .
I would also like to mention the draft regulation setting out Community financial measures relating to the implementation of the CFP and the law of the sea : the Ferreira report .
what it is , though , is a step in the right direction and it is for that reason that I and those who worked with me are asking for your support .
independent and transparent elections are the cornerstone of democratic states and if Russia wants to be among those , it has to fulfil the standards .
allow me to add a few comments on two subjects of particular interest to the Members of this House .
we should not be voting to extend the time we spend in Strasbourg : we should be voting to get rid of it .
I therefore say here and now that if there is a successful outcome , that success is above all due to the hard work of the Members of the European Parliament .
issues concerning the overall procedure for the future were dealt with last month in the negotiations surrounding the appointment of the Chairs of the authorities .
that is why I am so in favour of channelling revenue into research and development in the area of aviation .
in view of the appalling figures , the reports on the harassment of witnesses and solicitors , death threats and threats of torture , harassment of families , of situations which can in no way be accepted , it is the European Union 's duty to speak out and it is also its duty to point out the peculiarity of this phenomenon .
that is why the idea of dealing with this issue of regulating the agencies in three stages seems to me to be constructive and positive .
we can actually confirm that the movements of these 260 000 Tamils are still being restricted , contrary to all international laws , even though it has been months now since the war itself ended .
one of the most important practical steps in EU relations with Ukraine is the simplification of the visa regime , the end goal of which is the abolition of visas for citizens of Ukraine travelling to the EU .
the assessment of plans ex ante was similarly unconventional .
even though , after the referendum in Ireland , many people believed Europe had been given a new lease of life , just as many people regretted the rather unconvincing start to the beginning of this parliamentary term .
at the political level , respect for democratic values and human rights remains our guiding thread .
the period of reflection and debate to decide the future governance of the EU of 27 is coming to an end .
I would therefore like to draw the Hungarian Presidency 's attention to the European Parliament 's written declaration 62 / 2010 on increased European Union support for grassroots sport , of which I am a co-author .
the Article 133 Committee has examined in the last few days ideas for reducing the categories of goods included in the regulation , and the grounds for recommending their application for a trial period .
Mr President , what I liked best about this report - and I would like to congratulate its author , Mr Vincent Peillon - is that it is precise and specific .
I would like to draw your attention to three aspects :
doctorates will involve establishments from at least three different European countries .
I believe that what we need most of all is greater cooperation and openness from the Member States , if such large-scale errors are to be prevented .
I think Commissioner Špidla showed a reasonable degree of commitment to pursuing discriminatory treatment , and I hope he sees it through : he would redeem the Commission 's reputation from the example of Franco Frattini , who merely weeks ago was exhorting us to observe justice and equality and is now an apologist for prejudice .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Legal Affairs . - ( PL ) Madam President , European framework legislation on telecommunications was adopted in the 1990s , effectively freeing national markets from state monopolies .
the decision taken in the European Parliament will combine the registers of lobbyists and interest groups currently kept separately by the two abovementioned institutions .
it has also contributed to the creation of the foundations of a new world standard for conflict resolution after the end of a war .
in the area of energy policy , we need Russia to be obliged to acknowledge the principles of a transparent and fair energy policy .
we are often accused of being remote in this institution , of not being in touch with our people , but on this occasion the EU is working for its citizens .
I voted for this report because the Agreement will contribute to the effective application of competition legislation by promoting cooperation between competent authorities and by reducing the likelihood of conflicts breaking out .
on several occasions the Iraqi Government has said that it is prepared to treat the residents of the camp decently and that it did not have any intention of illegally deporting the members of this organisation or forcing them to leave Iraq .
these are the people who had the greatest input into this work .
I know that both the Council and the Commission have programmes .
this directive would not have turned out so successfully without a strong European Parliament .
in the face of this new situation in Europe , education and training is becoming the basis and tool for a successful future .
faced with the need to restore confidence in the markets and to strengthen protection for investors , in 2009 , the European Commission proposed a mechanism for monitoring and supervising credit rating agencies .
firstly , many of the nuclear safety regulators were not prepared to agree to a European inspection procedure .
the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on 11 March caused thousands of deaths and missing persons , along with considerable material damage .
the document rightly states that the growth of the trade deficit of the European Union and the United States has contributed to the international economic crisis to a large extent .
in this regard , the adoption of this report is a further step forward towards the manufacture of vehicles which pollute less .
the scheme should equally bring young consumers to appreciate fruit and vegetables and should therefore have a highly positive effect on public health and the fight against child poverty , especially in new Member States .
( DE ) Madam President , the most important result of this report is that not only illegally employed third-country nationals , but also their employers , will be penalised .
allow me , beyond what has already been said about the importance of assessing the training of judges , to highlight two issues that are fundamental to the question of mutual trust and which are at the root of what in future could become mutual recognition .
Mr Lukashenko , Europe 's last dictator , is making fun of us and , spurred on by our apathy , persecuting his political opponents and putting them in prison .
it is increasingly destructive of freedom of speech , writing and even thought .
antibiotics , clenbuterol , growth hormones , even the remains of other animals , are used , and this is what the United Kingdom 's contaminated feed problem from the 1990s was all about .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I will also try to be as brief as I can .
the nervousness has spread .
let us keep momentum .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , and when I say ' ladies and gentlemen ' , I include you , Baroness Ashton , Mr Šefčovič , your team and the Council Presidency , because , at the end of the day , we experienced collegial cooperation , without which we would surely not have achieved the result that we did .
I voted for this report as I think that it makes significant improvements in the management of immigration flows in the European Union .
there is a fundamental need to launch training offensives in order to eliminate the shortage of skilled labour which is used to justify the present state of affairs .
all of this I will take back to the Commission and it will feed into our discussions on the work programme .
I therefore call on plenary to adopt this report and on the Commission to accept Parliament 's contributions .
these matters belong under the competence of the Member States .
in addition , the new engines are to run on alternative fuels , and manufacturers will be obliged to adjust accordingly all vehicles sold , registered or placed on the market . all the equipment used to measure emission of pollutants will also have to be adjusted .
a relatively small part of the population actually feeds 100 % of the people , uses land economically and looks after the social balance of rural areas throughout the European Union .
we will be happy to meet your demands .
could action have been taken sooner ?
finally , demography is a problem that is , among other things , political , and we are politicians ; we are in a position to rectify this poor state of affairs .
the process of the agreement 's ratification has effectively entered its closing stages .
this is not a failure of business models : it is a failure of the whole economic system .
other enterprises , such as the Doux Group , had already anticipated this move by buying out the Brazilian Frangosul Group in 1998 .
that is a good omen for the upcoming negotiations .
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fortress Europe as decried by all the media in France and elsewhere does not exist .
the Member States must take all the requisite steps to protect and safeguard cultural heritage .
this would restore confidence , ease the crisis and restore calm to the financial markets .
the problem is knowing not who produces the goods that are arriving in Europe but rather whether they are being exported under fair and equitable conditions .
both are better .
in addition , these are much lower paid , and thus are not feasible for women who are less well-off .
we need to act together ; we need to use the leverage of all our institutions and , if we act together like that , we will make a difference in the world for good .
this is not decision-making close to the people ; it only makes us look ridiculous in the eyes of the general public when we legislate on matters such as the installation of lighting and light-signalling devices on wheeled agricultural and forestry tractors .
( FR ) Madam President , first of all , I would like to congratulate my colleague , Mr Tarabella , on the quality of the report that he has written and on his successful handling of this task , in which he addresses a whole range of issues relating to gender equality .
the second pillar concerns product demonstration .
( DE ) Mr President , this budget must sadden interested Europeans and will , I hope , outrage them when it comes to the European elections next June , for it is another expression of the simple failure by a Union that is , alas , in a state of paralysis to convey the message : yes , we have understood !
the trade concession to be offered to Pakistan needs to represent a credible effort by the EU and bring about meaningful economic benefits to Pakistan , whilst taking into account sensitivities of our own industries as well as other WTO members - in particular , those of least-developed countries .
I would like to underline that Mrs De Keyser 's achievements in defending human rights cannot be brought into question in a discussion of this nature .
it is of course especially tragic when it is children who are hurt by dangerous products .
the current legal provisions in the European Union , which allow the reciprocal recognition of national court rulings and cross-border claims , are not sufficient .
the EU goal is for 75 % labour participation by 2020 , and a crucial element of this will be giving all mothers the ability to take maternity leave which they can afford and then return to work .
we must move forward , with all the necessary specificities and precautions , towards applying the basic rules of the internal market to the defence industries , increasing transparency in the tendering processes that are organised and the contracts that are awarded involving Member States of the European Union .
having partly gained independence from its colonial master , Britain , in 1960 , British foreign diplomacy hawks managed in 1963 to manipulate an inter-community struggle which eventually resulted in the division of the island in 1974 .
then no one would accuse us of having wrong priorities and of making the fight against climate change more important than the fight against hunger , as Mr Deß has also said .
we have today voted in favour of Mrs Novak 's ( Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats , SL ) initiative report on the implementation of the ' Education & Training 2010 work programme ' .
what is in fact required is an end to the policy of liberalisation and maximising profit that is the cause of relocations and " restructuring ” , and measures to preserve jobs .
as a result of this development , particularly in view of the slender budget funds available , cohesion policy , particularly that of the European Regional Development Fund , has focused on economic competitiveness concentrated in the larger urban centres or the most active regions , while the EAFRD is concentrating its resources on improving agricultural competitiveness .
in writing . - ( DE ) In years when conditions are unfavourable for vine-growing and when there is too little sunshine , the fructose content of grapes is insufficient to produce the volume of alcohol required for fermentation .
I agree with the rapporteur that the Centre must set out a comparison of operations carried out during the year for which discharge is to be granted and in the previous financial year , so as to enable the European Parliament to assess the Centre 's performance from one year to the next more effectively .
our citizens enjoy prospects that our forefathers could only have dreamed of .
the intended outcome is an unprecedented attack on the rights of the national parliaments and on the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic , whose members are governed by guidelines from the European Union on their countries ' budgets ; these guidelines are increasingly neoliberal .
every country must make its contribution to funding the battle against climate change , according to its resources and economic potential .
let me highlight just a couple of the core elements of the proposal .
then show me who the leader is .
CO2 emission performance standards would help ensure the electricity sector is decarbonised to a timetable consistent both with limiting increases in global average temperatures to less than 2 ° C and with bringing new , cleaner technologies on-stream .
Italian law has not transposed the concept of racial harassment , the issue of the sharing of the burden of proof or protection from abuse suffered as a result of racial discrimination .
I do not think we can isolate this debate on the Commission 's proposals from all the other questions raised in other European institutions because , ultimately , they are different phases of the same debate .
I am confident that the implementation of the new scheme will help preserve a flourishing cotton-producing sector in the EU and a viable ginning industry .
there are rising budget deficits in many Member States and problems in the financing of pensions .
therefore , it is essential that the provisions for waste disposal and recycling are harmonised across and within the Member States of the European Union and , most importantly , that the export of waste without provision being made for certified and environmentally sound disposal is stopped .
this always results in mention of the power of consumers .
among these demands , the Socialist Group in the European Parliament lays particular emphasis on several points : firstly , strengthening the UN mission with European personnel capable of communicating with the population ; and secondly , we are calling on Congo 's highest political and military authorities to do their utmost to ensure that soldiers from the Congolese army put a stop to their atrocities once and for all .
it is therefore representatives of the citizens who are responsible for the solution to this crisis , with an entry into service in 2014 and deployment of the satellites until 2013 .
now that we have enlarged the European Union , we also need to give it more depth .
it rewards the progress made by the accession candidates but , at the same time , clearly identifies the problems .
education is personally enriching and is the prerequisite for us to be able to live in social cohesion .
Ecuador has , incidentally , made an official request to return to negotiations on the trade agreement , and the Ecuadorean administration and the Commission are currently examining the possibility of restarting negotiations and thus the possibility of seeking an agreement on the steps to take .
we face the most horrifying scenario of losing the Suez Canal .
even the ginning plants are threatened .
but Council should keep the option of a decrease that is larger than 15 % .
firstly , Central Asia has an obvious growing importance for the European Union and the world as a whole , no doubt owing to its rich energy resources .
that is the context in which , together , we are fighting terrorism - all forms of terrorism .
the ongoing efforts aimed at distracting attention from current problems by stage-managed trials of prominent figures of Saddam Hussein 's regime are naive .
the attack on the freedom of the press in Kenya also involved the violation of the fundamental principles of parliamentary democracy .
unfortunately , often human trafficking is linked to sexualised practices : women and girls end up as prostitutes or they are forced into it .
I know you will have a considerable in-tray already , Commissioner , but we hope very much that this will be an item that will be close to the top of your in-tray because it is an area which my committee has been very concerned about over the last five years .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
so this is clearly a massive problem across the whole of the European Community .
Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets out in great detail what it calls freedom of religion or religious freedom .
the Commission must be commended for its call to action as regards tackling infringements of the rights of older persons and as regards protecting the elderly in the community and in nursing homes .
as the Commissioner said , there is always room for improvement , and I hope to see improvement in the areas I have mentioned .
firstly , to advance a more strategic approach .
we should reach a point where no longer do we try to homogenise everything into one single shape or size but understand that , by giving dignity to that difference , we can actually create a better , more colourful and , certainly , more vibrant European Union for the future .
however , we still need more progress if we are to begin a new era in our relationship and if we are also to confirm the suspension .
in other words , are we going to insist on multilateralism , or do you think that the Lisbon Summit will force us to continue further along the road of bilateral agreements with different countries , for example , in the continent of Africa ?
we think an agreement is reasonable , but would nevertheless point out that there have been considerable sectoral problems with Korea in the past .
the Council commended Croatia for the considerable efforts it had made over the past year and the good overall progress made .
at the same time , the report also ensures cooperation with third countries and strengthens the role of the OLAF Control Committee .
here I would say that postponing the execution of such a decision would greatly undermine and possibly negate the purpose of the proposed legislation .
they are poisoning both the water and the soil .
it is not entirely clear to me why the rapporteur , contrary to the agreement between the groups , suddenly submitted a resolution in which he anticipated his own point of view .
benfluorex was discussed within the pharmacovigilance working party , acting in its role as a forum for Member States to exchange pharmacovigilance data among themselves .
the broad public consultation process launched by the European Commission clarified the manner in which ICTs can help to improve energy efficiency .
what has Parliament done ?
( ES ) Ladies and gentlemen , I agree with many of the points that have been made , but must qualify some others .
rather than commenting on the specific achievements , I would particularly emphasise the gold standard that you have set for the Presidency .
at the same time , he said that 90 % of these agreements are not worth a pin .
as such , we need to be demanding and ensure that the procedures are applied properly .
the high CDM quota proposed by the Council would mean a U-turn in EU climate policy .
more importantly , their work has also meant that the role of the Member States of origin that have to pay and of those in which treatment is received can be clearly regulated .
we have contributed throughout the committee and trialogue process to ensure that the Parliament 's preferred outcome is realistic , workable , and lasting .
in my country , Finland , this legislation is now at a fairly advanced stage , and sometimes , obviously , it makes you wonder if we are not going backwards when we make common laws .
I am pleased that the European Commission too has started to realise these obstacles .
so , just on this last ground , all the women fleeing from there should be given asylum .
the brokers ' model is an opportunity to speculate three times over for those who do not need emission rights for production but who buy them to sell them to manufacturing companies at a high price .
the family is indisputably the best environment for a child .
we accidentally voted against it in the final vote , when we meant to vote in favour .
unfortunately , to fully meet that requirement - a legitimate one , certainly - is not quite so easy in practice .
it is the most important topic .
in view of these considerations , I regard the agreement mentioned as an important contribution to the current international fight against IUU fishing and I am voting in favour of its approval .
what was the reason for this ?
they are fundamental in guaranteeing to EU consumers , farmers and taxpayers that there are no risks .
Belarus is in the neighbourhood of the European Union .
one case is not the basis of a magic solution .
one is our European line , the other is the international Nagoya line , about which you had more to say .
in writing . - Parliament has given a strong signal in its resolution on the EU-Canada trade negotiations that it will rigorously defend its legislation to ban seal products from the EU market .
European Ombudsman . - Mr President , let me begin by thanking very warmly all the Members of Parliament who have made very constructive and very positive remarks about the work of the Ombudsman .
in this half year alone there are plans for three-party style dialogue with Russia , the United States of America , Algeria and Morocco , which reflects the interest in broadening the dialogue with those countries .
we have high hopes of this Transatlantic Economic Council , although we must realise that it will be a long-term investment .
we need only remove those barriers that we can remove , the ones that are difficult to live with , that are difficult for consumers to live with , the ones whose removal will create more jobs , the ones that are irrational .
there is also a need to balance the aim of simplification with efforts to achieve maximum efficiency .
an expert report from 2007 estimates that small enterprises spend 10 times the amount that large enterprises have to spend in order to comply with information obligations imposed by legislation .
it is also a message about the responsiveness of European integration , with this symbol that the European Blue Card will become , offering real mobility within Europe for highly qualified third-country nationals and members of their families , in accordance with the powers of each Member State , for the Member States will , of course , retain control of their labour markets .
has the ECB fulfilled its role ?
request for waiver of the parliamentary immunity of Mr Miloslav Ransdorf (
at the present time , only six Member States have bilateral agreements on certification of aviation services .
why did you allow a politician who was not a member of the Polish government 's delegation into the debates ? nobody really knows what that person was doing there .
the European Union will continue to stand ready to provide whatever assistance we can to help them through this difficult time .
I voted for the European Parliament resolution of 25 November 2010 on the UN climate change conference in Cancún with a view to meeting the overall objective of limiting the annual mean surface temperature increase to 2 ºC ( ' the 2 ºC objective ' ) .
passengers may also be of different nationalities .
in writing . - It seems that Romania and Bulgaria have proved that they are , to a sufficient extent , ready to fulfil the Schengen acquis .
reject it .
in writing . - The current absence of harmonised rules on origin marking puts the EU at a disadvantage and also deprives European producers of origin-sensitive consumer goods of the opportunity to reap the benefits associated with producing within the Union , while consumers miss the opportunity to have access to information on the origin of products .
however , it is also just as obvious that we need to learn from real situations and improve the service we give every time .
Article 125 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union is the so-called no bail out clause , in other words , the ban on Member States of the EU taking on the debts of other Member States .
more than six decades have elapsed since then .
in the absence of a new legal framework allowing for specific types of State aid to the coal industry , Member States will be able to grant aid only within the limits provided for in the general State aid rules applicable to all sectors .
this is why we need to complete matters of territorial cohesion within the framework of cohesion policy .
I think that is true for coherence as well , as you and so many others here have said .
no one has been able to prove their existence in Romania .
some on the right are retreating , in the face of global challenges , from Conservatism into nationalism , or from Christian democracy into Christian autocracy .
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in my opinion on the European Parliament 's report drafted on behalf of the Committee on International Trade some time ago , I pointed out that it would not be possible to achieve the desired balance in the European sugar market as long as there is no legislation providing for effective import protection .
I declare the session of the European Parliament adjourned .
above all , 2011 is the fifth year of the multiannual financial framework for 2007-2013 , so we already know a good deal about how this multiannual framework is being put into effect , which parts have been a success and which have not , and many programmes are already at a very advanced stage in terms of their life cycle .
the crisis has shown only too clearly that voluntary self-regulation has failed , yet the Commission has not wavered in its commitment to this .
it is not possible , however , for a presidential election to produce two winners in one country .
( DE ) Mr President , to reform the European Union is difficult , but to reform the European Parliament is even more difficult , as we have seen in the debate on the revision of the Rules of Procedure and the work of our fellow Member Richard Corbett .
moreover , a state is not independent if it is not able to offer to all communities living on its territory a fair prospect of organic integration into a civic and multicultural society , and if it is not self-sustainable and self-governable .
since you did not mention or raise your voices for the protection of common European values at that time , there is no credibility to your statements today .
fourthly , we believe that internal European data sets should be handled in accordance with European law , both in the transitional agreement and in the final agreement .
we discussed piracy .
I voted in favour of this report and of the amendment calling for a review of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) .
the reforms should also include reform of the electoral system through a reduction in the ten percent threshold , in order to secure a better pluralistic democracy .
what has happened to the legislative proposal ?
so can I ask Baroness Ashton to attend the next meeting of the Subcommittee on Human Rights - and not just in spirit - on 10 January , where she can take part in an exchange of views on the human rights and democracy network and explain to us exactly what the word ' action ' means to her .
it is thanks to Mr Gauzès that we have got it off the ground .
it seems to me that the report on the demographic challenge and solidarity between generations that we have voted on works along these lines .
I support the call for a simple , fair and transparent transition system for cohesion policy after 2013 .
we should end the promotion of multiculturalism , which is divisive and a recipe for conflict , and assimilate and integrate existing migrants into a common culture with respect for a common set of political and legal institutions .
that brings me to two thoughts on budget support .
it is vital that we have a strong monitoring body which is made up of institutions which are responsible to elected bodies .
why , however , are we discussing this issue in this House today ?
this could well be the highest amount ever granted to date by this fund .
prolonging operational aid to coal mines fails to address the legitimate concerns of coal workers for their futures .
we must promote more investment programmes in our states , both in renewable energy and in areas with direct implications for climate change .
I will also vote in favour of Amendment 5 for clear , strict criteria , which we regard as being of paramount importance in order to avoid difficulties when implementing the new framework .
perhaps you would like to get your answers to the Members in question in writing .
yes , we have noticed that too , and we will take this into consideration in the negotiations .
in writing . - ( PT ) The time that we dedicate to various social causes always constitutes a chance to reflect on the debate surrounding an important issue and , above all , to repeatedly draw attention to impending behavioural changes in the light of the adoption of new values or a new interpretation of old values , which are determining factors in constructing the society in which we wish to live .
- Before the vote on Recital C
I believe that this report can act as a precedent in future negotiations with the Council .
it is not easy to summarise all the challenges facing the new European donors in formulating national development policies and modernising development policy at Community level .
one typical example is the long-standing crime being committed against the workers of France Telecom , where 25 workers have been pushed into suicide by unacceptable working conditions and the intensification of slavery .
although the Council as such does not have the competence to express an opinion , there will not be a single Member State of the European Union that does not recognise the importance of the efforts made and initiatives taken to get to the truth .
texts of agreements forwarded by the Council : see Minutes
I should like to send a message to my friend Giusto Catania .
this is no longer just a matter of the economy , however : the giant that stood on a pile of securities has seen its authority collapse .
the manner in which their homes have been searched and possessions confiscated , along with the constant , blatant violation of their rights as detainees , totally contravenes European human rights norms .
what has not happened is a change in the existing framework and the position .
in the European Union , religious freedom and freedom of expression are intrinsic to our European identity .
certain issues in relation to the digital revolution within the context of the knowledge economy made this review necessary .
at the end of the day , anyone who today arrests activists like Mr Maguwu , threatens them with imprisonment and with torture and also threatens their families , does not meet the criteria that also need to be met in the Kimberley Process .
Croatia must continue its efforts to meet the benchmarks and achieve faster progress .
we need an explanation of that in order to bring farmers with us .
although there have been steps forward in the matter over the last decade as a result of the recommendation , the situation is far from satisfactory .
we have also recalled that the European Union promised to do everything possible to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and to take all necessary steps to eradicate poverty .
I have presented a very pro-European programme to you .
I am one MEP among 780 .
as you are addressing the Commission directly , I would encourage the Commissioner to listen closely to what you have to say .
some less progressive forces have tried to use the economic downturn as an excuse to renege on the necessary climate commitments .
the airlines have blatantly exploited this in the current situation : the crisis , plus bad winter weather conditions .
such an agreement would be an instrument for promoting the Pacific Region 's sustainable social and economic development , for reducing poverty , and for strengthening regional integration and cooperation , in line with the Millennium Development Goals .
between 2000 and 2008 , EU taxpayers shelled out EUR 34 million to build and modernise tuna vessels at a time when stocks were on the verge of collapse .
here we await with interest , and I must say with some impatience , the Commission 's Green Paper in September .
it flattened most of our forests , for the first time .
these two areas are an essential precondition for developing the competitiveness of the EU as a whole and for the operation of the Internal Market and , as such , they deserve particular attention when drafting the budget .
we have included these suggestions here and emphasised repeatedly that this has not only initiated the third way , the Council 's original suggestion , but that we have also introduced additional regulatory components because the third way that came to us from the Council was not enough for us .
ladies , this marks the end of the small financial advantage you enjoy for being more careful drivers and for living longer .
moreover , these representatives merely have to sign a preprinted declaration that they will act in the public interest if they see a conflict of interests .
it is , though , curious to see this new political alliance being forged by Sinn Féin and the British Conservative Party in opposing this Treaty .
in the parliamentary working group on Quality of childhood , we observed that our children live in a very complicated world .
we chose to vote against the first part because we consider that there are differences between the old treaty and the Treaty of Lisbon , for example in the Charter of Rights , which lays down among other things the right to take strike action in accordance with national practice .
the recent decisions taken by the Russian Federation on strengthening links with the separatist de facto authorities in Abkhazia and South Ossetia represent an erosion of Georgia 's territorial integrity , and these measures have increased expectations of future recognition in the two separatist regions and , therefore , undermine efforts to find a peaceful solution .
how marketing and advertising affect equality between women and men ( debate )
although online gambling has no borders , its regulation differs in every Member State in terms of levels of taxation , accessibility , checks and the level of legal responsibility of operators .
not only do we use products that exhaust and damage the environment and then also fail to deal with them properly once we no longer want them , we also dump the hazardous waste , which damages the health of innocent people , often children , and makes the land and water in other countries toxic for generations to come .
they are slumbering beneath the surface , and Swedish society is just as affected as we in Belgium are , just as they are in France , Germany and Slovakia .
this is part of a broader Commission priority to see Ukraine establish a personal data protection regime in line with European standards .
it is this , therefore , that is going to change .
may I continue ?
Madam President , I voted for the resolution on Holodomor , the great Ukrainian famine .
in writing . - ( FR ) The report by Guy Bono on cultural industries in Europe reaffirms the importance of the cultural dimension in the implementation of the Lisbon objectives .
countries such as Spain are making significant efforts in this respect , prosecuting traffickers , raising public awareness and promoting reintegration plans for the women who are the victims .
area of Freedom , Security and Justice ( AFSJ ) 2007 ( vote )
it is a complex text and , in addition , the official consolidated text has to be prepared in all 23 official languages of the European Union .
additional infrastructure , such as natural gas pipelines and liquefied natural gas terminals , will play a significant role in meeting the needs of European consumers and in ensuring a constant supply .
in my opinion , this is an area we should look at and focus greater attention on as soon as possible .
there are three areas for amendment which I would plead in favour of .
( PL ) Mr President , the Giannakou report paves the way to fulfilment of the provisions of Article 10 ( 4 ) of the Treaty on European Union and Article 244 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union .
deficiencies in Agency staff selection procedures still remain and put at risk the transparency of these procedures .
only its remote base in Greece , which makes it necessary to have a contact office in Brussels , should be reconsidered .
an accompanying feature is the absence of social insurance for these people .
rapporteur . - ( ES ) Mr President , this afternoon we are discussing a key sector for European growth , competition and employment , namely logistics .
in any case , please accept my sincere thanks .
( DE ) Mr President , I am happy to answer that question .
we also work very much with ICAO .
why do we not adopt the best parts of it and ask the developing world to take onboard a common agricultural policy ?
their paragraph 3 states that the ineffectiveness of the sanctions is an encouragement to the Uzbek regime , which makes no sense either intellectually or politically .
the financial crisis which occurred in 2007 was led by major investment banks which had a series of alternative investment funds , or hedge funds , in their portfolio .
they crippled the lives of their national minorities .
as for the economic strategy , it is all very well for some to say that we need more constraints .
a further meeting of the Gas Coordination Group on Monday 19 January now looks likely .
at the same time , the People 's Party is committed to making sure that the clause regarding preferential treatment for EU nationals is an important part of the Directive .
it is essential to recognize that we should be on our guard against this risk .
certainly this law makes it harder to distinguish , in terms of modernity and respect for women 's rights , between the elected Afghan Government and the Taliban terrorists against whom it is fighting .
one of the main objectives of future financial frameworks is to establish instruments to take the EU 2020 strategy to the grassroots level .
I should like to read a quotation to you , which comes from a radio interview of 28 July this year .
high Representative , might I ask you to please prevent Yemen from becoming a second Afghanistan .
Europe is taking a crucial step with this economic governance package so that our economy can grow soundly .
consumers and traders can thus see at a glance whether a product contains certain substances that can also be dangerous .
this report , the European Parliament 's response to the European Commission annual statement on the euro area and public finances , is rich in analyses and proposals .
for my constituents , less than a year on , that rings very hollow indeed .
women have played a key role in these riots , fighting and risking their lives for more democracy , rights and freedoms .
his Greek lawyer has made a complaint about police abuse and destruction of evidence .
we can only give consideration to a specific amendment , not a general appeal .
is the Council envisaging the adoption of a joint decision with a view to establishing an integrated European policy to support and provide vocational training for citizens with special needs and ensure their integration in society ?
self-regulation is a contradiction in terms and is only appropriate where internal bodies regulate themselves .
the European visa regime discourages respectable Russians from travelling to Slovakia , while not restricting the less respectable from migrating in the slightest .
of course , it is important to all of us - and this is also in the mandate - that an independent body be established to which individuals can make a complaint if they notice that their data have been used wrongfully or for other purposes .
this is just as well , because at the outset we were still somewhat vague as to the structure .
products manufactured by the ' top-down ' method , for example nano zinc oxide particles used in UV filter creams , and bacteriocidal additives such as silver nanoparticles ;
admittedly , that is only 1 % of the gross national product of the 27 Member States , but it is still a tidy sum .
the Council is haggling about the energy target .
all that is happening with draconian maternity leave , let me tell you , Madam , is that fewer and fewer young women in my country are getting jobs because you would have to be stark staring mad to employ a young woman if you have a small business .
of course , the world is changing ; the European Union is being called upon to face huge challenges and it needs to take serious action in order to do so .
I think that it would be a good idea , once the new Treaty has been ratified , for us to look again at whether we cannot find a quicker and more effective way to do this .
the EU-Mexico Association Agreement has a history of success - as Mrs Mann , who chairs the Joint Parliamentary Committee , has acknowledged .
EU membership will in any case be subject to a referendum .
Mr President , after lengthy rounds of negotiations , Parliament , the Council and the Commission have finally agreed on a joint text for regulating alternative investment fund managers .
we must supply the tools of competitiveness to the wine sector to keep it competitive within and outside the European Union .
so it is a purely technical question .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( FR ) Mr President , I have listened carefully to what you have just said , and it supports a great many speakers who have emphasised the need to facilitate access to the European Union for the citizens of our neighbouring countries .
I want Ireland to remain at the heart of decision-making in Europe .
they talk about freedom of expression but are only convincing when they express their intolerance of those with whom they disagree .
Mr President , I would very much like to propose Mrs Andreasen for one of these roles .
the emergency situation demands flexible action , to satisfy the basic needs of the people quickly and to provide material aid as well as to restore rapidly the key infrastructure that has been damaged .
concerning the first matter , I can assure you that we are fully committed to supporting successful fiscal transition through increased support for capacity building , demand-driven regional and international capacity development initiatives , and better donor coordination at EU and international levels .
one aspect we continue to regard as important and which is addressed in the general part of the resolution is the whole complex of better legislation .
if the European Parliament takes this path , and if the confrontational tone we have heard from a number of Members continues , only one thing will happen : the European Parliament will be the loser , both with the media and with the public .
is it an attempt to find an alternative to full EU membership that has been promised in the long term to the coastal states of Croatia , Montenegro , Albania and Turkey ?
the Commission cannot ignore minimum social standards during these negotiations .
we are also guaranteeing a society that is more fair , more creative and more dynamic .
ladies and gentlemen , on behalf of the President of the European Parliament , I have the great honour and pleasure , in this European Year of Intercultural Dialogue , of welcoming to the European Parliament the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief , Dr Asma Jahangir .
I would highlight , for example , valuation of the employment factor in calculating the allocation of aid and respect for health and safety at work requirements in relation to the conditions for receiving said aid .
they did not cause the crisis , but they are suffering the consequences of it more than anyone .
certain improvements have been made , by introducing higher standards for transporting animals , but these measures still fall short of the mark .
a longer deadline might have meant our doing important work with too much of an eye on elections .
situation in Sri Lanka
Mr President , when Parliament voted on the Services Directive , the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left voted against it .
the discharge procedure with the Council has shown itself to be ineffable and in urgent need of a place on the interinstitutional agenda , which , incidentally , needs to be extended to include the President of the European Council .
I cannot give an off-the-cuff answer to that right now .
the day on which we signed the Charter of Fundamental Rights is a good day to remember that the European Union has a role to play and has its responsibility in this area .
while the young have a vision of a common future , their seniors still argue about whether they should begin negotiations .
let us not allow the Horn of Africa to become an area of lawlessness where no development takes place .
ACTA , as the Commissioner said , is a good first step to tackling counterfeit groups and piracy on the Internet and wider afield .
I am a staunch defender of genuine human rights .
this fishery has been closed since 2005 , and the fleet has declined from 391 vessels in 2005 to 239 vessels in 2009 , directly affecting more than 2 500 families .
such situations occur even in our democratic European Union , which upholds human rights .
more than ever , as was highlighted in some of the statements made in the previous debate , one of the conclusions of this financial crisis and the problems of the euro area is the need to go ahead with structural reform in a coordinated and determined manner .
resumption of the session
at the same time , I hope that the directive will facilitate the development of debt-collecting mechanisms , as late payments from public authorities cause imbalances in the operation of small and medium-sized enterprises and , by extension , of the market too .
this development in attitudes , which my colleague , Charles Tannock , knows a lot more about , and this move by the centre right are reflected in a quite modest and moderate EPP resolution and , indeed , in Simon Busuttil 's opening remarks .
Parliament 's proposal to extend maternity leave to 20 weeks on full pay , six of them after the birth , has by no means been plucked out of the air .
this is something we must look at very carefully , because there are no precedents in European law establishing how long a self-employed person can work for in an office or laboratory .
let us be serious : can anyone remember large sections of the French and Dutch population saying ' no ' to the Constitution because it referred to Union symbols ?
facilitating the collection of cross-border evidence is without doubt an important step towards realising the principle of mutual recognition of judicial decisions .
let me be honest : it is not going to happen tomorrow .
however , we must not forget that exiting the crisis also has European aspects : the economic development plan ; financial market regulations to prevent this crisis from recurring ; the measures currently being discussed on economic governance in the European Union ; EU measures which only make national measures more efficient .
may I touch on another point we talked about this morning in connection with the new Treaty ?
as I have mentioned on many previous occasions , I firmly believe that the failure to reach agreement on the amendment is a bad message for European workers and enterprises , for European institutions and , by extension , for Europe as a whole .
the next item is Question Time ( B7-0017 / 2010 ) .
specifically , I do not support Mr Audy 's call to increase funding for the European Research Council , as well as making it an independent legal entity with decision-making power which would be directly responsible for its own scientific strategy and administrative management .
I asked him : ' Mr Djukanović , why , when we are discussing what happened in Ireland - no to Europe , no to the Treaty of Lisbon - are you so keen to join the European Union , to be part of the European Union , when you have been independent for such a short time ? '
in particular , I am horrified by the way in which the Liberals have become the dogsbodies of those on the left and have acted contrary to the principle of subsidiarity .
this is not what we are trying to achieve .
we must remember this and attach enormous importance to this discussion , bearing in mind that not everything has been given us forever .
he has put an end to the ' enhanced ' interrogation techniques , also by the CIA .
on the other hand , given the state of technological development today , when fridges , for example , can automatically retrieve recipes from the Internet , the question whether the IP address of my fridge truly constitutes personal data is obsolete .
we support the budgetary commitment and voted in favour of all the parts with the exception of the requirement to introduce permanent support for the milk sector , which we voted against .
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it is precisely now , in a time of crisis , that we must prove to the public and prove to ourselves as well , that when it comes to achieving our political goals , we will use all resources in the most effective way possible .
I also welcome and would remind the House of all the initiatives being taken on this issue by the national governments in the Member States of the European Union , the most recent being that by President Sarkozy 's government to promote legislation to ban the burkha in public places .
this should not lead to any increase in prices , which consumers will certainly appreciate , especially those who decide what to buy based on the price of a product .
Parliament should have taken the lead on this , however .
I believe that this is a positive development and have had no qualms in supporting the rapporteur .
I welcome joint initiatives to combat tax havens , as well as practices that intensify international dialogue between the relevant countries .
the victims of a poor healthcare system , which is unfortunately widespread , are as blameless as those who do not have equal access to healthcare facilities .
based on the Menrad report , adopted in this House six years ago , on the jurisprudence and on the experiences of management and labour in the last 12 years , the PSE Group has always asked for an ambitious revision of the Directive .
putting all these positives to one side , however , we must not overlook the immense challenges that a better linking up of the national systems involves .
the need for cooperation is very different to the involvement of the European Union institutions , which is merely part of the EU 's wider agenda of political integration .
there is no doubt that the resources received from the European Union must not be used to finance projects which increase carbon dioxide emissions .
the key to this will be to find ways of recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals .
my group has followed the reasoning that the protests have been organised by non-democratic forces which seek to challenge the repeat vote for the Communist party cast by one half of the electorate .
we made the mistake once before of closing our eyes in relation to totalitarian Communism because we said that we need stability .
this is not acceptable from a state which claims to be a democratic state and which claims to be complying with the norms of international law .
first of all , what was mentioned - the disclosure of beneficiaries - will be done in full respect of Community legislation on data protection .
with today 's resolution , the European Parliament grants discharge to the Director of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training for the implementation of the Centre 's budget for 2009 .
so , once and for all , we fully respect the Court of Auditors , we do not put pressure on the Court of Auditors and we try to do our best to implement the recommendations of the independent audit institution that is the Court of Auditors .
we did not finish discussing this in the group .
news about the recent intensification of the activities of terrorist groups is worrying .
thank you , Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the message from our debate can only be one thing : there is no violent solution in the Middle East .
( DE ) Mr President , I must admit that I do not know the fellow Member .
the General Affairs and External Relations Council discussed Georgia recently , on 29 April .
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for years , this negotiating process has been useful in carrying forward political and economic reforms in Turkey : it has had its contradictions , setbacks and steps forward , but overall , it has been helpful .
I also want to mention Amendments 3 and 5 , which deal with residential zones .
there are serious questions that we need to ask about the mechanism , about how simple it is to access and about how effective it is in practical terms .
rather it should be a select group of eminent scholars , outstanding entrepreneurs , former diplomats and politicians .
this is a huge task for the Spanish Presidency , since it is to be followed by other highly significant projects in the sphere of innovation , telecommunications and other related matters .
this being so , I propose that Parliament pass an emergency resolution : firstly , creating a Frontex post on the Turkish side of the River Evros ; secondly , condemning Turkey , which receives very generous funding from the European Union for immigration , but which is not honouring its obligations under the Ankara Protocol ; and , thirdly and lastly , reviewing the problem of illegal immigration , which is a European problem .
secondly , I should like to draw your attention to the effort and commitment across the globe .
if Italians do have some worries and fears , then , like those of all Europeans , Mr President , they concern the crisis , illegal immigration , jobs and pensions , but certainly not freedom of information , which has never been under threat and which , on the contrary , is under attack every day from the partisanship of the left .
I believe that to do this , as the report rightly says , Europe must immediately set up strong and authoritative bodies that are able to offer standard governance for economic policies in all States .
moreover , the scourge of alcoholism is , unfortunately , directly in proportion to the level of excise duty ; the higher the rate of excise duty , the greater the scourge of alcoholism in countries .
we must welcome anything which makes roads safer .
road safety and security are certainly one of the six priority action areas which were identified by the Commission in this ITS action plan .
this also includes the situation of Aung San Suu Kyi , who is in prison .
the talks on regulations have taken place in the relevant management committee , the most technical discussions have been held by a group of experts dealing specifically with cross-compliance , and discussions on the supervisory methods have taken place in certain specialist workshops .
the energy strategy has become both part of Europe 's foreign and security policy and a question of security of supply .
the current statistics on unemployment and employment are much better than they have been since the 1980s , which is a clear success .
on the other , what happened in Georgia should not be ignored just to keep our bilateral relations unaffected .
therefore , the European Parliament should send out a clear message for their release .
we continue to give this matter close attention .
as to the implications of this report , the rapporteur is calling for a review of the Directive on the posting of workers , claiming that the Court 's interpretation runs counter to the legislator 's intentions .
there can be no consent , on our part , to other measures .
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from 31 October to 2 November I participated in a debate in the United Nations in New York with representatives of many continents and regions .
the rapporteur emphasises that in a situation in which the Community has legislative authority it would be appropriate for a body such as Council or the Parliament to adopt an act , taking account of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality .
Madam President , we female MEPs are definitely in a minority position .
Madam President , I , too , would like to address the Commission on this notification of aid for social housing by the Netherlands , the European Commission 's response to which is that it must be brought into line with competition rules .
if we want to make progress towards our target of having 25 % less bureaucracy in Europe by 2012 , we need to nail our colours to the mast now .
it is not proving to be very easy .
the Member States of the European Union have responded to this call by saying that we should use all the room for manoeuvre permitted by the Stability and Growth Pact when there is a sharp turnaround in the economic cycle .
the request concerns 594 redundancies ( of which 200 are targeted for assistance ) in three enterprises operating in the NACE Revision 2 Division 28 ( manufacture of wearing apparel ) in the NUTS II region of Podkarpackie , during the nine-month reference period from 1 June 2009 to 1 March 2010 .
the social inclusion of the Roma is one of the most serious challenges in Europe today and , at the same time , one of the most promising opportunities for our ageing societies .
in particular , the current exemptions and corrective mechanisms should be gradually phased out , which would be an essential step towards greater fairness and transparency in the EU budget .
the recent coup in Mauritania is disappointing .
it therefore remains to be seen how serious the commitment is this time .
this would only have a divisive effect and weaken the position of the countries in the South that do not have the financial or personal means at their disposal to attend all these meetings .
we must not throw good money after bad .
it is also clear that we are breaking the law .
I must say that Parliament agrees with the Commission that , in view of the globalisation of research and the emergence of new scientific and technological powers such as China and India , we urgently need to speed up , and , to that end , incentivise , the construction of a new European research area .
this varies from programme to programme , and is set out in the Memorandum of Understanding .
Mr Buzek very kindly said that it may have been because he was speaking too quickly .
an EU Member State earning money for Hezbollah from the drugs trade - that strikes me as particularly serious .
if universities are able to submit projects to meet the requirements of the lifelong learning programme during the 2007-2013 period , the European Commission is prepared to finance these projects as well .
negotiations on budget finalisation usually centre on juste retour negotiations .
as the Commissioner said , it is true that this is very old legislation .
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I am thinking above all of the need to adapt certain sectors of our economy to our other goals of combating climate change .
I am sure that we can count on Spain 's special vocation to ensure that the summit to be held with the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean in Madrid in May will be a success for Latin America and for Europe .
once again , I thank Parliament and its rapporteur for its excellent work on this report , backed by expert knowledge .
it would be felt as a nasty shock , a sign of aggression , an unacceptable intrusion by a religious authority in a non-EU country into relations between our Member States and religious minorities .
the compromise reached will help improve the condition of the population 's health , but will increase production costs . we should keep that in mind when discussing financial resources for the common agricultural policy .
the ' integrated approach ' to European legislation praised by the reporter , which consists of taking this level into account in all European policies with a territorial , economic and social impact , contributes to this development .
what we know is at an end are the referendums on the Lisbon Treaty , and that should not be so .
funding will be allocated via this facility for the first time this autumn .
in writing . - ( LV ) Quite recently , more than 500 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo fell victim to a mass gang rape .
how can Member States or candidate countries be allowed to act as destabilising factors in an area in which European soldiers are losing their lives in an attempt to achieve stability ?
next year 's programme also fails to reflect the perception that this Europe is different from that of the past .
the challenges facing Europe over the next few years are enormous .
we need , particularly in times of crisis , a representative voice to speak on behalf of the EU .
this is our imperative duty .
the EU needs to facilitate the implementation of these standards , thereby offering e-commerce agents the opportunity to be recognised as reliable suppliers .
that is why I see the strengthening of this instrument and the Union 's greater commitment to development cooperation as important .
the answer is because they are not oriented towards the common European interest , and that is what I criticise from a political standpoint .
now something about the financial markets .
a country with a strong currency can struggle in the competition stakes in international markets .
Madam President , High Representative , ladies and gentlemen , I firmly believe that we must see Latin America as a hugely important trade partner .
however , unfortunately , we cannot apply more flexible rules as we have Rules of Procedure by which we must abide .
forwarding of texts adopted during the sitting : see Minutes
at a time when Japan is facing its worst crisis since World War II , following the earthquake and tsunami that devastated the country on 11 March , I would like to join the expression of complete solidarity with the Japanese people and Parliament 's call for the EU and its Member States to extend to the affected regions all the help and aid needed at a humanitarian , technical and financial level , as a matter of urgency .
the level of funding and provision for medical needs in countries which are undergoing transformation is , however , far , far lower .
Mr Verheugen , I would like you to know that when leaving here today , you will have Parliament 's full support , and it is essential to convince the College of Commissioners that we must not waste any more time but at last take action against the counterfeiting of medicines .
( PT ) I hope that I have correctly understood the honourable Member 's question .
the fact is that the promotion of democracy throughout the world must be an important issue for the Europe Union .
yet that would represent a strengthening of European democracy .
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after a rather slow start , there is now , following intense negotiations with the Council , a compromise before us that is acceptable to me , and I would like to thank the rapporteur for his constructive and pragmatic way of working .
the realisation of the strategy must be without prejudice to social rights and must not erode welfare achievements .
Mr Pöttering , during the two and a half years of your presidency , not only have you been the citizens ' spokesman , you have also personified the heart , generosity and solidarity of Europe .
they probably did it with good intentions .
he has worked extremely hard to get an agreed compromise , and I congratulate him on that .
however , I call upon the government and political forces of FYROM to look to the future and make the necessary effort to find a mutually acceptable solution to the name issue .
the EU must stop acting as the extended arm and the funder-in-chief of NATO and the United States .
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fortunately , the present Commissioner realises that this should be seen in a wider context , and I am delighted that he is now giving this experiment a structural dimension .
we should perceive it instead as an opportunity for ageing Europe !
those who have already spoken today have mentioned this , but I would like us to remember that no other political parties have been registered , the threat to cancel the registration of parties which already exist has not been lifted , newspapers which might have been granted the right of distribution have not been granted that right , and web-based attacks on Internet sites , such as the Radio Free Europe site , have been renewed .
I just want to tell you , having listened to you , that the first lesson I have learned from the first part of the French Presidency is that one crisis does not make the other crises go away .
can I thank the Commissioner for his very clear answer and congratulate him on implementing an open and efficient way of running the Commission , in spite of the fact that the Lisbon Treaty will never see the light of day ?
furthermore , Vietnam must cooperate with the United Nations on the subject of these rights and freedoms .
it is the simplest , fastest and cheapest way to achieve lively and practical European integration .
we clearly cannot allow that to happen , and classification societies , in particular , are currently facing major demands .
I agree with the proposal that the European Parliament have the right to invite the representatives of the Member States and I regret that the Council has not accepted it .
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this regime has blood on its hands .
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I welcome this very timely debate on the drug problem - and particularly on Afghanistan 's drug problem - which , as we know , is a major complex issue in the political and security context .
at the same time the market should not harbour the misleading belief that risky investments will remain .
the report was completed and sent properly , so probably some mistakes occurred during the procedure .
Mr Oettinger was the only person who made the most of the opportunity to bring together everyone involved immediately after Fukushima and to insist that we carry out stress tests at a European level , regardless of the responsibilities .
in Lampedusa , in 2009 , nothing was done to identify people or to process asylum requests until the people did what they had to do : rise up , mutiny , because they were living like animals .
it is fine that we will exchange them once again this morning , but it is not really helpful .
it is regrettable that we are unwilling to respect the importance of national and regional particularities and the historical , cultural and religious diversity of states in sub-Saharan Africa .
the European Union must be able to mediate and to make a constructive contribution to both sides , Georgia and Russia , so that a solution can be found .
this position clearly gives us a responsibility to help the developing countries .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , the Commission is deeply shocked and saddened by what happened on Coptic Christmas Eve in Nag Hammadi in southern Egypt , the tragic deaths of six Copts and a Muslim policeman in a drive-by shooting .
in writing . - I understand the need for adequate reliable statistics to be gathered for planning purposes .
the death of Orlando Zapata is regrettable , but it might also be a trigger for us to stop talking about human rights in Cuba and start working for human rights with the Cuban authorities , to promote human rights in Cuba .
nor do I accept that one in five of our young children cannot read properly .
I welcome much of what the Commission has put forward , along with Mr Goepel 's report .
several speakers this morning have made the point that the French Presidency of the G20 could represent an opportunity for Europe .
the President of this House has rightly said that it was a Parliament-friendly Presidency .
preparation of the European Council ( Brussels , 13-14 March 2008 ) ( debate )
what about the CO2 emissions of the Parliament in Strasbourg , when we are talking about tens of thousands of tons of CO2 emissions every year ?
at the same time , the Commission will be analysing , from the perspective of competition regulations , the arguments presented by the card systems in order to justify their financing system .
the commonest cause of injuries in women is domestic violence .
it is therefore one of the great challenges we must tackle , and one that we must tackle together .
it is a good principle if one also takes circumstances into account .
undoubtedly , better protection of intellectual property rights and combating counterfeiting and piracy are very important issues in the European Union and worldwide , and I very much welcome the opening of negotiations at international level to strengthen IPR and to fight counterfeiting and piracy more effectively .
the Lisbon Agenda requires a strengthening of social measures .
the key to this process is in the title : driving innovation .
the Commissioner just spoke about the fisheries labelling and making sure people know what they are buying .
in writing . - I welcome my colleague Harlem Desir 's report on corporate social responsibility .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Madam President , recent scandals have certainly exposed the power that lobbyists can have upon Parliament , so the Liberal Group strongly welcomes the streamlining of the lobbyists ' register , which creates effectively a straightforward mandatory system which ought to bring greater transparency and improved consultative processes .
the oral question to the Commission on the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation , by Sharon Bowles , on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs - B7-0210 / 2010 ) .
in writing . - ( PT ) The European Area of Justice has been developed ( both through mutual recognition of legal judgments and through the creation of a culture of legal cooperation between competent authorities ) in order to accompany the free movement of citizens throughout Europe .
the floods in Ireland during November 2009 caused severe damage , particularly to the agricultural sector , homes and businesses , the road network and other infrastructure .
in any event I welcome with pleasure that the Commission , as Commissioner Oettinger mentioned , will be able to prepare the report by July 2011 .
these have to be rebuilt , and that is where we come in with practical help .
many countries in the European Union still have barriers in their national legislation , which must be removed .
the vote will take place on Wednesday 22 April 2009 .
this is seriously hampering our exports and everyone is saying that the euro has had it .
here again , I consider that the proposals made in Mr Dess 's report are very much in line with what the Commission plans to include in its legislative proposals .
I must also say , though , that I would like to thank the working group in which you yourself were involved .
however , we do not believe that this is an appropriate area for intervention at EU level .
we are sending two specific messages to those in positions of responsibility in the Member States and to the population of Europe .
in that spirit , please accept my best wishes for the success of your discussions ' .
I have one specific comment : we know Mr Barroso 's position on the modified policies .
thank you .
to supplement this decision , which will lead to the development of cross-border business opportunities and allow people the freedom of movement , European institutions must consider organising cultural and educational programmes which will publicise European values in these countries .
each Dutch citizen pays a staggering EUR 267 to Europe every year .
I therefore support the standpoint of the European Commission which is warning against protectionist measures in support of domestic producers .
( PL ) Madam President , in this Chamber , we have spoken many times of the situation in Burma .
one of the things that resolution asked for was the possibility of establishing a clear legal basis in this area .
you tell us that this is not a collective expulsion .
we voted against the report on amending the conditions of employment of assistants to MEPs .
we are on the eve of an important vote , an extremely important , almost historic vote because we are going to vote this week on the first Economic Partnership Agreements in this Parliament .
we have seen the success of EU policies for passenger access and compensation rights in the air transport sector , and I warmly welcome the fact that the EU has come forward with similar proposals for other transport sectors .
when consumers make purchasing decisions , for them the most important aspects are protection from dangerous products or dishonest business practices , legal and trading guarantees and the possibility of returning the goods .
our European citizens must comply with high production standards and should not be put at a disadvantage as a result of unfair competition .
it is essential to respect the impact assessment procedure .
we should have an open discussion about all the options .
chief among these was the Solvency II Directive for the areas of insurance , regulations for rating agencies and others .
however , the only way to achieve this effectively is by national consensus ; anyone who goes against it puts the nation 's financial stability in jeopardy .
( NL ) Mr President , when I look at the situation in Baghdad and Alexandria , I get the feeling that we have gone back in time 500 years .
I am just wondering whether there is a lesson that we should learn from this : that , before we give a commitment , we have the operation ready to move , because of certain things that have occurred since .
the blasphemy law in Pakistan is particularly worrying : anyone who insults Mohammed is sentenced to death .
in writing . - ( IT ) The report by Ana Maria Gomes on ' China 's policy and its effects on Africa ' highlights the primordial role now occupied by Beijing in Africa 's diplomatic , economic and political equilibrium .
it also wants to increase capital available for the European Investment Bank , the EU 's long-term lending institution .
the possible destruction of the crops , of animals or of buildings , has no consequence on the decoupled payment since there is no obligation to produce .
it is therefore logical that humanitarian aid has this year become an EU policy area in its own right .
as agreed , the Commission will report to Parliament and the Council every three years on the development of new modules and , if appropriate , the Commission may also put forward new legislative proposals for the new modules .
however , I wonder , and I ask you all : what has happened to the money that Europe has been pouring into Tunisia all these years and which it is still pouring into Libya , which - as we know - are democratic regimes ?
while recognising the role of agencies in supplying information and stimulating market liquidity , it is now quite clear that financial operators have placed too much faith in their judgments and that their actions contributed to causing the financial crisis .
that causes me to reject these proposals .
thank you for your attention .
however , the individual regions must still be able to decide their own priority areas .
once more , I would like to thank you for allowing me to present the report and I feel that we are improving the lot of the breeders as well as reducing the suffering of animals in the EU .
the current , proposed rules will continue to authorise these belts , disregarding the fact that far more stringent safety provisions apply to children even in cars , in most European states at least .
it is ambitious , because Europeans want , as we do , to get rid of dangerous products ; they also support a ban on aerial spraying and increased protection for public areas .
we are all familiar with the stories about mistreatment of women by the Taliban .
as this is about working together to combat terrorism , we need to send a firm message , while protecting individual freedoms .
it is in this context , and especially considering , as has been said , that the European Union has chosen Burundi as a pilot country for the implementation of a priority Action Plan aimed at increasing the speed and efficiency of assistance , that I think this resolution deserves special consideration .
it is a promising move towards a climate change strategy that we need to promote , but Nabucco is there for security of supply , and it is too early at this stage to rely on Desertec .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - Madam President , I apologise for interrupting the vote .
all European governments should act in unison and boycott the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games .
in any case , the situation in Darfur and the neighbouring areas of Chad and the Central African Republic require a well thought-out , coherent policy , politically driven , that would include the imposition of a no-fly zone - a task that only an organisation such as NATO is competent to undertake .
therefore , I agree that we must call on the European Commission to encourage Member State governments and regional and local authorities to better implement EU projects in respect of Roma .
I see it as our duty to prevent older citizens in particular , who have helped to build up our current levels of prosperity during their working lives , from ending up in a vulnerable situation in their old age .
Mr President , there are much better and far more reasons to support the British Government , but let me come to my subject .
in these conditions , European professionals in this sector prefer to be employed by maritime companies or shipowners in Dubai or China , while European ships are crewed by Filipino and Indian seafarers .
concerning more control with respect to certification , labelling requirements and mitigating IEU , here again , the Commission will give financial support to industry initiatives in the area of market monitoring , and in particular in relation to monitoring the sector 's compliance with legal requirements concerning certification , labelling etc .
as many businesses put their dangerous materials on the roads in order to prevent their establishments from being classified as a ' Seveso site ' , the flows of dangerous materials circulating around the Union are constantly growing , thus increasing the risks of a major catastrophe .
I feel that the Member States should devote appropriate resources to ECEC services .
( FR ) Madam President , while wishing Mr Harbour a happy birthday , I have to say that we appear to have travelled back in time here to the 1990s .
we still await a response from the European Commission .
we consider the establishment of a European Asylum Support Office and the carrying out of the proposed recast of the Reception Conditions Directive and the EURODAC Regulation to be crucial in this context .
this Mugabe-style thinking is an integral part of the democratic deficit in Europe , in the same way that the democratic verdict of the voters in France , the Netherlands and Ireland is being steadfastly ignored .
equally , however , that is not enough to eliminate the challenges still facing both Croatia and the EU on the way to completing those negotiations .
it distorts the market , reduces competitiveness and deprives people of initiative and responsibility for how and where they live .
the effects of the disaster , as with Chernobyl , could last for decades and be a sad , unwanted legacy for generations to come .
only when good data is available can we hope to have fewer misunderstandings and false information .
we have been sending reminders on the revision of the directive since 2001 and they have repeatedly been shelved .
in writing . - I support Mr Jørgensen 's report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the European Union general budget for the financial year 2006 , Section III - Commission .
a lot remains to be done , and it was very moving to see so many defenders of human rights here this morning .
our honourable colleague , Mr Harbour , has replied .
Mr President , international protection is a coded and euphemistic term for asylum .
we are directly elected Members of the European Parliament .
approach of the European Parliament to implementing Articles 9 and 10 of Protocol 1 of the Lisbon Treaty on parliamentary cooperation in the field of CFSP / CSDP (
Mr President , I have an oral amendment to add in paragraph 18 : ' is concerned by the lack of progress in these investigations and notes that the recent detention of well-known journalists such as Nedim Şener and Ahmet Şık might lead to a loss of credibility of these trials which should , on the contrary , strengthen democracy ' .
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( FR ) Madam President , I should simply like to propose an oral amendment as follows : ' having regard to the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War , of 12 August 1949 , together with Additional Protocols I and II thereto , and particularly concerned at the violence suffered by humanitarian , medical and religious personnel in the performance of their duties ' .
what about the unlawful actions against Romanians in Rome ?
apart from the fact that it is absurd for a report on 2006 to demand the presentation of accounts for 2007 , I can reassure the authors .
the debate is closed .
as you pointed out , this was vital for supervision , and vital for this directive too .
it is an arena for free speech , information and communication .
above all , the European Union is a union of democratic values promoting peace , tolerance and respect for human rights .
this is another point made in today 's report , of course : that we have learned from developments following the BSE crisis , and that we now know that quite a few things can - and must - be done differently .
finally , it provides fair conditions of competition between European businesses and the trading partners of the European Union which , in their case , already enjoy this kind of legislation .
you should decide what you want to do .
that is even truer nowadays in the financial markets and I hope that , in that case too , the Commission will be able to take the initiative in proposing the international standardisation we need in order to make progress on supervision .
after all , corruption is a topical issue in Cameroon .
a few days ago Russia , without the consent of Georgia , increased its military contingent in Abkhazia from two to three thousand soldiers and also appointed a high-ranking Russian officer to command the so-called Abkhazian army staff .
people are coming in through the windows .
the local population along the coastlines will be deprived of its livelihood and will be reduced to living on aid , aid moreover that rarely provides adequate compensation or makes up for the lost income .
this House and its Committee on Budgets will still be responsible for the July conciliation , and we cannot foresee today what new challenges and complementary measures will result , for example , from the possible entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon or from new requirements arising from international and European cyclical trends .
finally , there remains the great challenge of a European rail network for goods transport - the Commission 's forthcoming proposals for a dedicated goods transport network - and all the logistical support required in order to make the European nodes that are being established today into a real transport network for the future .
I would stress the need to give priority to food security , agriculture , infrastructure , capacity building , inclusive economic growth , access to technologies and human and social development in the LDCs .
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what will happen to these rich Europeans who get around the organ shortage by engaging in the morbid tourism that encourages these practices ?
I voted against this report because I regret that we have not reached a compromise bringing us closer to the European Commission 's proposal .
it is regrettable that Mr Morten Messerschmidt 's written report on this matter this year did not ultimately receive the necessary support .
that is an appeal from this Parliament .
we have criticised the Czech constitutional system from a legal perspective , we have monitored the view of the Czech Parliament and we are including the document politically in any future accession , having possibly penalised a country which has nothing to do with this , Croatia .
I welcome Ms Pack 's report and the Commission 's Adult Learning Action Plan as well .
Madam President , I have come to realise that HIV-positive people are sometimes treated like lepers , not knowing that with early diagnosis and care they may be active members of society for a number of years before AIDS develops and the disease starts seriously to affect their lives .
the idea that such funds should flow from the less developed countries to the more developed ones in order for the latter to build their research infrastructure , for example , is unacceptable , because the gap between regions would only increase .
these heartless military generals care much more about clinging to power and far less about the destiny of the disaster survivors .
written declaration No 0068 / 2010 , presented by Pavel Poc , Frieda Brepoels , Cristian Silviu Buşoi , Jo Leinen and Alojz Peterle , on fighting colorectal cancer in the European Union , has been signed by more than a majority of Parliament 's component Members .
I voted for this motion for a resolution , and echo its expression of solidarity with the Egyptian people , who , prompted by legitimate aspirations of democracy , freedom and better living conditions , have opened up a new phase of political transition in Egypt .
the Commission 's annual report shows that the modernisation of Turkey towards a democratic and pluralist system is a slow and painful process but that the Turkish Government , citizens and civil society are working towards it .
as a result , there has been a decrease in loans granted to small and medium-sized enterprises and consumers and the anticipated reduction in consumer borrowing rates has not come about .
I believe it is fundamental that we have succeeded in including a definition of remuneration that equates the pay due to an illegal immigrant with the pay of a regular worker , without any discrimination .
it concerns so-called accounting standards in the European Union and worldwide , particularly for small and medium-sized companies .
therefore , the European Union will not be taken seriously in the field of immigration if it does not show that it is capable of giving a clear and effective answer in this field .
Sherry Rehman , that courageous politician who put forward amendments to the blasphemy law , is in particular danger .
people are saying ' we need to fight harder ' , ' let us continue to do what we have been doing ' , ' we need a higher percentage ' , ' more money ' , ' the problem was simply not enough unity in Europe ' - I think these statements are too casual , too superficial in their analysis of the situation .
the law which potentially threatens media freedom in Hungary is a law currently in force .
the Socialist group has been asking for years for increased supervision of hedge funds and all the special instruments being endlessly multiplied by the markets .
as part of our labour market policy , we will have to coordinate our family and equality policies , instead of seeing them as contradictory .
let us take a particular case , for instance : it would not be possible for a person who is not a citizen of an EU country serving imprisonment in an EU country to serve closer to his homeland , because this aspect - the humanitarian criterion - has been left out .
in writing . - This grants the Executive Director of the Artemis Joint Undertaking discharge in respect of the implementation of the Joint Undertaking 's budget for the financial year 2009 .
to date , the settlement of disputes arising from the Euro-Mediterranean agreements relied solely on diplomatic means .
this is why I have imposed strict , yet proportional conditions . under these conditions , we can assure a proposal which is defensible from the point of view of public health and safety .
· participation by the Commission and the European Environment Agency in the drafting of a strategic plan for regenerating the fire-stricken areas ;
appropriate steps must be taken to counteract these problems effectively .
firstly , it is a pity that for a long time it was impossible to come to an agreement and that a majority agreement was reached only at the last moment and under time pressure , for which the price to pay ( in my opinion ) was excessive concessions on fundamental questions .
we are doing this because we want a clean future , with renewable energies , based on solar and wind energy .
Mr President , Commissioner , I fully support what my fellow Members , and in particular Mr de Jong and Mr Canfin , have said .
I voted in favour of this resolution .
that Council will discuss the Commission 's proposals in relation to the objectives .
End-of-life ships should be regarded as hazardous waste , as a result of the hazardous substances that they contain , and should therefore fall within the scope of the Basel Convention .
I would like to say that the Schengen area , and the freedom it brings to travel around Europe , was a symbol of freedom and of the European Union , and one of the chief assets and greatest merits of the European Union , for me personally , as a Pole , and for all Polish people .
I hope tomorrow , colleagues will support these and other amendments which are aimed at improving the guidelines .
that would allow Member States to ask the Commission for 100 % reimbursements for 2009 and 2010 , so that national cofinancing would not be needed during this period .
I therefore have three questions for the Commission : what action does it intend to take to ensure that the solution to the problem does not affect people 's health , and how does it intend to prevent decisions from being imposed on the public and areas from actually becoming militarised ?
that is why I am supporting the initiative to bring these forms of transport together under a single directive .
economic and financial issues must not be dealt with in ways that are detrimental to the other global challenges , which also call for a collective effort , namely , achieving the Millennium Development Goals , energy security , combating climate change , food safety , the rule of law , combating terrorism , poverty and disease .
cultural and creative industries are important - as many of you have mentioned - as a motor for development and for job creation .
a second absolute rule is the following : this is the plenary session and only the plenary session has control - total control - over its agenda .
we now have an opportunity to show the wider world that we will meet those targets .
our non-elected president will go to China and Russia and criticise their failing democracy .
there are still variations , of course , but they are within reasonable limits , within the normal limits of the market .
on this point , we must all act jointly in a very responsible manner .
in addition , in order to maintain good environmental conditions in marine areas and respect the precautionary principle , it is necessary to reassess the limit of 100 nautical miles around islands , as it is vital to reclaim 200 miles so that ...
if you want to have trade agreements , if we do believe - which I think we do - that trade is the engine that will take us out of recession , then it means you have serious , tough negotiations with industries and with countries that we care about having a deal with .
this is also about truly showing to the outside world , to our voters , that the Charter is a living entity .
'To the implementation by both parties of the conclusions . '
will the new treaty and the new solutions in the context of our work to achieve respect for fundamental rights around the world help to bring about a radical reduction in the level of errors in preparation , execution and reporting of the budget ?
this was the case for the financial crisis and the same holds true for immigration policy : the safeguarding of fundamental rights and compliance with Community law must represent two sides of the same policy .
( PL ) Mr President , I would like to concur with those voices that say that Europe should come up with an initiative now , and ahead of the suggestion from Mrs Patrie , Chair of the delegation , that we should proffer an opportunity for the main Lebanese forces to speak in our Parliamentary forum and tell us what is really blocking the summoning of their Parliament and commencement of the process of electing a President .
in line with the previous regulations on hygiene issues , operators will in future also be responsible for their products .
I shall read Article 152 ( 3 ) in my mother tongue .
what is happening in present-day Iran is absolutely unacceptable .
our objective is simply to reach the point where no European dies because he lacks an organ that he needs in order to live due to systems that have not been perfected .
what actions are we going to take to ensure that the cost of this operation is matched by its effectiveness , which presently is nil ?
I fear that this is a mistaken view .
if we want food adequacy , because only thus will we be able to deal with crises ;
this is a clear double standard which this House is applying , which is deplorable and unacceptable .
it is regrettable that agreement will not be reached .
Vice-President of the Commission . - It is not only the Commission but also the Council which took the wise decision , so to speak , to have an indicative target of achieving 100 % coverage by 2013 .
I believe that it could produce added value for the European Capital of Culture programme and the European Union as a whole .
economy-wide wage moderation , with public sector wage cuts playing an important signalling role to the private sector , and fiscal austerity measures are thus indispensable to put the Greek economy on a stronger footing by restoring competitiveness and achieving fiscal consolidation .
bearing in mind the fact that prices rose considerably in the first half of this year , average inflation in the euro area will be roughly 3 % in 2008 .
the recent Irish meat incident highlights the need for stringent enforcement and controls on legal requirements , and my services will continue to examine how that can be improved .
on the other hand , the countries deprived of their fishing rights this year should be the first , next year , to receive the percentage they were deprived of .
in this context , the standardisation of how textile products are labelled will benefit the competitiveness of Europe 's textiles and clothing industry , and Portugal 's in particular .
asking the institutions involved in the process to make the necessary efforts to speed up the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) , while emphasising that assistance from the EGF must not replace actions which are the responsibility of companies by virtue of national law or collective agreements , nor fund the restructuring of companies or sectors ;
it was our group which took the lead by asking for an own-initiative report towards a common European foreign policy on energy , which I had the honour to present to this House in September 2007 and which was unanimously supported by all the political groups and adopted almost unanimously .
I believe that in this sense , the Treaty of Lisbon and its implementation are absolutely the right way to go and a big step towards a more democratic Union , and one that shows greater solidarity .
( it ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , Europe cannot remain powerless in the face of what is happening in Pakistan .
surely it is a case of ' do as I say , not as I do ' .
there is a real danger that economic growth will become uncoupled from social security , which is why the guidelines need to be revised .
the specific aim of tax cooperation with developing countries is to prevent them becoming tax havens for the multinationals , thus determining a distortion of competition with a negative effect on the development of economic processes given the interrelated nature of the global economic system .
it is a crisis that is also rooted in the confrontation between economic growth as it is understood by capitalism and a planet Earth that is generous but finite .
violence against women in Iran must stop ; women must have their say on all issues .
- ( HU ) Mr President , the European Commission and the Council have succeeded , in spite of the countervailing forces , in preserving the unity of the European Union .
nobody knows whether it is due to the loss of confidence that has set in everywhere or whether perhaps speculators are at work , trying to find out whether , and to what extent , they can still bring the market to its knees .
if we take an approach to problems that only leads to the Member States beginning to mistrust each other , to sowing mistrust between the various states , to creating and exacerbating differences and rivalries between southern and northern states and between central and peripheral states , the end result will be the decline of the European Union .
that is something that I think nobody in this Parliament or in the Lithuanian parliament would want .
I personally have no difficulty with reproductive health support ; it is when it comes to the abortion area I have difficulty for very good reasons and I would be happy to debate them .
that is why the Commission , in its proposal , not only maintained but reinforced the competition-based approach to regulation as competitive markets drive new investment .
apart from the issues that I have mentioned , the concern of the Portuguese Presidency was also to build into the Treaty those rules and exception clauses that were in the mandate , naturally respecting the positions of the Member States that wanted to obtain them , but always concerned to avoid detracting from the Community decision-making process and the overall coherence of the Treaty .
in my report , I develop the consequences of demographic change , i.e. the shrinking of the active population , the growing number of elderly people , and the demographic imbalances between different regions of Europe .
in protest at the false charges and the lack of a fair trial she went on hunger strike .
I refer to the comments that were made during the course of the debate - I am thinking in particular of remarks by Mr Jarzembowski and Mr Romagnoli - but also the letters that were sent to the Commission during recent months , by Mr Sterckx and Mr Simpson , who also raised the same problem .
I also consider it important to set up an institution for coordinating mechanisms , such as a permanent European Union Operations Centre , under the authority of the High Representative of the CFSP , which would allow the joint planning of civil and military operations to be efficiently coordinated .
this is a good thing and for that reason I urge the Council and the Commission to take the necessary steps to ensure implementation of this Regulation in the individual Member States .
I am telling you , Commissioner : knows no frontiers !
however , whatever option we pave the way for , it will offer future generations as well an opportunity or a disadvantage which we obviously have to deal with .
therefore , I call on the Belarusian authorities to undertake a complete reform of the country 's electoral legislation , in accordance with the recommendations of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe / Office on Democratic Institutions and Human Rights .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , everyone knows that there are very different opinions both in the Member States and here in the political groups on the question of whether or not we should have nuclear power .
however , in this case , a first-reading agreement provides clarity and certainty to a sector that is still suffering in the wake of the global economic crisis , whilst also setting the bar for the tough but fair environmental standards that we all wish to see .
the Commission is ready to work on legislative initiatives aiming at giving consumers the information they need .
we are trying to take stock of the situation following a very clear decision taken by the European Parliament and between the three institutions in which we announced that there were now new instruments for improving cross-border territorial cooperation .
this is one of the absolute priorities .
I would like to know whether you will be coming back to the resolution on Haiti .
the possibility and ability to learn and work in an international context is a prerequisite for a successful working life in an ever more globalised economy .
at the time I said that I supported the environmental policy targets wholeheartedly for my Group .
that is just one of the many reasons why the European Union needs to have its own diplomatic representation in Tehran .
the agreement should instead be an opportunity for the Indian and European pharmaceutical industries to cooperate with one another .
the European Parliament is the only democratically-elected EU institution . I believe that its commitment to this programme enhances the latter 's standing and ensures that it is given more prominence in the Member States , university towns and interested institutions of higher education .
Mr President , Commissioner , President-in-Office of the Council , the question we must ask ourselves is whether , nine years after the accident involving the Erika and almost six years after the one involving the Prestige , we are prepared if anything like this should happen again .
I have to say that one of the points that is very rarely made is that , until recently , the public sector in Ireland was being regulated by the private sector ; it was being regulated effectively by the credit rating agencies and the markets .
I have nothing to add about procedural matters .
ensuring future Community funding of the strategy for the ORs and the compensation of handicaps linked to their outermost status .
as for gay marriage , I should like to respond to what the previous speaker , Mr Szymański , said .
now is not a time to wait : it is a time to act , so that an open European Union comes out of this challenge , united and stronger .
I am referring to the human element .
the objective is to establish by 2012 a common area of security and solidarity based on harmonised asylum policies between Member States , despite the persistent differences between national regulations .
every year , we show the Council the yellow card of discharge refusal and nothing happens .
now the situation is under control , thanks to the Egyptian authorities .
I therefore abstained from voting .
there have been a number of incidents reported where passengers , sometimes British , sometimes of other nationalities , have taken on too much alcohol during the flight and been a danger to other passengers and indeed the whole aircraft .
the blacklist itself is an important topic and we can say that it has been a success thanks to , amongst other things , the impetus of Madam de Veyrac , who indeed worked hard a few years ago to make it a reality .
I gave proper notice .
this status quo scenario takes into account new long-term management plans , the Control Regulation and the Regulation on illegal , unreported fisheries .
( FI ) ( Beginning of speech missing ) the banana war that almost become larger than life , that it is excellent that it has come to an end .
finally , in light of the principle of proportionality and equality with regard to sugar beet growers , we must all agree with the principle of the retroactivity of the measures proposed in order not to create a climate of injustice for producers , mills and regions that have already joined the new system .
our group does not disagree with the observation that women must have control over their sexual and reproductive rights .
the changes include streamlining measures , on the one hand , and clear definitions of the responsibilities of flag states and port states , on the other .
bombers are not the way to support this , and I might add that the way to support the work of the European Union is likewise not for what we build to be destroyed again for whatever military reasons .
nevertheless , all this must not result in an overpaid and arrogant European justice system that is cut off from the real world , such as we have seen in the past few months , meddling in a way that goes far beyond the necessary cooperation between sovereign Member States .
yes , all Member States have signed , but they have not all signed the protocol .
I am also expecting to receive a clear explanation from the Council on the results of the coordinated strategies applied and proposed for exiting the crisis , including any package of economic and financial measures .
the European Union also has the responsibility of playing an active role in the process of finding a joint solution for all the prisoners who are no longer under suspicion and who cannot return to their home countries .
I would therefore consider it important to find out what purification plants and what wastewater treatment plants are being considered in order to improve the quality of the river water accordingly .
then the disease , which has hitherto been a dim and distant concept , suddenly becomes very real .
the Union will not , however , endanger civil liberties and fundamental rights .
establishing a standing EU delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly would help to strengthen cooperation between the EU and the OSCE and would facilitate close monitoring of its activities and the implementation of shared principles and values .
( SK ) I am convinced that the European Union has to send a clear signal to Belarus that it is prepared to reconsider mutual relations if Belarus does not refrain from violating human rights and democratic principles and does not take corrective action .
there are no excuses for the murder in Rome : if someone has committed a crime , he should answer to the court for his actions .
I would like it to be noted in the Minutes that during the last votes the Romanian politician behind me , Mr Becali , was not present for the voting , but this will be shown on the video recordings .
of all the positive actions that come out of the European Union 's work , the citizens are particularly appreciative of European development aid and even call for it to be more visible and more extensive .
firstly , if the United States and the South-East Asian countries do not join the programme aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions , showing as much commitment as the European Union , then the enormous financial effort involved and the inevitable consequence of a slower rate of economic growth in the European Union will be a very high price to pay for a slight reduction in carbon dioxide emissions .
the report we are discussing this evening is focused on the Gulf Cooperation Council and its countries , some of which are also experiencing calls from their populations to take better account of their political , social and economic aspirations .
more needs to be done .
so again , I am here to state unequivocally : President Obama and Joe Biden strongly support a united , a free , an open Europe .
2 .
I welcome the clear support for the two-pillar structure and I also welcome today 's affirmation from the Commissioner of his support for that as well .
in writing . - I support this directive , which will limit fraud and contraband cases that reduce state revenue .
Zilch !
they were mainly caused by overspending and not respecting the European framework in terms of the Stability and Growth Pact , namely the excessive debt , but it may happen afterwards that speculators act against the sovereign debt of that country .
funds should be obtained on a regional basis , but authority must be central .
we will manage , nevertheless .
congratulations to their services , but these were national actions , and my question to the Commissioner is this : what about prevention at European level ? do we have a system of exchanging good practice in combating terrorism , and how does it work ?
efforts are necessary to investigate and eliminate the geographical disproportions among candidates and among successful candidates for positions in the civil service of the European Union institutions .
sometimes we had the feeling that we were being subjected to what the French call ' un procès d 'intention ' , a kind of ' Schuldvermutung . '
in writing . - I feel proud that my country is the current President of the Council .
the definition of work to this day is too economic .
it is a little bit like love .
firstly , I would like to highlight the fact that due to the rapid development of information and new technologies , the educational environment is becoming increasingly complicated and varied and it is necessary to adapt to new needs in a changing world .
criminal law is an absolutely crucial part of a sovereign state 's competence .
we must show that it is completely unacceptable to sign agreements on respect for human rights while murder is still going on .
we therefore urgently need to increase early childhood education and care ( ECEC ) .
the proposal of the European Commission allows for stimulation of their activity .
this information provides a basis for analysing demand for drugs and ways of reducing it , as well as phenomena associated with the drug market in general .
the G20 has reaffirmed common priorities , made agreements to provide resources to the International Monetary Fund , development banks and for the promotion of trade .
I would point out that the fight against climate change is an EU priority that is not sufficiently addressed in this budget .
there is also another fact .
a credible investigation into the murder can help to calm the waves , but only if everybody keeps a level head .
I strongly believe that we are all eager to bring about real change for the Roma community and offer them all the prerequisites for social inclusion .
however , the amendments state that the instrument is to be called Progress , and Mrs Berès has also said that EUR 60 million will come from Progress .
are we talking about people - people for whom we must guarantee equal access to energy and guarantee security so they are not left without energy during the winter ; are we in the end talking about the power relations between great powers ; or , worse still , are we using energy security and these projects , like Nabucco or Desertec , as excuses to send out messages to other regions of the world or other countries ?
I have always believed that solutions can only be proposed if both sides see each other as partners .
in terms of the usefulness of Economic and Monetary Union in tackling the current situation , the conclusion is also positive .
for me , better possibilities for taking up part-time work for women in agriculture would be a huge step forward in strengthening rural incomes and also to help sustaining life in rural communities .
the Commission should provide not only political and legal but also financial assistance to companies which are engaged in efforts to diversify our energy supplies .
( EL ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I consider that the reduction in world trade has gone well beyond the boundaries of the recession itself .
as you know , there has been a motion to delete this point from the report , but we must not allow that to happen .
John Paul II was the first conspicuous sign of the winds of change which would blow across Europe from then on and which , in 1989 , would become a storm of upheaval .
regrettably , so far only 4 EU Member States have ratified the Convention and the Protocol .
we have an opportunity .
7 .
the use of the general basic principles of integrated plant protection will become mandatory for the entire European Union from 2014 .
both countries are pursuing very ambitious programmes of fiscal consolidation , structural reform and financial repair .
reform of this kind is long overdue .
Madam President , this debate covers a very extensive issue , as it involves granting discharge to a whole range of European institutions , each one of which has its own specific features .
who is in favour of this request ?
it is not clear how this can be achieved and what consequences it would have for the individual states .
owing to its scale and the associated constraints , the debt issue is more than just a real problem for countries like Portugal : it constitutes a central element of the violent social , economic , political and ideological offensive under way , the true causes of which are obscured .
on other issues , firstly we need to take a cautious approach to abandoning the milk quota system in 2015 .
these sacrifices must be distributed in a fair and balanced way .
words and a resolution alone will not enable us to support the victims of these disasters ; we must also and above all provide financial aid .
I would like to state quite clearly that the work of the Special committee on the policy challenges and budgetary resources for a sustainable European Union after 2013 has , above all , been very matter-of-fact and business-like , and extremely realistic .
Madam President , the Commission can accept 121 amendments of the 166 that were tabled ; of these it can accept 25 fully and 96 in principle or in part .
this is an important area where we have real added value in Europe .
ban on the elections for the Tibetan government in exile in Nepal (
- Before the vote on Amendment 1 :
I think that this project represents a considerable advance .
however , at this time , let me concentrate my answers on some of the key aspects of the discussion with a few concluding remarks .
we must say what we think about the death penalty , about torture and about the fact that the hopes which - let us remember - were associated with the fall of Shah Reza Shah Pahlavi have completely failed .
I would like to evaluate this . perhaps there was some kind of justification for this , but we do not know how long this policy will be in force , and I would like to evaluate how we introduced such instruments , which separate us from many people who quite naturally want to come to our area , to the Schengen area .
the common agricultural policy ( CAP ) has been a success .
that is not what this is about at all ; that was a different directive .
I voted in favour of Mrs Ferreira 's report because I believe that an EU-coordinated surveillance mechanism for the identification and prevention of macroeconomic imbalances is important , as is a procedure for the correction of excessive imbalances .
if there is a need to apply for a bank loan , the bank will require an up-to-date statement reflecting the current situation , not that which prevailed half a year , or even a full year , ago .
they maintain fundamental trust in the Commission 's proposal but , at the same time , seek a potential compromise .
in writing . - I welcome the proposal of the draft budget for 2010 as it is a balanced report , taking into consideration in a realistic manner the EU 's priorities .
allow me to briefly state my own .
yet a democratic country based on the rule of law must always ask itself whether the means it uses to do so are proportionate .
this is not opposing one religion against another .
the important role of broadcasters is mentioned in the UNESCO Convention , the Amsterdam Protocol and in the 2001 Commission communication .
furthermore , it should be noted that we must , at the same time , encourage equal pay , equal access to positions of responsibility and also the granting of personal rights to pensions and social security .
we have one definite example of this today with the removal from the agenda of the two reports on the Solidarity Fund in connection with the earthquake in Italy .
( PL ) Mr President , not long ago the European Parliament adopted a resolution in which it called on the United States to abolish the visa requirement for citizens of all EU Member States and to respect the principles of reciprocity .
the definition of force majeure - which represents grounds for a possible refusal of transport - is put forward , and , on this issue , we have worked on a consensus amendment , which we have produced jointly .
the rapporteur has gone to great lengths to obtain a compromise ; this text contained some good points , not least the idea that pension systems should guarantee all citizens a decent standard of living , that diversity should be respected , that inequalities between men and women are unacceptable and unjustifiable , that a life course approach should be taken and that older workers should be rehabilitated .
however , the protection also has to involve the children themselves .
economic Partnership Agreements should promote trade between the EU and Papua New Guinea and Fiji and contribute to trade , development , sustainable growth and the reduction of poverty .
furthermore , Mrs Balzani gave a very good introductory presentation of the context in which these negotiations have taken place and in which this agreement has been signed .
it is also important in terms of allowing this sector to become an integral part of the measures which will help to ensure that the Lisbon Strategy is a success .
the European Union must play a driving role in the negotiations by speaking with a single voice so that it can carry some weight when dealing with China and the United States .
incredibly , the EU Commission not only fails to raise a finger to stop them , but actually conspires with these financial criminals by bullying the workers and poor of Greece , demanding that their living standards be savaged to pay the ransom demanded by these parasites .
we have heard that there is not enough water and that it is therefore impossible for people to wash and to protect themselves against infection .
however , I should like to remind the Commissioner that freedom of choice , especially where there is economic pressure , is not a question of historic tradition , it is a question of democracy .
these place a very significant cost on business , on the economy and , of course , on the pockets of ordinary citizens .
we have an interest in a balanced review aimed at maintaining the overall equilibrium which is the basis of the nuclear non-proliferation regime , and which gives equal importance to all three pillars of the Non-Proliferation Treaty , i.e. non-proliferation , disarmament and exploitation for peaceful purposes .
focusing on cohesion policy is a sensible way for us to fulfil our obligation to communities and economies .
Mr President , the established Reference Framework , while respecting subsidiarity , lays down common principles , quality criteria and indicators useful for assessing and improving the services provided .
we have to thank the Commissioner himself , who has demonstrated commitment and dedication to this issue , and the Council and the Presidency again , which have made all this happen .
please , Mr La Russa and Mr Pannella : we are not in the Italian Parliament , please behave properly - and stop making those gestures , do you understand ?
lastly , let me remind you , ladies and gentlemen , that on 22 and 23 November , the Commission is holding its second civil protection forum in Brussels .
now national and EU competition authorities must intervene forcefully on the side of farmers who , because of de facto abuses of dominant positions in the market by supermarkets in particular , are continuing to receive a pittance for their quality products .
today , the costs of the crisis have been transferred to the citizens of the European Union .
we point to the responsibility of the EU and the governments of the Member States in this anti-popular policy and in the plundering of the people 's wealth by capital .
it will involve EU bodies in the area of competitive relationships between companies that are mostly privately owned .
as for the rapid implementation of the payment directives and in order to resolve the debt situation , coordinated steps must be taken at Member State level .
I hope that this Parliament will not have to hang its head in shame .
these are the areas in which we believe EU measures can be most effective .
the Parliament decided to ignore the letter of the British Prime Minister , ( ... ) and the Heads of Government of France , Germany , the Netherlands and Finland , that there must be no increase in the EU Budget ( ... ) .
tariff-rate quotas applying to exports of wood from Russia to the EU (
I am voting against this report .
( the President cut off the speaker )
finally , we should do our best to assist refugees .
however , the EU does not care that people from the least-developed countries have been impoverished by its actions and , for that , it deserves to be condemned .
this was happening 20 years ago and , clearly , it is still happening today .
we will continue to be present at the negotiations in Geneva where there is a political dialogue in which all the parties are involved .
in my opinion , this is not a case of ' whether ' but ' how ' , that is , how we can develop dialogue and cooperation .
we must have a balance , because otherwise , if we make too much effort abroad and not domestically , it would mean that all the benefits for our business and industry in the European Union would be lost , because our package is not only about fighting climate change but also about creating a more efficient economy .
in this context let me pay tribute to the ECB , which has shown itself an assured and effective global player , with the euro a key steadying force .
we anticipate that Mr Fariñas ' difficulties in travelling to Strasbourg will be noted by Lady Ashton , who will take this fact into consideration in further relations with Cuba .
I would like to give special thanks to my friend and colleague Mr Coelho .
what we want is for speculators to make their contribution to the risk and to overcoming the risk .
at the moment employers who use undeclared labour have little responsibility ; they often get away with paying insignificant fines that do not discourage them from hiring undeclared workers .
we have spent weeks , even months , addressing the issue of how to respond to the climate issue , and not given sufficient thought to the fact that there is a third very important political project too : that of security of supply .
I believe it is essential for civil servants to be accountable to the general public .
thanks to the sustained efforts of the preceding Presidencies , partial general approaches have been adopted .
the Commission will then , in its wisdom , decide whether it does anything or not .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
more women die from the aggression directed against them than die from cancer .
( PT ) The next item is the debate on the oral question to the Commission on combating cancer in the enlarged European Union , by Miroslav Ouzký , on behalf of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety - B6-0015 / 2008 ) .
that is my first point .
however , the goal of our demographically ageing society cannot be to spend many years exchanging every second lat earned into euros to pay back the banks , while in the evenings , offering up prayers that the lat will hold fast against the euro .
such a ban should be accompanied by a ban on the import of both plant and animal products containing GMOs .
these are often muddled and bureaucratic , and out of step with the activities and requirements of the industry in question .
however , I am sure that all of us support strong and clear steps .
on the other hand , we have wanted to ensure that this celebration of diversity achieves the common aim which we all want , namely , to preserve and consolidate the unity of the European Union , in other words , our unity .
we are pleased , therefore , that our proposal for the trial project for micro-credits to small farmers has met with widespread support , and we trust that the Committee is willing to implement this trial project .
the case of Mr Liu Xiaobo , found guilty of demanding democratic reforms in his country , along with more than 10 000 of his fellow citizens , exemplifies this .
I therefore think savings should be made in common services , but that further efforts should also be made on the property policy , by rationalising the space already available to us and by adopting a medium- and long-term plan that allows advance planning of expenditure on buildings as well as making our decisions in this area more transparent and rational .
from 1 January 2009 the euro will link the people of Slovakia to the Union every day .
( PT ) I must start by congratulating the rapporteurs on this excellent report .
in a few seconds , the tornado destroyed months of work and years of investment .
it was also prior to the Lamfalussy process .
the objective of the agreement concerned is to establish cooperation between the EU and the above countries in order to promote the region 's sustainable development and to protect its ecosystem , in particular through plans for the integrated management of the Prespa hydrographic basin .
there has been much discussion of PDT .
- ( DE ) Mr President , I was delighted to see Mr Vondra here in plenary this morning and I am delighted about the signal from the Presidency that it will continue working .
they have also asked the Italian Government to modify its position on the Centre for Temporary Stay .
I am also passionately in favour of new working methods , particularly on buildings issues , because like many of my fellow Members , I am always surprised after a call for tenders at how astonishingly high construction costs are when it comes to building work by the European institutions .
let me remind you that over a kilometre a train emits on average 3 times less CO2 than a car and as much as 8 times less than a plane .
in Member States with high levels of emigration , this phenomenon is by no means unusual .
that is why we need clear priorities and quantifiable targets in advance .
I listened to the same debate that the previous speaker listened to yesterday , and I can be nothing other than horrified by what I heard : a bizarre bidding war for an agency that does not need to exist .
I agree about the importance of moving forward , particularly on pooling and sharing which will be part of the discussion with the Defence Ministers next week .
on 15 August 2008 , we entered into another crisis , for what happened on 15 August 2008 ?
these changes must not lose their momentum , however .
we have fulfilled this promise .
moreover , I would ask them to bring the utmost speed to something that I believe fairly easily unites general consensus in its various aspects , through the discussions that have taken place in the Council , Commission and Parliament , on the committee in which I participated , the Committee for Institutional Affairs , for example .
when the mistake was made to pick out one issue in such an ideological way , solutions were not provided but it led to disaster .
this crisis affects the EU 's fundamental relationship with its citizens and the citizens ' relationship with their Union .
as the Commission stated earlier , bilateral policies applied in the region - mainly the European neighbourhood polices - provide the strategic framework , and the Black Sea Synergy complements them at a regional level .
to achieve this goal , every Member State must aim to go in this direction .
secondly , the certification scheme put in place must be effective yet ensure that there are no unnecessary burdens imposed as a result .
I am delighted to be with you to discuss the big questions on Europe 's international agenda .
he is also right to call for diversification of energy sources and supplies , for safer and more environmentally conscious energy production and for more efficient energy use .
( applause )
our resolution makes no mistake .
in this connection , it must be ensured that transformations and workers ' rights are also taken into account and that there is an initiative in place for training and further training .
we must keep order and all the regulations of our Parliament .
such documents exist , but it is obscene to demand them of people who have died and barely escaped with their lives .
that is why there needs to be segmentation and a sliding scale based on weight .
it will send all the wrong messages and it will only effectively penalise efficient producers who are making plans to stay in the industry for the long term .
these countries are thus extremely sensitive to crises .
in fact , in comparison with other countries , Europe is at a standstill in respect of development and investment in R & D. I believe that the Member States need to encourage greater cooperation between technology-intensive goods and services in order to create markets for knowledge .
in Turkey , for example , a helpline has already been active for some years now , which women can call to report cases of trafficking in women .
this compromise takes account of these requirements .
this I want to underline very clearly .
accordingly , the Union should support renewable sources of energy and energy efficiency , especially in developing countries , because these are particularly important features of the strategy on energy and climate change and also of development policy .
one issue that it is important for the European Council to highlight is how we will be able to deal with the consequences of the crisis while , at the same time , meeting our long-term goal of increasing the labour supply .
we must take action now .
there is currently an excessive proportion of women in precarious jobs , and they often have to combine those jobs with domestic responsibilities .
it is also a sector which hitherto has appeared to be a matter exclusively for industry and the market ; its success and potential for growth appeared incontrovertible and this must continue to be the case .
sadly , there are many such places in Europe too , a continent where the protection of human rights as one of the principles of democracy was born .
this has occurred in tandem with various visa scandals , in which countless people have entered the EU in the guise of tourists and promptly vanished into the EU 's low-wage sector , thus destroying jobs on a massive scale .
( DE ) Mr President , Mr López Garrido , ladies and gentlemen , I have a very specific question which will allow us to emerge from the position of powerlessness and confusion that the crisis has left us in , with no one knowing how the crisis arose and how we can find our way out of it .
the lack of jobs , particularly in recent years , is a serious problem and must be tackled with a dash of ambition to ensure that by 2020 we can guarantee 75 % of Europeans decent , secure jobs that meet the needs of the wide range of people who are preparing for the world of work .
I really hope that , by the time of the inter-parliamentary assembly scheduled for June , we will succeed in having all these people released , including newspaper editor Eynulla Fatullayev , and that the government and the governing parties finally keep to their promises .
Mr President , I believe that we are facing something not very different from the Barbarian invasions of the Roman Empire 2 000 and more years ago .
the single patent would help to give a considerable boost to the competitiveness of European businesses .
it is by no means a removal of all obligations , but a reduction of the obligations to what is really necessary , to what the enterprises need .
the Member States should ensure appropriate funding means in order that women 's shelters can fulfil international standards in working with women survivors of violence and their children .
well it is high time to act and to bring your actions in line with your words .
we need to prepare ourselves for a long and futile battle .
for my group , this represents a guarantee and an assurance that Member States will be able to use this instrument without coming under pressure and that there will be easier access to medicines in countries where they are most needed .
Ukraine should be our strategic partner , not just because of its specific geographical situation and size , but particularly because of the role it plays in the region in relations with Russia and the Central Asian states .
let us not forget that extraordinary events have been taking place in Tunisia and Egypt , and that a war is going on in Libya .
what needs to be improved ?
when can it start operating ?
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vessels licensed to fish in one area should not be allowed to fish in any other area than in the west of Scotland during the same fishing trip .
President-in-Office . - ( SL ) I should stress that , as far as the Council is concerned , it makes no difference whether we answer these questions together or separately .
the office of the European Commission has been a source of great support and a partner to me in my work for many years now .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I am one of those people who has brought one of the first citizens ' initiative petitions into being , specifically , on the subject of protecting Sundays .
it is a political question ; the technical aspects can be resolved quickly , as there are experts for that .
the EU is already an ad hoc observer in the Arctic Council , but I would like to make it clear that I believe it desirable that the EU should be given permanent observer status .
we must not force them to wait any longer .
the US is aggressively lowering its base rates , which means money is being pumped into the financial institutions .
we need an exchange of experience here to find best practice .
the reports require the de facto transformation of the EU into a military power .
there are many arguments in favour .
this is an outrage !
as long as we approach the issue in a proportionate manner and reduce the potential for misuse , PNR could serve as a vital tool to protect the innocent traveller and disrupt the potential terrorist .
I also welcome the agreement being finally approved within the Council and Committee on Regional Development .
some have already done so and I would like to thank them for this .
prior to that round of negotiations or at the time of the actual negotiations , there were no parallel negotiations concerning bilateral trade agreements .
those who are invited to sign must know what lies behind the initiative .
in connection with the submitted opinion , I would like to emphasise three points which I consider to be important .
we are here today to discuss what has been presented as one of the major priorities for the Commission , namely , innovation policy , which is starting to take shape at last through innovation partnerships and this pilot project on active and healthy ageing , to be discussed here today .
Mr President , it would be most interesting if we could compare the vote on the report by the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development and the alternative motions for resolutions by 40 members and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe group .
in addition , it is increasingly important - not only within Europe but also externally - to describe not only the quality of the end product but also the quality of the process .
we are aware of the challenges that await us .
this can create fairer conditions that would benefit everyone involved .
I believe that this is unfortunate .
European religious dialogue , the cultural tradition of religion and the tradition of religious instruction are also a resource that can be used in European policy .
the European Union should focus its efforts on streamlining the processes for using and recycling rare earth elements and on research targeted at replacing critical raw materials with other less critical materials .
I am happy to say that the Commission has recently taken a number of measures within the dairy sector in an attempt to try to end the downward spiral of prices .
therefore , there is certainly reason for us to continue , and intensify , our discussion of how the EU 's economy can be organised in the interests of taxpayers .
the first thing , is for you to ask the Commission to take the SOLVIT mechanism - which is supposed to deal with every single internal market complaint , not just market-related ones - and put this firmly on the agenda .
therefore , we must push ahead with the implementation of the Stockholm Programme , because it is the Stockholm Programme , on which we have just reached agreement , that will lead us to create a Europe for our citizens .
we would like to extend a warm welcome to them .
Member of the Commission . - The first question was quite specific .
author . - Commissioner Malmström , I think never has the phrase ' poacher turned gamekeeper ' been more appropriate , and I always welcomed working with you on these issues .
otherwise that means one has preconceived ideas , and I do not .
we will state our joint intent to resist protectionism at home and abroad .
that is something that we should reflect on .
since I was unable to take part in yesterday 's reception owing to the visit by the President of the Council , Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek , I wish to say the following to Mr Rocard .
I would therefore like to cite the words of an Italian climatologist , who is also very well known abroad , to support my view .
( NL ) I am pleased to be given this opportunity .
if you look carefully at how institutions work , then it will rapidly become clear that every institution maintains a set of symbols .
expresses its utmost sympathy for the courage and determination with which the Japanese people are confronting the catastrophes of 11 March and their terrible aftermath and calls on the Commission and Member States to help Japan with all means to rebuild its social and economic life ; 2 .
since ICT accounts for 5 % of European GDP , having a market value of € 660 billion annually , while making a much greater contribution to increasing total productivity ( 20 % directly from the ICT sector and 30 % from ICT investments ) , how does it intend to address the fragmentation of digital markets ?
we should not forget , however , the general aim of the Lisbon Agenda , namely employment and ultimately growth in these sectors , nor tighten the requirements with bureaucratic obligations such as the collection of statistics , which can in fact also be obtained very easily in many sectors .
we have voted against this resolution , primarily because of the wording relating to the EU 's Globalisation Adjustment Fund .
they know best what needs to be changed because they are always there on the spot and they are up against both work and family , whereas men do either one or the other .
( NL ) The Spanish Presidency 's statements on immigration policy , and border controls in particular , blow hot and cold very curiously .
subject : EU goal of total elimination of landmines
they must only choose toys which conform to European standards .
thirdly , when drafting the budget it is important to remember the principles of sustainable development and the Union 's values .
( ES ) Mr President , I would like to begin by welcoming Mr Tajani in his new role as Transport Commissioner .
there will also be clear rules on precisely when risk is passed on to consumers as well as on customers ' rights to cancel a purchase , change their minds or have a product repaired or replaced .
indeed , we believe that the initiative does not simply belong to those who have proposed it , as this is a battle to be fought by everyone .
EU Member States can also make efforts to grant cultural or territorial autonomy to the ethnic minorities living within their territories .
I think that even this venerable Parliament can accept this basic principle .
if they do not do so , they should be deeply ashamed , as they are worth nothing as MEPs .
some people have said that a referendum cannot be carried out more than once .
the ECB should lead the way in this area and take immediate measures to make its work more transparent .
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I know that is one of your most important preoccupations .
the European Union and the Member States must also endeavour to do more than simply counter the negative consequences of globalisation .
obsolete Council acts in the field of the common agricultural policy (
this kind of modern-day slavery is known to be highly lucrative for criminal organisations , which conduct it in a multitude of ways , from sexual exploitation and forced labour to the illegal trade in human organs , or even domestic work and other kinds of undeclared work .
when I started as Commissioner , we had separate reports from the Council and the Commission and now I am very happy to show you that the Council and the Commission have drawn up this report together .
if followed up properly by the Member States , integrated policy action in these three fields , complemented by adequate monitoring as proposed by the Commission , will make a difference .
I fully support the rapporteur , Mrs Muscardini , and I appreciate her contribution to achieving a compromise , which I hope will enable us to adopt the proposal tomorrow .
the European Commission must play a stronger role in efforts to develop alternative energy routes , first of all , from Azerbaijan and Central Asia , and from North Africa and other countries as well .
the report by Katerina Batzeli , on behalf of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development on the restructuring of the sugar industry - C6-0176 / 2007 - , and
while , in the past , a good education was a guarantee of a good job , these days , a higher education diploma or degree will not protect young people in particular from unemployment .
otherwise , we shall have to keep facing up to the continuous lack of coordination of Member States ' interests on the international scene .
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Mr President , I welcome the agreement reached last week on the climate change package and congratulate our rapporteurs and the French presidency for their efficiency .
in writing . - The Council , under the Belgian Presidency , weakened considerably Parliament 's position as adopted at first and second reading .
I cannot be in favour of the proposed budgets for this type of service with its militaristic tendencies .
the proposal by the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy is therefore very specific , with funds from the Seventh Framework Programme on research and also from anticipated emissions trading allowances to support the construction of at least 12 demonstration facilities .
as for the instruments , we shall have to develop them together .
bearing in mind how important this legislative initiative is , it is regrettable that the European Parliament is playing the role of consultant rather than colegislator , as ought to have been the case .
I trust that China will consistently apply Article 4 of the constitution of the People 's Republic of China , and Article 10 of the Act on Autonomous National Regions , which guarantee the freedom of all nations to use and develop their own spoken and written languages .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , I also enjoy seeing how things are debated in the UK .
we will give priority to this issue in the Committee on Legal Affairs and will definitely table amendments with a large number of improvements .
not even Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe has managed a clean sweep as President Alexander Lukashenko did last month in Belarus .
because many times , instead of the animals for slaughter travelling long distances , they should be killed in the Member State and travel as chilled meat .
moreover , the EU 's high representative , Javier Solana , spoke out on behalf of Aung San Suu Kyi at the ASEAN ministerial meeting and the subsequent ASEAN-EU ministerial conference in July , at which a representative of Burma was also present .
I certainly agree with that .
I would like to thank the rapporteur and Parliament for this timely debate on an issue which , in the context of Fukushima , has become more pertinent .
I agree that granting trade preferences may not help directly the people who have suffered as a result of flooding .
in matters of ethics , countries that benefit from our aid should take their own decisions on what is good and acceptable .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Mr President , if I may take this opportunity , speaking on behalf of Her Majesty 's Government , I want to respond to Mr Verhofstadt who , as ever , has missed the point and who , as ever , is facing in the wrong direction .
I also believe that a complementarity of means of redress - judicial and non-judicial , both individual and collective - would allow the most efficient and appropriate treatment of consumer disputes .
for instance , voluntary , domestic and family work are all different aspects of the concept but do not fall within the traditional definition of gainful employment .
the Commission has a vital role to play in making sure the EU institutions do not undermine economic recovery through imposing unnecessary and excessive burdens on business .
I voted against this resolution in the final vote .
not all of them have such a strong impact on financial stability , or on the issues , in terms of power and governance , as accounting standards have .
what is this , if not discrimination ?
Mr President , I am speaking as Chairman of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs .
it is up to their border services to seize such shipments and stop them at the border .
the debate is closed .
the Constitution has fared similarly .
I want to be as clear as possible , but I will have to be rather brief in my replies to your five specific questions .
we are not officials , we are politicians ; we must be transparent too , and we already are .
there is no excuse for Hamas rocket attacks , but nor for the use of dense inert metal explosives to maim civilians .
( FR ) Mr President , I would like to address the Commission and the Council , simply to highlight the three failings , as we see it , in the European governance proposals .
the Commission unveiled its new ' Agenda for a sustainable and competitive European tourism ' last month .
without such mobility of labour and without proper coordination of the social security system , European workers will have limited opportunities to move in labour markets .
the aim of this proposal is to implement the principles already agreed in previous regulatory instruments , by creating an electronic interconnection between national records - the lack of which has until now prevented the European records system from functioning effectively .
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subject : closer EU-US relations
the treaty also contains the right to work , the right to run businesses and the right to move across EU borders .
order of business
composition of committees and delegations : see Minutes
( applause )
will the Commission explain what these important issues are ?
these resources need to be used to take preventative action so as to be able to reduce the terrible consequences of natural disasters and therefore also the suffering .
I would like to see transparency being used as a tool to achieve effectiveness and that the latter always prevails .
EU-wide competition brings prices down and increases quality and consumer choice .
there must also be no attempt to use this directive to re-introduce the subject of soil protection by the back door .
I should like to thank my fellow Members from the other groups , and particularly Mrs Haug , the rapporteur on agencies from the Committee on Budgets , and the two rapporteurs Mr Mulder and Mrs Herczog from the Committee on Budgetary Control for their suggestions , all of which we have taken on board .
nonetheless , in the 2011 budget , the increase in funds for lifelong learning programmes was pitiful , despite the claims in the EU 2020 strategy and despite the Member States ' promise to invest in education for all citizens , regardless of age .
my colleague Mr Schulz , the Chairman of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament , has often said that we want a social Europe .
Traian Băsescu frequently behaves in an aggressive , undemocratic manner and intimidates the mass media by using language which I cannot repeat here in the European Parliament .
however , we need this macroeconomic management on a European scale , not just within the euro zone , and we need it now .
you are nodding , Commissioner ; I see that we are in full agreement here .
we are thinking in terms of rationalising the instruments while protecting the aims of programmes such as the ones you mentioned .
on this matter of public interest , the European Parliament should not adopt an ill-informed , convenient stance of non-intervention , but should enforce its own regulations and requirements which it supports in the area of human , minority and linguistic rights .
we should approve the report as it stands with a large majority in plenary in order to send a clear outward signal .
we had a very positive debate .
it is also unfortunate that we do not yet know if and when the Treaty of Lisbon will come into force , and we clearly need to bring it into force without further hesitation .
I wish to ask something about the EU 2020 strategy .
I have no doubt this feeling is even more intense for other frustrated peoples of Europe , who are denied a referendum .
this was one of the particular concerns that was expressed to me by Chairman Borrell .
the first mistake its detractors have made is that it does not mention the Lisbon Treaty or implementation of the Lisbon Treaty .
it is essential that we increasingly promote a culture not just of mutual recognition , but also of harmonisation in criminal law in terms of the design of sentences , their method of enforcement , the relationship between offenders and society and even greater equivalence between the substantive and procedural criminal laws of Member States .
the ECB has been a bastion of strength when the financial storms have hit .
as we who live on islands are those who contribute least to these changes , we are seriously concerned by this issue .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( SL ) At present it has not been established that this case involves discrimination .
however , this is not an automatic process .
thirdly , better aid is no excuse for less aid .
the question is enforcement , which again is in the hands of the Member States .
the debate is closed .
on a very pragmatic level , because the nomination of the Vice-President / High Representative , and the other proposals by Member States for the Commission , will allow me to pass to the phase of finalising the next College and attributing portfolios .
we should also consider putting parts of the staff expenditure into reserve in the event of the EU TFTP programme - which has only been discussed in the Commission and not , so far , by the Civil Liberties Committee - not coming to fruition .
in concluding , Commissioner , I would like to draw your attention to another fact of life , namely the amount of personal data the consumer is asked to provide for a free download of software for products bought directly off the shelf .
I think that it is wrong to blame the banks for triggering the financial crisis or to say that the economic crisis is their fault .
however , on that particular matter , I think we should also open a second way for the countries that have unbundled in a different manner .
prices for agricultural products are high on the world market , so our subsidies can be reduced .
hedge funds and private equity are the progeny of this course towards liberalisation .
I am also worried about how the Commission will use the new powers it is to be given , especially since it has acted in quite an insensitive way in this crisis , putting forward weak measures , too late , and only under intense pressure .
Parliament must also stick to what it has itself decided and what has been the declared intention of this House for years .
however , we must be cautious , because due to the nature of this area , it is rather difficult to fully harmonise legislation in the realm of consumer rights , and moreover , this may reduce the level of protection of consumer rights in certain Member States .
I would ask the Commission what they are doing to ensure that horses are slaughtered in their countries of origin , without having to undergo long and distressing journeys to consuming countries .
we support the agreement because it is balanced .
we began late and we will finish late .
the Portuguese Presidency has given solid backing to our campaign and we hope for a positive endorsement from Commissioner Kovács too when he launches the debate on the European VAT system at the end of next year .
it would not mean that we have to wait for the last dictator sitting in some corner of our planet .
it is everyday life in the so-called moderate Islamic world .
as a result , this report on the mobile communications market is vital .
please recognise paragraph 9 of our resolution , which talks about the inclusion of the human rights clause in the PCA agreement .
some people speak about it undergoing a mid-life crisis - feeling a bit tired , morally worn out , hesitant about further enlargement .
to re-establish trust , as you mentioned , Commissioner , we need the indicators on the rest of the flagship proposals .
Parliament 's enhanced powers , the greater involvement of the social partners and respect for collective bargaining practices have all been guaranteed .
the US government and the governments of those countries that have already embarked on bilateral negotiations should take into account the position of the EU and its competence to sign treaties .
finally , it calls on all the EU Member States not to take any action which might circumvent or jeopardise the CCM and its provisions , in particular through a possible Protocol to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons which might allow the use of cluster munitions .
the same occurs in connection with the pharmaceutical sector , when it asks the Commission to expedite the completion of the internal market in medicines , as well as in telecommunications , etc .
in particular , I welcome of the cutting of paperwork by allowing flat and lump-sum payments , allowing spending on energy efficiency in housing , bringing forward some GBP 6 billion of spending to start this year , and making it easier to work with the European Investment Bank loans .
it is important that Europe should not be torn apart from the point of view of competitiveness either .
however , implementation is now running several years late .
agriculture can make a significant contribution to achieving the EU 2020 goals .
at the moment , bathing in Hungary 's only genuine river wetland is only to be recommended if you are wearing one of the swimsuits shown in the pictures distributed to Members of this House , and which are also to be seen on flyers and posters .
would there be one or two courageous foreign ministers - or indeed Ms Ashton 's representatives - who would take up this initiative , and if it proved to be true that Judge Viktor Danilkin did write the verdict on Khodorkovsky and Lebedev taking direct orders from the Moscow city court , would such a judge be on their list ?
the case referred to by the honourable Member , of the prosecution and jailing of a third country national , is a very important case , and this is one of the many international investigations coordinated by the Office on the basis of such an agreement .
if there is one single issue that drives a wedge between British people and Brussels , it is a perception that their money may be treated frivolously within the EU .
these emergency situations have been handled through policies that were jointly developed by the EU , the IMF , the ECB and the governments of the Member States concerned .
there can only be a single development strategy , which incorporates climate concerns pursuing the objectives of sustainable development and poverty reduction .
for the sake of fiscal integrity and for public accountability , they must now show more resolve and so , for those reasons , and until we see real progress being made by Council in this matter , I and my colleagues in the British Conservative delegation will vote against discharge of the 2007 general budget .
the Prime Minister did not mention the Vaxholm judgment at all .
the ' polluter pays ' principle has been introduced for the first time in this sector in order to encourage safer and more sustainable transport , and hence to promote alternatives such as rail transport .
in writing . - ( DE ) Up to the present day , HIV / AIDS continues to be a worldwide plague which it has barely been possible to deal with .
it has introduced into the Hungarian legal system provisions which ignore international law and are in direct conflict with the accepted international obligations of the Hungarian Republic .
competition and innovation are key elements for our economy , which is why it is important to adapt the 2009 rules to our present situation and to introduce effective mechanisms to promote compliance and the implementation of competition law for businesses and public bodies .
the most important thing is what we can do together in the future .
we have achieved a lot .
all this is happening in the Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion .
however , we need this strategy in order to be able to keep up with the rest of the world .
those workers who have made the switch to the solar power industry have shown that .
people must be allowed to grow , and education is just one part of that process .
statement by the President
in this confused situation , it is important to welcome the rapid and effective initiatives undertaken by the Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS ) and its chairman , Mr Chambas , as well as the determination and decisiveness of the Community and the African Union , which have suspended Guinea 's membership in their organisations and have condemned the violent takeover of power .
no one outside his country knew anything about him two and a half months ago , and no one has learnt anything more about him since .
the signs are not good : the euro is fairly strong , making exports difficult ; inflation is falling ; the dollar is fairly weak and oil continues to be expensive .
I believe that this information may be of use and covers all of the requests made in Mr Posselt 's question .
I propose that it should be addressed as a priority for dialogue in the next EU-Nigeria ministerial meeting in the autumn of this year .
in conclusion , I therefore ask the honourable Members to give their consent to the conclusion of the banana agreement , and also to vote tomorrow for the proposal to repeal the regulation establishing banana duties .
President-in-Office of the Council . - The essence of a code of conduct is precisely that it is developed by the providers themselves .
this refers to the sum not handed over by importers at the border .
it is more difficult but more beneficial for the people of Europe to make progress in this area .
the European Union must insist that a worthy solution is found , or else its intervention will have been in vain .
but we cannot create the rhinoceros or an eel or a little blue flower , and , when these creatures are gone , they are gone for ever , as you have rightly pointed out .
again , I would like to come back to your consultation , which you can have today .
the fact that people staying in the territory illegally can be sent back to the country they travelled through is no solution either .
adequate attention should also be paid in research and development programmes to decentralised means of producing biofuels because of their many advantages .
like others , I believe this to be a basis and not an end .
this is a humanitarian disaster brought about by the genocidal policy of Mr al-Bashir .
all this will do is give the European institutions even less legitimacy in the eyes of the people if there is another disaster , especially with the knowledge that the European Union is engaged in the WTO general trade agreement , known as GATS , whose Commission on Maritime Transport says that the current maritime transport environmental and safety regulations are excessive and should be relaxed .
the values for pollutants for heavy-duty vehicle exhaust gases are advanced in an ambitious way and the schedule is tightened up .
I am thinking , for example , of countries such as Kosovo - and in this regard I agree with the amendment tabled by Mrs Lunacek with regard to the Roma issue - because this is a country we cannot sideline merely because five European countries have not yet recognised its independence .
therefore , I am joining the appeal for acceleration of the implementation process by national authorities which still have not completed essential work in this area , in particular , on the question of proper implementation of the principle of freedom to offer services and of individual contact points .
that is why it is crucial to raise domestic workers ' professional profile and improve their image .
let me take this opportunity to thank you once again for the positive and constructive spirit in which this debate has been conducted .
this will improve support within the industry .
1 December 2008 is the 20th anniversary of International AIDS Day , but little changes except the lives that accumulate , that go past and are destroyed .
I hope that this dialogue will continue and that we will reach a solution here , too .
what they need is a no-fly zone .
in addition , you have also very generously created a budget line to encourage Member States to create these mechanisms , or at least to create links between themselves to deal with ' kidnap alerts ' .
I am also in agreement with Mr Czarnecki , who said that these are most often small , family-run businesses from which families earn the bulk of their income .
we therefore need to speak and express our opinion clearly .
after all , the Lisbon objectives are in reality just a way of achieving progress and growth , and one does not need to be a member of the EU to wish for that .
there is an army of lobbyists in Brussels : it is estimated that are some 15 000 of them , representing 2 500 pressure groups .
their lives were taken from them .
our amendments were not accepted , however , as a result of which this report has no added value for the Commission proposals .
the instability in the Mediterranean and Suez gives our arguments about the importance of coal greater significance .
the draft resolution draws attention to the need for a specific approach to the problems of culture at a time of globalisation .
it puts patient protection at the heart of the legislative proposal , by adopting measures to provide access to a high standard of safe and appropriate treatment and information .
under the amending budget before us there is a move to use budget funds to compensate for the damage caused by the floods in the United Kingdom .
Lamfalussy follow up - Future Structure of Supervision (
in this regard , we simply need to introduce the content of the research carried out in the Seventh Framework Programme for research and the CIP and the various other programmes to our educational establishments , namely , to professors , teachers and nursery school teachers .
the aim of this directive is to achieve complete liberalisation of the secondary market in spare parts .
however , these efforts must be significantly improved , given that Croatia continues to be one of the main routes for drug trafficking into the EU .
third , the Commission agrees on the need to promote the safety aspects of services because it is very important to better ensure the health and the physical safety aspects of services provided within the internal market .
in effect , this means there is a decrease in the level of social cohesion .
the Single Market itself and the enterprises operating within it are vital for the future growth of EU economies .
there is also , as I said , the consequence of the high prices we saw in 2007 , where people stepped back a little from the high price of dairy products - and obviously they have not returned .
secondly , what I feel is a lack of willingness to work together on the part of the Member States in trying to deal with the new challenge of organising the collection of biometrics together .
I think that this is quite clear : the European Union has competences that the Member States do not have .
I therefore wholeheartedly endorse and encourage the initiative that aims to reduce the school drop-out rate to 10 % , and to increase the percentage of people with post-secondary education from 31 % to 40 % by 2020 .
the credit crunch is hitting and hurting all of us , but I see a speck of light at the end of the tunnel .
it is , however , important to continue to make use of the opportunities for innovation that ICT offer us .
my message to you is that with this clear majority , we have to get the Lisbon Treaty in as soon as possible because we believe this will get us a better functioning Europe , but I will do this thoroughly .
( applause )
rapporteur . - Mr President , I will start with another remark on the absence of the Council , because in my speaking notes I had some remarks about good cooperation between the European Parliament and the Council , dialogue , spirit of the Treaty of Lisbon etc . , but the Council is absent for this debate as well .
this EUR 25 billion ceiling , I would like to observe , seems very low .
this would also considerably broaden the scope for cooperation between the EU and Ukraine and smooth the way for negotiations on the creation of a free-trade area in the ENP framework .
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I also know that Pieter Feith will be meeting with the AFET Committee next week , and he will be able to provide a comprehensive update on the latest developments on the ground .
anyone who knows a bit about Canada , has visited British Columbia and knows how international corporations have used their influence here to make the indigenous peoples give up their ancestral areas and allow these areas to be bought up , cannot simply ignore this .
therefore , we should wait to see how the situation develops instead of pressing ahead now .
on this point , the wording has been simplified and certain restrictions have been set on the framework of actions which can be financed .
the Arctic Council has concentrated on environmental and research cooperation , but the agreements that focus on the use of natural resources have brought with them a growing need to develop international administration strategies , and the EU , too , may have a role to play here .
in addition , the European Union has already concluded agreements with eastern European countries and the countries of the Western Balkans on simplifying the issuing of visas .
in writing . - I generally welcome Mr Von Wogau 's report on space security .
they include declarations or demarches in international fora and towards third countries , including the United States of America .
responsible entrepreneurship is always the backbone of competitiveness and successful business .
it transpires that the greatest beneficiary of Polish aid was none other than China .
this represents an essential starting point for dealing with climate change and environmental degradation , the universality and indivisibility of human rights , poverty reduction and development for all , the consequences of demographic change , migration and international organised crime .
he and I spoke about it this week , and our thoughts will always go to the hostages who are suffering at the present time .
trade policy is becoming more important than ever to the developing world because of the current economic and financial crisis , and I call for negotiations with all 14 ACP Pacific States on a comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to be as swift as possible .
it is , however , better than nothing .
the European Parliament , as you know , has taken note of these Council conclusions of 8 December 2009 .
( ES ) Mr President , thanks to many years of hard work , the energy policy objectives in Europe are now perfectly clear to us : constructing a domestic market , a secure supply , the promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency .
we think that these are the issues of vital importance .
the announcement of the calling of elections and of a constitutional referendum constitute an encouraging sign for the near future .
it was therefore essential for the Committee on Budgets to analyse these modifications and verify that they were the conditions needed for our institution to maintain , even strengthen , its role as a budgetary authority .
it took political leadership to achieve that .
these are words which , to my ears , do not sound like a vision or a goal but more like a way to avoid committing ourselves to possible future enlargements .
this convention was always a compromise ; it was always a mixed bag .
at the same time , of course , we want to help create better countries for the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan to live in .
efforts at simplifying current legislation in the area of the marketing and use of feedstuffs and in the area of required and additional information placed on packaging and in freight documentation are a justified step .
today , in 2008 , we are facing a challenge every bit as important .
earlier today he said that if we had been there we might have heard it differently .
the debate is closed .
in the last number of weeks , the Irish Government has issued deportation orders for 120 such spouses .
that is a misappropriation I cannot accept .
this is because capital punishment erodes basic human dignity and contradicts international human rights law .
it means that if we continue at this rate for the next 30 years - and I have no objection to that - between 45 and 60 million people will enter the European Union legally .
I was explaining to French listeners what took place yesterday in Luxembourg .
the Court of Auditors and the Council were not present during our discussions .
we return to the situation in Burma at every session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg .
the 6 million farmers of the existing EU were joined by another 7 million farmers .
however , we must all make efforts to get things moving .
the Commission proposal chooses to ignore the lack of fundamental social protection and to overlook the actual situation in many countries of Europe today .
in the Council , the government of the United Kingdom and the government of the Netherlands - we must also mention them by name here - were not prepared to agree on a compromise in respect of the involvement of Parliament in the Financial Perspective .
yes , it makes a difference whether we invest in limping bureaucracy or in the energy sources and jobs of the future .
that is the key .
the Commission is also following the work of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe on this matter , and we are expecting a report on 17-18 June .
I would have liked to have thanked President Sarkozy personally for taking the uncomfortable step of telling the German Chancellor clearly what he thought of the German Government 's lethargy .
the public prosecutors in Milan and Munich have established and proved this beyond doubt .
1 .
to be honest , the concessions made by Europe in the agricultural sector are causing reasonable concerns and raising specific questions : what justification is there for the quotas granted by Europe in the rice and sugar sectors , which exceed the productive capacities of these countries ?
we should definitely conduct that debate together .
I wish you good luck and success in your work .
the rapporteur Jan Andersson points out that some judgments of the European Court of Justice may offend some citizens ' sense of equality and respect for the labour market .
I would like to say a few words about the 27th EU-China human rights dialogue to take place on 14 May in Prague .
we can assure you that the commitments of the EU and of Russia to uphold human rights , including those of persons belonging to minorities , will figure very prominently in this agreement and indeed constitute an essential element of the future agreement .
the obligations to have a trained manager responsible for managing the undertaking 's transport activity and to prove the undertaking 's financial standing are signs of this new approach to this activity .
this is why I voted for this report .
therefore , we have proposed to draw on fresh funds for an ambitious Eastern Partnership , which we will soon be discussing in Parliament .
this means that the picture is much more encouraging than is usually thought .
education and also the media and entertainment field are particularly important to intercultural dialogue .
some members of the Committee on Regional Development have presented amendments to draw the Council 's attention to the need for reforms and initiatives .
I welcome cooperation between the Member States in this area .
I think that it would be well worth discussing combining forces within the World Bank with a view to resolving the issues raised by Mrs Keller .
I voted for the resolution adopted to combat female poverty through labour and social protection policies .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( DA ) Madam President , I should like to thank Mr Schmitt for his good report and for his constructive collaboration during the preparation of this .
action taken on Parliament 's positions and resolutions : see Minutes
what is it that we need ?
the implementation of projects aimed at combating this hazardous phenomenon is an urgent issue .
the case here is simply that the European socialists , liberals , communists and greens are once again using double standards .
the resolution will refer to all those cases and , if any are abandoned during the drafting of the resolution , you may be sure they will be proposed as an amendment , either by the EPP in written form or by me in oral form tomorrow .
however , I hope that the European Union will show more initiative in this regard .
nothing is ideal in this world , but when you look at the effect of the common agricultural policy on the developing world , I think we can claim that it is , by far , the least harmful system of a big trading block with respect to distorting effects in the developing countries .
in particular , I am firmly convinced that the responsibility for the entire process of closing the Guantánamo detention facility and the future of its inmates rests solely and exclusively with the United States of America .
we will have to ensure that fundamental rights are genuinely respected in all areas relating to the fight against terrorism .
Mr President , as the President of the Estonian Ski Association , I agree with the concern mentioned in the report on the decreasing number of hours in both primary and secondary education for physical education .
I trust that the resounding message from Parliament will motivate the Commission to exercise its coordinating powers to combat corruption in sport more effectively .
despite agreeing with the need to revise the support schemes for farmers , I consider that the Commission 's proposals go well beyond what is needed , thereby seriously impacting on the income of farmers who are the guardians of the European rural landscape and of crucial importance to our food sovereignty .
the debate which we are now ending was , certainly , the most important item of our proceedings .
but what actually happened ?
however , what we know of the instruments of the Europe 2020 strategy leaves little room for doubt : this is an old strategy that aims to justify old policies and make them viable , with well-known consequences .
the Commission will endeavour to start this process as quickly as possible .
I fully support issues related to combating trafficking in human beings and discrimination against Roma women , and would look most favourably on the aggressive tackling by each of the countries of the Western Balkans .
the EU is willing to help the Greek people now , but Greece must take a good look at itself and if necessary give itself a rap on the knuckles .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( IT ) Madam President , I would like to reply that I am in possession of a magic wand and can solve all our problems this very evening .
we highlight in the report that Europe is Mexico 's second biggest partner after the United States .
if our development policy is really to be cohesive , then we need such detailed reports on issues relating to various aspects of development work .
( EL ) Madam President , the European Union defends human rights in the world , in keeping with its principles and values .
culture , when used as a tool to impose values and to wash out diversity and freedom of expression , is like a weapon .
reinforcing internal market rules in an area which has to date been the exclusive competence of Member States also marks another step along the federalist road , increasing the hegemony of the major powers to the detriment of national sovereignty .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner Vassiliou , Mr Bowis , co-rapporteurs , draftsmen of the opinion , ladies and gentlemen , I thank the European Parliament for agreeing to defer our working meeting originally scheduled for the beginning of this month .
today we must also discuss , and we should discuss , an issue that has a certain media resonance and that clearly also has extra-budgetary dimensions .
Mr President , the Food Supplements Directive was adopted in 2002 but , almost nine years later , it has still not been fully implemented .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner Reding , the vision of European contract law is clearly a wonderful one .
an aid package is being prepared , to be launched at the earliest possible opportunity .
general Motors is counting on securing State aid from several national and regional governments in the European Union , one of the intended purposes of which is to cover the social costs of the closure of the Antwerp plant to which you refer .
I would like to continue where Mr Lamberts left off .
we say ' no ' to the nationalisation of European policy and ' no ' to national referendums on European matters , except with regard to the accession of one 's own country .
last week , I had the opportunity to visit Madeira with a delegation from the Committee on Regional Development of Members from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Mr President , firstly I would like to thank Ms Fourtou .
Baroness Ashton , I am extremely glad that you are now in office , because your record has shown that you have absolutely no hesitation in standing up for people who have no voice and whose rights are taken away .
the Treaty of Lisbon would put our existing practices on a more formal footing and provide a fresh impetus to further enhance them .
as I said , this is a poor country .
the aforementioned deficits must be remedied .
several calls for proposals have been published to support research on ' dys ' -related problems .
my vote in favour of the report is entirely due to the new agreement obtained thanks , above all , to the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) .
a third is investment .
I think she has proved it with her frequent presence in this House .
not only the State aid framework , but also the effective provision of State aid .
in spite of all this , I have my doubts about the appropriateness of the agreement process in the first reading , since such extensive and challenging documents raise the question of transparency and the question of adequate representation of the majority view in Parliament , and this then naturally broaches the subject of how democratic this process is .
this is , of course , just the tip of the iceberg , because we should also address human traffickers , networks that provide support to illegal immigrants and also , of course , Member State governments that legalise illegal aliens on a massive scale .
the presence of EULEX in the north of Kosovo is very important in order to avoid partition of this territory .
thirdly , Parliament envisages that the retrofitting of all existing rolling stock should be eligible for state aid .
an emergency such as the one caused by the Icelandic volcano was never expected , however .
the Court of Auditors in its report describes the annual accounts of the European Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy for the financial year 2008 as reliable and the underlying transactions as legal and regular .
if the European Union-Africa Summit is going to contribute to opening the way to better representation for Africa on the Security Council and at the G20 , and put it in a better position to eradicate poverty , the summit will not have been in vain .
nutrition and health claims made on foods ( vote )
respect for the competences of the Member States in the area of healthcare and freedom of choice of health services are positive features . nonetheless , I should like to draw attention to the danger threatening my fellow citizens because of the Polish Government 's current plans to transform all healthcare entities into commercial profit-making companies .
we need to achieve a critical mass , creating the conditions to ensure that the result of one person becomes the legacy of us all .
we have voted in favour on the final vote because we wish to make clear our support , in principle , for the cause of upholding and strengthening human rights throughout the world .
( DE ) Mr President , I have not asked for the floor to raise a point of order , but I would like to ask you , Mr President , and my fellow Members to be aware of the following : there is a problem with the translation here .
those rights cannot be exercised at present .
we have to enter into that political dialogue with a man who is able to show that he can bring all parts of the country back together .
for this reason , biogas production further enhances the environmental sustainability of agriculture - there has already been a 20 % reduction in greenhouse gas emission since 1990 - and it also has obvious economic advantages as a useful alternative to natural gas in a situation where we now see that oil prices have exceeded USD 100 per barrel .
two theses - unbundling of ownership and transmission - are and will remain the basic model for genuine decentralised production and security for networks providing access to electricity produced from renewable resources .
many people died defending their right to freedom of expression and to freedom .
I think in the report , we are clear that Member States are themselves responsible for making sure that there is adequate pension provision for their citizens .
I thank the Swedish Presidency .
however , the amendments introduced by the European Parliament reinforce the Commission 's authority over the operational budget and , therefore , guarantee parliamentary oversight and a clear line of democratic accountability .
one thing is clear to us : we will only achieve long-term stability in the region if it goes hand in hand with the development of civil society .
we have worked systematically to find a mutually acceptable solution to the name problem under the auspices of the UN .
we cannot have a visa policy if we do not have border control .
as a Fleming I am , in a manner of speaking , a privileged observer of how a unitary system of social security in Belgium for just two population groups , Flemings and Walloons , is totally unworkable and leads to enormous abuses .
helicopters , medical support and explosives represent significant progress but are not enough : we need vision and an active commitment and we call on you , Baroness Ashton , to deploy them both with strength and clarity .
the possibility for transfers in this field is therefore limited by the existence of public registers and the fact that each country has strict legislation imposing special requirements in this area .
it is important to draw attention to the fact that the strategy should be characterised by a bottom-up approach .
I would like to invite you on a tour in this romantic landscape in the Spring , but unfortunately we cannot do it without water , and so we need every possible assistance .
another key issue is improving energy efficiency .
for example , it is proposed that personnel resources for the political groups should increase by 53 services .
( DE ) Mr President , the aim is to standardise the right to asylum within the EU by 2012 .
solidarity with the Czech Republic was expressed at the meeting by Romania , Bulgaria , Hungary and Slovakia , and also in clear terms by the Spanish Presidency .
everyone should think about this at night before going to sleep , and I would call on everyone to do so tonight : to ask him or herself , ' have I cost EUR 6 400 ? '
of course , too , food security , a huge and growing issue in the region ; further trade openings ; the ability to get greater market access and mobility partnerships - all of these are included in the overall package that will be put to the European Council .
I trust that the forthcoming review of the financial framework will result in the budgetary resources needed to rise to the ambitious challenges of the new cohesion policy for the enlarged Union being made available , thus ensuring that all citizens ...
in the infringement cases by sector in 2009 , waste accounts for 19 % , water 20 % , nature 19 % , air 16 % , and the rest less .
insider dealing and market manipulation ( implementing powers conferred on the Commission ) ( vote )
for we do not talk like politicians ; we address the general public .
however , the proposals would make it easier for the citizens of non-EU countries who enter one Member State to travel to other EU states .
they address the need to increase the level of employment , to invest more in research and innovation , to meet our 2020 climate and energy targets , to improve our educational performance and to combat poverty .
and , with presidential elections imminent in Cyprus , and unification talks in progress , Cyprus is very much on our minds .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , congratulations on this new form of democracy .
Parliament and Council 's ownership must be reinforced , and the exchange of good practices between Member States must be developed .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( ES ) Since 1977 , most financial services , including insurance and investment fund management , have been exempt from VAT .
Europe 2020 must begin here and now and should not be just a catalogue of objectives .
this is yet another retrospective assessment of the mistakes made by each of the parties involved in the conflict .
that is totally unacceptable .
in the report , we in the Committee on Petitions express our concern at the fact that , where infringement proceedings are brought against a Member State as a result of a petition by citizens , the Member State has the right to deny access to the public documents used in those infringement proceedings , thereby shutting the door on citizens ' participation .
they have caused themselves great harm .
this barrier could severely restrict access to these vehicles .
the necessary increase in the European budget must go hand in hand with significant savings from optimising our spending .
the Hungarian media law must also be seen as just the latest attempt to limit media freedom in Europe .
and indeed , an assessment of the value of this directive comes , perversely , from the very fact that the UK is not opting into it .
we condemn all forms of discrimination and victimisation , and we are committed to supporting policies and actions aimed at eradicating them .
I would also like to see this system replacing the transition mechanism and covering regions other than those coming out of the convergence objective .
in any case , when I go to Lampedusa and Malta , I will see how the financial aid that we are giving to the Member States is being used .
despite this necessary circumspection there are four reasons why the London G20 meeting can be regarded as a successful start to economic recovery and to a new and more sustainable form of global economy and global economic decision-making .
in my eyes , it would be a crying shame if this amendment were not adopted .
even if , for now , war on the continent is not a serious proposition , the culmination of some current negative trends could bring back that possibility if we fail to respond properly .
ladies and gentlemen , the issues that we have to address are very difficult and complex ; let us try to give everyone the idea that we are working on this with no ulterior motives and no preconceptions .
to cease travelling to Strasbourg for our votes , which could just as easily be taken care of at home , would be better .
at Copenhagen , we had the irony of not just ' Climategate II ' , but also the onset of one of the harshest winters in decades .
I would like to say a word about the meaning of ' united ' .
democracy , human rights and the new EU-Vietnam Partnership and Cooperation Agreement ( vote )
amendment 4 is an amendment by my colleague , Pat the Cope Gallagher , to allow the use of tangle nets , which Irish fishermen use inshore .
if Member States had proper border controls and checks , this would go a long way to help disrupt the operation of such evil criminal organisations .
ladies and gentlemen , how can we explain to our fellow citizens that , at the same time as we are in a delicate financial situation in mid-July each year , most of our Member States should continue to spend as if nothing were amiss ?
significantly and regrettably , the USA is not one of those States .
I am annoyed by the fact that , in advance of this week 's meeting of the European Council and in statements relating to the Council meeting in 14 days ' time , we are hearing from Germany that it will not be prepared to discuss conditions for Greece or for necessary changes .
but it must mean - if we want to remain credible - that we will do both : energy policy , but also human rights policy , and improving the human rights situation in these countries .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like , first of all , to thank Mrs Badia i Cutchet for her own-initiative report on artistic studies in the European Union .
I think that many consumers share my view that we are in fact often tricked in the shops today .
the balance is not the same in the proposals that we are debating today , in that the compromise has limited the ambition , which is an absolute necessity for all of us citizens of the European Union .
regardless of this extremely discomfiting issue , I am forced to agree with the rapporteur , Mrs Matera , that the award of this financial support is a necessary and timely measure .
the new directive also prohibits the use of chemicals classified as carcinogenic , mutagenic or toxic for reproduction , but this Parliament itself decided that an outright ban without any possibility of derogation would have been neither justifiable nor realistic .
I have therefore decided to abstain and not to vote on this matter .
secondly , we have the European Convention and the case-law of the Court of Justice in Strasbourg .
we stand by these results .
first of all , I do not think that it is right to compare them .
I would like to conclude by making two rather provocative comments on the discussion as a whole .
when does it have to be implemented by and how long are you prepared to wait ?
is this an isolated case , or is the initiative likely to spread to all Member States ?
several thousand opponents of the Ayatollahs ' regime are currently held in Camp Ashraf .
amendment 10 contradicts the fact that the CFSP is part of the Community aquis for the EU and the Member States , and third countries cannot be given carte blanche to participate in planning and decision-making procedures .
second , the region has entered a dramatic climate change we need to react to .
I , too , urge European institutions to intensify their efforts in relation to the abolition of this punishment which , under international law , is the equivalent of torture , and to exert pressure to bring about the observance of the right to an objective and impartial trial in Malaysia and the end of the mean treatment of migrants and asylum seekers .
most of all , it will be a quasi-democratic cosmetic for an undemocratic institution .
in a capitalist world the term ' uncompetitive ' is synonymous with social scourge .
I support those like our Prime Minister , who has pledged to cut carbon emissions by 80 % by 2050 .
the Commission should accept these plans not because the Gdańsk Shipyard is a symbol .
so there is no answer as to whether the Member State measures protecting workers conform to the Posting of Workers Directive and , for want of this , we are unable to state whether the Posting of Workers Directive is really working well or if it needs to be amended in the light of the laws of the service market .
some of these issues are subject to Commission proposals , for example , the Citizens ' Initiative , which is an important provision to help connect the Union with citizens .
the total damage caused by both disasters has been assessed at EUR 66 891 540 , and this amount will soon be mobilised once the amending budget has been changed as required to make it available .
reports , lists of licensed pesticides , residue readings and , above all , toxicological and ecotoxicological data must be made accessible to everyone almost in real time , and local residents must be informed of imminent crop-spraying through a central information system .
the forum will also consider strengthening regional cooperation in various areas , such as transport , civil protection , research and development , and so on .
( ES ) Mr President , I would like to say to Mr Zaleski and Mr Guardans that , as they know , there is a famous painting by Goya entitled ' The dream of reason brings forth monsters ' , and sometimes the dream of liberalisation , with the strict rules of the market , can bring forth inefficiency and inequality .
but when the protection of banking data is at issue , the good suddenly turns into the evil .
this directive establishes a minimum period of maternity leave of 20 weeks , of which at least six will be on full pay .
I would like to say one last thing to Mr Posselt .
unfortunately , the management has refused point blank to negotiate with the Industrial Union of Metalworkers and the works council .
I am giving the floor to Mr Cohn-Bendit for the last speech , after which we shall finish .
this morning you mentioned a recovery in the market , but the producers will certainly only see the effects of this in the payments made at the beginning of next year .
taken seriously , Europe 2020 can direct our local , national and European economies towards tomorrow 's sources of growth .
therefore , what the Heads of State or Government are going to do on Friday is to present , set out and agree the will of the 15 other Member States in the euro area for Greece to receive this aid , these loans , once its Government has adopted a stringent programme of economic and financial adjustments .
on behalf of the European Parliament , I would like to take the opportunity at today 's plenary session to express our deepest sympathy with all of the victims of this terrible earthquake .
agenda
this misuse of EU funds makes better administration necessary , as well as monitoring of how funds are spent .
however , the problem we have had with this Directive is the fact that the consumer credit market across the European Union is at very different stages of development : many countries , like my own , already have well-developed regulation .
the Russians have now deferred these important talks indefinitely .
- Before the vote
we have to constantly assess how the economic recovery package , the fiscal stimulus and the financial reforms are working and producing results .
I would like to place the major road scheme , which is very important in remote areas , in context .
there was a long struggle to push this through as well , because to start with many maintained that this was not technically possible at all .
my colleague Frédérique Ries , who cannot be with us tonight , wanted to ensure that steps were taken to try and avoid the marketing of counterfeit products , to strengthen product traceability and to tighten up restrictions on the making of false claims about the beneficial effects of these products .
due to the absence of many MEPs - more than 400 are absent - we have been unable to adopt the package of amendments , which requires a qualified majority of 393 votes at second reading .
the challenges faced by Europe and those that it will have to take up over the next few years are immense .
I would like to congratulate Mrs Wallis in particular for her report on e-justice because I believe that the use of information technology and new communications technologies in the field of justice will promote further the development of cross-border judicial cooperation , while also facilitating access to the judicial system for the European Union 's citizens .
President Obama has said that keeping our country safe is the first thing he thinks about when he wakes up in the morning and the last thing he thinks about before he goes to bed at night .
unfortunately , the impasse persists .
there is a dual perception of wilderness in European culture .
instead , the Turkish Army , with the authorisation of the Turkish Parliament , is carrying out genocide against the Kurds .
I consider that a red flag for all democratically-minded citizens .
science is much better prepared to face this pandemic than it was four years ago , and this can be seen from the low number of deaths occurring .
the creation of networks would not only help to regulate legal , irregular and illegal immigration , but would also facilitate operational cooperation between the Member States and expedite the system for the presentation of the half-yearly reports .
( SK ) Mr President , in November 2008 , four-year-old Adam Azab , a citizen of the Slovak Republic and the European Union , was forcibly separated from his mother in Egypt .
the rapporteurs and co-rapporteurs of the attendant committees have themselves done so well enough .
I have voted against it and am of the opinion and am glad that a much more sensible and practical solution has been found in the Klaß report and therefore in the action plans , for which I was the rapporteur in the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development .
therefore this would leave a shortfall of EUR 600 million .
furthermore , there were no proper warnings of the impact on the banana-producing countries and regions of the EU , such as the Autonomous Region of Madeira .
I support the priorities called for in the motion for a resolution of updating education systems ( including expanding them to include training that is adjusted to the needs of SMEs ) , the promotion of decent work and , of course , gender equality by creating conditions for reconciling work and family life .
good competition policy also contributes to creating growth again in Europe .
now this will cost the taxpayer , and I have to question , once again , whether the hard-pressed taxpayers of Europe and the UK really want their money to be used to advance purely political objectives outside the EU ?
( PL ) Mr President , the climate , and nature itself , which is all around us , belong to all people , including future generations , and that is why we must feel responsible for their protection .
from now on we must also say that no further exceptions will be allowed in the future as these are bad for the citizens of the countries concerned and for the citizens of the European Union as a whole .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , there are thousands of sources of contamination of surface and ground water , not just agriculture and the agrifood industry , mines and chemical factories , but also residential homes .
with buildings accounting for 40 % of energy consumption in the EU , it is essential to tackle this sector head on .
we need to bear in mind that , although humanitarian aid provides emergency relief , at the same time , we must also eliminate the causes , namely , the political acts of violence .
the crisis in my country was caused by greed - pure greed - among the political and big business elite .
the ecosystem will become less resistant and more susceptible to changes , including step changes .
I am very pleased , Commissioner , that you referred to the Eurodistrict project on the border between France and Belgium .
Madam President , Fine Gael members have asked me to speak on behalf of all four of us in the EPP on this issue .
taking children from their mothers , and taking mothers from their children - for there are two sides to the matter - should be a final resort for when the child is being abused or suffering violence .
without a political solution to problems in this region , there will be no prospect of peace .
Mr President , I am very pleased that the President has finally given the floor to the rapporteur .
it will be no surprise to you that I am coming back to this .
new and existing providers in a liberalised market will inevitably seek to cut costs ; blind people must not be the victims .
the abandonment of production is therefore the only way out that we have left for many producers whose place will undoubtedly be taken by imports from third countries , because consumers will not stop consuming and the world will not stop rapidly increasing the number of consumers .
respect for the rights of these minorities has not yet been satisfactorily ensured .
the World Bank , Oxfam , UNDP and others have come up with estimates ranging between USD 10 billion and , I would say , USD 100 billion yearly .
it reinforces this initiative , which will thus make travelling easier for our fellow citizens .
( RO ) Madam President , I would like to draw your attention in particular to the provisions of the revised constitution relating to the collective rights of the ethnic Hungarian minority living abroad and to the explicit declaration , in this case , of the principle of extraterritoriality , both of which blatantly breach OSCE standards and the repeated assessments made by the Venice Commission in similar cases .
Europe must prepare for change in all areas .
the first thing we want to know is has the information relating to both the effects and the location of such phenomena improved or not ?
the universal values that prevail in Europe , which are also the fundamental values of Christianity , would lose vigour with the accession of a large Islamic country such as Turkey . '
infrastructure is largely non-existent .
the situation in Somalia is dramatic .
the Commission proposes that the extension should take effect on 1 January 2011 for a period ending on 31 December 2015 .
during the deliberations of the Committee on Social Affairs , Exchange Programmes , the Environment , Education and Culture , in a separate vote for representatives of the parliaments of the two continents , the representatives of the European Parliament rejected the amendment , which meant that the committee did not adopt it .
while these businesses are certainly in favour of measures that would create a clearer legal framework and complement existing consumer protection mechanisms , some of them are worried that some of the new provisions could impact on the day-to-day running of enterprises .
the point you rightly raise yourself with regard to the issues of how Europe can move forward and face the challenges that are before us is one that has been hindered or retarded because of the lack of efficient decision-making within the Union institutions .
we commit ourselves clearly to the social market economy and ' social ' is underlined three times .
the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has made progress in meeting the criteria for initiating the pre-accession process .
we must be humble , however .
all the methodology will be transparent .
these are just a couple of the aims of the report by Mrs Járóka , which represents an important political response .
this time , Russia , pretending to defend the interests of Serbia , decided to play its own geopolitical game , pretending that , without its assent , no problem in the world would be solved .
however , in addition to adopting and enforcing sanctions , there must be specific provisions concerning the lifting of sanctions .
secondly , new faces are filling the top positions within the EU as a result of the Treaty of Lisbon .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , during a hearing in the Committee on Foreign Affairs , a Member asked the High Representative / Vice-President a loaded question .
instead , they are simply making fine-sounding declarations of intent and empty promises .
the vote will take place on Thursday , 22 October 2009 .
of course , it is necessary to help Ireland , like other countries in difficulty , which also protects us , but not at any price , especially that of seeing a State unable to pay off its loans , thus weakening its citizens and citizens throughout the European Union .
as you yourself said , Prime Minister , if the European Union 's structural and regional policies have the same economic effects in the countries which joined the European Union on 1 May 2004 as occurred in Spain , Europe as a whole can look forward to a very positive future , and that is why Spain is a model for Europe .
in this respect , I believe that we will need trade - and more trade - to preserve our social system of protection in Europe .
we therefore hope that our proposals will be accepted .
at times of economic crisis , we cannot afford to waste opportunities for growth and job creation because , while the European Union is navel-gazing and preoccupied with our internal borders , the rest of the world moves on .
who in actual fact are the people who are wielding the real power over economic development in Europe ?
( DA ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , this directive on the equal treatment of men and women engaged in an activity in a self-employed capacity is of crucial importance , as it secures social conditions comparable to those of employed women for millions of European women who are self-employed , entrepreneurs or who assist their spouses .
it is hoped that these rules will help to avoid accidents like the Erika and the Prestige , as the sea does not have any physical or political boundaries and requires sharing of efforts and concerted action .
they would entail a ' moral hazard ' , as they say .
we need to make European citizens aware of the fundamental importance of biodiversity for our countryside , our economy , our lives and our children 's future , and to spur them into action .
a fellow Member , who often recalls things differently , has just spoken .
in the last few days he has declared enthusiastically that he will never change anything in his country .
in writing . - ( PT ) Taking into account the Court of Auditors ' report on the annual accounts of the European Police College ( EPC ) for the financial year 2009 , together with its replies , I voted for this decision , which postpones granting the Director of the EPC discharge in respect of the implementation of the EPC 's budget for the financial year 2009 .
34 .
last but not least , there is a need for the European Union to initiate a regulation which reaches across and beyond the borders of the European Union , as online gambling is a global issue , and I believe it is an issue which we must also address .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , it is natural to see a meeting such as this with the European Ombudsman and the Commissioner as having a particularly significant part to play in the current situation in Europe , which is developing dynamically and tangibly in the public interest .
Commissioner , I absolutely disagree with you .
this has unacceptable consequences for the workers themselves and for the viability of the European textile sector , particularly in Portugal , which has been forced to compete with producers that systematically fail to observe such rules and rights .
more generally , workers ' mobility in the European Union remains very low , constituting a barrier to the proper functioning of the internal market as well as the pursuit of the Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs .
it is a problem of the safety of our citizens and we have got to do our best .
in the opinion of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs , we have the chance to implement the next stage of the political project known as the area of freedom , security and justice , provided appropriate monitoring is carried out by the European institutions .
let us do what is necessary to achieve the same situation in the Republic of Moldova as well .
we should harmonise these more effectively , as they are different in every Member State .
it will simply give rise to even greater parliamentary and extra-parliamentary pressure .
( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the Charter of Fundamental Rights will help to anchor the European Union within a genuine culture of fundamental rights .
on the issue of these recent dangerous product recalls , the Commission would be more worried by silence than by activity , and transparency builds trust .
the first concerns the extent to which it is free .
however , the state of emergency which was declared on 15 February and was intended to last a fortnight has been extended to the middle of this month .
however , that is counterproductive , because the internal market was born a long time ago and we now need to bring it up properly .
furthermore , on the initiative of Commissioner De Gucht , who is here with us , the European Commission has just opened a public consultation period with a view to creating new guidelines for the common commercial policy , within the framework of the Europe 2020 strategy .
this action plan will propose several areas of action to tackle the main challenges posed by this phenomenon , which affects unaccompanied minors arriving in the European Union in different contexts , and will be guided by the best interests of the child .
your meetings with high-level officials such as the Foreign Minister , Mr Mottaki , as well as with a wide spectrum of Iranian society , are and were very precious .
our Committee was keen to highlight the fact that apart from providing necessary information , the purpose of the GHS is also the protection of consumers and the environment .
yes , you heard correctly , I said 30 % of the population .
I think that right now , the first thing to do is to begin setting out our stall and recognise the Libyan National Council .
after all , more or less all European countries are suffering a huge financial and economic crisis and masses of people are losing their jobs , and the best we can come up with is to allocate ourselves substantially more resources , more staff and more costs at the taxpayer 's expense .
the Commission believes that there is a need to enhance political and policy dialogue beyond traditional development scenarios .
this debate means that Parliament is involved early , because the programme does not exist yet , so we are taking this as input into our discussion and we will take your suggestions on board .
I am talking about different ways of reacting .
this 2020 Strategy is not a cure for the problems of the economies .
( FR ) Mr President , in accordance with Rule 110 of the Rules of Procedure , we are gathered here to debate the results of the Swedish Presidency - I applaud Prime Minister Reinfeldt , who has given us a courageous , useful and effective Presidency - but we are also here to examine the results of the European Council of 10 and 11 December .
it is an open mechanism that countries can join if they want to .
we have oil and gas pipelines , oil platforms and offshore wind farms and there are already plans to fit tankers with sails so that they can cut their energy consumption by 20 % by using wind energy .
consequently , I urge the President-in-Office of the Council to maintain his optimism and to apply pressure and negotiate as much as he can to draw the others towards this success .
this will inevitably lead to conflict , even though this would not be necessary if a consensus were to be reached on how to exploit the existing technical options while , at the same time , protecting the natural amenity .
this can only be interpreted one way : the Commission says that it has no ability to put pressure on the Member States or to intervene in this matter .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , we stand at a crossroads for the future of the Europe Union .
I will now address the issue of climate change - obviously , very superficially , because of the time constraints here .
more than 20 different national systems are used in Europe today to ensure the safe movement of trains .
we are not doing it for the sake of the mystical market forces but for the sake of sustainable growth and job creation in Europe , by ensuring that the threats to financial stability will not kill the economic recovery that is now in progress - though this is still rather modest and fragile .
finally , the health sector is one of the funding areas under the current cohesion policy .
Sucralose has been found to pass straight through the body and is not treated in our sewage systems .
for us , partnership based on trust within businesses is key to their success in the marketplace .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , let me just point one thing out before I start .
in this connection the second point worth thinking about is that all restrictions and indirect routes that we apply - such as solutions relating to transitional periods , cabotage and the year 2014 - are partial solutions that should not divert us off the main highway of maximum market openness .
Mr President , President-in-Office of the Council , President of the Commission , Mr Solana , ladies and gentlemen , if , as we hope , the Treaty of Lisbon comes into force on 1 January 2009 , this will mark the start of a new era for the Union 's Common Foreign and Security Policy .
I will cut everyone off after one minute .
ladies and gentlemen , I would first of all also like to congratulate the rapporteur , Mr Bono , on this report on cultural industries , which covers a wide range of questions that he has sought to answer .
Commissioner Šemeta , the adoption of the reports on the budgetary management of the European bodies and institutions is one of our most important obligations as representatives of the European people - it is our sovereign duty .
( ES ) Madam President , I would like to thank the Council and the Commission .
moreover , Mrs Budbergythas pledged publicly to organise her work on the basis of independence and auditing standards , taking ethical requirements into account .
there are several particularly important areas which I would like to point out specifically .
I would like to thank the rapporteur , Ms. Anastase , for her very well balanced and innovative report .
we cannot punish ourselves for irregularities , but we should punish fraud against the Community budget .
that certainly applies to Mr Slota 's verbal radicalism , but it also applies particularly to the Hungarian Guard .
however , despite this , it appears that during 2007 no new cases were initiated by the Commission .
indeed , British Government ministers used as a selling point when they were trying to sell the Treaty of Lisbon to our people that it was somehow different to the Constitution .
while I have the floor , I would just like to raise one other issue .
you understand that , for us , the idea that increased life expectancy must automatically be indexed with legal age of retirement constitutes a regressive step in terms of social rights , and one which we cannot support .
the report to some extent lists the problems facing women employed in various sectors of industry .
equality is what we are talking about here : equality between men and women .
the company , which has developed the GMO but has so far no valid market approval ?
respect for national traditions in relation to wage agreements will have to cost whatever it costs .
in all of this it is , of course , useful if Turkey has an objective .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( CS ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to thank you for an excellent discussion .
we have real concerns about the human rights situation in Tibet , about the fact that Tibet has remained largely closed to international media , diplomats and humanitarian organisations and also about the lack of progress in talks between the representatives of the Dalai Lama and the Chinese authorities .
a comprehensive EU strategy is needed to promote and ensure the effective enforcement of children 's rights both inside and outside the Union .
I gazed with envy at my fellow students who were able to go to Paris for work experience .
unfortunately , your presentation contains very little in the way of strategic vision .
ladies and gentlemen , I am in no doubt that anyone at all familiar with these issues , anyone interested in human rights , in issues of climate change , of migration and immigrant advocacy , of development or security , will be pleased to see that Europe and Africa have at last set up a political framework for negotiation and dialogue .
this debate has been going on for years without us achieving any meaningful progress .
I sincerely hope that the ' Pierre de Coubertin ' Action Plan that forms part of the White Paper will be taken seriously by the Member States and that the Commission will provide the necessary guidance and , where appropriate , economic assistance from the development funds at its disposal .
there are major improvements over the previous year in the area of cohesion and only a slight deterioration in agriculture .
what is extremism ?
I do think it is a shame they have not even been here to participate in such an excellent debate .
no !
in the course of the process , as shadow rapporteur , I tried to influence the final report on those occasions when I was permitted to participate in the meetings .
that is what the rule is about .
in answer to my fellow Member who spoke previously , we stress that Articles 149 and 150 of the Treaty are the right legal basis for the proposed recommendation simply because they allow for lifelong learning .
Madam President , I would like to speak about needlestick injuries , because I was responsible for the 2006 report on this issue .
we need specific measures in order to help those people who are most at risk and not flagship initiatives that operate alongside each other rather than being integrated with one another .
the EU is committed to stepping up its contribution to international coordination and the High Representative / Vice President is very seriously interested in pursuing that .
( PT ) Commissioner , I would like to thank you for being here in this Chamber again - that has been a constant throughout your mandate - even though the Commission is in this transitional phase .
it also welcomes the idea of project bonds , aimed at enhancing the credit rating of bonds issued by companies themselves within the framework of the Europe 2020 strategy and which are used to finance European transport , energy and IT infrastructures and the greening of the economy .
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I would like to stress that it will not bring major changes or anything new in terms of the basic premises on which European security and defence policies are founded .
at the request of the countries concerned , the ECOFIN Council decided to provide balance of payments support to Hungary of up to EUR 6.5 billion in November .
let me also remind you that , in the event of such a necessity , we have the possibility of employing the support measures under the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund .
signing this document would certainly help to resolve this problem and would , at the same time , allow the country to apply for assistance for the victims of landmines and speed up the mine removal campaign , which has been operating since 2003 with little effect .
the references to the Treaty of Lisbon , which our people do not want , and the proposal that the putative Commission Vice-President / High Representative should co-chair a new ' Transatlantic Political Council ' , are examples of this .
the report contains practical recommendations in this field , inter alia , with reference to the creation of civil-military structures within the European External Action Service , the use of battlegroups and the European Gendarmerie Force , optimisation of crisis management and the use of funds from the next framework programme .
agenda of the next sitting : see Minutes
it is true that the Chinese hold the world record for executions , as you have said , and that the Chinese regime is unjust , because it disregards human rights .
drug-related violence in Mexico only seems to be getting worse , with ever more grisly murders and journalists who report on such cases being themselves targeted .
this was one of the findings of the hearing that was held last week .
you cannot get a number one position , which is indeed the leader 's role , if you are not taking the choices that need to be taken .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( ES ) Madam President , once again , following the debate and the resolution that we adopted in December , we are discussing the situation in Pakistan in Parliament .
I also add my support to my fellow Members who have emphasised that the European Parliament should be consulted on the application of the Generalised System of Preferences .
people must first provide real facts in other fields to back up why they think they are being discriminated against , and then you have to give your reasons for accepting or turning someone down for a property .
I do not care whether he owns a Ford or is homeless .
the report is of a very high quality , providing a detailed analysis of the current situation of development cooperation by the new Member States , the institutions and programmes involved , the recipient countries and the relevant financial contributions .
these things therefore go together .
Mr Wurtz , I appreciated the discussions we have had together and I particularly appreciated the fact that you supported the right to do politics in Europe .
the Gräßle-Rivellini report increases budgetary and financial responsibility , improves transparency and promotes the EEAS 's effectiveness .
the people still look to their national governments to save them .
the EU-US relationship is based on a shared commitment to democracy , to the rule of law and human rights , to combating terrorism , and to preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction ; these are our shared interests and values .
I would like to call on the Council to accelerate the procedure of electing a new EU anti-terrorism co-ordinator , with enhanced powers in relation to the strategies agreed .
in 2007 and 2008 , Parliament was not represented at the annual meeting of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation ( NAFO ) .
I would like to finish by saying that violence against women is a problem of abuse , it is a problem of cowardice , it is a problem of intolerance and , above all , Madam President , it is a problem of fear and powerlessness , of fear of accepting the will of others and , above all , fear of peacefully imposing will and reason based on argument , peacefully and not through violence .
in Bulgaria , only 10 % of livestock farmers own their land , which consequently means that only these 10 % can benefit from direct payments .
qualitative growth in the economy and employment on the one hand must be reconciled with social equality and with sustainability .
it is , however , also embarrassing that the EU is turning its face away from the suffering of the Dalits - and so is Parliament !
in this respect , I welcome the Commission proposal and the work done by our rapporteur , Mr Turmes .
finally , I would stress the importance of remembering that the Atlantic Alliance is a basic pillar of European security and defence which must not and cannot under any circumstances be disregarded .
the planned principle of one-stop shops is not working in many countries or is not working appropriately , and entrepreneurs sometimes still have to obtain endless licences which must be checked by a whole host of inspection bodies .
I would also like to congratulate Baroness Ashton , High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy , on the determination she has shown with the entire international community in monitoring these elections .
the next European Union financial programming cannot therefore ignore these considerations and must increase and diversify the resources available .
in doing so , we are going to have to find a way to establish a more even playing field for the involvement of Europeans and Americans in these debates .
( DE ) Mr President , I do not know how often Mr Verhofstadt is here .
we need to get past our fragmented approach in terms of finance as well .
recapitalisation of banks is important , but recapitalised banks with the SME sector on its knees is a recipe for disaster .
this is not only in the interests of the European Union , but also in the interest of NATO , as both organisations will reap the rewards of a Europe that is better equipped to tackle the increasing challenges to the security of Europeans and to global security .
it acquires the right to intervene even in the Member States themselves in relation to international events of major significance with consequences for public order , such as international demonstrations .
this means that the proposal contributes to the Commission 's general policy of promoting the online market and online trade .
reducing public debt remains a fundamental commitment , as it concerns our children 's future .
proper economic policy coordination reaching well beyond the policing role of the stability pact should ensure that gradual fiscal consolidation in the different Member States is combined with the preservation of key public spending in growth areas and key social policies .
coupled with the ' one in , one out ' policy for regulation that my own government is operating , these measures should begin to achieve our objective .
( RO ) Mr President , young people are admittedly hit hardest by the economic and financial crisis , but we must not forget either people over the age of 45 who are unemployed .
secondly , I want to mention that the Court of Auditors was critical of the lack of controls in joint managed programmes .
as for Syria , the association agreement broadly follows the pattern of the other Euro-Mediterranean agreements insofar as it requires regular political , economic and social dialogue and cooperation in many sectors .
the recommendations in the first report will be taken into account in the implementation of the action plan , and especially in all relevant issues connected to small businesses .
Parliament , between a weakened Commission and a strengthened intergovernmental centre , needs to become the institutional point of equilibrium .
having greater openness on genetically modified organisms makes Europe more democratic .
obviously coordination is only for the good times .
the next EFF Committee will have presentations on the use of these possibilities .
I should like to say to those EU leaders who have taken an interest in our country : if you are so keen to be involved in a referendum campaign , organise one in your own country .
this assessment is particularly valid when it comes to research and development for small and medium-sized businesses .
I would also like to mention the attack on the Prime Minister of Italy , Silvio Berlusconi . the attack deserves our unequivocal condemnation .
( ET ) My political party has the custom of visiting kindergartens at roughly the time of International Women 's Day and acknowledging the people who work there .
therefore , we should probably analyse the fact that those shipwrecked in the Mediterranean are not an anomaly of a mechanism that creates illegal immigration ; rather they are a foreseeable consequence of the immigration policy of the European Union and its Member States .
( for the results and other details on the vote : see Minutes )
returning to more serious matters , the economic contraction in the countries of Central Europe has reached drastic proportions .
this is a very important precedent that sends an extremely clear message : the Commission can and must be firm and thorough with Member States that act as if nothing had happened , and it must use all the tools the democratic system allows : the media and public opinion .
independent from what ?
the resolution and the amendments also include a number of points , concerning human rights , discrimination and privacy for example , that are already covered by previous programmes as well as the Treaty of Lisbon .
we must make it quite clear that in Europe , regional cooperation formed the basis for us to come together and for peaceful development and it must be the same in this region .
as far as payments are concerned , EUR 27 million have actually been spent to date on technical development : EUR 20 million on developing the system ; EUR 7 million on providing a network that is at the forefront of technical progress ; and EUR 4 500 000 on quality assurance .
the European Union has recently succeeded in reducing overall CO2 emissions by 9 % .
even if the Israeli authorities have allowed food trucks into Gaza , the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East reports shortages of basic foodstuffs caused by frequent closures of the Karni border crossing .
I am making an urgent call to all the Members of this House to be present for the vote and to vote in favour of this resolution .
public transport , on the other hand , has become more expensive , whilst routes and frequencies have been cut .
there is also a clear obligation that the requirements of the environmental impact assessment should be fulfilled , as laid down in Community law , and the additional requirements of the UN / ECE Espoo Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context will also be applicable .
we must not believe that this is a battle that we can win once and for all .
thank you .
I support an environmentally friendly common agricultural policy !
the goal is to put neo-fascism in a good light and condemn communism .
what more could you want than events of this kind involving young people from the whole of Europe gathered in the name of multiculturalism and multilingualism ?
it is therefore essential for Member States to give top priority to the common aim of improving levels of education and training in the younger generation and instilling the habit of life-long learning .
that is why it is important to guarantee the legal basis so that the companies concerned can operate with less bureaucracy , as the rapporteur rightly pointed out .
the engineers have done their bit .
ask for the records of all the inspections carried out by the CNIL and ...
what is important is that , when we provide aid , we should emphasise the fact that we are doing this now because the European Union recognises that the threat posed by climate change is a challenge to our civilisation as well as being civilisation 's responsibility .
Wednesday :
ladies and gentlemen , perhaps not everyone knows that the first organ transplant in the world was performed in Vienna in 1902 by a person of Hungarian origin , Imre Ulmann .
during this period , the world experienced its biggest economic crisis for years .
a response to the crisis must not only consist of many billions of euros worth of loans for the automotive industry ; small and medium-sized enterprises , which , after all , are the largest employers , must also be supported .
in its ten-year plan which forms part of an act of state , Korea has made it an objective to ensure that more than 90 % of the companies supplying the Korean shipbuilding industry are based in Korea .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , firstly , just to clarify , sadly , many more than 8 000 people die each year on our roads .
in conclusion , I would like to mention the issue of infertility .
the reaction has been one of unacceptable xenophobic violence .
we saw how steps that had been taken so as to have a European voice in the areas of foreign policy and security , were not supported in the area of the economy , despite the imperatives of globalisation .
Mr President , Commissioner , the report I am presenting to Parliament sets out to explain that the agricultural sector has a place and a role to play in the fight against global warming .
I should , however , point out that , apart from the developments in technology that are giving the perverts many more opportunities to satisfy their cravings , we should also look at moral decadence and the lowering of values as further reasons for the large increase in this type of crime .
I fully support Andreas Schwab in his wonderful job and I wish him well in the negotiations ahead .
if we look at the consultation document , it lists tomorrow 's challenges as diversity , scientific and technical progress , the knowledge economy , climate change , energy security , but it does not mention food security .
I also believe that South Africa is conducting the mediation process as conscientiously as it should .
I believe that the text adopted by the Committee on Legal Affairs makes some crucial contributions and , therefore , the Commission would be mistaken not to take these amendments into account .
Madam President , like Mr Sumberg , I would like to say why we voted for this report .
4 .
the Stability and Growth Pact needs to be better connected to the Europe 2020 strategy .
the construction of the remaining 26 satellites will take between two and three years .
I also take note of the line taken and presented in the report on the relationship between the internal market scoreboard and the consumer scoreboard , and that the scoreboards should be kept separate .
although we agree with some aspects of Mrs Ţicău 's proposal , we are unsure about many others .
I , too , wish to express my solidarity with the Thai families grieving in the wake of the violent clashes in Bangkok .
the gas crisis in the past months has demonstrated how vulnerable Europe is in terms of energy .
the prospects for both economic and cultural enrichment are huge , but the risks of various types of new global imbalance are also huge .
this is creating a sense of fear and incomprehension and , behind all this , we are seeing a rise in populism and protectionism .
on the other hand , there can be no doubt that this right to individual mobility - plainly speaking , the right to drive cars , to own and use a car - must be exercised in such a way that it does not destroy our environment , and that means that we need cars that do not harm the environment .
for this reason , I have abstained from voting on the report .
the Internet has perhaps shone a light on this very dark part of society which we are still grappling with , and grappling very badly with .
if the European Union approves cosmetic improvements like this , it loses all credibility and the whole of the rest of the negotiating process becomes a grotesque farce .
the EIB , as the long-term lending bank of the European Union , lends money to the public and private sectors for projects of European interest , using the financial markets and its own funds .
by guaranteeing clear consumer protection , we will be able to strengthen consumer confidence in the internal market and more generally towards the European Union .
what are the risks then for the region as a whole , in your view ?
the Commission felt that the end of the first decade of a major political initiative and the end of a complete economic cycle was a good time to take stock and reflect on the challenges that Economic and Monetary Union will face in the coming years .
such remarks have also been heard during the debate .
I wish everybody well in their efforts , and the PSE Group will vote in favour .
I agree that technology applied to vehicles and infrastructure is extremely important for safety - no stone can be left unturned when it comes to safety and assistance , as Mr Piskorski and Mr Kuc have said - but it is also necessary for drivers to be intelligent and informed .
this report nuances Parliament 's role and enhances our ability to control and monitor the implementation of legislation in Member States .
her examination of the secondary law was exemplary .
it is a differentiated policy , a policy that must have a coherent political framework .
on the other hand , the gross breach of principle in relation to official visits of EU member representatives is regrettable .
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the Presidency will present an agreement on principles covering five major elements , namely , the scope of the External Action Service 's activities , its legal position , its staffing and financing and the EU delegations .
indeed , it will put many in the voluntary sector - which runs many of the schemes for those with disabilities - out of business altogether .
the European Union is fast approaching the moment of carrying out the most important reform in its history : the implementation of the Treaty of Lisbon .
I think all of you here know what the process is now .
also , I consider it a serious shortcoming that the Commission has failed to take into account the introduction of tourism satellite accounts ( TSAs ) , as this type of data would provide a more complete picture of the impact that tourism has on the labour market and the economy .
I respect that .
these reactors are powered by a fraction of the critical mass of fissile material , which means that the occurrence of a spontaneous nuclear chain reaction is impossible .
the tradesmen , industrialists and farmers also need our support in rebuilding their lives and contributing to the economic development of the region .
I call upon the Commission to begin working actively to help European farmers to overcome the existing difficulties in the livestock sector , as our support is vital for farmers .
we are still , in 2007 , in the initial phases of real implementation of the 2002 reforms by moving in the direction of multiannual management and recovery plans , by moving in the direction of more ecosystem based management of fisheries .
the concrete form it will take may still be open to discussion .
a word or two perhaps regarding renewable sources .
in politics , fine words do not count for anything : action is needed and NOTHING will change in Gaza after this resolution .
no , human rights apply to all people throughout the world and these rights must be inviolable .
to conclude , I welcome the adoption of the report , which shows that the EGF is a useful and effective resource for combating unemployment resulting from globalisation and the economic crisis .
it is actually a European popular petition , a different sort of right .
it is good that the European Union is taking on global commitments , but the larger the European Union becomes , the more its responsibility increases for our own continent , including the Baltic Sea region , i.e. the internal sea of the European Union as it is now , and everyone knows what a poor state it is in .
nevertheless , a number of financial institutions in the United States and in Europe have been rescued from insolvency after experiencing serious difficulty in accessing liquidity .
at present in Diyarbakir there are more than 185 minors in prison .
the existence of an agreement on financing and technical support for clean , renewal energy and energy efficiency in developing countries is essential in order to obtain a robust agreement in Copenhagen .
situation in Gaza ( vote )
a number of sociologists have been arguing , most recently , that this is not the best indicator as it does not consider aspects such as sustainability or social integration .
( MT ) Mr President , I would like to begin by thanking and congratulating Claude Moraes on his report .
is Serbia standing in its own way ?
rising instances of ambush marketing and circulation of unauthorised highlights is as damaging as any other kind of piracy .
he managed to escape , only to die several years later from a bullet in the back of the head , dispatched on the orders of Soviet butchers .
however , I should like to highlight the imbalance between the internal and external competence of Parliament , in foro interno and in foro externo , in connection with the common commercial policy , given that the Treaty of Lisbon does not provide Parliament with the right to approve the mandate of the Commission to negotiate a trade agreement .
secondly , no one contests the need , as an absolute priority - and I stress the word ' priority ' - to apply the precautionary principle .
amendment 5 criticises some countries for systematically depriving asylum seekers of their liberty by placing them in detention .
Romania has to invest in the development of railway transport .
Mr President , I would like to thank you for this debate .
indeed , I can only support the rapporteur , who recommends gradual removal , over three years , of any possibility to derogate ( opt-out clause ) from the maximum statutory limit on working time , which stands at 48 working hours per week for individual workers .
another issue I see as problematical is that while information on job-seekers is accessible on the portal , there is much less information on companies providing job opportunities .
the GUE / NGL group is opposed to this .
the compromise package now before us is the result of intensive talks in which gentlemanly behaviour had to be sought to some extent , though in the end it was found , to the benefit of one and all .
I would also like to stress that the progress that I described upholds the principle of subsidiarity because it leaves the Member States free to decide how they arrange the social protection of spouses , in accordance with their national law , and whether they implement it on a mandatory or a voluntary basis .
we want to increase those items which help tackle the crisis .
therefore , the Council and Parliament should immediately issue clear statements to the effect that the EU will defend free trade throughout the world and open up the way for progress in the trade in agricultural products .
the Commission has drafted a regulation on the methods for implementing safeguard measures within the context of this agreement .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , a warm welcome to all the fishermen and -women in the Chamber !
I think it is an extremely negative message to send out to the rest of the world if we talk about exemptions for emissions trading for the next decade .
whereas up to now only national carriers and American airlines have been able to fly from the Member States to the United States , in future all European carriers will be able to fly from any point in Europe to any point in the United States , with the possibility of then flying on to , for instance , Mexico or South America .
we have put proposals on the table to enhance cyber security .
this prohibition should also be extended to information and advertising distributed to medical staff .
even I can support this draft on the table , the result of fifteen years of hard bargaining .
( ES ) Madam President , Mr Dimas , Mr Borloo , ladies and gentlemen , it is time to act .
we must improve upon Frontex , especially with regard to the potential cooperation that could take place between countries , and which include concrete issues such as those tied to return policies involving more than one country .
it seems that not all countries are entitled to sovereignty and ' free trade ' ...
financial instability and the impact on the real economy ( debate )
the enlargement strategy takes almost no account of the concerns of the citizens of Europe .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
this resolution is on 2009 competition policy and contains a global perspective of all state support of the transport sector within the EU , which is fundamental for the existence of a market without borders and for the free movement of people , goods and services .
the debate is closed .
I would also like to thank all of you for your excellent cooperation over the past five years .
I gave you the figures .
adjournment of the session
I also think we should not delude ourselves that a European Union , which is a complicated mechanism with 27 Member States , can continue to be successfully led and matters harmonised just as they were fifty years ago when there were six Member States , or when there were 12 Member States .
this is why I stand for a definitive ban on child labour and for additional funds to be allocated to the fight against using children for work .
politics is the art of anticipating , preparing what we would like so that we do not have to put up with what we do not want .
the Commission must explain how it will ensure this money will be recovered , especially in cases where projects have not been accepted through the use of tendering procedures .
for these reasons I abstained from the final vote .
the report put before us today opens the door to this , and I am pleased about this .
in spite of the economic crisis , we want to preserve European social models which foster social cohesion and solidarity , and this includes tackling poverty .
in the European Union , we also have countries that are facing the same kind of difficulties because of very high levels of expenditure .
we would stress that the priorities of the Portuguese Presidency of the EU in relation to consumer policy include not only the review of the Timeshare Directive but also the review of the consumer acquis which is being considered here today , in addition to the Community consumer policy strategy up to 2013 and the Common Frame of Reference on EU Contract Law .
( it ) Mr President , Ukraine is a democracy , a friendly country , a partner of this European Union .
I naturally voted for the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area .
I think that this would help .
it is therefore very important to harmonise the requirements for the various forms of transport .
I would also like to point to the implementation of the joint strategy for Africa , the EU-Africa strategy .
however , the Left has been successful in taking the spotlight off its own extremes and promoting institutions and policies which assist its own objectives .
the seabed in this area contains natural resources that the Republic of Cyprus has a legitimate right to exploit , in line with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea .
in writing . - ( PL ) Madam President , we all agree that information actions and promotion of agricultural products on both the internal and the external markets are essential .
'Dys ' -type disabilities should be recognised as specific conditions or impairments . the problems entailed should be explained first to the child itself , and then to those surrounding it , namely parents , friends and schoolmates .
I would like to give two very specific examples of ways in which we must secure the rights of consumers .
it will also be possible to put up a robust , analytical framework so that we are capable of making informed policy decisions regarding all the aspects of tourism that have been mentioned here today and many more besides .
however , I am pleased with many elements of what we do have , such as the need to tackle the issue of elder abuse .
these rights are repeatedly violated by the German Office for Children and Young People , the Jugendamt , as regards children one of whose parents is foreign .
as of the beginning of 2009 our circumstances will have changed : the Lisbon Treaty will have entered into force .
the increase in costs of compound feed is pushing up production costs for the livestock sector , and more flexibility is needed in respect of assistance to this sector .
they want to increase profits .
the coordination of economic , employment and social policies is laid down in the treaties .
on the contrary , rapid economic growth even seems to give these regimes legitimacy and to contribute to the stabilisation of their power .
there are proposals that are already a reality .
it is responsible for the whole area of public health , for food and feed safety , and for veterinary measures , as well as for the extremely important work of five European agencies .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE . - ( ES ) Mr President , I wonder what we are hoping to achieve by a moratorium on cloning animals for food supply ?
( CS ) Mr President , Baroness Ashton , ladies and gentlemen , developments in North Africa and the Middle East are extremely important to security and stability in Europe .
de-institutionalisation and greater autonomy are among the priorities of the European Union Disability Strategy .
losses of companies like Qimonda , due to their large size and importance as an economic anchor to regional and even national economies , have to be treated seriously by policy makers .
but what we have to do now is to ensure that Greece can be encouraged to return to market financing as soon as possible and , in fact , the solution found was one where the euro area Member States ' loans will be granted at non-concessional interest rates .
when I went to the United Kingdom I said that the entente cordiale between France and the United Kingdom was not enough .
it sets out horizontal initiatives that cover a number of policies , but the common denominator is that minors , that is children , form the heart of our society and it is , therefore , clear that they deserve our utmost attention .
in this respect , I must first of all thank the European Parliament as a whole for rejecting the Commission 's totally unacceptable initial proposal and for amending it substantially and decisively at first reading .
on this basis , thanks to the environmental bonus , 50 % of the cars sold in my country will henceforth be clean cars .
it is set , as I understand it , at something like EUR 3 billion .
what is the truth ?
it was the result of violent acts that we absolutely and categorically condemn .
they reach people via meat .
those on the ground tell us that , just as in the past , there are unsolved questions in connection with the cross-border taking of evidence in civil and commercial matters .
the modern way of discussing whether this is a new financing source for the United Nations aims at something different , and I hope to come back to this in the Chamber later .
the problem seems to be with passengers in transit who buy in the ' transit ' airport and then attempt to check through security for their further flight .
how can we go round saying to small businesses , ' participate in the internal market ' , if we cannot even give them the simplest of safeguards on a simple act like this ?
( PL ) Mr President , food is also of strategic importance for the European Union .
we need to start driving it in a certain direction and we need to take on our role in the world .
6 .
while , in principle , these are fair , it should be implemented in a gradual and equitable manner .
I am in favour of making Annexes I , II , and III binding .
therefore , the European Union must cooperate intensively with Ukraine , strengthening democracy in this country and speeding up its integration in the European Union .
with a view to all these goals , it would be useful to strengthen the EU 's supervisory procedures as well .
SMEs represent 99 % of businesses in the European Union .
I am sure that we want this to happen .
if we destroy opportunities for a transatlantic capital market , it does not help Europe .
Madam President , Mrs Morin-Chartier is not the only one who has said this .
what is considered embarrassing or unacceptable in one country may be seen as funny or amusing in another .
in conclusion , I would like to say that the complexity of the Common Agricultural Policy reform cannot be treated as an impasse or as a failing of the institutional bodies .
we should remember our history .
until today , the European Community has adopted annual regulations for the purposes of bringing the regulation into line , while this report marks a step towards the bureaucratic and administrative simplification that is one of the objectives of the European Union .
so I can only welcome the outcome , and I totally reject the criticism that it is counterproductive .
this case shows how important it is to be able to rely on proper and effective control of external borders and how rare that is the case .
let us assume they have a right to vote in Great Britain or Ireland , but they come home .
the police forces of the various Member States should exchange information and cooperate so as to prevent as many crimes of this sort as possible .
I would like to thank the rapporteur , Mr Ehler , and the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs , for their very constructive approach .
there is no European super-state !
I would particularly like to thank the Chair of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , Jo Leinen .
at the same time the Commission noted that it was appropriate to review the operation and composition of the European Advisory Committee on Statistical Information in the Economic and Social Spheres , with the aim of making it more efficient and allowing it to play a more strategic role .
this aid is indeed conditional upon certain criteria with which you are very familiar : regular , free elections , freedom of association , freedom of the press , freedom of expression , combating corruption , independence of the justice system , reform of the army and reform of the police .
its Members have the sometimes thankless task of guaranteeing a sustainable view of the future for the people they represent .
- Report : Paolo Costa
I also call on all my fellow Members to support the Estrela report in its entirety .
as far as this last point is concerned , I applaud the fact that this report points out that the Afghan Constitution still does not guarantee freedom of religion , because unfaithfulness to Islam remains a criminal offence .
to our best knowledge , unfortunately , no adequate alternatives to cyanide use for gold extraction exist on the market .
it is a shame .
I believe that there is substantial agreement throughout this House that the principle of subsidiarity and the fundamental rights should be guaranteed .
furthermore , consolidation of interconnections and links with third countries is of paramount importance .
education could play a vital role in compensating for the socio-economic disadvantage and for opening the way for children 's succesful development .
I also believe that the exchange of knowledge within regional groups can be facilitated by the Structural Funds as well because European policies are consistently targeted at sustainable development , offering tangible results at regional level .
it certainly is important .
that is why the Commission cooperated with partners in the Member States , the G7 and Ukraine itself to ensure that the area can be stabilised in an orderly manner and secured in an environmentally appropriate way .
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the adoption of the report on ' Tax and development - Cooperating with developing countries on promoting good governance in tax matters ' is particularly important with regard to the effectiveness of the development aid granted to developing countries by the Member States of the European Union and the European Commission .
yet their very success now threatens to count against them as they approach the limit of permissible commercial cultivation .
Russia has the same rights and obligations as all states in the international community .
as we insistently complain , the European Commission has completely forgotten to deal with the question of out-of-court settlements in its White Paper .
with this resolution , MEPs are sending a strong political signal to Russia : whilst greater economic , energetic , strategic and international cooperation between the EU and Russia is desirable , it should nonetheless be conditional upon efforts towards protecting human rights and civil liberties .
more and more often , large numbers of consumers lose out as a result of the same or similar illegal practices by a trader and do not receive redress .
the collection of data will not impose any additional burden on respondents .
let me remind you that in the case of data retention of telephone calls , you have repeatedly reassured us that the contents of our SMS messages and phone calls will not be monitored .
I believe that many members of the Commission and of the national governments are still convinced that a deregulated market made up of strong players can regulate itself .
there is no escaping this contradiction , just as no end will be possible to the war in Afghanistan without resolving it .
I believe that in the area of transport policy , this is one of our most important results during the Hungarian Presidency , and we are awaiting tomorrow 's vote with optimism , hoping that the majority of representatives will support this directive .
on this particular point , agreement has been reached on the exchange of information needed to prevent tax avoidance and to prevent economic and financial activities being hidden from the public authorities by utilising the protection of tax havens .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , ' Women in rural areas of the EU ' - under this title we in the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality have together been compiling facts and proposals for solutions .
and , of course , I do not have to explain to this Parliament the need to put the Lisbon Treaty in place .
we need to realise that , while people are rioting and there are hunger demonstrations - and who can blame them - the Commission , which has several voices , is still continuing to subsidise exports of its agricultural produce at the expense of millions of small producers in the south who are incapable of competing .
its main priority will be to reform the international financial system .
( PL ) Madam President , development of the European services market plays an absolutely essential role in stimulating economic growth in the European Union .
that is something I would like to welcome on our behalf , and I wonder if the Commissioner would perhaps give us a little more detail about what this council is to concern itself with .
the Internet has given rise to new possibilities in the trade of goods and services .
Madam President , it is a factual issue .
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we ask questions but never receive any answers to them , save perhaps for some general statements .
( PL ) Madam President , I should like to congratulate those who have raised the matter of these specific disabling conditions .
this study could also come up with various options for how it could be done more cheaply through cooperation with private industries .
it is a complex matter where many factors have to be taken into account : efficiency from a tax compliance point of view ; the administrative burden for market operators , and also for tax administration ; the need for a level playing field both inside the EU and in relation to the outside world - to name just a few .
the need for appropriate trade regulation at world level is particularly acute in the context of globalisation .
Rilke was the favourite poet of our recently deceased fellow Member , Dimitris Tsatsos .
this is obvious in the case of the Balkans .
it should be remembered that the recovery of WEEE offers an important source of secondary raw materials , which is a reason why producers should encourage consumers to participate as much as possible in this process .
I hope you throw all dishonest advisers out of the window of decency and reason , and that you succeed in pushing European affairs forward . that is what Europe 's citizens are expecting , and you will not succeed by listening to these charlatans .
we thus call on the Commission and Council to take specific measures here .
Iceland 's application for EU membership highlights the need to establish a policy for the Arctic , coordinated at European level .
let us create new jobs in the green industries of the future , rather than protecting jobs in the old industries of the past .
in some areas , improvements on the original compromises were actually necessary , one example being in relation to agriculture .
the next step , of course , is compulsion .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , first of all , I should like to discuss the problems with development aid that are nearly always emphasised by the Court of Auditors and to thank Mrs Ayala Sender for her good cooperation that was remarkably pleasant .
in the end , I abstained on this vote because of my concerns about soils in particular .
1 .
also upgraded is the Lisbon-Treaty-related expenditure , which is increased by 4 % .
that was our position .
it so happens that I have been a member of the Committee on Budgetary Control at a crucial time , and I thank you for the changes that you have made , because they are a great help to us .
it is entirely contrary to their aim to create new hazards for the environment and for human health .
finally , we need to step up efforts to develop more effective rapid response mechanisms to natural disasters by strengthening the permanent civil protection force which Mr Dimas referred to and by making greater use of the conclusions in the Barnier report .
decoupling payments has only succeeded in channelling direct payments to the major land owners , who are definitely not farmers . decoupling is necessary to avoid overproduction .
one event that is of key importance for the mission was the implementation of two memorandums of understanding with Georgia 's Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Internal Affairs .
as rapporteur for this Parliament for Kosovo , I am making an appeal to the Serbian administration .
women are already in a terrible situation and under terrible pressure in Muslim countries .
the model followed in Barcelona has not had the expected results .
as a lawyer , I cannot agree that the President of the European Council could be a President of something else at the same time .
the resolution should lead to an easier flow of construction goods between Member States .
it openly supports the ' new doctrine ' of NATO to ' intertwine internal and external security ' , calling on the EU to organise and plan its civil and military forces so that it can intervene directly , using combined civilian and military means , in every corner of the planet , in the name of so-called ' crisis management ' and ' to maintain peace ' .
if we really ...
at the same time , if our ultimate goal is to save the planet from catastrophic climate change while having a energy-secure and competitive Europe on the global market , then the remaining 80 per cent of energy should be given adequate attention .
all of these agreements contain provisions relating to third-country nationals in transit through the territory .
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we cannot pretend it is the auditors ' fault .
what is more , there are countries which have reintroduced the notion of collective guilt , reminiscent of the Second World War , or countries which still want to rely on the Communist laws of the 1940s to guarantee the rights of traditional ethnic minorities .
well , police cooperation and protection of individual rights are not infrequently antithetical , but here they manage to find a reasonable balance .
an adequate level of financial know-how would , in many cases , reduce the risk of over-indebtedness and defaults on payments .
so we need the forums for international co-productions .
( for outcome of the vote and other details : see Minutes )
this is the way to meet the challenge .
1 .
the Eastern Partnership , launched in Prague in May , is an important framework for strengthening the support we give Georgia , both bilaterally and through multilateral cooperation with other partners in the region .
we do not need this at the centre of it .
in my view , the European Union 's credibility has played a key role here : credibility and unity .
( PL ) Mr President , Commissioner , may I begin by responding briefly to two statements made by fellow Members .
therefore , the step we have taken is not enough , but it is significant .
they are important subjects . nevertheless , the people and institutions concerned with type-approval requirements for heavy goods vehicles would not be offended if the dates for these debates were changed round .
we acknowledge the acceptance by the Government of Sudan of the presence of the UN peacekeeping force on Sudanese soil .
therefore , the permanent financial stability mechanism should be open to all Member States , including those from outside the euro area .
in what way will the Presidency assist Ukraine in this process ?
it is vitally important for Parliament to have clearly identified local contact points .
1 .
I would like firstly to thank the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection for approving the report on 8 April .
as the general rapporteur has pointed out , 80 % of all European funds are actually spent within the framework of comanagement , by the Member States and the Commission .
this is not because no help is needed , but because the obstacles to obtaining the funds are too hard to overcome .
likewise , we can expect some debates on the Troika summits with Japan and Canada and other important summits and meetings already planned for May , Russia included .
what I do believe , however , is that Europe can incentivise , can improve the exchange of information and best practices , and that is the essence of our proposals , which will be outlined shortly .
I voted for this resolution submitted by the Conference of Committee Chairs , which requests the Commission to submit new proposals for those dossiers which were pending in Parliament at the time of the Treaty of Lisbon 's entry into force and the procedure for which has lapsed .
Mr López Garrido , if you are telling us that translations or the lack of translations in such a sensitive area is causing delays that we will just have to accept , then , with the greatest respect , I have to say that that is merely an excuse intended to protect yourself and pacify us here a little .
the Council also made concessions during the debate on harmonising work and family life in the deadline for providing supplementary daytime rest and in the definition of top-ranking employees , and I could list further examples .
I think it is fair to say that the answer is ' no ' if we are to respond to the challenges of climate change , to decrease energy dependency and to connect the European energy markets with each other .
as you all know , the budget is cast in stone and we , Parliament , have virtually no flexibility to shuffle things between chapters .
fewer CO2 emissions also mean more energy efficiency and more sustainable energy sources .
the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats has tabled a number of amendments that I find absolutely impossible to accept .
we must appeal to regional and local authorities , as well as to all other stakeholders , and urge them to take advantage of this second chance .
I should therefore like to thank all those who have spoken in the debate and the shadow rapporteurs .
I would particularly like to know who can trigger them and when .
this new instrument will enable us to better cater for the specific characteristics of many regions that are neither poor nor rich .
subject : Pakistani military assets
therefore , I am pleased with Mr Klinz 's reasonable suggestion that the reference countries be limited to the EU area countries .
it is good to see that the European Commission is dealing with the reviewal of EU resources to support small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) , especially given the following programming period .
over the last eight years we have lost our moral authority because of our support for the way in which the US has fought terrorism .
however , we cannot support the use of the passerelle in Article 67 ( 2 ) , indent 2 , of the EC Treaty as suggested by Mr Coelho .
the Stability and Growth Pact focuses exclusively on ensuring that public deficit does not exceed 3 % of GDP .
I want to ask whether this is a sign of your inclination to move ahead with this important measure .
this is really very important .
in the meantime , 30 % of Europe 's children live below the poverty threshold .
a country which has a large proportion of wind energy in its energy mix has taken the liberty to invest in renewable energy resources when it has already developed , causing pollution in the process .
( DA ) Mr President , listening to the debate on quotas for women on the boards of listed companies , it is clear that here in this Chamber , trench warfare is being waged again and again , and that is indeed a shame .
the EU 's position has not changed in respect of the agreements of 12 August and 8 September .
another problem is the incompatibility of the education system with the needs of the labour market .
cooperation with third countries is to be encouraged as much as possible , as this is also a global problem , so this agreement is to be warmly welcomed .
if the decision had been mine , many parts of it would have been different .
the Greens are very happy with this quite progressive report .
the report on the Financial Regulation calls for the Commission 's chief accountant and the Commission 's internal auditor to act in these roles for the EEAS , while it was agreed in Madrid that the EEAS would be a separate institution with its own heads of finance and audit .
liberalising visa requirements for Taiwan will strengthen the trade relationships between the country and the European Union and will facilitate closer collaboration in the sectors of culture , education , environment and research , as well as promoting the growth of tourism in both directions .
I am now pleased to turn to today 's second subject , which has also already been addressed by Mr Zver , namely , the subject of Youth on the Move , which , of course , is a flagship initiative of the Europe 2020 strategy .
they will try to create advantages for people on the basis of this legal foundation .
complacency has set in . fear of infection has evaporated .
such an exception is to be warmly welcomed .
after all , what the Muslim Brotherhood wants is sharia and sharia is not democracy .
having accepted these advantages , it should have reciprocated by meeting requirements defined and ratified by the World Trade Organisation .
we would not have been able to get energy projects off the ground as part of the recovery plan - for example , by linking electricity networks from the Baltic countries with those from the Nordic countries , or linking the gas network in Bulgaria with those of Western Europe , so that Russia is no longer able to cut off our heating - if we had not found the money for this in the agricultural budget .
these concern issues related to human rights .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the European Union should act within the scope of its competences in those areas where it can genuinely create European added value with its own rules .
so I am interested as to the source of this information .
we must prevent this from happening .
such instruments would , in fact , allow the EU to address the current challenges , because they would play both a regulatory role and a role for the production of revenue .
( RO ) We also now have comments which have come from the stakeholders .
there are also fundamental problems for the budget in connection with heading 1 .
so the amendment follows along the right lines .
thus with religious slaughter it is about the high art of slaughtering without the animals experiencing additional suffering , and with the issue of stunning in slaughterhouses , it is not only about whether or not stunning should be used , but also about the handling of animals during transportation and during the waiting time in the slaughterhouses .
sadly enough , the Pakistani legal system condones the precarious position of the country 's indigenous Christians .
greater dialogue between enterprises , training bodies , trade unions and the voluntary sector is needed , aimed at identifying new competences for the economy .
that must change in future - we need to hear from the Commission what is possible , so as to forestall nationalistic debates .
the purpose of the system is performance of the most demanding and diverse applications .
child protection is also needed in respect of children 's access to the web , where they are exposed to all kinds of content , including possible abuse by paedophiles , and to Internet grooming .
this also goes for the Netherlands , where the Betuwe Line - in which billions of euros were invested - has been laid from Antwerp to the Ruhr area .
I ask you , what happened to the founding myth of the European idea , in this case ?
I believe it is highly relevant in the context of this report for us to discover exactly what is correct and to find out whether the Colombian authorities are actually planning to do anything about it .
I am back with you following a European Council that reached a unanimous decision , and I feel that we have not betrayed this confidence pact sealed between us , thanks to the many and various trialogues , which were more or less unprecedented ; I am thinking of last weekend 's trialogue on a number of directives .
the President was not informed about this , but I have taken note of it now .
we are all aware of France 's role in Africa .
the Commission and the Member States also have our backing in their attempts to transfer the polar bear from CITES Appendix II to Appendix I .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I am very grateful for the discussion that is taking place in this Chamber today .
as the rapporteur - or in this case , this evening Mrs Krehl - has already mentioned , there was an almost unpardonable delay in adopting this regulation .
this will help us in our future decision making on nuclear safety in Europe .
this communication instrument has served us well in guiding financial-market expectations .
how can they be dismissed ?
the development of a final storage solution , which we believe to be the next logical step , is nevertheless not a consequence of the closure and decommissioning of the four reactor units at Kozloduy .
longer timeframes , more favourable loans - we believe that there also needs to be a gentle , systematic and secure rescheduling of debt .
in the individual Member States , several models exist for the coordination of these activities , and it is currently difficult to claim that a particular country 's solution should serve as a model for others .
this is an important political signal whereby Member States have shown clearly that they want the ratification process to proceed rapidly so that the Treaty can enter into force as planned on 1 January 2009 .
fifthly , special measures will be taken to protect the general public and vulnerable sectors of the population , as well as water systems and geographical areas , such as those of the Natura 2000 network .
we have done so in the past , and we should carry on doing it .
unfortunately , Socialist Hungary also assumed a shameful role in the operation , together with the other Soviet satellite states , thus serving the raw , imperialist despotism of Moscow .
on behalf of the EFD Group . - Mr President , I am less grateful than the previous speakers .
it was by that approach that it was decided to transform the Vienna Observatory into the Agency for Fundamental Rights .
our Eastern Partners should be spared unnecessary delay .
Mr President , I opposed the nomination of Mr Barroso as President of the Commission .
the new code is designed to re-energise the travel sector , so the sooner it is introduced , the sooner we see the benefits of that - lower air fares , more choice and greater transparency .
I am therefore looking forward to further debate and am grateful for your attention .
in writing . - ( FR ) I voted against the Schmidt report because what the European Parliament has engaged in here , instead of supporting the Commission initiative , is a sort of conjuring trick playing off the old against the new Member States .
in recent years , we have analysed the state of degradation of administrative centres for migrants which , in terms of both the law and living conditions , are outright black holes in which men and women are often treated in an inhumane and degrading way , without the requisite legal safeguards intended by laws which are often unacceptable and which , at the same time , guarantee abuses and impunity .
I am convinced that this mechanism will enable us to provide help if we do not first withdraw the money from other farmers , but rather use the resources that have been freed up by the abolition of the market support measures .
we must then build on this with a common purpose .
China wants to continue to violate Tibetan cultural , religious and language rights .
my question is this : with regard to the visa facilitation for Serbia , how will the EU ensure that there will be no grey areas and no abuses of the system ?
during 2006 , 13 draft recommendations were made .
I think that we have had a rich and lively debate here today .
under your presidency , this Parliament has multiplied the initiatives within the framework of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue , doing justice to the great wealth of cultures and faiths in our society , and sending out the best possible image of Europe : that of openness and tolerance .
some time ago , this would have seemed an unlikely association .
according to the Commission 's annual report for 2006 , the accession of 2004 was a great result for the old and new Member States , but the smooth management of the process was the key factor in its success .
in any event , I am in favour of this improved coordination and confirm my personal undertaking to make good use of these various tools for evaluating and monitoring the 1 500 directives associated with the functioning of the internal market .
Parliament has been helping to ensure that positive steps towards intelligent debt management are taken .
in this regard , the Commission urgently needs to step up its research on what exactly is causing such a sharp decline in the bee population and hopefully come forward with some solutions .
for some time , the research community has expressed concern that the implementation of research programmes and the development of innovations is not proceeding as swiftly as hoped because of particularly complex bureaucratic requirements .
in addition , the report underscores the need for social and legal guarantees for journalists and editors .
therefore , by implementing the Stockholm Programme , I call on the Council and the Commission to take concrete measures to ensure that children 's rights are properly protected .
we need to take a long-term view and should provide proper protection for the Atlantic bluefin tuna in Appendix I .
let me conclude on a political note to say that I find it quite extraordinary that it was so difficult to find a solution of solidarity for Greece when one could be found for Latvia , Hungary and Romania .
the discrepancies that currently exist between Member States must be addressed , with the introduction of coherent national laws .
the Youth on the Move initiative has to be a political initiative to promote education , mobility and employment programmes for today 's youth and as an incentive for Member States to attain the aims of the Europe 2020 strategy .
why not look at that ?
what does this fund represent , though , other than the possibility of creating a European debt , to be eventually taken on by the Member States , which are already in too much debt , and which could find themselves obliged to cover this European debt before covering their own debts ?
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , representatives of the Presidency , ladies and gentlemen , the subject matter and legal intricacies of the Regulation on accreditation and market surveillance are complex , and it has all the appearances of a very dry and largely technical instrument .
in my view , there is far too much confusion , both by the rapporteur and in the report itself , between the issue of trade and the issue of transport .
as a result , when the crucial moment comes for a decision to be made , we simply call on this Parliament to remain consistent with its own positions .
the second block of problems is concentrated in Heading 4 , and here I would like to mention three elements : additional resources for Kosovo and Palestine ; the emergency aid reserve , especially as there will be needs requiring a fast response this year and next year ; and of course the upcoming donors ' conference to help Georgia , and here - at least today - we do not yet have a decision on the table .
this is why I think that coordinated measures are required against the causes of this problem , along with legislative harmonisation and closer judicial cooperation between Member States , with the aim of conducting investigations more efficiently .
since all Member States will be affected by the crisis and will face the task of counteracting it , slowing it down and mitigating its consequences , all Member States must decide together about the joint action to be taken .
work is also progressing on the establishment of the ENP investment facility , which is intended to improve the impact of the Union 's budgetary contributions and to help to mobilise major donor resources .
I do not think so .
I therefore appeal to the European Union to take all possible measures to solve this issue as soon as possible .
there is much less leeway in the financial perspective and this means that there are insufficient resources to carry out what is most important : new actions .
I think this is quite a good idea , so you do not limit people that see special difficulties in the new challenges in some parts of the European Union .
this is why it is important to take into consideration the measures which each Member State is going to adopt .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , on behalf of my group I should like to thank the rapporteur , Mr Kirkhope , most sincerely .
this situation seems to have improved , however .
let us not confuse cause and effect .
it is our duty in this case to protect the entitlement of workers from Eastern Europe to enjoy a fundamental right : equal pay for equal work .
this opportunity has allowed all three bodies , the European Parliament , the Council and the Commission , to set ambitious and binding targets for reducing emissions .
( PL ) Madam President , the Republic of Lithuania has recently adopted an Education Act which changes the education system in such a way that there are fears that a significant number - at least half , and maybe more - of the Polish schools in Lithuania may be closed .
( CS ) Madam President , I am very satisfied with the text of the Construction Products Directive agreed between the rapporteurs and the very helpful Commissioners Tajani and Barnier for today 's second reading .
in addition , the analysis of the planned route of the German EEZ led to the decision to opt for an alternative track over a length of 12 km .
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it is up to us all to help ensure that agriculture - including through these rules on exceptions - has future prospects and that the security of supply for the local population is safeguarded .
in writing . - I am pleased that today the European Parliament has acted to combat the fraud which is the European City Guide .
concentration of rainwater in water containers is a simple , quick and very effective solution .
these argued for a different common agricultural policy based on providing support to producing farmers , in order to combat instability in productive sectors due to price variations , and on market regulation mechanisms guaranteeing a dignified income for small and medium-sized farmers , in order to prevent the decline in the rural world and the desertification of many regions .
as far as the Basque Country is concerned , work for peace , give support to the productive economy , push forward the Basque high speed train , and integrate our fiscal system , our police and our language into the European institutions .
the last thing I wanted to say relates in fact to what Mr Schwab was saying about all the studies .
to prevent the situation from escalating I wish to refrain from commenting , other than to say that the Conference of Presidents has taken the matter in hand .
this brings us perhaps to the essential point .
energy efficiency is cost-effective and so we urgently need to make progress in this area .
the next item is the joint debate on :
it all depends on the choice of indicators , the reference period and the quality of the data reported .
waiving the visa requirement for Taiwan will strengthen economic and political relations with the Union , increase investment and allow mobility for young people and students , in particular .
I therefore want my final words to express Spain 's recognition , and my own personal recognition , of the prestige and work of this House and of the labour of those men and women of all ideologies and from all countries who , through the various legislatures , have enabled us , from these benches , to achieve the Europe of today and to prepare for the Europe of tomorrow .
as a reminder , 9 out of 78 countries in the 9th EDF , and only 8 % of amounts allocated in the 10th EDF , covered agriculture and rural development initiatives .
( LV ) Mr President , nuclear energy currently generates approximately one third of total energy consumption in Europe .
bilateral agreements , too , must attach greater importance to the subjects of religious freedom and human rights more generally , violations of which should lead to the suspension of these agreements .
first of all , the summit should bring decisive progress on all the remaining obstacles related to Russia 's accession to the WTO .
the practical findings of recent decades are being used to revitalise the internal market and form the basis for the incorporation of important corrective measures .
in order to escape this spiral of instability and migration , I think that we need to emphasise , above all , the preventive aspect .
we recognise that the mechanism created by the WTO decision and the protocol to the TRIPS Agreement represent just a part of the solution to the problem of access to medicines and public health , and that other measures to improve health care and infrastructure are equally indispensable .
in Africa , for instance , more or less everybody is family to everybody and if we have to take that into account we might as well throw all the gates open immediately .
the importance which the Union ascribes to defending labour rights is not only demonstrated when it produces internal legislation , but it is also demonstrated in its foreign policy .
this report reveals a certain dissatisfaction of the European Parliament with the UN Human Rights Council ( UNHRC ) , since the Member States of the EU represent a ' numerical minority ' , which , in its understanding , ' seriously obstructs the EU 's ability to influence the agenda of the UNHRC ' and to ensure its desired role as a ' leading force ' .
I have heard that Mr McCreevy will be unable to attend . we must accept that .
as such , we have a double duty to help Zimbabwe acquire a democratically elected government .
in this particular case , we are consolidating the Council regulation of 1987 and the five texts that modified it in , respectively , 1990 , 1992 , 1994 , 2003 and 2004 .
indeed , these measures will also allow Member States which are thinking seriously about family policy to take the opportunity to improve their own legislation .
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has undertaken to implement a major reform of public-sector television in France .
earlier in the week , only a few hours after the tension erupted , the Arab League met .
I would also like to address my fellow Members in that regard .
in 1983 , Benigno Aquino , the leader of the democratic opposition , was assassinated .
the worst we could do was slightly to delay your lunch by making speeches of one minute , but even this is intolerable to you !
a very warm welcome this morning to the European Parliament !
moreover , on the legality and regularity of the EU expenditure , the auditors only cleared 9 % of the expenses for the year 2008 , a percentage similar to the past .
having a cross-party foundation , we would be able to identify particular cases which , on a broad basis , we would see as needing particular assistance , bypassing obstructive governments or authorities or forces , to build capacity for those who are fighting for human rights .
in exchange for Germany 's participation , we will be permitted a pact , termed a competitiveness pact , the details of which , according to a note from the French Government 's Secretariat-General for European Affairs , were not supposed to be known .
the responsibility is evident ; it is individual and as such it also has to be enforceable .
when the occasion of the 50th anniversary celebrations of Chinese rule in Tibet is used to espouse a view of a liberation of the Himalaya region , it is a little bit rich !
another study has been commissioned .
there is a worrying cloak of secrecy over certain still unknown details of the agreement .
( SK ) The December session of the European Parliament was incorrectly informed that radio broadcasting for minorities in Slovakia is about to end and that the public service is closing down the Rádio Patria broadcasting in minority languages .
how could it happen that , according to the agreement signed with the Hungarian Government , while completely ignoring the basic problem of European demographic trends , a drastic reduction in childcare fees was prescribed ?
they expressed their dissent in the declaration that was adopted about the policy being pursued , which is the reason for their dire financial situation , related to stopping national top-up payments for tobacco production for the 2010 harvest .
objective 2 must be retained , because it is very clear .
( NL ) Mr President , the Greek crisis is one of the factors forming the basis of this debate .
even before the crisis , a dynamic developed in Europe whereby the strong states of the eurozone cemented their competitive advantage .
when trade union rights come into conflict with the rules of the internal market , it is the rules of the internal market that prevail .
does the Council , in cooperation with the Commission , want to support the construction of a further two to four plants , and if so , how ?
the last session , as you are aware , was on 20 November last year in Beijing .
in that respect , Mrs Ashton , between 2000 and 2010 , the European Union concluded association agreements with Mexico and Chile , but the United States concluded agreements with the whole of Central America , with Colombia and Peru , and also with various Mercosur countries .
in the same way , it is also important for the Commission to allow the reimbursement of costs incurred after the submission of a proposal , provided it is successful , with the aim of facilitating the participation of industry partners and , in particular , small and medium-sized enterprises .
I hope that this issue will be considered seriously by other committees .
this is yet another initiative that bears your stamp , Commissioner , like the policy you have decisively promoted on roaming charges .
Europe must use it .
( LT ) Mr President , Mrs Wallström , as experience shows , the Member States themselves are seeking a way out of the consequences of the financial crisis and the economic recession .
this is what I understand from reading between the lines today and I do not think we should imply this about anyone .
( DE ) Mr President , I voted in favour of the Hegyi report because we have repeatedly criticised the democratic deficit that exists with regard to genetically modified organisms .
first , financial services : a real internal market in banking , loans , insurance etc. is needed to empower European consumers .
meanwhile , as the EU erects its protective trade barriers , all its Member States , whether or not they have a coastline , get to have a vote .
I would consider doing so only once the Doha Round is over .
I think we need to do a number of things .
Mr President , we face a dilemma between the free trade we believe in and the fair trade that is violated .
I would also favour the cooperation on this topic in the field of research .
we welcome the positive assessment made by the OSCE / ODIHR-led International Election Observation Mission that the elections were conducted in accordance with international standards and that there has been further progress in Ukraine 's already good electoral track-record since 2004 .
European rules , as the Commissioner has pointed out , are clear , have been consolidated over many years and are confirmed in the new framework directive which we are discussing .
if Member States can close the cases as originally foreseen , the names can be published in the coming months .
of the amendments tabled , we support those that are in favour of extending the reduced VAT rates .
regional economic integration is crucial in this regard .
that depends on the Commission and not the Council .
a strong budget : yes , absolutely ; fair to old and new Member States : so many Members raised that as an issue , and it is an issue we need to address .
within a common framework , a minimum common denominator , the Member States are going to define their own level of intervention , enabling more efficient use of administrative capacity at national level .
a great deal still has to be done in the environmental protection sector , however , in order to ensure ecologically sustainable development in line with EU targets .
on behalf of the PPE Group . - ( LV ) Mr President , Mr Almunia , in order to help the economies of the Member States in Central and Eastern Europe to recover , there are two possible approaches : giving fish or giving a fishing-rod .
it is a bottom-up process that the Stockholm Programme wishes to support .
what should we make of this ?
you are turning the thing on its head , and you know what you are doing .
this is the discussion about tolerable risk .
in writing . - ( DE ) As we know to our cost , the EU 's aim of rapidly increasing the percentage use of biofuel has had adverse repercussions .
it is still unclear exactly what turn things will take in this respect .
social problems and climate change must not , in this regard , be allowed to distract attention from the main goals .
it is therefore essential for the system to set out clear rules in respect of assistance , based on a regime of recovery measures which covers both schedules and matter-of-fact issues .
Europe has become stronger , better able to respond to global challenges , better able to respond to strategic challenges , and since Lisbon the world has been looking to Europe in the hope that it will once again take up its role in the world .
in the committee , we rejected that as nonsensical in the then Amendment 20 .
resumption of the session
on the other hand , I suggested that officials who , as part of their work , come into frequent contact with citizens from other Member States should be encouraged to learn a second European language .
however , this conflict of interests must not prevent the EU from adopting a positive , yet also legally binding approach in its negotiations , with the inclusion of provisions on sustainable development , particularly in bilateral agreements .
we cannot forget that the EU and US represent almost half the global economy : it is the most integrated and longest-lived economic relationship in the world , and the main engine of global economic prosperity .
the period of notice required from employees who have resigned and trial periods are going to be extended , which means that employment contracts can be terminated without notice during or at the end of this period , during which more than three people can be employed in succession for the same position .
a priority - as the Commissioner has already said - is to ease the burden associated with record-keeping .
Montenegrin premier , Igor Lukšič , stated during his recent visit to Brussels that Montenegro 's priorities are EU and NATO membership .
in 2007 , only one special report concerning the Commission was submitted to Parliament by the Ombudsman , and the Ombudsman mentioned this .
it is a good treaty , because it responds to the challenges that Europe is facing today .
the public consultation cannot exclude analysis of the FTT : on the contrary , its analysis must be given the highest priority .
Parliament 's joint motion for a resolution expresses revulsion and repudiation of the Kingdom 's values .
question Time ( Commission )
it is amazing to me that , in this modern day and age , thousands of these containers go missing each year , with the great majority of them falling off the ships into our oceans .
Mr President , I am afraid that I do not know the Rules in precise detail , but I do not think you can submit an oral amendment to an oral amendment literally in the Chamber unless the whole House agrees .
I cannot accept the fact that we are seriously contemplating this matter and I would call on the Commission not to compromise here .
I think it also offers a response to some limitations of that regulation which , because it is unilateral , has left large sections of the fishing industry with the idea that Europe is doing its bit but the other Mediterranean countries are not .
in my opinion , if we fail to support projects on education and health , and if we continue to invest in military solutions to this conflict , we will get nowhere .
he turned himself in to the police , after his family members were beaten , arrested , and detained , and staff members of his organisation went into hiding .
to oppose the emergence of tourist facilities based on mass tourism , which would have a strong negative impact on local communities , the environment and the historical and cultural heritage .
the need to modify the broad guidelines was discussed at length .
I voted for the recommendation on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the West African Economic and Monetary Union on certain aspects of air services .
however , all of this will only work if there are standard values in place which must be checked .
a supreme court with a mission is a tyranny .
I would also call for the summit to take note of a call made in this House recently to combat the murder of women , feminicides , since I hold this as one of the world 's main challenges at the present time , including in the region concerned .
the second approach is that taken by the United Nations , through a resolution tabled by 12 countries and by all the EU states , concerning the elimination of all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on religion , beliefs , and freedom of thought and conscience because , in international law - and this is very valuable - they are linked .
next week the Council ( and I am sorry the minister is no longer here ) will have the opportunity to sign off a common position on the Telecoms package that will pave the way for that investment .
are we moving forward ?
the decision to receive and allocate a status falls , in the end , within the competence of each Member State .
therefore , bearing in mind the importance of trade in foodstuffs , I am voting for this proposal for a directive on indications or marks identifying the lot to which a foodstuff belongs .
if this is to be attained , we cannot allow - as , hopefully , will be upheld by this House - any cuts to the current CAP budget .
after the first document was submitted by the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group ( ENSREG ) , you yourself tabled an amendment to have aircraft crashes included in the initiating events on page 4 of the document .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Mr President , as you already said , the PPE-DE Group would like to request the postponement of the vote on this resolution .
if the Commission should at any time look into the matter of the service providers ' obligations , it should not distinguish between private and public services .
particular mention should be made of the important work carried out by the many experts involved in the visits which enabled the transformations achieved in just a few months to be confirmed without a shadow of a doubt .
alternatively , such discussions will take place within the framework of the Council , but that will not depend so much on the Presidency as on the will and interest of the Member States .
we also support your opinion concerning the need to establish effective control of arms brokerage operations .
it is good for these children also to learn the language of the country where their parents are working and for us to be concerned about employment in their country .
the aim was to guarantee farmers a minimum income in certain circumstances such as public disasters like droughts , storms , hail , forest fires or epizootic diseases .
it is evident that these programmes must be very down to earth and pragmatic , based on evidence , and must approach the living conditions of the Roma in all their complexity .
solidarity , however , is never a one-way street , and my group therefore backs the principle that all the regions of the European Union must be able to participate in our cohesion policy .
this is an extremely important report for the future of the European Union and the battle against climate change .
Mrs Meissner 's report reiterates the European Parliament 's view about creating an integrated , coherent and common decision-making process with regard to the oceans , seas , coastal areas and maritime sectors .
concerning the appointment procedure , we have all discovered we are bound by regulations in ways that all sides realise is inappropriate , such as the retirement age criteria projected to the end of the term of office and also on the gender issue .
in writing . - UK Conservatives believe that , while cross-border cooperation in criminal justice is important , the report seeks to create a common justice area at an EU level , which would significantly compromise the traditions of those countries which base their legal system on common law .
I think that the deadline for submitting applications in the Member States is a guide date for the application for support .
the Joint Undertaking is in a start-up phase and had not yet fully established its internal control and financial reporting systems by the end of 2009 .
in writing . - I voted in favour of this report as it will allow criminal sanctions for serious environmental offences .
in this respect , we have to accept that those conflicts are only parts of a coherent , broader and more complex problem with a bigger , global relevance .
we still need a liveable wage , and flexicurity has to take into account financial security for individuals .
can these two things be reconciled ?
we must do everything so that hunger is eradicated like the plague .
just last month , a group boasting over a thousand members was created on the networking site Facebook which openly glorified the genocide in Srebrenica .
the European Union is strongly committed to supporting pro-Western politicians in those countries . today 's students could be tomorrow 's elite .
this year , the Commission will present the results of a feasibility study to develop an alternative multi-dimensional ranking system which reflects the diversity of higher education institutions .
only in these terms can we speak of the positive role of sport in the lives of young people .
the Commission also notes that Parliament has demonstrated an ongoing concern to ensure the protection of the European Community 's financial interests , given that VAT fraud also has consequences for the European budget 's own resources .
Mr President , I should like to congratulate the Commissioner and Mr Graefe zu Baringdorf on their excellent work and the good cooperation we have had .
the stabilisation and association agreements , the trade preferences and technical and financial support are the three pillars on the basis of which the EU hopes to bring stability to that region .
if nothing is done , there is a risk that Isaak will die without either Sweden or the EU managing to persuade the Eritrean President even to discuss his case seriously .
of course , for Europol to play its part , the Member States must contribute to the EIS satisfactorily .
in particular , I wish to say that EFSA 's opinion gives us new food for thought , and many factors need to be taken into account .
will this open the door to all the other sectors ?
tens of thousands marched in protest last Friday ; thousands of workers marched in Dublin today ; and on 24 November , a public sector workers ' strike is scheduled , in order to stop these attacks .
we are going to have to vaccinate and then it has to be possible for the products from vaccinated animals to be sold on the European market and also outside it .
thank you .
- Madam President , in 1948 President Truman wrote , ' Now we are faced with exactly the same situation with which Britain and France were faced in 1939 in dealing with Hitler .
it is in the interests of the people in the ACP States , and I therefore call on all Members of this House to vote in favour of my report on Thursday , including those who originally intended to vote against it .
specifically , allowing lower VAT for improvements in the energy efficiency of buildings and launching an information campaign to encourage a change in people 's behaviour are two specific ways to help the situation .
the substance would remain the same , but the names and symbols would be changed as part of a thoroughly dishonest claim that the treaties were different and a referendum would not be necessary .
the AU is all too often silent in the face of autocracy , corruption , electoral fraud and illegal coups d 'état .
you made everything a priority and so , in fact , nothing took priority .
in this context , it is important , from our perspective , for the Commission to keep the European Union 's competitiveness in mind .
when we introduce emission cuts and targets for renewables our Member States and their companies are put under pressure , and the temptation to create shortsighted , unsustainable solutions becomes overwhelming .
it should also be noted that greater access to information both in electronic form , available over the Internet , and in printed form can also contribute to the achievement of better medical results , because a patient who is informed about prescribed medicines is one who can play an active and more knowledgeable role in the therapeutic recovery process .
I do not know if the Czech Government and its parliament , who are sitting on the Treaty of Lisbon , know that in the second article of the Lisbon Treaty the word ' solidarity ' appears for the first time .
the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left has tabled its own resolution supporting the universality of human rights in all social , economic and cultural fields .
this is a promise on which we have to continue to deliver and help Member States to take the right decisions to ensure that pension systems are fit for purpose .
sadly , the measures that the European Union has adopted in this area are far from being capable of putting the brakes on this sinister wave of speculation and its inhumane consequences - as is acknowledged in a recent United Nations report authored by the Special Rapporteur on the right to food .
I would particularly object to any idea of EU policemen being able to go into our own Member States with powers of arrest .
well , in protest at this kind of outrage , this kind of underhand political machination , I can tell you now that the ITS Group will not be voting in the upcoming election .
my final point is that we are working to ensure the implementation of the Treaty of Lisbon - obviously - and I can assure you that we will inform Parliament 's delegation at every stage of the progress of the negotiations .
in doing so , he became a byword for arrogant folly .
if we also consider that the health standards will not be anywhere near those we are looking for , we have far too much to lose .
we move to Phase 3 ; we will see investors able to set up new airlines in each other 's countries and , in Phase 4 , full cabotage rights and the potential for 100 % ownership of carriers .
secondly , in what way is the Council hoping to raise the situation in Zimbabwe at the Summit ?
you refer to the right of asylum , to the right to international protection .
how do you envisage roaming can be the subject of proper internal market competition and how can you ensure that prices do not jump a thousand-fold when geographical borders are crossed ?
do you not think that with that kind of treatment these countries run the risk of dying not from the disease but from the cure ?
the Fund was set up , following a successful campaign by the PSE Group , to alleviate the effects of globalisation on European workers .
such an approach completely fails to address the problem .
it will , in the future , provide a large number of readers with access to rare or old documents from Europe 's heritage , which are difficult to access because of the way they are stored .
the involvement of the regional and local levels of governance must definitely grow , but without these regions necessarily feeling that they are gradually being forgotten and abandoned .
five percent sounds like a lot , at least it does if we go home to our own capital cities and explain that we need another 5 % .
turning now to the report , I appreciate and share the Fisheries Committee 's view that the Community needs to address the excess fishing effort of its fleet .
I hope that , in accordance with assurances from the Hungarian Presidency , we will complete negotiations with Croatia in June , and that in the second half of 2011 during the Polish Presidency , Croatia will become a Member State of the European Union .
I will start with the good news : the European Union is leading the battle to combat climate change ; the 27 EU countries are now doing more than anywhere else in the world to halt climate change .
at the same time , given the objectives to be achieved with the micro-credit instrument , it is necessary to emphasise one crucial action , namely actively promoting equal opportunities for men and women in access to microfinance programmes .
we should be aware that the Eastern Partnership requires commitment from both the Eurpoean Union and from the partner countries .
as a result , we will be doing a disservice to the genuine asylum seekers who are applying for asylum because their lives are at risk or on political , religious or ethical grounds , as we will be grouping them together with all the other migrants .
hitherto , there has been a fragmented patent system in the European Union , caused by the high costs and complexity of validating patents in individual Member States .
allow me to add a few words on maternity protection , because our position has been very badly misunderstood .
I voted against the resolution on equality between women and men in the European Union ( 2009 ) , even though I agree with a great deal of its content , because we cannot call for equality for a certain category of people without denying it to another category of human beings .
thanks to the amendments to the regulatory framework that you have introduced , and in accordance with the Stockholm Programme , the liaison officers ' networks will be adapted in a way that will improve their contribution to a better understanding of the root causes of migration movements with a view to addressing these phenomena properly .
the proposal aims at stronger governance , which must certainly be held in due consideration during moments of particular crisis .
I would like to thank Parliament , the rapporteurs in particular , and the French presidency , which through very difficult negotiations did not diminish our ambition but improved our proposal so that it is more balanced and stronger .
I would advise the Commission to be more honest and more modest .
the people and their democratically-elected representatives , or the money men and managers of oil companies ?
according to it , a confidential on-line database was established for communication between Commission services and Member State authorities , to observe how EU law is being implemented and initiate proceedings .
at the moment , we are not practising what we preach .
looking at what has been achieved in respect of the financial scandals and the economic crisis it is clear that a great deal of poor advice has been given .
due to the significant contribution forests make in tackling the climate crisis , sustainable forestry management is of major importance to ensuring that the EU achieves its climate objectives .
furthermore , on behalf of the Council , I would like to thank the European Parliament for its excellent cooperation and its willingness to reach a compromise , which resulted in this agreement .
the need for institutional internal reforms in the EU , by the coming into force of the Lisbon Treaty , cannot represent a preliminary reason and a pretext to block the Union enlargement .
it is lamentable , but very revealing .
there will be no genuine recovery of the economy , or long-term economic growth , without substantial action on the part of public authorities , whether local , national or European , in favour of small and medium-sized enterprises .
second , that within the framework of the much-needed action plan , priority support should be given to programmes for better governance and democratic state management ; health policies , through the creation of health centres and the renewal of the hospital network ; the decision by the government of Burundi to provide free primary education ; and the continuing efforts to renew the country 's infrastructure .
it defies common sense to counteract the lever for growth that this represents , and it is the good pupils in the class - those that have seen the sense and benefit in implementing this swiftly , efficiently and properly - who suffer , and that includes my own country .
climate change and certain unsuitable soil management practices are putting our soil at risk .
however , given the current budgetary margins , it would unfortunately have been irresponsible to have asked for more .
last year in my own country 400 000 people emigrated to retire aboard , so it is important to make sure that they receive the same protection as they would at home .
in the end , I voted for the directive on cross-border healthcare .
this is another area where further improvement is needed , otherwise the whole debate on the European social model will serve no purpose .
Mr Le Hyaric , I must tell you that Marxist obscurantism bears a much greater responsibility than liberalism for the underdevelopment of some countries since they gained their independence .
then comes the responsibility of the Member States .
- ( PL ) Madam President , we discussed the situation in Zimbabwe on 24 April 2008 .
the measures needed for this , however , have remained a mystery .
these publications are not allowed to contain advertising for prescription-only medicines .
the people who want to return are unable to do so and , as a result , the ethnic divide is becoming more and more entrenched .
there are lots of missed opportunities in this place , and this report is most definitely one of them .
that was the reason why it was initially decided by a majority decision in the Conference of Presidents that the proposal from the Social Democratic group to discuss services of general interest in the Lisbon agenda and public services in the Lisbon Treaty be discussed first in the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs .
most especially , it is necessary to support those who want to start their own business - I have in mind the Globalisation Fund .
despite my doubts , I wish the EIT an excellent start and a successful future .
at the same time , it is exciting and wonderful .
following the recent World Refugee Day , let us insist , above all , on our responsibilities as Europeans , responsibilities which the Member States are , wrongly , afraid to shoulder .
the courts were bought and sold .
in these paragraphs , the report ' reiterates the importance of active and independent civil society organisations for democracy ' and ' encourages the Montenegrin Government to have close collaboration and regular dialogue with NGOs ' .
in the run-up to the inclusion of energy policy as a competence of the European Union in the new Treaty , what measures will the Commission take to tailor WTO rules to energy investments and energy services as well ?
this situation will have benefits both for the banking sector and for consumers .
it is women and farmers , especially , who are not being given enough opportunities to develop their livelihoods .
as some of you said , there is indeed a real challenge - sometimes a threat - to European integration today .
the Commission , on the basis of the treaties in force and of the legal debates that derive from them , must stand by its proposals .
this is an intervention by which due recognition can be given to agricultural producers and to those who process agricultural produce .
I would like to thank Mr Bendtsen and congratulate him on his excellent work on this report .
Madam President , President of the Commission , what the Union needs now is coordination of economic and social policies with the aim of stimulating employment and getting out of the crisis .
as you will remember , on 17 June , the European Council finalised the Europe 2020 strategy and one of the main targets defined in this context consists , I quote , ' in improving the conditions for research and development ' , in particular , with the aim of raising combined public and private investment levels in this sector to 3 % of GDP .
make the system fairer and more transparent , and then we can talk about own resources .
we call on the Commission to make sure that any framework directive on renewable energy includes measures to promote heating and cooling by means of renewable energy , which are the least developed technologies so far .
in writing . - ( HU ) I welcome Mr Adamos Adamou 's report on organ donation and the trade in organs .
very important decisions were taken , including decisions on the matter which Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány of Hungary recommended a year ago and which the Rasmussen report of the European Parliament supported , namely that a financial market and bank supervisory system be set up .
on 18 June 2007 , the Council issued guidelines to the Commission on negotiating framework agreements on the general principles of participation in EU programmes with 13 neighbouring countries , and , in March 2008 , negotiations began with the Republic of Moldova .
very recently , on 17 January , we discussed the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo here in this House and adopted a resolution that stated our wish to see all horrors cease .
firstly , just when Europe is accused of having no ambitions of being in turmoil , our willingness to find the resources for such a technologically ambitious plan proves that the EU can more than answer its critics when it comes to benefiting citizens and business .
even the Financial Times , which is opposed to copyright protection or extension , uses the copyright tool itself !
it should go to the young generation , and their development .
therefore , if we wish to bring public finances back into balance , which is the only option , and also be able to invest - because this is not simply a matter of reducing deficits , but of investing in our future - we will have to find new income streams .
in the debates in our own countries , we parliamentarians in particular very often notice that these fears of the internal market are still very much in evidence amongst the general public and that subjects like protectionism are , unfortunately , also well received because these sorts of things are not only propounded by governments , but are also supported by many citizens .
for there to be closer cooperation , democratic governance and human rights must be ensured , but regrettably Mr Robert Mugabe was invited to and actively participated in the 3rd Africa EU-Summit .
that is how it should be seen .
we must ensure fast and comprehensive implementation of the work programme for protected regions .
undoubtedly , Lithuanian society remains , by and large , conservative and we should understand that .
if we take the European energy policy as a measure of what we as Europeans are actually willing to do , I do not believe that we can really regard the constantly competitive strategy that was so clearly employed in connection with the North Stream and Nabucco projects to be the starting point for a common future-oriented European energy policy .
the dispute over the languages used in EU patents has been going on for more than 30 years .
and why now ?
these reports have already been used for explanatory purposes or they have already been debated here , so I believe they will be adopted in their written form .
until now , work has been evaluated on the basis of tradition and the ability to negotiate .
studies have also shown that cartels led to a 10 to 30 % increase in prices , a tempting prospect which would be hard to resist were it not for vigorous implementation of competition legislation , which is our job .
I would like to warn those who want to hurry .
with the agreement of the GUE / NGL Group , I propose an oral amendment to resolve certain inaccuracies that have appeared in the different language versions .
these are anti-social , irresponsible actions and we cannot blame the Commission for them .
this is also the kind of attitude that can have unpredictable effects , because if the US is now negotiating with individual Member States , what is to stop it from later exchanging citizens ' data with individual airlines , or even via a direct approach , dealing with them individually at the time of buying a ticket ?
many amendments in the draft report in fact increase the level of guarantees to asylum seekers , particularly with regard to minors .
therefore , it is incomprehensible that some governments of Member States , such as the Netherlands - my own country - are now tampering with the development budget and also seeking to tamper with these objectives .
Mr President , I would finally like to say that the incorporation of these elements into the European qualifications framework will be of real profit to citizens , as well as an effective mechanism for workforce mobility .
I am convinced that many things should have been done sooner .
I know that Bahrain is a particularly sensitive situation , that Saudi Arabia has sent troops there , and that Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council are helping us against Libya , but we would not want to trade the price of a barrel of oil and of the support for us against the Libyan Government for the price of silence regarding the Shi 'ites who are currently being repressed by the government of Bahrain .
this should take the form both of systematic care and advice for families facing arduous long-term care in the home , as well as a system of accessible specialised facilities providing expert and above all humane care for patients in the final stages of this disease .
in addition , this communication will present , as requested under the ETS Directive , an analysis of the situation of energy intensive sectors that it has been determined are exposed to a risk of carbon leakage in the light of the outcome of Copenhagen .
the first stage is always abuse of power for want of arguments , and this subsequently leads to murder .
of course , you may say that this is an internal matter for Ireland , but it is not .
it is refusing to forward to the US administration the Munich prosecutors ' request for the extradition of the 13 CIA agents accused of abducting Mr el-Masri .
within the framework of the review process , various proposals have already been presented , of which the most important is indubitably that relating to the crime of aggression .
initially after Fukushima , you moved in the right direction and set yourself objectives which included a comprehensive , in-depth investigation of all the risks presented by European nuclear power stations on the basis of what we had learnt at the time from Fukushima .
in sharp contrast to the number that have pre-registered their chemicals , we have extremely few chemicals on the candidate list of the most dangerous chemicals .
Canada is now trying to penetrate new markets , for example in China , but there , too , voices calling for a trading ban are to be heard .
just this week , Zambia , Mozambique , South Africa and Tanzania blocked attempts by a Chinese vessel to deliver a massive shipment of ammunition , mortars and other lethal armaments to President Mugabe in Zimbabwe .
he said that we need better initial conditions for the European arms industry in view of the competition , in particular from the United States .
however , there is always a dilemma in sending funds and resources to developing countries , to poor countries to help them develop .
I feel that it is vital to recognise the significant role played by women in agriculture , both in primary production and in the diversification of economic activities on farms and in rural areas .
a warm welcome to you !
in these countries , the same companies continue to produce bananas .
as emphasised in every report in which Parliament approves EGF funding , claims on the structural funds should not be used in place of measures for which businesses themselves are responsible according to the collective agreements .
I would like to congratulate my colleague , Charles Goerens , on his work , since he has succeeded in strengthening the development dimension of the approach , and I would , of course , like to thank Commissioner Piebalgs for the careful and favourable attention he has paid to this request .
obviously , there has to be a discussion in NATO about how this system should fit into other systems that NATO intends to develop . that is absolutely essential .
for example , Mrs Schaldemose wants the importers to bear responsibility for ensuring that the products they import comply with EU rules .
the picture there remains the same year after year .
in Parliament 's last resolution , dated October 2006 , we committed ourselves to a constructive , dialogue-oriented solution .
- ( SK ) In almost all European countries there are tough legal measures against holocaust denial and the promotion of fascism .
a strong and ambitious common agricultural policy also requires an appropriate European Union budget .
I find that right and proper , and these are necessary measures , but we must ensure that they do not create excess capacities which undermine the pursuit of our other measures , such as those designed to combat overfishing .
now we are going to enshrine the European symbols in our Rules of Procedure anyway , through the back door .
Mr President , today Parliament forcefully reiterated an opinion it had already expressed on several occasions during the previous Parliamentary term : Europe must introduce a regulation that establishes the origin marking of many products that enter its territory .
a child 's right of access to both parents should be protected at all costs .
the European Parliament , being the cautious budgetary authority that it is , remains within the agreed boundaries ( one fifth of the budget of the institutions ) , but invests in knowledge nevertheless , by increasing staffing levels within the groups and by increasing capacity in the library .
EU statistics show that more than 25 % of young Lithuanians are forced to take low paid work and conclude short-term contracts with insufficient social security guarantees .
therefore Community strategy must make possible an immediate emergency intervention in these areas , by means of distinct programmes funded from development funds set aside at EU level , which should be able to deal with the problems in all their complexity , as well as by ensuring the permeability between funds and , if necessary , by introducing region-specific forms of support .
Slovenia is now a member , Croatia will follow within the next few years , and the third former Yugoslav republic concerned is Macedonia , which has been awaiting the opening of accession negotiations since back in 2005 .
the second project relates to violence against the elderly .
I use the word ' honest ' most deliberately , because Mr Reul has used real words like ' coal ' and ' nuclear ' , rather than hiding behind the generalities of what might or might not be sustainable or renewable , and it is clear that we will continue to rely on burning fossil fuels for generations to come .
I wish to welcome the progress which has been made in the ACTA negotiations .
if we are too generous here it will lead to distortions of competition that we are not able to calculate in political terms .
EGNOS is 10 times more accurate than GPS .
I am counting on the Transatlantic Economic Council publishing a report in the near future on progress in cooperation in the sphere of the introduction of intellectual property rights , in which it will present the actions to be taken in the future to strengthen cooperation in combating counterfeit goods and piracy .
even more worrying is the news that last month , Iran successfully tested a new long-range missile , thus jeopardising regional and global security .
customs fraud is one of the main sources of damage to the financial interests of the Community , and fraud relating to cigarettes is one of the most vulnerable sectors .
I do not believe that you welcome the fact that , in more than fifty areas , the Treaty of Lisbon abolishes the right of national veto and lowers the voting weight of smaller countries , including the Czech Republic .
suffice to say that in this House we have more than 20 Parliamentary committees which , with six MEPs , it is very difficult to keep up with .
I believe that we must invest renewed energy in this field .
I attribute this result at least in part to the fact that more citizens are finding the right address to turn to the first time around .
what is he going to give to the Germans ?
however , since November 2009 , these agreements seem to have become mired down as a result of the divisions between the various protagonists and the refusal by some of them to participate in the implementation of these agreements .
the Employment Committee is satisfied with the results of this work and urges the House to vote in favour of the report presented .
we want international trade to be oriented along the lines of complementarity rather than competition - between countries , producers and types of production .
establishing a European Union delegation in Minsk would be a good way to monitor the situation .
firstly , the Commission ensures that the competent authorities in all 27 Member States are promptly and simultaneously warned via the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed ( RASFF ) .
the proposal initially put forward by the Commission was certainly more ambitious , and we regret , in particular , the decision 's more limited scope .
Member of the Commission . - The picture in the European Union is quite uneven .
it will benefit fellow Members here in Parliament who receive extortionate fines for expressing their opinions freely and who have nowhere to go to appeal against this .
I can safely say that all the members of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs have worked well together .
Mr President , we are , in these first few months of 2010 , witnessing an extraordinarily strong dynamic in the European Union , in the midst of the most serious economic crisis we have known for eighty years .
I consider it important to help Ukraine return to minimum necessary socio-economic levels and enable the stabilisation of its public accounts , so creating prospects for growth and political confidence .
the recent report by the United Nations group of independent experts and that by the Human Rights Watch organisation provide a damning account of the current situation that cannot be ignored or passed over in silence .
this crisis can be seen most of all in the very real fears and anxieties of the citizens of the European Union .
at the same time , this freedom comes with the utmost responsibility for every editorial team to provide the public with correct information .
it is the regulation on speeding up and clarifying the implementation of the excessive deficit procedure .
taxation policy must remain a competence of member states and any moves from anywhere to extend Community competence to this policy field will be met with opposition by our constituents , national governments and businesses .
the amendment to this directive will make data capture by type of goods mandatory .
not with my blessing .
time and again the precautionary principle is ignored when people get excited about new discoveries .
public contracts must be awarded under transparent conditions whereby all stakeholders are treated equally and the relationship between price and project performance is the ultimate criterion , so that they go to the best tender and not merely the cheapest tender .
in this context , sport is a very popular and important activity , which is why this contribution today is very important and has come at the right time .
this process is a measure of Europe 's credibility and of Turkey 's intentions to carry out the necessary democratic reforms .
the vote will take place during the first part-session in May .
thus , it calls for the payment of fines by any Member States that do not meet the requirements imposed on them by the Stability and Growth Pact .
( PT ) Madam President , indifferent to the economic and social devastation caused by the structural changes approved by the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) in countries like Greece , the leaders of the European Union are now stepping up their offensive and launching themselves on Portugal with the same approach and unbridled colonial arrogance .
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they must also , however , work hard to ensure that they do not stop investing in continuing education and training , otherwise our innovations will dry up .
that is why in France they said ' no ' , and in Holland they said ' no ' , and in Ireland they said ' no ' , and if we had a vote in Britain an overwhelming majority of us would have said ' no ' .
the topics planned are the integration of Russia into the world economy , the question of how to respond to the growing dangers of protectionism and , most especially , what conclusions we can all draw from the crisis in the financial markets .
but now , after churches were burned and Christians killed in a renewed wave of attacks , the time has come for the EU to make it abundantly clear to the Egyptian authorities that they are responsible for the internal security of the country and for the protection of the rights and livelihood of all Egyptian citizens .
I would like , however , to call attention to the fact that we believe it to be very important for Parliament to monitor the EU 's process of accession to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms .
( ES ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , health is one of the issues that we have yet to resolve in the struggle against poverty .
I will be very honest with you on this point .
the EU-Canada Air Transport Agreement is one of the most ambitious air transport agreements between the EU and a major world partner .
human nature finds it harder to endure a victory than a defeat . indeed , it almost seems to be easier to achieve a victory than to endure it in such a way that it does not turn into a serious defeat ' .
one is completing the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon , and the other is new cures for the economic and financial crisis .
( DE ) Madam President , a Community strategy for health and safety at work is absolutely essential .
this report , presented by the European Parliament , defines the criteria for implementing this European right of initiative , in order to make it simpler , more accessible , swifter , more transparent and more uniform throughout all Member States .
we welcome more effective cross-border monitoring of traffic offences and the establishment of an electronic information system as a means of increasing traffic safety .
I would like to thank Mr Florenz for his excellent professional work .
( SK ) The consumer society produces a huge amount of waste that makes people 's lives a misery , particularly in large European cities .
it is hard to see precisely where the threat to human rights defenders in Russia comes from , but time and again we see wanton abuses going unpunished and a lackadaisical approach from the judicial authorities .
the aid should reach orphanages , centres for the homeless and hungry children in schools , and should be distributed chiefly by local authorities , because they have the best information about what and how much is needed .
one-minute speeches on matters of political importance
we must consider ethics , compliance with transparency and morality as well as the letter of the law .
in addition , I would like to underline another important factor mentioned in the relevant reports which is that the conclusion of these agreements will imply a considerable financial burden for Macedonia and other Western Balkan countries .
it is only by bearing in mind the indivisibility of human rights that we will have a greater chance of being heard outside .
it is consumer-focused , it is about reputation , and the reliability of goods produced within the EU .
the Presidency further reported that the specific issue of the ' design ' or ' manufacture of goods ' should also be covered by the proposal .
moreover , since the establishment of the financial perspective in 1988 , the Community budget has always been subject to an under-utilisation of payment appropriations .
the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico clearly demonstrates that financial considerations all too easily result in safety regulations being flouted and common sense going out of the window .
it is a pity that the Treaty is not simpler to digest , but - after being butchered by the ballpoint pens of civil servants from 27 Member States - what would you expect ?
I listened very carefully , but let me be very clear in saying that there is one point on which I will not compromise , and that is full harmonisation .
concerning consumer protection , I believe that the Commission has always been very consistent on this .
discrimination in the enjoyment of fundamental rights derives mainly from the sex , age , origin or sexual orientation of those discriminated against , as the report accurately points out .
the Green Paper refers to the role of Council Directive 77 / 486 / EEC on the education of the children of migrant workers , and takes a critical view of the piecemeal actions that have been taken over the past 30 years on the basis of that directive .
however , more needs to be done to make improvements in this area and it is for this reason that I supported this report .
this is the recurring theme which , in accordance with the Lisbon Strategy , has led us to assume the proper responsibility , with a choice that I am certain will promote growth , development and competitiveness in a Europe obliged to recognise social cohesion as one of its objectives .
look at Greece , Portugal and Ireland .
'The Member States whose currency is the euro may establish a stability mechanism to be activated if indispensable to safeguard the stability of the euro area as a whole .
I voted in favour of this report in view of the fact that the results of the IMPASSE project have revealed that ' the degree of risk associated with alien species could be reduced considerably , possibly to an acceptable level , if the potential for escape of target and non-target organisms is addressed during transportation and by well-defined protocols at the receiving facility ' .
condemn the tragic loss of life and properties in the post election violence and calls on MM Gbagbo and Ouattara to ensure the respect of human rights and the rule of law ; and 3 .
the question now is : do you believe that overall , these developments are a good or a bad thing ?
the first thing , however , which Afghanistan needs is more security , not less security .
this money should be used both for budgetary consolidation and as a separate source of revenue for the EU budget .
today ( 2007-2013 ) , the European Social Fund also has a vital role to play by helping business and workers adapt to the new market conditions and supporting workplace innovations , lifelong learning and increased mobility .
we have an obligation not to allow our energy needs to threaten their stability .
these statistics , which are unfortunately on the rise , are certainly alarming and worrying and require prompt action by European institutions .
their valuable contribution has made it possible to achieve agreement at first reading .
even if it is premature to say so , it is likely that the CFR should form a non-binding legislative tool .
it is for these reasons that I have decided to support the joint motion for a resolution .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - Mr President , the Constitution of Zimbabwe states that ' no person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading punishment or other such treatment ' .
so I would ask this Parliament , and the European Commission , what part of ' no ' do you not understand ?
we must cherish the hope that this time , under the pretext of protecting fundamental rights , we shall not be pushing in a similar direction .
hope is very good for breakfast but very bad for dinner , so we expect results .
the report also calls for a study into how the present national systems work , with a comparison between common-law countries , such as Britain , and other European jurisdictions , and how existing arrangements could be improved .
they should be personalities who inspire natural authority and respect , not officials with tasks delegated to them by their governments .
as the President of the EU Council , Mr Van Rompuy , has said , it has become a sleeping tablet .
the implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement should put the wind of Europe in the sails of Montenegro 's reforms .
today I also appeal for international attention to address efforts to free the British engineer , Anthony S. , and five other European hostages , who worked at a local hospital in Yemen and who remain kidnapped since last June .
this is not and must not be the nature of our debate .
in this regard , I think it would be a good idea for the Commission to ask the Member States to appoint , for each profession , a single competent professional body to be in charge of continuing training - continuing training being one of the solutions .
it is time to support SMEs in the export business , to really protect them against unfair competition , and to do what is reasonable to protect our markets .
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it is necessary to increase the transparency of financial markets , improve legislation and reduce administrative burdens .
if it turns out that support for farmers is the preferred objective of the second pillar , it appears that in the next perspective it would be favourable to tie these funds in to cohesion policy .
Madam President , people in Islamic countries today are doing something rather similar to the Turkish people 's ousting of the single-party dictatorship in 1950 .
my final comment is that this needs to be complemented by the European Investment Bank and the specific bonds to respond to growth .
I believe in it even less since the facts speak for themselves .
the most common type of maladministration was lack of transparency .
establishing a coherent , transparent framework supporting the multilateral monitoring of macro-economic trends in the European Union and Member States , along with consolidating fiscal supervision , as proposed within the document , marks a step forward in the right direction , even though it may entail a partial amendment to the Constitutional Treaty .
we therefore support this report , to which we have suggested some amendments , pointing out that collective negotiation and bargaining have an important role to play in combating discrimination against women , not least as regards access to employment , pay , working conditions , career advancement and vocational training .
deputising for the author . - Madam President , the question was submitted by Brian Simpson , on behalf of Parliament 's Committee on Transport and Tourism , following the Commission 's report looking into the effectiveness of the EU blacklist .
( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , today , after 16 years , we have finally given the green light to simplification , unification and at the same time tighter restrictions in regard to the granting and revoking of air operating licences .
the Temporary Work Directive must be adopted in order to combat casual employment .
this is one of the reasons why the liberalisation of trade in services is progressing slowly and why there is such great resistance to it .
instead of striving to come up with new directives , I therefore believe we should be ensuring that the existing laws are applied in full by the governments .
( SV ) Madam President , some of the things we are now debating in a rather savage tone are issues that we already debated last year .
the family consists of the mother , the semi-paralysed father with heart problems and five children , a family that have been refugees from their land since 1948 , thrown out of a house in East Jerusalem , along with thousands and thousands of other Palestinians .
it seems to me that scant notice was taken of appeals by fishermen in the past .
when you see that the European Council and in particular the OSCE have set up numerous programmes , mainly with the support of the European Commission , then you become aware that to all intents and purposes there are some very positive approaches to this .
the European free competition policy is one of the key policies of European integration . the underlying concept aims to establish an internal market where its economic players can freely initiate and exercise their activities .
this report , for the first time in the European Union I believe , recognises that contribution .
I am also pleased that the admission regulation has not become as restrictive as proposed in this House at first reading .
these are the challenges of the 21st century .
meanwhile , the estimated costs were close to EUR 1.3 billion in the United Kingdom and over EUR 700 million in France according to the latest Court of Auditors report .
( FR ) Madam President , a couple of words on the presidential elections in Côte d 'Ivoire , as I am head of the Union 's election observation mission in that country .
we are determined to live up to the expectations of our people and lead them towards a peaceful and prosperous future .
I find the call for flexible application of competition policy or the Stability and Growth Pact extremely worrying .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner Dimas , ladies and gentlemen , it is a clear goal of this directive to simplify the current legal provisions in the area of industrial emissions and to incorporate them into a single directive , thereby cutting bureaucracy .
the Socialist Group in the European Parliament wants to achieve environmental targets without impeding economic activities .
could I just remind her that the South Asia delegation has just been to Sri Lanka - and I see several members of that delegation in the Chamber .
for a number of months - for nearly a year now - I have signalled that I am going to do something in the area of credit-rating agencies .
it would seem not .
there is one thing we must not forget , however , which does not necessarily belong in this regulation , although it relates to it , and that is psychology .
gender-based violence is always primarily a criminal matter .
however , I have some reservations .
we believe that the principle of reliable planning should currently be given priority .
( FR ) ' The children of staff in the service of the Community institutions and of the organisations listed below employed directly and continuously for a minimum period of one year . '
obviously this facilitates exports to Europe .
I come from a country of long distances and comparatively small towns .
I would also like to say that I am not talking , as one of the previous speakers has done , about crocodile tears and hypocrisy and so on .
the European Parliament 's message is clear : in future we , the EU , must not and cannot deal with the problem of earthquakes intermittently and peripherally ; we must focus on it as a distinct , separate problem and examine all of its individual aspects and components .
I am referring , for example , to inventions of medicines .
we have good reasons for doing so .
ladies and gentlemen , many other projects will be launched over the coming six months .
based on what you have told us about her critical thinking , it seems to me that she could go a long way in politics for obviously her mind has not yet been clouded by the endless procession of unvarying texts that are submitted to us , with no follow-up - none at all - in terms of practical policy implementation .
however , there are two things we need in particular to do that .
recent steps towards the establishment of a state property inventory are also positive in this regard .
disabled users in particular are entitled to those services as well , and to better services .
so the focus is on getting an independent investigation and not least to assign a civilian prosecutor to the task .
more cross-cutting social policies are therefore needed at a European level in order to ensure a fairer distribution of wealth .
obviously , that is an important thing to do , but Europe must not lose sight of the importance of the values that have allowed the Union to emerge victorious from the innumerable challenges it has had to deal with during its history .
in her analysis , she has chosen to take a rather negative approach .
however , we have already indicated to the next country to hold the presidency , France , a country that has particular responsibility for this continuing deadlock , that the time has come to resolve the issues and recognise the importance of placing the European Union at the forefront of effective and responsible multilateralism .
this is at the root of the crisis , and when people talk about sustainable development , it is not just about a few piecemeal measures , it is about trying to explain and to understand that , while there are areas that need growth , that is , selective growth - renewables , and so on - there are a whole host of areas that need to be curbed .
as we strive to make migrants integrate , it is especially important to give more support to language courses ; integration is a dual process , in which migrants and the host country participate .
the climate targets that we proposed and worked for in this Parliament had been declared dead and buried not once , but perhaps ten times , by the time we obtained the final decision .
similarly , to ask for common methods of calculating emissions as well as verification and publication of data so that all emitting industries are put on the same scale seems to be a most legitimate request and not a negotiating tactic .
no judicial cycle has been completed , but the ICC is considering the situation in five countries : one trial has started , another trial is going to start on 5 July and one further case is in the pre-trial stage - all for DAR and DRC .
for our Parliament , this is a real political challenge .
saving energy is necessary and the most effective solution ; that we know .
our problems have been known for a long time .
I also pay tribute to the authors of the EU Heads of Mission report on East Jerusalem itself .
the same Korean trade investment promotion agency has calculated this advantage as at least EUR 1 300 per car .
( LT ) You can never give too much attention to human rights dialogue , and therefore I would like to welcome a speaker who has presented many suggestions and assessments .
the Commission broadened the debate by issuing its communication of 2001 , focusing on possible problems which divergences in contract law might raise within the Internal Market and on possible options for action .
but it will Mr Borloo , will it not ?
poor Greece , trapped inside the economic prison of the euro !
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for heaven 's sake , will symbols really create the super-state that some Members have talked about ?
we are important neighbours , we are allies in NATO , and many people of Turkish origin live in Member States of the European Union .
as various Members have said , it is about ordinary people , about pensioners and taxpayers .
this often happens haphazardly and arbitrarily , without knowledge of the special characteristics of the product and the geographical area .
here , too , the EU Member States are keen to get involved . however , when it comes to Nabucco , all we hear are promises , but there is neither sufficient money nor political support .
a conference on child poverty was organised in September .
for example , beyond the rhetoric , the truth of the matter is that the context of relations between the EU and Latin America , to date at least , has produced little success in terms of regional integration or in reducing poverty levels there .
electrical and electronic equipment today represents an enormous consumer goods category , and it therefore accounts for an equally enormous amount of waste , with risks of serious damage to the environment and people 's health due to the nature of that waste .
we have , doubtless , not even heard about many similar incidents .
besides , there are dyes other than azo dyes .
I recall a heated debate in Poland prior to the general election of October 2007 .
thirdly , would the financial speculators be forced to take their own losses rather than crucifying the Irish people ?
if the EU 's agricultural policy is to secure the supply of safe and high quality foods , while contributing to the protection of the environment and to renewable energy , its funding will have to be commensurate with its goals .
while I am not an enthusiast of the Charter of Fundamental Rights , I would , however , like to ask if it is true that this mandate does not respect the provisions of the Charter .
I assume that the new Commission sees this in just the same way and considers the importance of biodiversity just as seriously .
the report by Hans-Peter Martin on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Aviation Safety Authority for the financial year 2006 ( C6-0383 / 2007 - ,
we need solid , peer-reviewed scientific evidence , not the work of pressure groups using climate change to further their own agendas or politicians who use climate change to justify the existence of the European Union .
( PT ) Mr President , the European Parliament is represented before the Court by its President and , in controversial cases , the President first consults the plenary .
( NL ) Madam President , the Directive on the sustainable and risk-reducing use of pesticides and the Regulation concerning the placing of pesticides on the market are both extremely necessary and useful .
I believe the agreement on this package will strengthen our economic surveillance mechanisms at European level .
the e-Justice project will serve the people and strengthen our democracy .
the European Union has the largest Exclusive Economic Zone in the world , at 25 million square kilometres .
the European Commission estimated that between 35 000 and 50 000 workers could benefit from this fund , but EU data indicate that the number of workers made redundant as a result of ' restructuring ' is far in excess of half a million .
the continuation of the military offensive is costing too many lives .
they are the basis of the values on which we have been building our society and our European Union . I think they are much too important and much too historical to give way to party political polemics .
in writing . - ( PL ) Improvement of the situation of small and medium-sized enterprises in Europe and support for the European Charter for Small Enterprises is of tremendous importance for the efficient development of the European Union 's economy and entrepreneurship , and I have therefore decided to support the resolution .
Europe still seems to be thinking about it .
this meant that we ultimately chose to support Mr Fava 's report because it sends a clear message to the effect that it is unacceptable for employers to exploit the vulnerable position of migrants with no documents and because it gives certain rights to those migrants with no documents that they currently lack in several of the EU 's Member States .
this group started its deliberations at the end of November , following on from the attention paid to the issue by the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs .
making calls and resolutions does not help the civilians .
will we be ready to implement the Treaty of Lisbon and , if so , when ?
worse still , President Sarkozy rode roughshod over the spirit of democracy he claims to advocate . he has done so by exerting pressure on the Irish authorities and the leaders of other sovereign states and nations , insisting on recognition of the Treaty of Lisbon that was rejected by the people of Ireland .
the emission cap , for instance , is higher than Parliament proposed , while the auctioning percentages are lower .
however , it also affects you : you came along a little late today because you evidently had matters to discuss .
I sincerely believe that , given this background of uncertainty , the Commission should seek to send a positive signal to the sector today in Parliament .
the aid system must remain true to its primary goal of reducing poverty .
however , it is necessary to ensure , as Baroness Ashton said , that there is a proper additional referendum in Abyei , as well as in the region where oil is located .
I believe that the current deficiencies must be redressed .
by promoting the transparent , responsible use of government revenue , they are also one of the foundations of a responsible democracy .
I would remind you , too , that the regulation will include a minimum core of rights that will apply , without exemptions , from the moment that it comes into force .
all of these recommendations are essential as we approach the review of the Millennium Development Goals at the United Nations in September .
what is more , despite the fact that the Chinese regime is doing all it can to show its positive side during the Olympic Games , it is continuing to persecute any groups that represent non-Communist ideologies .
I would like to made a peripheral comment on Frontex : Frontex always takes the names of its operations from Greek mythology ; Nautilus is one example .
that is a pretextual argument !
we also need to recognise the efforts of other countries - and this , in particular , includes the large emitters like the United States and China .
we are also sceptical about the fact that the European Parliament wants to provide more money for the common fisheries policy - this is something that we do not wish to be involved in , unless the purpose is to make a clear change to the policy .
it is lamentable that other political groups on the Left refuse to join with us in the political mainstream of the House in condemning the increasingly arbitrary and serious affronts to basic freedoms perpetrated by the Chávez regime .
however , the report does consider the need for a fairer distribution of wealth , but without indicating the ways to achieve this or calling for a break with those policies that have worsened social inequalities .
these things should not , on their own , be obstacles on the road to accession , but the EU should strive for their resolution before accession .
on the subject of airport charges the Commission was , in my view , quite right to put forward a proposal for a directive , even though in the case of the Costa report we were also right to praise the efforts being made to reduce the administrative burden .
now , the Treaties stipulate that Parliament be ' immediately and fully informed at all stages of the procedure ' .
we have been pushing for that all along and we would very much like to see that cooperation producing fruit .
in some cases , even the minimum expected level of coordination , agreement and cooperation was lacking .
the situation of women in rural areas of the EU (
essentially you have added yet another group to those in the UK who frankly loathe the European Union 's interference .
therefore , I am convinced that an agreement reached at any price , at the expense of the haulage industry , cannot be considered a success .
what happens then ?
the average value used by directly elected national parliaments for the formation of political groups is virtually identical to the threshold used by the European Parliament .
I have the impression that Europeans - as often as they emphasise this and as much as they like to applaud it - have lost all faith in these future-oriented jobs during the economic crisis and that , therefore , precisely during this economic crisis , they are casting aside the successful strategies for creating new jobs and the markets of the future .
in my view , in order to rectify the errors , we must establish without fail exactly who was responsible for what omissions , when and where , so that we can guarantee that we rectify these errors for the next time .
so European money is quite rigidly managed - even too rigidly in some areas .
I should like once again to express my respect for the Japanese people .
however , to be successful it is essential that the programme looks at developing EU-wide standards and interoperability in order to become a world leader in this field of assistive technologies .
we could also mention the proposed recast of the directives on interoperability and safety .
I too hope that the Tibetan people can have their freedom , but also that they will not have to live under the control of either a state or a religion .
they will join those who are re-elected in June .
none of this , however , alters the fact that the European Union is in the midst of its deepest crisis .
( EL ) Madam President , we are at a turning point .
even if countries like China do feel overburdened by a long list of quality requirements , we nonetheless need measures to improve product and food safety in the interests of protecting European consumers .
since , for the last 40 years , we have been thinking in terms of east and west , a north-south connection has been missing , and this is where I consider the treaties to be signed a breakthrough .
the aim of the Black Sea Synergy is to develop regional cooperation between the EU and the region , as well as within the region .
at the start of the 1990s , fraud involving cigarette smuggling was found to be big business .
instead , it is being attempted undemocratically , through the back door , to force homosexual partnerships on Member States - which is probably a foretaste of what awaits us if we implement the Treaty of Lisbon .
I welcome the fact that the principle of proposing new projects , if we identify serious risks in implementing the current projects , is also referred to in the recitals and an article of the regulation .
your views on the points sketched out here will be an essential input for the package , which we will adopt in December .
the crisis has clearly shown that even bank capital has been insufficient regarding solvability and solvency .
with the march of climate change and the dislocation of water cycles that that promotes , it will not be possible to completely fend off even fiercer storms in the future .
I would just like to mention the amendments to make sure that there is no overlap with the Prüm Decision or questions relating to fine-tuning the liability provisions or to redefining and clarifying the term ' crisis situations ' or an amendment referring to the possibility of obtaining funding for common projects .
we need European action , but also national governmental initiatives as well as local measures .
it is a question of national security in which the national states , too , must take a strong interest .
it is therefore time to move from words to actions in order to put an end to this violence , which is clearly one of the most serious forms of human rights violation .
in addition it could be used for missions abroad ( such as Haiti ) .
Mr President , I hope that nobody in the EU leadership was happy in Khanty-Mansiysk when the new Russian President was mocking European solidarity .
in 2004 , the Hague programme , which focused on the need to combat illegal migration , recognised that legal migration would play a vital role in the economic development of the EU .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( PL ) Madam President , the Green Paper on improving the efficiency of the enforcement of judgments in the European Union represents a further stage in the development of a European area of justice .
on agriculture - which was addressed by the other speakers just prior to me - I gathered that agriculture was not the sticking point at Doha .
inevitably , the fate of the Western Balkans will be of particular interest to the current holder of the Council Presidency .
the aim of the 26th Annual Report on Monitoring the Application of European Union Law ( 2008 ) is to shed light on problems in the application and transposition of EU law .
the European Union must , however , realistically examine and assess the level of reduction that is tolerable .
in 2007 , the Commission drew up codes of conduct for regulating the marketing of food products targeting children .
traceability is essential .
wars , ethnic tensions , persistent climate change , human rights violations , a lack of civil and economic liberties , endemic corruption , a lack of institutional representatives of citizens ' needs , such as trade unions , associations , political parties : the set of all these elements represents the field of deployment of European foreign policy and resolving these problems will remove many of the reasons that cause millions of people to emigrate .
this is not an isolated case , ladies and gentlemen .
it reaffirms its support , albeit it in moderate terms , for the liberalisation of world trade , while camouflaging its consequences .
3 .
the economic crisis was able to take hold thanks to weak governments , which allowed the economic automatisms of economic globalization to replace the political decisions which the Community needs if it is to continue to function .
I believe that better logistics and the improvement of management , especially via the intensification of research and application of new technologies in the field of intelligent systems , represent steps forward in better traffic planning , management of flows and elimination of traffic agglomeration and jams .
I think this is an important step for Parliament .
it is estimated that almost 10 million people in Europe suffer from dementia , and the majority of them from Alzheimer 's disease .
these specific cases should be treated with special tolerance , so that the things we are discussing , the legislation being made , can take effect in tangible terms , and to ensure that the things written down in statutory provisions can indeed happen .
our objective - even more so in the current difficult climate - is to adopt an inclusive approach to employment policy .
if there are other resources available allowing underdeveloped regions to catch up , the volume of the GDP produced locally in these regions will actually grow .
let me address a final point because we will be voting on the subject this week .
internal Market Scoreboard - Consumer protection - SOLVIT ( debate )
some Members who have been closely involved with this case know - and I cannot give any more details at this point , but I am one of those who knows - that we will have a solution for this case during the course of the day .
in view of this , and in the interests of transparency , which should guide the dialogue between these stakeholders and Union institutions , Parliament and the Commission have agreed to establish a common register to list and monitor individuals and organisations involved in drafting and implementing EU policy .
the Council is very conspicuous by its absence , as are the leaders of the political parties .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I would like to congratulate Mr Kacin for his solid report , which captures the essential aspects of the current state of EU-Serbia relations .
we will need the Support Office to verify specifically that the practices are more or less the same throughout Europe , so that this Europe of asylum can finally come about .
I believe the European Union institutions should respond to citizens ' concerns .
the European Union must therefore do all in its power to uphold the elementary human right to life and seek a worldwide moratorium on the death penalty .
the efforts made by the Council to supply appropriate replies to the requests made by Parliament in April are equally welcome .
we will continue to promote the technical harmonisation of rail in conjunction with the European Railway Agency .
I agree with the rapporteur on all the basic issues and congratulate him on his good work .
the reason is that we have to explain this policy to our citizens who are full of concern : they should not be afraid of immigration as such , but of those who commit crimes .
we call on the Commission for a more careful consideration of the specific differences between male and female employees and for an assessment of the availability of data broken down by gender and data concerning the long-term effects and psychological consequences of employment .
I now call on my fellow Members to support their rapporteurs and draftsmen through their vote and to grant them a clear and decisive mandate for the period of codecision that will follow .
however , I wish to open up a debate by proposing that consideration be given to the possible creation of integrated and coordinated national customs administrations , with a view to moving towards a Community administration in charge of the customs union .
the next item is a joint debate on
clearly , if the content of the final text justifies it , the addition of Article 152 to Article 95 could certainly be considered .
the Committee on Agriculture has therefore unequivocally been arguing , as it has done already in the mini milk package , in favour of setting up a milk fund in order to achieve savings in costs resulting from the reforms explicitly for the milk sector .
I know it was a long time ago , but a nation must come to terms with its history and so far Turkey has failed to come to terms with this bloody stain on its record .
there is another trend that I find even more alarming , namely the fact that , although European companies are actually spending more , not less , on research and development than in past years , they are tending to invest that money outside rather than within Europe .
if these reports do not get a majority tomorrow then we are always prepared to work together constructively to achieve a common solution for economic governance that takes social and economic responsibilities equally seriously .
as he clearly showed during his speech , Mr Jarzembowski is highly critical of the Commission 's position : for once. we are not in agreement after all these years of working together .
Madam President , I do not believe that it is necessary on such a day to underline once more how important fundamental rights are for Europe and how important they are for all the acts we are proposing .
thanks to the increased information available , consumers now have the opportunity to find better goods and services , which can be accessed 24 hours a day , from home or the workplace .
I also believe , for example , that the election process , including the pre-election and post-election phases , should be included in the political dialogue with the third countries concerned .
how are we to counter a Mr Putin and tell him : we are a huge community of values in favour of universal human rights - except for a few of us .
of course , good law-making is not easy , but today we are taking a big step forward .
the amendment to the code on the Schengen borders in terms of the use of the visa information system stipulates the use of biometric data in border controls for third country nationals holding visas .
the second critique considers the fact that sanctions are not effective , essentially because they have perverse effects , people always get round them , and they should therefore not be used .
we are requesting a statement from the Commission not only on the situation of the Roma in Italy but on their situation there and in Europe in general .
they also need to attend to their domestic food needs and not restrict themselves to a few export products which , in addition , cause concern for European farmers .
the basic decisions we have taken on strengthening European economic governance and tackling our macro-economic imbalances are at the heart of this progress .
given the important role of public procurement in promoting and supporting new technologies , I supported this report .
however , as with all things European , we do not move forward as quickly as some of us would like - if we move forward at all .
while the EU backs the Copenhagen proposals to further the deindustrialisation of the West and the corporate domination of the Third World , a growing majority of ordinary people regard climate change as an elite scam - an excuse to tax and control us and to impose internationalist dogma and global government at the expense of the nation state .
quite a number of matters were decided .
this has also been covered by others before me .
what is the rate of implementation of the projects and what is the take-up rate of the appropriations concerned ?
the agricultural crisis of 2009 is having a much more detrimental effect on farms than the indices reveal .
could this be because there is actually no basis for this agreement in the Treaties ?
we have a deadlock that has been going on for a long time .
can the Commission explain what action has so far been taken with the aim of reducing the bureaucratic burden on farmers throughout the European Union ?
moreover , the interim agreement will provide an express opportunity for the EU 's crime prevention authorities to request information themselves from TFTP databases in the investigation of terrorist crimes .
Mr President , Commissioner , I would like to start by congratulating the rapporteur , who has done an excellent job .
we need your help in drawing attention to this issue to those in European countries where this is not a problem on the front pages .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the two declarations prompt me to point out , for the benefit of those fellow Members who may not have fully understood what is going on , that these declarations form part of the compromise which we have agreed .
our job is to turn up the heat .
where will the project be that the founding fathers baptised ?
allow me to stress here that the Council and the European Parliament recently received a Commission report on the status of the disabled in the European Union , which included the European action plan for 2008 and 2009 .
I 'll gladly tell you .
( EL ) You are absolutely right Mrs Rapti .
they will have an identifier which makes it immediately obvious if they are falsified or duplicated or if there are any irregularities , which can then be followed up .
we have not come up with an answer to the economic and financial crisis .
it is an anti-Russian report - as clearly worded in a variety of ways at various points - and it is a report that clearly states that the European Union wants to be a global player and a foreign policy on energy is virtually a means to that end .
if the Commission were to designate 2011 the European Year of Volunteers , this would allow the EU institutions , in collaboration with voluntary organisations , to work towards common objectives , as I said earlier , to add value at European level .
finally , there is the facilitation of the recognition of medical prescriptions in all Member States .
the priorities which have been presented , that is : work on the rights of the European citizen , economic revival and financial control , upholding justice and developing a strategy for the internal security of the states of Europe , and all this when the new treaty is coming into force with full effect , are very ambitious .
not only is the war causing fatalities , but it is also resulting in devastation , more acute hunger and widespread demoralisation .
for this reason , I have suggested the creation of a European agency for Roma , with the role of coordinating at European level policies targeted at this minority .
it must be a comprehensive review .
the vote will take place during the next sitting in September 2008 .
however , this directive is not worth the paper it is written on if there is no money for it .
the issues - which have been lead , arsenic , mercury and PCBs - are very serious , and it does not matter what a toy is for - whether it is a book or something to ride on or whatever - I know as a mother that at some point it could end up in a child 's mouth .
that would simply drag out the process and distract attention from the real objective of this Regulation .
( DE ) Mr President , I regard this Framework Directive for Soil Protection as a serious mistake which jeopardises the competitiveness of European agriculture and food supplies in Europe .
however , domestic workers - the majority of whom are women and immigrants - are often subjected to exploitation by their bosses , who do not guarantee their social rights .
secondly , will you please confirm that the Czech Republic will not be tempted to follow the Irish example and seek to pull apart the Lisbon package ?
having regard to the fact that micro-credits may contribute to the unlocking of business potential by helping people through self-employment , I think that this method should be brought to the EU .
it is a matter of the most elementary justice that the victim of a crime who has benefited from a protection order in a Member State should also be protected should they decide to reside or remain in another EU country .
I think , Prime Minister , that you are the first European political leader to have taken your turn in sketching a mea culpa .
we believe that a fundamental aspect of your Presidency will be to resist these pressures from both major and minor players to restrict and weaken the impact of these regulations .
again , this causes a major problem for our own fishermen on the west coast who are working in mixed fisheries with megrim , monkfish and hake .
in Europe , they account for 30 % of researchers and only 18 % of professors .
if I remember well , at the United Nations conference in Poznań the main argument that we had with developing countries was that we do not carry out many projects in those countries .
( FR ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , European consumers expect the products they buy to enjoy better safety protection .
if we remove more and more safety nets from the common agricultural policy , then the price fluctuations will increase .
what my group and now Parliament are asking for has nothing to do with trade restrictions .
I would like to stress that we are dealing , unfortunately , with the systematic activity of the Lithuanian authorities concerning the education system and bilingual place names , and at various levels of the administration .
the EU must in my view finally wake up to the fact that unresolved conflicts , cultural differences and socioeconomic problems do not vanish into thin air with accession .
if you will permit me , as we say in France , this has been the drop of water that has made the vase overflow , with this water having also been authorised for blending wine , just like the ' woodwork ' wines made with wood chips rather than in barrels were previously authorised , and the wines made with imported musts were nearly authorised .
investments of this kind are ideally spread as widely as possible and developed in concert .
Larisa Arap was held for 46 days after she published a critical article in the Murmansk Oblast .
I do not want to see a coalblack future for energy in Europe .
we must act very swiftly for the sake of consumers and for the sake of honest companies .
it is not just about providing development aid .
Mr Barnier , we know , is now going to have a look at strategy and I hope will pick up many of these things .
Europe faces a number of challenges in sustaining and improving our healthcare services .
it is the only real development initiative that we can and should actually bring into the world .
I would like to assure Mrs Saberi 's family of our solidarity and the strong commitment of the European Parliament to ensuring unconditional respect for human rights and democracy in Iran and throughout the world .
it is also very good that we have a greater possibility to combat cross-border criminality while respecting individual rights .
I voted in favour of this report as the Rules of Procedure of the Court of First Instance lack any provision as to the language required to be used in appeal proceedings ( against decisions of the Civil Service Tribunal ) .
I welcome the fact that Parliament has been consulted again on the draft Council decision and that the negotiations on the association of Liechtenstein with the Dublin agreement with Switzerland will therefore proceed .
under the guidelines , in a future major crisis with consequences for consular protection in the third country in question , one Member State is to be nominated as the ' Lead State ' and assume responsibility for the protection of EU citizens on behalf of the other Member States .
and that opens a shared future of security , peace and new partnerships .
we do not understand how this issue can be the subject of discussions , hesitations and the calling into question of the Union 's competences within the Council , when the treaty clearly indicates that this is an area in which the EU also has responsibilities .
I would like to document the following with a study from Austria from 2008 : through plants such as grass , maize and cereals and the soil , agriculture and forestry consume and bind considerably more greenhouse gases than they generate .
the helicopter has today become an essential crisis management tool .
those who just want a quick headline , just want to get publicity , should vote now .
we need to carry out research in this regard , but we also need to harmonise our taxes .
if we had more money , or at least as much as the Commission proposed for broadband in rural areas - EUR 1.5 billion - perhaps Member States , without having to pay , would more willingly participate in CFSP actions .
in spite of the many shortcomings of the American democracy , they have achieved something that at this point we can only dream of : they have a black president .
media campaigns , information and advice centres and adapted forms of communication for disadvantaged groups are very important .
it goes without saying that a coming together of old and new economic powers is badly needed for such a historical task .
although we may disagree with this amendment , it is fully within the competency of the Hungarian Parliament and EU representatives should respect it .
it is precisely for this reason that there are two amendments that we tabled as a group , because , in our view , they are missing in the joint resolution .
I think that is mad !
I believe therefore that it is important that we define a strategy that aims to further the deployment of key enabling technologies in European industry .
Apprenticeships should also be better recognised .
ultimately , this is a choice between the devil and the deep-blue sea .
I am convinced that the administrative processes need to be reduced to an essential minimum .
this situation cannot be allowed to continue and we are therefore pleased to receive your support on this point .
we are also an autonomous institution and I do not feel it is therefore appropriate for other institutions to dictate our policies in this area .
this is a short-sighted and risky approach which plays into the hands of those undemocratic suppliers whose political strategy is to split and weaken the EU .
Flanders is something of a world champion in this field ; we are right at the top .
I should like to ask the two Commissioners present to insist on these European standards in the case of imports of feed and food as well in future .
European Consensus on humanitarian aid ( short presentation )
we certainly must tell the citizens that there are of course also some improvements .
the final outcome would probably be positive in two respects : on the one hand , the number of workers left without a job would be lower than foreseen in the restructuring plan submitted by the Polish authorities and , on the other hand , the workers re-employed by the purchasers of the yards ' assets would have much more stable working prospects within viable undertakings , because the burden of past debts would have been lifted .
our work has ranged from promoting awareness and enforcement of human rights among vulnerable groups to the rehabilitation of schools in areas already mentioned in the discussions , such as Nineveh , which has a large Christian population .
the second main aim of the Commission 's proposal is to revise the financial provisions which govern the funding of political parties at European level in light of the experience acquired in the meantime .
the accompanying measures are intended to support 10 banana-exporting ACP countries in their adaptation to a reduction in their preferential margin as a result of the Geneva Agreement .
Mr Ehler 's report calls for the conditions for military cooperation to be laid down and for a clear definition of the PSC .
it seems to me that the current government of Nicaragua is doing many of the things that need doing in order to address this problem .
it is also open to legal entities established in EFTA states that are contracting parties to the EEA Agreement - Norway , Iceland and Liechtenstein .
I said that she was one of those pacifists who Lenin might have called a fellow traveller .
tuberculosis is a cross-sector issue and it is linked to many of the public health challenges we face in the European Union , including the spread of anti-microbial resistance , the lack of new effective tools to diagnose and treat tuberculosis , the steep rise of co-infections such as with HIV , and the inequalities , with tuberculosis disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable groups .
formal sitting - Hungary
allow me to conclude by expressing the Commission 's strong commitment to ensuring the smooth creation of the EEAS and its readiness to provide all necessary support and help to this new European service .
it is very incomprehensible if 27 voices speak at the same time .
I know that your Parliament is deeply attached to this issue .
the transition from declarations to details generally involves reports similar to the one we are debating today , however .
this is absolutely vital to the credibility of the European institutions and public confidence in those in power .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( HU ) Thank you , Mr President .
I would like to draw your attention to Diagrams V and VI in the Annex to the Court of Auditors ' report , which are for calculating Member States ' net contributions .
even in the case of reputable airlines , delays are constantly being experienced supposedly for technical reasons . perhaps the real reason is plain incompetence ?
I consider this very dangerous , and I therefore support the submitted report , as it again proposes an obligation on construction firms to declare the hazardous materials contained in construction products .
I would also like to thank the European Commission , especially the President of the Commission , to whom the Presidency is hugely indebted over these months for his valued assistance in bringing the negotiations to a successful conclusion .
we must look beyond national considerations and towards European considerations .
I know the European Parliament would like this revision to take place quite soon .
these will create new sources of employment and growth , something that will both render Europe more competitive and improve its quality of life .
put simply , it means that , in reforming the WTO , Britain will be more closely forced to trade with such other countries as the EU allows .
we , Europe , must now take control of and lead the switchover to a sustainable automotive sector , something that is only possible if we guide the sector through this severe and life-threatening recession .
at the same time , however , the Commission 's proposal contains solutions that may have negative implications for the economies of the Member States .
does anybody in this Parliament think that now is the time for the European Parliament to spend more on anything - to increase spending , have more staff for groups , library , committees , IT staff and an additional EUR 1 500 in assistants ' allowances ?
we need the IMF to fill that role .
to do so effectively , I would propose to draw up consultation procedures with the European Parliament .
there you have it .
I can assure you that the enriching inputs given by the Carvalho , Merkies , Audy and Matias reports will be duly taken into account when preparing the legislative proposals .
I hope that Parliament 's concrete and precise position will facilitate the achievement of our common objectives and help find consensus on the subject of humanitarian aid .
Madam President , Commissioner , the simplification of the common agricultural policy ( CAP ) is a goal that we have all been proclaiming for years .
where are we now , five years before the 2015 deadline ?
I think it is incredible that the Head of Delegation writes that we do not have to review our policies vis-à-vis Tunisia .
they involve a huge number of young people from various backgrounds ( the number of Polish students who went abroad on an Erasmus grant between 1998 and 2010 was 93 807 ) and they contribute to the development of young people 's potential and the creation of a strong European civil society .
I am sure that the Commission will continue to welcome Parliament 's contributions with a view to improving its proposal still further .
I am of the opinion that the principle of subsidiarity should be used regarding buffer zones not to be treated , to prevent additional constraints being applied to agricultural production .
I support this initiative which aims to ensure that the provisions of Article 20 of the EC Treaty and Article 46 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights can be effectively used in practice , by laying the foundations for a genuine harmonised fundamental right to diplomatic and consular protection for all EU citizens , regardless of their nationality .
thus , initiatives such as Grundtvig or Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs should be extended and doubled by funds that would supplement the insufficient national finances .
thirdly , it is important to increase retroactively and until the end of the transitional period the amount of aid given to mills for partial abandonment of production .
perhaps , however , the most novel contributions have been , firstly , power-sharing measures : this could , for example , produce a balanced number of women and men on company boards and in all decision-making posts in line with the new law introduced in my country , Spain .
the Committee on Culture and Education had therefore proposed that the 790 band not be opened in the first instance , but unfortunately , the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy did not follow our suggestion .
therefore , common freedoms and a common market , and not extending Union competences , should be the central principle of the Union 's economic policy .
does it have to be the case that only the fatal victims of what considers itself to be a progressive regime will make people aware of the need for change in Cuba ?
( HU ) Mr President , in the run-up to the climate conference in Cancún , the European Union and its Member States should finally realise that setting more and more new unilateral target figures will not help exert influence on the United States , China and India , or help include emerging economies in the fight against climate change .
( DE ) Mr President , Madam Vice-President , ladies and gentlemen , the Albertini and Danjean reports , as well as the motion for a resolution on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons , show that important decisions will soon have to be taken and that we need to prepare for that .
the next item is the oral question to the Commission on the pre-registration of phase-in substances according to the REACH Regulation - ( B6-0490 / 2008 ) .
it has to be said that somewhere there is a limit to what the international community and the European Union can tolerate .
the debate is closed .
I should also like to thank the Commissioner for his answer to my question on the uncertainty over the agency and its role .
we take political decisions extremely seriously .
the Commission 's right of initiative is a documented right .
as far as I am aware , she has been talking about bees now for quite a long time so I am glad to see that this resolution put forward by the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development has given Parliament a chance to debate the problem currently facing the beekeeping sector .
( EL ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the legislative proposal which we will be asked to vote on aims to achieve a high level of protection of human health and the environment by establishing Community models for the sustainable use of pesticides and rules for placing them on the European market .
this is very important , because it means that ships will not be able to call at locations where they know they will be able to avoid inspections .
over the last 100 years average temperatures in Europe have risen by 0.095 ° C and over the next century could increase by 2 ° or even 6 ° C. The OECD estimates that 6.4 % of childhood deaths and illnesses in Europe are caused by environmental pollution .
a new area is the right to grow up in a non-polluted environment , the environmental rights of the child .
for every year , customs officials find products made from specimens of disappearing animal and plant species in the suitcases of Europeans returning from foreign trips .
the Commission , until today , does not have any proof of systemic fraud or systemic failure of the system that was put in place .
Mr President , the aim of the European Research Infrastructure ( ERI ) is to create unique research centres managed by the most distinguished specialists working in specific fields .
the planned transfer from an Office of the High Representative to a strengthened Office of the Special Representative of the EU does not mean that either the international community or the EU is quitting Bosnia and Herzegovina .
moreover , co-movements in spreads in other countries are also evidence of clear risks of spillovers to other Member States .
I would like to stress that the Community financial measures for the implementation of the common fisheries policy are a major European Union funding instrument in this sector and must be constantly adapted to the needs of the citizens involved in this area and strictly in keeping with the current challenges being faced .
6 .
I am delighted that the European Parliament has drawn significant attention to the fact that we must facilitate the integration of people with disabilities in the areas of education and training .
at times , there are also apparent attempts to throw the baby out with the bathwater , as in the case of the so-called Ecodesign Directive .
this Treaty is arousing criticism here and there .
however , some of its toughest effects have been felt by elderly women , women in rural areas and single mothers .
in fact , Frontex could not yet be fully operational without the creation of such a network of liaison officers .
I call upon the Hungarian authorities to restore independent governance of the media and to put an end to state interference in freedom of expression .
why do they believe that their interests are better defended by the Council of Ministers than by this Parliament , where they are present and where they can vote ?
following the debate that we had on this issue of the Boeing complaint against Airbus before the WTO , and in response to the US Senate resolution on the same subject , I am pleased to see that we are today defending a resolution that will ensure the European Parliament 's support for Airbus .
( SK ) We all know that the European Union 's common agricultural policy is a very complex and sensitive issue .
debates on cases of breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law ( announcement of motions for resolutions tabled ) : see Minutes
I was a committed federalist even in the period when the Czechs and Slovaks shared the same state .
you can only express effective criticism if you yourself meet the criteria set .
second , we have defined no-go areas ; I think this is also a revolutionary change .
that is the opportunity - the great opportunity - for your Commission to achieve more consensus among the population at large , and it is an opportunity which we in the PPE-DE Group would expressly encourage you to seize with both hands .
written declarations included in the register ( Rule 123 ) : see Minutes
the patience of the people of FYROM , both Macedonians and Albanians , has its limits , even if each have their reasons for this .
however , this report provides for a review into the possibility .
having said which , we have noted that the trend in this report by the Court of Auditors has been one of improvement .
in our opinion the problem with transparency is finding out whom we are dealing with , what they are doing and who is paying them : that is , the issue of financial disclosure .
whilst most of us now have at least some understanding of the extent of the problem of climate change , many have not made the connection between climate change and biodiversity loss .
I do not want to dwell on the fact that Kiev was the capital of Russia and that the Crimea provides access to the seven seas .
Parliament has been overhasty in announcing financial support for the protesters , many of whom were openly displaying anti-Semitic slogans .
( RO ) Madam President , Parliament must be able to control on an equal footing with the Council the adoption of strategic decisions relating to how the resources allocated by the financing instruments for cooperation are spent .
since EU sanctions are not targeted at the people of Zimbabwe , the EU at present is still the country 's biggest provider of aid , which it grants , in particular , for agriculture and food production .
thirdly , there needs to be an end to the self-satisfaction and condescension of a small elite explaining to citizens that the only valid choice is its own .
I must state clearly that I am against the closure of nuclear power plants for political reasons .
they are mostly low-wage jobs which do not enable people to provide for themselves and their children .
secondly , we want to look into upgrading existing rigs , some of which are 20 or more years old .
the decision to grant candidate status to Montenegro was primarily political .
in a joint resolution submitted by all of the political groups , Parliament asks the EU and its Member States to extend all possible aid and support needed at a humanitarian , technical and financial level to Japan .
the catch-the-eye procedure is closed .
in my opinion , it would bring the Member States closer and increase legitimacy , and I would hope that people will see sense on this and reverse earlier decisions , especially since they were not entirely rational .
you need to have more money in order to borrow money , but only 1 % of the world 's assets are owned by women .
I did not vote for the amending proposal of the Green group because , on two points , the new version expresses reservations regarding the Czech Presidency 's proposal .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - Madam President , as we have heard from Mr Albertini and the Commissioner , this is a very timely and important report and we welcome it .
in this way we could take into account the fact that internet penetration in all the Member States is not at the same level .
the initiative on cross-border loss relief is more limited in scope than the consolidation of the tax base under the CCTB would be , as this provides automatic and comprehensive off-setting of all profits and losses within a group of companies .
however , the Commission does not , at present , have any information to suggest that these three conditions were not met by the persons concerned .
based on the report by former Commissioner Mario Monti , this accomplishment must include the elimination of all barriers that still impede the operation of the internal market .
through the Socialist Group in the European Parliament 's amendments tabled in committee , it has been possible to improve on the excellent work done by the rapporteur .
adherence to the principles of biodiversity must be central to the actions which the European Union undertakes with regard to fishing and aquaculture .
I would like to thank them for the positive feedback they have given on the plan .
this means tax cuts in order to make it possible for there to be demand from European households for the products that are produced here .
according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation , agricultural production needs to grow by 70 % in the next 40 years in order to meet the world population 's needs .
the proposal submitted to us entails allowing the Member States to exempt certain enterprises ( microentities ) from the obligation to draw up and publish their annual accounts .
the employees of an EMAS-certified organisation all play a part in improving environmental performance : using less water , using less energy , sorting waste .
for me , the problem is the same as that referred to by the previous speaker with regard to the ' islands ' in the European gas market - the Baltic States and Finland .
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women deserve more , today , because we do want , after all , to save Europe from demographic collapse , but this must not be done at the expense of women .
I have received six motions for a resolutionpursuant to Rule 103 ( 2 ) of the Rules of Procedure .
furthermore , the climate in the Baltic Sea is changing , and different species of fish are adapting to this , meaning that their migration and spawning patterns are also changing .
even though the Lisbon Treaty has not yet been ratified in all countries , we have to take account , in our budgeting , of its entry into force in 2009 .
surely , it makes no sense to impose new legislation on a sector that is particularly badly affected by the crisis in the car sector if this would involve extra outlay and red tape .
( NL ) Mr President , Mr Jouyet , Mrs Ferrero-Waldner , ladies and gentlemen , there is no denying that relations with Russia have changed recently .
in writing . - The Convention on future multilateral cooperation in the North-East Atlantic fisheries , to which the EU is a contracting party , was approved by Council Decision 81 / 608 / EEC and entered into force on 17 March 1982 .
( it ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the document on the social package which has just been presented represents a major challenge for European development in the context of the Lisbon strategy , which European decision-makers adopted as the guideline for a worthwhile and unstoppable process aimed at integrating , modernising and developing our common home .
as Mr Cohn-Bendit says , it is very important , but I cannot stand here today and say ' I will therefore recommend ' .
( SK ) I would like to protest strongly against what Mr Cashman has just said : I belong to the Group of non-attached Members and I would like to say that in the past , when I was a member of the Council of Europe , I drew up a report on the ban on child labour and I also took part in the preparation of another report on the rights of the child .
the plea for support that I am making is for the local residents to receive the help that they ask for from Parliament regarding this desecration of heritage , to ensure that such a major , barbaric aberration cannot take place in a district such as Cabañal in the south of the European Union .
however , I know from my visit to Port Moresby at the last ACP meeting that there are other Pacific countries that would like to sign a final agreement provided it meets their requirements , which is why , in my case , I am actually in favour of the interim agreement .
in addition , an active media campaign is needed to inform society of the problem and of the routes of infection and ways to prevent the disease , since many people believe that tuberculosis is a disease which does not affect us in the modern world .
as a Portuguese Social Democrat MEP , I have reason to be particularly pleased with the approval , by a large majority , of an amendment from our delegation , which is aimed at creating an Erasmus programme for first-time employment , one of the proposals that we tabled in the last European elections .
the financial and economic crisis has greatly exacerbated this problem and SMEs are the most helpless in the face of these difficulties .
as regards India , few people are familiar with the name ' TATA ' .
in the first place , I suggested setting up a system of incentives that would guarantee that the Member State acting on behalf of the one seeking recovery of cross-border taxes would receive a portion of the recovered sums .
we must be here , ready to defend them .
I voted against Amendment 39 in this report and , by extension , for Amendment 62 .
however , the direction formulated in this report is , to put it simply , a dead end .
the aim of the directive is to open up the market for service providers in the European Union , phase out the Member States ' protectionist barriers on the exercise of service activities and fulfil the principle of freedom of movement of goods and services in the Union , which is at the heart of the single market .
this situation does throw up a number of questions , of course .
today , we are discussing a sector that does not receive aid from the common agricultural policy and is suffering due to increased feed prices .
more than 48 coalition troops were killed , which is more than lost their lives over the same period in Iraq .
on the other hand , the European statute of political parties at the European level opens the way for the creation of a transnational party system .
it is no secret that gambling goes together with criminality , violence , organised crime , prostitution and various other related phenomena .
yes , the right answer to immigration challenges is integration and not expulsion ; integration and not marginalisation .
there is no doubt that by submitting to the supervision of the Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg , the Union has the opportunity to strengthen the human rights aspect of foreign policy and security and , in so doing , to promote the idea of human rights more effectively around the world , to the extent that the EU treats its own human rights obligations seriously .
we intend to ensure that this communication is studied as soon as it is received so that it can be tabled at Council level as quickly as possible .
the budget does not allocate additional funds for overcoming the crisis , and it is hard to imagine a plan of the order of EUR 200 billion being completely budget neutral .
the main change brought about by the settlement finality directive is to extend the protection of the directive to cover night-time settlement and settlement between linked systems ; this is very important , since the number of links and the need for interoperability have lately increased immensely .
ladies and gentlemen , I welcome the outcome of the European Council Spring Summit where the focus was on progress on the Lisbon Strategy and on launching the new cycle of the renewed Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs ( 2008-2010 ) .
simply advocating without qualification an increase in development funds and presenting all manner of percentages as dogma is totally irresponsible , and so I voted against this report .
the causes are many , including a reduction in demand for mutton , lamb and goatmeat , partly due to the large-scale import of meat from third countries .
secondly , the European Union is , today , a full participant in international affairs .
the rights must be tailored to EU standards and the ILO Conventions .
with regard to the second part of the Ministers ' decision , the strategic military option , we need this operation to come to fruition and a large number of Member States to show as soon as possible that they are prepared to participate in it , and I support what Mr Jarzembowski said .
combating the problem of seasonality , by offering other forms of tourism ( business , cultural , medical , sports , rural ) , whilst still protecting the heritage of our coasts .
however , the efforts to find solutions must not be abandoned .
the future is therefore , first and foremost , in the hands of a great alliance between Parliament and European citizens in the fullness of their rights and duties .
we should be cautious in this respect , because it could cause other problems and it could be expanded and promoted in an aggressive commercial way .
it is because of these that the 1 300 million kilo butter mountain , which we still had at the end of the 1980s , has melted away and at the same time it has been possible to guarantee consumers a steady supply and diverse range of agricultural produce .
I understand that , taking into consideration the implementation of the amended Regulation on social security schemes ( at present the 1971 Regulation is still in force ) , we are trying only to change that which it is necessary to change and to adapt it to the changes that have been introduced in certain countries .
we do believe and agree that Eurojust must play a role when the parties fail to reach consensus , but where there is not a problem , we give the national authorities the flexibility to have direct bilateral contacts , which also boosts public trust .
I think the European Parliament has a moral obligation to appeal to the authorities of the Democratic People 's Republic of Korea to end these practices as quickly as possible .
the People 's Republic of China is the country which carries out the most executions in the world .
we hope that the Commission and the Council will in future take account of this message from Parliament .
the European Anti-Fraud Office ( OLAF ) has posted one of its agents in China in order to support the anti-contraband and anti-counterfeit activities of the office , in particular , in relation to cigarette smuggling .
it is building on something that already exists , which means that we will not have to duplicate administration and it will not demand additional costs .
at the same time , Parliament could decide not to force any political declaration on the Council which is unacceptable to several key governments at this time .
never before in the field of human politics have so many been conned by so few .
finally , I would like to mention one point that is not really related to rural areas .
this is excellent news for cane-sugar-rum sector production , which is crucial to the economic and social balance of these territories .
political prisoners have been freed , two independent newspapers have been allowed into the official distribution network and the ' For Freedom ' movement led by the opposition presidential candidate Alexander Milinkievich has been registered .
( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , terrorism represents one of the most serious threats to democracy and to economic and social development in Europe and throughout the world .
the Rose Revolution in Georgia brought many positive elements with it , especially after the Shevardnadze regime .
poverty is not an abstraction ; it is a way of life affecting women and children in particular .
this is a further example of discrimination against the Polish national minority which has lived in the country for centuries , going back many generations .
it really should not be like this .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
in writing . - The incoming Swedish Presidency has many challenges but the greatest is the need to ensure that the EU respects the sovereignty of the Member States and does not ride roughshod over the democratic rights of the peoples of Europe .
the election in Romania has showed us that we have a big responsibility to the Romanian citizens , to whom we have to speak more about the European Union and explain the benefits and rigors of the family we belong to .
the systematic violation of human rights noted in the report and by all the speakers does not sit well with such a nation with such a tradition .
at the same time , we will work on the preventive measures which should help us to avoid infringement procedures .
citizens then complain - as Mr Busuttil said - directly to the Commission who , under this pilot scheme , go back to the Member State to try to have the matter resolved when the citizens themselves have failed .
we currently have a directive which only partially overlaps with the new legislative framework adopted in the middle of 2008 .
( NL ) I opt for a rather different approach from the one just taken by my colleague Mr Bushill-Matthews .
therefore , I hope that with your open , direct manner , you will be able to persuade your European partners to engage in a new discussion on nuclear power and , in particular , to encourage the German Government to end its anti-nuclear policy .
will you secure financing for the new climate initiatives in developing countries so that it is not just a repackaging of aid funding that is already intended for fighting poverty , among other things ?
I am concerned that there is insufficient dialogue between the government and opposition parties and a general climate of distrust and confrontation .
request for waiver of parliamentary immunity : see Minutes
these are people with a disability , and the conclusions are not very comfortable reading .
in my view , it is crucial that we link our consent for the Commission 's six proposals to having our demands met in the other areas , so that everything becomes one well-balanced package in the interests of the citizens .
this is , after all , one of the Copenhagen criteria .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( NL ) Madam President , postal services are a labour-intensive public service .
as I said at the beginning , after the Commission has made its proposal to the Council , the Council will be able to shape its position at CITES with regard to the different items on the agenda for the meeting relating to the main endangered species .
our textile industry is not afraid of competition , but it must be put in a position to be able to cope with it .
thus I have the feeling that , rather than overproduction , what we have here is a sales problem , mainly down to marketing , and that is why I do not want the reform proposed to us today to be tempted to lower the sector 's standards even slightly in order to fall into line with the new wine-producing countries .
we support Muslim and other religious minorities .
in past years the total number of proceedings dealing with violations of legal regulations instigated by the Commission was steadily rising , to reach a level of almost 2 700 in 2005 .
the dual system therefore needs to be kept , provided there are rules to allow free , healthy competition , and provided there are checks to prevent any collusion between the public and private broadcasting companies , while respecting editorial decisions but bearing in mind the social function that broadcasting services must perform .
three types of zones are included in this decision , based on the degree of contamination .
in writing . - ( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the European Union is not done with disowning hyper-President Sarkozy : rejection of the proposals on fuel tax , warnings against the budgetary slides and , now , transformation of the proposed Union for the Mediterranean into a re-launch of the Barcelona Process , which has been a failure for more than 10 years .
it is difficult , but it is his goal .
the present motion for a resolution analyses the conduct of certain directory companies that behave unacceptably when they trick thousands of citizens and companies in the European Union .
this is preventing Montenegro from developing a democratic society and a free market .
while we endorse and support the concept of a single policy and the exploitation of synergies in the context of cohesion policy , I would also like to emphasise that where the Social Fund is concerned , we need a higher degree of flexibility and transparency and fewer rules .
the effects of climate change are expected to be more significant than was envisaged and they will appear , regardless of the measures implemented to alleviate them .
precisely for that reason , I believe that Europe 's influenza pandemic prevention plans need to be reviewed in order to provide rapid , consistent and effective responses .
violence against women has enormously destructive effects , not only on the women themselves , but also negative consequences for the people around them , and children in particular .
this is why agricultural producers have been asked to increase their production , especially of wheat and maize , and build up their food stocks again in 2012 .
also , may I say that the purpose of the directive on payment services , for which I had the honour of being rapporteur , was specifically designed to enable us to identify and define the legal instruments needed in order to put this European payments system in place .
implementing flexicurity means simultaneously guaranteeing flexibility and security for employees and employers .
naturally , our thoughts are with the victims and all those who mobilised to help them .
thanks to the excellent cooperation with the Commissioner and his services , with the Council Presidency and with my fellow MEPs across all the political groups , we were able to complete that mammoth task ; and quickly , namely in a single reading .
in particular , its recommendations seek to improve fiscal discipline , broaden economic monitoring , develop and broaden coordination , strengthen the crisis management framework and strengthen institutions .
( CS ) Mr President , allow me to respond to yesterday 's debate .
as for the amendment of Regulation No 320 / 2006 on the restructuring regime , which is in any case the central aspect of the reform , my report proposes :
we also know that in 2008 , we had the tragic events and the horrible bombing in Mumbai , which also targeted European citizens , among them Members of this House .
the report by the Dutch Member , Mrs Oomen-Ruijten , makes some important points but is far too timid a response to the seriousness of the political situation in Turkey .
thank you for your attention .
I am very pleased that we have managed to reach an agreement with the Council on this issue and hope that we can conclude the process at the first reading .
we still need to invest considerably in research and product development if we are to increase the share of renewable energy .
financial institutions should be obliged to prepare annual reports on the adequacy and effectiveness of their internal control systems , and boards should have these reports adopted .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
it is a slap in the face for all our young people who want to build a future for themselves .
the countries of the Lower Danube have the lowest economic status .
the Commission is not in favour of the proposal tabled by Parliament for salaries to be paid in full for a specific period of time and maximum amounts to be introduced for the rest of maternity leave , because this would discourage mothers from drawing their maternity leave in full .
that must be a warning to us in Parliament not to delegate too much to the Commission but to continue exercising our powers of scrutiny .
it cannot be justified by resorting to such feeble arguments as the high tax regimes in certain fiscal systems .
making sure that information is sent in due time so that workers ' representatives can react before any decision by central management
the resolution before us is one that I can fully support as it is concise and sticks to the issues of the summit and our relations with the Canadian Government .
we must ensure that the work on the Medgaz pipeline is quickly completed .
we have every confidence that this process can be restored in 2011 after overcoming minor difficulties .
the coordination of economic policies in this critical phase cannot merely comprise submission by Member States of recovery plans initially discussed by their governments then subsequently assessed by the Commission .
I do not believe that it is advisable to give the EU an additional burden and compensate developing countries for the decline in customs revenue .
these type-approval requirements have been harmonised at Community level in order to avoid differing systems from one Member State to another , and to ensure a high level of road safety and environmental protection throughout the Community .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would also like to congratulate the rapporteur , Mr Capoulas Santos , and Mr Goepel , on the excellent work they have produced .
of course the situation is complicated , but everyone is familiar with the legal position .
in writing . - The trafficking of human beings is deplorable anywhere in the world , but particularly disgraceful in the European Union given our high levels of internal cooperation and resources .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I welcome this debate on the crisis response of the European Union and on the immediate and longer-term challenges of economic governance we are facing .
the establishment of joint European offices would ensure the functional coherence and at the same time would cut the structural costs of diplomatic and consular networks operated by Member States .
the report therefore proposes , with the agreement of the copyright holders , that in the European digital library users should be able to browse the Internet to find any kind of digital documents , whatever their status , and to consult works in the public domain freely and in their entirety , whereas only short extracts would be accessible for copyright works .
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in writing . - As a woman and politician dealing with gender equality , I am disappointed with the Commission work programme for 2011 .
mothers Against Violence , mothers who have lost children to gun crime , ask me where these guns are coming from and what we are doing here to stop the illegal smuggling of these deadly weapons .
it calls for binding objectives to ensure equality in corporate , administrative and political positions of responsibility .
I would like to thank you for addressing the roaming issue pro-actively .
this sectioned Europe off nicely , and that was the end of it .
thirdly , we must recognise that many people - including some from my own constituency - are still helping to alleviate the consequences of the disaster by inviting children into their homes , as well as many other initiatives .
I think a European system of insurance against this type of situation , or perhaps national insurance schemes , should be the solution .
in light of the recent German aggression by Mr Schulz against the President of the European Commission , let us look at a good method of winning at the zero-sum game .
( applause from the centre left )
common rules are in the interest of both Member States and asylum seekers .
we need to do something about both sides of this problem in order to lengthen working lives and , above all , before we retire , to come up with flexible solutions .
meanwhile , in 2005 , developing countries exceeded Europe 's level of CO2 emissions .
( RO ) 2008 is the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue .
even children or minors are affected . this is all due to the irresponsible actions of a US-based Christian sect and the call by local newspaper Rolling Stone for a hundred people whom it named as being gay to be hanged .
we can , and should , welcome the current EU funding of 32 research projects , but we must do better , much better , especially in terms of the coordination of research into Alzheimer 's in the Eighth Research Framework Programme as early as 2014 .
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the Commission has been , and will remain , in close and constructive dialogue with the Polish authorities to seek a way forward in which the conditions for compatibility of the State aid are met and the State aid can be approved .
with this vote , the European Parliament puts an end to unacceptable situations of discrimination .
that is not possible because there will be European rules .
I believe , however , that a common political will needs to be adopted over the long term in order to strengthen the EU 's ability to respond to crises , while safeguarding its strategic independence .
Europe has , and must use , all the diplomatic instruments at its disposal to ensure that Mr Battisti is delivered to Italy , even at a cost of threatening to suspend cooperation agreements with Brazil .
since victim protection is still in its infancy and the people affected often do not know who they can turn to in their own country and what their rights are , it is important that victim protection is harmonised within the EU .
I do not mean to sound ungallant , but when I look round my committee - the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality - I see that their mindset is deeply locked in the 1970s - they have not moved on .
we are now no longer talking about private finances , but about public finances .
this concerns matters of foreign policy .
I welcome all agreements between the European communities and the countries of the former Soviet Union , provided that such agreements are based on equal rights and mutual benefits .
in writing . - I feel that the report 's goal of ensuring Member States reach a 12.5 % target for participation in adult learning by 2010 will improve not only the EU 's competitiveness , but will also allow for greater social inclusion and intercultural awareness : exactly what is needed for the year of intercultural dialogue .
EU membership is a disaster for Britain .
I would add , with regard to your comments concerning Mrs Merkel , that it is my understanding that they have elections in Germany , and I would therefore regard her words as an electoral platform .
it may happen , but to check if it can or not , we have to make serious , credible tests .
as regards Cyprus , I should also like to emphasise that the Council expects from Turkey primarily two things : a constructive role in the negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations , and the implementation of a protocol which was added to the Ankara Treaty .
we think that is very good .
this agreement is the first step towards better protection for citizens faced with growing attempts made by certain States and private operators to trivialise the principle of flexible response , data storage and the control of digital exchange on the internet .
you achieved much in this area , Mr Leterme , but we need to go further now , and we need to take the next steps .
we all know that the European economy is at a delicate moment .
for instance , the idea that already exists in several countries of trying , where possible , to find alternative sentences - when the person in prison does not represent any danger to society - is certainly a very interesting approach .
countries in our neighbourhood , such as Egypt and Algeria , should feel that we cannot extend our political dialogue without including the subject of religious minorities in these countries .
I would like to congratulate the rapporteur , Mr Casa , on the important work he has carried out so far .
people have a universal right to freedom of religion as well as freedom from religion .
I reiterate the issue around food production standards , which are higher in the European Union .
so , Mr President , I have a request for you : since the Bureau is likely to hold only one or two more meetings at most in due course , to ensure that the will of this Parliament is respected , I formally request that you undertake to confirm that both this will and the vote taken by this House will be respected .
I would like to stress , though , that the success of such a peace mission is heavily dependent on the political efforts that must be made if a successful peace process is to be conducted .
the same example is expected from our neighbours across the ocean .
we hope that negotiations can be concluded within this year .
for example , it is sheep and cattle grazing that maintain the diversity of flora of open grassland .
in all our cities , we face problems of mobility .
the ninth meeting should adopt ecological criteria to determine marine regions in the open sea that need protection .
Benazir Bhutto , with Mr Latif Khosa , had written a 160-page report on the possible rigging of these elections , particularly using computers , a report that she was going to give to two American congressmen the evening of the day she died .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs . - ( DE ) Mr President , I speak on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs .
I hope that we will be able to resolve these issues before a decision is taken .
( PL ) Madam President , it is good news that a government enjoying so much support in its own country is taking over the EU Presidency .
we thank Mrs Valenciano for having accepted many of our amendments .
in other countries such questions are resolved through negotiations between the social partners .
however , the Commission needs to present a legislative initiative on this subject very soon , because the current system needs to be reviewed and made more effective as a matter of urgency .
this will be the basis for the decision about future steps to take on this issue .
in particular we call on the governments of those countries such as China , Iran , Pakistan and Saudi Arabia where executions are still carried out regularly , and where in many instances this is done in a most appallingly barbaric way , to stop executions .
European fishermen , like all stakeholders , including NGOs , are unanimously calling for this phenomenon - which hastens the destruction of resources and results in unfair competition for those who play by the rules - to be tackled more effectively .
I would add , on a personal level , that the best way to prevent cohesion policy from being renationalised is to ' Europeanise ' it .
however , that interpretation is precisely the reason why some regimes reject the concept of the responsibility to protect : they see it as a political cover for Westerners to justify their imperialism , to justify interventions founded not on humanitarian interests but on a desire for power .
I should like to emphasise that it is also to be welcomed that an amendment to Article 7 - ' Eligibility of Expenditure ' - is to enable EU Member States and regions to invest in energy-efficiency and renewable-energy measures in housing with the support of the EU Structural Funds , and that this measure is not only intended for low-income households .
welcome
I regret the fact that the competences of local authorities are not utilised more by European cofinancing programmes .
however , to go as far , for example , as an officer or MEP submitting a report each day on what he or she has done that day is quite unreasonable .
now , when Lampedusa becomes overcrowded - which it already is - everyone will be sent to Italy and at least the situation will be more bearable .
we need to proceed with an in-depth analysis of credit default swaps markets so as to determine better how these markets function and if they are the subject of questionable practices .
this increased power must , however , be accompanied by a high sense of responsibility and realism imposed by the persistent economic crisis .
that is why I am pleased that we met the contact group a few days ago to discuss first concrete steps .
all of this reinforces our abilities so that we do not find ourselves in a situation like the present one again , and this will enable us to achieve credibility on a durable basis .
Hungarians then fought shoulder to shoulder with Poles , Serbs , Croatians , Swabians , Germans , Austrians , Armenians and Romanians for their freedom and for world freedom against the two largest armies of Europe at the time .
even murder does not justify the death penalty for homicide , which is the equivalent of punishing one reprehensible act with an identical act which , decreed by a court order , is legal from the judicial viewpoint , but not legitimate from the ethical point of view .
this sort of work could be an important part of the work to prevent illegal immigration and could help to improve neighbourly relations .
I hope that satisfies you , Mr de Jong .
I would particularly like to emphasise that there was close cooperation while working on the five pieces of legislation from the Third Energy Package .
in both cases , we need far better service for much less money .
the Council recalled that the negotiations are aimed at Iceland fully adopting and applying the EU acquis .
we want to maintain a strong social state , which will also enhance our competitiveness .
the writer gets life plus 70 , but the performer gets only 50 years from the date of his performance .
in addition , children 's education and healthcare services in rural areas are the lifeblood of these communities .
for me , the significance of this package will be felt for many years to come .
Mr Takkula has asked permission to ask a question .
two matters of key importance were covered in this report , namely , the tax on financial transactions and Eurobonds .
so far , Europe 's commissioners have actually said that these are not part of Community law .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( ES ) Mr President , I believe that we should be pleased with the agreement reached in this report .
above all , what we saw was the very large support of the nation and Moldavian society for the process of European integration .
on the other hand , as foreign minister for Europe , you must not jump through every hoop that people put in front of you .
one such area is our forthcoming proposals on CO2 and motor vehicles , as discussed in the European Parliament at the October plenary session .
it is one of the most important results of the European project and one of the results that has come closest to achieving what the European Union always fails to achieve , which is relating to the public .
it is good that we can finally see this and begin to protect the soil , our provider .
open platforms serve that purpose , allowing the creation of competitive markets on top of software systems .
Securities settlement systems and financial collateral arrangements (
to conclude , Madam President , this pesticide package is modern because the integrated management of pesticides is an essential strand of a new agricultural policy , one that , for Europe , involves having fewer , but better , pesticides .
I think you took Europe as far as you could go and as far as you could get the 27 prime ministers and heads of state , but please do not oversell the results .
it is a fact that trees and plants flourished when the CO2 content of the atmosphere was much greater .
( HU ) Thank you , Mr President .
that is why a European framework on the issue is required .
in this regard , I support the idea of EUROPOL setting up a specific unit tasked with combating child pornography and child prostitution , comprising experts trained in specific issues .
I agree with each and every one of you who spoke about immediate mobilisation and the need to help right now .
around 75 % of our plant protein is imported .
( DA ) Mr President , I am , of course , pleased that Parliament has adopted a resolution that provides a negotiation proposal that will support our Climate Commissioner , who is going to Cancún to negotiate .
they represent the countries they are from .
I also supported the raising of the retirement age for MEPs from 60 to 63 .
and the lessons we have learned over the past 50 years are lessons we need to transfer as experience and knowledge to our friends in Iraq so that they can use them and rebuild their country in a successful way .
would it not be a good idea to look at this question from a security angle as well ?
since , in the case of Dell , we can clearly see that there is a danger of the procedure being distorted and of misuse of Community funds and of the authorisations granted within the context of competition policy .
I have concerns about the lack of clarity and the timescale for approval .
I must say they really do some great work .
I must also add that , together with Mr Langer , the chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Interior , we have made an absolute priority of this SIS II issue .
I emphasised that the principles underlying the CPA must likewise apply to Darfur and that there was an urgent need to restore security , deploy the United Nations Mission and facilitate humanitarian access .
so far the Fund has helped 7 250 employees to find new jobs .
in writing . - ( SV ) As a Swedish Liberal I have a fundamentally sceptical approach to common EU taxes .
that , of course , is up to the Member States .
we should ensure sound development of environmental technologies , make environmental investments tax deductible , promote research , and develop environmentally friendly production technologies .
to this end , will the Commission be bringing forward any legislation on the common European framework for market surveillance ?
they also possess symbols of statehood such as a separate currency and a flag .
the debate has made one thing very clear : the very wide relationship of tension here today .
nor can I accept the argument that the internal market is distorted by different national soil protection legislation .
I welcome his comments on this issue today .
the MRF is the political heir to a Turkish terrorist organisation .
third - and I think we shall have to work with the French Presidency on this point - we naturally need penalties for environmental dumping outside the single market , on other continents .
human rights are not respected at all in Uganda , especially the rights of this group . we should therefore protect this group in particular .
I am pleased that Parliament has today adopted a resolution concerning Mr Klein 's petition .
why allow such distortions of competition and , above all , why set this precedent ?
a more proper legal basis we feel is Article 179 of the EC Treaty and not the general Article 308 which has now been used .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - Madam President , I am making a request for referral back to committee and I would like to explain why .
opening of the sitting
we need energy for Europe , indeed , both in literal and in metaphorical terms .
as soon as we have new risk categories and the results of new studies , the GHS will be updated accordingly , so this is an ongoing process .
if this is going to happen , the EU will have something to gain .
of course the poor within the European Union also suffer .
( the sitting was suspended at 8.15 p.m. and resumed at 9 p.m. )
more intense cooperation in these areas would contribute significantly towards establishing more stable economic and trade relations between the EU and Ukraine as well as strengthening the process of democratisation and increasing the prospect of Ukraine 's membership of the EU .
I have voted in favour of the agreement concerning the accession of Liechtenstein to the agreement on the Schengen acquis , because this is a logical step forward which will not present us with any problems .
immunity and privileges of Gian Paolo Gobbo ( vote )
now , more than ever , we must maintain our position , Minister .
we commented on the Commission communication issued in October , which follows a similar concept .
I would also stress the importance of developing initiatives to provide adequate information about social rules , and create adequate infrastructure and car parks to ensure respect for the rules .
( DE ) Madam President , I believe that Fukushima has also changed the world with regard to CO2 emissions .
we must show the way .
they are highly valued by the countries where they take place and also by the heads of state in the various missions .
if the initial uncertainties - and I should like to emphasise that Mr Barroso was right about this - now in fact lead to your activities producing positive results , you will have the full support of our group .
unfortunately , however , this regulation , which is so important and so necessary , has not reached a satisfactory conclusion because of a labelling requirement that went beyond what was possible in practice .
it still is .
the report by Gabriele Stauner , on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs , on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund - C6-0518 / 2008 - ,
the first is mainly composed of the Baltic countries , which are bound , under the terms of the Treaty - one of them , at least - to dismantle nuclear power stations , and which , owing to their particular geographical location , form a veritable energy island .
if the residents of the camp wish to leave , the Iraqi Government must authorise them to settle in another country and facilitate the process .
I would like to finish by answering Mr Howitt .
though the report is by no means anything we could accept as a good contribution to the forthcoming EU-Latin America Summit in Madrid , we managed to keep or vote into the text some important aspects .
Member of the Commission . - ( RO ) The prospects of Serbia joining the European Union depend on this country meeting the Copenhagen accession criteria , as well as the conditions set out as part of the Stabilisation and Association Process , including the condition to cooperate fully with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia .
we should bear in mind that without reliable and comparable data , we will not be able to locate resources to the appropriate places in an appropriate manner .
we are , therefore , asking the Commission to bring forward proposals on so-called ' burden sharing ' which are not just financial but actually provide a solution for the Member States and the individuals affected .
we see the situation in the world .
I regret that the Directive on electricity from renewable energy sources does not make cogeneration compulsory and will lead to the building of large-scale biomass power stations without cogeneration , which are not energy efficient and destabilise the market in timber for both industrial and energy generation purposes .
it is over .
illegal logging is a typical example of how we can really help , and finance even , the countries which are exporting timber , also in Europe .
this report from the unconscious satirist and humorist , Mr Corbett , is a case in point .
another aspect is combating illegal immigration and trafficking networks .
now the credibility of human rights is tarnished all over the world by the refusal , mainly of neighbouring countries , to deal with the Burmese Government , and the unwillingness to come to the aid of the people without the consent of the generals .
the section on the applications of the technology - monitoring Internet traffic , for example - is very important .
I look forward to hearing your views .
that is excellent .
if you book a charter with a holiday company you are covered by the package travel directive .
( applause )
a social Europe cannot afford hasty reactions or empty words .
I want to thank the Commission for their cooperation , and ask Members to vote for assent .
the common fisheries policy has always been prejudiced against the British fleet , which is currently permitted to fish only 7 % of the Channel cod quota and only one fifth of the quota in our own territorial waters .
I shall certainly convey all your concerns to Vice-President Tajani , who , I know , remains committed .
that may turn out to be the harder task .
there are countries that have done away with institutional care completely , to the benefit of disabled persons - there may be only a few of them but they do exist - and these prove that this goal can be achieved .
this can be achieved if the European economy is sufficiently competitive , innovative and based on high standards of quality .
in writing . - ( PT ) I voted in favour of this report on the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean ( GFCM ) Agreement Area , as it transposes recommendations adopted by the GFCM , and which are already in operation within member countries of the GFCM , into a single EU legislative instrument .
restricting the concept of inter-generational solidarity to just childcare is a mistaken interpretation .
the EU is an economic and political superpower .
success can only be achieved with strong command structures , determined leadership and very tight schedules .
thanks to the votes of the UK Independence Party and the British Conservatives , we lost today by one vote : there was one vote in it .
in every single zone , it is of course the case that every country apart from one will be forced to approve pesticides that they do not currently approve .
this is only justifiable so long as harmonisation is upwards and not downwards , as proposed .
I know that in some Member States the feasible applications are already part of existing political strategies .
we have been talking for a long time about the strategic importance of the shipbuilding industry in Europe .
we must find solutions to the emerging problems together , we should not give grounds to populist and individual voices merely offering pseudo-solutions .
the number of chapters available for us to open through the framework of the accession negotiations is indeed limited .
we must slowly begin to wave the big stick .
I wish you success in the two most important matters for the next six months : the Treaty , and the energy and climate package .
we cannot allow a situation in which we import food only because someone can sell it to us more cheaply at the time .
the Council has welcomed the report , and has not found any discrepancies or contradictions in relation to the Council 's other decisions , including decisions in the sphere of the integrated climate protection and energy policy .
there will be no benefit to the employees of the postal services either , who will be working for low pay and will be under enormous pressure , which can only increase in the envisaged conditions .
another reason why the report is important is because of its references to the Black Sea 's importance as a natural resource and the environmental situation in this region .
the support cannot be free of charge .
on one side , are those who advocate a strong Community approach .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( ES ) Mr President , Hans-Gert Pöttering , I am pleased that you are attending this debate , underlining the importance which the Parliament attaches to the auditing of its accounts , and that Vice-President Kallas and President Weber are also here , but where is the Council ?
whenever we deliberate and decide on budget questions , whether long or short-term , we are told that we must save and that the most sensible areas in which to begin saving come under the headings of education , training and knowledge .
the European Semester will be the first real test to this realisation , when Europe together , led by the Hungarian Presidency , will be able to assess for the first time the degree to which these directives can be transposed , and whether we will be able to embark on the path of implementation .
our voice and actions must remain united .
I am also aware that in Poland and in the other cities that would be pleased to welcome the Institute ( Vienna , Munich , Sant Cugat-Barcelona , Paris , Oxford , Brussels , Budapest , Nuremberg , Aachen ) exaggerated expectations persist because of the anticipated sum of EUR 2.4 billion that will be required to fund this Institute .
we need details of the error rates .
this is why the Council needs to decide to admit Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen area this September , in order to strengthen security in this area .
furthermore , the dossier tries to broaden ECDC 's mandate and their working relationship with Member States , which is undesirable as it may lead to an increase in their budgetary allowance .
in particular , I welcome the strong cooperation of , and mandate given to , Eurocontrol in the preparation of the new measures .
I am convinced that Europe can no longer stand by and watch Member States come up with fragmented and inconsistent responses to economic crises whose consequences are a real threat to the growth potential of our economies .
this directive is evidence that the European Union is able to use its common policies to forge a closer relationship with its citizens by benefiting them in the place where they feel it the most - in their pockets .
the next item is the joint debate on :
however , perhaps the EU also wants to deviate from its human rights standards .
I doubt that Mr Sarkozy and Mrs Merkel mean the same thing as we Social Democrats do when they talk about integration .
I therefore consider it important that pursuant to the report , the agricultural budget be maintained at least at the same level as in 2013 in the next EU financing period .
( standing ovation )
the stability mechanism should represent the first part of a complex approach and permanent measures aimed at working towards the Union 's economic governance .
however , in terms of protecting the rights of the citizens , we need to be consistent , and this includes monitoring implementation in the Member States .
I wanted to ask Mr Chatzimarkakis what he believes to be the most urgent steps which the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia must take in order to make progress in the dispute over the name and to ensure that the negotiations which are just beginning are as successful as possible .
when social renewal and labour turnover are needed , when cultural exchange enriches peoples , then immigration is a precious resource .
it would be a good idea if we had plenty of money , but I believe that now is not the time .
working in close cooperation with important trading partners at international level , they protect international freight transport against the smuggling of goods linked to terrorist activity .
for this reason , all in all , we can be satisfied with the agreement that has been negotiated .
normally these debates are conducted in a bipartisan fashion .
Commissioner , thank you for your information on the Commission 's activities .
I want to state that I fully support the Parliament proposal for that Year , having led the campaign to ensure that 2011 was designated during the last parliamentary term .
( PL ) Madam President , Commissioner , here in the European Parliament we keep coming back to the problem of Belarus , a country that , in fact , lies in the centre of Europe , looked at geographically , bordering the European Union .
is the Commission satisfied that the recent public consultation ' Reforming the Budget , Changing Europe ' reflects the view of the majority of European citizens ; or is the ' one message ' gathered from ' hundreds of voices ' really reflective of the whole of EU opinion ?
however , if there is less poverty in the various regions of Europe , then European solidarity may also recede .
in order to ensure the efficiency of the efforts in combating desertification we need integrated development systems at national , regional and international level .
it needs to be future-proofed ; it needs to be part of an overall process .
on the eve of the G20 Finance Ministers ' meeting , Europe is once again arriving at the negotiating table unprepared .
however , I still believe that the money that we will spend in the future on this system is justified .
we also need to arrive at a common interpretation of the sea rescue regulations in terms of the right to international protection , on the one hand , and the international law of the sea , on the other .
I would have to state that Israel does not have a place in the European Community , either .
as I said a little while ago , as a woman and as the Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy this issue is of course particularly important to me , and it is absolutely correct to say - as indeed I did at the start - that it is a general issue , one that unfortunately affects all of us in all countries .
we want a commitment to disarmament and civil conflict management instead of the continuing growth in military capability .
uniform consumer protection rules , and concepts that mean the same everywhere , give citizens confidence and at the same time guarantee increased legal certainty .
in formulating a common set of European guidelines that allow for Europe-wide comparison of statistics , we will improve the EU 's ability to formulate legislation that is consistent with the changing needs of people around Europe .
voting time
therefore I abstained in the final vote on the report .
unfortunately it has not been possible to reach anything close to an agreement , even though a compromise is definitely needed , because these payments would be made to countries in situations which , in all fairness , clearly need this compensation .
our relationship is anchored in a shared history that goes back a long way and by common values that are deeply held .
in writing . - I voted for this proposal because I believe it sends an important signal about the need for a transformation of energy production to non-fossil and less polluting fuels within the EU and beyond .
those thinking that this is a problem for the Greeks , the Irish and the Portuguese are fooling themselves : it is not .
it is a small thing , but we should be true to the facts .
we therefore believe that the proposals need to now be improved and that we need to consider how we can tackle this issue in practical terms .
measures are therefore necessary to encourage local production as a means of reducing the need for transport , and to introduce common European Union standards and labelling schemes that aim to raise consumer awareness of the environmental implications of different products .
now I want to encourage the country to implement its own plans and thus pave the way for a positive recommendation from the Commission in the coming autumn .
Ireland has been given time to evaluate the situation during the summer and to suggest a common way forward .
we talk about strengthening European competitiveness .
educating the public on energy issues is also very important and should begin in childhood .
it seems to me that this shows the European Union wants to wash its hands , because it is easier that way , because , in fact , many Member States , whose representatives are Members of this Parliament , prefer to do business with Beijing , and it would not be convenient for them to express an opinion or speak about China .
who returns the same ?
we believe that they will give us the political incentive , as will a resolution on this from the forthcoming conference , to proceed with the necessary work in this direction .
this resolution is an important step in the joint efforts by Parliament and the Commission to improve the operation of freight transport in Europe .
they have their root causes and national specificities but they also share some elements in common .
regional convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin (
as I said before , this initiative is part of the road map that was adopted in the Security Council , according to resolution 1515 .
political history can rarely be symmetrical in terms of its content but the effort has to be made .
I now realise that we need to do more to introduce tougher safety standards for European nuclear power stations .
exclusion of certain countries from trade preferences (
if we want mobility to be a real driver of the European economy , we have to eliminate all administrative obstacles regarding the portability of social rights .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I voted in favour of the report by Mr Queiró on an Agenda for a Sustainable Future in General and Business aviation .
subject : transport of liquids
we also reject the report 's reluctance to do away with certain coupled payments and market support measures .
documents received : see Minutes
of course , financial aid is necessary , but it requires special regulation and special monitoring , because we all know what became of financial aid in the old days .
the most important provisions of the compromise text are as follows :
throughout the last decade , significant progress has been made on this issue within the European Union , and so it is universally recognised that it is both possible and desirable to make improvements within a legislative framework that guarantees product safety , while benefiting consumers and companies at the same time .
I think it is difficult to summarise but , if I were to do so , I would repeat what some of you have said about this being a fundamental element in any democracy .
Mr Veraldi 's report deals with all these matters and I therefore voted in favour of it .
as I have already underlined , we could become competent when the constitution is translated into legislative , administrative or judicial practice .
for these reasons , we have voted against this specific motion for a resolution .
Self-regulatory practices in the UK are already quite rigorous , and I would hope that other Member States would be open to embracing similar measures .
it will greatly extend social rights and will protect them with the legally binding enforcement of the Charter of Fundamental Rights .
I welcome the adoption of this report , which integrates some of my proposals for the future of maritime transport policy and its related sectors , whether in terms of shipbuilding , tourism or fisheries .
since President Topolánek has spoken of extending the Eastern Partnership to include Belarus , I shall end by mentioning the name of Yana Paliakova , who was driven to suicide by the Belarusian authorities , to emphasise that these partnerships should be more interested in law , democracy and freedom and not only in doing business with dictatorships of the worst kind .
in writing . - ( FR ) A well-protected consumer is a citizen at ease and a sign of maturity in our modern democracies .
we do not believe that there is anything more to be added to its conclusions .
in the last nine years in this House , Commissioner , I have not experienced a discussion on economic policy in which you have been asked to act so unanimously and by such common consent .
I therefore voted against this report .
you will have our political group 's full support in this undertaking .
Mr President , stress tests on technical standards are not enough .
in this regard , I welcome the proposals to simplify the procedures for the decommitment of the funds and to facilitate payments to the beneficiaries of the various programmes implemented using the aforesaid funds .
economies such as Poland 's will continue to rely on energy from coal and on biofuels for a long time to come .
it is an amendment which uses a mechanism of the Treaty itself to sideline everyone , enabling not just an amendment without any democratic participation - and , furthermore , continuing what they did by rejecting national referenda to adopt the Treaty - it creates a mechanism enabling permanent monitoring of Member States ' economies .
the debate is closed .
that is the main idea .
a positive aspect would be that the interlocutors can become aware of similar approaches but also of differences .
it is clear that we have a great potential ( savings up to 40 % ) for water saving through technological improvements , changes in human behaviour and production patterns , which should replace the current crisis management style .
transatlantic commercial services and revision flows amount to USD 3 billion a day .
in writing . - ( LT ) I support this resolution .
I am pleased to support Mr Hegyi 's report , but regret that due to the application of Rule 45 ( 2 ) , I was denied the opportunity to debate it .
I am not quite sure whether the measures proposed and adopted are sufficient , but in principle , they clearly mark a step in the right direction .
Ireland and Europe can benefit by further promoting and using the scheme .
my thanks , of course , go to Mrs Roure , who has defended this balance , and data protection , so energetically .
Madam President , I am glad to be able to comment on this .
I would like to remind everyone , as I said earlier , that I have received a reply from the Council to the letters which I sent .
the PSE Group made great efforts in this debate , within the parliamentary group , in the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development , and with farmers ' organisations , and we tabled more than half of the 600-plus amendments to the report by Mr Goepel and signed 15 of the 17 compromises encompassing dozens of amendments .
colleagues , the one minute intervention does not work at the last minute .
I would like to express my sincere thanks to those who helped draft this report , including the shadow rapporteur and those who submitted the proposed amendments .
in this particular case , we are codifying a variety of directives dating from 1972 , 1983 , 1990 , 2000 and 2005 , together with texts amending these . I consider that the policy of consolidating Community law should be one of the European Commission 's priorities .
however , no one , neither trade unions nor employers , has asked for this amendment to be made to the old code .
as with FP7 reports , reports relating to the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme are publicly available on the Europa website .
it is a ground-breaking proposal and it has a broad scope with enormous practical and financial implications .
that is why it pains me all the more to have to pour cold water on this matter .
a certain amount of persuasion was needed on the subject of the Union for the Mediterranean : persuasion that the Union for the Mediterranean was not calling into question the unity of Europe but that , on the contrary , it would strengthen it .
this position will advocate the spirit of the Union : greater transparency and more publicity .
however , much more important than this is the question of which tasks these people will be responsible for carrying out .
it is fortunate that we are doing so , and I should also like to emphasise that it is not just the Commission that is endeavouring to realise European citizenship in day-to-day life .
therefore , the EU , with an agreement on the issue of financing , could bring us a good deal further on in the negotiations .
the Council and the European Parliament are supposed to and must work together to a greater extent , and this cooperation requires a willingness to act as partners .
all of this should become an integral part of the policy which the European Union promotes in its neighbourhood in the future , including through its diplomatic service .
we say ' no ' to such a union .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , on 19 and 20 June 2007 , following long and tough negotiations , particularly on the question of passengers ' rights , the conciliation committee finally reached agreement .
furthermore , while we have confirmation that the distribution of wealth has been uneven , the Commission is advocating in favour of the continuing application and levelling effect of the Stability and Growth Pact and a stronger role for the International Monetary Fund .
information is being circulated that there would be an amendment to the Treaty of Lisbon with the accession treaty of Croatia , or are there other appropriate legal arrangements ?
if we listen to today 's discussions , it is quite clear where the greatest fears lie .
we must find new ways to help companies to share risks and combine various instruments , including on a pan-European basis
furthermore , it is increasingly important to have accurate and reliable databases that distinguish between the various specificities and provide a starting point for a variety of interventions that contribute to hitting each individual case right at its core .
I am talking about market measures , and other initiatives to prevent the models of intensive production that respect EU environmental standards being penalised by the future aid system , among other detrimental effects .
given that this will be a long-term process , it is important to ensure continuity of action between the various presidencies , which is why we have worked with the presidencies to come , the Czech and Swedish Presidencies , to ensure the continuity of this policy that is so crucial to the next generation of Europeans .
so I believe that the process which we are going through , and in which financial markets also played a role in accelerating our integration , in accelerating our cooperation in the field of economic governance , should be very much welcomed , because it is definitely making our Union stronger .
in writing . - ( DE ) Some time ago , I drafted a motion calling for greater safety for nuclear reactors in the Danube region .
they are required to eliminate harmful substances and to raise safety standards for appliances which are intended for everyday use .
2 .
this office would allow for the coordination of all the above-mentioned sectoral policies of the Union and especially those aspects related to the external side of energy security , working under the authority of the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy , who would , in future , also be Vice-President of the European Commission .
for amendments and joint motions for a resolution , Monday , 10 December at 7 p.m .
the impact of all measures taken by the Commission is to be assessed regularly by an independent party .
indeed , we must not lose sight of the guiding principle that underpins the introduction of this initiative : bringing citizens closer to the institutions , stimulating their interest in Europe , promoting their involvement , and making them stakeholders of European policies .
in other words , the European Union , including Sweden and Finland , which together account for 33 % of Europe 's forest , and also the Mediterranean countries , have every interest in stepping up their strategy to combat threats to the forest , such as atmospheric pollution and forest fires .
this summer , the EU supported a conference that dealt with precisely the matter of strengthening the rule of law in Tajikistan and which was attended by representatives from the research world , civil society , non-governmental organisations and foreign experts , as well as by many representatives of Tajikistan 's own authorities .
Mr Wiersma also said that there is no place in the EU for an Islamist Turkey ; however , 20 years ago Turkish Islamists blew up coaches in Bulgaria , carrying women and children .
perhaps someone believes that more intensive use of the symbols will arouse enthusiasm about the EU .
( applause )
in writing . - Despite efforts around the globe and commitments from many international institutions , the EU included , the fight against poverty is still far from won .
there is concern among those involved with the development agenda - the focus of concern - who are fearful that the money available will be spread over too many activities .
in writing . - I voted for this report which considers that comprehensive air agreements with neighbouring countries or significant global partners can deliver substantial benefits to passengers , freight operators and airlines , by means both of market access and of regulatory convergence to promote fair competition , including with regard to state subsidies and social and environmental standards , providing certain standards and conditions are met .
they should not give the impression today that they are leading the others .
however , let me make this very clear : Member States alone decide whether and how to use cord blood stem cells .
minority parties have tried to gain the upper hand in the elections with a one-sided publicity campaign , compensating for the lack of ideology and content in their political programmes with a campaign designed to cause systematic damage to our country within Europe .
reductions in the quantity of plant protection products should be greater in areas where more pesticides are used .
I appeal to all those who value the freedom to worship in accordance with one 's personal spiritual needs not to succumb to the manipulative definitions of the so-called ' Second Synod ' .
no one has made any decisions , neither the Council nor the Presidency , on a moratorium on bad news or delicate topics .
I am sure everybody understands that this is an important difference .
it is quite clear that inward and outward migration are part and parcel of European history and the European way of life .
Somalia
the President cannot therefore accept the substance of this statement .
I cannot promise them miracles , but we are working in collaboration with our government to devise measures which will not allow them to be left without any choice , having lost their principal means of livelihood .
I would also add that , during the six years in which the product was distributed - and there are documents on this , including ones provided by the Commission - it was found that significant savings were made in public health expenditure due to the low cost of the product , and that the product had a positive impact on asthma sufferers .
the Commission has always said that in the application of the EU acquis - and the Dublin regulation is an important element of the current EU acquis on asylum - Member States are never discharged of the obligation to ensure the protection of fundamental rights .
in addition , increases in commodity prices have been slowed down somewhat by the strong currency .
the paragraphs about combating illegal migration are open to several interpretations , although , to my mind , they do not err on the repressive side .
the role of the European Ombudsman is particularly important for helping citizens to clear up problems that have arisen , and for improving the transparency and accountability of the institutions ' work .
we also need a fair deal for farmers in the food chain to be able to take on the power of the multiples .
this is about information and technology and it is about making up your mind what position Europe should take : the far East , the far West , in between , there are a couple of important players in this game , but Europe can indeed be the number one .
the Commission laid down a legal management instrument for the stock of horse mackerel according to available conservation reference points and long-term sustainability considerations .
despite the fact that the Commission proposed this regulation in 2008 , only now has a decent compromise been struck so that the only mode of transport that still did not have rules to protect passengers now does .
in that way , I believe citizens can see for themselves the need for change .
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these people do not share the fundamental values of the European Union .
in a spirit of Christmas compromise , we would like , in an oral amendment , to withdraw paragraph 15 from our resolution , in order to enable more people to vote for it .
that was an interesting interjection from Mr Daul .
the role of Members of Works Councils in the process of informing and consulting with the workforce ought to be laid down more clearly .
the current directive allows market conditions to determine the outcome , but this is a high-risk approach .
it is a state with a rather complicated historical past - there is Trans-Dniester , Gagauzia , Moldova and many other matters .
the proposal for a European ' Blue Card ' should be developed and discussed further , along with the idea of a circular immigration project for unskilled workers .
I voted in favour of this report because in order to successfully revitalise the EU Single Market and to increase the global competitiveness of the EU as a whole and to create new jobs , it is necessary to adopt and implement many measures that would promote sustainable business growth and development .
we will now continue with the debate on 2009 discharge ( 39 reports ) .
I voted in favour of the report by Mrs Krehl because it highlights best practices in several areas , including in the area of the environment and sustainable energy .
I would like to pick up on what the previous speaker said .
I wish to express my special appreciation for the article on minority rights , which could form the basis and starting point for an EU legal framework for the protection of minorities .
we have already been negotiating this text for a year .
( NL ) Mr President , this late in the day , when only our dogged spokesmen on agriculture and the agriculture Commissioner are still with us - for which my thanks , Commissioner - milk may not be the most obvious refreshment we are thirsty for , especially after the previous debate .
unfortunately , 2009 has been marked by an economic and financial crisis affecting all the EU Member States and restricting private companies ' access to financing instruments .
at Community level not very far , it seems to me , and I therefore now want to present a proper mid-term review of the situation as it stands .
he called in the King of Spain to arbitrate .
if this is a serious debate aimed at helping the Campania region and trying to find a solution to a long-standing problem , then surely the resolution that we expect to vote on in February can be a common resolution .
many lives have been saved .
the previous chairman , who declined to go - Mr Robert Evans from the Socialist Group - tried at the last minute to have the trip cancelled , claiming the list of participants was not sufficiently balanced politically or by nationality .
I support the dispute settlement mechanism and hope that it will have a deterrent rather than repressive function .
( applause )
the reason is that all public and private initiatives in the areas of innovation and creation have been weakened , seriously weakened , because we do not have a European patent or because our patents cost 10 times more than in the US So the platform must operate effectively .
the extent to which the excessive complexity and inadequacy of the rules and the delay in awarding funds contribute towards the irregularities identified must also be assessed .
do we want our British or European businesses to be at a competitive disadvantage when they need working capital ?
it has a bearing on social development , economic growth , increased innovation , the development of human potential and new technologies , and also on reducing unemployment .
( EL ) Mr President , Commissioner , thank you first of all for your integrated and detailed presentation .
this new tool enables EU citizens to directly approach the Commission and request that it submit a legislative proposal to address a particular matter .
it tries to find ways to elevate the EU role .
we also think that the tests should be carried out on other facilities , such as research reactors , and in respect of other threats , such as the fallout from a terrorist attack or a plant 's structural weaknesses .
at present - as Mr Swoboda has just said - there is a concern that military conflict in the Kurdish region will spill over into Iraq .
unfortunately , this is the ultimate price that is being paid not only by the politicians but also by the citizens of that respective country .
rapporteur . - ( FI ) Mr President , Commissioner , the European Union budget for 2008 is the second in this programming period .
however , these examples speak for themselves in that terrorism affected these countries because they supported an act of war : the invasion of a sovereign state .
it is a move in the right direction ; however , in order to actually ensure freedom of expression it will be necessary for this article also to be adequately implemented .
therefore , I call upon all Members to avoid further damage to ourselves and to Parliament .
I will vote in favour of this resolution because the European Parliament needs to have its voice heard so that innocent Palestinians trapped in Gaza will not be forgotten .
( the President cut off the speaker )
we will then have a uniformly high level of protection without jeopardising sustainable agricultural production within Europe .
let us all demonstrate solidarity and act on behalf of European Union citizens who are ill-treated , detained , kidnapped , or held in camps .
better regulation is shared responsibility .
I voted in favour of Gabriele Stauner 's report as I feel it is necessary to extend the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund 's remit to also cover redundancies caused by the economic and financial crisis .
Madam President , dichloromethane or DCM is a dangerous chemical that can cause cancer , eye damage and acute damage to organs such as the heart , liver and kidneys .
firstly , there have been violent protests against high food prices in Haiti , Bangladesh , Egypt and other countries .
from the outset , the raison d 'être , the sine qua non of the lifting of internal border controls was the existence of compensatory measures designed to prevent the much-feared security deficit .
then we will have overcome the crisis .
for that reason , vocational training needs to be developed .
we are bound by the principle of policy coherence for development , which is enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty , and it tells us that none of our policies must harm development .
that may well be detrimental to enterprises ( private or public capital ) , which thus see themselves ruled out of any opportunities to compete for contracts to deliver public services of an economic character .
Member of the Commission . - ( EL ) Mr President , honourable members of the European Parliament , the final report by the Temporary Committee on Climate Change for which Mr Florenz acted as rapporteur has ambitious targets and covers a broad spectrum of issues , thereby confirming the considerable importance that the European Parliament attaches to the question of climate change .
in this context , the Commission will also examine the functioning of the food supply chain in parallel with the monitoring of the retail sector established in the context of the Single Market Review .
I would ask the rapporteurs why they did not even consider the possibility of using , for the purposes of allocating seats , the number of citizens in the Member States rather than the resident population .
as someone who lives in a border area , clearly I am also pleased about the implementation of the road safety provisions .
Mrs Gál 's report is a significant milestone along this road .
the money should be given , or given back , to where it comes from , namely the taxpayers .
point 1 , to wit mobilisation of the Solidarity Fund for the benefit of Great Britain , which was affected by major storm and flood damage in the summer of last year , most definitely falls under this category .
I said it in Irish , perhaps not very accurately , but that is more or less how it sounds .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , first of all let me give my congratulations to Mr Peterle for his great work on this report , making sure that the fight against cancer remains a top priority on our public health agenda .
this will provide women and men with the opportunity to tackle poverty and improve their standard of living .
if we want to build a modern , fully innovative , development-based and cohesive Europe , we must guarantee our citizens a sense of security in the future .
both of these are supposed to be abolished .
Mr President , today we are celebrating International Women 's Day and it is 15 years since the UN platform for women 's rights was established .
others would not .
in particular I would like to draw attention to the economic and social importance simply because the European Union has 320 000 km of sea coast and a third of our citizens - and the trend is rising - live on the coast .
Member of the Commission . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to respond to the comments made by a large number of Members during the course of this debate .
at the WTO , we have initiated a dispute settlement procedure against China regarding access to the nine principal raw materials in 2009 .
I do not share Mr Ó Neachtain 's view : I understand why many countries say they feel that the current negotiations serve exclusively to enable companies active globally to become even more global , and this is what the Global Europe strategy also says .
your support will be an important reference for our follow-up work and for specific proposals .
earlier this week , High Representative Catherine Ashton issued a declaration on behalf of the EU reiterating the EU view that an independent process to address these extremely serious allegations should contribute to strengthening the process of reconciliation and ensuring lasting peace and security in Sri Lanka .
I think he has identified a major problem , but at this moment the question cannot be resolved in a clear-cut and simple manner .
a debate has begun on the future of our Mediterranean policy - I do not know whether President Sarkozy will choose to broach this topic in his speech today - and the Commission should without doubt undertake a more detailed assessment of these policies .
we have now promised a reduction of 20 % by 2020 .
what we need is a true ' rapid response capability ' .
I think that his commitment to this process is something I want to read into the record of our Parliament and to thank him on all of our behalf .
the countries in South Caucasus have certain features which are necessary to the success of European projects in key areas such as energy and transport .
( it ) Mr President , I will comply with your request : Mr Mastella and I will put our explanations in writing .
therefore , we support the majority of the positions adopted here .
it helps improve the implementation of a European system on the right to asylum .
if it does not , we shall have a very serious problem ; the likelihood is that Parliament will regard everything we have achieved , however much I value it , as unsatisfactory .
I should also like to emphasise something that many still do not know : that the Republic of Korea is an important trading partner .
in my view , whatever we end up with will only work if they have a stake in that body - I will leave you to decide what I mean by that !
it is vital that there be favourable conditions and a back-to-back approach without margins on borrowing costs , so that the financial crises in the most fragile Member States can be resolved .
it is up to the candidate country to accept them , and eventually , after becoming a Member , to try to live by them , but only then .
we want a strategy for Europe that gives social and ecological needs priority over competitive interests .
the watchword has been given : an arms race and the militarisation of international relations .
certainly , forms of autonomy - including perhaps territorial autonomy - could give a positive and manageable future to such communities .
I would like to finish by pointing out that in tackling the problems raised in Mr Danjean 's question , we are , in fact , taking care of our own security .
I am pleased about that .
in Romania , numerous young people who benefited from one of the European Union mobility schemes ( either programmes such as Socrates-Erasmus , Marie Curie - for research or Leonardo - for practice ) , have returned to their country and played an active role in what we might call its " Europeanisation " .
I declare adjourned the session of the European Parliament .
a reasonable balance is also required in this area .
if it is dialogue with the citizen that Europe is after , then it should start respecting democracy .
that is why it is important that we are having this emergency debate in Parliament today .
measures will focus on support to private sector SMEs , energy efficiency investments , and support to investments and infrastructure under national IPA programmes in close coordination with international financial institutions .
- Report : Reul
I shall begin by talking about the debate .
I must say to my dear friend Mr Bushill-Matthews that we too always find ourselves in agreement , but this time , without wishing to betray our traditional convergence on all decisions , I have to say that you are faced with an exception , because I am absolutely in favour of the proposal for a horizontal directive referred to the Commission by Mrs Lynne .
this is because there are countries within the European Union where it is not the requirement of balanced reporting that results in infringements of the rights of European citizens who have been living in the same areas for centuries , but penalties that are imposed on them for the use of their mother tongue .
for example , the protection of freedom of expression and the definition of what constitutes a violation of freedom of expression differ markedly from one country to another .
through its stubborn desire to impose the dogma of free and fair competition , the European Union is going to leave thousands of farmers at the mercy of the law of the market , and that alone .
not because we regard human rights as secondary and subordinate to commercial interests - after all , we submitted a resolution from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament without any concession , highlighting our commitment - but because , in order to achieve a change in China 's behaviour , we need to have dialogue , and this erratic resolution devoid of any structure ruins any chance of dialogue .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue-card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
during the financial and economic crisis , the level of unemployment in Lithuania grew significantly over 12 months , and it is therefore necessary to adapt to the effects of the crisis and ensure at least temporary financial assistance in order to provide jobs for the redundant workers of the company Snaigė .
what does it mean ?
all in all , Parliament is advocating a new ' made in ' labelling regime , which is currently a Sleeping Beauty after the conclusion of the first reading in 2010 .
these need to be carried out regularly .
we must work tirelessly to preserve them , even when the expression of certain opinions troubles us .
it tables a communication , instead of saying : ' people , that is absolutely the wrong road to go down .
but the law can and should only go so far .
the future MFF must provide measures for overcoming these difficulties .
in this area , another important issue for Member States is the EU 's supporting back-up measures , which will help towards achieving objectives for childcare facilities in all Member States .
I hope the Bavarian national dress he is wearing here this morning is not indicative of a change in political direction .
and I thought of the words of the lyrics of that song .
it is good that the period for exemptions has been shortened from 36 to 12 months .
for this reason , I am voting in favour of the motion for a resolution and I hope that the efforts for reconciliation result in concrete progress towards peace as soon as possible .
we must bear in mind that the Member States are implementing their own internal policies to narrow disparities and that they are doing so independently of European funding , drawing on their own resources . the richer countries are therefore proving most successful .
we also have an even higher number of sites where work is carried out using chemical substances .
under these circumstances , and without abandoning the medium-term objective of building an association between the Andean Community and the European Union , the Commission proposed to the Council a new two-track negotiating format which was approved by the Council on 19 January .
Madam President , I should like to start by wishing Mr Schmitt , who has left the European Parliament , every success in his new position .
this is more the case now then ever , because the Treaty is not an end but a new beginning .
we must strive for a differentiated approach based on transparency , objectivity and fair criteria , and do so on the understanding that it costs more not to act than it does to act wisely .
among our suggestions we propose a constitutional change to allow future international treaties to be referred to the Irish Supreme Court when they are agreed , to establish which provisions should be put to the Irish people .
the mechanism respects the Treaties and meets with overall agreement of the Member States , of the Commission and of the Central Bank .
I would also urge colleagues to support my amendments on protecting our citizens ' health from dangers at work .
this report on the common system of value added tax and the duration of the obligation to respect the minimum standard rate is only to be welcomed .
the European Police College ( CEPOL ) brings together senior police officers from across Europe , with the aim of encouraging cross-border cooperation in the fight against crime and maintenance of public safety , law and order .
I have proposed this in an amendment and I request that my fellow Members support the requirements of the Treaty .
the social and political changes that have taken place in Montenegro in recent years are a positive sign not only for the EU , but also for the country 's neighbours .
it must continue to play an essential role as an instrument for reconciling the differences between Member States while , at the same time , strengthening regional identities .
with regard to civil cooperation , we hope to agree the Rome III Regulation , a law that applies to marriages .
the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon will entail significant changes in many areas , starting with the budgetary procedure .
economic recovery , however , has to be the number one issue on the agenda .
this is very important , particularly Chapter 23 .
the shortcomings in fact lie in implementation by the Member States , and the President of the Council should concentrate on these shortcomings in the Member States and not on what changes the Commission can make .
as for Thursday , there is the following proposal : the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) has requested replacement of the debate on the arrest of journalist Ernest Vardanyan in Transnistria , which is scheduled for Thursday afternoon , by a debate on the situation in Thailand .
it therefore needs to be stressed that the EP fully supports the resolution on the eradication of all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief presented by the EU Member States to the UN General Assembly .
I would also like to thank the members of the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy for their constructive cooperation in drawing up and adopting the report .
the debate is closed .
Madagascar
it is not worthy of the European Union to sit at the same negotiating table as Mugabe .
Oddly enough , two thirds of Mauritania 's parliamentarians have signed a declaration of support for the coup leadership .
they include withdrawal of licences , closure of establishments in particularly serious cases , and exclusion from state aid derived from European funding .
as a result , we have an extremely comprehensive report which contains all the key issues .
however , we were uncertain as to whether this was enough to increase European innovation .
the crisis that we are experiencing is an opportunity to revise and improve things that have gone wrong in the past .
my last question : 600 people died on the Libyan coast a few days ago .
in my country , Finland , national subsidies are nevertheless twice the value of EU aid .
they must be about strengthening the demand for low consumption and environmentally friendly cars .
in other words , we definitely have a lesson to learn from the United States in many areas , at least in issues of democracy .
poor families , often Roma , usually have worse access to services in the area of early childhood education and care .
keeping to the budget is a philosophy common to Parliament and the other institutions , and particularly during an election year we should avoid presenting the European institutions as excessively ambitious as regards the cost to the European taxpayer .
in order to achieve real results , joint operations in sensitive areas such as security and migration are of primary importance .
if it goes to the right people , then it would be the best money we will spend perhaps for a long time here at European level .
the second issue is climate change .
for many of them , creating one extra job would not be too difficult , particularly if they get credit , but the evidence is that they are not able to get credit .
in my view , this is an essential principle which must be observed .
I also welcome the adoption of the ' legislative footprint ' : the idea of publishing the names of the people one has met when drafting reports is , to my mind , a perfectly normal transparency measure .
the unemployment rate in this group stands at almost 100 % and in Kosovo there is no way of providing these people with decent accommodation .
a scenario such as this could have catastrophic consequences for human health .
Europe should defend traditional and natural agriculture .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , inspections and a forest of new symbols - this completely misses the heart of the problem !
as protection of the soil is closely linked with the main international environmental challenges , there is a need to consider Community legislation which is specifically designed to protect the soil itself and which can encourage the exchange of information and coordination of good practices among the Member States .
the disgraceful spectacle of the recent elections is proof yet again that this unscrupulous dictator does not give a damn about democracy .
the sector accounts for 3 % of European GDP .
those of you who , like me , have seen the settlements , will know that actually , they are not in anyone 's long-term interest and would have to be resolved ultimately by determination of the borders .
the aim is to multiply capitalist profit by downgrading public structures , which are being limited to high-cost sectors unprofitable for private operators .
modern information and communication technologies unfortunately play a significant role in the propagation of the terrorist threat .
( applause )
now the Member States must implement the citizens ' initiative quickly , without wasting time or introducing excessive red tape .
however , I would ask that Bavaria not be neglected in all this .
( the President cut off the speaker )
the Presidency will address this issue in order to unequivocally defend our privileges and immunity .
after 1 January 2012 , eggs laid by hens kept in battery cages of less than 550 cm will no longer be sold .
the Director of the Danube Museum in Komárno , Csaba Fehér , has been threatened with dismissal .
however , it goes beyond trade relations and also includes the issues of energy , industry and raw materials , R & D and innovation and education .
I was delighted , some time ago , that , during the period of reflection on the Treaty that has now gone and will not be around again , the Prime Minister decided to regroup the ' friends of the Community method ' , calling it the ' friends of the Constitution method ' , to try and form a vanguard as regards how things can move forward .
what are you there for ?
the situation is worst in Central Asia , where three-quarters of the soil is infertile .
in my opinion , it is right for both sides to prioritise efforts to reach agreement over several fundamental points , such as the issues of public procurement , investment and public services .
changes in habits as well as new technological solutions are the key here .
currently in the UK , we enjoy an opt-out from the 48-hour working week .
I was wondering if the Commissioner is satisfied that enough action is being taken by Member States in relation to implementing existing legislation and regulation .
( PL ) Mr President , I would like to start by congratulating the rapporteur since , from the technical point of view , this report will provide greater safety for patients and greater safety for European Union citizens who need to take medicines .
this is ridiculous !
however , this regulation cannot serve as a legal basis creating an intra-Community transfer mechanism .
with a budget of 48 billion dollars for 2008 , what Iraq is not lacking is money .
the debate is closed .
in writing . - ( ES ) Despite the fact that the vote has allowed the incorporation of some crucial elements of the social conscience , there remained some unfortunate aspects that led me to abstain in the final vote .
the message already announced by our rapporteur and supported now by all speakers is , however , that we must also take this fight to other fields .
the citizens of Europe , and most importantly , the most vulnerable , would not forgive us .
I am expressing the views of the Union for Europe of the Nations Group as well as those of Mr Marcin Libicki , the Chairman of the Committee on Petitions , who was unable to attend today 's sitting and asked me to speak on his behalf .
nor can we ignore the way in which the EU tries at all costs to impose Economic Partnership Agreements , which will weaken these countries ' economies even more .
they must draw conclusions from that and first learn what they did wrong .
they stressed the importance of this initiative in promoting Europe , the common European history and heritage , the educational value of this initiative and its significance in creating and encouraging more cultural dialogue .
we want to do something about this .
furthermore , there are some facilities operating only for part of the working day , which restricts parents ' access to the labour market .
perhaps it is worth reviewing such minor matters , in order to help our citizens .
however , I want to urge fellow Members to vote for Amendment 2 , tabled by the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) .
the increased settlement of cases and friendly solutions is a source of encouragement and serves as an indication of our mutual efforts to contribute to building citizens ' trust , vis-à-vis the Union , at a point in time where that is greatly needed .
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in writing . - This is once again a codification without any alteration of substance , of which I am in favour , and I have therefore voted in favour of this report .
having said this , we still support the report since its strengthens consumers access to collective redress , which is fundamental for consumers ' trust in making safe cross-border purchases .
others - like my country , Austria - abide by the restrictions .
Mrs Lulling , I did not want to interrupt you , but you are entitled to four minutes now and two minutes at the end .
meanwhile , of course , the Americans were delivering real aid in the most extraordinarily swift manner .
the third is the stock market option .
the only sure way to achieve this is to have sovereign state guarantees for wholesale interbank deposits , as indeed Ireland and Denmark have done in their domestic markets .
admittedly , the negotiations have not been easy either in Parliament or with the Council and the Commission , but opinions have changed a great deal since the first vote in parliamentary committee , where content-related issues completely overshadowed the rest of the elements of this package .
in any case , the Eurovignette is not compulsory .
the violence of the words I use is nothing compared to the violence that has been taking place in the Democratic Republic of Congo for too long , violence that has increased and spread over the past few weeks , and all this amid the total indifference of the international community .
everyone can see that individual countries are undertaking rescue measures on their own , and that the centrally managed market worth five hundred million is not capable of having a real effect on the scale of the crisis .
the mission of the European Council , according to the Treaty , is to give impetus and guidelines to the political direction of the Union .
electronic money is still far from delivering , in Europe , the full benefits which were expected when the first e-money directive was adopted in 2001 .
by taking away from Tibetans the ability to learn their own language , the Chinese are slowly but surely breaking down Tibet 's autonomy and bringing about the loss of its cultural heritage .
aquaculture now represents 20 % of the total fish production in the EU , at a value which has been more or less constant since 2000 .
the Sri Lankan army has had , therefore , to deploy all the means at its disposal to counteract this brutal insurgency .
we also know that in the next few weeks some newspapers - independent newspapers - will have the opportunity to start up and be distributed .
we must not put these achievements at risk through any kind of complacency or distraction by other - sometimes perhaps more urgent - matters .
as you know , all the agreements between the European Union and the Latin American countries and regions contain articles on cooperation in the field of social policy and commitments to respect the so-called primary labour standards , as defined by the International Labour Organization .
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we - and perhaps Baroness Ashton , also - must consider what we can do to counter these risks .
even if those people do not vote for us , we have to care for them because they are our brothers and sisters in the human family .
why do they not get down to doing these practical things to unleash the power of what we already have , alongside all the other projects that my colleagues have talked about ?
we have talked about our relations with Russia in this House on several occasions over the last year and it is totally unacceptable to make the energy crisis into a New Year 's tradition and put ordinary people in a situation where old people freeze to death , hospitals have to be closed and industries close down .
there can be no doubt at all about the need for this directive , given the large number of people , roughly 15 % , who claim they are discriminated against at EU level .
it is a now-or-never decision , because if we do not get it through now , if we were to go now to second reading , then we would not get an automotive regulation .
Mrs Mitrova was also given Bulgarian citizenship early this year .
I recall one of the great red lines of the British Labour Government 's negotiating stance when it said it would resist the idea of a separate and permanent EU operations centre responsible for operational planning and conduct of military operations as this would be the clearest example of duplication of NATO , whose SHAPE headquarters performs precisely this role .
the next item is one-minute speeches on matters of political importance .
what would you have said then , more than 20 years ago , if the EU had declared , ' yes , we are sending election observers there because the regime currently in office says that is alright ' ?
the international community now has a responsibility to show its support for East Timor , to coordinate this support which it clearly failed to do in relation to the security system , and to resolve the basic issues of the structure of the East Timorese state .
every one of us , and especially the pharmaceutical industry , must have the same objective , which is to provide information that is accurate and useful and , at the same time , available to all citizens without distinction .
economic growth can be gobbled up by the growth of social problems .
that simply cannot work .
we stand for freedom of access to our cultural heritage and daily intergenerational and neighbourly solidarity .
all the four Ombudsmen or Ombudswomen that existed have been subordinated to one general office of the Ombudsman .
what opportunities do you think there are for highlighting the urban dimension ?
Mr President , the Minister has just explained how , in fact , this trafficking in human beings is a form of slavery .
it also fails to pay proper attention to microgeneration or equality in energy supply .
for the purposes of comparison , 40 % of the population in the US have a university education , and 50 % in Japan .
according to the rapporteur , the Agreement could also increase safety , as regulators and enforcement authorities are moving closer to cooperation in all matters of certification , inspections and enforcement , in order to ensure the highest level of safety for passengers and cargo flights .
( CS ) ( The beginning of the speech was inaudible ) ... and cleaner air for Europe is a very good example of the way the Union works .
as I have often said to MEPs , we are the most transparent in the world when it comes to the immediate publication of our studies , the introductory statement .
according to the United Nations Environment Programme ( UNEP ) , desertification currently affects approximately 25 % to 30 % of the world 's land surface area , and between 1.2 billion and 2 billion people in at least 100 states are at risk .
closure of the sitting
bearing in mind that this sector provides the food resources for the world 's population , sustainable management of soil and water resources , combined with protection of forests and biodiversity , will need to feature on the agenda of the long-term strategy for tackling the effects of global warming .
not to mention the fact that the idea of Eurobonds involves debt and might clash with the principle of a balanced European budget .
this is a very serious political development with unforeseeable dimensions and implications .
thank you , Mr Rack .
it has been a privilege to cooperate with you .
secondly , Mr President , how long are we going to be living with a United Nations Security Council in which there is an anachronistic right of veto for the winners of the Second World War enshrined in the San Francisco Charter in 1945 ?
( the sitting was suspended at 1.05 p.m. and resumed at 3 p.m. )
you told us , Commissioner Frattini , that you have written letters to Poland and Romania asking for explanations but have not received replies .
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now that it has taken military action in reaction to Hamas provocation , it feels the weight of international disapproval .
the events of 7 November - the declaration of the state of emergency , the violent police crackdown on demonstrators and the closure of the television station - underscored the extremely worrying nature of the situation .
micro-credits may first of all support one of the four priorities of the Lisbon Strategy : to be precise , the opening of business opportunities by helping people to ( re ) integrate socially and economically and by employing them .
we very much regret the fact that the semi-annual evaluation of the research and development framework programme will not take place and wish to stress most emphatically that if agreement can be reached in the budget about the Galileo and ITER programmes , we will be able to return to this issue .
therefore the tools of immigration policy should be flexible , so that they can be adapted to the individual cases of specific people .
so much for solidarity !
the digital Single Market should also be an important part of the economy .
the increasing popularity of smart phones has created a new market in terms of technology , software and applications .
the security services of various countries have traded the personal data that they have obtained by monitoring the Internet .
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however , additional measures should be taken by Bulgaria , in cooperation with Greece and Turkey , to address the problem of illegal immigration .
I am thinking particularly of the secretariat of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety and the shadow rapporteurs and their staff , who were outstanding in the support they gave me .
given that the introduction of the Schengen area has shifted responsibility for EU external border controls onto a limited number of Member States , how will the Commission persuade Member States as a whole to show greater and more effective solidarity in the face of a mass influx of migrants and overcome their manifest reluctance to assume their responsibilities in this respect , so as to ensure that the burden is fairly shared ?
it is really about tackling these problems , which today are not national .
together , we will work to conclude the Doha round with a positive result in 2010 , because this is extremely important in the efforts to promote recovery and combat protectionism .
Mr President , my thanks to the group leaders for their very inspiring contributions .
I am therefore in favour of targeted social measures , as Mr Turmes said .
they have to make choices on the basis of labelling , and they must be able to have faith in the impeccable quality of feed .
eventually the population increased .
consumers aware of their rights are an advantage for the single market itself as they can correctly select between market providers , thus transforming competition into a factor of development .
this does not alter the fact that there is a food shortage and that this shortage is an enormous problem in objective terms , causing malnourishment and related health problems among the citizens of the country .
the Stabilisation and Association Agreement is a major step forward for Serbia on its path towards the European Union .
to the Eurocrats , Europe is not really Europe any more , as we blithely proceed to prepare for the accession of a country that is not European at all , not European in historical , cultural or religious terms , not in the euro , and not even European in geographical terms .
there are no binding standards for noise-producing toys either .
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he said that the first victory to be proclaimed was that there was no hate in his heart .
if you and your Commission want to go further with regard to the protection of Europe , you will have our support .
of course , the report before us is guided by an objective , which is none other than a way of making the European economy more competitive in a global world .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , as I thank all the fellow Members who have spoken , I , too , should like to express my belief that it is not the best possible regulation but it is the only one that could be obtained given the position of the Council .
taking all this into account , it would be advisable for Romania not to subordinate its amicable settlement to ethno-political prejudice , but to recognise the independent Kosovo as soon as possible , like most other Member States of the Union .
on behalf of Parliament , I would like to explain to the representative of the Commission who is here that we believe that this part of the interinstitutional agreement is extremely important .
these are part of a welcome trend and are due largely to the efforts over recent years by both the Commission and the Member States .
our task in the area of organ transplantation is twofold .
I would remind you , Mr Papastamkos , that in half the countries of our European Union , 50 % of the banking industry belongs to groups from other countries .
things appear to be better in Nigeria at the moment , without dictatorship and without the violent conflicts of the past .
there is no point crying crocodile tears over deaths and humanitarian incidents when we do nothing to defend our coastline .
for better or for worse , we are shaping Europe 's future by how we raise our children .
as a result of excellent work within the Commission and the working party , the practical solutions included in the proposed revised agreement bring major improvements in legislative procedure and planning , parliamentary scrutiny , obligations to provide information , and the Commission 's presence in Parliament .
the European Union should act to ensure that access is comparable , especially in rural areas .
domestic workers are often discriminated against and can easily be subjected to unequal , unfair or abusive treatment .
as legislators , however , we need to look at the complete picture : maintaining the status quo is no option at all .
it is also important for us to stress that all states and international organisations , including ΝΑΤΟ , should refrain from the threat and use of any manner of violence , which is out of keeping with the aims and principles of the charter founding the UN .
it was a warning - a warning to other free-spirited journalists to keep off the authoritarian grass .
it is no coincidence that 70 % of the priority projects for the development of the European transport network are meant for railways and waterways transport .
in the agreement governing the formation of this future government , which will take place in a month perhaps , there was acceptance of the concept of elections , of the Palestinian Authority , of the fact that Mahmoud Abbas could take part in negotiations , and of the concept of the 1967 borders , which are both an essential requirement and an implicit recognition of Israel .
it is therefore only natural that people are disenchanted with the slow pace of change .
the final version of the draft agenda as drawn up by the Conference of Presidents at its meeting of Wednesday , 17 October , pursuant to Rules 130 and 131 of the Rules of Procedure has been distributed .
( the sitting was opened at 09 : 05 )
the purpose of registration is not to restrict or hamper the work of lobbyists .
it also appears that the Member States are now able to take action .
thank you , Commissioner , for your reply .
as the report clearly outlines , Central Asia requires active EU energy cooperation in a bid to find mutually beneficial solutions to the current state of play in the energy market .
separate issues arise , however , in relation to this report and this debate .
but these things did not happen because of some tectonic forces beyond our control .
this is a rather technical proposal as it aims to update the existing EU regime , the main purpose of which is to protect public health by limiting the exposure of consumers of food of animal origin to residues of pharmacologically active substances present in veterinary medicines and biocidal products .
that is precisely why we have taken this decision .
as a member of the FDP , I explicitly reject this claim .
with our current policy we have therefore simply gained time , but not stability .
- Madam President , four months ago a Polish engineer was kidnapped in Pakistan .
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it marks a new escalation in competition with other imperialist centres .
it should not be this way .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the economic situation in the European Union is stable but it is under threat .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , thank you for this broad debate which has centred on some excellent resolutions tabled by the European Parliament , and may I congratulate the authors Mr Swoboda , Mr Thaler and Mrs Oomen-Ruijten .
this is repeatedly evoked in the agreement and the Commission is , moreover , firmly convinced that the text we arrived at , after sometimes difficult negotiations , does indeed fully respect the rights and competences of each EU institution and stands the test of legal scrutiny .
I have voted against the report , which states that the EU 's values and interests must be advanced worldwide by deepening the Union 's collective strategic thinking .
let it be absolutely clear that the Dutch Party for Freedom ( PVV ) will never , under any circumstances , support this monster from the vaults of the European Union .
one of the exceptions to free movement is focused on the wine industry , with the implementation of a tariff quota that , according to the available data , has been fully used up months before the end of the year .
all sectors will have to do their bit to remedy the climate change problem , including the European car industry .
having respect for other people 's religion does not mean , Mr President , that we should be ashamed of our own !
in the course of a debate on criminality in a committee of the British House of Commons , a senior representative of the British police stated that all Poles carry a knife , because it is part of their culture to carry one , and that they need to be re-educated .
based on this debate , the Hungarian Presidency is preparing to adopt conclusions on the proposed priority measures at the meeting of the Competitiveness Council on 30 May .
the EU , together with other countries , responded to the demonstrations of last August and September and to the violent suppression of those peaceful demonstrations , with the clear aim of displaying its solidarity with the Burmese population .
( FI ) Mr President , in Zimbabwe , President Mugabe and the Zanu-PF Party have not managed to keep to the terms of the Global Political Agreement concluded in 2009 .
however , I believe that recognition of their usefulness should always depend on respect for certain fundamental principles , such as transparency and independence .
all this demonstrates that there is a need for a balance in the discussions we have on the discharge for the European Parliament .
we should mention , first , the abolition of controls at the internal borders of the new Member States , a measure of great significance and great importance for the daily lives of our citizens .
Mr Posselt , the debate is closed .
we are pleased with ASEAN 's active role in coordinating international efforts .
particular attention must be paid to the normally poor results of the activities of migrants , ethnic minorities and socio-economically disadvantaged groups , and the sooner and better they are integrated into schools , the more successful they will be in school , as well as in further education and the labour market .
the rules concerning the management company passport have been a sensitive issue .
according to the report , the Commission has too little expertise to put its policy proposals in the healthcare sector into practice .
we know that major restructuring has taken place without information and consultation having taken place at all .
this policy will also have to be fairer - yes , I did say fairer - between countries and between farmers themselves .
the report I drafted pays particular attention to three aspects .
my point of order is based on Rule 24 ( 2 ) of our Rules of Procedure .
approval of this resolution would mean that we would be sending a strong signal to people in Moldova to show them they are not alone , that we can see what is happening there and that we do not accept it .
the revenues from the auction should primarily be used by the aviation sector to reduce emissions .
it helps citizens to exercise their right to participate in the democratic life of the Union .
it became clear in the past that some Member States , among them Germany , were interpreting and applying the existing rules differently and therefore not uniformly .
this is felt in day-to-day items such as the Waste Framework Directive and the Water Directive , with its water charges .
I believe that zero tolerance applies to all Members of this House .
something needs to be done about this .
in that context , I welcome Ukraine 's accession to the WTO , which should be seen as an important step in Ukraine 's acceptance of European economic standards .
7 .
to promote this goal with respect to the Commission , I am in close contact with the Vice-President of the Commission responsible for relations with the Ombudsman , Commissioner Šefčovič , who I thank for his presence here today , and I am grateful for his close cooperation and support to date .
we must stick to a double-track strategy going forward , under which we try to engage in dialogue while unambiguously insisting on respect for universal rights and compliance with international treaties .
I believe , of course , that most of the units carry out high-quality and professional work , but at this point , and in this place , I would like to emphasise the importance of personnel work .
we have toughened up the rules on choking and suffocation risks .
we have discussed this issue of simplification again and again in committee and in plenary , and yet nothing has changed for the better .
the interconnections envisaged at European level , together with the general facility for transporting gas in both directions by 2014 , as well as gas deposits , allow all the countries in the region to enjoy greater energy independence .
this problem was chiefly due to the mistaken classification of some drivers as self-employed .
the very regrettable backtracking of the advancement of democracy in Belarus in the last years is a very serious matter but , that being said , we must also remain engaged with Belarus and we must keep channels of communication open , however difficult this may be , not necessarily only through government channels - we can , of course , build on the Eastern Partnership and use it - but also through people-to-people contacts .
this is why the Member States should decentralise administration , increase administrative capacities at a regional level and cut down on excessive bureaucracy in cohesion policy management .
I am left with three questions .
( RO ) Following the parliamentary elections in Romania , the political parties representing the opposition are in a difficult situation at the moment .
our aspiration , however , was to go further and make it easier to achieve the desired aim .
on climate change , we had a very first exchange on climate change with President Obama in Prague .
so , I am not quite sure what she means by a change of direction .
that has been the key strategy .
I should also like to take this opportunity to make a few comments .
last week the European Central Bank put up the interest rate .
I am satisfied that Mrs Flautre 's report adequately covers such points .
crime is not national ; crime is international and crosses borders .
in writing . - I abstained at the final vote .
with regard to the questions that have been put to me , the first raises the matter of the Structural Funds in this area , and I would like to say that the conclusions that the Spanish Presidency intends to adopt in the Council contain those ten basic principles , which include the revision or modification of the current operational programmes of the Structural Funds , as well as future regulations for the period beginning in 2014 .
it is attempting to exert diplomatic pressure on other countries not to attend the ceremony in Oslo .
in its reports on EU foreign policy , Parliament has once again been utterly blinkered .
the fact is that rich countries , for example Norway and Switzerland , simply do not want to join the EU .
Serbia and the whole region of the Western Balkans have a European perspective , with the ultimate goal of EU membership .
the Support Office will also provide assistance to Member States under particular pressure by sending expert teams which can help with the registration of asylum applications .
in the Netherlands , much attention has been focused on the fate of Cor Disselkoen .
you are absolutely right , however , to say that neighbouring countries should make arrangements so that their holidays do not always have to begin on the same day everywhere .
the undermining of these settlements is currently raising questions for us about sincerity of intent .
the 1988 directive may have come up to expectations and safeguarded a high level of safety in toys for twenty years , but it urgently needs to be revised and updated , given that there are now new types of toys and new materials on the market and factories established in countries outside the European Union .
when it comes to nuclear energy , we have Member States that have a long tradition in these matters .
I also agree very much with everybody who has said that the territorial integrity of Georgia , and of all countries , has to be respected .
I think that decision makers at European level must make reducing food prices a major objective on the European and global political agenda .
we know that it is difficult , we know that we cannot take it for granted and we can see this with the internal positions , not only that of Poland , but among citizens worldwide , and political leaders in Europe who call for the death penalty .
the vote will take place on Thursday .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - Mr President , once a beacon of hope , an example of African self-empowerment and a leader among African states , Zimbabwe is now the epicentre of African despair and hopelessness .
( PL ) Mr President , declaring 2010 to be the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion will not solve the problems experienced by the 80 million people in the European Union who live below the poverty line .
in writing . - The most important topic in the discussion about the future of the Europe 2020 strategy is the challenge of need and sustainability .
I think it is the only basis on which we can move forward in the country .
almost 20 000 workers may become unemployed .
in my opinion , we must ask the competent Commissioners many questions about this and look at the precise state of affairs .
at this point in time , what we are dealing with is merely the proposal for a regulation on classification and labelling of substances and mixtures whereby the European Union aims to implement the international criteria agreed by the United Nations Economic and Social Council for the classification and labelling of hazardous substances and mixtures , also known as the Globally Harmonised System ( GHS ) .
this kind of rearguard debate does little for the reputation of the European right .
I very much support those who have expressed concern at the EU efforts to expand EUROPOL 's powers and competence .
this joint work programme for modernisation contains important measures which will provide active support for the development of the rule of law in Russia .
and I think that this shortness is justified , for , in a time of crisis , we should work to manage the crisis and not spend time on lengthy votes .
while it is vital to give due attention to the link between ECEC services and equality of opportunities for women , these targets are clearly problematic , and outmoded , since they fail to take into account many of the crucial qualitative aspects of a strong early education policy .
it is important that the High Representative , through the EU delegation in Kathmandu , should closely monitor the situation .
the report by Erik Meijer , on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs , on the 2007 progress report on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia .
Europe should support economic reform in Belarus .
resumption of the session
this meant that it was also important to restrict and prohibit use by professional users .
( LV ) Thank you , Mr President .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( SV ) Thank you , Madam President .
the evolution of our model of development , focused from now on on the knowledge economy , makes culture a strategically important sector .
first of all , Iceland has a long tradition of democracy .
the European Parliament has also already taken clear positions in a number of reports on the issue of the euro and the need for stability , as well as on the problem of growth .
the fact that people in the rest of Ireland are affected , as well as the infrastructure , is very important .
I am sure that with the experience gathered from this project , the innovative financing tools can be used in other areas as well .
otherwise , OLAF will suddenly find itself hanging from only one thread and will no longer be independent .
Germany is a very specific case .
I fully share the aims and concerns raised by my fellow Member , both in relation to the proportionality of the measures proposed by the Commission , and in relation to the legal basis of such a provision and the dangers , which I raised on various occasions during meetings of the Civil Liberties Committee , for personal data protection .
at the same time , they have led to the EU 's share of the world dairy market falling .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , the review of the consumer acquis is of particular importance for the development and functioning of the single market .
however , I must alert the Commission to the potentially negative consequences for the European agricultural sector if these negotiations are not handled with care .
there is certainly an urgent need to show solidarity with many countries that have inherited disastrous situations from colonialism and that are the victims of decades of interference , but such solidarity , in order to be effective , must be based on respect for the principles of national sovereignty and independence and on an effective and genuine development aid and cooperation policy .
the EU has more and enhanced opportunities for external representation under the Treaty of Lisbon and cooperation with the UN and other international organisations is both desirable and necessary for the purpose of crisis management , to maintain and build peace and to respond to international challenges , such as recent developments in Japan .
questions which have not been answered for lack of time will receive written answers ( see Annex ) .
leaving the two sides of industry to evaluate inactive time creates sufficient flexibility for doctors , fire brigades and guard services .
I do not know much about forestry , but the UK figures for farming and fishing are horrendous .
realising this , the EU has decided to commence accession negotiations .
I am one of those who are convinced that the prospect of eventual EU membership is indispensable to driving further political reform and pushing for democracy .
I repeat : unconditional and urgent assistance should be provided to an oppressed nation , thus putting an end to this old conflict .
now we have to remember one scientific fact ; gold does not dissolve in liquids other than cyanide .
that is the problem ; that is the reality .
what pressure we have put on both Thailand and Malaysia in relation to dealing with these issues ?
it is , however , unacceptable to use this cause in order to force the introduction of fundamental and non-negotiable human values , as is the case with the right to life .
that is how we work in the Commission .
the principal discussions at the summit will be on its central theme : investment , economic growth and job creation , as well as on several associated secondary themes .
are we a body of appeal ?
I have a small suggestion to make : we must simplify .
on Goldstone , we are trying to engage to find a consensual resolution .
( DE ) Madam President , we also discussed this issue in the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs , and there is no one on that committee who does not sympathise with the situation in which the new Member States find themselves , particularly with regard to visa policy and bilateral dealings with the United States .
in other words , it is vital to create gradually , step by step , a solid canvas of human , cultural , economic and political relationships between the nations and the states of the Southern Caucasus and the Black Sea area .
I would like to hold up the Ukrainian language anthology published in Kultura in 1957 concerning the persecution of Ukrainian writers , Rozstriliane Vidrodzenniya , which was edited by Lavrinenko , and the Polish-Ukrainian chronicles from 1952 written by Professor Bohdan Osadchuk in the same journal , to the European Parliament as an example of Europe working together to overcome historical fatalism , and to create agreement between the nations regarding a future democratic community .
the debate is closed .
Hungary , Poland , Romania , Bulgaria , the Baltic States , Slovakia and the Czech Republic fulfilled their commitments beyond the level determined in Kyoto .
it is for this reason , moreover , that many Member States that finance sport through gaming wish also to safeguard national practices or legislation .
as regards energy efficiency , allow me to recall that the March 2007 European Council called for an increase in energy efficiency so as to achieve the objective of 20 % savings by 2020 .
this is the course that we need to take , and I ask the Commission and the Council to work towards it .
I voted for the provisions contained in the document according to which we must pave the way for the sustainable exploitation of fish stocks , without any need for marketing standards to be lowered .
the Treaty of Lisbon reaffirms that the EU 's economy is a social market economy and grants the EU new powers in areas such as climate change and energy policy .
generally speaking , good neighbourly relations have been demonstrated which , whether we like it or not , are the precondition to integration .
the European Union is built on equality , equality before the law , but also equality as the backbone of the social model , combating exclusion and discrimination , protecting the weakest in society , a commitment to combating gender violence and to the European protection order .
this process will need to be quickly followed by the adoption of other measures in favour of other categories of foreign workers and I shall be looking out for them .
it might be said that the barn door has just been closed when the horse is in the field , and that would be true to say .
you may not like what I say , but just consider your behaviour .
within the current context in which civil aviation activity is taking place , the creation of equal conditions for the various European companies could contribute to facilitating the process of monopolistic concentration within the sector that is already under way , with all the adverse effects that this would have for aviation company workers and for passengers .
I know that this is a job for the airlines , but there are certainly people stranded out there in distant locations who will have to wait quite some time for repatriation , even if airspace is reopened .
the result was that the company closed down and 10 more people were made redundant .
however , that is not enough .
equally , it is essential to strengthen the role of workers ' representatives on the boards of directors of undertakings and in the taking of management decisions of a structural nature .
first , the hearing of witnesses ; secondly , access to files ; thirdly , OLAF , and fourth , cooperation in the field of human rights .
the proposed package means a profound change that will make our import dependency still reasonable , around 50 % in 2030 , and brings to the European Union competitive advanced technologies for the production or consumption of energy .
in writing . - ( HU ) In recent months , right before our eyes , energy prices have risen as never before .
2. bus and coach routes which are making marginal or no profit , having no room for increased ticket prices , will be cut entirely and there will be no service .
regional cooperation is also an important factor .
what we need Mr Barroso - because you are an intelligent man - is for these environmental and social impact assessments to cover the sustainability of the economic model that you advocate .
Madam President , while this review is very welcome , I think we also need more frankness in the debate , and we must accept that we cannot protect people - our citizens - from themselves , nor should we try to legislate for all life 's risks .
this is important for the future .
I declare the 2007-2008 session of the European Parliament closed .
fraud , according to the rapporteur 's very apt definition , ' is an example of purposeful wrongdoing and is a criminal offence ' , and an irregularity ' is a failure to comply with a rule ' .
but there was another question : whether we are considering sanctions .
although the European Union has set targets for reducing energy consumption by 20 % by 2020 , these are not binding , unlike targets in the areas of reducing emissions and renewables .
as the youngest of the French MEPs , I welcome this choice , which allows us at long last to turn our attention to our citizens ' specific concerns .
in the Mediterranean region , I shall naturally continue to press for progress in the Middle East , especially in the Quartet framework , and I very much hope that the meeting in Annapolis and the subsequent donors ' conference in Paris will materialise so that further genuine progress can be made in the Middle East .
I have said before that such a practice is unacceptable if it results in consumers paying for fuel they have not used without their being clearly informed in advance .
5 .
they are fighting against their comparatively low standard of living .
this is the responsibility not only of the major players - the US and Russia - but of the European Union too .
( DE ) Mr President , the Stockholm Programme doubtless contains a number of useful initiatives , and I am all in favour of pushing forward the fight against child pornography and terrorist networks on the internet .
the Europe 2020 strategy proposes bringing the employment rate for the 20-64 age group up to 75 % and reducing the number of people at risk of poverty .
the next item is the Commission statement on the pharmaceutical products package .
this list already exists , but the fact that Mr Lukashenko himself cannot come to the European Union is not very convincing .
that is only one aspect of this report , however .
unfortunately , the incidents that set the process in motion made it clear .
therefore , I believe that we have a duty to find a fair solution to avoid further repercussions in terms of the economy and employment , to avoid causing a wholesale abandonment of tobacco-growing .
and then there is the whole story surrounding ecolabelling .
( DE ) Mr President , like my colleague and friend Milan Horáček I wanted to address an event that occurred yesterday .
global warming is a fraud .
surely the current UK Government , of which he is a supporter , would definitely not support such a transfer of sovereignty ?
history shows that unions based upon the dominance of larger members are doomed to fail .
however , it also talks about a connection with the Europe 2020 strategy , and that is something I agree with , as it is one of the stated priorities of this House .
in fact , it is not enough to identify macroeconomic imbalances in the Member States if there are no alternative EU policies to the current ones , based on solidarity and economic and social cohesion , in order to remedy the imbalances .
secondly , there is need for the major economic powers to see eye to eye on key issues .
as has already been said , EU members were the prime movers or among the prime movers in the G20 negotiations over a range of issues .
( RO ) Mr President , against the background of the current economic crisis , promoting good governance on tax matters is a necessity at both EU level and outside it .
the European Union must protect Israel from its own demons .
the European Court of Human Rights has ruled against Russia in 15 cases related to Chechnya to date .
unemployment is the main cause of poverty in most countries in the European Union .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - Madam President , I am very pleased indeed to have this opportunity to discuss this debate .
in Libya , will EU representatives voice their disapproval of Mugabe 's presence ?
last Thursday , one day later , the resolution was approved and it has been four days since its implementation .
biofuels are clearly promoted , in line with the EU 's objectives regarding renewable fuels for 2020 .
for 29 years you and I have disagreed on constitutional matters , except for transparency .
Poland 's restrictive milk quota threatens to transform the country from a net exporter of dairy products to a net importer within five to seven years .
Europe has a variety of forms of inspection and audit in order to protect its market from an influx of food which does not meet European standards , or which would be a threat to our health security .
there is a possibility that several smaller EU nations could find themselves on the brink of extinction in 100 years ' time .
is that really the image the European Union wants to project abroad ?
I wish the same would apply when it comes to our own producers .
the number of irregularities notified by the Member States rose in 2006 to the equivalent of EUR 1 143 million .
at tomorrow 's vote on the report by our colleague Ana Gomes we can adopt an oral amendment condemning the kidnapping of Monsignor Rahho to influence the war .
the institutions of the European Union must protect the freedom of expression through their actions , as well as provide , in this regard , a source of inspiration for the whole world .
the high short-term costs associated with the introduction of paths towards implementation of the flexicurity model must also be borne in mind , together with the significant burden on budgets .
( NL ) Madam President , as a result of the debate on the Hungarian media law , everyone in Europe knows who the current holder of the Presidency of the European Union is .
these agencies will not replace national supervisory agencies , but will work with them , exercising their mandate for prudence and systemic risk analysis in order to prevent a new crisis of the proportions of the one we are faced with at present from striking European states once more .
Mr President , our group fully supports the resolution .
my colleague , Commissioner De Gucht , will , of course , continue to keep you informed of further developments in the CETA process .
in order to secure that cooperation , it is very important for emissions to be disclosed , as cities produce 80 % of greenhouse gases .
we have all been instructed or we have all wanted to see in our respective policy areas how we can help , how we can overcome the long period to prepare , how we can do it more quickly , yet do it in a coordinated and respectful way .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the vast majority of European citizens believe that the fight against terrorism must be conducted as a matter of priority at EU level .
there are other objectives of course , but those are the fundamental ones that we must take into account .
guy Verhofstadt said two or three things on this subject , but what frightens me is that , for Mr Barroso , there has been a public debate .
sadly , the international community , including the EU , is standing by helplessly .
however , like other technologies , the practical results of GNSS applications are inseparable from the economic and social context in which they occur , and from the ends and objectives they serve .
I would also like to thank the rapporteurs for the other reports in the package , Mrs Westlund and Mrs Doyle , as well as the shadow rapporteurs , for their help and collaboration in seeking solutions to the horizontal problems raised by these proposals .
the main problems we are currently facing are unemployment , a decline in living standards and poverty .
apart from this paragraph , the report contains a number of sensible initiatives .
( FI ) Mr President , we share a common desire to close the prison camp at Guantánamo , and now we have a splendid opportunity to do so , as the new President of the United States of America has shown he has the same wish .
to do its job , the Small Business Act must ensure that the best possible operating environment is created for SMEs , and that applies to very small , small and medium-sized enterprises .
I believe the 20 % target that was unanimously agreed is reachable if the Member States act with real determination in implementing all the measures that they can take to achieve what is a very important goal for the European Union and indeed for the world .
the support of European citizens for the idea of Europe is the strongest guarantee of Europe 's future .
the proposal limits the concentration of chemical substances , hazardous groups including heavy metals , some pesticides and other hazardous chemicals in surface water .
nor should we forget the guarantees that have been given that subsidies for farms will be levelled out for all EU members by 2013 .
it means that , at the very least , we are ensuring that all vessels are insured by solvent insurance companies for the damage they cause , at least within the framework of the IMO conventions .
Parliament and the Council adopted a regulation on emissions from light and commercial vehicles in 2007 .
in several Member States , there is a large number of Roma groups caught in the trap of poverty , and there will never be a sufficient number of jobs for them , because without qualifications , they are essentially unemployable .
we are encouraged by the prospect of reform in the common agricultural and fisheries policies , but concerned this may result in more bureaucracy rather than a fair solution for our farmers and fishermen .
the UN Panel of Experts clearly indicated that both the government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil rebels committed serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law , possibly amounting in some cases to war crimes and crimes against humanity .
with regard to the use of delegated acts , the Commission refers to President Barroso 's letter of 7 March 2011 , indicating that a new architecture will reflect the new institutional context .
this is , indeed , a key matter .
invoking this ' fundamental right ' is , in reality , only a ' hotch-potch ' utopia .
President-in-Office of the Council . - Regarding the first question , there have been numerous bilateral meetings during the autumn in order to try to facilitate and prepare for the negotiations .
above all , however , there were attempts to take that money from agricultural policy ; fortunately , it was not taken from there , but from research , which is not much better .
if we are going to be honest , there is a problem with the type of documents : meeting documents or documents that accompany the decision-making process .
who wants to drive around with B- or C-class tyres if they can also use an environmentally friendly A-class version ?
this represents important progress with regard to defending citizens ' rights .
indeed , it is a well-known fact that one of the harshest criticisms of the Union is that it is not a fully democratic structure .
the Lisbon Treaty is the result of a compromise between dreams of a European federation and fears that are currently prevalent not only among citizens of the new states , but also in countries that are the founders of our Community .
both parties expect to secure significant benefits from the elimination of tariffs and the liberalisation of trade in services and company formation , and reaffirm their commitment to tariff reductions and further liberalisation of company formation and trade in services .
the progressive forces must stick together in this case .
I should first of all like to ask if , other than this recommendation and the measures taken by the Member States , you intend , as the European Commission , to take additional measures in order to strengthen the open method of coordination in the social sector ?
that is why I delivered it as such , so I really do not think I should be subjected to abuse from the other side of the Chamber from that group of rogues .
let us begin with the matter of energy .
our report insists on the main desire of young people to be autonomous , to have access to healthcare in particular , and to have decent accommodation at a reasonable price .
it is the common fisheries policy , a system of central planning that the Soviets would have been proud of .
to effectively combat this phenomenon , it is vital to ensure that there are effective mechanisms for identifying problems and collecting information without coming up against obstacles or political constraints , so as to establish causes and consequences in a clear and sustained way in order to effect a complete response .
the objective was to lay down common criteria for environmental inspections in order to ensure a better and more consistent implementation of environmental legislation through the Community .
the current situation is alarming .
when we have the appropriate legal basis , we will be able to impose a safety obligation on anyone , but the option and responsibility to choose lies with the Member States .
we are fully in favour of the position as presented today in this House and , as such , we will vote in favour of it .
that is why we want legal certainty , so that everyone knows where they stand : governments , health services , patients , doctors .
a quantifiable reduction in the use of these products must be genuinely implemented in the long term .
we must find a solution , and in that respect let me completely clear : some of the ' no ' supporters used a lethal and shameful argument .
as my colleague Duarte Freitas has already mentioned , we have heard a lot of talk about diesel , about support for diesel , but 85 % of the vessels in Portugal operate in the small-scale fishing sector and over half run on petrol .
it is quite right , as some of you have said ; this is an important area in the world and an important area that we may need to make progress in .
this would surely be helped by Russia 's membership of the World Trade Organisation .
for example , I am open to putting into the envelope certain ideas concerning innovation and the restructuring of wine sellers , but I think we still need to keep a clear demarcation line between what is possible within the national envelopes and what is possible within rural development policy , to avoid a situation where you can actually finance an investment from both sides , what is called the ' double guichet ' .
the report also asks for an analysis of possible options for sanctions against tax havens , which we support without prejudice to a final position .
if we really want to achieve something in the less developed regions , we should transfer targeted aid to local authority budgets , even without input from their own resources , because sometimes they cannot afford even a small contribution as they are so poor .
Roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers ( recast version ) (
we are not only talking about the cost of these procedures but , more importantly and essentially , about the cost of not having a common asylum system .
overall , the thrust of this report is very good , highlighting as it does the need for special consideration to be given to children in EU external actions .
we have , in many ESF and ERDF programmes , either specific implementation allocations or support for Roma inclusion indirectly , through references to vulnerable groups .
these facilities are the island 's livelihood and have been legally established for between 30 and 40 years .
for this reason , all the studies say that investing in the first years of life produces much better results than doing it later .
that is why , Commissioner , I want to encourage you to set up a consumer scoreboard as a tool to report on Member States ' activities in the consumer protection field and to help us , as elected representatives , to follow up on weak enforcement and delayed transposition .
entrepreneurs benefit less from preferential loans .
it is cooperation that as Europeans we should support because we have many problems in common that need an urgent solution and because joining forces in research and development , innovation and technology transfer cannot but be beneficial to both parties .
it is up to us to consider whether this is realistic or not .
this demonstrates the widespread use of antibiotics in animal husbandry , and I must say that European farmers have had enough of being the only ones to adopt and comply with the rules at the risk of a drop in their incomes .
results of the European Council meeting of 13 and 14 December 2007 in Brussels - Report on the six months of the Portuguese Presidency ( debate )
in writing . - ( IT ) I voted in favour of the motion for a resolution on Arctic governance in our globalised world .
the vote will take place tomorrow .
those seeking to clean up capitalism have their work well and truly cut out .
secondly , I would like to say that I believe we all agree that from the point of view of legal certainty for both airlines and citizens , when it is a question of data protection rights , such agreements make sense .
however , by approving a new constitution that states that the foetus must be protected from the moment of conception , Hungary , a Member State , has trampled on these values by allowing the right to abortion once more to be brought into question .
we talk much about education and its outstanding role in changing attitudes , contouring behaviours , integration of groups with high risk of marginalisation and development of communities .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , I was a member of the five-man delegation from the European Parliament which spent a couple of important days in the Palestinian Autonomous Area .
what direction do we intend to take ?
the EU is protectionist .
it is the mixing of populations on a grand scale , speeding up the demise of Europe 's nations , that we are being offered .
however , all your statements remain formal and reflect wishful thinking that will not be followed by action .
despite the energy put into this and the excellent proposals that we are going to debate here today and which I am also in favour of , it remains a fact that we have still not got that proposal through which has been on the table for years and which is a crucial element to creating trust between Member States , and therefore also facilitating extradition .
in particular , the negotiating mandate makes no provision for inclusion in the future agreement of any clause on social standards , nor any ambitious chapter on sustainable development .
from the perspective of those of us on the left , this elite concept is not acceptable .
we should also look at good practice in other EU countries , for we could devise a much better long-term policy to tackle alcohol-related harm .
then the second part of the sitting - questions on the employment situation in the European Union .
people must be given the means to upgrade and broaden their skills .
the burden of cancer is a threat for the sustainability of our public health systems , and the EU should definitely take the lead in responding to it adequately .
that is unfortunate for the environment but it is also unfortunate for employment in the European Union .
it is in our common interest to modernise these structures , so that in future , they become a tool for responding rapidly to threats that have arisen .
in view of the lack of time , I will try and briefly present the main aims of the European Union Council concerning individual countries .
let us face it ; the only thing we will be doing is simply importing much of that instability into the European Union .
Russia ? Ukraine ?
this is why I want to stress that Latin America is a strategic partner with which Europe must extend its economic and cultural influence even further .
these rises have worsened the position of workers , increased the number of undernourished people and bankrupted small and medium-sized livestock farmers .
this is not an issue that the Commission would regard as closed .
we therefore had a lot of work to do , not , unfortunately , to ensure that there are no more accidents - life will always be random - but so that we could be sure that we had done our best to prevent them , and also to punish the causes of any such accidents .
I therefore hope that we will denounce this situation with a very broad majority and that both the EU and Southern Africa will finally call for an end to these conditions .
the debate is closed .
in the sector of air transport in particular , which is exempt from fuel tax - i.e. EUR 14 billion a year - we can surely raise a few euro to give children the best protection they need for the future .
in writing . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the complexity of the report under examination today was already apparent during work in the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality , where a risible majority of three votes and a wholesale absence of MEPs allowed the text to be adopted .
let us not make this scheme a one-off initiative , just for show .
it might be said we are pioneers in this exercise , which is why , of course , a particular responsibility rests upon us .
on behalf of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe , I wish to explain our abstention from the vote on the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance 's amendment on a tax on the model of the Tobin tax .
could I ask , while I have the floor , the Commission to comment on the possibility of less-favoured areas moving to pillar one ?
its implementation will therefore create a new robust crisis management framework .
I refer in particular to the maximum of EUR 4 200 per month at the disposal of each Member for general expenditure .
they must fight to undermine the imperialist EU of poverty , injustice , war and oppression .
I think , however , that the end of an EU Council Presidency should logically also be a chance for the Heads of State or Government to make a critical assessment of their action in view of the challenges to be faced .
nonetheless , there is still a lot to do .
the Risk Analysis approach for residues of veterinary medicinal products in food of animal origin .
billions of euros in direct aid and in lucrative joint defence ventures are given by the USA , Britain , Germany , Italy and Spain .
it has been possible to maintain a financial system at maximum level that helps to finance the consequences of the crisis and the investment needed to come out of the crisis .
in writing . - ( DE ) The motion for a resolution on the reforms and developments in the Republic of Moldova makes close reference to the association agreement which is currently being negotiated between the EU and Moldova .
now we have a much larger number of states that have adopted these more comprehensive bans , even some with a few exceptions : I shall come to that in a minute .
I can partially agree with what the previous speaker said .
I am not exaggerating when I say that this House has probably expressed its condemnation of all kinds of coups in Africa dozens of times in the past .
I thank the rapporteur for his cooperation with regard to my proposed amendments .
fourthly , we shall ensure that the new sequence of procedures is more transparent .
the vote will take place tomorrow .
in early drafts from the Commission , however , we saw there was a separate value for tar sands in the consultation papers , but in a later draft that value had disappeared .
however , for this reason it should be directed at entrepreneurs , so they can create jobs , maintain the environment and guarantee high quality products .
the air that you breathe there is heavy , and recourse to violence seems almost unavoidable .
Europe does not need this system , yet we are going to pay for it .
it is to establish the historical truth .
the EU , which is always so quick to invoke human rights , is ' forgetting ' them with regard to Israel which , for more than 40 years , has been colonising the Palestinian territories of the West Bank , Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem .
that right would continue , but in addition we would allow amendments if they are tabled by a 10th of the Members of the House .
none other than the ruthless laws of the market are crushing , degrading and homogenising every cultural , aesthetic , artistic and moral value .
however , it has been decided that question time should be one hour - which today started on time .
the problem with the state of the livestock sector is prevalent across the whole EU .
thirdly , relations with Parliament are strengthened .
our economic analyses show that the level of complexity of the cross-border transfer procedure would be comparable to that of the cross-border merger procedure .
in the meantime we are going to consult the committee of experts at national level and at European level so that we can , if appropriate , establish common uniform rules for all imports .
this is a trend that is characteristic of all EU policies .
why do we not apply targeted checks there ?
in line with our monetary policy strategy , we take the view that the sustained underlying strength of monetary and credit expansion in the euro area over the past few years has created upside risks to price stability .
these events had serious consequences , affected people 's lives and caused large-scale ecological disasters .
in writing . - ( IT ) The Commission 's proposal aims to improve the functioning of the internal market by reducing trade barriers across borders , but poses problems for both consumers and manufacturers .
that is a basic requirement .
proposals to this end have been made in the context of the Quality Package , including reducing the time for the Commission to scrutinise applications received to six months and reducing the objection period to two months .
it is a requirement that we are decisive , stable and strong in the message of supporting democratic forces , wherever we can find them , and we shall make them as strong as possible .
but , as the preparation of the Copenhagen conference draws to its close , the pressure grows .
I would like to thank Mr Becsey for his report , which is so important to myself and my compatriots .
the overall aim of the research and development programme in question is to improve the quality of life of older people and to strengthen Europe 's industrial base . it is intended to achieve this by implementing ICT , which will help older persons to improve their quality of life , continue to enjoy good health and remain active at work and in society .
the economic entities within it are fragmented and widely scattered .
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( PL ) Mr President , it is vitally important that , in tandem with the neighbourhood policy , the doors of the European Union should remain open to our East European neighbours .
as you will have gathered , I do not believe in this magical and pernicious view that trade alone can help us progress towards harmonious integration , peace and stability .
so I can speak as whatever .
it relates to compensation for parenthood based on the principle of loss of income , linked to working life , at a high level so that people can stay at home and not need to suffer financially .
in January 2009 , I launched an interactive guide on my new website , which is accessible in all 23 EU languages .
it seems to me that we have now righted this wrong and made up for lost time .
however , I am very happy that we are starting this part-session with work that is extremely positive for the future of the European judicial area .
it will do so again at the European Council on 15 and 16 October .
if it is to function effectively , the professional education and training system for women must be comprehensive , or in other words it must encompass experience , life stage and women 's multi-dimensional needs as regards education , including the specific needs of disabled women , elderly women , women living in poverty and female immigrants , for example .
it seems that now we are trying to engage with the Belarusian authorities by suspending the travel bans , but the travel bans are still there for the ordinary people of Belarus .
many of you talked here about the application of sanctions to the Member States , and I have to say that the Commission applies sanctions very rigorously .
this may also be an important step for progressing with more detailed labelling of various products in order to not only guarantee consumers ' rights more fully , but also to ensure reciprocity in production requirements imposed on EU and non-EU producers .
( the President cut off the speaker )
we need first to make sure that we have put out that fire and that it stays out .
the Council recalls the European Union 's willingness to assist the economic and political development of Kosovo through a clear European perspective , in line with the European perspective of the region .
this is an important - and essential - first step in a long process .
then it concerns older people on the labour market .
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however , it is also a matter of looking inwards .
so it is about being convinced one way or the other as to how we do it .
so we ask the Commission to send a clear message and take clear steps .
above all , we are pleased that the activities of the European Parliament have also been included in the report on human rights .
the work carried out by the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety in improving the proposal initially presented by the European Commission deserves to be emphasised .
some recent statistics highlighted that men living in the countries of south-eastern Europe are two times more likely to die of cancer than men in the Nordic countries , for instance .
we therefore support a new agreement , but let Europe enter that relationship united , strong and with its eyes open .
we have submitted a question through the groups tabling a debate on the reform of the European Arrest Warrant and its application , and are asking the Commission and Council to respond with proposals .
perhaps it is an illusion , but I think that even Moscow and Kiev could help by talking to Minsk about the release of political prisoners .
that area is no longer restricted to five Member States , as it was in the 1980s .
first of all , as all my colleagues have said , I am pleased we have achieved greater readability .
therefore , this Parliament and the Council must be very restrained in how we now set about amending it .
however , they must also be aware of the costs of a moratorium on deep-water drilling .
we agree with the objectives set .
we need to work towards fair and reciprocal conditions of market access .
( SL ) Madam President , the Hungarian Presidency surprised us at the very beginning with an unusual gift , a map of Greater Hungary , a map of a dream which can obviously only become a reality in a united , democratic Europe , and which does not invoke the past .
we did not make life easy for ourselves , because every compromise inevitably has some aspect here or there where there might be some scope for improvement .
here , in the face of the opportunity to use this great potential , complete passivity is to be seen .
through this proposal , the Commission set itself the target of establishing , at European Union-level , rights that would protect passengers comparable to those applied to other means of transport , as well ensuring equal conditions of competition between the carriers in the various Member States and between the various means of transport .
ethnically motivated databases for the purpose of preventing crimes are unlawful .
on the other hand , it is also a successful and balanced compromise that takes account of the fact that a significant number of the EU 's 2 000 toy makers are cautious and acknowledge their responsibility as manufacturers .
it is thought that around 30 million people are victims of organ trafficking , prostitution and forced labour .
that is true , but what is the significance of huge financial reward benefiting a handful of people when most are suffering and seeing their little dreams of happiness going up in smoke ?
with the orange and yellow cards and the right of action they have possibilities in the field of subsidiarity control and , as Members of the Council , they can exercise more control over their own governments .
I should like if I may to say something else about this debate .
ten years ago , I could not have imagined that there would be television programmes in Kurdish .
this applies specifically to Germany which can , and should , help to make the acceptance of refugees a possibility .
( EL ) Mr President , I have listened to the Commission ; the Commission report this time is much more critical than last time and we all know what is happening inside the country .
Mr President , this is a disadvantage that must not be underestimated in this Parliament in particular .
EU-Japan trade relations ( vote )
only single authorisation makes sense in a common economic area .
for example , in January 2000 , more than 100 000 cubic metres of cyanide-contaminated water escaped from a gold mine in Romania and polluted the rivers and streams of Romania , Hungary , Serbia and Bulgaria .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( ES ) Mr President , I would also , on behalf of my group and very formally , like to congratulate the rapporteur David Martin on the excellent quality of the report that he is presenting to the House .
I would honestly like to have an answer .
thank you very much , and my best wishes for the implementation of the programme .
it is in this context that we are proposing to study the feasibility of a body for regulating monetary differences on the model of what the States managed to create in the trade sphere at the World Trade Organisation .
I am not the author of this resolution and my group did not co-sign the resolution .
I have to say , I was not one of them .
( DE ) Madam President , I believe it is important that we do not use the national tax systems to work against the internal market .
it must be understood that apiculture 's health crisis is as dangerous to human survival as the financial crisis is to the real economy .
although there are many things in this resolution which I do not like , I am of the opinion that my fellow Members have done an excellent job , because they have produced a text which focuses more closely on safety and on European cooperation .
the application of the proton accelerator method using a lead-bismuth target opens up even greater possibilities .
the consequences for the health and welfare of those who handle this waste in a very inappropriate way are extremely serious .
many of them confirmed that they found the cross-sectoral effort needed to prepare them very useful .
the MEPs who have been invited to the workshop will also participate in the assessment .
free movement does not include a right to receive financial support from the state you visit .
if we vote through the regulation tomorrow as it stands , we shall be throwing away a big opportunity along with our efforts and , above all , those of millions of workers at small and medium-sized enterprises who will feel betrayed , together with all consumers who trusted in us to make a responsible choice .
the idea of a European ' Blue Card ' work permit is this : a highly skilled worker needed in a certain country obtains , after a certain period of time , the right to move to another European Union country - where he has a job , of course - without any complicated formalities or procedures .
Mr President , even though Switzerland has not yet decided to become a Member State of the European Union , it has long shown a serious interest in broad cooperation with the EU in the area of education and professional training for young people .
in writing . - ( LT ) I voted in favour of this resolution , because following the unrest in the Arab countries when migration flows greatly intensified , it is important for a common migration policy to function across the entire EU .
ladies and gentlemen , I believe that through this programme , we will manage to reduce risk levels and to ensure that young people will not have access to such videos on the internet .
the Law on Special Investigative Means and the Law on Electronic Communications already provide appropriate mechanisms for legal authorisation , oversight , handling and access to personal data , and thus ensure respect of fundamental rights .
thus , the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia must be called upon to act , if it wants a future soon .
therefore , as has already been said this morning , we need to help organise producers so that they can make their presence felt in their dealings with their customers and , in particular , in their dealings with the large-scale distribution sector .
to begin with , it is linked to the trust that people should have in the Commission .
that has been an absolutely crucial issue , and I am pleased that we have also been able to achieve what we wanted to in this regard .
for this reason , thorough analyses , building projects designed and achieved with competence , as well as an efficient audit , are necessary particularly in the regional and local road network and , for this reason , I consider that Member States should take over all the healthy principles and implement them responsibly not only where they are bound to but , especially , where they are necessary .
so , the outcome , whether through the use of this procedure or through the practical proposals that have been made , is surely a step backwards compared with the current situation .
it is our common cause , our common interest , that the Doha Development Round is concluded successfully .
well , you are not going to find anyone who places an order who will spontaneously admit their guilt .
as a resident of a border region between Flanders , the Netherlands , Germany and Wallonia , I am very pleased with the request to the Commission to designate certain border regions as trial areas for innovative projects relating to cross-border healthcare .
in writing . - ( PL ) The European defence procurement market is highly fragmented , which has a negative economic impact .
I am of the firm conviction that we must place greater emphasis on anchoring the African nations in the world economy so that they are able to benefit from globalisation on the world markets with their raw materials , with their resources , with everything they have to offer , and not become unilaterally dependent on Chinese monopolies .
my time has run out , ladies and gentlemen .
European cohesion policy is and will remain a cornerstone of the EU 's tangible action in its regions , as well as the main source of investment in the real economy , capable of helping Europe and its regions to recover from the crisis and become competitive again .
it is not associated with any significant event , as the Irish referendum was , for example .
this boils down to nothing short of keeping tabs on Member States and this situation is unacceptable .
however , it is also clear that some proposals are complicated and that the general situation in the Arctic is very complicated , from the perspective of both the European Union and international law .
( NL ) Mr President , the fight against terrorism must be a joint effort to which all democracies should make a contribution .
that knowledge can give us the tools that we now require to move up the chain of the innovation , research and abilities that can be made towards us .
now in a lot of countries , these domestic targets will lead to some kind of paradigm shift .
the European Union should draw conclusions from this experience , which is of vital importance .
I can assure you the Council will do its utmost to ensure that the Common Position is defined and sent to Parliament as soon as possible , in view of the urgency you mentioned , which is quite legitimate .
I still remember the struggle for the billion for the food facility .
that is the message of today 's report .
EU industry depends totally on REE imports from China , which holds a monopoly over 97 % of world production and has 36 % of global economic reserves .
the Council was asked to cheat the public by hiding and renumbering and changing the line spacing so a bigger treaty could be presented like a mini-treaty .
the second reason I voted against this report is the presumption it makes on the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty , with no regard to that Treaty 's failure to meet the ratification test set for it .
firstly , if a binding agreement is not reached in Copenhagen , then this Parliament and the European Union should use its influence to name , shame and tame those countries responsible , so that sanctions can be imposed on them to bring them into line .
it jeopardises the success of our foreign policy .
we found a very good compromise with the rapporteur .
it is also of critical importance to guarantee the opportunity for childcare of appropriate quality and quantity for those who would like to take up paid employment alongside childrearing .
we will report on progress for the next EU-US Summit in November this year . we also plan to set up a cybercentre where we could coordinate at European level the efforts that are being made in the different Member States .
that is the best way we can help .
I appeal to my fellow Members from other political groups , such as the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe and the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) , to support the amendment tabled by the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament .
the European Court of Auditors stated that the annual accounts for 2009 were regular and commented positively on the reliability of the accounts .
I voted in favour because I think the process of European integration in Montenegro can meet a fundamental strategic interest of the European Union , namely , promoting and seeking to guarantee stability and development in a crucial geographic area for our continent .
these are naturally political acts and there is no doubt that , given the traditional case-law on immunity , a Member of any other political bent would have had his immunity confirmed , as was the case in the Italian Parliament for the national members of parliament who carried out the same actions as Mr Gobbo .
one of the other aspects of this agreement which I mentioned this morning is the insistence by the Commission that the minimum wage in Ireland be reduced by EUR 2 000 a year .
I therefore believe it is truly important for the Union to adopt a common policy , an overall action plan , respecting of course the principle of subsidiarity and the authority of Member States and local bodies .
rather , I believe that there should be control of the spread of fundamentalist Islamic ideas closely linked to terrorism and that this is what the European Union should be looking at very carefully .
this project will hopefully provide the opportunity to draft the guidelines for a Community action plan , aimed at Roma social integration , and contribute , through the expansion of the ideas that prove to be effective , to the drafting of a regulatory Community action plan , extending beyond the instruments currently available .
it is http : / / ec.europa.eu / consumers / empowerment / cons _ networks _ en.htm , and it is really very interesting to browse around .
we should examine this path carefully .
there are technologies in the economic sector which pose a hazard to human health and the environment .
I would like to repeat very clearly that I very much welcome the involvement of Parliament in the negotiations for this agreement and the other agreements .
bloody battles have led to the deaths of several hundred people living in the country .
I understand only too well the apprehensions that some have expressed .
however , the Union can exert its influence , as regards the defence of human rights in the world , only if it sets an example in this sector from within .
what guarantees can you give us that this will be the case ?
( RO ) I would like to begin by congratulating the rapporteur and co-rapporteurs for the fine job they have done .
the proposed resolution will determine the fishing opportunities for European Union fishing vessels , depending on the surplus fish stocks available , and the financial contribution required in return for the access rights and the support for the fishery sector .
on the plus side , an increasing number of companies are applying for quality certification in the most diverse sectors .
how , when the Commission does not have the role that befits it , will it be possible to implement these ambitious strategies ?
it is not a fait accompli ; it is , rather , the beginning of the phase which means establishment , and then the real work may start - and I hope it will start successfully .
the timetable , as I mentioned , was originally set for conclusion by the end of this year .
in my view what we need here is a Community initiative to ensure that the seven Member States that have already implemented this regulation grow to 25 or 27 within a year , say .
this must be criticised in the sharpest terms by the European Union , as must the continued serious human rights violations against ethnic minorities , who are frequently driven from their lands and forced into slave labour , many of their children being recruited as child soldiers .
Vice-President of the Commission . - On the first question , I would like to confirm that all the SME organisations are indeed fully involved , and that we have finalised a project that will create a network for small business support everywhere in the European Union .
however , for ' agriculture and natural resources ' , ' cohesion ' , ' research , energy and transport ' , ' external aid , development and enlargement ' , and ' education and citizenship ' the Court concludes that payments are still materially affected by errors , although to different degrees .
our goal is excellence in lawmaking .
Mrs Frassoni has presented a very good report .
it falls well below positions adopted previously by the EP and proposed by the PCP ;
I look forward to further cooperation .
I would like an explanation .
on the other hand , with regard to fruit and vegetables , the Commissioner pointed out an aspect that is characteristic of the new common organisation of the market , which leaves producer organisations to deal with the crisis .
what they want is the right to vote and I hope , sooner rather than later , they will be given that opportunity .
if the issue were limited to the fact that female foetuses are aborted , it might be easier for us to reach an agreement on it .
I accept political responsibility for that ; I was committed to the Treaty of Lisbon .
I welcome this measure , as it is very important that a balance be maintained between protecting the environment and protecting jobs and the competitiveness of SMEs in the EU .
fines will be levied by the Member States .
the first is the River Danube , which , through its connection to both ends of the continent , links the North Sea with the Black Sea .
our Group wishes strongly to support the entire resolution .
I voted in favour of the report on the guidelines for the 2012 budget procedure because I think that the current economic crisis - which right now has repercussions on employment above anything else - requires a joint effort on cutting back from the Member States and the European institutions .
along with this , we also need to discuss a cultural question : in many countries , and I believe especially in countries where there is the greatest need , the right cultural approach required to obtain these sums is lacking .
I would like us to move straight to a different age , one where our power comes from renewable , clean and green forms of energy .
secondly we have uncertainty arising from the material and employment situation that young people face , with a lack of employment continuity , late access for young people to employment , and finally expensive housing , which is consequently inaccessible to young people .
it cannot just be a matter for Malta or the Canary Islands or Greece .
from the Commissioner I would like verification as to if and how such a way forward is possible .
everyone made compromises .
I call on those Member States who have not fulfilled their obligations to do so as a matter of urgency .
however , this may not be at the expense of rank-and-file workers in the Commission , as was suggested in Paragraph 81 .
the Union has given a clear signal that it is willing to resume talks with Russia on a new partnership and cooperation agreement .
the Globally Harmonised System ( GHS ) will hopefully merge these different classifications in an effective way .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I very much welcome the fact that we are having a timely political debate on the basis of initiative reports which will allow us to use our instrument of solidarity in a more targeted and efficient way by 2014 at the latest .
that is why the Budget Committee was happy to support Mr McCreevy 's proposal on Monday night about interim funding , so that we can ensure that proper financial procedures and a proper trialogue takes place on the financial implication of these proposals .
I am delighted , in that case , that I have heard the Commissioner this evening say that he accepts my amendment that will at least look at the impact of climate change on cod recovery , as well as looking at the impact on cod predation by seals .
this feeble increase is progressively distancing them from the eight Millennium Development Goals set by the United Nations in 2000 .
we cannot make people promises and act as if we have a solution and everything is magically going to be fine ; quite apart from anything else , the people would one day be bitterly disappointed when they realised that it does not work that way .
Russia should fulfil unconditionally all the provisions of the 2008 agreement between Russia , the European Union and Georgia .
why should it suddenly find another committee responsible for the subject matter just because somebody sent a petition to that other committee ?
many of us will remember how anxious members of the public were at that time and just how long the radioactive contamination lasted in certain places , such as the English Lake District , where soil conditions and heavy rainfall caused the ground to be contaminated for many years .
( FI ) Mr President , the basic issue behind this implementing directive is this : what has been the significance of the Services Directive for businesses , consumers , citizens and GDP ?
the intention to give priority to this issue in the European Union , i.e. acknowledging children as fully fledged subjects of law , is deserving of our full support .
last Friday , the head of the European Commission , José Manuel Barroso , referred to the idea of creating a mechanism of support for countries in the euro area which are struggling with financial problems .
secondly , opening up the Union 's markets to goods and services from third countries should be governed by the principle of reciprocity . the Union as a whole should therefore monitor whether exporters from third countries include in their manufacturing costs the contributions to be made to provide for compliance with environmental standards and social security for workers in their countries .
think of newspapers such as La Repubblica and of the entire left-wing press .
that was the first thing I wanted to share with you today .
effective human resources management appears to be Eurojust 's main problem .
it is wrong to doubt the additional value of Palestinian unification and the agreement on democratic elections .
in short , everything to enable the exploitation of people in a situation where there is a crisis , rising unemployment again , and impoverishment of workers .
I am sorry that someone twisted my words .
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I am really pleased with the savings we have managed to make , even though they have come about as a result of our efforts to conserve our resources .
can I say that taxation should not be about punishment ; it is about the building of resources in a fair and equitable manner .
that promise has not been kept .
however , the reality is that we are merely consulted , which is why I have had to take on a very difficult position .
since the hygiene regulations in Slovakia are far stricter than those in the 15 old Member States , it is necessary to harmonise the hygiene rules across the entire EU .
I support Croatia 's participation in the activities of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction .
that is what we want and there is one thing that we would say very clearly to our colleagues in China : what for us is a basic principle we would also expect to be a basic principle for you in China , namely that human rights are universal .
the challenge today is an equivalent from Europeans for Europeans .
what about the diplomatic service ?
with CCCTB , we would end up with 28 .
in such an environment surely we are not expecting these countries to abstain from doing all that which is possible to protect the interests of its citizens .
as a result , nuclear energy must be on the agenda and we cannot avoid this .
the solutions ultimately adopted in the amendments we have put before you for the vote are the result of cordial , ambitious and innovative cooperation with the shadow rapporteurs Mr Gauzès , Mrs Wallis and Mrs Frassoni , and with the Portuguese Presidency and the political group coordinators in the Committee on Legal Affairs , Mr Medina Ortega and Mr Lehne .
so , could we change the ' non-fire ' to ' no-fire ' rather than the word ' cease-fire ' , as this would reflect the official text of the Co-Chairs ?
it is known that the European People 's Party has a cooperation agreement with the bloc of Yulia Tymoshenko .
that being the case , and as this Strategy - which is based on the three interlinked objectives of socioeconomic development , improved transportation , and support for alternative energy sources and environmental protection - and the accompanying Action Plan will contribute to promoting this region and minimising existing regional differences by better coordinating the efforts of the eight Member States in the region , I welcome its adoption .
the fact that the set of measures whose implementation comes under the remit of the port states are produced , all the same , by an international instrument is a bonus .
we also want them to be able to study the length of the contract and for the length of contract not to be used as a restriction when they try to move .
quite the contrary , in fact , because this key trade partner , this country which has a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council , which is seeing intensive growth and is in the midst of democratic change , which we need in order to combat climate change , this country must be a partner to which one tells a few home truths but which one respects for the efforts that it undertakes .
Mr President , a new stability mechanism is proposed .
as the statement of the European Parliament on the ECB annual report 2008 had been delayed due to the elections in 2009 , not much time has passed since the European Parliament 's last statement on ECB activity .
it is quite obvious that China is miles away from any kind of suitability as an Olympic host .
( DE ) Mr President , it was said that this was a speech on behalf of our group .
the European Union must give a lead here and work on this whole issue with America , in consultation with the industry .
I think you are using the Council , which was not prepared to take up various ideas , as an excuse .
we were offered great benefits with the euro ; we were offered ease of travel , growth and efficiency , and transfers of money between Member States would suddenly become easier .
we are also asking for a proposal to be included in the future association agreement on creating an expanded , comprehensive , common free trade area , along with a proposal on a visa waiver for Moldovan citizens .
the events that have occurred so far provided an answer to my question that was posted as a rhetorical one .
firstly , we need a better understanding of agriculture , which represents an inadequate proportion of the European Development Fund .
the Committee on Fisheries believed that Articles 43 ( 2 ) - referring to the ordinary legislative procedure , or colegislation - and 204 of the TFEU should be adopted as its legal basis , along with the Sole Article of the Protocol ( No 34 ) on Special Arrangements for Greenland .
although the facts indicate an improvement of 15 % this year , we have to bear in mind that there was also a 40 % reduction in the number of transpositions to be carried out .
the vote will take place at 11 a.m .
this development should continue , and I know the Commission will continue to follow closely the Ombudsman 's activities and welcome his proposals .
the Commission deserves a great deal of praise for this .
the situation in the open country is even more difficult .
we must not allow the prestige of the euro to be damaged , but must do all we can for the sustainability of monetary union .
ladies and gentlemen , the forthcoming Russia-European Union summit in Siberia may open up new opportunities .
similarly , implementation of the Water Framework Directive keeps stalling .
it is estimated that , in EU Member States , between 8 % and 12 % of patients admitted to hospitals suffer from adverse effects whilst receiving health care .
the changes to the market are hopefully leading in that direction .
social norms , such as the mobility of disadvantaged travellers , are very closely bound to individual Member States and so are better not harmonised or standardised .
the action plan was drawn up in a period when the global navigation satellite systems were being implemented , specifically , the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service ( EGNOS ) system .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
in the same year , the Communist regime in Hungary expelled itself from Europe through show trials .
on the issue of cloning , I strongly support the exclusion of foods from cloned animals and their descendants from the scope of this Regulation , and call on the Commission to ban cloned animals in the food chain .
the next item is a short presentation of the report by Mrs Stauner , on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control , on the Commission action plan towards an integrated internal control framework .
responsibility for social housing is fully within the competence of national , regional and local authorities .
( the sitting was closed at 11.55 p.m. )
( for the results and other details on the vote : see Minutes )
second , there is a more general problem about sanctions , particularly EU sanctions .
the 12-day rule is good ; hopefully it also brings social benefits .
the third and final question is whether fines should be reduced during the crisis .
I think it plays very badly with the public as well .
do you really believe it will help people who are being deprived of their wages every day if you tell them to wait until you have discussed their problems in some forum ?
we can largely respond to this need through cohesion policy .
local authorities should also be sensitised to the fight against climate change by combating deforestation and by enhancing tropical forests .
Lady Ashton has already expressed her desire for the EEAS to be made up of the best officials selected on the basis of professional criteria , and not according to countries of origin .
there may indeed be some stars - such as those who appear in magazines - who have some choice .
it is important to clarify the division of competences between key posts , and how we establish relations between EU institutions , including the new role of the European Parliament
it also cannot fail to be significant that , in a crisis situation in which the European economy , thanks to its instruments , is reacting more favourably than other regional economies , those who a short time ago were sceptical about the common monetary policy and the euro are now quickly asking to cooperate with and even integrate into the euro area .
( PT ) Madam President , in this debate it is right to stress that the European Union 's success depends on how it responds in terms of solidarity and economic and social cohesion .
the Commission 's internal telephone book is no longer a secret document .
in 2007 , we admitted Romania and Bulgaria , even though we knew that they had not met the conditions and that corruption was a major problem .
we must indeed ask for calm from all parties , but most importantly we must demand that the Kingdom of Morocco ceases its hostile attitude towards the Saharan people and stops harassing parliamentarians , the media and human rights defenders .
retail investors should have clear definitions and regulations .
there can also be progress in development without massive investment in the latest technology .
we also , however , need to examine the issue of the type of growth we will choose for the future .
we must bear in mind that Bosnia and Herzegovina is inhabited principally by three peoples , none of whom constitutes a majority in that country and some of whom feel connected to Serbia , a part with Croatia , while others want to stress a specifically Bosnian identity .
they have been imprisoned since 3 November and they are yet to be tried .
in this context , we need to support research , development , innovation and SMEs and the development of resource-efficient technologies .
is that what they call an unintended consequence ?
we cannot agree to Christians being treated as second-class citizens .
there is one last point I would like to address .
I therefore welcome the Commission 's Green Paper and the proposal for a review : this review will reveal how valid European legislation is evaded in a number of countries and will bring to light flaws that weaken trust in the single market .
that would , of course , be contrary to the new Electronic Communications Framework Directive .
I voted in favour of this report because in cohesion policy , decision-making processes are improved through the application of multi-level governance and the involvement of sub-national authorities .
can I again remind those Members who have joined us in the interim , we are trying an experiment today and I would ask you to come to the front of the Chamber .
I welcome moves in the future funding streams towards more thematic activity , be it the Lisbon Agenda , the promotion of a knowledge economy , the promotion of R & D , cross-border cooperation or , indeed , support for the fisheries sector under the Lisbon Agenda .
around 76 % of electricity in France is generated by nuclear power , while the figure in Austria is 0 % .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner Potočnik , ladies and gentlemen , in summary we can say that we have again set ourselves an objective here that focuses on the Lisbon Agenda .
dozens of European companies - British , Italian , French and large Greek companies - are working in Libya , which is the third largest oil producer in Africa .
the institutions shall maintain an open , transparent and regular dialogue with representative associations and civil society . following the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon , Parliament 's powers have been strengthened and it is now colegislator in almost all areas under the ordinary legislative procedure .
I wish to thank him for his work and compliment him on his sound report .
why is this important ?
according to the report , Europe is facing a substantial increase in airport use and there is a need to ' optimise ' existing resources .
the recognition of a government is the recognition that is given by the European Council .
naturally , however , this situation clearly extended beyond the Member States and therefore , the European Union and its institutions set to work right from the very beginning .
( DE ) Madam President , I would like to draw attention to the International Transport Workers ' Federation ( ITF ) ' s action week , which will be manifesting itself in Istanbul this weekend .
Mr Verheugen , all of our countries are now having to deal with poverty and social exclusion .
Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy . - Mr President , the events which followed the elections in Belarus on 19 December have come as a shock to all of us : the force used by the authorities against their citizens prompted statements of concern and condemnation across the world .
the vote will take place on Thursday , 20 November 2008 .
the report of the Secretary-General on Parliament 's preliminary draft estimates for 2011 itself draws attention to the huge annual costs arising from the geographical split of Parliament , estimated at some EUR 160 000 000 , which accounts for 9 % of Parliament 's total budget .
the focus is on poverty reduction , which is good .
in the countries surrounding us , in the European Union , security and defence policies now have nothing to do with defending territory : security policy is now a projection of foreign policy .
good .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - Madam President , we very much appreciate the work of both Mr Fava in the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs and Ms Bauer in the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs .
in his solitary prison cell , Hu Jia is now fighting his illness .
this decision has to be left up to the worker .
the decision by many EU countries and the US to recognise Kosovo as an independent country has also created new dividing lines in a region that has suffered so grievously from division in the past .
it is essential that these two conditions be combined , as having one without the other would frustrate all our efforts and could even have irreparable consequences for our industry .
certainly it relates to several policy areas , but this is not a question of rivalry between committees in this Parliament .
it therefore seems to me that this is truly a sector in which , in terms of forming the economic and social fabric of Afghanistan , we can and must invest .
however , Turkey too must do its utmost , by carrying out the reforms that are required .
for these reasons , the increase in energy prices has become one of the most sensitive political questions .
in my opinion , the process of ratifying the Lisbon Treaty was definitively ended with the results of the Irish referendum That means that any attempts to press on with the constitutional process in the European Union are futile .
this is feasible and this is an exercise which is ahead of us for 2011 , 2012 and 2013 , but we cannot do it at one stroke by simply quantifying without a legal basis and introducing new requirements into the budget .
emergency aid that arrives too late tarnishes the Union 's efficient image and undermines the feeling of European solidarity .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , my first questions are for Commissioner Kroes .
it is not only in our interest to get things back on track in Bosnia and for Bosnia to meet us halfway in its European fate , it is also in Bosnia 's interest .
in today 's sitting , we voted at first reading on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and the Council as regards information on medicinal products ( EU procedures for the authorisation and supervision of medicinal products ) .
I welcome the ILO initiative to adopt a convention supplemented by recommendations on decent work for domestic workers .
( PL ) Madam President , we are including wine market regulations in a general regulation covering all markets , which had been adopted at an earlier date .
Europe will be much better prepared with this economic governance package .
it is essential to ensure food security to all EU citizens in all of its aspects ( physical and economic access to food which meets high health and quality standards ) .
in November 2006 , Mr Ortega asked the Nicaraguans for what he called a new opportunity , and they democratically gave it to him .
instead of leaving the search for new paths to take to the production sector , which must undergo radical change , we need to address transformation plans , credit , changes of direction and other suitable means .
here the EU must be able to act with greater accord .
two questions spring to mind when you look at this particular agreement .
in Ireland in particular we have the Government running away from this area .
nevertheless , these estimates must be used to establish the total allowable catches .
it is really important that we keep in mind respect for these fundamental rights throughout our legislative processes .
I am really amazed that Turkey has not been mentioned at all !
this is an extremely serious matter , which is why we have dealt with it seriously , without being ideological but simply being anxious to make progress and to find a reasonable solution , which , I honestly believe , is acceptable .
it is high time we did this , and I would remind Parliament that we are now asking for mandatory capital requirements for all financial institutions .
in writing . - As the Court of Justice of the European Communities has ruled , the Community has exclusive competence with respect to various aspects of external aviation which were traditionally governed by bilateral air services agreements between Member States and third countries .
we need today to send a strong signal of support to our people in Afghanistan , to our services and to the Council to continue their work .
the common agricultural policy must eventually be abolished and prices and production be determined by supply and demand , just as happens in all other sectors .
the report provides Member States with new ideas for dealing with their own pension systems in order to make them more satisfactory .
every suspicion that human rights have been violated , by any of the sides , should be checked .
against a backdrop of global economic crisis with serious social consequences , the decisions taken by the G20 become very important .
Madam President , these Forest Law Enforcement , Governance and Trade ( FLEGT ) agreements that we are to vote on tomorrow concerning Congo and Cameroon are important European tools , or weapons , in the fight against illegal logging and , for that reason , I welcome them .
the Hague Convention is the benchmark framework to be implemented uniformly in all countries of the European Union , and Romania needs to make an effort to adjust to it .
concerning learning , and more generally , the issues associated with enterprises , I suggest handing the matter over to the social partners who , we constantly need to be reminded , have the legal instruments for constructing European social law under the current treaties , in Article 137 and subsequent articles of the Treaty establishing the European Community , as confirmed by the Treaty of Lisbon currently in the process of being ratified .
firstly , the question of equal treatment is linked , with the same level of urgency , to the outstanding problem of the equality of men and women .
there is no problem - everything is fine .
( PL ) Mr President , the European Union 's attempt to adopt this development strategy , which assumes that a drastic reduction of carbon emissions generated by human activity will have a significant impact on cyclical climate change , and the attempt to impose such a strategy on the whole world , is the most utopian idea of our time .
a famous Irish hero , Michael Collins , once said that border land is trouble and always will be .
get to work on this , and stop persuading others to commit economic suicide .
indeed , it is hard to accept that the countries being given these funds are unable to use them .
that leads me to the third challenge that I would like to underline : the need for the European Investment Bank , along with other institutions , to make its contribution , in particular , to fulfilling the commitment made by the European Union in Copenhagen .
it can be done by starting talks on the political , economic , social and human rights issues involving all political parties , opposition forces , NGOs and trade unions .
the Commission has failed to carry out a sufficiently comprehensive and up-to-date impact assessment study .
for a long time , we have been told that the new Lisbon Treaty will improve the work of the EU , but now , at the outset , it turns out to be evoking conflicts over personnel .
I welcome this vote , which is an achievement for the European Parliament .
approval of the Minutes of the previous sitting
elevate 's project offers victims a safe haven and supports them in rebuilding their confidence and ability to function in society .
I especially hope that our energies can then be better used for and directed at the Europe of results , of which the Commission President spoke and has always spoken .
this large and important country is searching for a national idea and a special path .
it is thanks to her professional experience and diligence in the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection that the current version is of a professional standard .
activities of the Committee on Petitions 2010 (
economic independence guarantees dignity .
in writing . - In my view the tackling of the obstacles apparent in cross-border trade does not lie in harmonisation of taxation , which should fall under the remit of individual national legislatures .
I do not think that we should move the debate , as we cannot get through everything on Wednesday , so we need to be here and we need to force the Council to be here on Thursday afternoons as well .
we in the European Parliament support every effort to promote the peaceful coexistence of religions and cultures in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world .
the numbers were 306 in favour , 322 against , with 26 abstentions .
Madam President , there are structural weaknesses that are a heavy burden and prevent us from moving forward .
that was the most important issue five years ago , and the truth is that these clarifications have taken much of the heat out of the age-old debate on public services in the internal market .
( FI ) Mr President , it is good that several of us here have openly admitted that the so-called policy dialogue of the EU and many Member States has failed .
( SK ) Mr President , Commissioner , I see that this theme has divided the House .
( NL ) Mr President , I am outlining here one of the real dangers that Egypt is facing , namely that it might fall prey to the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood .
but , of course , there have to be boundaries , priorities and governance .
the Social Democrats were in the overwhelming majority in Europe for such a very long time , and 15 years down the line we will find out that they accomplished nothing and that they are responsible for increased radicalisation on the political fringes in Europe .
the report should address the definition of the terms ' payment of interest ' and ' beneficial owners ' .
nevertheless , I have one more very important concern , and that is that we are still exporting old technology to developing countries that is inefficient and also generates emissions .
the classic method uses is to shore up the finances and organise a competitive devaluation .
Madam President , if proof of this were still needed , it was given in a way that could not have been clearer by the behaviour of the Singapore authorities towards a delegation of MEPs from my group in April this year , a delegation of which I was a member .
while fulfilling the Maastricht criteria for the euro area , Estonia has been able to stabilise its own budget .
I therefore welcome the intended support for the creative sector , because I think this is the right path towards the lasting and sustainable growth of the European economy , given the global situation these days .
the European Parliament itself examined this and went so far as to allow the addition of sugar and increase the possible rate compared with the levels then in force .
that is totally and utterly wrong , and it is something that we can ill afford in a time of recession .
Member of the Commission . - I would just like to say that the reverse charge mechanism is not a new mechanism and is applicable in several Member States . for example , it is also applicable in the emission trading system in some Member States .
Mr President , I supported the resolution and , as one of the draftsmen of this document , I would like to make a few points on the Goldstone report , the issue which is addressed in the resolution .
Madam President , once again we are indulging the fantasy that you can spend your way out of debt and legislate against recessions .
I therefore highlight the need for both parties to develop a broader range of trade-related economic activities .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Madam President , I agree with all the speakers and with all those Members who have been working on the subject .
firstly , there should be support for the rapporteur 's proposal that directors of agencies be obliged to notify the European Parliament if they have transferred funds from operational to administrative in an amount that exceeds 10 % of the ceiling .
keeping the labour markets closed is prolonging the differentiation of treatment among Europe 's citizens .
we must use every type of policy instrument including VAT reductions , emissions trading , and subsidies to change the behaviour of consumers and businesses so they have more incentives to take eco-friendly options .
as stated in the report , specific support must be provided for entrepreneurship and for micro-enterprises , and these issues should be placed at the heart of European Union policy for youth and innovation .
( DE ) Mr President , Mr Weber , ladies and gentlemen , reports from audit offices are always interesting and important .
( GA ) Mr Barroso 's policies are not at all for the benefit of the European workforce and the Lisbon Treaty is not for the benefit of the European workforce , but rather it promotes militarisation and privatisation and , as a result , we will not accept Mr Barroso as president from now on .
he was referring to the use of suicide bombers and the deliberate use of civilian human shields to protect potential military targets .
for this part of the fleet , the European Fisheries Fund provides a very favourable financial framework , which allows Member States to adopt measures to protect it .
the key aim of these measures is to revitalise the Western Balkan economies through privileged access to the EU market .
Mr President , I am taking the risk of making my final comments in French in response to the courteous remarks made by Mr Jouyet and Vice-President Barrot .
when you complain , therefore , complain to the right place .
historically wracked by bloody conflicts and squarely within Russia 's sphere of influence , the South Caucasus has been taking tentative steps towards stabilisation .
however , we will never be in a situation where we have enough organs .
figures are objective ; they can be interpreted but cannot be disputed : the notable increase in infringement cases and failure to abide by rulings of the Court of Justice , or to transpose directives within the timeframe set , indicate that there is a need for greater monitoring of individual Member States by the Commission .
this is a position that runs counter to the universal declaration of human rights , the 60th anniversary of which we are celebrating this year .
will you continue with the status quo on these negotiations with Syria , and what will you do with Saudi Arabia ?
apart from this , the European Parliament referred in its opinion to the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights .
this model is therefore also a call for such countries ' EU counterparts to take responsibility so as to understand the need to protect the interests of their future generations , and act in everyone 's interests by resisting the appeal of instant profit .
in conclusion , we feel that the Asylum Support Office could play a very valuable role in developing a common system .
so that you will be able to say ' no ' , of course !
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( IT ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the waste problem in Campania is no longer just a health and environmental disaster , but is becoming an economic and institutional whodunit .
it seems to me that Google - and particularly its books project - has appeared as a great integrating factor for the European Union , because , as you know very well , - and this is in all papers - copyright so far has been explicitly in the hands of Member States and national legislation .
well , in the Czech Republic , the Beneš Decrees have currently been left in force so that Václav Klaus will sign the Treaty of Lisbon .
fishing mortality is too high .
what is happening is a tragedy : 900 Palestinians , including large numbers of children , have died , and thousands have been injured .
this report 's very goal is tabling proposals to relaunch European industry .
Madam President , Commissioner , I would first of all like to express how pleased I am that agreement was reached between the European Parliament and the Council on the Third Energy Package , including the regulation on conditions for access to the gas transmission networks , for which I am the rapporteur .
let us start by helping those people into work first , instead of resorting once again to large-scale immigration .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I too , of course , wish to express my solidarity and sympathy with the victims on behalf of my group , the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance , in Parliament .
we also welcome the way in which the draft reinforces the horizontal element of consumer policy as well as its proposal for the appointment of what it calls consumer-liaison officers .
fourthly , procedures and means to allow access by the customs authorities to information are laid down , since in most Member States these authorities play a principal role in ensuring compliance with the regulation , especially as regards controlling exports .
from the outset , some aspects of the creation of the European External Action Service have been unclear and controversial .
the Belgian Presidency had a clear focus on Europe , however . it wanted to take Europe forwards .
Parliament and patient organisations have been asking for such a proposal for a long time , in order to enable patients to better informed on the medicines they are prescribed and taking .
this episode highlights not only the vulnerability of girls and women in Somalia , but the inherent discrimination such individuals have to endure .
restrictions on current levels of national aid cannot be acceptable after this .
this has also been described by Prime Minister Reinfeldt , but it is the conclusions that are surprising .
the death penalty , particularly the case of Troy Davis ( vote )
are we forgetting that our overriding aim is to encourage the parties to achieve a peaceful two-state solution ?
even when a national legal system or national government knows that a gross injustice is being done , it cannot prevent it .
even when Member States have provided for protection orders for victims , the resulting enforcement measures stop at the border of the issuing state .
respect for human rights is a founding principle of the European Union .
with the new Treaty and the Charter of Fundamental Rights , the Union will undeniably enhance its protection of human rights .
we discovered that the European Parliament and the EU lacked the political will to pursue a common understanding and evaluation of European history .
last February , I received 60 Copts here and they called out for help .
it is therefore important to allow extra time for those companies - and only those companies - that have already started to adapt as required .
this will be achieved through the free trade agreements that we are currently negotiating and by deepening trade and economic partnerships with key trading partners such as , for example , the US and China , where the TEC and the high-level dialogue have already laid solid foundations .
up to now , with all the reforms we have more or less preserved the inefficient redistribution of resources .
fight against tuberculosis ( debate )
instead , an interim decision should be taken , which can set in motion the conciliation process .
Mr President , I am pleased to note the review of the common agricultural policy and the first anti-crisis actions being taken in the food economy sphere .
rapporteur . - ( PL ) Mr President , Commissioner , it is my pleasure , on behalf of the Committee on Transport and Tourism , to submit a report in which , first of all , we welcome the fact that the Commission has submitted the draft directive that we are considering today .
we are striving for a pragmatic partnership with Russia , and a partnership agreement is in our interest .
Mr. Chairman , Commissioner Kuneva , Commssioner Verheugen , colleagues , I would like to start where the previous speaker ended .
equally , we regret that the proposals we made to maintain planting rights and support the restructuring of wine-producing areas , especially family farms , small and medium-sized wine-growers and wine cooperatives were not adopted , although we note with satisfaction that some proposals were approved , notably the proposal advocating the distillation of alcohol intended for drinking .
it is therefore necessary to pay particular attention to fishing in this region , because fishing in the Mediterranean has more specificities than elsewhere and it should be subject to specific measures .
Europe is currently finding its competitiveness in global markets decreased .
as regards the monitoring of progress made by EMAS , this will lead to acceptance of the scheme and the creation of conditions for positive development in this area .
I consider it important for a special permit to be required to operate and access sites with pornography , violence and other content harmful to children 's development .
since 2006 , the EU has been China 's leading trading partner , and since 2007 , China has been Europe 's second largest trading partner .
we call for emphasis to be placed on the training of everyone in key positions .
in recent years Moldova has been making efforts to increasingly align itself with European standards of freedom , democracy and good governance .
Madam President , I do not think any of us should be unduly concerned about new technology , but it is important that it is properly used and not abused .
what actions does the Commission foresee and what budgetary sum can we assign to countering this difficult ongoing situation , to prevent this crisis from worsening ?
we must go further .
in writing . - ( PT ) I voted in favour of this legislative motion to recognise the importance of allowing citizens of Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina the right to free movement in the European Union through a system of visa exemption , which is to take effect this year .
I am pleased that the procedure for obtaining this permit has been simplified through a one-stop shop system , which will ease administrative procedures for foreign workers .
next week , on the eve of the G20 meeting in Pittsburgh , the Commission will adopt proposals to build a true European system of supervision - a system that reflects the integrated nature of our single market .
too often , nonetheless , democracies are run by crisis management .
at a time of economic crisis and general difficulty , it aims to press ahead even more quickly to ensure specific funding and favourable conditions in a number of areas for the Roma population .
for two years now you have been debating about how Kosovo will become independent and how the EU will send troops to protect its interests in the region .
while Hitler had 400 parachutists ready , Stalin had prepared 1 million parachutists , ready to conquer .
I also applaud the courage and the efforts of the Haitian people , of the Haitian authorities , of civil society , of NGOs , of the Haitian diaspora and , of course , of the donors throughout the world .
only in this way will we avoid the risk that the EU 2020 strategy will be reduced to one where the eurocracy blows its own trumpets , as was the case with the Lisbon Strategy .
in the long run , this is becoming difficult , even though the Serbian Government , blinded by the lure of the European Union , appears to be accepting it in the hope of accession .
the negotiations with Turkey on this topic should , however , be kept strictly separate from the country 's accession negotiations .
for example , the ability to speak the language of the area where representatives of national minorities are in the majority , in other words , the ability to speak the language of these minorities , along with the ability of the national minorities to speak the language of the national state , builds bridges and establishes points of understanding which can help us .
as the Commissioner said , ' He brought forward a rich and comprehensive report ' .
coming back to the reports we were discussing today , and with regard to Mrs Thomsen 's report on precarious work , I have taken careful note of what has been said .
it is vital to know exactly when conditions should be subject to prior authorisation .
I should like to make it clear that this directive does not concern female self-employed workers , female assisting spouses or the partners of self-employed workers .
the report concludes that technical conditions for electronic identification of sheep and goats have been fulfilled , but that Member States need a reasonable time frame to prepare the implementation of electronic identification .
the failure to adopt safeguards for the protection of personal data processed in the field of police and judicial cooperation at EU level and in relations with third countries , particularly with the US ( e.g. air passenger data ) ;
as a result , excise duty will continue to be collected in the country of destination .
in the interests of transparency , I consider it essential that the European Parliament be able to verify the accounts and analyse in detail the implementation of the Union budget .
the European Union needs an integrated , common and coherent energy policy , as well as a long-term strategy to ensure the Member States ' energy independence .
the European Central Bank can play a crucial role here , because it is well briefed by the central banks of the Member States .
my group proposes setting the cap at 90 % .
in particular , I talked about the leader of the Socialist Group , Martin Schulz , having made some disparaging and derogatory comments in the debate in June of this year .
these are the occasions when the Union has to show that it is effective , that it is supportive and that it is close to its citizens , especially those who need it most .
Iran funds Hamas , supports Hezbollah in Lebanon and influences the internal politics of Iraq , where Shi 'ite Islam is the predominant component of the government .
in this respect , the current Council Regulation ( EC ) No 1964 / 2005 on the tariff rates for bananas , which provides for a duty of EUR 176 per tonne , must be revoked .
the recent reforms of the social security system in Greece fall within the national sphere of competence .
this visit was followed by contact from the Commission .
multiannual plans are vital to allow the sector to plan forward . hopefully , good sense will prevail tomorrow and we will put in place a report that we can stand over .
in principle this commitment was reiterated this year .
the movement of persons and goods must become a reality , unless we are to see a real human tragedy in that coastal strip .
however , the system will still be used outside of our borders and we will import liquid egg or powdered egg from those cages that are banned in the European Union , and producers wonder at the logic of all of that .
( DE ) Madam President , I am another representative who believes that soil protection is very definitely a task for the European Union , and that the European Parliament should therefore adopt this Framework Directive .
I want to conclude on this point if I might .
the traffic light system , whose lights all used to be on red , is gradually showing more and more amber , yellow and , in particular , green .
this is why I wish to pay tribute to this founding father of the Europe that we all love , this great European whose heritage can only inspire us in these times of crisis .
we all agree that the purpose of the European Union development cooperation policy is to reach as many people in need as possible , but yet we have chosen a rather inconvenient path to that goal .
they now have the chance to establish themselves using a sustainable business model .
progress has been made in some areas of these negotiations .
the proposal I mentioned just now will aim at ensuring that these forms of negative and criminal behaviour will be made punishable across the EU .
but the reality is more complicated .
the reputation of the European Union is also at stake if we do not succeed in conveying to the outside world why we actually need these agencies and what role they play in the European Union .
under the umbrella of ITS can be found things as diverse as eCall , which generates an automatic call to an emergency call centre in the case of an accident , road toll systems , which are systems designed to collect road charges , and the already widely known GPS systems , which many of us have in our cars to help us navigate through unknown terrain .
your broad interest in the issues definitely encourages both the High Representative and myself to put together efforts to help people build peaceful lives .
furthermore , I would argue that water should be proclaimed public property and placed under public control , regardless of the fact that it is managed wholly or partly by the private sector .
that does not mean , of course , that we should not try as hard as we can to encourage the provision of day care and make quality day care available for those who want to use it .
so the question is : what are we going to do about it ?
this is precisely the reason that the European Council must focus particular attention on the EU 's industrial policy .
my oral amendment would therefore read : ' whereas Georgia 's economic and social reforms should raise the standard of living of the wider population ' .
( DE ) Mr President , the survival of many farms is in serious jeopardy .
it demonstrates the best that Europe can achieve when everyone joins forces .
scientific findings show that nuclear energy does not produce CO2 and that it minimises the aggravation of climate change .
it is a terrible situation because it is the prelude to the militarisation of the Arctic .
however , that does not give us the 100 % clarity we need at this very moment .
in the long term , we need to develop a more global approach to this , very much in line with Mr Provera 's report , the input of which will be taken into account .
in this way we can explain to the representatives of third countries that the European Union 's accession to the European Convention on Human Rights really does mean that our activities are subject to external scrutiny , as has been explained here .
it appears that no thought is currently being given to the gas and oil transport corridor running through Georgia . that corridor is vital for us and is the only one not under the Kremlin 's control .
throughout this period , it has contributed considerably to the development of integration , balanced and lasting development and economic and social cohesion by supporting investment projects in Europe and lending to the public and private sectors using the financial markets as well as its own funds .
so let us move on from soul-searching about Copenhagen and take the initiative once again .
I would like to add that obviously we also have a strategy aimed at facilitating the obtaining of visas with a number of countries , and I am placing a great deal of hope in the development of this strategy in order to facilitate the granting of visas as far as possible , in particular to young people from third countries , because I think that we have every interest in facilitating the entry of young people into Europe .
no , the governments of the ACP countries did not accept continuing negotiations under pressure or threats .
in today 's vote , I endorsed the report on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment .
I voted in favour of admitting Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area .
ensure that international agreements between the EU and third countries should contain a legally binding clause on the protection of children 's rights .
firstly the appeal to industry that it must be end-user friendly .
I think it is very clear - including the impatience and sense of urgency .
I would remind you that bilateral summits have been held regularly since 1999 , and this year will be no exception .
it is hoped that this strategic partnership can institutionalise annual EU-Mexico summits and give fresh impetus to the EU-Mexico Global Agreement in various political spheres including human rights , security , anti-drug trafficking , the environment and technical and cultural cooperation .
I believe that the amendments mentioned will ensure the uniformity of the rules for import and will align the rules relating to imports of textiles with those for other industrial goods , which should improve the overall consistency of the legislative environment in this area .
the inclusion in the proposal of international regulations on the transport of dangerous goods makes the directive a consolidated document of international scope .
their conduct has weakened the financial markets and the real economy : growth and employment .
it is not a luxury but a necessity to sustain and foster Europe 's attractiveness in a globally connected and competitive environment .
we have used these two reports in order to address this as an issue .
in their draft joint declaration , the European Parliament and the Council emphasise that they attribute particular importance to the traceability of textile products and the use of new technologies .
that is why we are working on the civil state , the fight against terrorism and trade .
therefore , those who point the finger at the applicants for accession to the eurozone should take care not to cast the first stone .
I sincerely hope that it will be adopted on Wednesday at our plenary sitting .
Mr President , today 's debate is one of the most important debates in the European Parliament , because our voters , tax payers and citizens of EU Member States are very interested in transparency in the operation of European institutions and , in particular , of the European Commission .
Georgia will only be able to return to the pro-European and democratic path and become attractive to other countries in the region if it upholds the ideals it embraced during the Rose Revolution .
I would like to thank all fellow Members who have submitted these amendments , which have specified more clearly the directives ' terms of application .
it has been intergovernmental bodies that have been dealing with this so far , as well as national authorities .
Mr Piebalgs has demonstrated once again that this is the case in the energy sector in his study over recent months .
countless people have found themselves in situations whereby complex zoning laws and urbanisation policies have meant that their properties have been seized without any compensation .
so let us now go back and thoroughly investigate the alternatives so that we really can be sure that we are providing a safer alternative for our constituents .
it should be recalled that 36 % of Tanzania 's population lives below the poverty threshold . to all intents and purposes these people have no access to health care .
encouraging private pension systems , thus prioritising the financial sector and forgetting the serious consequences that these practices have already had , notably in the United States , where they left millions of pensioners destitute , forcing the state to intervene ;
as a matter of fact , the changes that have been made do answer most of the concerns outlined in my draft reports , especially in terms of clarifying the Commission 's responsibilities and those of the Member States and that the Commission will continue to have a mandate to develop SIS II until it is operational .
the current practice of regular political dialogue in plenary and in the Committee on Foreign Affairs must be preserved in the dual function exercised by a single person .
for this reason we require a realistic rating .
fostering that potential can help solve societal challenges and also to shape Europe 's future in the globalised world , as Mrs Batzeli just said .
this is definitely not appropriate for European cooperation .
one example of this is the ' informal ' labour market for women .
Taiwan has merely declared its intention to implement this by the end of the year .
we also need to make sure that the numerous ethnic minorities living in Burma are appropriately represented at the elections .
we thus need to find a very responsible position for how we approach the increases in Parliament 's budget in these difficult economic times .
in spite of this it is my belief that 2009 will erase the differences between our countries , at least on a psychological level , and will increase the sense of unity and influence of the European Union .
furthermore , requirements are proposed for the budgetary frameworks of the Member States to encourage fiscal responsibility by setting minimum requirements for national fiscal frameworks and ensuring that they are in line with Treaty obligations .
what effect do our declarations have ?
we are asking for full transparency for high-level executives ' and senior managers ' remuneration systems .
as far as the projects concerned , I was surprised at the mathematical discrepancy between the number of projects approved and the number of projects completed : in 2004 , 72 projects were approved and 9 were completed ; in 2005 , 61 projects were approved and 7 were completed ; in 2006 , 87 projects were approved and not a single one was completed ; and in 2007 , 6 projects were approved and none was completed .
it is quite possible to maintain a one-China policy whilst at the same time establishing good working relations with Taiwan .
European interests are served when cultural aspects are strategically devised through cooperation and partnership : both through cultural programmes and when cultural aspects are an integral part of economic , foreign and security and development policies .
the first objective consists of stepping up the fight against terrorism , which transcends borders and knows no limits in terms of violence and the threat it represents .
such communities are right in thinking , for instance , that autonomy , which has brought prosperity and development to the minorities of the South Tyrol in Italy , would also bring them a desirable solution .
education is important , but the reality is that a good education and training has , for quite some time , been no guarantee of employment , let alone a good job .
these are very moving words for me and my generation , my parents who both served in the Second World War .
the actions carried out in the last six months are fully in line with the Lisbon Strategy for growth and employment .
Madam President , the matter I was wanting to raise today is that , on 18 September , 36 Members of this House , including myself , were honoured by the European Lung Foundation for our anti-tobacco work .
we knew already that we needed plans , but now an authority is needed too , one that is not only involved in drawing up these plans but also takes care of their implementation .
finally , it was remiss of me .
the problem is made even greater by the fact that some countries subordinate the reserves of raw materials available to them to political goals .
there have even been attempts to form paedophile political parties .
statistics play an important role in developing more effective tourism policy at European , national , regional and local level .
we must also make use , as proposed by the Commission , of more funds from the European Investment Bank and we are counting on your Parliament to fully participate in the mobilisation of the Community institutions in response to the crisis .
( NL ) Madam President , congratulations to Mr Schmitt on this excellent report , and also once more to Commissioner Figeľ on the White Paper on Sport .
preparation of the European Council ( 29 and 30 October 2009 ) ( debate )
in 2006 , 27 recommendations were made , of which only nine have been implemented so far .
and that is why , ceterum censeo , the French plan to sell Mistral warships to Russia must be stopped !
we are supposed to have equal powers .
this adaptive capacity has resulted in an arms race between IUU operators and fisheries management bodies at national and international level .
I hope it is because his staff are still hard at work on such a plan .
the repression is still going on .
it is a fact that the global temperature has risen by around 0.7 ° C when compared with the pre-industrial age .
this is particularly significant for countries such as Poland . as early as December the borders of these countries will become the external borders of the European Union in the full sense of the term .
I welcome the fact that Turkey is moving towards democracy and towards Europe , but I would like to say once again that a better solution to economic relations would have been to set up a privileged partnership rather than to promise accession to Turkey with its 70 million-strong population .
this is not necessarily the Swedish Presidency 's fault , but rather the European Commission 's .
secondly , the Environmental Impact Assessment ( EIA ) Act in Austria needs to be amended or expanded to ensure that it corresponds with the European Union directives , in other words , with your requirements .
the absolute desire of governments , political leaders , institutions , our own countries and the European Union to establish a solid regulatory framework with a firm commitment and dissuasive message must now be made clear .
I believe my Director-General has been in contact with Mrs Berès to try and explain this omission .
this is certainly desirable but we feel that it will only be possible on a voluntary basis and by inviting all the stakeholders to take part in this work .
as for the telecommunications package , both the previous presidency and our presidency have invested much energy in this matter .
( SV ) Mr President , the Lisbon Strategy is among the EU 's best projects .
( for details of the outcome of the vote : see Minutes )
why not start here and now with this report ?
( PL ) Mr President , I want to make a number of points .
before the end of the year , I will propose to my fellow Commissioners the publication of a Green Paper on the evaluation of the current system and preferable ways forward for the future .
I can fully concur that an ambitious review of the budget should be an urgent priority for the new Parliament and Commission .
I should like to remind the Commissioner that , in the context of the previous discharge , he promised that he would commit to these statements , and I should like to know whether he has delivered on his commitment and how this is evident , for I have not seen any evidence .
am I wrong ?
is it acceptable that some governments are currently increasing indirect taxes in a bid to boost public revenue ?
we give particular priority to action taken within a United Nations framework .
Commissioner Barnier addressed them one by one .
in writing . - ( LT ) A lot has been achieved since the adoption of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan in 2006 ; however , the political and economic context has changed quite a lot since then .
it is all well and good that we can presumably all agree only to enter into free trade agreements and partnerships with countries that respect human rights .
the cost-push pressure is straining markets worldwide .
I have also felt the need to leave a door open for improvements to this text .
I believe that the European Commission 's role is to encourage more Member States to implement these programmes properly and meet young people 's needs .
the debate is closed .
my congratulations .
the Commissioner rightly referred to the brain drain .
the EU 's response to the disaster in Japan has been the right one : we have responded rapidly , without panicking .
rapporteur . - ( BG ) Today in the European Parliament we are initiating an important debate on the provision of additional resources from the European budget to rural areas in the Community to help them cope with the consequences of the economic crisis .
they contribute towards environmental sustainability , improved efficiency , enhanced safety and non-discriminatory competitiveness in road passenger and freight traffic .
greater involvement in this process on the part of national and European institutions which represent citizens is of vital importance , both in order to obtain full access to information on environmental matters and , in particular , so as to be able to ensure that the information provided is above all correct .
this means we will be adopting a very clear legal framework with clear rules that will make investment in audiovisual means more secure and certain .
I think that at a time when all countries are struggling with financial difficulties , alternative investments , if they are properly understood and properly used , can have a beneficial effect and contribute to an improvement in the economic situation .
to back up the changes in the preventive and corrective arms of the Stability and Growth Pact , the Commission also proposed strengthening the enforcement mechanisms for the euro area Member States .
allow me to make a few short remarks .
the European Union will offer increased support for their efforts to mobilise domestic resources for development , in particular , in the context of improving public financial management and the strength and efficiency of their fiscal and customs systems .
let us be clear on this subject too .
it is an urgent directive , because it affects a period which already began on 1 January 2011 , and it is very important because of the positive impact it is expected to have on the industry concerned .
it increasingly seems to be acting as the shoehorn of globalisation .
the EU cannot continue to negotiate on ACTA if the people are not allowed to take part in the process .
it clearly states that the coming years are crucial and that a legislative framework is needed to support the codecision procedure in order to raise the current share of 7 % renewable energy in the energy mix to 20 % in 2020 .
( DE ) Mr President , the longer our esteemed colleague Mrs Lulling spoke for , the more points she offered for attack .
we have just reached agreement in fact with France in this regard and I am sure that details of this agreement will be made public in the coming days .
however , it is the banks that we are helping , while we delay the decision regarding the matter of the shipyards .
ultimately , the independent written press is being crippled financially in two ways : by the ' Tremonti ' Decree of 6 August 2008 , which reduces public aid for independent newspapers , and by advertising budget cuts .
all of this in order to , in the name of the crisis , call into question social and labour rights , increase the exploitation of those who are working , and exacerbate the dependence of countries with more fragile economies , such as Portugal .
according to my information , an hour ago - on time , in other words - a proper request was made for a roll-call vote , should it come to a decision .
from the Commission 's side , we will deliver our formal opinion very shortly after Parliament requires us to do so .
in recent weeks , the European Parliament and the entire international community have mobilised themselves in defence of Sakineh , but also in defence of all the men and women who live under the same conditions in Iran and , indeed , in every other part of the world in which fundamental rights continue to be violated .
generally - with only a few exceptions , to judge by the audits that we have already seen - we can say that the institutions at issue are using the funds made available to them properly and meeting the objectives proposed for them .
there is therefore an impact on the European economy , but the extent of it should not be exaggerated .
the Commission alone has spent a total of almost EUR 3 billion on this in the past 15 years .
the Members of this House almost cheered when the UN Security Council decided to take military intervention in Libya .
this is therefore not a question of charity .
international law provisions are applied quite differently in different states .
in order to have such a global agreement , in order to persuade other countries to come forward , we have to keep pressing by our example , an example which has its moral importance .
I hope that you will make use of this orchestra to bring Europe 's voice to the fore and to protect our interests .
through this report , the European Union is inviting the European Spring Council to give a strong political impetus and draw up a roadmap for all the legal initiatives in order to guarantee , along with Parliament , that they will be adopted in good time .
it is therefore even more important that we expressly establish during the course of the compromise reached that the European legal act on security features and biometric data in passports and travel documents cannot under any circumstances be used as grounds for appeal in order to set up databases containing these data at national level .
China has quickly come to be an important partner on the African continent , with a huge appetite for raw materials , not least the oil which several African countries possess .
you have to be very careful when using words , so Article 181a is a maybe , but I am not very happy about it .
on the whole , we oppose such agreements , as they deprive developing countries of their sources of food and income .
food scandals occur time and again and not even the new legislation will prevent this , as no European rules are designed to prevent criminal activity ; but these rules will help ensure that , when these scandals do occur , it will be easier to detect what substances have been mixed in .
this is a challenge for the Member States , particularly .
it has seldom seemed more appropriate . I will quote in English :
I would have liked to have seen stronger wording with regard to the common agricultural policy , and I would also have liked us to have investigated the possibility of making savings in the Structural Funds .
it is obvious that the ' polluter pays ' principle must be applied in the event of industrial disasters , but in most of these cases , these companies do not have enough money .
this is the freedom of knowledge , which would be added to the four fundamental freedoms - the free movement of goods , services , persons and capital .
it is , above all , a crisis of confidence .
I support the minimum threshold of six years of age , but the name of the person or persons with parental responsibility for the child should be included in the document , for the reasons given above .
what sort of social Europe is that ?
on behalf of the ITS Group . - ( RO ) Mr President , we cannot but welcome an analysis of the evolution of the single market - this major target of the European project - 50 years after its beginnings .
in this respect , there are two different messages being given , making the European Union two-faced .
I greatly value the Commission 's work in this respect and , in particular , the excellent work done by Commissioner Barnier , whom I would like to congratulate once again for his determined commitment and his efforts to revive the internal market .
the College demonstrates a persistent lack of compliance with the Financial Regulation with regard to public procurement rules .
there is a very obvious reaction within the Commission itself , just as there is on some of the benches here , because some people think that the EU has no part to play in the matter .
Commissioner , I do not doubt your personal commitment to openness and transparency , but I do not want action plans for our citizens .
I know already that the European Parliament will lend us its unstinting support in these efforts .
during the package 's negotiation , the subject of separating production and system operations generated the most heated debates .
Member of the Commission . - First of all , I should say that if you want an in-depth discussion on electronic earmarking on sheep then , as you probably know , you have to invite another Commissioner - the Commissioner responsible for consumer protection - but I will be happy to give my remarks on this issue .
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for all these reasons , our group considers that this reform is not ready and we believe that it would be an error by a majority of our Parliament to adopt it .
should that happen , the Commission possesses powers under the competition rules to address that , and we have precedent in other parts of the world , including the United States , where they have tackled entrenched monopoly or dominant market power .
Mr President , the role of the European Ombudsman for the citizens is of vital importance for the proper functioning and the transparency of the European institutions , which represent some 27 Member States and almost 500 million citizens .
this is important because it is a very serious restriction of civil freedoms and rights .
on the basis of the EUR 20 billion agreed with the IMF , Hungary is obliged to come into conflict with values such as high levels of employment and protection for minority groups , values enshrined in the treaties which Hungary , as a Member State of the EU , considers to be of paramount importance .
the first of these concerns the rights of girls , especially girls from migrant backgrounds .
furthermore , the establishment of European alliances for territorial cooperation is to be made easier , because this new instrument will make it easier for local administrations and citizens to access greater cooperation , benefiting many regions , in particular border regions .
innovation does not simply mean inventing new taxes or re-labelling what has always been there , such as national debt .
thus 2.034 billion euros will be transferred , according to 48 of the Interinstitutional Agreement , for 2008-2013 .
for that reason , we should , in fact , support it - it is democracy in action .
my last point is that there are multiple checks on farmers : retailers do it , processors do it , the European Union does it and competent authorities do it .
in drawing up these programmes , we were not just thinking of our own interests , but also those of all neighbouring countries , such as the countries of the Western Balkans and Switzerland itself , situated in the middle .
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that is simply unacceptable .
we must ensure that support is allocated correctly .
unfortunately , there are no guarantees that companies will spend the excessive profits they make this way on research into energy , as it is in the spirit of the times we live in that they distribute their profits in the form of dividends to their shareholders .
the cluster networks that are recognised as the driving force of innovation must be promoted , as well as the creation of knowledge triangles and forging ahead with different forms of education .
the scope and the quality of the information that the funds are making available to the market tend to differ enormously from fund to fund and hence the fear that the investment of these monies could give the foreign governments concerned excessive political influence , and that is a concern that we have to take seriously .
so we are happy with that and we are happy to seek first-reading agreements with the Council by postponing the vote .
I also think it is important to concentrate on creating economic growth based on knowledge , and on creating a competitive , cohesive and more environment-friendly economy .
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it is always amusing to listen to Mr Farage .
we asked for them to be accepted and to be given rights .
the London Summit needs to agree on the macroeconomic policies and regulatory structures that can get us through the current crisis and put in place a better , more sustainable framework for the future .
we will bring together the different public or private bodies in order to tackle the production , distribution and sale of images of child pornography on the Internet , and also try to locate and apprehend the criminals .
we want to know how many jobs will be created and whether any jobs will be lost .
after all , one thing is clear : we do not know whether this treaty will be beneficial for the European Union or whether - as I believe - it will be disastrous .
Germany has already taken concrete steps and has shut down its nuclear power plants built prior to 1980 for three months .
on the domestic front , it is true that there are also some very positive developments in Syria .
we must do everything , today , so that the European motor market does not start to resemble an oligopoly again .
Laeken asked the right questions .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , it is , of course , completely normal in the European Parliament to begin by thanking our fellow Members , but in the case of this directive , I believe that it is actually appropriate to start with this expression of thanks .
however , it must be the objective - and I am talking about an objective for humanity - to run our Earth and its resources sustainably and sensibly .
in fact , the directive does not safeguard rights for the workers / victims of the slave traders ; on the contrary , they are stripped of any rights .
there is even , on certain points , a move to embark upon legislation that is wholly or partly Community-based , such as , for example , legislation on maintenance obligations .
one Question Time is getting worse than the next !
in other words , we who are developing the technology for renewable energy sources in Europe are doing so not only for the developed countries but also in order to increase the number of installations worldwide , to reduce investment and operating costs and to make these technologies accessible to people in developing countries .
military juntas behave in a similar way : first there are arrests , then the constitution is suspended , and later there is an announcement that democratic elections will be called .
this Draft amending budget aims at mobilising the EU Solidarity Fund for an amount of EUR 182.4 million in commitment and payment appropriations in order to mitigate the effects of flooding resulting from heavy rainfalls in Poland , Slovakia , the Czech Republic , Hungary , Croatia and Romania .
I should like to express my pride at the European Parliament 's broadly favourable view in support of the appointment of the new President of the European Central Bank ( ECB ) , Mario Draghi .
we are told that it is necessary to prevent future economic and financial crises occurring .
furthermore , it represents a unique opportunity to support and create jobs , while lowering dependence on energy imports .
therefore , this no longer really concerns the bare figures ; it concerns the financial markets which , due to the fact that we , ourselves , are not exuding sufficient cohesion , confidence and solidarity , are pouncing on Greece .
I have not the slightest doubt that this will happen .
this is essential if we are to change the power structures of the global financial system .
this is why I believe that diplomatic efforts need to be stepped up , including by the European Union .
these will do business with private insurance companies to decide on the services provided on the basis of an unacceptable system of class discrimination .
this represents the first stage in a war against goods from the Far East , which are often produced by workers in exploitative conditions and which are then sold on the European market at dumping prices .
I think we need to bring that into the debate and the discussions which will come about .
tobacco smoke is a very harmful substance . it contains thousands of chemical substances , including over 250 carcinogenic and toxic components .
it is time to stub out double standards .
the presence of a high level of pesticides in the food consumed in the European Union results from the dependency on these chemical products which , although necessary to help control any infestation and boost production efficiency , can have adverse effects on public health .
the basic pillar of the anti-grassroots policy being exercised by the European Union and the governments of the Member States is the ECB .
it should be condemned and we can only support those who try to bring reconciliation in this particular situation based on respect for human rights , knowing from our own history the complexity of those issues .
I can certainly say that a solution is now beginning to take shape and we have a well-defined and integrated European approach that we are now pursuing .
we must not allow the distraction of EU defence ambitions to dilute or undermine this .
how do you evaluate this standpoint from a member of the European Council ?
uncertainty about sales outlets for products from vaccinated animals really has to be avoided .
I can assure you , Commissioner , that you can be totally independent and still coordinate .
only then can free movement of labour play an important role in equalising the Union 's labour markets , which the Union 's economy needs .
on 1 May , very weak , she was transferred to the prison hospital .
so on a day when there is much talk of human rights , I say : give the people of Europe the basic political and human right to say ' yes ' or ' no ' to this Constitution , the right to say ' yes ' or ' no ' in a referendum .
yet I see that Mr Becsey is with us , who has served his time in this Chamber , and who I think will be able to convince the Council that Parliament is the only democratically and directly elected body in respect of which the Council has a reporting obligation .
one of my constituents wanted to set up a business offering online services - which was particularly crucial as he has a disability , and working from home was the best way for him to do this .
there is a complete lack of information for this House on the impact of the latest text from the WTO , and I think we need and deserve to have that information .
these funds will provide direct support to the strategy 's implementation .
we shall now proceed to the vote .
I thought this was going to be a big , proud moment !
( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , rapporteur , good economic governance in Europe is necessary ; of course it is .
of course , from their point of view - the view of those who want a single European state - so far , so logical , but I wish they would have the courage and the courtesy to ask the people first and to put the Treaty of Lisbon to a vote .
I have personally had the honour of being in contact with the regime on a number of occasions and , believe me , Mr Lukashenko has not become a democrat overnight .
it is extremely important to this Parliament that the Commission takes these concerns very seriously and that we do not have the sense of disconnect that we had , for example , with the SWIFT agreement .
what is the Commission 's strategy to deal with the fact that 97 % of illegal cigarettes are evading the legitimate tax net at the European taxpayer 's expense and , subsequently , to the detriment of European security ?
discrimination runs counter to the European Treaties , the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union , and the European Convention on Human Rights .
negotiations can then proceed at bilateral level with the individual ASEAN countries if it turns out that multilateral negotiations are going to take too long .
we shall be working right up to the final vote to improve the wording of the compromises by ensuring that the principle of neutrality in providing access to content is upheld .
research is one of the fundamental pillars on which the Lisbon Strategy is based .
the effect of scale does the rest .
my dear conservatives and liberals , you cannot any longer allow a situation in which we have 70 % , 80 % or 90 % dominance on the national markets and the only weapon against this is gas release .
if we do not act today in conditions that our economies and democracies are still perfectly equipped to withstand , we will be faced with an irreversible , intolerable situation , and any progress will subsequently become impossible .
if we do not do so and trade does not bear its responsibility , we shall soon have no raw materials left to trade with and we shall then have no food left to eat either .
one part of these additional measures has now been regulated .
we must recognise that this will have two consequences .
an example of this is the exemption from and reduction in cost of visas for children , which was agreed in this House , but which will end up not producing the expected effects due to the additional charges to be levied where the service is provided by external companies .
that brings me back to the beginning of our afternoon .
this directive takes an important step in the right direction by simplifying the passage toward getting the Ecolabel .
some say : ' you are too close to the governments ' .
( DE ) Mr President , we have been discussing the globalisation trap , le piège de la mondialisation , for more than 12 years and now it has snapped shut .
the administration does not have the same sort of political honesty that people want to see as the political groups and the Members do .
for that reason , I sincerely believe that , as well as the stick of warnings and sanctions my fellow Members are requesting , we need the carrot of European-level infrastructures .
as Ms McCarthy also mentioned , this is about damages .
we must do all we can to contribute to dignified living conditions for potential victims of this crime , who tend to be people living on the margins of society .
when we talk about European energy solidarity , we mean joint energy projects in the European Union and avoiding the current practice of bilateral agreements .
the consent does not concern specific measures implementing enhanced cooperation .
I voted in favour of this report , which recommends public policies in favour of childcare that are a step in the right direction .
the Presidency did its utmost to reach an agreement , but it decided in the end that this matter has to be decided by the European Council .
a common foreign policy on energy can only make sense in this wider context , a triangle , with supply and security at the top , climate change and alternative sources at its base .
where interest rates are concerned , there are some Member States that have set a cap - as a condition , so to speak - which is at around 8 to 9.5 per cent .
indeed , those priorities leave much to be desired .
if we want greater productivity , quality jobs and greater skills , we need to continue to drive forward the reforms mentioned in the Lisbon Strategy .
the EU needs to pay special attention to the risk posed by biofuels to forest sinks .
the most vulnerable pension system in the EU is the public system , based on intergenerational solidarity .
the industry itself cannot explain why a cloned animal has the cell of the parent - an older cell .
correct and effective implementation and enforcement are the key elements in the protection of the rights of posted workers , while insufficient enforcement weakens the effectiveness of the Community Directives in force in this area .
the terms in which Commissioner Barnier launched this debate are illuminating and enlightening , from various points of view .
it will also allow a thorough impact assessment to be performed on all the technical measures currently in force .
in other respects , the first amending budget mainly concerns agencies and the administrative management of the Galileo Programme .
the Council went along with this and the European Parliament cut a very sorry figure indeed .
our commitment is to safeguard the friendship which binds the European Union and Tunisia while consolidating the existing relationship , including in view of the conflict which could arise concerning the idea of an advanced status for that country .
it is not just about Brussels and other capital cities : it is about our regions , towns and villages .
I cannot , however , accept the idea of eliminating the reference - agreed on in committee - to the principle of subsidiarity in topics relating to the law on family , marriage and reproduction .
so then , I feel that today we are not only working on the Marco Polo programme , rather we are sending a message on good law-making for the benefit of citizens and on simplifying access to Community projects .
the crisis on the housing loan market has shown that financial stability is a global issue , since crises are no longer limited to a single country or a single region .
the American Government is setting up an economic recovery programme worth USD 500 to 700 billion , and says that the majority of this money will go into the development of renewable energies and green technology .
I will also add that in these relations we should also include a place for Canada , Mexico and South America .
this is the case for Poland and its naval dockyards ; we are well aware of the issue .
so , to the extent that the present state of the proposal which is made by the Council is even weakening the Commission proposal , we cannot say anything to you , honourable Members of Parliament , but that we trust that we are up to the demands of the situation ; and the demands of the situation are that we need very strong surveillance , very strong governance .
in second place are the benefits for the environment , and thirdly it should make European transport more efficient .
participation , recognising interdependence , the promotion of diversity and the successful elimination of inequality are all important elements in making peace and in rebuilding a society , as well as the protection and the promotion of human rights .
this cooperation will be evaluated not only when the agreement is concluded , but also after its entry into force .
third , I take the European Parliament 's views as welcome input to the early stages of the EBRD 's fourth capital resources review which we will conclude at our annual meeting in Zagreb in May 2010 .
the current legislative work must be completed as quickly as possible if we want effective results that are visible to our fellow citizens and third-country nationals .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , first of all allow me to thank the rapporteur for her work on this report .
our timetable does not allow for that .
I abstained , firstly because Amendment 13 , which considers nuclear energy to be an important factor in reducing carbon dioxide emissions , was approved and , secondly , because Amendment 3 by my group , calling for developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 80 and 95 % by 2050 compared with 1990 levels , was rejected .
indeed , we hope here in Parliament that the Council will take on board the ideas in the resolutions that we are going to vote on tomorrow .
these are attempts that have failed in the past because they were not natural historical developments .
there is a great need for the latter , but the two cannot be connected right now .
( FR ) Mr President , the trial of strength that our Parliament has embarked on with the Commission and the Council on the draft SWIFT agreement may be a good thing , provided that the collection and transfer of data relating to banking transactions are used exclusively for counterterrorism purposes .
on behalf of the PPE Group . - ( LV ) Madam President , Commissioner , none of us likes to pay over the odds for things whose true value we are even unaware of .
I have faith in the role that the US will continue to play in this regard under the leadership of President-Elect Obama .
I hope that the Czech Republic Presidency will address this in the coming months .
likewise it is important to assess their effects and ensure their compatibility with European strategy , to learn from financial upheavals and to regulate the accounting standards of administrative concessions in a balanced way .
in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity individual Member States should always be looking for better solutions .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , there are more than 300 different national and ethnic minorities and linguistic communities living on the European continent .
by Mr P. Gaubert , on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs , on the proposal for a Council directive on a single application procedure for a single permit for third-country nationals to reside and work in the territory of a Member State and on a common set of rights for third-country workers legally residing in a Member State - C6-0470 / 2007 - .
I hope that the new President of the United States , as he said in his pre-election speech in Berlin in July 2008 , will set a high value on these relations .
I feel that the proposal on capital requirements could stipulate that originators must include part of their securitised products in their balance sheet , impose capital requirements on originators , calculated on the basis that they hold that part of the loans , or envisage other means of ensuring the adequacy of the interests of investors and originators .
I hope that the other institutions will follow suit .
what is worse is that the waves of migrants coming to our shores in flimsy vessels , who are dying at sea - and let me point out that we have inadequate information on the number of deaths - are all too often met by division , quarrelling , closed borders , with some countries even calling into question the Schengen Area , an essential instrument for freedom of movement .
the proposals here are certainly timely in that regard .
I think , too , that simplifying administrative procedures and existing regulations will contribute to increased effectiveness in the management of European programmes created with SMEs in mind , and also to significant savings for SMEs themselves , which will spend less time on administration and more on the projects on which they are working .
in this respect , the elimination of poverty , for example , is a very lucrative investment for society , as is reducing youth unemployment .
I would ask you to concentrate , perhaps , on horse transport .
I therefore support this approach and would also call for the creation of a European Year for combating violence against women so as to raise awareness in all the Member States and to ensure that this fight becomes a priority .
it is essentially about facilitation of export licences for products that can be used for both military and civil purposes .
financial aid in the field of the trans-European transport and energy networks (
it brings a pragmatic solution , which should be embraced unchallenged by the Intergovernmental Conference , as it does not constitute an obstacle to the adoption of the Reform Treaty .
I am very proud that Poland has joined the countries where parity is a legal requirement , and that it is the first of the new Member States to introduce this significant change .
this is why the Commission must be able to intervene more quickly in the market , and this motion is positive in that respect .
it makes sense and we need to have activity reports from the heads of the delegations during hearings before the competent parliamentary committee during the procedure of exchange with the Council .
in addition , the statute will put an end to the lack of clarity relating to assistants ' remuneration . assistants will be allocated to specific grades and basic rates of remuneration clearly laid down .
the European Union is determined , and committed to tackling climate change and taking up the challenge of guaranteeing secure , sustainable and competitive energy .
that is the key message for us as a parliament , but also a key message for the Commission and for the Council .
I hope that the programme of Sarajevo Capital of Culture will celebrate life , and the human capacity for survival and rebuilding , and that it will prove to all of us the extent to which the human spirit can cultivate and transmit the good and the beautiful , even after experiencing the most profound suffering .
as regards terrorism , there are already around 5 000 terrorist propaganda sites , which form a means of radicalisation and recruitment , as well as serving as a source of information on terrorist methods and resources .
Alain Lamassoure called them the gang of four . I must say it was a very nice gang .
the proposal in question - which I support - is intended to create a harmonious legal framework to guarantee a solid , integrated system for product safety and to instil real consumer confidence in goods on the European market , thereby triggering widespread growth in consumption .
the treaty remains in limbo and is still subject to a possible second ' no ' vote by Irish citizens in another referendum later this year .
if we were to use wine must concentrate or rectified must concentrate to enrich our wines , we would have to import it from other countries , which would contravene one of the basic principles of European viticulture , and that is defining the origin of the wine by the origin of the grapes . apart from that it would raise the price of the wine and consequently make it less competitive on the market .
the stability of the euro has to be one of the priorities of the Hungarian Presidency , and I have no doubts that the Council will do its utmost to combat monetary speculation and will make considerable progress in European economic governance .
it is interesting how we often talk about European common values and solidarity with the citizens .
I asked the European Commission about this question two months ago , but none of the existing special safeguard provisions will be applied to protect our producers .
of course , we reject ideas of levelling quality downwards and we want EU production to receive attention and be valued .
I would also like to pay tribute to Joseph Daul , whom I am replacing , for his hard work in drafting the opinion of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development on this Corbey report on fuel quality .
I welcome this proposal , since its aim is to make the collection of data by type of goods obligatory for maritime transport statistics , which allows a useful general framework for supporting and monitoring the policy of promoting co-modality .
the Lyon report contains some highly positive elements , measures to curb price volatility , to support the sector , to guarantee farmers a fair income and to guarantee the current ...
the Council considers the Washington Convention to be a fundamental instrument for the protection of species of fauna and flora that are in danger of extinction .
accordingly , we must remain open to all information on this phenomenon and , furthermore , respect differing opinions .
moreover , many times the extra security that passengers are getting by paying extra charges is not even provided by the state , but by subcontracted private companies , often disregarding the passengers and their rights under the general shelter provided by the secrecy covering security matters in general .
promoting mobility , entrepreneurship , creativity and innovation is an objective necessity and should be encouraged by the EU , as the report points out .
in other words , the European Union copyright should prevail over national copyright , which frankly seems difficult to sell , both culturally and politically .
I voted in favour of this resolution because I feel that the European Parliament 's contribution to the debate on how money from the EU budget should be distributed in future ( 2014-2020 ) , and which areas should be financed to help Europe recover following the global crisis , is particularly important .
what is more , MEPs from the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and the European Conservatives and Reformists have visited the country to endorse the consequences of this coup d 'état by their presence .
secondly , we also want to talk to the Commission , but we want to discuss this with the members of the Commission who will bear responsibility for this issue in the future .
while Japan will undoubtedly learn swiftly from these events , Europe too must take these lessons on board and our reaction might be broken up into two areas .
as rapporteur on regional cooperation in the Black Sea region , I would like to stress the importance of energy efficiency in this region in order to achieve the energy security goal and to decrease dependency on energy sources .
it is a real pacesetter for economic renewal , and has the potential to be a powerful force for employment .
senior citizens have special needs and society must undergo a change in order to satisfy such needs .
they are top people , the best in the class , the top graduates , yet they are still offered places on the lower-quality training courses and poorer opportunities to advance their careers .
to my climate-sceptic friends , could I say that the precautionary principle should be considered . I would recommend it to them .
Prime Minister , just like your predecessor , here you have used strong and emotive words in the language of Shakespeare , but , again like him , you have few concrete proposals .
as a young MEP , I support the Erasmus initiative , which is the first workplace providing young people with access to the labour market .
in comparison with today , that means a reduction of around 12 % .
Europe 's citizens expect European institutions to protect them against crises and improve their quality of life .
however , it is often the turning point .
although it is a cliché , all too often we have experienced divisions amongst ourselves , or we have allowed ourselves to be divided , over nuances .
( the sitting was closed at 12.05 p.m. )
however , Hungary 's MEPs have tabled a resolution in which they have called for a ban on the use of cyanide technologies in mining , without submitting an alternative , with the sole purpose of blocking the Roşia Montana mining project .
in parallel , it concluded a free-trade agreement with the EU that will enter into force in January .
I would , in particular , hope that we can make early progress on two proposals whose scope is more limited .
by the same token , in this field , the European Union fulfils the function of bringing different continents together and uniting film-goers from various countries , as well .
it is important for the overall effort to result in a directive that will clearly set out the obligations of the various bodies , while at the same time enabling the recycling process to be as effective as possible .
this is demonstrated in the Fifth report on potentially trade restrictive measures adopted by the Commission at the end of last year .
rather , they should be supporting those that elected them and to whom they are accountable .
but economic power in the EU is always something essential , and today this is even more true than it was seven years ago .
the European Parliament has lent its support to these policies .
my husband is a doctor and , a few years ago , he was infected by a needle .
lastly , I would like to thank you , the Members of the European Parliament , who came to Sudan in June of this year to see with your own eyes what I have described .
we shall also reiterate , as I already mentioned , our concerns over meeting commitments on human rights , democracy and the rule of law .
( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would just like to emphasise , in this matter , how capable the Community institutions are of reacting in order to effectively resolve the problems of our fellow citizens .
moreover , we naturally want to know how the adjustment we have made now will work out .
they will only allow the Treaty principle on free movement of goods and services to be moderated by the other fundamental principle of the right to strike if there is a risk to public security , order or health .
the most important starting point in aspiring to better relations is unity amongst the EU Member States .
not content with this , in the new agricultural chapter in the Association Agreement with Morocco , the Commission has decided to further increase tomato imports to the EU .
overall I would like to see a Europe for citizens in which citizens regard themselves as part of Europe and become more actively involved than they have in the past .
the most important thing is that all three countries maintain high standards when it comes to respect for human rights .
this report contains many of the solutions .
how can we even dare to think that we will move Europe forward while ignoring citizens ' regions in Europe and the impact they could have internationally ?
I agree with all those who find these double standards unacceptable .
5 .
health is gradually becoming a competitive market .
history teaches us that armed conflicts are an outcome of the inability of the combatants to talk about contentious issues and find compromise solutions .
no less important is the objective of ensuring the right to education for all European children .
indeed , it is every bit as absurd as a Kafkaesque trial .
the problem , ultimately , does not lie in the Iraqi mountains , the problem lies in Turkey , but the solution to the problem - the Kurdish problem - is not Turks against Kurds .
apparently , they have fewer cars in these countries , so maybe that percentage is lower .
dividing these concerns into companies responsible for energy production and companies responsible for its transmission is the only way to create an open and competitive market where there is no conflict of interest .
Scotland is not within the eurozone and I therefore consider it appropriate to withhold my vote on this issue .
the rapporteur himself realises the weaknesses of the agreement , setting out a long list of concerns that it does not explicitly address .
in addition to adopting and implementing the directive , the Commission will continue its efforts under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and with the International Civil Aviation Organisation to reach an effective global agreement designed to deal with air transport emissions .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue-card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
the conditions ought to relate , in particular , to the mandatory legal nature of the future agreement .
that is no way to react .
20 .
in its report of 21 September 2010 ( P7 _ TA ( 2010 ) 0325 ) , Parliament clearly denounced the failure of the European strategy for halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 .
Mr President , I would like to start by congratulating my friend and colleague , Mr El Khadraoui , who , it is fair to say , despite appearances suggesting the contrary , has actually proved himself capable of producing a very sound and workable report .
the next item is the report by Mrs Bairbre de Brún , on behalf of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , concerning the draft Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation ( EC ) No 998 / 2003 on the animal health requirements applicable to the non-commercial movement of pet animals - C7-0035 / 2009 -
the business sector is ready to take action and we also want to open doors .
first , let us break Gaddafi 's air force and leave the ' Brother Leader ' , as he likes to call himself , paralysed .
if I were Slovakia , I would at all events defer abolishing my own currency in favour of the euro until the latter has passed its first test in economic crises .
how is it that a Member State of many years standing like Greece is not subjected to sanctions over a period of 10 years , despite the fact that it is in obvious breach of the provisions of the Integrated Administration and Control System ( IACS ) ?
this article refers in no uncertain terms to the fight against fraud , while the Commission 's report fails to give a very clear indication as to what percentage of the irregularities are due to fraud and what percentage are simple errors .
it was an excellent debate , featuring the valued contribution of the President of the European Parliament .
however , the situation on the railways remains appalling .
thank you for this debate .
these efforts are welcome and are in line with the recommendation that I am currently preparing to give guidance for national regulators on these issues .
we need an ambitious energy strategy for Europe , not only in a COP-16 resolution that nobody reads anyway .
it is clear that the Ombudsman can work with other institutions on the issue of fundamental rights , and it seems to me there can be no other way of proceeding .
it is highly likely that the next country in the region to experience change , after Tunisia and Egypt , will be Yemen .
the existing regulations are out of date , and make it problematic for veterinarians to restock their store of medicines .
how and when will this injustice and inequity be eliminated ?
'Whereas many protestors have been attacked or taken into custody by the security forces ' : that is our first amendment .
if we keep our Millennium Goals and if we keep our promises , Africa will emerge in this century as a world leader .
late payments in commercial transactions between undertakings , and between undertakings and public authorities , are one of the things currently hampering the recovery of economic growth .
in my opinion , EU relations with Latin America are our most important relations and have the greatest future potential , in view of the dimensions involved , as has already been said here , our shared values in the multilateral system of the UN , and the evolution of Latin America , which is showing economic growth and a reduction in poverty .
we have tried to get this incomplete and therefore incorrect report taken from the agenda , unfortunately without success .
the European Commission and the Member States could provide funding for training labour representatives which would defend and promote workers ' rights to safety and health at the workplace .
the latter model claims that death penalty is immoral because the state should not take a life , is not a deterrent - as shown by statistics - and is unfairly administered , sometimes people on death row being innocent and their trials involving irregularities .
in November 2008 , the Commission put forward a communication on the impact of free movement of workers in the context of EU enlargement .
until a few minutes ago , things looked quite different .
the experience I have had in the educational field has proven the fact that education at an early age can change people 's mentalities , behaviour and attitudes .
this is why these supposedly generous constructions on common citizenship seem to me to be largely hypocritical and I would prefer to replace it with the mutual recognition of rights between allied , yet still sovereign nations .
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furthermore , in a situation that is as serious as the current one , it does not criticise Israel 's violation of the UN resolutions , the end of the occupation , the illegal settlements , the segregation wall , the murders , the detentions , the innumerable humiliations inflicted on the Palestinian people , or even its inalienable right to a state , with the 1967 borders , with its capital in East Jerusalem .
the guidelines that we are to approve today are good , and I think we should view them as a challenge to examine our own expenditure with a critical eye .
the oral question to the Commission by Gabriele Albertini and Arnaud Danjean , on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs , on the Non-proliferation Treaty - B7-0010 / 2010 ) .
the EU has demonstrated effectiveness and the ability to react .
if a Member State makes such a discovery , it is obliged to inform all the other Member States and the European Commission of this immediately and put the necessary measures in place .
the European Council has adopted a massive , coordinated economic recovery plan , based on long-term investment in production and support targeted at the most severely affected industrial sectors .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( PL ) As a member of the Independent Self-Governing Trade Union ' Solidarity ' , I am also speaking now on behalf of my trade union colleagues .
if there is one thing worse than the bureaucracy from Brussels it is 27 national bureaucracies coming to Brussels to ask for the reinforcement of legislation at Brussels level .
for example , Axis 1 , ' Measures for the adaptation of the Community Fishing Fleet ' , is very easy to absorb .
the entry of waste into the EU must also be better controlled .
as many of you said , it is a matter of finding solutions to the terrible problems that we are facing with regard to cross-border crime , trafficking and the threat of terrorism , and of balancing this with a policy that places citizens centre stage and ensures that an individual 's privacy is respected .
( SK ) In the course of the last six years , the Slovak economy has been growing at an average rate of more than 6.5 % per year .
my own hostility to the disastrous CFP has been well documented in this House and I believe that fisheries management should be returned to Europe 's fishing nations .
this Parliament , and I am very proud of this , has a long tradition of supporting proposals for applying a reduced VAT rate for labour-intensive services .
this very controversial decision is evidence that an open and participative constitutional reform process is needed in Ukraine .
in Mrs Oomen-Ruijten 's report , we mention other orientations on many points , and I would ask you , on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs , to take account of that when you develop the Commission 's position around a White Paper , concerning taking account of the issue of gender , which you have not taken into account sufficiently .
most children find that in their own home with their natural parents .
everyone said that the Directive was good , but difficult to implement in practice .
I agree with the rapporteur 's opinion that given the strategic importance of the Black Sea region for the EU and the rather limited results of the Black Sea Synergy , a strategy should be launched to enhance the coherence and visibility of EU action in the region and that the EU Black Sea strategy should be an integral part of the EU 's broader foreign and security policy vision .
the climate energy package has important symbolic value , as it illustrates the fact that the representatives of half a billion citizens , 500 million people , have managed to agree on some very clear-cut actions , strategies and aims in this important and sensitive agenda despite today 's difficult economic circumstances .
virtually the only precise measure is to prohibit the use of phosphates in detergents .
it also shows that the former regime had lost the trust of the Guinean people to such an extent that they preferred the government to be taken over by military units rather than official successors .
public broadcasting will therefore play an even more important role in future , and national legislators must enable it to fulfil its mandate to inform and educate as comprehensively as possible , also via new media such as mobile or Internet TV .
agenda for next sitting : see Minutes
Madam President , I wanted to inform Parliament that on Saturday a special memorial will be laid in Zillhausen in Germany to commemorate the lives of seven British servicemen who lost their lives in the Second World War .
Guillermo Fariñas is an independent journalist and political dissident .
Mr President , first of all , I would like to thank the rapporteur for doing such an immense and very important job .
I therefore congratulate my colleague , Mrs Andrikienė , for preparing a really comprehensive report , and for drawing attention to the complex situation worldwide .
in specific terms , piracy entails a shrinkage of the legal music market and results in a decline in legal sales ; it therefore affects the viability of the national music recording industry .
these aspects of European security and defence policy are , as you well know , important , and the French Presidency wishes to ensure that we can make progress in this area and that a clear direction can be taken in this area also before the year is out .
( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , France 's betrayal is complete .
as far as consumers are concerned , apart from affordability , they must also have the opportunity of making a free choice , and suitable laws must be introduced to guarantee that there is no possibility at all of private individuals ' data being misused .
I , at any rate , come on balance to the conclusion that this directive will not exert any pressure to innovate because , apart from the unambitious regulation of limit values , it recognises no penalty mechanism and because the limit value for 2020 was not made compulsory .
however , it also has many positive characteristics , which is why it is used in both medicine and research , for research into materials , for sterilisation and for power generation .
there , I think that public-private partnerships are necessary .
two parties are fighting for power and serious incidents have cost supporters from both sides their lives .
if anybody today said that the victims of the Holocaust deserve less attention than the gas chambers , they would put their credibility in question .
this week , we invited the Council to agree that more funds should be given for school fruit .
would it not therefore also be the Council 's duty to assert this claim throughout the world on behalf of the European Union ?
these rulings referred to questions referred for preliminary rulings by national courts with the aim of ensuring uniform application of Community law .
the call is for more liberalisation and the destruction of what remains of this public sector in some countries .
currently , we have an issuer-pays model .
I appreciate that such things do happen sometimes , but this is not the first time that I have come across or heard about something like this .
the expansion of the Schengen zone has eliminated barriers in the European Union .
Russia is watching closely to see whether we are in a position to respond immediately - and we must respond immediately by saying very clearly : put an end to the murders , to the violation of human rights and grant freedom to Chechnya and Russia , but above all put an end to the systematic violation of human rights and murders in mysterious circumstances .
finally we come to milk , the most complicated matter in this evaluation .
however , it is generally recognised that the situation of Roma communities deserves special focus in Europe .
the Council adopted its common position on 18 April 2008 .
the citizens of the Republic of Moldova are still looking in great hope to our decisions , to our responses .
these practices are reprehensible ; they may be cultural , perhaps tribal , but they are criminal and are not in any way religious .
there are learning and coordination difficulties as well .
in this context , I must stress the geostrategic importance of the extended Black Sea region for the European Union 's energy security .
Madam President , channels of communications are vitally important to our lives today .
it is widely reported that some countries are seeking concessions from Ireland in return for an interest rate reduction .
since , today , we have the Treaty of Nice in the European Parliament , we call for that Treaty to be applied until the Treaty of Lisbon comes into force .
( the sitting was opened at 9.05 a.m. )
the powerful citric acid producers lobby wants it to be legally possible to increase the acidity of fruit juices and their ingredients , including apple juice , by adding citric acid , lemon juice and lime juice .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( LV ) Thank you , Mr President .
we all know that we will need financial reporting provisions and that even the smallest business will need records to portray and prove the state of its business .
the sexual exploitation of children is a phenomenon which continues to shock society in the Member States of the European Union and elsewhere .
EMAS is a voluntary scheme , which provides a framework to assist businesses and organisations to improve their environmental performance .
there is also the question of human rights and democracy , which should be made a priority of international policy and therefore also a priority of sanction policies .
back in Germany , the judgments of the European Court of Justice on employment addressed this evening have created a back flash in Europe 's acceptance .
the proposal of filling out a single application to the authorities of the host country , requesting a work and residence visa , would cater for this concern .
as Members of the European Parliament , we can offer an additional perspective in Middle East relations , as we can think and act outside conventional diplomatic channels .
the final compromise is supported by all the political groups and I think that this is a sign that we have done a good job .
I do not believe that we have to speak on behalf of the global community , but only on behalf of the European Union .
just like Liu , our leader , Lech Wałęsa , strove for a bloodless transition and for freedom .
several Members made reference to internal solidarity .
there are some radical factions in Bulgaria saying that these projects are mutually incompatible .
that is why , ladies and gentlemen , Mr Bushill-Matthews , as rapporteur for the European Parliament with others in 2001 , and having helped to get the request for an ambitious revision of this directive adopted by a large majority in Parliament , as was the case again in 2007 , I cannot accept this criticism of the European Trade Union Confederation .
it is commonly agreed that the Arctic is a region that is affected earlier and more heavily by climate change and pollution originating in the industrialised or developing parts of the world .
the Bureau of Parliament and the Committee on Budgets have adopted some dissenting positions , as the Bureau defends the needs of Members and we in the Committee on Budgets defend austerity and the budgetary reality .
I welcome the idea of a flexible labour market for pensioners , in view of the demographic changes we are going through and the obvious trend for extending working life .
I am all too well aware that all the efforts being made on arms control are always very difficult and are sometimes more like a procession of Echternach , where you take two steps forward and then one step back .
generally speaking , we can state that Africa is a continent with untapped potential .
as I said , this problem is twofold .
these networks are very important to the development of Europe 's traffic infrastructure .
it is an essential piece of the jigsaw whose final picture is to be a superior rights regime fostered by the Court of Justice and enjoying the external supervision of the Court at Strasbourg .
the organisers did an excellent job and they deserve our applause since they made a significant contribution to the progress achieved and to the breadth of the final consensus .
your presence has been noted .
( DE ) Madam President , the way that the Commission has put its global approach to transfers of passenger name record data to third countries up for discussion is to be welcomed , particularly before negotiations with third countries get under way .
the vote on this item will take place on Wednesday , 16 January 2008 at 12 noon .
I convey here the anxiety , not only of Israel , but also of the Emirates , about Iran 's nuclear programme .
this will bring about a tangible strengthening of the Ombudsman 's position and therefore also of the legal status of the citizens .
neither the Council nor the Commission accepts these amendments .
the programme for the most deprived targets those in our society who are in need of food aid : people who worry whether they can feed their children tomorrow ; people who do not think about what they will eat that night for dinner but about whether they will have anything to eat ; people who enter no restaurant but the one carrying the name of Resto du Cœur .
signature of acts adopted under codecision : see Minutes
we do not think it makes any sense in a Treaty on a Union that functions by majority , and qualified majority , to introduce elements of unanimity that would absolutely destroy the process .
if we know what we have to do , we have to do it now .
there is plenty of flexibility within the current directive and in the proposed changes , which will allow businesses to cope if they have a sudden rush of work , providing they then balance out the time for their employees .
the debate is closed .
the strategic importance of public services and their contribution to the public sector in promoting economic , social and territorial cohesion , and criticism of the policies that challenge the role of the State as a provider of public services ;
next , tomorrow , we are going to vote on what I think is a good European Parliament resolution which opens up possibilities for further cooperation and a strengthening of cooperation between the European Union and Ukraine .
we should recall that the largest UN peacekeeping force in the world , consisting of over 17 000 soldiers , is currently deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo .
there is a lot of money going to agriculture and cohesion funds ; have these sums been delivering on the targets that we aimed for ?
in this context , the application of the rule of ' regulatory procedure with scrutiny ' allows for ex ante consideration of proposals brought into law .
Tunisia is a solid and friendly partner with the potential for further strengthening our relations , to quote Mrs Kroes once again .
I thank you for supporting the amendment I intend to table in a bid to secure an intelligent balance between regional integration of overseas territories and their European links .
we all know that an impetus is needed from the international community on Gaza and on the West Bank , including East Jerusalem .
nor am I surprised that she makes no mention of one of the gross failures of the PEACE programme , namely the inequality in distribution between the two communities in Northern Ireland , with the Protestant Unionist community not getting its fair share of funding .
the situation is clear .
but we follow a policy of appeasement in the EU .
( NL ) Mr President , Commissioner Vassiliou , Minister Bachelot-Narquin , Europe has an important duty to help guarantee everyone high-quality and affordable healthcare , close to home if possible or abroad if necessary .
there are the customers that have been mentioned by Mrs Wortmann-Kool who are killed , harmed or inconvenienced by fake products .
instead , we shall continue to fight for a different economic order in Europe , for an economic order in which people are not mere cost factors and countries are more than just business locations .
the Member States ' commitment to respect fundamental rights is also enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union .
( SK ) Mr President , Commissioner , I welcome the report by Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou , as well as the Commission 's determination to continue to fight poverty .
Mr Vigenin , as you addressed me personally , I will take the liberty of pointing out that , in Brussels last Monday , the European Parliament held a very moving commemoration of Kristallnacht .
let us hope , therefore , that this asylum package is as successful as the Office was , and that its success comes quickly , because there is an urgent need to act .
there are numerous other points that I could mention here .
Andrei Sakharov , who died 20 years ago , was a distinguished champion of human rights as well as a distinguished thinker .
Osip Mandelstam symbolises the millions of victims of 20th-century totalitarian regimes in Europe .
( PL ) Madam President , I greatly regret that this important and necessary debate is being held in the significant absence , or perhaps I should say the insignificant absence , of Mrs Ashton .
( GA ) Mr President , we are undoubtedly facing a great challenge at present and we urgently need to look at new ways of solving all those problems .
we appeal to Kenya to allow Somali refugees to have access to the El Wak border and the right to assistance in that country .
what reports do we have to go on when all the NGOs , except the Red Cross , have been evacuated from the country since September ?
Madam President , there is one conclusion to draw from the conflict , which is that the international community has , for far too long and too readily , agreed to the existence of so-called frozen conflicts which , as my colleague , Mr Kasoulides , has put it , equals appeasement .
do you really believe , Mr Karas , that no one was aware before the introduction of the single currency of the truism that common governance and political union are also needed ?
I am certain that our aid will be spent in the best way possible and will help overcome the consequences of the flooding in Ireland .
( applause )
it is a good thing that various European institutions are being given a serious ticking off .
I am outraged that the EU authorities wish to be a party in this Balkan conflict without having the right or any mandate to do so .
the negative elements are in the implementation . those negative elements have to be eliminated .
they are ready to work with us as quickly as possible but also to be creative and to find answers to our questions .
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European policy must focus consistently on the interests of the people of Europe .
we have no barriers .
in all professional fields , in whatever economic activity , one comes across developments that continue to marginalise women through low salaries , social exclusion and a marked difficulty in accessing a normal social life .
today , when reforming the common agricultural policy is a particularly important topic for the European Union , we should take into account the current condition of the agrarian sector in the new Member States as well .
South Africa is a country that is developing rapidly in all areas and with which the European Union wishes to foster a special relationship .
( GA ) Mr President , the two reports given today show the necessity of the cohesion policy and how that policy should be implemented .
therefore , it will lose its ability to strongly assert this model that we embody , and we will have surrendered our place to other continents , unless we surrender it to market forces alone .
which of these is it ?
we have always fought for this as committed European parliamentarians .
however , it carries many dangers .
( HU ) Mr President , I congratulate the rapporteur , Mr Wojciechowski , on his outstanding report .
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in Romania just now we are preparing for local authority elections .
in writing . - ( ET ) Madam President , honourable Chairman .
I think that is legitimate .
creativity requires stimulation and development from the earliest years of life . only then will we be able to count on its turning to a significant degree into innovation , including in fields of modern technology , in the European Union .
( EL ) Mr President , we are faced with a state of affairs that may have far-reaching consequences , not only for the Balkan region but also internationally .
as you are leaving for Greece tomorrow , Commissioner , you should visit an area close to Athens , where there have been daily clashes between residents and the police forces camped there for four months now , with injuries and other incidents , in connection with the landfill facility , given that , as you explained , we have to close landfills .
it was a time of oppressive silence and paralysis .
I am appealing to the Commission : I read in the files that it does not have enough instruments or funds to support one thing and another , to choose a different line of approach .
the testing is always confined to a prototype , and problems do not occur when the prototype is presented but in the normal routine of mass production .
the Greens disagree with this and therefore submitted Amendment 2 .
I think that the misunderstandings that may exist and persist with Russia , and which it is hoped will be cleared up at the EU-Russia Summit on 14 November , are also partly our responsibility .
small and medium-sized enterprises continue to constitute a priority for the new Commission , which is convinced of the need to do everything it can to prevent the financial crisis becoming a social crisis that would chiefly affect small and medium-sized enterprises and their employees .
food safety is crucial in this context .
we must therefore create good conditions and make it convenient for people crossing the Ukrainian-Polish , border - that is , the Ukrainian-EU border - while keeping unnecessary administrative requirements and costs to a minimum .
Mr President , the other day I was in Birmingham .
the European Parliament has managed to establish in the Directive this principle of equality , which had been lacking in the original Commission proposal .
in addition to the relentless efforts of the EU facilitation team , it is important to ensure the broader participation of African diplomacy ( including the African Union ) in the resolution of the eastern DRC conflicts , especially in areas where a sustainable solution would be greatly facilitated by close cooperation between neighbouring countries , in particular the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda .
at the same time we need to adopt an open , generous and united approach to the problem of how to integrate , first and foremost , those who are Community citizens and then , more generally , those who belong to the various migrant groups .
they need to be subjected to rigorous stress testing and all financial activities need to remain on the balance sheet .
if the Presidency is serious about emphasising both the objectives and the timetable , we will await notification of when we can sit down and discuss the matter in concrete terms .
accordingly , coordinated actions between the EU and Ukraine with a view to creating the free-trade area should develop alongside Ukraine 's membership of the WTO .
if we are talking about the Internet , it is one of the main instruments to give more opportunities to the members of Europe 's community to have the inside knowledge and inside view of cultural impact .
some have already allocated parts of their development budget .
moreover , having now been defused , the conflict is unlikely to resurface , since the new Treaty of Lisbon addresses the problem and comes down more heavily in favour of the Community than the rulings of the ECJ .
given these circumstances , the Committee on Budgets could not agree to the transfer of the appropriation to the Commission , but instead simply proposes the creation of a PM line .
the overriding priority is to make importers directly liable for the safety of the products they import .
finally , I would like to emphasise that investments and the deployment of ICT solutions in the energy sector are key to the development of an energy-efficient , low carbon economy .
we are getting into a disagreeable solution for a multinational company when we start discussing the nationality of specific parts of the firm .
the authorities in Burma have chosen to ignore the protests against the imprisonment of Aung San Suu Kyi and the calls to release her that have been made by a large number of countries and organisations , including the Secretary-General of the UN , the Secretary-General of ASEAN and a number of ASEAN Member States , of which Burma is , after all , one .
this process of adjustment has been under way for a few years already .
( SK ) Mr President , if we are discussing unemployment , it is surely necessary to cry out loud about unemployment among the young , which runs at twice , and in some countries , four times the European average .
it is also important not to let ourselves be conditioned by any interinstitutional disputes over the division of responsibilities - I am referring particularly to the future European External Action Service .
it also endorses a broad definition of IUU fishing , so as to include a wide range of unregulated fishing operations .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
it is not a good sign when you find out that this lack of political will is giving us cause to believe - Dominique Baudis is right - that the summit on 7 June is in the balance .
that said , we must not prevent farmers from using the tools they need to produce safe , nutritious and accessible food .
it also , of course , dovetails the priorities set out by President Karzai , particularly in the fields of improved governance and anti-corruption .
we are also encouraged by your support for the EU 's policy of engagement .
in writing . - I voted in favour of this report which strengthens our obligations for renewables targets , presenting a major opportunity to boost indigenous sources of energy in the EU , tackle climate change , enhance security of supply and promote competitiveness , growth and jobs .
our draft resolution today therefore centres on the need to restore the precautionary principle , which I know is also held dear by the Secretary of State .
however , I think any reader of this good and interesting annual report cannot fail to be struck both by the sheer geographic scope of our activities on human rights and by the range of thematic issues covered .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the Goldstone report is destined to remain a milestone of which the full possible future ramifications have perhaps not yet been considered , including as regards the affirmation of international law , to which we liberal democrats are particularly attached .
I , frankly , would not be able to respond if they asked this question .
thank you .
for that reason , I am in favour of control mechanisms and would like to see regular progress reports from Steiermark .
not every bid can be financed , and in the world of research , added value is , of course , difficult to measure , but I do not believe that a common European system for evaluating performance is the only way forward .
at the same time , it will enable us to invest in our economies to adapt them to future challenges .
Mr Šemeta , you need to take control in this area and you will have our support for doing so .
the cuts in tariffs range up to 70 % .
finally , I was very proud that Commissioner Hübner came personally to Lowestoft , in my constituency , to launch our GBP 100 million European regional development programme and its emphasis on helping business in our communities adapt to low-carbon growth .
I hope that in this album of the Spanish Presidency - since it will surely be colourful and varied - people can see every event as a milestone in the very real problems that affect them .
in wishing to take full advantage of its autonomy and focus on its strong historic links with the European Union , Ukraine has , for some time , expressed its intention of joining the European Union .
the EU wants a functional air space block system coordinator : a fancy title for a dictator ruling over air traffic control , airports and also industry .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - Mr President , the permanent Financial Stability Mechanism in practice is nothing more than another tool to cushion major European banks from the consequences of their reckless speculation on the financial markets .
it has a very strong social dimension , which we must bear in mind when we talk of restructuring this industry , and when we talk of what to do with those people who make their living at sea and from the sea .
this area is often described as pristine , but unfortunately , this has not been the case for many years .
the Geneva Agreement signed on 15 December 2009 between the EU and Latin American banana-supplying countries settled a long dispute within the World Trade Organisation ( WTO ) .
this is a strong political signal confirming that the European Union is aware of its responsibility towards this minority , which is the largest one in Europe , as well as the most persecuted one .
I feel that this addition is unnecessary , therefore .
second , it promotes the emergence of a discourse sustained and justified by the need for alternatives .
the question is , then , what has led the Commission to give in to pressure from the United States and the multinationals , and what does it get in return for this change in position ?
this is a reality check .
Mr President , I voted in favour of Mr Czesław Siekierski 's report and our resolution on food distribution to the most deprived persons in the Community .
I say that the Convention on Human Rights has done enough damage already .
it is in its own interests , such as in financial and in labour markets . '
I am of the opinion that protection against discrimination cannot conclusively be better regulated at European level than at national level .
we need a common agricultural policy ( CAP ) which takes into account livestock farming in mountain regions and provides subsidies to livestock farmers there .
sometimes I think it would be interesting to compare , for instance , the travel schedule of MEPs coming here to Parliament today with the travel schedule of animals being exported overseas , and I think sometimes the stress levels on MEPs might be greater .
the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs assessed the respective eligibility conditions favourably .
I voted in favour of this resolution as I condemn the violence against women and children in the Democratic Republic of Congo .
most importantly , however , citizens themselves must be able to take such decisions .
let us observe a minute 's silence in memory of our Tunisian friends .
the people-to-people direct contact means sharing values and realities .
these programmes are the subject of amending and supplementary proposals for the 2008 budget , which we have put forward with our fellow Members from the five political groups .
however , at the same time , I firmly believe that if this Parliament has to give the Commission a freer hand in financing such projects , it must retain its monitoring role .
secondly , they will point the way towards emerging policy objectives where the Commission and Parliament should work together .
what is needed is an immediate ceasefire .
( PT ) When we ask what contribution a strategic partnership between the European Union and Brazil can make to developing the relationship between the EU and Mercosur , with a view , amongst other things , to concluding the much-wanted , long-delayed agreement , I think there can only be one answer : that contribution is of major importance .
the vote will take place at noon today .
let us not hide the fact that the compromise was extremely difficult .
this report will allow all European citizens to obtain information on cross-border healthcare and to learn about their rights in this area via new contact points which will be set up in each Member State .
following heavy military intervention , the leaders of the demonstrators have surrendered .
information about regulations will also be available that will help even the smallest company meet the new requirements for preparing user properties and regarding CE labels .
a great opportunity was lost to explain to the European people that the rights and freedoms proclaimed in the Charter are our identifying marks , for it was signed in secret .
let us not go there a second time .
( LT ) Madam President , probably everyone would agree that information is one of the main driving forces in the modern world .
after all , even some of the ' no ' campaigners in Ireland professed they claimed their intention was to renegotiate and seek a better agreement .
this means it will be a period in which we will pin our hopes not so much on signing agreements , but in the complete realisation of very concrete undertakings , which makes any attempt to reduce financing , when it comes to cohesion policy , very dangerous .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Foreign Affairs . - ( FR ) Madam President , Mr President-in-Office , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the Committee on Foreign Affairs , which I represent as draftsman , is in favour of all these efforts .
they are private companies who are afraid because they do not have control over the gas coming in .
EU Member States must , if necessary , be taken to the European Court of Justice for failing to do so , and the idea , as my colleague Sonia Alfano has said , that Libya is capable of doing that job instead is completely outrageous given its gross human rights abuses .
( for the results and other details on the vote : see Minutes )
yet , as we have heard , they have diametrically opposed positions .
according to the European Committee for Standardisation ( CEN ) , the construction sector is one of Europe 's biggest industries accounting for 10 % of GDP and 50.5 % of gross fixed capital .
thirdly , the G20 summit participants made a commitment to provide USD 1.1 trillion through the IMF and multilateral development banks to help restore credit flows , economic growth and employment in the world economy .
then we will have a truly binding emissions requirement for cars : 95 g of carbon dioxide by 2020 .
in a democracy , politics must be conducted through the ballot box , not with bullets and bombs .
since Members of the European Parliament and of the Polish Parliament should benefit from the same immunities and privileges , then the rules as regards their eligibility to stand for election as well as for loss of mandate should also be the same .
in relation to the PPE Group 's proposal , I would say that the PPE Group should reflect on this .
Mr President , I should like to congratulate Mrs Kolarska-Bobińska on her excellent and very hard work .
the forthcoming MFF must be implemented with an economic governance system in place which can ensure the financial stability required to implement European policies .
nor does it disparage any area .
whether we are talking about the amount of the deposit , the number of signatures required , the checks on this - look at what happened in St Petersburg a few months ago - on not one of these points do they meet the criteria that we and the rest of the world would consider constitute free and fair elections .
Lisbon set its own test for survival : acceptance in all Member States .
we are there to support and the fact that all Member States are involved in the Frontex operation , but have also offered different kinds of assistance - economic assistance or technical expertise , interpreters , administrative assistance - shows that there is true European solidarity .
various examples belie the ability of the market to control emissions , while others demonstrate the effectiveness of normative regulation and targeted investment , particularly in relation to impacts and safeguarding the environment .
this means that there will only be restrictions and prohibitions on international fishing fleets , not local fishing .
what we are adding in our approach in Parliament is that it gives more legitimacy , which means it gives more power .
this can only produce positive results , helping to reduce obesity among children by moving closer to the ' five a day ' recommendation , which is why I have voted in favour of it .
moving all these dossiers forward over the next six months is essential to build a new economy , because - let us make no mistake - the post-crisis economy cannot and will not be the same as the pre-crisis economy .
I would also like to call for the establishment , at a national level , of a mechanism to assess the implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy priorities and the achievement of the relevant national targets included in the National Reform Programme in order to support the annual evaluation by the EU institutions .
a ' push ' system does not mean anything if , in actual practice , SWIFT has to transfer bulk data .
indeed , in my opinion , beyond the issue of names and functions , there is the central issue of the States .
indeed , it could run to hundreds of millions of dollars ' worth of trade .
and one final thing : their presence in Brussels also demonstrates the fact that they have enormous trust in the European Union and that trust is expressed by Polish society as a whole . neither we nor the European Union should fail to live up to that trust .
clearly we also need a considerable effort from the Member States .
we will come back to many of these questions in the very near future , for instance during the joint meeting of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs with the Czech Parliament next week which I shall have the pleasure to attend , and then in just a couple of weeks we will be dealing with the important issue of revising Regulation 1049 / 2001 .
this must be because for 30 years of my life I have been fighting to ensure that a Spanish worker in Sweden or Germany does not earn less than a German or Swedish worker , and because for 20 more years I have been fighting to ensure that a Polish , Romanian or Moroccan worker does not earn less in Spain than a Spanish worker .
the Committee on Transport and Tourism quite often has to assess and deal with various aviation agreements .
this is the basic message from our side .
my question to the Council and the Commission is one that our guests here today will surely not like , but it will be of crucial importance for the future .
sport also means lower healthcare costs .
I also support the economic and social development of the Danube region as a priority community area and the promotion of deeper regional integration in this zone , which would provide dynamic impetus for a wider European economic area .
very specifically : liberalisations , privatisations , and making employment laws less regulated and more flexible .
finally , structured cooperation : will it happen , what is being done ?
( the President cut off the speaker )
on behalf of the PSE Group . - Mr President , I want to congratulate both our rapporteurs .
from incorrect form-filling ?
it can count on Parliament 's support for culture as a horizontal task , for increasing artists ' mobility , for increasing regional cooperation and for strengthening international cooperation .
other shortcomings identified in the opinion and in your draft resolution also need to be addressed .
Parliament has nonetheless restricted their use to a greater extent than under the Commission 's proposal , and we hope that the list will be kept up-to-date if other allergenic fragrances begin to be used in toys .
through the committee 's method of working , this report has also succeeded in achieving a horizontal viewpoint .
I also welcome your statement that you will table a report on the recovery plans in the second half of 2010 , based on the programmes submitted to you by the Member States .
it is a great country which is very proud , and a great country which does not show much pity and does not , in my view , appreciate others putting themselves in a weak position .
in writing . - ( RO ) I would like to welcome the fact that the future of Europe continues to be a theme that is always present in the Parliament debates .
the administration must start functioning again so that public services can be provided .
I therefore welcome this report , which urges a further strengthening of provisions to enforce such equality .
though having a steady supply of skilled workers to fill in the gaps left by our ageing workforce will have benefits for us , this kind of braindraining will be devastating for the poor and underdeveloped countries of Africa .
therefore , I did not vote against the resolution , but instead abstained in the final vote .
these activities have to be conducted patiently and responsibly .
I call on the Commission and Member States to abide by their commitment to improve the broadband infrastructure in rural areas as a means of boosting their competitiveness .
a true financial perspective has to look even further forward than seven years .
finance is a very positive story to tell , and I hope that insurance will be added to the list of progress that has been made so far in this area .
I also oppose the provisions on the increase of excise duty rates on fuel throughout the European Union .
in our view , we very much need both of these to halt deforestation , forest degradation and the decline in biodiversity .
as many people point out , lobbying is not bad in itself , but the problem is that when we centralise decisions it becomes easy for large companies to turn economic power into political power .
in writing . - As a result of the global economic crisis and the instability that continues to plague the euro area , the Commission proposed a number of legislative initiatives , cumulatively known as the Economic Governance Package .
there is the issue of financing instruments that are very important for stimulating energy efficiency measures , but these need to be tackled in the appropriate legislation and initiatives .
in addition , Member States must become more heavily involved in joint Frontex actions .
this report is therefore of inestimable support to citizens !
- Before the vote :
- Before the vote on amendment 1 :
( HU ) Thank you , Madam President .
to finish , I would like to say that I admire the founding fathers more and more .
therefore , while we evaluate highly the direction in which we are moving , we do have certain reservations concerning some areas , which we will have great satisfaction in discussing during the hearing of the Commissioners .
bill shock was not good for the reputation of the mobile operators but more importantly , bill shock was not good for consumers .
the purpose of these changes is to effectively simplify the existing provisions concerning structural funds in the interests of the citizens and for their benefit . the changes would apply in important areas such as the natural environment , social inclusion , research , competitiveness and energy .
in 2001 the Sutherland report started a very lively debate in the WTO itself on its institutional reform , a debate that unfortunately came to an end far too quickly .
I voted for this legislative resolution on the proposal for a directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment ( recast ) because I am in favour of implementing measures to make progress with the sustainability of production and consumption of electrical and electronic equipment .
your contribution makes it clear what my intention is with this report , namely , to point out that our fundamental rights - our human rights , which are so fundamental and form the basis of our existence - are also the rights of the Iranians .
the only ones who stand to gain from the reintroduction of border controls would be the human traffickers because the refugees would have to find new ways to cross the borders , providing the human traffickers with a new source of income .
this will increase the status of the profession , ensure the recognition of professional qualifications and help combat dumping practices .
in my opinion , these include Galileo , which is now to be financed .
to realise this goal , we need the full cooperation of both the Council and the Commission .
your insistence that the EU is an absolute good and that any criticism of it is either dishonest or xenophobic has done you no favours , because without critical scrutiny the Brussels institutions become bloated , self-serving and corrupt .
one example is the TEN-T rail transport project .
no , particularly as a result of Russian obstruction .
if we want to treat the illness and not merely the symptoms , then we need to tackle a number of basic problems .
personally , I could anticipate further measures in this sphere ; as for any others , I could not speculate whether there will be any transfer of competence .
that is , in summary , the proposal in the text adopted today by the EP .
this was highlighted by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights , Ms Navi Pillay .
let me also assure you that I will share your conclusions with my colleagues in the Commission .
regarding Mrs Schaake 's report on the EU 's external actions , I think that we need a greater understanding of culture when we are laying down foreign policy .
it is a country which has voted for independence but which is dependent in virtually all respects .
I would like to concentrate on best practice , for instance I like the Spanish example of awards for advertising that handle gender issues well .
we must avoid introducing amendments with legal loopholes , unnecessarily restricting the scope of the directive .
in this regard , the EU and the US should take the leading role in the implementation of G20 commitments .
what can the EU do about this ?
the decision made during the EU summit in Seville , according to which the EU will not limit its emissions in 2020 by more than 20 % in comparison with 1990 , should be viewed with alarm .
we urgently need an end to any imperialist intervention in Sudan and to any act of hostility and opposition between North and South .
I should mention that there was a voluntary agreement between car manufacturers and the European automobile industry , as well as the Japanese and Korean ones , for cars not to emit more than 140 g of CO2 / km by 2008 .
( ET ) Ladies and gentlemen , freedom of speech is the most important feature of democracy .
Madam President , every year , 400 000 hectares of forest are destroyed in southern Europe .
the Presidency wishes to draw the attention of all Members to the on-going negotiations on cluster munitions within the context of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons ( CCW ) which is the only convention that the largest military powers - the United States , Russia , China and India , or countries such as Georgia - agree to participate in , which is not the case for the Oslo convention .
I shall present this contribution with Baroness Ashton during the Extraordinary European Council next Friday .
( SL ) The European Parliament has rightly put the consumer at the heart of its negotiations , because what the internal market needs is a consumer with more rights and one with access to clear information .
Sweden and the Czech Republic are to ratify the Treaty by the end of this year , and I still have not given up hope that ratification is still possible in Ireland before the European elections .
I want you to withhold discharge to the European Commission until the auditors clear 100 % of the budget without reservations .
however , that might also be due to the fact that emancipation amongst the Hutus was less widespread
all these three volets matter equally - we need to get it right in all three if we are to meet our objectives .
unfortunately , I must point out - as Mrs Tzavela has already mentioned - that the Environment Committee then felt it had to submit a resolution unilaterally .
such secondments to trade unions , on the basis of their representativity , have been allowed since 1989 .
Mr President , the EU is proud of its commitment to the IPCC 's recommendations on how to combat global warming by persuading its Member States to inject massive funding into carbon-emission control projects .
I have no particular love for Internet gambling - indeed , it worries me - but discriminatory treatment in brazen defiance of WTO rulings has no place in a healthy transatlantic relationship .
the agreement will also strengthen cooperation on environmental matters by requiring compatibility and interaction in the field of green technologies and fuel and air traffic management .
one of the objectives of the European Union energy policy is to diversify routes of supply and sources of energy to increase competition and security in the EU energy market .
Mr President , once again I warmly thank the rapporteurs from all the political groups .
( applause )
the Prime Minister ignores the opposition and , as he has said himself on more than one occasion , the main opposition in his view is the media .
we all know about Europe 's weaknesses : demographics , lack of future expenditure , industrial challenges , government deficit , weak economic governance .
documents received : see Minutes
( EL ) Mr President , I consider that the credibility of the European Union rests on the uniform application of the rules .
given the importance of this sector for sustainable consumption and production in the EU , I would like to urge the Commission to implement without delay the recommendations set out in the report by its own Taskforce on Recycling , which was compiled during the preparation of the communication entitled ' A lead market initiative for Europe ' .
( DA ) Mr President , thank you for a good debate here today .
we will consider with interest the proposal on the matter of energy efficiency that Commissioner Piebalgs discussed in his statement .
in particular , we must take into consideration small-scale problems in wealthy Member States .
we expect it to provide financial aid to the disaster areas by means of the EU Solidarity Fund .
giving evidence , another official , Sir Michael Wood , stated that , ' receipt of intelligence gained under torture is not illegal under the UN Convention Against Torture provided we do not do the torture ourselves . '
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , in the light of Mr Mauro 's persuasive speech , suddenly even Mr Schulz has conceded that it would be a good thing for us to talk about Europe as a whole now .
14 .
( the President cut off the speaker )
a lot of maternal deaths result from abortions in unacceptable circumstances .
this position was supported by a majority and I am glad of this .
no school can replace a caring family where parents see their responsibility in teaching their children the basics of social and ethical values .
therefore , I voted for this report .
this is true of his consideration of petitions , of his work maintaining constructive relations with the European Union 's bodies and institutions and also of his efforts to encourage citizens to exercise their rights . nonetheless , there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that the citizens receive swift and accurate responses to their questions , complaints and petitions .
it is therefore important that airline tickets should be exchangeable .
the European Commission suggests banning sugar enrichment and substituting it with wine must concentrate instead .
the future international convention and the responsible involvement of Member States will be essential for solving the problems related to ship dismantling .
concerning the administrative support lines of spending programmes , the so-called ' BA lines ' , I understand the wish of the European Parliament to take a quite restrictive approach in the current circumstances .
I only wish that his concept would work this well in the casino .
in this discussion I would like to draw attention to another question which we must not ignore - the other side of openness .
the next item is the report by Mr Lewandowski on the 2009 budget guidelines - ( sections I , II , IV , V , VI , VII , VIII and IX ) .
it is essential for the EU to learn from the experience of providing effective aid after previous disasters , for example , in Australia , Haiti and Russia , in order to have completely clear procedures and resources for providing effective humanitarian aid .
the final point that I think is important is the domestic dimension .
the debts are interrelated with one another .
moreover , it is high time for the EU to also take care of radio frequency identification ( RFID ) .
I want to deal with a specific issue relating to mobility , which we all agree is necessary and is good for Europe .
the EU prides itself on taking the lead in environmental matters .
it is estimated that , by 2030 , the EU will depend 84 % on gas imports and over 93 % on oil imports .
two years ago I looked at an internet-based travel agency , a travel website , for a ticket from London to San Francisco .
the biggest foreign exchange market in the world - the biggest financial sector in the world - is in London .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
I do not see anything happening in that direction .
let us stop further armed struggle with a peace mission .
in the long term , naturally , in order to achieve the social objectives , the Lisbon Treaty and Charter of Fundamental Rights already ratified by 25 Member States may guarantee a wider European remit by establishing equality of economic and social rights but , at the same time , without replacing in any way the package of rapid short-term measures .
I have always advocated having one Commissioner per Member State , even though I have been loyal to the position of the Commission .
after all , the instruments are in place .
however , I regret one omission , which I feel could be prejudicial to consumer protection .
it is not only the European Parliament that has gained things , it is Europe , and we have helped .
neither left-wing nor right-wing governments have managed to bring about any change over recent decades as regards acceptance of the Roma , and this is why I believe it is extremely important to give this issue a regular place on the agenda and in debate in this House .
you also mentioned in reply to me that the European Social Fund could be used for training .
Mr President , I am sorry to inform you at this late hour that this afternoon a group of Estonian cyclists were kidnapped by armed men in Lebanon 's eastern Bekaa Valley .
there is still a long way to go before true harmonisation will have taken place , but we have to be conscious that only by improving and harmonising the procedures and related guarantees will it be possible to achieve a common system .
this is unacceptable : I shall vote against .
it is true that the Regulation on the Statute for a European Company is supplemented by a Directive on the involvement of employees and that the deadline for its transposition expired on 8 October 2004 , the date on which the Regulation on the Statute for a European Company entered into force .
quite honestly , I think it is a very great shame for the farmers who are affected time and again by toxins in feed but are unable to do anything about it .
aside from the successive and contradictory reports that are appearing , the truth is that Iran has not complied with its transparency obligation , nor has it helped to create a climate of confidence .
we need to recognise that the use of plant protection products and pesticides has major economic benefits .
I therefore welcome the establishment of the European Statistical Advisory Committee and the European Statistical Governance Advisory Board .
that objective has been achieved , and the increase has been kept to below 4 % .
I encourage Montenegro to continue its constructive engagement in regional cooperation and in strengthening bilateral relations with neighbouring countries .
with regard to the request to examine other labelling options for textile and clothing products , I am committed to setting up a wide-ranging and open debate with interested parties on all the other issues that have been raised during discussions in the European Parliament and the Council .
first of all I wish to say , like the President , that the priority of this summit was not to find a solution to this issue .
for this reason we have a guiding principle that we try to observe .
therefore , I ask you earnestly to reconsider .
the fundamental points of this report that I should like to highlight are the fact that it considers that the present system of total allowable catches and quotas does not serve the aims of the reformed CFP , having proven inadequate for both the Community fisheries sector and the conservation of stocks .
in all Member States parents should , for a minimum period of one year after the birth of a child , receive support at the level of their net income prior to the start of maternity leave and at the same time these arrangements should be linked into a system of pay according to which the number of years worked are taken into account when setting pay rates .
this is currently being pondered on by those that remain outside - from Reykjavik to Ankara via the western Balkans .
we are basing the criteria , basically , on nationality , citizenship or legal permanent residence .
the VVD considers that the audit systems in these areas must be improved .
in writing . ( LT ) I voted for the report on financial control of EU budget funds allocated to Afghanistan and European Parliament resolutions on this matter prepared by my colleague , Véronique Mathieu .
16 .
to date the conflict in Sudan has claimed 300 000 victims and created two and a half million internally displaced persons .
I am all for action at a European level when it adds value , but Member States have only recently brought out their National Renewable Energy Action Plans and are working to implement them ; this would be harmonisation too far .
both countries have suffered the full force of the recession , against the background of a budget deficit and unemployment rate that were already high .
it will even issue qualifications bearing the EU logo , with no reference to the universities of which it has made use .
we have taken good note of the commitments to revise the Constitution , to hold parliamentary and presidential elections , to honour international treaties and obligations and to limit military rule to six months .
this study will cover performances , not only in the field of research , but also in other important fields such as innovation , education , regional engagement and internationalisation .
secondly , while we are on the subject of financing , it is intended that a large proportion of the money will come from trade in emissions allowances .
on the one hand , the Ombudsman 's activities must entail a review of the institution 's profile and accessibility throughout Europe .
with regard to Serbia and all the other Western Balkan countries , we must attend to visa facilitation as a matter of urgency , so that relations between the citizens of those countries and the citizens of our countries can be normalised .
finally , the motion calls for greater transparency and efficiency in the European Union 's administration processes , urging the Commission to be accountable to Parliament for its work .
it is not so easy to talk about regional cooperation when we know very well that all three countries have been damaged by frozen or completely fresh conflicts .
we must turn Europe into a genuinely united continent , with a clear project , clear objectives , with an economic governance that not only enables us to respond to the emergencies of today , but also to the challenges of tomorrow .
where possible it clearly makes sense to coordinate our response , but any unified EU policy would inevitably be skewed by those countries that are already in bed with Gazprom and related interests .
Mr Mantovani , we have already concluded the period for answering those questions and we clearly cannot do so .
Parliament 's consent for the EU-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Agreement , following the Council 's decision to initiate its ratification process , is an important step along the road towards integrating the Western Balkans in the EU .
the right systematically opposed the amendments that I tabled on behalf of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament in order to rule out any liberalisation of public services , strongly condemn child labour , request legally binding clauses on corporate social responsibility and demand respect for the principle of equal pay for equal work with regard to Indians who will come and work in Europe in the future .
I think that in terms of songs we have the same taste .
this discussion is crucial .
issues based on the ratification of the Treaty will have to wait and the agreements will probably have to come later .
right from the beginning , the Commission has followed this initiative very closely , and we have had fruitful discussions with the Ombudsman and Parliament 's rapporteur , Ms Jäätteenmäki .
it is not how much money has been distributed , but how many redundant employees found new jobs .
it also emphasises the importance of relevant support to developing countries in their prevention and mitigation work to limit the negative effects of climate change .
I would like there to be a third place in which you could express your third loyalty .
as a result , we shall be able to fund Galileo and the European Institute of Technology properly until 2013 .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( PT ) The honourable Member wishes her question to stand and I , unfortunately , have to say that my answer also stands .
this has been long overdue , and we should be careful to say here that we must do something to push down prices .
Porajmos , which is the Roma term for this extermination , claimed between 500 000 and 2 million Roma throughout Europe .
those of you who were with us at that time - the President of the European Commission was there and there was great rejoicing in other places too despite the cold weather - were able to see that people 's reactions were very emotional .
violence against women continues to increase : rapes , suicides , acid attacks and women being burned .
criticism is growing in Europe on the subject of development cooperation , even in countries that have always been generous and favourably disposed to development .
one reason for this is the extremely high cost of legal disposal and recycling ; another reason is the over-bureaucratisation of obtaining legal licences .
the Secretary-General of the European Schools has also launched a study to make an external evaluation of the European Baccalaureate .
the fundamental issue is the execution of juveniles for alleged crimes .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , Vice-President of the Commission , the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats supports the version of the amending directive , negotiated by the rapporteur with the Council , which introduces sanctions against ship-source pollution .
the increase in the budget for school milk , as proposed by us , fits in perfectly with this ambition .
in writing . - I fully support my own group 's Amendment 7 to the Saryusz-Wolski report expressing concern at President Sarkozy 's sales offensive on nuclear technology worldwide , which could lead to enhanced nuclear proliferation .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I am extremely grateful to André Brie for the work he has done and fully support his decision to withdraw his signature .
( PL ) Mr President , one of the Catholic institutions of higher education in Poland is currently applying for a grant from the European Union .
I am very grateful to President Sarkozy and of course also to President Barroso for giving us their time today .
- ( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , one and a half minutes to say what you think of the 2008 draft budget is a formidable task , but I would first like to take the time to thank our rapporteurs , Mr Virrankoski and Mr Itälä , with whom we have had to navigate our way with great difficulty through the decisions that the Committee on Budgets is proposing today .
if you know these companies that have such a beautiful life ...
given the immense crisis that we still find ourselves in and that will , sadly , still bring us many more unemployed , this is far too little .
if we could manage to remove only a fraction of the trade barriers on the transatlantic market , we could do much more for our citizens and , of course , for employees than has been achieved by many of the other measures that we have put far more effort into over the last five years .
the report and resolution are of great importance in the context of the financial crisis and economic recession .
it is having 52 weeks of poorly paid maternity leave .
the European Union cannot allow itself to turn a blind eye to all of this .
it is actually because the proposal that the Commission still has to bring forward can still take so many directions .
thank you .
it could , by itself , be the biggest help for businesses in the European Union .
in my opinion , we should therefore support Amendment 6 of the submitted report , which will help to bring justice to the support mechanism for European agricultural production .
I completely accept that the Italians raise an interesting point about the statistical basis , and we should examine , as a Parliament , the distinction between nationals , citizens , residents and voters .
my question is : are you considering replacing rather than just relaxing it ?
in writing . - ( PT ) In addition to its economic , political and social importance , Turkey 's EU membership is a challenge for both sides and has great symbolic significance as a potential bridge between East and West .
it is , moreover , preposterous that the directive 's legal basis should be the viability of the internal market and not the rights of patients .
as part of these changes , the report rightly recommends the transition to a culture of timely payment .
I would like to turn now to the issue of women 's quotas and to my fellow Member from England : I would like to know whether he believes that only 3 % of women in England and throughout Europe ' know how to do their business ' .
to encourage more participation , we should follow the spirit of the Citizens ' Initiative - namely that it should be as accessible and easy to use as possible .
we will , of course , continue consulting closely with this House and with the Member States on this process .
the Mission is founded on the belief that true religion unites , never divides .
so I ask everyone - Parliament and the Commission - to bring pressure to bear on the Council to resolve this issue very quickly , for the next disaster will come , that I can guarantee .
this mechanism has effects which accentuate the economic dependence of these countries as it leads to production for export , to the detriment of their internal market .
consensus building was often difficult , with several tendencies within Parliament : from left to right , advocates of more sovereignty or a more modern type of sovereignty , and advocates of certain institutions .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
we also strongly suspect that many of them are , as they say , syphilitic or toxic assets whose real market value is very difficult to determine and some of those assets might even be worthless .
the European Social Fund is the most important instrument for people 's integration into the labour market .
I would stress once again that a high number of irregularities does not necessarily mean a high level of fraud , but it can be a good indicator of effective and thorough controls .
the legal framework created with this proposal will allow the EU to assess environmental economic accounts , taking sustainable development into consideration .
the next item is the debate on the report by Giusto Catania , on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs , on the Future of the European Common Asylum System .
it spoke of the removal of all sanctions .
in Greece there are only 10 tax exiles who say that they earn more than EUR 1 million per year .
the following questions have been submitted to the Commission .
in writing . - ( PT ) Due to the delay in implementing the new structural programmes and subsequently the operational programmes presented by Member States , appropriations totalling EUR 3 525 million from the 2007 EU budget for the European Regional Development Fund ( ERDF ) , the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development ( EAFRD ) and the European Fisheries Fund ( EFF ) have not been used .
for the end of that game is oppression and shame ,
the Commission proposal amends a text dating from 1992 .
the title of the report - A more effective EU policy for South Caucasus : from promises to actions - bears clear witness that the European Union has been unusually passive in recent years where this region is concerned .
in this respect , as we condemn human rights violations around the world , we must always bear in the mind the human rights violations that take place within the EU .
thirdly , we must not take a dogmatic approach , because this area cannot be regulated by the market alone or by the state alone .
first of all , if the rules of the current Treaty were observed and if the sovereign decision of the Irish people were respected , the draft Treaty of Lisbon should have been abandoned .
if the EU is to be credible in its relations with the outside world in the area of human rights and democracy , we must also be strong within the EU .
however , they are part of the European Parliament 's overarching ambition , namely to build a United States of Europe .
in writing . - I voted in favour of this resolution on the negotiations on the EU-Libya Framework Agreement .
the reason for our decision was that we believe that the original report was better .
last but not least was the commitment of the EU countries to provide a financial injection to the IMF , which not only influenced the willingness of other countries to take on similar commitments , but above all played an important if not key role in the decision to stabilise economies that were unable to help themselves .
Mr Harbour , the Commission is cooperating very closely with the Chinese authorities , in particular , with regard to the safety of toys .
it also seems important to support the provisions which reinforce the exemplary role of the public sector and to recognise that increasing the energy efficiency of buildings has immense potential for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the fight against climate change , in terms both of the adaptation and of tackling the causes of climate change .
this is precisely why I maintain that there is a need for a European green ' New Deal ' , in other words , one that aims at sustainable growth while stimulating and utilising innovation in environmental industry .
this is why I hope that Amendment 74 will receive majority support tomorrow .
the extreme diversity of situations in Europe means that no single policy can be drawn up .
the Commission must give serious consideration to the reactivation of Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement , which could lead to the freezing of assets of members of the junta as well as the suspension of aid .
why should it be different this time ?
sometimes there is a lack of high-calibre legal and administrative care in the way petitions are handled by the European Commission .
we need to do all we can to provide country dwellers , and especially women , with the right conditions for life and economic and personal development .
I therefore think that there are very serious problems with this .
in addition , in the majority of those countries preparing to join the eurozone , the convergence criteria will , in the medium term , also limit what economic stimulus measures can be taken .
no , these kinds of idiotic ideas undermine our credibility and shift the focus away from the correct , effective measures , namely emissions rights trading , the polluter pays principle and other methods which actually work .
Commissioner Barnier 's work should not be underestimated .
if we are to reach an agreement before the end of 2009 , we will clearly need to work together more closely and even more strategically with our primary partners .
this is evidenced by the readiness and enthusiasm of the Lower Silesian local authorities , businessmen and the world of science to get involved in this project .
all of these are good and sound liberal principles , but if we take this to its logical conclusion , people should also be able to move their pensions from one fund to another if the unemployment or pension fund that they have been assigned to by their trade union or employer does not do its job properly .
we in the European Union must be united in pursuing the offensive against climate change , so that we can jointly play a leading global role in that struggle .
the stand taken by Community officers and in the European Parliament resolution confirms that .
Madam President , feeding our population has to be the highest duty of government , and indeed feeding our population is the primary objective of the common agricultural policy .
it is necessary to make decisive progress and not continue in these muddy waters , which only serve to help financial speculators and large capitalist interests .
do you not realise that all the economic costs will be offset by greater female participation in the labour market , less discrimination , gender equality , a better work-life balance and , therefore , in the long term , real economic benefits ?
doing so would mean that we would still be faced with the selection of embryos .
we must eliminate the pro-cyclical effects from the existing regulatory system once and for all .
do not read , sign , is a cynical moral .
future of the European Common Asylum System ( debate )
there has always been a military presence there , and it has made the present situation worse rather than better .
this opportunity to diversify gas sources and increase the share of own resources , and thus reduce our dependency on imports , has now emerged in countries including Poland , France and Germany .
indeed , the ESDP becomes the Common Security and Defence Policy , the CSDP , and it must take on a new dimension .
that was in Spain , and it demonstrated that , for every single job created in the green sector , 2.2 jobs were lost elsewhere .
we must be united in defence of our security .
in writing . - ( DE ) The EU-wide increase in energy efficiency is a central component of a sustainable European energy strategy .
what has been happening up until now or is still happening with certain garages and certain spare parts manufacturers ?
during our informal trialogue negotiations , Parliament insisted on keeping references to certain disbursement conditions that were important for us , such as the efficiency , transparency and accountability of the assistance .
it was therefore gratifying to see a report which highlights the initiatives being carried out in Europe .
in 2009. the Commission adopted a communication on ' Solidarity and health : reducing health inequalities in the European Union ' and this communication stresses the need to bridge inequalities in health .
however , a cooperative tone can achieve much more in this area than the appearance of coercion .
the fundamentalist Hindus are blaming Christians for this murder , without just cause .
pending the introduction of the European Train Control System ( ETCS ) , Belgium developed its own system , but this came far too late and was extremely inadequate .
I very much hope that the European Commission will fulfil its duty and will provide all necessary information on the state of negotiations .
the Eurovignette report contradicts these aims in the case of the peripheral Member States of the European Union .
particularly controversial is its interference in the affairs of the food processing industry .
it still remains to be seen what they will be , so we will have to go on working with them .
we must remember that trade is essentially a good thing .
why ?
the text proposed by the Commission has also been refined and simplified , and emphasis has been given to creating space for the legitimate interests of individual countries , both in terms of establishing corridors and managing and administering them .
citizens should have the same level of transparency , whether they are submitting a formal complaint or exercising their right to submit a petition , on the basis of the Treaty ; clear information should therefore be made available to the Committee on Petitions on the state of progress of infringement proceedings which are also relevant to pending petitions .
many commendable advances have been made , such as , for example , the supervision of fund managers ' pay in order neither to encourage nor reward disproportionate risk taking , to give just one example .
in supporting the resolution and the demand for compensation , we would , however , point out that in modern times , too , the boundary between the normal and the pathological is being eroded , and this flies in the face of moral norms , so there is a need for radical moves to combat prostitution as a form of modern-day slavery .
this is also true for Georgia .
the intention now is to inform Member States and Parliament of the main reactions and suggestions received , and these will also be published .
instead , they should be given the opportunity to redeploy their fisheries resources and to refocus their factors of production on energy-saving tools .
in particular , the Heads called for determined action in ensuring the availability of adequate financial support through the European Financial Stability Facility pending the entry into force of the permanent mechanism .
it is relatively easy to circumvent , for example by using as intermediaries investment companies that the directive does not define as paying agents and which are , therefore , under no obligation to participate in the information exchange system .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I should first of all like to thank the President , who is doing us the honour of chairing a debate on an issue that is so very important for industrial policy and the internal market .
it is time we heard from the Commission itself whether it has yet started to develop these guidelines .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , the preservation of biological diversity represents a challenge for the contemporary world .
voting time
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however , I want to make clear that my vote in favour of Amendment 12 should not be interpreted in any way as support for establishing minimum wages in the EU .
in an internal market which is based on the principles of technical harmonisation of rules governing the sale of products in the European market and the mutual recognition principle , we cannot have a situation in which the marketing of products which can already be put on sale in one Member State is substantially delayed or , in a worst-case scenario , actually obstructed due to excessive bureaucracy in another .
the second question is simple , too .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , we must allow the realities to speak for themselves , and the summit on Siberian overflights .
Eurobarometer polls show that over 70 % of people want decision-makers to give the same weight to environmental policy as they do to the economy and to social issues .
the report raised the very important issue of the appropriate representation of the European Parliament in dialogues and consultations between the European Union and third countries .
( DE ) Mr President , I thank Mrs Lynne for spending time on the subject of anti-discrimination and I am completely on her side up to a certain point .
there are just two things I would like to say .
it now remains for Greece to implement them .
this report takes a critical stance on the state of democracy in this country , expressing concern about corruption and the state of civil society but , at the same time , it calls upon the Tajik Government to tackle the problematic situation in the field of education and training , as soon as possible .
at the same time , the UN is struggling for its credibility when Iran is among the members of the Women 's Rights Council .
to wait for a phantom candidate would be a mistake .
a little later I met a retired lady , Lucia Annone .
the Food and Safety Agency says : ' there is no indication that differences exist in terms of food safety between food products from healthy cattle and pig clones and their progeny , compared with those from healthy , conventionally-bred animals . '
I wish to give you some current information .
we need a fair distribution between farms , but also between the Member States , and we need to practise a fair trade policy towards less developed countries .
a policy of prevention that uses the most appropriate foreign policy instruments , with a view to tackling and confronting the causes of instability , could help to transform the current ' desperate necessity ' for emigration into an ' opportunity ' for emigration .
this is for the very simple reason that proof of incitement cannot be produced until people have already died - but then it is too late .
there was clear support for the legitimate aspirations of the people of Egypt and clear confirmation that the Commission stands ready to step up its assistance to Egypt and its people in this transition .
in writing . - ( PT ) Taking into account the Court of Auditors ' report on the annual accounts of the European Network and Information Security Agency ( ENISA ) for the financial year 2009 , together with the ENISA 's replies , I voted for this decision , which grants the Executive Director of the ENISA discharge in respect of the implementation of the ENISA budget for the financial year 2009 .
( EL ) The Lisbon Strategy set high targets , but Europe did not manage to implement them .
is it feasible to do this one year in advance ?
'We never pay any-one Dane-geld ,
it is clear that standards vary too much between Member States .
to say what , exactly ?
enhanced cooperation between States ,
cheap does not always mean good , nor does cheap always mean safe .
as for the stockpiles of antiviral drugs ; you yourself told us a few days ago that stocks were sufficient to cover 16 % of the population , when we had said that the figure needed to be 30 % .
Mr Magalhães emphasised this point and I fully agree : we have no credibility unless we demonstrate that unlawful conduct can be neither rewarded nor tolerated .
of course , it is important for more Members to be here .
also I would like to compliment the quaestors , including my own compatriot , Jim Higgins , and others who are working hard to get Frankfurt-Hahn designated the same as Frankfurt airport and Strasbourg , from the point of view of transportation .
that has no place in this report , and it is even counterproductive to include it in this report .
however , adopting this proposal will mean that hauliers should get ready for a new box in the cabs of their lorries , with associated new taxes , of course .
ladies and gentlemen , we can do many things together with Russia , but , as has also been said , there is one aspect of the relationship that we should not forget , since Russia is a European country and a neighbour .
the report in question points out the developments in European defence policy since the Treaty of Lisbon came into force .
do you think you could intervene , Commissioner ?
the European Union , the United States and other world powers , however , in their criticism of human rights violations in China , are very soft .
the declaration of independence in Kosovo was eagerly awaited , and it led to real joy among the populace , which , as a European , I can easily relate to .
as part of our European mandate , it is our duty to persuade our governments to invest more in innovation and new environment-related technologies .
the single market review set out the Commission 's plans for a consumer scoreboard and for more detailed price monitoring , but I would like especially to stress that this is about monitoring .
statement by the President
however , there are clear cases in which self-regulation does not safeguard equal treatment of all stakeholders ;
I also believe that the proposal in the report to increase the Community 's financial commitment in order to uphold this pillar of political cohesion is a positive one .
we need to restore confidence and stability in the banking sector , and ensure that credit continues to fuel the real economy , business , employment and growth .
( BG ) Dear colleagues , My country Bulgaria is regrettably among the leading nations in terms of the ageing of the population in Europe .
however , Romania has responded to all the enquiries from the European institutions , received the CIA committee and supplied all the relevant information .
any thought of a renationalising cohesion policy ought to be rejected .
at present , this applies to any product that is covered by a European directive .
now we have the opportunity to do so , and we must use it .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , this debate is actually about innovative financing , but we have already heard something about that .
presentation by the Council of the draft general budget - Budget 2008
in order for there to be a fundamental improvement in relations between the European Union , its Member States and Belarus , Belarus must steer towards reforms and democratisation .
obviously we are debating the 2006 report .
in Ireland we had a particular problem during the debate on the Lisbon Treaty since , whenever something negative arises , we tend to blame the European Union .
it is anything but angelic .
I would like to express our gratitude to the European Parliament for the additional amount of EUR 3 million , within the 2008 EU budget , for cultural heritage reconstruction in the war-affected areas in the Western Balkans .
all Europeans would benefit from decisions like today 's , because we are talking about many independent areas - transport , new technologies and the efficiency of buildings , manufacturing and transfer infrastructure .
however , the Russian Federation must observe these agreements and standard international regulations .
therefore , I think it is necessary to extend the period for choosing ground handling service providers .
Mr President , I voted in favour of the report by Mr Costa on the agreement between the European Community and Israel on certain aspects of air services .
in this context , the discussion of whether the inflation rate is 2.3 % , 2.5 % or 2.7 % is , in the final analysis , mere shadow-boxing .
the vote will take place at the end of the debate .
Member of the Commission . - ( SK ) I have already explained the essence of the Commission 's mission in my introduction and I can only confirm once again that we are both ready and willing , which is also a factor .
I welcome the European Commission 's proposal to establish a source of funds other than unused European Social Fund resources , in response to the repeated statements by the European Parliament that it is necessary to identify appropriate budgetary mechanisms for the transfer of funds , given that the EGF was set up to be a specific and separate instrument with its own aims and funding periods .
the Union has a very important role in the international economy but , at the same time , it is also one of the main promoters of the respect for fundamental human rights .
in fact , the ability to recreate something offered to us and , on that basis , give rise to something new , is fundamental to the development of any economy and , above all , to achieving social welfare .
that is why we will only accept this if it is all made clearer for taxpayers .
a second conclusion is that the way out of the crisis must not look to the ordinary citizen like a power struggle between those who want to avoid economic losses and those who want to uphold the precautionary principle .
I would , however , like to thank the Commission for responding in a very positive and constructive manner to the criticisms voiced in this report and , in particular , the exchange of letters between Commissioner Piebalgs and Ms Niebler , which has brought an update to Parliament on the situation .
the spread of bacteria resistant to antimicrobial medication is most commonly a consequence of inappropriate use across the entire healthcare system .
over the years the free movement of capital has contributed to growth in Europe and in the world at large .
it is proof that we have acted responsibly and we have reached a compromise with the Council and the Commission in order to adopt this package at first reading .
Liberals were chiefly concerned with individual freedoms and the right of entrepreneurship .
foreign investors are said to fear the lawlessness that reigns in this country where , last week , no fewer than 3 000 buildings and companies were expropriated through fraud and violence .
in this context , my services carried out an exploratory mission in June , and they identified , I have to say , important shortcomings in the framework and the conditions for elections , including concerns about the independence of the Election Commission , the completeness and the accuracy of the voter register , restrictive candidature provisions , as well as lack of transparency in the results process .
in conclusion , the Commission is bound to make certain declarations which form part of the compromise agreed with the legislative institutions .
can Member States themselves choose which acts they will implement and which they will not ?
furthermore , it is necessary to analyse the impact of micro-finance instruments on the labour market and to allow more flexibility to use money from the European Social Fund .
every European state has a moral and direct interest since this is related to the issue of crime and the security of the half a billion citizens who have given us a mandate to protect them with urgent , tangible actions , both with regard to existing problems and those which are likely to develop rapidly .
we now face a mounting challenge in the world where the interest for the EU and the USA is in having systems which promote growth rather than protectionism and isolationism .
lastly , I come to the report by Mr López-Istúriz White ; I am also very grateful to him for having taken up Mrs Dati 's excellent initiative by having us work in Lille on this subject that is so important in our societies .
every year in Europe , hundreds of thousands of people are sold as if they were objects and , fortunately , today we feel an ever-increasing need to protect the victims of trafficking in human beings from the use of false documents , from prostitution and from immigration .
there have been many improvements legally , but I call on the Turkish Government to do absolutely everything to ensure proper implementation of these and - in view of the upcoming elections - respond to Parliament 's call for quotas to increase the number of women in representative positions .
Parliament 's Rules of Procedure , which were amended in May 2009 , now provide for a new procedure for joint meetings of parliamentary committees whenever an issue does not fall clearly within the competence of a single committee .
we therefore need strong policies and especially a stronger reliable energy policy .
what we have seen in the last few weeks , in diplomatic terms , is a car crash organised by Beijing .
the financial crisis arose partly as a result of banks abusing their customers ' trust and taking excessive risks with their customers ' money .
the Schengen Accords provided a great stimulus towards building a European Union of the citizens .
there will be very little tax to cooperate over .
we should not promote distillation . instead , we ought to promote European wines in order to recover lost markets and win new ones .
a linear reduction in the number of products would be insane .
we also welcome Uzbekistan 's introduction of habeas corpus and the abolition of the death penalty , which should come into effect in January 2008 .
however , I should like to add that this issue should be paid more attention .
the first step in this search is to understand that the Lisbon Strategy lacks an external dimension and that it will have to become a part of a more complex economic and social strategy .
in order to make the situation simpler , more transparent and consistent with the provisions of the Euratom Treaty , I propose that the Supply Agency have its own budget line which will be separate from the budget of the Commission departments and in which administrative expenditure will be clearly separated from the Agency 's operational expenditure .
this challenge , which is as important as it is complex , can be met by a package of measures with either immediate or medium-term effects .
otherwise , we will not be able to speak of the rule of law , which we are so fond of talking and teaching others about .
cattle and sheep are particularly badly affected by the disease , which is caused by a virus transmitted by the gnat , a type of midge .
however , we cannot necessarily take the euro for granted in future .
( DE ) Madam President , I have a question for Mr Strejček .
if there were less corruption in countries of origin , and if there were less corruption in transit countries , then many traffickers in human beings would be stopped en route to Europe and there would be more cooperation ; but that is only one example .
current events in the region highlight once again the importance of transparency in the business of government and of the democratic responsibility of governments to the citizens they represent .
bacteria are becoming more and more resistant , with the result that antibiotics will be of very limited use in the future .
( RO ) Respect for the right to privacy has become a particularly topical subject of late , with the introduction of new information technologies .
Mr President , Commissioners , we must ensure that the promises of donations made at the donors ' conference henceforth materialise as actual funds , and also actually reach their intended recipients .
we need to reach an ambitious and comprehensive agreement in Copenhagen .
that almost raises the question of whether you would like to apply to join the government .
unfortunately , the external and internal differences within the EU , by which I mean the differences between the Western European and Eastern European regions , are not confined to economic differences and differences in social services .
we cannot achieve our goals unless we work in partnership with the US and Japan , China and India .
let me reiterate at this point that Europe , in my view , could not possibly play the pioneering role which would fulfil the hopes of people throughout the world on the basis of high-risk nuclear energy or of a renewed reliance on coal .
what right , then , do we have to say that the situation in Chechnya is an internal matter ?
in the post-socialist countries , on the other hand , these companies were at an administrative disadvantage , resulting in the large-scale destruction not only of agricultural sectors , but also rural areas and entire regions .
5 .
we know that the countdown has begun for Spain and Portugal .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , thank you very much for your kind attention .
we also have an intense biannual human rights dialogue and then of course sectoral dialogues on different issues , trade obviously being one of particular importance .
what we should be discussing are those policies which promote the centralisation and concentration of wealth and the increase in social inequalities .
there are a large number of programmes which should enable the governments and authorities of the candidate countries to deal with the problem properly .
it needs to be fortified with a substantial amount of money , as there are many civil crises , civilian crises and military crises around the world .
at the very least , the attacks on freedom of expression and the poor administration of the judicial system there must be denounced .
in addition to this , the Directive clarifies the definitions of hospital and non-hospital care and in that way simplifies the procedures and conditions to access cross-border health care .
this is , of course , a complex issue , and we have to take into account all those sensitive matters which are related to simplification , but the fact is that certain provisions in the Regulations are really outdated and need to be reconsidered and revised .
furthermore , we believe that there is a need , in particular , to look at products coming from third countries , in other words , countries outside the EU .
freedom of trade and the smooth operation of the Internal Market in the EU come with rights and obligations attached .
as President-in-Office of the Council , I will naturally listen carefully to your speeches and I look forward to a fruitful exchange of views , which will help us all in the subsequent negotiations .
that is the outcome of the Strategy for Safety on European Union Roads between 2000 and 2010 , 15 000 more people than the reduced target set by the Commission .
I welcome very much the commitment of the Commission to relaunch this spring the negotiations and I reiterate in front of you that this problem should be solved once and for all before Croatia joins the EU .
that has been proven economically , financially and empirically .
maybe it is because there are 27 interpretations of what energy security means .
the rather technical nature of the first recommendation should not detract from the importance of this instrument .
it is a blow to our food policy with its high level of consumer protection .
Mr President , the Special Court for Sierra Leone has sentenced Issa Hassan Sesay , the Commanding Officer of the Revolutionary United Front , to 52 years ' imprisonment . it has also sentenced Morris Kallon , one of the commanders of the RUF , to 40 years ' imprisonment , and Augustine Gbao , responsible for security in the RUF , to 25 years ' imprisonment .
we must consider these very carefully , with great intelligence , and remain mindful of the concerns and needs of all the countries affected .
the EU is South Africa 's main trading partner ; in 2009 , the EU was the destination for about 34 % of total South African exports and the source of about 35 % of total imports to South Africa .
as the business directory companies are often established in a different EU Member State from that of their victims , it is difficult for the latter to seek protection and / or redress from national authorities .
agreement between the EC and India on certain aspects of air services (
people risk being prosecuted and convicted , not because of something they have done , but because of their opinions and the expression of those opinions .
our Prime Minster is about to meet the rapporteurs and the coordinators who are responsible for this package and I hope that we will have extremely fruitful cooperation with Parliament .
I would like the Commission to look more closely into the possibilities of making greater use of prize funds , whereby a person who develops a new pharmaceutical product receives a one-off sum .
buildings are estimated to cause 36 % of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU .
this is no longer a market economy , but a jungle economy .
the inevitably unfair competition that will result from this risks penalising entire regions , which have specialised in the production of a quality rosé , tailored to a growing demand .
the law of the Czech Republic is traditionally based on the criminal liability only of natural persons .
it needs to focus on the expectations of Europe 's people , and I also hope that this group will be representative of the diversity of the Europe of today .
I do not believe tax harmonisation or tax should be a competence of these institutions at all .
the rapporteur has done an excellent job in this regard .
I should like to single out several points in my report for particular attention .
firstly , case-law : the Court has ruled that such a system could be justified under certain circumstances .
it should be noted that the Ombudsman has conducted an intensive information campaign , which has resulted in greater awareness of citizens ' rights and better understanding of his spheres of competence .
I have therefore voted in favour of this report .
I would entreat this House to stop believing that we can allow the profits of others to be privatised and the losses to be socialised .
'Madam , unfortunately , as I suspected , economy class is full .
better late than never !
other countries have now done that .
approximately 40 % of the water used could be saved .
either it is health that takes precedence or it is the market .
this programme will facilitate the understanding and study of this underwater heritage and help to prevent looting , thus enabling its proper preservation .
certification and identification of the sustainable production of biofuels is therefore an essential requirement for the protection of the rainforests and the world 's climate .
as a fraction of Gross Domestic Product , it amounted to 0.95 % .
the Republic of Moldova shares the European Union 's values .
( DE ) Madam President , I do apologise for my late arrival .
I am pleased that Javier Solana , the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy and Security , was so quick to speak out .
Mrs Roithová talked about the situation in her country but mentioned that it was not only in her country that the high fees are often the result of a fragmented market with only a few players .
I know that the rapporteur , Mrs Gebhardt , wants to protect trade union rights .
( PL ) Mr President , the double referendum in Ireland on the Lisbon Treaty has created a dangerous precedent .
the European arrest warrant - as others have said - and the whole of criminal justice is based on mutual trust .
this has been a custom here for many years now , but financing construction projects in this way is not open or transparent .
European Union delegations must include an adequate number of officials specialised in human rights and dedicated to pursuing the universal abolition of the death penalty .
( CS ) All I can do is to say that , in just a few words , Mr Crowley gave us an almost perfect analysis of the problem .
the area of land has been reduced in order to increase subsidies , and the overall amount of funding per country has been retained .
however , scientific advances have allowed the creation of new inactivated vaccines .
for its part , Mrs Klamt 's report sets out to define the entry conditions for highly qualified nationals on to European soil and this is something we absolutely need .
I should also like to congratulate the Commissioner .
this means that we should recognise the efforts undertaken by the Egyptian authorities for their release and , in particular , support this country in the fight against human trafficking .
its aim is to ensure that the regulatory framework helps to stimulate the spirit of enterprise and innovation among micro- and small enterprises so that they become more competitive and turn the potential of the internal market to best account .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( NL ) Madam President , I know that I could never be accused of being a Tory , but I too voted against the European arrest warrant .
who is better aware of this community 's deep-rooted problems , if not the community itself ?
the Klaß report extends the range of controls and limits the use of PPPs to essential use .
the Commission has established three objectives for European energy policy : ( I ) to move towards a low carbon energy system ; ( ii ) to ensure security of energy supply ; ( iii ) to ensure that the EU 's competitiveness and the supply of energy to all consumers at affordable prices are strengthened .
therefore , I call on the Commission and the Council to give due consideration to the Parliament 's recommendations , to ensure that this strategy is a success .
in the meantime it is true that the media circus will continue .
written declarations for entry in the register ( Rule 116 ) : see Minutes
it means unnecessarily high transport costs ; that means unladen , empty lorries going here and there .
where would we be today if we had implemented the provisions of the so-called Delors Plan ?
I therefore call upon you in this instance to support the position adopted in the Council common position on this issue .
I also welcome the high-ranking delegation accompanying King Abdullah , particularly the Speakers of both Houses of the Jordanian Parliament .
Member of the Commission . - ( CS ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to thank the rapporteur , Mrs Madeira , for the report and to congratulate her on the quality and significance of her work : the coastal regions are very important for the EU since a considerable proportion of economic activity is concentrated in these areas .
I should like to illustrate this by a small experience of my own .
this involves not only Ireland and the entire current European Union , but also the future of Europe , which is not yet entirely united .
after the servitude of Communism , the enlargement process contributed to making democracy a reality and to strengthening stability on our continent .
furthermore , Commissioner , I would ask you to marshal your considerable capacities and efforts to ensure that free and fair elections can be held and , on the basis of the guarantees you referred to in your speech , that the European Union is present and has a presence in the process in Pakistan which is so very important for the stability of the region and all relations between that region and the European Union .
I therefore voted in favour .
we held long discussions with them and in the end , agreed on many compromise amendments .
taxes , as we know , are a very sensitive subject .
however , we must acknowledge that there is considerable scope for strengthening the international services trade , with the benefits that this would bring , both for companies and , even more so , for the consumer .
but our Union is not an abstract construct ; it is not just another administrative level of governance .
there are such people in this Chamber .
finally , with regard to aid for developing countries , I am afraid I do not share your point of view .
I am sorry about the long answer but the details were also substantial .
finally , Madam President , I would like to ask why the Slovak Member who was uttering a diatribe full of hatred against Hungarians was allowed to speak on two occasions .
the use of criminal sanctions in this proposal should not be the competence of the EU and those that argue that the expulsion of migrant workers is the solution to exploitation are misguided .
I am particularly concerned about the situation that micro-businesses find themselves in .
the amendments proposed by the European Parliament introduce many significant changes to the Commission 's proposal , and these should be included by the Council .
what could be more natural , where children are concerned ?
furthermore , the European integration platform of the current administration has contributed to unprecedented dynamic development in relations with the EU .
that has not happened .
what legislative initiatives is the Commission considering regarding the European Union 's future industrial policy and for generating new jobs ?
we have a good level of education and the state invests in these young women and mothers .
we are entering a new phase in which - I hope - the way can also be reopened towards a Constitution for Europe .
this is within a framework of collaboration with the United States , which assumes leadership in the process of affirming an imperial hegemony and guaranteeing the control of markets and resources , some of which are becoming increasingly scarce .
( HU ) Thank you , Mr President .
the third point I want to make is this .
that concludes Question Time .
firstly , to implement a really purposeful policy in favour of our industries , of our territories and of everything that forges a European identity .
the European Union must continue its efforts at foreign policy level , especially discussions with the United States and China .
if we do not react together , if the EU does not react , the migratory wave of displaced people will continue .
we began on 23 July and completed it on 18 October .
I think it would be an opportunity to send a message , not just of respect and memory , but also of hope for the future - a future within the European Union , built on reconciliation , allowing wounds to heal over time .
I think this has to be dealt with in the resolution , which we look forward to ; the results will be in the legislative and work programme in the autumn .
some people were pulling in one direction , others in another .
( for the outcome and other details of the vote : see Minutes )
it will assist Croatia in taking the necessary steps to reach the final stage of the negotiations .
the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe support the result of the vote in the Committee on Budgets .
I therefore find it rather regrettable that we have not made the most of this vote and grasped the opportunity at long last to exert more pressure against the continued existence of this democratic deficit .
the entire team was pulling together .
this is the model which , without your saying a single word about it , plunges the European ideal into the depths of hostile abstentions from the European elections , in particular , and that is remarkable , in the new Member States .
the Union for the Mediterranean is an ambitious project with a number of undoubtedly positive aspects , in particular , as regards the future possibility of strengthening , by means of this political and economic partnership , instruments to control immigration and combat the flows of illegal immigrants which have affected the Mediterranean in recent years .
( SL ) The decision of the Irish people was democratic and we respect it , and there is no need to appeal to us democrats to show respect .
we did not need this debate and now is not the time to adopt resolutions on Ukraine , neither today nor tomorrow .
furthermore , it will give European industry the opportunity to play a leading international role in clean technologies and will therefore give it a competitive advantage .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , as rapporteur for the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , I would like to express my support for the European Commission 's approach to this proposal and report , as was voted on in committee .
what is the Commission 's assessment of this aspect in the Austrian act on environmental impact assessments ?
hence , codecision is the right procedure to choose .
perhaps the Commissioner will see fit to favour the needs of harmless recreational fishermen in the UK in the same way as her predecessor showed open sensitivity to the needs of his own country 's fishermen when he opposed a ban on the sale of bluefin tuna , an industry that earned EUR 100 million a year for his country , Malta .
if they can accept responsibility , then they will be able to benefit from our solidarity .
today , we are therefore in effect setting out a road map which should allow parliamentarians , public bodies and civil society to exercise ongoing , extreme vigilance in the very important areas you have mentioned .
for reasons of harmonisation and simplification , it is important that changes to marketing authorisations should be governed by the same regulatory requirements , whatever licensing procedure was initially used .
the report is a motion for a resolution which calls on the Member States and the states concerned to work to uphold women 's rights .
indeed , European identity only has meaning if it is endorsed by our young fellow citizens .
push hard for this , let us not give in !
this would be achieved by progressive approximation of the two sets of requirements and regulatory processes , by regular consultations between the parties to verify the continued fitness and ability of the regulatory bodies involved in the implementation of the Agreement , and by establishing a joint committee which would propose solutions to any problem arising from its implementation .
furthermore , the definitions have been stated more precisely and clearer guidelines worked out for the authorities in the Member States .
so it seems that we will have to be content with concluding this work in the autumn , following political agreement by the Council in June , and that is very disappointing both to myself and to many colleagues who have worked so hard .
in March , the military junta agreed with the opposition to have elections before the end of 2009 , which gave reasonable hope for a peaceful and democratic transition .
in practical terms , their education stops at a very early stage .
the redistribution of agricultural land did not follow a proper plan , but was done entirely arbitrarily , with his most aggressive supporters grabbing the land for themselves .
with the introduction of the Blue Card , developing countries will lose specialists , in whose training the EU also participated , particularly from the most sensitive areas - education and health .
this vote has enabled us to reaffirm our priorities towards the poorest , for whom a EUR 100 million package has been requested , and also towards dairy producers for whom we would like to see the milk fund continue .
in general , the resolution correctly analyses the steps the Republic of Moldova must take to come closer to achieving in a more decisive and credible way the objectives set for any potential Member State by the European Union .
the energy crisis , Mr President , is an environmental crisis ; it calls for emergency plans and binding policy measures .
the next item is the report by Mr Martin , on behalf of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs , on adaptation of the European Parliament 's Rules of Procedure to the Lisbon Treaty .
Georgia has made noteworthy efforts to develop closer relations with the European Union , as is evident in a range of recent actions .
it is time for the Member States to genuinely commit in order to guarantee high quality training for all young Europeans .
I am convinced that this is what will be said in the document that Commissioner Rehn is preparing on the subject and will present to the Commission on 12 May .
any cancellation of the aid would lead merely to the end of production , to increased imports and would have no effect on smoking .
yet the conditions for the animals did not improve and we were instead told , at that point , that the monitoring would work from now on , that GPS systems would be introduced from now on , that the drivers would be trained from now on and that the lorries would work better from now on .
I would like , through you , Mr President - I have checked with the secretariat that it was in order to ask today - to have these three instated .
the only ethical and permanent option in our approach to anti-missile defence systems and other nuclear weapons systems is to abandon their use .
we all know why .
to conclude , I can say that the Commission has been very forthcoming in assessing these cases and has shown a considerable amount of flexibility .
let us find the common roadmap for ratification of the Reform Treaty .
we are aware that some amendments , especially those that propose widening the scope of the regulation , will be subject to Council discussion .
I would particularly like to express my congratulations for taking the approach of essentially leaving things as they are in these guidelines , because there is one principle that is very important , namely reliability and calculability on the part of the European legislator .
we want , today , to have a partner which respects principles which , for us , are fundamental .
on the other hand , I found the Commission interesting and a little more daring in the area of revenue .
let me also add that , in order to succeed , we must also act seriously and pursue our objectives in a way that is clear and transparent .
it is true that these countries have more fragile economies .
therefore , I would like to make a suggestion , and I will certainly do so at the next meeting of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) .
to achieve the potential benefits the Treaty of Lisbon and the citizens ' initiative can bring us , we need to establish a clear procedure .
during the first stage there should be a linear cut of 13.5 % .
conflicting interpretations persist and some of them imply a threat to the lives of unborn children .
development and social cohesion must not be enemies of progress but an integral part of it for more robust integration and coexistence in society .
the Commission can accept and endorse this amendment , which aims at involving the non-euro area Member States in the sanctions regime on a voluntary basis .
a cleverly designed financial transaction tax would provide such a revenue , while simultaneously curbing speculation on financial markets .
the best way of protecting individual people 's health is by protecting the health of everyone as a whole .
if we want to rescue banks that are exposed in Greece , particularly French and German banks , it would be much cheaper just to give them the money directly rather than routing it scenically through Athens .
more often than not the principle of partnership is reduced to sending the plan through the post , allowing as little as a week for comments in some cases .
the aim of approving EU targets for new light commercial vehicles is to avoid fragmentation of the internal market resulting from the adoption of different measures by Member States .
while I accept subsidiarity , I also want to see the Commission put pressure on Member States to make sure that we have proper slaughtering and stunning in the future .
so , instead of the debate on the arrest of the journalist Ernest Vardanyan in Transnistria , a debate on the situation in Thailand .
the first relates to the hostages .
I know from discussions with my colleague , Jacques Barrot , that police forces are building up a network of analyses in order to fight crime on line , and that they are having more and more success in catching the criminals .
( CS ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I voted against the report prepared by Capoulas Santos on the European rural development fund .
a number of points that you raise in the report are actually covered by ongoing and planned actions of the Commission on combating violence against women .
it has provided money and training for Hamas fighters .
my own committee 's priority is very clear : we want a successful conclusion to the Doha Development Round , which unfortunately looks at the moment as if it is being sucked into the black hole of the US presidential selection and election .
in this context the influence of voluntary organisations on the strengthening of local and regional communities should be seen as very positive .
we never asserted otherwise and we always appealed for solidarity in discussing sensitive issues that may affect the process of ratification in those Members States where this topic may sometimes even be controversial .
this indicative list comprises initiatives on which the Commission intends to work over the coming years .
structural causes of imbalances will therefore continue while economic governance will still be rather weak as a process in the making .
I have indeed noted that my position is in the minority , although I do not feel ill at ease .
it is children who represent the future and we must ensure that their rights are enforced and respected in third countries which receive European funding .
we were able to cooperate very closely on the day-to-day agendas .
and of course I cannot fail to mention the forthcoming summit on the Barcelona Process and the Mediterranean Union , which will take place in Paris on 13 July .
we respect the decision of the Member States to enter into the European Pact for Mental Health and Well-being referred to in the report .
the Commission proposed the codecision procedure and tomorrow we are to vote on the compromise agreed during the trialogue and bring this codecision procedure to a close .
the future challenges faced by our cohesion policy , such as globalisation , demographic change , climate change and energy supply , interact with one another in a very complex way .
the European Union will be able to use the experience gained during the shutdown processes with nuclear power plants that are approaching the end of their economic lives .
I do not wish to prolong the debate .
you will soon receive a number of proposals from Parliament on how the directive might be improved .
consequently Lithuania and the other Baltic States strongly support the transition from BONUS ERA-NET + to BONUS-169 .
the Commission , of course , particularly in its role as a ' civil servant ' , is very obviously not popularly elected .
now that we have removed barriers to trade , we must also acquire a common infrastructure , in particular , a common energy infrastructure , and common research so that we can take the lead worldwide .
this lack of transparency arouses genuine suspicion , which can only be diminished by consulting the public and the European Parliament .
these concern mainly budget lines related to market intervention and clearance of accounts and , to a reasonable degree , rural development .
my party is specific to Corsica .
it is immoral and undignified not to respect judicial decisions and , on top of that , to throw them back in the face of a colleague who does have dignity and morality .
for more than ten years , it has turned a deaf ear and has resisted with the powerful automobile lobby .
in my opinion , the Member States cannot then be allowed to start their own negotiations with the US in this area , because this quite simply undermines our negotiating position on data protection .
I simply have a plea to my colleagues in Parliament and to the Commission : please , let us think in future about the unintended consequences of our legislation .
this moment may indeed be a turning point in Greek fiscal history and economic development .
we hope to see him back soon to take up his duties and a normal life .
however , I think , in fact , that this information probably could be mandatory when providing information about the pharmaceutical product .
Madam President , there is none so blind as those that cannot see .
what explains your great impatience and determination to see a European appointed if not your desire to take this step , which you tell us is not urgent and can keep for another day ?
major green investment is needed in areas like renewable infrastructure , with more wind farms in the north and solar energy in the south .
this is already taking place through a number of international organisations and programmes such as FAO and the World Food Programme , as well as through more general forums such as the G20 .
in the past , this country used to carry out the death penalty only in exceptional cases and public executions took place only as a punishment for mass murders or child murders .
Romania has fulfilled its obligations on these counts , but there are still Member States which have not completed this process , thereby resulting in problems in enforcing sanctions properly , on a cross-border basis , and in collecting fines arising from law infringements .
while the Union for the Mediterranean is a very important part of our Neighbourhood Policy , the main bulk of our work with these countries is in the bilateral relationship where many of the southern partners would like to have an advanced status .
secondly , I should like to say to the President of the French Republic : if you want to change the people of Ireland 's opinion , bring Mr Le Pen with you .
in any case , is all this actually susceptible to change ?
it is clear , with the financial crisis and everything that has gone along with it , that the insurance industry is something which cannot be left alone .
for that reason , we welcome the fact that Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn 's proposal begins by providing a definition of innovation .
it is important that , ultimately , MEPs were able to reach a compromise with the Council with regards to the funding of Parliament 's priority objectives , such as combating the impact of the economic recession , and action to promote economic growth , cohesion and employment .
I repeat : Member States must be disciplined , including the Member State I come from .
it is up to Europe to spread human rights to all regions of the world .
that is exactly what we expect from the new Commission .
green growth remains essential for our citizens ' security now and in the future , and so do the principles embodied in the Lisbon Strategy : flexicurity , the knowledge-based economy , employment regulations that are fit for purpose - these are key to a competitive economy and a successful single market .
I call on my fellow Members , those of you who will be back in the next term of office : we are going to have to redouble our efforts to ensure that this Commission measure is ruled out once and for all and not just provisionally .
there is clearly a connection with climate change .
as far as I know , each Member State has such legislation in place .
five per cent of men and 1 % of women are addicted to alcohol .
our amendment reads as follows , therefore - I shall read it out in English , as we have been working in English , so as to get all our fellow Members on board as quickly as possible :
less and less physical activity is being practised in individual Member States of the European Union , and sport is taken ever less seriously , despite its significant social and cultural role .
innovation was an objective in the Lisbon Strategy but , unfortunately , it only remained a principle on paper .
the European Union will play a constructive role in the Conference of the Parties , and I am particularly keen to hear Parliament 's views on the various matters that we have on the table .
amendment 9 concerns the right to a fair trial and , if it is adopted - which would surprise me , but anyway - that would mean that Amendment 12 , which is about another topic altogether , will fall .
we must prevent rivalry over subsidies between the various players on the European market .
your oral dialogue is also at issue though , of course .
free markets constitute the basis for the functioning of successful economies , but free markets need rules and compliance , and rules and compliance need to be tightened if irresponsible behaviour puts at risk what cannot and should not be at risk .
however , compliance with imported products to equivalent quality specifications remains a problem .
Mr President , on behalf of the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy , I should like to thank the rapporteur , Guido Sacconi .
that is why we urgently need to tighten the rules on import , export and trade in fake medicines .
for this reason , we very much welcome the fact that the lead committee has taken our amendments on board in its report and is proposing a structure that puts less strain on our budget .
now Ireland decided to carry out a second referendum .
are there any objections ?
thank you very much .
as was the case in 2004 , the Council Presidency will be invited to choose a candidate from the main European Parliamentary group , to hold this important position , and it will then fall to our Parliament on 15 July to voice its opinion on this choice , which will constitute one of the first major political actions of the new parliamentary term .
among other important features of the report , I found the recommendation that the candidate countries of the European Union that are also member states of NATO should be granted some temporary status in the European Defence Agency ( EDA ) .
the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) is very attached to secular principles and is in favour of respect being shown for all religions in Europe , including Islam .
unfortunately , instances of violations of the rights of minors often occur in certain parts of Europe - in Europe , where we are so proud of our highly developed system for the protection of human rights .
this achievement is the result of ten years ' work .
so that is my particular reference for Kerem Shalom .
energy supply and energy security are important , of course they are , but primarily only within the framework of a more global objective , and in particular within the framework of an energy system which will be completely independent and completely sustainable in the long term .
therefore , the European Union and the European Parliament should not interfere in this matter with the South Korean authorities .
the authorities in Sweden now have the right to monitor Internet traffic without there being either a suspicion of crime or any risk to the safety of individuals or society .
I believe it is a good idea for the standing committee of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly to follow up resolutions by meeting with Commission officials responsible for the relevant areas .
fishing is very important to the whole of the EU , therefore it should not simply be seen as an activity , but as a sector which is a direct source of employment .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the Commission strongly condemns any form of violence against the Roma and asks the authorities of all the Member States to ensure the personal safety of all the people within their territory .
therefore , it is reasonable not to include every pack of aspirins or every over-the-counter medicine automatically right from the start .
since then , its relations with the European Union have become ever closer , and Montenegro has clearly chosen to steer a European course .
almost exactly one year ago the International Court of Justice issued custody orders for some of these perpetrators .
on Sunday , 5 June , the experts started their mission to assist German authorities with the ongoing epidemiology , verify the results and contribute to the ongoing investigations to identify the source .
we also need to negotiate with Russia in connection with issues relating to the partnership and cooperation agreements and energy security now that Russia - wrongly , not rightly - has withdrawn from the energy charter .
since then it has been unclear when the Council will be able to adopt a common position and when this will be communicated to the European Parliament .
we will take a decision and will feed into the international debate on all those matters , but I believe it is also important to have technically sound proposals .
it is also a territory which could provide routes for the transfer of energy sources to Europe .
this agreement gives reciprocal access to short-stay , visa-free travel for all EU and Brazilian citizens holding a diplomatic , service or official passport .
Member States may deem it necessary to compensate temporarily certain installations from CO2 costs passed on in electricity prices if the CO2 costs might otherwise expose them to the risk of carbon leakage .
this is already a hidden subsidy which has contributed to making it possible for European fisheries to go on fishing depleted fish stocks ; and the segments in the fisheries sector which have the highest consumption of fossil fuels are , in fact , the most destructive ones , such as beam trawlers and bottom trawlers .
this is not a European veto .
personally I take this law as an unfortunate move and as a profound misunderstanding , to say the very least .
that is exactly what the President of the European Council wants for the enlarged G8 by the end of the year .
the first concerns infrastructure : on the island of Sicily , for example , a good deal of water - estimated to be as much as 30 % - is lost owing to poor maintenance of the water mains .
Europe should deal with its neighbourhood , and not with prioritised neighbours .
I am convinced that the European Union must maintain the lead in the battle against climate change and that any delay in implementing that action will increase environmental , social and economic costs out of all proportion .
we strongly reject nuclear energy as a sustainable , renewable source of energy .
( PL ) Madam President , Commissioner , after so many speeches , and mostly Polish ones , I have only two comments .
reinforcing the principle of interinstitutional coordination is also a very important point which the Commission rather suppresses in its proposal , which is clearly detrimental because , as a number of previous speakers have already said , we all believe that the Lisbon Treaty will soon enter into force and therefore it would be good if this context could be incorporated .
the Council needs to be scrutinised in the same way as every other European institution , and written documents must be provided in order for discharge to be granted .
I would like to thank the Commission for this initiative and I will not detain us any longer as time is limited .
we cannot run the risk of creating a regulatory environment that is so strict that it could result in recovery being delayed further , or the EU turning into an unattractive financial market , in a climate of strong competition .
it offers the best basis for convincing our citizens in local debate and for entering into serious negotiations with the Council , which is unfortunately notable by its absence today .
they will continue unless we have effective policing of these rules and regulations .
overall , we need to make it easier for businesses to operate in Europe and we need to act now .
I would like to thank the President-in-Office for his answer .
ideally , we would like to legislate on behalf of all Member States in one fell swoop rather than , as is currently the case , via bilateral negotiations , 27 times over .
Mr President , Presidents , ladies and gentlemen , if I have asked to take the floor on behalf of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) in this debate on freedom of the press in Italy , it is first and foremost to denounce the unfortunate use of this European Parliament to debate national issues .
I think urgent action from the European institutions is needed .
Mr Lambsdorff , the idea that the accession candidates will have more commissioners than the founding members is a quite pathetic argument .
therefore , I fully agree with the rapporteur that the ' present report constitutes a further step of a continuous effort . an effort that is our duty .
the use of child labour is also common .
as regards the regulations on supervision , we must strengthen the monitoring and application of Regulation 261 .
the Commission is certainly going to do so when necessary and we will use the TDI mechanisms we have to have an impact on what we consider to be unfair distortions of trade .
that is why volunteering and volunteer organisations need encouragement and support .
we do not want a second Chernobyl .
the new countries have come through the preparatory stage with flying colours .
Mr President , the use of capital punishment on juveniles under the age of 15 was prohibited in Yemen in 1991 .
the extension of the amendment period until 2018 is positive and will make research into , and the production of , non-polluting vehicles more attractive .
this is why I believe that both the European Commission and European Parliament must support this government with financial assistance , which must be granted as quickly as possible , as well as through the expertise the European Union has to offer in the various areas targeted for reform , such as justice or the economy .
your footprint will remain with us for five years .
the united Europe is dealing with the same challenges : demographic ageing , loss of jobs from the perspective of globalization , poverty among children
furthermore , it touches on important issues , such as strengthening the role of the International Criminal Court and the international criminal justice system , promoting accountability , putting an end to impunity , and strengthening the crisis-prevention structures and their effectiveness within the United Nations Development Programme , with a view to transforming this organisation into a global leader in crisis prevention and recovery .
Mr President , since 2004 I have had many new colleagues from the accession countries here , some of whom I am proud to call my friends .
I would like to stress that the Council did not discuss this question , so we cannot talk about the Council 's position .
furthermore , van manufacturers would have to increase their prices , given the costs endured .
however , step by step , the Community , this method idealised by Jean Monnet and its founders , has advanced into other areas in order to find common solutions to common problems .
I think that the answer I quoted , which is part of the communication , of this policy paper , is an important assurance that we want to support the specificity of sport , particularly of football , in terms of the protection and promotion of young people and the training of , and investment in , young people .
I think it is a good thing that , as a result of this proposal , the focus of the directive and the regulation has moved from drug manufacturers to patients .
we recall our solidarity with the people of Turkey in this regard .
for that reason , it is vitally important that in this report Parliament adopts a strong position in favour of budget levels similar to what they are now .
this is why I am pleased to welcome our report and discussion today .
deputising for the author . - I would like to thank the President-in-Office on my own behalf and on behalf of Mr Crowley for her very comprehensive response and to say that I am very pleased with the approach of both the Council and the Commission .
thank you once again for your report and your commitment .
this year we are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights , which was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 10 December 1948 .
that was all we could have expected from a Belgian Government that has not actually existed for eight months .
in recital F , instead of ' criminal investigations ' , we propose ' judicial investigations ' ; in other words , we propose replacing ' criminal ' with ' judicial ' .
mortgage credit ( vote )
at the same time as the Lisbon Treaty changed the comitology system and assigned new powers to the European Parliament , it endowed the EU with a stronger role and new structures to pursue foreign policy more coherently , more comprehensively and with greater commonality .
we need to engage in closer , institutionalised cooperation , primarily in order to promote global democracy and human rights , a society of knowledge and science , global security and stability and data exchange , and this must be done on an equal and mutual footing , as Mrs Reding said .
the average upper limit on emissions for all new cars will be 120 grams of CO2 per kilometre from 2015 , and 95 grams per kilometre from 2020 .
I welcome particularly Mr Mann 's suggestion that if they are out of work for a number of months , at least some work should be given to them .
I am pleased that the Czech Republic holds the Council Presidency because Bavaria and the Czech Republic have exactly the same security interests .
furthermore , I believe that it is crucial that full territorial autonomy be granted to the indigenous Hungarian population of Vojvodina .
this report is also in favour of supporting SMEs which require a lot of support at this time .
the Commission takes the question of safety and consumer protection very seriously and it is working to ensure that the public can benefit from the innovations that nanotechnologies may bring while being protected from any adverse impact .
with this Irish ' yes ' , all the citizens of Europe , directly or indirectly , by a referendum or by their parliaments , have said ' yes ' to the Lisbon Treaty .
anyone who followed with horror the events that made victims of the inhabitants of the martyr city of Sarajevo during the war in Bosnia , and which damaged its buildings , cannot fail to welcome the city 's designation as European Capital of Culture 2014 .
at the same time , your report underlines that systematic and grave violations of human rights are continuing on a day-to-day basis in China , Russia , Iran and other countries , yet these facts are really not taken into account while developing economic relations with such states. it is unacceptable that the same rules are being applied differently on different cases .
it is interesting , is it not , that we have had the coldest winter so far on record in London for 30 years ?
secondly , customer information .
our intention was to try to get new technology and new ideas in place as well as measures for creating jobs now during this recession in Europe .
I agreed with this document , because due to the scale of the marketing of construction products in the EU and obstacles to trade in the construction sector , it is important to take immediate action .
whatever the background , we do not send in the military to arrest the elected president of a country and send him abroad .
that concludes the vote .
interpretation of the Rules of Procedure : see Minutes
a number of old stagers amongst us know that we have already been fighting hard for this since 2006 , when Mrs Wortmann-Kool led the previous review .
however , they can also create a massive distortion of trade if their financing operations are not disciplined by common rules .
but there are aspects with which we disagree , such as the link that is claimed between energy efficiency and what is called the Europe 2020 Strategy , which provides for the creation of a single market in energy , the promotion of market-based instruments , the European Emissions Trading System masking some of the profits from energy efficiency , and overlooking the need to defend a strong energy public sector that each State needs to promote .
the factory concerned was only supplying something like 10 outlets , so it was a big move to make , but it was the right move to make .
the visible slowdown in international trade growth figures in 2008 was followed by a further contraction in 2009 , far exceeding the actual extent of the economic recession .
in writing . - ( LT ) We have watched Japan suffer a series of horrific disasters , the likes of which no other country has ever experienced together .
I am in favour of the development of this region but I consider the derogation from the rules of origin for processed fishery products to be unacceptable .
this is extremely worrying because it diminishes the credibility of the EIT even before it has been established .
the last information we have is that the proposal is to be voted by the college of Commissioners on 15 October - I would be grateful for any confirmation of that - and I would call very strongly on our Commissioners to take their responsibilities very seriously , because this issue of deforestation is a massively important one ; it is one that concerns the whole Parliament .
the last example just last week was that of pervert Peter Chapman who lured an innocent 17-year-old victim , Ashleigh Hall , to her death and was sentenced to 35 years .
there is no reason to favour Turkey as the main potential mediator for a positive influence in the region .
he is not rich , he is an African American , and at the time of the offence , he was a journalist whose thoughts and writings were politically radical .
despite being practically extinct in developed countries , tuberculosis remains a threat in poor and underdeveloped countries , particularly in Africa , where it continues to kill millions of people every year .
thank you for your efforts and your attention .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , over the last few months while I have been preparing the report on the Renewed Social Agenda , the effects of the economic , financial and social crisis affecting Europe and the world have been getting worse .
it has to be said , though , that it is neither for the European Commission nor us to do anything directly about this ; the only thing we can ultimately do is monitor the implementation of our directives in the European Union .
I agree with reversed qualified majority voting and regret that the Council continues to oppose this mechanism .
for example , if the authorities in Belarus are being asked to end the practice of requiring exit visas for its citizens , in particular children and students , why does the European Union not simplify and liberalise visa procedures in relation to the citizens of Belarus ?
we have , after all , an environmental and an economic crisis , and we have a crisis of hunger and poverty in the world .
( PT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would congratulate the rapporteur on the excellent work he has done , which has resulted in a report that enables a good start to be made on building a Multiannual Financial Framework ( MFF ) , and that constitutes a challenge for the Commission and the Council .
to make the situation absolutely clear , a narrow-minded national approach is blocking the regulations needed for effective control of the financial markets .
I am pleased that two items particularly dear to my heart were included in the text : the country of origin principle and the protection of children in relation to advertising messages .
Europe must open its doors and its heart to North Africa , so that the Mediterranean can become a sea of peace .
it would be a pity if the accession process became a mere formality , dependent on subjective political whim , completed before these fundamental problems are resolved .
with regard to the impact of Basel III on both major and smaller banks , generally speaking , we will proceed very carefully with macro- and micro-economic impact studies , without improvising , and I will use all flexibility margins in order to develop good measures and good decisions that are as well-gauged as possible .
I think that 2010 may be a great year for Europe .
here too , people must face up to their responsibilities .
so it is because the President in the chair at the time broke our own Rules of Procedure that we are here tonight , and all of us that are trying to make our explanations of vote are doing what we can legitimately do to raise our voices in a Parliament that does not really like to listen to minorities .
almost 70 % of them do not smoke , most smokers want to quit and Eurobarometer has clearly shown that 86 % of those surveyed want a ban on smoking in the workplace , while 84 % are for a ban on smoking indoors and 77 % want no smoking at all in restaurants .
I intend to develop specific legislative proposals on these points .
that is quite contrary to reality , experience and totally independent evaluations of the remarkable work done by the Foundation .
the opening at international level of the debate on chemical substances and the part they play in our lives dates back to 1980 , first within the International Labour Organization and then within the United Nations , which adopted the GHS ( Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals ) in December 2002 , with a revision in 2005 .
lastly , I hope that a debate is opened up over Directive 2004 / 38 / EC , which sets out specific conditions - i.e. work , sufficient economic resources and health insurance - to retain the right to reside , but which simultaneously leaves a number of gaps in terms of what happens if these requirements are not fulfilled .
the gender perspective has definitely become more important at an international level .
as long as no compromise has been reached , my successors will be reporting each year for decades to come that progress is not possible .
Maria Lourdes Afiuni has spent her last seven months in a place where her physical integrity and even her life are endangered .
to be able to produce a good end result we had to be disciplined and harmonious in our work since we often had to explore new routes .
at the same time , however , the Commission has acknowledged that these agreements alone may not suffice to address the problem and other possibilities therefore need to be investigated .
this is a pity not only for Europe but also , in particular , for the results of this kind of conference .
we have experienced such things with regard to the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy .
I declare resumed the session of the European Parliament adjourned on Thursday , 27 September 2007 .
as regards information given to the consumer , it is not enough to provide consumers with as much information as possible .
our success must be measured by our capacity to keep growing while ensuring solidarity and cohesion .
the Court of Auditors stated that it has obtained reasonable assurances that the annual accounts for the financial year 2009 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular .
to meet the binding 20 % target it is also essential , as the report very rightly stresses , that electricity generated from renewable sources should have better conditions of access to the grid .
agriculture is the most strategic EU policy , the success of which will help to ensure the survival of Europe 's population in a time of food crisis .
secondly , in terms of its external relations , instead of promoting the revival of the arms race and militarisation of international relations , EU countries should contribute to democracy by promoting a genuine policy of peace and international cooperation , based on respect for the sovereignty of each country and the principle of non-interference , as well as respect for international law and the United Nations Charter .
the new strategy is based on very ambitious ideas .
price in Malta for a box of 50 : EUR 17.00
generally speaking , it is important for the Seoul G20 summit to mark a speeding up of the efforts to implement the framework laid down for promoting stronger , more sustainable and more balanced growth .
this provision , especially in the present times of economic crisis , does not conflict with the principle of a social market economy , a principle to which I subscribe unreservedly .
Mr Meyer , you talked about the issues of foreign policy and disarmament and the issues of whether it is appropriate to think in military terms .
let us understand communism as a terrible part of our common European history .
I am here to give the opinion of the Committee on Budgetary Control .
this prioritisation is particularly important at the moment or during the period of life that marks the transition between studies and the labour market .
you may want to take note of this before your hearing , Mr Barnier , but there is one intern running the organisation in one large Member State .
today 's debate is about the truth .
that is what we are trying to do with different training programmes .
obviously , we support the further development of friendly relations with other countries , but this must be in response to their real needs .
why do we say nothing to condemn the brutal psychological torture and siege of the 3 400 opposition Iranians in Camp Ashraf ?
the euro area economies are better protected against negative economic developments because being part of the euro area is a mark of quality certifying that its members have a real capacity for implementing prudent macroeconomic policies and policies based on sustained growth and prosperity for its citizens .
it is available on the internet .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I think it is very clear that we all want to address the question of human rights whenever and wherever possible .
he said Serbia did not encourage or instigate it , but he did not actually use the word ' condemn ' , which was disappointing .
firstly , attention to education and vocational training .
Madam President , the report which my fellow Member , Mr Ungureanu , has prepared in such a committed way and in a manner that paves the way for cooperation , for which I thank him , brings our attention back to a region characterised by diversity .
ensuring competitiveness is a vital element in the policy mix of a fully functioning single market .
it democratises the European Union , among other things by reinforcing the legislative role of our Parliament .
I wanted to put on record my thanks to the Mayor of Balingen , Dr Reitemann , and the local council for allowing the memorial to be laid in honour of the lives of these young men .
subsequent redistribution will harm promising small artists , with consumers and taxpayers also paying hundreds of millions of euros more .
Europe has to make its voice heard on this point , and you have the instruments with which to act .
the demography cannot be changed .
equally important is cooperation between the EU and Russia on climate change , so as to secure a global agreement at the Copenhagen conference .
the summit has been carefully prepared by the External Action Service working in close cooperation with the Commission and the two Presidents , preparations built on the debates held in the European Council and the Council , on Russia as a Strategic Partner in late 2010 and in January 2011 , on the results of the previous EU-Russia Summit , and the visit by the Russian Government to the Commission in February .
this is not a matter of celebrating the sufferings of millions of people .
yet there is a constituency of genuine concern . I thank the French Presidency for its offer of all assistance with legal guarantees and any assurances that may be required .
I shall also present your agreement on the proposal for a regulation on the CO2 emissions of light-duty vehicles and fuel quality .
the European Union is called on to speed up the progress of the global fight against poverty and hunger - there are around 1.4 billion people suffering extreme poverty .
instead of giving their blessing to the current practice - which violates the human rights of ' illegally staying third-country nationals ' - at European level as well , the Member States should be looking for a lasting solution to the problem of migration .
finally , we must examine how we got into the current crisis and what the causes were .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , our colleague , Mr Coelho , has yet again justified his middle name : Carlos ' Schengen ' Coelho .
more than 400 000 people have fled Libya , mostly to Tunisia and Egypt , but also now to EU countries .
the situation of the crushed , colonised , wounded , killed Palestinian population must not continue .
who was reprimanded ?
the existence of differing Member State legislation obviously also increases compliance costs , ill afforded by SMEs and conducive to tax engineering with larger companies .
however , other areas need to be included .
we will present our proposal tomorrow and I think that it will accommodate many of the concerns that this Parliament has raised .
we support the enhanced role for growth and job creation , since this will be one of the key elements in the development of underdeveloped regions , or it should be .
should this not have been dealt with by the European Union Rule of Law Mission ( EULEX ) instead of Serbia ?
we are not only talking about the approximately 12 million people who directly or indirectly live off this industry but the roughly 30 million people throughout Europe who are involved in this industry 's economic output .
I call on the Polish Government to include the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the Reform Treaty , so that it will be binding in my homeland too .
no provisions have been made to facilitate this in the proposal .
only by granting equal rights will China have peaceful internal development and acceptance of this country .
if we believe what we hear - and we hear a great deal in this House and in the institutions of this European Union - it means that there is one Member State or perhaps a few Member States who have caused anxiety , and unfortunately , also caused anxiety to this Commission , with the pretext that subsidiarity could be infringed .
the Commission has now committed itself to granting public access to the final beneficiary , i.e. the final recipient of the support , from 2007 onwards , which is something that I acknowledge and believe is entirely necessary .
it therefore relates to bridging the gaps in the monitoring system , particularly with regard to illegal , unreported or unregulated fishing activity , and thus receives our agreement .
the information must be monitored before publication .
while we want to see improvements in the common asylum system , what we are asking for here is the removal of the barriers that make for a European resettlement system of very limited credibility , taking care of say 4000 refugees in the whole of the European Union , compared to the kind of figure that we see in the United States and Canada .
the Commission has slowed down the implementation of the system into three stages to be introduced in 3 , 5 , and 6 years .
of course , it is in the security and environmental interests of the whole of Europe to find a final disposal solution .
after 13 years it is time to bring the shameful Srebrenica episode to a closure .
the failure of the Copenhagen Summit , for which we had such high hopes , is still very much in people 's minds , and we all hope that the next chance to advance international cooperation on climate change will not prove another missed opportunity .
however , that is precisely what members of the euro area do not have , because they dumped a great many of the instruments they used to have in Frankfurt .
I would add that , wrongly perhaps , this is what most consumers already believe .
lastly , according to the agreed text , mercury no longer used in the chlor-alkali industry or produced in other industrial enterprises will be regarded as waste and put into safe storage .
monitoring and control are important instruments to ensure the enforcement of the fishing regulations .
the Commission has asked for an external study , which should be ready by the end of this year and will act as a solid factual basis for drawing up the report .
other actions will require additional help .
read the statements by Giscard d 'Estaing .
we think that , in fact , the proposal in that paragraph to give the poorest small developing countries the chance to receive the proceeds of fines imposed on large developing countries by the WTO is a request that the European Parliament should support .
( FI ) Mr President , Commissioner , Iran 's current administration blatantly violates human rights and tramples on the fundamental rights of its citizens .
Member States must introduce measures that will prevent children from buying video games intended for older age groups .
I believe that the European Union has shown a lot of maturity in responding to the ' no ' vote in Ireland , by respecting the outcome , and by giving the Irish authorities the time to digest and analyse , time to work out how to address this situation .
last week , during the Conference of Presidents , you said that we would be holding a debate on Russia in March because Baroness Ashton would be present .
Article 10 of the Regulation provides for an extension of airspace organisation to lower airspace and requires the Commission to determine any other steps that might be necessary ' in the light of progress achieved ' .
it is therefore important to carefully assess the repercussions of the agreement and to adopt appropriate support measures for producers in ACP countries and EU outermost regions .
in a house that obsesses with green policy , some choose to needlessly pump 20 000 tonnes of carbon monoxide into the environment .
this decision must be overturned because otherwise , this country will be unable to break free from the political deadlock that followed the elections and the instances of violence already being reported will increase .
on the basis of this agreement with the regions and with the Member States , a budget totalling EUR 9.2 billion is envisaged for a sustainable energy policy in the current period , with the key focuses being renewable energy and improving energy efficiency .
any initiative in this area must safeguard the Member States ' competence as regards spatial management , in particular its territorial waters and exclusive economic zones ( EEZ ) , as represented for example by : resource exploitation , transport , research , border controls and security , regional planning , the environment , or economic activities such as fishing .
one example is the principle mentioned earlier for adopting the constitution .
the first is that the EU must really speak with one voice , as Commissioner Rehn has already said , but - and I should appreciate a specific answer to this - who is it to be ?
the economic and financial crisis has highlighted to us that we need to exercise tighter control over economic operators .
the Commission 's proposal is therefore to step up the implementation of the directive and provide ' false ' self-employed drivers with the social protection they need .
this has to happen before the UN committee finishes examining Russia 's claim .
today , we run the risk that , not only companies , but also governments might decrease investment in innovation .
Mr President , the social market economy is also important when it comes to sustainable government finances , since government deficits form a burden for future generations .
for SMEs , public procurement represents a valuable opportunity to gain experience .
I hope that the rights of religious and ethnic minorities will be respected in Kenya .
Madam President , two brothers were given a bag of sweets by their parents .
thirdly , the horizontal instrument will clarify what is meant by ' unfair terms ' in contracts between professionals and consumers .
obviously this version is far from being ideal , but it has been adapted to the current situation in Member States .
in the US the average approval time is half that : 15 months .
there is , of course , the curse of natural resources , which breaks the link between taxation and expenditure , and makes politics a scramble for honour and wealth .
unfortunately , however , we must not overlook the fact that , in order to achieve the liberalisation of visa requirements , states must use biometric passports , which I oppose because , in my opinion , they infringe the principle of the protection of citizens ' personal data .
the seventh session will take place next month and it will be very busy .
as I was saying , the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs has recommended that discharge be granted to :
I believe that health promotion strategies should place strong emphasis on the prevention and early detection of diseases .
I say ' majority ' , President-in-Office , because it could be , if I am not completely wrong , that majority decisions are possible in the transport dossier .
the programme currently operates with EUR 400 million , of which the Commission provides EUR 200 million .
it is a very important point that additionality should mean that the micro-financing intermediaries should not lead people into usury .
the report views grubbing-up as a potentially useful measure , to be proposed on a voluntary basis .
this is a point that Mr Giegold has already mentioned .
we need to remind our Irish electorate that it is only since we joined the European Union that Ireland has become truly independent , culturally and psychologically .
at its meeting this morning - Thursday , 25 October - the Conference of Presidents unanimously chose the winner of the Sakharov Prize .
however , the Commission has concerns following the decision of the Constitutional Court to close the pro-Kurdish party represented in Parliament , the DTP .
what is going on in Washington ?
I therefore wish merely to say that the situation in Sri Lanka is extremely tragic .
we should be using the financial crisis as an opportunity to completely reshape the focus and direction of our economy , to make it a genuinely sustainable economy which will actually deliver environmental and economic benefits .
we might imagine all sorts of threatening scenarios , but there is some good news .
Mr President , some claim that we should leave aside the issue of recognition of the state , when speaking about Kosovo , and instead deal with recognition of the reality .
of course - as Chris Davies has said - it is in the interests of European car manufacturers to move fast towards the technological innovations to reduce the fuel consumption by cars because in this way they will take advantage sooner of the social shift towards cleaner cars and , by doing that , they will profit .
I believe that the European Union needs to make huge investments in the transport and energy infrastructure , in agriculture , health , education and research but , above all , in sustainable economic development .
the implementation of a common investment policy is being advocated on the basis of these new responsibilities .
when Minister Dodds launched it , he promised efficiency savings and enhanced competition to help minimise the wholesale costs of electricity , with the vast bulk of the benefits going to the consumer .
statistics show that many are still averse to EU purchases over the Internet , and it would be welcome if we could change this , too .
also , the proposal to use part of the funds to help Bulgaria find a solution for the final storage of nuclear waste was rejected .
if not , how do you view the statements by the current Bulgarian Prime Minister , Mr Borisov , who has said that the Bulgarian Socialist Party needs to be prohibited ?
as you have been so nice , I too will now be nice and say something that will definitely please you and that I said here back in 2006 , namely that the future of the European motor industry will be a green one or this industry will not have a future in Europe .
we can talk about sanctions , and the time will come for this . however , it is most important that the economic assistance which is being considered should be conditional upon abandoning this kind of practice and on true , real liberalisation and democratisation in Belarus .
anyone who prohibits the political parties of minorities for being in violation of the constitution is not in tune with European values .
ladies and gentlemen , will we MEPs tolerate regional and national linguistic minorities being left at the mercy of the goodwill of national governments which may give them a seat , or do we want those minorities not to be represented in the European Parliament ?
long-term , fixed contracts and price mechanisms based on oil prices have been replaced by much more flexible agreements , and the spot market is starting to play an increasingly important role .
in doing so , we must ensure that we make a clear distinction between the remits of military and humanitarian bodies , since military resources should be used as little as possible and as a last resort .
for several decades , China has led in terms of the rate of economic growth , but sadly also in terms of execution statistics .
how very reassuring and gratifying that this campaign is being launched online , now , in this month of September .
at the moment , there are no satisfactory tests showing how allergenic or hazardous substances used in the manufacturing / processing of textile products affect human health .
I fully support those parts of the report advocating regional self-sufficiency in the production of traditional foods for each area .
if agreements such as those reached with the Republic of Congo and the Republic of Cameroon prove to be effective in combating this scourge , they may come to form a good basis for future agreements of the same kind .
this report - I referred to this earlier - was adopted by the Committee on Foreign Affairs on which I serve by an overwhelming majority .
however , all these projects require financial resources amounting to many billions of euros , which will be recouped in the public budgets through taxes and duties and , especially , through the jobs created and the economic development generated .
the stock of AIG has plunged more than 90 % , from USD 72 last year to USD 2.05 .
when the UN inspected the damage , only the school and the mosque were still standing .
the report is the result of a balanced and thorough investigation , which was based on field visits and witness interviews .
I know a debate is going on in some circles in Germany - and indeed in some other Member States , but in particular in Germany - and I want to say that it is simply wrong that what we have been contemplating is some kind of bail out .
I have received many reports that far from promoting the application of EU funds , officials in the Latvian Ministry of Economics and the Ministry of Regional Development are impeding this process by demanding illegal payments from ordinary people in Latvia .
there is a strong case for technology transfer from the EU to developing countries which could reduce road accidents and their impact on road users .
on this one , there really has been , and the fact that there are so few amendments being tabled to this report demonstrates that it will go through with a big majority .
we are interested to know whether the Council and Commission are happy with the absorption rate being shown for funds at the moment .
ladies and gentlemen , I am saddened and dismayed to have to inform you today that , last weekend , more than 300 people were drowned when a number of refugee boats went down in the Mediterranean off the coast of Libya .
that is good and it is necessary , but it is far from sufficient .
a totalitarian regime that makes political capital out of the tragedy of its own people defies comprehension and must be condemned .
the children born during the next few minutes may live to the age of 100 .
these factors highlight the fact that a different approach is an absolute must .
we will commit funds to save knowledge throughout IPR policies .
we will have to see with the Pledging conference and with the Member States how exactly we are going to eventually participate in higher sums .
it is part of a deliberate strategy by the Iranian regime to systematically silence human rights activists .
in writing . - I fully agree that the simplification of the CAP should not result in less support for farmers and should not lead to the dismantling of traditional market management instruments .
it is our job to remind everyone of this and I very much hope that in future , there will be another resolution on partnership between the Parliament of Azerbaijan and the European Parliament , as unfortunately this was unsuccessful two weeks ago .
I have listened in debates for an answer to that criticism .
the next item is the joint debate on :
I think the third package generally is a welcome step towards a European rail market .
this is a subject that must be approached sensibly , without preconceived fundamentalist ideas .
as I have said before , it is only if we are united that we can make it clear that the reform process in Turkey is necessary .
on this subject , I should like to express my pleasure with the agreement reached in the Council on four draft directives , which will have a decisive effect on improving the stability of the financial sector , protecting individuals , and further strengthening the internal market .
meanwhile , there should be an investigation into the reason why there is a low level of take-up for the ERDF and ESF cohesion funds in the new Member States .
Mr President , this is not the first time that we have discussed the drama in Madagascar in this Chamber .
that , Mr President , is why Protocol ( No 36 ) has to be amended in order to enable the Lisbon agreements to come into force , and why during this parliamentary term , 2009-2014 , when the amendment of Protocol ( No 36 ) comes into force , this Parliament will , exceptionally , have 754 Members .
I somehow doubt it .
here they compare the active ingredients of the same medicine from different companies at home and abroad .
so we should decide to share the responsibility to be advocates and also to listen to the concerns of people across Europe , because really it is communication , not only information , that matters .
marked discrepancies continue to exist in this regard , with men earning 20 % to 25 % more than women on average , and this results in high levels of poverty among single women , retired women and widows .
author . - Madam President , I just want to comment on two matters raised in the debate so far .
the EU now has instruments to seek higher and longer term incoming scientist mobility and must act so that the EU achieves a net brain-gain .
we note today that the Council and Parliament agree that ENISA should be kept separate from a new body to be put in place as an alternative to the Telecoms Authority , and the Commission still sees the need for an efficient body able to monitor security and integrity issues .
I think that the role of , and document on , adaptation are important .
today the funds earmarked for agriculture are divided up very differently between the individual countries .
let us also consider that today , while we are having this debate , the most recent estimates say that over the coming year , the numbers of unemployed people throughout the European Union will double .
after all , Ukraine may provide a good example to other countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States of how to go down the route of rapprochement with the EU while , at the same time , fostering good relations with Russia .
the vote will take place tomorrow .
this includes creating a security framework that can offer assurance to both sides .
President-in-Office . - ( SL ) I will try , thank you .
we need this revision in order to restore Europe 's credibility , as we cannot conduct an election campaign without this project .
what is important is that , irrespective of what form , revision or combination thereof is chosen for the future , it should not result in more bureaucracy and , in particular , it should meet the EU objective of greater transparency .
as rapporteur for the budget in the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy , I do not think it is enough to recognise that climate is a political priority .
( RO ) Mr President , I , too , congratulate our fellow Member on the report .
do not let the epitaph for Copenhagen be that this was the Age of Stupid .
( applause )
I am not pleased because I campaigned for this the last time but because I see what has happened in Austria in the brief intervening period .
trafficking of people , be it women , men or children , is a criminal offence and on the increase in all Member States .
- Before the vote on the legislative resolution :
the measure allowing the ERDF to be used to invest in energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy for housing should have a major impact , in my view .
we must therefore supplement national labour law and the national systems , otherwise it will not function .
we not only need to guarantee the rising staff expenditure in the future annual budget , but we must also establish a reserve for the amount allocated to its activities so that the Institute can fulfil its role .
we believe there are two possibilities : a financial transaction tax and a financial activities tax .
a labour code is a piece of legislation under which a state provides a system of fundamental social rights for workers .
this does not have anything to do with a rational structural problem that can be justified in terms of an increase in demand from the Chinese , or which can be justified in terms of a decrease in supply due to drought .
we all stand as one with the affected families .
President , Members , I trust I can count on your full support as regards the next step in the legislative process towards finalising this worthy and much needed initiative .
in particular , I support the decision to direct a large portion of the EUR 980 million available to the EU for the period 2007-2013 to the creation of new jobs , as well as financing the construction in South Africa of the necessary infrastructure to provide basic services in terms of health and security .
in writing . - ( PT ) Although the report has been adopted with most of the amendments tabled during the debate in the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality , which made it into a good report , the PPE-DE Group could not refrain from weakening its scope during the vote in plenary , knowing that an absolute majority of 393 votes was needed .
is it aware of the specific events outlined above ?
we can either impose sanctions on countries that do not meet standards or we can engage in ongoing dialogue to ensure that conditions in these countries are improved , and understand that Rome was not built in a day and neither were Europe 's superior high standards .
the fact that the Roma question is being taken up by the European Union and that this will now be a regular issue at the highest levels also marks a change .
history ignored becomes history repeated .
but , actually , this is not enough , and I am pleased that Anja has included in her report a specific request to the Commission to say , ' We want to make hydrogen vehicle safety requirements global requirements .
I have never met an economist nor read an economic text book that told me that two , three and sixty , the magic numbers of the Stability and Growth Pact ( inflation , deficit and debt ratio ) , have been scientifically proven .
besides the long-term objectives which the European Union has set for these countries , we should also define specific short-term objectives , as well as implementing a system to assess to what extent these countries comply with established principles of cross-border cooperation .
I find this a weakness in the communication .
as a result , unemployment has dropped sharply from 33 % to 12 % .
we have seen lots of calculations and impact assessments from the OECD , and the latest one clearly says that estimating an oil price of EUR 130 per barrel means an increase in crop prices of between 9 and 13 % .
the European Arrest Warrant has replaced extradition .
we were prepared for a volcanic eruption but we had different types of evidence regarding the eruption .
but we must work with industry and educate them on the need to produce more environmentally-friendly cars .
I urge the Spanish Presidency , along with all Member States , to make the most of the mid-term review with the aim of achieving economic recovery in the 2012-2013 period .
another concern is that it is not subject to any outside controls ; for this reason I would ask that the European Commission should prepare a regulatory proposal that would make it possible to avoid any form of discrimination in the institutions of Member States , as is currently the case in Germany .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
this is simply not true .
in France , we have an example where a ball bearing business has now closed so that it can be relocated to Bulgaria , and the workers of that business are being asked to go and train the Bulgarian employees .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
however , we do know for sure that someone will have to pay for this rescue and for the party .
therefore , I propose a territorial pact with the regions , towns and cities , in addition to the agreement in the Council with the Member States and the Commission .
if those criteria are to be met and any decision to authorise trade is to be possible , assurances must be forthcoming that the activity is not detrimental to the state of conservation of the species .
in the European Economic Recovery Plan , the Commission has proposed extending the eligibility criteria in order to respond better to the current economic crisis .
even by his standards , this was breathtaking political miscalculation .
the country slid into self-isolation and isolation , as the fences surrounding it grew ever higher .
contrary to what was stated by Mrs Flautre and other speakers , the rights guaranteed by the Blue Card do not include any restrictions regarding freedom of association or the rights attached to employment , quite the opposite , and this Blue Card will be the only tool allowing migrants to exercise a right to mobility to undertake qualified professional work in the European Union , which is not possible today via national systems .
the coordination of rules and procedures and the simplification of research funding and administration are long overdue .
I would ask you to look at how much land is lying fallow in Poland , Lithuania and Slovakia .
what is the global role of the European Union in the coming years ?
we have the problem of different national regulations if only single branding remains .
one very serious cause for concern is the fact that the only national parliament which has invited the European Parliament to present the conclusions and recommendations of its committee on the CIA is the American Congress .
on the other hand , however , the resolution does not tackle - or fails to tackle sufficiently - a number of the constraints , direct and indirect , with which SMEs are currently burdened , many of which are the result of the policies dominant at EU level .
we have to create jobs .
it nevertheless constitutes a step forward , in that at least part of that opium will not end up as heroin , but as morphine .
I understand and support Mr Albertini 's desire to provide the utmost clarity and give a thumbs up to the European Union 's enlargement with the western Balkans , Iceland and Turkey .
there is also the issue of the transferability and accessibility of social services or various social measures for disabled people .
rapporteur . - Mr President , like Mr Tatarella , I would like to begin by thanking the people closely involved with helping us reach first-reading agreement today on the EMAS report .
we are probably on the way to another commodities bubble .
the renewed Lisbon Strategy has provided the framework for Europe to respond to this challenge .
amongst them , next to the President of the Republic of Estonia , Toomas-Hendrik Ilves , a former MEP , is my friend and colleague , Tunne Kelam , a member of the delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee .
the exact cause of the accident in the Gulf of Mexico is still unknown .
it is also vital to create two separate divisions , one of which would monitor the land borders while the other would monitor the sea borders , focusing particularly on the migrants ' use of routes on the eastern borders .
I therefore ask to be allowed to transfer the task of rapporteur to the committee chair .
what the proposals and solutions put forward actually amount to is a plan of unconditional support for the banks , backed up by a monetary policy that is now accommodating .
one has to admit that it was not the best decision .
however , the vision that has prevailed in the end is a right-wing vision in which protection of private investors is given priority over these objectives based on the general interest .
from a social point of view , all over Europe , there is discontent among workers , unions and the most disadvantaged classes , who are concerned about the sustainability of the model that made us better when it made us Europeans , the very model that has succeeding in ensuring welfare and social cohesion .
in that respect , I have some residual fears on aspects of these proposals .
in this report , the European Parliament supports the Commission 's position on the implementing powers conferred on the Commission and places a series of conditions on existing legislation without resolving the fundamental issues .
the European Union construction should be studied so that young people would know the stages of the European Union 's establishment and development .
I also support the creation of a charter for media freedom .
on the one hand , Slovakia defines itself as a nation state , when we know - as was already discussed today - that a Hungarian community amounting to roughly 10 % of the country 's population lives in Slovakia , as do other minorities as well .
this has been mentioned and I agree with it .
we need both to make it easier to obtain cross-border licences for audiovisual works from collective authors , and to release the archive of audiovisual works of uncertain copyright in the case of so-called orphan works .
we therefore voted against the report .
I did so because I think that Parliament must send out a strong signal , with this vote , in favour of non-discrimination , and there are certainly other much more important factors than those that have just been mentioned .
it is worth emphasising the importance of creating European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation ( EGTCs ) as a key instrument for territorial governance which addresses the need for structured cooperation in financial terms , as well as legal status and governance at various levels .
we must avoid Europe being the repository of migrating Third-Worlders .
( ES ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , unfortunately , in this first plenary sitting of the legislature , we have to deal with this sad and now customary issue : natural disasters and , in particular , fires .
this partnership and cooperation agreement , prepared for the summit of 9-10 June , will be able to stand as an important policy guideline in strengthening this cooperation , which we are confident will bring Russia membership of the World Trade Organisation , as well as encourage visa liberalisation .
the money should remain in the sector , however , and not go to trade .
there are 20 % of young people unemployed .
that too , moreover , is the subject for a real debate .
in fact , over the past nine months , the Commission has undertaken a review of the policy .
Article 214 ( 2 ) of the EC Treaty , curiously mentioned as the legal basis of the resolution , concerns not the nomination of a commissioner in the event of a resignation , but the vote to approve the entire Commission as a college .
the importance of international relations , not least through agreements such as that between the EU and Mercosur , is reflected at the economic , political and strategic partnership levels .
I am pleased that , at last , we in Parliament have reached a decision on an act relating to textile labelling involving some very substantial proposals for improvements , which the Council is also prepared to endorse and implement .
Madam President , I do not like to be in tow or obligated to anybody and neither do the Irish people - an independent race .
I am sorry that it is taking extra time to do that because it does delay the final formation of all the institutions - and we have a lot of work to do - but perhaps it is better that we have that slight delay and get the right people in place .
if we manage to inform consumers correctly so that they have an option available to them based on the information they have been given , then we can actually cut energy consumption for products currently in use too .
I regret that the Council has reduced yet further the Commission 's preliminary draft budget , which , in my opinion , already fell short of what is needed .
it states that volunteering contributes about as much to gross domestic product in a wide range of countries as the construction industry or the utilities industry .
for this reason , my political group will vote against the amendments tabled by the far left ; we believe that they are excessively controversial and not very constructive .
with this agreement , the US multinationals , which today already control more than 80 % of the world 's banana trade - interests that the Commission agrees it was trying to ' tranquillise ' with this agreement - will see their market share get even bigger .
I would also like to remind everyone and to repeat and reinforce the fact that regional policy is an investment policy which covers all the regions .
the first is that the European Parliament has fallen silent during the Greek crisis .
creating a secure future for our young people is a subject close to my heart .
but , if the shoe was on the other foot , I can only imagine that the Commission would rub their hands in delight at the prospect of a failing pound and a weakened London .
obviously 18 October is EU Anti-Trafficking Day , which we were able to hold for the first time last year .
I abstained on the Evans report on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment because I find Parliament 's approach strange .
I voted in favour as I believe that the inclusion of Taiwan on the list of third countries whose nationals are exempt from visas , the so-called ' positive list ' , is justified in view of the level of development that Taiwan has achieved in terms of democratic governance , economic growth and education , thus contributing to strengthening trade relations between the European Union and this territory .
for this reason , Commissioner , I urge you to take decisive action here , to impose sanctions and to actively ensure that the Commission 's directives are complied with .
in this way we could also cooperate with neighbouring countries in the Mediterranean .
these retentions were due to deficiencies in the systems for navigation safety , absence of rescue equipment and flaws of equipment and structures providing ship stability .
it is not the easing of requirements that is needed , but the facilitation of meeting those requirements .
Belarus keeps on violating all fundamental rights and civil liberties .
there is a need for measures to motivate people who become unemployed to try to find new jobs .
I would like to clarify a few things , however .
that is absolutely essential
I have been elected - re-elected - to vote in this Chamber by the people of Yorkshire ( your own constituency , I might add ) , with a democratic mandate which you yourself do not enjoy , Mr President , because you switched parties and they voted for the Conservatives .
the European Parliament must react to cases of human rights violations .
the tendency to regard crews as criminals , compensation in the event of financial losses for ports , and compulsory notification for bunker fuel .
( RO ) The action plan on urban mobility is a must for the EU 's urban communities .
in this respect , what is required are both stronger representation externally and more efficient coordination internally .
on the latter hinges the fate of an open world economic system .
( FR ) President-in-Office , do not go to Beijing .
firstly , we could have collected all the information to help guarantee that Parliament would take a more solid stance and , secondly , a series of meetings and hearings had got under way in the relevant committees Parliament took the legitimate decision to move ahead immediately , In any case , this does not diminish the requirement for these hearings and the need to keep the negotiations with Morocco open .
this is a key point of the Commission 's proposal .
national solutions like those proposed by some Member States would only lead to imbalances .
( FR ) What I propose , colleagues , is as follows : clearly we are not in a position this afternoon , here in plenary session , to assess all the various arguments about the interpretation of this rule .
the main source of CO2 is the ocean , which contains 50 times more carbon dioxide than the atmosphere .
you have a clear majority for the line you are taking here .
our expectation is that the security measures agreed by Europe will be adequate for everyone .
however , I would warn the Council and the Member States that these objectives will only be achieved if we equip this agency with the necessary human and financial resources , which until very recently was unfortunately not at all the case .
the most disconcerting fact , however , is probably that this Parliament sees this proposal as just a first step .
we are talking about events in Germany , a leading country in the European Union .
we ask the government departments to promote this work , which it initiated so effectively , and to ensure that this valuable work continues to be funded .
I say this in spite of the recognition by the ministers themselves at the end of the Slovenian presidency that we need to improve the consistency of the internal market for electronic communications .
our patent system is also complicated .
ladies and gentlemen , the ' Jasmine Revolution ' continues .
( ES ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , though today 's debate focuses on this important report on the reform of the common agricultural policy , I should like to comment on a side issue that affects us and could affect the viability of the postulates we are defending in Parliament in connection with the reform of the future of the CAP .
it welcomed the Thai Government 's intention to investigate the incidents fully , and to share its findings , and urged the Thai Government to treat boat people arriving in Thai waters according to international humanitarian and human rights standards .
effectiveness is therefore vital if ratification is to be achieved so that new instruments are available by the time of the European Parliament elections in 2009 .
would it not be possible for the Commission to start working together with the private sector , which also sets strict demands and which , therefore , on many occasions , renders supervision by Member States redundant ?
measures being undertaken by the EU in Nigeria combine diplomacy with longer-term development cooperation .
however , the impact of this essential investment will be limited unless we provide our young people with opportunities .
( PL ) Mr President , there can be no debate about the fact that farmers must adapt to the 1999 directive .
in practice , the same European Union that is imposing severe restraints on national budgets when it is a case of financing public services , such as health , is not concerned about overloading these budgets when it is a case of channelling public money into any private economic and financial group involved in the healthcare business , or into encouraging medical tourism .
the debate is closed .
could the Commission comment on whether the Charter is proving to be a useful tool in assisting and supporting small enterprises ?
the European Union and its Member States also have a duty to guarantee equal rights and equal treatment of citizens in institutional form .
( DE ) Mr President , I refer to the relevant rule of the Rules of Procedure .
the audit shows that there are significant differences between the commission paid for bank cards .
in recent years , through certain actions and their imperative position , the countries of the Arctic region and various others have made their wish to be the sovereign users of Arctic resources quite clear .
thus , we would be eliminating visa requirements on both sides .
the ruling junta has done exactly as it pleases in this process .
we played our part in attaining that .
so I am happy with the response that I received yesterday from the European Commission .
, in writing . - ( HU ) The question of carbon dioxide capture and storage is today an indispensable part of the discussions about climate change .
Mr President , when you love someone , you have certain expectations of them .
secondly , at the regional level , the European Commission acted as a facilitator in the negotiations on the Central European Free Trade Agreement ( CEFTA ) and decided to provide financial support and technical assistance to the CEFTA Secretariat and to the parties to help implement the agreement .
if you are a member of the scouts , you have to be a law-abiding member of the scouts .
( Parliament agreed to accept the oral amendment )
I think that these matters you have raised are , like others , perfectly arguable and debatable , and I am sure we will come to an agreement , because it is absolutely necessary , between the two legislative bodies of the Union : the Council and the European Parliament .
it will significantly improve both the connections between respective markets and people-to-people links , as well as creating new opportunities for the airline sector through a gradual liberalisation of foreign ownership rules .
I am proud to be amongst the anti-globalists , those who want to win back the internal market , those who want to apply the rule of national and Community preference , and the rule of national and Community protection , in order to serve our people .
can it be assessed whether the necessary sustainability criteria for imports into the EU are also fulfilled in the production of bio-ethanol .
closure of the sitting
one special feature in Austria is that young people can take part in citizens ' initiatives from the age of 16 .
I am afraid that there is little margin to change the substance agreed in the mandate , but , in any event , I want to reassure you that we do not read this article as covering , for example , the EU agreement with the United States on passenger name records .
coordination and division of labour must be the guiding principles of programming under the new development instrument .
the next item is the Council and Commission statements on preparations for the EU-Russia summit ( 26-27 June 2008 ) .
we must make that clear .
the absence of genuine reciprocity , since the other party to the agreement has not undertaken to provide information of similar quality and scope to the EU .
it is partly because of financial speculation that the food crisis is spreading across the world .
any gain in competitiveness also requires generating incentives for investment in more efficient means of transport , fair rules of competition , and internalising the social and environmental costs of general economic activity .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , plenary will vote tomorrow on the Marco Polo II programme to improve the environmental performance of freight transport .
I must note that at the time of the publication of his article I had reached the same position taking into consideration the energy-related relations between several EU Member States in recent years .
obviously , people look after animals with a high economic value , and in the economic downturn we are going through , I worry about the welfare of horses , full stop .
the CO2 in the tropospheric layer holds in the warmth so that we do not get too cold .
by way of example I should like to refer to the case of the sugar factory at Lublin in Poland . contrary even to Union provisions , it is planned to make the entire staff of that factory redundant , to knock down all the buildings and to put modern facilities beyond use .
Commissioner Špidla spoke about this .
for instance , there will be the G8 Conference and G8 + 5 , for which the Japanese presidency is concentrating on climate change .
following the events in Honduras and after consulting the Central American governments and EU Member States , it was decided to postpone the next round of negotiations with a view to an association agreement with Central America , negotiations that were due between 6 and 10 July in Brussels .
the next summit must adjust these decisions to the new economic realities worldwide and define an environmental policy that does not operate under the illusion that the EU alone can bear the burden of the fight against climate change .
there are three things which help piracy to spread : technological facilities and the cheap cost of copying , adverse economic conditions and the penetration of the Internet .
the biggest obstacle is that we simply do not have a vision .
in writing . - ( DE ) Europe has become more of a target for terrorists because it has allowed itself to be reduced to the role of an accomplice in the breaches of international law and human rights committed in the name of US foreign policy and also because it has not managed to act as an honest broker on the Palestinian question .
the losses caused by this disaster exceed EUR 2.9 billion .
we have to be fair and respect the commitments we have undertaken to the countries that are covered by our consolidated enlargement agenda in south-eastern Europe , that is , the western Balkans and Turkey .
in writing . - ( IT ) I voted in favour of the report .
what is going on in Delhi ?
data protection would have been another important point .
this is the only way to ensure that food prices drop and more people on the planet have the chance to live without the fear of dying of hunger .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I think we are in danger of not seeing the wood for the trees with this budget .
nuclear energy has great potential to serve Europe , but we need to be realistic .
subject : Ireland 's integration into the EU energy market
this plan includes concrete measures for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises , the most important of which are the measures aimed at improving access to finance and reducing the administrative burden on business .
1 .
I voted today in favour of the European Parliament report on the EU strategy on Roma inclusion .
unless we are clear about priorities , including funding in such key activities , half-hearted and patchy decision-making will continue to bring not only the problems mentioned , but also a reduction in the overall quality of projects .
it is also especially important not to exclude long-term contracts but rather to ensure that these are considered when planning for stable energy supplies to Europe .
in order to remedy this form of discrimination , another is created , by forcing women to retire before men .
at the same time , we are , of course , heading towards the mid-term review .
even if the tendency of applying these transfers by the instrument of modulation has lasted for several years , at present , we need the best measures for the current challenges and these measures are among the traditional instruments of the common agricultural policy .
is it ethically acceptable for Parliament to rush out its approval of the Council 's 2008 accounts in exchange for the latter 's approval of Parliament 's budget increases ?
there have been investigations into the reasons for the crisis since 2004 .
seen from a socialist point of view , the thematic and geographical recommendations of the report satisfy our principal demands .
the European Parliament ascertained as early as 2005 that the need for greater simplification is crucial to the European Structural Funds , in general , and to the European Social Fund , in particular .
my country , Romania , was one of the first countries to ratify the treaty with a very big majority of votes from the Members of the Parliament .
I would appreciate a response from you .
however , we should not fall into the trap of safety hysteria and kill innovation , and we should not discriminate against novel food , placing it a less favourable position than products already on the market that do not necessarily have a nutritional advantage for consumers ; nevertheless , consumers have freedom of choice .
it is very important that the data is collected in the European Union on citizens ' perception of health , physical and mental activities and disability , about cases of illnesses which are increasing or decreasing , about injuries , damage done by alcohol and drugs , lifestyle and the accessibility of health care institutions .
Mr President , like my colleague from the PPE Group a little while ago , I also have to point out a mistake in our voting list .
another important challenge relates to financial regulation .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Culture and Education . - ( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , back in 2004 , at a major cultural conference in Berlin , President Barroso stated that European cultural policy was all about a soul for Europe .
firstly , let us go ahead with the tax , and then we will see how it is going to be implemented .
poverty is one area where gaps between men and women remain .
the argument acknowledges that the rules for pharmacies in the EU vary but , in future , it will be easier for patients throughout the EU to distinguish legal operators from illegal online pharmacies .
we believe that President Băsescu 's democratic victory , supported by the Liberal Democratic Party , also marks a victory for the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) .
I am not sure that gives a full explanation , but I do believe that this question must be resolved in each of the countries and within the regional context in a fair and transparent manner .
( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , admitting that the Lisbon Treaty is dead and that it was a blind alley is the only democratic and honest solution .
in the meantime , the EU is , and will be , urging Belarus to take further irreversible steps towards democratic standards , without which our relationship cannot develop to its full potential .
frankly , in my view , it is shameful that EU Member States sent delegations to Durban II , knowing full well that President Ahmadinejad would be present and come out with these outrageous comments .
you mentioned mixed flows .
unfortunately , we often see similar patterns repeated in these acts of bloodshed .
I personally believe that a healthy economy is mainly made up of medium-sized enterprises .
the FDP had already expressed its opposition to an increase in the secretarial allowance to EUR 1 500 during the discussions in committee .
Member of the Commission . - Firstly , I think there are various reasons for the situation of very low milk prices .
the Committee on Petitions had three reasons for supporting the Ombudsman with the resolution that was adopted unanimously by the Committee .
( DE ) Mr President-in-Office , you have mentioned the Barnier report several times .
it would be a backward step to put this situation in jeopardy ; instead , we should concentrate on improving the transposition of the framework decision , especially in terms of protecting fundamental rights .
Parliament then adopted a resolution on 6 September 2001 on the basis of a report by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs , which put forward several amendments quite similar to the proposals now advanced .
we have therefore voted against this report , which gives increased competence to the Commission .
first , we can never forget that the region in question is made up of several different countries , and these cannot be lumped together and treated in the same way .
renewable energy is one of the best ways of protecting consumers and industry from the dual effects of increased energy imports and rising fuel costs .
I have personally written to the authorities to clarify this point , where it needed clarifying .
partnership with Mercosur requires a strategic partnership with Brazil .
strengthening cooperation between democracies is clearly a worthy idea to promote , even though this does not imply comprehensive adherence to the League of Democracies project .
very important because , in the first place , I believe that it strengthens the legitimacy of Parliament .
no lasting resolution of the Sudanese conflict will be possible without the involvement of the UN and without the UN increasing the number of soldiers in the region .
it is worth noting that , once again , it is the EU that is picking up the tab for Israeli attacks on a neighbouring country .
however , world leaders had scarcely left that summit when it was announced that a referendum was to be held in March to cancel the presidential election in 2012 , thus keeping Nazarbayev in power until 2020 .
European military engagement contributed to the prevention of a situation similar to the one in Rwanda .
3 .
the resources could be used , in the context of promoting milk sector sales , for better nutritional information and also for further accompanying measures such as modernising milk production , in areas where conditions are more difficult and in mountainous regions .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
publication of such information on the Internet using standards that ensure comparability of data between individual countries will not only do much to improve the transparency of budget expenditure and the efficiency of the budget control process , it will also shed a bright light on at least two serious problems linked to agricultural expenditure in the EU .
the rapporteur has been elected from a new donor country and her report will definitely be studied in great detail in those countries , including Estonia .
one final remark about glued ham .
the next item is the report by Mr Leichtfried , on behalf of the Committee on Transport and Tourism , on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on aviation security charges - C7-0038 / 2009 - .
we rightly have restrictions on freedom of speech covered by the laws of libel and slander .
we need to provide much more support for the integration of infrastructures , and we need to continue to debate how to do so .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - Madam President , I should like to thank my group colleague , Marie-Hélène Aubert for the amount of work she has put in successfully to this report .
I very much welcome the joint agreement and the decision on the budget for these programmes and the fact that additional funds were found after the Public-Private Partnership model of financing the Galileo programme had fallen through .
I thank you for your comments on it .
however , I am critical of , and opposed to , a common foreign and security policy that is designed to give the EU an active role in military issues , where the UN and NATO are already in place .
let us be fair , let us be correct and let us be credible .
nevertheless , there are certain aspects of the adopted resolution that are less clear and others that have not been sufficiently developed .
the conflicts in the region also demand a special effort with regard to the situation of the hundreds of thousands of displaced persons , which has serious humanitarian consequences .
as a result , we think we have reached an important closing stage of Croatia 's accession and we hope that the negotiations will be concluded and Croatia will join the Union as soon as possible , following the ratification process of the relevant European Union treaties .
many people are already starving , and in order to find a remedy , a sensible and just common agricultural policy is required as well as financial support for the sector .
it is totally unacceptable for governments and national authorities to audit themselves in this area .
since then his ill-considered actions have reduced his country 's economy to total ruin .
in an area as important to citizens as civil law , it is necessary to respect and accommodate radically different legal approaches and constitutional traditions but it is also necessary to face up to the negative legal consequences for citizens arising out of this difference .
in the light of the latest events Macedonia should reconsider its standpoint on exempting the US from the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court .
we are allowing the law of might is right to prevail .
have you seen , Viktor , where the symbols that we cherish are placed in this hall ?
in writing . - With one in three Europeans diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime and one in four Europeans dying from the disease , cooperation to share best practice and to call for more resources for research is important in the EU .
in congratulating both of the rapporteurs on their work in this particular area and taking into account our experience over the last number of years , it is particularly important that we are cognisant of the fact that too often Europe has spoken with great words but failed to live up to the expectation .
you have just said that cooperation among small retailers is something you welcome , provided the purchasing agreements are in the order of up to a 20 % share of the market .
we know that we owe this result mainly to the Swedish Presidency , and we are grateful to it .
while , on the one hand , no opportunity is missed to complain about the democratic deficit in the EU , on the other , there is a general refusal to take the serious steps to make the European project more democratic .
the European Union must also find specific , viable solutions for the development of alternative energy supply routes to the Black Sea .
for example , is the instrument appropriate to the given objective ?
I would add that the Council 's amendments concerning blacklists depend on the proposals that have been made , including by the European Parliament .
we also need an analysis of different climate change scenarios .
related to this is the highly critical question of so-called orphan works , whose authors cannot be located .
this includes the reorganisation of the plenary debates , the reform of the legislative process , the improvement of the work done in committee with enhanced cooperation between the committees as well as the possibility of legislative initiative reports or conflicting resolutions .
in four countries - Poland , Slovakia , Hungary and Romania - the disasters qualify as ' major natural disasters ' according to the definition given in the EUSF Regulation ; in other words , the damage is estimated to exceed 0.6 % of their Gross National Incomes .
at the moment , there is no single specialist body operating in these areas , nor is there a specific incentive such as the annual climate innovation award that has been mentioned .
the rapporteur , Mr Tarabella , has not taken account of the national context .
we call to replace the 14-year-old relationship with a new transatlantic partnership agreement that should also include an Economic Council , and we call for the creation of a Transatlantic Political Council as well as upgrading parliamentary relations in the form of a transatlantic assembly .
they deserve better than this for their money .
it is therefore very important that conditions be created to ensure its effective implementation and the achievement of the objectives to which this initiative is devoted .
our committee took particular care over the choices made by all the parliamentary committees , but the proliferation of pilot projects is evidence of the frustration with the niggardly nature of this financial framework .
again , many have criticised the supposedly slow reaction of the EU to the crisis even today , but the EU is not only about decisions made in Brussels .
and indeed , this has happened , since Count Széchenyi , one of the greatest Hungarians , did an awful lot to turn this into a supra-national policy area .
'Urges the people of Iceland to support this agreement ' with ' Encourages the people of Iceland to support this agreement ' .
the latter has made impressive progress despite manifold difficulties and should be encouraged to continue .
so I wait for the Commissioner 's comments on GMOs before making my points in particular .
would the Commission therefore consider it advisable to entrust a specialist body operating across the board with the task of simplifying matters , establishing common objectives and selection criteria and providing information for stakeholders regarding EU programmes for innovation in green technology ?
this is why our resolution and the EU Anti-Discrimination Directive are so important .
we can no longer go it alone .
I am therefore closely following his reasoning , which took account of the enlargement of the EU from 15 to 25 countries .
the problem and global paradox in all this is that it is the neoliberal policies that you have advocated to date which have led us into this situation , because they are policies which simply privatise profit and socialise costs .
industry , the economy and the Member States also all have clear opinions on the subject .
what matters , however , is that it does come into being , and in sufficient time for the railways to contribute to the fight against climate change and to overcoming the constraints imposed upon us by rising energy prices .
secondly , what is the EU doing to actively promote good governance ?
sometimes , when discussing climate change , I remember what John Stuart Mill said about his father .
( DE ) Madam President , the fact that the European Union has such a poor public image unfortunately has a great deal to do with OLAF .
can you witness , with a clear conscience , the staggering increase in unemployment figures which have now reached millions in the European Union , and the shameless rewards again being paid out by the financial sector to those who have not only plunged us into the worst crisis imaginable , but also threatened us with poverty ?
it must also guarantee that the small countries are on an equal footing , because we know that the community structures not only ensure cohesion but also decision-making ability in the long term .
IUU fishing is an international criminal activity which is damaging our marine ecosystems , threatening our food security , and ruining the livelihoods of those in the legitimate fishing industry .
that is the main recommendation we want to make to the Commission : the internal market cannot be extended and developed if our fellow citizens do not support the policy .
following on from what my fellow Members have said , I think there are three more important principal conclusions : firstly , we need more state checks .
the economic costs of the crisis are still to be fully assessed .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( PL ) Madam President , the Internet is rather like a knife .
the common rules for the external borders of the Schengen area must be amended , and the use of the Visa Information System must be made more efficient and uniform .
in the first six months of 2007 , no complaints meeting the requirements of the law were lodged .
with regard to intra-European transport , I heard Commissioner-designate Hedegaard advocate an ambitious climate and transport package during the hearings .
in response to an offensive promoted by the Socialist Party Government against teachers ' rights , democratic school management and state education , the teachers reaffirmed their determination to fight for dignity , employment , teachers ' rights and improved conditions , and to protect high-quality teaching and state education in Portugal .
at the same time , we are looking through our fingers at those who cannot be bothered to achieve the objectives in time or to make any joint decisions .
I shall now talk on the Commission 's discharge for just one minute .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the Dess report represents a major step towards reform of the common agricultural policy .
thirdly , we need more data gathering , assessment and research .
the purpose is also to establish a global system over the longer term , one where air traffic also shares the burden .
as a very dynamic system which performs many functions and delivers services vital to human activities and to the survival of ecosystems , soil protection is a collective imperative in our common lives and in the defence of future generations .
it is completely scandalous that this appointment , which should have taken place , as in all of our Parliament 's bodies , either by election or by consensus , by election failing consensus , has not yet taken place due to deliberate manoeuvring by officials who are opposed to it .
if they were unable to do this , then a more intelligent embargo should be introduced .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , we have now heard a great deal .
this will ultimately be the most effective way of improving safety for all passengers .
the Presidency welcomes the fact that the rapporteur would like to put the issue of the Single Market on the European Council 's agenda .
to my mind , this vote illustrates the solidarity that exists between the nations of Europe , and which should exist in many other areas too , for that matter .
that means that we should vote only on the text ' may pave ' and only when that has been done should we decide on the rest of recital D. It is a bit strange that , just because you do not have 45 people here , you have to include something which might not have the majority of the House .
under the new regulation , advertisements can only make claims that are based on the characteristics the products actually have .
first , there is a need for a well-funded CAP .
we hoped that the crisis would also provide an opportunity for us to have a shake-up and make the European Union 's budget more successful and tangible for its citizens .
our response to the rise in fuel prices should be to free up the market and let the laws of supply and demand take effect .
for only if we have growth and jobs can we conduct a good environmental and social policy .
I therefore welcome the focus on information and awareness-raising campaigns such as through school-based educational programmes .
that is why we set employment standards and employment law and rules to protect workers ' rights - the Working Time Directive , health and safety legislation , the Parental Leave Directive , information and consultation of workers .
as legislation is broadened to include more categories in the goods and services field , what consideration has the Commission given to the unintended consequences this may cause ?
the problem for us British and for us French is that we were Stalin 's allies at the end of the War .
( PT ) Mr President , Mr Barrot , ladies and gentlemen , I congratulate Mr Coelho , Mrs Roure and the other Members on their work .
but Parliament said no , and we insisted on binding access for disabled people .
( DE ) Madam President , I have a request .
it is also becoming absolutely vital to ensure order and the safety of citizens by bringing all forms of violence to an end .
the Agreement in question with Vietnam sets out procedures to implement a number of regulations , particularly in terms of security .
it would be appropriate to put cooperation in the field of disabling websites abusing children on the agenda of an EU-US meeting .
it is work for those in the pipeline industry .
furthermore , the EIB , in a joint initiative with the EBRD and the World Bank , was able to increase its support to the financial sector in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe , which are also experiencing an especially difficult situation .
( DE ) Mr President , in order to reduce Europe 's dependence on Russia for its supplies of energy , we should take natural gas from the Caspian basin through the South Caucasus to the EU .
the Court of Auditors is an institution that inspects the European Union 's receipts and expenses to verify their legality , as well as verifying good financial management .
since its independence , natural disasters have given way to political catastrophes there , and here we are today faced with a tragedy of historic proportions .
I am fully aware of the fact that people who are victims of multiple discrimination are very seriously affected .
from the point of view of the public , this represents just the sort of legislation that we should be introducing .
I voted in favour of the proposal for a Council and Commission decision on conclusion of the Protocol to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States , of the one part , and the Republic of Croatia , of the other part , to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union , with a view to developing institutional and commercial relations with Croatia .
the maximum contribution of the European Community to the administrative expenses of this joint undertaking will be 470 million euros .
if such tendencies are observed , it is primarily up to the Member State governments to draw up the right strategies regarding training , remuneration and career opportunities to improve development for those in the medical profession , for example , which has been a particular focus of these discussions .
going back to the first group , in this report , the Commission is concerned that the number of professionals working in mainstream healthcare is not sufficient to meet the needs of the growing demand .
the EU 's accession to the convention is a unique experiment , but it must not jeopardise what is already in place as regards the enforcement of human rights .
the resolution which we voted on today sends a powerful political signal to Chişinău , but this signal must be clearly backed up by specific actions from the Commission and the Council .
I would like to ask the Commission to do so in time .
in writing . - As a friend , albeit critical friend , of Bulgaria , I wish to do all I can to assist progress in that country , but not at the expense of my own country 's well-being .
the increase in school violence is a serious social problem , with many complicated causes , which should not be belittled by simplistic causal explanations .
the outcome is of course a step forward , but a much , much smaller step than science is advising us to take .
in writing . - ( PT ) We voted in favour of the report because it records important data on the social situation : 78 million European citizens continue to live in poverty , 8 % of the European Union suffers from in-work poverty and the gap between rich and poor in many Member States is increasing .
these guidelines provide essential information to enterprises and we also know that it is this information and these multiple sources of information that allow our enterprises to compete for the instruments implemented by the European Union .
what must guide the European approach is respect for people .
the report being put to the vote today is crucial for simplifying the control of persons at the EU 's external borders .
I have abstained because the report does not focus in sufficient detail on the economic aspects of mackerel fishing .
we are in favour of developing strategies aimed at the economic , social and territorial cohesion of certain macro-regions , which should obviously be given the appropriate means to allow this to be achieved fully and effectively .
( the oral amendment was not accepted )
the Portuguese Presidency undertakes to speed up the debate within the Council 's bodies and , at the appropriate time , announce the appointment of a new counter-terrorism coordinator .
I refer in particular to the Western Balkans investment framework , now being launched , as well as to the Eastern Partnership announced by the European Council in recent days which will build on the good cooperation we have already established through our memorandum of understanding and the neighbourhood investment facility .
I welcome the European Parliament 's proposal for a legal representative to decide on the use of organs after death if the deceased person has made no other provision .
I should therefore like to show my support for this proposal , as tabled , and also congratulate the two rapporteurs .
I voted in favour of Mr Šemeta , whom I would like to congratulate on the appointment he has been given , and I wish him every success .
it would also be preferable for the Commission to stand out on this .
the main precondition for a well functioning internal market is standard and clear rules that apply to all participants in the market .
with regard to the Community budget , we will step up advance payments from early 2009 so that Member States have earlier access to up to EUR 1.8 billion .
author . - Mr President , the topic of the urgent resolution is important in itself .
forwarding of texts adopted during the sitting : see Minutes
the Commission has so far adopted four regulations authorising or rejecting health claims .
the proposal states elsewhere that people can be prosecuted , even if they have no intention of encouraging terrorism with their writings , simply on the grounds that their words , in the opinion of the police , had such an effect .
in an environment of political , social and economic insecurity , issues of human rights are sadly taking backstage , and the most recent detention of political activists is a case in point .
I should like to take this opportunity to reiterate my sincere thanks to Mr Lax for his commitment and his excellent cooperation over the last three years on this very complex dossier , which puts European visa policy on a new footing .
their crime was that they were young homosexuals who dared to love one another .
it would appear that , in its present form , the text has been simplified .
however , the proposal contained in the initial version of the text , namely a ten-year implementation period for the legislation , seems to be unrealistic , in view of the extremely complicated and expensive registration procedures for the chemicals used in these products .
for this reason , I would like to ask the Prime Minister of the Spanish Government what , specifically , are the most important measures to achieve the objective of reducing unemployment , not just in Spain , but also in Europe .
Mr President , I could agree with what Mr Van Orden says about Hamas , but the fact is that none of what he says justifies the bombing of civilians by Israel .
we also agree concerning the issues around the inclusive labour market .
so now what is everybody saying ?
can I assure them that he does .
resolution on the financing of the Special Court for Sierra Leone - Before the vote :
ladies and gentlemen , the importance of the work-life balance has been clearly pointed out and , in my opinion , it has also been stated clearly that equality of opportunity is an issue for both men and women .
the EU must make boosting the European economy a priority through investments in the development of online services , new technologies and , in particular , through the development of broadband communications in all Member States .
however , it is not that kind of policy which we are talking about , today , is it ?
meetings of Council working groups will be organised during the Slovenian Presidency .
we demand the truth and that those responsible are prosecuted .
( the President cut off the speaker )
Mr President , why are we discussing innovative financing ?
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this is a battle for freedom which therefore concerns the identity of our continent .
finally , as several of my fellow Members and the Commissioner himself have already remarked , the budgetary rules are still very complicated on a number of points , which also means that the associated control mechanisms are very complicated .
firstly , this framework decision aims to make criminal offences of three types of behaviour likely to occur before attacks are actually perpetrated : public provocation to terrorism - and I stress the word ' public ' , which thus excludes the regulation of private exchanges of correspondence - training for terrorism , and finally recruitment for terrorism .
this is the only way in which we can win public trust for visa facilitation and eventual visa liberalisation .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , please allow me to clarify that on 5 March I did not attend a NATO Summit .
others , finally , are shaking the entire planet , such as the environmental crisis and , ultimately , the financial , economic , social and political crisis , which is imposing on us certain choices of society or indeed civilisation .
our elderly fellow human beings , who have limited capacities , like all our fellow men who have problems , cannot be left legally unprotected ; they cannot be left victim to fate and often in the hands of opportunistic protectors , who sometimes humiliate and take advantage of them .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I would like to thank all those who have taken part in today 's constructive debate .
flexicurity has made it a paradise of flexible labour markets and happy workers ( though you have to wonder why they still go on strike ... ) .
- ( PL ) Madam President , I would also like to congratulate and thank Mr Florenz for his excellent report .
women are being hit harder by the current economic crisis precisely because they are a more sensitive category , in that their work is normally not confined to the workplace but also extends to the home and family .
at a time of crisis we need a procedure which , on the one hand , will help passengers and , on the other , will not complicate the already difficult financial situation of airlines .
I would like to express my gratitude to the feminists , both male and female , for their work in the past .
in writing . - I voted in favour of the Adamou report which deals with an issue of vital importance to all of Europe and encourages cooperation between Member States on matters relating to organ transplantation .
it needs to be a partnership based on respect for one another , for our common commitments and also for the values that the European Union stands for when it comes to human rights , democracy and the principle of the rule of law .
conversely , I find the European Trade Union Confederation 's proposal for a social clause more interesting .
I do not believe in any agreement of which the priority might not be respect for human rights and the environment .
it needs to be the case that the money we make available is spent in an efficient way .
the available data show that some countries are affected to a greater extent than others by the gathering pace of global warming .
just last Friday , we also made a decision to call back unduly spent money in agriculture to an amount of more than EUR 578 million ; so we really apply these sanctions rigorously and we intend to do so in the future .
as the notions of true democracy and freedom come from the people , they cannot be forced from outside .
Europe must continue to take an active stance on all the items on the EU citizens ' agenda .
a forthcoming communication will outline new proposals in order to frame the development of a comprehensive framework for crisis prevention and correction in the euro area through recourse to the new Article 136 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union .
for there were many pessimists , including in this Chamber , who thought that we had to wait for the UK elections , or even stop waiting for the ratification of this treaty altogether .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( SV ) Madam Chairman , let me thank Johannes Blokland for the excellent cooperation we have had throughout the process .
the victory of the ' yes ' camp was a stolen victory , as the original referendum was conducted in a perfectly legal manner and in accordance with the rules .
the analysis of the phenomenon of the ' feminisation of poverty ' called for by the rapporteur is therefore urgently needed , so that appropriate countermeasures can be taken .
that is the reason why I have proposed this transfer from the first to the second pillar : 8 % phased in over the years .
if there is proof against any of them , they should be tried .
when the situation had not changed by November , this Parliament took the decision to discharge the Council .
the vote will take place today at 12 noon .
this is why we are glad that the proposal has met with approval for a trial project for micro-credit , because this will probably make it easier for small farmers to fund food production .
tomorrow 's generations will pass judgment on you as the Barbarians passed judgement on Rome .
the defects of the Stability and Growth Pact , in both its substance and its enforcement , have been obvious for some time ; it is right that efforts are now underway to ensure a lasting settlement that works .
it is quite shocking that we still have not made any breakthrough on the question of the tax base .
our vote on the economic governance package could be one of those historical turning points for this Parliament .
there are many Member States in the EU whose citizens should not be allowed into Britain without a visa .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( PT ) Mr President , exactly one year ago , we voted in this Parliament on our part of the codecision on resettling refugees , and in that codecision we had an emergency mechanism to be used in the case of any refugees who found themselves under armed attack or were the victims of natural disasters .
I am returning once again to this because I think it is important .
the Commissioner mentioned that he welcomed steps Parliament was taking to restore lines featuring in the Commission 's preliminary budget .
I am sure when the scheme is set up and running it will be a huge success and I have been very proud to be part of this initiative .
honourable Members who have visited the area will know it is a huge expanse of sea , where there is plenty of room for complementary activity and very little risk of duplication , and indeed the services work very well together .
in 2006 , we were shocked by the massive Trafigura scandal , when huge quantities of toxic waste were dumped in Côte d 'Ivoire .
Slovenians are in the vanguard of making people feel they belong to Europe .
as accession to the convention will have a huge legal influence on the creation of a harmonious system for the protection of human rights , I call on the Commission and the Member States to consider the opportunity to develop guidelines with clear explanations of all the implications of accession , the impact on human rights and the envisaged procedure for submitting complaints .
furthermore , the adoption of the regulation on construction products constitutes an important step forward in terms of simplifying and improving the legislation , whilst , at the same time , consolidating the internal market for construction products .
I would like to congratulate them and reassure them , and all of you , that we will take as many of the remarks as possible into consideration because I think they are very constructive , very positive and because of that they will be considered by me .
it is therefore clear that the underlying causes of immigration cannot be tackled purely through an approach based on security , for all that patrolling the Mediterranean has been , and will continue to be , essential to protect the area around the Canary Islands .
Daniel Cohn-Bendit is much better than that ; he is not like the caricature of himself that he has just shown you . '
the technical structure must be able to supply accurate data in real time and constant forecasts , which can be provided by current technology .
the rapporteur , Mr Silva Peneda , has put great effort into this report .
however , given the two blocking minorities in the Council , this was the only possible solution .
18 .
failure on both counts has been officially recorded .
we do have to take sufficient account of the widely differing travel markets and differing holiday practices of consumers in the various Member States and of national case-law , of course , but harmonisation is required , as some concepts differ greatly , such as that of the tour operator , the agent and force majeure .
let us look at what remains to be done and how we can ensure as quickly as possible that Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania are soon also able to join the family of visa-free countries .
you will also remember that Parliament attached particular importance to the target of eliminating or phasing out certain substances included in the Water Framework Directive .
above all , we must emphasise that it is scandalous to criticise the constitution of a Member State in this forum , whichever Member State that may be .
I should particularly like to emphasise your strong commitment to parliamentary democracy .
axis 3 : the effective application of CFP rules .
there are also some very positive things that have been produced .
however , apart from these technical specifics , we are particularly concerned about its possible impact on the competitiveness of the European economy : a prerequisite to our growth which would also appear to be obvious from the attempt to apply the competitiveness pact within the framework of economic governance on harsh and binding terms .
when you consider that there are people living in complete deprivation in some of the new Member States , like Romania , and many of these people , by the way , are subsistence farmers , they are the people who the poorest .
Mr President , Europe must offer protection without protectionism .
abolition of discrimination in transport rates and conditions ( debate )
the Commission continues to face a paradoxical reality between Member States ' jurisdiction to regulate this area and the complaints lodged by gambling providers against the restrictions imposed nationally .
it is unacceptable that producers should have to meet new requirements in order to continue producing , without the financial compensation that is due to them , whilst also having to support the costs of the ' official control ' requirements .
support from the Presidency and the European Parliament will also be essential to ensure an agreement on the European Union Patent .
these must now be assessed against health and environmental criteria by the appropriate authorities prior to export .
in this agreement between the European Union and Turkey , should there not also be provision for Frontex between the European Union and Turkey ?
finally , I want to mention our third objective which , together with the challenge of climate change , the extension of social welfare and the affirmation of social rights , must be developed as a trade mark of Europe .
there is an urgent need for Europe to reflect on its open-border policy and the pernicious consequences of this policy with regard to immigration , crime and Islamic extremism .
I also hope that we will do the same and will be objective regarding the result of the election in Honduras .
I am therefore under no illusion that we will succeed in putting an end to all illegal logging in either Cameroon or Congo - unfortunately .
the national practices or shortcomings which hamper interoperability relate principally to the transition from the old system , governed by national railway monopolies , to the new system , brought in by the directives on interoperability and rail safety .
Mr President , what disturbs me most about the change to the law introduced in Afghanistan is that women have had their right to medical treatment taken away .
I also agree with the rapporteur that upon the introduction of a new protected design , the protection of spare parts involved in the old design should lapse . it should also lapse when a design that does not have a replacement ceases to be manufactured .
Frontex is not , and never will be , a panacea to all the problems caused by irregular migration .
one of the difficulties for those in the farming community is that they believe very often they are guilty until proven innocent .
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secondly , we need to have an explicit human rights check in the executing state .
we paid particular attention to increasing transparency and better rules for public procurement , as this is the area most vulnerable to fraud and corruption which distort the market and increase the prices paid by consumers .
our group considers that we need to focus more attention on the question of value for money and on those areas of the budget where we could actually cut back .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( SV ) We will shortly be reaching a decision on the report by the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety and Anne Ferreira on the Green Paper on market-based instruments for environment and related policy purposes .
with the aim of achieving appropriate implementation of social rights , reference is made in the annex to the document , based on the position of both the Commission and the Council , that the Member States should ensure adequate application of employment rules and conditions , including the maximum employment term and minimum rest periods .
I voted in favour of the European Parliament resolution calling on Mr Gbagbo to respect the results of the polls and make way immediately for his legitimate successor .
for this reason I oppose taking beet and isoglucose quotas together when calculating the ratio of the quota renounced to the initial quota .
and although the support that the United States provides to the Fund is vital , there is no reason for the European Union and the governments of Ireland and Britain not to continue providing financial resources to the Fund on a limited and targeted basis .
our continent is probably one of the few continents in the world that will see its population fall relative to the other continents if birth rates do not recover .
in other words , if there is a group of vessels and that group of vessels represents , say , 100 000 tonnes , and they undertake to decommission 50 000 or 60 000 tonnes , leaving 40 000 tonnes by virtue of which they want to construct new vessels , then for the amount partially decommissioned - for the 50 000 or 60 000 tonnes - they would be given decommissioning aid .
the proposal is extremely technical , so I shall simply declare that my vote has been favourable to this proposal .
this question may be easier to answer if it goes to a financial stability cause in which the payers are obviously participating than if it is to go outside the financial sphere , such as to environmental projects or development aid .
it is also important that the State aid schemes which Member States apply for can be accessed rapidly and easily .
now to the murder question which the honourable Member underlined .
it must be one of the key priorities of the EU to press for the completion of these agreements .
thank you , Madam President .
these are themes of general interest .
at present , both the issue of energy transit and market accessibility are fraught with contradictions .
it is therefore vital for us to include this subject in international talks .
I support the Commission 's proposal to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) , and hope that the redundant workers will be able to find new jobs as quickly as possible .
the Socialist Group will be voting on it in any case and I believe the EPP has a similar idea .
Europe must redouble its efforts in respect of preventive measures and the fight against organised crime , as well as the protection of the victims of crime .
the United Nations Operation in Côte d 'Ivoire ( UNOCI ) has now taken action , with support from the French Licorne troops and in accordance with the Security Council resolution , but it has done so in order to protect civilians from the heavy weaponry used by the incumbent regime .
the age limit of 65 years is a rule of the Staff Regulations that covers all categories of personnel working for the institutions , be they officials , temporary , contract or auxiliary staff , as well as parliamentary assistants , following the recent adoption of a new regulation in this respect .
overall we have opened and provisionally closed two chapters : chapter 25 - Science and Research and Chapter 26 - Education and Culture .
they revive the expectation that we all had , namely that it would be confirmed that the EU is indeed responsible for peace in the region under international law , and that , I believe , is crucial .
there is , however , no time to lose : global emissions have to be reduced within the next 10 years .
you have taken my only child .
priority projects , such as Nabucco , acknowledged by the European Council as well , will diversify the European Union 's natural gas supply sources and they must be achieved .
Member of the Commission . - ( FR ) Madam President , rapporteur , ladies and gentlemen , first of all , I would like to thank and congratulate you for this excellent report , which has given me an opportunity to express myself to you on points of mutual interest .
the EU must use all the means at its disposal to respond to the consequences of the crisis , particularly in terms of the assistance to be provided to those who are facing the reality of unemployment on a daily basis .
Israel cannot always be above complying with international laws .
however , this also means that we have to find the right balance between cutting bureaucracy and preventing fraud which , in turn , means that we need rules that are appropriate .
we are grateful that a number of our amendments have been accepted in committee and hope that those of our amendments which narrowly lost in committee will finally be passed in the full plenary tomorrow .
action taken on Parliament 's positions and resolutions : see Minutes
it has established a joint framework for Member States , as can be seen for example from the bank rescue plan , the European economic recovery plan , the regulation and supervision of financial markets .
let us hope that this is not just a symbolic gesture .
the objective of the strategy is also to ensure the EU 's energy security .
now we move on to the Commission 's reaction .
as you know , the campaign for the Lisbon referendum is well underway in Ireland at the moment , and we are hopeful that there will be a positive result on 2 October .
I turn now to the Dublin Regulation . I am also grateful to Mrs Hennis-Plasschaert for giving us a very good presentation of her report on the revision of the Dublin Regulation .
I remain in close contact with my Quartet partners and am looking forward to the Middle East conference planned by the European Parliament later this year .
profit growth and modern development are integral elements of today 's universities , but , with many faculties unrelated to business and profit-driven professions - and I am thinking of arts and the humanities in particular - it is important that , in order to retain a balance between both economic and intellectual success , modern universities retain some essential academic links with their more financially naive past .
in the face of this observation , the Commission saw just one solution : to seek harmonisation .
look , it is your right to act as you choose , but it is also your responsibility .
in relation to legal uncertainty , it seems obvious to me that the vagueness prevailing between the respective conditions for application of this directive and Regulation ( EEC ) No 1408 / 1971 and , soon , of Regulation ( EC ) No 883 / 2004 , adopted yesterday , will only give rise to new decisions from the Court of Justice .
today , however , having read a number of the amendments , I feel the need to emphasise very strongly that it is unacceptable to exploit whatever bilateral conflicts there may be to make it more difficult for a country to move faster towards European integration or to prevent a country 's participation in international institutions .
given the current economic depression there is open talk in Estonia , where there have been lively debates on how to balance the budget , of compromises on child benefit .
you wonder why we are not more ambitious as regards the creation of a single European copyright .
hundreds of immigrant families have fled for their lives and there are reports of a number of children missing .
the Commission should also be particularly careful concerning competition on the medicines market , especially with regard to those practices of originator producers which restrict the entry of generic medicines .
Brazil 's contradictory behaviour is difficult to understand , not least because the Brazilian authorities have not officially recognised him as a political refugee , which is one of the reasons to suspend the bilateral agreement between Italy and Brazil regarding extradition .
while I congratulate you on behalf of Mr Piebalgs and for my own part on the quality of your report , in which you describe the health care situation in developing countries , I should add that we are not talking about Africa alone .
thank you .
it was a very helpful and encouraging debate and I believe that we will try to deliver on the issues that you have mentioned today .
the Committee on Transport and Tourism is right to want to see the mandatory ring-fencing of this additional income for use in reducing external damage .
its aim is to provide patients with better opportunities and access to health care , regardless of their place of residence while fully respecting national responsibilities over health-care organisation .
the first thing to do is to bring the integration of the European economy to a higher and sustainable level .
Mrs Oomen-Ruijten has asked for the floor .
it was clear , even at the time when the Commission published its first proposal for the directives in the early nineties , that it would not be easy to establish a unified market , but that it would be a protracted process .
it is a complex problem which involves protecting the integrity of individual victims of crime but also protecting important common social interests , such as freedom and democracy .
regional integration is crucial in the development of these countries .
in writing . - ( PT ) The adoption of this resolution in Parliament was crucial , despite the conservative Right 's desire to derail it , as it enshrines important rights for women .
it is being discussed in places like this , but when I meet people who have lost a job , for example , they do not say , ' Let 's do Doha ' .
this report helps confirm the EU as a player contributing to global stability and is a necessary step in developing a genuine pan-European approach in foreign and defence policy .
I find it regrettable that the Left in Parliament has brought the controversy of abortion into this too , without a care for what Union jurisdictions are .
I am abstaining on this report .
when we see the level of interdependence in the euro area and the European Union as a whole , a country should be able to take decisions knowing what its neighbours intend to do .
the child 's father , an Egyptian national , is ignoring this decision .
I welcome any impetus which can be given to improving animal welfare during the process of transportation .
no one can be exonerated , because everyone involved acted badly , late and inefficiently , sometimes through no fault of their own .
we are currently not sure what the emissions are from the existing stock .
( SK ) The 2020 strategy and the Lisbon Strategy have something in common : a belief that the economy must be managed .
however , it is not only about Liu Xiaobo ; it is also about Gao Zhisheng , who has disappeared and , from what we now hear , has allegedly committed suicide .
this was our first reaction in the EU bodies .
Madam President , people have the right to smoke but I bow to no one in saying that others should not have to breathe in the smoke at the workplace or any establishment that is breathed out by others .
for the same reasons , I would also thank the French presidency .
perhaps statutory exceptions are needed in order to provide a relatively effective solution to the problem .
in writing . - ( PL ) Equal opportunities and equal access for women and men to resources and participation in public life are of decisive importance not only outside the EU , in the framework of sustainable development , they are also extremely important for many women in the European Union itself .
this is why the Commission has already commenced bilateral contacts with third countries .
( DE ) Commissioner , what has just been mentioned is a problem .
in 2004 , the Transrapid link between Munich airport and Munich Central Station appeared just as suddenly .
I would like to conclude with some remarks on discrimination : if I have understood correctly - and I am certain that I have - this new European patent is open to all enterprises and all inventors , including those from countries that are not party to the enhanced cooperation , in other words , to every country in the world .
in writing . - The EU cannot claim to be a single market if obstacles to trade still exist .
the decree must be adopted by the Italian Parliament within 60 days .
never in recent years have we had an American leadership so keen to cooperate at all levels with Europe on financial stability , climate change , security and development .
one important cornerstone - and quite rightly so - is that it covers not just spouses , but also life partners .
this report , by Mrs Sanchez-Schmid , addresses how the European Union can unlock the potential of cultural and creative industries ( CCIs ) .
if it did not have consent , then there would be popular calls for referenda and those nations would be able to break away .
Commissioner Füle will take the floor on behalf of the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy .
thus , funding of the Public Service Obligation must be maintained , because these internal flights could not be operated without this money .
we are right to have this review of this legislation .
I also hope that the new commissioner for development will be able to remain fully autonomous and to safeguard his prerogatives with regard to this service , as opposed to the idea that he could concentrate powers in sectors relating to the European Union 's external action , including EU trade policy and EU enlargement .
you have ignored Parliament 's requests adopted on the basis of Article 192 and in particular the interinstitutional agreement ' Better Regulation ' , and there have been many failures to act - I have been Chairman of that committee and I am very well aware how many questions are pending - even though the Commission had formally undertaken not only to take account of requests but also to provide rapid and appropriate answers to Parliament 's committees .
therefore , it was my duty and that of my fellow MEPs to strongly oppose the Commission 's desire to allow the agri-food industry to use a new food additive of which the sole purpose is ultimately to generate further profits , with a concomitant disregard for the protection of the rights of consumers , one of which is to receive accurate information about the food which they choose to consume .
I am really more than glad to see that Mr Mladenov 's report is doing this through the good set-up of the pieces of his work and also has such nice and meaningful support from his colleagues .
the single case that you mentioned today touches me very much and if I could have the documentation I will personally try to do what I can .
Montenegrins are still not investing productively enough in a sound economic future .
this is precisely what is not needed .
Commissioner , you said that a first crisis exercise , linked to volcanic ash , is scheduled for 13 and 14 April under the coordination of Eurocontrol , the International Civil Aviation Organisation ( ICAO ) and the International Air Transport Association ( IATA ) , but it is essential that the European Aviation Safety Agency ( EASA ) exercises real leadership to coordinate safety measures at European level .
Mr President , the political message from the last Council decisions addressed to speculators , media and the markets is that the EU Member States will do whatever it takes to safeguard the eurozone and defend the euro .
the Italian Government is waging an obsessive security campaign that calls into question Europe , the Schengen Treaty and free movement in the EU .
Mr Hahn , it is quite absurd and it brings tears to my eyes when I hear formal arguments like yours that this is not at all intended to be a socio-political measure .
when I look at the situation in Ireland today , one thing strikes me .
in my opinion , the report on EU agriculture and climate change has the essential quality of combining protection of the environment with the promotion of a stronger European agricultural sector .
it should be up to each Member State to decide whether a container is to be opened or not .
these are interests that , in my opinion , must be reflected in a more active policy on the part of the EU and the European Commission .
public development aid must therefore be used together with the resources of local authorities , bank loans , private capital and innovative partnerships .
I can fully endorse that .
however , I would like to make some specific observations , particularly with regard to this first project on active and healthy ageing , which was the one presented to us .
we will not be told what to do by any representatives of any other Member State .
this means , first of all , unity between the EU Member States , since recently we have had problems in that regard that ought to be resolved as quickly as possible ; secondly , it means unity between the institutions ; and , thirdly , it means unity or convergence between approaches and focuses .
so we need to look at rules like the one on PPMs , for example : the prohibition of distinguishing between products on the basis of which they have been produced .
exactly 500 years ago the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller created his striking single vision of a brave new world in which Europe was linked to Africa , Asia and the Americas by its oceans and seas .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the European Commission has made a strong commitment to assisting the transition by Sierra Leone from a post-war situation to a situation of growth and development .
can we expect that this will be followed by legislation and specific provisions that will resolve this problem ?
mysterious murders and beatings only serve to further reinforce the impression that Russia is a lawless country .
illegal employment must be penalised and prohibited in all Member States .
despite the Commission 's current efforts , I must in this context mention the Commission 's lack of flexibility at a time of mounting crisis , aimed at preventing individual Member States from taking uncoordinated decisions over the protection of bank customer deposits .
in 2007 , the Commission also made an announcement and presented its raw materials strategy .
the Treaty of Nice only required the Union to show itself a coherent force in the world .
I would like to highlight a few points from this financial year .
that means a debt level that is 350 % too high in relation to GDP .
I am therefore appealing to the representatives of the EU . adopt measures to improve conditions for young people , and in that way let us foster a healthy society in the future .
Member States must ensure that vulnerable groups ( the disabled , the elderly , migrants ... and women ! ) really can enjoy fair access to healthcare .
today 's request for assistance concerned 544 redundancies ( of which 350 have been targeted for assistance ) in 143 enterprises operating in NACE Revision 2 Division 13 ( manufacture of textiles ) , amounting to a sum of EUR 2 059 466 financed by the EGF .
the very first mission of the Cornwall Air Ambulance involved a person who had drowned and donated four of their organs - organs that would have been lost without an air ambulance .
secondly , for demanding accountability on the revenues generated by the Eurovignette .
this calls for the Commission - as coordinator of the Energy Community - to grab Ukraine by the arm and remind it of its obligations when it comes to Europe 's security of supply .
structural reforms aimed at boosting the competitiveness of economies and the potential for growth must be the priority on the political agenda .
following the heavy rainfall in August 2010 , which caused rivers to burst their banks and forced people to leave their homes , the Czech Republic applied for assistance from the Solidarity Fund in October 2010 .
this consistency will also depend on our ability to justify and account for how the money is used .
with this type of initiative , the European Union is demonstrating its role as a leader in the area of sustainable development .
EU 2020 should lay the bill at the right door .
yet another text seeking to lower the standards of public authorities for the benefit of entrepreneurs .
after all , if the moderates have no successful achievements to show to their people , the radicals will triumph .
one in two Europeans uses the Internet , and the number of online purchases has doubled over the last six years .
the time taken for matters to be examined at Ombudsman level should be reduced to the bare minimum .
the deduction from coupled aid granted to farmers has always been the sole source of financing of the Community Tobacco Fund .
we must bear this in mind .
this afternoon the Presidency will try to make further progress on many points concerning the four texts that comprise , in the strictest sense of the word , this package .
for reasons relating to both the environment and competition , it is unsustainable to use public subsidy programmes to ensure that unprofitable coal mining continues .
( it ) Mr President , I voted in favour of the report by Mr Garriga Polledo on the forthcoming financial perspectives of the Union because , at one of the greatest times of crisis for the so-called European spirit , I am convinced that it is vital for us to insist upon and prevail in our belief that it is essential to provide the Union with credible instruments , beginning with adequate funding .
the Commission delegation in New Delhi is further investigating this matter , in close cooperation with the French Presidency and the Member States ' embassies in the Indian capital .
we need to ensure that this earthquake does not interrupt that progress towards economic and social development .
this solution is seconded at an Arab level by the Arab League and by Security Council resolution 1860 , in the drafting of which I personally participated , together with Arab and European ministers .
however , Commissioner , I want to come back to the people .
this request was initially met with a negative reaction by many politicians who saw this as an affront and insult .
this has already been debated in the G20 and many other forums .
it will not be easy to do so , but it does appear to be possible .
( PL ) Mr President , Commissioner , the mobile telephone and the Internet have become symbols of mobility and innovation .
therefore , emphasis should be placed on applying information and communication technologies in this very sector , in order not only to reduce the level of emissions , but also to prevent it from rising .
this legacy is present throughout Europe : the Mafia , the organised Mafias have invaded all of Europe , infiltrating the real economy and particularly the financial economy .
the growing rate of migration in the EU , including internally , has a number of important repercussions from a cultural , economic and social perspective .
well , I hope you will tell them that it is crucial for the future of the European economy that that package is approved by the Council next Friday .
at the same time , I would like to emphasise that Poland is Canada 's largest trading partner among the Central and Eastern European countries and , for a dozen or so years , has maintained a bilateral trade surplus which has grown year on year .
accused people must also be given the chance to defend themselves and appeal against their convictions .
the Africans have a great responsibility in this respect , but so do we .
if the theft of public funds in my country is terminated once and for all , the socialists can no longer sponsor their campaigns or , respectively , their absurd initiatives .
since 2004 , the Commission has , furthermore , regularly published guidance documents for the Member States that have helped them to adapt their national systems .
Mr President , the three key areas - the vulnerability of LDCs , sustainable development and the promotion of economic growth - are all welcome .
'Promotion ' is a deliberate action going beyond the simple and necessary information currently provided by sexual education , which should include a clause of tolerance to homosexual appeal and love .
Mr President , Mr President-in-Office of the Council , Commissioner , on 26 September 2009 , 44 citizens ' panels were organised in 38 countries representing the various stages of development .
in some countries , written consent is required from a potential donor , while in other countries , it is assumed that if there is no objection , an organ can be taken from that donor .
I believe that it is time that the countries were able to set their own employment policy .
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I think that two aspects need to be confirmed : on the one hand , the principle of the inviolability of the territorial integrity of the various states is unassailable , and on the other , the need should be underlined for absolute respect for the rights of the minorities concerned .
( RO ) Madam President , I would like us to replace :
the third thing we would like to focus on is the quality of the budget .
after all , we are dealing here not only with State aid by the German Government - to the tune of EUR 4.5 billion - but also something that is both merger and acquisition .
they must therefore be protected in every way and in every form .
I consider this an amendment worth supporting , because I imagine that it will enhance the chances that this proposal has in the Council .
today is a dark day for those of us who want pithy and effective European cooperation , but above all it is a very dark day for recreational fishermen in all Member States .
the existing bilateral framework agreement will continue to govern bilateral cooperation and political dialogue .
everyone in this Parliament has different views and represents different sections of European citizens .
( HU ) Madam President , President Van Rompuy assessed the Euro Plus Pact as a new stage of future economic coordination , and this is indeed an entirely new period in the field of macroeconomic coordination .
moreover , this is the practice that has been followed in the past , and to change it now would be to create differences from previous sittings .
therefore , I appeal to the President of the European Parliament to organise a suitable debate , which will end with a resolution on the subject of the freedom of religious practice in Europe and on the fundamental values on which the European Union is based .
nobody questioned the European Union 's symbols during the referendum campaigns that resulted in the non-ratification of the Constitution .
that is double the number of cases settled in this way in 2006 , and reflects a growing willingness on the part of institutions and bodies to regard complaints made to the Ombudsman as an opportunity to recognise and put right mistakes that have occurred .
I would not like anyone to go away with this impression of bias .
- ( FR ) Mr President , it is rare for the European Parliament to deal with subjects that have such a far-reaching impact on the peoples of Europe , and even of the world , as the energy and climate change package does .
rapporteur . - ( IT ) Mr President , Mr Vice-President of the Commission , ladies and gentlemen , even though we are compelled to hold a ' technical ' debate , as the Commission Vice-President has said , we are taking a major political step forward today .
it is absolutely necessary that governments concern themselves with the inequality that exists between rural and urban areas in terms of digital services and broadband in order to ensure competitiveness and investments for those areas .
in writing . - ( DE ) Cross-border cooperation is essential in border regions .
all too often we look at health-care-acquired infections or cancer-screening guidelines ; the answer is on our doorstep , and it is about time that we started learning from each other more effectively .
also , compulsory solidarity cannot only take the form of Frontex-type policing measures in the southern states .
now it is the politicians ' turn to pronounce at the level of justice and I am sure that the politicians and governments will be equal to their responsibilities .
we have put this legislation in place so that this will become easier and so that the process of recognising professional qualifications can genuinely be brought up to date .
as regards the issue of human rights , women 's rights and political pluralism , polygamy still exists , even in the South .
most working Europeans can only dream of such things ; indeed , the Dutch Government is even looking to increase this age from 65 to 67 years .
the EU should make a reversal of the travel ban a condition for receipt of that funding .
they must be designed and located , or protected , so as to prevent any involuntary movement or other manoeuvre that could endanger the machinery operator .
in spite of this , there are people in the country , including President Klaus , who constantly voice their doubts about EU membership , as well as doubts about the reason for the very existence of the EU .
I was proud to have contributed to the campaign to ban imports of cat and dog fur from China but the import of seal products is a very different issue based on traditional culture and practice over centuries .
we need to deal with the teething problems of the European Arrest Warrant and stop it being misused .
digitisation means free access for citizens to knowledge and science ; it does not , under any circumstances , mean a new sphere of action for electronic piracy and unaccountability .
although President Obama appears to be more interested in the Pacific than in the Atlantic , from our perspective , we need to place greater focus on Eastern Europe and the Middle East .
for each of these levers , for example , mobility , financing of small businesses , intellectual property , taxes , public services , or social cohesion , we will propose a key action that will be new , that we hope will be effective for businesses and citizens , and that will be deliverable within two years .
in my opinion , the stubborn insistence on the need to translate patents into most of the official languages of the EU is a manifestation of national egotism , since the costs , administrative demands and time required for this would largely wipe out the advantages of the single patent .
we have EU missions in some of these fragile states working alongside , but not always together with , our financial instruments .
I voted in favour of this report so that these objectives might become a reality in the near future , stimulating harmonious growth not only in different sectors but also in areas of Europe often characterised by heterogeneity on the level of territorial development .
I understand the need for a discussion about the creation of a European legislative framework for origin marking of commercial end products , in particular , against the background of consumer information and transparency between trading partners .
the debate , this afternoon 's debate in fact , demonstrates this : the relaunch of the internal market , regional policy for all the regions , including the most distant ones , such as the outermost regions , cohesion , economic governance , the viability of public finances , employment , education and research .
they will fawn all over him and act all touchy-feely-cuddly .
is this through lack of ambition in this area or because 2009 will mark a radical shift in the paradigm of European development policy ?
in this connection , I wish you all the best .
if we only investigate individual risks , we will never have a realistic scenario .
we will still insist on these environmental objectives being implemented and pushed through , but at the same time we should also have the opportunity here to discuss the car industry 's economic difficulties with a representative of the Commission .
I am happy that Parliament has sent a strong message to the Commission and to the Council , in supporting an increased budget enabling more children to benefit from the scheme .
would it not be good to have , as several colleagues here have already suggested , a directorate permanently dedicated to this ?
that being the case , the Mediterranean Union is a project which could lead to more peace and stability via the economic integration of our two regions , so it is an extremely good idea , and it is one which we Socialists therefore fully endorse .
the key point of this debate is not only the specific issue being tackled by the Committee on Petitions , with reference to the dissemination of German in relation to its use by Community institutions .
as Mr Gauzès emphasised a moment ago , this is an excellent report that will help improve judicial cooperation .
the budget for that measure is EUR 6.9 million .
I only partly agree with the rapporteur 's view on this matter , so I do not think it is appropriate for me to take a position on it .
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modern day slavery takes the form of the sex trade , and it is going on here and now .
according to World Health Organisation data , interpersonal violence and suicide rank respectively third and fourth worldwide among people aged 15-44 years as the leading causes of ill-health and premature mortality .
do you know what Moody 's says ?
I voted in favour of this report as it is important to clarify matters at a time when the role of lobbies is still giving rise to much debate and , at times , conjecture among European citizens .
I agree with practically all his comments on what the Members who have spoken have said .
I would like to speak on two topics : climate change , and research and development .
his faith and his words alone unsettled the intolerant regimes .
in writing . - I voted in favour of this report which will ensure a high degree of safety for human health and the environment .
the recent ruling that insurers may not discriminate on the basis of sex in order to factor in differences in driving ability or differences in longevity is flawed on so many levels that it is difficult to know where to begin .
4 .
so , please , if I could have that from you , I think we can all go away somewhat happier .
three of the reasons for the spread of piracy internationally are the technological facilities for low-cost illegal copying , unfavourable economic conditions and the expansion of the Internet .
we are therefore in favour of giving our full support to the measures proposed by Mr Papandreou 's government .
we must monitor this case very closely and we must continuously remind the Turkish authorities of the importance of the continuous assertion of freedoms .
how many of Europe 's half a billion people outside the inner political circle of the Council will elect the President of Europe ?
setting up a European diplomatic college seems an ideal solution to me for providing diplomatic staff with training based on common standards in order to guarantee consistency for the EEAS .
if you wanted to put the citizens first , you would respect their opinions .
every decent person was shocked by last week 's natural disaster in the Far East .
we need an absolute majority of 369 for it to be adopted , but I would recommend that the House reject the resolution that we are about to vote on .
rapporteur . - ( SL ) I would like to comment on two contradicting opinions : deviation as a general principle and strict observance of the rules laid down in the Schengen Code .
it also means that as the amendment is worded , anyone who claims to want transactions to be taxed has no reason to vote tomorrow against the wording proposed jointly by 120 Members .
food security depends on having a strong policy that guarantees a future for our young farmers and encourages the introduction of more effective and sustainable farming practices in the less developed countries .
industry is increasingly calling for education and training offerings to be related directly to practical requirements and oriented towards solutions .
in writing . - I voted in favour of this proposal from the Commission for a regulation to establish a community framework for the collection management and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding the Common Fisheries Policy .
the excessive price volatility in the previous period is partly the consequence of wrong decisions taken by the EU , for instance the abolition of maize intervention .
firstly , I considered it useful in my report to focus the framework of the review of the regulation on facilitating energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy in the housing sector on all 27 Member States .
we would also need to prohibit the dumping of cod and this should take effect immediately .
that will lead to disaster .
this means that the Poles want nuclear power to make up part of their energy mix , with the aim of becoming less dependent on gas and on the Russian Federation .
the moment that the Commission supported the creation , in Poland , of a factory of the same company focused on producing laptop computers , was the moment - because the market is made that way and because there is a much higher demand for laptop computers - that signalled the collapse of the Irish production plant .
they spoke about the illegal use of resources and how this is used to finance arms , which serves to continue and escalate the conflict .
industrialised countries are responsible for high CO2 emissions , so they must pay for this and support developing countries .
I also have a comment to make to the rapporteur .
this is the basic warning to prevent further violence against protestors now .
but how do you get innovation ?
auctioning should be the main means of allocating emissions targets , in order to avoid the disadvantages for competition of grandfathering .
I believe that this Report gives a realistic overview of the challenges facing us as we try to devise a suitable transport policy .
in addition to the Irish , the French and the Dutch would say ' no ' again ; after all , public opinion surveys carried out in these countries indicate as much .
rapporteur . - ( FR ) Commissioner , we very much want the Excise Movement and Control System to replace the paper system in April 2009 , and we hope that the whole unfortunate debate on the indicative limits will not delay adoption of the directive .
there can be no easy answer to this question .
we showed in particular that this financial aid totalled $ 24 billion from the federal authorities and certain states , including $ 16 billion from NASA and the Department of Defence in the form of support for research and development in the aviation sector that enabled Boeing to develop state-of-the-art aviation technologies and know-how at no cost .
however , in this context , as Mr Gargani said that we are opening a discussion concerning a problem that may be a wider issue , I wonder whether it may be worth thinking about a common electoral law , at least in terms of general principles , a common electoral law for the European Parliament for all Member States of the European Union , as today there are very different circumstances in the 27 Member countries .
in addition , time and again , radioactive , corrosive or explosive freight is transported illegally , putting the emergency services in mortal danger when accidents occur .
a good example could be the ongoing Parliament initiative on carers .
it is clear that we must find , within the framework of the ETS Directive - which is probably the most difficult directive - systems for progressivity and financial solidarity that ensure that countries whose economies rely most on carbon can make the transition to other sources of energy .
European investors must adopt responsible behaviour abroad , while protecting the right of the European Union to regulate investments in the public interest .
there are long-term links between Czech citizens and Croatians with tens of thousands of families visiting the country every year and having friends there .
the left have not explained in today 's debate why they are so afraid of this value being quantified .
I am also opposed to demands to increase spending on European political parties , using money from taxpayers ' pockets .
unfortunately , this amendment did not receive the required majority .
the new CAP , thus , will have to meet growing public demand for a more sustainable agricultural policy .
to large animal farms which damage the environment , while farms which produce cheaply receive symbolic support ?
however , as you know , during elections to the European Parliament there is less contact between the Presidency , Parliament and the European Commission .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , a moment ago , a disgraceful speech was speciously made in this House against the President of the Italian Republic .
I suppose it is not entirely a coincidence , given that today , 8 March , is International Women 's Day , but , in any case , we welcome your initiatives in this regard .
in writing . - I welcome the motion for a resolution on the Review Conference of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court ( ICC ) in Kampala , Uganda , as it contains very crucial and important points and requests regarding the ratification and the implementation of the ICC .
all these directives contain appeal mechanisms .
in writing . - ( PL ) The European nations that long for freedom and sovereignty now have reason to thank the Irish nation .
I could not support this regulation , purely because of the amendments .
I also hope that we learn from our past mistakes ; that we do not go to another international summit armed with a mandate characterised by vagueness and generality and that we , the European Union , do not again spend all our time there in mutual consultations on how to react to developments , leaving no time to play the leading role for which Mrs Kadenbach , among others , has called .
however , as a group we would , of course , have liked to have clear objectives and clear timetables .
that is why I wish to make it very clear that the counterfeiting of medicines is not just any counterfeiting , because it is a form of counterfeiting which completely undermines confidence in our health systems .
over 60 people died this year in the fires in Greece , many families lost everything they owned , and thousands of hectares of forests and olive-groves went up in smoke .
things must be clear !
so , in terms of where we are : we know the value of a deal that is now 80 % complete and that in July 2008 80 % of what needed to be done was done .
the Commission has organised a number of studies which will help to gather evidence and to find solutions , although such solutions can only be implemented at a domestic level .
social Europe should guarantee universal access to health care and social security services , access to quality public services and improve social cohesion by the efficient use of structural and cohesion funds .
it is time for us to reignite the debate about the ban on using hazardous substances in the mining industry in order to put an end to these tragedies .
that takes time and will not happen through the good will of the Kremlin alone .
there are people here who are really experts on cancer , but I am a person who has worked for many years in the fight against cancer and I will remain as such .
yes , this is my message from my country , from a land that was blessed by the heavens and where all the prophets walked and lived in .
because we worked in conjunction all the time , I must mention the important introduction of a European semester regime in the preventive part , and point out that the preventive part is essential and that penalties should only be applied as the final step in this whole procedure .
the results of the report are meant to reduce the damage caused by alcohol and to protect the health and welfare of EU citizens , as we all know very well that alcohol is one of the most dangerous factors causing disease and premature death in Europe and also a series of social problems .
this practice heralds from Spain but could happen elsewhere .
in this respect it is also important for us to support fully the work of the EU special representative in Moldova .
in addition , given that the power lines run for up to 58 kilometres , there is a strong argument in favour of placing these lines underground .
I am a definite advocate of Strasbourg and I believe that if there is any doubt then we should move the entire parliament to Strasbourg , not to Brussels .
it is also a policy of the Commission to safeguard the social standards that we have achieved and not in any way to undermine them under any circumstances whatsoever .
therefore , all State Parties of the Rome Statute should join in such cooperation , because otherwise , that effectiveness will not be achieved .
this is just one of the reasons for the growing hostility to the European Union among its citizens .
even though citizens ' disillusionment with the European Union is clear , the latter is still increasing its budget by 6 % to finance policies that it has arrogated to itself .
when the genuine technological potential is still lacking , there is a danger that a binding target will be realised in a way that irrevocably destroys natural values .
the liberalisation of trade in services is therefore of key importance for our economic growth , as it is for developing countries , where services are not sufficiently advanced .
the debate is closed .
deciding who can and cannot enter a nation state should be the sole concern of the nation state - except that , in the minds of the Euro-fanatics , European nation states no longer exist , having been replaced by the great EU borderless state .
I therefore hope that the European institutions will redouble their effects to implement measures to speed up and improve the rates of utilisation of such an important resource as the EGF , which currently has very low levels of mobilisation .
on the financial side , I would like to say that my group is predominantly made up of parties from countries that do not belong to the eurozone , and which do not use the euro .
the amendment to paragraph 3 would destroy the entire report .
in writing . - Whilst opposed to extremism in ny form UKIP does not believe that we , the British people , need to take advice on this issue from the EU , and nor would UKIP call for the EU to take any action .
they are absolutely crucial to agriculture and food production .
let us , please , have more responsibility and fewer words !
the CO2 emissions from that one power station will be the equivalent of those saved by every single wind-farm we currently have in the country .
if the southern part secedes , it will be necessary to show support for as peaceful a transition as possible .
I see successful , sustainable development depending mainly on increased research capabilities .
I am in favour of this debate being much more intense , because many of us have still not seen what opportunities this new Europe offers .
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national action plans will also facilitate adaptation to particular circumstances in each country .
at present the shipyard is achieving positive financial results .
at the time they were detained , we were informed that financial transactions were part of the substantial evidence against them .
rapporteur . - ( PT ) The long list of speakers and the resolute and impassioned way in which they have expressed their ideas once again confirms how much this subject means to the European Parliament and the importance that should be placed on agriculture , farmers and the rural world in Europe .
the Mediterranean countries obtained funding on condition that they would undertake the necessary economic and political reforms .
the EGF has been used in the past by other EU countries , and should be used now to assist the 198 cases of dismissal at the Linak Company , which is part of the electromechanical sector in Syddanmark 's NUTS II region .
in writing . - Every year , thousands of people are killed or injured on Europe 's roads .
the question is simply how we will get the funds to stretch , and now we are not only talking about funds in the EU , but also funds in the Member States , and that is a balancing act .
I think this will give them the opportunity to compete on those markets and at the same time it will also establish a quota ceiling of one million for such companies .
secondly , Kosovo : it has been said that it must abide by the rules of play , but a player can only abide by the rules of play if they are allowed on to the playing field .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I would also like to say a very big thank you for the excellent compromise that we have reached .
thank you .
let us not make ourselves vulnerable precisely on this issue .
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we have already put together a good package of measures in Singapore and we need to take this forward , perhaps even in parallel with the current Doha negotiations .
this has been one of the successes of your Presidency .
( RO ) I am glad that today we are discussing the relaunching of the social package .
however , from an EU perspective , some activities are being duplicated here .
the central event was undoubtedly the crisis in Georgia . here the Presidency of the Council acted quickly .
that is what I would like to highlight in this agreement .
Mrs Oomen-Ruijten is not here , but the left is also sometimes fond of saying that it takes more than laws to change attitudes .
I of course thank my co-combatants in the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs , Mrs Berès , Mrs Bowles and others , but also the members of staff , who had to bear a large part of the burden .
I should like to call on the High Representative to include an evaluation of the situation of freedom of religious expression in her priorities .
I also opposed the application of charges generated just by the congestion of a few , which is a measure that will lead to unfair advantage and which fails to penalise those who pollute most .
however , we are not a military union .
to conclude , I would like to stress that it is an important concern to me that the negotiations should progress successfully , and they have my full support .
this is certainly something that we in Europe can understand very well .
this vote on the Council recommendation on the appointment of Vítor Constâncio as Vice-President of the European Central Bank comes as no surprise to us .
subject : Epilepsy treatment
the problem of ageing is one which we all share ; and we should approach this with some dignity .
I would , of course , like to say many things about poverty as well as single mothers , but unfortunately time does not allow me to do so .
the EU cannot impose an exact replica of our internal legislative measures on third countries , just as third countries , to which we export , cannot impose their own national rules on us .
if we manage to do this , then we can learn from the lessons of this crisis and continually improve our systems . I have been repeating : our system works .
I do not believe that we should make them stricter .
they say that the situation is far too complicated and that there is not enough transparency and experience , which is why they find themselves unable to take the right investment decisions .
we also need to develop indicators that reflect the household level more accurately : income , consumption and wealth .
I expect the Hungarian Presidency to secure a European Council resolution in favour of Bulgaria and Romania 's membership of the Schengen area by the middle of 2011 .
in addition , the regions ' position within the Union is altered by climate change .
that , then , is what I am able to tell you ; it is what I have just told you and what I am committed to .
I voted in favour because I agree that Parliament , in its capacity as a co-legislator , should be able to monitor the adoption of strategic decisions on the implementation of this instrument on an equal footing with the Council .
I think it is a measured position to take .
the insurance industry can and should play a major role in this area .
on the second question about finance and the economy and what Mr Verhofstadt said : we can all have more ambition , and on that matter let me tell you that I share your ambition .
the main issue at the heart of this Strategy was to reduce poverty in African countries . however , not much progress was made in this field last year .
human rights were dealt a heavy blow at the time of the presidential elections in December 2010 .
this is more than half the original administrative request for an increase of 5.2 % .
faced with a problem of these proportions , Europe must rightly take drastic measures against those who exploit human beings in various ways .
author . - ( FR ) Mr Tannock , I refer you to my statements on Cuba .
the Tarabella report and that of the Commission are therefore both commendable , because it is right to always insist thoroughly on this principle .
this is because in recent years we have witnessed constant pressure to reduce staff costs , with the use of forms of precarious contracting , such as contracting via the provision of outside services , particularly through temporary employment agencies , to the detriment of permanent employment contracts and the rights of these workers .
it is also undeniably a positive piece of legislation overall , taking account of the existing situation .
you cannot eradicate poverty without creating wealth , otherwise what you are doing is just distributing from one to another , not creating new wealth .
indeed , although food needs to continue to increase in the world , the proportion of development aid devoted to agriculture has , for its part , been on a constant decline since the 1980s .
since then , there have been positive developments , both in renovation of the present railway and in carrying out studies in order to construct railways conforming to European standards .
all talk aside , what the peoples , young people and small and medium-sized enterprises - in other words , 99 % of Europe 's productive fabric - want , is not impractical European strategies for growth , but decentralisation and freedom from the orders of the political and bureaucratic elites .
I have an abiding memory of the conditions in which they were living and working . indeed , they often died as a result of hunger and cruel inhumane treatment .
the decisive factors , however , will probably ultimately be the global economy and perhaps the price of oil .
I really hope this will go further .
- Before the vote
in writing . - Equal opportunity for women and men is an important part of the Copenhagen criteria .
the solution must be comprehensive .
only a balance between flexibility and protection can improve employment and social protection .
to me , ladies and gentlemen , this represents an outrageous double standard .
therefore , despite not inconsiderable reservations about the methods and intergovernmental nature of the fund , Parliament supported this watershed moment and has focused on ensuring a solid link between the European Stability Mechanism ( ESM ) and the EU Institutions .
when in doubt , I back the principle of subsidiarity , which is why I am voting against the Wallis report .
'We don 't need no education ; we don 't need no thought control ' .
help needs to be given , and the European Union and Parliament , in particular , have a role to play here , as they are fundamental in the process of mobilising the Solidarity Fund .
only then will we be equal to the challenge and able to meet the valid expectations of our citizens and partners .
I sincerely hope that my group , the EPP , does not see fit to support this resolution since it would really show my group at its very worst - anti-American , protectionist and anti-competitive .
however , I think it is more likely to be MEPs who feel the need to complain strongly about the dreadful way in which many European Commissioners barely answer our written questions , namely without getting to the point , incompletely and sometimes with a barely disguised refusal to provide us with the correct information .
given that Germany has requested assistance for 1 181 redundancies spread across the four production sites of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen in Baden-Württemberg , a company operating in the printing machinery manufacturing sector , I voted in favour of the resolution because I agree with the Commission 's proposal as amended by Parliament .
we are debating the Third Energy Package , involving the creation of an EU internal electricity and gas market with an Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators .
the prices of some essential food products such as cereals do not stop rising and even hit record levels in January , according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation .
outside the Union , I have in mind especially the protection of Christian minorities in Islamic countries and in Asia .
the placing of biocidal products on the market - New biocides revision proposal ( debate )
the framework agreement on parental leave is an important aspect of the equal opportunities policy that promotes the reconciliation of working life and private and family life , but limits itself to setting minimum requirements and may therefore only be considered a first step .
with regard to the carriage of dangerous materials by road , there is a huge lack of training , a major shortage of equipment in terms of parking areas that can safely take the vehicles concerned in accordance with Community regulations .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I am glad this discussion on the labour and employment ministers ' meeting in Washington DC took place today because it is not going to be the only summit where the voice of the Members of Parliament will be heard on such an important subject .
I would add that we have outlined in this part the elements of the overall approach that will enable development and migration to be linked .
we have already seen the good people of Germany saying that they are not happy with the situation .
the application fulfils the eligibility criteria set up by the EGF Regulation .
he has allowed yet another transfer of power to Brussels without giving the British people a referendum .
it results in increased freight charges , a lower standard of service and higher risks to passenger security .
in the same way , the Council obviously regrets the increases in the level of payment appropriations that Parliament intends to vote for , all the more so since this level of appropriations exceeds the Commission 's draft budget .
as a result , the expenditure 2000-2006 is today broken down to the NUTS 3 level , to 20 categories of expenditure at this level , and is available for Objective I regions , Objective II , Urban , Interreg and Cohesion Fund .
but I would hope that the Commission could take more action , as Ms Mann has suggested , on intellectual property rights , particularly in relation to China .
this is the case , in particular , for the often very complicated and disputed cross-compliance regulations .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , this is already the third occasion during this parliamentary term on which I have taken the floor during a debate on human rights to speak about the social and political situation in Burma . human rights have been infringed in that country for many years .
voting time ( continuation )
the crucial point is that the sugar is added before fermentation and not afterwards , which means that it is not a matter of sweetening sour wine , and the addition of sugar is only permissible for table wines and vins de pays .
in order to achieve this , jobs and industrial output must be kept within the European Union and not relocated to third countries .
there is clearly a need to introduce more controls .
as President I would also like to congratulate Mrs Lynne on a report that has had a huge impact among civil society .
on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs . - Madam President , on behalf of the committee , I would like to request the adjournment of the final vote , under Rule 57 ( 2 ) .
the regulation , which seeks to improve both food safety and the impact on the environment of plant protection products , is sound and important .
( RO ) Mr President , the fact that the previous stress tests were not credible makes carrying out the next tests complicated .
given the significant profits that both parties will be able to make , I hope that the negotiations between the EU and India will be able to continue , with a view to quickly establishing a free trade agreement ( FTA ) which is ambitious , balanced and comprehensive .
what is to happen ?
we should not have to justify why we are against nuclear energy .
the introduction of the School Fruit Scheme will support the consumption of fruit and vegetables in the EU and will increase the demand which will not only boost public health , but it will also benefit European fruit and vegetable growers .
in fact , the minimum wage cut only restored the status quo prevailing before 1 January 2007 , i.e. before the crisis .
this motion for a resolution was not the best .
we will establish a minimum capital requirement of EUR 125 000 .
let us hope that that becomes a reality in the months ahead .
we cannot simply wait for lobbies and interest groups to pressure us : we must make the effort to get close to the public ; to listen to them .
we have ahead of us an ocean of opportunity .
so I hope that we can do it all in Strasbourg and I will convey the message to the Czech presidency about your wish and willingness to work hard on the dossier .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , Baroness Ashton , Mr Albertini 's truly excellent report contains a passage that I consider to be of great political importance : the part connecting the phenomenon of immigration to the policy of cooperation with developing countries .
access to documents from all the EU institutions must be made easier and improved so that every citizen can obtain an impression of their work .
that decision must be made at a political level .
in writing . - ( PT ) This is yet another report which , despite starting off with some correct statements about the current situation , makes little or no progress with regard to the solutions required .
Scotland is geographically very well-placed to be developed as a maritime transport hub between Europe and the rest of the world and we have considerable scope to develop additional short sea routes , both for passengers and for freight .
some of my fellow Members here have echoed this and that is why they signed .
there are secrets that are justified and necessary .
the Commission will be able to implement them in a semi-automatic fashion , thanks to reversed qualified majority voting .
we are waiting to see , therefore , whether these new measures prove any more useful .
I do not think that this House needs any reminding about the importance of the Services Directive .
to my mind , there is no reason why Russia should be treated any differently from the other countries in the world .
in fact , every crisis is a challenge .
in the case of ETS sectors , financing mechanisms are required for the low-carbon economy .
if it mismanages itself , the currency will fall to compensate for that .
I would like to see a lasting solution because the alternative is a short-term solution which could lead to disaster .
I believe it is essential for civil servants to be accountable to the general public .
for all these reasons , the government 's full commitment to this process of privatisation , and not least its determination to tackle privileges and vested interests , will indeed be critical to realising the ambitious objectives and thus utilising the potential for substantial improvement in the market sentiment vis-à-vis Greece .
developing a suitable Euro-Mediterranean strategy should also be a common goal , but in this case too , we have to admit that the Barcelona Process has , in fact , never taken off .
here , we are hearing the complaints that are being made .
especially having seen how cases of major floods have been dealt with in a way that we felt was right and sufficient , but it has always been forgotten that in other places drought is becoming a structural problem and that the problem of water scarcity has not only social effects but also economic effects , and has an even greater impact on all aspects of sustainability .
the experience I gained showed me that Europe needs to develop its creative and innovative skills for both social and economic reasons .
these standards are an extremely important matter , not only for world trade , but also for cooperation on development , and even more importantly , for the pursuit of values which we call fundamental values .
I am delighted that Mr Maystadt has demonstrated his openness , which in fact I had already seen before , towards reviewing this issue and finding a solution to it , as was previously mentioned in the debate last year .
for instance , Latvia is suffering a deep economic crisis and it has faced severe budget cuts in the country 's 34 higher education institutions with a threatened 50 % cutback to the higher-education budget .
Madam President , today the EU Commission is demanding of the Irish Government savage cuts in Ireland 's budget , involving the slashing of public services and the living standards of working people , possibly even for pensioners and the unemployed .
Europe must help this come about .
this application , the second to be approved under the 2011 EU Budget , was submitted to the Commission on 24 March 2010 and concerns 634 workers from the company Unilever ČR , in the Střední Čechy region , who were working in the retail sector .
these people need to know that this Parliament recognises their need .
Jesus Christ loved animals : ' I desire mercy , not sacrifice , ' said the Saviour .
Member of the Commission . - Well , there is a Treaty and the Treaty is very clear .
in light of this , it does , of course , make perfect sense for us to conclude a free trade agreement .
the next item is the joint debate on the following reports :
as always , the report is vague and unspecific .
the resolution we have drawn up for the 75th anniversary of the Holodomor is a compromise which largely concedes the truth of this crime .
a key question is , of course , the so-called healing of the financial system , so that enterprises and citizens can have access to credit . this is particularly relevant to small and medium-sized enterprises , which are , surely , the foundation of the European economy .
I would therefore hope that the Commission will show greater strength regarding issues relating to a social Europe .
the decision was made in the Commission on the basis of European law with decision by majority .
however , we Greens shall continue to lobby for railways to remain environmentally friendly , especially by retrofitting existing freight wagons .
firms that pursue high-frequency trading strategies should be analysed to ensure that they have robust systems and controls with ongoing regulatory reviews of the algorithms they use .
the debate is closed .
what if the Commission was to think about the social impact for a minute ?
secondly , we have to avoid treating Serbia as a second-class European country and lecturing it on every occasion .
( DE ) Mr President , Mr Oettinger , ladies and gentlemen , I , too , would like to thank Mrs Kolarska-Bobińska for her very constructive and intensive work .
this is regardless of the fact this directive does not apply in the UK .
the resolution which has been adopted says that all Member States will be represented in the service .
I can tell Mr Graefe zu Baringdorf very quickly why I seek to make it voluntary .
calling for a small increase or a freeze is derisory when what is really needed is a sharp cut in the budget to give the taxpayer a break .
in 2010 , we witnessed the three greatest humanitarian catastrophes in recent years : the earthquake in Haiti ; the drought in the Sahel ; and the floods in Pakistan .
this regulation on environmental economic accounts is very important , as has been said here more than once , because at last it establishes a statutory basis for a system of accounts integrating environmental and economic statistics that is crucial for environmental policy , and , in the broader context , social policy .
respect for the individual has become apparent again , even among political leaders .
we must now ask ourselves whether this will bring more justice and more children in Europe .
a budgetary item should be created to fund programmes supporting workers who are suffering from workplace stress , excessive workloads , unemployment and job insecurity , directed at identifying and treating alcohol dependence , improving working conditions , preventing sickness and promoting health .
we would also like to call on the Hungarian authorities , in future amendments to the law , to engage to a greater degree with the parties involved , including civil society , because that is the only way a law can be drawn up in a truly democratic country .
I repeat : children are among the most vulnerable people in society , and their fast-developing organisms are fragile .
we would also have liked to have seen a significant reduction in the proportion of the EU budget being allocated to agricultural aid .
consequently , I would ask you to make an effort to slow down . otherwise , interpretation will be impossible .
the new rules for immigrants must not result in any significant inequality between third country and EU nationals .
11 .
on the practical front we can see that at present the CE marking does not offer sufficient guarantees that a product really is safe .
it does not matter to me how the universe was created , or in what time frame .
( RO ) Elections are taking place in the Republic of Moldova on 5 April .
that does not make you a criminal or a traitor .
discrimination against women or men who freely choose to assist those who cannot look after themselves , or to bring up future generations , is now anachronistic and old fashioned .
Mr Mölzer is no longer here , but I note that he did not mention the fact that Switzerland did not hold a referendum on this cooperation .
first , building political alliances through reinforced dialogue on climate change .
I simply wish to delete the following sentence regarding the EU Operational Headquarters from paragraph 29 : ' emphasises that the proposed EU Operational Headquarters provides the solution to this problem ; ' .
the higher the level of schooling , the less time there is for young people to be involved in sport .
I wish to express my concern in particular about the fate of emissions trading .
the reservations of Poland and Italy regarding the new distribution of seats in Parliament were resolved , except that Poland is winning other more important battles : it obtained the opt-out from the Charter of Fundamental Rights , it will have an Advocate-General at the Court of Justice and it benefits under the Ioannina mechanism .
nowhere to be seen for these two countries , both of which have a long and frankly despicable record .
it is important that transatlantic cooperation should work , but it must work reciprocally and with a feeling of mutual respect .
hence the concern to demand equal treatment for third countries that intend to invest in the European energy market .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
Mr Wałęsa 's report refers to amendments to the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries , which was signed on 24 October 1978 in Ottawa , and came into force on 1 January 1979 .
finally , I was talking to my colleague at the very beginning and missed the vote on the European Year of Volunteering .
however , we must now ensure that we rapidly begin to dismantle the sanctions as soon as Ouattara takes up his rightful office because everything has ground to a halt .
we must consider not only licensing , but also withdrawal of that licence .
I do not want to make concrete commitments here at this point , but by 2030 we will certainly have gone beyond 35 % renewable energy sources , reaching a figure of over 40 % , or even 60 % , or somewhere in between .
we need to invest in all these programmes but , above all , we need to believe in them .
the EGF is not the answer to this crisis , but it is a considerable , significant help .
in writing . - Despite the complex title this report concerns a complaint in 2001 of maladministration by the Commission in relation to the German Government 's failure to properly implement the Working Time Directive .
we must absolutely , therefore , help Mexico .
the introduction of a financial transaction tax is a step in the right direction and would mainly affect hedge funds and similar products , which would seem to be of very little benefit to the real economy .
in writing . - ( FR ) Congratulations , Prime Minister Janša , for your speech to our European Parliament .
despite widespread international condemnation , the Burmese generals are maintaining their criminal course of action .
the independent peer review team should also include the national regulatory authority , along with representatives from the neighbouring countries , with a view to exchanging experience on emergency plans .
in order to be able to pay out this money quickly , I simply need the legal basis in Article 186 .
other countries , such as the United States , Canada or a number of emerging countries that are affected by the problem of tuberculosis , whether directly , as it impacts on their populations , or indirectly in the context of international solidarity , should quite logically make their own contribution to this initiative too .
documents received : see Minutes
in the question , Ms Ludford expressed concerns that the negotiations on the new Schengen evaluation and suspension rules might be lengthy and difficult to agree upon and asked the Commission to prioritise launching infringement procedures against Member States in breach of Schengen rules instead .
I voted in favour of Mr Klinz 's draft report on credit rating agencies because I think the edited text contains many positive elements and good ideas .
I believe that EUR 0.003 per litre of milk produced in Portugal ( calculations provided by producers ) is a pittance for a problem that has been dragging on now for so many months , especially if the Minister for Agriculture uses this money for the expected reforms , as he has already announced .
( FI ) Mr President , first of all I wish to say that I voted against Mrs Batzeli 's report .
I am pleased to see that , in line with our proposals , clear definitions have been included of what constitutes a technical rule and of the exclusions , and I am particularly glad that the tricky problem of language has been resolved .
as a result , everything is left to the ambitions of the individual Member States .
the main message of the World Forum is that science and politics must act together to halt climate change and the destruction of the environment .
( the sitting was closed at 10.30 p.m. )
we continue to feel that both of these issues are up to individual Member States to decide and therefore should not be included in a Parliament report .
we must encourage labour force migration and facilitate professional mobility as much as possible by speeding up the exchange of information between the original Member State and the host Member State .
ideas about complementary measures and other things : what we are talking about here is a complete change in the way that people approach transport and motoring .
opinions have recently changed and that has resulted in us being in the position in which we now find ourselves .
this strategy reflects a fundamental change that took place in this region five years ago .
I believe that it is in this spirit of active solidarity and responsibility that we can tackle the crisis .
if we really want to combat tax havens , the Union must also equip itself with the resources to conduct this policy consistently .
I also pay tribute to the officials who worked and have continued to work day and night to pull this effort together .
the Agency has entirely fulfilled its mandate and it can now wind down its activities ; this is planned for the end of 2008 in order to entrust the management of assistance to Serbia , Kosovo , Montenegro and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ( FYROM ) to the Commission delegations in those countries .
the third step is resolving the differences between FYROM and its neighbours in accordance with the Salzburg Declaration .
( LT ) I voted for the resolution on integrated maritime policy ( IMP ) , because the maritime sector is vitally important and I want to leave future generations clean and safe seas .
at this meeting , I reminded my Sudanese interlocutors , while addressing the conference , that our development aid is intended to support development in Sudan subject to a genuine democratic transformation taking place in the country , as provided for in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement .
whilst we are told we must commit to an ambitious climate change agenda , the EU turns a blind eye to the fact that the Brazilian beef export industry is responsible for 80 % of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest .
during the procedure in the Committee on Budgetary Control , all candidates were approved but not all of them unanimously .
self-regulation is not enough .
( RO ) In many European countries , the procedure for authorising medicines is clear and even well regulated from an official point of view .
furthermore , I would remind you of something else : if this did not apply , then we would not be in a position to ban imports of meat from Brazil and we would not be able to stop the importation of milk and dairy produce from China and so on .
but first , as regards the amount of food and feed imported , it is really marginal .
I welcome Mrs Oomen-Ruijten 's excellent report , which opens up the possibility of a solution , while respecting subsidiarity .
that is a good thing , but there is already a clause in the current agreement , and we are not managing to make sure it is abided by .
this included an extra EUR 2 million for entertainment to support the champagne lifestyle to which this place has become accustomed .
does the Commission approve of the practice by car rental companies that require consumers to pay for a full tank of fuel prior to rental , irrespective of the fact that the consumer may return the car to the rental company with , for example , half a tank of fuel remaining , and the consumer will not be reimbursed ?
that is why the pact itself makes perfect sense .
in all other areas of expenditure , the Court found material levels of error .
unfortunately that is not possible at present , since the Commission only considers the conventions binding if they have been ratified by more than half the Member States .
accordingly it is necessary to encourage laws in Member Status to combat this social plague .
I would say manoeuvring in smoke-filled rooms but , this being Brussels , I will say smoke-free rooms .
in one way or another , we will undoubtedly get the Irish back on board .
( DE ) Madam President , if we want to preserve our environment for future generations , we must not consider economic and environmental aspects separately .
Member of the Commission . - This question of additional or supplementary charges on cross-border services has , I agree with Mr Higgins , given rise to some anger in particular quarters .
methane from animal faeces is also a renewable source of energy .
it therefore seems essential to me that we should clearly and unilaterally ban smoking in such places .
more generally the Commission is concerned by the possibility that this category of vessels will trade in other sea areas of the European Union or neighbouring the European Union , and in particular the Baltic Sea .
higher demands are placed on monitoring the consequences of the agreement for fish stocks and living conditions for local people .
specifically for this installation , it should be in compliance with the highest standards by 2012 .
those people are watching us , they have expectations of us and they are demanding answers from us .
however , I do have a problem with the contents of the recitals .
Uganda : anti-homosexual draft legislation ( vote )
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there have been too many IGCs ; they have been constant .
how does the Commission intend to promote closer participation by the regions , what means will be used , and what funding will be provided ?
I think that this element of your announcement today is very important .
to summarise : things must be made smarter , greener , more sustainable and more inclusive .
I will present here two significant examples of the way in which the European Investment Bank has boosted and will continue to boost the European economy .
it is right that we react quickly in such critical situations and try to find sensible solutions .
on behalf of the S & D Group . - Mr President , I thank the Commissioner for his contribution .
after all , every year , we dump millions of tonnes of toxic electrical and electronic waste on them .
I agree with Mr Swoboda that if the three states in the South Caucasus were to work more closely together , the impact of external influences , such as the Russian influence , could be reduced .
the gas crisis spotlights two major problems which the European Union is facing .
it was not what we , the politicians , did .
this is confirmation of an obvious truth .
( LV ) As a result of the ethnic aggression in southern Kyrgyzstan in June , hundreds of people have lost their lives , thousands have been injured , and tens of thousands have been forced to flee their homes .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , when I read this annual report , I experienced a feeling of déjà lu , a feeling that I was once again reading something that I had been reading for many years .
Mr President , the Yemeni administration has made a commitment to accept the application of both the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child , and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights .
the fight against speculation on agricultural commodities and extreme price volatility require a global-level solution to ensure greater stability for farmers and the large-scale supply of safe food products .
similarly , it is up to each Member State to decide to sign or ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages , which are the two major instruments introduced by the Council of Europe .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , perhaps you too have heard that there are no longer refuse crises in Campania .
the European Left , in cooperation with the trade unions , through its proposals to the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and to the plenary , is pressing for the protection of all employees , regardless of the type of contract under which they are employed .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , as regards the purpose of the report , which is to include European aviation activities in the scheme for emission allowance trading , a number of questions arise .
it is in the interest of both parties to conclude this agreement .
human dignity is central to him , and that is the basis for cooperation between cultures .
I personally have a strong conviction that religion can be a force for good , upheld by the work of the Faith Council in my own east-of-England constituency which promotes mutual understanding , a role mirrored in the European Union 's own obligations for dialogue , as outlined in our resolution .
therefore , let us have more .
we also passed muster concerning the measures adopted for stabilising the banking sector .
it continues to foster close links with terrorist organisations even to this day .
the process of reform in this country is still being paralysed by political forces there .
Madam President , Mrs Figueiredo put it excellently , and I should just like to add one thing .
it is a case not of imposing measures on Member States , but of sharing best practices so that we can guarantee that the European passport is a secure reality on our external borders .
we must take the opportunity offered by the financial crisis to undertake radical greening of the European economy and to put a stop to climate change .
EU farmers are required to meet stringent environmental and animal welfare standards , for which they are , in part , compensated through the subsidy system .
the euro , then , has become the most tangible sign of European integration .
I am very pleased by the adoption of the amendment I tabled , which has been included as paragraph 167 and which calls for cooperation with the countries participating in the Eastern Partnership , and I hope that paragraph 71 will be similarly amended . this paragraph does admittedly refer to the Mediterranean countries , but it should be extended to include all countries involved in the European Neighbourhood Policy .
as I have already said in the Committee on Transport and Tourism , I consider it downright unacceptable to apply this term to cars and roadways .
the EU has the important task of conducting the requisite inspections so as to ensure that the risk to animal health , and hence to human health as well , is kept as low as possible .
increasing education and awareness of both their rights and obligations , as well as a responsible attitude on the part of companies , will contribute to a more dynamic form of cross-border trade and , as a result , to the close integration of the internal market , with an impact on European competitiveness .
we managed to convince the Commission and the vast majority of the Council to adopt 95 % of our amendments and improvements of the text , only a blocking minority of , at the time , 4 of the 15 Member States did not want to go along with that majority .
the employment rate has to increase , but social services should not be financed .
the future stability of Afghanistan is of crucial concern to the security of EU Member States and wider afield .
we are , however , very much counting on the Council 's cooperation because the information network we want to create must be transparent , efficient as well as readily available .
but the offer on the table from the Commission is a smoke-and-mirrors proposal which developing counties have every reason to question .
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I repeat : we have this during every debate , and today it is unanimity .
I do think we need to see a greater complementarity of actions already on-going to alleviate that situation .
nevertheless , I would like , once again , to make the case for increasing funding for social dialogue appropriately , as we proposed .
the next item is the report by Mrs Kallenbach , on behalf of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection , on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 91 / 477 / EEC on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons - C6-0081 / 2006 - .
so I utterly reject what has been said .
finally , the Commission is looking for four pillars of a new strategy .
Pakistan 's experience of democracy in the past 60 years has been troubled .
extremism is a cancer in our society .
all arrangements for the actual voting , the counting and the reporting of the results need to be above board and clear to everyone , but most especially to the voters of Pakistan .
I voted in favour of the European Parliament 's own-initiative report on evaluation and assessment of the Animal Welfare Action Plan ( the Paulsen report ) , because I fully support the objective of strengthening animal welfare in the EU .
I voted in favour of the report on the Commission 's Green Paper entitled ' On forest protection and information in the EU : preparing forests for climate change ' .
Member of the Commission . - First of all , I think the question of the Irish crisis is proof that we have good systems in place .
in writing . - We voted to reject the report because we don 't want any kind of European Common Immigration Policy .
also , it is stipulated that the main contractor is responsible for the payment of wages , but only if they know that the subcontractors are employing illegal immigrants .
how could I fail to agree in particular with Mr Juvin 's and Mr Tarabella 's calls for the creation of the European External Action Service to represent a major opportunity to strengthen EU policy on women , peace and security ?
disgracefully , Europe has not done enough to help the Burmese - their courageous monks , their political prisoners , their brave leader Aung San Suu Kyi - to get freedom and to get rid of the junta oppressors .
although signs of ozone layer recovery have been observed as a result of the measures taken , it is considered that the level of ozone in the atmosphere prior to 1980 will only be achieved in the second half of the 21st century .
the debate is closed .
this technical document allows Annex I to be updated by including the maps of all Member States and the target deadline to be changed to 2020 .
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Parliament is willing to play its part and will support the Commissioner in his determination to find a viable solution to this issue .
the creation of a more cohesive policy with regard to water consumption , education and policy integration is necessary at European level to ensure effective and responsible protection of water supply and the environment in Member States .
it would be practical to extend the range of support to industrial disasters as well and to reduce the threshold of the monetary equivalent of the damage .
it is a fact that the Turkish constitution creates political destabilisation , does not guarantee religious and political freedoms and provides an alibi for interventions by the state .
in comparison to the European Commission 's proposal we would like to increase the allocation of payments for the next year from 0.97 to 0.99 % of the European Union 's gross national income .
can he tell the House in what ways the Council believes that its policy has proven a success ?
in addition , the advanced mid-term review of the 10th EDF will provide a good opportunity to identify new needs and assess whether these would be better addressed through general or sectoral budget support .
President-in-Office of the Council ( PT ) . - The EU-Israel human rights working group , set up at the meeting of the EU-Israel Subcommittee on Political Dialogue and Cooperation on 21 November 2005 , is the platform which makes it possible to make a regular , systematic and in-depth analysis as well as for both parties to debate human rights issues , as the honourable Member wishes , and as the Council itself wishes .
in the longer term this will probably be more likely to achieve the aim , but in reality it depends on how it is actually organised .
we must push for measures - legislative if necessary - to achieve concrete results in practice and not just on paper .
I think we are speaking the same language on this issue .
( NL ) Mr President , in this debate , which mainly focuses on the supervision and organisation of the European External Action Service ( EEAS ) , we must not lose sight of the general interest of this service - which , after all , is very great .
we all agree , of course , that shipping is a global industry , and so the legislation we adopt must be compatible with the international maritime agreements under the auspices of the IMO and under the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control .
I agree with the report 's welcoming of cooperation between the EU and US authorities responsible for aviation security .
those lessons include the fact that higher prices will encourage more exploration and the development of resources .
on a final note , I urge the Commission to make sure that Parliament is informed in due course of any projects of microfinancial assistance so that a proper debate can be held in the relevant committees , and that we as an institution are well aware of beneficiary countries spending EU money .
financial Instrument for the Environment ( LIFE + ) ( vote )
so , you are the one who has shown - proving Mr Poignant right - that I am forgetful of how overrated my reputation is .
it is the market that has to act , not public funds from European and national budgets .
in contrast , just consider the intentions and actions of the Israelis , consider the protection of the lives and property of Jewish citizens against Hamas 's terrorist rocket attacks , which have been going on for years , as well as Israel 's real concern for Palestinian lives .
it is , in my opinion , a most valuable form of renewable energy .
this question was not raised in the report in a satisfactory manner .
that is why I think we should work to reach the largest possible consensus with the current instruments .
objections against the internalisation of external costs are raised on the grounds that it will affect competitiveness .
however , if we do not create this intermediate category , we can be sure that the budget for cohesion policy will be cut .
the development targets achieved in many developing countries are at risk and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals seems ever more difficult .
and I cannot hide the fact that I shall never get used to accounts with negative equity of 58 billion .
indeed , I had thought that all the political groups in this House were agreed upon the resolution .
equally , we must ensure that the delusional emphasis on privatisation hitherto does not lead to UK-style massive delays and safety failings .
pursuant to the aims of the Lisbon Strategy , the Member States are committed to finding employment for 60 % of women capable of working .
perhaps we need to look at funding under rural development or the common agricultural policy and establish a hardship fund to look after cases like this which are there and which need assistance .
the common market encompasses almost 500 million consumers and an abundant variety of goods and services .
a great many people were not there and , at second reading , too few people were present for us to obtain sufficient votes to conclude that second reading .
women must be protected so that they can choose to have children without having to leave the labour market .
therefore , I proudly and resolutely support the Italian position , which entails approving the regulation , because it will enable us to achieve a single system for the implementation of Regulation ( EC ) No 883 / 2004 , and I hope that all of the other Member States will also revise their positions and transpose the new rules into their national legislation without delay .
climate change is a problem of global relevance and therefore requires joint responses .
the European Union is the main market for timber and fish .
Mr President , Commissioner , the significant rises in fuel prices have seriously exacerbated the crisis faced by the fisheries sector , not least its economic viability , and the already scant incomes of those working in the sector have been significantly reduced .
it is absolutely the case that there are possibilities to put a time limit on these powers so that we only give the Commission a power for two years before we then decide on the matter again .
this laboratory , I note , is the same place from where the virus escaped a few months earlier , causing an outbreak in the UK with devastating results for the farmers there .
after all , all diamonds are mined in appalling conditions .
this concerns the vote which was in progress when voting was suspended , which we will continue from exactly the same point at which it was suspended , so as to maintain complete continuity .
the Committee on Fisheries therefore proposes that Article 28 be deleted .
on the contrary : it could serve to deepen the economic and social problems facing us .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
you may receive such a declaration from the government , but the young people will not forget and will not forgive the crimes of ΝΑΤΟ and the EU .
I would like to congratulate Mr Özdemir on his own-initiative report on an EU strategy for Central Asia .
we convened a special meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council for 12 May , where we will be able to have an orientation debate .
I now come to the matter of forensic laboratories .
Parliament called for new elements to extend the regulation , in particular : indication of the country of origin , indication of fibres of animal origin , and more rigorous requirements concerning the use of harmful substances in the production of textiles .
these are my brief remarks regarding the discussion .
however , none of this makes a more democratic , proactive , united Europe any less necessary .
in any case , this cannot be long now because we are now dealing with the most sensitive topics - cars , wine and spirits , public procurement and GIs .
we need to develop renewable energy resources at a faster pace and save energy .
sufficient mechanisms are already in place which would enable EU Member States to speak with one voice in dealing with Russia , should we so wish .
( the President cut off the speaker )
it was midnight or one o 'clock in the morning when there was a big demonstration .
when it comes to the question of the Treaty of Lisbon and which decision-making procedure we should have , perhaps none of those that exist really fit our purposes properly .
I think what we are trying to do today and what we , along with the Council , have done is to ensure that citizens ' rights are vindicated and we are linking the needs and rights of citizens to legislation , and surely this is what this Parliament should be about .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , there are five questions we need to ask ourselves :
I consider that the current framework directive for nuclear safety will become a good basis for analysing the state of all reactors in the European Union , and not just of newly-constructed ones , and will be an objective base for the evaluation of their safety .
the Union would also become stronger if Turkey and Ukraine were to join , and if it had a proper economic partnership with Russia .
I have also put forward specific non-legislative proposals on the drawing up of the citizens ' charter which lays down their rights and what they are entitled to .
measures must be urgently taken to prevent unemployment from worsening in such a deprived area and to prevent the country becoming poorer .
the requisite transparency was not achieved .
the fact that we have failed to bring the HIV problem under control despite worldwide prevention programmes should lead us to reassess these programmes and to intensify efforts aimed at prevention and the production of effective cures .
nonetheless , there are several issues of concern as regards this therapy , not least the risk of transmission of diseases , the limited availability of organs , and organ trafficking .
it must be easy and user-friendly for SMEs ; it must give them a badge of honour to conduct their business under this optional contract and there must be no detriment to national law .
according to it , the USA is to make visa exemption a privilege and will ratify the special requirements to be imposed on Greece and the new Member States , which will have to provide , with a European stamp of approval , of course , even more sensitive passenger data than universally required in theory by the PNR .
I detect a certain envy in there somewhere !
this is the kind of thing people are getting up to .
we have a partnership agreement with Tunisia which contains many provisions relating to democracy and human rights .
it never substitutes the national budgets representing national sovereignty .
investment spending should be dealt with separately from regular annual government spending in the debt rules .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , first of all , I would like to thank Mrs Hedh and Mrs Bauer for their initiative .
as a result of the reform to the Common Fisheries Policy in 2002 , multi-annual plans were implemented gradually , along with the recovery plans for fisheries resources of interest to the Community .
the same provisions are in place in all Member States of the Union , but the way they are implemented varies considerably . this encourages undesirable behaviour whereby irresponsible entrepreneurs relocate their economic activity to countries where criminal sanctions for offences are less severe .
it is not true - or can you tell me why prices are higher in the United Kingdom ?
if , once again , it is development credits and the European Development Fund that are mobilised , the alliance concerned will be no more than a sham .
naturally , it is the general aim to keep prices stable , but it cannot be in the interests of farmers to be the nation 's or Europe 's lackey in order to ensure this .
unfortunately , those most at risk are the least culpable in creating this situation .
in this regard , I would like to refer to the fact that last year , we had agreed on a restructuring package which was triggered because of the fuel crisis and we are encouraging Member States to make use of this restructuring package in order to bring about a reduction of the fleet , in particular , of the purse seine fleet .
firstly , the matter of transparency and openness .
so let me thank each and every one of you .
it is essential that Aung San Suu Kyi has unrestricted freedom of movement and speech .
the proposal rightly includes arrangements for the EIB to act in such matters in accordance with the principles of aid effectiveness outlined in the European Consensus on Development and also Article 208 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union , the Paris Declaration of 2005 and the Accra Agenda for Action of 2008 .
ladies and gentlemen , I would like to say that in my view , the social agenda and the employment agenda are gaining in importance and that this is a process which is progressively making itself felt in all EU strategies , as it is in all of the proposals for changes to the long-term plans and outlook of the European Union .
the new rules will reinforce the need for a link between result and reward .
most natural disasters are unexpected events .
consequently , the recent official request submitted by the poor countries for export restrictions to be lifted cannot be ignored .
thank you very much .
the South Korea market offers significant new opportunities for EU goods and services .
Mr President , thank you for your patience and indulgence .
I think that the latter is the case .
it is an own-initiative report but it has the merit of going in the right direction to complete the single market and the protection of European consumers .
in normal terms such level of detail is not present in legislative texts .
does Hungary , the country currently holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union , plan to take any specific actions as regards adopting and reviewing this directive , and what specific measures will you take to clear the way for this directive ?
this is because we saw in the flesh that they were not 25 000 criminals , but people who had fled Tunisia .
it defends the grassroots policy and reactionary nature of the EU .
we therefore appear to be pursuing the same global objectives .
I would like to point out that the number of new cases of cancer in children under 15 years of age rose by more than 50 % between 1980 - when data began to be collected - and 2006 .
you can be sure that , as in the case of Mr Daul , the French Presidency appreciates the support of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament and your support on matters of consensus .
it is balanced , and it guarantees and ensures that all over Europe people can engage in agriculture and produce food , thereby assuring a food supply for its citizens .
fourthly , when will this method or model start to apply to the assessment of infrastructure charges for other modes of transport too ?
I am not passing judgement here ; I am simply stating a fact .
this consideration also leads me to ask what measures will be taken to combat the collapse of the dollar and the risk that it poses to Europe and the rest of the world .
you see , Commissioner , if we take part in a boxing match with one hand tied behind our back , we cannot win .
whilst , as is the nature of compromises , the package is not perfect , I believe that it is a step in the right direction and will bring about an improvement in consumers ' rights .
I note there the reference to the need for ' a legislative proposal which is likely to include or be supplemented by a clarification of the exercise of fundamental rights in the context of the economic freedoms of the internal market ' .
( SV ) Mr President , Commissioner , I would like to thank the rapporteur for a well-balanced report on a very important subject .
I also hope that this financing instrument will encourage exchanges on an equal footing between the EU and third countries and will help to create openness throughout the world and promote responsible support for sustainable development processes which are in the interests of citizens .
the Greek authorities have also informed the Commission of their intention to cofinance this instrument through the 2007-2013 operational programme for the fishing sector in Greece .
( the sitting was suspended at 12.55 p.m. and resumed at 3 p.m. )
the bilateral issues need to be resolved by the parties concerned in the spirit of good neighbourliness , above all , taking European interests into account .
clearly , these issues will be crucial in the immediate future , both for Greece and for the rest of the EU , which is why I voted in favour of this particular report .
never before have our selfish interests and our selfless interests coincided as they do now with the need to assist the developing world .
to prevent such situations from arising in the future , Mr Andersson suggests that prompt action is needed to enshrine in legislation amendments which will avert any potential social , economic and political repercussions of the ECJ 's judgments .
anyone who thinks that I am interested only in peace and quiet does not know me in the least , because I am fighting for democracy .
a decision was made in Brussels today to provide more liquidity .
we have shared goals and strategies .
we are therefore considering the possibilities for enhancing our support for the Commissioner 's initiative in the near future .
the issue of crucial importance is the education of children and young people , and the Commission shares with Parliament the conviction that financial literacy should be taught at school .
so the bottom line is that fishermen cannot survive , they are going out of business and I think some of our proposals in this resolution will help to improve the situation .
for this we need a consistent approach .
some of my fellow Members have expressed criticism , saying that the scope of the report should not be abused , should not be broadened .
my vote should not be perceived as support for the EU 's ' subsidy gravy train ' , either .
first I should like to congratulate you for establishing the EuroLat joint Parliamentary Assembly , which will play a crucial role in bringing the citizens of both sides together .
furthermore , are you likely to try to convince Mrs Merkel and Mr Sarkozy to join the majority of the euro states , or , when Mrs Merkel and Mr Sarkozy say ' we do not want that ' , will you say ' okay , because two parties say ' no ' , we will dispense with the idea ' ?
at all times in those past four years the Commission has had an open door for the successive Polish governments .
they are two sides of the same coin .
however , it is also true , Madam President , that we frequently have to move from the Beatitudes and grand principles to the accounting books in order to ensure credibility and realism , and move from words to actions in the policies we wish to promote .
we recognise that the CAP must be maintained , that there must be an adequate budget and that food production is part of the bundle of ' public goods ' which farmers provide and must be rewarded for .
in your opinion , how long will it be before the ERTMS will come into use , and do you not think that , with the liberalisation of both passenger and freight railway transport , the system of very clear verification of quality of service and equipment should be separate from national systems ?
I hope that will be enough to fine-tune our action even further during the course of the fishing season .
( applause )
these are moreover the same responsibilities that China has in Darfur , in Tibet and in many other parts of the world where human rights violations are being perpetrated , not least in China itself .
we called for new models of medical research ( innovation prize schemes , equitable licensing , patent pools , public / private partnerships and social conditionality in the concession of EU research funding ) , but these amendments were not adopted .
we supported your election and , even though we should be careful not to overuse the term ' historic moment ' , I believe that your election as President of the European Parliament is indeed an historic moment .
Mr President , Mr Diamandouros , ladies and gentlemen , I wish to thank the Ombudsman and his entire Office for the valuable work they have done to promote good governance and transparency .
if China intends to wash out the Tibetan culture this way , it is acting against its own stated intentions of harmonious relations among the countless cultures , ethnicities and identities the country knows .
we are thereby fulfilling the predictions , but the legislation we are signing was drawn up by Parliament in the previous term .
the fact of the matter is that the globe is actually not warming ; it has not warmed since 1998 .
after all , these are also very important aspects of a strong , prosperous Europe .
in our opinion , evaluation in the proposed resolution of Russian actions in the Northern Caucasus has exceeded the resolution 's area of application , therefore the social democrats have decided to adopt their own separate document .
since 2000 we have gone through a serious overhaul of our financial services laws , and we have updated many of the relevant regulations already .
over the years I have worked on a number of codecision procedures and I have to say this has been one of the best .
their activities represent the hare , and our responses the tortoise .
measures that improve the operation of markets , such as the use of the polluter pays principle , which allows the costing of economic activities that cause environmental harm , are a form of state intervention that should be encouraged , as experience in the field of environmental protection has shown .
generally speaking , it is indeed in the interests of the Union to foster a good commercial , economic and social performance in Ukraine in order to secure trade relations and political stability in the region .
EC-Mexico : economic Partnership , Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement ( vote )
firstly because of the results achieved , but also because it was done so quickly .
I would therefore like to highlight the urgent need to support growth through investment in knowledge-based economic sectors .
a properly functioning procurement market is of crucial importance to promoting the Single Market , to stimulating innovation , to promoting a high level of environmental and climate protection , and of social inclusion across the EU , and to achieving the highest possible value for public authorities , citizens and taxpayers .
unfortunately , that cannot be said of the report in this House .
Member of the Commission . - ( EL ) Madam President , I would like to thank all the speakers for their positive comments .
in 2005 , the total floor space of the buildings used by institutions in Brussels , Luxembourg and Strasburg exceeded 2 million m2 .
I am delighted that the presidency had the good sense to stop this occurring .
this is the very Gazeta Wyborcza which ensures that people who hold differing opinions have their property confiscated .
the animals are registered , ringed or , in the case of larger animals , tagged with chips so that they can be identified if necessary .
nor are we opposed on principle to manufacturers , dealers , sports marksmen or hunters who deal responsibly with firearms with full awareness of their special nature .
I therefore express my sincerest condolences to the victims .
Member of the Commission . - ( CS ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to thank all the Members of the European Parliament and above all the rapporteur , Mrs Castex , for her informative report on the Commission communication on the demographic future of Europe .
the challenge is to formulate a common fisheries policy which maintains jobs and fish stocks at the same time .
if this is not achieved , as already stated , we will vote against the report .
we need to put this right , and one way of doing this is by helping the insurance sector by setting a single maximum compensation amount that will apply Europe-wide .
whilst I can agree that an effective solution might be energy saving , it is only a part of the wider approach necessary .
future cohesion policy is currently being decided , while unemployment is growing and public finance shrinking across Europe .
I hope that it will be implemented quickly , especially in my region , in the West Midlands .
the clauses on possible fuel tax for air services ought to be removed and it would be desirable for the traditional designation clauses referring to air carriers of third countries to be replaced by a European Union designation clause referring to EU air carriers .
as Mr Rübig just said , there is not one single answer for a pipeline : it would be a mistake to just opt for one ; instead , we need to open up a variety of routes and options .
will you please make a commitment tonight to give them what they are requesting ?
this was rejected by our Member States .
that is very important and I do ask for understanding on this point , because on this issue some of the population has found itself pushed to the limit .
I do not think that we should close all the doors on this matter .
in the Middle East , everything is interconnected .
that is the reason for my vote in favour of the report , although I would also protest against the fast-track procedure of the debate on this document , and its adoption with practically no debate .
there are numerous EU regulations and directives which require an exchange of information concerning the offences committed by European citizens in a Member State other than their state of residence .
that is why Innovation Union is one of the flagship initiatives of the Europe 2020 strategy .
Internet users must not be denied access to the Internet or have their access restricted without the prior ruling of a competent judiciary body .
it is a European problem ; it affects the security situation in Europe .
( PT ) Mr President , the issue I am bringing to the House 's attention today concerns VAT arrangements for Portuguese farmers .
my third point : does this agreement raise issues on data protection and citizens ' privacy ?
in writing . - I support this report , which suggests a coordinated action plan for the whole of Europe to abide by the directive on the conservation of wild birds whilst preserving fish specias as well as the interests of fishermen .
by facilitating travel and contacts between the Union and Belarus , we can undermine the Lukashenko regime much more effectively than with dozens of statements or resolutions .
we must construct this strategy based on cooperation - by specifically investing in interoperability and by creating operational capabilities on the ground - but it is particularly public support that is often missing from this dimension of our policies .
I have just come back from the SADEC Summit , where I spoke with heads of state .
my fellow conservative and liberal Members , some of you want to punish automatically States that are heretics to your dogma to the tune of billions of euros .
however , we cannot ignore the fact that there were a lot of people standing behind those teams , that they had a diplomatic service behind them which was well-prepared , well-informed and who used their incredible talent for negotiation to ensure that this was a successful Presidency .
I am sure that this will be an example which will be followed later on by other regions .
for the time being , in our countries prices for cross-border payments and prices for domestic payments in the national currency still differ .
I am heartened by the response of the local community - young people , farmers , business people - who came out to help , along with the police and the civil defence forces .
the Union currently has 143 nuclear reactors , with nuclear energy accounting for 30 % of the energy mix .
Tuesday
Madam President , we must continue to take this into account .
adaptation of the provisions of the code will help us achieve broader cooperation and synergy for the most effective response to the needs of our citizens .
in this context , the work of the European institutions should contain and provide support for this inequality , which causes a lack of social cohesion .
( PT ) Madam President , Mr Carlgren , Mr De Gucht , the European Union should continue to play a leading role in the international negotiations to achieve an ambitious agreement in Copenhagen .
I wonder if you could ask him to provide the statistical data to justify his statement that it is economically beneficial to consumers to replace cheap meat parts and put them in beef-like products , rather than using them today in sausages and other products .
retaining the visa requirement for citizens from these Member States violates the principle of freedom of movement , creating unjustified discrepancies and inequalities .
meantime our policies will have a devastating economic effect .
we have told the European Commission that we cannot continue learning from disasters and have asked it to submit a protocol to this House , an effective protocol on maritime transport collaboration in the Straits of Gibraltar , in defence of the environment and common sense .
there is no clear scientific consensus on the effects of formula fortified with DHA on infants , which runs contrary to Articles 5 and 6 of the regulation in question .
creative and innovative projects , with the involvement of the surrounding regions , will provide a cultural experience of a particular kind .
dictator Lukashenko continues to ensure that his country systematically distances and isolates itself from its neighbours .
mentalities are hard to change .
the next item is Question Time ( B6-0462 / 2008 ) .
I think so .
the measures to reduce production will have negative knock-on effects on jobs in all value chains as well as on demand .
this new resolution , which I welcome with all my heart , is broken down along five major lines : general , information gathering , prevention , prosecution and protection , support and assistance for victims .
recently , the prospect of EU accession has given the opportunity for some brave people like the leaders of the AKP party to challenge the army supremacy .
I do not mean that we should never have this mandate , but we do not have it today and , frankly , I think it is much more important for the national authorities to be better equipped to perform their duties than for more and more layers of inspection to be built up .
it is also essential to keep economic recovery and emergence from the crisis in mind , so I am also pleased to see support for small and medium-sized enterprises as one of the major concerns of the 2011 budget .
it also says a lot about the procedure from now on , which should be more open when we appoint Commissioners .
yes ?
as the European Union , our offer to the region and to the people is solidarity and support to put the reforms in place .
it is also very important , however , to be very aware of the fact that , even though we share many things , our interests are not always the same and that , therefore , in certain spheres , as friends who are now speaking to each other face to face , looking in each others ' eyes and able to work together , there are certain areas in which we will continue to differ .
I am quite shocked by the remarks that Mr De Rossa and Mrs De Keyser made here .
now , more than ever , the Commission needs to recognise crises at an early stage , irrespective of the branch of production , and quickly and efficiently take steps to counter them .
using force against your own citizens is a violation of every law .
no grounds for urgency could carry more weight than the importance of defending civil liberties and the security of Europeans .
in this respect , serious requirements need to be addressed .
the radical treatment of the issues of child prostitution and sex tourism is particularly important .
Community vessel traffic monitoring and information system (
moreover , it is essential for us to make progress .
the first point of the resolution mentions the important changes in United States ' policy concerning humanitarian laws .
so , Commissioner , in view of your comments and your reputation for strength of purpose , what do you intend to do ?
this affects not only the car plant itself , but also its subcontractors and those who work for the subcontractors .
the amendment makes the text clearer and simplifies the regulatory framework , while also reducing the administrative burden , thereby facilitating the application of the legislation to ensure the regeneration of the ozone layer by 2050 and prevent the adverse effects on human health and ecosystems .
the issue is one of subsidiarity , and citizens , whatever their position on abortion , need to be able to rely on that .
around 500 000 settlers are living in these settlements today .
seventeen thousand is , in actual fact , a third of all the buses purchased in any one year in Europe .
the Swedish Conservatives have today , 25 February 2010 , voted in favour of the joint resolution on the 13th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council , .
in my opinion , it was not very clear .
in this brief intervention I cannot address all the issues raised in the report .
the advisory role is very well accomplished , but we have not yet found a way to achieve true convergence in Europe .
at its inception , the EU was about deep economic cooperation .
it is important to emphasise that this strategy must be implemented in an environment of solidarity , in an environment of close cooperation between the Member States .
however , especially in the light of Member States ' call for simplification , it would prove difficult to convince them of additional reporting burdens .
they are constructive and they want to embark on this , but it will not be easy .
I wonder if we are not over-willing to describe Turkey as being attacked on all sides .
its arguments for rejecting a European tax on financial transactions as a prelude to a global tax are the same as those put forward by the supporters of tax havens .
alternatively , they will swell the ranks of the non-inscrits .
if we go over this mark , we will have done irreparable damage to our planet and that means that it is damage that we will not be able to reverse .
last year , the whole of Europe was swept by a wave of discussion and opposition to a verdict which prohibited the display of a cross in a public place .
in other words , firstly we can ask whether we need this Fund .
this is unacceptable .
I would , in fact , like to seize this opportunity to take stock of five years of EU / Turkey relations in this parliamentary term .
on the other hand , the directive offers a great opportunity to those countries which do not as yet have any soil protection regulation .
indeed , I find it compelling that one diaspora organisation of the Tamil community , the Global Tamil Forum , has said that credible allegations against the LTTE - and they have made this very prominent - should also be investigated .
author . - ( NL ) Mr President , back in the plenary of May last year , the European Parliament took a clear stance against the humanly degrading and environmentally destructive situations involved in the dismantling of ships .
it is ridiculous to say that workers are on an equal footing with their employers and can reject what is offered to them .
they have 10 weeks to apply for that assistance .
it is true to say that we are in the midst of a crisis but it is also true that the proposal is for the measure to be applied from 2012 .
Mr President , I stress again that , in my opinion , only a society that allows itself to be led by respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and that is based on democracy , the rule of law and a socially orientated market economy can develop into a peaceful , stable and prosperous society .
for far too long , there has been a tendency within Parliament to always take new decisions with long-term financial consequences without looking at the whole picture .
I must say that our committee wants more than resolutions and individual agreements to be adopted : it wants to know how they are executed and implemented , i.e. how they are put into practice .
in addition to the aid provided to these countries by the EU , the institutions are therefore working to strengthen the Stability and Growth Pact in order to avoid crises of this kind in the future .
this report is aimed at extending exceptional , unlimited , duty-free access to the EU market for nearly all products originating in the countries and territories benefiting from the so-called stabilisation and association process .
recently we had the case of Jestina Mukoko , Executive Director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project and a board member of the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum , who was abducted and held incommunicado for 21 days before reappearing at Harare Magistrates Court bearing signs , it might be said , of torture and ill treatment - all for the crime of being a human rights campaigner .
therefore , there should be an international effort and the European Union would be prepared to take the lead , within the International Maritime Organisation , in order to set standards with regard to CO2 emissions .
this is a substantial change as compared to the previous regime and comes from the intention to stabilise the macro-economic environment which would relieve the pressure on the fiscal systems that are meant to support social protection systems and employment policies .
water in Scotland is provided through a publicly-owned company answerable to the Scottish Parliament , and the Scottish Government has a vision of Scottish Water becoming a compelling example throughout the world of how best to deliver water services .
given the confidential and sensitive nature of this information , however , the hearing was held in camera .
without prejudice to the advantages which real progress in relations with Mercosur would mean for the EU , I do not think there is or ever has been any weighty argument in favour of delaying advancement and enhancement of our relationship with Brazil .
some of you have mentioned mackerel .
trade agreements with South American states represent a very positive development .
the Georgia-Russia war of 2008 , the unsolved and so-called ' frozen ' conflicts , and the worrying deterioration of democratic rule in Ukraine and Russia are all very serious developments and vivid examples of the security risks in the area .
there is also the hope that the new measures will stimulate change in national healthcare systems .
I put a question to the Commission - which Mr Dimas answered in March - highlighting an issue which is still not clear , namely what the vessel was carrying in its hold .
the Pakistani Taliban reportedly took responsibility for the murder and pronounced the same fate for any further critics of the blasphemy laws .
it is about calorie output , not just about calorie input .
the serious situation prevailing in Campania today because of the waste problem is due to three very specific names : Bassolino , Prodi and Iervolino .
this presumably also has implications for the setting-up of the agency for the common management of the SIS and VIS - and , potentially , other databases in the future .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Mr President , may I start by saying that I agree substantially with the comments from my colleague , Mr Andersson , on the opposite side of the House , but I would ask that this would not be regarded as a precedent for future occasions .
the European border appears to be as leaky as a sieve .
I would , however , warn of the need to consider the economic impact of this opening up , especially on the Member States whose economies are more vulnerable .
Commissioner , you have said as much .
I agree with the Council that the times of total deregulation are over .
rapporteur . - ( DA ) Madam President , I think that Commissioner Tajani , put his finger on it just now , because that is precisely what all of this is about .
( PL ) Madam President , achieving the unity of Europe while preserving its diversity , identity and cultural heritage is the great value of our Community .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Development . - ( DE ) Mr President , what does the agency Frontex have to do with development ?
in writing . - I voted in favour of this report , because I know very well - as a Romanian citizen - how important freedom of movement is .
this position is being currently developed .
I am thinking of the internal reform , which you have brought to fruition and which will make our institution more transparent and more effective , and of the new statute for Members of the European Parliament and their assistants .
there needs to be a differentiation between micro , small and medium-sized businesses .
it is time now to examine this more deeply .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I am happy to be here for the debate on Mr Bono 's report and I should like to thank him for his contribution and the committee for its work .
in my capacity as humanitarian aid rapporteur for your Parliament , I went to Kinshasa at the beginning of November to meet with Mr Botswali Lengomo , the new Minister for social affairs and humanitarian action .
Mr President-in-Office , during our conciliation procedure you made certain statements in which you indicated to us that you would deal with this matter .
before the final vote :
however , this means that the budget has become completely inflexible , failing to provide sufficient margin .
everywhere in the world , hungry people usually make bad partners .
he opened up the country to foreign capitalist investment .
this report is an indicator of the proper functioning of our institutions , of good administration .
the final version of the draft agenda as drawn up by the Conference of Presidents at its meeting of Thursday , 21 October 2010 , pursuant to Rules 130 and 131 of the Rules of Procedure , has been distributed .
those guilty of murders and abductions are neither tracked down nor punished .
I would like to point out that it is important to share good practices , since Europe is affected to varying degrees by the scarcity of water , or drought , and therefore the practical experience of all regions is crucial if we are to avoid these phenomena or resolve them .
we are closely monitoring this issue all the time but I cannot comment on particular investigations that are now ongoing or are being developed .
or does this only take place at the Member State level ?
the involvement of large states such as Turkey , Ukraine and Russia is important , although they all have a different status in terms of their relations with the EU .
key to this is knowledge of the extent to which the tariff preferences system helps to limit poverty .
Mr Mitchell , I am going to ask you a question .
just think back , if you will , to the old milk lakes !
a very important question is , of course , the safety of the scanners for health .
we have to establish the source and cause of the outbreak , but we must also identify the source and cause of the false information about the outbreak which was spread in Europe and around the world - false and damaging information , which has done so much harm .
congratulations again to the rapporteur for his excellent report .
in writing . - The UK Independence Party fully supports the cause of genuine human rights .
more specifically , the EGAF finances job-search assistance , tailor-made retraining , entrepreneurship promotion , aid for self-employment and special temporary income supplements .
what can we learn from other parts of the world where volcano eruptions are more common , such as the United States , Indonesia and others ?
it must clarify its intentions on this subject , because EDF funds , as far as we are concerned , should not be used as a reward for signing an EPA .
one such candidate is Ljubljana , the capital of Slovenia .
I am thinking of the tsunami .
I welcome the fact that the agreement allows for more detailed impact studies and a better response by the Commission to the political requirements of the European Parliament .
simplification of the rules , harmonisation of policies that concern tourism , and extending the use of the European financial instruments available must be actively promoted .
in my opinion , the EUR 5 000 threshold is too low .
I am struck by the fact that the Liberal and Christian Democrat groups are concerned at over-prescription , or that protectionism may be introduced through the back door .
the Ohrid Framework Agreement that followed , and in particular the agreement on qualified parliamentary majorities and administrative decentralisation , has made an important contribution to improving mutual relations - which are not yet free of conflict , however - resulting in a temporary parliamentary boycott and a short-lived governmental crisis .
my amendment to restrict the tagging of baggage , which was adopted in both the Civil Liberties Committee and the Committee on Transport , to me strikes the right balance between being able to reduce delays to flights and to respect the personal freedoms of passengers as they circulate through airports and terminal buildings .
taken together , the potential savings in primary energy achievable through the use of known technologies , namely thermo-modernisation and co-generation , can be estimated at around 25 % to 30 % , with an equivalent reduction in CO2 emissions .
many years ago , the US Government designated the fight against cancer as a lighthouse project .
we must be careful that a target for motor fuel partially composed of biofuel does not cause damage .
that is why we are having this discussion .
therefore I voted in favour of the revision of this directive because I welcome the new target to collect and treat 85 % of this waste by 2016 .
in writing . - ( PT ) With the changes introduced into the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament , which in these circumstances does not accept specific proposals for amendments , what has just been voted on was not the Mikko report , but rather an overarching proposal for an alternative resolution .
these are issued by national governments and between 5 and 10 % of these are auctioned off .
therefore , there is not even a case .
I should also say to Mrs Ayala Sender that I remember our visit to Zaragoza , where we had the opportunity to see the benefits of all the work currently being done in Europe on developing logistics .
in this situation it is important to reiterate that the accession process is an open-ended process , but the common goal is EU membership .
so therefore , without neglecting or denying the importance of this topic , it is much better to allow this process to continue and reach its end in such a way as to have a wide-ranging debate which will lend credibility to our decision .
however , taking it as a whole , I am voting for the report , as I have nothing against project bonds in themselves .
I have abstained , because it is not possible to guarantee that we have properly taken into account the legitimate interests of everyone involved .
Mr Daul has asked to speak , as has Mrs Muscardini , so I will let them speak for one minute and no more .
the reality is that human rights in Russia are constantly under pressure and the state of democracy there is lamentable .
gender equality is not just about calculating small differences in income but , first and foremost , about the right to life and human dignity which is repeatedly denied to women in many of our neighbouring states .
consequently , the EU would do better to stop this and show respect for the opinions and complaints of Europeans instead of doing exactly the opposite .
the Commission could not do so either .
this crisis could largely have been averted with a more balanced EU environmental policy that attached appropriate importance to the energy efficiency of buildings .
today 's resolution is intended as a practical response to the alarming phenomenon of Community fraud .
in the euro area we are also in urgent need of European banking supervision for the euro area because we cannot carry on living with national supervision alone .
it is unacceptable that someone wanting to rent a car or a property should be turned down on grounds of his or her religion .
in the latter instance , what is needed is preferential tax rates for children 's goods .
3 .
according to these agreements , a considerable reduction in emissions should have been achieved by now .
more generally , in line with its mandate under the Treaty and the Stability and Growth Pact , the Commission is continuously monitoring the economic and budgetary development in Member States and stands ready to activate the instruments of budgetary surveillance where necessary .
instead , the current version of the package gives one the impression that it has come about mainly as a result of the pressure exerted by the credit rating agencies on the euro states of southern Europe .
its top priority must be research and innovation for small and medium-sized enterprises , to stimulate growth and employment , while the second objective is to reform the common agricultural policy in order to promote and support the competitiveness of agriculture in Europe .
we have made a great effort to work out whether and to whom and on what conditions to sell and privatise the networks .
we are discussing unbundling in the energy sector , which might or might not be necessary .
most will do so from 2010 .
all those billions that are being spent on nuclear power generation , with all its problems , must be invested in renewables .
I wish to express my appreciation of the work performed by your rapporteur , Tim Kirkhope , and the TRAN Committee , as well as the committees which expressed their opinions .
I want to use this opportunity to thank Jean-Claude Trichet for an excellent cooperation and especially for his crucial role during these turbulent times .
in any case , I have no intention of justifying it every time Mrs Merkel and I agree with each other , support each other or help each other .
at the same time , Mr Almunia and Mr Barnier revealed the roles they intend to play in the future Commission .
this will remove the legal basis for deception on humanitarian grounds .
not only was this financing fully repaid , but Airbus also paid back 40 % on top of the amount lent to it by EU governments .
to this end , the European Union and the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council must convene an international conference which should find a sustainable solution for democratic security , geo-strategic equilibrium and social economic stability in the Western Balkans .
( DE ) Mr President , Mrs Malmström and Mr Barroso have covered the subject of climate change and the preparations for Copenhagen .
but the progress report is much more : it is about providing the input of ideas on how we should proceed in the future .
we should have no illusions : globalisation also means deep changes in the world balance of power .
but I must confess I have difficulty with the extension of the concept to cover just about every conceivable aspect of human activity : social , environmental , economic and cultural rights , to name but a few that are repeatedly referred to .
rapporteur . - Mr President , first of all , I would like to thank the shadow rapporteurs and all the colleagues who contributed to the elaboration of this important report which outlines the need for an EU strategy towards the South Caucasus region .
all we managed to do in the conciliation procedure was put the matter on ice .
these are the two trends which exist , including in the European Union .
the Presidency will be represented there and we will present a declaration that is partly based on the Council 's conclusions on food security that will be adopted at the FAO conference .
in that , at a stroke , she both humiliated hard-working farmers and displayed crass ignorance of basic requirements for the distribution of EU funds .
Mr President , I welcome very much the work done by Ms Patrie and my colleagues on the committee in producing an extremely well-balanced and clear report for the Commission .
whilst I regret that I cannot respond to all the questions , I very much appreciate all the bilateral exchanges we have had over the last years in Brussels or during my visits on the ground in your constituencies .
as regards the internal political situation in Chad , a political solution to the argument is the only way to achieve peace and stability in that country .
economic relations between the EU and Canada are of key significance for the development of dialogue between the two parties .
Member of the Commission . - ( RO ) I have made one extremely important observation : the political support is there in Parliament for strengthening ties with the Republic of Moldova and bringing this country closer to the European Union .
over the same period Romania has seen the most significant increase ( 35 % ) .
in Portugal , bank profits grew by 18 % in the first quarter of this year .
we must now ensure that we are better equipped next time the crisis strikes .
I voted for discharge in respect of the implementation of the Committee of the Regions budget for the financial year 2006 , based on the report by Mr Lundgren recommending that Parliament should grant discharge to the Committee of the Regions ' Secretary-General .
( SV ) Madam President , I believe that we should reasonably be able to ask questions about how we are to interpret the Treaty , which is now being presented under another name but is the same , and that the Council ought then to be able to answer the question .
I am concerned that the EU 's development of these sources will not be sufficient to match the demand which will arise from increased use of electric transport .
today , these same MEPs have submitted an alternative resolution without proposing any consultation beforehand .
I regret that these are only possibilities outlined in the text and that their actual implementation in a capitalist environment significantly reduces their impact .
( explanation of vote abbreviated in accordance with Rule 170 of the Rules of Procedure )
I congratulate the author of the report and the other people who were involved in the work on the draft of this resolution .
the European Union firmly believes that , as stated by the European Council of 14 December 2006 , the security and development of Afghanistan are interdependent .
so we are also very happy to have been able , this week , to complete the legislative package on the single market in goods , but we are less happy that new labelling rules have been proposed which will add to all the administrative kerfuffle .
secondly , people are very concerned because of the uncertainty about Europe 's willingness to help this time round .
the ETA attacks a few days ago and the murderous attack in Islamabad have demonstrated that we can never be too vigilant and efficient in this fight .
it is important that the transition period does not last beyond 21 October 2012 .
in April Parliament reiterated its rejection of the political situation and demanded the release of political prisoners .
I would remind you of the Council 's latest conclusions , which were very clear : the European Union will support debt relief for this country by taking account , as other partners do , of the progress we are expecting , and which we want to accompany and encourage politically and economically in order to ensure the stability of the country .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
the other day in the Committee on Budgetary Control and again today , Commissioner Šemeta claimed that the overall reduction in the number of errors was a result of the Commission 's efforts .
secondly , for two years we have had energy diplomacy .
Turkey 's historic affiliation with Europe is undeniable .
the European institutions must respect real budgetary discipline , especially in the current economic crisis .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , I am pleased to inform you that , when the plane was touching down this morning in Strasbourg , I got the good news that the Hungarian Prime Minister has agreed to amend the media law so that it complies with all aspects of EU law that we , the European Commission have raised , including the concerns raised regarding the Charter of Fundamental Rights .
15 .
finally , you will encourage the figures and political forces among our international partners who wish to give fresh impetus to the efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions .
the vote will take place in two weeks ' time , at the next part-session in Brussels .
what is needed is an EU-Libya readmission agreement in the context of a framework agreement .
I think that when viewed in relation to the instruments which we are using to combat climate change , these adaptation measures always need to be viewed with a critical eye .
they should be made in REACH and in the framework of pesticides legislation .
the Commission statement on the new proposal for a revision of the Biocides Directive .
we should show Belarus how much it can profit from cooperation with the EU , and stipulate that the extent to which Belarus complies with EU requirements will be reflected in the support on which Belarus can rely .
if you will not leave , I will have you removed .
this situation has demonstrated the imbalance that exists between those in the agricultural and food sector value chain .
they only report on experience in 15 Member States .
it was illuminating to hear what the Group of the Left thinks but , since I have the representative of the Social Democrats , Jan Andersson , in front of me and he is right after me on the speakers ' list , it would be interesting to hear from him whether he shares Eva-Britt Svensson 's view that sick people who seek care abroad are engaging in healthcare tourism .
secondly , I would like to emphasise the aspects of the report that encourage the WTO to give more resources to the weakest members , to the least developed countries , to ensure equal , effective and efficient participation in all the negotiations and in all the committees in which future agreements and trade policies are shaped .
we need to guard against the institutionalisation of the camps and , consequently , the extent of our aid will be determined by local needs .
my ' yes ' to the amendment to the Parliamentary budget is conditional .
thus , we need to be more careful in our considerations .
it should also be spread as widely as possible among significant emitters .
Mrs Meissner 's report quite rightly underlines and analyses the importance of maritime governance , of maritime surveillance and of maritime spatial planning .
there is still no consensus on either the objective or the use of the revenue .
I support this report because communications , infrastructure and electronic services are essential in today 's society , and because the European Network and Information Security Agency has done important work , still underway , particularly on cybersecurity .
you then gave him more time !
nobody could be against a national referendum , but then they ought to be called for much more frequently and on a much wider range of topics - yet this does not happen .
however , the discussion in the Committee on Monetary Affairs could obviously not fail to analyse the future challenges to the European Union 's monetary policy and its regulators .
I largely share the views that are expressed is this report .
in writing . - I stress that this regulation is a much awaited and needed regulation .
this is why Parliament 's position asking for it to be delayed to 2018 is so important .
we are playing , then , at having a tea party with the budget , dishing out a little for Galileo , a little for Kosovo , or a little for Palestine .
I voted in favour of Mr Marinescu 's report on the performance and sustainability of the European aviation system .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I do not want to break up this joyful atmosphere .
( LT ) Mr President , firstly , I would like to thank the rapporteur for raising in a timely manner what truly is a very relevant issue .
self-regulation must be encouraged at EU level in order to establish a tradition of self-discipline and responsible communication .
Madam President , I endorse the words of my colleagues in the Delegation for relations with Japan - Mr Gollnisch and Ms Kalniete - words of respect and of sympathy to the Japanese .
the deepening of representative democracy and the creation of a political space at EU level undoubtedly strengthen the role of the European political parties and their respective foundations .
I hope that Mrs Angelilli can convince the leader of her party , who is also President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies , that Roma can be integrated , contrary to what he has said in public .
I can only grant speaking time by ' catch the eye ' to Members who have not previously spoken during the debate , and I do not see anyone who has not spoken asking me for speaking time .
these technical changes and specifications were dealt with and approved at the meeting of Committee on Budgets of 11 October 2007 .
approximately one third were declared inadmissible .
we hear many warm words about the need for the skilled workforce that will be able to adapt to economic upheavals , such as the one we face today .
at the same time , a man like Mr Farage stands here in Parliament and lets fly with insults at a time when Europe is in crisis and we have a great many important matters to debate .
even if the UK sector expanded fourfold by the end of the planting rights system , which is highly unlikely , it would still only represent 0.05 % of total EU production , which is one 2000th of entire EU wine production .
the progress that has recently been made in negotiating a North-South framework agreement is an important step forward towards a peaceful transition .
they all worked with the Council Presidency to arrive without delay at a text that is acceptable to everyone .
the smiles and acceptances of the shadow rapporteurs during the proceedings gave me confidence that they would support me , not only this evening , but also with their groups tomorrow .
I therefore voted in favour of Mr Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra 's and Mrs De Keyser 's joint report .
Russia has not ratified the Espoo Convention on the Baltic .
she has consistently been denied a voice , as have her supporters .
it creates real added value for the people of Europe by means of the investments made in its six main programmes , ranging from the Trans-European Networks to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises , and its special programmes , such as the project to combat climate change .
the Council has not answered certain questions , and now must do so quickly .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , we have followed the Union for the Mediterranean initiative , on which next Sunday 's summit in Paris will focus and we hope that the initiative is successful .
under the current Treaties , there is little leeway to take account of those specific needs .
the latter is also linked to the chronic poverty that Haiti has endured for many years .
I welcome the swift action taken by the European Commission and the proposed legislative changes .
in this regard , I should like to congratulate you , Commissioner , on your determination , and to encourage you to continue with the work programme which you have set out , in accordance with the undertakings made at your hearing .
France and Senegal , too , are applying pressure for elections to be held within a year .
in particular , on an issue as important as the one we are discussing today , incorrect transposition could have detrimental effects .
the European Union is one of the main international human rights actors .
we also share the concerns , or questions , of the rapporteur .
I voted for document 2010 / 0261 on the codification of the permissible sound level and the exhaust system of motor vehicles .
I would like to recall the following names here today : Jürgen Meyer , our German Social Democrat colleague , and Alain Lamassoure , who were responsible for bringing this initiative to the plenary of the Convention and getting it approved .
we need harmonised planning procedures with a one-stop mechanism under which authorisation procedures can be concluded within a given period , i.e. a maximum of three years , to ensure that energy production is available at the right time .
I regret , however , that the proposal to increase cofinancing rates in the area of additional data collection , management and use to 60 % of eligible expenditure has not been adopted .
we are also taking the lead in regional fisheries organisations in order to propose sustainable fishing in the oceans wherever we have a voice , and that is in virtually all regional fisheries organisations .
in 2005 , the European Commission undertook to simplify the common agricultural policy .
the European Union , too , must be a pioneer in the promotion of social standards .
the war against the workers , the self-employed and small-scale farmers is a strategic choice by the bourgeois governments and the EU in order to support the profitability of capital .
but having just returned from Gaza , I would like to commend to you paragraph 34 in particular .
( DE ) Mr President , Mrs Malmström , Baroness Ashton , ladies and gentlemen , I am a member of the delegation for relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council , in other words , the Palestinian parliament .
we have also been looking at strengthening the supervision of cross-banking groups .
Mr President , I would like to say a big thank you to Mr Wojciechowski for his excellent and efficient work .
the solution must be far more complex .
Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the strain on Europe 's airports is currently so great that even the smallest delay at one airport can mean considerable delays at others .
solidarity and responsibility are Europe 's two major principles .
in writing . - ( IT ) I voted in favour of Mr Böge 's report on mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund .
this was his speaking time , but he had to go to committee , as we had several jobs to do at the same time .
my question is a very brief one : you said that in the spring of 2011 , the European Commission will announce new proposals .
Mrs Muñiz De Urquiza , it is not physically possible for me to be looking in all directions at once .
in the case of the mutual recognition of professional qualifications , as the text of our question quite clearly sets out , we already know that a significant number of problems in relation to recognition of professional qualifications are encountered by citizens across the European Union .
the Commission must therefore put forward legislation that clearly defines a framework for the urban environment and urban transport in the whole of the European Union , as otherwise our citizens will continue to suffer from poor air quality and other forms of pollution .
secondly , there is often a failure to prosecute .
let us hope that Mr and Mrs Kazulin will soon be able to enjoy good health and freedom in their homeland .
Internet filtering for the sake of combating pornography , child pornography and terrorism is crucial , but such vigilance must be strictly defined and controlled .
during or dialogue with their representatives who were present at all stages , we have arrived at a very satisfactory compromise with the Council , thanks to the Commission 's contribution .
little by little the Chinese economy is being liberalised .
in August , Europe kept the tanks out of Tbilisi .
even assuming total commitment to negotiations on Turkish accession , we ought to have included Turkey in the European Neighbourhood Policy , if only for reasons of prudence .
we all know this is essential for our vision of competitive , secure and sustainable energy for Europe .
to conclude , let me emphasise that we all want :
I would like to thank Parliament for its close interest in this dossier , evidenced by our discussions both in plenary and in the Committee on International Trade .
we are here to ensure that the right to justice is observed , I fully agree with that , but then let us give the Brazilian Supreme Court time to issue its ruling .
in Lisbon it was therefore possible to reach agreement on the following issues , enabling us to finalise the agreement on the Treaty :
the future of our continent is at stake .
today the members of my Group are wearing a badge which says ' Yes to the Europe of values ' .
we also know that there are currently many specific agreements on data sharing between the US and the Member States , and between the US and the EU .
today , a nation has risen up .
moreover the possibility is of course envisaged of changing supplier at any time and also of being promptly and regularly informed of prices set by suppliers .
the idea has become so popular that we have to make a judicious choice when selecting the subject .
in the long term , we want to simplify the regulations , but in the short term , we also want to help those Member States which have been hit hardest by the current economic crisis .
it might even backfire .
a piece of legislation in which all the significant measures to reduce pollution depend on the best available technique should be adjusted at least every five years , rather than after 13 .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , first of all let me refer to the accident that Ms Fraga Estévez and Ms Miguélez Ramos mentioned .
I would like to read you what he wrote to us today in an e-mail :
at any rate , all these ideas are worthwhile , as Mr Schwab and Mrs Roithová stated just now .
the challenge for Bosnia and Herzegovina 's leaders is to achieve a degree of political consensus such as has delivered progress on EU integration elsewhere in the Western Balkans region .
at present , there is just a European model for the driving licence but what is meant by that , really ?
the clear disparity can be seen between Romania and Germany .
hopefully , the country 's new poverty and its difficulty in obtaining loans will accelerate the demise of America 's military action in the countries it occupies .
I regret the passing of this bill and urge that any revision of the media law takes account of the many , many reservations expressed .
in other words , it is a worse version of the recipe which led the EU into the crisis and recession and drastically exacerbated its social problems .
no one will be completely happy , but everyone will be prepared to improve the approach that has been taken even further .
the often ongoing breach of the fundamental rights of EU citizens to free movement on European territory is evident , above all in relation to the following situations : the right of entry and of residence for family members that are citizens of third countries , and the lack of assistance following accidents at work .
I am voting against this report , despite its calls for the democratic rights of Russian citizens to be respected , something which I support .
( DE ) Mr President , under these circumstances , may I ask that we proceed to the vote , but not hold the final vote ?
any unilateral approach to the issue of terrorism does not contribute to finding out the truth about it and stamping out this dangerous transnational phenomenon .
the events in Japan have sounded an alarm bell regarding the risks associated with nuclear power plants .
in writing . - ( PT ) I voted in favour of the report by Mrs Klaß on the situation of women in rural areas of the European Union because I consider that rural development policies must take account of the gender dimension .
therefore , we need a stronger Parliament , because a united Europe is not a threat to nation states .
permit me to offer my sincere congratulations .
we will certainly have no difficulty in setting up a Euro-Mediterranean website with full information on remittances , including the costs in order to stimulate competition and reduce these costs , which is a central objective that unites us with our partners .
it is more than anything a matter of prioritising and some areas - innovation , education , new forms of energy - are good candidates for such priority treatment .
this is absolutely right .
it is cowardly and dishonest to claim the Dalai Lama is inspiring the riots .
advancing African agriculture - Proposal for agricultural development and food security in Africa
I should like to thank everyone in this House , Mrs Ashton and the Presidency .
the second right I mentioned , that of consular protection , is still , unfortunately , poorly applied .
I trust that it is now clear to everyone that the conflict that has erupted between Russia and Ukraine is not merely a private bilateral legal dispute , if only because it affects hundreds of millions of citizens of the European Union .
we need to extend a helping hand to them against the regime .
by the same token , I repeat my proposal to create a European credit rating authority .
European milk producers are currently facing great challenges on account of the soaring demand for dairy products from the Far East , in particular .
in this context , we must also not overlook the fact that the system which should allow the social security systems of EU countries to reimburse one another does not function and that debts of millions of euro have accrued over a number of years .
and , of course , in our trade negotiations , such as the free trade agreement with Korea or the multilateral trade talks , we do take into account the sensitivities of the different industrial sectors , including the textile sector , and we aim for balanced deals .
the protection of children 's rights is one of the European Union 's most important objectives .
it is necessary to create opportunities for specific groups in EU Member States , such as unemployed young people , ethnic minorities , vulnerable women , people with disabilities and others , in order to achieve better social integration and better social cohesion .
I have no doubts about the capacity of the European Central Bank to defend European interests , nor about the commitment of the Member States of the euro area to provide all the guarantees the European Central Bank needs to fulfil its independent role as our central bank .
it would not have been appropriate to take the other compromise and , indeed , the vote was more than clear .
this means to support the commitment of the new Turkish Government to strengthen the reform efforts and to encourage it to translate this commitment rapidly into action .
Mr President , standard conservative interpretation of international law requires Guantánamo to be closed immediately and unconditionally .
it must not be the case that , due to deficient implementation , problems in control and management systems and late implementation of these funds , money potentially remains unused and that we then take a slice of that money every year to pay for additional programmes like this .
we are talking about children , the most precious resource that we should protect in Haiti .
the European Union has concluded bilateral association agreements with all of our Mediterranean partners apart from Syria , and these focus essentially on trade in goods .
it is important that influential religious authorities have called for the amendment of the blasphemy law , and this is also our demand .
however , we cannot give an inch on our demands with regard to respect for human rights and guarantees of freedom of expression and information .
we are talking about skimmed milk powder with vegetable fat , which is a traditional product for local consumers that has been sold in the Canary Islands for more than 40 years .
this directive , far from guaranteeing a common set of rights for all migrant workers , founded on equal treatment and non-discrimination , proposed a fragmented concept of legal migration , where the market value of a migrant worker would determine the extent of his or her rights .
cars in Malta are extremely expensive , due to a high registration tax .
the key concept is the concept of trust .
I wish to record that I share the view of the UN Secretary-General , Mr Ban Ki-moon , currently in Israel , who is reportedly completely outraged at the Israeli authorities .
( HU ) Madam President , the financial and economic crisis has transformed into becoming a social and employment crisis , which is why it is particularly important that the realisation Europe has come to , namely that tighter coordination is necessary in both economic and employment policy , is actually implemented .
in writing . - ( EL ) The commercialisation of culture masquerades as supposed respect for diversity .
situation of North Korean refugees (
it is important - and in Europeans ' own interests - that Tajikistan should succeed in tackling its difficulties .
their rights and their future must be top priority .
that is something else to ponder .
I urge you to make the right choice .
opening of the sitting
now , however , the world 's economy is in a very deep crisis .
immediately after the Irish referendum - and we are very pleased that the result was positive - the Member States and the Commission began very intensive work to prepare the European External Action Service .
their goal is to ensure macro-financial stability . they should not be used to solve other current problems .
thus , this proposal - very modest as it is - whereby cuts in VAT would be possible in some sectors , is welcome so far as it goes .
unfortunately , I do not think that even the highly praised AKP has either the will or the determination to develop and push through a comprehensive strategy for the resolution of this conflict , which has lasted for decades .
either you accept religious slaughter and the fact that the animals are not stunned , so those animals in other countries which we want to be killed at Christmas can have the same process , or you actually stand up for what I believe to be right , and that is that we , as man , decide how an animal is to be slaughtered and that animals should be stunned before slaughter .
is it going to be Baroness Ashton ?
therefore , I believe that this additional financing will become a good incentive to step up sustainable energy initiatives and projects , especially at regional and local level .
by signing this Treaty in December last year the Member States committed themselves to do everything in their power so that the text they signed will also be ratified in line with their internal rules , constitutional and other legal provisions .
this is the objective we want to pursue , so this mixed approach is precisely the right one .
in Kourou , we have an infrastructure which is not to be found anywhere else in the world .
these values should be preserved .
I would like to extend my gratitude to President Barroso .
we have in the past resorted to threats , some would even say to blackmail , but we did agree to a compromise .
however , it is clear that Bali and the two-degree goal do not play a role for any of the Directorates-General .
probably not all of us remember that .
large sums of money are involved and we need to select manufacturers and service-providers who provide the best service , rather than the cheapest solution .
the European Union still does not have the data to allow it to assess the safety of Ukraine 's gas transport system .
it is important that we make use of all the available programmes to support such healthcare tourism , including the second Community healthcare action programme .
it is of primary importance for the new agencies to be up and running as soon as possible .
let us take note of his comments .
we have made many many commitments ; some of those commitments are not forthcoming .
my Group is calling for Community financing mechanisms to facilitate its introduction by the date envisaged .
it applies to all regions of the world that this inhumane and barbaric penalty must be abolished .
the second option that we have is to go back to Nice .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , like my colleague , Michel Barnier , I find it very heartening to be part of such a lively debate and to hear such expert views relating to consumer issues .
we must instead recognise the democratic development .
currently , the laws exist in most countries but are simply not being enforced .
it is nonetheless vital for us to adopt more effective intervention tools .
the European Union has an opportunity to help the Arab world , and all the countries of the Middle East , to become a region where prosperity prevails , which will , in turn , create a framework for closer cooperation between the Middle East and the EU .
Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to thank the rapporteur , Mr Lehideux , for his cooperation and work on the report on the European Training Foundation in Torino .
on the CAP and Natura 2000 financing , I am trying to do my best to ensure that this is represented very well in the first pillar and in the third pillar and that biodiversity gets proper attention in the future common agricultural policy .
ladies and gentlemen , there is one issue that gave me great cause for concern throughout the negotiations , since it touches on an essential aspect of the package .
Member of the Commission . - I would like to simply say that we hope that there is .
take , for example , a recent calculation done by Dr Pavan Sukhdev about the loss of biodiversity and the value of that loss .
food security continues to require a strong common agricultural policy capable of increasing agricultural productivity , stabilising markets and , above all , ensuring a secure supply of affordable food .
the developments during the current Mercosur negotiations are causing me great concern in this respect .
I am grateful for the continuing support from this Parliament .
I know many of the honourable Members of this House from the committee .
corruption and crime are prevalent in all European Union Member States .
( SV ) Mr President , Madam Vice-President , Mr President-in-Office , Members and - not least - citizens of Europe , today is a festive occasion , a great day , a day of joy , an immensely important day , much more important than many realise right now .
secondly , the report by Mrs Hedh , which , like all reports that we debate here , has been added to superbly by the shadow rapporteurs , shows that we need to attach just as much importance to consumer confidence as to the confidence of entrepreneurs .
could Europe , perhaps within the framework of the UNDP , the World Bank , etc. not be proactive so that , by appropriately warehousing and releasing stores , we could at least partially lessen the effects of speculation ?
European framework programmes that support innovation and research and development can be a valid input in the process of standardisation .
we should not condemn small undertakings when they face the problem of providing transport services ; I refer here to cabotage , about which I have questioned the Commissioner on other occasions .
firstly , because as I see it , this House is clearly demonstrating its solidarity with Mrs Haidar personally and with her cause in this dangerous situation resulting from a prolonged hunger strike .
I hope , Mr Vice-President , that the provisions to be adopted tomorrow in this package will be observed so that the citizens ' expectations that have now been created can be transformed into a real strengthening of their safety and their rights .
we have agreements with Morocco and we must look at these sort of situations .
after that century in Europe , how can anyone revert to extremism , go back to strutting about full of hatred and arrogance and agitating against others ?
the focus is now on the need to ensure the follow-up and insist on ambitious , binding targets for the reduction of CO2 .
to achieve recovery in any recovery plan is always difficult .
I do not understand the authors of that amendment .
the second is a transformation that is needed to combat greenhouse gas emissions and climate change .
renationalising this policy would be unacceptable for us .
allow me to refer to certain countries ; Mrs Grossetête also mentioned the situation there .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( NL ) Ladies and gentlemen , as you have probably seen , in the last couple of weeks the Commissioner and I have come in for a great deal of criticism from certain circles in Turkey .
there has been conflict between ourselves in Parliament and the Commission .
now we are here again this evening , talking about genetically modified animal feed .
the proposals outlined in the Commission Communication of 4 May , including , in particular , a planned extension of the ' exceptional circumstances ' under which internal border controls may be restored , leave me somewhat perplexed .
subject : EU response to stop organised crime in Europe
it must remain true to itself , by embracing ideas and people , and by pioneering the fight against global warming , but it must also arm itself with the resources to compete .
I now come to the issue of safety , where you acted as rapporteur .
fuel cells are discreet , efficient energy converters that considerably reduce the production of greenhouse gases .
I will continue to oppose a European common forestry policy in future , too .
every Member State has its unique hunting tradition to protect .
Europe needs to make technical improvements in many areas , such as health , sustainable growth and security .
I would like all food to be labelled in such a way that it is not possible to mislead consumers .
I believe that the real losers are all of us .
but , when the Cayman Islands tries to do this , people right across the EU - politicians in this place - complain about it .
we had 120 days to do it .
intensive agricultural policies have made the land more vulnerable to sudden changes in the weather .
accepting them is therefore not just a gesture towards the European Union , but an action that will further their own interests .
in China , those who seek to exercise their labour , social , civil and basic political rights continue to be repressed .
secondly , I would like , if I may , to refer to history before turning to the future in a moment .
aid effectiveness is in our own hands , as quite often we spend far too much on the administration in charge of responsible use of development aid in target countries .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( NL ) Madam President , may I make the following points on behalf of my colleague , Hans Blokland .
while asking the Chinese Government to refrain from the excessive use of power , we have also to ask everybody in the world to refrain from using minority rights as a means for promoting geopolitical goals .
mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund : EGF / 2011 / 008 DK / Odense Steel Shipyard from Denmark (
it upsets us , too , and sometimes that hurts .
the debate is closed .
I believe it is a very positive thing when someone like Mr Lamberts comes forward with such concrete proposals and when we have a chance to engage in lively debate , so that people get to respond in a more direct way , which is exactly what we want in this House .
however , the proposal for the multiannual framework is not , from my point of view , the best place to introduce general statements on the nature and definition of human rights .
no , these procedures are unsatisfactory , and I ask myself why , for example , we cannot take the same approach as we are taking with regard to those responsible for OLAF , where you are of course interested in the opinion of this House .
- ( CS ) Madam President , what happened at the European Council meeting on 24 and 25 March 2011 , and the contents of the text that was adopted , amounts to a narrative on the promotion of fiscal unity by the back door .
every year , at about the same time , two different reports appear : one on human rights in the EU and the other on equality between men and women .
the European Union must strengthen its economic governance , which will only be achieved using the Union method , with the Commission 's leadership , rather than the intergovernmental method .
I am not talking about an absolute and ideological obligation applying to any meeting , but about ensuring that the infrastructure is in place if we want it .
we must carry out a thorough investigation into this matter , and for this to take place , none of the victims of the events in Rozzano may be deported .
this is very important for all European Union Member States , but especially for countries with eastern frontiers .
this new approach also comprises a stronger emphasis on sectoral strategies being developed by the beneficiary countries themselves , which ultimately should ease joint identification of policy priorities between the Commission and the Turkish authorities .
in conclusion , I would like to thank the rapporteur once again for his very informative report , which I sincerely hope will contribute to raising the visibility of the work of the Committee on Petitions , and I assure you , once again , of the Commission 's firm commitment to collaboration with you all .
as we embark upon a round of massive public spending projects , such as the Olympics and council house building , thousands of European workers are set to benefit .
let us remember that each Commissioner has a team of hundreds of people working with them .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Madam President , I would like to start , like many other colleagues today , by stressing the importance of intellectual property rights and the protection of design in general .
we need to analyse very carefully exactly what it was the Irish were saying ' no ' to .
decisions concerning certain documents : see Minutes
the marking has , until now , been seen by European citizens as a sign of confidence and an assurance of safety , whereas it is actually no more than a declaration by the manufacturer that the product complies with European legislation .
hitherto , however , these agencies have earned themselves a dishonourable reputation .
Parliament may , of course , be in a key position to encourage Member States to try and establish a common policy with regard to closing Guantánamo .
I would also like the new Commission to have full ownership of the proposal , and we will present a bilan of the last Lisbon strategy .
I therefore invite the Commission to look for suitable solutions that do not lose sight of the producers ' interests , but which also do not lose sight of a renewed policy of generosity towards Morocco , particularly in view of the events taking place in the Maghreb .
they will become more frequent .
in December 2008 , the Council finally adopted the EU Code of Conduct on arms transfers .
it is extraordinary to have listened to some of the contributions .
as a result , I believe that local and regional authorities must be involved even in the drafting phase in order to guarantee that really effective results will be achieved later on .
so the reason for voting against it is that we would like to get the powers of running our own agriculture back to Britain .
( PL ) Mr President , the Copenhagen Summit showed another way of looking at the question of climate change .
citizens from Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina will not enjoy the same treatment , which is going to create differences between citizens in the Balkans .
it is time for the European Parliament to make its position clear , as it has taken almost no part in this debate until now , with the exception of our resolution , passed in October last year , calling for an international treaty for the protection of the Arctic .
EU farmers want fair trade as well as free trade , and EU consumers deserve certainty .
yes , we have made some concessions on auctioning , but the auctioning is the ' how ' - it is not the ' whether ' - we tackle climate change .
however , we believe these decisions are best determined by the Member States .
we have trapped millions in the squalor of dependency .
is there anything that might hinder the transition to BONUS-169 ?
in this context , the Commission takes careful note , welcomes the resolution to be adopted by Parliament on EU-Canada trade relations and is grateful for its general support .
negotiations have been long , complex and sometimes tough , but I think we have managed to get an agreement that is satisfactory to all parties .
but I think we also need to ask why people are not reporting .
in the case of large-scale offences , the International Criminal Court must play an important role and establish a close correlation with the decisions made by national courts .
the Commission is following the situation in the cereals markets and its repercussions for farmers very closely .
however , we also need to focus on occupational illnesses which have a huge cost in terms of workers ' health , the cost to businesses and their productivity and to society as a whole through associated social security and health care costs .
while the payment periods for contracts between businesses should , in principle , be limited to 60 calendar days - and this period may be extended in exceptional cases - in the case of contracts with public authorities , including municipalities and towns , the periods should not exceed 30 calendar days .
I shall just mention the example of El Salvador ( which is a GSP + beneficiary country , as you are aware ) , with regard to which the Commission , in consultation with EU Member States , has recently launched an investigation into its compliance with GSP + obligations .
the Commission is raising its development assistance by one third to EUR 200 million .
we need an EU which is wider and not deeper .
I would , however , like to speak a bit longer on three points regarding the subject of finance .
the number of falsified medicinal products is rising sharply in all European countries .
liberal Democrats regret that , and look forward to the time when the UK will find a more comfortable place within the stronger and more united democratic and efficient Union promised by this great Treaty .
in this respect , I should like to draw attention to the need to make progress in opening up the Indian market to European wine exports .
another question of great import that is currently under examination relates to the connection between any specific mark for consumers and all other markings , including the CE mark .
upon reflection , however , the view prevailed that the International Monetary Fund is , after all , financed to a significant degree by European money , so why should European countries not be able to draw upon its facilities ?
author . - ( ES ) Madam President , back in 2005 we had the opportunity to talk about the situation of women in Saudi Arabia , and in that context we did so in relation to the municipal elections and the fact that women were unable to vote .
firstly , it is necessary to fully implement one of the fundamental freedoms underpinning the European single market , namely free movement of the labour force .
that is why we are asking the European Commission for a framework directive which aims to set an adequate minimum income .
over 40 % of the energy we use is consumed in buildings and 75 % of the buildings standing today will still be here in 2050 , so we need to tackle energy efficiency in existing buildings as well as in new stock .
there is clearly a conflict of interest and views in the EU relations with the Kazakh dictatorship .
against the will of the apostates , their personal details are not removed from parish archives . on the contrary , they continue to be used .
I will simply stop the microphone after one minute .
we must not allow another 18 days to pass before action is taken .
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( EL ) Mr President , the Commission proposal aims to strengthen the role of the Schengen Evaluation Working Group by making this mechanism more efficient and transparent so as to safeguard the effective and consistent application of the Schengen acquis .
that is the issue !
in writing . - ( FI ) The European Climate and Energy Policy is characterised by an abundance of irrational solutions .
it will therefore be a time of change in two circumstances in particular : firstly , the serious economic crisis that we are experiencing , and secondly , the Treaty of Lisbon and its new institutional relationships .
many of these people have also asked me what we are doing and what Europe is doing for them and their family .
Mr Vondra , I expect from the Council that the Member States during the European Council 's meeting in March will approve a scrapping scheme that will directly boost the purchasing power of consumers intending to buy new cars .
the management and final disposal of radioactive waste is an existing problem , and will continue to exist in the future .
we even decided to include the whole external border , as it were , in the policy on Interreg areas on the external borders .
you were right , Mr Nassauer , when you said we should agree on the issues , for example the question of on-call time .
( ES ) Mr President , the regulation that we are debating today is of vital importance for the future of the cutlery and similar products sector , which , in my region - Don Quixote country , specifically , Albacete - represents not just the survival of more than 8 000 jobs but also part of its identity and future commitment to craftsmanship as a source of employment .
the European Commission is particularly sympathetic to these concerns .
the report points out that small and medium-sized enterprises are particularly important for the whole European economy , stresses the major innovation potential of small and medium-sized enterprises , and reiterates its previous request to the Commission to adopt new initiatives with a focus on fair and non-discriminatory competition conditions for such companies .
that is precisely why the basic features of economic policy are so important .
here there is obviously one action that needs to be highlighted above all others , for it will certainly cause no shortage of controversy .
road freight between Ireland and Spain must now pass through the UK and France , adding to the congestion on their roads .
as such , it should not only respect the EU 's fundamental values in its activities , but also work for their promotion , particularly in a field which touches upon critical questions relating to migration and freedom of movement .
do you not need to address the problem of climate change denial if you are to raise our ambitions ?
the only aim of terrorism is death .
calendar of part-sessions for 2009 : see Minutes
before the vote on paragraph 31 :
in preparing its proposal the Commission has considered that the appropriate legislative approach needs to balance the accuracy and complexity of the reporting method with the degree of variability in the GHG intensities of different fuels .
not only is the development sector not being used as a tool to address the problems but , in certain instances , the funds are operating in pre-crisis conditions .
I voted in favour of this resolution as I believe that the European Union is in a position to endeavour , through diplomacy , to promote a process of democratic and peaceful change in Bahrain , Yemen and Syria .
Mr President , Mrs Malmström , ladies and gentlemen , I am delighted that the Swedish Presidency has put cooperation in the Baltic Sea area at the top of its agenda .
perhaps I would have done certain things differently , but it is Hungary 's right to do things as it sees fit .
Brazil is , without doubt , a democratic country that has made significant progress in political , civil , social , economic and cultural affairs in the last decade and is a model in the fight against poverty and hunger , thanks to the government 's Zero Hunger and Family Allowance programmes .
I supported Mr Barroso in his re-election , but we do not need lectures from him about trust and accountability in politics when , at the same time , he seeks to support those who would deny people a referendum .
the French Government , to change hat for a moment , is spending more than 22 million in order to guarantee that these airlines fly into Strasbourg .
while I must mention in passing that it is always good to present brief papers , this one is also a shallow paper , a thin paper , from which we can learn nothing about the direction this journey is supposed to take .
I was very pleased to hear Commissioner Rehn say that we should not create any new ante-rooms for countries that wish to join the European Union , but should allow them to apply for direct access to the sitting room .
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I was pleased that she also made commitments on most-favoured-nation status .
the credibility of the Human Rights Council also depends on the new special procedure mandate holders who are to be appointed in March .
we cannot leave the southern European countries , where these people arrive , to cope with the problem alone .
it is important that , within the new European framework , we continue with the course of action promoting development and the objectives already set , which must be monitored for tangible results so as to achieve a positive impact .
( DE ) Mr President , I should like to join my fellow Members who have specifically commended Commissioner Barrot and our rapporteurs Mrs Barsi-Pataky and Mrs Niebler for their staying power .
Mr Solana has explained to us that uranium is all that is needed to make a bomb .
of course , the list of products is constantly being amended and extended to keep pace with the results of research and the latest developments in the pharmaceutical world .
I am very sorry about that .
however , my view of the measure is a positive one .
good governance and legal certainty are crucial to achieving the Single Market 's economic and social objectives , including the free movement of workers , promotion of a high level of employment , the guarantee of adequate social protection , the fight against social exclusion , a high level of education and vocational training , and the portability of pensions .
I also wish to thank Commissioner Boel for her positive approach and for the support which she continues to give farmers and rural inhabitants .
for this reason , we have both a responsibility and an obligation to take a step forward today , in this Parliament , towards a commitment to , and defence of equality throughout Europe .
furthermore , the budgetary procedure should incorporate a better balance between long-term stability and flexibility to respond to changing needs , while preserving the principle of subsidiary by providing clear advantages and added value in comparison to national budgets .
it is very important that in digital space , we have freedom , but this must , of course , be responsible freedom , with important rights like the right to privacy being protected .
I should of course add that for years my fellow Member and friend Mr Mavrommatis and I were writing sports articles for the same paper .
I sincerely hope that the present system will be amended during these discussions , and that in future funds will justifiably be divided equally .
I would like to ask both the French presidency and the Commission to report back to the House what is decided upon in New York at the end of this month , and that they will personally make it a priority over the next weeks to secure change , not just at Member State level , but at international level , to put this higher on the political agenda .
cyanides are certainly toxic , but I am a chemist and I can tell you that we have a global problem : fewer than 18 % of cyanides are used in mining .
secondly , the fact that we have agreed on taking action against terrorism here in Parliament is prudent , right and urgently necessary .
in addition to this , I consider it very important to support training in humanitarian assistance , and to have the necessary materials and equipment prepared in the eventuality of a natural disaster .
you have pointed out , I remember , that Italy holds a record : that of judgments against that pile of rubbish that is Italian justice , with twenty years of futile reprimands .
it relates to people who do not , themselves , have the power to come to Europe .
yes , swapping best practice might , but we are talking about putting lots of money into a pot where we are now going to have committees that meet at Commission and Council level to try and think of policy .
I welcome the aim to update and optimise the legal framework for European statistics on tourism , which will better address the challenges facing this sector , such as climate change , environmental constraints , global competition , demographic trends and seasonal distribution of tourist movements .
international cooperation is an essential tool for an effective fight against this scourge , at both national and multilateral levels .
( ES ) Madam President , today 's debate is definitely revealing some major points of agreement .
thirdly , the process being honest and reflecting credibility on both sides and at all levels .
in writing . - I voted against this report .
MONUC 's commander , Lieutenant-General Vicente Díaz de Villegas , recently resigned after seven weeks in the job .
there have been many debates here in Parliament , as in the Council , and a strong demand to open up the possibilities for applying this article , which arouses a great deal of interest , while preserving its commonality .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , allow me first of all to reiterate that the instrument for pre-accession assistance is the Union 's new financing instrument for granting pre-accession assistance for the period 2007-2013 and replaces the previous programmes for candidate and potential candidate countries , namely the PHARE , CARDS , ISPA and other programmes .
let me make a suggestion .
I would like briefly to underline some aspects .
if we invest , as we have done before , in the industries of the past which are unproductive - I am talking about coal - we are investing in something that throws money away because it is futile , and therefore we lose out .
it would be interesting to know whether there is in the agreement a point on legal protection and provision of lawyer services ?
in my view , it is not for a small group of officials in the European Development Fund Committee to take such a decision ; instead , the Commissioner should first seek the European Parliament 's opinion .
after all , that was , I thought , one of the reasons for the introduction of our single currency five years ago .
this is why the Stockholm Programme must make this key theme become a reality and come up with clearly defined instruments for facilitating access to the Community labour market for all workers in the EU , which is a major symbol of European citizenship .
Natalia Estemirova , Stanislav Markelov , Zarema Sadulayeva , these are examples of murders that are truly shocking . it is therefore important that we in this House concern ourselves with this issue .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , I , too , should like to thank the Court of Auditors , and not least their staff .
I agree with the aims of this report .
in writing . - ( PT ) An effective EU code of conduct on arms exports undoubtedly becomes increasingly important in the context of its rapid militarisation , which is mirrored in the draft Treaty currently being ratified in each Member State .
likewise , we disapprove of the fact that the Commission is now classifying working time spent on-call as inactive time and considering it a rest period .
I have therefore asked experts in the Commission to look into this question to see how organ allocation could be dealt with in a different context .
once again , the people are last on the EU 's list of priorities .
thirdly , we should continue to provide humanitarian aid to the civilian population and support the democratic transition process .
with regard to SWIFT , we are in agreement with the US on the importance of being able to exchange information on financial transfers .
moreover , the draft directive proposes a system of compensation for the costs of cross-border healthcare which is superfluous , given that compensation for healthcare costs was introduced in 1971 under the regulation on cooperation between social security systems .
we found them to be excellent , and we should not forget that these people risk their lives on a daily basis to help the people of Haiti .
this is what we have to do , and it is no mean task .
( DE ) Madam President , there have been recent reports in the media about the directors of the failing German bank HRE being entitled to huge pensions after only working there for two years and on the basis of contracts which were drawn up after the bank had already received massive amounts of state aid .
it will lead to new added value of the EU policies .
industry has argued that use of this substance enables them to create cheap meat for people who cannot afford more expensive products , but the fact is that it enables industry to sell smaller pieces of meat for more money , not less .
I am in favour of having warmer relations , but I would rather this did not take place at the cost of the health of many EU citizens .
formal sitting - Dalai Lama
this is a gesture to the Council , it is a compromise position and I expect , today , an equally ambitious position from the Council .
for example , we know little about how dangerous are the proportions assumed by the population 's debt .
quite the reverse : we must ensure that it remains valid .
we need investment in people too .
however , it should not only be the job of the Commissioner for the Environment to create awareness of this .
it is an important fact , demonstrating Parliament 's will and ability to offer itself as a candidate to play a central role in CFSP / CSDP on the basis of what I would call a dynamic reading of the Treaty of Lisbon .
what are the most important points , at this stage , to help us appraise the work that has been done ?
( PT ) The economic and social situation in the EU calls for a substantial change to be made in 2011 to the priorities that have guided previous budgets , including the current budget for 2010 .
if we read what was written in 2006 and 2007 , then there is not that much difference , really , although there is an improvement .
this will be ready in the summer and will map out a range of specific initiatives over and above those mentioned in the Communication , such as :
Václav Havel told us today that Europe is a homeland of our homelands .
very well , that is how it should be .
ladies and gentlemen , I am , however , disturbed by another piece of information .
thus we cannot merely say ' we intend to use the open method of coordination ' because it is an effective instrument for achieving EU objectives .
it believes that this conference provides a major opportunity to enhance support for the least developed countries ( LDCs ) .
for this I would like to express sincere thanks on behalf of our group .
another typical aspect of this approach is the proposal to reinforce female entrepreneurship in order to increase employment .
many thanks , Commissioner .
I would like to begin by thanking my colleague Mr Mikolášik , who has incorporated into points 12 , 16 , 17 , 18 and 23 of his report the points from my opinion , which I drew up on behalf of the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality .
I shall conclude by saying that the Greek crisis and the economic and employment crisis in the whole of Europe testify to the fact that in order to safeguard social cohesion , development and stable national budgets , we need strong and solid economic governance at the European level , to enable European institutions , including Parliament , to take effective and preventive action .
therefore , the discussion we are having at this point is how to better motivate the Member States and how to better calculate the targets so they are more precise and better monitored in the future .
Mr Itälä rightly argues in recital 5 that we must take adequate measures to ensure for a responsible attitude towards our general expenditure allowance .
of course , this issue of bluefin tuna , which no doubt will dominate the debate , really highlights the issue , it focuses it , and it is , of course , a species purely in European waters .
I think that we can definitely agree with many points which have been made in this discussion , especially that we need strong action at European level and that a future mechanism should be as close as possible to the Community spirit and the method .
in writing . - Mr President , I would like to welcome the report of my colleague , Thomas Mann , that addresses several crucial issues that the European Union will be facing in the near future if not already now .
meanwhile , we must accelerate the process of economic integration , political association and institutional approximation with our eastern neighbours such as Ukraine and Moldova .
now , other procedural requirements will delay the money 's arrival at its destination even more .
this text emphasises the need to define at European level a clear and coherent policy to cope with a crisis that is affecting all of the Member States of the EU .
the minorities issue is not merely one of citizens ' rights .
Russia is therefore also stalling this process .
we cannot act just because we have a feeling , because we are persuaded something is wrong .
the mindset in the European Union has long been that we need action to prevent climate change .
this crisis has been ongoing for a year , and for the past year the same process has been taking place over and over again .
we have instigated this debate and , true to our liberal credentials , our aim is to make this matter a genuine priority .
it is the most serious and important task facing our generation to take appropriate , concrete steps to combat global warming and put in place a global regulation .
on behalf of the European Parliament , I extend condolences to the families of the victims .
all this must evidently be carried out within the most multilateral context , with the WTO if possible , in the absence of any bi-regional agreements currently being negotiated by Europe .
however , Parliament did not even go half way to meet the Council 's position .
any progress in this area will be very positive .
I am also extremely pleased that Parliament is conveying Europe 's voice to the United States through continuous dialogue with the US Congress and Government .
I am also pleased to see that , in this directive , Member States will retain freedom of choice on that score , but I would like to ask any Member State dealing with such issues the following : how should we then empower the victim ?
it is not about final settlement .
I believe this is the only way of addressing this issue in a calm and responsible way .
there are some positive aspects , but also many negative aspects , and this is the reason for our abstention .
that is what I wanted to make clear .
there are many good examples of EU and UN cooperation on the ground - the Democratic Republic of Congo , Chad and indeed Kosovo .
just think what would happen if this revision were to fail .
what we want is a cohesive vision , an action plan detailing measures and proposals which the Commission will be launching in the next few years so that we can discuss these , not just among ourselves , but also with the public and with any stakeholders and affected parties .
in the report we demand urgent measures to deal with climate change .
the credibility and integrity of our work , therefore , is legitimately opened to question .
yes , I most certainly agree .
we share this view of the importance of multilingual services , of services that are also very interoperable , electronic and accessible from the wonderful tool that is the Internet - Mrs Comi and Mrs Roithová mentioned this , as did Mrs Herczog just now when she spoke about these points of single contact .
this will be a test of that .
to avoid any misunderstandings , it is important to realise that these are not permanent subsidies and that the aim is not to prop up uncompetitive businesses .
( PL ) Madam President , negotiations with Turkey about accession to the EU are still in progress , although they should have been completed long ago .
the majority of accidents and fatalities have taken place in a commercial and professional environment , in particular as a result of inadequate ventilation and failure to use personal protective equipment .
the external funding that might be needed to cover the net cost of the universal service , and hence the question of affordable rates , has also been satisfactorily regulated .
foods containing chemicals and the polluted environment are to blame for allergies .
it would be desirable for the Commission to present a directive on fires , as it has done on flooding .
fortunately , Poland 's GDP is showing positive growth , which is an exception in Europe , but it is worrying that the unemployment rate has been rising for several months .
to a considerable extent this is due to energy use , and Ms Hall 's report on the rational use of energy is therefore most welcome .
I see that the rapporteur 's country , for example , has recently taken measures that have actually closed down the postal market in Germany again .
it is also a fact that the Council and the Commission are lagging behind events .
the proposal on the law applicable to contractual and non-contractual obligations could also have a positive effect on the resolution of very concrete , very specific problems , such as those related , for example , to road and river traffic , or the management of airports located at the borders of several States , such as the Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg airport .
Madam President , in the current global economy , most borders are allowing a more efficient flow of people , capital and services .
do not forget that both of these flights ended up totally enveloped by dust from volcanoes which had erupted only shortly beforehand and which were relatively nearby .
this can only be defined as a scandal .
we will vote negatively on only three amendments , namely Amendments 24 , 27 and 29 .
however , if these episodes of fraud occur precisely where there is greater need for investment , then you can well understand how the resulting damage will be doubled .
they will no longer be political refugees or economic migrants ; they will be climate refugees .
I would like to stress that because the framework of the directive we were promised was already deleted from the Commission 's proposal , as certain categories of workers , such as seasonal workers , intra-company transfers and refugees were deleted from its contents , the European Parliament could not approve such a directive .
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this offers a two-fold benefit for those countries with less experience in accessing these funds .
for example , it raises the question of whether it should be possible for the European Union to take on OSCE-mandated missions in future within the framework of the common security and defence policy .
however , it is good that we have a national aid programme and that the Commission allows this .
in every issue , especially one that affects the lives of billions of people in the way that climate change does , it is important to act with moderation , common sense and some degree of fairness when trying to resolve the problem .
in view of attaining EU goals , the active involvement of citizens in this process and the creation of concrete , tangible opportunities for them to take initiatives , provide feedback and express criticism and contrary opinions present a true challenge .
the first is that we need to determine whether or not the idea of definite arrangements based on the country of origin is still the aim of the European Union .
I believe that combating terrorism effectively really should be the aim .
the efficiency of the utilisation of structural funds and European Investment Bank funds must be improved , and so must the coordination of EU funds , national funds and other forms of support that can act as a leverage to stimulate investment in energy efficiency .
I would just like to recall his statements that immigrants are an army of evil , as well as the decision to criminalize illegal immigration .
in the same vein , the Commission cannot accept Amendment 113 , which proposes to delete this article .
I have not met Mr Samecki before , so I am interested that he is here to provide an answer to an issue that Mr McCreevy and his team have been working on .
we thus look ahead to the period 2010-2014 with some trepidation .
in writing - ( FR ) The steady rise in the transport of dangerous goods has made it necessary to introduce European legislation to simplify and coordinate the rules applicable to the transport of these goods .
today , European small and medium-sized enterprises , in whose favour a resolution was approved during the last legislature on 5 February 2009 addressing the problems encountered in enabling them to internationalise , continue to encounter difficulties because they suffer from unfair competition from those non-EU producers that can export to Europe without an origin mark and European consumers are denied their right to an informed choice .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( NL ) Madam President , this is an important day for environmental and energy policy .
from the perspective of budgetary control , which in modern terms also covers the actual output and performance of European programmes and institutions , the EIB has definitely earned its high rating , in particular with regard to political reliability .
it can reduce the amount of discards and also ensure that fishermen are not throwing back a valuable product .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( FI ) Mr President , the report by Mr Turmes concerns a very ambitious target for developing countries to use their energy resources efficiently .
however , I should like to express my firm belief that you should take the debate that we are starting here , as normal , to the regions .
we will not be a caretaker Commission .
with this in mind , I would like to urge all relevant projects to be promoted , whether it is the online criminal records network , insolvency registers or the European Judicial Network in civil and commercial matters .
I am sorry , but this is not a returns directive .
Mr President , long live the French-speaking world , long live regional languages , long live linguistic diversity !
they have failed resoundingly .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I thank the rapporteur for her excellent work .
finally , it needs to be said that energy has its social dimension .
then , as I said in my introductory remarks , would come a review of death penalty sentences by the Supreme Court as a first step which would be continuously monitored .
it constitutes organised crime , and I therefore insist that it should be dealt with at EU level .
I feel that we must focus particular attention on the Eastern Partnership .
that operation would help to train and equip the Somali federal government 's security forces whilst also strengthening the commitment to respect for human rights and the rule of law .
that was stressed very much at the December European Council and I would like to thank the three rapporteurs for having made this point clearly .
in other words , the debate will continue , it has to continue .
the report highlights the need for the EU to increase its focus on human rights , particularly in trade negotiations .
I shall come back to that .
2 .
it is incompatible with European norms for any community - be it French , Jewish , Romanian or Hungarian - to be attacked for its peaceful efforts to defend its interests , as is happening these days in Slovakia .
in our view the application of Article 69 is insufficient because it is not clearly defined in terms of practical measures , particularly for the sector already mentioned .
I am relieved that the European Parliament has argued against the automatic liberalisation of national rail transport in 2017 .
which points has the Council refused to discuss ?
there are already enough historical institutes and centres dealing with that .
I am pleased to find out that , in your second review , you clearly stated that coordination will be a feature of the planned development of an offshore network for wind turbines , particularly in respect of the connection with land networks .
with the Resolution on Croatia , which Parliament is to adopt here today , we will recognise that this country has made progress in terms of fulfilling the criteria for accession to the European Union , carrying out democratic system reforms and harmonising its legislation with the requirements of the acquis .
( EL ) Mr President , Commissioner , you have given us a prescription that says two things : firstly , that we should abolish collective agreements and , secondly , that we should reduce the minimum wage still further .
these goals will not be realised through political violence but through cooperation and dialogue .
by registering the democratic opposition Movement for Freedom , led by Alexander Milinkevich , and releasing political prisoners , the Belarusian Government has sent out signals that it is becoming more open .
in writing . - ( HU ) Smoking is a major public health problem that claims several hundred thousand victims every year , including non-smokers .
these are factors which may accelerate realisation of the Lisbon Strategy .
the Council refused , for a long while , to provide pertinent answers to Parliament 's questions , citing the Gentlemen 's Agreement - an agreement of an informal nature which is now , in any case , 40 years old .
as regards shipments between Member States of the European Union and of the OECD , they are subject to a prior written notification and consent procedure .
I have also heard the results of the Irish referendum called into question in this very Chamber .
since these matters do still require solving , I have voted in favour of this report .
I would therefore like to congratulate the Belgian Presidency most sincerely .
this should not be a dispute between Slovakia and Hungary .
worst of all , however , is the Brantner report .
this makes a European patent 10 times more expensive than a US one .
that created additional pressure on subheading 1a , considerably affecting the dynamics of the negotiations on the 2010 budget and jeopardising Parliament 's political priorities .
I imagine you are thinking of incentives that would enable us to direct certain policies much more towards small family farms , and so on .
only a very few niche producers will survive .
clearly , we will have to use the resources that are already available in the Member States but , at the same time , we also need to coordinate ourselves in a much more effective and much more practical manner .
unjust systems of peace sooner or later lead to war and collapse .
precisely how it can do that will need to be worked out in the next few days and weeks in close cooperation with the Portuguese authorities .
this is why I welcome the Commission 's initiative to carry out a study on Kosovo , as long as it contributes to the success of the EULEX mission .
Madam President , it is good that you are in the chair today ; I thank you for your work in the negotiations between Parliament and the Commission .
we will base this on the Larosière report and see how quickly we can get it into place .
this inertia can be seen in the events in Italy , in Brioni , where asbestos has not been removed , in Porto Marghera and in Cengio , where deaths are still occurring .
is Commissioner De Gucht going to inform his colleagues about the substance of the agreement at any stage ?
we must ensure that women on maternity leave can also automatically enjoy any changes introduced while they are on leave .
it is not the pessimists who achieve big things .
the fact that these positions are growing together is evidenced by the Commissioner 's words on biocides .
we are now really in a critical phase .
so we do need to take responsibility , but at the same time we need to demonstrate a degree of firmness in our negotiations with a number of states that are not fulfilling their international obligations .
in addition to creating effective mechanisms to settle potential disputes and litigation , we now need something like the ' Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement ' .
our lack of success in combining economics with ecology - which are not actually that different - is often down to excessive bureaucracy and insufficient knowledge .
consequently , I very much hope that Parliament will be able to adopt this text at second reading tomorrow .
this requires resources and I would like to thank the Commission and Commissioner Figeľ specifically for the fact that the Commission is willing to cooperate in this matter .
the stabilisation of the euro area is of strategic importance , and I believe that Europe must include measures to strengthen it , increasing its economic governance in light of the objectives to be pursued by the EU 2020 Strategy .
in addition , the main objectives of a Black Sea strategy should entail building a space of peace , stability and prosperity in the Black Sea region , while also ensuring EU energy security .
in writing . - ( LT ) I agree with this resolution .
I congratulate the rapporteur .
if they choose to go into a career , they must be supported to do so on an equal playing field .
in December the Council established a TAC , of which Ireland was allocated 67 % , and I am glad to hear the Commissioner says that there is scientific evidence to justify this .
this is significant capital and this line must be pursued .
only if it recruits diplomats of all , I repeat all , nationalities of the European Union .
Opel manufactures in several European countries and has a supply chain stretching across Europe .
however , there are many aspects of this matter which time does not permit us to discuss .
the agreement has simply resulted in the replacement of Laurent Nkunda by Bosco Ntaganda , who is more easily influenced and willing to reach any compromise whatsoever in exchange for immunity , which is in violation of all the international provisions on crimes against humanity and which neither Rwanda nor the DRC are entitled or able to grant him .
I am delighted to add that within the framework of the programme entitled European Voluntary Service for Young People , volunteering is growing in volume and has great support in this plenary as well .
Javier Solana 's recent paper on Climate Change and International Security draws the Council 's attention to some major issues relating to climate change and addresses in particular the implications of territorial claims , exclusive economic zones and access to new trade routes brought about by the consequences of climate change .
this should provide a legislative revision of the existing legal framework of European standardisation , which we will use to define the development of standardisation in the coming decades .
children themselves are asking to be consulted and want their opinions and perspectives , their hopes and dreams to form part of efforts to build a world suited to them .
therefore , it is important to have an effective system for the pursuit and prosecution of criminals .
I hope that in Oslo , on 10 December , should the ceremony take place , we have the most muscular presence on behalf of the European Union , standing by its foreign policy priorities of human rights and democracy .
now the military government has promised elections in 2010 as a step towards its gradual exit from power .
during that period the EU economy has strengthened and productivity and employment have increased substantially .
secondly , the adaptation of important rules or frameworks for online content or cross-border rules for the provision of services , including now for copyrights or even terms of protection , are part of the gradual adaptation .
these guidelines , which have to be followed , do not contribute to cohesion : on the contrary , they accentuate disparities between countries and regions , and within each country .
likewise , using the deceitfully ambiguous term ' climate change ' rather than ' global warming ' may blind a few British taxpayers to the irony of holding it just as an unusually cold summer gives way to an early , icy winter .
there must be a level playing pitch at all times with regard to the rules which apply to EU food imports - regardless of where they come from - and to EU-manufactured products .
( SV ) Thank you , Mr President .
the recent seizure of the disputed border region of Abyei by the Khartoum government suggests that President Bashir is still not fully reconciled to his country 's partition .
in writing . - As an avid viewer of that great TV series ' Deadliest Catch ' I am now a great admirer of fishermen and the work they do .
therefore a special UN aid fund is needed , as the Social Democrats are also asking .
it is with this in mind that I very much regret that the Council Presidency is not here for this debate .
I am concerned that the EU will lose respect as a serious and independent actor in international affairs .
thank you very much .
in the meantime , I would like to briefly mention a few points in this phase of Turkey 's accession negotiations .
in this resolution , we call on the summit and also on the Commission and the Council to push ahead quickly with the negotiations with Ukraine in respect of the free trade agreement , visa facilitation and the matter of the association agreement .
parents buying toys this Christmas have a presumption of safety .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - Mr President , in the limited time I am allowed to comment on this lengthy report , I would like to make two observations .
it has substantially cut the time needed for surrender .
there has been scepticism to the added value EIT could offer .
I must say that I feel somewhat moved .
these are the European standards for the earthquake stability of buildings ; they are now being incorporated into national legislation and are being enforced accordingly .
fifthly , European producers will have to incorporate political decisions into prices , which will subsequently result in higher prices and further loss of European competitiveness at global level .
gender stereotypes obviously persist in society , which pose an obstacle preventing women from accessing jobs , especially high quality jobs .
your Excellency Mr President of the European Parliament , your Excellencies , honourable Members of the European Parliament , distinguished guests , dear friends , first and foremost we convey to you salutations from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople , based for many , many centuries in what is today Istanbul - greetings replete with esteem and respect .
and so , there are two possibilities : either we consider that , with our loans , Greece and Ireland no longer present a risk and that we should lend to them at a rate corresponding to zero risk or at least an extremely limited risk , or that there is a risk that they will default .
agri-food in Northern Ireland represents 16 % of GDP ; it represents tens of thousands of jobs ; it has been recession-proof , it has grown even in the most difficult economic circumstances , and for the future , it can be the cornerstone of a dynamic economy and an expansion of the private sector .
for freight transport logistics , intelligent transport systems and the use of technology become indispensable .
however , the measure needs to be followed up immediately by a commitment from the Council and national governments to adopt it forthwith , before the end of the season , in order to solve this problem which does not affect just the southern part of Europe , but the whole of Europe , as today 's vote has shown .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Budgets . - ( CS ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the Commission presents its proposal to establish the European Institute of Technology as a project creating an important European institution that will integrate research , education and innovation and will help to transform innovative discoveries into commercial opportunities .
secondly , I should like to respond to Mrs Swinburne .
the report being examined today contains some aspects that are welcome and others that are less so , thus representing in the best ( or worst ) possible way the typical contradictions that the European Union reveals in its external actions .
of course when I speak of the European Union , I am not only speaking about the Member States but also about the European institutions .
they are not consistent with the ongoing reforms of agricultural policy and do not offer good value for money for the European taxpayer .
I am , moreover , a supporter of more freedom of choice for pregnant women or women who have recently given birth .
in writing . - ( DE ) The fact that , in the referendum , Southern Sudan voted in favour of a split was to be expected .
this issue has been identified as a policy priority by both the European Parliament and the Council in the context of the overall effort to protect and foster innovation of European creators and consequently the competitiveness of the European economy .
as you know , the Union is already committed in Chad and the Central African Republic , so there is the problem of deployment and , to put my point quite clearly , a number of States within the Council would not , at this time , be able to participate in these reinforcement operations .
my second point relates to the support for developing countries in pharmaceuticals-related technology transfer and capacity-building .
the European Commission is therefore delighted that , on 16 May 2008 , a delegation from the Palipehutu-FNL - that is , the Party for the Liberation of the Hutu People-National Liberation Forces - returned to Bujumbura , and I hope that it will be possible for both sides to resume active talks .
it is critical that we stay engaged with the Moldovan people today and that together we work not only to overcome the challenges that have arisen in the electoral period but also those which are emerging as a result of the global financial and economic downturn .
I hope that we who are responsible for taking action against the most severe problems in our society will come up with a real and substantial response to this extremely severe problem of human trafficking and that our words will not be empty promises .
the necessary checking and quality control of products is an essential mechanism in achieving this objective .
I therefore call for a change of strategy .
( applause )
we have done what we could , namely to try and halt the war .
I call again on the European authorities to redouble their efforts so that she is freed and that she can gain asylum or freedom in her own country , and to ensure that the state-sponsored murder of women and other human rights violations are ended in Iran .
the trend towards ever higher agricultural and commodities prices is , in my view , a long-term trend , which will continue for three main reasons : first , world demographic trends and a rising world population ; second , the fact that , with global warming , we are experiencing problematic weather hazards such as drought and floods ; third , because the world is also developing .
not every supplier can guarantee the requisite high level of training , appropriate wage levels or good service .
- ( PL ) Madam President , we take care of the balanced development of our economy , but often we neglect the need for balanced development of our children - not only their intellectual development , but also their physical development .
we must state openly that over the past years , multinational companies of the old Member States , with the assistance of EU bureaucracy , bought out and ruined the majority of the manufacturing industries of the new Member States , and then bankrupted the companies operating there and took over their markets .
a supposedly common European fiscal policy which promotes ' tax competition ' would only serve the interests of major European and international capital .
when this proposed European Year was initially discussed with the Committee on Culture on a very informal basis , Mrs Pack emphasised that this was a European success story and a good one to put before voters in an election year - 2009 .
in social terms , they are vulnerable .
I only hope that we will not live to regret the decision we have taken with respect to Kosovo .
on the issue of the proposed 1 000-metre depth limit , I wish to say that it is crucial that we adopt a precautionary approach , and this chosen limit was designed in a way that provides us with an assurance that we do not have a sudden development of fisheries in a particular area .
I have to point out that a negative vote will mean that the interim agreement will not enter into force on 1 February .
specific tasks for the European Central Bank concerning the functioning of the European Systemic Risk Board (
your report highlights another fundamentally important point , namely the need for awareness-raising in the new Member States .
I agree with the European Commission 's proposal for an extension of a few more years to complete the process of abolishing the monopoly as well as the aid , and allow for its definitive phasing out in 2017 .
this is why I support cooperation between Member States aimed at the safe storage of nuclear waste .
other groups have also been affected .
the negotiations need transparency on public procurement , competition and investment , intellectual property rights and state aids .
the proper implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy is essential in order for Europe to get back to sustained and sustainable economic growth .
one is the new tendency to regulate individual areas of issues that are pillars of the common policy .
the plan idealises the situation and forgets that the European Union is a group of national states , each of which is in different circumstances and has different priorities and different solutions to economic problems and economic development .
we must do that as of now and continue up to the European Parliament elections in 2009 .
let me now turn to a few specific points that have been raised and on which I would like to give an immediate comment .
I voted in favour of the motion for a European Parliament resolution on migrant children left behind in the country of origin as I feel that the situation of these children must be significantly improved .
the aim of an EU-US data protection agreement must be to realise this ; to uphold and not water down the measures that we have taken and implemented in the European Union .
secure consumers , aware of their rights and with confidence to make cross-border purchases , are important to Europe 's economy and prosperity .
there is talk of over 500 deaths in the past three months .
what specific measures will the Commission take to support this dialogue and to make full use of the powers relating to sport laid down in the treaty ?
some Member States , including Hungary , have already said that they are ready to reallocate refugees from Malta in order to alleviate pressure on the authorities there .
its ' regional meetings ' represent a major asset and undeniable added value for monitoring EPAs .
Mr President , the Lisbon Treaty will have a significant impact on the foreign policy of the European Union in the coming future .
therefore , the question that arises today , and which our fellow Members have just asked , is this : are we going to develop the Neighbourhood Policy as part of our foreign policy ?
I would like to ask : if people want to lengthen the period of time spent working , then why are over-50s not being offered the opportunity to continue working ; why are they instead being laid off ?
since the rights of peoples are none other than human rights raised to the level of community life , because of the project to establish a superstate we are facing a human rights crisis in Europe .
now that the Interagency Task Force has started to explore important new avenues , the Council has called on Croatia to continue the administrative investigation in order to account for the missing military documents .
let us hope that the European Union gives its full support .
the city therefore attracts hundreds and thousands of tourists a year .
in recent times , this has been oriented rather towards a military solution to any sort of dispute , as they neglect peaceful solutions in favour of intervention .
in addition to the joint committee , which is to deal with practical problems and disputes , there are also plans for joint inspections and investigations and the exchange of safety data .
the new relevant factor which has been added to the scope of cohesion policy is the concept of territorial cohesion and , more importantly , the Green Paper on it .
I would add that , with development cooperation and humanitarian aid , this requirement becomes a little less unrealistic .
in this respect , we have expressly aired our impatience in Parliament 's Committee on Legal Affairs .
these decisions established that the right of entry and residency in the Community of a third-country national who is a member of an EU citizen 's family arises from that relationship , and depends neither on the legality of their previous residence in the Community nor on the presentation of a residence permit or other permit issued by another Member State .
I strongly feel that we have no time to lose .
and finally , how do you see this issue in the context of the EU 's neighbours , Commissioner ?
( PL ) Mr President , two years ago , when Barack Obama was elected to the office of President of the United States , it seemed that , after the difficult term of office of his predecessor , relations between Europe and America would be normalised .
our commitment to a multilateral trading system can be taken for granted .
Korea does not apply international norms or labelling requirements regarding automotive products or other important products such as pharmaceuticals , cosmetics and electronics .
but this agency is not just affecting big commercial airlines or businesses .
the proper solution would have been to bring an end once and for all to tax harmonisation , for which there is still no justification .
as Mr De Gucht and I have already mentioned , we are trying to find a balance .
we actively support independence for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and are endeavouring to ensure that the Human Rights Council becomes an effective body for dealing with serious violations of human rights the world over .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , on behalf of pensioners and the pensioners ' party which sent me here to the European Parliament , I would like to express our view on how to combat terrorism : the financial funds of the European Parliament and Europe ought to go in greater measure towards alleviating the sufferings of the people from whom the terrorists receive the greatest assistance .
once again I would like to ask the Commission a specific question .
with regard to itself , Parliament certainly needs to introduce rules for itself that are better and more effective than at present .
the removal of the restrictions will allow authors to choose which collecting society manages their copyright .
if we look ahead slightly , one thing is also important : the Stability and Growth Pact must be strengthened .
statement by the President
this is a major paradox that needs to be explained properly , without the confusion that arose from the explanations given throughout August .
already many rights for consumers exist in the energy field but they are not enforced .
that is why I proposed here a way forward inspired by many of your suggestions and I am ready to work in loyalty with all the Members of this Parliament to achieve it so that we have a stronger Europe , keeping our internal market , but respecting fully the social rights of our workers .
we therefore did not give them preference .
I think that this is not the time for Europeans to give up in our engagement with Turkey .
we are thwarting the hopes of all those people in China who are relying on our pressure to help them in their efforts to introduce democracy in China .
that brings us up against the question : what are we as a European Parliament doing to calm the situation down ?
it is the task of governments and the Council to respond practically to that general principle , not this Parliament .
we must have a joint policy on renewable energy and develop other sources of energy , without falling back on fossil fuels , while seeking to ensure that we are self-sufficient .
further rapid progress in actually establishing an internal market in services and innovation is key to implementing the European Union 's reform strategy .
such action will require the European Union to take an active role in the international climate change negotiations .
Mr President , religious freedom is a natural human right for each and every person .
the online portal , with all of the necessary administrative information , is only functioning in 22 states , and of these 22 , it is only possible to carry out the necessary procedures electronically in 14 of them .
the people of Bulgaria and Romania should not become hostage to populist rhetoric .
however , for this , Europe must have standards when it comes to qualifications .
the arrangement set out in the proposed Article 7 , whereby Parliament can appoint three non-voting representatives , is inexpedient .
demand for biofuels and the growth in demand for food are among the causes of a significant rise in the price of such commodities , which is hitting EU citizens with low incomes particularly hard .
education is by nature a strategic area .
the provisions of the Directive on simplifying the conditions for the transfer of defence-related products will have positive effects in terms of increasing the transparency of procedures by introducing unified and simpler principles for the transfer of defence-related products within the Community .
the measure taken by the Israeli Government to declare the Gaza Strip a ' hostile entity ' paves the way for economic sanctions .
however , replacing one kind of propaganda with another kind of propaganda does not make it right .
this is an important prerogative of Parliament , as illustrated for example by its influence on the resignation of the Santer Commission in 1999 .
this is a very important fight , and we fully support what the Commission has said that there must be laws in Bulgaria concerning videotaping and interception .
Member of the Commission . - ( FR ) Mr President , honourable Members , since the election of President Berdymukhamedov , Turkmenistan has effectively entered a new phase of its development , and several positive signs of change have emerged .
it has not proven possible to get agreement to have bodies such as the ECB in the monitoring board .
we want passengers from Europe to be transported safely .
in writing . - UKIP fully supports equality for men and women .
I voted in favour because I think that the new protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Union of the Comoros also serves the interests of both parties .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , we are also delivering on the reconstruction front .
I would also like to say that our Group , which from the outset has been close to the people so tragically hit , will be sending a delegation to the Abruzzo region , led by our chairman , Mr Schulz .
EU enlargement , certain statistics practices which came along with it , and other reforms , such as the liberalisation of the energy markets and alternative forms of energy , have together created the need speedily to draft a Community-wide legal framework for compiling statistics .
firstly , as regards the laissez-faire approach and the lack of regulation , bearing in mind the reserve that comes with my job , I think I have expressed myself quite clearly .
I hope that , at the end of this week and through the following week , the European Council will be able to have a serious discussion about what we can do to reach an agreement .
those who support the project would find a way of reintroducing the symbols .
I would like to say to Mrs Attwooll that fishing is indeed an economic activity , and one that needs to be profitable , which is now ceasing to be the case , therefore perhaps we need more economists in fisheries than there are at present , to analyse these issues in more detail .
we will not be able to shift this burden onto private business .
we have actively followed up on the visa dialogue launched in June .
this is consistent with the changes in living conditions of the people of our Union .
yesterday , Reporters Without Frontiers ranked Sri Lanka number 162 on the Press Freedom Index out of 175 countries .
I will be repeating this at the meeting with the Russian delegation in Moscow on Friday .
we are facing a crisis of confidence , and when there is a crisis of confidence , the first thing we have to do is tell the truth .
I have since written to the Business and Enterprise Minister in the UK , Lord Mandelson , to request he consider an application to the EU for the activation of the Adjustment Fund .
this is precisely what we have set out in CARS 21 , namely a long-term , stable and predictable regulatory framework .
I am not the first and I shall certainly not be the last to speak out against Rule 45 of the Rules of Procedure , which prevents debate this evening on what is nonetheless a most important issue for the people of Europe .
for instance , 2.7 million medicinal products were confiscated at EU custom borders in 2006 and 2.5 million in 2007 , hence seizures of medicines are up 384 % compared to 2005 .
if all of this is incorporated , including the missile shield , it will give us new - better - opportunities to conduct common transatlantic policy , with the United States as our ally and Russia as our strategic partner : a policy towards Europe 's interest in peace .
the second is prices .
Madam President , I wish to begin by congratulating Mr Özdemir for preparing this very comprehensive report .
I would not like the actors who find themselves in between the two , between producers and distributors - namely , processors - to be forgotten .
it is essential that MEPs have the staff necessary to do this work as required .
they must be based on structural reforms .
this is an engagement that they have taken up , and the crisis should not be an excuse to water down their engagements .
agricultural products represent a vital area of commerce . the conditions and principles of trade on the global market therefore have important consequences for European agriculture .
I would therefore like to request that the plenary vote to refer the report back to committee , which would give the committee the flexibility to enter into negotiations with both the Council and the Commission .
the Commission addresses , in particular , the problem of sexual violence and criminality through a multi-donor justice and rehabilitation project in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo , focusing inter alia on building the capacity of judicial actors and reinforcing the provision of legal assistance to the victims of sexual violence .
we not only have a crisis or many building sites , we also have an opportunity .
in writing . - The International Federation of journalists , representing 600 000 journalists in 125 countries , has called on the Israeli Authorities to revoke a deportation order on journalist Jared Malsin who was deported because his reports on the situation in the West Bank and Gaza were critical of the Israeli Government .
you only need to look at the wooded areas for which Greece has claimed subsidies for green spaces to see the sheer audacity of its behaviour .
however , what we in the Committee on Regional Development are calling for is for this single framework and coordination not to be confined to the policy planning stage but to be extended to cover all policy-making stages : planning , implementation and payments , auditing and evaluation .
Mr President , this is the first amended regulation to come before the plenary meeting and the first that comes under the provisions of the Treaty of Lisbon .
is it about manure spreading ?
when the Commission emphasises that the main responsibility lies with the Member States , in fact it refuses to undertake its natural responsibilities and goes back to a model which has been proven to be inefficient .
in writing . - ( LT ) I voted in favour of this resolution on dual-use items and technology , meaning goods which can be used for both civil and military purposes .
composition of committees and delegations : see Minutes
written statements ( Rule 149 )
it is very easy to impose new environmental taxes , and easy to demand better environmental standards for construction and industry , but this will not , however , resolve the problem of our energy security .
it is not that of an official or elected representative , and it shapes men who are free , but desperate today , hence the uprisings of the tuna fishermen in the Mediterranean , in Sète , in Le Grau-du-Roi , and the irate fishermen in Boulogne , in France .
we are told that the negotiated - the renegotiated - agreements will enable us to support Moroccan producers .
the Government does not have any policy on freight transport by rail .
( DE ) Mr President , Mrs Damanaki , European fisheries policy is facing enormous challenges .
finally , we must seek to adopt reasonable positions on , for example , security and the importance of data protection .
I would like to state also on behalf of the Group that the objectives of this are undisputed , but that we need to talk about the methods .
for example , pavement weed control is 400 times more expensive without chemicals .
( SK ) Ladies and gentlemen , thank you for the opportunity to speak .
to sum up , this is a programme that reveals a world with many dangers and few opportunities .
is it the Canadian courts or those in the European Union ?
the vote will take place today .
Holodomor stands for the deliberate denial of the acute famine in Ukraine and elsewhere in the Soviet Union by the Stalinists , so that millions of victims remained cut off from any form of internal or external aid .
Member of the Commission . - It might indeed be strange , as the honourable Member has pointed out , that only three Member States have asked for this mid-term review . however , that is the case according to the figures we had this morning .
quite the opposite .
lane departure warning systems and electronic stability control are also important .
however , the international community must keep up the pressure to ensure that this round is as free and fair as possible .
at the same time , the Commission also deplores the shadow cast by the recent events on Armenia 's increasingly positive progress towards implementation of its ENP action plan , particularly in the areas of human rights and democracy .
as a result of this , the local authorities directly responsible for this matter will have both the opportunity to and interest in strengthening their cooperation with all those interested in the sustainable development of transport at local and regional level .
a big ' thank you ' must of course go to the French Presidency , to the Commission and to Commissioner Dimas , who has personally done so much work on this , to Mrs Doyle , of course , and to all my colleagues , and not least to the staff who have worked so hard .
thus , this document should also address the issue of the implementation and safeguarding of EU foreign policy and instruments .
in writing . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I welcome and support the report by my colleague Mr Paasilinna , which aims to contribute to the EU 's economic growth and competitiveness by developing new forms of innovation through the creation of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology ( EIT ) .
it is not enough to identify the problem after it has already become apparent .
we voted in favour of Article 127 on the headscarf ban , because young people should not be encouraged to wear political symbols and because we want to guarantee that freedom to vote and freedom of choice continue to be safeguarded for young people .
they bring an end to the impunity of owners of hulks , and inspections will be made even more effective by being targeted at such ships .
the Commission must take into account the warnings of Parliament and of farmers , particularly when it comes to negotiations with Mercosur , which risk endangering European livestock farming , as well as fruit and vegetable producers in the outermost regions .
Mr President , the Eastern Partnership is a project which covers six countries .
during my contacts with that part of the world , I intend to clarify these points and , of course , to push for the solutions that we have agreed to implement .
( HU ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the financial crisis , unemployment and the growing State budget deficit and debt constitute the greatest challenges to the nations of Europe today .
executions doubled in 2007 , making Iran the country with most executions per capita after Saudi Arabia and , together with Yemen , these are the three countries in which there were most executions of persons under the age of eighteen .
the end of this dispute benefits the US multinationals in the sector , but penalises European and ACP producers , particularly the small and medium-sized ones .
that the hormone oestradiol 17 ß which was temporarily allowed to be used for farm animals for the treatment of foetus maceration or mummification or for pyrometer will now be banned completely .
the Scandinavian civil aviation authority has now grounded the aircraft , making its re-entry into service subject to a number of conditions , while the EASA has concluded that the design error was of a minor nature only .
the Commission 's proposal to simplify , modernise and harmonise the rules on VAT invoices offers improvements , particularly concerning the provisions enabling small and medium-sized enterprises to use simplified invoices , as well as the guarantee of acceptance by the tax authorities of electronic invoices under the same conditions as conventional ones .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , thank you for this debate .
1 .
even though Mr Swoboda said that we should not have any institutional debates , we need to have a serious debate on the European External Action Service .
it is particularly important to ensure fair and ample compensation in the event of death , and I therefore believe that the ceilings for such compensation under national law must not be lower than the minimum amounts laid down in the regulation .
however , this report is still unacceptable .
if there is no understanding on these principles , there can hardly be any understanding on individual issues .
we should remember this , and we should work towards changing a state of affairs which we cannot accept .
I am also pleased that the ESF will continue to support actions to extend and improve investments in human capital , particularly by strengthening education and training systems , and those aimed at developing institutional capacities and at making public administrations more efficient at national , regional and local level .
the Council and the Commission should give President Klaus a deadline for him to start behaving like the President of a democratic country that is a member of the European Union .
what is the strategy for this enlargement ?
'Manipulative ' is also the word that I would use to describe the EU 's present approach .
how was the entire aid effort coordinated ?
it is a mirror image of the situation in Czechoslovakia in the 1930s and its German minority .
these are all good suggestions to get the ball rolling , but they are no substitute for an overall solution .
if we are interested in taking care of the safety of our EU consumers , we cannot allow low-quality foods to be imported .
we may be faced with an attempt to reduce and limit these rights , particularly in countries where these are more advanced .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , Mr Solana , Commissioner , the heroes of Gaza have once again proven that no fortified wall can imprison the free spirit of humanity and no form of violence can subdue life .
we will of course be utilising all available means in order to minimise , as far as possible , the risk of fraud , corruption and financial abuse , as called for in the draft report .
this surplus in many regions of the European Union has had a direct impact on local fish populations and fisheries , so cormorants have become a European-scale problem .
it is Council that will adopt the negotiation directives in the end ; why have the negotiation guidelines not already been submitted ?
Mrs Wortmann-Kool talked about services .
the Commission has made a statement to this effect , which will be sent to the Parliament Secretariat for inclusion in the reports of this debate .
I am pleased to see that all the Member States have ratified this agreement and hope that we will be able to give our assent to the agreement with Tajikistan , just as we have previously assented to agreements with Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the Portuguese Presidency has been a success and I congratulate you , Mr Sócrates , and your entire government , on this success .
the Hungarian Presidency has already devoted special attention to the realisation of the single energy market in the first three months .
there has been progress on this , too .
we cannot help the dead , who number many more than those whom Saddam Hussein accounted for .
I should stress that monitoring the proper implementation of this regulation is the responsibility of the European Commission , which may adopt appropriate measures .
these support measures must be compulsory under the second pillar of the CAP and the aspect of access to agricultural property must be examined ,
what the Commission can do is to use the open method of coordination and the analytical and reporting capacity available to it to help Member States to better focus the social protection measures .
is it true that this proposal received a large measure of support and that the Commission is to take a formal decision on this subject after 5 December ?
I apologise for having spoken at length , Mr President , but there were a large number of amendments and I believed it was right to make the Commission 's view known to Parliament .
the idea of CCCTB is to establish a common legal basis for the computation of profits of companies with establishments in at least two Member States , to ease the bureaucratic burden on them to establish compliance with the tax codes of the states in which they are operating .
in our view , it must be a language that the latter will understand and not one that he or she is thought to understand .
the political and economic changes have led to the break-up of traditional communities , and the Roma have thereby lost the option of being mobile , and have become the most excluded and least educated subgroup in society .
the only culprit is that political and economic philosophy which has sided with multinational companies against workers , smallholders and small local entrepreneurs .
I would therefore congratulate the Cape Verdean people , their government and their parties on this , as they have been able to take action in a responsible and respectable manner : this Portuguese-speaking country is today an example to be followed by the LDCs .
the document does not aim to unify social security systems .
I would first like to address the question from Mr de Jong , who asked me whether I was discouraged about not being in a position , as the President of the Court of Auditors , to give a positive DAS .
I would like to draw your attention to the situation in Georgia , where the democracy , constitutionality and vigorous economic development that have been built jointly are threatened .
a further message in the sensitive area of transport , and , since this will be one of the last debates to involve Parliament 's Committee on Transport and Tourism , I take this opportunity to thank all the members of that committee for the work they have done in cooperation with the European Commission and myself , to come up with practical solutions to several important matters , some of which had been dragging on for months .
( FR ) Madam President , the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left will not be voting for this report .
only individual Member States can do this .
I consider President Traian Băsescu 's declarations in Budapest rejecting the rightful demands of Transylvanian Hungarians for collective rights and autonomy to be reminiscent of the dictatorial standpoint during the National Communist era .
( the sitting was suspended at 13.00 and resumed at 15.00 . )
through the European Maritime Transport Strategy 2018 , we are creating the framework to make the European maritime economy more competitive at international level , and in this strategy we have determined , firstly , that we want this framework to be set up on the basis of ecological standards and , secondly , that we want sensible global social standards for high quality shipping .
the protection of ordinary consumers of financial services will receive special attention .
clearly the Lisbon strategy has not delivered and now we have to be realistic if the future Europe 2020 would be able to deliver .
one sign of a positive turning point is that on the basis of the European Parliament 's decision , even the hitherto unused resources of the Economic Recovery Programme can be used for energy efficiency developments and green investments .
the CCCTB is a common system of rules for calculating the tax base of companies ; it has no bearing on tax rates .
but , at the same time as we condemn them , we still trade in billions of euros with China .
( the sitting was closed at midnight )
I want to say at the beginning that I agree completely with all honourable Members who spoke of the value and importance of the scrutiny of this House and the role of this House , not only in terms of that scrutiny , but also in terms of the expertise that I know exists within it .
we believe that the European Union should learn self-respect .
the EU could effectively prevent unsafe nuclear development by refusing to contract energy that will be produced in unclean nuclear power plant stations .
President-in-Office . - ( SL ) Thank you very much for kindly repeating your question , Mrs McGuinness .
which , this time , is not Soviet but European .
I have seen some excellent innovative research , but there are great questions about complexity , especially for SMEs , bureaucracy , and inflexibility when adapting to developments and science .
from the very beginning , our aim was for our work to be not merely thorough and useful , but the result of the broadest possible consensus , since we needed to gain an accurate picture of how the transposition was progressing .
there have been some cautious voices calling for sustaining the status quo , especially in Egypt , arguing that overthrowing the regime might lead to a civil war , which in turn might bring religious fundamentalists to power .
as the rapporteur for visa facilitation in the Delegation to the European Union-Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee , I think that introducing the visa-free regime in the country was a very important encouragement for its people .
in addition to the Commission 's report on competition policy , it covers the Commission 's reports on how the regulations operate and on the review of the regulations concerning concentrations .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I am not going to go over again what the Commissioner said with so much emotion , though I fully share her convictions regarding the scandal facing us .
how can we break the vicious circle ?
there are often national laws which cultivate such attitudes and send out the wrong messages .
once again , Parliament wants to tackle the complex situation of the textile industry , asking the Commission for more decisive and appropriate intervention .
we should emphasise the fact that micro-credit is often granted not only for economic reasons and not only for profit , but also serves a cohesion purpose by trying to integrate or re-integrate disadvantaged people into society .
I do not mean to steal anyone else 's thunder , as others deserve credit too , but were it not for his and our determination we would not today have the Treaty of Lisbon , were it not for his and our determination we would not have had the Brazil summit , nor the Africa summit .
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this is the only way that the EU will successfully move closer to its citizens and become more democratic .
Mr Mugabe - a communist socialist dictator - has managed to turn this bread basket into a famine zone .
we therefore need less talk and more action to achieve tangible results .
very often , our own resources , such as forests and soil , can also be an excellent place for absorption , and this is biological absorption and , hence , effective absorption .
Madam President , Mr Almunia , ladies and gentlemen , no one disputes the fact that coal is an important part of our energy supply .
indeed , at present , the only passengers covered by European legislation in the event of airline bankruptcy are those who book a package holiday .
let me reiterate that , while safety must , of course , come first , it is important that we reopen European airspace on the basis of facts and correct assumptions .
these are universal human rights that must be respected and those detained for peacefully exercising those rights should be released .
we have now gone over by more than the amount of time we were late by when we started .
but soon , after Nagoya , we will also come with the proposal for the European Union strategy on how to deal with this serious question and then , of course , many of the matters which you today underlined will have to be addressed .
( SK ) The Lisbon Treaty , which has strengthened the powers of the EU in the field of energy policy , should be actively exploited in order to overcome difficulties and prevent possible problems on the energy market .
what is impeding the competitiveness of our entire civilisation today ?
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , now it is my turn to extend greetings to you this evening .
Mr Marty still has to explain what the criteria are in the Council of Europe , when you can cite anonymous sources , and so we are not really satisfied with the way Mr Marty approached it .
however , I regret that Amendment 1 has been approved , thereby removing the important reference to the need for the Commission and the Council to create a clear legal basis for combating all forms of violence against women .
I also consider cooperation with Libya useful in addressing issues such as security and stability , migration , public health , development , trade , climate change , energy and culture .
that , however , is not enough .
in any case , the matter of the human rights situation in Iran and the human rights violations , and therefore the question as to whether or not Iran 's candidacy for the Human Rights Council will be accepted , must be managed carefully in order not to cause the opposite of the desired effect .
it is more important to send a clear message of support for the Stockholm Programme from the European Parliament .
in writing . - ( HU ) During the drafting of the Stockholm Programme , our aim was to make Europe 's citizens aware of the tangible benefits of an area of freedom , security and justice .
fourthly , we need new market transparency , control and supervision rules .
let us not forget that work there will have to be performed under extremely harsh weather conditions and through the use of new technologies .
we certainly ought to be pleased with the determination of the institutions in overcoming all the ups and downs of the project .
if the conditions for an ambitious agreement are not met , I sincerely hope that the European Union is capable of saying ' No ' and refuses to sign a cut-price agreement .
I am pleased to say that the Member States have received our options paper with interest .
the planned price division between wholesale and other mobile telephone services , such as SMS and voicemail , will be of no benefit to consumers , but will increase the profits of capital even more .
this is , of course , an appeal both to this House and to all bodies and institutions of the European Union , but it is also a challenge which I propose that you take back to your countries and national governments , because they have at least the same power to persuade Mr Lukashenko to establish democracy and freedom in Belarus as we do as representatives of the European Union .
this issue cannot be stabilised in the European Union if it is not stable at international level .
I also especially thank Pat Cox , who did a great job , and all pro-Lisbon Irish MEPs because they conducted a tremendous campaign in favour of the Treaty .
I believe we all share the objective adopted by the EU in recent years of reinforcing passenger rights .
people are looking for hope ; they are looking for some information about recovery .
this is a clear case of unfair competition .
high Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy . - Mr President , thank you for inviting me once again to this important debate on the CFSP .
point 3 ( B ) very clearly states that ' catch the eye ' time is a maximum of five minutes , and is limited to a maximum of one minute per speaker .
what I am particularly concerned about is not CO2 emissions per se , but the positive feedback mechanisms that are now happening in the planetary system , like the acidification of the oceans , reduced albedo and the possible leaking of methane from thawing tundra .
it is true the Commission does note that such measures will require significant financial outlays , but it wants to look for this money in the structural funds for these countries .
I think that is one of the most important challenges .
I abstained when voting on this report , despite the critical look it takes at European policies , particularly those carried out by the Member States , aimed at young people .
moreover , the growing tensions between different ethnic groups in the country are a cause for concern .
this report proposes the amendment of Rule 51 , after the Conference of Presidents had raised the problem relating to the limitations of the Rules of Procedure with regard to joint meetings of committees .
in our report we have tried to strike that balance and I think that the reason it has received such wide support is that it has largely succeeded .
following the end of the Memorandum of Understanding in 2005 , we did have the agreement on the joint surveillance system - to which Mrs Wortmann-Kool drew our attention - and it has given us early information about trade flows .
I voted against this resolution because I believe that maternity pay is a matter which must be decided at national level , based on the principle of subsidiarity .
subject : wastewater treatment plants in Greece
at present I oppose a general increase in the milk quota .
the European Union 's willingness to enter into such negotiations with neighbouring countries with an action plan in force has also been reaffirmed , by the Commission communication on this matter of December 2006 .
in order to revitalise the less developed regions , we need to focus on human capital .
these transport operations continue to grow , especially as they have become relatively cheaper over the years .
Beijing or New Delhi cannot be allowed to incite nations that have recently had their debts written off to borrow and create new dependencies merely to secure supplies of raw materials .
in addition , the Commission will assess the need for further control measures at Community level and , if necessary , submit proposals when revising the list of priority substances .
the whole issue of capturing whales for scientific purposes is still a ' cover ' for the capture of these mammals , which is why the EU must intervene in terms of revising this international position .
yes , we must sign an agreement in Copenhagen in order collectively to ensure that , by 2020 , there are 30 % fewer greenhouse gas emissions than there were in 1990 .
however , I hope to be able to return the favour in future .
there is a lot of detail here which would have benefited from greater discussion , in committee , in the groups and in this House .
large farms need to deliver more when it comes to jobs and the environment .
experience shows that worsening unemployment weakens women 's rights , intensifies worker exploitation and increases discrimination .
the proposed changes include : modernising the NAFO structure ( merging the General Council and the Fisheries Commission into a single body ) , reforming the system of contributions to the budget , introducing clear guidelines on the rights and obligations of NAFO contracting parties , changes to the decision-making process and the introduction of a new conflict resolution procedure , in order to resolve disputes in an effective manner , which will benefit European Union interests .
after 19 months of institutional crisis in the country , precisely on the day on which nearly 8 million Malagasy people were called on to vote on reforming the constitution , in November 2010 , all hope of fashioning a genuine democracy in this former European colony was lost .
we need only look at the sums spent by the tobacco industry on advertising to understand the enormity of the challenge we face .
therefore , I believe that , with this report , we are creating a good foundation for further research for the leading research institutes in the European internal market and particularly for the leading enterprises .
what do we have to do ?
if we succeed in convincing society that it is worth controlling our body weight and combating overweight , and if we manage to set up mechanisms to promote a healthy lifestyle , we shall be able to avoid a great many problems .
it is not an easy task to deal with this crisis , but we are nevertheless going to do our best .
neither in your words nor in your declared ambition for Europe will they find this impetus today .
a noxious consequence of this is the sensational Ergenekon trial of numerous prominent Kemalists .
thus , we are simplifying the procedure .
we have to up our game .
so what help do you offer her ?
I have voted in favour of the report .
in the event of cancellation or delay , it is also important for passengers to be provided with all necessary information .
some changes in behaviour , both individual and collective , are certainly welcome .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
Mr President , the European Parliament seconds the United Nations in their unanimous message to the Libyan dictator : step down , stop the bloodshed , face justice .
it is in the interests of our economies , however , that the solutions promoted by us should be respected by third countries .
I am somewhat puzzled by the reference to the EIB 's external activities , for which more financial and human resources are being requested .
just this week , Karl Habsburg explained to us how important it is in the search for identity for this cultural heritage not only to be available to the Uyghurs , but also for it to be a global asset .
the world 's population is constantly increasing , and the quantities of clean drinking water available are only decreasing .
these do not only include high technology and discoveries , but also social , business , management , marketing and other innovations , which demand ever more effective application of knowledge , and more active collaboration with universities and research centres .
it is something that should be decided by the MEPs themselves .
I must stress that we shall not agree to the withdrawal of any financial resources in order to guarantee the enforcement of the CAP .
Thursday :
they save lives , create the space for functioning politics to work and they mean that Europe can draw on all its instruments of power to meet its responsibilities .
in addition , we must break the stereotypes that undervalue these groups .
it would be appropriate to consider introducing this kind of tax in countries where there are accumulations of speculative capital , resulting in the creation of short-term external debts .
stakeholder involvement will be particularly essential during that legislative procedure , the inclusivity and transparency of which will have to be ensured by all available means .
( applause )
recently , aside from prices and innovation , new elements have appeared crucial in the eyes of consumers .
the ninth European Development Fund : four countries chose agriculture or rural development as a sector on which to focus or concentrate in their cooperation with the Commission .
Madam President , the Chamber is quiet , I would say perhaps a little too quiet , and I for one regret that there are not more of us interested in these issues .
thank you .
the crocodile tears we have shed over the divisions between Palestinians are really inappropriate after the European Union was incapable of supporting Mahmoud Abbas ' efforts to co-opt the pragmatic wing of Hamas .
price stability is required at consumer level , on the one hand , because , due to other financial commitments such as mortgages , parenting and leisure activities , the consumer does not have enough leftover income to cope with price fluctuations .
documents received : see Minutes
the Internet is the most global , open and fast-moving market environment , where music , films , books and software circulate .
regrettably , the issue of international trade is often missing from such debates , thus leading to the search for solutions which ignore the positive potential that increased world consumption can have .
we in the European Union and United States have common enemies who will not hesitate to exploit any crack and any evidence of a lack of trust in this relationship .
we are constantly confronted with numerous shortcomings that prevent us from using our resources in a fully efficient manner .
here we are meekly rubber-stamping the decisions of our 27-member politburo .
we must also have subsequent control because billions and billions of euros are being poured into some programmes , which usually end up in the pockets of various dictators , financing their fine lifestyle , while , at the same time , millions and millions of people are living in our own countries , who are also leading very miserable lives .
one of the areas expected to benefit from the European Heritage Label is the area of tourism .
my second question relates to cluster bombs and the like , which are now being debated in the Oslo process and in Wellington , New Zealand , and were considered in the Swedish Parliament last week ; it is also an important EU issue .
every public institution comes at a price .
the politics of economic governance and economic coordination have changed and this is not just because the so-called federalists wanted it .
as a result of varying transpositions , implementations and interpretations at an intra-state level , the directive setting out the principle of equal pay for men and women has failed to eliminate the gender pay gap , which is connected mainly with levels of professional segregation .
the main political parties are in complete agreement on this issue .
this cannot be put off ; I should like to remind the Council of this today .
let us stop saying that some are right and some are wrong .
I did not hear it .
it is not a matter of black and white .
it is , however , hard to perceive an equally strong motivation to resolve difficult but important political problems .
it is about production and employment in the textile and clothing sector in various European Member States .
these territorial cooperation areas are privileged areas for European cooperation , particularly cross-border cooperation .
this is a general negative trend and I must protest against such actions .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
with regard to the Staff Regulations , it is time to look at them once again , and my colleague Maroš Šefčovič is working on a revision of the Staff Regulations .
( FI ) Madam President , a short while ago , Mr Hannan , speaking about other matters , referred to the need for less integration and not for more , whatever happens .
the dark and bright sides are both presented : excellent growth figures against high unemployment , for instance ; in concrete terms , 7.2 % against over 20 % for the past three years .
the third : a question of income limits for access to social housing .
there are two areas that I want to raise with you as you do that .
therefore , we signal our concern to a partner , an ally , and a friend .
the security of the travelling public must be our prime concern - the concern of ourselves , of governments , airport operators and airlines .
ladies and gentlemen , either we got it completely wrong and failed with regard to this act , or science and technology have evolved to such an extent that the act already needs amending , which can be done very quickly through the comitology procedure , or there is nothing wrong , in which case we cannot play unnecessarily on people 's fears and on their justified concern for their children 's safety .
we would have liked more money , more money used for economic growth , in other words more money for the well-being of citizens , to provide clearer support for monetary union programmes , to provide clearer support for small and medium-sized enterprises as a source of job creation .
I want us to say , in 2009 , when you and I may be leaving office , at least we have fulfilled this promise .
at the moment , with many countries , not least China , we have a human rights dialogue that is totally meaningless .
in order that all citizens should benefit from the same protection , I hope that , following the submission of this study by the European Commission , we shall encourage Member States to come to an agreement on this matter .
so far , since the start of negotiations , 34 of the 35 chapters have been opened for negotiation , of which 28 have been provisionally closed .
development aid must therefore provide support for state infrastructures and increase the population 's access to basic services that are organised at the moment by non-governmental organisations ( NGOs ) and international organisations .
( for the results and other details on the vote : see Minutes )
( NL ) Mr President , one of the main advantages of speaking late is that you can leave out a considerable number of things that have been said before .
it is perhaps the last chance for this Treaty .
these measures , which I hope will turn out to have some effect , have still had no impact .
Americans advised the Shah to build twenty nuclear power stations .
it is difficult to explain how , in the year 2008 , we still have piracy just like in the Middle Ages .
I wish to end , Mr President , by stating that the Council and the Spanish Presidency will work to ensure that all these procedural guarantees are put into practice , through the directives that the European Commission will table in due course and also the directive that is already in progress , based on an initiative by 13 Member States , as far as I remember .
let us recall that EU enlargement has greatly contributed to the fact that Europe today is whole and free .
governments , the Council and the EU Commission are called upon to provide for efficiency both for environmental protection and for the economy and growth .
2 .
it is very important to focus attention on the harmonisation of the marketing of construction products , because in the future , we will need better and higher quality construction .
rapporteur . - ( FR ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , when I was in Turin I was able to appreciate the excellent work done by the Foundation , which is a vital and highly effective instrument to promote the development of vocational training systems in EU partner countries .
I would like to make some criticisms of the presented framework .
on Amendment 7 the multiannual framework is designed to regulate obligations on European Institutions and / or the Member States to monitor compliance with all international human rights conventions to which the Member States are party .
my question is simple : how do you view this issue ?
no option on our agenda should be neglected in order to reduce our energy import dependency .
the benefits are obvious : they make a significant contribution to better law making .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , four minutes will be enough to give you a summary of two years ' work - work that has been hard but , I hope , useful - which has involved Parliament alongside both the Commission , with its proposal , and the Council .
Europe has chosen democracy and in a democracy independence can never be confused with a complete lack of responsibility .
this year 50 000 seals have been slaughtered in the Canadian hunt compared to 220 000 last year .
on the other hand , the export and agriculture policies applied by the EU in these countries have an adverse impact on their development .
this is not at all the case with Kosovo and Serbia .
according to the report 's figures , Europe remains the world 's number one tourist destination , and tourism is the third largest socio-economic activity in the EU , with some 1.8 million businesses , primarily small and medium-sized enterprises , 9.7 million jobs and production equivalent to 5 % of EU Gross Domestic Product .
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( PL ) Madam President , the Commission 's priorities for 2009 are increased employment , climate change and a sustainable Europe .
the call for European economic government fails to recognise that much has already been , and is being , done to coordinate the policies of the individual Member States and to harmonise them .
author . - ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , it was thanks to you that I was able to head the election observation mission to Mauritania .
however , we have a wide range of different models in Europe .
if Srebrenica happened because there was not enough European spirit , then we should do our utmost to help this country embark on the right path . this means towards the EU .
in the same declaration in June , the EU condemned any action aimed at authorising torture and other forms of ill-treatment .
it is important to first implement what is already planned before embarking on even more ambitious projects .
and yet the European Community rolled out the red carpet for this man last December at the EU-African summit in Lisbon .
we need urgent action to retain viable jobs wherever possible .
what is your answer to that ?
I am therefore giving it a special mention in the resolution .
I would like to tell you something , Mr Borloo , if you will allow me one moment longer : we do not always manage to reach unanimity here , so take heart , and do not allow a similar situation to what happened yesterday on renewables , where one country , unfortunately my own , vetoed the proposal , thereby making an agreement impossible .
the first report on gender equality was prepared five years ago , and we are right to expect results now .
we are doing this , but the Chinese are squeezing us out .
that is why these accidents also demonstrate the importance of maintaining pressure on maritime safety issues both at EU and at international level .
it is therefore not enough simply to reduce the number .
telecommunications are in fact characterised by their impact on everyday life and play an obvious social role as a medium for development and growth .
the principles of the internal market have meant that European consumers have had access to more information and better protection of their rights , but they are also becoming more aware of their obligations .
we will call upon all countries to shoulder their responsibilities , but I am not sure that it is realistic to expect to be able to discuss figures at the summit in Pittsburgh .
I wish to make a few concrete proposals : we regret that hate speech does not appear in the draft legislation but only the reports and the framework decision referring to implementation appear among the plans .
thank you Mrs in ' t Veld .
in 2009 , Europe felt the full brunt of the global economic crisis .
this requires a good deal of time , including additional information and clarifications .
to a certain extent , the final question in our questionnaire provides an answer to what Mr Savary said .
one other reason why I voted for strengthening the OSCE is the human rights aspect , involving respect for minorities ' rights and fundamental freedoms , which are key elements in the OSCE 's integrated security concept .
these attacks are unacceptable : they are perpetrated by extremists with an agenda of intolerance which must be condemned and must be resisted .
we need to set our work in an overall , longer-term vision of where we want the European Union to be .
obviously , whoever was in the Chair before you allowed things to run out of kilter slightly , which put you in an embarrassing position .
the EU is undemocratic and anti-democratic and it is not therefore a suitable guardian of anybody 's human rights .
it would give rise to considerable additional bureaucracy and unnecessary costs - something that the public has little understanding for .
do not miss this opportunity .
Mrs Ferreira and Mr Lamberts made the point that the stress tests were inconsistent.I have said what I think about the shortcomings of the previous tests .
on the contrary , we think that the formulation of distribution policy is a national responsibility .
in the area of buildings , so much more could be done , particularly in relation to this building itself , the buildings in Brussels and many more public buildings .
as a patriot , I am particularly saddened by the fact that it was the Hungarian media law that sparked heated debates in the European Parliament and other European institutions .
we have enormous amounts of competition to deal with , especially from Asia .
I am aware that there is an erroneous interpretation of the requirements pertaining to type-approval in a number of Member States - as you have just quite correctly pointed out - but it is an erroneous interpretation , one which is not in line with the legal framework that is in place .
in my personal opinion , a directive which cannot be applied to all Member States on a mandatory basis will not achieve its aim and may significantly distort the internal market through the barriers which some Member States , if they so wish , may introduce to block the free movement of persons and goods .
I am particularly grateful to the Member who intervened to urge a reassessment of the staffing allocations of Commission delegations in key economies .
rapporteur . - ( FR ) Madam President , Commissioner , I believe all or nearly all of us take the same view on the substance of the matter and I thank the Commissioner for what he has just said about the future prospects of the Foundation .
I welcome Mrs Jackson 's effort to find a correct and valid solution in her report .
in 2002 , the Barcelona European Council called for EU members to provide childcare to at least 90 % of children between the age of three years and mandatory school age by 2010 , and to at least 33 % of children under three .
if the European Parliament is overzealous on the Almadén issue tomorrow , we risk setting at naught the significant progress made by Parliament and failing to take advantage of a satisfactory compromise .
I should like , in particular , to stress the importance of financing based on solidarity , such as that made possible under the Oudin law in France .
as a result of rapid shrinking of the Arctic ice cap , new possibilities for exploitation of the region have arisen .
the aforementioned directors-general will , on average , earn EUR 17 000 per month .
recently , the Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry of the Interior , Peter Altmaier , came clean with the television news and said that to Germany 's benefit , in future it will be easier to remove those people that Germany wants to get rid of .
liquidation of this production will reduce the possibilities for development in these regions and threaten the existence of small farms .
believe me , in this regard I am considering Europe 's interest , if you will accept that French sovereigntists also are concerned by this matter .
congratulations once again .
the current achievements of Polish groups ( according to the evaluation of the Polish National Contact Point on the basis of data supplied by the European Commission ) are not very satisfactory .
however , we must not forget that other species , primarily the tigers , are suffering too .
whenever there has been a debate here on these issues , the European Parliament has always had a very constructive attitude .
for example , when the pension reform in Hungary is rolled back and the citizens have to transfer back to the state pension system or lose 70 % of their pension rights , it is clear that an icy wind is blowing through the EU .
the vote will take place during the part-session in December .
we have seen this in the internal market amongst the EU Member States , and there is no doubt that this will also be the case where the developing countries are concerned .
we would be prepared to accept the Commission 's original text , but the text from the Council states that all posted workers , including those who are covered by the 1996 directive , are also excluded from this directive .
on the basis of the report , the European Parliament adopted a resolution and the Council made decisions .
one of the key solutions is better involving civil society that has a long tradition of organising social support .
I am determined to tackle it , and I intend to revisit the whole issue because so far progress has been very slow .
a report was adopted in a vote of the Committee on Foreign Affairs by an overwhelming majority of 62 in favour and just 3 against .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I too want to begin by thanking the rapporteur Mr Özdemir and all the shadow rapporteurs who worked on this report .
I do not know if colleagues know : it is a bit of a landmark in history .
colleagues have mentioned ADHD .
scientific research and technology play a key role in achieving these objectives .
in this sense , I remind you of the negative effects on the industry of failing to take the decision to grant a derogation for whitebait fishing .
but Perwiz Kambakhsh must be freed forthwith .
as the rapporteur of the review of the EU ETS , which formed the cornerstone of the EU 's climate and energy package adopted last December by this House , I urge you to consider this proposal as a contribution to meeting the 2 ° C target . so I would like a review , please , of the Daylight Saving Time Directive .
Member States and private entrepreneurs should get involved ever more actively both in developing and implementing the eSafety initiatives , and in designing new accident avoidance systems , new materials and types of sensors interconnecting both the cars and the cars with the roads .
it should be considered as an example of best practice .
( EL ) Mr President , thank you very much .
even if airlines were issued with 100 % allowances upon entering the scheme - and none of us is asking for that - an annual growth in aviation of 5 % would require an equally high volume of savings in terms of CO2 emissions .
here and elsewhere we continue to make our fine speeches .
deduction at source can be reimbursed to an individual liable to tax in their Member State of permanent residence if the corresponding income is disclosed for tax purposes .
you have experienced at first hand the arms race during the Cold War .
I rejected these amendments and will be instituting infringement proceedings at the European Court of Justice .
'Innovation ' and a ' well-organised infrastructure network ' are the basic criteria necessary to make agribusinesses competitive , competent and well prepared , and to ensure that rural areas too have access to culture and training .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( CS ) This Regulation governs the licensing of carriers to lease aircraft ( both with crew and without crew ) and free access to intra-Community air routes including certain derogations , particularly for public service obligations .
I would also like to thank the Czech Presidency for the sound agreements we were able to reach , both before and during the negotiations .
however , there is room to develop a European framework with common coordination denominators , common objectives and values and common rights and structures .
the foundations are therefore being laid for the sustainable exploitation of fish stocks , without any need for marketing standards to be lowered .
without this feedback we are doomed to work in a vacuum .
I believe that this provides a good model for the European Union 's future strategy on the Danube region .
it is up to us here to start searching for the reasons for this - we cannot leave that to the Irish .
( ES ) Mr President , although the epicentre of the crisis is not located in the developing countries , they are the ones that have been seriously and deeply affected by its huge wave .
5 .
we have taken a number of steps in this direction since the adoption of the ' Blue Paper ' such as the adoption of a communication on the ecosystem approach in April 2008 , and two proposals on discards , which will be ready by the end of this year .
a recent report by the High Commissioner for Refugees claims that there are over two million refugees in neighbouring countries , but it is in Syria , with 1 400 000 refugees , and Jordan with almost half a million , that the situation has reached boiling point .
these phenomena cannot be properly addressed by the leaders of capital , the very people responsible for creating them .
the environmental argument is not relevant either , as imported coal is equally as polluting as indigenous coal .
I would also like to say a few political words in order , firstly , to thank all those who have supported me in the drafting of this report - it may seem extremely technical to you , but it is eminently political .
I am therefore delighted to try to answer your question .
following a long and successful revision phase , the report makes cooperation , independence and transparency its core principles .
is it too much to ask for only legal fish to be sold in the European Union ?
yesterday we approved another report about dialogue with the citizen in Europe .
whatever the case , our objectives are now clear and defined , and I can assure you that the Presidency and the Council will take all the initiatives and measures deemed appropriate to respond to developments in the situation .
reducing the level of corruption in developing countries and increasing their income will result in stability and balance .
the question is about the state of the ratification process in the Czech Republic .
Hiltrud Breyer 's report is on the right lines .
I believe it is essential for civil servants to be accountable to the general public .
as well as the long and medium terms , we must think about the short term and start encouraging the existence of creative companies right now .
from an ecological point of view , we should open the way for cabotage transport immediately , but from a social and economic point of view , it makes better sense to limit it for the time being .
I see this as a test case for territorial cohesion , which could then be extended to other macro-regions .
Community guarantee to the EIB ( codified version ) ( vote )
a new meeting of the SADC is to be held in Johannesburg on Saturday in the presence of all the representatives of the different strands of political opinion in Madagascar to ratify this road map .
this question is addressed to Mr Schulz .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , times are hard for the European economy and for the European project as a whole .
it gives an overview of the strategic role that the EU should play outside its borders , in particular , as regards the contribution to the development of democracy and respect for human rights .
the security of our Eastern neighbours , in particular , energy security in Ukraine and Belarus , also constitutes EU security .
especially in times of crisis , employers are tempted to try to get round the law and resort to illegal workers in order to maintain profits or simply survive on the market .
the recent elections did not pass off in the best way possible , and the fact that the country currently has an interim president is not the best sign that the degree of consolidation of its democratic culture is on the right path .
in addition , it establishes independent supervisory bodies Thanks to the new directive , airport charges will at last be linked to the real costs and discrimination between specific airlines will cease .
regarding agriculture , it is worth noting the extreme volatility of the dairy sector , highlighting the need for a permanent approach to address this issue , namely , through a fund for the dairy sector .
of course , this requires additional investment from all 27 Member States , and I am asking them to allocate adequate resources to ECEC services .
I have warned that you cannot go on buying your own bad debt , but we have reached the point where , within weeks , we may well see that the ECB itself is not solvent , so perhaps your friend Mrs Lagarde can help bail that out as well .
you raised a sensitive and very important issue , Mr Giegold , as did Mr Karas and Mr Schmidt earlier , namely sovereign debt shock .
in order to succeed in their task , customs managed to readjust radically thanks to a new customs code that is both simpler and more far-reaching as a result of the new technologies that will provide them with a paperless administrative environment , and also as a result of cooperation .
indeed , I have many friends of Bangladeshi origin in London and I follow the political situation there very closely .
now she has been sentenced to 11 years in prison and banned from practising law for 20 years .
this will particularly be the case during the current economic situation .
as a young footballer and a young talent , ladies and gentlemen , Sterckele got all his chances in various clubs in Belgium , and there he eventually developed into the top scorer in the Belgian league .
7 .
these measures must stipulate that manufacturing authorisation holders who remove or cover up overt safety features applied on a voluntary basis by manufacturers be held strictly liable in the event of counterfeits entering the supply chain as a result of their actions .
the report also calls on the Commission to consider labelling which would give consumers access to information on the social and environmental manufacturing conditions of the products they buy .
the case of Haiti should give us food for thought , and it clearly indicates the need to create an efficient system of international aid for any possible natural disasters in the future .
second , the US has proven the existence of technological know-how and the economic viability of these unconventional sources , and third , the Union has a great potential in unconventional sources of gas .
there must be improved coordination between Member States in relation to research into the root causes of dementia diseases and in relation to best care practice .
this is part of labelling ; let us sort it out and see where we are going on that .
unfortunately , no mention is made of these in the report , just as no mention is made of the unacceptable conditions under which thousands of people travelling with no travel papers are held on islands and in towns of the Mediterranean , affecting the human dignity of us all .
I would like us to consider three points :
in addition , neither are the countries and regions that most need to borrow from it those that are most favoured with its loans .
I first of all have the pleasure of telling the House that the Lithuanian Parliament ratified the Treaty this morning .
I have taken note of the assessment of the report on the policy options presented in the Green Paper and the support for the innovative solution of an optional instrument , which means no harmonisation but giving consumers and businesses a choice of having a Europe-wide system .
there is , for example , a prohibition on advance payments , because this proved to be a frustration to many consumers .
while , out of the two African countries with rigged presidential elections , Zimbabwe is considered the country with the bad compromise , Kenya has been praised as the country with the good compromise .
I regret that the right of parents and children to speak to each other in their chosen language is not respected by the Federal Republic of Germany , as arises from the current practice of courts and youth affairs offices .
combating illegal immigration means not encouraging undeclared employment , which attracts illegal labour .
the arrest of the two leaders of the opposition , Mr Mousavi and Mr Karoubi , is the most obvious proof of this .
and lastly , what direct support should be provided by European programmes - should we have ad hoc programmes for the social economy , or create space within existing programmes for these operators ?
this has had the benefit of providing us with information and clarification and given us the necessary courage twinned with prudence to address other important , parallel legislative actions , also of high risk , such as the climate change package , the policy on vehicles , the Lisbon Strategy and sectors such as energy , transport , industry and tourism .
the next item is the report by Konrad Szymański , on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs , on the review of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument .
although catch quotas have been introduced for the anchovy fishery in the Bay of Biscay , this does not apply to pelagic species and tuna .
the signing of bilateral fisheries agreements between the EU and third countries guarantees access for EU fleets to sources of fish that are significant in quantitative and qualitative terms whilst , at the same time , channelling financial resources to these countries that often come to make up a large proportion of their budget available for pursuing policies in numerous areas , not just fisheries policy .
I would emphasise the fact that the Treaty of Lisbon recognises sub-national subsidiarity , not only in the sphere of regional policy , but also horizontally , which is to say , in all European policies .
the closure of Lear Automotive led to a 4 % increase in unemployment in the area , which , in 2009 , stood at 22.7 % .
this time , medicine is scarcely being mentioned as the elections take place .
the European External Action Service offers the possibility of making European Union foreign policy more effective , more unified and strategically more coherent .
the Commission promises to unlock venture capital , which is laudable , but almost laughable given that it spent all of last year trying to legislate it out of the market altogether .
informed economic opinion will tell you that lower taxes are the best incentive to economic growth and job creation .
today what is needed is a new mobilisation of the international community to ensure that not only are women 's rights protected , but that women play a full part at the highest levels of political and institutional life .
it is now , more than ever , when the international community is showing signs of being fatigued by a seemingly never-ending crisis , that the EU must take a leading role .
this means that national economies are being threatened with collapse .
there was talk of an avalanche of costs , of companies going bankrupt , of burdens on the economy and on workers themselves .
it would be tragically ironic if a tyranny such as Iran became the main beneficiary of the desire for greater freedom that we have seen so dramatically expressed across the Arab world in recent weeks and in a most sickening example of hypocrisy - I am just finishing Mr President - President Ahmadinejad has told the Egyptian people that they have the right to express their own views about their country .
countries with democracy achieve fair distribution much faster than dictatorships .
( PL ) Madam President , Belarus , the Belarus of 2008 , is a blot on the conscience of all of us .
he was detained for several hours in the camp , then released .
10 .
the objective , following your vote , is to be in a position to achieve the adoption of the package at second reading at the end of this year .
I think that , to a certain extent , we need that conditionality , because the real problem with Japan is not so much tariffs .
in writing . - The Commission 's Green Paper on this issue was a damning indictment and an honest recognition that the common fisheries policy has not worked .
the cooperation with the Commission was excellent and I would like once again to give my sincere thanks to the team in my office who worked around the clock on this report .
we could have done more , of course , but I believe we have reached a point from which we can take further steps forward .
( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to begin by thanking all of my colleagues , especially Jerzy Buzek for his report .
therefore , I particularly support the rapporteur when she urges the Commission ' to prepare a European strategic plan which would set out long-term investment intended to satisfy the needs of future electric energy production and concrete guidelines for investment in nuclear energy ' .
as regards the timetable which Mr Rübig asked about : we now have what I believe is the second roaming package on the table .
furthermore , these inspection missions have also verified that the competent authorities are capable of enforcing the Community 's import requirements .
on top of that , an additional reserve of some EUR 16 million for two specific policy areas , namely transport and environment , has also been reserved .
the European Union system of 27 different permits is an obstruction to ' brains ' coming to work in Europe .
this is exactly how the EU should work .
Mr President , Mr Daul is quite right in what he has just said .
the threat posed to successful national support schemes by the certificate trading that the Commission proposes has been deleted .
at the same time , regional advisory agencies do not have the know-how either .
I think that the EU consumer protection regulations will not be of much benefit if they are not properly adopted , implemented and enforced at a national level .
it is clear from the letter of Mr Barroso and the statement of Mrs Reding that this is within national sovereignty .
that concludes the vote .
in the meantime trade issues in general and the concerns which both the EU and Brazil have regarding those issues were approached with great openness and frankness , with each party expressing its points of view and expressing the hope that the Doha negotiating process can be brought to a successful conclusion .
in writing . - A permanent shortage of organs for transplantation hampers the wonderful efforts of health care professionals to help patients .
the Lisbon Agenda has started to bear fruit .
therefore , we must apply strict legislation on living donors , ensure the transparency of organ waiting lists , lay down strict confidentiality rules in order to protect the personal data of donors and those waiting for organs and define the responsibility of doctors .
yet in Italy - as Lega Ambiente protested with regard to an ill-conceived energy policy - we are seeing an extraordinary increase in research applications and permits granted by the ministry for identifying and extracting oil resources that would be sufficient to cover the Italian energy requirement for little more than one year .
that said , the Commission shares the view expressed during this catch-the-eye session that enforcement remains a serious issue and efforts need to be maintained and enhanced to ensure proper implementation .
we would have preferred the register to be mandatory , not just for those who work within the Commission and Parliament buildings , but also for those who ply their trade elsewhere , for example over a glass of wine in one of Brussels ' many bars .
to meet the challenges of globalisation we must build a knowledge-based economy and invest in education and the creation of human capital .
I get the impression you have not understood this yet .
in order to reach EU objectives as regards renewable energy and the reduction of greenhouse gases , we must promote the development of new technologies , especially technologies for carbon capture and storage .
I would like to start today 's substantive report on the June European Council where I finished my speech in January when I was setting out the priorities , namely with the desire that at some time any random passer-by in any city in the European Union , including Ireland , could say without hesitation , he feels European and he cares what happens to Europe tomorrow because he knows that Europe cares what will happen to him tomorrow .
I hope that Parliament and all other EU decision-making forums , mindful of our post-WWII desire for lasting peace and cooperation , will strive for an equitable solution to ensure that we are members of a long-lasting , prosperous , mutually supportive and cohesive community .
as in the case of Euromed , a great deal could be achieved through practical cooperation based on good neighbourliness , a partnership of equality , joint responsibility and transparency .
maintaining fisheries relations with the Solomon Islands is very much in the EU 's interest , since this will help to enhance the viability of the EU tuna fishing sector in the Pacific by giving access to a large quantity of fish .
the government , as well as the opposition , including the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party and 130 Muslim NGOs , have all strongly condemned those attacks .
verification of credentials : see Minutes
I welcome the European Commission 's initiative to present a broad policy framework for European action on climate adaptation policy .
both documents are based upon comprehensive consultations and examples of best practice developed by cities themselves .
this principle falls down when we ignore these criteria and allow membership to countries where people are being marginalised and mistreated .
ability to catalyse chemical reactions ;
it matters little to us right now if , in order to protect the rights of transparency and clarity for consumers , some business that has relocated finds itself penalised in some way .
for example , the business activities conducted by the ethnic minorities provide jobs and contribute significantly to the economies of the host countries .
the European Union , which is the world 's largest exporter and largest provider of services , has to promote greater access to the services market for both the developed nations and the developing countries alike .
we must put a stop to the practice of creating fictitious legal entities to evade tax .
I just hope we do have those positive outcomes .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
unfortunately , ever since Portugal joined the EU , this right to compensation has been 0 % .
so much for free market !
cooperation with Russia will create a common future for the European Union and the Russian Federation .
the aim is therefore - as the previous rapporteur has already said - to bring into line with European legislation the existing bilateral agreements on air services that have been concluded up to now between the European Union and Vietnam .
I voted in favour of the report on falsified medicinal products , which includes measures for combatting the alarming rise in falsified medicinal products in the EU , such as safety features for verifying the authenticity of the product throughout the supply chain , with a view to patient safety and protecting public health .
in writing . - ( PL ) Mr President , I agree with the rapporteur that in some states , and especially where the move away from tipping has only just begun , obtaining energy from waste may be dominant and may discourage investment in other processes , such as recycling or reuse .
the southern nations are known in English by the harsh acronym PIGS ( Portugal , Italy , Greece , and Spain ) .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner Vassiliou , Commissioner Dimas , ladies and gentlemen , today we have the result of many discussions and negotiations , which were , at times , conducted with great emotion , and we will have the opportunity to vote on this tomorrow .
for those issues that concern not only our two institutions but also the Council , I sincerely hope the Council will join us in this common effort to improve the work of all the institutions for the benefit of Europe .
every effort must be made to devise solutions that will be acceptable to small and medium-sized enterprises as well as to large ones .
on behalf the Disability Intergroup , I am delighted that the 1.3 million people who signed the petition calling for an extension of anti-discrimination rights to disabled people have had their call listened to .
( it ) Madam President , I would like some clarification .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I have heard Mr Schulz out .
coordinating and sharing tasks need to be the guiding principles for orienting planning in respect of the new development instrument .
I believe it is essential for civil servants to be accountable to the general public .
I think the Commission must make up its mind .
firstly , citizens must be given the opportunity , by means of accurate information , to use medicines correctly , so that they have a more beneficial effect on their health , whilst the risks associated with their misuse are minimised .
a high level must be maintained , in terms of both frequency and number of controls at border inspection points , to guarantee that no beekeeping products containing residues enter the European Union from third countries .
to think otherwise and to put off indefinitely the achievement of the Union 's very important objectives , with respect , is to indulge in wishful thinking that is incompatible with the present day situation , acting as though our plans and wishes had come true , when they have not and we do not know when they will .
5 .
they need to know that , following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon , their influence on the functioning of EU institutions has increased .
does the Commission accept that as well as lecturing others and monitoring others to avoid the risk of protectionism we should be careful ourselves and make sure that when we use our trade defence instruments they are for the purposes for which they are intended and not as protectionist measures ?
SOLVIT has proved to be a good instrument for this .
Madam President , I shall be brief , as I accept you do not want a debate .
it should be the players from the financial sector that take the main role in reinforcing the eurobond .
we want freedom of expression to be respected .
in 2008 , food prices rose dramatically , which caused food-related riots in about 30 countries around the world .
hydrogen is one of the energy vectors of the future .
what we need is a single vision where policymaking can be done in a cohesive and all-embracing manner so as to maximise the potential of these intense and complex interrelations .
we have implemented an early warning system .
unfortunately , I can cite the example of the Black Sea where , in just the last two years , the fact that it has become heavily polluted has led to a four-fold increase in the volume of algae , precisely due to a very high concentration of nitrates .
Mr President , for several years , discussion has been taking place in Europe on the introduction of unitary patent law .
it should also provide benefits in the sense that our economy will , with such investment , progress faster towards becoming an economy of low CO2 emission levels .
were they capable of providing a panel of eminent persons ?
today 's event is symbolic and interconnected : the award itself , the day on which it is being presented , those making the award and those receiving it .
therefore , as is my duty , I allowed you to speak , in accordance with Rule 145 .
in his time , the key to solving the crisis was a supranational approach , taking care of European common interests first .
the most recent case of humanitarian demining support has been in Lebanon , which received significant humanitarian aid following the conflict in December 2006 , which I mentioned before .
( it ) Madam President , Commissioners , ladies and gentlemen , it really is true that Haiti is a case apart , that it is different , because anniversaries of disasters are always commemorated in order to remember the victims , to learn from one 's mistakes and do better next time , but it is different in Haiti because there is nothing to remember - nothing has happened yet .
the present figures are that 37 000 cars are being exported to South Korea and approximately 440 000 imported from there .
the environmental policy must be used as an opportunity for the strategy to adapt to the effects of climate change .
voting time
I am voting for this report because I understand that only by reinforcing European research , development and innovation policy will it be possible for it to increase its competitiveness and adopt an increasingly leading role at global level .
they are environment , taxation , customs , energy and transport .
and by the European Commissioner for Development , Mr De Gucht .
I therefore sincerely congratulate her on carrying out this tough assignment , and I hope that there will not be too many amendments .
also , I want to record that we were privileged recently in the Internal Market Committee to have a visit from Nancy Nord , acting chairman of the Consumer Products Safety Committee .
but I have no difficulty with the words ' subjects ' and ' citizens ' .
let us decide to do that .
so it reads :
Frontex is also involved in doing analysis for the whole region .
these are not all the examples , however , so in my view the European Parliament should prepare a full-scale report on the situation of Christians in the Middle East , or the situation of religious faiths generally .
there needs to be an awareness that it is the workers who create the wealth , and that they need decent wages , but that in order to create more wealth , we need more jobs .
we are merely Members of the European Parliament .
however , I would at the outset reject Mr Belder 's view that we do not have a common trade policy in the EU , and that the Member States are so divided that we cannot pursue a policy on , for example , textiles .
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in a recent report on the POSEI system , submitted to the European Parliament and the Council in September 2010 , the Commission explains the consequences of the Geneva Agreements and the fact that these consequences have already been integrated into the 2006 reform of the system applicable to bananas .
Council states yet again that it wants to ensure that the TFTP will continue .
the Europe 2020 strategy should provide for smart , sustainable and inclusive growth .
this is a case of an international agreement creating a special institutional framework through the organisation of procedures for cooperation .
secondly , I draw Members ' attention to the rather sinister clause 55 of the report , which reveals that , as from 2008 , European political parties may be financed up to 85 % from the European Parliament budget .
the next item is the oral question to the Commission ( B7-0232 / 2009 ) by Mr Moreira , on behalf of the Committee on International Trade , on prospects for the Doha Development Agenda following the Seventh WTO Ministerial Conference .
without even counting the state guarantees from 2002 until now , the Gdynia shipyard received from the Polish state - which means from the Polish taxpayers - aid amounting to around EUR 167 000 per worker .
however , fuel subsidies are something that many Member States really cannot afford .
this reform will help no one and harm many .
there is no shortage of these in the United States of America .
( DE ) Mr President , I had run out of speaking time , so I do have some new things to say .
I would just like to tell you that you can be sure that I will continue to work just as determinedly - even more so if possible - because the situation is becoming more difficult every day .
( applause )
furthermore , ladies and gentlemen of the Commission and the Council , the rise in oil prices benefits state funds because the taxes collected by the Member States rise correspondingly .
( PL ) Mr President , Commissioner , I would like to start by thanking Mr Schwab for the work he has put into this draft .
as the President-in-Office of the Council - and you , too , Vice-President - mentioned , it is intrinsically better , on environmental and economic grounds , to avoid unladen journeys in Europe .
my colleagues Danuta Hübner and Vladimír Špidla have already given Parliament an overview of the action plan to improve the management of funds for structural actions .
there is a country in this region that joined the euro area in the middle of the crisis , Slovakia , and yesterday , the Slovakian authorities held a conference in Bratislava welcoming the way in which the euro has protected them from the worse consequences of the crisis and is helping them to get through it in much better conditions than they would have had to withstand if they did not belong to the euro area .
we need to introduce higher international safety standards and there should be no thought of constructing new nuclear plants .
I can also agree with Mme Sudre when she calls for an improvement in the coordination between the Regional Fund and the European Development Fund .
the proposal will at the same time improve patient rights , as Mrs Roth-Behrendt said .
this is what will promote the EU 's competitiveness , but it will also give individuals the tools to progress in their lives and to take advantage of further training during their lifetime .
this is the proposal by the European Commission , the EU Council and the European Parliament .
invite the HCR , invite a representative from the NGOs , start out again with the initial document put forward by the countries of the southern Mediterranean , which is much more ambitious , and the conference may just turn out to be a positive and significant milestone .
the main focus is results and not so much how they have been achieved .
this is why I believe that we must retain the Traditional Speciality Guaranteed instrument and consider it as a good example of our diversity in unity .
in this respect , the Commission is urged to judge whether it is necessary , within the framework of revision of the Regulation of the European Maritime Safety Agency , to strengthen the role of the Agency in carrying out preventive inspections and post-hydrocarbon-spill clean-up tasks .
turning to Mr Jadot 's report on climate change , I would like to highlight the need to ensure that any options are indeed capable of effectively reducing the risk of carbon leakage and of being applied at reasonable cost .
what we have proposed in Solvency II and in the Capital Requirements Directive is the strict minimum we need .
there are now 136 multilateral trading facilities ( MTF ) , as well as the primary exchanges , which collectively make up the organised trading venues .
this tradition must be kept alive - the culture that is destroyed by nationalism and displacement , the culture of minorities , the regional culture , the culture of European regions that span borders and , in particular , the diversity that we will only be able to preserve together .
also , the continuous increase in the current demand for biofuels forces us to adjust production and the other economic activities to the amount of water available at local level .
I am very pleased that Mr Higgins has asked his question .
the close election result reflects the fact that the country is split into two camps .
with regard to the technical measures and Mrs Grelier 's report , I can understand that there were a lot of concerns because we are now prolonging the current regulation .
I think we are far too defensive in this House - and in institutions generally - when it comes to Lisbon and the European Union in general .
however , overnight it has changed again , and the restrictions in our airspace have been extended until 13.00 today .
in the context of globalisation , this is actually necessary , and MEDIA Mundus goes in the same direction with regard to film-makers .
when I speak of apologia for terrorism , apologia means incitement and I believe that incitement is a criminal offence .
the first is a communication which details the aforementioned integrated maritime policy for the European Union .
I would like to add that this is not only about the money , but also about taking decisive measures to counter racism .
amendments are also proposed to the quantification of the Community contribution and its transfer to SESAR , with a maximum of EUR 700 million coming in equal parts from the budget of the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development and from the Trans-European Network programme .
I would like to assure you that Bulgaria is governed by the rule of law , that methods of this kind are only used by the authorities within the scope of the law , and that the governing coalition will proceed along its road to reform and not allow illegitimate interests to undermine the fight against crime .
namely , the police force is changing from an organisation intended to protect the public into an agency involved in political racketeering and carrying out gangsters ' orders .
in writing . - ( SV ) We have chosen to vote in favour of the report on the mandate for the trialogue on the 2012 Draft Budget .
we must stand up for fundamental rights in Europe and fight to ensure that everyone has freedom of expression in the European Union .
we must move away from export refunds as quickly as possible - this is an old demand on our part and we have often pointed out the disastrous consequences of these measures .
she said that the transposition of the directive has to be correct .
is this perhaps a matter of a lack of consensus within the Commission , as Mr Dalli is in the Commission as the Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy , while Mr De Gucht , by all accounts , came out with false arguments that were invalidated by a Council document .
then they complain , like Mr Bonde , that this does not show the amendments to the Treaty , but the amendments have , of course , been available since December in every language in the Official Journal .
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a provision of the media law specified very broadly that media content may not cause offence , even by implication , to individuals , minorities or majorities .
I voted for the report on the stability mechanism for the Member States in the euro area , given that this mechanism marks a step towards better coordination of economic policies at European level .
so the Commission is monitoring the situation and , if there is the need , the Commission will act , but I think we should not go beyond the structures that are in Community law and the Commission will definitely stay within Community law .
if no serious and consistent efforts are made to investigate , prosecute and punish the perpetrators , this indicates that violence is acceptable and then no one is safe .
subsequently , and before the airspace had to be closed again , a more suitable technique to handle the problem should have been found .
this situation is almost identical to the question of CO2 emissions that we have debated so often .
let me , first and foremost , say , with regard to the European Parliament 's very positive evaluation of our Presidency , that I try to stick to the principle of being serene in the face of negative feedback and of being very modest in the face of positive feedback , even if it proves to be exaggerated .
I firmly believe that this consensus should allow for more systematic , coordinated action .
all major web pages , for example Europa , have the election logo and link to Parliament 's elections website .
our regulation proposes a plan to mitigate the environmental impact of the use of coal in order to offset the negative effects of the aid .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - Madam President , I think there are certain things to be welcomed in the action plan but , as colleagues have correctly pointed out , there are a number of questions there that have not been answered .
Member of the Commission . - As I said before , a trade agreement will provide the legal framework with which to address some of the EU 's trade irritants and issues with Canada , such as its IPR enforcement standards and certain anti-competitive practices .
I believe it is essential for civil servants to be accountable to the general public .
perhaps this is not an environmental and health issue , or at least so I have heard people say .
the question now arises as to the role of the European Commission . the latter drafted its proposal in a completely biased manner , failing to take account of the situation of countries whose energy industry is based on coal .
the report adopted today aims at promoting rigorous management of resources , with a view to curbing public spending .
the CDA is opposed to the proposal to reverse the burden of proof .
at the tripartite ministerial talks on 17 June , the discussion essentially concentrated on the issue of diplomatic and consular immunity for external service providers , and its corollary , the transmission of data , without any agreement being reached .
my report , as voted by the committee , suggested that creditors would benefit from the introduction of a simpler , more flexible procedure , effective throughout the EU , to obtain an order to disclose information about assets which may then be made the subject of a judgement .
in writing . - ( PT ) I voted to grant Georgia an additional EUR 46 million in macro-financial assistance because I consider it necessary in order to help the country overcome the social and economic difficulties arising from the conflict with Russia .
we do not want a twospeed railway whereby private companies have the market in fast , comfortable business trains with reserved seats whose fares only the wealthy can afford , whilst the public has unsafe , uncomfortable , antiquated second class trains for the poor .
I would like here to draw attention to the significance of regional airports for ensuring cohesion of communication in the EU .
the European Union needs a new strategy directed at creating new jobs , investing in education , safeguarding opportunities for lifelong learning and improving living conditions .
I will take your interesting and valuable comments back with me to Brussels , and I will report about them to my colleagues in the Commission services and to my successor .
the underlying premise of all these events has been the realisation that we are failing in the fight against world hunger .
in this respect the Member States will now be under a greater obligation to develop , fund and staff their systems of market surveillance .
today , the EU does not require origin marking : products can bear an origin mark provided that this does not mislead the consumer , in line with the EC Directive on unfair business practices of 2005 .
we are talking about almost 200 000 women , euphemistically known as ' comfort women ' , who were forced to be sexual slaves during and before the Second World War by the Japanese Imperial Army .
how can we close our eyes and pretend that nothing is happening ?
I believe that the European Union has to develop its own strategic considerations - this is obvious , and it is covered in the new security strategy - but without forgetting that the transatlantic link is written into the European Union 's genetic code .
we must convince the United States to shoulder its real responsibilities .
thanks to the undemocratic enforcement of the Lisbon Treaty by circumventing referendums , the codifying of neoliberal economic policies and the militaristic parts of the document , Europe is developing in completely the wrong direction .
this market is growing rapidly and is increasingly dependent on imports from third countries .
the Union should give an example of action in the fight against climate change and , for this reason , the adoption of the energy and climate change package should be one of the main objectives for the French presidency .
the Council has a formal obligation to await submission of the European Parliament 's opinion , although it does not have to refer to it in its decision .
I agree with the rapporteur , in particular , on the clarifications regarding the optional application of the reverse charge mechanism and reporting obligations .
on the issue of disability , I praise this report for acknowledging that children with disabilities should be assured full respect and granted equal treatment .
it must always and , in all circumstances , be easy to scrutinise how any decision was made , what factors influenced it and , above all , how resources - which means taxpayers ' money - were used .
the deposit guarantee is only a small aspect of this .
nonetheless , I support the Ombudsman 's position , since I believe that collaboration between the institutions is , and should continue to be , one of the strong points of their roles .
the matter of the use of carcinogenic , chemical and fragrant substances in toys ,
this is especially true for work of the Task-force which was created by the President of the European Commission , Mr Barroso .
on behalf of the PPE Group . - ( HU ) Mr President , on behalf of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) , we welcome the fact that the Commission has ambitiously set to work and presented its 2010 work programme .
in addition to the strategic initiatives , we undertook to deliver a large number of priority initiatives over an 18-month period .
we also take a dim view of the additional financing out of the EU 's budget for the Union 's foreign , security and defence policy .
Parliament is now demanding that shipping companies accept their responsibilities on this issue .
I am sure you have experience in this area .
the countries of Eastern Europe benefit from historical and geographical considerations for requesting to join the European Union .
I would particularly like to thank the Belgian Presidency for supporting something that I have been working on for many years , namely , the creation of a network of safe rest areas in Europe so that lorry drivers , who literally hold Europe together and create the internal market , have good and safe conditions in which to work .
it is still far too early , at present , to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of the Instrument .
the Honeyball report is one of them .
I call upon the European Commission to review the priorities and mechanisms of the European Social Fund in order to extend the financing of common actions , which would contribute to the social inclusion of the Roma minority .
I think that the simplification of financing will speed up cofinancing investments in the Member States and the regions , and will increase the effect that the measures have on the economy as a whole , though mainly on medium-sized entrepreneurs and employers .
our decisions on the environment , services , immigration and insurance issues , and dozens of others , also in reality affect the lives of these fellow citizens of ours , who are , of course , often the least privileged .
I hope that we will move in this direction in the next few years .
the next item is the report by Mrs Gottardi , on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs , on public finances in EMU 2007-2008 .
we should be disclosing it at the end of May-June this year .
in my speech , I spoke about the situation in the euro area and public finances in 2009 .
the second argument that you will hear is that the rules are too complex .
lesbian , gay , bisexual and transgender people fleeing countries such as Iraq , Uganda , Honduras or Indonesia must receive particular protection taking into account cultural sensitivity .
in addition , here in the European Union , we are discarding valuable resources .
the report has come at the right time .
and to delude ourselves that we will achieve this means that we are simply not seeking solutions in the right way .
unlike the press , we know that it was your mission which led the Israeli side to debate the opening-up of humanitarian corridors and a daily ceasefire .
as for the market approach , the spirit of this report can already be found in summary in its legal basis , in other words Article 95 governing the rules of the internal market .
the rapporteurs yesterday boasted about standardisation , and yet this is allegedly a Union of diversity .
the climate summit in Cancún has ultimately been a success .
only such a market , advocated by the European Parliament on several occasions , can be the basis for a long-term and reliable US-EU cooperation .
therefore , rules for lobbying are ultimately a question of legitimacy .
we have to go for better cooperation among Member States ' auditing systems and we have to work together in the future .
however , we must also quickly and fully address other fundamental aspects of this problem , which can also be applied to other forms of cross-border scams .
this is not an end , therefore , but a beginning , an important new step in the climate debate .
( PL ) Madam President , transplantation and transplantology need our strong support and , as a matter of priority , they need better organisation and coordination as part of health care services .
this beggars belief .
for the first time , we have legal encouragement for fathers at EU level to take leave .
unfortunately , organ trafficking is a reality , not to mention the discovery of organ trafficking of adults and children from the Far East and South-east Asia .
we need seriously to support civil society and the democratic opposition , including the Council of National Resistance , which is the only organisation that has come out with a very clear democratic programme for a nuclear-free Iran .
the fact that the Member States and the European institutions accepted the maximum-level alert declared by the World Health Organisation ( WHO ) resulted in a set of costly and disproportionate measures in the light of the severity of H1N1 influenza .
take for example China , which a delegation of the Temporary Committee on Climate Change visited recently to familiarise itself with the situation there .
I would reiterate the importance of supporting such proposals . they discourage individual initiatives in favour of competition among dealers and repairers and encourage the development of the sector .
we urge him to bear in mind that he represents the EU Member States , and call on him to respect their sensitivities and contribute towards resolving the issues , showing the Community solidarity that is expected of him and is his duty in view of the office he holds .
yes , as Mr Fleckenstein mentioned , stimulating exchanges and cooperation between young people from the European Union and from Russia is a key concern for us and we are making our programmes available for this purpose .
we have succeeded in talking down some of the demands , such as limiting the rise in the average temperature to 1.5 ° C. If we had pursued this demand , we would have had to reduce our emissions to zero in the next ten years and strive for negative emissions in the short or long term .
it is also crucial to assess the conflicts of interest in this business model .
we have gladly granted this wish .
as a last-resort mechanism , and if the critical situation justifies it , these decisions could make provision for the temporary reintroduction of internal border controls , but always within a Community framework .
we would not have had this draft resolution tabled for debate today had it not been for the skill and tenacity of this gentleman and of those who cooperated with him , and for the Commission 's and Council 's involvement .
in future , other Member States would be able to sign up to the regulation and benefit from the experience of the pioneering Member States .
developing the freedoms of objective media and protecting objective journalists working for the Croatian public television broadcaster is another matter of paramount importance .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , as has already been said , we should thank Mr Nassauer for his work on this first-reading agreement ; also particular thanks should go to the Commission for helping us get there in the end .
this leads to a situation in which officials can govern however they want to , and they do this in a way that suits their own interests , which are in increasing the risks enormously , and then the result is what we are seeing now .
I am also in favour of this report because it represents an advance on the previous agreement , in that it provides for implementation of the protocol to be suspended in the event of human rights violations .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I think that there are no longer any reasons for maintaining any kind of sanctions against Belarus .
cohesion will be one such issue .
the fact that they do not regulate working and driving times and rest periods is bad for road safety and for the welfare of professional drivers .
concerning vehicle CO2 emissions , I believe we are close to an agreement and that it is within reach in the context of the procedures involving your Parliament , the Commission and the Council .
our task is to amend the legislation . the Lisbon Treaty gave us a new legal basis - Article 83 .
Madam President , three and a half million people lost their jobs in the European Union in the past year .
let us now draw a veil over all that and look to the future .
one of the obligations to be met by any state in which the rule of law holds sway is to ensure that that prevention activities carried out for the safety of civilians are conducted not on the basis of a person 's ethnic identity , but on the basis of that person 's conduct .
in writing . - As to the 2011 budget proper , the Council indicated that the level of payment appropriations should not go beyond an increase of 2.91 % compared to the 2010 budget .
but this , I fear , will never happen .
by doing so , the label will pull the market towards better-performing tyres while avoiding improvements on one aspect being achieved at the costs of others .
every programme has its own legal basis , its own objectives , and everything must be measured , including the money which has been spent in accordance with these objectives .
since we want to make savings , I propose other things , such as abolishing the Friday subsistence allowance for our colleagues and the subsistence allowances for journalists , too .
we hope that the next presidency will show more courage .
having said that , I think we all agree that the sheep and goat sector deserves special attention .
this is unity ; this is also where our responsibilities lie , as you said earlier , Mr Buzek .
I believe that this will happen in 2013 , and that no one will want to think of ways of postponing it further .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Madam President , despite increasing efforts to combat trafficking in human beings , this complicated problem continues to flourish and expand across Europe .
it is not true .
you cannot go back to the text .
EC-New Zealand agreement on mutual recognition in relation to conformity assessment (
this is on condition , however , that the Small Business Act pays more than just lip service to SMEs .
it is also concerned about energy poverty .
more integration invariably means more intervention .
Madam President , we were originally promised a full-blown employment summit this week but , instead , what we have is a half-day troika .
it is not an unregulated landmass like the Antarctic .
nonetheless , it has happened , and it must now be put behind us - although it must perhaps guide all of us to perhaps take wiser decisions in the future and avoid court actions as much as possible .
to maintain confidence in each other 's systems , the agreement foresees joint inspections , investigations , exchange of safety data ( aircraft inspections and accident-related information ) and increased regulatory cooperation and consultation at a technical level to solve matters before they can become disputes .
even so , I believe that there are differences between what Israel does , as a democratic and sovereign state which shares and promotes the basic values of Western societies , and radical movements such as Hamas which , in the majority of instances , refuses to recognise the existence of the State of Israel .
in Germany in particular , recent years have seen a fall in the level of low incomes but a rise in the number of people who earn them .
we categorically object to the fact that not only the application , but also the production of pesticides is included in the scope of application , because the production process as such does not provide any information about the application .
to this end , I would stress the importance of calling on the Commission to regularly produce and present to Parliament a progress report on the implementation of the various provisions of all current and future agreements .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( FR ) ( off-microphone ) easily answer that question .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , first of all , I would like to thank everybody for their contributions .
as summarised in the joint motion for a resolution , there is an international legal framework which both sides must comply with .
people are demanding safety , in the knowledge that this does not preclude humanitarian and solidarity measures .
the text voted today , in fact , proposes guaranteeing a high level of protection for the consumers of the 27 Member States .
that is why many Member States , including the Dutch Parliament , have demanded that the International Monetary Fund intervene .
by Mr Böge , on behalf of the Committee on Budgets , on the Mid-Term Review of the 2007-2013 Financial Framework .
as Parliament , we would like to see an annual debate on the performance audit of the Commission and we would like you to be invited here to debate it with us as a representative of the European Court of Auditors .
I also agree with the criticism levelled at the Commission 's report , which is too vague , and which contains too little information about specific instances of fraud and abuse .
lignite and power generation is one of the few opportunities for them somehow to build a sustainable economy and to integrate this economy into the region .
who is against ?
the contribution of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) to the guidelines for the 2012 budget was based on the concept of responsibility , which means pursuing the aims of economy , efficiency and effectiveness using as little as possible of the available resources .
the directive provides for minimum requirements for buildings , both new and renovated , and will create suitable conditions to optimise the consumption of energy resources and save inhabitants ' and the state 's money .
in writing . - ( DE ) I have abstained from voting on the climate change report .
the anti-Western intellectual cranks of the Left suffered a collective breakdown when Communism collapsed .
however , the contradiction comes that , as we seek to remove these subsidies , European policy allows fish imports of unregulated fishery and aquaculture products that undermine the sustainable and economically viable fishing industry we strive for .
the issue is that the victims of deregulation of the fishing sector - that wild market without frontiers , principles or limits - are not only the sustainability of the resource that is fish , but also fishers themselves .
that is the request I make on behalf of my group .
could he look into his crystal ball and give me a bit of insight into the way the European Union is going in a global sense ?
the report recognises that the public service media needs a sizable and stable market share to fulfil its mission .
- After the vote on the motion for a resolution
I will be brief , Commissioner .
they include provisions specific to the targeted area , along with an adequate control methodology .
( SV ) The Integrated Maritime Policy is a very welcome strategy , because our seas are interconnected and all sectors that exploit the seas have a combined effect on the marine environment .
I hope the same will happen after the framework directive , which , I hope , we can expect before the end of this year .
we must take immediate action , because the situation simply cannot go on as it is .
we should discuss whether we could offer protection to those in danger and whether the EU institutions can arrange visas for them promptly , so that they can escape from Russia , where they and their lives are at risk .
you have opened a can of worms with the German , Italian and Polish vetos , instead of leaving things as they were , that is , with the vote of parliamentary committees , with the Commission 's adopting of a position , and with the Council of environment ministers .
he said that the economies of Europe are too different for the euro .
such an approach would not only have a multiplier effect for the stimulation of the economy , but would also foster more rapid dissemination of an understanding of energy saving in the Member States .
responsibility for integration does not lie entirely with the authorities .
despite the setbacks and the deadlock since mid-2008 , we continue to push actively for the conclusion of the Doha development round , 10 years now after its inception .
alongside the monetary union , we need an economic , budgetary and fiscal union .
we can see this leading to the possible development of a common police force , about which we have serious misgivings .
these reasons really seem sufficient to not support this resolution , which traces the guidelines for the European future of the Balkans irrespective of the area 's tangible problems .
as you rightly said , 20 years ago Nelson Mandela was released from prison after serving 27 years of political imprisonment .
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I welcome this and look forward to this action plan .
this is a situation which undermines productivity and economic competitiveness .
contributing to important debates in plenary and at committees , for example , in a minority language that has then to be translated passively and into over 20 other languages compromises the whole purpose of democratic debate through the lost nuance in translation , and maybe even misunderstanding .
drawing from the lessons learned , the communication also calls for both sides to do more to overcome the current fragmentation of policy frameworks and financial instruments .
this slaughter is carried out for the benefit of the market and of big business , without any store being set by animal welfare , and this really fills me with horror .
reforms have ground to a halt and those implemented are basically dead letter .
with today 's resolution the European Parliament has postponed the decision granting budgetary discharge to the Director of the European Police College .
when I questioned the Commission a few months ago , it stressed that the initiative was balanced , increasing the fundamental rights of citizens while also enhancing the principle of mutual recognition .
the failure to extradite a terrorist - who is not recognised as such by Brazil - has to be taken into consideration .
we have a different focus in Parliament 's proposal .
the directive does provide for incentives for research , and our environmental legislation encourages the transition to the best available technology .
two things are therefore important .
an inclusive internal political consensus on the way forward remains elusive .
from the point of view of the European Union , it is important to ensure that any solution is in line with the Union 's founding principles of liberty , democracy , respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law .
we cannot fail to take into account either the prospects for the European Union 's enlargement in the Balkans , which is another reason why it is our duty to support these states aspiring to European integration .
Ukraine must also be made aware that although at the moment it is paying a political price for gas that is lower than the market price , this price is actually costing them more than market price because it extends Ukraine 's vulnerability and susceptibility to blackmail .
on frozen conflicts , we need regional initiatives and mechanisms of regional cooperation and security under international guarantees .
in this respect , I believe that Mr Szájer , Mr Swoboda , Mrs De Sarnez and all the others are agreed on the need for such increasingly coordinated economic policy .
in any case , I , for my part , am ready .
I think that is very beneficial .
it says that there are some problems with what Members do with their different allowances in this place .
we woke up to it a bit late , but we have worked hard to catch up .
is it really the case that the most important institutions of the European Union are not worthy of a clear statement from you on this matter ?
it concerns instead a statement made in 2004 , long before she was elected a Member of this House .
in reality , this also means that the cooperation between European police forces must be strengthened , because we must have the ability to see these large-scale cross-border patterns , as this is not a question of small acts of fraud , but of large organised circles of fraudulent activity involving extremely large sums of money , running into millions of euro .
incidentally , none of the parties involved in the United States disputes that .
Mr Lamy and all those in favour of uncontrolled free trade are not defending the common good but rather the interests of the financial and commercial institutions that pay them .
I hope that this resolution will be a step towards a European directive to combat gender-based violence .
moreover , the euro has acquired international prestige and has become an attractive currency even to countries outside the Community , and despite the recent financial turmoil that has dealt serious blows to the world financial and banking system , the euro has undoubtedly attenuated the devastating impact of this financial crisis of global proportions .
what I can say is that we are doing everything possible in research to try to analyse the potential risks that you mentioned , and this is certainly something done under my responsibility .
on Rail Baltica , I will do my utmost to develop this project and I hope that we can cooperate with you and with all our countries to make this project a successful one .
in any case , the decision to evict them is not a random act .
it is particularly disturbing when accusations made against the UN mission turn out to be true .
thirteen or fourteen years have gone by and the price is now a third of what it used to be .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , harmonising the legislation on biocidal products in the European Union seems all the more necessary given that regulations in specific countries are very varied .
this Parliament is fixated on the number of transposed directives , the famous Internal Market Scoreboard .
small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) on their own account for around 99 % of all businesses and provide over 100 million jobs in the European Union .
it must be possible to provide the relevant regional and seasonal produce .
as regards the progress of Project 17 , the Commission has decided to grant significant funding to various projects along this axis , more specifically the three cross-border sections and the bottlenecks .
I believe that the EU should aim to apply the strictest export regimes on every item , and this should be applicable to all of its Member States .
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we know that it will not happen soon , but we want to help you with this .
as already mentioned , species on the sea bed mature much much more slowly , damage is much more complicated to repair and , therefore , we cannot do the same as being done further up .
Mr President , demographers tell us that in order to sustain itself , a population needs a birth rate of 2.1 live births per woman .
if things go wrong , if people are dying in Africa , the European Union cannot stay on the outside saying ' well , it is too far ' .
third , this being the case , we must definitely support raising the ceiling of Community financial assistance to EUR 25 billion for each Member State not in the euro area , because only a ceiling this high will guarantee the effectiveness of any assistance granted by the Community .
if the troops have not been able to bring peace to Afghanistan , neither has the money that we have poured in .
Vice-President of the Commission . - It is DG Employment , under my good colleague Mr Špidla , that is responsible for these reports .
this increase is a political commitment by the European Parliament ; it shows that the subsidies ought to go mainly to the producers .
I am happy with the outcome .
Mr President , between 1980 and 2011 , global GDP increased by USD 19 000 billion .
I admit that I was sceptical when this debate started .
however , all this is about crisis management , Mr President , nothing more , nothing less .
Sweden has left Israel in the lurch , and its proposal to divide Jerusalem illustrates its naivety about the objectionable , barbarous ideology that is Islam .
so far , local law enforcement agencies have not shown any determination in finding the perpetrators of this massacre .
the Scottish Parliament saw things differently and reformed the law to make it fitter for the 21st century .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , the European Parliament will today give its verdict for a second time on the amendment to the financing instrument for development cooperation providing for the establishment of Banana Accompanying Measures for the main ACP banana-producing countries .
Mr President , through the Reform Treaty we will gain perhaps imperfect but necessary working tools , and it is up to us to use their full potential .
concerning the gas crisis , what is the current state of play ?
in writing . - ( PL ) I support the report by Mrs van den Burg and Mr Dăianu on the follow-up to the Lamfalussy directives and the future structure of supervision .
however , the European Union has a particular role to play in the implementation of solidarity-based health structures by providing guidance and funding basic health care systems , together with access to drugs .
Madam President , the European internal market is absent from the third pillar , so we have to do something about that , too .
the WTO will be able to act more effectively if its competences are clearly defined and restricted to trade policy .
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so we are also using to the maximum all the instruments we have at Community level to back up what the Member States can do themselves to fight this unemployment .
however , I would also like to propose and support the amendment tabled by my colleague Iratxe García , asking for the text to include an explicit reference to the need for Member States to develop the legal construct of shared ownership , in order to ensure that women 's rights in the agricultural sector are fully recognised , with the corresponding protection in the field of social security and recognition of their work .
this should guarantee equally well social protection and rights for women when they are employed in a family agricultural business .
access to education : all Roma children should have access to quality education and not face discrimination or segregation .
however , instead of targeting and increasing the funds to promote economic and social cohesion and to enhance the purchasing power of workers , the EU budget proposed for 2009 reduces payments to an unprecedented level ( EUR 4 billion less than the amount adopted for the 2008 budget ) .
however , I do not attach any hypocrisy to this because we need a common European position .
because we have a dominant economic model , dating from the 20th century , which was devised and operated by a billion middle class citizens in Europe , the United States and Japan , and small elites elsewhere in the world . that was the 20th century world .
( FI ) Madam President , first of all I want to thank the rapporteur , Elena Valenciano Martínez-Orozco , for her excellent and properly focused report .
I think that supporting the convergence requirements of less developed areas must remain a priority in the forthcoming programming period so that fair access to the cohesion policy instruments can be guaranteed .
however , although we have a study , because we said that we needed a study in order to proceed , we now want to subject this study to peer review .
I agree .
the results which have been presented show that Europe is pursuing an effective climate policy .
Parliament has been doing it at this level .
secondly , there are many inconsistencies in the current acquis , which contains different legal definitions of identical concepts .
I am delighted that it is unanimously being brought for a vote in plenary , but this cannot stop us from speaking out strongly against the recasting procedure which the Commission chose for this particular proposed directive .
Mr President , Commissioner , thank you for your answers and comments .
the creation of points of single contact ( PSCs ) for service companies in all the Member States is a pretext for speeding up the implementation of the anti-labour directive , the ratification of which has triggered a storm of protest by workers in all the Member States .
perhaps for the first time , in fact , we see in the outcome of the negotiations that there are losers , which one accepts , but within the context of trade negotiations with third parties .
I am glad that , in line with the vote in the ECON Committee , the in ' t Veld report was adopted ( as expected ) by a large majority ( Greens in favour , as in the case of major political groups ) .
we cannot have an ambitious employment policy if we do not establish European labour legislation with the support of the social partners .
the Single Market has always been one of the pillars of Europe 's economic development .
the German Presidency created the reflection group .
considering the present globalisation of the world economy , international labour standards are the foundation on which a country 's social and economic development should be built .
these figures are unacceptably high .
if we improve the quality of statistical reporting , based on reliable , comparative data , we will benefit from a solid foundation when it comes to making decisions on devising EU financial policies and instruments .
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I wanted to bring it before Parliament to show that your wishes will be put into effect .
the thing which should most concern us as Members of the European Parliament is that the people who criticise and denounce these practices are dragged off the street , face sham trials and are then put in prison .
the argument that this took place as part of his activities as a regional councillor is not decisive because the EU mandate cannot be seen as a part-time occupation or similar .
in order to facilitate its implementation after the expansion in 2004 , when we were having difficulties with the realisation of SIS II , the Member States demonstrated true solidarity ; Portugal proposed the SISone4all version , enabling the borders to be opened between the 15 existing Member States and the nine new ones before next Christmas .
so we are preparing this point and of course we are ready to discuss your contribution .
the economic and social objectives of the Single Market - the free movement of workers , combating social exclusion and pension portability - are something worth fighting for .
promoting the use of liquid biofuels , biogas and geothermal energy ;
on the social front , the government should be encouraged to enter into very close contact with the opposition and also with the whole civil society .
strengthening the link between education , scientific research and employment will promote integration , mobility and specialisation .
the exemption will be in line with the efforts made at national level .
in conclusion , let me say that I believe that we have a piece of legislation before us that represents a ' win-win ' situation for everyone involved .
while Slovenia earmarks EUR 14.5 million a year for its Hungarian minority , Hungary earmarks a mere EUR 400 000 a year for its Slovenian minority .
however , this resolution seeks to place the responsibility for fighting discrimination into the EU context whereas I would argue that attitudes and approaches in Member States are so varied that the interests of minority groups would be better addressed by Member States and particularly by those Member States who do not share the ideal of tolerance and equality that we British take for granted .
at a time of great economic crisis , it is important to emphasise that the only sector not making a loss - in fact , its turnover is actually increasing - is the cultural sector .
the Commission believes that the compromise found is very reasonable and meets the concerns of the Parliament without creating disproportionate burdens for the national administrations and businesses and it can therefore support it .
Mr President , in general - we are not talking about those who have said clearly and honestly that they are against the Union and against membership of the European Union - I feel able to say that there is , nonetheless , in this House , broad agreement on the programme that we have just presented .
... We should like reciprocity to be applied , by which I mean that , when Parliament asks you to submit a draft on the regulation of hedge funds , you respond to us immediately , and in the same timeframe that we apply when you ask us to increase aid for the protection of the balances of payments .
as I said in an earlier response , this means that we must seek new sources of growth and competitiveness within Europe .
I hope that Mr Orbán will take a very close look at how the Belgian Presidency went , and perhaps follows its lead somewhat .
we cannot tolerate a situation in which millions of Europeans are without heat , we cannot tolerate several hundred thousand jobs being endangered .
the Italian Treasury had to intervene to support the value of the bonds .
I voted in favour of the regulation without the amendments , because energy losses in residential buildings are - alongside conversion losses - the greatest , while savings will help poor people .
I do not want to talk about subsidiarity , but about the basic issue that , from my perspective , the European values of solidarity , subsidiarity and freedom are unthinkable without a foundation in Christianity and in the Judaeo-Christian understanding of religion .
funding and functioning of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (
Tunisia is now home to 150 000 migrants who come from Libya and shows its solidarity .
nevertheless , I voted in favour of an increase in the parliamentary assistance package because the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon increases the responsibilities of the European Parliament : we have more work and more obligations to fulfil on behalf of our citizens .
this problem with mental health in Europe , and the projected problems , deserves attention and adequate prevention strategies in this most important area .
we need clear objectives which meet the interests of the EU and the specific needs of our partners .
at the same time , the party most strongly in opposition in our country , Ataka , is subjected to daily attacks by the powers that be .
having the same rules applied by everyone for everyone is the only way of offering all of the parties concerned a win-win scenario .
looking round at the moment of celebrating 17 October in front of the European Parliament in Brussels , I see myself there with my colleague , Iñigo Méndez de Vigo , who leads this Parliament 's delegation with the Fourth World .
as there is freedom of movement within the EU and open borders , along with a single currency , organised crime is allowed to operate much more effectively unchecked .
the Roma should therefore be involved in any decision making .
for anyone in need of exercise , 2 Gs is plenty of exertion .
( NL ) Madam President , back in 1817 , the socially minded British entrepreneur Robert Owen advocated the introduction of the eight-hour working day .
I have noticed one thing and that is that more than half of the debate was devoted to internal Italian politics .
we have an opportunity .
I believe that we can all be satisfied and , thanking Mr Potočnik for his patience , let us give him the floor for his final answer .
the gas crisis at the beginning of the year has dented confidence in the reliability of our energy relations , and this must be rectified .
in writing . - 850 million people across the world go hungry everyday .
the majority of Member States do not regard the Roma as a minority of their country , they do not want to make substantial changes to their situation , and indeed the experiences of the past few years have shown instead a reinforcement of radicalism and anti-gipsyism in both the new and old Member States .
( DE ) Madam President , we have quite a large number of important votes today .
the situation is no better when it comes to information provision , for radio programmes - with the exception of public service radio - will have to be broadcast first in the minority language , and then once again in full in translation .
the conclusion of an agreement to simplify the visa process has clearly contributed to the realisation of this objective .
indeed , I find the actions taken by the Chinese Government in an attempt to intimidate the countries invited to attend the ceremony extremely worrying .
Parliament insisted on the gap being filled with money from the EU 's budget .
the line between life and death does not come any clearer than this .
peace enabled a border community divided from the time of the partition to come together as a community .
we also have cooperation with international organisations , with third countries like China , and I must say that , in what are now more than three years of dealing with this portfolio and holding regular meetings with the Chinese authorities , I have certainly witnessed some improvement in the Chinese attitude .
conversely , I voted for Amendment 3 , to the effect that the quality of transport is more important to animal well-being than its duration .
we have the opportunity to turn the maritime economy into the largest area of growth in our economy as a whole .
Madam President , the European Union is the biggest donor .
in writing . - ( SV ) We have chosen to vote for the resolution , since rising food prices are a problem for the supply of food around the world .
it is a sad fact that the situation in the dairy sector is extremely critical .
anyone who knows a bit about the Netherlands knows that it is not only in the green heart that this is true .
the fact is , skills and knowledge are closely connected and completely interdependent .
as to location , I have no view except to say that this will be a modern networked system in which researchers and communities will be working independently .
a two-year roadmap was elaborated , providing negotiating tracks for all countries to respond to the climate challenge .
( FR ) Commissioners , ladies and gentlemen , the recall by the US toy manufacturer Mattel of several million toys made in China is significant for three reasons .
we should also give more consideration to children in pre-school institutions .
this is not just a personal tragedy for the employees who will lose their jobs , but also a major problem for Europe because it weakens a very important branch of industry .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( FI ) Mr President , first I wish to thank the rapporteur , Mr Mavrommatis , for his excellent work and commitment to this report .
it is time to give up on the idea that it is possible to make this industrial scale commercial slaughter in any way humane .
in this area we definitely need a unified position and therefore , I personally support the approval of this directive .
23 .
there are thousands of orphaned or abandoned children who live in substandard conditions .
what was originally a socialist amendment was intended to move this debate forward during the budgetary procedure , but had it been adopted today it would have meant choosing a Union with no budget .
we cannot allow such a thing as it would signify the total breakdown of our civilising values .
accounting rules for very small businesses are better when adopted at the level at which they work ; in other words , at local level .
for Member States too this will create a sounder basis because it will save us a great deal in administrative costs , 150 billion a year .
the close , constructive cooperation between Parliament , the Council and the Commission greatly benefitted the negotiation process and , as I have already said , this means that we can accept all the compromises that Mrs Sartori has suggested .
at the moment there are no other proposals to amend the Frontex Regulation .
Mr President , there has been a third issue during this Presidency , which has proven to be extremely difficult : that of the future of the energy and climate package .
Mr President , Baroness Ashton , Henry Kissinger defined the world of his time as militarily bipolar , economically unipolar and politically confused .
through appropriate awareness-raising measures for citizens , the intention is to adapt and harmonise standards .
also , to be the leading economy , we need to ensure that we are the most competitive economy .
excessive debt and budgetary deficits not only compromise the stability of the euro , but also place severe restrictions on public spending in priority sectors such as education , health , innovation and the environment .
is it going to be the rotating Presidency , or is it going to be President Barroso himself ?
I was very pleased to learn that Mr Carlos Coelho had expressed his support for this proposal from the very beginning and the rapporteur , together with the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs and the Committee on Legal Affairs , has understood that action needs to be taken in order to facilitate the life of third-country nationals , because we want to encourage people legally residing in our area .
in the same spirit , I do not recognise the independence of the Georgian regions and South Ossetia .
we need to find a solution that takes into account the need to stop a certain type of speculation , and prevent the EU from back-pedalling on the global market , which would create more problems at a time when we need to invest and try to overcome the crisis .
first and foremost , there must be an unconditional halt to rocket attacks by Hamas on Israel and an end to Israeli military action , to enable the sustained delivery of humanitarian aid and the restoration of public services and badly-needed medical treatment .
I wish to ask you Mr President to make contact with Prime Minister Netanyahu to make it clear that the EU is founded on respect for the right of free speech , the right to criticise one 's own government , a free press , and the right to peaceful protest , as fundamental to a democratic state .
therefore , I will respect the arrangement and speak for just one minute .
finally , we do not accept Amendment 8 , since this would bring the Agency in as an adviser on commercial projects , whereas this task corresponds to a Community body .
they do not need a large amount of money and they do not want to pay a great deal of interest either .
the maximum total duration of fixed-term contracts or relationships ;
huge areas covering thousands of hectares of vineyards have been burned ; this means that the vine-growers have suffered loss and that their plants have been damaged .
it is not possible to provide a detailed account of how opinions and views are formed .
on behalf of the EFD Group . - Mr President , I want to appeal to Commissioner Damanaki for sensitivity to Britain in the reworking of the common fisheries policy which seeks to include recreational sea angling in the regulation and control of sea fishing .
we traced the Detroit bomber 's trail from the United States to Europe , to Africa and Yemen .
so we must do something to end this damaging political assessment of the use of European funds .
we must make every effort to resolve the issue of the language regime , which would reduce the cost of obtaining a European patent for companies operating within the EU .
in these circumstances , we believe that we should wait for the assessment and recommendation by experts , following the situation closely in 2010 .
this required political boldness and courage , to put an end to the outrageous scandal of long-term poverty .
that is the question we must answer today .
the package provides amendments for three legal acts .
as I have had cause to mention recently , according to the European Association of Automotive Suppliers , one in ten companies will be at risk of bankruptcy in the coming months .
that brings us to the one-minute speeches on important political issues under Rule 144 of the Rules of Procedure .
it should not be forgotten , however , that one condition for the accession of any country to the European Union is the clear commitment of both government and society .
in my opinion , the European Union would therefore be an appropriate platform to improve cooperation between the Member States , to pool and disseminate good practice and experience , or to provide funding .
it does not even consider the reintroduction of checks at internal borders .
we urge the parties to abide by it and we call upon Europe to take action to render it possible .
I would like to tell you about an example of this close to us here in Europe .
( RO ) Mr President , there has been much discussion in this Parliament recently about the inadequate operation of the food supply chain in Europe and a report has even been approved on this subject .
on behalf of the EFD Group . - ( DA ) Mr President , there was a lot of talk about so-called climate refugees in connection with COP 15 .
I am of the opinion that development funding must not be used for any military or civil-military purposes .
( FI ) Mr President , first of all I want to say that Mrs Záborská 's report adopts the right approach .
to close , I call on you Madam President , as a female president , to circumvent the rules and to give the floor to the remaining ten female speakers for this special ceremony for Women 's Day .
in that case , my group requests that we delay the vote until tomorrow so that we can study the implications of this .
the constitutional reform package adopted by Turkey in 2010 represents another important step in the right direction , as this package covers several priorities of the accession partnership in the fields of justice , fundamental rights and public administration .
in this respect , strengthening the flexibility scheme will make for a smoother transition between the various stages of laying down emission limits , thereby enabling businesses too to spread the necessary investment over a longer period of time , including in the area of research and development .
we need to do something about this , because the EU cannot promote human rights violations , even indirectly , in Tunisia , the Congo or , of course , Turkey , which is a candidate country .
it is clear that there is presently very little trust and respect in relations between the European Union and Russia , due to ...
consequently , they were also unable to choose the laws of other Community Members and apply them to their divorce .
the ESF is a key factor in European social cohesion , supporting as it does employment , the integration of workers into the labour market and vocational training .
hence my appeal to our Members : let us therefore think about taking CE marking as a basis for all goods coming onto the internal market and additional , voluntary certification for consumer goods .
I appreciate that solidarity plays a leading role in relations between EU Member States .
it gives powers to private companies to introduce restrictions on the use of the internet , and is one more example of the liberalisation of the European telecommunications market .
I , like many other speakers , welcome this report on biogas because it has a very important role to play .
may I remind you that , in the vote on reform of the fruit and vegetable market , the European Parliament rejected an amendment tabled by a group of Polish Members aimed at introducing protective measures for apples .
his personal opinion does count ; however , one cannot hold a whole country , as well as the whole of the European Union , hostage because of a personal political opinion .
moreover , it is important for donations to remain voluntary and unpaid .
it has done a lot upstream to prevent the humanitarian disaster we are witnessing today .
I would personally like to thank Neil Parish for the support he gave me and , last but not least , Lutz Goepel for the trust he placed in me when he assigned me this report .
I think one of the key elements that we now have to look for and chart out for the future is instilling not just the certainty with regard to how the markets will operate , the kind of shelters that would be got rid of , the elimination of tax havens and shadow banking , but let us also give some confidence back to people .
I would even go further and say that no other alliance can be as determining and effective as the one engaging the most vulnerable countries and the ones who have put on the negotiating table the most ambitious proposals to fight this plague - that is to say , Europe .
of course , it is important that the 65 % that is de-coupled continues to be paid to producers , whether they are growing or not .
what would be the cost , benefit and consequences of temporarily prolonging nuclear power operations in Bulgaria , Slovakia and Lithuania , thereby fundamentally strengthening the energy security of both these countries and the whole of Europe in this situation ?
as Mrs Ticǎu , Mrs Comi and Mr Harbour said , good discipline in the field of public procurement is fundamental to ensuring that best use is made of public money for the welfare of the citizens and of small and medium-sized enterprises , especially in the current tight budgetary situation .
we will probably have to invent a somewhat informal travelling trialogue process around Copenhagen , a little before and a little after , so that Copenhagen is a real international success and there are real conditions for change .
the positions taken by the EU towards the increasingly turbulent developments in the Balkans represent another problem .
we could have built a real solidarity instrument , where the vast majority of the funds would have gone to those economies most in need : our friends in eastern Europe .
there is an annex which gives some quantification and also the impact assessment on cohesion .
we are in agreement as to the form of sanctions which would be imposed on countries in the euro area which exceeded the permitted level of deficit and public debt .
in connection with the demographic slowdown which Europe is going through , access to childcare facilities will also assist in the implementation of family planning .
I want to make clear on behalf of my group that increasing the amount of cross-border care is not of itself a goal .
as our language is isolated , many talented young Hungarians attracted by the natural sciences seek to carry out activities where there are no linguistic barriers .
let us stop subsidising unprofitable and unfeasible industries in Europe .
( DE ) Mr President , I am not looking at this report through rose-tinted spectacles .
( FR ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , the euro is experiencing problems , but what convertible currency is not after the systemic crisis caused by crazy finance ?
a letter was written by Elena Bonner , the widow of Andrei Sakharov , to Nicholas Bethel 's family a few days ago , in which she recognised that , without his help , the cause of Sakharov and many other dissidents in the then Soviet Union - and the nature of the repressive regime - would not have been properly recognised outside .
no-one can take that away from him and the European Council has not taken it away from him either .
that is why we voted against the common positions and the recommendations by the European Parliament .
two questions , two answers .
however , in general , equal opportunities remain , unfortunately , only an aspiration , especially in the countries of Eastern Europe , the new members of the EU .
Mr Reinfeldt , you should rather seek out the person who can best represent moral authority , who can be the broker of agreements in Europe .
( DE ) Mr President , the internal market is certainly working if we measure it in terms of overall economic growth .
first of all we will be making more financing available for POs and other industry associations in order to elaborate fishing plans , marketing plans , quality initiatives , labelling initiatives and inter-branch initiatives .
by doing that , you future-proof the sector and you do the millions of Europeans working in the motor industry a real good turn .
that is why we say that we are not defending Parliament 's rights , but only the rights of the European Union and the need for the European Union .
as I have said to them , it is not difficult : what they have to do is be open and transparent , to allow the inspectors to do the job they are supposed to do and to do the confidence building that we have ofttimes explained to them in great detail .
we completed negotiations on all of the key legislative proposals which the Presidency established as its objectives .
Mr President , Mr Dalli , this draft report , which was presented just now by Mr Peterle , restates very firmly the guidelines from the European Commission communication and is also inspired by the European Parliament resolution of 10 April 2008 on combating cancer in our European Union .
it is about jobs , it is about dramatically growing chasms , it is about a generation of young people who are going straight into unemployment and of course it is about the environmental and climate crisis .
I am confident that Member States will focus greater attention on the legitimate concerns of the European Union 's citizens .
this report unfortunately looks at sport through the lens of professional football .
there is always the danger that when so much data is kept and not given to the prosecutors , that it will be misused .
the access to information is even more important in the new Member States , which are not yet familiar with using the Community financing instruments .
for our part , Mr Barroso , we expect three things of you .
the panacea for the disease of the crisis which is eating away at Europe is supposed to be , first and foremost , innovation . however , the motion overlooks the fact that the poorest regions of the Union often do not have at their disposal the conditions for the development of innovation .
after all we have committed ourselves to eradicating hunger and poverty in signing up to the so-called Millennium Goals .
some of the rapporteurs , Mr President , may feel they have to make the best of a bad job , having hoped to achieve far more , but I think the result we have is commendable in all respects .
at the very least , in some cases , as was raised in the question , it should be possible to have a dual legal basis when the rights of citizens are at stake and anti-terrorism policies are threatened .
at EU level , we are still facing the problem of measuring energy efficiency .
for the first time , we have succeeded in creating a standardised admission system covering the whole of Europe .
secondly , in those cases where international cooperation is included in the transplantation process , legislation should ensure rules as clear as those within Member States .
we have to make this defence of the stability of Member States ' economies and financial positions compatible with the free movement of capital and with the principles on which the internal market is based .
on the way there , we must put our European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights to use among other things , so as to allow support to be given to active players in civil society .
( applause )
for this reason , the Commission regularly obtains information from the independent scientific committees in order to stay up to date on the possible risks of EMFs .
national leaders , not EU leaders , have shown international leadership .
President-in-Office . - ( SL ) Today 's lively debate has shown that there are many justifiably differing opinions about the regulation of this traditional and oldest public service .
that is why we need , on the one hand , to communicate the reasons for our decisions better and , on the other hand , make it clear to Albania , Kosovo and Bosnia that they still need to make an enormous effort to move equally towards accession .
Draftswoman , Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality . - ( RO ) Dear colleagues , I see that the report has already provoked reactions .
the EU strategy for the Black Sea is entirely devoted to the development of the Nabucco pipeline and the creation of a free trade area guaranteeing its energy security and its hegemony over the region .
for this purpose , the political criteria need to be reformed , because in order to create a socially-oriented market economy , people must be given the opportunity to experience their creativity and all citizens must enjoy the same rights .
number six : we provided for a new quality of economic coordination .
things were simpler before .
in writing . - ( FR ) The European Parliament has just given its assent to the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement signed by the European Community in 2006 .
for the reasons outlined above , I am therefore voting in favour of the adoption of the Protocol to Amend the Air Transport Agreement between the EU and the US .
the vote will take place on Wednesday 12 December 2007 .
finally , we need to plan now for the reconstruction of a future Zimbabwe : I welcome the Commission 's proposal to release EUR 250 million in emergency funding as soon as Zimbabwe has a legitimate and credible government .
the EU and its Member States have to focus on both .
next , perseverance at the Africa summit ; someone mentioned that , perseverance .
however we must not turn a blind eye to the fact that the real effect , the real cause of these things is this obsession with natural resources .
I also urge the Commission to support national authorities , particularly in the form of technical assistance .
this approach should stimulate market demand , which determines the state of the economy .
there was a second question and that is how the individuals were treated during the summer period , and whether they had procedural guarantees as individuals , as European citizens , or were discriminated against .
at the same time , we must not forget that the Union has been given a large number of tasks that have to be fulfilled .
this report is a valid attempt at defining the key problems and possible solutions for Afghanistan .
Mr President , Bulgaria and Romania proved that they can guarantee the safety of the EU borders and this is fully - I repeat , fully - documented .
other proposals for amendments must be discussed in greater depth .
all of this is unacceptable .
part one
extending the exceptions which benefit small enterprises , and which already greatly benefit the majority of Member States , to include medium-sized companies , may contribute to reducing the financial reporting burden on medium-sized enterprises .
in that country , the United Nations failed badly .
first of all , I would like to thank all my colleagues on the Committee on Regional Development for their excellent cooperation on this report and , in particular , the shadow rapporteurs .
in writing . - ( RO ) Georgia is one of the European Union 's partner countries as part of the European Neighbourhood Policy ( ENP ) .
( the President interrupted the speaker )
reform of trade protection instruments ( debate )
I just wonder whether you have remembered what happened to the last 10-year plan , which was launched in 2000 .
my second comment is to the Council .
I would therefore like us all to realise just how closely interlinked the ideas of combating cancer , healthy lifestyle and protection of the environment are .
in other words , it does not seem to accept the idea that terrorism should be eliminated entirely , that it should be pulled up by the roots ; and Mrs Muscardini of the UEN Group raised this point in her oral amendment .
the Council and the Commission have aligned themselves with the position of those who fiercely oppose any progress in workers ' rights in Europe .
as a result of the analysis , the pipeline will be laid in the seabed with a covering of half a metre for about 20 km .
I have seen from the speeches made by some MEPs that there is a desire to ensure the necessary flexibility when negotiating Economic Partnership Agreements .
to be able to respond effectively to patients ' needs , we also require some rules which will allow medical staff to be mobile , while maintaining at the same time a balance at national health care system level so that no state will end up with a shortage of medical staff .
projects involving standard policies for managing energy resources as efficiently as possible and finding solutions aimed at reducing pollution , especially in industrial areas and business parks .
there is therefore an urgent need for special support for those known as hill farmers , who not only grow traditionally environmentally friendly produce , healthy foods , but also take care of the environment and maintain cultures and traditions .
the objective is to promote trust and transparency in EU-Russia energy relations .
thank you for having brought about a consensus on the two figures who will bear the heavy burden of carrying out the new functions created by the Treaty of Lisbon .
( it ) Madam President , Lady Ashton , ladies and gentlemen , human rights and European Union policy are at a crossroads .
it gets bad marks when the Serbs prove less than enthusiastic about collaborating with the International Criminal Tribunal .
the unwelcome voices of those opposed to accession , who represent the majority of the population , are largely being ignored .
colleagues , I am pleased to inform you that members of a delegation of MPs and other visitors from the State Great Hural ( Parliament ) of Mongolia and the Mission of Mongolia to the European Union have now taken their seats in the distinguished vistors ' gallery .
with the help of the Georgian President , the Kremlin is completing , resolutely and by military means , the political annexation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I will take the questions in order .
the local papers blamed the European Union .
in writing . - Although I agreed with the majority of the Gomes report , I have voted against it as it focuses too much on the EU coordinating civil-military cooperation .
by reaching an agreement on this directive the Community institutions are demonstrating their determination to adopt the concrete measures which are necessary to implement the European Union 's ambitious climate change goals .
what initiatives will the Presidency take to achieve its objective of correct and responsible implementation of the Stability Pact and where has it identified the difficulties so far in correctly implementing it ?
although in its original proposal for the AVMS Directive the Commission had included an obligation on the Member States to guarantee the independence of the national regulatory authorities - and I know full well that your memory on such matters is excellent - that provision was not supported by the Council and , despite strong support from the European Parliament , it was changed into the current Article 30 of the AVMS Directive .
all I would say is that I think it represents a larger percentage of overall GDP , something like 12 % or 13 % , and of materials , say , 4 or 5 % , so it is a very important sector .
one of the important corrective measures necessary is to improve the rules on lobbying firms ' reporting of expenditure incurred for lobbying activities .
in truth , we cannot understand what benefit the possible transfer of CAP funds to other policies could bring .
subsidiarity is effectively a strong consideration here , and a one-size-fits-all measure or model would not suit the variety of situations .
I 'm glad that the reference remained untouched where we say that the EP strongly urges the Commission to come forward with bold and innovative proposals for a substantive revision of the own resources system .
the border inspection posts are obliged to carry out documentary , identity and physical checks .
but , having said that , does the Commission have any plans to introduce any of those reforms which may not need the Lisbon Treaty to be enforced - for example , on improving the capacity to implement EU law on the Staff Regulations ?
after all , Britain 's Commonwealth preference system was of enormous benefit to the less well-off members of the British Commonwealth , but then I do not suppose you want to hear how a wicked post-imperial power actually helped its poorer neighbours .
opposition is considerable in many major countries , for example France and Germany , which are more interested in an EU state than in the prosperity which a free internal market offers .
let us send a strong signal to the European Commission and Europe 's agricultural producers , showing our support for a fairer , simpler and more flexible CAP .
for this reason , I welcome any attempts to prosecute and sanction those who employ illegal immigrants and I thank Mr Fava .
for example , an essential element of the Commission 's strategy for a secure information society , since 2006 , has been to have a holistic approach , ensuring coordination amongst stakeholders but also recognising that each of them has specific roles and responsibilities to fulfil .
current efforts are not working .
the recession is hitting European youth full in the face : whereas one young person out of five is out of work , 40 % of young workers are on a part-time contract .
local politicians know their areas very well and are able to find the most effective solutions to the problems of their towns and villages , and I therefore call on the Member States to move towards decentralising the power to implement EU cohesion policy from a central to a regional level .
in 2000 came the first attempt to create individual functional blocks of air space above Europe that would be jointly controlled .
nevertheless , in spite of the sound industrial base and the resumption of investment activity in Europe , we note that the tide is turning .
this could encourage an increase in precarious working conditions , to which 31.5 % of women in gainful employment are already subject .
we cannot come up with interpretations that are in breach of the Rules and the law .
subject : volunteering
up to 15 September 2010 , actual payments only reached EUR 5 000 600 , which amounts to 2 % of the total EFF allocation .
I do this to put the matter straight , and I regret that our President , Mr Pöttering , chose to use Rule 145 to allow Martin Schulz to take the floor this morning but not to allow me to take the floor this morning , which in fact was the very point of the speech I made this morning .
through its amendments , the Socialist Group in the European Parliament wishes to impose an ideologically based solution on the Turkish people , but the latter are happy as they are .
who were the beneficiaries and what have they actually done for green recovery ?
it also , through the most recent legislation , sets commonly agreed standards on return policy .
a common European asylum and refugee policy is necessary , but I feel that it is heading in the wrong direction and I am concerned about this .
let us forget any thoughts of renationalisation .
I am sorry for those who are disappointed .
I was present , on behalf of us all , ladies and gentlemen , at the funeral of President Havel in Prague .
this is therefore about protecting the victims of that crime .
we have not been tough enough in some cases and in other cases we have only dictated what to do .
the banks must not be allowed direct access to taxpayers ' money with the support of the state .
it also highlights the issues of equality and corruption which need to be tackled within Montenegro and calls for measures to be taken to tackle these problems .
I understand politicians ' fears regarding rising unemployment levels in certain areas but I am sure that it would be very unwise to rely solely on injections of funding into a single sector , as this simply postpones the day of reckoning , often at the expense of those that are operating in a sensible way .
that is certainly the case .
the Directorate-General for Trade established this exemption based on the fact that Papua New Guinea does not have the fishing capacity to exploit its resources .
( PL ) Mr President , I endorse Mrs Stauner 's draft report , as I said during the debate .
enlargement has not always been successful .
the success of the ' better law-making ' principle is not the only decisive factor here .
Mrs Ždanoka , who was elected from Latvia and represents Latvian citizens of Russian origin , makes no secret of the fact that after obtaining voting rights for non-citizens , the next step would be to call for Russian to be given the status of a second state or official language .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
the European Commission put forward a good proposal to provide a good long-distance service , as before , in respect of ticket sales and information .
the negotiations on the 2010 budget have required compromises and - may I dare to say - even sacrifices on all sides to achieve our common goal .
if we add to this the linguistic and cultural links forged throughout history , we have an opportunity to contribute , as far as possible , to the economic and social development of those countries , however varied their situations .
is it possible that we completely overestimated our influence here ?
they ensure for our partners from ACP countries the immediate and asymmetric opening up of markets with long transitional periods , exemptions and regular monitoring , and they also set out commitments to political reforms .
it is right that it also causes us to think hard about regulation and supervision .
the success of the first Transatlantic Economic Council meeting , held last Friday in Washington , is a positive sign , and we now have to step up our efforts to remind Brazil , China and India of their responsibilities .
I congratulate you first on your five years of work at the head of the Commission , in which you have shown firmness in dealing with the Member States , as on the climate and energy question , and an ability to generate compromise and consensus , as on the financial perspective , despite the added difficulties resulting from enlargement , the institutional crisis and the international financial crisis .
all Member States must introduce Single Market regulations in a timely and transparent fashion and , for its part , the Commission must monitor their implementation strictly and consistently .
the EUR 2 405 671 mobilised from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund will fund a coordinated package of personalised services , which will be supplemented by national measures and measures taken by the company .
however , we also requested this debate because we want to discuss the basic principles behind the way food prices are developing , and the consequences of this .
I have noted all the comments made by all the parliamentarians who have spoken on this subject .
establishing and awarding the European Heritage Label is an initiative that deserves special attention .
on this point , I would like to stress that it is important for European support programmes to focus not only on honey producers , but also on small processors , especially as part of the current second pillar of the common agricultural policy .
in this respect , as proposed by the new regulation , in order to enhance trust in European Statistics , the statistical authorities must enjoy professional independence and ensure impartiality and high quality in the production of European Statistics , in accordance with the principles laid down in the European Statistics Code of Practice endorsed by the Commission in its Recommendation on the independence , integrity and accountability of national and Community statistical authorities .
we are currently at the bottom of the cycle .
by 2008 , the Commission has to present , after examining all options , including the costs related to environmental protection , noise , traffic congestion and health , a generally applicable , transparent and comprehensive model for the assessment of all external costs , which would define and serve as a basis for the subsequent calculation of the charges for using infrastructures .
the question of energy technology and the energy mix remains in the hands of the national parliaments .
the Ombudsman should report on progress in this area in his annual activity report .
I would have expected a different set of priorities from the Commissioner for the Environment .
before Lisbon , we must determine which formulas will allow us to advance on this issue .
therefore , public service obligation funding must be retained , as these internal flights would not survive economically otherwise .
it was in 1999 that the European Union started to harmonise its policies on the subject , and there seems today to be a sense of satisfaction at the spectacular fall in the number of asylum seekers .
rather , we must reconsider the measures put in place to achieve them .
Europe 's cultures represent strategic factors in Europe 's development at local , regional and national level , as well as at EU institution level .
climate change ( motions for resolutions tabled ) : see Minutes
the Marty report was drafted in an even less responsible manner .
( EL ) Mr President , I see that teaching is not within your sphere of responsibilities , nor dissemination , nor , as I also mentioned in writing , the maintenance of the common heritage which springs from the Classical languages .
( HU ) I congratulate Mrs Ţicău on her report and on the directive .
it examined all types of natural and man-made disasters , within and outside the EU , and also all the Community resources available for disaster response .
my regret is that in the current crisis , the euro is our cornerstone , our very foundation , yet the Commission has drastically cut the resources for communication activities relating to our wonderful currency .
it is also crucial to give EU citizens clear and comprehensive fact-based information on the implications of Iceland 's accession .
even more the use of PNR data should be based on a single set of principles that would serve as a basis for agreements with third countries and must be in line with European data protection standards .
perhaps , though , it is worth remembering and acknowledging that for 30 years the EU and the West have supported Mubarak .
Germany got its way with the 12-tonne proposal and in mountain areas , the only goods vehicles now subject to taxation are those that you do not even find there because they cannot get up the large inclines .
I also believe that the accommodation should be tailored to the experiment and accommodation should be part of the project authorisation .
Turkey 's integration into the EU can be beneficial to both sides , in the short and medium term and , most of all , in the long term .
after all , if he failed to take these basic precautions , he would have no customers anyway .
I was in favour of adopting this resolution today because the fundamental rights of the European Union 's citizens need to be protected .
my second point is about the Copenhagen conference .
the rest will go ahead as normal on Thursday .
that is why we are asking for resources to be made available directly from the Solidarity Fund , and if any money is left over in the Structural Funds or other budgets , this should be made available as quickly as possible too .
they already represent 99 % of the total , are responsible for approximately 100 million jobs , and make a crucial contribution to economic growth and social cohesion .
I voted in favour of the own-initiative report by my Hungarian colleague Mr Szájer containing recommendations to the European Commission on the alignment of legal acts to the new Comitology Decision .
we absolutely must avoid duplication ; otherwise we will have gained nothing except more bureaucracy , which is not what we want to do .
firstly , there is the key issue of the EU 's relations with the producer and transit countries .
it does not augur well that some Member States do not want the Employment Summit this Thursday .
Europe will thus be able to assume a position of strength at the next international meetings scheduled for 2009 .
back in the early 1970s I learned of a very well-organised and widespread system of study vacations in the United Kingdom geared to learning the language of Shakespeare through the practice of various sporting disciplines .
but let us also examine whether it is able to solve the so-called divergence , i.e. not only cohesion at Member State level but also at a regional level , between and within Member States .
( RO ) The report from our fellow Member , Mr Berman , offers a clear solution for plugging the gap in the legislative structure for financing external actions which are not an emergency and which do not come under the category of development actions as defined by the Development Cooperation Instrument .
I have got to tell you that I have never seen any warnings or any checks carried out in airports in the EU on imported food products .
the resolution recommends stepping up mutual intra-state coordination and exchange of best practices without , at the same time , interfering in Member States ' competences as regards pension systems , which is an extremely important and very sensitive area .
I believe that this economic dimension is essential .
on this point , the Commission continues to work on a proposal for the taxation of financial activities .
this means that the implementing rules that were adopted will have to be amended accordingly .
that is inexplicable .
indeed , the 5 % increase in the VAT rate , which has reached 24 % , was reflected immediately in price rises .
this report seeks to contribute to a new energy action plan , within the framework of the Europe 2020 strategy .
when we discuss our relations with Belarus , Ukraine and Russia , in terms of gas supplies , or the issue of Georgia , then we are discussing matters of fundamental importance to the EU , and ones which could plunge the European Union into a serious crisis .
Mr President , Vice-President and High Representative , Commissioner , I would like to say , once again , that we have been deeply distressed by what the Haitian people , the children of Haiti are having to endure .
this aim is shared by the report before us today .
for this reason , the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe , guarantor of the freedom of expression of citizens in the EU and around the world , has called for an end to state interference , in order to restore independence to the media .
history will see them as astonishing proof of the fact that we East Germans , after liberating ourselves in the autumn of 1989 , succeeded in introducing democracy to our country in the spring of 1990 .
if no action is taken , there will be an estimated 150 million obese adults - 20 % of the population - and 15 million obese children and adolescents - 10 % of the population - in the region by 2020 . we must therefore strengthen the voice of obese and overweight patients .
the Greens have made a proposal to remove oil shales from the definition of coal completely .
the work of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly in 2008 (
however it is important that this report does not cause us to diverge from the main goal : further deployment of renewables and the improvement of energy efficiency .
in writing . - I voted enthusiastically in favour of Franziska Keller 's report on Policy Coherence for Development , and I am very glad it was adopted by a majority vote .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL-NGL Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner Kovács , ladies and gentlemen , and especially Mrs van den Burg , it is regrettable that here in Parliament we are only able to agree on the Commission 's proposal and not on the actual report produced by Mrs van den Burg .
at the same time , attention should be paid to the difference in opinions between the European Parliament and the European Commission with regard to international agreements .
we are aware of the Commission 's problems , but we are also aware that the only way for us to progress is by supporting the Commission .
forwarding of texts adopted during the sitting : see Minutes
we got an additional billion , however it was spread over three years instead of two .
I personally would urge this House not to vote for this resolution .
I would like to make you aware of these facts as a matter of urgency .
my final comments are on the report as a whole .
well , we have not voted yet , but I hope that you are right .
if we failed to glue together the fractured state model in Bosnia and Herzegovina , what is the European Union prepared to do in such a case ?
the crisis and the tragic events in Greece have shown us that we must draw some conclusions from the ambitious Europe 2020 strategy , today .
the shortcomings with this recommendation do not seem to have been remedied satisfactorily in the Commission 's Communication .
it emerges from the report that 56 out of 65 proposed measures have been initiated or completed , and generally as legal acts by the Commission or Council .
that is why the Commission rightly spoke of a first step which needs to be improved , mainly in terms of the effectiveness of the contribution of the main undertakings responsible for granting rights to passengers .
President-in-Office of the Council . - Mr President , thank you very much for this debate .
hardly a week passes without a major terrorist attack , and some 700 Pakistanis have been killed by suicide bombers over the past six months .
at the Solvay meeting , all members of the European Council agreed that we need better , more focused economic coordination in the Union , both for major economic policy - certainly in the euro area - and for micro-economic policy .
e-justice is necessary at a time when the number of people involved in cross-border litigation in Europe is estimated at 10 million .
the next item is the debate on three motions for resolutions on Venezuela .
this is my partial vision of the future of Europe .
I fully support the adoption , ratification and implementation of a convention on domestic work by the International Labour Organisation ( ILO ) .
ENP partnership rewards progress .
( PL ) Mr President , within the psychological framework , feelings such as responsible love for another person , family or one 's country - which is given the name of patriotism - are evidence , together with other higher emotions , of a high level of personal development .
in writing . - ( RO ) I agree with the measures being proposed , which can be integrated at an earlier stage in the multiannual financial framework , as the problem to do with the trade in bananas is still going on .
in general terms , I must say that we need the policy of partnership with the countries of origin .
let us be very clear : the Member States must all show respect for a responsible financial policy .
I am awaiting the results of the mediation led by President Wade in order to determine or at least define when I will return , not only to Chad , but also to Khartoum .
we fear that this will lead to the fragmentation of your responsibilities .
defence and security is an area everywhere in the world which requires rapid reaction and action .
initially , the Commission put a great deal of effort into it .
last year , we were suddenly faced with the most serious financial crisis since the 1930s .
( FR ) Mr President , this is not the first time that our fellow Member Mr Cohn-Bendit , who called a president - a prime minister - a dictator in the mould of Hugo Chavez , has failed to respect democracy .
I completely agree with you , Mrs Klamt , but as you know , each time we ask the same thing , and each time we have the same problems .
our fish stocks are still low .
in the dispute between the US company Boeing and the European Airbus , each side is accusing the other of paying billions in subsidies and brought complaints before the WTO in 2004 .
it is also important that state aid is more closely linked to the paradigm shift towards new technologies and away from the internal combustion engine .
local authorities and other public bodies must be urged to invest in sustainable clean transport .
the Olympic Charter , in Article 1 , talks about universal , fundamental , ethical principles .
a summit of the Heads of State of the countries in the region , organised under the auspices of the UN , the EU and the African Union , would be an opportunity to tackle the problem head on and to try to find solutions through a broad-based strategy .
this is a matter of millions of jobs in the world economy and in the European Union .
in my constituency , Scotland , we have dozens of small airports , and air travel is not a luxury - it is a necessity serving fragile communities .
it covers industry , agriculture , energy , finance , border guards , transport infrastructure , examples of non-corrupt activities , intellectual property , the natural environment , scientific cooperation and relations with neighbours .
in writing . - ( BG ) I welcome Anna Hedh 's report on the Consumer Markets Scoreboard and its aim of making the internal market more sensitive to the expectations and concerns of citizens .
Europe should now have a clear vision on education , the information society , intercultural dialogue and exchange between young people , young people 's employment and mobility , as well as of the current problems of marginalized young people .
it is worrying that a considerable haul of weapons has been stolen by criminal gangs , with all the risks of increased lawlessness , armed conflicts and terrorism in the area that this entails .
as far as I am concerned , the compromise we have reached is a good compromise and we must seek to hold onto it as far as possible .
the famous quote by Attila József , ' my anger is for you , not against you , ' applies in this case , because when well-founded criticism is voiced , the EU is not angry with the Hungarian Government ; it is angry for it .
all the United Nations Member States have signed up to the following two principles : accepting responsibility for the protection of citizens and , if a country is no longer able or willing to do that , the right of the international community to intervene in disasters .
these groups were pressing for social dumping so that they could have a foreign workforce that they could exploit with low wages and few rights .
the European Union and the capitalist development method are not able to satisfy urgent needs , such as earthquake protection , education , health and welfare .
their struggle is there to demonstrate this .
also , the integration process should be conducted with respect for international law and international procedures .
Commission declaration ad Article 10 ( 3 ) of the revised ETS Directive
I would like to point out that the resources invested from 2000 to 2006 by way of the European Regional Development Fund have enabled the creation of 1 400 000 jobs in the European Union , as well as the building of over 2 000 km of motorways .
they are , in fact , about giving the apparatus of statehood to the EU .
we are also very much looking forward to your anticipated study on consumer labelling .
this is one of the reports on the six applications by the Netherlands for the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) in order to support the reintegration in the labour market of workers made redundant as a result of the economic and financial crisis .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - Madam President , I would like to start by thanking Mr Liese for his excellent work on this file .
oral questions and written declarations ( tabling ) : see Minutes
the report has nevertheless been passed by the Committee for Foreign Affairs , it is on the table and it is essential to vote on the report within the lifetime of this Parliament .
I know that women get asked it , but I believe that , the other way around , no man is ever asked the question : ' what does your wife say to that ? '
I have been digging in this tangled mass of texts .
a simple way to achieve this goal is thermal rehabilitation of buildings .
however , the cost of inaction will greatly exceed the cost of the mitigation measures required .
( FI ) Mr President , I am concerned about freedom of religion in Turkey .
they do not dare to leave their makeshift encampments .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , we agreed that we wanted to ensure that citizens got greater security of supply with regard to energy , that they had sufficient energy and that they were able to buy energy at reasonable prices .
the fourth question refers to the task force established by the European Council in March 2010 in order to improve economic governance in the Union .
in writing . - I voted for this report , which calls for better definition of investor protection standards and greater transparency in the arbitration system , the right to appeal against decisions by international arbitrators and the possibility to consult trades unions and civil society organisations .
policymakers must appreciate the growing intertwining of gas and electricity industries , and design markets and regulatory systems accordingly . '
in writing . - ( BG ) As a representative of Bulgaria in the European Parliament , I voted against the draft decision because I think that it imposes double standards , which is something I strongly oppose .
if only Turkey itself would respond in a similarly constructive manner without preconditions .
the second great quality of these reports is that they are generally accepted .
this is the reality .
it will not be enough to earmark substantial funding for poor and developing countries unless this is backed by a serious commitment by industrialised countries to ward off the speculation on the prices of staple foods that we have seen recently and introduce international agreements that take into account the very varied situations of countries that belong to the World Trade Organization .
I would like to thank her for her comments about the work we are doing in the External Action Service and the beginnings of our work to build the new pieces of work on human rights .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , unlike the previous speaker , I would expressly like to thank both Commissioner Malmström and Commissioner Reding for their intensive efforts to take up the issues that have been raised by Parliament , as well as the problems that we see and have seen in the area of data security and confidentiality , in order to negotiate with the United States .
I should also like to stress the useful legislative work in cooperation with the European Parliament , and the excellent understanding with the Commission and its President , Dr Durão Barroso .
Laurent Gbagbo must accept defeat .
the observer mission of the European Parliament will also be needed at this additional vote .
secondly , there is renewable energy .
this mainly concerns data gathering and exchange procedures and also applies to cooperation within Europol .
I find it rather embarrassing that the resolution refers to the many common challenges , but does not include the policy on the Arctic among them .
the Slovak parliament last week passed a resolution in which it stated that this decision is in conflict with the cultural heritage and Christian history of Europe .
( BG ) Examining the amendments to the directive on motherhood at this particular time makes a great deal of sense , as it allows us not only to demonstrate responsibility for resolving certain problems affecting society , but also focus this responsibility on Europe 's future .
the question put to me by my Swedish colleagues is a Swedish issue .
Baroness Ashton , Parliament has come a long way to find common ground on human rights issues , especially the most sensitive ones .
the Union , which is a strong manifold entity , and Russia , which is a superpower , should stop behaving like two towns connected by nothing more than a narrow road and a gas pipe .
these efforts should be mirrored in extensive education campaigns . consumers will only set out to invest in their energy efficiency if they are fully aware of its benefits to them .
temporary workers (
when I bought my first microwave I deliberately bought a good one that would last .
the principal message of the Small Business Act is to ' think small first ' - to concentrate business legislation across the EU on small and medium-sized enterprises - and the EU has committed tonight to continue the focus on this area .
reducing late payments means easing SME cash flow , at a time when one in four solvency cases in Europe are caused by excessive delays in payment .
we are doing it at regional level , but I believe that it is an example which we should follow for our own future and for that of mankind as a whole .
of course , every possible precaution must be taken to ensure that these measures work properly .
fourth : security standards must also be met by third-country carriers , otherwise our European measures will be ineffective .
I will now listen with great interest to the speakers in this debate .
more than 20 people suffered serious injuries and were taken to hospital .
however , I am still surprised at the Council 's and the Swedish Presidency 's position on a few points .
there are solutions which we must support , such as the use of open source programs , which would help speed up software innovation through open contributions and cut costs for businesses using these programs .
the merging of the lists of lobbyists registered at the Parliament and the Commission represents a first step towards compiling an exhaustive register of the lobbies active in Brussels and , subsequently , towards greater citizen access to democratic checks and balances in the decision-making process .
we ask for your support for this .
four others went into hiding after being summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence : Hesam Misaghi , Saeed Habibi , Navid Khanjani and Sepeher Atefi .
I voted for this report because , in my view , Europe must protect its wilderness areas and contribute to the upkeep of its national parks .
this text is very much in favour of the negotiations initiated by the Commission with a view to securing a global economic and trade agreement between the EU and Canada .
this is the second Presidency , the first being Slovenia , to hail from a country that joined the European Union on 1 May 2004 .
watch out for the traps .
I intend to launch the high-level group on literacy on 1 February .
this will lead to two different price levels for CO2 : the market price used on the stock market and a price laid down arbitrarily for the automobile industry .
, in writing . - ( HU ) Energy cooperation has emerged as one of the major questions in EU-Turkey relations .
we need a well-balanced middle path which ensures that we and our planet can continue to thrive in the future .
we are glad that the European Parliament has placed the discussion on the progress achieved by both the candidate states on the agenda of this session .
this does not mean simply being able to react on paper ; it means being able to react in the real world .
as I see it , my fellow Member , Mr Cashman , has tried to put this opinion together so that it meets the two criteria above at the same time : that it can deal flexibly with the human rights problems that affect us all in a sensitive way , and keep the Agency fit for purpose at the same time .
even though there have been several improvements that have made the NATO-EU relations more effective , there is room for improvement in many aspects .
there is no doubt that this consent is absolutely essential when dealing with potentially hazardous substances and for this reason it is a requirement that should be retained .
all of my fellow Members have said so , but it must be emphasised that this is without doubt an historic milestone that has been passed , with regard to cooperation and legislation in the field of justice .
now I will clarify something for you , Madam Commissioner .
therefore , when you criticise something in order to have arguments to reject a report , I am sorry but you really should try to read it correctly .
there is potential for research and , where appropriate , for extraction , firstly in Poland and then also in the United Kingdom and Germany .
and 22 % of Polish children with at least one working parent are threatened by poverty .
that reaction should give the authorities in Belarus a clear signal of our views , without isolating citizens and civil society .
however , we ought to be aware that the concept of victimisation requires strong proof .
the next item is the report by Mr Brian Simpson , on behalf of the Committee on Transport and Tourism , concerning European statistics on tourism - C7-0085 / 2010 - ( Α7-0329 / 2010 ) .
we want stability .
in that the experience accumulated in processing the four previous JTIs has been very helpful in shaping this regulation : the Commission was already aware of our concerns regarding these new instruments - in terms of funding , rules for participating , transparency , opening up , conditions for continuity , etc . ;
the intention of our motion is to protect these people .
the only way out is to set clear priorities .
moreover , the entire chain will have to emit 10 % less by 2020 .
it should also make proposals for the future , involving this House rather more than it has done in the past , given that tomorrow we are to discuss Parliament 's report on the neighbourhood policy .
in our view such exchanges would significantly contribute to a more efficient and unified application of Community law .
in light of the current financial situation of many small and medium-sized enterprises , this is a very citizen-friendly policy to which I can give my unconditional support .
I have voted in favour of this report because the amendment that is being considered for Rule 51 , apart from being an innovative collaboration method between various committees , will make the Rule easier to understand and apply .
I also remain concerned that some of the amendments regarding the treatment of equity risk could result in the introduction of an imprudent regime for investment in risk-based capital .
that , Mr Barroso , is why we need transparent and coherent international agreements and why we need them as quickly as possible .
Belarus is the only state in Europe which still carries out executions , although the number of these , according to calculations by organisations defending human rights , has fallen dramatically .
it is also right that 16 countries should get even better access to our market , through GSP + , in return for setting up and implementing 27 specified international conventions on human rights , co-labour standards , sustainable development and good governance .
Madam President , I would like to make three comments by way of a conclusion on our part in this important debate .
in writing . - The CAP Health Check will set the tone for future reform in this area and Lutz Goepel 's report on the Health Check is one that I have trouble fully supporting .
( FR ) ( addressing Mr Bloom ) I cannot accept what you said .
our priority now is excellence in legislation .
the debate is closed .
in addition to the quota increase , we must prepare for the abolition of the milk quota regime altogether in 2015 , as the Commissioner proposes , and so we need to devise support mechanisms that will provide real help in promoting quality milk production .
let it truly be an initiative of the citizens and not of civil society organisations and NGOs .
therefore , I appeal to the Czech Council Presidency to apply its sound human rights policy in this matter , too .
for me , active dialogue does not mean glossy brochures , and I do believe that the Commission has failed in this area .
at the same time , the Commission is implementing the other procedures covered by the mercury strategy .
we should not lose sight of that .
do the Commission and the Council agree with the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection which has proposed that the internal market have a more social ethos and that tender procedures focus more on quality and social justice ?
I also supported the introduction of satellite accounts , because they would be better able to show the effects of tourism on the economy and on jobs , and would have enabled us to more accurately define policies for the future .
Internet use and development are without doubt a source of important progress , especially where freedom of expression and democracy are concerned .
I would have welcomed this , had I not noticed that those attending are mostly Italian Members , who do not usually take an interest in human rights and who are , for that matter , often the first to ...
being aware of the severity of H1N1 influenza and the importance of our citizens ' health , I think that this report is particularly significant , as it also highlights the correct way to manage these situations .
my group welcomes the commitment of the Commission and the Council to further that process , just as we insist on the full involvement of this House in framing the measures that complete it .
women are increasingly exposed to the risk of poverty , especially in the case of groups of women with special needs , such as single mothers , disabled women and older women , who often receive wages and pensions barely above the minimum subsistence level .
( PT ) Mr President , Commissioner , with regard to the subject being debated here today , allow me to start by reiterating that I believe , firstly , that directives should actually be complied with and that this is equally true for Directive 1999 / 74 / EC , and , secondly , that concerns over animal welfare is a flagship issue that the European Union should uphold .
the proposal made by the Commission seems to us , from that point of view , to be wholly appropriate .
the proposed stress tests are , however , too weak .
for example , carbon dioxide emission limits were allocated to individual Member States without taking into account the backwardness in their development , which , in Poland among other countries , has resulted in a sharp increase in the cost of electricity and , as a result , a visible jump in the costs of production and also living costs .
I also consider that Member States should establish measures to promote the creation of a market for products and services accessible on a large scale , which shall integrate facilities meant for disabled users .
I am delighted with this vote , which introduces the opportunity starting in 2012 for Europe 's citizens to make their voices heard more clearly .
we must , however , recognise that the European Parliament still has important work ahead of it , for there are questions the solutions to which are sketched in general terms only in the Dess report , as Members ' opinions on the solution to the relevant problem differed or were even diametrically opposed .
so I am delighted that the European Parliament and our authorities are taking control of the situation and I compliment Mr Gauzès , Mr Barnier and the Council for putting in place an instrument that will deal with this .
ladies and gentlemen , we need legislative suggestions in the areas of European supervision , capital for receivables , rating agencies , the granting of credit , crisis management models , and minimum standards for all forms of investment .
it is essential for countries and dealers who breach the arms embargo imposed in 1992 to be stopped and held accountable .
Mr President , last month , I informed the plenary of the discovery of the remains of Cypriot soldiers who , during the invasion of 1974 , were photographed surrendering to the Turkish army , alive and well .
Arash and Kamiar Alaei are both doctors helping those with HIV and AIDS who have been charged with cooperating with an enemy , when all they have been doing is trying to help the sick .
so then the concept of leadership arose .
can the Commission promise that something really is happening apart from studies being undertaken ?
the prescribing doctor must remain the primary source of information , as only he selects a medicine that is tailored to the patient 's age , gender , weight , known intolerances and so on .
I am very happy about this .
what the Council has achieved so far through its closer cooperation with the European supervisory authorities is lamentable .
despite the economic crisis , it is estimated that the European labour market will see steady growth over the next 10 years .
I find that particularly unfortunate , especially for a sector that should undoubtedly be taking a lead in this regard .
( ES ) Madam President , tomorrow it will be one year to the day since the second stage of the air transport agreement between the European Union and the United States was finally signed after eight rounds of difficult negotiation .
I would add a further question to this .
author . - ( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , as a democratic institution , we cannot allow human rights to be trampled on anywhere in the world .
here , too , challenges await us , namely the enlargement process and reinforcement of the neighbourhood policy , as well as the establishment of closer relations with developing countries , especially those in Africa .
these requirements are perhaps too restrictive , and they could end up cutting off the European market , and could thus lead to protectionism through the back door - which would be a bad thing .
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here we are , less than a year later , debating this legislation tonight , which has the potential of actually reducing food production in the European Union ; and there is a morality about producing food because what you must remember is that if we in Europe do not produce food we can probably pay for it , but the developing world cannot .
for this reason I urge you , Commissioner , to send out a clear signal and show that you have the courage to decide !
therefore , it is important that Member States find appropriate means for the implementation of the CSDP as the Lisbon Treaty provides a framework for upgrading cooperation on defence whilst achieving economies of scale , maintaining strategic relevance and providing security for the Union 's citizens .
I feel that this is the spirit in which we must look at decisions on combating terrorism .
as they say , we in Europe are only as strong as our weakest link - which the worst-off people in our society are .
launched in 2006 , the " Intelligent Car ” initiative is a main project in the e2010 , which represents the strategic framework of the Commission for the Information Society until 2010 .
if that is the case , then no additional nuclear power will be needed at all , in our opinion .
secondly , all forms of ownership should be treated equally , and choice of one or another should be based on the effectiveness of management of each form .
worse still , to be certain of achieving scarcity , we went as far as the daft premium for the slaughter of cattle .
I would like to point out - and let there be no mistake about this - that this debate will be heard in Iran .
you no doubt believe that China should become the world 's workshop , producing at low cost , goods of more or less - the focus being on less - high quality .
when it comes to adaptation , the Parliament is well on track , as it has already worked on its Rules of Procedure and has debated the installation of new institutions , such as the European External Service .
I supported the amendments proposed to this report , which will further strengthen safety provisions and requirements .
some of us have been drawing attention to it for a very long time .
I hope that the Commissioner will be there .
voting time ( continuation )
we all know that keeping the issue of gender equality high on the agenda requires a continuous effort .
in Poland , 90 % of electricity is currently generated using coal .
we will also support labelling of nano-ingredients .
Madam President , tuberculosis , or TB as it was known in my country , was rampant in Ireland a little over half a century ago , killing many people , young and old .
however , a large number of obstacles still need to be removed because there are still not enough organs to meet demand .
the President of France , Nicolas Sarkozy , has said that his position will depend on the outcome of the negotiations between the Chinese and the representatives of the Dalai Lama .
this is particularly apparent in the sugar market , but not only in that market .
we have three minor improvements in mind .
our level of cross-border trade for what is supposed to be a single market is nowhere near what it should be .
that is wrong .
Mr President , this is a report of verbiage , not substance , just as much of the PEACE funding itself was spent upon froth .
what I did not expect , and what I did not know , was that , whilst they were urging our group not to table any amendments , they were actually urging the Socialists to table amendments .
this European Warrant , hereafter referred to as the European Evidence Warrant , will facilitate faster and more efficient legal cooperation in criminal matters and will replace the current system of mutual legal aid in this area , and this in accordance with the conclusions of the European Council .
one has to give that text a clarifying interpretation which puts in light its spirit , thus allowing for the best implementation .
I see a country that is even open to the criticism the victims of the disaster had of the aid effort , a picture that we are also very familiar with whenever something similar happens here .
thus faced with a crisis of this kind , we are however capable of introducing cost-cutting standards .
Mr Barroso , Paul Krugman has said that Europe is providing less than half in terms of real stimulus compared to what the Americans are doing .
Europe , with the world 's largest financial market , is gradually trying to get back on its feet following the crisis , the effects of which will be felt for many years to come .
I believe it is essential for public servants to be answerable to the public , which is why they must give objective and detailed accounts of how the public funds made available to them have been used .
yesterday , in the High Representative 's appearance before the Committee on Foreign Affairs , we stressed the positive aspects of European Union action : Baroness Ashton 's communication that distinguishes between the short , medium and long terms ; rapid application of Resolution 1970 of the United Nations Security Council ; the ability to negotiate with the Arab League ; and the European Council meeting .
the European Union should be giving particular support to the development of the transport infrastructure and its interconnection with the main European transport routes in the countries which have joined the EU in recent years .
also , it works .
we need everyone - the people as a whole .
last time , I showed everyone some photographs , including of you , Mr Van Rompuy .
however , I wish to repeat that the new capital adequacy measures are a minimum review and still need more general reform over a longer time frame .
moreover , we have substantially increased the provisions on consumer protection with regard to , among other things , billing information and improved conditions for switching suppliers .
Turkey has committed itself to introducing reforms , maintaining good relations with its neighbours and progressively aligning itself with the Community acquis .
Mr President , Commissioners , first of all I want to thank the rapporteur for his report .
as the author is not present , Question 11 lapses .
we are bound to ask ourselves certain questions about this .
not long ago a publication entitled ' Improving Lives ' , of which you have all received a copy , presented a summary of the collaboration over the years .
I would remind you , Mr Matsakis , that there is only one way to oppose an oral amendment and that is to stand up , not to start a debate .
whatever the propaganda from some sides of this House , the European Union is not a state or a super-state . it is an international organisation , and therefore , there are difficulties in adjusting an international organisation to something that was made for states .
we now know that there is deep-rooted social and economic disarray in the country and that for years the Government has operated on a basis of corruption and economic mismanagement .
this is a question of regulatory harmonisation and of the division of labour .
I would like to welcome the President of Tajikistan , Emomali Rahmon , who is on an official visit to the European Parliament .
they are problems created by the economic crisis , but they have been aggravated by mismanagement and misguided policies undertaken by the political leaders of those countries .
maximum transparency is required , not least because we know that shutting down a reactor and making it safe is no easy matter .
negotiations to establish an agreement between the EU and Jordan on scientific cooperation therefore began in 2007 .
however , when we now hear these supporters say that the majority has given its opinion in a democratic way and the minority will simply have to accept that , they are indeed right , but I would have expected to hear that statement after the first referendum in Ireland , too .
today is a great day for European citizens and for European patients .
those of you who were present the first time I spoke here as a Commissioner will know that it has always been my wish for us to address this issue together .
we need better evaluation , better tools and better guidelines and recommendations on how to interpret the Schengen acquis .
food safety in the EU has been shaken by many crises in recent years , such as BSE and several dioxin scandals , the latest of which apparently occurred last autumn .
what we are talking about here was a deliberate admixing and we are being made into repositories for this poison , one which does not break down by itself and which therefore continues through generations of people .
however , all of this effort will be of no benefit if there is little or no public awareness .
for once we are hearing the truth from a leader writer at the Financial Times , Martin Wolf .
this means that both the workers and the passengers lose out .
there used to be an American play called ' Same Time , Next Year ' .
the problem cannot be solved by throwing more money at it .
Mr President , just one minute , out of courtesy to Mr Wurtz .
the European Parliament should be an objective observer , because we would like the negotiations to end with agreement , which would facilitate Turkey 's accession to the EU .
they also commit to strengthening the role of NGOs in promoting equality , to establishing effective measures to penalise those who do not abide by the provisions of the directive , and to implementing protective measures for those who provide support to victims .
2,000 tons of fuel oil spilled into the sea and the ships that sank were carrying over 7 tons of sulphur .
on the contrary , many of the state monopolies in Member States are some of the largest advertisers .
in view of the above , I have supported the introduction of a European Blue Card scheme for skilled migrants .
I believe that this should also apply here .
Ecofin will therefore continue to tackle this problem .
in this context , I voted for the report on the FPA between the EU and the Solomon Islands because I believe that it furthers the aim of promoting responsible , sustainable fishing , thus serving the legitimate interests of both parties .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Mr President , as I understand it , the PPE-DE has withdrawn Amendment 4 , but would like to vote on paragraph 8 in two parts , which I fully support .
the French Presidency simply wishes to open the debate on how to ensure broadband access across the whole of Europe .
I do not see us as competing with the national parliaments , but I believe that we must cooperate .
climate change will influence growth and jobs in Europe .
the report by Mrs Lichtenberger , on behalf of the Committee on Legal Affairs , on the 26th Annual Report on Monitoring the Application of European Union Law ( 2008 ) - .
I expect a politically correct response to the fact that tens of millions of people will die from hunger this year , and a further hundred million will slide deeper into poverty .
what they want in Iraq is our and your personal presence , they want political cooperation , and they want economic cooperation .
the transfer to the budgetary authorities is currently being initiated .
( NL ) You have made steady progress , certainly as regards the large legislative packages concerning energy and climate .
I will give one further example : a student preparing his PhD thesis in Lisbon on the history of the Americas is unable to consult the files and documents housed in the General Archive of the Indies in Seville , which is one hour away by plane .
better and more favourable offers were turned down early on - and by politicians , in fact .
as a consequence we should see accelerated trade flows and an increase of personal contacts that result from growing small businesses and regional supply chains .
as a Parliament-friendly Presidency , we hope that the results which have brought us to the verge of agreement will not be wasted .
therefore , irrespective of the progress that the present Regulation on residue limits of pharmacologically active substances already represents in this regard , the Commission will present an assessment of the problems entailed in the application of the Directive on veterinary medicinal products in 2010 and , where appropriate , will also present new legislative proposals on this .
however , the EU should not be under any illusions that granting trade preferences could put an end to the advance of fundamental Islamists and terrorists in the nuclear state of Pakistan .
the objective of territorial cohesion allows , or rather obligates , harmonious development for all EU regions , bearing in mind the specific characteristics of each one .
we support the introduction of an integrated approach involving vehicle manufacturers , fuel suppliers , repairers , customers , drivers as well as authorities .
there are 23 million small and medium enterprises in the European Union , and they employ over 100 million people .
this is why we have faced the problem of shark finning in recent years .
7 .
it is estimated that economic growth in Europe in 2009 will remain at a level below zero .
it is a rare occasion that this House is asked to endorse the decision of the Ombudsman against the Commission .
the inclusion of the human rights clause and the implementation of social and environmental standards in trade negotiations are complex issues that are dividing the international community .
secondly , some European vessels have been stopped and inspected without good reason by the Mauritanian authorities .
we must now concentrate as a matter of urgency on the new package of targets that you have submitted : the three 20s for 2020 , as I call it , or what others refer to as the ' Dimas package ' .
Madam President , I , too , am very pleased with the agreement we reached today which I think will ensure that patients will have access to cross-border healthcare in a proportionate way and an equitable way .
lastly , I regret that this text fails to make reference to the correct implementation of Directive 2004 / 38 / EC , which sets out stringent requirements for European citizens residing in another Member State and their expulsion for public safety reasons .
I therefore feel that on the occasion of the forthcoming Council , the European Union must send out a clear message to European citizens , indicating that it is in a position to counter the aforementioned threats .
in the last few months , the EU governments have let themselves be divided like altar boys , as it were , by the Americans of General Motors , and it is clear that this cannot be repeated .
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however , we should also respect the choice of others , and this is why I am in favour of discussion on this subject , including discussion with people in South Korea .
it contributes to practical cooperation between law enforcement institutions , courts and immigration services .
the UEN Group is a co-signatory to these resolutions .
the issue of treatment-related costs is of course relevant , but that is simply a matter for those responsible for insuring others .
moreover , the European Union does not have to dictate the contents of milk products , as long as the phytosanitary standards are complied with .
a lot of people , tens of thousands of them , are stranded all over the world and waiting to come home .
it goes without saying , as far as I am concerned , that its funding must be European .
I do not believe that this is the right course .
the EU has already begun to work towards a more equal Europe : the status of European women has improved considerably , thanks to EU legislation .
a man of great courage and principle has lost his life and we as democrats honour his name and salute his life 's achievements today in this debate .
it is good that the text has been toned down in this respect .
why is there no Commission action plan on regional policy ?
I know we will be having a debate on this during the part-session but there is one particular aspect I want to raise now and it is the fact that the United States is far better organised .
this situation creates disincentives to investment in the EU and runs counter to the priorities set in the Europe 2020 strategy .
( DE ) Madam President , Mr Oettinger , ladies and gentlemen , this discussion once again highlights the fact that with regard to the whole area of the environment , we have a major communication problem .
with the inclusion of the rights of passengers travelling by bus and coach , we have , in principle , now introduced passenger rights in all modes of transport .
the two highest posts in the EU have been filled .
the Treaties are very general in nature and provide for certain fields and give rise to various interpretations and do not at present facilitate the establishment of the internal market .
the functioning of SME finance schemes therefore becomes all the more essential , specifically through a greater Union budget allocation for the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme of the Structural Funds and the Seventh Framework Programme .
if access to the European Union for members of Mr Lukashenko 's regime is restricted , we must make access to the Union easier for people who are not connected with that regime .
we must encourage young farmers into the industry to secure a future for it .
it is important for the national regulatory authorities to continue to play a full role .
yes , there has been positive progress concerning the consequences of the reform of the infamous Article 301 some one or two years ago .
all the abuses and repression that are being perpetrated in the Western Sahara by the Moroccan Government only have one aim : ensuring that they cannot exercise their right to self-determination .
the first report is being finalised as we speak .
Canada has fulfilled the first requirement but not yet the second , and therefore neither the European Commission nor the Council should be satisfied with progress to date .
in spite of some progress made , I regret that the main objectives of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership have not been reached , jeopardising their planned achievement by 2010 .
in my view there has always been a compromise solution , for which I canvassed together with Commissioner Monti back in the nineties .
these measures affect the secondary market in securities , but I believe there is a strong case to apply the same principles to the primary market , particularly in the unique situation of the eurozone debt-issuing members .
in this respect , we should stress the commendable work done by the Hungarian Presidency and the quality of the negotiators from this Parliament .
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I voted in favour of the present report as I consider it essential to strengthen European consumer protection policy and to render it more effective and meaningful for the public .
finally , I would like to thank Parliament 's President , Mr Buzek , for inviting Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi to the Sakharov Prize award ceremony next month in Strasbourg .
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the S & D Group have tabled a few more amendments to be voted upon tomorrow which we believe will improve the guidelines even further .
in the Czech Republic , too , we have a parliament where we are used to a plurality of views , so some of the views came as no surprise to me , although I could not fully agree with them .
secondly , Baroness Ashton , since you say that you are now going to support the people of Tunisia , I would ask you to ensure one thing : that there is equality of opportunity in the democratic process during the transition .
it is vital to preserve the tropical forests to maintain the balance of our ecosystems .
they cannot compete in terms of price ; they can only compete by offering a better quality of product or service and that better quality comes from better technology and from innovation .
since 2001 , nothing has happened and things are going from bad to worse . so , what are you telling us ?
examples are our former Prime Minister Holker in Northern Ireland , our former President Ahtisaari in Namibia , Indonesia , Aceh and Kosovo , and our former minister , Mr Haavisto , in Sudan .
I have always believed that assistance is most valuable at the time when people most need it and , at the moment , rural areas need more resources for development and modernisation .
it is very strange that , in the case of this enormous undertaking , this approach was ignored .
it is therefore only the largest investors which can afford them . they are mainly monopolists and can set their own conditions , as was the case with the rare earth elements .
today , these are mainly economic migrants .
due to these new responsibilities , the rapporteur advocates the implementation of a common investment policy .
the situation in Tibet was also discussed at the meeting of European Union representatives with the Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister on 17 March .
a new framework dedicated to labour reforms agreed with social partners , tax reforms which encourage growth of small and medium undertakings and job creation .
I believe that it is important to link the election of the President of the Commission to the democratic election that has taken place , your election .
the members of the Union must also want to continue enlargement , and of course the candidate countries must fulfil the necessary criteria .
I sincerely hope that , during the time of my mandate , I will return to this House with a more positive picture of relations with Iran .
I would also add , my fellow Members , that this is a struggle .
the Commission will also take the initiative to make sure that the next stage of the survey will comprise all the official languages that are studied in the European Union .
I look forward to Parliament endorsing this compromise , which will rapidly bring significant benefits to companies , especially to SMEs .
we have no objection to certain measures being taken to limit or prohibit discards , but we do have a reservation : some of these measures may be a burden to small- and medium-sized fishing enterprises and may essentially be a pretext for preventing them from fishing freely .
I would suggest no more than an average annual salary .
it became clear quite early on that opinions in this House are somewhat divided .
I have a final comment for the Commissioner and the two rapporteurs : it is very important that we have reached an agreement .
nevertheless , I believe that the Council should take steps to eliminate one of the agency 's sites , since this is a source of unnecessary additional costs , and the agency does not need two sites to take efficient action .
to put it briefly , two parties - two truths , no gas .
despite Article 80 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU and the principle of equitable sharing of solidarity , all the countries are actually concerned only with their own affairs and the attitude of France , which shares a border with Italy , is unacceptable in the current European scenario .
curb indebtedness by constitutional methods to prevent another Greek , Irish , or Portuguese crisis from happening .
in the view of the European Commission and also of the rapporteur , Decision No 85 / 368 / EEC , which governs this matter , has not adequately facilitated the comparability of occupational qualifications to the benefit of workers seeking employment in another Member State .
however , the text has yet to be confirmed by a qualified majority of Member States in the Council .
second , the so-called Southern Corridor Summit meeting , which we plan to organise together with the Eastern Partnership event ; that will take place in Prague in early May .
that much is clear .
as a result , a European directive is needed which will tackle the 17.4 % pay gap between women and men , along with a directive on eradicating violence against women .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( SV ) Thank you , Mr President .
I know this is being mentioned for the third time , but it is a very serious matter , so I would like to report that during the night of 5 to 6 November , a journalist working for the Russian newspaper Kommersant , Oleg Kashin , was badly beaten outside his home in Moscow - I am sure you know about this , Commissioner .
unless he was just a mediocre director , and even if he was not the instigator , Mr Draghi could not have been unaware that the company he was working for orchestrated the massaging , seemingly legally yet dishonestly , of the Greek debt to justify Greece 's joining the euro .
although the legislation concerning climate policy has not yet been passed , the representatives of the US Government are at least partly authorised to make binding undertakings , even if the details cannot be finalised until after the US legislative process has been completed .
I would also like to thank you for the positive feedback you have given on my efforts .
therefore , I am convinced that an extended period of maternity leave would also facilitate the achievement of improved birth rates , in particular , given that our society is ageing rapidly .
will the Commission be more alert to the role of European industry in Europe 's survival ?
in Poland , we have the only vocational secondary school of beekeeping in Europe , and it has students from several countries .
however , we must achieve even more and turn theoretical gender equality into real , tangible gender equality , which is applied in everyday life .
I think that the EU should make it absolutely clear to every European that there is added value in both having and speaking languages other than the language of the majority .
after all , on the one hand the EU is trying to increase the mobility of European citizens in the labour market and to eliminate barriers and , on the other , it is blocking access to the Schools to children of potential employees of various institutions and companies from the whole of the EU .
it is obvious that the Member States should take a joint approach to the issue of climate change .
lastly , Romania gives cause for concern , since it is the only country in the European Union to have a law banning international adoptions .
finally , a third point .
the EU 's involvement must not be limited just to declarative political support , but must also contain very real cooperation and assistance with the implementation of reforms .
I firmly believe that investments in innovation , new technologies and eco-innovations will bring the new opportunities which are essential for securing an effective response to the current financial crisis .
in terms of co-financing , the report calls for an initial tangible application , i.e. the creation of a ' pan-African development fund ' , jointly funded by the EDF and the neighbourhood instrument .
water is a resource that belongs to everyone , an essential resource and not a commodity at the service of the multinationals .
anyone who has ever travelled outside the European Union cannot fail to notice how the freedom of movement that we enjoy within the EU has substantially improved our lives .
there could be a shortage of eggs and rising consumer prices in cases where some Member States are not ready to comply with the ban .
in Europe today , pilots tend to reject this kind of new responsibility .
against this background , it seems only logical that the Turkish chief negotiator , Mr Bagis , does not take seriously our resolution and , therefore , our democratic decision-making structures .
it also puts us in a better position to criticise the other institutions .
ladies and gentlemen , we are still faced with the fundamental problem that Member States are not doing what they ought to be doing , which is properly monitoring the money they pay out to beneficiaries .
the question of migratory movements has a security dimension , but it also has a human dimension that should not be ignored .
I would like to stress once again that thirty-something representatives of the European Parliament were present for the entire talks , which meant that we made our presence felt and were a very important voice with regard to the main subject matter of the discussion .
therefore it is very important to Parliament that we are told not only the number of employees and recruitment offices - for I believe you have described these employees as full-time equivalents - but also the exact amounts that are planned for each of the categories and how they are distributed between the countries .
to conclude , I welcome the adoption of the report , which shows that the EGF is a useful and effective resource for combating unemployment resulting from globalisation and the economic crisis .
the right to take industrial action will not be threatened by the judgement ; however , there should be a balance regarding matters connected with conflicts .
due to the current crisis and the drastic public spending restrictions , Member States are finding it increasingly difficult to record economic growth .
such an agreement is expected to be capable of generating a consumer surplus ( benefits in terms of lower fares ) of up to EUR 460 million .
Member of the Commission . - As you know , the EU has had in place for a number of years a very effective import policy for beef coming from Brazil .
research makes a fundamental contribution to economic growth , job creation and the creation of clean , sustainable energy .
since the Constitution is therefore unlawful , all of its consequences are also unlawful and no one can be forced to comply with its provisions .
deregulating the internal market to breaking point is what Mr McCreevy wants to do , regardless of what it costs , without any social flanking measures at EU level or in the Member States : that is the crisis which is being felt by Europe 's citizens !
is Frontex not a very important factor in combating illegal immigration ?
in addition , the Commission will publish a so-called ' Progress Report ' in the intervening years .
as regards facilities , the situation could be improved if the government were to take on a greater role , since at least half of the revenue from sports , accounting for 4 % of the EU 's gross domestic product , would need to be reinvested to bring about a major change in this situation .
they are also more creative and have broader horizons .
however , we must finish our work here first , in the European Union , in the European Parliament to be more exact , where the interests of all European citizens are represented .
Mr President , the initial text of this report was criticised for its aggressive language , focusing mostly on Iran 's nuclear programme , neglecting the human rights concern and lacking a positive perspective for future cooperation .
against the backdrop of the international financial crisis , the Commission proposes further reinforced solidarity with the Member States that do not yet benefit from the protective umbrella of the euro .
it is true , of course , that Member States must also play a role in monitoring the creditworthiness and financial fitness of the airlines - this is right and proper - but it is for us to develop a protective mechanism at European level to ensure that the stranded passengers are not left out in the cold .
under the new rules of the internal financial market , however , it is high time that the currency union were strengthened and , at the same time , public debt , in particular , reduced in order to secure the future of the European economic area .
finally , the Commission and the Council should , in the context of their respective competences , keep Parliament informed at all stages of the procedures relating to the protocol and its eventual renewal .
however , the rapporteur says that ' Overall EU protein crop production currently only occupies 3 % of ... arable land ...
I believe that a commitment to adopt a Charter of Intellectual Property Rights by the end of 2008 is a good step in this direction .
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honourable Members , I very much look forward to hearing from you so I will pause at this point .
it is just such investments which today 's economy needs .
we need clearer guidelines with regard to first reading agreement than we currently have .
these changes , however well-meaning , will actually have the effect of setting back the process of achieving equality for working mothers .
waiting times have been resolved , and the costs will now have to be verified - and this needs to be looked into further .
the growth of cultural and creative industries ( CCIs ) in the European Union since the 1990s has been exponential in terms of job creation and their contribution to GDP .
the third cause of our troubles is the neurotic philosophy of competitiveness - in effect an economic war between Europe and Asia or Europe and Latin America .
the European Investment Bank offered small and medium-sized enterprises funding above its annual target of EUR 7.5 billion in 2009 and 2010 .
their basic tools , i.e. laptop computers and broadcasting technology , were seized .
consumer rights (
the Copenhagen conference was a good example of a bad method .
that is always your stance and , of course , I respect it , but you can see also that Member States remaining alone in their corner , that too is not fit for purpose .
thank you .
because there are a number of Member States who still have not signed it , and there are some Member States - including Sweden , of course - that have not ratified it .
( PL ) Madam President , Kazakhstan is the Central Asian country I know best .
the debate scheduled for Wednesday will be an initial opportunity to do this .
so what do we want ?
I supported the resolution 's provision that the EU-Japan FTA has the potential to lead to a win-win situation , beneficial for both economies .
this region in particular still has nuclear power stations that represent a risk to the environment and the population , yet in the environmental impact assessment procedure there is insufficient consultation or no consultation whatsoever with neighbouring states and regions .
like Mr Hoppenstedt , this will be my last speech before this Chamber after 20 years .
using this flexible and needs-based rule , the aim is to avoid a situation in which national authorities have to provide overly extensive information to Eurojust and also avoid ' swamping ' Eurojust with information which the authority simply cannot process .
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lastly , there is the question of justice .
on the contrary , a problem of this magnitude needs to be addressed by building virtuous circles , which do not favour the few but include all interested parties .
transport which does not bear its environmental costs , on the other hand , is a major problem .
on the contrary , many recovery packages have included measures to support wider participation in education , particularly in higher education .
could it be that Europe , even with the crisis we are in today , is yet again choosing the financial option for its development ?
also , as regards non-EU countries , we need to monitor the problem of irregular or illegal adoption , which mainly occurs in the poorest regions .
however , its options are not always sufficiently transparent and clear .
from China .
in writing . - ( RO ) I voted for Francesca Balzani 's report because , in line with this document , I think that the European Union 's 2012 budget must be drawn up with the aim of pursuing the Europe 2020 Strategy 's targets .
no-one accepts the inhumane treatment of immigrants or the violation of human rights .
it is a strategic text and this analysis was vital .
I think it is a sign of the EU 's ability to respond to global challenges , secure competitiveness and create stability .
what measures have been taken to reduce the very significant socio-economic consequences of transposing these ICCAT decisions into EU legislation ?
that is unacceptable , and the European Parliament should therefore act in a way that is consistent with paragraph 7 and recommend that the negotiations with Turkey be stopped , at least until there is order in Northern Cyprus .
I believe that this - the problem of foreign investment in South Sudan - will soon be a new front line that the European Union must monitor and on which it must assert the credibility it has earned in recent years in this region .
because the Slovenian Presidency is striving for a balanced approach to all the European Union 's neighbours , we would like to point out the eastern dimension of European policies towards our neighbours , which must be strengthened in parallel with the Mediterranean dimension .
obviously , the Member States also have to be involved in this , and they are too , in the same way as many Christian communities with direct contacts at grassroots level .
nevertheless , the World Bank continues to push fossils in its energy strategy .
true friendship means offering support and assistance , and that is what Europe must stand for now that Georgia 's territorial integrity is at issue .
traceability is very important here and Europol too must monitor things better and identify cases of organ selling and / or trafficking .
we have succeeded in raising the aspirations of everyone involved by the use of this system .
the internal market and a Member State 's budget can be affected by non-payment of any kind of taxes or duties .
it is important for the EU to take advantage of every opportunity for dialogue with the main developing countries , so that there is agreement on what exactly this means and how the EU can support such actions , either through cooperation in formulating policy , technical assistance , the transfer of know-how and the provision of incentives on the CO2 market , or through financial assistance .
the debate is closed .
the Commission proposal entails only EUR 60 million .
a twelve-part budget would have caused serious financial difficulties for many Member States which have already passed on agricultural payments to farmers .
rather than the production of peak energy , the consequence was an international arbitration dispute , the results of which , however , have been ignored by Hungary .
European Union citizens must receive better information and more clarity regarding the legal rules applicable to travel to a Member State other than the Member State of affiliation for the purpose of receiving healthcare .
the real problem is how to finance these ambitions in what are today even more dire circumstances - as we see in the European Council and in the discussions about the euro , and as my colleague , Mr Bokros , has mentioned .
the directive explicitly states that neither employment law nor employees ' rights will be affected by these legislative provisions .
it was the third ministerial meeting on Opel organised by the Commission , and the first since General Motors decided not to sell Opel .
climate change , as I have said many times , is an urgent and serious matter and requires targeted and effective instruments .
let us be honest , once again .
at the same time , the fundamental issue to address is the declining birth rate - the process that has continued for several decades .
in addition to this , the costs are also borne by European taxpayers .
this would provide a clear statement that this cannot be a national issue , but must be a European issue , the aim being to ensure the safety of European citizens .
I am counting on good and comprehensive cooperation in this area .
it should also take into consideration opportunities and price reductions for young people and students , as well as disadvantaged categories .
thirdly , there is the issue of accepting regional differences when further negotiations take place towards a regional agreement .
our border protection and control are now in compliance with requirements of the Schengen border code .
let the British stay on their island .
in terms of security and passenger safety , the Agreement envisages mutual recognition of standards and ' one-stop ' security .
the credit rating agencies do not work hard in getting the information and analysing it .
we wish you much success , both in the Commission and in the future .
once again - we are with you in our thoughts and prayers .
I hope that the institutions of the European Union will be strong and brave enough to be able to guarantee the same fundamental rights to all European citizens in every corner of Europe .
the importance of the role of volunteering in Europe in the future depends partly on us .
in addition , I consider it necessary to proceed with the implementation of programmes to educate the population in prevention and early diagnosis of diseases , and lastly , I would emphasise the primary role that the authorities on the ground must play to this end .
the first one relates to exploitation rates and proposes 0.4 as a more appropriate rate .
any international coordination that may be needed should be pursued within the framework of global organisations with broad democratic legitimacy , such as the ILO .
at the same time , you will understand that these issues have a legal dimension and that we have to follow the methodology in a very clear , objective way .
the 100th anniversary of that event falls in the very year we are talking about - 2014 .
as a result , only the most affluent can afford the luxury of treatment abroad .
Dutch citizens will end up picking up the tab for weak Member States such as Greece and Portugal - your country , Mr Barroso - and that , Mr President , is unacceptable .
the Dutch Party for Freedom ( PVV ) is against these monstrosities which just eat money and do not serve a single demonstrable purpose .
the Commission say it is far too difficult for them to organise the stamping of a special code on non-compliant eggs , despite its obvious necessity .
we must send out a clear signal that we need pensions which give people enough money to have a reasonable quality of life .
we therefore demand that no decision is taken on this matter without firstly examining its impact , without consulting the European Data Protection Supervisor , without establishing a legal framework laying down who is authorised to see us all naked and in what circumstances , and without confirming how it can actually be guaranteed in practice , at each airport , that its use will be free and voluntary and not imposed by the officers there at the time .
this is a major step forward in the recently acceded countries taking the places they deserve at the Union table .
in writing . - I support this report , which calls for trade not to be seen as a narrow end in itself .
the report which my colleague , Maria Petre , presented to us today contains a series of recommendations which I confidently support .
under the 2007 Instrument for Pre-Accession , the Commission is implementing projects to facilitate the return and reintegration of internally displaced people and refugees in Kosovo , for a total of amount of EUR 3.3 million .
( RO ) The first report of the European Parliament regarding the preliminary draft budget for 2009 should indicate very clearly the political priorities of the European Union at present .
the auditors consistently report that levels of control and scrutiny of the use of EU funds within the Member States is inadequate .
I welcome the adoption of this protocol , which involves the European Union and two states that have a history of good neighbourly relations and free movement of people .
allow me to focus on funding .
Turkey is a country which is proud of its history of genocide , as the act of genocide committed in 1913 , where 50 000 Bulgarians were massacred and 300 000 were driven out of eastern Thrace , was the dress rehearsal for the Armenian genocide unacknowledged by the Ottomans .
I wonder if the Presidency would look at an experience 20 years ago .
if not , then I would recommend that you watch it . in this film , law enforcement agencies of the future use a so-called pre-crime system to try to arrest criminals before they have committed any crime .
mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund : Cataluña automoción / Spain (
from the end of November until very recently , it seemed - and I am sorry to have to say this - as if the EU had disappeared from the world stage , or had come very close to it .
the next item is the report by Richard Corbett , on behalf of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs , on the amendment of Rule 173 of the Rules of Procedure , which deals with verbatim reports .
verification of credentials : see Minutes
I am glad that the programme voted through also contains proposals for resolving visa issues . the latter complicate travel arrangements unnecessarily .
within a very short time the European Union was responding to requests for assistance from the Japanese Government .
it also shows that among the employed there are many who are poor .
extraordinary and exceptional help should be considered in these precise cases .
this may entail enormous innovation and a worldwide marketing strategy for the entire river region .
this regulation puts us convincingly on the side of the new energy and environment policies , which will certainly have a positive effect on public health too .
( RO ) The Danube summit , which took place on 8 November in Bucharest , was attended by the 14 delegations from the countries participating in the Danube strategy , including the Republic of Moldova , presenting it with an opportunity to move even closer to the European Union .
however , in the current crisis , SMEs are having difficulty in accessing loans as banks regard them as risky ventures .
State checks are rarely carried out on feed and food producers .
the next item on the agenda is the debate on cases of breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law .
we all remember the disasters involving the petrol tanker Erika in 1999 and the Prestige in 2002 , and their tragic ecological , human and economic consequences .
the issue of transparency and expertise is one that we debate on a very regular basis , in particular within the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , where my experience in my field is somewhat comparable to that which Mr Canfin has just demonstrated .
significantly , they talk about the unauthorised disclosure of such information not disadvantaging , harming or prejudicing the essential interests of Europol .
the resolution invites the Member States to choose from the above-mentioned guidelines for action , by September of this year , those on which they intend to focus particularly , and to define national strategies and concrete measures for the implementation of those guidelines .
I feel that when establishing guidelines , the EU should take into account the experience of the EU national competition authorities and competition authorities worldwide .
from reading the resolution as it is drafted , there is one definite peculiarity about this , which I think should not go unnoticed , particularly by Mrs Berès who has long been an advocate of greater governance and accountability of this particular IASB body .
Mr President , as the Co-Chair of the Intergroup for Traditional Minorities , National Communities and Languages , I strongly condemn the actions taken by the Belarusian authorities against the largest Polish minority organisation and the members of the minority community .
however , under no circumstances should we allow Member States to be dictated to on how to spend their money .
if you think I am being extreme by drawing a parallel between an authoritarian State in China and the European Union , prove me wrong by putting your Treaty to the people in the referendums that you promised .
in Turkey , for example , an applicant country for accession to the EU , life can be dangerous for Western travellers , since - as a very recent study demonstrates - the oft-proclaimed improvement in the protection of minorities exists only on paper , and the situation on the ground has actually deteriorated .
this is wholly undesirable .
the fight against climate change must be conducted on a global level and with everyone 's involvement , but the idea that our position must depend on that of other countries is irresponsible and does not do justice to the role that the EU has set itself , namely a leading role in guiding cultural revolutions at a global level , primarily the fight against climate change .
with that , we are by far the largest donor that made pledges in L 'Aquila and we are also going to honour them .
scientific facts of climate change : findings and recommendations for decision-making (
from next year the names of the advisers can be found on the net as well .
EU policy should hold the Russian authorities responsible for their collusion with criminal elements .
I hereby declare the 2009-2010 session of the European Parliament adjourned .
the litmus test of any civilised society , as people listening in the visitors ' gallery will tell you , is not how we treat the majority , but how we treat the minorities , and , in that instance , some Member States are sadly lacking .
in recent years , we have seen an increasing number of environmental disasters .
( standing ovation )
1 December 2007 : world AIDS Day ( debate )
it is a necessity for all .
the rapporteur regrets above all that the citizens are unaware of the rights that it would give them .
no , above all , it must improve the situation of ordinary citizens and small businesses .
therefore , the European Urban Agenda must help reduce disparities in the strategic areas which every modern European city needs , namely , infrastructure , research and innovation , transport , environment , education , health and culture .
it was by no means obvious two years ago that we would get this far .
lapsed written declarations : see Minutes
a decent European Parliament must reflect the wider diversity of political opinion that we find in the Union : we need not copy exactly national parliaments whose job is to supply a government ;
the compromises we have achieved with the Council are sensible and effective , and I say this as the original rapporteur on the Schengen border code .
the Islamic or Arab League has never championed the rights of Christians as we have the rights of Muslims .
indeed , I believe that the European Parliament has a crucial role to play in the fight against this major scourge .
Pakistan
this temptation is often impossible to avoid , yet the fact remains that we have to steer clear of wrapping democracy in too much red tape , as the efficacy of good governance must never mean losing the space for politics , still less abdicating space for politics to quasi-administrative forms such as committees and , sometimes , conferences .
Member of the Commission . - I am not quite sure what the honourable Member means by the ' liberalisation of our trade policy ' .
it may be that our goal could be achieved more quickly but , if we compare Europe with other parts of the world , we can claim to have attained a very high standard , and that standard must be maintained and further improved .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , on 30 October 1985 , Altiero Spinelli , fearing that the Europe of nations , rather than the European nation , would very quickly undermine the 1984 reform of the European Parliament , entrusted us in this House with the task of continuing the European revolution .
the methods we have for coordinating social policy , based on an open approach , are fairly ineffective .
the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) should support the reintegration of individual redundant workers into employment , and I would reiterate that assistance from the EGF is not a substitute for measures that are the responsibility of companies by virtue of national law or collective agreements , nor is it intended to finance the restructuring of companies or sectors ;
in addition , I am of the opinion that the word ' provocation ' is wrong .
finally , I would like to mention code-sharing , which is being presented as a major achievement .
I believe , Mrs Ashton , that one of the European Union 's main objectives should be to concentrate our efforts , which involve EUR 1 billion of the European Union 's money , on ensuring that the civilian population is on our side .
in writing . - The Council 's proposal and the related report on the amendment to the Eurojust Regulation give even greater power to this repressive EU mechanism .
today these criteria are really out of date .
this is a crucial fund for strengthening economic and social cohesion .
President-in-Office of the Council . - Madam President , I very much welcome this opportunity to appear before you to talk about a subject which is of particular importance for the Hungarian Presidency : the Europe 2020 Strategy .
nevertheless , the lifelong learning programmes should also focus on mature people .
it is the small businesses that drive innovation forward , but it is also the small businesses that currently have the greatest credit problems in the various Member States and in the Union as such .
the debate is closed .
really , the external borders of the European Union have become murderous .
however , it will certainly be our responsibility then to assess them carefully in the light of the Community provisions .
will the Commission comment on how it is seeking to achieve a fair balance between respect for fundamental freedoms and measures to combat terrorism ?
I hope to be able to say that it is really in that spirit that we had this debate this afternoon .
( the President cut off the speaker )
to these people I would say that we have the new Treaty of Lisbon .
give Mr Potočnik the few weeks he needs to draft this legislation .
we need to focus on the deep-rooted causes of instability in certain regions of the world and to manage migration flows effectively .
this way of strengthening the economy strengthens the economies of countries in the Far East .
however , I would like more clarification and research on the subject .
for the sake of our citizens , we need to pay attention to investment in growth and employment , in order to reduce unemployment and to create and secure jobs .
the European Commission has decided to approach the internalisation of the external costs of road transport by charging for three new costs : air pollution , noise pollution and congestion .
these measures are detrimental to people 's needs and the development of the profitability of capital in the field of the environment .
a European system for monitoring the market and recording changes in prices of agricultural product and inputs , which could be combined with a similar international system under the auspices of the FAO .
also , the financing of small businesses based on a business plan might determine a very large number of SMEs participating in the European research .
all of us in Parliament want a Europe with sustainable economic growth , sufficient jobs for our citizens and healthy businesses .
instead , we need to aim for growth by aiming and focusing resources on research , training and the major challenges , and starting a virtuous circle .
so that , in short , is why people in the UK feel so strongly about this referendum .
there is not one aspect of my report which is incompatible with these languages .
( EL ) Mr President , I , too , congratulate Mr Florenz on his report .
( EL ) Mr President , as no debate is to be held on it in Parliament , I should like to highlight the importance to the European Union of the proposal for a Council directive implementing the Agreement concluded by the European Community Shipowners ' Associations and the European Transport Workers ' Federation .
( NL ) Mr President , I can well imagine that the main purpose of this agreement might be to prevent the counterfeiting of handbags and watches .
although the European youth unemployment figures are extremely worrying - in January 2011 , the unemployment rate among under-25s in the EU rose to 20.6 % - the report on the 2020 strategy 's flagship initiative , ' Youth on the Move ' , calls on Member States to increase their investment in education , training and mobility .
on average , this represents 33 % of a household 's income , and can be as much as 54 % for households with more modest incomes .
this is a sensible solution which will allow us to avoid the compulsory purchase of the energy companies , but nevertheless ensures consistent competition .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , when Parliament voiced its opinion on the application of the GSP for the 2005-2008 period , the Commission did not see fit to incorporate its proposals .
the proof of this is that the EU is systematically promoting the inclusion of a clause relating to the ICC in negotiating mandates and agreements with third countries .
observing the fact that free trade agreements still generally contain few references to social standards , the report mentions a number of avenues , including the social clause and compliance with International Labour Organisation ( ILO ) conventions - whether or not they have been ratified already by all Member States . - and enhancing cooperation between third countries and Member States .
my fellow Member referred to the report by Carla Del Ponte .
I want to be completely honest , Commissioner , and I wish this to be quite clear .
I therefore recommend that this issue should be deleted here .
the European Union , a staunch defender of the United Nations ' role in resolving global issues , will also have work to do in other areas , both bilateral and multilateral , formal and informal , helping everyone to correctly identify opportunities , listening to our partners , and working on consolidating sectoral responses that are consistent with what is needed to fight climate change .
I believe the report is an important step forward , and we need to find a common compromise so that the report can be adopted here and not thrown out because of a few small details .
this regulation will significantly contribute to the operation of the Internal Market , and will strengthen competition in this important sector .
this is why the observations and recommendations made by the report on sector policies in this area are welcome , as are those concerning the scope and destination of State aid .
this is why I call on the Italian Government to comply with EU regulations and the deadlines set by the Commission .
and then you will lose a lot of supporters , even those who have fought for this Constitution for many years .
( RO ) Mr President , I would like to ask Mr Murphy whether he can also very quickly describe how political prisoners are tortured in Cuba .
I agree with the rapporteur 's call for all EU Member States to begin the process of ratifying the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Serbia .
this is particularly noticeable within the framework of Community horizontal policies defined in the Lisbon Strategy , demographic challenges and efforts to achieve a work-life balance , as well as moves to combat violence against women and people trafficking .
the countries of the neighbourhood policy do not constitute a whole , either geographically , culturally , economically or politically .
such farmers must be given assistance in order to ensure that they can complete the upgrading of their farms as soon as possible despite their meagre resources .
we are indeed working with fishermen , NGOs and private partners in Europe and in these countries precisely to try and reduce as much as possible all negative interaction and unfair competition between our fishermen and the most vulnerable fishermen in these countries .
firstly , I would like to congratulate Mrs Gutiérrez on having spent a great deal of time and energy compiling a draft text that has actually managed to come for plenary debate and voting despite the resistance that can be experienced in the Parliament .
I would also like to thank Parliament for having responded rapidly and efficiently to the invitation of the European Council to come up with proposals for its future composition .
I support the need for a dialogue within the Barcelona process .
Walter Hallstein said on 16 January 1958 - I quote , because it is a short sentence addressed to the Members of the Commission : ' your work will bear fruit , however , only when there is close cooperation with the other bodies , particularly the Council of Ministers and Parliament 's Assembly . '
unofficially , however , I accept that it is still widely practiced , even in Nigeria .
we are of the view that this discretion does not extend to an eight-year delay , which is what we are talking about here .
trade has been key to European growth over recent years .
it is regrettable that the Council and the European Parliament were not able to agree in relation to the proposal at a level that would allow the common EU resettlement priorities to be defined for each year .
yes , we should build bridges , but we must not be uncritical of things that are unspeakable .
all the citizens of all the Member States must be allowed to travel to the United States without a personal visa .
it is the nerve centre of the Danish social model that is being threatened by the uncertainties and judicial activism of the Services Directive .
more than 20 different national systems are used in Europe today to ensure the safe movement of trains .
it is not enough just to talk about a social Europe ; people want to see action on the ground .
students should be able to obtain all the information they require to make it easier for them to prepare for their stay well in advance .
these are small vessels with outboard engines .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , today , on the International Day Against Homophobia , I would like to ask you all to remember all those who have been victims of violence and personal insults as well as mental and physical abuse in the past year in our EU Member States on account of their sexual identity .
the public has financed the rescue packages for the major banks .
Commissioner , the Lyon report recognises the role that agriculture , as a strategic sector , can play in contributing to the priorities of the new Europe 2020 strategy .
all the same , a sort of tiredness and apathy with enlargement can be felt more and more in public opinion .
in conclusion , however , if you will allow me , I will repeat a phrase by the President of the Securities and Markets Authority , who said that , at the very least , it would be good if the financial markets detoxified themselves of the rating agencies to allow investors to gain a greater personal appreciation of situations and risks .
9 .
Corrigendum to a text adopted : see Minutes
the discussion today should not only remind us that we must always stay united against totalitarianism , but also that the present Ukrainian generation , on behalf and in the memory of the Holodomor victims , must eliminate from their country and their history all authoritarian instincts , inclinations and practices .
I am therefore voting for the motion for a resolution tabled by the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) , which duly emphasises the above points .
right now all eyes are on the case of the former conservative Prime Minister , Ivo Sanader , who is in prison in Austria .
Parliament can be proud of its unity , because , through its vote today , it is showing its unstinting commitment to safer and less polluted European waters .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I will try to do my best to keep my answers short .
today , I have heard some good and interesting suggestions , but the crucial point to understand is this : each of us must exercise his or her responsibilities coherently with the other institutions , while showing , of course , the greatest possible consideration for the European general interest .
there is no longer a distinction between compulsory and non-compulsory expenditure .
in this respect , there are two elements to which I am opposed .
let this not be a crisis .
as much as I share the objective of creating a place where the public can learn about the major phases of European integration since the end of the Second World War , I am nonetheless surprised by the relative approximation with which the necessary investments and provisional running costs are quantified and concerned about the opacity of certain decision-making procedures .
as a result , Commissioner , the proposals tabled by the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development , to which we also contributed , should be taken into account .
the President of the European Parliament , Mr Pöttering , was in the chair when Mr Schulz spoke , and so this is a question for Mr Pöttering .
in addition , the UN special rapporteur on torture submitted a useful document during the last committee meeting which proves that prisons of this kind were established by the CIA in Poland .
the Spanish Presidency is a huge challenge for those of us who believe that European economic governance is needed , alongside democratisation of the economic policy instruments that will safeguard financial prudence and the required solidarity , where deemed necessary , in order to protect the interests of European citizens .
in my opinion , ratification should be common , by all countries , and , if possible , in a single act and with a single instrument .
if the European Union obstinately refuses to listen to the will of the people , its democratic base will slowly but surely disappear .
the vote will take place on Thursday , 9 June , at 12 : 00 .
the famous Amendment 6 on parliamentary questions is also yet another curtailment of our rights .
structural Funds are public funds which are subject to national public procurement legislation .
( NL ) Mr President , you have my sincere thanks for your helpfulness and your tolerance .
the Commission 's initiative has also been supported by the Heads of State and Government of the 27 Member States .
( DE ) I believe that one of the biggest problems that we have is double taxation within Europe , which , in the area of social security in particular , unexpectedly leads to additional tax burdens .
this is our only hope of convincing the citizens of Europe that the European project has a future .
let me start by thanking Mrs Griesbeck for her support and her work in the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs on the EU-Georgia agreement with the adoption of a favourable opinion .
this text supports the implacable logic of liberal dogmatism .
lastly , I would point out that small and medium-sized enterprises in the tourism sector are fully covered by the measures proposed in the framework of the Small Business Act , which is intended to promote the business environment of those very same enterprises .
obviously not , because the ' dialogue ' on human rights with third countries is not meant for discussing human rights in the EU , but in those countries .
secondly , with regard to future enlargements : we must ensure that candidate countries feel they have an opportunity and a chance to become members of the European Union in the near future .
I therefore think it crucial to enact effective legislation to improve administrative cooperation in tackling harmful tax practices and to ensure the smooth functioning of the internal market .
I would just like to inform you that it is just the same position , and I do not think that there is a need to change this position before the negotiations on SWIFT .
we need answers on this score , too .
with all the good ideas that have been put forward here in this House we also hope that the Council will not lag behind , but that it will support this ambitious political stance of the EIB and of Parliament .
is it not a disgrace that , 50 years after we established the common market , it is still possible , as reported by the British Consumers ' Association 's magazine Which ? , for someone to go on the web site of Renfe , the Spanish rail operator , and to pay 60 % more on the English-language version than on the Spanish-language version ?
at the same time , coordination between future investments leaves a lot to be desired .
I appreciate that this is the aim of mediators from the African Union , and the European Union should support this process .
in many instances , it is unfortunately already doing so ; a large proportion of the illegal trade in people and drugs arrives in Europe via these countries , as does natural gas .
in simple terms it is ultimately about somehow regulating what is referred to as the Services Directive in the transport sector .
Europe should certainly assist Egypt in this , and I believe that we will find ways of preventing Egypt from taking one direction in a totalitarian manner , for instance through an extreme step toward a militant Muslim movement which does not respect democratic rules and which would hinder democratic elections and the application of civil society .
if we do not resolve this problem , then we will be even more detached from the real problems that the Structural Funds should be resolving .
other Member States are exploring ways to diversify the sources of funding .
this is the classic knock-on effect , which is best illustrated by the effects of the splendid European Capital of Culture programme .
I recognise there will be a further negotiation on this point before the directive is finally agreed , and that it was vital for this Parliament finally to agree a text to enable the process to move forward .
let me rephrase Mr Davies ' very good question .
those two projects , SIS II and VIS , formed part of the same contract , signed in 2003 , between the Commission and a consortium of information technology companies .
we do not want to hide our convictions .
I hope that we can change the text of the report which rather one-sidedly places too many obligations on Macedonia and not enough on its neighbours .
Mr President , I am very pleased as an Irish MEP that my colleagues from Ireland , Joe Higgins and Proinsias De Rossa , have outlined various concerns in Sri Lanka and Iran , and I concur with them .
it is this societal model that we in the political centre right want to continue to build .
because of the events of 2005 and 2006 , we have had to tackle illegal immigration , but in that process the asylum-seeker has literally fallen overboard .
we are really looking forward to receiving a proposal from the Commission on new legal action in the course of this legislative period .
that same unlovely assumption lies behind the EU Constitution , now called the Lisbon Treaty , and that is why we should put that Treaty to the people : Pactio Olisipio censenda est !
Member States have been required to go through the screening process of their legislation to look , as I say , for those discriminatory elements .
attacks on church services in Iraq , Egypt and Syria have claimed dozens of lives , including those of children .
concerning expert groups , as I said in COCOBU , I can repeat here that we have a commitment to publish the list of permanent experts .
I hope the Council is not forced , once again , to issue empty communiqués of solidarity rather than offering coordinated civil protection mechanisms and funds to help people , leaving us to complain about citizens being indifferent and disinterested in what our institutions are doing .
it therefore requires the right treatment and the right doctor .
so , if I see anticipation of the prices , I would always argue that renewable energy is definitely the one that should be at the heart of any energy policy in any part of the world .
we promote democracy , human rights and freedom of expression , and can under no circumstances approve of terrorism .
the matter of global food security therefore assumes an extremely urgent character and must be at the top of the European and international political agenda .
it is around Christmas time that we remember ' A Christmas Carol ' by Charles Dickens , in which an employer in a certain country in Europe does not give his hardworking employee a holiday .
the idea itself can only be welcomed , especially if we consider how costly and cumbersome the current procedure is , having to apply for a separate patent in each Member State .
disproportionate increases in the Union budget , which some wish to see , are not acceptable .
Baroness Catherine Ashton welcomed the PM and it was clearly appreciated that the EU was the venue for his first foreign visit .
what the Rasmussen report says is that the EU must take action and I am convinced that , as a result of the vote of the European Parliament , the European Commission will be called upon to rise to this challenge that affects not only the life of a few , but the life of the population of the entire European Union- and will do so .
we are also preparing a proposal to prohibit trade in the skins of seals that have been inhumanely hunted .
one important measure involves educating the public about prevention , but also about early recognition and delaying the onset of the disease .
but whom does this gas benefit ?
that will lead to a reduction in costs and an increase in competitiveness for the economy , and also create wealth and jobs , which are important for a healthy balance of trade .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
in writing . - ( LT ) I welcomed this document , because the Multiannual Financial Framework for the period 2007-2013 turned the territorial cooperation objective into one of the three pillars of the EU 's cohesion policy , replacing the INTERREG Community initiative .
let them do so , let them take certain other actions which are needed , such as strict compliance with planning regulations , in order to prevent most of the disasters .
it is not up to us to decide .
the codification of the existing legislative texts is the result of approximating the legislation of the Member States to the establishment of technical rules on the permissible sound level and the exhaust system of motor vehicles , which promote environmental sustainability at European level .
the belated about-turn by Minister Maroni , who is fanning the flames of racism in Italy while trying to put them out in Europe , like an amateur fireman facing an irritated Commissioner Barrot , is the only really grotesque situation that we are seeing at the moment in Europe .
if necessary , I can give you the names and the quotations : that is the easiest way to work .
I hope that the others will follow .
now that the three-year cycle for the renewed Lisbon Strategy is coming to an end , we need to focus attention on the external dimension in particular .
an example is the nomination of the Mediterranean diet as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity , which is to be examined by the responsible committee within UNESCO in 2009 .
it is important , and I will conclude with this , to ask the Commission for the human rights action plan to be concluded quickly and ambitiously , Madam President .
since these countries lack reception facilities , many refugees have to endure unacceptable conditions .
( DA ) Mr President , the most recent internal tensions and unrest in Tunisia , Egypt , Libya and other Arab countries have led to huge migration flows with their associated challenges for Europe .
secondly , its development must have a positive effect on road safety .
I do not believe it should be tolerated .
this is where unity really comes to an end .
racist discourse is an abuse of freedom of expression and cannot be tolerated .
ladies and gentlemen , there are eight requests to speak under the ' catch the eye ' procedure .
in comparison , the amount recovered in 2007 was 288 million .
we must also guard against increased pressure on local services to the detriment of indigenous patients , and that is particularly relevant in areas where there are specialisations which people would seek out .
closure of the sitting
given that the Treaty is not being signed by the European institutions but was negotiated by the Member States , does it not also agree that the national governments must do much more to counter the myths and misinformation that Mr Mitchell referred to and get their act together in this vital debate for the future of Europe ?
I would like to outline them here in order to explain , first of all , the extent to which we support them and why , and in particular to say that these points were incorporated in the consensus and that the European Parliament was pleased with all of the points it requested .
I should like to begin by talking very briefly about the land .
in the run-up to Copenhagen we must muster all our forces and work together so that , given the particular role of Europe , we will achieve the best possible result .
in the presence of 7 out of 28 members , I was given 20 minutes in the Committee on Legal Affairs to defend myself in respect of a dossier of hundreds of pages long .
unfortunately , the fact that physical education classes are not attractive leads to an increase in absenteeism .
the Commission intends to do so .
( DA ) Mr President , I share the concerns and views expressed by previous speakers .
a failure to recognise this relationship may undermine our efforts for improvements in both areas .
there was no Congolese people with shared interests and prospects , only a multitude of peoples in isolated areas .
subject : negotiations with FYR of Macedonia towards EU membership
( CS ) Europe 's ability in the past to cope with the modern age has to be admired , but when it comes to globalisation we are not sure how to find an adequate strategy that would enable Europe to play a key role .
the next item is the vote .
Madam President , I would like to thank Íñigo for doing a great job and all those colleagues who took part for their cooperation .
in its report , the European Parliament stresses that the conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement ( FTA ) between the EU and the GCC is a priority for further cooperation with our Mediterranean partners .
why are we , as Greens , nevertheless voting for this project today ?
there is a turnover of administrative staff , but there are people who remain head teachers for more than 20 years .
and thus , we will decide not on the basis of gender , but on the basis of their competence .
the means provided for in the directives for sending information to shareholders were laid down 30 years ago , and do not take into account the technological possibilities of today .
there are , moreover , reports that in recent weeks , a significant number of bloggers and political activists have either been charged with criminal offences , such as subverting state power , or have been detained without charge .
this manoeuvre has to all intents and purposes been defeated .
basically , I assume , although I do not know if my group fully supports me here , that safety is a matter for the state and must , therefore , be decided and also financed at state level .
I support Mrs Esteves ' excellent report , the objective of which , in connection with reinforcing the principle of mutual recognition of decisions , is to enhance the prospects of the sentenced person being reintegrated into society , while seeking to improve the protection of victims and prevent recidivism .
it is vitally important as a habitat for the conservation of numerous rare and / or endemic flora and fauna species , as a nesting place of globally threatened birds , and as a depositary of significant archaeological and traditional heritage .
and that is despotic behaviour .
there has been no improvement in the effectiveness of the fight against crime .
Italian Members submitted further proposals at today 's plenary session , including broadening the regulation to encompass shoes as well .
last but not least , there is a desire to radically change how the Transnistrian problem is being negotiated .
throughout the European Union , order-givers are increasingly using tiers of subcontractors from other Member States , and cases of seconded workers not being paid are becoming more common .
because there was not time , President José Sócrates told Portuguese journalists , sometimes these things are discussed over dinner .
I declare resumed the session of the European Parliament adjourned on Thursday , 22 October 2009 .
one current idea is precisely to have ways of measuring progress and to monitor progress in certain areas on the basis of indicators .
we need to address employment , income aspects and energy poverty .
the reasons are well known .
I would like to thank all the members who have participated in debates and who have tabled amendments , the Council and the European Commission - we have worked well together and exchanged positions regularly and in good time .
once inside , you will be locked in for ever .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
this is a template .
large-scale unemployment , migration from North Africa , terrorism , organised crime and people-trafficking have provided us with problems far more complex than those envisaged in the policies for free movement of European citizens .
it is this context that defines the importance of this initiative , which calls on the Commission to consider the possibility of coordinating at European level strategies concerning the instrument of international adoption .
has it been deleted from the agenda ?
I would like to put that in a political context .
( CS ) Mr President , I would like to say that I am disappointed over the negotiations between the Council , the Commission and Parliament concerning the EU budget for 2011 .
Tuesday :
a lot of European worthies will be jockeying for front seats at the opening of the Games .
now what has emerged is a new idea , namely , the competitiveness pact which we are trying - and here I wish to be very transparent and show my respect for Parliament - to fit as well as we can within the Community approach .
the measures proposed in the report will result in the EU - which already has to face the problem of mass immigration - becoming even more attractive to migrants .
this can leave children damaged for life , and I will not contribute to that .
there are Member States , and here I am looking at Mr Busuttil , among others , since he brought up the issue so forcefully , who seek the support of the European Union when they experience problems ; it is an expression of European solidarity that we should provide help when , for example , Malta experiences a problem with refugees .
one other thing which is new is that the Treaty uses exactly the same wording to describe the mandate of the Council as it does to describe that of Parliament .
for this reason , we must combat age discrimination in the workplace .
I also believe that the European authorities ' increased involvement in the bodies of the Council of Europe specialising in the protection of human rights is a logical consequence of this single standard of protection .
moreover children 's rights are an area in Swedish law which uncompromisingly places the child 's best interests in the forefront of consideration .
Commissioner , with passion and the force of the law behind us , we are relying on everyone to do their part and , in these last few seconds , I should like to ask my fellow Members to dedicate a minute of reflection to the memory of the victims .
ensuring adequate protection of data in the activity of the two structures is extremely important .
Europe now has a duty to the countries in this region .
actions aimed at making women fully active also produce a reduction in overall poverty .
nobody would question this .
I voted for the resolution on Serbia 's integration .
greater codecision will mean more scrutiny and more daylight in the decision-making process .
this vote by our Parliament , which follows several resolutions since the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia , is proof that the events in the Arab world are a wave , the size and longevity of which no one can predict .
to this end , it is desirable that most international organisations should hold a specific mandate in order to combat tax havens .
combating the effects of these serious violations of rights does not resolve and will never be able to effectively resolve the underlying problem , for which other instruments should be used .
the ACP countries , however , have estimated the necessary accompanying measures at far more than EUR 190 million .
the main building blocks of the reform of the fisheries policy , as proposed by the Commission in its Green Paper , must be making the ecosystem the starting point , and the precautionary principle .
we are already in agreement across all the groups that there should be as little impact as possible on the health of the passengers .
President-in-Office , have you asked the Heads of State or Government for a personal political commitment to bringing ratification to a successful conclusion in their respective countries ?
there is an ongoing police investigation and the company concerned is cooperating fully with them .
one-minute speeches on matters of political importance
it is possible that shortly , in the next few days , the Political Director will pay a special visit to the country , and so forth .
I think I remember reading that in the 95 % of cases examined , the majority do not fall within the mandate of the European Ombudsman , as the complaints are not made against a Community institution or body .
in writing . - I just wish to raise one particular point regarding cooperation on taxation between Member States .
Mr President , rapporteurs , ladies and gentlemen , the Presidency is well aware of your attachment to the respect for fundamental rights within the European Union and I would like to stress that the future group , which has brought together the six justice ministers from Germany , Portugal , Slovenia , France , the Czech Republic and Sweden , has made strengthening data protection a priority for the European Union in the coming years .
the Committee rejected the Commission 's proposal for a decision because we do not know to this day why it opted for that particular instrument rather than proposing legally binding rules on such an important matter .
I think , however , the area of public procurement has led to a lot of the problems as well , where there was an element of ' jobs for the boys ' , a lack of transparency and a lack of integrity .
I welcome the efforts that have been made towards clarifying Union law in order to make it more accessible to all EU citizens .
I therefore support the proposal put forward by both rapporteurs on transferring Community funds in good time , avoiding the delays caused by the need for the European Commission to modify the legal basis of the provisions .
within the EU , the tourism statistics system is governed by Directive 95 / 57 / EC .
however , it seems that this does not function exactly as we would like , because we are faced with the following problem : we need to reconcile two things , the free trade that we all agree on , and protection , which is also necessary .
that is why we have made some good progress today .
however , the Northern Catalonian state border continues to act as a cultural and linguistic frontier , infringing these directives .
in line with the European Union 's policy on human rights and the promotion of democracy , I voted in favour of the regulation since I believe that the values and principles on which our Union is based must be promoted and passed on around the world .
in fact , this debate means that you clearly have the reflexes to act immediately , as is fitting for the House that represents the peoples of Europe , and that you can consider on a longer-term basis what action needs to be taken in response to this entirely unforeseen , completely new crisis , which has had extraordinary and extremely serious effects on the lives of European citizens .
we must use this summit to make progress , and I welcome the Council and Commission statements that have been made today .
we should also remember that in order to ensure good , effective and mutually beneficial cooperation with our neighbours , it is extremely important and valuable to have an exchange of experiences and best practices , as well as training initiatives , including programmes for learning the languages of neighbouring countries .
in writing . - ( SK ) Europe needs multilingualism in order to survive .
Mr President , I should first like to thank Mr Arnaoutakis for his question on the ever topical issue of food safety .
you missed the start of this year , and you will have to make a great effort to meet the expectations of citizens in Europe .
the year 2010 will be the year for combating poverty .
the next item is the statements by the Council and the Commission on the European Union 's external strategy on the Passenger Name Record ( PNR ) .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
( BG ) I share the concern for the democratic process in Turkey in light of the recent arrests which were made after the local elections .
this report , drafted by Mrs Niebler , concerns the problem of ' guaranteeing independent impact assessments ' .
I wish to congratulate Mrs Van Brempt for her report .
there are numerous blockades and it is a general strike , which our group hopes will be a complete success and result in these anti-social policies being rectified across Europe .
I will try to push it in the direction of my convictions , and we will see what the result is .
the Treaty of Lisbon stipulates this move , which would be a positive development .
we impose extremely high requirements on Norway , which imports gas into the EU , and exactly the same requirements should apply to Russia .
what is happening today in Haiti could be another catastrophe tomorrow and could affect every part of the world the day after tomorrow .
the progress made by the Member States can be considered reasonable , given the context of serious deterioration in the socio-economic situation due to the global crisis and to the reform made to the policy for the period 2007-2013 .
I hope this is something the Commission will look at .
in fact , the whole package has been reduced to a conciliation procedure and its introduction has been delayed .
China 's enormous demand for raw materials and energy is governing Chinese investments without any particular concern for the healthy development of society .
I want to draw your attention to the fact that the Commission has its own code of good administrative behaviour , adopted in 2000 . this code still constitutes a modern and very effective instrument .
( FR ) Mr President , you cannot take sides ; you cannot encourage people to rise ; they know themselves whether or not to do so .
that is absolutely right , but that gap will not be filled by developing European parties and , as another contributor to the debate has said , giving those parties the resources to match their ambitions .
if you want to regularise their status , and to have a proper mandate for them , then put the constitution to the people in the referendum you once promised .
( DE ) Mr President , I would like to point out that the Czech Presidency has not only achieved more than it has been given credit for , but that it was also very varied .
this is unacceptable .
every individual is free to decide .
I think it most important that we discuss this proposal .
to end on a hopeful note , what I wanted to point out to Parliament is that the European Union has a key part to play in this process , owing to its position as a member of the Quartet , its status as the main source of funding and its actions in support of the Palestinian Authority , and also in its position as a major partner of Israel .
the effort to implement these two aims - removing barriers and making rational choices over issues that should be resolved at European level - is not and never will be completed .
- The debate is closed .
approval of this amendment will allow both the administration of Parliament and the political groups and MEPs to respond better and more efficiently to the new requirements .
I also happen to believe , contrary to you , if I listened carefully , that the emergence of a real opposition in this House is very welcome and a healthy sign that European parliamentary democracy is vital and mature .
passing laws keeps us in business , but enforcing laws actually delivers for our people , and a failure to enforce laws , frankly , makes us look like fools .
in writing . - ( HU ) I welcome the compromise achieved at the Bali climate protection summit , and the decision relating to this by the EP Climate Change Committee .
this is what we have been working on up until now and what we hope to achieve with the next amendment .
last Saturday afternoon , after a jolly good lunch at the Élysée , the European leaders stood on the steps and they talked with fairly weak smiles about solidarity .
we are currently exploring other ways of improving Europe 's image as a tourist destination and are hoping for your support here .
I must admit that the subject of European standardisation became close to my heart when I was the European Parliament 's rapporteur for the financing of European standardisation , and I still feel the same way about it now here in the European Parliament .
in the long term , however , it remains to be seen which other measures are adopted in this respect .
today , I am somewhat concerned .
I have to say that I am disappointed that the coastal states did not reach an agreement in Oslo at the beginning of March .
the increase in the price differential between production and consumption confirms the existence of serious distortions in the transfer of foodstuffs from field to plate in Italy .
the change of regime should be supported , not only the economy , although that should , of course , be supported too .
I would like , starting from where we are today , to take a look forward .
so I think it is the moment where we can really make changes .
if , and only if , these measures turn out to be insufficient , public support could be envisaged , on condition , of course , that it conforms to the European State Aid Regulations .
it is also important that we achieve proper enforcement of the legislation .
therefore there are many more elderly people , also because the birth rate has declined , which is why in the document we call for measures to stimulate the birth rate .
I also proposed support from the EU budget mainly to stimulate and foster cooperation in this area , as well as to provide some financial support to Member States that need it .
the situation among Member States at present is that there are States that do not willingly exchange information on taxpayers with other Member States , even when requested to do so .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I appreciated the fact that the Swedish Presidency emphasised issues that concern our fellow citizens , our electorate , namely the environment and climate change , the financial crisis , the safeguarding of jobs and the fight against crime , because , in order to do a good job , we need to be in harmony with those who voted for us .
does this ' reconnection ' involve disregarding and trying to bypass the democratic and sovereignly expressed will of the people who rejected the first proposal for the ' Constitutional ' Treaty and then the ' Lisbon ' Treaty ?
however , the military action between Russia and Georgia earlier this year and the continuing tension in relations between the two countries , along with the overall instability in the Caucasus region , highlight the fact that our common Black Sea border still faces daunting challenges .
to end - again , my congratulations go to Mr Salafranca .
once again , I would like to reiterate the importance of this legal process in order to allow easier comprehension and greater clarity of EU legal texts , whose main beneficiaries are the European public and its bodies .
thus , it is a useful report and one for which I voted , not least to reaffirm the inviolable nature of the right to abortion and the need for easy access to methods of contraception , at a time when these rights are not yet effective in all the Member States of the European Union .
once the GHS has been passed - unfortunately not until 2010 for substances and as late as 2015 for mixtures - all chemicals will be easy to identify .
we voted against this report as we feel that the pressure that is still being applied to conclude the ratification process of the Treaty of Lisbon , despite the result of the Irish referendum , is unacceptable .
for example , extending overly strict emissions targets to all the coastal regions in Europe may create distortions of competition .
as I see it , however , funds from the Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity ( Progress ) , particularly as proposed here , will enable people to go self-employed .
that will require not only agreement amongst ourselves , but also consultations with our neighbours and in particular in partnership with the countries of Northern Africa , and it will need to take into account a wide range of factors such as international protection , migration , mobility and security .
the G20 Conference also made the dismantling of tax havens one of the key objectives .
besides sectors such as metalwork , the construction industry , electrical work or forestry , I would also like to highlight the high-risk jobs of doctors and healthcare staff , who in their jobs are exposed to huge risks of infection and AIDS , tuberculosis , hepatitis and many other infections .
for Sweden the outcome was extremely bad .
the facts are as follows : there is a worldwide shortage of food ; there is hunger - 850 million people are going hungry .
just for clarification to Paolo De Castro , intervention for cheese was actually abolished in 1994 .
will you bring a case before the European Court against the Czech Republic if the implementing measures of the agreement prove to be contrary to Community law ?
however , there is a point that could unite all of us , which is that we need a European energy policy , with transparency on stocks and pooling of resources on solar power , photovoltaic power , biomass power and hydraulic power .
the scope is reasonable , even though we negotiated it on other premises , but the fact that we managed to include all Member States but two is certainly positive , as is the fact that many clauses were made obligatory , even at distances of less than 250 km , while giving up some other forms of compensation .
this figure is almost double the amount allocated under the 9th EDF .
one of the most crucial questions I have heard - and I would ask Mr Caldeira explicitly to explain this carefully - is what is the situation with the 11 % under Cohesion Policy that should not have been disbursed ?
furthermore , the creation by France of a genuine exclusive economic area in the Mediterranean would make it possible to provide a sanctuary for resources while keeping alive small-scale fishing that is respectful of ecological balances .
quite the contrary .
I agree with your draft resolution to unblock the agreement .
there are those who think that hawkish Thai generals are using it as an excuse to overthrow the government and to cancel the elections proposed for later this year .
for example , direct aid will no longer simply be based on a premium per hectare , but the size of the farm , employment arrangements , labour productivity and legal form will also be taken into consideration at long last .
thinking about heading 4 , we are not against increasing funding for the common foreign and security policy ( CFSP ) or for the Industrialised Countries Instrument ( ICI + ) , but we do not want it to be at the expense of our priorities : first Palestine and then development cooperation .
as a Greek , he has tackled a subject that also affects his own region and citizens .
my final question is : how can you defend the fact that the hedge funds , private equity and investment banks are the last resort on the international and financial markets without any regulations ?
the aim of this draft directive is to increase the confidence and protection of consumers in the purchases that they make in shops or on the Internet , and to reduce the reluctance of businesses to sell in other EU countries .
we considered the question of introducing an EU ban on beaching in the impact assessment of our strategy .
at the same time I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Commissioner Kallas , who over the years has worked very hard to promote these issues .
I want to make it clear that the agreement between Parliament and the Council , which I hope is as broad as possible , owes much to the determination of the European Parliament , and particularly that of its rapporteur , Mr Gauzès , and to the in-depth work that they have accomplished .
secondly , I am looking to the Hungarian Presidency to do its utmost to define , in collaboration with the other European institutions , a genuine European strategy for Roma inclusion .
Romania has a department within its Ministry of Foreign Affairs that looks after the interests of Romanians living abroad .
the regional dimension and cross-border cooperation are important .
secondly , both the Council and the Parliament are delivering on your commitment to conclude the Commission 's legislative package on economic governance by this summer .
on the contrary , a free European labour market is what is needed to present Europe as a model , as a partner and as a world leader .
it would be worse than regrettable if the EU had no foreign policy financing instrument that was actually named as such .
second , the Irish Government should apply to the European Union for funding under the European Union solidarity fund so that emergency aid can be given to those in most need , as was done in previous times for countries like Germany , France , the Czech Republic and Austria .
the final reason for doing this was pinpointed today by Commissioner Almunia when he admitted that , in the prevailing international climate , Europe 's growth will be driven primarily , if not entirely , by internal consumption .
freedom of religion and conscience must apply to everyone equally .
we must give it time and see the potential that it may have when brought into force and when used to tackle the challenges that lie ahead .
- ( LT ) I would like to talk about value added tax from two points of view - social justice and competitiveness .
a significant factor in this is , I think , a rational policy for reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere .
airports of national or continental importance are affected along with regional ones .
our rapporteur , Mrs Fourtou , has put in an enormous amount of work on this and in the end , as is almost always the case , Parliament , the Council and the Commission have agreed on the final text we will be adopting .
the Romanian parties that are currently preparing for elections are using the occasion to create anti-Hungarian hysteria .
that means politically stable relations , personal safety and economic development .
therefore our objective must be to ensure that implementation is as successful as possible .
I therefore think we have chosen a proper and acceptable approach .
the debate is closed .
just over 200 complaints came from companies and associations , and 18 times more than that came from individuals .
however , more financial resources are needed to make the required investments .
it is all for the SWIFT agreement and tomorrow will vote in favour .
and I am very proud of the confidence that the European Council expressed in the Commission by asking us to come forward with the necessary proposals to define the modalities for this Union for the Mediterranean .
there is no country or multilateral organisation that is better suited than the European Union to effectively fulfil the mandate given by Resolution 1778 .
all these samples have been corrected , recovered and the necessary documents provided .
this will require considerable investment , forward-looking decisions and cooperation across borders .
however , I want to pay specific attention to just one .
European research cannot continue to bear the weight of the procedural errors that have affected the framework programmes up to now .
I believe that the EU must support the modernisation and improvement of school curricula so that they reflect the requirements of the current labour market , as well as current social , economic , cultural and technical realities .
the quality of its provisions depends almost entirely on their transposition by the Member States , in which case there is no real need for Community-level regulation .
if the super levy should then be collected anyway , then the part corresponding to the bought-up quota could then be used for restructuring .
thus the European Union had , and still has to some extent , two yardsticks : one for its former colonies and another for other countries with a similar level of development that do not come under this system .
allow me to reiterate , Commissioner , that funds are needed to teach and care for those unfortunate individuals .
this is not co-decision .
recruitment for these missions is currently under way .
- Report : Herczog
I also welcome the French commitment now recently announced .
secondly , I would repeat my desire to see a Europe emerge that supports the diversity of the cultures that characterise the nations it comprises .
the Commission proposals for improving economic governance are of the greatest importance for the future of the EU and for economic growth , particularly in the euro area .
I would expect that our incoming Prime Minister , our Taoiseach , will raise the issue when he is in Washington to celebrate St Patrick 's Day .
this has been Parliament 's position right from the beginning and across all the groups .
likewise , this condemnation extends to any kind of discrimination and intolerance based on religion and faith against practitioners of a religion .
it is important for it to be possible , as an ordinary citizen , to find reliable information quickly , particularly in view of the fact that there is plenty of information that is downright misleading , in particular in various chat rooms on the Internet that are easy to find if someone is in a vulnerable situation .
half a dozen informal trialogues took place under the Spanish Presidency during the first half of 2010 in order to facilitate the exchange of information on the progress of the work .
however , both sides must use only peaceful and democratic means to bring this about and , for this , they need the support of the EU .
the question that then arises is whether we are to draw up policies for the consumer or for the companies involved in this European gas market .
there were proposals agreed in 2004 .
Bottom-trawlers are operating in a way that would require a major environmental impact assessment in any other industry operating in deep-sea areas .
effective government measures against growing anti-Semitism in public life in Turkey .
the recent protests in several Arab countries show that non-democratic and authoritarian regimes cannot ensure credible stability , and that democratic values have a key role in economic and political partnerships .
( SL ) Madam President , Mrs Győri , Commissioner Füle , I would like to congratulate the rapporteur , Mr Charles Tannock , on the achievement represented by the resolution on Montenegro , on which we will be voting tomorrow .
on the issue of financing , I agree with Mr Queiró that financing is a key issue that will have an impact on the success of this policy .
Mr Cappato , you mentioned the situation of Christians in Central Vietnam , a matter to which we are particularly attentive , and I thank you for having mentioned it .
but , in the meantime , Member States must commit themselves to a policy that state-owned vessels and old warships will be dismantled in a safe and environmentally sound way .
these proposals form part of the Community 's sixth action programme and the attached package as published by the Commission in July 2008 .
there are two opposing positions : on one side , the position of the Chinese regime , which says the Dalai Lama is a violent man at the head of a violent people , and that the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile want independence for a national Tibetan state , which runs counter to Chinese territorial unity .
in countries to which foreigners travel in greater numbers for medical treatment and operations , however , there is a risk that domestic patients will be treated only after the demand from foreign patients has been met .
on the other hand , there is the principle of freedom of expression and the concern to maintain a high level of legal certainty in Europe .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , Parliament has worked hard on the White Paper on Sport and has thrown its full support behind the request to the European Commission to produce clear guidelines on the application of European law to sport .
in writing . - Following the conciliation meeting held on 18 November 2009 , Parliament and the Council were capable of coming to an agreement regarding the use of the Flexibility Instrument in favour of the EERP as well as of the decommissioning of the Kozloduy power plant in Bulgaria .
I am therefore very pleased to be taking part in the debate on this issue organised by the European Parliament .
Tunisia also rightly takes an uncompromising approach to Islamist jihadi extremism .
many Members have pondered the question of the new Member States and how it can be that , despite growth in the number of Members , there has been no growth in lawsuits for infringement of treaties .
Mr President , soil protection is of course necessary , but what is not necessary is another EU directive .
it would also have been important for it to avoid any ambiguity at a time when we are confronting attempts by the European Commission to impose the interests of agribusiness multinationals regarding the spread of genetically modified crops .
among other things , this relationship results in the maintenance of permanent jobs in Europe and in the region .
I am most concerned by this , especially at primary level .
Europe began the recovery strategy and dealing with the economic crisis very well and in an exemplary fashion , to the extent that the United States of America learned a lesson from Europe and followed its example , but after that , Europe slowed down completely .
we are also faced with problems of resources , because the capabilities of the ASEAN states are stretched by the wide number of FTAs they are currently negotiating .
Europe has a chance to lead the world in the quest to cut carbon emissions , to bring about real change to the benefit of future generations .
the extension of European political integration to security and defence , as provided for in the Treaty of Lisbon , is urgent and needs to be speeded up .
one might be forgiven for thinking that , in some interpretations , the ECJ has sought to establish the pre-eminence of articles 43 and 49 over every other consideration .
thus , if there are no objections from the House , we will hold a roll-call vote during the final vote .
but if we take the criterion of population as is suggested in the report , as a result of people leaving the country the number of MEPs elected in my country is diminishing , while it is rising on the islands .
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with the economic crisis on everyone 's lips , creating new jobs in the film industry , enabling innovation , improving information sharing , research and market research is a contribution to creating jobs .
the EGF offers Member States the opportunity to support workers affected by the global financial and economic crisis and the major changes in global trade patterns .
also , the majority of stakeholders do not see the need for a major overhaul of the TDI system .
the New Flame incident had nothing to do with the bunkering of oil ; the British authorities informed the Commission that oil bunkering activities were regulated under existing law and that they did not pose any particular problems .
the rail toll in Slovakia is twice as high as in Germany , and the Slovaks have no road tolls at all .
it appears in the regulation , and in the current political agreement , although the latter does state that we undertake to expand the regulation on statistics and pesticides as it now stands with the concept of ' biocidal products ' at the time when the legislation exists and also - and that was an urgent demand on the part of the Council - after an impact study on the matter .
Europe should play its part in providing such education as well as helplines for parents and children faced with such situations .
the first is that we must recognise the fact that we have utterly failed , or perhaps we have never even tried , to initiate a real strategy in relation to the countries on the southern shores of the Mediterranean .
if it is me who has not moved on , then I am proud , because I do not wish to be associated in any way , particularly as an Englishwoman , with comments such as those .
cohesion policy should be geared towards results by setting clear and measureable objectives and results indicators .
these organisations therefore need reliable and secure financing .
in my view the proposed amendments will not only considerably facilitate cooperation between courts but will above all help to reinforce the rights of the citizen with respect to the administration of justice throughout the European Union , especially the right of defence and the right to a retrial .
of course , it is not a complete surprise to me that Parliament is taking such an interest in the strategy .
may I finally make the point that we must remember the structure of Europe .
I think it is important to emphasise that the European Parliament will be involved to the very highest degree in all of these aspects now that we have the Treaty of Lisbon in place , and democratic control will increase in these areas .
at the same time , public finances must be consolidated .
because state television was able to report round the clock , evoking a profound sense of shock at the unimaginable suffering of the people in the stricken areas .
we are discussing one of the main tools that the Union has at its disposal .
but that issue is now before us again .
I strongly hope this project will be resumed at full speed in 2008 .
once again , I would like to congratulate all fellow Members who serve on the committee , and I would like Mr Harbour to accept these thanks and congratulations on their behalf .
we are treating the Irish with utter contempt .
investment , however , requires stable legal frameworks , and I would like to see an undertaking at the Lima Summit in relation to legal certainty .
in fact , democracy is still the ' least bad ' political system if it has proper checks and balances .
I agree that the Joint Undertaking is still in a start-up period and that the underspending mostly relates to delays in the progress of the Euratom fusion programme , as was also reported by the Court of Auditors in 2008 .
the Chinese Government gives massive support to Chinese firms .
it is very important in the period building up to the elections in Bosnia that we promote the importance of the European Union and make sure that national politicians describe to their people the path that they plan to take to get closer ties with Europe and ultimately to become part of Europe .
we are talking about a compromise which has to take into account the legislation , accepted practice and various cultural traditions existing in the 27 Member States .
furthermore , Article 2 clarifies that ' the general objective ... is to improve the conditions for the functioning of the internal market ' .
the European Parliament has so far lacked an impact assessment body .
as the resolution states , the dialogue should not only be North-South , but also South-South .
I would also like to highlight the social concerns stressed in this report , which warns of the wide disparity between incomes of members of the public .
a very special thank you goes to Commissioner Reding , for the excellent levels of cooperation she has shown for so long .
their efforts give social cohesion a very personal face .
industrial policy requires that we maintain our competitiveness , Mr Staes .
certainly , the focus on the heavy goods vehicles makes sense regarding the use of tolls , etc .
it clearly states who can obtain financial assistance , for what purposes and on what terms .
there is concern that key waste infrastructure management projects have experienced delays in Lithuania and this is preventing it from absorbing EU funds in a timely and efficient manner .
in terms of draft recommendations , let me just make a small clarification , Commissioner .
cohesion policy has greater potential today than ever before , and this should not be underestimated ; it is capable of improving less-developed regions characterised by permanent geographical or natural disadvantages .
this subject is so important that we need to talk about it at other times as well .
and this is quite apart from enforcement .
finally , we have a real responsibility to phase out nuclear power , and this is where scenarios for achieving this must be proposed to Parliament .
imagine what it might be spent on in terms of hospitals , doctors and teachers for developing countries .
I would like to state explicitly that this is an intolerable situation .
it discusses the reintegration of imprisoned women into society and the job market .
there should be strong trade union organisation in every workplace that can guarantee in concrete terms the right of women to come back to work after giving birth , without fear of discrimination .
once again the European Commission is reminding us of the need to meet all of the Maastricht criteria prior to entry into the euro area , with reference to the new Member States .
it will give us the opportunity to look again at what our priorities are .
as you know , more than 30 % of those candidates have not even been allowed to stand .
I am particularly pleased that we are in a different situation today , even if the situation in Turkmenistan is still a long way from meeting our standards .
when this emotion passes and the time comes for the building of state institutions , the balance between the three culturally and linguistically different tribes will rapidly become apparent .
they have spoken of the United Nations Organisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ( MONUC ) and of cooperation by the European Commission on the ground .
the joint resolution , following the attack against worshippers praying in a Coptic church in Alexandria in Egypt on 1 January 2011 condemns all forms of violence against citizens , regardless of the religious group to which they belong , and expresses its concern at the increasing number of cases of religious aggression .
the other direct question was from Ms McGuinness about the carrot-and-stick approach and whether we applied it .
once we have received this information , we will examine whether further steps can be taken to alleviate the effects on nature in this area as a whole .
it sends a clear message to Member States : we intend to support strong integrated policies and to do this by increasing the budget by at least 5 % .
in writing . - ( IT ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I have voted in favour Mrs Novak 's report on delivering lifelong learning for knowledge , creativity and innovation and , in particular , the implementation of the ' Education and Training 2010 work programme ' .
in writing . - The ECR has always worked constructively to ensure that the eurozone can formulate a lasting solution to its sovereign debt crisis .
thank you for your response on this matter .
I would also like to thank all the representatives of the Member States who took part , at various levels , in the Intergovernmental Conference .
I personally think that in a number of areas of the Lisbon Strategy we need to move on to genuinely common policies , Community policies , if we want to be successful in the future .
however , we would like to point out that we do not see various different separate solutions as the way forward in reducing this exclusion .
the GFCM plays an important role in implementing the fundamental objectives of the fisheries policy , to promote the development , conservation , and rational management of living aquatic resources , to formulate and recommend conservation measures and to promote cooperative projects in the area of training .
thank you very much .
they assure me that the amendments will be adopted by the Hungarian Government at its next session .
I know that shipping company P & O Nedlloyd Maersk has had around 20 ships dismantled responsibly in China , particularly also by ensuring that facilities were provided there where possible .
since the EU is the world 's main donor of external aid and responsible for more than half of public development aid , it needs instruments that allow it to deal with crises , taking into consideration the EU 's horizontal and geographical objectives and priorities , while simultaneously complementing the Union 's geographical policies , objectives and instruments .
a continent which was formerly divided by the Second World War and the Cold War now lives in peace and cooperation .
we should not give up the instrument of sanctions against countries that violate human and citizens ' rights and show contempt for European standards in that area .
unfortunately , the regimes in power in Libya and Egypt have resorted as ever to sexual assault as a weapon with which to target women .
I still believe that the reason for this state of affairs is to be found in the information policy .
we need to know about one another , because in that way we can build a better Europe in the future .
you then come to exactly the threshold value that also applies to other products within the European Union .
in one of his outstanding poems , our freedom-fighter and poet honours the memory of those heroes " Who died for you , sacred world freedom ! ”
( loud applause )
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , we are currently discussing this White Paper on health for 2008-2013 , and health is of course a fundamental right for us all .
unfortunately , these families fell victim to the nationalists , who saw no place for their Polish neighbours in the new Ukrainian state .
if you do that as a private citizen , it is a criminal offence .
suddenly we find that feed-in tariffs for nuclear power stations , for atomic energy , are to be discussed at the summit - good grief , where do we actually stand in this modernisation and innovation debate ?
as a result the 2012 draft budget is almost EUR 9 billion below the ceiling of the financial perspective set for 2012 .
in actual fact , much has changed in recent times as a result of market deregulation .
but that is exactly what the Commission has done , under the usual , carefully prepared road map which has had the full support of the Council of Ministers as well as of Parliament .
they need to have a range of tools at their disposal .
the objective of reducing greenhouse gases will be achieved more easily if there is EU legislation , instead of national legislation with different objectives .
we need to have specialist staff who can design and implement humanitarian aid programmes quickly and efficiently .
this can be achieved through the Joint Committee and in cooperation with the Administration , and we can show citizens that this agreement is beneficial for them , especially if they do not have to undergo a second security check at airports .
the legislative instrument on the agenda will lay down , once formally adopted , the common rules to guarantee the efficient and harmonised use of the VIS at our external borders .
do we not have a better way to spend EUR 800 million today ?
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , first of all , I would like to thank the rapporteur for his clear depiction of the situation and the position taken .
they have profited from trade liberalisation and they have exploited cheap labour - and , all too often , cheap materials - but failed to adequately redistribute the wealth they have created at others ' expense .
that is why we voted in favour .
( applause )
I wish to highlight the progress made in the matter of purchasing duty .
in order to give a timely follow-up to this , I organised a pledging conference a month ago .
I therefore believe that the two things must be treated separately , whatever attitudes people adopt subsequently .
I would draw your attention to the fact that this debate on the exclusion of persons affected by ' dys ' ability is not to be translated into the official languages of the European Union .
unfortunately , however , it no longer provides a reliable basis for policy debate because it does not measure environmental sustainability or social integration .
on Monday this week , it was a questionable honour to work on what is a sort of anniversary : exactly a year before , the investment bank Lehman Brothers had collapsed .
Charles IV , in his policies , could not uphold a narrowly Czech stance ; on the contrary , he had to integrate and represent a whole diverse empire .
the crisis is also an opportunity to steer economic growth along an entirely new avenue , based on renewable energy sources and energy efficiency .
( FI ) Mr President , I too wish to thank the rapporteur , Mrs Hassi , and all those who have been involved in the talks on this difficult directive .
in writing . - I and my British Conservative colleagues can agree with much of this report and abhor discrimination in all its forms and are wholeheartedly supportive of providing equal opportunities for people regardless of their disability , race , religion , or sexuality .
at the initiative of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament , more financial assistance is to be provided to Palestine and Kosovo .
I take the view that this Parliament should consider paying Burma a visit , formally or informally , to establish contact with the opposition there , and should probably bring fresh and more pressure to bear on the junta , something which will not happen , unfortunately , simply on the strength of sanctions .
Parliament is actively involved in missions of this kind .
in short , the US Treasury Secretary proposes to set up a federal fund to remove from the banks ' balance sheets the illiquid assets - those mortgage-linked securities that are at the root of the problems we face .
that causes a brain drain from the developing world to Europe , and ultimately does not benefit either the developing countries or Europe , quite the contrary .
I believe that withdrawal from one of the most severe crises of our times cannot be an option .
I would like to draw your attention to the resolution adopted on 4 December last year by the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly , which addresses precisely this subject , and to the recommendations this resolution makes .
two years ago , the first summit was held .
the approach to be adopted by the EU should treat the issue of human rights as a fundamental factor , on the one hand , and , on the other , recognise the stabilising role of Iran in the region on condition that it normalises relations with its neighbours and other international players , gives up its nuclear programme and improves human and democratic conditions .
they are fully aware of the need to reform the intermediate agreement that we had but they are also concerned about a number of leads for known terrorists , which are no longer available .
as Amnesty International has said , Ai Weiwei 's arrest is an alarming turn of events in the increased incidence of counterblows against dissidents by the Chinese authorities .
mental health problems have also become commoner .
( Laughter )
we Swedish Social Democrats voted in favour of the report on the priorities for the 2012 budget for the European Parliament and other institutions .
the debate is closed .
actually , the review has confirmed the fact that protectionist attitudes towards national agricultures by the so-called old EU Member States in relation to those of the newly acceded States still persist in the European Union .
the President of the European Council said that patriotism leads to war .
the challenges linked to discrimination and equal opportunities are not the same in all Member States .
in writing . - Women are very important for the agricultural sector and the rural world and their presence there is increasingly obvious .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I had actually asked to be allowed to speak for a minute to say the same thing as my fellow Member , Mr Mauro , and so I join Mr Mauro in offering my condolences . I believe the entire Chamber is united in remembering the two Italian soldiers who were killed this morning .
however , the proposed amendment will mean that major decisions can be taken at EU level without the European Parliament having any say in the matter .
the information available in the universities will be clearer .
Mr President , the democracy and human rights situation in Azerbaijan is raising legitimate concerns .
without a change in attitude , Mr President , the EIT will not make any difference .
over the last nine years , 77 European airline companies have gone bankrupt .
finally , I very much welcome the fact that the report considers the establishment of an independent European rating agency and the possibility of a European foundation .
previous speakers have already talked about this .
as this is a very new and expensive technology , we have to be more cautious before subsidising it with public money .
I voted in favour of Mr Vlasák 's report on the urban dimension of cohesion policy in the new programming period .
in our view , it is of major significance that the European Parliament can already approve the Third Energy Package at second reading .
as a Member State , Romania must comply with European regulations concerning visas for non-EU nationals and cannot possibly grant preferential treatment to the Ukraine .
Petitions : see Minutes
of course , it is very difficult when you have to go from targets to tools .
hundreds of thousands of civilians are forced to live in extremely vulnerable conditions in eastern Chad , impatiently awaiting EUFOR deployment .
this is what needs to be changed , Mr Füle .
what is an active ingredient or an excipient ?
the money must therefore be used better , more efficiently and transparently .
the Millennium Development Goals are already very ambitious , but certainly will not be achieved without political stability and without implementing effective mechanisms for preventing conflicts and maintaining peace .
many thanks , Commissioner , for this excellent collaboration with the Commission as well .
at the end of the day , Commissioner , we are all wondering what will ultimately suffice in order for Greece to get back on its feet : a simple extension ?
we have made progress , therefore , but we are still not completely finished .
firstly , I would like to make a point about economic governance and the involvement of the European Parliament .
documents received : see Minutes
the Commission hopes that , in the vein and in the spirit of the ongoing EU-Uganda partnership , these démarches , together with those of others , will lead to a review of the proposed legislation to make it compatible with international principles of non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation .
Europe can therefore secure its relevance in the international arena if , in science and innovation , it acts in a more unified manner and involves everyone in a position to determine both growth and development .
instead , this Framework Decision is limited to a duty of Member States to inform one another and to enter into direct consultation in order to reach ' consensus on any effective solution aimed at avoiding the adverse consequences arriving from parallel proceedings ' .
we are on the way to achieving this .
most illegal immigrants to the EU arrive in Greece from Turkey across the maritime borders .
the programme as it emerges from the European Council needs to lay out the guiding priorities for justice and home affairs in the years to come and to show how they will be put into practice .
while technical health and safety measures are effecting rapid improvements , the meteoric pace of change in the working world poses new risks .
I want to assure him that this is what we are doing in order to be able to combat maladministration and that the interactive guide has very much helped reduce maladministration in the institutions as a response to his question .
from any type of moral perspective that is unfair .
worst hit was the city of L 'Aquila .
I thank my fellow rapporteur , Nicole Fontaine , and the other shadow rapporteurs for their work , and once again congratulate Commissioner Verheugen for the achievements to date .
do they harbour ambitions to become a state ?
it is an island of biodiversity with its natural features , the wealth of its fauna and flora , its water habitats and the traditional way of life of the people who live there .
that being the case , we should not always be arguing over the details .
on the ethics side , the European Group on Ethics has doubts as to whether cloning animals for food supply is ethically justified .
this means we have to provide people with an education and ensure that they are healthy so that they are able to develop within their own environment , their own country .
providing a full assessment of the human rights situation in the host country , however , is not within their competence , although it is high on the agenda .
in terms of defence , I would just like to ask one question : how can Europe be credible without defence worthy of the name ?
we can only make progress here if Parliament receives the information it has asked for - proper information , not fragments .
let me make the following proposal , Mr Wurtz : I have already written to the President of Afghanistan about this matter , and if you are all in agreement , I shall take the initiative again , not just in my own name but on behalf of the whole House .
the subject of the debate was the lower classes .
does Slovenia have any experience of this ?
the Market Access Strategy , and particularly the Market Access Partnership launched in 2007 , is the centrepiece of the Commission 's work in that respect .
I believe that the other European institutions should proceed in the same manner if we wish to build a real strategic partnership between Africa and the European Union .
EU institutions should prepare and send the Commission plans for cutting their expenditure , with specific deadlines and measurable targets .
( DA ) Madam President , we have today achieved an historic compromise with this directive on patient 's rights .
finally , on the likely impact of the election aftermath on EU-Moldova relations , it has brought to the fore the unfinished nature of Moldova 's internal reforms , particularly with regard to the rule of law and respect for fundamental freedoms .
alas , this policy has progressively lost its luminescence and radiance .
my second point is that the United States Government and the Federal Reserve System reacted vigorously and with lightning speed .
finally , let me say a word about energy policy .
its goal is to update and streamline the regulatory framework applicable to the European statistics on tourism in order to take into account the latest trends in the area .
Mr Cohn-Bendit , it must be a personal statement .
despite the fact that I cannot say I am delighted with the choice of Baroness Ashton , the College of Commissioners is dominated by extremely competent and experienced people .
we need and must achieve greater progress in this area .
this programme , which aims to restore credit , growth and employment , should give us the time needed to stabilise the markets and , above all , to restore confidence in the global economy .
the European Union must develop a specific , coordinated strategy for all spheres associated with the High North , and agree the funding for that policy and the sources of that funding .
let me also take this opportunity to commend the fact that priority has not been given to market interests alone .
as for the anti-Semitic reproaches and other criticisms , which I have heard already today and which , I must warn you , we will hear more of - once again , this is unworthy of the European Parliament !
in writing . - ( SV ) The own-initiative report on airport capacity contains high-flying plans for what can be achieved through central planning on the part of the EU .
as you know , the Treaties give the Member States some national competence in terms of energy , but we are also using the competence we have .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , let me start by offering you all my sincere thanks for your valuable contributions to this debate .
however , I would express my concern regarding some suggestions , since it must be said that they could have consequences for European producers , not least those that come from geographic locations that deserve special attention .
when the Irish voted ' no ' first time round , we said ' Oh , tell you what , we agree with democracy but only if you vote the right way .
it is notably the eurosceptic countries that are pulling their weight : the United Kingdom , Denmark and the Netherlands to a great extent .
yesterday , the Commission unfortunately only conditionally agreed and the Council did not agree at all to this demand .
I also have to say something about two very serious matters regarding roll-over budgets which go from year to year .
I had no choice , therefore , but to abstain .
I would like to stress that Europe is united and so it is very important to reduce disparities in the level of development of the European regions and to ensure economic , social and territorial cohesion .
that is the direction we are going in and it is extremely successful .
the Dutch fleet also needs to go through a transition .
it points out its achievements , and also indicates certain areas where further progress is needed , since obviously we must continue to improve .
it is in fact necessary to internalise external costs but , in order to internalise external costs , we must have a Community definition and we must choose the best internalisation methodology .
though we must take all steps to improve safety , we must help airports and air traffic authorities to comply .
( DE ) Mr President , it is not actually astonishing .
the strategy adopted continuously entails reassuring the creditors of Member States that are heavily indebted because of a reduction in taxation on capital and a decline in growth due to a fall in purchasing power and austerity - a word that I heard mentioned for the first time by Mr Barroso .
real-life examples show that solving issues related to education fuels strong Community development .
globalisation must be directed at increasing the purchasing power of the poorest in society .
yesterday , we discussed Albania .
we certainly need a discussion in our country about whether we should be in the European Parliament or not .
I would like to conclude by saying that I support the easing of visa requirements , which is a very important step , but I want to see as part of this initiative more measures linked to education and exchanges , all of which is related to expanding contacts between citizens in these countries and the European Union , as well as , of course , to increasing the knowledge in these countries about the European Union .
this amount is additional to another EUR 100 million used from the existing emergency aid reserve .
it is in thinking of the Irish and Belgian workers as victims of neo-liberal globalisation that we are voting for this report and for the granting of aid under the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund .
its decisions must be subject to scrutiny by the European Parliament .
I have spoken to the representatives of the two main political parties there .
similarly , there was the PROXIMA mission to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia , which has finished .
it goes without saying that the European Union also has a common responsibility .
( DE ) Mr President , if you had explained when Mrs Rapti took the floor what the consequences would be , we could have made more progress .
this has happened twice in Parliament 's recent history .
weblogs : I understand and I do not understand the concern of webloggers .
the possible combination of military planning , secret service structures and general diplomatic and political tasks is not acceptable from our point of view .
we talk about costs .
however , we are also monitoring very closely what is happening in the context of human rights and dignity in India 's regions .
moreover , in my capacity as Chairman of the Committee on International Trade , I proposed to my colleagues on the Committee that they approve these two proposals without amendments , under the simplified procedure , and the proposal was approved unanimously .
duty drawback also does not create a significant competitive disadvantage for our car producers since our tariffs on car parts are generally very low and will be further reduced .
that will help us to build a coherent approach that can serve as a model for elsewhere .
we are right to put a stop to illegal exports .
but are we doing so ?
I did not vote in favour of the motion for a resolution , mainly because the financing of the Europe 2020 Strategy was unable to be resolved .
ladies and gentlemen , our region has known too many wars in recent history .
my question is thus : when will Sweden become a full member of the EU ?
I made a request that you should change your oral explanation into a written explanation .
on the contrary , it reminds us that it is essential for humanitarian operations to be carried out strictly in accordance with international humanitarian law and the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council .
this factor must not be overlooked because it directly affects the stability of Eastern Europe and the security of Europe 's borders .
a final point , which Mr Pflüger mentioned , relates to the issue of parliamentary scrutiny : I do not know whether this was a deliberate misunderstanding , but the text that occurs in both Mr Saryusz-Wolski 's report and my own does not preclude groups having access to confidential information .
although the procedure was not started correctly , the end result has been right as we have acted in cooperation .
he has made a few comments which I do not understand , for example , when he says that we want to find a European solution for everything .
this concept gave rise to the Brussels I Regulation , for example , with the aim of setting up a single system for recognising legal judgments within the EU .
it prevents many African states from developing in a way which would improve the welfare of their citizens .
that is something that those of you in the countries that are currently experiencing difficulties will have to think about .
I believe that cars obviously do have their good points ; the automotive sector is an extremely powerful economic sector in Europe .
the European Court of Auditors ( ECA ) is currently carrying out audits of the results of the three programmes , and a report is expected in autumn 2011 .
we have a proposal that we can adopt today and I am certain that the large Groups in this Parliament will also vote in favour of these proposals .
in the area of domestic work , we know how these practices have , unfortunately , developed .
Vice-President Barrot has pointed out that it is important to him to have these decisions as backing , particularly during the negotiations with the United States .
however , major discrepancies still remain between national provisions and in the way they are applied , which need to be overcome if we want to establish a common area of protection and solidarity by 2012 , based , inter alia , on a common asylum procedure .
I think that all those workers have the right to ask us to come up with a viable solution for their future .
this new legislation promotes transparency and lays the foundations for creating a single open European market in defence equipment , which is also a basic factor in strengthening European security and defence policy .
last but not least , the Youth on the Move campaign will pay special attention to opportunities for young people from different backgrounds to start up their own businesses and receive micro-loans .
it provides for a more balanced trade and development approach and is intended to support a number of the compromises proposed by the rapporteur .
surely Europe risks reducing its own emissions by only a small proportion by contenting itself with making a contribution to reducing them outside of Europe by means of the compensation mechanism ?
what we can ensure , however , is the requirement that warships , other state-owned ships and those receiving state aid should be broken up exclusively in facilities that are environmentally well run , in Europe or in OECD countries .
5 .
the industry is continuing to exist and defend itself in order to survive and is not asking for protection , as Commissioner Mandelson rightly said in his speech , on which I certainly congratulate him .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( FR ) Minister , Commissioner , rapporteur , ladies and gentlemen , for experts in the aerospace sector , the name Galileo may conjure up not only an Italian astronomer , but a US space probe designed by NASA to study Jupiter and its dunes , due to be launched on 18 October 1989 from the Atlantis space shuttle .
we also demand that products be manufactured in decent working conditions without risks to the health and safety of employees .
technical assistance must be cut further .
I should like to extend my special thanks to the European Parliament for approving funding for this pilot programme .
the plight of Roma families in lead-contaminated refugee camps in the north is an issue of serious concern .
it is right that eight years after the entry into force of the Rome Statute , states should reaffirm their strong commitment to building on peace , stability and the rule of law .
the execution of minors is not only contrary to international law , it is absolutely barbaric and it says everything about the merciless nature of the regime that has held sway in Teheran for decades .
in writing . - ( SV ) The motion for a resolution contains many different ideas and wishes .
in practical terms this means that , in the future , when there is a delay in cross-border transport of between 60 and 119 minutes , customers will be entitled to a refund of 25 % of the fare .
we can therefore conclude that the project of bringing peace and progress to what was once a volatile part of Europe is set to continue .
the Commission , through its delegation in Damascus , together with Member States ' embassies , are discussing how to more effectively and efficiently act in defence of human rights ' defenders .
our Deputy Foreign Minister praised the shared values of the UK and Saudi Arabia .
this , I believe , is a key statement which illustrates our duty .
the problem is that politics does not seem to have made much progress .
I do not want to repeat what has been said many times in this House , so the Commission should take a close look at these matters because there is the impression that by posing high standards we discriminate against our own farmers .
banks are at the heart of the payment system and deal with the savings of ordinary consumers who are not financial professionals .
we will have to produce more , but in a sustainable way , which requires greater efficiency , the adoption of the best techniques and practices , and increased investment in scientific research for this area .
clearly any link of this kind will present problems .
the final area I would like to mention is the rights of corporations .
the Solidarity Fund offers a sort of small-scale insurance policy against them .
I would like to begin with something very important to me .
Europe 's dependency on energy increases proportionally with the increase in its population .
these groups , and I quote verbatim from the Europol report ' are seeking to expand their interests in the EU , and may exploit opportunities in the possible accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen Zone ' .
plant protection products that are particularly harmful must be taken out of circulation and the use of chemicals for this purpose must be significantly reduced .
these principles must also be fully implemented at the level of European-wide legislation .
we hope that that decision will be modified by the Grand Chamber since it is clearly irrational .
first of all , we need a clear definition to accurately understand the profiles and definitions of these highly diverse entities .
the world 's biggest human rights problem - the discrimination against 260 million casteless Dalits - is mentioned only briefly , and even then only in connection with a list of things that could give rise to discrimination .
it was not only Copenhagen that experienced a chilling of the temperatures , but the whole environment debate .
we can do a great deal , working with the UN , to establish these new states , particularly South Sudan , and to ensure that they do not have civil wars , as often happens when new states occur .
this time there is ample evidence beforehand of security service interference and a massive practice of non-admittance or of fake local party lists to confuse voters .
( EL ) Mr President , a real war is being waged in cyberspace at the moment .
I visited Macedonia very recently , on behalf of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy , set up by Margaret Thatcher when she was Prime Minister of my country , and saw a country with vibrant political parties and a fascinating tax policy , with flat taxes on both corporation and income tax , and a growing economy .
I believe you should think again - both you , Mr Leinen , and the rapporteur .
the latest data submitted by Germany for the year 2009 confirm that 70 out of about 80 air quality zones continue to show an excess for PM limit values .
at the same time , Turkey should withdraw the army , so as to remove this major obstacle to overall efforts being made to overcome the difficulty of contacting Turkish Cypriots .
( ES ) Madam President , Commissioner , Mr President-in-Office of the Council , Spain has just endured a painful situation in which a vessel , the Alakrana , and all its crew were subjected to blackmail , humiliation and countless risks .
we are sure that he will lead the negotiations in the transitional period in which we currently find ourselves very well and with great self-assurance .
the real strength of a society rests on the opportunities it creates for its weakest citizens .
I am referring , for example , to the need to strengthen market surveillance , to take concrete steps on product traceability , including the use of modern technological tools to create a Consumer Product Safety Information Database , and to pay more attention to products for children .
( LT ) Madam President , I am pleased that today we are talking about making cohesion policy simpler and more efficient .
the issue of unequal pay should force us to stop and think , since there are also pay differences in companies which are managed and owned by women .
finally , I should like to mention the subject that has been the most debated in Parliament and elsewhere , which is workers ' participation on the board of European private companies .
( PL ) Mr President , internal conflict and civil wars are particularly dangerous for societies and nations , as they lead to assassinations and pillaging , to people abandoning their homes as well as to forced evictions , to rape and torture and other atrocities .
as the European Commission said , the Council 's common position is still valid , and it is an honourable position because it asks for the immediate and unconditional release of political prisoners .
following the subsequent conclusion and entry into force of this agreement between the European Community and Liechtenstein , on 10 June 2005 , the latter country confirmed its wish to be associated with the Dublin acquis .
deep-sea fisheries started in the late 1970s , developing rapidly from the 1990s onwards as a result of three factors .
at the heart of everything we do lies a simple truth : to protect our interests and promote our values , we must be engaged abroad .
the European Parliament 's ' huge expectations ' from the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States of America in fact only concern the imperialists who , with good cause , expect their interests to be served more effectively .
I voted in favour .
Mr President , I would like to congratulate the Presidency on the outcome of the spring summit and the fact that the details of the new Lisbon discussions are based on truly sustainable economic growth , which I think is absolutely necessary .
on the other hand , it is clear that this debate must take place , since not everything that is labelled a public service today is actually a public service , and it does not always make sense to use public money to do what certain television companies are doing with public money .
we need to ensure that such fishing activity is only permitted in areas where we can be certain there will be no damage .
this legislative text must maintain a balance between the European Union 's powers and Member States ' powers by clearly defining its scope of application .
our goal is to achieve a situation in which our legislation is , in every case , clear , comprehensible and user-friendly and also takes account of technological progress .
16th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council ( Geneva , 28 February - 25 March 2011 ) (
reception procedures , qualifications - the core of the asylum package which we are discussing today - should have been implemented long ago .
they were not formed from the bottom up . they were constructed from the top down and by outside influences .
do you see a need to modify the Television Directive based on the new technical regulations ?
as a German Member , I am particularly pleased that the German Federal Government has finally ceased its blocking of a permanent regulation .
in the past , the national interest clause was also abused in the case of public contracts for the army which clearly had nothing to do with the quality of security provided .
this is an ambitious but achievable timetable and all sides are committed to moving forward .
in my view , this approach is fundamentally wrong .
I would also like to add that , in view of the EU 2020 strategy and the efforts to increase growth within the EU , discrimination against female entrepreneurs must cease .
3 .
I think another colleague mentioned that we have perhaps failed to communicate outside our own ranks , to those who are managing farms and ecosystems , about how important biodiversity is .
on 8 September 2009 , Denmark submitted the request for financial assistance for mobilising the EGF in the case of the Danfoss Group , which made 1 443 employees redundant .
it is , nevertheless , regrettable that the European Parliament 's ambitious plans for stringent environmental requirements have been hindered by the Council of Ministers , under the pretext of overly high additional costs .
we would like a better and more effective budget , so that we do not have to spend several months or half-years disputing issues such as whether or not we can afford to spend EUR 75 million on compensating banana producing countries .
oral explanations of the vote
I am pleased the Slovene Presidency has strengthened expectations that , in the future , activities will be more coordinated , there will be more continuity , and the initiatives will be more vigorous , and , as you yourself put it on another occasion earlier this week , that this will coincide with multi-partnerships .
often the political and cultural circumstances in developing countries force the donors to adopt a creative and flexible budgetary approach .
this apparently very technical subject is of great importance to the aviation industry and happens to be very complex ; therefore , it would have a significant impact on the development of new technologies and their implementation in the aviation industry .
the report serves to underline the growing importance of energy issues in the Community context , particularly the external aspects and the importance of the European Union speaking with one voice on external energy issues .
that document mentioned how the transition to low-carbon economies would have an important impact on employment .
they are plundering its economic resources for their own benefit and they are not granting their citizens fundamental rights .
the British Government promised a referendum on this Treaty , yet now it is pretending that it is somehow different .
we are taking an important step forward today .
during this time of economic crisis , it is not demagogy that will pay the bill .
I would point out that our approach must be balanced between the rejection of illegal immigration , which , I might add , is often attributable to smugglers and traffickers ; the desire , in respect of this fight against illegal immigration , to promote a certain kind of legal migration , a decision which rests with the Member States ; and also the desire to preserve , in any case , the duty of asylum .
as Socialists we cannot and will not accept amendments that date back to before the mandate agreed here in Brussels - this should be clearly stated .
it looks at all the issues affecting the labour market : how do we attract more people into the labour market , how do we incorporate this social dimension into all our policies ?
I was elected to the European Parliament in 1994 and I had the honour of working with Mr Schulz and others to further develop this human rights tradition , which we are rightly proud of .
it is a political problem because people are freezing so it is a politically difficult situation .
although I welcome this , as the rapporteur for the transparency directive , I recognise that work to achieve actual convergence still has to be done .
in my opinion , it is obvious that the directives on legal migration from third countries should be enforced , while at the same time lifting the restrictions applied to some Member States .
the attempts to bring this matter to judgment in this House have been shamefully frustrated by a number of Spanish deputies in both parties , and I would particularly appeal to my colleagues in the Spanish Partido Popular to remember the importance of the sanctity of property .
anyone in Europe who is in favour of armament is classed as a friend of Europe , but anyone in Europe who is in favour of disarmament is classed as an enemy of Europe .
youth unemployment is twice as high as total unemployment , and includes many young higher education graduates who are unable to find work , much less work commensurate with their education , while around 6 million young people continue to leave school prematurely every year , which also threatens their future .
nonetheless , I voted in favour of it , because I consider that there is an urgent need for fast and coordinated action at international level to combat climate change and that the resolution as a whole still contains numerous positive points and makes an important contribution on the part of the EU to the Cancún conference .
some EP committees have already successfully threatened to use the right of veto in order to obtain an immediate response and clarification from the Commission .
it may have been because I speak Greek , which is not a particularly well-known language , and I speak it fast in order to help everyone here .
for that reason , I wish to remind the Ugandan Government of its obligations under international law and under the Cotonou Agreement , which call for universal rights to be respected .
there are also fears that Mercosur 's agriculture will become more production-driven - a little too production-driven - by this agreement , to the detriment of the small farms in these countries .
therefore , it is right that , in this report , the directive and the national implementation have been concentrated in one comprehensive regulation .
in writing . - The aim of the resolution is to strengthen corporate governance , which is considered by the Commission to be the major element of the programme of financial market reform and crisis prevention .
firstly , by encouraging consumer mobility .
I am not convinced of the need to create a European independent authority to fix toll levels , and would argue that this falls under the domain of subsidiarity .
in my opinion , this is a balanced result which protects temporary workers , increases the flexibility of the labour market and respects the principle of subsidiarity .
we should also accept that the UEFA scheme of home-grown players is a proportionate response and is acceptable under European Union law , unlike FIFA 's bull-in-a-china-shop ' six-plus-five ' scheme .
he said that 65 million more human beings will be plunged into extreme poverty in our world this year alone .
we must , as a matter of the utmost urgency , make the Member States face up to their responsibilities and demand the strictest possible penalties for those who consider themselves above the law .
let me just offer my sincere thanks to the Commission and our rapporteur once again .
it is one of the countries with the most dynamic economic activity where a great debate is going on .
author . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would just like to ask , under Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure , that the vote we are about to take should not be invalidated by what might be termed procedural questions .
any parties that have not fulfilled their obligations must be identified in the Member States .
it is essential that the national regulatory authorities consult all suppliers of electronic communication services before they adopt specific measures in the field of electronic communication network security and integrity .
I should like finally to mention my origins in a part of Italy - the North East - that has seen enormous development and considerable growth due precisely to an intelligent lending regime , which has been able to go hand in hand with the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises .
these are the engines of a future-oriented European economy .
I am not going to repeat them as we spoke about them together , in this House , last month .
it is vital for young people to be able to develop the competences , skills and knowledge that will allow them to actively contribute to the growth and sustainable future of the European Union over the coming years .
I would like to amend Esther Herranz García 's proposal in that we do not need a common European position on floods but on water management , as inland inundations and floods cause as big a problem as drought , and those on the committee know only too well that there is no single European risk management basis here .
particular responsibility for the challenges involved rests with us parliamentarians .
I therefore believe that we must initiate and adopt appropriate legislation , as a matter of urgency , which would ensure systematic , binding procedures , based on clear principles , for the construction and operation of nuclear power plants .
individual Member States must design their curricula according to national circumstances .
it is only by increasing internal solidarity that we can avoid the trap that Member States fall into , such as choosing South Stream over Nabucco .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting
in 2005 it was followed by a White Paper .
we know what tensions currently accompany the approval of next year 's budget , but even greater tensions are going to affect the Financial Framework after 2013 .
and so the Irish are forced to have yet another referendum so they can deliver the only answer that is acceptable to the European Union - which is ' yes ' .
other documents and texts have been produced in this area and it is important that they agree .
on behalf of ALDE Group . - ( ET ) Commissioner , President , colleagues .
this is our duty as neighbours .
by adopting national cancer control programmes we can reduce cancer mortality by as much as 30 % .
after a few months , he is in the same position and it seems as if democracy has only been restored for the purpose of making comfortable , well-paid positions available to his son or other family members .
but we are not always aware that our presence on the Internet leaves traces which can be used against us , for example by people engaged in marketing , by intelligence services , and even by identity thieves .
even small amounts of fruit appear to make a difference to health .
products from animals vaccinated against foot-and-mouth disease still have to be marked so that consumers know .
( LT ) The human rights situation in Iran is clearly deteriorating .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I want to thank the European Parliament for its quick handling of this proposal , in the light of the request by the European Council of last December in the context of the European Economic Recovery Plan to settle the issue of reduced VAT rates in certain sectors by March 2009 .
ladies and gentlemen , Europe must make its voice heard in the debate on relative currency values , and the European Council must establish our position on the subject next week , before the Seoul G20 summit .
this year , the United Kingdom alone will receive a rebate of some EUR 3 billion because of a discount on contributions negotiated in 1984 .
why so ?
we need a better financial regulation and there is a long way still to go .
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the Casini report emphasises the importance of amending the European Parliament 's Rules of Procedure following the establishment of a common transparency register .
it is obvious that we need to harmonise the Member States ' existing statistics in order to take the right decisions for the future for the whole of Europe on the basis of the same data .
avoiding abuses and avoiding simplification is the only way of ensuring we achieve this consensus .
do we not need more ?
thirdly , we welcome the co-legislator role of the European Parliament and therefore also welcome the intention of concluding a transitional agreement .
the text we have adopted also provides a right to 20 days ' paternity leave ( more than the 11 days granted at the moment in France ) .
now I expect Parliament and the Member States to come to an agreement , because the adoption of the governance package is fundamental to our comprehensive response to the crisis .
solidarity has been redefined and one Member State will only help the others when this is to its own advantage .
petrol contains volatile organic compounds ( VOCs ) that evaporate inside the fuel tank , filling the empty space in the tank above the fuel .
a few hours ago , we all participated in a moving ceremony which Hu Jia himself was unable to attend , but today people throughout the whole world will hear about his work and efforts to defend the rights of AIDS sufferers and to fight for environmental protection in China .
personal skill development , in addition to helping people find better jobs , must also provide them with the opportunity to shape the jobs of the future and , hence , contribute actively to an innovative economy .
however , by stimulating cooperation between marine scientists and maritime industries , as well as more integrated marine and maritime research , the European Union strategy for marine and maritime research can indirectly broaden the scope of maritime skills and promote marine clusters .
Madam President , I wonder if Mr Vajgl has considered the cost to the EU taxpayer of these extra-territorial initiatives proposed in the report and which he is also endorsing ?
the unintended consequence of this will mean that a temporary regulation that was introduced for a period of only one year will now run for at least three years , during which time the circumstances in the west of Scotland have changed dramatically , forcing our fishermen to dump good fresh haddock back into the sea , dead .
I think that each plant ... or each accident should be taken very seriously ; we should not be thinking in terms of how many accidents , because we need to take into account each accident , and not only the accident , but also any other incident assessed to be less than an accident .
in maritime areas , these operations must also be conducted in accordance with international maritime law .
I want to appeal to the European Union to defend the territorial integrity of Georgia firmly and resolutely in the name of values which we all share , and to defend freedom and democracy in Georgia against Russian aggression .
as you know , a growing percentage of immigrants in Europe are losing their jobs .
we also hope that the Member States which have functioning legislation in this area can work together with Parliament in the ongoing negotiations to ensure that the directive does not entail unnecessary duplication of administrative work for them once it has entered into force .
( FR ) Mr President , Madam Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the Commissioner said that she herself wanted a Europe that was more visible , that meant something to citizens .
if the average growth in Member States reaches 30 % , Commissioner Piebalgs and his colleagues should be able to impose a price moratorium , as the experience of some European Union citizens , namely fishermen and road hauliers , shows at present .
I am therefore going to endeavour - and this is what Mrs Stihler and Mrs McGuinness have just requested in particular - to ensure that , in addition to clear policy directions , which means not only words but also proposed decisions , the Commission document above all contains as accurate a diagnosis as possible of all these issues .
look at the economists , look at yesterday 's De Tijd - not exactly a socialist propaganda newspaper - which says , and I paraphrase , ' saving on its own undermines already ailing economies and makes it increasingly difficult to repay debts ' .
however , there is another argument for a Community-based approach towards soil protection , which is climate change , a challenge facing all of Europe .
I nevertheless wish to say that it is very important to give more attention to fishing in the European Union and the state of the waters .
Madam President , words are tools , words are instruments and words can be weapons in foreign policy .
Mr President , I am very glad that the Commissioner has today addressed the much wider crisis in this sector , which has been compounded by the steep rise in diesel cost .
one achievement was the leading role that the Joint Parliamentary Assembly played in the monitoring of the EPA negotiations , ensuring a two-way information flow thanks to the discussions with the chief negotiators and with my dear colleague Mr Michel on this matter during the year .
we can achieve this firstly by investing in research and networking expert knowledge , secondly , by passing this knowledge on to farmers and vets and thirdly , by providing information to consumers .
it would also be good to know more about how the interest from the loans provided is to be used , and about the administrative fees secured from the EU budget .
many of us have drunk Coca-Cola for many years .
the use of these waterways for traffic is discussed far less often , and investment in improving navigability is of peripheral interest to the European Commission and Council .
( PT ) The disaster on the island of Madeira requires emergency measures and calls for extraordinary financial assistance to be given to this Autonomous Region .
in this context , I would like to propose that in committee , we deliberate formally inviting the institutions we are discussing to the next discharge debate and postponing the debates accordingly if they are not present .
Commissioner , you have promised that we will look into whether stricter conditions can be introduced by the next financial perspective in 2014 .
first I wish to say that , although this report follows the structure of previous versions , there is greater concern for detailed analysis .
you should also clarify quickly what the future leadership structure of the EU will be and bring an end to this self-absorption .
Europeana makes available online nearly five million items .
yesterday the President said that he was going to examine whether it was in fact possible for the IND / DEM Group to ask for roll-call votes .
in the majority of cases , there are major differences regarding the deadlines for appealing , while the applicability of the automatic suspension of the effects of refusals also presents difficulties , as it only applies in six Member States .
we have heard from Commissioner Dalli the very cautious position of the European Commission regarding research on stem cells from cord blood .
rapporteur . - ( NL ) Mr President , I should once again like to thank everyone , including the shadow rapporteurs from the various committees and the Commissioner .
in spite of this , whether or not we want to , we must deal with Russia as a partner .
this is the real question we must ask ourselves and the proposals we must put to the Council , including the no-fly zone and patrols of the Libyan coastline , which is the duty of European ships in the Gulf of Sidra , not American ones .
furthermore , this also involves good management of the EU 's external borders , which must be performed in as consistent a manner as possible .
element number two is that I am well aware of calls for Mr Mugabe to be denounced .
I think , I believe that European police forces have more or less the same training .
I would like to ask you why the coalition in Hungary does not want the opposition to participate in the process of drawing up the constitution .
we support Integrated Pest Management .
Madam President , the common challenges which stand before Africa and the European Union are clear and unequivocal .
therefore , my question is : will these problems which are affecting Austria and Germany be recognised and are appropriate solutions being planned ?
it should not be the governments which decide on the President of Europe , behind closed doors , at the last minute .
this brutal assault , which was not motivated by robbery , deserves the most severe condemnation .
President of the Commission . - Mr President , first of all , let me say that the Commissioner is the one who is proposing this additional approach to energy efficiency and I fully trust that he is doing his best to achieve that goal .
because dairy production does not have a tap that we can just turn off and on willy-nilly .
this is a measure which would facilitate organ exchanges , thereby benefiting the thousands of patients in Europe who require this kind of treatment every year .
this extensive work goes beyond electronic communications issues for which I am responsible and is coordinated by my colleague , Mrs Reding .
sadly , we have to conclude that the human rights dialogue is not taken seriously for example by the Russian side .
let us stop playing with Europe .
I urge all Members to support the retention of these important programmes .
this also applies to the scientific opinions of the European Food Safety Authority ( EFSA ) , the methodology of which has been called into question on several occasions , and to public consultations , where the wording of the questions may lead one to expect answers that the Commission 's services want to hear .
( DA ) Madam President , I would like to thank Mrs Balzani .
all of this should be given our attention .
similarly , the Commission must apply itself to the issue of intellectual property , especially in relation to the Internet , which when all is said and done is the business of the Commission ; but because I can see that actually the atmosphere is not conducive to long speeches , I shall just quickly answer the questions that have been posed .
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Parliament has achieved a compromise with great effort , which I hope will be supported by the vote tomorrow .
some Member States were prepared to do this .
that means that 94 % is delivered to the beneficiaries .
we need to challenge the old way of doing things if we want to learn lessons from the current crisis and make it history as soon as possible .
in connection with the events in Italy , several of my fellow Members will remind us of the injustices that have occurred recently , including the collection of fingerprints .
after all the bloody events of the 20th century , does the political elite really want the big countries to make decisions for the smaller ones again ?
I have been glad to see this dossier accelerating over the past weeks , and we are committed to finding ways of ensuring that the genuine market opening targeted in our original proposals is realised .
of course , none of us believes that this development alone is the answer to the emissions problem but it does represent a significant step in the right direction .
if you will pardon my saying so , Mrs Buitenweg , I do not consider that appropriate , as we have no idea when the Council will arrive .
it represses the media .
this also includes offering workers in industries which are not fully competitive on the world market long-term retraining to allow them to take on other jobs .
I would like to explain once again to you that , firstly , the Rules of Procedure say that the President ' may give the floor ' .
it is incredible in an age of modern civilisation that young girls and boys are executed , stoned to death or hanged from industrial cranes .
that is an interesting question .
I sincerely hope that the conditions will now be created and every support will be given for Tunisia to make progress with the reforms needed to build a solid , tolerant democracy that respects minorities .
therefore , from next year - 2011 - on , we will start setting up the governance systems and concrete implementation of the actions and projects that will have been planned and decided by that time .
the concept of the single market will be put into practice by means of the passport .
I am therefore looking forward to the response .
the crisis has wiped out years of economic and social progress and exposed the weaknesses in its Member States ' economies and , accordingly , in the economy of the EU itself .
this report has the merit of providing a clear account of the situation and of specifying the challenges to come for the European Union in the context of this debate .
Mr President , we have full trust in you , but I would be very grateful if you could announce the exact figures of who voted for and against and who abstained .
reduced wages , increased working hours , adaptation to the needs of capital , an increased pension age , flexicurity and the restructuring of labour relations are at the core of the Lisbon Strategy .
the response was a definite ' no ' .
the Stockholm Programme , and regrettably also the proposed resolution , continue the linking of internal and foreign policy in order to facilitate the monitoring of everyone in Europe and the depriving of the people on our external borders of their rights , which is to be enforced by Frontex .
Syria , Bahrain and Yemen have found themselves in the grip of a series of popular revolts that are being forcibly put down .
we , the 785 Members of Parliament , have learned to meet each other half way , to learn from each other and to work better with each other .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , thank you in advance for all your valuable contributions .
it is not enough to declare that one is ambitious , setting targets for other developed countries , even if these fall short of the recommendations made by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change , if there is no focus on the means by which this can be done .
- Report : Luisa Morgantini
I had the opportunity to visit several production plants in the food industry in different countries .
ladies and gentlemen , Spanish cucumbers were not contaminated .
I very much welcome the Commission proposal to the Council to commit an additional EUR 6.3 billion to counteract the negative effects of the economic crisis , which is to say to accelerate implementation of the funds for the benefit of the real economy .
how would you fund that ?
the report includes recommendations in the area of energy infrastructure , the development of towns and buildings , information and communications products , tenders and financing .
if there is no consumption , then production will also collapse .
this is an important issue which we have dealt with in Parliament 's Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs .
Mr President , there is much in the Catania report that I take issue with .
simplification was also one of the main reasons that motivated the Commission 's ' health check ' proposals .
( PL ) Mr President , last Sunday , local elections were held in Lithuania .
the Commission should investigate alternative energy solutions for the future , at the same time taking into consideration the different energy needs of the EU Member States .
therefore , I would kindly ask the Commissioner to seriously consider this matter and come up with a viable solution as soon as possible .
now , like the rapporteur , it seems critical to me to restore our communal production .
it is this trade which needs to be controlled and can only be controlled by setting indicative limits so that we can get to the source of the people who are trying to do this and trying to smuggle it past our police and customs officers .
it is unfortunate that such a statement was made , particularly as the large number of my fellow citizens living in the British Isles are far more likely to be the victims of crime than its perpetrators .
across all of its programmes the Commission expects to commit around EUR 1.7 billion to education for the years 2007-2013 ; more generally , we are firmly engaged in increasing the level and effectiveness of the collective EU aid to health systems delivering universal coverage of basic services including reproductive health .
I think that the latest amendments include faster ' admissibility ' for checking proposals , a lower threshold for the number of participating countries and an easier process for signing petitions .
the next item is the debate on the report by Mrs Neyts-Uyttebroeck , on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs , on a proposal for a European Parliament recommendation to the Council on the mandate of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia .
evidence of this is the outcome of the last European Council concerning the Middle East , which , although it is , in my opinion , better than what was proposed , does not give us a leading role in the Middle East .
( FR ) Mr President , Mr Šemeta , Mr López Garrido , thank you once again for joining us .
( ES ) Mr President , Latin America is a changing continent .
in the current exceptional circumstances , demonstrating flexibility in the application of Community rules on State aid and the provisions of the Stability and Growth Pact is a necessity .
the question is : will this be enough to compensate for the failings of the European Arrest Warrant ?
our report therefore stresses the initiative 's importance , whilst urging caution and stressing the need for the Commission to be far clearer about its intentions and respond to the specific questions raised in the report .
the principle of subsidiarity must apply in the matter of the establishment of consumer protection authorities and consumer ombudsmen , as well as in the wording concerning the curriculum in schools .
in the midst of the ratification of a new text that includes all these provisions , this makes for a real muddle .
Madam President , I would like to welcome Baroness Ashton here .
this is also clear from the fall in the number of appeals .
this is why we must change it , and I therefore ask you all to cast your vote tomorrow in support of the compromise package .
I am disappointed that a majority could not be found in this Parliament to finally back this strategy and take it more seriously .
we need to ensure that research and innovation are at the heart of our strategy .
I want to ask you , Commissioner , given that the school dropout rate has reached 16 % , and even 40 % in Portugal , how will the youth unemployment rate look in 15-20 years ' time and what measures are you taking to ensure that this does not happen ?
( the President cut off the speaker )
we can expect the Council to devote particular attention to flexicurity in the debates on this proposal , which have already started .
we are trying to make sure that people do turn up to vote for these urgencies .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I am slightly concerned about the turn the debate has taken at this point , because I believe that one of the best things about Cancún was the fact that we were able to debate and to reason without splitting into two camps - the doomsayers and the deniers - which was perhaps the worst outcome of the Copenhagen summit .
this is a great opportunity which must be seized by Europe .
in this respect , I agree with it being the President who decides , and we will go along with that decision .
what about the long lead time or the long time to prepare ?
I was pleased that the European Council followed our suggestion to give particular emphasis to investing in people and , notably , to reducing the number of young people who cannot read properly and the number of early school leavers .
we could easily increase this if we made better use of that broad waterway between the North Sea and the Black Sea .
we all know that the least educated are the most vulnerable to unemployment and social exclusion within the information society and obviously run the risk of finding themselves socially excluded .
I therefore support this report , which calls for the end of tax havens - veritable ' weapons of mass destruction ' for developing countries - the combating of economic crime , action against tax evasion and unfair competition , and development through good governance .
I hope that the strong historical , cultural and economic ties that the EU has with the Ukraine will be consolidated and will , in time , allow the entry of the Ukrainian people into the Union .
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lastly , I would like to say that I agree with our chairman , Mr Leinen .
at a time when we have just celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights , this report questions what we understand by the meaning of fundamental right .
I will never accept my country paying any fines to anyone .
this proposal means that , since 1999 , Portugal has firstly gone from 25 to 24 Members and will now be reduced to 22 , whereas Germany kept its 99 Members , which will now be reduced to 96 .
the countries in the post-Soviet bloc understand perfectly that the existence of market institutions and laws does not necessarily mean that the market will flourish successfully .
the adoption of the health check and the start of the period of reflection are very positive initiatives .
will you accept compulsory licensing of important green technology to the poorest countries ?
thank you .
it is a policy that will feed from and into other Community policies .
in my view , the acute social problems related to high energy prices must always be tackled through social policy , but we also have to ensure in structural terms that our societies are no longer wasteful of energy resources .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , welcome , Mr Rodríguez Zapatero .
indeed , so successful are they that they are world leaders in several fields .
particular attention must be paid to family farming and to small and medium-scale farmers by reforming the Common Agricultural Policy , which is currently being done , to make it fairer , to combat the rural exodus and to support agricultural products .
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I would urge that the communication deficit be tackled at the earliest possible date .
Mr President , I must express my deep satisfaction regarding the debate that has taken place .
I believe that the review of the first railway package must identify the problems facing the Member States that have received reasoned opinions from the Commission , along with a method for resolving them .
the Commission welcomes the outcome of the negotiations with Parliament and the Council , and the fact that agreement at first reading seems possible .
freedom of the press , freedom of expression and the right to respect for the privacy of correspondence and secrecy of telecommunications , which also includes e-mail and other kinds of electronic correspondence , should not be curtailed , however , and so I support the amendments by Mrs Lefrançois .
the fact that everything in Hungary today is about the need for change and renewal only makes us more receptive to shaping the common European future .
( FI ) Mr President , first I want to join those who have congratulated and thanked the rapporteur , Mr Pomés Ruiz , for an absolutely splendid report .
this was a major point of discussion between Parliament and the Commission last year .
Turkey must improve the coordination of its foreign policy with EU foreign policy , and thus show that it shares common values and interests with the EU .
we also have an organisation known as WITS - Women in Technology and Science , which was inaugurated in 1999 .
it is perhaps a peaceful future that hangs in the balance in this region of unparalleled division .
I have a copy of his book Blood , Sweat and Bears , which he gave me to read , and I think he has put a bit of blood and sweat into this .
although we sometimes try to underline those differences between the economic models for political gain , in the long-term political perspective delaying the reform of economic policy , if we take into account the changing multilingual and multicultural economic environment , will help radical populist groups come to power and will cause long-term political instability and economic backwardness .
now a large majority of people , and indeed all travel agents , have access to the internet , and I agree with the previous speakers who have said we have a duty to ensure fairness and equal access to the market and , as Commissioner Mandelson said , fair rules , effective rules , and protect the consumers and ensure competition .
the debate on this issue , as it appears in Tunisia , is crucial and relevant .
as a result of these acute and serious environmental threats , the Baltic Sea area is an obvious priority in the area of the environment and we hope that conclusions will be adopted in December .
one further point I would like to make is that young people have , of course , been among those who have suffered most from job losses and the lack of opportunities in the last couple of years .
unfortunately , the amendments , for the most part , are pious hopes or merely point out the obvious , such as the collapse into anarchy of Somalia , events from which the full consequences must necessarily be drawn .
I expect of the Council and the Commission that they devote attention and provide support to the Christian minority in all the Palestinian territories .
I believe we have achieved this because we have established a realistic framework that is based on the actual risks to consumers and the environment and that offers businesses legal certainty for investments and innovations .
that dialogue took place .
I do not know how they will sleep at night .
I speak , too , of a widespread malaise that has been expressed in increased tensions intra- and inter-communities , in mutual distrust , in polarised perceptions and world views , in intractable identity-based conflicts and , of course , in the rise of extremism .
EU businesses trying to trade or invest in South-East Asia still face tariff and non-tariff barriers and markets tilted against foreign service providers , especially in public procurement markets .
since it feeds human beings , it is a matter of national independence and sovereignty .
in writing . - ( RO ) I consider opportune the inclusion in the report of a reference to the Commission 's and Member States ' obligation to support the Children 's Environment and Health Action Plan in Europe .
rapid economic development such as has taken place in China and in India has in effect led to a rise in consumption , with a consequent significant increase in the food requirement , bearing in mind the number of people .
but these ECJ judgments are based on the Posting of Workers Directive , not the Lisbon Treaty ; that is the directive that needs not only to be amended but also comprehensively implemented by the Member States .
we agree with the need for the Commission to present a legislative proposal on cloning .
we want to get on with this as quickly as possible and to keep the pressure on as much as possible .
subject : London buses
without one it is not possible to achieve the other .
therefore , we will remind the President of the United States of the promise he made to lift the requirement for a visa .
I would therefore ask the Commissioner , together with Eurocontrol , to perhaps entrust the European Research Council with the task of carrying out research in order to properly judge this risk .
I think the European taxpayer would find it quite bemusing , and I happily vote against these agencies , because I think they are anti-democratic .
I can also assure you that your recommendations for cross-border loss relief within companies and groups of companies will orient our work in the coming months .
our view is that the Italian authorities still have a long way to go in order to execute the ruling .
legislators must not be afraid to state harsh realities when looking at potential impacts .
consequently , we cannot release Mr Barroso from this obligation by saying the International Monetary Fund should now sort it out .
for independence and security of supply , the necessary resources must also be available in the field of energy .
however , in doing that , we must bear in mind that excessive pressure is more likely to slow down the reforms rather than to speed them up .
indeed , it is only a few months ago that EU leaders agreed to proscribe export credit guarantees to Iran .
so far , unfortunately , there is no real progress .
these are past commitments ; this is a question of credibility : when we pay what we said we would pay , we are simply doing what we ought to do , even if it goes beyond the payment appropriations .
this is the truth , Mr De Gucht .
Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy . - Mr President , again , this was a very interesting and full debate , which has raised a large number of issues that honourable Members feel very strongly about .
however , this should not distract us from dealing with the real problem of how best to cope with the migration of genuine asylum seekers from North Africa , who are or will be fleeing from war-torn countries .
in that respect , it is important that we are keen to strengthen these democracies and independence for South Sudan .
in that country , especially , human rights should be respected , because they are often not respected in that continent .
we want the whole of the Commission and all of the top-level staff of the European Union to be elected according to the conditions of the Treaty of Lisbon and we will not give an inch on that .
( PL ) Mr President , helping others when you yourself are still in need of help is indeed proof of solidarity .
meanwhile , the dramatic international events taking place in our immediate neighbourhood highlight even further the extent of Turkey 's significance in the aforementioned areas .
the consequence of this attitude - we must not deceive ourselves - is one more step towards the abyss .
we must find a solution , a way to break the deadlock .
still some people argue that the crisis management strategy , especially with regard to Greece , is failing .
that is why I invite you to attend the event for young people on 10 July .
they are doing an excellent job of staff training , as Mr Marinescu has explained , in the RABIT exercises and in identifying false travel documents .
in order to face up to the challenges before it , the European Union now needs the Treaty of Lisbon more than ever .
there is a consensus at Council level and we will see if we can achieve consensus with the European Parliament .
so this regional dimension is very important and we are taking account of this in addition to the national dimension and then the global one .
for Europe 's researchers , we will take measures to boost cross-border cooperation and remove obstacles to research and mobility , completing the European Research Area by 2014 .
as a representative of the farming community , I know how important it is to think in terms of the annual cycle .
( SL ) The enlargement of the European Union has brought growth , peace and stability , as well as making democratisation possible .
however , as regards external action , in other words sanctions against third countries adopted by the UN , the European Parliament will have no power of codecision .
I voted in favour of this recommendation , because I am in favour of the call for the European Commission to prepare a compromise proposal , on how to include the European Parliament in the control of the Instrument for Development Cooperation following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty .
you only have to look at the contents of the resolution on the situation in Palestine to see the extent to which it is an unacceptable exercise in hypocrisy and cynicism by a majority in Parliament with regard to human rights ( in the world ) .
they have brought about the restriction of the freedom of the media , the restriction of the right to strike , the circumvention and limitation of social dialogue , the strengthening of discrimination , and the shattering of the foundations of the rule of law and legal certainty .
intra-European Union relations , EU-NATO relations , EU-US relations and EU-Russia relations are all at stake .
the alternative , reducing use , certainly sounds nice and simple - a 20 % reduction overall - but it does not provide the best protection for the consumer because it can be looked at only in terms of quantities and not the final effect , the final risk .
it also turns legal principles upside down in a way that we would never accept in other contexts .
with vast oil revenues at his disposal , he was able to dispense largesse in return for political acquiescence throughout Europe and Africa , not least in my own country , the United Kingdom , particularly under the previous government .
in 2009 , EUR 832 800 was mobilised following redundancies in the textile sector .
however , intercultural dialogue should include interdenominational dialogue .
even those suspected of committing serious offences have the right to be judged according to the correct procedure , by an unbiased court , on a clear legal basis , and to receive a punishment commensurate with their crimes .
the European Union must provide all possible assistance to keep the dialogue going and encourage further dialogue .
that initiative was very warmly welcomed by all those who had been awaiting it for the past 30 years - yes , 30 years .
it is well known that he has constantly called for wage moderation in a country in which low wages abound and which has jarring social inequalities .
( DE ) If Iceland joins the EU or the euro area , how does the Commission intend to prevent the battered Icelandic economy and financial system from jeopardising the stability of the Euro or even rocking its foundations ?
we MEPs have been the ones raising this issue for months on end .
as for the rest of it , we would ask to return to the issue as soon as possible in order to really protect our citizens .
we will be discussing this in next week 's Council in order to implement effectively these measures that we are proposing .
ladies and gentlemen , we have a lengthy vote ahead of us today .
the Committee on Regional Development is still waiting for the new EC proposal because the previous proposal was rejected by the Council .
we should bear in mind , therefore , that it is still possible to conclude additional specific agreements afterwards .
this tight reporting system will ensure that the plans will materialise as planned .
the total financial requirement is estimated to be in the region of EUR 2 billion .
since 2005 , SME policy has become a key element within the renewed Lisbon Partnership for Growth and Jobs , and the Charter was integrated within the Lisbon reporting process .
I just think it is a little bit ironic , but I hope I have explained this as best I can .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , a law has been passed in the United States requiring the Federal Reserve to detail how much of the USD 3 300 billion rescue package has gone to which banks .
an example of this is removing the cash advantages granted to banks , which has been possible because the credit markets have gradually returned to normal .
I have confidence that our manufacturers , our technical specialists and our engineers can achieve this . we have the potential to achieve this .
providing incentives may help to achieve this goal .
it is absolutely imperative for us to take every measure we can to ensure that a disaster like Deepwater Horizon will not be repeated in European waters .
the Commission has consistently believed that joint purchasing groups amongst small retailers can be beneficial for competition , especially vis-à-vis large suppliers .
let us change our economic model , move towards a sustainable model and create jobs .
3 .
suddenly , on the other side , the Koreans are finding the US is now coming back , knocking on their door , wanting to get the KORUS agreement moving again .
even though the latest suggestion is 25 , that is still progress and the smallest acceptable next step .
I have had Mr Watson saying that I behave like an English football hooligan , when all I did was to gently point out that Commissioner Barrot is a convicted embezzler .
it was adopted by a large majority .
that is why we need progress with readmission agreements ; Turkey needs to cooperate with Frontex , with the Greek authorities , and with the authorities of the European Union .
this means that in future , if we do not alter our behaviour , we shall continue to export increasing amounts of our own money out of the European Union to third countries .
( HU ) Mr President , thank you for giving me the floor .
a second joint experts ' meeting on water , energy and transport , where concrete projects could be developed that might be presented to a possible donor conference , is foreseen for the near future .
such media can promote intercultural dialogue by combating negative stereotypes .
dialogue with Tunisia , Egypt and their neighbouring countries must pursue the aim of guaranteeing democratic stability .
the establishment of non-judicial systems of dispute resolution would be one means of meeting expectations in this regard , as would the adaptation of certain forms of redress such as collective action - which already exist in certain Member States - to the Community legal context .
the oral question to the Commission on Getting a grip on energy prices , by Rebecca Harms and Claude Turmes , on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group - B6-0466 / 2008 ) ,
this issue concerns the fact that the Hungarian Government continued throughout 2006-2007-2008 to hold to the view that it had purchased new water cannons at the expense of the Schengen Fund , and that these were used in Budapest on 22 October 2007 to disperse the crowds .
in today 's society with all its dangers , all attempts to increase people 's security are whole-heartedly welcomed .
perpetuating a traditional system in which the father brings home the pay and the woman looks after the children , as some would like , is a step backwards .
but we are always talking of new legislation .
I voted in favour of the report by Mr Moreira .
that would almost be like saying that the EU gives Israel the freedom to continue with repressive and illegal activities , with forced relocations of the population , with extrajudicial assassinations , with the occupation of Palestine and with an illegal Wall and settlements .
this report , in particular , takes up the work undertaken and almost finished in the previous parliamentary term , to adapt the Rules of Procedure that govern Parliament 's work in light of the new treaty , which should enter into force at the start of next month .
we have become so obsessed with global warming that we have overlooked the real elephant in the room - the global food crisis .
for this reason , we must warn against a false sense of security and consider very carefully whether batteries , for example , should in future no longer be contained in toys , and whether ultimately it actually serves the educational purpose of toys to only have articles that meet particular requirements .
with his help and coordination we are acting swiftly , and we hope to make solid progress by the time the French Presidency comes to an end .
the forthcoming review conference in Kampala will take stock and ask what has been successful and what needs to be improved .
looking ahead to the Council of 11-12 December , the Council of Environment Ministers , today , and the Council of Energy Ministers , on Monday 8 December , will tackle the issues on which an agreement between the Member States still seems possible .
we are also talking about the ambitious Europe 2020 strategy being prepared by the Commission and we are talking about combating unemployment and poverty .
this may be a minor difference , but to me it is fundamental .
however , this does not change the fact that we continue to have reservations about the efficiency of the mechanism studied and approved by the WTO .
this is very important , and while we bid the migrants welcome , we want the rules to be made more equal and more consistent .
this report is the outcome of a compromise because no fewer than 1 625 amendments were tabled on it and it is divided into a series of key points covering the causes of the crisis , ranging from the property bubble to unsecured bank products , the lack of European tax harmonisation and the failure to observe the Stability and Growth Pact .
the nine measures in the action plan are immediately and essentially related to transport .
it is a fact that the desirable solution would be an agreement between the parties involved .
by means of the Treaty of Lisbon , the ECB will become an institution with legal personality and a clearly established independent status .
one thing I believe we can agree on is that they were not the cause of the current turmoil .
this is clear in Europe , in China , and wherever , and the Chinese authorities know this .
secondly , you said that specific regions require greater assistance .
in order to respond to these challenges successfully , more intensive coordination of national policies is essential .
a large majority in the European Parliament voted in favour of this report , which seeks to improve the links between trade and climate action through proposals to discriminate against products in accordance with their environmental impact and to create a carbon monitoring scheme for all trade policies .
I am going to run through the principles .
as I understand it , consumers will continue to be protected against dangerous products via the GPSD , whether or not it is incorporated into this specific legislation .
composition of Parliament : see Minutes
it is important to encourage the Member States on these points .
we must respond to the current crisis by establishing further partnerships and not by restricting them .
we have now reached a decisive crossroads , a decisive point in time when we have to ask ourselves the following question . in the future , will there be stricter requirements , stricter controls and , I might add , legal prohibition of certain types of speculation and abuse or are we protecting banks , are we protecting funds from collapse ?
I can go along with the previous speaker in asking : you want a stronger European Union .
on the other hand , very strict use will again be made of seamen as scapegoats .
I also support the inclusion of a three-year review clause , which will allow the necessary improvements to be made , particularly the possibility of including a rapid alert system functionality .
but let me state clearly that the Commission will not accept any attempts to undermine the Schengen principles .
yet we would also like to see tangible results from the European Union guidelines on women in armed conflict , which the Commissioner also mentioned previously , at least through the provision of financial and other support for projects , often organised by small associations , local NGOs , including in countries concerned with reintegrating and assisting women who are victims of violence .
the shift to EU level enables European airlines to fly to any destination in the United States from any point in the EU .
as for databases , they will be included in the review of the Product Safety Directive .
obviously , similarly to last year , we are going to budget for the greatest security for our citizens .
13 .
the aim of this thematic strategy is to reduce the impact of pesticides on human health and the environment .
for us to be able to reach these people , it is critical that our aid is independent and neutral and that it is perceived in this way .
agenda for next sitting : see Minutes
bees are dying in large numbers because of a range of diseases , the best known of which are Varroa and Nosema .
I would like to draw Parliament 's attention to the fact that in Romania , even now , there is an ongoing process , using subtle methods , of homogenising and making Transylvania Romanian by artificially altering the ethnic proportions .
thirdly , I hope that we will be able to demonstrate with this programme that there is European added value for everyone .
the administrative structure must not be allowed to grow unnecessarily , with all the burdens that implies .
the draft which is now here for approval perpetuates a budget that prioritises and finances the European Union 's neoliberal and militaristic tendencies .
we have to have the courage at this point to appraise our own investment policies .
the real violations of women 's rights and violence against women highlighted by the rapporteur show once again that these truly are violations of a person 's fundamental rights , which know no geographical , economic , cultural or social limits .
that is why I voted in favour of this text , which makes provision for more cooperation , more independence and more transparency in order to deal effectively with any future pandemics .
let us be clear that they are not necessary to combat Christian or Buddhist terrorism .
in her report , however , my colleague Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou has added what I think are a few essential elements to the Commission 's otherwise excellent draft text .
as regards these empty skies and these airports full of people in distress , thought may have to be given to recasting the directives on transport , especially air transport .
given recent events in Libya , it is crucial that we continue to campaign for and seek to defend human rights at an international level .
such a paradigm shift can , naturally , involve women 's active role in agricultural communities .
the international community , including the European Union , requested it to conduct an independent , international investigation into the tragic and shocking events in the spring of 2005 in Andizhan , when democracy was well and truly suppressed .
its main objective is to simplify legal provisions concerning the provision of bus and coach services .
the figure of 5 000 tonnes is simply not science-based .
therefore , it is important to set up a mechanism for monitoring and supervising rating agencies .
this is the other reason for my question .
Member of the Commission . - ( DE ) Madam President , honourable Members , Mr Potočnik and I are pleased that we have a parliament that has made the monitoring of environmental regulations a focal area of its work , as is the case in this instance .
Mrs Ries has just said that she is against our Amendment 6 because she wants to reward people , not penalise them .
neither the sharp food price increases in developing countries nor the results of these increases on the poorest people can justify us in failing to ensure the effective and transparent allocation of these funds .
the report flags up certain situations that still need to be reviewed , and I hope that these are given due consideration .
because of this , their integration has become more complicated , more intensive and solving their problems has become more difficult .
the European Council also called for accelerated adoption by June of the Commission 's economic governance proposals from last September .
( EL ) Mr President , the Commission 's proposal aims to reduce funding and concentrate this sector in the large cartels .
the great religions , like the European project , can be a force that transcends nationalism and can even transcend nihilism and fundamentalism by focusing their faithful on what unites us as human beings , and by fostering a dialogue about what divides us .
we should be working on the principle of caution rather than haste .
in 11 Member States , the minimum income is between EUR 100 and 400 / month , in 5 Member States , it is between EUR 550 and 950 / month , and in 6 Member States , it is more than EUR 1 100 / month .
for this reason , in any case , and for more general reasons I voted in favour and I congratulate the rapporteur .
without calling such support into question , I should like to ask why the Commission earlier objected to the state aid granted by the Polish Government to our shipyards .
furthermore , illegal work should be considered as nothing less than a social evil , since it can depress wages and working conditions , as well as distorting competition between businesses .
furthermore , let us please bear in mind the effects , the collateral damage of the decisions we take .
at the moment , it is this solidarity that is missing , especially in the expression of a strong shared political will by all the Member States , which would not only give greater protection to our borders , but also make our economy more credible .
we ask the Commission to assume its responsibilities and we ask the Council , which is not here , to meet the expectations of the European citizens when it comes to nuclear safety in Europe .
this is an issue which affects the marketing of products from the occupied territories and other matters which we are very familiar with .
they have been very economical and have complied with budgetary discipline for many years now .
they are available .
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besides the Internet , the licensed distribution chain is increasingly targeted .
he died because he had the moral strength and the courage to demand the release of the Christian woman Asia Bibi , who has been sentenced to death for blasphemy .
he appears to be the victim of pass-the-parcel , whereby the US and UK governments may be colluding to bundle him off to his home country Saudi Arabia .
in other words , we refer to these values if this is dictated by our interests , but we forget about them if this suits us better .
when and how this chapter can be negotiated will ultimately depend on when the Council manages to agree on these additional negotiating guidelines .
I should like to know whom he will be representing : the Europe of the banks , the Europe of business and trade ; not the people 's Europe .
those who introduced the human rights clause in the Agnoletto report have a great deal to answer for , because they gave the EU an alibi and pretext for its criminal policies against the people .
we now know for sure that the paper did exist and made for some interesting reading . in the meantime , however , the content of the paper has somehow got lost .
( the President cut off the speaker )
the idea is good , but it needs to be polished .
on the one hand , Parliament rightly says that everything should be done to bring about a large reduction in maternal mortality in developing countries , but , on the other hand , Parliament continues to argue elsewhere for ever increasing , ever more extensive legal immigration and for the European Commission 's proposals for the so-called Blue Card .
computer viruses , spam mail , phishing and Trojans are real threats in a world of virtual data .
moreover , the fratricidal wars in which it became involved and their brutal impact on neighbouring countries and on the entire international community had unfortunate consequences for the country and its people .
at the same time , linking the economic and trade policies of the countries in the Western Balkans to the European Union 's policy will support the stabilisation and association agreements signed between the EU and these countries .
Mr Harbour , with regard to market surveillance , I shall have an opportunity to answer your questions at a later date .
I voted in favour of this document .
that does not actually mean that I do not agree with the aim of protecting nature and public health .
there must be an urgent , radical overhaul of international trade rules to guarantee food sovereignty and the development of local production for all .
it is even linked to a longer and healthier life .
we argue instead in favour of European public services and securing the European framework , leaving each Member State the option to continue organising public services as they wish , especially at territorial level .
I uphold her argument that action in the field of education and training deserves systematic support from the European Union through targeted policies , above all in critical sectors that , according to the report presented by the European Commission in 2007 , require improvements .
the opinion of the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality highlights the need for all Member States to pay closer attention to ratifying the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women , and all other United Nations and International Labour Organisation human rights instruments .
I am convinced that India can fulfil European conditions concerning personal data , although the EU is amending them at the moment and will probably change them as technology develops .
how do we get to a position where , in future , we have better , climate-friendly public transport systems ?
( ES ) Madam President , Commissioners , ladies and gentlemen , when it was proposed that we have a debate in plenary on the future of Opel Europe , we were not yet aware of the purchase of the company by Magna and its Russian partner , Sberbank , on Thursday .
Europe must be consistent in promoting the universal value of human rights , for which many people are risking their lives on the streets of Tehran .
the as yet unsettled dispute between Iceland and the Netherlands and Great Britain may be viewed as another possible obstacle to Icelandic membership .
in this context , I would particularly like to stress the rise in the European average old-age dependency ratio to 53 % in 2050 , which is due to the current abnormally low average birth rate in the EU of 1.5 , and which not only leads to intergenerational conflicts and can thus be regarded as an obstacle to social cohesion , but could also weaken Europe 's competitiveness in the world economy .
I am therefore urging a vote against Amendment 42 , tabled by Mr Callanan and Mr Davies .
without doubt , an organisation such as this is needed , so that there is an environmental organisation at international level which will promote environmental issues in the same way as economic or social issues and which will also provide better coordination of international environmental agreements .
therefore , the changes proposed during work on the regulation must be put into effect in a way which allows the speed of change to be adapted to the possibilities of absorption by the citizens and social structures .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ' milk is good for you ' and today everyone is talking about it .
their non-participation in this system presently generates significant costs for the economy and represents an obstacle in the operation of the European common market .
CAP reform will determine the farmers ' ability to produce food .
railway and metro lines to airports must therefore be built in parallel with airport development , and no new international airport should be built without suitable rail links .
many , too many , people in the world are still denied their fundamental right to water .
it would also be nice if the European Parliament could grasp the EU 's agricultural policy .
the Commission is concerned about the current difficulties in the dairy sector and we have taken due note of Parliament 's proposal to create a special ' Milk Fund ' and of the stance taken by the ministers of agriculture .
on the feed hygiene regulations , they want guidance and a workshop .
their account of the situation of prisoners corresponds to those of the reports the honourable Members , and you personally , quote in their question .
the Haitian public health system is now seriously overstretched , despite substantial support from the international community .
however , I am pleased that there has been an improvement in cooperation recently , and I look forward to that continuing .
in writing - The emergency package that has been proposed by the Commission is a step towards putting a stop to the precarious situation faced by European fishermen .
the report compiled by Claudio Fava is part of the package of measures aimed at combating illegal immigration by discouraging companies from employing these people .
recently , I invited members of such private fire brigades to the European Parliament in Brussels .
we should also look ahead though .
I therefore voted in favour of this resolution , which ' asks the Commission to shape as soon as possible the EU strategy for the Atlantic region as an integrated strategy dealing with maritime and territorial issues ' .
we need European criteria and inspection standards that are not solely open to the arbitrary will of individual states .
at the same time in this debate you have , however , given some of the best examples of why we need a new treaty , why that would help us to act and speak with one voice in the world and also be more effective in our decision-making , and why that would help citizens .
in this respect , I am pleased , as our rapporteur is , that a European micro-financing instrument has been created .
as a group chair , you may propose this at any time , Mr Cohn-Bendit .
I should like to mention three essentials .
the reports received speak of several hundred refugees , from Eritrea , Ethiopia , Sudan and Somalia , apparently being held hostage in Sinai by traffickers requesting hard payment for their release .
the Lisbon Strategy also requires us to apply the principles of gender equality in the field of research and development .
what we need are solid European solutions to a European problem .
while we are at it , is South Sudan covered by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative ( EITI ) , which audits freedom from corruption and examines which oil assets benefit the population ?
patient safety is about reducing adverse events which occur in all health-care settings - in hospitals , in primary care , in long-term care or in the community .
one feels fully justified in saying that the destruction caused by forest fires could have been prevented if certain Member States had developed and implemented more effective preventive measures and worked harder to stop criminal activity in the acquisition of more land to build on .
at the moment it is very much slower , at least at this stage - city-run cars .
concerning participation in this programme , the Commission 's attitude is that applications can come from a large variety of possible applicants , including small and medium-sized enterprises , and that those enterprises are mostly the providers of these kinds of services .
otherwise , this programme will not serve the interests of every EU citizen , but only those of the members of the majority peoples .
when we discuss private equity , we are talking about the opportunities for SMEs to grow and to develop .
having said all of that , I can also say that we have been doing an enormous amount of work first on the neighbourhood policy to the east , and now on the Eastern Partnership .
this is the reason why I voted for the report as I strongly support measures to simplify and update the procedures .
at the same time it must be remembered that internal differences among the 27 Member States at various stages of development would only widen if we pursued a one-sided economic development policy that stressed competitiveness without addressing Member States ' distinctive features .
the improvement on that is unquestionable , thanks chiefly to operation of the Integrated Administration and Control System .
that may give the debtor warning and it may cause all sorts of complications .
opponents wrongfully put a price tag on women : no additional costs can be incurred to the ever ageing European society .
it is a pity that British Members do not respect their own parliament in some of the comments they are making here .
calling a treaty that has been rammed down our citizens ' throats a dialogue with citizens is , from my point of view , both cynical and ironic .
the crucial question will be whether Opel Europe can be profitable again in the medium term .
the Council very much agrees on the importance of mutual recognition as a cornerstone of judicial cooperation within the EU .
of course there are many other proposals , on the reinforcement of Frontex and on a common European asylum system , for example , but I hope we will have other occasions to discuss such issues in greater depth .
all the investigators were given access to the airports at Otopeni , Bucharest and Constanţa , as well as to the base at the Torrejón Satellite Centre .
preventing the planet from overheating is all our responsibility .
pursuant to the World Trade Organisation Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade , Member States must base their legislation on these international standards .
thank you .
( applause )
we must not forget that , despite the serious economic circumstances that we are experiencing now , solidarity is an essential element that must govern our policies on asylum and immigration ; solidarity with those who , with good reason , ask for our protection , and solidarity with those of our Community partners who , through their geographical circumstances and their size , are faced with the greatest migratory pressures .
firstly , some are impossible ; you make some suggestions that are impossible .
the focus should mainly be on the benefits offered by the single market and on the resolution of the everyday problems of consumers in the internal market , such as , for example , bank charges , comparison of the prices of goods , and so on .
we assess the preliminary draft budget with which the Commission has presented us and find much in it to criticise .
the fact is that our authority , yours here in Parliament and ours in the Commission , is unfortunately very limited in Minsk .
in writing . - ( SV ) I voted in favour of the report on sanctions against employers of illegally staying third-country nationals .
I do not want to take up any more time , because I have already spoken too much .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , first of all the key question of this debate today is what we can expect from this European Council on Thursday and on Friday .
when we have a country in which abstentions exceed 50 % , how can we talk of democracy ?
I would like to say thank you to all those who worked on the Services Directive in the past and those who implemented it in the Member States .
( PL ) Madam President , I would like to start with what the previous speaker said here .
there can be no discussion of public health or education without addressing climate change .
instead of renovation , reconstruction supported by complex programmes that create social employment is the solution .
market policy will be upheld there too .
( the President cut off the speaker )
on a political level , I think the ENP would provide us with a wonderful opportunity to deepen regular political dialogue with countries which are willing to align their foreign policy positions with those of the EU , countries like Ukraine , Moldova , Georgia , Armenia and others .
they are victims and must be accommodated safely on European soil .
this is a process where proclamations about the European future might sometimes be helpful , but will not deliver .
within the territory of Kosovo , however , there are several forces at work , not just a single one .
the telecoms package makes a major contribution to strengthening consumer rights and consumer opportunities as more and more consumers can use it .
Mr President , Amendment 9 speaks about protection of EU policies concerning overseas countries and territories , yet specifically speaks about Saint Pierre and Miquelon .
within this framework , and in accordance with the international commitments that have been made in the context of NATO , the military presence in Afghanistan should be progressively reduced , while maintaining international support for peacekeeping and security with a view to post-intervention stability .
by analogy , we now have the whole situation with regard to the mackerel situation in the European Union , where there is an agreement at European level and at European Economic Area level on a reduction in mackerel fishing .
my last point is that without a proper penalty system the whole package will fail .
Member of the Commission . - ( EL ) Madam President , first of all I should like to thank and congratulate the rapporteur , Mrs Klass , the rapporteur , Mrs Breyer , and the parliamentary Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety on their excellent work on the proposals on the framework directive on a sustainable use of pesticides and to revise and improve the regulation .
in my opinion , Commissioner , in view of the health check we should think about the role in this crisis of the disappearance of the Community instruments to regulate the market .
today and tomorrow , the 10 members of the delegation will be meeting various representatives of the European Parliament and I too will have the pleasure of meeting them .
in this context , it is important to safeguard two fundamental aspects : firstly , creating the conditions necessary to ensure that EU consumers have access to good quality imported fishery and aquaculture products ; and secondly , establishing a framework of fair competition , both for imported products and for those caught and produced by the fisheries and aquaculture sectors in Europe .
we are going to go to the Council next week and try to have a first mandate about this negotiation .
therefore , in view of recent food scares , citizens need to be able to have confidence in the food chain .
secondly , we must bear in mind that we allocate the EU 's administration budget jointly with the other institutions and that in the 1988 decision , we promised that if we were considering abandoning the 20 % rule , then this would only take place following dialogue with the Council .
there is no mention of this either in the Commission 's proposal or in yours .
through its work and reports in the relevant committees - economic crisis committees in particular - Parliament is already providing valuable contributions to the deliberations of the task force .
of course , a lot of what is involved in environment-oriented energy policy is still more expensive .
if there are no internal borders , the external borders must be protected accordingly .
President-in-Office of the Council . - Mr President , I am glad most of the contributions indicate that the job which was assigned to us - and by ' us ' I mean Parliament and the Council - to agree on a very ambitious and new economic governance package , is 99 % completed .
however , I believe that it is unwise to propose the introduction of a tax on financial transactions in the European Union alone .
both symbolise the struggle for freedom and for democracy and both showed the frustration , the pain and the sacrifice that can sometimes come in that struggle .
an important factor for improving competitiveness is an improvement in the quality of regulation , including a decrease in the regulatory burden , to make doing business easier , especially for small and medium-sized enterprises .
in the first two years , we had to come back to the budgetary authority several times , asking for sufficient supplementary funds , for instance , for Palestine and Georgia .
industry needs certainty of planning , and in that regard Europe has very much surged ahead .
the Council is glad to see that the first step towards the adoption of this proposal at first reading is taking place today here in the European Parliament .
the data show that around 50 % of the antibiotics in Europe are prescribed for animal use .
according to this particular report , the picture is very positive , and the proposal for how to deal with the administrative burden reduction is on the table .
I have indicated we want to look at smart , intelligent sanctions as we consider this dual track .
half an hour after that , the police were still not there .
the need for consensus on this sensitive subject is essential , and it is a sad day when Member States cannot agree on this .
the Executive Director of the most important specialist EU authority on genetically modified plants is thus working for the industry-funded International Life Sciences Institute .
in other words , on the basis of this calculation , between EUR 180 and 450 million has been incorrectly spent .
President-in-Office . - ( SL ) Ladies and gentlemen , the European Union is following with anguish the development of the situation in Tibet and the neighbouring provinces in China which have a sizeable Tibetan population , such as Tsinghai , Szechwan and Kansu .
we can see that the share allocated to the French regions is continually shrinking .
from the perspective of our group , the Group of European Conservatives and Reformists , it is vitally important for the concept of macro-regional strategies at the EU level to be resolved in a structured and systematic way in relation to other policies .
we let taxpayers suffer , but protect the banks , asset managers and speculators .
this protection should be standardised on a EU-wide basis .
'Part of the appropriation is intended for financing sustainable and environmentally-friendly actions ( Green New Deal ) that provide for reconciling economic , social and environmental development requirements and for recovery of European regions after the economic and financial crisis ' .
all of the buildings that are shared or not owned by anyone are falling into disrepair .
Turkey must undertake to bring about a complete separation between state and religion and to accept non-Islamic religions .
yet , if one asks whom the occupant of the White House or the Kremlin will call in future , the answer is they will call the same people they called before .
I believe that Mrs Gutiérrez , whose work I would describe as remarkable , has presented us with very acceptable proposals in an effort to bring the different sides closer together - because indeed we see that there really is quite marked opposition within Parliament , just as there is within the Council - and that by listening to Parliament she has finally succeeded in putting forward proposals that appear to be as consensual as possible .
in fact there is more regulation already .
I do not believe at this stage that there is the slightest possibility of getting an agreement on Eurobonds .
( PT ) The media in Portugal has in recent days reported a further 312 redundancies at Yasaki in Ovar .
Mr President , the momentous events in North Africa may have profound consequences for good or bad for the future prosperity and peace of western civilisation , but we are watching the outcome of a process that began 40 years ago .
Mr President , one of the issues addressed at the EU-Russia Summit last week in Brussels was the rule of law in the Russian Federation .
why has the Member States ' ability to intervene in safeguarding their uniqueness and defending their productive and business fabric been limited ?
the harmonised use of labels and the uniform description of dangers generated by chemicals ensure greater confidence of consumers in such products , also facilitating international trade , since industry shall be able to enforce the same labels for all the regions where it exports .
I am pleased that this resolution has kept to the point .
that is the case with the free trade agreement which is being negotiated with Canada .
I am thinking of entry permits for independent NGOs and United Nations special rapporteurs , and for the International Red Cross .
Germans , Dutch , British , Poles - all of us - must have a common view about our relations with the Russian Federation and about how we go about ensuring the energy supply .
I have not supported colleagues who think the solution is just a stronger role for the European Parliament .
in writing . - ( IT ) I voted for the report by Mrs Wallis on the codification of the statutory markings for two- or three-wheel motor vehicles .
I would like to say that when the result was announced , I was at the other end of Europe , in Sicily , and there the result was received just as you have received it - with applause .
whilst loans have been extended to Iceland to support its economy , loans to the other countries have been granted on condition that the finance is used exclusively to support the development of democracy and human rights .
one by Danuta Hübner when she says that Europe does not exist in a vacuum , and the second by Mr Chastel who said Europe cannot grant all concessions alone .
the next item is the report by Mr Ehler , on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs , on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 94 / 19 / EC on Deposit Guarantee Schemes as regards the coverage level and the payout delay - C6-0361 / 2008 - .
the International Trade Committee is right to support the EU in its case against the United States at the WTO .
this demonstrates that neither immigration nor asylum are a problem affecting just one Member State , but that they require cooperation between all the Member States , because otherwise we will not be able to tackle them .
we know that there are no Member States that are exceptions to this .
that was arms for borders .
I am sorry , I cannot by decree insert mutual trust in the heads of the judges all over Europe !
it makes no sense for us .
I should like to say how pleased I am with the organisational arrangements . meeting alternately in Europe and in countries of the ACP region in turn allows members of the Assembly to familiarise themselves with the situation on the ground and understand it better .
my question to you is as follows . what is happening with the instruments that we adopted last year ?
what were our relations like with Mr Gaddafi before the bombing began ?
this increase requires a revision of the interinstitutional agreement .
what has been given as justification for this ?
it is not necessarily the taste , nor is it just the price ; it is , above all , the health standards that exist within the European Union and that do not necessarily exist in the third countries exporting their meat .
Member of the Commission . - ( FR ) Mr President , I first wish to apologise for the absence of my colleague Stravros Dimas , who wished to take part in this debate but has been prevented from doing so due to a recent serious eye operation .
however , open fires and cigarette smoke are far greater sources to a far greater number of people .
moreover the framework decision on the trial of persons who are absent , or as we say here ' in absentia ' , seemed at first to be a routine matter , but then considerable differences of opinion sprang up .
it is .
however , I want to use these 90 seconds to raise a serious issue .
child pornography is an ever-increasing global problem . every effort should therefore be made to combat it at international level .
Mrs Gebhardt , you say we usually hear this at the beginning , but that time has already passed .
at present , there is a very marked threshold effect between regions that are eligible for funding under the convergence objective and those that are not .
I voted for this report , since this EU financial assistance will help people who have become victims of globalisation to find work and return to the labour market and will help them to escape the grip of the recession .
is this to establish whether the competent authorities breached the Community rules in force ?
in terms of financial regulation , Parliament should seek to establish a system of regulation and supervision that does not leave out any financial market , instrument or institution .
I therefore voted in favour of this .
according to the Kyoto Protocol , the reference year for calculating emissions under the ETS should be 1990 , not 2005 , as has been imposed by the Commission .
it is just this type of question which should be the subject of efforts to build an image of authority and importance for the European Union .
I thought Mr Allister 's points were absolutely correct .
it is this feeling that I convey , along with all of the other victims of the war in the Balkans .
this type of statistical data will help to avoid unforeseen costs and will stimulate the circulation of both internal and external goods .
secondly , every building consuming 40 % of our energy today can be transformed into a low-energy building by using renewables , even in a positive-energy building .
this happens year after year , and every time there are new sticking points in the budget negotiations .
( RO ) The effects of the economic crisis have been felt since 2008 .
the rule of law must also apply in the virtual world .
Mr President , Mrs Giannakou 's report reflects the logical sequence of events over recent years which were aimed at raising citizens ' interest in politics in the European Union .
we won only one amendment , of minor importance , on the recitals , which was clearly ' granted ' to us by the EPP and ALDE Groups in order to appease us so that the Greens / EFA position in the final vote would be positive .
in order to make that effort , they must not fall victim to factors outside their work over which they have absolutely no control .
we have also highlighted the challenge that climate change presents to our forests .
( FI ) Mr President , the financial crisis has meant that we have to consider fair sources of income to achieve growth and prosperity .
social exclusion and poverty are two sides of the same coin and are features of a society with very needy people , a society that is not socially cohesive .
in actual fact , a lack of euro liquidity is also lurking behind Member States ' payment problems and devaluing currencies .
fourthly , to respect the right of every human being to leave any country and ask for international protection in any country .
Europe must ensure that it is not seen as a threat to identities , but as a form of protection , a way of keeping them alive .
I do not know if everyone is aware that tomorrow , the sitting will be closed at 19.00 .
we all know that Russia cut off the supply of gas to Ukraine two Christmases ago ; once they get an even bigger share of Western Europe gas supplies , perhaps they might do it to all of us at some time .
let us remember that there are a lot of differences within the European Union and , at the same time , financial resources tend to dwindle .
we can see that , both from the Ombudsman 's Annual Report and from the Committee on Petitions report .
its envoy , Tony Blair , has never even been to Gaza .
firstly , we need to review our finances - not only in the EU , but in each Member State , according to uniform criteria - so that we know where we really stand , what our financial leeway is and what we can actually afford to do .
the Portuguese Presidency will do everything in its power to establish the convergence that is indispensable to progress in the construction of Europe .
this is the barrier to a solution .
social policy and everything that can be subsumed under the heading ' social security ' is an outstanding example of a domain of the Member States , and sometimes of their federal states - not of the European Union .
this does not mean that we want to take action against those countries from which we obtain crude oil or natural gas , but we do want to tap other sources .
1 .
this is the political question that has arisen and it is for this reason that we expect serious replies given what has happened with the statements by your candidate for commissioner .
we live in our various countries and we hear criticisms of the EU 's development policy .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
Council position at first reading : see Minutes
but that , of course , is a question of wisdom and of timing as well .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - Mr President , if nobody else is speaking against , I will speak against .
then I think we would really be cheating the consumers .
whether by representation or by referenda , this coming together is real .
- ( DE ) Many thanks for this very good response .
the assessment mechanism must work in such a way as to ensure that visa requirements are immediately reinstated for all countries which backtrack on the aforementioned criteria or which introduce visa requirements for the nationals of one or more Member States .
at this time of increased protectionism and with poverty spreading instead of decreasing , it is particularly important for us to keep trade open between Europe and some of the world 's poorest countries .
I say this to all Members of this House .
( BG ) Mr President , I do not know , Mr Posselt , what you failed to understand in my speech and what contradicts the actual report and the view which the Committee on Foreign Affairs was united on .
President of the Commission . - Thank you all for your comments , but let me tell you that there is no first draft of the new strategy .
implementation of the Regulation will require cooperation between supervisory bodies at different levels of the market , constant monitoring of the latter and appropriate support from the Commission , concerning the exchange of best practice for example .
Article 100 deals with quite different situations and should therefore be treated separately .
we can create more jobs , not , as the Socialists wish , by restricting overtime hours for workers .
8 .
you have mentioned them and they are particularly important .
again , I want to thank all of you who are engaged in that great effort on behalf of all European citizens .
indeed , Gilad Shalit 's father Noam has repeatedly confirmed that neither he nor his family is involved in politics .
Madam President , I will be brief .
this is even more justified in view of what we have heard from Mrs Georgieva , that we have used only 10 % of this fund in the past 10 years .
Europe needs to adopt advanced systems for broadband and Internet use that are accessible to all and are also able to reach rural and outlying areas , as required by the Digital Agenda .
the threat is instability in the region , if these countries remain outside the euro area .
investing in equal opportunities and freedom means investing in the future , in Europe and in the developing world .
all these differences do is to increase exploitation and uncertainty .
I do not believe that a debate on the suffering of six million Jews can be dispassionate .
that is why the governments of the Mediterranean states should unite in efforts to convince our northern partners of the need for the mechanism you referred to , both within the framework of subsidiarity and within the framework of solidarity .
the third covers space and security with respect to having monitoring and surveillance of European space infrastructures and space debris at European level .
it is necessary to clarify the powers and duties of the competent authorities responsible for implementing this directive , and to strengthen the mechanisms needed to ensure effective cross-border cooperation in the field of monitoring .
I would say - and I have said this repeatedly to the IASB also - that road testing - you can call it impact analysis - should be done before standards are adopted , particularly by the IASB , and with input from the EU and other bodies as well .
Romanians are facing ever-increasing problems on a daily basis , along with growing intimidation and fear .
in this case , however , it was just a year later .
we hope for the best and look forward to seeing these matters cleared up .
to begin with , Commissioner , with regard to Palestine , the Middle East peace process and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency ( UNRWA ) , the Commission 's proposal suggests a budget cut of EUR 100 million .
also , what lessons can the Union give about freedom of religion when it embraces a country such as Turkey , which has massacred or driven out all its former minority religions and openly discriminates against the few that remain ?
therefore , allow me to conclude this presentation by thanking the protagonists in this process and especially the European Parliament rapporteur for their support in drawing up this legal basis , which will enable us to have transparent data on energy in the European Union in the future .
the Chilean authorities have not yet made any specific requests for the European Union to help with reconstruction .
Mr Havel also received a great deal of applause for this .
I know Baia Mare very well and know that it is not in the former Czechoslovakia , but in the north of Transylvania .
strict implementation of the Lisbon Strategy will therefore be decisive for buttressing Europe 's competitive position in the global market through job creation , poverty reduction and social inclusion .
President-in-Office , your country may be small in size but we know that it is mighty in spirit , and we know too that Europe 's Davids often make better presidencies than its Goliaths .
let me repeat : we fully support Georgia and its aspirations for independence and integrity - there is no room for discussion on that point .
within the framework of the current EU Presidency , the Conference on Social Services entitled ' Social services : a tool for mobilising the workforce and strengthening social cohesion ' was held in Prague in April this year .
( ES ) Madam President , we are talking about more than 360 actions in five years .
Parliament was the first institution in Europe to make proposals for a single currency , back in 1962 .
we will find it difficult to explain to the unemployed that it took us more than three quarters of a year to pass the legislation which is supposed to help them now , in their time of need .
all governments , even tyrannies , ultimately derive their power from the consent of the people that they govern .
I am pleased that the report sets out many points indicating the need to make use of flexible forms of employment , and by that I mean both fixed-term employment and part-time employment , because in my opinion , single mothers in particular , and families in general with young children to raise , need to make use of the broad range on offer on the labour market , so that they can combine work life and family life .
this is why it is important to retain the system of additionality in funding .
during my time as Commissioner she has been exceptionally cooperative and helpful and always gave the utmost in any task that was assigned to her by Parliament .
it was therefore necessary to request an exemption for the Czech Republic , based on the fact that our land was affected by the same natural disaster as neighbouring Poland , where the consequences were more destructive .
the drama of Fukushima requires us above all to strengthen our requirements in the area of nuclear safety .
I voted for the amendments and for those parts of the text that relate to taxing financial transactions .
fortunately , developments in the Arctic region have been steady and based on a willingness to cooperate .
we have also begun a cooperation exercise with the United States in the field of innovation , and we are examining the possibility of cooperating with Japan as well .
I am not saying that this was ideal ; I am simply saying that , within four days , Europe managed to bring about a ceasefire .
I will now turn to the arguments about the dairy farmers .
thank you very much , Madam President , and I am also very grateful for this clarification , as it is vitally important that we are now going to talk about the microfinance facility .
roughly 200 000 Romanians live in Canada , some of whom have entered there through official Canadian immigration schemes .
we will also jointly try to define a future strategy on how to coordinate international negotiations with , of course , the involvement of diplomats .
you have referred to the situation with Opel in Antwerp .
we are , however , interested in ensuring that ambitious women whose qualifications are equal to those of their male rivals are selected for positions normally held only by men , because , as research shows , this may contribute to better and more sustainable management of companies and , as a result , to better financial results .
Member States cannot do this sufficiently by themselves .
at the same time , the aim is to apply this recipe to Ireland and Portugal .
the second thing that I think is important , which has also been mentioned , but I would like to reiterate it , is the need for greater transparency in this type of mechanism , which requires increased participation by Parliament .
the proposal to be put to the vote today fills in the loopholes in the current legislation by extending the scope of the directive to cover not only timeshare but also long-term holiday products , resale and exchange of timeshare .
however , that is a possible alternative for the future and one that we cannot yet go into in any detail .
let us not hesitate to pass on the costs of congestion , air and noise pollution to what will ultimately be the consumer .
there are several amendments that were adopted by the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and which I tabled again on behalf of my group .
in writing . - This report has some useful references to the NATO / ISAF mission ; to the deep problems of illiteracy and ill-treatment of women ; to endemic corruption and the need for fresh thinking .
these are real problems and the European Union should also be mindful of these risks and dangers and protect its own citizens , its culture and its traditions , the identity of the European peoples , if we want a Europe of peoples and not a Europe that becomes a melting pot , in which fundamental rights are not really protected .
it is on these bases that the legislative measures Mr Ortega referred to , which are indeed necessary , will be translated .
because of this , the crisis has turned into hysteria .
moreover , the view that EU funds are inadequately looked after is increasingly widespread in Europe , so we also have a political debt to the public , to our constituents and to our taxpayers in this regard .
a fine demonstration of effectiveness and usefulness that is !
written statements ( Rule 149 )
resorting to protectionism is the worst thing that can happen to emerging and developed economies alike .
left or Right , Conservative or Socialist , we can all agree that we want a diversity of supply for energy , and that we do not want pollutants being pumped into the atmosphere , but only one set of policies is being applied - those that involve statism and corporatism - the same policies , in fact , which have failed politically and societally are now being applied to the environment .
the joint declaration calling for the simplification and a more targeted use of the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund to help overcome the effects of the economic crisis should also be welcomed .
we call on you to confirm that the principle of respect for the sovereign rights of the Member States is inviolate , independent of your overall opinion on the Partnership or on ΝΑΤΟ .
that I cannot answer today , but I can assure you that it will be looked into .
that is a real shame !
as a huge net contributor , the United Kingdom carries a disproportionate burden in funding the EU so , when it comes to the massive additional cost of enlargement to include Turkey , we would be burdened beyond what we could bear .
I am all the more astonished , therefore , that new legislative measures are now being proposed under which speaking publicly about or providing information on homosexual relations could effectively result in fines of up to EUR 2 900 and there will no longer be equal opportunities for homosexual people - but at least for women .
to meet their needs , the European Union has declared the year 2010 to be European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion .
will the Commission do it ?
keeping to the speaking time , too , is a matter of fairness .
there is also an increase in the number of countries joining the common currency .
rapporteur . - ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I have four comments .
it will also raise the significance and credibility of numerous initiatives of the European Parliament in the area of the protection of fundamental freedoms , which are the right of every person .
we need to prepare for this joint decision in several areas , primarily security and the administration of justice .
thus , they are not regarded as countries that are obliged to contribute to the effort to reduce greenhouse gases , even though they are some of the biggest consumers of carbon .
this , in turn , means that the governments of these countries have little room for manoeuvre in their macro-economic policy apart from cutting public spending and raising taxes .
we are now living through times of crisis .
yet state emergency laws have been in place in Egypt for the past 28 years .
we have a Treaty , we have a responsibility , we have duties and we have rights .
I think it has been very timely .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( SV ) Madam President , the proposal is intended to ensure that people getting divorced can genuinely enforce their rights and obtain the information they need .
other states will contribute to the operation in the future .
in 1930 , the population on this territory included 28 % non-Romanians ; today , this has fallen to 10 % .
there are many improvements , including the following : the European call number 116 will be extended beyond the scope of missing children , there will be a breakthrough in the transparency of contracts and prices , it will be easier to terminate contractual relations at an early stage , ordinary users will have easier access to protection software , disabled users will be guaranteed equal access and spam will be more precisely defined .
this is a laudable aim .
what a difference from the celebrations to mark the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall !
however , this proposal will have to be amended during tomorrow 's vote so as to ensure that the data collected are reliable and conducive to debate , and also , and above all , to ensure that all the Member States are involved in this approach .
7 .
it is quite clear that this conference cannot possibly halt the loss of biodiversity ; the pace is simply too rapid .
Madam President , it makes clear sense to me that , since chemicals are manufactured and traded globally , the description of hazards on their packaging should not differ between countries , as that is both prejudicial to consumers and a disadvantage to those who accurately describe the hazard .
obviously , we also agree with the condemnation of Islamic terrorism against Christian communities , but we cannot silence the 30 000 who are being detained without charge in Iraq due to the military occupation , nor can we ignore the way in which this has provoked conflict and problems within Iraqi society .
the key to success , however - and I agree entirely with Mr Rack here - is that these systems should be available to the great mass of car owners , that they have a general impact and do not remain the privilege , as it were , of a small class of people .
that is why I voted for the report on the Euratom Supply Agency .
I am grateful to the rapporteur for being prepared to make some compromises at the last minute .
if each of us had decided in isolation to support our banks , we would not have supported any bank .
it is the new recital 12a .
whenever there is an emergency you always manage to do something that in reality increases the gap between citizens further still .
this morning , officers from the Italian police force forced their way into the private residence of a Member of our delegation , while he was here in Strasbourg .
these steps are positive both for Turkey and the EU and we support Turkey 's efforts towards reform .
I am voting for this report , as it examines the needs of urban areas , focusing mainly on two aspects : basic infrastructure , and smart investment in infrastructures and services based on technological advances .
there are still many unfinished matters that need to be addressed and they have been mentioned : no stereotypical thinking , equal pay for equal work , poverty among women , violence against women and the ageing society , which affects women in particular .
as our rapporteur points out , we must not lose sight of the goals of the Process or of the notion of students being at the heart of all questions concerning their education .
therefore , the Socialist Group reluctantly accepted to subscribe to a resolution which apparently aims to establish a historical truth about a tragic event that took place in Ukraine in the past .
I am voting in favour of this motion for a resolution , drawing attention to the importance of an approach that is simultaneously top-down and horizontal , whilst also involving all actors in developing a Strategy .
this summit gives us a new opportunity for affirmative action , different from the first Roma Summit , which did not include real political commitments in the EU .
thank you .
the next item is the report by Mrs Estrela , on behalf of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , on reducing health inequalities in the EU .
I welcome the proposed theme for this first pilot partnership : active and healthy ageing .
it is up to immigrants and minorities to learn and use the language of the area in which they live .
the reality , Mr President , is that the real southern borders of the European Union are no longer truly in Europe , they are now on the African continent .
it can be done , as the Kremlin exercises a decisive influence on Russia 's power structures and judiciary .
it is something that we want to do to complete the internal market .
the honourable Member asks whether the sustainability scheme proposed by the Commission in its proposal for the directive on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources , adopted by the Commission this January , will solve the problem created by the trading practice referred to in the question .
two questions , to conclude :
I would like to go back to the very simple and very sincere request contained in our question .
I trust that the spirit of collaboration will continue up to the end of this legislature .
the union involved in this case is the Communication Workers Union , and it has been admirably flexible in its dealings with Fujitsu management .
we express our earnest desire to see such an involvement in all the contacts we have with them .
I ask the European Parliament to translate without delay , and to continue translating , all legislative , political and administrative documents from this term into Slovak and into all the other official languages of the Union , so that the citizens can monitor the political activities of all the institutions , the most important being the verbatim reports of proceedings of the parliamentary debates .
there is an awful lot in the pipeline .
it is subordinating cohesion policy to the Lisbon strategy .
these recommendations will form the basis for the European action plan which should be adopted , as I said , before November .
this week , we are celebrating Europe Day , when we remember the Schuman Declaration , which spoke of a Europe which ' will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity ' .
there is meant to be patent protection in South Korea , but will a Korean court really find in favour of a British company against a Korean business ?
the acceptance of Ukraine by that organisation will show , once and for all , that the country has gone from being a centrally planned economy to being a fully functioning market economy .
the debate is closed .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Mr President , I should like to begin by thanking my fellow Members for this truly fair and open debate .
the reaction of the Japanese Government at the time was an out and out rejection of these demands .
however , let us act as we always do , let us move forward , let us take decisions and then wait for others to help us .
it is also important to stress that many actions are supported by the financial instruments of the EU , especially in this context , the European Social Fund , but I should also mention the new Microfinance Facility that provides programmes and , in the latter case , entrepreneurship and self-employment opportunities , and I think these dimensions have to be reflected in the forthcoming MFF proposal as well .
firstly , the point has to be made that governments believe that they can introduce enhanced security measures in civil aviation and expect the industry and subsequently the passengers to pay for it .
Turkey must be condemned for its crimes within EU territory .
I invite the Council to think about this ; for example , giving research or Frontex the resources they need to operate , and improving the lines of information correspond to the current concerns of European citizens .
there are three important areas for consideration .
this cooperation between Parliament and the JPA began in 2007 , and last year resulted in the creation of a fully-fledged delegation for relations with the JPA .
this is a democratic procedure ending in a vote .
therefore , I believe that the resolution before us is good and well balanced .
in case we lose touch with Mr Jarzembowski , I would like to tell him that we will always remember the ability he demonstrated on that committee .
even as we speak , a similar crossover is being allowed to derail a legislative amendment we have been calling for to address the problem of needle-stick injuries .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , my fellow Members are right , the figures are alarming and warrant serious reflection .
this is why I argued in the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection for transparent and more easily understandable information on the emission ratings of vehicles .
it may also be necessary to widen the scope of the economic sanctions we are applying , as all the evidence suggests that words , however tough , will not improve the situation for people in Belarus .
in so doing , they are overlooking the fact that our continent cannot exist without Christianity .
I say this because the measures we have already taken , and are taking now , ensure that the Kyoto target will be met .
this is why we need to take steps in this area .
these must be built upon , because they enable us not only to evoke the link with industrial relations , and hence the effects on employment , but also to acknowledge the formation of Community-scale groups of undertakings that are stable .
the negative impact is multiplied exponentially on the fringes of Europe and society .
Cancún 's success lay in the fact that political pride was saved .
in writing . - I voted in favour of the candidature of Mr. Mario Draghi as next President of the European Central Bank for his great competence and his progressive view on the governance of the global financial system .
decisions concerning certain documents : see Minutes
this is important .
Mr President : so the EU seeks to raise EU revenue by taxation on trucks ?
the mechanism will have three main components : a macro-economic adjustment programme , a financing arrangement , and private sector involvement .
our opinion is not the final one when it comes to explanation of European Union law .
in fact , a century has passed , or perhaps one and a half centuries , and the same thing is happening in Iran , an Islamic country , where , from one side , it can be seen that attention is paid to the family .
to say what ?
we must reinforce the role of workers ' representatives on company boards and in the taking of structural management decisions .
the EU can make a powerful contribution to the peace and prosperity of our planet .
Mr President , Mr Tajani , ladies and gentlemen , today , with the ratification of the Erika III package , we are bringing to a close an undertaking that began more than three years ago .
to date , however , there has been no European-level harmonisation of the rules on contracts for consumers and businesses .
the second task will be to draw up a concise document that will explain its essential reasons and advantages to the general public .
for example , Mrs Wortmann-Kool , Mr Feio and Mr Papanikolaou referred to this in their speeches .
previous CAP reforms have led to the liberalisation of agricultural markets .
it would do us no harm to re-read the Laeken Declaration , which summed up so poignantly the problem we face in overcoming the gap between the governed and the governors .
in this context , I believe that we need a strategy .
there are at least two things I would like to mention which are not in line with that .
- ( RO ) Mr President , Commissioner , Chapter 4 sets out the basic provisions and procedures which are applied as part of the Excise Movement Control System .
( ES ) President-in-Office of the Council , I agree with the approach taken by the Council .
( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to join in congratulating Mrs Lulling .
the Eastern European Member States pay a heavy price for the monopoly - there is no competition , consumer rights are not protected and it is impossible to create a single market .
19 .
I would also say that we want the question that we are to submit at Strasbourg to be amended .
in writing . - I voted against the Lehtinen Report on the consumer policy strategy because , whilst there was much in the Report with which I could agree , I fundamentally reject the call for enhanced liberalisation of services .
that runs contrary to a unanimous decision adopted in the Committee on Constitutional Affairs .
that would be an enormous step forward , because that would enable us to denounce not only the situation in Zimbabwe , but also the already longstanding human rights abuses by the Angolan regime against the Lunda .
that is why we cannot support the amendments to this report which extend the life of the MIF ( multilateral interchange fee ) .
the sum of EUR 35 billion has just been mentioned ; we are talking here about an additional EUR 35 billion .
the European Union should learn from this .
Member of the Commission . - ( EL ) Mr President , we shall be debating a really difficult but important issue today .
this data underlines the importance of investing in entrepreneurship .
the European Union 's delegation to China could also earmark funds to support the traditions of the Kashgar minorities and their cultural identity .
if implemented , this harmonisation of airport charges is likely to be as successful as the harmonisation that brought us the common agricultural policy , the common fisheries policy and the ever-increasing burden of EU regulation on businesses , which costs the UK at least GBP 26 billion per annum .
the fact that visas for entering the US are still compulsory for citizens from six European Union Member States must be a priority in the dialogue which the Commission and European Parliament conduct with the US authorities in order to achieve equal treatment for all citizens from EU countries , based on complete reciprocity .
this report aims to make it considerably easier for third-country nationals with a long-stay ' D ' visa to move freely throughout the Community .
that is why we are all calling , once again , for Turkey to bring forward a revision of its constitution without delay , as that is the only thing that can bring about the real reforms that are so necessary to modernise Turkish society .
this serves the interests of policyholders as well as of fair competition .
Mr President , the set-up of the hybrid sui generis EEAS has been characterised by much debate , but High Representative Ashton deserves some credit for crafting a consensus on the way forward at a time when European leaders have been distracted by the eurozone crisis .
thirty years of war is a huge problem .
the immediate impact of this cyclicity is a reduction in state revenue .
it is not sufficient simply to reduce discards , as bottom-trawling in deep water has a relatively high impact on by-catch and discard species .
19 .
it is the subject of the Guellec report , which contains many valuable findings .
it is true that progress has been made in the area of freedom , security and justice .
in writing . - The report by Mr Belder considers the current situation of the European Union 's trade and economic relations with this increasingly stable region , where many countries hold candidateship for EU membership .
that is why we shall vote against the report on regulations governing European parties , political foundations and their funding .
the Commission has made ambitious proposals , for instance in relation to stress tests ; it is the European Commission and the European Central Bank who have proposed credible and transparent tests for the European Bank .
in developing the detailed operating principles for this programme , we should bear in mind , however , that the assets and living conditions of older persons vary across the Member States .
( LT ) While I basically agree with the European Economic Recovery Plan , I would like to draw attention to two matters : the issuing of Eurobonds and expansion of the eurozone .
already , in the context of the Thessaloniki action plan , the European Union has expressed the political desire to abolish the requirement for citizens of all the Western Balkan countries to obtain short-term visas .
it is good that Slovakia has taken on board the ECB 's view of the risk of increased inflation with the adoption of the euro and I think it was necessary therefore , after consultation , to revalue the koruna .
the European Union has the means to do this : the trade protection instruments are a perfect example of such means .
I consider the information in the second part of the paragraph about terrorists being maltreated when arrested to be a poor joke .
Mr President , in acknowledging the hard work that our rapporteur , Ms Klaß , has put into this report entitled ' The situation of women in rural areas of the EU ' , I would have to ask : compared to men in rural areas or women in urban areas ?
5 .
Europe 's political will must be up to the challenge of tackling these events and this new violence , and we are grateful to the French Presidency and all the institutions for having dealt competently with these issues that pose a threat to our stability and peace .
fourthly , let us be fair , as happens throughout the world ; the laws do not have retroactive force , nor should they .
the European Social Fund plays a vital role in improving career and professional opportunities , promoting the adaptation skills of workers to the demands of the labour market and integrating them into it , along with strengthening social inclusion .
in order to perpetuate this myth , we invent periodic scares to frighten people into submission .
in my view it is necessary to ensure that the financial appropriations for the 2008 annual action programmes for Argentina and Brazil , specifically earmarked for the promotion of economic development and welfare , are actually used for both education and concrete action in the field and that they provide infrastructure and means of production geared to sustainable development .
the decision put to the vote today is therefore a technical measure designed to close the accounts for the financial year in question , not the granting of discharge .
that is the truth .
in the coming weeks we will need to complete the reforms already under way .
with 900 000 tonnes ' worth of catches , this agreement also represents the greatest fishing potential .
thank you .
the renewal plan has a Community aspect of course , in respect of which about EUR 30 billion is available today , as well as a national aspect , in respect of which every Member State within the framework of the plan is implementing its own fiscal stimulus .
the implementation of the tasks adopted in the multiannual financial frameworks for the years 2007-2013 is presenting an increasing number of difficulties .
the criteria mentioned in Article 290 are compulsory if they are fulfilled .
we invest billions in gas pipelines now , and then gas consumption in Europe is meant to be reduced .
to conclude , we are grateful for the help we have received from the Member States in recent days .
this connection will allow all Union countries to have access to online data about stowaways attempting to reach Europe and ensure more effective control at the European Union 's external borders .
solidarity which is , in fact , a sine qua non for the future of European construction , on a par with the other truly fundamental principle , subsidiarity .
none the less , it is an encouraging signal for the internal market as well as for the small and medium-sized enterprises that operate in the internal market .
in 2007 alone , this sector had a turnover of around EUR 300 billion .
that is what many European citizens think and , up to a point , that is my view too .
I think it is important that this House realises the enormity of this tragedy for the island of Ireland , and for the family affected by it .
we are deluged with a vast number of sometimes pointless EU agencies , but the CEPOL is an important body for fighting crime and maintaining security and public order .
however , I would like to point out that the current economic and political crisis throughout the Maghreb area should lead us to consider this agreement carefully and with greater solidarity .
this means not just Europe , but also the United States , as well as others .
in turn this reduces the dependence of Europe and the European economy on imported energy from fossil sources .
the High Representative issued an immediate condemnation following the first sentence on 18 February , and she recalled that political motives had no place in a legal process .
Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement ( ACTA ) ( debate )
as well as that infamous underfunding there is a deadlock of funds for countries that could benefit from the Industrialised Countries Instrument ( ICI + ) but - and I shall finish now , Mr President - are unable to do so because there is no solution to the problem of the legal basis for this instrument .
although we might encounter difficulties the end result will be a happy one .
also , we have the data protection supervisor and we have data protection directives , and the last thing we want is duplication .
there always remains , however , a question about details .
( applause )
I therefore voted against this motion .
the next item is the report by Toine Manders , on behalf of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection , on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on textile names and related labelling of textile products - C6-0048 / 2009 - .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I would say to the honourable Members and to Minister Jouyet that , as we approach World AIDS Day on 1 December 2008 , this plenary session provides a good opportunity to reflect on some significant achievements in combating HIV / AIDS and to focus on the serious challenges that lie ahead .
Mr Jouyet and I shall now sign the Galileo Regulation , and I would like to ask Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner , Angelika Niebler , chairman of the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy , and Etelka Barsi-Pataky , the rapporteur , to step forward and join us .
2 .
I have talked about attaching as much importance to the monitoring effect as to the announcement effect .
statement by the President of the European Parliament 's delegation to the Conciliation Committee - Novel foods ( debate )
this fund , and potentially others , depending on the circumstances of each case , need to be mobilised more rapidly in order to hasten an effective and swift response to emergency situations .
8 .
regarding the European Economic Recovery Plan , the Committee adopted two new paragraphs to be added to budget lines 06 04 14 01 , 06 04 14 02 and 06 04 14 03 .
vocational education and training have to be treated as a long-term common political priority , which can be translated into reality only with the participation and commitment of all stakeholders : as well as the EU institutions and the Member States , those involved at local and regional level must use their influence to make this happen .
far from being a reactionary relegation of women to a role of subordination to men , it is a way to rehabilitate the family within society , giving equal rights to men , too .
I welcome the aid given to Pakistan by the European Union , as the world 's largest donor of humanitarian aid , following natural disasters that devastated the country 's economy and population .
it is not possible to discuss human rights without speaking of the first and most fundamental one : the right to life .
one of our most successful programmes is the student exchange programme that enables our young people to study in Europe , to get out into the world .
the release of these people will be a benchmark of Russia 's success combating ' legal nihilism ' .
in writing . - ( ET ) The events that took place in Kyrgyzstan at the start of April , already a month ago , have had a serious impact both upon the country 's internal governmental situation and upon international relations .
this agreement will not be able to cover everything that follows .
the previous criteria for support of these areas must be modified so that they reflect actually existing handicaps .
evacuation was the most important issue on 3 March , and it is still very important that Member States help with the repatriation of non-EU citizens , mostly migrant workers .
we confirm very clearly in the report that the EIB had a sum of EUR 2.2 billion at its disposal .
ultimately , this report gives its support to the agricultural products of which we are so proud while , at the same time , advocating necessary administrative simplifications as regards their protection .
I have spoken here before about the case of the newspaper Egunkaria .
we must deliver on the commitments we have made to the Millennium Development Goals .
in writing . - ( LT ) Today we voted on the new generation of the Erasmus Mundus programme ( 2009-2013 ) .
let me again express my gratitude to the rapporteur and the Committee for their work on this proposal .
this means that burdens have to be shared equitably .
I noted the paradox that , for example , hospitals would have to pay their private creditors higher penalties than they themselves could require of their debtors .
if they fail to apply the legislation or enforce it properly , or are unable to comply fully with the goals it contains , then we will have a problem .
again , if you have any information concerning the misuse of money in cofinanced projects , we would be very happy - as would DG REGIO and other departments - to receive such information .
through the Lisbon Strategy we are seeking to ensure that Europe remains economically competitive with the rest of the world .
the cultural and religious differences among the European Union should be respected , and under no circumstances should this matter be taken out of the hands of the Member States .
alongside the promotion of Roma culture , it is also important to recognise that the Roma should make an effort to learn about the customs and culture of the peoples with whom they live , so as to facilitate real integration .
it is very important that a person who has lost his job or is in danger of losing it and cannot find a solution to his problem on the conventional banking markets is able to obtain a micro-loan or micro-credit .
I trust that all hospitals will soon obtain voluntary national or European accreditation involving quality checks .
the eurosceptics are indeed poor losers .
if we add yet another programme , then we will make the whole area difficult to get to grips with .
the European Union and Member States now recognise the need to bring relations with Africa onto a new level , with the second EU-Africa Summit being the right moment to clearly vocalise this desire .
I shall start with Mr Watson 's remarks concerning visas and human rights , but first I have to comment on his remarks concerning my colleague , Benita Ferrero-Waldner , who is responsible for our relations with Moldova .
this is a major step forward in acknowledgement of this profession .
however , I can confirm that our determination is strong and it is intact .
programmes which have simpler rules will also be more transparent and more efficient .
as I said at the last plenary sitting , I would like to know how we are now going to explain to citizens that we scarcely have the instruments to control these rises in agricultural prices in the European Union .
this is also the time to defend small and medium-sized enterprises , putting words into action .
when we deal with innovation here , we have committees , we have strategy documents , we have votes , we have everything but innovation , unless you consider more paper creation to be innovation .
in this respect , 2012 is the correct year , because this allows the best chance of convincing third countries to participate after all .
I also think that the subject of women 's involvement in human rights issues has been paid too little attention for far too long , certainly if we consider women in their role as ' human rights defenders ' .
in contrast , the countries of the former Comecon underwent rapid industrialisation . in particular , this involved developing the potential of the iron and steel industry , the heavy chemicals industry and other types of industry with detrimental effects on the environment .
nonetheless , if the collection of fingerprints and face scans is necessary for the granting of Schengen visas in future , this will lead to quite considerable upheavals in the embassies concerned .
discharge 2005 : European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions ( vote )
the US should respect the EU 's independence and its complementary role .
it would significantly restructure the set of rules and change practices in Member States .
this is related to clarifying a number of incidents and , above all , to taking preventive measures .
nevertheless , the other proposals in the asylum package will have to be adopted as quickly as possible so as to prevent a third phase of the European Common Asylum System from having to be developed .
you had the proof of that a few days ago .
a good example of this is the initiative taken by the Polish national television service , which began to broadcast to Belarus on 10 December 2007 through the first independent channel , called Belsat .
this is a very technical file and , as you are aware , technical conservation measures in the Atlantic and the North Sea originate to a large extent from existing rules .
these will constitute thousands of ambassadors for our mutual cooperation .
opening the market to airlines from the European Union and the United States on a non-discriminatory basis will offer passengers and freight operators improved services , provide substantial economic benefits and create jobs .
in Amendment 2 , which differs only minimally from the figures in the Lamassoure Report , the outcome would be that the Council is given a message from Parliament for the period 2009-2014 .
creating a common register is useful for lobbyists too , as they only need to register once .
the resolution tabled renews our commitment to the fight against a serious disease that still affects one in five people over the age of 85 .
otherwise , we are not .
it is legitimate to ensure that they are available around the clock and to give them more powers to get their decisions implemented , like issuing search and seizure warrants in their own Member States and accessing their own national criminal databases .
in my view , nothing like that will ever happen again , thanks to the existence of digital libraries .
I am persuaded that this economic partnership agreement is unsuitable for achieving the aim of promoting the development of the countries involved , because there are controversial matters yet to be addressed and resolved , such as the Most Favoured Nation clause and tariffs on exports , which do not encourage the creation of a real market capable of bringing benefits to all the populations concerned .
secondly , the committee felt that the content of these agreements should have been analysed in greater detail , in terms of the provisions for monitoring actual catch quantities and protecting fish stocks in view of the pressure from the Committee on Fisheries and also to ensure that the local development component of the agreements is properly applied in practice .
I am approving this report , highlighting Article 67 , regarding the various legal systems and practices , and access to justice , issues on which mutual recognition should contribute to better knowledge of the various legal systems and practices .
the proposal for energy partnership with Africa is therefore important , and we should add similar partnerships with China and India in view of the growth of these countries .
a number of recommendations in this report echo the political vision and priorities pursued by the Commission , as extensively outlined in a number of communications .
I therefore cannot understand how there can be people in Europe today constructing memorials to fascist criminals .
nevertheless , I voted against the report on a smoke-free Europe as a matter of principle , for it is true to say that nowhere else has the state asserted itself quite so successfully as in the fight against smoking in public .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , in essence I wanted to state the following : there is no problem as serious as that of personal rights and the protection of privacy when this right is not adequately safeguarded .
we joined the European Union because we wanted to adopt its internal rules .
this legislative text is an excellent step forward towards a more motivating and equal approach to entrepreneurship .
secondly , there is the standardisation of collection , which lowers costs and prevents traffic congestion .
the help and advice of the Venice Commission will be important in ensuring that this is done in a manner corresponding to European standards , availing of the best experience available .
although Mr Hegyi 's report goes in the right direction by insisting on a binding parliamentary right of codecision on GMO authorisations , we reject the negotiated compromise , because it leaves the undemocratic comitology procedure in place .
the question must therefore be asked as to why measures are not being taken to support this sector ?
for example , in 2005 , they returned a total of around USD 10 billion to the US Treasury through repayments .
this solution will certainly please the supporters of open access to the internet .
as if criminals and mafia were landing in Lampedusa !
I can only admire the opportunistic hypocrisy of my Tory colleagues .
its image in the world would be enhanced as a result , and I must say in passing that this comment is also true for countries such as Pakistan , North Korea and Israel .
increasing the competition for resident students seems to me to be counter-productive .
I know he dedicated himself to this very important work .
this will make it easier to work in another Member State and will create more mobility for citizens within the European internal market .
why should we believe that tomorrow the European Union , you , the Commission and the Council , will be more capable of imposing respect for the clauses already included in the agreement that we have , tomorrow , with the ...
we are seeking to combine funding from many sources , especially from national and regional sources and the European Investment Bank .
we will not see food prices returning to their former levels , and volatility could increase if measures are not taken swiftly .
in its proposal , the Commission wanted to ensure that , in practice , families are not separated and that minors are not transferred , except to rejoin their families .
let me address some specific questions that were raised in the debate .
it would be superfluous for me to repeat here the reasons that led to my vote of approval .
rapporteur . - ( FI ) Madam President , the European Solidarity Fund was created in 2002 in the wake of the disastrous floods which struck in central Europe , affecting both EU Member States and candidate countries .
I also want to mention the trafficking of babies before and after birth for organ and cell harvesting and remind my colleagues that the preamble of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child includes children before birth as well as after .
fourthly , that every unfair trading policy has been deleted or embellished and that it even goes as far as to refuse the recommendation to create a Europe-wide database on farm gate and consumer prices which is accessible to all citizens and consumers .
for example , it has pointed out that , in the Swedish case , of the 4 687 redundancies mentioned , only 1 500 are targeted to receive the assistance .
the restrictions caused by the multilingual regime have positive a influence on documents , which are more concise and produced within a given time frame .
yes , it is all politics : the politics of Nord Stream and its owner , the Kremlin .
what does the telecom package achieve in this respect ?
some of them are doing that at the moment , others will refund after taking a hefty administration charge out of it , which makes it unworthy to pursue the actual refund itself .
situation in the Middle East / Gaza Strip ( debate )
at the same time , the revision should provide a more level playing field for EU economic operators and reduce unnecessary administrative costs .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
I voted against Mr Mitchell 's report on the 2007 Annual Reports of the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development .
Britain has already seen a rise in population of three and a half million - half the size of London - in the 12 years since the Labour Government came to power in 1997 .
had that been amended , or had I been able to vote for such an amendment , I would have approved the Mikko report .
my report on the ECB 's 2008 annual report was drafted in this context .
you are talking about 25 million sheep in the UK , 8.5 million in France , 3 million in Ireland and significant numbers in Spain and other countries .
I welcome what the report says about imposing stricter penalties on traffickers and about the seizure of assets .
in this report , I suggested some of the principles which should underlie the reformed common agricultural policy .
the Court of Auditors states in its report that the annual accounts of the European Network and Information Security Agency for the financial year 2008 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular .
Mr President , after 15 years this will be my last speech in the European Parliament and I think there are few more important issues than the whole question of asylum and how European countries face this challenge .
however , I cannot give a concrete answer today on the issue of young people 's participation .
that implicitly constitutes recognition and violates international law and Serbia 's sovereignty over this territory .
when supplies of drinking water become more scarce , tensions will rise , and wars could break out in a struggle for control of resources .
we have 15 programmes with a budget of EUR 1.1 billion .
so let us assist SMEs , but let us not insert particular propaganda into provisions of this kind .
the present exceptional circumstances have to be seen within the wider context of a firm commitment to bringing normal budgetary discipline back on track as soon as the economy recovers .
in this context , we support the adoption of the draft report on the European Year of Creativity and Innovation which has been negotiated with the European Commission and the Council .
all the British programmes were stopped in 2010 .
another increasingly paramount aspect is the development of transport along inland waterways and of the European maritime corridors .
it is important to harmonise the approach to combating violence against women , which should , as a result , make these efforts more effective .
as regards the introduction of a budget item for expenditure in exceptional circumstances , Junilistan considers that this paper contrivance increases the impression that the EU is seeking to become a superpower with influence over everything that happens in the world .
they need not be repeated , but only on the condition that we work together .
if Mr Kazemi is put to death , no one will really be able to shift the blame onto bureaucratic procedures , unless they resign themselves to the view that that is solely what Europe is about : bureaucratic procedures , nation states which are so powerful that they cannot even manage to save a life .
restricting the freedom of the media sector in the name of national security can only have the opposite effect to the one intended .
we respect difference and diversity , but we cannot give up principles which we consider to be fundamental .
at the same time , measures aimed at water saving will be adopted at all levels .
I am talking about American methods related to partnership between business and university , and how to adapt all the results of scientific research to the market , so that what are often wonderful scientific achievements are not left on the shelf but are put to practical use , which means in business .
my opinion is that if the Council is not able to accept Parliament 's view , i.e. the view of the Committee on Legal Affairs - which is to be voted on tomorrow - as we have requested them to do , then we have to go to second reading .
the strategy should also consider a free legal service and social assistance for victims of violence .
axis 1 : the creation of a culture of compliance and responsibility of the sector .
the free-trade agreement negotiations that were launched last year have made good progress and now we are aiming for their early and balanced conclusion .
in writing . - ( PL ) The resolution on the Lisbon Strategy contains many important provisions for business people and consumers .
the CAP has seen vast changes , and we must ensure that it is fit for purpose in the 21st century .
for a week , he did not comment .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , honourable Members , I would like to thank you for this opportunity to address all of you before the final vote on the FP7 interim evaluation report in plenary tomorrow morning .
have we not agreed in the European Union , as Commissioner Dimas has said , that the recent presidential elections were held totally fairly ?
at the same time it is cheap , reliable , secure and it lowers countries ' dependence on fossil fuels supplied by unstable territories .
with regard to the global environment , we clearly need to engage in an early dialogue with the new US Administration as well as with our other global partners .
this matter is a political manoeuvre to single out a Flemish nationalist opposition leader .
it is important to adopt a common position on structural and pre-accession funding policy .
it is very clear that we need a strong Haitian Government and we need to focus on priorities .
I therefore voted in favour of this report as I consider that its ratio is contrary to the position defended by the Democratic and Social Centre / People 's Party ( CDS-PP ) for Lisbon which involves the ' Portela + 1 ' option .
to those who argue that the opt-out reduces bureaucracy , I would say that records of hours worked should be kept anyway .
therefore , if an asylum seeker were expecting news of a negative decision , all he would need to do - if we were to adopt the motion put forward by the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance - would be to refuse to accept the letter or not be there to receive it .
I know one way : nationalise the manufacture and trade .
for the next few years , we should be guided by one objective .
another problem - that Mr Schwab has already raised - is that in other areas , in contrast , we are being too cautious .
in its conclusions of December 2010 , the Council stated that it was ready to come back to this issue during the term of the Hungarian Presidency , but unfortunately , in the absence of any new relevant developments , the Presidency has been unable to initiate this step as yet .
in order to fulfil the mission described in Article 177 of the Treaty , the number of admissible languages for the proposals of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights must be limited to those languages which are currently used and understood in the respective third countries .
human rights are universal and indivisible , whether here in Europe , in the US , in Sudan or in China .
we need to be clear about people 's identity in order to allow them to have access to schools , social welfare , health care and housing .
the report also refers to the so-called Barcelona targets , although these are contrary to the recommendations of experts , because infants and toddlers need to have full-time family care at that age , not to be dumped in nurseries on the basis of recommendations from Barcelona .
it is important , however , that citizens in our various countries understand that , with different rules in different Member States , if they do not make provision for donating their organs , some countries will permit transplantation while others do not .
what can save Europe in the medium term is an energy mix which also includes energy sources that are not wholly renewable , such as nuclear power , which , like it or not , accounts for one third of Europe 's electricity production .
proportional indeed !
their average emissions reduction between 2009 and 2015 would have been 23 % , compared with just 10 % for their Korean counterparts , which account for 95 % of total car sales in Korea .
what is the proportion of women in research and why are things so bad ?
we as Europeans , as the European Union , must support the Ukrainian people on the next stages of their journey to independence and firmly established democracy .
there is the European Parliament , but there are also regional parliaments , such as the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly .
this very wide variety of aspects of cultural relations vis-à-vis third countries has led to a fragmentation of policies , which needs to change to a more coordinated and coherent EU strategy .
a great deal more progress has been made in the space of six months than over many years before that .
it therefore needs to provide a response to the crisis and to uphold a single currency which needs rules of its own , applied to all Member States .
on the basis of this draft opinion , it can easily be said that there are clear points of disagreement with the Commission communication .
this is another reason why I am keen to see a resolution to the issue of financing .
in Germany , only 2 % of the soil is still in its natural condition .
no one can assess its long-term consequences at this stage .
increasing student mobility is one of the anticipated benefits of the Bologna Process .
( PL ) Mr President , we absolutely should condemn the use of caning and all forms of corporal punishment and inhumane treatment .
we should concentrate on what can build consensus in the euro area , because not having this consensus will be detrimental for the markets ' perception of the euro area .
today , clearly , we must issue a strong demand for a cease-fire , but this is not enough .
as usual , we get the same round of excuses for incompetence and turning a blind eye , the principal one being to put the blame on the Member States , but that just will not wash .
unfortunately , even the changes introduced by committee do not go far enough in improving the proposal .
for the latter country , Romania represents a window by which the Moldavian citizens can preserve their hope in a European , more democratic and more prosperous future .
my group , the PPE Group , has a different view .
the annual repeat performance of this procedure should , above all , lead to a situation where matters are assessed and prepared more carefully and conscientiously in the future .
( RO ) I too wish to join those who have expressed their condolences to the Nigerian people whose president died last night .
it is essential to take steps to protect European consumers effectively , and also to educate them in the area of the rights to which they are entitled .
accordingly , we can only take this residual risk into account to a limited extent and should understand that nuclear energy can only be a stop-gap technology .
although prevention and protection from disasters caused by the substances mentioned is an issue for the Member States themselves , we need a common approach .
author . - I want to congratulate the Commissioner on progress achieved .
debates on cases of breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law ( announcement of motions for resolutions tabled ) : see Minutes
thus if we put a stop to tobacco-growing at the same time as smoking , we should all be in agreement , and this is how things ought to be .
Mr President , on a point of order , I would ask you to carry out a survey of who is being allowed in on Catch-the-Eye and who is not .
stricter controls on public finances and budgetary discipline within the Member States will hopefully allow us to avoid problems in future , such as those which we are currently experiencing in Greece .
to conclude : Europe , in this crisis , needs to look far and wide .
( NL ) Mr President , on behalf of the Dutch Party for Freedom , I should like to thank the President of the Court of Auditors for the institution 's 2008 Annual Report .
the reason I did so was that the conclusions that arise from this report go significantly beyond the framework adopted during the talks at the summits in Lisbon and Brussels ( 13 and 14 December 2007 ) .
you are looking after the Haiders and Straches , the extreme left , people cut from a cloth that makes even Mr Lafontaine look middle of the road .
we can make her a symbol of freedom , and not one of suppression .
the Union cannot and must not lose the opportunity to play a part in creating a renewed trade policy , able to assist those countries which have been overwhelmed by social and political turmoil with dramatic consequences for national economies and , consequently , our investments in those areas .
in view of all these future challenges , we are hoping for truly creative cooperation with the European Parliament .
( FR ) Madam President , Commissioner , clearly we must emphasise the importance of implementing the conventions of the International Labour Organisation , but unfortunately , I fear that the system that governs us , namely that of free competition , is making a market and therefore a commodity out of labour itself .
using high quality compost will enable us to better help our soils and will also aid biodiversity .
I strongly support your call for an increased coherence of our policies .
last but not least , it is important that we also inform the public about the underlying assumptions and about both the advantages and disadvantages of the chosen energy sources .
so I wholeheartedly support the Commission proposal , because at present there is no properly functioning single market in these parts .
on the EU side , we have an obligation not to ignore the aims expressed by very broad sectors of Ukrainian society of strengthening ties with Europe .
in responding quickly to new and worrying fraud patterns reported by several Member States , the objective of this proposal is to give interested Member States the possibility , under an optional and temporary scheme , to apply the so-called reverse charge mechanism , under which it is the client who has to account for the VAT to a limited number of highly fraud-sensitive sectors .
at that time the price of a barrel of oil was USD 16 .
the next item is the debate on the oral question to the Commission on CAP simplification by James Nicholson , Janusz Wojciechowski , on behalf of the ECR Group , Albert Deß , on behalf of the PPE Group , and George Lyon , on behalf of the ALDE Group - B7-0566 / 2010 ) .
this special report is not justified insofar as there is already a cooperation and verification mechanism available , approved by the European Council in December 2006 .
these phenomena are also known in other countries .
from the information I have been given , Mr President , I consider that the crucial rules relating to Greek legislation , as well as the provisions for fair trials , have been violated .
the previous speaker mentioned the Lisbon referendum in Ireland .
therefore , I very much welcome the ' Think Small First ' initiative and am committed to ensuring that this principle is taken into account in policymaking at all political and administrative levels .
the indicators of biodiversity include , inter alia , the proportion of land area covered by forest , CO2 emissions , the proportion of total water resources used , consumption of ozone depleting substances , and the proportion of fish stocks within safe biological limits .
let us go on working together to prove that we are indeed worthy of that trust .
progress in state building is only possible with more resolve , including from Afghanistan 's political leadership , notably at the local level .
I will not be responding to the comments of party leader Mr Schulz .
I voted for this resolution on the European Union 's strategy for the Copenhagen Summit on Climate Change as I am convinced that a comprehensive international agreement can actually alter the trend of uncontrolled growth in greenhouse gas emissions .
for years , Western Europe and America considered Kenya to be a major success story .
( HU ) Commissioners , ladies and gentlemen , two great tasks face Europe today : designing a new strategy , which we are currently debating and which I feel is taking shape nicely .
do you not feel slightly alone within the Commission ?
Mr President , perhaps you would allow me to make the general point that in an open society , the right to free speech trumps the right not to be offended and in a democracy , the only people who should determine whether or not we sit and legislate in a chamber are our constituents .
despite this , I would simply like to confirm something that you will like .
I therefore advocate an ambitious ' blue growth ' strategy .
development policy here is no more than a tool for the implementation of China 's two general strategic aims .
Mr President , I very much welcome this report and the new European rules for organ donation .
in 2007 , as a result of the investigation conducted by the Committee which presided over this issue , the European Parliament adopted a resolution which contained dozens of recommendations aimed at preventing a repetition of these illegal activities .
we are beginning to negotiate with the major players without whom the success of the Copenhagen Conference cannot be assured .
a situation where a woman , the leader of the opposition , has been held under house arrest for so many years is unheard of in the world .
the system for implementing cohesion policy must be modern and flexible , based on a multi-level management model , as has been mentioned many times .
I am - and I will say this quite openly here - disturbed by the statements made by some European politicians .
the primary issue , however , should be that we stand up for human rights , especially the rights of women , regardless of whether or not they are in prison .
if we had just 20-30 dead and live donors per million head of population , the European Union would have a good supply of organs .
therefore , a number of limited and technical procedural adaptations to the convention are necessary with regard to the specific nature of Union law .
however , this is just one side of the story .
a moratorium on the use of weapons of this type could be brought in immediately , however , and the issue dealt with under the new European Security Strategy .
the ENPI Regional Information and Communication Programme includes support to media activities of EUR 7 million over three years for seven countries .
we also know that there is no method which is off limits to human trafficking organisations .
in this context , I decided to vote in favour of this report since it proposes to make country of origin labelling obligatory .
inclusion of Bulgarian and Romanian among the languages of procedure for the Court of Justice ( vote )
B ) an increase in spending from the EU budget for its military and political interventions ;
we are cooperating with Turkey , but you have not given me a clear reply , which is why I wish to focus on and repeat my question as to whether Turkish airspace was , in fact , violated during the Frontex mission , as it claims .
I think the text before us has a number of concrete actions which would take us in that direction - particularly apicultural set-aside , biodiversity zones , even alongside roads and unproductive land , research on pesticides , surface water and consideration of aid .
we must strive for maximum budgetary discipline and austerity .
the resolution outlines a number of problems encountered by Christians in the Middle East .
the latter demands that an ambitious and sustainable resettlement programme be established within the EU and proposes financial support for Member States ready to participate in this .
the fact is that the scanning equipment to be used is not accurate .
in order to limit climate changes , the EU has planned for the renewable energy resources to provide 20 % of the European energy consumption by 2020 .
I think Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East .
investing in broadband is OK , but do not tell me that this is having any real effect on bringing down the free fall in jobs that we have right now .
President Obama is going to put green technologies , renewable energies and efficient cars at the centre of the reconstruction of the US economy .
however , if the Council is not up to the job , when national selfishness and personal strategies prevail in decision making , then Europe and the European ideal have lost yet another battle .
the proposed date for ending the transitional regimes will allow the infrastructure to be converted and the staff in place to be retrained gradually and adapt to the new situation .
the report also includes key provisions to improve the accessibility of local bus services for disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility .
I believe that the right of Member States to cooperate with commercial intermediaries will not be of any great help in simplifying the procedures for handling visa applications . the reason for this is that according to the code , visa applicants must present themselves in person when they submit their first application so that their biometric data can be registered .
President of the Commission . - As I said publicly at the high-level event in New York , and also in Pittsburgh , I am very worried at the slow pace of negotiations for Copenhagen .
this involves regional cooperation with both with the country of origin and the country of transit , including through bilateral agreements .
- Before the vote :
ladies and gentlemen , I have the feeling that , with the resolution on which we are voting tomorrow , we are now playing a kind of pioneering role here , too , in this field .
we simply want to be informed of the current state of play , to be given explanations about the reasons for the delay , and to be reassured that these problems will be resolved .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , in extraordinary times such as these we are living through , we must adopt extraordinary measures .
to restore the euro zone 's credibility , the Commission 's role has to be to become both stronger and more independent in exercising economic governance and conducting surveillance .
the Commission also gave a clear message at the summit that it will take all essential steps within its sphere of activity towards improving the situation of Roma and that it would ensure that they are able to make full use of the fundamental rights guaranteed in the Charter .
that means structural reforms , many of which we have been advocating for several years - reforms that challenge all structures but do so to reduce prices and increase opportunities for new jobs and innovative ways of doing things .
I will vote for them only if the amendments by my political group , the PPE-DE , are adopted .
unfortunately , feelings of sympathy or solidarity with refugees are even less well developed in South East Asia than they are in Europe .
many of them are still languishing on the edge of solvency .
we should also extend the stipend system for students from the Eastern countries of the European Neighbourhood Policy and encourage them to engage in greater social and political activity .
( HU ) Madam President , Mrs Győri , Commissioner Füle , we are not just ending a process , but I hope that we will also be able to start accession negotiations this year given that Serbia has achieved a great deal in recent times .
a second important consideration is that we need to make a distinction between security measures which we all have agreed jointly at a European level , and other additional measures being taken individually by Member States .
an earlier report referred modestly to a European modular concept ; some reports talk about megatrucks and gigaliners , the theory of the road lobby being that the larger the lorry the less it will consume and the greater the saving .
ensuring security of supply will need massive investments in new networks over the next couple of decades .
as a country which has long been isolated and which has remained outside the modern tide of European politics and economy , Serbia is facing many challenges .
however , as you are aware , the situation has deteriorated drastically recently .
this area has been mentioned in the framework programme .
yet we must admit that this remains a difficult exercise .
there was a lack of rules , and we saw the rewarding of speculators to the detriment of entrepreneurs .
from the health perspective , it appears there are no remaining scientific doubts about the advantages to human health of a diet based on fresh and natural food .
they have simply said ' We have had enough ! ' .
( FI ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , it really is regrettable that this draft law was overturned , and I agree with my fellow Members who say that it was due to the fact that the Commission and the Council decided to give priority to the interests of the foreign meat industry .
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university research centres and enterprises should cooperate and we have to do our best to involve business in the work of the EIT .
at last , a more important European presence in Africa should transform from intention to reality .
however , in the case of both countries , cooperation between the EU and the UN worked very well during rescue and assistance of the victims .
I am very happy .
human rights are our constitutive , if not our most important task as a European Community .
( DA ) Mr President , everywhere in the world , streams of refugees are on the move .
it is a shame that such an important substance that we have available to us right now simply goes to waste because too little attention is paid to it .
the first is interparliamentary cooperation through the creation of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly and its committees .
we have said that Europe will reduce emissions by 30 % if other important regions of the world are prepared to make binding agreements , because the climate is a global issue .
although health matters largely fall within the Member States ' area of competence , there are many ways in which issues around obesity can be tackled at EU level : exchange of best practice , promoting healthier lifestyles in relevant EU policies and cross-border epidemiological cooperation .
we must also call for a change in behaviour with regard to mobile phones by encouraging the use of ear pieces , limiting mobile phone use among children and young people , educating them in safer techniques , monitoring certain marketing campaigns , and having operators and electricity companies share base stations and masts .
the next item is the report by Liam Aylward , on behalf of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development , on the future of the sheep / lamb and goat sector in Europe .
on market access , we know that we have a genuine contribution to make to stimulate economic growth and the recovery .
military coups are now old-fashioned and are being replaced by a coup d 'état by the judiciary .
you conclude that we must face up to the challenges by adapting the trade defence instruments or other areas .
this fragmentation makes visibility suffer .
we agree on the key importance of our relations with Russia both bilaterally and in multilateral contexts , whether regional or global .
that is logical and something we should welcome .
in writing . - I welcome André Brie 's proposal for regulation on the accreditation and market surveillance of products in the European Community .
even if short-term measures such as tax reductions are outside the scope of EU competence , the Union must be seen to take the lead and encourage national governments to implement solutions .
civilian action is not possible without a secure environment .
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firms are already moving their production out of the EU as they are unable to afford the cost of European climate policy .
in writing . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I wish to express my support for the Prodi report .
I welcome Mr Böge 's report because it also indicates areas where changes and improvements are needed , thereby paving the way for a more efficient European Union .
I am sure that the Member States ' decision to insert the label within the framework of the European Union will contribute to increasing its visibility and prestige , so as to realise the objectives of cohesion and solidarity among European citizens .
equally , I cannot accept Amendments 20 to 24 , since the scope of the proposal is to cover all agreements and not just third-country agreements , as I said at the outset .
this programme is aimed not only at creating a competitive and vibrant European industry for the provision of broadband services and equipment , but also at establishing an environment that is conducive to the development of pan-European services .
the situation for visas , on the other hand , is different .
we cannot have the same debate after elections as before elections , out of respect for the elections and for the European people .
now onto the solutions .
along with this lawyer , 500 million European citizens have become hostages to the whims of our President .
now we need action , and I know full well that Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn is a Commissioner of action and will follow through .
this will enable us to ensure greater energy security for the future , by implementing infrastructure projects such as the Southern Corridor or liquefied gas terminals and diversifying supply routes and sources .
the next item is the joint debate on the following reports on criminal matters and sentences :
this also benefits the region in terms of overall security .
( EL ) Mr President , the Meijer report and the unanimous resolutions of the EU-Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee both emphasise the three vital steps FYROM has taken towards Europe .
the Council would welcome the Stabilisation and Association Agreement coming into force by the end of 2011 , but by early 2012 at the latest .
I must say in all honesty that this can only be regarded as a cynical approach .
was Gaddafi born yesterday ?
their importance to further social development is advocated by us politicians , economists , scientists and power engineers , and also by home-owners who are not normally involved professionally in the fields of power generation or environmental protection .
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we tabled amendments in order to see if everyone talking even today about the European Union taking a wrong turn meant the same thing .
we support it , but it does not go far enough .
the Presidency is of the opinion that the ' Prüm ' Decision should be implemented as soon as possible , in order to enable tangible results to be achieved .
therefore , for a clear majority of Europeans , a cross is a religious symbol and , at the same time , a symbol which represents their values .
that also confirms my feeling that there is not always a great deal of consistency between what is being said currently by the Chairman of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament and what is being done by socialist-led governments , and , Mr Schulz , you still have a lot of work to do to convince your political friend , Mr Steinbrück , to become more social .
this is to ignore the reality that social inequalities are a brake on economic progress and that we cannot have long-term sustainable prosperity for everyone if we treat social policy as an afterthought and fail to avail of the wasted talent of 72 million people , not to mention the human misery that hides behind that statistic .
I know that the Commissioner 's office in Colombo is following this very closely and has close contacts within the real danger zone .
full European Parliament involvement , through the application of the Treaty of Lisbon 's obligations and its joint interpretation agreed by the European Parliament and the European Commission within the new framework agreement , would be crucial to achieving this objective .
the values were a maximum of four times too high .
according to reports we have all seen , improving the energy efficiency of buildings is one of the most economical ways of protecting the climate .
Romania has therefore taken an important step towards joining the Schengen area , scheduled for 2011 .
genuine asylum seekers should seek refuge in the first safe country ; one that will be culturally , religiously and ancestrally related to them .
I think that , as the report reflects , the productive dialogue established between the European Investment Bank and Parliament in recent years is very important , as it benefits democratic transparency , which is very important to both Parliament and to the financial institution .
this raises a great many questions , in my view .
we should therefore proceed to the vote .
we will have to woo them here from the US , where the annual influx is 55 % , compared with the meagre 5 % influx into Europe today .
I would especially like to call on prime ministers who belong to the Group of the European People 's Party , to remind the Czech Prime Minister of his duty and the responsibility facing a country that is due to assume the presidency .
this is good , particularly outside Europe .
EU businesses have also been involved and also interim mechanisms for coordination , proposed under the leadership of Prime Minister Bellerive and Bill Clinton .
unfortunately , that has proved impossible .
after its first democratic elections in 1996 , Taiwan embarked upon a major process of democratisation with important institutional reforms for the respect of civil liberties and citizens ' rights that have helped to consolidate its political stability .
a ' profound revision of the existing Treaties ' sounds like tearing up the rule book to me .
my supplementary question is very similar to Mr Martin 's , because one of the issues that I found very difficult during the Lisbon Treaty referendum was not being able to get factual information quickly enough to deal with some of the lies and misinformation that were being disseminated .
following the debate held in the Council , we have EUR 1.02 billion available to us to alleviate the painful impact of the crisis on rural areas .
this political will is indispensible .
such examples should lead us to tackle our lack of coherence .
it is of concern for the next meetings on the conditions for the Greek restructuring programme and on the Greek conditional aid rescue package .
let us not hoard it .
the Treaty , with the ensuing ' Community method ' , implies full respect for the role of all the European institutions .
please fill this school bag and do away with this nonsense .
it is important to note that for the Europe 2020 Strategy to be implemented successfully , we must close the gap between its declared ambitions , the resources available and the methodology used and must carry out reforms and ensure very substantial and early public and private investments in a wide range of projects .
the Commission fully supports this compromise .
ladies and gentlemen , this is a crucial moment in the process of European integration because , until a short while ago , we would surely not have had this type of debate .
I would like to ask this in relation to biodiesel , which has the potential to make a significant contribution to enhancing the European Union 's security of energy supply .
Mr President , the European Union has a great opportunity to endorse a move to strengthen international law at the next Human Rights Council .
could you clarify whether there is a plan , if so , whether it is a quality plan , and if not , what you are planning to do about it ?
as democratic dialogue through the media opens up , a new means of communication is being developed : the blog , which individualises the exchange of views .
this step would signal that we have learnt the lesson from the recession which is having such a major impact on us .
a slow supply chain with too many intermediaries , natural disasters caused by climate change , low incomes earned in the agricultural sector or the volatility of the agricultural product market are just some of the reasons why the price of agricultural products has risen in an unacceptable manner across Europe .
it is because of this ambivalence that I abstained in the vote on the Cornillet report .
this situation is unstable , untenable and unsustainable .
I should like to thank Karl-Heinz Florenz for his report .
it is surprising that the Italian Government , after establishing the Agency , has changed its mind for budgetary reasons .
we produce 1.3 billion tonnes of waste annually , some 40 million tonnes of which is hazardous .
the legal and judicial inviolability of private investment is one of the keys to Africa 's economic and social development .
despite many fine words and Union slogans about equal rights and non-discrimination , however , certain German politicians and sections of the German media are constantly attacking my homeland , the people of Poland , the Government of Poland and the Catholic media , notably Radio Maryja . this proves that aggressive anti-Polish sentiment still persists .
are you ready now to propose a public classification of the complex derivatives in such a way that the public and private agencies can give us guidance on the risk connected to them ?
as things stand , imposing further restrictions on imports of beef from Brazil could be interpreted as protectionism by some , and could lead to a challenge to our measures at the WTO .
I do not think that anybody here would like to encourage the bigger vessels to use more fuel .
it is no accident that there is a large difference between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank .
there is the security gap issue that we have to take into consideration but , of course , there are also many questions that have to be answered concerning data protection and the other issues that you have raised .
the European Central Bank ( ECB ) annual report is primarily an investigation into the way in which the ECB responded to the financial and economic crisis .
our goal remains to focus our work more on actions that will yield more effective results in the interests of all citizens and businesses .
( NL ) Mr President , thank you very much for being here with us today , Baroness Ashton .
I have been sponsoring , along with other colleagues in this House , the establishment of a ' European year of combating violence against women ' in order to raise awareness among European citizens .
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the Scientific Council of the European Research Council has 22 members , of whom five are women .
ending street homelessness ( written declaration ) : see Minutes
this may be the bank that has to organise the attachment , or a third party that might hold a joint account .
we managed to clarify the measures which need to be taken when unauthorised substances are found either in EU-produced food or in food imported from third countries , as well as clarifying the basis for reviewing these reference points for action ( RPAs ) : that is , the maximum level established for control purposes for any unauthorised substance in the light of any new data .
Mr President , like Mr Solana before me , I also believe that this debate has demonstrated a broad consensus in the fundamental orientation of the European Foreign and Security Policy , and I am very glad about that .
Mr President , in the internal market consumers and providers , as well as goods and services , should be able to move freely .
Madam President , I would like to thank the Council and the Commission .
I will conclude , Madam President ; it is only through a genuine European external energy policy that we will be able to avoid similar situations in the future , and therefore any new legal basis and any new institutional instrument that contributes to building this has to be ...
moreover , the Internal Market Information System has also provided a medium for supporting more than 1 200 information exchanges for many of the regulated professions this year .
the Commission must also demonstrate to us that cooperation between service providers and copyright holders will not impinge on citizens ' fundamental rights , especially the right to privacy , the right to freedom of expression and the right to due process .
on the issue of Kosovo , which will undoubtedly tax Slovenia 's Presidency of the Council the most , the situation is such that on the one hand , we have to take account of the right of each people group to self-determination , the right of the majority of the Albanian Kosovars , but on the other hand , we also have to consider the historic rights of the Serbs .
we are very committed to Prime Minister Fayyad 's state-building plan and to enhancing the institutions , particularly in terms of the rule of law .
we must make clear our condemnation of these acts , because we are supporters of religious tolerance , freedom and diversity .
in the new framework laid down by Regulation ( EC ) No 1 / 2003 , it is the responsibility of the parties to assess the legality of their behaviour under EC competition rules .
all Europe will achieve with this is to cut the branch it is sitting on .
the report suggests increasing the tax burden on European citizens , and I cannot agree to that .
none of these requirements has really been met in full .
it states that ' the distribution of the single farm payment should ensure fairness ' , but does not propose specific measures to achieve this goal .
the only winners will be importers .
we have to take action in cooperation with the UN to restore stability in Libya and to punish those guilty of crimes , including Colonel Gaddafi .
however , I would like to use this opportunity to agree with the rapporteur , as the report points out several important and dangerous aspects concerning online gambling .
in Kenya , more than 1 in 10 children die before the age of five .
shall we vote on Amendment 14 , then ?
maybe we should start with attempts to ' de-Schröderise ' Europe .
however , the most important and most difficult task is to change people 's habits .
criticising the prolonged stationing of the Russian Black Sea fleet represents an unnecessary provocation .
if they have to choose between regional self-governance and a transfer of powers to a central government , because that is what the EU wants , then they will opt for the former .
the Commission is in favour of extending the mandate of the agency to ensure that it can also provide its expertise in the areas of judicial cooperation in criminal matters and police cooperation .
well , China is not , as you know , Ms Roithová , a party to the present negotiations .
the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work , in which both employers and employees are represented and which advises companies on simple and effective ways to improve working conditions , is struggling with irregularities in the area of procurement as well as with the budgeting principle of annuality .
the report also calls for efficient goods transport , including reliable loading and unloading systems to facilitate last-mile operations , acknowledging the need to promote the co-existence of mobility of people and goods .
on the contrary , I recognise them .
we would also have succeeded in locking in real farm reform in the United States .
among other problems which have been covered by the amendments tabled by my political group , I wish particularly to support the sharing of information from animal testing so as to avoid the need for new tests involving animals .
there you have it .
the incumbent Hungarian Government failed the stress test you envision , Commissioner , because it has repeatedly impeded the construction of the NATO radar facility , which would have provided greater protection for the Paks nuclear power plant against aircraft attacks than the protection we have today , for the past seven years .
this must be the conclusion when we debate these individual legislative proposals , because it is the only way in which we can achieve change .
we need to do all we can to achieve it , including incorporating the use of peat as the raw material in biodiesel .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , we are debating this matter today because we have been moved by the threat to carry out the death penalty on four young people under 18 years of age .
were you aware , Commissioner that at present European dairy-farmers are having to go to countries like Canada or the United States to buy dairy cows because they cannot find cattle to buy in the Community market ?
that is always a win-win situation for people from third countries within Europe .
in addition , I call for measures to improve the competitiveness of media groups in order to foster economic growth .
India , in particular the death sentence on Davinder Pal Singh (
our main concern is that Parliament should in future produce a separate report on the work of the EIB .
it is also very important , in this key portfolio , that we speak with one voice , not only in Parliament , but also in the European Institutions as a whole .
one conclusion is clear to me : only a united Europe that shows solidarity and strengthened , harmonised and convergent economic governance will be up to the task of successfully confronting the political challenges we have before us .
other measures aimed at combating , for example , child pornography should , however , be devised through cooperation between the Member States because of the global character of the problem .
I would like to remind everyone that this is the self-same concern we expressed earlier on this year .
the debate is closed .
the Prespa Lakes basin ( Prespa Park ) is shared between Greece , the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ( FYROM ) and Albania .
before the summit - the Independent revealed - he sent a letter to the Heads of State or Government in which he wrote , in one of the enclosures , that the Members of the Council were responsible for economic strategy within their governments and that they should be responsible for it at EU level too .
I welcome the remarks by all those who have mentioned the commitment and the will to work for that goal in due course , as have Mrs Doyle and others .
we particularly welcome the European Parliament 's decision to extend the mandate to the Temporary Committee on Climate Change to February 2009 .
if they wish to limit gaming activities , it is up to them to carry out the research to justify these restrictions , for example , in relation to addiction or fraud .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , this has been a really fascinating debate and has reflected all the diversity of views on energy and the importance that this issue deserves .
and , finally , there is hypocrisy .
I am referring to our roots , our Christian roots , which could be the tool with which we can tackle the value aspect of this extremely serious crisis , but only if we use them as a guide in the promotion of development and the integration of everyone 's rights and duties .
( applause )
we are grateful to the European Parliament for its work on the subject .
the textile industry : I am confident that there is little to worry about .
if we want to retain the agencies , we need to change them .
the latter have already taken decisions on the reform of the IMF , the supervision of traders ' bonuses , capital requirements , and transparency concerning complex financial products , so this G20 was not in vain .
the amendment reads as follows .
there is a lot at stake .
I do hope the main focus of this report will be the framework of actions , the framework that will define the methods of reducing or even abolishing poverty in Europe .
or the case of a dental nurse working in a prison who was pricked by a needle that was used on an inmate who had hepatitis A , B , and C and was HIV positive .
that is why we intend to reject this Commission proposal .
the next item is the report by Mr Krahmer , on behalf of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on industrial emissions ( integrated pollution prevention and control ) ( recast ) - C6-0002 / 2008 - .
the proposal for a directive by the European Commission on industrial emissions and the amendments by the European Parliament reveal , once again , that the real objective of the ' green economy ' is not to protect the environment , but to safeguard the profits of capital .
some of you may - and many of you will not - have seen the London Sunday Times yesterday , which talked about MEPs ' health benefits .
in March 2009 , an external evaluation was published concerning the functioning of the network .
these citizens are the ones who expect us - as their representatives here in Parliament - to learn the lessons and truly guarantee competition , justice , transparency and honesty within the European Union .
( GA ) Mr President , firstly , may I congratulate the rapporteur Mr Häusling for bringing this important matter before us .
Folkpartiet agrees with the majority of the criticism and consider that it is right to send a sharp signal that a change in a more humanitarian direction should be initiated .
I concluded that , although there is still much to be done , a great deal has already been done and we shall have to try to improve in those areas where we have not done as well as we should have .
I am voting for this report because it is a thorough evaluation of the process and implementation to date and because it launches a debate on its future governance , exploitation and financing of the decision to create global navigation satellite systems and other autonomous European systems .
Poland is no exception , although women 's participation in the labour market in Poland remains below the Union average .
instead , what we should be doing now is having a serious debate with regard to raising the EU 's renewable energy targets and ambitions and as soon as possible deciding on binding energy efficiency targets and a long-term plan for our energy supply - a switch to renewable energy .
( BG ) Mr President , I would go along with the general view I sense in this House regarding small and medium-sized enterprises and give my wholehearted support to what has just been said , in other words , that the businesses that have been hardest hit by the economic crisis are SMEs .
the British Government and Houses of Parliament have shamefully betrayed the British people by denying them a referendum on Lisbon .
the biggest threat to the CAP and to European farmers is in the budget review , the legacy of Tony Blair to this institution , where financing of agriculture is under threat .
what is now needed is a series of policies coordinated at EU level .
the work you have promised to do would also have merited this .
I should like to extend a particular welcome to all the Sakharov Prize laureates from previous years who have graced us with their presence today .
the prospect of Turkey 's accession to the EU will put pressure on the country to respect the human rights of everyone living in Turkey , including Kurds and religious minorities .
the aim of this report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on enforcement measures to correct excessive macroeconomic imbalances in the euro area is to draw up an action plan for preventing new economic crises of the kind that recently befell Greece , and in this way it supplements a series of other reports presented in the same economic governance package .
our response to the text for the negotiations is to make two very clear points .
Mr President , on a point of order , because the debate on Palestinian prisoners held by the Israeli authorities is to start so late - almost an hour late now - I am afraid I have to withdraw my name from the speaker 's list .
that is a drop in the ocean for such an important issue .
we must continuously exchange good practice in this area throughout the EU .
( ES ) Mr President , I would like to condemn an event that is without precedent in the ten year reign of King Mohammed VI in Morocco : the fact that a Moroccan military court is going to try seven Saharan independence activists for collaborating with the enemy , a charge that could carry the death penalty .
we cannot separate the trade discussions from their impact on agricultural production in the Member States .
clearly , other principles must apply regarding individuals , law firms and associations .
the draft budget submitted to us by the Commission has not been accurately calculated or carefully estimated .
in the dynamic project that is the European Union , the European Union budget like the single currency is one of the most tangible expressions of what it means , for the European citizen and taxpayer , to be European .
this cannot be excluded : when our money is misused , we must know where it is , how it is to be recovered , and when it is to be recovered .
Iceland has been achieving good results in safeguarding human rights and ensuring a high level of cooperation with international mechanisms for the protection of human rights .
although our role as MEPs is limited to the letter of the treaty , we can still make a substantial contribution .
( PT ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , let us be clear : is this the agreement that we wanted ?
in the resolution the Council called on the Member States and the Commission to ensure , in accordance with their respective powers , that persons with disabilities were able to access all of their human rights .
I would particularly like to emphasise our position on the export of radioactive waste .
the Commission made this point clear in its 2007 communication when it highlighted the objectives and principles of organisation of social services .
can the President-in-Office defend the situation where French Guiana is part of the European Union , and does he think this will continue , not just in the short term but in the long term ?
I know that in recent times , as the European elections approach , this House has debated what Europe really means for citizens .
today we speak 23 languages and a further 60 plus dialects in regions or in groups .
against this background , I would like to ask the European Commission what mechanisms or formulae are being considered for protecting countries against the accumulation of speculative capital and whether it is considering other measures as well for regulating and supervising the financial system .
there is no doubt that there are at present huge differences in working conditions and payment for temporary workers .
in the best-case scenario , consuls help each other .
thank you very much for your cooperation .
it is good to see that there is some very complex financial consolidation going on in the Member States and I think that the European institutions should also get involved .
for a family in a poor country , disease is a financial disaster .
consequently , I think that you will need to monitor the process very carefully .
- ( EL ) Mr President , Commissioner , I agree with most of Mr Braghetto 's positions on restoring tuna stocks .
I do not understand how governments concerned about climate change can allow themselves to oppose a directive that tackles the problems of the soil , the earth and climate change and that encourages disaster prevention , supports reforestation , agriculture and productivity , and respects all previous agreements .
it seems that mopeds actually emit more particulates per second than heavy goods vehicles .
in my opinion , the final text of this directive is a good example of this balance .
may I extend a very warm welcome to a delegation in the visitors ' gallery from the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile , led by its Speaker , Karma Chophel .
large tankers pass through these straits every day .
whether we like it or not we have a situation of significant over-capacity , and unless we address it effectively we are never going to find a permanent solution .
I do not fully agree with Recital T of the report .
paragraph 10 says that the Member States shall be called on to make PE compulsory in primary and secondary schools and that at least three PE lessons per week should be guaranteed .
we as the Commission submitted proposals that were then accepted by everybody .
I have heard that there are tremendous problems getting beds here in Brussels as the hotel rooms are booked out due to a trade fair .
( applause )
let us aim for this .
however , let us also add the millions sent to labour camps , i.e. death camps , in Siberia during World War II - Ukrainians , Poles , Tartars .
Mr President , there are threatening signs of the revival of racism , homophobia and anti-Semitism in many countries of the EU .
the question we have to ask ourselves is with what tactics we can , or are most likely to , persuade emerging economies to sign up to the agreement that we want to promote .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , Iran today represents the principal threat to international security and stability : on the one hand , by violating the United Nations resolutions it is pursuing its objective of equipping itself with atomic weapons and , on the other , it is repeating its desire to physically destroy the State of Israel .
not even the current Presidency thinks this is worth the effort .
what is at stake is the essential principle of financial stability that is central to the euro ; and the euro is one of the most important creations of the European project and the European construction process so far .
even with this transfer , however , I can assure you that we have the budget we need to be able to apply the requisite measures .
we must not , however , repeat the mistake of deciding who is the good winner and who is the bad winner of the elections .
the Commission intends to draw up a communication on forest fires , and will be examining a number of practical measures that could improve fire prevention and the rebuilding of economies and ecosystems .
at the same time , the mobility of people and capital is increasing , and fraudsters take advantage of the territorial limitation of the competences of the national authorities to organise their insolvency in countries in which they have tax debts .
I mentioned the invaluable cooperation between the European institutions in drawing up this report .
we do not agree with the compromise that is proposed and that rejects the system of group supervision .
anyone who sails in an escorted convoy , anyone who brings a ship safely in , not behind a flagship , but in a line of ships on an equal footing , will win - whether we are a large state or a small one , we are all on an equal footing in this Union .
thus , it is important that we do not keep arguing about who has the right to negotiate , because that way we will lose and be divided instead of being strengthened .
if this border could be reopened , it would not only relieve the embargo on long-suffering Armenia , which has gone on far too long , but also allow economic prosperity in a very poor and underdeveloped region of Eastern Turkey .
of course , this is a man who would not know one end of a railway locomotive from the other and whose expertise is restricted to Thomas the Tank Engine .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the history of asbestos is a sad one and a cautionary tale of what can happen when the precautionary principle is ignored .
I would like to thank my neighbour , Mr Cancian , very much for his diligent work as rapporteur .
Parliament should fulfil this role , and no one is more convinced of this than I am , because I believe that , without Parliament 's strong input , the European institutions would be incomplete and unable to provide the best protection for citizens ' interests .
we have already come to an agreement on the right of a person before the court to interpretation and translation in criminal proceedings .
people are dying in the streets almost every day in protests against this fascist regime .
we need to copy what Iceland , New Zealand and the Falklands and other places have done , in giving skippers an incentive in conservation and giving them property rights .
we believe that this represents an important contribution by trade to the climate change targets .
'European City Guides ' ) , by Arlene McCarthy , on behalf of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection - B6-0152 / 2008 ) .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , Russia and the European Union are partners because of their mutual interests and because of their geographical location .
the Canadian chief negotiator even admitted at the start of the year that this agreement was a top priority for Canada .
the regulation being signed today is a signal reminder that many aims can only be achieved in the framework of the European Union and not by individual Member States acting alone .
we are also addressing the concerns of some stakeholders by means of an efficient and effective safeguard regulation .
that would also have negative consequences on educational systems and integration of information and communication technology in education .
lastly , I am wary of the trend to mix immigration and criminality .
we also have to prove our credentials for Arctic involvement , and our record as Europeans is not good .
our children are the future and the improvements voted through today will provide a better and more secure start to their lives .
in addition to the six strategic investment sectors specified , I think that new projects need to be launched in areas such as food , agriculture and culture .
in terms of financial supervision , in the space of 48 hours , the Minister , Mr Reynders , managed to get a dossier that was in deadlock moving , and we were able to give the Council and the Commission what the Commission had asked of us : European authorities that could begin operating on 1 January 2011 : strong , authentically European authorities with clout .
the victors mainly belong to one major tribe , the Kikuyu .
Canada has agreed to resolve the difference in exchange for a bilateral regulatory dialogue on biotechnology issues .
forwarding of texts adopted during the sitting : see Minutes
the agreement will be applied by parties , in their capacities as port states , for vessels not entitled to fly their flags , while seeking entry to ports or while they are in port .
once again , that is the least it can do .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I am very pleased to have been invited to make a statement to Parliament on the Green Paper on the EU Workforce for Health , adopted by the Commission on 10 December 2008 .
these include , among other things , the use of chemicals in agriculture and forestry management .
public authorities will have to pay within 30 days or else pay an interest rate of 8 % .
however , I very much appreciate the fact that you took the opportunity to speak in Slovak .
what is the state of play in our talks with China and our international partners on the subject ?
implementing such a system , which is directly inspired by the ' US-VISIT ' Programme , would mean making huge investments only to see very uncertain results obtained with regard to the fight against both illegal immigration and crime .
Mali is the first country to have expressed interest , and we have already mounted this initiative with it .
we need a much more ambitious target in order to drive the market and to make sure that companies are set up which can strip the useful elements out of these goods .
something like that sounds good , but in fact it is a direct invitation to even more fraud with identity papers .
what is sustainable fishing , however , is recreational sea angling , which is enjoyed by around a million people in the UK and which supports business thought to be worth around EUR 2 billion in tackle trade alone across the continent .
what does a company need in order to establish a cartel ?
I do not see why we should have to put up with foreign institutions like this running our affairs .
naturally , economic and commercial trade between the United States and Europe is important for jobs and for businesses .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
I think that our contribution will play a major role here .
I supported the tabling of amendments to exempt part-time stand-by boilers from the scope of the directive .
this is why we support the G20 commitment to allocate 850 billion in additional resources to support growth in the emerging markets and the developing countries .
Al-Qaida and ETA do not respect borders or national sovereignty , but our police and secret services are still hampered by inadequate barriers .
we cannot afford a two-speed Europe in the field of energy .
I would therefore ask the government to be more active in resolving these problems and to involve and consult civil society and provide them with better conditions in which to operate .
when the British socialist Government refuses to honour its manifesto commitment to hold a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty , that is an act of intolerance .
recently I was grateful to the international law firm Freshfields for examining several cases under the Brussels II Convention and identifying some of the problems within our own Member States .
there have been some real problems , notably via the liquidity squeeze of the asset-backed and commercial paper markets .
but we all have to analyse why this has happened .
the second is that we want to make it a priority during this period , in cooperation with the Commission , to make progress on the most important citizens ' right that the European Union can focus on , which is equality between men and women .
species conservation - especially faced with the known conditions of slaughter - demands decisive measures without compromise .
therefore , instead of wasting or using a lot of time and lots of efforts against what was agreed in the Council in 2004 , I think Member States and tobacco producers , the whole tobacco sector , should look into the rural development policy instead and see what the possibilities are , because lots of money will be available for restructuring , for trying a different business in the agricultural sector .
is it not time that you rethought your credo and came up with a different tune for a change , one which is in line with what Mr Ashworth is advocating ?
the EU must swing into action .
the Union must establish a dialogue with its partners and find common ground for conveying its values .
centralised power and monetary policy did not work in the Soviet Union and they will not work in the West either .
the Commission 's financial support for the Transitional Federal Institutions that were created in 2004 appeared justified at the time but led to the accusation that the European Union was taking sides in an armed conflict and thus cooperating with Ethiopia against the forces that would prefer to see a strict Islamic regime in power .
the concept of geographical balance , in the version proposed by the rapporteur , is , in my opinion , not clear enough and cannot be considered a clear legal basis for taking measures to correct this imbalance .
if an international agreement should , in time , prove to be politically impossible , the alternative of introducing a transaction tax within the EU alone should be given very careful consideration .
strengthening transatlantic cooperation must be a matter of special importance in the fight against terrorism , which must above all be based on respect for international law .
on entering the European Parliament building we pass a statue , a sculpture , which states L 'Europe a un coeur - Europe has a heart .
putting a joint undertaking in place should integrate the efforts of all countries which have experience in both the direct development of hydrogen technology and fuel cells , and in developing technologies for the sustainable and environmentally-friendly extraction of the necessary raw materials .
the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) welcomes and supports these proposals as did the national leaders of the party in Helsinki .
more concrete activities will be starting in 2011 and we believe that disbursements against the pledge will double to EUR 150 million during this year .
last year we witnessed uniformed policemen beating up civilians in Slovakia .
I am therefore very pleased that this debate is taking place .
we are expanding our cooperation beyond economic issues to cover key strategic issues - climate change , non-proliferation , tackling drugs , the promotion of peace and security worldwide .
instead , he should spend a bit less time skirt-chasing and get to work sending all these immigrants back to Africa .
I have to answer my citizens about what service this is giving them , and I still , after the lengthy debates on these reports , struggle to come up with an answer .
as said , Member States have competence over family policy , but here we are talking more of worker protection and certain incentives to enable parents to reconcile work and family life .
I shall say two more things .
in this context , we must be very clear about this debate on the budget .
I call on the Commission to submit the legislative proposals required to establish an agency responsible for managing these three IT systems so that these tools can be brought together at a single location , thereby ensuring , in the long term , optimum synergy between them and avoiding duplication and inconsistency .
if the statistics provided by the individual Member States are correct , we should have a very large volume of development aid in 2008 and should be able to attain our Millennium Goals for 2010 and 2015 .
I would be interested to know whether the Council has any hard facts available on this issue , or whether these are simply individual perceptions of the situation .
the Commissioner has mentioned this .
our message to Belarus is clear .
even if a definitive system for the taxation of intra-Community transactions is decided by the end of 2010 , Member States should be able to apply reduced VAT rates in order to reinforce the existence and maintenance of locally supplied services as well as their role in the formal economy .
it is the most beautiful Christmas present we can give to millions of fibromyalgia patients .
as I have already said , the Commission has already simplified things .
they must enter into operation immediately because , given climate change , these events will unfortunately occur again and again , particularly in the poorest regions of Europe , as they are the ones that experience torrential rain and extreme drought during the summer .
however , these unique areas can also present significant challenges for people living and working in them , especially in terms of infrastructure , communications and high production costs .
as you know , ladies and gentlemen - I am going to end this first speech on this point - the European Trade Union Confederation , on the one hand , and the professional bodies representing temporary employment agencies , on the other , want us to adopt this legislation .
we still have boatloads of fortune-seeking migrants reaching Lampedusa .
key fisheries exports from Greenland include prawn ( 59 % ) , Greenland halibut ( 23 % ) , cod ( 9.5 % ) , crabs ( 1.9 % ) , scallops ( 1.4 % ) and spawn ( 1.3 % ) .
the document also draws attention to important challenges which should be the subject of cooperation between Russia and the European Union .
the package includes measures ranging from the provision of micro-credit and SME financing to energy efficiency and specific technical assistance for financial sector supervision and financial regulation .
we are pleased that we have managed to find a way -in cooperation with the Member States .
the Uzbek authorities agreed to continue the discussion on human rights issues in the context of the EU-Uzbekistan Cooperation Committee early next year .
I also consider that , in case the implementation of the provisions under this directive generates new obligations for the achievement of a road infrastructure project , the Commission and the Member States should ensure the adequate increase of allocated funds .
your services have invested in the detail , in planning and in human resources .
Madam President , some of the amendments that we are considering tonight reflect our manic obsession with renewables .
in recent weeks , we have witnessed a national rebellion in Egypt , which has resulted in President Mubarak stepping down after 30 years of authoritarian rule .
in the absence of a globally binding agreement , does she not agree that there is a great risk that we make our industry more uncompetitive , and saddle our consumers with ever higher electricity bills , at no net benefit to the environment at all , because those reductions in emissions are , of course , cancelled out by increases in India , China , the US , etc . ?
formulating a humane and reasonable immigration policy will be a fundamental challenge for society over the next few years , but it can only be done at European level so as to avoid electoral agendas and national knee-jerk reactions .
though , at the time , I wrote a rather stringent report , I have to thank Mr Welle because he and his administration have , very diligently , correctly answered all the questions I had put to them and put a great deal of effort into this work .
investing in this type of infrastructure is really working for the future and the recovery of the economy and creating jobs .
the reform process has to be moved up a gear .
you have our greatest respect for that .
anyone who is pleased with the outcome of this repeated referendum will also be pleased with the death of democracy and the dictatorship of globalism .
it seems that the main reason why the Irish , the citizens of the Green Isle , supported the Treaty , is because of what they secured from the European Union in the meantime .
fundamentally , I wonder whether we actually now need to invest another EUR 55 million in order to support the institutions of the African Union .
what a marvellous answer !
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , first of all , there have been several interventions claiming that the implementation of ACTA would lead to limiting civil liberties , and several pointed out the control of laptops , or of air passengers at borders , for example .
this entails regional cooperation , potentially via bilateral agreements , with both the countries of origin and with transit countries .
an exhaustive check of the CAP , which does not involve any fundamental reform of the existing policy , however , is another important step towards securing a modern , multifunctional and competitive common European agricultural policy .
this is particularly crucial because solidarity is extremely important in difficult times .
we all agree with the statement that the European Union needs a Single Market which works better , so I welcomed the proposals on deepening and improving it .
both EUROPOL and the European Union will lack democratic legitimacy until you put the Lisbon Treaty to a referendum .
it is unforgiveable that the UK Government is slashing spending to below the 2 % base level every NATO member is meant to honour .
in the first case , this mainly concerns foodstuffs and the effect on the thyroid ( iodine ) , bones ( strontium ) and muscles ( caesium ) , while in the second case , it concerns the effect on skin and the lungs ( radon ) .
regarding the single market , I welcome all the remarks and the focus on the single market , because this is really the EU 's main crown jewel .
therefore , I reiterate the appeal to the European Commission and the Commissioner to take up these further challenges and present a road map for the countries of the Eastern Partnership .
this would mean more opportunities to introduce further decoupling and a move away from historical reference values .
this is an area of the strategy that we are very concerned about and on which we should like to hear concrete answers from the Commission .
it is not a matter of handing out points , it is the very core of our values and it is the key to reconciliation in the Balkans .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I listened very attentively to the Commission 's response .
particularly in the area of fraud , we have some Member States with a conspicuously high degree of susceptibility to fraud and with lax controls , compounded by the prevalence of an unacceptable laissez-faire attitude to recovery .
it wants these countries to ' reap the benefits of globalisation ' and to engage in ' investment integration ' , which means making it easier for G8 countries to make money in these countries and then take the money out again .
the World Bank could therefore act as a partner to the developing countries .
who sets the objectives and strategy of the agencies ?
apart from this important development , President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and President Dmitri Medvedev held the first official meeting of Heads of State of the two countries in over 14 years .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the economic crisis has affected the whole of Europe .
nuclear power is once more in the spotlight , and I believe we need to think above all of the future , of our children 's future .
we shall make use of all these opportunities .
otherwise , to quote Mr Barroso , the Union will miss its ' moment of truth ' .
in writing . - ( DE ) For years now , the nationalistic and patriotic forces in the EU have been warning of the consequences of unchecked mass immigration .
it will be resolved by neither the fortress Europe of Schengen nor by targeted humanitarian measures .
the overwhelming majority of the comments made in this House have argued for the preservation of this common acquis .
however , I met with President Barroso on a very regular basis throughout his first term of office when I oversaw , during the same period , the work of Parliament 's Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality .
that is not the issue at stake this evening , however .
we know that many products made in China are dangerous , but it does not just concern toys , it also concerns textiles and now vehicles .
the political crisis in East Timor is accompanied by an economic one .
President of the Commission , many thanks to you , too , for your work .
38 .
what will the consequences be then ?
once this legislation has been in force for two years , it is fully justifiable that the Commission should supply an assessment that is as extensive as possible , not only on the specific issues of the strict implementation of the regulations concerning transport , but also on the economic and social consequences for the regions and Member States with a low production capacity for some animal species that are important for human consumption .
I welcome the initiative of the President of the French Republic , Nicolas Sarkozy , to whom this Union for the Mediterranean owes a great deal , and I wish him every success with the inaugural summit , due to be held in Paris on 13 July .
and finally , a comment : I think it was Mr Weber of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) who said that we had to be very careful about the policy we implement concerning migrants , European problems and labour supply .
the action plan is backed up by a substantial financial resource of just under EUR 500 million from the Commission until 2013 , plus a EUR 100 million renewable energy loan from the European Investment Bank , as well as commitments to deepen our trade and political relations .
I welcome very much what Mr Swoboda has just said about the benchmark system , but the insight of the Social Democrats was very late in coming .
unfortunately , this wine has now come under attack from some Labour Party politicians .
this matter was particularly safe in her hands .
it is not clear how long the exogenous cost-push will last .
this is good .
the public discussion regarding a European Monetary Fund has touched a number of elements that are relevant in this respect .
I cannot understand why we in the Committee on the Environment have agreed to maintain secrecy about soil containing inherited contamination .
however , this means that they cannot speak on behalf of other countries that Russia happens to have occupied in the past , such as Ukraine or Georgia .
you will be aware that Ireland is the only country that will be ratifying it through the referendum process .
we shall certainly have an opportunity to discuss this issue again another time .
in the good old days , the impression was that everything in the EU was peachy .
order of business
progress has also been made in the sphere of security of documents , border controls and migration .
Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , firstly , I would like to congratulate everyone involved in putting in place the food hygiene regulations , because this communication from the Commission gives a mainly positive picture of the experiences of applying the regulations .
( the oral amendment was accepted )
the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon has established a new legal basis on this matter , the codecision process , and so I believe that it is vital to establish a common and harmonised approach in order to reduce the differences between national laws .
in the treaties of the European Union , there is a clear division of competences .
for the internal market to function smoothly , the Commission 's proposal for a regulation on food information to consumers introduced a framework for voluntary origin indications .
Mr President , this report highlights the need for food security for the citizens whom we represent .
we are going to give preference to those Members who did not take the floor during the last period of one-minute speeches under Rule 150 over those who did take the floor last time .
( PL ) Mr President , I shall be very brief with regard to this report .
all these areas need to be treated with respect as there is no right or wrong approach .
there are many areas in which this Parliament has already begun its work and has made a major contribution , crystallising ideas in areas like the European citizens ' initiative .
we believe it would be a strategic error to leave Serbia and its people in a kind of limbo without any direction , perspective or plan .
I voted for the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) in favour of the Netherlands because I consider that instrument to be a valuable resource for the support of workers in difficulties on account of the economic crisis .
I am very pleased , Mr Cioloş , that you have proposed simplified rules , in particular , for small farms , in your communication on the reform of the common agricultural policy ( CAP ) .
a few Member States still persist in acting as a blocking minority .
what you should be doing is enforcing the legislation that we have .
beekeeping also promotes economic development in rural areas .
the system of regional objectives is replaced by high-level , comprehensive objectives covering all regions in accordance with the principles laid down in the Decision .
but it is also important to provide the appropriate administrative means for managing growing financial envelopes of programmes if we want this budget to be adequately executed .
I have a request to make on behalf of my Group .
this is a great mistake .
today a similar situation is emerging , and I am glad that I have been given the floor now , one day after the declaration of Kosovo 's independence .
in the area of transport , the Belgian Presidency found a solution to the difficult issue of the Eurovignette .
this will ensure that those who are near the end of their playing careers or those who may have other economic issues with regard to them can get further protection from it .
( DE ) Mr President , Mr Oettinger , ladies and gentlemen , I fully support the joint resolution .
in this context , besides the increased attention that the authorities should show to reducing taxes on the labour market and to reducing bureaucracy , I would emphasise the need to stimulate the creation of new jobs and to introduce flexible rules for temporary and occasional employment .
there has been a refusal to hold referendums .
I always speak as I find , even when my opinions run counter to those who spoke before me .
we also welcomed the meeting in September at which , finally , there was a constructive discussion between the representatives of the Committee on Budgets and those of the Swedish Presidency .
many in my group question those three assumptions and believe that our policy needs to be looked at again urgently to find a situation where those communities can live together .
it must also be made clear , and this is very important to us , that development policy should remain independent , because these things must not be combined arbitrarily .
in the country I know best , SMEs account for 20 % of all patents , 40 % of all gross investment , 49 % of total turnover , 70 % of all workers and 80 % of all trainees .
perhaps in your overall calculation , people gain from it , but in a region like mine , people lose .
( SK ) Mr President , the extensive damage to the nuclear power plant in Fukushima caused by an extraordinary natural disaster has shown that it is extremely important to look after safety in facilities of this kind .
we need to raise the Union 's international profile and reinforce its international presence .
at present , only a concerted action of all the Member States can solve this issue of reciprocity regarding visas between the European Union and the US .
the fourth element of the comprehensive response has to be structural measures , as outlined in the strategy for Europe 2020 .
we therefore need to create a sustainable policy for development of the seas and oceans .
however , I voted in favour of deferring the final vote in order to strengthen consumer protection against certain abusive practices , for which the chosen level of protection remains insufficient .
the new President will be governing in the face of robust opposition and free media .
yet these two issues are global concerns and their resolution , while certainly impossible without the European Union , must be addressed by the entire globe .
it does not suit you !
we must focus on developing new technological methods and establishing the principle of privacy by design .
second point : on management and governance .
the fact that only a fraction of this money has been returned to the European budget represents a blow against all taxpayers .
in the UK we are keen on new nuclear power stations as well .
a woman who has lived for a number of years with threats , insults and abuse finally decides to leave the relationship to build a new life for herself and her children .
there is a real lack of confidence and , therefore , faced with this crisis of confidence and to enable this confidence to be restored , I should like to put a two-part question to you .
the Chinese Communist Party can rejoice , since it must have achieved a lot of success for the legitimisation of power .
I now want to listen to what you parliamentarians have to say in order to understand the position of the European Parliament on this matter .
it is also significant that the role of the EU-US Joint Committee is strengthened , by enabling it to promote new initiatives when putting the Agreement into effect .
what specific initiatives and measures will it take , in conjunction with the Member States , to ensure more effective prevention of road accidents involving children ?
written statements ( Rule 149 )
we must be aware that in this sector , even more than in others , Commissioner , it is not enough for national governments to act alone !
in my view , the 225 MEPs who voted to reject this directive were either driven by nationalist fanaticism or , at the very least , have lost touch with ordinary people 's concerns !
Madam President , it may not be obvious why , as a representative of London , I am giving an explanation of vote on a matter concerning farming and the common agricultural policy .
and the legacy of the war is still apparent .
there is no such thing .
I do not simply refer to the immediate crisis triggered by the failure of the banking system , or the extra pressures now provided by transport emergencies .
however , I am voting for this proposal because I believe that relations and trade with South Africa are essential for both parties .
in negotiations with the Council and the Commission , the European Parliament saw the Union dimension of the European External Action Service strengthened , thereby leading to an increased role for Parliament itself in the political and budgetary areas of this new entity .
Commissioner , I am not advocating protectionism in any way , but it is time to act .
I am calling on the citizens of Europe to take the initiative .
Mr President , the ban imposed by the Nepalese authorities on organising the elections for a Tibetan government in exile raises a question mark about the human rights situation in this state .
the Austrian police stopped a truck containing137 puppies .
the request for assistance concerned 1 104 redundancies ( of which 590 have been targeted for assistance ) made redundant by two companies operating in NACE Revision 2 Division 29 ( manufacture of motor vehicles , trailers and semi-trailers ) , amounting to a sum of EUR 633 077 financed by the EGF .
firstly , I welcome the European Commission 's proposal on the health and safety at work of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding .
I urge the Russian authorities to heighten protection for human rights defenders , including those working for Memorial .
we regret the fact that the Council is not here to listen to Parliament 's voice ; it is a real shame .
furthermore , I would like to refer to three aspects of the report : I requested increased support for the university excellence programmes , both at the level of Member States and of the European Union , to the extent of its competencies .
we should also remember to incorporate the use of ' clean ' vehicles in our activities related to the climate change package .
there is nothing that a future general election can do in Greece to change anything .
it is easy to condemn Israel , because it is a member of the UN .
the debate is closed .
despite the fact that artistic creation cannot be restricted by the application of strict scientific and technological knowledge , technology , although it was not created for this purpose , can be useful to art , just as art can encourage research and improvement of technologies , applied not only in artistic activities .
it is a real challenge , and what I would say to the gentleman who held up the photos is , of course , if you are the President of the European Council and you go as President to the African Summit which is held in Libya , you will find that there is a picture of the President with Gaddafi .
I am surprised that some Members who are not here tonight have seen fit to attack that in an e-mail to all Members of Parliament .
Mr Juncker , you said that the ECB acts with grace and determination .
Mrs Ferreira , you asked about coordination and whether there was in fact any degree of coordination between the national environmental-health schemes and the European Action Plan .
a further 10 million jobs in associated sectors are indirectly dependent on this industry . it is worth noting that it is not only the quantity but probably essentially the quality of the jobs provided that accounts for the key role the car industry plays in the economic life of the European Union .
our opponents are egotism , nationalism and protectionism , not more Europe and not a strong Commission .
appointment of the members of the Special Committee on organised crime , corruption and money laundering ( tabling deadlines ) : see Minutes
I find it extremely regrettable that the Commission merely points to a study in response to my second question in Parliament on how the Directive on protection of the victims of trafficking is implemented in Germany .
it is very important indeed and I am grateful to the honourable Member for reinforcing that .
I would reiterate here in this debate that is very important for us to defend passengers ' rights , to defend citizens ' rights .
the EU has already adopted Directive 2007 / 59 / EC on the certification of train drivers , and the European driving licence for train drivers already exists : it will enter into force on 3 December this year .
however , we need resources if this is to succeed .
I am convinced that understandable rules which are easy to apply will first and foremost foster compliance with the law .
you have to trust and believe your discussion partners , and they say that they want direct negotiations with the Palestinian Authority .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Mr President , I would like to say that I support this amending budget , and there are one or two items which I would like to comment upon .
these costs and sacrifices will be especially very challenging for those countries with the lowest budgets and less developed economies .
the maritime international organisations , such as the contact group on piracy , will have an important role to play here .
Mr President , on a point of order , this concerns the agenda on Thursday where we made a late request - I am sorry it was late - it is a proposal to change slightly the agenda for Thursday where currently there is a vote proposed for the social package resolution .
I do think that we have achieved a great deal , however .
3. to extend the scope to non-agricultural uses ;
the next item is the statements by the Council and the Commission on the future of the Africa / EU strategic partnership , on the eve of the third Africa / EU summit .
indeed , 23 million European SMEs are expecting positive action from the Commission .
my first comment relates to the Council 's attitude towards amendments , of which there are many , although I cannot represent the Council 's opinion here just yet .
and we should also continue meeting civil society .
the Wallis report sets ambitious objectives in respect of conceivable measures with a view to establishing a European contract law for consumers and businesses .
the ' cultural industries ' and , as a consequence , the cultural goods that they produce , cannot be likened to enterprises like any other , on the grounds that they are producers of wealth and potentially job creators .
of course , we would then need two different dossiers , so that any emergency action necessary could be taken rapidly and so that we could make sure there was enough time for a comprehensive review .
we had our own reasons for rejection .
the communication examined all the resources that must be mobilised to achieve this aim .
in parallel to the operation ATALANTA , the Commission uses the instrument of stability , a financial instrument , to support the Kenyan justice system - as the President of the Council has just mentioned - because Kenya has undertaken to prosecute transferred suspected pirates apprehended by the operation , and it is necessary that there should not be impunity .
the Chinese Government claims that 18 civilians and one policeman were killed and a total of 623 people injured during the protests in Lhasa on 12 March .
I also agree with the many speakers who referred to the need to emphasise the crucial role of local actors and the involvement of civil society .
based on that we can develop tourism , particularly to end seasonality , to encourage an ageing population to holiday more and , indeed , also to encourage young people to do so .
we need to avoid the transposition of the GFCM measures becoming a modern version of the myth of Sisyphus .
the directive on a single residence and work permit in all the Member States of the EU and the European Parliament report on it view immigrants as cheap labour , at the mercy of the cruel exploitation of capital .
it should no longer be possible for anyone to invoke the sacrosanct rights of the popular majority to justify threats to freedom of the press in what was , until recently , a situation of disparity between the plaintiff and the defendant - whether in Italy or in Portugal , as we were reminded earlier - because this undermines the foundations of the rules of coexistence on which the Union is based .
however , there are parts of this budget I cannot agree with .
in principle , this does not pose a problem as long as all precautionary measures are taken .
there are many excellent suggestions in this report that I support .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , in these economically difficult times it is quite right that the European Parliament should play its part and should be prepared to apply self-restraint and self-discipline , even though we are still engaged in building up our own institution and have been assigned new responsibilities under the Treaty of Lisbon .
thirdly , there is the issue of inspections .
the whole of Europe is already familiar with the way in which attempts have been made to blame a whole community on account of the actions of a few offenders .
it is reprehensible that the changeover to the new database is again being delayed .
in the case of Hungary and in light of these difficulties , at some point the Hungarian authorities contacted the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) .
this is precisely the reason why I think that a balance needs to be struck between catch limits , technical measures and the fishers ' needs .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( SL ) I shall be very brief in view of the late hour .
Mr President , I have already sent you a letter - to which I have not received an answer - and I would like to ask you under which rule the microphone was switched off and why it was relevant to apply this rule .
real democracy is not only about the opinion of the majority winning the vote , but about taking into account the wishes of the minority as well .
finally , I would like to thank the French Presidency and the Commission for their particularly constructive cooperation .
these are the rules that we have agreed with one another .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - Mr President , I welcome the contents of this report today , which supports the broader development of trans-European road networks in Europe .
that is why I call on you to work with the Member States to implement as quickly as possible the four-year action plan on combating counterfeiting and piracy , with the creation of a European counterfeiting observatory and the strengthening of the European customs system .
first of all , the Iranian regime is unpredictable .
in addition , we are pleased that Parliament believes that projects in the energy sector deserve our support .
we simply have to accept that .
I think that it should provide our airports and airlines with the means of establishing permanent dialogue that will benefit all of the parties concerned .
they think there is a time to celebrate the key role of the Gdansk shipyard workers in the freedom struggle - a historic role , as Mr McCreevy said - and another time to impose the iron laws of the free market on them .
to get the best value from these opportunities , the tourism sector must be properly understood .
without flexible transport options , the towns and cities will die .
the accession negotiations with Croatia have , until recently , been going well .
( NL ) Madam President , the report somewhat cryptically entitled ' Social reality stocktaking ' was adopted almost unanimously in the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs - there was only one vote against - and in fact this should come as no surprise .
there is no doubt that the aim of the report is good .
2009 progress report on Croatia - 2009 progress report on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - 2009 progress report on Turkey ( debate )
the major problems facing mankind are problems relating to behaviour and pollution .
could we have gone further ?
for us on the Committee on Culture and Education , it has been an idea and project that we have all shared , as 2014 will mark the hundredth anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War , which began with an incident in that very city .
as a natural consequence , the European Commission carried out a re-examination last February of the Community strategy for the reduction of CO2 emissions by new cars , with mandatory legislation based on an integrated approach through which the European aim of reducing emissions by new cars to 120 gr. by 2012 would be met .
moreover , the European Parliament 's representative , Mr Deprez , was not invited .
the right to take collective measures belongs to the scope of regulation of the Treaty Establishing the European Community , and must therefore be justified by significant public interest and be proportional .
what I mean is that we do not want any oenological methods that take us in the direction of Coca-Cola ; we want the future of designations of origin and geographical indications to be secured .
I do not think that there is anything more urgent than solving the issue of youth unemployment .
the directive on the European Protection Order represents a key step towards a European directive on violence against women .
in Strasbourg , among other visitors we will have one of the Vice-Presidents of the Commission and the French and German Ministers for European Affairs .
this goes completely against respect for international law .
furthermore , private storage for butter is maintained , so there is really no need to maintain the scheme for cream .
the second point is this : it is also important to ensure that local and regional decision-makers are informed about the effects of climate change on their areas .
our current policies include research into new , cleaner technologies and further improvement in the air traffic management system in Europe through the Single European Sky and Clean Sky programmes .
( ES ) Madam President , if we are to try and understand what is happening in the waters of the Indian Ocean we must tackle the issue of piracy in a responsible manner , refraining from demagogic statements and from taking a party political stance .
we would like to thank the Belgian Presidency for the work that it has done , along with all the shadow rapporteurs and our team .
in response to each of your speeches , which I thank you for , I would simply like to mention three issues .
it goes without saying that the reduction mechanism already in place will continue to be applicable for other types of cases .
this is because it is highly likely that the financial sector will improve its yield in reaction to each tax and the introduction of any new taxes , or , to the detriment of the European economy , eventually move their tax residence to outside of the European Union .
these are energy , climate change , structural funds , cooperation in criminal law , intellectual property , and so on .
fruit originating elsewhere is totally unimportant .
the Council of Ministers has also given a lot of attention to the question of Iraq .
in Africa , with its innumerable undemocratic regimes , spending on weapons always far outstrips the massive amount of development aid that goes to those countries , according to Oxfam .
2 .
the commitment of the business community is equally important , with self-regulation a key to success .
I believe it is also more citizen-friendly if the process can be made shorter by calling for the cooperation of the Member States or bringing in external service providers , if the data protection regulations are followed .
this makes more sense than covering the deficiencies of the large public television companies .
Madam President , Commissioner Kroes , Commissioner Špidla , in my speech here in the European Parliament , I would like , as a member of the ECR group , to talk very briefly about the current situation in the car industry , particularly from the perspective of the future competitiveness of European producers .
fine words and declarations of good intentions are therefore not enough .
Madam President , this report is entitled ' Adult education : it is never too late to learn ' .
this assistance is crucial for the process of reconstruction in these countries , provided that it is carried out in a peaceful manner , something that is possible only with international assistance .
the EU and its negotiating partners are all committed to finding a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue , and to that end , we must continue to implement the dual-track approach .
I spoke in the European Council last Thursday and said clearly that it is extremely important for Parliament that the Council take the initial legal steps to enable us to accept the additional Members and to know from which countries they will come .
however , the leaders of our own countries are throwing themselves into the arms of the Chinese leaders , pardoning them for everything that they have done in their country , and are giving them free rein in the name of a development model that ultimately we respect only to a very basic degree .
Mr President , I am particularly supportive of this report , the mention of credit unions and recognition of their contribution to providing microcredit facilities .
what we instead need is a debate on measures to enhance Frontex so as to provide maximum security at the external borders of the European Union - thereby ensuring freedom of movement - and a debate on speedy asylum proceedings and managed migration , on cooperation to deal with the causes of migration and on readmission agreements .
the temptation to use State aid in different situations is there , and we are all aware of that .
we ask that from both sides and from our partners in the international community , while at the same time , of course , we are preparing ourselves for better or worse scenarios as regards Kosovo 's status .
the agreement may be suspended or repealed , but that decision can only be made in relation to all Member States .
20 .
it is expected to grow further since illegal immigrants would need the money and at the same time would be terrified to report defaulting employers for fear of being expelled from the country by the authorities .
in writing . - ( GA ) I do not agree with everything that is written in Mr Guellec 's Report , but nevertheless , I welcome the report and I voted in its favour .
do you intend to amend , to revise the neoliberal policy pursued by the Commission thus far , which has failed completely ?
it is a recipe for profligacy .
it has to be absolutely clear what it is they are talking about , and that it should not be sold as an investment .
the next item is the report by Doris Pack , on behalf of the Committee on Culture and Education , on adult learning : it is never too late to learn .
in return for broadcasting high quality programmes , these broadcasters have a right to funding from fees .
back to the main topic , though .
because Since do not have the necessary technical ability to check the quality of services , they need a legal framework in order for them to be protected .
family values must be promoted , for example by helping young women to balance family and career responsibilities .
the motion calls for the full entry into use of the second-generation Schengen Information System ( SIS II ) and for the strengthening of Frontex .
the Nord Stream issue is typical in this respect .
the text we voted on asks the Commission to submit a new proposal in the event that it intends to modify it substantially or replace it with a new text .
giving Europol new functions would only be possible by changing the legal basis , with input from the European Parliament .
let me begin by saying that when I became rapporteur for this programme , I thought that I would have a very easy job , given the wide-ranging consensus and support on this issue , something which was also in evidence during the debate .
the extension of Schengen to the east is for the moment the latest of these damaging decisions .
we have also been able to include a very clear reference to the general legislative framework on statistics , to the way in which statistics should be used , the way in which they are handled and , above all , the way in which the data will have to be handled in future , from the perspective of confidentiality , among others .
even more outrageous than several controversial laws concerning the equality between men and women , is the fact , that men are still widely being regarded higher than women in Afghan society itself .
as you know , that was a decision taken by the Council of Ministers of the European Union in June 2008 .
finally , the Stockholm Programme will bring safety and security to Europe 's citizens , and it is extremely important that we get this programme in place .
however , Union decisions have been totally absent and completely sacrificed because of unacceptable budgetary constraints resulting from political choices of austerity that do not encourage development .
in order to combat these abuses within the legislative process , we call for a clear methodology , an analysis of alternatives and the option not to take any action , as well as maximum transparency and the close involvement of Parliament .
this was a key promise that constituted the basis on which many States signed the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and have , as a result , durably refrained from acquiring nuclear weapons .
so the Commission fully agrees now with this consensus to touch upon these important issues as well .
at the same time , it raises questions as to why such actions had to be taken in the first place , and why the three core institutions of the EU could not find ways of agreeing amicably and without the need to resort to court deliberations .
well , there is no press freedom , there is no free access for NGOs , and , while the UN inspector on religious tolerance may have been allowed in , Turkmenistan has the longest queue of UN-requested visits of any country in the world .
I hope that such a broad consensus can continue tomorrow , all the more so as there are only a few amendments to vote on .
( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I particularly welcome this report because it shows that this Europe is growing together and that culture plays a very special role in this .
we should encourage the Member States to make changes to legislation which will improve traditional forms of care in foster families as well as care in foster families with many children or with specialist carers , and also ensure that appropriate financial support is made available .
free trade creates prosperity and free trade will make a vital contribution to the recovery of the European economies .
all the European institutions that depend on the European Union budget have to be thoroughly audited by the Court of Auditors and by all entities with that function .
if the EU is to be capable of playing a global leading role in these areas , it needs resources .
the global financial crisis has revealed the deep structural weaknesses of the European development model , based on high taxes , high fiscal redistribution , inflexible labour markets and unnecessarily extended welfare provisions .
the Chinese and Japanese economies , Australia and the United States are all trying to acquire this market .
we would also propose to clarify , through the drafting of guidelines , the application of EU rules in two important areas .
it is counter-productive and , besides , a bizarre waste of taxpayers ' money .
we will have to look at the impact of this burden .
Zapata 's death must not be allowed to go down in history as meaningless ; it must mark an end to the current human rights situation in Cuba .
it is one of the moments or follow-ups of the Lahti Summit of October 2006 and actually we only proposed the draft text one day before the summit .
I think we are making a mistake .
on the other hand , the Hungarians have not wiped out their minorities , but have kept them separate .
however , most of the proposals put forward are negative .
Member States can use a rate of 4 % of the ERDF allocation and , where they see fit , a reduced VAT rate , but this must not be less than 5 % for work relating to energy efficiency in buildings .
the people have been duped , misled and treated with contempt .
to fight terrorism targeting civil aviation , we need a large variety of combined and coordinated measures - intelligence , profiling , different search methods and international cooperation .
that is the comparison we have to make .
it is now up to the Member States to recognise the sign of the times and , taking account of national conditions , to develop these provisions further on an individual basis .
to illustrate my point , just look at page 51 of the Treaty , a section entitled ' Non-discrimination and citizenship ' , one which any citizen might want to read and assess .
on de minimis aid we are looking at making provisions so that if , on an economic analysis , it proves to be feasible , then our proposal would be to extend the de minimis aid from EUR 30 000 per enterprise to EUR 30 000 per vessel but with a maximum cap of EUR 100 000 per enterprise .
Parliament 's support for the necessary resources to be secured in the future Community budget for health will be crucial .
achieving the 20-20-20 objective by 2020 , in other words a 20 % reduction in energy consumption , an increase in the ratio of energy from renewable sources to total energy consumption to 20 % and a 20 % increase in energy efficiency requires coordinated and targeted action , both by the EU and by the Member States .
( SL ) Ladies and gentlemen , last week in Poznań I was able to see for myself the great hopes which the rest of the world has regarding the European Union .
the resolution 's monotonous focus on the agricultural sector means that the significance of other social factors for the ability to deal with substantial price rises is ignored - we are thinking primarily of the lack of democratic institutions in many countries , inequality when it comes to income and weak welfare systems .
Mr President , I voted in favour of Mrs Stauner 's report on the Commission action plan towards an integrated internal control framework of the Union 's budget .
all of these proposals and ideas are contained in the Commission communication , which has been approved by the Council and which we are debating in Parliament - the rapporteur is present in the Chamber .
so energy savings are also a crucial part of the report because , if we meet our energy savings targets , we are already on the path of achieving 25 % domestically in the EU .
specifically , the relevant legal bases are Article 65 ( a ) and the second indent of Article 67 ( 5 ) of the EC Treaty .
I therefore believe that helping to improve the sector 's situation is an obligation , given that , as the resolution states , it ' plays a strategic role in society , providing a public service of environmental value ' .
marketing and advertising are an important part of communications , and if manufacturers ' products are to compete on the market , advertising must obviously use means that catch people 's attention .
so if lawyers feel frightened by these people , I am sure ordinary small SMEs must .
however , a temporary campaign is not enough in itself .
it was essentially through the adoption of these amendments that we saw progress in the following areas of the European Ombudsman 's activity :
according to Internet Watch Foundation , which processed more than 30 000 reports in 2006 , 91 % of victims were under 12 years old .
it is the very first time the fight against poverty has been included in five key objectives , and yet we are told that it is a disgrace , that we have not gone far enough and that we must take a resit .
in line with this , the European Parliament must support the Franco-Egyptian peace plan in favour of an immediate ceasefire , the securing of the borders between Israel and the Gaza Strip , the re-opening of the crossing points and , above all , the lifting of the blockade of Gaza .
I fear that we are facing a phenomenon which threatens to get completely out of control , and not just in Greece , because the young generation sees a dismal future for itself , with insurmountable obstacles .
the economic crisis has hit farmers hard .
for some months now , Côte d 'Ivoire has been the scene of urban guerrilla warfare between the supporters of the outgoing President and the people .
we also need this at global level to ensure that when it comes to the economy and economic competitiveness , we are not taxing our citizens out of productive capability and productive forces - what we are actually doing is ensuring that we have enough entrepreneurs and innovators in a country , and one of the best ways we can do that is by tax competition .
next week , we intend to agree some concrete orientations which will create a basis for our discussions and possibly for the decisions to be taken in May .
since agriculture is not simply an economic activity , and since agricultural and food policy must be in the service of essential objectives such as food supply and food security , the main challenge is the efficient harmonisation of commercial and non-commercial considerations .
firstly , there is the somewhat radical , but important idea of actually holding serious talks with the so-called ' moderate Taliban ' .
in the field of energy there is a great deal happening on and around the sea .
the issue of public procurement is repeatedly the subject of discussions with the Member States , regions and final beneficiaries .
as Parliament , we have not only the very general task of representing the people in the best way possible but also the job of working as efficiently and effectively as possible in the committees , and to do this we also expect to draw on the expertise and knowledge of those fellow Members who have largely already been freely and properly elected .
going beyond this compromise - as evidenced by the mentions of an absence of EU symbols , agreements on the Council voting system relating to opt-in and opt-out clauses and the Charter of Fundamental Rights - is politically damaging to the process of ratification .
this clause means that goods from that country can be considered to be Papuan , and consequently exempt from any customs duties or quotas , even if the fishermen , the fishing areas and the factories that produce the canned fish are not Papuan .
I do not have much time at my disposal , so would like to concentrate on just a few important points .
in particular , the crisis has highlighted the need for an additional instrument to preserve the stability of the euro area .
this result is mainly due to a high proportion of advance payments in 2008 , which have a lower risk of error than interim and final payments .
Ukraine must grasp the nettle on both fronts , no matter how difficult it might seem at the moment .
the Court of Auditors informed the European Parliament that the Foundation 's annual accounts for the financial year 2009 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular .
after the creation of the Human Rights and Democracy Directorate at the European External Action Service , the EU delegation in Geneva will have a central role to play in EU human rights policy in the world .
as regards the stability programme , the Commission fully supports Greece in its efforts to redress a difficult economic and fiscal situation .
debates on cases of breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law ( announcement of motions for resolutions tabled ) : see Minutes
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an appeal is therefore needed , an information campaign which will change attitudes and promote models of behaviour aimed at increasing the effectiveness or reducing the consumption of energy in homes . we need a campaign to make people aware that the way we live , and the way we work , has an economic and an ecological price attached .
in writing . - ( SV ) We firmly reject the report 's proposal that oral contributions should appear only in their original language in the verbatim report .
furthermore , intercultural dialogue can also be used as a tool for emphasising the evil sides of the ' other ' .
these projects will help eliminate differences in connections between systems in the European Union , and will make possible further optimal use of the European Union 's own sources of energy .
I believe that this is the win-win strategy , because it is only in this way that we will solve the negative equation of donor and beneficiary , which always gives rise to humiliation and suspicion and a feeling of dependency of one on the other - of the weakest on the strongest .
in this context , Regulation ( EC ) No 1931 / 2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down rules on local border traffic at the external land borders of the Member States and amending the provisions of the Schengen Convention authorises the Member States to conclude bilateral agreements with third countries in order to apply the local border traffic rules .
it was also the joint wish of the Informal Council of Ministers in Leipzig that the Slovenian Presidency should put the Territorial Agenda on the agenda for this year 's Spring Summit in order to achieve greater political recognition of the territorial framework for the development of regions and cities and new forms of participation in the EU 's political decisions .
we wish to show solidarity by cooperating on this matter , in the UN forum too , but we cannot agree to European censorship on the death penalty as proposed by Mr Schulz .
it is this divide-and-rule , the oldest trick in the book , which you and your fellow colleagues have fallen for .
the Giegold report has the merit of drawing attention to some of these macro-economic imbalances .
- ( SK ) The own-initiative report from Mr Catania has prompted a significant exchange of views between political groups and members of Parliament .
at state level ' Mr Lisbon ' was positive and stimulating .
the spirit of the European Union in the treaties is to standardise procedures throughout the EU .
the contact which a small child , and especially a baby , has with its mother fosters the proper emotional development of the child .
he should sign it forthwith .
if we are to avoid feeding the threat , democratic accountability is essential to ensure balance and proportionality .
experience of human rights work shows that freedom of religion is an important indicator of the situation with respect to human rights ; it is a kind of litmus test .
that is going to be a tremendous challenge for us in this Parliament .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , Gas Natural , a Spanish holding company , has submitted a project for on-shore regasification plants which would affect the Trieste area , and which has been approved by the Italian Ministry of the Environment .
some institutions are , of course , growing in terms of numbers , responsibility and how much money they have at their disposal .
within the meaning of this resolution , Member States must place great emphasis on developing a comprehensive international agreement regulating the elimination of nuclear weapons under strict international supervision .
secondly , the time span needs to reflect the length of the course , not just the particular two years , as it is at the moment .
solidarity is the fundamental value at the heart of the European project .
( FI ) Mr President , the Samoum case is not a oneoff event in Yemen : at least eight other juvenile offenders are in custody awaiting a death sentence .
the vision of Schuman has been achieved .
membership of Parliament : see Minutes
in recent weeks , we have discussed the stability of the Mediterranean region on many occasions and we have defined what the concept of stability does not consist of , namely , authoritarian structures .
there is , of course , a temptation for some companies to use the least onerous and least costly - but also least effective - tool .
at the same time , we fully respect Member State competences as regards the design and functioning of social protection schemes in general and minimum income schemes in particular .
her very British answer was : ' yes , I do that job , although I am called High Representative / Vice-President and not foreign minister .
( it ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I am an elected member of a political group which , when it was in government in Italy , before the current government , had to deploy the police force before it could start building normal waste disposal units in Campania , urgent works , which were at that time obstructed by opponents , Mrs Frassoni , who are now ministers in the government of Romano Prodi .
we know where we are today in spite of all these efforts , and I strongly believe that the solution is in the hands of the two parties .
the two previous Presidencies , Germany and Portugal , have done everything to assist the adoption of both items of legislation by the end of our three Presidencies .
Member of the Commission . - ( CS ) In the first place I should present apologies from my colleague Commissioner Figeľ , who cannot take part in this sitting because of a long-planned working visit to Egypt .
we did a complete piece of work on looking at the whole of the infrastructure on the crossings because , when I went into Gaza and met with businesses , particularly , but also in talking to the young people - and I went to the summer schools last year which we fund - it did seem to me that one of the most important issues for Gaza was to get the economy moving as quickly as possible .
if left unchecked , the situation will , and I quote from the report , ' erode employment conditions and lead to more conflictual industrial relations ' .
last week , the security protocol that allowed the army to intervene without authorisation in the case of security threats was annulled .
what are we going to do about Cuba ?
I , too , would like to quote a famous American , who was not a philosopher but a tennis player .
as the European Union and Canada have long maintained economic and political links , it has become necessary for the two parties to reach an agreement on air transport .
without healthy soil there is no agriculture , no natural cycle of nutrients and , in the long term , no life .
never before have so much ice and snow melted as over recent years .
we therefore voted against .
a ceremonial signing will also increase the document 's visibility .
I am voting for the Golik report , and would highlight the reference it makes to the need to pay more attention to the issues of information and promotion in the WTO negotiations .
the concept of the Danube as a green corridor is related to this .
in writing . - ( LT ) I voted in favour of this resolution on an EU strategy for the Black Sea .
by adopting this resolution , we are sending the message that not only Ukraine 's past , but its future is also inseparably bound up with that of Europe .
I think that the position of the Council is exactly the same .
I am not forgetting one thing , however , which is that Germany is a federal state , while France is much more centralised , in spite of decentralisation .
I must also say that President Medvedev has kept the promises he made before the Commission Presidency and the Council Presidency when we travelled to Moscow at the beginning of September .
however , at the same time , the proposal contains comprehensive rules for the monitoring authorities , both at the external borders of the EU and on the markets of the Member States .
the European Parliament has voted in favour of the principle of creating a single work and residence permit for third-country nationals in a Member State .
this is precisely why at this time the European Union budget , which has a great and unique ability to give added value to expenditure , investment and resources , can and absolutely must play a fundamental role .
therefore , we should not be putting any unnecessary obstacles in its way .
whilst I agree with the idea of further cooperation with Turkey and Russia to resolve certain ongoing conflicts and to strengthen the links between the Black Sea countries , the wording of Paragraph 39 could lead to confusion .
it is clear that the economic downturn can be halted by implementing an economic policy , which is better coordinated among Member States , which speeds up integration and the expansion of the internal market .
research and development should also be increased in all aspects of the sector : sources , facilities , distribution and use .
unfortunately , there is also cause for despondency , but we continue to hope , of course .
a lot of concern , however , has been voiced at the pressure on Malta and Lampedusa , and quite rightly .
1 % !
of course , we expect even more improvement when a new government takes office early next year .
I reserve the right to take action against you .
the economic crisis and the crisis in the dairy sector have affected these regions disproportionately in relation to most of the rest of Europe , and that is why these regions deserve some special attention .
I would like to offer my sincere thanks to the rapporteur , Mrs Gebhardt , not only because she has shown such commitment to this subject for so long , but also because she attempted , together with the shadow rapporteur , to accommodate both the principles and the practical in this report .
examples of this can be seen in the development of facilities for temporary and circular immigration , the improvements made in the area of data collection and analysis , the dissemination of information both on the realistic opportunities available to immigrants and the risks involved in illegal immigration , and also in the area of cooperation with third countries .
we ourselves protected our industries until they were strong enough to compete internationally .
in any case , I believe that immigration means security and respect for human rights .
this system provides for the creation of the purchasing power with no real equivalent .
within this internal market , of course , it is consumption which is perhaps the most important driver that we need to support in the very short term .
we want to implement the European priorities , and a proper budget is required in order to do this .
however , not all groups will benefit to the same extent .
( DE ) Mr President , I would like to state very clearly that I fully support everything that the Commissioner has said .
all these languages represent an integral part of our common cultural heritage , and every single national , regional , minority and migrants ' language spoken in Europe offers an additional facet to this common cultural heritage .
we have also made the provisions intended to limit monthly bills for roaming data transfer to EUR 50 significantly more flexible for anyone wanting this feature .
terrorism remains a high-level threat in the European Union .
if you stick to this line of thinking , it will be our downfall .
it is a day that we must keep in our memory in order to remember all those who have been the innocent victims of terrorism .
both the legal services of the Commission and of the Council have clearly stated that this is the right place .
moreover , I support the proposals to strengthen social standards in the area of ground handling services , because subcontracting , which is increasingly used in this sector , does not always ensure sufficient protection of this social standards .
we should not simply preach healthy living and healthy nutrition .
with regard to the name issue , I agree with the rapporteur 's stance , namely , that Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia must step up their efforts at the highest level to find a mutually acceptable solution under the auspices of the UN .
however , I would point out that the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty do not have any direct influence on the process whereby Member States would eventually decide on any proposal on a possible Commission proposal for CCCTB .
closure of the sitting
I am very pleased that the European Parliament has taken up a clear position on behalf of the regions .
someone spoke of a conflict of civilisations .
the same was done in the case of beef from Brazil and , on many other occasions , from Bangladesh .
that is my opinion .
twenty years on , we are better informed about the risks and hazards of certain chemicals and substances .
written explanations of vote
it means primarily documents drawn up by the Commission : some of these are interpretative , others are implementing acts , while others are merely preparatory documents .
therefore I would like to recommend better alignment of the urban and rural issues .
the coastline and hinterland must be protected , and megalithic investment projects must be prevented .
all the Member States are party to that Convention , but the EU is not .
Mr President , Commissioner , thank you for your opinion and your commitment to this matter .
we continue to promote those reforms and closer ties .
in terms of the discharge , we are , however , considering the 2008 budget , which was under the responsibility of the previous Commission .
this undermines the credibility of the EU itself .
we must provide a second chance for those who have lost their jobs in the crisis which accelerated certain globalisation processes , such as the massive exodus of mass production from Europe , and for those who cannot use their skills on the labour market because there is no demand for them .
I thank all those involved in the compromise machinery over the 2011 annual budget , Alain Lamassoure , President Buzek , Minister Wathelet and the rapporteurs .
making patients better informed must give the pharmaceutical industry a sense of responsibility , and it must carry out this task clearly and rigorously , contributing to avoiding the excessive consumption of medicinal products caused by commercial motives .
Catherine Ashton gives us a graphic description of the EU as a rising power from a declining continent .
it is possible to go further .
in March and June 2010 , the European Council adopted the Europe 2020 strategy , the main priority of which is enhanced coordination of economic policy strategies in the Member States and , as a long-term goal , sustainable and inclusive growth and sustainable employment .
regulation ( EC ) No 539 / 2001 establishes the list of third countries whose nationals are subject to the visa requirement to enter the European Union .
directive 2004 / 81 / EC follows that line by providing for the granting of a reflection period allowing the victim to recover and escape the influence of traffickers , and granting a residence permit .
in some countries instances of criminal treatment of Polish workers have come to light , forcing them into slave labour .
I fear that is not what is happening .
I would like an answer today .
we do not deplore its substance ; rather , we find it pretty feeble .
they ring our office , they know our assistants , they ask for help , and we do that .
is there anything more cowardly ?
after wide-ranging debates , Parliament approved a proposal that was much more open , less bureaucratic and much more flexible than the Commission 's .
the rapporteur also insists on women having access free of charge to consultation on abortion .
it took 30 years for the British to admit that Katyn was a Stalinist crime .
this is tantamount to the systematic dismantling of amateur sport , even at school level .
this is why it has rejected even the inadequate proposals that lay down the flag states ' responsibilities and inspection obligations and the shipowners ' civil liability and financial guarantees .
now , however , we have succeeded in having our US partners alongside us , and I believe that we have created the conditions for a fundamental reform of the global financial system .
I am very angry that my country has reached this point - very angry indeed .
- Motion for a resolution :
no .
there is a fundamental link between urban planning concepts and urban mobility .
in my view , we should , when applying this report in practice , bear in mind what is missing .
human security is something which I am personally very fond of , because it must be promoted : freedom from want and freedom from fear as a good of foreign and security policy .
in writing . - I voted in favour of amendment 19 because I strongly believe that inviting the Dalai Lama to a General Affairs Council meeting to present his assessment of the situation in Tibet , and explain to the 27 Foreign Affairs Ministers the middle-way approach and his concept of genuine autonomy that should be implemented for all Tibetans within China , is to be highly recommended .
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I would also like to thank all the members of the Committee on Development for having voted unanimously in favour of it .
this necessitates constructive , rational behaviour , and I fully agree with Mr Vondra that this must form the basis of our approach .
at the same time , there are big challenges : what are we going to do in terms of diagnosing the causes so that we can bring about prevention and , secondly , introduce some kind of definitive cure ?
rapporteur . - Madam President , I have two or three short technical , but important , points .
if a consumer has a negative experience , that experience will often wrongly have repercussions on all foreign service providers .
in the long term , however , this does not solve the specific problem of an ageing population .
all this is taking its toll on the wheat and cereal production throughout the world .
what do we do if Moscow and Beijing do not grant their assent ?
we must not hesitate , either , to make it clear that unity and integrity should apply equally for Georgia and for Russia .
we welcome the fact that Albania and FYROM have already successfully launched an information campaign , and we encourage all the countries in the region of the Western Balkans to do the same and to step up measures to prevent abuse .
what we want , however , is clarity from the Council .
first I would like the Council and Parliament to give real priority to our proposal of last week on capital requirements .
since 2004 , no new airspace blocks have been created and , as we have heard from previous speakers , the cost of that in our failure to create a Single European Sky is estimated to be at EUR 1 billion .
you do not want to understand that and you will never understand that .
emissions are currently not disclosed , and what is even worse is that there is no common standard for measuring them .
'The Earth belongs to all human beings ' is an approach that has moved me .
the people are simply dreaming of a better life , and a better life does not necessarily mean democracy .
in this respect , the Treaty of Lisbon gives elected assemblies a more incisive role that they must make the most of .
I approve of the opinion of the Committee on Development , particularly on the need to eradicate poverty , improve public health and primary school education , and eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and minorities .
he proclaimed two days of national mourning and pledged to investigate the violence .
he had a distinguished career in Brussels , laying the foundation for the single market .
I should just like to express , on behalf of many in my Group and I am sure of many others , our thanks to you for organising this presentation of the LUX Prize .
the rule of law requires that criminal responsibility should be individual and not collective .
it should be constructed within the Member States and the Community institutions .
let me just tell you that this is reflected a thousandfold in the work that I try to do to see what we are able to achieve as the European Union .
it must also be the task of the European Union to bring our infrastructure up to the state of the art .
indeed , it was not without reason that the ILO recommended the 48-hour week as far back as 1919 .
there is a great deal to do ; we have asked all the Member States to appoint an SME ambassador , as the European Commission has done .
as such , I voted for this joint motion for a resolution , adopted by a broad majority in the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development , as it is a very balanced text whose proposals not only protect human health and defend animal welfare , but also ensure companies ' viability .
even the World Bank recently stressed that a rethink was needed in this area , and that is saying something .
we will be stronger if we act in a coordinated way .
( RO ) A European strategy on health and safety at work is a welcome initiative on the part of the European Commission .
furthermore , the division of activities and cooperation between the two institutions cannot simply be managed on a regional basis or by drawing a line between lending operations to the public and private sectors .
seven hundred and fifty thousand Palestinians have been arrested and put in prison since 1967 .
I think that the vast majority of Europeans have a fairly clear idea and generally agree on what this should be .
ladies and gentlemen , please rise to observe a minute 's silence for the victims of terrorism .
I am sitting here because the Council is over there .
ladies and gentlemen , many of you have mentioned the other directives which are under debate in this House .
for the Dutch , the saying ' Look after the cents and the euros will look after themselves ' is still very interesting !
there will be arguments over bonuses and there will be arguments over Europe 's demand for a Tobin tax .
EC-Russia Short-stay Visa Agreement ( vote )
that is the message to both sides .
even with the unacceptable ' discounts ' which the Commission and the Council have been granting recently with respect to immigrants ' rights as they continue on their path towards ' Fortress Europe ' , Greece is well below Community standards for the protection of fundamental rights .
let us consider the fact that Sudan is trying to influence the forthcoming referendum in Abyei by insisting that those herdsmen who spend part of their time there and part away from there are included in the count .
not one .
therefore , I just want to say that access to emergency services , fewer barriers to switching operators in one day , privacy , where personal data is concerned - all this has found a solution .
I refer , in particular , to the Turkish electoral system that does not respect pluralism , to the law on the closure of political parties , to the interference of the military in political life , to the Kurdish issue and to the continuous restrictions on minority rights , religious freedom and press freedom .
we think we do .
certain European budget appropriations - I say this because I was present at the debate in this House - could be rapidly mobilised to respond to the slowdown .
vested interests pose a risk to the dynamic economy we want to see in Europe .
texts of agreements forwarded by the Council : see Minutes
written explanations of vote
why did that raise such high hopes ?
I would simply say that it constitutes a kind of non-political roadmap setting out the priorities for our work on the internal market .
I request that the sitting be suspended until Mr Borloo arrives , not to change the agenda but just to suspend the sitting briefly until Mr Borloo is present .
( PL ) Madam President , the EU-Russia summit is approaching .
therefore , together with the Presidency , we have urged all parties to implement without further delay all the provisions of the agreement as a precondition for the return to normal of our relationship , including our development cooperation .
we decision-makers also need to take responsibility for ensuring that the market functions in the long term .
you are depriving them of both .
on 24 April this year the Conference of Presidents decided , quite rightly , to ask the Quaestors to reconsider their decision of 26 September 2007 , allocating facilities on the premises of the European Parliament for the European Business and Parliament Scheme .
there is massive evidence of fraud in the OTC derivatives market , which is unregulated and not monitored by the stock exchanges themselves .
Mr President , this is a debate about economic governance .
I would not like discussion on deepening the internal market to lack reference to the biggest and most ambitious plan - a plan which , despite many years of work , is not , however , a reality - the plan to create a Single Market for services .
( SL ) When a murder takes place , in particular , a religiously motivated one , we naturally can do little but recoil in horror and condemn it .
the primary reason why they are not more widespread is that these systems are expensive , and the appropriate information and intelligent infrastructure are lacking .
the EU welcomes Egypt 's invitation to Ms Pillay to send members of her Office to the country .
Zagreb and Split are very European places , while Dubrovnik is a jewel in Europe 's cultural crown .
while we are changing the rules for European fisheries in the context of our CFP reform , one of the biggest challenges we will have will be precisely to do our best in order to secure a level playing field for all products placed on the EU market .
rapporteur . - ( SV ) Mr President , let me once again thank Commissioner Vassiliou for her support on azo dyes .
thanks to this , we in Parliament can be closer to our citizens , which will strengthen our democracy .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
the EU and UNICEF have again contacted President Saleh and now , according to our own feedback from Sana 'a , the execution is on hold again .
this is why we need to establish conditions that will promote greater financial stability and , in view of the debate we are having with China at the moment , I would add monetary stability also .
discharge is a parliamentary procedure , a public procedure ; it is a critical scrutiny , in public , of financial management .
so today , not long before the end of this mandate , we would really like to stress that Sierra Leone , one of the poorest countries in the world , which has really succeeded in establishing this Special Court to try those responsible for the atrocities , should be supported .
we have paved the way for a common agricultural policy that is fairer to the countries of the European Union and to farmers and different kinds of production ; that respects the specific conditions in our regions ; that is environmentally friendly ; and that promotes employment in rural areas .
the European Parliament has repeatedly requested it , the Council has demanded it and the Commission has promised it , but where is the European strategy to combat violence against women ?
furthermore , it is also very important to bring in an efficiency clause , and the Committee on the Environment has also decided on this .
Ireland 's debt burden is not sustainable .
I am therefore pleased that the Commission is talking about the trade dimension in this communication - that we should increase market access for our North African neighbours in order to help them to use trade to bring them prosperity .
Madam President , the importance of Mr Lange 's report has been somewhat over-emphasised as a result of the enthusiasm of many of the Members who have taken part in the discussion .
admittedly , there has been progress - for example in the field of agriculture - but the underlying problems remain .
what makes the situation even more serious is that the victims cannot even count on the Solidarity Fund , as this is not a natural disaster , and the value of the estimated damage does not exceed the prescribed EUR 591 million , but it is a case of serious human negligence .
we have even given a bit of a push , through the progress made on administrative silence ...
others know , often better than we , that we already live in a global society .
but I believe there is clearly not one answer to these issues .
replacing the services provided by these plants and animals is an expensive business .
it is organising the timetable , the arrangements for a concerted , gradual but also difficult exit from the crisis .
we have to devise mechanisms and incentives to ensure that finance does not spiral out of control in the destructive way that it did just prior to the crisis .
as the UN Secretary-General has just reminded us , both sides must comply with this resolution .
we cannot sabotage our own policy by renouncing our values .
therefore , Mr Schulz , ladies and gentlemen , let us continue our tradition of independence on a Thursday afternoon .
there are many factors .
if you do not comply with them , you will be acting outside the law and you will be punished . '
of course , MEPs spent many years calling for the closure of Guantánamo , so we warmly welcome the announcement by President Obama and we understand the difficulties in unravelling the mess left by George Bush .
this means that in the end , the opposite of nationalism , overcoming nationalism , the European ideal , means peace .
this is why we need to adopt ambitious CO2 emission targets .
in the past , we have adopted several resolutions on that problem , including protection of minorities and anti-discrimination policies .
we can only enable this new responsibility to take shape if we act together .
I shall treasure my 10 years in this Parliament , and I shall watch with interest as the next Parliament takes on the projects that perhaps we have been able to start .
a resolution of this kind serves to make the European economy more effective , which is why it is so important and so necessary , and therefore I voted in favour of its adoption .
however , we do not want the Union to suffer the same problem as the Barcelona Process .
the request referred to the redundancies within the enterprise General Motors Belgium and in four of its suppliers .
this is , and must remain , the pillar of European integration .
respect for human rights and religious freedom must be a cornerstone of relations with other countries .
they must not be held as ' hostages ' by the authorities .
these are , for that very reason , democratic instruments representing the legitimate interests of the public , both closely , such as through local government , and at a more distant level , through their representation in the European institutions .
consequently , the framework decisions on enhanced cooperation in the area of criminal law presented today are worthy of support . after all , the ongoing harmonisation of criminal law provisions across the Member States is a fundamental condition for the creation of a European area of freedom , security and justice .
the dramatic crisis on the international financial markets and the shifts that it has caused are a challenge to the liberal economic order .
on the other hand , workers in the Member States need the security afforded by modern systems of social protection and reliable agreements between responsible social partners .
I feel embarrassed for Mr Schulz because he has said things he must feel ashamed of .
in writing . ( PL ) Mrs Frassoni has prepared a good report .
this is not the time to anticipate subsequent rounds of enlargement , but rather to strengthen relations with our neighbours , and some of those neighbouring countries , in so far as they are situated in Europe , will have the chance to join the European Union at a later date , though some will not .
this is to ensure a level playing field amongst different operators , to provide operators with the incentive to become efficient , and to bring more benefits to consumers , including lower prices .
in our opinion , the ' legislative footprint ' , i.e. the reference to the groups consulted , must be compulsory , notably for the Commission .
( NL ) Madam President , Commissioner , the company responsible knew as early as March 2010 that it was selling products with dangerously high dioxin levels .
when it comes to water , the Kyrgyz Republic is rich in energy , which is why we deliberately mentioned it .
I realise that it is difficult and I realise that the rules can be very complicated .
with the new rules , traders marketing these products will have to provide a consumer with comprehensive pre-contractual information so that the consumer will be able to make an informed choice .
it is a practical expression of solidarity with European citizens affected by such disasters and it is through such procedures that we do justice to the vision of active support by the European Union for its citizens .
- Liotard report
microfinance is an interesting instrument to provide people who are unemployed or in danger of losing their jobs , and also enterprises in the social economy , with financial support in times of crisis .
in this context , it is particularly good news to know that the closure of the Ignalina plant in Lithuania means that the country 's only nuclear power plant has been taken offline .
but I would say to the presidency that it is just an hors d 'oeuvre .
the market outlook report in the dairy sector will be adopted by the Commission later this year and it will provide us with the basis for a further discussion on whether we need to increase again the quota .
in addition to this dialogue , a number of more selective measures are taken with regard to individual cases , where arrests or sentences appear to us to undermine respect for civil liberties and international commitments and , in particular , the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights , which has been ratified by Vietnam .
at the time , the number of women reported to have been forced into prostitution was between 40 000 and 60 000 .
our future depends on our ability to defeat terrorism .
I therefore entirely agree with the rapporteur 's priority statement that the sums earmarked for the common agricultural policy and the cohesion policy in the next period must not be lower than in the current framework .
it is directed against a regime which is manifestly unable to resolve chronic problems in terms of growth and fundamental social justice .
the next item is the report by Mr A. Foglietta , on behalf of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , on the White Paper on ' A Strategy for Europe on Nutrition , Overweight and Obesity related health issues ' .
it is interesting that , if you criticise or ask critical questions about the counter-terrorism policy , you often find yourself described as anti-American .
Mr President , the process of sub-prime lending has definitely been a huge problem causing the financial turbulence which we have witnessed this summer .
I agree with the Commissioner : we need to stop the rhetoric and take action .
ladies and gentlemen , the time allocated to us does not make it possible to continue this in-depth and very interesting debate .
by Mr Fjellner , on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control , on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Community Fisheries Control Agency for the financial year 2007 ( C6-0447 / 2008 - , and
the issue of social impact assessments for all future proposals was also raised and I agree that this is needed .
this is a matter of serious concern to us .
our aim today is to send a strong signal to the Council , to the most closely involved Member States , which must today take full responsibility and implement the necessary rapid , effective measures .
this will open up horizons perhaps also for the Members themselves , but certainly for the younger generation in Switzerland .
because of the accidents that have already happened and because increasing maritime traffic in Europe and the world could well increase the risks in future .
why is there no mention in this resolution of the massacre in the village of Kravica , a Christian village , on Christmas Day 1993 ?
I hope that common sense will prevail .
a European research area should certainly include :
thank you , Madam President , Mr Tajani , first of all I would like to congratulate the rapporteur , Mr Stockmann , and all the shadow rapporteurs on the compromise reached with the Council at second reading .
the commitment of the ECB , the strategy of the ECB and its track record are consistent .
( applause )
the proposed changes pave the way for social dialogue to be torpedoed .
without investments there is no growth .
the primary responsibility for the care of residents lies , of course , with the Member States , but each Member State is required to do this within the boundaries of European and international treaties .
I believe that these types of measures are aimed at establishing pension systems that benefit the interests of the financial sector and they do not represent a move towards public pensions systems that are more fair , sustainable , secure and beneficial to European citizens .
there are expectations regarding a reduction of the bureaucracy involved in cohesion policy .
the only positive aspect of non-ratification is perhaps that it will make the European elections the centre of attention .
I very much welcome the combination of the 2005 Directive on frontal protection systems and the 2003 Directive on the protection of pedestrians and other vulnerable road users into a single regulation .
the Council therefore gave the Commission a mandate , in October 2007 , to negotiate a comprehensive aviation agreement in place of the existing bilateral agreements .
lastly , I should like to stress that local associations combating illegal immigration do exist .
I therefore welcome , for example , the renewal of talks over the START Treaty , and I also welcome the discussions with our Russian partners over the issue of US anti-missile defences in Europe .
this is where the budget needs to be more flexible .
in addition to other crucial aspects in our negative assessment of this proposal , we highlight the fact that it does not rule out , even though it attaches ( pseudo ) conditions , ' the processing of personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin , political opinions , religious or philosophical beliefs or trade-union membership and the processing of data concerning health or sex life ' , which is unacceptable !
nonetheless , the balance is in fact positive , certainly in the non-tropical regions .
that is also the core idea that has guided us throughout the preparation of the report .
however , I believe that it is high time we had a consistent policy at European level in the field of education , with clear steps that should be monitored .
draft amending budget No 2 / 2008 (
President of the Commission . - You are very kind , Mr Kirkhope , but apart from Britain , there are , in fact , also 26 other Member States in the European Union , so you will understand that while we are very receptive to the concerns you have expressed , I also have to listen to other legitimate concerns .
it would allow taxpayers to keep more of their own money and deploy that money more usefully , and it would allow consumers lower prices .
I should like to conclude by saying that the Council therefore calls on the Commission - and I know that it has already done so - to initiate the studies and consultations necessary to define a coherent basis for the coordinated usage of spectrum .
the second message is that citizens ' rights must be respected in the everyday life of society .
scientific research has shown that it contributes to lowering the risk of cardio-vascular disease , especially ischaemic heart disease and various cancers , and also has a positive impact on the average lifespan .
that is the aim .
for Serbia , persons resident in Kosovo , or persons of Kosovan origin who are resident abroad and who hold a Serbian passport issued by a central authority in Belgrade , will be excluded from the liberalisation and will be required to obtain a visa .
the last democratically elected members of parliament were elected in 1990 .
however , I appreciate your concerns about this issue of data security , and it is true that there could be a risk , in a third country , that data held at the premises of an external service provider might be the subject of seizure or compulsory search .
( SV ) In this report we ask for measures to make agriculture face up to its climate responsibility .
why should the market be liberalised for the whole of Europe ?
- ( SK ) Motherhood is the greatest miracle which God has bestowed on women .
criminals are also using the Internet , and law-enforcement agencies are actively working on how to deal with these possible threats .
this is an insult for all the victims of totalitarian communist regimes and for all those who suffer on a daily basis because of the dogma and practices of radical Islamism .
the safety of pedestrians and other vulnerable road users is not a subject on which we can afford to lose time .
this is a difficult topic on which the EU and the United States are still very far apart .
I think that regulations should be introduced only when the codes of good practice fail .
also , amendments that remove the obligation for accurate record-keeping in the user establishment were not supported .
without external assistance , businesses would not themselves be able to finance expensive research which would take many years to complete .
7 .
this Regulation replaces and combines three existing regulations : the Regulation on the licensing of air carriers and the leasing of aircraft , the Regulation on free access for Community air carriers to intra-Community air routes and the Regulation on the liberalisation of air fares .
forests should be thought of as fundamental to combating climate change .
it is in this context that prevention will have to play a more important social role , and become an increasingly important phase in the catastrophe management process .
what does it desire ?
I have to say , the Commission shares your disappointment .
many thanks to Mrs van Lancker , Mr Berman , Mr Lambsdorff , Mr Hutchinson , Mrs Scheele , Mrs Doyle , Mrs Weber , Mr Varvitsiotis , Mrs Hassi and Mrs Gomes .
I am therefore against the Commission 's proposal as part of the climate and energy package to fix a binding target of 10 % for biofuels by 2020 , because this contributes nothing to climate protection and is a far cry from a sustainable policy .
ladies and gentlemen , I believe that sector-based approaches alone are not the best option .
( the sitting was opened at 09.00 )
however , we also have challenges ahead of us .
I therefore support the call to postpone the deadline of 30 April 2008 by four years , and have voted in favour of this report .
it feels good to be able to come back and report to you like this at the end of our term of office .
I abstained from the vote on the report on the common fisheries policy as it contains too many points that not only conflict with a number of other points in the report but also run counter to my political perspective on European fisheries policy .
both deaths are linked to the political conflict in Guinea-Bissau , which has been going on for many years and has led to tragedy and a lack of stability in the country .
it will promote civil participation in the political process with a view to tackling the serious challenges it is facing , both at a national and European level .
more than this , we believe it fundamental that this right should be guaranteed to all European countries .
I congratulate him .
it is not enough to equalise economic levels between the old Member States and the new Member States , which are growing at a faster rate than the EU average .
that will pay off on the bottom line , in a world where there will be a struggle over resources .
I stress , one amendment .
developing countries and the most vulnerable populations have actually been hit very disproportionately with the consequent risks of hunger , malnutrition and social unrest .
this is how we are putting the special partnership between the Commission and the European Parliament into practice .
( PT ) Mr President , I would like to give a warm welcome to Vice-President Barrot and the Swedish Presidency for the Stockholm Programme .
the Gendarmerie has announced that it has been deleted .
Madam President , the Seventh Framework Programme for research is the largest research programme in the world : it has a budget of EUR 54.6 billion for the current period 2007-2013 and has funded over 9 000 projects to date .
it also seems that Russia will succeed in persuading Belarus to adopt the rouble as its national currency .
there are many similar examples .
it is worth stressing the recent amendment to the legal framework reinforcing women 's rights and contributing to greater gender equality , but there is still much to be done to reverse the low rates of female employment .
the answer which is being prepared by the Commission is as follows : the application of more stringent solvency requirements is - and I will say it here once again - not the right answer .
my reservations regarding the report in question derive from this preliminary consideration .
I view the expansion of the EU in a broader sense and precisely for that reason I am able to identify the different forms of totalitarianism that have been mentioned , the different forms in different countries .
the EU must help bring national transplant organisations together .
they do not treat the small and the big Member States in the same way , and in this respect I hope there will be greater attention paid to fairness in future , now that this matter of transparency has been sorted out in the context of Mr Chatzimarkakis 's report .
we wanted an opinion by the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies to be taken into account where there are ethical reservations .
in particular a transparent financial aid system , the training of domestic police forces , the fight against drug trafficking and the coordination of international aid are the main points of political and military strategy that have been further strengthened .
in some Member States , patients lack easy access to even the most basic information about the pharmaceuticals they are prescribed .
neither does the Commission .
I shall just pinpoint a few of the more important ones .
Mr President , on a point of order : we are in a Chamber which is meant for discourse , and we obviously all have to show respect for one another .
but , thanks to an ECJ judgment , some innocent people 's data will now be returned .
in addition , it is vital to define the role and function of the various institutions in crisis management so that there is concerted coordination , to avoid greater losses to the different players .
there is no shortage of work .
the quality of the report prepared by the rapporteur , Mrs Kauppi , has enabled a broad consensus to be reached among the main political groups on its fundamental elements .
the Commission also shares Parliament 's view that it is vitally important to incorporate environmental issues into other policies .
the first responsibility is for the people of Gaza to be able to live and for that we have to negotiate with those holding the administrative power in Gaza .
this resolution calls on the Council and the Commission to ensure that joint action is taken in Kosovo , that EULEX acts together with the High Representative of the EU and that synergies are created in the interest of the economic and social life of Kosovo which is in need of improvement .
reference , yes , for me : 2005-2007 ; auction , for me : 25 % ; profits : partly back to the airlines , and then partly to other good climate change causes .
current legislation , as has already been pointed out , is said to be too vague due to the term ' temporary ' that has been used .
I agree with the conclusions of the report , both as an MEP and as a doctor .
you have made progress , but there is still some way to go .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , on behalf of the ECR Group and on behalf of the delegation of the European Parliament for cooperation with the Parliament of Georgia , of which I am the chair , I welcome the report which the Commission has submitted .
I imagine that the EIT will build a worldwide reputation and will offer an attractive environment for the most gifted people from all over the world .
many thanks , Mr Albertini .
we have seen it before with the milk crisis and with the current fruit and vegetable crisis , for example .
this is why all measures , whether in the form of administrative cooperation or of pointers to the proper application of the Directive , are essential actions .
Court of Justice case-law clearly allows for company mobility .
the accounts provided by survivors reveal that starvation led to cannibalism ; for example , we are aware of the case of a mother who sent her six-year-old son into the forest in winter , because he would not have survived in the village but been eaten .
for these reasons , I was unable to support the Commission 's proposal .
a system of taxation of currency exchange is necessary to stabilise those markets and could also provide a valuable resource to fill the funding gap in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals ( MDG ) .
it is not possible to escape from this situation by willpower alone , or through one 's own decisions .
the Commission would be in charge of drafting the rules regarding the modalities of the marking , and will pay the utmost attention to minimising costs by relying on international practices , consulting with Member States and all the industries and traders involved .
establishing a common legal framework for European and foreign workers protects our citizens against all forms of unfair competition in the labour market .
I have especially in mind blacklisting top Iranian officials ( Ms Schaake mentioned eighty names ) , supporting the start of Farsi-language Euronews broadcasts and insisting that parliamentary relations - if any - should be conducted under strict conditionality .
my fellow Member , Mr Belder , has given you the numbers of the ever dwindling group of Iraqi Christians who remain in Iraq , at least 100 000 of whom have also become displaced in their own country .
in our view patients are not merely the subject of services available from healthcare providers or the subject of the financial interests of the pharmaceutical industry .
we are likewise unable to put pressure on China through millions in development aid .
as both the Convention and its optional protocol came into force one year ago , on 3 May 2008 , a swift conclusion by both the Member States and the Community is now a priority .
it is therefore right that the report should take into account features such as short breaks or the use of the Internet to book trips .
President-in-Office of the Council . - Mr President , in this unique and solemn moment , I recall the early days of the European Convention when we were discussing how what used to be called the ' democratic deficit of the European integration process ' could be eliminated , or at least reduced .
on the other hand , aid cannot be authorised for training that is an accessory for the good operation of the firm concerned and that would therefore be carried out even without aid .
( EL ) Mr President , as all the previous speakers have said , the symbols of the European Union have existed for many years .
it is one of the most sensitive areas in the constitution .
the proposal now before this House does not go far enough to resolve the problem at European level .
it can be interpreted from the decision that the power and control should remain - in your words - with the Commission representing the supranational common interest .
who is passing it on to whom ?
I also want Oswaldo Payá and the Ladies in White to be able to travel to Europe freely to reveal the circumstances surrounding the events that have been taking place in Cuba .
I believe that a European identity and culture must be built on the basis of dialogue and contact with cultures other than those that have in recent years promoted and paved the way for the dissemination and the growth of a European idea , a European culture .
the fluctuating market prices in the agricultural sector also represent uncertainty factors and need to be dealt with .
( PL ) Mr President , I voted in favour of the Papastamkos report .
in writing . - ( PT ) The debate on migration too often focuses on issues of illegal flows and therefore frequently forgets legal migration , which makes an important contribution to our economy and to our cultural enrichment .
I will finish there and allow Mrs Isler Béguin , who led the European Union 's election observation mission , to take the floor .
I am convinced that during the first week that we will meet here there will be this trialogue .
in September this year , the Supreme Court in Colombo sentenced a journalist to 20 years ' imprisonment , which the EU Presidency regarded as a threat to freedom of speech and which was roundly condemned .
today there is no permanent employment outside government structures - everybody works on one-year contracts only .
the Presidency is short , lasting just six months .
the agreement should also make use of the opportunities for technological innovation , economic development and job creation .
17 .
( uproar )
in Greece the people have the feeling that they are saving and saving and saving and there is no end to it .
fellow members , a toy is not just a market product , and regarding it from the aspect of safety and price alone is not good enough .
for the operation of these agreements we are also providing specially adapted financial support .
what we value most of all is the internal liberal debate .
my country stands accused of ' typical German angst ' - quite unfairly in this case .
the Commission , the Council and Parliament need to act in concert to ensure that only programmes that can be adequately resourced and produce genuine results are allowed to run .
first , a European Social Fund must remain focused on employment , combating poverty , of course , but by getting people into work and not by other means .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , on behalf of the Commission , I would like to thank Mr Deutsch for an excellent report , and also to welcome President Philip Maystadt to your plenary and congratulate him for the huge efforts the EIB has made to counter the economic crisis and to support the EU 's recovery plan .
by way of example I could mention the latest scandal to affect the national football league of the country we are currently in . the Chinese Mafia is said to have fixed the results of Belgian football matches .
the decision amounts to a serious error .
we are very keen to see the report of the OSCE / ODIHR monitoring mission .
I think that we have shown in recent years that a great deal can be achieved with an extremely economical use of taxpayers ' money .
oral explanations of vote
transaction costs existed before ; they have been reduced .
on 14 April 2011 the Commission adopted a new proposal for a decision on the mobilisation of the EGF in favour of Belgium with a view to supporting the reintegration into the labour market of 2 834 workers made redundant in the primary enterprise General Motors Belgium and in four of its suppliers in the motor vehicle sector in Antwerp .
the enforcement of the safeguard clause should be considered as not to be directed against the Romanian citizens because it is normal for those who are guilty of not meeting their obligations to answer for it , and not the Romanian citizens .
we see now that , very often , Heads of State or Government need to address , in a coordinated and coherent way , matters that were previously dealt with separately by those responsible in the different governments .
the intention is that 20 % of the total amount of energy produced will be based on renewable sources by 2020 .
I agree entirely with what Stephen Hughes has said : this fuels anti-European sentiment .
( RO ) Mr President , one of the biggest challenges currently facing the European Union is the increase in the severity and repercussions of natural disasters .
in writing . - ( CS ) I voted in favour of the agreement on the banana trade , which brings a definitive end to the 16-year commercial dispute over banana imports between the EU and American countries .
unnecessary age restrictions , or any other criteria outside technical skills and competence , should be avoided at all costs .
that is why we are appealing to the Georgian authorities and to the Georgian people to further reinforce liberal democracy in Georgia , along with a civil society and the rule of law .
Mr President , I would like to ask those colleagues who oppose the Treaty to explain precisely what is they mean when they speak about a ' self-amending ' treaty .
in conclusion , I think that the Council has proposed a kind of compromise , and we will obviously progress to the conciliation phase , and I hope we find a reasonable solution for that phase .
the Bank granted a loan to Hungary .
the agreement between the United States and the EU will be , when it is finally negotiated , a major and historic development .
so far , the results have been very positive because these placements abroad have improved skills that are useful for employers .
however , this is obviously not the only problem area .
we must focus on Parliament 's core task and elsewhere employ a great deal of constraint .
we must look together with Russia to a new global security arrangement or agreement .
what is wrong with the old agreement that Russia has actually signed , the Energy Charter , including the Transit Protocol ?
( the speaker agreed to take a blue card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
this is not a small decision .
a security partnership with Russia will only function if it is not at the expense of existing alliances and of keeping the USA out of Europe .
we , the Members of this Parliament , have not even been able to obtain a single official meeting with the Council to discuss the accounts .
the intentions are good but intentions with meagre funding do not correspond to serious initiatives .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , in a few weeks ' time , we will have a new supervisory structure in Europe , which has been shaped to a considerable extent by the European Parliament .
all the others are in favour .
( FR ) Mr President , the more Parliament boasts of the wonderful progress made on economic governance , the more I want to call on my fellow Members to show some humility , because we are teetering on the edge of the abyss .
twenty-four hours after the President 's death was announced , the military seized power in Guinea and suspended the constitution .
this would certainly provide an advantage for finding a job and in terms of good social integration .
in writing . - ( RO ) The penury of organs , which has led to the rapid development of mercantilism and tourism in organs , represents an essential health problem the European Union is dealing with .
I believe that it is a worthwhile exercise , particularly and , above all , in places where the right to freedom of expression is violated .
this contradicts the undertaking made at the time .
the review of candidates was always part of the pre-electoral process .
the report by Margie Sudre , on behalf of the Committee on Fisheries , on the amended proposal for a Council regulation on the conclusion of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Madagascar - C6-0064 / 2007 - , and
I think , and I have checked with the statistics from a number of countries in the European Union , the number is going up simply because the population is going up .
Madam President , I would like to conclude by saying that , one year ago , I visited China personally and experienced the kinds of things that members of Protestant home churches have been going through .
Vice-President of the Commission . - The Commission recalls that Article 146 of the EC Treaty establishes the European Social Fund in order to improve employment opportunities for workers in the internal market and thereby to contribute to raising the standard of living .
but in the Council his government supports the development of the EU into a state , and its MEPs accordingly vote to shift political power from the Swedish people to Brussels .
why on earth should we do this ?
secondly , if you create the conditions for competition in the market , then the price trends are really that it is not increasing or coming down or it is increasing less compared with an uncompetitive market , because otherwise the companies which have a semi-monopoly could really dictate the price .
the September agreement on the volume and quality of capital that banks are required to hold was welcomed as a great advance and a great victory over a sector that was set against these measures and threatening to cut off the supply of credit .
agreements cannot be made with countries that have not signed the Geneva Convention .
secondly , there are still divergences between the economies in the area , as a result of , among other things , the lack of sufficient incentives to carry out all the necessary structural reforms .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I have already used up my speaking time so I shall make just two short remarks .
with such disagreement , we ourselves have postponed the solution of these problems indefinitely .
given the fact that pressure groups , whether they represent private or public interests , play an undeniable role in European affairs , there must be greater transparency regarding the relations they have with our institution .
we can protect many European regions from major economic and social damage and , therefore , we must vote in favour of these regulations .
finally , what we must remember is that we need interim agreements , but we must proceed as quickly as possible towards complete economic partnership agreements , which is what all the members of the Council are working on .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , as the Committee on Development 's motion for a resolution mentions , all to its credit , the existing global financial and economic crisis has hit the poorest countries hardest .
third , the EU 's economic health is not a simple sum of national situations .
such activity could be deemed propaganda .
it is scandalous that European countries in the modern age are engaging in the kind of activity we saw in the Oscar-winning film Erin Brockovich , which featured Julia Roberts , and where we saw that only in California could something like this happen , with factories exporting toxic waste and people then falling seriously ill and even dying .
I say this so that the groups will also occupy themselves with this matter .
everything that we are planning and working for can be described by two words , two words that are often used but which have lost nothing of their power : responsibility and solidarity .
increasing food prices , inflation and increasing oil prices are eating away at the family budget .
I wish him every success with his new portfolio .
in writing . - Aviation should be brought within the scope of the Emissions Trading Scheme .
in Campania , many other factors played a decisive , negative role , such as organised crime , a weak civic sense , a historical lack of infrastructure .
a team of experts from different countries has gone to this country to help the authorities in their efforts to counter the disastrous impact on the population and environment .
the President of the Republic 's predecessor , Carlo Azeglio Ciampi , considers it to be an aberrant distortion of our democratic system .
public authorities should help to stimulate this market and improve the contribution of the transport sector to EU policies in the areas of the environment , climate and energy , by taking into account energy and environmental impacts when purchasing road transport vehicles .
we must not forget that the initial requests made by the populations that revolted were social : the people of Egypt , like the people of Tunisia for that matter , are requesting a better distribution of wealth and a future .
the intention is of course good and , as the report in question points out , it is a good idea , when it can be justified , to make use of the pan-European level in order to support artists in the pursuit of their profession .
irrespective of which Member State they are citizens of , they will easily be able to make rapid and cheap payments to persons or firms in another Member State at the same cost as payments made within the borders of their own country .
( the President cut off the speaker )
past disasters showed that action at European level is urgent and enabled the prevention of natural risks to be included as one the goals of the European Regional Development Fund .
I have received one motion for a resolution tabled in accordance with Rule 115 ( 5 ) of the Rules of Procedure .
the opportunities for tax-free shopping at ports and airports will also be restricted .
I did so for the sake of Parliament 's prerogatives , but also because the agreement was unacceptable .
the problem is that the clock is ticking and time does not stand still for our legislative process , and from this point of view , Commissioner , measures must be taken with the utmost urgency , as has already been said here , because otherwise we shall miss the boat in terms of responding to our challenges .
I congratulate you in particular , Mr Frattini , as the competent Commissioner for this initiative .
as an example of art in the European Union , could I refer to the all-Ireland rugby team 's win at the Millennium Stadium , Cardiff , last Saturday , where we beat the Welsh in a study of sporting and artistic excellence second to none ?
I would not like the omnipresent debate on the bonuses and salaries of both CEOs and traders - which is absolutely critical if we want to develop the system into one which focuses less on the short term and more on long-term investment - to overshadow what is an equally important campaign concerning the eradication of tax havens , which was the highlight of the London Summit .
we should not expect too much of Mrs Castex 's own-initiative report .
this technology should be given the same political status as other renewable energy sources .
Mr Gahler raised a number of points which were not connected to this debate and I would just like to suggest to him that if he writes me a quick note about those issues I am happy to come back to him , but I did not want to take Parliament 's time this evening on issues that were not on this debate itself .
at Copenhagen , we will see 27 countries acting as one to achieve ambitious targets .
proper analysis of the text before us will reveal a major principle , which is also this report 's revolutionary principle .
above all , we express our concern about the reported practices of mental and physical manipulation and severe human rights violations within the cult .
Iceland 's application for membership of the European Union (
we are building something new .
Mr President , we cannot be silent before the killings in Tibet and the Chinese attempts to hide their extent .
the initial specifications made it difficult to perform the planned tests but it seems that , with the Member States ' agreement , the review of these specifications should enable the tests to be completed successfully next time .
the first is the indivisibility and stability of Kosovo .
she will play a critical role in Europe 's recovery and I wish her well with this .
the reason for this is that Mr Le Foll advocates a common forestry policy .
in this respect , I can assure the honourable Members that both Bulgaria and Romania will continue to report regularly on the steps taken to remedy the remaining shortcomings .
the regulation is flexible by calculating a manufacturer 's target based on the average across their fleet , meaning that they can offset a more-polluting car with a less-polluting car .
this measure proves that there is a lack of viable solutions and is stifling the economy and people 's lives .
it is worth remembering this morning that agriculture has improved because we have decoupled , to a large extent , payments from production .
the question tabled by Mrs Mazzoni calls on the Commission to respond regarding the failure to comply with the safeguard clause prescribed in Article 8 of Directive 93 / 42 / EEC .
we can never accept restrictions on asylum rights or restrictions on our rights as free citizens in this programme .
unbundling has become a kind of magic potion , whereas the experience of those countries that have been practising it certainly does not put the case for liberal measures of this kind .
I would like to talk about the report by Mr Jarzembowski .
we cannot allow this because it completely misses the point .
they should be supported by all political parties .
they will not deter investors if they set an extremely tough requirement for the immediate reintegration of renewable energies .
given this new economic context , it is even more important to consider the wide variety of industrial infrastructures in Member States and it should be recognised that some of them have achieved a rapid and large-scale reorganisation and modernisation .
I share the conclusion of Commissioner Verheugen that the atmosphere is positive , better that it was a few years ago .
with reference to peripheral airports , I believe the Commission should fully promote international PSO routes in terms of connectivity of peripheral airports to hubs and that Member States should be given real flexibility when it comes to State aid to peripheral airports .
the action plan amounts to a major commitment not only to Afghanistan and Pakistan , but to south and central Asia as a whole .
the threefold crisis we are experiencing shows what is at issue .
this is particularly important in the talks that have got underway in Geneva and that will be continued in November .
my preference would be for the Commission to provide financial support for a public awareness campaign which would be carried out by the consumer organisations .
the committee has unanimously backed my demand that all violence against children , including corporal punishment in the home , must be prohibited by Community legislation .
however , irrespective of the background of the staff and their route into the service , the principle of proportional representation of all the citizens of the Member States should be adopted .
what kind of good management - sustainable management of fisheries - do you call that ?
this compromise will lead to a greater degree of protection and lend support to European industry , partly by introducing flexibility .
well , I am sorry , old son , but they said ' no ' !
I see the European Citizens ' Initiative as a good opportunity to increase support for Europe among citizens .
thus , the strengthening of this important instrument is essential for us to bring the outlined strategy properly to fruition , reinforced by support for small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) , which are the driving force behind the whole economy and primarily responsible for economic and technological development , as well as the creation of jobs .
we also want better conditions for decentralisation - an important precondition for the organisation of transmission networks in order to be able to effectively take account of renewable energies and efficiency .
the issue will be back again when we deal with the directive on child exploitation and child pornography .
Cuba 's aid is considered by many experts to be particularly effective . so true is this , that a country like Norway wanted to ask Cuba to intervene on its behalf .
it would therefore have been logical to change strategies , and we regret that President Obama has opted for a military solution , and intends to deploy an additional 30 000 troops .
I am convinced that we will be able to find possibilities to balance out the operation of unequally equipped Member State healthcare systems .
Parliament has taken a more pragmatic and balanced view .
the EU and the Member States are ready to contribute their fair share , if other key players make comparable efforts .
mutual recognition in itself is not bad , but harmonisation is better .
realising that the introduction of this new type of legal entity into national systems would give rise to complications , the Member States agreed on a deadline by which work on the corresponding national legislation had to be completed .
we have to be realistic about this .
the detention conditions are degrading and an affront to human dignity .
in writing . - This debate seems to me to be untimely at a moment when the dialogue between Tunisia and the EU is resuming at both Commission and Parliament level .
then it emerges that students cannot get away at all , that studying abroad is out of the question .
this also includes their competence with regard to establishing prior authorisation systems for the purposes of hospital treatment abroad .
the European Union can provide only frameworks for this , but it is up to each Member State to give substance to these frameworks .
it is essential to have a policy governing large migration movements that supports development cooperation and provides for multilateral and bilateral agreements with the migrants ' countries of origin and of transit .
we also , however , need the Member States to show the necessary discipline , otherwise the euro may find itself in difficulties over the long term , and nobody wants that .
that is precisely the aim of the amendments tabled by the rapporteur to the proposal for the draft Council Framework Decision on the protection of personal data processed in the framework of police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters .
democracy will only be victorious in this region when the most fundamental human rights , such as religious freedom , are respected .
who will build better buses , better trains and better lorries in future ?
furthermore we believe that for the proposed Citizens Initiative to be meaningful , the Commission should be under a legally binding obligation to produce a White Paper outlining a response to the proposal , or the Treaty basis for not taking action .
we are trying to help .
( DE ) Mr President , I would like to make a personal observation at the end of this debate .
at the meeting in Washington this weekend , there was also talk about coordination .
you are going to have to work very hard on that , because Parliament is going to defend its rights in order to ensure that there is an intelligent solution when the Treaty enters into force , which I hope will be the case , given that there will be a series of very interesting posts to allocate and , of course , we want to monitor this process democratically .
I find myself in the very strange situation of drawing parallels between the behaviour and financial skills of our Member States ' governments and those of our investment banks .
question No 41 was ruled inadmissible and Questions Nos 42 to 45 will be answered in writing .
it would not be acceptable for political leaders to move on so quickly and it is correct that this parliament seeks to keep the disaster top of the agenda .
I am voting for this proposal so that Parliament will approve the conclusion of the Agreement .
this is the first point that I wanted to emphasise .
this does not mean that these resettlements , for example , are not relevant .
but , again , I think that , maybe , it is too early .
targeted sanctions are intended to minimise the negative impact that these measures can have on the population of the country in question .
( PL ) Madam President , Commissioner , listening to today 's debate I noted with surprise that the term ' sustainable development ' was not used once .
we also need measures targeted at the less able , so as to prevent any form of discrimination .
although , generally speaking , the aims of the Dublin system , in particular the establishment of a clear and viable mechanism for determining the Member State responsible for examining an asylum application , have largely been achieved , problems remain with the efficiency of the system and its application in practice , as well as with the cost , which has not been evaluated .
the Tokyo group , consisting of Japan , the United States , Norway and the European Union , has called on the LTTE leadership to negotiate the details of a cease-fire with the Sri Lankan Government at long last .
thirdly , there is indeed a lack of a financial assessment , of a study to determine costs , and I am afraid I have to disagree with you , Commissioner : I do not think that the study carried out by the European Parliament on burden sharing is about the costs of these proposals .
having said this , I would like to ask the Council to act quickly so that the final version of the text , which I hope will be voted for tomorrow , can be made available as soon as possible .
Afghanistan is a country where , as a result of many years of civil war , the state of hospitals and their equipment is catastrophic .
your first EURES job will promote youth labour mobility and the European Vacancy Monitor will allow young people and job counsellors to see where there are jobs across the Union and what skills are needed .
I understand that the Council , at a technical level , is divided as to whether or not the harvest control rule should be exclusively decided by the Council .
we have this 30 % reduction target imposed from the top down , and it does seem to be widely endorsed .
it is , in fact , shameful that 21 states are still setting up obstacles .
we have done so , secondly , and above all , because you are using the attention that would normally be paid to the victims in order to create a new suction pump effect where immigration is concerned : social and legal assistance , an automatic residence card , access to the job market , simplified access to family reunification and social welfare .
the classification of food on the basis of quality is food differentiation on the basis of class in keeping with the market rationale ' first-class food for high incomes and second-class food for working class families .
an EU-backed report has recently concluded that up to 125 million citizens are affected by energy poverty .
this applies to Lebanon , the Balkans and all other contaminated regions .
statistics are absolutely vital .
the Commission should adapt copyright to the new digital era , allowing broadcasters to continue to provide a wide range of good quality European content , and to consider specific ways of facilitating the re-use of archive content and putting in place extended collective licensing systems and easy , one-stop-shop systems for the clearance of rights .
you will need Parliament , Council and Commission to work together to a common agenda set by 27 Member States and this House .
even the Treaty on European Union in its preamble draws inspiration , inter alia , from Europe 's religious heritage , from which universal values have developed .
assistance after membership of the WTO is finalised is also of great importance , such as assistance with official negotiations on the Free-Trade Agreement and a new , more detailed agreement between the EU and Ukraine .
in any case , the Council , and I am sure other institutions , would not hesitate to do all they could at their level if the need arose .
in my language , and in Poland , the Treaty is not accessible .
if you do not wish me to tell you I will not , but it is , clearly , good to be certain .
three areas , representing around 80 % of the EU budget , are singled out : agricultural policy , cohesion policy and pre-accession funds .
if we invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency , we will improve our energy security .
they are free to leave whenever they want and they live in the best friendly relations with the Iraqi population of the region .
secondly , there is the question of making greater use of partner countries ' procedures .
we give EUR 4 million in the EIDHR 2008 Framework .
that is my explanation to your question .
I would first like to thank the rapporteur , Mr Rivellini , for his excellent work throughout the discharge process .
these will still guide everything we do , and prosperity means defending growth and jobs in Europe .
fellow Members , the European Parliament has always consistently supported every effort made by the Community in drafting , implementing and enforcing legislation relating to equal opportunities and non-discrimination against people with disabilities .
it is now absolutely essential to move on with these initiatives .
I believe it is right because whilst the Nazi horror is fairly well known , and even some Germans have tried to take it in , paradoxically little is known about Stalinism . the paradox lies in the fact that even the Siberians , from Stalin 's own country , thought that he was a good man and that the cause of Russia 's misfortunes lay elsewhere .
ensuring access to suitable education and appropriate courses is absolutely essential in order to make sure that people finishing school , university or vocational training have no trouble in finding employment in their chosen field .
respect for human life and dignity is not consistent with crimes whose victims are many European women and children , which is why firm policies on the prevention of violence and the punishment of its perpetrators are necessary .
( PL ) Madam President , I would like to congratulate Mr Fernandes on his excellent report .
it is also important to emphasise that this assistance is not a substitute for the responsibilities normally incumbent upon companies , nor is it intended for the financing and restructuring of companies .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , according to the Joint Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion for 2008 , 16 % of the population of the EU is still living below the poverty line , and 19 % of children are at risk of destitution and social exclusion , despite all the commitments made by the Member States in 2000 to drastically reduce poverty by 2010 .
I welcome your full support for this proposal .
we should , as a matter of urgency , try to prevent all circumstances that expose them to violence and exploitation , forced displacement or famines .
but legally , this is fully in the hands of the Member States , as is the strengthening of customs providing necessary resources .
finally , I hope the spring meeting of the European Council will adopt new guidelines for the next three years that take account of the views and opinions expressed in today 's debate .
yes , Member States can evaluate if there is serious impact on quotas of vulnerable stocks , but we should not let it be the rule of thumb .
the Greek Government is ready to engage with us in this approach .
to the citizens , it offers the promise of the fulfilment of this vision .
services provided by agriculture must therefore be recompensed by fair product prices .
even though I had not been officially invited , you , ladies and gentlemen , asked me to come and I came : I was present and spoke in that debate .
I myself see this as the final phase in the integration of Slovenia into the European Union .
I hear fine words about the need for savings and efficiency , but the budget of over EUR 1.7 billion in 2011 is an increase of nearly 6 % .
Mr Cappato himself voted against our amendments , which sought to demonstrate how the promotion of human development and social , economic and cultural rights , as defined by the UN , are a prerequisite for the enjoyment of individual rights .
we should not forget that the SMEs represent 99 % of the total European enterprises .
therefore , it is necessary to bring the general , vocational and higher education systems closer to the needs of the labour market .
the Commission is about to launch an impact assessment study on the issue .
you say that there will be a communication and actions .
I believe it is essential for the EU 's migration policy and its development aid policy to feed into each other .
the Treaty of Lisbon thus threatens the existence of the European Union as an enterprise for freedom , prosperity and peace .
on average , each EU citizen produces 25 kg of electronic waste every year .
Mr President , on behalf of our group I would like to congratulate you on your election .
due to the difficulty in implementation , high cost and unproven benefits , we propose allowing each Member State the discretion to decide whether to introduce electronic tagging on a voluntary basis if they so wish .
- ( SK ) At a time of a financial crisis , strong words are not enough and concrete action must follow .
taxation has a crucial role to play in this respect , in bringing competitiveness to Europe .
that is why I recommend to the Commission that it promotes the solution devised by the RTvat organisation which should allow a tax loss of EUR 275 million per day to be avoided , while reducing administrative costs for SMEs .
in the coming weeks , we will be making a proposal for how the EUR 115 million or more can be used in specific terms in the near future .
in view of the widespread disquiet among the public in the EU as regards chlorinated chicken , however , it is of the utmost importance that we get legal requirements for labelling so that every individual can choose to avoid this product , for example in shops or restaurants .
we are failing .
national authorities are thus not entitled to freeze , by means of spectrum allocation , the competitive situation on the media market for the benefit of the operators already active on that market .
that is the first injustice .
the designation of Herman Van Rompuy was , by consensus , a decision of the Heads of State or Government .
through this vote , the European Parliament is reaffirming that : the EU must provide itself with a financial supervision system and a single financial authority ; we need to move in the direction of long-term fiscal stability so as not to harm future generations ; the immediate priorities must be to create jobs and to protect the citizens against the impact of the crisis .
what is the Commissioner 's view on that ?
colleagues , I now have an announcement to make which is perhaps very appropriate as we have just voted on our report on the 2009 enlargement strategy .
so , to the UK and to Poland I say , ' Calm down and accept it ' .
maybe they have reached a point where all they expect from the state is to provide them with aid .
the third is that it causes less pollution .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Madam President , for the past year I have served as personal representative of the chairman-in-office of the OSCE Kazakhstan , preparing a detailed report on the key environmental issues affecting central Asia .
I should also like to draw attention specifically to joint action in the current financial crisis .
I am happy to say that this text is also acceptable to the Commission , so there has been excellent cooperation between the three institutions on this file .
the study will also contribute to the preparation of a green paper on the potential of cultural and creative industries , which is currently under preparation and is due for adoption by the Commission in early 2010 .
the effect of such a cap would be to create an administrative and bureaucratic nightmare as landowners sought to divide up large holdings to avoid the ceiling cutting their money : it represents the very worst sort of bureaucratic perverse incentive for questionable but probably legal behaviour .
it will welcome the positive results and confirm that this strategy is working well .
Koniaków lace is completely different from Bruges lace .
Prime Minister , please do not devalue the rights of women or their skills .
we shall also need to agree in Copenhagen on the procedures and timetable for completing negotiations , with a view to achieving a legally binding agreement as quickly as possible , within the first months of 2010 ; Chancellor Merkel mentioned the first half of 2010 .
I voted in favour of this report because the EU 's role in multilateralism will need to be further reinforced in the years to come .
the economic recovery plan is allocating EUR 200 million to the construction of the Nabucco gas pipeline which will transport natural gas from the Caspian Sea region to the EU .
I voted for the report on the work of the African , Caribbean and Pacific ( ACP ) group of states-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly ( JPA ) in 2009 .
what we also need to realise is that ours is not the only model today .
on 10 April 2008 , a series of amendments were brought to the electoral law , which seriously infringe the European democratic rules and practice .
I am therefore very pleased to see the speed at which this issue is moving forward and I would once again like to highlight the work done by the rapporteur , Mr Degutis , and the Committee on Transport on this text , which has been significantly improved .
Madam President , I join with the majority of speakers in acknowledging the importance of this energy and environment package .
the draft European Parliament resolution , with its balanced message , is of vital support for the work undertaken by the Commission .
studies carried out indicate that almost all children have come across pornographic images .
we have got to be clear that trade is not about ignoring all of those things .
new , neutral , clear and fair criteria for calculating the direct payments , providing the basis for future distribution among Member States , their regions and the various sectors ;
the fundamental support for the agreement from all 27 Member States confirms the validity of the Lisbon Strategy , as it is one of the four pillars upon which the entire Strategy actually rests .
we welcome Parliament 's resolution on the future of the textile sector .
the enlarged Schengen area will no doubt present greater challenges for Europe 's internal security , but on the other hand , and I would like to emphasise this , it is the culmination of the efforts to achieve free movement in a truly integrated area .
this , I might add , is something which the European Court of Human Rights has stipulated on many occasions .
care should be taken to ensure a balance between the jobs in political groups and committees and administrative posts .
just these very things !
we must strengthen cohesion policy not only with financial resources , but also with suitable mechanisms and procedures making it possible to track down and address complex , multi-faceted social and economic disparities at local level .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( PT ) Mr President , Mr Vice-President of the Commission , ladies and gentlemen , I believe that there is total consensus in this House that the imminent enlargement is not only historic but also highly symbolic .
building strong foundations in terms of education and care during children 's early lives , as a complement to the central role of the family , constitutes the crucial basis for success in terms of learning throughout their lives , social integration , personal development and future employability .
this will become clear in the course of the tendering procedure .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , in the face of this vast tragedy our words are liable to be inadequate .
will stronger coordination of the economic policies of Member States and the proposed better use of the instruments established in Article 121 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union prevent a repeat of similar practices in the future ?
the agreement , then , was hanging by the thread of the conversation between Chancellor Merkel and President Sarkozy .
on behalf of the Verts / ALDE Group . - ( ES ) Mr President , the role of women in industry is clearly conditioned - this has already been stated , and I wish to remind you of it - as in many other cases , by a number of stereotypes , some of which are clearly pernicious .
this is now a matter of the utmost urgency .
prevention and correction of macroeconomic imbalances (
we also need to take the lessons we have learned from this scandal and use them in our agricultural reform to provide a structure for the agriculture industry in Europe that , on the one hand , meets the needs of agriculture and farmers and , on the other , also ensures safety for consumers .
we need to fight discrimination wherever it is found not just in the workplace .
in my view , the directive would accelerate the take-up of cleaner and more efficient vehicles , while creating a market dynamic in favour of such vehicles .
however , I sincerely hope the negotiations are successful , and that a more balanced , reciprocal , fair agreement is forthcoming at the end of the road .
standing up and shouting ' I am calling for a moratorium on depleted uranium ' is comical .
two thousand of them will have been rejected .
therefore , now having the budget in place , we should continue our discussion on the modalities of interinstitutional cooperation in much improved circumstances .
it is true that , when we speak of agriculture and the system for financing it , it is very important that we stress the importance of transparency .
we also have to ensure that the support provided for the organisation of elections , for example , is subjected to real care and scrutiny so that the communities concerned see the practical benefits that democracy can bring to their everyday lives .
I think that the fundamental issue is that we establish an equal relationship with the Republic of Cuba in order to tackle all the agendas : the political agendas , the human rights agendas , the penitentiary situation , but on an equal footing , because the European Union still has a common position with the Republic of Cuba , which is the exception to the rule .
no , the question concerns a different issue : in short , are the Council and the Member States ready to change the method that failed in the Lisbon Strategy ?
European economic governance has been called for in many different ways by Parliament .
Mr President , most of the speakers in this debate have understandably addressed the fires in Greece , the magnitude of which , and given their freshness in our memories , is of a scale that even now we find it difficult to comprehend .
Mr President , the main problem we are facing does not concern the answer to the question of who is right and who is wrong ; who is the aggressor or who is the victim ; what is a sovereign right and what is a disproportionate reaction .
do you think that the US is playing EU Member States against each other and trying to use other issues also linked to the matter ?
shortly before we were able to vote , when the sitting was suspended for just a short time , a Member of our honourable House apparently succeeded in smuggling in a parliamentary candidate , having a few cheeky promotional photographs taken with her and , in my view , abusing our Body .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , while it is true that many migration flows arise from instability , we are rather reluctant to use such a mistaken term , because instability really means war , genocide , uncontrolled violence , revolutions and the misery to which these people have been condemned , whilst the European Union remains silent .
on financial regulation first of all , I fully understand what Mr Barnier is trying to do .
some make-up and creams contain nanoparticles and it is possible that these particles may penetrate damaged skin and find their way into the body , where they absolutely should not be .
and let nobody try to tell me what I have already heard , namely that at the age of 15 , these little Arabs are already adults , and capable of anything .
nevertheless , there are many sources denouncing unprecedented brutal violence and repression led by the Libyan regime , and the large number of victims that this has allegedly caused .
Madam President , you have been very generous , so please allow me to finish this thought .
would you join us in recommending - as the Hans-Peter Martin 's List would like to propose - that these fellow Members resign before they are exposed in the media in order to avoid causing further damage to the great European peace project ?
we here in the European Parliament have always taken rail safety very seriously .
I would also like to say to Mr Cappato that in the cases mentioned , energy sanctions have already been used by the European Union and this has been in a variety of circumstances .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( PL ) Madam President , what we are discussing today is an atypical procedure , as the European Parliament is pronouncing on the advisability of a cooperation agreement between the European Union and the Council of Europe .
I voted in favour of this resolution because cultural diplomacy is a cornerstone for building trust and long lasting relations with citizens in third countries .
( PL ) Mr President , Mrs Espinosa , Commissioner , the Spanish Presidency has decided to prepare an evaluation of the Copenhagen climate conference , while we are saying here , according to many speakers , that it ended in a fiasco .
at this time in Europe , we must not fail to live up to these expectations
coincidentally , for completely different reasons to those mentioned , countries outside the European Union , not least China , are putting the economy first by allowing chemicals to be manufactured , transported and stored under conditions that are in serious breach of everything that we quite rightly want to protect here .
the historian Fernand Braudel considered that history began in Sumaria , but it would seem today that the long history of Christian minorities in Iraq is at an end .
we are not lecturing you , but consider that others also have an opinion to offer and that at some point we will have to find a common path .
that is an absolute disgrace .
in addition to this outstanding woman , thousands of peaceful demonstrators have been imprisoned on political grounds and people have been secretly to disappeared .
I feel that the accusations being levelled at Romania are also being targeted at the European Union .
unfortunately it has come to pass that various Member States - perhaps like lazy or careless building workers - did not adhere to the stability pact and created excessively large government debts , budget deficits .
we also need to ensure that no-one is considered less important or less valuable because of these conditions .
hydrogen powered vehicles lend themselves to this purpose but they must guarantee a high level of safety and environmental protection .
one of them concerns the legal aspect .
it is in fact during the first period of education that it is easiest to show that while science may be hard , it is always involving , and it is therefore worth making an effort to discover what we consider to be interesting , and what we cannot reach other than through scientific study .
following an assessment of the political situation in Belarus , a serious violation of democratic rights and regulations has been observed .
to strengthen bi-regional relations , including economic and trade relations , the negotiations on the association agreements with the Central American countries and the Andean Community must be speeded up .
common agricultural policy ( CAP ) programmes , like the Programme for Deprived Persons , are of critical importance for providing food .
according to an estimate from the CECODHAS organisation , European households can save an average of EUR 450 a year on these expenses , and that is tangible assistance .
this means a reasonable overall reduction of EUR 250 million in payment appropriations , and I am delighted that we were able to agree on a joint statement on the Structural and Cohesion Funds as well as on the rural development programmes .
all this would need to be clarified before we could start a legislative process .
children let out the hatred instilled in them for the decadent Western culture in the school playground and on the street or even turn into potential terrorists .
personally , I find this situation intolerable and I feel that the resolution that we are adopting is unequal to the challenges that an expression of international solidarity by the European Union towards Africa involves .
this is what happened in the case of the Polish contract with which the Commissioner is familiar .
it is time for a new initiative .
I understand the concerns of all those environmentally-aware citizens who petitioned me , too , with requests not to support the directive .
this is not acceptable and we need to introduce urgent changes .
as for the rest , it does not examine the causes in depth , or seek solutions .
the study results are expected before the end of 2009 , so we will definitely be receiving them in the coming weeks .
membership of Parliament : see Minutes
yes , well , to my mind , this is actually a case of being economical with the truth , because now we have to admit that the European Arrest Warrant was a problem from the beginning , since we acted as if all Member States would implement certain legal norms and minimum standards for criminal proceedings .
this cannot , of course , mean that some become less competitive so that others look relatively more competitive .
I say that as a Czech .
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this amendment makes very good sense .
one significant aspect is the economic benefit , or the advantages for businesses deriving from the new technical solutions , in view of the size of the common market of those participating in the enhanced cooperation .
( NL ) Mr President , Commissioner and Secretary of State , I have a few points : technology , neutrality , standardisation , smart metering and raw materials .
it is true that the citizen , the poor lowly citizen , has never before been central to the concerns of the Brussels-Frankfurt-Luxembourg triangle , where practically all the powers will be concentrated from now on , in other words in the hands of institutions that do not even respect the fundamental principles of democracy .
the economic losses due to climate change are estimated at more than USD 125 billion per year and , once again , 90 % are borne by developing countries .
for most of this decade the European Union has been engaged in internal institutional debates .
despite the adoption of the Council Directive concerning the nuclear safety of nuclear installations in 2009 , the existing safety standards remain in place in the Member States .
energy should not be bought from nuclear power stations located outside the borders of the European Union if they do not comply with the highest standards of safety as defined by stress tests in the European Union .
therefore , our response must also be based on other forms of food aid , designed , for example , to offset the negative effects on infant malnutrition and to support the purchasing power of the most vulnerable households .
thirdly , migration , the migration network , immigration and the blue card , which we will discuss tomorrow , are described in the programme .
I should also like to thank shadow rapporteurs Mr Gaubert , Mrs Bozkurt , Mrs in ' t Veld and Mrs Kaufmann .
however , with regard to the issues raised by Mr Romagnoli concerning the airports in the city of Rome , I can say that , as usual , checks are always performed by the European Commission .
the same applies to Greece , Portugal , Belgium , the Czech Republic and Hungary .
in writing . - ( PT ) We voted against the report as a protest against the way in which the Commission proposes to share fishing opportunities among the Member States under this agreement .
my last point is a personal reflection : as we have the EU , US and NATO all coming to deal with these issues together , perhaps it would be an idea at the NATO summit in Kehl , to be held in the spring of 2009 , for the EU-US summit to meet in the margins of the NATO summit to show that NATO , the EU and the US are handling these problems jointly .
the Irish vote encourages us in our European action and , at the same time , it links us .
more so than in previous years , I have therefore done my best to ensure that the tone of the report is very objective and constructive .
this was brought out in the resolution Parliament adopted in October .
in writing . - I support DanutBudreikaitė 's report on the challenge of EU development cooperation policy for new Member States .
how is it possible that there are between five and six million people in France living in flood zones ?
however , it is not only the Chinese market which is a problem , because highly developed economies such as the United States , Japan and Canada also pursue protectionist policies .
it also takes into account the possible accession of Croatia in 2013 .
I was right , like 92 others here .
to that end we need trade-defence instruments , and we need a Commissioner who neither lacks credibility nor exudes arrogance when representing the European Union in the world , but who boldly defends our trading interests in a spirit of cooperation and mutual trust .
because you talk a great deal about social Europe , the maintenance of the opt-out is a loophole which was supposedly created by Mrs Thatcher several years ago for the United Kingdom and now you want to make this loophole even bigger and make it permanent .
I would not like to call it a dirty game simply because of the respect that should be shown to a European Union Member State , but our fellow Member should have honestly stated that Malta has always sought to maintain its excessive expanse of territorial waters , which stretch as far as the island of Lampedusa .
that will allow the discussions between our institutions in the context of a second reading to begin .
this is a report that will enable Parliament 's 2012 budget to be an austerity budget , a containment budget , and a rigorous budget .
no other incentive for ensuring the stability and prosperity of the Balkans available to us is as effective as a European perspective and the promotion of the accession process .
as with other transport modes , compensation has been provided for in a number of cases and there are accommodation arrangements for stranded passengers in the event of lengthy delays .
( NL ) Madam President , Commissioner , Mr Vizjak , ladies and gentlemen , my thanks to everyone for their input on this but especially to the rapporteur , Alexander Stubb , who was very helpful in including us , the shadow rapporteurs for his report , in all aspects of the discussions .
this new CAP should abandon historical criteria for allocating funds , as this has been greatly detrimental to Portugal and Portuguese farmers .
the EFTA Surveillance Authority ( ESA ) is in charge of its implementation .
on the other hand , as an MEP , I would like to draw your attention to the fact that this measure needs to be supplemented by a review of the policies for granting credit and of the level of risk being assumed .
the Commission recognises that the regulatory framework needs to be adapted to allow SMEs to make the most of increasingly integrated European markets .
it is not appropriate to coordinate pension systems and their reform at EU level ;
it has to be admitted that the Commission has fulfilled certain commitments over the past two years by making visible improvements , such as a reduction in the error rate recorded over the past three years .
we need a gear shift wherever short-term speculators are at an advantage on the international financial market , because the rules are wrong , over those who wish to make long-term investments in jobs , in products of excellence and in the long-term success of their company .
we are nearing the end and it is clear from the consensus that has been achieved that the result will be an excellent one .
the European Council will then review the implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy and it is expected to agree that the objectives and priorities under the seven key challenges contained in that strategy remain fully valid .
however , I do not think the agreement in question is on the right lines , since it does not help the countries concerned to create a self-sufficient economy able to sustain itself without depending on external aid .
such delays are unreasonably long in some Member States when they involve public administration .
however , I believe that Europe should play close attention to the constitutional concerns that some Member States raise as regards the compatibility of pre-vetting with freedom of expression .
this is a matter of particular concern to parents .
the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty , which is a guarantee of a more effective , democratic European Union , was rejected by the Irish in a referendum .
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this report meets precisely these requirements .
the Presidency will then forward its common position to the European Parliament so that the ' internal market ' package can be concluded before the end of the parliamentary term ; that is our intention in any case .
the various resolutions proposed by the PSE , Liberals , Verts or even Communists only consider extremism on the part of the ' extreme right ' .
we call for the removal of obstacles to the mutual recognition of qualifications and the modernisation of our European universities with financial backing from the EU .
in the 1960s , this came in the form of corn gluten feed - molasses , oilseed residues - and , today , it is in the form of transgenic soya from Argentina , Paraguay and Brazil , and transgenic maize from Canada and the United States .
however , I strongly disagree with the ideas of right-wing political Islam and of Hamas .
the foundation they receive is of utmost importance , but the time , space and nurturing children need to grow and develop fully is becoming a luxury afforded to fewer and fewer .
during his visit to Brussels , and in the context of the human rights dialogue that the European Union regularly holds with the United States , concern was expressed by the European Union about the use of the so-called military commissions and prolonged detention without trial , and naturally , we expressed our opposition to the death penalty .
how else to describe the events in Lisbon ?
thank you very much , Minister .
some still argue , however , that soft regulations should be the lynchpin of the new system .
however , if we consider the three points which remained in dispute until the end - the opt-out from weekly working time , the conditions of on-call time and the multiple contracts per worker - the differences in positions were so great that there was no possibility of reaching an agreement which would have been compatible with the European Parliament resolution of 17 December 2008 .
in times of increasing globalisation in which the volume of traffic is also rising massively , it is exactly those Member States with sensitive regions such as in the area crossing the Alps that have an interest in charging road users for certain external costs according to the ' polluter pays ' principle .
I would like to take the opportunity to recall that in 1995 the EU launched a partnership programme with the Mediterranean in Barcelona , which aimed to bring about economic , political , military and social cooperation .
only assistance with development and democracy will help .
the report also proposes adopting new provisions against age discrimination with regard to accessing goods and services .
I am also grateful to the Presidency for the work they have done to try to get this through the Council .
so that is why we have to find the right way to make them move .
this is precisely why I am calling on the European Commission to monitor more closely the transposition into national legislation of and compliance with the compulsory requirement for a minimum of three hours of physical education a week in schools , as well as the increase in the number of sports halls and improvement in their basic equipment .
Member States lose even more control of their own destinies while having to pay the - as yet unknown - cost for the privilege .
there is no religious yardstick to evaluate a candidate country ; on the contrary , freedom of confession is one of Europe 's principal values .
the other accused him of surprising her in her sleep following earlier consensual intercourse .
in this area , colleagues and childhood friends who attended primary school and then went on to study at university through Hungarian are still now using Hungarian in the institutions where they work .
COPD killed 2.7 million people in 2000 .
the idea of creating a European market for authors rights greatly concerns us from this point of view .
hopefully the new President of the USA , Mr Obama , who has shown signs that he prefers to fight with his brain rather than with his fists , as the previous President , Mr Bush , so unsuccessfully did , will give new hope for the improvement of the likes of the Iranian people and the betterment of relations with the West .
I would now like to comment on what are , in my view , deliberate attempts to confuse things - who should do what , who has done what and what the models are .
as the rapporteur for agricultural reform , I would like to offer you the opportunity to work together with us to find a solution , so that this goal can be achieved .
far too little attention is paid to this at present .
prevention and better intergovernmental cooperation are particularly important for preparing for future natural disasters .
it is high time to support a tougher approach tackling the misuse of EU funds .
it abuses valid concern for health protection in an attempt to transfer invalid authority in the field of health policy and of work and social issues to a European level .
you yourself have referred to the fact that we need an industry which uses less energy and fewer materials .
it notes the areas where the EU and Ukraine should strengthen their relationship , discusses a free trade area with the Ukraine , energy supplies , and relations with Russia .
thus we cannot influence various decisions of third countries .
Khartoum 's military action in Abyei appears to be jeopardising the good overall outcome of this journey , though not the founding of the 54th African state on 9 July .
while these directives form the backbone of consumer protection in the EU , they must be consistently applied in the Member States , especially for Internet purchases .
however , I would like to express concern about the unfavourable state of the labour market , which offers jobs to only 43 % of the working population and , especially , about the fall in the general employment rate among women .
the debate is closed .
the European Union 's humanitarian action , its cooperation and development instruments and its more highly effective diplomacy are certainly not a guarantee of success , but deprived of this support , NATO 's action is doomed to failure .
Mr Le Foll is right . if the money is not there at the end of the day , there is little we can do in many of these areas .
this is a situation that affects border countries in particular , but which needs to be taken into account at European level .
with the disbursement of approximately 365 million since the establishment of the Global Political Agreement in 2009 , we are - as I said - the largest donor .
as you can see from the discussion there is not much controversy on the SET Plan , but there is one thing on which I should like an answer .
can anyone really say that ?
the European Parliament has not been limited to areas of responsibility as laid down by the Treaty ; it has not been restricted merely to giving its assent .
how can this happen ? it is well known how HIV transmission can be effectively prevented .
we have the result before us now : it is a positive proposal that forms another link in ensuring freedom of movement within the EU , including for third-country nationals .
that is why sport is a great instrument for integration , whether it be social integration , at a local level or a European level , which does not mean assimilating or absorbing other groups , but encouraging participation within agreed rules .
there has to be a break with the free movement of goods , which has pitted European workers against the workers of countries which , like Communist China , are a haven for the most cynical form of capitalism , where workers do not have the right to strike , freedom of association , adequate retirement pensions , or social protection , and where they earn ridiculously low wages .
we are to complement Member States and support them in their policies , but that does not mean that there is no role for the European Union , as was reflected in the report and what Members have said .
earlier this month , I had the pleasure of visiting a firm in my constituency , Simcyp , which has just won a national award from the Dr Hadwen Trust for developing alternatives to research on animals .
I am against protectionism when it comes to gambling and wish your green paper could in fact solve this problem for everybody 's benefit , for the benefit of consumers and national administrations and for the benefit of the principles underlying the European Union .
little by little , women who had been forced into prostitution spoke out publicly .
please allow me to add one more request : as a democratically elected representative , I hope that you will support us in ensuring that this European Parliament is able to take an independent decision about where it is based .
we will commission an expert report which will involve investigating what the risks are on the basis of typical applications for test boreholes within the EU and whether the legislative framework in the European Union is up to the job , whether the legal regulations in the Member States are adequate , and whether , and if so where , we need to introduce improvements at an EU level .
artificial insemination and embryo transfer provide for that .
Bulgaria , for example , will be facing problems in the future .
previous experience of labelling , in particular , gives cause for careful consideration .
but we must not condone the creation of ghettoes , where only children of a specified faith are admitted to a school and others are excluded .
another important point is the realism shown by the Dalai Lama and by Karma Chophel , which suggests to us that we should not be raising the apocalyptic problem of non-participation in the Olympics , but taking action in the form of not endorsing the opening ceremony .
however , I should remind you that all Member States have national legislation governing illegal work and tax and duty evasion .
this time , we are leaving for Cancún with much more realistic , yet still ambitious , objectives .
energy costs represent a share of household budgets that is growing at an alarming rate , and with the effects of the financial crisis we are likely to see a substantial increase in poverty across the EU .
we have already lost one year .
why should we do that ?
( DE ) Mr President , one reason why we fell into the trap of globalisation is specifically that we failed to avoid the Europe trap .
there is no comparison between the reactor that exploded in Chernobyl and those installed in the Czech Republic .
- ( PL ) Mr President , in this Parliamentary term we are issuing a further regulation that essentially completes the cycle of regulations concerning transport and means of transport in terms of their environmental impact and the protection of air quality .
in the course of debates on lowering emissions and on the effectiveness of road haulage in particular , some requirements in the regulations in question seem somewhat futuristic , in our opinion .
I apologise : I merely wished to add a few words in Euskera on the European Day of Languages since , as has already been mentioned in this debate , we are not criminals ; we only wish to speak our own language .
you said yourself , Mr Dǐmas , that you are not banning seal hunting .
private legal actions may be brought by a public body and also by individual or group actions .
he should ask them and criticise them .
( NL ) Mr President , I too should like to thank Mrs Lucas and also Mr Zaleski sincerely for their efforts in bringing about this resolution .
stoning , mutilation and violation of privacy and of the most basic rights are now the rule .
making better climate protection targets dependent on the prior concessions of other States is playing dice with the future of humanity .
I doubt , for example , that the new restrictions on liquids on aeroplanes meet these criteria .
despite this , there is no European Union policy for control of the Internet or to give definite security rules to citizens , who do not understand what measures have been adopted by the EU or are set to be adopted in the near future .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , so far we have found agreement on almost all of the package and have demonstrated that codecision is working , with thanks to the hard work of the Hungarian Presidency and of course to András Kármán in particular , and to the Parliament negotiating team and the Commission .
please make it compulsory for the Member States , and then we shall be one step further forward .
looking at the progress made , I can assert that the Commission has absolutely no regrets about having set itself the objective of achieving a positive declaration of assurance concerning the underlying transactions .
Mr President , tax and taxing is an extremely important topic when we talk about development policies .
the working class has the inalienable right to strike and demonstrate on 1 May .
it is true that the few trade protection instruments available to the European Union fall within the competence of Mr Mandelson , who has quite rightly been cited for his passivity in this area .
we are experiencing a truly historic change in the political balance of the world , in particular , in our immediate neighbourhood .
pre-school facilities have been closing down because they are expensive to run .
by protecting working women from dismissal during pregnancy and for six months thereafter , we are providing an incentive to implement the objective of the EU strategy and achieve a 75 % female participation rate in the labour market by 2020 .
we therefore cannot provide a short-term , circumstantial solution by increasing subsidies in line with the fluctuations in oil prices .
I believe that this is a very important point that shows the Balkan States just how attentive Europe is to their expectations and desires .
that will be based on the idea of having a citizens ' ownership of EU policies ...
now that all is clear in London , Europe too feels more at ease .
we have heard that symbols are important , yet we are constantly reassured that the European Union has no ambition to become a state despite every resolution and piece of legislation through this Parliament taking us further in that direction .
we require the travel agents to inform orally and / or in writing passengers at the time of reservation .
those who are legitimately in need of protection must be granted access to EU territory .
one execution every eight hours since the start of this year , and systematic repression , torture , rape and censorship have been rampant during the Islamic Republic , and , in particular , since the elections in 2009 .
it is necessary to define the criteria for high quality liquid assets ;
against the background of the economic and financial crisis , governments in a few Member States are increasing the acts of discrimination : deportations and databases based on Roma ethnic criteria are actions which have already been highlighted .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , first of all I would like to thank the rapporteur , Mrs Balzani , for the excellent work she has accomplished .
Mr Schulz has analysed the financial crisis , discovered the causes in the system and , without further ado , has laid the blame firmly at the door of the Conservatives , Liberals and Christian Democrats .
thirdly , this report proposes that culture be better incorporated into the European Union 's external policies because - and I want to stress this - what makes Europe so rich is its culture or rather , as I should have said , the diversity of its culture .
proof , as the President of Parliament has just told us , that Kosovo 's powers of authority have been in a state of supervised sovereignty .
this is our one chance to alleviate the effects of climate change , which are already making themselves felt , and which may come to be the most severe problem of the 21st century .
the report we are now debating contains several elements which were included in the Ports Directive that we voted against .
option two : I now come to the second option and the most radical short cut to the positive DAS .
I shall therefore save my reply for the interventions , so as not to say too much at the moment and therefore take up too much time .
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it might create a continent of zombies , unaware of their national identities .
from our point of view in the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats , having the family as a fundamental value certainly entitles us to devise a political measure focusing on this issue , which is also why we welcome what is happening with regard to the directive on maternity and to maternal health .
we need a framework directive on musculoskeletal disorders to address a problem such as lower back pain - repetitive strain injuries , effectively - and lower back disorders .
Commission , it is your move !
may I also ask the Council to ensure that increases in operational expenditure on the common foreign and security policy are not slipped in under the heading of administrative expenditure .
it endorses them , while ignoring their effects .
I say this because this also happened to us in Yugoslavia .
but I would be failing those who sent me here for the last 10 years if I did not use this opportunity as a protest against holding this Parliament in Strasbourg at all .
Member of the Commission . - ( CS ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the Commission is aware of the demographic issues facing the pension systems .
I have trust in these countries and I am confident that this Convention will be observed , and only then can we debate whether there is some alternative version that will go this way or that way .
this aid is to the detriment of global competition , which we know is a precondition for prosperity , it justifies the reforms that are required in the agricultural sector and it reduces the choice available to us , the consumers .
however , in a Union where internal borders have practically disappeared , Europe must equip itself in the long term with the means to achieve its ambitions .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
the crucial question is : what are we going to do in the face of such a structural transformation ?
during the IMCO committee hearings representatives of voluntary consumer protection groups from the old Member States did not report financial problems .
secondly , the humanitarian situation also requires us to adopt a clear position regarding what we have just learnt today , that three people working for Médecins Sans Frontières have been kidnapped and at the moment we do not know where they are or what condition they are in , and that 13 NGOs that have recently been providing basic assistance and addressing essential needs , amongst other things , have been expelled .
to reach maximum efficiency , solutions must respond to concrete problems on the ground .
I congratulate the French Presidency for this successful mandate .
then we can show that Europe is taking the lead in opening up markets , both abroad and at home .
I voted for this report , and it is not the first occasion when mentioning here the reasons for doing so that I include personal ones .
as innovation is a fundamental objective of regional policy , in future , Europe must adopt a strategic management approach , establishing appropriate policy instruments that will enable its evolution to be monitored and the necessary adjustments to be made .
a series of Community measures is required to eliminate the potential obstacles hampering better use of the Internet for commercial purposes . this includes measures designed to discourage and prevent fraud and theft of personal data .
the Commission and the Indian authorities should and must intensify their cooperation on a common definition of counterfeit drugs , an important area which is harmful to patient health , in order that public health is adequately protected .
however , our neighbourhood policy has been lacking in credibility .
as we debate these extremely serious matters , women are being assaulted .
approval of Minutes of previous sitting : see Minutes
I am thinking more of them , and especially of those who can no longer afford to stay where they are , who are stranded and have no other solution .
we must help the migrants ' countries of origin to democratise and attain good governance by giving them access to our values and our experience .
it does not mean artificially created jobs which deform the labour market , and it does not mean the levelling out of social and regional differences , which smacks of egalitarianism .
I think it would also be useful to set up a Community programme to support the sector , especially in the less-favoured regions of the Union .
to that end , a comprehensive programme of EU activities to strengthen the stability of financial markets will be laid down during the first half of the year .
some of them are members of small groups .
the two-headed head of the European external actions must wear both hats at all times , thus assuring the unity of the service and the coherence of its action .
I have said to Mr Gollnisch that he can have the floor the next time the President is in the Chair .
arranging them in the right way would lead to economic growth in India and the development of the country , and would improve international stability .
Commissioner , Madam President , the criticism levelled at the Court is no longer included in the committee 's proposal and there is no requirement to tear up the Posting of Workers Directive .
by placing a CE mark on a toy the producer is declaring that it is a product which fulfils all of the valid requirements and that he bears full responsibility for it .
it would also be a good idea to evaluate the extent to which a tax such as this could help to stabilise the financial markets .
this is a successful set of priorities .
we have introduced greater transparency and mandatory hearings at the end of the process .
we must demand that Russia restores human rights in Russia , restores freedom of the press , freedom of speech and freedom of association .
what should be known is that 6 % out of the total is administrative expenditure out of a budget equal to 1 % of GDP .
let me say a few brief words on some of the issues that were highlighted .
first , the considerations for determining what degree of production outside of Europe disqualifies a company from being treated as European for the purposes of our investigations and trade defence assessments .
the important question of the country of origin of a product and of the manufacturer responsible is also tackled .
no other wording has been proposed to replace paragraph 9 .
monks and civilians who had fled Burma since September gave CSW first-hand accounts of the regime 's brutality against the pro-democracy movement .
the Union 's efforts in combating corruption ( written declaration ) : see Minutes
people who defend only what they know , and shy away from new experiences , should not be surprised to find that they lack mobility .
firstly , two enlargements , in 2004 and 2007 , with 12 new Member States , and other challenges such as employment and vocational training , immigration , the environment , air safety and many others still .
the number of plant protein research programmes dropped , the development of disease resistant and highly performing varieties stopped and throughout Europe , practical experience in protein crop production is being lost .
our aim is to take these negotiations forward , and I would remind you that with regard to our relations with Turkey , we want the reform process to continue and to be stepped up .
we need a win-win situation , that is , one in which science and teaching institutions , on the one hand , and research and business , on the other , will say ' yes ' to this partnership .
( NL ) Madam President , I listened carefully to your speech Mr Hartong , but I also listened to Mr Geier , and at one point he said that two net contributors , the United Kingdom and the Netherlands , are also seriously failing .
I do , however , have a reservation , which I would like to explain to the House , which is that the wording of paragraph 18 raises doubts about something that is false . that is , something that is not true .
secondly , the cholera epidemic , which has already been mentioned here .
we have seen the appointment of the first President of the European Council and of the first High Representative , the Vice-President of the Commission , by the European Council . and let us not forget - because it was a very important moment for this Parliament , following the unanimous designation by the European Council - we have seen the election by this Parliament of the President of the next Commission with a qualified majority .
we have worked in tandem ( me being last year 's rapporteur ) , and that brings me to my first point .
so we are trying by different means to fight criminals by means of the police forces , by empowering educators , parents and children so that they can take a decision by themselves or report , and , of course , by media literacy programmes , which I personally would wish to be much more numerous in the Member States .
the moratorium on youth executions , decreed by Iran 's Chief Judiciary , is blatantly and repeatedly violated by his own judges .
I support all the amendments that Parliament proposes in the report , as I think we need the highest possible level of data protection and this is not yet guaranteed by the Council Framework Decision that now exists .
I think the Council really has to appreciate just how much potential this technology has to make a huge difference in abating CO2 emissions into the atmosphere .
for it to accomplish this task , it is crucial that its staff represent the Union and not the Member States of which they are citizens or have been diplomatic officers .
we have just passed the anniversary of the barbaric murder , by a shot in the back of the head , of 20 000 Polish officers and intelligentsia in Katyń in 1940 on the order of the ' Father of Nations ' , Joseph Stalin .
the fight against cancer must be among the priorities of each successive presidency , if only because the incidence of this terrible disease in Europe is rising and will continue to rise as our society ages .
at our group meeting yesterday , we heard from three witnesses from Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International who were present in Bahrain , Yemen and Syria .
leaders of opposition political movements have been imprisoned .
we must maintain the sound , stable and competitive nature of financial institutions so that they can make a contribution to economic growth .
that is one of our fundamental rights and freedoms .
we have challenging tasks ahead of us .
it is in conflict with Parliament 's alcohol strategy , which promotes a restrictive view on the marketing of alcoholic beverages .
what helps here is that over the last two years the Commission has acquired substantial and in-depth knowledge and understanding of the 27 economies , so I would like to ask for two actions now .
firstly , I would like to express the hope that Mr Lehne 's report will provide a strong stimulus for the European Commission to prepare suitable legal measures , which , in accordance with the freedom of establishment guaranteed in the Treaty , will allow companies to move their registered offices within the European Union , without being burdened with excessive red tape .
we shall see each other again in Lisbon tomorrow , of course , and next week you will be here again to accompany the President of the Council , José Sócrates , but since this was your last speech here in plenary , I should like to express our very sincere thanks to you and to reaffirm that our cooperation with you has been a great pleasure and , above all , a great success .
some of them , I should add , have unfortunately suffered the ingratitude of their peoples and their successors .
Mr President , I think it is absolutely unacceptable to tolerate Nazi speeches in this House !
to conclude , the Commission , which regrets that an agreement among the 27 has not yet been possible , will do its utmost to establish this enhanced cooperation quickly - as soon as the Council of Ministers has given its opinion in March - by presenting the draft regulations necessary to establish it , so that we can very quickly bring this real added value to European businesses .
the land is that from which we harvest our products and which we must preserve for the future and for those who will have to do the same .
the Council has repeatedly drawn attention to the obligation of the Government of Sudan to cooperate fully with the International Criminal Court .
this principle is confirmed by Council Regulation ( EC ) No 2371 / 2002 .
that a report of this scale has received no plenary amendments shows this is truly a report from the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs , and one we can all be proud of .
there will finally be a tangible benefit for citizens from membership of the European Union .
the Council expressed its deep concern regarding the regional ramifications of the conflict in Darfur and attempts of overthrowing the Chadian government .
if we were to come up with a positive verdict , after all the steps that I have promised to carry out , then the text of the regulation would contain all the guarantees that I have undertaken to incorporate into it , as I have said both in my opening remarks in response to the question and in my concluding reply .
I am talking about policies and actions which are not just limited to the designation and division of function of new Commissioners .
we no doubt need to work on the right balance between ambition and realism , which is why we are working on medium-term priority tasks for the TEC .
I have not seen all the figures .
lucky animals , because this resolution also shows that they are in some cases better protected than man .
I believe that new requirements and CO2 limits will help to fight global warming , lower running costs through savings on fuel and boost innovation and the competitiveness of European car manufacturers .
that was not in reference to telephone calls , but I just want to ask if you have any initiatives in that area and , if you have not , would you consider the transparency initiative that you mentioned a few moments ago in your reply ?
forwarding of texts adopted during the sitting : see Minutes
last month , at the United Nations summit on the Millennium Development Goals , we had an opportunity to review our accomplishments and see what still needs to be done .
this underlines the significance of the Community in the implementation of new technologies and organisational systems , especially those concerning environmental protection and improvements to the living standards of crews .
if Israel does not want to negotiate directly with Hamas , it is up to the EU to work to ensure that others talk to Hamas .
the present report pay far too little attention to these issues , which is why - despite the sound approaches it contains - I am unfortunately compelled to reject it .
( NL ) The tension has indeed eased a little , ladies and gentlemen .
the purpose of this proposal for a directive is to simplify and coordinate the existing rules on the transport of dangerous goods .
in this respect , the Commission , the Council and the competition authorities armed regulators to identify anti-competitive behaviour and to take the appropriate action .
that is very welcome , and this House has called on Member States to respond positively to a formal request from the US to resettle about 60 low-risk or no-risk former detainees who will not be charged .
thus , the European Union wants to seal itself off from refugees far beyond its external borders .
the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe supports this resolution .
the first internal working document can be consulted on the Directorate-General 's site ' Enterprise ' .
the four rapporteurs , Alain Lamassoure , Zita Gurmai , Diana Wallis and Gerald Häfner - I hope you are present and we can go through the procedure together - as well as the many other Members involved as shadow rapporteurs .
with regard to the conclusion of the Protocol between the European Union and the Principality of Andorra extending to customs security measures the Agreement , which has until now been in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Economic Community and the Principality of Andorra and which was concluded on 28 June 1990 .
the Commission could at least ask for the completion of the resettlement .
today I wanted to devote my speech to just this issue in Belarus .
it shows that , although the Structural Funds were not originally intended as emergency funding and should not , in future , be regarded as such , if necessary , they can be sufficiently flexible to make a suitable contribution in times of crisis .
I think it is very important to filter , partly in order to lighten the workload and the situation of countries that have to deal more directly with this .
it is , of course , appropriate that we should be discussing gender equality on International Women 's Day , but it is not enough .
we need to develop quality career guidance services and vocational orientation with the strong involvement of labour market institutions .
advertising is a positive tool , both for the internal market and for consumers .
yes indeed , Mr Schulz , that is the truth .
I am voting in favour of this report , which introduces key issues about sustainable development and the gradual integration of African , Caribbean and Pacific countries into the global economy .
there are five partner countries which still have to ratify .
we received chilling testimony of a monstrous regime of extreme brutality in many Kazakh prisons , with recently released prisoners describing grotesque degradation of prisoners and systematic savage beatings , brutal rape and other tortures .
Europe 's monetary concerns are in conflict with the economic and budgetary sovereignty of the Member States .
I do not make any concessions here .
this is because regional cooperation contributes to a shared understanding in the region and to finding solutions for issues of common interest , such as in the fields of energy , transport , trade , the fight against organised crime and corruption , refugee return and border control .
11 .
this technology can make a huge difference .
it will return a dividend .
it is absolutely clear , therefore , that efforts to improve the competitiveness of this sector - especially in the current crisis - are particularly important .
these amendments would lend the report a completely different character .
a nuclear emergency was declared on 11 March of this year in the Fukushima nuclear power plant .
it is not enough to carry out social impact assessments of European legislation .
we will also be holding a Foreign Ministers ' meeting alongside the summit , which is particularly important to me .
these are the very same investors in second- and third-generation research and development who will build plants which can be easily converted to the needs of second- and third-generation technology .
given that the Commission is the EU institution with which citizens have most reason to have material contact , it is normal that it should be the principal target of inquiries .
however , when I consider our agricultural production and the products themselves , not everything can be proven scientifically .
I would be interested to hear whether you have any plans to draft a work programme for BERT with agreed objectives and an agreed timetable so that we can make clear progress as regards inter-state cooperation as well .
however , we have noted that following this paradigm shift in the area of hygiene , difficulties have arisen in the context of implementation .
the EU also supports the preparations for the formation of an independent Palestinian state .
though there is as yet no agreement , the principle of a strong CAP with two pillars and the principle of simplification have already been accepted .
this plays a very important role in preventing poverty , preventing the loss of income and the loss of skills when corporations decide to relocate outside Europe ; and for the first time now in a very long time , there is going to be a flagship initiative on industrial policy for a sustainable economy .
I would like to quote the example of one of the countries in question , Kazakhstan .
the policy of establishing reserves at times of crisis should be reduced to the absolute minimum , to cases in which a reserve really is technically indispensable .
given the growing number of agencies , it is imperative for all the European institutions to take a close look at the means of monitoring their activities .
they also support co-modality , including by developing interfaces with other modes of transport such as rail , waterways and aviation , which started to incorporate intelligent transport systems a long time ago .
with some operators , the first child is not worth as much as the second , and the third and fourth do not exist at all .
lastly , the Irish Ombudsman has issued two reports , which our own government have rejected .
according to expert opinion , 92 % of the world 's opium is sourced in Afghanistan and is then distributed throughout the world , including the European Union .
I wish to draw your attention to the fact that , due to the crisis , thousands of redundancies have been made in the rail transport sector , which may have an adverse impact on European rail transport .
finally , with regard to Turkey , as long as the Kurds are not granted autonomy in the broadest possible sense , as long as the rights of women and sexual minorities are not resolved and Turkey does not apologise for the Armenian genocide , Turkey cannot become a member of the European Union .
in several countries , and especially in Greece , our fellow citizens are confused , anxious and deeply concerned about their and their children 's future .
as regards the role of women , there is sufficient need for action in other regions of the world , not least the entire Arab world , where the need is far more urgent .
at the same time , we must not forget the infringements of human rights that occur on the territory of the European Union .
the purpose of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund is to offer effective support to workers made redundant as a result of globalisation .
my main question is thus as follows : why are we so dependent and how should we respond ?
there are citizens who want to know this information so that they can make a responsible choice when buying products .
peace comes , as we know so well with the European Union , with employment - with jobs - and it is particularly pleasant to learn that India is at present , in Jammu and Kashmir , building the longest railway tunnel in the globe , which will be nearly 11 km long , as part of a 148-km long section of track .
the criminal regime of Lukashenko relies greatly on the income from exports of chemicals , heavy industry and textiles owned by state enterprises .
experience shows that quality of life and economic power in rural areas are closely linked to women and the role they play in farming .
secondly , we shall reduce the number of procedural steps and introduce clear time-limits to simplify and accelerate the current process .
whoever is on duty is on stand-by and this should be remunerated , just like resting times should be respected .
we have added two more areas to it : one is sustainable consumption , and the other is services of general interest , so we are expanding .
but in Cancún , we also took new steps .
this information must be based on researched data , and not on fantasy or the ways and means of advertising .
in its conclusions of 10 December 2007 , the European Council took note of the progress that the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia had made , and expressed its regret that the implementation of its reforms had been delayed .
we urge Vietnam , as party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights , to honour its international human rights commitments and to release all those prisoners , in particular , human rights lawyer , Le Cong Dinh , democracy advocate and writer , Tran Khai Thanh Thuy , and Catholic priest , Father Nguyen Van Ly , who are currently in detention for having peacefully expressed their views .
I would also ask that we ensure that there is an international investigation into this assassination .
this report on energy efficiency is timely - given our concerns about climate change and the need to face up to the finite energy resource of fossil fuels .
membership of committees and delegations : see Minutes
because what statistics there are show that China is executing more people than the rest of the world put together at the moment .
for air and water in particular , and in various other areas too , that is just not possible .
we must be able to exert pressure on the Commission , but preferably not under such strict time pressure .
we must revise and improve the monitoring mechanisms for detecting dangerous toys , due to substances that are considered to be carcinogenic , mutagenic or toxic to reproduction ( CMR substances ) , fragrances , or other dangerous substances , such as heteropolyanion ( HPA ) compounds .
we must not shy away from reminding Azerbaijan that people must have the right to speak out freely , even if this means having critical views towards their governments .
there are two main points on the agenda .
I hope that this largesse by the European Union is repaid by the carriers ' prompt compliance with the new regulations .
but the simplified procedure provides that all national parliaments , all 27 national parliaments , must acquiesce at least in the adoption of this Treaty change .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , this House has to be a paragon in terms of financial transparency and internal budgetary control .
I have the following to say to the empty benches facing me , including because Mr Griffin is no longer there : I believe this to be a very important contribution towards the European Union 's openness to the rest of the world and towards its acceptance , both by its own citizens and by other countries with which we enter into exchanges .
forests are an important source of livelihood and well-being within our borders .
I continue to hold the opinion that all on-call time , including inactive time at certain points , is working time .
however , what is also important for us as a global leader in the safety process is not to allow these dangerous goods - especially toys - to reach other children - in China as well .
the Treaty of Lisbon has enhanced the activity of the European Union in various areas of criminal law , including the fight against human trafficking .
and this was precisely what the party I represent here presented to the Portuguese Parliament .
I sincerely thank the rapporteur for this extremely valuable report and excellent result .
many organisations are already working on the ground , but the time has come for the institutions too , and the Members of this House personally , to make a real contribution to this cause .
this has allowed the execution of people without trial .
the consequence of climate change for the Arctic will be another important element of our discussions at the summit .
they told you that they did not want this .
dual-use items are products which are liable to have both civil and military uses , such as chemical products and technical construction material , as well as software and other new technologies .
some countries - I will return to this later - wanted to protect and guarantee the banks ' products .
the adverse population trend is not the only reason .
impunity for war crimes must end if we want to prevent them from being repeated in the future .
what we are asking for is strong action based on the added value of the European project so that we can lift Europeans out of this recession and ensure that , in the future , everyone in Europe has a job , is out of poverty , and can once again have faith in the European project .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - Mr President , I am disturbed by the suggestion that the process of establishing open skies be accelerated .
this belittling attitude also gains strength through the media , where women are portrayed in a one-dimensional , tendentious way .
on the subject of climate change , on 11 February the Council will carry out an analysis of the Copenhagen Summit , with the help of the Commission .
subject : tax burden in Greece
the first has to do with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control , for which we would advise freeing up the 10 % in reserve , since only then will that agency be able to fulfil its mandate .
in the case of the new Member States , there are some countries , including my own , which could perform most efficiently when cooperating with the others , pooling their skills and resources and sharing individual know-how .
the complexity of this issue can be seen just from the length of time you took for your speech .
that is what will enable us to give new momentum to a bold and confident European Union .
however , the system must also be kept up-to-date .
we are in favour of there actually being a general regulation on the transfer of passenger - essentially air passenger - data .
then we have the points about ensuring EU boats only have access to the surplus of fish not used by local fishermen .
the purpose of this is to promote a much more consistent foreign policy and raise the EU 's profile at an international level .
let us not think that this tragedy would be any less if those who deliberately kill civilians succeed in reaching even further in amongst civilians by means of rocket fire .
the departure from coal also presents very serious problems for energy security in such countries as Poland , which generate as much as 95 % of their electricity from coal .
did he press China 's top officials , who stood with him , about the Burmese , about the Sudanese , about the people of Tibet and about China 's own persecuted people ?
nowadays , we have at least as many investments coming into our Member States .
Mr President , this relationship between the two biggest democracies of the world is a very special one .
we are wasting less of our energies in scoring points against each other and more on focussing on how to serve our citizens - and always putting the emphasis on the citizens .
we shall do so together with all the Member States , with the European Commission and with your support ; we must ensure in this way that , on the strength of the confidence restored in Nagoya - where action at multilateral level succeeded in reaching an agreement once again - we are able to continue in this vein in Cancún and are also able to restore hope for the climate .
let me also extend my compliments to the shadow rapporteurs as well to the Committee on Legal Affairs and the Committee on Foreign Affairs who have worked hard and constructively during the whole process .
I would strongly appeal for this positive experience to serve as a pointer for us in this matter too .
however , the fact that the streets of Naples are today swamped by tonnes and tonnes of rubbish is clearly the fault , first and foremost , of the local authorities in Campania and of their total incompetence or reluctance to work to find a solution .
this would facilitate mass immigration from impoverished countries in North Africa .
the clear aim must be for the whole of the international banking sector to be stabilised , not just parts of it .
the Swedish Presidency has put in a lot of effort .
a collective approach such as the one the Commission is proposing might undermine each EU nation 's ability to decide this .
the rapporteur calls for the principle of proportionality to be observed , which makes it a source of particular regret that this principle was not respected in drawing up this report .
the other provocation came from the other side , to give the little ones a lot and give absolutely nothing to the big .
it is thinking more of the EU 's reputation .
the legislators in Brussels are prepared instead for the turbulence on the world markets to give the EU cause to boost their own positions .
finally , to conclude , I would like to welcome the fact that this motion for a resolution makes special mention of pork and poultry , sectors that do not receive direct EU aid , but for which market and trade measures could also be established to alleviate their situation .
that is what I am hoping for , namely , that we will soon find the solutions that will enable this community to coexist more easily in all Member States .
the European Union and its Member States ought to persuade the United States to set a moratorium on the death penalty .
we should not , however , make a mistake .
we want the general public and journalists to be able to use it and have full access to documents .
the international community reacted sharply on this issue .
I wanted to enquire whether the Council intends to increase humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and intensify efforts to rebuild civil society there .
President Barroso , I should like to ask you a question regarding the future of the automobile sector which , indeed , will remain one of the most important industrial sectors even after 2020 .
we have today , if I could take the country of the Presidency , EUR 7 billion in surplus trade in agricultural commodities .
but many special interests are represented in this Parliament , which means that a European aid policy is bound to fail .
in this way the Union is probably going to lose the unique opportunity of diversity and greater security ...
I hope that we will adopt a reasonable resolution and that , after 7 June , we will have a Parliament that , with courage and more guts , speaks a clear language during the restructuring of the financial market .
on external neighbourhood policy , we need an approach which does not exclude Russia and Turkey .
we are not allocating resources on an East-South cleavage but based on conditionality according to each partner 's progress towards reform , or , if you like , more for more .
it is an absolute sovereign right of the Polish people to elect their government and President .
the current solution brings to mind a modified version of Churchill 's aphorism : this is the worst option , except for all the others .
in addition , I would like to explain that I will also be concerned over the next few months with drawing up strict and objective legal regulations governing nuclear waste .
what can the general conclusion be ?
in my opinion , the resolution before us is a retrograde step .
however , our decision will be made here in the European Parliament tomorrow , and then it will be up to the Member States and the Commission .
however , this agreement is contrary to this principle .
personally , I hope that Mr Dorfmann will be able to continue to have political input on this matter .
in 2006 , under the Black Sea Memorandum of Understanding , over 4,650 inspections of ships belonging to 83 flags were performed .
the report also touches upon another important aspect - that we must combat the budget deficit without damaging growth , particularly as far as generating the economy is concerned .
we simply cannot say : more troops , everything to continue as before , everything is going well .
the banking system has demonstrated its cynicism by repaying in advance the State aid that did , after all , prevent it from going under , so that it can avoid having to change its behaviour , including its most scandalous practices .
these problems are relevant as far as climate change , a healthy environment and food security are concerned .
this can be seen from the level of participation and from the high number of Members who wanted to participate and cooperate in this debate .
however , choices of this kind cannot be restricted to public participation in decision-making alone .
let me say a little more about the obstacles to logistics .
composition of committees and delegations : see Minutes
the resolution was passed with a broad majority of 529 votes in favour , 127 votes against and 18 abstentions .
consumers want vehicles that use less fuel , are better for the environment and are safer .
what is new is that the EIB will now also work to help small business owners in developing countries by opening the door for loans .
this report helps us with that .
I believe that the report we have adopted offers sound backing for these objectives .
but I am disappointed that the threshold for greater reporting has been set at five million , with no reference to percentage national market share .
this is without doubt the main aim of the EU 's foreign policy .
written statements ( Article 142 )
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , Mr Churchill said : ' never waste a crisis ' .
in many respects I admire my own group 's basic positions .
eavesdropping scandal in Bulgaria ( debate )
( LT ) The European Union is setting an example for other continents by tackling threats hovering over our planet .
more than half the operative programmes are still unapproved .
it is now up to the governments whether or not we will be able to put an end to the over-pollution of the River Raba and other European rivers in a similar situation .
however , we need an EU-wide solution - not 27 different EU solutions - and we need an international solution too .
most of all , however , I welcome the limit which unifies airport fees for the main national and larger airports , allowing the smaller airports to offer lower prices and thereby to compete in a market which is currently very much lacking in transparency .
in the course of the deliberations , departure from the idea of liberalisation in favour of a gradual , rather cautious opening of the postal market for letters weighing less than 50 grammes became increasingly apparent .
do you intend to find a way to prevent a magazine , distributed free of charge in pharmacies in Germany and subtly funded by the pharmaceutical industry , from being affected by this directive ?
Mr President , let me thank all those who have spoken on this particularly sensitive subject and allow me to make some comments .
on some issues , of which the development of an environmentally friendly energy economy is an example , we have adopted ambitious goals at the European level , which we must now begin to achieve .
Serbia has indeed committed many sins , but the Euro-Atlantic contribution to the sins committed was also significant .
the order of business would thus be as follows :
it is necessary to engage stakeholders at grass-roots level , through information campaigns , use of NGOs , and also by more formal instruments such as including special provisions in collective agreements and national legislation relating to gender equality .
there is one answer to that question , Mr President , Commissioners , and it is one that we all know , that has been said here : by creating a European civil protection force .
one of these is provided by quarterly statistics on job vacancies in the Community .
given that RAPEX covers all dangerous consumer products , however , it is not necessarily the most appropriate tool for collecting information on losses caused by counterfeit products .
I wish to express my support for Mr Saryusz-Wolski 's report which rightly emphasises that the task of guaranteeing energy security for Europe 's citizens must become a major priority in the EU 's common foreign and security policy .
the agreement negotiated includes the most ambitious disciplines for non-tariff barriers ever negotiated with a third country .
I am not even going to mention the US budget of EUR 2 000 billion .
for the rest , I am particularly delighted by the Commission 's decision to address the revision of social legislation in the maritime sector , to which traditional employment law and its protections do not apply .
I therefore believe that today 's decision was an important one , which can underline the EU 's consistency with recently adopted decisions that have made Taiwan the EU 's fourth most important partner in Asia .
we also know those who have previously profited from this only too well .
in Lithuania , the Lithuanian airline ' FlyLAL ' also filed for bankruptcy this year .
nevertheless , experiences , such as the Portuguese one , of awarding minimum incomes without any truly effective monitoring , but with an enormous number of people who are registered as benefit claimants who could and should work , but neither work nor try to , constitute a perversion of the logic that should be contemplated .
it is therefore our duty to find the most advantageous and effective synergy in this area .
we talked highly of the SMEs but they are still struggling with the same regulation as the big global industries .
I intended to , but I turned the paper over too quickly .
get it right and we can take action which will be good for the environment , good for the consumer and good for the future of car making .
the European Parliament has a moral and political duty to ensure that this memory is kept alive , and our debate today is one way of doing so .
the present need for them to work with very disparate national legal forms means that they are in great need of advice , which is obviated by this new legal form .
we can clearly see in Libya that the United States did not want to be in the front line and that NATO 's minimum undertaking is insufficient .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the Members who have already spoken have said practically everything .
up to now , the Italian Government has had no strategy to improve the situation of Roma on its territory .
I would say that both economic strategies should be used .
for this reason , the pilot studies due to be carried out by the European Commission will be very enlightening .
it should also put in place a safety net to guarantee a remunerative price so that the price never falls below the production costs .
we have included temporary work agencies in the scope of the directive .
what kind of support do Member States provide in problematic cases ?
I can only repeat that the uptight , defensive attitude of the Council Presidency is beyond me .
it highlights some of the critical issues still to be resolved in the process of bringing Turkey closer to the European Union and also notes how , as well as the unresolved issue of the Armenian genocide , it is also up to the Turkish authorities to take responsibility for the occupation of part of the island of Cyprus and the dispute with the Republic of Cyprus , a Member State since 2004 .
I also ask the Council to realise that what the rapporteur represents is not an individual 's opinion , nor is it the opinion of a party , or only the opinion of the Committee on Budgets .
deregulation .
I would like clarification from the Slovenian presidency on these issues .
after all , these are investments that are not immediately profitable , but are made so that there is a reserve .
I really think that we have to investigate where these blind spots are leading .
the first is fairness for our producers and for our industry .
in writing . - ( LT ) I voted in favour of this resolution on the Europe 2020 Strategy .
this would be the best present for the hundreds of thousands of refugees and displaced persons who are suffering cruelly from this situation .
this would have increased the value of forests in developing countries , limited CO2 emissions and promoted the most elementary source of carbon .
besides economic policy measures , we must not forget about the special role of women in society either .
according to Mr Moratinos , the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs , the initiatives contravene international law .
the EU Presidency is undoubtedly a considerable challenge for a country like Slovenia , particularly in view of its human resources and the size of its government administration , as you have said .
furthermore , in the field of transport , the Presidency proposes to support intelligent transport systems , which I fully agree with , and I take the opportunity here to repeat : the European Union should discontinue the legal practice of adopting and keeping in force as many regulations as there are means of transport .
to do so , in my view , would lead to a devaluation of the term ' strategic ' .
we have other legislative documents , such as the CLP Regulation of 2008 on substances and mixtures and the Globally Harmonised System , which classifies substances and mixtures according to the hazards with which they are associated .
( EL ) Madam President , my thanks to Mrs Weiler who has , I believe , given a helping hand to small and medium-sized enterprises throughout Europe and , hence , to Europe itself .
the key consideration when examining the subject of adoptions and drafting the resolution is the principle of reintegrating the child from the protection system into a biological or extended family .
I believe that this issue must be considered during the debates on the future of the common agricultural policy .
a great deal of controversy has surrounded our meeting in Strasbourg this week , because some Members simply could not get to it from their constituencies .
bearing in mind your sensitivity to these issues and to interinstitutional cooperation between Parliament and the Commission , we believe that the European Parliament will play an important role in your endeavours .
I accepted the proposal that I should deputise for him with pleasure , inter alia because much of what falls within my competence is closely related to sport .
the action of these operators will be monitored by the regulatory authorities .
the ' Innovation Union ' initiative still remains the most important Union initiative for developing an integrated European strategy in relation to research and innovation .
we need action plans , financial aid and assessment of the results .
this is not least intended to reduce the dependence of the EU on individual states from which we have hitherto acquired our fossil fuels .
the more they feel that they are immune , the more their numbers will grow .
( FR ) Mr President , ( inaudible ) Galileo , the first Community infrastructure , requires all stakeholders to share the same goal : success .
in this connection I have also expressed my wish for the International Criminal Court and the Commission to cooperate more closely in practice with regard to the fight against sexual violence .
banks that were properly managed , therefore , have somehow been victims of a market distortion .
they fear ending up in a kind of second-class position like their co-religionists in almost all the countries of the region .
however , in complimenting the report , let me say that my group 's starting point will be ' doing justice ' - doing justice for SMEs and consumers across the European Union , where they have to face inappropriate and anti-competitive action .
my group attaches a lot of importance to making sure that we remain competitive and retain jobs in Europe .
therefore , I would like to remind the Romanian Prime Minister that Romania is part of the European Union as of 1 January and that 2007 is the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All .
today , people face too much uncertainty as regards the issues of access to care in other European Union Member States , reimbursements for services provided and responsibility for clinical follow-up .
a series of roadblocks has also been removed .
some may say that does not matter .
these are the names I will call out .
I have therefore rejected the proposal .
in answer to your first question , let me say that I have already decided that parallel trade in counterfeit medicines will be treated as a matter of priority .
in order to achieve that , I consider it essential to adopt measures that establish greater transparency in the fight against tax fraud - especially in VAT - and all financial crimes ; greater cooperation between governments in the case of cross-border fraud ; improvements in the quality of data and constant updating of national databases ; and rapid responses by governments to requests for information .
I call on the Commission to emphasise these issues in its dialogue with Russia .
we are simply asking for a split vote at the semicolon , in other words just following the words ' it is of great importance that Russia show good will regarding cooperation in the European energy policy ; ' .
however , the report insists on rewarding choices such as the deployment of troops in Afghanistan and elsewhere or the promotion of economic policies , such as privatisations which are exacerbating the recession by increasing unemployment and social inequalities and cutting social rights .
if moral hazard cannot be shown to work then the taxpayer cannot be expected to pick up the bill for the excess and irresponsible risk-taking of private institutions .
we are still committed to the one-China policy , while Beijing has recently become more suppressive and violent both in Tibet and the Uyghur region .
( CS ) Mr President , the Danube strategy is the second macro-regional strategy to support territorial cooperation where there are common characteristics and joint challenges .
India can set not only an economic example for the rest of the developing countries , but also an example of democracy .
Europe has all too often made the mistake of not admitting that it is tempted by the same thing and , rather than hide behind arguments , which are at times extremely hypocritical in any case , it would be far better to admit that Africa has potential , that it has special links with Europe and that we have a shared interest in discovering , building and forging those links .
I would like to express the hope that this time the European Commission will approach the task of preparing a common energy policy more seriously .
consequently , may Europe stay ambitious , and may it understand that the world needs it to take decisions !
indeed , if one looks at the stability pact and economic governance , you are shifting from a coordination strategy to a supervision strategy , resulting in a Washington consensus becoming a Brussels consensus .
the communication from the Commission sets out some of the options that are available .
now , one of the rules of democracy is the fulfilment of undertakings .
the most important thing is that authors need to be paid for online books .
the vote will take place tomorrow ( Wednesday , 15 December 2010 ) .
the urgency resolutions that result from these have highlighted serious flaws in policy on individual and wider crises which is a gross violation of human dignity .
( FR ) Mr President , Mr Jouyet , Commissioner , I would like to begin by thanking Mr Jouyet for being available and for the great competence he displays in all areas .
the EU efforts to ensure its energy security should also be increased to the maximum , including by the development of the Nabucco project .
order of business : see Minutes
it is a balanced draft which should guarantee that employees ' representatives are kept adequately informed and consulted prior to decisions relating to circumstances affecting them and should also allow businesses to adapt to globalisation .
Egypt 's democrats have completed the first phase of the work ; now it is up to us to step up to the mark .
here I must stress that under Czech constitutional rules it is essential to have a constitutional majority to pass this Treaty .
this programme has been kept under constant review by the new government .
it is the effect that this crisis had on passengers that I wish to draw the Commission 's attention to today .
a detailed and objective assessment of both countries ' compliance with the Schengen acquis has been completed .
the Dublin Regulation is the same in certain respects , as it promotes asylum shopping .
in writing . - ( PT ) We defend the application of the principle of subsidiarity .
unfortunately , the Europe 2020 strategy is limited to indicating the way out of poverty for 20 million people by 2020 , which represents a step back from the initial objectives of the so-called Lisbon Strategy .
we urgently need this reduction in air traffic emissions , because the volume of air traffic is growing so much and because our air traffic emissions trading system has not been very effective .
disparities will be reduced : children come from different socio-economic backgrounds , with some of them being hugely disadvantaged .
otherwise we will fail both the passenger and the operator .
the course to follow entails renewed attention to the world of work together with the learning of personal skills , or rather the so-called ' knowledge triangle ' .
I think it is time for further action .
it is becoming increasingly clear that consumers must , from now on , play a responsible , active role by engaging in sustainable , ethical , socially responsible and ecological consumption .
people can then be confident that their social security rights travel with them , that their pensions are in order , regardless of where they are living or working , and that proper care is guaranteed , everywhere in Europe and not just for themselves but for their families too .
anyone working in this institution knows how many difficulties may be encountered in moving forward with the process of development and integration , because this process has to be built between people of differing histories , cultures , social status and traditions .
I extend my thanks to the House .
we must redouble our efforts to bring on board countries that have a significant influence on the government in Burma , such as China and India .
and we must not consider only Croatia in this resolution .
once again , European citizens are waiting for answers from Europe , as well as concerted , coordinated action .
in the derivatives legislation currently being negotiated , we can ensure that we do not create or reinforce monopolies by supporting open access to CCPs and the like , and by ensuring the availability of important data streams to all players .
dialogue and mutual respect are inalienable values for the European Union , and it is essential for the High Representative , Catherine Ashton , to become a spokesperson for this position , and to strongly uphold it in our bilateral relations with other countries .
however , I would like to see all issues being placed clearly on the table during the accession negotiations and being discussed and dealt with beforehand .
that is something which repeatedly confirms that Serbia is actually pursuing a nationalist course .
when did we ever vote for this ?
the role of the Member States regarding the legitimacy of also involving the European Union 's institutions at local level is further strengthened in the Treaty of Lisbon , currently at the ratification stage .
therefore , the ongoing cooperation with local authorities must be expanded and their role in combating poverty and hunger , improving water and health services , and encouraging local economic development must be developed .
in writing . - I voted in favour of the resolution in order to acknowledge Croatia 's progress towards EU accession and highlight the remaining goals to be achieved for the benefit of its people .
I was therefore very pleased to support this report .
national legislators should take far greater account of the consequences of system changes for people who are mobile , that is to say people who work in one country and live in another .
the report argues for the promotion of ' market economy reforms ' , encouraging ' harmonisation and further liberalisation measures ' and supporting ' the creation of a free trade area in accordance with WTO principles ' .
our aim , a twin aim as it happens , is , first of all , to help shed light on the responsibility of the different parties in the Gaza war and , beyond that , looking more to the future , I would say , we must ask ourselves what we can say and do today to help rebuild a dialogue .
the Europe of the 12 , of Kohl and Mitterrand , is no more and will doubtless never return .
I must note , however , that we must not overlook the fact that , despite some objections raised in the report , there will be an electronic exchange of information and personal data , and we do not fully agree with this .
do not come to me with conditions !
it would be ideal , therefore , were the Member States to be granted authorisation beforehand .
work is ongoing at the Commission for a more systematic assessment of quality of public finance developments including aspects of performance-based budgeting .
I welcome the Commissioner 's statement because , if I listen carefully , the Commission is actually open to the Parliament 's request , which was included in last year 's report on competition policy , for a more sophisticated toolkit with regard to antitrust policies .
it is the broad political basis in Ukraine and Russia that speaks together , and I would thank Mr Saryusz-Wolski for his activities in providing this exchange of views , and also President Pöttering who took part in conciliating both parties .
in connection with the EU agreement on the climate-energy package the Council has also emphasised the contribution of this package to EU efforts to secure funding for measures aimed at mitigating climate change and adapting to it .
that is why I believe that we must put our European social model , our social market economy , at the heart of our response to this crisis .
there are those who speak out in favour of banning gambling , while others believe that this ban would result in an increase in these activities without any kind of regulation in force .
the economic and financial crisis has made it necessary in many Member States to introduce cost-saving measures and to reform existing structures .
only their fight , within the prospect of a grassroots economy and grassroots power , can effectively protect them .
the next question concerns the independence of the test .
why ?
we will therefore not hesitate to use the tools available in an appropriate and balanced manner .
it is understanding why they voted ' no ' .
as the Chairwoman of the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality , I want to remind you of the one-child policy , which provides clear evidence of the totalitarian and undemocratic nature of the regime in China .
I therefore abstained .
we have nothing to be proud of .
access , opportunity and solidarity must be the watchwords and will be at the heart of the renewed social agenda that the Commission will present before summer .
Mr President , sometimes when writing these short speeches , it strikes me that it would really take the talent of a George Orwell to do justice to these reports .
one of the common factors across the Southern Neighbourhood is that it is a young society ; those young people , some of them highly educated , some of them wanting further opportunities in education and training - we should respond to them as well , and we will be inviting Member States to consider that and I invite the Parliament to do so as well .
the first is the preservation of a multilateral framework for trade .
the conclusions of the G20 summit are an excellent starting point for bringing the global economic crisis to an end as quickly as possible .
we continue to cooperate in this difficult field , but I think that with these two big agreements , the landscape has changed a little and we notice modest progress .
it has a responsibility towards the international community , and has to comply with this and all other resolutions adopted by the United Nations .
research shows that there is a strong correlation between entrepreneurship and growth .
however , we do not know what measures were actually taken in this respect , particularly as situations continue to arise in which this right is not respected , for example in the EU-ACP Joint Parliamentary Assemblies .
we can undertake effective action only when it is legitimised by both the European and national parliaments acting at their respective levels and in accordance with their own mandates .
these are displays of behaviour which are incompatible with the principles forming the foundation of the European Union and seriously spoil the European Community spirit , revealing the existence of a disgraceful iron curtain between the EU 's citizens .
I am particularly pleased that we have succeeded in implementing and anchoring initial clear criteria for endocrinal substances , and I have confidence in the Commission 's responsibility to come up with more criteria in the next four years .
that being the case , the purposes must be abided by .
do we not know that Kazakhstan has been actually carrying out a program entitled ' Pass to Europe ' , which reflects this Republic 's sincere desire to move closer to the EU in the fields concerned ?
this is not only absurd for the climate , when the scientists are telling us that we have to reach a 40 % target , but it is also absurd for our economy and jobs .
in the environmental field measures to bring about rapid improvements in the energy efficiency of our buildings must be given sizeable budgets , thus encouraging innovation and therefore new jobs .
it is hugely important that expertise , impartiality , independence and objectivity are the crucial factors .
the Court estimates that at least 11 % of the total of EUR 24.8 billion reimbursed during 2008 in respect of the 2000-2006 programming period should not have been reimbursed .
he personally has co-signed this reply , which states that the initiative and responsibility for the terms rests solely with the Greek Government .
however , this fact does not mean that all its underlying concepts need to be revised .
the digital divide also affects the generation gap .
I should be grateful for your comments on these points .
in this debate , we are confronted with the amendment to Directive 86 / 613 / EEC , which has clearly indicated that it does not comply with the objectives set for it .
now , following exactly eleven months of work , the Policy Changes Committee is presenting the fruits of its labours .
she made a great effort in this area , which unexpectedly turned into a very controversial issue , to reach a consensus , including with the Council .
as for immigration to offset empty cradles , this is a dangerous idea which would not only destabilise our western societies , but could be a genuine time bomb with all the consequences we can well imagine .
the point I wish to make is that any possibility of allowing personality profiling based on ethnic origin , nationality , religion , sexual orientation , sex , age or health is unacceptable .
we do not want any products that have been made by forced or slave labour !
what the European Commission and the Council must do is to turn to the resources given to them by the interinstitutional agreement itself .
it also promotes engaging with the EU 's strategic partners within the UN system and giving the strategic partnerships a multilateral dimension by including global issues on the agendas for the EU 's bilateral and multilateral summits , as well as contributing to improving the efficiency and transparency of the UN and enhancing the management of the UN 's financial resources .
French politician , Edouard Herriot , once said : ' culture is what we are left with when we have forgotten everything ' .
I represent the south-east of England , and many of my constituents - together with other European citizens - have been suffering urbanisation abuses on the Mediterranean coast and in other parts of Spain for a long time now .
over 100 persons , mainly children , were poisoned from eating contaminated fish and were treated immediately .
this is the only way that we will be able to return European industry to a leading position in the world .
now Mr Obermayr has the floor , also in relation to observance of the Rules of Procedure .
Europe has to produce cars and ships . '
next , in the area of VAT , I am pleased with the policy of taking slow steps and with the experimental idea of the reverse charge , but resolute steps forward are also needed here .
the FYROM Parliament 's decision is an expression of respect for all the victims and a message that we all share the responsibility for building a better and brighter future for all the countries of the Western Balkans .
I hope colleagues can support it and again I thank the many people who took a great interest in it .
these are : usual charges related to the use of cards independently of the geographic location or Member State ; charges for currency conversion if the payment is made between Member States using different currencies , for example the euro and sterling ; and third , charges at the point of sale of a cash withdrawal at an ATM .
there will always be groups who , thanks to the status quo , do not have to surrender their privileges .
I think we could bring that forward by perhaps three or four years and try to get realistic programmes up and running well before 2020 .
we are not talking here about sanctimonious dogmatism but about an urgent situation that the European Union must help to resolve .
the report is in line with the Treaty of Lisbon , in which particular attention is paid to energy policy by means of the strengthening and coordinating of its methods and of the investments required for the sector .
we need above all to take specific action to support small and medium-sized enterprises ; action which will enable them to deal with imperfect markets and will make it easier for them to do business .
we have to accept the fact that products are going to come in from the rest of the world , but they must be of the same standard .
the resolution does not adequately represent the position of the majority of the political groups which helped to create the document .
the fact that the majority of errors are detected by the Court of Auditors and the Commission in projects and payments managed by Member States indicates clearly where more efforts need to be made without delay , as shared management represents almost 80 % of the European Funds .
we are therefore calling on the Commission to prepare a new energy efficiency action plan action to take account of the needs of vulnerable consumers .
it includes allowing workshops and dealerships to have unrestricted access to information on vehicles and repair options .
what we expect of the European Union in future is that , of course , it continues to give its unfailing support but , above all , it is important to contribute towards enabling Haiti to free itself from this dependency , despite its acknowledged weakness .
for that we need a strategy .
- Hökmark report
only three months after the entry into force of the decision , the Commission finalised the mandate for the European Investment Fund to launch the guarantee operations for microfinance providers .
that is why I should like specifically to thank Commissioner Hübner and the President of the European Parliament for adopting the proposal so that it can be voted through by the end of the year .
the most important issue is the ability to make legally binding on all network operators the technical codes adopted under the oversight of the Agency .
it testifies to an adult attitude which is very wise .
finally , I would like to remind you of the events which took place as part of the development committee devoted to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and also thank Commissioner De Gucht for attending these events and for the interest he has shown in this matter , as well as Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner for her attendance at this debate .
if antibiotics are used on such a large scale , it is no surprise that strains of bacteria arise which do not then respond to antibiotics .
the same problems will face us again and will threaten the whole future of the euro and the EU if we do not have better coordination and more Community method .
in writing . - There are several reasons why this agreement strengthens the EU internal market and cooperation in standards as well as maintaining consumer protection .
however , I then ask myself , and I fail to understand - let me make that clear - what the European Union is trying to achieve in its association agreement .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
the Swiss being the Swiss decided that they were better off by not joining or achieving full EU membership .
in a few days , we will be meeting with the European metal-working unions and automotive unions and , of course , the unions are the main parties involved in the round-table meetings , which I have already mentioned .
the third part of the report examines risk and crisis management .
trade policy cannot ignore any failure in respecting workers ' rights , and the development of society may continue only after such obstacles have been removed .
there are reports of which only parts were published and which uncovered cases of fraud as long ago as 2002 , and then , of course , there was the great report of 2008 .
as I see it , the practical problem is how this resolution will be perceived by the Iranian regime .
this new labelling is very pertinent to consumers because it allows them access to better information so that they can make fully informed choices and recognise their impact in matters concerning energy efficiency .
the Greek authorities are finalising the action plan that will also include the conditions for the operation of the financial instrument .
I am conscious in a number of discussions with honourable Members that these issues , particularly Western Sahara , have become more prominent .
for this reason , we are expecting from the Presidency of the European Parliament by the end of the year an appropriate long-term strategy on assets and buildings which will also take account of renovation requirements and security costs .
we do not favour the introduction of new coupled subsidies within the first pillar .
Madam President , many of the reforms we constantly call for in Turkey come together in the saga of the repeated closure of Kurdish political parties , of which that of the DTP last month is only the latest .
to everybody , and to the PSE Group in particular , it should by now be crystal clear that the compromise package puts in rules where none exist at present .
this concern , which frequently appears in the Treaties , is unfortunately less apparent in Brussels , with inevitable consequences not least in terms of bureaucratic temptation .
during the last 40 years , European customs has done its best to work efficiently together like one single administration .
as we have seen , however , loop belts can be life-threatening .
rather than rush open skies , let us , even at this late hour , take whatever time is necessary to do serious assessment on the impact of the policy .
we would also like to point out that the European Court of Human Rights has criticised this use of torture on several occasions , or , at the very least , the fact it is not sufficiently investigated .
it should be borne in mind in this connection that the prior grant of an authorisation , licence or concession should not constitute a defence in such circumstances . ”
if the EU is to have any credibility in this debate , it must lead by example .
historically , it is women who are most at risk of poverty - especially single mothers and women over 65 years of age .
I should stress that we are not advocating lowering the criteria or providing a short cut .
for another thing , we observed that it is a significant crisis for the airlines if it is not possible to fly for several days .
by Mr Liberadzki , on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control , on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Seventh , Eighth and Ninth European Development Funds for the financial year 2007 - C6-0296 / 2008 - ,
this is about aviation safety for European passengers .
declare that the Assad family will never be considered by the European Union as the real representatives of the Syrian people , and that they will be accountable for their crimes .
Madam President , every week , the press is filled with news of a new or modified proposal from a country , the European Council and the President of the Commission .
as co-legislators , we are under an obligation to develop viable economic policies that meet society 's real needs , always bearing in mind the available technological framework .
they do not want to go to Greece , where they have practically no chance of receiving refugee status .
the third requirement is to intensify the peace process .
this agreement demonstrates that the European Union is continuing to take into consideration the specific circumstances of the outermost regions , and is in fact doing so more than ever , by agreeing to extend their exemption system .
this confirms that the argument for retaining this munition in our arsenals , namely , the argument that it is a defence tool , does not withstand criticism .
thirdly , we are firmly resolved to inform the Commission before Parliament 's summer recess of our intentions regarding pilot projects and preparatory actions .
I think those of us who believe that things need to change in this regard , away from a system that rewards inefficiency at the expense of efficient agriculture , are those who truly believe in sustainable rural development .
Madam Ashton , I agree with you that we must not forget the origins from which the European Union was born .
three quarters of the citizens of the Czech Republic want a referendum on the subject .
she is a writer , blogger , journalist and activist who is currently in prison for vague reasons , the most plausible of which is that she was defending freedom of expression and human rights in her country .
I think it is very arrogant of you to say you have no time .
strict organisation of projects , effective use of resources and clarity about their duration ;
by the same token it is supposed to improve the way the policy is accepted and assessed by EU citizens .
the Eastern Partnership ( EaP ) is a meaningful political framework for deepening relations with partner countries , based on principles of shared ownership and responsibility .
the price for certain basic commodities has in fact doubled , or even tripled , in 6 years , while the ECB focuses on global and misleading aggregates , and calls for wage moderation .
my party believes this to be the realisation of Orwell 's ' Big Brother ' Britain .
on the other hand , if the establishment of a permanent mechanism is therefore positive , the European Council has chosen to create a purely intergovernmental mechanism , thereby denying in a unique manner the European institutions any role , including in the procedure leading up to its establishment .
there is a catastrophic decline in bees , and we must take action at European level .
in order to press ahead with an efficient shutdown , we need a clear financial framework and controls for the correct use of the funds provided .
the lack of response by Member States to the recommendations of this Parliament is quite appalling .
on the other hand , I supported Amendment 1 , which extends the initiative taken by 16 Member States and calls for a balance to be re-established between the various operators in the sector .
in addition to the internal reforms , there are , of course , needs and a few problems , including in relations with the country 's neighbours .
companies which base themselves in certain areas rely on a fast internet service .
thanks to the contribution of the Council , and especially of the two rapporteurs and of the amendments we tabled in committee , the draft directive on the European Protection Order offers excellent protection for victims without any national legislative restrictions .
these units have to provide a financial guarantee to cover the cost of rehabilitation of the land .
the point is that the petitions process is probably the only process that is properly worth protecting in this place .
in our own European countries , particularly my home country , Belgium , we are increasingly seeing muzzling laws that restrict freedom of expression and even introduce prison sentences for opinions constituting an offence , particularly in matters of immigration and Islamisation .
I should like to raise a second point on the Council conclusions for reasons of principle .
another important issue concerns research funding .
we fully support Iraq remaining a unified and sovereign state .
will they have an inhabitable environment ?
ladies first , and not only these days , I will start by thanking Ms Herczog for the quality of her report on the Small Business Act ( SBA ) and the strong support it provides for the Commission 's initiative to establish a comprehensive policy on small- and medium-sized enterprises .
China 's civil rights activists must be allowed to act without the threat of arrest .
the Commission 's auditors should never have applied rules that were stricter than those already approved , and that is why we must settle the past , Commissioner .
it affected Ukraine , Russia , especially areas along the Volga , the Don and the Kuban , Western Siberia , the Southern Urals and the northern part of Kazakhstan .
I want to welcome what colleagues have said this evening .
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as a minimum - I am sure you will agree - the people deserve the full facts .
( it ) Madam President , my colleague 's report accurately emphasises that there are still notable discrepancies between the way serious social road traffic offences are treated in the various Member States .
nor will Germany or France be doing so either .
however , it is important to point out that the particular situation for Ireland which has fully decoupled all direct payments from production needs to be taken into consideration .
finally , and very importantly in my view , I voted in favour of retaining the scheme to provide support for the poorest members of society .
in other words , Israel 's occupation must be brought to an end or there will never be peace .
however , the report is , by and large , acceptable .
altogether , EU assistance to education in Kosovo , over the period 2006-2010 , amounts to EUR 30.5 million .
in writing . - ( PL ) I should like to highlight the importance of this report and congratulate the rapporteur on the outcome .
the Commission is keeping a close eye on the modernisation of the sections between Stuttgart and Ulm .
a special EU fund would guarantee arbitrariness , inefficiency , bureaucracy and unjustified expenditure .
neither of these descriptions gets to the heart of the matter .
I think that helps to raise interest , and it is also ultimately good for voter turnout .
I believe that it is of paramount importance for workers on maternity leave to be paid their full salary and that the maternity allowance should be 100 % of their last monthly salary or average salary , if the monthly salary is lower than this .
over the last 15 years we have had unprecedented economic growth , unprecedented employment growth , unprecedented wealth creation and unprecedented action with regard to helping and assisting the developing world .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( FI ) Mr President , first of all I wish to thank Mr Søndergaard for his excellent report .
if this is supposed to help it to come into being , I am sure no one will have any objections .
we must be clear that it is not enough to make the occasional tired gesture , but that we have a genuine responsibility here .
can I just quote - and I hope I do it accurately - the Commissioner 's own words ?
it does not matter who , where , how or why they are perpetrated , because democratic principles and values must always come before interests .
I can confirm that , firstly , any decisions in the sphere of taxation will continue to be made consensually .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue-card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
France has a different electoral system and therefore does not have the option of ' moving up ' democratically and directly elected members from a list .
pet owners are amateurs in many cases and are less likely to know how to handle and maintain their pets , which often leads to an increase in animal cruelty , often unintentional .
unfortunately , there is a continuing organ shortage and in Europe almost 10 people on transplant waiting lists die each day .
let us look at what the science tells us .
what is the new legal position ?
the reasons range from increasing family breakdown and the growing number of children brought up in single-parent families , to greater mobility of citizens and the spread of modern information technologies .
we need equipment which can operate in severe weather stationed so as to enable its rapid deployment at accident sites .
unfortunately , and in spite of the considerable efforts of the Portuguese Presidency , it was not possible to reach a political agreement at that particular time .
all these problems suggest that voluntary partnerships , however good our intentions , will have difficulty delivering the goals .
criminal acts were committed , and that is why the state was obliged to intervene .
the rapporteur shares the Commission 's view that the trade policy measures applied by the EU in the textiles sector can be managed without imposing the excessive burden of presenting proof of origin for all imports .
my original amendment to paragraph 87 aimed to confirm , rather than merely recognise , NATO 's role as the bedrock for collective defence - a role which is not just ' still continuing ' but should be seen as the only option for the foreseeable future .
in order to minimise the risks to people and the environment involved in the use of plant protection products , we need harmonised risk indicators based on comparable and reliable data from all the Member States .
it is important to find the best possible solution to contractual relationships at the international level and , at the same time , to provide more information in situations of this kind .
this is why the European Union is keenly following the response of the opposition to the coming referendum on the constitution .
because we do not trust our citizens to decide in the right way ?
the same rules have to apply to everyone and in all cases , we must act to ensure that freedom of information will be preserved .
Mr President , despite the EU being a signatory to the relevant convention , the rights of people with reduced mobility are not taken into consideration in this dossier .
Eurobonds are not the solution , as they only transfer fiscal irresponsibility to the European level , to places further away from public control , where attempts at excessive spending would have even more serious repercussions than at the national level .
it has become something of a visible European identifier : besides the anthem and the flag , it is one of the few symbols we have today .
better regional integration would also facilitate a more open dialogue between the countries in the Horn of Africa on subjects of common interest , such as migration , arms trafficking , energy or natural resources , and would provide a basis for dialogues on controversial topics .
it is also crucial that it be able to obtain information on best practices .
the ratio of felling to increment is stable throughout the Union , and is in the region of 60 % , but this ratio is projected to increase to more than 100 % in some countries , with , as a result , a reduction in standing timber after 2010 .
the EU agricultural sector has a significant added value for the European economy and plays a strategic role in tackling the economic , social and environmental challenges that the EU is facing .
I voted in favour of the joint resolution on the Goldstone report , not least because it recognises that the people of Gaza continue to live under appalling conditions as a consequence of the blockade and because it calls for an immediate , permanent and unconditional opening of the border crossings .
even before the final trialogue on Monday the Commission was still tabling technical adjustments to the wording a matter of minutes before the actual negotiations took place .
of course our thoughts are with the family of Gilad Shalit .
far-reaching reforms of the CFP are envisaged and , in light of that , and in a context of ever decreasing structural aid , many companies could need liquidity to restructure or adapt themselves with a view to 2013 .
mitigating the consequences of the shrinkage of working population through immigration is only one possible solution .
furthermore , it is well worth moving ahead with the European Heritage Label project on the basis of the report .
unfortunately , the events that shook Georgia pushed it into a political crisis that it has still not found a way out of , with the opposition taking to the streets to challenge the results of the first round of the presidential elections .
( FR ) Madam President , Commissioner , Minister , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to talk at the same time about accession to the European Convention on Human Rights ( ECHR ) and about accession to the International Criminal Court ( ICC ) .
the euro , Economic and Monetary Union - as many of you said in your speeches - is a dream that has become a reality , and this has happened in the space of 10 years .
I hope that we will soon make some progress on this .
continued dialogue and information-sharing on product safety is in the interest of all parties and is central to building consumer confidence .
the framework decision would apply to laboratory activities relating to DNA and fingerprints , and each Member State ensures that the results of the accredited laboratory activities carried out in other Member States are recognised as equivalent to the results of the accredited domestic laboratory activities .
when it comes to compliance with social standards , we are , for example , a very long way from what the United States has negotiated in its agreement with Korea .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , with the introduction of the Lisbon strategy , the European Union set itself an ambitious goal : to significantly reduce poverty by 2010 .
cooperation with Switzerland on education matters is an important step in EU-Switzerland relations .
worse still , the Netherlands are in the process of developing a policy to deregulate the establishment of hedge funds within the country .
years in which Europe could have promoted SMEs .
then we developed the internal market information system , which is now used quite intensively by all Member States , and we also published a code of conduct on administrative practices in June this year .
with the approval of this report , which seeks to establish enhanced cooperation in connection with the registration and protection of patents , there is a risk of imposing language arrangements that are limited to three languages only - English , German and French - with translation of the patent into the respective national language in each Member State no longer being required .
fourthly , at the same time border controls will be made easier , because biometric identifiers will allow border staff to determine quickly whether the person in front of them is the person for whom the visa was issued .
the aforementioned generic laws are very dangerous .
I believe that all the fears expressed by those who are against term extension will prove unfounded .
in fact , the Council has actively and positively defended human rights and international law in the European Union 's foreign policy .
increasing globalisation and the relocation of production to countries with lower wages brings massive job losses .
I think that Parliament and its President should make a stand against the diktats of the Parti Socialiste Mayor of Brussels , Mr Thielemans , who is banning demonstrations against the advance of intolerant Islam in our own European capital and in all of our European countries .
it allows for streamlining legislation across sectors whilst taking into account the specifications of particular products .
it would also enhance the efficiency of the European Neighbourhood Policy alongside that of official development aid and would favourably influence the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals .
I see it differently , and I hope the Parliament does too .
the data protection instruments address it , but call it ' Prohibition of Automated Processing ' : that means that EU data protection legislation prevents any individual from being subject to a decision which produces legal effects concerning him or her , or significantly affects him or her , and which is based solely on the automated processing of data .
for me , personally , that is not consistent .
the EU is prepared to support the work that remains to be done , based - among other things - on the recommendations made by the EU 's election observers .
Mr Šefčovič , I believe that we should ultimately consider a mechanism involving the Commission being present in this House , as provided for in this agreement .
we cannot be satisfied with measures such as those proposed in plenary which , on the pretext of increased protection for passenger rights , merely introduce unmanageable restrictions for bus and coach drivers and inevitable fare increases for the passengers themselves .
according to the common statement we adopted together with the Council following the conciliation of July 13th , the Commission should ensure the rapid approval of the Member States ' programmes and projects and submit a roadmap for their adoption .
we regret the fact that in this second reading in Parliament there has been no opportunity to vote for clarification of this , but we would point out , at the same time , that the adopted text contains improvements on that from Parliament 's first reading .
it is proposing that there should not only be monetary union , but that economic union should also have an important place in the European Union , which is , furthermore , what the Treaty of Lisbon states .
the aim of all of these tools is fundamentally to reinforce the values of , and opportunities for , an independent life , with a corresponding degree of safety , anywhere in the European Union .
I have a question for the Slovenian Presidency .
yet we have been using herbs and spices such as basil , tarragon and nutmeg in the preparation of our food since the year dot without any problems , but only in small , safe doses , of course .
a few years ago , plaice stocks were very low , as a result of which duty-free importation of other flatfish was permitted .
unfortunately , he forgot to visit the opposition , which would otherwise be customary .
operation EU NAVFOR Somalia ( Operation Atalanta ) was a success , and the Commissioner mentioned that a large number of activities had been undertaken , but we need more and better such operations .
there will then perhaps be no need to add more states to the Union , but if we have a senior representative in the Foreign Minister , we may be able to consolidate the role of the European Union .
Mr President , Commissioners , ladies and gentlemen , since I have already spoken , I will be brief .
the crisis has also once again brought the role of credit rating agencies to the fore .
Mr Kelly mentioned that Ireland was the very last country to do so .
we must not put in place trade defence instruments .
furthermore , it will send a very clear encouragement to criminals worldwide to pursue without fear their evil acts of committing genocides and other despicable atrocities against humanity .
the increased repression of human rights activists and Sahrawi activists by the Moroccan authorities ( arbitrary arrests , charges and detention ) is very worrying .
election of the European Ombudsman ( vote )
I firmly believe that investing in young people and education means investing in the present and future , as is outlined in the EU Youth Strategy .
this means that the European Commission should probably adjust its economic assessment models , especially since they are likely to be based on mathematical methods .
I hope that the amendments introduced will bring about greater competition in the air ticket sales market , to the benefit of the customer , especially where expansion of the current range and a lower end price for air tickets are concerned .
( ES ) Mr President , last week Europe missed a great opportunity : the opportunity to be the world leader in astrophysical research for the next twenty years .
in addition , the result of the whole cycle from production via use through to waste and recycling must be a positive one .
the four Member States that fall short in that respect are protected as long as they are not named openly .
it is only natural that the Union should have wished to help bring down the barriers that separate it from the majority of the Balkan States and to allow their nationals to access the EU without requiring a visa .
I will just pick up on one very important point .
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but , whether this is true or not , how much more would those powers be exceeded by a provision which allows officials to hound and spy on internet users whilst remaining above the law ?
also in the specific field of raw materials , the Commission has undertaken several development-oriented programmes : for instance , through FLEX , the Commission supports developing countries ' national budgets , where there has been a drop in export-related fiscal revenue .
I believe this is because here in Parliament we do not act in a specific enough way and we are not honest enough , but rather pursue something resembling a general , headlines policy .
we can certainly not solve all the problems related to supply , but there is much we could do about demand , and I have a feeling that in this area , the time is not yet ripe , that here , the political will is perhaps insufficient for taking a step forward .
the principle of equal pay for work of equal value must be implemented fully .
( DE ) Mr President , I find it particularly regrettable that , despite broad support by Members , my own-initiative motion on keeping Sunday as the non-working day has not been included in the vote in this House .
we have also sought coherence there with access to jobs .
I congratulate the Agency , following the Court of Auditors ' comments , on implementing a centralised system for registration of incoming invoices .
the objective of a new round of negotiations must be to find a compromise between these two things .
they are located conveniently within the EU 2020 strategy , which defines poverty as one of its five measurable objectives .
moreover , the Commission had proposed the promotion of unsolicited credit ratings in order to deal with the disastrous issuer instructions for the evaluation of financial market products .
according to information from the World Health Organisation , falsified medicines account for around 50 % of products offered on the Internet .
there is no compelling need for the EU to provide financial support for EGTC measures .
they believe there should be greater protection for animals used for scientific purposes .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , just one year after the declaration of independence , the situation in Kosovo , and in the whole Western Balkans region , is overall stable and under control , in spite of some incidents .
indeed , CRAs played a significant role in the build-up to the financial crisis through the assignment of faulty ratings to structured finance instruments .
these systems can also play a vital role in supporting and promoting the use of so-called intelligent transport systems .
Mr Topolánek , Mr Klaus , you represent two hopes for us : listening to the voice of the people , that is , ensuring that the referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon is respected throughout Europe , and giving the people back their freedom in order to free them from the Brussels bureaucracy that is swamping us .
public procurement ( motions for resolutions tabled ) : see Minutes
it is our belief that this will be extremely unworkable , costly and inefficient , particularly in schools which have children from many diverse linguistic backgrounds and would do little to foster integration of migrants into local communities .
I think that our resolution is well-balanced and will help the Russians resolve this matter .
the harsh military dictatorship of the profiteer Mobutu kept the country united for years in apparent peace , but the differences were never bridged .
we should come down hard on human traffickers , and their punishments cannot be severe enough .
it is out of the secretarial allowance that MEPs ' assistants are paid .
we therefore understand that the European Union , here , must try to have the most coordinated position possible ( which is what is happening at the moment ) , while respecting national competence and , as I said , exercising caution .
we are about to launch an ' EU-Philippines Justice Assistance Mission ' under the Instrument for Stability .
it involves a large number of public and private agencies and it is the internal security of the European Union , its notion of fundamental freedoms and rights and even , from certain points of view , its international policy which are at stake .
I doubt that .
Mr President , on my return from New York , I will visit you to discuss the Commission 's strategy on equality .
Latvia , Lithuania and Estonia must be integrated into the common regional energy network , including NORDEL .
I hope that your main success will not be the creation of a new , easy to access website .
like the philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy , I feel that denying genocide is in fact part of the genocide .
at the same time , these lists are still not enough .
firstly , I would like to stress the importance of the amendments tabled by the Socialist Group , and I would like to thank our rapporteur , Katerina Batzeli for her work , on the need , in some cases , to extend additional aid for withdrawal for farmers to the 2009-2010 marketing year .
it is not a unitary state , and we do not operate with only one capital in which all our institutions are based .
our goal must be to become an important security partner in the world .
I also welcome the significant progress that is being made in these negotiations and acknowledge , as others already have as well , that this should open up the Gulf States to EU trade and should be good for EU business .
I hope that the European Parliament will arrive at similarly clear and consensus-based conclusions as the Council , so that the European Union can speak with one - and a stronger - voice .
thank you for that comprehensive answer .
our fear now is that in 2013 we will face a linear decrease .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , today 's opportunity to discuss last month 's Black Sea disaster is very welcome , for at least two reasons .
if and when realised in full , the result of all this work will be what we need : a system that provides incentives for Member States to conduct sound economic and fiscal policies , and a system that provides incentives for investors to observe responsible lending practices .
to this end , however , a special effort is needed to promote European citizenship , based on the Charter of Fundamental Rights .
the question of intellectual property then needs to be dealt with in such a way that it also becomes attractive for a medium-sized enterprise to participate in the EIT .
it is therefore regrettable that the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development should not be taking part in this debate right now .
the Committee on Legal Affairs duly issued its opinion in good time and , in a rare show of unanimity , the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs approved the report that we are debating today .
as the European Parliament 's powers in this matter have increased since the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon , I hope that the Council does not revert to unequal direct payments for farmers of the old and new Member States and will not approve any additional general funding , which might damage fair competition in the single EU market .
last week Germany decided to carry out a detailed inspection of its systems for producing nuclear energy .
why does the Commission time and again submit proposals , the only objective of which is to reduce the rights of workers ?
I am surprised that these guidelines are only appearing after more than four years .
this will make it possible to increase this rate in the 2014-2020 period .
however , looking towards the future , I would like to encourage the Commission to examine the possibility of increasing national milk quotas by 5 % and gradually lowering fines for overproduction .
thank you once again .
some EU Member States connived with that breach of human rights .
the then Commissioner for the Environment , Stavros Dimas , promised to look for ways to strengthen the Waste Shipments Regulation and its implementation in the Member States , but nothing concrete happened .
it is true that the number of migrants reaching Italian and Libyan shores has fallen , but this is because the number of dead which the Mediterranean Sea continues to receive has risen .
this is achievable by setting up a regulatory framework with a long-term vision at Community and national level , focusing on the role of local and regional authorities in influencing policies promoting the use of energy from renewable sources .
following the 2007 general call for proposals , a network and three projects designed for less widespread languages were selected for funding as part of the key activity 2 .
where they provide some leeway , the Commission will use that for the benefit of Madeira .
the EU , of course , believes that if they joined everything would resolve itself in sweetness and light .
this is why I must congratulate the rapporteur Karl-Heinz Florenz and the other rapporteurs for the exceptionally skilful and responsible job they have done .
however , I have tried to achieve the greatest possible flexibility in the proposed procedure and a shortening of the times designated for the Commission to react , and also a reduction in the bureaucratic load .
for these reasons it is vital for a legal document to come into force that , in a clear and transparent manner , will define all the rules regarding the collection of data about job vacancies across the entire Community .
Mr Tudor has submitted a request for the exercise of immunity and privileges .
the preliminary position of the European Parliament is in several respects close to the general approach of the Council , and I therefore believe that we should not , and urge us all not to waste this opportunity to have an agreement at first reading .
however , it can open new negotiations with Parliament , in contrast to what would have happened if the motion to reject the Council common position , tabled and defended by our Group , had been adopted .
in this respect , I feel that it is appropriate to include the term ' innovation ' in the Institute 's name , originally supposed to be the European Institute of Technology and Innovation .
the rationale behind this is extremely questionable .
but Europe must be able to retain a solid , modern and competitive industrial base .
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the condemnation of Russia on various occasions by the European Court of Human Rights here in Strasbourg is depressing proof of the civil-rights situation in the country .
this means that , alongside Russia , Norway , Algeria , Qatar and Libya , we should also obtain gas from the Caspian region .
it is something to be denounced , not celebrated .
verification of credentials : see Minutes
I voted against this report which contains , apart from at least ten points worthy of criticism ( which is a kind way for us to describe them ) , an unacceptable reference to Council of Europe Recommendation 1201 .
it is patently obvious , if we obtain a Single Sky with functional air traffic control blocks , that we will be able to use the existing infrastructure much better .
I think that it is important that the issue of energy efficiency does not get sidetracked by emission quotas and the financial support being granted to developing countries .
we can read both in and between the lines that a policy based on these considerations will open the door to the protectionist tendencies which many interest groups and countries in the EU endorse .
the EU-Ghana Agreement is an example that points the way to bilateral cooperation .
if I quote him correctly , he has also assigned you the task of bringing Turkey 's membership forward .
certainly this will have our attention in the future also .
the EU must not wait until 2014 to make its structural and regional funding more flexible ; it must do so now , so that the Roma can also benefit from it .
we believe of course that all EU Member States , especially the states that form the Schengen area , should be fully incorporated into the programme .
Slovenia is a forestry country , as is my own country , Sweden , and I think it is very important that you have all the different alternative fuels on the table so that you can pick and choose and let innovation get the full potential of the whole thing .
however , I deplore the fact that the reference to a moratorium on all new oil drilling as well as to new standards have not been implemented throughout the Union and have been thrown out by a majority of Members in today 's vote .
in other words , opening begets opening ; trade begets trade .
it is important , when we draw up strategies in the fields of employment and education and in other fields , that we always consider the situation of the Roma so that they are integrated in different strategies .
the effect of the increasing number of scandals has been that European public opinion is thinking about these substances , which are suspicious for consumers , with ever greater concern .
the European Union should be a pioneer for a new way of thinking about agriculture .
the measure under discussion is contained in the strategy for developing judicial cooperation between EU Member States .
however , the honourable Members will surely agree with me in saying that this agreement is a lot better than the protocol over data exchange that the United States and the EU have had to comply with for years .
I am also pleased with the compromise reached on aerial spraying .
agriculture is subject to the vagaries of climate .
what is the quid pro quo ?
these are both serious crimes and they cannot be ignored .
this takes us to the heart of a subject which , personally , has always been of great concern to me , that of counterfeiting .
saying ' yes ' to the Treaty of Lisbon will provide the means to match our ambitions .
can you tell us what is happening with that ?
but I do so with the knowledge that Turkey has an important role to play , and I do so in the knowledge that I represent 27 Member States , and I work closely with the Member States who are most interested and affected by the issues at hand .
this is not an attempt to cry wolf , but if we do not rectify the problems identified within the motion , we will , as a consequence , face higher food prices and be more reliant on third country imports .
we are now addressing new challenges , and have agreed that our efforts must be directed towards dealing with these .
it is no accident that the issue of European poverty applies more often to older women .
on behalf of the S & D Group . - Mr President , I would like to begin by welcoming this Parliament 's involvement in UN initiatives .
the Irish Government will defend its position because it acted only after independent reports from the Director of the National Museum of Ireland were given to the Irish Government .
in the current climate where the consequences of the lack of control of international finance are all too apparent this is particularly urgent .
Mr President , I was going to speak on the importance of European structural funds for regions like Wales post-2013 , but I must respond to the comments made by Mr Batten earlier about a distinguished British politician and former Commissioner in the European Commission .
consumers can still find cloned products on their dinner tables , unsolicited and unlabelled , even though 77 % of European citizens are opposed to this .
it really is hypocritical in the extreme to carry on such a policy .
this will also make an important contribution to an innovative society , and we are grateful for that .
thank you for your attention .
for example , if there is a victim support office , it should be easily accessible and we should have individuals who help in the hospital , in the police cell and with the court system .
I think the solution is certainly not to close our borders , because the European Union is by far the biggest exporter in the world .
I regard this as a responsible course of action .
as Mr Seeber 's report rightly acknowledges , there are losses of up to 50 % in cities and 20 % water losses in Europe in general .
I would really like to thank Mrs Muscardini for her excellent report on this major issue of the fight against female genital mutilation in the European Union .
whether we want it or not , we must erase boundaries a little between the economic rules of national states .
EU membership is a big step for the countries concerned and it deserves the fullest possible debate and consultation involving the citizens of those countries .
in the same spirit , we shall organise on 28 November a working meeting , again with Louis Michel , on the link between agriculture and development .
Europe has urgent need of an authoritative leader , which this Commission embodies completely .
this will trigger a debate and is likely to put at risk the survival of the small butchers I have already mentioned , for example .
it means ensuring that European industry is able , in area after area , to be a leader in terms of technology and development , as well as within the environmental and energy sectors too .
I conclude by saying that I am pleased that this Parliament , by its vote this week , will have in place on 1 December , from the minute the Lisbon Treaty comes into force , a set of rules allowing us to exercise our new powers immediately .
Mr Fjellner , I have got to deal with your particular point , because you described what I was doing as an improper way of acting .
especially now that Europe is facing a financial and economic crisis , the Council is paying special attention to the employment policies of the Member States .
Ireland has been ruined by the single currency .
I would like to stress that , since the causes of the accident have not yet been clarified , it is inappropriate to draw conclusions .
the Commission is pressing industry to refine this information so that transparency for regulators is improved .
the Commission and the Council must therefore explain that neither the socio-legal mechanisms nor the Stockholm Protocol will ever lead to the creation of a statute of marriage for same-sex couples .
as Mr Barrot said , we have to recognise transport 's clear contribution and the need for the ' greening ' of transport .
the impact assessment , as has been said , above all revealed that there were some potentially very serious negative impacts , whether social , environmental or in terms of regional integration .
you have dealt with nearly a hundred petitions coming from Malta since 2004 , which is a rather high rate when taken pro rata to the population .
in Latvia , European Social Fund funding has become the object of political and economic speculation .
but , anyway , he will not come now - mercifully .
obviously it must be the domestic situation , and obviously it must be the elections .
there are no comments , so these amendments are accepted .
Mr President , Commissioner , Mrs Hieronymi , the MEDIA Mundus programme is a project based on an idea originating in our Committee , the Committee on Culture and Education .
that is why quality policy in the agri-food sector will be one of the priorities of my mandate , one of my main priorities straight after the common agricultural policy post-2013 reform .
finally , there is the question of double standards .
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I would like to say to him that despite my understanding - and I understand very well that election observation is not yet democracy - I cannot follow him on the path of this philosophy that is really enlightened despotism or revolutionary avant-gardism , where even Condorcet talks about minorities .
that is why we decided to abstain from today 's vote on the joint motion for a resolution by the four political groups , including the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats , on European conscience and totalitarianism .
I voted out of line with my own convictions , so please could this be altered .
our approach should be regional and inclusive .
I hope that the High Representative is willing to make efforts to achieve this .
I therefore do not share the vision of marine ecosystems and the associated fishing communities as a market , where fishing rights may be freely traded , perhaps even on a kind of stock market , which would naturally lead to the industrialisation of fishing and pose a threat to the equilibrium of the ecosystems and fishing communities .
a great many problems arose in this connection .
with one major challenge : to be able to respond to the doubling of demand for food production and supply that will take place between now and 2050 , in a context marked by scarcity of water , by a reduction in arable land and by a new energy situation dictated by the fight against climate change .
first of all , we must throw all our weight behind governments and the Commission in the initiatives they have taken recently .
unilateral ambition is not ambition : only when we act together according to the same rules will it be easy to tighten our belts substantially .
they have every reason to believe that they can withstand what we are now referring to as a crisis and that they will emerge stronger from every crisis .
I believe that recent science is enough substantive evidence that we need to be more ambitious than we thought just one or two years ago when it comes to climate change mitigation .
after two years of difficult negotiations , the European Parliament and Member States have reached agreement on the key points which will consolidate the rights of passengers using this means of transport .
President-in-Office . - ( SL ) Thank you for this information , but please understand that as a representative of the Council I am not at liberty to comment on the data or the situation for an individual Member State .
if we go for efficiency and renewables and pursue even a half-decent gas policy and , if we really have to , invest a little more in CCS , we shall have no need of nuclear energy , and we do not need to run that risk .
I would like to assure you that we , the Members of this freely and democratically elected Parliament , cannot - and shall not - follow the dictates of the Kremlin .
I welcome this report on the state of play of competition policy for 2009 .
the Member States have been given more time to investigate whether the repealing of the directives will lead to legal uncertainty .
we must strongly reject any proposals that involve leaving our chosen path and we have heard today that some have been made .
let us not forget that the Member States have constitutions , many of them with long traditions , and that in all Member States , there are courts , appeal courts and constitutional courts which ensure that fundamental rights are respected and enforced whenever national authorities act .
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it is important that we maintain stability in the Caspian region and also diversify away from over-dependence on gas supplies from Russia , and in particular Gazprom , which is often used as a sort of branch of the Russian Foreign Ministry .
I do not intend to speak before I hear the answers .
this Treaty , if nothing else , is a massive increase in democracy in the European Union .
there are more than 100 million European citizens engaged in voluntary activity , corresponding on average to an economic contribution of 5 % of GDP .
the next item is the debate on six motions for resolutions on Pakistan - murder of Shahbaz Bhatti , Minister for Minorities .
water is good , but when it is not clean we must filter it .
it is true that we have to do more with regard to the employment of older workers .
but I have to say as well - not only here , but I have said it elsewhere , including in the negotiations in Geneva - that the European Union is not going to give any further concessions in agriculture .
please , let us join together and do something in order to normalise the situation in Hungary and make it impossible to take advantage of the lack of procedural guarantees in criminal proceedings , especially for political reasons .
in view of this , and taking into account the importance of measuring instruments for most areas of human activity , I am voting for this proposal for a directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to units of measurement .
in writing . - The formation of a joint European identity and the growth in interest in the European Union and its genesis are challenges with which the European institutions are faced in their bid to achieve broad cohesion and solidarity .
I think the open method of coordination has advantages but it needs to be improved .
regulation is therefore needed very urgently , as technology is all well and good , and can be a boon for the consumer , but we do need to know for sure that the food on our tables is safe .
( FI ) Mr President , my chief purpose was to ask to speak , because I am coordinator of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe and because I would like , on its behalf , to thank Mrs Paliadeli for this magnificent report and to say a few words about the history of our people and about the European Heritage Label .
many words have been spoken with regard to the need for peace , dialogue , understanding , temperance - if one would wish to use that word - with regard to the reactions and the counter-reactions to different events .
I would like to thank sincerely the shadow rapporteurs as well as the Commission and Council representatives for their intensive cooperation , even if it did not always make life easy for me .
the legal basis allows the application of the minimum rule for reduction of payments , as well as for exemptions from reduction in the case of minimum infringements .
decisions concerning certain documents : see Minutes
the incorporation by the reform treaty of sub-national subsidiarity into Community law for policies of shared competence today allows territorial authorities to be more deeply involved in the decision-making process , both for the design and the implementation of policies , as fully dignified partners , to participate in achieving the Community objectives .
draft general budget 2008 as modified by the Council ( all sections ) ( debate )
we managed to have that requirement deleted .
therefore , before it is too late , I want to say to the House that we urgently need armed military escorts on these boats .
if we wish to advertise externally - yes , that is right , we have good reason to do so , as we have good products - I do not want it to be generalised advertising , but advertising showing European diversity .
regional cooperation financed by the Commission is part of this acquis .
German Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung is already having the guns polished on his naval ships , and there is an ESDP mission that has not even been discussed in the relevant committees yet - the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Subcommittee on Security and Defence - but only in the Committee on Transport and Tourism .
personally , I am not very happy about that , but there we are .
in addition , it emerges from the Commission 's report on the operation of the European Judicial Network in civil and commercial matters that it is a long way from achieving its potential , due to the lack of national contact points .
this is a tangible contribution by the European Union to assisting people during the crisis .
I have known about these problems for very many years .
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unfortunately , we came up against several practical problems , such as the fragility of the Afghan institutions and their inability to regulate opium production , the uncertainty as to the economic viability of such a scheme and the danger in allowing the reintroduction of opium in some of the thirteen Afghan provinces which have stopped production .
I have just listened to the Commissioner basically blame the institute for doing its work .
therefore , I have voted in favour of four of the reports on economic governance .
we have stated in the report that it is very important that these be curbed and that voting on remuneration policy be possible at shareholders ' meetings .
we hope that we - Parliament and you in the Commission - can work on this together so that citizens do not feel that the social successes we have achieved with some difficulty are being undone again by bogus quantitative competition .
it is disgraceful , however , that , despite this , politically weak representatives are placed at the top of the EU institutions .
for example , the textiles and clothing industry represents 11 % of Portugal 's total exports , 22 % of the manufacturing industry ; 80 % of production for some products even takes place in Portugal .
given the current high degree of pollution of some industries and the fact that adjustment to green technologies is not cost-effective , State aid amounting to 60-100 % can be a viable solution .
I welcome the speed which the EU institutions have shown in identifying some solutions to the current economic crisis .
we can also condemn the atrocities .
the main forms of alleged maladministration featuring in the inquiries opened in 2008 were the lack of transparency , including the refusal to supply information , and the abuse of power .
( RO ) In their 50 years of existence , European Schools have proven their quality as regards the education of future generations .
subject : EU-Russia relations : Spanish Presidency agenda
are there any proposals coming from the Slovenian Presidency with regard to that ?
the report makes it clear that both parties involved in illegal employment must be held equally liable , which will create a legal balance .
I would counsel you , if you want to keep your AAA status , to ignore the pleas of this House - full of eccentrics , greenies and bored housewives - in particular , in relation to paragraph 48 of the report .
the next item is the Commission statement on the eavesdropping scandal in Bulgaria .
this is not the first time that we have had to make an urgent statement on these matters , and we wish to lend the Commissioner our support in his bid to achieve a stabilised system .
bilateral agreements between Member States and third countries concerning sectoral matters and covering applicable law in contractual and non-contractual obligations (
the Commission has announced that it will present its proposals for the Multiannual Financial Framework ( MFF ) for the post-2013 period before the summer recess and the legislative proposals for the financing instruments for external action later this year .
it would be a great mistake if major financial restrictions were now to prevent it from making a profit and achieving success through the efforts of the people working there and us as a whole .
Mr Kallas cut a fairly conciliatory figure today , but when the content of the Court of Auditors ' report became public , he called it too harsh and also attacked the Member States .
it is absolutely essential to develop the European Union as a peace project , free of superpower or military ambitions .
hence , it is now in a strong position for recovery .
fifthly , in taking a stance on this issue or trying to answer these questions , it is often forgotten that two-thirds of the workforce are employed in the private sector in family-owned companies , and the majority of those family-owned companies are SMEs that do not seek finance from the capital markets .
can I take you deeper into the question of identifying whether ethnic minorities are actually being targeted properly ?
we believe that this is a question that requires an immediate response from the Commissioner .
in production-bred animals , veterinary medicines can leave behind residues , which has already started to have a negative impact on both human and animal health .
consumers should be prepared and made more aware of how much greenhouse gas is generated by their lifestyle and consumer habits .
( DE ) Mr President , President-in-Office of the Council , ladies and gentlemen , I assume that today we are holding a debate on policy strategy for the last time in this form because we are to have a new model in the Treaty of Lisbon .
for 60 years we in Europe did not try to solve their problem , nor did we have any reason to do so .
this may be seen in the case of Portugal , which has unfortunately ended up having to join Ireland and Greece in requesting economic and financial aid .
so we are very happy that we have opened many websites which tremendously improve the transparency of our activities .
Madam President , I just wanted to ask whether something could be called an ideology just because it is not liked in Ireland .
I am voting against the conclusion of this agreement as the retention of the requirement for a visa represents a certain check on unwanted immigration , whereas a lifting of the visa requirement for stays of up to three months would provide sufficient time for those who , in reality , plan to stay for a prolonged period to build up social networks .
in writing . - ( EL ) The Council proposal to give preferential treatment to and upgrade the already strong cooperation between the EU and Israel - irrespective of the fact that the European Parliament vote on it has been adjourned - is , whichever way you look at it , a challenge to Europeans and to all the nations of the world , an insult to the thousands of victims of Israeli barbarity .
the Seventh Framework Programme for research , technological development and demonstration activities is an important instrument for achieving the Europe 2020 strategy targets .
this will ultimately harm the living standards of ordinary people .
secondly , with regard to the information that the previous speaker is in possession of , I would like to ask him whether he is also aware that there are studies that show that citizens would be happy to pay a bit more if they could be sure that the products are of a high quality and have come from animals that have been kept in a way that is appropriate for their species .
( DA ) Mr President , the textile industry is going through a period of dramatic change .
now , too , many Schengen countries conduct police inspections within the framework of national legislation , on flights inside the Schengen area , for example .
the Robin Hood tax represents a tiny 0.05 % of transactions , but would raise billions for development projects in the third world .
I would like to emphasise in particular the importance of an amendment which I tabled in committee , and I wish to thank my colleagues who supported it .
a vital factor here - and I now come to your question - is access to knowledge , research and innovation .
I likewise applaud the request for the Commission to publish a Green Paper on indoor air quality , and I would draw attention to the sensitivity shown by the rapporteur as concerns the effect that electromagnetic fields have on human health .
it would , of course , be desirable for the issue of Kosovo 's status to be resolved in a manner which was entirely acceptable to the two parties directly involved .
the flagrant violation of human rights and freedoms in this region is a cause for concern for the European Union , from the perspective of both its relations with Israel and of security and stability in the Middle East .
who should assess how genuine the threat has actually become ?
it also acknowledges the need for women to have control over their sexual and reproductive rights , specifically through easier access to contraception and abortion .
the EU should reduce the risk of civil accidents by providing assistance to search-and-rescue operations within the framework of the European integrated maritime policy .
therefore , going beyond this proposal , we should pay particular attention to the homeless , of whom there are an estimated three million in Europe .
for example , there have been cases where medicinal products have required further development at a certain point but this has not happened because the costs associated with putting variations through the authorisation procedure are too high .
I too would like to avoid an identity crisis .
for us , economic growth is the priority and all other policies in this phase serve this .
this is extremely important and , as Member States represented here through their MEPs have mentioned , there are three Member States who are actually affected .
I thus believe it is vital for applied research in the fisheries sector to receive more funding , including funding from the Seventh Framework Programme for Research , as stipulated in the past by previous framework programmes .
foodstuffs intended for particular nutritional uses ( recast version ) (
in fact , the European Investment Bank has already been operating in the South American continent for a long time , offering the opportunity for long-term investments , which is a noteworthy sign in itself .
in September this year , Mr Barroso assured us of the intensive work being carried out by the Commission in this area .
Mr President , the power of many of these fraudulent directory companies is that they are in another Member State , so they seem untouchable unless in some way the EU intervenes .
the people of Burma are in the thoughts and prayers of many Europeans .
we should perhaps discuss the usefulness of the bodies that lack an area of competence , such as the Committee of the Regions or the Economic and Social Committee .
President-in-Office of the Council . - Thank you for this additional question .
as the rapporteur points out , however , the mechanisms for setting the Agency 's objectives need to be strengthened in order to make it easier to evaluate their attainment , and a new methodology for staff management , from recruitment to performance evaluation , should be introduced .
in writing . - ( PT ) The report states that approximately 110 billion tonnes / km of dangerous goods - dangerous for the population and the environment - are transported annually within the EU , accounting for almost 8 % of total transportation of goods .
in terms of assistance , the Commission is quadrupling its assistance to the Belarusian population and civil society .
Mr President , there are just three things that I wanted to stress in reply .
the Commission would welcome feedback from the European Parliament on the approach proposed in this important communication .
that is our duty , as Europeans who are committed to democracy , freedom and human rights .
we must talk about this growing inconsistency .
that represents 10 % of European GDP .
the committee 's excellent reports clearly reveal the serious shortcomings that exist .
by voting in favour of a 20-week minimum maternity leave ( it is currently 14 weeks ) with full pay , and by endorsing a compulsory two-week paternity leave in the European Union , the European Parliament has moved in the direction of undeniable social progress .
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I would like to say to the Commission that a significant majority of this House is in favour of these two aspects .
the Committee on Transport and Tourism voted in a more environmental manner than the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , in , for example , the area of data collection .
( EL ) Madam President , the conclusions of the last summit provided anything but reassurance .
unfortunately , there are still countries in the EU which , despite their adoption of international legal obligations in this area , are moving towards the assimilation and outright deprivation of the national identity of their minorities by deliberate policy .
the initial draft of Slovakia 's position on the Danube Strategy has been discussed by the Council , Ministries , self-governing regions , municipalities and companies continue to work on the strategy .
Europe must take initiatives on broadband and Internet use in order to become a leader in the development of this area .
protection of mother and family must be the focus of all EU policies .
before I turn to the questions , let me join Mr Guerrero Salom in expressing sympathy to the families of the four Spanish soldiers who died , and also all those who lost their lives during the disaster and now in the recovery efforts in Haiti .
this means , among other things , that we want a fundamental and thorough social examination of legislation before it is tabled , and therefore also that we want a social policy reference - that is the term that we agreed on in the relevant Single Market legislation to remind us all of the obligations imposed on us by the Treaty of Lisbon as regards fundamental social rights .
I think it is very strange that Hans-Peter Martin has not chosen to remove his name from all these reports , considering that it is not his opinion which we will be voting on in plenary here today .
the proposal to launch a ' European cross-border business of the year ' television competition is , in my opinion , a senseless waste of European resources .
the increased orientation of the common agricultural policy towards the market and the devaluation of food sovereignty , with the emphasis solely being placed on food security , forgetting that this is difficult without food sovereignty .
there is no cultural output without its creators , and if they are not paid for the work they do , the result is a limit to cultural growth .
this statement provoked debate , as if it were disrespectful to people to ask that they get another opportunity to decide !
honourable Member , I cannot tell you now precisely what the timetable will be for these negotiations that are taking place .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I am grateful to the Commissioner and to the entire EU delegation , who have helped to keep the process alive .
indeed , following such a deletion , it might be interpreted that any investor would be deemed to be a parent carrier , as ' any other governing body of a system vendor ' could mean literally anything .
at the moment , the largest wind park on land in Europe is being developed here , which will have 240 wind turbines and generate 600 MW of renewable energy .
if it fails this test , then Europe has no real future , but if it succeeds , it can look with optimism towards the future .
Mr Cohn-Bendit will speak to justify the motion .
for the sake of energy security and the economy , but above all climate change , we must change our energy and transport systems fundamentally .
it is possible for the Council to address recommendations to a Member State whose economic policies risk jeopardising the proper functioning of economic and monetary union .
it therefore makes no sense to rebuild borders in Europe and to restrict the way our populations are growing together .
although there has been substantial technical progress , the report is more critical of the financial situation regarding the project .
( it ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I am very happy to see the evidence of a very positive codecision process in agriculture , which been possible through the enhanced cooperation between the Council , the Commission and the European Parliament .
( FR ) Madam President , Mr Diamandouros , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , let us give the People 's Europe a face .
this should allay everyone 's fears , without exception , given that everyone is treated in similar fashion , rather than continuing to regard the monopolies still running railway services as automatically being particularly competent and therefore exempt from these obligations .
the EU must endeavour to overcome the digital divide that results in huge disparities within Europe - between urban and rural areas in particular - so as to ensure all citizens have equal access to services , especially those involving new technologies .
the Commission 's proposals primarily aim to tighten up the terms of the Stability and Growth Pact .
this will take into account the provisions on time schedules set out in Parliament 's resolution of 24 September 2008 on the draft Council regulation on immigration from the Schengen Information System - SIS I + - to the second-generation Schengen Information System - SIS II .
the gap between our exports to , and our imports from , these five countries has doubled in less than a decade , and our imports are now worth EUR 19 billion as against only EUR 1 billion worth of exports .
I think that it is of paramount importance to continue the Daphne Programme and to encourage the participation of Member States which are faced with a rise in this form of violence in the current difficult economic circumstances .
when I cast my mind back to March and the decisions taken at the summit to set targets of a 20 % reduction in CO2 emissions , a 20 % increase in energy efficiency and a 20 % renewables quota by 2020 , that does indeed sound like a leading role .
I also believe that it is very important to improve the efficiency of the EU 's administrative expenditure , and one way of doing this is to increase the transparency of the process for distributing and using this expenditure .
so we have a big responsibility .
I am firmly against the inclusion of Turkey among the pre-accession countries : I would point out that Turkey still illegally occupies part of the territory of Cyprus , an EU Member State .
before the vote on block 3 :
the adoption of this proposal for negotiation with the Council acknowledges the fundamental social value of maternity and paternity , respecting the rights of working women who want to become mothers .
seals are very beautiful marine animals - in fact , I have realised during this process that they have great PR - but to some they are the rats of the sea .
it is well-known that the EU is a magical land where the streets are flowing with riches and honey .
global navigation satellite systems ( GNSS ) currently have implications for all EU policies , and their development and application will have a catalytic effect on implementing the Europe 2020 strategy and on creating a strategic and competitive European sector .
( RO ) Madam President , early parliamentary elections are taking place in the Republic of Moldova on Sunday .
two or three years ago we could not have imagined achieving such a goal .
he has succeeded in reaching a compromise with the Member States at Council and , although it may not be as ambitious as some might have hoped for ( perhaps that is the sign of a good compromise ) , it does deliver the framework for including the fastest-growing transport sector in the EU ETS from 2012 .
the message of the strange , tragic assassination of Benazir Bhutto is , however , that we are impotent , and this is because terrorism in Pakistan lies behind the structures of the State , and actually stems from the secret services which - let us not forget - built the Taliban and to this day support and assist them .
this must be made quite clear .
European policies must encourage e-commerce as an effective alternative to the conventional method of doing business and as a way of boosting cross-border trade within the EU .
the next item is a debate on the Commission 's communication relating to a maritime policy for the European Union .
the partnership encourages projects of the utmost importance to the EU by promoting an institutionalised framework which puts both relations with neighbours and intraregional cooperation among neighbours at a higher level .
this makes preventing community and alternative media from being misused , from being allowed to operate outside the limits of the mission that such media are supposed to have , even more important .
let us work together to make sure that it continues to be just that .
we will also continue to fight for the creation of an EU-funded public agricultural insurance scheme , which would enable farmers to be guaranteed a minimum income in cases of natural disaster .
I hope that the 10th anniversary of UN Security Council resolution 1325 will mark the beginning of a reinvigorated agenda for implementing its commitments on women , peace and security .
improving the quality of teacher education ( short presentation )
what are the specific steps we intend to take ?
this is a very good sign that interest in consumer policy is increasing , as is right for the internal market .
in other words , it insists on a legal framework in Ukraine which fosters best practice in corporate social responsibility .
ageing and growing old , especially with regard to women , should not be a burden .
the summit will consider an update of the Lisbon Agenda , which has only two years to run .
I seem to recall that the same proposal was made about gypsies and Jews by Goebbels in 1930s Nazi Germany before war broke out , and the State of gypsies and Jews was replaced by crematoria .
in relation to securing a credible immigration and asylum policy which is sustainable in the long-term , we must , however , pay close attention to the problem of illegal migration , which is a serious concern for our citizens .
on the subject of early years learning , I would like to thank Ms Honeyball for her report and for the constructive approach she has taken to the issue of early childhood education and care .
I myself hold a current account at a bank , and when information packs arrive at my house I throw them away because they are not comprehensible ; the same goes for millions of citizens like me .
the problem of recovery is a very real one .
obviously , a debate such as this to uncover the historic truth cannot be held in this manner .
negotiations on the new Economic Partnership Agreements ( EPAs ) began in 2002 with the aim of building on and strengthening the regional integration processes in the ACP countries .
these are successful and have the instruments at their disposal .
ladies and gentlemen , representatives of the Commission and the Council , let us make an effort and perhaps take one more step to make it possible for the citizens of Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina to travel freely before the Catholic Christmas , thus , before the end of this year , so that they can visit their relatives and friends during the holiday season .
in fact , in the construction industry , the Member States are hiding behind national technical standards in order to block the free circulation of goods and services .
I am sure that , under the leadership of Gordon Brown and with a strong European contribution , the G20 will deliver and will build a global consensus on the international economy .
that will then open the path to the European Union and this path must depend on the performance of these countries and not on our willingness .
that is the familiar ex post - ex ante debate : in my opinion , it would make more sense for authorisation to be granted first and then for the products to be exported .
however , the management of Peugeot / Citroen in Mangualde currently wishes to destroy rights that were fought for and are enshrined in the labour laws by pressuring the workers to accept harmful conditions that endanger their lives .
this is essential for the smooth day to day running of intra-EU trade and for facilitating trade with third countries .
in this way we are working together with our citizens as partners .
I urge the Council and the Commission to endorse the Oslo Process , as we have already called on them to do .
I would like to express my firm belief that the European Union has sufficient political , economic and security leverage to stop the illegal actions mentioned above , which also means getting more actively involved in settling the unresolved conflicts at its eastern external borders .
President Barroso is not here at the moment , but I think he needs to tell the Council that it needs to redefine the political agenda in at least three areas .
it is an old-fashioned , inefficient , ineffective , costly and trade-distorting support and , this being said , I clearly understand the importance of keeping the balance between enrichment with sugar and must in order to arrive at a compromise supported by the wine producers in both the southern and northern parts of Europe .
there is also more choice than there was 10 years ago , with more brands available for each type of car .
it is the first with the new management , certification and audit control system introduced by the Commission .
the Copenhagen Summit was a failure .
the first phase is about short- and medium-term crisis relief to help people with the most urgent needs , and Mrs Georgieva spoke about this .
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if Turkey were a car , it would long since have failed its MOT .
I hope that you will manage to complete this ambitious agenda .
on the issue of climate change , Europe has proved beyond any shadow of a doubt that it can take action when it wants to .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety . - ( PL ) Mr President , I would agree with the opinion of Herbert Reul as regards diversification in electricity generation , diversification of supply and improvements in energy efficiency and usage .
that is very important .
the legal loopholes that permit these hazardous exports must be closed .
even more , I think that the use of the European institution of enhanced cooperation to circumvent Italy 's and Spain 's veto , and thereby avoid continuing the debate to find a shared , less burdensome solution , is an issue of unprecedented political gravity .
judicial authorities do not usually dare speak out against the government .
the European Union is founded on values we share with our neighbours and with the countries which have set out on the road of European integration .
we are sure , President Sarkozy , that you will finish your Council Presidency in six months ' time with good results .
is the EU , I wonder , democratically credible ?
the destruction of forests in the Szekler Land and other regions of Romania is also harming the environment .
as to the nature of the particular solution , that is for him to judge and for them to agree .
it is possible for implementation to steer the Treaty in a different direction and we certainly do not want that .
Mr Sassoli , you raised the issue of inadmissibility , under Rule 147 of the Rules of Procedure .
we need to strengthen action to reduce health inequities across the EU-27 , in particular through exchange of best practice and through better public information on citizens ' cross-border health-care rights .
you need our help .
the European Arrest Warrant allows any European citizen to be judicially surrendered without a court being allowed to consider the prima facie evidence against them and with almost no power to refuse surrender .
for them to be able to accept this they have to feel that any negotiated solution is fair .
these considerations must not , however , jeopardise budgetary sustainability and rigorous book-keeping , which are crucial in any institution .
the European Union cannot but look with admiration on the Ukrainian people 's efforts to consolidate the democratic system , the Rule of Law and an open economy .
risk-based supervision will increase , the abuse of special purpose vehicles will disappear and the quality of structured products will improve as a result of the 5 % retention for securitisation .
instead , it is time for Turkey to send positive signals to the EU .
there are three issues in particular that I wish to highlight : firstly , the necessity that the Commission put in place efficient and flexible markers and measures to curb extreme market price volatility .
I therefore believe that its immediate involvement is essential .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( NL ) Madam President , today is the second time we have discussed the Erika III package in plenary .
I planned to abstain , and to call on my comrades to abstain , in the plenary vote as well , but my wise and tolerant female colleagues convinced me that this would not be a good idea and that a watered-down report is better than nothing .
that is the information that I am able to give you ; I know that Mrs Ferrero-Waldner is monitoring this situation very closely together with the Commission services .
nevertheless , despite all these checks , all this destruction , all these sanctions - perhaps one day they will even put electronic tags on fishermen to monitor them - the stocks are in danger , the rapporteur tells us .
I would be pleased if we could receive a computer here in our workstations , particularly since we can view everything electronically , so that when voting , we then have the amendments in our own languages in front of us and the vote can be carried out in a targeted manner .
surely this would qualify as a mass influx .
it has ruled out decisions based on political expediency to the extent that Member States surrender their own nationals .
I welcome our colleague 's initiative , in that the environment is a topic of particular importance : there needs to be a cross-border political or legal structure that could mediate in political conflicts over natural resources .
only those who believe that a day such as this is also in fact maritime policy are indeed mistaken ; a Maritime Day such as this should not degenerate into mere symbolism .
there is no doubt that - and we have consistently maintained this for a long time - it is necessary to guarantee the rights of asylum seekers in terms of their reception , access to information and right to interpretation , free legal aid , healthcare and employment .
I cannot understand why it is still the case that the Council is sitting at the table as an observer in the negotiations , Parliament is not involved and the documents are not publicly accessible .
it is also essential for fishing companies to be encouraged through legislation to use the best equipment currently available in terms of selectivity , and thereby to avoid catching such huge quantities of under-sized fish and fish other than the target species , or by-catches .
intelligent car technology makes it possible to mitigate or even eliminate these problems .
Mr President , Commissioner , we are , of course , in a period of economic recession or crisis and it is unpleasant , but such crises come and go , they are a cyclical component of the market economy and they must not be used as an excuse for introducing excessive regulations restraining the economy , as such regulations will remain even after the crisis itself has ended , and this also concerns international trade .
I also think that we should continue to urge our American colleagues to abolish the death penalty once and for all .
be ready before the spring meeting .
he has been doing all the work with SADC .
reliable benchmarks are needed for indicating the effectiveness and efficiency of the resources invested in this policy .
I believe that Member States are responsible for supporting the reintegration of every redundant worker into employment .
the situation in the region calls for dialogue with all parties , including leaders of the opposition .
I , therefore , accept the sincerity with which he now puts the case for extending the powers of EUROPOL in order to deal with new terrorist threats .
I am pleased that , besides making progress with the United States , we were also able to ensure that , in addition to the 38 countries which have already signed the Kyoto Protocol , the closest G77 countries are now committed to doing something rather than constantly lamenting the fact that every government is waiting for the others to act .
it is a tragedy but , as Gay Mitchell has said , it is a tragedy in a country where 75 % of people already live below the poverty line .
Mr President , at a time when the Union is considering the future of the CAP , safeguarding coherence between agricultural policy and external trade policy has become even more important .
this Act was an extremely antagonistic and very symbolic reaction on President Bush 's part to the advent of the ICC .
the policy of isolation with regard to Belarus was unjustified , and this must be said loud and clear .
I would like to hear the Commissioner today reassure us on a number of points .
but one issue in particular concerns me as we look to the future , in particular the short-term future , and that is the whole question of taxation within the European Union .
in particular , the report looks at mutual health organisations which have already been established and proven to work effectively in several African states .
in addition , I do think that Amendment 39 , which we tabled on behalf of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats , would help , through Article 69 , to provide greater funding for this processing industry .
I myself used the words ' green paper ' , but for that I need to check the content and the scheduling of the Commission 's work programme and to discuss it with my colleagues .
the list has no extra-territorial effect - it does not apply outside the European Union .
we therefore have to guarantee the future in two ways : firstly , by limiting fishing and , secondly , by helping fishermen to survive and fish better .
last but certainly not least , the report fails to mention consumption in the sense of over-consumption .
the problem arises when secrets become the rule rather than the exception and , in recent years , we have seen the growth of a culture of secrecy that is only deepening , circumventing democratic control , and which is now fiercely defending its privileges , as we have seen in the reactions of some governments and companies to the WikiLeaks case .
the Italian authorities officially notified the Commission of the text of the decree on 7 November 2007 .
I hope that our work will be able to respond to the great challenge of protecting consumers and to our businesses ' need for growth , in order to strengthen a strong and competitive market .
this is , of course , totally unacceptable and should not happen in 2008 .
I raise this here because there is evidence to suggest that organised criminals in Ireland are coming to parts of the European Union for such training and then returning to Ireland and murdering people through gangland murders .
Mr Barrot , you will receive detailed notice of these cases of provocation and of Turkey 's provocative conduct .
let us now defend the Christian minority and other religious minorities in Pakistan although , of course , this is not the only problem facing a country troubled by serious political conflicts and which , unfortunately , faces the prospect of destabilisation .
many people support us in our constant striving .
I would like to thank you , from the bottom of my heart , for the support from all the benches that I have always had in this House .
firstly , privileges for a military caste ; a closed armed group controls the administration and the economy .
no legislative text dealt with this question .
there are also measures with regard to engine substitution and with regard to gear and equipment change , and there are the measures that I have outlined concerning the market measures and social aid .
it is only the sea in the middle that has international status and in this regard the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ( UNCLOS ) forms the relevant legal basis .
I have confidence that Slovenia , under your leadership , will meet that pride in success and achievement by the time you finish in six months ' time .
we must therefore bear in mind that at any moment the Kremlin could claim that those people are in need of its so-called protection .
no doubt these lessons have now been learned and all too starkly and at a cost .
it produces wealth founded on hot air .
the SIS II clearly cannot start operating until these issues have been solved .
in this respect , though , there is still quite a bit to be done .
this has been a very fruitful partnership all round and has allowed us to do the work reflected in this report .
now that population ageing is the long-term demographic trend throughout our European continent , it is certain that expenditure on medicines will increase further in our countries .
the whole sector is in a difficult situation : with low prices at source for the majority of products and many farms whose figures are beginning to fall below the profitability threshold .
finally , let me contribute my own experiences as a politician in the somewhat less populous country of Sweden in the north .
this situation is all the stranger considering that , last year , the Canadian authorities removed the compulsory requirement to apply for short-stay visas for citizens of Croatia , a country still negotiating its accession to the EU .
I voted in favour of the joint resolution on international adoption , because I strongly believe that European coordination of adoption strategies and tools would not only bring about an improvement in the procedure as such , but would also ensure greater protection for orphans and abandoned children and their right to have a family .
do people honestly think that , if Buckfast was banned , the hooligans who currently drink it to excess would start drinking tea ?
a good strategy cannot be allowed to be undermined by imports from countries that do not have the same animal health and welfare requirements as in the European Union .
however , I do not share the view that we MEPs need more staff .
I also welcome the solution found for the right to cancel in the case of online products , given that the number of sales of such products is rising and a solution was an absolute necessity .
those concerned about moral hazard should say that if we had good economic governance , that fear should abate .
the European Union is the leading investor in Korea , which is also , undoubtedly , one of the strongest democracies in the whole of that region .
that is what I wished to say .
in addition , any major energy projects involving hydroelectric power plants must be carefully designed and constructed to ensure that they do not create any disadvantage for downstream water users in neighbouring countries .
it is a pleasure for me to inform you that Hungary , too , will become part of this programme next year and is prepared to participate in the resettlement programme .
immediately following this was a quote from Mr Weber , saying that that analysis constituted the more orthodox approach but that the quite different statement by Mr Kallas was also valid .
interpretation of the Rules of Procedure
similarly , I would only like to note as a matter of interest that the media law you are objecting to repealed the press act adopted in 1986 , during the communist regime , which , until the adoption of the new media law , allowed newspapers to be terminated simply by deleting them from the register .
it is for this reason , Mr President , Mr Borg , that we must renew our insistence on greater involvement for the European Parliament , at least as an observer at the joint committee meetings , as a minimum institutional transparency requirement , which should have been met some time ago .
( EL ) Mr President , Commissioners , the humanitarian crisis in Haiti highlighted and , unfortunately , continues to highlight the problems with the European mechanisms for responding to international humanitarian crises .
we hope that in future , the European Parliament will regularly receive reliable information on the tests , costs , etc .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , thank you for this opportunity and I apologise on behalf of Catherine Ashton , who asked me to share with you what she intended to tell you .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , tomorrow marks the end of a long process .
we need to send a clear message to them .
I am happy to announce today to you that Mr Maurice Lavie , Mrs Elizabeth Nigerman and Mr Jacques Decare will be entrusted with this task .
Mrs Ferrero-Waldner said that we have more executions than ever before .
unemployment is increasing in most countries .
Article 11 of the Treaty on European Union stipulates as a precondition that that the Union shall act in conformity with the principles of the United Nations Charter , the Helsinki Final Act and the objectives of the Paris Charter , including those on external borders .
it also has created burdens for European managers and investors in Europe that third countries do not place on their managers and investors .
I think special reference should be made to essential protection of the rights of women and girls , including protection of their sexual and reproductive health .
because of the seriousness of the situation , new proposals are constantly being made .
for many of us the case of Tibet - its autonomy - is a litmus test for the Chinese authorities .
( SK ) When workers emigrate , children often become the victims of their families ' improved financial circumstances .
Japan has been one of the most notable success stories of economic and social recovery in world history , today being a respected country , worthy of admiration .
at the very moment it declared independence , Croatia decided that the European Union was the key to its future .
their future position in the labour market is jeopardised considerably as a result and they then take refuge on the edge of society to an even greater extent , thereby isolating themselves .
the idea that we can offer consumers the prospect of 100 % product safety is an illusion .
that is precisely why it is necessary for a mechanism to be developed here that cannot be politically torpedoed .
the instrument which was prepared was weak and did not meet the current needs .
some have now been withdrawn - for instance , the Agence Presse story of 300 civilians killed , after the supposed author denied authorship .
finding a solution to this problem is definitely not a simple matter .
as a result , Vojislav Seselj , the leader of the Serbian Radical Party that represents 28 % of the electorate , has been imprisoned in The Hague since February 2003 and is still awaiting a verdict , even though he turned himself in voluntarily .
I am therefore very pleased to see the commitment shown by the UN Special Representative , Margot Wallström .
can we allow this ?
in the last year alone , 10 European citizens were kidnapped and four were killed .
the document we have adopted sends out an important message in defence of the food sector in the EU .
my second question is : what is the position of the Commission and the Council on the Chinese proposal to put in place a slightly different international currency , in an effort to regulate the financial system using an alternative to the dollar ?
this would have been proper before we decided on a regulation concerning the SPE , because co-determination is an issue which is dealt with under Article 138 of the EC Treaty and which first requires a consultation of social partners .
however , we hold to the principle that foreign agents should not be allowed to operate or exercise authority on Swedish territory with retained immunity .
I want to stress that we have been working intensively on this topic , even though the official programme documents are not yet available .
obviously , such a valuable instrument must be under proper European Parliament scrutiny , and this is why we demand the delegated acts procedure .
I believe that we have made a step forward that is important by any standards .
statements by the President
the President-in-Office and the Council have been diligent , and the summary they delivered here was marvellous .
it is a good thing that we are debating this problem , because beekeepers in Europe and throughout the world are alarmed and worried by the deaths of their bees .
their despair creates a source of increasing political tension .
the Committee on Legal Affairs has , for example , proposed amendments on the certification of documents , together with the certification of translations .
when the Lisbon Treaty was being drafted , this type of cooperation , this area of cooperation , was considered to be too ambitious for the Member States .
keeping this military junta in power is not an acceptable option .
once again Lukashenko has ' outflanked ' the European Union , which has shown its naivety in not setting any initial conditions for the regime .
and , for our opponents , the exit clause may also be quite important .
this was actually what we wanted to achieve together .
I would like to thank all the rapporteurs for the work they have carried out .
the Commission can accept Amendments 10 , 19 , 26 and 28 in principle .
the Riga meeting will be a splendid opportunity for an interim evaluation of the Convention , and I am convinced that this is the way to go .
Europe 's progress towards realising these objectives has almost come to a halt .
maybe there was a translation problem .
it has already happened with Sarbanes-Oxley .
they are the workshops which produce innovative ideas and original products .
I would also appeal to the government of my own country , the Netherlands , to cooperate and to support the Slovenian Presidency 's proposal , and also to take a look at how well this has worked in the past with Croatia .
the Turkish Cypriots are already a minority in their homeland and a lot of original villages ' names have been changed .
avian flu and many other diseases can travel around the planet very , very quickly in a globalised world .
the participation of the Republic of Croatia in the activities of the EMCDDA becomes , in these circumstances , a positive development for the whole Union .
second , let me come back to the poverty dimension , which is obviously fundamental .
one of the things we are told about CCCTB is that it will be more efficient and that it will simplify matters .
all I can say is that we are doing ourselves no favours if we create working conditions for ourselves in this House that effectively make it impossible for us to work .
the Commission furthermore reserves the right to propose amendments to the regulation , increasing the number of measures which should be adopted by delegated or implementing acts .
in addition , there are no tensions between the different national groups within Iran .
finally , I would just like to emphasise that we cannot do without sanctions , not because we necessarily want to impose sanctions but because we want to make it quite clear that , if we are to have simplified rules that suit the industry , there also , in return , needs to be more pressure to ensure that those rules are kept .
however , in my opinion , the fundamental point is that we should take advantage of the willingness of the Egyptian authorities and encourage them to rectify certain serious infringements .
territorial , social and economic cohesion (
eleven years of temporary closures in the Irish Sea have reduced our whitefish fleet from over 40 trawlers to six , and yet we still talk about over-capacity .
the referendums in the few countries that held one revealed that intense public debate and high turnout lead to many dissenting votes .
rapporteur . - ( FR ) Mr President , Madam Commissioner , we are about to vote on the Telecoms package , one of the most sensitive proposals of the closing period of this parliamentary term .
a measure of courtesy and solidarity especially towards countries with fewer information and risk analysis resources than the European Union .
the countries mentioned have made great progress in complying with the requirements of the European Union .
it is obvious to me whose side I am on .
system of the Communities ' own resources (
what actually worried me considerably was what Mr Sarkozy said yesterday .
extending Europe 's current commitments to the entire planet means having 4 degrees of global warming by the end of the century , 4 degrees of global warming !
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therefore , there has not been a lot of time or opportunity for assessment of the general political effect of the expansion and its impact on relationships between the Member States of the European Union which apply the Schengen rules and the neighbouring countries .
this important issue has come to the attention of many MEPs following the BBC documentary Bulgaria 's abandoned children , which focused on care homes for children with disabilities .
Mr Rubalcaba , you have put your finger on it .
we still have the shipyards of Viana do Castelo , which are strategic for this whole region and which need support for their modernisation in order to avoid serious new problems .
experts , the digging of water wells , clean drinking water and also medical care are particularly important .
in that spirit I will be retiring for my lunch , of which bananas will make up a very important part of the menu .
finally , I shall outline the priorities for the Summit and the immediate future .
Commissioner , it is absolutely vital for the European Code of Conduct on Division of Labour to be put into practice , and that the investments in , and programmes on , healthcare between the different EU countries are better coordinated .
we need reform , but we can also implement it within these policy sectors .
so , is the glass half empty or half full ?
we appreciate the drive to improve consumers ' rights in the internal market .
that being the case , it must intervene in a more consistent and effective way in international politics .
I would say that this regulation is in its ' running in ' period - since we are talking about transport - and that it is obviously very important for road safety and for social reasons too .
nonetheless , in the conciliation procedure Parliament did manage to ensure that the new directive requires the European Commission to submit a report by 31 December 2012 in which it also proposes measures for further opening up the passenger rail market .
however , the Russians are laughing in our faces by not realising the five-point agreement negotiated on behalf of the European Union by President Sarkozy .
will the Commission say what actions and initiatives it intends to take to impose pre-conditions and restrictions in respect of these initiatives , bearing in mind the special geological characteristics , climatic conditions and the possibilities for funding these schemes and their viability ?
over 10 000 Tibetans in Nepal were not permitted to vote for a prime minister and members for the parliament of the government in exile .
it is precisely the uncertainty about sources that is the biggest concern with this project .
you are about to vote on the proposal for a directive on the procurement of defence and security equipment , which the Commission tabled in December 2007 as part of the so-called ' defence package ' .
to do this , it not only needs adequate funding for implementing the projects and running the secretariat , but I also think that greater involvement is required from civil society and national and parliamentary groups , as well as from the EMPA to ensure the democratic legitimacy of the Union for the Mediterranean .
for this very reason , we need to be more attentive and re-examine the entire matter within a framework of legality , unfettered by emotions or urgent demands .
in writing . - ( FR ) On Tuesday , 25 September I supported my colleague Reino Paasilinna by voting for the establishment of the European Institute of Technology ( EIT ) .
the credibility of NATO and of what we call the West also depends to a large extent on the results in Afghanistan .
the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe has submitted a motion for a debate on the selection process of a new Managing Director for the IMF and external representation of the euro , directly after Jo Leinen 's report on European environmental economic accounts .
( SL ) I , too , am against the language of sanctions and threats and I , too , am in favour of a constructive policy and dialogue .
for instance , Serbia and Montenegro have been included in the July proposal : although they did not meet the benchmarks at the date of the proposal , they are expected to do so in the future .
we need to bring more substance to this debate , and we really need to work towards common views .
I also broadly agree that biogas is one of the best ways of processing biomass in Europe .
decisions about a card scheme 's business model and financing mechanisms should be taken by the schemes themselves .
as you have emphasised , the Small Business Act cannot solve all of the current economic problems , but it should ensure that essential steps are taken to tackle the financial crisis and the consequent economic slowdown .
Ultra-Europeans seem to see immigration of job seekers and people as the miracle solution to the problems of labour shortages and falling birth rates experienced by all Member States .
we need much more investment in renewable energy : small-scale and localised to bring household bills down , and large-scale , such as using the Union for the Mediterranean to invest in high-voltage solar thermal power production in North Africa .
that is also an international demand .
ECEC centres are not simply a place to ' park ' children so that women can work ; they are of utmost importance in contributing to the well-being of children and improving their future life chances
this superstate wants to make neighbouring states dependent on it , but without giving them influence as equal partners within the Union .
I would also like to draw your attention to the repression and harassment of doctors involved in AIDS research .
they were soldiers .
they support Economic and Monetary Union , the Maastricht Treaty and the four freedoms , the Stability Pact and the reduction in social spending within the framework of financial discipline .
( EL ) Commissioner , I am sorry , but once again , you have not given a clear reply .
this is why the EU must support this sector in extending its activities , including at cross-border level , and in taking advantage of all the current opportunities available within the Single Market .
the European Union is one of the main donors in Afghanistan , contributing to stabilising and improving security in the area , with tangible effects such as the rise in life expectancy .
I consider the issue of the bond market , as referred to by Mr Verhofstadt , to be an important one , and I would like to state that the Hungarian Presidency believes that the formation of a bond market is necessary and inevitable in the long term .
the tasks they face , as regards planning ; spatial management ; social dialogue ; culture and education ; and the creation of sustainable knowledge-based jobs , are all highly complex .
we are in favour of a thorough review of the EU 's Fisheries Agreements and see this as a positive first step which gives us greater opportunities for influence .
aid must reach the hundreds of thousands of stricken people .
my second reason is that the rapporteur presents the need for an up-to-date assessment of EU activity in the Black Sea region .
therefore , small farms will not only continue to be protected from any possible negative effect of the shift from Pillar 1 to Pillar 2 , but could also profit from the money that is generated through the modulation by engaging in the appropriate rural development programmes .
it is intended to benefit workers who have been made redundant as a result of the global financial and economic crisis by establishing measures that will guarantee their rapid reintegration into the labour market .
I wish to emphasise that this agenda is realistic within the options that can be influenced by the European Commission .
I am also very pleased they have decided to pay a visit to the European Parliament during our part-session .
this initiative aims to ensure that there are no unnecessary obstacles for patients seeking healthcare in a Member State other than their home country .
to approve Mr Weber 's report would be a cynical step in the wrong direction , which is why the GUE / NGL Group will vote against the report .
in the region , Thailand is a major producer of food , yet when some of its neighbours like Burma and Vietnam were in poverty and running out of food , we did not accept Thailand 's offer to cooperate with us and act as our agent in the region .
the European Parliament has already rejected an agreement once and one aspect among the many reasons relating to content was the lack of European Parliament participation .
despite many challenges , we can already see the positive developments in Tunisia , where efforts have been made to meet the demands of the population .
this is nothing new .
in East Africa , a stepping-stone agreement has been initialled with the East African Community : Kenya , Uganda , Rwanda , Burundi and Tanzania .
however , it is now going to be modified for the second time in just a few months because of what is alleged to be an urgent matter .
my question is as follows .
in spite of that , Europe remains divided .
concerning the international tribunal , the European Union will continue to support the International Criminal Court without any reservations .
this should be the case even if elections are to be held in only one country , for example in France .
the resolution contains statements about financing for climate protection measures in third countries without defining the specific criteria or purpose of the financing .
it is still possible to save this shipyard .
the Commission , however , has done virtually nothing , unless you count the many studies it has conducted and its proposal for a new Renewables Directive .
therefore , cutting money for cohesion cannot be an option in any way .
now that the European External Action Service is operating , we have new tools for working outside the borders of the Union .
- ( PL ) Madam President , the social economy plays a vital role in local and regional development .
the Commission therefore does not intervene in the Member States ' pension systems , nor does it even have an advisory role in relation to national adjustments .
we are talking about the direction , and also about implementation in the near future .
this is not a coordinated European action ; initiatives such as this have once more had to come from the national level .
( ES ) Madam President , Baroness Ashton , you are perfectly aware that my parliamentary group is against the existence of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ( NATO ) .
( DE ) The only one being dopey around here is you , because there were Christmas markets long before patio heaters were invented , and I believe Parliament is perfectly within its rights at least to ask how inconsistent we are being on climate change .
we were informed that the Colombian Government or , in any event , that body , is seeking to artificially create links between her and guerrilla groups , namely the FARC .
the present crisis is having a very severe impact on millions of people .
with reference to the declaration adopted on 23 June 2010 , I would just like to point out that specific reference was made to uploaded data , not to the downloading of material from websites .
every mode of transport must cover the costs it actually generates .
we will also continue to deliver .
I think however that this Expert Group on Financial Education should have clear responsibilities and powers .
I expect the Commission to act with greater commitment on the current applications , and to keep an eye on what the money is being spent on , in order to ensure that disasters do not recur , and to enable investments can really be in harmony with nature .
speculation is definitely an issue .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , the Commission notes Parliament 's call for more transparency , dialogue and information on competition policy .
if the situation is not resolved , the Council , at the Commission 's suggestion , can decide by qualified majority to reintroduce border controls for a limited period .
they anticipate its dissolution and aim to establish their own power , ushering in new institutions and symbols corresponding to their own needs and values .
( HU ) I , too , would like to thank the European Ombudsman for his work .
the item is closed .
( the sitting was closed at 11.30 p.m. )
the Council is a legislative body , just as we are , and of course lobbying plays a part in its ranks too .
if he does agree , I wonder whether he can explain why it took a full year for the Commission to manage and assess the first round of consultation with the social partners on needlestick injuries , even though there were only 10 responses in that consultation .
the Commission awaits an agreement between Parliament and the Council on the draft directive , which represents a key tool for implementing the action plan .
universities which educate in a conservative way release into the market specialists who are not useful to an innovative economy .
I wish to present two proposals relating to the examination of the next budget , therefore .
however , a blocking minority in the Council prevented every attempt to introduce a derogation .
( PT ) Mr President , while cooperation in the field of tax is important and necessary , we should not ignore the fact that tax policy is a crucial instrument of economic and social policy , on whose definition obvious political criteria and evaluations have an impact .
I believe that we in Europe are uniquely placed to lead the world in meeting the wholly new and momentous challenges of globalisation ahead .
an agreement was a necessary requirement for envisaging what would happen post-Kyoto , but not sufficient to say that now we are in a position to take up the challenge of climate change .
if this happens , then we will have helped the terrorists .
Madam President , as I have the office of rapporteur , may I still say something about the amendments ?
this person is not Mrs Malmström , nor is it Mr Barroso ; it is Mr Gaddafi .
the EU must work more closely with the United Nations , UNICEF , the World Bank , the International Labour Organisation , donors and NGOs to introduce the correct strategies to ensure that uniform laws are in place to stop this inhumane practice of child labour .
in my opinion , all information relating to the adoption and implementation of cohesion policy funding plans should be made available in real time on a website accessible to the general public , divided up by the most detailed NUTS classification possible : for example , implementation by NUTS level 3 should be presented wherever this designation exists .
internally we can of course do more within the social framework , and I wish to say that the message the Commission will take to the European Council is a message of social commitment .
the last time a Czech president addressed you from this place was nine years ago .
in my view this clearly shows a convincing convergence of the use of the European Parliament and of the Commission , and of the European Union as a whole , and I certainly welcome this phenomenon and the direction towards the renewed consensus on enlargement which has been prevailing since 2006 .
in October last year , we outlined our policy proposal for a European disaster-response capacity .
at the same time I would like to remind you that the European Union has not been sufficiently active in advocating the rightful interests of its new Member States regarding US visa exemptions .
our cooperation has been productive and pleasant .
yet make no mistake : the PVV no longer stands alone in Europe .
2008 discharge : EU general budget , European Ombudsman
however , the disparities between some regions are fairly extreme and we must not ignore this fact .
the idea of introducing compulsory insurance against bankruptcy for airlines has already been proposed in the European Parliament in the recent past .
you mean more bureaucracy and red tape ; more paperwork for the farmer and more inspections , which is what they do not want .
the European pilot programmes referred to for the victims of terrorist attacks are a positive sample in terms of relieving the wounds , but a great deal still needs to be done .
agricultural subsidies are necessary for food security and independence for 500 million Europeans and , for me , this is of central importance .
I thus aligned my practice with the conclusions reached in June 2005 by the Council , which provide for the use of those languages to facilitate Spanish citizens ' communication with the EU institutions .
the problem was that people were not enforcing existing law .
but let me also be very clear . our support is conditional , more so than during the last five years .
this is why I propose most definitely a common energy policy .
that something is the will , free speech and the spirit of the Chinese people themselves .
34 .
yet Europe is not built with ideal candidates .
on behalf of the EFD Group . - Mr President , let us be honest .
10 .
European Socialists have long since been calling for a reform of financial markets and for coordinated action by European Union governments .
I could quote so many companies who are fighting to export , with a great part of their activities depending on exports .
while the EU is expanding , and more and more powers are being entrusted to it , the resources at its disposal are dwindling .
I would like to stress that locating the Institute 's Governing Board and the Knowledge and Innovation Community in Wrocław will not in any way clash with the fundamental criterion for the EIT - the criterion of excellence ; in fact quite the contrary .
( HU ) Over the past eight years , the post-communist dictatorship in Hungary has systematically trodden underfoot the rights of Hungarians .
or to put it more simply : Sweden will be given room to prioritise public health issues while Lulling 's Luxembourg can continue its packaged low tax policy .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , first of all , I would like to confirm the undertaking I gave , on behalf of the Commission , to carry out the mid-term review of the financial instruments in 2009 .
with this directive , the exploited pay more than the exploiters .
today 's debate was preceded by voices of concern , with certain people claiming that this issue is too sensitive .
the third requirement is to strengthen democracy by providing technical support for elections .
a year on from the earthquake in Haiti , we can see that the steps we are taking , or the way in which we are helping , are not perfect .
the fears about the difficulties which Korean competition could cause the Union 's more sensitive industries , such as the car industry , are dispelled by the inclusion of the Safeguard Clause in the agreement .
by contrast , we in the UK put up with , and indeed our economy suffers from , all the EU regulations being applied and , moreover , being applied to us in a way which is both unintelligent and universal .
every year up to now , and again this year , we have been used to having a large surplus in the agriculture budget .
the Commission has been providing humanitarian aid to eastern Chad since 2004 , and aid in 2007 totalled EUR 30 million .
we agree that civil society plays an important role in European integration .
of course , I would like to see my own group 's resolution adopted , but this will not happen .
furthermore , the principle of equal pay for equal work is still not ensured as the agreement only specifies that the wage conditions of crews from the Seychelles , on board vessels originating from EU countries which will benefit from the agreement , cannot be worse than those of crews from the Seychelles carrying out similar work on board vessels from that country .
putting into practice the so-called ' weighted ' voting procedure would give an advantage to the bigger Member States , to the detriment of the smaller ones .
moreover , the Member States are all spending sums of money on stimulus packages of the same magnitude as their total contributions to the EU 's budget .
in writing . - ( FI ) Democracy literally means the power of the people .
to that end we must create a political consensus and a broad understanding of the importance of the internal market , to which both Mr Toubon and the Commission have made good contributions .
again the Commission proposes the same legislative initiatives on the posting of workers and working time as it did in the work programme for the previous year , and pledges to improve the rights of migrant workers throughout the European Union .
the new legislation in the field of classification , labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures shall offer increased protection to human health and the environment .
it is unfortunate that the compromise does not mention the problematic upgrade of relations between the EU and Israel .
all the European institutions that depend on the European Union budget have to be thoroughly audited by the Court of Auditors and by all entities with that function .
I will try to comment on some of the comments made .
I am sure that we see it as an ongoing process .
( applause )
ladies and gentlemen , between 30 July and 4 August 2010 , massive human rights violations and sexual violence against children , women and also men took place in the eastern part of the Congo .
the promises made in Thessaloniki must be honoured too .
Madam President , Mr Cioloş , ladies and gentlemen , today 's motion for a resolution will help to set the European livestock sector on the right course .
in writing . - I voted for this report .
our recommendations will be discussed by the Eurogroup and Ecofin next week , and then a first report should come in mid-March elaborating on the calendar for implementation to safeguard the 2010 targets .
economic crises expose deficiencies - deficiencies caused by people .
the vote will take place on Wednesday , 6 April 2011 .
voting time
additionally , the more plurality there is , the more evident the struggle and intense politicking that normally lead to our consensuses will become , as systematic consensuses are not free from controversy here either .
allow me just to congratulate all the rapporteurs for their extremely high-quality and useful reports .
producers of lime , cement and bricks , for example , are already enjoying the benefits of the CE mark .
- Before the vote
the European Parliament and Council have agreed that by 2020 , the new car fleet 's average level of emissions must not exceed 95 g of CO2 / km .
thus it is theoretically possible that the purpose is not only to combat terrorism , but also to tackle bicycle theft or bank fraud .
access to personal data and disclosure of such data must take place within the law , security must be fully guaranteed .
in the big picture , we could be close to real balance .
the Commission will produce a report in September 2010 to review the contribution made by the directive to investigating , detecting and prosecuting serious criminal offences .
I also understand that slots are not just about take-off and landings .
following enlargement in 2004 and the admission of Bulgaria and Romania - i.e. with 27 Member States - the Union functioned on the basis of the Treaty of Nice .
personally , I am of the opinion that when setting these criteria we should be more broadminded and consider opening the Eurostars programme up to smaller enterprises with substantial innovation and development potential in spite of their size .
in order to prevent the obliteration and desertification of our agriculture , we must develop further instruments that will stop the rural exodus .
for this reason , I fully support the proposals adopted today by our Parliament to set the European Union 's budget for the next seven years .
we must answer this question .
the report , which the delegation adopted unanimously - and it was a representative cross-party delegation - was presented last week in the presence of the Commission and the Council , then transmitted to the Conference of Presidents , and it paints a depressing picture .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I must express my sincere regret , and that of the entire Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development , which I have the honour of chairing , that no reference whatsoever has been made to the agri-food sector in the 2020 strategy .
it is , however , important to map wilderness areas according to forest , fresh water and marine wilderness .
I hope this , too , augurs well for the support that the President can count on .
well , I have missed a little bit of the debate , but I did not hear anybody comment on Article 49 , which states that , if Lisbon is ratified , any Member State can decide to withdraw from the Union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements .
the Eastern Partnership has brought additional tools .
education is equally important as it can contribute towards eliminating gender stereotypes and improving the remuneration of the few paid positions and posts which remain unoccupied by women .
unfortunately , exceptions have been interpreted in different ways in different countries , which has resulted in different decisions on the same matter in different Member States .
for exceptional cases , such as the recent case of fruit and vegetables for schoolchildren , it is possible to increase the Community 's share to 60 % .
some of the proposals will simply centralise power , create unnecessary expense and add further bureaucracy for very little added value .
in writing . - ( ET ) The spontaneous report under discussion is unbalanced and has protectionist leanings .
the financial crisis , the energy crisis and economic recession are more trying than at any time in its fifty-six year history .
I would like to ask the representatives of the political groups to comment on this .
without reforms , it is not difficult to foresee the breakdown of monetary union .
without a shared compass which will guide us through this crisis , we will unfortunately all get lost together in the fog that caused the crisis .
one point obviously remains to be settled and I want to make an observation about it : it is the EPP 's Amendment 10 .
they say that it is a political problem , that the technical solutions hardly matter .
both types of measures are useful and more valuable if they are implemented at the right time , but they are still awaiting final approval .
this is Europe being pragmatic and taking practical action to protect our citizens .
differentiation - as others have said too - is the key to making the neighbourhood policy a success .
it has taken time and we fought hard to achieve it , but I believe that we can also say that , with this , we have laid a good foundation that will enable the new European External Action Service to enhance the EU 's role in the world , under the full and sound scrutiny of Parliament and the citizens , and that is important .
there is a dedicated window , this is the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund ( ARTF ) for the justice sector to which we plan to contribute also from Afghanistan 's bilateral programme and we have delivered on the process and promise already at the Rome Conference , but of course a lot of reforms are necessary .
this all seems to me to be extremely damaging and we must join efforts to overcome it .
by introducing the obligation for Member States to grant a single residence and work permit , Patrick Gaubert 's report also aims to ensure the right of immigrant workers to equal treatment in as many areas as possible .
Madam President , this directive was always intended , quite rightly , to provide minimum standards to protect pregnant workers and women who are breastfeeding .
the draft report on the revision of the framework agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission aims to achieve the institutional balance between Parliament and the Commission advocated in the Treaty of Lisbon .
it is time to give impetus , at Community level , to a real momentum that would unlock their potential and stimulate their development .
I would like to thank all representatives of the general secretariats of the European Parliament with whom I met and held discussions .
first , because the standards must be the same . secondly , because the fact that governments have to make certain compromises is a different matter .
furthermore , due to the constant technological changes , employers have ever-increasing expectations with regard to employees ' qualifications .
it has to keep up with a dynamically developing world and changing expectations of the market with respect to new employees .
both instruments should be free-standing remedies additional to those available under national law .
so far , all attempts to have Dawit Isaak freed have been unsuccessful .
this represents a big employment opportunity for young people and we must make sure that young people can take full advantage of it .
our citizens have far in excess of 200 million cars - and you and I all drive them .
in fact , Mr Michel 's presence gives me hope that the Commission may give serious consideration to an issue that today not only affects 28 African countries and various countries in the Middle East and neighbouring countries , but is now a particularly distressing problem within the European Union itself .
this is politically motivated , and it is a disgrace that it is on the agenda .
I would also like briefly to mention an issue I often talk about , namely deforestation and water management in the world , which we always tend to undervalue .
for that reason , Junilistan has voted against the report .
we believe that there is a need for coherent market surveillance on the internal market so that requirements are not split between different pieces of legislation .
do not worry , they will be heard , and we will listen to them ...
if the databases exist , would you take the view that this is legal or illegal ?
I believe that this should be made clear , so that the people of Ireland cannot be told any more lies .
it is wage competition , social dumping and the downwards harmonisation of wages that are being considered .
Parliament , for its part , certainly will .
there has been a very fine cooperation with and involvement from Parliament , which is needed in order to reach a successful conclusion with the Member States .
that means that the EFSM , which is managed under the Community method , is issuing bonds at lower interest rates than the intergovernmental system .
we need to take this action now .
in this regard , I would like to express my support for Mrs Köstinger , who said that we obviously need a system that is bearable for our small and medium-sized enterprises and one with which they can cope .
this is unacceptable .
the EU must foster a common - if not single - energy policy .
but if you want to discuss radioactive weapons , why not hold a debate on Mr Litvinenko 's murder and its far-reaching consequences ?
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , I sometimes have the feeling that you should try out all these solutions on the Commission itself so that you could see what impact you are actually having on Europe .
I am pleased that the work on a border solution between Croatia and Slovenia is on the agenda and that the Cyprus question is also being resolved .
effective redress will boost consumers ' confidence in the internal market and in what Europe can do for them .
the report states that the two pillars of the common agricultural policy should focus on efficiency , but I fear incentivising small farms while rewarding environmental development could see domestic farmers move away from production-focused farming in order to benefit from the CAP .
we have many roll-call votes , and I do not think that the Rules of Procedure require the President to read the figures .
support for intervention in the housing sector in rural areas or to replace mediocre housing in urban or rural areas is not eligible for ERDF support .
I want an agreement , but not any old agreement .
now , as the international negotiations start to intensify , last week the Commission adopted a communication which includes its positions on the most important points of the negotiations .
both types of dictatorial regime suppressed freedom , human rights and churches .
that decree , Mr President , has changed the rules of the game for an electoral competition that has already begun and allows those who have broken the law to stand , having been readmitted to the electoral competition .
all states - particularly developing countries - need to be involved in the regime for the post-Kyoto period .
it provides for funding in the following areas : international relations , governance , data collection , scientific advice , and CFP control systems and enforcement .
the goal announced in the Lisbon Strategy to raise the employment rate in the Union to 70 % is a social imperative that must be borne in mind , though it looks as though it will be difficult to reach that goal by 2010 .
that is an important point and for that reason alone , even if that were the only reason , it would be sufficient to sing the praises of this Commission communication .
it is logical that it is debated within the limits set out in the treaty and , furthermore , that it is done based on the budgetary and economic strategy considered to be appropriate to the current circumstances , and which , in this case , is recommended to Greece , from which it will , no doubt , benefit .
for example , the EU pork industry is facing increasing difficulties in obtaining feed at reasonable prices , while prices for porkmeat are falling .
( DE ) Mr President , the old saying ' I love treason but I hate a traitor ' is something that is proven true over and over again .
the next few years , when we will need to be flexible , will be very , very difficult if we cannot get the finance ministers to provide more money , and I think this will be more difficult than usual in the current economic climate .
the freedom of worship is formally recognised , but in reality , it is restricted , for instance , with respect to the choice of place of worship .
these are reasons enough not to vote for this new European Commission .
( RO ) Indeed , it 's never too late to learn .
there are probably few people around who could really understand it .
I agree that art is a manifestation of culture and helps develop a country 's cultural wealth , as well as society in general .
I say : let us return day-to-day management and control of the resource to the fishing nations themselves , who have fishing entitlements in logical fishing areas such as the North Sea , and let us abandon the unworkable notion that we can have equal access to waters and resources .
if it is now a matter of jobs in the processing area , there is no denying that it would be necessary to discuss with the industry again whether it is in a position to pay growers an appropriate price for this cotton so that growing cotton is worthwhile .
we have also raised the fate of the minority Rohingyas , who are once again bearing the brunt of a vicious campaign of discrimination and persecution by the army , and many have had to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh .
it would indeed be a great step forward for Europe if citizens in my country , Austria , as well as in Germany and in other countries , only had to pay the same amount for pharmaceuticals as their fellow citizens in other EU Member States .
it is clear that appropriate measures to stabilise food prices need to be found in order to ensure sustainable agricultural production .
Mrs in ' t Veld told me that I had not convinced her .
this is why a number of us have had misgivings about giving our full support to the Rapkay report .
finally , to quote Kofi Annan , ' There is no trust more sacred than the one the world holds with children .
with regard to Croatia , 21 of the 35 chapters are still open , while 3 have been provisionally closed .
it is clear that the Euro Zone has to provide a strong and coordinated response to the economic crisis .
obviously , if business travellers experience undue delays , that is a cost .
this agreement , which was concluded on 14 July 2010 , is aimed at replacing the provisions contained in the bilateral agreements on air services between 12 Member States and the Federative Republic of Brazil with a bilateral agreement between the EU and the same .
America is attaching a number of conditions to visa exemption as part of the fight against terrorism .
since 2000 , none of the measures to combat unemployment , poverty and exclusion have achieved anything .
in this context we should also take a look at what are known as ' tax havens ' .
nevertheless , we need to take into serious consideration the dangers arising from animal cloning for food supply : food safety , the welfare of cloned animals and the genetic and zootechnical diversity of these animals .
every one of us here has his or her own ideas about international politics and drugs , and about international policies in Afghanistan .
I was pleased to hear the Commissioner saying that we are moving to a user-friendly financial regulation .
2006 discharge : European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (
this is very important for ensuring that EU legislation is properly implemented and applied in the Member States .
particularly during the current global financial crisis , this partnership can be of paramount importance and open up greater opportunities for commercial , scientific and technological exchanges , enabling us to emerge from this crisis in stronger , more stable positions .
I agree that we have not achieved everything we wanted to .
I also consider the focus on employment and decent working conditions to be a key element of sustainable development , and not just in EU countries .
we have to keep to the basic principles and criteria of Economic and Monetary Union .
this very weekend aggression has been renewed and blood spilt in Kolozsvár , in Transylvania .
of course , we also need to perform platform inspections , even if these inspections are the responsibility of the Member States , and we need inspections by the Commission of the inspections themselves .
this means setting an agenda to tackle jointly many challenges and conflicts , as well as bilateral issues .
that is the reason why I would say that , again , at this stage we agree with all the partners of the G7 on the message for China .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
there are still many unresolved questions over Turkey 's progress in the EU accession negotiations .
perhaps the French White Paper which has been drawn up on this topic might serve as a model , for here we need a very broad debate on the preparation of this White Paper - a public debate on these matters of European security .
in that spirit , I am in favour of regular political consultations between the two partners and , in particular , of strengthening the parliamentary dimension of cooperation by establishing a Transatlantic Assembly .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - Madam President , I have just had some sad news .
we consider that this comprehensive approach allows for well-informed and consistent decision making , whilst being steady and looking beyond short-term volatility .
that was the right approach to take and it had my express support at the time .
we also want to see significantly stricter controls on the allocation of subsidy funding .
this is something which will be returned to in the resolution .
the report proposes a period of maternity leave lasting 20 weeks on full pay .
even now , however , we can state that there is an absolute need to identify rules for surveillance of economic policies , rules that are not mechanistic but realistic and sustainable , able to strengthen fiscal policy and improve European governance as a whole .
neoliberalism , with its obsession with profit , its continual pitting of workers against one another , and its relocations also inflicts both symbolic and physical violence on citizens .
I believe that we must now ask some fundamental questions .
if we are talking about efficient multilateralism , it needs to be developed in ways that ensure everyone is a winner .
just as with the similar Air Safety Agreement with the US , the main objective was to minimise duplication of assessments , tests and inspections , and to enable the EU and Canada to rely on each other 's certification systems .
the Estrela report , as debated and amended , pursues with conviction the principle of reconciling private and working life and that of equal opportunities , and therefore of healthy and balanced progress .
the European Union has set aside EUR 12 billion up to 2013 for integration of minorities , and it is already quite clear that the money will be wasted where most Roma and Sinti are concerned .
I firmly believe that rural development must continue to be a crucial aspect of the cohesion policy .
specific measures to develop the technical and scientific skills of young women need to be included in the European investment plan for employment , environmental protection and innovation , in order to improve their qualifications and employability , in particular , in strategic growth sectors in which they are under-represented .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( DA ) Mr President , I wonder if there is anyone in this Chamber who still remembers when the Constitution was changed to the Treaty of Lisbon after its rejection in the Netherlands and France .
as a result , it is not all clear how the fund will contribute to poverty reduction .
this highly contagious , airborne bacterium can infect ten to fifteen other people before the symptoms are noticed .
in national transport there can be no sense and no purpose in exposing the profitable lines to competition during liberalisation , whilst at the same time leaving the unprofitable lines to the public sector , with no compensation .
the report has made a call , echoed by many of you here this evening , for a strong agricultural and rural development policy in Europe , capable of ensuring food security for all , with the support of research and innovation to face the challenges of producing more with the fewer resources we have and will have .
there is no doubt that ageing populations are a concern in many countries .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I , too , would like to address the issue of pre-accession aid .
this time I do not support the Commission in its application of the principle of ' the more the merrier ' , and I agree that the five directives should merged .
the abuse of chemicals is linked to an old model of agriculture , where value is placed on quantity rather than quality and where produce becomes disconnected from the land , the seasons and the workers .
very recently , the EU published a research paper called Millennium Development Goals at Midpoint , which looked at the implementation of the Millennium Goals and the Union 's role in achieving them .
therefore , we propose to define indicators and a scoreboard , agree alert thresholds and give recommendations and early warnings if necessary .
for the first time , the Treaty of Lisbon provides real powers for the European Parliament where revising the Treaties is concerned .
his only crime was to be a part of the economic oligarchy .
however , we are prepared to have a more in-depth debate on the issue of regulating the credit rating agency sector itself once the Commission has provided us with its proposal on the comprehensive review of this sector , which is set for next year .
I have this question to put to you : are you also going to challenge Lithuania in cases where one of the partners is not a national of a Member State ?
the average fertility rate in Africa is five children per woman , compared to 1.7 in the Far East and 1.47 in the European Union .
we will be speaking on behalf of the millions of Europeans who did not have a chance to vote against the Treaty of Lisbon , a Treaty that is not for the benefit of the majority of the people of Europe , but for the benefit of bureaucrats , of large corporations and of military industries .
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what initiatives has the Council put in place to deal with rising levels of unemployment across the EU-27 , other than measures to retrain and upskill workers ?
I believe that the debate , and all that everyone has contributed , has shown the importance of the affair .
it is also essential to facilitate mobility for certain categories of people between the partner countries and the EU .
the European Union must take account of the stages of development , pace and wishes of countries when opening up services markets , particularly when liberalising some of their services .
I increasingly often ask myself , Mr Tajani , who should be responsible for ensuring that something actually happens .
the debate is closed .
the European Central Bank has certainly been the most responsive central bank .
it certainly makes very depressing reading .
the European Union receives around EUR 20 billion from VAT revenue .
I would say that it is no excuse that Member States in some cases deliberately drag their feet on implementation of employment non-discrimination , but it is an excuse , and the Commission must not allow the slowest to dictate the speed of the rest .
the Commission regularly organises conferences with representatives from local and regional authorities .
however , it is possible that , in exercising this quite natural power to implement , the Commission may exceed its powers , in most cases , without necessarily seeking to do so .
our response to a humanitarian crisis cannot be based on trade , especially considering that it is now one year on from the disaster and the urgency is not as strong .
it has set a unilateral target , it is introducing a cap-and-trade system and it is very ambitious about the medium- and long-term targets .
subject : the European Court of Auditors
we must increase stocks and therefore boost production , which in turn will require proper refinancing .
the UK had to be taken to court before it bid for five UK residents to come back to the UK .
new user services have been developed .
crises invariably create opportunities .
in view of the role it played in setting up the state of East Timor and its continued involvement in it , the international community cannot allow such a bleak prospect to become a reality .
we know to our cost that Russia sometimes follows its own rule book in international affairs .
- Mr President , I should just like to say that I fully support this report , which is about animal welfare .
the Verts / ALE , GUE / NGL and ALDE Groups request that the statements by the Council and the Commission on the situation in Myanmar / Burma be put on the agenda for Wednesday afternoon , followed by the tabling of motions for resolution .
nobody has been asked whether they want it .
I am glad to see you agree with me , Mrs Harms .
the Irish people should have their debate with full information .
to conclude , I would simply like to say that the majority of us are in agreement with the basics .
in fact , it is loaded with the responsibility of being the budget of an institution which is particularly committed to transparency and accountability .
since then , we have been looking for a solution acceptable to the political groups in relation to the third part of the amendment .
I believe that there will be cross-group opposition to this .
the main aim of the Commission 's proposals is to tighten up the regulations of the Stability and Growth Pact .
the fact that politicians in the Netherlands , by criticising Islam , will now even have the Public Prosecution Service and the courts on their backs , and potentially find themselves in prison , is catastrophic for our freedom and our democracy .
the problem stems from the fact that customs duties are 2 000 years old and date back to ancient Rome , to Rome tolls .
this is extremely important in order to deliver efficiency and to be able to use the money well , despite the limited amounts in question .
I am all for maximum harmonisation , at the end of the day .
however , the big debate there will once more concern whether to start by coming forward with money or by talking about objectives .
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consequently , I think that it is a legitimate demand for us to ask Parliament to tell us if there is a list of countries which come within the jurisdiction of The Hague Court or if there are countries which are indifferent to and dismissive of this Court .
however , we cannot accept that , at the expense of technological development and strengthening of the so-called SET Plan , yet another excuse is being sought to weaken national energy policies .
I therefore call on Commissioner Dalli - who I know is very willing - to table a Commission proposal incorporating our positions as soon as possible , so as to allow this House to approve the regulation on cloning .
next , the single reading for the budgetary procedure with the introduction of a revert mechanism in the event that the Council rejects the common position , the introduction of a conciliation committee responsible for preparing the common position and a tight timetable for the conciliation committee .
( EL ) Mr President , just one month before the Beijing Olympic Games , China is still experiencing the tragic impact of the earthquake .
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we can be proud of this responsibility for the future of the whole Mediterranean region .
they are in addition a threat to an understanding of the real situation , which is both inclusive and firm with terrorism .
if there are discrepancies between the EU target and the sum of the national targets , we intend to continue the discussion with the Member States to see how national or EU-level action could bring the EU closer to the targets .
the financial assistance offered to redundant workers should be made available as quickly and efficiently as possible .
let us therefore not lag behind , and let us take concrete measures to benefit from this huge opportunity and potential .
but I do not think , colleagues , that means we should stand aside and ignore what is happening at the moment .
specifically on the subject of tax havens , we must support the decisions and progress made at the G20 and , above all , we must remember that the measures in this area should be suitable , proportional and effective .
unfortunately I have to point out a few difficulties reported by the Court of Auditors following the audits carried out during the implementation of the 2009 work programme .
these should therefore form the basis of our work on energy security under the new EU-Russia agreement .
but the ERTMS is progressing very well .
I could not look my constituents in the eye , some who will undoubtedly lose their jobs as a result of cuts in UK spending , and say that MEPs spent even more of their money wisely - and remember it is their money - by boosting the coffers of the EEAS , Europol and regulation of financial services .
having said this , it is second-generation which promotes biodiesel or bioethanol independently , but still demand in the EU market is definitely bigger for diesel .
we simply must push ahead with this dossier , along with other instruments - SESAR , the emissions trading system , and so forth .
one must genuinely create Europe ' .
the two parties will agree on the priorities to be decided upon for such support and will identify the objectives , the annual and multiannual programming and the criteria to assess the results to be obtained , with a view to ensuring sustainable and responsible management of the sector .
as I mentioned , we have already improved the statistics , but of course there is still room for more improvement .
another major step forward is the harmonisation and simplification of the regulatory framework applicable to lobbyists , and in particular the creation of a single register that is common to all the institutions , which will list all lobbyists and will , in the long term , become a reference and a pledge of seriousness and credibility for all accredited organisations .
I also think that holding discussions about the cancellation of budget support for Kenya is a problem , because this fuels anxiety about the future in Kenya .
the financial crisis has hit Russia hard , and this is precisely the kind of policy area in which the European Union also has a clear interest in seeking a common policy approach .
anyone who has never lived under Communism cannot understand how much a person 's life and way of thinking can be affected by a totalitarian system .
in my opinion , the single market helps the European area in terms of freedom , security and justice and contributes to strengthening the European model of a social market economy , but , at the same time , protects consumers .
because your predecessor felt he was not bound by the rules , and on the basis of explanations of vote he tore the rule book up because he did not feel bound by it .
not much has been done so far in relation to the method of improving road infrastructure at European Union level .
Mr President , I think the outcome of this vote is the best all round because it allows for more consideration to be given to a very complex subject on which there are many different views .
finally , I would like to encourage in every way possible , as stressed by the Committee chair , Mr Harbour , and your committee , more responsible and more environmentally aware , or greener procurement that also promotes innovation or social inclusion .
there are in fact several points of the proposal with which I disagree .
this therefore gives me hope , and I think it may even be something to inspire Parliament tomorrow to vote in favour of the texts we are debating .
unfortunately , Mr Ayral passed away rather suddenly .
on the other hand , although it is undeniable that the financial turbulence has heightened uncertainty about economic prospects , the macro-economic fundamentals in the European Union are strong and world growth remains robust , despite the slowdown in the US .
as a Member State , Romania is entitled to mine its deposits in safe conditions ensuring protection for the environment , while also reaping the economic and social benefits commensurate with the natural assets it has .
whatever the safety valves in the procedure for awarding the label in a transparent , reliable and impartial manner , everyone knows that capital and big business always find ways round them in order to increase their profits , as proven by a string of food scandals and by the ' toxic ' products of the capitalist crisis itself .
it is quite clear that heading 1 in the budget needs to be looked at in particular , but so does heading 4 , which seems to be chronically underfunded from one year to the next .
to these may be added several other areas that need attention , notably , the upgrading of public administration and of the administration of justice , the establishment of market conditions and full openness towards Serbia 's past , including opening up the archives .
Europe must now take responsibility and participate actively in developing a strategy for the resolution of the Kurdish issue , for this is the key to achieving genuine peace and democracy in Turkey .
we must create legal employment opportunities .
we do not agree that competition is a better answer than good cooperation between national railway undertakings to the problems in international freight transport or even passenger transport . and we shall not be voting for these proposals in the third reading .
( RO ) The energy package needs to give out a strong signal to investors , especially in the energy sector .
( PL ) Madam President , Commissioner , Minister , I am obliged to commence this address with a personal reflection .
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this important step should be applauded , but at the same time , we cannot overlook the fact that China holds the record for the highest number of death penalties , the true number of which we do not even know , due to a lack of transparency and the fact that certain people are qualified as non-people .
that is extremely important .
I want to just also say something about labels .
just who the hell do you people think you are ?
the European Danube Commission was founded on 30 March 1856 in the wake of the Paris Conference , with its headquarters in Galaţi , in Romania .
reach was about evaluating chemicals , finding out whether they are dangerous and registering them .
the final point I would like to mention is a very difficult matter , also included in the amendment , and that is the relationship between energy policy and human rights policy .
similarly , the notion of a quantitative use reduction is not clearly defined and opens the door to many risks because of its non-selective application .
the idea of the EU as a peacemaker and as a successful economic superpower is receding rapidly , and it appears to be a moloch whose vast and unwieldy bureaucracy , at times operating arbitrarily , makes people feel as if they have no say in their own affairs .
they include , for example , Emile Bomba 's ALCEC in Cameroon , and they deserve to be helped and supported .
I think that it would be completely contradictory if we now were to ask Member States to make an additional effort as regards their budgets , budget boosts , while we at European level , were unable to use all the appropriations at our disposal in the Community Budget .
particular attention needs to be focused on rare conditions which lead to physical or mental incapacity .
the Council noted , too , Croatia 's cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia , although it felt that further efforts were necessary .
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there are also good reasons to seek an end to what is referred to as ' scientific whaling ' .
on the work programme , we will have the budget review , the implementation of the health check and review of fisheries .
this is the time for the Commission to coordinate the implementation of the action plan so as to avoid duplication between Member States and to ensure overall progress in the many different EU application areas for applications of Global Navigation Satellite Systems ( GNSS ) .
after the assertions that have been made , be patient .
however , as mentioned just now by Mr Gauzès and also by previous speakers , it is vital that the recognition of these national specificities does not lead to increased costs , that fees are uniform and that governments , if necessary , shoulder this additional cost .
there his ideas would be shared and , I am sure , warmly welcomed .
this report clarifies institutional and operational aspects arising from the European Union signing up to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms .
( SV ) I would like to begin by agreeing with the previous speaker that the Doha Round is extremely important , but I would like to add that it has probably never been more important than it is right now .
in writing . - ( HU ) The EU-USA summit that will take place in a few days ' time is a good opportunity for us to examine the development of transatlantic relations in the most important areas .
naturally , this affects our rights - not only the right to free movement , but also those under signed international conventions on our political and civil rights .
Parliament is aware of the increasing need for funding and has , for the third year running , petitioned for an increase in the budget for the FRONTEX agency .
I have been to Palestine several times , and I have been to Israel several times , so I know the situation , not perfectly , but well enough , and I believe that in reality there are not two parties involved there but three .
indeed , we must consider implementing a carbon tax at the borders of the European Union , because we cannot abandon our businesses and thus our jobs to completely unfair competition , to the advantage of countries that show no respect for , or do not apply the same standards regarding , environmental protection and greenhouse gas reduction .
a convergence of positions would help to open the prison gates for those who recently stood in the Belarusian elections and would stop blatant human rights abuses .
there is a Europe-Russia dispute having as its object the geopolitical status of Ukraine , a European Union-Ukraine dispute having as its object the European perspectives of Ukraine , a European Union-Russia dispute having as its object the Russian monopoly on the gas supply and a European Union-Ukraine dispute having as its object the Ukrainian monopoly on gas transit .
Member of the Commission . - I am sure that Mr Mavrommatis recalls that Qtrax recently announced a new agreement with several major labels to offer the first free and legal advertisement-supported peer-to-peer service with major music labels on their website .
therefore , the length of such a debate and the manner in which it is conducted are extremely important factors .
the first , research and innovation , is where I find the work programme presented by the Commission to be lacking .
I myself come from a country which lived for many years under a regime that was not easy for most people , but precisely for that reason I do not understand why sensible men and women in this noble Chamber now want to adopt a document through which we will once again be pointing the finger at someone and blaming them for something .
according to data included in this report , production of protein crops in the European Union has declined 30 % over the last 10 years .
( PL ) Commissioner , I understand that you are responsible for watching over the level of state aid given to enterprises , but Polish society has the impression that , unfortunately , Polish shipyards are being treated differently from enterprises in the old EU Member States - that here consent is being given to save jobs , but that in the Polish shipyards consent to save jobs is not forthcoming , and this inequality troubles us greatly .
I support the report by Mr Grosch , aimed at providing opportunities for neighbouring Member States to open their markets still further to cabotage transport operations .
such development will have to be sustainable and will have to rely first and foremost on local agriculture .
even now that the three biggest Groups have agreed a compromise on deadlines and accompanying measures , my Group still sees this choice as a step backwards .
in this regard , if all that were permitted by the ACTA , the agreement would be unacceptable .
for me , the 10th anniversary of the Ohrid Framework Agreement this summer is an opportunity to take stock of implementation , to bring all the communities of the country together and to renew the commitment to address the ongoing challenges .
on the contrary , as a Christian believer I call upon the European Parliament and each individual to not only stop discrimination but to help those who are being discriminated against because of their disability .
there are dozens of stateless nations that should be mentioned , bearing in mind the fact that what the founding fathers wanted to build was a Europe of the nations , not a federalist Europe or a Europe of the biggest interests .
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( PL ) Madam President , for many years , nuclear power was considered to be the energy of the future - green , efficient , non-polluting .
Mr Toubon emphasises that exports are outside the text .
( DE ) Mr President , I believe that we can all learn lessons from the situation in Japan .
the need for greater transparency in approving products with the ' CE ' marking has been addressed and I look forward to the measures being introduced in July 2013 .
the result of this is high unemployment and low demand , and it is affecting both the passenger car industry and the light commercial vehicle industry .
Mr Jouyet , we have noted with interest the conclusions adopted yesterday by the Competitiveness Council and we would like to know whether the European Council of 11 and 12 December will indeed relay these conclusions and push for the general guiding principle ' Think Small First ' to be transposed quickly into Member States ' legislation .
I voted in favour of this report and would like to recall the importance of the basic skills that every European must acquire .
fortunately , Prime Minister Sócrates , the IGC was short .
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since you are now the leading political party at present in Europe and the Commission is inclined to the right , is it not now the job of the right also to show the way out of this crisis and not blame previous governments or the governments that came before them ?
the Member States of the European Union have agreed to add EUR 125 billion to their usual contributions , in proportion to the financing of the new objectives .
because of the groundbreaking nature of this body of instruments , we wisely agreed that we would evaluate them after only a few years and , where necessary , adjust them .
of those executions , 88 % were carried out in China , Iran , Saudi Arabia , Pakistan and the United States .
free competition prohibits State aid as a way of promoting the private economy ; and taxation of savings should not be a gateway for distorting equal competition .
over the last two years the European Parliament has done a great deal of work on this issue , and there will be an important milestone in this process when tomorrow , 11 October , the Plenary adopts the report on the murders of women in Mexico and Central America and the role of the European Union in fighting this phenomenon .
colleagues , I would also like to remind you that taking appropriate action on climate change is a matter of ensuring human rights .
( RO ) Madam President , I too share the sentiments of my colleagues who have drawn attention to the persecution of the political opposition in Romania , using the legal instruments of a government showing ever-growing evidence of authoritarian abuses .
TrimTabs Investment Research , a leading US independent research service , has said that if their margin requirement was raised between 25 % and 50 % , which is the same as most people who invest in the stock market pay , it would have a significant impact on lowering oil prices .
good luck with it !
this dialogue , mentioned in various agreements with many countries and in various instruments , is in a way the signature of the soft power that is Europe .
the diversity of the European Union is that all the different nation states have different cultures , different histories and different backgrounds , and it therefore seems to me important that arts and education should be a matter for determination at national level .
in writing . - ( NL ) Green politicians are convinced that we cannot view the economic and environmental crises separately .
this agenda is particularly focused on the three specific areas of curricula , governance and funding .
I am pleased that you all want to perform your legislative work as well as possible , and to make the best possible use of resources .
in my own region , we have in Bracknell the world-renowned medium-range weather forecasting centre .
( LV ) Mr President , on the whole , I support the use of resources from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund , and it is a good thing if we are able to help those that have fallen into difficulties .
also , I was wondering whether you knew of the timetable that the Council was thinking of because it is absolutely important that we get the timetable through very quickly because after all those healthcare workers have waited so many years .
the other danger which threatens Kosovo is that of chaos and corruption .
ladies and gentlemen , there is no longer an ' old Europe ' or a ' new Europe ' .
how can anyone continue to believe in a deepening of its federal dimension when it is getting ready to fleece the most indebted countries to help out the financial markets ?
all the contributions were useful .
to ascertain this data , we need this directive .
Commissioner Wallström today pointed out in this Parliament that the law is only as good as its implementation .
the process of reviewing the submissions is still ongoing .
that is why we did not support either proposal and abstained .
years ago , the then European Commissioner , Franco Frattini , suggested a Europe-wide law banning all Nazi symbols .
the third is EU solidarity in the face of the false accusations against one of its members , a possible pretext for freezing the military situation in the area in breach of important undertakings in the field .
in my view , it is totally inhumane to require victims of discrimination to provide proof of the discrimination .
the future EU 2020 strategy must consider policies for creating jobs and promoting sustainable development so that we can prevent new economic crises from being triggered .
for this reason , the Member States are called up on primarily to investigate ways of recognising the unofficial skills acquired when caring for children and dependent persons , such as preliminary training and work experience .
under the terms of the regulation itself , the Committee of the Regions is monitoring the implementation and functioning of European groupings of territorial cooperation and is already in possession of interesting information on preparations for the creation of the new bodies .
sometimes , this affects six year olds , then ten year olds , next time twelve year olds .
giving support to situations of fragility where this is to the detriment of successful countries should , however , be avoided .
there are currently whole swathes of the finance industry that lie beyond the reach of supervisory authorities .
more than half of this number , 22 million , are Romanians .
every day lost is potentially devastating and cannot be justified .
therefore , we must be clear . there must be equal treatment , irrespective of nationality .
when there is a ' positive ' conflict of jurisdiction between different Member States , this must be resolved as swiftly as possible , in order to protect citizens and avoid any risk of infringing the legal principle of ne bis in idem .
there are national programmes for inclusion and combating poverty , which have produced modest results .
it was a very good process but , unfortunately , I do not understand Mr Vernola .
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other proposals will follow in the coming weeks , and here I want to praise the work of Commissioner Malmström who , with great intelligence and sensitivity , is doing her best to find the right approach to this complex matter .
is it a private project or an EU project ?
in writing . - ( PT ) Unbelievable !
one of the issues that we must assess and debate is precisely the role of the Member States in achieving the targets or objectives proposed in this area .
I am delighted that this document calls for the continuation of a strong and sustainable common agricultural policy ( CAP ) . to achieve this , a budget commensurate with the ambitious objectives to be pursued is required .
the result would be an increase in emissions and at the same time tens of thousands , if not hundreds of thousands , of jobs would be lost .
all important matters concerning changes to the Treaties , such as electoral procedure , will still require a Convention to be convened .
justice Goldstone did not show sufficient care when examining the evidence .
the coalblack gloom is intensified by the fact that Parliament wants the rules on aid to be extended all the way to 2018 .
I voted in favour of the joint motion for a resolution on EU-Japan trade relations .
you have both ensured that this office of President is one which is held in respect and esteem .
I know some of you would like to do even more for our eastern partners .
if we want to prevent these agreements from interfering with the rules laid down by the Treaty , we cannot but adopt the policies and measures contained in the report by Mr Schlyter .
transport is also a decisive issue when it comes to competition .
Ireland speaks for Ireland ; Slovenia for Slovenia .
we have absolute power in these areas , and so I ask myself and I ask you : have we been using or have we been abusing this power of ours , have we been wise and thoughtful , or have we instead not been able to resist the hold that this power has over us ?
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creators ' mobility must be encouraged .
the Commission therefore proposes that this question should be examined thoroughly and that a list of vulnerable sectors or industries be drawn up by 2010 .
it is helping these countries to trade legally but , in particular , it is also working against drug production .
I hope the Désir report will be a new voice on measures taken by the Union and will contribute to ever more extensive application of the standards of corporate social responsibility .
you could say that we have postponed a decision on these important matters , by several years .
freedom of expression must be exercised responsibly .
in Cuba , prosperity and self-initiative are clearly regarded as criticism of the regime .
some 19 % of all CO2 emissions produced in the Community now come from passenger cars and light-commercial vehicles .
we are caught in an administrative stranglehold , and those engaged in research are turning away from European programmes .
we must support the efforts of President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad to peacefully lead the Palestinian people to a Palestinian state .
the matter has been settled , Mr Schulz .
anything extra will probably upset this balance and any attempt to further define terrorism is asking for trouble : it was no easy task for Europe to arrive at a definition .
I urge Parliament not to sit back and do nothing .
how , Mrs Ferrero-Waldner , can we involve Russia in this new Treaty that is being signed in Oslo after all ?
I consider this unacceptable , both because it represents censorship of the right to free speech and because it shows that the Internet , too , is controlled by those in power and / or their supporters .
first , I must say that I very much appreciate the hard work undertaken by Parliament on the examination of the proposal for a directive on patients ' rights in cross-border health care which will shortly be submitted to your vote .
in 1823 , Andrews and Prichard were granted exclusive rights for arterial navigation within the Austrian territories .
indeed , we are talking about State aid for the beneficiaries of social housing , not so much for enterprises .
in the European Union and its Member States we are thinking , principally , of development in the area of cohesion .
what is perhaps even more remarkable , however , is the fact that , in preparation for this ministerial conference , a growing number of states and international organisations , such as the African Union , have decided to step up their efforts to promote Resolution 1325 , notably through the development of national action plans .
here is the explanation of my vote .
but in the end , these are only inputs .
this framework must be generally applicable ; it must ensure that all parties are committed participants , and it must be effective .
they have the obligation to investigate racist attacks and to punish those who incite them or perpetrate them .
Portugal , are you not ashamed to have to accept the humiliation of the timetable imposed under the German Presidency as part of standardisation ?
every year in the EU approximately 12 million animals are used for scientific purposes , including 12 000 non-human primates .
this is , above all , a service for them , and I stand before the representatives of the citizens of Europe to make my commitment to see this service fulfil your ambitions .
therefore , this report is a step forward in the fight against this serious disease .
I would like most emphatically to draw your attention to the fact that not every error constitutes fraud .
( RO ) Mr President , as shadow rapporteur , I would like to congratulate the rapporteur for this report and I will only raise two issues .
moreover , if we cannot expect a solution to this problem from Friday 's Council , and even if we have to wait until March 's Council meeting for it , it is essential for the Heads of State or Government to prepare to make the stability fund more flexible , starting on 4 February , along with preparing the relaunch of the European economic government .
this will not happening in the Council until 2014 .
one observation : for one year , Parliament has given its agreement , and I join my fellow Member in asking you , Mrs Győri , to take note of the very strong consensus within Parliament on this matter .
we need the reform and we are working for it .
we have started to implement a social policy by establishing the right to care for those who are disabled and dependent .
one is as a global response to climate change but , from another point of view , we will also use coal and lignite for our security of supply .
as for our group , with the amendments that we have put forward and that our rapporteur has been happy to accept , we have set about looking for a way of getting the Member States and Community bodies more deeply involved to guarantee that the planned measures really deliver added value to the SMEs .
however , this does not mean that we should turn a blind eye to the growing violence being committed against Coptic Christians by radical Muslims .
one of the selling points in relation to the Lisbon Treaty - and we know that in Ireland we rejected Lisbon I - was that we were going to have an immediate humanitarian response to natural disasters .
I am of the opinion that the publishing of a specification presenting the interpretation given by the European Commission to certain definitions in the regulation in the Official Journal of the European Union before the regulation becomes effective is not an acceptable solution .
one place is an Orthodox centre of pilgrimage , while the other is a Catholic centre of pilgrimage .
the fact that the report does not reduce the number of seats laid down in the Treaty of Nice is certainly a positive one .
ACTA is a tool that makes existing standards more effective , thus benefiting exports from the EU and protecting rights-holders when they operate within the global market .
the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety clearly states that these practices are ethically unacceptable and that the humanly degrading and environmentally destructive conditions involved in the dismantling of ships must not be permitted to continue .
the loss of security of these climate migrants , forced to take refuge in makeshift camps , raises the level of threat against women .
if , struck by fear , we agree to the murdering of the Baltic and a new Moscow-Berlin border in the sea with Russian Naval vessels protecting the pipeline , we will bury our free future .
we must carry this through into determined and united European Union action .
I fully endorse what Mrs Wallis has said : we must ensure that private international law , as defined in Rome I , for example , is also respected . otherwise , we will again have this patchwork which leads to a lack of clarity and to legal uncertainty , which is not what we want .
that is a real achievement , considering the starting position , and on this point I would like to express my thanks to all the shadow rapporteurs for their close and constructive collaboration .
we did not know in 1989 how Poland would turn out .
this is a question - I repeat - that must be resolved immediately : I find it unthinkable that the new Members may not be elected to Parliament for the remainder of the 2009-2014 term .
( EL ) Mr President , trade unions , parties and players in the Turkish-Cypriot community in Cyprus are conducting an inch-by-inch battle against Ankara 's policy which , among other things , is using politics and migration to render Turkish Cypriots an endangered species .
ten years on , we find ourselves shaken by the worst economic crisis we can remember .
( CS ) Mr President , whatever our relationship is to the single currency , the euro , I believe it is in the interests of everyone living in the EU that the euro and the euro area develop in a stable way , whether we use it or not , as our economies are interlinked to an enormous extent .
and if today you declare the Italian policy acceptable , what do you think the effect from your position regarding immigration policy will be in Bulgaria ?
on behalf of the PPE Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , thank you to the Commission and the Council for the information you have given us about the crisis in European aviation .
we , both donors and least developed countries , need to learn important lessons from the success of some of the least developed countries , as well as from the implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action .
I would stress that our Strategy is implemented at a decentralised level , in businesses , in municipalities , in the regions .
I would also like to mention the very special role played by the Vice-President of the European Commission , Commissioner Šefčovič , and his readiness , openness and commitment to negotiate with both the Council and Parliament .
in a few months ' time , 375 million electors will be summoned to the polls to exercise their great democratic right to choose a new European Parliament .
its aim is also to firmly combat illegal immigration .
at a meeting on 4 February , the leaders of the EU and of Member States stated their commitment to the Innovation Union flagship initiative .
which country was the biggest offender in 2010 ?
I would prefer to see the agricultural budget reduced in favour of the priorities of research and development and the conversion to green energy , etc. set in the Europe 2020 strategy .
by accepting this report you are violating the main aims of the European Union which are so often forgotten , namely : economic cohesion , social cohesion and solidarity between Member States .
the issue of the European child health needs to receive all the attention due , taking into consideration the serious problems that all Member States are dealing with .
firstly , the Commission 's proposal to maintain the 35 % of coupled aid is , as has been demonstrated in recent years by the reduction in production in a country such as Spain , entirely inadequate ; therefore , we think that the solution provided by the report to leave the maximum limit to subsidiarity is the most appropriate .
it was a fast and impressive response but it came with a price .
this resolution appeals to the European Commission to continue on the path of greater consideration for the engines of prosperity and economic growth that are SMEs .
trade unions throughout Europe complain about lower wages , poorer working conditions and reduced job security .
this is one of the most important lessons of the history of the past decades , and this is why it is important that we remember the horrors of totalitarianism .
I do not know how long that window will stay open .
why can we not deliberate on this ?
it is therefore essential to bring about an exchange of information , and this be based in the Commission .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
agricultural policy must respond to European and global challenges , particularly when we take into account the fact that , according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation , food production has to increase by at least 70 % to meet the needs of a world population which , by 2050 , is set to exceed 9 billion .
today , it is precisely two years six months and 16 days since the European Commission submitted the long-awaited directive on patient rights in cross-border healthcare , but the history of this directive goes back long before , when this issue originally formed part of the Services Directive .
in particular , we certainly need to ensure that these regions do not lose their agricultural self-sufficiency capability , which also applies generally to the European Union as a whole .
on this basis , it is not enough to say that this is a car-industry problem and that so many meetings have taken place .
the European Union cannot allow itself to be compared by EU citizens to a volcano ejecting bureaucratic ash , raining down on the desire to reduce the disparities between Europe 's regions .
while some real progress has been made , the digitisation of our cultural resources and their bringing online nevertheless remains very fragmented and relies on the various mechanisms that have been put in place by the Member States .
( LT ) Today in the European Parliament we have adopted the resolution on common rules for the operation of air services in the Community at second reading .
we must therefore emphasise that the improvements to the system will , apart from anything else , be beneficial for patients in the long term , since better use will be made of drugs and better use will also be made of the resources employed by the relevant authorities for protecting public health .
the ban on takeovers by horizontal non-split undertakings in the coming years is justified , therefore ; there is to be no cherry-picking of smaller-sized vital undertakings by non-split organisations .
therefore , in order for the new political framework to be successful , decisions must be taken , founded and based on reliable and comparable statistical data .
finally , you asked me about the ethical approach , which was also mentioned in another question .
advertising of unhealthy foodstuffs on television and the Internet targeted at children impacts negatively on their health . it may also lead to family disputes and result in inappropriate eating habits within peer groups .
Europe 's coastline is thousands of kilometres in length and has traditional small-scale fisheries in many areas .
they would really like to strengthen governance - with a particular focus that includes budget support , and taking into account the limited level of government revenue - and to invest substantially in infrastructure , particularly in roads .
there needs to be a change in policies .
this includes efforts to strengthen the independence of the judiciary , to open up the economy and to ensure fair and transparent competition - for example , by the adoption of a public procurement law in line with international standards and the European Union acquis .
there are websites advertising driving licences for sale .
Mexico is a great country with which we share values and goals , such as the development of democratic forms of government , a commitment to gender equality , consolidation of the rule of law , fair and sustainable development and respect for human rights .
Europe will not advance if in this area , minority policy , we do not adopt such an instrument .
the EU must redouble efforts now to resolve outstanding issues in Moldova and give it the appropriate financial assistance it requires , but this will not happen by naively resetting relations with the Kremlin .
( RO ) I would like to congratulate my colleague , Mrs. Van Lancker , for her work and emphasize the importance of this report .
opening of the sitting
the single document summary of the specifications for geographical indications or the specifications themselves for traditional specialties are then published in the Official Journal of the European Union in order to allow objections to be made .
the European Parliament welcomes the fact that the restrictions on the freedom of the press have been relaxed somewhat in Belarus and that a few political prisoners have been released .
is your goal perhaps to weaken the Hungarian Presidency in doing so ?
this is quite clearly a gag on the free media in Belarus , on independent public opinion and on a nascent civil society .
new European norms which take account of scientific findings are urgently needed for this .
I therefore believe that the establishment of the European Union strategy for the Atlantic is very pertinent .
everyone must be on board in the European family , with its 27 Member States ; nobody must be left behind .
having worked in government in the area of education in my country , I find it deeply regrettable to see it continually wrongly classified in practically all indicators relating to these subjects .
we note the commitment of Commissioner Figeľ to this matter and will watch closely to ensure that the reference legislative framework is complied with in full .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - Mr President , I detest extremism as much as anyone .
the EU is well known for its cultural diversity and , at the same time , it is a community of values which apply equally to each citizen .
I agree with the rapporteur that these improvements to the Euro-Mediterranean free trade agreements can contribute to economic and political stability in this region , which is key to the consolidation of a single area of peace , development , justice , equality , freedom , plurality , democracy and respect .
agriculture is a hard industry ; the investments are substantial and it takes a long time to obtain a return on those investments .
this programme may be threatened by the promotion of food mass-produced by large food corporations , which can prepare effective programmes and which have the best specialists at their disposal .
the EMCDDA is the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction , which was established in 1993 with the main task of collecting data on drugs and drug addiction , in order to prepare and publish objective , reliable and comparable information at European level .
I agree with the rapporteur on the issue of customs protection .
but we have got to look at a more long-term solution , to try and find out exactly why the food market has ended up like this .
it is important because the longer the adoption of the regulation takes , the longer the limbo period lasts , with the potential to create legal uncertainty for investors .
I find it incomprehensible how some have been prepared to agree to a gas pipeline running through the Baltic Sea without any obligation on the part of Russia even to commit to the conclusions in the Espoo Convention .
the next item is the statements by the Council and the Commission on the situation in Belarus .
( SK ) Madam President , the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and Serbia creates a basis for close and lasting relations based on reciprocity and common interests , and contributes to political , economic and institutional stabilisation both in Serbia and throughout the Balkans .
the EU must find realistic and balanced solutions , by evaluating the conditions calmly and seriously , with a sense of its role on the international markets .
he also states that , while intellectual property is important to society and must be protected , it should not be placed above individuals ' fundamental rights to privacy , data protection and other rights such as presumption of innocence , effective judicial protection and freedom of expression .
the agency I have just quoted , ENISA , is interchangeable with any other , and I should indeed like to ask why the information we are given is so full of inconsistencies .
I welcome this vote , which negates the futile polemics about the viability of this undertaking , which is the only one of its kind in the world .
the status of religious organisations and
next to me is my colleague Mr Őry , who tells me that in his country the socialist government is fighting against social benefits .
ladies and gentlemen , I support Mr Onesta 's report , but appeal to you to consider two issues when considering petitions .
I would therefore ask you , ladies and gentlemen , to make good use of your contacts in Congress , because this was a decision by the US Congress , not the US Government , which is why my efforts to find a solution in talks with the US Government are not very promising .
we must call on the EU to launch strategies providing for long-term changes and to pursue an education policy that satisfies the needs of the labour market .
what is more , in 2006 European productivity increased more than the annual average for the previous five years , and for the first time in many years , productivity growth in Europe was greater than in the USA .
the Libyan refugees are a different matter : Europe should support Italy in the identification and logistics management operations , but , above all , must work to ensure that refugees are hosted in all Member States .
first of all , let me remind you that the new proposal will introduce stricter criteria , to be implemented on a zonal basis .
as a doctor , I consider this step to be very important .
finally , I am saddened by the fact that Belarus remains the only country in Europe to retain the death penalty .
it is national governments and national taxpayers who pay when banks have to be bailed out .
in new Member States , such as Romania , the programme 's administration must obviously be improved .
however , I think that it is asking a lot to expect the European Union to resolve everything in what is one of the world 's most complex regions , the Caucasus .
as a result , the Presidency is beginning to examine this draft directive at working party level .
I think that , with increasing globalisation , we shall need to take more account of outbreaks of infectious animal diseases .
debates on cases of breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law ( announcement of motions for resolutions tabled ) : see Minutes
I do not share these views , because , in terms of vehicle construction , you know very well that it takes years to design and construct cars .
following the shut-down of 34 radio stations , the government of Hugo Chávez officially announced there was a list of other stations which are about to be closed down as well : a list which nobody is aware of because the procedures are not open , and a list over which a great deal of uncertainty hangs , the sole purpose of which is to promote self censorship .
this is extremely important .
constitutions are not within our competence .
however , perhaps we do not need to impose regulations covering every detail .
the rights of passengers travelling on regular bus services have been strengthened in relation to the loss of luggage , the loss of personal possessions , death or loss of health , problems which are the carrier 's fault and so on .
however , and the report possibly does not state this sufficiently , it is also largely due , I fear , to government corruption and to a government which , it must be said , is neither very fair nor very effective .
nevertheless , we appreciate the fact that the Hungarian Presidency does not intend to set up legal barriers and is showing openness and commitment with regard to settling this issue .
the example of the student is illustrative ; anyone with a long-stay visa should have the right of freedom of movement .
it is therefore not an identity crusade or an attempt to cause problems for this or that government , but a denunciation of the fact that , in today 's world , people are dying because they believe in Christ or are being discriminated against because their faith is different from someone else 's .
the businesses that manufacture PVC have done a lot of research in the last few years .
we must ask ourselves what went wrong during those negotiations and think about how to proceed if we are to include the US , China and India .
the interests of each country were considered to be equally important .
have we not already discussed the situation of the Christians in Somalia , Sudan , Egypt , Syria , Turkey , Iraq , Iran , Afghanistan , Pakistan and Malaysia many times before here in this Parliament ?
this is a demand that reoccurs in every report accepted by this House in the area of human rights .
this is due to how matters are handled locally .
I should like to say something positive about it for once .
I believe that this twin-track approach should no longer be tolerated .
we represent European citizens , and we should all work to serve European citizens .
last , but not least , it is important , as I said , to adopt a common approach .
that is why I am extremely concerned .
however , in my opinion it is also highlighting issues which are not dignified and which discriminate against a large section of society , which has practically been criminalised due to its dependence on smoking .
action taken on Parliament 's resolutions : see Minutes
( PL ) Following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon , the European Parliament has acquired significant additional competences .
even in Europe we are not unanimous about what the general interest is : there are different solutions to the weighting of the public and private sectors in waste collection , education , water , funeral services , cemeteries , public transport and the postal service even within Europe .
the repeated extensions of the time period may indicate that the Commission set the period incorrectly in the original directive , without regard to the actual state of affairs , or that certain Member States were unable or unwilling to implement Regulation 998 / 2003 on time .
I am sure you will remember this .
concerning our goals - our famous 2020 goals - we are doing quite well regarding the reduction of emissions .
( applause )
I think that the economic situation and high levels of unemployment in Tunisia and Egypt are a serious problem and we must do all we can to address that .
the two coming years will be difficult .
Madam President , I do not think there are any left , thanks to the common fisheries policy !
I believe the crisis has more to do with deep-rooted problems in some eurozone Member States than with speculators : Member States with fiscal indiscipline , inefficient labour markets and massive debts in the private sector .
should we discuss this within the task force ?
I would also stress that India has pledged to extend its moratorium on nuclear testing and that the civil and military programmes should not be confused .
in the very important and far-reaching proposals that relate to protection against counterfeit medicines in the legal supply chain , exactly the same rules apply to the manufacturers of medicines as to those carrying out parallel trading .
furthermore , I did not , unfortunately have any information from the consultation that might have helped us in our work .
( SK ) Slovakia , as well as Poland , Lithuania , Estonia and some other EU Member States have long been struggling , just like the Czech Republic , to get on the list of countries that will not need a visa to travel to the United States .
there are some basic truths of which I must remind you .
I am very disappointed by Amendment 3 .
what opportunity did we actually have to present that ?
after all , when internal borders are non-existent , Member State A may worry itself silly , but if Member State B barely addresses the employment of illegal immigrants , if at all , then Member State A will remain nothing but a voice in the wilderness .
( RO ) I would like to ask what measures the Commission is considering for enabling Member States to adopt the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime , what action plan the Commission is considering for making improvements and fighting against cybercrime and also what measures you are considering for digital signature interoperability .
it is also a fact that it was a provisional border at the time we gained independence .
for this reason , I am of the opinion that many EU officials work in the same way as OLAF and that an EU officialdom of this kind can no longer be supported , that many EU officials should be brought before a court and that we need true democracy at a European level at last , with separation of powers , and not an OLAF like the one we currently have !
the European Commission proposed on 24 September 2010 a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the Solidarity Fund , which is based on the provisions of point 26 of the interinstitutional agreement of 17 May 2006 .
with regard to the European Neighbourhood Policy , we need an economic agenda which can increase levels of employment and trade agreements that can generate real , market-driven , economic development .
in essence , this is a matter for the Member States .
I shall remind you that , in accordance with the office he occupies , Mr Apsītis is tasked with the following duties : 1 .
this approach will be neither easy nor quick .
issues surrounding the control of arms exports in countries outside the European Union , disarmament , and arms control in general , cannot be dealt with in an internal market directive .
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the European Union supports the adoption of an international instrument prohibiting cluster munitions , which cause unacceptable harm to civilian populations .
the financial economy is global in nature .
this is clearly stated in Article 255 of the Treaty establishing the European Community : ' any citizen of the Union , and any natural or legal person residing or having its registered office in a Member State , shall have a right of access to European Parliament , Commission and Council documents ' .
Mr Mölzer stated that the common agricultural policy was not robust enough , that it was not functioning well and that we needed renationalisation .
it is far more challenging and hostile than the North Sea and to me , it is a conundrum .
at present this is the only recognised source of clean energy producible on a large-scale but it has its ideological opponents even in the EP .
as Mrs Stauner requested it in her report , this should allow you to take it into account in the discharge resolution .
however , the Council 's primary mission is to seek a meeting-point , a compromise acceptable to all .
we need these translations if there is to be a proper Europe-wide dialogue on the future of European civil law .
many activities are taking place right now within this global approach .
the recommendation of the specialist committee to refuse to grant this European institution discharge was supported right across the board , which means that the reputation of this ' Police Academy ' will be tarnished forever .
despite the challenging nature of the environment in the Arctic , the rising price of oil has stimulated international interest in drilling in that zone .
what can we do ?
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , President-in-office of the Council , President of the Commission , ladies and gentlemen , it is primarily my own satisfaction and that of my group that I would like to express .
when there are no fish , there is no catch .
the time has come to condemn and severely punish all forms of violence perpetrated against women , not only in Central America but also in several countries of Europe .
the Head of the agency also supplied us with the details of several new missions to be carried out in the course of next year on the external borders of the Union - land- , air- as well as sea-based missions .
however , as you just said , Mrs Fajon , it is already very encouraging for them to hear that their neighbours already have this option of being exempted from the visa requirement , and I can confirm to you that I personally will do everything in my power to ensure that Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina can obtain this visa exemption as quickly as possible , as you want .
in this case , we must see which systems have succeeded , so that we can exchange experience and procedures , as in the case of Spain , to which Mrs Sornosa Martínez has referred .
we must also ensure that we guarantee some kind of clarity in terms of financing .
Member of the Commission . - Without knowing the exact details of the agreement made between Turkey and Greece , I think it shows the constructive mood that we are in as regards the Greek authorities on the one hand and the Turkish on the other .
I wish to make two more comments : one about governance .
as you can see , I cannot be as pessimistic as some of those who have spoken here today .
one is that temporary agency workers are vulnerable workers - whatever the protestations of some people opposite .
staff of the United Nations and NGOs and our own Commission staff are still missing , and this also explains the difficulties of organising aid on the spot .
over and above the first reform priorities , Ukraine needs to continue the extensive task of ensuring regulatory approximation with European Union standards .
the general state of the world economy raises the spectre of slower growth and job losses in Europe .
they can also be men - but victims are mainly female , including small girls .
finally , I would like to offer my sincere thanks to my fellow Members here in Parliament and also to the Commission staff who , over the last few months , have helped to put together this report .
I must stress , however , that the Commission is responsible for transposition of the directives .
the issue at hand is the requests for assistance submitted by Poland , Slovakia , Hungary , the Czech Republic , Romania and Croatia ( as a candidate country ) in order to deal with the substantial damage caused by the disastrous floods in these countries in May , June and July 2010 .
I voted against the Leinen report which , in the guise of so-called environmental statistics , unleashes an avalanche of information requiring a huge amount of bureaucracy , and all this in the name of green evangelicalism .
however , this day should also be a warning to us not to put at risk what has been achieved so far .
of course , genuine bilingualism is an important objective .
energy efficiency underpins all the EU 's targets on CO2 emissions , on renewables , on security of supply and on the Lisbon Agenda - all the things we have been discussing this morning .
it is absolutely incorrect to say that even one refugee from Camp Ashraf or the alternative camp has been transferred to Europe or even within Iraq with the support of the High Commissioner .
I would be glad if we could achieve a similar result at the vote tomorrow and will do my best to ensure it .
I also agree with the rapporteur that , in order to strengthen the control mechanism , responsibility for cosmetic product claims should be given to an independent organisation so as to ensure an independent assessment .
opinions differ among the groups . they will be able to have their say .
to prove this point today we have a report whose findings are more coherent with somebody who watched too much Prisoner : cell Block H as a child than on the actual facts of the situation of women in prisons - and whether that should be a competence of this place anyway .
if we are to preserve this common cultural heritage then we simply have to digitise it before it is too late .
our Parliament must set an example for the other institutions .
I would also like to thank the Commissioner for coming here at such a late hour to discuss this issue , which is very important for our Parliament .
I understand what is meant there and what you are after , but I wish to remind you that between our institutions we already have an established working method with the exchange of confidential information held by the Commission and this is regulated in an annex to the framework agreement .
in writing . - ( RO ) We have recently received a document concerning the climate change that all of us can perceive .
it is clear that an overwhelming majority says that it is good that we have a cooperation system for our judiciaries , the European Arrest Warrant . the system works .
I must emphasise the importance of offering specific and rapid solutions for the decisive and permanent reduction of nosocomial infections in Europe .
I therefore believe that a strong commitment is required ; we need to embark on a high-impact programme to build energy infrastructure in the Union and to make energy savings .
2007 discharge : European GNSS Supervisory Authority (
the Council is inviting us to explain how this procedure should work .
I am from Navarra , where liberalisation has already been implemented : planting rights are worthless , but while in Navarra a kilo of grapes sells at 15 cent , the same kilo of grapes is worth more than 1 euro barely 10 kilometres away in La Rioja .
in my short speech , speaking as a member of the European Parliament delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee , I would like to encourage Turkey to continue the efforts it has undertaken for reform , the objective of which is full democratisation of the country and rapid resolution of conflicts with neighbouring countries .
I welcome the adoption of this joint motion for a resolution , which highlights the main factors contributing to today 's soaring food prices .
representatives of judicial authorities , and in fact those involved in OLAF structures , could participate .
the debate is closed .
by invading Georgia it has challenged the fundamentals of the international security system , trying to replace it with the model of ' might is right ' .
key issues , on which political dialogue should focus , should include promoting joint strategies to meet global challenges , in areas such as security , human rights , the financial crisis and , perhaps most importantly , the fight against poverty .
we have thus two aims today .
it was only a matter of time before it would apply for formal recognition as a state in the United Nations , which , of course , is what has now happened , with - rather disgracefully and to me bafflingly - the support of my own government .
therefore , most fishermen would not be helped by this at all .
in this regard , our group sets store by a tightening of the budget guidelines in the Stability and Growth Pact and the strengthening of their preventive effect .
the institutions , in accordance with the so-called ' principle of conferral of competences ' , can only exercise those competences which have been effectively , clearly and expressly assigned to them by the Treaties .
on behalf of the Commission I would like to express my sincere gratitude to your rapporteur Mr Arnaoutakis .
maybe vultures are not circling above our heads , but we still do not feel safe : Lithuania 's GDP fell by 4.1 % from quarter to quarter and in the first quarter of 2010 .
the Lyon report allows for national flexibility in aligning the CAP to meet local , regional and national needs , including the need for the option to re-couple for specific reasons .
to mention just a few , we have the cases of the illegal occupation of Western Sahara , Aminatou Haidar and other Sahrawis detained in Morocco , and Turkey 's actions against the Kurds and against Cyprus .
my point of view , therefore , will be different .
agriculture must therefore be central to the debate in Copenhagen , and I hope that the members of the Council and of the Commission will not forget this and will be our spokesmen in Copenhagen , in December .
secondly , national minorities could be integrated effectively on the basis of the mutual shared , but asymmetric , responsibility of the majority and the minority .
this sums up in a nutshell the major plan for investing EUR 1 000 billion that I have been calling for since the beginning of the current term of office and which is an essential condition for our continent 's development through competitiveness and for equal opportunities for European citizens wherever they are in the Union .
we note the fact that fishing opportunities have been reduced by half and that the cost of licences has been increased to EUR 40 000 for tuna seiners , although there has been an increase in the number of these ships covered by the agreement .
Petitions : see Minutes
for goodness ' sake !
we would not want this measure to mean a step backwards for women .
the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) should support the reintegration of individual redundant workers into employment , and I would reiterate that assistance from the EGF is not a substitute for measures that are the responsibility of companies by virtue of national law or collective agreements , nor is it intended to finance the restructuring of companies or sectors ;
until now , these fields of judicial and police cooperation have required unanimity .
the Commissioner said that mountain regions are opposing the Single Market .
the European Parliament elections next spring will result in a long pause in the drafting process , and the possible entry-into-force of the Lisbon Treaty means that the budget would have been drafted under rules that are different from those under which it would be implemented .
in writing . - Turbulent global finance has put the governments of the Member States under serious strain .
the facts are there ; they are being revealed more and more in our countries ' newspapers .
poverty is a very serious problem which affects 85 million of our fellow Europeans , and so no one should remain indifferent to it .
the most important thing for us should be food security , safety and quality at an affordable price for EU citizens .
I naturally expect the Commission to offer the present Lifelong Learning programme in both the Grundvig and Leonardo programmes in order to ensure that we too can do our bit to launch the action plan .
if , in practice , it turns out that water quality in the new Member States is lower , and that there are problems with non-Member States , we here in Parliament will have to intensify our efforts to find solutions including , in particular , putting a stop to the illegal dumping of waste and dealing with waste water .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( FR ) Mr President , Mr Salafranca , I can say that the Commission has put every possible effort into making this Summit a real success .
the Council 's agreement has some deficiencies and therefore cannot guarantee this .
you are not going to destroy us any more .
where additional staff are needed , redeployment is attempted .
the fundamental role of a parliamentarian is not to govern , I am sorry to say .
the main idea is that if we wish to live up to the demographic challenges , we have to support the establishment of mechanisms enabling flexible employment forms and to encourage the voluntary continuation of active life even after the minimum retirement age .
I welcome the drawing-up of a general framework directive and the directive on the entry conditions for highly skilled workers , the directive on the entry and residence conditions for seasonal workers , and the directive on the entry and residence conditions for remunerated trainees .
with this hope , I ask everyone to support this proposal .
this poses an even more serious problem than the human rights violations taking place in Russia .
it is an outlying area within the European Union , with major accessibility and connectivity problems .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I have listened to the views of the honourable Members with great interest .
I do not think that we mention this often enough .
it is important , in my view , not to talk about dyslexia as an illness or a disability , for that is incorrect .
before presenting any new proposal , the Commission would need to fully assess the impact such a measure would have on shipping operators .
however , only genuine visa liberalisation will enable the economic and bureaucratic barriers erected by visa obligations to be removed .
however , I would like to go beyond this , Commissioner , and would have liked to have seen comprehensive Internet portals that also provide information on illnesses and prevention .
manufacturers will have to achieve 147 grams of CO2 per kilometre by 2020 .
the final text can be considered very satisfying and well-balanced , since it succeeds in guaranteeing passenger rights without simultaneously imposing heavy burdens on carriers , which are mostly small and medium-sized enterprises .
these things have to be looked at on a city by city , case by case basis , because some cities - I am thinking of Rome - have an historic centre with very narrow streets , where it is difficult for traffic to circulate .
before coming , I reflected a lot .
however , there is a sine qua non to all of this : compliance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea .
in particular , I urged Mattel , as the major industry with more recalls than any other , to comply , and it has agreed to this obligation .
what you gave us today , Commissioner , was an evasive answer .
these are all things that give me cause for concern .
it is nothing to do with abortion in Poland or Ireland .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety . - ( IT ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , the depletion of fossil fuels and changes in the geopolitical situation have placed energy security at the top of the European Union 's political agenda .
could I also ask a question about the political capacity of the European Union ?
those are the words of the UNFPA , not mine .
how can we spread peace , prosperity and justice in the world if Europe bickers at the sidelines ?
many cities have been wondering for years why their expectations concerning tourism remained unfulfilled after they were chosen to be the European Capital of Culture .
I believe the compromise which we developed last week and which the Liberals have now endorsed too is a thoroughly reasonable one and that we have come up with a common solution which is tenable and consumer-friendly .
we are asking the Council to include , in the framework decision , provisions concerning national authorities that have access to data collected by private parties , in accordance - may I remind you again - with the commitments made following the adoption of the ' Data Retention Directive ' by the British Presidency .
less than one thousandth of global CDS derivatives relate to Greece .
we must endeavour to put an end to these expressions of hatred , which are a clear case of violation of fundamental human rights , namely the right to freedom of belief and the right to life .
as many Members have pointed out , developing good-quality , reliable intra-regional statistics would be of much help in this context .
what is your comment on this , in terms of safety ?
in the case of the Netherlands , I know there is a list because the municipalities which created the databases are quite proud of it ; they think they have done a very good job .
we must not forget that the more profound changes do require a revision of the Financial Regulation and its implementing rules .
that will benefit the economy and will create hundreds of thousands or even millions of jobs .
- Madam President , I welcome the opportunity to speak briefly on this , because of the absolutely brilliant address that we heard from the President of the Czech Republic .
that is why I would be strictly against any principle that would restrict the concept of social housing to only the poorest groups in society , especially with respect to the diversity of European countries and the principle of subsidiarity .
thank you for blessing this morning 's session , Mr Hannan .
my final plea is that , if we manage , after so much time and effort , to make this operative in any degree , our first thought and action should be directed towards those who have died in these disasters in the European Union .
I believe that in this final compromise. we have remained true to the original aims of RoHS , and that we will have a more effective piece of legislation should Parliament vote in favour on Wednesday .
Mr President , despite the past protestations from the Vietnamese Government that they guarantee religious freedom , and despite the best efforts of the last speaker to whitewash the regime in Vietnam , the reality is very different , particularly for isolated Christian groups .
as soon as all the participants in the negotiations are convinced that the measures for combating climate change will have a beneficial economic effect and that their economies will not be vulnerable , a global strategy will be reached .
this is excellent work , and it is well worth going forward from here .
logistics are consequently central to a process of rationalisation for the purpose of achieving the most competitive and sustainable levels in the future .
Europe has put forward a far-reaching proposal on agriculture but , unfortunately , our efforts have not been reciprocated by other countries .
some measures have been very successful , while others are still halfway through or even at the very beginning .
Mrs Harms , we have failed in Parliament .
there are a further six Members who have asked to speak , in addition to the five who have already taken their turns in accordance with the Rules .
all domestic workers , regardless of their origin , must have decent access to work .
I would like to say a few more words about Gaza .
the resolution also endeavoured to guarantee access to medicines in developing countries .
among these is the so-called ' co-respondent mechanism ' .
the European Union is Latin America 's partner .
given the importance of the science and technology sectors to the EU , its capacity in these areas and the important role that it can play alongside Ukraine , I believe that the renewal of the agreement is in the Union 's interests , in the sense of continuing to promote cooperation with Ukraine in areas of science and technology that are shared priorities and which are beneficial to both parties .
I therefore want to thank all those who worked with me on this report , including the members and the draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety .
the Commission 's aim is to improve the legislation of the European Union governing animal experiments .
this is particularly important to enable us to deal with the problem of the ' working poor ' .
the Socialist Group is in favour of postponement for four reasons of principle .
free global trade is the key to economic prosperity for all the countries of the world , particularly the poorest .
these are my ideas on the what , why , who and how of intercultural dialogue .
directly awarding contracts to the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund seems a good idea , as does simplifying procedures and speeding up payments .
in this connection , we must look for solutions to the problems surrounding Georgia , and we must work with Russia on a number of crucial issues that have already been mentioned , international issues , like the future of the non-proliferation regime , the problems surrounding Iran and the follow-up to Kyoto .
they are pertinent , because space has become , as you have pointed out , an essential tool for all European countries .
Member States should petition for the creation of affordable care structures for people who cannot manage on their own and for children .
that is why a vigorous campaign needs to be conducted in the European Union against social and wage dumping .
this is therefore a balanced position that remains ambitious , since the target of 147 grams in 2020 will give industry the time to make the technological leap while simultaneously encouraging it to be highly efficient .
opening of the sitting
Mr Solana said :
Andrzej Wajda and other Polish directors are part of our European culture .
I really heard a lot of interesting comments from all of you and we will have the opportunity to discuss these points more extensively in the near future .
tomorrow we shall vote on an amendment that provides for only aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of more than 20 tonnes to be included .
the message which I have heard very often , however , is that Russia is solely responsible for the current situation .
the debate to be held on Wednesday in the European Parliament , in the presence of the Council and the Commission , has got to give concrete answers to the following questions :
the Agreement in question , described as second-stage , does not achieve the end objective of the complete opening up of the market , with no restrictions on either side .
irrespective of how we solve the problems , the aim must always be to ensure that we safeguard consumers ' rights so that they can make good and well-founded decisions .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , I am pleased to learn from the Commissioner that screening the accession chapters relating to Iceland , which began in November of last year , is expected to be completed shortly .
yet most of you , along with Mr Giscard d 'Estaing , are noisily celebrating .
once sufficient progress has been made by Croatia in meeting opening or closing benchmarks , the Commission will prepare and submit in good time the necessary recommendations to the Member States for the positions to be taken in the intergovernmental conference .
we hope that this pilot programme will form the core of a future European rapid response force to fight forest fires and other natural or man-made disasters .
it is certainly the first time that we have talked about this issue , but it should not be the last .
what is a covenant ?
we do not want to be reduced to consumers , with our rights consisting only of what is written in the subscription contract .
but , please , think about the difficulty involved .
the Mediterranean diet achieves this in full .
it is the same story in Romania where absolutely every election is rigged .
we all know there is a strong economic case , as well as good business reasons , for good health and safety in the workplace but , more importantly , the strongest argument has to be the cost to human health and the lives that can be saved .
I agree with the rapporteur 's criticisms of the fact that the scrutiny work carried out by Parliament was not acknowledged by the representatives of the Member States or the DCI Committee .
the upward revaluation of the koruna by more than 17 % is certainly economically justified .
it is unique ; there is a special reference to adherence to the fundamental principles of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states , which , as is explicitly stated , are not in doubt .
Israel is our friend , and is entitled to defend itself as a state , but it must be firmly stated and underlined that in this case the means it has used are highly disproportionate .
a ' political space at EU level ' , which many defend , does not exist .
maintenance obligations (
I hope we can send a clear signal to the Commission and thereby influence the negotiations , making it very clear that we want to exercise our powers as the European Parliament .
two reports dealing with the market in natural gas are in favour of liberalising this market in Europe .
furthermore , I think we need to go beyond the proposal right now on greening the internal market , for example , by using green procurement .
in this area it is absolutely clear that counterfeiting is a huge problem and that counterfeit products are a threat to goods worth large sums of money and even to safety .
similarly , the frameworks for legal and asylum policy and for culture and health policy is much too constrained .
I was rather surprised that you are potentially putting this overall approach at risk by appointing a separate climate commissioner .
the preparations for these attacks are thought to have been made in France .
in my constituency , when I was a member of the Hellenic Parliament , factories were shut down and thousands of workers were left unemployed .
I believe that with this we have enough arguments , as well as the possibility of helping in a much more concrete way .
I would like to discuss the amendments proposed by the PPE , the S & D and the GUE / NGL political groups in relation to Area 8C - in other words , the Bay of Biscay .
both sites were selected on unknown criteria .
indeed , the only reason why the majority of this House wants to refer these reports back to committee is so that it can wait for the Treaty of Lisbon to enter into force .
I am pointing that out because European citizens have many questions about Schengen .
if we listen to what the citizens are saying today , it is clear that they are aware that we need to introduce changes to the Treaty now .
that is crucial .
we cannot help but be concerned by the gap that exists between generations in terms of Internet usage and , by extension , in terms of controlling children 's access to websites posing a high level of risk .
the deal goes like this : ' I need a revision of the treaty for the Stability Pact ' .
in a democracy political responsibility is a universal and fundamental principle .
best available technique is currently seeing judicious use in three Member States .
it is a budget for innovation in Europe .
finally , the High Representative .
Mr Lewandowski had an interesting task in preparing Parliament 's and the other institutions ' budget .
we hope that the proposal will be supported and yield its expected results .
we should also bear in mind that it is still one of the poorest countries in Africa , which means that the European Union must pay greater attention to cooperation in the areas of public health and education , in order to improve the living conditions of its population and overcome the difficulties that a large part of the Guinea-Bissau population still has to face , particularly women , mothers and children .
Prime Minister Sócrates has already spoken about many of the achievements of the Presidency .
we believe that military interventions do not help to protect the rights of women , but rather increase violations of these rights .
in writing . - ( PT ) I voted for the joint motion for a resolution on Burma because the dramatic situation in the country makes it essential to restore democracy and ensure respect for human rights as a matter of urgency .
how unfortunate therefore it is that all the unionist parties blocked attempts by the Scottish Government to promote this principle by way of a referendum on Scottish independence .
this represents an opportunity and an irreplaceable way of making the EU freer , more democratic and more prosperous .
it is clear that we are far from eradicating tuberculosis .
in order to help the Member States prepare their budgetary forecasts , the Commission should provide forecasts of EU spending , based on the level of expenditure planned in the Multiannual Financial Framework .
thank you .
the European Union is helping to alleviate distress with its humanitarian assistance , but its priority must now be to make a greater long-term political investment so that its financial generosity is channelled in the most strategically desirable direction .
the relevant standard is sufficiently detailed and was re-examined in depth in 2009 , with extended debates within the Council and the European Parliament .
is it not their responsibility , first and foremost , to educate their own children ?
the bottom line is that however important Japan may be as a trading partner , European citizens must be protected from any risk from radioactive contaminated products .
at this juncture I thank once again those who are currently present in the Chamber .
in addition , there are , of course , positive results emerging from this compromise , particularly the consensus achieved on the difficult question of subcontracting .
finally , I welcome the fact that the Commission , by exempting credit unions from this law , is not strangling small Community providers with red tape .
in this context , the Abruzzo operative programme could involve a reallocation of structural fund resources earmarked for other Italian regions that are now more competitive .
in his answer , Mr Dimas said : ' the IPCC assessment is the expression of a consensus reached by thousands of scientists . '
Mr President , following the coup d 'état , Mr Rajoelina 's government has turned Madagascar into a hub of political instability .
the Commission should quickly submit a proposal for the European transaction tax .
perhaps , however , it highlights the need to review the EU management system along with that of the European Commission , especially the system of management and administration .
however , we must examine a number of false assertions made about the gambling market in Europe .
I believe that publishing the European institutions ' working documents is only a first step because the majority of Europe 's citizens do not understand the procedures we use and will not know how to find the information they need .
firstly , on the creation of a green fund that would finally let us have USD 100 million a year from 2020 to spend on aid to the poorest countries .
I also supported the broad consensus on the matter of the financing of the Body 's budget , but I would again point to the risks which might arise from the differing contributions of Member States .
that is something new that we are going to strengthen .
as Mr Costa has said , progress needed to be made in terms of realising the ambitions of the legislator , in other words Parliament and the Council , with regard to allowing trains to circulate freely .
the presidency will present its programme on the trade area to the Committee on International Trade on 20 January 2009 .
the experience gained with the second Marco Polo programme shows that , unfortunately , it is not becoming more effective , and that Europe is not making full use of this important tool for achieving a transport system more suited to the evolution of the market .
we therefore need to back European industry .
so , I hope that this country will move forward , involve civil society , and have transparent processes in its ecological areas , especially hydro-electric power plants .
at this juncture , according to the US authorities , a series of bail-outs is not the answer any more .
we believe that a priority action must target the European industrial base , particularly the ' backbone ' industries such as the automotive sector which , as you know , is very seriously affected by the economic slowdown .
we also owe this success to our operating method , which respects both the Community method and the principle of subsidiarity .
( the sitting was opened at 9 a.m. )
we should not allow our parliament to be part of this game .
in this regard , let me underline the importance we attach to the monitoring process in the alignment with - and implementation of - the acquis , with a view to ensuring administrative capacity and to building a convincing track record .
we have to cooperate and coordinate our efforts in order to ensure we can do it .
secondly , it is also unacceptable that expenditure under the enlargement heading , considered a priority , should also be lower in nominal terms relative to 2007 , and , thirdly , it is unacceptable that expenditure on external affairs should increase to a lesser extent - by about 1.5 % - than general expenditure , which is set to increase by 2 % .
this practice might also be considered as contrary to the standard of professional diligence which this directive requires traders to live up to .
( RO ) The Lisbon Strategy expresses the EU 's commitment to becoming the most competitive knowledge-based economy .
there are basically only two options : OLAF as part of the Commission , but with clear allocation and separation of responsibility , or make OLAF entirely independent from any EU institution and ensure separate strong oversight and accountability .
the virus proved to be much less dangerous than ordinary flu .
patients also tend to seek information online .
the European Parliament 's analysis of the main demographic issues is to a great extent in line with the conclusions of the Commission 's 2007 report .
this is important for regional solidarity , cohesion and integration .
Mr Belder 's report touches on a broad range of issues and reflects the views of many different interests , but I will concentrate on two issues , the nuclear programme and the human rights situation in Iran , both of which the report deals with extensively .
I urge this House to support the work of the CMP , and to support Written Declaration 10 which is humanitarian in its objectives and seeks to bring peace and remembrance and reconciliation to these families .
I have always been a supporter of the tobacco premium , because I believe that the two things are unrelated , but then we should not be hypocritical and undertake to do something to combat smoking if we are actually pursuing a different aim , namely the preservation of the premium .
I would therefore stress once again that the Commission needs to be consistent , in relation to the simplification aims it has highlighted , too .
the second EU-Africa Summit was a complete failure : the two parties did not reach an Economic Partnership Agreement , and relations between those two parts of the world have been frozen .
a significant prerequisite for this is , in the view of my group , the free - and that means also , as far as possible , cost-free - access to our cultural heritage via Europeana .
the Annual Report by Mr Cappato , on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs , on Human Rights in the World 2007 and the European Union 's policy on the matter ;
we have heard that the anthem would be taken out of the treaty - yet the new Parliament was celebrated by playing Beethoven 's 9th symphony .
the third idea is to reinforce Objective 3 .
however , it is obvious that digital materials , such as textual , visual and audio information , extend the traditional functions of libraries by adding different content .
as Europeans , we should take care to avoid leaving ourselves open to such accusations .
in response to the gas crisis which we have experienced , it is also necessary to speed up the construction of alternative pipelines to Europe which are not dependent on Russia .
human rights are not merely a tool to achieve other political goals .
I would first like to congratulate Mrs Ţicău , as it is her first report .
they failed to take into account that , in a globalised world , monetary policies adopted nationally have a significant impact on other economies .
I believe that the changes that we have proposed go in the right direction .
thank you .
it is important to get agreement with our governments in a cross-national , cross-party dimension if we want to succeed .
1 .
a new stability pact for Europe is bound to involve the banking system , which represents the other end of the process in which the own resources that are the beating heart of the European economy are used .
today , in addition to threatening to cause serious public health problems and hindering economic development , this pollution will make it impossible to meet the targets laid down by the WFD , the European Water Framework Directive of 23 October 2000 , at least as far as Martinique is concerned .
it runs deep , and it is widely shared by the different political groups represented both in the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs and in the more general setting of our assembly .
it is up to the Member States themselves to decide , and they do not need any external pressure from the European Commission , the Council or Parliament .
since the European Union acquired shared competence over justice and home affairs , huge progress has been made in the area of civil justice .
the oral question to the Commission on an international treaty to ban cluster munitions - follow-up to the Oslo Declaration , by Josep Borrell Fontelles , on behalf of the Committee on Development - B6-0320 / 2007 ) .
fortunately fees for such permits have been prohibited .
I believe that if we achieve this we will have accomplished a great deal .
as Mr Cadec said , it must be incontestable , it must be objective and it must be up to date .
although more than nine Member States have indicated their intention to establish enhanced cooperation between themselves in the area of the creation of unitary patent protection , the Commission and the Member States participating should promote the participation of as many Member States as possible .
what will people be talking about on Saturday in blogs and on Facebook when they refer to the European Council 's decisions ?
people off work through illness also raise the cost of social benefits , contributing further to a rise in prices .
they are different missions requiring different skills if we really want asylum applications to be dealt with in Europe with the necessary rigour and humanity .
it is perhaps hard to register that everything that has been going on has really only taken place in the last ten days or so , since the state of emergency was declared .
I would like to stress that we are not making this proposal because we have doubts about the regularity of the EIB 's activity but because , in our view , as a general rule , as the G20 's London Declaration clearly stated two years ago , ' all systemically important financial institutions , markets , and instruments should be subject to an appropriate degree of regulation and oversight ' .
this framework will apply for another three years yet , but living with these conditions for such a long time will be totally unacceptable .
one of the most obvious failures of the EU 's external affairs policy is the lack of a common policy with regard to Russia .
the first is strong enough action .
( DE ) Madam President , everyone knows the African proverb that asserts that ' poverty is like a lion ; if you do not fight , you get eaten ' .
this is why the European Transparency Initiative aims at opening what is too often perceived as a black box .
( PL ) Mr President , if , today , we have to learn the lessons and do some homework after what has happened in Japan , we should do so with great caution .
there is a global increase in food demand against a background of higher production costs , severe volatility in agricultural markets , less land , less water and reduced energy inputs .
I have no choice but to vote against .
it is exactly the events of recent months that prove that Europe 's most important acquis requires protection and support .
in the proposal , cooperation in terms of training , preparation and action by special intervention units is always a possibility and the Member State may or may not request cooperation , indicating what type of assistance it requires .
when it came to the IFRS 8 standard , we had the impression that this was not the route that was being followed by the international organisation and we wanted to alert the public to this .
( NL ) Mr President , we have already heard a great deal during this morning 's long debate .
Commissioner , you raised two points that I think are essential within this whole complex issue : first of all the flexicurity idea , and secondly the Lisbon Agenda about creating another freedom within the European Union single market - free movement of workers .
it is not responsible at this juncture to say ' I am not happy with this , goodbye , have a nice day ' .
the debate is closed .
I am pleased that in its programme , Hungary lists combating child poverty as one of its priorities , but I would urge the country holding the Presidency to take concrete measures in this area and to cooperate with the European Commission by initiating a strategy or legislation on child poverty .
we need to see a strong and sustainable CAP - based on two pillars - which will keep farmers on the land , ensure environmental protection , promote the rural economy and provide fairness and transparency for all those who work in the food chain .
in writing . - ( PT ) Fraud and tax evasion are an attack on the construction of a fairer , stronger and more equal Europe in terms of social and economic development .
grants provided by the programme are a key element in allowing young Europeans to fully benefit from the opportunities the EU offers .
what we need is more investment , more openness , more aid and more of a Euro-Mediterranean policy .
having said that , the Commission 's role is to verify that no protectionist conditions are attached to State funding and that is exactly where our challenge lies .
Mrs Tymoshenko is clutching at straws , in my view , by challenging the result of her narrow defeat in the courts and I doubt very much this will succeed .
the content is extremely weak when compared to the earlier communication from the Commission to the social partners .
Madam President , I come from a constituency in Scotland which does not produce wine .
I support the rapporteur in the improvements she has proposed .
I also appeal from this Chamber to the football authorities in Romania to reverse this decision and allow Politehnica Timişoara to remain in top-flight Romanian and European football .
in other words , this is extremely important .
in my view , he has done an incredibly important job , not only when it comes to their annual report , but also to the many interim reports , the special reports , which we received from them .
the decision will always be made by the one who takes responsibility for it .
Malta and Cyprus joined the European Monetary Union on 1 January .
there are coal-fired power stations all over the world : is it possible to equip them all with carbon capture systems ?
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - Mr President , our political group supports the visa facilitation agreement between the EU and Georgia .
I wanted to make that absolutely clear .
mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund : Belgium - textile industry ; Ireland - Dell (
the crisis will make no difference : Europe is blinded by its dogmatism and deaf to its citizens ' demands .
however , for all that , there are nine Member States that are asking for enhanced cooperation .
( I am about to finish . )
I feel this report goes a long way to promoting better cooperation between regions in different Member States , which will only have a positive effect in achieving the aims of cohesion policy across the EU and ensuring that all European Union regions develop harmoniously .
Τhe next item is the joint debate on the following reports :
at the same time , I request that we ask the specialist committee responsible to prepare a resolution .
what funds did they cover and what were they spent on ?
at that point we , as Parliament , pleaded for better provision of information to the employees involved or European citizens who move freely .
( applause )
on behalf of the ITS Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , of course the death of ten soldiers in the African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur is yet another tragic event .
likewise , the Commission and the Council of Ministers have a small budget with which to play at public finances .
it is also built on quality as a lever for the future in innovation , education and training , which have always been a way of opening up new opportunities for those who do not currently have them .
are there cases of this kind ?
( HU ) Thank you , Mr President .
everyone therefore needs to make an effort , including national parliaments , which have a very important and decisive role .
these congratulations are not offered simply out of courtesy .
one more thing - why can the Member States not decide for themselves about how to reduce their own CO2 emissions , as they can decide about their energy mix ?
apart from that , there are a number of EU policies aimed at assisting families with children that do not , however , mention single mothers or fathers living with children .
reducing the scope for action , legal certainty and willingness to invest of garage owners will not further the internal market , and it certainly will not further consumers ' interests .
of course it is destroyed .
in Romania and Bulgaria , the number of women at risk of becoming victims of poverty is more than ten percent higher than the number of men .
nobody remembers their causes , but everyone remembers their means .
again , the release of all political prisoners would be an important step in this regard .
it was very interesting and very important .
I am at a loss to know why this issue has not already been addressed in Mr Barroso 's speech .
it is with great sadness that we have learned of the dramatic events in Kauhajoki in the west of Finland , where 11 people have lost their lives in a very tragic incident at a school .
we are having to express an opinion on a proposal for a directive on nuclear waste based on the Euratom Treaty and our Parliament only has a consultative opinion on this text , which is something I regret .
as a new border of the EU since the accession of Bulgaria and Romania , it is an obvious geostrategic space .
the root cause is the fact that their quality of life remains at that of a developing country ; this in turn intensifies the tendency to exclusion , and the tree of hatred bears the fruit of murderous acts .
European Union trade policy , fisheries and agriculture must be designed consistently and in such a way as to ensure sustainable development , to fight poverty and guarantee a decent standard of living and income for everyone .
many of the countries of Europe have built their wealth in this way , which is why it is important for us to try to extend this to other countries .
indeed , it is the first time a Member State of the last enlargement has assumed this very important responsibility .
in the general strike which is to take place in Portugal tomorrow , men and women will again protest against anti-social policies .
unemployment rates among older people and disabled people are disgracefully high .
( ES ) Mr President , I wish to reiterate Mrs Doyle 's question , but I want to put it in a slightly different way .
secondly , respecting the subsidiarity principle , because there are certain important areas that cannot relinquish the right to employ subsidiarity .
firstly , which externalities are to be introduced into the system ?
furthermore , the European Union cannot make any concessions , including trade concessions , to countries where fundamental rights are violated with impunity .
six years later there would appear to be more than acceptance of the argument that , if the same alcoholic beverage in the USA has an FAS health warning , why cannot the exact same product in the EU have the same warning ?
indeed , the strategies adopted by each Member State at national level must not affect the energy interests of other Member States and must be in the European Union 's general interest in terms of energy security .
the EU Member States will , of course , keep their own seats at the UN , but the EU , with its one voice , will have a major influence over them .
in writing . - ( SV ) I am voting against this report , as guarantees should be given that parts of the available spectra will be used for nonprofit-making purposes and not go to the large telecoms companies .
I could mention China , Burma , North Korea , Iran , Sudan , Eritrea , Vietnam and also Russia , Saudi Arabia , Uzbekistan and Cuba . is that a long enough list ?
but I think we will return to this ; we have not heard the last of it , because we have got to defend the sheep industry throughout the whole of the European Union .
why ?
we are about to get an avalanche of new laws because of this Lisbon Treaty and there is no question in my mind that there has to be a full , free , fair referendum in the United Kingdom to decide whether we stay part of this Union or not .
precisely because Morocco is our friend , because Morocco is the strong party in the relationship , we must forcefully request that it is no longer possible to postpone this desire and follow up with all consequent actions .
the European citizens have to be aware of the danger embodied by terrorism .
first , introducing or reinforcing the big issues that we believe to be instrumental across all areas of foreign policy , such as the fight against climate change , the promotion of peace across the globe , or a commitment to human development .
it is now not only monitoring ceasefire agreements or ensuring that borders between states are respected .
to this end , the Union must establish and conduct a permanent dialogue with all the forces of civil society , with all those who want to support democracy as well as the leaders of the opposition movements .
why are we not working to keep that capital in those countries making those countries richer ?
I am confident it will use its new institutions to find the compromises necessary for national reconciliation .
this is why we have a vision of the integration of these countries within the Union , with the stabilisation and association process remaining the framework for preparing for this potential accession .
what is more , you refer several times , Mr Trichet , to a ' quantum leap ' , in other words , a real step forward in this governance .
but that is not the issue here .
this is why the European Union can provide financial assistance to the Member States affected , by which I mean Lithuania , Slovakia and Bulgaria .
firstly , we asked for economic management at EU level to be brought into line with global developments and for the broad economic guidelines to be updated .
I similarly agree that we have your backing - for which we are grateful to you - for increased investment in every kind of infrastructure , as an absolute prerequisite for eradicating the disparities in the European Union .
in writing . - ( DE ) I voted in favour of postponing the decision on the Council discharge for 2009 .
for example , there is talk of establishing a free-trade area .
as indeed we must also do in the case of GMOs .
we promised the countries visa liberalisation when they fulfilled the criteria .
however , I have a specific question , if I may , to the Commission .
in 2010 , Kazakhstan will become the presiding country of the OSCE , which is responsible for ensuring democracy and fundamental human rights .
last spring , extra-budgetary accounts suddenly emerged and the Council was not granted discharge .
bearing in mind the large number of employees within these companies , I feel that car component and tyre manufacturers must be included in any future solution for providing economic support during this crisis .
it is therefore essential that cities are given a strong mandate in the implementation of the aims of this common European strategy .
it is expected that the agricultural sector will be able to make an important contribution to achieving the priorities of the new Europe 2020 strategy in terms of combating climate change , innovation and creation of new jobs through green growth , and continuing to ensure security of food supplies for European consumers by producing safe and high quality food .
what message do you have to send to these people who are seeking , in a dignified and peaceful manner , prospects and a better future for themselves , their families and their children ?
this , however , costs money , but on the other hand it will bring returns .
the European Parliament should work hard to make an ambitious , Europeanist response worthy of our citizens .
let this be the first draft of a Charter of women 's rights .
the European Parliament has chosen to have a strong position to negotiate with the Council and has therefore supported the principle of a 20-week period of leave paid at 100 % ( may I point out that in Sweden , maternity leave can be as long as 75 weeks , with 14 weeks exclusively for the mother , and the remaining can be shared with the father ) .
the result was not that we all slimmed down in the communist part of Europe .
this would be a means of facilitating border crossing and the movement of border residents between Belarus and its neighbouring countries , whilst promoting contacts between local communities .
we ask the Commission to adopt a Green Paper in 2011 , followed by a communication on a strategy for cultural cooperation in the EU 's external actions .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the report we are discussing today relates to some very important issues of harmonising the terms of marketing authorisations for medicinal products .
12 .
I fear that the new retention rule , also extolled by Commissioner McCreevy , will , in fact , impede the revival of securitisation , which is an essential and predominantly beneficial mechanism for funding mortgages , car loans and consumer spending .
game gathered in the woods must not be used .
the missing names are those of Danuta Teresa Szpila and Alina Maria Bryk .
it is a restrained budget , but it also contains necessary investments in research , energy and initiatives for young people , and it enables the establishment of the EU 's new External Action Service and new authorities for financial supervision .
if our leaders in the European Union no longer say that , if that point is no longer made in the Council , people will not know it .
this debate today is not a matter of Bulgarians opposing Bulgarians , but Bulgarians in the interest of their state and their citizens .
however , I would stress that the ' European contract law ' project should really be led by DG Justice and Home Affairs because the reference framework is not just about consumer contract law ; it is also intended to make it easier for SMEs to shape their cross-border contracts with other business partners who are not consumers .
you are the Commissioner responsible for Culture .
we need to work together to protect the human rights of persons with disabilities , and an effective implementation of the UN Convention will do just that and meet that objective .
( DA ) Mr President , no one who is sick wants to go to a foreign country if the treatment is just as good in their home country .
this should create a clear competitive advantage against European industry in favour of Korean industry in the European Union .
Mr President , at the recent Mafra summit , the Russian side proposed founding an institute to monitor the human rights situation in the EU countries .
measures must be adopted to cancel out the so-called statistical effect ;
Council Regulation ( EC ) No 1407 / 2002 of 23 July 2002 on State aid for the coal industry expires on 31 December 2010 .
yet we must not lose sight of the political aim , which is to consolidate democracy in those countries and have them follow the European path in economic , social and infrastructural terms .
we know that the Commission itself has doubts as to whether it actually needs to have 1 700 employees assigned to communication or 3 500 to document management or 1 700 in the personnel directorate .
I want to make it quite clear that during the discussion about the transitional regions we rather lost sight of the fact that we have so much in common in this area , including shared priorities and very substantial proposals for changes in the future direction of the policy , which will make it even more successful , sustainable and visible and more comprehensible and tangible for the citizens of Europe .
( RO ) Madam President , football is truly a religion , but it is a religion in which the devil is more than involved .
the events of which Mr Barroso was speaking took place today in Greece .
Mr President , that was my one-minute speech .
Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , we all agree that there is a need to adopt measures to eliminate destructive fishing practices that threaten vulnerable marine ecosystems .
Commissioner ...
we need to give hope to our citizens , create jobs with rights for young people and ensure equality for women and equal rights for women .
a few general principles have emerged , especially that crisis prevention and resolution must go hand in hand and that any financial assistance must be subject to strict conditionality .
the need for special attention is also supported by the figures , and the strategy for children 's rights at EU level must also attach proper emphasis to this .
citizens of three EU Member States still require visas to enter Canada .
we cannot approach the Roma strategy solely from a cultural perspective .
natural disasters we can at least understand , but how is it that in poor Somalia there are so many weapons ?
this is not to deny the positive elements - for instance the horizontal directive on discrimination .
( RO ) The existence of uniform standards and procedures applicable in the Member States represents a requirement at the level of the entire European administrative system and not only regarding the return of third-country immigrants .
what these people have in common is to have reported on , or voiced , their concerns about the situation in Iran .
it meets with rejection , however , from Hungary .
talks on the future of Kyoto were officially begun and all the essential issues are on the table .
moreover , the proposal provides for appropriate labelling .
in this respect , President Obama has done well ; he has made no concessions whatsoever , but he still maintains a good relationship with the Chinese Government which , we must admit , is trying to initiate a better dialogue in all negotiations with the Western world .
it will not be easy , but I believe that together we will get there in the end .
that is the responsibility of the Member States according to my understanding of the law .
you are not representing the Council of the European Union , you are representing yourself .
they will act first , but when they are not in a position to do so , we will jump in .
I invite you to take these figures into consideration when assessing the huge contribution women in many local communities make to development , which often follows a disproportionately low participation in decision-making processes .
the Commission proposal seeks to make the authorisation procedure more effective and transparent and to implement it better .
( ES ) Mr President , I want to begin in Spanish by thanking the Spanish Presidency for having taken the decision to present the initiative earlier than was originally expected .
regulation of the contractual framework affects all European citizens and the drafting of a possible code of substantive law would require the greatest possible number of sectors to be involved which , without a translation into all the languages of the European Union , would seem impossible .
in future , parliaments should play a much more important role in drawing up , controlling and implementing development policies - not just the European Parliament , but also Member State parliaments .
the Turkish Government has not presented a cohesive and comprehensive programme of political reforms .
now when Russia and Germany nevertheless construct a gas pipeline on the seabed directly between their two countries , they do this to isolate themselves .
therefore , it is essential that we take action to improve cooperation between universities , the academic world and business .
the direct impact on the world 's population of an increase in food prices , which could provoke riots and unrest , must also encourage the G20 leaders to come to an agreement on market measures to combat speculation .
I support most of the amendments , particularly those on the representation of one Member State by another , security measures regarding external service providers and information campaigns .
however , I am firmly opposed to having harmonised soil protection legislation imposed upon all of us , funded by the Community , simply because there is no soil protection legislation in some countries .
( NL ) Mr President , Commissioner , Mr López Garrido , the draft mandate proposed by the European Commission is a step in the right direction .
( EL ) Thank you very much Mrs Wallström for your reply .
we must , in my opinion , remain very cautious .
Mr Ferrari 's report is very good in this regard , too , and marks further progress along the road .
the levels of trust will increase as social dialogue is stepped up and the more social dialogue is stepped up , the more transparency there will be in decisions made over adjustment or restructuring processes .
however , we have a firm , well-designed foundation on which to build .
broadly speaking , I have noticed that there is nevertheless a consensus on the general lines we should be following .
the moment that I receive an indication that there may be new scientific findings available concerning the safety of toys and the limit values that we have set , this information is sent to the scientific committee .
therefore an integrated approach to maritime affairs would certainly mean that we look at all these problems and try to bring about more coordination between the different stakeholders , between the different Member States and also third countries like Russia , with regard to the Baltic , so that in that way we can achieve a better result with regard to the management of the different sectoral areas concerning the Baltic .
the European Parliament has consistently been at the forefront when it comes to calling for measures against harmful traditional practices .
as we know , equal rights for women and men are a major aspect of social development enshrined in our European civilisation in basic regulations on respect for human rights and all people . but equal rights and non-discrimination against women are not the only condition for social development .
( the President cut off the speaker )
unfortunately , the majority in Parliament did not take proper account of this contradiction .
it is also important to accept Ukraine 's aspirations to have good political and economic ties with Russia .
we would surely all agree that the question of investment in research is central to the future of Europe .
it is this determination that the Council wished to recognise by signing this agreement in June , once the four conditions had been met .
the Commission was therefore more ambitious even than Parliament 's Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , and that is unusual .
following these international events , a scientific agreement has been reached , according to which global warming tendencies are based on human activities , and the results of research and data collection are sufficient to initiate urgent action and political decisions for reducing gas emissions .
whereas the repressive measures against migrants and asylum seekers encounter no opposition , ' any measure designed to increase the attractiveness of the EU to the most highly skilled workers , so as to meet the needs of the EU labour market in order to ensure Europe 's prosperity as well as to respect the Lisbon targets ' are to be supported .
this report endorses the aims and proposals set out by the G20 and the Basel Committee , to ensure banks hold sufficient amounts of capital of a suitable quality , and that they have the liquidity and stable funding necessary to withstand tough market conditions .
this is the first regulation , with three modules .
a few words on Sweden , since that was mentioned .
I am hopeful that the progress that has emerged over recent days will mean that , in the end , we will be able to give our approval .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue-card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
our citizens must be at the heart of the Single Market project .
for ages Europe has been ridiculed for prescribing the marketing standards for cucumbers .
I believe in free speech and the words complained of were not incitements to violence and were not abusive or insulting .
I voted in favour of this report also because it calls for a more transparent , simpler and fairer financing system for the European Union .
do you really believe this will happen ?
you are calling on the Commission to make more far-reaching proposals in individual areas .
to reiterate then , the piracy in the sea surrounding Somalia must be stopped , but not this way .
the Commission is pleased with the positive reception that Mrs Lefrançois 's report has received , which underlines the added value of the proposal .
the interesting part of this job was that on Sunday and Monday in Luxembourg , when I officially met for the first time my other foreign minister colleagues from each of your countries , no one said ' Congratulations ' .
let me also recall that the Council strongly condemns the acts of terrorism committed in the territory of Turkey .
Copenhagen was a reminder that the global community does not automatically share Europe 's level of ambition : as we have been doing in the G20 discussions , we need to keep driving a positive and forward-looking international process .
I was ashamed of the European Union , too , when the then Commissioner , Mr Michel , visited Cuba with a proposal of cooperation on development , but carefully avoided contact with the democratic opposition .
soft law may also be applied by the European Court for the interpretation of provisions , however .
in writing . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I am voting in favour of this report , which makes another significant contribution to Europe 's economic development .
you stress in the report that there is still serious progress to be made where the Member States and the institutions are concerned .
it is crucial to consider gender mainstreaming in different policy fields as one of the pillars of a more prosperous , fairer and richer society .
in the European Parliament , on the twenty-seventh anniversary of the signing of the August agreements , I would urge prudence in this case .
recently , in the last ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly , which took place in December 2010 , the Council of the ACP countries expressed their concern with the fact that the European Commission is not respecting its objections on matters relating to protecting its economies .
secondly , we must look seriously at both the immediate and the underlying causes behind the deteriorating situation in this region .
after the loss of many millions of jobs throughout the EU , the fight against unemployment has to be its ' touchstone ' .
we must respond to these worries together .
I completely concur with the wise words of Gérard Deprez : the directive needs substantial improvement .
for this reason , supporting the children 's quickest possible integration may play an important role in preventing migrants becoming ghettoised , especially as it has been observed that the education level and social and economic situation of migrants ' children are worse than those of the other children , hence the need for some impetus in this area .
the communication talks about information and consultation , but the involvement of the Roma community itself is vital .
a number of improvements are still needed here and we must first see how the regulations impact on the rights of craftspeople in practice .
completely ignores the need to discover the whole truth about the violations of international law and human rights committed as part of the so-called ' war on terror ' , including the responsibilities of the governments of several EU countries regarding the use of their countries ' air space and territory for the rendition and transport of illegally detained prisoners .
it is very important that consumers be informed of the total price and principle characteristics of a given product immediately before ordering .
the current motto of ' if you do not hurt me , I will not hurt you ' which allows Member States to save each other from financial penalties under the deficit procedure has resulted in disaster .
it could have gone further on other issues , such as the elimination - rather than reduction - of inequalities in access to cancer treatments and associated care .
there are too many priorities , Commissioner and fellow Members .
the Norte region , where Qimonda was based , is traditionally industrial , and has been badly hit by the closure of businesses and by unemployment .
it is extremely disappointing that a country like Nigeria , which is the eighth-largest producer of oil in the world , has such a large proportion of the population living below the poverty line .
on the occasion of the World day against the death penalty , which will take place on 10 October for the eighth consecutive year , we , as MEPs , would like to adopt a resolution to underline our commitment to abolishing capital punishment and our wish to see this principle of opposition to the death penalty adopted worldwide .
how can this be achieved , however , if the problems and their potential solutions are not fully understood ?
in the meantime , the environmental protection of the planet must be at the heart of any serious environmental policy .
I just want to make a couple of observations .
however , I agree with the High Representative that when we take a swing at the regime , we must not hit Belarusian citizens .
the following amendments have been proposed :
they will allow the European Commission to monitor , on an ongoing basis , the macroeconomic development of Member States and , if necessary , an in-depth analysis of national economies will be carried out .
autonomous Community tariff quotas on imports of certain fishery products into the Canary Islands (
therefore , Lisbon cannot succeed without genuine reinforcement of the social dimension .
there was one notable large business I had dinner with a few years ago that described small businesses as freeloaders .
the democratisation process in Turkey undoubtedly depends on the solution of the Kurdish issue .
it is therefore a rare occasion on which reports of this kind are taken here .
could they be financed by government , by the European Community ?
it was important to me for very specific tasks , too , to be listed in the report .
in the coming months and years , we have to show the developing world that we will honour our commitments to funding for adaptation and mitigation , and we need to be sure that the funds are spent in the best possible way in order to achieve their objectives .
the basic principle of this directive is to initiate direct communication between the relevant authorities in the Member States .
I am sure every Member would want to ensure that the EU adds value to Member State spending , as well as to individuals and communities .
Thirty-five per cent of start-up companies in the EU have been started by people who have been unemployed .
the Committee on Budgetary Control has endorsed my proposal to postpone a decision on granting the Council 's Secretary-General discharge in respect of the implementation of its budget for the financial year 2008 .
Mr Reilly negotiated the Delta Framework Agreement with European Works Councils only to then break it .
agenda for next sitting : see Minutes
let me close by thanking this Parliament for your support in this area and , in particular , for this helpful and constructive report .
the EU has sufficient ways and means to help improve the situation of Christians .
can the European Council make a statement as to the level of organised crime within Europe at this time and what coordinated initiatives are being put in place at EU level to combat the growing threat of organised criminal activity ?
we have reduced our budget for 2010 by EUR 6.5 million compared with the Bureau 's initial estimates and , if we look at the overall figures compared with last year 's budget , we can see that , despite all the new demands implied by the new rules for parliamentarians and parliamentary assistants , we have what I consider to be an exceptionally reasonable increase of well below 4 % .
I find it unacceptable that Members of Parliament restrict their own rights in this way and devalue own-initiative reports .
we must never fall into the trap of believing that people in other parts of the world - whether it is Africa , Asia or Latin America - should be any less passionate about their rights .
we would indeed like assistance , but we have to know what is available .
this domination does not exist in the case of competing manufacturers .
while we ponder solutions to this acute problem , we also need to examine its causes .
we believe that the right approach to financial and economic integration is to make new proposals for modifying corporation tax .
on the basis of what she has told the Commission to date , I assume that producer prices are indeed rising for all important EU products .
Macedonia is in a very sensitive position .
while recognising its overall correctness , I wish to point to areas of significant error .
instead of properly tackling the causes of the crisis , the Council is reiterating the fundamental lines of those policies which caused the crisis , in what constitutes a worrying and irresponsible attempt to continue with these policies despite all the evidence .
it is the hundredth anniversary of that occasion .
I believe that the Committee on Civil Liberties did a remarkable job of restoring a meaningful , tangible political profile to this report .
so I am truly doing everything in cooperation with the Italian authorities so that we find proper solutions .
we need this evaluation , precisely because we wish to convince our citizens of the necessity of counter-terrorism measures .
even against a backdrop of economic downturn , Europe cannot , and must not , shut itself off and ignore the burning issues that surround it .
those who vote in favour will be voting in favour of moving this vote to the next part-session and those who vote against will be voting in favour of keeping the agenda as it is .
this programme could certainly have done with one .
in terms of training , Frontex has three objectives in 2008 .
indeed , this strikes me as an example of how things can be done .
Eastern Europe and Central Asia continue to experience the fastest growth of the epidemic in the world .
I am also in favour of all the requests for prior information , impact assessments and so on set out in this resolution .
we must also seek to amend the negative image of women that has arisen through cultural differences and racial and ethnic discrimination .
a change in this regime would necessarily mean making a change to the EPC .
however , one thing is clear : we expect the Commission to adopt the measures that are possible and necessary , and we expect this action by the end of the year , or by spring at the latest .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , the Commission thanks Mr Duff for his report .
we were promised that Galileo would not be a white elephant , but that we were looking for a role for it .
in relation to paragraph 10 , there is a typographical correction to be made which was agreed in the discussions .
on the basis of these premises , I voted for the Portuguese nominee for Chair of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority who , as is stipulated , is subject to strict rules regarding independence .
admittedly , we do have to improve communication , but I believe that too much communication kills information .
experience from the implementation of cohesion policy programmes now clearly illustrates that the successful outcome of most regional development actions basically depends on the implementation of complementary initiatives .
the Commission Communication largely focuses on water saving .
one of our main successes has been the preservation of the tried and tested national safety marks such as the German ' GS ' symbol .
I am convinced that once it has been fully implemented , the road map proposed by the Commission will allow us to answer most of the questions and concerns raised in Mrs Batzeli 's report .
I personally will mention five of them .
the violence that goes on across our continent is evidence that the work of promoting equality in Europe still has a long way to go .
finally , I would like to say that the action plan is incredibly important in enabling the EU to use its resources in a better , more coordinated way .
this is only achievable if we have real commitment from the participating countries .
on the one hand , we need to work on the currency itself and , on the other hand , we need to provide more information about the security features , because making the euro more secure is of no use if people continue to be unfamiliar with it .
I must mention the incomes of the thousands of families who live off the proceeds of these activities subsidised by the EU .
the Heads of State or Government have finally begun to deal with the problems by deciding , 10 days ago , on a support plan for our currency , the euro .
it is the right line to take .
we really must intervene proactively in the question of the debris , in the question of the water supply and in the question of the food supply , so that this country can stand on its own feet , so that the citizens of this country , who are forced on a daily basis to consider how they are to survive , can also think about the future .
the European Union will go to Bali with the same sense of purpose that has guided it over the last 15 years , during which we unhesitatingly and unambiguously took on the role of leader of the international community in this great global challenge .
the defining moment for me in this House was when we had the French say ' no ' , we had the Dutch say ' no ' and then we had the Irish say ' no ' , and this Parliament wilfully carried on ignoring the wishes of the people .
we will ensure that the rights of Romanians are respected , as all citizens ' rights should be .
we are looking from Africa 's point of view at Africa 's political role .
the European Union needs strong regions , too , and there is therefore a give and take in both directions .
I think you have got to find a fair way , Mr President , of dealing with these three together .
in this communication , it proposes , for example , creating comprehensive indicators which would provide a more reliable knowledge base .
there have been numerous human rights violations : violence against demonstrators , illegal arrests , arbitrary detentions , as well as abuses against journalists and political opponents .
while properly defending the rights of ethnic , religious and sexual minorities , we must also bear political minorities in mind .
at all times I try to remain realistic in the proposals I put forward .
we are content with explaining them to them rather then consulting them .
it is now particularly important for the Commission to make sure that the Member States perform their obligations arising from that legislation .
in writing . - In Favour .
the truth of the matter is that , in the course of the conciliation procedure , Parliament resolved problems created by the Council .
I think it would be unfortunate if we reacted to these tragedies in different ways , depending on the situation in different countries .
I believe this report is also about job creation , and that is why I supported it .
you do not need to come from that region to understand , as the Commissioner rightly pointed out , the major problems it faces : migration , mafias trafficking human beings , which unfortunately is not mentioned in the motion for a resolution , drugs , the economic gap between the two sides of the Mediterranean and , of course , radical Islamic fundamentalism , which is one of the greatest black holes in international politics .
I would also like to refer to the Commission communications of 2006 and 2007 , which clearly highlighted the Member States ' responsibility and wide discretion as regards social services of general interest .
it is therefore clear to us that , alongside a strong Objective 1 area , we also need a strong Objective 2 area , and appropriate transitional rules .
this report therefore rather resembles a list that a child might send to Father Christmas .
I agree with that .
2 . (
it is our duty not to compromise which it comes to the involvement of the European Parliament in the negotiations concerning the financial framework for the 2013 to 2020 budgets .
Finland , Estonia , Latvia , Lithuania , Poland ( after 140 years of non-existence ) , the former Czechoslovakia , along with the Hungary and Austria we know today , all emerged in the 20th century with the collapse of empires , those international superpowers , and new states based on self-determination emerged .
I think that the future of those relations aiming at greater stability and security and increased political , economic and social cooperation , must also take into account the human rights situation in each country and the strengthening of trade relations and energy cooperation , as well as paying attention to development needs and the commitments undertaken as regards improving the living conditions of the citizens of the region .
Mr President , I wish first to thank all the Members who have spoken on Mrs Sartori 's report .
now for some announcements : the signature of legislative acts adopted under the ordinary legislative procedure .
Mr President , I too condemn unreservedly the killing of two British soldiers and the injuring of four others outside the Massereene barracks in the town of Antrim last Saturday .
I cannot support this report , because contrary to the intentions of the rapporteurs in my view , this method of voting and standing in elections to the European Parliament will not promote good neighbourly relations between countries , especially if they share a border .
this document will consist of three parts : firstly , a reaffirmation of the OSCE 's principles , rules and commitments ; secondly , the shared challenges we face , and our priorities ; and finally , a vital aspect for the European Union : an action plan .
we should await the impact assessment that was proposed by Commissioner Tajani during the plenary session on 7 October .
I agree with the need for greater consistency between the common agricultural policy and the external trade policy in order to secure the European agricultural model and , as a result , a level playing field for EU producers in the world market .
lastly , I fully agree with Mrs Berès 's call for quality jobs .
in March this very year , the European Council set a target for a 20 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption , whereas in reality we have proved incapable of attaining the much more modest targets to which we committed ourselves in Kyoto .
clearly , for market stability , steps have to be taken to ensure that rewards match longer-term horizons .
this again illustrates just how reliant we are on energy .
I do not trust this place , which gives a veneer of democracy , but which is largely made up of placemen .
for example , if you invest in your workforce , it might perhaps be an expense in the short term , but experience has shown that it will pay dividends in the longer term .
exports to third countries are very clearly excluded from this text , and a clear distinction is made between the first pillar , relating to the internal market , and the second pillar .
I therefore voted in favour of the resolution on the Small Business Act Review , the aim of which is to liberate the growth potential of SMEs .
therefore , this directive relating to the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances ( RoHS ) is aimed at broadening its scope and strengthening its preventative part , so that environmental damage may be corrected at source as a priority , in line with Article 174 ( 2 ) of the treaty .
work should now be focused on securing a compromise between the Council and Parliament .
I would like to ask the Council , can we do anything else - and take further steps - to improve road safety ?
and certainly at this time when big - almost irrational - decisions are being made by businesses and government departments around the world in employment matters , we should concern ourselves with having only one seat for this Parliament .
3 .
yet the subject is so important that , in the end , I voted in favour of it as a whole .
everything is built on compromises , but actually it generally works out quite well in the end nonetheless .
at any rate , I think it is important that we in the European Parliament have shown our solidarity with the Chinese in this debate .
( HU ) Thank you for this opportunity to speak .
involving civil society in the process of drafting the agreement with Cameroon is a positive indication of this .
we were on the front line in Kyoto in making greater commitments than were asked of us , and today the EU and its Member States have clearly defined ambitious targets that again put us on the front line in combatting climate change .
therefore I have asked my services to enquire whether such protection has been achieved and to examine whether the rules of the Takeover Bid Directive have been respected by the Greek authorities in this case .
so how can we achieve the major objectives we set ourselves in the Europe 2020 strategy while simultaneously cutting funding in these areas ?
it is worrying that the EU , despite having worked out a common position , was not able to use it as a platform for an agreement with other countries .
I believe that following lengthy and complicated negotiations , it has been possible to reach a really good and balanced agreement with the Council , which fully protects passenger rights without imposing a burden on carriers , most of which are small and medium-sized enterprises .
being a European capital of culture also entails responsibilities , however : the responsibility of promoting European culture for the best reasons and not to put it under the spotlight this year for the wrong reasons .
chaos prevails , Commissioner , and order needs to be restored at some point with a strict and firm stand on the part of the European Union on this issue .
in addition , efforts should be made to improve the financial conditions for running a business in a rural area , to eliminate the differences in the pace of development of technical and social infrastructure between rural areas and towns . above all else , stable conditions for development must be ensured .
on the basis of applications for assistance by Poland , Slovakia , Hungary , the Czech Republic , Romania and candidate country Croatia relating to the flooding disasters of May , June and July 2010 , it proposes the application of the EU Solidarity Fund .
Canada is a leading world producer of aircraft and aviation equipment .
if the Russian delegation has a similar recommendation , the summit is doomed to failure .
12 .
we therefore believe that it is unsound for countries that are not members of the monetary union to choose to fix their exchange rate and then need to be rescued by large regional and / or international bodies .
they have no legal recognition and there is no system in place to protect them .
if there is one lesson to be taken from the current global crisis , it is that we all share the same fate in economic terms .
( BG ) I am taking the floor to explain why the Attack party delegation is voting against this report .
these rating agencies openly serve the interests of international speculators .
I hope and anticipate that many of my fellow Members will back me up in rejecting these sections .
as the report rightly points out , the partnership has been a success .
we need a safety net .
even if the United States and the European Union act in concert to limit the emission of carbon , we must consider what will happen if we do not do enough to encourage the emerging India and China to do the same - by transfer of technology and by helping the Chinese and the Indians to find the most modern low-carbon technology that we can export and help them to partner .
the report also stresses the fiscal sovereignty of the Member States .
Mr President , Moldova has come a long way since the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact divided Europe into spheres of influence and Moldova became part of the USSR .
we must not ignore the benefits of using biofuels , such as the reduction in dependence on fossil fuels and in greenhouse gas emissions .
Europe can also benefit from the Western Balkans moving closer to the European Union from a security and economic policy perspective .
the European Parliament should call on countries where persecution takes place to take effective steps to protect religious minorities , despite the difficulties involved in doing so .
we believe , as obviously you do not , that the project has lost its way .
indeed , it is one of the indicators of the perception that our fellow citizens have of our institutions .
the Operational Programme includes the ' Gateway Challenge Fund ' , which is based on an integrated sustainable development strategy for Cork .
despite some improvements having been made , as far as we know , there are still major issues in terms of the performance and robustness of the system , loss of messages , data quality and the process of synchronising the national copies with the central system .
the fact is that emerging economies benefit from greater opening .
it is important , too , for it to support the endeavour to simplify significantly the legislation affecting the automotive industry : there are more than 200 regulations in existence today .
so that is what our question is here tonight .
the workers were used as human sandbags , so to speak .
I am aware that the intention of this proposal is to simplify cross-compliance , because it is openly admitted that it has created a heavy , bureaucratic burden for farmers and for Member States to enforce .
this is why we have made the following offer to the Council : let us discuss these shortcomings and hold negotiations in this area , but not as part of the struggle over the annual budgetary procedure .
my only hope is that this abuse of democracy will soon be brought to an end .
the Swedish Presidency , as well as the next Spanish Presidency , will have to oversee - hopefully - a complex transition to the new Treaty in which the Commission and Parliament will have to play their full part .
they would result in the purchase of cheaper products from outside the EU , which would ill serve the cause of sustainability .
the recycling of electronic waste can return more gold to the manufacturing process than is mined in the EU , and the same applies for other precious raw materials .
I would like to raise one matter , and that is the notion of security , which Mr Elles mentioned here .
I must ask the attending representative of the Hungarian Presidency whether we can by any chance count on this , and I ask Mr Cioloş , EU Commissioner for Agriculture , what solution he envisages to food-related speculations .
when you have been sitting together at school , training for the film industry , with somebody from Asia , somebody from Africa or from the Americas , it is clear that , later on in your professional life , you have an impetus to work together .
I have complete faith that we will do so because , as the anthem of Madeira has taught me , ' the people of Madeira are humble , stoical and brave .
the market is growing by 10 % a year .
Mrs Gebhardt spoke of lengthy discussions here in Parliament .
on the other hand , the EU allocates funds for the development of the sectoral fisheries policy in the Comoros .
a full accident prevention policy is required for the facilities in which toxic substances are treated or stored .
this law , in its initial form , is a reminder of the dark days of dictatorship , when the Kenyan press was brought to its knees .
( the sitting was closed at 11.40 p.m. )
although the United Kingdom is not a member of the euro - and I hope it never joins - we have a vested interest in its success .
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however , I agree completely on the question of the value and importance of the industry to the European Union and to trade .
animal welfare standards must go hand in hand with European trade policy , with the protection of our jobs and with hunting practices for fauna management , which are crucial to the balance of biodiversity .
the gradual increase of minimum rates for diesel to 359 euro for 1 000 litres until 2015 and a freeze on minimum rates for the same amount of unleaded petrol , as stipulated in the compromise , are clearly below the levels proposed by the Commission .
in fact , the failure of the mandate for the trialogue of June 2010 caused very serious problems in the November agreement .
well then , I think that obviously this second report will also be referred back to committee , as the European Commission has decided to maintain its proposal .
particularly when a new government takes office , as has now happened in Serbia , our signal must be clear .
these negotiations with Croatia are progressing well overall .
we are seeing the results of this , which is pleasing - but more can be done .
I understand , Mr Mitchell , but the more time we spend on these matters , the less time we will have to get answers to other questions also legitimately put by Members .
I turn now to Mrs Wallis , who very much emphasised this need to modernise the way in which justice works , and it is true that the action plan that has just been adopted under the French Presidency is of huge interest to the Czech Presidency .
I have therefore noticed that , according to the figures for 2007 , the EU trade deficit has risen to around EUR 160 billion .
( ES ) Madam President , I must thank the Commissioner for his willingness and efficiency in inviting all the interested parties to prevent and solve the problems of Opel Europa , and also the car industry , which is certainly a competitive industry , faced with the global problems of General Motors in the United States .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
we cannot accept the Council washing its hands of the matter either .
since there will now be a recovery - and here I direct my request to Mr Barroso and Mr Topolánek - perhaps the leaders will hold another meeting and add another trillion , so that we will have a kind of ' turbo-recovery ' .
it also involves examining the specific situation of the part of the country that the applicant comes from , as well as the individual circumstances of that person , such as his family situation , his activities in the country of origin or any other specific characteristic that may make him more vulnerable .
the idea of a ' one-stop ' register is a good one .
on behalf of all the signatories , I call for this situation to be remedied .
in addition to some worrying political aspects , the primary objective of the agreement is the integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina within the European internal market , as a way of ensuring that the EU 's major transnationals have control over its economy .
( GA ) Mr President , I welcome this timely debate on online gambling and in particular , on the problems relating to underage gambling and vulnerable consumers .
secondly , I too am very confused , Mr Antunes , about your reconstruction of the sad history of the various tablings and withdrawals of resolutions for a moratorium .
at the beginning of his term , President Obama stated his ambition of a world without nuclear weapons and pledged to actively pursue the ratification of a complete ban on nuclear testing by the United States .
Mr Cashman is saying it is , and according to the wide definition in the Regulation , it could very well be so - as could the other scribbles I have here .
only in this way will we achieve the goal of true territorial cohesion .
firstly , dismantling the Community preferences system too quickly can and will have dramatic consequences in some ACP countries that still export bananas .
while the needs are huge , the distribution of aid is becoming increasingly difficult and also risky and dangerous due to the increasingly complex international framework .
I would like to applaud the agreements concluded at the G20 Summit , about which I am very pleased and which were universally seen as a step in the right direction .
now , one prerequisite for a competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy is to have a flexible work force .
on the way there , and in the meantime , we must check whether our safety standards and laws and guidelines and safety teams represent the highest level .
this text also calls on the WHO to include the criterion of severity in its definition of a pandemic .
education is the best way to fight discrimination .
these instructions are available from the Gateway to the European Union .
are we moving towards a set of European rules on so-called urban mining ?
Europe is now considerably better equipped to open itself up to the world , and the Lisbon strategy provides the tools for Europe to help in the shaping of world trends as well .
yet we cannot accept a situation where the obligations of countries and local governments are shifted onto companies .
however , this report also contained provisions totally unrelated to farming , which would have had a disastrous impact on the UK .
ladies and gentlemen , it is my great pleasure to inform you that , as part of our series of interparliamentary meetings , we are being visited by a delegation from the Parliament of Tunisia headed by Mr Salah Tabarki , Chair of the Committee on Political Affairs , Human Rights and Foreign Affairs of the Tunisian House of Representatives .
its regional , local and environmental aspects are important in this context , as Mrs Staniszewska has already mentioned .
it must be a comprehensive agreement that relates , at the same time , to the 2011 budget , the 2010 amending budget and its associated letters of amendment , the flexibility procedure and , finally , the guarantees regarding the financing of future policies , which we call the political section .
of course if you wish I can supply precise and detailed information on previous examples .
this is highlighted by this resolution .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , we are clearly faced with a text whose complexity troubles many of us and , even more , in my opinion , the citizens of Europe .
joining the Schengen area does not amount to turning our backs on our Eastern neighbours .
it wanted to use this to show the Ukrainian public that if it remains true to Russia , Ukraine would have cheap gas and oil .
State of play as regards SIS II and VIS ( motions for resolutions tabled ) : see Minutes
the Commission supports the inclusion in the 2010 work programme of the agency of joint training with FRONTEX , where the said handbook could be used .
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other actors , too - this Parliament , all 27 Member States , the regional authorities , the national Parliaments , the local authorities and every municipality in the European Union - play a very important role in the effective development of European citizenship .
I believe that , if the Commission and the Commissioner are able to give us certain assurances and certain interpretations of the text , we could be in a position this week to give our assent to the Cariforum EPA .
I was present at the tsunami which hit Sri Lanka and then later Indonesia .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( NL ) How many times have we stood in this House before talking about Burma ?
however , we can apparently not convince the junta of that , so we have to look for alternatives .
as a result of the constantly changing environment of service provision , these objectives must be reviewed on an annual basis .
fusion is not included , and fusion is , again , a serious figure which should come , but if we look at this picture I think that our message from the Commission side on where we should put the bulk of our investment is pretty clear .
nevertheless the lack of progress has been deeply frustrating .
we reject any agreement with an illegal government .
furthermore , I do not think it is necessary to extend the scope of the directive to include individual products or packages made up from products bought from different suppliers , for extending the directive 's requirements to cover dynamic packages or affiliate sales would ultimately mean the consumer would pay in the form of a more expensive ticket .
it is time for the European Union to restructure its partnerships with the countries of the South and to finally construct them on the basis of democratic requirements , respect for human rights and equality , or else it will effectively pave the way for fundamentalists .
in response to your question , without first having the general overall far-reaching directive , it is very difficult to set standards of a European character in the area of discrimination against disabled people .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - Madam President , the report refers to the future of cohesion policy .
I should like to express my gratitude to the rapporteur and to the shadow rapporteurs of both reports for their outstanding work .
recession looms ; the ECB urges moderation on employees whose spending power is continuously whittled away by higher prices for energy and food .
our proposal for a specific agenda for a close economic and environmental partnership with the Western Balkans should be adopted .
the single market is home to 500 million citizens and over 20 million businesses .
in addition to this , is the Commission ready to rethink its position on protecting intellectual property rights , in terms of ensuring that biological diversity and the transfer of knowledge are preserved , and that medical care at a reasonable price will be guaranteed in poorer countries ?
we now have the joint task of working for peace .
international Cocoa Agreement 2010 (
what we have seen so far is only the beginning .
in my opinion , therefore , the Union 's priority should first of all be to achieve the 20-20-20 targets set by the Climate and Energy Package , which are already very ambitious .
written Statements ( Rule 149 )
my final point is this : Mr Schultz , the Commission President and the Commission are not our opponents .
encouraging people to take early retirement has become a common practice , and this has caused a fall in professional activity among people between the ages of 55 and 64 .
my third point relates to the revision of the Treaty that we have paved the way for and on which the European Council can only decide on 24 March if we have given our opinion by that point .
the Lithuanian authorities are now using her memoirs as evidence to prosecute surviving Jewish partisans as war criminals .
finally , I will return to the question that our fellow Member , Mr Arsenis , asked just now : is it not time that we considered an extended moratorium under the same conditions as those that the United States wants to introduce ?
it cannot go on like this any longer !
1 ) Is the Commission urging all the Member States to organise sex education classes in schools ?
I should especially like to see that the decisions and recommendations of the European Parliament are carried out in EU Member States .
in order to guarantee sustainable , high quality transport in Europe and to protect the rights of citizens and their safety , we are proposing an appropriate legal and regulatory framework to the European Parliament and to the Council and , once the legislators have adopted it , we will ensure that it is implemented .
I should perhaps like to start by thanking Commissioner Kallas for his endurance during those five days .
indeed , in the text negotiated by the institutions - which is endorsed by a large majority of the Member States and which is therefore acceptable to the Council - not only market supervision , but also a number of the essential safety requirements , including the proposals aimed at limiting potential chemical risks in toys , are enhanced .
if you intend to decide at the next summit that we should adopt the revised Lisbon Strategy in the spring , we do not have time to analyse the weaknesses of the Lisbon Strategy , which , as I see it , has failed .
I also welcome the amendments calling for implementation of the results of the high-level expert group on the reduction of administrative burdens .
they have got an air force that is as big as the Luftwaffe .
I have received one motion for a resolutiontabled in accordance with Rule 115 ( 5 ) of the Rules of Procedure on behalf of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety .
it looks rather like a 19th century organisation , because there is no real contact between the administrations ' and the legislators ' dialogues .
session musicians deserve the help they will be getting from this proposal .
they should be better policed , as should all the policing against crime across borders in Europe be much better , but it is not a reason to sweep them away .
in this context , indexation schemes for nominal wages are of particular concern and should be avoided .
the Council underlined that building on the progress already made , Croatia still had to make significant improvements in fundamental spheres such as the judicial system , public administration , and the fight against corruption and organised crime .
furthermore , the Commission has divided EU countries into the better ones , which can increase their emissions , and worse ones , which have to reduce them .
Hungary , like any Member State taking on the rotating Presidency , needs to have the full backing of all the other Member States and the European institutions to make the Presidency a success .
that is the only way in which , in the long term , we can create a system that is truly sustainable and that satisfies the concerns of the population .
the revision clause not found in the last directive gives this House the opportunity of evaluating , after three years , whether the course we have suggested is really solving the problems or whether there are further problems on which we must further intervene .
he also proposes that we allow the two banks to concentrate on the tasks which face us in future .
on the second question , I would like to underline the fact that , with reference to maritime policy , we have in actual fact today also adopted a communication from Commissioner Špidla which launches the discussion as regards the exclusions that workers in the maritime sector - in maritime transport and in fisheries - have from the normal labour law legislation .
I also take note that honourable Members encourage other non-EU members to join this programme , something which we shall , of course , promote .
this still remains the basic measure that could increase demand and thereby ensure that the car industry and its suppliers continue to have a secure market .
we now have a significantly enhanced international framework , in particular , thanks to the adoption , in 2009 , of resolutions 1888 and 1889 .
( BG ) Mr. President , I think the rapporteur has produced a very objective and interesting report .
for my part , I would like to remind you that our committee attaches great importance to this matter , which brings into play the main aspects of the common fisheries policy : resource management , fleet management , respect for international , regional and bilateral agreements , technical measures and , above all , monitoring , to which I will return shortly .
the financial and economic reforms must therefore continue and it is too early yet to bring to a close the debate on the causes of the crisis and the conclusions that must be drawn .
this assistance has shown that the principles of cooperation and solidarity are at the very heart of the European Union .
the great concern underlying the Treaty of Lisbon was to bring Europe closer to its citizens .
the question I ask myself , and that I also address to my fellow MEPs , is as follows : ' can we speak of humanitarian emergency and stop at that point , or should we ask two types of questions , one about the emergency and thus about the immediate issues , and another about strategy ? '
I strongly condemn this gang rape , as well as other human rights violations , and I welcome the request made to the United Nations and the DRC Government that it undertake an impartial and thorough investigation of all incidents , and guarantee that those responsible for violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law be held to account for their actions and prosecuted under the terms of international law .
therefore , I support the idea of standards and the idea of a directive .
I hope that not very many states will request a temporary exemption from these regulations and that they will be applied across the board from 2013 .
first of all , the directive needs to be brought into line with the new legislative framework ( NLF ) .
a European Commission mission of June 2008 visited Bulgaria and Romania and ordered the suspension of payments in Sapard projects .
the Commission is placing increasing importance on the proper implementation of EU waste legislation , and is actively supporting Member States in enhancing the implementation of their national waste legislation .
that being the case , I am afraid we have had our 20 minutes , and it is only fair to colleagues who have asked questions of Commissioner Barrot . I am sorry for that , but that is the position we are in .
as vice-chair of the Committee on Fisheries , could I ask the Commissioner to expand his thoughts on how membership of the EU might impact on the Iceland-EU Fisheries Cooperation Agreement ?
there needs to be an effective EU policy for strengthening the fragile democracy and ensuring genuine freedom of assembly , the media and speech .
with their storage capacity , electric vehicles have technology that helps to mitigate one of the problems , negative points or weak spots of renewable energies .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
we should remember that the only information available is on the integrity and efficiency with which European Union funds have been spent .
the Danish Liberal Party is pleased about the considerable reduction in the EU 's export subsidies in recent years and will continue to work to bring about a change in the underlying legislation so that the phase-out can continue .
Mr Ouzký mentioned that Europe is always ' too optimistic ' ; well maybe it is not always in vain .
I want to see the Council also fulfilling its promise so that , finally , Bosnian and Albanian people will see that there is light at the end of the long tunnel .
the third is that she cannot really think that anything at all relevant could be said by people who parade here through this assembly in fascist uniforms .
that is why it is so important to oppose protectionist tendencies and to expand the single market further .
that is precisely what I would like to propose .
in writing . - ( DE ) I would like to take the opportunity afforded by this explanation of vote to express my warm thanks to the rapporteur , Ana Maria Gomes .
in writing . - The Commissions 2007 communication entitled ' Delivering lifelong learning for knowledge , creativity and innovation ' is part of a series of biennially produced progress reports on the implementation of the Education and Training 2010 work programme .
agenda of the next sitting : see Minutes
I have to say that for the most part I share their concern and agree with the realistic approach they propose .
we are confident that Croatia will be able to overcome any such difficulties and that , in line with its own desires and also those of the European Union , in the not too distant future it will become a member of our Union .
more than ever , there is an urgent need for a balanced and effective global reaction that is based on specific needs , is results-oriented , and is guided by the principle that saving means of subsistence is saving lives , whilst considering the involved areas ' need for self-development and self-sufficiency .
that is precisely what has happened in this case .
from here it is but a short step to believing , as many people do , that France has decided to kill off public-sector television to the benefit of the private sector , which stands to gain much from the procedure .
in fact , the commissioner responsible met with the sponsors of this initiative even though it has not yet been formally approved .
( DE ) Mr President , I would first of all like to thank Mr Füle for his clear statement today and for his commitment to this issue over a long period .
the debate is closed .
today we know what it means and today we know what important issues we have rightly been discussing .
since 2001 , EU fishermen have removed hundreds of tonnes of rubbish from our seas and returned it to land where it is collected and disposed of responsibly .
at a time of crisis it is especially important to make credits easier to obtain .
the end result is that citizens and small businesses are forced to wait two or three months before they receive a response .
there are other cases pending .
but surely the extra costs - for that is what they are - will simply be passed on to the end user .
it will come into force early next year .
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in your report , you express the concern that the conclusion of EPAs and increased regionalisation might undermine the coherence of the ACP Group .
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apart from this , however , my services are ready to assist Italy in any manner deemed necessary and helpful for finding and implementing a long-term sustainable solution to the current waste-management problem .
the President of the ECB has indicated that it would be undesirable to have Eurobonds introduced in a situation where budgetary discipline is lacking .
in addition , the EU has strongly supported the United Nations efforts .
it is regrettable that China has not significantly enhanced the situation of human rights in the country after Beijing was granted in 2001 the right to organise the Olympics .
we will have to continue the maritime operation and this will require firstly that we are prepared to sustain a long-term commitment of military assets ; secondly , that we will have to strengthen coordination cooperation between all of the powers and international bodies involved in this operation ; and thirdly , that we must also help to develop regional maritime capabilities as the burden cannot only be on us .
I have tried to talk about Europe from Spain .
consumers are , quite rightly , demanding that the food they purchase is safe , traceable and produced to a high standard .
this is one of the key areas that can unleash and provide enormous human potential for the entire region , which can only profit as a result .
in this context , I would also like to emphasise the role of the relevant monitoring bodies , for example customs authorities , which shoulder considerable responsibility for the direct monitoring of exports or transit of dual-use goods .
in the debate on whether it is desirable to support or abolish further use of the CE marking I support its retention , provided that entitlement and marking are monitored by the Member States ' supervisory authorities .
communicating with citizens and keeping them informed must stop being simply a prescribed , ineffective proposal .
regarding the other comments you made about some of the things in WikiLeaks , I do not think it is right for me to comment .
we also want to know what are the Commission 's analysis and initial assessment of this phenomenon and what problems it may well cause during the next phase of implementing this regulation .
the Member States cannot be insensitive to situations of extreme poverty , and they must ensure that no one is simply left to their fate in situations that are often deeply degrading .
this situation is even more serious when you consider that women 's wages are around 30 % lower than men 's wages in industry , whereas the average for other sectors is 15 % , despite the Equal Pay Directive having been around for more than 30 years .
this is yet another report which essentially reaffirms support for the development of the European Union 's common foreign , security and defence policies .
the proposal relating to the 11th Company Law Directive concerns the translation and certification of documents to be entered into the commercial register of a branch of a company established in a different Member State .
the Directives were prepared to give consumers more confidence ( their protection has increased due to the drawing up of a ' blacklist ' of commercial practices which should be prohibited , and thanks to better harmonisation of the protection of consumers against unfair practices ) and also to provide businesses with greater legal certainty .
( HU ) I would like to ask the President or the Parliament 's Presidency to convey to the European Commission that in the course of my work , I submitted two queries in writing over a six-month period .
on the other hand , it is a goal that has to be achieved gradually and in a very organic way because , as I have already said , de-institutionalisation that lacks corresponding safety provisions may conversely worsen the position of disabled people , as has been demonstrated in many countries around the world .
in writing . - ( FR ) The consumer is increasingly demanding with regard to the quality , origin and safety of agricultural products .
Council will remember its recommendation on the active inclusion of those furthest from the labour market where high-quality public services are seen as crucial .
I began by quoting Paul Valéry ; permit me to finish by citing a verse by Paul Valéry as well : ' Tu n 'as que moi pour contenir tes craintes ! ' .
I would like to encourage the Council to pay attention to the importance of the involvement of people with disabilities .
we are , of course , particularly concerned about the attacks on human rights defenders .
good resolutions are useless attempts if they interfere with sovereign nations .
without your support , the EU 2020 cannot and will not succeed .
once again , we see that intimidation , arrest , violence and even torture are the weapons used by Mugabe against his political opponents and civil society .
I actually think that the way forward is to reduce bureaucracy in the Commission and in Europe .
I am therefore a very happy rapporteur , knowing that we have reached this agreement .
the strengthening of cooperation between the EU and Moldova and the inclusion of Moldova in Community programmes will help bring this country closer to EU standards and norms .
the current secretiveness is embarrassing for a democratic Europe and I believe that I am not the only one to hold that opinion .
I see light in budgetary management overall .
how can we rid ourselves of these double standards ?
within these measures , 19 are devoted to centring the market on the interests of citizens .
for this reason , we will use our votes to demonstrate our loyalty to the parliamentary texts , and I would like to say before this House that the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety has worked admirably to reach an advanced stage and that on this matter , contrary to what Mr Goebbels said , Mrs Hassi has been particularly skilful and effective .
something which is very important is effective use of the European Social Fund in a way which gets the unemployed back into work and does not just train them , which is a very common practice .
we have recently adopted a resolution concerning the future convention on domestic workers to be adopted in June 2011 .
Vice-President of the Commission . - On the question about Plan D and the communication about ' Debate Europe ' , let me say that I see it as our duty , together with Member States and the other EU institutions , to communicate with citizens about all our policies and positions .
second , another priority could be to strengthen the controls and ensure that they are more in line with the risks posed .
( PT ) Mr President , I would like to take this opportunity to condemn what is currently happening in Portugal , where it is clear that the media has brought to light a government plan to control newspapers , television channels and radio stations , which jeopardises freedom of expression .
now it is time to turn our attention to small and mediumsized enterprises and , above all , consumers , to ensure that their interests in the internal market are more vigorously protected .
the award ceremony took place on 29 April in Aachen .
it must not constantly hold the EU or Cyprus responsible for the deadlock , as you , Mr Erdoğan , are so happy to do .
we therefore have to start the process of recognition because that can help the opposition to win this battle against Gaddafi politically .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , there was another reason why the debate on airport charges and on their common regulation took such an extremely long time .
in this respect we can play a valuable part in helping them to make the decisions required , which in my opinion they are incapable of making alone or of applying within the limits of their national borders .
all this will prompt significant changes in the EU 's production model .
approval of Minutes of previous sitting : see Minutes
I am thinking in particular of the necessary protection of the freedom of expression and of the ideological penalisation of the crime of having an opinion when it does not conform to the pro-European dogmas and dictatorship of the politically correct .
the European Union cannot and must not compete at global level on the basis of wage costs .
they can only be condemned as unacceptable .
when it comes to defending human rights , however , the United States is far from being a model , and we know that European citizens do not enjoy the same protection there as in Europe and that a number of them are regularly subjected to what I would call administrative harassment - and what is worse - on the grounds that they are suspected of being terrorists .
the European Union 's Russian speakers favour relations between the EU and Russia based on a strategic partnership .
it allows a situation where the law contradicts itself , violating the principle of subsidiarity , promoting the reunification of families from third countries which have a different culture , and also allowing polygamy .
this accident should not have happened .
there is a small - but too timid - sign of progress in the call for a renewed general commitment in this field , ending with the call for better application of instruments devoted to the Roma , as if invoking something which we have not managed to achieve .
the Directive on CCS puts in place a legal framework for the use of the new technology , including important safety conditions .
I am satisfied that between 1996 and 1999 you were absent from the European Parliament .
all the European institutions that depend on the European Union budget have to be thoroughly audited by the Court of Auditors and by all entities with that function .
however , ladies and gentlemen , at the same time it would be unfair of me - and our Group would not want this - if I did not thank the Prime Minister for or rightly value his contribution which is without doubt very useful in terms of the future direction of Europe .
I would like to thank you , Mr Diamandouros , and I will conclude by saying that , as a result of your everyday work , we have concrete evidence that it is possible not only to take up these challenges but , above all , to provide adequate and satisfactory answers for citizens .
to do this , the EU should announce its ' market ' , its ' competition ' and its enlargement to other countries in the framework of the so-called ' energy communities ' , the ' Energy Charter Treaty ' - ensuring ' security of investment ' and guaranteeing a ' right to compensation in the event of expropriation and / or nationalisation ' - or the inclusion of an ' energy security clause ' in commercial agreements .
it is harder for EU companies to compete with third party countries who do not observe the same safety standards and who can pay employees much lower salaries .
at that time , we pointed out that the measures proposed by the Commission did not go nearly far enough .
in this context , I would stress the importance of technical assistance for the implementation of actions and projects .
the Portuguese Presidency appreciates this opportunity to exchange thoughts on the possibility of an operation being conducted in the framework of the ESDP ( European Security and Defence Policy ) in eastern Chad and the north-east of the Central African Republic .
I fully agree with the proposal of the rapporteur that more transparency is needed , and I fully share his suggestion to add MEPs to the governing board of the agency .
after all , our European budget is nothing other than politics in the form of figures .
all this could be organised , all this could be easy for the European countries , and it would be a fair way to respond to the need for solidarity , but also to avoid speculative and illegal actions being taken at the expense of children .
lastly , are you refusing to hold the debate with the current European Parliament so as to postpone it until next year ?
the Constitution of the International Labour Organization stipulates : " poverty anywhere constitutes a danger to prosperity everywhere ” .
now , however , we have to look to the future .
we borrow in order to pay today 's pensions .
they are fully aware of the impact that Europe , through its global vision and the implementation of consistent policies , can have in this area .
that seems unlikely .
that flexibility is not a concession from the Council side ; flexibility is necessary , indispensable , otherwise we cannot finance a number of important issues .
( applause )
in 2011 , we plan to launch some specific projects to support women 's networks in crisis-affected countries , with an estimated budget of EUR 2 million .
I appreciate that you went all out to ensure that we could still vote this week , and that is a good thing , because it makes the situation clear-cut .
we want a number of the G20 's elements and commitments to be formalised .
if they can do it , why cannot we ?
Madam President , I would like to ask the previous speaker to be specific about what export refunds .
but I also ask the Commissioner to make progress on the visa issue , particularly for businesspeople , and on holding Turkey to its promises for the draft trade union law .
no , Commissioner , Europe 's talk is no match for the problems facing the world .
Captain Camara gave his assurances that none of the coup leaders would stand for political office .
the needs of the market should be taken into account as a secondary factor .
this report is positive on three counts .
for this reason , we think that innovative funding schemes are required , as well as fiscal facilities which will make investments in energy efficiency attractive and provide long-term institutional support .
( applause )
I thank you all .
it pointed out two things that struck me : one was social objectives over capital , and the other was the principles of solidarity and responsibility .
however , barriers still exist , such as language , which will be difficult to eliminate .
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these are neighbouring countries with vast income differences .
damages actions for breach of competition rules ( vote )
Iceland is already cooperating closely with the European Union as a member of the European Economic Area , of the Schengen Agreements and the Dublin Regulation .
we have done extremely little , and the governments we guide or support , even governments belonging to our own political groups , are doing very little to put a stop to it .
the Spanish Presidency , in the person of Prime Minister Zapatero , has assured us that the strategy 's objectives will continue to be pursued , setting 2020 as the deadline .
the support of the European Parliament is essential .
so , as well as broadening and deepening our dialogues with the United States and Japan , we are also holding summits with China , India , Russia and Brazil .
I am therefore voting in favour of Mr Chatzimarkakis 's report , which reiterates the Commission 's position and adds certain amendments that I regard as important .
the report rightly emphasises the need for increased transparency and responsibility in development aid , although obviously that is impossible with such a jungle of reports .
we call on the Commission to exclude sectors such as culture , education and public health from the scope of the agreements .
the war in Libya goes on .
we also need to discuss sanctions for this overfishing .
when I see , especially in my committee , the tendency among the Member States to compete with one another by lowering the tax burden , I say that we have doubtless completely failed to understand what Europe should stand for .
in accordance with the Court of Justice judgment of 6 November 2008 , the European Parliament has full codecision powers in this area .
you tell us that this monitoring group should not be increased in size because that would dilute its authority and we would no longer have the power to guide the trustees .
we fully understand that the agreement given this year contained a significantly derogatory element that related to this report .
we deserve a cleaner Baltic Sea at the centre of an area that offers prospects for sustainable economic development across borders , supported by the entire EU .
other dangerous things are also happening in Yemen .
in writing . - ( FI ) It is excellent that the EU has reached an agreement with the countries of Latin America and the United States over the banana dispute , which has been an emotional issue for a long time .
( HU ) Mr President , the crisis compels us to review both national and European Union budgets from the aspect of efficiency and to see how they serve our goals , and how much added value , European added value , they bring to this effect .
Sunday is traditionally the day when elections are held in Estonia , but had the European elections been held on 14 June - the national day of mourning commemorating the mass deportation of 1941 carried out by the Soviet authorities - the flags would have been flying at half mast all over Estonia .
if on top of that we impose one more constraint , we will be in a situation where the EU will be literally sawing off the branch it is sitting on , at the same time bringing about a massive transfer of income , with no further benefit to the climate , the environment or our energy security .
this European Council on Energy really is very important .
that might be good because , of course , we need taxes .
on the other hand , Russia must show its willingness to abandon protectionist measures such as the customs union with Kazakhstan and Belarus .
as I mentioned , the Council is continuing to examine the Commission 's legislative proposals on matters relating to the modulation of aid , market management mechanisms , milk quota management and conditionality .
keep your promise to your people in Portugal .
yes , you are quite right to make that point , Mr Sterckx .
they are also crucial in training and selecting their candidates .
having put the question on behalf of the Committee on International Trade , I should like to end by emphasising that this parliamentary committee attaches great importance to shouldering the new responsibilities and making use of the new powers granted to it under the Treaty of Lisbon , and it would also like to establish closer and more fruitful cooperation with the Commission in the area of international trade .
Madam President , this has been a difficult debate , often emotional , with the heart ruling the head on many occasions .
the passport was valid in vain , and we got all the stamps in it in vain , because something could always happen at the border .
what was wrong here , of course , was the detention of those suspected of terrorism or other crimes .
I understand he is going to present a Green Paper in 2011 in order to start the consultation on this very important issue .
in fact , the situation in every market niche should be examined on a case by case basis in order to carry out a fair evaluation of them in terms of respecting those principles which , if applied mechanically , would end up generating paradoxical and anti-economic situations .
do not oversell the result .
Turkey should continue with the constitutional reform .
( PL ) Thank you very much for the opportunity to ask a question .
the principle of values .
so , all in all , we would really like to help all these debates and then come to the real debate , the final debate about the resources .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , first of all I would like to thank the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development for its work on this dossier , and especially the rapporteur , Mr Graefe zu Baringdorf , as well as all the shadow rapporteurs , who all played an important role .
the Group of the European Conservatives and Reformists ( ECR ) will support the compromise agreement because many of the solutions that were worked out are , in reality , fine achievements .
add to this the problems on the supply side caused by the impact of climate change , and we have some of the ingredients for the current crisis right there .
you should not just relax .
these include prescribing the registration of the company 's business object , clarifying that the ban on offering shares to the public does not preclude offers to the employees of the company , or improving the rules on directors ' duties and liabilities .
'Europeana ' , the European digital library , is a single , direct , multilingual portal designed for Europe 's cultural heritage .
their names were arrayed on a large plaque .
how are they monitored in the individual Member States ?
I would echo what has been said by our colleague , Ms Bauer , in terms of our own Member States taking action to sign and ratify some of the conventions and protocols which are missing at the moment .
this means that EU citizens could benefit from this as soon as possible .
in writing . - I voted in favour of this report since I agree that we really need to proceed with the mapping of the last wilderness areas in Europe .
the crisis showed that tax havens obscure , undermine and weaken the entire financial system and the world economy .
it was a turning point for us and for Europe .
Commissar Rehn has also said that 2009 could be a decisive year for the Balkans .
I believe that a decision to settle on Wrocław as the headquarters for the Governing Board of the European Institute of Technology would be optimal as regards harmonious scientific and technical development in the EU , which must do away with the divisions between the old and the new Europe .
you need the right kind of a geological environment .
yesterday the EU troika carried out a firm démarche to the Chinese authorities asking for his immediate release .
however , if the situation persists , my services are ready to adopt a new donor-deferral rule for this disease as well .
Madam President , the recent subprime mortgage crisis in the United States has sent shock waves through Europe 's largest financial institutions , showing us all how closely the US and European markets are interconnected .
I will not give any concrete figures , but it is surely worth mentioning the horrific events that have taken place in the Democratic Republic of Congo , Darfur , Rwanda , Liberia , Sierra Leone and Bosnia .
if it has been possible to mobilise billions of dollars almost overnight to rescue failed banks and insurance companies , then there must also be the moral obligation and political wisdom to find the much smaller amount to meet the obligations of the developed countries towards the poor in the third world , to ratify some of the imbalances that are pervasive in the world today .
Mr President , I voted in favour of the Morgan report .
I should like to thank our rapporteur , Horst Schnellhardt , for his excellent work in accommodating all our concerns and also for the excellent outcome of his discussions with the European Council .
the crisis that the world , in general , and Europe , in particular , are experiencing leads us to reflect on the future of the EU and the measures that we must adopt in order to relaunch the European economy .
they will first be blocked in the national parliaments , and rightly so , because we have to come with serious proposals based on the legal assumptions that what we are doing is strong , is feasible and can be implemented in the Member States .
this will be the only way that we will truly move closer to all Europeans .
it is those citizens , and indeed all of us , who are the principal beneficiaries of all the actions of the Union .
it is essential to take stock of the implementation and operation of the EAW now that doubt is being cast on whether the Schengen Information System is working properly and whether it should be suspended .
the debate also clearly showed that the issue of minorities is very complex and , as I said before , it must primarily be dealt with by the Member States , although there is also a role for the European Union and the European Commission .
the war in the Caucasus and the use of cluster munitions both by Georgia and by Russia , represent a challenge to us .
because of the shorter and more cost-effective product-approval procedures permitted , the companies working in that sector will save millions each year and will be able to increase their competitiveness .
apart from the European Union and some of its Member States , the G20 includes countries as diverse as the US and China , Russia , Brazil and Japan , Argentina , Saudi Arabia , Korea , South Africa .
we have so far seen that these conflicts are considered to be minimal because the convention is already part of the norms which the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg takes into account today and the convention will operate as a minimum standard .
this is why I would like to remind you that urgent investments need to be made not only in suitable skills , but also in education systems , with a view to bringing them into line with the demands of the market .
current knowledge and technical solutions enable us , and will long continue to permit us , to use renewable sources only as a supplement .
these results are a call to order .
that does not in any way mean that everyone should get exactly the same .
we should not be surprised that Russia sees this as a precedent .
to avoid tax evasion , it is also vitally important that the three countries that are exempt from the current information exchange system - Belgium , Luxembourg and Austria - are included in the system the other countries employ .
thanks to the special rules , it will also limit the avoidance of maintenance obligations , where entitled persons are unable to secure maintenance on the basis of the law of the country in which they normally reside .
there is a page on the Commission 's website where we can see some of the beneficiaries of European funds in the Member States .
to respond to the economic crisis , every sector needs to contribute , and none more so than the financial sector .
it will not even truly be a citizens ' initiative .
despite the difficulties , I believe we must continue to work until the single market becomes a reality .
all in all , I feel that this is an extremely well-balanced report , an excellent piece of work by my Maltese colleague , Edward Scicluna .
I would therefore like to call for a show of solidarity by Member States in order to be able to avert gas crises similar to those that we have had in recent years .
after five years of preparations , the directive will apply to all unsecured loans between EUR 200 and EUR 75 000 .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , in the renewed social agenda adopted in July 2008 , the Commission undertook to attend to the needs of an ageing population .
so I urge you , even now , to vote in favour and allow the Council of Ministers to do the right thing to make sure that it is absolutely proportionate and subsidiarity is respected .
the second round of this dialogue will take place in Dushanbe on 23 September .
we had 190 submissions and there were stakeholders from industry , law firms , academies and governments , so we think that when it comes to the final outcome , we will have managed to achieve the appropriate balance .
it is based on mutual trust of each other 's system and on a comparison of regulatory differences , and so will allow the duplication of tests and controls to be minimised .
it is also quite common that some citizens cut down trees without a permit , because the cost of heating fuel makes it worthwhile .
the European Parliament would like to see the amounts of the fines harmonised , something that is difficult when levels of income vary between Member States .
- ( PL ) As an organisation of countries bound together by common values , the European Union should use all the resources at its disposal to prevent the spread of hatred .
I voted in favour of this report as I think it is worthwhile to pursue the aim of protecting the environment .
it did so by reducing pensions by 10 % and the pensions of working pensioners by 70 % , reducing family benefits and maternity benefits for working parents by 10 % , as well as reducing non-taxable personal income tax thresholds .
as usual in such cases , we note what it is that dictators do .
Madam President , as you well know , I am ready to meet with the Irish MEPs to discuss issues related to Ireland , but - no matter how important and difficult the situation in Ireland is at the moment - this debate is about the ECB and Parliament 's report on the ECB .
if they wish to import into these Member States entrepreneurs have to obey national bodies and authorities , and undertake additional demanding administrative procedures .
this has been the situation for ten people , the majority of whom are journalists , since February 2003 , when the Spanish National High Court decided to close down the newspaper Egunkaria without a hearing .
while the Commission has referred to the 2003 regulation , it is simply not working .
China commits genocide in Tibet .
of course not !
it should be easy to scrutinise how decisions are made , what are the influences behind them and finally , how resources , i.e. taxpayers ' money , are allocated .
I also welcome the report because of the need to send a clear and strong message to society that violence will not be tolerated .
this is an increase of eight points since the last poll was taken by the Irish Times in November of last year .
it accepts the continued occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and suggests practical cooperation measures between the United States and the EU in the Euro-NATO protectorate of Kosovo .
( PL ) I endorsed the Alvaro report .
that is the real key to lifelong mobility .
there is no question of creating an exception to these rules .
the proposal in the Berlato report is a ridiculous attempt to get tobacco subsidies extended until at least 2012 .
the general public would go along with increased openness for immigration if we explain to them clearly that we are fighting against illegal immigration and that we will also bring an end to this illegal immigration .
the reform of the regulatory framework of electronic communications is part of the Commission 's global strategy concerning the internal market , and is essential to achieving the Lisbon Strategy objectives , because , from a macroeconomic perspective , telecommunications contribute to rendering activity more effective in other sectors .
( FR ) Mr President , Madam President-in-Office of the Council , Commissioner , firstly I should like to congratulate Mr Bushill-Matthews , who gave us a great lesson in democracy as the bearer of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs ' message during the trialogue .
it recognises the important role that regional and local governments play in shaping European legislation , and therefore clearly differentiates between lobbyists and local and regional government officials .
the Council should conclude the codecision procedure regarding the resettlement of refugees that this Parliament voted for and that provided for emergency mechanisms for use on these occasions .
I do , in fact , have reservations about that .
I believe that there are five issues on which a consensus could be reached between all those who have spoken before me .
what is in enough supply is search-and-rescue capacity .
the next item is the four draft resolutions on Laos and Vietnam .
at a seminar in Brussels last week , a credible economist said that this is one of the best Free Trade Agreements the European Union ever concluded .
furthermore , China is not a democracy .
although we are , with good reason , worried about increasing emissions from aviation , air traffic itself is nonetheless the future .
in our dialogue with Russia , we should always draw attention to this .
during the first half of 2009 , the Czech Presidency is paying particular attention to employment measures also , within the context of the spring European Council .
in my country , in Northern Ireland , the dairy sector is of vital importance .
does the Commission intend to safeguard consumer rights and choice in this growing digital market and can it tell us if open operating systems will offer a way out for smart phone consumers ?
- ( SK ) Gazprom and Naftagas are gambling with the trust of European consumers .
the report which we are going to vote on today must help give Parliament 's negotiating team a strong , clear mandate .
in particular , I welcome the creation of a Climate Fund .
the debate is closed .
despite the fact that this was absent from the resolution , I considered it important to vote in favour of a call for a cease-fire in the region , which was why I voted in favour of the resolution .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , on behalf of my group I welcome the President-in-Office .
Mr President , I undertook a week-long mission to Chad in an effort to raise public awareness about the humanitarian crisis , particularly in the east of the country .
I believe that the implementation of the mechanism for monitoring media pluralism can play a vital role in this .
consequently , the potential for cooperation between the European Union and the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council goes beyond trade , extending to fields such as science and education .
I cannot guarantee more that this .
( FR ) Mr President , Mrs Bachelot-Narquin , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , following my own-initiative report on health services that Parliament adopted on 23 May 2007 , the Commission is now proposing , as part of the social package , a directive addressed solely at patients ' rights in regard to cross-border health care .
it is also strange how the text chooses to overlook the 5 500 to 6 000 cases of tuberculosis in France .
our resolution is much in line with this .
however , at the G20 we reached agreement on an entire programme , because there are some measures that can only be decided at global level .
even now , when hundreds of thousands of jobs are at stake , the Commission is spouting the dogma of competition , hindering national measures designed to prevent job losses , and demanding explanations from Renault in order to satisfy itself that the increase in production in a factory is not the result of a relocation of operations .
this simply must happen .
( the sitting was closed at 18.30 )
my last piece of information is that I would like to mention an important anniversary .
Member of the Commission . - ( CS ) Mr Chairman , ladies and gentlemen , first of all I would like to thank Mrs Lynne for her detailed and topical report .
micro-enterprises are right to argue that they should not be subject to the same rules and regulations as bigger businesses .
we need legal binding and not just another public political statement .
Madam President , I have been following the case of Tibet for years .
finally , I shall take advantage of this debate to inform Parliament that as part of the first European SME Week , more than 1 200 national , regional and local events will be held , concerning a wide range of issues affecting this sector .
at the start of the legislature , the majority would decide whether to renew the office of a particular Member of Parliament or to unseat him or her .
it has also made the case for a practical , problem-solving Europe stronger than ever .
first of all , however , I should like to return to the assessment of the Washington summit , which was also given by Mr Jouyet on behalf of the French Presidency .
on 5 March , we shall propose concrete measures for the broader region in order to advance its European aspirations .
in Russia , in the last third of the 20th century , as nowhere else , the human rights movement became synonymous with citizenship and Russian human rights thinking was able to develop as far as Sakharov 's global generalisations and take on the quality of a new political philosophy .
I have had no discussions with anybody about doing this at the moment .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - Mr President , there are different tools to sanction environment-conscious behaviour in our societies .
the next item is the Council and Commission statements on EU-Turkey relations .
are you aware that in the same country , Romania , several tens of thousands of Csango Hungarians cannot , even to this day , worship and be taught in their mother tongue ?
furthermore , the Union has serious debts in this area .
Parliament 's importance in the EU 's decisionmaking process has grown with each European treaty .
the Commission only made the suggestion that the most needy producers should receive this special aid , which coincides with Hungarian objectives .
the aim of this proposal was to make a start on solving the issue of released frequencies as soon as possible , in order to give Europe an advantage over the other strong economies .
people are still being killed , so what we are saying is not neutral : what we are saying can help on the ground .
we support action against undeclared work , but we have to abstain from voting because this proposal has serious shortcomings .
( Members knock on tables in approval )
the enlargement process not only entails assessments of a strategic and commercial nature - although these aspects must also be seen as relevant - but , most of all , a constant , peaceful effort to expand the cultural sphere with reference to the universe of values that the EU represents .
that is why our group tabled some motions for resolutions which were , unfortunately , rejected , specifically motions expressing our opposition to the Treaty of Lisbon , underlining some of its more worrying aspects , such as the trend towards the militarisation of the European Union in close liaison with NATO , imposing an increase in military spending and providing for the conducting of military operations in order to protect the Union 's values and serve its interests .
this would also include investment in modernising energy supply systems .
the Commission has always insisted that its recent climate and energy package had the combined objectives of sustainability , security of supply and competitiveness , a fact becoming clearer by the day .
Romanian children are being brought to central Europe and forced to steal and beg , and elderly and disabled people are also being forced to beg .
Mr Reinfeldt should thus have given notice that Sweden would prioritise a reform of the agricultural policy and demand an end to the European Parliament 's travelling circus .
it would not be right to encourage aggregate demand all over the EU .
now the time has come for our answer : have we done everything we should have done following the Orange Revolution ?
in Romania , one fifth of companies do innovative business .
furthermore , I concur with the tabled amendments , which set out to improve further the regulation in view of the issues , so that the EU can set itself more ambitious targets and take on a leading role in the world .
I am deeply concerned about the direction being taken by Commissioner Mandelson in the negotiations with regard to concessions on agriculture .
we all deserve congratulations , especially the Commission , the Council and our colleague Mrs Grossetête , on their excellent work and on bringing this directive to fruition ...
the Commission is currently analysing the tenders and the results of the study should become available by the end of 2009 .
let us be very consistent in that and let us call on the Commission and the Council to pass on this message via all of our assistance programmes to the government and authorities in Afghanistan .
that is the right way to proceed , and that is why we should accentuate the positive and see whether we can make further progress , because it is worthwhile fighting for this .
some have also been asking how the EU would benefit by entering into such an agreement if it will go no further than its current laws and if , furthermore , other countries like the US also claim that it will not change domestic law .
I think 2012 is a long way away and we should try to shorten this deadline if at all possible .
I am pleased and proud that this Presidency has been carried out in such an outstanding way , and I would just thank Prime Minister Janša and State Secretary Lenarčič , who have borne a large part of the responsibility , and all the ministers .
it benefits our farmers and stockbreeders , who have worked hard to comply with European standards , it benefits our consumers , who are demanding increasing amounts of high-quality farming products and livestock that comply with rules on plant protection , animal welfare and traceability , and it benefits third countries wishing to export their products to the European Union .
I am convinced that the income from speculative activities and financial transactions should be taxed , just as I also feel that it is appropriate that the pros and cons should be assessed carefully and that a tax of this kind should be thoroughly investigated so that it produces the desired effects without ceasing to generate wealth .
I acknowledge the efforts of the rapporteur to make the Directive less stringent , but bureaucracy is best avoided at source .
in its communication , the Commission is now proposing a new way of delimiting these areas using eight different criteria , which are intended to lead to a complete re-definition of these areas .
they enable the other political parties to avoid being assessed on their EU policies .
the EU aviation industry will benefit from the removal of nationality restrictions between Member States and Brazil .
I therefore believe that I would be criticised to some extent if I agreed to apply protection measures to the Indian pharmaceutical industry that were not applied to our own industry .
notwithstanding a few gaps and irregularities revealed by the Court of Auditors during its analysis and assessment of the budget of the SESAR Joint Undertaking , I voted in favour of granting discharge for the financial year 2009 .
( PL ) Mr President , I am pleased that the Commissioner is still here , and I would like to take advantage of the opportunity because this matter also touches on Mrs Malmström 's area of responsibility .
most EU citizens either participate or spectate at a number of sporting events and it is often seen as more important than life itself at times .
we must constantly bear this in mind , even when there are problems between two members of our family .
drinking water standards are strictly than water quality standards .
I hope that European companies , and those of my country in particular , will be able to take advantage of the opportunities that will emerge from the opening up of this market .
if it did this kind of thing all the time , the rest of us would not have such a problem .
I am particularly interested in the idea that we need to promote outside our borders , and I would agree wholeheartedly with that , but we also have to be realistic about how we are going to compete , and whether we are competitive on a global market .
I just want to say one thing .
let me finish by once again thanking Mrs Striffler for her work on this issue and calling upon Parliament to continue the discussion on this topic .
education , research and further debates should certainly continue .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , today marks 100 years since we first celebrated International Women 's Day .
because I fear that the Commission 's present prognosis - and it has done it as well as it can - will be supplemented by a new one which will show us that the job to be done is even more demanding .
in view of the varying political development of the individual countries , however , the EU must apply a variable approach and provide more help and EU resources to those Eastern partners that are prepared to go further and faster in fulfilling their obligations .
it is important that Parliament should point out to the Council that it is unjust and unacceptable to do so .
in writing . - ( SK ) Adrian Severin , the former Deputy Prime Minister of Romania , was suspended from the Social Democratic Party in his home country after the European Parliament corruption scandal in which he was implicated came to light .
the decision made by the European Parliament at that time places the EU in a strong negotiating position .
part of the process is always global in nature .
Jean-Claude Trichet , President of the European Central Bank , has managed during his mandate to resist pressure from Heads of State or Government .
we are embarking on a legislative and regulatory simplification programme , intended in particular for the Structural Funds .
now all cars sold in the European Union will have anti-lock braking systems .
feminicide , as the report mentions , cannot be explained purely in terms of a general climate of violence .
in writing . - ( PL ) The complex relations between the European Union and Russia require well-managed and coherent diplomatic action .
in that regard , it is vital for local authorities to participate , and I know very well what I am talking about .
Mr Leinen 's report shows how the Treaty will affect the work of Parliament , and the report covers very thoroughly the implications for Parliament of new policy areas , new powers and new procedures .
in order to establish an appropriate cost-benefit balance , costs must be reduced .
I would like to congratulate the rapporteur for his efforts and I hope that we will achieve a market which benefits consumers .
long-term investment in the green economy , in scientific research and in infrastructure is absolutely crucial to economic stability , job creation and growth , and I cannot support this package of reforms which seeks crippling austerity across Europe .
I therefore welcome wholeheartedly the proposal to set up a ' Milk fund ' and the proposal to evaluate , from 2010 , the raising of milk quotas in accordance with market trends .
the 2006 law against sexual violence will not solve that problem , as long as the conflict continues and there are so many people without a permanent place to live .
where does this figure come from ?
leaving education without qualifications means not being equipped for integration into a job and therefore not having the resources for social integration .
thank you very much , Commissioner , for your very detailed reply , and I welcome the developments which you referred to .
the workshops organised in Madrid , Stockholm and Prague have proved an excellent focus for the phase of gathering ideas about what works best .
that shows there is a certain opening-up .
but it is vital to harness private funds for public goals .
this type of breeding is often carried out by small-sized enterprises , which have been hit hard by the crisis .
although the SEPA Credit Transfer ( SCT ) has been successfully launched , less than 2 % of payments have migrated .
in this context , I voted for this motion for a resolution as I believe that it is important for the European Parliament and the European Union in general to send a message of confidence to the Republic of Moldova in the run-up to the parliamentary elections .
however , ladies and gentlemen , my only regret is that every debate on media pluralism always seems to get bogged down in national party political games .
of course , it is our moral duty to assist in the reconstruction of Gaza .
documents received : see Minutes
however , this cannot be said of the Belgian Presidency .
as mentioned previously , the Member States must be in agreement on the proposal .
it would have been better to emphasise that the negotiations are not open-ended , which would clear the way for more realistic alternatives such as a preferential partnership .
however , geopolitics demands that the major powers act responsibly , because grass always grows sparsely where the elephants roll .
- The debate is closed .
in your Directorate-General , Mr Oettinger , you have one full-time official - and he will be leaving in July .
the cases from the Court ( Danfoss I and II ) happened more than 25 years ago .
so let us look at the achievements of the Bali conference in the light of the old principle of sustainable development , a principle valued not only in Europe but at international level too .
it is also well known that in days gone by , they helped protect the health of the inhabitants of fortified towns because where there are dogs , there are no rats or snakes .
it is a serious blow for a sector that has been hit hard by the liberalisation of world trade ; that is concentrated in regions with high levels of unemployment and poverty , and little economic diversification , such as several regions in northern and central Portugal .
I would like to believe the official explanation , that the decision was warranted by increased demand for Clio and Twingo , not by protectionism occasioned by difficulties in the car industry .
this is positive , and what we are asking is for these two elements to be detailed and developed in the programme that you are now going to prepare and that you are going to present with the Commission .
you take with you our good wishes that you will be able to discharge in full your duties as President-in-Office of the European Council and will do everything to achieve agreement on the Treaty of Lisbon in your country also .
I think it would be a disgrace if it were approved .
we have also felt acutely , over recent weeks , the lack of a common position - indeed , the lack of political will to achieve a common position - and , even now , the lack of a shared resolve .
the success of better regulation will depend very largely on the European Commission , working in cooperation with Parliament and the Council .
what this current crisis has very clearly shown is the need to develop European coordination and interoperability further .
I myself attended the conference that launched the synergy on the Black Sea , and the summit of the Baltic countries .
to state the contrary would be tantamount to sticking our heads in the sand .
we should support , in this context , a revision of the existing legislation on financial instruments , which should provide for more transparent trading and minimum thresholds for the operators allowed to trade on these markets .
I think that the complexity of EU financial regulations and guidelines for European financial instruments is a serious problem , in particular when European funds and programmes are used to support individual enterprises through the provision of relatively small amounts of funding .
we believe that this would have been a constitutional reform for the times and I am afraid that this Parliament has really wasted an opportunity in this term to be a driving force for integration and a driving force for the positive reform of treaties by putting up with this unsatisfactory procedure .
this is a purely voluntary commitment .
nutritional information on food is important , particularly the difference between natural trans-fatty acids present in meat and dairy products and those produced during industrial processing ( artificial ) .
this is why the absence of the Council is so important - our appeals are directed to the Council , which appoints special coordinators .
the present report establishes a set of actions that are aimed at promoting cooperation between the Member States in the field of transplantation in order to contribute to the increase in transplants , the reduction of waiting lists and a consequent reduction in the number of patients who die while waiting for an organ .
the maintenance of good Sino-European relations requires commitment on both sides , however .
I am only too happy to go more slowly ...
I believe that the proposed system of codification drafted using a data processing system is more efficient .
as far as the European Union is concerned , the Sahara conflict must be a priority issue for the Union for the Mediterranean , with support for the process of conducting a referendum on self-determination pursuant to UN resolutions .
according to the available data , 70 % of revenue comes from cross-border tourism in the European Union , in other words , from tourists from other EU Member States .
the new legislation also stipulates extremely rigorous measures so that road safety is not threatened , I can assure you .
moreover , the banks that it saved , or their sister banks , are the ones that are today speculating against it .
this agreement was initialled by negotiators at the beginning of the year .
the Commission will indeed ensure that the outcome of the workshops which were organised in 2007 will be taken into account in the CFR .
from this point of view , there is a natural distortion created between the peripheral countries and the transit countries .
I have been writing a report for my committee on this issue .
yet it is only in September 2007 that we are voting on this codification .
the topic of fundamental human rights and the extension of their protection must always be central to European debate in order to enable us to develop common and effective strategies to protect women and children alike .
the latest report by NGOs indicates that lobbyists ' influence on the European Commission 's decision-making process has become a serious problem .
the rapporteur deserves our praise for this .
in my view , the Doha Round is fundamentally important for international trade and may greatly help to reduce poverty in developing countries and to share out the benefits of globalisation more fairly .
this is a major problem , particularly regarding the smuggling of drugs , for example .
we must agree positions on the next Copenhagen Summit , the laws with extraterritorial effect and other aspects .
consequently , I welcome the Commission 's health strategy entitled ' Together for Health : a Strategic Approach for the EU 2008-2013 ' .
it also represents the ultimate challenge from a communication point of view .
the violent incidents that occurred in Western Sahara as the Gdaim Izyk camp was being dismantled and in the town of Laâyoune are very serious and must be roundly condemned .
the key question is whether Parliament will stick to the view it adopted in 2005 at the first reading and which has been reiterated in the rapporteur 's proposal , or whether Parliament is thinking of changing its position in reaction to the common viewpoint adopted by the Council in September of last year .
you can also be assured that our FVO missions to third countries will be very strict .
that is precisely the logic of it .
with the new Lisbon Treaty , we now have a text that will help us deal with all the important issues that have been raised here - climate change , fighting the financial crisis and its social and other effects - and , of course , also make sure that we have a democratic European Union in the future .
the external dimension of social policy includes European Union activities and initiatives aimed at promoting labour and social standards in third countries .
I believe that one strategic policy issue is how to progress from cooperation to a genuine partnership , so as ultimately to achieve membership of a real Euro-Mediterranean common area .
the Romanian authorities tend to procrastinate when it comes to settling such matters , despite the fact that the relevant EU directives are supposed to be in force in Romania too .
in writing . - ( PT ) We are pleased at the adoption of our proposals that :
however , to achieve this we need to find a better and more modern solution to the problem of patient information .
maybe it is not just certain cows that have gone mad .
our fifth core theme , finally , is about involving people .
instead it means that everyone can contribute something and needs to participate .
in exchange for weapons , China supports corruption and a dictatorial regime , and is one of the largest trading partners of , and providers of aid to , Robert Mugabe 's regime .
the Council supported , for example , one of Parliament 's most important proposals , namely that a mechanism be created which would encourage newer Member States to join the resettlement programme through financial instruments among other things .
we can see the shortcomings that are hidden behind rules which ordinary citizens find difficult to understand .
in closing , I would also like to remind everyone that the growing complexity of this product legislation overwhelms small and medium-sized enterprises .
you can believe a French MEP who has fought tirelessly to have his country reinstated within the integrated structures of NATO .
( ES ) The coast of Somalia is obviously one of the most dangerous coastlines in the world , as the figures show , in particular the fact that , last year alone , at least 25 vessels were victims of all sorts of acts of piracy .
I know that I can rely on you , whose job it is to represent the voice of the people , to consider these proposals and political documents in depth and with care .
I know we will first have to wait for the exact mandate here .
in the decades to come , dementia is likely to be one of the main challenges to the sustainability of our national health systems .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I do not want to make any comment on what Mrs Jackson has just said .
by setting targets , Europe showed the way in 2008 ; and in the run-up to Copenhagen , a lot of economies followed .
are you aware of the fact that Bulgarian pensioners switch off their telephones because they cannot afford to pay the predatory prices of the Bulgarian Telecommunications Company that has been privatized criminally ?
therefore , it is an immediate task for the EU to work out a European cyber security strategy .
it is also up to us , however , to convince people about this , not only here in Brussels , but also our governments at home , if we want to achieve these goals .
the Commission also points out that the continuity of the implementing rules will be maintained until they are replaced by new measures adopted under this regulation .
second point : next year citizens are being called upon and not every detail of the legislation is of interest to them , but only the overall achievement , the line taken .
this is the case for family policy , social security systems and , in large part , fiscal policy , and the Council , given these facts , believes that the Lisbon strategy and the open coordination method form the framework within which Member States should work in this area , and most Member States agree that no new structures should be put in place .
the answer is two things in particular .
I therefore hope that we can move forward on these general political matters and that progress will be made in the TEC , which has been revived by Mr De Gucht 's efforts .
we cannot allow this under any circumstances .
sadly , this is far from the truth .
this means that Parliament and Council have now reached an agreement on a joint text , respecting the aim and purpose of Article 314 .
we got the approval of the numbers the Commission proposed , accompanied by strong conditionality .
we must make a firm demand for this principle to be observed .
( SK ) I believe that the new Member States , including the Slovak Republic , are all well prepared to join the Schengen area .
if Brussels cannot manage on the money it gets , then it needs to tighten its belt .
EUFOR troops should therefore be deployed specifically in these crisis areas .
given that small to medium-sized businesses are the strongest element of growth in the economy , this proposal helps to strengthen the conditions for such growth .
many people on the other side of the House are telling us that this is a good thing .
while we are on the subject of data packets , let me turn to the issue of net neutrality .
increased use of the euro as an international currency benefits the Member States of the Euro Zone because it enables European businesses to reduce the exchange risk and to increase their international competitiveness .
for nearly 20 years , the majority of the population of the former Yugoslavia has been denied the opportunity of travelling freely across Europe , which is something they were used to previously , when they were still citizens of the now collapsed socialist federation .
all these figures amount to the reduction of carbon emissions by up to 27 % in the transport sector alone .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Madam President , I think that this debate has clearly demonstrated that we are trying to resolve an exceptional situation , that we are looking for a practical solution and that this is the solution for the transition .
nevertheless , the motion for a resolution speaks in favour of continuing the process of liberalisation and of giving the WTO a greater role as part of a new global order policy and , for this reason , I voted against it .
violence against women represents the most serious and most widespread violation of human rights in Europe .
the European Union must invest in education , research and in an ambitious , sustainable industrial policy , enabling it to remain competitive globally .
I therefore welcome the proposal that you have just made , Commissioner , but I am anxious to stress that this proposal must remain ambitious .
we feel that these wordings are so important that we have chosen to support the report despite its shortcomings in other respects .
every day wasted talking about limiting emissions of nature 's most important fertiliser is a day lost in the struggle to sustain more and more people on less and less energy .
finally , we want to have an assurance that the polluters will be held legally responsible , and that the victims , such as fishermen , will be able to receive the correct compensation .
the report omits the integrated approach and focuses only on tap water savings .
farmers are demanding simplification of the CAP because they are being harassed , both in Poland and in the other Member States of the European Union .
( CS ) Mr President , the European Heritage Label is undoubtedly a good initiative , and a continuation of the intergovernmental project now operating since 2006 .
this is very positive , although I do regret certain minor amendments .
the second document makes many formal recommendations about the authorities to be established , information and reporting obligations and other points , but offers hardly any specific , material recommendations for construction or operating techniques , or even the most general specifications .
not all of these commitments last long , however , and the children often then become hostages to disputes between their parents .
Parliament welcomes the Agency 's pledge to improve the planning and monitoring of its contracts to avoid , in the future , the deficiencies reported by the Court of Auditors .
unless the state plays an active and not just a formal role , this problem will remain truly intractable and the petitions from defrauded victims will accumulate .
the review 's five guidelines to reduce pressure on SMEs include simplifying the rules on VAT and reducing the rates , and a directive on late payments , but that is just tinkering with existing rules and regulations .
I believe that this really is an action that is consistent with the entire energy and environment package that we are debating .
the President of the European Parliament referred to Pope John Paul II .
a joint strategy , based on shared values and mutual respect , and geared to the welfare of people , was sorely needed .
the Commission proposed and pushed through in the Seventh Framework Programme an enormous package of support for contentious stem cell research and is afraid to admit that this research failed to fulfil expectations .
we must be especially concerned about our children 's interests , developing provisions concerning maternity and parental leave , taking into consideration the effect the presence of parents has on a child 's physical and mental development .
following today 's vote , new rules will need to be put in place to ensure that MEPs from all EU countries take steps to ensure the transparency of their office expenses .
in my opinion , ensuring that the ESF is managed more flexibly and that this fund complements other European employment instruments and domestic measures is an extremely important issue .
please indulge me : I was a criminal judge for four years in the Fifth criminal division of the Court of Cassation , where we judged the crime of libel .
at the same time they confirm the willingness of European research centres to set up communities that begin by concentrating on three sectors : renewable energy , climate change and information technology .
following an agreed extension of one month to respond , the Irish authorities sent their response at the end of September .
this puts public authorities and economic entities in the new Member States in a particularly difficult situation . the new Member States are obviously focusing mainly on catching up with the more developed countries of the European Union in terms of development .
the same goes for the cargo and for the client commissioning the voyage .
- ( DE ) Madam President , I speak on behalf of the ÖVP-Europa-Club [ Austrian People 's Party European Club ] .
of course , orchards are particularly reliant on bees for pollination .
does not the Commission consider that it would be desirable to devise a coherent strategy and a detailed action plan comprising specific support measures for SMEs and financing arrangements which could help to overcome the difficulties encountered by the sector ?
I of course support the rapporteur in his demand - as my colleague Mr Rack has said - that we should proceed to this second stage quickly .
we have already learned a great deal during the four previous budget procedures .
it must show that it is responding to the needs of the moment , and it must work on Europe 's long-term strategic framework and long-term strategic objectives .
in Kiev , the district councils are being unceremoniously abolished so that no elections are taking place there - the governing party knows that it will not win there are the moment .
however , we should remember that it is a decision which reaches far into the future and that its full effects will only be felt when the majority of the people who are responsible for it are no longer in office or able to take responsibility for the consequences .
therefore , it is necessary for us to introduce advanced body scanners which work according to a specific principle .
finally , we do not agree that common initiatives undertaken by Member States in the field of foreign affairs should be totally taken over by the Commission rather than left to the Council .
what will be done , especially in the case of large , international concerns ?
that is why , on 29 September , the Commission proposed some amendments to the SIS II migration instruments , amendments on which your Parliament is currently being consulted .
the global organisation of agricultural markets needs to be rethought , taking into account the two main inspirations of a common agricultural policy : guaranteeing food safety and saving the lifeblood of small farmers and their families , both at home and in the world 's poorest countries .
why is it not the case that if private industry checks something , then the public authorities say ' fine , we will check the private industry schemes from time to time and if they are good , we do not need to carry out checks on the farms themselves any more ' .
in short , this is about the individual human rights of the people in Camp Ashraf .
I support this report which emphasises the fact that Member States and regional and local authorities should recognise the value of volunteering in promoting social and economic cohesion and should develop strategies to encourage volunteering .
controversy has erupted over the building permits granted by the mayors , who have been made personally responsible for the deaths that have occurred in their municipalities .
subject : facilitation of visas for citizens of Moldova and Georgia
they may seem like very technical issues , but they are very important for individual citizens .
as our Parliament is one of the organisers of its annual meetings , and given that important ministerial conferences will undoubtedly be on the agenda in the coming year in connection with the Doha round , it would be worth boosting funding for this in order to ensure that we have appropriate infrastructure options for participation .
the final instrument of ratification is now being deposited by the Czech Republic with the Italian authorities .
the critics are not Montenegro 's enemies , the independent media are not enemies , but a valuable asset for Montenegro .
this is not always working at present , as we are unable to act quickly enough , and that is very annoying , particularly for older workers .
I voted to waive her immunity .
( EL ) Madam President , for Greece , about which there is a great deal of talk , the problem is not just a problem of public finances .
paradoxically , this MP has a friend who is disabled .
Mr President , I will speak on the El Khadraoui report .
this has been done by the Council of Europe and the United Nations , and of various parliaments and governments all over the world .
how many confidential accounts are there ?
of course , these figures pertain to the period before the closing down of units three and four of the nuclear power plant on 31 December 2006 .
rapporteur . - Madam President , if Members look at their e-mails and all the requests from lobbyists and industry , and the pros and cons on the climate , they can conclude that climate is very clearly back on the political agenda .
when we look at the European Union 's growth rates for last year , we see that , on average , we had a negative growth of 5 % , while Latin America had a negative growth of 1.8 % .
( RO ) I would first of all like to congratulate the rapporteur on all his hard work on this report , which raises a very important issue .
in this context , improving post-election follow-up is especially important , in my view .
Madam President , I wish to express my deep concern regarding the medics who have been arrested in Bahrain .
Mrs Dührkop Dührkop has just pointed out that there are certain difficulties .
he has declined so far .
I think it is a very symbolic fact and a very positive political signal that one of the new Member States is the first country to ratify the Lisbon Treaty .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I believe that the European Union cannot back down from the energy challenge that will decide the fate of the planet .
we have all been recounting various anecdotes during these debates today , which also brought an historical association to my mind .
on Wednesday I was here in Brussels having dinner with Dr Jalili , the day after we had been talking about New York and how to move the process forward in New York , I did not want to give the impression that we were doing something that we would not communicate directly .
the EU did not listen then and it has not listened since .
it was important for us , and also for me as rapporteur , that President Sarkozy expressly mentioned the European defence equipment market in his speech about the priorities of the French Presidency .
it is well known that the Internet represents one of the main routes for falsified medicinal products to enter the European market .
finally , I voted for Amendment 7 , which recognises that certain products , such as water , should be considered as a universal public asset , and I would point out that a measure of caution is required when proposing to open up markets for services of this kind .
in writing . - ( NL ) The Commission communication raises fundamental questions which are to determine European policy on company and accounting law .
if the internal market , the large European market , functioned normally , as it will have to function , we would be able to achieve by ourselves , between ourselves , between 0.5 and 1.5 % of additional growth .
we are , of course , also relying on the work of Mr Cioloş for that , because neither our European producers nor our European consumers can go on being defenceless .
we address horizontal and geographical issues in our report .
I think that we must focus particular attention on the demographic challenges affecting the countryside in particular .
SOLVIT centres that are currently present in each Member State ( as well as in Norway , Iceland and Liechtenstein ) are understaffed and underfunded - training for staff and funding to improve the administrative capacity of the centres must be stepped up .
now is not the time , however , to speak about boycotts or about Tibet .
that is not acceptable and that is why we must take strong action here .
the commitments represent serious political intentions , but also real , concrete actions .
( NL ) Mr President , I would also like to express my compliments to the rapporteur , Mrs Oomen-Ruijten .
Europe needs to invest more in science , open up its scientific systems , promote the free movement of researchers , and increase and promote excellence .
this is a brilliant example for the rest of the House .
these three reports were drawn up following the proposal for a Single Market Act published by the European Commission .
you will have noticed that the results of our previous discussions on Neighbourhood Policy are already reflected in the communication on a partnership for democracy and shared prosperity of 8 March .
however , in a way it is a bit mundane to speak about bread-and-butter issues , having listened to all that has been said , but of course bread-and-butter issues concern all our citizens .
we already have problems , with up to 1.4 million new cases of some form of dementia every year , and we must take energetic action over timely diagnosis , prevention and other related issues , such as patient dignity .
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in its initial communication , the eight biophysical criteria proposed by the Commission to assess the classification of areas with significant natural handicaps were undoubtedly biased towards the warmer and drier climates of continental Europe .
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I would like to conclude by saying , Commissioner , that it is worth making diplomatic efforts to seek to restrict fishing within the Mediterranean to the countries that line the shores of the Mediterranean Sea - prohibiting others from fishing there - because those countries have an interest in safeguarding the stocks of the Mediterranean fish population and because they share a interest in guaranteeing the future of their fishing .
this initiative clearly could not be a purely Franco-French or Euro-European initiative , nor the expression of a security-oriented vision of Euro-Mediterranean relations .
( FR ) Mr President , I would first beg you to excuse this disruption to the agenda , or more precisely to the order of precedence .
I welcome the current discussion on the possibilities of creating a Europe-wide network of regions and cities that are coming out of conflict , that have experience in coming out of conflict or that are living with conflict and exclusion .
( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , the signs look very promising for the EU-Africa summit .
( FR ) Madam President , we have just learned of the incredible sentence of six years imprisonment for two German lawyers , Horst Mahler and Sylvia Stolz .
belonging to the euro area has enabled more than one country to avoid a devaluation of their national currencies , which would have further exacerbated the consequences of the crisis .
it would therefore be desirable to design a system to make information on crimes committed against children , and the sentences , available to the Member States and to protect children from criminals being employed within their environment .
too much time has already been wasted .
based on this situation , we see no reason to propose new legislation on the fines imposed by the European Union in competition cases .
this would be a step towards the prudent management that financial institutions should practise and that we have still not achieved in Europe .
nonetheless , the measures adopted to mitigate the threat to Turkish territory must comply with the following conditions .
of course , we always have to be in line with the Treaty .
in the draft 2010 budget , the Council has decreased the money , in particular , for budget lines which concern the development of the internal market .
you say you have used two , so you have two left , if that is the case .
if the costs of construction and renovation have repercussions for rents , this could make the benefits of the energy performance of buildings inaccessible to those who would need them most .
that is why Member States should facilitate freight transport and the rules and controls should be carried out on the basis of common norms , without introducing barriers to the free movement of goods .
one of these is the exploitation of the Danube waterway for the efficient and environmentally friendly transport of goods .
I voted in favour of the motion for a resolution from the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) / European Conservatives and Reformists and against the others because the international ACTA makes it possible to combat counterfeiting more effectively , which will lead to better copyright protection and , by extension , help protect European industry .
naturally , the European Union has competences that enable it to establish the compatibility of national law with European law .
if we are committed to building the future of Europe , we must not allow historical facts to be ignored , or the memory of the tragic moments in our history to be neglected .
( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , as a Member of this Parliament for the Czech Republic where the sugar market has already been restructured , I cannot agree with the proposed changes .
the aim of territorial cooperation must be to do away with physical , administrative and regulatory obstacles to cohesion and to reduce the border effect between territories and regions in order to enable them to address their shared challenges together , whether those challenges are territorial ( services , infrastructure , urban and regional planning ) , global ( globalisation , climate change ) , economic or societal .
( LT ) I would like to say a few words about the work of the Special Crisis Committee .
I endorsed the European Parliament resolution calling , in particular , on the Member States to take steps to help slow down the disease 's progression in sufferers - such as promoting healthy lifestyles and ensuring that medication is available to all sufferers - to establish specialist centres , to provide satisfactory medical equipment nationwide , and to draw up strategic action plans for research in this area .
however , I am urging very wide-ranging and closer cooperation between all sovereign European security services and in that respect I can largely support a number of recommendations , improvements in the Kaufmann report , improvements to the European Judicial Network .
to summarise , a key issue for the upcoming summit , in my opinion , should be the strengthening of transatlantic relations , including at institutional level .
you have not made a single move ; I hope , therefore , that the next Presidency will be capable of doing so .
( RO ) Mr President , I would like to begin by mentioning the very sceptical , pessimistic voices which have recently expressed the view , since the uprisings in the Mediterranean region , that the Middle East peace process is in danger of becoming a kind of collateral victim .
( ES ) Mr President , just a few hours ago , Cristo Ancor Cabello was killed in Herat in Afghanistan .
( RO ) We welcome the signing of the Nabucco project agreement on 13 July in Ankara .
however , special care must be taken for all those illegal immigrants who are already in the European Union .
rapid progress continues on areas from human rights to combating terrorism , from energy cooperation to the environment .
with regard to the summit , I agree very much that this is an important occasion .
the green growth programme must not entail any measures that would cause severe economic and social problems .
( HU ) Thank you very much , Mr President .
violence against human rights defenders is not restricted to the North Caucasus .
despite these measures , the US economy still needed more help and , without any thought of thrift , the government recently provided another USD 600 billion to get the economy out of the recession .
anyone who does not consider the other socialist republics of the Soviet Union and the other various nationalities at the same time is guilty of racism and of contempt for the suffering of all those affected .
tens of millions of eastern Europeans still live a life troubled by the Communist horrors .
as our needs are global as well - such as the development agenda , the Millennium Development Goals or tackling climate change - to me it is more than natural that financial transaction taxation should be the first attempt at global taxation .
their variety of resources and potential for alternative sources of energy can only be developed through an eco-systematic approach and with integrated management plans .
I am very disappointed with the approach of the Council , which deprives consumers of the right to find out before purchasing where a significant part of a product was made .
I was born just a few kilometres west of the Iron Curtain , but it could just as easily have been the other way round .
I would say to Mr Szent-Iványi that we support the eastern partners in meeting our conditions .
this infrastructure is useful for capital , and it involves simultaneous privatisation , which is tantamount to speculation .
at the same time as we are working for the global agreement , the directive should clearly spell out the mechanisms in favour of energy-intensive industries to be fully or partially activated if the international negotiations fall short of our expectations .
when considering how taxpayers ' money is invested in the future , we should look at the lessons of what has already happened and make sure we spend it better in the future .
this result is far from the EU 's position on the matter , and it is also far from what is needed to protect the climate .
this is a good illustration of the kind of resistance we have been facing in this area in the last few years .
we should call on Israel to stop settlement expansion and construction of the Wall beyond the 1967 borders .
for me the key point in the report is paragraph 4 , which underlines the benefits of healthy tax competition in the European Union .
we must go to the conference with strong positions and clear ideas certainly , but also with the absolute aim of sharing our efforts fairly among , first and foremost , all the industrialised countries , which must accept equivalent emissions reduction targets .
- ( NL ) Sovereign wealth funds have been active on the financial market for more than 50 years .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , 30 years ago , Morocco denied for many years that there was a war with the Sahrawi people and today , it is still denying that there is disproportional repression of these same people .
having voted against it , we view the adoption of this report with concern .
I am pleased that , together with President Obama , we have obtained reciprocity in relation to the EADS project for supply aircraft .
the Swedish Presidency is focussing on more inclusive labour markets to create full employment and therefore wants to initiate labour market reforms and gender equality measures .
the report does not touch on this organisational issue , and no amount of risk boards or competence criteria for directors can avoid the harmful consequences of speculating on families ' savings for profit .
I did so from a general perspective because it clearly lacks vision in terms of promoting development and respect for developing countries , but more specifically because , while it is vital to successfully conclude the Doha Round , this cannot be done at any price .
these could do enormous damage to the outermost regions , and indeed every region .
the macro-financial assistance to Ukraine that is currently being proposed does not constitute a form of genuine , disinterested aid : quite the contrary .
it is precisely the Islamic fundamentalists who are seeking war between religions and civilisations .
I voted in favour of the report by Mrs Matera because the features of the issue presented by Belgium on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) correspond to the conditions required to access this Fund .
the European Charter for Small Enterprises has the potential to play a central role in improving the business environment for small enterprises in the EU .
Mr Barnier , Mrs Fischer Boel , regardless of the schools of thought , which illustrate that each of you has a different approach to the common agricultural policy and its role in the development of the European Union , we have achieved the unachievable ; in other words , you are generating a lack of trust and disappointment among both small-scale and large-scale producers .
fourth fact : we have already been in this situation and we found a solution .
well , I can tell you , the answer is no .
the case underlying your resolution gives us cause for the greatest concern .
despite this , however , we can also state that advertising as such has its great positives .
in drafting the report I have relied not only on scientific studies and expert opinions from interest groups such as the European Council of Municipalities and Regions and EUROCITIES , but above all on the direct experience and opinions of mayors , councillors , town hall officials , project managers and everyone else concerned with European funds .
is it about organised crime or about political and / or religious terrorism ?
I do believe , however , that an increasingly close link is developing between the internal market and external trade .
( SK ) At the beginning of 2009 , it was apparent that the European Union and the Member States were incapable of helping each other in the event of supply breakdowns involving either electricity or gas .
you mentioned a number of articles , and there are obviously a number of articles within the convention referring to the issue of reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities and the right to live independently .
agenda of the next sitting : see Minutes
to ensure that funding allocated is used transparently and as intended , the regulation must provide for penalties for violating funding procedures .
oral explanations of vote
the Portuguese Presidency will certainly take work forward in this area .
we need to make every effort to fulfil our Kyoto commitments as we are approaching the finishing line .
I believe that the proposal is balanced and represents a compromise between the Member States ' reservations and the European Parliament 's ambitions .
we began with the Commissioner for Industry , as I mentioned , and we end now with the Commissioner for Health .
this is , unfortunately , the reality too in countries with a standard of living far below the European average , like Romania .
Mrs Harms , I would also like to make one thing clear about what you said .
the regional impact of earthquakes ( debate )
as for the euro , I think we should ask all those countries suffering from speculation what they think of its capacity to protect them .
it is in situations such as these that we can gain this credibility .
the substance of that agreement is as follows : one directive - namely that concerning the calibration of ship tanks - is to be repealed immediately , which is to say , with effect from 1 July 2011 , while the remaining seven directives will be repealed once the recast version of the Framework Measuring Instruments Directive ( MID ) , which the Commission is currently working on , has been adopted .
that is another area that we need to think about for the future .
Mr President , SIS II , as we know , is a very important tool for ensuring the security of the Schengen area , especially following the enlargement to include the 10 new countries .
can you imagine giving the small and medium-sized businesses small amounts simply to make better programmes , establishing programme ratings for young people , so that they can decide whether they are interested in the programme or not and , in the same way as with films , publishing an age limit which indicates whether the content is desirable and that there is a specific age limit involved ?
if we do not deal with it in this Parliament , the legislation could be put back by a further two years or more , which would be a retrograde step .
actions for 2009 have already been approved and they are to be enforced this year .
at the Copenhagen European Council in 2002 , the Council welcomed efforts to improve maritime safety and recalled the European Union 's determination to ' take all necessary measures to avoid a repetition of similar catastrophes ' to the Erika accident .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development . - Mr President , we have to face up to the very practical idea that we need to produce food in Europe - last month we reduced set-aside to zero to bring 10 % of land back into production - and we need the necessary tools to do that job .
all asylum seekers should have fast access to the labour market .
over-regulation is significantly reducing people 's motivation and alienating them from the concept of Europe , which is why we want an independent assessment of the impact of legislation .
we have started accession negotiations , thereby recognising its eligibility to join the EU in principle .
I await your single market review , to see how you will drive growth and jobs in difficult terrain , and your legal migration policy , hoping it encompasses the concerns of the countries of origin .
Japan is facing its greatest post-war disaster .
do we really think , Mr Billström , that all this responsibility can be shouldered by individual states ?
any body which as been around for fifty years makes changes in order to address new challenges .
membership of political groups : see Minutes
it is therefore difficult to convince such enterprises that they have to modernise , that they have to be market players and that they have to grow .
he set food security , and the EU contributing more to food production in the world , as his top objectives in revamping the CAP .
the European Council reaffirmed that the future of the Western Balkans lies with the European Union and that the growth and stability of this region is particularly important .
the rapporteur calls on the Commission to represent the EU 's agricultural interests more forcefully and proactively .
yesterday the world celebrated International Human Rights Day , which is particularly significant this year as it marks the start of the celebrations to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights .
when the meat consignment arrives in the EU , controls are carried out by the official veterinary services of the Member States at our border inspection points .
since the various forms of publicity marking the daily life are realities with deep and immediate social-cultural impact , this activity needs a unified and coherent legislative framework .
in that respect , I am concerned at the fact that 60-tonne lorries have been allowed to creep into all the reports .
we hear what people are saying in this House .
also , the struggle for fertile farmland is an important root cause for the violent conflicts between Christians and Muslim settlers .
I voted in favour of Mrs Weiler 's report because I believe it is essential to safeguard the creditors of public administrations , which largely consist of small and medium-sized enterprises .
the pursuit of these objectives must be based on credible , consolidated action aimed at exiting the crisis , with employment being one of the key items on this agenda .
this measure without doubt leads directly , by linkage , to the European Qualifications Framework , which is a hijack .
I would also like to point out that in 2010 , the European Parliament adopted at first reading the report by Mrs Muscardini on the indication of the country of origin of certain products imported from third countries ( ' Made in ' ) , which also concerns textiles and clothing .
( RO ) Madam President , dear colleagues , Mr. Commissioner , it is a great pleasure for me to address you in your new position .
I therefore urge you , Prime-Minister , to support the initiatives of the Parliamentt and the European Commission concerning free access to the labour market .
I have been stopped many times at airports .
I do not know whether you realise that the costs borne by firms in the European Union as a result of non-compliance with the principle of mutual recognition are enormous , and the Union itself incurs losses of some 150 billion euros .
what a perfect description of what happens in the EU budget , with its unapproved accounts , the misallocation of resources , and these constantly rising figures , despite the attempts of the 27 Member States to rein in their spending .
do not allow the Balkan mafia to wreck the European Union 's noble project .
I sincerely believe that these terms , which we may come across in every EU document and every speech , have not lost their meaning .
it is also the case with the agreement on the Level 2 measures that the Commission has been asked to adopt by July 2010 without fail .
communication of Council common positions : see Minutes
reportedly , the refugees are kept in containers in the desert and are often beaten .
this is the case with Madeira , where unemployment rates are high , and so the resolution contributes to increased social and economic cohesion .
this situation must be changed , and solutions and incentives found to make the majority of Member States start accepting the resettlement of refugees .
in the case of fisheries products , such measures applied only to raw materials to be used in products solely intended for consumption in the local market .
in a largely globalised and deregulated world , it is absolutely necessary to enable consumers to know where a product comes from and what they are buying .
besides , European interference in this dossier is unacceptable .
the experience of how the European Union Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading System has functioned since 2005 is an illustration of this .
the situation in Georgia is very serious , especially in view of all the civilian victims of the conflict .
we consider the failure to apply this principle in this case to be incomprehensible and unacceptable .
in writing . - I backed the Commission 's radio spectrum policy programme ( RSPP ) because I believe that all EU citizens should have access to a faster broadband connection by 2020 .
it is particularly regrettable that a country such as Lithuania - which once experienced repression and dictatorship - has now , as a free and independent state , instigated a law so despicable and which represents censorship , lack of freedom and intolerance .
it is important to say that when such cuts were made in the past , without taking into account fleets ' particularities , the state of fish stocks in each case and each country 's consumption needs , they did not solve any of the problems with which the sector is now faced .
the EU will thus demonstrate once again that values and respect for human rights are the most important thing and inalienable , and persons seeking asylum will feel safe and respected .
unfortunately , it is totally different now that it has arrived , accompanied by the European private company .
( PL ) During the Swedish Presidency , a great deal of good has happened in the Union , in what has been , of course , a difficult period of crisis and expectations concerning acceptance of the Treaty of Lisbon .
Europe should instead assist Italy in the repatriation of illegal immigrants and must also support the efforts of the Italian Government to prevent thousands and thousands of people from continuing to leave , mainly from Tunisia .
that is unacceptable .
the recent findings of the International Labour Organisation revealed that , throughout the world , there are at least 2.45 million people subjected to forced labour as a result of human trafficking .
BP will be prepared to apply the same standards to similar drilling and rigs off the coast of Libya as in the North Sea , even though , under Libyan law , this may not be necessary in order to obtain authorisation and may not be laid down in legislation .
I would also like to make an observation as regards the Cohesion policy issue here , namely that the bureaucratic procedures should be much more flexible and efficient .
17 .
women are discriminated against regarding their participation in public life and access to education , while the judicial system is anything but independent .
finally , I would like to thank the European Commission for its promptness in approving the funding for the four energy projects which Romania is also involved in .
a charity spokesman said , and I quote , ' Every time fuel prices increase by 1 % , this results in about a thousand people in Scotland living in fuel poverty ' .
although practical tests at national level have yielded quite positive results , opinions on these vehicles differ .
at the same time , I need to point out that the border is one of the key issues when it comes to neighbourly relations .
I believe it is crucial for the EU to bring together the different players and stakeholders in the media sector with the aim of moving towards the creation of a healthy and economically viable industry .
on the EU in the world , we welcome your presidency 's ambitions .
the case of Kosovo is truly unique , because the international community had to take it under its protection for humanitarian reasons and then had to govern it for almost nine years .
that is precisely where the problem lies .
Statute of the European Ombudsman (
the internet cannot be a tool of terrorism , child traffickers and incitements to violence .
improvements cannot be achieved without close scrutiny , in other words inspections and analyses and the setting of precise targets for reductions in the incidence of occupational diseases , including new illnesses affecting those who work in fields such as nanotechnology .
can you name one single newspaper , party or union that has been authorised in the last 20 years ?
or should we impose a higher price on goods that consume a lot of energy or services that waste it ?
it alone will be able to provide vital additional aid in the context of a disaster such as this .
the two lists , which I would like now to cite briefly , consist simply of a list of what the Commission should not do , and a list that itemises what we would like them to do .
this also requires guaranteed access to minimum rights to housing , employment , health , education , in other words , to the fundamental rights that ensure the dignity of the person .
finally , I should mention the Seventh Research Framework Programme , which runs parallel to new strategy .
this money could certainly be reallocated to a new intermediate category of regions .
we must also ask the Member States and European institutions what they have done to implement the recommendations that this Parliament adopted in February 2007 and , where applicable , what explanation they give for not having done so .
neither this , nor any other type of sanction , had been imposed between 2002 and 2010 when the socialist and liberal regime in Hungary violently broke up every single protest , summarily imprisoned hundreds of people , fired bullets into people 's eyes and caused severe injuries .
consumers are positioned as drivers of the single market and we intend to continue to consolidate the centrality of consumers .
the vote will take place today , Wednesday 11 March .
the Secretary-General relayed the responses of Israel , the Palestinian occupied territories and Switzerland , and in his observations , he said that the processes initiated by these three parties were under way and that no opinion could be given on the application of the Resolution by the parties concerned .
it is time for us to ask : is it because the Member States are not diligent enough in obeying orders that things are going badly , or rather because they are too diligent and the orders are not the right ones ?
only then may the Union regain the credibility it has carelessly tossed aside .
as a result , people would have more courage to have their viral infection diagnosed at an early stage instead of opting for a nuisance that might pose a threat to others .
in writing . - The adoption of the new SWIFT Agreement by a majority in Parliament is a blow for the negotiations on a binding protection of fundamental rights in international security cooperation .
in East Germany , we are still today - twenty years after reunification - having to deal with the pollution caused by illegal or poor waste disposal .
finally , it is important that the Member States have committed to fully supporting the EU in the enforcement of any budgetary liability of temporary servants and in agreeing to create separate lines for CFSP expenditure , at least for major missions .
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I understand that some Members may disagree with this but , nevertheless , the treaties make this absolutely clear , and the judgment by the Luxembourg Court is equally clear as the law stands at the moment .
I would like once again to express on behalf of everyone here our deepest sympathy and our solidarity with the victims and their families .
in light of this , I welcome Mrs Lichtenberger 's report .
your governing party is a member of the European People 's Party , whose member parties provide the vast majority of the heads of government in the European Union .
we should recall that Parliament spoke out against this situation a year ago , yet even the Commission has admitted that nothing has been done on the subject .
that is true .
the resumption of fighting has also interrupted the implementation of the agreements concluded in November 2007 between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda , known as the Nairobi process , with which you are familiar and which focuses on the struggle against the Rwandan Hutu rebels of the FDLR located in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) would also like to use today 's debate to take a general look at the visa policy of the European Union .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - Madam President , this Parliament is like the Tower of Babel , an allegory of the Habsburg Empire , which was full of sycophants .
Hungary , Latvia , Romania , outside the euro area , Ireland , Spain , Portugal , the United Kingdom and Greece too , apart from a break of four years , when our lot were in .
but we have to look at those things because you cannot have health without health services , without health workers and without health education .
in fact , these missions are already covered by the proposal for a decision , which includes in the Agency 's thematic areas the issues of racism , xenophobia and related intolerance , in addition to discrimination based on gender , racial or ethnic origin , religion or belief , disability , age or sexual orientation or against persons belonging to minorities .
Europe remains an ideal of respect , tolerance and diversity ; it remains a force for peace , especially for the Western Balkans ; and it demands a shared vision , a vision of a common destiny .
in the light of our experience over the last six months in particular , what is really needed , as we move forward , is a Europe that cooperates , coordinates and works together to achieve common goals on a basis of understanding and tolerance for the differing opinions and the different economic cycles that exist within the European Union .
furthermore , I think that it is of paramount importance that this consolidation of economic governance takes place , while also boosting its democratic credentials .
in the end , these systems will only work through technical cooperation - but also through that public confidence in this system and the fact that Parliament is seen to be scrutinising these matters openly and with some results at the end of the day .
as you know , the Commission has been extremely strict , under the terms of the Stability and Growth Pact , in committing ourselves and the European Union to the rules of sustainability .
the text was not fully subject to minimum harmonisation , and the text of individual Articles was neither clear nor good enough to ensure that there would be no reduction in consumer protection for some EU citizens .
they have actually managed to get ordinary citizens interested in EU politics .
Mr President , Commissioner , not much has been said about the significance of the European cohesion policy in Europe .
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it is impossible to imagine the markets functioning properly with transparency being anything other than the fundamental rule .
at the same time , the European Commission 's proposal to establish a European authority for the purchase of electronic communications has been treated with circumspection by the Council and the European Parliament .
however , we chose not to support the paragraphs relating to the EU 's Staff Regulations .
thus , despite the European Community 's good intentions , such as the SBA project , we still have a long way to go before all European companies can be in a position to acquire a truly international dimension .
having given its word , Lithuania will implement the conditions of the accession treaty , but this will be a huge sacrifice .
we need to stabilise the euro and economic and monetary union .
there needs to be more transparency , more publicity , more clarity of conduct and accessibility of information , and finally , a common transparency register .
we export problems and we want to import solutions , but citizens are not a market .
I would like to address this to the Commissioner for Trade : you cannot continue considering fishing to be a ' non-sensitive product ' ; it should not continue to be governed by non-agricultural market access rules ; it cannot be a product like industry ; it needs to be a ' sensitive product ' and it needs to be governed by the rules of the World Trade Organisation and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations .
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the rule of unequal development in the capitalist system is implacable , especially in times of crisis , during which contrasts are even more marked .
in the euro area too , we must be more proactive with regard to both data collection and politics itself .
Mr President , I congratulate Mr Kirilov and Mr Kazak on their work .
I myself am a local elected representative , and I am very committed to the freedom of administration of local authorities , as the campaigns that I have led in this House with , in particular , Mr Piecyk , my colleague from the Committee on Transport and Tourism , have shown .
we therefore regret that , as with Europol , haste has overridden the desire to safeguard fundamental freedoms .
although my country , Latvia , has now been a Member State of the European Union for a considerable time , our farmers receive approximately EUR 90 per hectare in subsidies , whereas Greek farmers are paid approximately EUR 550 , and German and French farmers above EUR 300 per hectare .
Europe already has a million unemployed immigrants , coupled with all the problems which go along with that .
creators and inventors would not be able to receive fair remuneration and they would gradually disappear .
this report notes that sound financial discipline and transparency in the allocation of funds are key preconditions for achieving cohesion policy 's overall objectives , contributing towards increasing accountability as regards strategic objectives .
this is our moral duty in the interests of European unity and harmony .
this is a signal of encouragement for the government as well as the citizens of Kosovo .
should development policies , Commissioner , not place food production back at the centre of development policy priorities ?
the European Parliament must not make such sweeping statements on such an important issue .
who did you pass them on to ?
first of all , there is ' better lawmaking ' : the proposal takes account of the positions of those affected , as ascertained through a public Internet consultation .
it is logical that students , research workers and entrepreneurs from third countries should have the right to move around the entire Union if they have acquired a visa in any Member State .
high fuel prices are detrimental to all industries across the board , including agriculture , transport and manufacturing .
the Commission reiterates its call on China to release Liu Xiaobo immediately from prison and to lift his wife 's house arrest order , as well as to remove all restrictions on his friends ' freedom of movement .
this report is very important and is likely to receive a great deal of media attention .
consequently , the system has become more complex and , despite all the tributes you have paid to information technology , the implementation has turned out to be more difficult than expected .
in writing . - ( FR ) I voted for the interim report by my German colleague , Karl-Heinz Florenz , on the scientific facts of climate change as considered by Parliament 's Temporary Committee .
the environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico highlighted the lack of safety and security of oil operations .
six of the EU Member States have no bilateral air transport agreements with the United States , and rejection of the document would have meant preventing these Member States from being able to operate flight connections between their airports and US territory .
I know that .
assisting spouses must be covered as regards pensions , family allowance , health care , incapacity benefit and maternity benefits .
it seems this has now been done . however , the Commission should also assist in this .
the wound goes deep , but no hatred , no rejection of neighbouring Serbia has emerged , but instead an attempt to cooperate anew with the Serbian population there .
in this matter , the expertise and performance of the French nuclear industry must serve as an example .
the centre left and centre right political forces in the European Parliament voted in favour of the legislative ' package ' on telecommunications and the internet on the basis of the criteria of competition and security , in other words , to secure the profits of the monopolies and restrict workers ' freedoms and rights .
regretfully , this initiative has fizzled out .
Parliament faces a major task .
when we were in a difficult situation , as a result of George Soros , among others , we knew what to expect and so we took the necessary measures .
in writing . - ( PL ) I voted in favour of the report by Mrs Geringer de Oedenberg on the legal protection of computer programs , as I feel that , since they play such a massive role in the functioning of modern society , they should be guaranteed appropriate legal protection that is recognised as complying with copyright regulations , like literary and artistic works in the sense of the Berne Convention .
on the one hand , we see a complex web of joint activities and interwoven interests .
I have personally seen the positive impact that visa-free travel has had on the citizens of Serbia , Montenegro and Macedonia since last year .
Mr Prime Minister , like you , we also believe in a strong euro , so we are fully backing you in your priorities for this Presidency .
Romania needs tools for this , such as , for example , an effective and increasingly decentralised system of public administration institutions , and a new division into areas of economic development , since the current regions are not fit for purpose , nor are they effective , so new regions need to be created from the bottom up according to appropriate social agreements , and which would be led by elected regional governments .
of course , it has not been possible for you to implement this resolution yet , but I would like to ask you , Mr Cioloş , to take into consideration all the demands made in this motion for a resolution when you begin restructuring agricultural policy .
I hope , Mrs Ashton , that you will take advantage of this expertise , which is in all our interests .
I have been very disturbed when we look at our common agricultural policy , and we seem to be supplementing our common agricultural policy and increasing protectionism , which does great harm to farmers in the developing world .
( EL ) Madam President , Commissioner , in all the Member States , the national sports federations , particularly the football federations , complain vociferously on the basis of international sports federation statutes ( FIFA , UEFA , etc . ) every time their activities are investigated by the government .
the first relates to lawyers : when lawyers work with us and seek to influence legislation they are lobbyists , even when giving a legal opinion .
so I ask the Commissioner to bear those comments in mind in particular in the days and weeks ahead .
I would like some sort of clarification on that to see if the rumours that I have heard are true .
on behalf of the S-D Group . - Mr President , first of all , please let me express my sincere sorrow for the huge tragedy that hit Taiwan on 8 August and in particular for all the people that were killed by the incredible energy of the devastation from this major disaster .
your suggestion , Mrs Gräßle - that extra staff should be given to those wanting to work but not to those not wanting to - is populism of the highest order .
at the moment , the amount of timber that is illegally harvested and imported into the EU constitutes almost one fifth of the timber products on our markets , despite Parliament and others trying to tackle this .
with regard to the name , we support a geographically defined solution acceptable to all and far removed from divisive nationalism and enslavement , for peace , stable borders and the protection of the sovereignty of states .
I hope that the discussions with the Council will offer the opportunity to resolve this issue satisfactorily .
as for the Commission , you certainly have good intentions and there are good people in the Commission , including Olli Rehn , who is Finnish , and who is a moral person with backbone .
the preliminary results of the referendum in the 10 southern states were announced on 30 January and showed an overwhelming majority ( 99.5 % ) in favour of secession .
this is the subject of a news package now available to the media in order to inform the public in the coming months .
the Commission declares that it will build the service model on the basis of a genuine culture of safety , integrating an effective accident alerting and just culture system as a basis for safety provision .
a year on from the terrible earthquake in Haiti , one of the most devastating natural disasters in the history of humankind , the signs of the disaster are still deeply etched .
last but not least , the different rules in the 27 Member States as regards company law prevent the transnational movement of capital and the starting of new businesses in a Member State other than the one of origin .
the implementation of the European Union strategy for marine and maritime research under the current financial perspective will ensure the promotion in the coming years of marine and maritime research at Community level , through the framework programme instruments .
Mr Kozlík , transparency is absolutely vital .
as regards the credit points , there must be guarantees that modules for the assessment of knowledge and competences can be added in some cases whilst a final examination may continue to be required in others .
in the end , thanks also to the process of consultation between the Member States , we will succeed in making further legal developments in this important area of consumer protection much less complicated at Council level than has been the case in the past .
although the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion has travelled to Turkmenistan , nine other special rapporteurs are still awaiting their permits , and these are people who cover such important areas as torture , defence of human rights , independence of the judiciary , education , health , freedom of expression , and so on .
I am particularly grateful for your support concerning the important project of the CCCTB and I look forward to your forthcoming own-initiative report on the common base .
the current procedures for remedies of breach of this are slow and cumbersome and offer no protection to those currently losing their jobs .
we need to realise that we have to go further .
the right to consular protection in third countries is one of the main features of European Union citizenship .
an undoubted achievement of the Belgian Presidency is the strengthening of economic governance .
again , both these areas are an example of where , as I said , we must be smart : we must be smart ahead of trying to be vindictive .
the oral question to the Commission by Bairbre de Brún and Willy Meyer , on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group , on the waste crisis in Campania - B7-0801 / 2010 ) ,
the eighth framework programme should also make research and the development of innovative technologies its priority in the field of energy .
economic prosperity and stability can only be achieved through freedom for the people .
the challenge is to identify the best instrument to enable us to measure the state of development of the European regions as accurately as possible and to have at our disposal the best decision support instrument , especially for deciding on eligibility for European funds .
in addition , it must set in motion the process for the next multiannual financial framework in order to be able to hold a proper open and public debate about the subsequent financial framework .
I believe it to be important for this practice of reciprocity in visa waiver agreements to be applied to other third countries , in order to eliminate the existing discrimination , particularly with regard to the US and Canada .
as shown by the negotiation process for economic partnership agreements , this leads to the exacerbation of the dependency of these countries , thwarting any possible indigenous development .
this increases growth in the entire region and is good in the long term .
we have specific commitments currently from Germany and also from Norway .
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a sustainable , green , knowledge-based economy will mean we are more competitive , since competitiveness will increase if unemployment falls in the regions and if we support the creation of a well qualified and mobile workforce , both in urban and rural areas .
the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs adopted my report in November 2007 .
it would be pointless to tell the public : ' we 've done something positive for you ' , if we were then unable to apply this positive thing and ensure it was respected .
I believe we should encourage research in these areas by underpinning an element of the research costs .
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according to EU figures , 1.7 million European migrants came to the UK last year , nearly double the number five years ago .
the refugees are deprived of food , clean water and sanitation .
on the other hand , we are witnessing and even taking joint decisions on their ill-considered and rushed introduction by setting excessive binding targets to be attained at all costs .
we must therefore maintain quality and the tradition and also adopt a more aggressive policy : we should advertise because it is only here in Europe that consumption of alcohol is increasing among young people - an extremely unwelcome fact - while their consumption of wine is decreasing , and this shows that there is a lack of information .
would he ensure that our concerns are communicated before the necessary legislation passes through the US Congress ?
it is important for the European External Action Service due to be launched on 1 December to quickly become effective and to embody , above all , the EU 's interests and , where necessary , national interests .
- ( FR ) Mr President , we are all partly responsible for what is happening today in the Middle East .
I would suggest you follow the example set by the new Hungarian constitution in your countries .
it is worth stressing that the entire European Union 's share of the global shipbuilding industry is three times smaller than that of South Korea alone , which subsidises its shipbuilding industry .
we need to start finding solutions to these problems as soon as possible .
he had to go on a hunger strike : what fine freedom fighters !
this is a concept which we increasingly draw upon and which is important in our policy .
I would ask Parliament 's Vice-President , Mr Schmitt , to confirm what happened , why we turned to you .
I , along with the Spanish Members from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament , will support this resolution to help our dear neighbour Portugal , and Madeira .
agriculture is a pillar of food security .
the European Union market is starting to be targeted by these third-country blends .
Bumper crops , unfavourable international market conditions and the fluctuating yields that are customary in Central Europe have driven prices well below the intervention level in certain regions within Hungary .
peer review is the process by which independent experts in a scientific discipline - the peers - critically assess a scientific paper reporting on research .
at a time when the electorate is being asked to place its trust in these institutions , we need at the same time to work to remove all the obstacles that still exist in terms of transparency and accessibility .
is that fact clear to my colleague Mr Severin ?
( DE ) Mr President , in recent years , European Arrest Warrants have been issued for trivial offences , such as the theft of two car tyres or the theft of a piglet .
Mr Turmes , it is wrong to believe that there is a simple answer , a single answer to this enormous , complicated problem .
( protests )
the roles allocated to the different stakeholders , to the European Parliament , to the board of supervisors , and to the Commission itself were scrupulously adhered to .
although Eluned Morgan has fought hard for the consumers , consumers can only gain when the wholesale market is functioning .
what we experienced yesterday , however , is not acceptable in the context of this freedom of opinion .
when does the Council intend to take action in these matters ?
the system of lists of terrorist organisations of both the EU and the UN violates citizens ' fundamental rights and therefore has to be reformed .
in writing . - ( SK ) Although calling the number of cancer cases in the European Union an ' epidemic ' is alarming , it is an appropriate term because cancer claims over 1 million lives a year .
I suppose it is a funny old world , because not that long ago , it was doom and gloom in the dairy sector and it is incredible how buoyant and resilient farmers are that this summer , for the first time in a long time , I saw smiles on their faces because milk prices are recovering .
even accepting the rationality of internalising external costs as a valid starting point , it is ultimately untenable to penalise heavy goods vehicles only and not ordinary cars with the aim of mitigating traffic congestion , just as the old ' polluter pays ' principle is applied in a clearly discriminatory way .
the institutions and Member States of the EU are obligated to ensure that human rights are respected , protected and promoted within the European Union , pursuant to the European Convention on Human Rights , to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and to Article 6 of the Treaty on European Union , without any discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation .
in writing . - I voted in favour of the resolution , and strongly support calls to prevent media monopolies operating in Europe .
for the sake of transparency , the programme moreover includes 150 other proposals which the Commission is working on .
the EPP-ED Group has therefore made combating terrorism a priority and it had hoped to see the adoption of a resolution to that end .
Mr President , we are talking here this evening about a very sensitive topic , since we are talking about the smallest members of society , about those who need our love and need our care .
today , the effects of the crisis and of unemployment must not result in universities restricting their role as providers of professionals who are immediately ready to work because , in our changing societies , the ability to change jobs is becoming vital .
Member States should place at the disposal of potential beneficiaries systems that are simple , clear and transparent .
firstly , I believe that it is useful for us to take measures to facilitate the transition to the digital system , while also considering the possibility of offering vouchers or other measures to compensate the general public .
therefore , the Commission intends to launch negotiations regarding its renewal .
however , it is encouraging that on 6 November , a thousand-member South African force deployed near Goma as part of MONUC .
the measures we take should adhere to this principle , and they really must be ' soft ' measures , or , in other words , building civil society , supporting the media and students and abolishing visas .
in writing . - ( EL ) We voted against the motion for a resolution which supports the position that the proper and equal application of Community environmental legislation is vital , because this legislation does not protect the environment ; it protects the vital interests of the EU monopolies .
Madam President , while the amended version was an improvement , it was still with a heavy heart that I supported this own-initiative report , since it was not consistent with the climate and energy package carried by a huge majority in this House on 17 December 2008 .
another issue has arisen with regard to the future of this sector , which I personally - but the other Commissioners , too - consider absolutely vital for the economy of the European Union , but above all that of certain mountainous regions and regions with a particularly difficult hydrogeological system .
choking is one of the most common causes of death from toys , and we view it as considerable progress that we have clear rules in this area .
greater contact between citizens , especially young people , will certainly also help to bring the partner countries and the EU closer .
to this end , the motion highlights , in fact , the need for the Commission to fulfil its responsibility of keeping Parliament constantly informed of the progress of its negotiations with non-EU operators .
my formal request , Madam President , is this : my group demands that in future the Presidency use the powers granted to it under our Rules of Procedure to evict from the Chamber Members behaving in that fashion .
Europe does not want to be a military power .
the next item is the report by Gunnar Hökmark , on behalf of the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy , on radio spectrum policy - C7-0270 / 2010 - .
I think it is right to flag up the risk of distorting competition if we cannot achieve closer tax harmonisation .
for this reason , I would ask that these projects be carefully monitored , that their implementation be supervised and that we also find additional funds with which to finance projects that promote efficient use of energy and other renewable energy sources .
I am therefore concerned about this very serious omission , which I hope Parliament will be able to put right .
although this is a bilateral issue , it has become a European problem , and the Commission therefore took the initiative to offer European facilitation to solve the border issue and allow Croatia 's accession negotiations to continue , assuming that both sides found such facilitation useful .
it is almost as if we are destroying the progress that we made in connection with the health check .
as a result , almost 100 people lost their lives , including the nine miners who were shot during the strike at the Wujek Mine .
it is such warlike strategies and other unacceptable initiatives , such as China 's anti-satellite test in January 2007 , that must be combated .
one important aspect is the digitisation of cultural productions , along with the need to create a proper single market for online content and services which will generate additional jobs .
I have to say , however , that although I sometimes disagree with what you have to say , you certainly liven up the Chamber when you say it . congratulations on that achievement .
today 's amendment to the directive as regards vaccination against bluetongue is a practical realisation of this very principle .
( RO ) I too wish to join those who have expressed their condolences to the Nigerian people following the death of President Umaru Yar 'Adua .
the first victim was Greece , followed by Spain and Portugal .
high unemployment , low involvement of older and disabled people in employment , a high proportion of people remaining out of work for longer than 12 months , women finding it harder than men in the job market - these are just some of the problems they have to face .
in writing . - ( SV ) Joseph Kony and the Lord 's Resistance Army are guilty of committing appalling crimes over the last 20 years , which is why the International Criminal Court now wishes to put him on trial .
the protesting Tibetans , however , surely cannot be expected to accept meekly the crushing of their demonstrations in March .
they will have a sense of identity , and we have to stress the importance of our common cultural heritage whose richness does indeed lie in its diversity .
Mr President , first of all , I would like to congratulate colleagues from Ireland on such a fantastic result .
in order to increase religious tolerance , the relevant governments must guarantee that the perpetrators of the attacks are identified and brought to justice by due legal process .
in fact , the most important way in which preventive justice is demonstrated in Romania , as well as in other European countries with a civil law jurisdiction , is by means of the authentic notarial act .
for this reason there must be no overhasty enlargement of the Schengen area .
that should in no circumstances become an obstacle to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 's membership of international organisations .
Europe , too , lags a long way behind on this front , however .
my comments were not directed at you .
nor do I believe that for the time being , we will be able to reconcile the two camps : those who think that global warming is a major problem and those who repeatedly and fundamentally doubt that the problem does indeed exist in this form .
what does that involve ?
and then , the third challenge is for us to be at the table , not ' behind the table ' , but ' at the table ' , of those who are going to decide on the world order - or disorder - over the next 20 years .
in general , these are the countries hardest hit by the financial crisis , which has led to a fiscal and economic crisis .
from an entirely objective point of view , we welcome the broad debate that the Turkish Government initiated last year in respect of the rights of Kurds , the Alevi , the role of the army , and so on .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( FR ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , the Slovenian Presidency , whom I thank , has just said that the Commission 's proposal , of December 2006 , which aims to replace the Europol Convention with a Council decision , is one of their priorities , and that they hope to secure political agreement as soon as possible .
even if it had perhaps been possible to dispense with the whole legislative text , there are practically no contrary interests left .
they must all have comparable shoes .
I believe that we must step up coordination , but we have a duty to intervene , to prevent pirate organisations from strengthening their positions .
Parliament 's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development has already debated the placing on the market of animal feed , back in 2006 .
a glance at the internet will show exactly who I mean .
the next item is the debate on the seven motions for resolutions on Pakistan .
the protection of fishers must become a fundamental part , if not the very heart , of the common fisheries policy .
this has happened everywhere that the expression ' people 's power ' has been used .
this is in actual fact a fair compromise .
the inhabitants of the communities that were the victims of the Erika shipwreck and others will appreciate the EU 's cynicism .
as regards pollution caused by agriculture , we see many efforts being made under the common agricultural policy , and many efforts within the scope of the Health Check ; and recently we had the report on a significant reduction in the use of agricultural chemicals .
we also looked at groups that exist already but fall slightly below the threshold when one or two members leave and whether it is right that such groups should automatically and immediately cease to exist or whether in some circumstances we should allow such groups to continue to exist .
for the first time , the past week has seen the death of a soldier on an EU operation under the European security and defence policy .
this policy is now one of the most significant policies for solidarity between the peoples of Europe in budgetary terms .
the proposal from the Commission is to revise the current system of notification on energy investment projects .
in addition , we know that the instigation of revolution in Yemen and support for Hamas in the Gaza Strip and for al-Qaeda in Afghanistan are probably also the inspiration behind part of Iranian policy .
well , of course it is not .
this is mainly an ageing-related issue , but not simply an ageing-related issue .
although the regulation stipulates that Member States remain as operators and external service providers are people empowered by the operator , I believe that a question mark has been raised over the protection of private individuals in terms of processing and circulating their biometric data .
due to the teacher 's persistence , patience and experience , the boy started responding to her questions . he started believing in life .
the Commission spoke about this issue at length in its communication this morning .
in writing . - On 9 November 2009 , the report on the request for the defence of the immunity and privileges of Tobias Pflüger was voted and adopted in the Committee on Legal Affairs ( JURI ) in the European Parliament .
we are postponing our vote , but what are you doing ?
MEPs are already the subject of public criticism over the large sums of public money they receive .
is it a compromise we could discuss in the time available to us , with the satisfaction of actually getting somewhere ?
this deep crisis of the national budgets is being accompanied by an orgy of cuts , which is leading to dramatic situations in several Member States of the European Union , in part as a result of measures demanded by the European Union .
those who defend the increase argue that extra funding is required to cover the new competences arising from the Lisbon Treaty .
making good use of favourable circumstances , such as the Year of Creativity and Innovation , as well as of the undervalued potential of cities such as Łódź could be of benefit to us all !
however , we also need to look at their investment strategies , their transparency , the clarity of these strategies and , possibly , the emergence of new funds .
it is an important one , because taxpayers want to know that their money is well spent .
we want European citizens taking recourse to justice to be confident that their fundamental rights will be protected .
we firmly condemn the rapes of women and children and all the human rights violations perpetrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo ( DRC ) .
for if we do not assume our responsibility and take a clear line , then we can forget what was said earlier by Ms Toia : we need to be aware that in 2020 - and we set this out in the Digital Agenda - every European should be able to pursue his or her interests via what are ultimately spectrum opportunities .
despite the many promises made by developed countries , expressed publicly at the G20 and G8 Summits , for example , the amount of aid sent to developing countries is nowhere near what was pledged .
( RO ) Madam President , I have already listened to the views of my fellow Members who emphasised how important coal is to the European economy 's energy security .
President Saleh 's stated commitment to national dialogue amongst all relevant actors has the potential to build a new national consensus , if all actors are included and their interests are taken into account .
it is now indisputable that the role played by the euro area and the European Central Bank in providing stability and a response to the credit crunch , along with the concerted action at European and international level , in which you played an important leading role , Mr Almunia , have made an essential contribution to preventing the most serious and even disastrous effects of the crisis .
fair elections start with allowing the registration of parties .
for a nation that relies upon maritime trade to feed itself , this really is the end of independence .
it has been alleged that if you want an organ transplant in China they can tell you that they will have the organ very soon , and there is the suspicion that they are in fact killing people to order , so to speak .
our group calls for drastic action to ensure that we change our approach and start off on the right foot this time .
agreement was also reached , following approval from the Commission President , on the appointment of Catherine Ashton as the new High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy .
a further priority is lifelong learning which is essential to make our workers fit for globalisation .
some people were for it , others against .
whilst many cases are dealt with by cooperation , the Ombudsman refers to the increase in critical comment that he is forced to make .
I do not want the Lisbon Treaty , or a common immigration and asylum policy .
some initiatives do exist , such as a road-map recently approved by the ECOFIN Council .
however , we must not point the finger at Georgia when , on the other hand , we have Russia , where inconvenient journalists are murdered , where the language of hatred towards neighbours and minorities is the official language of the media , and is the language of leading Russian politicians .
we therefore believe that the Member States have sufficient legislative tools at their disposal to achieve the aims of the Water Framework Directive .
but until they get a President and a Prime Minister who can lead them , they will have no chance of moving forward .
you cannot simply say that we are living in the past .
like Ms Hennis-Plasschaert , I note that they are not here to answer that charge tonight .
to preserve it and to improve it is our best investment .
consequently , I wish to propose to my fellow Members that we stick with the package supported by the Committee on Transport and Tourism .
the debate is closed .
it is unfortunate that Mr Davies was not the rapporteur for the Emissions Trading Scheme Directive , for his persistence with regard to financial incentive measures would have been fitting .
for example , there are around 190 million buildings in the EU that need to be heated .
that is a success for Parliament but , above all , it is a victory for users .
Mr Vice-President Frattini 's words have cast a little doubt , but nonetheless I hope that the Agency will be consistent in protecting human rights .
I would like to inform you that the members of a delegation from the Parliament of Indonesia have taken their seats in the distinguished visitors ' gallery .
however , its inflexibility and the under-funding of the various expenditure headings will only allow this EUR 5 billion to be found if the money for the common agricultural policy for the 2009-2010 period is not fully used .
fortunately the EU has no competence in this area .
the objective of the communication is to establish for the first time a set of criteria and principles that would guide us in our external relations concerning PNR .
the priority for the Europe 2020 Strategy and the European Employment Strategy is to create more and better jobs in Europe .
I believe there is scope here to cooperate closely with the Commission in order to improve company law .
inflation in the euro area at the end of November , according to Eurostat , was 2.1 % .
the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats supports the European Commission and opposes the enforcement of thresholds advocated by our rapporteur .
in the light of all this , I cannot understand Parliament 's eagerness to increase our unilateral targets for cutting emissions , the global environmental benefits of which will be minimal compared to the burden it will put on our industry and jobs .
do you have a view on this , bearing in mind also that the Environment Agency and other national agencies welcome these proposals very much ?
the European Parliament did all it could to ensure that this system would start to operate as soon as possible and that the SIS II implementation process would be completely transparent .
ILO Convention 188 , adopted in June 2007 , is a document that seeks to allow fair competition between the owners of fishing boats and to confer dignified working conditions for professionals in the sector .
another disadvantage of reducing use is that fewer different pesticides are available and resistance builds up more quickly .
we can see obstruction for the same reason when we consider construction of the Nabucco gas pipeline .
there are still many things to be worked on with the ETS .
there is the need to restore the balance of taxation in Europe so that it promotes work and jobs instead of capital , and so that it is environmentally friendly .
that common ground is massive , inflexible defence spending by Greece , with around 5 % of its gross domestic product allocated to military expenditure - and not because it wants to .
is it really fair to see European banks offer their customers investment products that speculate on the rise in commodity and food prices ?
but if we are to tackle the problem of climate change , we need people like Mr O 'Leary and his counterparts in the car industry on side , working with us , pushing the boundaries of innovation and leading from the front .
we need to do better : yes to a responsible common immigration policy but no to a restrictive and discriminatory one !
the objectives of the EU 2020 strategy include , in particular , reducing school drop-out rates to below 10 % and ensuring that at least 40 % of young generations obtain a qualification .
consequently , I would like to stress the importance of ensuring there are adequate resources of the relevant kind in place , so that people do not have to wait years and years for decisions on matters that affect them , because waiting for decisions is a tiresome business .
I think we should at least undertake what we ourselves have set out as regards this report .
only the biggest groups count ; protests and alternatives have to be sidelined .
it is our children who are on the roads , coming home from the clubs on a Saturday night or going to play football or going to parties .
introducing monetary union , without an overall strategy of economic governance and coordination between the Member States , was a risk which was tested in practice and operated along general lines .
yet the British Conservative Party - and I see that there is not a single member of that party present in the Chamber to discuss this at the moment - wants the United Kingdom to opt out completely from the Social Chapter of the Treaty , should they ever come back to power in the United Kingdom .
previous efforts by the EU to reduce industrial emissions have been hampered by lack of cohesion and coordination , and by high levels of disparity .
I think that speaks for itself in terms of how Europe thinks about these monuments .
among those initiatives which are already in place is the European Transparency Initiative .
we see the food riots we have heard of in Haiti - 20 killed , and the price of rice , beans , fruit , going up 50 % in a year .
we can conduct it with specific people , for example , in the case of the well-known human rights activist , Liu Xiaobo , or we can also conduct it on other levels , on a political level in political dialogue .
we need a guarantee that no trace remains , whether or not any business was done in connection with this influenza .
it is obvious that the tariff reductions negotiated with the Latin American countries , combined with the support programme for the African , Caribbean and Pacific ( ACP ) countries and the programme of Banana Accompanying Measures threaten to seriously jeopardise European producers ' competitiveness .
( the sitting was opened at 10 a.m. )
I want to spell it out that the reforms that have taken place in Greece have done nothing to result in the large amount of private Greek wealth genuinely sharing the burden of the costs of the state .
there is absolutely no recognition that the model simply is not working .
everybody will be pleased by the progress that Croatia is making in the completion of its accession process .
in this context , the importance of this report must be stressed : it draws attention to the need for Member States and the EU to significantly strengthen cooperation and coordination of innovative and multidisciplinary clinical research efforts into the causes , prevention and treatment of Alzheimer 's disease , as well as information sharing and the level of financial resources in this area .
this part-session should simply have been postponed or transformed into a mini-part-session .
the social inclusion of the Roma is a necessary investment , and will be of financial benefit in the long term .
( RO ) First of all , at the risk of repeating an idea already mentioned by Mr Stoyanov , I deplore the fact that we have so much uncultivated land in many countries in Europe while we are talking about hunger in the world .
it should be noted that the Treaty of Lisbon assigned new powers to the European Parliament with a view to stimulating measures in this field , as a result of which Parliament has a say in the revision of legal standards regulating this sector .
I think we can say that the European Union has been extremely clear .
as a result of Islamic immigrants , this will also have an impact on Europe and we must prepare ourselves for this eventuality .
3 .
once again , we are dealing with chemicals and the protection of people and the environment from their potentially dangerous effects .
for the 14th time in a row , this statement has not materialised .
many will never be able to return .
there should be no more money for it .
it cannot be a normal office of the Commission , because in the area of foreign and security policy , the authority is divided between the Community and the Council .
nonetheless , these reports are not on the order of business , because they have not yet been translated .
it is a way of attracting attention and giving extra focus to a particular subject .
we do not want in Europe a situation in which chief executive officers of financial companies go away with tens of millions of dollars while taxpayers are left to pay their bills .
the basic strategy is already in place .
" Europe for Citizens " programme ( 2007-2013 ) ( vote )
I will not hide the fact that the preparatory work has brought challenges of its own , but these have been overcome successfully .
I would like to address my colleagues from the Liberal Group , who submitted amendment number 5 , which proposed replacing EURO-NEST with the existing organisation PABSEC .
I declare resumed the session of the European Parliament adjourned on Thursday , 11 February 2010 .
from your discussion I can summarise two basic conclusions .
for example , minced meat must be labelled in the USA .
many people 's livelihoods are at risk , and they need help in the short term .
in my opinion , addressing the democratic deficit and addressing the fact that citizens do not always identify with the EU and its institutions would ensure that disinformation and lies do not have a chance to take hold .
in writing . - The Ombudsman offers an important service to Irish citizens .
yes , we need to balance our budgets .
the planning horizon for the industry will be worse because consumers in 2020 will almost certainly demand cars that emit no more than 120 g CO2 / km .
( FI ) Madam President , I , too , wish to thank the rapporteur for a very wellbalanced , excellent report .
the European Union must reconsider its policy on sanctions against Burma .
author . - ( DE ) Mr President , the military junta in Burma is persisting in its attempts to isolate the country and its people from the rest of the world .
the amount of money available has doubled , but the percentage of the European Development Fund remains more or less the same .
above all , it is important to confirm the end and not the beginning of a policy which in many cases is based on double standards .
we are told we must have dialogue , but what kind of dialogue can you have with a partner who does not respect the values you are trying to defend and support ?
soil really does not have any cross-border implications and should therefore remain a competence of the Member States .
the treaty will now be able to enter into force , providing the institutions with a High Representative for Foreign Affairs and with a stable President of the Council for two and a half years .
this reality highlights that , unfortunately , the international community has not fulfilled the commitments set out in the Brussels Action Programme .
the instruments recently proposed by the Commission for the control of illegal immigration cannot generate a positive effect unless the problem of illegal emigrants is also solved .
we have to lend support and we must have measures that encourage development and the transformation of the production structure in those countries , so that they may have a relationship with their forests , with their resources , that is better tailored to their interests and more in line with the global interests of humanity .
we need to understand that only strong action can make Russia opt for a position worthy of a 21st century state .
on 7 February 2011 , the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy , Baroness Ashton , expressed her concern about the armed clashes .
but , given the difficulties that we all know have been encountered there , I think the Commission deserves support in negotiating some of these bilateral agreements .
Mr President , I would like to thank all those who have contributed to this debate .
I am delighted that during the vote the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy showed understanding and did not wield too big a stick when making the requirements of the Directive stricter , as neither business nor consumers themselves would have benefited from this .
a definite environmental perspective should permeate all research in the fisheries sector to which extra resources are allocated .
the Romania / Bulgaria acquis ?
this has been the case since the Romans first brought wine to the UK .
unfortunately , that is not a good thing for Europe .
I have problems with Turkey when I look at its behaviour towards Berlin and when I consider Cyprus , religious freedom , freedom of opinion , the ban on political parties and similar issues .
thank you , Mr President .
I am glad to tell you that this debate has been concluded and , as you are probably aware , the Council has granted access to the negotiating directives of the European Union-Libya Framework Agreement in respect of the agreed procedures and of the Council 's security regulations .
in this context , the Commission is of course prepared to make any clarifications and improvements to the text that may be required to take account of the particular characteristics of each type of service and thereby provide the industry with the tools to apply the regulation with the necessary flexibility .
I welcome the proposal of stronger provisions which seek to prevent illegal shipments of this waste and to close loopholes in the law .
if Europe is not able to create a single airspace , how will it be able to build a strong political union ?
author . - ( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , in this lengthy debate here today , I should like to take a few moments , if you would allow me , to reflect on the road we have travelled until now .
in cases where there are various conflicting interests , we have a duty to protect our consumers , regardless of the interests of large distributors or individual lobby groups .
therefore , the European Union should be fighting not for the right to wear the burkha but for the right to work without wearing it .
that is why we are paying , for example , for research via universities , institutes and so on .
I consider it to have been a constructive meeting .
at the same time , we have to remember that the Union 's primary aim is to defend the right of every European citizen to life and to security , and it pursues that aim by preventing and opposing terrorism .
it is not clear , however , what sanctions would have the desired influence on the political leadership .
these provide a solution to the climate crisis , while also revitalising the economy through creating new jobs .
some experts are beginning to compare water to oil .
we intend to ensure that the principles warmly supported in the Small Business Act , which are designed to promote entrepreneurship and eradicate the practice of always ' thinking small ' when drawing up policies , will be implemented at both Union and national levels .
foreign visitors to Romania are appalled to see dogs ' dead bodies lying on the roads , a barbaric sight which even children have to witness .
Mr President , Mr Daul , thank you for your question .
we are dealing with a model in which many Member States do not want anything to change in their railways , so that competition coming from other countries or the private market , for example , will not be in a good position .
this must not happen !
this will only be the case if the working conditions are met and if our businesses can invest and recruit under comparable fiscal conditions .
when I studied European law , codecision powers were evidently quite different from today .
the critical situation has been exacerbated further by the economic crisis .
over five million Europeans have already lost their jobs , and far too many will still face unemployment .
as chair of the Committee , I think that our work does not finish here ...
I think that , firstly , Europe has to solve the problem of non-citizens in the Latvian Republic and only then make recommendations on this issue .
the Commission is convinced that the global partnership on agriculture and food security which is gradually taking shape will have a key role in implementing the various recommendations made in this report , including how to support smallholder farmer production and what type of trade policies should be adopted to contribute to food security , especially in the most vulnerable communities .
I would also like to add that the proposal will be on the agenda for the session of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council that is to take place next week .
here the EU should have acted much more firmly than it did .
however , it should not degenerate into an attack on sovereignty .
what are the advantages of this directive ?
we should take a wider view of who our energy suppliers are .
if the so-called third or fourth way , as proposed by the Council , can bring about a working market , then of course that is fine too .
the report under discussion tackles very important issues and makes some arguments that are correct : for example , the closing of tax havens , the cancelling of the foreign debt of certain countries , the need for increased efforts in terms of Official Development Assistance , and a tax on financial transactions .
finally , there is a need for suitable procedures , coordination , separate support for airlines , mutual help and European solidarity for the good of our citizens .
adopting rules on designation of origin could help raise the profile of production in various Member States .
however , Conservatives do not support the concept of an EU Discrimination Directive .
from the point of view of the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left , this means that the EU is taking leave of its founding idea of being a peace project for Europe .
now that Abyei has been incorporated into the North , the South Sudanese should be praised for taking a stance of refusing to be provoked .
does the Commission intend to review this matter ?
in Europe 380 000 businesses are involved in motor vehicle distribution and services .
the budget for 2010 is the last one in this structure .
sadly , the desired results are relatively rarely achieved .
this , too , is a demand which was highlighted by the Union during WTO negotiations .
at an economic level , I think that Croatia is ready to deal with other EU countries .
in writing . - I voted in favour of the new College of Commissioners .
rapporteur for the opinion , Committee on Industry , Research and Energy . - ( RO ) Through the accession of Romania and Bulgaria , the Union has become a major player in the Black Sea area .
this concerns extending the powers of the European Railway Agency to allow it to compile the various national procedures and existing technical rules for authorisation of locomotives , and to draw up and subsequently extend the list of requirements to be verified once only , either because these are internationally recognised rules or because they may be considered as equivalent between the Member States .
tens or hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian citizens are taking to the street .
the fuel quality directive has two objectives : air quality and a reduction in CO2 emissions .
after the unacceptable draft Directive on non-refoulement , adopted in June , the European Parliament is stressing today that asylum seekers have rights under European legislation and that the Member States have obligations .
the assurances given to Ireland will help my country , Scotland , as well , by underlining that there is fiscal independence in Europe and that we , as an independent Member State , could nominate a Commissioner .
that is true outside the eurozone as well as inside it .
I have just mentioned some of the fields concerned .
moreover , in spite of the 2007 Commission Communication entitled Black Sea Synergy - A new regional cooperation initiative , measures were taken soon after that time with a view to implementing an effective strategy for the future of the Black Sea .
secondly , I support the proposal for a risk-based assessment , which is based on science and will prove workable for Member States .
( FR ) Mr President I will use the one minute of speaking time that we have been allotted to draw attention to the positive consequences - as everyone in this House knows - of the Irish people 's positive vote on the constitutional treaty .
after all , we are talking about natural catastrophes and that also includes floods .
we spent when there was no crisis , we spent during the crisis , we are spending now on our way out of the crisis .
dates of forthcoming sittings : see Minutes
I will not try to impress the Members of Parliament with the speed of my speech but with the commitment which I am very clearly making here that the Commission is very much interested in having the best possible close cooperation with the Ombudsman .
in writing . - Mr President , I am all in favour of gender equality and empowering women and I would have liked to support this positive report .
would Russia agree to withdraw from those territories and leave control of the ' frozen conflicts ' areas of Europe to the international community ?
the purpose of this initiative is to facilitate the position of consumers within the European Union .
let me highlight that it is also possible to use old , new and creative means of communication to establish intercultural dialogue at low cost , for example through penfriend programmes in schools or via Internet chats on specific topics , street theatre and puppet shows .
the experience dates from May 2009 , when the Ecofin Council mandated the CEBS to organise stress tests on the financial system , in cooperation with the European Commission and the European Central Bank .
clearly elections are something of untold value , and that is why they also need monitoring .
through a citizens ' initiative , as the rapporteurs have already said , a million European citizens will be able to submit to the Commission a legislative proposal with the obligation incumbent on the Commission to examine it and express its opinion on it .
I wish to ask you , what are European interests ?
during the visit I had a first-hand opportunity to observe how the rule of law is upheld in Russia when attending the trial of the former Yukos boss , Mikhail Khodorkovsky , and his business associate , Platon Lebedev .
of course we are not .
the right of the patient to high quality non-promotional information on the benefits and risks of prescription-only medicines was urgently needed .
the European Union must also assume its leadership role in this context , and the GCCA is a vehicle to demonstrate our commitment .
if that proves to be the case , Commissioner , then you have our full support , my full support , as I think that you have the right and the duty to maintain this Commission initiative when one of the parties does not want this Directive to be revised , despite the fact that it is obvious that it needs to be done .
if this goes to conciliation , the negotiations must be conducted calmly - and not in haste - at long last .
Romania is a Member State of the European Union , NATO , the Council of Europe , the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and respects , in accordance with European standards , human rights and the rights of persons belonging to national minorities .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Mr President , Commissioner , the IFRS 8 process is symptomatic of where we stand today with regard to implementation , endorsement , of IFRS in Europe .
this must take place in dialogue with the Commission , but also in dialogue with the Council in particular , because if , in the near future , we approach the Council with a problem that it fails to follow up on , then we are not where we need to be .
let us drop the hypocrisy from this debate , ladies and gentlemen .
all too often this has led to unacceptable abuses in relation to working conditions , and to human rights violations and environmental damage .
I think we have secured something very important for all rail passengers here : the guarantee of personal safety for all rail passengers .
I must state very clearly , and this really is a fundamental principle of a democratic society , that we do not need to explain and justify the fact that people should be provided with information .
firstly , whether he knows about this ; secondly , whether the European Commission can give us a report on this ; and , thirdly , what we can do about it .
in writing . - ( FR ) I voted for the legislative resolution based on the report by Greek Member Katerina Batzeli , approving , at first reading under the codecision procedure , the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Decision No 1719 / 2006 / EC establishing the Youth in Action programme for the period 2007 to 2013 .
there is no effective way to ensure the safe use of dichloromethanes for the public .
this is simply not acceptable .
I am grateful that the countries which cut their emission levels between 1990 and 2005 , including Romania , have had their efforts recognised with a modification to the scheme for distributing the income generated from auctions , without modifying the package 's general structure .
it is of paramount importance to know what is going on in the Member States and to verify compliance on the ground .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , Mrs Podimata 's report contains many important aspects that are not limited to the issue of the financial transaction tax .
with the Member States , we will draw attention to possible shortcomings in national systems , or necessary enforcement of the assessment .
I urge the House to reject the procedural motion and to allow the voting to take place in the order proposed by you on the voting lists .
Fudged and dodged and kicked into the long grass .
lastly , we should like to state once again that we believe the area of questions related to inspections or observation omissions falls within the competence of each Member State .
similar cases of this nature took place in 2005 and 2006 by the Action on Rights for Children group , which resulted in the banning of the use of body scanners on under-18 year olds .
the joint motion for resolution was adopted with only one small positive addition ( encouraging industrial reconversion in areas where cyanide mining is banned ) .
it is quite interesting that , when we speak about the threats to growth and the economy , a lot of people fall back into their default position : you are either in favour of capitalism or against capitalism .
in doing so we will show that the European Parliament is close to the people and their problems .
above all , Europe has shown its determination to keep working towards the prize of the new Treaty .
if that is the case , this was a flagrant abuse of EU passports to commit a crime in a third country and particularly a breach of trust where Ireland is concerned because , ever since we got our independence in 1922 , we have been a neutral and friendly country thus allowing our citizens to travel , maybe more freely , in places where other people would not be allowed to travel .
I would like to point something out to the Minister , who has expressed amazement that the debates have been delayed .
I know you are very sincere on that , but my worry is that , despite that , people seem to have got the wrong end of the stick and the impression has got abroad - for instance , last week an article in the Financial Times said that ' Schengen as well as the eurozone was disintegrating ' - that somehow the Commission is fairly relaxed about the reintroduction of internal border controls .
the situation is particularly difficult for graduates , older people and women .
the next item is the report by Jutta Haug , on behalf of the Committee on Budgets , on the 2009 budget : first reflections on the 2009 Preliminary Draft Budget and mandate for the conciliation - Section III - Commission ( 2008 / 2025 ) .
as the Commissioner has just reminded us , this is very good - I acknowledge that .
despite the low number of countries that have accepted the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement ( EPA ) , this demonstrates Europe 's commitment to supporting the development of Pacific countries by using a mechanism that goes beyond mere aid procedures and seeks to mobilise local economies , which hope to have the effect of creating businesses and jobs , and bringing about the greater movement of people and goods .
honest taxpaying citizens of the EU expect no less from us than rules that are binding for everybody , without back doors .
generally - with only a few exceptions , to judge by the audits that we have already seen - we can say that the institutions at issue are using the funds made available to them properly and meeting the objectives proposed for them .
did you , or do you intend to , engage with Member States and with the Israeli authorities to discuss the development of this initiative and maybe to propose a positive contribution by the European Union that could lead to a more responsible outcome ?
I have received many letters and emails of concern from parents , major health and consumer organisations , midwives , nurses and doctors ' organisations , as well as Unicef and the WHO .
I voted in favour of this report because I believe earmarking unused funds under the European Energy Programme for Recovery ( EEPR ) for the creation of a specific financial instrument to support initiatives on energy efficiency and renewable energy is something worth welcoming .
Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy . - Mr President , I think that this has been an interesting debate and I wanted to just deal with the two specific issues that were raised in a sense outside of the debate before winding up on that matter .
President of the Commission . - I have said earlier that my number one concern is unemployment , but to fight unemployment we should not only have a reactive position but a proactive position .
if they did the same for the disabled or any other similar group there would ( properly ) be an uproar , but apparently the EU thinks it is perfectly in order to remove children 's rights in this arbitrary way .
it was killed by the most repressive regime on earth .
we will probably not meet again like this because you are leaving to launch an election campaign , but I would be very pleased if you could resist launching it here and now .
we note the support for new investments in replacement energy sources , such as renewable energies , and the priority given to energy-efficient goods and services .
9 .
the strategy on the rights of the child focuses on the fundamental rights of children , including the protection of the best interests of the child as enshrined in the European Charter of Fundamental Rights .
everybody says they are in favour of simplification , but in fact , there are two different underlying opinions .
it is vital for Parliament to mark this event as solemnly and as resolutely as possible .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Mr President , adoption is a positive way of providing a new family for children who cannot be brought up by their birth parents , or children who lose their parents .
is the question why women are so under-represented in science , why after a period of time there is a decrease in the number of young female scientists and therefore why we consequently lose gifted scientists , the correct question ?
since then , an impressive number of legal instruments , followed by a great number of decisions by the European Court of Justice , have created a legal arsenal at EU level .
these are more than communication problems !
I am happy to give my support to it .
it would be a pity if some third countries or less-developed continents were to stop making films depicting their people 's lives , interesting stories about them , and , of course , their own natural and cultural heritage and history , just because they lag behind in development and lack knowledge .
firstly , we in the S & D Group demand , as a matter of urgency , that the Member States no longer be subject to speculation on the markets .
the fact is that when faced with a massive arrival of migrants no Member State will ultimately be in a better position if it tries to deal with them alone .
however , coordinating national policies is not enough .
President-in-Office . - ( SL ) Thank you for the supplementary question and for your good wishes .
ultimately , as Ms Merkies put it , we have to merge Albert Einstein and Steve Jobs and keep him or her in Europe : we must be seen to be attractive and dynamic , and unfettered by unnecessary red tape .
as I see it , failure by the Commission to do this would set a bad precedent for all future cross-border restructuring operations , with the smaller Member States repeatedly being driven out .
I know there is an amendment seeking to freeze as much as 30 % of Frontex 's operating costs with immediate effect .
in writing . - I am glad everything we wanted was adopted in the AFET Committee and the corrections tabled by the S & D , EPP and Greens were all adopted .
the standards definitely exist : they exist in directives and they exist in national legislation as well .
that is behind us .
so the issue of agriculture is across all of the negotiating partners and we need a little bit of honesty about that .
the main forum for addressing human rights and rule-of-law issues is the European Union-Russia human rights consultations .
for this reason , it is important that financial means should be available for this particular majority , especially during difficult crisis years .
I agree wholeheartedly with this statement .
there will also be a transfer of knowledge that will benefit our companies and our citizens .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue-card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
there is no single , perfect solution to fit all local circumstances .
I will conclude , Madam President , by saying that of course , all of this must be considered within the framework of what the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament considers to be the basic socio-political philosophy in this area .
in view of the fact that there is only one position to be filled and only one nomination , and in line with the recent interpretation of this point by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs , we will elect a Vice-President by acclamation .
therefore it is of primary importance that we offer all our assistance and make use of resources at hand in order to provide both joint European authorities as well as each individual country with the necessary tools to go on fighting this battle .
the most problematic issue is transparency .
Mr President , all of Parliament 's frustration is now raining down on the Spanish Presidency , which has only just taken up office .
the number of e-money institutions differs remarkably from one Member State to another .
in addition , on the subject of creating a mechanism where transnational companies are obliged to declare the profits they have made , I believe that this must be set up at international level .
this revision will henceforth allow traffic to be managed better through increased charges in peak periods ( not exceeding 175 % over five hours ) , but also provides for a proportionate decrease in low peak charges to avoid penalising road haulage companies financially .
it is true , low-voltage electrolysis plants do represent a limited application , and there are only a few such plants , but where industrialists claim it is impossible to use any alternative then the plants should be closed .
it expressed its deepest sympathies to victims ' families and stressed that it would like to receive from the Chinese government urgent clarification of the situation in Tibet .
if it is true that a month 's worth of greenhouse gas emissions in China corresponds to an annual 20 % decrease in Europe , then this says a lot .
the euro is constantly attacked from all sides despite all the efforts made , and we all know that fresh money is only a quick fix for a much deeper problem .
notwithstanding those reservations , I support the report that has been submitted .
this is one of the most difficult challenges facing Europe and it is vital that Member States do not respond by cutting investment in education .
however , I want to add the following : we are entering a new era , a new world .
a strong common agricultural policy ( CAP ) is essential and indeed the CAP follows this line , but it needs a reform that will make it sustainable and improve food security .
we have spoken of other threats , to which I would like to add epidemiological threats and information security , for example .
I do not believe it is controversial with the other groups .
suddenly it became clear to us how interlinked the financial markets were and how interdependent we all were in finding a common response .
there are some objectives that we cannot compromise on and one of these is the 2 ° C goal that the EU is supporting .
IPPC affects almost all sectors of industry .
the following questions are addressed to the Commission .
I have another comment , Commissioner : it is extremely important - and this has already been referred to many times - to establish the Single European Sky .
I believe that the current financial situation necessitates that the Parliament , along with all Union institutions , finds the most cost effective ways of using financial and staff resources , including possible savings , as well as electronic tools and methods , to provide efficient services .
if we do not have the research foundation today , we will not achieve excellence in innovation in the future .
researchers have put forward various suggestions for solving these problems .
it is only in this context , ladies and gentlemen , that the 2020 strategy will have any meaning .
Madam President , I would like to thank the rapporteur for underlining the need for studies and analyses , but also concluding that , if there are distortions on the market , something has to be done in order to achieve a level playing field .
it sets minimum standards for 27 Member States , and for one third of the Member States , which have no standards at all , this is better than the current situation .
this question , High Representative , is all the more pressing after Fatah and Hamas last week re-established Palestinian unity whilst completely ignoring the conditions of the parties , in other words , including the European Union , for a unified Palestinian Government , namely , recognition of the State of Israel , the renunciation of violence and terrorism and compliance with earlier commitments .
it is therefore important that there is close cooperation between the EU and the International Labour Organisation , the ILO .
we know that since the mid-1990s , we have been losing productivity relative to the big economies that we compete with .
however , if we vote for these six texts , we will be leaving Member States no freedom to follow investment policies for stimulating growth .
the primary effects of this are to increase the pressure of competition , to increase cost pressure and to increase the necessity for the companies in question to achieve higher productivity .
ensuring equality and respect for women is not a task that deserves to be highlighted today only .
in this regard , I congratulate Mrs Lefrançois and her colleagues once again for their rebalancing of the text to ensure that it safeguards respect for human rights and freedoms .
this kind of aid is , in our opinion , better and more effective than direct aid whereby funds are applied without discretion .
I would also like to thank the rapporteur for her excellent work .
the UN has adopted a strategy supporting childbirth under qualified medical supervision .
I refer both to joint bond issuance to enable Member States to cover some of their deficits , turning a portion of their debt into European debt and facilitating the obtaining of loans with low interest rates , and the tax on financial transactions .
it is important that we are having a discussion at this symbolic moment , but my desire is above all to draw attention to the practical aspects of this report .
my intention in proposing this extension is to avoid opening complex discussions on technical measures in the way of our reform .
I will carry with me an upgraded offer from the one that we made in 2006 .
we also need to develop the association agreements with Mexico and Chile , which have been a real success .
- Report : Francesco Enrico Speroni
we forget that , as a form of political governance , this may be one of the causes of the moral crisis which we are all talking about , underlying the economic crisis .
( HU ) Thank you , Mr President .
responsibilities of committees (
if we are all serious on the things said today ahead of the vote , then we expect strong support for the proposals we shall be putting forward in our various committees .
usually , countries which condemn such countries are very far-removed from the culture and mentality of the countries of Iran , Iraq and Afghanistan .
however , this would only happen if we use all our joint efforts to eliminate double standards in our political programme and legal system .
when are black boxes going to be introduced in order to monitor all movements of liquids in the bilges and in the liquid in the tanks of the vessels ?
since , as you know , Belgrade and Pristina failed to reach an agreement , it is hoped that the European Council will also discuss the role that the European Union may play in the process in future and the course of action to be taken in this connection with a view to resolving the issue , strengthening stability in the region and helping to bring it closer to the Union .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , Parliament 's report shows that both our institutions ' approaches to moving forward in the area of asset management are very much aligned .
fourthly , I would also like to remind you that 30 years ago , on 13 December 1981 to be exact , martial law was declared in Poland , as an attempt by the Communist authorities to suffocate the increasingly powerful Solidarity movement .
will they oppose proper assessments being made of cosmetics or the centralised information service which the Commissioner has rightly said will actually save industry money ?
we agree with a global navigation satellite system that can support the development , modernisation and diversification of public services , especially in the area of transport .
to a certain extent , this can be countered by investments in old and new infrastructure .
it is nothing less than the world 's most significant energy legislation that we are to adopt here in the European Parliament tomorrow .
equally cynical is how a number of Left colleagues are demanding that we reduce aviation by more than half in only a matter of years .
Mr President , I want to congratulate the rapporteur on a very comprehensive report , and the Ombudsman and his staff .
up to October 2010 , the Ombudsman had no information at his disposal .
the Slovenian Presidency has indicated that one of its priorities is the development of relations between the EU and the Western Balkan countries .
I voted in favour of the European Parliament resolution approving the nomination of Mr Paweł Samecki as a member of the European Commission .
the Council did not want to deal with this in a horizontal way and we are left with this kind of piecemeal approach .
investment in the economy is necessary in order to guarantee a stable social support system in the long term .
( HU ) Life has rapidly proven the truth of the professionally-based arguments with which I , along with my colleagues in the European Parliament , have fought against the European Commission and its decision to end the maize intervention .
the conflict in the Caucasus is one for which both sides must take responsibility , as you have said , President-in-Office .
they are not stupid , and they know that the Commission gerrymandered its legislative agenda so that no bad news entered the Irish media 's bloodstream .
( DE ) Mr President , Mr President of the Court of Auditors , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , after making statements of assurance for 14 years , next year represents an anniversary .
therefore , an integrated and forward-looking approach focused on policy action and clear operational arrangements is needed .
these events should certainly be taken on board by all countries that have nuclear power plants and it is good that this Parliament is organising a debate on nuclear safety , though we should not lose sight of the fact that in Europe we need to be increasing and not reducing our energy independence .
the events currently taking place in Greece prove it .
you will be informed in detail about the agenda of this summit later today during a special debate .
also , as the representative of the Presidency-in-Office of the Council said , President Obama 's personal representative has visited the European Union , met with our President and with several Member States and asked for our cooperation , which has to be offered on the basis of a series of premises mentioned by the Commissioner .
I am pleased that the EP managed to strengthen and clarify the proposal by covering all timber products and requiring all operators to exercise some sort of due diligence by introducing a new baseline for financial penalties and providing clear criteria for a credible and independent monitoring system .
furthermore , the publishers of business directories are often located in a different Member State from their victims , making it difficult for the latter to appeal to their national authorities for protection and / or justice .
the Niebler report represents an important contribution to the debate on improving the EU legislative procedure , with a view to ensuring that new legislation serves citizens and is genuinely necessary .
this is the only way to change the one tyranny and dictatorship in Europe .
in short , I feel that , on this matter , we have all benefited from the many opinions expressed at the negotiation table .
I very much appreciate this discussion because the speeches that have been made so far value clearly the work of the rapporteurs , the Commission and the Council .
what I was about to say was that this is the last vote with me in the chair .
in many instances , however , as the Fourth Report on Cohesion also states , territorial disparities within regions are continuing to increase .
( DE ) Mr President , I would just like to draw your attention to the fact that all the groups have endorsed this motion for a resolution .
the Council has already agreed to reverse qualified majority voting in five out of six decisions where it is legally possible .
in writing . - ( SV ) The role of the European Parliament in the EU system is to be the voice of the people .
I would like to mention at least two more areas .
we will make progress in structural policies .
Member States will then no longer be able to gain a competitive advantage at the expense of the environment .
the proposed reforms are along these lines .
and it is being exploited by leftist political elites to complete the deindustrialisation of the west because spineless conservatives are too browbeaten by global warming hysteria to stand up and tell the really inconvenient truth : man-made climate change is the most profitable con trick in history .
I agree with you , with the Presidency , and , of course , with the President of the Commission in his opening speech , that we need to step up the concerted action of all of us who have responsibilities in Europe .
it is to be expected that the result of this decision will be further restriction of choice and the disappearance of small firms from the market , to the detriment of cultural diversity .
I think what we need now is action and not more comments .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Madam President , I wish to begin by making a general remark .
the treaty was ratified in both chambers of parliament and we await the signature of the President of the Republic .
the Europe 2020 strategy establishes an ambitious and comprehensive strategy for ensuring the intelligent , sustainable and inclusive growth of the EU economy .
from our side , the EU should work for a diplomatic solution , based on an approach that combines pressure with ordinary dialogue .
as a precaution , because if the targets are not met on the way , Parliament will have to impose new policies ;
I am sure that the exchange of views that has taken place this week will enhance our parliamentary cooperation .
there are some other elements that are very important for us .
of course I understand their attempt to try to safeguard the traditional rosé and that is the reason why the Commission has been looking at various solutions on the labelling issue .
two or three days ago , we asked some Members , some of whom are also here in this Chamber tonight , for a meeting with Commissioner Damanaki .
a far greater degree of autonomy for the indigenous Hungarian minority living in Serbia , including full regional and cultural autonomy , must be laid down as a condition for the continuation of the accession process .
I would like to remind all Members to be careful not to speak too quickly as the interpreters cannot keep up .
( RO ) I , too , would like to say that today is an important day as we will be voting for a Commission not only for 27 Member States , but also for a single Europe .
there is also particular focus on higher education and research , as well as on support for business through the Mediterranean Business Development Initiative .
that is a correct priority , and the European Union needs a breakthrough .
of course , we are taking good note of the information you have provided us with .
( HU ) Mr President , it is with sincere warmth and the highest regard that I congratulate Chancellor Angela Merkel on being awarded this year 's Charlemagne Prize .
I am afraid , therefore , that I very much agree with the rapporteur on the content - I am going to consult in my group - but I regret to say that I cannot support the strategy .
this approach is causing concern and in my opinion it will be a topic of discussion at the G20 summit .
Mr President , I want to thank the Commissioner very much , both on behalf of our group , but also as the chairman of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection , for making a very timely appearance before us this evening , and also for having responded so quickly to the oral question from my committee on 3 December which set out a number of areas which he has answered very comprehensively .
if Spanish students receive a grant to study in Latin America for a few months , or vice versa , then such an exchange is useful , necessary and desirable , but a project such as this cannot be exclusively financed with funds that are intended to fight poverty .
to conclude , this situation needs to be urgently tackled .
we should therefore look for compromise in the coming conciliation process .
moreover , this agreement is based almost exclusively on support for two aims which we oppose : the opening of markets and the harmonization of regulations to promote competition in air transport .
two points .
indeed , the College will be working together closely on ensuring that the rules adopted translate into practical benefit for consumers .
a few months ago , the European Union adopted the Europe 2020 strategy , under the Spanish Presidency , which is a firm commitment to an integrative society based on knowledge and innovation .
but world trade as such should not be distorted .
I say that Parliament 's accounts should be discharged , because Parliament , if you will allow me to say so , operates very well , and much better than some national parliaments , in a much more transparent way and with staff who work more hours than may be worked in similar parliaments .
as a result , Mr Klein has been the victim of a flagrant denial of justice and this situation needs to be rectified .
this is part of our determined effort to try to help reduce the gap between the Member States , since that is indeed the spirit of convergence .
we have stated quite clearly that , if such cases should arise , there is a clear answer .
it is a balanced service in terms of its organisation and composition , and will be created to assist Baroness Ashton in her work as High Representative of the European Union .
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I have not heard enough - either in this debate or in the committee - about that important right .
as Mr John Purvis says , he has been lobbied for the last two days by various actors in this particular scene as to what they want to achieve .
the creation of a European office , to support the Member States in this area of intervention with citizens of third countries , will be a determining factor in applying a common European asylum system and the solidarity of Member States in consistent action that fits with the values and principles of the project of building Europe .
we are all the more concerned , really concerned , because one of the founding countries of the European Union features among those countries .
I should point out that as European citizens we can all contribute to the effort , as much in terms of mapping out policies as in implementing existing legislation , through the choices we make in our everyday lives .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( ES ) Madam President , this morning my Group celebrated and commemorated the approval of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union .
that , after all , is what really counts .
in the raft of measures proposed by the rapporteur ( bilateral or multilateral agreements , cooperation with the countries of origin , cooperation between the European services concerned , and so on ) , there are two obvious omissions : trade sanctions against states that accept these practices , and the introduction of a generalised national and European preference system .
when the political landscape offers such little hope of change , inevitably frustrations boil over - as we now see with the hurricane of change blowing across the region .
I want to congratulate the rapporteur , Mr Muscat , on his excellent work in producing this report on an issue which is so economically sensitive and technically complex .
the various accidents that have taken place in the field of oil exploration and extraction over the years have acted as a warning to the dangers of this activity .
it is not enough for Europe to make statements and resolutions .
in fact , during the European Council , I had mentioned the possibility of having some modulation in our offer , namely the possibility of constructing some pathways beyond 2020 .
teachers have won their rights in court , based on definitive legal judgments , but the government is unwilling to enforce this law .
a stop must be put to the negotiations at long last .
so let us stop talking about solidarity , when instruments are put in place that create inequality among the States .
Mr President , it was predictable , perhaps inexorable , that the European Union would leap on the financial crisis in Greece in order to advance its well-laid plans for the harmonisation of fiscal policy .
of course , you are well aware that European legislation allows positive action , which means action aimed at groups which are in a very difficult situation .
the Council shares the view that the draft revised directive on the energy efficiency of buildings is of fundamental importance for the achievement of the Community 's targets on increased energy efficiency , renewable energy and reduced greenhouse gas emissions .
Mr President , there is one thing at least that we should agree on in this House , namely that too many are without jobs today .
however , I do not consider myself either an optimist or a pessimist , but rather I am usually a realist as regards the analysis of things and determined as regards those issues that I can really influence .
thus , finance ministries will allocate the funds as they see fit according to the interests of their countries , within the wide sphere of infrastructures .
I am not anti-European , but I do want a Europe content within itself and able to allow those who disagree the right to put forward an alternative view , and we do not always get that any more in this House .
we should adopt an unequivocal principle - it should be obligatory in the European Union - never take children from their families because of poverty . give help , and do not take children from their families .
at present , there are two approaches .
( PT ) Copenhagen is a great opportunity for a global agreement to be reached before it is too late .
I have always said that if we want to create a European public sphere , then we also need to create more of a European political culture , and this particular issue is absolutely crucial to doing so .
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I am particularly looking forward to cooperating with the Minister for Justice and the Minister for the Interior , because this is the area I focus on as the Vice-Chair of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament .
as the refiners are not directly part of the restructuring scheme , to reduce by withdrawal the refiners ' traditional supply needs ( TSNs ) would have no effect on reducing the surplus of sugar on the EU market , because the EU would still have to meet its international obligation to import specified quantities of raw sugar from ACP countries .
for their part , all the governments of Europe , including the Swiss , must agree to cooperate with a view to returning the money and property acquired by President Ben Ali 's family .
it is important that Ukraine continues to fight corruption and to take account of the results of the recent elections so that democratic principles are complied with .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I will be quite frank .
I cannot understand why a Commissioner for Energy in Brussels would say that ambitious climate protection targets would mean deindustrialisation in Europe .
one of the reasons why it is happening is because of pig imports from emerging countries .
although the idea of introducing a tax on financial transactions seems to support the general public , even if the G20 leaders failed to agree on setting such a contribution at global level , I feel obliged to mention that this could have an adverse impact in the medium and long term .
this assists proper preparation for the elections to the European Parliament that will be held in June 2009 .
too often , the rules on fishing , tourism , transport and environmental protection in the sector have been developed separately and with no regard for the risks associated with unfair competition from third countries .
cooperation in the cultural sphere is not a major problem - this is something that will work .
( interjection from the floor )
be realistic and correct , that is my proposal .
ladies and gentlemen , I would like to bring to your attention the fact that , this coming Sunday , I will be leading a delegation , in my capacity as President of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly , to Gaza , Ramallah , Sderot und Jerusalem for two and a half days .
( FR ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , in this own-initiative report Mr Albertini has emphasised the need to establish a cross-cutting policy taking all aspects into account : transport , energy and the environment .
it is hoped that the Conference of the Parties will take the appropriate decisions for combating drought and desertification and that the European Institutions will also make their contribution .
at the same time , however , I think that we could have handled the matter better in the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs , which was responsible for the report .
it should be remembered - as is shown by research conducted by accountancy firm Ernst & Young - that three quarters of applications submitted by small enterprises in Europe for research subsidies and the purchase of new technologies are , unfortunately , rejected by the banks .
a second criticism is that this report is chock-full of good intentions , but the reality is rather different .
I believe that they have everyone 's support , and this significant conceptualisation effort to express things that are so seemingly different and at times seemingly incompatible is absolutely outstanding .
I know that this issue is one that is of great interest to many Members .
we shall minute your point of order , Mr Posselt , and we shall provide you with an answer in the appropriate manner .
Mr President , congratulations to an excellent rapporteur , Marco Cappato , on the annual human rights report .
I then discovered at the last moment that voting advice had been given that totally contradicted the agreements we had reached .
as most of you know , I represent London , which is , of course , one of the creative hubs of Europe .
( HU ) There is very recent news that a few days ago , the Egyptian regime arrested several Coptic rights activists who were travelling to the site of the crimes that took place at the Nag Hammadi settlement in order to defend and support the Coptic Christian communities there who had seen several of their members murdered on Christmas Day .
I should like to point out that Member States must report their compliance with Article 15 of the Water Framework Directive and the measures they are taking to reduce the spread of mixing zones , as well as the international coordination on defining mixing zones .
on a personal level , I have , for 36 years of my career , defended privacy rights .
amongst other things , the strategy responds to the fundamental challenges named here , such as achieving prosperity in a region with little development of innovation or enterprise , or failing to acknowledge the Baltic as a common asset without building a sustainable environment , or security in the region , including energy security , without building new generation facilities and interconnections .
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it has got to be one of those four .
the consumer will not understand that .
what I will take away with me are the best arguments that I have heard from both sides , which I will try to use to defend a cause which is still , when all is said and done , a common cause .
the European Union needs a new , medium-term strategic vision for growth and development , combined with the prudent collection and redistribution of financial resources .
regarding the revision of the 2002 Working Time Directive , it is no secret that the attitudes of the individual Member States to this issue are very different and that opinions are also divided within the Member States and within the transport sector .
( the sitting was suspended at 1.05 p.m. and resumed at 3 p.m. )
the consequences of liberalising the international textiles trade are known all too well in countries like Portugal , with the elimination of quantitative restrictions on imports and special safeguard provisions .
in writing . - ( FI ) Mr President , last year the situation in the dairy sector declined dramatically .
we have not yet solved the problems in the Gulf of Mexico , nor do we know where the next problems will occur .
twenty years later , there is a long way to go before we have a truly internal European market in the majority of sectors .
so to me it is another step in the right direction ; it is another step in strengthening cooperation between the Member States and bringing about greater cohesion within the Union .
in writing . - I voted in favour of the resolution on the EP 's annual report on the CFSP .
it is for that reason that I voted against the report .
for example , cooperation could be promoted with credit card companies to fight child pornography on the Internet at European level by using their systems for payments to commercial sites selling photographs of children .
anyway , I can clearly see that your suggestion is useful and I promise to involve you so that you can work with my staff to see how we can incorporate it into our discussions .
Sixthly , can the Commission tell us about its negotiations with Libya , the purpose of these negotiations and their current status ?
( it ) Mr President , two things : I think the television camera set up here should be moved to allow Mr Donnici - and all of us - to see the presidency and other colleagues .
today 's resolution calls for ' bilateral meetings between the European Parliament and the national parliaments ' in order to facilitate understanding ; I expect the national parliament of Scotland to be included in any such meetings given its world-leading stance .
this represents a large investment in time and resources , but I am sure it would be worthwhile .
governments make use of company databases , but we still see different levels of protection applying to the first and third pillars - which I find extremely worrying .
his experiences within the European Financial Stability Board and at the head of the Bank of Italy are sizeable assets for the visibility of the institution at international level and hence for the European Union 's place as the world 's largest economic power .
2009 discharge ( continuation of debate )
Bienvenido al Parlamento Europeo , Presidente Arias !
it will only be possible to implement the Community 's higher objectives , such as the EU 2020 strategy , if we have sustainable systems in the broad area of social security and equal opportunities .
I congratulate the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights on the effort it has made to remedy the weaknesses previously identified both by the Court of Auditors and by the Internal Audit Service .
the women 's lobby has strongly criticised the Council 's proposal , and rightly so .
is the European Union capable of such values today ?
mobile broadband is playing an increasingly important role in the delivery and innovation of services in other fields such as healthcare , education , culture and public administration .
let me say again that the Slovenian Presidency will do everything in its power to achieve a balance between the various interests , and also to ensure that the solutions we accept will make the European road transport industry more efficient and more competitive .
I am pleased to see that Commissioner Barrot is here with us today because he , in particular , has stuck his neck out and put forward some very good proposals .
I value these rankings only because they reflect and rebuild the social and moral transformation that happened in my country - the mental revolution to which I referred earlier .
how we manage this issue will set the scene for the future , and we must get the balance right .
furthermore , the poverty risk rate for the population with a job has risen to 8 % of workers in Europe , not to mention the fact that nearly 17 % of the population live below the poverty threshold .
with regard to development policy , the disparity between the EU 's words and actions is clear .
in addition , the efforts to rebuild the state seem , judging by the setbacks in recent months , to have reached deadlock .
although it is nonetheless lumbered with the visa procedure , it did not follow suit .
but of course what we have instead is standardisation .
does the Commission agree with the NGO 's proposals to restrict commercial transport in the Baltic Sea ?
twenty per cent of renewable energy in 2020 in final energy consumption means that we will be able to say that we have new energy sources - not only in electricity , but also in heating and cooling and in transport .
if we succeed in introducing the proposed changes to divorce law we would be helping many of our citizens to bring a particular stage of their life to a civilised end . most importantly , we would not have to allow children to be separated from one of their parents .
however , my name is Irujo Amezaga .
what can the EU do to give better protection to innocent EU citizens in Muslim countries who find themselves in terrible situations such as this ?
I wish to draw attention to the report 's recommendations for the Council and the Commission .
Mr President , President of the Commission , ladies and gentlemen , allow me to dedicate my first words today to the memory of a friend of mine .
unfortunately Parliament 's report is not ambitious enough .
there is no doubt that the European Union needs to respond appropriately to the growing global demand that is prompting a significant increase in the milk quota .
the watchword must always be ' safety first ' .
thanks to the good cooperation with the Commission and the French presidency we have done three things .
we already know now that the new President appreciates the serious nature of the problem . he has modified his stance since the election campaign and shortly after being sworn , in he issued a regulation extending the period in which the methods used to date in dealing with terrorists may be employed .
I do hope not !
last year , technicians from all three countries were killed when something went wrong in Syria .
it was therefore necessary to set limits .
first of all , the word ' may ' is occasionally replaced by ' must ' . moreover - and I am still quoting - there is an official reference to ' explanations ' by the Presidium .
the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has continued to work on its relations with the European Union , which is why the European Commission stated that it had made real progress and recommended that accession negotiations be opened .
the Petitions Committee works , in my view , on the basis of ' soft power ' and I think the work of the last 12 months has been about trying to influence Member States who are not implementing legislation in the manner that they should to change their ways .
coming back to the directive which we are hopefully about to adopt , the Commission considers the final compromise to be properly balanced , to achieve the objectives of health and environmental production , as well as to ensure the availability of pesticides to farmers .
that is , at any event , the principle that will be very much in mind at this weekend 's meeting of the European Council .
this ideal of equality should be achieved by means of concrete , lasting measures notably concerning education .
therefore , while we do need to remain vigilant about fraud , we also need to simply , simplify and simplify again the rules .
the taxing of financial transactions is something that the socialists and the Left in Europe have long been fighting for .
3 .
the two new directives guarantee a simpler procedure for highly qualified workers , and include the possibility for a simpler system of entry and residence .
instead of calling for measures at least to make monopolies more accountable , it fully adopts the multinational propaganda that we are all to blame for the aggravation of climatic conditions and stresses that ' individual changes in lifestyle patterns are necessary ' .
for generations , the owners of European forests have complied with the strictest legislation on forests and nature conservation .
it is important to start with the parents here , too .
however , to ensure a supply in all European Union countries , these efforts must be supplemented by supplies from the south of the continent .
I would also have thanked you for paying a little attention to my speech .
( it ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , this reform undoubtedly rewrites the fundamentals of the wine sector to make it competitive on world markets .
Eritrea 's continued breach of its obligations with regard to human rights under national and international law is causing considerable concern in the EU .
no , it would be necessary to act in a much more consistent way in this regard .
occasionally , this causes concern , most recently in the case of Tokaj wine .
this exemption means that the identities of the shareholders of the Bank of England are kept secret .
I do not see that it has any connection with my being in the chair .
yes , WTO-compatibility is essential , but it must also be possible to exercise a certain degree of creativity in order to achieve it .
it may be that we need to evaluate the material already available to us to see whether it is sufficient for our needs .
agreement between the EC and The Bahamas on the short-stay visa waiver (
the action plan to encourage eco-innovation will also be implemented , paying particular attention to SMEs by promoting networking , low carbon technologies and efficient management of the use of resources .
I want the Minister to tell this House clearly that , in the event of the Lisbon Treaty being passed , it is clear that it would not introduce abortion and euthanasia in any Member State .
I have been extremely impressed by the diligence and commitment of the entire Montenegrin Government .
the experience of workers and the working class itself is leading them to rebut and counterattack the policy of barbarity .
the newly elected President of Russia has the unique opportunity to make a new beginning , to move towards democracy and the rule of law and towards a less nationalistic and aggressive foreign policy .
this will be guaranteed with this directive .
a little worse than the Treaty of Nice and a little better than the one that followed .
by inserting this Rule in Parliament 's Rules of Procedure , the work by our colleague Carlos Carnero González , whom I congratulate , is sending out a political message from Parliament to the citizens based on these values , as proven by the opposition of the Eurosceptics .
I am sure that the European Parliament will back us in that effort and , indeed , will be our staunchest ally .
as part of the revision of the CAP reform , it is being taken into consideration for tackling challenges such as mitigation and adaptation to climate change and , as you are aware , within European policy development , common agricultural policy is considered to be an important factor to be taken into account in relation to a broader policy of tackling climate change .
at the same time as having the globally-created problem of the price of fuel , we also have the European institutions and European regulations saying that fish which are caught and which are a viable food commodity have to be thrown overboard and discarded simply because they are not part of a quota .
documents received : see Minutes
a competence assurance system is also a key element of safe health care services provision , and we should think about common standards for the assessment of competences and skills .
in my opinion , it is right and proper for the current economic crisis to be discussed in the European Parliament , and I am quite sure that citizens of the European Union and the Member States are definitely far more interested in employment and work than in genetically modified potatoes .
no one can cast any doubt on either the usefulness or timeliness of the measures aimed at punishing those employing illegal immigrants .
I hope that recruitment on the widest possible geographical basis , and by that , I am alluding to the new Member States , will become a reality .
what means can we use to successfully persuade the biggest polluters to cut their emissions ?
this agreement should comply with three principles : the first is to ensure the financing of the European Union 's policy priorities - and we have established a financial framework for the period from 2007 to 2013 that we must implement in order to achieve our objectives in terms of competitiveness , cohesion and growth .
for example , NUON , a Dutch electricity company , is envisaging in Groningen a coal gasifier involving complete capture etc .
we surely must put the environment and the health of those living close to transport links above having uncongested roads .
the next item is the debate on six motions for resolutions on Thailand .
( PL ) Mr President , I would like to congratulate the rapporteur , Mrs Pack , and also the Commissioner , who is carrying out his duties in an excellent manner , also with regards to his work for the European Institute of Technology .
last , but not least , we should not forget about the propelling force of any development , namely education and the position it should hold in the revised version of the Lisbon Strategy .
to date , eleven Member States have ratified this agreement , which is why , today , I call on the remaining Member States to do the same as soon as possible .
the aims laid down in the institute 's work programme should particularly help implement the indicators set out in Beijing .
while this package seeks to limit the availability of carcinogens , Member States may allow substances on the market where there is a serious threat to plant health .
it is short , specific and constructive and has a clear focus on the most important issues .
my other remark is that I too support the rights of citizens leaving the internal market to purchase such goods when they leave that market .
it is in everyone 's interest to play the game , and above all we must not allow ourselves to be tempted to oppose flexibility , which would be to the benefit of employers , and security , which would constitute compensation for employees .
research alone is not enough .
in the Treaty there is no common external security policy .
to put it simply , the Court has done its job well .
we have therefore chosen to abstain .
that , at least , is very promising , and something on which we can build .
the lobbyists have a bright future ahead of them .
I do not believe that this is a solution for this country and therefore we should make it clear that we do not accept such a policy .
moreover , we should make sure that we achieve better coordination of development aid with the Member States and also are able to implement once and for all the integration of the entire development aid budget into the EU budget , because it is incomprehensible why only part of our development aid is included in the EU budget .
I simply had to ask that question .
Mrs Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienhas asked to table a procedural motion .
we do , however , think that the European Union should not bear that financial burden alone and that it would therefore be desirable for other partners , in particular the Arab States , to make a contribution to this effort and to bear some of the cost of building the Palestinian State .
after all , this is about - and here I am quoting the Treaty - ' measures ... which have as their direct objective the protection of public health ' , end of quote .
the Prespa Park Area is a natural area of international importance owing to its geomorphology , ecology , biodiversity and cultural significance .
citizens rightly expect these standards to be applied .
demand cannot keep up with supply .
very well !
( BG ) The delegation of the Ataka Party voted against the so-called Report on Turkey 's Progress because we do not see what this progress might involve .
however , it is not something that can be achieved from one day to the next and , of course , the upcoming reviews of the budget , the financial framework and the financial regulation present opportunities not to be missed .
being adopted on the eve of the review conference in Astana gives the report special emphasis , sending a message to the decision makers at the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe .
if the stress tests reveal that any particular banks do not meet the requirements , the Member States must take immediate action .
the system that we have had up to now is one with enormous inequalities , because it lacks these two proposals .
that is why I took the initiative of bringing together in Davos the trade ministers of the world 's seven most important trading countries to discuss , in concrete terms , how we can now proceed and enter the end-game , following the impetus given by the G20 in Seoul .
that concludes voting time .
matters of a kind that , frankly , it would not have been necessary to reiterate had there been a formal mandate .
these people have endured several months of uncertainty leading to a plan which calls for State aid and sacrifices by the workers .
Turkey has been humiliating itself for years in exchange for money from the European Union and the promise of EU membership .
that is clearly one area where Parliament could lead by example .
Member of the Commission . - The European Union has agreed on a 10 % target for renewable fuels within the transport sector , and this 10 % is by 2020 .
I call on the Commission to involve the Directorate-General for Employment in the management efforts so that we can also gauge what is happening in Greece .
in this context I would like to applaud the statement of Commission President José Manuel Barroso , who declared that the EU should not make any commitments on climate matters unless other countries , particularly the US and China , do the same .
rapporteur . - ( ES ) Thank you , Madam President .
the economy of the future will make efficient use of its natural resources .
it included all types of work , not only driving but also the physical work that these drivers sometimes do in loading and unloading or cleaning the vehicles .
we also want to incorporate third countries for competition reasons .
the Commission , therefore , proposes to mobilise an amount of EUR 9 593 931 .
we are now reaching the final stages of this trilateral procedure , which should enable us to fulfil the ambition of having all three institutions sign a joint declaration on 18 December .
the vote will take place today at 12 noon .
in addition , I think that those provisions proposed by the Council , which could allow Member States to limit access to social protection schemes , need to be avoided .
on the other hand , I would like to condemn the postponement of setting quantifiable targets for reducing the school dropout level and increasing the number of university graduates , as well as for reducing social exclusion , all the more so as 2010 is actually the European year dedicated to this issue .
( ES ) Mr President , many experts are saying that the next crisis could be an energy crisis and that , moreover , we are not doing what is necessary to prevent it or that we are not doing it fast enough to prevent it .
in order to achieve the Barcelona objectives , an open co-ordination method was applied , but measures for reaching the objective were left to the discretion of each Member State .
in committee we upheld most of the rapporteur 's chiefly technical amendments .
the Commission promotes awareness of consumer rights through various instruments .
Mr President , as rapporteur for the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality , I would like to point out that when the crucial decisions are taken with regard to the economy and financial and monetary affairs , fiscal matters and trade policy , all decisions that affect the budget and our opportunities , the amount of influence that women have on these decisions is currently very small .
Commissioner , do you agree that this would be unwise in terms of European nuclear safety ?
we must take into account that there are migratory species such as tuna there and that every year the following year 's stock is established using scientific criteria .
I am worried by the fact that , according to the information published so far , only Romanian citizens have been expelled from Italy .
the new , much bigger screens can show the full voting list and save us much more time because we can vote immediately when we see the numbers in different colours on the screen .
any revenue is not required to finance environmental works .
the Commission is willing to contribute to coming up with this methodology , as proposed by the committee .
I call on the Spanish Government to undertake a new demarcation , respecting private property , in line with the many rulings on the subject by the Court of Human Rights at Strasbourg .
they did not want to make a commitment , to accept responsibility .
however , the European Parliament is attempting to show a ' red card ' to weak candidates , who have received both a posting from their governments , and the approval of Commission President Barroso , or those whose financial interests lack transparency .
Madam President , firstly , peace and stability in the Western Balkans is certainly in the interest of the whole of Europe and , of course , because I am from Greece , it is logical that it should be in our interest even more , because we border some of these states .
please stand .
I support the resolution to give consumers more information about the new technical communication options and the risks they involve .
the criminal Ahmadinejad regime continues to threaten Israel and is attempting to exert its influence in Egypt .
within this framework , simplifications could be made and distinctions drawn .
we therefore need to focus on innovation .
this institution has developed ambitious continental policies in key areas such as socio-economic development , peace and security , and indeed good governance too , and all these elements clearly deserve our support and recognition .
as the judge remarked , these proprietors were perfectly at liberty to hold or discuss their personal views on homosexuality , but what they could not do was discriminate on the basis of those views .
on behalf of the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance , I have tabled a couple of amendments , the sole purpose of which is to clarify the concept of maladministration .
the Commission is ready to play its part and to reconcile positions in the new conciliation committee , while respecting the rights of the two arms of the Budgetary Authority , on an equal footing .
I drive a lot , and I also fly a lot for business purposes .
of course , I have strong differences of opinion with some of these Members and with others too , but I went to see all of the groups who invited me , all of the legitimately formed groups .
we appealed to keep , or if necessary reinstate , all the budgetary lines from the preliminary draft budget .
Mr President , I would like to congratulate my colleague , Brian Simpson , for this report on the EU regulation establishing a common framework for developing , producing and distributing European statistics on tourism .
negotiations are about seeking an agreed outcome and require a minimum confidentiality in order for each party to feel comfortable to make concessions and / or to try out options before finally settling on an agreement .
the compromise works very well , and at this point I would like to congratulate Mr Papadimoulis on his work .
have you any suggestions at all for strengthening that mechanism ?
the European Union currently employs approximately 7 000 diplomats and civil servants who will ensure that the EU 's objectives will take precedence over national and even intergovernmental objectives .
there are other examples , and this is a very important undertaking .
every crime perpetrated by a teenager is the result of an educational failure by adults .
I thought that it would be much better to conclude this dossier ahead of the European Council next week so that , if I may put it bluntly , no one can put their oar in .
with regard to this Regulation , the attention of the Committee on Legal Affairs was focused on three main points .
instead , surpluses are created , and in order to stop this we must grub a significant proportion of vineyards .
he has neglected to ensure that we speak about the peacebuilding partnership or the development of a civilian peace corps .
I will try , if at all possible , to make sure that meetings do not clash in future .
the latest changes in position at the top political level in Minsk point to a harder line .
we have to improve the Posting of Workers Directive .
moreover , I am also pleased that , through the amendments put forward by Parliament , a human-rights based approach will be applied when reporting on the situation in matters related to irregular immigration in the selected third countries .
this is a very important issue .
it is clear that social and family policy fall under the competence of the individual Member States of the EU and therefore no European initiatives can condemn Lithuania for this .
therefore , it was with pleasure that I received news of the dialogue which began between the Ombudsman and the European Investment Bank in 2008 , and of the signing of an understanding on compliance with the principles of good administration .
I agree with those speakers who have said that the report shows clearly and unambiguously that there is an improving trend as regards the use of EU funds and that the overall error rate is falling .
because it is vital since the texts proposed by the Council do not go as far as the Commission 's proposals and there is a risk of not achieving the stated targets - staggering over time , a large number of derogations , the possibility of financing gas reductions from outside the EU , which delays the essential decarbonisation of our industries , economies and means of development ;
for this reason , cooperation is vital between EU institutions and national administrations .
this report highlights a number of pertinent points , such as the UN Human Rights Council 's periodic review of the application of the human rights clause in trade agreements , the ability of the ILO to refer cases to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights , the involvement of national parliaments and citizens of third countries in the negotiations , and the fight against modern slavery .
second , can this decision be made if a confession has been extracted under torture ?
the higher our ambitions are , the more resources they will require .
( DE ) Madam President , may I ask the previous speaker a question ?
if , and I do not wish it , the Baltic countries or certain countries with which you are most familiar should find themselves in the same difficulties , the same solidarity mechanisms should come into play .
during the debate , there was discussion of matters relating to progress in the implementation of investments in technological equipment and data transfer systems for the provision of real-time weather forecasts .
as someone who lives in a city through which millions of heavy goods vehicles pass each year , I can confirm that the suffering of the populations concerned is rarely taken into account .
we must combat wage dumping .
it also does not cover the existence of other types of unions such as those of homosexual couples , which are recognised in some Member States .
I was very pleased to see my colleague , Commissioner Barnier , in the room because of the effort he has put into this topic .
( FI ) Madam President , Robert Schuman , founder of the EU , said that the European Union would develop through a series of crises , and that development may now well be rapid , because there are quite a lot of crises around .
we are all agreed that an effective transplantation system needs to be developed .
it is very easy to block any step forward , any reform of the European instructions .
but we should be able to harness those difficulties and put them together with all the possibilities offered by modern technology .
Mr President , I am delighted to express my approval of this report and to thank the rapporteur , Mr Manders , and my colleague , Mr Harbour , for their excellent work , as also the shadow rapporteurs .
another ambitious goal of the Danube Strategy is to complete the Danube waterway in compliance with the parameters adopted by the Danube Commission .
thirdly , European Union assistance to Nigeria should address the most important problems , the most sensitive issues in order to achieve at least some visible progress in this country .
during the last century , five official languages were learnt in the Lower Carpathians region .
the free movement of people within the European Union is not backed up by access to healthcare , especially not in the area of prevention .
I would also like to emphasise the commitments that the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament ( S & D ) has made in its energy plan for Europe , which are a firm pledge in favour of renewable energies , infrastructures , energy efficiency and electric mobility .
the disaster at the Fukushima nuclear power station showed how much work we need to do to create an energy supply system which is efficient and environmentally-friendly , but above all safe .
on this point , I expect the swift conclusions of the interinstitutional working group to ensure that the same problems are not repeated year after year .
however , the internal structure of the euro is not at all stable .
in the 1970s , after three decades of global cooling , there was a consensus amongst scientists that we were facing a new ice age .
this precarious situation carries with it the danger of a renewed upsurge in populist and nationalist sentiments .
since 2004 , there have been attacks on 65 churches .
President of the Commission . - As regards speculation , let us be clear that the current problems in Greece were not caused by speculation .
this has been a really useful debate and I thank colleagues for it .
fixing electricity prices through the stock market leads to consumer prices that are much higher than production costs .
this state of affairs cannot go on .
this should be enforced on the ground , in particular .
so I think that President Sarkozy 's initiative should be seen as part of the promotion of such debate and reflection .
this directive offers opportunities for cooperation between the various parties ( local administrations and companies ) , thereby enabling them to encourage innovation .
the knowledge-based economy and rapid technological development present challenges to higher education and research in Europe , but they also open up new opportunities which must be effectively harnessed .
my group is keen to focus the volume-reduction targets on dangerous substances .
the Czechs have also said ' yes ' to the Lisbon Treaty .
the pressure of competition on the internal market and the cross-border environmental aspects require a common approach here .
we had made a great effort to compromise .
rapporteur . - Madam President , it is a privilege this morning to be opening this most important debate and inviting our colleagues to support the reform to the telecom package that we have on the table .
you have disappointed me and I feel I must revise my good opinion of you .
if flexicurity is introduced and , at the same time , it is accepted that the EU 's internal market rules take precedence over wage negotiation and safety of the working environment , the end result will be to have cancelled out the labour struggles of a century .
the concerns you raised seem to be quite similar to those expressed at the very start of the single CMO project .
all countries , even those that view this as an absolute priority , agreed that we have yet to find the actual mechanism , the key and its wording , far enough in advance of the Copenhagen Conference .
it is time for the EU to acknowledge that its record in maritime management is the worst in the entire world , a typical example of what is known as the tragedy of the commons - the phenomenon by which shared resources always get exploited ruthlessly , because anyone who exercises restraint is disadvantaged by the unscrupulous .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , we fully agree with what President Sarkozy said in Evian : that only the coordinated action of central banks and governments will make it possible to curb the systemic risk .
in conclusion , I believe that the Czech Presidency can be summed up , on the whole , as providing proof that medium-sized countries and so-called new Member States can manage such a role with honour and to a high standard .
the guiding principle should be careful , analytical policymaking on the basis of forward-looking objectives but also of realistic expectations .
the Commission adopted the Lisbon Strategy , which predicted economic growth of 3 % and the creation of 20 million jobs by 2010 .
you can look around - one third of 785 is a little over 200 , and there are about 30 of us here .
the threshold of 0.6 % of Gross National Income was not exceeded , but the majority of the population suffered as a result and the economy of the region was on the brink of collapse .
14 .
other bottlenecks include the spiralling rate of unemployment and enormous insecurity in the labour market .
in addition , the process of simplifying legislation should not lead to a lowering of the standards enshrined in the Union 's current acquis .
one to Iraq 's Shiite Prime Minister , Nouri al-Maliki , who has condemned the attacks on Christian clergy and has offered , on behalf of the Iraqi Government , ' protection and justice ' for Christians , with an assurance that those responsible for the violence will be hunted down and punished ;
finally , on this hundredth anniversary of International Women 's Day , I would give some thought to women 's rights in Turkey .
firstly , responsiveness .
- The debate is closed .
I voted against the legislative resolution which allows Parliament to grant EUR 46 million to the Georgian Government .
the persecution of Poles in Belarus is not only a matter for Poles , as those who have spoken before me have stressed , but is a symptom of an attitude to European standards , including standards concerning national minorities .
everybody in the House must , of course , ask themselves whether they have prostrated themselves before the pesticide industry or whether they are creating added value for citizens , health and the environment .
we will continue to call for the regulation of the markets for agricultural products and their derived products , even though this latter notion is absurd and we should be promoting quality agriculture and short food circuits , while mercilessly pursuing the abuses of intermediaries and large retailers .
the market reacts , the price goes up and now we , here in the European Parliament , as representatives of the farmers , are asking for prices to be brought down again .
the cooperation that is necessary across the EU , and the need to take advantage of the stimulus packages currently launched by almost all Member States and the Commission , underscore the need for investment in renewables to increase our energy security , to decrease our carbon emissions and to wean us off our high dependence on fossil fuel , albeit over an agreed timeline .
I would urge the countries concerned that have not yet signed or ratified those two legally important documents to do so .
however , most of the problems identified then are still current today , in particular , the problem of domestic violence against women and the involvement of women in armed conflicts .
the important prevailing aim is that youth organisations should take part .
the crucial point for Europe has to be that every citizen must have the right to the best possible treatment in his or her own country ; the sacrosanct right to be treated anywhere will otherwise mask the fact that treatment is not available at home - something that cannot be put down to questions of subsidiarity .
- Madam President , in reading through this report , I came across the definition of a social economy and I was interested to see what the definition was .
this was an independent panel of international scientists from 12 countries convened by the World Health Organisation .
this is why I am asking the Council at the next session on 25 October to invite the Commission to draw up an action plan so that citizens from the Republic of Moldova can travel without requiring visas .
using this two-thirds majority , you have set up a media authority which consists exclusively of members of your party , from the government or from the group of people who have close links with it .
the UNCLOS is also the basis for settling disputes , including maritime delimitation .
looking back , much more could have been done , and earlier .
I very much hope that NATO 's new strategic concept will demonstrate a revitalised commitment to the alliance which binds the United States to Europe 's security .
Parliament is giving a clear signal in that direction today .
Mr President , I should like to thank the rapporteur for his report .
thank you very much , Mr President , for the floor .
thirdly , I would like to raise an extremely important matter : proliferation .
I would therefore like to appeal to the Commission to take competitiveness principles into account , to a greater extent than before , when implementing the necessary reforms in the sugar industry , and to pay much more attention to the development of the biofuels sector .
now let me turn to Mr Masip Hidalgo and talk about access to reception conditions .
it is now clear that good hunting practice is crucial .
however , the Commission and Council must bear in mind that many Member States are still facing economic recession and will require financial and logistical support to achieve the objectives being proposed .
in the next 10 years , energy efficiency must be our top priority .
obviously , these two countries also immediately began behaving in a way similar to the conduct which led to that first letter of warning .
clearly , although it is a matter of urgency , the EU is not firmly committed to making the break from maximum productivity .
I believe that this is very important , when we recall that quite recently , during the war between Georgia and Russia , unfortunately Russia used this type of cluster munitions against Georgian civilians .
however , the Treaty of Lisbon will be decisive , as its provisions in this area are sovereign and grant competence to the European Parliament and the national parliaments .
in the long run , as the UK Competition Commission has pointed out , this will equally damage consumers as choice , availability and quality are squeezed out of the market .
will people be informed if this service is not available in their country or in the country they are visiting ?
did Britain win today or did the French ?
it shows a total lack of confidence in the euro from the markets .
I think we have to be careful to ease the burden for producers , distributors and retailers .
this was , indeed , exemplary cooperation , and I think we both made a contribution to very important advances in the new Treaty , namely the issues of citizenship .
you are negotiating without a mandate from the European Parliament .
( CS ) Commissioner , I , too , resent the fact that human health is exposed to risk , for example during aerial spraying , and that pesticide use is constantly increasing due to a growing resistance against plant protection .
they rule our lives and the growth of our economy .
I do not think that you get it , do you ?
it is , therefore , in the spirit of cooperation that the Commission welcomes and supports this report .
( it ) Mr President , I would just like to make a correction because there is a misprint in the amendment .
may I also point out that the English text of Amendment 31 should be put to the vote , as I have noticed that a very important word has been omitted from the French and German texts .
the first group is , of course , the business community : trade affects legitimate retailers and other businesses who pay taxes , employ people and generate revenues ; counterfeiting also denies authors , artists and researchers a fair return on their talent and investments .
I am pleased that the European Parliament has taken an active role in monitoring the waste management situation in Campania , as shown , for example , by the report adopted by the Committee on Petitions following the visit to Campania which it carried out in April last year .
on renewables , I think we are on target to reach our goal for 2020 but not on energy efficiency , so that is a concrete area where we can make more progress .
you gave us a very hopeful prospect .
consequently , containing rainwater in a region and draining away only the natural surplus water is a prerequisite for ensuring environmental security and global stability and , last but not least , for maintaining economic growth .
the proposal is also part of the Small Business Act initiative which aims to stimulate activity in the more than 23 million small- and medium-sized enterprises in the EU with a view to developing the economy and creating new jobs .
no one has said that nothing could be done .
Mr Špidla has carried out that analysis , and that is why I can now propose a solution , trying to get a broad agreement in this Parliament .
there is a theory in political science that says that , in principle , democratic countries solve their conflicts in a democratic manner , via dialogue , and not by military means .
the Commission expects greater involvement from the Member States in terms of systematising research into the quality of public life , which would make it possible for clear comparisons to be made between countries .
it is a policy in line with our European values which , sometimes , in fact , can awaken fears and criticism , even though all this forms part of the humanitarian spirit and humanitarian tradition of our continent .
the Arab world is changing and few can foresee what sort of governments or regimes will take power in the Arab countries .
at the same time , it conceals the cause of environmental destruction : the plundering of natural resources by capital in order to profit from the commercialisation of the land , air , energy and water .
we need to breathe life into the roles , then the spark will once again be passed on .
antibiotic resistance in livestock and domestic animals has become a problem in recent years .
we cannot leave it all the time to the Court to decide about the rights of the patient case by case .
please remember that without our soft power , and without EU enlargement policy , Ratko Mladić would not be in The Hague now .
( applause )
with this agreement , the European Union has shown that it is not cutting itself off from open and sustainable trade , at a time when some other nations are showing protectionist tendencies .
the agreement will become definitive once the European Parliament has given its consent .
( the President cut off the speaker )
I think we may come to regret this missed opportunity to get our own house in order ahead of the rest of the world .
( CS ) Commissioner , you see as progress a 3 % - 8 % increase in the price of finished products such as skimmed milk and butter .
a workshop on anti-microbiological resistance is to be held in Paris and the Czech Presidency is preparing a conference on this subject .
this report is a big step forward in harmonisation of the internal market , but also in consumer protection , especially for the elderly .
I would like to thank all my fellow Members on behalf of all the authors of the written statement .
I would like to come back to the words I read out just now .
that is why we now have to implement the action plan which you , Commissioner , tabled a week ago .
I also think it is important to highlight the need for a strong EU common position on the follow-up to the fact-finding mission on the conflict in Gaza and Southern Israel ; it is imperative , in this regard , that the recommendations included in the Goldstone report be implemented .
if convicted she could face 40 lashes , a large fine or a jail sentence .
a large number have been seriously injured or are suffering from the mental stress caused by military service .
at stake is Europe 's dignity as it emerges from the Treaty of Lisbon , but also the European social model , that fundamental democracy which we Members of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament strongly demand and on which we want the future well-being of our citizens to be based .
numerous studies , especially those carried out by the OECD and UNICEF , have shown that these services play a significant role in the personal development of children , provided that they are of a high quality and children are entrusted to them for adequate periods of time .
not everything is hunky-dory in EU-Russia relations , of course .
at the moment , these despotic bureaucrats are imposing a ridiculous agreement on Romania whereby between 150 and 200 of the country 's existing 400 hospitals will be closed down .
their determination is an important contribution to national and European wealth and to the common good .
young people who cannot cope with school and drop out are part of this group , as are older people who , despite having worked for decades , receive small pensions that cover only the bare necessities .
artistic education is a vector of well-being , creativity and social integration .
I had the opportunity to be the rapporteur for the Committee on Culture and Education and I believe that the agreement which has been reached , albeit far from perfect , is probably the best we could achieve in the current economic climate .
the issue of the Schengen expansion must be clearly separated from the type of evaluation to which we will subject the Schengen system .
such notice would be similar to those issued from time to time by the Commission with respect to competition matters .
author . - ( NL ) Mr President , just like Sudan , which we were discussing earlier this afternoon , Burundi is an ethnically divided land , with long-standing disharmony between the various population groups .
in addition , the Commission has had a fruitful dialogue with the main stakeholders over the last few years on possible adaptations to the existing EU rules - in particular , within the Social Protection Committee and Parliament 's intergroup on public services .
( applause )
clear demands are being made in relation to certain projects .
I talked of the need for impact assessments , of the need for more harmonisation of inspection standards , and I suggested that there is no reason why self-regulation could not be successfully used in agriculture .
concerning the issue of the defamation of religion , I am extremely worried that it is a UN body that is able to adopt resolutions calling for a total ban on the defamation of religions or on offending religions .
it is still extremely important that we secure more commitments on specific measures and action towards an economy based on less intensive carbon dioxide emissions .
China has been equally open with the rest of the world .
still , however , it is in this document , stating that maybe these kinds of incomes can be used .
it was a real joy for me to work on this report , and I hope that it will be followed up in separate reports for the individual western Balkan countries .
earlier on , the President-in-Office of the Council stressed that globalisation means we have to act at European level and at international level .
to conclude , just one last reference to the importance of this matter : it is said that we know more about the surface of the moon than we know about the deep seabed and for that reason here in this Chamber we shall be pushing ourselves as individuals to help in discovering more about the deep seabed .
in writing . - ( SK ) I supported the motion for a resolution on the rule of law in Russia , although I think that this is not the last such resolution to be discussed and voted on in the European Parliament in relation to Russia .
in 50 years these issues had never been formulated like this because we evolved from steel and coal to issues that are today more inclined towards the knowledge society .
such aid will be tailored to ensure that it supports stock recovery and / or marketing conditions , whenever possible .
I sometimes wish that the politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina had as many sleepless nights as I do when they think of their country .
in addition to UNCLOS , there are a large number of other relevant international and regional instruments .
this is the real controversy or dilemma that we will have to resolve tomorrow .
more extensive and vigorous efforts are needed to redress the balance .
the waste crisis in Campania and other regions of Italy clearly shows the dangers of entrusting environmental management to private companies , whose sole objective is profit .
the EU wants to economically , politically and militarily control the whole Mediterranean region and is seeking to dominate its markets and exploit its immense resources .
the effects of the global financial and economic crisis on developing countries and on development cooperation ( motions for resolutions tabled ) : see Minutes
he should be given a time-out and should not be permitted to attend next week 's session in Strasbourg .
3 .
the Union needs to liberate itself from nuclear weapons and to help denuclearise the planet .
so-called carbon offsetting is no solution in this context .
the EUR 4.5 billion reduction in the Structural and Cohesion Funds in the EU budget for 2008 justifies our vote against this report .
( PL ) Madam President , I welcome the package submitted to us today as a step forward , both for consumers and for European entrepreneurs .
if we jointly decide to try to change those priorities , that would be a good thing .
so , tomorrow , I am asking for your support .
we need to avert anarchy and we need to prevent the formation of monopolies .
various ' citizens ' initiatives ' cannot hide the reactionary face of the EU , nor will they be able to reverse the escalation in the class struggle and grassroots fight .
there is therefore a need to intervene in all areas of public life , in order to raise awareness and consciousness , using the six ' Ps ' : policy , prevention , protection , prosecution , provision and partnership .
now what we need is for the Council to make the same effort and adopt a progressive mandate .
the ceiling of EUR 50 000 , the previously agreed flat-rate payments and strict ex-post verification reduce the chances of abuse to a minimum .
increased interconnection with countries which are not part of the area of freedom , security and justice must not facilitate the influx of international crime or make smuggling and human trafficking easier .
Turkey 's strategic importance to the Union 's energy security must not be ignored at a time when we want to diversify supply sources , with the Nabucco gas pipeline project being a significant example of this .
I trust our silence today is not indicative of an attempt to depart from a clearly defined and demanding policy towards Russia .
( CS ) Wilderness and its diversity represent a gift and treasure that humanity should look after not just in the European Union .
if at all possible , by the end of the year ?
that was the most important thing we could have achieved , and we have achieved it .
ladies and gentlemen , the Commission should realise that although it is an executive body of a high standing , there are many areas where it has to respect the political will of Parliament and the individual Member States .
it was the activity of the Security Council in Darfur that helped establish the role of the International Court of Justice in its efforts to prosecute the perpetrators of some of the most heinous crimes of our times .
is the Council prepared to give its reaction to the Fava report , or is it to persist in its silence ?
the EU must , therefore , invest significantly in creating a supply network that effectively covers Europe 's territory .
perhaps it was to benefit some states more than others ?
we must do everything we can for them , but nothing can be done without them , and in this Chamber , Mr President , we already have some excellent Roma Members .
( SL ) The return of refugees is a matter of crucial importance for all the countries of the Western Balkans , so I offer my sincere support to the amendments proposed by the rapporteur and by Anna Ibrisagic regarding the return of refugees to the Posavina region .
that is a point that the committee stressed and it will be presented as an amendment in plenary during tomorrow 's vote .
such acts of violence should be condemned in the most absolute of terms .
on the basis of all these arguments , I asked my group to support me .
these were some items of news .
yet I got the impression that Mrs Frassoni agrees with our proposal .
however , why has this proposal appeared so late ?
nevertheless , we need to demonstrate solidarity , although this solidarity must be voluntary .
we shall support en bloc the compromise worked out by Mrs Laperrouze .
international carriage of passengers by coach and bus ( recast ) (
maybe there are plans to go further than what is on the table now .
every country should have the right to focus on the concerns of its citizens , including food security , the environment , reservations about genetic modification and the needs of rural areas , in order to support sustainable agriculture in Europe .
I urge the Commission to provide a solid explanation for the delays in implementing the Lisbon Strategy .
in terms of international trade , we need to insist on the inclusion of chapters on energy in any new trade agreement .
secondly , the Member States must be able to decide for themselves on the healthcare they provide and what can be reimbursed .
I welcome the fact that in his report on reviewing the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Policy Instrument the rapporteur Konrad Szymański included trans-border cooperation within the remit of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument ( ENPI ) .
the gaps are in poverty : we have heard the second report on this too .
I therefore welcome the provision set out in the resolution that we need to develop additional indicators for measuring medium and long-term economic and social progress , and to establish clear and measurable indicators that provide information on climate change , biodiversity , resource efficiency and social inclusion .
however , unless it speaks with one voice , this will result in loss of credibility .
I would like to take this opportunity , like everyone else , to say thank you to Mrs Roth-Behrendt for her fine work .
when these issues are being discussed , Parliament is not prepared to look the other way and content itself with the kind of general reassurances that the Council provided during the negotiations .
in the context of the financial crisis , it is essential that all Member States who are currently behind should quickly transpose the directive to achieve the objectives set .
hence the concentration on investments in communications infrastructure , which will make it easier for the single market to function , and on ecology .
since then , we have made good progress .
this could help to improve the European population 's state of health .
as regards the additional concessions requested by Mr Cappato , it is precisely the negotiations conducted by the Commission that must make it possible to see - and the Commissioner has emphasised this point - whether progress has been made by the Vietnamese authorities in this area .
the service sector will continue to be important , but it is also becoming clear that it is highly dependent for its development on us having strong industrial production and a strong industrial sector .
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it has exposed a chronic crisis of the values upon which the EU is officially based .
this would allow political responsibility to be strengthened and actions to be correlated with results .
it is an essential part of the credibility of the institution and it is because we have this very visible independence and this primary mandate - which is clear on price stability - that we have been successful up until now in anchoring inflation expectations .
I believe we are on the right track , and we therefore wish to continue .
I think the time has come to partially change focus and devote resources to the security of the European Union .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , 80 million people living in poverty in Europe , over 5 million homeless , millions poorly housed , one in five children victims of poverty , and , at the other end of the scale , what do we have ?
( HU ) Ladies and gentlemen , after the First World War in Hungary , temporary huts were built in Budapest , intended to provide hospital treatment for prisoners of war returning home .
as political decision makers , this crisis forces us to answer some questions , of which I highlight the following : is the liberal model that has progressively been applied to the common agricultural policy effective enough to deal with this type of problem ?
turning to solidarity and unity in the energy market , efforts to develop a single energy market are also closely linked to cohesion .
we Social Democrats expect better measures and better proposals in this area .
in light of this , the proposals to create a Europe-wide economic stimulus package are just as counterproductive as individual proposals to put up a protective shield over the entire motor industry .
Member of the Commission . - The verification of compliance with the requirements of Directive 91 / 271 / EEC on urban waste-water treatment is a complex task as it implies the evaluation of data concerning thousands of agglomerations all over the European Union .
Denmark gave 8 % of its seats to 50 000 people .
you do not have the floor .
Twenty-one Member States with 11 search-and-rescue teams , five field hospitals , six advance medical posts , 40 medical teams , six water-purification units ; we despatched these as quickly as we could and I pay tribute to the Member States for the work they do .
all it took was to gather up everything the earth had given , and the " disobedient " population would disappear from its villages , because it did not fit into the system .
the proposal for the creation of the Erasmus first job programme , which I presented alongside Mr Fernandes , is based on the following principles : firstly , additional funding for existing programmes in the fields of education , science , training and innovation ; and secondly , each case will have a training component and a component in which the trainee will have a contract with an innovative European company and will be cofunded by the European budget .
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it stresses that financing for the policy must be preserved for at least the next long-term financial period .
that is not enough .
I too am a big fan of equal treatment as a principle and can honestly say that sometimes I find it very difficult to understand why , for the work I do in this House , I receive a much lower salary than my western colleagues ( ten times less than the Italians ) .
I strongly protest against violations of human rights in Russia .
in the European Union the figure is 5 per thousand on average .
the role of women in industry ought to be based on the principles of equal pay and equal involvement in decision-making .
but what of future presidents ?
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the humanitarian interest is the pretext .
what initiatives exactly has the Presidency taken so far to achieve the above commitments and what timetable does it intend to follow through to the end of the year ?
investing in innovation , research and development and life-long learning is the best way to achieve this .
this recognition of Scottish sporting independence has played an important role in my country 's past and will play an important role after the 2010 Scottish independence referendum - when Scotland will become a full , independent Member State of the EU .
both these countries have achieved great success in the Union , and we must not forget this , despite the fact that , today , they both stand before difficult economic reforms .
at the same time , it creates a political and legal precedent by making the Stability Pact even more austere and lets the United States of America into the euro area through the back door .
in order to address this issue , I am exploring the possibility of establishing a strict segregation of the production of fats and oils intended for feed and food purposes from the production of fats and oils for technical uses , and I am considering the possibility of legal requirements on reinforced controls on dioxins at different stages of the feed chains .
Commission President , you gave an accurate description of the crisis that we are currently experiencing , but there are several further comments to be made about what you said .
at least a dozen cases have come before the Court of Justice of the European Union , the latest being the Liga Portuguesa case .
( DE ) Mr President , last week , Slovenia stepped up its opposition to Croatia 's accession .
change is needed , but change is also possible without overburdening companies and households .
it reads explicitly , ' Once the general debate has been concluded , any Member may give an oral explanation on the final vote for not longer than one minute ' .
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it is not just the lure of cheap labour , but our crippling burden of regulation on European industry which is devastating our manufacturing .
this concerns both pipelines which will arise in the future as well as those which are currently under construction .
Parliament represents 500 million Europeans from a Union that has 27 Member States , and as on Orwell 's farm , there are none more equal than others .
could you ask the Tunisian delegation to intervene to obtain the release of Taoufik Ben Brik , which the whole of Parliament is calling for ?
now , the question of cross-border mobility is a real issue for European integration , for developing a new European generation and simply for allowing our citizens to see the practical advantages of the European Union .
that is not what Europe needs .
the preliminary draft budget was clearly inadequate , owing to which the Commission in its letter of amendment proposed EUR 120 million for Kosovo and EUR 142 million for Palestine .
otherwise there is little point in the European Union having to lead the way and oblige its ships to conduct these studies and fulfil a set of requirements if other ships under other flags then engage in destructive fishing practices in the very area that we wish to protect .
on the subject of the economic and financial crisis in particular , it would pay for us to be braver , and therefore the measures we have adopted thus far should be accompanied by more decisive initiatives such as the adoption of Eurobonds ; I believe that this would be the best way to take the perspective given by the French Presidency to its natural conclusion .
when governments become the enemies of their own people , then the people will eventually rebel .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , one minute is nothing .
furthermore , the scope of the funding should be extended to projects aimed at improving public services as well .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( FR ) Madam President , as this is the first time that I have spoken before this new Parliament , I would like to congratulate you on being elected to the Vice-Presidency .
( PL ) Mr President , in view of the difficulties concerning visa procedures , it is essential that they be simplified , including by reducing the costs borne by the applicant .
there are many views on these matters in the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy .
we will work closely with the presidency and with this Parliament in this direction because the Europe we want and the Europe we need is one that combines freedom , solidarity and security for the benefit of all Europeans .
I declare open the 2009-2010 session of the European Parliament .
above all - and we are constantly urging this - we need once and for all a framework for tax competition in the European Union .
that is why we back a debate on alternative ways to fund the EU , cutting the amount coming from VAT and the national budget through options such as coordinated measures addressing the under-taxed financial sector .
it will enable participants to exchange ideas and will give them a chance to meet others who share their interest in civil protection and who work in the same field .
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it is a victory for common sense , it is a victory for humanitarianism , it is a victory for democracy and not least it is a victory for all the seals that will be allowed to grow up without being clubbed and slaughtered simply for the sake of human vanity .
I would also like to point out that both the United States and the European Union risk seeing all or part of their public aviation support mechanisms condemned by the WTO .
I am especially pleased to see your emphasis on the need to develop efficient and equitable policies for the whole life-long learning continuum and on the need to invest in education early , as investing in quality early-childhood and pre-primary education and care is shown to be the most effective way of breaking the cycle of disadvantage .
in writing . - This report considers whether the review of the Seventh Framework Programme for research and technological development ( FP7 ) may offer an opportunity to consolidate the golden triangle of knowledge , education and research that is the key to Europeans ' destiny .
this is a problem for agriculture and biodiversity , as 76 % of food production and 84 % of plant species are dependent on pollination by bees .
I see that the President of the European Commission , José Manuel Durão Barroso , is here too , and of course I should also point out that Portugal has recently taken over the Presidency of the Union .
then we can also work to promote increased mobility and to combat protectionism .
let us revise the implementing provisions on liquids as quickly as possible , and let us replace them with more and better technology and with better cooperation between the security services .
at present this palpably concerns Air France , Iberia and Lufthansa , which have a minority holding in Amadeus .
Madam President , I am very proud to have taken part in the vote in committee on this directive and to be participating in the debate today on the vote to deliver the temporary agency workers directive .
I believe that , thanks to the cooperation , good will and political commitment of all of my colleagues , we have done a crucial job of work .
I am sure that you will be keen , and I ask this now on behalf of my group , to say clearly to Russia , when you go to Moscow for the Summit , that it will certainly not be business as usual and that we are going to be extremely vigilant in this regard .
more than a trillion dollars has been spent on recapitalising banks across the world .
this approach also involves the idea of the minimal state and the greater efficiency of the private sector , with the aim of imposing acceptance of so-called wage restraint , which actually results in a loss of purchasing power for wages .
the territory 's complicated fifty-year history shows that the victims have frequently been both Jews and Palestinians .
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we have succeeded in safeguarding our pilot projects and preparatory actions , which are new initiatives that are being instigated by Parliament and , on a personal note , I would like to say that we in the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe are pleased that we have succeeded in securing funds for the Baltic Sea Strategy .
therefore , let us postpone this part and find a better , prudent solution later , so that we do not have to renegotiate afterwards and find ourselves in a position where we may not be able to achieve anything further .
it is important to mark those tragic events , which led to many deaths , suffering , division and horrors , but it is even more important to mark and celebrate European unity and peace today .
in writing . - According to the joint statement of the November EU-US summit , job creation is a priority in the Euroatlantic context .
in fact , we have provisionally agreed the preamble and six out of ten titles of the Agreement .
thirdly , because of different approaches from different Member States , we would like to look at whether it is feasible to have an EU framework for non-bank microfinance institutions .
I have been personally addressing the subject of the ' Lisbonisation ' of our budget for some time now .
Mr Hahn , I invite you to come to Maastricht - it is not very far for you to come .
already scientists inform us that the last decade was the warmest on record and that 2007 was one of the top 10 warmest years .
we have heard a lot of debate and discussion this evening about the car industry missing targets and about how we are going to move forward .
it is now high time that the European Parliament also ratified this decision during its plenary session .
we all now expect great achievements in Copenhagen , although it must also be emphasised that this is to be an international event .
the Portuguese Minister for the Economy and Innovation , Manuel Pinho , has himself confirmed how very important it is to ensure the viability of this company .
we must support the Middle East peace process , with the aim of achieving a framework for agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority within a year . on Iran , the EU has delivered on tougher sanctions while , at the same time , being strongly committed to seeking engagement with Iran .
I believe that it is not only minorities who should have to study the language of the majority , but also vice versa .
such an initiative could be implemented by specifically offering free Internet connection and consultancy .
Mr President , there is something bizarre about the situation that we find ourselves in right now .
is it appropriate to lower VAT and indirect taxes on some basic foods and products at European level ?
we must develop policies that encourage the continual renewal of the European population and which ensure continued economic competitiveness , at the same time as preserving the European social model .
we need to stress that the solution to the problem of global climate change is a worldwide low-carbon economy .
eighty percent of Europeans are Christians .
as regards the welfare of animals in transit , I feel the really important issue is how vehicles are equipped , rather than journey times .
the trends are clear to see .
the same issue is relevant to hedge funds .
the European Commission allocates significant sums for investments in energy efficiency , in producing renewable energy , as well as in the construction of Trans-European transport and energy networks .
your presidency is responsible for this package .
we hope that we can find actions which will help to bolster aggregate demand ; on the demand side , we want to reduce inflationary pressures and help the purchasing power of households .
the Conservative Party wants to help to stamp out the pay gap once and for all .
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at the same time , it is important to clearly define the roles and responsibilities of the key players responsible for managing health risks .
we also call upon them to participate wholeheartedly in the talks in Sirte .
there was some justification for the inequalities under the production subsidies system , which favoured farmers who produced more .
Kenya must not become another Somalia .
instead , we have to be like the fire brigade the whole time , putting out the forest fires and , at the same time , building a new European architecture for better regulation of the financial markets and for economic union to function more successfully .
such a balance is sometimes difficult to achieve , but it is up to us democrats to be constantly on the lookout for any abuse in this area .
in the same way the financial crisis played perfectly into their hands and they leapt at the chance to justify economic governance rather than admit the euro 's failure , concerns about the sudden influx of migrants and the stresses it puts on countries is being used to call for the reinforcement of Schengen with increased centralised governance .
the compromise we have reached in the negotiations is that at least half of the asylum procedure will be taken into account and , if a procedure takes more than 18 months , the whole procedure will then be taken into account .
the key meeting between the European regulators , ENSREG and the Commission is to take place on Thursday .
either a country is safe or it is not - and then it still must be examined in each individual case whether it can , in fact , be a safe third country for the particular person who has made an application or whether , in this individual situation , it is perhaps not possible to simply say that is the case as such .
we have to devote much attention to innovations and to using the results of scientific research in industry .
I believe , as does my group , that the situation in the Horn of Africa requires an urgent , comprehensive approach .
it is not blackmail , because in Europe , we do not do blackmail .
the Commission is working closely with the ECDC .
the compromise is essentially that the Council approved the text for the microfinance instrument adopted by Parliament at first reading , which was important for a quick launch .
I should like to thank the European Parliament once again for its significant contribution in keeping the environmental objective of the proposal intact and achieving agreement at first reading .
radioactive contamination can represent a problem over a number of years in some foods .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Madam President , this is not an internal German issue , but a European issue .
the future of humanity hangs in the balance , and time is running out .
I would also like to congratulate Slovakia , which is about to adopt the euro .
in writing . - ( FI ) When Finland joined the EU this followed a referendum .
with a suspension of payments , a takeover of the bank may be envisaged .
( EL ) Mr President , the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt are already creating a political domino effect in numerous Muslim countries .
( SK ) I would like to thank the rapporteurs for their excellent work , which clearly defines all the positive aspects of the new Treaty as well as its weaker points .
I hope the fact that I have been invited to speak second , not fifth , is clear recognition of the true significance and importance of this proposal .
that would indeed be the case if support were granted to these countries , as some people wish .
I think it is quite simply scandalous that , after 14 months , we still have countries that have not implemented this .
we have invested too little , for example , in the trans-European networks .
no , the reality in Europe is somewhat different .
when shall we get this legislation on illegal logging ?
in this case , the question is related to the electricity used and its efficiency .
on this basis we shall see , and we already know , that twelve principles are practically identical .
now that we have arrived at this definition , there is no need to go against it .
we should use every channel available to appeal to the Tajik authorities to tackle this problem as quickly as possible .
why did you wait until after the German election ?
this means that our revival was not as isolated and miraculous as it is usually said to have been , but was fully part of the Europe-wide trend . '
the only excuse is that it is more difficult to monitor the working time of self-employed people .
Madam President , firstly , we too are dissatisfied with the outcome of the elections in Belarus , and we agree with the conclusion of the OSCE / ODIHR that the elections fell short of our European standards .
among other things , it adds severe real estate shocks , as well as an explicit impact on the cost of financing .
would the House not agree that there is another interpretation of checks and balances ?
I wish wholeheartedly that the results had been otherwise , but the circumstances at the time did not permit it .
all the same , I do have to censure all those who stirred things up at the European Investment Bank .
she worked with a great deal of commitment and very cooperatively .
while there is unanimous agreement on the need to clarify the concepts ( economic and non-economic SGI , social services ) , Parliament is still very much divided on the subject of how to achieve this .
we are talking here about a large number of people working in this branch of the industry who will not be able to be re-employed immediately in other sectors , thereby causing unemployment and the emergence of disadvantaged areas .
a survey recently conducted in Sweden among 15-20 year-olds showed that their basic knowledge of communism is very poor , almost non-existent .
in the last six months we have scored important successes in South America , Central Asia , South Asia , Japan and Russia .
the one has nothing to do with the other .
for this to happen , several problems need to be resolved .
we call on Member States and the Commission to finally embark on the path of adopting specific measures in favour of gender equality .
to close , I have this to say : it is very important that we develop mechanisms in the European Union for receiving refugees , for accepting asylum seekers , not just for humanitarian reasons and for the reasons already referred to by numerous members , but also so that we can combat illegal immigration .
in particular , I applaud the elimination of several bureaucratic constraints and the necessary traceability of products containing substances potentially harmful to humans .
the latest special report by the Court of Auditors reveals major problems .
on behalf of the PSE Group - ( BG ) Dear colleagues , on behalf of the Socialists , I would like to congratulate the rapporteur Mme Cizelj for the thorough work and the good cooperation within the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy in the preparation of the report .
at the same time , I would like to express outrage over the decree from the President of Belarus regarding control of the Internet which , in many points , is a clear denial of freedom of speech and of the press .
I would like to thank the rapporteur and my fellow Members from the other groups , who have worked as shadow rapporteurs on this project for three years .
it is thus important to provide compensation for passengers in the event of bankruptcy and also to define the associated financial and administrative procedures .
listed buildings present particular problems .
what does it mean in terms of developing those standards and what are its practical implications in terms of promoting them internationally as Mr Barroso envisages ?
action to reduce adverse events of all types , including health-care-associated infections in all health-care settings and in all EU Member States , is a goal we all share .
( PL ) Mr President , point N of the report is right to point out that poverty and exclusion have a strong territorial character .
now , when it comes to the Google Book Search Project , the Commission sees the Google initiative as a demonstration that new business models are evolving to provide almost instant access to vast numbers of works to an increasing number of consumers .
the draft resolution therefore flies directly in the face of the citizen 's need for protection - which Lega Nord has always put at the core of its programme - and I cannot support it .
( EL ) Mr President , this report on urban mobility forms an important part of viable mobility in Europe and an integral part of the strategy for achieving sustainable growth and the Lisbon objectives .
this is where the importance of the PVV becomes clear .
we will ensure , on the basis of the new strategy for implementing the Charter of Fundamental Rights , that the rights guaranteed by the Charter , including the right to bring collective actions , are taken into account .
the idea of solidarity , which , in the eyes of the people of Poland , was born in the shipyards , in simple terms means that we should all look after each other , unless the Commission believes , like some of the creatures in Orwell 's Animal Farm , that all Europeans are equal , but some are more equal than others .
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thank you all , and I am sure that you will receive full answers in writing .
that is true and I am pleased that Mr Carlgren is not one of them .
so the scientific part of the debate has been resolved .
I also support investment intended to support local SMEs through , for example , the involvement of innovation centres , chambers of commerce , business associations and innovation clusters across the Single Market .
the directive sets out detailed requirements for the compulsory and coordinated introduction of standard intelligent transport systems throughout the EU and their application in the Member States .
this subject is important , President-in-Office of the Council , because it is essential to discuss and agree upon similar solutions to the environmentally compatible streamlining of transport with the most important third states , like the US , Japan , but also Russia , China , India and Brazil .
firstly , the right of the General Director to intervene in cases heard by the European Court of Justice .
( NL ) Madam President , I am happy that Croatia is coming ever closer to accession .
this regulation on implementing acts follows a year of very hard negotiations in an area where the new delegated and implementing acts are a very important issue for this Parliament .
the unquestionable benefit of the approved legislation comes from improving the quality and therefore the safety of tyres .
it presents in a clear manner the issues concerning childcare and equal access to education for all and , in particular , the children of immigrant families - whatever their situation - and particularly stresses these issues within the context of fighting against poverty and social exclusion .
the European Commission under you , President Barroso , is the guardian of the Treaty .
the application of the ILO 's internationally recognised core labour standards and efforts to achieve the objective of a basic social security flow are crucial here .
approximately 10-12 million Roma reside in the European Union .
I would like to share with you three comments , or three messages .
moreover , this Community preference is enshrined in the European Union accession treaties and the treaties state that if a Member State applies temporary restrictions on the freedom of movement of workers who are nationals of another Member State , it must grant them priority , in terms of access to the labour market , over workers who are third-country nationals .
we in Europe are bound to follow the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child .
perhaps we could now seriously consider a school fruit programme , which would probably also please the Commissioner 's colleague , Mr Kyprianou .
so let us make that promise a reality and upgrade the Commission 's kitten to a tiger - and a tiger with teeth .
such management systems come under the jurisdiction of the Member States , and rightly so : they concern the history , society , economy , geography and hydrology of each country .
the de minimis principle , according to which , beneath a certain threshold , vehicles do not come within this procurement process , will do a huge amount to reduce the burden on small local authorities .
any recurrence of such errors in the future could be detrimental above all for the eurozone .
we are already providing support for basic services and agricultural development - in addition to the significant bilateral programmes of Member States - and we are looking at our longer-term strategy for development cooperation with Southern Sudan .
there are lots of working groups meeting and working all the time ; and they still are meeting .
the Commission regrets the fact that the principle agreed in the draft common agreement has not been respected and emphasises in its statement that what has happened in the construction products case cannot set a precedent .
it is important to fight for our convictions ; for a budget that is visionary in a time of crisis .
we should not act in this way ; instead , we need dialogue and freedom of religion .
the Slovenian Presidency will continue to provide the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia with decisive support on this path .
this is causing shopping-around by applicants and pass-the-parcel by states .
I voted for the motion for a resolution tabled today by the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) because of all these factors , which require the special attention given to them in this legislative text .
in the midst of deep crisis , recession and unemployment , they are asking , peacefully but forcefully , for some prospect of a decent life for themselves , their families and their children .
however , even if people are not excluded from work but cannot get to work because they cannot get the access they need , that leads to exclusion as well .
it would reduce environmental damage by reducing CO2 emissions , it would assist in job creation , because energy conservation measures are very labour-intensive , and thirdly , in the long run , it would of course lower energy bills for the elderly and other vulnerable people in society .
I should like to thank the rapporteur , Mr Parish , and the three parliamentary committees that examined the report for their efforts and their comments .
let us take it .
China must be persuaded to commit to international standards and to respect them .
unfortunately , it was not possible .
I think I can speak for all my colleagues in the Committee on Fisheries , who have worked hard on this report , when I say that I am very happy that this day has arrived , the day on which the report is to be presented to Parliament and put to the vote .
I have already had the opportunity to say here that Mr Coelho has given good service to the principle of freedom of movement within the European Union , to the rights of citizens , be they European citizens or citizens of foreign countries , and to European democracy itself .
the Member States should be doing this - if they are not already doing so .
trafficking in human beings is also an extremely profitable business for organised crime , with high profit possibilities and limited risk-taking .
the achievement of the hopes of our regions will advance stability and create new possibilities for security and prosperity worldwide .
cohesion policy is providing a strong and necessary bridge between recovery from the crisis and long-term structural transformation of the European economy .
there are various reasons why they have lasted so long , and the prospects for their completion are not particularly good at present .
we have looked at it not only from a budgetary perspective , but also , to certain extent , with regard to its content and we have raised one concern , which Mrs Van Brempt was kind enough to include .
the result is that children are currently at risk because of illegal content , and inappropriate behaviour such as child pornography , harassment , grooming , and seduction through the Internet .
Madam President , it is now less than five weeks since Farai Maguwu was detained by the Zimbabwean authorities .
so that , as an international community , we do not wait for the terrorists to move in before we begin to address issues of capacity , governance and development in fragile states in our world .
we therefore support what has already been said .
the budget must have the ability to be tangible and dynamic , to listen and to respond .
so , let no one blame Europe if nothing changes in this respect .
the debate is closed .
a few hours after the catastrophe , the EU provided EUR 3 million of aid for the initial relief operations .
the oral question to the Council on establishment of a joint EU resettlement programme by Rui Tavares , on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group - B7-0205 / 2011 ) ,
international trade has become a form of new foreign policy , and could help to create better living conditions throughout the region .
in 2007 , it was close to a thousand rockets .
if a system can lose its own cronies in this way , it is in the midst of an existential crisis .
first of all , it brings a certain balance between operational authority within the parliamentary groups and a clear link with what we do in this House , linking funding to presence in this House - in the European Parliament .
we had a freer trade agreement which has now gone ' phut ' , and what we now have to do is to indemnify and compensate those banana-producing countries again .
I do not see anyone .
if they are not to be condemned to social exclusion , they therefore need special assistance , and governments must be responsible for ensuring that all children - whatever their parents ' social or legal circumstances - have access to health and education , so that equality of opportunity for all is actually guaranteed in practice .
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therefore , the Commission firmly rejects attempts to renationalise this policy .
some countries move quicker than others and we see that with the countries of the former Soviet Union , who are now our valid colleagues here in the European Parliament .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , you have rightly pointed out that we have to combat tax evasion and tax fraud , without question .
this strategy on the part of Vattenfall goes against your good reputation in the preparations for the world climate negotiations .
thanks to the new rules , these people will be able to enjoy greater certainty with regard to their legal status in the European Union and will not be subject to inequality of treatment compared to citizens of third countries .
I would ask you to rise for the European anthem .
it is only together that we will be able to form a new alliance , this time not between God and man , but between man and God 's creation .
there is a lack of adequate means to determine the age of defendants , so it is difficult for people to defend themselves .
in that context , we believe that it would not be appropriate that the next Conference of Parties agrees on a resumption of the commercial ivory trade .
this too is an example of reciprocal loyalty and richness of diversity , which should , in theory , characterise the European Union .
I would also like to thank personally Olivier Chastel , because he demonstrated his enormous ability for consensus building .
if we are putting our troops in a volatile environment , we must give them the means to protect themselves .
the NATO Summit that took place in Lisbon put an end to the strategic security concept that had been in place since the Cold War .
in addition to a firm deportation policy , tight border controls , and agreements with states to take back their nationals , refugee centres in the region of origin should offer some relief , but this has also been rejected by Parliament .
creating a safe and transparent environment for the operation and funding of European political parties marks a first step .
what is needed is increased support for the creation of jobs with rights and decent wages .
( ET ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the Commission has made a proposal to create a new means of financing - micro-credit financing .
subject : climate change and the role of farmers
I am sure that the Commission will say more about this later .
now that the pharmaceutical industry is part of my portfolio and of my responsibilities as Commissioner , there is a much greater opportunity for working with the industry and possibly coordinating research in a better way , thus ensuring its efficacy .
( CS ) The mandatory certification system for bodies in charge of maintenance and placing in service railway vehicles is the only railway system improvement .
( applause )
on the question of financing , which was a particular concern of the European Parliament , as Chris Davis said , up to 300 million emission allowances will be made available from the New Entrant Reserve on the basis of the Emissions Trading Directive in order to develop innovative carbon dioxide capture and storage technologies and for innovative renewable sources of energy .
they have a huge burden of debt , including both private debt and an unacceptable level of public debt .
my second point concerns the form of the proposals .
if truth be told , nothing more came out of it .
I see two possibilities .
renewables are important , but we cannot mislead citizens by saying that renewables alone will solve the problem .
under this principle , it follows that Parliament 's Committee on Culture and Education should be abolished , because it addresses issues which are outside the EU 's competence .
so , whilst I think there is a lot of clarity in the Commission proposal and I welcome it , I think that we have to be very careful in the opening-up of the market in the way proposed .
Commissioner , our children 's safety demands our permanent attention .
that is true .
( applause )
Irish pork contaminated with dioxins or melanin in milk from China are examples of incidents which should not have happened .
the reason for this is that the individual arrangements have a different purpose and different addressees .
decisions concerning certain documents : see Minutes
a diplomatic solution negotiated between the parties is required to bring the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo ( DRC ) to an end .
first and foremost , they are all citizens of a democratic state .
one MEP has even gone so far as to question OLAF 's power to investigate these cases , declaring - incredibly - that in some countries such action would not be considered illegal and would not even be investigated .
it is in this sector that we need to find solutions to avoid , for example , the use of energy for air conditioning in houses .
on the other hand , on the subject of food imports from Latin America , we must ensure that these countries comply with the same standards in terms of quality and animal protection which our own producers also comply with .
while I welcome it , I urge the incoming French Presidency to give it the priority it needs .
if we do not strengthen our economic governance , the strong links of today may become the weak links of tomorrow .
finally , I would like to thank Mr Sikierski and congratulate him on the proposals which he has made .
are we somehow going to extend the remit of information channels for Europe ?
in my opinion , this paradigm shift will be vital in stopping the growth of unemployment amongst younger people and in guaranteeing them a future with more possibilities .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( PT ) We have just had a discussion here in this plenary session on the European Neighbourhood Policy intended precisely for our partners on this continent .
in writing . - ( DE ) I am voting against the inclusion of the wine market reform - and other specific sectors - not because I am generally against the idea , but because individual branches of production should not be mentioned at this stage of the common agricultural policy .
if we consider two areas , the Southern Caucasus and the Black Sea area , we can see that the mutual relationships between the countries are usually under-developed , whether they are bilateral or multilateral .
Telepathic signals , possibly ?
we have also debated the epidemic of piracy off the Somali coast .
we are trying to have a maritime cooperative strategy for this region .
you are legislating on the 18-month detention of wretched immigrants , including under-age children , in concentration camps where the living conditions cast shame on human civilisation .
in addition , all tax administrations would be allowed direct access to electronically stored data on tax payers in other Member States .
we also appreciate the efforts you have made towards transparency , which my fellow member , Mr Enciu , did a very good job of highlighting , as a matter of fact .
a standstill here is a backward move ; it will not preserve the status quo .
let me say again , this is not just a matter that concerns Marco Polo ; it is a much broader issue .
on behalf of the rapporteur , I would once again like to thank everyone involved .
( the President cut off the speaker . )
the recent arrests and trials of peaceful bloggers and human rights defenders , as well as tensions with religious groups such as the peaceful Buddhist community and the Batna monastery , have caused legitimate concern in Europe .
gradually transferring administration on the West Bank , for example in Area C , and strengthening economic cooperation , whilst strengthening and establishing reliable Palestinian institutions , will really move the peace process forward .
- ( PL ) Mr President , we have adopted an exceptionally important report on the problems of combating poverty and social exclusion .
to improve the effectiveness of the Ombudsman 's activities it would be worth considering the possibility of preparing lists of best administrative practice , with exemplary or exceptional cases in which the Ombudsman was involved in any given year , as well as a list of the cases where the actions of institutions were less appropriate .
last but not least , Croatia also needs its people to vote yes in a referendum .
nevertheless , mistakes sometimes do happen in the heat of the moment and I would like to ask for your forbearance .
with my vote , I wanted to call on the Commission and the Council to respond to the European Parliament 's demand for specific measures to enable us to enjoy the full benefit from the growth potential of this sector .
( RO ) I would refer to Mrs. Roure 's report .
I therefore believe that we are on the right track .
the vote will take place tomorrow ( Tuesday , 8 March 2011 ) .
to begin with , in response to the economic crisis that we are experiencing , the European Union has implemented a coordinated policy , an immediate , short-term shock treatment involving injecting public money into the financial system .
maybe they can tell them that they voted against the directive because they had their best interests at heart .
situation in Japan , including the nuclear power plant alerts (
there have been several talks over the winter , and we are now very close to an agreement in negotiations on the readmission agreement with Turkey .
you try and catch them ; you try and tag them ; you try and follow them .
Albania will manage .
just as during the Brussels part-session , they are going to film our debates and votes to produce a widescreen film about Parliament 's work for the new visitor centre in Brussels .
yes , we should provide for a minimum level of material provision , but with extensive controls and conditions so that we can prevent any possible abuse right from the start .
the objective of cohesion policy should be to help these areas and to support territorial cohesion .
ladies and gentlemen , the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on a change to the annual accounting responsibilities of micro-entities .
to say nothing , too , of the flouting of democratic rights - notably by disregarding the outcomes of referenda - and the sacrifice of more and more fundamental rights on the pretext of combating terrorism .
further proof has come from the current crisis , for any country that can use this strong reserve currency simply cannot have balance of payment difficulties , whereas others - such as Hungary - are experiencing such problems .
at the very least , it should have been discussed multilaterally within the competent European bodies .
therefore , Russian insistence on equality in relations with NATO and some sort of joint decision-making is premature and carries a risk of a Russian veto on NATO 's decisions and further enlargement .
Mr President , once again , we have an appalling situation coming out of Iran .
we really need to move towards a sustainable energy supply .
the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) has made one simple calculation .
these are crimes that should have tough criminal penalties or extensive reliable care if the perpetrator is mentally ill .
so , yes , it is true that Ireland is going through a difficult time .
this will be a valuable tool and we have to use it first and foremost to make sure we mobilise the voters now that the European elections are coming up .
therefore , in relation to the concerns raised by Members , including Mrs Bozkurt and Mrs Vergiat , all that will be assured .
( RO ) Minister , I would like to draw attention to the importance of integrating renewable energy sources into the national power grid , with the European power grid being made up of the Member States ' power networks .
we MEPs would have been considered irresponsible had we failed to make EUR 81 million in EU budget cuts , and here we see EUR 2 400 000 000 being plucked out of thin air .
voting time
with Mr Correia de Campos 's report , the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament have fought for better regulation when it comes to strengthening the Single Market , and for this strengthening to serve the general interest of Europeans and not just that of businesses .
such an agreement will affect the whole world .
I would also urge the new High Representative not to follow the line taken by the Commission in previous legislation .
the EU should phase out subsidies to the meat industry ; yet , in the budget for 2007 alone , over 45 million euros were appropriated just for the marketing costs of the meat industry .
this means that a very strong emphasis has been placed on the civilian side of things .
the recent visit by Commission representatives to China confirmed that our Chinese counterparts are fully aware of their pressing obligation to take internal measures .
therefore , Commissioner , President-in-Office of the Council , it is vital for the European Union to provide extraordinary support to help industrial production and safeguard employment with rights .
until now , a minimum of 20 MEPs from six Member States were allowed to form a political group .
it is important to put pressure on both sides so that the two blocs finally reach a solution .
Mr Evans , thank you .
we can see this from a number of African countries , for example Egypt where the current threat of an influenza epidemic coupled with the idea that the disease was spread by pigs has led to 300 000 - 400 000 pigs being slaughtered .
Europe is the world 's biggest export power .
the rapporteur is quite right to stress that we need to stipulate that agricultural and food products imported into Europe must meet the same standards as are required of European producers , which is unfortunately not always the case at present .
measurement of the territorial impact of sectoral Community policies and proposal of ways to create synergies between territorial and sectoral policies ;
there is a second factor that is also analysed in our report on the first ten years of Economic and Monetary Union .
we worked hard and made significant concessions in order to achieve as broad a consensus as possible within Parliament and I would therefore like to congratulate Mr Goepel on his willingness for dialogue and on the real spirit of compromise he showed ; I would also like to congratulate Mr Parish on the way in which he led our work in committee .
if Flanders neglects its chemical sector , it will become Greece on the North Sea , as the Flemish entrepreneur Thomas Leysen put it , and I hope my Flemish friends take note of this .
justice belongs to all citizens of Europe without any exception .
the aim of the proposal - I want to state it very clearly , and therefore I am happy that we can discuss this matter today - is not the decision by the Commission to add body scanners as from 2010 .
the recent acknowledgement of Estonia 's efforts by the OECD and Commissioner Almunia are encouraging signs that we are on the right path .
we do want as part of the action plan to pull together that regional cooperation .
the number of pensioners is increasing .
now at last we will be able to say that we have - or should have - the effective means to make sure that European environmental law is indeed implemented and enforced as our citizens expect across the European Union .
one of the vital tasks in the realm of development policy is to redirect our efforts towards a sustainable conservationist approach to logging , forestry management and fishing .
implementing measures ( Rule 88 ) : see Minutes
this should be commended and further cooperation should be encouraged .
nevertheless , there is a certain satisfaction to be derived from the prospect of oppressed peoples overthrowing their undemocratic and unrepresentative governments .
this Single Market Act will be under discussion until 28 February 2011 .
we clearly need investments and sustainable development projects in the European Union .
I am not asking for an apology or anything of that kind .
in Syria , protests in several cities have been brutally put down despite EU calls for rights of freedom of expression and association to be respected .
on 31 December 2009 , President Lula 's last day in office , he refused to extradite Battisti to Italy .
ten years have gone by and the deaths have continued .
this is particularly the case when it comes to personal data .
we are all very well aware of the floods , the combined impact of which is worse than the Asian tsunami of 2004 and the Haitian floods of earlier this year .
the protocol should ensure that trade between the two parties carries on without complications and at a high level of customs security , and it should include a set of rules ensuring that the agreement continues to conform to the EU acquis .
this means that media and telecommunications can operate together , in the spirit of colleagues , and on a level playing field .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , this is indeed an extremely important debate .
we should like all this to be resolved in one package in 2009 , having due regard to the rights of the European Parliament .
I am therefore more determined than ever before not to go back to the future in ways which would hurt our dairy sector in the long term and leave our farmers without any kind of predictability .
in addition , the financial crisis is still recent , and the economic recovery is slow in making itself felt .
this is because , although we are going through a crisis , the deepest crisis has been the refugee crisis , which has been a crisis of collective amnesia .
this reveals a lack of transparency in this procedure due to the Member States ' unacceptable dependence on pharmaceutical companies .
on the other hand , the interests of Slovakia are in harmony with those of other Member States here .
I know that some committed Europeans are not happy with the number of opt-outs .
the next item is the report by Mr Juvin , on behalf of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection , on the impact of advertising on consumer behaviour .
only in that way can we improve the situation .
I think that the toy industry must really look seriously at a proper toy safety mark that it develops and manages itself so that consumers really have that assurance that , when they come to buy toys this Christmas , they will have safe , good quality toys .
it will be hard for us to retain credibility if we do not even act against UN Members which flout the UN Charter .
firstly , if we do not invest in these technologies , our addiction to oil and gas will only grow and the situation will get worse , for these resources will become ever scarcer throughout the world and prices will go up even more .
at a time when Europe finds itself ever more dependent on energy imports , I believe it to be essential that it continues to play its dominant leadership role in energy matters , by focusing on innovation and technology .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( GA ) Mr President , High Representative and Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner , I warmly welcome today 's settlement to provide humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip .
this bureaucratic web of interconnecting enforcements and self-perpetuating regulation will do for the small-business retail trade in Britain what the common fisheries policy has done for the British fishing industry : it will kill it .
this proposal for mobilisation of the EUSF is the first to be presented by the Commission for the year 2011 .
in my view , not enough emphasis has been placed on the reports on the environmental aspects of the question .
I believe that responding to the environmental crisis also means responding in a unified and fair way to the economic and social crisis that we are currently experiencing .
Hindu nationalists hunted down their Christian fellow citizens , armed with clubs , axes and torches , and continued to wreak havoc for weeks on end , even in the refugee camps .
( PL ) Mr President , the decision to deny a visa obviously depends on US civil servants .
Mr President , in January the Commission attacked the Hungarian moratorium on genetically modified maize MON810 .
it is actually an indispensable part of the democratic process .
however , the Member States have differing opinions on the question of whether nuclear energy has a role to play in reducing CO2 emissions .
must all this be made compulsory in teacher education because Europe says so ?
however , there is one thing that I would like to say .
I , too , in the 20 seconds I have left , Mr President , will take advantage of this last-day-of-school atmosphere to thank my classmates and those with whom I have had occasion to work over the last ten years , since I now have the great pleasure of ending my final day in Strasbourg with my last but by no means least contribution .
however , we must note that prescriptions issued in another Member State will be reimbursed by the patient 's country of origin , only if the medicine is approved and eligible for reimbursement in his country of origin .
apart from the fact that this is an infringement of the Member States ' self-determination by the EU , I am also opposed to the very idea of quotas .
I do not share the view that political coordination that eliminates natural differences among Member States will become the remedy and a healing answer to current European problems .
common EU rules to prevent exploitation and the employment of illegally staying workers are therefore one way of raising the bar for many EU countries .
the Stability and Growth Pact has not worked ; even from the very beginning it was a failure .
we met with the Sudanese President , and I can tell you that the tone and content of the message conveyed during that meeting more than amply reflected the tough words I have heard here .
( FR ) Madam President , I have one observation and three proposals .
this review calls attention to these problems and requests the Commission to aim at ambitious results in the field of environmental protection .
additionally , we must not forget investment in research in the sector and also in large-scale infrastructure , both tangible and intangible .
the Union reached out to the dictators for years , in contempt of its own values .
it is my view that we cannot concentrate just on financial markets , where financial institutions and greedy managers have brought about the present situation .
fossil fuels create centralised , hierarchic and inflexible energy distribution .
the issue of patients ' rights to cross-border health care has been debated and promulgated through the European Court of Justice in the past number of years .
it should also perhaps revise upwards the aid measures foreseen under POSEI ( Programme of Options Specifically Relating to Remoteness and Insularity ) .
I am a clear advocate of such safeguard clauses and I therefore voted in favour of the report .
there has been a lack of compliance here .
resolving this problem requires permanent dialogue between Morocco and the Saharan people , based on mutual respect and with the aim of fulfilling the United Nations resolutions , which include the Saharan people exercising their right to self-determination .
the views expressed by those in the House seeking to force early closure and abandonment of the policy in this matter made voting for elements of this report very difficult for pragmatic reasons rather than a particularly pro- or anti-nuclear approach .
it is no such thing .
another area covered in the report is strengthening early warning systems in the Member States and establishing connections between the various early warning systems .
I can only ask myself whether the last steps that are needed - from the point of view of the mentality and not of the form - will be taken to ensure that Turkey can become a member and whether we can be sure that the European Union has the capacity to integrate Turkey .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( CS ) Small and medium-sized enterprises provide 70 % of jobs in the European Union .
the Moroccan armed forces killed a young Saharan , and a Spanish citizen died in unclear circumstances .
in particular , there are some priorities for the near future which are also evident and are pointed up in the analyses in Mrs Starkevičiūtė 's report ; it is now a priority for us to strengthen progress in financial integration .
they will be here to demonstrate their desire to reject the compromise reached on the directive by the Council , and for the rest , I wonder , how could it be otherwise ?
I believe that we succeeded very well in doing that , and we are on the right track here .
firstly , the Commission is trying to determine the extent of irregularities and fraud .
all the Member States , as well as Norway , Iceland and Liechtenstein , have established a national SOLVIT centre .
now , this version was rejected by the European legislator and it is intolerable that the judges are able to set themselves up as lawmakers under the pretext of interpreting the law .
during this process , it was very clear that the European Union needs to be brought closer to its citizens .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , the murder of Mr Bhatti is the second murder of a high-profile Pakistani official in two months .
at the present juncture , financial stability is being safeguarded by the EU-IMF stability mechanisms and especially by the actions that the Member States - especially the vulnerable Member States - are themselves taking .
( PL ) Mr President , Mr Lewandowski , Mrs Jędrzejewska , first of all , I would like to congratulate the rapporteur on a splendid report .
in this short minute I would like to mention climate change and the energy policy , because Europe has set extremely ambitious aims for itself to develop into a society with low carbon emissions .
that is why it is important to favour a kind of agreement between the Member States and the European Commission , on the one hand , and the European Investment Bank , on the other , whereby institutional donors have the opportunity to intervene with donations , while the European Investment Bank , by virtue of its role , can grant loans .
Mr President , I would like to express my sincere thanks to all my fellow Members , including my appreciation of their valuable contributions to the debate tonight .
as a result of this , all the participants in the European Union internal market are currently losing out , since the EU 's competitiveness on world markets is waning .
in writing . - ( PL ) I voted for the adoption of Gay Mitchell 's report .
this was the result , not only of the religious fanaticism of the Taliban , but also of the lack of sufficient commitment from western countries .
sooner or later , it will break loose .
the violence suffered by Christians around the world is both an affront and a challenge to human dignity .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I was recently invited to a Rotary Club meeting , where a very interesting debate took place .
at the same time , in order that we may be able to exercise this right effectively , I take the words of Mr Šefčovič as encouragement that the general alignment can speed up in the coming months and that we may indeed extend these rights as broadly as possible .
it is truly a question of reviewing the system as a whole , and there will be an opportunity , within the framework of the White Paper , but also within the European Parliament , to review our own method of supporting other means of transport , including in terms of the way we work .
the Spanish Presidency must also make a clear commitment to developing a common European strategy .
that would , of course , put a particular burden on countries like Austria , Germany or the Netherlands .
the Council and Commission must continue their efforts on devising recovery strategies in cooperation with the European Parliament and Member States by implementing the European Economic Recovery Plan .
ladies and gentlemen , in our present debate we have touched upon the problems of climate change , prevention , flood prevention , the environmental protection strategy , urban planning and development , and many others .
at the European Council in July 2007 , under the German Presidency , we were not far off from disaster when certain Member States said that we should go on without Poland .
the requisite authorisation was obtained from the competent quaestor , Mr Fazakas , before the poster went on display .
do we have a comprehensive plan to cover the next volcanic eruption ?
( explanation of vote abbreviated in accordance with Rule 170 of the Rules of Procedure )
we do not have the scientific knowledge for 50 % of our fisheries .
fourthly , to try and anticipate , if that is possible , where we need to move in the future .
I must draw your attention to the fact that some Member States , including the Czech Republic , have been late in transposing the directives into their national legislation .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( HU ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , please allow me to welcome , as a representative of a Member State which has had an act providing for lobbying since 2006 , today 's debate and the fact that Parliament and the Commission are able to agree in the issue of the transparency register .
I happen to be one of those who would rather have preserved the monopoly of national postal administrations for letters below the 50-gramme threshold .
I therefore naturally voted in favour of the report by the Italian Member , Roberta Angelilli , which advocates the use of the Internet in a secure environment , ensuring the full protection of children 's physical and moral integrity .
all Member States must take severe measures to fight against human trafficking , ensuring the coordination of national legislation .
I also feel I must defend the services provided by the Transport Directorate-General , which at present is compelled to find reliable methods , because if we do not have reliable methods , there will never be any acceptance across the EU of these methods and this model , as Mr Stockmann said .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights is a very recent instrument .
we may have different opinions about what happened , but do not compare Iraq with a European democracy and sovereign state .
therefore , when formulating the rules , we need to think very specifically about legal prohibition of certain types of speculation .
we are not in Haiti , but in Kyrgyzstan .
I am committed to working in tandem with this President of the European Council because that partnership will make all the difference .
I am counting on the full support of both arms of the budgetary authority so that Europe can swiftly provide the necessary aid to farmers , particularly those in Africa , in close cooperation with the competent multilateral organisations .
when we come to consider how Parliament should behave , I agree that Parliament could set an example .
all sides in the conflict committed atrocities . I could mention the rebel groups , the fighters of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda , and the Congolese army .
I would therefore like to express my support for the European Transparency Initiative , according to which information on beneficiaries of assistance from Structural Funds would be published .
the creation of a uniform , minimal EU level of protection for people affected by discrimination due to age , sexual orientation , disability , religion or world-view would put a stop to these practices .
if we look at how the world has changed during this time and how the economic power of different regions in the world has shifted , we can see that we urgently need to work much more closely with the Americans .
Article 308 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union is aimed at measures adopted as part of the internal market , which are not directly provided for in any treaty and are not necessarily similar to those which need to be adopted to provide MFA to third countries .
perhaps I may just add a brief comment regarding a point that was mentioned earlier , namely the different access rights granted to Eurojust and Europol .
irrespective of the fact there is broad consensus on the need for long-term measures , we cannot of course forget the short-term problems we are facing .
thank you , Mr Tannock .
Mr Kallas , I would like to add one more point , as we will also talk about this in connection with the Audy discharge , which I very much welcome .
but can I remind you that an unemployment level of 11.1 % next year is 27 million unemployed people ?
I have now carefully assessed the restructuring plans submitted by the Polish authorities on 12 September .
author . - ( RO ) One of the problems affecting justice systems in many countries around the world is not so much the absence of a well-structured legal framework , but more particularly the lack of enforcement of the judgments made by the justice system .
the responsibility for the disastrous situation in Campania lies primarily with the people of Campania , and I , as a native of Padania , reject these accusations and level them against those who , in Campania , voted for local officials who were incapable of resolving the problem , and who repeated their mistake by re-electing them in subsequent polls .
that may well be , but it is not perceived as such by the rest of the world , certainly not by the EU Member States , and I hear very many complaints that it is not so .
I think that we are sending the wrong message at the wrong time .
eight years ago , the European Union Solidarity Fund was established to help countries which have been hit by natural disasters .
now , such an out-of-touch attitude on the part of the Council is what is unacceptable , if you ask me .
the very objective of these agreements is for those borders to be respected .
this extends from measures such as the reduction of sulphur and nitrogen oxides at sea to measures in the ports , such as the use of land energy .
nevertheless , the ECR Group and British Conservatives are committed to positive engagement and to moving on within the new institutional framework .
instead of solving the problems , we are pouring petrol onto the fire .
the traditional policy of men working and women carrying out family duties is not creditable any more .
( PL ) Thank you for allowing my question .
that is not a view I share .
technical reasons cannot be used to postpone voting on reports which have serious repercussions for European citizens .
we owe this to the bees .
this year , we repaid monies to the Member States , in one form or another , as unused appropriations .
indeed , Member States already have possibilities to favour cleaner fisheries through the allocation of quotas .
that would be playing into their hands .
put these proposals to us and we , the Heads of State or Government , as well as Parliament , will be forced to find the right solution - but at least let us have a number of options from which to choose .
Mr President , I will be happy to pass on all the praise and the positive assessments from today 's discussion to Mr Kirilov .
recent events are part of a network smuggling sub-Saharan migrants through Egypt to Israel that has been operating in the Sinai since 2007 .
Mr Cashman and I have always worked very well together , but this time we did not have enough time to sort out all of the issues that were unclear .
as far as the Commission is concerned , the provision of assistance to third countries in tackling the pandemic is vital and must not just be limited to access to vaccines when they are available .
( GA ) Mr President , I would also like to express my thanks to the Commissioner .
on the other hand , I agree that sustainable tourism , if done properly , can provide an economic incentive for local communities to conserve the natural and cultural heritage .
this is the provision of transport and social infrastructure , accessible social services in the villages , such as raising of children , care for aged and sick persons , communication services , and establishment of cultural and sports centres .
the task of the common agricultural policy ( CAP ) has always been to guarantee the supply of food for everyone .
programmes to facilitate the stabilisation and integration of the latter are crucial for the survival of the former .
Mr President , firstly , my thanks to Mr Samecki for his good work .
so extensive technologies must be replaced by intensive technologies for all resources , including rare materials .
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if , within twenty years , there will be nearly nine billion inhabitants on this earth , and if they all want a reasonable level of prosperity , then it is essential to handle natural resources well and sparingly .
the economic crisis should not be a reason for education spending cuts , because combating the impacts of the crisis requires that young people receive higher levels of education .
we need to make it clear that , particularly in this area , we will perform our duty and , Mr Barroso - I believe we can promise you this - although we want to carry out these hearings properly and carefully , we also want to reach our decisions as quickly as possible , as the citizens of Europe demand that we work and come to decisions quickly rather than spending months discussing various people .
that is the reality of Beijing today !
the eastern and Mediterranean dimension are equally important .
this will open the way for the circumvention of hard-won workers ' rights in the EU Member States .
what we can do , and what the European Parliament has the responsibility to do , is to continue to invest in a European perspective for the whole region , and also apply this to Serbia .
in the summit conclusions the heads of state and government reaffirmed their conviction that prosperity is indivisible and that if economic growth is to be sustained then countries must share in that growth .
for more than a thousand years , our nations have contributed together to the history of Europe and I would like only to ask them to understand that numbers do not lie .
is caring about future human beings a European value - or not ?
not even water can escape the privatising and liberalising zeal of the majority of the European Parliament .
the aim is that the Community industrial installations that run a significant risk of carbon leakage should be placed on a comparable , equal footing with those in third countries .
thus , it is also our job to ensure that initial vocational education in particular is of high quality .
( it ) Madam President , what some fellow Members are trying to suggest - since it is Thursday and this is the last vote - is that if you just say ' approved ' or ' rejected ' , that will be fine .
amendment 1 , proposed by the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats , weakens this position somewhat , and thus I cannot support it .
this report on the regional development aspects of the impact of tourism on coastal regions underlines the fact that tourism is essential to the socioeconomic development of these regions of the European Union .
indeed , forest fires are one of the greatest threats to European forests and their ecosystems .
farmers also provide food , which we need in order to live .
I support Mr Catania 's report on the future of the European Common Asylum System .
Europe has written an ugly page of its history today .
at economic and diplomatic level , I realise that the EU must not neglect stressing the importance and centrality of this issue at a time of establishing lasting trade channels .
he is a geologist who was working there .
even if I had a visiting group in Brussels or a report to prepare tomorrow , this would not make any difference : I cannot go from here straight to Brussels .
I wish that every Member of this Chamber could say the same thing .
the amendment to the directive is , in fact , aimed at promoting gender equality in the world of work , promoting a better balance between women 's working and private lives .
Greece 's stubborn obstruction of the start of negotiations for accession is beyond comprehension .
it has been incorrectly asserted that this opinion is shared by the lead committee , but that is not so .
it pre-dates the financial crisis but has , on the whole , proven to function well , even in the difficult and turbulent times of recent years .
the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) would have liked the proposals for the Stockholm Programme to have been much more ambitious still , but today is a day to rejoice that we are entering this new phase , and all that remains to be said is let us get on with the work !
on 12 November 2010 , the Lithuanian Parliament decided to initiate the process of appraising the change to the Lithuanian Administrative Code , according to which the public promotion of homosexual relations must be punishable with a fine .
I welcome the adoption of this report , for which I voted , not only because of the solutions it proposes , but also because of the structure that it suggests for future cohesion policy .
we all believe in the single market and Member States have invested huge amounts of money and resources in opening up the services market , but have they told their businesses about it ?
however , indicators are not enough .
why does the world have its eyes glued to Barack Obama ?
the main task , therefore , is to ensure that welfare policy helps to efficiently guarantee the mobilisation of those capable of working as well as achieve a longer-term goal - guaranteeing an acceptable lifestyle for those who are and will remain beyond the labour market .
the bloodbath in Tiananmen Square in 1989 , the persecution of the supporters of the Falun Gong movement and the changing of the composition of the populations of Tibet and East Turkestan are being given less and less attention .
making trade less rigid means making the economic system more efficient .
the court case in which 173 people suspected of albino killings are to be tried will be a litmus test that will reveal the disposition of those in power in Tanzania , and the guilty must be punished .
moreover , I think that that is the only way in which the rotating Presidency will make sense in the future and any future Treaty amendments or new agreements will survive .
therefore , while I acknowledge the importance of adopting a clearly defined system for measuring GDP , I call on the Commission to submit , in the first instance , a tiered strategy that shows how the new ' Beyond GDP ' approach can be used in day-to-day political work .
I would remind you once again : employment is not a livelihood ; it is a means to self-respect and dignity and conditions of peace in Europe .
let me add to this that the Commission organised two stakeholder conferences on ACTA in June 2008 and April 2009 , which were open to all citizens , industry , NGOs and the media .
this practice must become the priority of European Union foreign policy .
generally speaking , I am sure that we will have to change our lifestyle and limit our extravagant consumption in the future .
this is the aim of the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council , subject to assessment by Parliament .
the proposals before us will simplify EU laws on the dairy industry .
in this sense , it is important that more attention is paid to the dialogue between our universities and business , and that we try to eliminate the bottlenecks that hamper cooperation .
we regret Russia 's withdrawal from the Energy Charter Treaty ( ECT ) , but we recall that the principles of the ECT were affirmed under Russia 's presidency of the G8 , for instance , in the St Petersburg Declaration .
particularly as a result of the enlargement rounds of 2004 and 2007 , we must finally distance ourselves from the view that European social policy is an adjunct to the internal market .
there were some questions on fiscal matters .
our fundamental values - and above all the comprehensive protection of human rights - cannot be put up for grabs in this so-called war on terror .
at the same time , an effectively revised carbon emissions trading scheme will , I am sure , help to improve matters significantly .
the reaction to the thousands of refugees who are literally being washed ashore in the south of Europe cannot possibly be considered a valid reason for us to start closing our internal borders , even temporarily .
as far as the text we are to vote on is concerned , I particularly welcome the proposal to cut VAT on babies ' nappies and children 's services .
right to stand in elections to the European Parliament for EU citizens residing in a Member State of which they are not nationals (
the next item is the presentation by the Council of the draft general budget for the 2010 financial year .
examples are accreditation of forensic laboratories , harmonisation of the policy on interpreters and the transfer of criminal records .
according to the information received by the Council on the status of the SIS II project , a number of problems persist .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I have been listening very carefully to the discussion on Parliament 's report on the obligations of cross-border service providers .
as Parliament 's rapporteur for the review of the Dublin II regulation , I welcome this ruling .
President Medvedev himself suggested that these exchanges continue at the 21-22 May summit , and we shall take him up on that .
this would entail the development of our relationship through the bilateral track of the EAP , the launching of a thorough political and economic dialogue , as well as enhanced sectoral cooperation .
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despite the problems , Macedonia remains a stable country in the region , enjoying good relations with neighbouring states , and I believe it is well on its way towards the EU .
my fellow Members on the left are calling for more social spending and for more social security .
around the world , this goes hand in hand with extremism , which poses a long-term threat as well .
the benefits that would stem from this are plain to see , indeed it is hard to understand why a plan of this scope has not been published before now .
moreover , given the gravity of the situation in the Fukushima power station , I call on the Japanese Government to demonstrate the fullest transparency and on the Member States of the EU to organise a broad public debate on energy , one that is not solely restricted to nuclear .
unfortunately , communication and transparency are features of the aviation security sector which need to be improved urgently .
however , there are many positive aspects which are important , in particular its defence of the precautionary principle , confirming that this should constitute one of the cornerstones of Community policies in the areas of health and the environment .
( explanation of vote cut pursuant to Rule 163 of the Rules of Procedure )
the country of origin principle was clearly replaced by the freedom to provide services , but we needed a recipient country principle , in other words , for the rules in the recipient country to apply .
let me say why .
this value should continue to be a guiding principle .
just 18 % of the EU population aged 65-74 use the Internet , compared with 60 % overall .
mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund : application EGF / 2011 / 005 Norte-Centro Automotive - Portugal (
I am firmly convinced that minority rights must become a part of the acquis communautaire .
the European Union strategy should ensure clear objectives and means of funding programmes .
yet the request for more disposable funds , which recurs every year , is at odds with this .
the question arises - who benefits ?
Mr President , the situation of the Roma in Europe is getting worse .
in particular , the experience of these years clearly demonstrates that funding of economic actions such as innovation , research and the environment from the European Regional Development Fund ( ERDF ) can be more effective if closely coordinated and integrated with the actions undertaken by the European Social Fund ( ESF ) .
unfortunately , forecasts for 2013 are even worse for the workers , especially in less developed areas .
( PL ) Mr President , if the protection of biodiversity is a priority of the European Commission , then there should be no talk of cloning .
if it was any other product we would call it handling of stolen goods .
however , it always adds that such policies should have ' particular focus upon development and strengthening of the internal market ' : in other words , it wants more neoliberal policies , more privatisations , more free competition , and more policies that favour the strongest over the weakest .
therein lies the contradiction of the undertaking by the European Union , urging us to assess the impact of our European policies concerning the Development Goals .
Afghan opium and heroin are being trafficked out of the country , mainly through Iran and Pakistan on the southern routes and through Turkmenistan , Uzbekistan , Tajikistan and Kazakhstan on the northern routes .
we have the guarantee of annual impact assessments .
the authors of civil initiatives often complain that these activities are unduly held up by complicated bureaucracy or overly-complicated structures in the relevant ministries and offices .
I would also like to take this opportunity to tell you that it is a great honour for me to have this responsibility , which has been entrusted to me by the President of the Republic .
I am speaking here about the rules which have been introduced in response to the crisis and to make the EGF more effective in tackling the impact of the crisis on workers .
for the sake of quality legislation , it is becoming increasingly necessary to delegate to the Commission the development of the non-essential and more technical aspects of the legislation , as well as its prompt adjustment to take account of technological progress and economic change .
the agreements on visa waivers and air services confirm the good relations between Brazil and the European Union .
I would like to draw attention to point 8 of the report , which bans bottom-trawling at depths below 1 000m .
this will allow cheap chicken to be brought into the European Union , which will unfortunately affect the most disadvantaged people who shop in discount supermarkets , and we will find this chlorinated chicken in processed products , catering trays and school canteens .
to this end we need adequate resources to be earmarked in the specific programmes of the Commission and the Member States .
on 11 November , 90 years after the end of the First World War , you also invited us to a remembrance service in Verdun .
the analysis has shown that we only need to raise women 's employment by 1 % and the costs would be balanced .
the first really major step for women in the labour market was taken during the two world wars , especially the Second World War .
as a result , these projects must not be subject to a policy which has , as its priority and dogma , the competition , deregulation or so-called adaptability and entrepreneurship which are priorities of the Lisbon Strategy .
secondly , each country will use this revenue to create a fund that will provide compensation for those in dire straits , such as fishermen , truck drivers and a large number of households that are now finding it difficult to pay the bills ; not by subsidising energy directly but by helping those concerned to find the money to pay for it , and more especially by linking this to energy efficiency .
there then followed a dozen trialogues .
another important item on the European Council 's agenda is the preparations for the G20 summit .
Mr President , on behalf of the ALDE Group , I wish to propose an oral amendment to Amendment 2 .
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we expect you to present us with indicators - again , not as a constraint , but as a support .
however , the balance of payments and budgetary position remain weak and vulnerable due to the blockade of most direct trade with Russia and marked reduction in foreign direct investment ( FDI ) inflows .
now we can assume that , when the Treaty enters into force at the start of 2009 , the Guarantee Fund will no longer exist and these matters will therefore pass into full budgetary sovereignty of Parliament .
briefly , in summary , I therefore think that when we talk about this sector , we need to look at tourism in a much more multi-faceted way , and we must also investigate what these services can bring us from the perspective of the common market .
this unacceptable decision totally undermines the public , social character of social insurance in the public and private sectors .
I refuse to believe that as prime minister of a country with such historical experience , you would want decisions on social policy , energy , taxes , justice and security to be taken anywhere other than in the individual Member States .
it carries on the work that I conducted in my report in 2001 on young people and alcohol and its negative effects .
the rapporteur says two very important things - one is crop rotation .
in paragraph 248 , the words ' Kozloduy blocks 1 to 4 ' should be added after ' at the Kozloduy nuclear power station ' .
however , as we well know , in these negotiations the devil is in the detail , and we met him during these negotiations on three particular points I would like to mention briefly .
we had several reports of passengers left with no information about when they could get home , no transparency about who was technically responsible for their situation , no phone number to call to get any information and no idea how to seek redress when they did get home .
those who stay cannot find work outside of agriculture .
it also shows that by joining forces we have , with the Council , been able to bring the issue of cabin crews back to the original Commission level , and it shows that we have been able to find a very good compromise on restrictions of flying time .
for this reason , I would like to highlight two demands made in the resolution .
in my four minutes this morning , I do not have time to go through all the points and all the improvements that we have made in great detail .
this lesson has to be learned .
that is what we Social Democrats are calling for .
the Islamist parallel societies now existing throughout Europe are often underestimated .
- Sánchez Presedo report
we wanted EASA , the European Aviation Safety Agency , to become more efficient , to be able to act more swiftly and to be more responsive .
according to Commissioner Almunia , we still lack information about the actual , overall exposure of all the players .
the European Parliament has commendably responded with a sense of urgency to adopt this proposal at first reading .
however , if there was no WTO , where would we be ?
it has blamed the effects of the crisis .
I should like to take advantage of this report to make the case for a tax on international financial transactions in order to help certain donors to honour their commitments in terms of official development aid and to help developing countries to make the changes necessary to cope with climate change .
in its relations with the Russian Federation , the EU must speak with one voice and show solidarity , particularly as regards safeguarding energy security .
Madam President , it says that roll calls may be taken with 24 hours notice .
this is not exactly a subject that needs to be discussed here , but we have seen that Member States are not carrying out enough checks on imported goods , and I would make a renewed appeal to the Commission to get together with the Member States to give this further consideration , so as to ensure that goods imports are properly checked without fail .
creating conditions for early Palestinian elections is a key to progress .
welcome
Mr President , I regret to announce to the House that Mr Zamel Bawi , whose execution we asked to be stopped , was executed at 4 a.m. yesterday in Karoon prison in Ahwaz .
democratic Republic of Congo , mass rape in South Kivu province (
I believe that it is extremely important that we have included the regions here and that the European Union is setting down guidelines that can be implemented in the regions and applied accordingly .
industry will do everything for profit .
there is a need for well-qualified trainers in adult education as well as specific programmes of courses in adult education .
in a competitive market such as the car market , competition law should not interfere with the balance of powers between the different contracting parties .
the news today that the security forces prevented opposition politicians from staging a protest rally does not bode well .
in this strategy , the educational component will hold a very important place .
this package lacks the sufficient scientific rigour which is needed both to defend our health and our economy .
we are stuck with an unreasonable system because of unfortunate decisions in the past .
energy efficiency in buildings is an area which can generate roughly 500 000 jobs in the EU , improve citizens ' quality of life , and contribute to sustainable economic development by promoting renewable energy sources .
converted from the intergovernmental programmes of several European countries into an official EU action , the introduction of the European Heritage Label will strengthen the sense of belonging to the EU , and will reinforce the recognition of differences and intercultural dialogue .
subject : Internet safety programme
it is well known that for centuries these institutions have experienced difficulties in properly protecting archive material received from different sources .
as for Kosovo , concerns still remain about the quality of passport security and organised crime .
a political solution with regard to the piracy off the Somalian coast ( vote )
one of the arguments that was always used by those who were critical of Tibetan resistance was that this resistance , focused on the figure of the Dalai Lama , had many non-democratic aspects .
secondly , we take a similar view on non-spray zones around watercourses .
the issue of liberalising the visa regime with the EU is moving forward .
meanwhile , it continues to be the case that Poland , for example , still applies national imposition of value-added tax , VAT , despite the Sixth Directive and court rulings .
I should like to express my firm belief that the ECB must be independent , but , if the ECB 's work is to realise its full potential , the ECB must be able to negotiate with an economic government .
although we welcome this , it is only a partial step forward because they failed to agree on a mid-term target despite the fact that both the European Union Member States and the Commission insisted on the necessity of a mid-term target .
our board of directors has in principle approved finance for a mining project in Katanga , but nothing has yet been paid out for this project .
in Ireland we see the evidence of this response , where the minimum wage has been cut by one euro an hour in the last week , and where invalidity payments and payments to blind persons have also been cut .
Albania and the FYROM have also concluded a Stabilisation and Association agreement with the EU .
you can expect a large number of Commission proposals from about September this year , based on the results of the measurements and the screening of all the existing rules .
if we take that prospect - which is not unlikely - our aim and our duty are to avoid that recession .
in particular , the European Parliament is calling on the Sudanese and South Sudanese to propose specific plans taking account of sensitive subjects , namely citizenship , the sharing of debt and of oil revenues .
to give support to voluntary work and enhance social recognition , it is important that a community of purpose is created , with transfer of best practice and experience by the active players - government , business , trade unions and voluntary organisations - working together in dialogue and in partnership .
on the one hand , it has been pointed out that such subsidies distort competition in the international market while , on the other , it has been stressed that it is essential to fight rising unemployment and that State aid certainly serves this end .
this is not the central problem , but it demonstrates how many managers still do not understand what the new regulation of the financial markets involves and what responsibilities they have to the population as a whole .
however , mistakes have been committed and controversial decisions have been made in the name of this desired objective .
I agree that the European Union must make a big effort to pursue a genuinely consistent , robust policy to promote human rights in the world .
today , with international approval , steps are being taken to dismantle one of Europe 's states .
the European Council , the Commission and the European Parliament must prepare for the entry into force of the Treaty .
in writing . - I voted in favour of the Iotova report on consumer education on credit and finance .
it states that there are still large differences in the way environmental inspections are being carried out in the EU .
however , regulating and enforcing these agreements will prove a challenge .
workers from Eastern Europe support with the same conviction the amendments which the European Parliament is proposing , while the Council is rejecting them .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , as you have recalled , this structural crisis is both deep and enduring .
I thank them for their quick , effective response to my initiative of an oral question with debate and resolution to the European Commission to deal with the apiculture health crisis .
so whom do we owe it to ?
the World Health Organization ( WHO ) recommends that children eat 400 g of fruit and vegetables per day .
I should actually have liked to tell the Serbian Minister for Foreign Affairs this if he had wanted to hear it .
in cases of repetitive non-compliance with the recommendations , the interest-bearing deposits are converted into a yearly fine .
confidence is an essential feature of such a society , and confidence must be based on strong foundations .
by Mr Surján , on behalf of the Committee on Budgets , on the Guidelines for the Budget 2010 procedure - Section III - Commission ;
I would also like to alert the Commission to the risk of micro-credit being abused for money-laundering purposes .
I think there are three issues .
we have shown that the fight against undeclared work must be seen as a problem that affects all countries and that if Europe wishes to attain the objectives set in Lisbon it must take on this battle .
he has made a nice little speech , but in the meantime he has called one of his political opponents - in other words , me - a psychopath .
some of you also mentioned the ' hidden work ' that is being done by women on farms .
Mrs Griesbeck mentioned the evaluation .
5 .
I have been in politics for 20 years and only rarely have I experienced a situation this complex .
therefore , this really is not a democratic media law .
this is clearly the most important priority , but it is again the duty of border guards in the Member States to seize illegal cigarettes .
it would therefore be advisable to encourage the diversification of economic activities .
after all , what is the point of providing something that is not used ?
what conclusions can we draw ?
I repeat , these date back to Bourguiba .
the new contribution agreement of EUR 60 million has just been finalised .
the states and their national borders derive not from domestic movements which shaped an independent state , but simply from the colonial past .
is the rate of gas and oil supply the measure of our objectiveness ?
rather , it is the market that has pinpointed the underlying fault , the underlying cause .
why is that ?
I welcome the Council 's initiative in preparing legislation proposals for the 2009-2010 period on introducing an entry / exit system , a Registered Traveller Programme ( RTP ) and an Electronic System of Travel Authorisation ( ESTA ) .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
the markets were well-massaged and influenced towards getting us into the crisis in the first place .
the Ombudsman provides an important service to EU citizens and helps ensure that the European institutions operate within both the law and wider general principles .
this is what we are here today to ask for ; this is what we are here to demand .
in both cases , the oil in question is transformer oil .
the second revision of the Cotonou Agreement presents an opportunity to evaluate the fields left open to incorrect or inefficient changes and is also the time when corrections can be made to the agreement according to developments in the globalisation process .
the debate is closed .
although the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive has been in force since 2002 , its implementation in the various Member States has not been satisfactory .
for these reasons , I voted in favour of this report .
in the name of what should they be deprived of their livelihood ?
opposing this measure will have the effect of excluding many women from the labour force , thereby losing a valuable resource .
however , while there are burning issues to be dealt with , these EU-Africa strategies , in our opinion , fail to deal with two key problems .
but we were told by the President and the Prime Minister how lucky the Haitians were that they had good sanitation and that they had no disease - and the sad thing now is that disease has hit them .
( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , there are many ways of tackling the lasting effects of the unforeseen financial and economic crisis .
here and now . these measures must include nuclear energy and a quest for new sources of natural gas .
in this particular case , we are talking about the mobilisation of in excess of EUR 1.5 million in favour of Spain to support 1 154 redundancies at 593 companies in the retail trade between 1 June 2009 and 28 February 2010 .
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thank you also for your support .
the problem is therefore mainly in the EU Member States .
quite the contrary .
what is the right exchange rate strategy ?
highlights that the information so far provided by the US has never conclusively proven that the massive and systematic use of PNR data is necessary in the ' fight against terrorism ' .
the debate is closed .
the rescue plan for Opel is in full swing and the world , and even Europe , is not rid of the demons of protectionism .
our previous debates on Arctic policy in this Chamber provoked , indeed , the Commission communication .
I believe that the EP must be very precise when talking about sanctions , and especially when calling for EU action in response to violations of international law , as the House did in this report on Israel .
we do have one small point - one small technical point to make - however , Commissioner .
that is why the Commission is in a position to accept ( either in their entirety or in principle ) a substantial majority of the amendments presented by the rapporteur : primarily Amendment 15 on maternity leave for women engaged in a self-employed capacity and Amendment 18 , which is aimed at reintroducing Article 7 of Directive 86 / 613 / EEC relating to recognition of the work of assisting spouses .
we have not even managed to resolve the existing reimbursement problems and the measures for preventing health tourism are unlikely to be effective .
of course we had the pilot project that was launched in 2006 and involved Belgium , the Czech Republic , France , Germany , Luxembourg and Spain , which were subsequently joined by others in the light of its success .
if there is one area that comes under national jurisdiction , it is European air traffic control .
on 2 May the Presidency responded , on behalf of the European Union , by publishing a statement on the escalation of tension between Georgia and Russia .
I might need an extra minute or two , and I shall be happy to take it .
the term unrestricted does not , however , mean unregulated and lacking any principles determining conditions for trade exchange whilst providing for competitiveness .
we are all concerned since the Agency will gather and compile data and prepare recommendations to the institutions in the field , a remit that is hard to define in its boundaries , which is horizontal and which cross-cuts all Community policies .
I will begin with the calling of an Intergovernmental Conference .
I think that we really do need to try to step up the pace of our action : instead of waiting until the end of next year , we should perhaps seek a solution somewhat sooner .
I feel that the time has come for more severe measures to be taken against the monstrous junta in Burma .
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worse still , in recent years , the Malaysian Parliament has extended the list of criminal offences that are punishable by caning .
these are highly questionable political uses of public money .
I would like to inform you that the present ruling coalition in Poland , the Platforma Obywatelska and the Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe , has already begun work on changing this law so as to make it the same for Members of the European Parliament , Members of Parliament in Poland and for Senators .
as he already has good contacts with Mr Steinbruck , I think he will also be able to convince him .
after ' list of individuals responsible for ' , insert ' severe ' .
President-in-Office of the Council . - Madam President , we are all aware that we are continuing to suffer from one of the most severe financial and economic crises for many years .
and in the case of Tajikistan , an interim agreement is in force pending the ratification and entry into force of the PCA .
both have to recognise that only through promoting sustainable development and good governance can their own interests and investments be sustainable and seen as legitimate in Africa .
we must face the fact that terrorism in Europe is purely Islamic in character , and that radicalised Muslims are completely immune to integration measures .
I believe that is how we will really make the concept of Europe more concrete , ensure that their enthusiasm bears fruit and produce the new generation of Europeans you and I both hope to see .
we believe this is also entirely appropriate for the most important instruments in the environmental sector .
the group already held a meeting in November , which produced good results with regard to defining the issues to be addressed and the options to be suggested .
on behalf of the S & D Group . - Mr President , we wish to move an oral amendment to the first part of this amendment .
political parties at the European level have also been in existence for a long time now .
we made it voluntary for the Member States to give the resources that they were able to give .
we suggest calling on the European Commission to provide the European Parliament with the legal analysis of the options for the prudential supervision of the EIB by 30 November 2011 , because under the effective legislation , no European institution has the right to supervise the EIB .
of course it makes the ritual genuflection to climate change hysteria , despite the increasing doubts over the supposed link between CO2 and climate .
this is the time to reformulate our partnership , for Europe to show in Washington itself and in the United States the potential of today 's European Union , the potential of European science , European culture and European civilisation .
recent surveys in sub-Saharan Africa show that only 12 % of men and 10 % of women have had the test and received results .
many women are eminent specialists in their fields , and Europe 's economy cannot do without the services of this highly qualified workforce .
( BG ) Mr Orban , more than 60 000 Bulgarian citizens watch the news in Turkish , their mother tongue , on Bulgarian national television .
however , it is a lesson we have to learn .
as many of our Member States know well , it is very difficult to tackle terrorists effectively .
the Commission does all it can to guarantee this process is transparent and accountable , in accordance with the LIFE + Regulation .
whether a vessel carrying illegal immigrants is shipwrecked off Sicily or the Canary Islands or elsewhere , it must be considered a shared problem .
firstly , they want to restrict human rights to civil and political rights and are removing social , environmental , economic and cultural rights from the text .
you will have our support in this , but you can also be sure of our criticism if we do not agree , because I believe that we can only stand together on this matter if our citizens have a future .
in writing . - ( LT ) I voted in favour of this resolution because I believe that in the EU there needs to be enhanced cooperation in the area of the law applicable to divorce or legal separation .
in this way , Europe will remain visible , and we will contribute to greater solidarity in Europe , even after the period of crisis .
the first is the lack of regulation .
this objective has only been achieved as a result of close collaboration with the EU Member States .
thirdly , the IASB 's due process should be enhanced , mainly by ensuring that standards are subject to a full impact assessment before they are adopted .
( PT ) Mr President , I believe that there are two fundamental issues in this debate , the first of which is that we are dealing with a judicial system that is one of the most independent in the world .
the Lisbon Strategy cannot be implemented in a manner which would eat away at the financial basis of the welfare society and which would be grossly unfair .
the EU does not belong to the free world .
Mr President , I want to thank Lasse Lehtinen for a very comprehensive report , which contains an enormous amount of extremely significant ideas .
therefore , it is extremely important that our citizens be aware of their rights .
as a result , there should be no automatic need to divide on party-political lines , though we have tabled a few additional amendments for the plenary session .
( DE ) Mr President , I very much welcome the central element of the Krahmer report , the European safety network .
Madam President , the directive on a single permit for residence and work really is very important .
here , nothing of the kind has been provided , and so in fact it does not comply with the EU strategy for energy solidarity and energy security that we have now accepted .
in fact , we would rather seek to strengthen than limit ACP rights and capacity in these areas .
I am afraid that bringing this kind of matter before this House really brings the reputation of this House into disrepute and it means that the good work that we try to do in human rights is devalued , when we start talking about traffic accidents .
this bill was condemned by the President of the Republic of Lithuania , Ms Dalia Grybauskaitė .
the transfer of Member States ' competences to the European Union is the justification for replacing bilateral air services agreements with new ones to which the Union is party .
the importance of supporting banana producers from the poorest Caribbean nations is absolutely pivotal .
why , in this European Parliament , should we be suspected of playing tactics when we speak of human rights ?
meanwhile , the Court of Auditors has submitted this discharge , this report .
( EL ) Mr President , I consider that our parliamentary committee took a very important decision for today 's debate , which is proving to be extremely interesting , with so many issues and very important dimensions being raised which relate not only to an effective post-2013 cohesion policy , but also to the character of the European Union .
non-proliferation and the future of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons ( NPT ) (
the Eurovignette is a further significant achievement of the Belgian Presidency .
this is important not only because these people have already suffered enough , but also because it will serve as an example for the neighbouring countries , and I am obviously thinking of the Congo , which will no doubt be in an electoral period in the coming year , in 2011 .
as we can see with the difficulties in transposing the Services Directive in relation to social services , only a specific framework can provide legal certainty and quality of service .
that would eventually be detrimental and lead to popular support for Europe melting away .
Gary Titley said that I was a paranoid reactionary living on the fringes of society .
we have also enhanced the balance between home and host regulators .
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secondly , we are concerned because the Commission would appear to be aware that there is a legislative lacuna when it initiates procedures to amend directives .
( applause from the EFD Group )
one of the ' eligible actions ' of the European Refugee Fund ( ERF ) is resettlement .
to be fit for the 21st century , the EU needs to focus on issues like the environment , economic competitiveness and global poverty , in order to demonstrate it is worthy of public support .
the allocation of the budget to the Member States , as well as the differentiated rates for cofinancing for cohesion and non-cohesion countries , does of course already take into account the financial capacity of every country .
as we did in our referendum , we need to continue to communicate who and what we are .
I also find it annoying that the Council leaves us with our backs to the wall every time , and that we just have to like it or lump it .
( applause )
for sure it will be large and very significant for Malta .
the proposal to ensure that women who are self-employed have the possibility of taking up to 14 weeks of maternity leave , including two weeks of mandatory leave , is deserving of support , as is the proposal to give them the right to benefit from social security cover for assisting spouses on the same basis as self-employed workers .
the absence of common rules in various Member States has given way to fragmentation of legal frameworks which is harmful for both consumers and manufacturers and in fact prevents the realisation of a common market .
as for what needs to be done , with regard to certain areas already mentioned by the Swedish Presidency , our requests are as follows : firstly , that together with our African Union partners , we demand the release of the prisoners and political leaders still being detained .
I have two questions for you about this .
although we should support the Government 's offer of amnesty for the majority of the LTTE , it is vital that no one responsible for the most serious war crimes is allowed to get away with impunity .
specifically , reference is made to the outcome of the 61st session of the IMO 's Marine Environment Protection Committee a few weeks ago .
to persist with those instruments is nothing less than really ' going for broke ' and carrying on along the path to economic , social and environmental disaster .
this shows that poverty is spreading , and the effectiveness of activities undertaken so far is barely perceptible .
therefore , the role of travel agents should be regulated much more precisely .
definitely , security of supply and climate change are closely related , with perhaps just one major difference at this stage , which is the cost for carbon sequestration , but I believe oil price developments will help .
I just want to remind the liberal ministers of the European Union that currently , it is also very important that this report is endorsed in order to support the fundamental rights of women .
I think that much of this is in the report and for this I would again thank all those persons and all those groups involved .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - Mr President , today we are appealing to the EU countries who are not currently planning to sign the Convention against cluster munitions to do so .
in writing . - The British Labour delegation supports the main thrust of this report , as it attends to promoting generally-acceptable policies for the EU economy .
at a time of economic crisis , to impose an additional administrative and financial burden on small and fragile businesses , which must face the consequences of the recession , would not send a good message .
in writing . - ( DE ) The funding of the European Maritime Safety Agency was also cut in 2009 , by 3.8 % .
so the doctor will first ask the patient what language he or she speaks , and only after that can he ask what is wrong with him or her , otherwise a breach of the law will , according to the bill , be punishable by a fine of between EUR 100 and 5000 .
in the case of the proposal for a directive regarding the problem of late payment , the Late Payment Directive , work is far advanced , and this same Parliament will be able to deal with this proposal .
given the current situation in the national energy markets within the EU , it is unacceptable for one company to both own the electricity network and also be responsible for the transmission of electricity , thus holding a de facto monopoly , as it can then block access to the market for new operators who , in many cases , are more competitive .
Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy . - Madam President , the situation in Côte d 'Ivoire is very precarious , as lives are at risk - the lives of Ivorian citizens but also of many Europeans who are living and working in the country .
as a Hungarian MEP , I would like once again to mention that , thanks to visa-free travel status for Serbia , a more direct link is being established between Hungarians living in Vojvodina in Serbia and the mother country , not to mention with Europe too .
( PL ) Madam President , the potential benefits and possibilities which the Google Books Project offers consumers , researchers and the majority of publishers and authors for the preservation of cultural heritage is , really , beyond dispute .
in particular , we will have to avoid subjecting enterprises - and particularly micro-enterprises - to unjustified or , in any case , unnecessary administrative obligations .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , I am glad that the European Union is again discussing tobacco consumption .
people have started to have convivial evenings outside , where they can smoke , and now along come the European politicians , we few individuals here , and tell 490 million people how they can and cannot spend their leisure hours .
Wednesday :
a number of technically difficult negotiating chapters await us .
the petitioner had clear legal avenues which he could pursue at national level and , indeed , he has made use of these opportunities .
this is another example of a law which could be used to deny recognition to the partnerships and marriages of same-sex couples from other Member States .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , Mrs Malmström described the situation in Guinea perfectly .
the European Union will not be the world 's leading knowledge- and technology-based economy in 2010 .
( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , more than 55 000 patients are on waiting lists for an organ transplant .
research has shown that , as societies become wealthier , the demand for water increases .
( FR ) Mr President , international law is quite clear on this point .
in the Andrew Symeou case , the underlying problems , I say to Gerard Batten , were procedural problems : the detention periods and court system after the arrest warrant was executed .
we are making a straightforward offer to the entire region , and specifically to Serbia , to continue on the path towards the European Union in a reasonable period of time .
he can inspect the lines of police drafted in to keep the peace and , of course , preserve the special rights of the travellers .
debates on cases of breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law
that is the most important task .
evidently , if necessary we can resort to the penalties provided for in the contracts , as my predecessor did by imposing a fine of more than EUR 1 million on one of the contractors .
finally , I would like to thank Mrs Weisgerber most sincerely for her warm cooperation in the assembly and production of this report .
the wording is very negative and I would like it to read as follows :
I consider this a huge and natural step in a situation where the agricultural sector is so important , both from an economic point of view and because this is important for quite a lot of people .
however , Russia is ready for democracy .
these are the problems the European Union is facing , and we should therefore appreciate how effective these agencies ' measures are .
the EU must use all the means at its disposal to respond to the consequences of the crisis , particularly in terms of the support to be provided to those who have been facing the day-to-day reality of unemployment .
( PT ) Mr President , I will be very happy to answer , although I did not want to turn a European Parliament debate into a debate on Portuguese politics .
Mr Dick Marty , the Council of Europe rapporteur , also presented a second report in July this year . I would like to confine myself to two points .
I would once again call on the Commission to take action in relation to this issue .
what happened to change this position ?
this is visible and recognisable . however , there are different ideas for the post-2013 cohesion policy .
on 6 May 2009 , an Agreement on civil aviation safety was concluded between the EU - then the European Community - and Canada , similar to that with the US , aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two parties and reducing duplication of checks for all controls and tests .
I would also point out that the new Treaty of Lisbon provides a legal basis for the rights of the child , now included in the objectives of the European Union .
Madam President , the Council decision adopts the UN Security Council Resolution .
I believe that this label will act as an outstanding complement to both the UNESCO list and the European Cultural Routes , as well as the European Capitals of Culture .
after all , my insider states : ' if you have money , you can get food .
this type of approach is extremely short-sighted .
from now on , we will be helping to shape policies upfront rather than assessing and trying to correct them afterwards .
there is no single currency ; there is only taxpayers ' money in different parts of Europe .
ultimately , we MEPs represent the people and the people are asking us to concern ourselves with the least well-off as well .
let us stop crying crocodile tears and finally behave like responsible human beings .
on the one hand it confirms the very pragmatic position of the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality , and on the other hand it confirms the admirable commitment of our colleague Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou .
( for the results and other details on the vote : see Minutes )
uranium mining produces huge amounts of CO2 and nobody knows what to do with the waste we are producing .
between January and now , three times the number of weapons have been purchased compared with 2007 , and some of these , as far as the Rwandan sector is concerned , were destined for the rebel Laurent Nkunda , with the results that we see today .
unfortunately , the situation is proving so difficult that this may not be the last case , or at least we should be prepared for there to be other cases , other Member States which need this type of help .
there can be no doubt about the importance and success of cohesion policy .
the fact that we suspect the Indian government of having a part in all this is an especially serious matter .
in the Gipsy colony where they live , there are no paved roads , and so every day , the children had to cross a meadow and by the time they got to the school , their feet were covered in mud .
I also see merit in proposals to enhance the EU private placement regime and agree that the definition of eligible investors is crucial .
thank you very much and I wish you every success in your new role .
since this is a complex problem , I welcome this debate .
it is only when what we have decided is actually applied that we will be able to succeed in preventing the recurrence of accidents like those of the Erika and the Prestige .
we are just the opposite !
Irish citizens , like those in France and the Netherlands previously , want a better deal .
a series of tragic events - in Erfurt , Antwerp , Helsinki and elsewhere - have vividly demonstrated the potential danger that firearms pose to the safety of our citizens , especially children .
the existing situation indicates that reservations made through the computerized reservations systems used by tourist agencies lead to higher prices .
while we enjoy the freedom which the internet affords , we must recognise that with freedom come responsibilities .
we expect High Representative Ashton to ensure that human rights have a special place in the new structure , and that in addition to providing the necessary organisational conditions , the entire work of the External Action Service should be inspired by human rights mainstreaming .
some very short points : the amount of waste which is now being collected from the streets is well below the amount being put on the streets ; the measures that the government is taking are therefore completely inadequate .
if a company is to operate there , it must surrender most of its decision-making and operations procedures to the Government .
it is of paramount importance that the producer should be able to obtain healthy propagation material , both to prevent the spread of new diseases and to protect his income , and also to reduce the use of pesticides , which are , as we all know , so harmful to the environment .
this is the first time that we have agreed on a common approach to communication .
by contributing in a differentiated way , the EU and the Member States are determined to act collectively and resolutely with all the international partners , particularly the Arab League and other regional stakeholders , to give full effect to these decisions .
in the new international situation various production factors and components may be regarded as raw materials , including energy .
we must create a secure Europe in which cross-border crime is combated effectively , while at the same time , the privacy of individuals is respected .
I share this point of view and feel that the EU must continue to strengthen its economic governance , in order , of course , to stabilise , but also to encourage sustainable growth .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Mr President , for centuries the Uighurs have eked out a perilous living in an inhospitable part of a vast country .
in his report , Mr Surján consistently gives expression to the priorities of economic growth and employment .
however , there is the question of whether we need regulatory intervention from Europe .
( Liisa Jaakonsaari commented without using the microphone )
now they have 23 % .
at the same time , it is important to emphasise , at every opportunity , that the basic precondition to attaining the global objectives of cohesion policy is sound financial management , accountability and transparency in the allocation of funds .
therefore , the proposal to create a Global Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund to mobilise private investment for developing countries and economies in transition is very interesting .
the industry has been declining steadily over the last decade .
a good traffic system is of vital importance to society .
Madam President , Mr President-in-Office of the Council , Commissioner , just like yesterday , I feel I have to say that I have great doubt about the honesty with which the Commission is conducting this debate .
that is probably the most sensitive issue in connection with European policy towards Belarus .
disasters are not merely confined to the EU : they also occur beyond our borders , and they often have an impact on the EU 's Member States .
in writing . - ( PT ) The overall situation in Yemen is of serious concern worldwide , and in the light of the recent terrorist threats , the EU must play an increasingly active role in preventing Yemen from becoming another failed state within the international community .
that is why she uses 15 articles in her report to call for facilities to reunite families , civil rights for immigrants , and increased efforts to integrate them ...
I will also draw your attention to the fact that the directive should also include in its scope workers who are legally resident in the EU , in particular , citizens of the Member States which acceded to the EU in 2004 and 2007 , and who are still subject to transitional provisions which restrict their access to legal work .
I regret that , at the end of a very good consultation with Mrs Trautmann I am unable to request this , but this friendly consultation , the good result of the telecoms package , should not ultimately mean that we curtail citizens ' rights en passant .
I call on the Presidency of the Council to do this .
the European Union budget , and particularly this one , reflects the lack of a European political project even though , against a backdrop of crisis and at the start of our new mandates , European citizens need it more than ever .
it is a very important meeting which the Presidency , on behalf of which I am speaking , is going to attend in order to clearly establish and reaffirm that the Member States have to cooperate with the International Criminal Court , and that they are going to work along those lines , naturally based on the principle of complementarity , which is a basic principle of operation of the Criminal Court .
what are we concerned with here ?
that remains the case .
it is very important that we get together in the EU and work towards zero tolerance as regards trafficking in human beings .
I have chosen to focus mainly on ACTA , that is to say the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement , which is in the process of being negotiated by the US , Japan , the EU and other countries .
this makes it imperative to devise an EU Black Sea strategy , with the same level of priority as the European Union 's other regional strategies and focused on three main areas : economic , social and human development ; energy , transport and environment ; security and good governance .
the compromises we have produced satisfy all legal gun users .
firstly , I said earlier that we need to work with other international partners on this issue and that is one reason why Belarus should continue to participate in the multilateral track that we have available , and why we need to engage strongly with our Eastern Partnership countries to build a consensus on this issue .
unfortunately , it is not available in my own country , Ireland , where we still have an unacceptably high level of fatal accidents .
stringent measures and high standards with regard to the safety of nuclear power plants and close cooperation between local , regional , national and European authorities provide the conditions for the safe use of nuclear power in the EU .
this is scandalous and this situation needs to change 90 years after the founding of the ILO .
in writing . - ( PT ) The European Commission considers that , in order to provide a response to common agricultural policy management needs , there is considerable need for information on land use , land conditions and crop conditions .
the renewed social agenda proposed by the Commission gives substance to that link by advocating a broad holistic approach to future social policies and priorities .
in order for the Danube to become a driving force for economic development , it will be necessary to make certain tributaries navigable and complete connections to other main transport corridors .
I would just like to draw attention to the fact that while this argument may seem quite convincing at first glance , on closer inspection it would mean that the CO2 issue would , in a roundabout way , lead us down the road to pervasive lifestyle regulations in Europe .
even though the European Parliament 's report on Investing in the future : a new Multiannual Financial Framework ( MFF ) for a competitive , sustainable and inclusive Europe contains many ideas that should be supported , I did not support it because I believe that it damages the European Union 's image in the eyes of its residents .
in a nutshell , stability , openness in the region and interoperability , legislative , democratic , political and so on .
the new Member States can also share their recent experience of the transition to a market economy and implementation of good governance , democratic principles and human rights .
this solution cannot be achieved , however , through terrorist attacks or armed actions .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , since the establishment of the European border security agency , Frontex , the implementation of the European work programmes has been proceeding effectively and according to plan .
Mrs Krehl 's report on the obstacles to the use of Structural Funds rightly lists the major problems faced by applicants in claiming Structural Funds , such as excessive bureaucracy , too many complex regulations or the slow and cumbersome centrally managed administration in the Member States .
shipping disaster in the Sea of Asov / Black Sea and the subsequent oil pollution ( debate )
for them to succeed , a settlement has to be carried by public opinion .
another issue voiced by the citizens that merits our attention concerns the deadline for calls for submissions of projects for financing under the European Social Fund .
the Agreement will not only make the Canadian and European markets more competitive , it will also make them safer as regulators and enforcement authorities are moving closer to cooperation in all matters of certification , inspections and enforcement , to ensure the highest level of safety for passengers and cargo flights .
I agree with the assessment that public procurement , as a highly important part of the European market , should remain a tool for promoting environmentally friendly vehicles , but this should not be done in a mechanical way .
it has thus also forced other states , particularly France and Germany , to begin searching intensively for a solution .
I regret that the head of the Council and the President of the European Commission were not there .
secondly , we need industrial and environmental policies , but also cohesion policies , that put an end to dumping within Europe .
it is not right in such a difficult situation for Parliament to demand a 6 % increase in the budget .
( PL ) Mr President , Mr Zapatero , among the matters which were presented today by the Prime Minister in a somewhat general and broad fashion , there are many matters which require elaboration and the presentation of specific proposals .
proposing a new objective of a 30 % reduction in CO2 emissions in the European Union is therefore completely disproportionate , and that is why I voted against this motion for a resolution .
in writing . - I voted for the Maňka Report which is the first step in amending the 2010 European Parliament budget seeking additional budgetary and human resources to enable the European Parliament to fulfil its enhanced role .
in this connection , I note that in my country , Belgium , consumers ' energy bills will be on average EUR 300 higher in 2008 than in 2007 .
we will also be giving the Charter of Fundamental Rights full status through a formal proclamation .
their aim is to force Japan to remove all obstacles to European companies ' access to its public contracts .
gone are the days when the history of humanity was a story of survival in the face of nature 's adversity .
the current situation is indeed critical : in the space of a year , the price of diesel oil has risen from 35 to 73 centimes a litre .
the EU economy suffered losses of approximately EUR 8.7 billion in the drought of 2003 .
in our resolution , we call on the Commission and the Council to intensify the efforts to influence the government via the African Union .
our representations have been instructed to devote the bulk of their modest communication means to the EP elections and , in fact , out of the decentralised monies that they have , they have allocated 60 % to this task .
it takes into account all the aspects of this revolution in communications that we are living through : telecommunications networks , regulation , economic aspects , consumer rights and access to the Internet .
this initiative has been tabled to follow up on the 2007 proposal for a directive on the extension of long-term resident status to refugees and persons under subsidiary protection , which never achieved the unanimity in the Council that was necessary before the Treaty of Lisbon entered into force .
the rapporteur cannot be here and will be replaced in the initial introduction by Mrs Grossetête .
it has only done so when faced with intense pressure from dairy producers , the European Parliament and 21 Member States .
it signals an important fresh consensus between those like the traditional British , who have favoured the intergovernmental Council of Europe approach , and federalists such as me who have favoured the supranational approach .
in writing . - ( PT ) We know how the banking sector and other financial companies are being supported , under the pretext of avoiding a crisis in the financial sector and its possible repercussions .
I look forward to hearing any comments colleagues may have and I will sum up at the end .
if we want to have more lively debates , this does not necessarily mean that we must read our speeches more quickly .
we want the establishment of an unfettered single market , enabling the continent of Europe to lead the way in terms of connectivity , communications and new technologies , but we also hope that Europe will play a leading role in the protection of consumer rights and citizens ' privacy .
some EU-based multinationals previously wreaked havoc in countries such as Bolivia with water privatisation and their baleful influence is already being felt in Canada .
can there be freedom without rights ?
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the European cosmetics industry is a very important sector in terms of the economy and employment .
from that perspective , the situation is urgent .
the Presidency of Parliament and all the group chairmen must realise that two wrongs do not make a right .
therefore the June List has chosen to vote against this report .
( DE ) Mr President , I would also like to express my condolences to the families involved .
I would also like to remind everyone that several serious natural disasters struck in the last weeks of the Christmas period .
I would like to make a few general comments on the review of the communication on broadcasting .
in the time I have I will not go through the negotiations , the back and forth , that have gone on about this pilot project .
to begin with , I have several comments and items of information .
the EU will also continue to engage in active outreach with key negotiating partners and main emerging economies , but also with a new US Administration .
there are innumerable examples where individuals have come to each other 's rescue , crossing all religious boundaries .
for this reason , we have proposed , together with some others , a legally binding clause on social progress and a charter of public services , which will give precedence to social security and services of general interest over internal market regulations .
we can discover in Europe the values which we have in common .
in practical terms , much better coordination of the programmes is required , concentrating on their complementarities .
for all these reasons , the IMCO Committee called for a separate budget line on the SOLVIT programme to be financed by an amount of EUR 1 million .
lapsed written declarations : see Minutes
under the Baltic Sea Strategy , the environmental impact of projects such as these must be investigated using a procedure that is legally binding internationally so that the matter cannot just be shrugged off .
the Treaty of Lisbon does not specify the duties of the permanent president .
personally I cannot comment on his remarks , and he will understand this , in view of my responsibilities before this Assembly .
in writing . - ( HU ) The steep rise in food prices is caused by the simultaneous effect of three factors : the loss of yields caused by natural disasters , the growing demand for food , especially on the part of China and India , and commodity exchange activities , that is , price speculation .
I hope it will happen in the latter part of the year .
there is , of course , an awful lot I could comment on , but I will not do that today , because this is not the Council 's debate .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , we all acknowledge that monitoring of the short- and long-term macro-economic variables in the European Union has failed , not least regarding budgetary frameworks and accumulated national debt .
let us show that it is the same this time .
some 1 000 Irish families host Belarusian children in their homes every summer and at Christmas , which often includes medical assessment and in some cases treatment .
the European Central Bank ( ECB ) agrees to provide liquidity to banks that request it , in an unlimited way , accepting all kinds of assets as collateral for that liquidity .
in future , therefore , the major decisions will be in the hands of independent committees , who will make rigorous , authoritative , immediate and capable use of decision-making tools .
it seems that all the funds that were committed to support offshore wind energy will be committed .
precisely for these reasons , Parliament has chosen an approach based on regional ownership and fostering dialogue .
the report specifically aims to establish adequate , sustainable and safe criteria , calling on Member States to debate the subject , to publicise the proposals formulated and to work together to produce a true joint plan through the Open Method of Coordination .
3 .
a long-stay visa will thus have the same effect as a residence permit as regards circulation in the Schengen area .
( SV ) Madam President , in the European Parliament we have often spoken about respect for democracy and human rights and freedoms , but the truth is , and this is something I am sure we can acknowledge this evening , that we have often given priority to something else , namely political stability and good business relations .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , if you will pardon my saying so , Mrs Flautre is talking nonsense .
the answer to this is not to export other Member States ' over-capacity in the form of third-country fishing agreements .
despite the age of technology in which we live today , I think it is a reminder to us that we are in the hands of Mother Nature like never before .
you said in your speech that none but those on the extremes oppose European Union .
citizens have paid twice , with costs of a taxpayer bailout followed by the pain of recession and spending cuts .
finally , our amendment asking for the phasing-out of mega-energy projects that heavily damage the environment was rejected , too .
however , it has been adequately demonstrated , and I will end on this point , that the European Parliament has done its work and we hope that the other public bodies , in partnership with the private sector , will reinforce their spirit of cooperation and respond effectively to the challenges of developing a renewed and sustainable EU tourism policy .
it is very important for us to ensure that tougher conditions are attached to the allocation of funding .
in writing . - ( RO ) I think that it is absolutely imperative for the investments in education , research and innovation to be made immediately with the support of all Member States so as to achieve the Europe 2020 strategy 's targets , thereby making the economic recovery a reality .
as the rapporteur notes , the introduction of alien species is one of the main reasons why ecosystems are being thrown out of kilter and , along with the destruction of natural habitats , one of the biggest contributory factors implicated in global biodiversity loss .
if we want the countries with which we negotiate international agreements to respect the International Labour Organisation 's fundamental conventions , then we must respect them ourselves .
globalisation is compelling the euro area to play an effective role with regard to financial policy .
our Parliament cannot simply take action to ensure that the large European industrial groups do better .
I have a suggestion to make .
such a card must , however , facilitate the flow of people , and not make it more difficult .
as people work very hard to save for holidays , we must make them feel secure .
but 2009 , as I said , is going to be a crucial year for the global climate change negotiations .
( SL ) With the MEDIA Mundus programme , we are on the right path to promoting European film and European knowledge more effectively .
I now challenge the Commission to demonstrate the ambition that this moment demands in its review process on 10 May , with a neighbourhood policy that is tailor-made to each state , with clear benchmarks and careful consideration .
it is also essential to renew work on the non-discrimination directive .
this is not merely the result of religious intolerance from certain quarters within Islam ; the blame also lies with Europe .
we began work in Parliament exactly six months ago : six months have passed between starting work on the report and the time of voting , during which more than 700 000 people have developed Alzheimer 's or some other form of dementia .
the perpetrators have not been arrested or tried .
that is good !
the vote will take place in a few moments .
thank you for having overwhelmingly signed this Written Declaration .
this is an important step to ensure that Europe meets its targets to cut emissions by 20 % by 2020 and will send a strong message to the rest of the world ahead of next year 's talks in Copenhagen that Europe means business .
subject : energy-saving light bulbs
Mr Mirow himself has already alluded to the joint International Finance Corporation-European Bank for Reconstruction and Development action plan regarding aid for the banking sector in Central and Eastern Europe .
if , today , we can start to lay the foundations to resolve this conflict with a strong European Union presence and a strong message to the authorities , I believe that we will have also increased our stature in terms of political union .
( NL ) Mr President , Commissioner , it is only by talking to each other that we avoid misunderstandings .
the Council expressed its satisfaction after the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1973 and underlined its determination to contribute to its implementation .
as compared with the outset , I can see a tendency on the Commission 's part to pay less attention to what Parliament does and asks , given that in contrast to previous practice we have received almost no reply to the questions that we have asked during the past two reports .
2 .
there is no other way to escape today from a welfare society which , although still comfortable , is quickly becoming uncompetitive and is therefore deteriorating .
what we are hoping - and we have been talking to the Americans about this - is that we end up where we were before .
the mass demonstrations of the Burmese people provide abundant evidence that Aung San Suu Kyi certainly does not stand alone , but that she carries the hopes of the vast majority of Burmese .
this is because they are not gender-neutral , and I therefore believe that we must do something about that .
( DE ) Mr President , I am not noted for intervening to any great extent on points of order , but we hold this debate every Monday at five in the afternoon .
this is a full EPA , not an interim EPA , so for reasons of factual reality we would like to delete this sentence .
the substitute accommodation that the government has provided has proven to be totally inadequate and has led to a worsening of living conditions , which were already wretched .
it is obvious that strict compliance with labour , technical and environmental standards , as well as provisions on the protection of fair competition have to be ensured by both parties .
I believe that the Commission should promote Member States which behave in a virtuous manner , and punish and penalise Member States which do comply with the rules .
voting for this budget would go against the European general interest .
everybody now knows what President-elect Obama has set as priorities - energy security , climate change - and he repeated this again yesterday .
these vile crimes must be combated with all our energy , whatever their level of seriousness .
it extends the coordination of those systems , and there are also other important changes including calculations for pensions , benefits and other entitlements .
the pastors have been relying upon the Presidents of Parliament , the Council and the Commission to actually declare 20 May European Maritime Day this afternoon .
in line with previous resolutions by Parliament , I regret that the Council has not taken a decision on opening accession negotiations , as recommended by the Commission for the second year running .
every year , we are losing in replacement costs 4.5 trillion US dollars ' worth of oxygen manufacturing process .
in total , 70 ships will benefit from it , 12 more than in the previous agreement , and these will carry at least one local crew on board .
we cannot have any repetition of the situation in Germany , for example , where babies only a few months old have been taken away from their mothers because there are no mother and child places available in prison , leading to months of separation .
will she support their case in any new regime that would emerge from the conflict in Libya ?
I share this view entirely .
to spell it out , that means that the Member States have no right to prevent free movement without reason .
we have managed to do this , and we must carry on doing it .
, in writing . - ( HU ) I think it is significant that the European Commission , when drawing up its Strategic Energy Technology Plan , took into consideration the amount of support needed for research and development of green technologies .
the summit must produce concrete decisions , particularly in relation to cooperation in clearing contaminated areas and joint research and development in the area of renewable energy .
beginning with the firm condemnation of the death penalty across the European Union , we need to strive to achieve and reaffirm human rights on a daily basis .
there is light at the end of the tunnel , we think the worst is over and thus we need to look more into this idea of an exit strategy .
I think that a consumer information campaign is important too because it is not sufficient for us just to have this labelling on mobile phones about their energy efficiency .
do not forget that the consequences we see in a number of countries are the consequences of the debates we had in national parliaments , and in this Parliament , when some of us argued for increased spending .
use of these bombs in summer 2006 in the Lebanon war showed the extent to which they can cause a human disaster .
but very soon , the GFCM will most probably adopt new amendments requiring effective transposition to EU law within a fixed deadline .
the question is not whether we have achieved everything we wanted to .
we have a new Government - an SNP Government , which is pro-European and which has a vision for a new future for Scotland in Europe .
I am not at all happy that we now have a joint debate with two questions merging .
I hope that the vote will take place very soon .
we have done that ourselves , and let us stop throwing the buck at the European Union and maybe look at our own values of materialism in Ireland and elsewhere .
I would like to express my sympathy to the families of these persons .
I welcome the draft report which intends to promote a balance between trust and control , between risk taking and risk prevention , while ensuring sound financial management .
my second question concerns the fact that increasing numbers of studies have shown that smoking in cars is very dangerous .
it is also in the interest of some Member States .
for example , animals are not able to find out about medicines themselves .
I might even ask the Commissioner here present : when could we have this impact assessment ?
we have to bear this in mind in our work on the climate .
I therefore voted in favour of this resolution .
in addition , this proposal must not remain isolated .
( ES ) Mr President , my Group simply wants to highlight that the current budgetary and financial framework for 2007 to 2013 makes it very difficult to respond effectively to the new political priorities .
we have all been moved by the pictures and stories coming from the media in recent days .
having been rapporteur for the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament on the opinion of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection , I am delighted with the text that the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety has adopted , which contains many of the proposals we and other associated committees made .
some of them now see it as something to brandish to stop this text progressing .
already , most of the Member States do not meet the conditions required by the OECD since 1970 , and we are facing new emergencies without having new funds .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I welcome the Commissioner 's remarks and hopes .
we voted for the amendments that are intended to give artists 100 % of the income that derives from the extension of the term .
as a result , I should like us to be able , first of all , to repatriate the rights of ownership over European innovation .
there is no doubt that if we look at T-shirts , trousers , dresses and pullovers , in other words the vulnerable product categories , there has been a near doubling of imports in the space of just one year , and that is clearly a cause for great concern .
this database has since been deleted .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , research efforts in the steel sector are necessary to protect the European steel industry and therefore the European economy .
the European identity has been forged over a long history darkened by tragedy , but also illuminated by humankind 's most noble creations , by the light of thought , the warmth and creativity of our artists , the deep convictions of our statesmen and women and the courage of our people .
they need to be remedied .
an example of such a repressive regime would be Sudan , where CNPC - a Chinese state-owned oil company - controls an estimated 60-70 % of Sudanese oil production , while Sudan is also a major recipient of Chinese arms .
it is clear , also from this report , that there is enormous interest in the natural resources of the Arctic region .
pick one of the candidates - I have seen there are enough candidates - for the President of the Council and go forward with it .
feminicides in Ciudad Juárez and Guatemala are particularly alarming , and for this reason I welcome today 's debate .
my fourth point concerns engagement .
- ( PL ) Mr President , Commissioner , the fact that elections are observed by recognised institutions improves the election atmosphere and sometimes even helps to crystallise significant changes , as happened , for example , during the Orange Revolution in Kiev .
future of professional football in Europe ( vote )
I think Vice-President Tajani will agree that the way in which we have tried to respond to an objective need and difficulty of the airlines at the moment - allowing them to retain their time slots even if they do not use them during the summer season this year - is a necessary , but very rough measure , a measure that needs refining .
I think it would be a very good idea for the Commission to focus on setting up some regional connections so that we can learn from each other about how we cope with this , because it clearly is not going to go away .
I feel honoured and proud to speak on his report as an athlete , as a representative of an ancient people with immense sport spirit , and also as a person concerned with the future of children in united Europe , the future of our children .
as has already been stated , it does not fall within the Council 's remit to monitor the implementation of Community law by the Member States ; that falls to the Commission , and my colleague Commissioner Barrot talked about that , and we are certainly working closely with the Commission on many issues .
I should just like to point out that , in Belgium , fathers already receive 10 days ' paid leave .
this is why this report is devoted mainly to them . economists use mathematical models to highlight the value of housework .
food distribution to the most deprived persons in the Community ( amendment of the Single CMO Regulation ) (
you argue on the basis of technical conditions that Bosnia and Herzegovina has not yet met , but you apparently overlook the fact that there are still problems in other states which are now being liberalised .
( SK ) European electricity and gas consumers have the right to a universal service , that is , the right to be supplied with a specified quality , at reasonable prices that are easily and clearly comparable and transparent .
I should like , from a strategic point of view , to hear if the Presidency thinks this is a good move .
we had to make sure that the European Union would not adopt a new accounting standard just for the sake of convergence with the equivalent US standard , but mainly because it improves the quality of financial information and is conducive to the European public good .
all in all , every cure for the economic crisis should have as its aim the prevention of global warming reaching a critical point .
this report proposes the setting up of a union of 17 non-EU countries with a parliamentary assembly and a secretariat with funding for projects of a truly ambitious nature .
I would particularly like to thank the rapporteur , Mr Manders , and the shadow rapporteurs , for their in-depth and detailed work on this proposal , which has sparked such a lively and constructive debate on the labelling of textile products .
2006 discharge : European Training Foundation (
strong police forces need a strong and honest Rule of Law and judicial independence .
the fact however is that we in the EU cannot afford not to use it if we want to take climate change seriously .
I would like once again to emphasise the strategic significance of the Nabucco pipeline for the EU 's energy security , and to call on the European Commission and the Council to apply every effort to step up work on this project .
last year , the Council discharge was postponed from April to November because this Parliament said it was not satisfied with their financial management , even if the auditors did not criticise their financial management .
the call on the WHO to revise the definition of the criteria for raising a global pandemic alert ;
Matti Juhani Saari in Finland placed on the internet , including the YouTube website , videos which showed him shooting a pistol on a firing range .
over the years , his activism protecting human rights has been an inspiration to many other human rights advocates , inside and outside Cuba .
through this programme , Europe aims to satisfy the requirements of industry - and more generally , of European policies - for research and knowledge .
I would like to thank you for your initiative .
that does not mean that we must recognise any policy that is implemented as a result of the elections .
I recognise that it is a sensitive issue and it is important that we all recognise the situation in Pakistan .
such a dialogue should usher in - apart from the long overdue transition to a civilian , legitimate and accountable system of government - a political system based on the rule of law and on respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms .
in Europe , we enjoy our daily human right of freedom of thought because of their highest sacrifice .
you personally have said , on occasion , in hearings before the competent committees , such as the Committee on Culture and Education , that approximately 500 000 new jobs will be needed in these sectors over the next five years .
I have never before come across an example where positive feedback about trade negotiations has been forthcoming from the agricultural sector .
European Council meeting ( 15-16 October 2008 ) ( debate )
let me explain to you that these countries are broke .
I would welcome Mr Carlgren 's comments on this .
it would be good to have a task force but it would be even better without it .
it is nice to have you with us .
for this reason , links must be encouraged between businesses run by women and those run by men .
the agricultural markets can face up to the challenges and particularly the routine fluctuations of the world market only from a strong , stable and organised internal market .
logistics facilitate the flow of goods and help make our products competitive by giving them access to more distant markets .
allow me to say that regarding the energy and climate package , I am perfectly aware , and I also say this to Mr Daul , that it is Parliament that will have the last word ; but better than that , it is not just a question of having the last word .
in the situation today , due to political and economic pressure and measures taken to relieve this , the Single Market may not be at all popular with citizens , enterprises and institutions .
we have seen many examples of the disastrous consequences for the agricultural sector of the liberalisation of world trade .
I believe the Commission will continue its efforts to find an acceptable solution in this matter .
macro-financial assistance for Georgia (
it is estimated that from 500 000 to 2 million people , and the majority of these are women and children , become the victims of human trafficking every year , forced into prostitution , forced labour and slavery or bondage .
the turbulence in the region is translating into a rise in crude oil prices in world markets , something which is very apparent to everyone who lives in the European Union .
these countries have a variety of political structures and economic potential , as witnessed by GDP figures per head , which in Burma are USD 211 , and in Singapore USD 31 400 .
the implementation of the School Fresh Fruit Scheme should involve additional funds from national budgets , as the scheme should be partly funded by the Member States .
I think we have found a compromise that is acceptable to all parties in the matter of delegated acts .
measures to replace / improve vessels have only benefited large companies .
however , we need to achieve that objective in a balanced way and in a common-sense way , so that we protect human health without penalising agriculture .
Mrs Vergnaud and Mr Canfin pointed out - they were sorry to have to do so , but they have a responsibility to give their opinion - that France , and Germany too , had preferred to integrate principles from the directive directly into their existing sectoral legislation .
these are rather general , rather violent , and rather boorish opinions .
we need long-term stability for the difficult , labour-intensive and costly activity of milk production .
like most Members , I welcome the indictment of President Bashir by the ICC and the issue of an international arrest warrant .
Mr President , we are at a decisive point in time .
my appeal to all those who share the European ideal is that we should be united in trying to have a comprehensive response in a matter that , being serious , we have to admit requires building a consensus .
this measure will also help European cohesion .
the transition from incident prevention to measures to promote trust will be important in normalising the situation .
I therefore think that this clarification is an important one . this is a debate on microfinance and not on the Progress programme .
the compromise text recommends better targeted , qualitative inspections , so it remains to be seen in the coming years if these qualitative criteria have been used and if the obligation on Member States to regularly identify the risk sectors for illegal working on their territory has been really effective .
the Yemeni Government has repeatedly accused Iran of supporting the Shi 'ite rebellion movement .
Mr President , we are talking about this project as if this is the first time in the world an underwater pipeline is being built .
the regulation refers to the technical regulations harmonised within the World Forum of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe .
I now wish to comment again on the latest vote on the Schwab report .
reducing the project thresholds and simplifying the process will all help , as well as the pre-financing of agreed projects to jump start economies quickly .
my goal in this framework was that this regulation should not prejudge this discussion .
at the moment , we are mainly subsidising more greenhouse gas emissions .
the Bulgarian authorities have forwarded all the necessary documents to their Romanian counterparts , certifying that the vessel is entered in the European Union register and has all the permits for fishing in the Black Sea 's waters .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue-card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
lastly , setting mandatory efficiency targets is a good thing , because without them , it will be difficult to achieve ambitious results within the EU .
there is now an improved international framework for preventing violence against women in conflict regions and several countries have also adopted national action plans .
what it certainly means , however , is the end of the opportunity to abuse that room to manoeuvre and operate installations with poor emissions ratings via derogations .
at the same time , wilderness conservation in the European Union , especially in the Danube Delta area , cannot be achieved without applying similar measures in the countries neighbouring the EU .
rapporteur for the opinion of the Committee on Regional Development . - Mr President , I would say to the Commissioner that , in recent years , innovation has become a symbol of a policy instrument that can fix all our problems .
one of the important dossiers on the Presidency 's agenda relates to the expansion of the Schengen area through the admission of Romania and Bulgaria .
this work should allow the Commission to deepen its analysis of the retail sector in order to identify practices that distort relationships between suppliers and retailers and between retailers and consumers and assess the necessity of further reforms of the relevant national or EU regulations .
work on the revision of EU rules on veterinary medicinal products and medicated feeding stuffs is ongoing .
Mr President , thank you for these important points of view .
the great goal is to set up mechanisms for public control and general access to information on how funds are spent in agriculture , information on project implementation and dissemination of best practices in the sector .
transparency is a fundamental element in ensuring the quality of fiscal data , and must include the regular availability of such data .
thirdly , we have safeguarded the right of trade unions and other bodies to go to court on behalf of immigrants and , fourthly , we have imposed the right to grant residence permits of short or longer duration to illegal immigrants who uncover criminal organisations .
fortunately , Amendment 64 , which was approved , underlines that these transitional measures must not in any case be established at the expense of the current convergence , competitiveness and cooperation ( Objectives 1 , 2 and 3 ) regions .
the role of the EU should not be to talk down expectations - the EU 's role should be to talk up expectations .
the unprecedented events have exposed the limits of the European financial integration system when confronted with a crisis of this magnitude .
in many cases , the companies in question are SMEs in the supply industry that need credit now in order to survive .
there are many reasons for this , but one reason keeps coming to my mind .
it can now proudly say loud and clear that the European Union has not waited for the IMO - the International Maritime Organisation - but that we have taken the lead .
this is why it is also important to heed the voice of the minority , which , because of its geographical situation , for example , or its historical experience and political situation , may often express a view of reality that is of relevance to Europe .
this is not enough , and it is probably unrealistic to expect national fisheries monitoring centres to ensure real-time , individual monitoring of each unit in the fleet .
I would like to say that trafficking in human beings is one of the most profitable forms of international organised crime and , according to various reports and sources , its worldwide scale is estimated to be between 700 000 and 2 million persons , some say more , of whom 300 to 500 000 individuals are victims of trafficking in the European Union alone .
during the four months that have passed since , several initiatives have been made by ECOWAS , the African Union and the UN to negotiate a peaceful handover of power .
the debate is closed .
Madam President , honourable Members , representative of the Presidency of the Council , I would like to express my thanks for your committed , factual and very numerous contributions regarding the consequences and the measures to be taken .
Europe 's left is very quick to see the speck of sawdust in the eye of non-socialist governments , but stupidly pays no attention to the plank in the eyes of socialist governments .
( LV ) Thank you , Mr President .
the Agreement lays down clearly the key priorities in the political and economic fields and in other fields .
there are two sorts of people : wealth creators , those people that go out and work in the private sector and create wealth , and there are the others who spend wealth , which are politicians and bureaucrats and there are too many of us .
there has been significant progress with trade relations , although there is still no comprehensive agreement .
in a spirit of compromise , the Commission is willing to replace the unconditional removal of these obligations with a review clause , as proposed by Parliament and the Council .
I must say when I first came across the idea of the CFP , I thought the C in the CFP stood for communist , rather than common , fisheries policy .
Parliament should put forward a strong position on this matter to ensure that the Commission does not water down its original proposal .
( CS ) Madam President , this measure confirms the old saying that a financier has a hold on the state like a rope has a hold on a man who has been hung .
Madam President , here are my remarks on the resolution condemning Lithuania , because nothing happened .
let us not react to the emotional part of this debate , but use science as our barometer .
7 .
we cannot , as a result , hesitate in demanding maximum attention and the best instruments available to guarantee safety on our roads .
the time-limits within which the European Parliament and the Council may oppose a draft measure , according to Article 5a ( 3 ) ( c ) of Council Decision 1999 / 468 / EC , have been curtailed to four weeks or one month , in some provisions of the following basic acts : directive 2004 / 17 / EC , Directive 2004 / 18 / EC and Regulation ( EC ) No 2111 / 2005 .
they caused widespread damage across the country including in my region , the West Midlands .
this way , we can also provide answers to the justified frustrations of Romanian citizens regarding the continuous price increases for gas and electricity , with important negative social-economic consequences for Romanians and their living standard .
unfortunately , so far , not all of Europe 's citizens can enjoy this freedom .
Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy . - Mr President , I should like first of all to express my thanks for the contributions that have been made and say how much I thought this was an important and valuable debate in terms of our strategic direction .
despite their fine words , the forces that defend their interests in Parliament are counterattacking , assuming the right to interfere and , hypocritically , wanting to give lessons on democracy through their political ' parties and foundations ' .
there is ever-growing talk at the moment about increasing the EU 's global competitiveness ; tourism is one of the most important socio-economic activities , generating approximately 5 % of the European Union 's GDP .
we managed to get the Council of Ministers to accept many of our proposals .
it is true that we have too few women in the EIB 's managerial staff .
the report by Christofer Fjellner , on behalf of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending , as regards information to the general public on medicinal products subject to medical prescription , Directive 2001 / 83 / EC on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use - C6-0516 / 2008 - , and
this is more than a moment of change in our common history .
it was very easy to come to a joint resolution and , as you see , there are no amendments to this resolution , so we are united behind it .
there are so many opportunities for energy efficiency .
the Return Directive is an important aspect of the fight against illegal immigration .
the campaign ' Red Card to Forced Prostitution ' , launched for the 2006 Football World Cup , was a good step towards raising awareness about trafficking in human beings for sexual exploitation .
because the EU has not had time to approve all the species now being used , the feed may contain small traces of these .
in 2005 , the European Parliament awarded the ' Ladies in White ' the Sakharov Prize .
I hear comments made by so many of my colleagues today pertaining to the issue of human rights and religious freedoms .
we have never applied Article 2 of the association agreements : not with Tunisia , not with Egypt , nor in the association agreements that we are seeking to conclude with Colonel Gaddafi , Prime Minister Netanyahu or King Mohammed VI .
many evoke the crisis of 1929 , although the Second World War that followed in its wake divided Europe between two different paths .
we all recognise the diversity that exists between the different regions of the Union , but it is precisely for this reason that , as the resolution states , Southern Europe suffers much more from the pressure of climate change , and needs Europe and its common policies .
the latter should monitor closely this action and , if appropriate , impose sanctions in order to ensure that the local authorities in Campania comply with EU waste management provisions .
oral questions and written declarations ( submission ) : see Minutes
in writing . - I voted in favour of this resolution and supported the EU budget for the year 2011 .
in order for consumers to benefit from this important legislation , Parliament has revised and improved the directive on the energy performance of buildings , which accounts for around 40 % of EU energy consumption .
I would suggest that the Nitrates Directive in its current form does much of what we are talking about .
today , Parliament adopted an important decision on antibiotic resistance .
given its strategic location , Hungary is uniquely placed to put this issue on the European agenda .
Madam President , I mentioned both the EU taxpayer and the British taxpayer in my speech .
Madam President , I will also support the compromise but I am not at all sure that we are doing the right thing because the issue at hand is not whether we kill seals or whether the seals are in danger of not surviving : these issues have been cleared up .
Kosovo institutions will also face many challenges in the implementation of their commitments to develop a stable multi-ethnic and democratic Kosovo .
this will ensure that those entering the system now can freely choose which model they want to protect them in their old age .
in future , we will have to provide good quality technical assistance and financial support to ensure sufficient administrative capacity is available where required .
big companies have been firing people for the last two years and they will continue to do so .
disasters causing significant human , economic and environmental damage are on the increase worldwide and such crises are happening with greater frequency and scope in more parts of the world .
she got through secondary school fine , so it was no problem there , but now she has been sidelined .
in writing . - This is a codification without any substantial changes and therefore I have voted in favour .
I believe that we need to increase our reduction target from 20 % to 30 % and we need mandatory targets for energy efficiency .
it is high time we also spoke of flexibility in social policy .
the EU Kids Online network coordinates researchers from 21 countries who focus on child safety online , and every year the Safer Internet Forum brings together non-governmental organisations , industry researchers and policy-makers to discuss how to fight illegal content efficiently , Web 2.0 and other relevant topics .
the Commission on Sustainable Development ( CSD ) has long been fighting a battle to turn the state into an upstanding citizen when it comes to fulfilling its obligations .
powerful , productive transatlantic relations can provide the best guarantee for peace , security and stability in Europe , along with respect for the principles of democracy , human rights , the rule of law and good governance .
this method is based on a combination of cross-sectoral and single-sector initiatives .
( FR ) Madam President , Mrs Reding , you have told us today , with some enthusiasm , and I quote , that France 's reaction demonstrates that the EU is an effective community of law , or , and again I am quoting , that we now need to work towards practical action and results based on our shared European values .
nevertheless , I would congratulate the Court of Auditors on the report it has drawn up relating to the EESC and the developments it achieved during the financial year 2009 , and I agree with the rapporteur 's conclusions .
by the way , it is also investigating , with the European Investment Bank , possible ways to take advantage of their funds and support the funding of civil engineering .
the call in Mr Pieper 's report to extend the proportion of interregional cooperation , Objective 3 , to 7 % is an important step forward and I strongly support this .
Mr President , I do not know if the House noticed , but yesterday was also the record snowfall in Korea for 100 years , so it is not just a few places .
in essence , the question is whether the European Union as a whole emerges a winner or a loser .
in a maritime country , maritime matters are an inseparable part of a complex logistical system and are an integral part of the country 's overall economic system .
the financial market crisis can be attributed partly to a failure of the markets and partly to a failure of regulation .
with the Renewable Energy Directive we have established the possibility for EU countries to invest in third countries and transport electricity to the European Union , and then the goal will also be fulfilled with energy produced in the third country .
most people want to be able to live in the country in which they have grown up .
the new situation that has taken hold in recent months , which involves a wider geographic area , finally forces Europe to take stronger and more determined political action and to work more closely with young people , who can help build the safer and more democratic society that we still have not been able to provide for the new generations .
before that , let me look back briefly over the period of almost 10 years since the guidelines on the death penalty were adopted .
( DE ) Mr President , I believe that small- and medium-sized enterprises in particular play a major role in employment .
the political forces that have promoted this far from exhilarating debate are still heavily weighed down by the responsibility for what is certainly not a high level political manoeuvre .
I would therefore like to remind the Commission of an additional protocol that Parliament adopted on 26 January this year , in other words nearly nine months ago .
( PL ) Madam President , there are four issues in this debate to which I would like to draw attention .
the main channel for financing this support is the Global Fund to fight AIDS , tuberculosis and malaria , to which the Commission has contributed EUR 870 million since 2002 , with an annual contribution that amounts to EUR 100 million since 2008 .
since all European Union Member States , both those seeking the waiving of visas and those already in the programme , are concerned by this and are being approached by the United States , Coreper - the ambassadors of the European Union Member States - adopted on 5 March a common baseline : a set of common parameters that will guide the discussions the Member States will have individually with the United States .
in writing . - I welcome this report which grants 31 million euro to Portugal and 35 million euro to France from the EU Solidarity Fund .
I must say that I am very grateful to the shadow rapporteurs . it was a pleasant way of collaborating .
and for this reason , I will vote in favour of the report .
this is crucial in order to safeguard European forests , with all the benefits that will bring .
I thus hope that a discussion arises between the payers , the road freight sector and the government on the use of this money and efficiency .
few predicted that in a few years the global economy would fall into recession , with dramatic price falls , exchange-rate and market volatility and a credit drought that would strangle the trade finance that exporters and importers need .
please allow me a few weeks simply to take the time - I believe it will be time well spent - to meet with all of the key players in the banking sector .
I am sorry that this conflict has not been solved yet but I can assure the honourable Member that we are trying , together with our Czech colleagues , to find a solution to this as soon as possible .
we consider that the new institutional structure of the EU and establishment of the Directorate for Human Rights and Democracy in the EEAS system and Brussels-based COHOM Office offer good opportunities to increase the coherence , visibility and credibility of the EU actions in the UNHRC .
we are not only facing the economic crisis - and here the Swedes have shown their cleverness by largely avoiding it - but we also have to deal with a rather ominous swing to the right .
if we do not succeed this time round , now that we have an opportunity to do so , the next generation of Members of the European Parliament will find themselves having exactly the same discussions as we have had over the past few weeks .
this support from the European Globalisation Fund should help reintegrate the workers into the labour market and I am pleased to see European solidarity in operation .
after all , it is precisely this impunity that is one of the major draws in this whole issue of illegal immigration .
investment in energy infrastructures is one of the means available to Europe for tackling the economic crisis .
in addition , an analysis will need to be carried out on the added value created by this strategy in terms of European territorial cohesion .
on the other hand , the free circulation of goods and capital has created favourable market conditions for the more developed Member States .
the position of the PSE Group is clear : it is possible to support the increased presence of international troops in Afghanistan while , at the same time , defending the need to reassess the military strategy of the ISAF ( International Security Assistance Force ) .
however , it was obvious to me that this framework should be clear and precise and , above all , that it should not stop investment by European telecom companies , which face stiff competition from the American and Asian markets .
they are permitted three telephone calls and one shower a week .
the European Union would undoubtedly welcome such a dialogue and is ready to contribute , to mediate and assist in any way possible .
I see no reason why the report should now be referred back to that committee .
we have no time to lose - ' we are in a hurry ' , as my neighbour has just put it - and for this reason , too , we must press on with the matter of a new Commission .
small-scale and sport fishing will still be permitted .
finally , to be honest , when one looks at the economic situation we are in , with a car industry ...
today , the ball is in the Israeli court , but will the hawks in each camp accept this truce of God that the two sides demand without providing themselves with the resources ?
it discriminates against less wealthy people in wealthy countries , and against all but the super-rich in less wealthy countries .
we have already started work in many of the areas highlighted in the present report .
I therefore believe that the EU must fully respect national history , culture and traditions and resolutely refuse to penalise Member States who defend their right to their own special make-up and character , including the Christian heritage and Christian symbols .
for all the above reasons , it is necessary to enter a phase of progressive closure and dismantling of nuclear plants , starting with those that have already had serious accidents , such as the Vandellós II plant in Catalonia and those that are nearing the end of their useful life .
in my constituency of Wales the existing schemes and pillar two will be replaced by the Glastir scheme that focuses on climate change objectives and carbon sequestration .
standardising consumer protection principles and rules at European Union level and improving the mechanisms supporting their application is an achievable objective , without any assumption that the products and services offered in all 27 Member States will reach the same level of quality in the short or medium term .
we are primarily concerned with the fact that the US has used a ' divide and conquer ' strategy , apparently with impunity .
this is our annual debate on foreign policy , and in the next year , we hope to see clear outcomes to the human rights review and significant steps to developing a human rights culture in everything that the European External Action Service does .
so we have to find additional instruments .
( BG ) The report by the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the Council 's annual report was drafted in a spirit of cooperation and dialogue , which is indicative of our approach to all strategic issues .
I hope that , from now on , given the circumstances not only in Hungary but also in other EU countries due to the crisis and excessive volatility in many financial indicators , particularly in exchange rates , this type of comment and recommendation will be heeded more .
the cohesion policy has been important in creating a better balance between European regions , and is now seen as crucial for overcoming the current financial crisis that the EU is experiencing by strengthening competitiveness and local potential .
after years of inaction , I hope that Member States can at last agree on this measure .
considering the indicators relating to the labour market and social protection , the structural causes of poverty have a disproportionate effect on women .
my colleagues in the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and I wanted to maintain the target of reducing greenhouse gases by 20 % by 2020 , which would have given us a good basis for negotiations with the US and China .
this is not a new issue .
and if intellectual property disappears , intellectual creation disappears as well .
the Commission will approve the operational programme as long as it conforms to the parameters of the European Fisheries Fund , but the actual priorities , the actual areas that are identified , are up to the Member State concerned .
this is no easy subject , not simple at all ; it has both legal complications and economic consequences .
( DE ) Mr President , Ireland is a tragic historical lesson for us .
if you look at the countries that have pursued successful conservation policies in fisheries - whether it is the Falkland Islands , Iceland , Norway , New Zealand - all of them have done so on the basis of giving skippers a sense of ownership so that they have an incentive to treat fisheries as a renewable resource .
Parliament should simply take a clear position , to put an end to this debate once and for all .
including periods of inactivity while on-call when calculating the total duration of working time , is one such incentive .
given the current backdrop of the world financial crisis , this is the type of proposal that could bring ruin to our elderly people , with the likes of Madoff being the only ones to benefit .
also I am hopeful that its domestic situation will improve .
we strongly oppose the provisions on tax harmonisation , the welcome given to the euro , and the need for the Member States to liberalise postal services , which are a public service to be regulated first and foremost by each Member State .
as the Commission report makes clear , Croatia has also made some substantial progress in meeting the negotiating benchmarks , and the country 's commitment to the EU 's expectations remains strong .
I can tell you that we have all repeatedly expressed our great concerns about the human rights situation in Iran - I , myself , very recently during the UN General Assembly , on the margins of which I met the Iranian Foreign Minister , where , again , I very strongly emphasised all the facts that are there .
they are the record unemployment of almost 20 % and a public deficit of almost 11 % in Spain .
the European Parliament and the Member States must continue to insist on the criteria that we laid down at the beginning of the process .
in contrast , Hamas is committed , under its 1988 charter , to Israel 's destruction and remains a terrorist organisation banned by the EU .
ladies and gentlemen , I would like to express my frank amazement over the irony of fate that the Czech government , which is well-known for its specific approach to the question of negotiations with Russia , has not yet torn asunder its veil and heaped ashes upon its head .
considering the three texts as a package , I would say that - thanks to the three rapporteurs and to very thorough discussions in all our committees - they successfully reconcile opening the internal market , in other words removing barriers , with the concern for safety which has become so evident especially since last summer .
the European Union is based on the four fundamental freedoms involving the movement of goods , services , capital and people .
the Commission has taken no decision yet on the best way of addressing these issues , but it intends to table a proposal in autumn on the Globalisation Adjustment Fund of the future , bearing European workers ' best interests in mind .
it is a Community instrument , but within it power is exercised intergovernmentally .
science , education and innovation are pillars of economic growth and job creation .
then , the European Council will take a decision .
in writing . - The ECR is wholeheartedly supportive of equal rights and opportunities and gender non-discrimination for all women , as stated in UN resolution 1325 , and strongly advocates the invaluable role of women in the area of peace and security and condemns the barbaric and horrific treatment of women and children in conflict zones .
we hear that a revision of the first railway package is indeed on the way .
in addition to this , the European common security and defence policy and the European development cooperation policy are two sides of the same coin .
such statements are a slap in the face for the hundreds of thousands of workers in financial difficulty .
Parliament is satisfied with the goals we have achieved .
at the same time , quality policy is of strategic importance , as it is primarily on this that the added value of European agricultural goods on the global markets rests .
in writing . - ( HU ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , we all agree on the necessity of amending the Schengen Borders Code so that its provisions are consistent with the stipulations of the Visa Information System .
there has been no change in that whatsoever .
finally , I wish to confirm that the Commission will undertake a comparative study of the existing rules in the Member States on minors travelling alone .
in writing . - An important start for dealing with further enlargements is a clear understanding that the EU has greatly benefited from all past enlargements .
I should like to have your opinion in public on these two propositions before tomorrow 's vote .
the European Union must not be passive in this situation .
we need a community initiative here , so the whole thing can work .
I therefore hope that the amendments we have tabled at the last minute , so as to finalise the report , will be accepted by my fellow Members as has already been the case in our committee debate , and I hope , indeed , that it will prove a useful tool to save those who are in need of saving : not just the stocks but the communities that make a living from them .
I hope you know that you can count on me to continue , on a daily basis , to strive to make sure that the Commission improves its access to documents .
therefore , the new common agricultural policy needs to take an integrated approach to beekeeping , by strengthening support programmes and veterinary cover for the sector , by highlighting its good points , by defending biodiversity and by mitigating the problem of climate change and the deterioration in natural resources .
in writing . - ( NL ) I voted against this report due to the terrible hypocrisy contained in the text .
I should like to point out that the topic we are discussing today has a very long history .
Parliament 's position is that the EU budget does not form part of the crisis ; it is - via investments in critical sectors - the answer to it .
moreover , we need a legitimate , democratically elected government that is capable of negotiating .
the question of banking secrecy has therefore been dealt with at European level from a legal point of view and cannot constitute an obstacle to the full exchange of information on request between tax authorities .
on one hand , it is based on the Treaty of Lisbon , and on the Charter of Fundamental Rights , which has now become legally binding .
the Palestinian authorities have now instituted an independent investigative panel , which is very good news .
let me get back to Belarus , however .
finally there is the matter of the Nabucco pipeline .
it will also be the case that these changes will encourage employers to choose male candidates over women .
in 2000 , I tabled with the Globalisation Intergroup the first resolution calling for the Commission to examine the feasibility of a tax on speculative capital flows .
these instruments are indeed an essential part of the international trading system , for they ensure that companies , and more especially SMEs , which are the prime victims of dumping , are able to operate in a fair and stable competitive environment , which in turn ensures a healthy economy .
I am pleased that we were ultimately able to reach agreement in the Conciliation Committee .
( PL ) Mr President , everyone should have the right to a fair trial .
( the President cut off the speaker )
the relocation of energy-intensive industries to areas with lower ecological standards means more than job losses in Europe .
here the process of evaluating the creditworthiness and soundness of financial products , of banks and even of whole countries has been left to the credit rating agencies .
7 .
Mr President , the Commission is currently examining complaints made by certain private businesses in Spain , France and Italy against cooperatives , and against the cooperative movement as regards its statute and tax treatment .
there is therefore a risk of a funding gap appearing in the period immediately after the referendum , when South Sudan will be very vulnerable and at considerable risk of national collapse .
( RO ) I would like to congratulate the rapporteur , Mr Turmes .
a group of lawyers has been briefed and will have 10 days to table its proposed amendments .
in a TV statement the following day , Captain Camara expressed his condolences with the families of those killed and visited some of the injured .
let us not continue to be defenceless , with citizens feeling that we are not capable of defending ourselves .
disappointingly , however , there has been little tangible progress on the nomination of judges to the Constitutional Court .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( EL ) Madam President , it is true that the agreement included this term .
more must be done from the country itself and in the country itself . secondly , I urge that the authorities in Minsk be asked whether it is not finally time to lift all the restrictions on travel by the children of Chernobyl .
in order to be able to ensure that costs are covered , it is necessary to have planning and income security .
in this respect I think it would be good to make more use of the European Parliament .
we are conscious of the demographic situation in the European Union .
that is another very important question .
should a decision be taken to use body scanners as an optional tool , the images will never be recorded or stored .
in the context of the Treaty of Lisbon , this is a highly justified demand .
this proposal clarifies and facilitates access to cross-border healthcare and the exercise of the right to reimbursement by the Member State of affiliation , enabling all patients in the EU to benefit from healthcare in other Member States .
hence the problem that has arisen of the endless list of questions on how to avert threats of this type , which have acquired a global dimension .
one objective to be achieved is the redistribution of European resources that have not been used in certain regions to other , more virtuous regions , but still in the same State .
the second was about voting on motions for resolutions on passenger compensation .
she is a highly educated and powerful figure who thoroughly understands the challenges of Europe 's future .
the potential benefits for the competitive system of our market are almost unlimited .
they are very complex issues , of course , and concern cooperation with third countries , trade , aid and the possibility of introducing a framework so that we can also have legal immigration into Europe .
the countries of the European Union will , I imagine , all ratify this Convention by 2012 , as provided for .
on behalf of the EFD Group . - Mr President , I welcome Mr Orbán .
the whole idea , indeed the whole argument for having the Treaty of Lisbon - everything that was intended to convince citizens why they should give even more power to the EU - is precisely what we are turning our back on today now that we have got what we wanted .
therefore , we need to look at the defects in the system and in its application , without destroying the usefulness of this warrant .
the amendments that I have proposed result from a lack of precision regarding whether this means family in the sense of the law of the emigrant 's country of birth , or of the country that is accepting the emigrant .
it quite rightly highlights various difficulties over media pluralism and the concentration of ownership in a number of Member States .
this will entail women having a full share in the resources that underpin farming as a way of life and a type of business .
therefore , there is a need to draw up a preventive strategy on Alzheimer 's disease , linked to encouraging healthier lifestyles , informing people about this disease and exchanging medical practices .
these are often described as ' problems for European industry ' ; however , I would like to remind you that the modern , energy-efficient , knowledgeable industry is the industry that survives .
Mrs Kaufmann 's report counts its chickens before they are hatched .
moreover , as outlined in the White Paper entitled ' Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area ' , it is essential that the goal of a 60 % cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 be met .
at the same time , I believe that the refusal to recognise Kosovo 's independence must not stand in the way of Serbia 's Euroatlantic aspirations .
( DE ) Madam President , 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity .
they have divisions over Europe and it is overshadowing their conference which is taking place this week in Manchester .
new potential for aggression builds up , new stress factors lead to mental abuse , and bullying becomes a common occurrence .
- ( FR ) Mr President , in 22 pages of European Council conclusions , only one tiny phrase addresses the problem of the future of the automotive industry , of a European industrial policy .
that is why our Parliament must vote overwhelmingly in favour of these amendments to the European Refugee Fund .
in addition , they are otherwise entirely decisive for the developing nations .
we may have highlighted many third generation rights , as they are called , in this report , but we have forgotten some issues , such as returning property that was confiscated by totalitarian regimes to its owners or giving a dignified burial to the many people who were brutally killed in Central and Eastern Europe in 1945 and only given makeshift graves .
we must now close our initial discussion on the point regarding Wednesday .
one Member State has already hinted that it may do so .
Schengen cooperation started on 14 June 1985 , with the Schengen Agreement , allowing for the abolition of systematic border controls at the internal borders of the signatory states and for the creation of a common area , with free movement of persons .
we have produced a piece of legislation that brings real benefits .
however , 20 million immigrants does not mean 20 million skilled immigrants .
why are we talking about this region separately ?
I welcome the call in this resolution for a just , lasting and mutually acceptable political solution in full accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions , and I would once again echo the UN in urging that there must be a referendum of the people in the region .
may I remind you that it is not merely a question of restricting the repercussions of climate change .
the countries take advantage of this fact and often use price dumping in trade relations , which is harmful to other countries .
this resolution calls for a Middle East free of nuclear weapons and for the withdrawal of all tactical warheads from European soil , in the context of a brotherly dialogue with Russia .
the European Council will assess the state of implementation of this programme .
these are policies , in the plural , concerning support , care and education , which might seem slightly paradoxical for an issue that in fact relates to the intimacy of couples and the family .
not one of these measures , however , has shown itself to be truly effective in managing legal migration flows while , at the same time , combating illegal immigration .
secondly , we wish to raise the issue of non-tariff barriers .
- Gierek report
unfortunately , that assessment of the impact on job and service quality could not be integrated into the report .
the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) receives annual funding of EUR 500 million with the aim of providing financial support to workers affected by major structural changes in world trade patterns .
I would like to thank Mr Feio for his work on the draft report .
we will tackle that point if there is still any hesitation to be overcome .
the Commission is planning to present its proposal early in 2011 .
adjournment of the session
the inadequate anti-flooding works and the unsound soil as a result of the fires , in conjunction with the intensity of the rain , caused one death and massive damage to villages , roads , bridges and other infrastructure .
that scheme , which was developed as a joint initiative between the new Scottish Government and the fishing industry , will hopefully provide a template for future marine conservation projects .
some European countries have a level of energy dependency on Russia that is clearly excessive , and which also relates to the fact that Europe was divided for a long time during the 20th century and to the fact that in some cases , direct interconnections between European countries do not exist .
( PL ) Mr President , about 1 900 people are being held under arrest in very poor conditions for expressing their support for the introduction of democracy in Burma .
why ?
these two changes have improved the final resolution .
we are elected by the citizens to do a job and we are entitled to be held to account by them .
whichever Member State you look at , that represents the large majority of businesses .
my second point is as follows : together with Mr Paasilinna , I have been making efforts towards this bridge with industry , towards this nomenclature concerning innovation , and in this regard I am very happy with the name ' Institute of Innovation and Technology ' .
thirdly , the EU and the US have undertaken to work on the basis of the principles of freedom , democracy and justice .
keeping in mind the crimes committed , we firmly renounce the artificial establishment of a new Muslim state whose sole objective is to serve as a springboard for the trafficking in weapons , drugs and people towards Western Europe .
the counterfeit markets are cleared out one day and the traders creep back in the next .
clearly , when the concept of political expediency becomes involved in a monitoring process that ought to be , above all , a legal one , things can become complicated .
it is yet another interventionist measure that calls for the application of the same type of monetarist and neoliberal policies and criteria , tightening the veritable stranglehold imposed on the Member States , without a care for the causes of the problems , or for alternative policies that take into account economies ' different levels of development .
we always say we need jobs , but what matters to me is that these jobs are good , that there is social security , that people do not have to receive subsidies and that they can actually make a living from these jobs .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
in writing . - ( SV ) Are EU measures in the urgent fight against cancer more effective than corresponding measures in the context of existing international organisations with broad expertise , such as the WHO ?
Parliament has also asked for transparency and a correlation of the security taxes and charges with the objectives being pursued .
this amount will leverage approximately EUR 300 million from the participating countries for the next six years .
the debate is closed .
this has been done by Mr Kallas , Mr Almunia and even Mr Tajani , who has considered the impact on tourism and on the agencies .
it is an important contribution to the policy on Members ' finances , transparency and public relations .
we have a Small Business Act going through here now .
I should like to close by saying that legal protection for European citizens is crucial .
however , sadly , some provisions miss the point .
2 .
it also reduces the revenue that is essential if the EU is to be able to help developing countries to invest in ' green technology ' , adapt to climate change and protect tropical forests .
we would like to say that the fact that many ETA prisoners are kept far away from their homes is clearly out of line with the general principles of law , and that therefore we feel it is essential that the European Union be involved in the peace process .
but I would stress the structural measures that have been taken , for the benefit of Europe , in these six months .
at the same time , however , it notes that finding a solution to bilateral differences comes within the framework of good neighbourly relations and must be a precondition to the opening of and progress in accession negotiations .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( DE ) Mr President , honourable Members , the revision of the legislation on residue limits of pharmacologically active substances in foodstuffs of animal origin is an important initiative for the European Commission .
the French Presidency cited it as a possible operation project for our new European Union for the Mediterranean .
I would , however , like to assure you that we will never grant our consent .
it is vital that sufficient fund managers are available to maintain a proper watch on MC passports .
even after so many years , you have to wonder whether it might be the system that is flawed and needs to be fixed .
( MT ) The biggest issue affecting the proper enforcement of this directive is the Member States ' lack of trust in each others ' systems .
we must give our support to principles , freedom and democracy in this world .
we cannot go back on this paradigm .
our chair has been a very good Solomon and a very good United Nations diplomat during his time .
I believe that this European financial assistance fund for Member States needs to be increased to at least EUR 25 billion for one reason : we need to save this market economy .
it should be noted that spent nuclear fuel storage basins pose an enormous risk and hazards , and therefore all unused fuel should be transferred to dry cask storage as soon as possible .
today 's report concerns one of the European Union 's most important policies .
we very much look forward to working closely with you , and to your support , as you have given in the past , to the important role Parliament can play in this extremely sensitive field .
it will take decades to change the energy system .
I wish to point out , on this point , that national authorities are responsible for deciding the legal requirements and practices regarding donation consent in their own Member State and for ensuring that their citizens are aware of their rights in this area .
first , rational exploitation of limited resources .
the fact that this is happening , however , means that we must ask ourselves how the standards governing persons on the world stage - since this is a crisis which has once more highlighted the aspect of globalisation - ought to define the conduct of every person .
there are hundreds and hundreds of arrests there .
the vote will take place on Friday 24 April 2009 .
Brazil is not making any effort regarding lowering tariff barriers in the industry ; there is no effort on services .
the human organism thus becomes the natural victim of the efforts of food producers to produce as much food as possible , as cheaply and as efficiently as possible .
this gap narrowed by just 1 % between 2000 and 2006 .
many countries would be envious of these statistics .
and the report calls on Member States to take action to ensure that work breaks for maternity , paternity and parental leave do not constitute a penalty when pension rights are being calculated .
finally , under your Presidency , we have reached a compromise on the climate crisis .
we should save , for example , on staff training , administration and expenses so that more development aid actually reaches the recipients .
I have learned a lot here today .
physical Activity Guidelines adopted recently by Sports Ministers and transferred to Health Ministers , the fight against doping , a European qualifications framework for lifelong learning and a European credit system for vocational education and training , where sport is one of the first areas used as a pilot area for testing .
but what can Westminster do as long as we are in the EU , because at exactly the same time , the European Commission wants all the powers over asylum seekers passed to them ?
I agree with the Commission that the European market in natural gas suffers from lack of investment in transmission infrastructure and a low degree of coordination between individual transmission system operators .
moreover , the opportunities provided by and the positive effects of the European Economic Recovery Plan will also decrease in the future .
suffice to say that such a situation would cause the closure of a company in the private sector and the conviction of its directors .
we also all recognise that , in numerous Member States , the education system has weak points , both in terms of standards and in training pupils and students .
I would also like to know whether there are wilderness areas that are currently not listed as Natura 2000 sites which would potentially come under the consideration of this report .
right now , just as the situation in North Africa is giving rise to large flows of migrants , the EU is failing to hit the mark by failing to take any clear responsibility .
the principles we wish to reinforce on 8 March should also apply on the other 364 days in the year .
the Spanish growers have already taken to the streets and today , in about 40 minutes ' time , direct growers in Italy , too , will be demonstrating in the streets in Milan and the province of Latina , offering consumers fresh cucumbers and other fruit and vegetables to show that they are healthy foods and important for a healthy , balanced diet .
as the benefit of thrombin ( ' meat glue ' ) for consumers has not been proven and the process of binding together many separate pieces of meat significantly increases the risk of it being infected by bacteria , I did not support the proposal to allow this food additive to be used in bovine and pork products .
I am also opposed to the European Parliament 's proposal to reform the EU 's financing by introducing an own resources system .
what is more , it is as relevant as ever in a world in which too many people continue to have their fundamental rights violated on a daily basis .
President-in-Office of the Council . - Mrs McGuinness probably already knows that on 11 December last year the Council and the European Parliament adopted a directive to amend the Television without Frontiers Directive and rename it the Audiovisual Media Services Directive .
I very much hope that we can use the experience which we gathered during the first phase of the eastern enlargement of the EU to help it in this process .
once again it has squandered the chance to ensure clear rules for social security provisions applying to all family members moving across all Member States , in regard to reimbursement in respect of non-urgent health care , in accordance with judgments of the European Court of Justice .
to conclude , we have chosen a region-by-region approach and I would stress that we must bring things to a conclusion in that fashion , so that no single country falls behind its neighbours .
( PL ) Mr President , when there are too many Presidents , there are , in fact , none at all .
I am worried that we are not accepting and are not prepared to pay more attention to children .
we want to see the financial markets reformed in a way that revives the notions of ethics and moral values , that aids job creation and long-term investments .
the intention behind this new period of negotiations is that the Troika will play a facilitating role , with the parties being responsible for proposing new ideas .
I would remind you that the estimated annual amount of tax fraud is EUR 200-250 billion , or two per cent of GDP .
not only will the measures proposed in the resolution be unable to eliminate the problem , because they do not touch the causes ; they also seek to manage and hence perpetuate the problem .
it is a fact that commercial road transport is one of the determining economic sectors of modern societies .
however , throughout the Euro Zone , we have a duty to react to the crisis where economic policy is concerned .
I do not think that it would help to add a layer of ' religious correctness ' to the existing approach of political correctness .
( Parliament agreed to accept the oral amendment )
as one of the relatively few Members first elected back in 1979 , you have been able to bring your considerable experience , wisdom and knowledge to this office .
rapporteur . - Mr President , it was remiss of me not to welcome the new Commissioner , to thank him and to wish him well .
I appreciate that the funds are directed to the citizens in need .
secondly , the avoidance of duplication of data collection in order to reduce costs and the burden on professional users .
one specific point was adopted , under which the European Parliament ' calls on the Commission to propose a faster approval procedure within the EU for the importation of a new GM feed variant once it has been proved safe ' .
thirdly , I would like to declare that , if I plan to have a child during this term , I will take paternity leave , if Mr Buzek allows me .
the Member States have widely varying maternity leave systems .
in writing . - ( FR ) I voted resolutely against the Alvarez report on administrative cooperation in the field of taxation , as I am sorry that the fight for citizens ' freedoms , which Parliament is supposed to spearhead , is changeable and inconsistent .
the resolution adopted by an overwhelming majority at the UN in 2007 urges the Member States of the United Nations to examine the damage to health .
why does the said service have many dozens of employees and luxury premises in exotic locations like Barbados and Madagascar ?
however , it must be borne in mind that this presents a not inconsiderable risk to health .
there are now over 1 672 Shiga-toxin-producing E coli cases , and serious complications have developed in at least 661 people .
far from being a solution this will only give illegal migrants and those seeking to enter the EU the illusion that they will be given legal status sooner or later .
one of the ways of looking to the future of agriculture is through young farmers .
my country 's new constitution not only contains fundamental rights , but it is the first in the European Union to take the European Charter of Fundamental Rights as a standard .
but , ultimately , it is the penalty regime that matters and that , I suspect , will test the Commission 's resolve .
an endless duty towards future generations . ' this is what is expected of us , today , and it is what we should do .
I am therefore quite surprised by the sort of effect and power the Treaty of Lisbon and the statement by Parliament have had on the Council , which now wants to champion the interests of Europe .
thirdly , please ensure in the Council that clarity finally reigns as to what is to happen on institutional issues after the elections .
we must be able to defend ourselves if companies dump products onto the market , in other words , if they sell products at less than the cost of producing them , in order to force their competitors out of the market and to gain an illegitimate advantage .
respect for secularity , for women 's rights and for the rights of the Kurdish people , as well as acknowledgement of the Armenian genocide , must remain the criteria by which Turkey 's potential accession is decided .
the vote will take place tomorrow , Thursday , 11 November 2010 , at 12 : 00 .
Tibet is materially backward - though of course it is spiritually advanced - so by now every Tibetan wants a modernised Tibet .
we were given a free vote by our group , but our delegation decided to vote against because - as speakers have said - talking about reproductive health rights is another way of saying abortion .
and these same forces which are holding things up there , are in our opinion - we Greens are also concerned about jobs - holding up the development of future-proof methods of production and future-proof economic systems and future-proof new products , and they are blocking our way out of Europe to the global markets of the future .
but we should aim to make significant progress in a number of areas .
today 's debate , which is based on the three reports , proves that , contrary to what many euro-pessimists and euro sceptics claim , European defence and security policy and a European foreign policy are indeed taking more and more shape and are showing more and more signs of consistency .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , first of all I would like to say I am glad that this proposal enjoys such broad support in Parliament .
as he said , tobacco smuggling is a very lucrative business .
I think we have a lot to do in this field .
in writing . - I voted for this report .
the most significant abuse of that right is the relentless and deliberate colonisation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem by Israel .
in writing . - In favour .
the whole world is watching but we are not managing to really get a common approach .
the system is also implemented at national level in several Member States , and other countries are using or developing similar tools , so on this point I am not totally in line with you .
additionally , clean and energy-efficient cars tend to cost more .
all measures that make for greater legal certainty and give additional assistance to industrialists and SMEs are , of course , welcome .
the financial side has attracted sufficient attention and has been made a major priority .
what we , Members of the European Parliament , can do in cases like this is address questions to the European Commission and then wait a few weeks for an expert answer .
I have been asked to represent the European Parliament at the dinner of Heads of State or Government .
I voted for this parliamentary report on ' Migration flows arising from instability : scope and role of EU foreign policy ' and I want to focus on a number of aspects contained in this report .
we want identified funding to tackle climate change mitigation .
that is also reflected in the report we have produced .
if we doubt the independence and integrity of courts in any State of the Union , that State should have its membership suspended .
this proposal on consumer protection , however , was specifically about more integration , and is completely relevant .
no , not yet .
railways have not yet experienced any visible market success ; if anything , they have lost market share .
comprehensive regulation of the contacts of politicians obstructs natural and open contact between citizens and elected representatives .
starting in Copenhagen , we must be able to expect more lucidity and more responsibility from the major powers of this world .
Mr President , Mr Wathelet , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , as rapporteur for Parliament 's budget , I can definitely speak of a political success in respect of this part of the budget .
I would like to talk about something that Mr Groote made reference to , namely that we are doing this against the backdrop of an incredibly severe slump in the European Union 's commercial vehicles market , as the market in commercial vehicles has been much worse hit than is the case for passenger vehicles .
I am sure the Commissioner will agree with me and many of us in this room that we still face a formidable task as we try now to build and rebuild trust after years of negotiation which have created enormous amounts of tension and acrimony .
we have built a network of points of contact to facilitate the exchange of data from police information systems .
the Stockholm Programme will sharpen the instruments that create security in the EU and that fight organised crime and terrorism .
the second point is blue growth .
we ask the Commission to vigorously pursue this course of action now .
in writing . - ( FR ) I voted against the report on the Single Market Review : tackling barriers and inefficiencies through better implementation and enforcement .
I subscribe to the report 's long-term objective of trying to introduce fair conditions for all farmers in the EU , which means abandoning the historic criteria for direct payments .
can I just suggest that we could make a great start by enforcing the ban here in our own Parliament buildings ?
- Svensson report
but in dealing with the High North , it is important that we are seen to be diplomatic , not didactic ; cooperative , not coercive ; and explorative , not exploitive .
even in a high-tech country like Japan , the promised safety levels could not be even remotely achieved .
the EGF was created in 2006 with the objective of providing additional support for workers who have been made redundant and are suffering from the consequences of major structural changes in world trade patterns , and to assist their reintegration into the labour market .
the answer was twofold : ' everything But Arms ' for the least-developed countries , and economic partnership agreements for the developing countries in the ACP .
the relaxation of the rules of origin offer great opportunities for Papua New Guinea to promote the local economy .
the ban will mean that goods made from the meat , fat and skins of seals , such as bags , shoes , hats and gloves , will disappear from the common market .
in writing . - ( PT ) I am voting for this proposal , since I agree with the discharge procedures , as they propose suitable appropriations for each heading .
the problem is much greater than the report suggests .
a working group of the Hungarian Socialist Party has recommended that this vision be incorporated into the long-term programme of the Party of European Socialists .
this concerns an area which covers 60 % of the world aviation market and is therefore extremely important .
because of its strategic position as the crossroads of Europe , France 's road , rail and waterway networks are often congested and therefore particularly subject to transport accidents .
I voted for the Grossetête report because it eliminates the uncertainty that has persisted for many years over the issue of the payment of costs and the related issue of access to cross-border healthcare .
credit rating agencies , in general , issue opinions , literally in the form of ratings , on the creditworthiness of businesses and states and on complex financial products .
this particular programme was in the range of EUR 39 million but there are also similar ones not only in Bulgaria , but also in Slovakia .
they will laugh at it and throw it in the bin in exactly the same manner that they have dealt with all previous resolutions of this Parliament .
that was the spirit behind our recent proposals to ensure that the rules on energy investment would apply to third-country companies .
we need to ensure that the legislation is stringent , clear and harmonised , but also simple .
not all EU Member States currently have very rigorous penalties for employers who illegally exploit the labour of children or women , and I believe that we need such legislation at European level .
the leader of Sinn Féin , Gerry Adams , seldom makes any reference to this EUR 1.65 billion .
let me give you one example .
constructive discussions will help to ensure that the special relationship between the EU and the US is maintained .
furthermore , we are supporting the training of 850 Chadian police by the UN mission MINURCAT through the Instrument for Stability with EUR 10 million .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , President-in-Office of the Council , Vice-President of the Commission , owing to the short time available to me , I should like to discuss only the report by Mrs Roure .
question Time ( Council )
( NL ) Madam President , the basis of many of the current developments was laid down as far back as hundreds of years ago .
I strongly oppose the use of non-human primates for biomedical research , except only where there is a need to use them exclusively in experiments involving life-threatening or debilitating conditions .
I hope that reliance on mutual confidence in the systems of the other party will foster realisation of the Agreement .
finally , we would stress the role attributed to the ' agenda for new skills and jobs ' in achieving these goals .
the Convention , together with the European Commission 's disability strategy , will enable equal civil , political and economic rights to be guaranteed by 2020 to the nearly 80 million citizens of the Union who are affected by some kind of disability .
Mr Barroso said : ' less red tape ' .
trade unions might be forgiven for thinking that they are suddenly living on Animal Farm .
approval of Minutes of previous sitting : see Minutes
comments have been made , not only in this House , in an attempt to reduce and make light of what our government , our country and our people have had to face .
I cannot go into the details .
Ms Ronzulli , sit down and stop talking please .
above all , the Commission welcomes Parliament 's proposals for a Community body .
firstly , the policy of adaptation should be added to all Community policies .
you have used the word ' disability ' many times and have expounded to us all the disability programmes .
how is that country supposed to respond ? Cyprus is striving for reunification at the same time as we are supporting separatist movements .
I fully support the right of the Palestinian population to self-determination and their right to defend themselves against the repeated attacks of the Israeli army and state forces .
Autopsy results show that Medine , who was buried in a chicken pen , was still alive at the time of her burial and was conscious to the very end .
has this ever been discussed in Council ?
the first is about the Council .
that is not a sensible course of action .
Tuesday :
the proposed directive would force too many Member States with already-effective domestic measures to dismantle them , as they would be incompatible with the directive .
it is becoming absolutely vital for a trans-European transport network to be developed so that high-speed railway lines can serve not only all the Member States ' capitals but other large European cities as well .
I also voted for it because the United Nations Organisation and its UNHRC are one of the most suitable organisations for tackling comprehensively issues linked to human rights and the challenges in the humanitarian sector .
investment in transport , infrastructure and broadband connections will create jobs now and prepare Europe for the future .
the initiative was introduced by the Treaty of Lisbon and will allow one million European citizens to call on the European Commission to put forward proposals on subjects within the framework of its powers .
we need a real initiative spanning all of Europe , which would have to bring about a certain degree of harmonisation or alignment among existing national systems in order to be effective .
the proposal prepared by the Commission updates the framework decision on combating terrorism and aligns it with the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism by including , in the concept of terrorism , public provocation to commit terrorist offences and recruitment and training for terrorism .
today we are deciding on the notion that the use of the Internet is a civil right .
I am glad that Kosovo is now independent as , after decades of oppression , the Kosovars finally have their own free , democratic state , having been oppressed for decades and more recently finding themselves the victim of genocide that was stopped only with international assistance .
we should also continue efforts to maintain momentum in the Middle East peace process , which has an impact on Lebanon .
we must therefore approve tough legislation in this sector as quickly as possible in order to ensure the application of high safety standards to all existing oil platforms and to limit future extraction .
the European consumer will henceforth enjoy , as do Chinese and American consumers , the right to know the provenance of products .
how do you win an election ?
this shocking act is not an isolated matter , but the brutal operation of Islamic law in the name of a God who punishes the victim for the crime inflicted on her .
we will continue to do so .
they believe that the mind to negotiate will melt away , especially as airlines from the US already have de facto stand alone cabotage to fly from one Member State to another , which we cannot do on US territory .
this must change .
I am in favour of increasing research funding in the European Union as it is vital to set up a European Research Area which will guarantee the highest standards of excellence , effectiveness and efficiency in research in order to attract and retain the best scientists in Europe and promote an innovative European economy based on knowledge and expertise .
we welcome the fact that grain intervention stocks are being put on the market .
that is a prime example of ambiguous wording .
all regions should develop harmoniously .
this report urges the Member States to cooperate with the European Union and the representatives of the Roma community to develop integrated policies , using the resources available within the European Union , under existing Structural Funds , to support the integration of the Roma community , as it is less costly to integrate the Roma than to sustain their insecure socio-economic conditions .
this was a right-wing government which for two terms of office disguised the figures with the help of Goldman Sachs Bank .
like Mr Henin , I too would prefer at least part of that quantity to be stored in warehouses .
unfortunately , the costs of revamping and redeveloping the workforce are comparable in both the east and west .
these national targets - 34 % for Austria , 17 % for Italy , 23 % for France - can also be met via the cooperation mechanisms .
it is a lie or a false promise , whichever you want to call it , as we have been continuing to operate particularly in the area of stem cell collection from umbilical cords based on misleading information .
the convention which I have the honour of presenting was signed in Ottawa in 1978 and came into force on 1 January 1979 .
with the adoption of this report , we are sending the right signals to the public that we are addressing their concerns while , at the same time , we are setting modern standards for global welfare practices at the time of slaughter of animals .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , today 's vote on the 2011 budget confirms the closing of a new procedure , which , however painful it may have been , showed the responsible and steadfast attitude of the budgetary authorities .
it should be borne in mind that the Services Directive will significantly improve consumers ' rights . thanks to this Directive , service providers will have to offer consumers better information regarding the services proposed .
my country , Poland , is one of the leaders in air transport .
the number of renewals of such contracts or relationships .
for this , absolutely crucial and forceful measures are needed .
Europe 's cultural riches represent a precious commodity that it is important to preserve .
in fact , I believe that the first step to be taken in preventing future economic crises is to analyse thoroughly the risk factors that may lead to budgetary imbalances , and this report duly addresses this issue .
this is precisely why I favour taxation , provided it is introduced globally and after discussion amongst the G20 .
the present proposal on mobilisation of the European Solidarity Fund ( ESF ) states the need to provide aid to Ireland due to the floods of November 2009 , which caused huge losses in the agricultural and industrial sector , in infrastructure , particularly roads and water supply , and in residential areas .
within the scope of this strategy , therefore , it is worth removing acts that no longer have any real effect from the legislation in force .
agreements should not be conditioned by development assistance : often they are not conditioned by respect for human rights .
I think it a great shame that we are having to hold such a debate here today .
this review - in particular , the reduction of administrative and bureaucratic costs and burdens - is consistent with the Act as it currently stands .
I will ensure that the Commission will keep Parliament fully and immediately informed throughout the process of negotiations .
the essential prerequisites for continuing negotiations with Turkey are the full implementation of the Ankara Protocol and the recognition of the EU Member State of Cyprus .
lack of work is the main cause of deep poverty .
this report is not part of the legislative procedure and represents nothing more than the opinion of the European Parliament 's federalist majority that the EU should increase its interference in the cultural sphere still further .
it is time to leave the European Union ! '
( the sitting was closed at 16.30 )
despite my interruption , you spoke for more than four-and-a-half minutes .
( EL ) Madam President , I too should like to congratulate not only the Presidency and the Commission , but also the rapporteur and everyone who helped to pass the directive and mark a new achievement for the European Union for the benefit of the citizens .
I am confident that the London Summit can build on the action that the European Council and the G20 Finance Ministers agreed a few days ago .
the compromise reached by Parliament and the Council defines more clearly the supra-national powers of the European works councils and the sanctions , while not introducing a minimum number of participating workers .
thank you .
acceptance of full cooperation with the OSCE would be counterproductive for the European Union .
the first is the ' High Level Group on Nuclear Safety and Waste Management ' focusing on identifying safety issues for priority handling and recommending actions to be taken at EU level .
thirdly , it is time to address new challenges to our security .
until we tackle the power of the supermarkets in this area we will not have the answer .
current events show that the European Stability and Growth Pact is not very efficient and has failed to prevent several Member States from encountering serious problems in their balance of payments and in paying off their debt .
we are here to help you .
Mrs Andreasen will present the request . please take the floor , Mrs Andreasen .
welcomes the imperialist maritime supervision of Somalia by the naval forces of the EU and calls for the EU to set up a Sudanese ' state policing and regular army mechanism ' abroad , which must not overthrow the country 's government .
the hope is that this resolution will mark the beginning of a change in approach by Union bodies , especially from a diplomatic and commercial viewpoint , in their bilateral dialogues with the many - too many - countries that tolerate anti-Christian persecutions , or even lend support to the culture of Christianophobia .
the allegations are extremely serious and if , according to the Council , there is no truth in them at all , then the Council must refute them .
that is why it is vital that a mechanism is developed to share patients ' records between the patients ' home country and the country where they receive treatment .
we want the points of single contact to be comprehensive centres of electronic contact with the authorities .
therefore using cluster munitions has to be clearly rejected and forbidden .
while transport ministers are agonising over this , we must decide which costs relating to anti-terror security regulations , which are becoming more and more restrictive , can be passed on to passengers .
transfers of appropriations : see Minutes
if it only responds to the proposals it likes , then this initiative will be redundant .
we have already debated one aspect this morning , but I am going to start by talking about the Instrument for Stability .
we call on the international community to join us in promoting the concrete , realistic disarmament initiatives which the EU submitted to the UN General Assembly in 2008 .
this regulation would achieve precisely the opposite of the actual objective , which is better use of available capacities .
EU Trade Commissioner Ashton and Korean Trade Minister Kim subsequently met in London on 2 April 2009 .
in writing . - Generally , we are pleased to see the current state of affairs regarding the budget of the European Union .
no one should have any illusions as mega-projects of this kind can be huge successes or heavy failures .
it is good to have proper discussions with our Russian friends on all of the issues that concern us regarding the running of the country by the Russian authorities .
in two areas - and the Commissioner also referred to these - there is still some room for adjustment .
jointly with the Commission and the American side we have held so-called exploratory talks .
finally , it is imperative that we strengthen our consumer protection policy , particularly in the light of all the crises and food scandals the world is experiencing .
the industry is thinking about compensation for the damage caused , which is quantifiable and it would be good to take this into account .
the focus must be on citizens .
considering the good work done by my Danish fellow Member , Mrs Schaldemose , I am voting in favour of the report concerning the directive on general product safety and market surveillance .
composition of the delegation to EUROLAT : see Minutes
I believe that , vital though it is to dialogue with Russia , we must ensure that we do not become totally or predominantly dependent on Russia in terms of energy policy , because that seriously diminishes our potential to hold discussions .
however , the inclusion of the correlation tables in the text remains a very sensitive issue .
the debate is closed .
he even photographed at least one of the documents .
this constructive criticism can only help relations between the European Union and Iran .
as they are amended , it becomes difficult to understand which provision is currently in force .
these are all very important elements .
the next item is the oral question to the Commission by Mr Parish , on behalf of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development , on the Mediterranean diet , a diet which , incidentally , the President of this plenary sitting adheres to in a reasonably strict manner with more than acceptable results .
I firmly believe that savings in the budget will be achieved through the medium-term strategy in the area of assets and buildings , which will contribute to the sustainability of the EP budget .
however , sometimes we do not have documents available in even the most common languages .
this is a bilateral dispute between two countries who are otherwise good neighbours on excellent terms , and yet it is a dispute that will have to be resolved elsewhere .
particularly problematic are rural areas , where consumers suffer because they are deemed too commercially unviable to be given adequate broadband coverage .
( CS ) It is , without doubt , thanks to this Parliament that the volume of resources for projects in the area of energy efficiency and renewables has reached EUR 146 million .
medium- and long-term export credit is a valuable instrument which is not yet fully exploited in all Member States and needs to be encouraged , especially in a weakened economy like that of Portugal .
as rapporteur for the Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings , I proposed an increase of up to 15 % in the European Regional Development Fund ( ERDF ) rate which can be used for improving energy efficiency in buildings .
it has already been decided under the Treaty of Lisbon that this is the direction to take .
the first is the little real impact the Charter of Fundamental Rights will have .
Madam President , Mr López Garrido , Commissioner , let us never again allow our silence to result in us colluding with liberticide .
it is of the utmost importance that Srebrenica is never forgotten and that a joint effort continues .
surely this is something that could be left to the Member States .
Madam President , I would like to throw some light on one particular aspect today .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , we , too , are happy to support the continuation of the European Union 's policy of bringing about dialogue and closer cooperation with the Belarusian regime .
I can in fact confirm that Amendment 1 is tabled as an addition .
( ES ) Madam President , Commissioner , this proposal was issued by the Commission more than a year ago with some really ambitious objectives .
the Commission proposes an EU Energy Security and Solidarity Action Plan , the most important aspects of which are the creation of infrastructure and the diversification of energy sources .
we also wish to make clear that , with regard to paragraph 16 of this joint resolution , the death penalty issue is a matter of conscience for British Conservative MEPs .
for 2009 , the Romanian Ministry of Regional Development and Housing will allocate EUR 130 million for renovating heating systems , with nurseries , schools and retirement homes among the beneficiaries .
there are a number of problems that this report simply does not go into in sufficient detail and I have therefore voted ' no ' .
I think that the basic idea is that it would make a contribution , so it is an economy that can overcome the current difficulties .
I would also like to commend Amendment 68 concerning the recasting procedure .
we can be really proud of it .
electromobility must play a key role in future .
there is a crisis of values , which has been uncovered by the global economic crisis .
after all this time , and notwithstanding the differences which do remain , I see light at the end of the tunnel .
it is certainly correct to say that we cannot tackle a global issue by adopting a narrow European approach , but rather we need to seek an international and global solution .
who can be against such a simple and effective measure ?
Madam President , a young woman in my constituency has this morning , as every weekday morning at this time , just returned home from walking her two young children to school .
14 people suffered eye injuries , among others .
we must develop motorways of the sea to reduce CO2 and further the development of renewable energies .
it is therefore clear that small and medium-sized enterprises , particularly those that are innovative , offer considerable hope for economic growth and social progress in our internal market .
as sex offenders who target children have a high reoffending rate , we must establish an EU-wide register of the names of potential sex offenders , paedophiles and people with relevant behavioural problems .
the crisis , unemployment , poverty and deepening regional divides are precisely the kind of cases where it is necessary to act more quickly and more flexibly .
so the Commission will continue to work on this process and we will be very careful not to forget the lessons learned .
these issues affect a large number of areas , in particular housing and more especially social housing .
the spectre of yet another crisis loomed over Europe and the summit of the European Council , which took place last weekend in Brussels , was unable to answer the question of where Europe should go next .
furthermore , we would urge greater consistency between internal EU policies - such as agriculture , fisheries , trade and immigration - and our development cooperation policies with the poorest countries , especially in Africa .
have you , in the meantime , looked at what has been done in Greece to alleviate these problems , or are you simply allocating funds to governments that are likely to waste them ?
if it wants to be a global player , the European Union must also develop a strategy within which it formulates its common interests .
maybe this is another mission impossible to try to collect and respond in a satisfactory way to all Members ' different views on the legislative and work programme .
I heard the President of Parliament support this view last week .
recent developments are very unfortunate and regrettable for all those who are in favour of the democratic development of Georgia .
we must have market access to cereal substitutes from the United States or the supply of beef , sheep and chicken meat will become more difficult .
nonetheless , we are lagging decades behind air transport in this respect , and the obstacle we encountered was the tremendous conservatism of the European railway world : its tremendous resistance to passengers ' rights - which was in the end overcome because we agreed to derogations that may leave us looking at implementation in 15 years ' time , around 2023 .
only if countries themselves have to take financial responsibility for the strict security measures which have been prescribed can we prevent the possibility of a wild increase in the number of body scanners and other rather ridiculous security measures .
I would add that Mr Barroso is the first candidate for President of the Commission to have involved Parliament so closely in his work and in the definition of the guidelines .
the vote will take place on Wednesday .
the second issue relates to the impact of the imprisonment of mothers and pregnant women on the life and health of their children .
Europe must further invest in LNG terminals and help do the same for its newest members .
firstly , when a state of emergency is declared , in cases like this , the Council of Europe has to be informed first .
I have three priorities when we negotiate the Eighth Framework Programme .
they have improved during the last 10 years .
in Estonia we say : ' better late than never ' , and it is a positive development that we are finally passing the temporary agency worker directive .
I would like to make a second remark to Mrs Swinburne , but not just to her .
in the last 10 years I have heard many criticisms of it , including the lack of a level playing field , insufficient stakeholder involvement , inadequate balancing of economic , social and environmental imperatives and too much by way of micro-management from the centre .
economic , social and territorial cohesion are fundamental principles in determining all EU policies and activities .
that prerogative would take precedence over the sovereign right of states to choose who can live in their territory , with what status and in what conditions compatible with public order and security .
the vote will take place at midday tomorrow , Tuesday , 15 February .
these measures will make it easier for drivers to use tachographs by simplifying the manual entries .
anti-terrorism activities must be conducted with full respect for the principle of the rule of law and the full respect of fundamental rights as they are enshrined at the level of the European Union in the Charter of Fundamental Rights .
finally , Iran 's candidacy in the UNHRC elections to be held in May 2010 is of particular concern and must be followed up with strong EU action to prevent countries with a dubious human rights record from being elected .
the human and material consequences caused by the violence of these meteorological phenomena have left a deep impression on us MEPs .
( FR ) Mr President , Minister , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I am also pleased that the subject of immigration has been chosen for the next meeting of the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the Euromed zone .
she returns to an exciting position and , more importantly , she will have more time as a mother .
could I ask the Commissioner today not to be neutral on that , but to expressly call upon all Member States to do what they are now permitted to do under his package and no longer to sit on their hands in this regard ?
in light of the recent support by the Members of the European Parliament for the banning of shark finning , and given the fact that Congress in the United States has introduced legislation banning the practice and that other jurisdictions feel very strongly that such legislation should be implemented , what does the Commission propose in terms of giving legislative effect to the concerns of MEPs ?
there is nothing about external representation of the euro area in the IMF .
on 1 January 2010 , it will be 22 years since a very wise and widely-respected individual emphasised that respect for minorities and their culture is the foundation for building peace .
Frontex coordinates those activities .
the implementation of single points of contact for services must take place with ever greater use of IT , by providing services online with easy access , primarily , for small and medium-sized enterprises , which will guarantee interoperability with other portals in other Member States , thereby avoiding the linguistic barriers that have to be overcome daily .
we do , of course , need more .
when it comes to human rights , I can imagine that India has better law relating to the press , for example , than some Member States of the European Union .
as I confirmed in my reply to the question , I believe that the ERTMS system is an important project from the technological viewpoint , in which the European Commission has invested with a view to making all transport in the rail sector safer .
( applause )
secondly , we must be aware that the pollution is highly localised and , for example , has a major effect on cyclists in the immediate vicinity of mopeds , which constitutes a problem for public health .
the relatively balanced report contained some points concerning particular Member States .
we can either decide to help the industry , or we can decide that we will ultimately let our farmers go out of business : then we can import from abroad with all the problems that brings us .
however , we realise that the fact that two Member States rejected the proposed constitution meant that we were forced to make changes .
efforts to achieve that objective , however , must not in any way be used as a pretext to make European institutions even more bloated , nor can either an EU civil-defence agency nor an EU rapid-response force provide effective protection in the event of natural disasters .
we are also preparing for additional action through diplomatic channels and will remain in contact with the United Nations , in particular with Ibrahim Gambari , Special Envoy of the Secretary-General , who met with the presidency and institutions of the European Union in July , in other words immediately before the summer recess .
we do not have the same instruments as one has with candidate countries , where in order to enter the ' club ' they have to comply with a certain number of conditions , and if they do not , then they cannot enter .
our aim must be an active labour market policy that , together with well-functioning social security systems , is able to manage change effectively .
we agree with diplomacy , but we must use not only diplomacy , we must also use the instruments that we have .
that is a huge benefit , and it means that we will have one framework for Europe - one framework - and that means that , if you then comply with those requirements , you can sell your vehicle everywhere else .
from this platform , I would therefore like to offer my thanks to all the statisticians in Europe who , over the last 10 years , with very limited resources , have had to produce the statistics - and are continuing to produce them .
in the long-term , objectives will be more compatible .
we cannot neglect our citizens ' healthy concern and right to information to this extent .
the Fuel Quality Directive has been highly debated in the Committee on the Environment .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , let me start by recalling that this is indeed an historic text we will adopt today - hopefully - in the vote in a few minutes .
we are drawing too few logical conclusions from our discussions .
although it will be some time before its positive effects on the economy are felt , there is no doubt that the large-scale budgetary package , representing 3.3 % of the EU 's GDP - that is , more than EUR 400 billion - will generate new investments and create jobs .
on the other hand , there is a request for a separate roll-call vote on the original text .
we also appreciate your comments on immigration , although not always your actions , and we appreciate the fact that emphasis has been placed on the positive aspects of immigration and not just on its illegality , as perhaps your predecessor did .
as is called for in your draft resolution , we are doing our utmost to support the new body .
do the EU institutions have more extensive competence than the Member States in methods of combating cancer ?
Mr President , let me put this straight .
it is important that the Commission makes the most of the operational experience that it acquired with the strategy for the Baltic Sea , and that its strategy is based on the determination of the governments and citizens of the Member States and the regions to overcome immediate common challenges .
the World Jewish Congress has been coordinating the defence of its members ' interests since 1936 through 100 countries .
an important innovation is the registration of all weapons in personal ownership .
for that reason we are making energy a public service with this legislative package .
both poppy cultivation and processing capacity have , unfortunately , increased significantly .
( CS ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , it is a well known fact that the consequences of the current economic crisis fall hardest on socially vulnerable groups of citizens .
concerning the allocation of revenues generated by a FTT , as the analysis on innovative financing is still ongoing , I think coming to any conclusions about revenue sharing and allocation would be premature .
however , this is what Václav Klaus is demanding from us .
it is a Commission of balance , which combines the experience of its veterans with the freshness of the other half of its members .
( DA ) Madam President , I would like to address the proposal that the Commission has tabled concerning the strengthening of external border control .
but it may be that today , there will be further movements towards a cease-fire in the region , which would be most welcome .
I would like to emphasise the work done by rapporteur Anna Záborská , but I am sorry that because of the procedural processes , we have not voted on her draft report .
the fact is that this equipment often contains a substantial amount of highly polluting materials .
I wish to express my support for the victims as well as their families , some of whom are still waiting for the return of their loved ones ' remains , which were taken away by the junta in order to cover up the traces of a true massacre .
in March II , we will hold a priority debate in this plenary meeting about the adjustments to the cohesion policy .
this motion for a resolution of the European Parliament concerns a free trade agreement ( FTA ) between the European Union and Japan , the third largest economy in the world in terms of gross domestic product ( GDP ) .
China and Canada are known for using it to power cars and Japan uses hydrogen to heat buildings .
your vote will determine the outcome of this issue , which has been on the table since 2004 .
the report is very wide-ranging , so I must focus on just a few issues .
doctors , medicines and medical support services must be deployed urgently and in great numbers .
we are creating an alternative system based on a legally binding charter of rights . in many respects this is a first .
( ES ) Mr President , Commissioner , we are dealing with a reform that is simple but extremely important for the outermost regions .
we concentrate almost exclusively on the details and then sometimes miss the big picture , and this is after all what the telecoms package is all about - strengthening competition and users ' rights .
he said that the situation was so dramatic as to be worse than in Kosovo .
the Commission recognises the importance of fighting organ trafficking as reflected in the communication on organ donation and transplantation .
while we are talking about policy in the area of defence - what kind of a defence policy is it in which Europe does not have an army ?
I therefore consider it very important to encourage local authorities in particular to increase solid communal waste collection , to separate and further use bio-components , and to create special financial instruments or possibly simplify the use of EU Structural Funds .
this is particularly important in relation to our common neighbourhood .
it generates an enormous amount of red tape which is very costly and creates huge obstacles for the Member States .
in view of global warming and the expected consequences , this is a problem that cannot be overestimated .
from my point of view , the central aspect of the fund that will be set up by the end of this year is that it could become a kind of virtuous pilot project for the future organisation of a broader energy fund for appropriate inclusion in the next financial perspective 2014-2020 .
a similar situation exists in the case of the other countries which are applying for support from the fund .
my question therefore concerns the conditions of this support .
( ES ) Madam President , I would like to congratulate the members of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , and its Chairman , Mr Leinen , on the work that they have done in order for us to have a resolution such as this , which we must emphatically adopt .
more research is urgently required .
I had the honour of serving as the Italian Government 's commissioner for emergencies recently during a serious eruption of that volcano .
on this day , the centenary of International Women 's Day , and on the occasion of the vote on this report on equality between women and men , I ask myself what kind of society could deprive itself of 50 % of its intelligence and 50 % of its energy .
the European Parliament has underlined the importance of the governance of the Arctic on more than one occasion .
the Tibetan community and the Dalai Lama himself also need to think about the security and feasible future of the Han Chinese in Tibet .
however , the fact that the Member States have a maximum commitment to both the issue of nuclear energy safety and having a common European framework is best demonstrated by the conclusions of the European Council of 24 to 25 March .
a strategy to improve their socio-economic inclusion will not compromise anti-discrimination laws in any way , rather , it would complement them .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioners , whilst I should like to congratulate Ms Breyer on the excellent outcome she has achieved , I cannot support those who defend the use of pesticides , because it is absolutely vital that we rid our environment and our bodies of these dangerous substances .
according to the Irish Heart Alliance , this voluntary code is not effective .
I also pay tribute , as honourable Members have done , to the NGOs and to the people on the ground .
providing for 60 million new immigrants to come and work in Europe is in my view an outrageous measure .
the editor said that the persecution of homosexuals and their execution should continue .
I hope that you , ladies and gentlemen , will support this regulation which , above all , will help to protect the people in those countries which are affected .
Frontex must keep its missions in crisis areas on a permanent basis .
it is our duty and responsibility to conserve and augment these reserves .
it is time for the scientific community to increase its role in diplomacy .
now this has not happened .
the European Union , rather than lament the fact that Italy has not asked for funding , should take note of what President Barroso said , in other words that if a Member State allows slums to develop on its territory , what can it expect the Commission to do ?
Mr President , I should like to start by thanking the President-in-Office of the Council and the Vice-President of the European Commission sincerely for their detailed replies to our questions .
I would therefore like to express my support for the European Commission in its pursuit of this objective .
the difficulty we have in evaluating the application of the Schengen acquis lies precisely in the difficulty we have in accepting that it makes provision for the exchange of sensitive information , the ' personal files ' and repressive mechanisms which have been created with the excuse of the protection of , and free movement in , the European area .
rapporteur . - ( PL ) Mr President , in assessing the European Parliament 's estimates of revenue and expenditure for the financial year 2009 we have taken account of the special circumstances and challenges facing us in the coming year .
however , a situation must be avoided in which direct investment in commodities has a harmful impact on price volatility because of its massive scale or its purely speculative nature .
I have , nevertheless , chosen to vote against it , as I believe that all health care should be voluntary .
this is in fact a priority objective that I hope will be thoroughly addressed in the review of the Small Business Act , which will be presented on 23 February in Rome by Commissioner Tajani himself .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , many thanks for a very substantive and responsible debate .
I wished to repeat that such receptiveness must be matched by practicality : practicality , in terms of propulsion , practicality , in terms of equipment , and practicality , in terms of recharging systems , which are the elements needed for electric cars to work now and in the future .
I should therefore like to put on record , in addition to my own disappointment , my wish that Parliament 's Bureau write to the Brazilian authorities declaring the disappointment of the entire European Parliament and , above all , expressing our solidarity and our grief to the families of the victims , who have been waiting for justice for thirty years .
I believe that the effectiveness of such measures is essential to guaranteeing the conservation and sustainability of marine ecosystems , and therefore to the exploitation of the seas and corresponding industries .
that is why I encourage both countries to agree rapidly so as to solve the border issue and , without delay , unblock Croatia 's EU accession negotiations .
we have opened the door for this reconciliation that will put an end to divisions and upheaval , and also to calls for separation between Gaza and the West Bank .
if you do it against the will of the people , you are storing up enormous social and political problems for the future .
hopefully , all Member States will now drive ratification forward , so that we can all get going with the new rules in 2009 , in order to take forward the substantive role of the Union in all areas in which our citizens have expectations of us .
despite the fact that violence against women has been a topic of debate for several decades , the international community has not managed to put an end to this extremely destructive form of criminality .
the fact that they wish to work together within the EU says nothing at all about the state structure where they live .
now to my second subject : we also need to explain to citizens why we need the EU .
in writing . - ( SK ) Health is one of the things people value most in their lives .
thank you for your remark .
please let science dictate .
special Report from the European Ombudsman following the draft recommendation to the European Commission in complaint 3453 / 2005 / GG ( debate )
both the Commission and defence rights organisations like Fair Trials International - I declare an interest , I am a patron - and Justice , on whose council I sit , have pinpointed failings in the arrest warrant .
in writing . - The dispute among the institutions centres around what part of the fisheries management plan is related to setting the TAC , and therefore is the sole responsibility of the Council .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , debates on Russia are never easy .
we need very clearly to identify the high-risk products , the high-risk processors and the location and names of the high-risk producers , and , at the very least , we need total segregation of products that are destined for the animal feed chain and , thus , for the food chain .
it is important to make the very best of transatlantic political and economic relations , which have been constantly intensifying over recent years , with effects on the choice of investments and the actions of businesses .
( RO ) Romanian imperialism is how Moldova 's Communists describe the interest being shown and speeches being made by MPs in Romania regarding the situation in Chişinău , regardless of whether it is President Băsescu or MEPs .
while performing these vital functions , however , minimum income schemes should encourage the integration into the labour market of those capable of working .
now , taking our lead from the report that has been voted on today , I think it is important that all the institutions and interested parties strive to realise the objectives defined therein , translating them into real action .
what concerns me most of all is that this UN Resolution - the key Resolution 61 / 105 of 8 December 2006 - concerns several other measures , namely those related to protecting sea turtles that live on the surface and that , unfortunately , the European Commission , instead of transposing this decision in its entirety , decided to start point by point , sector by sector , several years later .
the same groups that held us back from implementing the ambitious regulation of CO2 for cars are now stuck with their stockpiles of huge gas-guzzlers which they are no longer able to sell .
both the Legal Service of the Parliament and the European Data Protection Supervisor have indicated the risks involved in outsourcing , when the external service provider is not in an area under diplomatic protection .
we are now also going to be using our air miles on business flights and we are going to tackle paper consumption .
what will become of Parliament 's requirement of 95 g per kilometre by 2020 ?
aid for farmers would be cut , thus breaking the promises made earlier .
firstly , we are of the impression that the Commission 's response up until now has been to say : ' let each Member State implement its own strategy , in terms of the transparency and governance requirements relating to these funds , and at Community level we will simply verify whether the requirements in each Member State infringe the rules of the Treaty or the rules on the functioning of the internal market ' .
however , we have reached a result that allows anyone submitting patents to do so in their own language .
this does not , however , benefit anyone , nor does it benefit the ' cohesion countries ' .
Palestine is due to hold presidential and legislative elections before the summer , and the Palestinian Authority wants to establish legitimate institutions and manage its security .
women also perform the lower skilled jobs .
ultimately , the public sector has done its job in the crisis .
the European Parliament has helped develop the strategy both through its resolution of 20 January 2010 and the activity of its Danube Forum , and will continue to be an active partner as well in implementing and updating it .
if we imagine that we closed our markets , we would never be able to sell all our high-quality products internally because we would be punished if we protected ourselves .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I shall be very brief .
( DE ) Mr President-in-Office of the Council , the coordination of aid measures is one aspect ; the other is whether it remains apparent to European citizens that it is the European Union that is involved , not just the Member States - that Europe is actually doing something for individual people at local level .
I think that the severity of natural disasters is also down to the human actions at the root of climate change .
we do not really want to give anyone hell , but conclusions can be drawn if the majority of the House so wishes .
shipping routes are essential to our prosperity , because they are the arteries of world trade .
in the context of this oral question , of course , we are concentrating only on online gambling .
I suggest replacing ' fears ' in the original text with the word ' concerns ' .
in short , when the aim is to increase transparency - I am addressing this point to the Member who spoke before me - and types of incentive are introduced that make services more efficient , we cannot fail to say that we are satisfied .
( PL ) Mr President , Mr Kallas , the catastrophe has shown us that we do not have procedures in the European Union for dealing with catastrophes like the one which has arisen as a result of the volcanic eruption .
firstly , prevention , improvement of infrastructure , improvement of driver capabilities , introduction of safe , technology innovations in car design .
( PL ) Mr President , I endorsed adoption of the motion for a resolution on Cuba .
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( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , I wholeheartedly support Mrs Berès 's report , and I note that the very fact that we already have the G20 instead of the G8 is a considerable step forward .
this state of affairs undermines people 's rights .
what I am concerned about is human life , and I am particularly concerned about the women - who I am here to defend - whose lives are in danger as a result of gender violence , and I am here to offer them a space in which they can live freely and safely .
it is therefore time for the EU to assume its responsibilities and implement a policy based on objective criteria rather than dictated by Big Brother America .
yesterday there was no debate on it , or rather on the oral question .
Mr Cohn-Bendit may find this ridiculous and he may be able to do it within the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance but , however , the rules in Parliament are clear .
in the EU the unelected Commission initiate EU legislation and they offer no transparency at all .
satisfactorily , I think , although there is room for some small improvements , which I shall suggest .
fourthly , new objectives and priorities must be matched by new Community financial resources .
I apologise for this but we have to keep to the time .
it does not really work as something brought in from the outside , and that is why I would like to emphasise the importance of including civil society in the process , because that way , democracy grows organically , as it were : from the grassroots of society .
we look for harmony in this exercise , but we also look for the Commission to follow this project very carefully , and as the rapporteur has pointed out , and two Commissioners to the hearing , the current proposal as tabled by Nord Stream is unsatisfactory .
Ms Gill , who is very supportive of the proposal and I thank her very much for her support , mentioned the ' use it or lose it ' clause , which kicks in after a year , but , in the implementation in Member States , Member States can allow it to kick in after three months or six months if they so wish .
the truth is that in recent months Europe , Europe 's governments - beginning with , but not only , the French Presidency - have been sending out a message that Turkey will not join the European Union .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , the question put forward by the honourable Members falls into three parts .
this may not be fast enough for some people , but without amending the Treaty of Lisbon , which is currently not realistic , the target will be 20 % , then 35 % and later 40 % or more renewable energy .
without trade there is no long-term sustainable development .
agreement at first reading will allow the obligatory introduction of electronic stability systems in new vehicles from 2011 , one year earlier than foreseen in the original Commission proposal .
the proposal for which we have just voted replaces four existing directives with one , with a view to simplifying and supplementing the existing legal framework for consumer protection .
the cost of care , especially care for the growing group of people over the age of 80 , is rising rapidly .
we should work on developing this , not destroying it .
the EU has to be a community of cultural values in which diversity is an asset , and a factor in unity and cohesion , or , as the rapporteur puts it , ' an instrument for global peace and stability ' . we therefore urgently need to review the lack of a foreign policy on culture .
we had called for an investigation .
children 's rights and their protection call for an integrated policy .
it is a positive result and a step forward .
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culture in a globalising world ( debate )
the impact of energy demand cannot be clearly estimated , for which reason I voted ' no ' .
the Presidency will take into consideration your comment on the need to think about the necessity to improve these indicators and will reflect on it .
however , we are also producing a cultural landscape that can be seen , that provides recreational spaces for you all , for all of us , for our society , that provides jobs not just in agriculture but also in tourism and in many other areas .
I believe that the ECB has responded fairly well to the crisis .
this fund is purely and simply about putting a socialist slant on the senseless relocations of large groups such as Ford , Nokia and Dell .
whilst we should prefer such laws to be the laws of each member country rather than of an EU superstate , there must be laws covering such matters .
I think the idea of an automatic cut-off is a very good one and it applies not only to chargers .
they are visible to all Members ; perhaps we should make more use of this , but they are there , that is a tool that is available .
the cooperation in the field of the environment and social issues is positive , but in my opinion it could be extended even further .
that is why the Commission has launched a major study on the retail electricity market and will present the results to the Forum in 2010 .
we are convinced of the need to ensure greater certainty regarding their legal situation in the EU , avoiding all possible differential treatment vis-à-vis other third-country nationals .
this will perhaps at some point cause him to leave this House but , for the time being , it is a cause for celebration , both for himself and certainly for many of us .
I would like to thank and congratulate Mr Stockmann and my other colleagues as we end the discussion of this document in the European Parliament .
one of the most important changes is to give the President of the European Parliament the authority to invite national parliaments ( of States which have signed a Treaty on the accession of a State to the European Union ) to designate from among their own members a number of observers equal to the number of future seats in the European Parliament allocated to that State .
author . - Mr President , Commissioner , two years ago , following the removal of the quotas , the textile sector experienced a veritable big bang .
conventions are of course very important , but equally important is genuine , dependable and full implementation .
there are three main areas for the work which I would like to mention very briefly .
integrated and effective policies are needed , such as :
secondly , I would like to address the subject of the management of the House 's buildings .
politicians and diplomats can negotiate , but we cannot negotiate with science ; we cannot negotiate with physics .
in its November conclusions , the Council of the EU urged Belarus to introduce a moratorium on the death penalty .
so I want to ask the Commission what plans they have to coordinate this research so that the best use is made of resources in terms of getting the technology we need .
prevention is better than cure .
I would remind you that the Member States participate on a voluntary basis and , so far , together with the two countries which took part in this particular resettlement , only 12 of the 27 Member States are participating in this endeavour and , to date , the figures from it have not been particularly encouraging .
in recent years , however , Brazil 's role in world affairs has changed for the better and the country has shown itself to be a key partner for Europe .
I am particularly sensitive to the women in conflict as I shared , provided help during , and lived through , all the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina and partly also with the Red Cross in Darfur .
1 900 opposition activists are being held in jail in inhuman conditions in Burma .
it has already been some time since the number of workers made redundant as a result of the so-called ' restructurings ' significantly exceeded the initial estimates of the Commission regarding the number of workers who would come to benefit from the fund .
we therefore need a maternity leave law that motivates families to have children .
even more important is the share of 22 % for civil society funding under the crisis response budget since 2007 .
the voice of Mr Matsakis , who in this context spoke of opposing the report and called for ' honesty ' , can hardly be taken seriously .
human rights are indivisible and must be protected by all constitutional systems throughout Europe , in all Member States .
in many countries , it is still unapproved .
so what has happened is really extraordinary and I believe it should have a huge impact on the energy policies that we are trying to create .
to that end we want concrete measures to promote lifelong learning .
we are now being kindly invited by the Americans to pay a share .
it means that either of the legislators can now introduce an amendment extending the scope of the Regulation to the other bodies and institutions .
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on one aspect , however , I believe we need to be clearer and more decisive : greater resources must be invested in research , in fact and not just in words , and researchers must be guaranteed better conditions .
I support the efforts to encourage youth mobility , both during their education and in connection with their professional life .
we demand a sharp reprimand and delegalisation of the fascist party in question , which is doing something that can inflict the greatest harm on Europe : it is destroying trust between European nations that are striving for the common good . Germany , as a leading European state , should be especially sensitive to this kind of activity and take action immediately for the good of the European Communities .
I notice the wish to expand observation missions and make them more active in the southern Mediterranean .
Seventy-nine million Europeans , 16 % of the population of the EU , are in receipt of food subsidies and price inflation of staples is rising constantly ; this , in conjunction with the recession , is being felt very acutely in Greece .
some people have levelled accusations at the Presidency .
an important instrument is to evaluate occupations and jobs and to assess their price .
I have voted in favour of granting budgetary discharge to the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union for 2009 because in this report I have found high precision , great transparency and a notable orientation towards results .
the ideas are very often there , but the money to implement them is lacking .
however , this transfer of financial messaging data from the EU to the US must be firmly negotiated with the US authorities .
demography is one of the key challenges for the European Union , especially in the context of significant overpopulation in other parts of the world .
the action we are discussing today proves this theory wrong : the struggle against climate change and the quest for secure , sustainable and competitive energy touches every European every day .
the interpretation provided by the judicial authorities violates the commitments undertaken .
in contrast to what , for example , Mr Bulfon said just now , it is unrealistic to suppose that we will achieve real and effective results without nuclear power being part of the solution .
these goals are vital for maintaining the EU industrial , competitive and innovative base .
now it seems that the objectives of reducing quotas are not being achieved ; that is why the Commission is putting forward this new proposal aimed at redressing the situation before it is too late .
ladies and gentlemen , allow me to make one thing clear , so that we are agreed .
I must praise Commissioner Piebalgs for having put himself at the head of those who are committed to energy efficiency , because energy efficiency is undoubtedly one of the main sources of self-sufficiency with regard to energy supply .
I should like to welcome the Prime Minister of Sweden to the House today , who is representing the Swedish Presidency .
as we know , the Council 's legal services challenged the opinion of the Commission .
I feel it is wise , therefore - and this is my fourth point - to preserve the European Parliament 's supervisory powers .
this is one of the most serious human rights issues in the European Union today .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Madam President , Madagascar , which is a former French colony , seems to be undergoing the sad - but not unusual - post-colonial turmoil in its political life , with the consequent suffering for its people .
it was also regrettable , in my mind , that Turkey recently invited to the OIC Summit in Istanbul President Bashir of Sudan , a man indicted by the International Criminal Court for the horrors of Darfur .
among the more important provisions of the directive we are working on is the concept of ' nearly zero energy buildings ' .
that goes without saying .
I am annoyed that there are no representatives of the Commission in seats 21 and 22 because , if I understand it correctly , the Commission would have had a duty to expedite this whole matter once Parliament had been asked to set the approval procedure in motion .
the Copenhagen criteria , which the previous speakers have already mentioned in several speeches , and which the new acceding states were required to meet , have already been discussed , but we were also very well aware that those same criteria , those same requirements - for instance educational requirements - are not met in many of the old Member States .
let us hope that this one works well .
in the area of health , access to comprehensive , good quality information guarantees better results , insofar as patients are more likely to follow a treatment that they are able to understand .
the full agreements will be flexible and comprehensive .
I also welcome the option of deep geological storage , including the principle of reversibility .
I therefore call on the Parliament , Council and Commission to agree on the 2011 EU budget as soon as possible .
CO2 targets in non-ETS sectors are in reality binding energy-efficiency targets in Member States .
the Council states that it shares Parliament 's concerns and therefore calls on the Commission to adopt draft negotiation guidelines .
yes , the euro is a success , and yet it reveals some of our intrinsic failings .
therefore , perhaps it is now time to try a change in this area .
on the other hand , we express our support for Pakistan in its fight against Talibanisation .
Romania has the largest section of the River Danube among all the riparian states .
the Council will not agree because it says this is an unnecessary burden .
where is the definition of the industrial choices , the agricultural choices , the economic choices and , of course , the social and environmental choices that we are making throughout Europe , so that we can learn how trade works with the rest of the world ?
Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the figures illustrating hunger and malnutrition in the world , which we are all aware of and see tritely repeated , are so tragic that it is almost obscene to mention them .
on behalf of the PPE Group . - ( PT ) I take the floor in this Chamber today with my voice weighed down with the distress of someone who personally experienced and witnessed the tragedy that struck Madeira last Saturday .
I would also insist on the need for the Commission to examine , with the greatest attention , the issue of social labelling .
that is why it is very important to ensure that now at last in the 2010s , we can be equal in Europe , which would mean that men and women would also be treated in the same way in the labour market .
rapporteur . - ( HU ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , President Maystadt , European Investment Bank - Annual Report 2008 .
a free trade agreement ( FTA ) between the European Union and India could be a successful conclusion to the process of commercial interaction which has been deepening in recent times .
( SK ) The protection of minorities is indisputably one of the most important principles , and in my country , the Slovak Republic , a really exceptionally high standard of protection is guaranteed for minorities .
therefore , the fair approach would be to step up the pace of the negotiations , so that there is the possibility of completing them this year .
subject : marketing ban on the drug ' Médiator'
the report seeks , for example , to encourage immigrants to continue to use their original languages , something which is itself a problem in many Member States because they fail to learn the language of their host country satisfactorily , with all the attendant consequences .
it is not only trade that affects forests : the forest is an energy resource for these countries , and population growth also has an impact on the forest .
our time and energy should now be put into discussions on how we are to strengthen the equal rights of all people to live in peace , to work to create a better future for Kosovo .
this partnership will establish permanent , direct contact between the European bodies and Roma civil society .
anyone who , at the same time , demands the abandonment of nuclear power is consciously closing his eyes to reality .
but surely , in this case , the Commission should not regulate further than that for regulation 's sake .
in my opinion , sanctions are and should remain an integral part of the common foreign and security policy , or , to be more exact , a means of supporting human rights and democracy .
like Mrs Oviir , Mrs Goudin and myself , he has just come back from the other side of the world , 14 000 km away , and he is going to tell us , on behalf of the Commission , about the meeting we had during the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly .
I am one of those that consider that we need to develop more effective child protection policies to prevent situations of poverty , abuse and child abandonment , along with alternatives to their confinement in institutions , among which adoption should play a key role .
it was because the Council 's behaviour in respect of Parliament and the Committee on Budgetary Control was completely unacceptable .
it concerns the debate about the recent situation in international financial markets .
in writing . - ( LT ) Following the assessment of preliminary National Reform Programmes ( NRPs ) , the European Commission presented a proposal to keep the employment guidelines adopted by the Council last year stable until 2014 in order to devote most attention to their implementation .
the interpretation of the Copenhagen criteria is , in my view , arbitrary , if Belgrade is accused of a lack of cooperation with the International War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague but the human rights violations by Ankara are considered unimportant .
this network will allow different Member States to exchange information related to foreign drivers who are penalised for drink driving , speeding , breaking a red light or failing to wear a seatbelt .
we should be honest here and call for its removal .
however , the challenge for our citizens who are having problems with recognition of their qualifications is , principally , how to find their feet in the complexities of the entire system .
however , I would like to call on this Service to use the funds earmarked for it to implement its activities and achieve concrete results .
great emphasis has been placed here on the need for social dialogue .
you may consider it wanting , others may consider it complete . but here ends the debate .
in other words , you have another ten cantons and need about 13 home secretaries to pass an asylum law in this country .
the other 99 % is in the hands of the Member States .
where errors are identified these mainly relate to weaknesses in internal control systems both in the Member States and in the Commission .
finally , I listened very carefully to what the Commissioner said when he spoke about guaranteeing the rights of workers and combating social dumping , but I am not entirely satisfied that his proposals and suggestions will accomplish that aim , and I look forward to hearing more robust proposals from the Commission .
however , it is vital to ensure that the process complies with EU legislation in the area of data protection .
in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia , violation of the independence of the press , of the independence of the judiciary and of the Skopje 2014 urban development plan are everyday occurrences .
now , the EU has the opportunity to implement a new policy on Ukraine that would include Russia .
today , mutual recognition of qualifications obtained in educational institutions of different Member States , as well as experiences in various job markets , is facing numerous obstacles .
in reply to Ms Bauer , we had the first reading of the important legislation issue you mentioned - the transferability of pension rights - in June 2007 , and the EPSCO Council dealt with it in December 2007 .
after experiencing the solutions to date for assisting Greece and the one-off protective bulwark erected last time , I wonder what would happen if the financial wizards from the markets picked up their calculators and began working out the actual worth of the solution and discovered that not even this was reliable enough to make them willing to risk investing their money in the area ?
it was not until last month , when the crisis broke out again , that the European Union swung into action .
in writing . - ( DE ) I am voting in favour of Mrs Weisgerber 's report on type-approval of hydrogen powered vehicles .
however - and the President-in-Office may be able to contradict me here - I understand that it is now specified that the Council does not consider itself bound by these proposals if essential national security interests are at stake .
among inter-sectoral issues that concern the poorest of the poor , agriculture is very rarely addressed , notably because no land is owned by the poorest of the poor in Europe .
rapporteur . - ( RO ) Parliament reached an agreement with the Council and this agreement is supported by five political groups .
so , we cannot go with a regional approach .
composition of political groups : see Minutes
it is also imperative that better protection for the rights of victims in criminal proceedings be introduced at the same time .
it is because the Roma are the most discriminated against minority in Europe , and Parliament has been dealing with this issue for years .
this operation is a success , providing deterrence to piracy but also raising the awareness of the shipping community on best self-protection measures .
certainly , the European Parliament , with this joint motion for a resolution , expects and demands that the Japanese Government must do both and fast .
the Communication is based on an extensive report drawn up by the Commission 's Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs , which provides a detailed analysis of the functioning of Economic and Monetary Union and the impact of the euro over the last ten years , as well as analysing the prospects for the future .
then the workforce can confidently move from one country to another , businesses can trust contracts , and consumers can be sure that the cost of a product or service is the right one and has been transparently determined .
we heard this particular theme evoked often during the debate .
such a step would certainly underline the fact that Albania continues to fall well short of the EU 's expectations .
secondly , the summit should highlight the basic values to which we are jointly committed : democracy , human rights and the rule of law .
we have a polluted environment , which has a negative impact on human health .
with regard to Romania , we have already been working for more than half a year - or even longer - in order to find a solution as to how to address VAT fraud in agriculture in this particular country .
however , I have always represented the social objectives and we have taken this very seriously .
the emblematic initiative ' Youth on the Move ' is one of the seven flagship initiatives included in the European Commission 's EU 2020 strategy for smart , sustainable and inclusive growth .
I call on Commissioner Füle to tell us how the Commission intends to react to these events .
I want to congratulate them not only on their entry into this area but also , in particular , on the systematic and committed effort that they have made to meet all the requirements laid down by the strict Schengen rules .
what was not at all strange or disconcerting , however , was how the Council team behaved at the conciliation meeting .
as far as I am concerned , I believe that , in this sense , Turkey is also part of this European political culture which includes a totally respectable tradition of diplomacy .
in the United States over 50 % of companies in the copyright business register in Delaware .
what covenant does is to get us to think about reciprocity .
when you think about it , what a great achievement it is , 20 years after the fall of the Iron Curtain , to have the Czech Republic at the head of the European Council , and to have Prime Minister Topolánek and Vice-Prime Minister Vondra cooperating in this responsibility .
after all , if the Treaty of Lisbon comes into force , which is to be expected in the short term , these proposals will have to be made into a single proposal and resubmitted , since the pillar structure will be eliminated .
it is election year in the United States : a year leading to uncertainty regarding the country 's future direction .
however , we must not overlook the positive developments , especially in the more stable parts of the country , where there have been real improvements in health and education , as well as economic growth .
European project bonds are an excellent step in the right direction , but these should be supplemented with more new financing options .
every year , there is a winter festival , a kids ' festival and a film festival .
I fully support the Commission conclusion that European energy markets are not functioning properly .
for Greece , this neighbouring state is North Macedonia , High Macedonia , Vardar Macedonia or Skopje Macedonia .
the debate is closed .
it will become more attractive and its scope will extend to new products : by 2015 , we plan to increase the number of groups from the current 25 to twice that number , that is , 40-50 groups .
it is important that this dispute is resolved as quickly as possible , because over-fishing of the mackerel stock will have a devastating impact on future catches .
Mr King went further to indicate that regulation of the banks was not enough , but that there was a moral dilemma at the heart of this banking crisis in that financial and banking institutions knew that they were too big to fail and that the taxpayer , whether in the United Kingdom or in any of the other regions of Europe , would always have to help them out , no matter what the crisis .
some of the funding will come from the private sector , but international public funding will also be necessary , in addition to official development aid .
I fully agree with one of the key conclusions of the report , that the decommissioning of these facilities in the countries affected will also require European funding contributions after 2013 .
are discussions taking place on this issue at Council level and , in particular , are there any actions involving Turkey in order to ensure that it uses the influence that it undoubtedly has in this area in the correct way ?
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this principle could apply , for example , to the adoption of a framework decision on data protection which should be adopted , in my view , before December , after close consultation , not only by getting just an opinion by Parliament but by taking into full account amendments , proposals and formal and substantial integration .
I believe that in the Treaty there are also general provisions for support for Lithuania 's transformations in the energy sector - an overall package , if I am not mistaken , of EUR 1.3 billion , and this should address areas that could strengthen the supply of energy resources to Lithuania , by strengthening interconnections , by financing energy efficiency measures , by financing alternative supplies .
we began providing direct financial and technical aid to the Palestinian Government .
the chances of them getting their money after they have been deported are non-existent .
studies show that droughts and floods kill more people than any other natural disaster .
however , I believe it is important for the European Parliament to take a more active role in this partnership , and for a funding plan for the effective implementation of the 2010-2013 action plan to be drawn up .
while I agree that anti-dumping measures must be used where they are necessary , the problem is , of course , whether you use them as a protectionist measure .
they are not crazy , but are of course being forced to work those hours , and have been put in a position where they have to work additional hours .
they also have to be adaptable , however , not tied down or restricted by their living conditions .
this is because the cultivation of protein crops enriches the soil with nitrogen , subsequently promoting fertility .
second , the adoption by all the Member States of the Protocol to Prevent , Suppress and Punish Trafficking in and Sexual Exploitation of Persons , where , amongst other things , it will be necessary to review the question of issuing temporary or non-permanent permits for residence within their borders .
others do not , but are in a caring relationship with that child and provide a stable and safe home for them .
rapporteur for the opinion of the Committee on Development . - Mr President , as rapporteur for the opinion of the Committee on Development on this report , I would like to state that the European Union should use this remarkable tool of external policy with wisdom and prudence .
however , I voted against the report on agricultural product quality policy : what strategy to follow ? .
this is the reason for the long debate .
the European Parliament delegation to Chile met not only with Chilean MPs , but also with environmental organisations earlier this month in Santiago .
our delegation arrived the day after High Representative Javier Solana 's visit to Belarus .
I think that we must take all these factors into account when assessing the situation and devise what other measures we need to take in relation to European solidarity and which are based on it .
the special circumstances of the outermost regions , such as Madeira , which is where I am from , must not be forgotten .
I first went to Washington and New York , which was the right way to start our important relationships with the United States and the UN .
the result has been the creation of a large number of religions .
we can use them but we have to modernise them , upgrade them and make them more effective .
( applause )
understandably , the institutions should be provided with sufficient resources , but in the current economic context , those resources should be managed with rigour and efficiency .
we are pleased that there is now clarity on this issue , and you are right in what you have been saying about neighbourhood policy in the Mediterranean .
( ES ) Madam President , I feel that the Commissioner and all of us who have spoken today agree on the importance and the social and political impact of these forums , which are being attended in increasing numbers .
switching compensatory allowances for disadvantaged areas to the first pillar would have disastrous consequences for most regions .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the strange thing about the Council 's proposal is that once it has been approved , it will pave the way for the creation of a permanent stability mechanism through an instrument of international law , and hence without a direct link to the institutional structure of the Union .
some 15 % of Europeans are disabled , and by 2020 the elderly will constitute 25 % of society .
I see it as our bounden duty as democracies .
report : Adina-Ioana Vălean
it also seems that the fiscal policy pursued by these countries will be more effective than the fiscal policy in the euro area .
the issue of environmental inspections is , therefore , very important for the work of my committee , the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety .
this is a typical leftist method of solving crime problems - by banning everything and everyone and , what is more , for 30 years .
school experiments with classes made up purely of foreigners have proven fruitless and even intensive language courses have their limits if the parents do not support their children .
bureaucracy in the form of increasing levels of administration and paperwork result in less time spent by teachers with their pupils .
I therefore make this appeal : let us not allow the Shipyard to collapse , let us not destroy the birthplace of ' Solidarity ' , and let us not measure the historical value of the Shipyard in euros .
these are the areas where African demands are huge and where , at the same time , Europe has a lot to offer .
what do we mean by energy efficiency ( and we are talking about it under the ERDF funding ) ?
criticism of economic partnership agreements ( EPAs ) has long been expressed in this House , and in my opinion we should bear in mind that not only social groups but also African governments are now expressing such criticism and hence try to find alternatives .
all of this will have serious implications for European food supply .
anyone who follows me in my political office and my statements knows that I am a critical politician and that I am also highly critical of the European Union but that I am still very strongly pro-European .
new momentum has been provided for the OSCE from various sides .
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in writing . - ( DE ) The rapporteur is opposed to a Convention , because the treaty changes are only transitional measures .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - Mr President , I would like to echo the calls that have been made for a comprehensive strategy here .
( FR ) Mr President , today there remains less than 15 % of the original bluefin tuna stock .
( applause )
Portugal is capable of putting its public accounts in order with discipline .
there may be deficiencies in its implementation , but these problems must not necessarily be solved by weakening regulation .
the provision of information is based on the principles of active research .
so what is the use in making an effort to have more transparency if afterwards , you still continue to say that there is no transparency ?
the situation is fluid .
however , it is important that this collective effort does not lead to what was so well described by Mr Domenici 's fellow countryman , when it is said in Leopardo that many things must change if everything is to stay the same .
the Commission 's Framework Directive has provided for a method of levying airport charges but gives Member States enough room for movement too .
the vote on the report by Mrs De Keyser and the vote on the motion for a resolution will take place during a subsequent part-session .
let us hear no more nonsense about the status of my constituents as British subjects being unaffected .
for this reason , before adopting new management actions , we should establish the reasons why the existent actions are not implemented and the reasons behind the Member States ' failure to meet their commitments or their late fulfilment .
this is definitely a challenge for the new Member States and I think that prudent continuation of the Bologna Process is a step in this direction .
that is fine , Mrs Doyle , please do so .
that is where we can remove rules .
the Eastern Partnership can play a significant role here .
nevertheless , beyond the amounts and programmes , this year 's budgetary orientations bring to discussion an issue I consider very important : the legal situation of the European Parliament assistants .
the Commission , it seems , does not require this .
can you please be more specific about that ?
the agreement to facilitate the visa process for Georgia will contribute to the EU 's enlarged neighbourhood policy by promoting cooperation and the exchange of individuals between the two parties .
it is right to do so , but - and this is the main thrust of the Catania report - it fails to look at how well fundamental rights are respected within our own territory .
he has always fought to protect the indigenous people and their forest from anyone seeking to destroy them in the name of short-term interests .
try to have Cuba condemned here for the presence of political prisoners in its jails , and you will talk to me about the way in which human rights are dealt with in the European Parliament .
for this reason , the year 2010 should be decisive in implementing the European strategy in this field .
they contain at least two points on which European policy has been successful so far : creation of the internal market and the cohesion and structural policies .
it is good that the European Parliament is advocating the systematic inclusion of human rights issues in the agenda of the EU 's political dialogues and external policy .
we had the disasters of the Prestige and the Erika , and my fellow Members have also pointed out the disasters of recent times .
this point concerned the new version of Article 8 concerning the obligation to assess the credit-worthiness of consumers .
ladies and gentlemen , this is an important matter .
we must take action against these people to make sure that it does not happen and to restore consumer confidence .
he was adamant that he would follow the constitution and that free and fair elections would take place .
however , now I wish to submit two additional amendments on behalf of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe .
Commissioner , my fellow Members have highlighted this matter very well .
banking , for example , is one of the most important sectors and one that has proved to be essential in tackling this crisis but , in Mexico , 90 % of this sector is currently in foreign hands , with 50 % of that in European hands .
Łódź stands out in Europe by its innovation and exceptional skills in the areas both of modern education and in the concepts introduced into business .
in writing . - ( FR ) Like my fellow Members , I have to condemn the recent events in Western Sahara and would like to extend my support and sympathy to all the victims ' families .
under existing Treaty powers , all Member States must agree to laws in the area of anti-discrimination .
the third issue in the report relates to the declaration of financial interests and , in particular , to the results of an independent comparative study launched in July 2006 , in the context of the European Transparency Initiative , and published in 2007 .
China has set lower export limits for the first half of 2011 , down 35 % compared with last year , but stricter limits are expected in the second half .
it is for that reason that I have voted in favour of this report .
if you want something , you go straight for your goal .
I would be very happy if Hungarian and Slovak conservationists could successfully collaborate to develop a Protected Area Network ( PAN ) Park , since the network of PAN Parks has developed a successful European-wide system of wilderness protection .
twelve years in absentia is a lot , but it is in fact clear what this is all about .
why should there be any difference between individual users who do this and an enormous company like Google ?
continued references to the Lisbon Treaty therefore indicate a failure to accept the rules of the democratic system .
it is quite clear that France is acting as a protection force for the governments in Chad and the Central African Republic and now simply wants to embellish its engagement there with the EU logo .
the situation is certainly not easy in Haiti , but the High Representative is following it very closely and giving all the necessary diplomatic support to ensure that there is stability .
I think the best proof that there is no inconsistency between action to protect the climate and to eliminate hunger would be effectiveness in the latter area , in other words , really to remove hunger from the world .
this aid is essential for helping the unemployed and victims of company relocations that occur in a globalised context .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( SV ) Mr President , the UN 's statement on the Millennium Development Goals really deserves every support from us rich Europeans .
I congratulate the rapporteur , who perfectly highlighted the essential contribution of customs legislation and customs services to an effective implementation of our common trade policy , and also identified the important challenges that the Union is facing in this matter .
in the previous parliamentary term , we experienced the process of attempting to have the Charter of Fundamental Rights signed by the three presidents of the institutions .
compulsory emigration and massive settlement of members of the majority have reduced their numbers to 290 000 over the years , and their proportion of the population has dropped to 13 % .
it would be a shame to somehow interrupt Europol 's work .
after what I have heard , I understand why .
in writing . - Labour MEPs stand by our commitments on disarmament and the undertakings set out in Article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons ( NPT ) , which is the cornerstone of the global non-proliferation and disarmament regime .
distinguished Members , I cannot address all the suggestions in the report now , but I can reassure you that the Commission will examine the conclusions of the report in greater detail .
in Eritrea a Swedish journalist has been in prison for more than six years simply because he exercised his freedom of speech .
action taken on Parliament 's positions and resolutions : see Minutes
my second question is as follows ; has the Commission made any provision in the planned 2014-2020 financial perspective for support for geological research with a view to estimating the potential of existing deposits and the possibility of extracting shale gas in Europe , which will accelerate technological development in the field ?
as part of the ongoing negotiations on the trade agreement between the EU and Canada , the Commission must undertake to comply with the European Parliament 's demands .
I am delighted that the Commission finally took note and that it has found common ground with the Council .
we need to start talking about recovery and preparing for recovery and , in particular , being competitive enough to take advantage of recovery .
the Commission is firmly convinced - and the Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid has said this on several occasions - that frank and open dialogue between the EU and Cuba provides the best framework for discussion on matters of common concern to the two sides , including questions of human rights .
since 2005 the Commission has proposed a raft of legislative measures for improving air quality , of which you are aware .
implementation of the guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States (
at the time , the Council welcomed these suggestions , but did nothing about them .
I have to be absolutely straight with you here , and I can tell you that , if it were not for the leadership of President Sarkozy and - I think I can say this - also the contribution of the Commission , we would not have reached a consensus in this European Council to retain the objectives we adopted a year ago .
it represents an example for Japan and for us all , while underlining the need for Europe to adopt a strategy for natural and man-made disasters .
therefore , I trust that you will employ all the necessary means to properly conclude the numerous outstanding reports before the end of the parliamentary mandate .
however , where new expenditure is required , we believe it would have been possible to find savings to free up money for important projects .
the Committee on Fisheries has voted for a second time and has not asked the Commissioner to withdraw the proposal .
let me mention sanctions .
the present CFP perversely incentivises the immoral and unsustainable practice of discarding accidental by-catch and juveniles , as it is illegal to land them .
I know that it is difficult to strike a balance between the interests and the protection of the Iranian people and our own interests , which are not always identical .
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the Commission will be submitting a communication based on that this autumn .
we need a European ' Plan Renove ' or renewal scheme , as from December , which will encourage everything from direct investment to consumption .
in writing . - ( HU ) I represent a country from the euro area which at the time did not support the loan for Greece .
rapporteur . - ( HU ) Thank you very much , Mr President .
it should have been codecision , not consultation .
if we take this seriously , radical changes are needed in order to create a more environmentally aware automotive industry .
EU expectations should focus on assuring the true freedom of the press in Kishinev .
furthermore , I would like to urge the Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilią Malmström not to reduce the financial assistance allocated to non-governmental organisations ( NGOs ) combating violence against women .
the living conditions are appalling .
this was one of the reasons why we managed to take a few more steps forward , but there is still more to be done .
I believe , therefore , that all coastal states should jointly monitor environmental safety , and that Nord Stream must pay compensation for any damage that may occur in connection with the laying of the pipeline .
this is not a contradiction to the idea of a competitive industry , but rather a contribution to its very survival .
I would like to request for us to vote on the compromise text today as it is actually supported by the five political groups , so that the two regulations come into force by the end of this legislature .
every human life must be treasured and when our youths need help or guidance , it should be provided .
I too , of course , share everyone 's view that the Roma should be treated correctly , but most of the problems mentioned in this report are attributable to a lifestyle , a way of living , that these people have actively chosen .
however , it is also appropriate for us to answer the question of why this is happening to us and who it is that is posing the threat .
we could soon see German energy suppliers generating electricity in Poland rather than in Germany , unless they buy it from the French .
the waste product from a hydrogen car is pure water and nothing else .
I voted in favour of Mr Scurria 's report on the European Year of Volunteering ( 2011 ) , advocating greater support from the institutions of the EU for this sector , which involves millions of European citizens and is essential for the promotion of solidarity and social inclusion .
together , these three actors will make Europe one of the main space powers on the international stage , of that we are certain .
concerning illegal and illicit trade , we are working within the context of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control , and are currently working a protocol to control that trade .
the second area is respect for the rights of EU Member States .
I am sure that , with resolve and imagination , the regions will also use this mechanism to bring their proposals directly to this House .
I think it is excellent .
Mr President , I hope the High Representative will congratulate the Canadians on their diplomatic skills because they have something to teach us .
this seems to me to be wrong , because all players should operate under the same conditions .
as the President-in-Office of the Council , President Sarkozy , said this morning , it is essential to talk to Russia , and it is in our interest , as relations with Russia are so important .
I would point out that there is still room for improvement ; ample work remains to be done in building stronger interinstitutional cooperation .
we have made high demands of industry in terms of quality requirements , environmental standards , reducing greenhouse gas emissions , energy saving , and ensuring suitable working conditions .
greater attention must also be paid to farmers ' organisations , and a European rural women 's network should be created so that development programmes in rural areas are fully implemented .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , thank you for this interesting debate .
you will see in the report that we obviously mention the interaction with environmental issues , health issues - and this is clearly vital , as seen in the case of generic medicines and intellectual property - but also with social issues .
we know that the Treaty of Lisbon will actually enter into force from December this year and we definitely need this report .
networking among women scientists may also contribute substantially towards attracting more women into science and key jobs .
the reality is that such mass and unregulated immigration brings with it massive social problems .
it was good that this state of affairs was roundly condemned in the House today during the debate , which is now drawing to a close .
after the need for food and clothing , the need for housing is a basic human need , after all , and for that reason , housing is one of the social public goods , and preventing homelessness is a social challenge .
I do not believe it is helpful to criminalise glorification of , or apologia for , terrorism .
the environment has to be cared for now , with drastic measures .
thank you very much , Mr Barnier .
it is particularly important that the directive apply to digital products , as well as - partially - to passenger transportation .
not all .
Mr President , a question to the President-in-Office , and maybe to the Commission as well , about this deadline of 31 January .
however , the Czech Presidency was particularly wrong on the directive on maternity leave .
how does the Commission intend to deploy available funding , for example the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance ( IPA ) and the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument ( ENPI ) , with a view to reinvigorating local economies and staving off the impending recession ?
what you are saying is not wrong .
I wish to thank Parliament for the work it is doing on this at present as well the work it will have to do after Copenhagen .
once again I beg you , be positive , but be honest and make things plain too .
we understand as well that it is a question of politics .
I also regret the rejection of proposals such as those which regarded the amount of the Recovery Plan ( 1.5 % of EU GDP ) to be insufficient to successfully tackle the current crisis , noting that the EU will lag far behind countries such as the United States and China .
the problem is that in the last 20 years , there has been a complete change , both in the business model and in the pattern of consumer behaviour .
unfortunately , I get the impression that the situation with regard to these trade relations has barely improved in the last two years .
the future instrument will need to be sufficiently robust and must enjoy strong credibility in the markets .
I endorsed the report because the added value of EU membership in multilateral organisations lies in the fields where it has exclusive or shared competences : economic and trade matters , environmental policy , development aid , and security and defence policy .
we also managed to correct the draft report from the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety and turn it into a practicable and realistic proposal .
then , the second point in terms of substance , and a key priority , is that of taking every possible measure to ensure the rights of children , to protect them , and to combat cyber crime , child pornography and sexual exploitation .
as many have pointed out , there is a reason why Germany faces a very different government deficit to Greece .
President Mitterrand and Chancellor Kohl were also the political architects of the euro , even though there were many who supported this monetary success , starting with Jacques Delors .
that said , I very much regret that the European Commission as well as many governments of the Member States are guilty of neglecting energy-saving measures and continuously underestimating their strategic importance and the need to make them a political priority .
was the issue of double standards - the higher standards within the European Union , compared with those countries outside and specifically , in this case , Brazil - raised as part of the talks ?
the aim of this would be to achieve real convergence , promoting the potential of each country , the sustainable use of its resources , investment in production and the creation of jobs with rights .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , we share Parliament 's outrage at the increasing number of attacks in Tanzania against the albino population and at the abhorrent and illegal trade in albino body parts linked to traditional medicine , to superstition and to the practices of witch doctors .
for example , there are indications in the legacy that we are leaving to the next Parliament of what we believe should be the priorities for action in the next parliamentary term , in the run-up to Copenhagen and beyond .
is the result of that a foregone conclusion , or will a ' no ' vote there be just swept aside like the French and Dutch referendums ?
we are not talking here about laws or bureaucratic matters ; we are talking about women , men and children who - as others have said - are risking and often losing their lives .
a change of the entire policy , the stock policy , would , I think , be an option for us to discuss in the health check to find the best way to tailor-make solutions both to farmers and to cereal stakeholders , to the cereal sector .
in writing . - ( BG ) It is well known that prior to this Agreement , aviation was the subject of bilateral agreements with 19 of the EU Member States .
I find it a bit pretentious of Mr Verhofstadt ( if he is still there ) to tell Mrs Merkel to shut up talking about the euro .
we hope that the next summit will provide the opportunity to gauge the effectiveness of the new strategy more rapidly and without too much delay , in order to confirm the suitability of the objectives and achievements .
there could be repercussions , therefore , but no decision was taken since the situation was not deemed serious enough .
the report published shows that there was a low uptake of funds and these were allotted mainly to big business , while small business did not receive the required funding .
many people are under the impression that the vote is not due to start until 19.30 .
the new US President , Barack Obama , has stated that he wants nuclear disarmament .
the Armenian lobby is so vociferous in this Parliament precisely because of the apparent conspiracy of silence that has surrounded the genocide question for almost a century .
operations in the newest nuclear energy plant had to be halted recently due to contamination risks .
at the conclusion of the long negotiations between Parliament and the Council , an important result was reached that is the fruit of a balanced compromise between the different positions of the 27 Member States .
it is important to keep an ambitious negotiating position .
we cannot allow exceptions for particular persons or events .
there will be up to 10 minutes of catch-the-eye possible for such occasions .
I feel that they do not fully reflect and precisely interpret the complex and difficult situation of small Member States like Malta .
the situation on the ground in a country such as Latvia or Romania , however , at the moment , is more complicated than that .
we must increasingly urge all the European players , including the Commission and the individual Member States , to encourage the promotion of universal respect for human rights .
without reducing their emissions , Europe alone will not be able to solve this problem .
Hugo Chávez has thus demonstrated once again that he is not a democratic president but an autocrat , a military dictator whose aim is to convert the whole of Venezuela into his own private ranch and thus to continue threatening , insulting and attacking his opponents and dissidents .
we must and will displace traffic wherever possible , but it is difficult .
despite increasing demand for water , we are still grappling with excessive , unsustainable and inefficient water consumption that is rising almost twice as fast as the world 's population .
I am delighted with the position adopted today by the European Parliament on State aid to facilitate the closure of uncompetitive mines .
the Ukrainian economy has been increasingly hit by the international financial crisis , with dramatically declining output , a deteriorating fiscal position and rising external financing needs .
your predecessor is , today , the Head of State in Lithuania .
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we in the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance are in favour of extending the scope to all medicinal products at risk of falsification and of stricter regulation of online sales .
our first step was therefore to dissolve the KGB and fire the entire police force ...
immigration could be a positive element but it is not the panacea to resolve any aspect of the existing demographic problems .
last week , following a number of days of popular unrest , we witnessed the resignation of President Mubarak of Egypt , who had governed the country for more than 30 years .
with regard to the subject matter of the report , I voted in favour of contributing to the decommissioning of these old plants .
recently added to the policy is the additional 4 % to be used in the area of housing for energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy that allows us to put more emphasis on this challenge .
the European Union must speak with one voice and show that it is ambitious and persuasive during the climate change conference in Cancún .
on account of the possible resettlement and distribution of migrants in Europe , I abstained from the vote .
it is a travesty that the EU decrees , on the one hand , that public contracts must be put out to public tender and that the clause requiring successful tenderers to pay at least the statutory minimum wage is then revoked by the European Court of Justice on the grounds of incompatibility with the directives on services in the internal market and on the posting of workers .
the intention is to build the pipeline in the middle of the Baltic Sea so it does not have to go through Poland and the Baltic States .
in writing . - ( FR ) The report by our colleague signals a real step forward for the organisation and content of the exchange of information extracted from criminal records between Member States .
I would like to give you an example , because many of our citizens do not understand the jargon that is used .
until there is evidence of real change , the restrictive measures specifically targeting Mugabe and his close allies must remain in place .
they have always been mentioned at the many summits I have been on .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , the humanitarian situation in Chad , especially along the country 's 1 360 km border with Sudan but also in the area bordering the Central African Republic , in my view makes intervention by the international community necessary .
by expressing ourselves as we have this afternoon , we have exhibited a presumption , an arrogance , and a desire to arrogate power to the centre and to overrule the national traditions of our constituent members .
it is a very good thing that the reports states that ' the use of civil protection resources , where deployed in any humanitarian crisis , should be needs driven and complementary to , and coherent with , humanitarian aid ... , with a view to ensuring compliance with the humanitarian principles of neutrality , humanity , impartiality and dependence ' .
we must protect the economy from collapse .
however , the issue of finance will be decisive , something the Commission itself recognises .
these groups should , without delay , be the subject of immediate provision and protection by the European Union from the point of view of human rights .
we have been confronted with one new problem arising as a result of technological developments and criminal activities in Europe : I am referring to the conversion of copy weapons , which in themselves are not dangerous , into fully operational guns .
composition of committees and delegations : see Minutes
the second part deals with recommendations for the future Europe 2020 strategy and highlights the importance of the regions , multi-level governance and the principle of partnership , basic pillars of the Cohesion policy that must be incorporated into the Europe 2020 strategy as a prior and necessary condition for its successful implementation .
the third assurance I want is on the most-favoured-nation ( MFN ) status .
a further extension or , to put it another way , a further postponement of the enshrined right of all Members to speak in Parliament in their own language and for all documents to be drawn up in the official languages is neither comprehensible nor acceptable .
we have to acknowledge that the EU and its Member States are closing their eyes to this , on account of trade relations , for example .
President of the Commission . - The European Digital Library , addressing the challenge of putting online the collections of our national libraries , museums and their archives , this is a major task of our times digitising , making available , preserving the wealth of our culture .
this concession to our views is welcome .
by contrast , the Commission welcomes the call for Cotonou to give more attention to the trade and development issues in general , and to aid for trade in particular .
EFRAG is a European body .
since the first measures were taken by the Member States , the sector has picked up slightly : data from Italy records an 18 % drop in sales in February , while in January there was a 22 % drop .
however , what this report aims to do is to dilute the professional culture of the European Investment Bank and expand its remit to encompass a series of policy objectives . the Commissioner made this very clear .
( RO ) Unfortunately , a system of draconian censorship operates in Romania , the like of which does not exist in any of the European Union 's Member States .
however , Parliament is also passing up an opportunity with the Garriga Polledo report .
( applause )
the Commission has made a clearer commitment in this regard .
Mr President , I voted for the 2006 discharge of the European Parliament , but against the marathon resolution which accompanied it , because it contains comments and questions that either state the obvious ( paragraph 58 ) , or do not uphold values which I consider important ( paragraph 65 ) .
agenda for next sitting : see Minutes
Mr Salavrakos , I did not interrupt you because you are Greek and your words are very important to all of us .
human rights and child labour cannot be regarded separately from trade and investment .
while no one can deny that many ACP countries face considerable challenges , if the EPAs are framed correctly they should be seen as an opportunity for the ACP .
in other words , there can be no question , in my view , of deleting entire directives .
therefore , with this in mind , I asked my colleagues in the Commission to be particularly sensitive to increases in administration and we can promise that our increase should be less than 1 % .
Ireland must decide as soon as possible , whether it wants to continue to be a part of deepening integration ; one country cannot stand in the way of another 26 that want to move forward .
I look forward to receiving their recommendations on these important issues by the end of this year .
there is no shortage of causes for concern and areas of instability which are making the geopolitical regional context extremely complex : the situation in Palestine , the war in Iraq , the situation in Iran , the recent popular uprisings in several countries , such as Yemen , and the situation in Darfur .
the hope was to reduce the negative consequences for road safety arising from inadequate driving time rules by extending the scope of the laws on working time to include self-employed drivers .
the Union 's humanitarian policy is the practical expression of its commitment to supporting people in third countries in need of assistance when they are at their most vulnerable .
I hope that the struggle for seats in the European Parliament will be fair and that you will meet again after the elections and continue your work .
I am not saying that the solution is simple , especially - not only , but especially - because the question of access to the vaccine is in no way comparable to that of access to medicines , for at least two specific reasons : the small number of producers and control of the refrigeration chain , which is still difficult .
a ) effective organisation of the EU 's European External Action Service ( founded under the Treaty of Lisbon ) , the new political / military arm for organising , supporting and implementing the imperialist interventions of the EU ;
this means that our timetable has been set back considerably , but we also have the courtesy to fulfil our commitments to our guests .
that concludes the vote .
Madam President , additional measures for the protection of the ozone layer were adopted by the parties to the Montreal Protocol at their Conference of the Parties ( COP ) meeting in September 2007 .
we should not forget that most complaints from consumers relate to holiday club abuses and not to the timeshares with which everyone is familiar .
however , the report assumes without question that such revenues could benefit global and EU policy objectives . that would then include climate change and development cooperation .
it is obvious that the agency has actually acted as a Commission body , although , according to the Euratom Agreement , it was established as an agency with legal status and considerable financial independence .
it is not good enough for them simply to be on the list .
Europeana is one of the leading projects in this area , helping to speed up the processes for digitising cultural heritage in each individual Member State .
this report is relevant based on the issues which it raises .
this does not mean , however , that we wish to see a weak , fragile and unstable eurozone , or that we would like the euro to fail .
there is therefore an urgent need for action .
because we are late , first of all we shall try to deal with the supplementary questions each time as a group so that we can try to get through more questions this afternoon and also , as normal , I would invite Members to come to the front to participate more closely in Question Time .
however , right from the start , the authorities have tried to close the office down .
could the Commission outline what investigations or reports it has carried out regarding food products which claim health benefits ? has a range of these foods been investigated or tested to verify whether the claims they are making are valid , in order to protect consumers ?
I would just like to reply to Mr Campbell Bannerman , who has a different opinion , concerning the usefulness of this compensation .
the Chinese authorities expressed interest in the approval by the Commission of the imports of heat-treated poultry meat from Jilin Province .
the first is that the report takes an approach to the subject of industrial development that does not break down industrial and business interests into market sectors , but puts them together according to common objectives .
I voted in favour of the report on the European Judicial Network in civil and commercial matters .
the situation in Europe is not so critical , as our citizens ' incomes are incomparably greater than those in developing countries .
that said , certain data can be improved , especially data concerning stocks , on which there is a lack of information , in particular on the worldwide distribution of stocks .
perhaps I could briefly highlight a number of things ?
( HU ) Ladies and gentlemen , European unity is based not only on the economy but also on many important values .
the new provisions of the common security and defence policy ( CSDP ) introduced by the Treaty of Lisbon provide a clearer legal framework for reinforcing the implementation of foreign and security policy , drawing upon all the instruments available to the EU and its Member States , to prevent and manage crises and conflicts , and to build lasting peace .
considering the low participation of women , we need to implement policies aiming at achieving higher employment rates among women in order to ensure that pension systems are adequate and sustainable in the long term .
I would hope therefore that we , as a Parliament , might step up our own efforts to participate in this process .
whilst the progress made in the area of gender equality is unquestionable , major challenges remain .
by failing to work together properly , they seriously endanger not only the valuable integration of operations and actions that could be achieved , but also the benefits and the impact that those actions could create .
( RO ) We have proposed a resolution intended to ban the use of cyanide technologies in mining as it is our duty to take every safety measure to protect people and the environment from ecological disasters .
I have to say that the proposal concerning the buying back of quotas leaves me more perplexed .
that is why I encourage the European Parliament to look very favourably on these proposals , which certainly have the support of the EU Media Commissioner .
Article 19 ( 1 ) : ' collective expulsions are prohibited ' .
I expect a concrete answer .
according to the Commission proposal , Macedonia , Montenegro and Serbia have met the majority of targets and are therefore now to have their requirement for a visa removed .
secondly , medals and tokens may be used fraudulently in vending machines which accept coins , if the size and metal properties of the former are similar to those of euro coins .
I very much doubt that the US model is more effective than the European one .
I expect that the problem will automatically be resolved for other devices , such as digital cameras and MP3 players , once we have made the breakthrough with mobile phones .
eighteen months ago , the governing Justice and Development Party ( AKP ) narrowly escaped the same fate .
it is why we have been so engaged , for example in Libya , on bringing together the regional organisations - the African Union , the Arab League , the UN and the OIC .
in parallel to the proposal to mobilise the Solidarity Fund for Poland , Slovakia , Hungary , the Czech Republic , Croatia and Romania , the Commission has presented a Draft amending budget ( DAB No 1 / 2011 of 14 January 2011 ) in order to enter the corresponding commitment and payment appropriations in the 2011 budget , as foreseen in point 26 of the IIA .
that will possibly also mean constitutional change .
the Commission 's commitment to sustainable and integrative growth takes into account the environmental and climate objectives for 2020 and requires investment in green technologies , which will in turn create jobs .
although I was not told that a Tunisian delegation is present , they waved when you mentioned it .
that is a very important point that I want to get across today .
that is why I must , unfortunately , reject that draft amendment too .
as a result , he is unable to attend the conference on Kurdish issues that is to be held here in this Parliament on 3-4 February .
I agree with the need for a coherent approach , which includes encouraging the optimisation of various modes of transport in urban centres by improving urban scheduling .
( DE ) Mr President , now that the urgent matter has been removed from the agenda , I would like to ask you to divide the speaking time for the Western Sahara item between the other two urgent matters , as we had some tough discussions yesterday about the speaking time for urgent matters .
in order to improve the climate situation worldwide , these technologies need to be provided at acceptable prices ...
- ( MT ) Thank you , Mr President .
the Commission also continues to concretely reinforce the market surveillance capacity of the Member States by participating in the financing of well-designed joint market surveillance projects .
the positive reception accorded to the military regime by the Guinean public , especially by political parties and trade unions , clearly shows that the standard of living for the Guinean people has deteriorated so much that even a military coup is viewed as a change for the better and as an event creating optimism for the future .
of course we also need to take a slightly longer-term view of things .
at the same time I appreciate that the rapporteurs have managed to find a balanced solution to the new regulation which will motivate industry to seek and develop safer alternative pesticides .
I would like to quote from the Hávamál , the words of Odin the High One from the Poetic Edda : ( the speaker speaks Icelandic )
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Mr President , until last year 's violence , Kenya had a reputation as one of Africa 's politically more stable countries and had a tradition of a relatively free and robust press .
I would remind the Commission of the need to prioritise the financial resources for this purpose , especially because of the simple fact that electric vehicles have the additional benefit of having an excellent energy storage capacity , which the other options do not have and which is so necessary for our energy independence .
but history is knocking on our door .
I have just been informed that the G8 have agreed on a long-term reduction target of 50 % in 2050 .
I am saying to the Commission too that I do not think it is reasonable to preserve unanimity .
Mr President , as I said , Frontex is but part of this solution ; whether or not we want this solution , there also need to be serious discussion about how the burden will be shared between the Member States - discussion that so far the Council has evaded .
I very much welcome that .
this guarantees broad acceptance of the changes being made .
there is a window of opportunity that must not be missed .
you are very welcome to visit our services - we are always very happy to interact with the European Parliament .
I am therefore grateful for the support of Parliament , which is essential .
is the European Council , are the 27 Member States of the European Union , just watching on meekly as this Afghanisation of Iraq takes place , an Iraqi Christian has asked .
( HU ) Thank you for the opportunity to speak , Madam President .
as Mr Diamandouros has already said , in 2009 , the Ombudsman recorded a total of 3 098 complaints , as against 3 406 in 2008 .
domestic violence is a horrible reality : many women are indeed murdered in their own homes .
that is why we voted in favour of it .
the EGF is aimed at helping workers who are victims of the relocation of companies , and it is fundamental in helping them have access to new employment in the future .
the media also contributed to the panic .
we prepared hundreds of amendments in the Committee on Home Affairs and organised large majorities there .
secondly , I would like one thing to be understood at least , and that is that the task facing the Papandreou government is nigh on impossible .
to be clear , there is no intention of breaking up the compromise package with the Council as such , but my group does believe that a more extensive debate on the definition of a parent carrier should take place .
firstly I should like to thank the rapporteur , Mr Stavrakakis , for his excellent work .
unfortunately the ICC does not have the means to bring the perpetrators to justice .
I believe Europe can help citizens to get a better deal across the board : in mortgages , insurance , payment cards , bank accounts and elsewhere .
( DE ) Mr President , I would like to vote in favour of Mr Swoboda 's proposal , even if Mr Cohn-Bendit cannot imagine this working , perhaps because it does not sit easily with his style of political work .
there were perhaps four key factors .
democratic Republic of Congo : clashes in the eastern border areas ( vote )
they have been shunned by our societies , and they still suffer from a double punishment .
this was the case in Zambia , where very substantial investments - to the tune of USD 46 million , I believe - were made in the Mopani mine , for example .
in the last few days I think the Irish voters showed us that far from all Europeans are fully signed up or are clear about the role and benefits of the European Union , about European cooperation and why Europe-wide regulations are necessary in the first place .
the greatest challenge , of course , is to protect human health and to prevent toxic products from accumulating in our water and our environment .
I am also one of those who believe that we must link the large cities - Europe 's capital cities - together .
these are the projects MARQuIS - ' Methods of Assessing Response to Quality Improvement Strategies ' - and SIMPATIE - ' Safety Improvement for Patients in Europe ' .
but the basic question remains : why should this report be debated in the European Parliament at all ?
as the Polish proverb says : ' he who gives quickly gives twice . '
a country hit by the kind of disaster that has hit Japan needs all the help it can get .
I am aware that the most controversial point of the discussions in the committees has been Amendment 20 , fixing an end to the transitional period during which three Member States are allowed to levy a withholding tax in place of automatically exchanging information .
last week , Radio Sweden reported on an audit that had revealed major shortcomings in how EU funds are used in Turkey .
it is entirely a matter for Parliament as to what you want to do with this particular recommendation .
I can provide you with my interpretation and the Commission 's interpretation of this issue which in fact , if you look at the texts , is extremely complicated .
soon , a gas pipeline pumping huge amounts of gas along the bottom of the Baltic Sea will be commissioned .
the European Community has been working towards strengthening the international standards within the relevant WTO committees , in particular , the TBT , SPS , TRIPS , trade and environmental committees . a recent case which may be mentioned is the hard stance of the European Community in the SPS committee at the end of February on the issue of some members ' non-compliance with the standard of the World Organisation for Animal Health .
I agree with the rapporteur 's stance that the legal framework defined in the proposal for a directive represents an important contribution to effective protection of the environment , and can guarantee uniform and responsible implementation of environmental protection law within the Community .
the communication of this information to consumers will enhance the standing of those products with high added-value and low energy requirements .
so , if the conditions are satisfied , implementation will begin in the present quota year , that is to say 2008 .
we now have Article 290 of the Treaty of Lisbon , and I note that Mr Szájer 's report suggests a number of ways of working that safeguard Parliament 's prerogatives .
if the fundamental questions relating to the launch of the MIT had been dealt with in this way , there would still be no MIT today .
I welcome the fact that we have finally come to an agreement on the 2011 budget .
we should make an appropriate division of competences between institutions or newly created important high positions , and establish political principles and rules for cooperation .
this is not a mere detail , and neither is the matter of whether Erasmus is aimed at insecure jobs , or rather at decent jobs that will represent a real future for young people .
we are talking about giving the Roma minority a whole series of rights , which a very great many citizens can only enjoy thanks to daily sacrifices .
we do not need traditional ways of doing things : we need to be thinking of the new ways in which we can communicate with our citizens .
we therefore propose not only a ban on depleted uranium but also the prosecution for war crimes of those who use it in full knowledge of its consequences and of those who do so when a ban is in place .
I , too , have a question for the Commissioner .
why do we not simply put it to this House that we should meet either permanently here in this handsome Alsatian town or we should meet permanently in Brussels ?
can the Council President , Mr Janša , tell us what any more about this ?
( it ) I voted in favour because I think it is important for Parliament to support the simplification and rationalisation of public procurement law .
27 .
this would make it easier for the Member States to legally implement the cofinancing for rural home renovation .
I would therefore ask you once again to consider very carefully whether the free allocation of CO2 certificates with a clear 20 % allowance would not make more sense than taking the money away from businesses which need it to invest in innovation and research in order to achieve the 20 % reduction .
author . - Madam President , first of all , I welcome the fact that this issue is being discussed here today .
the UN has already twice called on both parties to carry out independent investigations , but fourteen months later , they are still brushing this call aside .
we are certain that the workers and the people will continue to fight for this , for example , in Greece tomorrow or on 29 May in Portugal ; we here salute their struggle .
the debate is closed .
some amendments , in wanting to promote equal rights - and equal costs - between residents and immigrants , were , in fact , tantamount to allowing every kind of immigrant , whether working or not , access to our social benefits .
the motion for a resolution on the recognition of agriculture as a strategic sector in the context of food security is a much needed and timely document , as it has appeared just when an increasingly rapid rise is being noted in the prices of a large number of food products .
the beneficiaries will then be democracy , good relations between the EU and Belarus and definitely the citizens of that country .
with this approach , Europe can have no claim to leadership .
it is the ' Ladies in White ' who cannot collect the prize , because they are not being allowed to leave Havana .
here , I would like to underline that this report is about equality between women and men .
thirty years after the first direct elections to the European Parliament , we stand before another great change .
on the other hand there will be the poor and underprivileged .
could you please specify in a few words whether Frontex is operating and meeting expectations , or whether it still has a great deal to do to improve the way it operates ?
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research depends on scientists educated at leading universities .
it is through cohesion policy that we can also respond vigorously to the goals of the Europe 2020 strategy .
the regulation voted on will apply to all commercial fishing and aquaculture activities carried out by EU fishing boats and by nationals of Member States within the GFCM area .
a new rate of 1 % could be imposed for reimbursing the costs of recovering late payments - for individuals , businesses and public authorities - whereas in the event of late payments of individual instalments , the interest rate and penalties would be calculated exclusively for late payments .
the proposed decision authorises France to apply a reduced rate of excise duty on a significant quota of ' traditional ' rum produced in its overseas departments from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2012 .
neither border disputes nor disputes over ownership can become additional conditions for expansion in the Balkans .
thank you for your positive cooperation .
I am thinking , in particular , of the agricultural sector , which is too often ' sacrificed ' in favour of industrial products and services during trade negotiations .
we have a great deal to learn from one another , and we can learn a great deal from one another .
moreover , deforestation represents the third major factor of global warming .
a fortnight ago the European Parliament adopted a report on a common immigration policy for Europe , thus paving the way for what had already been planned by the European Commission : mass immigration .
is there any way individuals can get access to data extracted from traces on movement of animals within Member States ?
of course , you can trick your own peoples by not even asking them what they think about the construction of a super-EU , but sooner or later this project will crumble to dust .
sometimes , however , you have to admit - as with many things in life - when things are not working , and you have to consider alternatives .
the Oldest Member was Louise Weiss , after whom this wonderful building , itself a splendid piece of European culture , was named .
meanwhile , the Presidency is working , of course .
the purpose of the Prüm Convention is to deepen cooperation between EU countries to counter terrorism , cross-border crime and illegal immigration .
after all , we need to enhance the Union 's capacity to develop its own policies , we need to improve economic stability by limiting speculative operations , and we need to provide the information required to monitor the condition and evolution of financial markets .
yet they also have to focus on their security role , in terms of thwarting and fighting against counterfeiting and piracy , combating situations of totally unfair competition that undermine some European businesses , especially in weaker sectors and in terms of protecting the environment and public health , which are assets that our communities are increasingly coming to appreciate .
it is therefore essential to ensure that they are provided with assistance on a multiannual basis and various labour market measures , such as retraining , implemented to create the conditions for them to return to the labour market .
Moldova is currently in the most difficult economic situation among all the states on our continent .
I voted in favour .
however , knowing the controversy around written declarations , and the differing opinions about their usefulness , I would like to apologise to those Members who felt offended by our campaign , and to repeat the promise I made to the chair of my subcommittee , Mr Danjean : I promise not to start a written declaration again during this parliamentary term .
... It is not very responsible to say today , ' Let us wait ' .
let us not focus on the past , however , but rather look to the future and to the proposal that is now on the table .
why was the transfer delayed until the election and the money paid out the day after the election ?
we need a transformation to a sustainable society , we need a Green New Deal , and specifically in relation to the Lisbon strategy , we need more sustainable technologies , efficient green technologies , new propulsion systems and , of course , also new materials that are truly environmentally friendly .
we have growing economic and trade links , and - we have to admit - a high level of interdependency with regard to energy , common interests in other areas that relate to problems that go beyond even our respective countries , and challenges , including global challenges , which we need to tackle and which we should tackle as jointly as possible .
of course we want to help farmers .
I urge the EU Member States to address these issues with the utmost seriousness .
in response to some of the speeches , it seems to me that we have nevertheless put the issue of services of general interest on the European agenda .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , we share the concerns about what is happening in Tunisia and express our sadness about the many people who have lost their lives during the protests .
the legislator 's pernickety interference in the ways and means only serves to exhaust the organisations in question .
the early stages of actual violence , such as intrusiveness , obscene remarks and harassment meted out by many migrants to western women on a daily basis are increasingly regarded as normal .
Mr Kasoulides referred to the role of young people in the recent revolution in Egypt .
I know it is mainly about freight trains , ' non-stop from Lisbon to Liverpool without changing locomotives or train crews ' , says the briefing .
if colleagues want to place something on the record , they can always do so in writing during the course of the voting procedure .
the solution is obvious .
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secondly , in view of the deepening economic crisis in the EU , it is essential to make even wider use of both EU budgetary resources and funding , in the form of loans and credits , from the European institutions to support development in the Member States , and the SME sector in particular .
we did this very successfully during the integration of the equally complex fruit and vegetables sector .
without the euro , the Irish economy would be in hell at the moment .
the credit for this goes to the Member States .
for example , as regards European funds , wherever it is possible and reasonable , equal opportunities conditionality would be very important , and we want to pursue this .
indeed , the United Nations special rapporteur has called agrofuels a ' crime against humanity ' .
the result is the multiplication and deepening of social inequalities .
what we need is rapid and effective action because people are dying before our very eyes and they are doing so as a result of circumstances that we have helped bring about .
what will modernisation of the Community Customs Code actually mean ?
that is the only way to have the markets ' trust .
I support the rapporteur 's proposal that every Member State should maintain national contact points to inform patients about the availability of healthcare and administrative procedures .
that would also be real proof of the effectiveness of CARS 21 .
if it is established in the report presented to today 's plenary session of the European Parliament that the proposed agreement will help to reinforce and consolidate the Union in Tajikistan and Central Asia from a political , economic and commercial perspective , then I would like urgently to draw your attention to the following considerations which I share with many other people .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy . - Mr President , it gives me the greatest of pleasure to welcome every word that the Commissioner spoke this evening and also to congratulate Mrs Thomsen , who has done a wonderful job as rapporteur on this most important subject .
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the aforesaid memorandum did , however , outline a proposal for a world agency , which is repeated in one of the amendments that I will support with my vote .
the Commission hopes - and it will move in that direction - that the concerns of users are taken into account when implementing SEPA .
so it is about implementation .
it was pointed out in the third recital on behalf of the UEN Group , among others , that we condemn racism in Europe and we do so with reference to the European Charter of Fundamental Rights .
if the irrational criteria of the Stability Pact , with the proposals of so-called economic governance and the so-called competitiveness pact had not been passed , particularly the attempt to prevent wages from rising with inflation and increase the legal age for retirement , we would have even more serious attacks on labour and social rights .
we believe that this extension should not be made without correcting the shortcomings and problems raised by the current legislation .
( RO ) Against the backdrop of the global economic and financial crisis , my country 's government has had to reduce the salaries of state employees , pensions and unemployment benefit , as well as cut subsidies .
the cause is its hopelessly complex system of administration and monitoring , which is only geared up to cater for 20 % of the Social Fund programmes and just 7 % of the Regional Development Fund programmes .
however , we believe that the Seventh Framework Programme , with its priorities and restrictions , should remain in place .
( EL ) Madam President , we obviously need a strong CAP .
creditworthiness is , of course , always a prerequisite of liquidity and , therefore , the discussion about the creditworthiness of companies , banks and employees is particularly important .
we welcome this because Europe can only be built in a spirit of openness and of consensus-building .
the majority of the women who were forced into this dreadful situation were very young at the time .
by supporting clean technologies we can contribute to the recovery of both the automobile and construction industries .
it is not only about savings .
however , the milk fund is sizable and will provide additional support to dairy farmers , particularly in disadvantaged areas .
however , what is needed is better coordination between them .
I voted in favour of the resolution by the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament on freedom of information because I believe that press freedom is one of the pillars of the free and democratic society which I support , and whenever it is at risk , as in Italy at present , we must be ready to protect it .
the expectations of Cancún were extremely low and it was therefore a success .
the ten per cent of Belarusians who have satellite dishes can currently watch the broadcasts .
it is important not to give up on such a complex problem .
does anyone else wish to speak in support of the motion ?
the resolution rightly urges freedom of religion and freedom of expression .
I welcome the Commission 's proposal to suspend import duties on key Pakistan imports into the European Union .
I welcome the progress made as a positive first step towards a more sustainable road transport system .
( RO ) Mr President , just like other fellow Members , I would have liked to raise a problem from the agricultural sector .
it should be said that European Schools foster social inclusion , as students of different nationalities get to know and help one another .
Mrs Starkevičiūté , I agree that the normal slowdown of the financial sector is an integral part of the recovery of the European economy , and that this should be within a coordinated context .
there will be more of this type of content .
I had one case , for instance , where we had to pay EUR 30 000 for a forensic accountant 's report and where we were not allowed to recover the full cost of that report .
I believe that this is what the two parties to the conflict are asking us to do and we have a responsibility to commit ourselves to help it out of this major political crisis .
as well as beekeepers , we need to ensure sustainable , pollinator-friendly farming practices .
it is also important that a significant proportion of quotas are allocated by auction and the proceeds of these must be used to subsidise the cleanest forms of transport , for example by abolishing taxes on environmentally-friendly transport , in order to create low-cost tourism that uses less polluting forms of transport such as trains .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , in a globalised world , where tax evaders and fraudsters take advantage of the limited scope of authority of national tax administrations , efficient cooperation and mutual assistance between tax administrations is essential to better combat tax fraud and evasion .
that is a basic principle of democracy : respect for the Rule of Law and respect for independent institutions .
but we know that such reports are sometimes used as a means of introducing the policy aspirations of the EU .
however , throughout Europe there is a gender gap as far as payment is concerned ( roughly 20 % in corporate management and 19 % in engineering / science ) .
each country should be able to do this , taking into account local conditions and differences .
yet how can we distinguish information from advertising ?
that is why I believe it is of the utmost importance that , given the numerous objectives that accompany our efforts , our efforts are directed primarily towards two crucial objectives .
since the presentation of this report and the ratification of the Treaty are not far removed , many of the suggestions made in the report may become a reality .
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President-in-Office of the Council . - Mr President , I have listened very attentively to the different assessments and views expressed .
I therefore hope that the Commission and the Council will endeavour to ascertain what the obstacles are and urge ratification .
these measures , which I support in principle , Mr Tavares , require a detailed prior financial study .
twenty-seven leaders of governments and nations - one third of us were living in totalitarian regimes 20 years ago - will be making decisions around the same table tomorrow .
( RO ) As is well known , the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe was among the first to call for a more specific approach to the economic growth strategy .
President of the Commission . - Yes , you know we have proposed education as one of the targets in the EU2020 , including fighting against early school leaving and having more tertiary education .
in other words , as he has been re-elected once for his prudence , I would like to re-elect him for a third term for his courage .
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Mr President , I would also like to comment on the matter , in my capacity as draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection , regarding the terms of access to the natural gas transport networks and to congratulate Mr Paparizov on his outstanding work in examining the proposals package discussed within our committee .
these criminals will be informed of their financial penalties .
it would have resulted in a competitive disadvantage and therefore I think it is the right decision .
donor countries might relish lower payments from the EU Structural Funds , with a view to the reorientation of these funds for other uses , but let us not deceive ourselves .
I doubt that it is unable to be present .
let us look at the fact that citizens pay three times : once in tax to pay for the bureaucracy , once in tax to pay for subsidies , and then the higher prices that they have to pay in their shops .
this debate has yet to take place .
there was not enough room around the table though !
for this reason you must move on from discoveries to coordinated public intervention .
the development of sustainable tourism can be used as a means of giving economic value to wildernesses and creating support for conservation , encouraging ordinary people to discover the hidden value of nature without damaging it .
in writing . - ( FR ) On the basis of Mrs Grabowska 's report , I have voted in favour of the proposal for a Council regulation on jurisdiction , applicable law , recognition and enforcement of decisions and cooperation in matters relating to maintenance obligations within the framework of renewed consultation .
we see that at the moment in Bosnia where , well after the end of the war , a sustainable solution for peace has still not being found .
changes such as these can be supported , in the interests of further improving political work in the EU .
finally , we must bear in mind that an effective information policy at EU level must be conducted in order to increase our citizens ' awareness of this subject .
I think we need to strengthen the European model and - and this is an important point for this House - we must also ensure that passenger rights remain intact and that State aid be awarded to everyone on the same footing .
that needs to be our common starting point , which is why it is right to fight for more resources in the European Union and , together , to consider very carefully what the major financing needs are , how we can make our budget more sustainable and how it can be more social and more future-oriented .
there is more music available to consumers on the internet than ever before , yet hardly any of it is properly licensed .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs . - ( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , many of you will have flown here to Brussels via my home airport , Frankfurt am Main .
I think the important thing is that we need to work together .
in my country , Lithuania , the long-term preservation of Lithuanian heritage through the use of information technologies has been determined by the adoption of legal acts .
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it is also through commitments made in this arena , and Mr Kristovskis is entirely right to emphasise this , that it will be possible to achieve changes on the ground .
the European Union that we have now and that represents the greatest success story in terms of peace , freedom and prosperity in the history of this continent !
on behalf of the PPE Group . - Mr President , it is frightening to imagine a nuclear device , small in size but potentially lethal for millions of people , falling into the hands of terrorists .
the EU 's new plan for the economy for the next ten years refers to workforce mobility as an essential condition for reducing unemployment .
we do not , however , think the amendments that would jeopardise agreement at first reading are desirable .
the Commission must take action .
in addition , it seems to me that a certain minority in the European Union or rather in Europe , enjoys greater and privileged rights .
new instruments towards boosting energy savings should be introduced at EU and national level with the emphasis on two main areas : renovation of existing buildings and measures to boost financing .
if we are to preserve peace in our region , then any time spent in negotiations is neither long nor pointless .
we must therefore help science to speed up its work and to be in a position to provide reliable policy-making forecasts as soon as possible .
Slovakia has been without gas for eight days and , with the current emergency restrictions on industry and companies operating under a crisis regime , we can maintain supplies for only eleven days .
it follows on from the rising security costs observed subsequent to the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001 , and from the establishment of an EU regulatory framework for aviation security .
the Gdynia and Szczecin yards have benefited from state support for many years at the expense of other shipyards in Europe .
I still think that we have been successful , however , because we have now come up with something concrete in response to the Green Paper .
we can only achieve these objectives , which depend on one another , if we pay particular attention to two considerations : supporting families and improving people 's state of health .
( SV ) Mr President , this is a report that is heavily influenced by the compromise between the PPE-DE and the ALDE .
it should be obvious to everyone that every business must indeed aim to give the best possible hygiene guarantees , but the way they achieve this aim need not , of course , be the same for all businesses .
for my part , I think this has been a useful and important debate , which shows how united Parliament is and how ready it is to offer its support for consistent and effective external action by Europe .
we believe that the weakest link is the attitude of Member States , since in some Member States - our fellow Member Mrs Grässle spoke just now about Germany in this connection - there is a failure to recognise how very important it is to ensure that EU funds are spent in accordance with the rules , that expenditures are subject to scrutiny , and that any amounts unduly paid are recovered .
it creates the necessary legal framework , so that businesses can invest in the expansion of broadband networks nationwide .
this text has the merit of proposing solutions for radically rethinking this policy .
( PL ) Mr President , I would like to stress that the subject of violence against women is extremely important , and I am very glad that the European Parliament has taken up this problem .
GDP does not , in fact , provide a reliable basis for policy debate .
I can tell you , however , that as far as I know the large European producers and distributors are naturally seeking to diversify their raw materials basis .
the prognosis is that there will be broad agreement on this climate package which , all in all , is a good thing .
the report also highlights the opportunities offered today by the Internet in terms of accessing , promoting and disseminating culture .
Communism was defeated by the courage of men and women ; injustice made way for justice .
we need a comprehensive approach addressing climate change , carbon sinks , biodiversity and protection of livelihoods of the poor .
I would suggest the same thing should happen for taxpayers contributing to the EU 's budget .
is the Europe 2020 Strategy also doomed to failure ?
in the next stage , Switzerland and Liechtenstein are now to be included in the Schengen area , but I hear that there could be problems because some Member States may wish to enter reservations about the accession of Liechtenstein .
if we are to have a real common visa policy , it is essential that Member States study the feasibility of the other options proposed before resorting to outsourcing .
we should , therefore , in the light of the risks of global warming , significantly increase funding , and strengthen the actions of donors .
the renewed Lisbon Strategy is beginning to show results , and what is particularly pleasing is that in the European Union there is a steady increase in the number of people who are in work .
the result is plain to see : the unprecedented abandonment of production by millions of small and medium-sized farming enterprises , income insecurity and increasing price volatility , and the exacerbation of food dependence in countless countries and regions .
the European Commission estimates that by 2050 the EU will need 60 million workers from third countries at a time when the working population will be declining at an accelerated rate .
furthermore , the Council stated that such measures would be revoked only when the conditions were in place to guarantee respect for human rights , democratic principles and the rule of law .
the very mechanisms which created the global credit crisis are now speculating shamelessly at the expense of the countries which face the greatest financial problems .
by doing so they put at risk all the improvements mentioned , including a special warning text for azo dyes .
the restrictions placed on the financial resources for these objectives are disturbing .
on behalf of the Committee on Regional Development , I welcome the inclusion of cross-border cooperation within the scope of the ENPI Regulation as an instrument to develop common projects and to strengthen relations between ENP countries and EU Member States .
we need to work together with our neighbours .
this EUR 5 billion plan for public investments is aimed primarily at energy infrastructure , high-speed Internet access , and agricultural restructuring .
we really need to know how to make better use of the resources available , particularly in view of the known scarcity of raw materials , and to value the wealth or added value that waste represents for our economy .
the increase in imperialistic aggression and competition , which will be fed even more by the capitalistic financial crisis , has led to an increase in military spending which has even surpassed that of the cold war era .
these are not ordinary times .
finally , I read your answer , which was fairly vague and seemed to be saying that you will not publish the legal opinion of the Legal Service of the Council .
the resulting problems are much harder to solve in Burundi than in other African countries .
Parliament and the Union are building European Armed Forces and European defence , step by step .
just think of Sarajevo , the one-time host of the 1984 Winter Olympic Games , the old Mostar Bridge , included on UNESCO 's World Heritage List , the Kravica waterfalls , Sutjesk National Park or the mountains of Jahorina and Bjeslanica , where some of the Olympic competitions took place - so many places inviting you to travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina .
we are to describe the European semester in the legal text including the ample involvement of Parliament in the process .
the idea behind the proposal was to make it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises to do business in the single market , and this must result in reducing costs and increased economic growth .
this will mean improved security and reliability of supply , increased competitiveness of the European defence industry and greater trust between Member States of the European Union .
to ensure respect for the core principles of democratic decision-making such as transparency , parliamentary scrutiny and democratic accountability , Parliament must be adequately informed and involved .
one thing is clear : budgetary resources are lacking !
the currently prevailing Regulation No 1049 / 2001 ensures appropriate access to EU documents , but with the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon on 1 December 2009 , we have been faced with an exceptional challenge , in which the role and real participation of EU citizens has increased .
I am particularly pleased that Parliament 's resolution places the focus on strengthening the role of the border agency , FRONTEX .
ladies and gentlemen , Spain is going to lead the Union for the fourth time .
this will give the Caucasus a key role .
I am sorry but I do not think we should listen to personal comments like that in this Chamber .
just take Robert Schuman as an example , who was from Alsace-Lorraine and went on to become the founding father of the EU 50 years ago .
perhaps he would like to speak to the hardworking villagers who have seen the value of their homes plummet .
that is why we are relying on your efforts , efforts by the European Union , to achieve progress , even if it is only on these two issues , and to keep the negotiations as whole out of danger .
the proposal forms part of the European Economic Recovery Plan .
for our small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) and entrepreneurs , Innovation Union is working to create conditions on intellectual property rights ( IPR ) , standard setting and access to finance that will be much more conducive to innovation .
there are shortcomings in many other Member States , and common monitoring rules need to be applied .
on this issue , Uganda has the support of many African countries which do not want the international community or the European Union to exert pressure on them to decriminalise homosexuality .
I am unable to give the floor to Mr Tavares right now because he has had some slight transport problems thanks to a certain volcano .
the EU must speak with one voice in these negotiations .
finally , the EU must not allow itself to be forced into the role of the US paymaster .
today we know as a matter of certainty that Europe , particularly its southern regions , will have to cope with water shortages and soil degradation .
in writing . - The Commission proposes to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund in favour of Portugal and France under point 26 of the interinstitutional agreement of 17 May 2006 on budgetary discipline and sound financial management ( IIA ) .
the European Union must be to the forefront in order to implement the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 .
the opposite - secrecy and the withholding of documents - creates mistrust and a sense of not being involved , and can sometimes aid in the development of corruption and the abuse of power .
in particular I support the amendments on making a distinction between access to developed markets and emerging economies on one hand and LDCs and developing countries on the other .
this is the only way in which we will be able to continue to promote the respect of the fundamental principles established by the European Convention for Human Rights and supplemented by the Charter of Fundamental Rights , including by consolidating our own mechanisms for this purpose .
I thought we were not going to do this any more in plenary , but leave the work to the Commission , in order to limit the number of amendments that are brought to plenary .
Greece chose a mixture of measures on both the expenditure side and the revenue side .
it is therefore essential that in the Internal Market citizens have access to necessary and effective remedies in the event they have a claim against another citizen or business .
yes , that is possible .
the management of agricultural aid should be handled by the Member States .
there has been extended discussion of the criticism that has been voiced .
we wrote them into our Constitution , and America 's commitment to privacy is also profound - as profound as yours .
this is a tidal wave that we have to stop , and better passports alone will not solve this matter .
as I indicated , our managing director Hugues Mingarelli travelled to the region last week .
now they have become bankrupt , and they have to sell their lands under circumstances of colonialisation where we have to open our lands for countries that have 10 times more GDP than we do .
the suspension of their activities is , therefore , not only highly regrettable but will also seriously affect the humanitarian situation , as many of you have said .
it seems to me that this is the essence and spirit of integration , about which Prime Minister Leterme was speaking .
we share the same sustainability criteria which , to my mind , will make a vital contribution worldwide .
after this long debate , in which important things have been said , it could perhaps be possible to send out a very concrete sign and , in consideration of the situation in Haiti , do without the next one or two opulent sittings of the ACP-EU JPA in these very countries and use the net profit to actually benefit the victims .
I am of the opinion that we must remain alert and prepared for any emergency situation that may occur in Europe .
thanks to this , as the rapporteur himself emphasises , new jobs will be created not only in urban areas but also in local markets and in the countryside .
they did not survey the 47 % who voted ' yes ' .
my other question concerns heavy goods vehicles .
the developing economic crisis threatens to cause a serious rise in unemployment levels .
investment in research and innovation will enable the development of clean technologies in response to the challenges posed by climate change .
our own country , Sweden , is currently looking for new and interesting paths .
I wish him all the best .
I am therefore familiar with the problem at close quarters , and I also know how behind the times Italy is when it comes to risk forecasting and prevention , and not just seismic risk of course .
it whitewashes the responsibilities of the EU , which is complicit in the impunity of Israel .
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at the same time , it pointed out that they were not enough to keep climate change below two degrees and urged the industrialised countries to tighten up their emissions targets .
there are 28 infringement proceedings , which means the appeal is going out to the Member States ultimately to implement what has been decided here in this House .
Madam President , we are covering many different issues .
Mr President , I would like to thank the rapporteur for an excellent report .
among other things , Mr Albertini correctly points out that the role of rail transport , particularly in the transport of goods , is not properly appreciated and its development is neglected .
the fact that these are being maintained is , therefore , also very good news in my view .
those who have made a nice living from speculation and exorbitant interest rates for years should now make a contribution .
the shadow rapporteur Zita Pleštinská deserves our applause .
in terms of the reception of asylum seekers recast , we very much welcome the Commission 's initial proposal and want to maintain certain parts of it , not least those concerning labour market access and adequate income support , which we voted on earlier today .
( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the Gaza Strip is being threatened with strangulation .
I am delighted at what the Commissioner said with regard to the need for a new management model and , since the proposal places the emphasis on the concept of ecosystem management , I think we are well on the right track .
( SL ) Serbia has made progress over the past few months and , by fulfilling its criteria for visa liberalisation , it has demonstrated to both itself and Europe that it is capable of achieving more and performing better than it has done to date .
author . - ( PL ) Madam President , Elena Bonner spoke here yesterday , at the Sacharov Prize award ceremony , which she attended with her daughter , Tatjana Yankelevich .
once again , we can see that these free trade treaties are trying to push through the window what they were unable to push through the door .
( NL ) Mr President , previous speakers have already made the point that organ donation is an emotive subject .
obviously today , as Mr Jarzembowski said , we cannot commit a new directive to cover ground handling services , since we have not yet received the impact analysis , and we prefer to focus on applying the existing Directive .
this is because of the revolution taking place in the global economy and the social fabric of Europe .
overall , however , I am very satisfied with the compromise achieved .
it is time to put this right , for we know that in the last century , more Christians died because of their faith than in the previous 1 900 years .
we are counting on your determination .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
in writing . - I voted against the Gauzès report on the AIFM Directive because it disadvantages an important part of the United Kingdom 's most important industry - financial services .
from Africa , we expect a clear message as regards an improvement in its governance , its capacity for realising added value and its determination to stop the pillaging of its resources .
this year we have had discussions in the area of agriculture , which have been virtual discussions , but which have had a real result .
that is why it is important to see that signals from this debate reappear again in the new approach to the icon and that the ideas of partners are taken on board .
I believe that , when the Citizens ' Initiative is implemented , we will ensure that it remains so .
according to the Commission , harmonisation is not necessary , as the current situation of mutual recognition of national rules functions satisfactorily .
maybe this very question could be discussed again by the parliamentary powers that be , because we have this same discussion every time about whether some item , such as a summit that some people are holding somewhere or other , should or should not be added to the agenda .
relations with the Ombudsman have occasionally given rise to differences of opinion .
I also note your call for a recast of the common agricultural policy in line not only with the Treaty of Lisbon , which sets clear objectives for the CAP , but also with the Europe 2020 strategy .
work for upgrading purposes and , more recently , for removal of the asbestos has been carried out since 2004 - apparently while the buildings have been in use .
so I was somewhat astonished to hear the spokesman of the Committee on the Environment attack the Socialist Group for being less transparent than the Greens , when in fact the Greens have an amendment which , if you read it literally , would actually put a ceiling on the transparency requirement .
it is certainly one of the main reasons why counterfeit pharmaceuticals are spreading on to the market .
therein lies the proof that such a European agreement makes up for the weak position of Member States from which further data have been requested - and there is no doubt that they have been requested - as well as access to databases which belong to us , to Europe .
the next few years will be crucial in terms of where our agriculture is heading .
it is fortunate , Mr Schulz , that men like you are able to recognise that others not on your own political side are not necessarily wrong just because they are not on your side .
rapporteur . - ( FR ) Mr President , the report that I have the honour of presenting to you today on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs has its beginnings in a proposal that was tabled at the end of 2005 by our colleague Mr Duquesne , to whom I now pay tribute .
the Treaty of Lisbon has strengthened EU action in the field of judicial and police cooperation in criminal matters , including in combating trafficking in human beings , and the European Parliament , in becoming colegislator , has a full role to play .
the European Union 's assumption of responsibility in Kosovo is exemplary .
we must remember that aid for uncompetitive coal mines goes against these objectives .
and how can we cut back on the communications policy , where we have agreed that there is a need to really let the voters and the citizens know about the European Union 's positive achievements ?
attention should be drawn to declining farm incomes in the EU , caused by rising production costs and price volatility , which impact negatively on farmers ' ability to maintain production .
Iran is still the only country in the Middle East that does not accept the idea of a two-state solution .
it is important to note that EU integration prospects serve as the strongest incentive for the Balkan countries to undertake necessary reforms and also as a factor for regional stability .
finally , I also agree with those who say ' yes ' to extradition between the United States and the European Union ; not , however , just for those whom the United States considers to be suspects , but also when countries of the European Union request the extradition of CIA agents .
( ES ) Mr President , I am taking the floor to voice my group 's opposition to this proposal , and I shall now explain our reasons .
the European Parliament acts as the EU 's voice in the fight for human rights .
a European directive against gender violence is therefore becoming essential .
first of all , as the country holding the Presidency , we naturally harmonised these conclusions with those that have the most sensitive situation at home and , of course , Ireland is at the forefront here .
the numbers make it very clear : the United States emit into the atmosphere 5.817 billion tonnes of CO2 , the European Union 5.177 billion tonnes , China 5.059 billion tonnes , the Russian Federation 1.543 billion tonnes and India 1.147 billion tonnes .
I want to stress that the FTA must help :
Commissioner , the European External Action Service must insist vigorously that these human rights are upheld .
I hope that the Spanish Presidency , beyond making general appeals regarding human rights , can review its priorities and act on the immigration-related commitments made by previous Presidencies-in-Office .
we have a strong consensus within the Union and this means we have a common approach .
while stressing the ultimate objective of a permanent seat for the EU as such , the recommendation cites , among the various negotiating initiatives , only the so-called ' Overarching Process ' , an exercise led by those countries committed to supporting only one of the various proposals on the table , i.e. that of an increase in the number of permanent national members .
the procedural rights of defendants were not regulated .
it cannot come into force until this implementing regulation has been agreed between Parliament and the Council in a codecision procedure requiring unanimity in the Council - not the least of the complexities .
in accordance with Article 168 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union , the Union shall encourage cooperation between the Member States in the field of public health and disease prevention .
let us take a look at what happens when the tables are turned and the public administrator wants to find out what we citizens are doing .
each of the 10 points gets our full support , and the same goes for the announcement of the Small Business Act .
if we want to help these countries , then we must give clear support to countries such as Georgia , for example , but we must also talk to Russia about ways of achieving a peaceful solution to these conflicts , whether we are talking about Abkhazia or South Ossetia .
Croatia has made extensive progress in many respects with regard both to its domestic and foreign policy .
the other document on the table is the GSM Directive .
we deplore it , and our thoughts are with their families .
we cannot simply look away .
what is it all about ?
it is in the light of these priorities that we are going to judge the national programmes that are now going to be presented and on which we are going to work in partnership with our Member States .
Community interventions should be a catalyst for a spirit of enterprise that will transform the ORs into centres of excellence , driven by sectors that fully exploit their advantages and know-how , such as waste management , renewable energies , energy self-sufficiency , biodiversity , student mobility , research into climate change and crisis management .
let me conclude by emphasising that these issues should first be discussed in the IMO .
the scrapping of this would be disastrous for the light aviation industry in the UK and might lead to thousands of pilots like myself having their certificates effectively revoked .
firstly , it is clear that our urban areas are currently growing , whether they are small , large or medium-sized , with the appearance of commercial , industrial , housing and leisure sectors and zones .
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that is why we advocate the need to adapt the rules for mobilising this fund , so as to make its mobilisation more flexible and timely .
the responsible manner in which China handled the publicity was also very positive , and it shows that there has been significant progress in terms of developing democracy .
at the end of the day , the important thing is that the result of our work , as I said in my speech , is a sign that the European institutions are accountable and transparent , and that one can have confidence in the European Union .
in this early period , working structures were created and some first meetings of the multilateral platforms were being held .
that is the only way to prevent terrorism and counter-terrorism from turning into two sides of the same coin : turning life and death into a business .
the oral question to the Commission on the protection of consumer interests in competition rules for the motor vehicle sector in the internal market , by Malcolm Harbour , Andreas Schwab , Evelyne Gebhardt , Cristian Silviu Buşoi , Adam Bielan , Heide Rühle and Kyriacos Triantaphyllides , on behalf of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection ( O-0044 / 201 - B7-0209 / 2010 ) ; and
I would therefore reassure all Members that the Commission never underestimates the importance of respect for human rights and its obligation to remind countries with which negotiations are under way of this issue .
it is Germany that has a serious credibility problem .
the report explicitly supports the reopening of trade talks with the Mercosur countries .
it is an obstacle to the European Union implementing the principles that are behind its external action , which include promoting democracy and human rights in the world .
the atmosphere here is euphoric , everyone is in agreement and tomorrow we are going to vote - by a crushing majority , I think - for the ratification of this amendment to the TRIPS agreement , which is supposed to provide and should provide better access to medicines for countries that are not sufficiently developed and do not have a pharmaceutical industry that allows them this access .
what knowledge do you , with the greatest respect , have on EPAs ?
we ask our fellow Members to support this alternative resolution .
3 .
( NL ) Mr President , Commissioner , President-in-Office , I should like to thank the Commissioner most warmly for her very strong statement .
it is clear - at least to me it is - that the competitiveness pact in the version that is currently being discussed , negotiated and considered is not , and will not be , just another document or simply a litany of good intentions that will never be put into action .
together with my Italian colleagues in the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) , I decided to abstain in today 's vote regarding relations between the European Union and Brazil on certain aspects of air services .
other countries should not condone these widespread political and human rights breaches .
I would like to ask whether it is now time to pause , to take stock and consider the ramifications of bounding ahead with policies that could damage economies , result in job losses or potentially result in energy chaos .
responsibility for the future accession of these countries , however , will then lie primarily in the hands of their own politicians , who are accountable to the electorate in their respective countries .
we must be alert to any manoeuvres which , in light of these events , may aim to justify further outside interference and which may threaten the independence and sovereignty of East Timor .
however , despite all technical measures , large-scale accidents can occur .
we , as Europe , champion a move from an oil-based economy and we champion renewables .
it seems to me - and here are the crucial points I want to make in the short time available this evening - that one important thing that is missing from this proposal is the overall strategic framework that the Commission wants to follow in the evolution of the consumer acquis .
I wish to join Mrs Harkin in congratulating the Spanish Presidency on putting violence against women at the top of its political agenda .
the simplification of the law , together with retrospective application , is above all good news for the great majority of small firms with projects worth up to EUR 1 million which may contribute significant added value in terms of European competitiveness and especially employment .
it is a win-win situation to concentrate in those areas , and I urge all those Member States which have not yet taken advantage of this , including and especially my own country , to do so .
let us do so , then , as a matter of priority .
the potential of the last economies to fall into recession should be used to revive them first and , with the help of this funding and know-how , they can become centres of stability around which the economic and financial system of the European Union can more quickly recover .
with regard to monetary policy , you know how timid I am , I would never utter a word about it , except to say that I continue to believe that the role played by the European Central Bank over the last few months was truly exemplary .
in principle , candidate countries should resolve beforehand any territorial disputes and similar issues they might have with each other and with Member States , so as not to later slow down the operation of the Union .
technically , lowering customs tariffs seems to be difficult .
I believe that , by adopting this report , the European Parliament has sent out a clear signal of political leadership with the creation of a digital agenda , a true coherent and comprehensive European plan , which is a fundamental step for Europe 's future .
the vote will take place during a later sitting .
as a member of the Committee on International Trade , I am basically in favour of smoothing out differences with our trading partners .
ambitious , firstly , as regards the reduction of our ecological footprint .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , in the current debate on a functioning system of European economic governance , the long-term perspective is being neglected , in my opinion .
we expect institutional clarity , we expect socio-political commitment , and I believe that we will be with you with regard to climate policy .
the reality is that , with the imminent US elections looming in November and the consequent arrival of a new Administration in Washington , there will be no US Trade Negotiator in a position to negotiate before next summer .
there was good cooperation between the groups , and I think the result is a very good one .
in writing . - ( PT ) It is important for the EU to ensure the protection of its coasts through its ability to prevent and respond to such problems .
one is the Council of Europe and , secondly , we now have a human rights agency , which has just been established in Vienna , to monitor the situation in the Member States and which will prepare yearly reports .
politicians should not therefore , under any circumstances , plan nuclear plants in active earthquake zones .
there are problems .
to conclude , the Commission has paid considerable attention to the cost element as part of the impact assessment .
t here is therefore a wide gap between the EU 's achievements and what the United States is failing to achieve , and it should be noted that the United States was due to reduce its emissions by 7 % under the Kyoto Protocol , which it signed but did not ratify .
this is the only way in which we can maintain our technological head start and remain competitive in the global economy as a whole .
in addition , investments in improving energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources will create millions of jobs and will contribute towards growth in the EU ; at the same time , they will also help to cut the money currently wasted on maintaining energy-intensive buildings .
however , there are still many problems which need to be solved .
in any case , my explanation of vote was on the Lamassoure report .
it confines itself to noting the tragic conditions in which they survive , but ascribes them to the poor application of EU directives .
the Bali Action Plan put that well .
I believe it is also time to give thanks that such moral courage exists in abundance , that so many people do rise up in protest .
the country is not only well-known for exporting its high-tech products ; they are also of great importance to its citizens .
I should like to thank them sincerely for this .
whenever he intervenes I always feel reinforced in my personal commitment and conviction concerning free trade .
a great European , a great woman , a woman who initiated this process , the successful conclusion of which we shall be voting through on Thursday .
the concern is for next winter .
if I remember correctly , it is precisely the circumstances brought about by Hamas that are decisive for the situation in Gaza .
the European Maritime Safety Agency , located in Lisbon , provides support and technical assistance to the European Commission and Member States for the development and application of Community legislation pertaining to maritime safety and protection , as well as regarding pollution caused by ships .
however , businesses in the tourism sector - many of which are SMEs - are not always able to attain these objectives through their own unaided efforts .
we also question the value of EU financing for maritime research and a plan to survey and map wrecked ships and submerged archaeological sites , and we are critical of the idea that EU institutions should address the subject of maritime spatial planning .
health is the most valuable asset we possess .
then let them think of how today , after years of cooperation and unity , none but those on the political extremes would question that we are stronger together and safer together than ever we were apart .
within the framework of the G20 , and perhaps going further in some areas than the G20 had requested , we are today patiently recreating the governance , regulatory , transparency , I was going to say quite simply ' moral ' - if I can use that word - or ethical frameworks and tools that have been singularly lacking in the financial market set-up for around 15 years .
this has been achieved in this process and is surely a point which bodes well for future successes in an excellent relationship between the Commission and the Council on this essential point .
compromises obviously always have their advantages and disadvantages .
I agree with you that we have to learn from this pandemic and also that we need to critically review our response .
with regard to how the financial instruments to be implemented would work , I believe that a discussion is required to find a solution that is acceptable to everyone .
last week I was fortunate to be on a delegation from the Committee on Fisheries to Norway .
because of their concerns that the conference would be used as a platform for expressions of hatred and intolerance in its most extreme form , several Member States , including my own , decided to withdraw from the conference .
it is also a year of hope for deeper unity in Europe because of the new elections to the European Parliament .
given the existence of a joint motion for a resolution signed only by the left-wing and the extreme left-wing parties in Parliament , it is easy to see that this objective has been sadly undermined .
the only part that was not supported was the proposal calling on the Commission to investigate the feasibility of the EU 's carbon tax , which , like VAT , will be introduced onto the internal market for each product .
report by Christel Schaldemose , on behalf of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection , on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and the Council on a common framework for the marketing of products - C6-0067 / 2007 -
the vessel owners should be accountable for the costs arising under the agreements from which they themselves draw benefit , and we want to see continued change in that direction .
the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs recommends that the Council should approve the two countries joining the Schengen area .
finally , I welcome the inherent willingness of this document to put into practice the desire of European citizens to see a more transparent and less monopolised energy market .
at that time , the left-liberal media said that Jobbik was an extremist party .
( EL ) Madam President , about ten years after the creation of the euro area , it is clear that the European Union exists but , unfortunately , we are still a very long way from economic union .
obviously I return the compliment in terms of commitment to Europe , and to the Vice-President of the Commission , Jacques Barrot .
President Barroso said that the EU institutions , and the European Commission , too , are not properly represented in the global financial architecture .
but the upgrading of the choke points in the high-speed internet must not become a new and enduring bottleneck for competition in the future , and we have plenty of evidence that the transition to fibre will make the business case for alternative investors much more difficult , because unbundling of fibre is currently neither technically nor economically possible , which means that alternative operators must invest in their own fibre or use a bitstream service of the incumbent .
these are all earthshaking activities , none of which seem to have any concrete output .
nevertheless , Spain , Belgium , France , Italy and the Netherlands first had to resort to this dangerous policy of regularisation , which inevitably gave rise to the so-called ' aspiration ' phenomenon and by this fact influenced the migratory flows of their European neighbours , before this awareness finally dawned on them .
the number of prisoners of conscience is growing .
institutional care is often of unacceptably poor quality .
in turn , economic development is to foster political stability in the entire region .
the European Union , as the leading donor , must exercise political leadership in coordinating reconstruction efforts in Haiti and ensuring that aid reaches those who need it most .
those claiming that Turkey is not European really mean it is not Christian .
I mentioned the responsibility of our national authorities for these matters .
according to the Progress Report for 2009 , Turkey still has a long way to go .
on the other hand , however , we must also succeed in international competition .
I have taken careful note of all the speeches and I hope that , as time goes by - as we approach the moment of truth - after the ratification of the Treaty , we will be able together to put into practice some of the ideas that have been suggested here .
the Commission described the importance of space applications for the European Security and Defence Policy in its communication on European space policy last year .
these sometimes arise due to a need to update them , but this hinders and diminishes the quality of life of the individual .
the European Council will take note of the report .
history has proven that isolation and external sanctions help maintain dictatorships .
secondly , in the light of the call in the report for steps to remove barriers to mobility , I would highlight the fact that a Council recommendation designed to encourage Member States to do precisely this is due to be adopted by the Council in the coming days .
however , during further negotiations , it is crucial to address some important issues .
of course , the situation is particularly bad when it comes to the regional subsidies .
these flagship proposals will show the European Union level acting in critically important areas such as the digital agenda , innovation , resource efficiency and industrial policy - and , of course , in some cases , will also help targets to be achieved at a national level .
in particular , will the Commission investigate the contribution to the non-delivery of the single electricity market of the failure adequately to address the dominance of the ESB in the southern market and the resulting lack of competition , which of course is the imperative to success in any single electricity market ?
every so often the Treaty makes reference to some other document , and that leads on to more references .
if I could have the incoming Commission inherit , so to speak , one thing from me , it would be this .
according to scientific estimates , the reductions should be close to 40 % , something that is not only achievable , but that will also result in us strengthening our competitiveness and creating more green jobs .
the aim of this communication will be to consult publicly and widely on the options available in the field of consumer collective redress .
in writing . - I welcome this report which is the first step in examining the shape and nature of the common agricultural policy ( CAP ) post 2013 .
in addition , I am pleased that , as a result of the negotiations conducted , a better balance was achieved between the powers of the European Network of Transmission System Operators , the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators and the European Commission , with a view to creating a smooth-operating , efficient , competitive market .
why do we not even have faith in our own strategic decisions ?
we and the European Union must ensure that we are selfsufficient in agriculture everywhere in Europe .
that being the case , public contracts must be awarded under transparent conditions whereby all interested parties are treated equally and the relationship between price and project performance is the ultimate criterion , so that they go to the best tender overall and not the one that is , perhaps , merely the cheapest .
it is , of course , our firm view that no one should have to suffer harassment or abuse , least of all elderly people , who are so dependent on care .
thank you , Commissioner , for your comprehensive reply .
this is ultimately what the citizens of Europe expect of their leaders .
it is fine if you are a big company , but if you are a microbusiness with a handful of employees , you do not have the capacity to access complex programmes .
no less important is the strengthening of infrastructure on the Member States ' territory , including the existing trans-border connections , and implementation of new energy network connections .
for example , the supply of Russian gas to Europe has gone down from 75 % in 1990 to 45 % today .
as a result , more effective planning of air traffic routes will reduce fuel consumption and harmful emissions , and air transport will thus become more environmentally friendly .
furthermore , there are no barriers to trade in technically more advanced substitute products , which do not fall within the scope of the directives .
we have made it quite clear that we absolutely cannot go on asking for wage restraint from working people in Europe , while managers and other capital owners receive extreme and excessive pay and salaries .
we will all support it .
the directive opens up European hospitals and clinics , inter alia , for Polish patients .
we now come to the catch-the-eye procedure .
I am glad that innovative solutions such as smart grids and ESCOs that implement investments producing a return on energy efficiency have also been included in the report .
this directive is for all Europeans who need healthcare .
in view of this , the reports emerging , whether from the Democratic Republic of the Congo , or from Egypt , from Libya or from other countries , are alarming .
if we want to decide on the right action to be taken with young people , old people , men and women , we have to know the causes .
however , that is no disaster in my opinion , and on the contrary it is perhaps an illustration of the fact that the European Parliament works as a political body in which an open and genuine ideological conflict between the European right and the left unfolds .
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on the economic side , the macro-economic framework presented in New York must be more rigorous and combined with a clear path towards employment and growth , which will break the cycle of poverty and inequality .
international accounting and audit bodies will also benefit from more diversified neutral funding and the EU can lead off on this , but not indefinitely if other countries do not join in . I am pleased to have clarified that .
in addition , the European principles of equal opportunities and equal rights for women and men must influence the proactive human rights policy of the EU more strongly .
( the sitting was opened at 9.00 a.m. )
in addition , the rights of citizens will be protected by the Charter of Fundamental Rights , the binding legal force of which is enshrined in the Treaty .
it must pursue a clear political objective of creating the required trust for the conclusion of peace talks by guaranteeing security for Israelis and Palestinians alike .
the European budget is mainly about investment and not consumption and social transfers .
I will conclude by addressing the Council , which , unfortunately , is not here - something that has been quite telling in this matter .
I hope , honourable Members , that you will consider me a former Member of this House , and as a guarantee that the Hungarian Presidency will be a Parliament-friendly Presidency .
these are critical points that I would ask the representatives of the Commission to bring up in their discussions .
however , I fear that we have produced the proverbial Christmas tree - albeit it post-Christmas - of wishes , and of wishes that obscure the main political point .
the vote will take place tomorrow at 12 : 00 .
I am a relatively new member of the Committee on Citizens ' Complaints , as it would be better to call it .
we then defined criteria .
what is extremely important is that the SEPA will lead to an economic rapprochement between countries in the euro area and countries which , although Member States of the European Union , are not part of the euro area , as well as the other countries of the European Free Trade Area .
it should be highlighted that this is the first strategic programme presenting a comprehensive Union approach to health policy . it lays down the values adopted by the Community and the aims it is setting itself in this area .
our future agricultural policy will decide whether or not Europe is self-sufficient in the future .
I feel that it is very important , thanks to the extremely constructive work you have done jointly with the different committees and different groups , that you are able to arrive shortly - at least I hope you are - at a vote which expresses this determination and which the Council and , for its part too , the Commission will have to take into account .
Mr President , the recent brutal suppression of the Tibetan protestors is hardly surprising , given the People 's Republic of China 's long track record of totally ignoring human rights and democratic freedoms .
of course , it is now time to regulate the issue of importing fishery and aquaculture products , as the EU is currently the largest market for these products in the world .
the most relevant for SMEs is the new possibility for the granting of EUR 500 000 per undertaking to cover investments and / or working capital over a period of two years .
I also support the acceptance of the Joint Declaration because this signals that the European institutions have understood this responsibility .
I have listened to the debate this evening not only with great interest , but also with a sense that it is a matter not just of legislation , but also of hearts and minds .
what causes bottlenecks for more innovation ?
I also agree with the formula that access to goods and services should be the right of every EU citizen .
everyone has agreed to this meeting which will therefore complete the implementation of the six points of the agreement .
on behalf of all the Members of the European Parliament , I would like to welcome you again .
in writing . - I want to thank the Commission and the Council for their statements on the new European strategy for jobs and growth .
there are very clear messages that must concentrate on good practices : the need for physical activity , a balanced diet and , above all , responsibility : responsibility on the part of the EU Member States but also responsibility on the part of each European citizen .
I hope that their fundamental human rights will be safeguarded , along with their right to asylum .
Madam President , I think this resolution has come at a crucial moment for two reasons .
there is no doubt that integrity in the online gaming sector is extremely important .
I think that we are all aware of that .
this is a very important pillar of our integrated maritime policies .
I voted in favour of this report because it provides a vision of how the EU could become an independent strategic force for security and stability in Europe and throughout the world .
to require workers to systematically work overtime and put in long working weeks is to destroy jobs .
so as not to waste any of that time , let me thank Malcolm Harbour , Catherine Trautmann and Pilar del Castillo Vera for our truly outstanding cooperation , to which Malcolm has already referred .
since 2004 , in particular , we have been seeing the downwards harmonisation of reception procedures and conditions .
this will take the form of four to five omnibus or package proposals , the first of which should arrive in the European Parliament shortly in November .
we must ensure that the most brilliant minds receive sufficient finances and human resources to support them .
furthermore , we should remember that Russia is a unique democracy with a very high rate of corruption .
we fully support the general thrust of the Directive and wish to see a successful agreement reached between Parliament and Council .
what is meant by ' missing our date ' ?
the Christian community in Iraq has already been more than halved .
Mr President , I cannot say anything more about the PKK because the procedures in this House do not allow me enough time .
however , the international community equally bears responsibility with regard to these events .
( the President cut off the speaker )
those responsible for the pogroms in Gujarat have still not been brought to justice .
unfortunately for all its citizens - the well off and the poor alike - these subsidies are self-defeating for they strip away initiative from people and produce a culture of dependency .
the Danish Social Democrats would like to emphasise , however , that the purpose of the EU 's common agricultural policy must continue to be to guarantee market stabilisation and we therefore cannot support permanent subsidies from the EU for the likes of milk and dairy products .
now Russia is taking the political consequences .
unifying them and making them comprehensible can only help operators and users alike .
Madam President , the financial crisis has indicated that there is an even greater need for more Europe .
turning first to retail investment products .
( ES ) Mr President , on 29 July 2009 , Iraqi troops violently stormed the Iranian refugee camp in Ashraf and shot or beat to death 11 people living there .
I do not share this conclusion .
consumers are very happy to pay less to fly , but I do not know whether the Commission has any studies establishing a link between low-cost flights and the increase in the number of air incidents .
hence , recently , the Council meeting in December 2009 confirmed the need to respect certain fair conditions , in the context of the stabilisation and association process for the Balkans .
the Turkey issue is closely linked to that .
we need to tackle the problem of the shortage of organs for transplants in Europe , which is the chief factor affecting transplantation programme .
it is both a tragedy and a scandal that so many people in this world live in extreme poverty , that so many women die in pregnancy and childbirth , that so many newborn babies die at birth , that so many people have no access to safe contraception and that so many people are infected with HIV / AIDS and do not have access to antiretroviral drugs .
in writing . - ( FR ) Mr President , Mrs Frassoni 's report highlights the somewhat cavalier attitude the Commission adopts , when it has power , in relation to the European Parliament .
we also had the support of the EU 's institutions , the Commission and Parliament , to the annoyance of the critics and sceptics .
I have probably spent more than a healthy amount of time with José Manuel this autumn .
we cannot take a sabbatical from our work for peace and stability in the continent .
in an open economic system , the best way of ensuring that consumers ' and citizens ' right are respected is by observing the rules of competition and establishing a fair and equitable market , reflecting environmental and social standards .
a proverb says that " the devil is in the details ” .
mineral resources and human resources give African countries the potential to escape from backwardness and poverty , with some well thought-out assistance from industrialised countries .
however , our amendments have , I think , finally helped to clarify the text while preserving the ambition and major goals of the new regulation .
we could spend another half hour discussing this .
in writing . - I voted to approve this report because of the checks that need to be made to ensure the health and nutritional claims made .
if we think this can be resolved by means of a globalisation fund , then we are not presenting an accurate picture of the situation .
yet we maintain strategic relations with both these large countries .
the oral question to the Commission on Getting a grip on energy prices , by Esko Seppänen and Ilda Figueiredo , on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group - B6-0469 / 2008 ) .
I would like to emphasise this in the strongest possible terms .
in any case , on behalf of my group , I refuse to withdraw the resolution that we have prepared on the subject of Madagascar , where there is also a real danger for an entire population .
the Commission is grateful to the European Parliament for its persistent efforts to combat discrimination .
we do so knowing that universal service is guaranteed to all citizens within the Union , and that specific measures have been taken to ensure that rural and sparsely populated areas are served by an adequate number of postal outlets .
we are talking about the EU and the EU 's respect for fundamental human rights .
you explain that your law is similar to that of other Member States , but even if some of them - and I am thinking in particular of my own country - clearly still have progress to make , in what other country of the Union does any part of the media risk a fine of EUR 700 000 for infringing moral standards ?
Parliament , meanwhile , listened to European consumers , the overwhelming majority of whom do not want the use of cloning in meat or milk production , the overwhelming majority of whom want to reduce animal suffering , not increase it .
it is to be tested , labelled and , where a number of products are concerned - UV filters , dyes and preservatives - it will now be the producer who has to guarantee safety , while the Commission is to provide detailed information and find time to monitor the rest .
it is also ' thanks ' to the European Union 's outrageous passive stance that 16 opposition activists have been held in custody for months on suspicion of a ' terrorist act ' .
coal has been subsidised to an unbelievable extent for 50 years , and continuing this is contrary to all the EU 's statements on climate policy .
all this will be changed and improved by the regulation which we will adopt tomorrow .
it is really about the effects of their actions on others .
EU and US institutions responsible for flight security must cooperate at all levels .
however , matters are complicated still further by the EU Member States ' different national policies and fundamentally different organ donation rates .
given our growing interdependence on imports , particularly gas , the volume of Russian gas that we would like to buy is likely to grow , so we need a clear policy of diversification .
we have 25 million enterprises in Europe .
there are a few key actions around which talks need to be organised :
the Commission has taken careful note of the substance of your questions and I do hope that the answers address your possible underlying concerns .
I was also going to ask a question about gender balance in the Commission , so I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Cathy Ashton on her appointment .
as long as no official apology is forthcoming from the UEN Group for yesterday 's incidents in this House , I see myself , as representative of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament , being unable to continue to cooperate with the UEN Group .
on the subject of Croatia , I would like to say that this country is combating corruption to such an extent that other countries , including some within the EU , should take an example from it .
this progress is reflected to a considerable extent in the amendments proposed today .
we can only regret our failure to do so , but I do welcome Mr Verheugen 's announcement that the matter is to be the subject of in-depth study , for that is certainly what we need .
I shall leave the issues surrounding this increase , which is probably justified by the greater number of responsibilities after Lisbon , aside for the moment , and say a few words instead on the House of European History .
this is a carefully designed programme which started in 1999 .
the total length of railway tracks in the European Union is around 213 000 km , and the amount of chemical we douse them with , according to the estimates , is around 900 000 litres .
the G20 Summit and the awareness of the need for a coordinated and cooperative response to the current world economic situation are an expression of the positive side to globalisation .
they also have a duty to remember .
with the exception of a number of initiatives and programs , the EU budget does not have a clear and integrated strategy to address climate change issues .
the EU has to demonstrate before the international community that it has a foreign policy which is becoming increasingly representative , coherent , systematic and effective .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , first and foremost please allow me , on behalf of the ITS Group , to express my condolences and support for the families of the victims and for the Greek people as a whole .
the proposal for a directive , which I support , is a positive step towards opening up the markets of the EU Member States and reducing rivalry in the sector between countries which could make use of shared and cost-effective solutions .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I would like to thank the honourable Members for this debate .
to that extent , reducing bureaucracy is more about ' talking a good game ' than achieving a real and effective objective .
in this agreement it was not just a case of ensuring free access to air services which can be used in different ways , but also of covering issues such as the environment , safety and also market access and ownership .
I would simply like to pose one question .
the establishment of a ' European IMF ' could enforce the Stability and Growth Pact , and the European rating agency would make its assessments based upon a true understanding of European economies .
we must therefore practise integrated land management to protect the soil , and here I would emphasise the importance of what Mr Sacconi said , because in circumstances of widespread water shortages , rain must be kept where it falls so that it can water the lower slopes .
the ability to travel freely is , along with education , perhaps the most important tool that we can offer the new generations , of whom we expect so much commitment to the democratisation process throughout the region .
in order to achieve the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy , we must implement cohesion and regional policy and ensure that this policy is independent and covers all European regions .
however , this is simply not the lot of most babies and toddlers who would be cared for in childcare facilities .
it recommends strengthening the fight against the underground economy , which threatens the economy as a whole , leaves workers without any protection , is harmful to consumers and reduces fiscal income , resulting in unfair competition among businesses .
unanimity will be needed between the Member States and , after that , the consent of the European Parliament , before the directive can be adopted .
this positive signal towards Bulgaria was the reason why the rapporteur and the Greens / EFA abstained on the legislative proposal .
Mr President , I would like to congratulate the rapporteur Mr Schwab and his team of rapporteurs for opinions and shadow rapporteurs for their very good work on this report .
first , the social situation of artists : I agree with the fact that we should work out an appropriate legal framework in the areas of tax , labour and social security for artists and performers .
in the long term , the central banks need to improve regulatory mechanisms for the financial markets in order to establish greater clarity and certainty within them .
the SPS is a separate agreement containing basic rules on food safety and animal and plant health standards .
I wanted to mention this first .
17 .
important steps have been taken , but this text does not serve the purpose , which is to create a harmonised framework .
EU accession to the ECHR would give Europe an excellent opportunity to act as a moral lighthouse , to be an example .
Mr President , in some of our Member States it is possible for people to walk in off the street and receive training in the use of guns , and indeed Magnum guns , without any identification whatsoever , or without having a gun licence .
this mission has troops coming from Sweden , the Netherlands , Poland , Austria and Ireland .
this month the Council adopted appropriate decisions .
this crisis is therefore liable to continue .
in other words , the trend is changing in my country : the manufacture , stockpiling and export of these weapons were approved by previous governments .
the parties you do not want to tax are the speculators : those who shift millions and billions around the globe with their high frequency trading , thereby ensuring that our economy is unpredictable - unpredictable even to good entrepreneurs and good investors who want to create decent jobs for the future .
the scope of the register excludes social partners , churches , political parties and local , regional and municipal authorities , taking into account their particular characteristics .
however , I want to focus on another point .
furthermore , imports of tuna from Papua New Guinea have doubled over the last two years , and we have reason to fear that this trend will become stronger in the future .
there is positive news .
to me , you represent the prospect of Belarus becoming a free and democratic country one day .
in addition , they must enshrine the fundamental principle of the EU , namely the principle of solidarity .
I completely changed the text of my speech for all of this , Mr Piebalgs . I would like to thank you , because as I said , it is good to be able to be proud of the European Union , especially during this difficult time .
we have achieved good compromises and will support his report tomorrow .
innovation must not be swallowed up by research .
we therefore need to be ready to provide help to both Egypt and Tunisia , not only in coping with the humanitarian situation , but also to be prepared to provide economic and financial support literally in the coming days , weeks and months because the situation there will have an impact on the economic situation in both these countries .
it is an attractive challenge to consider this with countries such as Switzerland .
in 2008 , the EU ODA has increased by around EUR 4 billion to a level of 0.40 % of ODA and the collective EU ODA is forecast to continue increasing .
even if none of the members of the World Trade Organisation or any of the large political groups in the European Parliament dare to say so , we in the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance will say it : we call for an end , finally , to the Doha Round , which has been stuck down a blind alley for years and is completely inappropriate at this present time .
6 .
how does it assess the implementation of the regulation to date ?
Mr President , Ireland has chosen to ratify the Lisbon Treaty by referendum because , on balance , this was deemed necessary under the terms of our written Constitution , but I fully respect the decision of all other Member States in their choice of ratification process .
we do not support that decision ; it will be difficult to implement it in a province such as Naples , where 52 % of the Campanian population live .
sometimes even I am at a complete loss to trace its journey , and then you have to remember the inter-services and all the others involved .
now it has become what must be regarded as a priority for the European Commission and for the European Council .
President of the European Court of Auditors . - Mr President , it is an honour for me to be able to take part in your debate on the Court of Auditors ' annual report on the 2007 financial year , which I have already presented to the Committee on Budgetary Control on 10 November .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , Article 325 obliges the Commission and Member States to protect the financial interests of the European Union and to combat fraud in areas where this responsibility is shared between the Union and the Member States .
there are a lot more opportunities today for businesses to lobby for their rights and be aware of them and their obligations , as well as the rights and obligations of the consumer .
14 / 2 : I voted in favour of this as it will reduce the negative impact of EU legislation on cargoes of non-GM soya beans destined for the UK .
we use this information on a daily basis , for example in our analysis of supply and price developments within the cereal sector .
it will reduce our dependence on imports of important commodities and we will not be releasing heavy metals and other toxic substances into the environment .
we wish today to have access to the text and the summary of the negotiations so that we may be fully involved in the legislative process .
the European institutions have the task , the resources and the responsibility to ensure and defend human rights throughout the world , especially in particular regions such as Chad where citizens are already suffering humanitarian crises and attacks from outside .
that is why I share Mrs Trautmann 's point of view .
I believe that the operation of uncompetitive mines should be discontinued in line with the closure plan , only if they fail to become profitable by the specified deadline .
we must also be aware that many populations , particularly countries we trade with and have dialogue with , have had their water supplies cut off or still do not have access to drinking water .
( PL ) Mr President , the process of early childhood education is one of the most important duties both of parents and the state .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , we must take a very discerning view of Pakistan .
this could be done , but certainly needs money .
there was also support for a number of points concerning taxes on imports of various groups of agricultural products , as well as quality requirements on these products .
I therefore hope that the European institutions will redouble their effects to implement measures to speed up and improve the rates of utilisation of such an important resource as the EGF , which currently has very low levels of mobilisation .
Mr President , Mr Barroso , Excellencies , ladies and gentlemen , though this may appear somewhat incongruous here , in the plenary hall of the European Parliament , I would nonetheless like to start my speech with a quote from a great North American thinker , Ralph Waldo Emerson , who said , and I quote :
this reduction , however , cannot be implemented at the price of legal or accounting uncertainty when the internal market begins to be penetrated by SMEs .
this will undoubtedly be one of the central objectives of the informal meeting of the European Council on Thursday :
( ES ) Madam President , I would also like to take the opportunity of this debate to highlight a subject of great concern , a situation that we became aware of just a few days ago that relates to Colombia .
( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , I want to add my voice to those who have expressed their sincere sympathies with the bereaved families of the tens of thousands of victims of the deadly Cyclone Nargis in Burma ( Myanmar ) .
another important factor is that people in many parts of the world are living in poverty and in inhumane conditions , with the result that they can easily fall prey to those wanting to buy and sell human beings .
it should be noted that 1 114 of the 2 554 dismissed workers ' have not concluded primary school education ' .
thus , I believe that there has been significant progress made in Copenhagen in this regard and it cannot be denied that the European Union is maintaining a position of vanguard and of leadership in this respect and in other respects relating to the fight against climate change The criticism which could be made of the European Union in relation to Copenhagen is that it has been streets ahead of what was achieved there .
it is , I believe , a vital step forward that the documents mentioned earlier treat energy development efforts in Central and Eastern Europe as an urgent priority .
we call on the Council to incorporate our opinion and open talks on the further development of this Regulation .
( SK ) I am taking this opportunity - which is so precious for myself and for my country , Slovakia - to say thank you to all the Members who voted for Slovakia 's accession to the eurozone .
( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , for the first time in history , in our history - as the Commissioner said - the total amount of public European development aid has fallen .
I have shared some of the figures with you , but there are many other areas of achievement that are not quantifiable .
in writing . - There is no doubt that the European social model needs to be reformed . especially , that the outdated welfare system still dominates in many of the larger Member States .
- ( LT ) Belarus is at the centre of Europe and I believe it should be interested in having good relations both with the European Union and its other neighbour Russia .
voluntary work must not be underestimated since it represents an important part of democratic life in Europe and involves more than 100 million Europeans of different ages , faiths and nationalities .
finally , the report highlights the key role of the national , regional and local authorities , as well as of citizens , consumers and businessmen , in attaining the environmental targets set in the EU 's Sixth Environment Action Programme .
what we believe is important is that those public services work in the framework of a strong single market in respect of Community rules .
that is bound to go wrong .
guaranteeing producers ' incomes depends , above all , on safeguarding transparency in the food supply chain .
last week , the citizens of Ireland rejected the Treaty of Lisbon .
I think that it erodes democracy if we reach an agreement even before the discussion in plenary .
we believe that the Social Fund , the Globalisation Adjustment Fund and the European Regional Fund must be used in a synergic manner , with special emphasis on the main priority that is needed to link these programmes , namely job creation and expansion of employment .
last but not least , I believe , Mr President , that Member States must make efforts to bring their national legislations into line on protecting fundamental rights on the Internet , as this is something which may also help outline a joint strategy for combating cyber crime or terrorism .
in this context , information campaigns in these countries are undoubtedly important , so that we can make it clear that a visitor 's visa is not the equivalent of asylum or a job in the EU .
however , in the recommendations that we made in a document that we have just published , we called on the Member States not , where possible , to reduce investment in education or research , and specifically not in the energy sector .
as far as the European Social Fund is concerned , experience shows that funding the economic measures of the European Regional Development Fund can be more effective if it is better coordinated and is integrated into the activities performed by this fund .
they appreciate resoluteness and strength in others , more than complicated explanations which say that ' black is not quite black ' .
Mr President , honourable Members , I am very happy to see this directive created during the Hungarian Presidency .
are there any circumstances in which you think the peoples of Europe should have a referendum so that they can decide these issues ?
firstly , the link between the Cohesion Funds and the Framework Programme for research must be improved .
of course , much remains to be done , in terms both of economic and institutional reforms , and the steps taken should be consolidated .
I voted in favour of the report by Mrs Roure , which guarantees a high level of data protection with regard to the processing of personal data .
an OECD report from 2005 tells us that counterfeit products amounting to approximately EUR 150 billion are sold worldwide , without taking into account wholly domestic counterfeiting or on-line piracy .
thank you .
this , in my opinion , is vital .
after one year , I think we can fully exercise this right .
perhaps the more relevant percentage , given how much we import cereals from there , would be to know the percentage figure that is rising in North America , causing many of us to believe that biofuels is indeed an animal feed price accelerator .
you represent a country where people took a stand against the invasion by Warsaw Pact troops .
I believe the speeches by my distinguished colleagues who have been working here for much longer than I have confirmed and supported this House 's policy .
in any case the EU has no competence on sport .
we feel very proud to be contributing to this common cause .
such an outcome is also possible in Madagascar , provided that an election is held within the foreseeable future .
a few days ago , 1 200 000 signatures were collected from European citizens asking for an independent expert report on GMOs .
an impressive power play by the Court of Justice of the European Communities in its judgment of 13 September 2005 on the case known as ' protection of the environment ' granted it the right to interfere in the criminal law of Member States in the event of infringements of environmental legislation .
following the publication of each scoreboard , a press release is issued in 21 languages and the results are communicated during a press conference to ensure that they are easily accessible to the national media .
as regards the European quality logo , we must also discuss and decide in this Chamber which objectives we want it to achieve .
not only was the Chinese Government ready to assist the island , but also private companies and organisations of different kinds including the Association for Relations across the Taiwan Straits and the mainland Red Cross Society .
in order to ensure consistency in the work of the Committee and enable it to develop high-level expertise , I propose setting up a Bureau or body of executive officers and that that body be composed of a Chair , two Vice-chairs and two advisors .
at first reading we had proposed 33 + 28 substances in total , i.e. 61 analysed substances .
however , it is also absolutely true that , since the London Summit in April , many more problems have been solved over these six months than were or could have been solved over many years before the London Summit .
in writing . - ( IT ) Thank you , Madam President .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , Mr President-in-Office of the Council , ladies and gentlemen , I read recently that Bosnia is a well-meaning state , but a state that is not working .
some modesty would be fitting today , of course , but I have to say that , together with you , we ensured that this method was successful .
and , as Carl requested , some work will also be left for my successor , for the next Commission and for this Parliament .
instead , I am in favour of using the term ' sufficient financial resources ' .
I dare say , respectfully , that this report , despite the noble intentions of the rapporteur , instead of tackling the problem drastically and effectively , merely scratches the surface and deals mildly mainly with heavy drinking and extreme drinking patterns , or drinking in particular circumstances , e.g. by children or pregnant women .
why should this be ?
men and women there are fighting for their freedom .
we therefore urgently call on the Malaysian Government immediately to desist from this horrific , demeaning and humiliating practice and to repeal the relevant laws in the medium term .
those I have mentioned , and many others who accompanied them , could not have imagined the rapid success of their political project .
there is very little time left to reverse that tide .
stress tests should not be voluntary - some countries will use them if they want to , while others will not .
in the present digital environment , services , networks and business systems have undergone significant changes , and a wide choice is now available to consumers . interoperability has therefore become a fundamental concept for information and telecommunications networks .
each country 's efforts to work with restrictive measures are undermined or made impossible when alcohol may in principle be freely imported from other countries .
we parliamentarians are sending a clear message to the Commission that the European Parliament never again will be a mere observer but an equal player in the shaping of European policy .
newly established training centres and other unlicensed institutions are simply ' laundering ' money earmarked for the training of the unemployed and other low-income groups , while the qualifications of trainers are often below the necessary standard .
yet all the opinion polls confirm that people want to see greater emphasis placed on social issues : they want to feel more secure , they want their purchasing power to improve and they want better public services .
convince your colleagues in the Council and take your decision on the High Representative on the basis of the present Treaty .
in writing . - I voted in favour .
it is one of the advances in cooperation between Member States , civil cooperation , criminal cooperation and internal security .
please trust me and Mr Almunia .
the purpose of the proposal is to bring the current Regulation ( EC ) No 515 / 97 into line with the new powers of the Community in the field of customs cooperation , stepping up cooperation and exchanges of data between the Member States and between the latter and the Commission .
I have to say that the Commission 's attitude to the matter has been appalling .
we are talking about a pragmatic approach .
regarding my own country , Mr Barroso , together with other European Mandarins , is happy to come and tell us what to do about the problems between Flanders and Wallonia , while not even bothering to find out what is happening on the ground .
what is the use of the most productive nuclear power station if a minor fault is enough to make not only the immediate surroundings , but broad swathes of land , uninhabitable for decades ?
furthermore , the effective enlargement of Schengen , which the European Council is to confirm on Friday , also means extended external borders .
we are talking here about minimum standards in the European Union .
her fate symbolises the history of our divided continent - a refugee after the Second World War , she returned to Latvia ; as soon as our country was free again , she returned to become its president .
as many as 50 % of Europeans take no exercise at all .
it also highlights the regulatory problem I mentioned of zero risk weighting for eurozone sovereign debt , which undermined market discipline and created perverse incentives .
rapporteur . - ( NL ) Mr President , if one thing is clear , it is that Europe needs a solid foundation in order to prevent a new euro crisis in the future and to ensure sustainable economic growth .
on the Virrankoski report , I am disappointed by the level of funding for poverty reduction programmes to the poorest regions , including Asia .
paradoxically , the left intends to discriminate in this way .
President of the Commission . - Mr President , this week 's European Council has a very substantive agenda .
to justify such a pact - which involves national measures - it must contribute added value to what has already been laid down in the context of economic governance proposals put forward .
yes , he did not get up .
hence it wants to emphasise its role this evening , also , and it calls on the Council and the Commission to pledge to ensure that the Authorities operate independently and have the personnel and the resources they need .
we have a large free trade area between North and South America , in the ASEAN countries , Asia and Mercosur , etc .
at the very opening of the anti-dumping procedures , we are changing from the objectivity of legal certainty to an intervention by Member States , which threatens to become the outcome of bargaining between the Commission and Member States .
meanwhile , I would like to thank everyone for this debate and to assure honourable Members that I will do all I can to make the Human Rights Council as effective as possible and - more important even than that - to represent the European Parliament and the European Union on issues of human rights as effectively as I possibly can .
there has long been a need for a reform of the wine sector that restores the profile and competitiveness of Community wines and enables European producers to recapture former markets and capture new ones .
but we will never succeed in doing this without a strong WTO and without the opportunity to uphold a strong framework that is good for the developing countries , that can give poor people new and better opportunities and that can also help us all benefit from the opportunities of free trade .
no , of course it is not .
we now know that this idea has been on ice for six years .
Mr President , I am delighted to inform you that my group will vote in favour of this report tomorrow , and I thank Mr Gauzès once again .
the revision of the emissions trading scheme and the whole climate change package form the most ambitious and far-reaching defence package for the global climate that has ever been embarked upon .
such a period is upon us again .
if President Obama is serious about closing Guantánamo , which I welcome , and about protecting America and its allies , this should be his policy .
social rights have been negated , the state only providing subsidies to the needy if they agree to do community work .
the second door we are opening is the door to freedom .
( the President cut off the speaker )
Mr Leterme , you spoke of economic governance .
the World Bank should therefore pursue an approach to private-sector development that delivers maximum benefit to the poor while tackling climate change .
the EU accounts allow a 2 % margin of error .
attempts by large Member States to giftwrap tax harmonisation in the flowery paper of CCCTB will not be accepted by Ireland or other Member States .
Mr President , we sometimes forget that there was once a time when , wherever you went in Europe , immigration officials would stamp your passport .
I believe that this situation and this discussion are not very pleasant for the Commissioner , for it seems we all share the same opinion , or at least a majority of us share it .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , growing extremism in Europe is a fact , and we need to talk about it .
Mr President , the Commissioner will doubtless be aware that a couple of weeks ago the McCann family from my constituency came to the European Parliament .
I would remind the House that the European Commission recently told Parliament , through its re-elected President , that one of the sectors in which it aims to invest are white-collar jobs .
the EU has adopted ambitious plans in the area of emission reductions , funding , forestry and technology transfer .
his comments are particularly topical today , which is the 50th anniversary of the execution of Imre Nagy , the martyred Prime Minister , and 60th anniversary of the start of the brutal religious persecutions and imprisonment of Cardinal József Mindszenthy .
I would like to ask the Commissioner and others to reflect on this in any strategy and involvement we have across this continent .
in the Czech Republic , we have the Vietnamese .
that is the first step and , in this regard , I am very eager to see the Commission 's report and what conclusions it will draw .
also forming part of this priority is the issue of children 's human rights , on which the report contains several points that I believe are quite interesting .
in 2009 , as was said very eloquently by Mr Scicluna , the European Central Bank was operating in an environment that future economic historians are likely to describe as the most difficult one for advanced economies since the Second World War .
however , today I must confess my concern about the fact that in the Presidency Programme , the aims for stimulation plans , for example , are uncertain and references to economic government of the Union are marginal .
in writing . - ( PT ) I voted in favour of the report by Mrs Breyer on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market as it will help to ensure high safety standards for humans , animals and the environment by establishing strict but simplified procedures , and by rationalising resources .
I support the rapporteur 's position that this recommendation by the Council and the plan of action in its present form are insufficient , and that it is not possible to create a functioning programme in the European Union on that basis .
meanwhile , it congratulates itself on the hundreds of millions of euros given to the authorities who provoke , organise or tolerate this situation .
faced with these developments , we would point out that the workers urgently need to rise up en masse and stop these new anti-insurance measures and the new savage attack being organised by capital and the bourgeois governments in the new EU Competitiveness Pact .
I should like , in this session , to emphasise that uncoordinated national responses to such risks make it difficult to manage them effectively .
I stand together with Greece .
the ball is now in the Member States ' court because it is not enough to legislate : this legislation needs to be transposed into their national laws .
we are of the opinion that the current instrument relates to family law .
however , let us acknowledge that what has happened today is down to the active involvement of people representing the Internet , who used every means available to express their position to MEPs and demand that they protect their rights .
our farmers should not be the only ones affected by a ban on GMO crops and the use of GMO feed .
today 's resolution is an excellent document , but it remains nothing more than that .
violence breeds more violence .
in writing . - This Parliament supports the total abolition of the death penalty around the world .
national governments have already sent thousands of men and women to help the Haitians and have allocated millions of euros in aid .
Greece and its population are the victims today of a predatory economic and financial system , a system which has seen the G20 countries fork out , all in all , several thousands of billions of dollars in a few days in order to save the banks , but which leaves Greece in agony for several months .
we are harmonising the rules for the accreditation of bodies and mutual recognition of certification .
another example is that of the role of women .
if we do not take the produce of these countries , we will end up taking their people .
Mr President , the car of today is , in some ways , very much the same as that of 100 years ago but , at the same time , it is extremely different regarding security , efficiency and its effect on the environment .
to paraphrase Mr Mann 's excellent report : Europe must rise to the demographic challenge , and Jean Bodin 's famous formula : ' the only wealth is man ' now makes perfect sense .
in recital S it also refers to the situation in Syria , to where tens of thousands , if not hundreds of thousands , of refugees have fled from Jordan and Iraq , but the border is now being closed .
we also have to create - and as all the polls show , the citizens of Europe are demanding this of us - a responsible foreign policy .
in writing . - ( IT ) Madam President , I am voting against this report , not because of Mr Castiglione 's general approach which includes some positive points such as imposing quantitative limits and environmental compatibility on grubbing-up , banning the use of must from outside the EU and extending measures which can be managed independently by the Member States .
we have agreed on the need to do something , but ' we must do something ; this is something , therefore we must do this ' is surely a bad logic , which will result in a bad , artificial , weak EU creation that will not achieve our hopes .
the constitutional reform must continue .
the debate is closed .
Turkey is not a European country and does not , therefore , belong to the European Union , but let us instead work out a relationship of privileged partnership .
the report by Mr Vlasák , whom I thank , on the European Urban Agenda and its Future in Cohesion Policy presents a very balanced vision of the urban dimension within cohesion policy , which takes into account all the positions expressed by the groups during the debate in the Committee on Regional Development .
imprisonment of women can have particularly grave implications when they have been the sole carers of their children prior to imprisonment .
this is therefore a great day for the many families that are unable to reconcile their family life with their professional life .
Mr Maaten told us about the risks , about the major problem of drinking during pregnancy , about the appalling effects of foetal alcohol syndrome and the irreversible damage done to the development of the child 's brain .
take the dairy industry , for example , in which demand is increasing sharply and Europe is probably not making the most of its full potential .
at present , the priority is for the report 's constructive provisions and the Commission 's energy strategy to be implemented by the Member States .
we must use every opportunity to create more competition in markets dominated by large market participants and create a more vibrant marketplace .
written explanations of vote
( applause )
you are in the best position to do this .
I hope that the European Council will agree , either on 17 September or in October , that money should be provided to start works immediately , so that these countries can see that the European Union and the developed countries really mean what they propose and what they say .
it is wholly unreasonable that these interests should take precedence over national interests .
I regret that just last week , the Commission approved the GSP + preferential trade status for 16 countries , despite documented evidence provided to the Commission of human rights abuses , labour law violations and even murder in countries such as Colombia and Sri Lanka .
it is not a question of aiming for a Utopian self-sufficiency , but rather of recognising the need for greater coordination of national policies , ensuring there is solidarity between Member States and developing relationships with global partners which are less asymmetrical but predictable and based on a truly European approach .
( EL ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the Mediterranean has played a part in Europe 's external relations since the beginning of European unification .
the vote will take place tomorrow .
there has also been the matter of interchange fees , which deserves to be tackled .
we also need to remember that the Commission is still trying to impose so-called economic partnership agreements on ACP countries , the poorest countries in the world ; agreements that they do not want , because it is clear to them that these agreements contain the seeds of other future crises .
it is very important that we move forward now in terms of what the opportunity of May will afford us .
moreover , for every vine that we grub up , a new one will be planted on the Pacific Rim ; and when China develops a taste for wine we are likely to find ourselves with a worldwide shortage .
we are working very hard on Azerbaijan , on the question of Nagorno-Karabakh , on Moldova , Transnistria and on Georgia , and are sticking very firmly to these questions .
this is what makes it so important that each citizen of the Community should have equal levels of access to language learning .
this relates , in particular , to restrictions on the export of high-performance computers .
it is therefore necessary to promote targeted actions in that direction in order to achieve a stable level of cooperation with regard to countries at risk .
this case reveals a degree of failure of expert assessments and raises the question of the experts ' skill and independence in our risk society .
this House will wish to join me today in calling , once again , for the crossings to be fully opened .
however , here we have a situation where the burden of recession is causing unpredictable effects with a major geopolitical impact .
according to current statistics , the ratio of carbon dioxide emissions per capita may be hundreds of times higher for developed countries compared to developing countries .
we will consider what you had to say in the next meeting of the Bureau .
the low margin requirement in the market means that the market is open to manipulation .
why should there not be a reference to nanosubstances in the list of ingredients ?
I also welcome the fact that the directive will actually become a regulation and will have greater legal emphasis .
the economic partnership agreements , negotiated in a disgraceful way by the use of pressure , are ruining the ACP States without leaving them the possibility of recovering in the long term .
Mr President , I want to thank the Council and Commission for their statements .
we can take advantage of the Barnier report in order to establish a European volunteer corps and I would add , given that Commissioner Piebalgs is here , in order to strengthen and better coordinate the link between humanitarian aid and reconstruction and development policies .
for most IPA components , the choice of projects is the responsibility of the national authorities .
it is a guarantee of support for the least-developed regions and disadvantaged groups , leading to balanced social and territorial development in the Union , and a course of action that has great significance for the 27 Member States , which are required to lay down strategic territorial development guidelines through the increasingly active involvement of the social partners .
yes , hide .
however the effect of keeping the public in the dark about the results of the tests would simply be to engender even more uncertainty .
the eradication of poverty globally now features among the Union 's foreign policy priorities .
secondly , it also makes sense to maintain the existing special entitlements scheme , especially for special fodder rights .
some of the details are debatable , for example , that the format of the label will be based on the a classification between A and G - like that already used for refrigerators - with the possible addition of the classifications A + , A + + and A + + + : in principle , the total number of classes must be limited to seven .
unfortunately , the latest ruling in the Khodorkovsky case shows that hopes for more rule of law in Russia are not being fulfilled .
world AIDS Day is an important day and gives us an opportunity to discuss and raise awareness ; but we should not limit ourselves to this one day , and that is why I am happy that , within the European Union at least , we will be discussing these issues continuously .
we are with them in their day-to-day lives .
creating a common transparency register is certainly an important step forward , much awaited by European citizens .
the internal market must not be fragmented and businesses and consumers must come under the same rules and protection regardless of which Member State they are buying or selling in .
for infrastructure such as this , it will surely pay also to mobilise existing unused funding , particularly from the Cohesion Fund , if we can find a suitable mechanism for this .
it is therefore vital that they call for the immediate release of those detained .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I would like to thank everyone for all the comments .
we have leverage .
nevertheless , I am not convinced of the need for a new directive on the basis of Article 13 of the Treaty Establishing the European Community .
after a long closure and siege that converted Gaza into the largest open prison in the world , the building of the shameful wall around the West Bank , the continuous expansion of the settlements , and the effective division of the Palestinian land , the occupying forces have moved to the fiercest military operation .
moreover , do they really want to set up and finance some form of new institution for monitoring violence against women in the EU ?
the expansion of the Schengen area - this special Portuguese flavour - is a historic event of great psychological and symbolic magnitude , lifting not only the borders and divisions in Europe .
the Babeş-Bolyai University in Romania , in the Transylvanian city of Cluj , is an example of a multicultural university that has been cited time and again by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe as a positive example of multicultural and inter-ethnic excellence .
two recent changes that we have observed could - I say this very cautiously - could perhaps be a sign that Saudi Arabia is , making some progress .
however , the moment that has been chosen to do this comes at a very difficult time .
the answer in this case is probably not needed , but I would like to share your concerns .
this week marks the anniversary of the collapse of Lehman brothers .
we must guarantee the consent of donors .
however , the text also contains many recommendations concerning pension systems that I cannot endorse .
the report on developing an EU strategy for the Black Sea region offers an overview of the future challenges for the region , but it will also be relevant for establishing solid channels with the state partners in the region to ensure its smooth and effective implementation .
public life must be rid of the Skopia syndrome .
in 2006 , however , TATA 's automobile-manufacturing subsidiary had a higher stock exchange value than General Motors , while no-one had heard of the MITTAL Group until it launched a hostile takeover bid against ARCELOR , triggering panic in Paris , Brussels and Luxembourg .
the roll-out needs to be driven forward within Member States , so as to deliver more active consumers who can exploit renewable generation and energy-efficient technology .
how could one possibly overlook , for example , the importance of recovering the precious materials contained in a whole range of equipment : one tonne of mobile phones contains around 280 grams of gold and 140 grams of platinum and palladium !
what I would like to say is this : it is a miracle of our time that the Prime Minister of Slovenia has spoken in this House on behalf of the European Union .
the latest example was the killing of Behnood Shojaee , a young man recently executed even though he was a minor at the time of the crime .
I agree with the amendments introduced by this resolution , which will make it possible to prevent unnecessary parallel proceedings and administrative costs in this area .
Mr President , in the UK at the moment , a campaign called the Robin Hood Campaign has been launched involving NGOs , churches and civil society , and fronted by the actor Bill Nighy .
therefore , I regret that those on the left and the liberal left in the European Parliament often join together to keep silent about the fate of Christians .
30 .
it is worth noting that the margin available under heading 4 is only EUR 875 530 .
obviously , sending instructors or teachers to African countries costs relatively little but it nonetheless constitutes an extremely important contribution to those countries .
( PL ) Mr President , any amendment to this directive , no matter how relevant , would mean significantly protracting the legislative process , and leave temporary workers without legal protection for a considerable period more .
I have proposed that a company wishing to apply for a patent may do so , including in its own language .
I wish to extend special thanks to the chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development , Mr Parish , and our coordinator , Mr Goepel , for their support and confidence .
we Swedish Social Democrats are in favour of a recast and we can see that it contains certain improvements on the current rules .
this puts Germany at a disadvantage as , in contrast to its eastern neighbours , it obtains 48 % of its electricity from coal power stations .
if only some Member States paid higher de minimis aid , this would distort competition and result in an uneven playing field for the fleets of different Member States .
following the Lisbon Strategy has so far been rather like Waiting for Godot .
the administration of antimicrobials to animals has to take into account the potential threat of AMR in humans , frequently caused by inadequate doses of antibiotic medicines , by incorrect treatments and through the constant exposure of pathogens to antimicrobial agents in hospitals .
at any rate , let us be thankful for the high quality of the Treaty and for the fact that it reflects the present reality within the European Union and opportunities thus offered at the level of the Treaty .
I voted on this report because it presents the European Parliament 's reaction to the Green Paper published by the Commission , intended to begin public consultation on forest protection and preparing forests for climate change throughout the European Union .
we will return to these in next year 's report .
it has been shown that a patient who is cared for at home needs three carers , who generally have to give up their jobs .
an alarming statistic comes from the 2009 report on Alzheimer 's disease : an estimated 35.6 million people worldwide are suffering from dementia in all its forms .
the ' excess appropriations ' in the Cohesion Fund have arisen ( among many other reasons ) due to the delay in implementing programmes in the ' cohesion ' countries .
Madam President , I condemn the use of bullets against protestors in Thailand : thousands of people died ; hundreds were injured .
this seems to me to be a huge contradiction that can lead to no positive outcome , and because of legal wrangling we are wasting time and are unable to take practical steps to provide citizens with practical help .
I must in particular mention those who have spoken here today - Mr Simpson and Mr Savary - and also those Members from other groups , such as the chairman of our committee , Mr Costa , with whom I have had the pleasure of working on several reports , and also Mr Jarzembowski , who I cannot miss out .
Europol should be acting as a kind of coordinator and not be given special rights .
this is one of the challenges presented by the new economic environment .
there is no room for compromise here .
we must look at the huge gap between the low prices paid to producers by intermediaries and large supermarkets and the very high prices paid by the end consumer .
we must therefore fight this counterfeiting .
the blockade must end , with the re-opening of crossings in and out of Gaza .
the ghost of this painful era , in which state violence was coupled with militant anti-religious sentiment , was raised by Magda Kósáné Kovács , post-Communist Member of this House , in her most recent intervention here in plenary , in which she sought to defend European values from Pope Benedict , or rather from the Catholic Church .
in 2010 alone , 3 million Europeans will develop cancer , and nearly 2 million people will die of the disease .
some of these are of a material nature , while others are more historical or political .
Mr President , because the speaker was so kind as to agree to answer a question , I am going to ask one .
it is vital , firstly , that the perpetrators of these acts are tried for their crimes and , secondly , that the women who suffered such atrocities are protected from any reprisals .
the resolution presented to us goes far beyond the transparency required by citizens and , therefore , I have voted against it .
Bangladesh is a vital country strategically in an unstable region , increasingly threatened by Islamist terrorism , a fact that the chairman of Parliament 's South Asia Delegation , Mr Evans , knows very well .
in the short term , I consider that the priority is surely to bring people back home , to compensate passengers and , perhaps , to see what needs to be done for the airlines , but in a very targeted way .
( applause and uproar )
the message that they are sending to the citizens of Europe is constantly negative .
however , it is widely accepted that the development of quality housing is necessary to ensure social cohesion and to help ensure the success of the Commission 's recovery plan .
to help you , I would point out that there are seven EU officials in the Bahamas .
how will it contribute towards establishing a reliable system of transportation ( boat-aeroplane-helicopter ) which covers the small island regions of the European Union ?
fully opening the transatlantic market would represent an important step towards improving the situation in the global aviation sector .
in the view of the S & D Group , issues relating to the transparent and legal use of the European Union 's budget are a priority and the management of public finances as a whole depends , to a large extent , on the successful resolution of these issues .
in 2005 these amounted to 2 % of all emissions .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I have noticed that the images for the votes have changed .
in this context , conferring on the Institute the status of an agency on the basis of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 , and specifically part C of it and Article 47 , is of immeasurable importance , as is the Committee 's proposal concerning the increase in the margin in section 1A in the budget for 2007-2013 , guaranteeing the Institute EUR 309 million .
it is therefore an evolving , more dynamic and more precise model than the one being used so far , based , first of all , on scientific data , secondly , on a technical decision by Eurocontrol , and finally , on a decision by the Member States on the intermediate zone , on which they have to be coordinated .
interactions between the economy and the environment are clearly evident here .
I met an elderly lady whose husband was a taxi driver .
we should not just support the development citizenship in Moldova , Ukraine , Georgia , Armenia and Azerbaijan .
it creates breathing space for the coming period .
( FR ) Mr President , I would like to offer my support to the joint initiative of the UK Labour Government and the French Government to deport illegal Afghan immigrants to their own country .
- ( SK ) Mr President , almost one year ago I stated in this plenary that less than half of EU Member States had official resettlement programmes for refugees from third countries .
we need adequate technical and logistics infrastructures , as well as psychological and organizational support to reduce the differences between demand and offer .
patients ' rights in cross-border healthcare (
I can tell you that Vice-President Barrot and the Czech Minister Langer raised the issue again last week in Washington and the US side has generally shown understanding of our position , while stressing at the same time that the action of the Federal Government is based on statutory requirements , which clearly set the framework of future enlargements of the programme and are being monitored closely by Congress .
desertification has now reached Hungary and Central Europe . this is a pan-European problem .
we have a collective obligation to produce results .
nonetheless , not only does gold mining involving the use of cyanide solvents continue , not only is it not banned at European level ; on the contrary , the investments in question are subsidised by the Member States and the European Union .
Member of the Commission . - The Commission approved the merger of Gaz de France ( GDF ) and the Suez Group in November 2006 , subject to commitments by the parties , which allowed the Commission to conclude that the merger would not significantly impede competition .
its content will be effective if it is comprehensively , uniformly and transparently applied .
if we take these steps towards more integration , then we can talk about the introduction of eurobonds .
I hope that this will come about .
I believe that the Irish vote will have an important impact on the way in which we build Europe , especially in the months to come , inasmuch as it proves the deep attachment of our peoples to the values which Europe represents .
as the biggest development aid donor in the world , the European Union and the Member States must strive for their development aid policy to be not just efficient but also consistent and coherent ; this has not always happened .
this closure should therefore be reviewed and a long-term plan established to find a solution that takes the various demands into account .
( SK ) Mr President , the European Union and its Member States are major global donors of humanitarian aid .
these are things that we should all in fact jointly support .
we will discuss them openly in the task force .
let us look at a couple of examples :
we must make sure that Member States meet their targets for poverty reduction as outlined in the EU 2020 strategy .
he is asking this Parliament if we want to examine this proposal together : the answer is yes .
these two aspects are neither incompatible nor contradictory , but complementary .
this report throws a little light on the social and environmental standards that we must be able to integrate into invitations to tender ; it also proposes recommendations to facilitate SME access to public procurement markets .
the men hold the managerial jobs and the unskilled work on the production line is done by women .
the technical measures to which my report relates are transitional and have only been approved as such .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - Mr President , I would like to add my own congratulations to our rapporteur , Janusz Wojciechowski , for tackling a very complex and emotional dossier with some aplomb and dealing with a lot of conflicting viewpoints .
I would therefore like to thank you for the work you have done because , if we truly want to put action to promote the real economy at the heart of our political action in favour of the social and market economy , we - the Commission , Parliament and the Council - must work together .
after all , we always thought that the system would more or less include somewhere around 30 000 substances .
I therefore appeal to the Commission to take all the steps necessary to lower visa fees for Belarusians .
however , the customs service as such does not function as a totally free operation : the authorities are involved to a great extent , since certain goods and values affect us all .
these could be steps along the way to our real goal , which is to abolish the death penalty completely .
I asked to have references to the EAS removed during the drafting stage , but other political groups refused .
as you are well aware , milk prices at the moment are below production prices .
areas we can concentrate on : first of all , to prevent infection - this is very important .
however , the existing data is disparate and in many cases is not reliable , comparable or even up to date .
I voted for discharge in respect of the implementation of the European Economic and Social Committee ( EESC ) budget for the financial year 2006 , based on the report by Mr Lundgren recommending that Parliament should grant discharge to the EESC 's Secretary-General .
I want to make it quite clear - to the forthcoming French Presidency too - that any agreements we can reach in regard to those three aspects will depend on the results , and we must retain a degree of flexibility so that we do not set everything in stone from the outset and then have to break it up again with a sledge-hammer .
I consider very important the observation that the economic and financial crisis and the climate change crisis have the same roots .
equal access of representatives of the government and the opposition to the media is one of the preconditions for free and fair elections .
globally , oil and petroleum products are being purchased not only by European countries .
as we are engaged in a bilateral negotiation with India to create a new bilateral treaty between the EU and India , do you think this is a subject we could include in that treaty and that we could go beyond our current commitments under CITES to help with education , training , conservation - the sort of measures that Baroness Ludford was talking about ?
the solution to the current situation is the observance of international law , which is especially important for such a small state as the Czech Republic with its historic experience .
however , it is totally absurd not to be willing to accept proposals to treat farms not as the property of landlords , but as rational and viable federations of small landowners who would not be able to compete with each other .
that is the only way we can understand what you are going to negotiate .
however , efforts are still needed to enforce respect for and protection of minorities .
thousands of European men and women are engaged in these operations , ranging from military to police , from border guards to monitors , from judges to prosecutors , a good range of people doing good for the stability of the world .
various studies have shown that the death penalty has no impact on violent crime trends .
( ES ) Mr President , the 1989 ' Television without frontiers ' Directive established that Member States must not obstruct audio-visual broadcasts from other Member States .
7 .
we have not achieved everything , but I am pleased we have achieved so much .
the Treaty of Lisbon , which entered into force on 1 December 2009 , extended the circumstances in which Parliament 's consent was required for the conclusion of an international agreement .
I believe that this is an important task for Europe .
its forces tried to violently suppress peaceful demonstrations against the racist dividing wall from being built ; they injured demonstrators , including our fellow Member Mrs Morgantini .
we will call on initiatives from you and your Commission based upon the majority of this Parliament , not by trying to impose minority positions , and we will discuss and scrutinise your proposals and take decisions based upon the majority of this Parliament .
I have therefore supported the report submitted and I expect the Commission to submit in the near future a proposal for measures to monitor the use of antibiotics in the animal husbandry sector .
may I ask why you did not support these requests during your six-month stint as the Swedish Presidency 's Europe Minister ?
people in Russia have learned to think proudly but live in miserable servitude .
weapons are designed to kill !
the first Awareness Day will take place on 18 November 2008 .
however , at this stage it is not so much an issue of finance , but more about good projects and really dedicated policy from the cities .
( HU ) Mr President , first of all I would like to congratulate the rapporteur , Mr Virrankoski , who has done an excellent job .
Lisbon did not prevent a situation in which 78 million people risk descending into poverty and in which a large proportion of the jobs created are precarious and do not offer a decent income .
I understand that this is not the best possible way , but it means that before adjusting the financial framework , we should agree what we would like to achieve , which instruments should be applied , and what scope we would like to see .
the deforestation is partly due to the construction of roads and railway lines .
it is worrying that , over the years , this genocide against Ukrainians , Poles and Russians was not called by its proper name , as it is worrying today that the genocide committed against hundreds of thousands of Poles , Jews and Ukrainians who resisted the fascism of the Ukrainian nationalists on the former and present territory of Poland during World War II is not termed genocide .
this is a very important document for Lithuania , Bulgaria and Slovakia as they decommission nuclear power plants .
but many of us feel that we have missed a critical opportunity .
are you living on Venus ?
Mr Posselt , anyone who reads it must understand it that way ; there is no other way to understand it .
as long as restrictions in the European labour market remain in place , the freedom of movement of employees and freedom of movement of services in Europe will only go half-way towards determining the success of our economies .
in my view , it is essential to inform those concerned in advance , and there is no transparency unless the figures mean something .
( ES ) Madam President , as the Chair of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs , I was the co-author of the resolution adopted on the Stockholm Programme in November , along with Mr Casini and Mr Berlinguer .
how much longer will the Carpathian basin 's wineries , vintners and the natural environment continue to be destroyed in this way ?
this attitude of theirs has fooled many Members from other countries who cannot even conceive of anyone going against their own country .
this is why we think the best way to avoid putting Schengen at risk is precisely to reinforce the rules of governance of Schengen and clarify some of its aspects .
last but not least , I would like to talk about the accession of Croatia .
I say this because I know of no better way to pursue our own interests and make our concerns heard .
I think that this proposal from Parliament will provide the solutions needed to simplify the procedures for allocating grants and to get small entrepreneurs and those recently entered in the system more involved , as well as increase synergy between the FP7 and other European funds , including the Structural Funds .
that is quite normal in a democracy ; indeed , it is a good thing that opinions differ and that there is a lively debate .
this is where its interests lie .
in writing . - ( PT ) The Tabajdi report stresses the potential of agricultural biogas and suggests adopting a directive on biogas production .
justified differences will remain , and ACTA Parties will not have to adopt the EU system of protecting GIs through sui generis systems .
we must protect the health of our citizens .
secondly , the implementation of the European Development Fund is a matter for the Africans , who are co-owners of the European Development Fund with the European Union .
the review of the 2007 EU Action Plan on climate change and development shows that not enough is being done to integrate climate change into EU Development Policy and work is particularly slow .
I would like to emphasise that the energy sector itself will be hardest hit , particularly in countries where electricity or heat are generated using coal .
if Bulgaria and Romania are subject to more criteria than other EU Member States in order to join the Schengen area , then we will be creating double standards .
we are sending a clear signal to the European Commission and the Council with regard to pensions , too .
when we talk of enlargement , we understand that Turkey is a large chapter in the debate .
the text which prevented COP 15 from drawing a complete blank , agreed at the end of a marathon of negotiations of a truly unprecedented duration and intensity , contains very little substance .
the debate is closed .
Mr Barrot has proposed the creation of three commissioner posts : fundamental rights , home affairs and security , with asylum and immigration being separate .
we cannot let the Eurosceptics turn the clock back .
it is not about changing roles in the management of health care .
on top of that , we use something called sanitary and phytosanitary standards .
Italy is trying too hard to stay within these guidelines and in Naples and Campania the situation has worsened .
the Coptic minority makes up 10 % of Egypt 's population , but even if it were only 0.5 % , the role of the European Parliament is to react , especially in a situation in which human rights are being violated so drastically .
I must stress the need for greater transparency for all funds earmarked for this purpose and , more importantly , for increasing the assessments of the impact which the DCI has among the population in those countries .
rapporteur . - ( LT ) I would like to say that the text before us is a compromise , which has been reached through complex negotiations between the Council , the Commission and Parliament .
Vice-President , if you take on this portfolio again in the next Commission , I would urge a revision of air passengers ' rights .
I have been a Member of this House since 1984 , when we had 434 Members , and now we have 785 Members .
we must have systems of this kind in place .
ladies and gentlemen , the debate on the future of the cohesion policy is of paramount importance .
it is thus unable to prevent continued interference by the European Court of Justice in the regulations governing the Swedish labour market .
the Commission 's report on any Member State that exceeds that reference value has to take account - and I quote Article 104 ( 3 ) of the Treaty - ' of all other relevant factors including the medium-term economic and budgetary position of the Member States ' .
comparability will be of decisive importance both in achieving the environmental targets and in safeguarding fair terms of competition .
I have two observations about two hot topics .
( DE ) Mr President , Mr Barroso , the Commission has put forward an incredibly wide-ranging programme for 2011 and I would like to make it quite clear that I think it would be good if the prioritisation were improved .
the rest will remain anonymous .
all this has negative consequences on the sovereignty , security and quality of food , and on the environment .
I believe that the extension or clarification of the mandate that is being proposed is along the right lines .
( DE ) Madam President , the heading chosen here of a ' new action plan for Afghanistan and Pakistan ' is an appropriate one .
all the information exchanged and collected will be shared by EU Member States and , of course , when appropriate , with the countries of the Western Balkans .
careful reading of the draft resolution indicates that unfortunately this is not just a routine oversight , but a confirmation of a rule .
( DE ) Mr President , many thanks to the rapporteur for his report .
currently it is very hard to take sanctions against them because in some cases , by the time that problems come to light in Europe , manufacturers have closed their factories and disappeared .
as there is no longer a Court decision in the matter , our reading is that the previous line applies and that the Commission has to apply the rules deriving from the Council regulation of the year 2000 and stop recruiting at the age of 65 , exactly as for other staff .
other Member States are very close to this target of 1 % maximum .
in writing . - ( PL ) I would like to thank the French President for a speech that raises many of the EU 's fundamental problems .
I am simply clarifying my position , Mr President .
the oral question on the volcanic ash crisis is just as relevant today , in the context of the ongoing disruption to airspace , as it was at the time of the initial eruption of the Icelandic volcano last month , when we saw much of EU airspace closed for six days .
the network consists of the Helsinki Convention , the Bonn Agreement , the Barcelona Convention and , in this case , the Lisbon Agreement , each of which covers different parts of the sea around EU countries , aiming at individual or collective intervention of the contracting parties in case of pollution or a threat of pollution of the seas or coasts , in order to protect the environment and citizens ' health .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - Mr President , I think that the High Representative is completely echoing our feelings when she says she was shocked .
the devastation caused by the floods is the biggest natural disaster in Pakistan 's history .
I voted in favour of the report 's recommendations .
there was a Ministry of Internal Trade , but there was no internal trade .
this is why we are telling companies not to cut back on research and development or on innovation and to keep their core workforce in place .
in this respect , Commissioner , I would like to ask you whether you are considering the possibility , in relation to the adjustment mechanisms or soft landing , of designing individual models for each Member State .
( DE ) Mr President , I would like to endorse what Reinhard Bütikofer has said .
in accordance with the European motto , ' United in diversity ' , the presence of industries that use culture as an input is essential as they promote intercultural dialogue , thus safeguarding European diversity .
so I thank you very much for your interest and attention to this very important scheme .
this initiative aims to reinforce the multilateral Euro-Mediterranean dimension .
food shortages have a number of causes : examples include , inter alia , the wrong spatial planning and agricultural support policies , and climate change .
if such an agreement is not achieved - and I cannot believe the international community will be led to make such an irrational decision - we have in the proposed legislation all the provisions necessary to reform the CO2 emissions trading system so that industries exposed to international competition will regain their competitive capability .
clearly we will need to follow how these are implemented in practice .
furthermore , this agreement seriously harms a sector that provides countless jobs not only in our ACP partner countries but also in the outermost regions ( ORs ) .
usually in this House we schedule priority debates for the morning .
immigration is a necessity , and if handled judiciously it can be an asset for a civil society that is respectful of difference .
by preventing unfair dismissal , we have also increased protection for the jobs of women returning to work after their maternity leave .
Ms Saïfi 's report on human rights , social and environmental standards in trade agreements recognises that each of those dimensions offers different possibilities .
this is quite simply because the capital flows that concern us start out in the European Union , then may move elsewhere , only to return to the European Union .
let me further say that what is often overlooked in the debate on ACTA are the number of jobs of EU citizens that relate to intellectual property rights and we often discuss jobs on all sides of the House .
I am voting in favour of this report in the hope that the Turkish Government will adopt the approved recommendations as soon as possible , as the people of Turkey will reap the benefits .
this sends a clear signal to the Commission on the follow-up to the Green Paper .
all of this will use the institutions established to implement the agreement to ensure transparency and the participation of parliamentarians and civil society .
a Parliament is measured by the way in which it uses and puts into practice its rights and by the fact that it does not withdraw from major political debate .
if the euro were to be introduced throughout the whole of the EU , including in my country , Sweden , it would obviously stimulate and strengthen Europe and give the Single Market additional force .
in relation to the particular subject we are debating today , the exodus of people from the Mediterranean region is not only a problem for the countries in this area , as the entire European Union has a responsibility to resolve this urgent humanitarian situation .
common system of value added tax (
previously the European Parliament has opposed situations such as these , but today it would appear to me that the fear which continues to paralyse Russian society has begun to affect us .
the climate change phenomenon damages agriculture , which , according to recently published reports , points to a very discouraging outlook for this sector .
there are no plans at present to extend the scope of the decision-making competence of the Commission or of Frontex in this context .
ladies and gentlemen , national credibility is , of course , also required when one intends to propose a common economic policy for Europe .
following our discussions , and after many contributions - for which I would like to thank all the shadow rapporteurs , the rapporteurs for opinions and all my other fellow Members who tabled amendments - we managed to identify a set of five priorities to be implemented immediately .
we are evidently determined to maintain our support for such actions and to continue to deal with the issue within the European Union , not only in the context of violence prevention and victim support , but also in the areas of immigration , asylum and criminal justice .
but it is also important that Pakistan continues to make progress in fighting poverty .
the solution is that we must ensure that more money is invested in the energy sector , in grids , in interconnectors and in new power stations .
it is also important to undertake research into new antimicrobials , as well as into other alternatives , and we would stress the importance of developing effective systems for animal husbandry which reduce the need for antimicrobials to be prescribed .
developing countries are thus paying twice for the mess caused by unregulated global capitalism .
as far as I am concerned , I have never felt that this 190 million should be frozen .
I have instructed my services to provided dedicated briefings with interested MEPs on all aspects of the negotiations .
I would like to recommend to the Commissioners and spokesmen of the European Commission that they get some warm clothing , switch off the heating at home and explain to their families that they are acting out of solidarity with the Slovaks and Bulgarians .
this is because we are talking here about a bilateral framework for the European Union and its Member States to negotiate with third countries , and with the United States in particular .
I would also like to emphasise that this conflict in Gaza has caused the destruction of many projects financed by the European Union and intended to mitigate the humanitarian crisis suffered by the population , which is the victim of a shortage of staple goods and of a lack of access to basic public services .
it must not be overlooked that any time the Commission is not going to assume such a commitment , Parliament will be able to apply sanctions .
finally , let me respond to Mr Blokland , who demanded to know the cost of the inquiry of this Parliament .
in principle , the idea is a good one , but the rules on languages are not entirely clear , which is why I have abstained .
we felt that it was important to provide you with this clarification so that we know what we are talking about .
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finally , the proposal to spend part of the expected revenues from auctioning emission rights within the EU emissions trading scheme on funding for the GCCA and other climate change measures in developing countries .
the Americans produce more greenhouse gas emissions per capita than we do , but we produce much more than China and much more than India , for instance , if you are referring to the Indian case .
Mr Van Rompuy , Mr Barroso , it is time that you listened to the proposals coming from this House , to ensure that the strategy that you yourselves have adopted is a success .
on the contrary , Israel should make use of what is happening today to speed up the process and try to conclude a peace agreement as soon as possible .
I view the contribution of a framework for comparison with 2009 and 2008 positively , as it has facilitated the analysis of the increase in its activities .
on the one hand , the Summit will deal with issues pertaining to social cohesion , notably poverty , inequality , discrimination and social exclusion .
I should like to reply to Mrs Hohlmeier 's comment .
some of those organisations have been the beneficiaries of EU funding for certain projects .
everyone was opening the throttle .
these changes mean that the European public now has a new role in relation to decision making at EU level .
( PL ) Mr President , much has already been said , today , about how Europe and European enterprises need a patent , and I agree with those voices .
in a Polish newspaper interview , you said that rescuing debt-ridden banks is a completely different matter from debt-ridden shipyards .
social disasters , Mr Wurtz , have been features of a collectivist system , and the collectivist system sustained the Berlin Wall , millions of people have suffered physically from a loss of liberty .
the European Union is reacting to confront these risks ; that is good , but it should also support farmers in a move to reduce , if not eliminate , harmful pesticides .
in acknowledging that the internet offers a world of entertainment , opportunity and knowledge to children , we must , however , also put in place measures to keep them safe on the internet .
simply through the irresponsible use of antibiotics in veterinary medicine .
I am also very sorry about this , but I would like us to proceed and work through our agendas item by item , because otherwise we will end up with enormous confusion .
firstly , I think that it is very important to have a formal proclamation in this House of the Charter of Fundamental Rights .
the European Commission therefore fully supports the French Presidency of the Council of the Union in presenting two declarations regarding Mrs Ebadi 's case on 31 and 22 December last year .
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obviously , each Member State will have to be very careful when issuing visas .
( FR ) Thank you for your response , Commissioner : I am glad that the Commission intends to take a series of measures to reduce , in so far as possible , the risks associated with the circulation of imported toys , particularly those from China .
the same holds for global financial markets .
I should like , Commissioner , to emphasise two points .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - Mr President , on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group I would like to thank the rapporteur , Mrs Meissner , for drawing together this report and developing it alongside the other political groups .
Mr President , I voted against this report for the fundamental reason that I believe these subjects have nothing at all to do with the European Union .
having said that , at a time when creative accounting has collapsed I believe that it is essential to think about the real economy that awaits us in the future , which is made up of raw materials , land and labour , and now , for Europe , effectively includes Russia .
I hope that the other Member States will also make it their concern .
as you did in this Parliament in your committees , we did the same in the Commission .
the French Presidency knows that it can count on the full and active involvement of your Parliament and its groups , and for this I am grateful to their chairmen .
the European Union could hardly offer a better Christmas present than visa-free travel to Hungarians living in Vojvodina in Serbia with numerous links to Hungary , benefiting families and friends living on either side of the border .
if the rules we have created as safeguards are now developing into incentives for more and more new forms of risk-taking , we shall have to think about new strategies .
consequently , the principal challenge consists of effectively accommodating trade and non-trade concerns .
the difficulty is that , back in 1999 , when we discovered a problem in Belgium , we thought then that we had tightened up our rules sufficiently so that there would not be another incident .
furthermore , Turkey must lift all the restrictions that affect trade and transport between EU Member States and Turkey .
there are certain industries which attempt to block legislation in the interests of their companies .
we would have wished a chapter of this treaty to be the very European Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union .
it will be a very difficult adjustment for the people living in the regions affected .
the Commission has always maintained that piracy can only be finally eradicated by addressing the underlying causes , beginning with the instability in Somalia and also addressing the country 's development needs , which manifest themselves in the most extreme poverty , including massive illiteracy and vulnerability .
all in all , both in order to find new markets and to deal with administrative challenges , Member States ' efforts to strengthen a mentor system and EU support for such a venture must come quickly .
minorities account for 15 % of Europe 's population , 6.5 % of which are migrant or immigrant minorities , primarily in Western Europe , and 8.5 % historical minorities .
we also need to raise the issue of worker 's rights in Belarus .
research indicates that its introduction throughout the European Union could reduce traffic fatalities by two and a half thousand each year .
the French Presidency of the G20 is an opportunity that must be grasped .
thus I believe that this prior authorisation should be the rule rather than the exception .
Mr President , I also want to raise the issue of respect for religious freedom for all , without discrimination , because this is a basic human right .
in the light of the Copenhagen conference , we are all good politicians .
Mr President , I welcome this report on Parliament 's budget guidelines and I welcome the discussion on what our priorities are to ensure that Parliament can do its job .
firstly , we disagree with emission trading which always protects those who have more money to buy emission rights and does not solve the problem of excess CO2 emissions .
Member of the Commission . - I will start with the third question .
I am not Italian , as you can tell when I speak , but the most convincing argument that comes to my mind is the question of what was the matter between 2006 and 2008 when Italy had a leftist government and , of course , at that time - as Mr Mauro has pointed out - everything was fine and dandy .
Junilistan is convinced that the route to equality in practice must be mapped out at national level .
Mr President , see how the thicket of EU regulation grows .
( the order of business was adopted ¹ )
Mr President , Mr Vice-President , ladies and gentlemen , allow me , as we close this debate , to add two comments .
I would like to take this opportunity , Mr Dumitrescu , to wish you every success and happiness in your pursuits when you eventually leave the seat which you have occupied with such dignity all these months .
that is why proposals must be based on convergence towards equal per capita emission rights , such as the approach known as ' contraction and convergence ' .
on Sunday , 13 December , over 150 municipalities in Catalonia are holding referendums on independence from Spain .
however , my voting machine did not work and I wish to record my vote in favour of this report for the record .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( PT ) Europe tends to closely scrutinise human rights in all four corners of the world - and it is right to do so - and that is why we are today celebrating 20 years of the Sakharov Prize .
we want the political debate in Turkey actually to take place and we want a political solution to be sought through decentralisation , but also , for example , by promoting the use of Kurdish in general .
there are a number of proposals under discussion with our Black Sea partners in the areas of the fight against organised crime , trade and culture , and we have developed contacts with Black Sea regional organisations , notably with the Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation .
it was the same countries that created a situation at that point which , in the long term , was able to lead to what has now happened in Greece .
but I am especially encouraged by Commissioner Piebalgs for his deeply professional , constructive and forthcoming approach and I look forward to our good cooperation .
the Commission will send a clarification letter to Budapest this week seeking further explanations .
electric vehicles include trains , trams , buses , cars and bicycles .
Parliament welcomes the Agency 's initiative of launching ' foresight ' on the safety and health impact of technological innovations in ' green jobs ' by 2020 .
the reason why I abstained had to do with the vote on paragraph 4 , which makes reference to the situation of young farmers in the so-called new Member States .
that is why , last Monday , the European Union agreed on a three-pronged approach to support exports from Gaza , following a request from Prime Minister Fayyad .
we are now supporting the citizens of Canada who want to stop being ashamed of their country 's behaviour on the ice floes .
we must bow our heads in respect and gratitude to those heroes who are working , at the risk of their own lives , to stabilise the situation in the nuclear reactor .
let us address this problem .
our topic now is not tax harmonisation but how to recover taxes levied according to each Member State 's rules , with the help of others , if need be .
we want more competition , falling prices , and more investment in transmission networks .
however , whatever approach is taken - or approaches , given that there must be multiple answers - we must acknowledge that some countries are less able to react .
this is especially legitimate in the formal and legal conditions of today .
we are asking for the facility to finance public agencies , for sustainability criteria for woody biomass used for energy and , finally , for pro-active , viable management of forests adapted to climate change .
we are very much in favour of this kind of activity and strengthened role or capitalisation of the IMF in this direction , because this is certainly a global problem .
the Commission 's planning for future legislative proposals will therefore depend to a great extent on the outcome of this consultation .
this level playing field should be closely monitored by the European Commission .
why ?
we have tried to show that there is an alternative , by helping the pro-European political and social forces which are favourable to pursuing the necessary reforms to consolidate the country 's democracy and development .
the strength of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights ( EIDHR ) as a financial instrument is that it can be used to target resources directly and speedily at critical situations in difficult circumstances .
you , yourself , referred to a number of impact studies , but I have never read an impact study that sets out what the impact is , sector by sector , on employment .
he cannot hang on to power without calling into question part of his own militant history , which was to appear , when resident in Europe , as the man who had brought about the newly regained freedom and democracy established in his country .
a key issue is to achieve real strengthening of OLAF 's independence .
however , an efficiently operating judicial system is required to do this .
ladies and gentlemen , we are all aware of the dreadful tropical cyclone , Nargis , which ravaged Burma / Myanmar last Saturday .
Europe is leading the way .
I will mention just three .
key competences for a changing world : implementation of the education and training 2010 work programme (
moreover , this report will help clarify the various aviation agreements and process them in the simplest way , and it states which criteria we should pay attention to and which aspects we should keep track of .
8 .
I think this climate plan is the most important one since Kyoto and , above all , will ensure that the European continent sets a shining example prior to the Copenhagen Conference .
there are huge gaps in our scientific knowledge on the impact of climate change in marine areas .
Mr Michel is my neighbour in the college meeting and this morning he explained everything to me about the functioning of the Assembly , so now I can claim to know a little bit about that .
that is my first comment .
please would you pass this message on to them once again .
I will give my reasons for that .
one thing is certain in relation to Belarus : if we want our relations with Russia to flourish , we will be obliged also to respect the historical and geopolitical interests of the Kremlin somewhere .
the Danish Social Democrats voted in favour of the report on animal welfare in the EU .
its aim is to protect consumers against residues of medicinal products in foodstuffs whilst also improving the availability of veterinary medicinal products in the Community .
what I have in mind is a package which would achieve all the proposed goals , I repeat , all goals up to the year 2020 , but which would be easier to accept by our European economy .
the irreversible reduction in fossil fuel consumption is being imposed by the restricted availability of sources .
the different ENPI regional approaches and dimensions are supported through specific regional programmes .
with regard to the quality of work , it should be noted that women , very often , do not report abuses and are compelled to accept employment at the fringes of legality in order to obtain a sufficient income to support their family .
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certainly , aircraft crashed in the old days , and unfortunately they still do .
the approval of the Commission has an eight-year lead time .
I ask you to take note of this statement .
it is not up to Europe to determine local administrative policies , nor is it up to Europe to decide what to do in individual cities .
this report deals , therefore , with the specific issue of agriculture in relation to the fight against global warming , but it also claims - in any case I hope it does - to explore other ways of sustaining , in particular , the debate that will be taking place on the future of agricultural policy post-2013 .
we hope to include environmental and social aspects in our negotiations with ASEAN , and we will do that in a cooperative spirit .
we are facing global challenges , and Europe has no option but to develop a joint response .
below is a transcription of the English interpretation . )
I therefore call on the presidents of these two countries to proceed without delay with formal signature of the Treaty , so that the 27 can move forward and implement it by no later than the start of 2010 .
the debate is closed .
( SV ) Madam President , one of the candidates for the Sakharov Prize , Dawit Isaak , is still being held in prison without trial in Eritrea .
you do not have the right to practise wanton destruction and to be the delivery body of death and destruction on innocent civilians .
as a tourist who visits Croatia every year , I think Croatia belongs within the family of EU states , and I will join my colleagues in supporting Croatian accession .
the existing regulations on the shipment of toxic waste to developing countries must be tightened up and enforced .
( NL ) Madam President , I have voted against the Kovács report , because this whole report is permeated with victim thinking and because I take the view that a minority group such as the Roma gypsies would actually be much better served by a strategy that would encourage them to take more responsibility for their fate .
I wish to add that the fact that regional policy as a whole will now be a matter for codecision by the Council and Parliament will help us move forward together , to make this clearer for our fellow citizens , also a point I feel was solidly made this morning , and also to implement genuine solidarity to the benefit of regions which need it most .
against the backdrop of a liquidity crisis , the EIB has continued to grant loans to the public and private sectors for projects of European interest , using the financial markets and own resources .
I believe that the package that we have negotiated , and which will be put before Parliament today as amendment 58 , is the best possible outcome .
the proposal on which we are voting fits into this framework .
I therefore support the rapporteur 's proposal for the creation of a permanent headquarters responsible for operational planning and conducting military operations .
we have an opportunity today to make a difference and to change the direction of a policy that everyone agrees has been a dismal failure .
four presidencies have been involved , including the current one .
- ( HU ) Ladies and gentlemen , in the past years we have seen an explosive development of information and communication technologies .
that means that , for this particular proposed regulation , there is still much to be done .
I would like to raise one issue linked to the fact that this is the last report from the European Court of Auditors under the current treaties .
I think we have put together a good document today .
and how can you say that you will have a high level of protection when people leave CDs with 20 million people 's data on them lying in cafés , and when we know how easy it is to hack into computers ?
( PL ) Mr President , Mr Németh is not right in his optimism over countries graduating from least developed country status , whereas Mr Deva , Mr Kaczmarek and Mr Arsenis are right in saying that in the last 10 years , only three countries - Botswana , Cape Verde and Maldives - have graduated from this group .
rapporteur . - ( IT ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , in this report we propose that Parliament should take the initiative and make a proposal to the Council , primarily in the context of the common foreign and security policy , on the issue of opium production in Afghanistan .
the summit 's conclusions allow scope to reduce VAT .
the tests should be mandatory and carried out periodically .
firstly , water shortage and drought must be seen as a global phenomenon .
thirdly , and finally , it is also essential to make even greater use of EU budgetary resources and also funding provided by banks to ensure genuine diversity in terms of our energy supply , and the Nabucco project in particular .
I would say to my good friend Sophia in ' t Veld that of course I agree with her , but I believe that the issue of the Roma , privacy and homophobia are already covered .
I believe that the Council and the Commission statements fail to give proper weight to Israel 's security concerns .
firstly , your report points to the legitimate need of the car industry to have a time limit to be able to adjust smoothly to the new legislative arrangements .
it must be coherent with EU external action or policies and guarantee the added value of the Community undertaking .
I believe that we should begin the work today , and not before time .
it should be noted , however , that the Union support now made available will only cover 2.89 % of the total damage caused by the disaster .
the proposal will add to the existing provisions on the maintenance and regular inspection of spraying equipment .
when it comes to the Eastern Dimension , everything is there : free trade areas , support for the Nabucco and AGRI projects , and outsourcing the ' management of migration flows ' .
my group tabled a number of amendments to the report and we are very pleased with the way in which they have been incorporated into the proposals .
the advanced civilised countries subscribe to their commitments arising from UN Security Council resolution 1325 and strive , through various measures , to create the greatest possible space for applying these in national and international institutions involved in conflict resolution and the organisation of peace processes .
for the sake of the effectiveness of European action , restrictions must be placed on this sacrosanct principle of transparency .
those come at a price but they are indispensable to safeguarding the rights of the defence for European citizens and also to making mutual recognition function properly .
they have set up and are running many schools and medical facilities , and they are highly respected in the region .
as the EU creates its own judicial system with instruments such as the European arrest warrant and trials in absentia , and now its own police force , we in Britain are seeing the destruction of our most basic and cherished liberties that have formerly protected us .
Iceland is a potential applicant for EU membership , thus Iceland should pursue long-term monetary integration with the euro area only in the context of an EU membership perspective .
Mr President , I want the European Protection Order to be particularly effective in preventing violence against women and to serve as a helpful prelude to the proposal that the Commission is preparing in order for us to have a similar instrument for all types of crime .
we therefore need a bolder programme which calls for faster adjustment and which will provide serious development aid in the form of a European Marshall Plan .
( PL ) Madam President , the informal meeting of the European Council and the G20 summit in Washington attempted to respond to the most important current challenge : the financial crisis which , without a doubt , represents a defeat for neo-liberal economic theories .
I believe these laws should be repealed , as any modified text will only be a legacy of the past and allow for continued violence and discrimination .
Mr President , I am also a member of the Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries , and , indeed , Lebanon is in a tragic situation .
- Before the vote on paragraph 29 :
the Charter of Fundamental Rights is thus a milestone .
it is my impression that this cooperation should be placed on a much more pragmatic basis as soon as possible , and that very protracted discussions on membership are - entirely unnecessarily - frustrating for both parties .
we must , he suggested , examine ourselves more closely and make sure there is more motherhood , not just for women but for men ; more apple pie , especially for the poor , whether they want it or not .
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we also oppose the idea that the chairs of the committees should be given an entertainment allowance .
therefore , I am using this minute to make a few points .
the report offers a detailed analysis which enables us to see the positive and negative aspects of Economic and Monetary Union .
today , as we hold the presidency and once again remain faithful to this position , we are very much motivated and keen to find agreement on a directive for soil protection .
from tomorrow , visa liberalisation will come into effect for the remaining countries , so that there is full reciprocity .
we in the Committee on the Environment were also pleased with the work and budget management of the four agencies : the European Environment Agency , the European Food Safety Authority , the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the European Medicines Agency .
we are proclaiming this Charter on the eve of the signing of the Treaty of Lisbon , a Charter which has the legal status of a basic law and a legal status which is equal to that of the Treaties , for the benefit of many and to the displeasure of some .
( NL ) Health is becoming increasingly important in Europe , and I think that patients clearly expect greater certainty about their rights , but they also expect correct and sound information .
I find it absolutely appalling that all of us in Europe are averting our eyes and that we are failing to take action .
( applause )
the vote will take place tomorrow at 12 noon .
Parliament has not got everything that it wanted .
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mrs Pack for her participation in the opening meeting of this event .
whether through incompetence , negligence or political miscalculation , one single country , France , refused to anticipate the consequences of the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon for its representation in the European Parliament , in spite of the repeated demands of several political groups , including my own .
in the European Union , we have the single market , but there are 27 different social security systems .
the Presidency needs to avoid fuelling both unrealistic dreams and unreasonable fears , including in the neighbouring and candidate countries .
today , I am convinced that we are well-prepared to introduce into the policy framework conditionality instruments that would increase the return on the investments made .
we have therefore discarded an amendment proposal from the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance concerning the same issue .
what is important is that we produce these renewable energies in a sustainable way and that we apply certain criteria to the different types of renewable energies .
I know only too well , as I am a lawyer .
it is therefore extremely important that , when it comes to the fraudulent use of EU funds , recovery operations are much more efficient and that the cost of them does not come out of the European citizen 's pocket .
Mr President , I am pleased to see that this debate takes place in the presence of the Council and the commissioners .
as part of those efforts , in March of this year the Slovenian Presidency hosted a conference at Ministerial level on the future challenges for management of the European Union 's external borders .
I believe that a large proportion of the workforce could be transferred over to such areas , where they would still have a job in 10 years ' time .
I congratulate the rapporteur once more .
innovation in many respects is the key to economic growth .
the European Parliament maintains a close direct political dialogue with the Council and the Commission .
I hope that European integration and the necessary reforms in the country will convey key messages to all the main political forces and that they will give their broad agreement after the elections as well .
after the visit by my directors and their assessment , we will cautiously see what we can do regarding capacity-building and institution-building .
I will turn this on its head and say that those who want to have ITER must then also ensure that there is unanimity in the Council for cooperation with regard to flexibility , otherwise they will not get ITER .
it is true , as has been said several times , that criminals , those who have money , have already found ways to travel , but tomorrow in the European Parliament , we will be deciding the fate of ordinary people and their mobility , especially that of young people and students .
for example , fewer cod are being caught in the Baltic than was the case 15 years ago and the fish are smaller and of poorer quality .
we must devise major , well-supported policies and projects so that the factors relevant to this region , particularly , a lack of governance , the spread of conflict attitudes and , last but not least , corruption , can be eliminated .
I would like once again to recall a man who should become a symbol of an unshakeable attitude and resistance to totalitarians - Cavalry Captain Witold Pilecki .
at the same time again , more than EUR 3 billion - three thousand million euros - has accumulated in the restructuring fund , of which perhaps around EUR 2 000 remains unspent at present .
a major barrier to the further development of Europeana is the existence of different copyright regulations in different Member States .
the amendments proposed in this document will improve the flexibility of Europe 's military capabilities .
complex processes often result in errors being made , but they do not give rise to fraud .
in total , more than 8 million Europeans aged between 30 and 99 are affected , and scientists estimate that this number could double every 20 years in future .
we are concerned only with strengthening and deepening policies that have been successful .
a reformed CAP with a greener first pillar , introducing non-contractual and annual environmental actions that go beyond cross-compliance , and a second pillar more focused on climate action , supported by a professional farm advisory service , could be tailored towards helping farmers to manage their land-use systems so as to contribute to climate action ( mitigation ) , and also become less vulnerable to climate change ( adaptation ) .
I think that Mr Swoboda was right to ask this question .
the Minister 's position is unconstitutional and contradictory to Slovak legislation and the principles on which democratic Europe is based .
we hear nothing about solidarity , however .
however , we would like to emphasise that the European Parliament cannot solve any problems in this area , nor is legislation at EU level the right way to go .
I voted in favour of this document , which aims to merge certain measures adopted by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean ( GFCM ) into a single piece of EU legislation .
in paragraph 1 ( k ) , we urge the to Council to ' proceed to the adoption of the directive on criminal measures aimed at the enforcement of intellectual property rights , following an assessment , in the light of contemporary innovation research , of the extent to which it is necessary and proportionate ' .
this is a lower proportion than in the municipalities of Rotterdam and many other Dutch cities famous for a frugal approach to budgeting .
recently , there has been much discussion about the potential of shale gas , and today , Commissioner , you also indicated that this was noted in the conclusions of the European Council of 4 February .
it is also an ecological disaster .
the number of refugees who need to be resettled is growing , in contrast to the number of places available to accept them .
I voted against the proposed compromise text , a position in keeping with that of the Italian Government , which has already voiced its opposition to the proposal in the EU Council .
it thus becomes a much more tangible and more concrete option for farmers to move in the direction of doing something for the climate , for water quality , or whatever , so that we get more value for the subsidies that we give to agriculture .
that is a bit rich !
fishing is an important issue , in relation to which two essential issues need to be emphasised : the fact that we are not self-sufficient , and the fact that unfair competition takes place a great deal of the time , as a result of which there is a need to secure fishing in Europe and to prevent unfair competition .
the European Institute of Innovation and Technology is a central component in achieving more for our economy , more for science and more for sustainable jobs in Europe .
experience has shown that the current directive can be circumvented allowing the wealthiest to evade paying taxes whilst those earning much less continue to pay their taxes , this proposal will start to bring an end to this process .
however , for standards , it is no different than for other scientific work .
in principle , the signature of the horizontal agreement at the summit should be accompanied by the signature of the financing agreement on a new civil aviation cooperation programme covering EUR 12.5 million .
therefore , since we cannot effectively bring about an improvement in the situation in Korea itself , let us do everything possible so that those who have managed to escape from that prison have the chance of a better life - even in China , which , of course , as a state is itself far from European standards of freedom , democracy and respect for human rights .
support for the scheme has been hand-picked and not elective from the political groups .
in order to be able to represent the interests of European states on the international stage in a more effective manner , foreign policy actions must be discussed in advance and then communicated to the outside world with one voice .
I will try to spend it as well as I possibly can in the interests of the things that I believe in and which this House believes in .
information provision and promotion measures for agricultural products (
the debate on biofuels raises a moral issue and a question of principle : to eat or to drive ?
the vote will take place at the end of the debates .
the result is that the Customs Union is as strong as its weakest link .
this aid is essential for helping the unemployed and victims of company relocations that occur in a globalised context .
undoubtedly , it is a tricky situation , but I think that things have now developed so far that a rethink might possibly take place .
we need a European model .
to me this is proof that the Commission 's work , which appears to cover a broad sweep of areas of activity , is not good enough because it knowingly disregards certain essential points .
the EU European External Action Service can carry out its activities effectively , relying moreover on the acknowledged sensitivity of Member States , but we need a comprehensive and decisive policy that has the necessary bite when required .
( SV ) Mr President , it is difficult to take responsibility for Europe 's future .
this inspectorate will also visit packing stations and build up a database of the processors who use these battery cage eggs in their products .
on 12 January the director of the IAEA , Mr El Baradei , obtained assurances from the Iranians on all the outstanding questions .
does Portugal , or does it not , need further austerity measures to reduce its deficit and public debt ; to reduce the deficit , in 2012 and 2013 , by 3 % and 2 % , respectively ?
isn 't it a rather wonderful organisation for giving retired , clapped-out ex-premiers some real executive power ?
this seems to be the case in the Danube region .
in addition , private broadcasters have started a debate as to whether broadcasting fees are , in fact , legitimate at all , as public service broadcasters also , of course , profit from advertising income .
improving competitiveness means doing whatever is necessary to ensure the success of the Lisbon strategy .
as shadow rapporteur for the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament , I supported the position that self-employed women , spouses and life partners who decide to have children should enjoy social protection and paid leave and should not be prevented from receiving child allowance , as the Romanian Government is doing .
that is why the Euregio and SaarLorLux regions need to be strengthened .
we think it should be phased out .
this matter is in our hands and we also need to do everything possible to ensure that enforcement in all Member States across Europe is equally well implemented , because all these directives depend very much on how they are implemented .
these are our beliefs and our convictions .
the opportunity to say that we will make sure that we have that transparency , I would argue , is very important .
are they negotiable ?
concerning the ICTY , as I have said before , for the moment I see Serbia 's part of the glass as being half full rather than half empty .
as you know , the Commission identified 26 strategic proposals for 2008 , and eight of these , so almost 30 % , concern the area of freedom , security and justice .
this involves the integrated conversion of coal , of energy from coal into electrical energy linked to cogeneration and the production of hydrocarbons , followed by geological storage of the CO2 if required .
these stem cells are easy to get hold of if someone is prepared to do it , and I personally do not believe that this should even be treated as a transplant matter .
after that , the Commission has had several contacts and meetings with the Italian authorities , most recently during the mission to Naples carried out on 22 and 23 November 2010 by a delegation from the Environment Directorate-General .
we are therefore debating a critical issue for the whole European economy , one that must , of course , be addressed through cooperation with countries that have reserves , but also , and above all , through research , development and innovation .
I made that proposal .
I would like to say something with regard to the person holding this post .
I would like to thank you all for this outcome .
this directive will not only help boost efficiency in this area relating to the recovery of claims , but will also help the single market operate better .
provision for the independence of journalists , however , must be made by means of specific legal and social guarantees .
we have to track them down , close them down , prosecute them and protect the citizens of the European Union .
the claim that the deterioration of soil is causing climate change is , however , unacceptable .
this clearly demonstrates that the WHO needs to revise its pandemic criteria .
according to Amnesty International , last year roughly 9 million North Korean citizens , more than a third of the population , suffered from starvation .
it is difficult for it to go on having confidence in the international community .
in this way , the issues that are on the table are of prime importance and call into question the neoliberal policies that gave utmost priority to free competition , worsening exploitation of workers and multiplying the problems of micro , small and medium-sized enterprises .
author . - ( ES ) Mr President , a few months ago I had the opportunity to visit some of the thousands of refugees , on the border between Thailand and Burma , who are currently hoping to be able to return to their homes .
when preparations were being made regarding this issue , it was a joy to observe how well this work progressed .
we must be clear , however , that such support is just a drop in the ocean , in the truest sense of the expression .
we have voted today , in plenary , on a motion for a resolution on the future of the European Social Fund .
indeed , having come to the aid of Romania , the European Union is now showing its solidarity with the French population which , in January 2009 , felt the full force of the devastating and very violent storm Klaus , which was described as a ' major natural disaster ' and , as such , was eligible for inclusion in the main scope of this Fund .
in the meantime it is extremely important to support the spread of our culture .
( applause )
we believe , also , that this EU budget raises debates which are essential for the future of Europe .
in writing . - ( IT ) I voted in favour of the motion for a resolution on the suspension of the WTO Doha Round .
environmental threats such as shipwrecks on the sea bed and the remains of military ammunition and chemical weaponry are also of considerable significance .
the Commission 's proposal includes , as a further measure , the establishment of an effective carbon equalising or offsetting mechanism .
the ageing population could provide an ideal opportunity for gender equality .
thirdly , we need to make the decision-making process on nuclear issues more democratic .
I believe the rapporteur has found a compromise that allays fears held by some Member States , yet recognises the importance of the role cabin crew play .
the report includes many important provisions , including those concerning the main contractor 's responsibility for irregularities on the part of subcontractors .
I consider the cultural aspect of European policies which strives for increased European cohesion important .
in the light of this report I call on the Commission not to back down from its promise and to draft a comprehensive directive to combat discrimination under Article 13 of the EC Treaty .
we need to help the people .
I agree with the proposed increase in funding for all programmes related to these priorities , namely the Lifelong Learning , PESSOA and Erasmus Mundus programmes .
we have created a joint compromise on the range of tasks for the regulatory authority and on owner independence .
the courage and dignity of the Japanese people compels admiration and I am pleased that this House has demonstrated its support and its solidarity by means of this resolution .
the newly constituted Parliament and Commission will have to deal with a completely new budget procedure , to which the 2010 budget will be subject .
I hope that the European Union , alongside its partners , will take real steps towards promoting and structuring a Euro-Mediterranean partnership capable of conquering fear , differences and mistrust , and surviving into the future without collapsing .
secondly , just today , Parliament has been examining a financial supervision package .
in my experience - since the time when I was EU-China rapporteur back in 1997 , 10 years ago when this process began - there has been absolutely no product in human rights terms from China in the sense that people 's lives have been improved or prisoners have been released or torture has stopped or the massive imprisonment reported by Harry Wu from the Laogai Foundation has ended .
consequently , we expect fruitful cooperation with the European Parliament so that we can bring this important step forward to a conclusion , which I believe is historic and is in line with the approaches which have emerged from outside Europe , from the G20 , as the United States is preparing a similar regulation .
this directive is highly important , since it equips the European Union with very effective tools that enable Member States to strengthen their legislation on equal treatment in the workplace - something that is fundamental if we are to achieve the goals we have set ourselves as Europeans .
Europe cannot demand extremely damaging - but understandable - measures to control public audits and to fight the deficit , and , at the same time , take decisions that hurt the productive heartlands and capacities for wealth and job creation of those very same countries .
it is therefore harmful .
that is why I agree with the speaker that it is necessary to create a standardised hydrogen filling station network across the whole of the EU as soon as possible .
first , we learned something positive : that consumers in Europe enjoy vigorous competition in the car sales market .
Mr Lehtinen 's report is testament to the excellent work of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection .
we do indeed want to see more social market economy in your programme - as far as we were concerned , the previous Commission was rather too liberal in that regard .
I really am grateful to the rapporteur for all the work that she has put into preparing it .
India saw protection of its large and relatively poor rural and farming population as vital and believed that a WTO agreement was not in its best interests .
a study carried out by the joint research centre concluded that new and more effective control systems , such as monitoring transport with the help of satellite positioning systems , would help to improve the situation and enable a more transparent implementation of the rules .
like many of those present here , I find Google an interesting company .
you could have done something to help ; it was not difficult .
I would like to congratulate Dr Swinburne and the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs for the report on trading in financial instruments , ' dark pools ' , etc .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
moreover , Commissioner , it must be stressed that the funding currently in place is not sufficient .
the Council 's common position , which was adopted without amendments by the Committee on Transport and Tourism , contains two amendments to Parliament 's position at first reading .
Europe 's ambition is to be at the forefront in terms of research and development , innovation and new technological solutions which enable better management of energy resources .
I do not want to repeat all the arguments which have been advanced by the rapporteur and the Commissioner .
I believe that Europe 's proposals have become the benchmark for any future discussion , and believe they are compatible with our economic model .
it claims , on the one hand , that the service complements Member State diplomacy and does not call it into question .
insurance guarantee schemes (
as for the financing of climate activities , last year , the work group set up by the UN SecretaryGeneral proposed a carbon tax as one option for emissions from international shipping .
I want to assure Members of the House that preserving the environment and dialogue with the relevant populations - indigenous and non-indigenous - are paramount to the approach that we want to take .
in Ireland , there is an 86 % availability of broadband in urban areas , but the availability of broadband in rural areas is much less .
this is particularly important at the moment when there are internal challenges from and fears among our citizens about illegal immigration , which may threaten security and social advantages in Europe .
they are expressing their disobedience and their insubordination towards this system and the centre-right and centre-left alliances that support and preserve it .
we have built upon the Commission 's proposal in many areas and , most importantly , we have clarified the severity classifications .
a certain degree of aid and State support for companies in the area of export promotion should be allowed , notably in the area of know-how .
various successive reports relate the many reasons why Europe lags behind other parts of the world .
in these cases , no new obligations are to be expected , therefore .
unfortunately , the European Union is at the epicentre of deep-sea bottom trawling .
Commissioner Frattini , in the communication you say that the situation within the Union with regard to the protection of children 's rights is still not satisfactory .
back in his day , Albert Camus also had to realise who the Soviet Stalinists truly were , and took the side of the Hungarian revolution .
in addition , a targeted approach can be used to resolve the problems with different vocational trends .
that is precisely why it took two rulings from the European Court of Justice to break the ground for this directive .
the per capita spending in the South and the East is not unbalanced .
now it is in every city , town and village : heroin , cannabis , cocaine .
( FR ) Mr President , I know I am coming to the end , but please give me ' soixante petites secondes pour ma dernière minute ' with Carla Bruni 's husband .
we are assessing the instruments using a model-based quantitative analysis .
in addition , I join those of you who are looking forward to welcoming new Members to the European Parliament as I think that we need them .
we have to face the problems with climate change .
Mr President , I would like to thank you and all those Members who took part in this debate regarding a temporary measure - and I would emphasise that temporary nature - in the field of air transport .
Hamas has to stop firing rockets at Israel .
as regards health and safety at work , studies and surveys of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work and of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions should also be taken into account .
in writing . -Together we have been working towards minimising the necessity of special intervention units .
Canada is a close trading partner of the European Union : over 10 years , Canadian investment in Europe almost doubled , reaching EUR 119.5 million in 2009 .
as it is possible that a lot of Members will leave the House , I would like us to postpone the vote on the Andersson report until tomorrow .
how would you address that problem and the fact that the courts cannot take into account the prima facie evidence , or lack of it , against an accused person ?
this is an innovation and a development which should win the support of Parliament and not be met with criticism and mistrust right from the start .
when we add to that the structural difficulties and , in particular , the shortcomings in terms of governance , the challenges faced by those working on the ground are obvious .
however , it is also clear that Turkey presents a mixed picture and that much more needs to be done , not just to comply with the agreements with Europe , but also to fulfil promises to its own people .
there is a lack of appropriate data , supervision systems do not always work properly and many governments do not seem willing to cooperate .
in the face of a tragedy in which people have lost their loved ones and , in many cases , all of their possessions , and a beautiful town of great antiquity has been ruined , support for such a proposal is a gesture of plain decency .
there is therefore a huge area for us to deal with , in particular because the Commissioner herself earlier this afternoon in Question Time painted a somewhat grim picture of the sustainability of fish stocks and coastal communities into the future .
in writing . - ( LT ) I voted in favour of this resolution on a single application procedure for a single permit for third-country nationals to reside and work .
I am saddened that I stand here tonight and we do not have a resolution .
the set of technical requirements for aircraft operations is constantly undergoing changes reflecting the state of scientific knowledge .
the elimination of the rebate and the creation of a new European tax - let us call it by its correct name - will not require a change in the treaty .
on behalf of the PPE Group . - Madam President , I would also like to start by thanking the rapporteur for the very good cooperation we have had in this matter .
( FI ) Madam President , the European Union obviously knows that it has to implement its own fundamental values in its policy .
yes , we do need and we do require legislation , but it must be good legislation .
I call on the regional councils and the prefectures in the French overseas departments , as Structural Fund management authorities , to anticipate these changes so that their regional programmes can be focused immediately on projects showing the best potential for growth and jobs .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , thank you very much for remaining here for this topic , which is actually a lot more important than it would seem from the number of Members present in the House .
the tasks that these authorities have to assume in cooperation with the European Systemic Risk Board are of the utmost importance .
I vehemently condemn the violations of human rights in Libya and , in particular , the violent repression of pro-democracy demonstrators , journalists and advocates of human rights , and I should like to express my solidarity with the Libyan people .
that is now my question to the Commissioner : when will the Commission be presenting a legislative proposal in this regard ?
we must look at methods aimed at establishing a balance between working life and private life and apply best practice .
the trouble starts here , since this can only be done properly if we grub the vineyards and concentrate grubbing aid on the regions that produced the surplus .
I would like to thank the Commissioner for staying with us and , in particular , our interpreters for going over time .
the endangered species of captains of industry has now been replaced by sombre-talking slot machines .
above all , we need to use all Europe 's diplomatic power to ensure that the environmental commitments of our main partners are genuine , measurable and equivalent to our own .
if we were talking about numbers , we would be talking about the scale of a medium-sized country .
these are : data collection , research , internal cooperation , the administration of fishing matters , and common fisheries policy monitoring systems .
this evening I have not heard any mention from you about Bulgaria being in the list of 100 % -dependent countries in need of special assistance .
this analysis must be thoroughly documented and made available to the market surveillance authorities on request .
therefore , there is no reason for me to vote against .
during the past year , the battle against the crisis was waged primarily at Member State level , using Member State instruments .
( DE ) Mr President , begging , prostitution , theft and burglary - human traffickers and people-smuggling gangs need people , primarily women and children , for these and other , similar objectionable activities .
this is a contradiction of the principle of solidarity .
I really think then that we have had a European Council that has avoided the worst - and that is sometimes an objective in politics too - and which has laid the foundations for a solidarity mechanism .
the situation is critical .
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the second aspect is the increasing complexity of EU law and the difficulty encountered by the ordinary citizen , including experts in EU law , in understanding what is actually happening .
in accordance with the document , the principle of equivalence between residence permits and short-stay visas will now be applied to long-stay visas .
the main objective of the changes should be to ensure the same level of data protection as for the first pillar ; from this point of view , I regret that the Commission 's initial proposal has been modified by the Council .
this report is very important for the future of Europe and for its 500 million citizens : for their safety , their security and for anti-terrorism measures , amongst others .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , this was a very effective way of softening me up a bit as I now speak for the final time .
later this afternoon we shall be debating the issue of Tibet but , before we criticise too seriously , perhaps we should look very carefully at our own record of democratic accountability .
we must not underestimate the economic advantages either .
we are here today to bury it .
however , there must be determination and clearly defined legislative texts to overcome this .
it is even worse than this . some developing countries , using irritating anti-colonial rhetoric , want to get rich on this , while at the same time being the biggest emitters of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere .
( EL ) Madam President , Turkey has a place in the European family and our only aim should be full accession .
it accounted for 53.4 % of the votes , with 46.6 % voting yes .
this is what we and Commissioner Rehn , who is present in this House , said to the country 's officials when we met them on the fringe of the United Nations General Assembly and during the meeting of the Troika .
where the requests of the institutions were justifiable , we reinstated some of the original requests which the Council had reduced .
as Commissioner for Agriculture , I can also assure all the speakers that negotiations with the Mercosur have been mentioned several times .
we have chosen to vote against this report because it deals with areas for which the Member States have political responsibility .
we must strengthen the functioning of the courts and other structures and delimit their competences , and on this note I would like to bring my speech to a close .
in fact , yesterday , a Turkish fighter plane threatened to force a Frontex helicopter to turn back .
it is also important , as stated in the report , to investigate and develop the market in retail financial services , and especially intellectual property rights .
it must be spelled out once and for all that Europe need take no lessons on human rights from Islamic theocracies and other ( semi- ) dictatorships .
it is essential for there to be agreement throughout all stages of the implementation of this directive that public services should not be covered by the directive , but that it should ensure social rights and comply with the requirements of employment law .
if we look closer at the main issues , there is actually no reason not to grant discharge .
everyone knows how important intervention was both in the case of the tsunami and during hurricane Katrina .
in recent days , many representatives and intellectuals throughout Europe have been writing to call for UNESCO not to hold World Philosophy Day in Tehran .
furthermore , I believe that the message from this Parliament has reached the European Council .
I would like to express my respect and gratitude to all the professionals and volunteers who have contributed to the rescue and reconstruction effort in the affected areas , and I would like to express my particular condolences to the families of the victims .
for this reason , I have voted against the report .
those of you who agree with that will vote in favour tomorrow ; those of you who agree with me should definitely vote against .
six months ago , we would not have expected to have the opportunity to carry out a stress test of this kind .
its aim was to bring about freedom , including freedom of the press .
yesterday , my friend Mr Steinmeier presented an interesting plan , a plan which aims to revitalise investment in all national economies in the European Union and which , above all , presents the Commission with one particular question .
with regard to Parliament 's own budget , we believe that those committees that are gaining a heavier workload as a result of the Treaty of Lisbon need to be strengthened .
the next item is the report by Margie Sudre , on behalf of the Committee on Regional Development , on the strategy for the outermost regions : achievements and future prospects .
in view of the fact that CO2 emissions know no borders , and that after production is transferred emissions will continue , which will unavoidably have a negative impact on the environment , the European Union economy will lose out , since it is exporting jobs .
it was stated then that up to 25 % of European women had suffered violence .
the groups might be defined by ethnicity , religion , sex , sexuality , age or disability .
with a gradual withdrawal of substances until 2016 , we would urge industry to come up with biologically sound and effective products .
this strengthens the European Union 's role as the guardian of human rights worldwide .
however , to be certain for this legislation to be effective , not only must it be clear and definitive with regard to the role that it wants to carry out , but it must also have the trust of the people that it will protect them and not abuse them .
we must question the proportionality and the expedience of this approach .
in writing . - ( FR ) The remarks by Mrs Oomen-Ruijten in her report on Turkey 's progress with a view to accession show , as though any further proof were required , that Turkey , in terms of its civilisation , its mindset , its traditions - all perfectly respectable , of course - is not a European country .
we have put forward proposals to Israel to support that greater access .
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this security strategy has proved its worth .
however , the scientific consensus is only a provisional consensus , just as every scientific consensus of the past hundred years was short term in nature .
I would also like to express my good wishes and congratulations .
however , I want to talk about respect for democracy and I want to state clearly that approval by the people has the same value as parliamentary approval ; exactly the same value .
a comprehensive economic trade agreement with Canada could make a positive contribution to deepening the already excellent relations between the EU and Canada .
it is a rapidly growing industry bringing together new technology , criminality , narcotic drugs and big money , although its nature can be summed up in a single word : violence .
it will not only contribute to implementing rail transport reform , but at the same time will create the kind of competitive situation in which the main winners will be the consumers themselves .
we see a budget of low payments , with a huge gap between commitments and payments and with an unsatisfactory answer to the actual political priorities of the European Union .
we too in the EU must fight poverty both internally and externally .
it is a priority objective for the Hungarian Presidency to ensure the creation of a Danube strategy for the EU and , in this context as well , water , the protection of our drinking water base and an integrated water policy will naturally have special significance .
last but not least , the two arms of the Budgetary Authority have acknowledged the need for further assistance in 2010 to Bulgaria 's efforts relating to the decommissioning of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant , through the use of the flexibility instrument .
we have taken notice of the problems that can arise with the European textile industry , and with the ethanol industry .
should we not also examine the impact that poverty has on women 's health , in particular , that of elderly women ?
the second is that this will require a decision to be made and for proposals to be put by me , obviously not least to the Commission , on the opening of a delegation .
paragraph 6 of the European Council Conclusions could be mentioned in this respect .
they are counting on the European Union , on our help in building democracy , and on our help in building a civil society .
a development programme for Portuguese industry ;
if , on the one hand , this choice of human resources policy offers greater flexibility , on the other , it will require increased training for European Union staff .
it is precisely this immigration policy that is resulting in a huge brain drain from the developing countries to Western countries , and it is precisely this policy that is robbing the developing countries of the best workers that they need , including health care workers , doctors and nurses who are needed much more in Africa than in the West .
ladies and gentlemen , I welcome the fact that this report focuses primarily on consumers since they , in particular , are a fundamental and important element of the internal market .
obviously , you are very engaged and delighted with the response you are getting .
we need to support those people engaged in the car industry .
despite the diversity of opinions regarding how the sector should be managed , there is a point of agreement which it is important to stress : fishing is extremely important to the European population 's food supply and a source of employment for the majority of the EU 's coastal communities , where there are no other jobs .
finally , we should be able to quickly draw the consequences of a piece of legislation , the implementation of which creates more problems than it solves .
SMEs are particularly important against the background of the economic and financial crisis , which was caused by the large rather than the small enterprises .
the countries of the EU , and so our societies , are bearing substantial costs related to the emission of greenhouse gases , while in Copenhagen , attempts were made to make developed countries , including the EU , accept an even greater financial burden related to global warming , in order to help , in this way , developing countries .
Mrs Giannakou , who was our shadow rapporteur and did an excellent job for which I sincerely thank her , will talk about the specific issues .
the EU must also sign the UN Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women .
we should respect Tunisia as our Euro-Mediterranean advanced partner .
I fully support the need to ensure that airports in a dominant position do not abuse that situation and I fully support an open and transparent appeals procedure , provided that the rules of engagement and the remit of the arbitrator are clearly defined .
but if , for example , you read the free Kenyan press these days , it is very heartening to see how many journalists are constantly striving to stand up for unity in the country and for unity among the Kenyan people and are turning against the fragmentation of society .
concerning energy purchases , if the honourable Member is agreeable , I will reply in writing because I think it is a very specific question and I would hesitate to give a concrete figure .
our Parliament has managed to resist the pressures to impose budgetary austerity at the expense of our priorities , particularly in the area of sustainable development .
secondly , on financial priorities , the first question is : are we spending enough on these types of diseases ?
I think that we can continue to support the car industry , but that this must be coupled with very strict requirements , and that real support should be given only to electrical cars , an entire programme to make the electrification of the car industry possible and , of course , to the retraining of workers .
the socio-economic governance of the EU needs an alternative policy that will reject any ' Competitiveness Pact ' and help to bring about real economic convergence between the Member States .
the European Parliament should have a single seat and a single place of work .
however , the resolution also contains proposals that we are unable to support .
Mr President , honourable Members , today 's conclusions on this subject are extremely positive from my point of view , and help to send a very clear message to Member States , namely that the European railway system needs corridors that are in some way dedicated to freight .
people do not go for early testing for one simple reason : fear of the discrimination that they will have to live with - that stigmatisation .
if there is no understanding of the reality of climate change and its consequences in the target countries , our assistance will amount to nothing more than a bribe paid out for our prosperity to the governments of those countries whose inhabitants lack such prosperity .
delivering a single market to consumers and citizens (
with respect to the first question on Serbia , of course Serbia is the strongest country in the Western Balkans , which we must always truly take into account in any policy , in this instance , the policy on the European perspective , which is the European Union policy regarding the Western Balkans .
in the difficult economic situation Bulgaria is in , I have my doubts as to whether many of the farmers will be able to implement the directives successfully unless they receive massive support from the Commission .
I would like to thank Cecilia Malmström , the Swedish Presidency and the entire team who have all worked very hard .
the Commission considers this European Union proposal to be necessary .
likewise , to ensure that the parents of consumers are able to make pertinent choices , the warnings about toys ' potential risks and the minimum or maximum age limits of users have also been enhanced and must be made available , prior to purchase , to all those who govern such purchases , including online .
what Europe needs is a sustainable strategy and not a one-off injection such as this initiative .
in the Commission we aim at presenting as objective and fair a report as the one presented by Ms Oomen-Ruijten .
a few weeks ago , I visited Egypt on the day the referendum was taking place in the country on amendments to the constitution .
finally , the second is that we must progress towards economic , budgetary and monetary integration , and towards tax harmonisation , which is the only way to combat fiscal dumping in Europe .
I do , however , sense - and I feel - that if we can remote sense cows , why do we not remote sense the people 's views about the referendum ?
land management and planning must be the responsibility of each Member State ;
I can conceive of both the alternatives he proposes in paragraph 3 of his report .
I voted against .
the most efficient use of energy also means a more efficient economy , new jobs , better competitiveness and , last but not least , a more liveable environment .
this is precisely what the proposed directive does , by requiring the operational cost of energy consumption , CO2 emissions and pollutants throughout the lifetime of the vehicle to be included in the criteria for public procurement of vehicles , thereby insultingly using public money to subsidise the manufacture of cleaner vehicles by the automotive industry .
we have also repeatedly condemned use of the death penalty , particularly for minors .
I am thinking particularly of financial services .
the state of health of the population in sub-Saharan Africa poses one of the toughest challenges for the EU 's humanitarian and development policy .
this is the second time that the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality has prepared such a report , and indeed I had the honour of being the rapporteur for the previous report on the status of women in rural areas in light of the reform of the common agricultural policy .
what do we want ?
Mr President , I would call on everyone to go the negotiating table .
we believe that those who come here as observers should relinquish their national mandates .
I will not yet say that this is my definitive option but , when we consider regional common agricultural policies , these , in my opinion , are objects of study that it would be interesting to take forward quite rapidly with the aim , of course , not of bringing about protectionism but protection - something quite different indeed .
I believe that there has been effective legislation on the protection of women since 1975 .
nevertheless , if I have to choose between that and the 18 Members not taking their seats , or coming up with a practical solution and the 18 joining , meaning therefore that we comply with the Treaty of Lisbon , I ask this House , as I have already done in the report , to choose that solution ; a transitional and pragmatic one but , above all , Madam President , a just one .
we need to have this sort of possibility of moving resources around in the EU budget .
such an important project should be realised only in the spirit of European solidarity and with the agreement of all the states lying on the Baltic Sea , after carrying out a thorough and independent environmental impact assessment .
I believe that this shows a certain discourtesy both to the Commission and to the Presidency , and reduces the influence this House possesses .
the report , which I voted for , rightly finds that this support needs to be provided at four levels ( EU , national , regional and local ) , by using the corresponding economic and political tools available in each instance ( Community funds , national strategic programmes , regional operational programmes and local and private resources ) .
let me conclude by stressing that the report on energy labelling is a very important piece of legislation that is worth adopting , provided that the advertising issue is tackled in a satisfactory manner .
I have emphasised how important Schengen is , what a gift it is to the European Union and that we must strengthen it and not weaken it .
I thank you for your attention and your commitment .
Syria and Libya , of all countries , have been offered trade concessions and even subsidies to be paid for by us , but where are the safeguards on human rights ?
a further matter , which those who have risen before me have mentioned , is the problem of the irreversibility of the death sentence .
I also believe that we should recognise the contribution of the voluntary and community sector in this .
in conclusion , I should like to thank all the Members again for this very interesting debate .
she is one of three women who are soon to receive this year 's Nobel Peace Prize for their struggle for the safety of women and for women 's rights to full participation in peace-building work .
this means the following Member States : Germany , Austria , Slovakia , the Czech Republic , Hungary , Slovenia , Bulgaria and Romania .
this is the only way we are going to maintain production and , by extension , jobs in the European Union .
it gives the opportunity for a careful analysis of our political objectives , the necessary changes to the tools available to us and the question of funding .
firstly , it seeks to get the European industry through this crisis - and I will stress each individual word here - with the aim of losing not a single European manufacturer where possible .
this is endorsed by the report sent to the European Commission by the Spanish Government , which is of a different political persuasion than the one that I represent .
that is why we are working with the partners to ensure that intervention in the ecosystem and in natural habitats always follows the highest possible conservationist principles .
it should be genuinely respected , as it is the very foundation of any open society , and thus of the continued democratic transformation of Turkey .
strict standards compared with the rest of the world are part of the trademark of European farmers , as is the quality of their agricultural products , for example .
despite the fact that women generally have a higher education , they earn on average 15 % less than men for the same or similar work .
universal services should ensure consumers have access to public telephone services at an affordable price , and guarantee national and international connections and emergency calls .
although it states elsewhere that ' the main objectives of public authorities should be to create conditions that ensure a high level of media quality ( including those of the public media ) , secure media diversity and guarantee the full independence of journalists ' , we know that this is difficult to achieve when the democratic state 's role is weak .
until all EU policies are guided by these principles , programmes will continue to conflict .
I propose that we return to the old text from 2006 , therefore , and I ask for your support for this .
indeed , exogenous factors are perhaps far more significant in this respect .
then we will have a common currency that actually only guarantees us instability in our European economy .
vitally important is the introduction of means of using the present crisis to respond to the environmental crisis by increasing efficiency , through thorough environmental management systems .
using the intervention methods that we currently have at our disposal - mechanisms for intervening in the markets , used in particular as safety nets - we will do our best to prevent a repeat of situations similar to that which has hit the dairy sector .
that is not the way forward .
the Commission 's replies say nothing specific about the communications which take place and whether this ultimately constitutes harassment .
the next item is the Commission statement on company law .
hence the proposal put forward by Mr Costa as rapporteur was adopted unanimously .
however , there is , in actual fact , a conflict between the World Health Organisation and the International Atomic Energy Agency , with the interests of the nuclear industry seeming to take priority over human health .
in writing . - Mrs Aubert 's report on the Community system against illegal , unreported and unregulated fishing is a report that I generally support .
I find this regrettable , as it means we did not dare to recognise that it constitutes a problem for consumers , and I think this was instigated by governments who were only too willing to continue to see it as a monopoly for Member States .
arguing for humane measures is one thing , but there is also another argument , namely a financial one ( which is more appealing to certain people ) .
it is in this spirit that we shall continue to work to improve our proposals .
in the case of two building societies , EBS and INBS , we are also considering the restructuring of these financial institutions .
the proposal is part of the wide-ranging administrative burden reduction exercise ; it would free up and redirect business resources and thus enhance the competitiveness of European economies .
today , with the increase in international trade , it is vitally important to strengthen all prevention systems , so as to ensure that the food crises that we have experienced in the past do not happen again .
can you tell us what the position of the European Union will be in St Petersburg ?
therefore , I urgently request that we monitor air pollution very frequently - we happen to do this thoroughly - and also monitor soil pollution .
as one of the wealthier regions of the world , the EU has good reason to demonstrate its strength and solidarity .
in essence , these are measures which need to be taken if a ship is identified and it is suspected that there are people on board trying to evade border controls .
you mentioned this 30 % , if the conditions are right - yes , you are right , this is a new way of putting it .
however , this month Corticeira Amorim has announced that nearly 200 workers will be laid off .
( RO ) I would like to clarify right at the start of my speech that through this debate we are not only confirming the existence of the risk of terrorism , but we are also highlighting the need to be one step ahead in the battle against this phenomenon .
the delegation from our Parliament is due to visit Russia in a few days ' time .
it is also important to take advantage of existing infrastructure and bodies , such as the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union and the European Asylum Support Office , and , probably , to reassess and adapt Operation Hermes .
let me finally say a word on India .
the new regulation also strengthens the position of the German language , which is still the most widely spoken native language within the EU , according to a survey carried out in 2006 .
however , the answer to these problems does not lie in more regulation and more subsidies .
I think it is important to state this , before going any further .
Prato is a special case : the situation there has gone out of the control of the national authorities and there is widespread illegality , which is also exacerbated by the crisis in the European textiles sector .
we want to take steps to establish a digital market .
we consider logistics to be an essential tool for the effective planning and implementation of a balanced and sustainable use of the various means of transport .
I must say that Europe needs to bet on itself , that external policy needs to take into account European interests and how to defend them .
with the directive and the action plan , we have sent a clear signal .
instead of delaying implementation for two years , it could be completed , where possible , within one year .
at a time of crisis , it is rather a duty of initiative , I think , that you ought to have .
in Brussels this month , there was a conference at which the various EU projects that are being undertaken were introduced .
I voted for both parts of recital 17 , Amendment 28 .
no one is preventing us from drawing up another resolution , as I said , on economic issues .
I particularly draw attention to paragraphs 20 and 21 about the importance of small businesses , paragraphs 29 and 30 about competitiveness and the importance of the single market , and paragraphs 42 and 43 about the need to drive labour market reform .
composition of committees and delegations : see Minutes
although the Member States of the European Union are among the richest countries in the world , new types of poverty and inequality are still emerging .
it is high time to apply an objective method to the assessment of totalitarian crimes .
a fair and social internal market will only work with strong and just regulation .
therefore , I am absolutely convinced that the adoption of a common transparency register will represent a major further step forward in enhancing transparency in the EU decision-making process and providing a direct response to citizens ' concerns .
I should also add to this the violations of international humanitarian law committed by the government of Burma / Myanmar against civilians and prisoners , together with the increasingly severe restrictions imposed on the ICRC as it goes about its work .
at any rate , I think that we need to simplify such hurdles , in order to address the pressing needs of both local authorities and regions .
Mr President , the Council would like to reiterate once again how important it is that we do not cut off the flow of financial data exchange between Europe and the United States .
the fragility of the financial markets also requires political action at European and international level .
they have left us , but their legacy to future generations , including all of us seated in this House , remains .
fourthly , there is a lack of clearly defined competences in the area of forms of cooperation with the diplomatic services of Member States .
it is a question that comes back time and again in different ways and for different reasons , and the fact that it has come back now , when Europe is in crisis , when the workers are suffering , when education is suffering , shows that it has a different purpose .
the Commission had this aim in mind when it introduced the European initiative to support employment within the framework of the European Economic Recovery Plan .
before reaching the final conclusions , we should ascertain whether each proposed model is functional , provides a continuous energy supply , is transparent and non-discriminatory , and whether its transparency and non-discriminatory character can or cannot be achieved through more effective regulation .
the text that we are going to vote on is also important because it introduces an innovative financial instrument .
( it ) Madam President , I voted for this report because I agree with the rapporteur that the scheme of control and enforcement adopted by the Convention on future multilateral cooperation in the North-East Atlantic fisheries must be swiftly transposed into EU law .
in the absence of other options , agriculture , with its short-term advantages and lower standard of living , has the effect of conserving the tension-rife rural employment situation .
this approach does not solve anything at all .
the adoption of a clear , transparent assistants ' statute is an important step forward and a huge success , for which we have to thank all our fellow Members .
Parliament must be involved to a greater degree in the negotiations and the negotiation documents must be made available to us in full .
the result is sterile confrontation between committees that damages the credibility of the whole institution .
the high proportionate amount of tax compliance for small companies is a big obstacle , and that is why we need to do our best to call for cross-border loss relief , simplified customs procedures , one-stop-shop schemes for VAT , home states taxation pilot projects and so on .
Madam President , honourable Members , I do not know what more can be said in condemnation of a crime as atrocious as that perpetrated by the Stalinist dictatorship , one of the two criminal dictatorships that ravaged Europe last century .
the result achieved corresponds to the objectives laid out by the Parliament in the most essential points .
the greening of payments of the first pillar will also make it possible to encourage farmers to adopt good farming practices and to be more economically and ecologically efficient .
I believe that this issue is one that can be incorporated into this flexibility , which we can offer Member States .
the situation varies across the different Member States .
they should not have to suffer because of the low standards adopted by a small minority or the low standards applied by some importers and distributors .
similarly , in the period before the accession of these two countries , I raised the importance of preparing for migration problems related to this , and many of my fellow members rejected it , viewing it as a restriction of the freedom of movement .
the European Commission should hang their heads in shame and should withdraw this proposal immediately .
many of the people who have been displaced have gone into Uganda , which means there have already been effects on the regions surrounding Kenya .
the report also deals with the principle of equal treatment , that is to say equal treatment and the absence of discrimination against workers , irrespective of nationality .
I am very grateful for the support given to our communications and also for the requests for further work from the Commission in this matter .
moreover , we have received direct statements from representatives of human rights organisations telling us about the mood in civil society to question the judicial system , about the administrative repression mechanisms that have brought up to 17 social movement organisations before the courts , and about the persecution of independent journalists and even the delegation from the European Commission .
this means that we need the Treaty of Lisbon .
the scientific information cannot be disputed .
in the circumstances , we should abandon actions leading to the creation of new intergovernmental agencies , and instead strengthen the role of the European Commission as the central coordinator of administrative cooperation between individual Member States concerned with combating VAT fraud .
secondly , hydrogen is merely an energy carrier , not an energy source , and that is why it is important that hydrogen fuel is produced in a stable and environmentally friendly way .
while basically welcoming the project , I believe that it would be worth fully re-evaluating this aspect , weighing it up again and only then adopting it .
to those who criticise the French Presidency , I should like to say : ' wait until the Czech Presidency .
of course we are concerned that projects in major countries like China and Russia will absorb all or too high a percentage of the available resources .
the 2020 strategy will be a valuable document for EU citizens only on condition that social objectives are included .
these states have a combined population of over 24 million people .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , this is indeed a remarkable anniversary and it is a great responsibility to participate in this discussion .
this freedom can be a good thing , as is the case the majority of the time , but it can also be used for the sexual exploitation of children and for child pornography .
a very important point - and here , too , I can only reinforce what Mr Giegold said - is the question of the information provided to the workforce .
that does not mean that we do not want a policy of good neighbourliness and dialogue .
airport security is the responsibility of Member States .
the amendments , however , that take over the substance of the proposal for a directive relating to Mr Kohlíček 's report , civil liability and the financial guarantees of shipowners , can be endorsed without reservation , except for the two that refer to the establishment of a Community Office for the management of financial-guarantee certificates .
that would help the situation in Darfur .
it will have to be .
this is exactly what we must respond to , and I believe that this is the main problem to which Mr Garriga 's report fails to respond .
this approach is based on three principles : dialogue , incentivising reforms and ownership of these reforms by the partner country .
we did change it , and we put it on the slippery slope - and we see the results today .
that is why I will be re-elected in London in 2009 , and Mr Tannock may not be .
all subjects are important : unequal pay , participation in decision-making , particularly public decisions , the reconciliation of private and professional life , and violence against women .
I declare resumed the session of the European Parliament adjourned on Thursday 24 April 2008 .
every Member State has the duty to provide these women victims with access to free legal aid and shelter facilities which will allow them to build a new and better life for themselves and their children .
( SK ) In the light of the European Parliament resolution of 21 June on the MEDA programme and financial support to Palestine , the resolution of 12 July 2007 on the Middle East and the Quartet 's statement of 23 September 2007 , it is vital for the European Parliament to express a clear stance vis-à-vis the situation in Palestine .
the compromise adopted undoubtedly contains many improvements on the original draft from the European Commission .
for the new Member States in particular , this is one potential way of countering the economic crisis .
President-in-Office , you brought us warm and encouraging words from last week 's Council .
let me begin by saying that I , too , disagree that implementation of the Sixth Community Environment Action Programme is going according to plan .
in the context of European coordination , the task of monitoring fair market competition , stimulating cross-border energy trading , and ensuring that high standards are met in response to consumer demands must be given to an authority invested with broader powers than hitherto , and which is independent both of governments and of the energy sector .
they make a significant contribution to social and economic cohesion in the EU .
we are continually voting for resolutions and signing written statements which are not followed up as the Commission does not take them into account .
Azerbaijan and other countries in the region need to get a clear signal that violations of human and civil rights cannot be tolerated under any circumstances .
we await future developments , specifically the referendum on 9 April 2011 , for a clearer position on the country 's membership .
the final findings of that study , which will soon be made available to the Commission , will provide the basis for a systematic monitoring of the existing acquis in this area , in accordance with Article 226 of the EC Treaty .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , Europe has finally reacted .
I am not sure that the rules are good enough , even those in the new Toys Directive .
if it does that , then it will have our support .
declarative statements by President Medvedev are neither a proof nor a guarantee of real progress .
of course , anyone who knows anything about this at all knows that there will not be any more transfers of sovereignty requiring a referendum because this has all been done under the Lisbon Treaty .
that is why a lot of collective work is ahead of us , and we believe that we shall be as successful in the future as we have been in the past .
the Green Paper on the reform of the common fisheries policy ( CFP ) is an opportunity to review this European policy in its various aspects ( economic , social and environmental ) , redefining new approaches aimed at resolving the problems that persist in this sector .
I am therefore particularly satisfied with the support the European Parliament has given to the Commission 's initiative to improve shipbreaking practices .
it is my belief that this is also in accord with the views of European citizens who are , or may become , victims of discrimination .
two changes are needed to achieve this : used household appliances must be disposed of properly , and their management needs to be improved .
my third and last point is about how we are coping with the economic impact .
we are aware of the sufferings that befall women throughout the world , women who are raped , abused or suffer harassment or who are the victims of harmful traditional practices .
without freedom and safety for journalists , there can be no freedom of the media , and without freedom of the media there can be no democracy .
there is a lot of work going on to try and resolve this matter .
in the last round of human rights talks between the European Union and China , held in October 2007 , the European Union Troika called on China to retain the regulations concerning foreign journalists even when the Olympics had ended .
increasing investment in IT systems for monitoring and reporting on fuel stocks during a crisis is also important .
within hours , hundreds of Romanians , Hungarians , Germans , Serbs , Catholics , Baptists , Lutherans , Orthodox Christians and Jews joined the resistance .
this means that , in such cases , in Sweden , for example , the jurisdiction is located in Sweden .
the agreement on this directive is an important step forward in fighting climate change .
I know what this means ; harmonising immigration policies of all the Member States is being pushed forward as a clear priority .
it is important that both parties respect the agreed terms for the resolution of disputes in connection with such arrests , which must be preserved in the new Protocol .
on the ESTA , we issued a preliminary assessment which concluded that , based on the interim final rule , ESTA is not tantamount to the Schengen visa application process as defined in the European Commission 's common consular instructions .
in the case of DNA data , we strongly support the rapporteur 's view that - if that data is necessary and if it can be exchanged - it must be clearly restricted and used only for the purpose for which it was intended .
creating more opportunities and equal opportunities for young people in education , training and employment is one of the principal aims of the new framework of European cooperation in the youth field during the period 2010-2018 that was adopted by the Council on 27 November 2009 .
we are giving the Agency greater responsibility for the setting of safety standards and interoperability criteria .
( CS ) Mr President , I have been saying , for many years , that a privileged partnership between the Union and Turkey would have been far more beneficial than the promise of Turkey 's entry into the European Union .
secondly , as far as the situation inside Iraq is concerned , the Commission is supporting the International Committee of the Red Cross with , so far , EUR 4 million , and is currently identifying additional solid and acceptable partners operational in Iraq with a view to increasing its level of assistance .
that is why I believe that there is room for improvement here , so that we can be credible when we explain these issues to Russia and the rest of the world .
however , we should take into consideration the financial and economic aspects entailed by these proposals .
thank you , Mr Papastamkos .
I also wish to draw attention to the fact that Article 14 of the proposal for a Council decision on introducing an evaluation mechanism to monitor the application of the Schengen acquis stipulates an annual report which the Commission must submit to Parliament and the Council .
in addition , under the temporary framework , Member States could also grant state-aid guarantees for loans at a reduced premium , aid in the form of a subsidised interest rate applicable to all types of loans , and subsidised loans for the production of green products involving the early adaptation to , or going further than , the future Community product standards .
this report reflects our efforts on behalf of a Europe which gives more rights to its citizens in as many areas as possible .
I hope that the Council will take due account of our position .
the review of the ENP and the Eastern Partnership should set out priorities for specific action from each partner , along with benchmarks and differentiation based on performance and the results achieved .
I believe that we must think first , before we take action .
at the same time , we must call on the Tamil Tiger leaders to abide by the calls of the international community , take advantage of the Government 's offer of amnesty , renounce violence and seek to achieve their aims through political dialogue .
it is essential that we fight organised crime and cross-border traffickers and put an end to parallel marketing circuits , for example on the Internet .
you are one of the better paid people in Europe , just like I am .
I was reminded by your report of all the discussion and concern expressed in the run-up to enlargement , both among the public generally and in the political world ; I recalled the suspicions and fears voiced in various quarters that enlargement would dilute our solidarity with the developing world , pushing Africa down the European Union 's order of priorities .
a cynic might say that , electorally , it suits the AKP party rather well to have the DTP closed , as they are electoral rivals in the south-east .
this is why I very much appreciate the adoption of the Territorial Agenda and the Leipzig Charter .
frankly , I believe that it was wrong for me to be the only candidate , because , let us be clear , as I am the only candidate , I have been the only one attacked for all this time , the only one criticised .
in a situation like the present , in which Member States are asked to implement severe budget policies to reduce deficits and debts as well as to pay contributions to participate in the anti-crisis fund , there is a real risk of collapse .
when the foundations are bad , there is a risk that the building might not be sound and could collapse .
once again I am hearing the social democrats talk of a distinction between good and bad debt .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , Commissioner , to this day homo sapiens has been causing serious damage to the environment , of which he himself is the most important element .
we fully support the latter activity through our humanitarian aid .
the Lisbon Treaty is the legal precondition for the future fully effective functioning of the European Union .
will the ideological opponents of atomic energy change their views ?
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Development . - ( NL ) I am speaking as a member of the Committee on Development , and would , on behalf of my committee , like to make three comments , firstly , about the food crisis , secondly , about the system for assessing development policy and thirdly , about the lack of resources under Heading 4 - foreign expenditure that has been discussed before .
it is , however , also a fact that alcohol forms part of the European cultural heritage and the majority of Europeans take a responsible attitude to it .
do not draw up lists of what is not possible due to national egoism and protectionism , but of what we need to do together , as Europe , in order to be competitive and to provide the right answer to the crisis .
we live in an area of freedom , security and justice , where European citizens enjoy freedom of movement .
this includes approving safeguard clauses and implementation as part of the codecision process .
stocks of agricultural products are decreasing , which poses a threat to food security . meanwhile , there are those who want to cut CAP spending .
of course , there has been , and continues to be , a very symbolic value to this debate , which was made clear when Russia laid - hoisted is not quite the right word here - its flag on the seabed .
I cannot follow the logic behind the work of the European Parliament on climate change .
must one conclude from this that , from now on , nationals will have to step aside in favour of the legitimate suffering of people fleeing their countries of origin , be it for economic , political , climatic or family reasons ?
I would like to ask the Commission for all kinds of support in the construction of the energy link between Lithuania and Sweden and the Lithuanian-Polish energy bridge .
the Commission encourages the Member States to ratify this Convention and to give a concrete response to it as quickly as possible .
it is also a disaster for the young men and women forced to join and fight there in the armies of NATO and the United States , of whom perhaps 500 have already been killed this year .
the Lorca tragedy is becoming clear .
this report calls on the Commission to submit a tiered strategy for the ' Beyond GDP ' approach which should explain how the new approach can be used pragmatically in day-to-day political activities .
I welcome the initiatives to cut down administrative burdens for our citizens , but I , too , am concerned that this report does not take into account the different legal traditions that exist within the Community , including different legal instruments such as the English deed or different forms of notarial professions as exist in England .
today it is an independent country on the way to membership of the European Union .
the reality is that despite the 2 % quota increase that took place after April this year , the production of milk has actually fallen .
we are also aware that the most frequent claims for maladministration concern a lack of transparency , including a refusal to provide information , and I am committed to tackling such cases further .
like her , the Council is concerned - as I said before - about the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina as it has been described by several speakers .
a number of positive developments must be highlighted in this regard .
the funny thing is that we always claim that we have the best consumer protection in the world .
the reality , it said , was that European citizens are winners from globalisation , with cheap imports , low inflation and low interest rates .
as such , this regulation makes an important contribution towards better air quality , and hence to improving public health .
yet we see that both Iceland and the Faroe Islands have caught 150 000 tonnes each and this is impacting directly on the sustainability of European fishing fleets .
for example , tens of millions of migrant workers lead lives of shameful misery , with their children suffering the consequences of the horrific conditions under which they live .
we have an internal market , we have an action plan for integration of financial services , but we still have a lot of internal barriers and inefficiency .
when it comes to economic governance - because that is what this is also about - the current proposal is to say to Member States : ' cut off your expenditure arm while tying your revenue arm behind your back ' .
then a man asked me this question : ' what does your husband say to that ? '
the fact that people are afraid of Europe and do not associate Europe with any kind of hope must give us cause for concern .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , as Mrs Gebhardt mentioned , celebrating forty years of the Customs Union makes people aware that the European Union has honoured part of the pledge it made forty years ago .
in this case , the following sectors are of particular concern : textiles , automobiles and related components , and electronics .
the report that has been adopted calls on the Commission to opt for a medium- and long-term vision of a policy for protein crops and asks for the reform of the common agricultural policy to introduce new provisions that support farmers in the improvement of crop rotation , as well as to reduce the deficit of plant proteins and price volatility .
let me recall that two of the main industries most affected by trade liberalisation are manufacturing and agriculture , and rising food prices have caused violent protests in many regions around the world .
in the EU they apply to about 50 million people , and in the whole world the number is estimated to be 650 million .
my experience made me realise that no matter how well organised a country may be , there will always be disasters that go beyond its own borders .
that is important when we consider the situation that these people are in .
in writing . - ( DE ) In overall terms , the German Free Democratic Party ( FDP ) in the European Parliament supports the waste disposal directive .
these two assumptions are broadly accepted by Parliament and by the European Commission in its recent communication on taxation of the financial sector .
( PL ) It is clear that we are dealing with a problem which is different in different Member States .
there is no question that we need a regulatory system for pesticides .
the Thai people have the right to democracy , and everything must be done to avoid another military coup .
originally , the summit was to be dominated by the Irish question and the moribund Treaty of Lisbon .
I also find that the distinction between the specific characteristics of sport and the economic activities that frequently accompany sport is a little too explicit , because I believe that economic activities - including those that protect sport - cannot have exceptions made for them in the Treaty .
the humanitarian crisis there has in the last few months indisputably grown into a catastrophe .
Egypt and Malaysia have constitutional guarantees of religious freedom , but under pressure from radical Islamic circles , the religious freedom of Christians is not being sufficiently protected by the governments there .
thus , I consider it is very important that , after the Lisbon Treaty comes into force , the competence of the Parliament will significantly increase , co-decision will become a general rule and the veto of the Parliament in adopting the budget will be extended to agriculture as well .
the action by the occupying Turkish army of entering a church , forcing the priest to terminate the service and forcing the people attending it to leave , is unacceptable .
the final text recognises and protects passengers , paying particular attention to passengers with reduced mobility and disabled persons by guaranteeing appropriate information and services .
some of them have unfortunately not attended the debate , which is a pity because it would have been very interesting to hear their views .
the full establishment of the internal market is a powerful tool enabling Europe to return to growth , which is why I supported this text .
tomorrow we will be adopting a comprehensive and balanced report from which Ukraine will truly benefit .
the good news for 2009 is that the level of irregularities in the area of cohesion policy has fallen significantly compared to last year .
you refused to negotiate , but you presented no alternatives .
I may not follow the order of the questions but will try to respond briefly to what you asked .
given the growing importance of this partnership it seems appropriate that Korea should be added to the three other partners with which the EU has agreements concerning cooperation on anti-competitive action .
today , when with bated breath and hope , we observe the revolutions that have overwhelmed some of the Arab countries , my conviction that Turkey 's membership of the European Union is a geopolitically strategic necessity simply becomes stronger .
although it is important for achieving the goals of this strategy , cohesion and regional policy should be independent and provide a framework for establishing strong synergies between all European policies .
however , as soon as the consequences of the financial crisis hit Europe , the situation deteriorated drastically .
citizens ' initiatives must be in accordance with the treaties and the so-called principles that underlie them .
we have trouble in the UK with finances , we are cutting services , we have a general election , we are talking about saving money , and yet we are wasting money hand over fist over here .
in view of this , we cannot fail to take into consideration the fact that the objectives of the common commercial policy must be fully coordinated with the overall objectives of the European Union .
I firmly believe that the application of this directive will improve the situation in terms of observing Community preference when assigning jobs .
destruction of the fine fabric of society , of its solidarity .
the outcome of tomorrow 's vote will be discussed with the Ministers during the public debate next Friday .
both initiatives are testament to the great importance that the Committee on International Trade and , in our view , Parliament , should place on this matter .
today , Europe needs revision of the law on nuclear energy in the areas of the responsibilities of Member States , establishment of common rules and optimisation of safety standards in the Union .
( the sitting was closed at 6.15 p.m. )
Member of the Commission . - Information and communication technologies have a huge potential for helping older people .
they are almost characteristic of all large-scale international events .
persons affected by a deportation procedure will now also have the right to judicial remedy before a court or tribunal in order to appeal against the process , ultimately including the European Court of Justice as the last resort .
there are amendments with the aim of radically changing the procedure for appointing the director of the future office .
that means both in respect of the issue that many Members have raised here , namely the protection of the environment and of local residents , and in respect of the fact that we need to cautiously face the issue of whether this perhaps also comes with opportunities and to have an honest discussion about that .
- Before the vote on Amendment 1 :
the tried-and-tested two-pillar structure must be retained with a strong first pillar and an equally strong second pillar .
voting time
this is about boosting the trust that European funding has in the candidates and about making them more risk-tolerant in relation to participants at all stages of the projects , with flexible European rules .
it is estimated that around 10 million people are involved in cross-border litigation in Europe , with all the inherent challenges such as language , distance , unfamiliar legal systems and so on .
consolidation of the internal energy market throughout Europe is also very important for increasing energy security .
we need to act rigorously .
I would , however , like to give three warnings that I think are important for the future .
it would help increase the tempo of social and economic development in a large part of the European Union by increasing speed and volumes of trade between countries of the Baltic Sea region and countries of the Mediterranean and Adriatic region .
that is because the government has intervened .
my constituents are rightly concerned about what they see as the indiscriminate use of public money to satisfy a policy that has little practical use beyond political window-dressing .
I think we want to make sure that we do not have the level of bureaucracy that we are getting .
the Commission can accept this approach , as it can also accept the compromise amendment on the management of international freight trains in the event of network disruption .
for two reasons .
last weekend was a triumph for communication .
Mrs Giannakou emphasises in her report that this cannot be achieved without reviewing the status and funding of European parties .
in my view , communication between patients and doctors is also important , since the primary source of information for the patient must be the physician who prescribes the medication .
I would also like to refer to the words of Commissioner Verheugen and express my pleasure at the news that we will have new common regulations to combat counterfeiting and the illegal marketing of medicines .
as I have said to this Parliament on many occasions and I repeat again , the Stability and Growth Pact is in full force , and it is in full force because in 2005 we revised it and introduced the flexibility it needed to be of use in a situation such as this .
that is all as regards asylum .
we are focusing particular attention on weapons and ammunition that are extremely dangerous and harmful to civilians and remain dangerous long after the conflict is over , such as landmines , cluster bombs and weapons containing armed uranium .
this own-initiative report is the result of a desire to find new , innovative sources of financing .
this directive on cross-border healthcare is essential , even if it does concern only 1 % of national health budgets , because , aside from the figures , what we should be focusing on is the strength of the symbol , which is the legitimate right for every European citizen to be treated abroad and be reimbursed for the treatment received with all the correct information .
clearly , there are different emphases and priorities here on the different sides of this House .
we will decide how to proceed with the votes scheduled for 5 and 6 May , and how to divide them .
we know that the Commission has tried to draw up a remedial plan to resolve the main problems , and we know that several Member States , within the Council , are already thinking of an alternative that would consist of a simple upgrade to the SIS system currently in operation .
I would like to know why the Presidency has withdrawn the request or the proposal to establish a European Day on the death penalty .
here flexible forms of employment are already the norm , as are an absence of labour rights and social and insurance rights .
the report by the de Larosière group makes some useful and timely proposals that should be implemented quickly .
however , my urgent message to you is this : we need to take a step back - or a step forward , if you like - towards policies based on social responsibility , and that means the Commission as well , for what we are getting here is too little , too late .
even right at the end , a debate took place in the committee procedure which I , at any rate , was worried would create uncertainty and give rise to a loophole in the application of the procedure that would result in the risk of these diseases reaching Sweden .
I consider the attempts to provoke quarrels between Member States , which periodically crop up in our sessions , to be a sign of ignorance of the current serious situation where EU unity is under threat .
Slovakia 's small and medium-sized enterprises consequently have no access to the significant financial support available for the effective development of new products , techniques and services .
until now , the Commission and the Council have dealt with the United States administration pragmatically , on a case-by-case basis , each time at the request of the Americans , without ever having the courage to demand real reciprocity from the Americans .
as for the Kosovo Albanians themselves , will the EU be able to satisfy their expectations after fuelling them ?
as regards the supervision of the external EU programmes and the related discharge procedures , apart from the EIB activities under the aegis of the European Development Fund , meaning mostly the ACP investment facility , which are carried out under the specific EDF financial regulation , we are not aware of any other EU budget activity carried out in combination with EIB resources which are not subject to the usual discharge procedure .
it spectacularly failed that test .
I have five points to make in summing up the debate .
there is no question that prior authorisation needs to be managed better , and that not only the patients but also the administrations involved need to understand what that is and how it should operate speedily in terms of medical need .
the diplomatic quarrel is therefore the least of our worries .
this means that Ukrainian development is not advancing as quickly as is always asserted .
a definitive list of specific products could exclude new products from the regulation , and we need to ensure that the legislation not only facilitates - but also keeps up with - innovation by industry .
at the same time , from the Commission 's point of view , we clearly see that we cannot afford to move from interdependence to dependence .
this is scheming between friends , with the support of this Parliament .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , both proposals fully transfer to the Commission the powers which , until now , have been held by the Council .
it is also important to raise awareness of harmful adverts that deliberately encourage overeating . other positive features of the document are the promotion of breastfeeding , measures to improve the quality of school meals , the provision of fruit , and the ban on the sale of food and drink containing high levels of fat , salt and sugar on school premises .
let me give some concrete examples of particularly important aspects in this report .
both parties still need to find an agreement on several crucial chapters of the negotiations , among others , on access to government procurement , investment and public services .
the world needs an international agreement and the citizens expect us to take measures .
this is only the beginning of the process as we look to the future of the common agricultural policy during this year .
the proposal that we are to vote on now is both clearer and easier to use than the very complicated legislation that is currently in force in this area .
in writing . - This report provides for a framework to be established in order that Parliament can undertake its obligations under the Lisbon Treaty in regard to international air agreements .
the UK weather means pilots need more of an IMC rating than others .
as regards my second point , we need to help Greece - and not only in a defensive way .
3 .
( applause )
with the proposal for a regulation , the Commission aims to counteract the negative consequences arising in the past from GATT and the previous CAP reforms , which will be intensified to a greater degree with the WTO and expected CAP reforms .
the next item is the report by Mr Graça Moura , on behalf of the Committee on Culture and Education , on Multilingualism : an asset for Europe and a shared commitment .
we hope that the new Commission and other political groups are prepared to accompany us on this mission .
we must guarantee optimum working conditions .
in writing . - ( HU ) The Europe 2020 Strategy not only pointed beyond the Lisbon Strategy at the time of its formulation , but had to be expressly adjusted to the new period of crisis ; what is more , it now also has to reflect upon the period of economic governance and the rescue of the euro .
I think we need exactly the same with regard to the missions that we have had so far .
the Posting of Workers Directive has helped to ensure better opportunities for individuals and has also contributed towards the European economy and a European labour market .
1 .
the EU-US security partnership is very important : it is indispensable and that is why we should allow it to function .
I think this is crucial .
however , at the same time , it calls for more EU restrictions on imports and calls for proactive promotion of EU agricultural interests .
it should also help local and regional authorities to develop networks to cooperate in the field of cultural tourism .
this point was raised during the discussions on most fisheries partnership agreements and is now integrated into each of them in order to increase the value for money under each agreement .
if we reopen this debate - a Pandora 's box - I can guarantee that there would be no agreement at the end of this year .
will the Commission persevere in trying to find a technical solution to the current problems ?
we also need to focus our actions on innovative companies , especially SMEs , by relieving them of any excessive administrative and fiscal burdens , and on green technologies and services .
now the EU is to have its own right to have European police officers , funded from the EU budget and staffed by EU officials .
it is also important that we implement all the requirements for future development so that can open the door to an improved , more stable and more trustful financial market and once again assume a leading role at the next G20 Summit .
how many disasters must there be before the leaders of the European Union finally measure up to their responsibilities ?
I hope that , at the second European summit on Roma inclusion , the European Union will show its determination to deal with the Roma issue in a comprehensive fashion .
( PL ) Mr President , the common organisation of the market for milk and milk products is an important issue both for individual Member States and for the entire European Union .
let us here choose the internal market .
in addition to the freedom to determine the energy mix , however , the deepening of the internal market and increasingly close interconnections result in a growing interdependence between Member States ' energy policies and energy source selection decisions .
firstly , it should be noted that we are currently at a very early stage of the enhanced cooperation procedure .
firstly , this is a global economic crisis which is forcing us to rethink and re-evaluate the Employment Strategy .
this is why I am insisting on urgent action at the highest level to free the hostages and bring this activity under control , which is a disgrace in the 21st century .
in addition , in view of the uncertainty regarding the time needed for the dairy products market to recover , I have backed the authorisation given to the Commission to extend the 2010 / 2011 intervention period , again through a tender procedure , should market conditions make it necessary .
much remains to be done , both at European and national level , to ensure that cooperation between health systems in Europe becomes a reality .
in Germany , Sylvia Stolz was arrested for defending her client 's views in court .
however , this does not relieve healthcare professionals of their fundamental role as the primary and irreplaceable source of information for citizens on health and treatment .
climate change is accelerating the processes of soil deterioration and desertification , especially in the Member States in south-east Europe , including Romania .
you are absolutely right in what you say and I cannot but agree with you .
sadly , it is apparent that , in our dealings , with Venezuela over the last few years , we have made numerous grave mistakes .
nobody here has said that we want to create a Europe against the nations .
current events show that the European Stability and Growth Pact is not very efficient and has failed to prevent several Member States from encountering serious problems in their balance of payments and in paying off their debt .
accommodation which may be considered exceptional in one Member State may be considered average by a citizen from another Member State .
we must scrutinise how decisions are made , what the influences behind them are and , finally , how resources , i.e. taxpayer 's money , are allocated .
I want to see electronic commerce included in the scope of the review and other issues like distance marketing of financial services , consumer credit and unfair commercial practices .
the right of journalists to protect their sources is one of the main principles guaranteeing the effective exercise of press freedom .
it offers governments a fair return and brings to the market innovative products , which benefit everyone .
some years ago I visited a refugee camp in Azerbaijan close to the border with Iran .
the chemical industry , in particular , has been promoting a policy where the Ecolabel should be used for products that merely conform to present laws .
indeed , where this has been already rolled out , we see the experience where businesses , even if they do not produce the winning solution , have had an element of their research and development funded that they can then go on and use to develop other revenue-generating products .
overall we believe that the report highlights the right issues and identifies the key challenges the international community currently faces in providing support to climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing countries .
I do not understand and am far from being able to agree with the position taken by Mr Zīle , who spoke of special , or specific , treatment for small states .
I think he , and probably Mr Bradbourn , will have learnt one lesson this afternoon , which is that it is dangerous - and makes you look rather foolish - to speak on a report that you either have not read or that you clearly do not understand .
on the contrary , it is necessary for countries to maintain budgetary discipline and stick within the limits of the Stability and Growth Pact .
the rights of minorities are enshrined in the legal order of individual EU Member States , and also confirmed by many international agreements .
the European Union has also made major commitments in the Middle East , and we expect these commitments to be followed up with political action .
I support the idea of the need to reinstate the mechanisms of the rule of law , freedom of expression and freedom of the media .
what specific new possibilities does the Commissioner envisage for strengthening the European Neighbourhood Policy in regard to Israel , certainly in view of the highly developed political and economic status of the Jewish state ?
the compromise text also takes account of the issue of bees and of their crucial role in the ecosystem .
the law banning the DTP has been used - as has been said - since 1982 to ban some 27 parties but , of course , political parties are an expression of the will of the people .
we want a review , consultation and checks .
they intend to use economic governance to institutionalise and make permanent the interventionist policies and measures associated with current , ongoing examples of IMF-EU meddling .
the year 2009 will also be an important year in terms of preparing the ground for the future financing of the Union 's policies .
it is good that there is now a minister in place who is responsible ex officio for minority issues and who will gradually attempt to overcome discrimination .
regarding your idea to emphasise more programmes for promotion in third countries , I am , in principle , sympathetic towards the idea , but it has to be put into the right context .
these amendments will impact the lives of the European public significantly , as they will have immediate consequences for the buildings in which they live , and will create the need for more efficient technologies in the construction sector to be researched and developed .
this will make a further contribution towards improving environmental protection and the viability of European industry .
in writing . - ( PT ) In the milk sector , long-term stability and predictability are essential for producers and any problems in the system which should continue until 2015 must be given full attention .
since November 2010 , 24 chapters have been discussed and 23 bilateral screening meetings have been completed , covering fisheries , agriculture , environment , regional policy and financial services .
since it is the High Representative 's job to table the final proposal , he or she will , of course , be involved in the work as soon as he or she has been appointed .
one of the foremost aims of this initiative is to improve information to the general public concerning the EU funds available by publishing the names of recipients of direct subsidies within the framework of the EU 's cohesion policy .
we have been at this for years and years now , and it really is a disgrace that we cannot sort out this problem .
nevertheless , I am disappointed that , for the reasons mentioned by the honourable Member , the package has not been passed today .
we must also see to it that our energy-efficiency and food-security strategies are at the heart of these efforts .
they claim , for example , that citizens can be fined for using a minority language , that doctors of Hungarian nationality will be able to work only in the official Slovak language , or that religious services can be conducted only in the official language .
this is a key point for Greece .
Madam President , the agreement on the climate package is a modest result .
it is extremely important to be able to obtain a European patent with a single application .
the European Parliament also supported the targets set then and formulated proposals which the Council studied with great interest .
in the current crisis SMEs are clearly in the high risk category .
( DE ) Mr President , Baroness Ashton , I would like to repeat the call for you to provide us with the list of recipients of EU money in these countries .
it would require DG Environment and DG Development to work closely together .
Mr President , I am pleased to see that the sittings of the European Parliament are no less animated and rich in performances than those of the Hungarian Parliament , which makes me feel quite at home .
we also have the promise that this predominance will no longer be a predominance by 2015 , and that there will be a gradual reduction in the financing of these projects based on fossil fuels .
we knew where the threat lay for it had a location and a face .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , in conclusion I would like to say that there is unanimous support in the Council , and broad support in the European Parliament , for extending the duration of ENISA for three years .
smart cities require a smart communications , transport and energy infrastructure .
I do not want my answer to be too long .
either we accept an agreement that disadvantages European businesses , or we suspend the agreement and risk losing the benefits we have gained since 2008 .
thus , in the major revision , we should consider creating a European public rating agency and changing and examining the payment model .
the reserves of fossil fuels are therefore running out and are concentrated in fewer and fewer hands .
Mr President , the brutal repression of any political alternative to President Lukashenko 's regime since the election of 19 December 2010 has clearly reduced Minsk 's room for manoeuvre in the outside world .
the European Union must continue to develop a genuine foreign policy that is consistent and effective with regard to its partners , and it is crucial that it speak decisively , with one strong voice , reiterating their call for the defence of human rights to become a reality .
the main purpose of the enhanced Urban Agenda is to serve the development and qualitative updating of the infrastructure and services in European cities .
( FR ) Madam President , this debate got off to a bad start , with the good guys , the anti-nuclear people , on one side , and the bad guys , those who still support nuclear power , on the other .
this agreement has already enabled Switzerland to make use of important instruments in the fight against international crime and illegal immigration .
I particularly agree that the Council 's proposal to only give Parliament a role as observer , without any right to vote , is unacceptable .
that is why we view ACTA with great interest .
Mr President , the floor is yours .
secondly , the European Union 's policy landmarks on the death penalty and their implementation .
in this regard , Professor Mayer believes that the Commission should consider giving the European Committee for Standardisation ( CEN ) a mandate to produce a standardised European regulation .
in addition to that , we have seen during this year that the Commission discussed the situation of young people and the impact of the crisis on youth employment , and ' Youth on the move ' has already addressed this in concrete terms .
from my experience of this legislative term , I am convinced that we can achieve broad consensus on questions of social policy .
in the vote on the Lange report , I am abstaining on paragraph 31 because of the ambiguous wording , which refers to Eurobonds as well as project bonds .
Article 336 is amended to change the procedure for adopting the Institutions ' Staff Regulations to ordinary legislative procedure - that means normal codecision - currently , the Council acts by qualified majority vote on a proposal from the Commission , after consulting the other institution .
I think we should remember briefly how we come to be here .
secondly , a mechanism to reallocate under-utilised fishing opportunities has been introduced in order to optimise the utilisation of fishing opportunities under the fisheries agreements .
very often we , as Europe , have been critical of the USA in recent years because promoting democracy through military means has proved ineffective .
their sacrifice reminds us never to accept that any state should subjugate individuals , whatever the cause or purpose for what takes place .
their losses to Internet piracy are huge .
why not ?
we cannot follow him along that path .
I will keep my fingers crossed for you that the next five years will bring more of the same .
now and in the slightly longer term , we must continue to manage the economic and financial crisis .
unfortunately to date this has been approached in an amateurish fashion .
it is important for me also to mention once more that we in the European Union produce around 2 million tonnes of fishery , fish and aquaculture products , but we consume 8 million tonnes .
today 's press is characterised by pessimism : will an agreement be reached or not ?
I am also sure that we should not outsource our task of reminding Myanmar of its obligations to neighbouring countries .
the Commission wishes , of course , to assist those Member States who decide to receive former Guantánamo detainees on their territory .
( RO ) In order to best use the opportunities provided by globalization , the European Union should modernize its social policies and invest mainly in human resources .
the amount of sales of electrical and electronic equipment in the EU and the inevitable increase in waste from this equipment means that there is a need to replace certain hazardous substances in them , so as to minimise their impact on the environment and ensure the protection of consumers and public health .
consequently , these drafts , if they are approved now , will need to be reviewed at the time when the Treaty of Lisbon comes into force .
it is a pity that we did not discuss it this morning , Commissioner , when we were sitting together , because I was a bit surprised that you are so harsh now in your speech to Parliament .
the packages address four basic safety topics - safety and communication , entertainment , downloading , and virtual violence , and , in a playful manner , offer families help with the safe use of the Internet .
I think , however , that part of the resources should be used to bring in some necessary improvements to enable Members to carry out their duties with the help of quality services .
I have seen programmes in Ireland showing people who were claiming social welfare in the Republic of Ireland , Northern Ireland and England every week , people flying in to Cork airport and out again having claimed social welfare .
( SV ) Mr President , Libya is quite good at ratifying international agreements , but it seems to be just as good at refraining from implementing these agreements .
let us guard against excessive stigmatisation of the 30 % of the population who smoke .
I am pleased to note that your message regarding nuclear energy is fully in line with our conclusions in the communication on a Nuclear Illustrative Programme , as widely supported by the Economic and Social Committee .
at the same time , we are actually giving countries the right to say no if they have climatic conditions that require them to do so .
when did the political class and the great and the good suddenly catch up with the fact that Colonel Gaddafi is an evil man ?
paragraph 19 about the institutions and the government of Pakistan is also important , as is the call for recognition of democracy and human rights .
since then , territorial cohesion has become , under Article 174 of the Treaty , one of the three components of cohesion policy , alongside economic and social cohesion .
it is not the intention of the Commission to take a decision to go to 30 % the day after this communication has been presented .
Russia offered us the chance to go back and have military lives .
it is important that everyone gains a proper awareness of such crimes while acknowledging first of all that they do exist , so that they can detect potential abusers and prevent the abuse .
here too , Mr Kallas , it will be up to the Commission to play a key role .
the particular challenges on the economic front include the firm and credible implementation of the Stability and Growth Pact , constant efforts to render our economies more productive and dynamic , and the avoidance of major competitive divergences within the euro area .
in view of the recent events in Belarus following the presidential elections , I would like to draw attention to the steps which the European Parliament will take together with the Commission and the Council to intervene in this matter .
I shall make some brief remarks in this area .
in order to overcome the economic recession , it is very important to invest in human capital and social infrastructure , creating the conditions for men and women to take advantage of all their opportunities .
it also asks for the roles of Commissioners Ashton and Georgieva to be clarified .
such information could be extremely valuable for the purposes of environmental policy making .
Member States must provide the Bank , if necessary , with the appropriate resources so that it will be in a position to make available new resources to support the automotive sector .
with regard to the personnel to be covered , we are satisfied with the fact that train drivers will be covered initially , while the question of including other personnel involved in safety will be assessed again in 30 months ' time .
as many people have said , these can only be addressed if the future European financial framework takes into account the importance of regional policy , in order to achieve true economic , social and territorial cohesion , and if it is able to guarantee adequate financing despite the constraints on resources by carrying forward a policy where objectives are set according to priorities and assessed according to results .
Parliament adopted its amendments at first reading on 4 May 2009 .
these were not voted through , either , and when we found ourselves in a situation where a positive vote for the report would mean adoption at first reading with a content that we believed undermined the whole proposal for a single document instead of several within the EU , we chose to vote against the proposal .
I therefore fully support the resolution adopted today by the European Parliament , which is aimed at providing a strict framework for the transfer of passenger data to third countries .
therefore , the gas market , which has always been a continental market , is , for the first time , on the way to becoming a global market , with gas from the USA being supplied to liquid natural gas ( LNG ) terminals in Europe .
some were inclined to privatise or partially privatise market surveillance ; some opted for certification , the certification body being more or less private .
the relevant provisions of international law actually state that if even one of the states parties to the agreement does not accept the international agreement then the agreement is not binding in that form .
and the final fact : the item on the agenda for today 's morning sitting was not the result of the Irish referendum , but preparations for the European Council .
therefore , the question is how will the Commission and the Member States together ensure consistency in their policy ?
we cannot accept crime and armed violence and call on all the parties involved - call on them to do what ?
according to the data in the report , and I quote : the ' construction sector is one of Europe 's biggest industries accounting for 10 % of [ gross domestic product ] and 50.5 % of gross fixed capital .
as late as January 2006 , the EU countries started to realise that energy has been used and will be used by Russia as a central instrument of its foreign policies .
I would like to respond briefly to some of the initiatives .
as far as products of animal origin in particular are concerned , including products from third countries , food legislation further strengthens traceability for products of animal origin which are covered by Regulation ( EC ) No 853 / 2004 by imposing the following requirements :
the quality of European education should be measured depending on the graduation rate and the admission rate to the next education level .
finally , we will soon see a White Paper on territorial cohesion is forthcoming , combining not only the development of large central regions but also the territorial cohesion of more remote areas in Europe , and I welcome that too .
furthermore , would-be corruptors know how to avoid being identified and the registers are not , therefore , a silver bullet .
I would like to stress the disastrous impact that this type of disaster has on the lives of the populations that are affected , on their economies , employment , natural and cultural heritage , the environment and tourism .
several EU countries have such platforms , but now there is a need at Community level to ensure that everyone can be familiar with all this information .
finally , these schemes aim to encourage and support the development of sustainable mechanisms and practices which will ensure that women researchers have an equal opportunity to compete on the basis of their scientific expertise , knowledge and potential .
by this , I do not mean provisions that are applicable pending an amendment , but those with regulatory durability and robustness .
thus we intend to support the joint resolution .
I will vote against them , evidently .
the original regulation was therefore reviewed to allow the Fund to react more effectively to support workers who had lost their jobs not just as a result of globalisation but also temporarily because of the financial and economic slowdown .
however , we have more in common with the United States than with all the European Union 's other strategic partners .
I will see him again in Cairo .
therefore , Madam President , I thank Parliament for its extremely positive work on this issue .
it could undermine the democratic process under way .
up until now , no satisfactory explanation has been found for the events surrounding this murder and the evidence has never really been properly investigated .
the United States are ahead , however , in terms of private-sector investment in technological innovations and sustainability , which is extremely important for small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) and for employment .
it is very important to set up adequate risk prevention and management measures to limit the consequences of natural disasters for agricultural production .
unfortunately , the climate change package will not be complete until the energy package is also finalised .
we still have fifty percent going to rich Member States , such as Germany and France .
Europe has been faced with some very ambitious targets .
the European Union , as a trade partner and important negotiating partner at global level , should help promote higher labour and social standards in third countries .
the issue is therefore not that you asked your partners to publish the reports for Parliament ; you have to do so , because otherwise , Parliament will never say ' yes ' to you , because you are now bound by the Treaty of Lisbon .
a message of freedom and hope has gone out , loud and clear , from little Ireland .
I hope that the rapporteur sees fit to rethink this point , otherwise I will join my group in voting against the report .
Mr President , 2009 will be , to put it mildly , a crucial year for achieving the goals of the Lisbon process .
moreover , if this influx makes its way towards Europe , then we must be prepared .
what is your advice on this ?
it has already been said , and I will repeat it , that 191 people have been executed this year and 317 people were executed in 2007 .
it is in these sectors above all that small and medium sized enterprises are found and their financial , organisational and legal capabilities make it difficult for them to comply with high health and safety standards .
EU citizens and nationals of Antigua and Barbuda who travel to the territory of the other contracting party for a maximum period of three months within a six- month period will be exempt from visa requirements .
finally , I can only assure you of my commitment , inasmuch as I agree with everything that has been said .
the 19th century was a time of European expansion , the 20th century was a period when the United States was dominant , and the 21st century appears to be the era of China and South-East Asia .
in order to attain both , the Member States must keep their domestic finances in order , because that will not only help us prevent problems such as those we are currently witnessing in Member States which are struggling with soaring deficits and debt , but also lay the foundation for growth and jobs for our citizens , and also for our children and future generations .
research Fund for Coal and Steel ( debate )
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , sorry , this is part two .
( it ) Mr President , the European Arrest Warrant is undoubtedly a fundamental tool in the fight against terrorism and organised crime .
one of the issues on which consensus was lacking was undoubtedly the question of labelling to highlight the risks and dangers of excessive alcohol consumption .
in writing . - As we begin to consider what the final make-up will be of the CAP post-2013 , the themes of food security , food shortages and sustainability are coming ever more to the fore .
allow me to congratulate the heads of the Member States on their wise decision not to forget sport at the latest Lisbon summit and to give the Union the right of initiative in sport after approving the Reform Treaty .
lagging regions that are battling with complex problems are unable to raise the counterpart funds necessary in order to obtain the Community assistance to which they are legally entitled .
you have not made a financial stimulus of 3.3 % in Europe - you have not !
although the European Union and Canada have long-standing economic and political ties , until today the only existing Agreement on aviation between the EU and Canada was borne out of a combination of bilateral agreements between countries .
honourable Members , that brings me to a close .
this should become an important part of the struggle against cartels , which is important both for the better functioning of the common market and in order to protect consumer rights , because consumer prices may rise as much as 25 % due to cartel agreements .
yesterday at midday , in the company of President Van Rompuy , in the General Affairs Council , many of us still had unanswered questions .
the following questions are addressed to the Commission .
the life of any child is a blessing and its destruction is a crime against mankind .
for those of you who do not realise it , this is an attack on the high-quality end of our beef market .
for example , the Slovak Government will soon debate a moratorium on the prices of some basic foodstuffs .
it is not only a question of pension age , there is also the number of years of pension contributions , pre-pension schemes , and the existence or not of a second pillar .
in Wales , the key has been to take a pragmatic approach .
if Copenhagen is not a success , we do not even have a 50 % chance of keeping this planet from going into dangerous climate change .
it is an internal signal that we are taking seriously the promise made in the 2008 climate package of 20 % renewable energy and 20 % energy savings .
I played a very active part in various reports , on various subjects , in particular the review of the European Social Fund , the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund , flexicurity , the report on the European Social Model , the Working Time Directive , and now the European Social Agenda .
this tiny percentage represents a loss of 1 700 million euros .
I strongly believe that there should be an independent investigation and I call on the UN Security Council to launch one .
( DE ) Madam President , the meat scandal in Ireland has made waves throughout Europe , including Austria where , as a bizarre consequence of the scandal , Irish meat was sold as Tyrolean bacon .
however , did you know , ladies and gentlemen , that in past years , 97 % , I repeat , 97 % of all deliberate infringements of safety regulations by American oil companies were committed by British Petroleum ?
if we do not give our backing to youth , today , we will face the bleak prospect of a slowdown in economic growth , and perhaps even another crisis .
we are in favour of a number of the intentions both in the Committee 's report and in the proposed alternative resolution .
however , obviously a short-term strategy is not enough .
Baroness Ashton , as Vice-President / High Representative , you have recently come under pressure for its lacklustre performance .
as I have already said , the problem for the African Union is that it has to juggle two different opinions .
furthermore , Commissioner Reding , all you have done is to designate 5 March as European Equal Pay Day , an announcement you made on Friday , 4 March .
such work should actually be directed at achieving the objectives , increasing production and the number of jobs .
the World Wide Fund for Nature international NGO announced in August that an increase in commercial activity over the next 20 years will seriously damage the Baltic Sea .
however , from both the perspective of competition distortion and of safeguarding stable employment , the length of the restructuring process in Poland is an aggravating factor .
the case of the young men of Temerin shows a flagrant violation of human rights perpetrated by imposing an excessively severe sentence of a total of 61 years in prison on five young men for a pub fight , which they must serve in third world conditions , tortured and subject to inhumane , cruel treatment .
I would like to confirm that , if the round continued to be about market access at any price , we would not achieve our objective .
last Friday marked the end of the process for adopting the new treaty .
if we do not succeed in keeping research and development activities in Europe , we shall not manage to keep jobs in Europe either .
I am convinced that Slovenia will also show through the Presidency that its inauguration , years ago , was not just a geo-political decision , but also an acknowledgement that we were willing to cooperate responsibly in the creation of a free , democratic and successfully united Europe .
from the Brussels viewpoint , we can understand the mathematical equation between a decrease in production and a decrease in the number of producers , but from the viewpoint of south-west France , the plains of Italy , the Spanish or Portuguese coasts , Commissioner , I can assure you that it is not the same thing , and this is an issue which should not be observed through the prism of the economist 's spectacles .
social inclusion should not be dissociated from territorial cohesion .
we sympathise with the victims ' families , and we would like to express our condolences to them and to the governments of the countries affected .
I will go further than that : we think it is an excellent idea .
I should like to give an example .
( FR ) Mr President , I should like to take the floor briefly under Article 15 ( 6 ) ( d ) of the Treaty on European Union , which stipulates that the President of the European Council shall present a report after each of the meetings of the European Council .
at the same time they should facilitate and promote physical activity for students .
the FDP considers that the argument that more money is needed due to the additional work that MEPs have to do with the coming into force of the Treaty of Lisbon is unsound , as there is nothing in past experience to support this .
we think the worst thing would be if everybody went in different directions doing whatever they thought was the right thing to do in their respective Member States .
up to now , in the Council and in Parliament , the Member States have been divided into categories : one supersize state , some large ones , some medium-sized , some small , etc .
against this background I am glad to discuss with you tonight two proposals that both contribute to the objective of fighting tax fraud and tax evasion in two different tax areas .
the differences within and between regions of the European Union are significantly greater than in the United States or in Japan .
in fact , ensuring that opinions and information can be made known and exchanged publicly in the various sectors in which the Union acts and , at the same time , guaranteeing that the organisations and individuals who play an active part in EU policy making and policy implementation are monitored , are important factors in the democratic lives of the institutions .
my aim was to produce a report which provides a description of the developments over the next 30 to 40 years for all decision makers and interested parties and which offers food for thought and recommendations for action for the individual areas of social policy .
as Foreign Minister at the time when visa requirements for Bulgaria were lifted , I know the great emotional effect the visa waiver and ending of humiliation had on our citizens .
the issue that could bring an immediate result is energy .
this will be made possible in particular by expanding online administration and the one-stop shop in line with the recommendations made in the review .
it will be there in all the original languages , as before .
not everything will be solved in one meeting , but it will be a very good restart or re-beginning .
the European Union is a Union of values .
the aim of this is to facilitate SMEs ' access to research and development projects and to utilise their results by providing free online training , personalised information and making a communication forum available .
but I think you can now begin to move to bring the two together .
nine out of 10 EU citizens believe that the traffic situation in their area should be improved .
the Commission must ensure that the legislation for exploiting oil resources in safe conditions does not contain provisions which are too lax and assess to what extent this legislation needs to be amended in order to reduce the use of means of shirking responsibility .
this is a very complex process , bearing in mind the differences in tax systems , contract law and requirements for conducting a business across the EU Member States , but efforts must continue in this area .
consequently , its own commitment to democracy is , to that extent , weakened .
what I cannot accept is that we need quotas to get there .
they also remember that , over the centuries , the Turks have been the main threat to Europe .
finally , I would like to make it clear , on behalf of my group , that we absolutely insist that the candidate countries respect all of the Copenhagen criteria , without any exception whatsoever being made for absolutely anyone .
( FI ) Madam President , it is very important to focus on the early years of childhood and early childhood education and care ( ECEC ) .
I believe that we need to address two issues here .
in 2008 , the at-risk-of-poverty rate for people aged 65 years and over stood at 19 % .
its experts responded to my request to visit the home in Mogilino together and seek specific solutions to the problems .
chronic conflict situations in Afghanistan , Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are now being joined by an alarming increase in new cases , such as Egypt , Tunisia and Libya , which have led to a dramatic worsening of the situation .
the Spanish Government 's programme is extremely ambitious .
any European strategy for Roma inclusion must be based , first and foremost , on a knowledge of local conditions .
the European Union can play an important role in this sector on the global market .
these discrepancies must be overcome by common rules to allow audit bodies and central banks to face up to the possible insolvency of the banking system , particularly in countries that have adopted the euro .
in so doing , Europe is closing off a major producer of high radioactive emissions and eliminating the risk of serious accidents .
the overall objective of the natural handicap payments is to ensure continued land use and , through agricultural land management , maintain the countryside as well as to promote sustainable farming systems .
it has also been an element of inertia , a superfluous element to be taken into consideration when Member States took things in hand .
the fact is that the successes and the credit side of the Rose Revolution in Georgia have been tarnished in recent months and years by a good few authoritarian decisions which have encroached on the powers of the judiciary .
in spite of all the criticism that can be levelled at it , it has been unequivocally shown that many countries harbour an enormous desire to join the European Union .
the UK will continue to pour increasing amounts of money into Brussels , yet the one area where some of that money is recouped - albeit very little - is the area the Commission are looking to axe .
21 .
our joint efforts are central to developing a consistent policy and a strong presence in the region .
only today .
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the argument used , which is low absorption , is not justified as the necessary framework for the implementation of IPA could only be completed in July 2009 .
the provisions of the text relating to security in no way affect the scope of this annex .
in order to proceed to possible repatriation or to check whether they have political refugee status or need to be granted political asylum , these people have to be identified and this obviously takes time .
I think we should make every effort to stress these points with the Pakistani authorities , including with the President , when he visits Brussels soon .
it would be useful if Parliament were presented in this way more often .
let me say how grateful I have been for the enormous cooperation from the other rapporteurs on this package , as well as from the shadows , the Commission and the Czech Presidency , for helping us to come to a conclusion on what was sometimes a very challenging debate .
I hope that many EU Member States will adopt this system , including the Netherlands .
in writing . - I strongly believe in sustainable development and do not question that the bluefin tuna ( BFT ) species is over-exploited and needs protecting .
in writing . - Katerina Batzeli 's report on the Culture Programme for 2007-2013 streamlines the process by which financial support through the programme is decided .
the agency 's existence cannot be justified . there are already institutions charged with safeguarding democracy and protecting human rights in every European country .
these are measures that also combat the relocation of companies .
since scientific work is non-stop , it would be to women 's advantage to work from home as well , unless their presence at the workplace is inevitable .
we need more integration .
I have an additional question .
I hope , Commissioner , that this is also followed up on conscientiously .
the Commission will include measures on biofuel sustainability in its proposal .
despite everything , I consider that we have made good progress in this area in response to situations which are truly terrible in humanitarian terms .
it is very important that we help President Obama to close Guantánamo .
for the 25 % of European women currently suffering some form of violence , their torturers have private names , and defending themselves against the attacks does not allow them to be citizens .
twelve per cent of these monies ought not really to have been paid , according to the Court of Auditors ' report .
regrettably , that has not been the case .
thus , the EU has the obligation to contribute to ensuring global peace , stability and prosperity .
I can assure you that the Council will continue to be very much engaged with all aspects of this particular dossier .
media freedoms are of essential significance for democracy and respect for fundamental values .
however , there is also a serious conflict between the old and the new Member States .
again , I would like to ask the Council to explain what has been done to get to a European strategy .
can we really consider Russia to be our strategic partner , when it espouses values so radically different from our own ?
it also provides the opportunity to hold an open reflection on the complex nature of the Internet and make timely provision for its technical , ethical and legal limitations , since there are major concerns in addition to the issues close to EU hearts : reducing the digital divide , freedom of expression on the web , cultural diversity and child protection .
patients will have to request prior authorisation for some specialised treatments or those requiring an overnight stay in hospital .
it must reduce the inconsistency shown by Russia to date and promote an integrated market and free access to infrastructure and investment in Russia .
in addition , again with the aim of ensuring the functioning of the internal market , infringement proceedings have been opened whenever national rules are found to impose discriminatory or disproportionate restrictions in the area of regulated professions as regards , for instance , access to ownership , incompatibilities or compulsory tariffs .
yet we have agreed little more at Bali than to keep talking in our attempts to replace one failed climate treaty with another .
I wish the European Parliament , the European Commission , the European Council and , last but not least , the Hungarian EU Presidency , successful work in developing and bringing to a final conclusion this momentous strategy for the integration of the Roma by June this year .
closure of the sitting
( SV ) The electricity market has been more or less monopolised in all the industrial countries .
this is the kind of thing the authorities have been asking themselves .
to paraphrase a French sociologist , a border is a political object which creates distance where there is proximity .
as a geologist and oceanographer - in fact my thesis was on the seismicity of the mid-Atlantic ridge from 12 ° N to 20 ° S. I am all too well aware that the United Kingdom is almost immune .
you are right , Mr Barroso . the concept of the internal market must be made public .
this motion for a resolution of the European Parliament addresses equal access to public sector markets in the EU and in third countries , and the revision of the legal framework of public procurement including concessions .
does NATO intend to yield , for the sake of cooperation , the representation and protection of the democratic ideas on which the Euro-Atlantic alliance is based , and which are in sharp contrast to the Russian concept of democracy on several points ?
she said : ' at 15 , one has a future , at 25 , a problem , at 40 , an experience , but before the half-century , one really has no history at all ' .
I will this week send out the information on the execution of the budget , and you will see that our calculations are based on very serious grounds .
I do not know .
the time that this has taken and the relative complexity of the solution show that deregulation and cutting red tape are nothing like as easy as people think .
the climate change taking place in the far north is going to have colossal significance for all of humanity .
academic science has shown that the notion that objectivity can be equated with masculinity is a myth .
moreover , I feel that it is right and necessary to monitor and report on how far the goals of the Directive have been met , or are expected to be met .
finally , I want to point out that this visa waiver should be applied only to holders of biometric passports issued by each of the two countries in question .
on 29 January 2011 , after a trial which was an affront to international standards , the Dutch and therefore EU citizen Zahra Bahrami was hanged in Iran .
nevertheless , many Member States have failed in implementing efficient legislation to protect women from all forms of violence and discrimination , and we are now seeing that the core values of our Union do not apply to half its citizens .
the preamble is exclusionary and reflects a distorted interpretation of history .
we in Padania all feel Irish today .
future progress has been a central theme and I am delighted to be able to emphasise once again that support is going into innovation in the automobile industry via the European Investment Bank , in order to ensure that the crisis situation does not weaken the industry 's capacity for innovation .
to achieve this , sometimes we need to look to the past , to the existing traditions , and sometimes we need to lose our prejudices against solutions such as aquifer recharges and other essential measures .
finally , I would like to express support for the two main proposals contained in the Thun report .
this concept of health depends on women and men being able to choose , on a basis of equality , methods of regulating fertility that are safe , effective , affordable and acceptable .
it is far from giving the impression that our market is stable ; therefore , I believe that more coordination is required .
I certainly do not share such views and Mr Van Rompuy 's first statements have put me at ease .
similarly , where the Council has reached a symbolic increase of 0.2 % of commitment appropriations , the Committee on Budgets proposes 0.8 % in current euros , that is , a reduction in volume .
investment by both the public and private sectors in IT allowed the country to reach a level above the European Union average , and by the late 1990s the situation in electronic government services , and services in some sectors such as banking , had attained a level enjoyed only by a few countries in Europe .
I do not agree with excluding a series of actors from the scope of the register , such as the social partners and local , regional and municipal authorities .
I am convinced that Iran could potentially have a much more important role in the region in which it is located .
this is a luxury the Commission can certainly afford , and it could be exported or proposed in certain global negotiations as an example of good practice .
it includes provision for those points which have proven to be weaker and not fully thought out or not implemented to a sufficient extent in previous years .
I commend this report .
this solution lies in the harmonisation and interpretation of the legislation .
on the second question , it even relates to an issue that we have not discussed this evening , the question of information to patients .
what we would be adopting is an obligation on the part of European authorities to play a much greater role in combating air pollution .
it also investigates the possibilities for future development of the relations between the European Parliament and the national parliaments .
we have also removed one of the main issues of life in general - climate change - which was going to be one of the issues , one of the main ones in fact , and has been removed .
we need to see intelligent measures taken by governments .
if the answer is yes , as we argue , then we need to promote more trade , more transparency , and more clarity and predictability in rules .
however , the central issue is respect for the sovereignty of the Member States , particularly over their exclusive economic zones ( EEZs ) and their capacity to adopt independent measures to protect their resources .
we do not believe that the own resources ceiling should be revised as it should be possible to finance EU policy within the current income ceiling .
last week in Ireland , forest fires - on a scale not seen for a long time - caused severe destruction on lands in Donegal , Sligo and other regions of the country .
it dates from the end of June 2008 and exposes serious cases of corruption involving EU funds .
we can do whatever we like with regard to sovereign debt , but if we do not clean up the banking sector , we will achieve nothing .
for example , on the basis of better monitoring , the Commission can further progress in the area of defining indicators of territorial cohesion .
but one aspect of this problem emerged during the course of my investigation that has , I think , been missed by many decision makers in the west .
I am afraid that many of our colleagues have vanished because they are not looking for an explanation : they simply wanted to make their points , and that is all .
special attention needs to be directed by the EU institutions towards supporting the SME sectors of the economies of new Member States , so they can close the developmental gap with their peer SMEs in the EU .
the total abandonment of any market regulation mechanism would seem to me to be hazardous for our food security and that of the world .
personally speaking , I do not see it as progress that the International Monetary Fund is intervening in these countries and dictating how they should behave .
( PL ) Mr President , I would like to thank Mrs Striffler for raising this matter at today 's sitting , and Mrs Georgieva and Mr Piebalgs for their statements .
this is a good thing , but it is also a necessity , and I therefore fully support the proposal .
it goes without saying that the exercise of this right must respect the principles of proportionality , need and non-discrimination .
it is all about further political and economic integration ' .
secondly , I expect the Heads of State and Government to endorse the country-specific recommendations that the Commission presented on 7 June .
( LV ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I do not think anyone in this Chamber is in favour of discrimination .
what about radical Islamism and all those Trotskyites and communists ?
they call upon President Kibaki and Raila Odinga to cooperate fully with the aim of finding a political settlement .
the third energy package must gradually develop the energy market , which until very recently was based on a monopoly system .
the previous speaker reminded us of all those who contributed to this , of the milestones , of the European monetary system , which was an agreement with the European Central Bank to create central rates , of the Delors report , which provided for the introduction of the monetary union in three stages , of the Treaty of Maastricht - only two years after the fall of the Wall - and of the transitional periods .
one in three companies gave the introduction of the women 's quota as the reason it withdrew from the stock market .
the EU 's humanitarian aid must be accompanied by political and diplomatic activity that makes compliance with international law , especially international humanitarian law , a priority for the so-called recipient state .
it is a characteristic of Dutch farming that there are many ditches between pastureland .
in this regard , I am particularly concerned about the school education of children , in particular , of girls .
rapporteur . - Madam President , I and the Commissioner both explained the situation very clearly .
in Israel , Palestine and all over the world , our interlocutors are demanding to see more from Europe .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , we are discussing these three reports in the face of the largest and most difficult economic and financial crisis that has so far been experienced in the history of the European Union .
humanitarian food aid must respond to the needs , challenges and structural limitations of developing countries , with account being taken of production , distribution and local transport as well as the trading capacities of these countries , in order to help lay the foundations of their long-term food security .
we will therefore have to be alert to any new impact that a new and more far-reaching trade agreement may have on fragile sectors of the Indian economy .
debates on cases of breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law ( debate )
the reason is that they are not here with us , and this is the only reason I can recognise .
I will also give you an answer on Kosovo .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
that is the question which this report , for which I have the honour of being rapporteur , seeks to answer .
their dynamics influence and , to an increasing extent , are influenced by regulatory settings at the multilateral , inter-regional , regional and bilateral level .
you publicly stated that you supported that idea ; your President , President Barroso , publicly committed himself to such a horizontal directive .
I agree with the opinion that vaccination strategies should rely on three conditions to be successful : efficacy of the vaccine , a positive benefit-risk balance for the vaccine , and targeting of risk groups .
in addition to this , I urge all fellow Members to support the declaration which has been initiated by certain fellow Members , including myself , in favour of the United States lifting the visa regime for citizens of all European Union Member States .
Madam President , in paragraph 2 of Article 9a , after the words ' at the request of a Member State ' , we would like to add the phrase ' any legal person or any association not having legal personality acting on behalf of the Union industry ' .
- ( PL ) The main task that the European Police Office faces is that of improving efficiency of action and cooperation between the authorities in Member States as regards preventing and combating international organised crime .
let me also mention our support for the preparatory work for the revision of the law against feminicide , now before Congress , with a view to the revision of the penal code .
the humanitarian situation is particularly grave with more than 1.5 million internal displaced persons in Kivu province .
the topic attracting the greatest attention was of course the question of how to resolve the current economic crisis .
the fact that the European Parliament has finally agreed to keeping a supervisory authority seems important .
the task we have in front of us is extremely difficult .
that is a law of nature ; it is what happens when transport is cheaper .
we want to talk to Europe because your experience is vital to us . '
the idea of revamping the ' local products ' concept and more effective support for traditional food markets are solutions which I strongly support .
this was not about assessing the implementation of the Services Directive adopted by Parliament in 2006 , since it is still far too early for that .
we were not entering into a commercial war ; the rules of the WTO were not being violated .
rapporteur . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , first I want to thank colleagues for their valuable cooperation , and in particular Mr Frattini for his commitment since the beginning of his mandate to safeguard the rights of the child .
you also want a system where , when a lorry-load of sheep drives into a market , in ideal circumstances , you want to be able to electronically check every sheep that is in that lorry .
this morning I had the happy opportunity to comment on that with Mrs Souhayr Belhassen , who is , as you know , one of the most important figures in the International Federation of Human Rights .
that was quite obvious , and that was also partly why the market could not work .
agenda for next sitting : see Minutes
about , about , about ...
we are now bringing our work to a close , and I would like to thank you for your attention and urge you to support this report .
I am pleased about that .
technological innovation is the key to growth , jobs and competitiveness , and this is the basis for the social wellbeing of our citizens .
it is time that we said : no more !
the question is , how fast ?
I myself would like to comment on paragraph 40 first , which stresses the responsibility of the Member States .
however , there must also be a guarantee that it will not happen again in future .
Mrs Malmström , it seems to me that these funds should be used for emergency situations , because we need to have the ability to use them and modify them .
here , it is recommended once again that for the most part alternative sentences should be chosen over imprisonment .
( EL ) Mr President , Commissioner , thank you for your informative reply .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , I am angry .
following the decommissioning of the nuclear reactors , the focus of generating capacity in Bulgaria has changed .
the de minimis threshold values apply .
social and ecological regulation is not a position against markets but in favour of fair markets - and that means regulated markets .
therefore I support the bulk of the paragraphs in this report , but have abstained because of concerns about paragraph 44 .
the sitting will resume at 12 noon for the votes .
the European Union needs to be the driving force within the international community if we are to achieve real results .
simplification is a much-used , if not to say over-used , word that provides a challenge to us all .
certain differences between this proposal and the current Regulation should be highlighted , such as : inclusion of new types of data , use of an approach which is more focused on fleets and on the distinction between different regions ( fishing areas ) and preparation of national three-year programmes .
I have heard in the meantime that some Members of your Commission - presumably after consultation with you - have taken up and put forward some of the ideas that we proposed here .
as regards the second question about the 70 % rate for cofinancing , the initial percentage rate was 60 % and I felt that , in the current economic climate , it was necessary to increase it .
Europe needs to increase its competitiveness in an ever-growing global competitive environment .
most of today 's resolution has our backing , but we take exception to paragraph 7 for two reasons .
every year , 14 to 15 million hectares are gone .
I would also like to thank the honourable Members of the European Parliament for the strong signal they have given with today 's vote .
thirdly , allow me to comment on financial management .
this form of self-regulation , where those affected by a given problem themselves agree in the form of a legal regulation on its resolution , is in my view a model example of European regulation .
State budgets have been derailed because : a ) in every crisis , state spending ( social spending , spending for growth ) increases , b ) the merchant banks were saved and c ) tax competition was intensified , with a clear reduction in corporation tax over the last twenty years .
two years later he has proved to be exceptionally gifted in the study of philosophy and has become a popular student leader .
ladies and gentlemen , my fellow Member , Mr Tőkés , the Slovak Government 's Statement of Policy contains a declaration of rights of minorities and the government consequently observes these rights .
despite its lack of success , I hope that 2010 will help awaken Europeans ' awareness of the need for greater social cohesion .
events of recent years , and especially recent months , raise a number of questions and underline the necessity of a unified approach from the EU as a whole .
voting against the Commission would have prolonged the expensive negotiations , and the final effect would not necessarily have been better than the one which we have achieved .
are the Eurocrats actually afraid of democracy , afraid of consulting the people ?
the suspension or closure of a sitting is covered by Rule 171 ; I quote , ' The sitting may be suspended or closed during a debate or a vote . '
those of us who visited Darfur in July 2007 and went to al-Geneina and al-Fashir , to Nyala and Kapkabia and to many IDP camps around those cities , are fully aware of the suffering of the people of Darfur and the tremendous job that NGOs do there .
we therefore wish to withdraw our amendment .
it will be a shot in the arm for our economy , for employment and the environment , of course , and entirely feasible , on the basis of the Commission 's Roadmap 2050 calculations .
however , it was also important to us that the results be viable for all 27 Member States .
reform of the market in wine again involves limiting production .
however , the new government majority in Chişinău is in a fragile position as it is also getting over the postponement of the vote by its parliament on the appointment of the President of Moldova .
the authorities in Cairo must therefore make a greater commitment to protect minorities and to oppose Salafi extremism , which is a negation of the principles of modern democracy to which the Egyptian people aspire .
it is a country which faces a lot of challenges .
however , I am confident that the rapporteur knew all this , and expected this fight with the Council .
the European social market economy and the common currency are cornerstones of the world economy and the global financial system .
it would be possible to influence the probability of innovative success to an even greater extent if the practical part of these dissertations was carried out directly in the place where they might one day be put to use .
thanks to the European Parliament 's recommendation in this report , for which I congratulate the rapporteur Mrs Edit Bauer , I believe that the European Commission , in cooperation with the European Parliament and the Member States , will draw up laws that will indeed ensure equal pay for men and women .
negative discrimination against Roma people is on the increase , and extremist forces are demolishing Roma dwellings .
third , we call on all EU governments to provide special assistance immediately to the population of eastern Congo .
we cannot ignore the environmental and health impacts of this scandal which affects the most vulnerable .
to conclude , I would like to thank you for all the questions and comments , and especially the Chair , Malcolm Harbour , for his valuable input .
let us restore peace and the rule of international law to Europe ! let us restore the European order !
the problem nearly always lies in the management and use of resources and in the lack of judicious governance and effective coordination at global , regional and national level .
however , there is no point asking the European institutions for what they cannot provide at this stage .
however , we are a little disappointed and I ask you to pass this on to Mrs Reding and Mr Barroso .
Mr President , thank you , Commissioner , and thank you , ladies and gentlemen , for your very good input .
this is not just a problem with the French Presidency ; it is a problem with the Council in general .
if we extended that exercise to other sectors with deadlines still pending , we would have to have 15-day plenary sittings .
helping to lift those children out of poverty means helping to lift their parents out of poverty too , in particular , the single parents , who are mostly women .
Madam President , may I congratulate you on the deft , adroit and sensitive way in which you have exercised the prerogatives of the Chair .
we have a referral system , namely the Conference of Presidents , which will decide whether it is down to the Committee on Petitions or the responsible committee to take action , in the event that both committees are unable to reach an agreement .
at an informal meeting of ministers in charge of European affairs , which I convened in Brest on 12 July , we addressed this issue in the context of the European Union .
they have harassed leaders of human rights organisations and arrested 46 representatives of civil society on the charge of treason , with some of them having been beaten and even tortured while under arrest .
you have responded to the criticism of the media law with two arguments .
however , we must not overlook the presence of several problematic aspects in the relationship between the Union and Russia .
these exceptions should be removed .
most of these people have been repatriated .
we should also be careful about calling for the establishment of extra EU structures to deal with the interpretation and application of IFRS standards .
I am happy to say , however , that all parties concerned consider it right and necessary , and that the technical solutions concerning the traceability of medicines do exist .
we will examine this very closely based on analysis of the pre-registrations received .
the difficulty , however , is to make one chime with another .
at the same time , the symptoms of the disease become more acute .
Member of the Commission . - The question is about varying consumer rights and is very timely .
so , ladies and gentlemen of the PPE-DE Group , do we really need to point out to you that the legal basis on which this proposal for a directive rests - namely Article 13 of the EC Treaty - has been in law since the Amsterdam Treaty entered into force in 1999 , 10 years ago ?
thanks to access to modern technologies , these groups have got their hands on previously unattainable means of communication , which , in conjunction with black markets for weapons , make them the number one enemy of the democratic world today .
Petitions : see Minutes
it is up to the Commission , which has the right of initiative , to put together an ambitious overall package over the coming weeks and months .
in this particular circumstance , it would be very satisfying for those who might be listening to the debates in my constituency , Mr Corbett 's constituency or across the UK , that you can assure them that the floods will be included , as we stated in paragraph 2 of the motion for a resolution from our group , and that the aid will be given as soon and as expeditiously as possible .
as I explained a moment ago , we have delivered price stability in line with our definition , which was in the continuity of the best definition in the world , and let me say that our definition of price stability now appears to be the global benchmark .
( PL ) Ladies and gentlemen , when discussing the structure of the European External Action Service , we must not avoid or marginalise the question of maintaining the right geographical balance among the staff .
( applause )
will it be possible to amend a sector without us realising ?
in short , we should be a guard dog when it comes to fighting protectionism and protecting the value of the euro .
in autumn 2007 , I addressed a question to the Commission .
the next item is the report by Alain Lipietz , on behalf of the Committee on International Trade , on trade and climate change .
with this in mind , the Commission will play an active role in preparations for the Fifth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health , scheduled to be held in July 2009 .
in China , there are not only hardliners and not only nationalists .
if we have self-sufficiency as our target in our programmes , then everything else can come into play on international trade .
we think that this is a good deal , therefore .
I hope we shall manage to reach a consensus on the remaining key issues of funding , comitology and liquids - a buzzword , perhaps , but one with deeper implications .
in writing . - I voted to give discharge to the European Development Funds .
the text that has just been adopted constitutes an interesting first step towards identifying the different types of lobbyists and the sums they use to try to influence the decisions to be made .
see , for example , the conclusions of the recent NATO Summit in Bucharest where a political commitment was made on the accession of Georgia to this offensive military alliance .
we would do well to keep that in mind .
the instrument already allows the EU to receive co-funding from other international organisations and to cooperate with other multilateral organisations in its neighbourhood .
he stressed that the Commission is looking into this closely and considering what new measures are needed on short selling , over and above the structural reform of derivatives markets that we are already pursuing through legislation we will present to you in June and later this year .
Mr President , the European Union has had fishing agreements with Mauritania for over two decades .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , first of all , I would like to say that it is a great pleasure for me that you have shown such an interest in the matter of enlargement .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Mr President , first of all may I wish Mr Van Rompuy and Baroness Ashton well in their new roles , and I hope they are able to establish templates for their posts which will endure .
that is the only solution I can offer and I know that it is not satisfactory .
an increase in fuel prices means an increase in the price of goods and services .
if our external borders are weak then we will have problems on our internal borders and we need to look at that .
as a result , in October 2006 the European Commission adopted two legislative proposals on the issue of reinforcing road safety and , thanks to excellent cooperation between the European Parliament and the Council , the two co-legislators quickly reached agreement on a proposal for a directive on the retrofitting of mirrors to heavy goods vehicles .
Madam President , Ireland 's bail-out is unlikely to be the last in the eurozone , despite protestations to the contrary .
our question tonight focuses , in particular , on what we regard as the most important elements to be put in place as soon as possible .
we should remember that we are still in a crisis , and we are still looking for a way out of the crisis .
( DE ) Mr President , Belgium definitely took over the Presidency of the Council in a very difficult transitional phase , as , for one thing , the economic crisis had not yet been overcome , whilst , at the same time , the Treaty of Lisbon , of course , had not yet been completely implemented , while its limited fitness for purpose also became apparent .
that is why I helped initiate this debate .
( DE ) Madam President , Baroness Ashton , current events in Syria are once again making us aware of the dilemma that the European Union finds itself in with regard to the Middle East and what is happening in North Africa .
it is time we stopped this unhealthy circus .
that is very much understood .
I hope , therefore , that the Commission will achieve good results in the short term - hopefully after the Council meeting on 2 and 3 December .
on the third question , relating to an unnamed Belgian real estate entrepreneur , the Commission has no knowledge of the pressures suggested by the honourable Member .
the final draft agenda drawn up on Thursday 10 September 2009 by the Conference of Presidents pursuant to Rule 137 of the Rules of Procedure has been distributed .
10 .
I would like to mention the following things : in the present severe economic crisis , the European Union 's labour market is controlled by the reality that more and more people are being made redundant , which in turn will increase the total number of individuals suffering from poverty and alienation in Europe .
Commissioner , the lack of a clear position on working hours in a social agenda is further evidence that this Commission does not baulk at the idea of 65-hour working weeks either .
great importance must also be attached to the report on the eligibility of investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy for housing .
the proposed regulation is one of the keys to the Commission 's overall strategy in the pesticides sector .
however , with regard to the aforementioned enterprise , Heidelberger Druckmaschinen , I abstained from the vote .
as I have said before , I believe it is particularly crucial to allocate necessary funds so that small and medium-sized enterprises , which are among the main victims of the crisis , have support that enables them to survive this crisis .
the European Union and Papua New Guinea have applied these rules provisionally since 2008 and , whereas export figures have fluctuated , no upward trend has been detected .
democratic reforms and the democratic transformation of Turkey reinforce stability and security in Turkey and in the wider neighbourhood of the EU and Turkey .
he gave me a truly terrible response : ' that is true , but this is a time of war ' .
people who drive electric cars and emit hardly any CO2 or soot particles , if at all , should be rewarded fiscally for this .
it asks you to be far-sighted , for the benefit of the cause that brings us together : the creation of political Europe .
on the one hand , we have the seed monopolies , and we have seen the disastrous consequences of modified seed in this sector in India .
I urged the President to speed up the delivery times .
let us have the facts on the table as a scientific basis for further debate .
( FR ) Mr President , I would like to thank our colleague , Mr Dorfmann , for his excellent work on this report .
European-level supervision of export credits should only be introduced as an exception when some distortion of competition within the Internal Market could occur .
that was a shame , since the problems that the directive tackles had not disappeared by far - on the contrary , in the period of enlargement of the EU .
lastly , the environmental aspect has to be included in the requirements for the internal market , which is an asset for the European Union provided that those general principles are observed .
the situation is caused by socio-economic conditions , not by biological factors .
last but not least , Fiji does not have a democratic regime .
we then make clear statements about the capabilities that we need to develop .
and there has been , for a long time now , one single loser : Europe .
this report emphasises the progress that has been made during the past year , but does not provide a specific date for initiating accession negotiations .
often , the symptoms of these diseases are incorrectly diagnosed or detected too late and patients do not receive adequate treatment .
( RO ) According to the Treaty of Lisbon , the European Union 's economy is a social market economy .
Sudan is still a trouble spot , and in the north there is the omnipresent radical Islamism .
it is very harmful to public opinion if the situation of a negative DAS is sustained year after year .
the debate over Europe , serious debate , does not exist in Poland .
in my opinion , the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty should be considered not only in the current context , but also in a historical context and with a view to the future .
I would remind you that the whole financial system was in danger of meltdown at the end of 2008 .
as Parliament 's resolution underlines , unless something is done quickly to reverse it , the loss of biodiversity will be significant and uncontrollable in the medium and long term .
they will create proper conditions for greater solidarity between Member States through the diversification of gas supply sources and the actual suppliers .
like the Hungarian Presidency of the Council , the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) firmly believes that the future of 500 million Europeans depends on a stronger , more united and more coherent Europe .
in the Human Rights Council session which began yesterday , 10 December , in Geneva , another EU resolution on religious intolerance will be presented .
most importantly , we must protect the funding of the European Union 's common agricultural policy and not allow the fragmentation of the agricultural budget to the benefit of all sorts of dubious ideas .
will Member States be able to distribute this money fairly so that it is not given to farming 's big business and large farms , but to smallholders , family farmers who are most in need and whose livelihood depends on it ?
I have voted in favour of the Council 's recommendation for Parliament to support the conclusion of the agreement in question .
as the Commission 's original proposal has been recorded in such a way that European industry will not have to pay the price of speculation except in terms of the cost of electricity , I will vote in favour of it , even though I am opposed to emissions trading .
this report therefore presents the EU 's human rights-related activities from both thematic and country perspectives .
critics also believe that the ECTS ( European Credit Transfer System ) is being administered so differently from country to country that achievements are barely comparable any more .
we must put in the resources because , as many of you have pointed out , youth and education should be the top priority for the Union 's future .
the online market is still developing relatively slowly in Europe in comparison with the United States , for example , and my home country - Poland - takes only 17th place among the EU Member States in this regard .
do the governments of Member States in any way take into account the social factor when requesting financial aid ?
I applaud the rapporteur for his work and am voting in favour of this .
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many families are being deprived of their livelihood through cuts in fishing quotas and the ban on the use of drifts nets , for example .
we do not want it to have been swallowed up , in part or even in full , by the end of the year .
the freedom to speak , write and to have your words published freely is a fundamental right of all 500 million European citizens .
this paragraph in our resolution has attracted much criticism in western Ukraine .
that is the only way agriculture can claim a right to its own existence in the future .
we need to tackle the drug problem on all fronts .
nevertheless , this report 's clear position on the realisation of the free internal market has outweighed the negatives , which is why we have decided to vote in favour of it .
what is proposed in fact by the Commission is a system of group supervision where lead supervisors , which often are the big Member States , take the lead in the process of a college .
in fact , the European market is one of the most open and competitive in the world , thanks mainly to the right of free competition , which guarantees open and fair trading within the EU .
in writing . - ( DE ) We voted against this report , because it is a ragbag of contradictory statements with no sign of a clear line on any major social issue .
therefore , you could in a sense say that this was not a matter of the very greatest importance .
they are not an end in themselves or any sleight of hand on Europe 's part ; they are intended to address the deficits which should not be present in a democracy , notably in relation to freedom of opinion , freedom of religion , women 's rights , minority rights , electoral law , etc .
generally - with only a few exceptions , to judge by the audits that we have already seen - we can say that the institutions at issue are using the funds made available to them properly and meeting the objectives proposed for them .
moreover , Parliament calls on the Commission to not just take into account unemployment and social problems , but to show effective means of solving these , so that this new strategy has a genuine impact on people 's real lives .
this is a topic for the common foreign and security policy , which should be dealt with by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the European Union , in view of Article 24 of the Treaty of Lisbon , and it must be based on mutual political solidarity among the Member States .
services of general economic interest , of course , really do need to be protected .
this is much less than the up to EUR 60 per week that is the cost of inaction .
in my opinion , following the continual violation of human rights principles and the rule of law , the European Union has no option but to consider reimposing sanctions on the Belarusian administration .
the debate would include issues such as whether Turkey can , geographically speaking , be considered part of Europe , whether its secularity is merely the result of the army which keeps it in check , whether an EU with borders stretching to Iraqi Kurdistan would be wise , and whether , due to its enormous demographic mass , Turkey 's accession would throw the EU off balance .
I know that these have been tough negotiations at times and you have been tough negotiators .
a positive sign is that the principles for ensuring high quality vocational education actually include recommendations for the introduction of a European qualification framework .
I have written to the Commission and received a response on this issue .
the report considers the painful consequences for small and medium-sized farms to be a success .
I would like to thank Mr Buzek for Poland 's European commitment .
tomorrow after the vote there will be a time for comments on all the issues - those from today and from tomorrow together .
this will be a meeting where MEPs will be able to put questions , say what they think and raise any queries , including technical ones .
thank you very much , too , for keeping perfectly to your time .
they can bring cases of this nature before the European Court of Human Rights under Article 6 .
also , and very importantly , adjusting fishing efforts to MSY levels is the single most important action that can be taken to reduce discarding in European waters .
we must make every effort to ensure that existing resources ( minerals ) are used appropriately within the European Union , avoiding their export outside the EU 's borders , and that we stop oligopolies from forming in trade .
we all have a lot to do .
the European Central Bank 's main mandate is to keep prices stable .
while the EU 's legal framework regarding equal pay is very extensive , in the European Union women are still paid less then men - even those with similar skills and education - which proves that improving legislation by strengthening its effectiveness is the main goal to achieve .
I completely share your desire to see this report adopted very quickly so that things can move forward by Christmas .
- After the vote :
it would be impossible to deal with disasters like flooding or major fires , in particular , without unpaid , unsalaried workers .
Madam President , I warmly welcome this report .
I firmly believe that our aim must be to strengthen the CE mark and the obligation to use it .
however , I will say this : there are levels at which I cannot be insulted and where I do not see it as an insult either , because in order to insult me , someone must have a certain degree of sincerity .
we established a work procedure together with the entire Spanish and French sectors represented by fishermen 's organisations , scientific institutes and the South Western Waters Regional Advisory Council .
it should also be stressed that the objective should be the eradication of poverty , by reference to the concept of ' basic social services ' , so as to seek to reduce the situation of extreme vulnerability of the most deprived populations .
wherever possible , therefore , the VAT rate in the newly accepted countries should be as low as possible .
will the models , the Norwegian model to which you referred , be an inspiration in terms of a guideline ?
we must therefore allow her to reply to your questions , which will otherwise remain unanswered .
to work safely with dichloromethanes one needs an air-proof suit at a cost of about EUR 2 000 , and to protect one 's skin , gloves at a cost of EUR 25 or EUR 30 , which need to be replaced every two or three hours .
Macedonia has substantially reduced the number of Roma who are without personal documents .
in writing . - ( LT ) I am delighted that since the Treaty of Lisbon came into force , we have made some significant achievements in the field of human rights , firstly because the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights became legally binding , and secondly because the European Union is obliged to accede to the European Convention on Human Rights .
they do not have such a high percentage of educated people there or as many universities as we do .
I would also like to say that democracy cannot be exported .
it has been a long time , I believe , since Europe has played such a role in a conflict of this kind .
I recall the debate we had a few weeks ago , when we rightly condemned the attacks and the oppression experienced by the Uighur Muslim minority in China .
this means not only with noble declarations and legal regulations , but above all in the practical matters of everyday life .
I would like to underline the importance that we attach to this meeting , which is the first to take place for five years .
likewise , if we turned to the public galleries and asked whether anyone was prepared to give up the opportunity to buy competitively priced goods - be they electrical appliances , textiles or other products - there would be no volunteers .
Member States with nuclear power enjoy a competitive advantage over states that are nuclear-free .
Mr President of the Council , I am confident the Portuguese Presidency will ensure that basic fairness prevails here .
this should be the time to face up to the poverty experienced by around 80 million citizens of the European Union , including more than 30 million workers whose wages are so low that they and their families merely survive , and are unable to escape from their state of poverty .
( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , I believe that thanks to our rapporteur , Mr Casa , we have a balanced report for welcoming the political decision we are going to take : Slovakia 's entry into the euro area .
by permitting migration , the EU has imported problems from every country of the world , including honour killings , forced marriages and domestic violence in patriarchal family structures .
I wish you a very warm welcome too , Commissioner .
we must not allow a situation in which European companies go to the wall and industry is transferred to third countries which do not limit their CO2 emissions .
the importance of maintaining stability in the financing of this policy must be remembered .
this Agreement is therefore an important step towards opening up the market to airlines from the EU and Vietnam without any discrimination .
we already have , through these , very positive experience in engaging with national parliaments , in anchoring the policies of the European Union , as well as some elements of participatory democracy for the direct participation of citizens .
it would be an absolute kamikaze mission for the European Union and the competitiveness targets if we do not let the services sector flourish and allow the internal market to be completed in this respect .
that is what the intensive security work carried out by the American secret services has so far achieved .
therefore , this is a timely issue .
to this end , we need to support small and medium-sized enterprises and promote equitable international trade .
the parties are controlled by the national parties and financed by the taxpayers .
the question was whether we have done enough on this issue or problem .
secondly , I really urge you to use the synergy post , which I hope will now be created in the framework of the setting up of the External Action Service , to strengthen the civilian management capabilities in your service .
the Chinese authorities should also allow access to Tibet by foreign media without the need for special permits and allow uncensored communications and access to information - also on the Internet - throughout the entire country .
so , for example , requirements can now be laid down for products that use water and for windows .
this kind of development-disrupting policy is also prompting young people , including women , to leave for the city and to emigrate abroad .
this is the only reason why the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance , together with the second rapporteur from the Committee on Foreign Affairs , withdrew the amendment on Monday .
second example : red tape .
here , too , it is true that it is in restraint that the master is revealed ; the European master .
I can only agree , and stress that this reform should start with a re-think from the roots - namely development policy - upwards .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , the draft resolutions under discussion today attach particular importance to the interests of citizens , and more specifically of complainants , in the application of Community law .
Madam President , generally speaking , I am far from satisfied with heading 4 of the draft budget .
in 2020 , the limit will drop to 147 grams .
it is thus desirable that anyone dedicated to broadening the public debate in a positive way should have the right to be protected when visiting a state in which he or she may be subject to threats or attack ; above all in cases such as Salman Rushdie 's , where a death sentence has already been pronounced by a third country .
I am convinced that the current legislation can cater for a vast majority of the situations .
however , the Commission has tended to respond at great length to the Ombudsman , setting out in detail , and backing up , the interpretations of the law that have been applied , while adding a disclaimer about differences in interpretation of the law and stressing that the final arbiter is the European Court of Justice .
there is also a momentum to be clear on what we want to achieve with , or through , the instruments of the Neighbourhood Policy .
however , at this moment , it is quite important that I should outline to you the most relevant considerations .
it draws attention to the excessive focus on investments to be made by the private sector , as well as the constraints imposed on the public sector , and warns of the need for funds not to be diverted from already underfinanced sectors , giving the example of support for local authorities .
may I take this opportunity to welcome Vice-President of the Commission , Mr Tajani , and so that I am not reproached for being careless or insensitive , I would remind you that we have already observed a minute 's silence , yesterday , in commemoration of the victims of this disaster .
the participating parties , employers , hired workers and government institutions must understand that this procedure is best able to help them forecast the economic and social consequences of changes in a company 's environment .
having discretion to move the TAC up and down to the right levels in a long-term management strategy does not seem to me a robust approach .
therefore , what the European Council is proposing , Mrs Carlotti , is that each Member State should at least confirm the commitment that it assumed , if you remember , in 2005 , and agree to produce a transitional plan illustrating how they can reach the target set for 2010 and 2015 .
in fact , Eurobonds already exist .
once again , the Council is shirking its responsibility .
in writing . - ( SV ) I regret the fact that the negotiations have not as yet managed to achieve a result .
thank you , Commissioner , for a very full reply .
the next item is the debate on six motions for a resolution on hangings in Iran .
I frequently hear this : Europe is not leading , and in my country the opposition says that Sweden is not leading : it is the will to bash on ourselves .
in this connection , thought should maybe also be given to whether Turkey 's accession should be stopped before this leads to the financial collapse of the European Union .
this is an indefensible situation for us in Europe .
the Court also ruled that a new regime should be adopted within a reasonable time .
( PT ) Mr President , as I have already said , the Council is of course supporting all efforts being made by the authorities with direct responsibility in this area to try and determine the whereabouts of Professor Ukshin Hoti .
( DE ) Mr President , I would like to congratulate you warmly on your speech .
unfortunately it is well known in every Member State what slums and what terrible conditions the Roma live in .
I am convinced that the establishment of the European financial stabilisation mechanism ( EFSM ) is one of the most important steps that can be taken for the EU to avoid serious economic crises in the future .
however , we are condemning the Georgians , who cast off the suffocating yoke of dictatorship in the name of Europe and with hopes of Europe , we are condemning them to national independence , while much of Europe is now kowtowing to Moscow and Putin 's politics in a most cowardly fashion , and preparing to do likewise with China .
the reports on this have been extremely contradictory .
Vice-President of the Commission . - During its seven years of existence , the European Charter for Small Enterprises has become a core document for small and medium-sized enterprise ( SME ) policy in Europe .
it is to the Council 's great credit that the protectionist language of the past cast no shadow over its conclusions .
due to the fact that there is a serious crisis in the dairy sector I have voted in favour of this report .
it is also important to evaluate existing systems so as to weigh up whether there is a real need for new instruments to be created , as well as their viability , reliability , interoperability and cost , and also whether the protection of individuals ' fundamental rights is being given sufficient consideration .
Mr President , I would like to join the previous speaker in thanking Commissioner Almunia .
in the light of this , I voted in favour of Mrs Ţicău 's own-initiative report , which calls on the Commission to provide adequate funding for the development of applications based on the European global navigation satellite system , EGNOS and Galileo .
Scottish whisky sells GBP 137 million worth a year into the Korean market already so with this deal , we could see a significant increase .
in writing . - ( FR ) This report on social reality stocktaking in Europe sets out its true economic and social condition from the start .
all forms of provocation must be avoided .
this is always a dilemma .
there have been two occasions when officials from the Commission came to the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development and their performance and what they told us was not only unacceptable , it was abysmal and it was a disgrace .
at this moment , milk is not actually included in Article 186 of the single Common Market Organisation which allows the Commission to take temporary actions quickly under its own power during times of market disturbances .
some of the reforms needed to deliver the programme 's medium-term objectives are being put in place .
the conditions prevailing at Guantanamo and other prisons are totally unacceptable .
globalisation of the markets and the ever-increasing use of the airwaves now require more targeted European legislation to regulate this sensitive matter , which has such a strong influence on public opinion and therefore also on the principle of popular sovereignty - which underpins the European Union and not just the Italian Republic - and on the ways in which this principle is exercised .
however , what can we do with something so non-committal ?
the debate will be resumed after the debate on Georgia .
we need to set up sustainable networks at a European level between national and regional providers of vocational education and training , based on existing structures .
we are consequently dealing here with a problem implementing legislation within Germany , not with defects in the Posting of Workers Directive .
because the original text mentioned the opinion of the Commission but , in the meantime , the Council has decided on this issue .
there is not one single cause .
giving all EU citizens the opportunity to use digital technology , and ensuring confidence in the Internet and its security , is one of the key objectives of the Digital Agenda for Europe .
today we have heard what Mr Brown is proposing and what should be on the agenda .
we agree that measures must be taken to ensure full compensation of those victims .
I am not going to mention them one by one , as this is not my intention .
this is another item that the Council ought not to ignore .
let me quote the honourable Italian Member Mr Iacolino , who called it ' patrimonia della civilta europea , ' ' our common European heritage ' , or Mrs Kinga Gál , who said that free movement is the most tangible result of the unity of the EU .
in future , the taxpayer should not be made to pay for the damage .
also , in Romania , almost a third of women work part-time , as compared with only 7.7 % of men , for a remuneration on average 15 percent lower than that of men .
on the one hand there will be an ' A team ' consisting of the wealthy , the well educated and those with the right connections - generally speaking , all of us in this Chamber .
all of the interviews conducted by the US took place in the presence of MKO cadres , which meant that the people could not talk about their real problems and concerns .
the vote will take place shortly .
I feel compelled to observe that , at the end of the French Presidency , the Council set very ambitious objectives , namely acquiring the ability to carry out certain operations in parallel .
it would be useful to introduce the term ' EU investor ' and advisable to thoroughly define ' foreign investor ' .
we must remember that in some of the new Member States with a lower level of development , institutions defending the interests of competition and consumers are weakly anchored in the public conscience .
as such , it is important that the EU use the fisheries agreements it establishes to ensure best practices are followed in other countries , fully respecting the key principles of the common fisheries policy ( CFP ) .
within this emergency , however , there is another : the emergency involving the children , the weakest sector of the population , who have been left with no family , no protection and no State .
the European Commission has tabled a proposal to mobilise the Flexibility Instrument as part of the new budget ' manoeuvre ' for 2011 , after the failure of conciliation .
only once we have the first implementation report in 2013 can and should we decide what other modules should be included , because we need to see how this new system develops and what impact it has on legislation .
that is all I can tell you at the moment .
I should also like to take this opportunity to request support for my Amendment 76 .
I therefore also welcome the fact that the Commission wishes to activate Directive 2001 / 55 / EC for giving temporary protection and I would , at the same time , call for all Member States to actually utilise this , not only Italy , but also France and Germany - above all , the countries that are actually in a position to invest .
this report essentially has two objectives .
Vice-President of the Commission . - I have already said that I am not at all satisfied with the level of implementation and , so far , only four Member States have implemented this decision .
when it comes to the future of the European budget , the week 's major event is not taking place here in Strasbourg , but in Copenhagen .
I wish to add straight away that this is no miracle cure .
our Group , this morning and in recent days , has held very intensive debates on this resolution .
while strategy means clear objectives , concrete means to attain them and , eventually , a detailed calendar , all tailored to the merit of the area itself , synergy suggests simply connecting to neighbouring areas of interest to the EU .
I congratulate Commission President Barroso and the President of the Council for allowing us to mature in 2008 as a European Union , to respond as adults to what were severe crises and criticisms with regard to Europe 's ability to react .
we are agreed - this is a second point that I should like to highlight - that we wish to auction a much larger proportion of allowances .
I also take the point that we need to think about fishing and the strategy on that .
they simply need to be funded adequately .
- Report : Herczog
businesses will fill the legislators ' gaps with their trade organisations , with their skills , with the rules that they have set themselves in order to create a dynamic and balanced market .
that is a victory for all of us who believe in European cooperation .
he devoted himself energetically to many issues , on which he also drafted reports : the liberalisation of air transport , the EU membership of Cyprus and the introduction of the Sakharov Prize , which over the years gave moral support to many people worldwide in their fight against oppression .
this resolution cannot cover every aspect of the debate on nuclear energy in detail .
in addition to our fundamental criticism of this process , we are concerned that we are facing :
in this respect , we are discriminated against , as we are not permitted to take part in coordinators ' meetings in various committees and be duly active .
after all , this is the goal we all say that we share .
let us be inspired to stand for freedom of expression in the European Union , but also in Pakistan and the world over .
the value of a human person cannot be measured .
no agreement and no guarantee can safeguard the protection of personal data , when they are being handed over to and are at the mercy of the secret services and the repressive mechanisms of the United States and other countries .
it is very difficult at this time to put a finger on EU policy with regard to Belarus .
we agree with the content of the proposals contained in the document .
in France , there are 160 000 new sufferers each year .
it was an expert groups issue and , of course , unfortunately I have only three minutes to reply to your question . I will try to do my best .
thus , the aid is no longer fully utilised and measures have been taken , such as the establishment of cooperatives and changes in direct marketing methods , in preparation for this opening up of the market .
we will see how many millionaires he gets to contribute to his campaign this time ; but I hope that this time there will be greater awareness , having seen their performance in the European Parliament over these last five years , of what it actually means when you elect somebody from UKIP to this place .
on the contrary ...
the Commission has also set up a consumer market scoreboard that permits monitoring of market outcomes for consumers .
we believe budget restrictiveness to be of the utmost importance .
but , at the same time , they will also be looking for the European Union to bring specific ' deliverables ' to the table - not least on difficult issues such as Afghanistan and the closure of Guantánamo .
there is no doubt that the intimidation , arrests and roadblocks that we are now seeing all point to the fact that a much harder line is being taken .
clearly Mr Mbeki is unable to do it alone and we call for an African Union nominee to be put in place .
why has the European Union not kept its promise given in May 2004 to end the isolation of Northern Cyprus ?
( NL ) Madam President , in this Parliament I have heard a great deal of politically correct nonsense in my time , which was invariably approved by very large majorities , but this report takes the biscuit in my view .
unfortunately this barbaric practice has manifested itself within the EU due to the steady stream of immigration from countries where it is carried out regularly .
I think this is one important way forward .
the humanitarian dimension has an important place in this major project .
the resources available to us are dialogue with other countries , various financial instruments , involvement in international forums and election observation , which are obviously very important to us .
secondly , what does it tell us about the rest of the building ?
I have the following questions .
this is a wrong-headed economic strategy of cost competitiveness and extreme fiscal austerity and it will set Europe on a declining path at a crucial moment in its history .
we have forsaken our values and therefore trampled on Christian values at its expense .
there are one or two of our fellow Members of the House who have to accept that Mr Barroso , the Commission President , had something else in his diary for today .
Commissioner Reding , the measure under approval may not be perfect , but it plugs a legislative vacuum .
Commissioner , this is not an ideological debate .
in my view , this also means that the funding of EASA must be put on a stable long-term basis .
the Court of Auditors identified an irregularity with respect to a procurement procedure ( use of a framework contract beyond its maximum value ) .
perhaps that was all you could do , but it is inadequate .
it has brought people from both communities together and given them , very importantly , a sense of ownership of , and the responsibility for , the peace process .
this is exactly what happened again just a couple of months ago .
this will mean reductions in salaries and pensions , cuts in public services and social security provision , higher value added tax and a lack of collective agreements .
therefore , while my immediate reaction as a Member of the Committee on Agriculture was to support this resolution - I am glad we raised this issue and applaud the Committee and its Chair for doing so - my gut instinct now is that Mr Purvis is perhaps on the right track , and that an outright ban might be a step too far .
in view of this , does the Commission intend to demonstrate solidarity and to help these people ?
finally , I would like to pay tribute to the work that has been done in this field by Mr Tajani , who is here today , and the rapporteurs on transport law , because we have now embarked on the final stages of the process on maritime law with the aim of covering all transport in Europe .
Madam President , Commissioner : thank you for your comments .
voting time
we , of course , support the adoption of the Latin America Investment Facility and the creation of the Europe-Latin America and Caribbean Foundation with a view to the summit .
environmental issues and in particular energy efficiency are assuming new importance and becoming fundamental to tackling climate change .
I am sure that his new Statute will enable him to work even more effectively and to respond quickly to the citizens ' complaints , by strengthening the mutual confidence between the Ombudsman and the citizens .
it is no coincidence that the consensus on his appointment has been so unanimous .
at the heart of this process is the Mediterranean , the true fulcrum between Europe and the ACP countries .
we socialists consider this to be the most important .
my own personal opinion is that we do not need nuclear energy .
we are interdependent from all points of view : with regard to energy , to state the obvious , but also with regard to research , industry and politics , in a multi-faceted manner , of course .
in writing . - ( SV ) A ban on this type of weapon must be implemented on a global basis , through the United Nations , and at the instigation of nation states , not by the European Parliament .
( CS ) I was unable to vote for the Andersson report .
the Commission , together with the Council and the European Parliament , must construct this scoreboard and macroeconomic and macrofinancial indicators intended for Member States .
as I see it , the problem lies not so much with the Neighbourhood Policy objectives , which are set out in Articles 8 and 21 of the Treaty of Lisbon on promoting and respecting human rights and democracy - which are also social objectives - but rather in our flawed implementation of those objectives .
freeing the hands of Iranian opposition for peaceful activities will provide the EU not only with efficient leverage to influence the regime of mullahs but will open a third and more realistic option between wishful diplomacy , on the one hand , and USA-type military intervention on the other .
this is why I believe that relations between the academic and business worlds need to be strengthened .
this training is expensive , after all , and we must not create a system whereby some rail companies are freewheeling and systematically avoiding paying their fair share of training costs by recruiting newly trained staff from other companies .
these clauses are extremely important , especially in the negotiations which we conduct with other countries and in particular , for example , as this is a topical issue , in the negotiations which we are conducting with Russia on a new agreement to replace the 1997 agreement .
it is on the right track , which was confirmed last year by the Commission and the Council granting Montenegro candidate country status .
after the formidable stunt that the Taliban pulled off yesterday in Afghanistan , where , lest we forget , we have 100 000 troops fighting for freedom , and the failed terrorist attack in Detroit this Christmas , I believe , Baroness Ashton , that it is legitimate to wonder whether terrorism is stronger now than when freedom was attacked by the barbarous toppling of the twin towers in New York .
in submitting a resolution on freedom of information in Italy , the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament are confusing the European Parliament with the Italian Parliament .
unfortunately , it is often the case that consumers , particularly private individuals and small- and medium-sized enterprises , have limited potential to make their interests effectively known where energy access is concerned .
this report provides a definition of ' interest representatives ' , together with measures for assessing the implications of a common register for Parliament and the Commission .
( EL ) Mr President , I would like to thank the President-in-Office , but in familiar Council terms , he has chronicled 18 months of inertia and delays .
( NL ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I share the great concern of many in this House about the fate of Opel and the people who work there or make a living in that area .
Mr President , in accordance with Rule 147 of the Rules of Procedure , I should like to remind you that , in the debate on human rights in the world in 2007 , this House decided not to do as the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) proposed and make reference to persons who represent high civil or religious institutions for the purposes of strengthening political arguments .
increasing the minimum wage would help to lift adults and elderly people out of poverty and to give them the right to a dignified life , as well as providing all children with the opportunity to foster their development and obtain an education .
reports of untold acts of barbarism taking place in the region have abounded in recent years .
I fail to understand why we still need to abide by this regulation and why the United States are forcing us into something here or not letting us change something that should have been changed a long time ago , because it is unfair that petrol for cars , transportation systems and so forth should be taxed , while aviation fuel is not .
simplification has been achieved , in particular , by the introduction of direct court-to-court transmission , although sometimes the requests go to the central bodies , and by the introduction of standard forms .
I voted in favour of the report by Mrs Roth-Behrendt on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on cosmetic products .
( applause )
we must ensure that there is openness and transparency .
I am also thinking about those who claim that the EU is already full and that it cannot , for the foreseeable future , accept any more members .
rather than face reality , I fear that we will again face a Brussels conspiracy to circumvent the people .
the fact is we need a restrictive system for the dairy industry .
also , the derogations allowing small abattoirs to be exempted from having the animal welfare officer present are very much to be welcomed .
these troops were in Gori , just 45 or 50 km from Tbilisi .
please now get on with trying to sort it out .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , it is with heavy hearts that we debate once again what our Union can do to ease the pain in the Middle East .
after Lithuania regained independence in 1991 , Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant contributed a lot to our economy and provided more than 70 % of our country 's energy consumption .
this is certainly what the report is encouraging : that a good dialogue be established between the EU , China and Africa to the benefit of all parties .
confidentiality is protected in a balanced way .
so why not intervene straight away ?
author . - ( DE ) Mr President , there is concern in some of the world 's capital cities that our motion for a resolution could lead to an escalation in the situation in Madagascar .
all products must meet the appropriate quality requirements .
agenda for next part session : see Minutes
this is what we want to do during the next six months .
reducing the amount of unnecessary administrative procedures and red tape , along with establishing clearer rules , will help raise the absorption level of European funds .
I would like to congratulate the Commission on this proposal .
temporary work also allows enterprises to manage their staff flexibly , particularly in seasonal situations , where an enterprise needs to increase its workforce to meet market demand .
thus the report sets out a number of specific points , some very specific indeed , which the Commission can improve within the context of its market access strategy .
I also support the idea of Community funding referred to in Amendment 6 , which relates to Recital 5 .
in Hungary , 250 000 tower block apartments were renovated , since the condition of the old ones in the new Member States , as my Estonian and Latvian fellow members have already mentioned , is particularly dire .
if Israel is wrongly accused , its name should be cleared , but if it has committed those crimes , it must face up to its responsibilities .
one false move and the whole thing could crash into many pieces .
it gives much more flexibility than my personal view .
I cannot on the one hand stand up - obviously as President of the Commission - and make sure that nothing , not an iota of the core text of those guidelines is changed , while at the same time hoping that people in the Member States of the European Union , the employers , the employees , those who play their part in the economic process , feel that they are seeing political governance here .
the strengths of the regulation proposal are the introduction of the precaution principle and the issuing of a fishing permit , with the application of an assessment from certifying that these activities do not have negative effects upon marine ecosystems .
objections by anyone who does not wish to see the appointment in question take place are understandable .
this morning we had our main debate on the subject of globalisation , and the competent Commissioner was not present , and this evening the members of the Commission with responsibility for this important matter are once more absent .
I am perfectly aware that such a policy is not easy to implement and that it may seem drastic , but it is undoubtedly effective , and , moreover , we all know that you cannot cure cancer with an aspirin , and it is metastases we are now facing .
a European project has now emerged and something new has evolved .
over recent decades , Taiwan has , in fact , undergone a major process of democratisation , which has led it to strike up an important economic and trade relationship with the European Union .
I can therefore gladly re-affirm what the Council has already stated , during the trialogue of 13 November , and at the consultation meeting of 21 November , namely that the Council will examine diligently , and with the greatest attention , the outcome of the European Parliament 's work on the proposed amendment to Regulation No 1073 / 1999 , and the working document due from the Commission .
we are asking for the insertion of environmental clauses in all the trade agreements of the EU and the World Trade Organisation ( WTO ) , a review of the clean development mechanisms , a real transfer of technology and the combating of biopiracy .
we already have total bans in Ireland and the United Kingdom - the whole of the United Kingdom .
student mobility is clearly a central component of the Europe 2020 strategy .
what you said about the European Commission encouraging Member States to take measures in this respect is very important .
this is very patronising , burdening businesses , as it does , with bureaucratic nonsense simply to hammer home a number of principles that are universally accepted but are not always easy to implement in practice .
does this mean by a few hundredths , a few tenths or a few points ?
after all , the safety of our food begins with what we feed to our animals .
under the impulse of earlier meetings , including the informal eurozone summit of 11 March , we were able to bring together almost all the strengths of this endeavour .
if I may explain : an understanding was made between the President of the European Council , Mr Van Rompuy , and the President-in-Office of the Council , Mr Reinfeldt , that this last month of the Presidency will be conducted according to the old principles .
with regard to the severe deindustrialisation processes that are taking place in widespread areas of the Union , I would argue that the time has come to reconsider the policy of non-intervention that the European Commission has adopted up until now , and to begin to launch a set of important , strategic measures to support European industry .
ladies and gentlemen , let us by no means mistake the once-champions and heirs of the past , these post-communists , with a true and credible left wing .
quite simply , Europe must behave more coherently if it is to prosper .
honourable Members , combating violence against women is a goal shared by both the European Parliament and the Council .
it is a very clear signal on the part of the European institutions that the citizens of Europe do not agree to the brutal treatment and killing of animals .
there can therefore be no objections to bilateral negotiations between the countries concerned , in particular since they do not represent a breach of any part of Community legislation .
political elections will take place in Iran on 14 March , in which the promises he has failed to keep will count more than those he has made .
the introduction of the territorial cohesion concept and its recognition as an objective caused the European Parliament committees , with an important role in defining the structural and cohesion policies , to have increased activity after the ratification of the treaty .
the Union should also make every effort to increase the range of directed financial support for new sole traders and the founders of micro-enterprises in the form of monitoring , training - including practical training - and skills development .
the measures should give added value to traditional and artisanal products and encourage the development of local markets .
( PL ) Madam President , according to data on the portal eudebate2009 , only 52 % of Europeans trust the European Parliament as an institution .
a collective conscience and memory of the past is a way of reinforcing the value of the present .
why reinvent the wheel ?
there is a growing need for mobile , flexible employees with international experience .
following today 's vote in the European Parliament , the Council 's proposal cannot enter into force .
Mr President , I would like to sincerely apologise to Cristiana Muscardini because I got so carried away by my enthusiasm that Mr Poignant so kindly highlighted that I forgot to respond to you and say how much we will need your group .
I would be curious to hear your response .
with this report , the European Parliament is agreeing to the creation of a standard dispute settlement mechanism , which will provide streamlined and effective redress procedures within firm time limits when there is a need to settle conflicts between the European Union and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , resulting from the trade provisions of the Euro-Mediterranean agreement .
it is definitely an extremely sensitive and important piece of information , and it is important because the European Union has become an added value , the European Union guarantees safety and protection for consumers .
the Australian Government has calculated that the real number of acts of piracy is two thousand per cent higher .
that is why it is so important to link things together , because there is some overlap .
according to those statistics , emissions in the EU-15 fell by 1.3 % , and those in the EU-27 by 1.5 % , over 2007 levels , which represents an important step towards achieving the Kyoto Protocol objectives of an 8 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2012 over those in 1990 , the reference year .
the best we can do is prepare ourselves well so that the actual start of the negotiations is good .
I referred to this when I mentioned the dispute with the European Commission 's assessments .
I believe that these are the aspects on which we should continue to work together , that we have the necessary resources , and I completely agree with Mr Andrejevs about the proposed resolution which aims to develop all aspects of early treatment .
several NGOs which lead the fight in this field , such as the Coalition Against the Death Penalty , asked us not to be too hasty in submitting the resolution but to wait long enough to guarantee its success .
it is unacceptable that various developing countries are being blackmailed by making their public aid dependent on signing up to the so-called ' Economic Partnership Agreements ' , despite the resistance of many of these countries and the concerns they have expressed .
the euro is , and continues to be , the cornerstone of the European Union ; it is not only a technical monetary arrangement , it is indeed the core political project of the European Union .
ladies and gentlemen , the European Parliament cannot endorse the fisheries agreements with Guinea while the victims ' wounds are still fresh .
this relates especially to the so-called non-tariff trade barriers .
I abstained from voting because the language arrangements are still not entirely clear .
it is also known that Mr Brok did not pay this money and was caught for that mistake .
the Union 's positions are still the right positions and we must not only clarify them at this conference ; we must fight to obtain much better results than we had in Copenhagen .
in particular , what action does the Commission intend to take actively to force the Italian State to take adequate measures , bearing in mind that the children of Naples and Campania have not gone to school today either ?
it is time for the Commission and Member States to stop stalling ' .
5 .
so what can we say and add to what has already been said ?
I support this report because I think that supplementing the Multiannual Financial Framework after 2013 is a viable solution , which involves making changes to the current structure .
Mr Van Rompuy , you say that you have forced Greece to take tough measures .
may I say to you that this is not the opinion of Parliament , for Parliament is not due to vote for another two weeks , and only then shall we see what position it takes on these matters .
this sends out a clear signal to all those who are suffering the adverse consequences of the crisis every day .
( FR ) Madam President , Madam President-in-Office of the Council , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , today we are discussing a negotiated compromise that allows aviation activities to be included in the emissions trading scheme .
the first , and the main , victims of the decision taken by the Sudanese Government will be the children .
effective international cooperation is also essential and we are firmly committed to working through the Convention on Biological Diversity to protect global diversity worldwide .
is there real economic governance ?
I would like to draw attention to the fact that as this law has been poorly drafted in bad faith , it is creating fresh legal uncertainty because in two days , the Slovak Ministry of Culture has provided three different explanations for some of the articles in the law .
we have reason to be very pleased with the result achieved today on the telecommunications package since it reinforces the rights of internet users and encourages competition between telephone companies .
I too oppose single-cause explanations , but this oversimplification on the part of the EU , of this House , does not help the Nigerian Christians , whose lives are poised between hope and fear these days , in the slightest .
for this we need free markets , markets open to innovation , markets open to entrepreneurs , but also markets subject to a certain level of regulation .
this situation , which is continuing to be a problem , requires decisive measures to be taken by European countries . consideration should also be given as regards the best methods to be used to provide real assistance to those most in need .
to address the challenges revealed by the crisis , the Commission has launched several policy initiatives .
as has already been said here , this is actually one of the flagships , one of the priorities of our new EU 2020 strategy .
I recognise this and I am pleased about it .
I believe you will all agree that the biggest achievement of the Third Energy Package is the protection afforded to Europe 's consumers and citizens .
it endorses the rationale that has led this US multinational and its main shareholders , Pezna Investment Management and the Californian teachers ' pension fund , to relocate without any consideration for those who made them wealthy .
all restrictions should relate to the psychological state of the individual and should also apply to people suspected of offences classed as crimes .
in reply to a question I asked the Council regarding border disputes between Slovenia and Croatia , the Council informed me that it had adopted a revised accession partnership with Croatia , the implementation of which is the main precondition for progress in the negotiation process .
it really does not matter whether the countries are members of the European Union or our neighbours .
Member States must work together to ensure that the legal process of adoption between the providing and receiving countries is transparent , robust and holds the child 's welfare as its priority .
the European Parliament should acquire the same powers as the European Council in deciding when , where and how much of the instrument should be used .
considering that our analysis of progress in achieving the Lisbon objectives is not encouraging , we welcome the call expressed in the resolution to speed up legislative changes in Member States , to tighten up infringement procedures and encourage greater participation of women in key sectors of the labour market that reflects the goals they have achieved as far as training is concerned .
we need to coordinate European policies so that we can meet the challenges and needs we are facing at the moment .
in particular , there must be no cutbacks in our commitments and payments in our immediate neighbourhood : it is important for candidate countries , our east European neighbours , and our partners on the Mediterranean , to see the EU as a reliable partner that they can count on .
this evening we have gathered to recall a terrible crime , appropriately called genocide , which actually represents a huge human tragedy in our most recent history .
may I at the same time express the hope that a common energy policy will be written into the European Union reform treaty .
we want to debate whether employment and unemployment are an important feature of budgetary development or not , and we want to do so before the legislation is passed .
I think it is a mistake to introduce worker participation at such a level , in other words in such small companies .
the importance of impact analyses is no less as a result of the financial crisis ; on the contrary they are even more vital now .
I feel that these measures would be conducive to the harmonious development and growth of these children as they , too , represent the future of Europe .
up to now I was living in the conviction that growth was the main aim , and that the point was to catch up with certain countries and not let others catch up with us .
adjournment of the session
the European Union made a commitment to all the Western Balkan countries that they would enter the European Union .
what is the use of putting additional requirements down on paper , and ever more stringent requirements at that , if we fail to implement the existing ones ?
today , most Europeans say that the burkha should be banned .
I was pleased to note that the EP report on the ESS stressed the need to further implement UN Security Council resolutions 1325 and 1820 on women and conflict .
the organisation of the International Criminal Court conference in Uganda is an important sign of this international institution 's acceptance across the continent of Africa , especially as the Court 's initial investigations , after it was established in 2002 , were launched here .
this is also an important text which makes economic migrations considerably easier , in a context that is legal , transparent , responsive and predictable , while reducing administrative procedures which , too often , hamper the migrations that are necessary to the economic and demographic balance of the Union .
on the expenditure side , amounts paid as benefits and other social allowances go up , increasing the cost of various kinds of programme for combating unemployment and for encouraging a return to work .
the Danjean report lists what are referred to as key threats that constitute a challenge for the EU 's future security policy .
in this connection , I want to mention a private project which the Commission is currently implementing at the request of this House , and which seeks to encourage the conversion of precarious work into work associated with rights .
I think we might learn a lot more if you would present the chapter on the years 2008-2009 from your point of view , Mr Trichet .
these will now need to be translated into concrete measures so that this objective can be achieved as soon as possible .
I am pleased to be asking this question , which has had the approval of the political group coordinators on my committee and which seeks a response from the European Commission on a range of concerns regarding the state of play of the EU-India Free Trade Agreement ( FTA ) negotiations , which have been ongoing since 2007 .
the European Parliament should have an interest in castigating such inhumanity in all its permutations .
or let us take Portugal as an example .
generally speaking , there is little knowledge as regards the current laws on the four freedoms .
I would definitely agree with my colleague who said previously that this is not just a Bulgarian issue .
the Agency should set out a comparison of operations carried out during the year for which discharge is to be granted and in the previous financial year , so as to enable the European Parliament to assess the Agency 's performance from one year to the next more effectively .
this is something which is not in the interests of the matter as a whole and which absolutely must not happen .
that is the only message that I should like to pass on today .
I supported this report which lays down the general principles for the participation of the Republic of Moldova in Community programmes and agencies .
I am sure that just like Chancellor Merkel , the Slovenian Presidency will represent Europe 's interests and that Chancellor Merkel herself , in Sochi , will champion human rights and political interests .
for the time being , I should just like to congratulate the rapporteur and shadow rapporteurs and recognise and praise the extraordinary efforts undertaken by Slovakia , its Government , and the social partners , and the success they have already achieved .
at this point I would like to thank the Commission , and especially Commissioner Špidla , for its specialist assistance and constructive approach in searching for a possible compromise over the wording of the directive .
the most important aspect is to have consideration and respect for Serbia .
we had intensive discussions with the Commission and I would like to stress that in this case our reaction is swift , but high calibre in terms of content and quality .
road taxes will naturally be looked at with this in mind .
I would like to tell you that my grandfather was a Swedish soldier posted to the Norwegian border during the Second World War - a war in which Sweden was neutral .
however , can his strategy be successful ?
we call on the Belarusian Government to see reason , to change its tactics and to choose the road of freedom and democracy rather than the road of suppression and totalitarianism , which can only lead to worsening of the conflict with its own people and with the international community .
Mr President , President Barroso mentioned here yesterday , in his nice response to Mr Farage , that in the EU we need the President of the Council to be a true European .
these initiatives are absolutely imperative for implementing the digital agenda and achieving the internal market , including in the services sector .
austerity could cause the economy to contract .
Mr President , your presidency - as you have just pointed out - has been marked by events of major political import , which have , on more than one account , been a challenge for Europe and , at the same time , for our Parliament .
( DE ) Mr President , on the subject of the same point of order , it is not enough for the President to take note of this .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( SV ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , when I read up on the subject that we are now debating , the balance of payments problem , I felt like Marcel Proust with his madeleine cake , In Search of Lost Time .
the Commission 's targets are very ambitious , but we shall have to wait and see their finer detail .
the tempo of Kosovo 's movement towards the EU will also depend on Serbia 's position , however .
we also have to call on the Member States to provide in-kind assistance .
the IMF is not a symbol but a working institution that needs someone at the head of it who has a strong understanding of the financial markets , the necessary skills gained from managing a large economy and the ability to communicate tough decisions to the general public .
amendment 1043 : + EUR 1 million on line 15 06 06 , commitment appropriations , and + EUR 1 million in payment appropriations , plus additional remarks from Amendment 25 , with the figure EUR 1 million instead of EUR 1.5 million .
I can well imagine , Commissioner , that you could confirm a statement that you made in the recently completed hearing in the Committee on Budgetary Control in connection with discharge .
I also took note of the motion for a resolution on the Horn of Africa that has been elaborated partly in the context of this visit .
both the US and China are growing their renewables industries very rapidly .
Afghanistan is at a crossroads .
this affects medical doctors in particular .
as there are simultaneous requests , because virtually all the Members are asking for the floor at the same time - and as I am limited to five requests to speak - I cannot extend this period without encroaching on other debates .
particularly when Parliament and the Council , or the legislative authority , delegate more and more powers to the implementing authority in Europe , it entrusts the European Commission in more and more respects with laying down the detailed rules .
this event symbolised a moral and political commitment to the principles of democracy and human rights .
moreover , we must also recognise the fact that he probably remembers the earlier period when he was victimised by the orange league , and the European Union reacted by simply smiling benevolently .
I do not believe that a tax of only 0.01 % on these transactions will cause investors to withdraw from the world 's largest financial market .
but under strictly controlled conditions biofuels can help towards a more sustainable system of energy supply , subject to guarantees that tropical rainforests will not be felled in order to fill up our cars .
secondly , at the COP15 , we , representatives of the European Union , have to send a clear message : that there needs to be more money for third countries to meet their commitments , and that sustainable development requires package solutions .
I voted for this resolution because it sets ambitious objectives to improve the European programmes for education and training .
in addition , cooperation between Parliament and the Commission , on an equal footing and based on trust , is vital if we want to succeed .
this means that one in every five plants is at risk of disappearing and - another alarming statistic - many plants will also disappear that have not yet even been discovered .
this is no surprise ; it was to be expected .
by the very nature of SWIFT , it is not possible to refer to the so-called ' limited ' requests .
why not Ireland ?
to conclude , we must not lose sight of eliminating the digital divide , even in the midst of economic crisis .
during the previous parliamentary term , the Conference of Presidents set up a Working Party on Parliamentary Reform , tasked with reviewing the functioning of Parliament and recommending possible improvements .
the report deals with the need for us to have open borders .
some points were made on why there was not more input into taxation and accounting .
following efforts and actions made by some Member States in the HRC , today Syria has stated that it is withdrawing its candidacy to become a member of the UNHRC .
ETS is much more effective than taxes in actually reaching our emissions targets .
it is an astonishing and worrying fact that , on average , Member States invest a mere 3 % of their health budgets in cancer prevention .
personally , since I come from a region lucky enough to have three European neighbours , I am particularly sensitive to border tourism and I hope that , through the partnerships , this type of tourism will help build a genuine living space both for European citizens and beyond the EU 's internal borders .
finally I would like to address the subject of the ALDE Group amendments which concern online gambling .
we should also , moreover , reiterate our refusal to sign a stabilisation and association agreement with Serbia before the delivery of its war criminals to the ICC .
this recast is essential for there to be a successful reduction of hazardous substances in this type of equipment .
I should like to ask the entire Parliament for a ' yes ' vote to support this programme for the coming years with an appropriate amount of funding to achieve the objective of supporting the promotion of European films as global ambassadors for our cultural values .
who knows , however , whether a rule-of-law government and a genuinely independent judiciary might not be more important than elections in many countries these days .
the outcome of this consultation will steer the Commission 's planning for the future legislative proposal .
there are also problems with the content .
we must reinforce solidarity among the Member States and equip ourselves with the appropriate resources to effectively control the external borders .
it strikes me on reading the documents that we still have some difficulty with this .
well , we can support the demands and proposals which have already been expressed .
secondly , on mutual trust : the abolition of internal border controls requires a high level of mutual trust between the Member States .
still , a political initiative for a lasting settlement of the Kurdish issue is expected , including real possibilities to study and use the Kurdish language .
it is no secret , however , that the Commission is not very happy with the result achieved here .
to date , no legislative motion has been submitted regarding the actual means of enforcing judgments . enforcing a court order after establishing its enforceability in another country is still the exclusive competence of national law .
as I said , we are talking about harmonisation and not legislative approximation .
it is therefore important not to lose focus .
it is a major concern for the people of Ireland that no stress test will be done in Sellafield , which is located just a few hundred kilometres from the coast of Ireland .
compared to the huge expense we are prepared to go to without any objections in order to save corporations , this exemption has only minor financial repercussions .
other costs such as rents , utility bills and local charges also hamper the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises in the present difficult times .
on 21 and 22 December , with the President of the Commission , and a number of ministers , I will have the opportunity to be present at the borders where controls are to be abolished , with nine countries entering the Schengen area , thereby fulfilling the greatest aspiration of those citizens who want to be part of Europe , to have freedom of movement while at the same time belonging to an area that safeguards their security .
without the EIB we would not have got the CIP off to such a good start .
at present , it is hard to expect the governments of countries , most of whom do apply the opt-out principle , to suddenly abandon the latter , especially in the context of the current economic crisis . in particular , I should like to draw the attention of those Members who are calling for a strong stance on the opt-out issue to this point .
the Commission is also working together with the Member States , through the disability high-level group , to monitor the implementation of the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities , signed by the European Commission and all the Member States .
the decisions made by the ECJ in the " Laval ” and other similar cases are criticised and even questioned in the report and amendments .
this undoubtedly strengthens the European Union in this essential dialogue with Cuba and in the objective of advancing and improving the lot of the Cuban people .
the green light has reluctantly been given for the negotiations between the EU and Libya to continue , as a means of strengthening our relationship .
here too the role of rail transport , i.e. high speed trains , is not appreciated .
our ambition was to create an area of responsibility within which each party involved in maritime transport must take its fair share of the responsibility for its choices and actions and , where appropriate , for its errors and mistakes .
Italy .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( CS ) Firstly I would like to emphasise that the numbers of failing and newly-established companies as well as the specific conditions for establishing a new company vary considerably between the individual Member States of the EU .
the more countries which demand this data , the greater the risk that the different systems will have a negative impact on legal clarity , the protection of personal data and the costs for airlines .
one example is milk production in Greece , where the milk cartel is pushing down farm gate prices and holding consumer prices sky high , thereby reaping huge profits .
therefore , it is imperative that the EU very quickly looks into the question of a carbon tax , public aid to support a green New Deal and the Community budget for the prevention of climate change .
we are well aware that this is a difficult route to take , but there is no other way to reach our destination .
I think that these instruments must be considered by the European Commission and the governments of Croatia and Macedonia .
the MEPs from the Christian Democratic Appeal ( CDA ) and the European People 's Party ( PPE ) voted in favour of the final report , as it contains a number of positive points .
with six million passengers a year , Newcastle comes above the threshold , yet it is a minnow compared to the giants of Heathrow and Gatwick .
Mr President , this is a short statement to remind you that the Community Visa Code enters into force on 5 April - that is , next month - and , therefore , it is essential that this new regulation enters into force before that date .
it is a complex problem .
in any case , I am in complete agreement with Mr Gahler , who said - and this is also my own concern - that we should put people and humanitarian concerns first .
this should be an important objective of the new EU 2020 strategy .
I , too , am grateful to Vice-President Barrot for coming to report to us on the problems , although I feel we should not have had to keep asking for those updates .
where travel is cancelled or delayed for more than 120 minutes , passengers shall have the right to compensation amounting to 50 % of the ticket price , in addition to the reimbursement of the ticket price .
firstly , regarding agriculture - which I mentioned earlier - we call on the Commission to ensure that none of the agreement 's provisions , either on the liberalisation of agricultural trade or on intellectual property rights , threaten small-scale farming in India .
energy security also depends on the EU 's neighbours .
2 .
the debate is closed .
approximation of the VAT and tax systems of Member States is a very dangerous step away from national self-determination in one of the most fundamental policy areas .
that is dishonourable and creates uncertainty not just in Turkey , but also in other candidate countries .
in my opinion , the EU must concentrate its peace-keeping operations on the crisis regions in its own backyard , such as the Balkans or the Caucasus .
therefore , I have decided that while awaiting the clarifications in the Czech Republic , firstly we will continue the preparations for the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty and secondly , when there is clarity on when the Lisbon Treaty will come into force , when there is clarity , I will begin consultations on the nominations of the new President of the European Council and the High Representative and Secretary-General of the Council .
at the same time , our cooperation with Russia in the Security Council on the issue of Libya or on Iran 's nuclear programme is pleasing .
( RO ) Madam President , Montenegro 's gaining of accession candidate country status is the upshot of the open door policy promoted by the European Union , which has had a beneficial impact not only in Eastern Europe but also in the Western Balkans , as in this case .
the inevitable consequence of introducing such measures on a broad scale is that Europe will fall behind economically and that economic growth will slow down or even grind to a halt .
key topics on the comprehensive agenda include the planned cooperation agreement , securing the supply of energy , Russia 's accession to the WTO , climate change , the situation in the Caucasus and , above all , the situation with regard to democracy and the rule of law in Russia .
it also considers zero-emission vehicles and very low-emission vehicles and their multiplier effect ; this helps the industry and gives it not only a carrot but also an obligation , and it also provides consumers with better access to information .
this report should have served that purpose , but it does not .
at this point , it is obvious that the worker is no longer needed and the Blue Card then becomes invalid .
1 .
there must be sufficient scope for Member States to opt for their own specific solution .
we must now build on these practical activities , for example by deciding how best to use development aid funds .
similarly , I believe that this report goes too far in calling into question the Commission 's initial proposal , which is acceptable to operators .
I believe that it is important to perhaps point out once again that I was involved in the introduction of the European Single Market , as coordinator during the introduction of the euro and other things like that .
Member States using money from the Structural Funds must establish and implement initiatives which would promote the participation of women in the labour market , reduce social inequality and address issues related to transport infrastructure .
- ( SK ) Mr President , we are debating a law on counterfeit medicines .
Mr Hughes , I very much respect your concern with social Europe , but let us be completely open about this .
I appreciate that some people might wish us to move faster on some of the initiatives , but speed does not always equate to equality .
we can have eurobonds for other reasons. maybe .
( SK ) As a substitute member of the Temporary Committee on Climate Change , I would like to highlight the huge success achieved by the European Parliament at the global conference in Bali .
we need to nail our colours to the mast of a global carbon budget .
indeed , the little progress that was made is a result of great pressure from important sectors in several Member States , of which the milk crisis is an example .
in negotiations with candidate Member States and in our dialogues with other countries , whether it is the United States or whether it is Iran , we consistently push for the abolition , de jure or de facto , of this most inhumane punishment .
( NL ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , in the resolution on the future of professional football , which we adopted last year on these same benches , we expressly call on the Council to take measures to combat criminal activities in professional football , such as forced prostitution .
we are calling for greater transparency and genuine cooperation during the GSP negotiations with each country .
in Sri Lanka , the press is muzzled , and journalists are subject to intimidation and arbitrary detention .
so , while we think that is crucial for the European Parliament to send a signal to fathers , we would like to send more than signals : we would like to open the door to a modern society .
when we do that , however , we must not forget that we have a vision .
once we achieve a government of national reconciliation , based on a programme that is supported by Arab and international parties , that will allow us to oversee crossings , as well as reconstruction efforts , to the benefit of our people and of preparations for presidential and legislative elections .
it is in the interests of citizens to have safe , cheap products and pesticide-free drinking water .
this is already being done by authoritarian states .
we believe it could help .
the good practice exercise has , up to now , provided more than 250 examples of proven and successful SME policy measures .
sport means a great deal for society , and it creates many important values to which I can hardly do justice in only two minutes .
firstly , we fully agree with the assessment that the Black Sea basin is a very important region as regards the energy policy of the European Union , and above all as regards the external dimensions of the policy .
in writing . - ( RO ) For the moment , there is no single European system to acknowledge and enforce the legal obligation to grant maintenance abroad .
I want , therefore , to hope and believe that this commitment , in a case so difficult and extreme as Guinea , will be effective and will produce good fruit .
contracts with an international element are currently drawn up based on international private law and , at EU level , on the basis of Regulation ( EC ) No 593 / 2008 .
I declare resumed the session of the European Parliament adjourned on Thursday , 15 December 2011 .
to meet the goals , it is also of paramount importance that we are more creative in enhancing the impact of our aid , in promoting more sustainable and more inclusive growth , and in mobilising other and additional sources of finance for development .
I believe that this is fundamentally important . we also want to see animal tests reduced .
since we apparently all agree that it is very good that there are reforms , we also need to support those reforms .
equal respect for all nations means confronting each one with its own responsibility .
I should like in fact to invoke the Rules of Procedure relating to the Conference of Presidents which , as you pointed out , Mr President , sets the agenda .
people are just not making the connection that the citizens of that country said ' no ' precisely because it is well known that this principle is regularly breached by the European Union .
in light of this , I am glad to see that we are going to make concerted efforts to boost the numbers of organ-donor registers by encouraging different forms of registration schemes and strengthening our cross-border cooperation so that the best matches between donors and recipients can be made .
the Council has been very active in seeking solutions : intensive consultations are in progress , and they will culminate next week at the meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council , whilst short-term , medium-term and long-term measures are being sought where the aim is to preserve European fisheries , to bridge the current difficult phase and to preserve both coastal as well as pelagic fisheries .
finally , some Members - Mr Lehne and Mr Swoboda , Mrs Roth-Behrendt , Mrs Wallis and Mr Rangel , among others - spoke at length about the institutional question , and , in particular , about the Framework Agreement .
the situation there , on this section , has changed now .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner Kallas , first of all , I very much welcome the fact that the Swedish Presidency of the Council is present , and I would also like to personally thank Mrs Malmström for having made the procedure more transparent .
higher income Europeans do not face these obstacles .
yet in 2007 we spent half a billion on the occupied territories .
glaciers are not melting everywhere .
that is why I voted in favour of this text .
this is a matter of urgency because we know that , in Europe , 1 in 4 15-year-olds cannot read properly .
Sudan and Zimbabwe are the main importers of arms from China .
I am abstaining out of consideration for the workers of the Polish car industry , who have been sacrificed on the altar of globalisation .
the Commission made proposals .
7 .
if similar practices start occurring in other countries , we shall be faced with a glaring breach of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations that was adopted in 1961 .
in writing . - As was the case in the resolution on an EU strategy for the Danube region adopted by the EP last month , the present draft resolution stresses that the major added value of EU macro-regional strategies is seen in multi-level cooperation , coordination and better strategic investment of available funding , and not in the additional allocation of resources .
last week , when I personally mentioned this , I did not receive an answer .
that is true - and there is no intention whatsoever to change that fact .
I believe that it needed to be associated with Moldova , if only symbolically .
it is certainly worth saying that , when the ILO was created in 1919 after the Treaty of Versailles , which ended the First World War , it was to reflect the belief that universal and lasting peace can only be accomplished if it is based on social justice .
it discriminates against those Members who put down questions well in advance and there is absolutely no excuse for it .
it covers liability in the event of injury or death .
you are right .
in this we perhaps need Europeanwide coordination .
in 2016 , the nations hosting the contest will be Poland and Spain .
Spyker Cars becomes Saab Spyker in a EUR 400 million deal but , make no mistake , this is not a normal commercial deal where one company pays and another company is paid .
in view of the negative experience with the Societas Europaea , it is very important that the Commission have permanent oversight of the application of Regulation No 2157 / 2001 .
without this , prices will become unpredictable .
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in 1991-1994 put a million people to flight , and the conflict is still unresolved .
in this way it confirmed its ambition to be a strong global player .
this directive is intended to allow all patients - and not only the best informed or richest - to enjoy a series of healthcare rights which have already been recognised by the Court of Justice of the European Union .
there is concern in relation to the requests to include a number of subjects in the second phase , which do not correspond to WTO obligations .
however , ladies and gentlemen , Parliament has a good memory .
it is well known that this proposal has turned out to be highly divisive and has obtained the consensus of less than one third of the UN members , as noted by the President of the General Assembly .
the Commission fully shares your views that European cohesion policy has played a major role in narrowing disparities across the European Union and thus fostering European integration , and also getting the Union closer to its people .
thus there must be a maximum 120 grams of CO2 emissions per kilometre by 2012 .
4 .
we have been talking a great deal about renewable energy .
the fact that so many countries participate in this initiative confirms that prior to this programme there had been a lack of interest in solving the problems of small and medium-sized enterprises .
at present there is barely any at all .
3 .
we can learn a lot from them .
I am a supporter of the concept of European added value , and this added value must be achieved by means of the budget and financial planning .
the roadmap beginning next year must stress - just like the present one - the phenomenon of multiple and ' sectional ' discrimination , while paying closer attention to women 's rights aspects of the situation of ethnic minorities .
codification is also a suitable means of developing European Union law which is simpler , clearer and more understandable to citizens .
it is obvious that the role of civil society and of Parliament should be increased .
gas supplies were also the number one topic of the European Commission 's meeting with the Czech Government , traditionally the strategic session , which took place on 7 January 2009 in Prague and also dominated the first informal council which we organised in the Czech Republic - the general affairs informal meeting held in Prague last Thursday .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I should like first to thank - both personally and on behalf of my colleague , Mr Kallas , for whom I am standing in - Mrs Ranner for her report on a particularly important aspect of the social rules in road transport .
we know that criminality is not limited to our continent , but consists of worldwide networks .
I would also tell you what we must keep in mind in this House if the project collapses .
Madam President , I am delighted to address this Parliament once more as the recently elected leader of the British Conservative delegation .
Japan will change our thinking on these issues and consequently we need to rethink the issue of ancillary risk ; new conclusions will be drawn and must give rise to new considerations and new policies .
it is simply unacceptable that women in the EU earn on average 15 % less than men .
the way forward needs to be in harmony with the values that human rights represent .
in my view , this problem is enormous but we need to have it quantified .
why ?
yet we do have to keep increasing the pressure to prevent vulnerable persons being left out in the cold .
tobacco smoke particles are deposited permanently in enclosed areas causing air pollution that even the best ventilation systems cannot deal with effectively .
the right to protection , in particular from a terrorist attack , is laid down by Article 188R of the Treaty of Lisbon , and more precisely in its Article 4 , which empowers the European Union and its Member States to act in an effective manner .
I hope that you will enter and proceed with the ' left ' foot and I say that because the approach which will wear the social face of Europe on the outside is very important .
we do object , on the other hand , if in such a system the current large wage differences existing between EU Member States are abused to reduce labour costs .
it must be made clear that distancing themselves from Russia does not in itself mean getting closer to Europe .
the burden of proof will thus be reversed .
where the Stockholm Programme is concerned , it is said that it will create security , but in practice what is emerging is a ' big brother ' state that threatens personal privacy .
in addition to the above , it is also important to bear in mind that the European agricultural sector is obliged to meet the highest standards in terms of quality , product hygiene , sustainable production methods , animal and plant health and welfare , traceability , pesticide residue control , veterinary medicine and additives ; these aspects increase production costs and should be taken into consideration during multilateral and bilateral negotiations .
furthermore , any kind of mention about Croatia 's accession possibly being deferred can only be treated as a throwaway remark made without too much thought .
European consumers have the right to know where the products that they buy come from , so that they can make informed choices .
I understand the concern of these NGOs for protecting the interests of people without papers , but I urge these organizations to look at the situation from a realistic angle .
until that is successfully complete , we have contacts and ways open in order to maintain the contingency plan for the future .
fourth , on the question of Israel : there are two important issues following the elections .
nor does it help the problems of road safety - we know that 50 % of fatal accidents take place in cities - nor those relating to the production of consumers , less able citizens , whose mobility is dependent on public transport .
in such cases , the EU 's various legal instruments must adhere strictly to these resolutions .
in practical terms , if we combine locally supplied with labour-intensive services , then this would mean that all the construction , all the insulation , and all the development of energy efficient buildings could be covered in the directive , and that is good enough for us .
if we are to move forward , we need three basic things :
human rights are being upheld or they are not .
in addition , it is very much to be welcomed that Member States will establish criteria and decide which housing qualifies for grants in accordance with national legislation .
achieving this balance is a task for all the institutions .
the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats took the lead in the proposals and accepted amendments to enable the cooperation of all the political groups in the European Parliament .
for a number of years the Council has been submitting to the European Parliament an annual report on the situation of fundamental rights in the Union , in relation to which Parliament has responded by drawing up an own-initiative report .
all the European institutions that depend on the European Union budget have to be thoroughly audited by the Court of Auditors and by all entities with that function .
neither the European Union nor national borders must stand in the way of such a family .
five Western Balkan countries are negotiating this liberalisation but , according to the Commission report , even though they have all made considerable progress , only three of them ( the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia , Montenegro and Serbia ) meet the conditions for this liberalisation to take place soon , whereas Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania are not yet considered ready .
last year less than EUR 20 million was mobilised for this purpose .
Member of the Commission . - ( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , in my first reply dealing with the Directives on non-discrimination I mentioned a study drafted within the framework of a process for the assessment of implementation and effectiveness , which examines whether and how it would be suitable to amend the relevant European legislation .
question Hour with the President of the Commission
urgent measures are therefore needed to combat these discriminatory situations .
that is because Parliament has the duty to control where the Commission spends the money and whether it is spent as intended , in this case , on Official Development Assistance ( ODA ) .
this whole affair must force us to take a very rigorous approach to European public health problems and make us see that it is vital to work with researchers and the pharmaceutical industry in order to respond effectively to such a situation and also to give ourselves the means to do so .
the problem with this report is that it states that the conclusion of the negotiations could perhaps be reached in 2009 , which is to say this year , while , in my opinion , it is , in fact , unwise to tie ourselves down to a given date .
access to raw materials is part of this - a requirement for industry therefore , but , at the same time , also part of the transition .
Mr President , the proposed directive might be the last straw to break the back of the British road haulage industry .
as a result of this process , the EU has gained in strength , diversity and cultural richness .
the internet and mobile phones are a wonderful , exciting opportunity .
( HU ) Mr Swoboda , you mentioned that the Czech Republic was reassured at the time of its accession that there was no need for concern about the Beneš Decrees as they were not valid .
( RO ) Madam President , I would like to raise for discussion the recent events in the world of football and , in particular , the election of Sepp Blatter as head of FIFA .
for this reason , Commissioner , I am not interested in how many compliments or objections you are going to receive here , at this time .
postponing it would create a vacuum and would weaken both the Commission and Europe .
I support the question and I would like to add a few factual observations and notes .
the next item is Question Time ( B6-0001 / 2008 ) .
based on this , I call on the Council not to let slip away a precious opportunity for us to conclude this matter in conciliation , which some of us will come to with our homework almost done , as the informal trialogues that have been held so far , and the complete consensus that exists with all the shadow rapporteurs , have produced very satisfactory results and could provide a good basis for the final agreement .
the appearance of new methods used by terrorists , such as the creation of thousands of websites used for terrorist propaganda , demands a firm response from the European Union .
the question of the arrangements for importing fishery and aquaculture products into the EU and in particular the conditions under which products originating outside the Union are admitted - alongside or in competition with European fishery and aquaculture products - is of major importance and any analysis of these sectors of the European economy must necessarily address it .
it is up to you .
voting time
moreover , it is very difficult to estimate the long-term effects of projects financed by European funds and the impact of programmes which are implemented at the same time .
if we divided this money between all the families in Europe living below the poverty line , there would be enough money for every family .
on the contrary , biofuels cause food price increases , are responsible for water reserve problems and , due to deforestation , are themselves responsible for increasing concentration of the much detested CO2 .
at present , Parliament can only have its say once the negotiations have ended , which leaves it no other option than to either approve these agreements or reject their ratification , thus leaving it very little room for manoeuvre .
Mr President , last week the German weekly newspaper Der Spiegel published a portrait of you entitled ' The Omnipresident ' .
I asked my intern to read this report and she made an interesting comment .
however , since the main topics already appear to have been discussed very clearly by the previous speakers and by Commissioner Frattini himself , I think that it is something that we must examine .
( ES ) Madam President , I listened very carefully to what Mr López Aguilar said , and I would like to remind him that the Spanish Government - run by his party - is currently preparing to create a State Media Council and a law against unequal treatment and discrimination , which hang over any possible political adversaries like the Sword of Damocles , and could interfere with media content .
we have to go in with a single position that has been formally adopted within the European Union .
this is a question of subsidiarity .
I fail to see how , with a diminished CAP , we will be able to respond - just to give another example - to price volatility , and establish a budget line , as is our intention , that will rise to the crisis we have come to know so well .
we must strive for a stronger , more influential role for Europe , given that strategically we are side by side with the United States .
while the objective of the European Union is the preservation of cultural diversity , minority languages and groups face the threat of extinction or assimilation .
do it .
however , I would like to draw my fellow Members ' attention to the fact that unlike others , the Jobbik movement for Hungary would like to support this not for the sake of seeking profits .
improving the security and governance of the Schengen area in a time of increased pressure is a means to this end .
the next item is the statement by the Commission with regard to the evaluation of driving hours and rest periods .
it entails 27 Member States working together to ensure peace , human rights , the rule of law and democracy throughout the world .
3 .
as you know , the operationalisation of the financial assistance is beset by considerable uncertainties due to the political and constitutional crisis which has not yet been overcome .
I therefore feel I must speak on behalf of the road hauliers and say that their actual situation is much worse , particularly with the fall in demand for international road transport .
the same amount can be obtained through the recycling of approximately 5 kg of old mobile phones .
I have to say to you , however , that I considered this provocation necessary .
ladies and gentlemen , you mentioned a wide range of individual problems , notably the issue of the health service , including access to medicines and its overall organisation .
one of these is low salaries for teachers in all disciplines , inevitably leading to a lack of teachers .
there is one more thing that Europe can do right now : we can increase funding for the Seventh Framework Programme , which has been designed for the purposes of international cooperation on climate change .
we would also like to state that we want this foreign policy to strengthen Europe 's ability to act .
the introduction of the European citizens ' initiative , which we are voting on today , means that for the first time in the history of the EU there will be an instrument that allows the citizens of Europe to express their expectations and requirements directly , to launch initiatives immediately , to follow them up and to participate directly in policymaking .
I am quite happy to admit , as you pointed out , that as Europeans we have responsibilities .
all matters of legitimacy and ethics in relation to advertising are already regulated at national level .
as the questioners are not present , Questions 22 and 23 lapse .
it is precisely the third energy package that must be adopted as soon as possible , and the role of the Commission and the Council in this respect is particularly significant .
we need good , secure jobs in Europe and the Member States and businesses must ensure that these are permanent jobs which allow people to earn a good living .
this was recently recognised in a very interesting study commissioned by the Directorate-General for Fisheries , which Mr Borg took the trouble to make public , a gesture I would like to thank him for now .
I just wanted to make a brief digression there .
I therefore believe that we should focus our efforts on where the real risks are , and target illegal introductions or personal imports rather than trying to excessively regulate legal imports .
we must also modernise the labour market , generalise the flexicurity model and increase the professional activity of European societies .
EIB assistance was essential .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , Prime Minister , the delicate phase of ratification has finally begun , and we hope that they will take place very rapidly .
thus , some of the intentions which are supposed to underlie the GSP create a contradiction with its actual results .
there is no mandate for this .
while this is important , very many citizens have lost trust and are now feeling abandoned .
that is not true of Spain , of Poland , of Romania or of Germany .
we have therefore chosen to vote against the proposals that called for this .
it is true that the economy has grown by 6 % , but more than half the population is still living below the poverty line .
the European Parliament will be able to have an equal say with the Council on matters relating to justice and home affairs ; democratic legitimacy will be increased for the benefit of the citizens .
the entire left-wing spectrum in the European Parliament voted for the alternative resolution .
truly , it is crucial that human rights will be taken into account in every EU action .
in fact , the fund could also be integrated with other European funds , such as the European Regional Development Fund , for example .
as the tensions surrounding Kosovo 's future status mount , it would be wrong to think that caving in on EU conditionality and bending over backwards to make concessions to Belgrade will serve either the EU or Serbia in the long run .
in writing . - ( PT ) The sustainability of fish stocks is fundamental to guaranteeing the long-term existence of fishing activity and the socioeconomic viability of the fishing sector .
I support a binding agreement featuring an international system of sanctions for the climate summit in Cancún .
I therefore welcome the adoption of tamper-evident packaging and the creation of an early warning system .
that is why we need a different legal basis and a panel of experts broadened to include independent scientific experts on public health and food safety .
we must also take into account the typical conditions in which transport operates in different maritime regions of Europe as they can have specific features which may actually restrict the possibility of establishing common rules .
at item 27 of the report , the European Parliament calls attention to the need to further invest in education , professional training and research .
we will therefore move forward on this issue , believe me .
thank you , Mrs Gräßle !
now it is the Bendtsen report that formulates specific recommendations as to how we could exploit our possibilities more effectively .
we must do more to raise its profile .
however , Commissioner , if you go along this path you will have our full support ; sometimes not all battles are won , but all the important ones need to be fought , and this one needs to be fought .
unfortunately , domestic violence , the use of rape as a weapon of war , genital mutilation , forced marriage , human trafficking or sexual slavery remain the nightmare which destroys the lives of millions of women throughout the whole world .
in writing . - I voted for this report on how EU law- and regulation-making can best be done .
therefore , it is necessary to pay significant attention to ensuring cooperation , independence and transparency .
from 2009 , a reasonable set of basic rights will apply , including the right to accessible transport for people with reduced mobility .
however , the rules and procedures involved in mobilising the fund have already shown that this principle of helping the affected populations quickly is not being observed in practice .
what is your opinion about ' Gazpromians ' for the Presidency ?
furthermore , we are genuinely ensuring much better consumer protection with much better market supervision .
we all want the Presidency to be a success and we do not want to see its progress blocked .
this is referred to , by the way , in Guideline 8 ( investment in human resource development ) , albeit without special emphasis or concrete details .
this is the fact that we managed to finalise agreement on the joint EU transparency register , which will bring additional light and transparency to lobbying activities and the activities of interest representatives in Brussels .
this can take place if gas is used in the production of energy itself .
- Report : Karin Scheele
in writing . - ( FR ) Europe wishes to protect itself against maritime accidents and the pollution of its seas and oceans .
the new house must be different .
first of all , such enterprises are concerned about the non-payment of invoices , a lack of payment discipline .
as a matter of principle , we only negotiate FTAs which are compatible with WTO rules and which , building on the WTO acquis , go much further in coverage than the Doha Round .
leading the Union means bringing in a new idea on the issue of governance , on which you have just written in a newspaper .
at present , it is up to us to urge the Member States to speed up the rate at which they transpose the directive into their domestic law ( they have 24 months from this October ) , even if I personally wish that the Member States would put more urgency into transposing a directive that also has a direct effect on opportunities for recovering outstanding debts so that they can be applied to innovation .
I would ask you to rise to honour the memory of these people .
I support the report on the draft Council Regulation concerning the extension of the scope of the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the professional cross-border transport of euro cash by road between euro area Member States .
a group of experts funded by the European Commission recommended an international study should be conducted , which would investigate all the effects that the Chernobyl disaster has had on human health .
Mr President , I would like to thank all the committee members who worked alongside the rapporteur , Mrs Gál , on these areas , as well as all those MEPs who took the floor today in this House , thereby showing that fundamental rights are very important .
we need a dialogue and an honest discussion on our integration and visa policy .
there are marked inequalities between the healthcare systems of the Member States , however . this is particularly true as regards access to healthcare , prevention , detection and effective treatment of certain diseases .
thank you , Madam President .
I thank Parliament and its rapporteur for their support .
effective competition in the supply of goods and services reduces prices , improves quality and allows greater choice for consumers .
( FR ) Madam President , today we have devoted one minute , at the start of our work , and we thank the President for allowing us to do so , to paying tribute to the memory of the daily victims of a system that is now causing a tragedy at a level that has never been seen before , a continuous tragedy of the poor against the poor , seeking work and food .
Mr President , first of all I want to join in thanking Nickolay Mladenov for a very important and serious piece of work .
the oral question to the Council on the state of play of SIS II , by Mr Coelho , on behalf of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats , Mrs Roure , on behalf of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament , and Mr Lax , on behalf of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe - B6-0010 / 2009 ) , and
they offered cheaper services , but selectively , choosing the busiest parts of the postal delivery service and offering poorer working conditions and conditions of employment .
it is hard to estimate the exact scale of the problem in the individual Member States of the European Union , but in Poland in 2009 alone , for example , customs officers confiscated over 100 000 falsified products .
my especial thanks to those who have said that they will be supporting the text , but to those who will not be voting in favour , I do not believe that putting me in the same bracket as Mr Cameron is really an insult either .
the European Union 's position in the global market in this sector must be enhanced .
it is participating constructively at deputy minister level in the four multilateral forums - democracy and governance , economic integration , energy security and people-to-people contacts .
they bought it as a recycled light fuel oil which would have been the correct oil to use in this particular drying process .
existing Union maritime policy was created separately in such areas as : maritime transport , maritime economy , new technologies , coastal areas , maritime energy , fisheries , surveillance and policing of the seas , tourism , protection of the marine environment and marine research .
in writing . - I could not support the Vatanen report on the role of NATO in the security of the EU .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , regardless of whether we live in urban areas or in the countryside , we all form part of an information and knowledge society .
perhaps we should ask the question as to how to increase the effectiveness of EU resources and how to spend them more intelligently .
we must not let this happen .
draft amending budget No 2 / 2010 BEREC ( Office of the Body of the European Regulators for Electronic Communications ) (
at the very least , all full-time mothers ' work must be credited for contributory pension purposes .
Brazil 's demographic weight , economic development and political stability inevitably make it a key player on the international stage .
we are also raising it , as a number of speakers have pointed out , in our discussions with China , and specifically the issue of the forced return of North Korean citizens who entered China illegally .
there is currently a strike being held by tobacco workers at the firm Tekel that is very intense and is now escalating .
finally , a word on procedure .
wilderness may refer to both land and sea .
all these things make sense if the beneficiaries can access the information .
I voted in favour of this report because I intend to support the work carried out to date by this House , a role that is even more important today as we oversee negotiations over economic partnership agreements .
access must be improved for local and regional public authorities to obtain funding for investments in projects for renewable energy resources and energy efficiency .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , let me firstly congratulate and thank the rapporteur , Mr Giegold , who has proposed a work of high quality and has shown himself ready to listen to the rapporteurs from other groups .
on the civil side , European countries and the EU itself have pumped EUR 8 billion into Afghanistan since 2001 , but this huge sum seems to have made little difference ; do we have any idea how much of it has gone astray ?
Europe needs economic reform , public finance discipline , deepening the internal market , changes to labour laws to boost employment , and a package of measures to make a success of the Europe 2020 programme .
we have a responsibility to avoid triggering a new gas crisis .
clearly , more action is needed .
if we want to make trade freer , the aim of all these efforts - both here and in our neighbouring countries to the south - must be to combat unemployment .
does the Council believe that the proliferation of bilateral trade agreements being signed by the USA , the EU and other international players is compatible with the multilateral principles which underpin the World Trade Organization ?
only if these issues are resolved will it be possible to achieve the two main objectives proposed by the report : 1 ) peace , democracy , stability and prosperity in the region ; and 2 ) energy security for the EU .
I would like to draw attention to the legislative process regarding another matter , namely , the elimination of demand .
I voted in favour of this report and endorsed the European Parliament 's decision to grant discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Committee of the Regions ( CoR ) for the financial year 2009 .
the common agricultural policy must be radically modified to support small and medium-sized farmers and family farming , thereby stimulating agricultural production , biodiversity and use of the land .
the European Union has made it a point of honour to protect consumers within the internal market .
faced with the worsening economic and social situation in various Member States , to date the EU has not taken any effective initiative that has not been aimed at protecting financial capital .
furthermore , I believe we should first start proving that we know what is planned at European level before looking outside our borders .
I believe this should be a very uncontroversial proposal by the Commission .
since Pakistan declared its support for the war against terrorism waged by the United States , hundreds , if not thousands , of people suspected of having links with terrorist groups have been arbitrarily detained : arrests without warrant , detentions with no legal basis or access to a lawyer , detentions in unspecified locations , forced disappearances , ill-treatment and torture .
the resolution emphasises that the first pillar of the pension system is the main one .
through petitions European citizens can raise their voice , can hold their government accountable .
energy efficiency programmes have the potential to create jobs .
I believe that maximising the potential of the single market , through greater integration of the markets and the strengthening of European company and consumer confidence could have a leverage effect on the European economy .
they are taken on the basis of a complaint by a company .
the directive is being simplified .
the aim of this report is therefore to speak up for a more transparent , more consistent and therefore more credible European sanctions policy .
the most obvious result of this is that Palestinian infrastructure , funded by the European taxpayer , is being regularly destroyed by the Israeli army using American weapons .
deterioration of the situation in Georgia ( motions for resolutions tabled ) : see Minutes
there was a question about whether the constitution contained that particular fourth-fifths majority or not .
I would therefore like to demand , suggest , and ask that it be recognised that human rights means all rights : economic , social , cultural and political rights .
Mr Klinz has presented a compromise document that I can support .
Commissioner , I am aware of and took note of your points , but I am certain there is something you can do to further explore how we can strengthen this particular point .
she had heard a lot at school about how above all you must not be fat , but she was not sufficiently aware of how you should eat healthily and what a normal helping is .
this is a dangerous approach as it could play into the hands of Eurosceptics .
in particular , it makes sense to classify these straits and approach routes to them in accordance with the procedure relating to ' Seveso zones ' , because transport must come down to a drive to reduce costs whatever the consequences .
this is particularly important given the increasing interest in the exploitation of resources .
it is essential to make the selection and promotion processes open and transparent .
I only saw her in action here since I came here and , in particular , I questioned her on the trade agreement with South Korea and I thought she acquitted herself very well .
we do therefore have to ask ourselves questions .
the European Union Neighbourhood Policy , as we ought to call it , must offer immediate political and economic aid to our nearest neighbours .
all these comments will be checked for accuracy .
composition of Parliament : see Minutes
if we support the draft Treaty , it is also because an effective EU of 27 cannot build on the rules of the Treaty of Nice .
so far , the difficulty has been in the substantial formal obstacles which would arise if a Member State in a crisis situation , say under terrorist attack , asked another Member State for help .
9 .
other colleagues have also asked if you could be quiet .
Chinese firms and businessmen create extraterritorial Chinese islands that are protected by corrupt rulers , who are in turn protected by Chinese vetoes in the Security Council .
it is incomprehensible that the Commission intends to switch the allocation of funds from a regional to a national basis , or even at European level , rejecting the criterion of proximity that has always underpinned cohesion policy .
the President-in-Office of the Council expressed no opinion at all as to how the Council would react if Parliament were to call for this .
insufficient soya imports impose an additional cost burden on the EU livestock and feedstuffs sectors and jeopardise the economic viability of domestic meat production .
however , we need to do more and ensure that our political dialogue and cooperation with India reflects the country 's true potential .
but , at the same time , we also have the European Alcohol and Health Forum , where all the stakeholders are present and there we will develop concrete actions at the appropriate levels .
international trade could have a beneficial effect not only on the economic but also - and particularly - on the political and social situation in the region .
I voted in favour of this report because the aviation industry in Romania will benefit directly too .
yet it is a huge amount of mercury .
what do we need in order to achieve this ?
since Romania and Bulgaria fulfil the technical conditions for joining the Schengen area , on behalf of the citizens of Romania , Bulgaria and Europe , we call on the Council to approve the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the area .
the report clearly recognises the obligation of the Member States to respect the Safety Fundamentals stemming from the IAEA and the provisions of the Convention on Nuclear Safety , as well as seeking to reinforce the role of nuclear regulatory authorities and ensure their independent decision-making role .
we must adopt a wide-ranging approach that considers how to deal with , prevent and recover from disasters , so it is important we ask the Commission to urgently present proposals to prevent disasters in the European Union .
firstly , by providing further clarification on the conditions for exempting certain imports of goods , and , secondly , by creating the legal basis for allowing cross-border joint and several liability for traders failing to fulfil their reporting obligations .
in view of the multitude of orphans waiting for adoption , primarily in the East , and millions of unborn children in Europe , a strict ban on the adoption of non-European children would be a heavy blow against child trafficking , as would the introduction of a Europe-wide sex offenders register and greater penalties for sexual activity with children and for the possession of child pornography .
at the same time , however , the increase in its range of activities has created additional requirements in terms of more personnel , both in the administration of the European Parliament and in the political groups and offices of MEPs .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - Madam President , let me begin by congratulating Mr Schwab on his report and thanking him for his extremely cooperative approach to this whole matter .
it involves an enormous conflict of interest .
in writing . - ( PT ) Eurojust is a European Union body which helps researchers and the representatives of public prosecutors across the EU work together in the fight against cross-border criminal activity .
however , the reforms within the scope of the Stability and Growth Pact do not provide equal opportunities to every player .
even if there are formal problems on the part of the Council and Parliament also needs to be involved , we are here to find solutions .
in fact , such agreements should take account of varied critical aspects , such as the effects of the financial crisis , the increase in migratory flows and , above all , in illegal immigration .
she is setting deadlines instead of thinking about whether Ireland can allocate 200 % of its domestic product as guarantees exclusively for Irish citizens and for future loans .
I say ' grave miscalculation ' because , instead of the 13 000 predicted immigrant workers , we have had 750 000 , with the related massive drain on our welfare system of millions per annum in child benefit and tax credits for children who do not even live in the United Kingdom but qualify because their fathers work there .
forests and wooded land currently cover more than 42 % of the EU 's surface and are an industry which provides approximately 2 million jobs , with an annual turnover of EUR 300 billion .
strong political will needs to be backed up by concrete actions .
we are moving on now to ecodesign , realising here , as elsewhere , that it means tremendous new opportunities in innovation and jobs .
we should assess the situation in specific Member States .
the discussion with regard to this report has focused on the issue of the reversed qualified majority voting mechanism - which means that the Commission 's recommendations will come into effect unless opposed by a qualified majority of the Council - as well as the review clause .
this task is difficult enough , and I hope that we will manage to do it successfully .
we talk here about assistance for the poorest countries , which is all very well , but if you look at the current numbers for greenhouse gas production , you can see clearly that even if we were more ambitious in Europe and actually disconnected all of our energy sources , it would not change anything at all in terms of climate change as it is simply impossible for us to slow down this phenomenon .
I am also pleased that the European Commission took account both of the concerns expressed by Parliament and also of those coming from industry and it was also able to dispel some concerns just in the last few weeks .
since then , and as had happened previously , thousands of jobs have been lost and innumerable companies closed , with 350 000 jobs and 5 % of companies having vanished in the last two years alone .
rapporteur for the opinion of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , economic cohesion , along with social cohesion and also territorial cohesion , have always been the fundamental principles for defining all the policies of the European Union since its inception .
it points out that , in the absence of significant reallocations within the additional resources budget , Europe will never be able to accomplish the new missions assigned to it under the Treaty of Lisbon nor embark on the road towards sustainable growth .
in particular , my question is what will be the impact of the EU itself ratifying the convention on those countries that have not already ratified it ?
at European level , political parties have a vital role in creating European political awareness and expressing the will of the EU public .
until such time as it joins the European Union , the Stabilisation and Association Agreement is currently the primary framework for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 's European relations .
I hope the second Barroso Commission can combine technical competence with that ' something extra ' .
national financing , in whatever proportion , will call a body 's credibility into question and will open the door to administrative and legal uncertainty .
we gave up two seats in order to reach the final agreement , thus bearing a large part of the adjustment effort .
it is not about abandoning citizens ' rights of free movement .
there is evidence that children already develop the foundations of responsibility , understanding and social behaviour in their early years .
with the approval of this agreement , all EU citizens - including citizens of Estonia , Latvia , Malta and Cyprus , for whom Brazil continued to require a visa - will be able to enter the country without a visa for tourism and business purposes , just as Brazilian citizens can already travel without a visa to all EU Member States .
firstly , it is important to provide candidate countries and potential candidate countries with pre-accession instruments appropriate to the challenges they will face : consolidation of the state , governance , socio-economic reforms , etc .
I think we should build on this when we look at the period after 2013 , and ask : what do we need in terms of money and resources so as to really become a driving force for conflict prevention ?
we need action : not just resolution , but we need international action .
while among civilised Christian European peoples , women and children are regarded as people to be protected and defended , in the Roma communities they are often willingly subject to exploitation , and led into crime and prostitution .
clearly , not only national regulations but also bilateral agreements are insufficient , given that in this age of globalised financial markets and globalised production such phenomena occur in large numbers and exceed the confines of individual countries .
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the problem of climate warming is one of the main issues troubling the modern world .
a laisser-faire policy is unacceptable .
efficient functioning of the internal market is dependent not only on the elimination of barriers to trade between states , but also on reorganisation of the structure of production at Community level .
one concrete step would be to state that we are realising our fundamental priority , which is the Lisbon strategy .
yet all our children are in danger , as the victims of the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography multiply .
if the EU constantly changes the rules , it will perhaps eventually drive every industry to ruin .
I should therefore like to look at this issue on a much more practical level .
he said ' globalisation ' 87 times and ' challenges ' 82 times , so it must be true .
the issue is that we should know in how many years , five years or ten years , every European will know how to use a computer , whatever their age , and will have Internet access .
I am mainly thinking of chemicals , which we have discussed a great deal .
the removal of barriers also means better use of existing resources .
energy security is one of the top presidency priorities .
our fishing ports are sterile .
what we also need is a strict liability convention , so that ships travelling though EU waters will automatically have to foot the bill for non-intentional toxic releases into the sea due to the loss of containers .
however , I would like to point out that video games with violent features which are intended for adults can have negative effects , particularly on children .
everyone is trying to deal with the unexpected problem , but the inadequate provision of information aggravated the situation .
with regard to the safeguarding of small and medium-sized enterprises and their national products , it is not the big companies that need such protection .
( it ) Mr President , today 's vote represents a marked step forward in bringing in the ' polluter pays ' principle , including in the road haulage sector , which makes a significant contribution to atmospheric and noise pollution .
the PNR communication highlights these principles and lays down efficient and effective measures to safeguard the interest of data subjects .
the contribution from civil society to reach out to the most vulnerable , and the Member States ' commitment are key towards achieving our objective to support the global fight against this disease .
Parliament presented a draft strategy for the region back in 2005 .
we have developed 11 training partnerships with Latin America , India , Canada , Turkey , Ukraine , Moldova and Georgia covering films , TV shows , animation , documentaries .
subject : climate change
let me explain briefly how the solution has been achieved and what this means from the Commission 's point of view .
now we ask you , has the money indeed brought about that shift ?
I refer to a Financial Times article published the Monday before last , to the effect that a market economy should not be a jungle .
rapporteur . - Mr President , flavourings are defined as the addition of odour or taste to meals and are mostly a mixture of a large number of aromatic preparations .
this is an important measure , since it provides an equal opportunity for men and women in the labour market and an opportunity for them to combine their working and family lives .
if the EU really wants to pursue counter-terrorism effectively , it has to grapple with measures to counter the formation and expansion of parallel societies and suchlike , instead of condemning wholesale those who highlight the problems of coexistence with migrants .
the Commission participates in the yearly international conferences of Data Protection Commissioners and follows the ongoing work on possible future international standards on privacy and personal data protection .
I do not believe in FTAs as quick , political fixes .
thank you very much for your broad support on this matter .
at the moment , what is happening in Haiti demonstrates limitations in the current operation of the United Nations ( UN ) .
it was stated in one speech that those of us here will continue , at any rate , to use printed books .
to give some concrete examples , most road construction schemes included road-signs and markings and designated speed limits , and many of the projects also proposed widening the roadside verges so as to permit the safe passage of non-motorised vehicles and pedestrians .
that is why we need the binding target on energy efficiency .
therefore , I obviously welcome the univocal position taken by the entire international community and I think that , beyond the need to uphold democracy , we have a responsibility not only to save the Ivorian people but also to give a clear signal that alternation of power in Africa is possible .
Mr President , I am opposed to this report because of the threat which I perceive it poses to governments and firms that have invested hugely in defence R & D and which now find themselves robbed of return through the development and production phase .
as we do not have much of the detail on this particular agreement , other than the fact , I believe , that two thirds of the benefits will accrue to South Korea and one third to the EU , I would like to make some more general points .
this means that , despite the strategic framework , gender efforts in development cooperation could be reduced to rhetoric in the years to come .
Member of the Commission . - ( SK ) I would like to express my thanks mainly for the very lively debate , which has served to emphasise the consensus for greater and better mobility , in other words for a Europe which , through education , specifically prepares not only its own students but also students from abroad for a more open international environment and greater responsibility .
we would ask the Commission , in particular , to ensure greater coordination within the Commission itself .
their work is important in terms of guaranteeing reliability and stability , but there are doubts as to the rules and the criteria on which their ratings are based .
the agreement reached at the European Council clearly reflects the EU 's determination to use all the tools at its disposal and to do its best to prevent the crisis from jeopardising our long-term objectives , particularly in terms of energy security and the fight against climate change .
your wish to present a strategic plan for South Sudan is what we call for after every election .
it is clear that Ukraine 's democracy is continuing its process of consolidation .
one negative phenomenon that Poland has already been experiencing for a number of years is the difficulties encountered by citizens of our eastern neighbours in entering our country , including Poles living in Belarus and Ukraine .
the EU has already drastically reduced its trade-distorting aid , unlike key trading partners .
therefore , the text that we are going to adopt on Wednesday is the culmination of negotiations between the Commission and Parliament on the framework agreement .
it is worth highlighting the fact that the Pact does not specify the political or economic measures to be used in order to achieve these objectives , which means that it will still be up to the individual Member States to choose suitable means of doing so .
it now remains to implement it .
I should like to make a few more points , Mr President .
there are also concerns about why those with power are concerning themselves with the Internet .
EC-Albania Stabilisation and Association Agreement ( accession of Bulgaria and Romania ) (
we must ensure the financing of key infrastructure projects and reject the renationalisation of regional policy .
I abstained from the vote on this resolution because the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left is opposed to any initiative that might lead to a new arms race .
( DE ) Madam President , the Austrian people voted with a clear majority against nuclear power and this sends a clear message to our politicians .
we still need to integrate Lisbon and Gothenburg .
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this is vital information for shareholders and creditors .
Prime Minister Erdoğan has promised that 2008 will be the year of reforms and we shall be pleased to hold him to that .
I am , of course , very thankful for many of the suggestions .
the summit will also allow us to raise a number of international and regional issues .
( SV ) Mr President , transparency has indeed undergone a dramatic change within the EU - and I am sure that the Commissioner would very much agree - since the advent of Regulation ( EC ) No 1049 / 2001 and the websites .
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there are instructions to the border police to deliver and to perform increased controls on people exiting the country and to inform travellers about the risk of unfounded applications for asylum .
I therefore call on the Council , in particular , to show far greater urgency to address this situation .
I also believe , Mr Verheugen , that the adjustment of the guidelines in this area is yet to happen , because simply appending security of energy supply and renewables does not amount to a change of strategy .
in writing . - ( DE ) I voted in favour of Britta Thomsen 's report on women in science because women remain under-represented in the world of science .
in other words , we need a ban on deducting payments in kind from wages .
and it will unleash a new scope of partnership with our European neighbours , in science , technology and trade .
my question , Mr Van Rompuy , is what is your view on this ?
today , we can welcome the major advances in efficiency offered by the proposal that we have before us .
given the fact that many small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) depend on credit and loans for external funding , there is a need to create credit and loan guarantee schemes , and to boost the role of the European Investment Bank in this area .
in short , Mr Bruguière said that the commitments have been honoured .
at the same time , the EU must make every effort necessary to reduce its energy dependency on Russia as much as possible .
but let us be clear that the sophistication of financial instruments is difficult for many of us to understand , and the role of credit rating agencies is open .
Madam President , I concur with the speech by Mrs Lepage , particularly the last section .
any regime that fails at this most basic responsibility loses its legitimacy in the international community .
nowadays in Europe , economically viable agriculture is a requirement for ensuring food security for its population .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( FI ) Mr President , first I wish to thank the rapporteur , Mrs Jeggle , for her excellent reports .
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however , we must not hide our heads in the sand .
the Polish President thus recalled the fundamental operating principle of the European Union , to wit , that treaties enter into force only after they have been ratified by all EU Member States .
this can only be achieved by using all possible effective instruments of international and internal cooperation .
together with the professional work of our observers in the field , the resulting neutrality was our strongest asset .
so this is , I believe , an important signal , this legislation meets real requirements , and I think it right to emphasise again how important it is to make further progress in this area .
significantly , all major opposition parties will participate in the forthcoming elections .
the report also points out the need to harmonise Member States ' surveillance and monitoring structures , as well as those of third countries .
data on Community expenditure should be easily available on the internet .
researchers such as Professor Jaworowski , an outstanding climate researcher from Poland , have issued expert opinions on these issues .
even Israel is setting up a quite remarkable medical assistance programme for Iraqi children .
it is unacceptable that many extremist groups use the Internet to instigate hatred and xenophobia .
Mr President , the murderous attack on unsuspecting supporters welcoming back Ms Benazir Bhutto in Karachi on 18 October has been another callous terrorist act against the prospects of bringing about democratic change in Pakistan .
( HU ) Mr János Áder , just a ten-second correction of what you have just said .
I think it is worthwhile , when we discuss the WTO , also to underline the fact that globalisation and free trade have given millions and millions of people new opportunities .
there is no doubt that the institution will operate with absolute clarity .
the Chilean authorities have signalled their acceptance of offers of help made by the European Union Member States .
the European Economic Recovery Plan has included the European Union 's involvement in funding the Nabucco gas pipeline .
this is logical , but needs greater flexibility .
yesterday I mentioned during the debate that I consider the present compromise to be an honourable one and that the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance in the European Parliament will be endorsing it .
this has no mandate : nobody has voted for this creation of a European Asylum Office .
we should therefore be clear that in such a difficult situation , Heads of Government find it very hard to adopt decisions through which they would surrender their ability to shape and regulate the economic governance of their states , and hand over some powers of economic governance at the level of European institutions .
the Joint Undertaking is in a start-up phase and had not yet fully established its internal control and financial reporting systems by the end of 2009 .
they are both facing up to the challenges presented , and I commend them for this .
the third , in Tripoli , should consolidate our strategic partnership and finally yield concrete results .
on the contrary , it will throw everything into question because the budgetary burden of the measures cannot be borne at this time .
for this reason , I am only able to call on my fellow Members and the Council to come to a clear and reliable regulation in this area of CO2 regulation for cars very quickly - on the basis of what has been put forward by the French Presidency , for which I can only congratulate you , Mr Jouyet .
new challenges , such as climate change , water management , renewable energy and biodiversity , which will have an impact on developing countries , have also been addressed in it .
I also draw the Commission 's attention to the fact that it should consider introducing measures to improve the preservation of fruit and vegetables and increase controls on their packaging .
your Amendment 81 , rejecting the entire directive , comes with a quite frankly cynical justification attached , namely that the transposition of the directive apparently - and I quote - ' entails excessive bureaucracy ' .
our commitment must continue to move in the direction of social policies which are increasingly just and effective .
Commissioner Füle and the High Representative , Baroness Ashton , drew attention , with the slogan ' more for more ' , to the concept of conditionality of aid which aims to reward countries that are most actively setting out on the road to democratic reforms and respect for human rights .
this does not mean , however , that the Serbs will not some day have to come to terms with the crimes of the Milošević era , just as the Kosovo Albanians , and every people , must come to terms with their historical crimes .
I would like to mention to you , Commissioner , the four principles that I think we should keep for a genuine control mechanism .
the new regulation will enable , for example , a Spanish / Portuguese couple living in Belgium to choose whether the law to be applicable to their divorce should be Portuguese , Spanish or Belgian .
this has been exacerbated by certain entities not all of which are Congolese .
I urge those citizens who may be watching on the Internet or elsewhere to take a look and , if I have not asked the right questions , to prompt me because we need to spread the word about this very positive move towards cross-border healthcare for all .
I therefore consider the joint text of the regulation of the European Parliament and the Council concerning statistics on pesticides , which has been approved by the Conciliation Committee , as an appropriate measure which , in the final analysis , will contribute to the sustainable use of pesticides and a huge overall reduction in the risks to health and the environment , as well as adequate protection for crops .
let them have the courage to meet the demand for democracy , because Europe itself depends on democracy !
enough is enough , patience has run out .
I therefore think it would be useful to make some reference to the recent Commission communication on the increase in the price of food products , for example .
in writing . - ( PT ) The Artemis Joint Undertaking will implement a common technological initiative ( CTI ) in the area of incorporated information technology systems .
this was a complex and very emotional topic that many people in Europe feel very strongly about , and it involved using a new procedure , the codecision procedure , so thank you .
we very much regret these events because what we witnessed in Mauritania was a real desire on the part of the entire population , a desire that has been expressed throughout the past year , and what has happened now is a tragedy .
in this respect , and bearing in mind that the creation of unitary patent protection is not included on the list of areas of exclusive competence of the European Union , the present recommendation relates to the possibility of enhanced cooperation in this field .
promoting the idea of transplantation and coordinating the exchange of experience between Member States can save thousands of lives .
on the one hand , there is a danger - and a real danger - that the process could be hijacked by vested interest groups and by powerful lobbies who would have no difficulty in getting a million signatures .
in many European countries , there are parties that have succeeded in positioning themselves at the heart of political life with populist and demagogic discourses .
it is equally telling that the UK Labour Members abstained .
there are countries where the system of the European authentic act issued by a public official does not exist .
secondly , we must commit ourselves to what the Commissioner already agreed in plenary last year , which is to include the area of heating and cooling , in order to minimise the deficits we have in that sector and improve market penetration .
such is the case of the Mediterranean region , where water scarcity will be an acute problem as a result of its potential to disrupt tourism .
this will allow immediate action and the necessary adaptations , especially in very sensitive areas of the planet such as poor countries .
the proposal for a regulation submitted by the Commission has been examined very carefully by Parliament in order to ensure that European legislation is at once exemplary , effective and pragmatic .
the Hungarian government can freely decide how to use this money .
if it were even allowed to produce legally , there would only be a possibility for a small amount and that would only be very small .
that would be too easy .
( NL ) Mr President , very few people in the Netherlands have any idea that we , here in Brussels , are discussing their wages and pensions .
to allow managers to accept financial assistance without the government dictating how the money should be spent amounts to a denial of the principle of political responsibility .
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it is as if one were to talk about human rights and human diseases in a block because they are both ' human ' , which is not a very good idea .
this is also the case with the criminal courts investigating cases in this area .
once the Treaty is signed , I hope there will be no reason to sit back .
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that is why I welcome the initiative the Ombudsman has taken in proposing changes to his statute .
I also support the amendments tabled by Mrs Roure and Mrs Lefrançois .
what is more , we should never overtax employees and consumers , either directly or indirectly , for they make a considerable contribution to growth .
the chosen legal basis is unacceptable ; we ask to be consulted under the ordinary legislative procedure and to be kept informed of developments in the work of the UN Sanctions Committee .
can we be sure that the children 's cots available on the European market are safe ?
this corruption mainly hinges on the illegal management of public money , and the relationship between one political faction and a faction of businessmen and white-collar organised crime .
it was suggested that the European Parliament does not have any role to play here and that it is trying simply to give itself more importance with this report .
other improvements that need to be made to current legislation are : more and better-equipped resting places within the European Union and beyond , more specific climate conditions for the different animal species and , finally , we have to start working on the compulsory use of satellite systems , with access by authorised personnel to a central database .
these goals can only be attained if society shows solidarity .
our common aim is peace , cooperation and resolution of the problems facing people who live in the here and now .
I think a lot of people have decided to do it one way , and we should follow , and we all support the view that it should be done thus .
our Group has decided that irrespective of how the vote goes on the two controversial subjects , in the end the Group will vote in favour of the Lamassoure / Severin Report .
in addition , the Kyoto Protocol created a new capitalist market in emissions trading .
we are only going to achieve that by clear , far-sighted advocacy of the benefits and of the policies to keep moving the single market forward on behalf of all our citizens , as is done so well in this report .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Mr President , thank you to the Commission .
I hope that the European Union can take a strong and consistent position to this conference , with ideas about the specific measures that will be taken to ensure that biodiversity protection can contribute to sustainable development .
it would be a mistake to include Ahmadinejad 's regime in the process of negotiations .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Development . - ( NL ) Mr President , Commissioner , Burma in the wake of the disaster : paddy fields strewn with corpses , homeless survivors , relief organisations unable to enter the country .
EU aid must genuinely help ordinary people to solve social problems , instead of lining the pockets of dictators and those in power .
however , it does not achieve this , since it generates more legal uncertainty with two channels for mobility that are not mutually exclusive : the regulations and the directive .
the most important natural resources for the region 's Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS ) are wood and fish , and more than 80 % of exports of these go to the European Union .
what price harmonised taxes then ?
EU and Member State activities related to key producer , transit and consumer countries must be coordinated more systematically .
during the vote on Wednesday , I would ask you to consider that what we need more than anything is a strategy and a directive that can guarantee future generations the use and enjoyment of the soil that we now have in our safekeeping , bearing in mind that each Member State faces the same threats and the same environmental risks .
in forthcoming months , we shall , in my view , have three objectives before us and I hope that the Slovenian Presidency will be able to take them forward successfully .
our language is unintelligible and , at times , incomprehensible , and we therefore have to know how to say that this is a problem in itself and a challenge in itself , so that we can move closer to the European people .
the Platform for Action adopted was the first global document of its type .
during 2009 , the guide was used by more than 26 000 people .
my first question is : when at the latest will the Commission present a proposal making it mandatory always to use child seats in aeroplanes ?
Zbigniew Zaleski , I agree that trade must not amount to a kind of neocolonial theft of raw materials from developing countries .
the code of conduct has been very effective in preventing all kinds of abuse .
freezing quotas is not on the table , and neither is any return to the use of certain expensive but inefficient market instruments of the past .
that is why I also gave you a very specific answer based on the rules that we have in the field of regional policy .
Commissioner , you said this is not part of our strategy for security of energy supply .
can it be established , and , particularly , can we in Parliament do anything to help establish those facts ?
the report tolerates Turkey 's anti-Kurdish policy .
we accord the Spanish people that respect .
however , we do not support the addition of sugar .
moves were made to reform the World Bank , but decades have passed since then .
Commissioner , this country is actually of considerable strategic importance , and not only in military terms .
for example , polygamy and veils were banned and foreign direct investment and tourism were encouraged .
it is not about individual benefits for individual members of individual Member States : it is about a common anti-American policy .
I am sure that unhindered interpersonal contact is the best way to give young Russians , in particular , a real picture of the life and ideas of Europeans and our intentions towards Russia .
this control should not be limited to transparency rules , but should go further and exert complete control over the international financial system , while also putting an end to tax havens , properly regulating the financial sector with taxes on the movement of speculative capital , and preventing financial capital from continuing to ...
if we want the EU to be an active force for international peace and stability , we must have all the necessary tools and instruments at our disposal ; but to achieve this , more political will from the Member States is needed .
to subjugate citizens in this way , to make them mere balancing items in an inefficient , unhealthy system , tools used to serve the interests of the financial elites , without showing any consideration for , and by endangering , their lives , what is that if not the equivalent of the ownership of human beings that is slavery ?
I will finish by thanking Mr Díaz de Mera García Consuegra and saying that our group will fully support his report .
this is quite incredible , and there has been absolutely no debate about it .
why not ?
( SK ) Mr President , the European Commission has recently revised its framework document governing the operation of expert groups .
( ES ) Madam President , since there is life outside the European Parliament I imagine that some of us have the opportunity now and again to go to the cinema at the weekend .
it is for this reason that we believe that Europe and the European Union have to take a leading role in combating all these challenges .
obviously , this approach will favour those who are able to produce a well-grounded business plan .
neither are they maternity wards or nursery schools .
we are opposed to additional control of the European Investment Bank as well as to the EU 's involvement in urban planning .
she has specifically stated that ' such a proposal would at this stage ' - and I am quoting from the transcript of what she said in plenary - ' not only be ineffective , but could prove to be detrimental to the EU 's role and credibility in overall Arctic cooperation ' .
I would like to ask the Commission and the Council what they are going to do this year - there is no doubt , Commissioner , President-in-Office , there is no doubt that we all have a duty to save people 's lives .
( DA ) Mr President , Mr Barroso , in this item , there has been a lot of discussion of the composition of the Commission and the portfolios that the Commissioners will be given .
so we are looking at combined security of supply , technology objectives and also European recovery objectives .
working on the principle that something is better than nothing is not an option for the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe .
it is also a disgrace that these politicians are demanding that we accept the outcome of the second referendum when they did not , in fact , accept the outcome of the first one .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I would like to thank honourable Members very much for their comments and I would like to make some remarks .
Polychlorinated biphenyls are almost 100 years old .
probably of even more serious concern is the huge exposure of several euro zone countries to defaulting debts of Eastern Europe .
I would like to say that our Parliament , in voting in favour of this compromise on the telecoms package , will be indicating a clear choice : that of a regulated market , and not of unregulated competition .
the harmonisation of electricity will result in automatic windfall profits for big companies , and by 2013 emissions trading will increase the scope for speculation many times over .
this matter will be discussed at the Conference of Presidents and , of course by the working group looking at reform of the House 's working methods .
in my view , these countries , as well as those that have used them - including the UK , my country - have blood on their hands .
officially , of course , they are bound to support it , but specifically from the point of view of possible future membership , I wonder whether they have these misgivings .
these are the kind of double standards we have to live with here .
are these the standards of police behaviour in a democratic state that is a member of the Council of Europe ?
many Christian aid organisations have been doing a good job there , and it appears that they also have effective channels for delivering aid promptly to those in need of it .
however , I do not believe that the Hungarian Presidency has truly understood the conflict .
he might like to tell the employees of those factories that they are just acting as European colonisers in trying to enlarge the export market share of the product they are manufacturing , when if China introduces barriers which prevent them from exporting what they are manufacturing it is their jobs which are at stake .
we hope to sign a horizontal agreement on civil aviation at the summit .
but , in fact , we have different problems because this is the first time we have had this type of monetary union without some more integrated institutional setting .
the text now reads ' whereas the Central European countries had the added experience of Communism ' .
three items are of particular importance to us .
however , other rights , like the right to translation and interpretation ( on which we have the pleasure and honour to work with our fellow Member , Mrs Ludford ) , are essential if European citizens are to have confidence in their dealings with the judicial systems of other Member States .
people there are calling for help and it is our duty to provide that help .
to offer a clear direction towards a competitive , innovative , sustainable , socially inclusive market economy , able to prosper in the global marketplace .
even more than that , it is their future that is at stake here .
it is now 2008 , and thank goodness the world has changed .
I must thank all the rapporteurs on this text from all the political groups , with whom we have had much discussion and very good cooperation throughout this year , as we have been working together on this for a year now .
however , there is still room for further improvement , and I can assure you that the Commission will continue to do its utmost to make best use of the authorised budget appropriations in 2010 .
with demographic matters that are coming more and more to resemble an emergency and an economy that demands higher and higher female employment rates , these measures are a common sense response .
let me stress , however , that the vast majority of peoples reject extremism in any society and support respect for religious and cultural diversity .
using live ammunition is indefensible and demands categorical condemnation .
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access to water is hindered because of the deployment of landmines .
with respect to Kaesong , we are not arguing that this should be included .
these changes are giving rise to an increase in the cost borne by society in connection with maintenance of the occupationally passive population .
the EU and the US are engaged at the highest levels because we want Bosnia to succeed , and I believe it can succeed .
Mr President , I would ask you specifically to declare Amendment 15 admissible .
Madam President , I am glad that , in the end , common sense has prevailed in Parliament and the Commission concerning the causes of this financial crisis .
the most tangible measure in the crisis package is the inclusion of milk in Article 186 of Regulation ( EC ) No 1234 / 2007 , so that the Commission can take fast measures to combat the crisis .
in talks between the Committee on the Environment and the Commission it emerged that the Commission was going to wait for these tests to be approved by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development as a whole , where just one country could torpedo the decision .
we consider that the measures to be adopted must take account of the specific nature of each species , the fishing area and the fishing gear used , particularly those which are more selective and have less impact on the seabed .
so , we should allow the judicial work in France to be done by the judicial authorities which are not just authorised , but also responsible , for doing this kind of work .
so there is much to be done .
from the Commission side , I can say that we envisage constitutional evolution rather than revolution , which can be done and should be done in respect of the Dayton-Paris Peace Agreement .
because the birth rate has been decreasing since the 1970s and because people live longer , an ever-smaller number of people of working age will have to support a ever-larger number of people who are outside working age .
I am referring to the retention of the rules on simplified procedures , which are surely designed to lighten the burdens and reduce the costs incurred by enterprises , and particularly small and medium-sized enterprises .
I also agree that we need measures that will allow us to respond more effectively to challenges associated with global warming , biodiversity and the sustainable management of natural resources .
the fight against improper payments is even more important , bearing in mind that the money paid by European taxpayers must be used further to enhance standards of living .
I welcome the adoption of the Lehne report that will certainly contribute to the reduction of the managerial burdens of micro-enterprises .
the European Socialists ' priorities are thus well reflected in Parliament 's position on the EU budget for 2008 at first reading .
it takes them into account , but it is never going to consider that the Commission 's right of initiative should be handed over to the Lamfalussy Committees , and I do not think Parliament or the Council think so either .
Lithuania 's goal of improving transport infrastructure and accessibility ( 23 % of the entire allocation of Structural Fund money ) , enhancing its R & D capacity ( 22 % ) , and supporting business creation , depends on cohesion policy .
the EU has never been a friend to the developing world .
it is very simple to say that we need to pay to protect forests : it is a simple formula , but applying it requires a lot of commitment from both sides .
today , a left-wing government is trying to get things back into shape .
conflict broke out recently in schools in Struga between Albanian- and Macedonian-speaking parents .
what is clear today is that the serious crisis in Georgia has certainly put our European Neighbourhood Policy to the test .
women and men who voluntarily make the decision to care for sick family members should receive financial compensation .
Madam President , I strongly support the elaboration of this EU Strategy for the Danube Region .
one problem remains however : chapter V. We cannot accept that the rules on unfair terms be fully harmonised , because that would deprive Member States of their ability to react when faced with commercial practices that change daily and sometimes involve serious risks for consumers .
this was clearly evident last year , when the mighty of the world proudly declared they would boycott the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics , and then all of them followed their economic interests and queued up in the first row of the parades , deaf to the cries of the oppressed people of Tibet .
there are three reasons to explain why some are prone to pander to Mr Putin .
it was quite bizarre to hear that the paper does not exist , even though this paper was distributed in the corridors of Council Headquarters in Brussels .
we are talking about an initiative , but no one has told us about its content , its formula or its model .
as I welcome you here in Strasbourg at an extremely difficult time for the Middle East and in particular for your people , the Palestinian people , I remember our last meeting in the Middle East , which took place almost two years ago - at the end of May 2007 - in Gaza .
at the same time , I hear you painting an erroneous picture of the consequences of these amendments to the Posting of Workers Directive .
furthermore , to say that the Spanish Presidency is wrong not to be present at this debate is deeply unfair , because the Spanish Presidency is indefatigable .
however , increasing the financing of direct payments is , in my opinion , a way to retain poverty in the most backward regions , which supports people who , in reality , are not connected with agriculture and hinders the restructuring of agriculture .
what are we doing about this major issue , which is the crux of this whole debate ?
as we are all aware , Belarus is the last dictatorship in Europe , and we should show our full solidarity .
contrary to the normal situation , where the private storage scheme for butter is normally activated on 1 March , we have decided to activate the scheme from 1 January , which means that the production that has taken place in December is also eligible for this scheme .
Hungary 's position is the same as that of the other Member States of the EU .
we back the special United Nations rapporteur and are ready to help him .
I now come to the proposed ' European Blue Card ' in Mrs Klamt 's report , of which Mr Weber reminded us .
all in all , these reports are a mass of conflicting statements .
President-in-Office , your Prime Minister must hold firm to Europe 's red lines and he must deliver next week a treaty able to underpin a strong , responsive and effective Union .
unfortunately , I understand that the Commissioner has left and I have stayed here in the Chamber waiting to receive the reply .
finally , the deadlines for cancellation .
participation begins at local community level .
we have to do away with relicts such as the agricultural policy , for example .
everything will continue as usual .
Tibetans still want a degree of cultural and political autonomy far beyond that which China is prepared to grant .
I agree with the draft 's aims to protect the stratospheric ozone layer and to avert climate change , since the banned substances have not only an important Ozone Depleting Potential ( ODP ) but equally have a Global Warming Potential ( GWP ) .
agreement between the EC and Barbados on the short-stay visa waiver (
across the globe , continents are investing .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , I have the impression that the aim here is , as they say in Westphalia , to throw a sausage after a side of bacon , meaning to throw out a herring to catch a whale .
they include all the partnership countries , not just those included in the neighbourhood and pre-accession programmes , but all partnership countries .
as things stand today , we cannot say that these criteria are being met .
my country , Portugal , is an example .
unfortunately , the capacity is only 50 % , so the energy which can be taken up is only 50 % .
however , above all we are in favour of ensuring that our health and privacy are protected .
this same aim - a reduction in emissions - may be achieved through various methods .
I visited the Chad / Sudanese border area this year as a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs .
in this way , Europe will lose its farmers and pig producers and , without them , Europe will lose an important part of its agri-food industry .
I do not like to shirk my responsibilities , so I used my vote , although the amendments were so misleading that I would probably be included in the numerous exceptions that they offered .
( DE ) Madam President , errors are made through carelessness or ignorance .
of course minority languages are important , of course other areas are important , but there is nothing more important than an Agency for Fundamental Rights which is successful in the work that we set it to do .
the third is that the transfer of data to third countries is subject to important conditions and safeguards to provide an adequate level of protection .
the vote will take place at 12 noon tomorrow , Thursday , 25 November .
that was how it sounded .
military competences should remain with the Member States and not with the EU and the Commission .
we are therefore expressing the same reservations that we have about other agreements , their scope and their possible consequences .
indeed does the Presidency have , or will it seek , clarification of the individual countries ' financial commitment toward the € 1 billion target ?
at the moment , companies which have developed a product or service for a public body are not able to reuse their findings for other potential customers , which comes on top of the financial barriers to procuring rival solutions .
they fear for their jobs and they fear for their pensions .
competitiveness has been promoted instead of mutual assistance and reciprocity , imposing a division of labour that has meant the export of agricultural products from South Africa and the export of industrial products from the EU .
on the contrary , remuneration discrepancies have remained relatively constant in recent years .
most of the speeches opposing the movement of patients and services appeal to the worst aspects of Europeanness , xenophobia and mistrust .
in writing . - The importance of energy efficiency and its contribution to meeting our climate change targets cannot be underestimated .
I liked the quote delivered by the honourable Member Mr Kirkhope , and I will paraphrase another of Churchill 's quotes to demonstrate what I think of the current time : ' no more crises tomorrow , my diary is already full . '
this is really the litmus test for the credibility of the institutions , Commissioners , and we are counting on you .
unless the European Union carries out a clear assessment of Iran 's influence in this region , we are at risk of this lack of democracy in Iran becoming established .
a lesser role for the national politicians and national government institutions of Haiti , then , and a greater role for the so far fragile partnership between its citizens and the international community .
on the other hand , while the EU is reducing its fishing fleet , countries in Africa and the Pacific , such as Australia , New Zealand and China , are building more and more boats and increasing their fishing fleets .
however , this strategy , the Europe 2020 strategy , should begin now , and so I would like to ask why the multiannual financial framework is not being revised at present so that it complies with this strategy , to which we have all already given our backing ?
I talked with him for an hour just before he left for the United States to meet President Obama .
I am particularly pleased that my opinion on ploughing the profit from emissions trading into research on reducing emissions from air traffic in particular has been adopted in the final compromise .
the common position on the whole accepts the amendments forwarded by this House at first reading and accordingly I was able to support the Scheele report .
the first thing the Commission did was to take various measures , using existing instruments or adjusting these to deal with the situation .
Europe cannot and must not tolerate this .
for airport users , the proposed legislation now gives a framework for charge setting which involves them in making the decisions , which is transparent and which allows appeals .
in addition , commitments are needed so that by 2010 the prevention and treatment of AIDS in developing countries will be a reality .
the Irish can do without your protection .
as Members of the European Parliament we should be demonstrating how democracy ought to be understood . we should be giving an example of respect for the law and for the leaders of Member States of the Union .
ladies and gentlemen , that is unacceptable .
I fully understand and also concur with what she said , so I hope that the EPP will understand as well .
this is the way to combat xenophobia and racism and fight for a decent Europe .
( ES ) Mr President , Commissioner , I should like to begin by quoting word-for-word from your document presenting the renewed social agenda .
it is the aim of millions of Czechs and Moravians to cement our ties to Western Europe , which will help us to overcome the worst crises .
economic migration is a challenge which must be met by the European Union in a rapidly globalising world .
the EU 's response to the negotiating difficulties is that we must step up the pace .
in writing . - The summit between European and African countries took place on the 8 and 9 December in Lisbon , Portugal .
I personally deplore this and hope that our institution will pull itself together .
in the EU , around 3.2 million people develop cancer each year .
I therefore voted in favour of this report .
the new regime will bring considerable advantages in this regard .
on the price of imported products : yes , it is true that it depends on import duties and that is exactly what we are discussing these days within the WTO Doha Development Round - whether we can find an agreement on reducing duties in general .
I therefore hope that there will be strong encouragement to bring this about .
freedom of the press means guaranteeing a public space for free debate , including on the Internet .
the propaganda campaign is being prepared by the powers and power elites which , in the various countries , support right-wing policies , attempting to escape referendums , except in Ireland , where it is compulsory .
you have managed to show a great deal of patience and determination and you have not rushed things , far from it .
a war has been launched to stop this movement , but tanks cannot reverse the sense of history , and it is time for the long and dolorous hangover of imperialism to end peacefully .
we probably all agree that it is essential to run an information campaign promoting the SOLVIT network as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism .
( PL ) Mr President , much has been said in the House concerning the Commission 's strategy .
at the debate on the Council and Commission statements this morning , you , Mr President , said that Mr Farage 's remarks were unacceptable .
I welcome improved coordination of economic and fiscal policy in Europe , but strongly oppose the short-term vision under which this is being imposed .
meanwhile , I agree that Raul is a great footballer .
like Mrs Fraga Estévez , I am pleased that the Commission acknowledges that the current fisheries management policy has failed , and I welcome its proposal to create a new management model making it possible to ensure stock recovery , adapt the fishing effort to fisheries ' real circumstances , and improve the reliability and stability of the fishing fleet .
thank you .
first , respecting the targets .
I applaud that decision and I think that we need to do this for every commodity .
we are always keen to make reference to the ILO when it comes to good work , protection at work and protecting health , so I ask myself : why not in this case ?
however , as Vice-Chair of the working group on public services , I am concerned about the approach chosen for this sector .
the message was that AIDS is treatable but not curable .
( DE ) Madam President , Mr Watson , people who live in Germany and intend to return to their home country will , of course , have their native language as their first language .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , policies to promote human rights first of all require effective international policy-making powers , which the EU has .
small and medium-sized producers , social and labour laws and the preservation of the environment continue to be sacrificed at the altar of free trade , transformed into mere hot air in the official debate and trampled on every day in practice , as we see yet again .
I also think that it is an excellent turn of events that the very first debate in this high House with a new Commission is taking place on enlargement .
that would be an outstanding and unexpected success for Parliament and the Presidency , and as the rapporteur from a new Member State , Romania , I am delighted to have played my small part .
the main opposition party led by Aung San Suu Kyi , winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and Sakharov Prize , will not take part in the elections .
I would like to thank in particular the rapporteur and the parliamentary committees which worked very hard and very rapidly .
respect for the Treaty is , of course , very important , and I am reassured that the European Council , on 4 February , explicitly recognised that .
for that reason too , the proposed regulation is politically highly sensitive , especially in terms of the protection of consumers and the possibilities for small and medium-sized enterprises to offer products and services via the internet .
from an Austrian point of view , we are particularly hurt by the sympathetic reaction to Slovakia 's plans to restart Bohunice , which would be a clear infringement of existing EU law .
and , whenever the IMF is brought on board in assistance packages , it should consider the suitability of its traditional approach in dealing with macroeconomic imbalances in view of the extraordinary current circumstances .
however , we must put a stop to the unilateral decisions of the German judiciary with regard to child custody when couples of mixed nationality divorce , and to the excessive , absolute power of the Jugendamt , which has been denounced in petitions submitted to us .
Member of the Commission . - This is a very timely question and I could answer very briefly that the priorities are agreement in Copenhagen for reduction commitments by developed countries , nationally appropriate mitigation actions by developing countries , and finance .
cohesion is also an instrument for creating equal opportunities and a splendid advertisement for the Union .
with a combination of good policies and good communication I think we can actually face the difficult year ahead with at least a little confidence , and if we work together , the confidence will be even greater .
thus , what we should like to know , Commissioner , is what you are doing precisely to ensure that we are fully prepared to tackle this virus that is liable to develop , that may mutate between now and then .
I ultimately decided to lend my support to the granting of discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Aviation Safety Agency for the financial year 2009 .
however , in political terms , following the presidential elections on 25 October , we are faced with the problem of supporting the journey towards democratic reforms with greater concrete action .
I am thinking of severe discrimination and bullying in the workplace against women who are pregnant or intend to marry and who are called on to resign beforehand , which is something that happens in my country but is no longer a crime as it was in the past .
approval of Minutes of previous sitting : see Minutes
I recall the speech that Kofi Annan made to the European Parliament several years ago .
if we make it easier for the citizens of Eastern Partnership countries to enter EU territory , they will discover how significant the benefits of cooperation with the EU can be .
these are truly worthy aspirations .
the interests of economic and financial groups are prioritised , pressuring Russia to join the World Trade Organisation in order to promote ' a level playing field for business communities on both sides and liberalise trade in the global economy ' , with Russia having to facilitate foreign investment and renounce any ' protectionist measures ' .
the status of the ethnic and religious minorities depends on the Union 's input .
regional cross-border connections and connections over very long distances between countries which did not share a border were much more readily available than they are today .
we will assess the quality together , and there definitely will be an improvement .
we must proclaim today that there is no state rationale , no social objective and no ideological principle that can excuse a crime such as the Holodomor , the artificial famine which caused so much suffering for so many innocent people in a crazy attempt to destroy the moral dignity , national pride and biological existence of the great Ukrainian people .
we must now convince the Council .
China therefore has a wealth of experience in generating economic development .
in order to create jobs for unemployed people , the European economy needs the EU needs to go in a fundamentally different direction .
that is why we have withdrawn the amendment .
President-in-Office . - ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , it will now be possible to ascertain precise positioning and timing information with the satellite radio navigation system launched by the European Union and the European Space Agency .
the directive includes a number of safety measures , with the focus being on mercury and maximum limits .
Russian troops not only entered the territory of South Ossetia , but advanced further into the country itself .
in the case of the Gulf states , special attention - and Mr Martin has just mentioned this - must be paid to the living conditions and rights of migrant workers .
that is still what we have to do , so nothing much has to be added to this mandate .
this increases the disparity between these countries rather than reducing it .
rapporteur of the opinion of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs . - ( EL ) Mr President , I would like to begin by congratulating Mrs Angelilli on the constructive work she has done .
today , our concern is about the way this system of joint surveillance will be set up .
let me just touch on one key issue here , which is the call for cooperation between service providers and rights holders in implementing rights .
I think it is very important to realise , first , that the countries themselves are very interested in it .
the situation today , as regards online services is not considered to be effective enough , either for rights users , or for right-holders .
I would like to highlight the particular case of agricultural producers , who often see settlements that are owed to them delayed by supermarkets and distributors .
there is not much confidence being engendered for the guarantees that were given to the Irish electorate or to us , the sceptics .
in developing countries half the harvest rots because it is not being stored or transported .
you say that , in this case , conflict could still arise .
signature of acts adopted under codecision : see Minutes
poverty and famine still exist in the European Union , and 79 million people still live below the poverty line .
it would be a misguided act .
what is more , it has turned back in a new way , taking a qualitative step forward in relation to the past .
beyond the traditional armed conflicts that continue to take place in our immediate environment , Europe must be able to express its interests and defend them in the face of the new threats - I am thinking in particular of piracy and cybercrime .
linking the second pillar to cohesion policy measures would , however , require the close coordination of activities at national level .
does the European Union not find it extremely unethical , immoral and unacceptable to celebrate some sort of standardised European healthcare system without paying attention to salaries ...
in the vote on the Scottà report on agricultural product quality policy , Amendment 5 was accepted , which called for the mandatory labelling of the origin of foods made from only one ingredient .
the revised Rules of Procedure are not being adhered to .
in spite of the restrictions and bans which have been introduced , much illegal fishing goes on , or even fishing that can be considered pillaging .
I reject the view that one has to choose to exclusively give one 's loyalty to one region .
none of this must be allowed to muddy the waters !
the European Union is Russia 's largest trading partner and main investor ; that is why the new agreement must contain legally binding terms regarding investment .
the arguments put forward are serious and we will take them properly into account .
I believe this aim of privatisation is also shared by other airlines , I am thinking of Austrian Airlines , Malev and Czech Airlines .
I hope it will be taken into account ; I presented the position of the European Parliament , of course .
according to the latest United Nations report on the state of the world 's cities , 827 million people live in shanty towns today , and that number will continue to grow by an average of 6 million every year .
in writing . - We strongly support the original IPPC Directive .
this must be signalled according to the maxim ' We have understood ! '
I am sorry but you should always carry your voting paper with you because the vote can take place at any time .
we should ask the Cuban Government to agree specific dates for the proposed visit of Manfred Nowak , UN Special Rapporteur on Torture , who we intend to meet in Geneva next week .
the three Protocols from 2000 to 2003 that amend and supplement the Europol Convention have still not taken effect .
after that , the only weapon left to wine-growers in order to make their voices heard will be the vote .
people are allowed to look inside and people will now also be able to drop in and participate .
the free world had found a recipe for overcoming Soviet communism , but had not found one for overcoming Chinese communism .
there can be no doubt , therefore , that the European Schools system also needs change and reform .
( SL ) Mr Dartmouth , if you are talking about the initiative as a whole , as covered by the report , I think that our investments , at any rate , will certainly be very , very beneficial when compared with the damage that might arise if we do not engage more in this area .
indeed , the Member States are primarily responsible for managing both land and sea borders .
that being so , the Commission cannot support Parliament 's amendment aiming to grant a different level of access to CIS / FIDE for Europol and Eurojust .
again , it is due to this lack of political will that , by the end of the year , the EU still had not received a waste sorting plan .
( FR ) Madam President , I would like to welcome the discussion and the adoption of this European private company statute and I would like in particular to praise our rapporteur , Mr Lehne .
we must redefine issues concerning the future in relation to the young and the old , in order to be able to ensure the sustainable , secure and appropriate disbursement of pensions .
I would , however , point out that this is an exceptional procedure , limited in scope and in time , and that the Community 's exclusive competence in the matters involved must , in any case , continue to be respected .
for a number of students , confronted with ever higher demands on the part of employers , entering the labour market is often a genuine ordeal .
only the expert and skilled handling of pesticides can ensure sustainability .
the organisation and financing of this service do not include the necessary strict control over staffing and financing by the European Parliament , meaning that the EEAS is worryingly lacking in democracy and transparency .
together with his shadows , Mr Leichtfried has done a really good job .
thus , I consider that future legislation should provide for the huge disproportion between the younger population aged 35 , active in the agricultural sector ( only 8,5 % of the total number of farmers in Europe ) and the other age categories in this field .
combating piracy is particularly important in this regard .
it would be a serious indignity if they were now punished by those who until now have increased their harmful emissions .
we chose to vote against it because we condemn the use of cluster munitions in all conflicts , and not just in specific cases .
so in that regard , as a loyal Conservative , I followed the whip and supported this measure .
we also expect China to clearly condemn this act .
since the European Parliament is the primary institution through which the European Central Bank is accountable to European citizens , I am very pleased about President Trichet 's participation in this plenary , and also that he regularly engages in monetary discussion with the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs .
'The Hungarian Government is also prepared to examine the possibility of finding other legal solutions if necessary ' .
the explanation I have so far been given for this situation is that research excellence is the main criterion for selection to the Seventh Framework Programme .
true equality requires a struggle for a change in the balance of power .
statistics show that products of unknown origin notified through Rapex were , for the first time , down to 3 % in October 2007 , as compared to 17 % in 2006 .
as for all these countries , we need to make sure that they are secure in a very difficult environment .
for four months , my colleagues and I will be on hand to coordinate the European public debate that has begun today in the European Parliament .
here there are many more problems , ranging from technical , energy and cost control issues to social awareness and behaviour .
even if the European Parliament votes in favour , I shall take my fight to the Federal Government with a view to ensuring that the Federal Republic of Germany challenges this directive before the European Court of Justice .
I think that the Slovak leadership has in general shown their will and ability to respond to the necessary changes .
in writing . - In the context of the Common Foreign and Security Policy , the EU applies restrictive measures , or sanctions , to ensure compliance with the CFSP objectives .
this leads us on to maritime safety , and now the French know where the Republic of the Kiribati Islands is .
far-reaching constitutional reform is required to ensure greater respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms .
it is important to know that this was a unanimous decision by the Member States .
I really hope that this does not become a habit because , if it does , it would be us here in Europe who would be opposing and resisting our own principles of the rule of law and that would be extremely unfortunate .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would first of all like to thank the rapporteur , Mr Davies , whose persistence has finally brought about what I believe is quite simply a success .
where the European Union comes in is the cross-border treatment of these same-sex couples .
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the EU can also decide to apply further measures alongside those decided by the UN and we can also introduce measures on our own .
I believe that this would be an important step towards transcending past European divisions by awarding the title of European Capital of Culture to a city which was the scene of such tragic events in the course of the 20th century .
from an ethical point of view this is unacceptable , especially as the vessels come from Europe and thus end up on the beaches of India , Pakistan and Bangladesh .
immediate and sustained action must be taken to guarantee the food security of the citizens of the EU and the planet as a whole .
Mr President , I would like to thank Sweden , the country to hold the presidency , for having had the courage to make its own region , the Baltic Sea , and matters relating to it , such a major topic in its programme during its EU presidential term .
there is a similar trend in some of the old Member States : in Italy and in Ireland .
but , by resurrecting a Treaty that we all thought dead and buried , you have showed the improbable is indeed possible .
what it certainly cannot do is allow the investigations to be corrupted by the kind of practices the police and the Pakistani secret services have been using in investigations , which have destroyed investigations , including even those relating to the murder of the former Prime Minister , Benazir Bhutto .
this is an historic moment : will the Council , and particularly the United Kingdom , the Netherlands and Denmark , allow themselves to see that Europe is all about pooling resources to do better together ?
if we had such common principles providing us with a basis , the concrete agreements and treaties would , of course , be in a much better position .
in one area it is impossible to make progress because in 2006 it dropped completely out of the negotiations .
( PL ) Mr President , the meeting between the representatives of the European Union and Russia in Siberia ought to be a meeting between friends seeking genuine understanding .
in remote regions a ban on the purchase of weapons on the internet would prevent access to weapons for hunting purposes .
I live on an island which is behind an island which is off the coast of Europe .
we have seen this happening in popular uprisings in Tunisia , Egypt , Iran , Algeria , Bahrain and also in Yemen .
the report we are debating today , which was adopted by an overwhelming majority in the competent committee , is a detailed report which moves in the right direction , and I consider that , even as it now stands , without changes and amendments , the text responds fully to the need for us to move along a specific fixed line in the direction I referred to earlier .
there should be a similar policy with self-financed funds to inform the public on health matters relating to other products such as meat and fats .
this is not the question , since the quality of the recognitions matters more than the quantity .
the Commission does not foresee any changes in the traceability rules or health or identification marks for processed products of animal origin .
the report we have before us is particularly significant , especially when you consider that in the last few years the economy has taken a slightly different turn from previous years .
in writing . - ( DE ) There are indeed a few points that speak in favour of the directive on consumer protection , such as improvement of the obligations to provide information , extension of the withdrawal period and also the increased obligations for sellers to provide protection in the case of online shops .
however , the current picture is not without ambiguity .
it is a core interface .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the debate we are continuing this evening began within these walls several years ago .
it is strange to see that what is probably the most important element as far as Europeans are concerned is completely absent from this report , namely , the fact that illegal immigrants make enormous use of Libya as a transit country for entering Europe from all over Africa and from Asia , in other words , from large parts of the world .
firstly , we need to standardise administrative expenditure by including it entirely under this heading and carry out a suitable , realistic review of the expenditure ceiling .
this classification also determines whether it will undergo near-surface or deep geological disposal .
biofuel production can accelerate global warming by speeding up the destruction of forests , peatlands , healthy soils and other ecosystems which are carbon sinks and which help to regulate the climate .
neither is the issue of Turkey adequately covered , given that this country continues its military occupation of an EU Member State - Northern Cyprus - and does not respect the rights of the Kurdish people as it should .
of course , it also finds itself caught up in the conflict between the Chinese route and the European route towards globalisation .
experience with systems of agricultural social security in the EU Member States should be taken into account and should , in the medium term , contribute to a definite improvement of the social situation of women in agriculture in Europe .
I think that in this way we will get by far the best result .
we must work together in friendship , but we must not sweep the problems under the carpet , because that does not help anyone .
I am sure that earlier information on such unpopular measures will enable labour market stresses to be defused and will unify the European union movement .
we must also insist that the Roma community allow itself to be integrated in our society .
the Rhine-Main-Danube transport waterway , which links the North Sea , via the port of Rotterdam , and the Black Sea , via the port of Constanţa , can become the backbone of Europe .
since the Council , in accordance with the terms legally stipulated in the treaties , has submitted a request for consent to this protocol to Parliament , there is nothing standing in the way of its adoption .
sanctions cannot be used , either , if there are no clear instructions .
as advocates of intergovernmental EU cooperation , it is therefore natural for us to reject the wordings in both the Commission 's proposal for a directive and the report from the European Parliament which seek to give the EU more power over the national social security systems .
but I would not take resources from enlargement , as Mr Martin suggested , and especially not from the Western Balkans .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( DE ) To the first question I should like to reply that it is surely not the Commission 's job to deliver a judgment on which methods a Member State uses to combat tax evasion by its citizens .
the Asian countries have been invited to influence the Burmese authorities and to convince them that the nature of the international humanitarian aid is neutral and unbiased .
the market has adjusted to the use of dark pools for trading large orders in private broker crossings , and to exemptions established in the MiFID for such actions when they are conducted through organised trading venues , called ' dark transactions ' , where transactions were formerly undertaken in regulated markets .
culture should be a vital and horizontally integrated element among the broad spectrum of external policies which make up the EU 's foreign policy : from the EU 's trade relations to its enlargement and neighbourhood policy , to its development cooperation policy and its common foreign and security policy .
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now we find ourselves under great time pressure , primarily because we still do not have any figures and because we still have no specific undertakings as to how individual countries are going to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions .
in this context , it should not just be about educational equality for everyone , but about giving everyone an equal start , followed up by the best possible education which takes account of individual talents and differences in physical and intellectual abilities .
global biodiversity will diminish as a consequence of human activities - whether we have global warming or not .
however , this freedom of movement has been only partially realised today and , as you know , alongside the existing instruments , we have obviously provided for new measures .
23 .
I have just one question for the Commissioner : will you have sufficient instruments to enable you to stay the course whilst moving into the coercion stage ?
I have long believed that Sisyphus is the patron saint of Europe , and this whole experience bears this out .
no migratory strategy is possible unless a European policy towards integrating migrants who live and work in the EU is in full respect of the law .
however , we must not forget the adverse consequences arising from the unfair benefits offered by the European Union to different countries in the western Balkans region .
indeed , the pay gap has remained at 15 % since 2003 .
Member of the Commission . - ( RO ) As I said in my reply , we do not wish in any way to pre-empt possible actions in the future .
we are also extremely pleased with the work carried out to make participation in the programme as broad as possible .
by then it will also become clearer how the issue of seat transfer was solved in the SPE Statute .
again this is disappointing , as it continues subsidising tobacco producers in the EU .
we in the east are the least inclined to have a confrontation because we would be the first to lose .
we are therefore calling for these three elements to be officially included in the review of the Guidelines .
the third point concerns the number of bases .
the EU must devote an appropriate amount of attention to it , because a solution to this issue remains an important ingredient for sustainable economic recovery and for preventing devastating global crises .
we are also demanding measures to be taken in respect of the meat industry .
three States have so far ratified it : the Bahamas , Liberia and the Marshall Islands .
I therefore firmly believe that you should make full use of the potential that is already available to you through your role in solving this thorny issue , in which the EU is directly involved .
what is the reason for this ?
the simplest solution which would allow us to make good progress in this area is effective cooperation in the field of taxes .
I believe that the use of electric cars by Europe 's institutions would set an example and send out a very positive signal .
for the three committees of supervisors , the programme will be a first step in the strengthening of their capabilities in line with the recommendations set out in the de Larosière report .
I value the fact that the report was created through pluralistic parliamentary discussions and has stressed the importance of this topic .
at the same time , we do not support paragraph 40 of the report , which states that Member States outside the euro area that fulfil the Maastricht criteria and have no derogation in the Treaty should adopt the common currency at the earliest possible opportunity .
Mr President , as we have decided to vote , maybe you could indicate why so many amendments were ruled to be inadmissible .
the sin of Europe 's system of Conventions , recalling the French and US experiences , was presuming to have a legitimacy that it still did not , in fact , have at that time .
for this reason , I have decided to abstain on this own-initiative report , pending the Commission 's proposal for a regulation on this matter .
( the President cut off the speaker )
a healthy competition involving all participants of the industry should be developed , where the actual competition is between individual and public transportation rather than between the different modes of public transport .
our hauliers should not be punished for the fact that the infrastructure is less well developed and therefore traffic jams are bigger .
in any case , we must jointly and emphatically reject any form of deliberate external meddling in the internal affairs of the Moldovan Republic .
is it not what the Communists said to justify their repression ?
Mr President , it is an unfortunate reality that the wonderful opportunities the internet presents to us all have , in direct proportion , increased the moral , physical and social danger to our children and young people throughout the world .
I would stress the crucial nature of dialogue between social partners , and the role of small and medium-sized enterprises as a driving force for the economy .
even though this might be only the tip of the iceberg of the unemployment problem in Lithuania , the financial support will help those in most need .
can the Commission ensure or recommend that that practice will be applied right throughout the European Union ?
in addition to being covered by the press and the media generally , these missions engender very detailed reports which , in my opinion , are of high quality .
there are numerous buildings , mainly in Central European countries , which , after appropriate renovation , could have serious potential in terms of efficiency .
in the Committee on Foreign Affairs , the British Conservative Mr Tannock , representing the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats , gained acceptance for his demand for a ' temporary ceasefire ' .
it was on the Council 's agenda because we placed it there .
at the moment we are constructing brand new ways of doing energy .
let us be absolutely clear : we have nothing against low prices , but the consumer should in all transparency have a clear idea in advance of the cost of buying an air ticket , inclusive of all costs .
this 11 % figure will then be able to change from red , which is unacceptable , to yellow and finally to green .
the drawing up of guidelines for export credits is aimed at getting around the announced end to direct aid within the framework of World Trade Organisation agreements , which is pressurising developing countries to accept the signing of the Doha Round and is contested by them .
to Mr Schulz , for example .
( applause )
yes , there are signs of some recovery in parts of Europe 's wider economy .
finally , I am grateful that a compromise with all the Member States has been achieved .
we are also worried about some racist and xenophobic demonstrations that have accompanied the introduction of the decree in Italy .
this regulation constitutes an important framework which needs to be developed upon by the respective Member States .
I would like to congratulate my fellow Member Roberta Angelilli on her report on the protection of children using the Internet and other communication technologies , which draws attention to a rather serious and growing danger .
the Sri Lankan Government or anonymous witnesses ?
these Eurobonds can be issued by the EFSF , by the ESM or by a new European agency in the future .
what are the EU interests that she will pursue during these talks ?
however , this is good - this is how it should be .
this ensures the necessary priority attention at political level .
the conflicts in the Balkans in the 1990s became the starting point for the EU 's involvement as crisis manager - an involvement that is now continually growing .
I also agree that we need more scientific - and more concrete - advice and we need more concrete data in order to assess our position there .
the suggestion by Russia 's Foreign Minister , Sergei Lavrov , that the Eastern Partnership is a means for the EU to expand its sphere of influence abroad is absurd .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I have the honour and the pleasure of presenting to you today the first work programme of this Commission .
I feel like saying : ' Luckily the Commission and Parliament were there ' , but I cannot neglect the role played by the Portuguese Presidency and Mr Santos , who got things moving with his know-how and his ability to listen .
we call for restoration of constitutional order in Madagascar .
I therefore call on the Commission , during the negotiations , to defend and protect the interests of that overseas country and territory situated in the North Atlantic Ocean .
in spite of the advances made , a dramatic rise has been seen in the incidence of this bacterial infection in recent years due to the socio-economic decline of the countries in the former Soviet bloc , the weak infrastructure of public health systems and the inequitable access to treatment .
that is why Europe needs more politicians who are prepared to lead and to take a pan-European approach .
what will the Commission do in terms of the Central Asia strategy that was recently approved by the European Council ?
I supported this report .
currently , of these 4 800 farms that were originally blocked , 939 farms - mostly poultry and pig establishments - remain blocked .
really doing politics in Europe , giving back political choices to Europeans , while respecting tolerance and openness towards each other is very much what has been lacking .
( EL ) Madam President , I agree with the High Representative 's take on the Lisbon Summit .
the allocations were , for the most part , aimed at implementing outstanding reforms in the political and justice systems , as well as the development of civil society .
it has been planned for a long time .
we should support the Lamassoure / Severin Report .
furthermore , the SOLVIT centres require additional resources .
I am aware of American tendencies in this matter .
in addition , Liechtenstein 's effective association with the Schengen and Dublin acquis will happen naturally as this country has already implemented a large amount of EU legislation and uses the same infrastructure for accessing SIS and VIS as Switzerland , a country which is already part of the Schengen area .
before going any further , let me emphasise that the Commission and Parliament do share a common interest here , but Parliament has a scrutiny function , and so it makes sense for us to talk about that and to request reports from the Commission which show clearly what has happened to this data , how it is recorded and what purpose it serves .
in writing . - ( PL ) Special thanks and congratulations are due not only to the rapporteur but also to Commissioner Kallas , who took the lead regarding new regulations for the principles of lobbying .
and those of you who think that you have evidence to prove it , I ask you to supply it to me , because the rhetoric is one thing , the reality is a different thing , and we really have got to get beyond the rhetoric and into the reality of what this deal provides .
( PL ) Mr President , it is not only Egypt , and it is not only Malaysia , but also Sudan , Nigeria and many other countries in Africa , many countries in Asia and many societies which treat Christians as a necessary evil , and sometimes as an enemy .
enhanced transparency is also necessary for supervision to be effective and for the public financial institutions to have the public 's trust , which is extremely important .
( FR ) Madam President , I voted in favour of Mr Lehne 's report , which gives the European Parliament 's consent to enhanced cooperation in order to create a unitary patent within the European Union .
for these reasons , we would have liked to have seen a strong condemnation of these practices committed by both American and European troops .
in writing . - I voted for the resolution to oppose the appointment of the Chair of the European Securities and Markets Authority , not because I found any deficiency in the individual appointed , but because I object in principle to the creation of this new authority .
we have heard already that , under the Lisbon Treaty , the codecision procedure will be the only option .
the population of the region clearly rejects violence and terrorism , as they are the first to suffer as a result , but they ask the European Union to do everything it can to help them to eradicate terrorist violence and , among other things , to provide weapons and training for their armed forces so that they can respond adequately to these terrorist incursions .
they will also be able , if necessary , to decide to participate in the operations which will be implemented in the context of this future mechanism , as some have already done within the framework of the current temporary mechanisms .
this now needs to be updated : because we are updating the overarching regulation , we also need to update the linking one .
I regret these amendments were not adopted .
however , in order to quantify these influences , we must have mandatory listing of all lobbyists in a register that is common to all the institutions .
the second European summit on Roma inclusion to be held in Córdoba should serve as a forum in which to courageously tackle the problems experienced by this community and to design specific financial and legal instruments which will benefit a minority that has to play the leading role in designing its own future , putting behind us previous paternalist approaches . I agree that no one has the right to gain political capital at their expense .
I share the view that this is a success .
the Commission is therefore strongly in favour of having a permanent full-time judge elected for the Union , who enjoys the same status and has the same duties as his peers .
it is undoubtedly a good thing that the EU will have a kind of summary list of measures enabling a gradual increase in energy efficiency .
establishing a common legal framework is absolutely necessary in order to facilitate and accelerate the development of these infrastructures .
( PL ) Mr President , Commissioner , Minister , to begin with I would like to express my conviction that the Portuguese Presidency is following a correct strategy as regards achieving a strategic partnership between the European Union and Brazil .
this will help eliminate those unnecessary elements of the documentation required when transporting goods across national borders within the EU .
we should remember that one of the EU 's main tasks is to eliminate social and geographical imbalances through the distribution of benefits deriving from innovation throughout the EU .
of course , it is terrible that the disaster happened in 2010 .
however , this time I do not share the Commissioner 's enthusiasm on this issue , because too often in recent years , the Commission has taken the floor here and talked up certain initiatives , only to then pursue a different path .
the lack of funding is a major obstacle to the renovation of buildings in the residential and SME sectors .
I am voting for this report because I believe the EU needs to send a message of stability to the markets , using a short- and long-term economic governance strategy .
finally , the Regional Development Committee considers that ENPI should focus on a balanced strategy between the east and the south , with specific approaches for both areas .
in that respect , I think it would be a good idea to have an overview and review of the existing CSDP missions that have been completed , to learn from the past for the future of your service , Mrs Ashton .
these are subjects for the Member States .
the announcement that milk quotas are to disappear has by itself created a situation of uncertainty among producers , as the Commissioner is well aware , and the quota market has been crippled as a result , making for a significant slowdown in the restructuring required in the sector , at least in Spain .
this challenge , as important as it is complex , can be met by means of a package of measures which will have either direct or indirect impact .
Commissioners , ladies and gentlemen , in the discussion on future cohesion policy , we are all , first and foremost , defending our own interests .
after the banks and insurance companies , investment funds have now entered the turmoil .
we consider that there must be exceptions for rare diseases or life-threatening situations on waiting lists .
many consumers misunderstand the significance of this mark , believing that this symbol is a guarantee that the products were manufactured in Europe .
in writing . - ( FR ) I voted for the excellent own-initiative report by Mrs Gomes on China 's policy and its effects on Africa .
clearly , it would be foolish not to raise the issue of the potential costs of certain amendments tabled .
debates on cases of breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law ( debate )
everything seems normal , were it not that all these proposals are below the 2008 budget in the Financial Perspective for 2007-2013 .
I should , however , like to stress the point on the ecosystem approach to maritime policy .
the instruments used and the methods of achieving the objective will be different , of course , but that will continue to be the objective .
3 .
that will only allow us to make a slow recovery and we shall see a further dramatic increase in unemployment figures , including here in Europe .
that does not mean that we do not need to continue efforts to achieve even closer cooperation on law enforcement , in particular by means of the elements contained in the Commission proposals .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
amid the frequent criticism again this week of short selling , let us not forget the stock lenders .
we have been at the vanguard of asking for these considerations to be made , and I would like the Council and the European Union to be stronger and more consistent in its approach , and make sure that Kofi Annan is given all the support he needs from Europe , and that a new Election Commission can be put in place as soon as possible .
I have seen in this debate an opportunity for the Commission to clarify its position on a number of issues .
let us focus now on saving lives and on human rights .
the latest developments in the Irish crisis have reassured the banks that they will be able to carry on handsomely rewarding their shareholders and taking risks in the long term , since the Member States and the European taxpayers will always be there to save them .
in writing . - I voted against this report .
however , it is not in the possession of information from which it could determine whether the US court procedure was in violation of EU data protection laws .
we held a lunchtime debate about this today in which we underlined why putting deforestation into the emissions trading system is a bad idea for a host of reasons , not least that it would swamp the whole emissions trading system .
secondly , one consequence of adopting the Treaty of Lisbon will be a marked increase in the powers of the European Parliament , the codecision procedure in all areas , and also the powers of the Member States ' parliaments , which will cause a sharp increase in the European Parliament 's functioning costs .
why is this resolution of the European Parliament being ignored ?
I therefore consider it crucial to pursue the courses of action undertaken , and ensure that the principles and recommended courses of action are implemented at both European and national levels .
I welcome the Court 's work .
consequently , and given the fact that the Charter of Fundamental Rights is not binding and the very limited facility for private individuals to take recourse to the Community courts , I cannot but welcome the proposals made by Mr Catania on the establishment of a general obligation on the part of the Community institutions to take account of human rights in the performance of their duties and the setting up of a specialist agency for the purpose .
I would like to thank the House for its support for Icelandic membership and to congratulate the rapporteur , Mr Preda , for his high quality report .
however , it is now the European Parliament that decides .
it has been a true privilege to be in the very engine-house of European integration .
I should like to remind the House of this , since it was not raised during this morning 's debate .
two Fridays ago , I attended the budget conciliation meeting , with my colleagues from the Committee on Budgets and the Council , where we were finally able to reach a compromise over the funding of the food facility regulation .
that commitment will remain even more relevant in the post-crisis period , when generating green-collar jobs will be the European pass to sustainable employment .
I do believe , however , that the EU learnt from this to have respect for the political opinion of others and for the national sovereignty of the Member States and their citizens , and that is certainly a good thing .
there are three misunderstandings .
I call on Turkey to continue and strengthen efforts to meet the Copenhagen criteria in full and to consolidate support in Turkish society for the necessary reforms , providing equality for all people , regardless of gender , race or ethnic origin , faith or creed , disability , age or sexual orientation .
I should like to think that what has been achieved sets a good example because it came out of dialogue between both sides of the industry in question .
in this context , I would like to highlight the own-initiative report on trade relations between the EU and Latin America .
( the sitting was opened at 9.05 a.m. )
I do not regard that as a good development .
in writing . - I voted against this simply because I do not want the EU telling me who I can and who I cannot employ or engage .
for many years , GDP has been the main index for economic assessment , but its shortcomings are increasingly apparent when it comes to assessing social or environmental progress .
I would like to stress the importance of this initiative , which will allow the discharge authority better to appreciate the quality of the risk management introduced by the Commission .
it is necessary to take this into account when reforming pension systems .
Member States have established different systems and national regulatory bodies are better placed to guarantee the highest possible level of consumer protection in their national markets .
we will do this in cooperation with Member States , with the European Parliament and with NGOs and the private sector .
it is unfortunate that the UN 's resolution has been sidelined .
along its shores , ideas and institutions that define the essence of European civilisation and form an integral part of its history and its future plans were born , have developed and have grown powerful .
most people here are agreed with that , and I am very grateful for the work you are doing .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , today we have made progress in the fight against poverty and for the promotion of female self-employment .
so we took on the challenge , over the past few months , of introducing a financial mechanism to drive forward construction of the demonstration projects promised by heads of government last year .
it is important to debate this . what are the dividing lines between politicians and historians ?
up to now , Germany has had twice the population of Spain .
we have also heard no answer about how we are to strengthen the producers ' position in their struggle against the supermarkets .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , G20 is indeed the right way forward ; in time G8 will have to be dissolved by G20 .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Foreign Affairs . - ( DE ) Mr President , firstly I would like to give my support to the three-step approach to the mid-term review developed and presented by Mr Böge .
that is why we should make the Black Sea joint operational programme our central instrument for implementing the Black Sea strategy , using it as seed money to attract institutions ready to invest in the region and , hence , promote cooperation .
I consider that both Member States and the Commission should finance more the development of the railway infrastructure and the modernization of the rolling stock .
we now have in front of us a balanced report which demands that the Commission present proposals on legislation and regulation for all financial actors , including hedge funds and private equity .
we hope to discuss these important issues in an intensive dialogue in January and February .
that is also of decisive importance .
however , the Jugendamt is acting against the interests of children from mixed marriages by promptly restricting access to the non-German parent .
we in Parliament rely on having this information .
we have been the first to show that cap and trade can work .
there is a need to review the rules for approving the grant of state aid to environmental projects .
concerning the other amendments on the rules on applicable law .
the European Union must understand that breaks in gas supply are not only a threat to the economy , but they also threaten the foundations of European integration , which , strengthened by European solidarity , support the free market .
thus the Eurogroup governments have undertaken , firstly , to make every effort to ensure , in the wage restraint we need , that wages and the public sector do not get out of control .
this year , on the basis of ICES advice and probably not so much a result of the cod recovery plan itself but of the significant efforts made by Poland and by Polish fishers , the very bad situation for eastern cod has improved but the situation for western cod in the western Baltic has got worse .
Mr President , the French Presidency pays close attention to all of the EU 's eastern neighbours : Georgia and Ukraine , where the summit on 9 September marked an unprecedented step forward in relations between the EU and Ukraine - Moldova - I was there two days ago to discuss the future of relations between the European Union and Moldova in the form of a new and more ambitious agreement than the current Partnership and Cooperation Agreement .
but instead of backing down on the fundamental values of the EU , we should not be afraid of applying the ' method of the stick ' where necessary to show that , when certain basic requirements are not met , there will also be dire consequences that third parties are wisely advised to avoid .
I call on the Commission to find ways of increasing access to independent information for the Belarusian population .
as well as doing that - as some have said - we cannot ignore our duties in relation to asylum and to international law .
that is one of the conclusions of the Camdussus report on the EIB 's external mandate .
we have heard the same again and again in regard to the budget .
those recommendations were already disappointing because they were not based on the slightest criticism of the limitations of Lisbon and the consequences of the failure to implement some of the most important political and cultural plans which had been made at that time .
if they are approved , we shall be back at square one .
a regulation that would fill a regulatory vacuum that left the bus and coach transport sector in an anomalous position compared with other means of transport and would therefore ensure minimal guarantees for all passengers ;
it would also make sense to introduce an early retirement regulation .
I believe that the new water paradigm , developed by the team of Slovak and Czech scientists led by Mr Michal Kravčík , will also influence our rapporteur and in the future will change the EU Water Framework Directive .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
( DE ) Mr President , this should not be made any more complicated .
however , we were a little surprised that the proposal for a 30-year ban on building on land where there has been a forest fire was successfully voted through .
a higher level of media education may significantly help to achieve the Lisbon objectives .
it is up to us as to how we use those powers , and we are counting on a constructive dialogue both with the European Commission and with the Council , so that the new possibilities provided for by the Treaty of Lisbon can be used in the best and most effective way .
the aim of the directive is to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of the arms industry in the EU .
however , in this area the EU not only faces the strategic imperative of guaranteeing security of supply .
the Commission has tried to liaise with her and the co-rapporteurs and shadow rapporteurs in this matter .
economic stability is one of the Union 's principal objectives ; I therefore fully endorse this initiative aimed at guaranteeing our citizens a calm , stable future .
as a woman I would prefer that equal rights did not result in equality with men in every respect , but rather led to arrangements that protect women and alleviate their burdens . no longer being treated as an impersonal workforce , they could then make a creative contribution in many areas of the economy .
well , if you do not give us the truth , rumours will proliferate .
it will mean that we fail to develop within other areas and also that , in a few years time , people will still be employed in industries that do not offer long-term security and the opportunity to make a living , and those regions that we are now talking about will still remain dependent on coal mining in what are unprofitable coal mines .
with the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon , the external action of the EU gains a new dimension and importance .
this , too , should be stressed very strongly .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Madam President , President-in-Office of the Council , I am very pleased that , in the closing stages of this Temporary Committee , this issue has been met with such strong interest , and for that I am most warmly appreciative .
commodities have become the subject of speculation .
such movement must not be stopped .
finally , we highlighted the most vulnerable groups , with specific reference to women , gender and the specific role women play in the field of humanitarian action .
in your reports , you emphasise the importance of ongoing , intensified dialogue with communities that adhere to different religions or beliefs .
we have been discussing this for 17 years , but up to now we have not managed to reach a final agreement on this important economic law or to harmonise the laws of the Member States to a sufficient degree .
I welcome the fact that closer cooperation between these two institutions will help the Member States to transpose European Union legislation into national law as quickly and effectively as possible .
I agree with Commissioner Frattini that we need an agreement between the Commission , Council and Parliament about the way forward in the transition from the unsatisfactory intergovernmental procedures in criminal justice to normal Community decision-making .
it often seems to me that for the interior ministers , collecting new data is the easy option .
vast regions are at stake , where the land will be increasingly abandoned , with drastic social and environmental consequences .
( RO ) Madam President , I appreciate the particularly fine job done by Mrs Járóka in drafting this report , and I sincerely congratulate her on it .
I also mention of course social partners and that is the reason why we are calling strongly not only on price-setters , but also on social partners to incorporate in their decisions the fact that we will deliver price stability in line with our definition in the medium run .
thank you , ladies and gentlemen , and well done in particular to our two rapporteurs , Mrs Klass and Mrs Breyer , who were excellent negotiators in the search for a compromise with the Council .
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if Serbia genuinely desires integration , it is vitally important that it steps up its efforts in these areas .
we are already learning from Iceland 's experience in sustainable management of fishing resources , the use of geothermal heat and measures to fight climate change .
to that end , they must be given clear , relevant and concerted messages by the principal institutions .
( applause )
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , thank you for your statement .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
however , what the European Parliament should focus on above all is the way in which public money and also the aid allocated by the European Union can be invested in a different form of regional development , to ensure that construction work is carried out properly and the severe environmental damage that has been done can be rectified .
all Member States have now adopted national measures in conformity with the principles in this plan , for example , as you already know , through guarantee mechanisms for the financing of banks and systems enabling their recapitalisation .
we are dealing here with a new precedent , which will only be tested in the future .
the EU still seems to be an eldorado in the eyes of many illegal immigrants ; they often find work and a quality of life here which they cannot find in their own country .
access to health is a universal right and it is not the financial costs of it which should concern us .
I also accept that it is advisable to review our cooperation with Belarus , along with the level of funding allocated to that country , in order to ascertain whether the policy of re-engagement with that country , initiated in September 2008 , should be continued .
let me start by saying that I support the initiatives that you mentioned .
Montenegro , however , is not alone in facing these problems .
we should also improve the way in which our development policy is coordinated with the US and other countries .
abolishing these restrictions would help to avoid the problems arising from undeclared work or bogus self-employment .
the information asymmetry is to be reduced by forcing companies to provide information to the plaintiff .
ideally , no patient should have to leave their home country to get medical treatment , but in those cases where it is necessary , they should be able to do so knowing what they are entitled to in terms of treatment and reimbursement .
how has the Council been able to get away for years with holding up action by Parliament to make the Solidarity Fund more flexible ?
therefore let us not level any unfounded accusations against the European Union .
the social economy subscribes to the fundamental principles of the European Social Model .
when the envoys arrived last week in Brussels , I sat with them for an hour to discuss how I saw the possibilities and to impress upon them the importance of using these meetings with the Israelis and the Palestinians .
is the Commission aware of these developments ?
in the new Member States it has so far been possible to deviate from the EU regulations on fat content , due to the hard-won derogations , but it is good news that after 2009 we will still be able to consume the milk products to which we are well accustomed .
we must concentrate on the positive aspects without trying to find easy scapegoats ; that would not be fair .
well , there can no longer be much doubt over who has the power : we do - we Eurocrats .
one very important stipulation with respect to the Commission and the Member States is that they put a stop to the moves by Tanzania and Zambia to transfer the African elephant from CITES Appendix I to Appendix II with a view to trade .
regions stimulate the development of culture , and culture - important , attractive projects and events - becomes a magnet which attracts economic investment .
first of all , the scientific evidence .
what is needed is a stricter , not more liberal , definition of death .
it is also important to make progress towards an MFF , more than 80 % of whose funds do not come from national budgets .
historical criteria are sometimes applied to one situation and not to another .
instead of looking at the billion-dollar projects and silver-bullet solutions , we need to get back to the nuts and bolts of what makes a successful economy .
the notarial act , under continental law at least , has a certain constituent character in that the parties express their will in it , but it is the notarial officer who performs the act .
in writing . - ( SK ) I voted against this resolution .
it has risk management in it and - as many people have heard round the room - this is a first for much of the financial services legislation .
however , it is not anticipated that such proposals would be based on the highest level of consumer protection , which has been achieved by some national legislations .
we would like to focus more on education and training , so that the labour force in Europe will maintain the competitive edge which Europe deserves .
with our political support for the European Protection Order Directive , we have given the issue the visibility it deserves and provided a Europe-wide , comprehensive package of special protection measures that are effective within the Union and grant legal protection and assistance for victims of crime , in particular , violent crimes .
Commissioner McCreevy is incapable of abandoning his neo-liberal ideology and I am therefore very concerned that he is being included in the three-person body that President Barroso is establishing .
the third priority is to stimulate research and experimentation .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , I am convinced that the Council genuinely wishes to improve the security of citizens and also that it sets store by civil rights .
by the Commission , as seems likely , or will the Member States be able to appoint their own ?
a set of standardised , common rules valid throughout the EU is therefore important both to consumers and entrepreneurs .
we will examine this as part of the review .
I hope that the plenary session will also give its support to them .
I shall conclude by saying that , in order to act strongly on these two fronts , Europe must be equipped with appropriate institutions .
some of these countries rely on us as their major export market and the source of their imports .
for example , China is allowing itself to increase its CO2 emissions by 5 billion tonnes by 2020 , with consequences that can only be compensated for by reducing Europe 's industrial emissions by 100 % by the same year , 2020 - and even this may not be enough .
independence requires that we have a good mix of various energy sources .
I have to say to Mr Krahmer , the rapporteur , that the road has not been easy .
we appreciate these three measures .
it is now time to send him back into the cold , fully and properly .
unfortunately , in the absence of an international security regime the only way to stop it through effective defence .
Member States will need to take a flexible attitude to the disparities existing from one country to the next .
we also agree on the property policy , and concur that it should be a long-term policy .
there is of course a distinction between invention and innovation , and between these two and patent applications .
the next item is the joint debate on the Commission statements on :
I hope that these will be properly adhered to because , in that way , we will be able together to recover this endemic stock .
it is already the eleventh hour , due to the rapid development of technology .
I agree , in particular , with the attention paid by the rapporteur to female workers , who are often discriminated against with regard to male workers where pensions are concerned .
that is the message that the Commission put across to the Ecofin Ministers yesterday .
these restrictions will also allow improvements to the state of the infrastructure , which suffers the greatest damage at those very hours of peak traffic .
I will remind you that on 19 October , the Supreme Court decided to remove constitutional obstacles which prevented President Ortega from standing for a further term of office . the fact of this change itself is not outrageous , because , of course , there is no such law in many European countries , but what is outrageous is the way in which this decision was made .
the amendments proposed by Parliament will improve the Commission 's text considerably by allocating EUR 500 million per year to finance the introduction of the scheme to provide pupils with fruit and vegetables , which will consequently boost agricultural production at European Union level .
thank you again for this debate , Mr President .
although the agreement also declares , among other things , a strengthening of the monitoring by relevant bodies of goods in transit and the export regime or ex officio negotiations , a question arises here as to scope and other possibilities for enforcing the agreement , as its effect seems debatable without the agreed ratification by a large number of important countries worldwide .
we have already provided Japan with assistance in a very concrete way .
competitiveness and innovation in Europe have perhaps been the most important issues for each successive presidency in recent times .
secondly , it is essential that Europe comes up with a new industrial project for the automobile sector .
to create a genuine European rail space , we must either harmonise Technical Specifications of Interoperability or introduce mutual recognition of standards .
it will run training programmes aimed at those responsible for this sector within each country , contributing to greater harmonisation between the various practices .
these negotiations concluded with the initialling of a new protocol on the 3 June 2010 , which was then amended by exchange of letters on 29 October 2010 .
if we bear in mind that shipping services are provided not only by colossal undertakings but also , particularly in the case of ferry operators , by small and medium-sized enterprises , we must take a reasonable approach to compensation .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , firstly I would like to thank the rapporteur who has entered into these negotiations with a great deal of commitment and expert knowledge .
so she is good at keeping a straight face , and she vigorously crushed any attempt in the House of Lords for the British people to have a referendum .
the joint strategy paper 2008-2013 defines Commission assistance to Somalia and , in concrete terms , the EC support programme for Somalia has a budget of , altogether , EUR 215.4 million from the European Development Fund ( EDF ) for the period 2008-2013 .
to this I would add that we should also listen to the voices that are barely audible , the ones who , during the European elections in June , thought it unnecessary to take part in the election and play their part in supporting this process .
author . - Madam President , the political , economic and humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe is going from bad to worse , with the threat of a generalised outbreak of cholera and other potential epidemics adding to the already dire conditions in which the Zimbabwean people find themselves .
this is important in order to keep a perspective for the future , because the strength of the internet has been its independent nature , its opportunities and its ability to adapt to different opportunities and demands in societies , based on a number of different actors and operators .
we strongly agree that the focus must be on meeting the promises made and scaling up the existing procedures .
in particular , can the Council report on any improved cooperation between the EU and the new US Administration in this area ?
the EGF was set up in 2006 to provide practical support to workers made redundant either for reasons associated with the relocation of their companies or , following the 2009 amendment , on account of the economic crisis , in order to assist their reintegration into the labour market .
there were hardly any market interventions and farmers had stable , rising incomes .
the Commission can accept the following amendments : 2 , 3 , 7 , 16 , 20 , 24 , 27 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 36 , 40 , 44 , 50 , 56 , 60 , 64 , 73 , 74 , 87 , 92 , 98 , 99 , 100 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 112 , 120 , 122 , 124 , 136 , 140 , 142 .
ITCs allow efficiency , helping towards sustainable growth , and so contribute to the objectives of the EU 2020 strategy .
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voluntary labelling schemes are a rather odd step .
the Council needs to take the Treaty of Lisbon on board , both from the point of view of the new areas which come under the jurisdiction of the European Union , as reflected in the budget , and from the point of view of the European Parliament 's strengthened powers , not least regarding the budget .
such an approach would be fully aligned with the overall public policy goal of enhancing the protection of EU citizens ' personal data , and their ability to take action in the event of such data being compromised .
for this reason , the Commission faces a huge amount of work to create harmony between the 11 countries and the 11 policies after adoption in June .
this is partly due to their role in childbearing and bringing up their families .
I also think that it is good that training has become a part of the toolbox launched by the Commission .
incidentally , the dismantling of seagoing ships in Bangladesh is an extremely lucrative business , in which a sufficient amount of money can be earned in order to swiftly implement acceptable working conditions for dismantling work .
Commissioner , these are the conditions then for stabilising the Republic of Moldova , but they do not offer any grounds for optimism .
I would not like to see my country , which very much needs economic development , having additional hurdles imposed upon it .
ours is a quality industry that has committed itself to the new requirements that innovation calls for , certainly not a bankrupt industry that cannot get to grips with the need for innovation that exists within the economy .
on special days or occasions it is often the case that people look back at the past .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , I would like to start by thanking the rapporteur for his work in producing the report that has been presented to us today .
it set out several paths that the Commission would do well to return to , in particular , in terms of its suggestions on how to support the democratic transition processes in progress .
Ukraine has consistently held good elections , and has a vibrant civil society and free media .
one of the things we insisted on in this agreement was the so-called correlation tables .
I have not forgotten the intense and fruitful collaboration with this institution in 1992 when , as prime minister , I led the first Portuguese Presidency of the Council whose motto , you may remember , was Towards European Union .
there will be other texts on Europol , and Parliament will , of course , be colegislator .
it is therefore a highly dangerous situation because it is not perceived as such , and often ends in a meeting in person and in real abuse .
what interests me especially is how smaller enterprises have fared .
there is still a choice to be made , and last-minute policy shifts from the Commission do nothing to restore the confidence of the disconnected .
especially with regard to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict , I am one of those who support a solution based on the principles of territorial integrity and the right of self-determination .
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the issue under discussion , neighbourhood policy , this laudable new initiative , will undoubtedly become bogged down in bureaucracy like so many others : Lisbon , but also Barcelona and all the rest .
her report includes measures to guarantee equal opportunities in terms of access to employment , training and professional promotion ; measures to respect women 's and men 's employment rights , including - and this must be emphasised - protection against sexual harassment ; and measures to enhance the reconciliation of personal and family life and employment relations .
he was not an easy negotiating partner , but he was a fair one .
Mr President , what is at stake is the credibility of the European Union and its effectiveness as a global player , rather than the effectiveness of aid .
so this report will put responsibility on national governments .
this of course applies to Russia , but also to all partners and neighbours of the EU .
that was a very poor and short-sighted decision .
ignoring them and introducing the same failed constitution proves my point .
similar measures will continue to be adopted according to the evaluation of the health claims from the European Food Safety Authority , thereby ensuring that consumers are not misled .
as a result of that disarray , Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union was inserted .
I voted in favour of Eurovignettes because I think that solutions of this kind can ensure full harmonisation of the European system for charging heavy goods vehicles , thus facilitating efficient travel through Member States without unnecessary delays .
it is thanks to the European Union that the G20 was born ; we were the ones who took the initiative to create this embryonic world governance .
as the various other possible modules are at different stages of methodological maturity , including , for instance , timber and fish as well as unused extraction , a modular structure has been adopted for the regulation with a view to possibly introducing new modules as annexes to the core text in the future .
I voted for Amendment 82 because I support more ambitious targets for waste recycling for all Member States , in order to ensure an effective European waste prevention policy .
secondly , we Social Democrats do not accept the view that austerity measures are the only way to deal with the crisis .
this problem could also be raised by a number of national parliaments during the ratification procedure which , as we know , will be a complicated and risky process .
in the past two weeks , the Hungarian press talked of little else but the responsibility of the company , the Hungarian Aluminium Corporation .
the tidal wave swept inland for 22 miles , flooding fields and leaving many of them heavily salinated .
thank you for your attention .
what we have adopted today is a certain outline plan of support for the Danube river basin area , but whether the programme remains on paper or the model is filled out with specific content depends on whether additional means are found which will not affect , or will not reduce , the pool designated for the cohesion policy in individual countries .
- ( NL ) Mr President , I would like to read to you from a research report that was funded by Parliament .
instead it should focus on prevention and preventive measures more so than it has done thus far , both within the Member States and externally in relationships with our overseas neighbours .
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this means that the common currency is not fulfilling its fundamental role .
promoting the convergence of regulations through mutual assessment of their effective transposition would not only facilitate the work of the Member States ( which are running so late that in this report , Parliament deems it necessary to monitor their work ) but would also set a definite framework for the system of points of single contact , which will guarantee the flow of information to small and medium-sized enterprises .
engagement by the EU is more important than the prospect of NATO membership .
( HU ) Mr President , the European Council will hopefully endorse the three successful objectives of the Hungarian Presidency : the Danube strategy , the Roma strategy and the conclusion of accession negotiations with Croatia .
the port I referred to has recently attempted to relocate to a location outside the city , to deeper water .
one final point , which is new , is the amendments on pirates .
domestic work makes up between 5 % and 9 % of total employment .
I share the rapporteur 's opinion regarding the need to create deeper and closer ties of biregional cooperation between the European Union and Latin America .
here in this House I want to pay a heartfelt tribute to everyone and express my wish that the work carried out by our committee to date should be continued in the next parliamentary term , with the same vigour and commitment that has been shown so far in order to bring about a stricter and fairer Europe that offers greater solidarity .
for the time being its popularity lags behind the international ISO 14001 Standard .
the same applies to alcohol awareness .
that is akin to aggravated theft or at the very least to expropriation without compensation .
I think that the time is now ripe to say to the public that it is not by cutting this EU budget of 1 % [ EU GDP ] that we will solve the fiscal consolidation of the different Member States of the European Union .
these negotiations were necessary , as although the boundaries in the sky are not visible , they are clearly present .
therefore , I have abstained from voting .
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author . - ( PL ) Today we are once again discussing breaches of fundamental human rights in Belarus .
this is also the position of the Irish Government .
a large proportion of imported food is produced in conditions where these standards are not complied with .
so there are alternatives , but Turkey is our priority route and I think it is beneficial for Turkey as well .
my thanks also , therefore , to the Council and the Commission for what we have achieved , but we still face hard work ahead .
the text might not be the best , but it is an opportunity and is better than nothing .
now , more than ever , prudent macro-economic management and active labour market measures are needed to contain , and then reduce unemployment .
we have to compensate European producers for the fact that we impose stricter food safety and environmental protection rules than our competitors outside the European Union .
my group stands for full transparency and vehemently opposes the criminalisation of citizens .
Europe must do everything it can to enable its businesses to return to a sufficient level of activity to recruit but also to invest in research .
the 2009 budget reflects all of this to only a very limited extent , and that is our shared problem : our European budget is simply not up to the challenges of the present time .
the case of South Sudan is similar to that of Kosovo in every way .
in the course of European unification , linguistic diversity has gradually become less of a barrier and more of an opportunity .
I have to say , Mr Schmidt , that I myself regretted the fact that , for one of the three posts - the European Banking Authority post - one of the two people pre-selected , a high-calibre female applicant , withdrew at the last minute , just before Christmas .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , first of all , may I thank you for inviting me once again to take part in the debate on your report on the activities of the European Investment Bank - this is becoming a real tradition .
now we have to ask if , for example , the selective attitude to Russia that emphasises economic values does not compromise our common values base .
( DE ) We have discussed this many times before during Question Time , and I should like to ask when Turkey 's law on religion will actually be adopted .
I also think the time has come to impose mandatory liability insurance on plants engaged in hazardous activities , which happen to be the plants which are largely responsible for the large industrial disasters of the past 10 years .
the agency gathers expert information on this subject and , of course , we need to abide by the opinions it issues .
awareness of the interindependence of the judicial systems : yes !
I would congratulate Serbia on the progress achieved in the reform process .
therefore , the European Union considers this problem to be extremely urgent .
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I am very pleased to see that we carried the amendment which asks the Commission to deal immediately with the issue of adventitious presence of GMOs in imported feeds .
so I would suggest you include similar provisions in your respective countries ' constitution .
the Payment Services Directive regulates the conditions under which the currency conversion shall be offered .
I would like to begin by congratulating the rapporteurs for the excellent job they have done .
as you very well know , it is a strategy which is intended to bring our citizens work , prosperity and stability throughout the Union for a whole decade .
all the democratic indicators have been pointing downwards since Vladimir Putin took office : press and media freedom , freedom of expression , assembly and association - and not just for political parties - judicial independence and respect for minorities .
at this time of financial crisis , we need clear legal guidelines and , Mr Barroso , we need the same wage for the same work at the same place , regardless of gender .
the convention has since been amended and brought more into line with other regional conventions .
facilitating development and new jobs is the best way of combating poverty in various regions of the world , rich as well as poor .
in view of the fact that women account for only 30 % of European researchers and only 13 % of directors of European research institutions , I would highlight the need for the ' Innovation Union ' initiative to take account of future guidelines as regards a more balanced representation of women and men in scientific disciplines .
as Italy is in the European Union it is a problem for Italy , it is a problem for Europe ; the solution has to be Italian , the solution has to be European .
now we must use these relations , through you , Mr President , and through every delegation that goes there , every parliamentary committee or delegation such as mine , which maintains relations with China .
in this House , among all of you , Europe can be felt with greater force than in any other place .
I voted for the report because I believe it to be exceptionally important .
if the ratification process continues , it will show that EU leaders have learnt nothing and that politicians still believe they know best and that it is the people who are wrong .
here , I would like to mention a few of the specific points of the report , from the many that it contains .
it is also important to emphasise that this assistance is not a substitute for the responsibilities normally incumbent upon companies , nor is it intended for the financing and restructuring of companies .
they are justifying this to us by saying that we are in an era of cuts .
you have shown solidarity instead of isolation , and this fund will be well used and I have no doubt it may well be the best fund and the best funding ever given by the European Commission .
in this connection , it is extremely important for the European Union to be aware of all energy infrastructure projects in the Member States .
since we are bringing this into international negotiations , our European policy must be exemplary and we must move in the direction of having more and better paid fishermen who do not overexploit fish stocks , either in our territorial waters or in those in which we buy fishing rights .
there was not , in fact , much willingness to follow our approach , and therefore the negotiations with the Council were far from easy .
deliberate language discrimination also occurs in EuroNews .
he said that the European Union could not be complicit in a new Cold War and that it could not irresponsibly feed a rise in tension leading to a crisis between us and Russia .
as a result of the coming into force of the Treaty of Lisbon , in 2010 the European Commission withdrew its draft Council regulation for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures , with the aim of drawing up a new plan .
the vote will take place tomorrow .
I voted for this resolution as it identifies the next stages which will enable the European Union to continue along this path , strengthens the positive interaction between trade and climate protection and the tools ensuring consistency between trade and climate , and encourages fair international trade prices , thereby avoiding carbon leakage .
Mrs McCarthy referred specifically to issues surrounding products and toys .
we want to make sure the bulk of the effort is made in Europe , not by offsetting .
however , we must also be aware that this does not represent any increase in funding .
the very least we should do is try to empathise with the traumas and torment of those who have to live with a raw memory of a crime , who have to live without their loved ones .
the problem is the extremely low budget allocated to this fund : 57 million euros every year .
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in this capacity , I would like to inform the House that in September of this year , the Parliament in Brussels will host the biannual meeting of parliamentarians of the Arctic region .
yesterday you expressed the fact that you do not want this Charter of Fundamental Rights .
in writing . - ( PT ) This report concerns unfair commercial practices in the area of advertising , defined within the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive ( UCPD ) , and focuses on the problems inherent in the development of new advertising practices and technologies .
in short , dialogue can wait - the political cards must be played first .
their training is often less extensive .
that will be interesting , but I am still quite convinced that what we have proposed , which is in compliance with the OIV oenological practices , will be the way forward for our wine producers to stay competitive on the global market .
the report talks about enhancing Europe 's latent productivity potential , while respecting EU commitments in international trade .
we protest vehemently against the imprisonment of opposition activists who did no more than draw attention to a fact that has been noted by all international institutions , namely that the presidential elections in Russia were extremely unfair .
this represents a significant step forwards in defending and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities , with a view to respecting their dignity .
the Commission has also announced that it will submit a proposal in 2011 for a strategic plan to combat gender-based violence .
it is what happens when you have no link between taxation , representation and expenditure , when the EU expects bouquets for spending money but not brickbats for raising it .
in writing . - ( RO ) I voted in favour of this report as I believe it plays an important role in implementing the European information system on judicial records , by creating technical and practical means that provide for an exchange of information between the Member States .
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I believe that with everything we are achieving here , the Union will be increasingly prepared to coordinate and to prevent potential problems , shortcomings and imbalances in a unified way .
we must look into means of financing practical proposals and projects under European programmes .
I would appeal to everyone , including the Government of Croatia , to reach the necessary political consensus within the country , too , so that even the difficult decisions can be taken quickly .
indeed , I would welcome the views of the Commission on these proposals , because these proposals would damage cohesion policy and damage places like Wales and similar regions .
if that is what Mr Barón Crespo thinks is a small minority , all I can say is that it is not my view of a small minority .
this report will make a highly valuable contribution to resolving the serious issue concerning the children of European citizens who live and work in Member States other than their country of origin .
the EU has a delegation in the country and is monitoring developments carefully .
the main sources of pollution are heating and electricity in the buildings themselves , as well as the transportation of people between home and the workplace and also between the three main workplaces .
I do not see our Union as ' absorbing ' nations .
if the Treaty of Lisbon comes into force in all EU Member States it will bring about changes which include an end to the current system of rotating presidencies in the Council .
I thank Mr Doorn and I dare to hope that we will see practical results .
the impact on infrastructure has been significant , with many roads waterlogged for weeks afterwards and some that have totally disappeared .
I shall now comment on a few things that have come up in the discussion , and I think it is worthwhile taking them up .
the healthcare sector accounts for 10 % of the European Union 's labour force and , to be more precise , there are an estimated 1.2 million cases of accidental sharp injuries each year , with the result that healthcare workers gradually become demotivated and very often leave the healthcare profession .
we are a significant step closer to mutual recognition of safety regulations for electric appliances , something we Europeans have been asking the Americans for for many years .
the imposition of the Treaty of Lisbon is being promoted , despite and against the will of the people and their opposition expressed in referenda , as in France , the Netherlands and Ireland .
what I say for Europe is , in our opinion , valid for all other systemic parts in the global finance .
pursuant to adoption of the rapporteur 's amendments , this Regulation will have a beneficial effect on the market , and we therefore support it .
I am not a legal expert , nor do I have a major reputation like Professor Manzella , chairman of the Italian Senate 's Committee on European Affairs , nor like other fellow Members , who can challenge with equal precision the legal inconsistency of the assertions made in the report .
they complained that we had not given them any gunboats to allow them to defend their borders more effectively .
it started 14 years ago and has had some modest success with about 4 000 participants - which , if you think about it , is not such a huge number in the overall European Union .
our first concern must be our planet , but I contend that the measures needed to stop climate change will not be helped by the economic decline of the leading climate-friendly economies leading to unemployment in the EU .
a well-functioning , efficient and rapid-reaction European civil protection mechanism is therefore an urgent necessity .
in writing . - ( LT ) I welcomed this document , because this directive concerns emissions from agricultural tractors and merely makes a quantitative modification to Directive 2000 / 25 / EC , without altering its environmental protection objectives , methodology or period of validity .
I call on the Commission and Member States to adopt urgently a specific strategy and measures to help young people become more involved in society .
no exemptions should be allowed to be made under the public procurement law , which was adopted earlier this year - not even for the European football championship .
there , the positive sign is that the Americans have said that they are aware that there should be a political solution as this cannot be solved in a military way .
at stake are not only the environment , and therefore the health of EU citizens , but also the competitiveness of an important industry .
I therefore agree entirely with the rapporteur that it is necessary to enhance the situation of political parties at European level and prepare a clear and uniform legal status and financing model for them .
however , it is just as important that we do not go overboard and over-regulate our lives , because in doing so we would not serve quality of life but bureaucracy .
transparency must be combined with very strict regulation with the option for intervention at the appropriate time without waiting until the market has collapsed , as is the case in the United States at the moment , only for tax-payers ' money to be used to right all the wrongs committed by people who have abused their position .
to this end we need a good and practicable European counter-terrorism strategy .
the recent economic crisis has laid bare the shortcomings of the system for regulating and supervising global finance .
the sector accounts for 3 % of GDP , 6 % of employment , 8 % of national incomes and one-sixth of household expenditure .
secondly , we have increased collection targets for this waste to 85 % by 2016 .
given the current financial difficulties , pooling our resources is not only politically desirable , it is essential .
it is to her that Chinese dissidents are already appealing .
it is essential that healthcare should provide secure , quality services , no matter where in Europe it is provided .
the countries that acceded to the EU in the 21st century are still being stifled by ethnocentrism .
I do not think that any further amendments or a third reading would bring any significant results .
I agree with the amendments proposed by the rapporteur , in particular the inclusion of asylum in the Network 's name and the extension of its mandate .
the reason is that often , the proprietors of premises and home owners can neither cover cofinancing with their own money nor obtain a bank loan for this .
the Single Market 's management structures must be as simple as possible , because otherwise , the effectiveness and transparency of the Single Market will suffer .
the air traffic sector , travel agents , the tourism industry , logistics , etc . , which were only just glimpsing an end to the crisis , have taken a real battering , and I welcome the presence of Commissioner Almunia , who will be responsible for managing the solution required for the sector .
the recent Euro-row over action in Libya and the subsequent German opt-out made it clear to the rest of the world that the EU is still not able to project a real common foreign and security policy .
those who have higher costs than market prices must adapt to the situation or withdraw from the market .
we last met at his funeral service in December 2009 .
however , my opinion has changed a great deal and I hope you have noticed that .
the sport is subject to licence in Finland and closely supervised , and there is guidance available from experienced hunters in the safe and responsible use of weapons .
why are some Member States blocking progress on the European financial transaction tax and the eurobonds ?
the Commission was miles away from that .
( SK ) Let me say how deeply worried I am about the deterioration of the human rights situation in Iran : use of the death penalty , torture , inhumane treatment of prisoners and repression of political opponents .
however , in light of the report of the European Court of Auditors , I believe the Commission 's IAs could be improved .
the ban on the Democratic Society Party ( DTP ) has destroyed , and thus negated , the Kurdish people 's freedom of expression , of association and of political participation for the umpteenth time .
therefore , I welcome the fact that the EU is instead championing a strategic bilateral partnership - as agreed this July - with Brazil , which is an economic giant , but one whose share of global trade is still small in comparison to other developing countries , precisely because Brazil has failed to sign profitable bilateral free-trade agreements , placing too much faith in Mercosur .
how is it that a report of the European Parliament on gender equality can be silent on the deliberate elimination on the basis of gender alone ?
moreover , the positions adopted by the competent committees as a rule exist only in English , thereby preventing many Members from really understanding the extent of the proposed measures .
this time of global problems should , of course , be a time when the EU comes into its own because we have a multinational reach , but as Liberals and Democrats we would say , OK , let us use that reach , but it should not reach too far .
in writing . - ( SV ) We consider that effective measures must be taken to stop undeclared work .
( SK ) We have heard words such as enlargement fatigue , crisis or the need for consolidation .
the Burmese military closely monitors and restricts organisations , activity and expression of all religions because they view them as threats to so-called ' national unity ' .
if the Court had existed 70 years ago , perhaps the Katyń Massacre would never have happened .
eight and a half years it has taken you to get this treaty through , and on 1 December you will have it .
we need to see to this - I am addressing Mr Lamberts in particular - without waiting for the United States .
that is better than talking about friendship .
the first is to step up the exchange of information , particularly in relation to the efforts to prevent terrorist attacks and research into funding mechanisms .
we are already half dependent on foreign supplies : in the case of gas this is actually 57 % , and in the case of oil 82 % .
( PL ) Mr President , I do not want to speak about what we have to do for Ukraine or what Ukraine has to do for us , I want to talk about what Ukraine has to do for itself , because its fate is , in fact , in its own hands .
we are now talking about cooperation and coordination .
dumping of subsidised agricultural surplus has devastated the profit margins of many of their farmers and now , while their populations are increasing , their land , rather than providing food for their own people , is being used to keep our cars on the road .
the reinforcement of parental leave through the new directive adopted earlier this year is an important step forward .
allow me to make a compromise and to refer in my intervention to certain questions which I think are most relevant and must be clarified .
the European Private Company plan is strongly supported in economic circles in virtually all the Member States .
this regulation replaces the text in force since 1995 , which no longer reflects today 's reality on some key issues , such as new needs and new user habits , the need for more timely data and improved comparability , and completeness of the statistical framework .
all the major shadows and coordinators have been very supportive , but there are one or two issues that we have not been able to resolve .
I took it upon myself to immediately contact Dr. Borg who , after assessing the file , gave me a synopsis of the issues at stake .
that was introduced at your request , and we agree that this made the directive better .
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in writing . - I welcome this report which , if followed through by the Commission , should help victims of fraud .
at this stage , it would be advisable to evaluate the effects of a tax on financial transactions .
in this context my country will highlight the importance of trade policy as a means of driving forward external competitiveness , economic growth and the creation of new jobs following the EU 's new trade policy strategy called Global Europe , as well as under the revised strategy for growth and jobs .
these meetings will deal either exclusively with energy-related themes or will cover energy among the other issues .
that is my firm belief as a former journalist and it is also the firm belief of the European Union .
the Open Method of Coordination has reinforced awareness of the fact that homelessness presents a problem in all Member States .
the EU significantly influenced the conference 's positive outcome .
the European Union also has a duty , but it must make a distinction between what is the competence of a Member State and what is the competence of the European Union .
where I really do support the efforts of the European Commission is in the regulation of the financial sector .
Madam President , the European Parliament should take decisive action to stop the anti-Hungarian terrorism in Serbia .
the European Commission must encourage and support Member States so that they include , to a larger extent , as part of the components making up national education systems , elements such as innovation and creativity , and encourage improvement in cooperation between education systems and the business world by developing new curricula and doctoral programmes , including at cross-border level .
irrespective of the responsibilities that may exist in some Member States or in some autonomous regions , it is certain that Parliament must clearly call on the Commission to act swiftly and make available all the resources at its disposal , which are not insignificant .
we have 16 very probably political prisoners in prison , charged with terrorism , without any evidence whatsoever .
those are the three key elements that characterise this figure .
we have a great opportunity in this regard .
( HU ) Mr President , the current Seventh Framework Programme ensures that the European Union can raise its research policy to an adequate level .
there is something missing in this in that we have not talked about what happens when information society services such as Google or Facebook lose personal data , and I am quite pleased that in this report we call for the Commission to investigate this further .
we should all take a look in the mirror .
these include tyre pressure monitoring systems , wet grip requirements and lane departure warning systems .
it is , perhaps , a small step that a six- or seven-month-old baby might take on its tiny feet .
there has been a significant increase in online shopping in the EU and there must be protection for consumers who engage in it .
I also think it is important to devise strategies for preventing and managing natural disasters as droughts and flooding have occurred frequently over the last 10 years , exerting an adverse impact on both agricultural production and flora and fauna .
Member of the Commission . - ( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , the European Parliament is today discussing the implementation of , and the possible ways of further developing , the Directive on the working time of persons performing mobile road activities .
I am expressing my gratitude to the few Members still present , but I , too , often missed evening meetings .
that is in any case a good start .
we are therefore asking the Japanese Government publicly to reject any assertions that deny or question the subjugation and enslavement of the comfort women and we are likewise demanding that they accept moral and legal responsibility for the enslavement of 200 000 people .
the ECR have decided to vote in favour of the paragraphs which support equality in this way .
therefore , my starting point for the work on this directive was that we should be strict , while of course being fair .
I therefore congratulate Parliament on adopting this document , an important document on the global human rights situation last year , which underlines the most important problems - capital punishment , torture , brutal , inhumane behaviour , the situation of human rights defenders , the situation of women 's and children 's rights and many other matters .
for those who travel , the advantage of a single currency was obvious .
I also made very direct comments to the Foreign Minister .
since it relates to a codification procedure , this proposal did not have to be ' formally ' amended by the parliamentary committee and the latter did not do so .
both men have made their names denouncing caudillos , but they themselves are turning into caudillos of the Left and , as such , represent a genuine threat to regional democratic stability , especially given the chaos in nearby Honduras .
for this very reason , this proposal aims to provide the Member States with a legal framework enabling them to more effectively resolve the potential negative effects of mine closures that could occur as a result of the gradual withdrawal of subsidies , in particular , the social and environmental effects .
there must be some misunderstanding .
it is true that we have different passports , besides the covers , but it is important to find a balance between the security measures of these passports , so that they identify a citizen of the European Union or another person entering the territory of the European Union , and at the same time resist crime , much of which involves passports , such as illegal immigration , terrorism , child trafficking or forgery of documents .
we must always do more , and therefore in all of these sectors in which it is possible to strengthen transport safety I will see through my commitment in full , and I will try to submit proposals to Parliament and the Council that really show EU citizens that the European institutions are there to help them .
it is nothing short of regrettable when a special report by the Ombudsman is required in order to make public something as simple as access to documents to which EU citizens have a right .
as I said before , there are a number of developments inside Russia that give us cause for concern , notably the violent deaths of journalists , restrictions on NGOs , the situation in the Northern Caucasus in general and in Ingushetia in particular .
in Rome , despite numerous reports , unfortunately no action has been taken in response to certain social situations , such as the slums inhabited by Roma citizens .
the national representatives will be members of a consultative group for the SBA which will help to assess and disseminate information concerning the measures taken to support SMEs .
the outcome of the current and proposed agricultural policy will be continued depopulation of the countryside , environmental degradation and loss of food security for regions , states and the EU as a whole .
( DE ) Mr President , the Commission is planning the successful introduction of the health check in the agricultural sector for 2009 .
Parliament will approve its budget discharge annually and the Commission will have to provide MEPs with detailed information about its expenditure on a regular basis .
Europe certainly still needs qualified immigrants , and they can be useful to us , but there is a huge obstacle in terms of the rights of the immigrants ' countries not to have their best brains taken away from them .
it is essential to protect the pharmaceutical supply chain against the entry of falsified medicinal products for the sake of the general public and companies that operate correctly and responsibly .
the Commissioner has therefore clearly told us something : that for now , she is not withdrawing the proposal .
we know that as a result of the financial crisis , we should temporarily offer more scope for supporting the banks .
currently , there are two infraction proceedings under way and two or three claims have been made against Andalusia or rather Spain .
the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left has always been against the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo because it represents an act that is against international law .
in reality , we are paying for the sins of the present and previous governments .
I must say that this is an important issue that arises again and again : 20 % for education , health , water , etc .
unfortunately , we do not yet have a common EU energy policy or standards .
Commissioner , today I looked through the resolutions , which the European Parliament adopted on economic policy .
it is only in the Lisbon Treaty , though , that supporters of the poor countries can find a legal basis enabling them to safeguard solidarity with the poorest people in the world .
it is already late and I think we have all earned a little relaxation .
I also think that resources must be allocated with a view to involving civil society in the partner countries in common projects and to supporting the mobility of citizens in these countries , which includes easing visa requirements .
I hope that , at the end of June , the European Council will create the necessary conditions for the completion of this final stage and that the Irish are given the conditions they need to tackle this issue .
when drawing up an anti-nicotine policy , therefore , we must examine the problem from a number of angles to ensure that the legal reality we establish provides effective help in solving the problems linked to the use of nicotine products .
from this viewpoint , then , I think that we ought to continue to work in the area to which my report relates to find mechanisms whose scope can be extended in ways that nobody can reject , and to find gradual methods of implementation over a reasonable period that will allow everyone to adapt over time , without demanding that things should happen overnight .
5 .
I therefore believe that in this case , all the conditions are met for the mobilisation of the EGF , and I hope that the assistance will be made available to the redundant workers swiftly and efficiently .
like the others , they are mothers in their own right , and this applies , moreover , whether the child they adopt is under 12 months old or not ; we must avoid the kind of discrimination that appears in the text .
in this area , it is necessary to strengthen the micro-credit programme and the risk capital fund .
the reports of the EOMs are a key entry point for addressing deficiencies in the electoral framework .
the objective of this regulation is to enable new textile fibres to be placed on the market more quickly .
we had already heard that proposal made to Chancellor Merkel , and the markets soared as a result of that premature and untimely announcement .
I agree with Amendment 15 , which proposes establishing a special relationship between the national unit and the competent national authorities .
here I refer to a concrete example - that of neglecting the rights of the Romanian community and the Romanian language speakers in Serbia , especially in Valea Timocului and Vojvodina .
is it going to take notice of them or are these opinions simply going to be thrown in the bin ?
I would appeal for calm .
I should like to reiterate that the Council must urgently continue to revise the new Solidarity Fund regulation approved by Parliament , so as to make it swifter and more effective .
the European Parliament and the Council have adopted Directive 2004 / 48 / EC , which puts in place a Community framework for the enforcement of intellectual property rights and are currently working on a proposal for a directive on criminal measures , aimed at ensuring enforcement of such rights .
our debates have raised the issue , among others , of training and knowledge .
in the mean time , we need to prepare for what we hope will be the entry into force of the Treaty at the beginning of next year , and the Slovenian Presidency has presented a list of issues where action needs to be taken for its implementation .
in order to be able to convince our citizens that their financial resources are being used responsibly , we must ensure the effective implementation of operational programmes and large projects .
I would also ask the Commission if it intends to bring proceedings before the Court of Justice with a view to Poland amending this legislation and correctly applying the treaty , as it would seem that the treaty is not being applied as it should be .
the Union of the Comoros is regarded as one of the least developed countries , with an economy which depends , to a huge extent , on foreign subsidies and technical assistance .
it is important - extremely important - both in a professional sense and in a geographical sense , but if we do not ensure that there is equal treatment , equal terms and conditions and the right to strike for equal treatment on the European labour market , protectionism will increase .
thank you very much , and I congratulate all those who have worked to achieve this highly satisfactory result .
nature is there to be used by the people .
however , I would like to say quite openly that I consider the remarks made by Mrs Liotard to be unfair .
I hope everyone agrees that the constitution has to be balanced , close to the citizens , based on generally accepted values and principles , and should be party neutral .
that was really beyond the pale .
today 's debate has confirmed for us that there is an agreement in the European Parliament on this issue .
we have many good tools available .
Mr President , it is a shame that the Commission launched the European Institute of Technology project without first securing funding for it .
in this connection , there needs to be a mandatory minimum separation between welfare payments and income .
the government of the Federal Republic of Germany - led by the Federal Chancellor - has done a complete about-turn .
this type of solution must also be based on all countries being prepared to make a commitment .
it would therefore be extremely unfair , counterproductive and exploitative to do as Mr De Magistris is requesting : imposing inhibitory penalties and measures today would harm institutions that are cooperating fully with the European Union as they attempt to close this terrible chapter in the age-old history of Naples and Campania through the efficient use of European and national resources .
the new rules leave the decision whether to waive privacy or confidentiality , or both , up to the petitioner .
the first element is therefore an integrated and interconnected energy market .
make no mistake , we are fully committed to this issue .
indeed , many generations to come will remain at risk This Report calls on member states to accept common minimum standards , invest in new technologies and , importantly , to ban nuclear waste export to third countries .
I appeal to you - at one minute to 12 - to utilise the 21 days up to 26 May to incorporate the resolution to be adopted tomorrow by Parliament into your Regulation in order to meet car dealers half way without jeopardising the direction the Commission wishes to take .
voters are always right , but they may be misled by populism .
if German conservatives and liberals now reject the directive in its entirety , they will be revealing their true colours : they want to continue to discriminate against gay people , and to broadcast propaganda .
in writing . - ( PL ) Services account for more than three-quarters of the European economy .
I therefore want to thank Mrs Stihler for this excellent report .
we have also got some special measures for smaller operators , so we have taken very seriously the risk of being disproportionate ; I think we have addressed that very sensibly in the report that we have put before you .
I would like to ask the Commissioner to make sure that such transportation will be totally safe and devoid of any pollution by aromatic hydrocarbons , which , as we all know , can cause serious damage to both humans and animals .
however , we do not want to limit migration solely to highly qualified people , thereby shutting the door on all other migrant workers with fewer qualifications .
nevertheless , it is important that we continue the good work in cooperation with the UN and the NGOs etc .
similarly , we had to use the only population figures available , those from Eurostat , since we did not have any figures from the citizens themselves .
coordination of social security systems (
the European Union will be able to demonstrate the benefits of the Treaty of Lisbon if it can agree on rapid , far-reaching economic reforms .
as stated in the communication , although demand for agricultural commodities is also influenced by the biofuel market , Commission analyses indicate that current European biofuel production has little impact on current global food prices .
no amendments have been tabled to the text adopted by the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , which indicates that these recommendations enjoy widespread support .
as a result of this practice of subjecting everything to comitology , Parliament is divested of its decision-making rights and its powers of scrutiny , and so we only discover at some later date that obligations have not been honoured .
the PSE is of the opinion that this is not the end of the story ; it is a new beginning .
the next item is the report by Mr Hutchinson , on behalf of the Committee on Development , on MDG contracts .
that simply cannot be allowed to happen .
the rapid adoption of the new legislation by Parliament may greatly improve the competitiveness of the European economy .
but without aid its economic growth would have been less impressive .
Mr President , I would like to welcome Commissioner Kallas and my fellow Members .
in the past years , our committee had a debate on this with DG RELEX .
after the Commissioner for Health became responsible for the licensing of genetically modified organisms , in my opinion , citizens thought that we would now approach the licensing of such GMOs with greater care .
the report on the draft directive that we are discussing now represents an acceleration of the exchange of information necessary for the fight against tax fraud .
the new , sound workings of international finance will have to be based on fairness .
nonetheless , the Commission will support the agreement between Parliament and the Council if it is endorsed by your vote .
I would like to express my thanks first of all to the European Parliament , and especially to the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs , for the support the Commission and I have received during the last five years for most , if not all , the tax proposals we presented .
nothing can justify such behaviour .
the Member States have not yet been able to agree on the statute for a European private company .
in the mean time , the partners have properly honoured their undertakings to abide by the terms of the agreement to the fullest extent possible until it enters into force .
the Commission 's proposals in this sector take particular account of the relevant international conventions .
the European Union should bear in mind the need to balance conflicting values and , especially during the current economic and financial crisis , take into account the impact of the trade agreements it signs on the lives of European farmers and their holdings .
I want also to emphasise what we have achieved for consumers in the context of the Universal Service Directive .
some European banks and asset funds are exposed to sub-prime related securities .
it is an extremely complex area , where the issue is whether one is working under a ' contract of work ' or a ' contract for work ' - the difference being between those who are working as a normal employee for tax purposes and thus pay their social contributions to the skipper who is an employer , and those who share the proceeds of the catch , who are not treated as normal employees .
above all , the proposals put forward reflect the Commission 's position , which is not supported by the substance of public debate .
the issue solely concerns the vote , but I wanted to have this debate from the start so that there would not be ambiguity all afternoon .
in conclusion , I should like to welcome the Commission 's proposal on the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly . the role and democratic legitimacy of the latter should be reinforced .
however , we also need to ensure that those who are sitting in judgment on these contracts have the greatest expertise and the greatest independence and are not appointees of the parties in power .
question Time ( Commission )
private credit rating agencies have been given new rights to set the standards and promises of delegation of power from the public authorities .
we also need to set out an economic strategy for 2020 , which the Commission is drawing up and which , in the view of the Spanish rotating Presidency , must be a key matter in the next six months .
from the time when the forces of the Warsaw Pact invaded Czechoslovakia during the Prague Spring , we always showed solidarity with them .
I intend to start with a benchmarking exercise : I have asked my services to examine what exists in the various Member States .
would approval by the Security Council have been better ?
I do not want to repeat the points that have been raised already , but I would like just to draw attention to a few particular issues .
Mr President , as is so often the case with EU proposals , these financial instruments include measures which have great emotional appeal .
in my view , their current rate of progress is unacceptably slow and , in consequence of this , the credibility of this House is seriously undermined .
before we start promoting these cultures outside Europe , even we ourselves have to want to become familiarised with all those cultural elements which are typical of Europe .
the ISTAT analysis also showed that the main differences between Italy and its EU partners were in relation to bread , pasta and cereals , which contain raw materials such as wheat , the price of which is fixed worldwide and does not differ between the various countries .
Zaleski report
these measures will have , apart from the beneficial effect of combating climate change , a positive impact and alleviate the effects of the economic and financial crisis and may contribute , in the long term , to reducing the European Union 's dependency on energy imports .
I have to confess that , on my recent visit to Sarajevo , I was absolutely shocked at the lack of responsibility on the part of the politicians in that country .
I made no reference in my question to the costs of the asylum procedure .
in that connection we will also work closely with the European Parliament .
to debate and decide , by voting , on human rights in a world with countries that do not pay any attention to them can be expected to have a bizarre result .
the use of renewable sources of energy contributes , inter alia , to raising environmental standards , for instance by reducing emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases . it also helps to increase employment and lower costs .
it is therefore extremely important for us to take all possible measures aimed at overcoming the demographic crisis in Europe .
even in the Committee on Foreign Affairs a third of the MEPs were not happy with the draft .
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terrorists , dictators and mass murderers must be brought before a court and not eliminated by means of targeted killings .
written declarations included in the register ( Rule 123 ) : see Minutes
Olli Rehn , the new Commissioner for these matters - if we get your support - will develop this line .
another issue of high priority is , of course , the financial and economic crisis .
Nazism and Communism were all around .
the European Union must seriously resolve such situations , which is why I call on the High Representative to pay special attention to the resolution of the issues to which I have referred .
the European Commission must continue to incorporate clear standards in future trade agreements and to include them in international negotiations .
however , the real threat to democracy is created by those who seek to take our future away from us by refusing to accept the verdict of free elections and conjuring up ghosts .
however , our aim was to use this alternative resolution to make it clear that there was a minority view in Parliament which wanted to give the regions more rights to independent development than the earmarking model of the current structural fund period made possible .
as a result , the next step must be the introduction of obligatory referendums for successful initiatives .
he is well-known for this .
that is why I would very much to like to ask Mr Barroso whether he agrees with me that the EU should immediately relocate its diplomatic representation in Israel from Ramat Gan to the Israeli capital Jerusalem ?
I would just ask you to comment on that .
we know that .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , we know what ghettos and slums are like from our own experience .
I support the action being taken by the European Union to reduce tobacco consumption , but I do not think this action should be based on reducing support for tobacco producers .
in times of crisis , the EU 's budget should not be increased either .
it is not true to say that lead is banned in toys .
let us say this frankly - the examination result is partially good .
this crisis is not over , and this crisis will continue if , first of all , we do not find a structural solution for Greece and , secondly , if we do not create a real , economic and political union in Europe .
I should like to say once more how proud I am of the excellent cooperation we have achieved between the French Presidency and the Commission , and also with your institution , the European Parliament .
it is time to put a stop to this .
finally , the fourth pillar is the definition and creation of a real network of strategic terminals .
with regard to Libya , Mr Billström and I sent a letter in July proposing to our Libyan partners that we cooperate in a number of areas to ensure the joint and balanced management of migratory flows from Libya .
according to data from a European Commission survey , only 10 % of Europeans feel they are well informed about science , while 65 % feel that governments should make more efforts to interest young people in scientific matters .
Guinea
I believe that this is an excellent initiative , and I would say that we need to know more about Europe .
in writing . - Natura 2000 has done much to protect unspoilt or virgin environment .
the European Union is the biggest aid donor in the world .
only then can we reckon on success in fiscal policy .
I would say as follows : as the honourable Member knows , all these issues very directly relate to the Lisbon Strategy and in particular the Lisbon Strategy in its ' economy ' aspect .
yet , in the face of this extreme adversity , there are weak acts of defiance , and hope for freedom of speech and democracy .
( DE ) Madam President , Mr President-in-Office of the Council , Commissioner , I and many of my colleagues in my group have always seen enlargement as one of the EU 's most important projects and have always supported it .
all of us in this Chamber are playing a role in what we might call ' citizens ' trust building ' .
this summit is an opportunity for the EU to strengthen its relations with Russia and to do so in a consistent manner that is productive for both parties , without neglecting the firmness and caution required on issues such as energy , defence , democracy and human rights .
I would like to join with Parliament in condemning the government in Kiev for its failure in this sensitive matter .
if possible , financial support should be provided for research programmes , which would allow safe and economically viable technologies for extracting gas from non-conventional energy sources to be developed .
in an era of globalisation , the dilemma that developing nations face is as harsh as it is simple : if we cannot export more and more goods and services , we will end up exporting more and more people .
the rotating Presidency , in this case the Spanish Presidency , will always present its six-month plan of action at the beginning of the six-month period and will then present a report of its work at the end of the period .
I therefore voted in favour .
communitarisation - that is , the loss of national sovereignty - is all the more serious when it is promoted in a context characterised by Community policies and measures which dangerously compromise citizens ' rights , freedoms and guarantees that represent the progress of civilisation and fundamental democratic achievements .
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in this regard , I believe that the reformed cohesion policy has clearly helped to strengthen the position of the outermost regions under the cooperation objective .
( HU ) Mr President , Commissioner Fischer Boel , the 2 % milk quota increase proposed in the report affects numerous Member States .
in writing . - ( PL ) I was interested to read Mr Schmidt 's report on policy coherence for development and the effects of the EU 's exploitation of certain biological natural resources on development in West Africa , and I am voting in favour of the report .
it is important for the EU to export the principles of good governance , fair justice and total respect for human rights .
by contrast , a majority in Parliament considers that there is a ' growing interest in a strong and leading role for the EU in a European space policy ( ESP ) in order to foster solutions in the field of the environment , transport , research , defence and security . '
but the quality of a blog stands or falls by its author and not all bloggers are equally honourable in their intentions .
the Commission has already confirmed that it is dealing with Croatia and Turkey even-handedly .
action is taken fast and properly in such cases .
we are living in the 21st century .
for the record , let me remind you that the subject of European health in the service of the patients has been a priority of our common 18-month programme .
rapporteur . - ( GA ) Mr President , the sheep and goat sectors are very important for the economy and environment in Europe .
we are also talking about that this evening .
if we want travel agents to assume greater liability as travel intermediaries , we must be aware that this may have serious economic consequences .
that is why , if you want to impose this human rights charter , you should consult the people first in a referendum .
this is proof that , when faced by a tragedy , no Member State will be left alone .
I voted in favour of this report proposing that the register of interest groups should cover all the different European institutions .
in writing . - ( PT ) Unfortunately the amendments tabled by our Group were rejected , in particular certain positions contrary to those that were finally approved .
the focus should be on achieving a socially sensitive Europe that deals with the current economic problems we face without isolating those most vulnerable .
at this time of economic crisis , when the fight against tax fraud is all the more important given the seriousness of loss of revenue , we must make every effort to combat it , as this will have an important impact not only on our response to the current international crisis , but also on the possibility of pursuing the appropriate social policies .
yet , by granting discharge , we take full responsibility for what the Council has or has not done .
in order to be able to come to this assessment , I followed the debate this morning very closely .
however , we have talked about this comprehensive approach before .
human rights are still somewhat the Cinderella of European foreign policy .
seriously , during surgery and also after surgery there were some quite serious complications .
at the same time , some of the proposals , such as the introduction of a European preference principle for defence acquisition and a call for the obligatory participation of the European defence industry in the coming US missile defence system , look pretty impossible to reconcile , while answering every need with a new institution is not always practical .
as rapporteur for matters relating to the energy performance of buildings , I call on the EU to provide innovative financial instruments to boost the investments in the use of renewable energy sources and in improving energy efficiency , especially for buildings and in the transport sector .
Europe is ageing rapidly .
( it ) Mr President , Mrs Győri , Mr Kallas , first of all , I acknowledge and applaud the work accomplished by the rapporteur , Mr El Khadraoui , who has done his utmost in searching for a possible compromise .
we are currently getting to grips with the Commission 's proposal , not only in terms of the new financial perspectives , but also in terms of future cohesion policy , post-2013 .
we have never recommended or said that biofuels should be grown everywhere .
at the same time , I believe that facilitating the movement of Balkan nationals within European territory should be accompanied by improved cross-border cooperation and more fruitful information exchange with their countries of origin in order to tackle the expansion of criminal activities by gangs originating there .
local production , and possibly conversion and consumption , of renewable energy sources create new jobs , while regional economic stability is increased by diversifying energy supply and making it efficient .
it is for this reason that I have voted against this report .
there is a lot of ingenuity , they are perfectly wrapped , perfectly presented and perfectly labelled .
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the Commissioner has just announced that an office has already been opened in Podgorica - which we commend - and that everything is now in place for ratification of the agreement .
that still exists .
this must change .
thank you .
the 2020 programme will need to be shaped by the Commission led by Mr Barroso in such a way that we do not reduce , but preserve - while reforming - and strengthen the Community policies we have hitherto pursued , in particular , the cohesion and regional policy and the common agricultural policy .
therefore , it is important that operators are able to manage their networks .
this deficiency is covered by the EIT .
it lies between 5 % and 7 % .
so far , these negotiations have run smoothly , and it should be possible to conclude the bulk of an agreement before the end of the year , with a formal conclusion early in 2012 .
furthermore , at national level , we need to ensure that the equipment that fire brigades use is up to standard , so that fires can be brought under control as early on as possible .
I am very pleased that Parliament and the Council share our basic view on this .
it will also form part of a general review of the slots regulation , to which I have made a commitment before the Council , at the request of the UK transport minister , as I have confirmed many times in this House .
we and the Council would be well advised to deal with this problem as quickly as possible at an intergovernmental conference , because out of the 18 Members , 16 are in a state of suspense , which is rather intolerable .
in the coming years , Europe is facing a period of stagnation and the progressive ageing of its population .
I have also made it clear that this is a service that must reflect the breadth and the depth of the European Union .
all relevant actors must be made aware of the benefits of improving energy performance and must have access to relevant information on how to go about it .
in writing . - Mr President , I welcome the progress that Croatia has made towards concluding the accession negotiations in 2009 .
I consider it necessary for us to accelerate this assistance so that it can come into operation by the start of next year , and I have therefore proposed the simplified procedure via our committee chairman .
our objective is to be in a position to meet the challenges which , let us not forget , threaten the very existence of mankind on this planet .
I voted in favour .
we can see that these tasks rest with both the Member States and the EU institutions .
in this respect , I would like to remind you that , despite the constant increase in the number of donations and transplantations in recent years , it is estimated that currently there are 56 000 patients in the European Union on the waiting list for the right organ , and many of them die before receiving it .
this is partly because the international community not only washed its hands of the genocide in Rwanda , but allowed the Hutu génocidaires to flee to eastern Congo where President Kabila did little to rein in the militias , to the disgust of Kigali and the local Tutsis .
the Commission is of course ready to report to the Council and Parliament on the activities of the ITTO , but I would still like to draw your attention to the fact that this organisation publishes its own annual reports .
we have not put down agricultural offers at this moment in time and there was a question - I do not know by whom - about the position of the Agriculture Commissioner in this respect .
when establishing these undertakings , apart from factors like economic development and natural assets , it is important also to take into consideration the extent to which the Kyoto commitments have been fulfilled so far .
as in previous meetings of the Conference of the Parties to CITES , the Member States will work together to defend the position agreed within the European Union , and will ensure that it is consistent with the Union 's policies .
we must not forget that , while some celebrate independence , Georgia is mourning the innocent people who lost their lives and homes when the Russian troops invaded .
the same newspaper which published these statistics showed that the price of potatoes rose by 45 % last year , whereas the price of gold increased only by 40 % .
the result has been an improvement , with the European Central Bank understandably acting to ensure bank liquidity , first and foremost , and access to loans by companies .
we know that there is discrimination , and even political and social repression , affecting women in this country , and we should echo these unacceptable facts when considering our approach towards Iran .
I expect the Brazilian authorities to make an apolitical unbiased final decision ; a decision that upholds the rule of law .
this means that representatives elected directly by citizens will henceforth be able , in Parliament and by virtue of their legislative powers , to oversee and veto the implementing resolutions and decisions introduced by the European Commission .
this naturally means that there are obligations as well as rights on both sides , not just on one side .
it is very important that all legislation is bound by a permanent social clause , so that the idea of a social Europe will once again come to the fore .
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in the course of the plenary session of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission ( IOTC ) held in March 2010 in Busan . South Korea , a port state measures resolution tabled by the EU was adopted ( resolution 2010 / 11 ) .
of huge importance was the need to reduce red tape , which is seen as both adding unnecessary cost and taking up valuable time .
that is also what we expect from the Commission .
there is a need to implement a new binding financial agreement that will force transnational companies to declare the profits they make and the taxes they pay , on a country by country basis , in order to ensure transparency in respect of what they pay in each of the countries in which they operate .
I believe that the pilot project for joint programming of research activities offers a definite advantage in terms of pooling the efforts for funding research , which will result in a more efficient use of the funds earmarked for research in this area .
we should do the opposite : offer Belarusians the widest possible opportunity to study in the European Union , to travel and work here for short periods and to come into contact with European values and our economic and cultural achievements .
they should ensure that the judicial system is brought up to scratch and that action is taken to combat corruption , especially in the administration and the judiciary .
it is not possible to send a mission into the field without its having guarantees that it will be able to fulfil its mandate .
we expect the new Commission to carry out the mid-term review quickly , as , under the terms of the agreements made in 2006 , this should have been submitted by 2009 at the latest , in other words , by the end of this year .
this is why we are asking for information about the current stage of negotiations .
this in spite of the fact that , just under two years earlier , in 1999 , Poland expelled a dozen or so Russian diplomats , who were involved in a variety of activities , none of which had much to do with diplomacy .
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how do you envisage new ways of trying to generate stimulus in economies of the EU countries ?
making buildings more energy efficient is relatively simple , relatively low cost and relatively beneficial .
on the contrary , everything must be reduced to a common denominator , because now it is time to act ; now it is also time to show our commitment to the European Union operating at international level .
in the present Russian Federation , there is hypocrisy over the history of communist crimes , and Stalin is presented as an effective manager .
however , it has to be a genuine trade-off : there has to be a genuine commitment from Member States to make the changes necessary to reduce their CO2 emissions in order to allow the continued pollution from existing plants for a few years longer .
( DE ) Mr President , a few weeks ago , an unholy alliance of pro-European Czech Social Democrats , President Klaus , who opposes the EU , and the Communists brought about the fall of the Topolánek government .
we can only achieve higher creativity and innovation in pupils if we have creative and innovative teachers in our schools .
one reason for this is the lack of a functioning appeal body .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I am pleased that you allow me to react to the report prepared by Jean-Pierre Audy and unanimously adopted by the Committee on International Trade on 6 May .
the situation in Egypt is different , and it is less certain which direction is being taken by the changes , which are already irreversible .
this is the biggest crisis that you have ever had , and I am telling you now that this is serious .
I know you are a reasonable man ; I know that you listen to arguments .
the work must now be stepped up .
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despite the crisis that has taken hold at global level , according to the World Tourism Organisation ( WTO ) , in 2010 , this sector saw growth of 2 % , despite all the political upheavals in a number of areas of the world .
as a result citizens are being left with no protection against abuse and limitations of rights are being approved with no assessment of proportionality or evaluation of effectiveness .
this tragic anniversary has unfortunately coincided with the events in Japan .
we still have the pesticide passport , which gives consumers a reasonable opportunity to see what they are swallowing by asking their dealers .
let us be clear about this : we are in a crisis that was brought about by neoliberalism and by the blind trust that governments and the EU placed in deregulated markets .
we need to take the necessary steps to bring about real changes and real cuts in Parliament 's budget .
the speech is available to all MEPs and to the public .
as for the EU , is it doing what it should ?
I hope that this will set a precedent for other areas .
the car manufacturers ' voluntary agreements on emissions reduction are not working , and the Union 's regulations are powerless , since they can only bring the vehicle sector into the Emissions Trading Scheme after 2013 , if at all .
this reform achieves the objectives set and adjusts to new times and new challenges , both for businesses and for consumers .
I regret that an election observation mission from the European Union has not been officially invited .
whilst listening to Mr Salvini , I also cast my mind back to a major commitment made by the then President Delors , at the very time when the single market was being created .
we currently import almost 50 % and in 10 years ' time , if we do nothing , it will be 70 % .
we must aim for a political agreement at the European Council meeting in June .
Madam President , the European area of freedom , security and justice is one of the European Union 's greatest achievements .
the Ombudsman recorded an increase in the number of complaints referred to him , although only 802 of the 3 406 complaints received in 2008 fell within his mandate .
it is particularly important that the regulation will apply to all regular domestic and cross-border transport , and Member States will be able to apply exemptions for regular services and some specific services for up to eight years .
Mr Morillon rightly emphasised that it is very important for the European Union to have a clear system for authorising both types of activities , with a view to achieving the maximum level of compliance with Union provisions in the area of fisheries and also to provide greater transparency for the activities of EU vessels in the waters of third countries .
this would give meaning to the Association Agreement with Israel , as only by taking action against the blockade will the EU do justice to the section on human rights .
goodness me , I would be just as justified in saying that 80 % of Europeans live in a family or once lived in a family .
the European Investment Bank is a key actor in financing projects of major significance both inside and outside the European Union , and its role will continue to grow .
in my opinion , stronger supervision of the market and mechanisms of enforcement , and their effective and comprehensive implementation , are essential for increasing consumer confidence . therefore , I supported the adoption of the report , and I supported its proposals for change .
I thank you for that , and also for your speech in Poland !
I understand your frustration .
the Commission initiated infringement proceedings against Greece in November 2009 , setting out concerns about various provisions of EU law .
only if we join forces can we be strong , and it worked in this case .
there is also the issue of avoiding the double collection of this data and determining when reports need to be submitted for a certain project , for instance , after the authorities have received the construction permit application .
7 .
I can assure you that the Commission is convinced that loan guarantees are necessary , whether at the European or at regional level .
Member of the Commission . - ( CS ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the Commission welcomes the report and motion for a resolution on equality between women and men in the European Union .
we have a downward spiral , a negative spiral , which is a dangerous one .
I cannot let it be said , as I heard just now - although everyone was positive - that these would be pious hopes , good intentions , because I should , all the same , like to draw attention to what has already been accomplished .
written declarations included in the register ( Rule 123 ) : see Minutes
for weeks , we have heard that in this small district , more than 100 000 people have simply been seized .
furthermore , I noticed other important ideas in the Spanish Presidency 's programme : guaranteeing sufficient resources for European agriculture and continuing the process of phasing out milk quotas according to the results of the Health Check .
Greece , Portugal , Ireland and Spain are the most affected .
we are , therefore , pleased with the current government 's unequivocally pro-European course .
we are no longer looking back to introduce corrections , but are looking ahead to give guidance .
both of these projects are technologically complex .
that is also something that an energy summit such as this needs to address .
I am calling on you openly to take a stricter approach on waste with the Member States .
this agreement is of supreme importance to Portugal , bearing in mind the length of its coastline and the importance of the sea for its national economy , and not forgetting the Erika and Prestige disasters .
yet now in the financial crisis , when a seizure of credit is hitting all business , it must surely be worse for SMEs , which tend to be at the end of the food chain as far as orders and payments are concerned .
the situation in that country after the forced removal of President Ravalomanana on 17 March deserves and requires our full attention and , like the European Parliament , the Commission is following events very closely .
and yet , strange but true , it is precisely the Treaty of Lisbon that would most probably be a solution in this case , because it would put the interpretation of the corresponding provisions in a different light .
the area of corporate governance is evolving all the time and it is the financial sector which has particular responsibility for serious , sustainable economic strategies .
it is to be composed of staff from the appropriate services of the General Secretariat of the Council and the Commission , as well as personnel delegated by national diplomatic services .
of course , I am aware of the different ideas that have been raised recently - such as reaching a unified transatlantic market by 2015 through the elimination of existing obstacles to economic integration : the so-called Millán Mon report .
but I reiterate that it is important for regulation to be smart .
I share the concerns of those who have voiced their misgivings about animal testing .
nevertheless , it is , of course , right that we should continue to monitor the situation and that , if there are any unexpected increases in fishing products coming from Papua New Guinea , the Commission should take appropriate action .
this is why we have managed to create a second stream for smaller corporations to place their products on the internal market and the system should make it cheaper and more practical for SMEs to reach a larger market place which can only increase their trading potential .
I agree with Mr Maaten that all the countries of the Western Balkans share the view that one day they will be able to join the European Union if they meet the conditions of Union membership , based as they are on the Copenhagen criteria .
as regards China and the criticism that we have not focused on several global problems : I think the European Union has in fact done here - including through quiet diplomacy - a great deal to bring about at least the start of dialogue between the Chinese leadership and the Dalai Lama 's representatives .
Northern Ireland has a population of 1.7 million and three MEPs ; the Republic of Ireland 's population is 4.3 million , yet under Amendment 26 it would have 13 MEPs , meaning a representative for every 330 000 citizens , whereas in Northern Ireland the ratio is one MEP to every 630 000 citizens .
I just wonder why , over the past years , our EU leaders have been trying to charm him .
I therefore support the setting up of a fund at European level .
efficiency and energy reductions should , however , be priorities , while renewable energy should be a supplement rather than an alternative .
it is not only important for our economic goals , but it is also important for the greening of our economies and for resource-efficient economies to be developed .
look at other countries where this also happened in the past : now they have much more interest in intellectual property rights .
we need to look at what we are doing wrong .
there is no moral or legal argument which will make us change the rules for joining now at the end .
ultimately it will be up to the Member States rather than the EBA to learn lessons by putting in place conditions and backstops , which we will be monitoring closely in the period immediately after the stress tests .
the reality is that collectively we can achieve greater and better things but also that this requires compromise , understanding and tolerance of the differing viewpoints that will be coming forward .
this proposal was possibly aimed at exempting the said companies from the anti-dumping duties that apply to products exported to the Union at prices that are significantly lower than their normal value .
this is particularly important in the prevention of social conflicts and in the creation of the External Action Service .
confronted with the consequences of the economic and financial crisis , Europe must be united and show solidarity , and so should respond to Belgium 's call .
the objective of guaranteeing equivalent living conditions in all regions and avoiding the unilateral development of urban centres means the rural space needs to be equipped with the most up-to-date IT infrastructure , with adequate access to broadband , and developing electronic forms of enterprise , such as e-business , which allow people to do business regardless of their distance from urban centres .
a model template for open , public consultations has been introduced , including an invitation to stakeholder organisations to subscribe to the register of interest representatives .
- ( FR ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , we can congratulate ourselves on the broad consensus here , but we nevertheless remain in isolation : Commissioner for the Environment , Ministers for the Environment , how important is the environment for the Commission and for the Councils and governments ?
these reforms will be painful , but they are necessary and they can be made in a sensible form .
first of all , the Schengen acquis is exactly that : freedom of movement within the borders of the Schengen area .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Madam President , I wish to thank the honourable Members for their remarks and observations concerning environmental issues , which are so sensitive , as we are all in favour of improving the environment .
there is a need to reduce the taxation on work in order to strengthen investment and thus , Europe 's competitiveness .
however , the mistrust that citizens display towards any waste project can be explained by the fact that much has been promised in these times at a political level , but practically none of those promises have been kept .
I believe that the new criteria are correct .
some Member States ( for example , Germany and Austria ) operate a balanced forestry policy .
however , these risks were not transparent , and in some cases they still are not .
yet if there is an area in which we need more from Europe , more restricting Community regulations , it is this one .
these are not new subjects .
holding a different political opinion , protests on the part of discriminated-against ethnic minorities and religious minorities , homosexuality and fighting against the disadvantaged position of women , are all reasons for being locked up or murdered .
it is because of them that the Slovak people can build a strong Slovakia in a strong Europe today .
we should not repeat what we have already done in other areas - whether ground handling or aviation charges - that is , to allow for exceptions affecting two or five million passengers .
many countries are currently experiencing problems .
we must have information about land which , for reasons not dependent on the owners , cannot be used effectively or well .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , after a legal process that has lasted for years , tomorrow , we will finally vote on the report that will put European citizens who are forced to go abroad each year to obtain appropriate medical care on a sound legal footing .
at the social level , dialogue with local NGOs and all the players in civil society must be given priority .
13 .
I therefore voted to abstain on this resolution .
however , I hope that the 2012 budget will contribute to sustainable growth in the EU , enhance competitiveness and promote employment .
can the Council provide an updated assessment on the status of Iceland 's application to join the European Union ?
( 2 ) We need to ensure that no additional burdens for SMEs arise , provided that adequate consumer protection is ensured .
in these dark and overcast times , the Kirilov report may be a breath of fresh air .
the point raised by Madame Belohorská , access to water , is very important and the issue has been included in the draft statement for the Lima Summit .
then he will be able to say , for example , Wallonia and Brussels are doing well and Flanders is not , or the other way round , and so on .
agenda for next sitting : see Minutes
many have said that we need more funds .
you need to be seen in Baghdad , and indeed in Kurdistan .
however , it is important that we never lose sight of the welfare of children and make appropriate , affordable childcare facilities available .
a joint strategy makes sense if it includes full respect for the fundamental rights of citizens , but this has not always been the case .
at the same time , I believe that the time has now come to begin starting thinking about the issue of how to replicate this pilot strategy .
this highlights the absence of consensus between the Council and the European Parliament on one of the key work-related issues .
this was an issue over which the Committee on Transport was evenly split , with 20 votes each side , so it is perfectly right that Mrs Meissner has brought it here today for plenary to vote on .
taken together with the announcements already made this week concerning three Members leaving the group , I conclude that the number of members of the ITS Group has now fallen below the minimum of 20 Members required to form a political group laid down by Rule 29 ( 2 ) .
according to the latest Eurostat data , in February 2009 over 19 million men and women were unemployed in the European Union .
in particular , I would stress the need to encourage a balance between working life and private life , for men as well as for women ; it is only in this way that we will reach absolute equality .
programming implementation of the 10th European Development Fund (
at the same time , it was announced that the Banque Nationale de Paris ( BNP ) , for example , would lose much less than the EUR 6 billion in profits expected this year and that , without the exorbitant rates of interest , Greece 's deficit would be 1.5 % of GDP and not 8 % .
moreover , in a number of instances , it will mean no increase in financial costs , but more efficient use of available resources instead .
they need to do it for the future of our country and out of respect for a brave police officer and his grieving mother and family .
( the sitting was suspended at 20 : 50 and resumed at 21 : 05 )
the Presidency knows that it can count on your full support for these three texts . it would like to express its recognition of this fact and thank everyone who has today shown an interest in these issues .
we are happy to see that this notion of proportionality is encouraged by Parliament in its report .
ahead of the vote tomorrow , and in order to initiate the debate , I could have mentioned the number of women affected and how many women have been murdered as a result of this deadly violence .
I appreciated the Commissioner 's position , including her personal position relating to the participation of Members of the European Parliament , and I hope that this personal position of hers may influence the institutional position of the Commission , so that we achieve the objective that we are working towards .
as we celebrate Christmas , we ought to think about this and wonder whether these people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and ourselves are still living on the same planet .
after intense consultations , which went very well , we were able to come forward with an outline for this mechanism at the end of last month .
the entire Union must direct greater efforts towards becoming more attractive to highly trained individuals and towards attracting talent rather than simply bemoaning the exodus of talent .
let me close with a few words on the Eastern Partnership , which was endorsed last week by the European Council , and will be launched at a summit-level meeting in May .
it was they who presided over it and got us into it .
there can be no lasting military withdrawal from Afghanistan unless a civil framework for stability is in place .
and of course we must not allow other areas , such as combating organised crime , to suffer as a result .
why is there no requirement to publish the raw data on which the findings of studies are based ?
an international agreement implies a global effort to combat and adapt to climate change and the financial aid granted to the developing countries will provide an incentive for them to become involved in the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions .
all EU Member States which have island regions have applied for similar measures and have been given the opportunity by the EU to take such special measures .
of course we are against the advertising of sexual services , which reinforce stereotypes of women as objects .
it will take time to reach conclusions .
however , we must be realistic because well-intentioned proposals can sometimes create problems .
a powerful , united European voice for the rights of the Iranian people .
investment patterns are changing .
so we have farmers with Hugo Boss ties now .
if there were any doubts as to the true significance of the inclusion of the ' protocol on services of general interest ' in the draft Treaty , this directive will dispel them : continuation of the dismantling and destruction of public services , threatening their ownership and provision by democratically managed and controlled public companies .
in the budget pension costs were expected to increase by 10 % in 2008 .
2 .
in the light of all this , I find it surprising that the Commission 's communication includes specific targets under the scope of the development of Danube shipping which stipulate that there must be a 2.5 metre draught for vessels on the river every day of the year .
this support for full harmonisation across the consumer acquis - or targeted full harmonisation - is shared by the majority of respondents to the Green Paper , in particular by businesses and Member States .
for this reason , it would be a good idea to collect information in a European database , together with comparative information on the effects and side effects of medicines .
the fact that this is not simply an abstract phenomenon has been felt by the population of Hungary themselves : the number of droughts has increased , while the amount of rainfall has decreased , with a major impact on agricultural production .
prices on the international market have already increased by more than 16 % on average since June .
unfortunately , many lost lives need to be mourned , resulting from the bloody attacks on the Christian communities in Nigeria and Pakistan , the terrorist attacks against Coptic Christians in Alexandria and the Philippines , the jihadi terrorist attacks against Assyrian Christian families , and the coordinated bomb attacks on Christian homes in Baghdad .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , there is no doubt that the budget instrument with which the European Union has equipped itself to tackle such an important issue as this is useful - I am referring to the Solidarity Fund - but it is also true that we have been stressing the issue of flexibility ever since 2007 , when we felt it was right to criticise the approach used with this budget instrument .
I will not mention the age as I do not want to create an interinstitutional problem , but I would like to wish him many happy returns .
if peacekeepers are not sent to Chad , we run the risk of an even greater level of instability and violence breaking out in this region of Africa .
it is a country which we all enjoy visiting .
in writing . - ( DE ) The strategy for the Danube Region represents a reasonable model for coordinating EU measures for this contiguous region .
I would , however , like to draw attention to several matters linked to foreign and defence policy .
I hesitate to go on to the issue of correlation tables but I am duty bound to say something about them - I would rather not .
it is also quite clear that the Commission will make considerable use of Parliament 's decisions and opinions in its future efforts to achieve social inclusion : this is not an issue that can be solved with one communication alone , nor is it a battle that can be won within a short period of a few weeks or months .
I pray to God that I am wrong .
I look forward to continuing to work with the European Parliament to make sure our European emergency-management tools are fit for purpose .
( CS ) Mr President , I would like to pick up where my colleague Mr Zahradil left off .
the important thing is that this should be an opportunity and not an imposition , as some directives have often become in the past .
Mrs Madurell 's report reveals the Member States ' shortcomings in terms of the transposition and implementation of Directive 2002 / 73 / EC on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women as regards access to employment , vocational training and promotion , and working conditions .
however , since this report makes very reasonable arguments in this regard , I voted in favour .
the most controversial issue has been the transportation of animals which is a function of this report .
the tragedy reigning in the North Caucasus has only deepened in recent years with pervasive human rights violations still affecting the daily lives of the communities in Chechnya , in Ossetia , Dagestan , North Ossetia and Kabardino-Balkaria .
we have talked very loudly about the costs of this leave and in quite a different tone to the one we used to discuss millions of euro in support for banks and the motor industry , among other things .
what conclusions do you draw , Mr President , from this apparent lucidity about the crisis of legitimacy that the Union is experiencing today , in particular its economic model and its operating mode ?
thus , the national budgetary effort required to keep emissions within allotted limits will be charged to the budget for technological investment , so creating an obstacle to meeting European environmental standards in economically disadvantaged areas .
it is therefore totally inappropriate to transfer such aviation losses to EU Member States .
however , I would reiterate that necessity and proportionality are fundamental and basic principles in ensuring the effective combating of terrorism .
I voted against the Catania report on the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union 2004-2008 because the report has gone beyond its mandate , making recommendations and comments which go beyond the 2004-2008 period , which it had to report on .
President Caldeira will contact me during the day and explain the position of the Court of Auditors on our discussions .
for this reason it is important that the instrument of the ENP is used in an appropriate and concentrated manner , and indeed this is clearly being done in some respects .
however , when it comes to the relationship of the citizens to the State , the programme is a manifestation of an utterly badly erected framework .
this attack comes on top of a series of grave events , all of which were religiously motivated .
what is the case of the Hungarian village of Mlynky about ?
small and medium-sized enterprises , not to mention consumer associations and trade unions , can say next to nothing .
on the Lambert report establishing a European Asylum Support Office , we believe this is a critical step forward in making cooperation between Member States relating to the common European asylum system a reality .
we support the increased cooperation mechanism in this case as it will ensure greater legal certainty and stability , avoid ' forum shopping ' and take European integration forward .
the parliamentary delegation , too , was a strong group .
I saw something in one of our newspapers asking : ' do we need an end to Smarties ? ' ( these are very brightly coloured sweets ) , but there are perfectly good natural alternatives to those colourings available .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , Mr Lewandowski , ladies and gentlemen , we in the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance are also of the opinion that when budgets are tight and there is a need for austerity policies we must respond , because we have to reduce levels of debt in the Member States .
in writing . - ( FI ) It is excellent that the five billion package promised by the Commission when the economic crisis first began has at last been approved .
one of Greece 's problems is its defence budget .
of course , it is also necessary for us to put our own house in order , for example , in the case of the purchase of the Altero-Spinelli building , where there have been some enormous irregularities .
on this subject , I also remind you of the great vileness of continuing to support the practice , in Europe , of butchering animals without stunning them and letting them bleed to death .
the ambition to gain an EU seat within an enlarged Security Council has to be pursued .
the European Union needs to make its presence felt .
we have to respond to this very serious crisis in such a way that we do not take too long to prepare the different proposals .
Islam is incompatible with our Western values and freedoms , and I fear that we shall come to heartily regret our open-door and open-border policy .
the stress tests should be evaluated on technical grounds and not on political grounds or grounds which leave room for speculation ;
written explanations of vote
I endorse the principles of the resolution on the EU-Russia Summit .
( NL ) Mr President , the only reason - at least the way I see it - to look seriously at this proposal at all is that it creates a European framework for Member States to work within , which ultimately benefits the internal market .
the third matter we agreed on is to find out if there could be any health risks for those who pass through this machine to board commercial flights .
it must be conceded that during the post-war period the Japanese Government did much to compensate for these dreadful offences against the women who experienced them .
moreover , I personally believe that the European Union is constantly striving to update its safety tests , adapting them more and more to new technologies .
it is one thing to speak about Hamas as the enemy and a terrorist organisation ; it is quite another to declare the whole of Gaza enemy territory .
we do not need to support and to take into consideration the atomic energy industry , but only the health of European people , our electors , and what is good and bad for them .
I would like you perhaps to elaborate more on that .
which text will we be approving in the next sitting ?
I also share the Prime Minister 's point of view that security is indivisible and it should be individual , social , national and international for all .
given that the purpose of this directive is the codification of previously disparate pieces of legislation , with benefits in terms of the accessibility and comprehensibility of the legislation , without any changes in their substance , I voted in favour of this report .
why has the Swedish Presidency not acted on this ?
secondly , is the Commission of the opinion that the migration of a critical mass of transactions to the SEPA instruments should have been achieved by 2010 , and , if not , what should be done to achieve this ?
however , it is for the individual Member States and not the EU to work out what can be done about the quality of teaching .
this communication will serve as a basis for discussion with the European Parliament and the Council , as well as with authorities in the Member States and stakeholders .
the UN FAO conference will start on 18 November .
your presidency 's aims are bold .
nevertheless , the Commission works with Member States to foster mutual learning and exchanges of good practice .
I declare the session of the European Parliament adjourned .
the next item is voting time .
I should also like to congratulate the rapporteur , Mrs De Sarnez , and my colleagues who worked to achieve a better proposal and a good agreement .
however , there are two problems : firstly , the debate on the Europe 2020 Strategy is still cut off , structurally , from the economic governance package , from the European Semester and from the Annual Growth Survey and , as a result , we have either a fragmented strategy or parallel strategies , strategies which run in tandem , without adequate coordination , which thus risk undermining each other .
the LTTE , which has been blacklisted by the EU as a terrorist organisation , must now surely lay down its arms and surrender .
it has taken a great deal of effort by everyone to arrive at the compromise needed for the adoption of this new regulation .
I voted for the Manders report on regulations covering the labelling of textile products .
it seems that EU funds that had been foreseen for the prevention of such disasters have not been used in the proper way .
the priorities must clearly be the timely application of the Galileo and EGNOS programmes and the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security programme which will assist in the assessment and implementation of European policies impacting on the environment .
furthermore , it will reduce harmful cross-border interference and disturbance .
we make progress when we work as a team .
more transparency of information on the work of the agencies , and not only in financial and budgetary matters , is also a concern recently expressed by the Commission in a communication to Parliament and the Council .
in addition to concluding the agreement with Pakistan , the European Union will have to play a key role in convincing India to support the agreement within the framework of the World Trade Organisation .
we want an end to every form of harassment of peacefully demonstrating people and the abolition of years-old states of emergency .
however , I am aware of these complications .
we need security now , which means we need Europol now .
the economy must be relaunched to end the last ten years of recession and provide for growth and jobs .
Lenin 's was that of indifference , but the results were just the same .
ladies and gentlemen , as you know , that is the text of Article 17 ( 1 ) of the Treaty on European Union , of the Treaty of Lisbon .
we obviously need to examine these attacks or apparent attacks to find out what went wrong with our security systems , but there is no doubt , as has been said time and again here this afternoon , that the counter-terrorism policy must be a carefully thought-out , calm and deliberate policy and must be applied in a proportional manner .
if we want to defend the model , it cannot remain the same .
I really am getting quite sick of hearing presidencies endlessly parrot European values but claim that they cannot deliver accountability for human rights abuses inside the EU .
Petitions : see Minutes
( DE ) Mr President , I would like to say that I was very pleased by the report on recognition of agriculture as a strategic sector in the context of food security as this puts the significance of the rural economy back at the centre of things .
that is why , as requested by the legislator in the abovementioned directive , the Commission will submit , when the time comes , a report on the results obtained , accompanied , if appropriate , by a proposal for the revision of existing legislation .
preservation of the quality of exterior air must not neglect air in closed spaces , where we can spend over 80 % of our time .
it is justifiable to take account of the particular structural , social and economic situation of these regions in respect of the management of their fishing fleets .
by our reasoning , the extraordinary European Council on 19 November 2009 would not have betrayed the spirit of the Treaty of Lisbon by appointing the President of the Council and the High Representative only after the new treaty came into force .
we would protect our markets and our industries by sending the WTO packing !
we have a saying in Czech that ' he who gives quickly gives twice ' .
we in Parliament must protect Europeans , but we must also protect those who are being killed in Islamabad , in Sharm el-Sheikh , and most recently in Algeria .
in 2030 oil will still be the main primary source of energy in the EU and will constitute approximately 35 % of all energy consumed .
the increase relating to the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme will make it possible to promote the enterprising spirit and the innovation vital for the EU to assert itself in the global market and for socio-economic development in the internal market .
we must take action , not merely indulge in rhetoric .
we must support the activity of non-governmental organisations , support respect for human rights and promote access to independent media , including the Internet . promoting democratic change is an area in which transatlantic ties may play a very important role .
according to the UN , up to 4.7 million people - including 2.7 million internally displaced persons - are in need of assistance .
the European Parliament fully recognises this particular point .
the Commission statement we have just heard is not a very convincing statement , and I must say honestly it reminded me eerily of the propaganda statements of Eastern European socialist dictatorships .
in fact , there is a series of challenges facing Member States , whose proper solutions can only be found at EU level .
the splendid result does not surprise me , as Professor Grabowska is one of Poland 's leading experts on European law .
taking stock overall , I think we can say that , in its first ten years , the euro has been an unqualified success .
in some cases , it almost acts like a judge .
above all , we must achieve greater consistency between asylum instruments .
make use of successful local and regional models , those based on the real economy , collaboration between the public and private sectors and proximity to the people .
I am also delighted with the undertaking by the leaders of the G20 to tackle the employment crisis at international level , making the promotion of employment the central element of recovery plans .
Europe 's regions will develop in different ways unless they are coordinated via a single EU policy .
Mr President , it is amazing that groups which have the concept of democracy in their name are not even familiar with the democratic principle of allowing a speaker to finish what he is saying .
we therefore wish you an enjoyable and fruitful visit .
these standards are already being used successfully today and , according to what is stated by our municipal associations , should remain in this form in the future .
they are caused by governments and overspending .
enough of the more administrative and economic aspects , as there are also a number of politically important issues which I would like to raise .
but , to date , economic globalisation has led to the acceleration of environmental degradation , poor conditions for workers and growing social imbalances .
on Monday night I met with Prime Minister Papandreou , and we also discussed a more strategic use of our European structural funds .
the Treaty of Lisbon introduces new parliamentary competences , thereby granting the European Parliament greater decision-making powers , along with responsibility for ensuring the smooth flow of business , providing information and guaranteeing citizens ' safety .
these are defined as companies with fewer than ten employees and a turnover of less than EUR 2 million .
above all , we can talk about how we might improve the situation .
in Hungary , the police had been ordered to use force against peaceful masses , and this is now the subject of criminal proceedings .
we need to work on this .
fifty thousand very small businesses , associations or organisations have been affected and harassed into paying .
we keep hearing of an upturn in European growth and employment over the last three years .
this choice of priorities is very important , because a poor choice of priorities could lead to actions that might be unfavourable .
therefore , I propose that this problem be included in the responsibilities of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and given a broader perspective . this would be followed by specific action and , I hope , visible results .
in particular , the recommendations accompanying it represent a step forward in terms of the principle of equal pay for work of equal value finally being applied .
I am in favour of energy-efficient light bulbs , but frankly it is not enough .
many European Union members prosecute and imprison people for non-violent freedom of speech .
( applause )
what is more , extending the application of the directive to the victims of any kind of violence , not just the victims of gender-based violence , represents a further milestone .
firstly , that it should be made clear that any proposals for a possible mandate extension should not divert attention from the key task of completing trials and moving towards the earliest possible closure .
volunteering undoubtedly plays an important role in society , promoting the value of solidarity and mutual aid , contributing to social integration and helping to overcome discriminatory views , among other aspects .
what does the European Union do in this situation , where more and more people are threatened by poverty and unemployment and fear for their existence ?
joint efforts need to be made to achieve the Millennium Development Goals , prevent conflict and guarantee sustainable development .
the report emphasises the positive effect of lifelong learning on social inclusion and employability , which in any case should not be disregarded in an ageing society , for example in my home country , Estonia .
this is the only way we can ensure that those who lose their jobs are not condemned , along with their families , to live on the fringes of society in permanent unemployment and poverty .
we cannot say , just because there is a small population which feels , due to some particular nationalist urge , the need to be liberated , that this is the same thing .
the subject of universities in Poland and Germany has already been mentioned earlier .
Britain , being outside the eurozone , should be unaffected by these debts , but our previous government underwrote GBP 10 billion worth of debts under the exceptional occurrences clause of the Lisbon Treaty and the present government will continue to supply loans directly and indirectly .
Mr President , my thanks to Mrs Paliadeli for a splendid report .
all the more reason for a concerted effort on our part to ensure that the Commission implements the multiannual programmes swiftly and correctly , that it acts on our comments on specific budget lines in ways that match our intentions , that its initial response to our proposals for pilot projects and preparatory measures is to seek ways of implementing them , not to describe all the obstacles to their realisation .
we have therefore proposed that , at the time when Europe enlarges , and not until then , we will add two elements to Croatia 's Treaty of Accession : the first will be an ' Irish ' protocol , and the second will relate to the number of MEPs .
consumers are the group least well informed about their rights and obligations and least qualified to conduct negotiations .
we must ask ourselves whether the situation in Greece and in other European states in difficulty is not a result of the actions taken by financial speculators , based on the tactics of ' divide and conquer ' .
it was only opened a month ago and that is a very rapid victory .
in my country , for example , it costs us GBP 50 million a day to be members of this club .
I believe that with today 's vote , the European Parliament has sent a strong and clear signal to the Member States asking to freeze the European Union budget for 2014-2020 .
nevertheless , like some of my fellow Members , I , too , wonder whether our response has been rapid enough .
the Commission has arranged for citizens to be informed about their rights by means of information campaigns , and is endeavouring to put in place guarantees that these rights can actually be exercised - particularly by adopting its report on the application by Member States of the Directive on free movement .
secondly , what is Mr Solana 's position on the signing of this type of agreement ?
President-in-Office of the Council . - Mr President , I think that we are now moving into a really important issue .
however , I have the impression that we are neglecting what Mrs Hautala spoke about , and by that I mean efforts to propagate human rights outside the EU .
in addition to local and regional efforts , action at Union level is required if we are to halt soil degradation .
in recent years , they have hardly had any opportunity to structure themselves .
6 .
the debate is closed .
the next World Water Forum must be an opportunity to find solutions together to respond to this enormous challenge .
( applause )
it should be pointed out that its three main refineries are out of action and , worse still , its oil production has decreased considerably in recent years due to the constant attacks on its oil installations .
only by making these kinds of investments can we create growth that is sustainable in the long term .
in writing . - ( IT ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I voted for this report .
from Romania 's perspective , and I believe that this is a point of view also shared by Germany , Poland , Spain or Hungary , the mining industry is an important component of the domestic economy .
this means that this is also an experimental laboratory for more budget funding .
from the Executive Director of FRONTEX , I expected to hear not about the mission 's failure but about how FRONTEX could be successful and effective .
I am sure that they are going to succeed , and they will therefore have contributed to the European Union 's objective of reducing emissions by 20 % by that year .
here also lies another fundamental problem which will haunt us for years to come , and that is the conflict between the different rights of different groups .
however , there is one thing we should say today : the decisions which we make and , obviously , the decisions which the European Council takes next week , must produce results this year .
I would like to highlight one point .
however , in many respects , the Eastern Partnership stops short of providing really significant incentives for these countries to embark on painful and lengthy reforms .
the next item is the report by Christa Klaß , on behalf of the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality , on the situation of women in rural areas of the EU .
5 .
we do not have the right to take sides in this dispute .
- Madam President , I did vote for this report but I felt that there was a missed opportunity here - missed in committee - to include electro-shock and to once and for all recommend a ban on this most torturous of treatments that we still use in many countries in Europe .
I hope Romania and Bulgaria shall receive the same treatment as soon as possible and I encourage the other Member States to follow the example of France .
Mr President , I would now like to outline briefly the Commission 's position on the amendments .
it is the only way of bringing this disastrous crisis to an end .
the European Parliament considers that the exceptional measures employed over long periods by the Italian authorities , including the appointment of special commissioners or the designation of waste sites as being of ' strategic interest ' under army control , have been counterproductive .
this is distinguishing between good and bad debt .
inland transport of dangerous goods (
it is important to ensure that the perpetrators of such crimes cannot slip through the law 's fingers .
the report emphasizes that ports are an essential infrastructure .
in the Rüffert case it is pointed out that collective agreements must be universally applicable , and not the model which was chosen in Lower Saxony .
therefore , I absolutely cannot vote for it .
Mr President , I fully support what has been said by our rapporteurs , Mr Díaz de Mera and Mr Kovatchev .
as far as I am concerned , this is essential .
this flexible Directive not only provides a framework for those Member States that do not yet have a soil policy but is also clearly capable of preventing the undermining of the competitive position of the countries and regions that are already making an effort .
the power that we have in terms of fines in antitrust cases is a real power to break cartels , to prevent anti-competitive practices , and to put the consumer first .
this may present an opportunity to question the new president on what his country plans to do about these frozen conflicts , not only in the Caucasus but also in Transnistria ; perhaps there the new president can indicate his intentions with regard to the agreements that were made in the OSCE back in 1999 , I believe , regarding the situation in these breakaway countries , republics , states and so on .
this Ambient Assisted Living ( AAL ) programme links this major trend , namely demographic change - which is more pronounced in Europe than in other regions - with our strengths in research and innovation .
we are , however , critical of possible interpretations of the report that could lead to more money being used to provide financial support to the European fishing industry and to increase this industry 's status .
just as remarkable , however , is the fact that the EU plans to provide no assistance whatsoever to a project to move us away from nuclear power .
this resolution text ignores the fact that the issue has been investigated over the last five years , following the 2002 elections , and I have been informed that NGOs have had access to the area and have been invited to submit their names of disappeared persons to help the authorities to identify the graves .
however , it is a pity that we did not go as far as we could have done .
Mr President , can I first of all begin by thanking Ms Harkin for all her hard work and this insightful and timely report , which was so well received by the Regional Committee .
as I said , there was no initial consensus among the Member States in this respect .
therefore , it is good that the European Parliament has focused on the basic elements : principles of harmonisation of consumer credit ( here I would like to stress the right to cancel an agreement and the option of early repayment without a financial penalty for the consumer ) .
closure of the sitting
( EL ) Mr President , Commissioner , I should also like to congratulate the rapporteurs on their excellent work on these two reports .
we have now moved on and the European Commission has corrected this situation , it has set things straight and it has clearly positioned external trade , access to foreign markets , as yet another pillar of the structure that must lead to growth and welfare in the European Union .
the debate is closed .
in order to avoid any delay in the final adoption of this package , I believe we should take the opportunity to come back later this year when the rest of the financing of the recovery package has to be agreed .
up to now , only large companies have had their own company form , namely the European company .
the movement towards liberalisation requires genuine and sustained competition and highlights the importance of a stronger Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators , with clearly independent powers .
the EU is also the largest foreign investor in Taiwan .
the public is hoping , therefore , that someone will come in from outside to resolve this problem ; the information they are being given does not focus on the fact that there will be no solution unless waste is reduced and sorted and civic behaviour changes .
however , what little is given may relieve their pain .
as such , the citizens get tailor-made information in their language and which address their real concerns .
this is obviously an unfair situation for Finnish sugar growers and Finnish industry .
there is a connection between the Serbian position on Kosovo and the pace and content of the negotiations between Serbia and the European Union .
( applause )
my thanks for the excellent cooperation go therefore to the shadow rapporteurs ; I would also like to mention Mr Bulfon and Mr Manders by name .
while we need to squeeze every possibility out of this legislation , we must not promise more than we can deliver .
this , I think , could be achieved through the revision of the Lisbon strategy and an integrated vision for 2020 .
one of the main measures is for Member States to appoint cooperation authorities and special liaison organisations in order to cover the various aspects of social security in cross-border relations .
finally , we need to take into account the regional dimensions of the crisis and engage with Ethiopia and Eritrea , which are fighting a proxy war in Somalia , which risks provoking their own border conflict .
the original proposal says that no exceptions will be made for travellers .
it is difficult to understand what Mr Matsakis understands by the concept of honesty .
you know very well that is untrue , those of you who applauded so heartily when those lines were spoken .
I therefore abstained in the vote .
even if Parliament and the Commission had agreed on the same text , we would still have a battle to fight .
this is a case of good intentions sadly not backed by concrete political will : only recently , the Swedish Presidency highlighted the difficulty of gaining acceptance for these quotas .
for this reason it seems important to me that you should re-launch such an initiative with the backing of Parliament .
this is a field which currently falls within the responsibility of the Member States , and that is the way we think it should remain .
we should aim , together with our national health care systems , to implement these action plans as soon as possible and to guarantee the highest standard so that the 55 000 who are currently waiting can say that ' life is beautiful ' .
I should like to recall one last point .
on rules of origin , the negotiations with South Korea resulted in a number of changes which are consistent with the ongoing process of reform of such rules .
Mr President , I welcome the conclusion of the second phase of the US-EU open skies agreement .
in particular the way in which passengers are expected to turn over their ' duty-free ' liquids purchased at an airport to the authorities checking hand luggage .
it is very difficult to get all the actors together at once .
President of the Commission . - Mr President , I should point out that the European Court of Auditors is a fully independent body .
in writing . - ( PT ) Brazilian citizens can travel to all Member States of the European Union without a visa , provided that this is for short stays , under the terms of Council Regulation ( EC ) No 539 / 2001 .
coordinated action by all the countries of the EU is needed to tackle every aspect of illegal employment .
fair and transparent procurement rules will become applicable throughout the Union and allow companies to tender more easily in other Member States .
this programme is being put in place and I hope that the first results will materialise .
most contributors emphasise the necessity of turning CAP into , or concentrating on , competitiveness of European agriculture , responsiveness to climate change , food safety and quality requirements , and other environmental objectives .
as we know , financial control on implementing the European Union budget takes place on three levels : internal control , within each institution ; external control , carried out by the European Court of Auditors ; and a discharge procedure carried out by the European Parliament .
in this European Year of Intercultural Dialogue , it is lamentable and unacceptable that Slovakia is acting in a manner that runs counter to European practice .
in the case of public limited companies or private limited companies , the names of the investors and members of the management board must also be known .
the first answers were always ' too fast and dangerous speeds and drink-driving ' .
- ( CS ) At an extraordinary summit meeting on 1 September , the European Union committed itself to resume negotiations with Russia over a new partnership agreement once Russian units had withdrawn from Georgian territory to their positions of 7 August .
however , this is no longer available , so now things will get difficult , as Mr Böge pointed out .
I also feel in any case that in 2008 we ought to see action and talks relating to the Roma that are organised by all parties .
the second thing I would like to say is that when we use the word ' pilots ' , we generally think of a group of professionals who spend their working lives high above the ground .
however , it is now important for us to keep a cool head and carry out an analysis of the current situation and , above all , to attribute responsibility .
the US , which was so conspicuous in Hokkaido , has now - thanks to departing President Bush - pledged USD 18 million to promote two or three reactor projects .
we want to discuss the regulation of these agencies as quickly as possible .
if you are asking whether , within a deadline of a few months , we can bring to this House the results of dialogue between the United States and Parliament , whose participation is very important , so that we can debate whether we are right in thinking that the definitive agreement will be much better than the present one , my answer is yes .
the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development has unanimously adopted the resolution , with all its amendments , which I considered in their entirety .
failure to act is not an option , therefore , and so I am disturbed that , inter alia , the new Dutch Government means to reduce the budget for development aid - one of the most vital financial resources for combating biodiversity loss in developing countries - by EUR 1 billion .
she criticised us for ' mixing the sheep and the goats ' , even though she did so very gently .
we remain committed to a policy of critical engagement in Belarus .
the politicians who are currently attempting to turn a blind eye to Russia 's move towards dictatorship in the name of pseudo-realism are acquiescing to a repeat of the Finnish case . they are consenting to discrimination against Central Europe and therefore to weakening the European Union 's position as a global partner .
the euro has a purchasing power 40 % higher than that of the dollar , which means that euro area Member States pay less for their raw materials , particularly oil .
follow-up to a request for the defence of immunity : see Minutes
whether on preparations for Copenhagen or aid to developing countries , on Doha and protectionism , on financial regulation and combating tax havens , on the relaunch of the peace process in the Middle East or a firm policy on the nuclear issue in Iran , the US is extremely unwilling to take action .
following an investigation carried out by the Lithuanian Parliament into CIA prisons , it came to light that in another state , a European state , the infrastructure had been established for the illegal imprisonment of people .
I will not go back over hedge funds ; I have already said that they need to be regulated .
it is the task of politicians to have a vision for the future and to formulate objectives accordingly .
thank you very much .
I sincerely hope that Commissioner Špidla can help us get the Commission to withdraw its original proposal on diverting the EUR 100 million from the Progress programme so that this programme can be launched as soon as possible .
this is an important moment in the history of European integration .
for the sake of the environment , we must finally implement ideas that are only paid lip service to , such as transferring goods transport to the rails , but we must also implement intelligent traffic arrangements such as traffic light phasing .
author . - ( FR ) Mr President , I simply wish to confirm that we shall not be supporting the amendment that has been tabled here by our fellow Member , but that we have tabled an oral amendment to Article 9 that takes the same line as that put forward by the Member in question and that we shall of course be standing by this .
we cannot and should not sit back and allow the arrival of 30 000 refugees on the shores of Italy or Greece to undermine the pillars of the EU .
Mrs Ticau and Mr Rubiks both asked their questions about the Danube strategy .
this is fundamentally a political and ideological choice , which not only does not guarantee that we will meet the established reduction targets , but is itself the most serious threat to achieving the stated environmental goals .
this will not excuse us from thinking about a wider , more philosophical question : does the Earth belong to all human beings ?
wherever I go , whatever I do , I have always felt the honour and responsibility of acting on behalf of this prestigious Chamber .
the summit is also an important occasion to ask for clarification about the concept of democracy and I thank the Commission for what it plans to do on this point .
strengthening the role of clinical and scientific research is vital in the fight against tuberculosis .
we have been to communal talks in Cyprus .
at the beginning PEACE I was certainly not fair ; PEACE II was better , and I certainly look forward to PEACE III being another improvement .
I also consider it important to finance family planning activities from public funds .
as regards the equity of educational and training systems , I believe that Member States should find the necessary means to increase the degree of access to education and training of children , young people and adults .
by the way , the great majority of people affected will not be illegal immigrants .
Madam President , it is indisputably right that Mattel should have recalled these dangerous toys .
we need to realise how different the starting points of the various EU countries are in respect of consumer rights .
our fellow Members who have worked on these reports , to whom I would like to express my appreciation for their efforts , have presented us with a glaring picture of the extent of the fraud .
the Inuits explained this during the consultation .
now let me recall another important aspect in the EU 's field of competence where this institution can act and has acted for the benefit of media pluralism .
( PL ) Mr President , Mr Kallas , we are certainly dealing with a crisis situation .
thanks to drifting , erroneous government policy , Hungarian consumers have been forced to bear an increase in gas prices four times in 2008 alone .
a burden-sharing action plan to resettle refugees , a common asylum system , temporary protection measures - all should urgently be enacted by the European Union in compliance with the solidarity clause and the principle of non-refoulement , and as part of a coherent and long-term strategy to deal with the impact of political transition in the north of Africa , addressing the root causes of migration .
'calls on the EU to ensure that the African Partnership Forum engages all major donors and investors , namely China ; ' .
I do not recall a similar paralysis of air traffic in Europe ever happening before .
the result was that sugar prices did not fall , they simply increased .
if sufficient financial resources are not available for these objectives , then the initiative will remain a dead letter .
the expertise lies in the participating universities and higher education institutions .
( applause )
therefore , it is a case of producing more while polluting less : this is the difficult objective that European agriculture will have to fulfil over the next few years .
clearly , on a continent such as Africa , there is room for trilateral cooperation , and this is one example .
we in the EU welcome the statement made by the President of the UN Security Council on 27 August in which he indicated the readiness of the Security Council to authorise the establishment of a multidimensional presence in eastern Chad and the north-eastern Central African Republic .
( FR ) Madam President , Mrs Kroes , Mr Hökmark , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to begin by congratulating my friend , Mr Hökmark , on his excellent report and on the spirit of openness that he has shown throughout these debates .
this ' passerelle clause ' is also subjugated to this greater role of the national parliaments .
I voted in favour of this report by the Czech Member of the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left , Jaromír Kohlíček , on the investigation of accidents in the maritime transport sector .
the establishment by the Treaty of Lisbon of a European Foreign Service with its own competences and responsibilities is also positive .
this applies particularly to health professions : hospitals , emergency services and so on .
in fact , when the Treaty of Lisbon came into force on 1 December 2009 , there were no expectations that it would have to endure amendments in the near future .
this agreement we have arrived at is a medium-term option .
the EU and its Member States should develop their world-leading role in green technologies .
I supported the resolution on the future of the European Social Fund for a number of reasons .
in reality , European integration , which took a fundamental step forward in the recent Treaty on which agreement was reached in Lisbon last weekend , is at a level which criminal law in the European space has not yet been able to match .
the European Commission has very clearly denounced , both within the Union and in third countries , the unacceptable nature of traditional practices that seriously undermine the fundamental right of women and young girls to respect for their physical and mental integrity .
it is often forgotten that some of the contributing factors for this are the way in which the ownership of media bodies is concentrated in a handful of large business groups , the attack on the rights of media professionals and the existence of increasingly precarious working relationships .
fundamental human rights , the freedom of expression and privacy , are important elements of democracy and must be both protected and respected at all times .
security requirements for air transport have led the EU to sign , with different States , agreements for exchanging Passenger Name Record data ( PNR data ) .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I vividly recall the first time that I saw a work by the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei .
if that does not astonish you , then here are some more figures .
that is why - and I say this to Mrs Westlund and Mrs Roithovà , as well as to other speakers - the Commission is determined to act .
on the ground , there is a need , not only for resources but for partnership - to boost economic opportunities , create confidence that the political process works , and help create the conditions that will sustain peace .
there is also a need for a transparent and all-inclusive review process , including NGOs , civil society and all relevant stakeholders .
the Council , too , has expressed its support for the efforts that have been made in Bosnia and Herzegovina on constitutional reform , with a view to creating more functional State structures that are more capable of reaching European standards .
therefore I wish to appeal to China and to the Dalai Lama 's representative to resume this dialogue at the earliest possible opportunity with an open spirit and a view to achieving a durable solution in Tibet .
when my fellow Members and I prepared this report we had two priorities .
as far as the images are concerned , they will not be recorded and they will never be stored .
it is an expression of concern for human rights , religious and linguistic freedom , cultural diversity and the right to maintain one 's national identity and autonomy .
so when I heard of the devastation last Saturday , my heart went out to the people there , particularly my friend , Nuno Teixeira , and the other Portuguese colleagues , because in my own area , we ourselves suffered from flooding just prior to Christmas .
a quadriplegic , spina bifida or hydrocephalus afflicted child can have a life of dignity and happiness with expert staff care and family visits .
however , as we have seen that the EU is selling advanced military equipment such as Mistral warships to Russia , has anyone taken into consideration that Russia has yet to undergo such democratic revolutions ?
we need the courage to be creative .
subsidies should be linked to production ; they should be an integral part of the guaranteed minimum prices corresponding to the production cost of each variety .
the point is that you did not request it .
clarity , transparency , simplicity , cutting red tape are perhaps the key elements of my report .
our method of using indicators to trigger an assessment of macro-economic imbalances and their root causes is at the basis of the new G20 mechanism .
we share your concern that the Arctic region deserves international attention as never ever before .
Community criteria for the eradication and monitoring of certain animal diseases ( codified version ) ( vote )
given that this protocol serves the interests of both parties and that it promotes responsible and sustainable fisheries , I am voting in favour of this proposal for a recommendation .
our party , the Socialist Party in the Netherlands , sees parties as grass-roots organisations , popular movements that work together to achieve their vision of how society ought to be and in pursuit of the interests of the groups that place their trust in a given party .
I have therefore given Mrs Tzampazi 's report my heartfelt support .
the professionals in this sector have been waiting a long time for the adoption of this ILO Convention on work in the fishing sector because they believe that it represents a step forward in dignifying this important strategic sector , in which some 30 million men and women work worldwide .
yet , when these fires harm biodiversity and the environment , when they affect the things most precious to humans , that is , their property , their possessions and their homes , and when they sadly cause the loss of human lives , we have no right not to make provision for such prevention .
nevertheless the G20 found ideal culprits : tax havens , whether real or not .
it is a very proud day for the whole Parliament .
furthermore , a true internal market should offer a European system of pursuing collective claims .
however , there are also shortcomings in national policies and in the policy of the European Union , inasmuch as climate change has not been properly integrated into the environmental strategy .
however , as one speaker said , doing nothing is not an option .
I have to say that both the inspection report and the opinion of the rapporteur himself are positive , and that we should thank them , while , at the same time , also expressing our exasperation .
last year , Parliament passed the most stringent plant protection product legislation in the world .
from the position of a member of the Committee on Women 's Rights , I would like to draw particular attention to the importance of gender equality policies as an inseparable element of human rights , which is also a fundamental principle of the European Union .
such a regime would provide much better control possibilities - and also consumer information - than the old Proof of Origin Regulations .
it would certainly be helpful to improve the common structures and cooperation by way of a European Organ Donor Card , a joint organ donor pool and a transplant hotline .
it must therefore be the Member States which decide - from the list compiled by the Commission - which fruit can be distributed and which fruit will be included in the scheme .
in writing . - ( LT ) In the financial and economic crisis small and medium-sized enterprises are facing increasing difficulties as they try to obtain funding for scientific research , technological development and innovation ; according to the general Competitiveness and Innovation Programme , it would be possible to provide effective support for innovation-related SME activities , therefore it emphasises the importance of allocating sufficient funds for financing the CIP .
recently , however , another approach has gradually emerged , which takes a less defensive path and which is driven by the desire for more positive , more voluntarist action towards the area that we want to create together .
in particular , it is essential for energy efficiency and the introduction of information and communication technologies to constitute the basis of the industrial revolution , so as to increase competitiveness , economic growth and employment .
over the years , the Seventh Framework Programme ( FP7 ) for research and technological development has become one of the largest research support programmes in the world and represents the primary tool of European Union research policy .
the challenge for the Member States is to develop better organised aid structures , particularly where volunteers are used , for example by providing the best possible training and equipment for fire brigades .
however , I regret that a democracy like the United States and dictatorships which Mrs Vergiat is defending explicitly or implicitly are grouped together .
we know that access to abortion and medically assisted reproduction for homosexual couples are controversial issues within the Member States , and only the Member States can freely make decisions about them .
everyone is aware of its major political impact and of the sensitive nature of the issue , which affects all of the citizens of the countries concerned .
therefore I am very happy to see many women here .
I support her proposal that the Commission should prepare a new legislative proposal regarding the existing laws on equal pay for men and women by no later than 31 December next year and I congratulate her on a well-prepared report .
after more than 30 years , the Western Sahara decolonisation process remains unfinished .
the subject has always been difficult .
the European Racial Equality Directive ( 2000 / 43 / EC ) , which covers Roma people , provides for protection against discrimination in employment , education , social security , health care , goods and services , and housing .
a year ago , the policy put all its assets at the disposal of the European Recovery Package , thereby also providing the essential link between the exit strategy from a real economic crisis , on the one hand , and long-term sustainable growth and structural transformation on the other .
the latter should play an active role in the selection and appointment of trustees .
this is for reasons of respect towards those who pay tax and abide by the rules .
thirdly , we must guarantee the highest standards of environmental protection .
unfortunately , this initial step does not yet represent the full opening of domestic road transport markets , but it does leave this possibility open .
Mrs Castex is very pleased that Parliament has called on the European automotive industry to ensure that new vehicles do not emit more than 120 g / km of CO2 by 2012 .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( PT ) A careful reading of the programmes of the German , Slovenian and Portuguese Presidencies will show that social issues , specifically issues of gender equality and the protection of the family , are very high on our list of concerns .
thank you .
we will be able to observe the efficiency and effectiveness of this choice when we see them in action , but I call on everyone to strongly support their work because otherwise , we really will have wasted the best opportunity of our lives .
and in order to do so , he said , we must invest in people , in growth , in jobs , in energy security , in fighting climate change and in giving consumers a fairer deal .
( ES ) Madam President , Commissioner , the floods in July and August of this year caused 1 800 deaths in Pakistan and affected 20 million people , 12.5 million of whom need humanitarian aid .
I think that it is one of those reports which are designed to help people and I would therefore like to congratulate all of my colleagues , Mrs Stauner and the Commission , and the Council , for reaching an agreement at first reading .
all Europeans were moved by footage of the fires , and Europe was prompted to react and take measures when Greece called for assistance .
the Commissioner says that we have attached harsh conditions to these loans , but I was not exactly clear as to what these conditions are and , indeed , if they include social conditionality .
now I would like to turn to the second report on the initiative of the Kingdom of Sweden and the Kingdom of Spain for the adoption of a Council framework decision on accreditation of forensic laboratory activities .
in fact , when we look at the rest of the world - when we see the dimension of America 's strength in terms of defence and in technology ; when we see the huge geographical dimension of Russia ; when we see the huge demographic dimension of China and India - can we say that there are any big countries in Europe ?
the forecast is that traffic is on the increase .
this political relativism threatens to dilute the unique nature of the Nazi crimes , and in doing so provides an intellectual underpinning to the ideologies of today 's neo-Nazis and fascists , some of whom are with us here today .
I would like to assure you that the Commission will do everything in its power to help the people and authorities of Madeira to cope with this terrible natural disaster .
appalling !
this is an intolerable situation and I appeal to all my fellow Members to show their repudiation of the situation and express their support for Iranian women .
in addition , the leader of the Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda was arrested .
I therefore call on the Commission to consider leveraging the resources of the common strategic framework for funding these sectors , particularly the research and innovation sectors of the European Union .
the Czech Republic is also part of the European Union .
we certainly do not want to create unnecessary administrative or financial burdens .
11 .
at the same time , there were some clear differences regarding the level of ambition .
4 .
however , in a situation which went beyond the borders of Europe , it should have been the national authorities , from the very first instant , that coordinated with Eurocontrol and with the meteorologists , to see if they could open the corridors , which today we are now saying that we are opening - to my mind unfortunately - following financial pressure from the companies .
as I already stated yesterday during the vote in favour of Mr Böge 's report , I believe it is the European Union 's duty to provide help and support to certain regions affected by natural disasters and catastrophes .
I agree that there are some controversial details in the proposal , but what is important is that we can improve it .
we had an initial draft of Mr Florenz 's report , which was considerably better than the one we have before us today on which we are to base our decision .
we also need a legislative proposal from the Commission on resolving disputes using alternative mechanisms by the end of this year .
the first conclusion from this perspective is that there was a fundamental differentiating factor .
I believe that opening an EU delegation provides the bases for further development and activating of relations with the European Union in such mutually advantageous areas as energy , transport , transit and even protection of the environment .
how are we going to make this pious wish a reality ?
they have done a good job .
they are being removed from public media en masse , and representatives of the government are trying to close down the independent , privately-owned daily newspaper Rzeczpospolita , which is the second largest quality daily in Poland and which is critical , incidentally , of the government 's position .
the energy interconnections , the motorways of the sea to connect southern Mediterranean port facilities with European ones , and the Mediterranean solar plan are areas of considerable potential in terms of investment , job creation and enhancing trade relations .
in this context it is important to remember that now that aviation is to be included in emissions trading , we can no longer limit anti-aviation measures to the trading system alone .
however , I fear that , bit by bit , this legislation will simply amount to patching things up .
this concerns , in particular , illegal landfills and illegal waste shipments , which are covered by important EU legislation .
the funeral of the President and his wife was held yesterday .
not the maze that we have at the moment where , when you go into one register , you do not get access to all of the other registers or all of the other links .
it is already very difficult to gain acceptance for this objective from the other countries involved in the international negotiations on climate change .
( DE ) Mr President , firstly , I would like to thank Mr Hahn , the former Austrian Minister for Science and Research , for starting a new debate which will make a major contribution to promoting growth in Europe .
this conflict is not between Georgians or Ossetians , this conflict did not begin on 8 August , it is not only Russia and Georgia 's conflict , it is a conflict of values and it involves us all .
when compiling European statistics under this regulation , national statistical authorities should also provide data on the funds used for tourism by each Member State , in particular , where EU funds are used .
I believe an important subject is missing in the annual policy strategy , and this is the issue of food supply .
indeed , simply taking an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth would be unworthy of our common heritage of respect for human life , which is so often overlooked by our political decision makers .
a few months ago I was stranded in a hotel in Greece as a forest fire raged all around , and I must say that the hotel , a typical SME , had prepared for that eventuality in the most exemplary fashion .
ladies and gentlemen , we need to improve the principle of mobility : mobility that is essentially for work , scientific and academic purposes .
what advantage do we have ?
at a time when differences in national laws restrict cross-border trade substantially , especially for SMEs , introducing a framework for European contract law is a real step forward that we should support .
in this regard , I would like to make a formal protest against this change .
Mr Kallas , it will be up to the Commission to exercise close scrutiny .
finally , it focuses on core themes that the Union must play a role in advancing , as is its custom : development , human rights and climate change .
it does not have one with the People 's Republic of China , which has been mentioned , or with Vietnam .
in writing . - ( SV ) We voted in favour of this resolution in the final vote .
if we want to tackle globalisation successfully , we have to do away with the burden of excessive regulation hampering small and medium-sized enterprises .
in this case , the UK Independence Party , which I have the honour to represent , strongly supports the immediate setting up of an inquiry into the Commission 's handling of this matter .
it is not the same as under the ' catch-the-eye ' procedure .
there is , therefore , an urgent need for the EU to be represented with a single voice in the various international bodies .
small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) in the EU account for around 99 % of all businesses and provide over 100 million jobs .
we have also , of course , been in touch with the UN on a constant basis to coordinate our activities and Member States have allocated important resources to tackle what is an immense challenge posed by the continuous flow of people , including through FRONTEX .
in Europe , some 9.9 million people are suffering from some form of dementia , which means that Europe ranks second with regard to the prevalence of this type of disease .
if we are constantly economising on medical staff due to cost pressures , then I would say our healthcare system is heading in the wrong direction .
there is still some way to go , and I urge both sides to make the last effort to reach an agreement capable of being approved by the Parliament before Christmas .
that is why I think the idea of strategic partnerships is valid : not with the whole world , of course , but with the major players in the world .
I would like to congratulate Mrs Matias on the report that she has tabled , and I support the recommendations for the Commission and the Council , as well as those for the Member States .
it is because , as a teacher , I value education and recognise that European countries have universities of which they are justly proud - great centres of learning whose alumni have contributed down the centuries to the arts , literature and science , enriching the lives of people everywhere .
I refer in particular to Croatia and the numerous Italian expatriates who continue to be clearly discriminated against in that country , despite Croatia 's official application for admission to the EU .
for us at the time it was the solution .
for us , this is not about additional income streams but is , instead , about directing transport more strongly by means of price signals .
oral explanations of vote
however , I now see that my question has been put into section 3 , which means that it will not be verbally answered by Commissioner Mandelson .
among the Council 's priority tasks should also be strengthened border control , and the collection and exchange of classified information on the routes of drug trafficking .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Madam President , I wish to thank the honourable Member very much for the question , as this is indeed a very important area of responsibility for the European Union .
Romania and Bulgaria are feeling the full impact of the global economic recession which has hit the last two countries to join the European Union , against the background of a disparity with the developed economies of the other Member States .
I think we will look at further steps , but we need to beware taking symbolic actions that might not improve the chances for a solution of the crisis and , indeed , might lead to further tensions .
the trialogue has now succeeded in agreeing to the compromise .
for example , the Trade Commissioner is currently trying to do a deal with the Mercosur countries which will result in increased beef production in these countries .
it is obvious too that the immigration proposals and another European ' blue card ' will have no effect except to deprive developing countries of the skilled workers they need most for their development .
certain Member States accommodate flags of convenience , or tax havens as they are known in the field of finance .
University-business dialogue is essential for the high-quality training to which the EU 's young people aspire .
if we once again consider the fact that India is clearly a market of the future , we must also feed this back into a clear position adopted by Parliament : in our view , industrial development in the European Union - linked to jobs - is of key importance .
they must be at the service of full employment with rights , investment in public services , protection of the environment , cooperation and peace .
as the rapporteur recommends , it is now time to develop a European judicial culture alongside the national judicial cultures .
instead , it would be more useful if a comprehensive review was organised , to consider how the cooperation between the two banks and other relevant parties could be improved , taking into account the interests of the EU and the beneficiary countries .
deposits on the bottoms of lakes and artificial reservoirs also store poisonous substances .
this is due to the fact that many significant changes are in the pipeline in the customs area and a report in 2008 could only be an interim one , reflecting the state of play at that point in time .
is it not also a fact that today opium production in that country has increased five times ?
the UK has a trade deficit with the EU and relies on negotiations with third countries , many of which have been in place for years and relate to our Commonwealth of Nations .
one of the recommendations formulated at the time was aimed specifically at those Member States , such as Austria , that had established binding thresholds .
in writing . - I voted for this resolution which calls on the Council to award the title ' European Capital of Culture ' exceptionally to Sarajevo in 2014 .
with a budget of EUR 500 million for 2011 , the Commission believes EUR 9 593 391 should be made available for Belgium , so that it can address the redundancies at General Motors Belgium and its four suppliers and producers in the Antwerp region respectively .
rather , I believe that a careful investigation must be carried out within a short timeframe - conclusions will be reached in October and I shall receive a response - and as soon as I receive the response I shall do whatever is necessary to attempt to protect the safety of child passengers in the best possible way .
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this is especially important with children and young people because we know the serious problems which there are at present in Europe with obesity , type II diabetes and other related conditions .
for instance , it needs to build on the OSCE 's very numerous programmes for the Roma minority .
the Commission will keep you duly informed about the process , as requested .
the adjustments needed straight away concern the European Union 's Solidarity Fund , so that it can be used - and used promptly - to address these disasters , while the improvements and changes concern forestry policy .
I would invite us all now to give more thought to what we can achieve and how , on a step-by-step basis .
on the contrary , the common currency is an important part of the solution , and that is the point as far as a country like Sweden is concerned , too .
I am convinced that it was necessary to allocate more funds to education , research and innovation as the EU needs to increase its efficiency and competitiveness to be able to rise from the financial and economic crisis .
in the context of the new policy of the European Union , the new maritime policy , it is very important to implement an effective ports policy .
I have seen this debate as a call to continue to take action on this issue and to stay on the ball .
its redistributive approach consists of added value to the future public expenditure by Member States .
the Commission services have begun an ex post evaluation of the public procurement directives .
in writing . - With regard to the Grelier report , I voted against my Group on four amendments - Amendment 4 , Amendment 5CP , Amendment 6 and Amendment 3 .
therefore , we must respect the right of all European Union citizens without exception to move freely .
this means that the gas sent will have to cost much more , which will bring about an immediate rise in the cost of gas imports for the whole of the European Union .
Minister , may the Council be ambitious , and may it take to heart what we have drafted here and the many demands arising from it .
Latvia clearly expressed its wish to participate in European and transatlantic economic and security structures .
why is it that the institution has to be dragged screaming and kicking to the European Courts in order to do the right thing ?
while the initial measures were adequate , according to the principle of precaution and guaranteeing safety for all citizens - those flying and those under the flight path - the lack of clarity about the future and a growing feeling of unease , as a result of the complexity of the intergovernmental decisions , raised the big question that is always raised : what is Europe doing ?
agenda of the next sitting : see Minutes
that is the hope that we will have the necessary change .
the European Restriction of Hazardous Substances ( RoHS ) system that regulates the use of hazardous substances in this electronic equipment has in fact become a universal system that is used in no less than 28 non-EU countries .
the services were made aware of the problem and it should not happen again .
( BG ) Perhaps I was not clear enough , or some of the subtleties were lost in translation .
not least , it will also be harder for the Cuban regime , with increasing choice , to suppress the free expression of opinion .
the debate is closed .
Mr President , at the Fourth World Congress Against the Death Penalty , held at the end of February in Geneva , the abolitionist movement welcomed the growing number of countries that have abolished or suspended the death penalty .
we will , within those powers , keep the European Parliament fully informed at all stages of the process .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , the European Commission is deeply concerned - like you - by the Sudanese decision to expel 13 international , as well as to suspend three national , humanitarian NGOs and two national human rights NGOs , following the ICC indictment of President Bashir .
we certainly must not forget either its cooperation within the Black Sea Synergy launched three years ago with the aim of promoting stability and reforms in the countries around the Black Sea .
the logical desire of new Member States is not to feel like second-class EU members .
the European Judicial Network is a well-known and recognised tool and has proven its usefulness in encouraging contacts between those involved on the ground .
I firmly believe that , at this point , we need to show some imagination , because , in the end , the greatest risk comes from not doing anything , today , and from not being bold when faced with a completely new situation .
for that we need to select a criterion for sustainability and determine the level of fishing that produces the maximum sustainable catch level .
I can tell you that we did not agree on the smallest common denominator but attempted to agree on more than the biggest common denominator .
if the financial instruments of the European Union are drawn down , it must show the impact on equal opportunities of the given investment as a material and accountable criterion , that is to say , if development is funded from Union sources , it should be compulsory for bidders to carry out or implement an equal opportunities analysis and measures plan .
there are at least two things which have become clear .
there will be time and a way in which to make it more comprehensive , and to include more details .
we can discuss this contradiction - errors in the Member States which are the responsibility of the Commission - in our home countries , we can explain it to the media and we can tell our citizens about it .
amendment of Rule 181 on verbatim reports and Rule 182 on audiovisual record of proceedings (
the use of nuclear energy , in short , is also part of the problem .
the appraisal of Serbia and Montenegro is continuing and we hope that by this autumn , we will have confirmation from the Commission that all the conditions are met , so that we can take the next step .
in this respect , I think that Parliament should play a greater role in monitoring its implementation by the Member States .
will the Union be able to rehabilitate the victims via legal processes and compensation ?
in writing . - The European Parliament ,
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I will be relatively brief - not because I do not recognise the importance of the issue , but rather because of the lateness of the hour .
this will complete the ratification by the European Union of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities .
this way , the process remains credible and we can ensure that our immediate neighbours , these true European countries , remain on the right track , and that they will ultimately be able to join the EU once they have reached the appropriate stage of preparedness .
I welcome the endorsement in principle from both countries on such European facilitation , which would be provided by a senior expert group chaired by President Martti Ahtisaari .
the determination of all of us to reach agreement also points to a Europe with plenty of ideas for the future .
things have been building up which provide food for thought , both regarding totalitarianism , which I hope has left our country for good , and about another modern scourge - terrorism , which we are seeing ever more frequently .
however , events make clear that internal European action is not sufficient to confront global challenges .
this European day gives us the opportunity to show that no terrorist or act of terrorism will ever be able to break or destroy our faith in key values , those of fundamental human rights and democracy .
23 , you say ?
furthermore , it is the Council that wanted to increase the rights of Parliament , it is not Parliament that is exercising powers unduly .
the horrors and crimes that are the legacy of these regimes must never be forgotten : I therefore welcome this discussion on the past .
in this context , we should remember the Council 's 2007 invitation to present a consolidated legal instrument covering the various aspects of OLAF 's work , which would provide the clarity we are all seeking .
the rapporteurs pointed out that it is important for Parliament to maintain its prerogative to scrutinise future amendments to the convention , but it is equally important that the Commission and Parliament work closely together to get the best possible benefits for our coastal communities , which are largely our fishing communities .
at the beginning of the parliamentary term , a series of positive proposals were made concerning a more social EU policy .
when all the fish have gone we should remember that we did our best to make it happen .
the Italian Government adhered to the decisions of the ICCAT and reduced fishing quotas for bluefin tuna for commercial fishing vessels only , with a de facto increase in the quantities intended for recreational fishing , an absurd measure that penalises only fishers , who are already facing a very difficult time .
there is no objective reason to exclude such materials from the provision covering other contents , especially when we know that doctors are the most trusted sources of information to patients .
there is still a question , however , about political pressure , because that is , as it were , the next matter on which the European Parliament speaks , when we are talking about Iran , and is not achieving any great success .
in writing . - ( PT ) The community budget for 2011 represents EUR 141.8 billion on expenditure for authorisations and EUR 126.5 billion on expenditure for payments .
before ending , allow me to spare a thought for the victims of storm Klaus , in France , Spain and Italy , and express my support for their families .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , there is something wrong about holding a debate in May 2011 on a natural disaster that occurred in summer 2010 , a disaster that left 12 million people homeless and destroyed 20 % of the country concerned .
the text would read : ' ... politically-motivated arrests , such as those of Anatol Matasaru , Sergiu Mocanu and Gabriel Stati ; ' .
the true number was undoubtedly higher .
if we wish Europe to become integrated more rapidly , it is essential that we assuage Western European workers ' fears of Eastern European workers , without at the same time closing labour markets .
it would also be of assistance to relief organisations as it would open up previously impeded humanitarian corridors .
Europe 's success will be to show other peoples and nations in the world how to create a situation of freedom and dignity for the citizen .
and we cannot do that just by asking countries to coordinate their policies .
( CS ) Criticism has been heaped on the President-in-Office of the Council ; I intentionally refrain from joining in .
I am therefore delighted with the quality of the work that has been done and I think that the rapporteur has done an excellent job , with the help of the Commission and all those who participated in this debate , above all to defend passengers ' rights .
it should be mandatory for indicators such as the unemployment rate and the rate of employment among the active population to be part of the oversight system .
for instance , some are saying that with the Romanian-Bulgarian accession , the Roma population will begin to move from these two countries .
several people have mentioned the opportunity it would provide young people with to establish direct contact and gain first-hand experience , as well as the opportunity for democratic forces to grow in strength .
( CS ) Madam High Representative , ladies and gentlemen , in my speech , I would like to point out the need to create a partnership with Russia .
2 .
as a journalist , it struck me , in particular , that there were 30 journalists among those killed .
however , I would like to highlight a few of them which I regard as being essential .
the rapporteur accurately observed that the proposal to extend the current regulation is not ideal , but it would allow us to avoid a legal vacuum lasting more than six months .
the problem of youth unemployment is not only due to the economic crisis ; employers are looking for people with professional experience .
renewable energy sources exclude the incineration of the non-biodegradable part of waste .
it is our hope that the principle should establish itself in the longer run , with savings in the national diplomatic services , in the Commission and in the Council , and with the same internal auditor and accounting officer for the Commission and for the External Action Service .
unfortunately , when it happens , as a result , that some questions are included in a question time period and are not dealt with , this depends , unfortunately , not on the President , but on a matter of chance which I can do nothing to remedy .
and instead of clearly condemning this aggression what does Parliament do ?
the reason is very simple : we must use the post-electoral context to point out that the Union 's external policy is based on respect for human rights , including minority rights .
yesterday another murder was committed by the terrorist organisation ETA .
I met with both the South Sudanese and North Sudanese electoral commissions , though especially that of the South .
in my opinion , two aspects are crucial for the future success of FP7 .
it is really important that the regime in Tehran must not succeed in breaking a broad common front even in this Chamber .
Mr President , I thank all the speakers for their very positive contributions .
in writing . - ( SV ) Today I voted in favour of a report which sets out the Integrated Guidelines for Growth and Jobs for 2008-2010 .
I am convinced that the crisis regarding the name of Macedonia will also be solved by the dialogue with Greece , so that another reliable partner of the European Union , the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia , would be invited to join NATO .
Commissioner , I would call for the Members of the European Parliament to play a greater role in the negotiating process , since the current system , whereby a general report on negotiations is issued by a European Commission official , is inadequate .
regarding my report more specifically , with respect to trade there are currently a number of European countries whose imports of products largely offset the reductions in their own emissions .
however , this would require a change in the way this European financial instrument is approached .
it is , at the very least , insulting for the political powers of the ' one-way street ' in Europe who voted in the European Parliament for the directive providing , apart from anything else , for the detention of ' illegal ' immigrants for a full 18 months , to express in this report their alleged regret about their inhumane conditions of detention and to call for them not to be detained .
these regions face natural difficulties , which makes production more difficult and restricts access .
the livestock sector in the EU is facing serious problems , including the rising costs of inputs , such as fuel and fertilisers , the high cost of complying with EU regulations , greater competition from third country imports and the low prices being received by producers for meat products .
in addition , enlargement of the Schengen area may exacerbate the problems related to migration .
I also fear that the general adoption of such a system might be counter-productive , possibly even leading to higher catches to offset the cost of acquiring the fishing right .
we are living in an economic and monetary union .
the mobility and cohesion network is becoming a reality and , for the first time , it will connect the EU-27 common area in an integrated and dynamic way .
9 .
the solutions will come not from Brussels , but from free cooperation and the Member States ' own common sense .
Mr President , in the International Court of Justic ruling of 15 June 1962 , it was decided that the Preah Vihear temple falls within the sovereignty of Cambodia .
we must move to a new area of entrepreneurial innovation , where in Europe we are working together to make the world 's most cutting-edge products .
I hope that the rapporteurs can still make improvements as otherwise , I cannot vote in favour of this revision of the Treaty .
secondly , the problems relating to Macedonia have nothing to do with the fact that the democratic system there is allegedly not working , Commissioner .
that was the justification .
in other words , where is the specific criticism of the constitution of another Member State that needs to be addressed ?
if Europe is the union of democrats , as I said before , it cannot be just about freedom : Europe must be about freedom and equality .
through this vote , I am joining the French socialists in denouncing a situation which is no longer acceptable and which Europe , as a democratic institution and human rights protector , must remedy .
and a second thing , which is , perhaps , the most fundamental and the greatest doubt in this whole debate : it would not be a good thing if we contrasted what we are calling here European objectives with what we are calling national ones .
I just want to reiterate that we must approach this issue in a coherent and comprehensive manner , not just from a medical standpoint .
press reports about body scanners in the Dutch press have caused a torrent of indignation .
general De Gaulle made a connection between this great diversity of products and his country 's governability .
Council Directive 2000 / 75 / EC of 20 November 2000 lays down specific provisions for the control and eradication of bluetongue , including rules on vaccination .
in writing . - ( SV ) The June List thinks that it is a good thing for the current 21 regulations on the sector-specific organisation of the market to be revised and consolidated in one regulation in order to streamline and simplify the legislation .
in fact the opposite is true ; if we assume that Europe continues to exit the crisis at the current slow rate , unemployment will rise even further for at least the next few years .
all contact so far seems to be with the government itself .
the US is preparing its nuclear posture review , NATO is reviewing its strategic concept and the world is getting ready for the 2010 NPT review conference .
we have seen a few timid signs , not yet brought up to date , in the Marguerite Fund .
I agree with the rapporteur that the Agency should strengthen its internal controls to make sure that contracts and procurement procedures are correctly applied .
I agree with the rapporteur that it is important to improve the conditions for maintaining family ties because separation from family , combined with guilt and punishment , results in estrangement , which makes returning from prison much more difficult .
implementing this strategy is crucial , but the Treaty of Lisbon allows us to go further , opening the way to create a true energy community within Europe .
we should not limit ourselves only to the nations around the basin of the Mediterranean Sea but should have a balanced vision in our neighbourhood policy .
therefore , the EU must develop balanced legal immigration channels which meet the needs of our labour markets while taking account of the demographic and economic challenges which the EU will face in the near future .
in other words , the research and knowledge must be found to be proper and correct and therefore reliable .
the objectives of the actions taken in this respect by the EU and the Commission deserve our criticism , since we cannot ignore the unacceptable Return Directive .
ladies and gentlemen , it is time to move on from our knee-jerk reactions of the past .
annual accounts of certain types of companies as regards micro-entities (
Europe needs competitive , reliable , mainstream , base-load , generating capacity which nuclear power can deliver .
as I said , this is a vital additional step .
( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the two reports by Mrs Schaake and Mrs Sanchez-Schmid remind us that culture is not a decoration motif but the fruit of complex interdependencies , showing that cultural questions should be addressed in a transverse manner and integrated into all European policies , internal as well as external , social as well as economic .
in other words , the ' maximum sustainable yield ' must not be used as an instrument to promote ( even further ) the scrapping of vessels and the destruction of jobs .
a holistic view is therefore essential .
the listening to the people should begin .
( loud applause )
who could believe that we could agree on such a demanding package of measures , with not only a consensus in the Council but a first-reading agreement with Parliament on very complex issues ?
we also need a European dimension for this style of democracy .
I am happy that this social dialogue started .
it was recommended at the World Forum that the parliaments of as many countries as possible should establish the institution of a commissioner responsible for future generations .
in its new analysis , I then expect the Commission in turn to judge what progress has actually been made and , once the EU 's requirements have been met , to propose that the Council approve visa liberalisation for Bosnia and Herzegovina .
these are the ten commandments that I propose for a common policy for the victims of terrorism .
the current deeply ingrained stereotypes and prejudices on how labour is distributed between the genders not only hinder , but are often used as an excuse to ignore the problems .
the report constitutes an important and strategic statement by the Commission on a key aspect of the ' Better Lawmaking ' programme .
as regards the Stockholm Programme , we are strengthening and tightening up the regulations for data protection and respect for the rights of individuals , and democracy , too , in a number of different respects .
the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in late December presents a historic opportunity to revise and widen the application of binding international targets to address climate change .
therefore I voted to support this proposal to take EUR 1 billion of unspent support for EU farmers and use it to assist struggling farmers in developing countries to buy essential items such as seeds and fertilisers .
after their conspiracy of silence , negligence and cover-up , these authorities now have the nerve to commit taxpayers ' money so that the same fat cats can get even richer .
it advocates the creation of a European pensions platform involving representatives of EU institutions , social partners and relevant stakeholders , in order to exchange information about best practices and help to prepare policy initiatives , all in compliance with the principle of subsidiarity .
more and better relief for children must indeed be urgently provided , older workers must indeed also be provided with continuing opportunities within the employment markets , and health services must indeed urgently prepare themselves to face the challenge of the accelerated aging demographic .
naturally , the conditions , rules and procedures for projects and initiatives involving Swiss participants will be the same as for participants from the Member States and the projects they propose .
if this is indeed connected with international terrorism , where is the long-term strategy there ?
in a context of budgetary restrictions - which rules out public money as a solution - and increased global competition , Europe must react in order to get itself back into the innovation race .
in fact , the financial world is tending towards a euro / dollar duopoly .
what they earn does not depend on their working hours , as is the case with salaried workers , but on the number and type of shipments .
if we do not talk about world trade rules we will resolve nothing : that is to say , in the face of this systemic crisis we must reform the system , restoring to politics that steering role that is too often lacking , refocusing attention on the real economy and abandoning the easy opiates of virtual finance !
secondly , this resolution recognises the Holodomor as genocide .
this would save us a little time .
where in all of this , given that you are in charge , is the principle of democratic accountability ?
for example , the States may reinstate the death penalty if there is an imminent danger of war .
I am just sorry that ' must carry ' has been rejected .
we all know - and we have heard it today as well - about the competition between food , feed and fuel .
in actual fact , I do not feel that everything is absolutely fine .
it remains to be seen to what extent the new monitoring and supervisory measures will take effect .
you believe that if European citizens are increasingly sceptical of the European Union , it is because of a lack of education , because of ignorance , or stupidity even .
similarly , I hope - I say so quite openly , I will no longer be rapporteur - but I hope that Europe 's institutional framework can itself evolve .
the European Investment Bank can make its contribution in this area by carrying out proper assessments and publishing its results on a regular basis .
she did a fantastic job and we greatly miss her .
the concrete recommendations for action in the Florenz report , such as support for the construction of zero energy , ' passive ' houses , the creation of a European fund to support research into renewable energy sources , linking up energy networks at European level and raising awareness among EU citizens and children in particular , all contribute to this shift in social attitude .
indeed , the European Union seems to be more interested in creating an internal telecoms market solely to serve the interests of the economic groups which dominate the sector than in defending the rights and fundamental freedoms of the end users . we have no choice but to disagree with such an attitude .
I believe today represents a breakthrough , as we have managed to hammer out a common parliamentary position on a broad consensual basis .
apart from myself and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso the next two prime ministers also participated , in other words Mr Reinfeldt of Sweden and Mr Zapatero of Spain , and following the meeting I was very buoyed up and very surprised at the consensus between the social partners not only over the aims of the Presidency but generally over solutions to the developing unemployment situation resulting from the global financial crisis .
( PL ) Mr President , I am pleased that , as a Member from Lithuania , I can speak here in Polish , my mother tongue .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , thank you very much for making it possible for me to exchange views with Parliament at an unusually early stage this year .
it is very easy for wealthy countries to deal with controversial topics by simply making well-intentioned , impassioned pleas and commissioning further studies .
I have noticed time and again - and the motion on the Holodomor was an occasion to do so once again - that not all chapters in the history of eastern and western Europe in the last century are equally common knowledge .
I say this as the rapporteur on the original regulation on public access to documents , which we implemented in this House in 2001 .
the Commission proposes mobilising EUR 1 422 850 in response to 528 redundancies in 33 enterprises in the sector in Spain .
the policies on reducing the farming of land in order to combat climate change will restrict the size of the areas farmed and impose additional conditions on agricultural production aimed at reducing the impact on the environment and climate .
( SV ) Thank you Mr President , Commissioner .
these principles have a name , and that name is democracy .
these men , women and children are in fact some of the country 's poorest people .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , the German dioxin scandal has shaken the confidence of European consumers and they are rightly demanding the highest level of safety and complete traceability in food production .
we believe it is important to apply the principle of free competition in the European Union 's foreign relations too .
both the EU and Russia are trying to construct energy pipelines in new areas : the EU outside Russia and Russia outside its former Soviet Republics .
we ask the Commission to prepare a detailed overview of all joint operational programmes approved for the current financial period , with an assessment of how the principles of transparency , efficiency and partnership have been respected .
on the one hand it is the responsibility of producers to ensure that their products conform to the valid European laws , and on the other hand it is the responsibility of the Member States to ensure proper supervision of the EU market .
last but not least , I am convinced that by removing existing regulatory restrictions this agreement will lead to a substantial increase in passengers and generate various consumer benefits and the creation of new jobs .
the freedom of movement of individuals is one of the most important rights which the EU provides to its citizens and , for this reason , this cooperation between the EU and Georgia is very important .
request for the defence of parliamentary immunity : see Minutes
the truth is that without European funding for research and innovation , our countries would be less competitive globally , while growth and employment would languish .
EU-Russia summit ( debate )
on these two matters , our countries and the European Union have shown a great sense of responsibility .
is it not , after all , the case that standardising the time all across Europe to one time zone would be beneficial just from the transport perspective ?
but the blame for this rests only partly with Israel , and primarily with Palestinian terrorists and extremists such as Hamas , and the failure of Arab states to assist the rehabilitation of the population , and regeneration of the area .
there is indignation about the demonstrative arrest of the mayor of the City of Strumitsa and of other politicians .
Mr President , the subject of toy safety is important to all families across the European Union .
but it was obvious in many cases that the existing weaknesses are not connected to the European legal framework but to the absence of implementation or the inadequate , copy-pasted transposition thereof into national legislation .
yours is not an empty rhetoric for you have shown in the course of your political life that you are committed to Europe and capable of taking practical action on its behalf .
this means that the number of partners to be won over is manageable .
( EL ) Madam President , today is Europe Day and it reminds us of the objectives on which the European Union must be based : a deepening of the European institutions and a common economic policy which , in our opinion , will set socially fair prosperity and viability as its priorities .
this agreement will primarily affect countries like Portugal and the regions that are most dependent on the sectors concerned : textiles , automobiles related components , and electronics .
Sweden , for example , finances a large part of its welfare system by means of its VAT rules .
having said that concerning the style and form of the debate , I would like to say that in my opinion , the report itself concentrates heavily on solely socio-economic considerations .
indeed , I believe that the abundant good intentions of this House , the desire for humanitarian intervention , and the interference in others ' affairs , have truly adverse effects .
the fact that these women have not had full justice and redress also means that those who committed these crimes have effectively enjoyed immunity for their acts .
we must reduce our energy consumption , although critics doubt whether the compulsory introduction of energy-saving bulbs will achieve this , and we must push for the use of alternative forms of energy .
( PL ) Mr President , we have made a decision today , which will accelerate creation of the European External Action Service .
in accordance with Article 121 , the European Commission will be able to issue warnings to countries which fail to comply with the general guidelines on economic policies .
despite the quite recent assurances by German politicians and European Commission officials , this crisis is starting to hit Europe in a big way .
in writing . - I and my British Conservative colleagues completely and unreservedly condemn all forms of racism and xenophobia and fully support the Roma people in their fight against the discrimination which they face .
remember the row in 2001 over the Ecofin warning to Ireland during a time of fiscal surplus .
acknowledging the genocide of the Armenians , guaranteeing the rights of the Kurdish minority , equal opportunities for women - these are only a few among many fundamental problems .
this upheaval was a genuine joint effort and its most important result should and must be a lasting European community .
we are also satisfied with remote sales .
I conveyed this message with some force to President Déby ; this process had already begun through the monitoring committee .
it will therefore remain in force for a further seven years and a few days , to be exact .
and the European Union deserves credit for correcting them .
regretfully , no .
as far as the funding system is concerned , transparency forms an inseparable part of the implementation of values , and the first priority must therefore be to have unambiguous funding conditions .
I am happy that we , in Parliament , are also able , through this debate , to give our express support to that candidate .
we in the Commission will be very prudent on this subject , but I think , on that basis , the amendment is probably a worthwhile one .
no decision has been made about whether younger citizens can take part from the age of 16 .
it was this part of the solidarity that stood out the most .
second , reducing protectionist tendencies .
in short , we must re-establish trust between consumers and businesses , especially distribution businesses , to strengthen and promote the development of our EU 's internal market .
I think that in this case the Committee on Petitions has taken due account of the requests from citizens who are concerned about the destruction of the natural landscape , the failure to respect rules on contracts and environmental protection , and the huge-scale building activity .
this Council is also a place where the foundations of a consolidated common market are being worked out .
we can therefore see that the social economy has become an indispensable part of ensuring stable and sustainable economic growth , by virtue of the crucial role it plays in solving new social problems .
I think that you are right to also highlight what Mr Napolitano said , but it is not a good idea to say here , in this House , that there is not a problem .
with freedom comes responsibility .
we also stress the need for the European Commission to take account , in the context of the World Trade Organization negotiations , of the specific characteristics of agricultural production as a food production sector , and a structuring element for territorial balance , preservation of the environment and the safeguarding of adequate quantitative and qualitative levels of food safety .
the rich can do it , but they will probably go for private care anyway .
in other words , those who think and act in that way have little or no concern for the effects of the crisis , but think only , or almost only , of gaining advantage through some kind of party political manoeuvring which , in these circumstances at least , should justifiably be avoided .
this is where there was a very clear mention about the danger from the emigration wave which may inundate Europe from Turkey and , through Turkey , from the countries in the Middle East and North Africa .
I wish to thank the Swedish Presidency .
this problem is getting worse because of growing economies and populations .
we have to compare the real benefits for users with the true costs to businesses in this sector .
we in the Confederal Group of the European United Left / Nordic Green Left have therefore tabled an amendment in which we ask for the 95 years requirement to be removed .
she addressed the issue of financial responsibility , the need to develop and to establish infrastructure and not to simply demand this and say that the money must come from somewhere .
( FR ) Mr President , Mr Van Rompuy , Mr Barroso , I would like to offer two thoughts .
what we have now in the Cercas report is that on-call time should be classed as working time , but that collective agreements or national law are allowed to rule otherwise .
competitiveness is not measured exclusively in terms of production costs and prices .
domestic work is economically and socially important , but it is work that is poorly paid , routine and undervalued by society .
we will keep to this obligation .
I really hope that Parliament 's report will become a trigger and an important element to add to our research and innovation policy .
we need the committees to be more joined up and we need a permanent rapporteur .
people do not want more control in Brussels and Strasbourg .
please keep to the rules .
the Commission has pledged to take account of the needs and rights of disabled persons and to include them in all relevant EU strategies .
( applause )
- Before the vote on Amendment 35 :
I found particularly cynical paragraph 110 , which states that ' the creation of a climate among the population of the host country which accepts immigrants depends directly on proper and comprehensive information ' .
Mr President , Guinea-Conakry needs the support of the international community .
the Reform Treaty is essential .
why does it not opt for a European solution in the case of Greece , as provided for in Article 122 ( 2 ) of the treaties ?
may I also refer to our resolution of 10 April , in which we called on all EU politicians not to attend the opening ceremony on 8 August unless the rights of the Tibetans had been guaranteed .
the policies that brought us to this crisis are the same ones that they now want to continue with and develop .
if I want to travel abroad , the situation will be clear and the decisions will no longer be arbitrary , as was the case in some countries .
this is why it is so important to introduce unified standards for human rights , as well as social and environmental standards in international trade agreements .
the Member States were supposed to establish income thresholds and an obligation on anyone entering our countries to demonstrate that their funds are legal .
we want to change the EU 's fisheries policy so that it leads to a recovery in fish stocks .
secondly , this is a very significant issue which divides the Council and Parliament , particularly over the future of the opt-out .
I would like to reassure Mrs Koppa that there is no embargo on pharmaceutical products , but a system of control where these products have dual uses and are therefore subject to the non-proliferation regime .
no EU Member State recognises Taiwan , a territory for which I happen to be the President of the Friendship Group of this Parliament , but nevertheless , our Union is shortly expected - and rightly so - to grant visa-free privileges to Taiwanese nationals .
this has never been mentioned before .
it is therefore very important to implement the programme aimed at ensuring responsible use of new communication technologies by children and young people .
so that means that it will stay a cornerstone of our policy , not only because of its strength , but we also believe that if you have strong views , you should make them known .
that was my look back at last week .
for this particular sector , we have specific legislation .
macro-regional strategies represent a way to the future , being , to a considerable degree , unique projects hitherto unparalleled in the European Union .
even in reserves , keepers have been shot to get at the tigers .
it is an absolutely essential process .
the issuing of Eurobonds is neither an appropriate instrument to strengthen the eurozone , nor is the timing right in a Europe which is affected by the financial , economic and social crisis .
in order to achieve the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy , we must implement cohesion and regional policy and ensure that this policy is independent and covers all European regions .
I would not eliminate interest from outside , but I would encourage the commitment of Parliament , Council and Commission to finding the definite answer and agreeing on the full proposal in order to mobilise European investment in international cooperation .
Member States must provide funds for assisting and protecting victims , including for the provision of compensation to victims and the cross-border enforcement of EU anti-trafficking law .
thank you Commissioner .
to read that , one would think it would be very difficult to be against the report or indeed any parts of it .
we have to be able to respond .
I am happy to see that the rapporteur has taken on board the role of broadband .
I would like to ask the Commissioner if he could comment on his views on sports in our school curricula , the current childhood obesity epidemic and the serious link between the two , and also if he can indicate whether any Member State was not represented at the Sports Forum in Biarritz in November .
the European Commission should be reformed .
the opposite principle to secularism is religious communitarianism which lays down regulations and laws that are above civil law and encloses individuals into infra-societal groups .
I welcome the measures adopted by the Commission aimed at facilitating accessibility , transparency and comparability for the purposes of the recognition process within and among education systems .
when it has been used fraudulently , it is European citizens who cover the loss . this is not fair .
as much as I support realistic measures to combat any form of discrimination , I must also criticise the points being discussed here , because they are simply not justified and will not have the desired effect .
and , by the way ...
that is not true .
now however , it is also about serious crime .
in writing . - I welcome the adoption of this report .
this is indeed a human tragedy , which has had a devastating impact on people 's lives , homes and businesses .
there is a need in this House to reassess what we have done from the issue of micro credits to tackling racial violence , and for all of these complex issues , we must have a comprehensive strategy .
the Commission keeps assuming that market actors will make a substantial contribution to climate-change adaptation .
rapporteur . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , allow me firstly to thank all my colleagues for their kind words , and especially Mr Bösch whose earlier work laid the foundations for my own report .
people have enough to blame the EU for without that !
it may be the European Year for Combating Poverty , but thanks to the economic crisis , unemployment and social hardship are still on the increase in many Member States .
neither of these can be efficient if we ignore the other .
we are all relieved that all in all you are well , and I hope that you can soon recover from this terrible experience mentally as well .
in my opinion however , the projects should include energy connections between Poland and Germany .
we are now discussing this question despite assurances that the Lisbon Treaty did not constitute a fundamental change .
this is not simply a competition .
the point , then , is this : why use European funds for grubbing-up , rather than using them to improve quality and for business restructuring ?
this must be done at industry and company level , not only regionally and locally , so that the funds are mobilised quickly to help the workers in crisis .
from this point of view , I believe that Romania , the Member State which I represent , has one of the most modern sets of laws protecting minorities .
last but not least , Romanian and Bulgarian citizens have to suffer because of the bad personal relations the national authorities have with certain influential leaders .
it is about time we changed our priorities and revalued the debates on the floor of this House .
some are OK , but some are attempting to look as if they are ethical labelling , look as if they are fair trade , but they are attempting to be fair trade on the cheap , without having the independent verification which you need to have a proper labelling system .
I think it is appropriate at this point to express thanks to Commissioner Piebalgs , who had a very difficult task , because making a European energy market out of the 27 separate markets of the individual Member States is a remarkable undertaking , it is a labour of Sisyphus which will not end with this term , and there will certainly be many tasks remaining for our successors .
( it ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I think Mr Mulder 's report makes an admirable effort to improve agricultural policy in Europe .
I am also pleased that the recent decision of the Court on codecision has been announced and that Parliament will now have an enhanced role in relation to these two banks .
as I have indicated , this lies within the power and responsibility of the ASEAN countries .
this problem is often neglected .
please reconsider the amendments which are particularly damaging to it .
of course our friends in this Member State within the family of Europe are aware that , for those in the chair , noblesse oblige .
I am happy that the European Council has now clarified its position .
we do not have any companies of that size , but smaller ones have indeed gone bankrupt .
it is true that we should do more - at the same time , hopefully , keeping the European Union together and not divided .
- ( LT ) It is regrettable that the actions taken by the European Union and other international organisations to defend human rights in Turkmenistan have yet to produce positive results .
we should encourage very strongly the authorities in Afghanistan , the Government and the President to intervene on his behalf and use their powers to spare his life and to make sure that he is pardoned at the end of the process which he needs to go through now , meaning the appeal process .
I will end , Madam President , by stating my hope that this debate will serve to clarify positions and that we will able to achieve the consensus that agriculture and farmers expect from us .
it will fuel nationalism rather than stemming its sources .
that means postponing the vote today .
the Commission has a responsibility in this respect and so I should like to ask the Commission how they intend to support this .
despite considerable flight delays ( in cases of trips under 1500 km , over 2 hours ) , the airlines have provided little or no assistance and did not give accurate information regarding travel options to people 's final destinations .
as I told you , the information that we currently have gives us no assurance that significant funding could lead to a positive result .
despite trying to mitigate the situation by confronting the brutal reality of ' capitalist globalisation ' , the resolution conceals the profound consequences for workers and people in general , and for small and medium-sized enterprises , not only in the EU and the US but also internationally .
that is as much as a junior doctor earns in Belarus .
a job well done !
as we all know , this is an issue which does not apply only to Macedonia .
it has also shown that the best results can be achieved in a spirit of fair cooperation between the institutions .
finally - there is more than one question in the oral question - Mr Costa is asking whether the Commission agrees that the ' bottom up ' approach , whereby the initiative to create functional airspace blocks is left to the Member States , has failed and that a more proactive approach by the European Union is now required ?
if we want to boost consumer confidence in the internal market , we need to consider a combination of options 2 and 3 .
( PL ) Mr President , social Europe is a splendid goal , and a great deal has already been done towards achieving it .
the aggressive behaviour presented in television programmes has a negative psychological effect on children .
it is surprising , therefore - and to my group disappointing - that the Presidency-in-Office of the Council has decided not to invite the Dalai Lama to come to Brussels to meet ministers .
the crises have their origin in political decisions made .
although we are still in the first reading of the directive 's proposal , it is positive in the area of women 's rights because of the signal that it sends out , particularly to the countries that still do not have 20 weeks of maternity leave on full pay and that are still not applying two weeks of paternity leave , also with full pay .
we must not put unnecessary obstacles in the path of the European External Action Service ( EEAS ) to enable it to live up to its founding principles .
in writing . - ( PT ) I voted in favour of Mr Tarabella 's report because I believe that equality between men and women in the European Union , as recognised in the Treaty on European Union and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union , is a fundamental principle which is still not being implemented in a uniform way .
the Commission , together with the Member States and other international actors , is committed to helping at this critical juncture .
the regulations governing pesticides are important as a means of reducing the risks involved with pesticide use to the population 's health and the environment .
this is not an isolated phenomenon but is something that can be seen happening along practically the entire coastline of Europe and as a result of this situation Commissioner Borg , to whom I pay tribute , has been moved to propose the Integrated Maritime Policy , which should enable us to restore , preserve and resurrect the communities that live around the coasts of Europe .
at least we agree on the package of legislation , which is indeed complicated , but I see few valid reasons to prevent agreement on technical yet concrete texts that actually form a very coherent whole .
secondly , you have proposed measures which will , of course , have immediate effects , but which will also extend over the medium and long term .
for May the plan is to open the usual discussion on political strategy for the year ahead in the sectors falling within my competence .
working women are more productive members of society and are less subjugated .
small-scale corruption will only disappear with economic development .
problems are evident when you learn that women make up only 35 % of scientific workers employed in the State sector and higher education in the European Union , and only 18 % in the private sector .
these days , the new social agenda proposes minor improvements against the background of major shortcomings .
mutual understanding and respect for one another are fundamental conditions for traditional national communities , minorities and majorities living together harmoniously and prosperously .
firstly , we are establishing an EU framework to give Europeans equal access to health in general and to transplant treatment in particular .
this is totally undemocratic .
author . - Mr President , first of all it is a privilege on behalf of the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection to welcome our new Commissioner Michel Barnier for the first time to what I am sure will be many interchanges across the floor of this House , and particularly because he has moved seamlessly from his seat over there to his seat at the front in two days .
you do not have to be a eurosceptic to find that objectionable .
the owners also consider that the private duties are too high in relation to the actual catch potential available to them .
the European Union is willing to support all the efforts made by the DRC Government and by countries in the Great Lakes region to promote together peace and stability in the area , by emphasising reconciliation , personal safety , a reformed and enhanced judiciary and the return and integration of refugees and displaced persons within the country .
above all , this budget demonstrates Parliament 's determination not to abandon large-scale European investments during this crisis period .
and , given that the International Energy Agency has just predicted that oil reserves across the world will peak within 10 years , it might even be described as completely mad .
these principles are reaffirmed in the Treaty of Lisbon , whose entry into force we are seeking to secure .
I voted for this report on the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent , Deter and Eliminate Illegal , Unreported and Unregulated Fishing , because I believe that this type of fishing implies a serious global threat to living aquatic resources .
sufficient financial resources are needed under the TEN-T budget and coordination of territorial development objectives and TEN-T policy need to be enforced , whereas public / private partnerships have to be further promoted .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
( applause )
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( EL ) Madam President , Commissioner , the debate on the Surján report , for which I have the honour of acting as shadow rapporteur , is a political debate with a great many crucial points , especially this year .
I believe that the proposal for a directive , which was sent back to committee today with important additions , can contribute to mapping out a clear legal framework on consumer rights .
many industrial companies would have to relocate to third countries with less climate protection , which will raise prices and slow down Romania 's development project on infrastructure .
( DE ) Mr President , I voted in favour of this report , quite simply because we have to take every measure to ensure that cross-border police and judicial cooperation is organised efficiently .
the Progress Microfinance Facility proposed by the European Commission is an extremely important initiative which may be able to fulfil this role in reintegrating those groups affected by social exclusion .
I realise that some Member States have a lot to lose , but are they actually presenting a credible argument ?
( SK ) I was delighted by the European Union 's proposals for international financial system reforms to include food security as a matter of priority .
that is a quote from the German Bundesbank .
I have two questions .
on behalf of the S & D Group . - ( CS ) Prime Minister Fischer , Commission President Barroso , ladies and gentlemen , in January this year I warned this honourable assembly that the Czech Presidency would not be easy and that it would probably be marked by major instability .
CCS technologies would mean that 90 % of a power station 's CO2 emissions are captured and then transferred to geological storage .
in Europe , we have numerous ways of financing health services , and each one has its strengths and weaknesses .
the Baltic is practically an internal EU sea , and no sea in the world faces such a great environmental threat .
we have to hold unjust wage rates and misguided social policies in any country accountable , but we cannot take measures to put food in the mouths of the poor at the expense of farmers who , in recent years , have left farming in their hundreds of thousands .
I believe that what we are about to adopt are good legislative instruments .
in writing . - I welcome the prospect of Galileo finally being launched .
this is indeed what will happen .
this is for Member States to undertake and follow through - such is their competence .
bees are responsible for the welfare of many plants important to agriculture and , more generally , the balance of the ecosystem and the maintenance of biodiversity .
the Commission is ready to lend its support to the reform process , including the provision of special assistance for the 2008 elections .
what would happen is that there would be no modernisation of the steel , aluminium and chemical industries internationally .
facilitating the provision of cross-border services will lead to a properly functioning single market for services , thus laying the foundations for an economically cohesive internal market .
finally , I would like to raise an interesting point .
I welcome the Centre 's plan to carry out a mid-term review of its Strategy 2008-2012 .
I very much hope that in the future all kinds of discussions will be dedicated to energy and innovation and not mix up the presidency with some aspects of certain political parties .
they have made it possible for us to envisage in the future a time when the European Union will speak with a strong voice in any discussions with major global powers .
together , I am confident we can meet the complex challenges of today and tomorrow and work in partnership to ensure the internal market delivers its full potential to all our citizens .
however , in order to produce a report , we needed data and input from the Member States , and in particular those Member States already working on the system .
a well-functioning , macro-regional strategy must be defined from below , while the European institutions should create only a framework , facilitate communication at the intergovernmental level , and support the individual actors in terms of methodology , data overviews , etc .
my colleague , Nathalie Griesbeck , was rapporteur on both of these agreements that concern the movement of persons between the EU and Georgia .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , we have no other option but to agree .
we seem all too keen to tolerate the fact that the European taxpayer is having to foot a bill amounting to hundreds of millions of euros every year on such wasteful subsidies .
( BG ) The European Parliament has always supported Ukraine on its journey towards democracy , based on the principles of the rule of law and sharing with us common values on European integration .
the repeated references to the Bruguière Report , a secret report , are also unacceptable .
Europeans in particular are affected by the disease , as the most common cancer of European women is breast cancer , with an estimated 430 000 new cases diagnosed every year .
a lot of attention is focused on Afghanistan .
what is needed here are detailed regulations covering all EU countries .
protocols have since been added to it over time .
the Committee on Petitions cooperates well with the relevant departments within the European Commission and with the European Ombudsman , and also with the appropriate representatives of the Member States and regional and local authorities , in providing appropriate explanations .
the European Commission needs to remind the French Government of its duties to be consistent and to respect the rules on implementation of European funding .
I believe that the Council should have been present for this debate and as has already been said , this must be stated and reiterated .
it can have a positive impact on the cleanest energies or to achieve ...
I therefore voted ' for ' .
I would like to thank Mr Schmidt for drawing attention to all these issues .
the Committee has also done well to highlight , among other things , three new trends : ' grooming ' , that is , the online soliciting of children through psychological manipulation aimed at contact in real life .
I would like to focus on three priorities : the Treaty of Lisbon , the package on energy and climate change , and the renewed Lisbon Strategy .
it must not go wrong this time .
given the fact that world populations are only set to increase , global agricultural production will also have to increase accordingly .
while it needs to be adapted to meet new needs and new expectations , it must not disappear .
it is good that the EU is focussing on the Arctic region .
there are two reasons : firstly , Gdańsk has already been sold to a private operator which injected fresh money into it and , secondly , this yard 's liabilities for past aid are far more limited compared to the Gdynia and the Szczecin shipyards .
over the first six years of the ESF , the Commission received 62 requests for financial support from 21 different countries .
voting time
on 23 June , at the General Assembly of the ANCI - which as Italian MEPs will know , is the Italian local authority association , presided over by the Mayor of Florence - the Roma reception plan was unveiled following a meeting which had taken place a few days before between local authority representatives and myself .
I think that the Lisbon Summit was a considerable step forward because we at least forged in the texts the beginnings of a new philosophy of equal partners in terms of rights and responsibilities .
in writing . - Tajikistan occupies an important geographical position since it is situated at a key intersection between Europe and Asia and therefore plays an important role in enhancing the stability of the region .
secondly , we need to bear in mind that the 27 Member States have 2 million soldiers at their disposal .
our support schemes should therefore be rethought , particularly with a view to providing more support for those European farmers who refrain using pesticides .
why so , when we talk so much about democracy ?
there is no shortage of ideas .
I have the proposal here , including in French and German .
I abstained from voting on this specific report , despite the fact that I agree and support the proposed amendments , especially those which restore the controlling role of the European Parliament .
business activity has ecological costs that are often not taken into consideration in financial accounting .
in addition , the Dublin system , involving the process of readmitting refugees to the first country of transit , creates a discrepancy between these countries and those located centrally with regard to coordinating the asylum policies and measures provided for refugees .
we await the revision of the Energy Efficiency Labelling Directive from the Commission this year , as the current A to G scheme for household appliances allows no further room for increased energy efficiency and , while very clear and consumer friendly , it is now creating marketing problems for genuinely more efficient products as it has reached its limit .
it saw youngsters sending out remarkable warnings to other young people to be careful when they use the Internet .
it means that every law-abiding European citizen will feel at home in any other country of the European Union .
I therefore voted in support of her recommendations .
as soon as the Treaty is in place , we will begin preparations for this .
from that perspective , it would be dangerous to try and defend old structures and old players .
the failure to specify these costs in the case of the Trans-European Transport Network Executive Agency in particular has an impact when linked to the information that there is a shortfall of more than EUR 40bn for the projects that this agency deals with .
the concern about increasing market concentration in the food retail sector , which has led to the development of monopolies , and the need for alternative solutions in negotiations with retailers , in favour of small farmers .
I hope that the French Presidency will be sensitive to this side of things .
this is a step towards the introduction of Eurobonds .
the rapporteur 's proposal to compensate for this disadvantage through protectionist measures such as a carbon tax at the Union 's borders and regulated minimum prices for CO2 would increase the competitive deficit compared with other sectors downstream from the industrial production chain .
from superficial observations of society , it would seem that the quality of life of many individuals and families in both the old and the new EU has recently undergone considerable changes , but unfortunately these changes are for the worse .
in fact , the European Parliament has asked the Commission to come up with a legislative proposal by July 2010 , which should award compensation to passengers with airline companies that go bankrupt , introduce the principle of mutual responsibility for passengers of all airlines flying to the same destination with available seats , provide compulsory insurance for airlines , establish a guarantee fund and offer voluntary insurance services for passengers .
according to the rapporteur , without EU assistance , safety may be compromised insofar as Type WWER 440 / 230 reactors have serious design faults which it would not be possible to overcome .
we should support the Israeli and Egyptian authorities in their fight against human trafficking .
I believe we also have to build on the fact that a certain general attitude to the institutions of the European Union is changing .
that means savings as regards contractual obligations and savings in areas such as conferences , mission costs , meetings and information technology .
it tried to blame this tragedy on an invisible enemy and ' asymmetrical threats ' , implying internal or external terrorist activity .
Member States ' experiences of programmes facilitating educational exchanges for young people show clearly that they not only promote a good education , but also play a positive role in terms of European integration thanks to acquisition of the languages , cultures and traditions of individual countries .
my machine allows me to vote ' for ' , but not ' against ' .
however , it is in essence a paean to ESDP , which we have opposed both in principle and in practice for more than ten years .
to include the 18 additional MEPs without losing the three German seats will require a revision of Protocol 36 of the Lisbon Treaty .
taxation of unleaded petrol and gas oil (
( NL ) Mr President , we applaud the fact that this report emphasises the EIB 's zero tolerance policy with regard to fraud and corruption and also highlights the increasing number of investigations being conducted by OLAF .
the United Nations has also spoken out in favour of a moratorium on the death penalty , and this is an important statement .
we are looking forward to a busy EU-US calendar .
Copenhagen will only succeed if we can convey this message of shared responsibility and solidarity .
it is necessary to check whether Union funds are being well used , whether these institutions are meeting the objectives outlined for them , and whether any resources are being wasted .
it is therefore important to attempt to reach agreement between developed and developing countries on speeding up progress .
14 .
the European Union has welcomed the fact that Cuba has signed the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ( ICPPR ) , and the International Covenant on Economic , Social and Cultural Rights ( ICESCR ) .
this will enable the difficult but necessary adaptation processes to be implemented in Europe and in Germany , in particular , in a balanced way and on a sound political footing .
you are here now with no mandate and the bottom line is that the people of the UK and in most parts of Europe have had no say on Lisbon .
this government , of course , has as its main objective the suppression of civil society and the promotion of a oneparty system .
Mr President , please treat this as a small token of appreciation for your excellent work .
it also involves maintaining a political dialogue with our main partners to combat situations of real monetary protectionism and situations that threaten the legitimate interests of European producers .
liberalisation is not an end in itself .
it is therefore necessary for us to reduce the administrative burdens , concerns shared by the Council and the European Parliament , and for the Commission to speed up the process of approving operational programmes and projects so as to avoid delays in execution .
this will mean real kilometres of roads , modernised railway lines and airports .
importantly , it is also clarified that there should not be conflicts between the mandate of a national supervisor and its role within CEIOPS .
my third point , finally , is that gender equality necessarily relies on women having control of their own bodies .
proposing a comprehensive directive is a necessity and is plain common sense .
for that we need more investment in research , development and innovation to ensure that renewable resources achieve a level of competitiveness similar to that of conventional energy .
they are the backbone of the EU and cannot be excluded from the EU 's common future .
as for breast-feeding , women with maternity leave lasting 18 weeks would have sufficient time to breast-feed their children , without having to adjust their working hours .
that is why it is important that the Council and the Commission undertake a careful analysis of this issue .
this may bring us closer to the idea of a European railway system , similar to the road or aviation system .
the SBA calls on the Member States to improve the business environment for SMEs , so its principles should be duly implemented and adopted .
it was simply a question of how we should implement it , of whether we should create a new fund at a European level for refitting old ships or whether we should put in place a strategy .
a hundred years ago the population of Europe represented 15 % of the world 's population .
I am leaving but the Presidency continues .
another thing that is common to all the money used is that there are rules that must be followed , and if those rules are not followed , a penalty must be paid .
at the same time , in recognising the fact of increasing integration and growing dependences between individual financial markets , we need to ensure maximum compatibility between the new European system and the American , Japanese and Chinese systems .
therefore , this resolution deals with issues which are outside the European Union 's sphere of competence .
we would like to help achieve an effective political agreement within the Council on this subject which , in our view , is extremely important and deserves our closest attention .
this makes it possible to obtain complete and fully comparable information on the international trade in goods .
once again it must at the very least be paradigmatic that , following the failure of the so-called ' European economic recovery plan ' and the proclaimed ' European solidarity ' , the first and , up to now , only proposal to create a Community support programme is aimed at the financial services !
these amounts are appropriate .
( FR ) Madam President , Commissioner , Mr President-in-Office of the Council , I am delighted that we are today able to discuss and vote for a resolution on an issue that in my view does not get enough attention , for the situation facing the border communities of Sudan , Chad and the Central African Republic is quite simply intolerable and it is something that must never be forgotten in this House .
for that reason , it would be better if the list of offences were to be amended via the codecision rather than the comitology procedure .
public authorities make the operating framework as favourable as possible and business and industry devises concepts to meet market demand in the best way possible .
in the short term , we must provide temporary incentives and financial support , through the European Investment Bank or other means , to ensure the survival and recovery of the sector .
Madam President , I welcome the statement by the President this evening on Gaza and , indeed , the decision of Parliament to have a resolution on the issue to urge an immediate , unilateral ceasefire by all sides in the Gaza conflict .
I am convinced that an unprecedented perspective is opening up , which is creating the necessary conditions for the peaceful settlement of the conflict between Israel and Palestine .
we will work until we have solved these problems - there are hundreds of problems to be solved and I cannot do it alone .
this is also because you are giving the Member States the option to opt out of equal treatment with regard to payment of pensions when they return to their countries , to family benefits and to welfare benefits for the unemployed , except for unemployment benefit itself .
it is not countries with competition that have an unregulated gambling market .
I am referring to major problems , such as the state of the infrastructure and the fact that things are improving , including in terms of reducing noise or other pollution .
it is identical in content to the Constitution that was kicked into touch by the French and by the Dutch .
it should deliver not merely political commitments but binding agreements and sanctions for non-compliance .
Mr President , Commissioner , thank you .
in any case , this is what I must now focus on and , Mr Mitchell , I will take great care in doing so .
I voted in favour of the resolution on EU action on oil exploration and extraction in Europe , since I consider it necessary to enhance safety and working conditions on offshore oil platforms in the European Union with a view to preventing environmental disasters such as the one that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico .
Mr President , answering that kind of question in 30 seconds is clearly an almost impossible task .
I fully support patients being fully informed and being made equal partners with doctors , sharing in decisions and also taking their share of responsibility for such decisions .
indeed , the finger is not even pointed at Islamic extremism .
as a third step , we must also ask third countries in the neighbourhood of the EU to join this assessment and raise the level of their safety requirements .
rural development is where the major problem lies , and let that now be the very policy area within agriculture where we see major expansion in coming years .
in my view , the 2011 budget , which is being put to the vote tomorrow , shows that the Committee on Budgets thinks it important that we also try in future to create growth via the regions .
Pactio Olisipio censenda est !
a 100 % target should be set for citizens to have both access to , and the ability to use , e-services .
it is regrettable that we are not able to conclude our debates with a resolution .
of course , I also dedicate it to all those women in Europe who find themselves in the same situation .
I trust that they will prove to be effective .
it is not enough to simply add the word ' solidarity ' by way of an amendment in order to make this European energy policy acceptable when , moreover , the very same amendment prohibits the EU from intervening in the operation of the market .
after all , that report states that the Commission 's action programme to reduce administrative burdens by 25 % by 2012 ' cannot [ ... ] be equated to a deregulation , nor lead to a change in the policy objectives and level of ambition contained in Community legislation ' .
it would be even more interesting to ask ourselves what kind of a common policy we had at the beginning of the 1990s .
I am worried .
however , the increase in venture capital called for by the European Parliament is to be rejected on principle .
Commissioner Mandelson therefore thinks it is particularly important not to back down in the WTO negotiations , but to create fresh impetus here .
I firmly believe , however , that it would be absolutely intolerable and unacceptable if Kosovo declared its independence unilaterally and we more or less acquiesced .
in the Europe 2020 strategy , we therefore need an initiative for green jobs .
it is estimated that WEEE will increase to 12.3 million tonnes by 2020 .
and , to answer one of the rapporteur 's suggestions immediately , I could say that , yes , I am ready to come here every six months , as Parliament calls me , to monitor the implementation of these agreements .
can I also state outright that I very much appreciate the fact that development issues have been so central in this part of the debate .
could you please reassure this House that we will not just turn to the creation of more EU legislation , which no doubt at some point in the future will itself be overturned by a European court , but instead tell us how we can effectively support Greece and other Member States that are currently operating under such burdens ?
( the President cut off the speaker )
you address the fact that this entails crop rotations .
the Atlantic region offers significant and dynamic maritime activity and has at its core regions that are very different from one another , but which have the common characteristic of depending on activities in the maritime basins of this ocean .
it is important to increase the transparency of the relevant processes and to enable democratic scrutiny of them .
instead it will be in the interests of Hamas if they want to gain legitimacy in the peace process .
I think it is critically important that we have a strong response regarding stability of the euro area ; that we are not , as happened sometimes in the past , behind the curve but ahead of the curve ; that we give a comprehensive response which restores confidence in the determination of the euro area and the European Union as a whole , and not just by statements but by acting .
without a definition of territorial cohesion , which Parliament is waiting for , the integrated concept of economic , social and territorial cohesion provides the future basis for EU regional policy and for the Structural Funds ' format after 2009 .
I think that the European Commission needs to be more involved by proposing both a minimum EU salary and pension level .
this means that there are no grounds for any type of opt-out to apply in this area . I trust that both Poland and the United Kingdom will choose to opt in instead .
Mr Tannock , I do all the same believe , as the whole of the Council does , that we need a recovery that is concerted but can be reversed when there is a return to growth conditions .
given these appalling statistics it is right that we should give support to Africa , to provide clean drinking water and allow the African population to develop sustainably .
however , our satisfaction that we managed to reach an understanding is , in very many respects , marred by several important elements .
we cannot , however , get around the responsibility that falls to the port State and the Commission itself under this proposal .
today Georgia , tomorrow Ukraine and Belarus .
I believe that the procedure for allocating these funds must be simplified to make the EGF easy to access for firms affected by the impact of the financial and economic crisis and by the changes in global trade patterns .
this exercise was simple and consensual , but it was more difficult to reach agreement on measures to address the Single Market fatigue mentioned in the Monti report and to achieve the holistic , concerted approach to respond to citizens ' needs and mistrust , which were clearly identified in the Grech report adopted by this House in May last year .
secondly , it is an important debate because it enables us to enhance the generosity and solidarity of our society .
you only need to look at those Member States that have a well-developed parental insurance system .
the obligation to inform all neighbours before spraying would only cause mass hysteria , leaving aside the fact that it would bring with it an enormous amount of counterproductive bureaucracy , which becomes obsolete anyway with the removal of CMR1 products from the market .
I want us to differentiate between these three situations because the western Balkans , Iceland and Turkey present three different scenarios from an integration perspective .
besides these new instruments , we have to be aware that the market is changing and is globalising very rapidly , and that in the confrontation between the globalised , evolving market and national supervisors , these instruments are completely inappropriate and the supervision unsuccessful .
we oppose discrimination of all kinds , but we do not believe that a comprehensive framework directive at European level is really the right way to protect those affected .
I believe resources should be made available from the European Union 's budget , at least for the new Member States . they are the ones with the most work to complete in a short time .
as a representative of a predominantly rural constituency , I have received a considerable number of representations from highly concerned constituents in the farming community on this particular dossier .
labour market policy measures , such as the introduction of minimum wages , should also be left to be decided at the national level .
these are the latest steps in this process of interference and extortion , which is openly colonial in complexion .
at the same time , constructive strategies on regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations are key elements of the stabilisation and association process .
voting time
it is time for solidarity .
studies show that using a software application to filter the dangers which children are exposed to protects 90 % of children , while parents and immediate guardians are responsible for protecting the remaining 10 % .
author . - Mr President , the practice of caning - the hitting of a person with a cane - is a form of corporal punishment that is often applied in Malaysia and this is a reason for concern , because tens of thousands of people are subject to this kind of punishment , particularly immigrants , and the list of offences that can lead to caning is growing .
the new agreement is one way to do this .
instead , however , the committee chair , Mr Leinen , allowed the committee to continue voting on amendments to the original text of the report - and this despite there being no report to amend !
I think it is really up to us to deliver now : Parliament , Council and Commission .
in my report , I remind the Commission that , during the discussions on the future financial framework , it has committed itself to ensuring that the European Development Fund becomes a truly integral part of the European budget .
on behalf of the PPE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , Mrs Schauvliege , Commissioner , if we are to learn anything from Copenhagen , where you , Commissioner , were of course President , then it should be that the European Union must speak with one voice at such conferences in future .
it really seems to us a little premature to be talking at the moment about mandatory contributions when there has so far been no decision , within the International Maritime Organization , as to what the system is to be that is to be adopted through this funding , and it seems to me that the European Commission does not have a clear response on this subject either .
those that allegedly were responsible for instigating or carrying out war crimes or crimes against humanity should face the law and , if found guilty , must be punished accordingly .
I also consider it reasonable for Parliament to award prizes , especially for the purpose of supporting European cinema .
the FNL must now come to the negotiating table , turn itself into a genuine political party and participate in the country 's recovery and reconstruction .
I am very uneasy , of course , about the very slow progress of the Commission .
the payments are thus limited to 0.89 % of GNI , that is to say , an unprecedented level that is drastically widening the gap between commitments and payments and this is something that goes against budgetary discipline .
it is the responsibility of the Commission , Parliament , the Member States , the competent authorities and every local community concerned , and all of us , to make this a reality .
yet today , as the representative of a small country , I cannot agree with the Commission 's suggestion that membership of a special commission should be made dependent on the number of employees in a company .
the Brazilian Government is pushing through legislation making provision for a total ban on the manufacture and sale of cigarettes containing different ingredients , known as blended cigarettes .
I would like to remind you that it was not the opposition which deposed the government ; it was MPs from the government 's own party and from its coalition partner , the Green Party .
however , the controls must be proportionate to the circumstances which they aim to bring about .
I cannot believe that the Czech President would rather adhere to the letter-borne requests of the opposition leader of a country that has already ratified the treaty than the views of his own parliament and his own constitutional court .
( PL ) The Report on Integrated Maritime Policy makes us think more carefully and requires that we give the matter greater attention .
at a political level , there is a need for immediate action to build the capacity of the Haitian State in terms of democracy and good governance , which are essential for national reconstruction , and to ensure that Haitian civil society and the Haitian people are involved
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( FI ) Mr President , Commissioner , President of the European Court of Auditors , Vice-President of the Commission Siim Kallas has , generally speaking , done good work to improve budgetary control , and especially to increase administrative transparency .
the financial , economic and social crisis has caused the Member States of the European Union great difficulties , reflected by the serious situation of their public finances .
it will also have the effect of making the decisions taken and the actions implemented under the Common Foreign and Security Policy subject to the European Convention , even though they are outside the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the European Union .
in some regions , unemployment is at 25 % .
why , then , should this sanction be lifted ?
defending the harmonisation of quality standards for tourist accommodation in Europe and supporting the setting up of a European ' umbrella ' for quality management systems ;
'It doesn 't matter if a cat is black or white , so long as it catches mice ' , as Deng Xiaoping used to say .
the joint debate is closed .
as several speakers have said , we must consider our strengths , in particular , new information technologies and research and development , with all the flexibility available in medical and health care services , and all that can be done to assist with prenatal diagnosis , early years assistance and community child care .
I understood from what you said , Mr Lehne , that the crisis was caused by the socialists in Europe .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , the failure of the Working Time Directive was inevitable .
although the organ shortage remains the biggest challenge facing us at the moment , there are far more difficulties related to the different transplant systems which are used in Member States .
not even the evidence of terror and the aggressive stance against a European Union Member State have triggered such a reaction as has the distortion of a legitimate decision from Romania to speed up the process for regaining Romanian citizenship for those who lost it unwillingly in tragic historical circumstances , which the West has some share in the responsibility for .
under the current fragmented patent system , patents have to be translated into the language of each of the States for which they have been granted , imposing exorbitant costs on entrepreneurs , start-ups and other innovation-based SMEs for translations : obtaining a patent is thirteen times more expensive in the EU than in the US and eleven times more expensive than in Japan .
I must say that I am pleased with the result that Mrs Neris has achieved .
greater account must be taken of the wide range of vocational skills , interests and achievements of women .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - Madam President , first of all I want to pay tribute to the Council and congratulate them for their efforts , particularly with regard to Russia and the situation in Georgia .
the first relates to democracy .
he reiterated China 's commitment to non-interference in the internal policies of other countries , but , at the same time , he assured me that China would continue to play a quiet but serious role and urge flexibility and a more positive approach on the Burmese regime .
it is of major importance for people 's well-being and also for European competitiveness .
secondly , as regards fairness , why is a Swedish car worker supported to the tune of EUR 6 500 , while an Austrian car worker gets EUR 14 300 ?
against that measure we are still failing .
it is only through these joint efforts that Africa will be able to benefit from a sustainable health care system which is accessible to all .
in other cases , it really is a long time before the Commission , as a collegial body , produces a result .
it is vital that energy efficiency and renewable energy play an increasing role in developing and emerging countries for a wide range of reasons - lowering carbon dioxide emissions , cutting energy supply dependence , tackling energy poverty and creating jobs and development opportunities - indeed , for all the same reasons that it is vital that energy efficiency and renewable energy play an increasing role here in the EU .
this is because that report is characterised by a high degree of confusion between objective truth and subjective assessments .
they see an EU-Canada agreement as a vehicle to force extensive privatisation in areas like public transport , water provision and electricity .
that being the case , I should like to answer some questions on minorities .
today there are a significant number of countries that are embarking on the democratic process .
a large proportion of the budget goes to the EU 's agricultural policy .
there is also the formulation on reimbursement in case of delay ( at least 2 hours , with half of the ticket price to be reimbursed - compare rail transport with reimbursement from 1 hour 's delay ) .
both the Council and the Commission still claim that the massive - not ad hoc - collection and storage of PNR data is necessary and proportional in view of the fight against terrorism .
I therefore think a symbolic gesture is very important .
moreover , European development aid must be adequately funded .
since that time new challenges have appeared in a globalised economy , and new Member States have entered the EU , including mine , Poland .
I would like to thank the Commissioner and Mrs Kauppi for this report .
eventually , certain regions and habitats become no longer habitable or can no longer be used .
the human rights situation in Iran has seriously deteriorated recently , and we should keep condemning the systematic violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms , especially those carried out on juvenile offenders and women .
Parliament 's great achievement was that it succeeded in the budget negotiations in guaranteeing the programme 's funding by increasing the amount set aside for it by EUR 2.4 billion for six years .
however , we still have legislation blocked in the Council , such as the legislation on the Solidarity Fund , and also the legislation on land protection , which we think would be extremely useful .
in view of the economic situation , it is extremely important that the Structural Funds are exploited effectively in the outermost regions in order to support recovery measures .
this was also the aim of the President of the Commission if I understood him correctly when he spoke a few minutes ago .
this measure will ensure the free circulation of medicines in the European Union by abandoning the controls required to guarantee the quality of imported medicines and will help establish and make the internal market operate efficiently .
I welcome the fact that the ECJ has adopted the practice of including in its activity report a chapter outlining the follow-up during the year to Parliament 's previous discharge decisions and to reports of the Court of Auditors .
in connection with these tragic events , on 19 January , the European Parliament adopted a resolution describing the situation on the island one year after the disaster .
it is October , and we are not very much farther .
we therefore need an integrated European response to the crisis , which will not replace or overlook the responsibilities of the Member States to keep to their word and restructure their public finances , but which will protect these economies from attacks by the markets and help to ensure that their efforts are successful .
to those who ask who is now responsible for the closure of airspace , I would ask them who would be responsible if the airspace had not been closed and something had happened .
we are not at this point saying that the President or government of Pakistan have shown ill will .
many of the key Member States of the European Union have decided to support the vehicle-manufacturing sector .
Madam President , I am grateful to Commissioner Hedegaard for indicating that she understands the basic dilemma of climate policy : the EU cannot make reductions alone , because then not only will our own results be in vain , but we will create the risk that the environment will suffer .
in this respect my own country is an unfortunately good example .
how did the Prime Minister of Turkey respond ?
let us do the impact assessments , let us consult with industry and then let us dismantle the legislation which is holding us back .
the margins in this sector are , in fact , highly dependent on the costs of foodstuffs .
it is very clear that climate change is a challenge which can only be tackled through a concerted global effort .
however , this amendment by the GUE / NGL Group was also rejected .
just a few weeks ago , we adopted an urgent resolution condemning what had happened to Coptic Christians in Alexandria , Egypt , who had been cruelly murdered just because they wanted to profess their faith freely and respectfully .
currently , arrangements made for trade policy regarding the import of feed from the USA are also unsatisfactory .
current signals from Geneva have not been positive , and the Commissioner admitted not so long ago that the negotiations were in dire straits .
in writing . - ( IT ) Thank you , Madam President , I am voting for the report by Zita Gurmai and would like to congratulate her on her excellent work .
it was signed by us Heads of State and Government and not by the European Commission .
it is difficult for our group to support this situation and it is for this reason that we feel obliged to abstain .
the debate on resources and the participation of private capital is wool over the workers ' eyes .
12 .
extraordinary brutality is characteristic of this regime ; its catalogue of crimes includes rape , torture , forced labour and the use of child soldiers .
I would however like to make three criticisms , which I hope the European Commission will implement in the coming White Paper .
on the other side are Iran and Syria and their allied regimes that are playing out their contest for political , military , nuclear and regional supremacy in Lebanon .
I think that as China is one of the engines driving global development , it should fully assume responsibility for guaranteeing the sustainable and balanced development of the global economy .
Franz Müntefering saw that and that is why he has voted with his feet .
this means that we have not finished .
firstly : is terrorism stronger or weaker as a result of our legislative initiatives ?
these are the words of the beloved Pope John Paul II who , in his encyclical entitled Centesimus Annus , reprised the subjects tackled by his predecessor Leo XIII in the encyclical Rerum Novarum .
for three days there has been no outflow from Libya on that section of the border .
that is the result of the current situation and we are aware of this .
( FR ) Mr President , I am one of those members of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats who voted for the report .
14 .
we recommend for consideration the proposal that prudential supervision be introduced for this institution as well in the interest of the precise measurement of the quality of the EIB 's financial situation and its results , as well as compliance with effective and successful business practice .
I would like to thank both the Chairman and the shadow rapporteurs for their sterling work .
Council , let us step back .
indeed , the economic development of an area has various dimensions that are not included in GDP , which takes a snapshot of a given moment .
something that politicians hoped would encourage continued development and give consumers much needed guidance has instead helped to stem the development of better products and made it more difficult for consumers to make the right choices .
the potential for macro-financial assistance is , to be honest , rather limited , and the list of countries asking for this support is quite long .
seldom has a European Council meeting taken place in such difficult and tense circumstances .
thank you .
on the one hand , I recall that in the last 14 or 15 years , this has not been the case , since the European Court of Auditors did not feel able to approve the execution of the annual budgets .
on both points , we are clear .
health inequalities within the European Union are a matter of fact and must be overcome .
indeed , the Council refused to allow the delegated acts procedure to be applied to strategy papers and multiannual indicative programmes , and hence refused to implement the advances of the Treaty of Lisbon .
cooperation with countries outside Europe is thus becoming particularly important .
you probably know that the Council is preparing for the next round of talks on human rights between the European Union and China .
the people of Europe themselves have been very generous when it comes to showing solidarity but , unfortunately , there is a great risk of people forgetting or being made to forget the tragedy that our Haitian brothers are suffering .
I was in Cairo last weekend and met many young people there in Tahrir Square .
the elite decides , and the public coughs up .
the use of the institution of marriage cannot be accepted in any way other than in the Christian sense .
moreover , there are major regional conflicts , for example , the Middle East peace process , the Iranian nuclear challenge or the issue of Afghanistan , which , in my view , are worthy of coordinated action by the United States and the European Union .
Wednesday - no changes
I am sceptical as to whether Kosovo was ready for independence .
at the request of the GUE / NGL Group and with the consent of all groups , I propose that statements on the situation in Gaza by Mr Javier Solana , High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy , who is already with us and to whom I bid a very warm welcome , and by the Commission be added to today 's agenda as item 2 , following the statements on the situation in Iran .
more importance should be given to this particular consideration in the current report , and so I abstained from voting .
we have lots of other ones , but this one is the key one for us in the European Union .
however , I believe that these countries , where military intervention has become unavoidable due to civil war , must not be confused with the countries we are discussing now , even though these repressive countries , these authoritarian , repressive countries , are also toying with the use of violence .
President of the Commission . - I could never suggest that the Commission go against the treaties , because it is its duty to ensure that the treaties are respected .
thus , Parliament has given the go-ahead for the integration of these two countries into the Schengen area and equal rights for their citizens , who have not enjoyed the right to move freely in the past .
Commissioner , you have attempted to explain the reason why we are not working on a codecision basis .
the Commission is ready , and will be ready , to negotiate on the basis of what you include in your report .
I would , however , welcome more concrete proposals for improving the current situation .
every year , in the EU alone , an estimated 9.3 million tonnes of electrical and electronic equipment ( EEE ) are sold annually , the biggest share of which are large household appliances and IT and telecommunication equipment .
we also have to consider - as you have in practically all your speeches - what the deadline should be for removing public aid for coal mining under non-competitive conditions .
the second point that I would like to make is that the contribution of the new Member States to humanitarian aid tends to be rather modest .
it gives the impression that in the sphere of fundamental rights , the situation in the European Union is bad .
finally , we must restore public confidence in financial institutions through measures which include greater transparency , better risk management and appropriate regulation .
that is why we abstained .
just as the Polish Solidarity movement was able to change the face of Poland and other countries in Central Europe , so European solidarity will enable us to meet the challenges before which we stand today .
more to the point , in her report , Mrs Thomsen supports the target of at least 40 % women and 40 % men on the various committees under the Framework Programme .
the debate is closed .
I ask the Council to pay closer attention to this matter , especially with regard to structural changes in the areas of the common agricultural policy and the Cohesion policy .
34 .
there is a real opportunity between now and the presidential elections in Northern Cyprus in April which should be seized , and this is a matter for all sides .
that is what I wanted to say in conclusion , but rest assured that all the comments that have been made this evening will be brought to the attention of the Commissioners because , once again , this is a complex subject area which necessitates several lines of action on the part of the Commission and which also requires an unwavering commitment from the Council and from Parliament .
it has to be done .
you are right , the people who disappeared at sea are not illegal migrants ;
in writing . - ( LT ) The draft Commission report strongly supports the development of a more animal welfare friendly approach to the issue of the use of animals in scientific experimentation .
therefore , we cannot logically oppose these contributions .
of course , EU presence in the region is very important , and I also want to underline that .
that is why I voted in favour of the original text proposed .
Mr Solano , you know better than anyone that Europe is expected to take its place on the world stage , as dictated by its economic and demographic power and its wealth of democratic and humanist values .
Orlando Zapata , a Cuban political prisoner , died having staged a hunger strike .
I think , however , that we should be very careful about forming unequivocal , categorical and final judgments .
it should be remembered that the main incentive for Afghan growers to produce opiates is financial profit .
for crisis management purposes , the systemic banks should also be subject to financial stability arrangements at European level .
it is important that this text should be approved without delay , so that Regulation 1408 / 71 can be updated , ensuring legal certainty and observance of citizens ' rights .
I will recommend to the Conference of Presidents that we consider this matter in May .
for example , we will assess the Commission 's consultation guidelines against the new provisions of the treaty and decide whether adjustments are necessary to further improve them , and we have already started the work on the citizens ' initiative by launching a public consultation , to listen to the citizens and the stakeholders before presenting a proposal .
as regards the Galileo project , on which there has little progress since we did not see all of its potential , the applications in terms of achieving a reduction in emissions should present another challenge .
the report will put forward much of what I have been able to say in these few minutes , and much else besides .
this brings up again the whole problem of the Bolkestein Directive and the provisions of the treaty on which it is based .
the vote will take place on Thursday at 12 noon .
all countries in the world need to have a stake in the international economy through trade .
liberalisation of trade between the Union and Mercosur must be preceded by an accurate analysis of the effect of such an agreement on the Community market and careful consultations with representatives of the parties involved .
in some EU Member States outside the euro area , inflation is higher than in the vast majority of the countries within the euro area .
therefore , the way in which we pursue our energy policy and how we deal with those who we expect to invest in the projects is important .
we will now return to our usual business .
mine , I suspect , may be different to that of the rapporteur , but that is not the point .
suddenly , in this crisis , all these five are met .
the fact that President Saakashvili has already called presidential elections on 5 January 2008 is a positive step that has already helped to ease the tensions in the country .
it left its domestic problems and issues to one side and concentrated on following a course of action that corresponded to the proposals of the European Parliament , the European Commission and the European Council , and on supporting these institutions .
as far as the progress report is concerned , Iceland stands up to international comparison in numerous areas and in others , even leads the field : I am thinking here of areas such as per capita income , education , research and development , and the safeguarding of human rights .
of course , we also require the Kosovo authorities to implement the Ahtisaari proposals , to make genuine investment in a multiethnic state and to put in place sufficient guarantees for Serbians living in Kosovo .
thank you .
the EUR 300 million of exceptional funding given to the dairy sector in the 2010 budget was especially beneficial for dairy farmers , who were suffering greatly because of the crisis .
in this case , we should be guided by the principle of ' if it ain 't broke , don 't fix it ' .
we criticised this agreement at the time , as it will mainly benefit the US multinationals that dominate the global market in the sector .
it is therefore important for the European Union to improve its quality policy and , at the same time , improve its information policy .
( ES ) Mr President , we all agree that the current crisis is much more severe and much deeper than had been forecast .
neither the European Union nor Russia can solve these problems alone .
in writing . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to confirm my vote for the resolution on the Maritime Labour Convention , 2006 ( procedures relating to social dialogue ) .
in conclusion , the strategy , as amended by Parliament , could provide substantial added value over individual national policies , especially as it would be possible to direct the work of the Member States towards common objectives .
strengthening the NPT regime ?
a series of initiatives is being developed in the private sector , for example , the Monnet project , PayFair , and the European Alliance of Payment Schemes .
will you vote in favour ?
this process is only just beginning .
1 .
many , including Mr Coelho , have mentioned this problem related to the amendment of the asylum decision .
today 's visit by the King of Jordan is the third since 2002 , when His Majesty first addressed the European Parliament .
I think of all the bits of paper we produce in this Parliament .
( the sitting was closed at 11.50 p.m. )
increase the TACs , and I believe you will correspondingly reduce the discards and swell the food supply , without depleting the biomass more than we do at present through discards .
in writing . - I support this report on the conclusion of an interinstitutional agreement between Parliament and the Commission on a common transparency register .
at the same time , the European Council must take forward an active policy agenda .
however , natural disasters and poverty resulting from the lack of adequate economic and democratic structures are also among the most frequent causes of migration flows .
in the same way as I gave my support to the EU-Korea Free Trade Agreement , I also voted in favour of the proposal for a regulation implementing its bilateral safeguard clause .
Mr President , Mr Oettinger , you already know that I do not trust your stress tests .
in particular , we consider it unacceptable that Spain and Germany have not been forwarding information on irregularities to the Commission in electronic form , despite an obligation on all Member States to do so .
the Commission should carry out regular analyses and research . the analyses should be based on information about investment projects in the energy infrastructure of individual countries , with an emphasis not only on facilities which are currently in use , but also on analysis of investment projects which aim to increase diversification , both of the sources of the raw materials for energy and the way they are transported and processed .
imports are necessary .
there can be no doubt , however , that the greatest progress is achieved by giving third countries an incentive to comply with the political and economic requirements that form part of agreements .
I welcome the proposal to incorporate Eurocode 8 instructions in the planning regulations of vulnerable countries .
however , we would then be very keen to hear what has been done in respect of the recommendations made in this report , notably as regards the cooperation with the Member States but also with regard to the Council 's own role , to which attention is drawn in this report .
the two main actors of CCA are as follows : first , the Presidency , assisted by the Council Secretariat and the Commission , decides whether to trigger the CCA ; second , COREPER II is the ' action platform ' responsible for coordinating Member States ' action or preparing any decisions that may need to be taken at EU level .
however , it is important to note that light commercial vehicles cannot be compared with passenger cars , and that the proposal of 150 g of CO2 / km is ambitious , but feasible .
from the end of the 19th century , the railways , together with the postal services , were one of the main responsibilities of the State .
( DE ) Mr President-in-Office , do you know that Mr Papadimoulis is completely isolated here ?
it will be the Parliament elected on 7 June that will negotiate for the third reading .
the registration of documents is an obligation under internal Commission rules , but these do not determine whether a document falls within the scope of the regulation .
thank you .
these are the responsibility of the Member States , and European funding can provide them with valid support .
I would like to thank my fellow Members for participating in this debate .
it is quite true , as Mr Deva said previously , that the situation has also become partly politicised .
we have chosen to address this matter today because it is more important than ever to focus on providing finance for our small and medium-sized enterprises in Europe .
as you know , as a follow-up to the Commission communication called ' Towards a Comprehensive Climate Change Agreement in Copenhagen ' and on the basis of the input of the Temporary Committee on Climate Change set up by the European Parliament , the Council adopted conclusions on this issue last week , thereby further developing the EU position on a comprehensive post-2012 agreement .
lastly , I am very pleased that during negotiations , we managed to research and guarantee the maximum level of assistance for disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility , giving them the option of being accompanied at no extra cost .
the term ' simplified procedure ' conceals the fact that it is possible for this type of procedure to fail .
the fact that we are today debating both reports can be said to be progress .
( it ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , Beijing + 15 is confronted this year with a financial , economic and employment crisis that is having a negative impact on the living and working conditions of millions of women throughout Europe and the world , but which may represent an opportunity to review development models , the organisation of the labour market and social policies .
I would like to thank Mrs Doyle , Mr Mitchell and others who pointed out that it is necessary to respect the decision of the Member States .
the use of renewable energy should also be promoted in fiscal policy .
the sugar plants played an important role in the agricultural sector , particularly in Ireland , where there were processing plants in Cork and in Carlow , and it could be argued that the reform put an end to the sugar sector in Ireland .
it is important for international support not to be limited to political declarations , but to focus first and foremost on providing appropriate financial , organisational and technical assistance .
the EU , for its part , has focused more and more on police operations and the use of paramilitary carabineers in them .
surely , rather than quality marks and gestures like this , we should be trusting the market , we should trust the consumers and we should trust the people .
I regret that there is no separate financial framework and that it was put under cohesion policy , which is otherwise entirely correct because if you proceed all the way along the Danube , you can see the awfully big differences that exist between the different regions .
one-minute speeches on matters of political importance
cooperation between payment agencies and improved data exchange are very important factors here .
it is a strange , however , that amongst the people who received the most advantage and support from the campaign to help give financial support , it is Sinn Féin that is against the Lisbon Treaty and against the European process .
we ought to be informed directly .
this move will be institutionalising inefficiency and there is no justification for it .
it also offers new maritime transport opportunities .
Europe 's potential rate of increase remains very low .
achieving a comprehensive and ambitious post-2012 agreement on climate change is indubitably one of the greatest challenges for global environmental governance .
violence against women is not only a question of crime and injustice against women , but also a question of men being the perpetrators , and it is a question of equality .
China enjoys a large surplus on its balance of trade with the EU .
as to who bears the lion 's share of responsibility , I believe that it is not our job here to judge the Albanian people .
but what we have not done here is to regulate hunting .
quite the reverse : only we Europeans are targeted ad nauseam .
we are winning the trust of European citizens ; now we must show that we deserve that trust .
droughts , heat waves , floods and fires are devastating Europe .
this is a clear indication that we will hopefully soon be dealing with only seven or perhaps even three airspaces , instead of with the current 27 , as part of measures to improve air safety and implement the single European sky .
a very wide range of views was expressed in today 's matter-of-fact businesslike discussion , some of them critical but all sharing the view that climate change is now under way and there is no doubt that with today 's level of civilisation we can manage to influence it and our responsibility to future generations is to reach agreement on effective measures .
those who provide such services and those who use them consciously should also be faced with sanctions .
I voted against the European Parliament resolution on the negotiations for the free trade agreement between the EU and India .
to work with Palestine is to work for its right to a state , a territory , to be able to see prosperity on the horizon and to deal with all the outstanding issues .
the procedure was very fast and effective .
is this a way of reconciling our citizens with Europe ?
I would add to that the subtitle ' a Europe of rules ' .
the summaries cannot be compared and they do not contain all the information we need .
we are looking at the law in this respect , as raised by Mr Tavares and others .
( SL ) We in the Environment Committee expected the creation of common standards for criminal prosecution in the case of environmental offences to go beyond this compromise and , in addition to Community law , to cover Member State legislation as well .
in some Member States , the number of unemployed that grows daily has reached a critical level and some national governments ' crisis management plans are making people 's situation significantly worse , since pensions and other important social guarantees are being reduced .
in the end , this is quite acceptable .
however , the Commission has only just started implementing our recommendations for improving the conditions under which our citizens and companies do business , now that we are facing a crisis .
have a nice day , Mr President , but first cure the tunnel vision .
this is a big operation , but it does not alter the fact that the Treaty must be implemented in full and without delay .
healthcare , housing , local communities and childcare must not be treated as commodities .
the Commission will continue to support , within the framework of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights , projects implementing the EU 's basic principles of supporting and protecting the rights of the child , and the principles concerning children affected by armed conflicts .
I believe this is a magnificent directive , and that it will strengthen the creation of intellectual property .
but , to me , what is even more preoccupying is that more and more young people get involved .
on the one hand we are asking more of applicant countries during the preparation phase , but on the other hand the European Union clearly has to do rather more to manage the arrival of new members appropriately .
this has involved supporting the Commission 's proposal , while also improving it considerably at many points .
it therefore goes without saying that we wish to give our President , Hans-Gert Pöttering , a mandate to sign .
why does nobody see the key statement expressed by the period of detention pending removal , which is that we want to keep it as short as possible and that a person may be detained only if a return is legally possible ?
the Commission accepts , however , that this matter needs to be agreed with those who are most concerned , and is therefore open to reconsidering its position .
Mr Paolo De Castro asked on behalf of the Committee that we say what we are actually doing .
we also need to remember that not all Member States have yet joined the single currency area .
in writing . - ( FI ) My thanks go to the rapporteur for an excellent job .
in relation to risk management , the Commission should receive a message from the House in this report in the perspective of the future CAP reform .
this is not a question of orienting students in line with the desiderata of the private sector , but of enabling young people to take account of the implications of working life .
the European Council has also emphasised that the European Union is committed to transforming Europe into an energy efficient economy , with low emissions of greenhouse gases .
giving all European Union citizens the right to express themselves in their own language in dealings with the EU institutions is a fundamental right in terms of equality , equal opportunities and non-discrimination .
author . - Mr President , despite the request made by the Pakistani Minister for Religious Minorities , Shahbaz Bhatti , for more protection after numerous threats , an assassin managed to murder him on 2 March .
the European Union must not make the same mistake it made prior to the war in Georgia by not taking this conflict seriously enough .
( RO ) Mr President , the high unemployment rate means that the investments made by Member States in young people 's education are being wasted at a time when the latter feel obliged to emigrate to a state outside the European Union .
at the same time , the final result of the voting was scattered on all sides as regards the advantages and disadvantages of biofuels !
this is a positive step - as the Environment Agency of the UK Government has pointed out , one major problem with fighting environmental crime is that fines are too low and thus do not offer sufficient incentives for compliance with environmental regulations .
the truth is that various Member States have been providing long-stay visas and , subsequently , residence permits , without first consulting the SIS , in particular , with respect to the requirements of Article 96 on the effects of a refusal of admission .
it is clear that there is no agreement over what the legal basis should be and we therefore warmly welcome the Commission 's decision to promote an agreement .
we ought therefore to know whether the European Union wants to achieve its objectives and whether the Member States are willing or not to contribute to common policies .
now to the subject of CO2 : in coordination with Chris Davies , the rapporteur for the Committee on Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , we have once again set out a number of central parameters .
he patently failed to do that , and so we can now move on .
I certainly will take on board what Mr Purvis said about looking at what the incidence of short selling contributed to the demise of some of these institutions as against what long-term disposals by long-term investors have contributed to it .
the driving licence issued in a Member State will be recognised in future by all the other Member States .
all have their role to play .
in this context , the Commission will take into account the recommendations made by Parliament concerning future emission targets .
it not only has a father , Mr Bowis , but also a mother , Mrs Grossetête .
the answer leaves no room for doubt : we need a paradigm shift .
of course , last week the prices fell , but nevertheless we can expect prices to remain high .
also , however , concern for the lack of understanding of the fundamental problem , which we here in Parliament have underlined .
there are three key ideas .
the same applies for Iran .
however , I see problems in placing the onus of checking the residential entitlement of workers on employers .
I would like to call attention to a problem that persists in the public sector , namely in the fields where mainly women work - healthcare , social assistance , education , light industry and public administration - which are some of the most poorly remunerated .
let us also keep this crisis in the right perspective , which is that we are actually still talking about a banking crisis .
as such , it needs to increase its role in all the multilateral organisations and , in particular , the United Nations ( UN ) , where its role must be increasingly active following the launch of the European External Action Service ( EEAS ) .
here it is .
I was able to do this in the European Parliament , but under Slovak legislation , this would have been risky without violating the national language law .
as part of the Seventh Framework Research Programme , however , important aspects of an environmentally friendly transport policy are being examined .
we should also express our concern at the fact that the Chinese are preventing another country from providing people with humanitarian aid .
Article 9 of the Treaty of Lisbon refers to ' a high level of employment , the guarantee of adequate social protection ' .
we must also use the financial resources for already existing mechanisms - in other words , we should not be setting up any new funds .
the Commission appears to be deliberately creating grey zones in the application of the European rule of law and European policies for a series of countries .
that became apparent from the referenda in France , the Netherlands and , not least , in Ireland .
for this reason , I , too , voted in favour of this proposal .
the EU must not remain passive .
we now know better , after finding out the hard way during the crisis just how interlinked we are internationally .
I myself have witnessed that by using technology intelligently in the monument protection sector , it is possible to obtain significant results , in terms of both the planning and restoration works .
can the Council promise us this today ?
this is true .
( NL ) Madam President , it is telling that the Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry is here but not the Commissioner for Competition .
both of these are strong reasons why we should not withdraw supporting measures until we have secured our recovery .
the result of the negotiations is the final agreement between the three institutions - the European Parliament , the Council and the European Commission - and it will surely be confirmed by the Council of 24 June , despite the contradictions existing at EU level .
I have had the opportunity to visit Malta and see the African refugee camps located there , so I understand the seriousness of the problem and the unfathomable depths of human despair that lead to desperate attempts to cross the sea to reach Malta and the mainland of the European Union .
furthermore , this Parliament , by an overwhelming majority , supported a limited reform of the Treaty in order to create a new instrument , an instrument which did not even exist before .
what is required here is genuinely sustained development .
subject : humanitarian aid for Libya
for maritime transport to remain one of the least polluting means of transport , progress still needs to be made in reducing emissions of sulphur oxide , nitrogen oxide , particulates ( PM10 ) and CO2 .
obviously , these two major enlargements have increased diversity in the European Union .
I am very concerned that the Commission will fail us in this respect .
as I have maintained , which was also reiterated in the opinion received from the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection and voted on this week , we need to offer Europe 's citizens a much more varied range of business opportunities and ensure that all bilateral agreements with third countries respect consumers ' rights and the principles of competition .
under this law , members are elected to the Council with a two-thirds majority vote in Parliament , while such a democratic mechanism is unknown to the vast majority of European countries .
it is not enough simply to pour money into the system .
what is the use of productive reactors if they buckle under water masses or in the event of earthquakes ?
given recent market developments , interest and expenditure projections also seem to be on the low side .
I agree wholeheartedly with President Jerzy Buzek , who stated at the opening of the plenary session that death can never ever be considered an act of justice .
we have avoided a meltdown of the financial system .
although obesity is an increasing problem , this White Paper does not bring us any closer to a solution .
( SV ) Thank you , Mr President .
next time , I will give you an extra half minute !
( applause )
Romania has a huge number of agri-food products which we do not , unfortunately , come across on European markets , even though many of them are environmentally friendly .
enlargement expands the EU single market , creating more opportunities for economic growth and trade .
one of the most astonishing indications of this is the number of girls suffering from anorexia .
I am happy with the result , at least as regards the part for which I was responsible and where I had a grasp of the overall picture .
Commissioner , we are sure you will do an excellent job but , in the words of another Korean proverb , ' ask the way even when you already know it ' .
when this topic was first reported at committee level , we were experiencing a very different economic climate .
through the creation of this agency , Euratom aimed to ensure a regular and equitable supply of ores , raw materials and special combustible materials in the European Union .
we have often called on them concerning the abolition of the death penalty .
( DE ) Madam President , Morocco 's desire to suppress reports of the incidents in Western Sahara does not show the country in a good light .
as far as the budget problem is concerned , we know that research budgets are under pressure ; in my opinion , our common priorities should be the North-South gap , which was highlighted earlier , as well as excellence .
war criminals must be absolutely certain that they will have to account for their actions .
it should address China in particular , heading up these sad statistics , in an endeavour to bring it closer to applying these universal human rights , in accordance with the Olympic motto ' One World , One Dream ' .
ladies and gentlemen , I am going to give you the opinion of the legal service and of the President of the European Parliament , since he has of course been consulted in accordance with our Rules of Procedure .
there is going to be an exhibition on this subject in Brussels .
today we have three million unemployed , which means that two million people are back in work today .
receiving appropriate payment for one 's work is a basic right .
any other reform will be insufficient .
personally , I consider this way of combating tuberculosis to be an expression of the solidarity of European citizens and an attempt to limit entirely unnecessary deaths resulting simply from a lack of funding for vaccinations in less developed countries .
it has three main policy objectives .
it is unthinkable that the realm of advertising should be excluded .
when will the Commission submit this proposal ?
in order for us to be successful in our efforts , we must ensure three crucial principles .
within the EU , national legislation varies from one Member State to another .
( DE ) Madam President , Mr Weber , as you have just stated that it is only identical in certain sections , it is quite clear that there are also sections where it may be open to question whether the fact that the Hungarian constitution circumscribes the jurisdiction of the constitutional court in tax and budgetary issues is compatible with the principle of the separation of powers .
I would also like to draw attention to the fact that these positive results must now also be integrated into our considerations regarding future action , or in other words the type of action that must be continued and the regulations that must be introduced , in particular with regard to the recovery of funds .
only later does the business learn that it must pay a fee .
such agreements already exist in the case of Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan .
besides Mr Michel 's visit , you will see that the Council has introduced many measures in application of the June conclusions and , next June , at the end of the Czech Presidency , the Council will begin to assess the political dialogue with Cuba and assess its results .
I should like to point out that , only a few weeks ago , the French newspaper Libération published photos of the equipment used to torture Tibetan prisoners in China on the front page , so I do doubt that there has been any positive change .
there will be a vote , but no debate .
regarding the issue of assistance to oil-importing developing countries .
consequently , the real substantive issues of the Black Sea area , like energy and frozen conflicts , are approached either through : the EU Neighbourhood Policy , where the money is ; the future Eastern Partnership , designed to increase the security confidence of the countries involved and secure the energy deliveries to the EU after the Georgian war ; the EU 's strategic relationship with Russia and Ukraine ; or the accession talks with Turkey .
combating this phenomenon , however , requires more than soldiers and mercenaries .
Mr President , I voted against the appointment of the new EU Commission because it will simply continue with the same right-wing , neoliberal economic policy that has already resulted in disastrous crisis in the capitalist economies of many EU States .
the reform of this market adopted barely two years ago contained unfair solutions for the new Member States , as it gave preference to a few old Member States which generate surpluses in the so-called B quotas that are costly to the taxpayer .
in writing . - ( DA ) The three members of the Danish Liberal Party today voted in favour of the report on the EU 's agricultural policy after 2013 .
here , today , we condemn the extremist parties and their organisation . this is just because they are perpetrators of intolerance and intolerance should not be tolerated .
if we continue to merely issue statements then , during future energy crises , when we send EU citizens pamphlets containing our resolutions , they will burn them .
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implementation of electronic public procurement systems in the Member States has led to increased transparency and significant savings to national budgets .
( PL ) Mr President , I support this report , which only proposes a 2 % increase in the quotas for 2008-2009 , because that was what was required in order to achieve a compromise .
how can we be ?
the political climate is right to move ahead .
the enlargement of the European Union is creating jobs in Germany too .
the current debate on the so-called environmental package confirms the ambitious targets Europe has set itself in relation to combating climate change .
I think this report is very timely and can make an impact especially in two areas .
this used to happen in Austria until 1848 , after which the situation improved somewhat .
the European Union and we here in this House have an extraordinary opportunity in this regard to ' reconnect to the people ' , as we so lyrically desire and have repeatedly emphasised .
our continued presence and the achievement of success in Afghanistan depend greatly on a political and military approach that is shared at international level and aimed at a regional approach on the ground within both Afghanistan and Pakistan .
despite the incompleteness of the information , the Commission considered , in a 2007 report , that the framework decision had , in general , been satisfactorily implemented .
I am sure that there isn 't one present European parliamentarian who does not understand the plight of these eighteen politicians .
according to my information , the vessel is now seeking another port at which to offload its cargo , although it seems , in view of the opposition in the area to accepting the shipment , that the vessel might return to China without accomplishing its mission .
I have come to you , ladies and gentlemen , from Palestine bearing a question by a boy named Luay who lost his eyesight because of bombs .
I hope that will happen in respect to the Arctic area .
I welcome the work carried out by the European Maritime Safety Agency .
some particularly vulnerable refugees need to be transferred to Western countries .
I would like to make a couple of general points : since 1988 , which is over 20 years ago now , the European Parliament inaugurated the annual Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought to honour persons or organisations for their contribution to the development of human rights and fundamental values .
representatives of ethnic Hungarian political parties in Slovakia and Romania openly meet to discuss autonomy .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I would like to thank you for a very serious and constructive debate .
such undemocratic powers are illegal in the United Kingdom , because no British Parliament can bind its successors .
6 .
the scope of the Danube strategy will not be limited to taking account of environmental aspects in order to prevent further damage to the Danube ecosystem .
as a result of this , much of the funding returns to the European Union .
we should not go down this dangerous road .
in writing . - ( RO ) The cultural statistics published by Eurostat in 2007 were obtained based on the activities the Member States acknowledge to enter this category .
( PL ) Mr President , this is an important motion for a resolution on the mechanism of financial support for small and medium-sized enterprises .
among other things , we also proposed adjusting the use of cohesion resources for regions affected in this way .
Mrs Oomen-Ruijten has put her name to the amendments to the texts - which I have here - that the Council did not succeed in introducing during the dialogue we had with the Council .
I would ask the Commission to have this examined independently and fairly in the early stages of the new Commission .
this system is deemed sufficient .
it is crucial that the reform of the common agricultural policy continue to develop on market-oriented lines , which will mean that consumer choice is the key factor in farmers ' decisions on production , while at the same time we reduce the total cost of the agricultural policy .
that means that , in the short time I have been speaking already , it is possible that somebody has died and , by the time this debate is finished , it is probable that 20 people will have died .
that is the aim behind the call for joint and effective action to tackle ' global challenges ' , ' defence and security questions ' and ' regional issues ' .
we have , however , two Member States - Denmark and Estonia - where we do not have any information on the process .
( PL ) It is with great pain that we observe what is going on in the Gaza strip .
international humanitarian law is precisely a law which is applied only in a war situation : it is not a law for times of peace .
these are the only ones that are completely safe .
here we have , I believe , a new concept of direct payments and a new justification linked to the guarantee of a minimum basic income for farmers , but also the incentive to produce public goods .
I am happy to say that , where I was able to deal with an Irish embassy , the work and the cooperation have been excellent .
it is therefore curious , to say the least , for the rapporteur , Mr Hoang Ngoc , to want to tone down - and even remove - strict requirements for the Stability and Growth Pact to be followed .
we already know the consequences of these neoliberal measures and of the Brussels Consensus : crisis , widespread unemployment , poverty and cuts in workers ' rights and the welfare state .
this allows the EU budget funds available to the external regions to be complemented by the financial strength of the EIB for the benefit of beneficiary countries .
if this experiment gives good results , sulphur dioxide emissions trading may become a viable way to cut sulphur dioxide emissions in all sea areas of the EU , which would clean up the air we all breathe in the future all over Europe .
this discrimination against persons with disabilities requires forthright dialogue , regardless of the economics between the EU and China .
I am referring , in particular , to Parliament 's information technology and internal security , partly in the light of recent events of which we are all well aware : the theft at the post office last month .
in writing . - ( DE ) In voting on the CAP report , we are deciding on the cornerstones of future EU agricultural policy .
under the terms of Rule 177 ( 4 ) , I request that the vote is postponed until the next session and that the legitimacy of the resolution and the vote is investigated .
( ES ) Mr President , Commissioner , I too should like to congratulate the rapporteur on her work .
the EU should implement a European digital agenda as quickly as possible to contribute to the establishment of a truly single , common market in Internet trade , so that consumers will be able to take advantage of competitive price offers in other Member States and SMEs will be able to operate in the European market unhindered .
regarding the problem of biofuels , we agree with most of what you said .
I extend my respectful greetings to the Members of Parliament , and to President Barroso , as well as the President of the European Parliament , my dear old friend .
we must start with the victims - with the equality of victims - because every victim of any totalitarian regime is to be considered equal in human dignity and deserves justice and remembrance as well as Europe-wide recognition and guarantees of ' never again ' .
as I have already mentioned - and I am coming to a conclusion - last week on my instructions , my two directors responsible for Iraq from the External Relations DG and EuropeAid visited Baghdad with their teams .
Israel and Palestine can use it as a basis on which to exchange land for peace .
complex solutions must be found that will foster the economic development of all the European Union Member States .
what lessons should we perhaps learn here with regard to the liberalisation of the railways in Europe ?
we are two facets of a single civilization ; our histories are two interpretations of the same set of values .
what could be done ?
Omar al-Bashir responded to the international arrest warrant by expelling 13 foreign charitable organisations from Sudan .
this is an area , moreover , that has seen massive development .
this regime kept its citizens like they were in a large prison .
we must also lead by example .
speaking of domestic policy , I would like to underline the importance of revising our priorities .
Mr President , this report is about active dialogue with citizens , and the best kind of active dialogue with European citizens is one based on listening to what they say in democratic votes .
we must prevent conflicts of interest , and the paradox whereby European sectors whose efficiency was entrusted to market logic again become a matter of public discretion ; this time , however , it is the discretion of third countries .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( FR ) Mr President , in answer to Mrs Harkin , the Commission , as she knows , undertook discussions within the Committee on Monetary , Financial and Balance of Payments Statistics ; that is Eurostat , I suppose .
this resolution urges the Azerbaijani Government to adhere to its own promises and to start building its legitimacy in the international community by respecting its own citizens , granting them democratic and human rights and allowing for respect of the rule of law .
of course , generally speaking , as you said , we support everything that moves towards increased economic governance , but we have to see the exact details and make the proposal at the right time .
we are calling for Parliament to safeguard , together with the Commission , the safe and effective management of nuclear waste and not to consider it as part of the withdrawal programme .
there is a lot of very strong feeling on both sides on it , and I believe that you should show us that report , or interim report , so that we can have a look at it to see where exactly that report stands on this very , very important issue .
this policy describes its procedures on the collection , use and disclosure of personal information to third parties , including when it is necessary in order to comply with laws , regulations or legal requests from the US Government .
at the time , I defended the resolution because it was to apply to the whole of Europe .
I believe that international aid should be channelled directly to the Afghan authorities , thereby circumventing intermediaries .
( PL ) Madam President , the Eastern Partnership is a project of the utmost importance , which is why I am eager to see it become a priority in terms of European Union foreign policy .
we have to remind Russia that it has much to gain from behaving constructively towards its neighbours , and that it has much to lose if it continues on the path of confrontation .
swift is a key infrastructure , and we must ensure that any requests for data transfers are duly justified , based on targeted cases and strictly subject to judicial authorisation .
( FI ) Mr President , first , I want to say that it is excellent that the European Parliament recognises agriculture as a strategic sector in the context of food security .
we will look at it again but , nevertheless , this is a concern .
we support the rapporteurs ' proposal because it is closer to a fair distribution than previous proposals .
partnership means respect for the country which needs to carry out economic and social development .
it is specific and it puts us more in the picture about the social and the economic dimensions .
however , surely there cannot be any relaxation of the rules ?
under pressure from rocketing rents , they fall into debt and are often evicted .
we welcome new diplomatic initiatives , but we believe that it is mainly practical cooperation in the region itself that will drive down and end the violence .
such discrimination is completely unacceptable , but it has taken Europe a long time to deal with these problems .
these agreements are aimed at opening up the banana market by strengthening the dominant position of the large US multinationals , which already control more than 80 % of the world market .
in spite of this , I hope the priorities will not be only empty promises .
we were also told exactly what has been said here , that there was a willingness to toe the line .
I have even heard in this Chamber today that terrorism is hysteria .
the credibility of Parliament is on the line and I appeal to my fellow Members not to allow that to happen .
it is vital that urban planning is efficient and carefully thought out .
the European Parliament played a crucial role at the pioneering stage .
this aspect will also be made tighter than the Commission proposal ; eventually , there will be a ban on no fewer than 55 allergenic fragrances , and 11 others will only be allowed for use if accompanied by warning labels .
as I have just said , giving our assistants a definitive statute , as we have ourselves .
the fortunate element of this incident is that the observed levels of dioxin in food where EU limits were exceeded have not been very high , which means that no immediate health risk for the consumer is expected as a result of the consumption , if any , of the contaminated products during a short period of time .
( PL ) Mr President , from a geographical point of view , Europe has been clearly defined and its borders established .
it should also be remembered that the EU has not accepted any unconditional obligations , only conditional ones .
it is true that right-wing governments have contributed much to the demolition of the European social model .
it is the form in which the citizens tell us how the many laws we tinker with in other committees affect them or do not affect them .
we are now , happily , able to discuss the Danish model of flexicurity because the EU did not introduce a common labour market policy maybe 25 years ago .
I voted in favour of granting discharge in respect of the 2009 general budget of the Court of Auditors because the majority of the pre-established objectives relating to the budget have been met , and detailed and transparent information has been provided .
I find that fairly often , funding preventive measures is more effective and cheaper for the economy than constantly dealing with the consequences of the problem .
the European Union has shown willing and ability in protecting Libya 's civilian population and supporting the democratic revolution .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , at the weekend , we saw what was indeed a historic image .
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however , in my opinion , these rules must necessarily be subject to two conditions , which are no more than two sides of the same coin : ( I ) on the one hand , they cannot be more restrictive for European producers than for their international competitors , which place their products on the same market without complying with the same rules ; and ( ii ) they cannot be so exacting that they jeopardise economic competitiveness .
we are holding out our hand to Israel , but we will not give up the core values on which the European Union is built .
as the amendment tabled calls for the matter to be regulated through the national systems of the Member States , we consider that this is reconcilable with the collective agreement model we choose to apply .
Member of the Commission . - This is a very topical question .
that is why various entities that are active on the ground are feeling the need for this problem to be fought at European level , and the joint EU resettlement programme proposed by the Commission could be the appropriate means of tackling this .
eight years after the adoption of the directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment , the European Parliament is once again giving its opinion on the important issue of recycling high-tech equipment waste .
however , I do not think that we should add to the alarm as , in general , the toys sold in Europe are surely the safest in the world .
finally , as I have said on a number of occasions , the involvement and commitment of the civilian populations of our two continents and of the elected assemblies that represent them constitute an essential factor in the success of an effective process of dialogue and cooperation between Europe and Africa .
I , for one , eat heartily , and I should like to state very clearly my belief that food security is existential .
( FR ) Colleagues , allow me to remind you of a few basic facts about how we operate here .
at the same time , what we are trying to do here is to boost innovation in a very important industrial sector for Europe .
let me begin with Croatia .
we must make every effort to ensure that dismantling activities and management of decommissioning waste will have started by 2013 .
our ability to run the Presidency was then put to the test , of course , due to events on the domestic political scene , when the Czech Republic changed government just as we were two thirds of the way through the Presidency .
it is completely unacceptable that Romania , a country that claims to be a democracy , allows itself to be pressurised in this way by a Communist tyranny .
Turkey is also gaining autonomy from US policies for the Middle East and from European commitments on future accession to the European Union .
is it not time the European Union took initiatives so that , henceforth , offshore platforms fall under an undisputed scientific authority , which should be established in the form of an international authority ?
at one time , infectious diseases were the most common cause of death in children , young people and young animals .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - Mr President , the report on the table today demonstrates , once again , the relentless attack on Member States that operate low and successful corporate tax regimes .
it would have to develop possible courses of action for the necessary technical changes and define political measures and the associated funding .
that is what I can tell you , giving you the assurance , in any event , that the Commission 's process is one which is objective , which is really very attentive and not at all conducted in a spirit of any sort of discrimination , but in a spirit of cooperation .
my second point is about selling the internal market .
in writing . - ( SV ) The big air transport companies have pressed for a specific EU arrangement to regulate the collection of airport charges by airports .
let it never again be said that European democratic law yields to the orders - in inverted commas - of Yankee imperialism .
the aim of this document is absolutely not to encourage cross-border healthcare as such , but to ensure its availability , safety and quality when it is of use or necessary .
my constituency is Szczecin , in Western Pomerania .
it should be kept , of course , in the Community method .
it creates a stronger Community , which is also reflected in the fact that all the amendments tabled by Parliament have been taken over by the Council .
Co-Chairman of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , with great concern for a possible failure of the climate change negotiations in Copenhagen , this Parliament 's Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety yesterday re-affirmed old demands of the European Council and adopted them with great urgency and very strong support .
I would like to propose that as an initial step , at least with regard to agriculture and food , we contemplate the introduction of the principle of food self-determination , which means that communities and countries have the right to decide what they want to produce and how they want to produce it , and then how they want to sell it .
therefore , I believe that the educational system should be correlated with the labour market , and that the transition from theory to practice should be done smoothly , through various professional training programs or EU internships .
secondly , we Greens have made a considerable contribution to ensuring that this Parliament report has a substantial gender mainstreaming dimension - consistently - and that family policy is not completely sold out as gender mainstreaming policy .
( NL ) Mr President , today we are debating the EU budget for 2012 .
and , last but not least , it has an obligation to produce results with regard to the economic recovery .
( RO ) Mr President , in December 2010 , the unemployment rate in the EU-27 hit 9.6 % , reaching a figure of 23 million unemployed .
I am working on this point at present .
support for authoritarian regimes , as history shows , does not pay .
I think that in this respect , you have fulfilled their request .
we , in the Eurogroup , succeeded in reaching an agreement on a huge plan - EUR 1 800 billion - to allow our financial institutions to get on with their work and to reassure savers and entrepreneurs in Europe .
let me be clear that we do not question the importance of non-ODA cooperation with developing countries , in particular , the emerging markets and strategic middle-income countries , but this form of cooperation should be channelled through separate instruments to enhance transparency and protect the specific nature of development cooperation .
opacity cannot be the rule there either .
in fact , we are very satisfied with the outcome achieved in this title .
Christians ought to be protected , and not punished , by the law .
moreover , statistics show that women in rural areas have much lower education and professional skills levels compared with city women .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Madam President , we are debating Voluntary Partnership Agreements .
frankly speaking , because of our different beliefs , experience and culture in the European Parliament we tend to differ in our assessment of certain issues and problems , such as sexual and reproductive health .
( SV ) Mr President , at least two good things have come from the fact that the European Parliament has taken up the Nord Stream case for debate .
the aim of this directive is clear : to fight against mafia groups , to penalise unscrupulous employers and to protect exploited immigrants who have no form of social protection .
I would like an explanation , though maybe not here and now , of why the Council Presidency could not attend , and I would like it to go on the record that the Minister could not be here because no invitation was made .
I also thank Manfred Weber , who stood in for Mrs Klamt .
Mr Barroso is right when he says that without an economic union , we can forget the monetary union .
while little consideration is shown for the national parliaments , I would say that the principle of subsidiarity has been dealt a kind of death blow by the Treaty of Lisbon as it stands today .
one of these opportunities is the approach to gender equality in society .
like my colleagues in the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance , it was therefore with a great deal of enthusiasm that I voted in favour of this robust resolution .
agenda for next sitting : see Minutes
I wanted to draw attention to a very positive development in the Committee on Foreign Affairs .
they are undermining the peaceful resolution of differences so that they can control energy reserves and the energy transmission channels in the area .
if you want to change this custom , you can certainly change it , but please do not say things here which are completely false .
this should provide an incentive to the market to realise low-energy houses and carry out renovations on a broad front .
author . - ( FI ) Mr President , it is regrettable that there are so many different conflicts in the world dressed up in the guise of religion .
whether or not these countries successfully develop nuclear warheads , chemical warheads would certainly be deployable in the near future .
a well functioning Single Market for services has an important potential for growth and , hence , for our economic recovery .
in writing . - ( PL ) World economies are becoming increasingly interlinked , international trade is growing very rapidly , and direct foreign investment is becoming more frequent .
therefore , I think an effective strategy for informing society is of key significance for gaining the support of society for Iceland 's membership of the European Union .
I am a little afraid of not using the right terminology , which must be so exact in the European Union .
I declare the session of the European Parliament adjourned and wish everyone a pleasant journey home .
beyond this systemic response , a new ad hoc reflection is needed on credit default swaps regarding sovereign debt , and the problem of ' naked ' practices needs particular attention in this context .
as you know , the Commission has been asked to prepare a follow-up report in June 2011 , and that will be another opportunity to further develop our thinking together .
the nature of Europe and what unites Europeans who speak different languages and have different traditions is precisely the fact that we share these values of defending human rights .
the proposal is again a step in the right direction when it comes to achieving comprehensive migration policy .
one aspect of this report in particular which interested me is the position of the new Member States , but not very much information is provided in this area .
we asked for one month 's extension , but the Council was simply unwilling to give us that extension ; and the fact that the Council is absent today , and has not been interested in talking to the European Parliament , only demonstrates that they simply do not want to involve the European Parliament ; it demonstrates their insincerity .
twenty-five years later , we feel loyal to Europe and committed to the Union , and there is no more powerful way to be loyal and committed to Europe than to exercise the responsibility of making commitments , taking the initiative and putting forward proposals .
the review will also increase the effectiveness of the cooperation and control procedures of the customs administrations due to the joint , automated information system which will assist in preventing , investigating and prosecuting serious contraventions of national laws .
the time publicly designated as a period of reflection was wasted .
in this respect , solidarity and cohesion are required to the maximum extent so that we succeed in finding together a way out of the crisis more quickly .
we were asked to come here immediately after our meeting , so we cannot yet have an in-depth discussion , but let me tell you that the Commission would be happy to participate actively in such a debate - myself , Commissioner Dimas , Commissioner Piebalgs and the other relevant Commissioners .
I call on the agencies to strengthen their internal controls to make sure that contracts and procurement procedures are correctly applied .
because of population growth and desertification , the people are losing their traditional sources of livelihood and turning against each other .
they are willing to hear the best practice models that we can encourage for them .
I do not believe - in common with the majority of my fellow Members in the European Parliament , which is very pleasing - that we in Brussels must impose regulations for the protection of non-smokers or that we are able to do this more effectively .
however , for goodness sake , let us at least believe in the plan we are implementing !
this situation has resulted in Haiti becoming more than 50 % dependent on food imports and in there being no demand for 35 % of the local harvest .
it also proposes differentiating payments among different agricultural sectors and farmers and strengthening farmers ' negotiating power in the food supply chain .
this resolution therefore raises fundamental questions such as the need for the European Commission to develop its strategy of monitoring the programme of work , solid links with the Beijing Platform , and promoting gender equality policies , not forgetting the gender perspective in the legislative processes .
many of us still see question marks hanging over our protection of the social aspect in the face of market dominance .
there was a delegation led by Pierre Morel which visited the area in December , and they offered to meet with the Roma camp leaders in Trebca .
this report stresses the importance of respecting the fundamental rights of the Roma and , in particular , access to education .
many people think that this was their initiative .
in other words , we expect the Council to provide , without undue delay , written answers to questions put by the competent committees and rapporteurs within Parliament .
I think that committee would not like the fact that she has broken through the glass ceiling .
I would like to point out that , although it was not the subject of your debates in the past years , the Hungarian secret services had been used for political purposes over those past years , and this is now the subject of court proceedings .
all the people who live in the Member State concerned form the basis for calculating a Member State 's seats - as with the Council - including third-country nationals living there , because they are part of this society .
this report aims to update Directive 2000 / 75 / EC , which adopts certain provisions relating to measures for combating and eradicating bluetongue .
it must be under adequate parliamentary scrutiny . hence the insistence of this Parliament on the delegated acts procedure .
citizens should be able to hold law-makers accountable .
measures to fight terrorism must always be undertaken within the framework of full respect for fundamental rights , and the EU must be exemplary in this respect .
closure of the sitting
Croatia is currently struggling with the same problems as the majority of previous and current candidates for accession to the European Union , namely corruption , settling historical differences with neighbouring countries , and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation .
the global food problem is increasing rather than shrinking and affects all grassroots classes , not only in the less developed countries , but also in the more developed countries .
the fact that the US is supporting its strategic NATO ally ( so that Turkey would clear the way for Rasmussen to become Secretary General of NATO ) should not result in the negotiations on full membership being accelerated .
I think that it is very important to take his views into account .
returning the massive flows of people to their countries of origin does not help maintain the distance between Europeans and immigrants .
in comparison with 2008 , payments under expenditure sub-heading 1b have decreased by almost 14 % .
to that end , differentiating the target is the best way to make more efficient use of resources , a goal that we have to pursue , especially if the result is a woman 's sincere and gracious smile .
you will surely have noticed that on 6 January , the European financial stabilisation mechanism ( EFSM ) , which is managed by the Commission , issued EUR 5 billion of bonds onto the market over five years .
do we agree on that ?
like other colleagues , I would support the quality assurance schemes that are available and encourage those as part of the general local indicator .
I would like to ask you not to judge any of the nuclear power stations and also not to judge me and my work until after the stress tests have been completed .
five years after Mikhail Khodorkovsky 's arrest , he and other Yukos officials remain incarcerated under questionable circumstances .
Parliament , as you know , condemned the unconstitutional change of power , and in its resolution of 15 January 2009 , called for respect for human rights and a rapid return to constitutional order .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , listening to the speeches delivered by the previous speakers - by Commissioner Špidla , by the President-in Office of the Council , Mr Bertrand , and by you , Mr Daul - one has the impression that all is well .
it is in Copenhagen that the decision should be taken , and that decision should include everything that is important for the climate .
( SK ) I believe that the main problem in the North Caucasus is disregard for the most important thing of all , namely respect for individual human rights Such human rights violations destabilise the situation in the region , prolong and deepen conflict , decrease the chances for its resolution , and help generate the basis for reactionary terrorist groups .
it is true that many of us , given also what happened until 2008-2009 , viewed the results obtained with less than complete satisfaction .
thank you , Mr Ortuondo Larrea .
in any event , while the fiscal effort of the past year is unprecedented - over 7 % of GDP , or EUR 20 billion - it is clear that Greece has to seriously reinforce the implementation of the economic reforms , achieve a breakthrough in the privatisation programme , and then ensure its full implementation .
the PPE-DE Group opposed and continues to oppose this .
the question is , how can we be successful at this point .
( the sitting was suspended at 1.35 p.m. and resumed at 3 p.m. )
when resistance against collectivisation among the peasants grew , he decided to physically eliminate those living in the most rebellious regions .
I voted for this report since the question of refugees in the Community is still very relevant .
Parliament widely supported this proposal , and I feel this is the right moment to take common action vis-à-vis the Council again .
with increasing energy prices and a lack of competition in national markets , there is a danger of increasing the number of citizens excluded from accessing energy .
they will remain in force , because the new legislation will broaden the situation but will not affect , and therefore not prejudice , bilateral or trilateral agreements that already exist .
yet the best solution would definitely not be to establish financial concessions for employers if they encourage their female employees to have children .
for the first time , these funds , whether or not they are based in Europe , will be subject to controls , restrictions on their activities and greater transparency ; carving up businesses will no longer be possible , and the European Securities and Markets Authority 's supervisory powers will be extended .
thank you .
their competitiveness and the convergence of their economies are essential in ensuring the viability of a strong and stable euro area , which will be to the benefit of the entire European Union .
Mr President , Ladies and Gentlemen , Honourable Members , I have come to you from a country which I had not chosen to be in , but heaven chose that I be one of its citizens .
we called on Croatia to make huge efforts and we asked Bosnia to do the same ; and these are the very same efforts that enabled us to rebuild Europe after the Second World War .
it is nevertheless causing more and more emissions all the time , and should be included in all agreements .
apart from public works concessions , however , at present there is no European law on concessions , and even though the general principles of the Treaty are applicable , there is real legal uncertainty in this area , which is preventing this type of contract from developing .
we are failing to do that !
this may sound obvious , but in practice , there have been innumerable difficulties .
I am counting on the Heads of State or Government to take this matter just as seriously in February as they did before the crisis , as it seems to me that , as things stand , the Member States will not vote for binding targets .
I also welcome the fact that lawyers will be exempt from registration when giving legal advice ; this is in keeping with the principle long recognised in the Scottish legal tradition of lawyer-client confidentiality .
unfortunately , the economic and financial crisis has exacerbated the financial difficulties facing both operators and administrators involved in the rail transport infrastructure .
I therefore personally consider Montenegro 's efforts enormously important , and I fully support the assistance and aid which the EU is providing to the country , and I believe that this country will join the EU in the near future .
during the preparations for Pittsburgh , this subject was not included in the Council 's conclusions .
it is with reluctance that I speak of quotas because , in principle , I am not in favour of them .
I believe that substantial funds need to be allocated to the economic and social development of these communities .
if , however , a majority here in Parliament and in the Council decides to phase out milk quotas by 2015 , a milk fund will be necessary in order to ensure the continued survival of milk production in the disadvantaged areas and grassland areas in future .
in this context , I do not think that we need to restrict ourselves simply to watching what has happened so far , but should also try to prevent it . I believe that a different way of handling the human rights issue is on the cards .
by voting in favour of a tax on financial transactions , the revenue of which could be usefully channelled into development aid , the European Parliament has indicated that it wants to stop this injustice .
- ( NL ) Mr President , the resolution on the EU-US Summit does , of course , cover a very large number of different topics .
secondly , the strategy of the German conservatives in the CDU has dropped on the Balkans like a bomb as it were , because it divests the European perspective of credibility and , if the European election campaign is fought like that , there will again be conflict in the Balkans .
in both countries , opportunities will be created for business and the manufacturing sector , thanks to the elimination of substantially all imported tariffs and improved market access for services and investors .
( RO ) Bearing in mind the benefits offered to the European Union 's citizens through having access to Europeana , I believe that existing digital content must be made available in all the European Union 's official languages .
all Belarusians need this kind of window on the world .
a few weeks ago , after it was announced that you were reopening negotiations with Mercosur , I had a short meeting with you .
some , of course , will continue to merit full discussion and voting in plenary ; but perhaps some really do not .
I now wish to turn to the issues on which we are deeply divided .
I do not want to see a two-speed Europe in relation to Europe 's demographic challenge .
author . - ( FR ) Madam President , President-in-Office of the Council , Commissioner , both your institutions have worked very hard in the field of economic governance and , today , the European Parliament is debating the six Commission proposals on economic governance .
I hope there are no objections .
the next item is the one-minute speeches on matters of political importance pursuant to Rule 144 .
there will be frustrations .
I would therefore strongly recommend that we give communication a shot in the arm .
I should like to make it clear , however , that non-ODA actions are also relevant to a country 's development : it is only the choice of legal basis that is in dispute .
therefore , now is the time to provide the EU with a legitimate Commission which is capable of responding to the difficult events of recent times .
one opinion poll does not announce confidence any more than one swallow makes a summer .
however , we would reiterate that any future harmonisation of these proposals with a future revision of the Community legislation on control must safeguard the competences of the Member States , particularly for inspections .
for my fishermen , fishing is more than a job , it is a way of life , a tradition , even a vocation .
there are those who are revelling in the problems of the eurozone , but I think the bulk of us want to see a resolution .
his mandate as special adviser is as follows : advise the Vice-President responsible for administration , audit and fraud prevention as regards property policy ; improve relations with the competent authorities in Brussels and Luxembourg ; optimise effectiveness of the investments to be made by the Commission .
it cannot be said often enough , she has done an excellent job .
I would like to thank both of you for raising this matter .
I voted for this report , which decides not to defend Mr Gollnisch 's privileges and immunity , leaving it to the competent judicial authorities to decide , whilst respecting all democratic guarantees , to what extent French law on incitement to racial hatred has been broken and what the judicial consequences might be .
however , the situation in Abyei must not make us forget the situation in Darfur .
the protection of coasts and waters is strategically important for the socio-economic well-being of coastal communities , local development , employment , and the preservation and creation of economic activity .
the right to protection from violence is a basic human right regardless of ethnicity , legal status or immigration status , and it is therefore a moral duty for all of us to uphold this right within and beyond national borders .
all children must be able to access education , regardless of social background , and we must ensure that this opportunity is also available to the children of asylum seekers , refugees and all those who have permission , even if only temporary , to reside within the Union .
a promising sign in this connection is the fact that the Internal Market and Services Directorate General has announced its willingness to exempt small enterprises from having to draft annual accounts , and to amend the 4th and 7th Directives for this purpose .
we simply do not have enough arable land to grow sufficient quantities of conventional energy crops .
I therefore voted in favour of Mr Cottigny 's report .
as usual , the June List observes that , in this situation , it is fortunate that the European Parliament does not have powers of codecision in respect of the EU 's agricultural policy .
the text as adopted today , whilst satisfactory in certain respects - especially in relation to the fight against discrimination against disabled people - the vague concepts it contains , the legal uncertainties that it maintains and the superfluous requirements that it introduces make it legally impractical and therefore ineffective in its application .
we suggest that the Commission should seriously factor in the public cost of a child when evaluating employment programmes in each country .
I would like especially to stress the importance of liberalising the visa requirements for these countries , which remains one of our targets .
in the long term , to give us a good chance of not exceeding 2 ° C , global emissions in 2050 must be reduced to 50 % of their 1990 levels .
'Calls on Ukraine ... to pay more attention to market liberalisation by guaranteeing the successful achievement of the privatisation process , the dismantling of monopolies ' ( read : public undertakings ) ' and the independence of Ukraine 's national bank ' ;
with this , the Commission aims to protect women 's employment rights , give women sufficient time to recover from birth and bond with her child , and allow women to be financially secure during the maternity leave .
Mr President , unfortunately this dispute is over a century old .
I support the strengthening of the ' data protection ' element of the proposal and the fact that the European Parliament is to receive more information so that it is better able to monitor the tasks and duties of Eurojust , which was set up in 2002 as a European Union body with legal personality whose role is to promote and improve coordination and cooperation between the competent judicial authorities in the Member States .
it should be supplemented by national strategies .
I am expecting a strategy for improving the gas supply directive , as well as a draft common energy policy to be proposed in the very near future .
first of all , funding will have to be provided from the Community budget , and EUROPOL staff will acquire the status of Community officials .
because this is a disproportionate conflict in which the law is ineffective , we will have to simply get used to it , otherwise we will just be going round in circles and using words which are not backed up by reality .
there is another way in which the French presidency can break new ground . France gave us the Rights of Man .
they will have to develop systems and work effectively with all the relevant authorities .
( the President cut off the speaker )
it can be said that progress in the first area - concerning security - will have a beneficial effect on the conditions under which people live , while progress in the second area - concerning an improvement in the conditions under which people live - will foster an improvement in security .
deposit-guarantee schemes as regards the coverage level and the payout delay (
more democracy and reforming the institutions in the neighbouring countries , such as Ukraine , means more protection at the external borders , more control over organized crime and a new step in spreading the values on which the European Union relies .
( NL ) Mr President , if I had to summarise my reasons for voting against the Svensson report , I could say quite simply that , in my opinion , this report is complete nonsense .
that Agency 's action is gradually being consolidated and it is being given competences that lie at the heart of State sovereignty .
( applause )
these issues need to be reassessed in the light of the experience we have gained in recent years .
Commissioner , as a short-term measure we are calling for an increase in the de minimis subsidies in an additional motion which is being tabled with 40 signatures , because this would be an opportunity to help the smaller dairy farmers in particular .
this will be reflected in many of the deficit procedures that will be aimed at individual Member States , but it needs to be coordinated , and it must remain in line with the overall framework of the Stability and Development Pact .
Europe has changed , and the world has changed .
( PT ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to begin by congratulating Mr Manders on his work on this report , as well as thank the other fellow Members who worked with him on it .
we do not want to criminalise these people ; we want to educate them and get them on our side to tackle the real criminals in this process .
the text being submitted to the European Parliament today is the result of a compromise that was reached at the Council of 9 June during the Slovenian Presidency .
who really thinks that the EU 's discard policy is justifiable ?
to explore other options along the same lines , a consultation on control structures in audit companies and on their consequences for the auditing market was published in November .
as for your criticism of the first reading agreement , when Mr Cohn-Bendit also sheds crocodile tears , I fully agree with the content of your criticism .
let us hold accountable a system that allows de facto imprisonment of opposition leaders .
a great deal has changed in recent months and we can therefore be optimistic , albeit in a critical and vigilant way .
we are very proud and glad that we joined the euro , and we will be staying .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , the Commission deeply regrets the death of Mr Orlando Zapata and its circumstances .
it is therefore extremely important that the directive is duly implemented .
the Union is embarking on a legal migration policy , but under protest , and it is the utilitarian logic and the exceptions to equal rights decided by each Member State that are liable to assert themselves .
this is not about when negotiations are completed .
we therefore need to think again , particularly in relation to milk quotas , in countries such as Italy which have for 20 years already been suffering this tragedy of a deficiency of production , despite having significant potential .
free trade is best for consumers as it provides greater choice and lower prices .
the advertising of medicinal products continues to be prohibited .
the CAP is just one of the many reasons why Britain should leave the European Union .
three years ago , when we witnessed the first gas crisis following Russia 's cutting of energy supplies , Europe realised its vulnerability and its limitations .
combating the brain drain must remain a priority for the European Union .
with the passage of time , however , he did start talking about socialism .
in the realm of global trade , as Mrs Fortou pointed out , there will be an increasing need to deliberate , within the WTO and at other levels , on ways in which customs administrations can play an effective role in the protection of external borders .
the fight against poverty must be carried out by employment policies and economic competitiveness .
this development will definitely help boost Europe 's competitiveness and , consequently , improve the quality of life .
on this matter , it is crucial for the entire international community to support the diplomatic efforts introduced in the wake of the Nairobi Summit and that the international efforts be coordinated to allow sufficient space to Presidents Obasanjo and Mkapa to continue the negotiations .
however , the directive will also do no harm , because in the end all those involved will be able to carry on more or less as before .
my thanks to all the shadow rapporteurs for our successful negotiations and to the Slovenian President-in-Office of the Council and the Commission .
it is particularly important for the formation of political parties ' internal management bodies to be based on transparent principles , in order to ensure the democratic election of all party bodies and democratic decision-making processes .
you have our support , but let us try to have a more inclusive approach with the national parliaments , rather than giving the impression that ' Brussels ' is dictating everything .
freedom of movement is a basic right and a pillar of EU citizenship for which we are all striving .
it is also hard-headed and shrewd , since security in the widest sense of the word will be promoted and advanced .
if you have no time , walk out that door now .
we are aware of imaging processes , for example , that will also play a major role in this regard in future .
this choice , however , is only made on the basis of an individual standpoint and so is only just objective .
I voted in favour of this European Parliament own-initiative report , which responds to the European Commission 's analysis of penalties for serious infringements against the social rules in road transport .
I think it has been over a year since we agreed this proposal but it is the mediation experts and professionals in this sector whose response to the Parliament 's first ever online consultation convinced us of the merits of this law .
( DE ) Mr President , let me begin by expressing my sincere thanks to Mr Brok for his willingness to engage in very constructive cooperation .
France , however , has seen its flocks decline from nearly 13 million animals some 25 years ago to about 8 million today and this will decrease further to a mere 5 million by 2015 .
after the summer , communications will be ready concerning the European view on the issue of halting deforestation and on finding ways of recording companies ' results using criteria that go further than GDP .
we always have to remember , however , that when we speak of freedom of expression , that also incorporates a responsibility .
( FR ) Mr President , for the record , with the crisis and the bursting of the housing and credit bubbles , the Irish State has had to intervene to support the banks .
sustainable , modernised and multicultural agriculture is necessary in mountain areas .
I feel that better regulation of the sector will benefit not only consumers but also European tourism .
it is true that much money has gone , for instance , into combating HIV / AIDS in recent years , but unfortunately ever more women are becoming HIV / AIDS-infected in Africa : one out of four girls aged between 16 and 24 are now HIV positive .
these measures - and here I am speaking as someone who lives in a country of transit - may also lead to a shift towards the railways .
in my view , it is important for the European Union to have an instrument for assessing market trends globally .
we are aware that there is also justification for data protection .
these include further endeavours in the fields of public administration and the rule of law , justice reform , the fight against corruption and organised crime , and cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia .
in addition , the holdings have to be placed under the effective control of the Brazilian veterinary services and regularly inspected by the Brazilian authorities .
particularly in a globalised world , a great deal of importance should be attached to the competitiveness of the regions .
we also have investment projects planned for the energy sector which have already been approved from that amount of around EUR 3 billion .
of course , we need to ensure that Israel can preserve its democratic system and its rights in its own capital , and the European Union can be involved in the peace process , and it should be , but in a diplomatic role and not as a doctor or judge .
one or two serious accidents can also have a significant impact on whatever type of ranking we may have .
it is a great improvement on what we have .
( FR ) Mr President , it is my custom to respect my fellow Members and I am prepared to answer the question .
I would also like to thank specifically our rapporteurs .
in particular , better coordination of rescue , police , military and fire-fighting forces is needed in the EU .
Europe is not the sum total of 27 times the national interest .
measures to prevent desertification will be a lot cheaper than its consequences .
the climate talks in October only confirmed the schism between the so-called advanced world and the so-called developing world , and there will therefore be much to do in Cancún .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
it is therefore a good thing that this rests with the Member States , and I would like to thank you very much for your cooperation .
the euro appreciated against the dollar since June this year due to stronger data for the euro area economy and due to further expansion of the US monetary policy .
as we know , many Member States are still maintaining restrictions on the employment of citizens from the new Member States .
the approval of the text at first reading is evidence of this , partly thanks to Mr Gaľa on the Committee on Culture and Education , the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality and the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy , which all made a positive contribution .
the programme of our activities for 2009 is very substantial : about nine sectoral ministerial conferences are scheduled .
( EL ) Madam President , the European Neighbourhood Policy is , without doubt , a successful policy .
nor was it ever debated in the Council of Foreign Ministers .
at the same time , the Commission is in the process of strengthening its technical dialogues with Belarus in sectors of common interest such as energy , transport , customs , standards , and , in the longer term , the economy .
it is difficult to find the right balance , all the more so since President Putin , like no other , understands the art of exploiting every difference of opinion or different nuance of opinion between the Member States .
this is the first time that the European Union has invested in its own infrastructure .
there must be not just one generation gap , but several generation gaps between him and the players .
would a healthy European market not be the key to dealing with the challenges of globalisation and unemployment ?
this must be done quickly without any more delays or time-wasting , otherwise we risk an impasse in negotiations to the detriment of both manufacturers and European consumers alike .
the racist violence that is fed by political populism , hate speech and media hype is a phenomenon that can be seen in many Member States .
the WTO Doha round needs a complete reorientation in order to create a win-win situation for the EU and for developing countries .
I would like to thank Robert Sturdy and Pablo Zalba Bidegain for their leadership as rapporteurs , as well as everyone else involved .
I believe that human rights and democracy are key elements in the EU 's external relations and external policy .
Madam President , I would like to join with Ms Trautmann - and I think I am speaking for all my other colleagues as well - in expressing my gratitude to the Parliament Presidency for having enabled us to go as an official delegation .
in 2004 , the European Parliament was assured that there was a group of Commissioners who would concern themselves with fundamental rights .
I could name , off the top of my head , works contracts , catering and transport services .
social and employment policy falls within the competences of the Member States , and any European Union action in the area of flexicurity must comply with the principle of subsidiarity enshrined in Article 5 of the EU Treaty .
today , we have proposed a mechanism to force Member States to implement consistent limits on public aid , as well as a gradual transition to the general provisions that apply to all sectors of the economy .
as the title of the report infers , we must encourage sustainable agriculture above all .
the problem becomes a political one , however , when religious differences are used as a means to prevent growth and development .
I hope that Member States in the Council will support the Parliament 's proposals , which are designed to put a stop to the utter waste of energy which is currently used in heating , cooling and lighting .
to conclude , tackling the challenges of the EU health workforce whilst ensuring financial sustainability of health systems will be one of the major tasks for Europe over the next decade .
to conclude , there is comfort in an ESN , but I am still worried that this may be an incentive to the lowest possible common denominator and minimal emission reductions - in other words , a race to the bottom .
therefore , because we must not only condemn such acts , but must also take action , we must realise that there is a risk of regressing by hundreds of years to a situation of an organised presence of criminal networks and pirates operating in four main areas : the South China Sea , the Straits of Malacca and Singapore , the Gulf of Guinea and the Horn of Africa .
2 .
so my question was whether , during the Presidency , Spain is taking on a political role to speak on behalf of the European Union to ensure the implementation of these future projects ?
we must strengthen the European Union 's humanitarian presence .
we would like , of course , to congratulate all those who contributed to the Treaty of Lisbon , in particular , the Commission and the Commissioner here today and also , of course , the Portuguese Presidency of the European Union , which played a very important role in this .
it is now time for us to carry out an interim review of the aid effort in Haiti .
this will enable the farmers to spend more time on their core agricultural activities .
it is nevertheless most important that we in the European Union jointly adhere to the agreed rules , the Copenhagen criteria .
I would like to ask what is being done to encourage e-commerce within the Member States that joined the European Union in the 21st century , how consumer rights are being protected and what measures are being developed to level off that proportion .
it is true that we have a process - the accession negotiations - which we must follow in good faith .
as we know , these constitute a problem that has been getting worse , affecting changes to human consumption habits , food quality and security , and the crisis faced by livestock farmers .
today , we are seeing that young people from those parts of the world in which we are interested and which are covered by our development policy not only want bread , but also freedom and democracy .
we are considering whether the programme could be used to fund the establishment of a laboratory which would verify the authenticity of cigarettes .
the fourth area I am thinking about is the food crisis .
( DE ) Mr President , Mr Barroso , the necessary Treaty modification and the institutional debate that we are holding both demonstrate that , now the Treaty of Lisbon has been in force for just over a year , we can no longer resolve the challenges which the world is presenting us with by means of the Treaty as it currently stands .
during our visit we met representatives of AMIS , the African Union Mission in Sudan .
with this text , the European Parliament confirms its support for this programme , which is of vital importance for developing European research and improving the competitiveness of our businesses .
does the Commission consider it necessary to continue to apply these outdated rules at the expense of healthy competition in terms of pricing and consumer choice for the sole financial benefit of a number of major groups who are in the comfortable position of deriving the bulk of their revenue from exclusive legal rights regarding these products ?
I hope that , as our negotiations unfold , the honourable Member will see more of the value that we place on this .
I believe that the sites that will receive the European Heritage Label will definitely benefit from it .
I have in mind , for example , the period for a refund in the case of returned goods , which will be considerably reduced , providing a guarantee to the consumer from a financial point of view as well , and the right to reconsider , which will be extended to 14 days .
as we know , the European Union and the majority of Member States recognised Kosovo 's independence , but the situation in that country is especially difficult , particularly in the northern part .
then we can have a feedback into preparedness , prevention and response in the case of any future disaster .
here , too , there is no question that transparency and security are essential .
the subject is far too serious and it has rightly been said that our partnership with the USA is based on human rights .
true , there are enormous gaps between the developed and the underdeveloped regions .
Europe must take a leading role in these measures to prevent and combat terrorism , but must ensure that significant action prevails over bureaucratic manoeuvring .
I agree with you on that point and we are producing results which were unimaginable only one year ago .
for this reason what is needed is big-picture thinking , and I also believe that transport in general is in need of a fundamental overhaul .
ships consisting of tonnes of waste polluted with asbestos are sent from Europe to India , Bangladesh and Pakistan to be broken up , where they contaminate whole stretches of coastline .
I backed the initiative to launch a European donor card .
the first is that nobody questioned the fact that Russia is an important strategic partner for the European Union .
your Parliament , the European Parliament , has incessantly called for its closure , because the fight against terrorism has to be carried out in accordance with international law .
either an awakening into the international community , which respects human rights , or regression into oppression by the Taliban is what is on the cards .
towards a new culture of urban mobility ( debate )
what effective measures is the Commission taking to further develop dialogue with those representatives , and how is it ensuring that measures intended to benefit civil society ( such as microprojects to promote social integration and cohesion ) do not end up being supervised by official bodies ?
although there are many cultural differences between them , the Member States have already made a good name for themselves in the world , one which attracts the citizens of other countries who would like to draw on these cultural resources .
the farming community takes its responsibility to the public very seriously , a responsibility that is enshrined in the Treaties of Rome .
unfortunately , however , in the European Commission , they forget this or they appear to ignore it and they process proposals that change the principles and form of cohesion policy .
of course , relations with the Mediterranean have a new institutional framework .
Member of the Commission . - ( CS ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the Commission is alarmed at the high unemployment rate among young people in the Member States , which was 15.2 % at the end of 2007 , i.e. almost double the overall unemployment rate .
I am pleased that this question has been tabled by Baroness Ludford , who spoke just now , Mrs Antonescu , Mrs Romero , Mrs Hautala and Mr Tavares , because we are indeed faced with a matter of overriding magnitude in the shape of procedural guarantees in criminal proceedings .
the Treaty of Lisbon is very clear .
burying vast acreages under solid concrete is not my idea of the best way to protect soil .
I would like to say three things .
Montenegro 's performance this year will be assessed in the enlargement package due in October 2011 .
the next item is the Commission statement on the sludge catastrophe in Hungary .
the new legislation undermines the pluralism and freedom of the mass media and removes its political and financial independence .
the same applies to fines and interest on late payments .
( HU ) Firstly , Commissioner Cioloş 's efforts for the European Union to establish , at last , an appropriate protective mechanism against the global volatility of food prices deserve full support .
if we examine this proposal carefully , the major problem is whether it is workable or not .
pre-commercial procurement marginalises the room for error and should thus be used as an innovative means .
ban Ki-moon urged all international actors to focus on the efforts for such a settlement .
Mr President , Commissioner Piebalgs , ladies and gentlemen , as the debate draws to a close , I would just like to express my sincere thanks , once again , to the shadow rapporteurs and to Mrs Lochbihler , for the constructive and results-oriented cooperation stretching back over a year of working together .
the transparency register , as it will be called from now on , is not obligatory , but lobbying individuals or organisations will be forced to register if they want permission to gain access to the European Parliament .
that is what I wanted to say .
this law will impact on a variety of areas , including the standards of European flags , ensuring improved inspection procedures for ships .
in writing . - ( LV ) Today the European Parliament has made a historic decision , which gives civil society the opportunity of becoming much more actively involved in the decision-making process .
that is significantly more ...
it is also important to help businesses combat the scam by improving access to information and awareness raising by improving redress mechanisms .
it is important to note that all major CSDs have responded positively to our initiative .
I will not end without tackling the issue of the effective unbundling of network operation from generation and supply .
Mr President , thanks to the European Parliament , and thanks to the Portuguese and Slovenian presidencies , Galileo now has , I believe , every chance of success .
secondly , we strongly support security for our citizens and also citizens ' rights and data protection .
we are talking about a case that concerns a human being , a woman , and efforts are under way to find a political solution .
we must encourage their highest possible participation in public procurement and must provide them with access to favourable bank loans .
I agree with the rapporteur that the Centre should further develop the evaluation of its performance by improving the links between its strategic actions and the actions foreseen in its Work Programme and by reviewing indicators for monitoring its performance in order to comply with SMART criteria .
by accepting this package the EU will send a positive signal to our rural society .
President of the Commission . - ( PT ) Mr President , Secretary of State for European Affairs representing the Presidency of the Council , ladies and gentlemen , globalisation is the central theme for this generation of Europeans .
one of the pillars which I would like to build my work upon in the coming five years is the widest possible accessibility to medicines available on the market ; one of the biggest problems we have in Europe - it was mentioned here today as well - is the inequality in the health sector .
we certainly must monitor closely the reform of the Court in Strasbourg and its impact on shortening proceedings .
Mr Sarkozy and Mr Berlusconi are putting short-term electoral interests first , by fearmongering and making people believe there is an invasion going on .
concerning a question put by Mr Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra , a debate is now taking place in the Security Council , so I do not think I should be elaborating on that .
sometimes , quite rightly , we focus on improving conditions for current workers , but disregard in public debate what we need to do to bring new workers into agriculture so that our production will be assured and improved , in view of the fact that the countries that have lent most support to young farmers are least exposed to land abandonment .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Madam President , I should like to make use of my full allocation of speaking time now , if I may .
I believe that progress with the process of Serbia 's integration into the European Union must not be subject to the recognition of Kosovo 's independence .
we do not see the need for a very radical overhaul in Europe .
I actually believe that the goals for category A ships to come into line by 2016 and the even later deadline set for category B , C and D ships are too lenient and give the carriers too much leeway .
Mr Barroso has already mentioned some short-term measures .
it means a cleverer Europe , a Europe that delivers a response to their everyday needs .
in many cases , we need joint plans and programmes from the External Action Service and the Commission .
financial and economic mechanisms should be established at EU level , which would encourage EU Member States and individual companies to save energy and switch to the newest and cleanest technologies and this would be a serious contribution to energy security and to combating climate change .
fourthly , there must be the possibility of further action in future .
the central point is that the report cites a judgment at first instance which has been repealed .
I think there has been a misunderstanding on the matter of special tariffs for vulnerable customers .
at present , Europe prepares to celebrate one decade since the adoption of the single currency and , even if the EU 's southern states have dealt with a series of difficulties following the adoption of the single currency , the authorities have not complained yet .
Bosnia Herzegovina has been and continues to be the subject of intense negotiations at all levels of the Council .
that said , and despite agreeing with many of this report 's statements , I abstained from the final vote because I do not accept generalised free access to abortion , or the assumption that abortion is a method of contraception , which it clearly is not .
in writing . - Conservatives welcome the overall aim of improving passenger rights , access for the disabled and creating a level playing field for international bus users , and for this reason voted in favour of the report .
I am relying on the efforts of Mrs Ferrero-Waldner to achieve a quick result in the current negotiations .
they have managed , during the 20-year transition period , using the repressive State Security system and its tentacles in the state economy of that period , to turn their political power into economic power too and hand it over to their sons and grandsons , as well as retain their agents in key ministries , banks and industrial sectors in the country .
there were one million divorces granted in the EU during 2007 , 13 % of which involved couples consisting of partners of different nationalities .
we shall now proceed to the vote .
in our view , however , there is no point in doing so now .
in writing . - ( HU ) Mr President , Council , Commission , ladies and gentlemen , the consequence of developing globalisation is that more and more countries become democratic and switch on to free global trade .
various positive initiatives have already been launched .
the total amount committed so far is EUR 1 523 million .
nevertheless , when I hear all these people saying that they want to introduce laws and regulations , I wonder whether we need to rein in the market economy .
I would be interested to know what message you would leave us with as regards what your successors could actually improve .
this issue , together with energy security , climate change and the financing of the mitigation and adaptation to climate change , will be the focus of next week 's meeting .
firstly , the interest rate charged is draconian and is not sustainable .
the European Court of Justice grants individuals and companies the right to damages for breaches of the competition rules , but in spite of that fact the reality is that individuals who have suffered loss as a result of a breach of EC antitrust rules rarely receive compensation .
this is demonstrated by the films about child labour in the chocolate production industry .
( Parliament agreed to urgent procedure . )
although the final setting of the value will be a very serious goal and task , and although it will be an extraordinary operation , it will not be taking place for the first time .
if they are rejected and if another report that does not resolve a single problem is adopted , the Greens will not vote for it .
we are in no position to ignore these factors when discussing plant protection regulations .
however , the wishes of that country obviously cannot be placed above the general wishes of the other countries of the European Union .
on pre-accession aid for Turkey I would like to say that I was surprised that the completely normal criticism which , in other countries , would have long since led to the blocking and withholding of financing , has led so quickly to a hiccup in the cooperation between Turkey and the Commission .
this is a vast field , in which a great deal of adjustment is still needed throughout Europe for the sake of consumers and users and particularly for the sake of the environment .
we must show a sense of responsibility and make bold decisions to adopt a clean , efficient energy model , and also to provide the tools needed for our citizens to become aware of climate change and act accordingly .
there are plenty of options .
in many respects , we are already acting in line with the points that he made .
issues that require special attention in the Balkans include : increasing health care , increasing the representation of women in government , protecting women from domestic violence , eliminating sex crimes , and implementing stronger antidiscrimination strategies .
I would like to conclude by thanking you for Parliament 's support for the Commission work on this important dossier .
they are deprived of the right to vote , and decisions on divorce and child care are the exclusive prerogative of men .
I would appeal to the President and Vice-Presidents to use their gavel to effect , so that time-keeping is within the rules and that those who want to come in on catch-the-eye , etc. have an opportunity to do so .
as regards the achievability of the goals , I still have doubts .
we cannot talk solely about CO2 .
it could therefore happen that even the people whose duties are covered by the document will not be able to access it .
a number of colleagues have referred to the issue of compliance , and let us not forget that is a foundation which is still being transposed in many Member States , including the United Kingdom .
like Mr Gollnisch , who had his parliamentary immunity withdrawn solely for political reasons in 2006 , Mr Vanhecke is himself the victim of what constitutes a very real assault , by the transformation of a legal issue into a political issue .
unfortunately racism has raised its ugly head at the Scottish Football League and we all very much regret that .
one very basic proposal is the five-year cycle of the financial framework and a policy of a five-year cycle for financial policies ; in other words , the term of our Parliament would coincide with political proposals at budget level ;
they show that there may still be a need to raise the profile of the neighbourhood policy , for much of what has happened there was foreseeable .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( DE ) My question is similar to that of Mr Schulz .
last but not least , extended , simplified and more accessible funding options would undoubtedly assist the successful implementation of the above aims .
we know all that anyway and it will be taken into account in the proposals .
I can speak for North-West England and say how very much these funds have benefited the city of Liverpool , in particular , over the last 10 years .
- ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I wished to speak on this matter also because , over the past few months , I have followed with great interest the work carried out within the European Parliament , within our committees and , now , in this Chamber , precisely on the requests for specific commitments that we have put to the car manufacturers of our continent .
equal opportunities on the labour market mean that we must have the Maternity Leave Directive - which I hope will also include paternity leave .
there are several topics , from the environment and energy to visa regimes , immigration , cross-border projects and unresolved issues relating to Georgia and Moldova , that require a comprehensive political agreement on common objectives and measures .
I would specifically like to ask what benefit government A or government B hopes to gain from pressing ahead unilaterally or from blocking a decision .
however , farmers will also be protected and this is very important indeed .
the Swedish trade unions took industrial action to try to force a Latvian company to apply Swedish labour law in Sweden .
whether a cod is retained or discarded , it reduces the biomass .
we treat this problem very seriously .
it is not for the first time we have seen a party being represented in a parliament walking out and boycotting the work of the parliament .
in a nutshell , both the problems faced by auxiliary services , TV stations , public service broadcasters and the continuing problems concerning interferences that could arise , that is , problems with local microphones , will be a thing of the past .
thirdly , we will promote the adoption of criteria for the identification of vulnerable marine areas to be protected .
the real issue today is the agricultural industry 's inability to pass on the costs it has to incur to consumers .
apart from the legal problems which judges in the Court of Justice of the European Union are also warning about , it is clear that a court which passes a judgment opposing the presence of crosses in classrooms is not a suitable decision-making body for the EU .
it is a European matter , which does not simply require solidarity with Spain or Italy , or even less a hope that Spain and Italy will comply with the European model in their bilateral relations with African countries .
I met with representatives from the Belgian Presidency prior to the adoption of my report in the Fisheries Committee .
these definitions also concern the fact that we have different criteria for use of social housing , and that we have different ranges of responsibility as well .
today that set of common values will be embedded in the lives and minds of the population of the Union .
how could this dialogue be used in order to sign local traffic agreements between EU Member States ( Lithuania and Poland ) and the Russian Federation in order to make border crossing procedures easier for people living in border areas ?
in other words , with the across-the-board cut , with the proposals for further cuts in the value of entitlements in a period in which the cost of production has risen , we have disappointed both large-scale dairy farms and small-scale producers in small and mountainous areas .
at the same time , in its short life , the Court has been a powerful deterrent for future atrocities because perpetrators now know that justice will prevail and , in this sense , the Court faces challenges .
it is also important to emphasise that this assistance is not a substitute for the responsibilities normally incumbent upon companies , nor is it intended for the financing and restructuring of companies .
sub-Saharan Africa has 11 % of the world 's population , 25 % of the global burden of disease and 3 % of the health workers .
and that is no small commitment for a French President .
are you serious ?
Mr President , EU funds distributed by the lottery of ' first come , first served ' is wrong .
I will first go back to the report by Mrs Lefrançois on combating terrorism .
structural reforms to promote employment and social inclusion must also be implemented .
the European Union 's statements are evidence of our critical view and our willingness to contribute to a solution .
this will enable Ukraine to gradually come closer to the EU .
the solution might be for Croatia to submit a government or parliament decision which clearly states that these borders are orientational , provisional or any other term specifying clearly that the borders are temporary and that they have not yet been determined .
opening of the sitting
some research suggests that methane losses during production , and emissions of nitrous oxide when digestate is applied to the land , can negate any potential for greenhouse gas abatement .
we are considering measures that best use public investment to leverage additional private investment , such as the creation of a specific facility for large-scale demonstration projects .
furthermore , I welcome the introduction by the rapporteur of amendments concerning the enforcement of the regulation in accordance with the delegated acts procedure .
this has become possible thanks to the enlargement policy pursued by the European Union and supported also through its budgetary policy .
forgive me for having my doubts about this .
we should bear in mind that the effects of climate change are felt first of all by the poorest inhabitants of this planet .
another point is the impact which the current crisis is having on the whole of the region and regional cooperation .
our interest in this subject is clear : we have to take an interest in something that , as the European Union , we pay for .
with the exception of Guinea ( Conakry ) , French influence has nevertheless always remained greater in these states than in other former colonies .
but precisely in the scientific community it has long been hidden .
your inter-parliamentary contacts will be very precious in bringing this message across the EU and possibly the Atlantic .
positive examples are the Bay of Biscay , the Kattegat and the Skagerrak .
we noted at the time that those same European governments did little or nothing to cooperate with the parliamentary committee in seeking the truth and those responsible .
in particular , we need to protect those who cannot protect themselves .
this means complete integration of their children into the education system , basic qualifications for young people and adult literacy provision .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , on the question of Croatia , well , those who speak on behalf of and were elected by the Italian public have a duty to point out their rightful claim .
European products can and must succeed through their attractive design , finish , excellent quality , creativity and outstanding service .
as for the Middle East , I am not exactly in agreement with you .
Mr López-Istúriz White , I agree with what you said , we do need to do more to protect vulnerable adults , and elderly people , in particular , and I welcome the adoption of this report , which is fully in line with the recommendations and with our ambitions .
they would not do so and for that reason remain on the European Union list of terrorist organisations .
however , we must be able to influence the birth rate , and to establish a situation in which the number of children a family wants to have becomes a reality .
the era of easy money is past .
at the moment , individual groups have tabled their own separate resolutions .
the revised social agenda and the EU health strategy will also guide our action in this area , as well as the question of how we can further strengthen the rights of consumers .
we need three levels of admissibility checking .
therefore , forest fires like the ones we saw in Greece this summer would not result in the reduction of payments .
these projects must be based on scientific studies , have a regional perspective , and take into account the specific needs that exist .
in writing . - I welcome Françoise Castex 's recommendations regarding Europe 's demographic future .
unfortunately , it is once again women who have been hit hardest .
what is more , to prevent speakers from addressing the European Parliament , and especially when they are guests in this House , offends against the basic rights of freedom , democracy and parliamentarianism .
these MS targets are in the range + 20 % to -20 % relative to 2005 emissions for these sectors with the Irish target -20 % .
moreover , the Presidency puts emphasis on achieving progress in Chapter 15 on energy , in compliance with energy issues , because it is one of our priorities .
so , let us get on with the work !
the vote will take place on Tuesday .
in the first six years of the EUSF , the Commission received 62 requests for financial support from 21 different countries .
( EL ) Mr President , our fellow Member Mr Hammerstein always bears in mind matters that are of concern to citizens , and I have had occasion to see this for myself when taking part in delegations to the Committee on Petitions .
the aim of this Conference is to develop initiatives and actions for implementing migration-related issues .
Frontex is exempt from all parliamentary control .
that is all I can say on this matter , Madam President .
we consider that everyone , rich and poor , has a right to adequate access to high quality healthcare .
the resolution also requires governments to fulfil their obligation to make a public health service available to all citizens .
the Commission will only prepare MSY plans on a regional basis and only after a detailed consultation with the sectors involved .
it is extremely important to establish communication between the school and family in order to educate children in how to identify risk situations and respond .
the amounts to be mobilised are as follows : EUR 18 million for the Lifelong Learning Programme under heading 1a ; EUR 16 million for the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme under heading 1a ; EUR 71 million for Palestine under heading 4 .
we remain realistic and do not expect any dramatic changes .
once again , the report offers a fallacious solution to the technical and human problems associated with migration waves .
I therefore ask one thing of you , Baroness Ashton : tell us where , in the case of Tunisia , Europe has invested its money .
and yet this debate in Europe has now stopped .
because public expenditure has exploded in order to bear the social consequences of your economic policies and the exorbitant costs of mass immigration .
it also restates the Directive 's requirement of ensuring the independence of those bodies .
on the other hand , they can have a tangible impact on the development of the target state .
the quality of teacher education has direct and important impacts upon our children 's education and EU-wide cooperation to ensure a high standard of teaching is to be encouraged .
Mr President , in the European Parliament , we have had several weeks of fascinating debate on Ukrainian affairs .
the restrictions imposed on workers from the new Member States are hindering the healthy development of the Single Market and must be lifted immediately .
they seek to avoid risk and the rule of the game in the markets is to pass risk on to someone else .
I therefore wish the Czech Presidency and Sweden , the next country to hold the presidency of the European Council , success in their work on passenger rights and , of course , I hope to be able to contribute to the subsequent phases of the adoption of this regulation during the next parliamentary term .
we would have liked to see greater protection for women involved in domestic work , for example .
thus we will consult all the stakeholders and then come forward with a formal communication by the European Commission .
when we talk about European culture , we are also talking about universal culture .
however , our task was not ended by the signing of the Treaty .
it says ' there will be assessments of wage and productivity developments and competitive adjustment needs ' .
such conditions are the competence of the Member States , as is the decision on volumes to admit - if any .
rightly so , because it is a disgrace !
we used the same strategy for genetic engineering .
in practice , however , the national courts are required to take account of recommendations when resolving disputes .
in writing . - ( LT ) Waste electrical and electronic equipment is one of the fastest growing types of waste .
Madam President , last Sunday , I met a group of young people in Ireland who are struggling to survive poverty .
once the options become clear , the European Parliament , Member States and stakeholders will be convinced , as I am , that not only is there a problem but also that an effective solution must , and can , be found at European level .
Protocol to the EC-Uzbekistan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (
we now conduct dialogues with around 25 partner countries .
that is particularly true of islands , which are vulnerable in more than one way , especially to cyclones and rising sea levels .
I would also like to thank my colleagues Mr Joseph Daul and Mr Michael Gahler for their support .
I would like to point out that the A to G scale , which we all consider to be very successful and recognisable and to have made a huge contribution towards energy savings , obviously has problems which , Mr Reul , I listed in my opening comments ; in other words , this scale needs to be updated .
finally , there is provision in this proposal for maternity protection , although not for the assisting spouses of self-employed workers to have the same amount of maternity leave as that for salaried workers .
this is an instrument of major importance that will significantly strengthen police cooperation between the Member States by enabling them to take more effective action to combat terrorism and cross-border crime , for example by facilitating the exchange of the DNA profiles and dactyloscopic data of wanted persons .
I believe in Serbian self-respect .
the reference to the Charter of Fundamental Rights in Article 6 of the Treaty of Lisbon , which the Heads of State or Government will be signing tomorrow , lends the Charter the same legally binding character that the Treaties themselves possess .
many thanks , Mr Florenz , also for your kind words to the President .
( EL ) Madam President , Commissioner , even if the very strong resolution in Turkey 's favour is adopted today , this country will not stop demonstrating an important democratic deficit , blatantly infringing the human rights of millions of people and occupying the Republic of Cyprus , a Member State of the European Union .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , dear guests from Thuringia in the visitors ' gallery ,
that is the message behind tomorrow 's resolution .
on Cyprus , it must stop hiding behind what happened in 2004 .
the Council of Europe has limited funding and made it necessary to reduce a number of items - these cuts affect Section III in particular , which includes agriculture and rural development - but also affects the European agencies and the remaining sections .
Iceland needs to adapt to our common fisheries policy , rather than our common fisheries policy changing for Iceland 's benefit .
there are currently 165 operational reactors in Europe , not including Russia .
here it is a matter of using other funding to continue to improve the interfaces and to prevent unnecessary overlaps .
Mr President , I am proud of you as the President of this Parliament .
the fight against corruption and organised crime remains a purely formal matter in this territory , and the same applies to decentralisation and civil service reform . it has therefore had no real impact on the situation in the country so far .
well , because they are beautiful animals and because watching their blood being spilt on white ice is not very nice .
( SK ) Madam President , I have already spoken in the debate and applauded the fact that Mrs Honeyball has tried to find a compromise across the entire political spectrum .
in this Parliament , we have several political families , but after hearing some speeches , I had the impression that certain people think that we can now polarise the European debate again .
there is more than enough evidence of discrimination in all fields .
we are growing increasingly concerned about the progress of the democratisation process in Turkey .
the global temperature must under no circumstances increase by more than 1.5 ° C. This target will result in technical innovations and create jobs at a time of economic crisis .
there are some improvements .
a condition for the new Member States which acceded in 2004 and 2005 was the introduction and transposition of the complete acquis communautaire .
we understand there are specific issues to be resolved in the context of the Balkans and urge the national authorities to take steps to improve opportunities for women .
the signing of the completed trade agreements is no longer expected by the deadline of 1 January 2008 .
it is important to give consideration to whether or not the Croatian people want to join the EU and to allow them a free choice .
indeed , taking Barcelona as a starting point , Europe needs a new vision of its southern reaches and the Mediterranean , which must be more credible than in the past .
European citizens enjoy longer and healthier lives today .
this also means , however , that we have to take greater account of the gender aspect in all EU support programmes - whether for the development of rural areas , the Social Fund and the like - and make the programmes contingent upon how they continue to be used .
I think this is important .
the proposed measures do not apply only to the area of energy infrastructure , in other words , production and transmission of energy , but also to the construction sector , industrial output and transport .
small enterprises with no aspirations beyond their local markets need not take it up .
I repeat , the information should have been passed to us yesterday , before the joint resolution was debated .
with this in mind , possibilities for natural water storage must be explored in areas of flat , open countryside , while at the same time reducing flood risk by planting forests in hilly areas .
last year , around 2 400 people in the UK benefited from an organ transplant , but more than a thousand die every year whilst waiting for such a transplant .
both are worthy applications .
however , creating a Europe for its citizens goes far beyond simply drafting a programme .
if we are not given access to the documents , none of the EU institutions will be fulfilling its role or meeting our citizens ' expectations .
nothing shows more the urgent need for coordinated EU consular protection .
this is the silent majority of Pakistanis who want to live in peace and democracy , and if we are looking for stability in such a volatile country , we can only find it through a political process of reconciliation and democracy .
what is your opinion of the pre-crisis measures ?
finally , I was pleased that we overwhelmingly voted that the budget be maintained at least at the 2013 level .
that which has been achieved must now be defended , and I hope that the comprehensive reform of the European Union can now enter into force .
in writing . - ( DE ) Support for small and medium-sized enterprises will safeguard numerous jobs and strengthen the innovation potential of the European economy .
moreover , in this regard , I reject the criticisms that some may direct at the Union 's security and defence policy , namely to suggest that it is all about militarisation .
GMO technology represents a further threat . it continues to spread despite the many serious concerns about the negative effects of GMO crops on the environment and on human and animal health .
if it is in it , it must say so , and what it says must be correct .
the RID Directive and the ADR Directive deal with rail and road respectively , with the transport of dangerous goods by inland waterways covered by the annexes to these two directives .
I would be grateful if you could pay attention to this issue , too .
it is a duty on the part of we law makers and a right owed to creditor companies .
the report reflects this and urges the Commission to ensure that occupational diseases are correctly identified and remedied , with a particular focus on occupational cancers , with a view to setting targets for their reduction .
the movement of labour helps to create more jobs , so that the economy can be adjusted even during an economic crisis .
I believe that citizenship is unique to nation states , and I believe that all of the efforts that are behind this attempt to construct a European citizenship are related to the same attempts to conduct a European superstate .
the next item is the joint debate on the following reports :
moreover , we need to take into account the different situations in the Member States .
we have come to a fork in the road where we must decide whether or not territorial cohesion and true sustainable development are the symbols of European policy .
if you offer him the foundations for a health care system , you have helped not only him for life , but also his children ' .
however , they are still not as ambitious as those to which the European Union has committed , and fall below the level that science is telling us is required in order to keep global warming below 2 ° C , as was agreed by all the leaders of the major economies in July 2009 in L 'Aquila , including the Americans , the Chinese and the leaders of the other countries that you mentioned .
financial assistance can hardly solve a shortfall of products .
- ( CS ) I supported the report on dangerous substances and chemicals , namely dichloromethane , making it possible to restrict this carcinogenic substance in paint strippers , even though provision has been made for exemptions under strict conditions .
in fact , I want to remind you that the Romanian authorities have always supplied all the information required in these international inquiries .
thank you in advance for the answers that I am sure you will be able to give to the questions that we are putting to you .
the debate , too , has shown that there are hardly any problems in administering the instrument .
in writing . - ( ES ) While I consider the accession of Croatia to the EU to be positive , provided that the Croatian people see it as so , I have not supported this motion for a resolution since they are various points that I reject , above all those related to the EU 's economic requirements .
however , the price is high , and it has only partially been divulged .
I believe that a culture of cooperation in the design of policies will help to restore trust .
the Board will also advise the Commission on appropriate measures to facilitate implementation of the Code of Practice as it relates to Eurostat and to the European Statistical System as a whole .
thus far , and it is 29 days since the accident , it has not been possible to stop the leak and , as Mr Sonik said , over 5 000 tonnes of oil a day are flowing into the sea in the Gulf .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( FR ) Madam President , honourable Members , the situation in Burma continues to concern us .
we have been trying to find out for 10 years , but the time has come to clarify this point , and if we concentrate too much on crisis management , we will overlook the crucial debate , which is to know how , with a single currency , we can carry out intelligent joint action .
Madam President , visa facilitation and visa liberalisation are undoubtedly intended to be favourable terms .
yes , we share the vision which is contained in the report .
more specifically , in my view , the European Ombudsman should in next year 's report , and I would ask him to do this , focus on the way in which the rejection of the Treaty of Lisbon as a result of a democratic referendum in Ireland , rendering this Treaty legally null and void , is deliberately and repeatedly ignored in documents and in decision-making by all European institutions .
in the first place , we believe that we need to maintain the European perspective for Turkey .
( DE ) Mr President , I voted in favour of this report mainly for two reasons : firstly , because this report quite emphatically demands that the Member States finally implement the Lisbon Strategy and therefore measures on employment policy as well , and secondly , because it demands that good and affordable childcare arrangements finally be set up in the Member States .
this is a core issue and therefore , the Council maintains its 2006 measures , which , on the other hand , clearly have an impact on the pace of the accession negotiations , as we all know .
quite simply , what is being asked for is a larger budget ; in other words , more taxes for Europeans .
what am I saying here ?
no single State has the power to solve these problems , so dialogue and cooperation are necessary between the EU and the United States .
this is a great affront to God .
I voted in favour of the report by my colleague , Mr Papastamkos , because it presents a very realistic view of trade relations between the European Union and third countries in the agricultural sector .
it produces public goods and it needs public European financial support .
the Presidency 's declaration that it will get involved in eliminating barriers and will concentrate on better regulation sends businesses an important signal .
an effective internal energy market is an essential condition for a reliable , lasting and competitive energy supply in Europe .
mafia groups operate much more frequently now that there is apparently less risk .
I find that the conditions in the report coincide with the realities in the Danube Action Plan .
therefore , I would like to welcome the inclusion into the final text of the matter regarding the difference between men and women , in a more general article .
however , the Member States must not be told that they can only buy products with the highest performance levels which belong to the highest energy efficiency class .
while its final status remains in doubt - full member of the EU or of a future Mediterranean Union - what seems certain is that the EU is trying to find solutions which best serve the interests of the major economic and financial groups in the main countries , in particular Germany .
promoting investment in low-carbon technologies and energy efficiency measures will , at the same time , support our competitiveness , our energy security and our climate change agenda .
the European Parliament undertakes to consult the future body representing accredited parliamentary assistants with regard to any amendments made to the internal decision referred to in Article 125 ( 1 ) of the CEOS . '
we hope that the Marseille Summit will serve this purpose .
the underlying problem is that employers are reluctant to recruit young workers with little or no practical experience .
we have authority in our own territorial waters , but we are also endeavouring to pass on these standards to areas beyond our borders .
vehicle owners are certainly being required to make a great economic effort at present , just as the transport sector is experiencing such a dramatic financial crisis .
the estimated volume is several hundreds of thousands of victims inside Europe , the second biggest crime-related business , with an estimated profit of USD 32 million .
it is quite clear that we must further improve both the capabilities of the European Union in preventive analysis and the instruments of crisis management .
a child comes out of Stalin 's office , bleeding but smiling .
and the Chinese President had already made this known in a letter to me .
in this context , what Parliament and the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs want to know is essentially six things .
in the case of autonomous trade preferences for Pakistan , it is important to introduce a safeguard clause in case of interruptions to trade resulting from the abolition of tariffs .
stay as the man we know and love , then I can say to Mr Schulz : ' you see , I have been able to change Europe a bit , but not Daniel Cohn-Bendit ' .
pursuant to this directive , in the case of a hydrographic basin that extends beyond the territorial limits of the Union , it is necessary to implement coordination efforts between the countries involved and for this reason , on 2 February 2010 the Agreement on the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Prespa Park Area was concluded ; the Commission was also involved , representing the EU .
the positive impact of this scheme can be considered on many levels : social , economic and financial .
this was a defeat , but it is far from the final word on the issue .
as a Member from Cyprus , I think it would be extremely interesting to put this experience into effect in the case of Cyprus .
first , because our partners face important structural challenges , we cannot expect things to change overnight and , as Lord Patten once said : ' democracy is not instant coffee ' .
I will follow Parliament 's requests with great interest in an attempt to provide an appropriate response .
while the rapporteur asks for mandatory involvement of Eurojust in every case from the initial stage of communication , we believe that the referral to Eurojust should only take place when national authorities fail to reach consensus because , after all , as it is now , this initiative is about direct communication .
we were in fact fully aware that the contributions by the Member States would not be enough to take up the major challenges facing an EU comprising 27 nations and , notably , half a billion citizens .
there are young people out there who misinterpret HIV as a negligible risk , and it is particularly important that we engage with them on their own cognitive ground and prompt them to think about the consequences of infection .
I would also like to express my satisfaction , because with this agreement that we are achieving here today , in this debate , we are concluding a process .
on the other hand , Israel respects the rights of prisoners .
we need to rethink our strategy here and to take decisive action to establish order .
here , too , I feel that there is not enough mention given to specific problems .
since the cost of food is at a new high level for the seventh month in a row and since the volatility in prices is creating serious problems in the food chain , more people will have difficulty finding wholesome food at a reasonable cost .
I would therefore , as rapporteur , like to thank all the political groups in Parliament for this .
do you not believe that it would be more sensible in the light of the financial crisis to ensure that the owners of small and medium-sized companies have the opportunity to find out about new areas of business ?
strict sanctions need to be imposed on everyone involved in such practices .
he has even succeeded in charming a few politicians here , like Mr Rubiks , whose greatest concern in this situation seems to be whether the opposition will acquire help from abroad .
to do so we need great leadership and from that point of view we are somewhat on our own .
we have all read the Treaty of Lisbon , and we know it does not say everything .
for the integrated maritime policy to be greater than the sum of its parts - and to focus on fishing here - it is vital that this activity be represented in the clusters of maritime activities , so that desires can be incorporated in a collaborative way and difficulties resulting from the overlapping of interests in the use of the maritime space can be overcome .
in Italy , in certain regions , such as Lazio , farmers ' funds are paid out months or , in some cases , years after being transferred from the European Union , and I do not have time now to give other examples .
Protocol to the EC-Kazakhstan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (
what is the result of this ?
the Slovak minority has been decimated from the original 400 000 Slovaks to less than 33 000 , in other words , not even one tenth of the original number .
the total package of EUR 1.8 billion represents an increase of 31 % or 22 % over the last five-year period .
during Communism , Roma had jobs and free access to health care and education ; after Communism their living standards dropped .
this all smacks of bad planning , and it is now a formality , in my opinion .
guaranteeing adequate and regular food for every human being is not only a moral requirement , it is also the fulfilment of a fundamental human right .
equally , if these companies move outside the EU , they also have concerns about that .
shipyards are facing financial difficulties , especially in the current economic and financial crisis .
the regulation to establish the office is not the right place to legislate on the founding principles of these mechanisms but , once more , as with the Dublin Regulation , the Commission will accept an amendment in the preamble .
since 40 % of the natural gas imported by European companies comes from Russia , the latter has to facilitate the EU investments by adopting a transparent legislation and opening its pipeline system , which would allow European companies to purchase gas directly from the Central Asian producers .
the Cold War showed us how strategically important the Arctic is .
in my view , stable public finances in the European Union , which will guarantee the sustainability of the national economies and the European currency , are an important prerequisite for overcoming the trade imbalances .
if he wishes to go back , he can go back ; if he wishes to stay , all he has to do is stay another day and have some asparagus .
this ' no ' expressed deep-felt anxiety : millions of men and women had begun to lose faith in Europe .
we were ahead of everyone else .
there is no reference to documents such as the ' Target 2020 ' programme advocating the replacement by 2020 of approximately 20 % of the petrol and diesel consumed within the European transport sector .
they will also enhance regional differences , which are characterised by an outflow of young people , thus enhancing society 's ageing process , or a positive migration balance which retards this process .
bearing in mind the need to repeal Directive 86 / 613 / EEC on the application of the principle of equal treatment between men and women engaged in an activity in a self-employed capacity , this proposed amendment represents a significant step forward , for the situation of the spouses of self-employed workers too .
how I will miss him .
- I would like to thank the President-in-Office .
this sum represents 2.5 % of an amount of direct damage estimated at EUR 511.2 million .
how can we accept a situation where people have work and yet cannot afford a place to live , in Europe and in the 21st century ?
it has never really been clear why Turkey was not included in the ENP .
however , some delegations expressed concerns about the proposed legal basis and the derogations from budgetary discipline .
of course , this must take place in consultation and collaboration with the local population on the basis of the actual situation and the current conditions .
can I say , Commissioner , that I agree with you absolutely : we cannot pull out ; we cannot create a vacuum , because a vacuum exists there already and that is a vacuum of political will , and we need political leadership to resolve this according to international obligations as well as according to the rule of law .
we are talking about the transfer of personal data and confidential documents to third parties , about the data and confidential information of our citizens , the people that we represent .
therefore , it would make sense for us to resolve tomorrow that we will check , in 2012 , what has happened by then , and how everything has developed , so that we build in some reserve , as it were - and there is an amendment in this vein by Mr Grosch , which we support .
we should take advantage of the energy and enthusiasm of the people who come to us legally , and involve them in the creation of new nations and our common Europe !
the Kyoto Protocol excluded aviation and while most of the nations of the world do not recognise the Kyoto agreements the European Union now wants to do more than is required under the Protocol .
is the Commission ready to establish such a legal framework , so that we will have a mandatory register after the revision ?
it is a pleasure for me to welcome you all to the European Parliament in Strasbourg where you have been taking part in the 27th EU-Switzerland interparliamentary meeting yesterday and today .
does copyright need to be adapted in the digital age ?
I believe that you , Commissioner , will be able to control the Agency , resulting in great benefit to railways in Europe .
if he could learn the language , I am sure that those Russian-speaking Latvians can do the same .
I already pointed that out last Monday at the committee debate on employment policy guidelines : we must not lose sight of the goal of full employment , but we cannot have full employment at all costs because we need good jobs .
do we or do we not want to have European responses to European and to global economic problems ?
( EL ) Commissioner , you are well aware that Greece is the only country that has still failed to implement a directive that has been in force for six years .
if provisional twelfths alone were applied , our citizens would not understand how issues , even very important ones , could hinder a budget that has a direct impact on the livelihoods and prospects of citizens throughout the Union .
( PL ) Madam President , Commissioner , I do not wish to change this Chamber into a university classroom .
in writing . - The group which I am part of in the European Parliament has amended the original report quite substantially .
the Commission has sought to rise effectively to the challenge posed by the economic and financial crisis and , at the same time , it wanted to take advantage of this interactive discussion with the Member States and the European Parliament to respond to the calls for simplification of these procedures and these policies .
the protection afforded by the euro is therefore directly linked to our credibility , which rests on the ability to implement such policies .
( NL ) During the final phase of the budget procedure , the Council and the Commission made political statements , especially with a view to involving the European Parliament in the financing of the European Union in the long term .
we could reach an agreement on the figures as such , on the 2011 budget , on what is , in fact , on the agenda today .
for this reason , the German Free Democratic Party delegation believes that criteria such as the fight against corruption must receive greater attention when evaluating the Schengen mechanism , and any misdemeanours must be punished appropriately .
the same applies to pensions for women : different retirement ages are set on the basis of decisions and political debates in the individual Member States .
the democratic lesson of the French and Dutch referendums of 2005 and of many other peoples , had they been consulted , is that citizens are saying they are not against Europe , but they have the feeling that it is being built without them , and sometimes against them .
the case of abandoning sanctions against Cuba , with no return in terms of human rights progress , was just one example .
let us lead by example in the free world and let us be known for our respect for human rights , indiscriminately of whether we are dealing with friends or enemies .
it should be seen only as the supplement .
this is how not to do things .
I have told the following little joke a few times before : when I met my wife 35 years ago , I coaxed her into going out with me .
we made recommendations in that regard .
the negotiations that have been conducted in recent weeks have made it possible to obtain a very rapid agreement concerning these two issues .
the early diagnosis of tuberculosis and the thorough and fully-monitored treatment of the disease , in other words , treatment that is uninterrupted and of sufficient duration , are the basic pre-conditions for reducing the risk of extensive treatment resistance and multi-resistant forms of TBC developing , the treatment of which is extremely expensive and difficult to obtain in many countries .
micro-entities are often not so tiny .
submitting to Parliament the proposal for a regulation on origin marking , as it was formulated by the European Commission in 2005 , represents a step forward in this regard .
Christians in Iraq and Egypt may be feeling abandoned and betrayed .
Member of the Commission . - ( CS ) Mr Vice-President , ladies and gentlemen , two months ago the Commission adopted a renewed social agenda .
Member of the Commission . - ( FR ) Madam President , I am going to be very brief because I did not realise , but basically I already answered a number of questions in my initial speech .
therefore , every responsible legislator should do everything possible to make the number of abortions fall .
the budgetary ceilings for foreign policy go on being too restrictive , and every year we have to fight to fund new priorities .
I would also like to express my appreciation for the very positive role which Parliament has played in the course of these negotiations through the political debates .
Vice-President of the Commission . - 2008 is a crucial year for all of the institutions to prepare for the European elections next year .
in the face of increased international competition , we can only sustain our social market economy if we adapt .
these countries are backward too and are asking for help , insisting that they should receive assistance .
( FI ) Mr President , the most important thing is for patients to receive good , safe and cheap care , and more often than not they want to receive their care as close to home as possible .
it contributes to the democratic process and to democratic development in many underprivileged and developing countries .
finally , Mrs Ashton , I wish you every success in setting up the common External Action Service .
I am , of course , thinking of the ' Milk fund ' .
I have the impression that , at one time , people would say , people would hear : ' I want my money back ' .
the Presidency is already preparing further guidelines on this subject and the Council will debate them as part of judicial and internal affairs at its June session .
Mrs Malmström , I believe that the Swedes are doing the correct thing in the negotiations .
direct payments will continue to play an important role in maintaining regional vitality .
( applause )
the energy we produce is often generated in a way that damages our environment and creates the greenhouse effect , which will damage our health , economy and stability , not only in our part of the world , but also in many other parts of the world .
I hope that the various political groups will also stop their political games and withdraw the resolutions in question .
I would also draw attention to the danger of supplying third parties with information about flights , seat numbers and hotel reservations , contrary to existing legislation , since it can be used by all sorts of terrorists .
I do not think that any arrogant , snobbish intervention , giving us lessons about this or that , helps us either .
the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats is a responsible group and we firmly believe that the next five years will be so critical for the European Union and European citizens that we will need a Commission that will have broad pro-European support in this Parliament .
the common response is , for example , the European Union , or the Charter of Fundamental Rights , which basically reflect the lessons learned from those two totalitarian systems that created such destruction on our continent .
Mr Klinz has incorporated much of what I consider to be vitally important , such as diversification into new investment products and techniques with reasonable security at a common-sense level .
the aim is to militate against the risk of one of the spouses trying to rush in first with petitioning for divorce in order for the case to be governed by the law of a particular country that would protect the interests of the spouse in question .
in particular , I should like to join in expressing solidarity with the Iranian people , who have been legitimately calling for democratic change in the country following the presidential elections in 2009 .
both then turned from democracy to oppression and all that goes with it : the denial of basic freedoms , extreme poverty and oppressive militarism .
the EU common position reflects this need ; it is a balanced document , detailing our criticisms , while engaging Government over its responsibilities and offering assistance to the people .
many thanks , President of the Commission , for this statement .
( applause )
from my point of view I think that we have succeeded in finding a good middle way in this proposal and in finding a way of dealing with this package which will not overburden European industry but also will help us attain a more energy-efficient and resource-efficient European industry .
therefore , everyone contributed their own new idea about how we should respond to the crisis .
many hundreds of people suffered serious injury , including 14 people who were shot in the eyes , many of whom also lost their sight .
however , I have to express some bewilderment at the exclusion of collective entities and organisations as ' organisers ' ( Article 2 , No 3 ) , thinking in particular of NGOs and political parties , the founding organisations of representative democracy , as well as at the terminology chosen - " citizens ' committee ” - to identify the group of organisers .
postponing decision-making on the package does not solve the problem .
at the same time , cooperation should also be promoted in the energy-climate sector and maritime sector in the Arctic region .
I think the rapporteur and the previous speakers have highlighted the main features of this proposal for a European Parliament and Council directive .
many intentions still have to be put into practice .
it goes without saying , therefore , that European efforts should be aimed at encouraging sustainable economic growth .
yet that is what we need : harmonisation which increases the level of protection .
programmes and mechanisms to deliver practical measures make us stronger as a union , and better able to cope with crises , whether they be economic downturns or natural disasters .
the communication of July 2009 aimed at identifying ways of making enforcement more effective , efficient and consistent throughout the European Union .
obviously , the funds which I hope will be passed tomorrow would cover a period somewhat longer than what they are actually used for .
the initial intention of promoting cross-border business is very important and is very good , and I really hope that during the forthcoming negotiations with the Council we will manage to make these adjustments to achieve an optimal result .
time and again this Parliament has demanded a rapid SEPA migration , and the reasons are simple .
all the long management plans are blocked now , and I have some new proposals about some new management plans , which are very important for salmon , for example , and for pelagic stocks .
these relate to international terrorism : Islamic fundamentalism , which is rearing its head .
it could also be the case that we are creating artificial demand which will lead to another collapse .
the grain intervention stocks , which mainly consist of barley , currently stand at 5.6 million tonnes .
however , the little that is being given may help to ease their pain . this does not make the rationale of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund any less intolerable .
it should respect the law and the rules , and immediately declare that further ratification of the now dead Lisbon Treaty is a completely useless exercise .
( PT ) Mr President , fisheries agreements with third countries should ensure a fair balance between economic interests and promoting sustainable fishing .
until we tackle the root of the problem , there can be no chance of either an air-based or land-based military solution to it .
this approach will guarantee a healthy economic environment for private entities .
division of the country into two parts is unacceptable .
this must not continue .
this is factually not possible on a planet which has limited resources , so I urge the Commission to reconsider this .
the people who serve us in restaurants , the drivers who drive our cars , the ground staff at the airports who unload our suitcases , are all taxpayers whose taxes are being used to prevent the big banks from failing , because governments and parliaments require these people to make a contribution .
in conclusion , faced with the choice between receiving the VAT only at the end of the economic cycle when the finished product or service reaches the end user and avoiding fraud involving illegal VAT refunds , the first option is the correct choice .
Madam President , thank you for giving me the floor again .
let me remind you that in November 2007 it was this Parliament that voted by a large majority at first reading in favour of the Soil Directive .
I would like to emphasise , however , that alongside instruments of economic support , initiatives which aim to integrate Balkan society with the EU are equally significant .
( DE ) Madam President , in my opinion , although the partnership agreement with Cameroon in the forestry sector is indeed praiseworthy and comes during the International Year of Forests , it is also a very convenient way for the EU to improve its image .
but we represent our citizens and are responsible for representing them here in this House .
the world declared in Anapolis the failure of unilateral and military solutions .
there are thousands of childless couples who could give a future to these children .
a number of speakers have again referred to the scandal of discards .
how does the Union , in this context , envisage supporting these efforts and cooperating with the United States and Russia ?
this could compromise the main priority of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council .
it is too early for a full assessment of the current Agadir Agreement .
in 2007 , organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables underwent a fundamental reform towards greater market orientation .
from my point of view , the best way to channel this aid is , without a doubt , general budgetary aid wherever possible , and sectoral aid wherever desirable .
national tax administrations must be motivated by the need to remedy fraud and help honest tax payers to fulfil their obligations .
the absence of good cooperation jeopardises the ability of the Ombudsman and the European Parliament to supervise the Commission effectively .
the idea of a European tax cannot be contemplated in the present context : the fiscal pressure bearing on Member States should be reduced first .
next week , the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development , which I have the honour of chairing , will also meet to look further into the debate on the consequences of this serious episode .
if you had not declared that you were an Italian radical I would never have known it from this report , but the fact that you expect political parties to broadcast their internal debates - it is not going to happen and indeed , as the previous speaker said , all you do is expose division rather than reinforce the fact that we are here because we believe in a Europe that is accountable to its citizens .
no .
its content is really no match for the challenges we have to face .
this is also what we presented in a report for Parliament in the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs , which we will discuss next week , about the reform of the supervisory system .
( FI ) Madam President , in fact , I want to thank Mr Bloom for these opinions of his , because they are quite prevalent .
it is hardly likely to surprise anyone that this is a time of festivity for those with a zeal for regulation and control .
by acting together , we Europeans made a difference in Paris in 2005 .
we must be honest enough to realise that the purpose of this report is not to stop gas coming into Germany or into the EU , but to stop it from crossing the Baltic Sea and to get it overland .
( HU ) Mrs Gál , I would like to give an answer as to why the previous rule stating that amendments to the constitution could only be accepted with the support of a four-fifths majority of MPs had to be changed .
lastly , I would like to pinpoint those States which are still overstating their public development aid figures .
I believe that an intra-Community trading ban is a complete non-starter .
the Council disagreed because , in my opinion - and it is only my opinion - they do not want Parliament , and more importantly , they do not want the Members of this Parliament in the local region , where we are more important than you , the Commission or they , the Council .
one of the most interesting and crucial issues is intermodality and flexibility between modes of transport , and the ability of railways to act as some kind of alternative .
however , Ukraine needs to take appropriate measures to prevent and fight fraud , corruption and any other irregularities associated with this assistance , as well as providing for controls by the Commission and audits by the Court of Auditors .
however , significant efforts are still required , especially at national level , where women on average make up only 24 % of all national members of parliament , and in companies , where women make up less than 11 % of the board members of the major stock exchange-listed companies .
we need to fill it with everything that is modern and preserve in it everything that is timeless .
however , there is still a wide range of matters that require particular attention .
( FR ) Mr President , last week I was in Argentina with the Mercosur delegation .
however , I believe that the European Union must adopt a strategic role so that the operational programmes can be implemented as quickly as possible in all Member States , thereby promoting the measures intended to consolidate its institutional capacity according to the specific needs of each Member State .
the perpetrator , a seventeen-year-old former student at the school , later committed suicide .
the Council is of the opinion that it is in the interest of the international community and of the European Union to improve stability and security in the region .
I am pleased to hear Commissioner Barrot say here that one of the possibilities for revision of this Regulation is to temporarily suspend it in the case of those countries that are bearing a disproportionate share of a particular burden .
several factors are to blame , including mistakes in repackaging or relabelling , the limited effect of product recalls , the more complex distribution channels , supply interruptions and , finally , shortcomings in the enforcement of applicable legal provisions .
in writing . - ( DE ) Items and technology with civil and potential military uses should be subject to the same competitive conditions in all Member States .
perhaps it has not been noticed that the Islamic Republic of Iran believes that she has cracked that particular difficulty , and that her form of democracy is fully comprehensible with the Islamic Republic of Iran 's version of Islam , the all-important Shariah law and the Shiite Islamic tradition .
we are going to look very closely at the application of this Convention , and then we are obviously going to incorporate this proposal in the framework of the Stockholm programme .
for my part , Mr President , I would like to emphasise - like Mr Jouyet , speaking on behalf of the Presidency - that for Schengen to truly be a complete success - which it already is - we need SIS II .
a large majority of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) will support this report .
it should be one of the principal tasks of the EU to ensure that women are placed at the centre of development work involving the EU .
the Council has stated that this assembly is exceeding its powers by providing that the protection of the courts be maintained .
otherwise our activities will not achieve their objective .
we believe that the current rules are reasonable .
I know that I cannot make everybody agree , but that is the beauty of democracy .
this means that today , we have a greater risk of coming into contact with people with the HIV virus than in the past , because the number of HIV-positive survivors is increasing .
second point : of the 27 countries , 24 are now in the Schengen Area ; in other words , 24 countries out of 27 .
agricultural product quality policy : what strategy to follow ? (
as far as boat angling is concerned , the door with all of this is open for everybody being required to have licences and to report .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , ' To thwart illegal immigration , one has to be unkind .
the debate is closed .
the Commission would like to point out that multinationals are not beneficiaries of the support extended by the ESF .
lastly , I believe the EU must continue to honour its commitment to provide long-term support to Côte d 'Ivoire in order to aid national reconciliation and to help rebuild and stabilise the country .
apart from the agenda for the financial markets , all attention should now go to the economic crisis we are facing .
in writing . - ( PT ) This agreement between the European Community and Moldova on the facilitation of issuance of short-stay visas is to be signed in parallel with the readmission agreement as these are ' mutually conditional ' , just the same as with the agreements with Russia and Ukraine .
I am in favour of the amendments to the Commission 's opinion that have been tabled .
in the Kittilä goldmine , which is fairly close to where I live , over 5 000 kilos of gold are produced in a year .
thank you , Mrs Frassoni , I am sure you have a good point , but you were late for assembly , so see the headmaster , please !
we must deliberate on the restructuring of social security systems and on ensuring minimum social rights at the European level that will facilitate the free circulation of workers , specialised personnel , businessmen , researchers , students and retired people .
that is why the Commission has sought to find out whether additional legislative measures need to be taken at EU level and , if so , which new , specific requirements and criteria they would include for waste shipment inspections .
they have to be understood on what they can contribute .
after this twofold tribute to Alexander Stubb , a ' but ' is necessary .
in the areas most seriously affected , such as the Peloponnese and central and eastern Greece , regional economies were badly hit .
people have congratulated me on my report .
in my opinion , this is a counterfeit product , at a time when we are being invited to fight counterfeiting in industry .
it is common for help to be refused to mothers and father travelling alone with small children as a result of this lack of knowledge among carriers and airports .
I would like to express my gratitude to the many MEPs here today who have supported all of the actions promoting stability and political maturity in Bosnia Herzegovina .
the Commission trusts that it can count on the support of this House for the policy direction presented in today 's communication as a basis for tackling the challenges that we are facing in this situation with prices that are actually going through the roof in some areas .
if the Treaty of Lisbon promises that the European Union will be more democratic , more transparent , more effective and more capable of acting as a single political entity on the international stage , it is to its citizens that this needs to be explained first of all .
- Report : Fava
a lot of scientists in a lot of places are working on this , and the Commission could play a very powerful role in pooling that information and working out how much we know about this connected and very serious problem .
this can help ensure that the financial crises of individual countries do not catch the European Union unawares and enables an appropriate reaction to these because it is easier to avoid a crisis than to recover from one .
what is today 's debate actually about ?
up until now , the legislation on food enzymes has not been fully harmonised in the EU and , as a consequence , this lack of harmonisation has created barriers to trade and hindered growth in this field .
they often work outside legal regulations and do not enjoy any rights ...
do you not think that this is speaking with more than one voice ?
'Europe for Citizens ' programme ( 2007-2013 ) (
in order to build a fair society , without overt or covert conflicts , whose risks are obvious - including that of distorting our own and other people 's identities - we need a strong policy to combat unlawful conduct .
trade relations with these countries are just as important for the Union .
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it is only on that basis that it is up to the Member States to make the appropriate decisions about amendments to legislation or policies that might be inspired by the doctrine of the European Court of Human Rights , but under no circumstances are they obliged or compelled to do so by any judgment of the European Court of Human Rights .
we are not giving more precise instructions , because that is not what we have to do .
I think I can keep this brief as all the essential points have actually already been addressed .
it aims , more specifically , at encouraging creativity and mobility of artists , public access to culture , the dissemination of art and culture , intercultural dialogue and knowledge of the history and cultural heritage of the peoples of Europe .
over 300 young people under 18 years of age , some as young as 12 years old , are in detention .
I welcome the receptiveness shown towards extending this facility to Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina .
secondly , it is important to remember that the Culture Programme ( 2007 to 2013 ) promotes intercultural dialogue , transnational mobility of cultural players and works , and cultural and artistic products .
for this reason , I think we should request the European Commission to take action against Italy in order to make it give up its discriminatory policy against the people of Roma origin .
it was not a complete success : for example we did not welcome the presence of the dictator Robert Mugabe and , conversely , would have welcomed the presence of a representative from Sudan .
of particular importance are the changes that have been made to protect children , families and minorities .
I also gave the report my support as it seeks to improve harmonisation between the Member States in order to prevent legal loopholes that allow businesses to use deceptive advertising practices in the EU Member States .
I am likewise grateful to OLAF , in the person of the Director , Franz-Hermann Brüner , for its unstinting support and for the vital work it does , which is far from easy .
another example of the deliberate inaction of the police in cases where they are ' under orders ' is the fact that not a single case of abduction has been reported in Bulgaria , even though 15 cases have already occurred , the last two again this month .
increases the removal of authority from the national democratic institutions ( the only ones which directly result from the democratic will of the people ) , an example of which is the transfer of powers from the national parliaments , which are losing the power to make decisions in fundamental areas and which are becoming a kind of advisory body without the right to veto Community decisions that go against national interests .
even yesterday , I found myself considerably irritated when I listened to Russian and Ukrainian counterparts declaring here that they were certainly not at fault .
the legislative framework already in force provides for a solid base for the Member States to pursue effective protection of intellectual property rights , including by fighting piracy .
the developments in the area of energy and food prices are , and will continue to be , a global problem .
the leaders of these three countries are giving orders to fire on their own people , who are legitimately demanding political freedom , human dignity and social fairness .
this has an extremely powerful effect on employment .
as regards the European Investment Bank , I took immediate action after taking up my position as Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship to meet President Maystadt and urge him to deliver the EUR 30 billion allocated to help small and medium-sized enterprises from the European Investment Bank .
the fall in world trade , the rise in unemployment , especially in developing countries and , with this , the growth of poverty and social exclusion - this adverse trend can be stopped by restoring dynamic trade on fair and just ( ... ) .
however , more than this , I would say that the drive for innovation and the Lisbon Strategy can be summed up in two words : what Europe , business and universities must do is create value .
( DA ) Mr President , we Danish Liberals have a great deal of sympathy for those farmers facing the great economic challenges of our day and , in fact , we also have a great deal of sympathy for the idea of giving short-term assistance to those in need .
Syria is also a secular regime .
China broke up these talks , accusing the Dalai Lama of being violent , causing violence and seeking independence rather than autonomy .
- ( DE ) Mr President , President-in-Office of the Council , President of the Commission , I , too , am happy that Slovenia is taking over the Presidency of the Council .
in the light of the recent visit to the European Parliament by the Israeli Foreign Minister , who advocated the strengthening of the Israel-EU relationship politically , and the current Action Plan just completed by the High Representative , the approval of this Neighbourhood Agreement would benefit both parties by improving each party 's understanding of the other and hastening the arrival of peace and stability in the Middle East and Mediterranean .
I voted in favour as I believe that as the European Union plays a crucial role in the quest for a new world economic governance , it must encourage consistency in the policies implemented by the various international institutions .
there are different opinions .
above all this agreement creates an opportunity to develop trading exchanges between us and to increase investment in a two-way system .
you should not be having to apply .
we should put all our effort into ensuring that the Treaty of Lisbon can enter into force at the beginning of next year .
Commissioner Špidla cannot resolve this matter by himself .
they almost treated you with suspicion rather than welcoming you , which annoyed many people .
those last two words should probably be put in inverted commas .
we therefore deem this resolution worthy of our support .
this is why there are no plans to open discussions on the possible facilitation of the issuance of visas and on readmission with Belarus at this stage .
it is good for people as we approach maturity .
I would like to congratulate Mr Simpson on the report and thank Parliament for this debate .
we must keep a watchful eye on this .
in your view , does that depend solely on a decrease in public spending , or does it also depend on the ability to increase certain taxes ? if so , which ones ?
that it something that we need to consider in future .
I tabled an amendment calling for the level of management expenses and costs linked to creating and implementing the instrument not to exceed 5 % of the value of each use so that the largest share of the money does not end up with financial intermediaries , but goes into investments for projects linked to energy efficiency in homes and the use of renewable energy resources .
following various hijackings of boats and armed robberies , the European Union has just created a ' coordination cell ' .
( DE ) Mr President , last Sunday reactionary nationalists brutally beat up homosexuals at a peace rally in Moscow , thereby hammering the image of an unfree Russia into our consciousness once again .
this could guarantee transparency in the signals given to the European road haulage sector .
( CS ) Madam President , Commissioner , I broadly support the reservations voiced by my colleagues from the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection .
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EUR 7 million were made available .
it is in the frontline of the war against terrorism , costing it so far , it is reckoned , USD 40 billion .
however , we all know that the content of these reports is not the main obstacle to the commencement of accession talks .
inevitably , this situation is likely to continue to jeopardise the granting of additional commercial benefits as part of GSP + as the condition which all beneficiaries of the scheme must fulfil is that these three conventions have been ratified and effectively enforced .
it is also vital that the Yemeni state boosts its capacity to meet the needs of people throughout the country .
I voted in favour of this report as I agree that a coherent and transparent framework must be established for multilateral surveillance of macro-economic developments in the Union and in the Member States .
that is why we need a unified system of obligations for service providers .
I invite you to see the results in the second edition of the Scoreboard .
among the main focal points were the strengthening of the security forces by the Palestinians themselves , the issue of the development of settlements , especially around Jerusalem , economic development , restricted freedom of movement in the West Bank and , lastly , the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip , which is cut off and subject to international sanctions .
this must remain , without fail , a component of the EAFRD .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , with this report , we are making a contribution to cutting red tape .
the fact that the information on drugs will not be allowed to be published in newspapers or magazines , nor much less broadcast on the radio or television , is therefore appreciated .
the radical changes in European rural areas all represent challenges in terms of population , jobs , services and the environment .
( it ) I have received a request from Mr Hannan for an item on the interpretation of Rule 19 of our Rules of Procedure .
this is standard practice in Europe and minimises the risk of hazardous emissions .
I mourn his death as both a colleague and a friend of his and I am going to ask President Buzek to send his family and the Spanish Government a message of heartfelt condolence and support , which I am sure that all of us here share .
I would like to thank my colleagues for their speeches one more time , as well as the Commission and the Council for cooperation .
the hundreds of artificial additives and the thousands of flavourings added to foods must not harm our health .
however , we must not forget that , after these legislative and presidential elections , the government will have to organise the referendum on Kirkuk .
Mr President , the missile defence project of the former US Administration , of which Europe has been made part , was fiercely contested by Russia , which chose to see in it a move directed against it , and by some Europeans who were upset because the Russians were upset .
it is well known that the Netherlands and Belgium are opposed to that for as long as the war criminal Ratko Mladić has not been handed over to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia ( ICTY ) in The Hague .
I think we had not only the right but also the duty to do that .
in essence , it is vital that Europe does not forget or turn its back on all the women who are not already ensured a future of freedom and hope .
to each , their own responsibility .
I would like to conclude with an important request for consistent monitoring to include responses to the activities of the tobacco industry aimed at torpedoing anti-smoking measures .
this was the first-ever policy document dedicated specifically to Roma .
in writing . - The necessity for a comprehensive collection of data on investment in energy infrastructure within the EU is clear - an outline of the major trends occurring in the industry will be needed to allow for proper forward planning and to highlight any potential difficulties .
Mr President , it is true that this type of debate should help us reach an agreement rather than make the situation even more difficult .
therefore , like the rapporteur , I think it is essential for this regulation to be revised as quickly as possible in order to introduce the forum necessitatis rule .
on 2 October the Committee on Transport and Tourism adopted conclusions , Madam President , that are less ambitious than the conclusions of Parliament .
I also call for immediate support for the victims in Madeira .
but my main objection is that it is more meddling by the European Union in taxation matters .
the report on concentration and pluralism in the media in the European Union is an example of this .
I also express our appreciation for the very broad support for the policy of enlargement that has been expressed throughout this debate by all of the representatives of all of the major political factions here .
as in the past , the Portuguese people will overcome this challenge , too , and make the necessary sacrifices , but not more than the necessary sacrifices .
the setting-up of a European prize is another way to increase the EU 's influence in these matters .
34 % of women working in industry have children and we should stress that only 20 % of industrial entrepreneurs are women .
he should take seriously the fact that Parliament really wants him to present this proposal .
for the Council - and I speak objectively here - this has required effort and has not been particularly easy .
clearly , countries with a rich history , tradition and culture , such as Greece , have nothing to lose by promoting their cultural heritage and values .
I might as well be honest about that .
after that , we no longer need to discuss azo dyes .
in writing . - Units of measurement are essential in the use of all measuring instruments to express measurements or any indication of quantity .
Thirty-five minutes were given to this session .
the next item is the vote .
that will enable the major international organisations to cooperate more closely to find room in multilateral agreements for social matters .
I believe that maybe we should be thinking in a somewhat longer term .
the manufacturers have taken the same approach in their lobbying activities concerning the CO2 reduction targets for light commercial vehicles .
I would like to focus on one particular abuse of this process , which is the use of Article 122 ( 2 ) to mobilise money for bail-outs of stricken economies , specifically that of Portugal .
therefore , with your permission , I should like to put a specific question to the Commissioner .
yes , yes , we are definitely going to check all of the language versions , Mrs Pack .
Mr Rasmussen spoke about ambition and concluded by saying that you share our ambition .
that is the logic of the crisis and the logic of national budget cuts .
this is why I agree that this issue should be the focus of special attention , so that we can build a society that is better sustained at an economic and social level .
allowing these French regions to receive emergency aid , but also seeing through the reform of the Solidarity Fund , would represent , in the eyes of Europeans , cast-iron guarantees that the European Union 's duty and purpose is to be at their side in difficult situations .
in writing . - ( HU ) Croatia is one step away from the fulfilment of its historic goal .
the visa liberalisation is an excellent step to demonstrate to the people in the western Balkans that they move in the right direction .
although I am aware that the second pillar of the common agricultural policy provides support for projects relating to women 's living conditions in rural areas , I believe it necessary to analyse the projects underway in order to identify sound practices and contribute to improving the situation of women , which is especially affected by the consequences of the current structural crisis of the capitalist system in rural areas .
I voted against the amendments to Mr Garriga Polledo 's report calling for intermediate categories of regions , or regions with per capita gross domestic product between 75 % and 90 % of European Union GDP , to be introduced for the next financial programming period .
the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy is therefore proposing in Mrs Barsi-Pataky 's report that the GSA should be abolished .
as you know , most of these instruments fall within the scope of Member States , such as the national budgets .
there is currently considerable disparity between the positions adopted by the Member States and there are important issues to resolve .
digital services and personal data are very important in Europe as well .
the second condition is that the associated bureaucracy should not be allowed to become an end in itself , as with so many similar initiatives and EU institutions .
I am glad to be a member of an institution like Parliament , which has the protection and promotion of human rights as one of its basic principles .
it is the fact that human population is growing at unprecedented and unsustainable levels .
bananas are the world 's fourth most important crop , after rice , wheat and maize , and make a major contribution to food security .
this is true , and that is why all this is very worrying , because we are not talking here about gaps , Commissioner , or about small steps .
many of my colleagues have mentioned that it was very important that Parliament was able to raise some concerns and make improvements to the process .
I believe that Eurojust should only be involved where the parties fail to reach a common agreement .
we are gradually achieving this in road safety .
and I am glad that we are able to make a step forward regarding this issue .
meanwhile , the oil disappears unhindered from these developing countries , often without fair payment reaching their treasuries .
Mr President , the tide of opinion is moving one way in many of our nations , but the European Union and this Parliament curiously seek to swim in a different direction .
today , for once , it was not entertaining to listen to you .
the decision by the US Securities and Exchange Commission ( SEC ) to accept the International Financial Reporting Standards ( IFRS ) was a historic step forward .
while I am in favour of more coordination , efficiency and the linking up of policies to avoid regulatory gaps , I believe that the EU must not lose its diverse set of voices in international institutions .
can I please ask for an example of where this is currently a problem .
as a rule , social and youth affairs can be handled very well by Member States .
rather , in some ways it wanted us to use this initiative to call on the Commission to take up this matter again as a priority for the next mandate .
Slovakia 's accession to the euro area shows that the process of deepening European integration is moving ahead , and I believe that even the greatest Euro-sceptics will not be in a position to hold it back .
before the vote on paragraph 13 :
unified criteria are essential if this technology is to be promoted and a high level of safety and environmental protection maintained .
however , this also means that we must give every asylum seeker the chance of a properly organised process .
Mr Bütikofer has voted on behalf of Mr Turmes .
this subject is a matter for subsidiarity , and not for the European Union , which does not , and should not legislate on eugenic practices .
that is the way to set the citizens against Europe .
no , the risks involved in opening up trade are not an attitude of mind , they are real and will have real and immediate consequences : State budgets will be reduced through loss of customs revenues , new industries in the agricultural sector will be weakened and the food security of their people put at risk .
in the EU , women constitute 59 % of graduates and 41 % of those with doctorates .
I would like to thank both colleagues , in particular Ieke van den Burg , who has done a magnificent job for many years and has been extremely persistent .
Mr Reul is right : we need many energy sources .
in this situation , it is more than justified that the European Parliament should lead by example with its proposed budget for 2012 .
I am excluding that .
why ?
I would especially like to thank the rapporteur , Ms de Brún , for her efforts to reach an agreement on this issue , which is a sensitive one for some Member States .
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it is a cultural decision because Europeans have the right to choose their food model ; as we know , they are very attached to their traditions and to diversity , as the French Agriculture Minister , Michel Barnier , recently reminded us .
( PL ) Mr President , one of the fundamental difficulties I should like to highlight is the lack of legal certainty .
now that a Commissioner and the Ombudsman are sitting there quietly next to each other , I think it would be a good idea if they began a confidential and thorough discussion about whether they respect one another 's work and whether they are prepared to cooperate and act in accordance with the EU 's very own basic principles .
some prefer intergovernmentalism .
as far as animals are concerned , if they disappear , we will lose characteristics that are important for our planet .
however , we must not simply take a ' just-in-time ' approach .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , honourable Members , I will just say a couple of things .
however , I think Cuba is an important issue and I have no doubt that we will return to that subject .
health inequalities begin at an early age and continue throughout life , and they also reproduce themselves in other generations .
there is also an opt-in process for over-the-counter medicines , if there is reason to assume that they have been falsified .
only if this succeeds - and not only through punitive measures - can human trafficking be combated at all .
the first concerns long-term contracts .
the vote will take place on Tuesday , 18 May 2010 .
but it should deeply worry us when any system claims that the ruling ideology is too important to be subjected to the ballot box .
how can we explain this phenomenon ?
I fully support Mr Berlato 's report .
the report therefore lays down precise conditions of admissibility and concrete procedures that make the process of achieving such an initiative extremely difficult .
in relation to this , what is needed here more than anything is a certain balance , and I think Saudi Arabia should also have an important role to play .
as we have experienced , cultural differences can escalate at any time .
as you are aware , if we Europeans find the death penalty unacceptable and barbaric , it is even more awful and terrible when juveniles are involved .
we must be doing something wrong , and therefore , it is time to leave demagogy aside and to move from words to actions .
the first part is a discussion of the study undertaken by the Commission and the adoption of a position on its findings , such as the amount of the minimum guarantee .
and [ Jesus ] saith unto them , ' Whose is this image and superscription ? '
today the customs authorities work together to protect the external borders of the European Union and take steps to combat smuggling , to seize dangerous counterfeit goods as well as carrying out other responsibilities , which also , and here I would like to congratulate the Commissioner , were taken into consideration in the European Commission strategy for the evolution of the Customs Union presented in April 2008 .
Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy . - Madam President , I will just make a couple of concluding remarks .
without bees , many crops would fail .
strangely , however , these same Member States seem to suffer memory lapses when it is case of shifting from words to actions and translating their commitments to common rules into texts .
- ( EL ) Mr President , Commissioner , I , too congratulate you on your two communications and I hope that you will continue with your constructive proposals .
we set out to achieve the goal of recognising the right of all patients to cross-border healthcare , thus preventing medical tourism .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Legal Affairs . - ( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , Mr Susta has already clearly described the significance of this subject , so there is no need for me to say it again .
the European Union is still a community based on nations , on nation states .
progress is not irreversible , as we all know so well in central Europe .
( loud applause )
they deported our citizens , repeatedly bombed our territory prior to 2008 and finally invaded in 2008 .
in writing . - ( PT ) The natural resource of ' air ' is every day becoming increasingly polluted , mainly in urban centres and regions of EU Member States with the highest population densities .
our duty as the Commission is to have controls and to see that Member States do their duty .
the vote will take place on Wednesday , at 12 noon .
we cannot tolerate the fact that some people who work often depend on social welfare .
Mr President , I have been in Burma and seen the misery and the oppression under which the Burmese people live .
( RO ) Membership of the Schengen Area entails complete freedom of movement for citizens of a Member State within this area , thereby totally removing borders between Member States .
pesticides are essential for growing food , and they are already subject to a stringent safety regime .
I voted in favour of the resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the West African Economic and Monetary Union on certain aspects of air services .
- Before the vote on paragraph 10 :
I must stress the important role played by the EGF in reintegrating redundant workers into the labour market .
that is the case today , as well , and the majority of Slovenes are in favour of Croatia gaining membership of the European Union at the earliest possible opportunity .
of course , participation in the euro requires that economic adjustment of course via channels other than the exchange rate , as shown in many Commission documents , for example , the comprehensive 2008 report on EMU @ 10 .
I hope this agreement will be a model for many other FTAs that are in prospect - with Canada , Singapore and MERCOSUR , for example .
but it is certainly an issue that is of concern because there are still upwards of one billion people globally who suffer hunger or malnutrition .
consequently , information and communication technologies ( ITC ) are the solution that will help us reach targets and keep us in order .
the causes of the crisis can only be eliminated through structural reforms .
during the investigation into the activities of the CIA in Europe , I criticised the Council forcefully for violating this loyal cooperation by imposing restrictions - full and partial - on access to essential documents .
the Galileo project is an extremely important project for the European Union , as it is the result of space-related research and cooperation between the Member States and can be applied to numerous areas , including that of transport .
what we have seen and continue to see is an increase in inequalities in the world , a trend that will become greater if current neoliberal policies continue .
they automatically become targets for the expansion of Russian power .
similarly , awareness of gender issues and a minimum level of expertise would be required in every committee .
the socialist UK Prime Minister , Gordon Brown , refused to acknowledge certain realities for a long time .
that is , indeed , essential .
the compromise that is now being talked about is 70 years , and this is heading in the right direction .
I think we should push for greater involvement by the Gulf Cooperation Council in Yemen , not just Saudi Arabia .
space and security ( debate )
- ( NL ) Mr President , thank you for allowing me to speak again .
the Vice-President / High Representative has to make sure that the actions are coherent and that an efficient coordination takes place between the EU Representations in Geneva and New York .
she is now doing something that before was done by at least three or four people .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the Europe 2020 strategy - to be honest , I do not feel like discussing the Europe 2020 strategy at all .
it is possible to innovate with the macroeconomic imbalance procedure .
I believe so , because the Mediterranean 's problems are also our problems .
here we are breaking new ground , because enforcement is normally in the hands of the Member States , but we need to compare the results and to have benchmarks , which , by the way - concerning the previous question on metering and on understanding - is why we are strongly encouraging the project on smart metering .
the report is right to point out the need for adequate remuneration for teachers along with adequate training and teaching equipment .
this is what the Union for the Mediterranean is , after all .
I would like to make a few initial remarks .
( FR ) Mr President , I fully support that request but I asked you for the floor in order to speak about Tuesday 's order of business .
fourthly , are you in contact with the Eurogroup President , the Prime Minister and finance minister , Mr Juncker , and , as President of the Commission , will you support him ?
according to the Internet Watch Foundation 's survey , the incidence of Internet child abuse has risen by 16 % in recent years .
for that it is essential to take account of the natural characteristics of each fisheries resource , as well as to know the nature and type of fishing methods .
in today 's Europe we cannot accept irresponsible authorities pointing fingers at specific nationalities or ethnic groups .
Europe , today , is proud of projects such as the European Capital of Culture , but this is a project which was created by European cities , and it is these cities which bear the main burden of this spectacular programme .
that being said , the employees of our businesses must be better protected , and subcontracting businesses themselves must be on an equal footing , so that we have an economy that works in natural harmony .
I do , of course , welcome the declarations made by the High Representative that she is going to give particular attention to ensuring participation in the service by citizens from all the Member States , and I also welcome the provision that in 2013 , a report will be presented in which the High Representative will provide information on the work of the service .
if we analyse the causes of the recent financial crisis , we can see that it is necessary to find mechanisms for control of investment risk , of the composition of boards , and of directors ' pay , thereby enabling enhanced cooperation between public and private supervisory bodies , while ensuring their independence .
at the same time , I believe that many of us would find it difficult to define exactly what and who a moderate member of the Taliban actually is .
in this regard , we must also send a very clear outward signal that a reduction in the number of airspace blocks is absolutely necessary .
presentation of the programme of the Spanish Presidency ( continuation of debate )
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , first I want to thank Mr Degutis for his good work and , of course , for the good cooperation .
it was clear from the very beginning that such unselective cuts would hit the most vulnerable in society .
allow me , before I hand over to the President of the Commission , to welcome the delegation from the Canary Islands Regional Parliament , led by its President , Mr Castro Cordobez .
regarding energy , the Treaty introduces a legal basis for a European policy on energy supply and renewable energies .
in the case of pigmeat and poultry , the terrible situation is similar all over Europe .
the conflict in Darfur has had dire cross-border consequences on neighbouring Chad and the Central African Republic , with a huge refugee spillover and the creation of thousands of internally displaced persons .
let us not forget that the partnership offered to Afghanistan can only succeed if a sufficient number of citizens support the reconstruction of their country .
it will be difficult .
in writing . - ( DE ) The last few decades have been marked by a massive decline in farming throughout the EU .
do you not think that early , drastic cuts in public expenditure could stop the small beginnings of recovery in their tracks ?
on the contrary , much credit is due to Parliament , which has been not only more European , but also more advanced than the Council and the Member States .
on the other hand , a new text would pose a risk of legal insecurity in that the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg might make rulings which run counter to decisions taken by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg , which already operates satisfactorily .
the Treaty brings the European Union closer to its people .
the reason that virtually a whole year has elapsed between the referral of the text to Parliament and today 's discussion on the agreement in plenary is by no means that the Committee on International Trade wanted to delay this debate or failed to attach sufficient importance to the problem .
I should like to thank all the shadow rapporteurs for endorsing this compromise .
I am confident that we can find a solution to this issue too in the Council in June without abandoning the principle of full observer coverage .
only with the approval of this regulation , which establishes the same rules for the preparation of high-quality statistics throughout the Community , will it be possible to have an accurate insight into , as well as an analysis of , the factors that combine to create the overall situation and conditions in the labour market .
Turkey 's 2007 progress report (
the results of that study are expected to be available in October 2008 .
my feeling is that I have read this .
in writing . - It is only right that small groups do not have disproportional influence in this Parliament .
I would like to say a few words about refugees .
a certain form of protection is , however , provided by Directive 2006 / 114 / EC on comparative and misleading advertising .
however , we do not support the proposal that nuclear energy should be seen as a tool which is necessary to prevent climate change .
however , based on these principles and assumptions , we clearly cannot agree with many of the proposals contained in this resolution , particularly on the conclusion of a ' free trade ' agreement which aims to include , among other aspects , an ' agreement on services ' , ' competition ' , ' public procurement ' and the ' abolition of ... ongoing restrictions in the field of Foreign Direct Investment ' between the EU and India .
our economic partnership is a key driver of global economic prosperity .
all levels of government from the EU to local authorities must be involved and play a role in achieving equal treatment for them , since that is one of the fundamental values of the EU .
in the European Union , where consumers are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious , we can ensure that the timber we import from Ghana is fully certified as clean .
we want to introduce substantial simplifications for the consumer , which are long overdue .
the report by Jean Lambert , on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs , on the active inclusion of persons excluded from the labour market .
we look in vain , however , for an analysis of the reasons why these weak points exist , and no one in the chamber this evening has offered any explanation .
we have also worked closely with Parliament .
I wish we had gone further in terms of our ban on all aerial spraying .
Member States will also have the opportunity to decide what the consequences will be in the event of temporary disruption to Internet access as a result of technical problems .
the gender perspective that underpins the text is to be welcomed , as it is often women who are the victims of human trafficking .
I would like to see a greater degree of European coordination and action against the individual Member State operators where they are part of the problem .
agricultural policy , which at one time absorbed most of the budget expenditure and will form one-third of the budget by the end of 2013 , has been strongly criticised .
will the derogations work ?
Community system against illegal , unreported and unregulated fishing ( debate )
consolidation is not a problem for those countries that joined the Union during the last two enlargements .
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in fact , the Presidency of the European Union , the Presidency of the Council , has always systematically taken part in the discussions at the various part-sessions of the Human Rights Council on behalf of the European Union , and this will continue to be the case .
similarly , the report calls for help and encouragement for European firms to bid for contracts to rebuild Iraq .
this includes continuing to push for a release of all political prisoners , and for an inclusive dialogue , including legal political parties and ethnic groups .
I trust that the economic data will finally convince those who refuse to be swayed by geopolitical arguments , namely that it is unwise to become dependent on a single supplier of energy resources , by the need for internal solidarity between Member States of the Union or by the real threat to the Baltic Sea ecosystem .
the dying cannot wait .
at the same time it would be a step towards the realisation of sustainable agriculture through significantly reducing the amount of vegetable and animal waste , manure and sewage sludge and the acquisition of renewable energy .
today in this House is a day of celebration , but the Charter of Fundamental Rights has not come to be signed in untroubled circumstances .
European policy must therefore support Egypt as it embarks on reforms and help the Egyptian people to choose their own future unaided .
in this context , I have duly taken note of the concerns expressed about the derogation in the interim EPA from the standard rules of origin for fisheries products .
my experience in this area is that the most damage is caused to small enterprises that have plucked up courage to trade cross-border , and are then ruined by a bad debt and a professional debtor hiding in another country .
this is the reason why here in Parliament we are such staunch supporters of the idea of annual national audit declarations , signed at the appropriate political level , i.e. by the finance minister .
a nuclear-powered ship might be rejected for political correctness , which could apply to the Royal Navy 's nuclear submarines .
this time is significant for another reason .
we do have to continue and we know very well that Russia is a huge partner on the other side .
the Commission 's statement on this paints us a picture of a green , equal Europe based on a social market economy , without being clear what kind of resources will be used to achieve this .
that centuries-old document sums up well the principles upon which all my work here is guided : ' it is in truth not for glory , nor riches , nor honours that we are fighting , but for freedom - for that alone , which no honest man gives up but with life itself ' .
in writing . ? ( PL ) Women 's participation in the labour market is increasing systematically right across the European Union .
without growth , we cannot generate employment .
with a view to the next legislative term , at least , we would also like to see the Commission giving some thought to achieving progress in relation to copyright and perhaps commissioning a Green Paper on this issue .
I agree with that .
we will also see where the black areas are , where we do not have information , and what kind of action we might still need .
concerning the sitting on Thursday , the Group of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament has submitted a request to hold over the vote on the report by Mr Lehne on annual accounts of certain types of companies as regards micro-entities .
when you present your college of Commissioners and the division of responsibilities , we will tell you whether we are for or against , but today , you have our full support .
this is the purpose of the resolution that the European Parliament has adopted today following the publication of the report by the High Commissioner for Human Rights on 1 October , which lists 617 of the most serious violations of human rights and humanitarian international law committed during a 10-year period by State and non-State players in the DRC .
in relation to this , I would like us to incorporate this change from 12 to 14 in item G of the preamble .
I also find it very positive that all countries are scrutinised every four years and that there is also involvement by civil society .
the plans proposed for the new enlargement aim at greater exploitation and manipulation of the peoples of the accession countries , which are already in a dire situation , and a further escalation in the pillage of those countries by European capital .
about the specific point - I know it is a worry and concern for you - let me be clear about the initiatives on taxation .
the debate is closed .
another reason for doing this was the fact that initiatives at the highest political level in the EU have been very few and far between and extremely weak in this area .
indeed , it requires that any processing activity has to be grounded on a specific , recognised legal basis and respect particularly the principles of necessity , proportionality , purpose limitation and accuracy .
let us have a discussion , then .
you have made it clear that this is not about surveillance or spying .
the supposed return to quality food is not intended to increase farmers ' incomes or satisfy grassroots requirements .
fifthly , some new substances have been added to the list of substances that are nominated for restrictive measures .
we need openness in the Acta negotiations .
we should do that , Madam President , with the necessary self-confidence and inspired by the values which also inspire our actions within the EU , the values we have expressed so well in the Reform Treaty and Charter of Fundamental Rights .
there is no denying that we need transparency in the banking system .
this is illustrated , for instance , in the interconnection between economic , social , environmental and political factors in the case of the River Danube and the Black Sea .
during this plenary session we voted on the European Parliament resolution on the situation in Ukraine .
from this perspective , the idea of a cultural heritage label for the European Union - my thanks to Mr Ivan who remembered the initial proposal - which is designed to enhance the European public 's awareness of their common heritage and , at the same time , to support cultural tourism , is a positive step in this direction .
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the Union is not closer to the citizens .
if the Commission hesitates , Parliament will not neglect to pursue this case : it will not be a case that occurred during the summer and simply died .
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the following questions are among them . should the Union accede only to the Convention itself , or should it also become a party to the protocols ?
I therefore ask the European Commission to be forceful and to recommend to the Member States that soldiers be posted on fishing vessels , and I ask it to address this recommendation to the Spanish Government , because it has been an effective measure .
I have reminded the Member States of the obligation to respect fundamental rights when they transpose the Directive on the return of illegal immigrants , and I shall be monitoring this .
unfortunately , at the moment Europe is at risk of lagging behind Asia , just judging by a few indicators , such as average data transfer rate or the fact that , although broadband communication services are available to more than 90 % of the European Union 's population , they have only reached consumers in 50 % of households .
it is crucial that the EU measures that are taken are proportional and that the subsidiarity principle is fully respected under all circumstances .
I believe that the time has truly come now to lay the foundations of a true European immigration and asylum policy .
( CS ) Commissioner , like my fellow MEPs I consider it necessary to adopt standards that will ensure decent working conditions for employees in the fishing industry .
our attitudes to adoption have changed utterly .
we must have the courage to say ' yes ' or ' no ' , and then we will see that this situation will have a positive outcome .
these common positions are regularly extended and updated .
Mr President , it is indeed a unique European regional policy initiative and a pioneering project .
I submit to you , Mr President , the request of these fishermen that under such conditions the EU should not go ahead and upgrade relations with Israel .
I would like to thank all my colleagues for their support .
because he wants to become a Commissioner ?
one of the most important aspects of the struggle against illegal immigration is effective control of the European Union 's external borders .
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it was to our great satisfaction that Commissioner Hahn presented the action plans in early February in Hungary .
at the same time , the Commission 's explanatory statement recognises doubts in the entrepreneurial sector regarding the ability of tax authorities to utilise the information provided .
regarding the remarks made by Mr Jadot , the initial draft of the Korean legislation would have forced EU car makers to reduce the CO2 emissions of their cars twice as much as Korean car makers .
the Commission must hear this message and this demand .
the ECB therefore adjusted interest rates down to 1 % and continued the non-standard measures introduced in 2008 throughout 2009 .
these are vehicles for deeper analyses of social trends and are also a forum for debate which extends beyond the party membership .
we know that in some cases , their state of health is very serious .
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above all , I welcome the fact that , when applying the regulation on government debt , the Commission will have to take into account ' all other relevant factors ' , in particular private debt , and other important factors allowing for an overall assessment to be made .
aid to workers made redundant due to restructuring and relocation should be dynamic and flexible so that it can be implemented rapidly and effectively .
it is interesting that none of these pertained to the EU programme of the Presidency-in-Office .
Mr President-in-Office of the European Council , thank you for your speech .
we must proceed as quickly as possible in establishing effective foreign policy relations with third countries , because there is a great deal of pressure on countries , especially in southern Europe .
I think that , in our dialogue with the United States - our major ally - this issue of the death sentence should come up .
it is difficult to reconcile 27 different legal traditions on these subjects .
this also has to be supported by reforming the structures that help to expand the success of new initiatives .
in short , when the centre-right governs , the press is at risk , and when the centre-left governs , there are no problems .
the European Commission has indicated that these tests could be available in 2009 , which means that meat and bone meal could be reintroduced in the feed of chickens or pigs , for example , in a safe manner .
firstly , I would like to congratulate the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction ( EMCDDA ) on the important work that it has been carrying out to reduce the quantity of drugs and of related phenomena in Europe .
this year Brussels is still spending EUR 320 million on them .
since then , BusinessEurope - or UNICE as it was at the time - has done everything it can to block this revision , to ensure that the consultation ended in nothing .
please have more respect for this House .
the EU Structural and Cohesion Funds are the key Community component for reinvigorating European infrastructures and , consequently , employment .
why , then , does the same report argue so stubbornly in favour of a policy of new emigration from African countries and of new immigration to Europe ?
1 800 billion - and we do not have 10 billion or 5 billion to try out new technologies which might be of worldwide significance .
small and medium-sized enterprises account for more than 90 % of all enterprises ; they are known for their innovation , dynamism and flexibility and their important role in withstanding competitive pressure as well as creating new jobs .
the difficult times are finally over .
we know of the massacre of Christians in Iraq .
Mr President , honourable Members , I would like to start by thanking Mrs Estrela and Mrs Lulling for their report .
not even in the best of worlds can people be lumped together into groups ; cases must be treated individually and they must be assessed and examined on their merits , for example as regards women and children in people trafficking .
now calm has returned to Laâyoune , even though underlying tensions still remain .
we must , therefore , staunchly resist all factors reducing demographic growth , particularly : inadequate welfare payments , the slow and difficult nature of integration into the labour market proper , long periods spent in insecure or temporary employment , and a lack of support for young couples are among the reasons for young people postponing forming a family and having children .
indeed , Article 3 of the Treaty establishes the EU 's obligation to safeguard European cultural development .
that is why this problem is not of any relevance to the single market .
we welcome the fact that some progress has been made with regard to achieving a balanced representation among the administrator and assistant positions at committee secretariat level .
we started with the 13 people who were directly involved in the repression of the regime .
labour Euro MPs support the improvements secured to the Commission proposal on macroeconomic imbalances in the Ferreira report , which uphold workers ' rights and the importance of a comprehensive assessment of economic performance , including employment .
why remain so vague on the return or recall measures with provisions that are not really suitable for urgent situations ?
in writing . - ( DE ) The European Union in particular , which takes up the cause of democracy , tolerance and freedom of opinion , would itself appear not to take them so precisely .
I therefore voted for the signing of this agreement , and hope that the commitments made and the objectives of Forest Law Enforcement , Governance and Trade are fully adhered to when it is being implemented .
Mr President , I should like to raise two or three points , very briefly .
the Commission needs to realise , and that means all of the individual Members of this Commission , that what made large parts of the European population turn away from the European idea had something to do with the fact that the people of Europe had the feeling that this Commission was only interested in the market and not , for example , in social protection for its citizens .
even during the periods when divisions and even hostility between the countries of Europe were most evident , European culture and science have always been able to cross those borders and spread throughout the area that today makes up the Union , and even beyond .
secondly , yes , we will have debates within the context of Articles 312 and 324 in order to see how , in practice , we can implement and carry this out , and ensure that these articles and these new procedures become a reality .
President-in-Office . - ( SL ) I have a rather brief answer .
we therefore have a great deal to do in this regard in cooperation with the Commission with an eye to the future .
we have to improve our instruments .
thus , the EU has an exclusive external remit in the field of the common visa policy .
we will find a solution ; I am convinced , just as the Danish found one .
this absurd initiative not only uproots qualified staff from developing countries , but ignores the unemployment suffered in Europe by qualified persons , and the justified fears of our young degree and certificate holders , and instead of promoting their entrance into a profession , boosting their capacities for study and research , and ensuring that they have futures that include work and professional qualifications , we are introducing a further cause for doubt , competition and undoubted exploitation .
of course , we shall have to take a combination of measures if we are to meet the targets .
I shall refer now to collective redress .
that way , you will experience less stress and will be all the more popular if you can allow more people to speak .
Parliament must have a line ...
it should invest more in hydraulic defence works , because our rivers are at risk and they continue to endanger the health of our citizens .
we therefore cannot simply once again call for company responsibility , based on the fact that decency dictates that women should not be treated worse than men in terms of pay .
experience has taught us that in situations like these , we should not remain silent .
directive 97 / 27 / EC relating to the masses and dimensions of certain categories of motor vehicles and their trailers lays down the standards for the manoeuvrability of buses in general , as well as specific standards for articulated buses .
the attempts to link development of strategic cooperation between the EU and Turkey , which is a matter of immediate importance , with the negotiation process , the dynamics of which are slowing for objective reasons , are also disturbing .
changing expectations for future demographic developments and a shortage of people in certain jobs mean that immigration is suddenly seen as useful once more .
there are numerous reasons for further strengthening our cooperation with neighbours , strategic partners and others .
we have got to go for a sensible , risk-based system .
the communication states that , as a last resort in truly critical situations , a mechanism may need to be introduced - and , as I read it , that means a new mechanism - allowing for a coordinated and temporary reintroduction of controls .
Iran 's attitude to Israel remains intolerable and unacceptable .
in addition , Montenegro 's independence had to be taken into account .
I read your comments in the press ; I know that it took courage to say certain things .
the EU 's action on behalf of the minorities living on Chinese territory can be effective if ...
the internal audit procedures of the agencies also need urgent improvement and I support the possibility of having a common disciplinary board for all the agencies .
conjecture as to the causes of forest fires leads to heated rows as , unfortunately , everyone is aware of their consequences .
therefore , at this late hour , I would like to quote General de Gaulle , who said that we must stand on the brink of the inevitable .
the table will be available by the end of May at the latest .
the aim of the current discussions , however , is not to prejudge the debate to be launched at the end of June on the multiannual financial framework .
when you arrive in a foreign city , it is often difficult to understand how their system operates and perhaps a Commission proposal is needed here .
it is hard to understand why Lithuania , which has now been a Member State of the EU for five years , is disregarding Union standards and failing to guarantee the rights of minorities on its territory .
the current environmental liability legislation contains several important gaps and , therefore , I believe that some new legislative provisions need to be introduced to take into account all inherent risks associated with off-shore exploitation , and liability in the event of oil accidents needs to be properly regulated .
rapporteur . - Mr President , for the sake of conciliation , I should like to table an oral amendment , which has been distributed , to paragraph 13 .
in writing . - Trafficking in human beings is a crime against human dignity that ruins the lives of many children and women throughout the world .
moreover , as a rule , the people who resort to this type of energy are the most deprived , meaning that the VAT directive discriminates against this group rather than those with higher incomes .
the sharp conflict and mistrust that has prevailed in Moldovan society over recent weeks can only be overcome through a transparent process .
citizens expect a quick resolution of this matter by the Council .
it looks very unique in the Hungarian constitution , something that is being enshrined in the Hungarian constitution , and recognised seemingly also here .
I would like to explain to the honourable Member that I am here in my role of Commissioner .
if we were to do so , it would need codecision with the European Parliament .
Memorandum of Cooperation between the European Union and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (
there can be no harm in this .
clearly it is anathema to the socialists in Parliament that groups of all political colours should have the same means and political rights .
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the operation of nuclear power plants for civilian purposes is founded on engineering practices which are now outdated and anachronistic .
diplomatic manoeuvres by the UK Government and others to suggest there are ' dumb ' and ' smart ' cluster munitions must be given short shrift - they all kill and maim .
at the same time , in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity , the Member States have control over their health services .
this time , a flood in Romania has already taken the lives of at least 25 people , and thousands of people have been forced to abandon their homes .
there is all the more reason for concern when the Commission is failing to exercise this responsibility on two fronts : externally , where an oil cartel is obviously playing a part in setting prices that are such a burden to the more vulnerable sections of the European population , and also internally , where another oil cartel is likewise maintaining excessively high prices , since the oil companies ' profits remain over-inflated .
the Commission is committed to implementing this clause , including through strengthening the assessment of social impact , as part of its overall impact assessment system .
there are several ideas .
while this priority is called Energy , it is inseparably linked with climate protection policy .
a few days later , the devastating storm Xynthia passed along the French Atlantic coast , causing nearly 60 deaths , in particular in the regions of Poitou-Charentes , Pays de la Loire and Brittany .
no other Parliament would accept a conflict of interests of this kind , but of course this House , this European Parliament , does .
so I would also like to tell you that what we are preparing is communication : this is why we do not have a study on economic , social and environmental impact , as is done for all our legislative proposals .
my first point concerns the reliability of the final annual accounts for 2006 .
they were an utter farce and served no purpose other than to give a civilian gloss to the military junta .
simplifying and standardising procedures for issuing entry and residence permits for citizens of third countries in order for them to start working in a Member State will help limit illegal immigration .
in writing . - ( DE ) The only reason why I am voting in favour of this decision on excise duty is its limited local scope , so it cannot adversely affect the Brauerei zu Göss brewery in Austria , which - as is well-known - produces the best beer in Europe .
at a time when the discussions about global warming , globalisation and EU competitiveness have acquired new urgency , one can hardly ignore the undeniable need for a maritime strategy that directly treats these issues .
I was the shadow on SOLVIT , and that is what I would like to concentrate on , on behalf of my group , the Socialist Group .
if - contrary to expectation - we do not , then there will be no agreement .
poverty affects two social groups most particularly : the low-skilled and those living with disabilities .
but more than anything else we should realise that ultimately we have only ourselves to blame for this .
the most recent events , such as the floods in 2010 in Poland , Slovakia , Romania , the Czech Republic and Hungary , show that the Solidarity Fund is essential .
when several difficult questions remained unresolved in the negotiations we called on the Commission in May last year to exploit all of the flexibility and asymmetry compatible with WTO rules to take account of the varying needs and different levels of development of the ACP countries and regions .
the Commission strongly believes that a system of dissuasive , proportionate and harmonised sanctions and accompanying measures is the key to compliance with the regulation .
I am looking forward to what will be exciting cooperation on the legislative package .
I am also grateful to the French Presidency for having encouraged us again to implement this rapid reaction mechanism which is vital in order to prevent child kidnappings .
a visa facilitation agreement must be concluded between the European Union and Belarus .
the full benefits of this system will only be gained with the introduction of biometrics .
we cannot have a situation where , for example , Germany , with 80 million inhabitants , has a milk quota of over 28 600 000 tonnes , whereas Poland , with 38 million inhabitants , has less than 9 million tonnes .
previous EC and EU treaties do not allow a permanent EU military budget , but the ' start-up fund ' ( Article 28 paragraph 3 ) now pays for operational EU military spending .
I believe further discussion of the strategic framework of the Union 's foreign policy is necessary , as well as a deeper knowledge of the scope of the CFSP and the mechanisms for its establishment , which should be made available to the various political players .
the draft also includes a provision that could lead to the imprisonment for up to three years of anyone , including heterosexual people , who fail to report within 24 hours the identities of everyone they know who is lesbian , gay , bisexual or transgender , or who supports human rights for people who are .
therefore , they do not need to be here to wait in vain for their speaking time .
otherwise we shall have a permanent problem here , a permanent pain in the neck for the whole of Europe .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , we have just heard from Linda McAvan that she and the Commission share the same view of how important it is actually to tackle emissions from transport ; that is also reflected in the White Paper on transport which will be coming out today .
I strongly believe that this will increase the rate of use of these funds .
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fortunately we now have a government which is committed to tackling the social exclusion that they inherited from successive unionist administrations .
it is evident that international humanitarian law is designed precisely for times of war .
the budget must reflect the Union 's revised priorities arising from the treaty .
the European institutions as such are not bound as yet in a watertight way to respect the same rights that all our Member States respect by virtue of their own constitutions or by virtue of their membership of the European Convention on Human Rights and other international human rights instruments .
however , I am somewhat disappointed that although appointments to the EEAS will be made using a thorough selection procedure based on merit and having regard to gender and geographical balance , it still does not guarantee proportional representation of nationals of all Member States .
there are two main aspects to take into consideration .
in writing . - I am supporting this report , as I believe that the environmental integrity of the ETS has been maintained and is a considerable improvement on the current system , as the polluter in future will pay for the right to emit through the auctioning of permits .
alongside physical security and energy security , food security is a fundamental security pillar that is important for both peoples and states and for every individual .
Pro-China voices on the other side of the House will have their say in this debate , but for too long the people of Tibet have been denied their voice , and we must speak for them .
indeed , projects should not be drafted in order to take up the funds available , but rather to meet strategic objectives .
indeed , by indicating the country of origin of certain products imported from third countries , consumers would be fully informed of the characteristics of the product they are buying .
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on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( PL ) The Fourth Cohesion Report and the report by Mr Guellec highlight the success of cohesion policy in narrowing disparities between Member States . they also note the growth in countries that were formerly lagging behind , for example Greece and Portugal .
in June , we will make some concrete proposals on this issue .
I welcome the fact that the Commission took up the suggestion from the Committee on Budgets , which we made in the first debate , to limit the review and to leave matters relating to rural areas and broadband and the modernisation of these structures in rural areas in heading 2 in the agriculture budget , and not to transfer them to heading 1a .
only in this way can the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh be decided upon .
thirdly , I see that the report calls for more resources .
today , Europeans live longer , healthier lives than their forbears did , and we can expect life expectancy to increase in the future .
this new form of participation in the formulation of European Union policy allows European citizens to directly approach the Commission asking it to table a proposal on matters of interest to them , provided these fall within the framework of the EU 's powers .
combating serious organised crime of this nature requires a cross-border and multi-agency approach , and it is clear that the EU has a key role to play in this area .
I address those words to the Council as well .
above all , European leaders have to be uncompromising towards attempts to manipulate public opinion and the widespread use of special surveillance equipment and the official revelation of secret information to put pressure on people and to undermine human rights .
the European Commission has proposed a technical review of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights ( EIDHR ) with the aim of increasing flexibility , efficiency of implementation and coordination with other financial mechanisms .
Parliament , the Commission and the Council have really achieved an agreement .
we need to have a large democratic debate in which Parliament and the EDPS have to be involved .
repression by increasingly radical Muslims is also affecting Christians in such countries as Iraq , Egypt and Lebanon .
we really cannot wait any longer !
this was caused by complicated rules and regulations that Member States must adhere to .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , today 's debate on the Wojciechowski report reflects the concerns of Parliament , the Commission and indeed of the public over the welfare of animals at the time of slaughter .
for we must see that if this reasoning is used , in three months another alibi will be found and then another in turn , to prevent the decision from being reached .
the European Union should work with NATO and the United States to ensure that the shield is built in Europe .
I would like to ask you , ladies and gentlemen , whether you want to see health tourism in this sensitive sector .
our colleague from Northern Ireland is unfortunately no longer present .
however , we understand the point raised by the rapporteur that , in certain cases , the decisions we have already taken have led to a backlog in shipyards which cannot cope with the work foreseen before a given deadline .
any restrictions imposed must not affect the country 's citizens , however .
European strategy for the economic and social development of mountain regions , islands and sparsely populated areas (
the possible entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon by the end of 2009 calls for a political agreement between the Council and the European Parliament in order to ensure that the procedure for the choice of the next President of the Commission and for the nomination of the future Commission will , in any case , respect the substance of the new powers that the Treaty of Lisbon assigns to the European Parliament on this issue .
however , I will try to divide that time fairly and evenly .
a lot of technical expertise and work has been put into this report .
these free trade agreements should be ambitious in creating new exporting opportunities for many sectors .
unfortunately , the excellent results obtained from transplants , in terms of increased lifespan and improved quality of life , have increased demand for this form of treatment .
I quote , ' In its relations with the wider world , the Union shall contribute to the sustainable development of the Earth ' .
in the meantime , we continue to work flat out on all tracks : humanitarian , political and security .
this new system will improve the possibilities for small and medium-sized enterprises in particular to offset their losses .
contrary to what people would have us believe , however , mankind cannot make a significant impact on climate change . the latter is part of a natural environmental cycle linked to the activity of the sun , and to changes taking place on the earth 's crust .
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the document should be based on a bottom-up approach , as some colleagues , including Mrs Hyusmenova , have already pointed out .
however , when you say something like that here , it is a very serious matter and you should be aware of the import of your remarks .
however , this needs to be explained to the citizens of the Union , in order to increase social support for the next steps .
let us not forget that the automotive industry is the industry hit by the toughest ecological requirements .
will the European Commission join me in welcoming people with severe and multiple disabilities who form part of the European Network for Independent Living ( ENIL ) to Strasbourg this week ?
my wish is that the EP delegation will also play its part in determining the EU 's position , so that , together , we can ensure that these animal species are saved for our future .
England is one of the most densely populated countries in the world - more densely populated than India , China or Japan .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , two reports on today 's discussion .
there is a lot about protecting borders and controlling migration .
I also wished to say to you , Mrs Harms , and to all your fellow Members , that I have listened carefully and will relay your concerns to my colleagues .
ladies and gentlemen , thank you for everything .
even today , these prejudices persist , as do the consequences that have historically been inherent to them : even today , the Roma are one of the communities with the lowest levels of schooling and the highest rates of criminality .
I believe that the European Commission will thoroughly review the ban on taking liquids on board aircraft and - if no further facts are uncovered - it will abolish this controversial measure .
( EL ) Mr President , Commissioner , last September , many politicians expressed grief over the fire victims , but not many spoke of the responsibility they should have felt because the fires had been allowed to happen and we had suffered such disastrous results .
that is why Parliament , in this oral question , is calling for a whole range of recommendations to be undertaken .
I am delighted that your report , in keeping with the Commission 's analysis , emphasises that the economic and financial crisis should not be used as an excuse to delay action to deal with climate change .
are the Council and the Commission really sensitive to these issues , which fall under the headings of both human rights and humanitarian aid ?
in my opinion , before adopting the mandatory ' made in ' indication on the labels of clothes sold in Europe , we should have first made sure that the draft regulation on ' made in ' labelling included all the necessary guarantees , in particular , in its methods of implementation .
at the same time , I would like to use this opportunity to call on the Council to bring to an end its attempts at normalising its relations with Cuba while we are still dealing with a communist dictatorship which violates human rights in a flagrant manner .
I do not want to skip over issues that do not seem right to me either .
if they bothered to turn up at the committees to which they are entitled to turn up , they would know that we are not voting on this today but we are going to vote on this in January .
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if we cannot agree on a joint approach then it will not matter who had what starting position at the beginning of this problem because we will all pay the price through a domino effect .
we believe that the enforcement of budgetary surveillance should always be subject to overarching objectives of the EU , and in particular to the requirements related to the promotion of a high level of employment , the guarantee of adequate social protection and the fight against social exclusion .
access to free and diverse media in all Member States is vitally important these days .
and this is an investment for reaching the EU2020 goals and for raising the level of employment , in order to achieve a more accessible , inclusive and sustainable society .
one would wonder why there is such a gap in biogas production and use in some countries and not in others .
finally , in this resolution , we condemn the assassination of several independent journalists and dissidents , and demand that serious and impartial investigations are conducted .
this is a large-scale health problem , as we should bear in mind that forms of dementia affect not only those who suffer from them , but also those who care for them .
in this context , I have also supported the numerous findings and critical opinions of the European Parliament .
as far as VAT is concerned , this allows us to prevent the increasingly sharp differences between the standard rates applied in Member States from causing structural imbalances and distortions of competition .
thus the dialogue cannot only be positive and , as a member of the Council of Europe , Russia can do better .
and I think that his characteristic self-criticism could be a signpost for us .
the Commission has sat back and watched this development of half-hearted procedures against deficit offenders .
the situation in the world is creating new challenges for EU foreign policy and requires a broader understanding of security problems .
that goal cannot be achieved as long as a large number of repeatedly amended regulations remain dispersed and have to be consulted partly in the original legislative act and partly in subsequent amending acts - a task that requires laborious comparison of many different legal instruments in order to determine the rules in force .
( PT ) In international relations , Portugal abides by the principles of national independence , respect for human and peoples ' rights , equality between states , the peaceful resolution of international conflicts , non-interference in the internal affairs of other states and cooperation with all other peoples to bring about the emancipation and progress of humankind .
what is the marking exactly ?
we see it every day , Commissioner .
Members are also supporting EU action to re-launch local food production by restoring damaged infrastructures and providing the necessary materials ( seed , fertiliser and tools ) to small farmers , especially for spring sowing , which starts in March and represents 60 % of national food production .
he has not expressed any kind of suggestion concerning our future policy decisions .
business groups own a large proportion of the media and Internet services and are also their own best-advertised customers .
the Commission pledged to apply the principles of transparency and equal treatment in these programmes .
Auditors do not spend money : bureaucracies and governments do , both here and in our home countries .
hostile parents often refuse to respect the decisions of courts from other countries granting custody of the children to one of them and simply take justice into their own hands and carry off the children of former partners to their own countries , exploiting differences between the legal systems of individual Member States to overcome valid court decisions .
Mr President , I basically wanted to refer to some isolated interventions , about my country , about Spain , from other countries , and particularly Mr Langen 's reference , a particular reference to Spain , about our economic characteristics , which I feel obliged to answer .
finally , the proposal relates to both international and national transport .
the objective was that by 2010 at least 12 % of people would take part in adult education .
however , he expressed his confidence to the President that , under his guidance , such retrogressive legislation will not be allowed .
I am going to translate it literally and you will see why no one translates it that way .
in such cases it could be justified to provide limited public financing for the projects from Member State or EU resources .
through the recognition of the principle of internalising external costs , the partial earmarking of funding for the transport infrastructure and the incentives provided for fleet renewal , we have succeeded in realising important objectives from the Transport White Paper .
the most spectacular manifestation of extreme climatic events is probably the record-level floods that have occurred in the Carpathian Basin over the past decade .
nobody can fail to see what has been achieved .
first , the market is there to serve us ; we are not here to serve the market .
I then voted against the paragraph on payments to support genetically modified organisms ( GMOs ) and for the paragraph on the withdrawal of GMOs , and I supported the paragraph opposing the funding of the production of food from cloned animals and their offspring and descendants .
to do this , we also need to listen more to farmers ' associations in these countries , which are taking action , which have ideas , which have simple demands that could be supported with resources that are not necessarily extortionate .
I therefore hope that the European institutions will redouble their effects in implementing measures that speed up and improve the rates of utilisation of such an important resource as the EGF , which currently has very low levels of mobilisation .
the so-called ' structural adjustment programmes ' , imposed from outside , also contribute to this .
regardless of the content of the agreement , it is unacceptable to avoid public scrutiny when generating policies that will directly affect so many European citizens .
in this regard , I am particularly grateful to your committees , to the rapporteurs , to Mr Schwab and Ms Wallis and to the shadow rapporteurs for their hard work in search of a compromise .
I also believe that we need to find ways of supporting the activities of the European Foundation for Democracy from the European Union budget .
by making the right decision , we can make life easier for nearly 500 million consumers and 22 million enterprises on the internal market of the European Union .
as such , it would seem urgent for national governments to implement SEPA services and to make the rules which regulate this initiative adequate so that there will , in fact , be a simplification of the current position regarding payments services and a reduction in costs for the benefit of consumers .
the package of measures on climate change and energy now at the co-decision stage gives us a head start in the transition .
I come from Ireland , a nation that had to export 12 million of its people over a hundred years .
a European foreign policy without common and binding rules on arms exports will always be incomplete and ineffective .
I believe that that practice should be stopped .
( MT ) Mr President , never more than today has the importance of long-term sustainability of public finances been pushed to the forefront in such a dramatic manner .
the new tax arrangements take account of the fact that the competitiveness of traditional rum from the overseas departments has deteriorated considerably since 2001 , and that support for the cane-sugar-rum sector is crucial to the economic and social balance of these regions .
we are therefore very pleased that the requirement for there to be no residues of hazardous substances in our textiles that could give rise to allergies was successfully voted through - and , as the Commissioner has just said , that we are to have a study carried out to ensure that this is the case .
your country , Prime Minister , has every reason to be proud of its leading role in Europe in the use of renewable energy sources .
before the French and Dutch referendums , we heard much empty talk in this House about the will of the people .
this means that our problems will create problems there , so this is not a national issue .
it would be interesting to hear what initiatives have been adopted in that context .
I did not live under that system , but Václav Klaus did , and when he warns against going back to it , I think we should listen .
furthermore , by recognising the independence of the Serbian province of Kosovo , our governments have opened a Pandora 's box , challenging the territorial integrity not only of Georgia , but of most of the European countries , both East and West .
it is also important to strengthen the relationship between research and various policies and integrate the parameters of adaptation into the EU 's internal and external policies where necessary .
- The next item is the debate on six motions for resolutions on the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and rape as a war crime .
we must give priority to the way in which our homes are designed .
we are experiencing a serious situation .
they are also changing us and the way we react to the situation - the way in which we will proactively react and pursue these new phenomena in our neighbourhood .
when we point out areas in which Kosovo 's leaders need to improve , for example with regard to the protection of minorities , this is because we are serious when we say that we will stand by Kosovo in its efforts to create a democratic society .
the Commission is right that Europe is successful in research but lacks innovation .
( NL ) Mr President , I was happy to add my emphatic support to the Coelho report on biometrics in EU passports , because , if nothing else , this is a first step in the fight against the very many abuses and forgeries of passports .
- Before the vote :
we say to the Council and the Commission : talk to the US and to ASEAN to prepare a coordinated series of measures against the Burmese regime , including economic sanctions , if it responds violently and does not respond in the way that we are saying .
once , a colleague said to me that when the European Parliament talks about employment , it is actually creating far more unemployment than one would expect .
one of these lungs is the Mediterranean dimension we are currently debating . the other is the Eastern dimension , which includes countries sharing some of their borders with Poland .
we are calling on the Commission to help Croatia to meet the remaining requirements to bring accession negotiations to as early a successful conclusion as possible in 2011 .
Petitions : see Minutes
the Commission 's proposal represents a further step towards complete liberalisation of the motor vehicle market in Europe . the repair clause is beneficial to consumers .
in fact , it was also a cornerstone of your crisis and recovery plan .
in Hungary , ragweed is a particular problem .
however , on the basis of our experience of the financial crisis , we believe that a clear objective for the tax on financial transactions is still lacking .
as President of the Council , he was very clear that he will also respect the mandate that he receives from the Member States .
we also remain in close contact with our colleagues in Geneva where an incisive statement was made yesterday in the Human Rights Council .
as we extend membership to more and more and even poorer eastern states , the proportion of net recipients will increase to perhaps two-thirds .
however , the ecosystem of the High North is relatively self-sustaining and therefore extremely sensitive .
a market focus in the agricultural industry will also mean that farmers can take responsibility for their own businesses and need not expect constant protective interventions in the market to be made by politicians .
I can see that Parliament shares these concerns .
a majority of the FAO ad hoc expert advisory panel considered that the available evidence supported the proposal to include Atlantic bluefin tuna in CITES Appendix I , and further stated that the listing would at least ensure that recent unsustainable catches in the east Atlantic and Mediterranean were reduced .
there are , however , parts that require revision .
then there is the decision to call on the Council to likewise postpone its decisions until we can adopt our decisions .
the emergence of new communication channels and alternative networks is threatening the old order .
Madam President , I strongly support the sending of an ESDP mission to the Chad / Darfur border and I welcome the opportunity today to debate this proposition .
at the moment , the Greek Government is on the defensive ; it is trying to scrape money together so that it can reduce its debt .
you answered that this is now up to the Council .
we can see that by the end of 2010 , about 100 000 SMEs received some form of bank guarantee within the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme ( CIP ) , which is a huge number , but for 23 million enterprises , this is very little .
Commissioner , two former prime ministers of Slovenia and Croatia , respectively , namely Drnovšek and Račan , attained a major achievement when they concluded an agreement concerning the border .
the result is transparency in financing by the State or other public authorities .
there are a number of European legislative acts in force in this area , as already mentioned earlier , which have increasingly tightened the regulations on the conditions for using cyanide , starting right from the time of the unfortunate accident mentioned earlier , which occurred in Baia Mare and regrettably resulted in contamination .
we are not going to vote against but we are not going to be able to vote in favour , as we consider that unfortunately , the result was not what we were aiming for .
Mr President , I am confused now .
however , obviously not everyone agrees , since our British friends are so keen on opting out .
5 .
( RO ) The economic and financial crisis has also hit Moldova , a developing country , very hard .
despite the exaggerated resistance to this directive from some sectors , it is evident that soil is a vital resource that is essentially non-renewable , which is suffering under growing environmental pressure for which human activity has significant responsibility .
indeed , pursuant to Article 215 ( 3 ) of the Treaty establishing the European Community , which lays down the rules in the event of a commissioner resigning , it is the Council which , acting by qualified majority , appoints the substitute commissioner .
therefore , this Parliament is doing its work , in trying to ensure independence , resources and the resolve to move forward .
the holding of Tests of English as a Foreign Language ( TOEFL tests ) has been abandoned , for example .
I would also like to thank Mr Bullmann and Mr Goebbels .
Mr President , I would like also to thank the rapporteur for accepting our amendments and putting the issue of human rights at the centre of negotiations with Russia .
following the public consultation launched by the Commission on the Single Market Act , the EU institutions will be asked to agree on a definitive action plan to be realised by the end of 2012 .
we do not need a war .
it is also worth recalling the famous response by President Mubarak of Egypt , who , when called upon to hold fair elections , said that they would result in governments in Egypt being taken over by radical fundamentalist Islamic groups .
however , Turkey will need to make additional efforts in order to be able to fulfil the demanding benchmarks .
today we are taking a step forward in this direction and this is another reason why it is a great day for European democracy .
it includes concepts that are innovative , such as reversed qualified majority voting and the fining of Member States , and ensures that national budgets are no longer a matter merely for national parliaments .
it is everyone 's desire that cooperation continues in a positive spirit , without , however , forgetting the facts .
the Commission will develop a strategy , based on a combination of support for local mass media and cultural initiatives , to support sensitive cooperation initiatives and to disseminate to the public educational messages concerning respect for human rights and basic freedoms , the basic values of democracy , good governance , care for the environment and so forth .
some have said : ' why should we elect you ?
oral questions and written statements ( tabling ) : see Minutes
so the Commission has a huge balancing act to get this right .
Europe needs a stronger , more expansive European Union , with a policy of prevention which will not allow such atrocities to ever happen again .
most importantly , the region suffers from scarce resources and the unequal access of different groups to these resources .
( for the results and other details on the vote : see Minutes )
all these conditions promote the achievement of peace and the establishment of friendly relations .
this means that the Schengen Borders Code will now be amended as proposed by the Commission under the comitology procedure , adding the annex , with non-binding measures on obligations during sea search and rescue operations , to the directive .
as Minister Martonyi has just underlined , the Hungarian Presidency announced earlier its goal to finish negotiations in the first half of 2011 , if all criteria and benchmarks are fulfilled .
it is only then that Korean companies will include in their manufacturing costs the overall costs of labour , environmental protection and consumer protection , and thus the price of their products will reflect the full manufacturing cost .
vast areas of the country are governed by tribal rule and no longer , therefore , by national law .
I will therefore be as vigilant as you with regard to the temptation of certain Member States to use this directive for purposes other than those for which it is intended , in particular , for issues that might relate to services of general economic interest .
however , today has shown that it is important to have an in-depth discussion so that we can give the appropriate response to the problems raised .
I advocate the need for economic governance mechanisms , not least by coordinating and supervising the policies of the Member States regarding the sustainability of public finances .
European history has shown how extremist parties , dressed in democratic clothes and using populist and nationalist propaganda , have often led democracy to dictatorships .
species may become extinct before scientists even have a chance to identify them .
pensions in Latvia were reduced , but the Latvian Constitutional Court stated that the country 's fundamental law does not allow this and the pensions were reinstated .
the question is knowing how to ensure its future is sustainable by striking a happy medium between the nanny state favoured by socialists , which we have seen almost bankrupt us , and that of excessive liberalism , the dangers of which we have seen with the financial crisis .
Mr President , I would also like to begin by saying that I believe this to be a good time to table a motion to review the Action Plan on Energy Efficiency and , if there are any doubts , I believe that the debate that we are having here today will clarify things .
also , it is important to stress that funding application procedures are too complicated , and an excessive number of checks are likely to discourage potential beneficiaries of cohesion policy from the efficient absorption of funds and maximisation of their impact .
as the Czech Republic will take over the EU presidency on 1 January 2009 , the final chapter of the ratification process , the solution to the entire Lisbon Treaty problem , will lie precisely on that country 's shoulders .
difficulties in accessing health care are another problem that has been ignored until now : this is a significant fact that has an impact on equality among employees , students and scientists .
the violence against the Roma scapegoats in Italy reminds me of the anti-Jewish and anti-Romany pogroms of the 1930s .
it is precisely for this reason that I fully support his appeal to the values of legislative excellence and sound financial management , which are guiding principles on which all the institutions ' activities should be based .
the question is open and in fact it must be demonstrated that there is real European added value .
we know that there is a major issue of under-reporting sharps injuries : estimates range between 40 % and 75 % and that is huge .
the measures which are now being applied will certainly cause a deep recession and stagflation and the government decided on these measures itself , without any prior information or agreement with the other political parties in Greece and Greek society .
Mr President , the opening of negotiations on a new EU partnership and cooperation agreement with the Russian Federation has experienced certain setbacks , owing to the behaviour of some Member States , that many might perceive as obstructionist .
thank you very much .
secondly , I share your views on the social dimension : we want a fishery which creates attractive and safe jobs .
that is not the subject of this decision and this very welcome report , however .
( FR ) Madam President , much has been said about the action plan on Afghanistan .
it is clearly a mainstream concept , in no way a social policy pushed to the side , with a series of undoubtedly interesting and technical aspects , but nonetheless clearly marginalised .
in the report , the Commission and the Member States are urged to support any measures which can contribute to stabilising raw material prices for the developing countries .
the investigations are under way ; they must be allowed to run their course .
forty percent of Cameroon 's surface area is covered in forest - for the time being - because Cameroon is the largest exporter of tropical wood in Africa and in no other country are the forests being so extensively cleared .
the Barcelona objectives also help towards achieving the Lisbon objectives of having 60 % of women in the labour market by making the reconciliation of public and professional life possible for women workers .
many small and medium-sized enterprises are excluded from public invitations to tender , both in the Member States and , in particular , when it comes to EU tenders , where large undertakings are given priority .
thirdly , some of you have raised the question of data .
it is good that our Parliament is unanimously and clearly expressing its support of these negotiations and that it is thus a player in international politics .
the European Commission is able to accept the compromise package of amendments in order to reach agreement at first reading .
given the strategic importance of the Danube Region due to its location , closer relations between all countries in this region are crucial , particularly for those that do not yet belong to the EU .
the four priority areas agreed in 2006 provide the right framework for Lisbon : research and innovation ; a better business environment ( fighting red tape and promoting better conditions for investment ) ; greater employability , and the great issues of energy and climate change .
are you mobilising the extreme right ?
we can choose to welcome the new and flexible economy and its possibilities or retreat into protectionism in various forms .
certain parts of Europe must not feel abandoned and helpless against a hostile situation which they have not provoked .
I have taken all the necessary measures to ensure that you might be aware of it as soon as possible .
fundamentally , and to conclude , Mr President , I believe that in addition to the progress made on the basic issues , two important messages may be drawn from this .
we have trouble seeing what could be gained from the introduction by the EU of a ' European Maritime Day ' .
for that reason alone , the necessity of developing IFRS for small and medium-sized companies is highly questionable .
that is my question to you .
I favour political measures , for example the absence of political leaders from the opening ceremony .
this should be done in cooperation with the social partners , and the latter must also ensure that women are sufficiently represented in their organisations .
while we are focusing on the costs of the budget , we must also focus more closely on those who really benefit from the Union 's policies and not only on the annual budgetary costs .
the international energy policy is also one of the priority policy areas defined by The European Council in its decisions of March 2007 .
I would like to take advantage of this speech to express my regret , once again , that the new President of the European Council , who was elected in mid-November and took office on 1 December 2009 , has still not been to greet the Members of the European Parliament or even sent them a simple message .
we are examining the issues around how third countries might receive former detainees .
I want , however , to use the remainder of my time to talk about Article 47 , not surprisingly , because I believe that there is a need to differentiate between the word ' shall ' and the word ' may ' as contained in Amendments 93 , 48 , 49 and 50 .
Chinese Internet users must be able to access uncensored information .
this was rejected by some of our Member States .
the Commission has proposed a directive which amends the current legislation in order to improve the way in which information relating to prescription-only medicines is disseminated to the general public .
one is Adam , and the other is Aish .
in this respect , I call for this temporary support to become permanent support .
therefore , I urge Member States to nominate competent , qualified people , and to make an effort to have a gender-balanced Commission .
among the recent legislative acts , the roaming directive indicates that one of the significant barriers to the freedom of movement felt by the European citizen was removed .
the recent cancellation of the planned visit by Parliament 's delegation is another clear signal that this country is not willing to cooperate .
I hardly need remind colleagues here of China 's approach to human rights .
we should keep that thought in mind ; this is not a question of legal wrangling and we have no time to lose .
this will , of course , take much work with you and your colleagues on the Council .
there are varying opinions as to how Turkey has developed .
I referred to these in my previous reply .
when he finally manages to take up his post as President of the country , he will leave behind him four months of misery , which have left the country in a state of collapse , the economy in smithereens , people dead and population groups played off against one other .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , my thanks to Mr Bussereau for the commitment that he continues to show .
an active and effective European Union contributes to the overall security of the Euro-Atlantic area .
we must exert greater pressure with regard to the agencies .
recently , however , the German chemical company Bayer decided to relocate from Antwerp , and that is a bad omen .
( FR ) Madam President , I would like to comment that prevention is the best way of combating cancer and that consequently our strict position regarding the marketing of carcinogenic substances and endocrine disruptors cannot be relaxed .
President Medvedev is personally involved in improving the rule of law , but this is not enough , as you have just said yourself .
Ms Bowles - and I do not doubt for one moment her sincerity in this regard - feels she is not in a position to vote for this particular proposal or the compromise proposal put forward by Brian Crowley .
this action plan is in my view an excellent example with which to demonstrate to our fellow citizens that , at the same time as it shows respect for subsidiarity , Europe is very in touch with their health problems , and so on , which you have listed .
I thank you , Madam President , and I hope that we adopt this compromise tomorrow by a substantial majority .
Europe desperately needs migrants with sound qualifications .
this was also the spirit of Carl Bildt 's message , and I do agree with this message based on empirical evidence during the Swedish Presidency and over the years and decades .
it will be very important for us to have a standardised test cycle in future which will hopefully come into force throughout the world at some point and which will represent reality .
however , it appears that the exercise of territorial sovereignty has negative consequences outside the sovereign territory .
with today 's vote I have supported the request for budgetary discharge for 2009 for the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training .
as for the rest , we - that is the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe , at least - also expect a clear statement from the Council here that this revision clause is being considered and included in the negotiations .
the climate negotiations in Cancún start in only a week .
here at the European Parliament we wish to accept our responsibilities and to enable the Ecofin Council to act promptly for , as we see it , this proposal contains a sign of solidarity towards non-member countries of the euro zone that is of vital importance for tackling the root of this crisis .
furthermore , by gradually integrating Serbia into the internal market , conditions for investors will become more stable and predictable .
I feel justified , based on the results achieved , in calling on all my fellow Members to support at second reading the common text reached with the Council , which has been presented to you .
the recent outbreaks of violence in Nigeria are emblematic of a wider problem that faces the country .
in our view , your approach and that of the right-wing majority in the Council pose the biggest threat to the very future of the European idea because they are destroying the notion of belonging to a community , the notions of solidarity and cohesion .
it is also essential for the Council to make a clear statement in this regard .
maybe it is on too late at night because one could get nightmares based on the demographic trends that are contained in it .
national and local public authorities are making efforts to promote social inclusion of the Roma and to integrate them into the labour market in order to combat dire poverty and provide them with access to health care services .
the establishment of a free trade area would have dramatic consequences for working people in the region .
I hope that the Commission will take up Parliament 's suggestions , wishes and demands .
apart from being a country of origin and transit within this framework , Turkey is also a candidate country .
in addition , gerontology and lifestyle research should be supported .
it has always been very clear to me as Commissioner , and also to the Commission , that the Parliament seeks to do more in these areas .
in order to obtain environmental benefits related to the use of vehicles based on hydrogen , the latter should be produced sustainably , improving noise and air quality in advance .
in my country - Germany - probably not .
in other words , trying to enter through the window after failing to get in through the door .
the report proceeds with the idea of merging national and Community legal systems without , at any time , raising the issue of excessive Community standards , their confused wording and their frequent lack of consistency .
on the other hand , a strong regional strategy is also necessary .
unfortunately , Europe still has regions and social groups where there are limited conditions for this .
this future could not be achieved by discussing and proposing measures alone , but also by devising mechanisms that can be implemented to avoid us facing a similar situation in the not too distant future .
I would like to thank the rapporteur , Mrs Estrela , for the work she has done and for the responsibility for Parliament to ...
if we switch to this for the future , we shall be able to reduce the EU contribution and still have money left for other things that the EU should be doing .
we will , however , endeavour to take the amendments suggested by Parliament into consideration as much as possible during deliberations in the Council .
first of all , we are dealing with Farai Maguwu , a human being and a human rights activist , who was arrested in Zimbabwe and then badly mistreated in prison .
he is aware that resources and troops are being deployed completely incorrectly in Afghanistan and that additional resources and troops will do nothing to change this .
you are aware that elections may be held six to eight weeks from now , so we do not have the time to wait until February .
we have enough work to do to get proposals onto the table .
I am returning to the Basque Country , where we are experiencing some historic events : after 30 years of a Basque nationalist government , we are going to have a socialist president of the Basque Country , Patxi López , and I would like to represent my political group tomorrow when he takes office .
of course , the main responsibility for dealing with people with ' dys ' problems falls on Member States , but the Commission , as well as European institutions , can support the action of Member States .
individual mobility and the motor industry need to be looked at in the broader context of sustainable mobility .
Latvia was at risk of going bankrupt without financial assistance from outside .
I also welcome the fact that the European Parliament will be sending a delegation to the Human Rights Council , since our recommendations to the EU Council are usually tabled on how to improve the work of the Human Rights Council and strengthen the role of the European Union in it .
after more than 18 months of an inhumane blockade , the 22 days of brutal Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip have led to the deaths of at least 1 324 people and over 5 000 wounded , most of whom are children .
still , the Commission has a responsibility , and while we have principles-based regulation as opposed to rules-based , it still needs to be rigorous , and light-touch regulation has not worked .
I would like to talk about another matter .
communication of Council common positions : see Minutes
finally , a specific point raised by Mr Schmidt .
there will be confusion about who is responsible for what .
the initiative is a good and important one , but the fact that it has been suggested that the resources needed for this should be taken from the already running Progress programme is not acceptable .
we know only too well the true situation that we are currently faced with , if we really want to get to the bottom of it , and Claude Turmes touched on this .
in the final analysis , increased illegal immigration from Turkey and more drug and human trafficking mean less security for European citizens .
because of my doubts concerning the viability of the planned finance instrument , I have abstained .
I should like to ask Mrs Doyle the following : do you have any insight into what the expected drop in profits of the auction will be now that this system has been totally undermined ?
global governance is being established .
we must make a concerted effort across Europe so that mining activity can continue while taking account of the environment in a sustainable way .
I am following up these issues with Committee of European Securities Regulators ( CESR ) and I intend raising them also with our international partners .
if we want to honour the memory of the victims with dignity and as befits them , we should adopt a resolution which clearly shows the historical truth , and expresses the solidarity and sympathy of the European Union .
this article stipulates that ' relations between the two parties must be based on respect for human rights and respect for democracy ' .
the coordination monitoring and reporting is done by the Commission and the implementation on the ground is led by the Member States or organisations of the Baltic Sea Region .
what does this mean ?
the public will be informed about the dangers of chemicals through pictograms which shall indicate the risks concerning explosions , fire , cancer and poison .
the objectives have also been agreed by Member States themselves . the objectives show us the direction we ought to choose .
it goes without saying that we cannot accept in Europe sanctions being imposed against a person for their sexual orientation and for failing to provide information about a person 's sexual orientation .
agencies were also advising companies on ways to present their higher-risk products as low risk , and this misleading practice meant that these products turned out to be more toxic than their rating would suggest and led to huge losses for investors , including pension holders across Wales .
therefore , what are needed are labour and social protection policies that are concerned with finding solutions for women to be able to reconcile family life and work .
preparations for future negotiations of a bilateral , deep and comprehensive free trade area are ongoing with Georgia and Armenia , while the trade provisions of the partnership and cooperation agreement with Azerbaijan are currently being upgraded .
no information and no members of parliament are allowed in .
the unbundling is not an aim in itself but we think that this may be the way toward a functioning market .
we hope that Member States will take this into account , thereby guaranteeing all employees the same rights to information and consultation .
on the contrary , the EU is there to help and it is fully aware of the fact that Bosnia and Herzegovina is not just another candidate but is actually a very specific case with very sensitive issues and problems .
Parliament acts as co-legislator in this field , and I believe that we must exercise our role in order to harmonise asylum procedures at a higher level , pushing for a system of harmonisation that allows for large numbers to be received and improves standards of reception in the Member States so that the system is increasingly cohesive .
his health problems are so serious now that he is being kept in a military hospital , and I fear for his life .
President Chávez has publicly requested that the prosecutor seek the maximum penalty , and that the National Assembly pass a law to increase her sentence with retroactive effect .
consequently , the rapporteur 's suggestion to create an EU operational headquarters could serve precisely this objective by complementing the current NATO command structures in the area of joint civil and military operations .
I have used this metaphor to illustrate that , even if we create the best construct , the best infrastructure , if we forget that we are building it for the citizens of Europe , then we shall have failed .
sexual orientation is one of the non-discrimination grounds in Article 21 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights .
I share my group 's concern that , with its demands for Europe-wide legislation on media pluralism and ownership , Parliament would be doing more to destroy freedom of the press than to establish it .
they all have a relatively low level of GDP per head , a large income differential over the populace , a low level of affluence or a relatively low overall level of prices .
increasingly , the link between social determinants and health inequalities is being recognised .
yet thrombin is used in some Member States without consumers being informed .
the Centre for Temporary Stay has had at least 1 800 people shut up in there without the government arranging for any of them to be transferred .
therefore , we must do everything we can to make sure that progress is made in this area .
I would particularly like to thank everyone for the support and faith shown in me .
we do not have freedom to work because we do not have mutual recognition of qualifications .
here , I make the same proposal again .
Mrs Berès , I am doing what you also do in your committee , which is to explain the situation when a point of order is raised .
I started with Lisbon and I will finish with it : ratification of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the inclusion of the social clause in the Lisbon Treaty would have improved the situation of workers across the EU .
now to the point : we are not talking about asylum , as people keep on claiming .
it is worth bearing in mind , by the way , that the Roma population is very young , with approximately 45 % of individuals aged under 16 ; for this very reason it would be extremely useful and important for the Commission to lay down specific , concrete actions for Roma children , particularly with reference to combating early school leaving and the promotion of appropriate , high-quality schooling .
it is worth drawing attention to one of the many recommendations contained in the report , namely that the European Union should continue to support Russia 's bid for membership of the World Trade Organization . it is considered very important for Russia to abide by the commitments of membership before formally being granted membership .
if this is not up and running effectively - and it is something that Member States ' administrations want as well - then it becomes very difficult to meet whatever deadlines this House decides to put in place today .
why are we not in a position to say who the real creditors of the Irish banks are ?
specifically with a view to meeting the challenges of globalisation , the European Union must adhere to its core principles , as the only way to safeguard its competitiveness in the long term .
the statistics vary widely .
nevertheless , we should channel a large proportion of support into Kenya 's political institutions , into promoting its Parliament and our colleagues ' capacity for work .
this wind can bring many positive developments to Tunisia , to other countries , and to the EU .
how is it possible that the Inspector General for Personal Data Protection does not have any authority to inspect church archives ?
yet mental illness can be as much of a handicap to the daily lives of sufferers , and has extensive adverse social effects .
I also welcome its equal treatment for all Member States , because marginalised communities with a need for assistance and integration deserve our concern , regardless of the Member State to which they belong .
well , it has been this very ' free , open and functional Internal Market ' that has led to the most poverty and social exclusion in the EU , and undermined its territorial cohesion .
but when the transfer took place , modifications were made to this list and it will have to be applied as soon the GHS comes into force , though in the case of technical adaptations , the timeframe for this is at least 18 months .
they are capable of sending out a message to protect the environment .
author . - ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , will the tragic events that have occurred in Armenia since the presidential election on 19 February 2008 send out the message that Europe is incapable of supporting the fragile little democracies of the South Caucasus in their struggle to become established ?
these were the only countries of the Pacific Region to enter into the agreement as they were the most active in maintaining trade relations with the European Union , and mainly because they were interested in protecting their sugar and tuna industries .
we prefer to see the resolution being adopted now and will continue to work towards victims of human trafficking being granted permanent residency .
in writing . - ( SV ) The European Parliament 's report contains some constructive amendments , such as including on the label the fact that meat and meal is contained in certain compound feed for non-ruminants .
the whole interpretation has been made available for your inspection .
I have therefore voted against the report .
towns and cities in Europe are currently facing a permanent increase in demand for freight and passenger transport .
the crux of the matter is to obtain the best equipment for our armed forces and this involves intensive dialogue between the European Union and NATO .
that is why we are now proposing , for instance , unbundling .
in this respect , our vote can only be against this decision .
for these members of the Council of Europe , it is a signal of strengthening , of a commitment by the European Union to the situation and levels of democracy and respect for fundamental rights .
I would like this to be noted .
joint Programming of research to combat neurodegenerative diseases , in particular Alzheimer 's disease ( debate )
we urge and expect such a government to observe the fundamental principles of the peace process , to refrain from violence and to conduct peace negotiations with Israel with commitment .
however , among the negative points , we have to mention that the two amendments tabled by the rapporteur ( EPP ) relating to the EIDHR and the need to dedicate more projects to democracy instead of HR were adopted .
firstly , I would like to thank the rapporteurs for their excellent cooperation and the Members for a very important debate .
firstly , the need to continue with the feasibility study into an alternative technical solution based on the current SIS I + received support from the Council .
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I think it is a first cautious step towards dealing with harmonisation on issues that cause great emotion and a lot of political agitation .
Bulgaria had become a net exporter of electricity to all its neighbouring countries and sometimes accounted for 100 % of the region 's electricity deficit .
equally important , of course , is the role of logistics when it comes to the Union 's competitiveness .
the question is what the purpose of these permanent structures is .
I know that it is very difficult to keep employment , but if we do not allow ourselves to be part of a global market , then we will get nowhere .
after the defeat of the Tamil Tigers , the nightmare continues for the Tamil people , especially in the north of Sri Lanka , with 300 000 people - including 31 000 children - forcefully detained in camps where disease and malnutrition are rife .
as you know , the Commission and also the Council do not share this point of view .
I assure you that we shall look into this matter .
meanwhile , Mr Litvinenko 's dignified widow , Marina , is denied justice .
( PL ) Mr President , Commissioner , as a co-author of a question on the cost of visas for Belarus I wish to thank you for today 's explanations and to draw your attention to several additional matters .
I am of course thinking of the United States , which must turn its words into deeds , but I am also thinking of the emerging countries , be it China , India or Brazil , which can no longer ignore the fact that they are heavily responsible for global warming .
over the course of two and a half years we held more than sixty working party meetings , and we therefore consider that there are no more possibilities for adjustment in order to resolve the blocking minorities , and that is why we had to decide on a significant narrowing of the scope of the directive to distance and off-premises contracts .
due to the different structuring of housing provision in the former Western and Eastern parts of Europe , there is a need , especially following the most recent enlargements of the European Union , to compare the structures of housing subsidies and housing provision in the Member States .
in writing . - This report aims to protect those who are unjustly marginalised and ensure that they have proper and adequate means to address their situation .
in writing . - ( PT ) The decision to use the new European Globalisation Adjustment Fund and the response to the request from the French Government is an opportunity that we should monitor carefully to check whether this fund does actually deliver the desired results .
it must provide the regions with support for their projects and not consist of top-down policy , in the way that this earmarking mechanism currently does .
I will be putting this issue to the Bureau , as it is one that needs clarifying .
that may be possible with the military because , fortunately , if they are not in a crisis-management operation , they may be available for deployment .
consensus was reached through a succession of compromises , with final amendments being subscribed by the main parliamentary groups without winners or losers .
the process of upgrading our relations with these countries will be guided by the principles of participation , differentiation and conditionality , as well as that of shared responsibility .
Lades and gentlemen , as you are aware , nearly 56 000 patients are currently on the waiting lists .
in your famous speech in Berlin , the Churchill Lecture , you said that Europe is exposed to new challenges and that since the end of the war , the challenges have changed because the frame of reference is no longer Berlin or Paris but Mumbai , Shanghai and the other major cities of the emerging economies .
this tax should be established on the largest possible basis , and certainly at European Union level to start with .
I feel biogases ought to be supplied mainly by agricultural waste .
in addition to the stability pact for currency , we need a sustainability pact for all policy areas in order to be more credible and to regain lost trust .
Madam President , last summer , I had the pleasure of visiting your constituency , and one day I took my children to the beach .
the financial sector and big business continue to accumulate colossal profits , and the unsustainable extortion of national resources by means of interest paid on the sovereign debt of countries like Portugal continues .
today , an attempt is being made to have the legal and judicial systems - which are , however , by nature suspicious of one another - come closer together , recognise one another and harmonise .
however , we still have unfair competition and this is where the Commission needs to take action .
we have a dangerous problem of mentality when responsibility is shifted onto producers with a few words , and manufacturers would rather pay fines than initiate recall campaigns .
I believe that Europe needs progressive investment to help with economic growth and job creation , and therefore simply just cutting budgets could only undermine the entire economic and political system in the long term .
allow me to move to another important topic to be discussed by the European Council .
such reallocation is best dealt with in the context of the issuing and renewal of licences .
in writing . - I voted in favour of this report .
a great number of leaders , from both Europe and Africa , have confirmed that they will be taking part at the highest level .
in these circumstances , rapid , coordinated intervention by European governments and institutions is an absolute must , such as introducing programmes for returning old cars against a consistent reduction in the purchase price of a new one , financial assistance and so on .
let us look at the facts of the matter , at what we are proposing in our report .
how have our fish and our fishermen fared under the common fisheries policy ( CFP ) ?
hypotheses blaming man for this change are also , to say the least , disputable .
rapporteur . - ( NL ) We want to drop the word ' neighbouring ' because we want the Ombudsman to work with all European ombudsmen and ombudswomen .
they believe therefore that Europe does not have its place in this debate and provides no added value in terms of guaranteeing European citizens healthy areas in all public places , at work and on public transport .
I voted for this motion for a resolution as I think that the European Parliament and European Union as a whole must show their solidarity in response to the tragic events which have occurred in Japan .
quite honestly I think the EU should stay out of this .
( FR ) Mr President , we all want to combat terrorism and the threat that it poses to democracies ; there is , I believe , agreement on that point within our Parliament .
thanks to the agreement , Korea will also honour EU certificates and quality standards .
I believe that in this specific case , we are faced with a situation where these lines are clearly being violated .
however , currently , projects which were funded some seven years ago by the EU are only now undergoing financial audit by the Court of Auditors .
I can see that there could be some marginal benefits in easier UK access to some other European countries ' markets in defence-related procurement .
the conservatives as a group have been unwilling to take forward the idea of collective redress .
I must therefore voice some concern about the direction in which this debate on values is heading .
these different philosophies , different ways of approach , ultimately have the same message , the same practice , the practice of love , compassion , forgiveness , contentment and self-discipline .
I believe that we must prevent the added value of using the Ecolabel at a European level leading to higher prices for these products .
however , it is sad that Mrs Záborská didn 't follow her logic to its conclusion and forgot the only measure which would really be able to give both freedom of choice and promote a rise in birth rates by getting rid of the financial constraint , namely , the parental wage that the Front National has been advocating for years .
although this possibility has not yet arisen , the Court of Justice has nevertheless taken the view that its Rules of Procedure need to be amended to enable it to apply its language arrangements to the new review procedure .
there is not one single magic bullet solution to all of this .
to close , Mr Delors said that no one can fall in love with the internal market .
because they are joint legislators with us , I believe the Member States will apply the rules we are approving .
this all comes into the EU via our own tax havens , for example Malta and Cyprus .
I should like to draw the attention of the House to the lack of respect for human rights and denial of freedom of expression in the People 's Republic of China , as this affects the inhabitants of Tibet .
bearing in mind the specific features of these outermost regions , I believe that this extension is vital for the survival of the local industry in these products and for the protection of employment in this sector .
international Health Regulations ( vote )
let us not forget that the European Union has the most comprehensive social protection anywhere in the world - a set of rights and responsibilities that was enhanced for the people of Britain when , I am proud to say , our Government led Britain into the Social Chapter .
I want to speak against the setting-up of a European diplomatic college .
Mr President , Mr Kallas , ladies and gentlemen , my first words will be to thank you , Mr Kallas , and your colleagues at the Commission , for the attention you have paid to the parliamentary work linked to the discharge procedure for implementation of the budget of the European Commission and of the executive agencies for 2007 .
however , at a time of economic crisis and demographic change , reforms of national pension systems are becoming unavoidable .
it will put it up by at least EUR 5 000 .
China 's refusal to engage in dialogue with the Dalai Lama 's representatives , and its rejection of the extremely moderate demands of the Tibetans , is harmful to its image .
this is an outrageous disgrace !
we should develop - based on the ECOFIN road map - the way the supervisors work in Europe , but also we should remember the global scale of things .
while reforming the CAP post 2013 it is important not to sacrifice pillar one for the sake of promoting new pillar two objectives .
the Conference on Business and Biodiversity held in Portugal was very successful .
thus in Amendment 2 to paragraph 22 , I request that the list proposed by the Transparency Initiative be removed , in the main not only because this Parliament has already taken decisions on our financial interests , missions and travel , but because we also feel there must be rules for the entire European Union .
the EU must , however , guarantee the effectiveness of its aid in order to make any real improvement to the situation of the most deprived .
nevertheless , the report gives a detailed account of how we Europeans are defending the rights of people worldwide .
one year ago , the independence of Kosovo was declared unilaterally by Priština in blatant contempt of the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia , whose sovereignty and territorial integrity had however been reaffirmed by UN Security Council Resolution 1244 .
targeting Gazprom 's monopoly and Russia 's use of the gas weapon as our long-term response will hit Russia hard .
it is the task of Member States to collect , compile , process and transmit harmonised European statistics on tourism supply and demand .
here , too , a common strategy by the US and the European Union would be beneficial to both sides .
we shall therefore vote against the report .
I wish him every success for the eight years of his term .
however , we urge this House to prevent our representatives , when visiting third countries , from making statements that violate current local legislation and especially that insult a head of state , however worthy of criticism he might be .
the preventive arm would have to take into account the competitiveness of the economies - because without wealth , there is no way of balancing the public accounts - and it would have to take the foreign account situation into consideration .
I endorse the analysis that has emerged from the debate : it is not enough merely to take military action , which is a fundamental point , but it must also be taken swiftly , and I do not believe that we should dwell over-long on issues of competence , whether it ought to be the European Union or NATO - we must not waste time .
I would just like to highlight one aspect by mentioning the need for the Community Fisheries Control Agency to play a particularly important role , given its Community nature and its impartiality order .
we can say , however , that this action plan is a genuine response to the urgency of the situation .
consequently the rapporteur 's ambitious proposals to harmonise the principles of use of sanctions are even harder to achieve .
I should merely like to note that our economy is based 75 % on services and that in a global market , they must certainly represent our strong point .
now , following the negotiations directive , the envisaged EU-US agreement is to ensure rights on an equal basis , regardless of the nationality of any person whose data are processed in accordance with the agreement .
in the meeting with our Russian dialogue partners , the EU will continue to emphasise that it is necessary to implement the six-point cease-fire agreement and the subsequent implementing measures - the withdrawal of forces to the positions held on 7 August 2008 .
one is the movement of workers throughout Europe , which creates a threat to national social models , and the other is the Working Time Directive , which threatens historical achievements and the conciliation of professional and working life .
is the Commission prepared , Commissioner , to encourage the development of this kind of instrument ?
a lot has been done , but more ambition and sensible concrete actions is the message I want to send to the European Commission today . !
various voluntary and youth organisations in particular are crucial providers of a safe environment in leisure-time activities and of non-formal education / awareness-raising on mental-health-related issues .
in my opinion , the problems that have arisen during the ratification process just go to show that the European Union is felt to be something that is somewhat distant and hard to control .
the Commission should submit proposals before the next round of negotiations .
I firmly believe that we need to be very attentive to the possible political consequences of the crisis , in particular , those which may arise if we face an even deeper monetary crisis .
the situation is similar in the case of a moratorium on off-shore drilling - such a moratorium will produce effects which are , most probably , completely the opposite to those which were intended .
( PL ) We are distressed to see that the proposals of the majority of the members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs concerning balanced geographical representation in forming the Union 's External Action Service are encountering serious problems and outright determined resistance .
small-scale coastal fishing sectors are particularly vulnerable .
( PT ) I want to congratulate the Commissioner on his statements stressing the importance of nuclear energy and its absolute transparency .
I was delighted to see the consolidation of the idea of the EIT through the establishment of its headquarters in Budapest in June 2008 .
in the country where I come from , Romania , after 3 years of right-wing government , 40 % of the Romanian employees live below the poverty threshold because they cannot afford to pay the costs of the minimum consumer basket and of the current bills during winter .
firstly , because of competition within the Union in the internal market ; in other words , it must not be possible for one country to derive a competitive advantage as a result of the neglect of animals .
however , the global financial crisis means that the Member States need to step up their support for the least developed countries , through public development aid and cooperation in adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change .
the situation of dispersed Taiwanese should be looked at closely , as even if they have passports issued by the authorities , they need prior authorisation to enter Taiwan .
I also wish to highlight that Member States are primarily responsible for implementing EU legislation on the protection of laying hens .
this is obvious from the fact that there is a backlog of repayments due from irregular payments , from the fact that very often the Commission has to use the instrument of suspending payments - something that , as budget controllers , we expressly welcome - and from the fact that the punctuality of reporting suffers .
our civil protection mechanism , at the heart of which is a monitoring and information centre working 24 hours a day , will collaborate with Member States in disaster prevention and also in addressing the consequences of disasters .
let me explain what I mean .
the TEC must be more ambitious .
the amendments tabled as a result of the trialogue have been put into block one .
the idea behind this is , after all , to make the EU 's external policies more concordant and to bridge the gap between the Commission 's and the Council 's work so that the policies are moving in the same direction .
Joaquín Almunia , who was a safe pair of hands in managing monetary and economic affairs , is now transferred to competition , which is not his cup of tea .
this means that the removal of internal border controls requires a high level of mutual trust between Members States regarding the existence of effective external border controls because the security of the Schengen area depends on how rigorously and effectively each Member State controls its external borders .
it has been said that we should deal with the revision of Basel II at one reading .
I am , too .
I think it is a very balanced and wise resolution .
many of the contracts signed by tourists nowadays are concluded directly , using web-based technology , and do not afford them full protection .
Member of the Commission . - European Union aquaculture is at the forefront of sustainable development .
the Commission is proud of the contribution it made to this outcome .
Climate-proofing and adaptation need to be mainstreamed across policy areas , especially those concerning water , soil , agriculture and fisheries , and coastal areas .
otherwise we will merely waste a great deal of this energy supply that we are so expensively putting in place .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , today 's debate demonstrates once again how important the decision made by the European Parliament on 9 September was , in other words that , in our opinion , France - a Member State - was violating fundamental rights in this instance by discriminating against people on account of their ethnicity , and we called on you to take action .
( Interjections from the floor from various Members )
providing a better regulatory framework for businesses is therefore also about contributing to economic recovery .
the Commission looks forward to Parliament 's opinion , which will hopefully reinforce this common endeavour for the future of research in Europe .
the Commission clearly recognises the importance that bees play in the EU 's ecology and its ecosystem .
European citizens who have lost everything must often face consular offices that are very reluctant to bear the financial costs .
Syria has a very long way to go when it comes to freedom of speech and of association .
general and business aviation mainly comprises small and medium-sized enterprises .
that is putting the system before the patient .
in Latvia , however , for several months I was asked to take political responsibility for these events as a minister of the coalition .
it is not just about peace or prosperity , it is about solidarity .
I expect to see Mrs Ashton , as Head of the European Defence Agency and High Representative , taking on an active role in this direction .
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after all , all of us who have been dealing with human rights in this Chamber for years feel that it is outrageous that , as the Treaty of Lisbon dawns , citizens belonging to a minority are not allowed to use their own mother tongue in the land of their birth and cannot enjoy the rights guaranteed by democracy .
however , this audit role of the European Commission needs to be enhanced .
if Fukushima has taught us anything , then it is , more than anything else , that we are unprepared for disasters , that we are unprepared for all sorts of things which could happen tomorrow and which , if they did , would have the gravest possible consequences .
in writing . - I voted in favour of this motion to wind up the debate on statements by the European Council and the Commission on the 2010 progress report on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ( FYROM ) .
I voted in favour of the report on strengthening chemical , biological , radiological and nuclear security in the European Union - an EU CBRN Action Plan , for the same reasons as those being put forward by the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) .
are they urgent enough to finally put a signature , to finally add a signature to a piece of paper ?
in Poznań , Ban Ki-Moon and Achim Steiner recommended very strongly that all measures taken by the Member States in their economic stimulus plans and their bank rescue packages now be combined with programmes to combat poverty in developing countries and the dreadful consequences of climate change in developing countries , and also with measures for a really ambitious level of climate protection and a new energy policy .
the International Organization for Migration has just provided very tangible evidence of this link in relation to Senegal .
this does not seem to be happening , however , because here , as is usual , the cut and thrust of politics means that everyone is taking the position that best suits them .
as regards the first two issues that were raised , I am pleased to inform you that work on the preparation of the requested report is already at an advanced stage .
it is also a question of principle , because I think we should decide for ourselves what we want for our citizens , and we should not let fear for the sharia get the better of us .
it is more important to make an effort in terms of supervision .
if we continue to lose our share of trade with the region , which has declined from 25 % to just over 15 % because of countries such as China , we are going to become irrelevant .
however , I expected the report to be slightly more ambitious .
of course I am in favour of protecting non-smokers , children and young people , but a matter of principle is at stake .
we need to prevent the catastrophic progress of this change , something that can only be achieved through a rapid changeover to renewable energy sources .
now we can see that everything will be dealt with in an interplay between the Commission and the European Parliament , and the Council will be completely cut off .
yes , Mr Gahler , I would like very much to do as you wish , and I have in fact done that in the past .
( DE ) Mr President , very many measures have been adopted under the guise of combating terrorism in recent years , including by the Council .
that is approximately EUR 24 000 per worker per year , and that means that the subsidy to each shipyard worker is at least double the average annual income of Polish workers .
what do these men want ?
the telecom package should not affect copyright , but the lobbyists have nevertheless gained a hearing especially for this in the proposal .
no palliative care can withstand the constant weakening of collective bargaining , the devaluation of the trade unions and the transformation of permanent contracts into temporary contracts on the pretext of capitalist globalisation .
for all these reasons the Union will continue to act and play a major role in mobilising the international community to assist Afghanistan .
until we carry out an appropriate comparative cost analysis to build on our conventional approach to policy-making , we will not achieve the desired results in our energy and environmental policies .
the European Union has a role to play in exporting its know-how and helping to raise the production and quality-control standards of its partners .
we often forget that , although they produce a staple product , farms too are businesses whose competitiveness suffers as a result of excessive bureaucracy .
we all agree on this .
the Europe 2020 strategy aims to respond to these new prospects for the professional world .
it must not remain silent on this issue .
here we have a very concrete reason , here we have a very significant change in the situation of this country , which we have been observing for a long time .
if China does not cooperate on this , then we must take action in relation to our trade relations with Beijing and with regard to the Chinese Olympic Games .
it is well-known that populations in border regions are more likely to suffer for want of infrastructure ; it follows that participation of all the parties concerned could lead to the needs of all such populations being satisfied , even in the case of those populations that are further away from the centre of Europe .
together with a delegation of four Members of this House , I visited Camp Ashraf in October last year and met with American , Iraqi and UN officials there .
I would like to add that we still face a range of issues , for example , resolving on-line healthcare services , the mobility of health workers and others .
therefore , defending victims and their rights must be one of the European Union 's priority policies .
more than 10 years on it is clearly time to modify and strengthen these rules .
what a contradiction !
at the same time we object to the tendency of both the Commission and Parliament 's rapporteurs always to exploit great challenges in order to centralise political power and create an EU without freedom and dynamism .
we welcome the fact that a large majority in the Kosovo parliament voted in favour of the Ahtisaari Plan .
if their examination does indeed reveal new findings , we will immediately bring forward a proposal to tighten up the directive , which has not yet entered into force , so that it enters into force in 2011 with the more stringent limit values in place .
the vote will take place on Tuesday , 13 November 2007 .
it ought to take on a role of greater coordination , control and supervision over the national safety agencies , and it ought to do so in a much speedier manner precisely because of the differences between the various countries , which my fellow Members have already alluded to , regarding contradictions between national and European legislation .
the right answer to our quandary is not to invent a huge new bureaucracy that will never spring into life , but to use our money to bring up the standards of morale of national enforcement agencies to do their job in helping to put EU law into practice .
( PL ) Ladies and gentlemen , one of the things on which we have to decide today is the allocation of the first tranche of financial support for the European Institute of Technology .
this is without doubt essential .
I do not wish to represent this arrogantly as the mistakes of others , however .
I can testify to meetings in Mr Mayor Oreja 's office at which we accepted 99 % of what is to be put to the vote tomorrow .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to endorse what one of the previous speakers said .
I wonder how long it is going to be before some of the developing countries overtake the poorest European countries .
too little attention is being paid , both in the countries themselves and in the EU , to food security and food production in developing countries .
that is why we had to refer to two different articles for the evaluation of the first pillar and for that of the third pillar .
to conclude , our priority is not to express our expectations in a self-deceiving way , but to build on realistic assumptions of what the European Union and the United States could deliver , while increasing our capacity to deliver .
now we have solid agreement in the Council , and the Council is ready to negotiate .
this point is clearly stated in the document 's introduction . on the other hand , the proposals to attain this objective are too weak to achieve it .
that is why , having taken such a great step forward regarding protection of the natural environment in the climate package , we must now consider actions relating to the market .
it is consequently rightly cautious about the idea of moving to any single system .
the Europe 2020 strategy , the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor programme ( ITER ) , the European External Action Service ( EEAS ) and financial supervisors are a few examples that need financing .
we should start by allowing the people who are stranded here to have a proper education .
this Council 's credibility depends therefore on its ability to take firm , rapid action when serious human rights violations occur .
we must show that we are actually prepared to make concrete European contributions , even if they cost money .
the rapporteur 's proposal that the minimum level of harmonisation in consumer protection should be accompanied by the full harmonisation of technical rules is the only acceptable regulatory solution in the present situation .
a brief discussion on Burma will give us the chance to express our solidarity with the events of the past few days there , and it is most important that we should do so .
the third block which the Commission sees as a problem concerns administrative expenditure , where as usual the Council approves posts but cuts the financial funding .
that should be borne in mind .
these internal divisions are of no small importance in the conflict , and the greater the role they play , the more powerful one of the parties to the conflict becomes .
I therefore welcome the report by Mr Leinen , which takes on board the Commission proposal , and I also thank you , Mr President-in-Office of the Council , my good friend Mr Lobo Antunes , for your proposal to us .
both amendments 46 and 45 foresee that Member States whose legislation requires creditors to assess the creditworthiness of consumers on the basis of consultation of the relevant database may retain this requirement .
segregation forms a vicious circle and creates fault lines within societies .
is it in favour of European Central Bank loans and guarantees for Member State governments in order to curb speculative profiteering and prevent public debt from spiralling into a vicious circle as a consequence of downgraded credit ratings ?
therefore , I think that the situation is more or less satisfactory , compared to several other areas where cooperation is not so good .
a European exchange would transform the current ' non-market ' of paper barrels into an efficient , regulated and monitored real market based on real barrels of oil .
finally , I would quickly like to mention the names of the shadow rapporteurs and acknowledge that I also greatly appreciate their work : Mrs Rühle , Mr Brie , Mrs Fourtou and Mrs Pleštinská have made a very significant contribution , as of course have to the secretariats of both groups and the committee secretariat .
I also believe that maternity benefit must be paid not only to mothers who have worked during the last 12 months prior to the birth .
I was pleased to see the announcement of a new approach to implementation of the principle of subsidiarity and independent assessment of the consequences of proposed legislation to avoid mistakes in future .
please raise such issues during Committee meetings , when this matter can be considered , but in a plenary sitting , points of order have to be about our work in plenary , and not about work in the Committees .
the terrible events of Fukushima have given the issue an urgency and drama that we should perhaps overcome when debating issues relating to energy resources .
at the summit EUR 5 billion was also allocated to the anti-crisis package .
take the case of Sean in the UK .
I welcome the proposal establishing the microfinance facility as I believe it will help offer a new start for some of Europe 's most disadvantaged groups by increasing the supply and accessibility of microloans and , in turn , helping people start up their own businesses .
decisions should not be taken lightly , and I really think that the views of all colleagues who have mentioned timely impact assessment as an important tool to find balanced solutions and make sure that all stakeholders and their opinions are considered are very important .
if everyone else overfishes , Sweden must overfish too , according to the Commission .
we have now taken the decision to declare ' Peace with Nature ' .
it is about time that magistrates sent to prison drivers who have caused the death of third parties through reckless or drunken driving - rather than imposing suspended sentences , which is unheard of in many European countries .
that may , and must , change but until it does we have to abide by the subsidiarity principle .
as the elected representatives of the citizens of the Member States , we will participate in the adoption of European legislation and will have greater control over the Commission .
I had the chance to speak to the Secretary-General of the United Nations about this at the last meeting of the Africa MDG Steering Group in New York last month .
we have to admit that the state cannot do everything , but if we admit that , we also have to be very clear about the dangers of using soft law .
this meets a longstanding request from our dairy industry and exporters of milk powder , and their position vis-à-vis their competitors in third countries will clearly improve .
I do not know .
I would like to underline the fact that the European Union , attached to the One China policy , welcomes the help that China offered Taiwan on this tragic occasion because this shows an improvement in the relations between the two territories , and it is clear that an improvement in such relations can lead to greater stability in this region .
this means that non-competitive companies will be protected when unable to hold their own when faced with competition from Korean products .
for 60 years , Europe has put its trust in a pyramid scheme .
instead I call for a complete review of all these anti-terrorism laws .
imagine that the G20 , all of them , invest just 1 % more of their GDP in jobs .
as SIS II introduces the processing of biometric data , the issue of data protection remains largely unresolved .
the vote was not unanimous because I did not vote in favour .
construction of the Nord Stream gas pipeline is a clear example of this .
the economic crisis and the restructurings that we have to face in the near future make workers ' involvement in the decision-making process of our companies more topical than ever .
the draft statement that we have before us in the European Parliament certainly contains some good advice ( and some not so good advice for that matter ) , but this is a matter for the Member States alone .
if you want to come out of this debate well , Mr Barroso , you cannot tolerate what is taking place at the moment in Hungary .
we should show both the democratic opposition and the Belarusian authorities , and not only by such resolutions , that we do not agree with the violations of human rights or the ban on registration of political parties , non-governmental organisations and independent media .
the EU draft budget for 2012 , as proposed by the Commission , amounts to EUR 147 435 million in commitment appropriations and EUR 132 738 million in payment appropriations .
the automotive sector is a fundamental sector of our industry , subject to new requirements , to reorganised factors of production and to strong demands for process and product innovation .
this concern has our support .
to conclude , I welcome the adoption of the report , which shows that the EGF is a useful and effective resource for combating unemployment resulting from globalisation and the economic crisis .
that is where the hopes lie that we will put an end to this , that we will make a policy for full employment , for quality jobs , for jobs that are inclusive for all , and that we will finally make Europe 's objective excellence rather than the fight to lower social standards .
in paragraph 20 , you also talk at length about flexibility .
the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon has led to the adoption of a proposal to amend the 2010 budget , with a view to meeting the additional needs of Parliament in relation to it .
in writing . - ( RO ) The signing of the new Treaty in the European Council of 13-14 December achieves a reform of the European institutions but , mainly , it increases the European citizens ' power to state their opinion on the European legislation .
we will have to address that issue seriously because we need to look at it both from a short-term point of view , looking for possible solutions to fill the gap where the need is urgent , and at the same time for long-term solutions .
you know the reply .
the Member States can also play an important role in this by providing specific training to local public servants .
Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I am grateful to Mr Schlyter for his excellent report on a sensitive issue on which a great deal of common sense is needed .
this is the only way to achieve progress .
I hope , Mr Deprez , that the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs might examine this text in the near future so that we can make progress with this new policy on asylum .
after the failures of the reforms of 1992 , 1999 and 2003 , another capitulation to the interests of lobbies would spell the end of the hopes of millions of farmers and of 500 million European citizens .
that will also include the dissemination of sovereign debt holdings as well as capital structure .
it is necessary to ensure cost-free access to a common alarm number , 112 , for people throughout the Union , including users of Internet telephony , and to other electronic voice communication services .
in whose interest is it to delay reforms ?
the European Union must come to the fore as soon as there is a violation of human rights , because that is part of its very personality .
this also requires investment , but it may make an impact on the current figure of 28 million registered unemployed .
we are somewhat sceptical , however , about the grounds on which these measures are urged .
yesterday , we adopted our report on an EU policy framework to fight violence against women , and it would be unacceptable to have double standards when it comes to our policy action outside the Union .
- ( NL ) Madam President , Mr Böge 's report is one big appeal for more funding for the European Union , something which obviously does not come as a surprise .
we are still a very long way away from harmonising the quality of healthcare management as a whole .
I can only refute this definitively .
Member of the Commission . - ( CS ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , on 15 November the Commission adopted the draft revision of Article 55 of the general regulation on Structural Funds , which applies to the conditions for taking account of revenue-generating projects within the framework of the cohesion policy programme .
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on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Madam President , in Iraq , the death penalty was suspended after the US-led invasion in 2003 but reintroduced in August 2004 .
therefore , I hope that , through increased flexibility and intensive negotiations , we can find a solution to this problem .
for this process to be fully successful , it is vital to understand that it represents the elimination of nationalism , totalitarianism , intolerance , autocracy and war , and the establishment of Europeanism , freedom , respect , democracy and peace as the values which govern the way we live together in Europe .
as we know , hundreds of thousands of people are losing their jobs in the current economic crisis and many of these are older people who are at a severe disadvantage when they try to get new jobs .
these crimes and these deaths are horrible , but the Commission 's competence is limited to cross-border crime and to facilitating cooperation between national authorities and European authorities .
why is it that we insist on coming back to the reasons why we started this whole debate on a new treaty for the European Union ?
it is important for us to have a list of licensed nanomaterials that are not harmful but improve the quality of a product .
Mexican women are victims of all forms of violence , from domestic violence to sexual violence and torture carried out by the army or the police , and they also become murder victims .
thirdly , I am , as always , in favour of policy being transparent and manageable , and this applies also to building design and planning .
in 2008 , the Instrument for Pre-Accession supported projects worth EUR 185 million in Kosovo , a three-fold increase compared to the previous year .
I said this at the time when my appointment was approved by Parliament .
my group - the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats - has clearly stated that it is prepared to support the first part of the amendment , and to emphatically reject the second part of this amendment .
in other words , that tackling public debt involves the direct application of austerity plans , particularly rigorous ones , regardless of the circumstances .
how will the Commission ensure that information about the EPMF reaches the target audiences ?
which is why I , too , very much hope that Parliament will approve Amendments 19 and 20 , which seek to reinforce their position .
the case of supplementary pension schemes is a typical example of the strategy of flexicurity advocated by the European Commission .
discussions are being pursued by both parties and , for the time being , Frontex is awaiting a reply from Turkey in order to continue the discussions .
we understand that some questions still remain about the compatibility of national systems with the SEPA system and about what is meant by definitive migration , but we feel that it is the Commission 's responsibility to support the industry in finding solutions to the questions they still have .
the aim is to make sure that the standards that emerge are the result of a broad consensus , and are therefore ultimately more representative .
our job then is to reduce these differences .
lastly , please allow me to also ask us all a question , because we have been talking about what Turkey has done , whether it has done enough and whether it is working properly towards accession .
I was thinking about the issue from the perspective of the other Member States of the European Union .
we spoke about Azerbaijan in the last parliamentary term , when we adopted three resolutions , including one about freedom of the media there .
unless we start to introduce and apply the new technology immediately , we will fall behind the leading edge of research and development and economy once more .
the adoption and implementation of this directive would show that the EU is determined to put into practice the Stockholm Action Plan , the European Union initiative to maintain and develop an area of freedom , security and justice .
the developments in Tirana on Friday , 21 January 2011 , were tragic .
the task now is to capitalise on this , to make the other world powers join us .
Mr President , nuclear energy , as well as the whole area of the technology for producing isotopes in experimental reactors for medicinal and other purposes , including the production of sensory measurement devices and sterilisation , requires appropriate safety standards to be developed .
we will need to coordinate this approach with the African Union and other international and bilateral partners .
in the run up to the next EU-Russia Summit , which will take place on 9-10 June in Nizhny Novgorod , we are sending a clear message to the Member States : we must prioritise guarantees of respect for human rights over more ambitious agreements on trade , visas and cooperation .
I welcome the clear position you have taken in your report on these issues .
the tragic result is extremely high numbers of casualties among civilians , more than 90 % , as has been said .
someone had the extraordinary idea of repairing the lifts during the one week of the month in which we are in Strasbourg , when it could be done in the other three .
in other words , we had probably generated an atmosphere of greater freedom which the citizens of Belarus may have interpreted correctly .
modal change remains a dream and is far from becoming reality .
for the rest , it is true that criminal law provisions were proposed by the Commission in 2006 , and that we have Parliament 's support , but , for the moment , the Council has not yet taken any action to adopt these provisions .
this was reflected in the separation of two budget lines in the amendments tabled by the European Parliament to the draft budget for 2008 ( separate financing for the network and for the coordinating body ) .
I have therefore voted in favour of Amendment 10 , which rejects the common position of the Council .
action is required in order to reduce the future risk of fire ; clearly this task must be completed before the summer .
sixty years of NATO is sixty years too many .
many are attributed to alcohol levels in drivers ' blood which are below the existing legal limits .
this is no small matter .
the way that the European Central Bank has introduced measures in response to the current economic , financial and social crisis has played a vital role , particularly through the measures that have allowed the Member States to maintain their liquidity , issue credit to companies and reduce interest rates , amongst other things .
but there are problems .
Parliament also condemns the repressive measures and the disproportionate force employed by the security forces but applauds , in contrast , the actions of the armed forces , which refused to fire on the demonstrators .
for the same reason we stress the need to develop the promotion of European languages in the world and their role in creative artistic activity in other continents , so as to facilitate both mutual knowledge and understanding and the cultural interaction generated and conveyed by those languages in their extra-European dimensions .
to me , this is the core message of this UN declaration - that women should be given considerably greater opportunities in decision making , so that they can become shapers , rather than victims , of their fates .
we have not been in contact recently with the Greek authorities concerning any privatisation plans .
from this point of view , I think this very well-balanced joint resolution from all the democratic parties in Parliament is another great political moment for our Parliament - especially after what happened today - and I am very proud that this resolution originated from our own group , the Socialist Group .
Madam President , all in all the Burmese and Chinese rulers are almost indistinguishable .
therefore , on 21 July , for the first time as President-in-Office of the Council , I will go to Ireland to listen , engage in dialogue and try to find solutions .
this can only be achieved through collaboration at Union level , and considerable Community resources must be made available for water management during the budget period starting in 2013 , at the latest .
- Mrs Svensson , I can confirm that the President will write accordingly .
above all , we need to create appealing conditions for Europeans that offer an incentive to quicken natural growth .
( it ) Mr President , I am most grateful to Mr Schulz .
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this is inadmissible and , for this reason , I request the European Commission to launch campaigns informing the European consumers so that they would not mistake the CE marking for a quality and safety mark .
it is all very nice to want to subsidise the Special Olympics in Poland and Greece and the European Youth Olympic Winter Festival in the Czech Republic , or even Xacobeo 2010 , but our constituents have other priorities in their lives , such as paying their mortgages and giving a reasonable education to their children .
could you please give any examples ?
however , the time has come for us to put our foot down .
if we are to defend the future of our workers , we of course need to offer them professional mobility , so as to allow them to better adapt to the changing needs of business , both now and in the future .
once adopted , the common principles shall form an essential instrument for implementing the next cycle of the Lisbon Strategy .
I therefore think it is absolutely essential - and I echo my fellow Member Mrs Lepage here - that , at some time in the future , we give thought to implementing a carbon tax at the borders of the European Union .
even the world of performing arts , as clearly highlighted by the Commission , is not spared these problems .
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now it must designate an EU representative who will make both sides listen .
the European Commission is to be applauded in its initiatives to date and its continuing work aimed at eliminating red tape for small businesses .
the European Union has been spending up to EUR 34 million on modernisation in recent years .
ladies and gentlemen , let us listen to workers and let us try to answer their call if we do not want the ' No ' votes of the French , Dutch and Irish referendums to be followed by many other such votes , calling into question a European Union that makes them feel as though it is not dealing with their everyday problems .
thank you very much .
our group supports the call in the report for solidarity within the Union and a balance in regional development , and wants to see greater transparency and clarity in the budget .
that is not a punishment for the biggest country , Germany .
I know there are now 27 recovery plans at national level , but we see a number of protectionist measures inside those national plans .
had we done this before we might have had the television cameras here and our constituents might find out what we are doing instead of these boring , turgid things we do day in , day out .
the Belgian Presidency is committed to developing instruments for combating poverty and social exclusion , particularly through flagship initiatives under the Europe 2020 strategy .
whatever internal discussions take place , whether the financial facility will need to double its capital and the right to buy bonds , whether the Financial Stability Mechanism after 2013 will include trimming or will be ordered to sell eurobonds , are ideas that are not excluded by any Member State .
to sum up what we have been experiencing , let me say that the radicals need this conflict to justify their existence .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , allow me first of all to thank you for once again giving us the opportunity to pursue the constructive dialogue that has been established between the European Investment Bank and Parliament for some years now .
you approve secrecy instead of transparency .
I also think that we are still on the wrong track with regard to Kyoto .
this is not a demanding campaign , but I think that there have been and that there will be epidemics and various diseases here , and what has protected people most has been their personal behaviour .
and finally , the whole question of research has to be looked at .
it is a fascinating debate , which also involves other issues and certainly better collaboration .
the report rightly highlights the great wave of civil protest in Tunisia , Egypt and Libya , and also in Syria , Bahrain and Yemen , and points out events , contexts and expectations for each of these countries , as well as other subjects of particular interest , such as our strong transatlantic alliance and our hugely important relations with Russia .
these developments are part of a political context divided between democracy , which is still the most common system in the region , and a growing trend towards populism , indeed , in some cases , the strengthening of executive power at the expense of parliamentary government and the primacy of law .
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it is clear that European companies deserve a system of corporate taxation adapted to the degree of their actual and potential economic integration at the scale of their cross-border activities in Europe .
saying that no one should intervene in the internal affairs of a country is the old Soviet argument .
I must say that the Council is still awaiting a proposal from the Commission on the position that the European Union should adopt regarding the documents and proposals submitted to the Conference of the Parties to be debated and , if appropriate , adopted .
in the face of this extremely worrying situation , the European Union should put in place an integrated , comprehensive strategy to combine its development and security policies .
the proposal to exclude so-called micro-enterprises from the scope of application of the directives on accounting is also to be welcomed . in practice , this would mean exempting them from the requirement to keep accounts , submit an annual financial report and publish the reports required under European legislation .
this is making it very difficult for citizens to change to more efficient cars .
I must say that , following the trialogues with the Belgian Presidency , and many conversations with the Commission , we have achieved a text that almost all the political groups were happy with .
it is vitally important for us to put an end to their impunity and to the deterioration in the human rights situation in Guinea .
( SL ) In December , the European Council will address very important issues .
for my own country , this means that it is not acceptable for Goethe to be available in Polish and French , but not in the original German .
it is they who are going to realise the strategy , and they should have more time to take part in these consultations .
I submit that instead of dreaming about an unattainable European superstate , we should launch a debate on the rights of the nations .
the most important thing is for us to realise that the promotion of aquaculture which is sustainable and economically efficient in the long term is primarily dependent on how environmentally friendly we are .
if it is addressed to EU leaders , then what has been done until now is adequate and the tight schedule is a good thing .
on the anniversary of the disaster , is the Commission going to encourage governments to commit publicly to providing new funding for the fight to mitigate the effects of this nuclear disaster ?
thus , in 2005 , unpolluted energy sources represented 42 % of the European primary energy production .
it is a defect in the new rules which you need to bear in mind .
this matter has already been raised by the Italian government minister Luca Zaia at the last Council of Agricultural Ministers : better defining Community legislation and adequately supporting projects such as the food bank or the last minute market could not only help that proportion of the population suffering from the economic crisis , a percentage that now stands at double figures , but would also eliminate what is in any case an abominable waste .
although , to some extent , this measure does nothing more than paper over the cracks caused by the disproportionate parameters of consumption that sustain the destructive capitalist production model and by incessant production based on the creation of false necessities , I believe that promoting the reuse , recycling and recovery of such waste is positive .
( PL ) It is proposed that the sum of 50 000 in paragraph 6 be replaced by the sum of 40 000 in order to avoid changing the current rules .
the problem is that it generally takes a very long time for the Commission , which takes the form of a collegial body , to put things into motion .
this system had a role to play when there was overproduction but , now that demand has increased , we should develop another system that enables us to exploit those market opportunities .
it is an aggression and a war against the future of peace and dedicated international efforts that have been deployed for its establishment .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , I welcome this annual report .
because the project is politically and economically important for Europe , Parliament insisted that it should go ahead and that it should be financed out of the EU budget .
I voted against the resolution on nuclear safety in Europe following the nuclear accident in Japan .
the additional costs would be even higher if there were also two weeks ' paid paternity leave for every father .
the Council should know this : no Directive , no dough .
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only when we are on an equal footing will we be able to reach an agreement .
first and foremost , the main objective of the negotiations should be to adopt ambitious , specific targets which are relevant to a number of areas and sectors of activity , ranging from construction and transport to forestry and agriculture .
rather , thanks to their enforced conformity and the fact that they ignore cultural differences , they helped to create it .
a year ago , the Committee on Transport rejected the proposal from the Commission on road infrastructure safety management as it was too bureaucratic and , in our view , failed to generate any added value .
there was no question of voluntary union at that time .
faced with such a difficult situation the EU cannot abandon my country , but must make every effort to ensure that the treaties are respected , particularly Article 80 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union .
I wish her every success in this .
Detaining people for their ideals runs totally counter to the Universal Declaration on Human Rights .
I agree that the Member States should perform regular systematic surveillance and monitoring of AMR in food producing animals , without creating additional financial or administrative burdens for farmers or other animal owners or veterinarians .
provision may be made for joint measures to promote consumption of certain products , to be combined with an additional health and nutrition education component and to provide encouragement to regional producers , especially those in mountain regions .
selfemployed people currently make up only 16 % of the working population .
we cannot attribute all bad weather to climate change , but we do know that the number of extreme weather events is increasing .
yet the British Chancellor of the Exchequer , Alistair Darling , seems now to be an advocate of this plan .
. - ( BG ) Commissioner , I would like to thank the rapporteur , Mr Millán Mon , for his comprehensive report and for the definitive position expressed on dropping the visa regime .
women , who represent around 42 % of the 26.7 million people working in agriculture , are particularly affected by hundreds of thousands of small and medium-sized farms going out of business , and by the process of destruction of family farming , which have resulted from successive CAP reforms .
arguments in favour of the necessity of such measures are , principally , the current economic situation in which Europe finds itself , dangerous climate changes and threats to energy security .
I hope my friends in the Italian Government agree with this fundamental principle of the European Union .
these arms were sold to a country held responsible for the Lockerbie bombing and the supply of terrorist weapons .
it is unfortunate that the Commission 's Green Paper scarcely pays any attention to gender equality .
for the first time in the history of the European Parliament , there will be a functional audit next year in two of its important units , the INLO Directorate-General and the security service .
finally , the right to self-defence has been sanctioned and weapons may be kept in the home even without a licence .
the next item is the European Council report and Commission statement on the outcome of the European Council on 29 and 30 October 2009 including the mandate and attributions of the President of the European Council and of the High Representative of the Union for foreign and security policy / Vice-President of the Commission , as well as the structure of the new Commission .
as you know , a long-stay visa allows the holder to reside in the Member State that has issued it .
this is happening as a result of the lack of a European integrated maritime policy .
the report by Mr Busuttil , on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs , on the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Seychelles on the short-stay visa waiver - C7-0012 / 2009 - ,
we reiterate the need for the immediate release of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience .
14 .
however - and here we are in accord - this progress is not enough .
for an industry such as the construction sector , it is imperative that the rules are clear and I look forward to seeing the difference these particular changes will make .
Mr Donato Tommaso Veraldi has the floor on behalf of the Alliance of Liberals , but I am informed that he is not in the hall , and I therefore call upon ... there you are .
however , as a budgetary politician , I would like to point out that , although the announcement of such a programme will have public impact , it is not clear where the money will actually come from .
perhaps my question is a little unfair , because it has a historical perspective .
it is also important to take into consideration the fact that European social well-being is directly linked to employment and opportunities provided to find employment .
this will not harm the sense of national pride .
this is a major priority for our common transport policy and this is always extremely important .
this is where we should be focusing our efforts .
secondly , what will happen if a nuclear power fails to pass the stress test ?
this leads to unfair competition .
we discovered in the past that the relevant governments often do not have or do not exercise control over these activities and therefore , I would like to state here that it is not enough to agree ; we must devise control mechanisms , we must have an overview of real policies and I agree that we must not enter into a treaty at any price .
no food of animal origin from the blocked farms can be placed on the market until the farms are unblocked .
this is indeed something that should be stated on a day like today .
this is because , in practice , it is the case for a number of families of construction products - such as windows , internal doors and floorings - that the existence of very small manufacturers is extremely important for the functioning of the market and is in the interests of consumers .
the voters demonstrated their wish for a speedy solution to the Cyprus problem by electing a moderate politician , Mr Christofias , and by ousting Mr Papadopoulos who was considered by many to be a hardliner and nationalist .
it is , in my view , not up to us in the first instance to blame one country or the other .
I also welcome the fact that the Commission - as it has unofficially informed us - is working on drafting a new proposal at an accelerated pace , striving to preserve as many elements of the provisional agreement reached during the recent negotiations as possible in the new legislative proposal .
I would come at it slightly differently , and I would like ask you through the chair , Commissioner : should not all legislation in this area , as a matter of principle , be technology-neutral ?
it is inadmissible to fingerprint European citizens and , especially , children , it is not normal to set fire to camps installed , with the tacit consent of the authorities .
there are coordinators for the TEN-T projects for inland water transport and for transport on maritime corridors .
we would like to receive a statement on the state of affairs in Russia as soon as possible .
the right political responses are not to close our markets or monitoring of the imports .
this large consultation process will culminate in a very fruitful discussion with you .
we will support it in tomorrow 's vote .
- ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to congratulate Mr Florenz on a job well done ; this report is a tribute to his consistent presence , attention and contribution .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , the situation of Roma people in Italy - as in the whole of Europe - is terrible , and has been so for many decades .
the aim is to bring about a more efficient use of resources .
for that reason , we approved the Small Business Act and , for that reason also , exercises such as this one are vital to the continuing progress of Member States in applying the political and legislative measures that we have agreed .
2009 will see the impact of the Lisbon Treaty - if indeed it is ratified by all Member States .
if there are no annual accounts available , it makes it more difficult for small enterprises to obtain information about colleagues .
for the aforementioned reasons , I voted in favour of the document , which will allow Parliament to be given sufficient means to cover the expenses related to its new role following the Treaty of Lisbon .
this will allow us to say that we are going to establish real , effective economic governance for the benefit of all Member States .
Mr President , may I start by highlighting our very great concern about the obstacles which are preventing the Maputo agreements from being implemented .
however , I will not vote for further membership unless the budget of the Union is substantially increased .
I would call on the Commission to join forces with Member States in promoting the setting up of , and establishment of cooperation between , centres for reporting and responding to incidents relating to Internet safety .
we must act now and before the time is up for this Parliament .
in addition , according to the new ombudsman , the European Ombudsman is going to work more closely with other European institutions .
Tunisia may have been authoritarian and corrupt , but it was profoundly secular and pro-Western ; we must remember that .
I would have preferred a more ambitious approach here .
I do not take issue with the individual points , but I do think that the report is simply inconsistent .
before accession , we called on all Member States who wanted to come into the European Union to abide by European Union rules .
coordination in the humanitarian aid stage was not a great success , and today we have received a report on that issue .
therefore , harsh measures of the type some Members have recently taken against people from other EU Member States , if adopted , will only discredit the EU - this time not only internally , but also externally .
notions such as ' support for persons in need ' and ' mandated providers ' seem restrictive when compared with the definition of social services used in certain Member States , and I am concerned that a deliberately strict interpretation may serve to justify the inclusion of whole swathes of these services in the scope of the directive .
this proposal would result in a situation where the Directorate-General for Energy and Transport is both promoting the use of nuclear energy and monitoring it , which is not right , especially as at international level the International Atomic Energy Agency also has an inconsistent role as a monitoring body for nuclear safety and one that promotes nuclear power .
several regional or sub-State governments are leading the way on radical policies to fight climate change .
care will also have to be taken to protect shareholders and creditors .
this is extremely important for people in my West Midlands constituency , as elsewhere in the UK .
this therefore means that energy efficiency , buildings , transport logistics , electronics , electric engines , all of these things now need to be the focus of our attention in 2009 and 2010 .
Poland 's involvement in international trade in services has never been very great . the same is true of the other countries of Central and Eastern Europe .
I am certain that this will help to bring European citizens closer to the European Union .
for its part , the Council regrets that the Member States were unable to agree as one on a package relating to the fight against poverty and social exclusion , in financial terms .
the percentage differentiation in management positions may be linked to the significant mental and physical effort being too much of a burden , so the representation of women should be put into practice by recognising and utilising knowledge and individual predispositions along with improving legal and economic conditions and aid infrastructure , which make it easier to reconcile family life with one 's occupation .
it is essential that we see progress in the access and movement agenda .
the complicated situation in Iraq calls for a clear and committed policy .
my plea is : please , respect the amendments that have been put today .
why ?
in addition , it must be borne in mind that the underlying root causes of the conflict also include the dramatic problems posed by foreign armed groups in Democratic Republic of Congo territory , in particular the Rwandan FDLR , an issue where most of the DRC commitments taken in the Nairobi communiqué have still to be put into action .
let us also recognise that the answer to the food problem can only be global .
we always take the specific circumstances of our Union into account when implementing international rules , and , ladies and gentlemen , the CRD 4 Directive will be no exception ; here , too , we will take the specific circumstances of the European Union into account .
however , insofar as it is not yet a Member State , it is necessary to define its status - its rights of participation and what responsibilities it should have - in the context of the EMCDDA .
I voted for discharge in respect of the implementation of the Court of Auditors budget for the financial year 2006 , based on the report by Mr Lundgren recommending that the European Parliament should grant discharge to the Court of Auditors ' Secretary-General .
lastly , Madam President , guaranteeing equal access to transplants for all those who need and qualify for one under harmonised clinical criteria , obeying the principle of universal access to health : a paradigm of social Europe of which we are proud .
the debate is closed .
I hope that solutions can be found to the various legal , technical and institutional issues that are arising at the moment , and that these solutions will be based on the principle of subsidiarity , on voluntary cooperation between the Member States , and on respect for their sovereignty and national legal systems , and on the rule of law .
it is also essential to develop a critical attitude to the quality of media content , because well-informed consumers are in a stronger position .
in writing . - ( FR ) On paper , the fifth of the Millennium Development Goals - which is to reduce maternal mortality by 75 % between now and 2015 - was clearly one of the most achievable targets .
economy , 2 .
these agreements represent the implementation of a specific commitment made by the European Union , in its role as a member of the World Trade Organisation ( WTO ) .
they crop up in many places in your report , whether about nationality and related rights , individual and family rights or the right of property , and as you know it very often happens that people who petition Parliament about their fundamental rights end up being disappointed .
adopting the ' Directive of Shame ' in a bid to create a Fortress Europe deprives immigrants of their basic human rights and condemns them to a life of illegality .
why ?
in Iraq , however , being open about your Christian faith has almost become a mark of exceptional courage .
we condemn the use of force and the violent dispersal of democratic meetings , protests and demonstrations .
this constitutes a contribution to the discussions conducted within the G20 both on the volatility of commodity prices and on the supervision of derivative markets .
in writing . - ( GA )
they are being subjected to huge psychological strain , which is inhumane and degrading treatment in itself .
we have also been examining cabotage rather more realistically and this means we are already able to start after the first unloading .
Albania and Greece are closely linked by history .
Mr President , there was no room for doubt in the minds of international observers , and there should be no room for any doubt whatsoever in our minds .
let me make a special comment on the present presidential elections in Georgia .
I voted in favour of Mr Papastamkos 's report .
however , we consider that this collective instrument has so far given a good indication that its creation was necessary and right .
we need an approach which will allow us to prepare Europeans for the future in the context of a Green New Deal and to set a new course in this crisis .
it is our ambition that 2010 should be a milestone year for recognising the multidimensional nature of poverty and social exclusion .
does China by its action wish to show its contempt for the opinion of the European Parliament ?
firstly , we must continue to provide humanitarian aid , but we must make sure that aid goes to the people and does not in any way prop up the regime .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , who are we laughing at ?
despite the ongoing fighting and its spread to various parts of Libya , humanitarian organisations are doing a remarkable job in preventing a major humanitarian disaster .
these issues have also been covered in the report .
nowadays , when the economic crisis is hitting both of us equally hard , it is clear that confrontations will make neither of us any stronger .
for example , we agreed on VAT for intra-Community supplies but disagreed on joint and several liability in the framework of cross-border transactions , and in quite a few instances , we have both been disappointed by the slowness or lack of backing by Member States .
ancient Greece bestowed on humankind among other things the joy of the Olympic Games .
however , without anyone asking , the Council of Ministers - presumably at the recommendation of the socialist political group - decided that it should nevertheless be tabled at this plenary , irrespective of whether or not a month had passed .
in writing . - ( PT ) Broad market introduction of technologies with better performance is often hampered by high initial cost and therefore insufficient customer demand .
it deserves no less .
the wind blowing from the other side of the Atlantic does not augur well and the growth forecasts for 2008 are lower than we might have hoped .
therefore I did not vote following the overall indications of my group , because I believe that we are facing such serious problems that we must at this point demonstrate the cohesion of European institutions and our ability to deal with the problems we are confronting .
the debate is closed .
we will have national budgets in a mood of further cuts .
this paper talks about us facing a third industrial revolution .
oral questions and written declarations ( submission ) : see Minutes
illegal logging is very often the first step towards the general exploitation of natural forests .
it is a strong text which should have united all MEPs .
if 2.8 % of the gross domestic product of the euro area is put at risk , as in the case of Greece , a serious crisis will be caused here .
in fact , if we were to phase out all kinds of export subsidies without delay , we would decimate our own dairy industry and food security in this sector , and I seriously question if that is what Parliament really wants to do .
by not calling the Economic Partnership Agreements ( EPA ) into question , merely referring to the need not to make development aid available only to countries that accept greater liberalisation of their markets , every positive aspect that might arise out of such aid has been abandoned .
finally , I should like to express my solidarity with the Hungarian Government in the face of the controversy that has surrounded the first few days of the Hungarian Presidency , in particular , concerning the law on the media .
this made Mr Oettinger 's life difficult in his struggle with the Member States to introduce more stringent stress tests .
the reports dealing with the ' Single European Sky ' initiative are therefore following the same timetable .
clearly , any reform must take account of the individual features of the various fishing areas and avoid at all costs a one-size-fits-all management model .
what should be stressed is the need for closer partnership - meaning better access , greater competitiveness and the improvement of regional integration .
the President , the head of the Central Bank and military leaders have been killed .
I am grateful to Mr Mate , who chaired the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 18 April , because thanks to a very wide consensus the Council was prepared to assign that mandate to the Commission .
this measure will also lead to illegal people trafficking and smuggling .
action taken on Parliament 's positions and resolutions : see Minutes
most of them only realise what has happened and what changes we have made once it has come into effect , by which time it can no longer be changed .
if there is one sector that is vulnerable to red tape , it is this one .
worse still , fattened animals are transported across Europe under deplorable conditions in order to produce so-called ' Tyrolean bacon ' , for example .
I include in that both the Council and the Commission .
a further undoubtedly important aspect of the partnership is Brazil 's role as one of the leaders in the process of regional integration through Unasur .
if they were quartered in barracks , things would no doubt be different .
the responsibilities of manufacturers , consumers and local authorities are defined more clearly to ensure environmentally friendly treatment .
the selected product lines amount to almost EUR 900 million in import value , accounting for about 27 % of EU imports from Pakistan ( EUR 3.3 billion ) .
if only one or two Member States had not introduced this first package , we would be able to impose sanctions today and fulminate in this Chamber , but if twenty-something Member States have not introduced this package , then perhaps the package - to put it mildly - is not the best .
the Commission working document in fact proposes using the initial summaries of its proposals to better explain the aims of simplification .
it is important that Catherine Ashton , now that she has a team , puts the core European values into action .
in my view , it is difficult , and I say this frankly , to use the instruments of the law , the police or the secret services to undertake a far-reaching investigation of this or that party .
( SL ) The rapidly rising fuel costs are halting transport around Europe and across the world .
fighting discrimination means investing in the consciousness of a society whose development takes place through integration .
2 .
another issue that concerns us in this difficult context is the decline in the competitiveness of our farmers who , unlike their competitors , face high production costs .
I must , however , deplore the fact that the left in Parliament has used the necessary improvement in the legal framework regulating document access , in the wake of the entry into force of the treaty , to take the populist stance of dismissing the real need for confidentiality in some areas of European action and seeking to elevate itself as the sole champion of transparency .
encouraging the entrance of hydrogen-powered vehicles into the internal market will contribute considerably to achieving Europe 's climate change targets .
I therefore urge you to apply Rule 161 of the Rules of Procedure and also allow a vote on Amendment 464 .
finally , I would like to thank the commissioner for his cooperation during this term of office .
in writing . - The increased mobility of both persons and capital lies at the heart of the EU and has been a great success .
firstly , the lack of flexibility , with regard to which I would like Mr Šemeta , who is , of course , continuing in another post within the Commission , to take note of the fact that we do indeed need this mid-term review of the budget and I would like the Commission - the new Commission - to take this seriously .
in writing . - I voted for this Horizontal Agreement , which is not important in itself , but is an important step in strengthening EU-Brazil aviation relations , allowing Brazil and the EU to further enhance aviation cooperation and to move towards negotiating a comprehensive air services agreement between them .
on the other hand , we were continuously in touch with countries that expressed doubts about the accession of Romania and Bulgaria .
we know that the EU cannot achieve this alone , as the national governments need to agree to it .
Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy . - Mr President , I would like to thank Members for their contributions .
we know that these traffic jams cost us 1 % of GDP .
on the demand side , Mr Tatarella , who is no longer with us , and Mr Howitt raised the problem of overproduction : the fact that the opium currently available actually exceeds demand for processing into opiates for drugs .
what is not good is that this flexibility did not go further and that milk quotas , i.e. hands-on control over production quantities , have not been abandoned .
energy efficiency is a priority policy for the European Union given the need to preserve and maximise resources and fulfil the commitments that it has made in combating climate change .
therefore , the Commission has a responsibility to amend the Posting of Workers Directive .
following the EU 's signature of the European Consensus on humanitarian aid , many actions have been taken on cooperation in this field in order to optimise its effectiveness and to promote the basic humanitarian principles of humanity , neutrality and impartiality in acting to assist those most in need .
our dairy farmers ' earnings have been inadequate for years , and now for the past six months they have obtained reasonably decent milk prices .
in this context , I believe that the fundamental principles of coordinated development and urban-rural partnership are especially important and must be strictly observed .
twelve vessels sank or ran aground here during a severe storm .
I particularly welcome the adoption of the Strategy for the Danube Region and support the Action Plan that accompanies it , which satisfies the need to improve mobility , energy security , environmental protection , social and economic development , cultural exchanges , security and civil protection in the Danube region .
in this hour of crisis , the reigning eurocracy continues to build us a Europe characterised by competition and by an overemphasis on law and order .
for this reason I consider the package of decisions adopted by the European Commission with the aim of boosting flexibility in drawdowns from the Structural Funds by Member States to be a positive response to the ongoing economic crisis .
in writing . - This report indicates that not even the farthest reaches of Europe are beyond the EU 's grasp .
1992 is the wrong year .
I do not think they are currently practical .
the rapporteur is Mr Ferreira .
the German Aerospace Centre estimates it would cost EUR 45 billion to build , but it also says that it would save consumers many times that amount in reduced energy bills over the next 35 years , and the investment would create thousands of jobs .
when Europe does speak with one voice , it has nothing to say .
I know how difficult it was in the Council too , because we certainly exerted heavy pressure on the Council .
you know that on 1 March , I brought the CEOs of large European listed companies around a table to tell them that we do not agree anymore with the 90 % quota for men on boards of directors - because that is what is happening .
the debate is closed .
the Council must find a solution to their internal stalemate or else we will not be able to deliver a safer Maritime sector to the citizens of the EU .
if a European coastal safety authority were to take precedence over national coastal authorities or navies , this would not be compatible with national sovereignty rights and would increase existing tendencies towards centralisation .
I believe that we should implement targeted policies towards Russia in order to avoid a competitive race .
our partners in these projects , chosen by you , are municipal , local and regional authorities which have close links with the projects in question .
( PT ) Madam President , Commissioner , at a time when the air transport sector is going through one of its most difficult crises due to the unparalleled rise in fuel prices , it is vital that we invest our attention and our legislative effort in measures that will help to maintain the strength and dynamism of this sector .
opening of the sitting
I am also concerned about the presence of international troops in Bahrain and call for an investigation into the deaths of 54 protestors in Yemen .
it sits on a fence and does not come off that fence .
I would like just to pick up on two or three of the key areas that were discussed .
nobody has voted for that .
here , we have to consider what kind of sanctions we want .
if you will pardon me for saying so , we cannot allow this to happen .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( PT ) Madam President , the NATO Summit took place in Lisbon , and so I would like to say a few words about what happened in my country in connection with this Summit .
that is what the CE marking means .
( the sitting was closed at 23.15 )
it does not specify how many of them occurred in Europe because there have been very few , mainly in countries which were not members of the European Union at the time of the accident .
the similarities between both these systems do not necessarily lead to arguments about their compatibility .
this is an attempt to establish a common system for the whole of the European Union , and I think it is possible that some countries that do not have it will adopt this kind of document .
this discussion should therefore be held at global level and not merely within the EU .
I would also like to stress that if the EU cannot come forward as one body with a strong and clear mandate and cannot reach a clear agreement on funding , it will weaken our position in the world enormously .
they will be supervised by the European authorities under the proposals that I will be making at the end of this year .
this is also the one and only way of protecting the fishermen 's livelihood in the medium and long terms .
however , in this role , I would like to express my sincere thanks to Mr Bendtsen for his splendid work and excellent cooperation .
we side with the workers who are fighting for the development of public transport .
given that Spain has submitted a request for assistance for 1 154 redundancies at 593 companies operating in NACE Revision 2 Division 47 ( retail trade , except for motor vehicles and motorcycles ) in the NUTS II region of Aragón , I voted in favour of the resolution because I agree with the Commission 's proposal as amended by Parliament .
we must all now work to achieve better respect for all .
as a rule of thumb we can assume that the smaller the enterprise , the heavier the relative burden of administrative costs .
although it happened almost 14 years ago , it is only right and correct that we should commemorate the victims and be reminded of the events and the racial hatred which led to this terrible event .
I call on my fellow Members to reject the amendment which aims to refer the proposal back to committee and to support my group 's proposals , which are also supported by the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe and the Independence and Democracy Group .
I call on Member States and the Commission to take the necessary measures in order to :
this Parliament plays an important part in maintaining and developing relations between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Iran .
I eagerly await the 12 measures which the European Commission will identify as being crucial for the future of the Single Market .
we must also consider the scenario regarding the consequences of increasing CO2 .
it may be that scanners are a solution , but they certainly will not solve the problem of security at airports .
he is not a socialist , my predecessor , he is a communist ; I mean you should look at his political group : he is a communist and that probably explains the reasoning he was using .
it has not been an easy time for Europe .
special attention to vulnerable groups under the EU 's cohesion policy means we have not forgotten that the main priority of this policy is to contribute to the well-being of our citizens .
I therefore regret that the report which was voted through today takes a line which does not wholeheartedly favour trade and development .
international adoption can only be considered as an alternative after all the measures for arranging a national adoption have been exhausted .
this is actually the European Year of the Lung , and the petition can still be signed by colleagues who are interested in our work against the tobacco industry and on tobacco control .
those two jobs will hardly help hard-pressed small and medium-sized businesses in any of our countries .
they usually remain silent about their daily problems in order to avoid difficulties .
but I think that we have to look at that .
not only sports lovers will be watching , but also those who are expecting progress from China in the area of human rights .
I believe that the issue calls for a more subtle approach . this is because legal immigrant workers do not only bring an additional source of labour into Europe , they do not only wish to work here , but also want to study , start families , raise children and lead full lives .
the fact that it is not possible to increase catches and employment in the Baltic fishing sector should lead to the above measures being put into effect .
in writing . - ( EL ) The Roma are almost invariably victims of racial discrimination .
most sugar factories have been acquired by foreign parties .
( EL ) Mr President , I should like to say that , in theory , I absolutely support the proposals made by Mr Olli Rehn , whom I am bold enough to consider the political head of Europe and the person who deserves our special respect .
it is for this reason that we decided in the Committee on Budgets to implement a horizontal reserve of 5 % across all institutions in respect of external translations .
however , it is still necessary to bear in mind problems which may be faced by particular economies .
in fact , they are like second-class citizens because of the discrimination they have suffered throughout history , not only in the areas of education , health , and housing , but also as migrants , which is their very essence .
I wonder when it will happen that you cannot extradite someone on the basis of the European Arrest Warrant because the conditions in the prisons in the country requesting extradition are so dreadful .
they only want to listen to those parts of civil society that fit into the federalist mould .
as we did after the ' no ' vote in the French and Dutch referendums , we have already carried out a Eurobarometer survey , which I think will also help better to understand the challenges of any referendum .
there are two points where , in my opinion , the European Union does indeed bring added value .
even if thrombin is an enzyme which is not harmful to health , by using it to glue together scraps of meat to make one large compressed piece of meat , the risk of bacterial infections must be significantly increased .
I hope that our proposals will be incorporated into the new common organisation of the market in wine .
that has been the only effective way of finding a mechanism to move forward , because , even though you may put in agreements or decisions , unless the authorities in each Member State are willing to work with each other and exchange that information , then there can be no real meaningful cooperation or movement forward .
( GA ) Mr President , I should also like to stress that it is equally important to have postal services for the visually impaired and the blind .
the first is the degree of involvement of Eurojust in direct communication between the domestic authorities .
I think there are two facts of which we need to remind some colleagues who may have forgotten them .
indeed I have heard some of the EU extremists this afternoon effectively call for that .
I am tired of this double-dealing , but , above all , I fear that this weariness is shared by our historical partners , who no longer believe in our will to truly support their development .
they just become more problematic for the child , who gets increasingly discouraged and frustrated .
Mr Weber , would you like to say a few words ?
on account of the fact that these projects are partially financed by loans , there will also be no investigations to establish whether it makes sense to burden the citizens of the region with heavy borrowing and to identify whether the credit burden is in proportion to the benefits of the project for the citizens .
any encounter with representatives of the local authorities elected directly by the people highlights , on most occasions , differences in the way European policies are handled between these levels of authority .
this is particularly well known in the Western Balkans , since Yugoslavia papered over the dividing lines , but could not bridge them .
the question is also how long will it take until we actually achieve this ?
following the Treaty of Amsterdam in 1999 , the EU integrated the Schengen cooperation into the framework of its legal powers .
let us pay tribute to another great Hungarian .
nevertheless , to turn to the subject of the Banana Accompanying Measures , this agreement is embarrassing with regard to our ACP banana-producing partners .
it will help Ukrainians , and it will help the European Union .
due to the risky nature of direct foreign investments , a high level of legal certainty must be guaranteed during the transition period .
in 1997 , the Court of Justice clearly established the principle that the European Parliament must meet every month in Strasbourg .
these instruments are not a disguised way of protecting Community industry from the free movement of international trade , but rather are intended as a way of improving its competitiveness by re-establishing normal competition conditions , as and when necessary .
as Vice-President of the Intergroup on LGBT rights at the European Parliament , I am delighted at that .
we have included this date in our report .
let us be honest about it .
the indications are also that the accident hazard posed by a CO2 storage site , whether from rupture at injection or from post-injection leakage , is unlikely to be significant .
we hope that further debate will identify the key political issues by the end of our Presidency , and we will then hand the dossier on to the French Presidency so that work can continue effectively .
it therefore urgently needs to be integrated with the EU budget to enable increased democratic control , accountability and transparency of financing .
the 15 % of youth who are unemployed in the UK , or worse , the 45 % of youth who are unemployed in Spain , will not be able to see how this increase will help them get a job .
( FI ) Mr President , as we heard at the beginning of August , the first democratically elected President in Mauritania has been deposed and imprisoned along with the country 's Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs as a result of a military coup .
I would emphasise that we must also be clear on one thing , and that is that we must always make room for the initiatives that produce the best results .
it is now up to the Member States to decide whether this instrument is really one that is going to be effective for victims and necessary .
in addition , the European Commission has proposed that Georgia should benefit from macrofinancial assistance amounting to EUR 46 million to help this country overcome the impact of the financial and economic crisis .
moreover , I would like to congratulate Mr Cadec on the excellent work that he has done .
it would suffice to look at how the European Union can meet the targets laid down by the Lisbon Treaty .
I welcome the excellent institutional relations between the Ombudsman and Committee on Petitions in terms of mutual respect for each other 's remits and powers .
well , it is true that it has a lot of potential , but with a grid we have a challenge .
I should also like to say once again that we must not use double-speak when talking to our fellow citizens : when we are campaigning , we cannot say that Europe is protecting them , that it will protect their companies and their jobs and then , once we have been elected , forget about that commitment .
800 people killed to date . 8 000 people arrested to date .
thank you !
adjournment of the session
after four years of the Stoiber committee 's existence , is the Commission able to say which approach is the best and most effective ?
at the start of this issue , the Food and Veterinary Office reported significant problems in Brazil with the certification of farms and traceability of livestock .
I have in mind , in particular , defining the rights and responsibilities of new arrivals from Islamic states who find it hard to integrate into Europe .
it is work carried out in the home - childcare and elderly-care facilities - that is included in the Europe 2020 strategy and represents 5 % to 9 % of all work undertaken in the EU , with the trend being towards growth .
I am referring here to the debate we have already had , and to tomorrow 's vote on the resolution on history .
but this is only a first step in a very long process .
( DE ) Madam President , apparently only about 3 000 of the Tunisian refugees apprehended in Lampedusa are genuine asylum-seekers , while 20 000 or more are economic migrants .
there is also significant funding being allocated to the second stage of the Economic Recovery Plan - EUR 2.4 billion - which includes vital support for energy ( including renewable energy ) projects and infrastructure , as well as EUR 420 million to provide broadband access in rural areas .
it is perfectly natural that when we look at different commissioners , we see that each tries to make a priority of the issue that is his most pressing concern .
we are very much aware that the events in Honduras could create a dangerous precedent , a step back in terms of democracy , and could destabilise the region .
in short , this is not an excessive sum : it is a necessary investment in our long-term security .
in the case of the Council , we respect our gentlemen 's agreement and appreciate the Council 's restraint in terms of budgetary spending for 2009 , whilst acknowledging the additional need for resources in relation to the Reflection Group .
this should comprise macrofinancial assistance along with the rapid and immediate commencement of talks , as far as this is possible , on an association agreement . it should also comprise the commencement of talks - this is my third point - on visa facilitation , and , finally , we should enable Georgia to guarantee its security by opening up the way for it to join NATO .
an IMF loan was accepted there , a move that has extremely serious consequences for the population .
the Commissioner spoke of work in progress .
the strategy envisages a new legislative framework in the form of a general animal health law to be supplemented by implementing acts of a primarily technical nature .
they felt like Russian citizens , they were welcomed in Russia and they were defended like Russian citizens .
I am voting for this motion for a resolution , as I believe that the accession negotiations with Croatia may be concluded in the first half of 2011 , provided that the necessary reforms continue to be pursued .
Madam President , I voted against the Deva report on development perspectives for peace-building and nation building in post-conflict situations because of one section , the one that states we should be able to take preventive as well as reactive initiatives that can even involve the use of coercive military force as an absolute last resort .
therefore , we need campaigns for raising awareness of education programmes .
the layers of ice , which are getting thinner year by year , have stopped protecting the deposits from explorative drilling .
the model for the proposed mechanism is the dispute settlement mechanisms included in the latest agreements concluded by the European Union and the World Trade Organisation 's Understanding on Rules and Procedures governing the Settlement of Disputes .
this is an essential objective for the Presidency , because we believe it is an essential objective for Europe .
when governments do that and cook the books , or do not fulfil the roles of economic governance and economic discipline , the others get into trouble .
the Secretary-General of Parliament is missing .
this issue does merit it and , as one of the last veterans of the first battle of Brazilian beef , it is a pleasure to see so many familiar faces in the Chamber tonight .
I am confident that the other chapters will be dealt with in a positive , directed way and in the spirit of friendship .
this dialogue has also been matched by some important developments within the country .
Article 5a of amended Decision 1999 / 468 / EC introduced the new regulatory procedure with scrutiny for measures of a general scope which seek to amend non-essential elements of a basic instrument adopted in accordance with Article 251 of the Treaty , inter alia by deleting some of those elements or by supplementing the instrument by the addition of new non-essential elements .
European citizens are now suffering from unemployment , threats of tax increases and the loss of basic retirement rights .
the debate is closed .
when the situation becomes that drastic , a country needs to be able to apply the emergency brake and ' slash ' the price of money .
firstly , we must not , under any circumstances , cut back on training in the rail industry .
the draft bill also goes against the EU-supported United Nations Declaration on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity of 18 December 2008 .
however , we must also have the courage , Mrs Lichtenberger , to say that for economic reasons we need growth in the aviation sector , both internally and in respect of third countries .
but I would like to stress particularly two issues that should be addressed immediately :
that must , in all respects , depend on their ability to adopt emergency measures , in order to safeguard the health of people and the environment .
of course , significant changes to the structure of the EU budget may be made only in conjunction with the mid-term review on the EU financial perspective , but specific changes may be introduced earlier , such as allowing the new Member States to channel a greater part of EU funds towards energy efficiency goals and home heating programmes .
the future of the Union will not be determined by the ever more complicated institutional reforms which this House will be discussing tomorrow morning .
all these aspects are a key factor in the process of turning the Western Balkans into a region of long-term stability and sustainable development .
( PL ) Madam President , firstly , I would like to say I am very pleased that the European Parliament has taken up this matter , especially because this report arose at Parliament 's initiative .
we need constructive , strengthened cooperation in areas such as overcoming the economic and financial crisis , the fight against terrorism , global stability , peace in the Middle East , the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons , development aid and climate change .
I would also remind them that , while people in countries outside the market economy , under the shelter of the Berlin Wall , met their well-documented fate , globalisation and the market economy enabled Western Europeans to prosper at an average rate of 2 % growth per annum .
this is important particularly from the point of view of the poorer countries .
I am stressing this point because 50 million people can have a huge amount of clout within the European Union , and it is in our interest to ensure equal opportunities in society .
freedom of expression , freedom of assembly and freedom of movement in countries such as Belarus should be a priority , and it is therefore necessary to call for the immediate and unconditional release of these people , who cannot be called anything other than political prisoners .
the Treaty of Lisbon reconfirms Member States ' commitment to the basic social rights set out in the European Social Charter ( in 1961 ) and in the Community Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers ( in 1989 ) .
thank you , Mr President , for your visit .
and , thanks to your courage and determination , Prime Minister , Europe 's bigger Member States can only retard rapid progress for so long .
we believe , therefore , that effective coordination will bring real benefits from the point of view of efficiency and improvements to sound budgetary management .
we should have expected you to say that , in the wake of Lisbon , there will be a new construct in 2010 , a new strategy which will focus sharply on protection of the European social model and which will reorder our priorities once more .
subsequently , in the Joint Statement from the Council and the Commission , made at the JHA Council of 8 May 2003 , it was agreed that the Commission would table a proposal for a directive on the extension of long-term resident status to refugees and persons under subsidiary protection .
the accession of the EU to the European Convention of the Council of Europe and its protocols is in application of the Treaty of Lisbon and broadens protection in the field of human rights for its citizens .
our tactic was to concentrate on a small number of points in the hope that they might listen to at least some of what we had to say .
it should be noted that the current alignment of the acquis with the Comitology Decision is still not complete , since there are still legal instruments that provide for implementing measures to which the new regulatory procedure with scrutiny should be applied .
this report reduces CO2 emissions through new standards which tyres must reach , which will improve fuel efficiency and cut fuel bills .
last July , the Commission adopted a communication on an industrial property rights strategy for Europe .
- Resolution : Sudan : killing of African Union peacekeeping soldiers ( RC
the creation of national and EU records of the processes involved in transplantation ( avoiding discrimination , monitoring the results , etc . ) also stands out .
as we are now trying to go even further in decoupling , the idea that some of you raised of extending the coupled payment for tobacco would be a step in totally the wrong direction .
the simplification of the common agricultural policy remains an important task .
these 18 MEPs must take up their seats in Parliament at the same time in order not to upset the balance of nationalities in the House .
at the moment the security situation in the capital N 'Djamena and in the greater part of the country , except in the east , has calmed down and is returning to normal following the latest fighting .
now , with the Commissioner present , it is very important to ensure that the small Member States also get treated properly .
what we must work towards , in my opinion , is closer cooperation between the judiciary , the financial investigation authorities and the major banking groups which operate in these so-called tax havens .
I said that the Treaty of Lisbon was on the home straight , but it is here in particular that it can easily be thrown off course .
the rapporteur therefore recommends that Parliament approves the draft Council Decision .
the other reason is that we adopted a resolution on safety at work in January and I think that this subject is well covered there .
therefore , it is now possible to compensate for losses of bees ( and production ) by funding activities to promote queen production , purchasing of bee colonies , or even purchases of hives .
finally , I am shocked by several medieval conceptions reflected in some amendments to this report put forward by some colleagues on sexual and reproductive health matters .
the whole thing makes no sense .
I am pleased that Mr Lagendijk has been so clear in his resolution about the fact that we should put discussions about Kosovo 's independence and the conflicts surrounding that behind us .
( DE ) Madam President , I should like first to apologise on behalf of my colleague , Mr Sturdy , who has been delayed and cannot be here for the plenary session .
the outcome of the vote is clear : 488 of my fellow Members joined me in endorsing the appointment of the College of the European Commission .
minorities , particular the Baha 'is , are persecuted .
naturally , private funds will come into play : hitherto only the Community sector has been involved , so the private sector will now play a role .
please include this in your final position .
we may need a fourth package in the future , but I congratulate Mrs Morgan on what she has achieved so far .
I have also heard you say , Commissioner , that you wish to further regulate noise standards , and refine them by means of standardisation - the same applies to books , which are also regulated by standards - and that we should examine the way in which more legal certainty can be provided in that area .
youth on the Move has the potential to be successful , but it must also translate into concrete measures that will deliver benefits for our young people .
the development of energy and transport infrastructure , investment in research and development , learning and youth policy must find fresh impetus in the Union 's future budgets , while the fundamental pillars of the cohesion policy and the agricultural policy should continue to receive the current amount of funding .
that goes without saying , because that is how we need to operate in the open , democratic , liberal society in which we all want to live .
congratulations to the rapporteur on providing a current analysis containing several significant findings .
Madam President , we sometimes have good news , even in emergency situations .
Members of Parliament can mediate and encourage normal political dialogue between opposing parties .
Madam President , Commissioner , trafficking in human beings is a harsh reality in the EU .
today this country finds itself facing a strategic decision : to move towards Russia or to move towards the European Union ?
even in the case of products for which we have the most stringent of safety rules , such as prescription medicines and motor vehicles , we hear recurring reports of manufacturing defects and of product recalls .
it is suspected that other public buildings in Cyprus may be structurally dangerous but , due to apparent negligence or ignorance , or corruption concerning relevant authorities or departments or private firms , corrective measures are not being implemented .
rather , I believe that this situation is entirely to be expected , given the number of states which make up the Union and their particular histories and interests .
this report is a technical amendment to the existing directive , and it will confer powers on the new supervisory authority , EMSA , from January 2011 onwards .
the result of this is that we need to invest for the next 10 years in order for energy expenditure to be reduced and reinvested for the next 40 years .
Europe is currently the world 's most powerful purchasing forum .
furthermore , this has been a recurring problem , since the need to improve services such as interpretation and translation is frequently mentioned , but the financial resources required are not allocated ; rules created specifically to discourage the use of different languages are frequently applied .
the Council has repeatedly recalled the obligation of the government of Sudan to cooperate fully with the International Criminal Court , pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1593 .
this was a very strong requirement that Parliament imposed in 2005 and it has been complied with .
our fellow Member Mrs Bachelot , with whom I worked on this fund along with Mr Cottigny , persuaded us to take some extremely important decisions .
at the same time , the WHO estimates that there is a shortfall of 4.5 million health professionals in poor countries .
rule 24 ( 2 ) of the Rules of Procedure states quite clearly : ' the non-attached Members shall delegate one of their number to attend meetings of the Conference of Presidents ' .
in other words , we must not be systematic , but must show a great deal of ingenuity .
Nations are powerless to act alone in the face of the major challenges of our times .
Parliament 's support in this respect will be crucial .
a final word on the interinstitutional dimension .
the alternative is opting for the long term ; in the case of the bluefin tuna , we are talking about 2012 !
Member of the Commission . - The current EU competition policy towards vertical agreements is very supportive of Internet sales , and I am sure that you are aware of that , Mr President .
'Deplores , in this regard , the decision taken by the Russian Ministry of Defence on 31 May 2008 to send its forces to Abkhazia to restore the rail and road infrastructure in the breakaway region in accordance with the presidential decree ' .
I wanted to leave you with my thoughts , because you are taking on big responsibilities in many senses .
the Union of Islamic Courts , on the other hand , is their joint adversary and wants to reunite Somalia on the basis of traditional Islamic rules , without the warlords .
to achieve this , a radical change is needed in the way we produce and use energy .
in writing . - ( DA ) I voted in favour of the final version of the Liese report , as it was a small step forwards in comparison to the Commission proposal .
I beg you : 2008 is over , ratify in 2009 !
the events in Fukushima have shown that we were right to do so because spent nuclear fuel stored in a temporary pool may also present a risk which can be forestalled with appropriate measures .
would different terminology not make application slightly complicated ?
I hope we can ensure that transparency really does win the day .
it is to be hoped that the Council will now take more of a listening approach .
in this context , an emphasis must lie on the maintenance and improvement of the international order .
in August last year he ordered the closure of 34 radio stations through a refusal to renew their licences .
for this reason , we cannot forget the recommendations of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation on the urgency of an increase in food production of at least 70 % to feed a world population which is expected to reach 9 billion by 2050 .
in Kosovo , the Commission has played its role in getting the EULEX Kosovo mission staffed and equipped in time .
an increase in aid from the European Investment Bank , and the European Investment Fund , as well as greater financial support for technical activities related to project development and implementation ;
so how can I be satisfied ?
therefore , it is grounded in Article 122 ( 2 ) of the Treaty , which allows for Union financial assistance if a Member State is seriously threatened with severe difficulties caused by exceptional occurrences beyond its control .
Mr President , first of all , I would like to thank the rapporteur , Mr Balz , for his cooperation .
your country , once a part of the former Yugoslavia , with its awareness of the problems of the worlds of Christianity and Islam , will certainly provide the impetus for a fair outcome for Kosovo , with respect for the rights of Serbs .
author . - ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , according to consistent witness evidence , Omar Mohamed Saleh was arrested at his home by armed men in uniform on 3 February 2008 .
however , the Romanian authorities refuse to reimburse citizens for the fees they have already paid , although this obligation is enshrined in ECJ case law .
now , what would happen to us and to Lithuanians who next year might go marching in favour of our equal rights in Vilnius if this law is adopted in the Seimas ?
if not , then how many months before ?
if we go into negotiations Member State by Member State , we have no chance of succeeding .
the present stage of the crisis is a closely intertwined combination of sovereign debt crisis and banking sector fragilities .
the severity of this crisis demands an immediate and substantial response , also taking into account the strategic importance of Pakistan 's development , security and stability in the region .
the ' fifth freedom ' will eliminate barriers to the free flow of knowledge .
when negotiating this future trade agreement with Korea , we would do well to remember that our priority should remain multilateralism , because we know that the excessive proliferation of bilateral agreements is damaging to the regulated multilateral structure that we belong to .
this would be at least one small element of an overall solution to help develop stability in countries such as the Congo .
our Council had a first informal debate on the matter in July , then a formal debate on 12 October , and that debate enabled the Presidency to submit some draft Council conclusions , which are currently being examined and which , as I have already said , are on the agenda of our Competitiveness Council on 25 and 26 November .
it would be worth considering , assessing and planning pan-European cooperation in this field .
the arguments about price stability , protection of economies , etc . , have proved to be a sham .
these new services shall contribute to the financing of films and the European audiovisual component .
I would remind you that the Court of Auditors already monitors all the EIB 's activities whenever these involve the use of funds from the European budget .
it is for this reason that clear criteria and controls should be implemented to ensure that cloned animals are prevented from entering the food chain .
I believe that support for such practices would help us to reduce our dependence on air travel .
I guarantee you that , in 2012 , we will be having a revised and extended version of the discussion that we had this year , because a minority of governments , led by the United Kingdom , believe the current European budgets to be excessive : they want less , they do not want more .
I was in favour of the position put forward by Mrs Záborská .
this initiative is a response to calls from this Parliament and from the Member States to strengthen the links between education and culture .
as regards financing , I do not support the idea of financing the EIT from the common agricultural policy fund , as nobody can foresee the next year 's harvest in agriculture .
the clashes at the beginning of February had been foreseen as a possible scenario which was taken into account from the very beginning when the operation was being planned .
maritime transport deserves special attention because , aside from being the most economical in relative terms , it is one of the most dangerous in terms of the environmental consequences of an accident .
the common aim is to have the decision adopted before the summer in order to pre-empt any risks of non-decision by October 2011 , which would lead to the suspension of EIB external activities after that date .
as for the allocation of the funding , priority must be given to training and adaptation , with particular focus on the least developed countries .
we cannot accept a budget cut .
in my opinion , the rapporteur quite correctly proposes two measures relating to the effects of the unevenness of demographic development on the financing of social expenditure and the financial situation of pension systems in all Member States .
the economic and financial crisis that is devastating us has had disastrous effects in developing countries that had already been the victims of successive crises ( food , energy , climate and financial ) .
what is causing this optimism among Europe 's leaders ?
I should point out that the text of the agreement reached in the Council envisages derogations or exceptions for such countries and for such markets , up until their isolation is remedied .
that has been very evident in the case of Western Sahara .
its main aim is to simplify and consolidate the existing legislation .
situation in Gaza
finally on this social agenda , I would like to highlight the attention that we gave to migration policy .
a multi-pronged approach is the only way to increase child safety in the context of the Internet .
ladies and gentlemen , particularly during the vote , we can only take the floor on points of order .
I do not see any possibility of having some kind of fast track for these negotiations .
with specific regard to this recommendation for a second reading , what is at issue here is the implementation of the procedure relating to delegated acts , as outlined in Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union , to the financing instrument for cooperation with industrialised countries .
we also believe , however , that our partners have to respect some basic rules .
Mr President , an awful lot of the undoubtedly good work done by the European Union is ruined by stories of too much complication , and particularly of people trying to get funding and not being able to access it , despite going to huge efforts such as taking on people full-time for a number of months to make an application , and then not being successful .
as we look towards 2013 there is certainly a lot to do , because we have a common agricultural policy that , like any good compromise , leaves nobody particularly happy .
it is stating the obvious to say that the Association of South East Asian Nations is a collection of ten countries with particularly diverse levels of development , both politically and economically , as our rapporteur has just said .
I would therefore urge Baroness Ashton to do everything necessary in order to move the discussions on and to come up with concrete solutions to this major problem .
now a model of flexicurity is being challenged by the European Court of Justice in the Laval case , which does not think that the system applied in Scandinavia is good enough .
the draft agreement was examined by the Committee on Transport and Tourism , which issued a favourable opinion .
to significantly enhance the possibility of ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon a decision needs to be made by the Heads of State that , once the Treaty of Lisbon is in place , its mechanism will be used to make certain that all Member States will recover the right to nominate a Commissioner without restriction .
Car-pooling and car-sharing and the introduction of a more efficient freight transport system might help make towns and cities more free-flowing .
the Commission is currently in the process of evaluating the compatibility of UEFA 's measures on home-grown players with Community law , with a view to striking the right balance between the need to comply , on the one side , with Community law and the autonomy of sports organisations , and with the interests of European football on the other .
I expect that Slovenia will do everything possible to make sure that the decision on whether to introduce the euro in Slovakia by the planned deadline of 1 January 2009 has a positive outcome .
debates on cases of breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law ( debate )
the Millennium Development Goals to eradicate poverty by 2015 will not be achieved due to the lack of significant progress on providing access to energy .
colleagues , are you aware that these are the areas where the Court of Auditors has found the highest levels of errors ?
for if this agreement can be made to hold - yes , it is at present in difficulty , but these difficulties need not be terminal - this will demonstrate powerfully that similar arrangements can surely be extended to Darfur .
that is worth remembering .
( PT ) Madam President , we all know that the right to housing is a fundamental right .
it is of course quite incorrect to assert , as Mr Helmer does , that the EU costs the economy EUR 350 billion and the internal market does not bring that many benefits , so the cost of EU regulation exceeds the benefits of the single market .
I expect us to communicate more quickly with the European Commission and the European Council on procedural and personal matters , and also on substantive matters .
the question then is how to get there from here .
unfortunately , in some Member States , this is being done at the expense of ordinary people .
in writing . - I will vote for this resolution with a degree of reluctance .
all too often the mothers have simply been murdered .
they have preferred to turn their backs on this legislation which affects life and the earth .
as a result , for financial reasons , the consumer prefers to purchase the fake goods .
it also lays down measures to reinforce market surveillance by the Member States and new obligations for manufacturers .
I congratulate the rapporteur on a very creditable report .
secondly , running ships aground for on-site dismantling must be regarded as unacceptable .
it is intolerable that billions are being poured into the car industry while savings will have to be found when it comes to education .
( applause )
they pointed out , extraordinarily , that in countries like Tunisia , emigration is viewed as a crime .
as a result of this situation , a gap is forming in the Community and new Member States are being excluded , which I firmly believe is wrong .
( DE ) Mr President , in agreement with my group and also the other groups , I wish to propose the following amendment :
before concluding , I would like to briefly explain what you will not find in the Commission work programme and why .
this matter is becoming an inherent part of the new agreement between the EU and Russia .
therefore I am not voting in favour of the proposed resolution on this country , which can only lead to the continuation of the protectorate and thus of stagnation .
when the lion that roars in the economic jungle gets wet , he discovers the virtues of solidarity .
( the President cut off the speaker )
we had a debate on the consolidated Treaty .
explanations of vote
on the whole , the conclusions reflect the priorities the European Union set out ahead of Seoul and the European Union should be proud of the very important contribution it is making to this process .
I voted in favour of granting 2009 discharge to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control because the rapporteur has succeeded in identifying the most significant problems in terms of the transparency and accuracy of the accounts and because I am confident that this important and useful Agency will work on its administration in order to improve the areas pointed out , without undoing the good work that it has already done .
if data are shared and stored , the dangers of a nasty fate , as happened to Maher Arrar , rendered to torture for seven months after being picked up at JFK Airport , cannot be regarded as fanciful .
what do we need to do in order to improve the action that we are taking ?
however , it is necessary that we pass a critical eye over its development impacts .
firstly , it stresses the importance in both economic and social terms of this opening up of the services sector in Europe .
I call on the Commission and the Council to fully incorporate the contents of the Parliamentary resolution into their documents and to regularly report on any progress to Parliament .
however , the commitment exists and I have been informed that we are ready to publish a long list of permanent experts .
these political commitments were not difficult to make , so where is the problem ?
adjournment of the session
obviously , the choice between distributing apples or Rocha pears should be left to the Member States .
on the other hand , can this crisis , and the defence of the environment , be an opportunity for growth ?
I would ask Parliament the following : why must we expel dozens or even hundreds of workers and farmers in order to make way for large multinationals , as is happening in Sicily , Mr Castiglione ?
Commission . - ( FR ) Madam President , I will be brief , as I have expressed myself as sincerely and as clearly as possible .
every single European country is united in that we all face rising unemployment , which is obviously not just a social crisis , but also puts extra burdens on Member States ' public purses , with rising welfare costs , falling taxes and increased training .
I do not need to tell you , Commissioner , that the context is highly problematic .
then the duty on timber and illegal charges imposed at borders which Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner mentioned would be kept in check .
failure to adopt such a firm , consistent position would result in another scandalous outcome , like that of the CITES Conference in March 2010 .
several times a year we stand here and still the case remains hopeless .
it seems to me that there is very little in the recent European Council report .
the report deals with the implementation of the excessive deficit procedure .
Mr President , I suppose one could say that those of us who are still here at this hour of the night are probably powered by some form of renewable energy , perhaps solar power or maybe even divine power in the form of a halo above our heads .
it will give me great pleasure to support this excellent document .
to put it in another way , democracy needs a ' demos ' , a unit with which we identify when we use the word ' we ' .
they are democracy , human rights and freedom of opinion , and we need to adhere to them everywhere .
fourthly , administrative obstacles and procedures , in particular in connection with visas , will need to be removed .
historically , the Roma have been the target of discrimination and hostility from the majority populations of the Member States .
I support the emphatic request to the Commission to encourage Member States to provide and fund treatment for patients with conditions such as Alzheimer 's disease , diabetes and multiple sclerosis .
so you see , neither on the supply side nor on the demand side is there a real balance .
but within regional cooperation there is also a possibility for projects to be brought up .
the issues that people write to me about quite often are those of press freedom , corruption and property rights .
unfortunately , upon reading the documents from the Commission , I was disappointed to find that the stocktaking process was not looking at social reality but at economic indicators .
it is understandable : for reasons of their own , a number of States have reservations about this now that the European elections are approaching , but Parliament sought to take up the gauntlet .
in this context , combating job insecurity , particularly for women , represents a very constructive contribution to social stability and gender equality , one of the fundamental values espoused by the European Union .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( PL ) Madam President , I would like to thank Mrs Sbarbati for her work and to express my appreciation for the achievements of the European Ombudsman , Professor Nikiforos Diamandouros .
( CS ) I am convinced that the question we must ask today is no longer whether to recognise Kosovo or not : the question is how to maintain political stability and security in a region dominated by ethnic hatred and fear and 40 % unemployment .
( DE ) Mr President , the German Free Democratic Party ( FDP ) delegation in the European Parliament today voted against the resolution from several groups to implement the recommendations of the Goldstone report .
we are aware , of course , how delicate this matter is , given that the countries we are talking about are neighbours not only of the European Union , but of Russia as well .
with these figures the cost-benefit calculations are not as attractive as we would wish , and this must be taken into account in the next revision of the emissions trading scheme if we want to send industry and consumers the right signals .
we are Europeans .
this would require , first of all , stopping harmful subsidies like the EUR 6 billion yearly in Europe for fossil fuels and more stringent , ETS legislative support , resource efficiency and energy efficiency and tools such as a more stringent eco-design directive .
what is the next large-scale mission , the next major objective which will satisfy the human urge to explore space ?
author . - Madam President , on 13 November , less than a week after the disputed national elections had been held , Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest after spending 15 of the last 21 years effectively imprisoned for her pro-democracy thoughts .
these questions exemplify the leading role played by this House in relation to conventional disarmament , controls on the transfer of munitions and the strengthening of international humanitarian law .
as far as agriculture is concerned , we are in the middle of negotiations but it is very complicated , for the other side too , because it involved not just giving , but also receiving .
yet we must also admit at this point that there is still a very long way to go .
I believe that should also continue to be the case .
unfortunately , there are many countries in the world that do not respect fundamental rights and we have to keep relations with those countries .
however , Estonia , Latvia , Malta and Cyprus have not signed any kind of agreement and their citizens are not exempt from visa requirements .
I shall make five very short remarks .
as regards the financial issues and the economic crisis , we can put a number of instruments in place and also draw up long-term guidelines for how we can make Europe competitive once again to provide prosperity and social cohesion and , in particular , look ahead to the new Lisbon strategy which , in the long and medium term , could be very helpful to Europe in this regard .
as a result of this , Member States will have the opportunity to expand the area of application of the measures targeted by these programmes and also seek the assistance of international organisations in implementing these measures .
here , we are speaking of concrete incitement to act , to commit violence .
EU producers are not , therefore , asking for anything that is not wholly justified , and we in Parliament have an obligation to protect them , as does the Commission .
this is the regulation on enforcement measures to correct excessive macroeconomic imbalances in the euro area , and is yet another key piece of legislation in the package on economic governance .
they must not be used to freeze social progress in Ireland or Europe or to deny any of us the benefits of the Charter of Fundamental Rights .
these proposals had nothing to do with fairness and justice in global trade relations and between companies .
they have suffered as well , I accept that .
everyone has their own responsibilities .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( SV ) Mr President , my group and I welcome the compromise that the Council and Parliament have managed to achieve in this recast of the Cosmetics Directive .
I think that Parliament 's opinion on the question will also be very timely because the European Court of Justice has called for political guidance on the issue as well .
I must say , I feel I should thank many of the lobbyists , for they have proved to be a source of considerable expertise in our day-to-day work .
in this regard I would like to refer to the 2001 International Consultative Conference on School Education in Relation to Freedom of Religion or Belief , Tolerance and Non-Discrimination .
in this regard , I would like , once again , to call on the other two institutions , the Commission and the Council , to give this matter top priority in the next Financial Perspective .
could you provide us with those statistics ?
two things : firstly , that no one can be ever be sufficiently well-prepared for natural disasters or combinations of natural disasters and , secondly , that nuclear energy is never completely safe .
it should also be taken into consideration because all countries , including those which have reduced their sugar production , still have to pay prices for sugar which are higher than global market prices , although they are simply not allowed to produce it because the industry has decided against it .
the occasion was , of course , once again the so-called Galvin report , the internal report in which many of the practices of Members of the European Parliament are disclosed which , if OLAF were to use the same standards , would have led to large-scale investigations , including one of Herbert Bösch , who refers to himself as the father of OLAF .
I will finish my speech by thanking you in advance for your vote .
the joint debate on four reports relating to fisheries affairs is closed .
it is true that very high numbers of people are being executed .
having said that , I believe that it is true to say that numerous lives have fortunately been saved as a result of the operations coordinated by Frontex .
your work is critical in building a broad cross-party , cross-national consensus on essential pieces of legislation .
( FR ) The next item is the report by Michael Cashman , on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs , on the proposal for a Decision of the Council implementing Regulation ( EC ) n ° 168 / 2007 on the adoption of a multiannual framework for the Fundamental Rights Agency for 2007-2012 - C6-0322 / 2007 - .
unfortunately , there is no intention of this happening .
the euro is an example of what Europe can achieve when it seriously shares sovereignty .
I would also want to ask the Commission if it could confirm to us the fact that , after the European Union ratified the Transport Protocol of the Alpine Convention , the paragraphs in the mentioned protocol regarding the enforcement of taxes on the transport of goods will be taken into consideration in this model .
it is clear that the reform process must continue , for example , within the judiciary and with regard to combating conflicts of interest in public administration , and that the priorities recommended by the Commission must be dealt with , but I would nevertheless like to praise the government of Montenegro for the positive reforms that it has succeeded in implementing so far .
finally , consumer protection .
I am going home in the middle of the night to be there from early morning .
( applause )
it is already clear to us nowadays that among the dangers threatening the Earth , the biggest predicament by far is caused by greenhouse gases , primarily the emission of carbon dioxide .
clearly , the Joint EU-Africa Strategy must take account of the interests of both partners , and cooperation should not take place at the expense of either of them .
however , the real drawback of this report is the insistence by the conservatives in the European Parliament on mentioning the need to combat the Roma people 's so-called ' prolonged dependence ' on the social welfare system .
as time is obviously very short , I will not be able to discuss all these points , so I will focus on the issue of the Muslim minorities in Europe .
President of the Commission . - In answer to your comment , Mr Verhofstadt , let me tell you first of all that the Commission has already used its right of initiative .
however , the success of the strategy depends on taking steps to deal with these problematic developments .
it is essential that the Commission does not forget the fundamental and most important issues .
instead , the strategy states that the market needs rules if it is to meet its social and environmental responsibilities .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , here in the European Parliament , we have been debating the Services Directive for a long time , and we have expressed many concerns in our debates about how it should be implemented and how we can ensure that service providers have free movement within the European Union .
the Commission is ready to examine possible derogations for specific fisheries , where these are justified and well argued , and where they take into account the criteria set out in Amendment 11 .
( PL ) Mr President , twenty-five years after the nuclear accident in Chernobyl , we are becoming ever more aware of the tragic consequences of disasters in nuclear power stations , for human health and even life and for the environment as a whole .
the Irish Government listened to the concerns of the Irish people and , in partnership with their European colleagues , has drawn up a number of legal guarantees that will address the core concerns of Irish citizens .
indeed , it is none of our business who they decide to marry , but what we have to do is to safeguard citizens ' rights .
we are somewhat surprised that as far as the internalisation of transport policy costs is concerned you have only announced what amounts to no more than methodological studies .
in writing . - I decided to abstain on the final vote .
the Commission is obliged to monitor that Member States take measures aimed at establishing a work-life balance , reducing the pay gap between women and men , as well as providing women with access to management posts .
had it not been for the Shipyard , neither I nor many other Members from Central and Eastern Europe would be here today .
for EU foreign policy to be effective , all Member States must summon the necessary political will to support the European Union 's common interests .
the report is an exercise in propaganda by the political forces of the ' European one-way street ' to persuade the people of the alleged benefits of the EU .
financial aid to Madagascar has been suspended by the European Union , through the enforcement of the provisions of the Cotonou Agreement , as well as by the IMF and World Bank .
we are working on this in the Commission and will table some ideas very soon .
given the current situation , I feel duty bound to ask the following rhetorical question : is it our duty or not to support developing countries with initiatives and technologies in order to keep our planet clean ?
as part of the legislative package aimed at reinforcing the economic governance in the EU and the euro area , there has also been a vote on this draft opinion on the strengthening of the surveillance of budgetary positions and the surveillance and coordination of economic policies .
a high level of protection of human health is one of the European Union 's main objectives .
when the agreed quota of 4 850 tonnes per year is reached , each additional tonne will cost EUR 65 .
MRI scanning is an essential medical procedure for certain patients , and in my view it should have been made the subject of a derogation , instead of postponing application of the entire directive for four years !
it unjustly encourages distrust of Europe .
yet it does not stop there .
any free trade agreement must be based on the principle of reciprocity or mutual benefit , but the potential burden on European car manufacturers remains unclear and of great concern to us .
that , and not a new division of the European Union , must be our policy .
it is has been difficult to distinguish fact from fiction and to come to a decision on how to vote .
it is a success for Parliament to secure EUR 300 million for the milk fund in the face of all the arguments against this made by the Commission over the years and by the Council , especially given the difficult situation which dairy farmers find themselves in .
similarly , the rules contained in the text would enable consumer rights to be strengthened with regard to information and delivery .
thus , any mixing of the secret services ' and the police 's data will mean that the whole system will be brought before the German Federal Constitutional Court .
I think all colleagues are in tune with that .
the harsh reality of breast cancer is that every seven and a half minutes a woman dies of this disease .
I agree that there is a need to devote more resources to the development of new vaccines .
the evaluations have not found any obstacles to Romania and Bulgaria joining the Schengen area .
now it has reached USD 1.35 .
ICCAT adopted the recommendation aimed at implementing a 15-year recovery plan at its annual meeting in November 2006 held in Dubrovnik .
relations between the Commission and the Ombudsman have always been very good and very constructive .
but what we are also witnessing now is the arrest of thousands of lawyers , journalists , political party workers and human rights activists , including such distinguished persons as Ms Asma Jahangir , the Chair of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan , or Mr Aitzaz Ahsan , President of the Supreme Court Bar Association .
however , since I know that Commissioner Frattini has an interest in this matter , I will put the question to him : would it not be advisable to come up with a way of ensuring that these large international criminals who ruin the lives of thousands of families could also have their assets attached ?
instead of feeling affronted and threatening complaints , the Council should work with us to achieve what is best for the citizens of our continent .
on the other hand , all the EU Member States have signed the Council of Europe European Convention on Human Rights .
the industry has built better and safer cars in the past few years .
perhaps today , when , in many EU Member States , we cannot cope with the overproduction of milk , it would be worth thinking about how to reorganise beef production .
I also fully agree that the United States and China are the two lead players for whom we can see a much more active role .
third countries observe what we do , not what we say .
subject : respecting the specificity of sport
in order to survive and develop , mankind needs new , powerful sources of energy , and Europe needs balance and self-sufficiency in terms of its energy supplies .
yet , migratory flows affect Member States differently .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I want to express my gratitude to Mrs Batzeli , to the Committee on Culture and Education and to all Members for their support and amendments - and improvements - to the original text , aimed at strengthening it and stressing several aspects of a potential European Year of Creativity and Innovation .
this waste presents a considerable environmental challenge .
competition or the lack of it within the European Union has security implications as well .
the policy of isolating Hamas and thereby isolating Gaza has failed .
therefore , they must be given the opportunity to protect their own national economies more effectively against imported goods which are sold at dumping prices and which destroy local markets and local people 's livelihoods .
these fatty acids exist in natural and industrial form and are found in many food products .
the European Union should continue its role as peace-maker and mediator , a soft power helping to stabilise , reconstruct and reform , a supplier of assistance and humanitarian aid , as a normative power , value-projecting and promoting democracy , freedom and human rights , but at the same time we should complement the soft dimension with a harder one by developing the ESDP dimension and our military capabilities to be prepared for power projection also .
while the first regulation emphasises the performance and the modernisation of the European aeronautical system , the second highlights the demands for safety and ensures that this important development in the management of air traffic in Europe will not take place to the detriment of the safety of aeroplanes and their passengers .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , in the late 1990s the philosophy which prevailed in the European Union was that the integration capacity of the Union was to be measured according to the success of the internal market .
we have a plethora of instruments at our disposal .
the opposition , along with various non-governmental organisations and individual citizens , have complained about careless governance in different cases .
however , it is always important to uphold international law .
( SK ) During the 22 years of its existence , the programme for distributing food to the most deprived people in the Community has contributed towards implementing two main aims of the common agricultural policy .
yes , we must bring up the matter of the Slovak language law .
however , recently in Azerbaijan , the right to freedom of expression and freedom of association has increasingly come under threat and media activities are restricted .
this makes it very difficult for Parliament to approve any agreement that ultimately transpires .
it is about a four-way test of our partnership with the municipalities , with the EIB and KfW , with the subject of energy efficiency at a local level , and with the proof that at a European level , this is the right area for more budget funding .
does the Commission take part in a consultative capacity in the process of adjustment and does it carry out an assessment of the Member States ' new legislative measures ?
we also need a treaty that is as accessible and understandable as possible , with a consolidated text that should be made available as soon as possible after the conclusion of the IGC .
( HU ) Mr President , last week the National Council of the Slovak Republic passed a resolution affirming the inviolability of the Beneš Decrees .
moreover , how categorically will the Commission exhort a national parliament - not necessarily the Bulgarian parliament - to resolve the issue of legislative gaps and to reinstate any independent control bodies it has closed down ?
in that context the High Representative / EU Special Representative is confident that progress can be achieved by the end of this month .
the most important issue in policy terms in the Council will be Copenhagen .
I hope we arrive unscathed : financially , economically , ecologically , demographically , even in terms of energy , migration and security , and not forgetting globalisation , the food problem , the fight to preserve our social model - in all these fields we are in the throes of transition .
- Madam President , as this is the end of the work by the Temporary Committee on Climate Change , I want to thank , firstly , Karl-Heinz Florenz for his work , but also - from my own group , the Socialist Group - Riitta Myller , Dorette Corbey and our Chair , Guido Sacconi .
it cannot be said - not by a long chalk - that equal opportunities exist in access to careers or day-to-day working life .
we cannot do any more .
if we try to eliminate inequalities of this type through regulation , then we are arrogantly overlooking cultural diversity and interfering with the natural development of society , and worst of all , we are putting equality above the freedom of choice .
that is why I agree with the rapporteur on the need to focus on reversibility , in the hope that research will soon result in the definitive transmutation of spent fuel and radioactive waste so that it can be used for other purposes .
in some countries , the participation of women in the labour market is as low as 40 % , and this is shameful .
that is how it should be , because it is the basis of our European Rhineland model .
( RO ) Afghanistan remains the greatest challenge for the international community due to its terrorist activity , the increase in drug production and the number of violent acts .
with the new powers being granted to ESMA , the international - European , let us say - supervision that you are calling for will be very much a reality .
a reaffirmation at this point that much progress has been made in the construction of a Single Market in the European Union is to state the obvious , yet nevertheless it is also important to reiterate , obvious though it may be , that there is still a long way to go .
I would urge the European Commission to keep an eye on this , because it has sometimes gone wrong in the past .
in the European Union , more than six million women aged 25 to 49 state that they are forced to be unemployed or work part time due to their family responsibilities .
since these two areas fall within the sovereignty of states , most of the institutional and financial requirements of the Mitchell report are not acceptable .
author . - Mr President , I know this is the last vote .
the mixture created by a superficial reproduction of ideas taken from culture leads to impoverishment .
in its resolution , which we will be voting on tomorrow , the European Parliament has put together a series of proposals and suggestions for this summit .
I firmly believe that no organisation , not even one that represents 80 % of employees in the European rail sector , has the right to a monopoly and I therefore call on all parties , including the European Commission , to clear the way for further negotiations .
all the aforementioned changes involve increasing the liquidity of beneficiaries . they deserve wholehearted support and should be implemented as soon as possible .
I do not know how good an idea this is , because energy still does not fall within the mandate of the Community - it is strictly a national matter .
it is a reality that poor fiscal governance is detrimental to the satisfactory economic performance of the Member States .
I would also encourage the Commission to look at the potato industry in Northern Ireland .
how is circumvention of useful national legislation to be prevented ?
that is the point we need to put on the record .
their access to the European Parliament must be strictly limited to meetings granted to them by parliamentarians and political groups .
there are several disputable facts within the report and explanatory statement which may lead to a false understanding of H1N1 , its impact on European societies and government response plans .
I believe that it is vital to strike a balance between two requirements : for the Palestinians , a free and independent state ; for the Israelis , the security of living in their own territory , free from attacks and threats .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I think that in a Europe that every day is suffering from ever greater inflation and from galloping prices due in large part to the cost of energy , talking about a European charter of consumer rights is our clear duty and I therefore endorse the report and thank both my fellow Member and , of course , the Commission .
I believe that we must not make young women choose between a home life and a career .
now , perhaps people do not understand the impact of that , but it means that our producers will not and cannot compete with imported food products and products that are produced to very , very different standards .
this means that it will not be possible to grant third-country nationals rights of free movement and establishment within the EU as soon as their status is recognised .
our high-level group is currently working on solutions to these issues .
so , if these principles guide your presidency , we shall be alongside you all the way .
and so it is that many Members here are female . some are rather beautiful !
ladies and gentlemen , the report also refers to certain bilateral matters in the sphere of justice and internal affairs , including the problem of visas .
it does not have to be done orally in a plenary session .
however , this is not convincing enough for us , because we think that the preliminary draft budget corresponds better to the actual absorption capacity , notably in Member States .
Conservative MEPs did however vote in favour of the one amendment , originally tabled by Mr Kirkhope , that had been approved by the Constitutional Affairs Committee .
the current revision of the 2006 Partnership Agreement in the fisheries sector as part of the process of extending it has also resulted in the basic principles of a sustainable fisheries policy and the responsible use of fishery resources in the Comoros fishing zone being included in the agreement .
we wish to voice our complete solidarity with the Palestinian people here , and stand up for their right to build a free , independent and sovereign state .
what you have presented us with , Mr Oettinger , is basically a strategy which will help to play down the risks involved in the European nuclear power programme as it currently stands .
during the debate , certain problem areas became apparent , such as how to maintain the European dimension of the initiative , transparency , the method for collecting signatures , and other procedural issues .
I do agree with Mr Verheugen that the EU policy should be one of cooperation , not dictatorship .
we cannot afford a second failure as a result of industry difficulties .
that means , firstly , clear criteria for fiscal policy , and deadlines and guarantees for taxpayers .
I agree .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
I also emphasised that human rights are universal .
the Ukrainian aspirations to EU and NATO membership are also well documented .
finally , the European Council itself will also address the topic again at the last European Council meeting of 2011 .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , the Commission is fully aware of the outgoing Brazilian President 's recent decision to refuse extradition of an Italian citizen , Mr Battisti , sentenced in absentia to a life sentence and several other terms of prison by the Italian court .
that really is unacceptable , in my view .
you have three big tasks .
safe , effective , quality treatment should therefore become accessible to all European citizens via cooperation mechanisms between Member States .
in some cases it was not legally feasible to do so , and we identified where that was the case very quickly .
some of you mentioned that it is unclear what role I am returning to .
in our last term of office , we worked hard on the reform of the general food law .
faits accomplis created by the use of force are not acceptable and can never be acceptable .
Vice-President of the Commission . - The current state of play is that , following the rejection by Parliament , the Commission decided on 30 June 2010 to withdraw the proposal .
from your speech , I understand that you intend to present the measures , which you are going to develop in the Commission in connection with the report from Mr Poul Nyrup Rasmussen , at the spring meeting .
it is not actually our job to determine family law , which is one of the competences of the Member States .
this was a balanced proposal that took the interests of all parties into account , involving health professionals and protecting the public from advertising about medicinal products subject to medical prescription , which quite rightly remains banned .
we therefore need to do much more capacity building , innovate in capacity building and innovate in administration for research , in order to manage research and help businesses to get to work on this very difficult and complex undertaking for the future .
experience shows that the CE conformity marking does not provide sufficient certainty that the product concerned is in fact safe .
the European Union and the United States have a strategic role to play in the recovery process .
Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou could have mentioned this when she spoke a moment ago .
in writing . - ( FR ) Following the legislative elections in Palestine in February 2006 I was one of the first to say , both from Jerusalem and in Parliament , that we should not be applying sanctions against the Palestinian Government because it would be the people who would suffer .
however , I did not wish to engage in polemics ; that was just a little quip , and let us hope that Mr Nattrass is listening in his office .
in short , an energy mix does not mean sifting out particular sources of energy but taking all sources into consideration .
it can cost many lives , and so the Commission is determined to act .
I hope that , in future , we will find solutions and measures which will strengthen gender equality and equal opportunities for women in the family and society .
that is understandable .
Member States with more favourable conditions in place should maintain these , or introduce them if they wish to do so .
I might not agree 100 % on everything Parliament has voted , but what Parliament has done today is put the single market for telecoms on the agenda .
let me just say that conditions are discussed with governments and with all Member States within the Council , so they are not imposed unilaterally .
concerning Europol first of all , it would be difficult to stop Europol from becoming an agency .
it is important , therefore , to enter into the dialogue with the assumption that the vast majority of the Muslim communities who live in our society want nothing to do with what is a perverse interpretation of their faith , and that we invest a great deal in that broad dialogue of my group , this year too , the year of cultural dialogue .
on the eve of the European elections , concluding this difficult task means sending out a strong message from the institutions to all European citizens .
it is affecting private pilots like myself .
the national parliaments and the European Parliament have not had a single opportunity for democratic scrutiny of the substance or scope of the negotiations , as the negotiating parties have agreed on a confidentiality clause .
that is why we have mainly limited ourselves to those amendments which are directly related to the entry into force of the new treaty .
( DE ) Madam President , a difficult compromise has been reached and I am of the opinion that Mr Schwab has produced a masterpiece here , so from now on , I will be referring to him as Grand Master Schwab .
for that reason , and in view of the need to ensure maximum air traffic safety , maximum effectiveness and minimum flight delays , we support the creation of functional blocks and , consequently , the Single European Sky .
the reform under discussion is therefore absolutely necessary .
in writing . - ( SV ) In Sweden , we usually tell our children that fruit is nature 's own sweets .
the European Union already has a European security and defence policy , which already provides a framework for such discussions within the Council as well .
we must give our unconditional support to Ukraine 's focus on the West , because we have a lot to lose .
this Convention has the potential to empower millions of disabled people in the EU .
longer term , however , only a comprehensive EU policy that punishes the people smugglers , provides legal routes in and creates hope where there is despair can counter prevailing trends .
furthermore , this is the role that I envisage , with you , for the European legislator .
in my own country , a great lady by the name of Adi Roche and her organisation have given tremendous support and will do so long into the future , because the effects of Chernobyl will still be felt .
naturally , action is also being taken on nanomaterials .
these weaknesses in budgetary planning do not therefore give us the guarantee of specific value for these four agencies .
in our opinion , therefore , this resolution is well-timed , articulate and comprehensive , and identifies strategies that can address this outright global health emergency , in recognition of the fact that access to an adequate level of healthcare is a fundamental human right .
first : solidarity among the Member States , which would rule out unilateral decisions that affect everyone as a result of the open borders , as in the case of the decision by the Spanish government .
as Foreign Minister Rupel explained , the EU Foreign Ministers on Monday responded to developments in a united way .
you will never convince anyone to have more confidence in our Union if it does not work .
we co-decide on almost all major legislation in the EU , and that is a good thing , because we represent the people of the EU .
she complimented us on our speed , but the Commission has also shown that it is able to respond relatively quickly to developments within the market , which is now enduring a period of dwindling cereal supplies in the EU .
I recall the statement by my colleague , Ms Ferrero-Waldner , at the debate last month that both the Interim Trade Agreement ( Article 1 ) and the PCA ( Article 2 ) contain human rights clauses which constitute an essential element of those agreements .
unfortunately , our request is not reflected into the current form of the report .
what is the situation with Basel III in the US ?
in writing . - ( PL ) High quality global accounting standards are enormously important for stability in financial markets .
the new Ecolabel will take on a new guise in terms of its look and content .
it is important for the EU Strategy for the Danube Region to be adopted during the European Council summit in June so that its implementation can be launched as soon as possible .
the effect of an EOPA must apply only to the freezing of bank accounts and the temporary freezing of bank deposits , and it should not grant creditors any form of ownership rights to the assets of the debtor .
according to estimates , this could lead to savings of about EUR 30 billion , and the greatest benefit would go to small and medium-sized enterprises .
unfortunately , the European Union often lacks the capacity to anticipate issues ( due above all to the time-consuming procedures that are sometimes required to draft common positions ) , and to show leadership in human rights initiatives .
one very important point in the report is that the European Commission often makes concessions in trade matters in order to obtain better access to markets in third countries for industrial products and services .
they were suffering financially and would have liked to have seen a quicker response .
however , we do need to draw the Members ' attention to the report by Mrs Estrela who , of course , is well disposed to protect women but who has , perhaps , missed the point , because here in Parliament we consider that we are minor gods and we think that , with our decisions , we can make our dreams come true .
I have voted against the draft report .
I am grateful that the Council was flexible , and the European Parliament not only now ...
however , some points in the proposal go too far .
in writing . - ( SV ) We have chosen to vote against the report as we do not consider it to be balanced and , among other things , it fails to address important problems in relation to nuclear energy .
one striking thing is the fact that today 's young Europeans have never experienced the type of effective prevention campaigns that were run in the 1980s .
I hope that , as soon as possible , it will have available all the legal , human and material resources it needs to achieve its objectives and realise its full potential , under the Treaty of Lisbon .
particular attention must be paid to migration .
it should be emphasised , however , that similarly formulated objectives also appeared in the Decade of Roma Inclusion programme .
rapporteur . - Madam President , I should like to thank my colleagues for their comments and to make just a couple of points .
the principle of a leaner but keener EU implies that the EU should only deal with questions for which there is authority in the founding Treaty and , where demarcation problems arise , proportionality , effectiveness and relevance should be taken into account .
turning to sports betting , we have heard many views on this .
despite the mechanism 's intergovernmental nature , I believe that it is positive to strengthen the Union method , along with the role of the European institutions in the EU 's economic governance , specifically that of the Commission and the European Parliament .
it will also be noted that the EU and Turkey have resumed talks on migration .
( EL ) Mr President , I believe that , as the European Parliament and as the European Union , we must make the necessary changes so that the coup in Honduras is as short as possible , President Zelaya returns to his country and the circle of military coups in Latin and Central America is finally closed .
it is therefore important that relations be established with the Interim Council .
on that day , the people of Venezuela will have the opportunity to exercise their democratic right of decision on the proposed changes that would shape important aspects of the political , institutional , economic and social life of that country .
according to my fact-finding mission , this story is false : the police have no record of this ; there is no investigation concerning this case .
thus , the next few weeks will be crucial and a moratorium is truly a fundamental stage in the international community 's repudiation of a barbaric practice that substitutes vengeance for justice .
this has been controversial and discussed this morning in the enlarged Bureau .
clearly , people cannot change their nature : those who do not like Europe say exaggerated things and that - let me say with all due respect to the Member concerned - is exaggerated ; it is therefore totally meaningless .
here in the European Parliament , we need to take a strong new joint initiative against xenophobia and racism in crisis-ridden Europe .
it is because governments have a feeling that , if everything was said clearly , and if the citizens of EU Member States knew the consequences , if they knew the reasons why we want to make such important decisions , the uncertainty of those reasons and the uncertainty of the consequences of our actions , they would be opposed to it all .
the question we must ask ourselves is as follows : would we approve the accounts of a sports club , a trade union or a political party where 11 % of the expenditure in a central area had been paid out in contravention of the rules ?
in this respect , I believe that the Spanish Presidency should involve itself in the following matters : it should not hold the Morocco Summit until Morocco commits to complying with the resolutions made regarding the Sahara by the United Nations , a body that you have invoked on other occasions .
finally , Amendment 8 could be accepted as long as it is understood that the Commission report should be delayed until all information is available on the utilisation of the derogations provided for in the regulation .
the internal failings in Ukraine are mirrored by failings in the European strategy .
they are also excluded from grants and any type of assistance for higher education , including professional training .
however , this is indirectly addressed by smart metering .
I welcome the fact that the programme of the Spanish Presidency lists ensuring equal opportunities for women and men as a priority regarding the European labour market , along with agricultural development and relations with third countries .
secondly , that over and above the quantitative issue there is also the political issue , with the alternative proposal deleting every reference to the role and responsibility of the large commercial retail and wholesale chains ;
I think that at that moment all citizens will be able to understand and see , transparently , who has made a mistake , who has acted correctly and who has not acted when they should have done .
the citizens of Ukraine should not suffer just because their politicians have failed .
with regard to the package , I am concerned that auctioning is being questioned .
well , five hours is not normal .
and I am satisfied in this context that we do need a regulation - rather than a directive - but that the regulation proposed is the minimum required to achieve the desired objectives and does not go beyond that .
we must not lag behind in this regard .
my fears are aroused by possible restrictions on the function of the rotating presidency held by successive Member States . this leadership role is something Member States prepare for and discharge with great determination .
how , then , are we to account for the fact that Georgian villages located in the region of South Ossetia and its vicinity are constantly being subjected to brutal ethnic cleansing ? how are we to account for the fact that the two hundred observers dispatched by the Union are being denied access to the scenes of conflict ?
the forthcoming elections in our country look as if they are going to be the most rigged and underhand elections in Bulgaria 's recent history .
elections take place in a deplorable and unfair manner .
the Bologna Process and student mobility (
I hope it will not prove necessary , but if it does Europe must prove willing to assist nations , regions and committee hit by earthquakes .
the soldiers ' bodies were identified through DNA a few weeks ago after they were killed 35 years ago and thrown down a well in the occupied northern part of the island .
it has not only been bailed out by other Member States with a rescue package amounting to billions of euro , but is also the front-runner when it comes to subsidy fraud .
I hope that the European institutions will adopt a clear stance condemning what has happened as soon as possible , and that they will decide on diplomatic measures to be undertaken regarding Iran .
however , we must start to realise that the Black Sea region is slowly becoming pivotal from the European point of view . it is there that the solution to our energy problems is to be found .
one of the reasons for this was the number of reports which had appeared on the negative consequences of spraying the existing crops using planes and the desperate situation of the Afghan people .
obviously , Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , Mr El Khadraoui , I wish to let you know I am ready and willing to meet the political objectives of both Parliament and the Council , and that I am extremely pleased with European unity on this issue , with the union of Europeans .
this is so far from being in line with EU aspirations to have weight in the world that it causes one almost to despair and exposes the Council as a whole to ridicule .
finally , I will express my full support for the ' Made in ' regulation , as I believe that this is essential for ensuring that consumers have adequate information about the composition and origin of the product they are buying .
we fear that many more such sentences , involving up to 40 people who now stand accused , will follow in months to come .
perhaps the things to avoid can be just as important as the things to do .
ceterum censeo , France has decided to sell a Mistral class warship to Russia ; we believe that She will sincerely regret that action .
Mr Vice-President of the Commission , I obviously support the idea of the Blue Card and also the creation of a European immigration portal providing information , on a large scale , on the conditions and options for legal migration in the European Union .
( HU ) Thank you , Mr President .
later on , we drew attention to the necessity of starting these timely negotiations on a number of occasions .
it might be possible by plane ( let us not , at this juncture , discuss the possible traumas that the child - a six-year-old boy or girl - might experience on a plane ) , as the child could be accompanied onto the plane , met at the other end and chaperoned to one of his or her parents , for example , or to someone else .
in the European semester , Parliament wants to focus on a series of discussions , which are currently unfocused and do not fit with public opinion .
I would like to thank the rapporteur for this especially .
the protection of human life and respect for international law are embodiments of such principles , and they must therefore be our benchmarks .
this is a result of provocation and nationalist pressure .
outcome of the Climate Change Conference in Cancún ( debate )
the Commission should investigate whether it might not be possible to reduce the number , and I do have one or two Directives in mind .
in this context we are even considering that if there is sufficient interest from the European Parliament then we could postpone the June Council by a week in order to extend our 10 days of debate into 17 days .
would you first of all accept that this is not just a German debate and that there are other elements to this discussion ?
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EC-Canada Agreement on cooperation in the fields of higher education , training and youth ( vote )
thirdly , you need to continue to develop Europe on the basis of its previous successes , not on the basis of cries of doom and renunciation scenarios , and make Europe an equal partner with the US and China , and , fourthly , you need not only to ask questions about the future , you also need to answer them together with Parliament .
it is there that communication routes are located which are important to our economy . it is there that sources of instability , too , are to be found , which may , for us , represent a significant danger .
a ' child-friendly ' common label is needed to help parents and children recognise safe sites .
in Lebanon , I reiterated our readiness in principle to deploy an EU election observation mission , and I have already decided that an exploratory mission should go there immediately .
interoperability with other transport systems , such as public transport , would be much more important than the elaborate game of cat-and-mouse that industry is trying to play with us .
if we act in a spirit of cooperation with our institutions , if we concentrate on the results the citizens expect from us , if we find the best atmosphere for this dialogue , I believe that it will be possible to resolve this problem . it is a serious problem , but it is a problem that can be resolved .
patients will not have enough money to cover the difference if prices are double or triple the amount in their home country .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , would you allow me to use a bit more than the three minutes ' speaking time allocated to me , because on this important and serious issue I think three minutes would not actually be sufficient .
I would also like to congratulate the Slovene Presidency of the European Council for the latter 's agreement with Parliament .
I cannot , therefore , understand some of the criticism that has been expressed .
Europe must demonstrate that it stands squarely behind democracy and not merely supports stability in the region .
it seems to me that Mr Piebalgs was implying that he favoured something similar .
of course , we are all repeatedly confronted at the moment with the question of whether we are actually doing enough in our neighbouring countries to help bring about human and civil rights and freedom .
on the issue of regional stability , raised by Mr Menéndez del Valle and Mr Berman among others , the European Union has requested that the situation in Burma should be included on the summit agenda .
on that basis , the energy package contributes greatly to the EU Member States ' security of energy supply .
that is what I usually call ' secular ethics ' and it is the basis of our happy life , our inner peace .
I am pleased to hear that nuclear energy is being treated on the same level as other energy sources .
the question is , are they all travelling in the right direction ?
( NL ) Mr President , most of the attention has been focused on the Russian military intervention in Georgia .
( applause )
I therefore voted in favour of this motion for a resolution .
I saw him working with members of national parliaments and I am , therefore , happy about that .
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however , Mr Vondra , the Member States must also cooperate and I think that with the Pact on Immigration and Asylum and the dynamism of your Presidency , together we will be able to do a good job .
relations between the EU and Israel can only be upgraded if human rights and international humanitarian law are respected , the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories are brought to an end and an all-out effort is made for a comprehensive peace deal and for the complete implementation of the EC-PLO interim association agreement .
the matters we focus on in the report include support to the developing countries in diversifying their economies , so that they can break free from a situation in which they only export one or two raw materials and move towards more advanced production patterns involving more highly processed products .
I also congratulate him on uniting the Centre Right and breaking the Social-Democrat dominance , and wish him and his Government well .
meanwhile , with regard to health , we would like to understand what actually constitutes an exposure overdose , particularly for frequent flyers , and on this point we need to be certain that the information is reliable , because for many years we have been forced to leave liquids behind , and now we discover that it was probably an excessive precaution and that the information and the assessments were probably unfounded .
whites are allowed in , brown-skinned people are not !
this is why I am pleased that at least the European Parliament , speaking on behalf of the citizens who sent us here , has an appropriate reaction and the resolution we will vote on today appropriately addresses it .
it should , however , be remembered that the majority of the services in question can already benefit from a reduced rate , if only in a limited number of Member States and for a limited period .
in this way humanitarian activities , albeit limited , will still be possible while sanctions remain in force .
( GA ) Mr President , I welcome these proposals and I think they will grow and develop the tourism industry , something which is much needed these days .
ladies and gentlemen , I am delighted to inform you that a delegation from the Japanese Parliament has arrived in the official gallery .
I therefore welcome the adoption of this report , which represents a major step forward in consumer protection .
in addition , the energy package also creates better conditions for the kind of investment that is absolutely vital for the future of Europe 's energy supply .
indeed , the largest voluntary association in Ireland is the Gaelic Athletic Association .
this instrument will be essential for the development of trade within the Community and for strengthening the internal market .
it says that the Court of Auditors has criticised the Commission and the Member States when , in fact , the opposite is true .
these countries are Estonia , Hungary , Romania , Latvia and Lithuania .
there is one thing that we can say , and that is that , where liberalisation and privatisation takes place , the numbers of accidents and incidents increase .
the EU expects its partners to cooperate with it in a reliable and honest manner .
I wish to end by saying that the European Parliament will be a permanent partner in the process of developing and implementing the EU Strategy for the Danube Region .
we are prepared to make every effort necessary to this end .
for us , the goal would be for the Danube to be of drinking water quality from its source to its end .
we have the incentives to invest in those new cars that Ms Harms and others want .
deputising for the author . - I should like to thank the President-in-Office for his response .
the second one is energy security itself .
in my view , there will be no multiannual budgets from 2014 onward so long as those declarations from Member States are not given .
like Parliament , the Council is keen to accept its responsibility for guaranteeing the greatest possible transparency when it comes to taxpayers ' money , and these issues become even more relevant , of course , with the new treaty , which will enter into force in just one week 's time .
we had nothing , though .
I would like to make my commitment to a high level of employment and social cohesion through a number of actions that I have discussed with some of you .
we have made progress , if we look at Europe at the beginning of the year and we look at Europe at the end of this year , we will see that we have made progress , and we have made progress too in relation to the programme jointly defined by the three Presidencies , and that helped .
we have tackled other problems , and we have tried to tackle other problems like global warming at that level .
Madam President , the position is exactly as colleagues have pointed out .
the competent committee of the Parliament recommended postponement of the discharge of the Council , and discharge was granted on a later date .
where are the limitations , and where are the limits of independence and accountability in such a set-up ?
( DE ) Madam President , I am very pleased that the Maguwu case has been raised today , as it is only the tip of the iceberg , and as we so beautifully put it : the rot starts at the top .
I wish to advise the negotiators to take the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms along in book form , place these fundamental rights beside them on the table when they are about to start negotiating , and make regular reference to them .
Europe will have no social cash fund to help those who are disadvantaged , unless the economy improves .
she has been held for four months . now , following a trial , this distinguished human rights defender and dedicated co-worker of Nobel Laureate , Shirin Ebadi , has been sentenced to 11 years ' imprisonment followed by a 20-year ban on practising law and leaving Iran .
two words on the report by Mr van Nistelrooij on the Green Paper , to highlight the good work he has done and to point out that the rapporteur rightly stresses the need for public consultation , so that we can find a commonly acceptable definition of territorial cohesion , and the need to approach areas with special characteristics in such a way that territorial cohesion also covers these areas in the best possible way .
scientific studies suggest that this figure could double every 20 years .
first , there are too many controlling agencies in individual Member States at the moment and they also still visit on different days .
therefore , both Member States and the European Commission have a great responsibility .
whether that represented the majority of Iranians or not is very difficult to judge from the outside , but that it was significant is testified not least by the force of the crackdown that we saw after 12 June .
the measures proposed in the resolution adopted are a step in the right direction , starting from the desired closure of airspace over Libya , namely , the creation of a no-fly zone to prevent the regime from attacking the civilian population from the sky .
at the end of 2008 , Eurostat said that , even after welfare contributions , around 85 million people would be at risk of poverty , but the situation will be all the worse with further neoliberal EU policies and the so-called austerity measures that are being taken by several Member States .
we are not claiming that this or that is the best option .
economic governance also requires rigorous monitoring of the budgetary and structural policies of the Union 's Member States .
ladies and gentlemen , as you can see , we , the Commission , through your legislation , produce a great deal of regulations .
the state would never bring before a parliament or the European Parliament in one measure some of the extreme things the state or the European Union wants to do , so it is done incrementally .
that is what I call negotiation .
it would appear , however , that some people need to hear this message again .
this freedom would now be under serious threat , which cannot and must not happen .
this would constitute a clear message , and I hope that the Commission will also do what it can to back this decision .
now , we have to accept more responsibility and use the opportunities presented by the treaty .
but regardless of those who question the efficacy of the PEACE programme and indicate their disapproval of EU funding , there is no doubt that the PEACE funds acted as a catalyst and , as I said earlier , through voluntary effort and voluntary time achieved value for money .
I urge this House to oppose this proposal .
the next item is Question Time ( B6-0138 / 2007 ) .
the Commission was in touch with the UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordination , Baroness Amos .
the aim of the returns directive is to bring in basic common standards on how to treat illegal immigrants .
thus , Europe is an important region for tourism , and therefore it is , of course , vital to know why these people travel to Europe .
nevertheless , the Commission , in cooperation with the Member States , will examine the possibilities of how to further improve tax recovery assistance and address the eventual problems .
the EU needs to devise a European strategy for modernising its energy grid , boosting energy efficiency and diversifying its energy supply sources .
there needs to be better implementation of existing laws , and better understanding of the problems in their implementation , before we go down the road of yet more EU Directives .
there is no need for new supplementary binding targets .
this proposal is a major step forward towards the establishment of a common European defence market , which , by itself , is an important contribution to the Union 's security and defence policy .
on behalf of the EFD Group . - Mr President , much has been said and I would like to add a different note to this meeting .
when later on , in September 2007 , the Commission tabled a bundle of proposals which would steer the projects towards 100 % funding from the public sector , amongst the proposals was a regulation on implementation .
that is a criminal offence , and we really have to ensure that we do not become too close to those who practise these types of evasions .
I fully concur with the Committee on Fisheries to recommend that , in the field of scientific marine research , priority be given not only to research to gain knowledge about the state of fish stocks but also to the commercial , economic and social aspects that determine fisheries management , since all these aspects are of crucial importance .
on this issue , I believe that in the coming year , we must have a transparent public debate within the Union and within the Member States concerned .
the European Union is the world 's largest provider of humanitarian and development aid .
otherwise I think we will not be able to produce any results .
Mr President , the Horn of Africa is currently a real powder keg , not only due to the situation of total instability in Somalia and Sudan , but also in the three countries that Mr Kaczmarek , Mr Hutchinson and I had the pleasure of visiting .
this is likewise useful for exchanging good practices and for improving the quality and effectiveness of cohesion fund management .
realistically , it is impossible to prove this within a family where there is also an exceptional right to remain silent .
this unity of Member States should also be seen in the Union 's future actions : - a common energy policy based on the creation of new transportation routes to use different sources than the present ones , the development of a set of Black Sea policies to increase the geostrategic and security importance of the region , as well as the active involvement and promotion of new mechanisms for solving the frozen conflicts in the region .
( PL ) Madam Commissioner , you are well known as someone who is always fighting to reduce production costs in agriculture .
however , because each disease is rare , it is impossible for each Member State to have the expertise needed to diagnose it and treat the patients .
such fear can spread throughout Russia .
thank you very much .
earlier this year , in the last Parliament , we adopted a Regulation concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market .
the horrendous financial crisis in Greece and the financial imbalance in other Member States have highlighted the need for politically directed European economic governance .
finally , it will be important to monitor the work carried out by the European Anti-Fraud Office ( OLAF ) over the year , and not only in the debate on the annual report .
this is a major push factor .
when your time comes , I will ask you to take the floor .
first , because such an increase would distort fishing operations towards more fuel-intensive technologies with greater negative impact on the marine environment .
we do indeed need transparency , and have to know what is in compound feed - there is no doubt about that .
Parliament also finds the earmarking important .
a minimum wage is certainly a good idea , but it should be provided within a meaningful overall package of tax relief for workers and also for Europe 's small and medium-sized enterprises .
the euro crisis which we have just been through proves to us just how relevant this position still is .
it is in the common defence interest of Europe and it is in the common interest of Europe to have more competition .
toughening up EU legislation would not address these weaknesses .
( PL ) Mr President , Commissioner , in rising to speak in the debate on poultry imports into the EU market , I have three matters to bring to your attention .
indeed , on the face of it , the idea of European law being subject to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights is quite attractive .
even the UN , in the country , does not know how much Russia has increased its peacekeeping forces .
this is a purely humanitarian issue and does not diminish in value however many times we repeat it .
I can see that even the top jurists here in plenary , or those who see themselves as such , are unaware that the rapporteur is entitled to make a two-minute statement when a report has not been discussed in plenary .
one result of this transparency is that this Parliament has resolved to remove Belarus from the list of countries in which the European Investment Act can act without first having another debate here in this House .
the full potential of innovative and environmentally sustainable propulsion technologies - fuel cells , hybrid , electrical , solar power - needs to be fully explored and put into operation .
much has been done to aid integration , as well as to help newcomers benefit from the same rights as citizens of their host countries .
if we want to help at international level to ensure that this issue is kept on the agenda - as Stavros Dimas is successfully doing for the Commission - as the European Union , as the Parliament , we must state what our concept is ; in other words , we need to state what our visiting card is on this issue .
one of the priorities in this area is the route across the Pyrenees between France and Spain , which specifically concerns the European constituency of the South West .
men are never asked this question and therefore in this debate we are all talking about out childcare responsibilities .
ladies and gentlemen , Moscow is a key player on the international stage .
this would have a motivating effect on companies while at the same time giving job seekers new perspectives and clarity .
human dignity in the European Union is non-negotiable .
our group has three amendments , of whose approval our vote depends , namely the elimination of recital Ee , whose content is identical to that of recital I , explaining the concept of a vulnerable area or zone by listing them , as well as eliminating paragraph 17 .
I would like to express my fundamental confidence in the system of public supervision .
lastly , I hope , as stated in the opinion of the Committee on Regional Development , that the Commission submits an assessment of the effects of the temporary measures by the end of 2011 and gives Parliament an opportunity to revise the legislation if necessary .
( the sitting was suspended at 13.10 and resumed at 15.00 )
the Commissioner said she would respond to the outcome of Bali in the preliminary draft budget , along the lines of formulating a new Asia strategy .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - Madam President , the President of the European Central Bank , Jean-Claude Trichet , recently said that , when the market stabilises , we will not return to business as usual , but instead we will experience a new normality .
rapporteur . - ( NL ) Madam President , one could talk at length about the European maritime transport policy .
in our view , Nabucco is a high priority project , because it would strengthen our independence in terms of energy , particularly with regard to Russia , although I agree with Mr Kasoulides when he said that there are still a lot of questions that need to be answered in this regard .
I should like to point out that the conditions in which old pesticides are stored in many countries are such that the products represent a danger to the environment and to human beings .
as was previously mentioned , we must adhere to the principle of Community preference , whereby European Union citizens are given preference over non-European Union citizens .
furthermore , it is important to know that the agreement on mutual legal assistance is not an adequate basis for requests to obtain data for the purposes of the TFTP .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , I am from Martinique and have always lived in the Caribbean .
since Euro 3 vehicles are less polluting than the other most polluting vehicles in the Euro emission categories , the double charge system will apply to them only from a later date , while it will already be applicable to the other categories from the effective date of the directive .
in writing . - I welcome the report on the broad economic policy guidelines for 2008-2010 .
at the moment , the European Union is playing with the future of many farmers and stockbreeders .
it is crucial that the controls carried out are rigorous .
Mr President , we cannot make the innocent suffer for the guilty and , therefore , I believe we need to reconsider a swift return to the negotiating table once the conflict is resolved .
ultimately , it is up to the institutions to politically support the Single Market and give it the necessary momentum and leadership , which is sadly lacking at times .
do you not believe that stopping the final stage of a terrorist attack is not in itself a fantastic result for Europe ?
the implementation of undue restrictions will not therefore prevent the criminal fraternity from possessing firearms and will unduly restrict the rights of citizens , including their right to self-defence .
if anything , we should be more committed to education and research , innovation , sustainability and a strong European market .
I also agree that African states have an important role to play in improving conditions there .
the fact that the practical reality can be quite different is something that a few Members of this House can testify .
Mr President , Commissioner , honourable Members , we are ready to cooperate fully with Parliament and the Commission in order to achieve success .
however , stimulating investment in human resources and supporting the development of a knowledge-based , creative society are essential for ensuring balance between increasing competitiveness and cohesion , and encouraging the development of the Western Balkans .
given that nine Member States , including Luxembourg , previously had no maximum limit on detention , this is a major step forward .
prices of raw materials , not only oil but also other raw materials , are increasing , and all this is having a negative impact on growth , although the growth of the global economy is still substantial .
( NL ) The complex and dangerous situation in Somalia and its impact on stability in the region is a source of great concern to all of us .
in an ageing society , where the demand for social care is increasing and the number of people providing the care is decreasing , more realistic leave such as maternity leave is needed .
we have been listening to her comments on other issues and I think they are very interrelated .
for it may happen that an aeroplane will not be used by an air carrier which is on the blacklist , but it will be used , for example , by another company under different livery which charters individual aircraft .
there is no practical reason whatsoever why committee meetings here in Strasbourg need to clash with plenary activities .
in the given situation , the European Parliament should remain in the position of a body demanding compliance with the adopted rules of the EU Member States in such a way as to avoid interfering with the competitive environment while accepting the principle of subsidiarity .
at the same time , efforts are being made at developing the Eastern Partnership , which aims to activate EU relations with Belarus , Ukraine , Moldova , Georgia , Azerbaijan and Armenia .
however , I would like to draw your attention - in particular the Commissioner 's attention - to Article 16 .
the next item is voting time .
EU action can be valuable in creating pan-European networks of expertise which permit exchange of best practice in fields such as e-health , nanotechnology , rare disease treatments or centres of excellence .
maternal death is the main cause of women 's mortality in many countries with a fragile situation .
I call upon all EU institutions to avoid further delay in deciding on the macro-financial assistance for the Republic of Moldova .
we tried that and the banks are still not lending .
to be frank with you , our Ukrainian friends have to do more if they want us to help them more .
the first is that homosexuality has been declassified as a mental illness ; and the second , which is particularly relevant here , is that there is no credible research to show that educating children about homosexuality can affect their sexual orientation .
such upheavals would lead to a further increase in regional and social inequalities and disparities within Europe .
some ideas have already been approved in Parliament .
I would like to draw attention to paragraph 13 , which calls for full and consistent implementation of the Stockholm Programme .
this is the only way to keep our model , our European model of social cohesion .
last month , many EU States and the USA - ignoring international law and citing humanitarian interventionism - unilaterally recognised the independence of Kosovo , dismembering Serbia .
the Bologna Process , the Copenhagen Process and other such initiatives are good examples of this .
the first step in this matter should be taken by the European Council .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
every year , we will organise this forum on the internal market and update the top 20 , that is to say , the twenty areas in which real progress has been made .
we in Finland are familiar with conditions in the Arctic .
I do not wish to go back over the Return Directive .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , freedom of expression and freedom of information represent a foundation of a free , democratic and pluralistic society .
the work of the institutions has been impressive , given that there are 27 EU Member States , including 16 euro members .
but EU rules must in no event mean that Member States which already regulate these matters properly have to face more bureaucracy or obstacles to dealing with them efficiently .
we must get back to what matters .
this was the Commission 's objective when putting forward this proposal : to establish a legal framework and the necessary conditions for developing European research infrastructures .
in the first place , it has to be said that the governments of these countries have made enormous strides over the past year , fulfilling almost all of the Commission 's demands .
secondly , your political plan is weak and your political proposals in the document ' Political guidelines for the next Commission ' are poor .
lastly , in terms of external relations , here too let us be absolutely clear .
I welcome the efforts that have been made towards clarifying Union law in order to make it more accessible to all EU citizens .
in addition , I should like to inform you that the Conference of Presidents was also unanimous in its view that we should consider an appropriate way to honour the murdered Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya , and ...
that concludes the vote .
Mr President , I am both looking forward to and dreading the cross-border health directive .
if we can prevent people from undertaking a dangerous journey which may put their lives at risk , this is a good thing .
these two issues are crucially related to security of supply , while at the same time not taking away national sovereignty over energy .
Madam President , Mr Vice-President , those are the questions the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs would like to ask and we look forward to the responses from the Council and the Commission .
the implementation and enforcement of the Waste Shipments Regulation must be improved through tighter controls and monitoring by port authorities in the Member States , on the understanding that port states must have the power to declare a ship to be at the end of its life .
it is therefore only right that we respect first the land , which yields the produce , then the processor , if any , but above all the consumer .
it is no less important an issue than all the other issues that we are discussing .
it is these multinationals that are accused and denounced for violating human rights , seizing land from indigenous peoples and promoting working conditions close to slavery , all to promote environmentally unsustainable , intensive production models .
both committees also assure the Commission of their full support in rigorously applying the option of suspension of payments if the Commission does not have absolute guarantees that the Member State which is the beneficiary of funds has a reliable management and control system .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs . - ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , rapporteur , I would first like to offer my warmest thanks to the Commission for having dared to break the aviation taboo , without waiting for the IATA decisions , and I congratulate the rapporteur for having supported this .
( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , it is not my intention to meddle in the internal affairs of Ireland and I acknowledge the right of Irish politicians to allow as many votes on this treaty as they see fit and , of course , I also respect the result of this referendum , just as I respected the result of last year 's referendum , which produced an opposite result .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( ES ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , in European legislation important natural resources ( water , air , species , the habitats of flora and fauna ) have specific Community legislation , while soil as a resource does not have any .
the centre 's objective is to eradicate the illegal trade in banned substances by sea or by air across the Atlantic to Europe and Western Africa .
I voted for the report on rare diseases , because I feel that concerted action in the field of rare diseases at the European Union level and at the national level is an absolute necessity .
Madam President , Commissioner , thank you very much for your words , and also for your commitment .
the next item is the Commission statement on the referendum in Venezuela .
all who wish to express solidarity tonight with Liu , his wife Liu Xia and all prisoners of conscience in China , should recognise that the rest of the world has too often put trade interests with China before our mutual obligations on human rights .
Madam President , can I just congratulate the rapporteur and indeed her shadow , my colleague Monica Macovei , for their work on this report .
as an MEP and a member of the relevant European Parliament committee , I would expect the European Commission to adopt a clear , unambiguous position on these matters .
I voted in favour of the European Parliament resolution on combating climate change .
we are making law here , and with that comes a responsibility to act with full knowledge and understanding of the text that honourable Members will be asked to vote on .
President of the Council . - ( SL ) It is my honour and pleasure to be with you here today , and indeed also a matter of pride .
if we are speaking of further education , does it really prepare people for the market ; for the labour market ?
can the Commissioner confirm that this regulation will result in more timely availability of vital energy statistics and that the statistical model we use here in the EU is comparable to that used by , for example , the USA and other global players , so that we can compare like with like ?
this broadly based programme must involve children , their families , schools , communications operators , suppliers of Internet services and other institutions .
it was thanks to repeated requests from the Council Presidency and the Commission President that the G20 meeting was made possible .
this is not just about the United States , Russia and Kazakhstan , the country that currently holds the presidency of the OECD .
we could make a whole list of such complaints .
in my view , volunteering is also taking on a new significance through the fact that it is being recognised as a type of informal education .
in the case of Romania , implementation of this policy allows proper convergence to be established with the other EU states , especially as all eight development regions in my country can benefit from the Structural Funds .
this Parliament has submitted proposals on the taxation of financial transactions and on Eurobonds , but you refuse to consider them .
of course , all such trials by the US authorities - which , after all , is a country that is a democracy and shares our common values - must nevertheless be conducted fairly with all legal safeguards of due process , and ideally by civilian courts .
I can only say that during these five discharge procedures I have enjoyed and been very happy with our cooperation .
indeed , there are all sorts of permutations where the opt-out will create chaos and confusion .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , thank you very much for your contributions , but I must say that we have not got a proposal today to introduce some new machines in a compulsory manner in all Member States and all airports .
we fully agree with the general thrust of this parliamentary report and the majority of its proposals .
in future it would therefore be good if the human rights report were to contain a separate section on ethnic minorities , on the Roma and on migrants , in other words on the new minorities .
this European rationalisation project , undertaken to ensure that we do not have completely different legal systems in 27 Member States and that we strive to create a single regulatory framework , is a major step forward and gives not only our Ministers but also our Members of Parliament many more rights and opportunities to promote the interests of the citizens of the European Union .
I should like first of all to comment on the basic amendments which the Commission can fully accept in principle or in part .
in the recent meeting we had , involving the European Union and President Obama , the first issue he raised was the cooperation on the fight against terrorism between the United States and Europe .
in writing . - I fully support this new initiative on Alzheimer 's disease and other forms of dementia .
in the current difficult economic situation , we have once again been able to discern the construction of a new wall in Europe , this time an economic wall .
in this respect , the CFSP and ESS / ESDP annual reports contain many points on which the Commission is in agreement .
the same holds true if confidentiality is requested during discussions .
Portugal has always done its best to serve the common interest when it held the Presidency of the Council .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , we cannot but be concerned about the serious waste management crisis that Campania has been enduring for years now , especially when we consider the severe impact it is having on the local populations ' quality of life .
I also have a wish for the future .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I would also like to express my sincere thanks to the rapporteur , Mr Lechner , and to all Honourable Members for raising a lot of important and wise remarks .
it would send out an important signal , regardless of the question of powers , if we could agree on the issue of increased safety with a large majority .
it is a real step forward , which many of us welcome .
the purpose is to provide additional legal certainty for the export credit agencies ( ECAs ) of the Member States .
( it ) Mr President , while researching this subject , I realised that , paradoxically , given the size of the country , this is a question of particular concern in Switzerland , where there is a great deal of information and there are very many publications on the matter , whereas there is much less information coming from Europe .
this group has also found it more difficult than those in workplaces with several employees , but I see this as a first step .
people 's sense of reality with regard to climate protection seems to have gone out of the window .
we are no longer talking about isolated cases .
the need to deliver cleaner air has been recognised for several decades with action having been taken at national and EU level and also through international conventions .
this is precisely why we need to upgrade our relationship and our own instruments and tools .
I will make no bones about it : as internationalists we defend the European idea against those who want to make the EU a military power and a purely economic alliance .
beyond the essential measures to supervise finance listed by a number of my fellow Members , I personally would like to raise the issues of trade and development , because in Pittsburgh there will also be talk of relaunching the Doha Round .
in writing . - The ALDE Group voted against a reform of Rule 29 for the following reasons :
I should very much like to plead for support for the large infrastructure programmes in India and other SAARC countries .
the CCCTB , the Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base , is a real joke .
when finally a difficult balance is struck , the European Union suddenly comes storming in with an idea that we happen to think is the best .
I do not think that this is a question of having , or not having , a treaty , but rather whether European solidarity is a concept that only features in political statements or whether it is a specific political practice , one that applies to the citizens of various Member States .
we are all aware of the special nature of Ukraine , which , due to its geographical location and its history , presents a complex national reality , shot through with various tensions , and of exceptional importance on the geopolitical and geoeconomic levels .
as the Financial Times wrote this week , more than 37 000 workers throughout Europe are still waiting for aid from the fund .
( ES ) Mr President , as a Spanish Member resident in the Canary Islands , I want to thank you for remembering the victims of the accident on 20 August .
they have priority in health care and education , all at the expense of local taxpayers !
we must also strengthen alliances with countries and regions who share our vision of a successful outcome in the international climate negotiations .
a number of countries then set out on the journey that resulted in representatives of 27 countries sitting in this room today .
9 .
Black sheep in the feed industry have caused great economic losses in agriculture and far beyond .
collaboration and mutual recognition of certification are to apply to the areas of airworthiness and maintenance .
on the matter of copyright , the Directorate-General for Competition starts from the basis that authors have the same weight as the large multinational companies that manage the world of media .
pursuant to Rule 4 ( 1 ) and ( 3 ) of the Rules of Procedure , Parliament has noted his resignation and established the vacancy of his seat from the date previously stated .
solar cells may contain toxic substances which can be reused .
this means that there needs to be an investment in technological equipment on land and in the air to provide accurate information in real time .
( SV ) Mr President , I am glad that the spineless , cowardly Swedish Presidency is over .
for rights holders , it may represent an additional channel of trade , and so an additional source of revenue .
the most important and key element of the directive is the right to a minimum of 14 weeks ' maternity leave .
the conflict in the Great Lakes Region , Uganda and Sudan is still going on and is constantly claiming new civilian victims .
that text had at its heart the principle of respect for the country of origin , which we established as essential for ensuring free movement of audiovisual information within the European Union .
that question must be answered .
it is true that we do not always have a clear grasp of the EU 's external policy , particularly in terms of what it is aiming to achieve , in other words , its purpose .
we have to continue to engage openly with the Russian side on this important process , but it is clear that we have to find timely solutions with them and for them .
our strategy should take into account both the security of the citizens of Afghanistan and of our representatives , who are working for the development of the country .
Switzerland will have to set up a national agency , just as we all have done in our respective countries , that will coordinate the implementation of the programmes at national level and that will be required to make a financial contribution to each of the programmes each year .
that is not the case .
what we need is exactly the opposite .
genocide is not a phenomenon which can be opposed by a single nation . it must be opposed by the society of the entire civilised world .
it is therefore necessary that we possess accurate and relevant statistics , both for the private and public sectors .
ladies and gentlemen , a much needed and valuable text has lost already some of its value in the title : geographically , the EU is only one part of Europe , unless negotiations on the Commission proposal have already commenced with European countries outside the EU such as Russia , Ukraine , Turkey , Kazakhstan , Serbia , Belarus and others , which of course is not the case .
both natural disasters and industrial disasters , as we have seen from the recent tragedy of the toxic sludge spill in Hungary , are , unfortunately , a relatively frequent occurrence in Europe .
the resolution calls for an end to violence , for dialogue between the parties to the conflict and for respect for the right to freedom , human rights and the principles of a state of law , and stresses the importance of a coherent and stable constitutional framework for ensuring democracy .
do not listen to those in the Council who capitalise on the lack of regulation .
may I draw your attention to the fact that when you are speaking in the Hemicycle , you address the President and the Members , while those who are taking part in the session are the audience .
well , this kind of management is antisocial ; it is working against the territories of the European Union and is creating an enormous mess , as we can see currently at Toyota , where hundreds of thousands of cars are having to be recalled .
efforts are required from educators , health professionals , the food industry and the media , especially television .
I believe that a free trade agreement between these two economic powers could provide benefits for both sides .
no matter what each side expected , we should not underestimate the importance of the fact that , for the first time , we have acknowledged at European level that there is a problem regarding alcohol-related harm , that there should be a European strategy - which has been adopted today - and that we now have a European debate , a European initiative and European action .
this is in accordance with international obligations arising from the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control .
we still need , I believe , substantial progress there .
let us do it with a clear sense of our destination and let that destination be clear as well : a strong and stable euro area in an ever closer European Union .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , there is a kind of irony in the Commission claiming that it wants to put the citizen at the centre of the European project in its 2008 legislative programme .
the EIB does not have even 500 employees in third countries ; the European Commission has 3 700 .
we need to exert more pressure and show more initiative .
in the light of the number of cases of child abduction and disappearances , what measures is the Commission proposing to coordinate Member States ' means of preventing and punishing these types of acts throughout the European Union ?
without any success .
the European Commission , as the guardian of the Treaties , must now ensure that these basic rights are correctly implemented and enforced .
I should remind the House here that in February , the Commission presented a communication on the prevention of natural and man-made disasters in which it formulated certain proposals .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to give a brief review of the last reform .
we see this as fundamental , as representatives of the citizens .
we strongly call on the authorities of the Russian Federation to start a fully fledged inquiry into her death and to do their utmost to bring those responsible for this tragic death to justice .
I therefore voted in favour of this motion for a resolution .
all these questions are still to be answered .
it distorts competition .
it has an enormous growth potential and is an attractive area with powerful interests , not only economic but , above all , European .
( FR ) Mr President , I , too , would like to express my gratitude to the Swedish Presidency-in-Office of the European Council , but there remains one problem .
as for the European Council , I welcome the new text of the stability mechanism , as well as the euro area reform package .
to clarify the definition : the Mediterranean diet has its origins in the dietary patterns typical of large parts of Greece , including the island of Crete , and of southern Italy - hence its name .
actually , the situation is much more complicated .
other criteria will also include whether systems offered by operators provide services in the outermost and sparsely populated areas or other services of general public interest such as civil protection and disaster recovery .
however , we must not confuse these provisions relating to a European quality mark with protectionism aimed at blocking access to the Community market .
it is strange how , on the subject of Russia , the European Parliament has lapsed either into indulgence or into what I would call an ' anti-Russia ' sentiment , motivated in the past by anti-sovietism and hence by dyed-in-the-wool anti-communism .
( RO ) I would like to highlight the particularly serious economic and social situation which Romania is in .
I believe we have been trying to create a complete package in order to maintain a certain coherence between the three reports .
( SV ) Madam President , before I started working on environmental issues , I have to admit that my knowledge of chemicals was relatively limited .
all I would like to say is that the big fuss and bother about my parliamentary assistance expenses , covered by the media over the last nine or twelve months , has been a harrowing experience .
this is what citizens need , to believe in fair policy-making and decision-making in Brussels .
the European Union is supporting the Albanian separatists and is deciding at the same time to set up a mission in Kosovo that is dubious in the light of international law , and in conflict with the UN position .
( for the outcome of the vote and other details : see Minutes )
therefore , a legal basis should have been created before the beginning of ACTA negotiations and Parliament should have approved a negotiation mandate .
the theme that emerged from the summit was one of partnership .
aviation companies will also reap the benefits of the Agreement in so much as it provides for the use of each other 's repair and maintenance facilities .
the EU needs to be more balanced and formally recognise our common democratic values with the state of Israel and actually enhance Israel 's participation in EU programmes - unusually , I agree with Baroness Ludford on this - under the Association Agreement , in order to build confidence by Israel in the EU 's goodwill towards the Jewish state .
Poland negotiated the Treaty , signed it , and under international law is obliged to go through with the ratification process .
we need to underline this because everyone needs to make those efforts .
this is the case with student mobility , the cornerstone of a richer and more competitive education and an essential contribution towards developing the concept of European citizenship .
in a referendum in January of this year , the people of South Sudan voted with an overwhelming majority in favour of independence and breaking away from the northern part of Sudan .
firstly , we strongly urge the Government of Belarus to release its political prisoners at long last - not only the political prisoners who have already being detained for some time , like Mr Kazulin , but also the many new ones who have recently been jailed for exercising elementary fundamental rights such as freedom to practise their profession as journalists , freedom of expression or the right to demonstrate .
some have called increasing maternity leave to 14 weeks progress , and indeed it is .
( PL ) Madam President , after the end of the Second World War in Europe , many Nazi criminals fled to South America to escape from justice .
it is not a competitive position , it is not tenable , and I ask you to address it here this evening .
this care requires ....
prices for Russian gas in Central Europe are already almost twice as high as those offered to Western European countries .
we have asked in our oral question particularly about whether Member States are required to include an evaluation of the social impact in their reports that they submit to the Commission .
certain Members of this House believe that we should conclude bilateral agreements with Ukraine , but it should be pointed out that Ukraine has to bear at least some of the blame for the situation that arose recently , and I would really rather not make myself dependent on arguments between Mr Yushchenko and Mrs Tymoshenko , or Mr Yanukovych , or whoever .
in Poland enormous areas of woodland can be protected against pests only by spraying from the air .
I would like to express my opposition to those who describe this as protectionism .
ladies and gentlemen , we have a problem concerning the elimination of disparities in subsidies paid in different Member States , and it is a very serious problem .
so why did the European Union criminalise an activity harmlessly pursued by some 20 million Europeans ?
it seems clear that the existing directive , which attempted to regulate this matter , had a limited effect , and the proposal that we are analysing now represents an important step in meeting the deadlines for payment , not only in relations between the companies and public bodies , but also - and this is crucial - in the relationships that companies establish with one another .
Seventy-three percent of the EN population sees the main problem in the increasingly widespread poverty in their countries .
a group of women has started a grass-roots initiative to draft a law on parity in politics , so that 50 % of the candidates in elections would have to be women .
we hope that Parliament will take into account our commitments and our capabilities to deliver in this matter and , during the vote on Thursday , will reconsider its proposals .
the President of the Council mentioned this morning the important achievement of the Greek Presidency in 2003 , when the Thessaloniki Agenda for the Western Balkans was adopted .
we also need to discuss with the authorities a couple of issues on how to better deliver our assistance .
Karadžić 's arrest has proved that there is no impunity for such monstrous crimes as those against humanity .
welcome
this report envisages a limitation on the biometric monitoring of citizens of EU Member States in that children under the age of 12 years are excepted from the requirement to provide biometric data .
I am delighted that the lead committee has accepted the proposals made by the Committee on International Trade regarding the restriction of market access for products with false or misleading CE marks , for this will make it easier to ensure that information given to consumers is reliable and transparent as well as creating broader scope for action against abusive practices that infringe national and EU legislation .
this is an important result for the European Parliament , because it marks a success in the dialogue with Council over the budget .
the eighteenth of December last year saw the passing of Václav Havel , who was President first of Czechoslovakia and then twice of the Czech Republic .
our initial intention in the Commission was to cover all types of pesticides , including biocides .
today , the European EULEX mission , in association with US experts , hopes that Kosovo can become a state based on the rule of law .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I voted against the report by Mrs Batzeli .
he was charged with weakening national sentiments and spreading false news .
my own , very settled opinion is that micro-businesses that do not operate in the internal market are absolutely no concern of ours - no concern of either European legislators or the Commission .
this means direct , tangible impacts on households and on a lot of economic sectors , not least those who cannot pass on the price of energy to the final consumer .
far too many incidents over the past ten years have shown that there are quite a few players operating in the animal feed oils and fats industry who , out of unscrupulous greed and in a criminal way , are prepared to commit fraud , fraud that is detrimental to farmers ' income and consumer health .
this hyperactive film is not proof at all ; it is not even truth .
of course it encourages the Member States to comply with the general provisions contained in the quoted Resolution , or in the standards promoted by the International Labour Organisation .
this timorous silence in European Union Member States is a crime against the millions of people who perished during the Second World War .
in writing . - I voted for this report .
rule of law in Russia ( debate )
Ukraine is part of Europe 's past and of its future .
my specific question is this : we are talking about the economy , about monetary union with more acute supranational elements .
Madam President , the Eastern Partnership is still very new .
the matters that have been discussed in some detail are aimed just at the future .
the Danish Labour Institute has produced figures today .
it is our duty as elected representatives of our people to create legal and political security in this very important area .
you do not arrive at innovation through more structures , more bricks and mortar .
contrary to the Commission proposal , it is therefore necessary to ensure that no specific group is excluded from the scope of the directive , and particularly not the group comprising temporary workers .
communities are rising up with demands and requests which have been repressed for decades .
protection of animals at the time of killing (
dialogue is the key to tolerance .
( the sitting was suspended at 13.10 and resumed at 15.05 )
good relations and well-developed global trade are fundamental requirements in the effort towards economic prosperity for all the world 's countries , not least the very poorest .
at the end of March , a report assessing and comparing the two scenarios shall be presented .
as someone who is closely involved with the regional policy of the EU , I am keenly aware of the need to develop cross-border activities and strongly support cooperation between local chambers of commerce , public institutions and voluntary organisations on both sides of national borders .
therefore , we are not interfering in China 's internal affairs , but merely trying to defend standards and values which are important to us everywhere - in Europe , Asia and throughout the world .
a couple of years ago , you assured us that Spain had exceeded Italy 's per capita production and that it would soon surpass that of France .
according to the opt-out clause , individual EU Member States would be able to allow employees working within their territory to work more than 48 hours a week provided that the employee has agreed to the longer working time which , under the terms of the compromise , could be up to a limit of 60 or 65 hours a week , in accordance with the established conditions .
essentially , social responsibility has three components - protect , respect and remedy .
I have read the relevant question and answer on the Commission 's website but I have to say that it is very complicated .
for me , one of these criteria is the age of the children .
for the European Union , we remain determined to work towards a diplomatic solution on the basis of our double-track approach , combining pressure with dialogue .
simply laying down guidelines to say that questions have to be within the remit of the European Union and of the institutions seems to be sensible .
President of the Commission . - Mr President , Prime Minister , Members of Parliament , my first word goes to the Slovenian Presidency .
with the remaining conditions still to be met by Croatia it unrealistic to assume that accession negotiations could be concluded this year in 2008 .
could you give us some more details about that threshold ?
I would just like to emphasise one small point : respect for the principle of subsidiarity .
as I said , the European Union has a number of instruments in place and will do everything to support greater participation of women in civil and political life , free from threats , intimidation and violence .
the Intergroup on Family and the Protection of Childhood works in Parliament as a platform for the pluralistic views of Members of all political groups .
that is why I said that we need to analyse the causes which have led to this nuclear accident and that we need to find out whether they are at all possible in Europe and how we can avoid them .
this would constitute unforgivable irresponsibility , the consequences of which are incalculable and do not only affect the United States .
that is why we have not accepted the Council 's proposal that after the experts ' group , the initiative would go to comitology , as that would create red tape and waste valuable time for the decision to be adopted .
in addition , aid is being provided to the European Humanities University , which is currently in exile in Vilnius and will continue its activities there for as long as the University is unable to return to Belarus .
Rome was not built in a day , however .
pollution from private and public urban passenger and freight transport represents 40 % of CO2 and 70 % of other pollutants that come from our roads .
for this to be achieved , the necessary constitutional reforms must be implemented , with consolidation of the rule of law , the establishment of a social market economy and renewed efforts to combat corruption and the improvement of the climate for business and investment .
I assure you that together we will have to fight extremely hard to force the Member States to do so .
it is not even a question now of whether policy is governed by the markets or by politics : politics is coming out on to the streets .
nevertheless we have good reason to remain confident about the foundations of the European economy and its capacity to overcome the current turbulence .
as I say , I shall be here with the Presidency .
( GA ) Mr President , there is one aspect of the budget that should be mentioned , and that is the money to be set aside for the common agricultural policy .
furthermore , with an increase of just 1.04 % of women 's participation in the labour market , the additional costs of extending maternity leave would be covered .
the work will therefore continue .
the share of low achieving pupils in maths and science has been declining since 2006 .
we have drawn up a regulation that allows for derogations .
( FR ) Mr President , like Mr Solana and Mrs Ferrero-Waldner , I do not see any difference between civil and military nuclear power .
body scanners - Operation of intelligence services in the context of counter-terrorism strategies ( debate )
Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , my group supports the own-initiative report by the Committee on Transport and Tourism with its multifaceted proposals for freight transport in Europe .
Azerbaijan : freedom of expression
as a result , the price differential between cattle in Ireland and in Britain is anything between EUR 150 to EUR 200 a head .
moreover , in general , it is also agreed that it is in the countries that have maintained their social welfare systems and their public services that the populations have suffered relatively less as a result of the crisis .
I wonder what credibility this foreign policy can have , given that events in Libya and North Africa have demonstrated the total lack of an EU foreign policy .
most of the instruments are to be found at the Member State level .
in order to slow down migration in a sustainable and purposeful way , five things are needed : democracy , development , respect for international law , European solidarity and also , above all , no prejudicial rhetoric .
the second is that the process of standard-setting must be open and transparent so that participation is open to all relevant actors .
our producers are demanding protection from unfair competition .
my second point is that you can expect me to be thorough and objective , but I have noticed a few things .
developing them further technically and combining them with information and communications technologies will open up even further potential .
Sweden will lead us into a new era of European integration .
two-thirds were responsible for keeping the peace , the Russian peacekeepers , and the rest were Georgians .
Mr Füle , we fail to understand why Article 2 of the association agreements has never been implemented .
can the Commission give an account of which Member States have forwarded their reports ?
despite this , and in fact specifically because of this , the European Union cannot stop acting to defend human rights .
the Soviet Union went .
health-care systems , especially in the 12 newer Member States , need in many cases a complete overhaul , with attention required to the structural improvement of hospitals , the modernisation of equipment and up-to-date training of health personnel .
the initial directive handed implementing measures to the European Commission which , in effect , meant that the regulation was allowed to pass without the consent of this farce of an Assembly or of my real parliament at Westminster .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( FR ) In reply to Mr Burke and Mrs Harkin , I believe we have every reason to be proud of that mission .
( applause )
you will be asked to give your opinion on the proposed Capital Requirements Directive 4 that will be presented in spring 2011 to implement the Basel III accord in Europe .
the budget must quite simply be adapted to conform with the political priorities relating to solar and wind energy , energy efficiency and so on .
I would also like to highlight the need to introduce campaigns aimed at children , and this is a request to the Commission .
we are seeing this now in large parts of Africa , in particular .
thirdly , it is important to acknowledge once and for all that in order to ensure total emancipation of women , women must be the ones who take the decisions on their sexual and reproductive health rights .
Europe must take on this responsibility by proposing a concerted strategy in the areas of training and employment .
we should also mention that it makes complete sense to implement this proposal , given that these measures are provided for in point 27 of the interinstitutional agreement on the use of the flexibility instrument .
the report also advocates all interested parties , and in particular representatives of SMEs and all those who represent the public interest , including consumers , being encouraged to actually participate in the standardisation process .
the truth is we can afford to feed the world and , as Dominique Strauss-Kahn has said , ' global cooperation can deliver the macroeconomic framework and the incentives needed to address the problem ' .
according to the last Eurostat surveys , energy price stability is one of the main priorities for a large proportion of EU inhabitants .
of course , it is the same that was used to appoint the President of the Commission , the rest of the Commissioners and the High Representative .
let us make it happen .
it has some of the world 's largest deposits of oil , coal , iron and gold .
as early as 2004 , it was laughed out of the room by Germany and France .
let us remember that the Union , after such a major enlargement , is greatly differentiated .
as I see it , the first thing we should do is to ensure that respect for religious freedom is one of the priorities of the European Union 's external policy .
during the present economic recession , the allocation of EUR 1 million is quite a big act - and a concrete one .
we all know what a serious situation many industries are facing at this time in trying to get hold of credit .
is it because there is , historically , a general degree of naivety as regards this substance ?
we also wish to retain the old provision concerning the recognition of the work of assisting spouses , in order to provide for compensation , notably in the case of divorce , where the assisting spouse is in a precarious situation after years of work for the family business .
as to the specific case of United Nations Special Rapporteur , Sigma Huda , the head of the EC delegation in Dhaka has conveyed concerns regarding her medical condition and treatment to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs .
yes , there has been solidarity , but in a lot of cases it was hampered by the lack of sufficient infrastructure to deliver gas from the storage facilities that are there to the places where there is an acute need of gas supply .
I congratulate Mr Wojciechowski on his report .
these are great plans , but their implementation has been seriously jeopardised by the financial and economic crisis that continues to this day .
particular concern has been expressed about the situation in North Kivu and about peacekeeping in the Ituri region .
now , however , the socialist Mayor of Brussels has banned this demonstration outright .
Chinese authorities must take appropriate action to improve their standards of production , but equally important is the duty of toy companies , who order products from the Far East in order to benefit from lower costs , to ensure that safety standards are met .
achievement of this goal is closely linked to how predictable development aid is , since it is only on the basis of such aid , at the same time as mobilising domestic revenues , that partner countries can construct an adequate and effective development strategy .
it is not demographic calculations , which suit a national , intergovernmental logic , but European citizenship that is the cornerstone on which the political edifice of Europe will be built in the future .
I support this decision as it allows the agreement concerning diplomatic , service and official passports , at least , to enter into force faster , since , unlike the agreement on ordinary passports , it does not require ratification by the Brazilian Congress .
secondly , the monetary union has not been tested in hard times until now .
they are amongst the promises that are trotted out again and again but that have never led to adequate , tangible assistance .
this repression affects millions of people , but nothing has been done .
last but not least , I would like to express my appreciation for the excellent work of the Belgian Presidency in securing the necessary support within the Council for the compromise reached in the Conciliation Committee .
one matter that is very close to my heart is decentralisation ; in other words , political decisions being taken as close to the people as possible .
in writing . - ( RO ) The European Union 's external borders , either land or sea borders , protect all Member States from possible threats caused by illegal immigration , trafficking and organized crime .
it is important to maintain adequate economic development of the industry concerned while at the same time contributing to environmental protection .
if we fail to include it then the path will be much more difficult .
finally , I want to thank the Portuguese Presidency for its commitment and spirit of cooperation , in particular the Portuguese Government and the Portuguese Secretary of State , José Magalhães , who is here today , and for the solution found with SISone4all , as already underlined by Vice-President Frattini .
to Mr Pflüger from the left , I would say that a glance at the law will facilitate its understanding .
obviously , the EIB can monitor and improve these efforts , but it cannot be a substitute for EU budgetary policies .
firstly , will the Commission attempt to encourage Sweden to fulfil its obligations ?
what does this mean ?
the results of the evaluation can then be incorporated by the Commission into the process of drawing up a new proposal for a regulation for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures .
however , this is a free trade agreement , and it cannot include all our expectations or everything we would like India to achieve .
this matter revolves around Internet access for all citizens of the EU .
I tear my hair out when we have to deal with the day-to-day necessities , when a mission is threatening to fail for want of six helicopters , when there is no political will in the various capitals or when there are splits on technology projects .
questions Nos 37 and 40 will receive answers in writing .
thus , when Council Regulation ( EC ) No 1257 / 96 of 20 June 1996 concerning humanitarian aid is revised under the codecision procedure , it will have its own legal basis .
we need this , and we should not refuse to face up to reality .
surely you listened to him ; after all , you did at Lisbon last week when , as Prime Minister , you let him keep the red lines , did you not ?
the European Year of Art and Innovation is an excellent occasion to restore art to its rightful place - in education as well - so that its integrational role can be appreciated .
turning to the social package in general , on our side we welcome the thoughtful comments of the Commissioner and his initiative regarding the revised Social Agenda , in particular the theme which reminds all of us that the EU is about people , about giving people more and better opportunities , and in particular equipping and empowering them to cope with the challenge of change .
that concludes this item .
the Arab League 's plan , Saudi Arabia 's peace plan , envisages an end to violence with simultaneous recognition of Israel 's right to exist .
the decision to omit Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania from the list is primarily a technical one .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
( EL ) Mr President , the EU shares responsibility for the unjust and dirty war waged by NATO against Yugoslavia .
England was like this : it turned Jews away .
the Commission , together with the Member States and regional councils , should encourage and financially support new forms of tourism , such as eco-tourism , agricultural tourism , social and health tourism .
with today 's vote Parliament has adopted the mandate for the trialogue on the 2012 budget .
in all seriousness , he wanted to introduce exceptions to a long-term solution which would allow people to work up to 78 hours per week .
it is not only grains that are the issue , but in a few months ' time we will also have to tackle the problems of meat production and dairy production , because there are already changes in production and drops in production in this field .
one of the last huge demonstrations was against the abolition of subsidies for tobacco producers .
( the President cut off the speaker )
in writing . - ( EL ) The New Democracy group of MEPs voted today in favour of the six proposals in the new economic governance package .
President Barroso has announced some policy guidelines on this matter to the European Parliament .
it is a problem unworthy of a civilised society , a problem which undermines human dignity .
the EU as a whole is committed , as part of its 2020 biodiversity target adopted earlier this year , to step up its contribution to averting global biodiversity loss , but I think we can also be pretty proud of what we are actually doing .
we have a little left over every year and we should at last get around to using the money which remains for creating European added value in future .
in Africa , homosexuality is very often seen as an evil from the West which is causing Africa to lose its ancestral values .
the antidemocratic power in Belarus is concentrated very much in the President .
Hungary was the country that came close to bankruptcy , partly due to the serious errors made by the government .
the compromise between Parliament and the Council is acceptable , in particular , because it recognises the right of States to take measures to safeguard the financial equilibrium of their social security systems , not least through a prior authorisation system for the financial reimbursement of hospital treatment received in another Member State .
( applause )
this is because Turkey is not a European country and so it does not belong in the European Union .
however , I would like to appeal again to other countries to show solidarity with the Czech Republic , which is fighting in vain against the introduction of visa requirements by Canada .
let us hope therefore that it will be the symbol of 2008 !
since January 2011 , the US administration has been demanding that the positions adopted by financial funds on the agricultural markets be controlled and transparent .
we believe that in the national interest the Immigration Pact was not satisfactory ;
by June 2010 , there are expected to be 10 million digitised works and by 2015 , the figure is expected to reach 15 million .
of course , there are crossovers regarding the work of NATO and the EU , but they are two fundamentally different organisations .
hundreds of e-mails have been sent to the European Parliament imploring it to make the upgrading conditional on compliance with international law .
I should like to add two points to what has already been said , which were not mentioned here and which underline the success of the Belgian Presidency .
it is founded on selfishness instead of solidarity .
with respect to Article 13 , both sides want to update migration .
a key task is to incorporate a project approach into the new strategy .
when it comes to the environment , poverty and health , they are the first to suffer from climate change .
I do not think it is justified to have joint exercises at EU taxpayers ' expense , and I am absolutely opposed to foreign agents operating and exercising authority on Swedish territory with retained immunity .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I am very pleased to have this opportunity to address Parliament on this important issue of falsified medicines .
however , it has become clear in the past that the EU often sets itself ambitious targets and then has problems in achieving them or misses them altogether .
( DE ) Mrs Malmström , thank you for your excellent reply .
the North Pole is a global asset that must be protected by a binding charter , in which the European Union must play a leading role .
cooperation at the European level , however , is essential .
at a time when Europe is seeking renewable , environmentally clean sources of energy , the River Danube offers an enormous , inexhaustible source of just that .
however , I am one of those who have always wished that Europe had been wise enough to create new institutions before enlargement .
unfortunately , the Council has failed to respect Parliament once again .
it is therefore absolutely vital that our protection force is not implicated in any way in the operations being undertaken by the various humanitarian groups that are working in the region .
for example , I remember in the German Constitution there is the formulation ' possession obliges ' .
that is the way to win their confidence , the citizens ' confidence , and to bring to our citizens what is required of us .
in addition , the acquisition of adapted physical and intellectual tools must receive greater support from the Union , as stated in the report , especially in the area of access to technological innovations .
the problem is that nothing in Mrs Wallis ' report proves the objective existence of such barriers , and therefore of a problem that needs to be solved .
you mentioned the issue of the reserves , and I simply note that , apart from that , you have no objections to Parliament 's priorities and focuses .
we have been reviewing enhancements of deposit guarantee schemes .
they are our representatives .
clearly , the Sri Lankan armed forces cannot claim an unblemished record either , but they have not sought to deliberately exploit civilians and put them in harm 's way , like the LTTE has allegedly done .
for example , a single factory in China produces 80 % of the world 's microwave ovens .
you are the heirs of Imre Kertész .
I expect clear words in this regard at the forthcoming EU-Africa summit in November .
the EU played the game in the interests of its national undertakings and the profits of the large concerns .
it has been split .
therefore , under the treaties in force , two parallel proposals were required , since the Schengen acquis covers both the first and the third pillars .
the communication and accompanying Council regulation refer to the need to reduce overcapacity .
as President Barroso said in his opening speech , the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty is essential in order for us to move forward with European integration , especially at a time like this .
portfolios are not attributed to countries but to persons that are committed to our European project .
according to UN data , areas within a radius of 500 km from the power plant were contaminated .
Madam President , the conflict in Sudan , which has racial , religious and economic roots , has been going on for over 50 years .
Mr President , I am going to talk about Alzheimer 's disease and other forms of dementia .
newborn babies are often taken away from their mothers shortly after birth , which makes it impossible for them to be breast-fed .
in the name of human dignity , Salih Osman reassures those destitute , defenceless and intimidated men and women who have sunk into oblivion that the world is aware of their suffering , that they have not been forgotten and that they have reason to hope for a return to a perfectly normal and simply human life .
in this case , Europe 's decision to lead the fight against climate change will definitely hit some of its sectors .
I would like to remind you that it was Hungary who gave the most human lives and blood for freedom and democracy after World War II , both during the revolution of 1956 and during the subsequent retribution .
in writing . - ( PT ) We are confronted by a humanitarian drama in which families are not only suffering the pain of their relatives being missing , but have also had to live for decades with the agony of not knowing their fate .
it is gratifying that that the Commission will start implementing an action plan for mobility in 2007 , which will help to solve the problems that have arisen .
once a year we want to have a joint meeting to discuss the major issues relating to the fight against fraud and the problems in the Member States .
what is technical may , in fact , affect principles of cohesion and access for everybody .
I am sorry that I am unable to agree with you completely , but it seems to me that the purposes specified in the proposal are sufficiently precise to provide the legal safeguards that we should all wish to see .
that is why free access to cultural institutions and cultural events is so important across the European Union .
in many cases , we also need to solve the problems of caring for older members of the same family .
the situation is in fact serious .
- Thank you very much for this final point .
thirdly , give those to your law enforcement authorities .
what has it got to do with the European Union ?
the majority of allowances to airlines will be free but 15 % of allowances will be auctioned .
in order to respect the independence of the European Central Bank , I will focus on the Giegold report , which makes a very substantive contribution to the current debate on economic coordination and economic governance within the euro area .
we need the leaders of the United States and China to be there too , but we have an opportunity here to take some major political decisions .
that is precisely where we are heading .
however , despite the resolution considering that intellectual property rights , ' including geographical indications and denominations of origin , are not always protected effectively by the European Union 's trading partners ' , it should be underlined that the EU itself is not setting an example .
to do this , we absolutely must have European coordination .
in writing . - I voted for this proposal which lays down rules regarding imports into the EU from Greenland of fishery products and other marine products .
I also support the extension of the types of mercury covered within the ban .
that needs to be emphasised .
on behalf of the Committee on Petitions , I have drawn up an opinion on the SOLVIT network , which I fully support , since it is a means which helps citizens who encounter difficulties .
many have asked why I am raising the issue of travel between Strasbourg and Brussels .
regarding Poland and the United Kingdom , the protocol clarifies the application of the charter in relation to the laws and initiative action of Poland and of the United Kingdom and its judiciability within these Member States .
the Commission will undertake to examine the potentially adverse impact that national taxation systems may have on cross-border mergers and use its funds once the proposed provisions are adopted .
the crisis must not be seized upon to circumvent , weaken or even abolish the rules .
at the WTO level , Brazil cannot expect only the markets in agricultural goods of developed Member States to open up further .
China is the most populated country on earth , its economy is booming , and it is enthusiastically preparing for the forthcoming Olympic Games . it was , however , devastated by the recent tragic earthquake .
this serious situation is already having a negative effect on the economy , on social security systems , and on the very makeup of society .
this plan looks to recognise and reward proactive organisations that go beyond what environmental laws expect of them and that are constantly improving the way they interact with the environment .
Mr President , may I first of all congratulate Mrs Gutiérrez-Cortines .
I would plead with you , Mr President , to use the qualities of clarity and fairness which are the hallmarks of your presidency to make sure that the work of intergroups can be facilitated and not hindered from here on .
we have avoided inserting an equals sign , however notional , between an existing State and a terrorist movement .
Mr President , I will conclude by quoting Abbé Pierre , who said that many politicians are familiar with poverty only through statistics , and no one has yet shed tears over statistics .
in the light of the above , I would like to congratulate the rapporteur , Mr Bendtsen , for the excellent work carried out and for the balance achieved , and would invite all of you to support this important report .
the negotiations for the EU trade treaty with Japan have not even properly started , as the Commissioner said .
- ( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , the crisis is a test of EU cohesion .
so it is about time that we put on the agenda on Friday that Europe has to look into its own resources and sources .
that is why it is a technical report on the various methods and technology involved .
however , let us come back to the Dell case , which Mrs Berès was compelled to talk about .
let us not forget that farmers are environmentalists by nature !
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I would like to start my closing words of this debate with what Mr Vidal-Quadras said : there should not be a feeling of winners or losers in this policy area because renewable policy is definitely one that we need , for three basic reasons .
corporate social responsibility in international trade agreements (
I welcome the Commission 's intention to draw up partner national action plans for children .
we should put an end to this division into us and them .
President of the Commission . - ( FR ) Madam President , Mr Jouyet , ladies and gentlemen , allow me first of all to make an assessment of the role of the French Presidency of the Council .
you undoubtedly earn more than I do , but at the same time you say that the national indexing systems we have in Luxembourg and Belgium should be abolished .
first of all , I would like to thank the rapporteur , Mr França , for the excellent work he has done on this dossier , and also the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs as a whole for the very useful amendments which are contained in the report .
why not also give financial support to the Gdańsk Shipyard , which symbolises the end of the Cold War and the liberation of the whole of Central and Eastern Europe from the yoke of Communism ?
it needs to be recognised that the recommendations have not been sufficient everywhere .
during the transition process , the reforms are very fragile in many post-Soviet countries and the successes in Moldova will be an important example and an important signal to other pro-reformist groups in the post-Soviet region .
individual identification cannot function properly without electronic identification .
they were based on that scientific evidence , and that is why we believe they are sound .
last but not least we have learned that the projects in support of women are essential since the role of women in peace-building and promoting reconciliation is a key factor in bringing stability and durability to the process .
the circumstances under which the arrests were made are vague , but the treatment they state they were subjected to amounts to serious human rights violations .
( PT ) Mr President , following on from the third round of negotiations between the Polisario Front , the only legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people , and the Kingdom of Morocco , which took place under the auspices of the United Nations on 8 and 9 January , I must stress the current necessity and importance of demanding full respect for the inalienable right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination .
over the same period the French figure has fallen from 30 million to 8 million .
we put our faith in the diplomatic mediation that the Presidents of the United States , Russia and Kazakhstan - the latter in his capacity as the current president of the OSCE - are deploying in their negotiations with the interim Kyrgyz Government for the establishment of public order and constitutional legality , in order that free elections can be held and the country 's problems resolved .
it is also in contradiction with Article 9 , the social clause , which I have quoted many times in this Chamber when speaking about the Irish austerity package , where it says that in defining and implementing all its policies and activities , the Union shall take into account requirements linked to the promotion of a high level of employment and the fight against social exclusion , etc .
it is great entertainment .
there are still , however , many loopholes , and Parliament has to ensure that these loopholes are closed .
the macro-economic scenario outlined in the programme is rather optimistic and there is some uncertainty about the underlying revenue projections , especially the estimated impact of efforts to tackle tax evasion during an economic downturn .
I voted in favour of the report on waste electrical and electronic equipment , which is intended to improve the text currently in force .
those with allergies must not have to be exposed to goods containing traces of allergenic substances .
if climate change is not halted or at least limited , the poorest countries and the poorest people will be the first to be burnt by our fast overheating planet .
we agree with Mr Lamassoure that the number of amending budgets should be reduced . however , unexpected things do happen during the course of a year and we therefore need an instrument like this .
the European Parliament is adopting this resolution at the right time , thus encouraging Lithuania , Bulgaria , Slovakia and all EU Member States to implement decommissioning work as efficiently as possible .
those who ' steer ' EU policy should realise , at long last , that the majority of citizens reject the Union as a militarist and neo-liberal project that is effectively antisocial !
we in the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance very much regret that .
I would like to take a quick look at the reports we are debating , in order to give some answers to the questions asked by the rapporteurs .
our group is of the opinion that all information known to the manufacturer should be included in a declaration of performance , including information about hazardous substances .
we have expressed our backing for Mr Marinescu 's work , which deals with the specific cases of a number of countries which , upon accession , took on particular obligations on decommissioning nuclear power plants and received special support from the European Union for this very activity .
we do not approve of that .
it is essential that this mandate is correctly interpreted on the ground and that the European troops are proactive in protecting civilians in danger , creating a humanitarian area for the international organisations and protecting the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad ( MINURCAT ) .
other speakers have said that there has been an improvement in terms of the controls and inspections , particularly when it comes to money given to farmers , and there is now the transparency initiative to publish what farmers are getting .
this uncertainty leads to a great many difficulties in the Member States in relation to taking decisions themselves , specifically in terms of shaping those decisions so that they truly match up to what we need for these people and , in particular , for social housing , as these are people who do not have enough money to be able to move about freely .
the Commission , Parliament and the Council all agree on the essentials with regard to European political foundations and the amendment of the provisions governing the functioning of European political parties .
what opportunities do you see in future for making more risk capital available in crises like the one which we are currently experiencing ?
EU priorities for the 63rd Session of the UN General Assembly (
( applause )
what we need here , Commissioner , is a clearly structured system that provides legal certainty .
President Musharraf , in his televised address on the night of 3 November , told us that he was suspending the Constitution because of threats to the nation due to a visible ascendancy in the activities and incidence of terrorist attacks .
I believe that this report will supplement other existing initiatives on pesticides , agreed at the end of last year .
a communist president has brought this rich country to a position where people are suffering from hunger and we say nothing . however , we share the responsibility for this .
three days ago , Louis Michel pointed out that the continued closure of Gaza 's crossing points was a form of collective punishment of Palestinian civilians , contrary to international humanitarian law : it was our own Commissioner who said that .
I do hope , Prime Minister , that you will be able to translate those comments to those European citizens who face homelessness and the loss of their savings in your country because , I am sorry to say , of what appears to this Parliament to have been administrative abuse .
what are those areas ?
Mr President , Commissioner , thank you for taking up the Socialist Group in the European Parliament 's initiative and addressing this matter , as this issue is important to citizens .
in this Act both sides pledged jointly to eliminate the use of force , and even the threat of force , in the continent of Europe .
finally , it is very important that the debate on toys should not be held at this time every year .
I think I can say , therefore , that Mr Cappato has produced a good piece of work here , even though - as we are accustomed to - suggestions for improvement may perhaps come from other groups .
the aim must be to clarify the effects of individual measures and to allow us to rethink priorities and working methods where relevant .
when it comes to tackling that mountain of debt , rather than stimulus and extra financial regulation stifling innovation , I prefer the Jimi Hendrix approach .
I want to join those who have praised the excellent progress that has been made in this matter and the splendid work that the Swedish Presidency has done , on account of which we can now grant discharge .
at the same time , the standard rate does not currently exceed 25 % in any Member State .
I am also pleased that Commissioner Dalli brought up the matter of the importance of Member States ensuring that there is adequate financing and personnel available to develop the scoreboard further .
in order to ensure that we do not move straight on to another debate , I propose a minute 's silence in memory of the victims .
it has carried out reforms in global financial governance , implemented ambitious plans with regard to regulation and supervision , and has made progress in the fight against tax havens .
what we are forced to do is constantly introduce new rules , more monitoring , and we end up with a bureaucracy beyond all reason .
we will need to continue to work , but not to label somebody that is fighting against energy efficiency , because labelling is the easiest way to bring about our goals for energy efficiency .
near my home town , the Austrian authorities placed a ' No Entry by Car ' sign on a road that is otherwise freely accessible to cars .
after that , we can examine whether it would be worthwhile , as may well prove to be the case , to merge them .
in writing . - The economic situation in Europe and further afield is as grave as any of us can remember , and it is absolutely right that the European Union and the Member States do everything that they can to ensure that a recession does not turn into a slump and that where government action really can kick-start economic activity , it should be allowed to do so .
by 2020 , China 's economy will be the largest in the world .
action taken on Parliament 's positions and resolutions : see Minutes
the 2010 report on the progress made in the negotiations for Turkey 's accession to the European Union does , however , show the sluggishness of the process and the resistance of the political forces in Turkey to some of the fundamental provisions of the association agreement .
as an example , as Mr Audy reminded us , we have already implemented three concrete simplification measures for FP7 : more use of average personnel costs , easier procedures for owner-managers of SMEs , and a clearing committee to ensure a common interpretation of the rules .
however , I would like to make a comment on the strength of the euro . this is negatively impacting exporting economies .
we must acknowledge our share of responsibility in the destruction of our forests , lakes , rivers and seas .
I voted for the report , which should ensure more transparency for bodies that create standards in the construction industry , places an emphasis on recycling and gives SMEs an easier route to the single market with simplified procedures .
immediate and joint action is needed .
therefore , we hope that with this report we can send out another strong message that we are embarking once more on the harmonious development of the whole of society .
it should be noted that the world population is predicted to grow from 7 billion to more than 9 billion by 2050 , requiring a 70 % increase in global agricultural production according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation .
I support this withdrawal , but an unforeseen consequence could be that the theocratic regime in Iran would get an opportunity to attack the opposition outside its own borders .
all such systems should be based on common principles and standards ; they should take account of inherent risks as well as striking the right balance between the cost of controls and the benefits they bring .
the Achilles heel is the existence of tax havens in various island states , a number of which even receive support from EU funds .
media freedom is also under assault .
therefore , the regulations on subsidies must be reviewed every few years with these points in mind and , wherever possible , must also be simplified .
you mentioned Libya .
however , I would also say here that it is perhaps time to have a general European response by accepting Eurobonds and accepting the possibility of selling them on the primary market , to respond to the international markets .
Mr President , ' Europe acted as one ' .
such interventions have quite often been successful .
the situation is difficult for this small island which , in 2008 alone , had to cope with the arrival of almost 31 700 immigrants .
that is why it is also important now that implementation should proceed with the same dynamism and at the same pace .
we need stricter monitoring regulations for macroeconomic policy and financial market supervision , particularly by the European Central Bank .
you know that Commissioner Michel is speaking of collective punishment .
we want to take seriously the claims made by the Commission and the European Union that they really intend to combat climate change and to move towards the use of renewable energy , but then we see that the funding for this project is given such a high priority and we believe that this is the wrong decision .
we understood Poland 's problems .
the EIB has responded admirably to the serious liquidity constraints and the tight credit conditions resulting in serious problems in the financing of small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) and the declining confidence in the financial markets .
implementation of the Services Directive ( debate )
globalisation is here to stay , whether we like it or not .
EU Member States have participated in their national capacity .
I believe that on this point , Europe can and must do much to promote growth , development and employment .
it is important that we do not just brush these under the carpet and say ' do not worry about it ; it will all be sorted out in due course ' .
moreover , at long last we can look forward to ending a time of consecutive experimental periods , and to legal certainty for a problem that has been around for a very long time .
this concerns people 's lives , which are of the utmost importance .
we are going to send it to the regions , to the unions , and to the professional and business organisations , so that this debate is as decentralised as possible .
when will the Council - which is not present today - give its view on this ?
I would like to thank all my fellow Members once again and I hope that these reports will really have an important impact on international agreement negotiations .
( SK ) The report from my fellow Member , Mr Coelho , and also the draft regulation , concern the free movement of people , which is an essential element of democracy in the European Union , and it is therefore unacceptable to have persons holding long-stay visas in one Member State of the European Union not able to travel across the European Union .
twenty years ago , a wall came tumbling down , a wall of concrete but one full of prejudices , tyranny and hunger for so many citizens of the East , and today we should stop celebrating the fall of the Wall and ask ourselves instead what we should do now that it has gone .
you failed when it came to the report that I did on maximum residue levels .
the European Environment Agency reliably provides data and figures that are very important for our work , for the way we shape the future . however , I would like us to establish more precisely what overall cost savings the Union will achieve as a result of environmental improvements and to present these figures .
data can now be entered at 800 offices throughout Europe , rather than 50 offices as before .
we should certainly avoid proposing a lot of new measures .
Europe cannot on any account support the use of this sort of technology , either within Europe or outside of Europe .
do this , and this will establish the link - Mrs Berès was just saying that this debate is a bit like a melting pot ; fiscal coordination will help establish the link between the EU 2020 strategy , the report on the governance of the euro area , on the single market , and employment and education issues .
please make this very clear to the Russian side on our behalf .
from the six founding members , the EU has enlarged to 27 member states and represents more than 450 million people The European Union is more stable , more secure and has a bigger voice on international issues than before .
the outcome of this effort will bear witness to whether we are really concerned about a stronger European Union or whether it is just another demonstration and contest about whose position within the European Union 's structures is the strongest .
to this extent , as advocated by the Szájer report , some issues will be of utmost importance and require our stronger commitment .
this could have negative consequences for transatlantic trade relations , which I would warn against , but it is very important , nonetheless , that the EU makes it clear that the financial support provided for Airbus was in conformity with WTO rules .
it is currently also important to remember that tuberculosis is one of the infections that take advantage of the condition of those who are seropositive or have AIDS , making it particularly serious in these cases .
such an obligation contradicts the freedom of contract and exposes small and medium-sized enterprises in particular to considerable legal and financial risks .
I think we will particularly need your help in ensuring that the Council is on board .
I voted against this report .
the Council is very aware of that and I fully expect it to express this in the conclusions of the European Council session .
this is particularly relevant in relation to the exploitation of fields located in borderlands and to official plant protection action .
at a time when artistic achievements are becoming single-use goods and a major source of profit , when all-powerful global monopolies are being created , which are dictating trends and values , the report on the cultural dimension of our External Action Service and the cultural dimension of the European Union as a whole is more than just welcome .
at the same time , the European Union should actively help those Copts who are at risk to temporarily relocate to a safe country .
we welcome the announcement by the ROK President Lee Myung-bak that despite this violent act he intends to avoid escalation on the Korean island .
in order to strengthen the solidarity between the Member States , practical cooperation between the different authorities in the area of asylum is important as a part of forming the European asylum system .
I constantly emphasise that people with disabilities must be treated just as people without disabilities are treated .
the logical outcome of the democratic transformation of the aforementioned organisation , led by Mrs Maryam Radjavi , would be for it to be removed from the European Union 's list of terrorist organisations .
will the Commission bring forward a Europe-wide policy on personal assistance ?
I also support the proposed obligation to carry out a risk analysis and report its findings before a new product is released .
composition of Parliament : see Minutes
although we cannot ignore the lessons of the past , we must not remain a prisoner of them .
( DE ) Madam President , the battle is over and at least for the next parliamentary term , Mr Yanukovich will be president of Ukraine .
Mr President , allow me to take my turn by briefly congratulating those who have spoken on behalf of the parliamentary groups .
Mr Barrot eventually responded , four months later , saying that he did not have sufficient information regarding the petition and that they would try to contact the person who submitted it .
hydrogen powered vehicles are not included in the EC type-approval system at present , so Member States can issue one-off permits for this type of vehicle .
Madam President , this final proposal on seal hunting is wholly unacceptable as it grossly interferes with other countries ' affairs .
to suspend aid is a must under the present circumstances .
first of all , as some of you have said , we have to make it very clear that we will not be facing a situation where there will be absolutely no margin in the agricultural budget .
in addition , there is , of course , the public relations problem .
the EU proposal for penalties is particularly threatening to local and regional authorities .
the same applies to liquidity requirements .
their difficulties hinder communication , prevent normal education and unfortunately sometimes lead to mental breakdown and social exclusion .
in this respect , more money must be made available for projects targeted at young people .
to my surprise , he did not deny it .
we must not allow these people to be driven out of their homes .
in writing . - ( DA ) I voted in favour of the lobby report in its final version because in spite of everything it is a microscopic step forward in relation to the current situation .
Madam President , I welcome this package in principle , but we must recognise that renewables and efficiency gains are a domestic EU asset , which yields benefits for us , both as a sustainable low-carbon economy and for security of supply .
Ahmad Badr El Din El Hassoun , formerly Mufti of Aleppo , is regarded as an outstanding champion of inter-faith dialogue in a country where the religious communities in all their diversity still live and work together in peace .
what about the different voices there ?
because of these errors , best value for money was not ensured .
I thank the Commissioner that these problems have , in part , been remedied , while some of them await remedy .
I hope that Western Europe and Eastern Europe will not forget the special achievements of Eastern European culture .
the common market brings our whole community closer together and binds us together , introducing transparent principles for competition and encouraging the growth of entrepreneurship .
the debate is closed .
we now have legislation at European level and the framework decision on racism and xenophobia , which will be a key tool to tackle the racism that Roma people suffer from .
that is a good formula .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - Mr President , the Lisbon Treaty was dismissed by the legitimate Irish referendum , so of course you need a big programme to divert attention .
we have so far identified 153 acts which were not submitted to codecision before the Treaty of Lisbon , and which confer powers on the Commission that have to be turned into delegated powers .
I work closely with Scottish local government bodies on their concerns , and was delighted that the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities ( COSLA ) recently welcomed the draft EU Treaty as far as local government is concerned .
look at Greece and the stability programme , which was praised . I would like to stress that there is a major problem , and I refer to what I learnt during my visit to Greece last week .
that is why I voted for the report on the European Training Foundation .
I did pick up on , and will take away from this debate , the frustration of honourable Members who have raised the need to work quicker and further to address this problem and to recognise what is absolutely the most significant point of this , which is that this is not a bilateral issue , but a European Union-Canada issue , and we need to address it as such .
this would make it possible to carry out insightful and systematic analyses of European public expenditure .
now , it is obvious that this is certainly not about a new directive on services .
I will use my position as chair of the JPC to prevail upon the Icelandic people not to take up entrenched positions until such time as they know exactly what the deal is later on this year .
it is not a matter of good will : it is because general product safety exists in European legislation .
in writing . - ( FR ) I voted in favour of the report by my British colleague Mr Parish on the amendment of Council Regulation ( EC ) No 1234 / 2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products , which had been adopted on the basis of the situation at 31 December 2006 .
with the help of the European Parliament and the efforts of the different rapporteurs to get the package together and conclude the negotiation with the Parliament , I still hope that we can finalise this before the end of the year .
let us keep in mind , therefore , that the Portuguese Government is showing its readiness to support Qimonda by whatever means necessary , taking into account the economic size of the country .
the official control system in China was verified on the spot by three Commission inspections .
we can of course talk of the attitude of European institutions and how the overall situation influences the decision-making in a given country .
on the economy , I wanted to say to Marita Ulvskog , who is perhaps not here at present , that the Swedish Presidency is not at all giving up its ambitions on exit strategies .
the new Article 5 sets out the principle that the law of the consumer should apply , but allows the parties to choose the law applicable .
( EL ) Mr President , I have noted exactly what the Presidency said about the economic crisis , but it is clear that , with the exception of one country , none of the others can apply the Stability Pact .
the ENP offers us a wonderful opportunity to promote our values and to strengthen our relations with the countries on Europe 's doorstep .
we would need a specific chapter for what will be the biggest investments of the next ten years .
apart from the formal aspect , it is important from the perspective of united Europe 's global role in different regions , not only its economic , but also its political role .
( RO ) Madam President , the role of this report is to reopen the debate on forest protection at European level .
this is the reason why , as I have already said , even in situations where things seem more difficult to accept , the fact of learning and speaking the languages of the communities which we live alongside offers us important solutions in terms of understanding one another .
the tobacco industry does , after all , employ a large number of people within the Member States and , in times of crisis , the impact of any such measures on the employment situation should be thoroughly assessed before they are implemented .
through him , we want a consistent and uniform foreign policy .
over recent days , we have seen that not everyone and not every age group has unrestricted access to the Internet .
sometimes , simplification should not be made at the expense of the challenge that we could face .
that is a good idea .
in short , the EIB can contribute effectively to EU development cooperation objectives .
given that 18.9 million of those who are officially poor ( 78 million ) are in employment , what measures are proposed to address in-work poverty ?
so thank you all for this contribution to the complicated discharge machinery .
an increasing number of companies are relocating , taking advantage of reduced labour costs in a number of countries , particularly China and India , with a damaging effect on countries that respect workers ' rights .
deep-rooted bureaucracy is preventing industrial development and is damaging the competitiveness of products created .
in conclusion , I would like to join my colleagues and say to you , Mr President of the Eurogroup , that we value your work and know how complicated this all is - at least in the European Parliament you have support .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I agree that this is a difficult matter to settle .
through being more intelligible and more united , the European Union will be able to assert itself as the world leader in the fight against global warming .
I therefore think that a single border management policy should be implemented in order to facilitate integration and movement from one country to another .
how can a young person develop physically , intellectually and spiritually without access to the necessary nutrition ?
I think that , in this situation , Romania is entitled to provide Parliament with all the reports about its accession to the Schengen area .
I am also very pleased that we in the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament have succeeded , after a hard struggle , in ensuring that the social clause is included in the European Parliament 's position when we vote on this issue today .
because by " health and reproductive rights ” the author and promoters of this report mean the opposite of what those words actually say .
Mr President , I am not saying that I give preference to Mr Grosch or to Mrs Ţicău but I will speak about cabotage like my honourable colleague Mr Savary did .
according to the IPCC fourth assessment report , during this century ' the resilience of many ecosystems is likely to be exceeded by an unprecedented combination of change in climate and other global drivers ' ( e.g. spread of infectious diseases ) .
in doing this , we will purely and simply be barking up the wrong tree .
I hope , therefore , that the European institutions will consolidate efforts to implement measures designed to accelerate and improve the level of utilisation of a resource of such importance as the EGF which currently has very low levels of mobilisation .
I hope I will receive the greatest possible support for this report .
I agree with you on the need to improve synergies and coordination between all European and national policies with a territorial impact .
that is just one of many reasons why I support the introduction of the ECI .
on 21 and 22 January , groups of Ukrainian citizens blocked the access of cars to the Siret-Porubnoe border post , between Romania and the Ukraine , because of their discontentment with the requirement to pay for a visa for entering Romanian territory , whereas Romanian nationals no longer require a visa to go to the Ukraine as of 1 January 2008 .
corporate social responsibility ( vote )
the European Development Funds are , of course , one of the means of promoting democracy and economic development in the ACP ( Africa , Caribbean and Pacific ) States .
fifthly , we should direct support and aid first and foremost to countries and regions which have been worst affected , and not , as is being done today , close down shipyards in Poland , while in France and Germany , jobs are being protected .
we cannot always see this commitment day to day in certain actions of your government , with the result that unproductive confrontations with the European Commission cannot be avoided .
this is the reason why we are constantly saying that the more international and more extensive the supply chain becomes , the greater the responsibility of companies to ensure that the existing regulations are observed at each individual stage of the supply chain .
many people want to use the crisis to promote a new economic nationalism .
although women do more work than men , men earn higher levels of pay and still receive bigger pensions .
as you might remember , on 7 April 2010 , the Commission adopted a communication on the social and economic integration of Roma in Europe , which was the first ever policy document dedicated specifically to Roma .
I would therefore like to hear the Commission 's opinion on this .
we cannot forget that our economic activities related to the sea and the coast produce 40 % of the EU 's gross domestic product and , according to numerous studies , there is still huge development potential to explore .
having said this , I cannot but rejoice at the creation of the EEAS , and I hope that it will produce results to live up to what is hoped of it .
( FR ) Mr President , Mr Jouyet , Commissioner , I thank you most sincerely .
it involves optimising the output of existing airport capacities , and improving the planning of new infrastructure by avoiding juxtaposition of purely local solutions and the formation of bottlenecks .
the next item is Question Time ( B6-0168 / 2008 ) .
numbers have been thrown about in an almost casual fashion - a lot of 20s by 2020 - and conjuring up these figures is easy , but the hard part is reaching the targets which are now being set .
Madam President , there was nothing that made it compulsory for Mr Barnier to force this through with such a hasty vote before the opinion of the Court of Justice which , as we know , will be expressed during the first week of March and will deal mainly with two crucial points : the use of one 's national language to defend oneself before the European Union Patent Court and the very legitimacy of creating a patent court .
let us hope that it will not be interrupted by a volcano or anything or anybody else !
I should point out that the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic has rejected this idea and does not expect construction of the power plant to go ahead , within the framework of energy security in the Slovak Republic , before 2030 .
the proposal will not result in an additional burden on the authorities , unless Mr Corbett 's additional amendment is adopted , which would mean that at every stage of the procedure , the authorities would have to take action .
these include the application of patients ' rights in cross-border healthcare , ensuring patient safety and joint EU action on rare diseases .
today , we are well prepared to face the future .
the debate on toys and safety should really be held throughout the year .
for example , Mr Tannock mentioned Mr Julian Assange , a dissident publicist and founder of the WikiLeaks site , whose actions I do not , for all that , endorse .
I want to thank the Slovenian Presidency for its constructive approach to the enhancement of the EU internal market .
first we had the war , with the altogether disproportionate reaction of the Russians during the Georgian conflict .
this is vital if we are to prevent further species extinctions and enable biodiversity to continue providing the essential goods and services that we all depend on , and especially the poor .
Mr President , please excuse me ; I was receiving a report about the situation in Belgium , and I did not fully understand .
I agree that the fight against fiscal fraud must be incorporated into the individual national obligations of the Member States on the one hand , but it must also be incorporated into the Community 's Lisbon programme .
( PT ) Mr President , Mr Barrot , ladies and gentlemen , I , alongside my colleagues from the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats , voted for this report in the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs .
firstly , we have an ownerless capitalism .
- Mr President , in the midst of this economic crisis , a crisis conceived and driven by failed policy at Member State and EU level , the protection of jobs and creation of new employment must be the absolute priority .
Madam President , I would like to come back on what Mr Watson said .
19 .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I will be voting in favour of this report , as I think that the deepening of cooperation between the European Union and the ACP states within the framework of the partnership agreements is important .
I would like to mention that after the negotiations , my country , which was hardest hit by the energy crisis at the start of the year , received some resources and connections were established with the systems in Greece and Turkey .
Mr President , I must say that I really appreciate the broad support that the EU 's approach has received from almost everyone in Parliament .
it is a challenge , and we must strike the right balance between freedom and security .
energy efficiency marking is good for enabling consumers to make a choice but to start proscribing particular products merely because they use energy in a way that some do not approve seems excessive .
it is also important to state that the target of 125 g , as stated in the report , is acceptable and a step forward .
in order to prevent a situation where we create just one more institution , our political will must always be paramount at the creation of a new establishment .
if so , that is , in itself , good news , but why only in 2013 ?
let us stop these senseless negotiations !
since agreement on the draft regulation to simplify and clarify the Community rules on the conservation of fisheries resources was not possible in 2008 , a regulation was adopted establishing a set of transitional measures for the period from 1 January 2010 to 30 June 2011 .
( it ) Mr President , the amendment is the same .
in particular , it strongly supports the development of the Nabucco project and other gas projects and LNG developments in the region , as well as well-grounded oil projects aimed at achieving the diversification objective .
if it fails to do so , an atmosphere of mistrust will continue to surround the IPCC reports , something I think unnecessary and undesirable .
in my view , if we wish the Europe 2020 strategy to be meaningful , we must have as our first and most important priority the necessity for European countries to control their public spending , for their income to match their outgoings .
this strategy against ' radicalisation ' reveals the real target of this so-called ' counter-terrorism ' policy of the EU and its enforcement mechanisms : all those who resist and challenge its reactionary policy .
we have nothing .
the fact that the Court of Auditors has established that error rates are in decline is therefore praise for the work of the previous Commission in external aid , in development cooperation and in enlargement policy .
at the same time , total additional EU imports of tomatoes increased from 242 000 tonnes to 493 000 tonnes .
stricter accreditation of these laboratories will lead to increased public confidence .
the disastrous circumstances which now exist in that country merely go to prove that democratic values must be nurtured and cannot exist at the end of the barrel of a gun .
I propose a clear memorandum to re-activate the strategy in its original form , which mentions a central European route , one which will not erase from Europe 's development plans major ports such as Szczecin-Świnoujście , which is already suffering from the European Commission 's decision to liquidate its shipbuilding industry .
at the same time , Mr Barroso is calling for us to bring an end to the economic recovery plans soon - yesterday the deadline was set for 2011 - and for the budget deficits in the Member States to be reduced quickly .
the report by Luis Manuel Capoulas Santos , on behalf of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development , on the proposal for a Council regulation on modifications to the common agricultural policy by amending Regulations ( EC ) No 320 / 2006 , ( EC ) No 1234 / 2007 , ( EC ) No 3 / 2008 and ( EC ) No [ ... ] / 2008 - C6-0241 / 2008 - ;
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for a country 's human rights and political situation actually to change permanently , the coordination and comprehensive use of the instruments of human rights policy are required .
( ET ) Yesterday a Hungarian puppet show opened in Parliament .
finally , with regard to decentralised agencies , we have taken account of the life cycle of these agencies .
in 2004 , those areas were divided between committees , and we now have transport and tourism in one and regional development in another .
whilst you might well be wanting us to vote , we have a small problem with this , because we do not know what we are voting on and we do not know which way we should be voting .
the American bioethanol programme is a negative example of the extent to which that programme , based on maize , has had the effect of raising prices .
the Authority reached a high level of budget execution for both commitment and payment credits ( 97 % and 95 % respectively ) .
there is still no system for the protection of personal data in the third pillar .
the European Union must devote particular attention to energy security , both by ensuring constant supplies from Russia and by developing alternative projects , such as Nabucco and the pan-European Constanţa - Trieste oil pipeline .
so I am glad that the Commission and the Council of Employment Ministers will be paying greater attention in future to the social dimension because there are still too many people - the poorly skilled , persons with a disability , older workers , migrants - who have no access to decent training and good employment prospects .
I know a lot of farmers who are 58 years old and who would like to stop working soon .
we know that measures aiming to combat pollution or stimulate technological innovation , such as cleaner engines and intelligent vehicles , are essential .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , seven hours underground in a cell in the Belgian Palais de Justice , thanks to the Mayor of Brussels and the silence of the competent authorities , gave me plenty of time to think about fundamental rights .
what is Europe doing ?
Mrs Martens emphasised the need for an African solution to African problems .
this is a very important consideration when the Council is preparing a decision regarding the introduction of new sanctions .
the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance has therefore abstained .
ships that do not observe European and international rules on fishing should be banned and greater information on all ships that request access to ports should be guaranteed .
a European approach to the issue is important , considering , among other things , the mobility of patients within the European Union .
in the end , only two or three things seem untouchable , and in the European Council nobody has thought of touching them .
we are not asking for any measures to be taken on tax rates or the like .
according to Article 6 ( 1 ) , Slovak must be used in the text of adverts , whether public or private .
in the long term , they only displace the underlying problems .
surely some explanation is in order !
while car , computer , aircraft and steel companies merge , new or renewed global powers emerge .
however , we cannot support the reference in this report for all migrant children to be taught in their mother tongue .
after all , the European Union , or some European countries , developed their economies in closed markets .
this has not been an easy job for him - or indeed any of us - and the report before us has been much improved through joint working and has much to admire within it .
one example of this is the Romanians in Ukraine , Serbia and the Republic of Moldova , who are deprived of basic rights and are subject to an intensive process of denationalisation .
Mr President , in January and March we witnessed mass atrocities in Nigeria which caused the deaths of several hundred people , including women and children .
I also join the rapporteur in considering that there should be increased efforts to improve coordination between Community and international donors in order to avoid duplication and possible sources of corruption in the country .
we have led the way in defining how the developing world can make a real contribution to financing the costs of climate change in developing countries .
it is in the e-Commerce Directive and we are simply referring to that .
this is the unfortunate truth and this issue requires a great deal of effort on our side .
there has been a standstill for four years now , and there are many painful areas that deserve to be addressed .
Mr President , in recent years many EU Member States have been stricken by natural disasters such as fires , floods and earthquakes .
all indicators show that , at global level , women are poorer than men on average .
thus , the democratic control over the destination of public money is undermined , a fact that the Parliament firmly rejects .
this is the meaning of the much-vaunted European solidarity .
as a Spanish democrat , I sympathise with democrats who were victims of Stalinism in their countries , but I also ask them to show solidarity with those in Spain who lived through the oppression and suffering imposed by the dictatorship of General Franco .
those who are critical of significant economising are certainly on the wrong path .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - Commissioner , many of my constituents are babies and very young children , and tonight I would like to speak on their behalf , especially as there are many very good speakers tonight who can speak effectively for women in the workplace .
I have , for some time , been reading up on the phenomenon of Salafism and Muslim radicalism in Bosnia and Herzegovina , supported by scientific research , including in my own country .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Madam President , first of all , let me congratulate all my colleagues on the fruitful work done over the years as summarised in my report on inequality between men and women , and on the crucial issue of poverty addressed in Mrs Plumb 's report .
the denial of Israel by Arabs , Islamics and Hamas is unacceptable , as is using children as human shields .
the report contains a number of particularly important proposals .
I am the only speaker from the PPE Group , so I would like the opportunity to speak on behalf of my group .
these initiatives , which unacceptably exploit the dramatic situation of thousands and thousands of human beings , seek primarily to use the humanitarian catastrophe for political purposes and as an opportunity to achieve geostrategic objectives , ultimately compromising the pressing humanitarian aid which they claim is so urgent and necessary .
normally , we only welcome delegations from nation States but , since we do wish to bolster the regions , I will make an exception and wish a warm welcome to the delegation from Piedmont .
( NL ) May I start by warmly welcoming the new President-in-Office of the Council , Mr Bildt .
we have no doubt that any nation 's stability and development can only be guaranteed in an atmosphere of total democratic credibility .
the advanced medium-term review will also provide an additional opportunity to look again at budget support profiles in each ACP country and consider amendments , reallocation or additional funds from the reserve .
it could have agreed with the recommendation and made it clear that it had a reservation in relation to construction products which have a significant impact on the consumption of energy .
one important aspect relates to the deregulation of services , especially with regard to modes 3 and 4 .
we regret that the proposals we made have been rejected , including our opposition to the inclusion of the principles of flexicurity in the framework of the Lisbon Strategy , the review of the Employment Guidelines for the period 2008-2010 and the National Reform Plans , and the use of Community funds to finance attacks on workers ' rights .
the protection of national interests in the big European family , the preservation of the national identity side by side with the rapid adaptation to new realities should consolidate the efforts of all of us , citizens of unified Europe , for whom values are not just a hollow notion but a type of conduct , attitude and social response .
one hour ago , I was informed that a senior leader of the National League for Democracy , Takin Soe Myint , has passed away .
the unwillingness of the industry to continually raise the requirements for a certain class of energy labelling , for refrigerators for example , has resulted in a labelling system that is currently hopelessly complicated and difficult to understand .
the report notes that , of the 32 recommendations drawn up by the Internal Audit Service ( IAS ) , one recommendation , on the Agency 's implementing procedures regarding experts , was classed as ' critical ' and 12 , relating primarily to human resources management and management of conflicts of interest calling staff members into question were classed as ' very important ' .
it is very important that the trade relations of European countries with China be based , above all , on the principles of reciprocity , sustainable development , respect for environmental limits and fair competition .
18 .
undeclared work deprives workers of social protection and deprives society of social security contributions .
therefore , Romanian Social Democrats will be obliged to vote against this report .
in writing . - In Council Regulation ( EC ) 2007 / 2000 , the European Union granted exceptional unlimited duty-free access to EU markets for almost all products originating in the countries and territories benefiting from the stabilisation and association process .
in writing . - The annual report on human rights is inevitably a backward-looking exercise but I nevertheless welcome it .
the various measures proposed are going to radically change the energy ' mix ' of the Member States , lead to a common , even single , energy policy , incur enormous financial costs , weaken the competitiveness of our industries and therefore employment in Europe , increase energy prices for private consumers and businesses , have significant consequences for national budgets , and so on .
of these , the European Court of Auditors , internal monitoring bodies , and the European Anti-Fraud Office ( OLAF ) are the most important .
I have therefore voted emphatically against this report .
your report argues that the EU needs to strengthen its capacity to make its views on accounting matters heard at the international level .
on behalf of my Group , the Identity , Tradition and Sovereignty Group , I would like to invoke Rule 168 and table a motion for this report to be referred back to committee .
Gaza has become the dominant picture , but the occupation continues every day .
by we , I mean young people , who communicate worldwide .
these crises - the Caucasus crisis in Georgia , the financial crisis , the failure of the WTO - show how much we need the new-look institutions that the Lisbon Treaty gives us , and particularly a permanent presidency of the EU .
let us together send a signal to the communist regime that we do not consent to the violation of basic rights of the people of Tibet .
presumably , all this extra paperwork allows Luxembourgers , Latvians and Lithuanians to line up and run services from Long Eaton to Letchworth .
I would like to see the dialogue between the Central Bank and the Eurogroup and Mr Juncker , the Eurogroup President , proceed smoothly .
this is a new issue , and an important one for the European Union .
yet the Commission , which has no democratic mandate whatsoever , remains the only body that is able to propose EU regulations - and that despite the Treaty of Lisbon .
it also advocates a safety net and promotes the association of small farmers .
the General Product Safety Directive 2001 / 95 / EC ( GPSD ) , which establishes at Community level general safety requirements for consumer products , has to be reviewed and brought into conformity with the new legislative framework ( NLF ) , adopted in 2008 , through integration , in particular , with the regulation on market surveillance .
under the Specific Programme on ' Capacities ' , the research potential of the EU 's convergence and outermost regions must be unlocked .
but I have the misfortune to represent Britain 's largest growing pea-growing area , which has given me a huge problem with the Breyer report .
but it also showed that they remained convinced that this Treaty is right for Europe .
as a good Conservative Euro-sceptic , I should say that I hope it never is .
finally , on cooperation in the field of human rights , the current statute has proved to be a good basis for the European Ombudsman to cooperate with national ombudsmen and similar bodies in the Member States .
therefore , I can unfortunately only conclude that , in this area as in so many others , the Europe of Brussels has not sought to protect our industries and hence our jobs , preferring instead to waste huge amounts of money on globalist projects that bear no relation to the problems of our fellow citizens .
our focus should instead be on tackling the unacceptable levels of error in spending highlighted by the European Court of Auditors .
we also need a mechanism for allocating the overall number of immigrants between all Member States .
finally , I join with my fellow Members in disbelief that a European country as significant as Poland should have dissociated itself from declaring 10 October European Day against the death penalty and that as a result of this the Day has been put on hold .
I voted for the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) in favour of Spain because I consider that instrument to be a valuable resource for the support of workers in difficulties on account of the economic crisis .
this is why it is very important that the RAPEX system should be further improved so that it can serve the interests of consumers even more effectively .
( PT ) We agree with the aims behind alternative energies but it is clear that the food problem and hunger which seem to be increasing are making many people wonder whether biofuels are the right step .
how can we ensure that our policies are accepted by the local people there ?
that said , the proposal to establish the Institute and to give it enough space to justify its future existence deserves our support .
not so .
there will be an opportunity for this next month at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ( CITES ) in Doha .
in the current economic environment , it is more important than ever to justify expenditure on our priorities by tackling all wasteful and excessive spending in other sectors .
it is important not just from a social perspective but also in order to teach young people about nutritional culture .
this network consists of contact points ( judges ) who cooperate with each other to tackle the difficulties that may arise in judicial cooperation between Member States .
this Parliament talks of a single system among the Member States .
in writing . - ( LT ) I voted in favour of this motion for a resolution on the 2010 progress report on Croatia .
thank you .
it is a question of symbolic redress for the victims , of careful study , analysis , knowledge and acceptance of shared responsibility and along with that a shared closing of accounts at a European level .
that is again , I think , very important .
Germany , which feared an influx of migrants , applied transitional periods and is only now opening up its borders to workers from Poland .
in writing . - We sit here as a House representing 27 nations .
( DE ) Mr President , I have two comments to make on the so-called Eurovignette .
Croatia had problems with its neighbours , including Slovenia , but Croatia worked to solve the problems .
signature of acts adopted under the ordinary legislative procedure : see Minutes
it is about enabling our citizens to assert their rights .
with regard to the housing sector , it is possible to apply reduced VAT rates to renovation and repair work aimed at increased energy savings and efficiency .
its loss may fan nationalist sentiments and drive Serbia towards Russia , which , in turn , may apply the precedence of the Kosovo situation in frozen conflicts ranging from Transnistria to Abkhazia .
they are our future .
I am getting angry and I am sorry for that , but this debate is slowly getting on my nerves .
we have always maintained that there should be a reconciliation dialogue and that the dialogue should go on .
that is right : I think that the first reading is blackmail , because a parliament 's democratic process is to take a proposal , to contradict it and to go back to the negotiating table .
the result was that in December 2008 , Parliament passed a resolution , almost unanimously , in which it called on the Commission to get this possibility of freeing micro-entities off the ground from a legislative point of view .
we need a Europe that is uncompromising when it comes to defending its values and its interests , which rejects protectionism of all kinds , but without being naive , and which can demonstrate this proactive spirit .
the discussions , which took a range of opinions on board , were constructive both within the Committee on Budgets and during the preparations for today 's sitting .
I agree that at present the national action plans have only been partially implemented , meaning that the results too have been mixed .
new shipping routes are opening up , fishing grounds are available and there are more and better opportunities for viable oil and gas exploration .
but I want to say more than this .
I voted in favour of this document because I share the view that the system of monitoring and enforcement adopted by the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries needs to be carried into EU law .
I would like to highlight the fact that I met with Gary Kasparov , while he was a candidate for the presidency of Russia , in this Parliament here in Strasbourg .
albinos are murdered in a particularly brutal fashion in Tanzania , however . last year more than 25 individuals lost their lives in this way .
the Sommer report on information to consumers is wending its way through Parliament at the moment , and perhaps through added labelling - which would add to the traceability - the Council might agree with me that this would be a way of achieving this .
I was very pleased to hear both the words and the tone of the Commissioner in extending the hand of friendship to the people of Madeira at this terrible time for them , probably to be known from now on as Black Saturday .
transposing and understanding what it says on the labels is the basic way to pass on information .
I would also like the Council to be involved .
journalists should never be required to reveal their sources unless it is necessary for them to do so for the purposes of a criminal investigation , and that principle is valid whatever the political climate .
in the last few years , however , new inactivated vaccines have become available .
however , I do not think that anybody could be blamed for the way endowment mortgages went .
indeed , it is events in this sector - as would appear from numerous analyses - which will decide if the European economy of the future will be competitive in relation to other major world economies .
the standard references to alleged infringements of human rights in Cuba and other countries putting up resistance to the imperialist plans are raw threats , coercion and pressure to break the will of the people , so that they abandon their rights to freely decide their own fate .
furthermore , thanks to the preparatory action on an EU rapid response capability introduced by the European Parliament in the 2008 and 2009 budgets , the Commission is currently testing , with the Member States , ways to improve the overall immediate response capacity of the EU .
we can say with justified concern that things cannot continue in this manner .
the EU as a global actor : its role in multilateral organisations (
nor am I very hopeful when I see what is happening at the present time with regard to Russia 's accession to the WTO , and I would like the Commission to take great care to ensure that no more trade-distorting measures are introduced .
on the other side of the coin , there is the fact that we , of course , want cooperation with the United States .
I should say that a number of the roles we have given to the Agency sound more consultative than concrete , but we have tried to create opportunities for innovative regulation by drawing attention to areas where action is needed but the Agency does not have the appropriate powers to act .
( the President cut off the speaker )
there was a question on how we can assist in the region .
however , this advance must not serve as a disincentive to employ women .
there is an obvious link between them , for example in relation to the freedom to join a trade union , and the ability of workers in China to mobilise and demand better working conditions .
in writing . - ( PT ) I congratulate the rapporteurs on their excellent work .
Mr President , you have our respect and our support !
although it had initially appeared to be a very technical dossier , in the end , it was very clear that the political decision would find a solution for this report .
with all measures , it must at any rate be ensured that small and medium-sized enterprises are not swamped by bureaucratic expense .
Mr Posselt , we had already seen that you had arrived , although slightly late .
in writing . - ( NL ) The own-initiative report by my fellow Member Mr Lyon is an important one .
in referring to the building industry , Mr Cremers revealed the intention of all those who are supporting these views in the run-up to the elections .
the population of Europe is increasingly an ageing one and so we need to do a lot more for our youth .
this pioneering spirit has created added responsibilities , however , particularly as regards the quality of the specific proposals presented , which must meanwhile include both reductions and adaptations .
from my point of view , it would have been better if we had provided new opportunities in the Member States .
at the end of the day , if there is the potential for an increase in visitor numbers , it is important to organise things in such a way that this does not have a negative impact on the local population .
the European Union has been unable to be involved in this development because it adheres to a system of strict bureaucratic monitoring .
we need to ensure technical innovation and we also need to encourage and put forward a strategy to combat social exclusion and gender inclusion .
is the Council going to decide in favour of such positive discrimination ?
the vote will take place on Thursday , 20 January 2011 , at 12 : 00 .
without sufficient information about our energy infrastructure , we cannot give effective support to the European energy policy at EU level .
however , it appears that only a large-scale vaccine can avert the threat that this disease poses to the health of many people living in developing countries .
it is not only more than 12 million European farmers but consumers as well who are expecting specific results after the CAP has been reformed , which will have a positive impact on their standard of living and the quality of food being eaten , on the one hand , and on the competitiveness of Europe 's agriculture and food industry , on the other hand .
we need a collective response .
in Hungary there are many examples that demonstrate how mistaken conclusions can result in wrong decisions being made .
in today 's world , the risk or likelihood of a radiological emergency is indeed very small , but it should always be made as small as possible .
given the social impact of the global economic crisis , which has had a particular effect on employment , the proper use of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) is of pivotal importance in alleviating the plight of many European individuals and families , contributing to their social reintegration and professional development , while , at the same time , developing a new , qualified workforce to meet the needs of companies and boost the economy .
the Commission needs to tell us what is going to happen on that day , because it is inevitable these eggs will be on the market and there will be a black market in eggs of some description , so we do need clarity on this .
however , I cannot understand why it is not possible to negotiate with Turkey over the ' Energy ' chapter , for example , which is vitally important , both for the EU and Turkey .
Israel will not move unless it is pushed .
for this reason it is a good idea to give Ukraine the status of a market economy , which should bring that country closer to Western Europe and , as a result , should lead to membership of the European Union .
Greece is not the only country in EMU facing serious problems .
however , I should point out that anyone who commits a crime , anyone who violates human rights , because this is also important , who exploits children , who exploits women or who represents a threat to public safety , must be removed and returned in no uncertain terms to the authorities in his or her country of origin .
we should therefore maintain a strong dialogue with , and a strong pressure on , the Khartoum authorities to obtain their full cooperation , both on the CPA and also on Darfur and their processes .
this directive will be a huge step forward for Europe , both from the point of view of the quality of its policies and its effectiveness .
how could a disaster of this kind occur ?
finally , I see that the report calls for more resources .
the European Parliament and the other EU institutions have a huge responsibility to combat and stop modern day slavery , which takes many different forms : forced labour , sex slavery , trading in organs , adoption and begging , for example .
I would like to put a rhetorical question to Mrs Ferrero-Waldner : do you not wonder why almost all the speakers have drawn attention to the matter of the Sarkozy Plan ?
as the European Union speaks out for minority rights and abhors the death penalty , we urge the Chinese Government to open up the process by which citizens are tried and sentenced to death , and commute the sentences of those who were not given fair and open trials .
we need to safeguard farmers ' welfare and strengthen local economies .
what I am referring to is the refusal by the United States to cooperate with the International Criminal Court ( ICC ) in The Hague .
it happened during the 1930s and literally resulted in disaster for the world 's economy , and it also happened in the 1970s .
I take issue with this view .
after all , we want to promote dialogue not prevent it .
the strengthened framework for economic governance should promote growth and employment , with particular focus on developing and strengthening the single market , and on fostering international trade and competitiveness .
the definition which we have provided in the report is very broad .
not only that , but it is also detrimental , not only for our country - my country - but also for the other countries of the Union .
at the moment , given that the Roma population is spreading across the territory of several European states and is known for its tendency towards migration and involvement in crime ( a fact which has led to the use of the term ' gypsy ' to refer to many other citizens as well ) , the solution to the social inclusion issue has become a Community one .
this is particularly important to the ALDE Group because , as a result of the division of Europe , the historical transport links were broken and have not been modernised .
may I say in conclusion that I find the attitude and some of the decisions of the Court of Human Rights here in Strasbourg , which is not an institution of the European Union , absolutely extraordinary .
when is the Commission finally going to act ?
however , I also feel it is necessary to make the funding more conditional and more focused on central European initiatives , whether in the transport sector , in the energy sector , in regional and urban development , or in research and innovation .
the second part is the resolution .
thank you as well for the quality of this debate .
it would therefore represent a sort of moratorium on building coal-fired power stations , and thus endanger energy security .
Madam President , it was the Trotskyists who transformed Marxist class warfare into multi-grievance group warfare .
the Court has found Russia responsible for shocking human rights abuses in Chechnya that include murder , torture and illegal detention .
we shall not beat them by focusing on security issues belonging to the Cold War era .
this is a moment to understand that looking away from the suppression of freedom with the justification of safeguarding stability and economic interests is bound to lead to devastating political mistakes .
for this reason , we will investigate the possibilities for improvement .
- ( NL ) Mr President , I voted for the Weber report , but I have to say to you that it was with some reservations .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( PT ) Mr President , I would like to say that we would very much have liked to have adopted a stronger resolution on Copenhagen than the one on which we have voted here today .
we must not prevent the poor countries of today from taking that opportunity .
UKIP is furthermore sympathetic to parents with disabled children and those choosing to adopt .
on 17 December 2010 , a young university graduate set himself on fire out of sheer desperation after police seized the fruit and vegetables that he was selling for a living .
Members are voting on what he asked them to vote .
I think both should be in balance but both instruments should be used .
this situation has been going on for 16 years .
unfortunately , this means once again that we need to bring other political wills into play in addition to our own .
I ask that the European institutions consider this in their strategy and its implementation .
in conclusion , yet another topic favoured by the Eurocrats comes up again in the proposed reform : the handing over of the competence in this matter from the Council to the Commission , that is to say to non-elected EU officials .
in writing . - ( EL ) The centre-right and centre-left political groupings are competing with each other over which can lend more support to the interests and choices of big business .
according to a study launched by the Commission , an open agreement with Canada would generate an additional half a million passengers in its first year and , within a few years , 3.5 million extra passengers might be expected to take advantage of the opportunities such an agreement could offer .
when disaster struck , there was insufficient coordination , and even now , tens of millions of euros approved by the Cohesion Fund for forest protection remain unused .
these structural measures require significant investment combined with transparent and fair financing rules in order to support innovation and increase the competitiveness of European ports .
our intervention extends over a wide range of activities covering the political , economic , assistance and humanitarian aspects .
in writing . - ( SK ) The enterprising report by the rapporteur , Mrs Klaß , seeks a new approach to eliminating the obvious inequalities between urban and rural areas .
given the period of crisis that the country in question is facing , the plan aims to increase the amount of wine imported from Moldova .
the fourth certainty is that there are no reasonable signs , for various reasons , that the major CO2 emitting countries are going to accept an agreement of this nature , and that is the reality .
moreover , from the first day that it was completed , we would have , in addition to these emergency procedures , extra money for countries wishing to start carrying out resettlement , and clear categories for priorities to be used by the Member States .
this is a form of harmonisation which , to say the least , we can endorse , as it is a useful and even necessary measure , certainly in the Schengen countries .
( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , a biregional strategic partnership has been in place between the European Union and Latin America since 1999 .
in this respect , for instance , we should all work together to fully and effectively implement our legislation against illegal , unregulated and unreported fishing .
it seems unjust to penalise producers who can and wish to increase production in some Member States at a time when the EU overall is not maximising its quota .
finally , I would like to point out that all cooperation needs to be enhanced , through an exchange of information , frank and open dialogue and sincere recognition by both parties .
the Commission has also just proposed a regulation on an approval system for rating agencies .
we gave humanitarian aid to Chad in 2007 .
I would be very interested to know what you really think now .
this is all part of life for the aviation industry , but it is not only volcanoes but also thunderstorms , snow and such occurrences which all disrupt aviation .
Conservatives also believe in a market-oriented approach , not further EU institutionalisation .
in writing . - ( LT ) I voted in favour of this motion for a resolution , because there is an urgent need to step up efforts at all levels to ensure that the European Union employment guidelines are properly implemented .
I believe that it obliges us all to come up with a solution to a problem that we must solve together .
in view of this economic downturn affecting the whole of Europe , I believe that national governments and the European Commission must join efforts to support the car industry .
some of the EU-level employment guidelines entail increasing participation in the labour market , including that of specific population sub-groups , reducing structural unemployment and promoting the quality of jobs , developing a well-qualified workforce which will meet the labour market 's needs and improving the performance of education systems which will provide vocational training at every level .
I will not even count how many human rights it violates .
I therefore welcome this Parliament 's unfailing concern for these matters and , more particularly , the first speech in this debate on the plan for innovation .
I think they will be successful .
I sincerely thank Commissioner Jacques Barrot for the tenacious will he has shown in this matter , because will is what is needed , and a great deal of will at that .
with regard to coherence I would like to say that sanctions are an important tool , but they must be complemented with a proactive approach in our development work : support for human rights institutions , political reform , promoting of civil society .
with the anticipated intensification of trade between the Member States as a result of liberalisation , we have to be ever more alert to the issue of food safety .
it is six years since Directive 1999 / 70 / EC entered into force in 2001 and Greece has not yet complied therewith .
they naturally highlighted the mobility-related issues we all recognise and still face .
although that is purely incidental , it is aimed at the realisation of the goals which we share here with so many people .
I welcome the 14-day withdrawal right and the right to early repayment , which are good elements for engendering consumer confidence and encouraging them to look beyond their home market for credit offers .
following the adoption of the European Parliament resolution on the situation in Laos and Vietnam on 26 November 2009 ( P7 _ TA ( 2009 ) 0104 ) , what concrete measures have been taken to address the persecution and harassment of Buddhist monks and nuns in Vietnam ?
the deliberate decision to present the Lisbon Treaty in a form that is totally illegible to a lay person is , in this respect , a spectacular illustration of what I would call ' the ivory tower syndrome ' .
Mr President , Gordon Brown said today that there will be no need for another EU Treaty for at least 10 years .
something that was alluded to in the resolution , which we consider extremely important and which has not been tried so far , is coordinating our policy and relations with Belarus with its immediate non-EU neighbours , that is to say , Russia , which is our strategic partner , and Ukraine , which is part of the Eastern Partnership .
nor is the report offering feasible solutions to children 's problems .
why does the European Union need to have a policy on the harmonisation of consumer credit laws ?
moreover , in certain regions the allocation of structural funds to support projects relating to water should be promoted .
who will the so-called ambassadors of the European Union be appointed by ?
action taken on Parliament 's resolutions : see Minutes
this could be a very important initiative and work will be carried out on this front to respond to the phenomena that destroy these areas .
we cannot go on like this .
the current Free Trade Agreement is the most comprehensive one ever negotiated by the Union , lifting charges on almost all products and expanding the range of services covered by it .
with regard to the points raised by the honourable Member and to the first question , the Council would point out that it does not comment on reports in the media .
surely we should drive energy efficiency through competition in the European Union .
the European Union needs to stay , Baroness Ashton , and your interventions need to be continuous and to keep their European face , precisely as you yourself said .
if not , we shall be facing something of a crisis .
the end result has obviously been to some extent positive , at least with regard to countries that do not at present offer any protection .
indeed , although the climate and energy package , the revision of the Waste Directive and the revision of the IPPC should help us to ensure a sustainable future for Europe , we have a pressing need and a responsibility to revise the Sixth Programme in order to fine-tune EU environmental action over the coming decades .
when you think about it , if this green paper is coming forward , I would like to see the Commission getting some proper statistics - a study in fact on the effects of gambling and online gambling on EU citizens .
for this purpose , we will , before the Better Regulation Directive comes into practice , modify the Commission decisions on the Radio Spectrum Policy Group in order to allow this policy group to report directly to the Council and to Parliament .
in 2011 , a comprehensive text about protecting the victims , all kinds of victims - for me there is not a victim here , a victim there and a third category of victims - all kinds of victims have to be considered .
the way we see it , competition should be subject to strict rules and , as the crisis has proven , to state intervention .
unfortunately , some things have yet to be implemented in order to achieve common transatlantic goals .
to this effect , it is worth recalling that the Member States of the European Union remain free under WTO rules to use the different exceptions provided under the TRIPS Agreement in their domestic patent laws , including those provided for under Article 30 of the TRIPS Agreement .
we simply cannot regard these matters as Russia 's internal affairs ; we cannot let military action by Russia once again cause dependence and warfare in countries that until recently were subordinate to Russia .
( HU ) Mr President , the European Union has always been ready to criticise countries outside its borders in order to promote fundamental rights .
they emphasised that closure of two of the three slipways at Gdańsk Shipyard would rule it out of this competition and take away its chance of survival .
it should be noted , however , that the Foundation says that it has undertaken a thorough review of its recruitment procedures in response to the Court of Auditors ' findings , although we have not yet been informed about it .
many of us spent part of our lives under totalitarian regimes .
President Arias said today : we need an asymmetrical approach .
the Romanian Government unfortunately postponed the initial date for the European Parliament elections , that is 13 May , until 25 November .
it is true that many of our trading partners , the United States for example , have this type of regulation .
by stopping the practice of travelling to Strasbourg twice in one month , the Parliament can set an example in reducing its CO2 emissions and saving public money .
that is what democracy is all about , and that is what freedom of choice is all about .
secondly , I believe that it is critical that the Commission strikes the correct balance in the forthcoming " health check " on the CAP and the parallel debate in relation to the EU 's budget .
I have tabled a couple of supplementary amendments , therefore .
the way in which this Treaty was marketed was shoddy , amateurish and totally clueless .
however , this study showed that , despite the fact that we have tightened up the rules , only two Member States chose to put more money into market surveillance .
this also includes homophobia .
a more prosperous world can be constructed on the basis of a solid alliance between free societies which stimulate creation .
in my amendments to this report , which were adopted by the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs , I urge the Commission and the Council to ensure that in relations with third countries , compliance with the EU Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflicts is mandatory .
in this case , there is no formal Commission decision .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - Mr President , first of all I would like to thank both rapporteurs for their work on this difficult dossier .
the Community 's executive will then have to ' indicate the measures that it intends to take , and the reasons that justify these or not ' .
the next item is the debate on five motions for resolutions on South Korea - death penalty declared legal .
( the President interrupts the orator )
however , the powers of each Member State in the area of civil aviation are gradually being transferred to the EU , a process that is particularly negative when it occurs in an area in which there are no clearly defined limits .
like other countries , my country is going to have , and in fact it does have , a large public deficit .
on 12 January this year , the Commission adopted the communication on the annual growth survey .
after all , the Commission is a fairly big institution with many more areas of responsibility likely to be targeted by complainants but , of course , the figures can and should be improved .
I consider that sexual violence is the worst sort of warfare .
whatever the energy sector does should be considered in the light of the consequences that it has on climate change .
what the region concerned needs is stabilisation , not incitement to racial and religious tension .
protection for the civilian population comes from the north , it comes from the Israeli attacks that come from Herez .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , Mr Carlgren , ladies and gentlemen , the subject of climate change will keep us occupied much longer than the financial and economic crisis .
( CS ) Mr President , Parliament decided outside the scope of the Kyoto Protocol to include aviation activities in the scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading .
Mrs Beer spoke about the Munich Security Conference ; it was , I believe , an important event , at which progress was made in unscheduled talks because it was not a political forum for decision making , but an extremely important forum for reflection .
like those who have spoken before me , I would like to emphasise the significant progress that we have made over the last few months , and I would like to stress that , as we see it , the European Parliament has done a lot to put right what was proposed by the European Commission .
despite this we managed to find them and I can now state that the results of our cooperation will have a positive effect on the work of the European Parliament .
in my country , Spain , we now have a project pending in the Pyrenees .
nevertheless , a broad scope should not lead to a fragmentation of the instruments .
I think that importance has , at long last , been recognised by the Commission .
we have a community trade policy and a community customs policy , but we then have a series of national administrations that do not always work together in the most appropriate way .
the existing boats are too big and too dependent on fossil fuels .
the response to this critical situation ought to be the full application of Directive 2004 / 38 / EC on the free movement of EU citizens , which provides for the removal of EU citizens who , after a stay of three months in a Member State , cannot demonstrate a regular source of income and who refuse to embark on the process of integration offered by national and / or local authorities .
this will ensure the implementation of Community legislation in this area and the implementation of the directive that supplements this legislation .
so , Mr Leinen 's point that this satisfies paragraph 4 does not apply in this case .
if we do this , we show by our actions that we support volunteers .
the Commission declares that joining the Schengen area at the end of last year was a great success for the citizens of the new Member States .
it is most important to decide how the 20 % are to be assigned among the Member States .
I therefore think it is essential both to work towards better harmonisation of the WEEE Directive and also to reduce the administrative costs to small and medium-sized enterprises in the sector , without damaging the level of environmental protection .
these rules will ensure that credit rating agencies act more transparently , publish their methodologies and avoid conflicts of interest , but we need to go further .
my request to Mr Füle is as follows : I hope that the Commission does not consider abandoning visa liberalisation for the citizens of Albania as a possible sanction against the two opposing parties .
the Commission wants to extend the economic accounts to key aspects of sustainable development .
I firmly believe that , by pooling resources at EU level , we can help develop and promote successful policies to support young people .
Turkey is vital in that Process just as we are vital for Turkey in the Euro-Mediterranean Process too .
the greenhouse effect of CO2 is logarithmic ; that is , it is a law of diminishing returns .
they , too , are waiting for this signal .
getting the climate package together will not only save the climate - saving us from disasters and epidemics and avoiding costs - but is also the best preparation for times to come .
also , if we do not allow a critical exchange of views on the integration process , it will only reinforce the concerns of many Member State citizens .
from Teheran to Shiraz , to Mashhad to Alzahra , the web of Iranian universities participating in this consortium looks particularly promising .
I voted for this resolution because in their present form , the Commission 's annual reports ' on monitoring the application of European Union law ' do not give citizens or the other institutions sufficient information about the true state of application of EU law .
what we need is effective cooperation between the European institutions .
this report fully meets my expectations , particularly on three issues .
we therefore propose a precise definition of these types of discrimination .
the European Fisheries Fund ( EFF ) should continue to grant aid to improve the selectivity of fishing gear and to replace engines on grounds of safety , environmental protection and / or fuel economy , above all , for small-scale coastal and traditional fishermen .
we then go on to deal with NGOs ; we try to support the population by other means .
the amendments to the Emissions Trading Directive will certainly hurt various sectors .
however , although we should welcome the fact that we can now break through the wall of indifference under international law , we must also ensure that all due precautions are taken to guarantee that military force remains a last resort .
history shows that in East Turkestan , Tibet and Taiwan , under Communist rule it has sought to rule and to subjugate .
however , it was important for the compromise not to take the form of solutions that merely aimed at prohibiting any reference to ratings in any context whatsoever , where the latter had not been established in the framework of this regulation .
if Europe emerges from the crisis , energy will be much more expensive internationally .
the fact that 56 % of cases were closed having reached an amicable agreement or been solved is fairly positive .
I therefore fear that such a proposal would at this stage not only be ineffective but could prove to be detrimental to the EU 's role and credibility in overall Arctic cooperation .
in view of the fact that I am rather well acquainted with the country in question , I can respond , but I would not wish to risk any accusation of exceeding the bounds of the competence in which I am here before you now .
if I may , I will continue after a short break .
I therefore believe that it should be permissible to raise the cofinancing rates laid down in the area of basic data collection , management and use , with a proposed maximum of 75 % .
this is the work of cartels and big business .
Madam President , thank you for your response , Mr Rehn .
we know what the Supreme Court says , but that applies only to those who can reach the Supreme Court .
( NL ) Mr President , British Prime Minister Gordon Brown captured it perfectly this morning when he said that we must not bumble around , now is the time for action .
the European Union needs new economic governance that will ensure the stability and rigour of national public finances .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , President-in-Office of the Council , Mr Špidla , at election time we would have liked to have been able to present the citizens of Europe with a Working Time Directive which offered minimum health and safety standards .
in my own country , there is something like a 16 % take-up , and it affects small enterprises in rural areas , particularly where I come from .
it is possible that we will have to change the restrictions on obtaining individual EU budget resources .
how can that possibly increase public confidence ?
you will understand that .
the third point is that it is regrettable that the Members who have participated here in the debate and who have raised the issue of security problems have not been able to recognise the improvements which Parliament has introduced by means of this regulation , in particular , the obligation to consult the Schengen Information System in advance .
I would like to comment again on the Eastern Partnership .
I am referring to the Romanian presidential elections which are due to take place on 22 November .
in this way , we will prevent the radicalisation of opinion in Pakistan .
these reforms were carried out without democratic debate and without the agreement of the Venice Commission .
the Córdoba Summit , to be held under the Spanish Presidency , is a major opportunity to establish a comprehensive plan for the Roma people , leaving behind years of silence and racism .
Europe is better at providing help after a crisis than during a crisis , as I have already said on previous occasions .
it has blighted the daily lives of many Italians .
Russia is not a mature liberal democracy .
the Roma struggle with discrimination in Europe on a systematic basis and have to fight exclusion , violations of their human rights and stigmatisation .
my final point concerns mutual relations between the Council and Parliament .
there is , therefore , a compelling case for applying similar rules to these products in order to achieve more fairness in the holiday market .
it is likely to be many decades before there is a properly functioning international carbon market , so we need a new and additional financing measure now .
I voted in favour of this report .
first of all , we must make a genuine effort .
honourable Members know well that stability in the Middle East requires peace .
all the same , this is a matter of EUR 17 billion in VAT and own resources and EUR 14 billion in customs duties - which is almost 30 % .
the next item is a short presentation of the report by Enrique Guerrero Salom , on behalf of the Committee on Development , on the effects of the global financial and economic crisis on developing countries and on development cooperation -
the six-month Presidencies are part of a continuum , and I have benefited greatly from the efforts of my predecessors , particularly Mrs Merkel .
it is your task , Commissioner Frattini - especially as the Commissioner responsible for human rights - to defend the principles of the European Union and not to promote yourself again as a minister in a future Italian Government when required .
in my opinion the new agreement provides an opportunity not only for an EU sports policy but also for an EU sports programme , and I believe that its popularity and closeness to the citizens of the Union will resemble that of the Erasmus programme , which has become both highly popular and also effective .
in essence , we are not able to convert the high quality , basic research that is done in the EU into world leading technologies .
some studies estimate that between a fifth and a quarter of the female population of Europe have been the victim of acts of physical violence at least once during their adult lives .
many of them still need to be answered .
I would like to correct something Mr Onesta said : the European citizens ' initiative is not a petition - that is an aliud .
on the contrary , Iran 's long history shows us this .
nor do we have to do anything supernatural - we must simply stipulate that agricultural products imported into the European Union should be subject to the same environmental , social , animal welfare and safety standards that European farmers are obliged to observe .
I also wish to point out that we have set up a register .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
this is why I think that it is our duty to find a balance between two fundamental aspects of our life : liberty and security .
( the sitting was closed at 12.14 a.m. )
and only states legitimately have security policies and military capabilities .
Czech social democrats died in communist prisons ; they organised the first anti-communist revolt to take place in the entire former Soviet bloc , in Plzeň on 1 June 1953 ; they were on the front line of the Prague Spring ; they formed the opposition in the 1970s and 1980s .
I believe this is an elitist debate far removed from what is actually going on in the homes of our citizens .
( Parliament agreed to accept both oral amendments )
the 16th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council will take place during a particularly turbulent historical period , which undermines its very composition , given that some of its members are far from complying with the provisions of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and promoting and protecting human rights , in accordance with its mission .
the Goepel report adopted entirely the wrong approach ; I therefore voted against it .
in the justification for its standpoint as regards this proposal , the Polish Government pointed out that the unification of data at European level , together with monitoring of its quality , should lead to increased knowledge concerning the changing levels of demand for specific qualifications and to more effective monitoring of the situation in the Polish labour market .
it is an organisation of Israeli and Palestinian families who have lost relatives in the conflict .
legislators should be careful about aiming at compliance with laws which it is virtually impossible to monitor .
however in the provision of social housing , I think firstly basing it on income is just too prescriptive and does not make any sense for the reasons given by many people .
Mr President , the restriction and , in some case the prescribing of alternative medicines , herbal remedies , higher-dose vitamin and mineral supplements has been one of great scandals of European regulation .
let us include proper rules alongside the principles of a trade agreement , so that there can be economic advantages in exchange for rights .
in order to do this , it is absolutely essential to have arms control and disarmament , including general agreements on the dismantling of nuclear weapons .
restricting rabid relocation , counterfeiting and the exploitation of labour must continue to be one of the aims of the European Parliament .
Mr Rehn has just pointed out that the Commission has proposed the use of a European mechanism , but that the Council was not prepared to participate .
for all this , I also note a number of shortcomings in the present dossier and Regulation .
on behalf of the President of the Commission and the entire Commission I should like to thank you warmly for your successful presidency .
on Wednesday of next week therefore , the college will debate the Single Market Act in the wake of these discussions , before taking action and in the light of your deliberation and debates today .
this means that railway vehicles can be manufactured in greater numbers and at lower cost .
Member States should not play with two contradictory solutions .
the Single Market has always been one of the pillars of Europe 's economic development .
two of the joint technology initiatives adopted so far are fully dedicated to green technologies : ' clean Sky ' , with a European contribution of EUR 800 million ; and ' hydrogen and fuel cells ' , with a contribution of EUR 450 million from the European Community .
author . - Thank you , Council , for your response .
Mr President , I voted in favour of this resolution as it provides a balanced and realistic overview of the relations between the European Union and Belarus .
it is not the first time that the regime has launched an attack on members of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) .
the debate is closed .
( DE ) Madam President , the conflict in the Caucasus in 2008 , also called the 5-day war , was a regrettable armed military conflict on Georgian territory between Georgia and Russia , which also affected the so-called ' renegade provinces ' of South Ossetia and Abkhazia .
it is a political message that we can send to other states and their citizens , who are watching us from Europe 's neighbourhood but do not need to look on in envy because we are free to move around while they cannot even attend a university course in a European city .
the European Parliament is doing its job .
I have two principal fears .
these are the four things that need to be done , because nowhere in the world , fellow Members , is there a currency that is not backed by a government , by an economic strategy and by a bond market .
I know that you do not have any more money available to you .
the spark that started the fire can certainly be traced back to New York , but the fuel that caught fire is as much in Europe as it is in the United States , and all those political leaders who have worked on Europe 's strategic change of direction over the past 20 years owe our fellow citizens an explanation .
finally , I would like to make two concluding comments .
( DE ) Madam President , in my opinion , the general goal of politics is to create the framework conditions for achieving the highest possible quality of life .
however , this then begs the question : who is going to pay for this extension from 14 to 20 weeks ?
I believe that the regional and local media can have a much greater impact than certain centralised , more bureaucratic initiatives .
closure of sitting
thirdly , minority rights .
Mr President , just to add to Mr Méndez de Vigo 's point , the International Olympic Committee has a flag and an anthem .
unless that happens , it will be difficult to build trust and take steps towards democracy .
this is taken into consideration when creating several policies of the European Union .
we would therefore say straight away , Commissioner Verheugen , that , whatever guarantee of self-regulation producers wish to give , we will have to make it very clear that we will intervene with regulation should this response be insufficient , and that this regulation should not relate solely to mobile phones and mobile phone chargers , but also to other digital devices for which the same problem exists .
the Commission is working on AMR in close collaboration with its relevant agencies , in particular , the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control , the European Food Safety Authority , the EMA and the European Union Reference Laboratory for AMR .
in writing . - ( PL ) Mr President , I am voting in favour of Mr Ehler 's report on deposit-guarantee schemes .
however , in the meantime , with a view to addressing this crisis , we have created the EFSF and the ESFS .
as I have said previously , European society is ageing , which is often seen as a negative in economic analysis .
we must create broad channels of communication and networks between scientists and development practitioners to learn from each other .
the Commission has indicated that it is prepared to carry out a study of these important issues . it will present the study by 30 September 2013 at the latest and incorporate the positive results from the study into additional legislation .
in pursuit of the single market objective of the free movement of persons , goods and services , the Commission is encouraging the opening up of ' closed ' professions in those Member States where they exist , which in general terms is a move in the right direction .
lastly , there is one factor that I hope will be significant , which has also been endorsed by the European Council and was included in our proposals .
rapid and effective response in emergency situations is absolutely essential if we are to ensure that the EU demonstrates solidarity , whether with Member States or with third countries , and this requires strong political will from the various decision-making bodies .
the Russian State Duma even accused the European Parliament of interference in Russia 's internal affairs and used a bunch of lies to smear the Andrikienreport .
it is also true , ladies and gentlemen , that the Commission wants to step up the information campaigns through its delegations in third countries , within the framework of the EU external relations policy and on the basis of the common definition of the mandates and roles of FRONTEX .
I believe that , in this regard , the Presidency and I are in agreement .
this is an approach which strikes the right balance between European Union Member States ' security requirements and strict respect for citizens ' rights and freedoms .
I would mention Croatia and Romania .
I should like to call on the whole House , in particular the Presidency , to lend full support to this Saudi Arabian initiative and I should also like to remind you that , in addition to Saudi Arabia , there are at the moment even more serious situations in Iraq .
( applause )
in the European Union , meeting the climate change objectives requires an effective effort to reduce carbon emissions which will in turn impact on the conditions of production and the respective costs of an increasing number of productive sectors .
the S & D Group position is that industry plays a key role for jobs in Europe .
adoption of this report will enhance consumer rights .
in view of this , I would like to highlight the importance of strengthening cooperation as regards exchanges for young people and students and the development of scholarship programmes that will allow Ukrainians to become familiar with the EU and its Member States .
if we accept that hydrogen is only an energy carrier , we must remember that its practical application , in fuel cells for example , requires on each occasion the use of other energy sources for its production .
after all , the Schengen system stands or falls by a strict , watertight control of its external borders on the one hand - which , to be perfectly clear , is not taking place - and by a rigorous approach to crime in all Member States , coordinated in all Member States , on the other - which is found far too rarely .
Sun-loving northerners wish to thank both the Commission and the rapporteur and shadow rapporteurs .
there must be consequences if civil freedoms continue to be flouted , and the EU must make a clear improvement to the human rights situation a condition of continued aid .
that is why I find it all the more regrettable that our resolution today does not live up to these requirements in any way .
it is the responsibility of everybody .
it has been mentioned , and for us it was more than satisfying , that the issue of the Eurovignette , amongst other subjects , was resolved .
in this way the whole euro zone may be brought into crisis , because a delay would be poison at present .
by using Community instruments , the Commission will support institution-building in Kosovo and foster its political and economic development .
consequently , a comparison with China is important , but I would seriously advise against holding China up as an example for us to follow in our European work .
we must support emerging civil society organisations and human rights defenders who , internally , are the best advocates of the protection of human rights .
the EU Guidelines on Torture clearly stipulate that Member States must ban secret places of detention ensuring that all persons deprived of their liberty are held in officially recognised places of detention and that their whereabouts are known .
I am concentrating on this aspect of our resolution , because I do not believe in the effectiveness of our Parliament 's appeals or the appeals of the whole free world in putting a stop to the violations of human rights in North Korea .
we cannot accept this carbon tax .
this country has seen dramatic economic growth , making it one of the biggest economic actors on the global market .
in writing . - I have voted in favour of the Liese report , even though I have doubts about its practicality and its implementation .
two conclusions can be drawn from the above .
it would not be sensible , it would not be prudent , it would not be tactical .
the EU has also guaranteed that it will not meddle with taxes in Ireland , and this thanks to Dublin .
Mr President , an absolute majority is not the same as the rule of law .
the Commission will continue to work with all Member States concerned to resolve the problems identified in these infringement procedures .
at the same time it is important to ensure that in the case of a linked credit agreement this deadline may be reduced to three days at the request of the consumer .
the incident , which is the subject of the letter written by the Member of this House , is known to the Commission .
to show in this debate that the High Representative does answer questions , can I ask her three in particular ?
the next eighteen months will be the really critical test of whether the Bank can still retain its credibility . I hope it can .
they were addressed by Parliament at both stages and we think they should be in the common position .
why was Galileo not consolidated ?
documents received : see Minutes
Mr President , President of the Commission , ladies and gentlemen , the Portuguese Presidency and I myself have reached the point of reporting on our Presidency to Parliament with the feeling that we have done our duty .
tourism statistics and social and economic indicators illustrate the influence of tourism on the current state of the European economy .
5 .
the technical assistance to organise elections and the bipartite working groups are the least the European Union can do .
for example , we believe that it is important to invest in young people , research and innovation and in green technology .
it is a matter of the Commission and the Member States .
the report suggests that the different beneficiaries may receive EU funds from several programmes or sectors of EU activity , and therefore recognises that it may be instructive to be able to identify all the amounts paid to an individual beneficiary across all sectors - such information being invaluable , for example , in the case of company relocations , according to the workers .
an estimated 173 000 Mogadishu residents fled the violence in the past two weeks alone .
I was led to support the previously mentioned report by concerns for the healthy development of Europe 's current and future population , which is directly proportionate to the quality of health and full social equality of women .
this is an important prerogative of Parliament , as illustrated for example by its influence on the resignation of the Santer Commission in 1999 .
it is true that she has ended this , but her health is in a very precarious state .
thank you again also for the cooperation we have had with Parliament .
sporting activity helps to develop physical , intellectual and social skills , which is why sport should be practised both within the education system and in other aspects of social life .
in writing . - ( IT ) I would have liked to have voted in favour of the report into the fight against violence against women because its aim was to establish comprehensive measures to protect women who have been the victims of violence .
it goes without saying that I intend to throw the entire weight of our trade policy behind these two problems .
the key role the Doha Round could play in the current crisis was also recognised in the G20 global plan for recovery and reform issued on 2 April .
I am sorry that this debate is falling into political limbo , as we are already saying goodbye to one another and wishing each other luck .
there are also three associated states integrated : Norway , Iceland and Switzerland ; Liechtenstein should become the fourth .
in my opinion , the Member States ought to start pooling their resources under the auspices of the Commission to exercise a truly effective common humanitarian and development policy .
in writing . - ( EL ) The PASOK parliamentary group in the European Parliament voted in favour of the report on the Western Balkans because it is an important report , in that it clearly underlines the European prospects of the Balkans , which is the standard view taken by PASOK .
the present governing regime , led by President Deby , having come to power after a coup in 1990 and with a number of dubious electoral wins since then , has been reportedly involved in numerous acts of severe oppression and persecution against opposition politicians , human rights activists and journalists .
on outsourcing , I have no problems with the general concept , in so far as it improves services for visa applicants and as long as it takes place under conditions ensuring the integrity of the visa-issuing process , that it is a last resort and that the service provider operates in the building under diplomatic protection , ensuring consular officials are present to supervise the staff of the service provider .
I am sure that if you do that , you will have a very large majority in the European Parliament to support the initiative .
the Irish rejection calls into question the whole architecture of the Lisbon plan .
( PL ) Mr President , I had the pleasure of being a European Parliament observer during the first round of the presidential elections in Ukraine .
at any time , Parliament can obtain further information on request .
I am calling publicly on our High Representative , Catherine Ashton .
Mr Kohlíček and Mrs Ayala Sender mentioned pilots and crew .
in writing . - ( BG ) I voted in favour of the proposal for a single application procedure for a single permit for third-country nationals to reside and work in the territory of a Member State because I think that the growing wave of immigration to the EU needs adequate regulation .
this proposal is key to modernising the occupation of transport operator , through the uniform application of common rules in all Member States to authorise access to that profession .
however , if there is to be one positive outcome of the dramatic events that we have witnessed , then it must certainly be that the Arabs have taken control of their own destiny in order to better their situation .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( CS ) One of the important goals set by the European Union in relation to road traffic in 2001 was reducing European road accident fatalities by 50 % by 2010 , i.e. from 50 000 to 25 000 annually .
similarly , the Czech Republic finds the regulation questionable in light of the principle of subsidiarity , since it does not offer any added value that would justify its infringement on the Member States ' national family law provisions .
the question of prior authorisation has of course been an extremely important one .
unfortunately , too little attention has been devoted until now to the Black Sea , which is of geostrategic significance to the European Union .
it connects several capitals , including the two closest capital cities in the world , Bratislava and Vienna , as well as Bratislava and Budapest , and this is a really important and symbolic fact for us , the people of Central Europe .
- Before the vote on paragraph 72 :
Mr President , the aviation sector has been in the spotlight in the last few months .
to what extent have Member States correctly transposed and implemented Directive 2004 / 81 / EC , and what actions has the Commission taken if this was not the case ?
this event , therefore , holds particular value for us .
these proposals provided for the creation of three new European supervisory authorities in the areas of insurance , securities and banking .
let us do everything we can for Belarusians to see that Europe remembers them and supports their endeavours to gain democracy .
I wish to comment briefly on the creation of the EU 's common foreign policy .
thank you very much for your support .
with our plans for economic governance , we are now calling for the Stability and Growth Pact to be strengthened , both in terms of preventive and corrective measures , for a majority in favour of the implementation of sanctions and for the Commission to have the right to intervene , when necessary , so that the citizens of Europe can rely on the rules being followed .
the Commission calls upon Cuba to change its policy and to live up to its obligations under international law .
the proposed deletion of Annex II would prevent us from achieving our aim .
the same approach should be applied in the media and on the Internet .
the Commission has proposed a compulsory indication of the country of origin of certain products imported into the European Union from third countries .
for this reason , I voted in favour of the report repealing the eight Council directives on metrology .
I believe that it is only right that in documents designed to ensure the safety of motherhood , there should be references not only to these instruments but to other pro-life instruments .
in my view , this increased eligibility of housing for expenses cofinanced by the ERDF must lead us to consider other possible developments , in the medium and long terms , whether it be in terms of funding eligibility or of the earmarking of funds for certain strategic priorities .
he has tried to go forward on the question of migration in a way which pays much more attention to human rights .
year after year you have looked on , year after year you have approved this , and now we , the citizens , are having to pay the price .
the proposed revision of the Savings Tax Directive seeks to close loopholes and better prevent tax evasion .
this is one of six applications that have been submitted by the Netherlands and have merited the support of the European Commission and the Committee on Budgets .
first and foremost , it is about building on the SME base , which is the main generator of wealth in Europe , through venture capital , guarantee facilities , assistance with loans and simplification of the legislative environment .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
dear colleagues , I have a statement to read .
based on this principle , citizens and elected authorities should have the broadest possible access to the documents held by the European institutions , which includes this Parliament .
with the assistance of the Commission , Greece 's European partners were able to supply specialist airborne assistance with 13 Canadair water bombers and 20 helicopters - this information will be updated on Monday - and fire-fighting units on the ground , vehicles and other facilities .
these countries have already assumed this role , and it is particularly important that the EU makes sure that they retain it .
if Europe sets a clear strategy , then we can actually move things in the right direction , and although that is not going to be less challenging for Durban , I am sure that we can do this .
these warnings were definitely made .
on 10 March this year the Council called on the Commission to propose specific new measures for reducing the burden in respect of each of the 13 key priority areas in the action plan .
I do not wish to have anything to do with such a democracy , and President Pöttering 's derisive comments after the vote show that democracy in this Parliament , as in Europe , too , is dying .
she is , unfortunately , leaving us , and will retire on 1 January 2010 .
it is not too much to ask , and this evening , by discussing the new instruments to support SMEs , we can certainly go a long way in doing that .
according to recent figures , 14.4 % of young Europeans aged between 18 and 24 years dropped out of school before completing their secondary education , and less than one third of the European Union 's population have a higher education qualification , compared with around 40 % in the United States and 50 % in Japan .
as regards the report we are debating today , I would like to inform the rapporteur that my Group is again opposing the removal of exceptions both to the minimum size and to off-limits areas , exceptions which , as the Commissioner has said , were agreed at ICCAT .
( EL ) Madam President , Commissioner , to start with , I should like to congratulate the European Ombudsman on the exceptional work he has done over this entire period .
I have very much appreciated today the opportunity to exchange views on the events in Egypt and on the best response to them .
more cooperation between health systems will also create more solidarity and more health-care availability .
in some fisheries , 30 % of the catch is illegal .
the EU has to provide a plan which will address relevant areas and sources of financing .
in writing . - It is very important that the rules of economic governance are reinforced , especially in light of the economic crisis that many EU countries are still going through .
it has always been the correct approach for the EU to have such strategies and to have policies of cooperation and coordination that strengthen us as individual nations and as a unit .
we support the efforts being made , for example , the UNIDOC cooperation and technical assistance .
on behalf of the Commission , I will also make a formal statement :
I hope the process of lasting peace through a two state solution will be supported by the Goldstone findings .
we support all measures designed to eliminate difficulties in achieving this objective : facilitating access to documents , reducing the costs of legal procedures and reversing the burden of proof .
it seems that the Commission has not completely familiarised itself with the Lisbon Treaty , and it looks as though some officials have decided to take decisions that should , in fact , be made by Parliament .
according to the action plan for improved communication with the citizens , in 2006 the Commission set up a web translation service within DG Translation , thus increasing its capacity for multilingual communication .
as an example we might mention here the comprehensive EPA intended for the West African economies .
most of all , the fact should be emphasised that the EU and the Russian Federation maintain permanent relations and that their good relations as neighbours influence stability and security not just within the continent of Europe .
I also believe that the EU will operate more effectively if the Lisbon Treaty is passed in my country .
some advocate the Internet exclusively .
Italian authorities must refrain from fingerprinting Roma and I voted in favour of the resolution .
the economic convergence of States must not , however , be confused with the convergence of social groups within those States , a process subject to the imperatives of equity and social justice .
you are therefore demanding a minimum 5 % increase in the EU budget .
thus , it has a right to be here ; it does not need to be invited .
the success of this Agreement reflects the European Union 's clear and mutual interest in concluding partnership agreements , notably in the fisheries sector .
I would like to say very quickly that there is no doubt whatsoever that in the European process there is , of course , constant negotiation between the institutions , but that the Commission 's position has consistently been to uphold the Community method and advocate going further with the single currency .
the first consultation phase ended in December 2009 and the Commission has received 1 700 proposals and held more than 125 meetings and seminars to date .
my simple recommendation to the Icelandic people is for them to wait for the final outcome of the negotiations before adopting a stance .
Mr President , I want to tell you all about the latest development concerning the European Arrest Warrant .
illegal immigration , with its trail of human tragedy and misery and with the criminality that is linked to illegal networks of this kind , needs to be combated .
a summary analysis of the Black Sea region leads to the conclusion that the negative challenges in this area persist or are , indeed , gaining in intensity .
only France , which has long provided financial support for families , has an index approaching 2 .
one example - to which Mrs De Sarnez referred - is the issue of financial regulation .
it really is intolerable that we have to deal with such things .
it has called on the Commission to eliminate the risk of poverty among pensioners and secure for them a decent standard of living .
it is true that the Court , in doing its job , points out errors and irregularities in relation to these funds .
you have rightly insisted on swift compensation for these completely undeserved and unjustified acts of suffering .
however , there is one particular area that I want to comment on , and that is the area of inspections .
if the European Commission does not feel itself to be sufficiently competent to decide on the conduct of investigations , then the only option is for such decisions to be taken in the European Council .
single parents are at particularly high risk of poverty and society needs to show more solidarity in this respect .
in my view , however , the efforts made by this state should be given their due , and the whole of the EU should support such action .
the outcome is the exact opposite of that expected .
now , a few more specific comments in relation to your remarks ; first of all , as I explained , the overall position of the Commission on bluefin tuna will be adopted very soon .
however , this means rejecting all forms of terrorism and violence and it means cooperation on a strategy to implement human rights .
unemployment has not yet changed for the better .
the report prepared in June 2010 by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe publishes information about further cases of human rights violations in the North Caucasus .
it noted , however , that certain aspects of the public procurement process could be improved .
I therefore believe that it is essential to establish a legislative framework that recognises the rights of the child so that they can be codified in legal form .
closure of the sitting
Mr President , as often in these debates I find that we do not get an answer to our questions .
yes , we are faced with a paradigm shift which boils down to two questions : what should be changed , and , secondly , what can we start by changing in regard to energy production ?
we must take the Irish ' no ' seriously and we cannot simply revert to ' business as usual ' .
unfortunately , part of EU society continues to live in poverty .
the most important issue is not to punish the illegal workers from third-party states , but to penalise the employers , who are in a much stronger position .
do you know who the Greek prime minister was under whose government all those excessive debts accumulated , causing the crisis in Greece ?
we must go back to the drawing board and lay new foundations for the European project so that it responds to the crises currently facing us - financial crisis , food crisis , energy crisis - but also responds to the considerable problems we must tackle .
the third , and essential , requirement was for the instrument of stopping or suspending payments to be used to a greater extent .
secondly , an institutional commitment to cultural and creative industries would enable talented young people to constructively channel their skills and ambitions , offering them launch platforms , some professional , that would then lead to new job opportunities , while saving them from frittering away their talents in areas that are culturally stagnant or simply unfit for purpose .
there is a desire for citizenship , especially where the youth of the world are more aware and educated .
I wish to thank you for a constructive and forward-looking debate .
like all experiments , if it were to be successful , the practice would spread .
that remains open and can be discussed , but in any case , Parliament will have the opportunity to give its political judgment on the agreement before any proposals for early application are put forward .
needless to say , I regret the absence of the Council , and of the Czech Presidency in particular .
however , I would like to emphasise in particular that I voted against the wording in the resolution that urges the EU , in the negotiations , to propose a tax rate of 0.01 % on financial transactions .
the Internet has no borders , so if we have different online gambling rules and provisions , it will be like the climate change problem ; much talk and , sadly , few results .
the women and men who do not appear officially are our advisors , assistants and administrative staff .
a very warm welcome to you .
the requirements for accessing the profession , namely repute , financial standing and professional competence , correspond to a clarification of this activity , which we hope will allow it to prosper in a more transparent manner , affording customers better protection and safety .
I particularly welcome what you said about Cyprus and I wish you every success in implementing your ambitious climate targets .
Member States should find a balance between high international safeguards and standards in order to safeguard the rights of the child and the reduction of bureaucracy and the facilitation of international adoption procedures .
we have defended the dignity of the working person , we have defended a socially-committed Europe and a Europe of solidarity .
the situation in Laos is not much better .
women ought to be adequately represented in all political , economic and social bodies in the agriculture sector so that decision-making processes are informed by both male and female perspectives .
what we demand in this report is , firstly , a stronger commitment in terms of military presence , because without that we shall get nowhere ; secondly , a stepping-up of the commitment to improve democratic structures in the new Republic of Afghanistan , which has fallen into a situation of total lawlessness over the past 30 or more years and , worst of all , lies at the heart of international terrorism .
we consider that any grant of public aid to undertakings must be conditional upon long-term commitments by those undertakings in terms of regional development and employment , and they must not be granted any aid that may be used to promote relocations .
as I see it , the greatest risk that we face with this financial crisis is not the lack of capital for the lending market ; the greatest risk is that it triggers protectionist trends .
my Government in the UK has taken the lead on this issue by reducing VAT by 2.5 % until 2010 , and I hope other Member States will also follow suit .
we will have to , in some way , adapt the neighbourhood policy , firstly within our own continent , through association and stabilisation agreements and then through the enlargement policy , and also outside our continent , through the Union for the Mediterranean .
by the end of last year , pig producers had already had to cope with a drop of EUR 0.13 .
I agree that in many respects the EU must go deeper and I also firmly believe that this is happening .
we are all politically active and know that in the political domain , when we are inward-looking and discuss names and leadership our citizens perceive this as us having turned our backs on them .
I propose an internal trading mechanism to give manufacturers maximum flexibility and give incentives to the makers of low-emission vehicles .
we will in fact get to where you would like to be by following the voting list and voting on the amendments .
this instability is having an adverse effect on the process of far-reaching institutional reform needed if it is to join the EU .
this report reiterates its opposition to pitting against each other the different policies that fall within EU competence and insists on the need to mobilise sufficient funds , consistent with the EU 2020 strategy .
I hope that Slovakia 's accession to the euro area will be preceded by an information campaign that will convince and above all properly prepare Slovaks for the change in currency .
Mrs Fraga said that we could have done more before .
on behalf of the S & D Group . - ( SV ) Mr President , I would like to express my sincere thanks to the rapporteur , Mr Kalfin , who has done a sterling job .
Madam President , over the last nine years , nearly 80 airlines have gone bankrupt in the European Union .
I am putting it slightly more broadly than the honourable Member did , but very deliberately so .
the Solidarity Fund is very young and so its limits have been set very high .
I know from talks with the Slovenian Presidency that their proposals will tend to aim for a longer rather than a shorter grace period .
that is all I have to say on the matter for now .
we still need much in the way of product development , however .
we do want more and better relations with Israel and with the Palestinians , and we have to demonstrate that through clear conditions and clear actions , and not just words .
safety and the common good are the priority .
unfortunately , I must admit today that reliable data does not yet exist on where particular excluded groups are concentrated , hence it is impossible to cross-match our newly available information on what and where cohesion policy resources are spent on with the location of such groups .
nor does an increase in birth numbers in the EU , which is the desired solution to the problem of an ageing population , have to be regulated at EU level .
the Commission is extremely worried about the situation in Latin America , especially in Mexico and Guatemala .
I voted for the draft revised directives on the energy performance of buildings because I believe that new buildings should abide by the principle of energy saving and that binding standards should apply in this area , so that they are respected effectively everywhere .
( FI ) Madam President , this was an extremely important subject for debate , and I think that it would have been important if Parliament had sent a clear message that we are very worried about what happened .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , the area of patient safety and healthcare quality is one of the main priorities of the Czech Presidency in the area of public health .
this includes , in particular , the footnotes that were adopted in the text today .
but then when it comes to tuna where there is a significant increase of allocations for that same Member State , then that works out in the Member State 's favour and we have received no complaints in that regard .
whether it is raining or snowing , whether we are in a crisis or a boom - it is always the same ideology , but it has nothing whatsoever to do with empirical economic reality .
these uncertainties are even higher regarding economic developments next year , but we expect growth in both the EU and the euro area to remain relatively weak next year .
results of the G20 summit ( debate )
finally , the EU should place Hezbollah on the list of proscribed terrorist organisations .
it is regrettable that in different Member States , there are different levels of care for people with epilepsy .
that is more than what the Commission estimates it would cost if we tightened up our target to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 30 % .
as a result , it must be vigorously combated .
rapporteur . - ( ES ) Madam President , as others have done , I would like to address my fellow Members and the Commissioner in order to thank them for the work they have all carried out , on which I believe we can congratulate ourselves today .
Romania supports the 20-20-20 target on cutting carbon emissions by 20 % , increasing the proportion of energy obtained from renewable resources by 20 % and boosting energy efficiency by 20 % .
why should it only be the airlines that receive compensation ?
49 .
no army is able to guarantee the survival of its men in Afghanistan , and are we supposed to be able to guarantee that the lives of the migrants that we send back to that country will not be endangered ?
one road leads to a slowdown in European integration , and possibly a break-up .
in reality , the choices made by the EU to stamp out these hideous crimes leave us divided and deeply uncertain .
if by chance there was a lack of powers or resources , the reform of the Treaty was surely a lost opportunity to strengthen this post .
in the future , the new European security strategy will of course be there and I hope that we can establish a strong , human-centred approach to security , because human security aims exactly at encompassing human rights , security and development concerns .
we believe it is in our interest .
unfortunately I will have to leave the Chamber in a few minutes .
relations between Europe and Central America , so close in a time of war , have become distant in a time of peace .
many citizens in Europe , like their national governments , have been forced into economy and restricted spending by the consequences of the financial and economic crisis .
and fifthly , when the Commission - and Parliament - arrange seminars with high-level groups , we should apply the same rules as Norway for industrial boards , i.e. the 40 : 60 percentage .
( explanation of vote cut short pursuant to Rule 163 ( 1 ) of the Rules of Procedure )
the Commissioner has undertaken to adopt a strong stance in negotiations with the United States on the issue of visa-free tourist travel for citizens of all European Union countries .
it is important to stress that the Commission would have to apply an alternative programme if the SIS II project is unsuccessful , and that Parliament should be included in the decision making as regards migration .
you won the respect of my group because you had hitherto worked very sensitively in what is a sensitive area of politics .
and we have a directive turned into a regulation .
Europe has changed , the world has changed , and it has entered a crisis .
I believe that the measures taken under the cohesion policy are fundamental to promoting sustainable development and eliminating unemployment , poverty and social exclusion , which constitute grave social and economic problems in Europe .
the Irish voters should be respected .
in an unprecedented move by the Turkish occupying regime in Cyprus , the Christian religious service in the Church of St. Synesios in occupied Rizokarpaso was violently interrupted and ultimately cancelled .
Mr President of the Commission , it is in a time of crisis that we can change some rules , and only during a time of crisis because , after the crisis , everyone forgets very quickly .
texts of agreements forwarded by the Council : see Minutes
I therefore think that it is particularly unfortunate that the Council is not here to participate in the debate , as I think that we have a joint responsibility to ensure that these decentralised authorities are controlled and monitored .
that is another reason why we need this directive .
in writing . - I welcome this report , which paves the way for collective action from Europe as regards obtaining accurate figures relating to VAT fraud , and what it costs Britain each year .
it is not a question of who is right and who is wrong , but of the need to put the political dialogue back into the domain of the political institutions .
this is what has created problems .
this , however , would have contributed nothing to the solidarity of the European countries that sent helicopters , water bomber units and fire-fighters to assist their Greek colleagues , as they did two years ago in Portugal , and as they will do in years to come whenever a Member State requires their assistance .
this is a very important signal , and the next step will be to ensure that it is reflected in CO2 reduction targets .
to do that in Europe is one thing but to do it to the developing world and to the poor is , as the authors of this question said , reprehensible .
Haiti imports 80 % of the rice that it consumes .
consider the recent decision to strengthen bilateral relations with this country or the shameful abstention by the countries of the EU on the resolution adopted by the UNHRC .
I heard some concerns about the potential side effects in the form of additional immigration .
I voted in favour of the motion for a resolution on the waste crisis in Campania , long-standing problem that it is , because I do not believe that the responsibility for the current situation can be attributed to one government alone .
on the subject of secret CIA detentions , the Commission has spoken to Poland and Romania on several occasions to emphasise the need for investigations to be launched .
this is firstly because a sum of money does not constitute an anti-crisis measure if it is not drawn down in 2009-2010 .
the PSE Group also considers it important to intervene as little as possible in the traditional livelihoods of indigenous peoples .
even when maladministration is not found , I may identify opportunities to improve the quality of administration provided by the institutions . if so , I point them out in a further remark .
and with this , Europe will lead the way strongly for the rest of the world .
this is by far the highest support , compared to other agricultural sectors , creating distorted incentives and high levels of inefficiency .
( SV ) Fellow Members , there is nothing fanciful about experience .
well-functioning market surveillance is a very important element in the directive .
in this context , I would like to appeal to the Presidency , and personally to Mr Zapatero , to take a special interest in the situation in Belarus .
I would like us to look at gender policy in categories of a huge , untapped social potential , and , therefore , within the next 10 years of this generation , the disproportions should be evened out in every area if we want to think of a rapidly developing society .
as we have said , the Council is conducting a very developed dialogue between the European Union and China .
finally , the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms , endorsed by the European Union , are two similar yet distinct documents .
EGNOS is the forerunner of the Galileo system .
equally , a system of classification must take into account the needs of the elderly and the disabled .
Cancún would be not nearly as bad , of course .
as Mr Mate knows , I ventured to point out that , on another subject that , relatively speaking , is in fact not at all similar , the Open Skies question , it was because the Commission had the mandate at a particular time that we were able to achieve the first stage of the Open Skies .
I liked the expression you used , Mr President , concerning the conflict between Russia and Georgia .
secondly , the United Nations Operation in Côte d 'Ivoire and the African Union must continue their activities .
( the President cut off the speaker )
secondly , I would like to thank all the parties involved for their efforts .
these contributions from Members will certainly help us to continue the work in the Council and in the Commission with a view to drawing up a code of conduct .
having said that , the President of the European Central Bank has indeed told the European Council that , in Europe , we may think that at least 1.2 % of our GDP will have an automatic stabilising effect .
the vote will take place tomorrow .
you need to take action to accelerate the response and enable us to progress on a more harmonised basis , with a better and more transparent understanding of deposit-guarantee schemes and how they operate in the European Union .
the next item is voting time .
however , with the Presidential Council 's rejection of the provincial powers law , there is still uncertainty as to whether this limited progress can be consolidated .
when Europol was first established in the early 1990s , it was presented as a clearing house - as a regional branch of Interpol , if you like .
also I would like to stress that cross-border services are provided in many different ways .
the interest earned by the Commission on deposits lodged in accordance with Article 4 and the fines collected in accordance with Article 5 and 6a should constitute other revenue referred to in Article 311 of the Treaty , and will be allocated to the European Financial Stability Facility .
ladies and gentlemen , I think it is essential to make progress on all these issues and for the Union 's foreign policy to form part of this .
various priorities are identified in the Catania report , ranging from social rights to data protection and the protection of minority rights , among others .
as regards the last fifteen years , I can give you my own assurance , having been personally involved in my capacity as a member of the OSCE and otherwise .
when we were negotiating the Lisbon Treaty in Brussels , France fought to ensure that Poland could take its place in the Lisbon Treaty .
I would congratulate Serbia on the progress achieved in the reform process .
I voted in favour of this important resolution on the state of play of the EU-India free trade agreement negotiations .
the Turkish Government had agreed to scrap or at the very least reform this article by the end of the year , but nothing has been done .
the time has come to stop the flow and encourage its reversal .
I have voted in favour of this report in the hope that it will form the basis for better coordinated strategies in future and will counteract these negative developments .
perhaps I can say a few words on each of them in turn .
although it will indeed not be possible to state ' this is not a toy ' on products that look like toys , producers will unfortunately label their toys as ' decorations ' .
the Commission should earmark funds for a promotional campaign .
let us be clear : in the past , some national politicians have resisted stronger mechanisms of governance within the Lisbon Strategy .
on this point , I want to stress the importance of child care facilities .
in addition , an annual review of compliance with all data protection standards , with the involvement of data protection supervisors , is provided for .
it is also important to take account of demographic change .
that being said , I still regret the lack of balance in this text on certain issues .
I would also agree with the rapporteur that , when implementing the principle of free movement in Europe , social conditions should be set out in a precise manner .
( FR ) Mr President , I would like to highlight two elements in relation to the gas market .
we are paying special attention to non-tariff barriers and to rules and regulations in key areas , such as intellectual property rights , competition and government procurement .
it shows that the Polish shipyards are treated exactly the same as the German shipyards .
I think one way of effectively limiting the crisis is to expand world trade .
these figures require attention to be paid to the problem and that measures be taken to solve it .
this does indeed show that we also have to invest our own European satellite navigation system .
my question today is why does the EU continue to keep the Iranian opposition movement on a black list , despite the fact that the British courts ordered it to be removed from that list ?
we are of the opinion that the Gál report certainly contains good elements , but overall it stresses too much the role of the EU in areas which we believe to be the exclusive competence of the Member States , such as immigration and judicial systems .
none of this , however - and let me make this very clear , as Martin Schulz has done on many occasions - none of this justifies the Russian intervention which , after all , has been ongoing for years .
for our small and medium-sized enterprises , this means saving on administrative expenditure and profiting more quickly from the sale of new fibres .
we already have quite intensive political consultation in the Council when it comes to showing solidarity , but this is also a question of political will .
but at that stage I did not hear anyone talking about a milk fund , and that is the reason why , because we know that the dairy sector is facing difficulties , we have now added to the new challenges a milk line .
last year , we provided close to EUR 17 billion in funding for projects that contribute directly to reducing the volume of greenhouse gas emissions .
I would have to do so at least twice a week .
as always , this has been done very thoroughly .
that is what the Council signed up to .
we need to pay more attention to peripheral rural regions .
I believe that Romania has entirely demonstrated good will in its cooperation and has supplied the Commission and European Parliament with all the necessary information , as well as with all the results of the investigations carried out on this matter .
for the development of public transportation , policies are required at local , regional or national level for partially or completely subsidizing public transportation services for certain categories of people such as : pupils , students , pensioners , and disabled persons .
why not apply Articles 5 and 121 to deepen fiscal and social policy ?
one can only hope that , with the aid of these two bodies , the needs of users will have a greater impact on the statistical work programme and that the Code of Conduct will strike such firm roots that deliberately or mistakenly delivered misinformation or inaccurate data will become a thing of the past .
the ECR Group has grave concerns about the legitimacy and biased nature of the report produced by Judge Goldstone and , especially , do not want to see members of the IDF or politicians indicted for war crimes .
it is also important to develop a second production line .
a vote for this package is a vote for consumer confidence in holiday products , for clear consumer information , and for a competitive and responsible holiday industry .
I am voting for this draft legislative resolution of the European Parliament , as I am aware that it will significantly improve relations between the states in terms of free trade and contribute to the political and economic stability of this region .
I sincerely hope it does not come to that , but one must be open and honest with people so that they understand the hazards involved .
the agreement lays down among other things that at least 20 % of the crew of each vessel must be ACP nationals ( from Africa , the Caribbean and the Pacific ) .
in fact , in this respect , the resolution 's merit lies in that it makes a direct request to the Canadian side to take action in waiving the compulsory visa requirement .
many Members of Parliament from Italy have spoken , and I understand that the territory of Pakistan which is flooded is about the size of the territory of the whole of Italy .
in taking this issue forward I have liaised closely with my colleague responsible for trade matters to ensure that our approach is robust in terms of our obligations under international law , and I will continue to do so .
a Europe which is a knowledge society needs to build a freedom of knowledge , to make a reality of digital inclusion and foster the social dimension by improving people 's basic skills , providing SMEs with opportunities and establishing a model for flexicurity with social standards .
we voted against for all these reasons .
after all , everyone has to pay foreign road tolls and we have been discussing for years the option of collecting electronically registered levies where the person in question lives .
Mr President , I want to explain why I voted against the 2011 budget .
the European Commission , out of concern for the health of thousands of young people , should urgently undertake a broad range of activities to inform people about the harmfulness of designer drugs and the dangers associated with their use , and should also prepare new legal measures .
to enable Member States use the spectrum effectively , better cooperation must be achieved within the EU , especially in the area of the expansion of European service and negotiations on international agreements .
however , I would ask you to confirm that incentives may not be provided for the incineration of non-biodegradable waste as a source of renewable energy and that there are no derogations in place for this .
Mr President , I can readily join in deploring the recent events in Gaza and the Middle East and in remarking on how terrible is the humanitarian tragedy there and the immense suffering that all sides are being subjected to .
many think ' European citizenship ' is a hollow phrase and means nothing , but your report makes quite clear that that is not the case .
you are obliged to do so .
I am thinking particularly of respect for the principle of double jeopardy , of the right to a genuine , rather than a merely formal , defence and , indeed , of victims ' rights .
we say that we must attack the roots of the problem , the roots of the crisis , that we must radically change the economic paradigm , that we must change and that we must curb all the speculation that has led us to this financial crisis .
I appeal to Mr Topolánek to put an end to this .
this is how things stand at present .
I believe that situation is likely to change in the next few years , and I look forward to Scotland 's overseas representatives being there for all EU citizens in time of need .
( MT ) Madam President , I agree with those who say that the Common European Market , the single market , is probably the largest project the European Union has ever undertaken .
trust in Member States ' systems can be improved by learning about them .
some remarks on substance : the text that is now on the table is balanced .
only motivated , balanced workers are in a position to meet the demands made of them .
any modernisation plan will be a failure if the rule of law is not vigorously developed in Russia .
and there we have the beginnings of a European standing army .
I would also like to add that this time , we will also be able to decide on measures that are efficient and , at the same time , improve competitiveness .
as we meet here today in Strasbourg , official election results have not yet been certified by the Central Election Commission .
the reform of the foreign policy instruments is very important to us all , and so it should be made clear that we are not fighting against one another .
your own words , Commissioner , are that you should not prejudice the scientific debate .
if , on the one hand , we are insisting that Belgrade hands over Mr Mladić before the interim agreement on trade within the framework of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement can be implemented , it is clear that we are also asking for Croatia 's full cooperation with the Tribunal .
we must use it to nourish the ground , to bring forth new life .
we have an economic crisis at the moment and it is not over .
if there is free trade in agriculture , there is no hunger in the world .
deputising for the rapporteur . - Madam President , I have the honour to present to Parliament the report of the Committee on International Trade on macro-financial assistance ( MFA ) to Bosnia and Herzegovina .
( PL ) Mr President , we have achieved an important consensus .
in my opinion , the Commission must urgently propose investments , at both European and national levels , in new technologies in order to increase the energy efficiency of fishing vessels and so reduce fishermen 's dependency on fossil fuels .
oral questions and written declarations ( submission ) : see Minutes
our shame and also indignation are at so many lies , so much ambiguity and so much hot air .
better legislation : mieux légiférer , not moins légiférer .
Mrs Ayala Sender , I would like to begin by congratulating you for making one of the most tragic social problems our common political priority .
the EU will then no longer be only a common market , but also a power in the sphere of international relations .
we have no legitimacy in terms of the Treaties for passing a measure like this .
so the Council is making all the necessary efforts to ensure that all those efforts for RTD and innovations in the automotive industry , but also short-term measures in this report , are fully coherent with the overarching goals of the Lisbon Strategy .
there are already international structures - the International Maritime Organisation ( IMO ) rules , the International Law of the Sea - but there is a need for something more tailored and more specific .
this concerns the activities of radical Islamic forces in Sandžak .
it is in fact a pure propaganda proposal from the EU .
not only in Pakistan would there be a need for leaders like the late Salmaan Taseer .
the European Union and its institutions must be committed to condemning events that constitute violations of human rights , and working to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again .
we condemn the continued and systematic violation of human rights , fundamental freedoms and democratic rights of the people of Burma , but we also appeal to the governments of other countries - of China , India and Russia - to do what they can by putting economic and political pressure on the Burmese authorities to bring about change there .
I say this because we all know that , so far , the domestic efforts have not been effective in all Member States , to say the least .
therefore , I would simply ask that Amendments 7 , 8 and 9 to the resolution be withdrawn .
Mr Matsakis has already mentioned the problems of implementation , and I would simply like to give a couple of examples .
therefore , obviously I think that this partnership will fully take account of the intentions of the regions and that we will find synergies to generate resources .
the system of monitoring therefore requires greater supervision .
this should have mobilised the European Union to close ranks and stand shoulder to shoulder in crisis situations .
Council and Commission , what solution will Europe supply to this Lebanese dilemma ?
however , to ensure that ' accessible price ' does not become another way of saying ' poor-quality product ' , I have also asked for the notion of incentives for organic sectors to be inserted into the report .
I am especially pleased that we were able to reach a consolidation - 20 % of the direct costs - in our talks with the Council and the Commission .
then the 10 specific amendments tabled by the United Left and the Greens did not get a majority .
secondly , under Heading 4 , we already know that demand for funding for Palestine and Kosovo will extend the margin under this heading quite considerably .
we therefore need to bring democracy and parliamentarianism into the Basel process , the G20 process , the new global institutions that are being created , and , at the same time , we need to be involved in the process so as not to always be presented with faits accomplis .
firstly , shared security , secondly , energy , thirdly , promoting and extending the opening up of trade and technology transfer , and fourthly , development cooperation aid , in which the European Union is a major ethical leader in the world .
equally , an all too often high risk exists in the area of budgetary support , and I believe that such risks should be assessed better .
that does not help combat radicalism .
are we to say to our consumers , ' Let 's import from countries which have no regard for pesticide controls ' ?
however , discharge is not the responsibility of three Chairmen or a diverse body , but instead of the Committee on Budgetary Control and then of plenary .
we wish to welcome them and the leader of the delegation , Lee Kang Rae , on the occasion of the twelfth inter-parliamentary meeting between our Parliament and their country 's Parliament .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
all these factors add up to the EU facing a poverty problem exacerbated not only by the recession , but also by the anti-social policies implemented by right-wing governments .
do your duty !
the foreword is by Bernard Kouchner , Javier Solana and myself .
the EGF is intended to help workers who are victims of company relocations , and it is essential for facilitating access to new employment .
it was one of the toughest legislative packages this term .
there is chaos .
this means guaranteeing the rights of these professionals with regard to employment contracts - by combating the insecure employment relationships with which many of these researchers are faced - fair pay and access to social security schemes , among many other labour rights which workers enjoy .
I would also like to suggest strongly that the Union should also decide to align itself with these various useful additional protocols that relate to such issues as opposition to torture or the fight against racism , as well as more effective laws .
it seems to me absolutely essential to involve women in the dialogue .
( EL ) Mr President , Minister , thank you very much for your reply .
in writing . - ( IT ) I voted in favour of the Seeber report , which addresses the serious problem of water scarcity and droughts in the European Union .
in that Communication we emphasised that despite excellent research and development capacities in certain key enabling technologies , we are not managing to achieve proportionate success when it comes to transforming those results into manufacturing products and services .
I do not have more time now to argue about this , but there was a big discussion on this and I am not going back .
that is why I abstained : because of the fact that the described aspects of proper monitoring of the system call it into question , both financially and morally .
we should do all we can to unseat this appalling African tyrant , we should end all EU aid to his regime and we should suspend the Cotonou Agreement privileges that his country enjoys .
I would like to congratulate the new , dynamic Commissioner for great work on the acquis .
in writing . - ( PT ) The recent rise in food prices is due largely to successive reforms in the CAP , the abandonment of production thereby promoted , and the resulting disappearance of many small and medium-sized farms .
I voted for a European strategy for combating tax fraud and evasion relating to VAT .
what we need is greater protection of the external borders , quick , unbureaucratic procedures and , of course , a consistent repatriation strategy .
as a result of Israel 's illegal blockade , 300 000 people live on less than a dollar a day and there is over 40 % unemployment .
this is obvious in view of this sector 's economic , social and political importance in the EU .
the principle of transparency pursuant to which lobbyists can access the work of the institutions should also be applied to the lobbyists themselves .
the Commission , in my view , acted rather hastily in this case , and this quickly gave rise to the proposal to suspend the GSP + .
that said , I think that environmental cross-compliance linked to baseline direct payments is also a good starting point to later clearly define the other measures which stimulate the production of public goods .
Mr Cramer said this quite clearly , and I agree with him , because this is an important message for all of us .
Parliament is being called on to ratify agreements which were put into application a year ago , it has no official information about progress in negotiations , and it has recently faced difficulties accessing impact assessment , progress and implementation reports on previous agreements .
you have to respect the national ratification procedures .
according to the compromise text produced by the Council and Mr Weber , a Member of the European Parliament and of the Christian-Social Union of Bavaria , detention of up to 18 months can be arranged , children can be separated from their families and those deported can be banned from re-entering the European Union for five years .
fundamentally , money to fund the public sector does not magically appear .
just to explain : because it is a Commission proposal , the Commission speaks first .
we should be going forward with the US , while naturally always keeping the issue of human rights in the foreground .
as a member of the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection , I especially welcome the support for initiatives that aim to stimulate the potential of small and medium-sized enterprises .
it is time to stop this theatrical performance .
I would like to reiterate : this is a political choice , a message we are sending out to European citizens to have faith in their institutions , because they are able to tackle problems and resolve them .
the Slovenian Presidency will , in any case , do all it can to bring the various interests into line with one another , and also to ensure that the final compromise text helps to make the European road transport sector more efficient and above all , as I must emphasise , more competitive .
Madam President , Commissioner , we have experienced four incidents of this type in Europe within 10 years .
allow me also to recall that last spring the Council and Parliament successfully negotiated a first-reading agreement on the Commission 's proposal to establish a European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion in 2010 .
in view of the global financial crisis and the ever-growing level of consumer debt , active dialogue with Europe 's citizens means that European institutions and civil society need to make efforts to improve consumers ' level of financial education , particularly with regard to their rights and obligations , as well as the best practices in the areas of savings and loans .
Mr Schultz has also been talking about it for a long while now .
I think it is a very sad day for Europe that we have this particular debate in such a short and truncated way , rushed through as a resolution this week in Parliament .
today is indeed a historic day .
it would not be acceptable for EU leaders to seek ways of avoiding or circumventing the democratically expressed wishes of the people .
the EU cannot give its consent to this until every detail pertaining to the security of the data being transferred between the parties involved is clarified .
our sanctions are ineffective .
I voted in favour for these reasons .
but let us not dodge the elephant in the room : this is not just about banks , it is about sovereign debt and the stability of the euro : inextricably linked and overwhelmingly important .
we are facing a most complicated economic perspective accompanied by the imminence of serious social unrest .
along those lines , we should look towards establishing a true confederative transatlantic body between us and the United States of America .
I therefore hope that transport firms will actually opt more often for a combination of different modes of transport .
but the EU will remain dependent on imported protein .
Bulgaria has shown a conscientious attitude in its use of the funds for decommissioning the plant by 2009 .
- ( SK ) Madam President , the amendment of the directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment has gone through an extensive consultation process in the relevant European Parliament committees .
they have made a point of stressing the serious threats to human rights in Russia .
the Council fully endorses the need to achieve further harmonisation in the field of asylum .
Europe must keep pace , focusing on our comparative advantages in this 21st century of globalisation .
he is a prime minister and a man who refuses to lie .
these demands are logical , reasonable , in the public interest , and in the interests of preventing interinstitutional risks and conflicts : they are demands that the Council should share and uphold .
this has to be the starting point and focus of the common fisheries policy .
they can , for example , include domestic workers in national rules and go beyond the minimum requirements .
I welcome this Chamber 's decision to follow the guidelines of the Committee on Budgets and the Member States , which are often forced into debt following excessive EU cash advances .
I cannot help but mention the huge , unfair discrepancy between the maximum level of attention given by the representatives of this group of countries , which account for 60 % of global GDP , to saving the banking system and their disregard for the tragic reality of famine affecting an ever-increasing number of our fellow human beings .
what remains now is not just the openness and transparency between our two bodies , but also the need to convince the Council - which is not present - that if we work well together , it does not necessarily have to be at the expense of the Council .
it is true that there have been rather pessimistic views expressed here today .
I think that neither side should stipulate conditions for ratifying these protocols which are in the interest of both the Turkish and Armenian peoples .
fortunately , the Energy Council has realised that this level playing field does not exist at present .
if we cannot demonstrate solidarity , this will not work .
we understand that it is not always easy to answer sometimes complicated questions in one minute .
Mr President , I have no doubts whatsoever that Europe needs a permanent stability mechanism .
the EU must accept at least 50 % of the costs , and the planning and the promises must be forthcoming with due speed .
the capacity to assume obligations resulting from accession to the Union and alignment with the Community acquis should not result in the denial of the traditional national culture of future Member States .
we see President Gaddafi entertaining this issue and the international media constantly reporting that EUR 1 billion is needed if it is to honour its obligations .
however , not everything has been successful in this area .
therefore , we hope that the European Parliament will have the opportunity after the negotiations to consider the European External Action Service ( EEAS ) again in accordance with the expectations expressed this morning in plenary to the Swedish Presidency concerning restraint in the formulation of the negotiating mandate .
my vote today is an expression of my mistrust and of the political vigilance that I will demonstrate throughout this term of office .
in respect of this proposal , we need to strike a balance between the opening-up of markets for European products and ensuring the quality and safety of imported products .
it is of course positive that through this report the European Parliament is taking the initiative to secure the rights of consumers .
one of the responsibilities of any politician is to find solutions .
that is why I supported the directive obliging all countries to include relevant criminal sanctions in their legislation within two years , in spite of objections from Eurosceptics .
we want to abolish subsidies to dirty energy production .
I must emphasise that , within this Commission over which I have the honour of presiding , we have been referring for a number of years to a new era .
my recommendation is not to get so hung up on the issue .
while I wholly support the subsidiarity principle and the sovereign right of Member States to set their own tax rates , I would suggest to Member States which have not as yet taken advantage of the facility for lower tax rates on labour-intensive , localised industries , to seriously consider doing so .
in so doing , we must also take into consideration small-scale problems in wealthy Member States .
however , these are just a few words about the Council 's activities and its approach to this serious problem .
however , can this aim actually be achieved with the Commission 's proposal or your report , Mr Lehne , and who are we speaking about when we talk of micro-entities ?
what is most important is to prevent human trafficking by addressing the problems of poverty and inequality and by making people more aware of the issue .
however , we should not be too dependent on any one country , whichever country that may be , but we should diversify , and Nabucco is a good way of going about this .
let us not beat about the bush .
that illegality must not be recognised , either formally or in practice , in particular through sending and taking part in the ' EU mission to Kosovo ' .
I also agree with the need to prolong workers ' careers through a modern employment policy and improvement of working conditions , and I agree with the need to make pension systems and the information provided to citizens more transparent .
the Commission has negotiated an Agreement with the West African Economic and Monetary Union that avoids discrimination between EU air carriers , allows the taxation of aircraft fuel for operations within the territory of the European Union , and brings into line with EU competition law provisions in bilateral agreements which are clearly anti-competitive , namely , obligatory commercial agreements between airlines .
she was terrorised by those letters to the extent that she was afraid to open the letter when it arrived at her door .
Mr President , Commissioner , Mr Lambsdorff has done an excellent job .
I have therefore voted ' no ' .
the working document was drafted following consultations with the European Commission , the Committee of the Regions and representatives of the beneficiaries , whom I would also like to thank once again for their contributions .
the majority of these people live in conditions of extreme poverty and on the margins of society , with limited access to employment and health care .
in order to achieve the aims intended , a transparent and public debate is necessary .
this is what the people of our countries expect from us .
I would also like to express the hope that this release will be followed by the release of more than 2 000 political prisoners because , as Mr Posselt mentioned , we will otherwise view this as just a token gesture .
I welcome the adoption of this directive of Parliament and the Council which , by tracking the entire product cycle , will prevent falsified and / or counterfeit medicinal products from being brought into the European Union and will reinforce the protection of public health by improving the quality and safety of the medicinal products consumed .
'And Cain rose up against his brother and killed him ' .
I myself have approached the Commission with a submission relating to contamination of Natura 2000 areas , but the Commission has merely been sitting on its hands and has not taken any action .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , the honourable Members will know that in accordance with the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the ENISA Agency , the mandate of ENISA automatically expires on 13 March 2009 .
the Arab and Muslim nations here are going through a process of political democratic emancipation which might be termed the ' Prague Arab Spring ' .
Portugal 's budgetary implementation in the months of January and February recorded a surplus , with a 3 % spending cut and income up 11 % .
one unsatisfactory result of the conciliation procedure is that because of the strong resistance by the Council it did not prove possible also to open up the national railway networks for national railway services , which means that the European internal market for railway services remains incomplete .
in view of this , we would question the limits of the potential use of these programmes in a context of assumed competition between the EU and the United States with regard to the functionality and efficiency of these systems .
it is also vital to develop a strategy based on expert analyses of risks and of the processes involved in the degradation of wilderness areas .
numerous helicopters are flying in rescuers and help .
in writing . - ( DE ) We want consumers to be responsible , well-informed and in a position to make sensible decisions .
that is the problem that we are grappling with in Europe .
this is absolutely vital .
your election symbolises not only the reunification of Europe , but also a Europe that is very much attached to the central values of freedom and solidarity .
( NL ) Mr President , surely it is common knowledge that the people from Libya who are arriving there are , for the most part , Islamic people , and that there are quite a few criminals , and even terrorists , amongst them ?
full liberalization of the postal service market , including deliveries weighing less than 50 grams , will allow increased competition , the emergence of new operators and the creation of new jobs .
he spoke very clearly ; we may not like what he said , but at least he was clear in what he said and we are grateful for that .
simply readjusting the financial instruments or putting new safety nets in place will not help .
contract law determines and organises transactions in the Single Market .
however , in other areas we still have a great deal to do , and I would like to speak now about the problem of the Roma community .
despite the improvements in this area , IAs by the European Commission and European Parliament could improve even further .
the rate rise , while targeting inflation , may present further risks to the euro exchange rate and impede economic growth potential in a time of economic uncertainty .
Mr President , I wish to speak in support of the motion for there not to be a resolution because I heard Mr Schulz say something which , in my view , is very important : if we really want this debate to encompass ' Europe ' and not just Italy , there is no point then voting on a resolution entitled ' Freedom of information in Italy ' .
our inaction will cost lives .
my comment relates not only to the report itself , but also to the proceedings in the SURE Committee - in which I participated , so I know what I am talking about - to the skilful management by Jutta Haug and the role of Salvador Garriga Polledo .
we do not have Lebanon on the agenda today , but Lebanon is always on the agenda - even if not formally .
that is why we are proposing the introduction of a financial stability mechanism by which to protect the Member States from such speculation , so that they can do what they have to do , which is to get back on the road to recovery and thereby safeguard the social model .
it seems fundamental to me that the core labour standards of the International Labour Organisation should be implemented and , above all , complied with .
regulations structuring the tax systems of individual Member States are not part of our competence , nor are wide-ranging bans on smoking .
these images say it all : what was previously impossible was suddenly within their grasp , and then they returned to their everyday lives .
I regret that , because , by now , it is seven days , three hours and forty minutes away : we will have to work together .
we have to prevent anyone being able to board a plane with weapons , explosives or chemical precursors of explosives .
some studies on gender-based violence estimate that between a fifth and a quarter of Europe 's female population have been victims of acts of physical violence at least once during their adult lives , and around one tenth of them have suffered sexual violence .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the programme that allowed Iraq , Iran and North Korea to acquire nuclear technology was called Atoms for Peace .
I believe that in order to achieve a 20 % cut in energy consumption by 2020 , electricity networks should become smart , offering a flexible power flow , while being controlled by and based on the use of ICT .
you discussed the effects of demographic ageing and the importance of services of general interest .
Europe also needs to be given a proper , effective , modern industrial policy .
once again , you have my sincere thanks .
we did so due to concerns relating to the impact of the division of investigations into technical and criminal and the problems that this would create under Irish law .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( PT ) Thank you for your question , Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou .
on the one hand , non-tariff barriers are to be removed , while , on the other hand , it should remain a matter for the Member States , naturally enough , to determine whether certain conditions apply .
this is really long overdue , and I would like to hear from the Commission when they intend to conduct such an inquiry .
the people involved in these traditional fisheries are therefore forced to pay for the sins of unrestricted avarice on the part of the purse-seine fleets of the two Member States I referred to above even though they have had no part in it .
at a time when 16 million Europeans are out of work , prices are soaring and speculative shocks are shaking the continent , the Council is placing the burden of sacrifice on labour and workers instead of on capital , and that is unacceptable .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( IT ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , today 's debate has shown broad support for the common position on animal by-products , and this enables the Commission to proceed with the next stage .
( the oral amendment was accepted )
if we break the Rules and the Constitution , this means that we ourselves are doing something that is not good for democracy and we ourselves are violating it .
therefore , before a decision is made on a further financial commitment from the EU budget in the next Multiannual Financial Framework , a clear assessment of all the possible technical options and related costs and benefits needs to be presented by the Commission .
we supported the Commission that the full duration of the procedure should be taken into account .
history has taught us , however , what becomes of societies where there are no differences in distribution .
if we want to do something , then we should do so in a spirit of solidarity with all countries and with the involvement of everyone , and that means we need direct aid for the flood victims .
but I would just reinforce the point I originally made : we want to secure the best , most far-reaching , most inclusive agreement for the post-2012 period that we possibly can .
that decision will entail many difficult decisions , but it must serve as an important benchmark for all of the European Union 's future environmental policies .
this is especially true of their historic city centres , which occasionally suffer from the additional pressures of increasing urbanisation .
the principle is anchored in the treaty and in the constitutions and legislative acts of Member States , but the real-life data speaks a different language .
if , however , there are technical problems , if there are difficulties , then I suppose every EU institution has a responsibility to address the body which took so long to implement SIS II .
I think it is very unfortunate that the majority of my group chose to ignore Mrs Hennicot-Schoepges ' advice on several important points , and not to support important proposals contained in the report .
we therefore want the amendments that we have tabled in this respect to be adopted tomorrow .
counterfeiting of medicines constitutes criminal wrongdoing whether or not the medicine concerned is still under patent ; that aspect is completely irrelevant in this regard .
they were furious about the ban .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
a neutral party also ought to be involved .
as to the essence of the report , I would like to give my wholehearted agreement with what Lord Dartmouth said .
it is an ambitious project and again , I repeat , it is the start .
it is impossible to verify the origin of processed tuna that enters the European market .
a NATO Naval Maritime Group is already being deployed against piracy in the seas off the Horn of Africa .
we are very worried because , rather than making progress , we are slipping backwards and there is a clear risk of returning to where we started in March 2009 .
nonetheless , it is important to adopt a cautious approach and consider our fishing capacities in relation to the consumption requirements in Europe and in the world as well as the pressing need to look after resources .
the problem of compensation is also growing , and claims are being made by healthcare workers as well as patients .
I also wish to appeal to the industry and the banks to carry out self-regulation in order to do the preliminary work for the objective of this Green Paper .
think about it .
I vote in favour .
the Prophet Isaiah foresaw a day when the lion and the lamb would live together .
in writing . - ( SV ) Junilistan considers that the EU is a union of values and should therefore play a role in promoting democracy and human rights in its neighbourhood . that includes Belarus .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue-card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
I will therefore leave out some other points which I had prepared .
we are financing more in Turkey simply because that is our mandate , decided jointly by the Council and Parliament .
while some aspects of this report will form an invaluable improvement in Member States with very low levels of maternity provision , these amendments may lead to social regression in other countries .
we need a European stress test for all nuclear installations and , as you said , the criteria must be harmonised .
these transitional rules are of a rather technical nature and they will only be in force until the new legal framework enters into force .
the Commission therefore wishes to meet citizens ' expectations in practice .
( SV ) Mr President , protection for internet users has been the focus of a large part of the telecoms debate .
( PL ) Exactly the same arguments were made before the presidential elections , when we were wondering in this Chamber what resolution to adopt , and what our position should be with regard to what was going on in Ukraine prior to the presidential elections .
they are the guarantee that , if the process is well organised , it will be successful .
Ms Kuneva is dealing with those particular aspects .
now , a very good example of this in Hungary was the Magyar Gárda ( Hungarian Guard ) , which was founded in 2007 and was able to work well - if you will - with the military authorities , be that in floodwater defences , in helping the victims of the red sludge flood , in giving blood or distributing bread , in other words , in social matters .
we cannot wait .
defence of the immunity and privileges of Umberto Bossi (
I have the impression , however , that an attempt is being made to latch on to this established movement in order to impose discrimination against the family founded on marriage between a man and a woman and against religious freedom , especially as concerns religious schools .
they do not reflect the detailed and factual assessments that the committee has voted on .
in most cases , an illness is the effect of the various ways in which we neglect our bodies , or it has an external origin .
it should be noted that we presented proposals aimed at speeding up the procedures for mobilising this Fund and ensuring that regional disasters were still eligible .
in November of last year , I wrote to Mr Reinfeldt , who was President of the European Council at the time , with a request to postpone the decision and for the European Parliament 's decision to be taken into account , in accordance with the Treaty of Lisbon .
notwithstanding all this , in spite of all the efforts made , my guess is that the Irish fishermen 's vote in the referendum was substantially significantly negative .
in many ways , you represented an exemplary Presidency .
it also condemns the growing number of atypical contracts , a sign that work is increasingly becoming insecure .
and I believe we have worked effectively to remove this threat .
Τhe next item is the vote .
Turkey has even shown contempt for democracy and freedom of expression by calling the leader of my party , Geert Wilders , a democratically elected representative of the people , a fascist and a racist .
( RO ) The European Union has been admired for a long time for its social model .
at the crossroads of all the influences that have marked the history of our continent , Slovenia is a constant thoroughfare for people , goods and cultural currents of all kinds .
moreover , it is a report that is absolutely essential this year given the economic , social and financial crisis that the European Union especially is going through .
this year should see a significant increase in the use of SEPA by public authorities , so the moment is right to press forward , especially asking Member States that have not made plans to participate in the surveys .
in this context , I must contradict the Members who have said that we should leave out country-of-origin marking .
we can take a decision on something today that can really put paid to human trafficking .
a series of compromise candidates nominated by the national governments as thanks for services rendered or , quite simply , to keep rivals at bay .
no long-term economic plan is being followed to harness the plentiful water supply , 92 % of which - shamefully and ludicrously - runs out of the country .
I shall be voting against this latest authoritarian move .
for this , the EU needs to be given the resources to act , which means giving ourselves tools to steer the economy over and above those currently available to us under the Stability Pact , which are inadequate .
East Timor ( vote )
it should place citizens at the centre of our work .
but , still , the new bosses would not listen to the people .
we need a great deal more sensitivity and much more action in this area .
this was in a detention centre which Ministers promised would be closed immediately , but which is still open , despite a report by an international NGO condemning it for torturing illegal immigrants .
I would like to draw particular attention to some very appropriate points which were raised during the discussion in the committees by the rapporteur , Mrs Harms , and which were discussed very widely .
in future , we should start the budget process earlier in the year and involve the technical committees in a better way .
that is why we voted in favour of the amendments of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs , but also in favour of some of those of our political opponents , because they seemed to us to be a step in the right direction , namely in favour of workers .
the first is written into the Treaty of Maastricht , in Article 105 ( 6 ) .
yet the CAP makes up 40 % of the budget : it should have been worth the Hungarian Presidency 's while to stay for the discussion .
again this is a just and correct principle .
colleagues , you heard from Mr Grech that the potential is there to create jobs , to encourage more innovation and to move towards a more sustainable economy but we need to get the support of citizens and consumers for this proposal .
Croatia , as a candidate country since 2003 , when it submitted its application , has completed the demanding preparation for EU membership .
consequently , both in the Committee on Foreign Affairs and today in plenary , we have supported the amendments that were in line with our viewpoint .
I would have liked to support this particular measure but I had to vote against because , as has been said already by my colleague , Pat the Cope Gallagher , Ireland 's economy is heavily dependent on exports .
in any event , it was a reaction that theoretically was justified by the very high number of victims and , once again , I went to listen to the refugees in North Ossetia and the accounts were dreadful : grenades in basements where children were hiding .
as for myself and my colleagues at the Commission , we shall play the role of honest brokers in order to make this possible .
as Mr Ulmer said earlier on , we have moved on to the agenda and we are debating the day-to-day business of this House , food safety and so on , without really being aware of what priority issues we need to resolve .
I firmly believe that we have to protect the car industry with a European solution , rather than national ones .
so I would call on the Commission to prioritise that view of the future restrictions so that we can further clean up this very important waste stream , which still creates so many problems for human health and the environment .
we also went to Egypt .
the EU must first develop instances to resolve disputes , not create more EU legislation .
the Commission is now seeking to impose huge costs on the citizens of Europe for an action it has dreamed up from the realm of science fiction - actually , more fiction than science .
it is also important that China at long last ratifies the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that it signed years ago , because that would do more to guarantee the protection of ethnic and religious minorities and the preservation of their languages and cultures .
we also had to create a balance - and I would like to say this to Mr De Grandes Pascual as well - between the centre and the periphery .
the objective of the agreement is to establish cooperation in order to guarantee the integrated protection of the ecosystem and the sustainable development of the Prespa Park area , including the development of plans for the integrated management of the hydrographic basin .
I would also like to call for the Union for the Mediterranean to be strengthened both in terms of funding and in terms of commitment by the Member States , as a favoured forum for the exchange of best practice , where a clear Mediterranean policy should be established , based on partnership policy , the principle of ' ownership ' and conditionality .
in order to ensure this , however , it is more necessary than ever for us to establish a dialogue with Russia .
in order to improve maternal health in developing countries , the European Union must condemn the US global gag rule , as well as the ban on the use of contraceptives advocated by some churches .
such organisations include : cooperative groups ; collectives and local societies ; local residents ' associations ; sports , leisure , cultural , youth organisations , and those aimed at children .
I hope that certain Member States , including France , will not take advantage of the transposition in order to liberalise social services , under the false pretext that they are complying with European laws .
without an international agreement , unilaterally raising the emissions reduction target could threaten the competitiveness of our industry as well as growth and jobs in the European Union .
indeed , yield last season was the lowest of the last 15 years .
only in this way can we reach the goal of these debates : to guarantee that this monumental , destructive disregard for human lives and dignity will never be repeated in any part of Europe .
as has recently been the case in France , sentences can clearly be passed for sums of money requiring 4 or 5 000 years to be paid off .
we still have to wait for a thorough revision of copyright law .
we obviously continue to count on the rationality of the authorities and , eventually , on the victory of a principle which says ' No to discrimination ' .
the European Union 's role in this must be reinforced and clarified , and the EU must act as a driving force .
adoption of this resolution cannot fail to prompt a couple of comments on its aims and content .
so it is a special place for Mr Saakashvili .
the European left tried to take sole credit for the idea of taxing financial transactions .
during the hearing held last week in the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs , the new executive director demonstrated his competence and knowledge of the sector and the problems that he will have to deal with .
the EU you are building is a union of war , aggression and imperialism .
it also concerns discrimination in terms of retirement age , an issue that the European Commission has already looked at , and which I believe must be acknowledged .
the EU must invest more in the diversification of energy supply sources .
that is why we abstained and did not vote against , as we certainly would have done only a few weeks ago .
I voted in favour of implementing the data survey system by 2012 .
Mr President , Commissioner , Millennium Development Goal 5 is a very important objective , touching as it does not only on the quality of life , but on life itself , its initiation and continuation .
transfers of appropriations : see Minutes
given that ships sailing traditional shipping routes are being seized , since the lives of captains and crews are being jeopardised by this , as these routes are really unsafe , shipowners are looking for new routes .
I am pleased , therefore , that we can finally adopt a directive codifying Council Directive 80 / 720 / EEC of 24 June 1980 , and which approximates the legislation of the Member States on the operating space , access to the driving position and the doors and windows of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors .
here in Europe , we must not concentrate only on our own problems - let us not forget the huge numbers of migrants descending upon Europe , very often because of droughts .
( PT ) Any new animal health strategy must pay particular attention to disease prevention , animal feedstuffs , border controls and animal transport .
I welcome the commitments made between the EU and the Republic of Cameroon with the aim of improving forest governance and reforming existing legislation where necessary , so as to ensure that activities in the forestry sector are transparent , respect indigenous peoples ' rights , and do not contribute to adverse environmental impacts .
farmers have always been the most ardent and steadfast supporters of European Union integration .
finally , perhaps a cost / benefit analysis should also be carried out so that minor offences are not prosecuted at great expense .
it is also necessary to introduce additional regulations relating to the responsibility of bus companies for the life and health of passengers , including obligatory medical checks on the state of health and wellbeing of bus and coach drivers , who are responsible for the health and safety of passengers .
why have they not shown any solidarity and transferred those resources to other countries ?
it is also being argued that the scanners are nowhere near as highly effective as is claimed by their producers .
the upcoming summit between the European Union and the United States will be the first summit after the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon , one of the aims of which was to enable Europe to concentrate more on relations with third countries .
the fraud scheme people pretend that they are genuine directories and then they charge the businesses - which did not seek the service in the first place or realise that there would be a charge .
that is , it ends up calling for the same type of monetarist and neoliberal policies and criteria , tightening the veritable stranglehold imposed on the Member States , without a care for the causes of the problems , or for alternative policies that take into account economies ' different levels of development .
did it really wish to engage in dynamic action , or was it merely interested in sounding out opinion on this matter ?
there are a lot of questions to be answered and we are in the process of doing this .
in the ten years or so that I have been a member of the European Parliament , I have regularly heard fine words being used in this House .
if we approach the internal market from that angle , the policy of the European Union will meet with greater acceptance and we will be able to look towards a better future .
besides the targets for a 25 % reduction in accidents , there appear to be few ways in which progress can be monitored and measured .
in writing . - The European Union has repeatedly expressed its commitment to freedom of religion , freedom of conscience and freedom of thought , and has stressed that governments have a duty to guarantee these freedoms all over the world .
the biggest bills come at the end of multi-annual budgets and you know that , too , ahead of time .
the new recipients of agricultural subsidies include railway companies , riding stables , stud farms , golf and leisure clubs and local authorities .
6 .
together with this , however , a good-quality railway of 1000 km must compete with aviation and , to achieve this , the airlines must bear the costs to which they give rise , to the same extent as we expect it of railways and road traffic .
however , we must , at the same time , carefully attempt , through close engagement with the Arab world , and particularly with countries that are now deciding on their future orientation , to support decent , democratic political forces that will be capable of resolving any disputes peacefully , in a businesslike manner , and without prejudice and hatred .
the PKK is like a mafia , with a structure carrying out criminal activity , raising funds and bolstering support .
we have discussed the violation of LGBT rights in Lithuania , Hungary , and Poland .
( CS ) Madam President , the Czech Presidency deserves recognition for its active role in settling the dispute over the renewal of Czech gas supplies .
furthermore , a significant number of women who are victims of trafficking enter the European Union every year , according to the International Organization for Migration .
these are found in the German , Polish and Irish constitutions .
13 03 18 ERDF - Competitiveness
it also specifies that NGOs can play an active role in providing services , giving information on procedures for obtaining protection and offering guidance and advice to asylum seekers which should be supplied at border crossings or in reception centres .
( applause )
for the sake of harmonious development , Member States should ensure the creation of high-quality jobs in rural areas through such measures as promoting enterprise among women , increasing their qualifications and providing easy access in all rural areas to standard 21st century infrastructure and services .
more innovation is needed in this regard .
Mr President , this is a true festival of cinema ; this report complements the LUX Prize and , at a time of crisis , is an important signal for European film .
the dispute settlement regime and the related financial responsibility are also very important issues and we need to further reflect on them .
the Commission agrees , and the inventory is a matter for the Member States .
Mr President , everything that my colleagues here testified to concerning the current situation in Sri Lanka was confirmed when the Subcommittee on Human Rights recently organised a hearing on this nightmarish situation .
the sector we are debating is worth it .
I would also say the Commission has responded to the financial crisis with unusual speed .
until now , we thought that , when we joined , we would serve one god , but we now must serve several gods .
I personally think that to have an overall target for all Member States is probably not very realistic .
the most recent stress tests focused on the hard capital ratios , but the liquidity criteria should also have been included .
regional policy is a development policy that helps citizens and enterprises unlock the inherent potentials of the places in which they live and work .
the trade deficit of the European Union grew from EUR 75 billion in 2004 to EUR 243 billion in 2008 .
the industry must be encouraged to take all necessary steps to address structural problems such as overcapacity and lack of investment in new technologies .
therefore , what applies to women who are not in prison ought also to apply to those who are .
the conclusion of this trade agreement will provide EU exporters with new export opportunities in Libya and a more favourable regulatory environment , in particular , in the service sectors and in the oil and natural gas markets .
attention has been given to people with disabilities or reduced mobility ; as Mr Albertini 's report shows , we must be able to provide services that take account of the diverse requirements of such people .
Madam President , this is not about ideology .
this is why I believe this to be an excellent initiative that merits my support .
we will not recognise , under any circumstances , the so-called states created illegally and as a result of conflict in separatist regions , nor election proceedings organised illegally , such as those carried out recently in Abkhazia .
I think that there is a simple solution .
at Item 18 of Mrs. Cizelj 's report , the European Parliament considers that industrial development is closely related to the availability of an efficient transport infrastructure at European level .
all the same , it is incredible , this whole business !
in order to really tackle the problem of human trafficking , all Member States must put a great deal of effort into preventive work .
the euro poses no risk to the Mediterranean economies .
we are therefore against the manipulation or use of certain forces or Iranian opposition parties and against campaigns that seek to preserve the interest of the EU and its allies , rather than the interests of the Iranian people .
as the European Union , we must finally realise that the more we allow this uncontrolled situation to develop , the more we are mortgaging the future of marine fishing and the global marine ecosystem .
Mr President , thank you for a very constructive debate .
the pace and depth of our rapprochement with Ukraine will be determined by full respect of these values .
nevertheless , this issue comes under national jurisdiction only .
this is borne out by the number of registrations .
on Atalanta : I think the points made there are very positive .
( GA ) Mr President , I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to talk about Alzheimer 's disease .
the European Office for less widespread languages is one of the partners of this 3-year project , meant to facilitate the exchange of current good practice and the development of new and innovative ideas in the field of education and language planning in the context of regional , minority , indigenous , cross-border languages , languages of smaller nations and less widespread languages .
in 1962 the Soviet authorities closed the Catholic church of St Magdalena in Lwów and turned it into an organ recital hall , destroying many valuable relics in the process .
I would like to point out to the House that , to date , only four countries have signed the Hague Convention and only eight have ratified it .
owing to the widely recognised contribution of European culture to the world , the European Parliament approves of the idea of a label which would extend beyond the borders of the European Union and which could be used as an ambitious tool serving external policies .
on 3-4 December 2009 , the EU and Mexico jointly organised an international seminar in Cancún on ' The Legitimate Use of Force and the Protection of Human Rights ' .
thus , US support for Georgia was obviously not only aimed to protect the democratic right of self-determination , but also - it must be said - had military and political objectives , especially as Georgia was functioning as a strategic vassal state in the Caucasus on the Russian border .
( the speaker was interrupted by heckling from the right )
it was with the sincere hope that European action will have a positive impact on the stabilisation of Kyrgyzstan that I voted in favour of the joint motion for a resolution .
have they fought to see climate policy left almost entirely to the Council through a simplified procedure ?
I could rehearse for you the details of the small number of delegation staff working , for example , on trade matters in China compared to the considerably larger numbers of staff working on what is a very small amount of development aid and cooperation in that country , set alongside the billions that are at stake for Europe in trade .
building on that , we could then draw conclusions for future programme planning and the financial allocation in the subsequent period .
thank you for your straightforward reply to the remarks which were made .
now you obviously believe that the time is right .
( the oral amendment was accepted )
I think the structures are very different in these cases .
in this respect , I am delighted that , as part of the vote on the Green Paper entitled ' Preparing forests for climate change ' , paragraph 38 of the Arsenis report has been adopted , which ' urgently calls on the Commission to present a legislative proposal on forest fire prevention ' and plans , in particular , ' a 30-year ban on building on land where there has been a forest fire ' .
in paragraph 33 it reaffirms that fundamental social rights are not subordinate to economic rights in a hierarchy of fundamental freedoms , and later in the report it emphasises that the freedom to provide services does not contradict and is not in any way superior to the fundamental right to strike .
that active presence is currently manifesting itself in the negotiations over the association agreement , which are about to come to a head .
Spain and the Spaniards , represented by the Prime Minister of their country , have the right to be respected , and that means respect from all the political families in this House .
as the report says , according to 2007 estimates Zimbabwe has a population of 12 million , and almost half of them are starving .
in order to be able to start work on the budget in 2010 , we therefore need a number of transitional provisions .
whether patients obtain the relevant information depends on languages , IT skills and often even social class and networks .
but when you look at retailers , half of them want to do cross-border trading - and , in fact , 29 % do so .
is it true that the Commission already voted on this matter in May this year ?
however , I am still hopeful that an application could be considered , but , if not , I suggest that a regional application could be favourably considered , as the north , the west and the south of the country have been affected .
let me tell you that this same concern was voiced by all the Member States which took the floor at the last Agriculture and Fisheries Council .
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I believe that the authorities in Baku must resolve to listen to public opinion , because sitting on the fence is not an option , and the European Union , with all its instruments , should help it choose the right direction .
their development depends to a considerable extent on the revenues generated from the activities associated with proximity to the sea , estuary or delta areas , as well as from tourism , fishing and transport .
Google 's project to digitise the world 's book heritage ( debate )
it must not be the case that the Commission will not rest until the last public cemetery in Europe is privatised .
this is the context in which we are working at the moment .
I voted in favour of this own-initiative report as I believe that Parliament 's appeal for the formulation of a more ambitious EU policy in relation to the GCC and its member states is very timely .
there can be no dispute that the presidential elections in Zimbabwe were illegitimate , and the violence , murders , arrests and harassment of the opposition within the country are a particularly savage aspect of the absence of justice .
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however , when Mr Erdoğan says in a speech in Germany that Turks who have German nationality owe their primary loyalty to Turkey , we have a serious problem as far as integration is concerned .
first , take the size of the target enterprises .
to answer these concerns , the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection has introduced a series of changes .
we often find ourselves defenceless against such extreme forms of political activity .
I therefore endorse the rapporteur 's strategy , which will entail , on the one hand , ensuring that we demand , above all , national management declarations signed by ministers of finance and , on the other , ensuring that the Commission finally takes action against any Member States that remain in breach and , if need be , imposes tough sanctions : of a financial kind , for instance - withholding subsidies .
therefore , human rights are built into all our assistance programmes .
however , what the farmers do not understand is that we in Europe are burdening them with ever more red tape .
stress was also laid on how important it is for the European Union to ensure a coherent approach in this area , and it was considered that information on the development of such dialogues should continue to be forwarded to the Council on a regular basis .
this is vital , and it is also very important to raise public awareness - as Mrs Matera has already mentioned - so that people are aware of the fact that human trafficking is happening within the EU .
it is a rum old world .
however , we have to admit that in the last 15 years , not one European legislative text on the environment has included the aspect of gender .
Poland has applied for support for 594 redundancies in the Podkarpackie region .
I voted in favour of paragraphs 53 and 54 of the report on EU agriculture and international trade because I think that it is the duty of Members of the European Parliament to defend European farmers and consumers from the danger that would be presented by massive exports of poor quality agricultural products , particularly products originating from certain Latin American countries .
we need to deal with this subject rather more quickly and we need accurate controls .
nor should the Member States create needless obstacles to new investments in the use of fossil reserves through the most advanced technologies available .
that is why , in the interests of professionals , I call on the European Commission to help those Member States that are having difficulties .
unfortunately , the economic and financial crisis has dovetailed with the end of the Lisbon Agenda .
with these two texts , Parliament now has a firm grip on current developments and the everyday life of European society .
of course , as with everything in life , this directive is not perfect .
so the vast majority of those killed were Han Chinese .
the Scottish financial sector has been let down badly by the UK 's regulators and I support tighter regulation of the market .
when we charge taxes , whether throughout the world , or only in Europe , I believe we make our companies less competitive .
this is an area in which our departments have sometimes made errors , including in the past .
following my meetings with the groups , I am ready to take up the suggestion made by some of you , not only to meet your Conference of Presidents on a more regular basis , but also to establish an appropriate dialogue with your Conference of Committee Chairs .
why ' yes ' in some States and ' no ' in others ?
obviously not .
the President 's opinion was criticised in the Polish Parliament .
finally , does the current crisis in the euro area and the lack of solidarity of Member States in tackling it present a threat to the success of this ambitious project ?
the EU 's relations with third countries should be based on other interests , on mutual interests , always with respect for the sovereignty of both parties and of course with respect for the management of their resources .
also , all Member States should undertake to ban the use of cyanide , as Hungary did recently .
on behalf of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) , I would like to request an electronic vote .
the Union 's cooperation should take into consideration efforts made by the recipient countries to comply with the International Labour Organisation international agreements and to participate in the general objectives of greenhouse gas emissions reduction .
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we were aware that this regulation was not intended to be a new legal instrument , but a tool to be used in conjunction with other structures already in existence .
the European Commission 's anti-mines strategy is numbered among the most successful elements in the development of European external relations .
so the status quo is really not an option for the Commission .
the problem is whether the Union 's Member States and employers comply with the provisions of this directive , because specific examples from the labour market contradict the theory on many occasions .
on the other hand , we are informed of all complaints that arrive before the Ombudsman , and those that arrive before the Committee on Petitions are known because they are public .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , we should not direct any additional financial support towards Members and representatives who argue against democracy at the European level .
Parliament calls on the Joint Technology Initiative to include in its Financial Rules a specific reference to the powers of the Internal Audit Service of the Commission as its internal auditor , on the basis of the provision set out in the framework Financial Regulation for Community bodies .
the question of Iceland applying for EU membership is entirely for the Icelandic people to decide and , should there be an application from Iceland , the Commission and the Member States will act according to the established procedures as laid down in the Treaty .
it has become clearer and clearer how these kinds of financial service businesses have been developing with such a low level of transparency .
the need for reform has been recognized for some years , but so has the impossibility of carrying out such reform .
the situation is such that legislative action needs to be taken now rather than after the upcoming EU-Canada Trade Summit in May and subsequent bilateral trade negotiations .
this report highlighted the new strategic interest in the Arctic region .
these measures will include free allocation of greenhouse gas emission allowances to energy-intensive sectors , up to 100 % .
we have to ensure that when Member States manage their national spectrum - which is a very precious resource , as has already been said - they realise social and economic benefits because their management is efficient , transparent and flexible and because there is better coordination at EU level .
Commissioner , the budget for basic healthcare has not increased even proportionately since 2000 in the framework of the whole package of official development aid .
on the other hand , it is very important for Europe to have access to African mineral resources , and this is a policy that it is pursuing together with China and the Russian Federation .
we have heard the appeal that the Interim Transitional National Council made on 5 March .
this will be our working practice .
three things are absolutely certain regarding this matter .
the European Commission gave its approval to the EUR 13 million going to Ireland , however , because the Commission recognised that the flooding that hit Ireland at the end of 2009 was a unique regional disaster .
the most basic definition of volunteering is goodwill in action .
this Institute will be virtual , composed of scientists based at EU universities , research laboratories and companies , and will not grant qualifications , contrary to what was originally proposed .
the agreement reached will definitely not be able to resolve the complex situation on international markets , but it represents a step in the right direction .
obviously , when that time comes , the Commission will be able to submit amended or new proposals depending on the situation .
first of all , the draftsmen , in particular Mrs Lynne of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs .
lifting of visas for Jordan , Libya , Iran and Syria , a worsening of relations with Israel , a strengthening of relations with Sudan , the signing of an agreement to commence diplomatic relations with Armenia and blocking an understanding with Cyprus - all this shows that Ankara is increasingly orienting itself towards cooperation with its neighbours , even at the expense of weakening its position in the accession negotiations .
because while you pretend to be concerned about foreign workers , European workers are being excluded from the picture .
we are following the discussions on Wednesday and Thursday .
it must be stressed that these voluntary agreements on trade in timber must not run counter to the EU 's overall objective in terms of combating climate change and must guarantee sustainable forest use , stop deforestation and forest degradation , and related carbon emissions and biodiversity loss globally .
in writing . - Volunteering in the EU requires greater recognition .
the protection of individual freedom is a fundamental right to be fought for , insofar as violations of human rights that reduce people to a state of dependency via threats , humiliation and violence are a heinous and very serious crime .
( the President cut off the speaker )
reality shows us that this is not the case .
the GUE / NGL Group , along with the other groups , thus calls on the Council and the Commission to withdraw these proposals .
it is not just an important country ; it is in many respects also a fantastic country .
however , this event must not make us forget , first of all , that her freedom is fragile .
I am convinced that the strong views contained in the resolution put to the vote today may not only lead to the Azerbaijani Government stiffening relations with Europe , but may also have a counterproductive effect on the case of these two young people , in that this resolution could jeopardise the granting of a pardon .
it is time for the fight against corruption at the top level to begin at long last , such that demands are actually made for monies wrongfully paid out to be paid back , and we have to make the most of opportunities to save money .
I agree with the report that only a 100 % smoke-free environment is an environment which can meet today 's health requirements .
I voted in favour of the report on better regulation in the European Union , which incorporated my amendments , as it presents a great opportunity to approach European legislation from a new angle .
the attendance of 12 prize winners has been confirmed .
having said that , I would like to call on the Spanish Presidency , the European Commission and the Council to use all the European legislation at their disposal , both existing and future legislation , to protect the victims of human trafficking .
immigration is indissolubly linked with development and , given the demographic problem faced by the EU today , legal immigration is now a part of the solution to many of Europe 's problems , instead of being just one more problem .
economic recovery is crucially needed but , unfortunately , we have not seen the fundamental change of policy in Gaza that the European Union has asked for over the last months .
I can assure you that there are a lot of misconceptions going around concerning what we are deciding on here .
it has to be said that despite the will shown regularly by over two-thirds of our fellow European citizens , as you said , some progress has been made over ten years , I will grant you that , but it has to be said also that this Europe still does not exist .
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the poor health or death of adults at an age when they could still be active may push younger and older generations of their family into poverty .
however , we would do well to discuss these issues with a clearer idea of how much this new policy will cost , what effects it will have on general cohesion policy , and how we are going to distribute the resources in the context of the reform of the financial perspective from here to 2020 .
yet it is also clear , Mr President , that , under your presidency , our Parliament has continued its gradual transformation from an institution that demands and fights for democracy to an assembly that is all too often submissive and careful not to rock the boat of this or that government .
for certain products , it cannot be the market .
the military junta remains unwilling to admit Western aid workers , as Commissioner Michel just confirmed in his powerful speech .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , I will be very brief .
there are two aspects to this process : the countries themselves had to make significant progress as regards the reliability of documentation , better legislation on migration , improved rights for minorities and , not least , the fight against corruption and organised crime .
tackling climate change is one of our highest priorities and is the kind of issue where we expect and want the European Union to take a strong lead .
today , there are solar-powered , simple stoves that , for a small amount of money , remove 95 % of these toxic emissions that black coal , manure and other fuels generate on combustion .
what we are asking is that they should be allowed only after a technical assessment has been made and that therefore a totally political decision is taken .
that is why you must establish fair competition in the transport sector too .
the success of the European Union can also be measured by the extent to which it manages to develop a coherent strategy for Central Asia .
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it has not been visible enough , but it has contained elements that have benefited the people and that have today become a point of reference for a different type of external policy based on cooperation and based on equality .
the European Food Safety Authority carried out a scientific consultation on this subject in the first half of this year and the results of the consultation do not provide any reasons to ban cloning .
the ball is therefore back in the Council 's court .
however , Mr President , we have so many aims , but have so far achieved so few results .
however , it is a linear approach to the action of radioactivity , not a threshold approach , which has resulted in this quasi-administrative treatment of these matters rather than a scientific one .
following my inclusion in the parliamentary delegation which travelled to Washington in connection with the negotiations in Copenhagen , I learnt that the economic effectiveness of the measures envisaged to combat climate change needs to be discussed .
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there have been requests for the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) in cases of mass redundancies across Europe .
let me give you a few figures .
at the same time , it would also give the European bureaucracy a certain degree of credibility .
the others who are responsible are the European banks .
in these difficult days , I think we can see some things more clearly .
in addition , there are new developments that we must consider as we reflect further on the Security Strategy .
around 500 000 people employed in growing tobacco in south-eastern Turkey have lost their jobs in recent years , with the result that , having been one of the major producers and exporters of tobacco , Turkey has now become an importer .
the liberalisation of visas for Taiwan will strengthen our commercial relations and promote closer cooperation in the sectors of culture , education , environment and research , and also encourage an increase in tourism in both directions .
( PL ) Mr President , I am not a lawyer , but it seems to me that decency dictates behaviour that differs from that exemplified by the applicants .
the debate is closed .
a firm message coming from you , which we fully share in the ECB is - and I do not want to respond in the place of the Commissioner - governance of Europe of the 27 , governance of the 16 members of the euro area is of the essence .
rapporteur . - Mr President , I think this is covered by my earlier statement .
( PL ) Mr President , Mr Liberadzki of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament began by praising the authorities of the European Union for their reaction .
the European stability mechanism is an important aspect of the measure aiming to strengthen the budgetary discipline and coordination of the Member States ' economic and financial policies .
many of these people would take up their right to move to other parts of the EU .
it is a demanding but fair and necessary programme of adjustment .
for this reason I will be voting against this report .
its place in Article 1 , which concerns the scope and the objectives , makes this proposal in essence a principle that applies to all the directives in the package , particularly where access and services are concerned .
in writing . - Whilst the ECR Group is in favour of improving lines of communication and cooperation between Member States in relation to health threats like epidemics , the report on H1N1 ill advises Member States on the facts surrounding H1N1 and on the precautions they should take in the event of another epidemic .
we have been reporting this matter for many years and I am concerned to see that , despite the enormous efforts being made by the Tibetan delegation , and especially the Dalai Lama , to promote dialogue , to move closer to the Chinese authorities , to find a fair and lasting solution to this conflict , the blockade situation is continually caused by the Chinese authorities .
if it is to be effective , the strategy requires the involvement of the Commission and of the European offices in the individual countries .
so this has been promised at least .
to create a single employment market for researchers , it is also important to define and establish a single European career model in the field of research , and also to introduce an integrated system for information on offers of employment and trainee contracts in the field of research throughout the EU .
thirdly , we can do more on CAP simplification to reduce the bureaucratic burden and , yes , to decriminalise farmers who make honest mistakes through minor breaches .
that is why the toy safety scares and recalls were a wake-up call for Europe to radically review , update and strengthen the standards of our toy safety law .
( applause )
as Germany has now said that it is abandoning nuclear power , it is obvious that the EU will not achieve its targets for cutting emissions , as a consequence of the increased use of fossil energy .
it is a great challenge for the opening up of the Schengen area not to create favourable opportunities for criminals .
in addition , the European Commission has prepared a proposal to extend Member States ' options for applying a reduced VAT rate .
my party considers this sordid .
I am pleased the report passed without that paragraph .
as far as the British national interest is concerned , the coalition government consistently neglects trade relations with the Commonwealth , of which Canada is a founder member .
in writing . - ( FR ) The goal , set by the European Union , of a social Europe is an illusion , the Lisbon Strategy is a failure , and the various magic potions dreamt up by the pro-Europeans to improve living and working conditions are rendered ineffective by the simple fact that Brussels ' true vision is ultra-liberal and in the service of globalisation .
this is an important example of European solidarity .
I am of the opinion that there should be no further increases in the quota without a market analysis .
in other words , they are a kind of black box or tachometer that can be inspected by the maritime authorities whenever a vessel enters port .
I voted in favour of this motion for a resolution , because we must ensure that both practical and moral priority be given to tackling the issue of human trafficking and the way in which this trafficking is used as a resource in the labour market .
we must also maximise the positive impact of funds sent back by immigrants as regards development in their respective countries and explore the potential of micro-credit .
while accelerated fiscal consolidation is an immediate priority throughout Europe , at the same time , we need to coordinate our economic and fiscal policies by applying differentiation among the Member States .
yet these require mutual confidence , something I wish to emphasise as , regrettably , the Kremlin 's foreign policy stands squarely in the way of this .
Kashgar is the centre of the Muslim Uyghurs - one of the largest ethnic minorities in China .
it will be necessary to submit plants to stress tests and , in this respect , it is regrettable that the amendment calling for the immediate closure of Chernobyl-type nuclear reactors that continue to operate has not been adopted .
this is not the time for ' business as usual ' ; this is the time for new decisions , a new policy and a hard line in dealings with the Belarusian regime , by which I also mean both political and visa sanctions , without ruling out economic sanctions .
globalisation will bring changes and we are seeing enterprises relocate their operations to other parts of the world .
in writing . - ( DA ) The Danish Members of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament have voted against the own-initiative report on the common agricultural policy and global food security , as the report opposes the liberalisation of agricultural policy and criticises EU rules on the restriction of pesticides .
if I may say so , given that you have referred to the principles guiding the work of the European institutions , the European institutions should take care not to throw accusations at each other , and each institution should ask itself what are the tasks that it is to carry out .
in practice , Afghanistan currently has a monopoly of the supply of the deadliest drug in the world . it accounts for 93 % of world production of opiates .
these are the reasons that have led me to vote in favour of the resolution amending Directive 2001 / 83 / EC .
European integration was a direct response to the war and the terror caused by totalitarian regimes on the continent of Europe .
it was not easy and quite clearly was marred by those who thought to deviate the results of the conference for their own narrow political ends .
as you know , we are in a pilot project in three of these European Houses - in Madrid , Dublin and Tallinn - with a common space which we call a ' European public space ' .
we also need to take into account the new challenges that we are facing now , with an enlarged Europe , with the acceleration of social , economic and technological changes , with underlying trends as profound as globalisation , an ageing population and climate change ; we need to bring up to date the principles and the vision that inspire Economic and Monetary Union .
a European regulation must strengthen this responsibility on the part of the Member States , as well as requiring them all to use the same procedure .
( the President cut off the speaker )
this summit must be the one that affirms Europe 's strength and determination in the face of the crisis .
one particularly positive feature for Austria is the fact that the external costs and the so-called Alpine surcharge ( a higher toll in Alpine regions ) will probably not be offset .
agreement is difficult .
although it has been officially prohibited since 1986 , an estimated 60 million children still work today in India 's fields and factories .
the scandal is that this Parliament has rejected Amendment 32 , obliging the result of a referendum in Ireland to be respected .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner Vassiliou , ladies and gentlemen , besides implementing the Lisbon Agenda , one of our objectives is , of course , to live long and healthy lives , which means having a healthy diet .
however , I just want to address one very particular point to the Commission today , and that is that the Commission must be careful in its own actions not to disadvantage the European farmer and the European agricultural industry .
we all agree on the diagnosis .
Mr President , I rise as a British representative who believes we should be in the European Union and changing it .
we already have an established law at the national level .
the Commission also proposes to reinforce the macro-economic prevention framework for euro area Member States by establishing a permanent crisis resolution framework .
no country should become another country 's dustbin .
we condemn forced disappearances , torture , rape and other violations of human rights .
( PL ) Madam President , presentation of the results of the European Court of Auditors ' work always gives superb information which enables a comparison of what things were like in the past with what should be done in the future .
the EU must make its voice heard as far as migration and integration are concerned .
just as importantly , we need more stability in Georgia , because if Georgia is broken up , as many people in Moscow want , then the whole region will be destabilised .
the growth in freight transport may necessitate a supplementary infrastructure to prevent the two interfering with each other .
with regard to Burma , I must take this opportunity to express my condolences for the many victims of the cyclone .
against this background and in these circumstances , I would ask you to support the signing of the agreement .
are there opportunities here to apply cross-border methods and best practices to create more new companies ?
I and very many Irish people share that commitment .
I would say : no more rules .
in the list of purposive actions , presented in the Action Plan for Energy Efficiency , which plans to reduce use by 20 % by 2020 , it is also underlined that one of the possible means to achieve this goal is labelling of tyres .
Madam President , I am a bit surprised at the qualifications of my amendment as ' grotesque ' and ' unacceptable ' .
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this is the reason why the Member States , in the conclusions of the work of the task force , presided over by the President of the European Council , arrived at a very broad consensus on the proposals presented by the Commission on strengthening economic governance - proposals that are currently under discussion here in Parliament and in the Council .
the Union must therefore update these instruments without delay , and cannot afford the luxury of a legislative loophole that generates doubts , uncertainties and paralysis in the activities of our businesses .
it is necessary to go on pointing out that the treaties provide for progressively setting up a common area of freedom , security and justice along with measures aimed at furthering the compatibility of applicable rules in the Member States in the area of conflicts between laws and competence .
environmental protection and climate protection have become major issues and the European Union itself has changed as the number of its Member States increased from 15 to 27 .
in some cases , this can be achieved by the institution or body concerned by offering compensation to the complainant .
no , we are far from the end of the story .
we are , today , at 8.5 % , so we have to go for 11.5 % more .
we need to be there physically , we need to be there in terms of the support we can give .
Vice-President and Commissioner Wallström has also fought hard and long .
they have shown the will .
that is what we are aiming for , and that is why we are calling for a financial instrument .
as Khaled Hroub wrote , the Arab spring has shown that freedom and dignity are aspirations shared by all human beings , all nations and all peoples .
in practical terms , the funds allocated now and in the next 10 years in Romania will provide a long-term investment which is needed for the balanced development of the entire European Union .
the 1941 deportations delivered a devastating blow to democratic civil society .
on 18 November last year , Latvia celebrated the 90th anniversary of its proclamation .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , Belarus was going to be immune to the worldwide financial crisis .
Uganda is a country in which the majority of people survive on a dollar a day : surely the country 's legislators can find better ways to serve the interests of Ugandan society than to make gays subject to criminal prosecution .
in general terms , at a time of huge economic downturn and hardship , maybe we should be looking at ourselves to tweak our budget so we can send more monies back to national exchequers where it is desperately needed and where the pain is being felt .
besides , he consciously makes reference to the experience of democracy and of those who fought for democracy in Central Europe .
the report stresses that the multi-level approach must be applied horizontally in all EU policies .
Cyprus and Greece , for example , have historic cultures , but look at the geography .
that is why I am proposing to the European Commission a communication on enforcement .
we learned from our experience with that previous framework when developing the current proposal , and I believe we have significantly improved on what was already there .
what is more , over recent weeks , we have seen how important the European Union is and can be , but we have also seen where our weaknesses lie and where we have to take action - including preventive action - to remedy them .
it is , of course , the Council and its budget management that we are to scrutinise .
as you know , the new directive will apply to economic operators from July 2011 .
I can guarantee that the Presidency will try to act as quickly as possible .
why does the Commission favour the big pharmaceutical companies and their lobbyists ?
quality employment significantly reduces the poverty risk .
the Tagliavini commission rightly criticises the mass provision of Russian passports to Georgian citizens in Abkhazia and South Ossetia as being contrary to international law .
I note with regret that the system as implemented is not only complicated but also subject to different interpretations .
Mr Vernola mentions this , but not forcefully enough for so serious a problem .
furthermore , approximately 92 % of companies manufacturing construction materials are small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) .
we need to place great emphasis on the appropriate functioning of the internal control system of the institutions under supervision , because our conviction is that it is better to prevent problems than to have to find solutions for them later on .
the vote will take place on Wednesday , 11 May at 12 : 30 .
therefore , we urgently need a revision of this directive with the involvement of Parliament under the codecision procedure which is not based on the Euratom Treaty .
in these countries , a balance has been achieved between life and work , which enables parents to bring up their children , without sacrificing their careers , and to obtain the economic and social benefits linked to them .
( RO ) Mr President , the use of illegal phone tapping and eavesdropping in Bulgaria is an extremely serious situation .
visiting the doctor should be something that is done voluntarily .
the main question that arises is whether it can be implemented , as much now needs to be done in order to achieve what the document claims is essential , bearing in mind the political direction that the European Union has been taking .
care must be taken to ensure that the blanket provision of postal services is guaranteed in the long term - and guaranteed everywhere , including remote areas .
the next item is the debate on seven motions for resolutions on Burma .
during this presidency , you have been a rather different person .
( PL ) Madam President , last month I wrote to the European Commission asking it to halt examination of the Republic of Poland 's request for restructuring aid for Krajowa Spółka Cukrowa ( Poland 's national sugar company ) , reject the application and initiate control proceedings .
we will pick that point up in that conversation .
the Greens advocate neutrality in technology and the unbundling of operations to do away with the dominant positions of the state telecoms giants .
I therefore wish to ask the Council to strengthen this operation , to enlarge the protected areas for which it is responsible , to increase its staff allocation and to grant it additional competences .
however , this is an idea that you and I and the most ardent Europe supporters must promote .
I called upon the European Commission then to take firm action .
we need to decrease the gender pay gap by 10 % in each Member State .
the governments of these countries need to seek means of dialogue with the leaders of the demonstrations in order to be able to move towards levels of understanding that will prevent deaths and bloodbaths .
I think it is very important that we look at the issues and see how far we have come in eighteen months .
this implies a need to invest greater efforts in disaster risk reduction and to provide support - in addition to one-off aid - for communities ' own disaster-preparedness capabilities .
the challenge we face as Europeans is to make immigration a genuine part of development for both countries of origin and countries of destination , and have development make its contribution to reducing illegal immigration .
in writing . - The Commission proposal includes no less than four separate financing instruments . they are aimed at different market sectors .
I would like to thank all previous and current Members of the European Parliament who courageously expressed solidarity with the three Baltic nations .
now more than ever , this own-initiative report , which has been adopted by a large majority , is an opportunity to point out that MEPs , and especially the Socialists , will continue to be vigilant with regard to the implementation of this directive and its impact on public services .
what view does the Commission take of the environmental damage caused by opencast lignite mining and lignite-burning power stations in the Czech Republic and central Germany , and of the progress with plans to decommission lignite plants and return affected land to nature ?
this bears witness to the effective cooperation which exists between the Ombudsman and the institutions and bodies of the Union .
in fact , we do not need to reiterate that enlargement has turned out and proved to be one of the European Union 's most successful policies .
it must be emphasised that the family was deprived of its home in spite of forceful protests on the part of the international community , and that the Supreme Court decision in fact paves the way to the seizure of a further 26 houses in the same area .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , Commissioner , Minister , ladies and gentlemen .
I would especially like to thank the Commissioner for making herself available this evening , but also for being available and communicating with us to share information and keep track of this dossier .
it is hard to see how Mubarak can credibly play a role in that transition other than by stepping down .
a significant proportion of European Roma face such substandard conditions - almost totally disconnected from the economy , resulting in their exclusion from basic human rights - that fostering social inclusion cannot be viewed within the framework of general policy rectifications , but must be handled as bridging one of the largest gaps in the fulfilment of constitutional and human rights in Europe .
another very positive thing that I am extremely pleased we have adopted is that we will now have a ban on , and can phase out , some of the most dangerous substances contained in pesticides .
this is a perennial cry , for the problem is long-standing .
in particular , I expect the Member States to undertake to offer specific tax breaks or the removal of excessive red tape .
there are certain countries that have already gone a very long way in restoring the soil to a healthy condition and there are other countries that have not .
the main winner is agriculture , particularly the establishment of a dairy fund of EUR 300 million .
this would be the best thing we could do for the sake of both the climate and our emergence from the crisis in Europe .
Madam President , the debates and discussions around the fiscal system for savings have taken such a passionate turn that it has become disturbing .
moreover , I believe these concerns should be discussed proactively and in terms of transatlantic cooperation .
these are the facts .
we can but categorically reject this intention !
on 1 January 2009 the euro became the official currency of Slovakia .
some of the issues that you have raised are very critical .
I will conclude by saying that in my opinion it will be extremely helpful in future to identify the most sophisticated , appropriate and safe technical methods to record and thus categorically certify the identity and age of a child as early as is feasible , from birth if possible .
the continued work of the Tribunal is needed , if only because of the fact that many criminals remain at large , and a significant number of cases still require reliable examination .
financial institutions have a key role to play , even during the current difficult period , in structuring and trading instruments with the aim of financing projects promoting renewable energy , energy efficiency and other goals .
he has dedicated himself wholeheartedly to these issues of language , and it is absolutely true that language is a fundamental right .
now , when we are constantly asking the citizens of our various countries to make sacrifices , we will give a really strong signal if we decide to focus all our work in Brussels .
in the past , citizens of Eastern Europe were tempted to reside in the United States illegally for financial reasons . the situation has now changed dramatically .
( CS ) Madam President , illegal employment not only affects five to ten million people but , in particular , those who employ them .
surely it should be for the good people of Greece perhaps to have a referendum on whether they should be in the euro .
in the meantime , due to excessive subsidies , the low prices of surplus wine are pushing quality wines from other Member States out of the market .
Mrs Napoletano 's report goes against this perception .
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we also need to fill the legal void that has always existed at European level when it comes to enzymes , which are used in the manufacture of bread or dairy produce , for example .
the crisis means redundancies , and families , who have less and less money , are spending less and less .
we will have to monitor the situation and work with the Member States .
ladies and gentlemen , the Lisbon Strategy is beginning a new cycle , giving us an opportunity to introduce reforms that will increase productivity at work and help to create jobs , thus helping to reduce the economic impact of population ageing .
furthermore , it is important that citizens have confidence in the principles governing the safety of repositories and in waste management programmes .
Mr President , the fact that the Croatian Serb minority has been given the post of deputy prime minister in the current cabinet has contributed greatly - as others have already said - to stability in the region and peace among the different ethnic groups .
twelve months on , we are now facing up to the problems , and I welcome the proposals that are set out by the Commission here today .
the report by Jaromír Kohlíček , on behalf of the European Parliament delegation to the Conciliation Committee , on the joint text approved by the Conciliation Committee for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the fundamental principles governing the investigation of accidents in the maritime transport sector and amending Directives 1999 / 35 / EC and 2002 / 59 / EC ( PE-CONS 3723 / 2008 - - ,
so there are democratic mechanisms and the Bank must operate within this framework .
I was inundated with opinions on the common position , which my government has also approved .
that concludes Question Time .
that is not the way to solve the problem , particularly with regard to waste .
acting to help victims of this catastrophe rebuild their lives , homes and futures is surely something that any Member of this Parliament with a shred of humanity will agree on .
the EU and the Member States have an obligation to support specific , effective measures that enable the transition to be made to the labour market , through better education , training and mobility .
however , there is also the path which Romania took in its bloody overthrow of the regime .
it is necessary to improve competition in the markets for medicines and energy .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , I am a little surprised by the President-in-Office 's speech tonight , as indeed I am by its delivery from the podium d 'honneur .
what that means , no one yet knows .
economic prospects vary across the Member States .
it means ensuring that we preserve our very high level of common rights in these areas .
( the President cut off the speaker )
innovation must be given special attention because it is innovation which is Europe 's Achilles heel .
unilateral acts create very serious precedents , and we have now heard what Mr Borghezio had to say .
investment by SMEs is one of the key factors in the keenly awaited recovery .
while it has been shown scientifically that tobacco products are harmful , alcohol is harmful only when consumed in excessive quantities or by persons who should not drink it .
but it is - as the Council also said - a very important part of the negotiation .
we have already recognised - through the principle of burden-sharing - that different Member States have very different energy situations , so why not restrict ourselves to setting that goal and allowing Member States to decide for themselves how to reach it ?
the report that we are debating today defines feed but not feed factories .
since the signing of the Kyoto Protocol , China has trebled its CO2 emissions because there are no sanctions linked to this .
the value of solidarity must also be fully ensured in this area .
Mr Florenz has been nagging me on this for the past few years .
it is not merely a market tool , but also a very important democratic tool .
that is why I would say that it is different , but not so different as to make me change my behaviour .
I shall therefore start by discussing a few other things for which we do bear responsibility .
in other words , we shall endeavour to ensure that a portion of the CEPOL budget is unfrozen depending on the answers that the agency provides to our requests in the demand for discharge .
even Austria won a victory by being allowed to restrict access by foreign students to the country 's universities .
the recent revision of the directive from the Commission proposes additional amendments to the Directive ; such as cost assessment for the environmental impact of HGVs ( Heavy Goods Vehicles ) in terms of noise pollution , congestion and air pollution .
the mission concluded that the elections had taken place in a pluralistic environment , that a distinct political choice had been on offer for the voters and that a number of international standards for democratic elections had been met .
the process has taken a long time , and it was not mainly down to this Parliament that its ratification took so long .
for the Commission , it is quite simple : ' if there is further reduction of capacity by some Member States , this will benefit other Member States , because if there is a reduction of capacity with a consequent reduction of effort , there would be more resources and more market opportunities . '
the Commission will stay vigilant and take steps , if necessary , against those Member States which do not fully comply with the Directive 's provisions in question .
the lack of strict regulation in Brazil means exporters also have an unfair competitive advantage over European farmers .
( FI ) Mr President , it is a good thing that the EU wants stress tests for its Member States and its neighbours .
every day peace-loving Christians are under threat of systematic oppression and are used as scapegoats in crises they are not involved in .
that is why , while recognising that our problems in Europe have multiplied , we must not forget the problems in developing countries .
it had its shortcomings .
security situation in the Sahel region ( debate )
I was told ' we cannot identify UK waters .
these facts regarding road transport are known to all and it is at long last time to act .
we do too .
let me quote just one example .
I see this as important .
of course , it should also give emphasis to our demand for one-stop security .
in the end , it will be the consumer at the bottom of the chain who will suffer and who might begin to see air travel as a luxury .
first , this decision will give the green light to all those who are seeking a significant cost reduction in the manufacturing , transport and transit sectors .
colleagues may be aware that this is a sensitive issue and in some languages and for some Member States this does give difficulties .
there has also been institutional cooperation from the College of Commissioners , headed by José Manuel Durão Barroso , with the Commissioner for Financial Programming and Budget , Janusz Lewandowski , having provided particular support .
in writing . - Madam President , I voted in favour of this report , and I hope that the extension of the Erasmus Mundus Programme to 2013 will continue to provide an important bridge between different cultures .
although we should fully recognise the importance of alternative energy sources and their possible dominating role in the future , we should nevertheless develop a down-to-earth approach to nuclear energy and face the fact that 30 % of the energy produced in the EU is produced by nuclear power plants .
thank you to Birgitte Stensballe and to all of her team ; to the ushers , who make sure that the documents always arrive at the right place , at the right time ; to the technicians ; to the secretaries ; and to the translators .
this is now the regional dimension of the bilateral part of the neighbourhood policy to the east .
the problem of particulate emissions from two-wheelers essentially arises from two-stroke engines .
labelling of tyres with respect to fuel efficiency (
only 20 % of American mothers-to-be drink in pregnancy . in Europe , we do not label .
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a regulation providing for free-standing remedies that would allow interim measures to be ordered before , during and after the main proceedings will represent significant progress for European citizens in the fight against these dishonest debtors .
simultaneously , many Member States should strengthen the role which social dialogue has in setting the policy .
Sellafield is the best-known station and that is where there was a significant leakage a little while ago , in 2005 .
the ruling has its own logic and it is quite comprehensible to me .
all the European institutions that depend on the European Union budget have to be thoroughly audited by the Court of Auditors and by all entities with that function .
( loud and sustained applause )
the new challenge the European Union has just given itself is quite breathtaking .
in conclusion , it must be stressed that EU Member States allocate as much as 27 % of their GNP to social policy , compared to 15 % in the USA .
rapporteur . - ( NL ) Madam President , if this directive meets with approval this afternoon , although we may be laying down a directive for only a small segment of the internal market , it will represent an enormous step for the European consumer .
I am in favour of establishing a legal framework that gives immigrant women the right to hold their own passport and residence permit , and makes it possible to hold a person criminally responsible for taking these documents away .
( DE ) Madam President , I would like to say something very briefly in response to my fellow Member 's objection about the costs , despite the fact that he has disappeared again .
firstly , I think that the report has become too detailed .
in the long term , the question will be whether we are prepared to continue to support the weak countries structurally with billions in taxpayers ' money .
thirdly , independent staff with appropriate and regular training must play a key role in planning and inspections .
we need a permanent budget line for the milk fund and we aim to achieve this in future .
is the harassment of Frontex aircraft linked to Turkey 's refusal explicitly to recognise the EU 's Aegean borders ?
the debate is closed .
on this resolution too , it must be taken into consideration that this topic is within the remit of the Member States .
we must therefore greet any proposal to combat terrorism effectively , in other words to provide security for the nations of Europe , with satisfaction .
third , we must establish regular consultation at European Union level with non-governmental organisations .
this could improve European visibility and achieve a stronger European presence , thereby strengthening the contacts between the EU and Africa .
this Council working group will meet to put forward solutions around October time or towards the end of the year .
we currently have 400 000 people on a waiting list for organs in Europe and about ten of these will die every day because there is a shortage of donor organs .
those steps undermine the territorial integrity of Georgia as insisted upon in the relevant United Nations resolutions .
all European citizens must be treated equally .
at the meeting of the euro-area Heads of State and Government on Friday , we will look beyond this deal to what we need to do to draw the right lessons from this situation .
let me be very clear .
in the spring of this year , the Commission intends to propose new European benchmarks on learning mobility and on the role of education in preparing people to be employable in the knowledge-based labour market .
however , we are opposed to the possibility of legalising unlawful residence through marriage to a migrant worker , as reflected in the Metock ruling .
as I said in my introductory speech , this really indicates a major accepting of responsibility on the part of all parties involved , which I think is something we have reason to be very proud of .
I agree with the previous speaker that we did well to negotiate a reduction in the budgetary proposals from the Bureau , which originally involved an excessive growth rate of 5.2 % , down to an increase of 2.3 % .
the purpose of the Goldstone report was to undertake an unbiased study , but , regrettably , it failed in that .
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I would be grateful if the Commission , possibly after the conclusion of the ACTA agreement , would do all it can to ensure that as many other countries as possible sign up to this agreement and would also demonstrate a little flexibility in cases where doubts exist .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Mr President , it is a pleasure to welcome Commissioner Kuneva to the House once again .
however , it is particularly the case for small holdings , where the input of bureaucracy is sometimes quite simply disproportionate to the output represented by the money received .
on the first question , unfortunately the Commission is not in possession of these data , because the regulatory authorities belong to the Member States .
it would be absurd - not to mention unacceptable - to have empty road traffic .
however , despite the improvements which we made , the dividing line between information and advertising is still blurred and the text still has a number of weaknesses and loopholes .
no lesser authority than the European Court of Auditors said recently that ' certain standards , mainly on animal welfare , imposed on EU farmers cannot be imposed on producers of imported meat ' .
the procedures exist and I have to observe them ; I can do no other .
gross domestic product is the best known measure worldwide .
information and disclosure requirements and specific safeguards against asset stripping should be subject to a general exception for control over small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) ;
when enormous changes are carried out in anticipation of a consent that is yet to be obtained , we can be assured that consent is seen as a mere formality .
we are also testing the use of officials in some representation offices in Member States to follow up on questions relating to the application of Community law to see how this might improve efficiency .
I am appalled to see that the Council has clearly not learnt any lessons from the crisis .
that is an exceptionally positive thing .
at this stage , the Commission has not yet identified all the sources of financing corresponding to the full amount for the energy projects required by the recovery Plan in 2010 .
let us take a critical look at the Schengen Agreement and what that has actually meant for Europe : it has allowed criminals , people traffickers and drug dealers to travel across thousands of miles unaided ; it has allowed camps such as Sangatte and the Jungle to develop on the other side of the English Channel , with people living in deplorable conditions .
I definitely consider the EU 's common asylum system to be a problem area , which we have discussed together at least several times here , where , on the one hand , the Commission talks of the need for legal migrants or immigrants to be successfully integrated into the common system but , on the other , the action plan displays very little ambition in this direction .
all satellite-based systems should use in communications the same radio spectrum from 1980 to 2010 MHz and 2170 to 2200 MHz .
how can we effectively review this neighbourhood and partnership instrument ?
it has , to everyone 's surprise in Ireland , decided that there will be no haircuts for senior bond holders in the Allied Irish Bank and the Bank of Ireland .
the immediate consequence was that at least 10 women would not be executed by this brutal method .
we will have to act , and I agree with most of the colleagues who asked for an investigation , because we have to find out which of the two sides is more irresponsible .
as far as I am concerned , it does it well : all that is missing is a greater tendency towards involving local communities and associations in distribution , and in seeking solutions for the future .
Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to join an urgent meeting of South-East Asian nations to discuss the conflict .
please note that , since you have not provided these guarantees , I cannot guarantee that we will put our trust in you .
it is now up to us to use these new rights responsibly .
I believe that the Joint Undertaking is still in a start-up period and therefore understand the relatively low utilisation rate for payment appropriations .
I appeal to my fellow Members to send out the signal that it is no longer acceptable for women to have to live under these conditions .
that is why Europe will be successful and will generate support if it acts where Community action is undoubtedly required , and where action at European level can achieve more than action at national level .
thus , there are more stringent rules for substances that could be carcinogenic , mutagenic or toxic to reproduction .
moreover , in a good dozen Member States , the unemployment rate remains higher for women , and women are over-represented in part-time employment .
it is very important , therefore , for the European Parliament to send out a clear signal about the intention established in the relevant Regulation .
obviously there are also other very important causes that should not be underestimated , such as : animal transport , unsatisfactory early warning systems , insufficient preventative measures being taken , which includes inoculation .
this is what most MEPs in here think .
I look forward to making this a reality as we all work for recovery in the coming weeks and months .
that is all well and good .
I wonder what the world is coming to when the European Union , the self-styled protector of universal , interdependent and indivisible human rights , fails to speak out clearly against one of the world 's worst human rights abusers .
the intention of this legislation , which I applaud , is to protect our citizens ' health and environment and agriculture .
• educating and training judges , prosecutors and other court officers , with the aim of building mutual understanding of the legal systems of the other Member States and resolving cross-border disputes ;
Council President Rompuy should not amend Article 125 of the Treaty of Lisbon , which states that every country shall be liable for its own obligations .
there are of course some framework regulations , but maritime transport and shipping are far more complex than other types of transport when it comes to establishing which state is to be responsible for investigating the causes of accidents .
a consequence of Europe 's growing need for gas will be an increased dependence on imports of this resource , from 45 % in 2005 to 70 % in 2030 .
the first one is a bit of a confession : I am a mega shopper .
not only will they be the executive , they will also have the right to initiate law - a concentration of power that is extraordinary in any context , but all the more so when we bear in mind that they are not directly answerable to the electorate .
the issue is this : if the European Parliament is known in many countries , it is through the exercise of the right of petition .
it is important for the military effort to be accompanied by social , humanitarian and economic aid .
I hope - and this is a request to the Commission , which is present this afternoon and has this subject on the agenda - that the Commission will today finally bring itself to have this health check carried out for agencies .
the level of restrictions on the spontaneity of market processes and the level of political regulation over the economy are constantly increasing .
I would simply like to mention one or two cases that are not addressed very often .
road safety is of extreme importance to all of us because the measures that need to be adopted save lives .
in writing . - ( LT ) I voted in favour of this report which will be reconsidered by the parliamentary committee responsible .
forest management employs 350 000 people .
in writing . - ( RO ) Launching clean and energy-efficient vehicles on the market will make a significant contribution to protecting the environment , improving air quality and making modes of transport more energy efficient by reducing pollutant emissions .
in writing . - ( FR ) ' Flexicurity ' is a smokescreen masking the commoditisation of work and of workers .
the economic needs of the country in question must be taken into account so that the amount spent on adult education is not money needlessly squandered , but bears demonstrable value to the individual , to society and to the economy .
in terms of the legal basis for this agreement , the Commission has conducted an analysis of the issue and has arrived at the conclusion , supported by the Council and Member States , that it should maintain its original proposal .
) . - ( DE ) Mr President , I would like to raise a point of order .
ESMA will be brought into being .
at this moment , we wish to inform you , dear friends , that in October - next month - at our invitation , all the Heads of the Orthodox Patriarchates and Autocephalous Churches will meet in Istanbul , in order to discuss our common problems and to strengthen Pan-Orthodox unity and cooperation .
however , I was left rather puzzled by various references to the future of coal in the European strategy , in particular in paragraph 52 , in which the Commission is asked to draw up legal provisions to facilitate the building of coal-fired electric power plants .
no religion is , or ever was , invulnerable to what I will call intolerable deviations .
ladies and gentlemen , 20 years later , at a time when , the financial crisis aside , many people are questioning European integration , the 27 Member States are faced with an historic responsibility : to deepen European integration , or to live day to day as a result of compromises that may well be necessary but that do not bode well for the future .
I know of several people in my own constituency who have gone , or who are right now going , through this process and it is a delight to watch the joy in parents ' and children 's faces alike at the conclusion .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , today , 5 May , is the Fight against Paedophilia and Child Pornography Day in Italy .
( ES ) Mr President , today has been a very emotional day with the Sakharov prizes and also , for me , with the presence in the gallery of the President of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic , which is fighting for the self-determination - the rightful self-determination - of its people .
if we can achieve all that , we will eventually have a 4 % increase in GDP and 5.6 million extra jobs by 2020 .
it is opening up the path to cheap money in a number of states .
I have four points to make .
if you drive too fast for a distance of 50 kilometres , in most countries you have a margin of tolerance of about three kilometres before you are fined .
the questions of dependability and timely delivery are as important as those of quality and price .
any failure in this area by Europe as a continent will have fatal consequences - as all the other Members have said - for the competitiveness of Europe , for the quality of life of its inhabitants and , ultimately , also for the values which Europe represents for the world .
however , we would like to emphasise that we cannot carry on like this in the future .
I think it is a major opportunity for Europeans to show that we are the region of the world that is most committed to a high quality of life at every stage in people 's lives and for every age group .
it now has vegetarian dishes as well , which it did not have many of before , but nearly all the recipes contain meat .
we Spaniards are well aware of this , since so many of us , as Republican exiles , were taken in by Mexico , France and other countries .
( the House rose and observed a minute 's silence )
all of this will be based on actual proposals from the Commission .
I therefore ask my fellow Members who tabled these amendments , before acting in this way , to find out what the real situation is and to understand the problems faced by these outermost regions .
the price of political ideology is always human misery .
it is , therefore , very important to make market participants far more aware of the opportunities that already exist today .
of course , we do not want them to be amended , and I do not think they will be , as no amendments have been tabled .
I am referring to what has happened with the European patent , which has seen the Union exclude Italy and Spain , and the use of enhanced cooperation amongst other Member States .
1 .
secondly , I cannot allow Mrs Andreasen , who is fully acquainted with this matter , to say that there is a personal conflict of interest in having me , the Chair of the Committee on Budgets , sit on the board of trustees of the House of European History .
I also think it was portrayed as a major theme in the House this morning .
this instrument may be significantly important to small and medium-sized enterprises .
Madam President , Commissioner , the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe supports the views expressed in the opinion of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment to the effect that the ALARA principle , in other words , the principle of ' as low as reasonably achievable ' , should apply in the assessment of carcinogenic substances .
however , my question is about a slightly different matter .
a solution needs to be found here that is fair to both sides .
it is most important that China should allow open public consultation in order to allow those affected by any changes to language policy to freely express their opinions , which would have to be taken into account .
in order for this idea to be implemented , a clear notion of partnership on the part of the Commission is required , and EU support for the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises needs to be reviewed and consolidated .
on Uzbekistan , I stand by my view that we must remain tough in our dealings with that country until such time as the regime there clearly signals that it is genuinely ready to move towards democracy .
what we have to do is to ask Member States to reflect this in their policies and not to accept that women be disadvantaged in this transition .
we must establish a system which is fair and efficient , based on common standards and common principles .
we think that a more detailed discussion of how international financial transactions should be handled is needed .
I note that the report considers that the detention of young offenders should only be a measure of last resort and that alternative measures do exist .
my second point is that I was very pleased that you made reference to the sad fate of Gilad Shalit , who has now been incarcerated for nearly five years .
Bulgaria will have to implement transitional measures when it enters Schengen .
moreover , needless complications might undermine the legitimacy and popularity of the process of EU accession to the convention .
to those hard-line advocates of multilingualism I would say , somewhat euphemistically , that it is a fiction to claim that , without this extension to the translation process , the European Parliament would be the only parliamentary assembly in the world not to have all its proceedings and debates translated in hardcopy into all the relevant languages .
Council and Commission , what form do you see this kind of public EU body taking ?
in writing . - ( SV ) I am voting against the report in the final vote because I am opposed to FRONTEX and an EU border police , for which it would be difficult to secure accountability .
we have been discussing the ' Blue Card ' today , but we must ensure that everyone who has come here from other parts of the world where there is currently high unemployment is integrated and enters the working world , including those with disabilities and other issues .
I vote in favour of Mr Casini 's report .
it was because it was Porsche and , of course , perhaps also because it was Mr Verheugen .
the first element is the strengthening of the rules on private equity , which will increase the transparency of these activities in relation to employees of the companies targeted , and will introduce robust safeguards against asset stripping , as many of you wished , although I know that some of you think that this does not go far enough .
the final text must strike a fair balance between patients ' rights and the Member States ' national competences in the health sector .
Facebook , Twitter and YouTube are the strongest weapons for those who are humiliated and outraged , the numbers of whom in Iran are very large .
it will also be much better in terms of the amount of work because , as you know , we have just approved the Stockholm Programme .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Madam President , this report is a serious , thorough and inspirational piece of work .
learning outcomes vary greatly , due to the range of national education and vocational training systems .
even during a crisis , Europe must continue to treat all its citizens equally .
abolishing this system without an alternative proposal will lead to production being abandoned in countries where it is less competitive ; Portugal falls into this category .
the debate is closed .
you should not reproach us for treating it as such , that is to say , asking a bit more of it , precisely because Poland is an important country .
computerised reservation systems ( CRSs ) are mainly intended to serve the customer .
as the President of the World Bank pointed out , the problems of malnutrition could be deemed the forgotten Millennium Development Goal .
I am pleased that I have received support for this now , and that we are clarifying the matter .
of course , the punishment of a legal entity must not exclude the punishment of specific natural persons who have taken part in this activity in any way .
I am taking part in the debate today as the permanent rapporteur on the Structural Funds for the Committee on Budgets in order to stress - like many of my colleagues - how important it is to reduce excess bureaucracy in managing these funds .
we cannot allow the demonisation of the Dalai Lama .
as we celebrate the tenth anniversary of the United Nations Resolution establishing the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women , we recognise the extent of this problem .
however , it is important for the government to stand up for fundamental freedoms and fundamental rights .
in the era of the globalised economy , the European Union 's common commercial policy seems quite natural to us .
the whole of Europe expects this of us .
I am very happy that , in combination with what we have here on renewables , other regulations in place in Europe are changed .
I therefore encourage our Russian counterparts to engage in these issues in an open and constructive way .
on this subject , it should also be said that , in some cases , we are talking about matters that are dealt with in national legislation .
the petition is a great tribute , I would say , to Europe and what it stands for , but it is also a great credit to Member States , because Member States themselves signed a Treaty which gave the right to petition , even if the petition can often be used as a tool against Member State authorities themselves .
our policy is not about the European Union forging ahead in the vague hope that others will follow .
of course , we must then also work to understand - and here again the Commission can play a very important role - what lies behind piracy , what the links are with fundamentalism and with terrorism ; what the points of strength are , what the reasons are .
he could even enjoy the spectacle of 90 lorries laden with gravel churning up the country lanes where parents walk with their children .
today 's request for assistance concerned 1 154 redundancies in 593 enterprises operating in NACE Revision 2 Division 47 ( retail trade , except for motor vehicles and motorcycles ) , amounting to a sum of EUR 1 560 000 financed by the EGF .
we must overcome these difficulties .
all your calls for us to speak with one voice are well heard .
I welcome the 2008 annual report of the European Investment Bank ( EIB ) , and encourage it to continue its activities to promote the development of the European economy and foster growth , stimulate employment , and promote interregional and social cohesion .
Mr President , this afternoon the British Parliament at Westminster will complete the ratification process for the Lisbon Treaty .
a little over a year afterwards , they voted by a two-thirds majority in favour .
Mr Kamall , as you can see , you are the only one in the Chamber !
another important point is the recommendation for the development of a global system of food stocks and emergency reserves .
the aim of the review is to simplify and adapt the existing rules by reducing regulatory fragmentation .
the incentive to improve the energy performance of buildings also signifies a chance to reclassify our cities , contributing to tourism , job creation and sustainable economic growth in the EU .
Mr President , the Commission 's first year report on the European Globalisation Fund states that over 13 000 redundant employees in eight Member States are being helped .
these sorcerer 's apprentices of Europe 's have not understood a thing ; only the nation states , Europe 's main components , will be able to enrich it and to restore it to its rightful place in the world .
first , among them is the fact this is a package which Parliament recommended and negotiated .
the system cannot work in this way .
I believe this also to be a right ; asylum is a right , not a favour .
I want to put on record that I support the amendments put forward by Mr Sturdy , which I have signed , and which I am happy to support .
Mr President , the PPE Group sees it as a given that we must retain the 30 % target expressed in our November resolution , and must combine this target with not only European but also global ambition .
I am talking about the dialogue between the European Parliament , its Subcommittee on Human Rights and the UN Human Rights Council , society and the groups within them .
23 .
the effort of consolidating 27 diverse legal traditions in one document has perhaps been too audacious .
I only deal with complaints against EU institutions , whilst you can also examine what Member States are doing .
this is not how it works , though .
Muslims do a huge amount for Muslim minorities .
in writing . - By insisting that non-EU spouses of EU nationals must have lived in another EU Member State before being entitled to residency in Ireland , the Government is I believe in breach of the 2004 directive .
the promotion of productive investment , employment rights , public services and a strong public business sector - as in banking - through a fair distribution of the wealth created ;
it is therefore important not to exclude private cars and to focus more on logistics in the town .
dates of forthcoming sittings : see Minutes
then Europe shall live .
the proposal further focuses on the burden of proof .
it is important that these two areas are not mixed together in order to prevent duplication and to ensure that we have a solution at the end of the day .
there are now so many agencies that not all of us know what they are and what they do .
I therefore invite the Commission to stick to the vision of the Stockholm Programme when presenting the specific proposals for the next five years .
I hope that an independent audit of the project can be launched in order to find out who is responsible .
as rapporteur for the European Parliament , it is a pleasure for me to take this opportunity to assure the Commission that the present draft has the broad support of all the groups in Parliament .
statistics on religious freedom show that the majority of acts of religious violence are against Christians .
the Commission and the Council must also press ahead with the reform of international development cooperation , which is one of the main reasons for the ineffectiveness of development aid .
Member of the Commission . - ( EL ) Once again I should like to stress that the Commission does not have the authority to intervene .
we can confirm that there are serious restrictions on the freedom of the press .
Council position at first reading : see Minutes
on this last point , the casino has now reopened , banks ' profits are once again reaching historic levels - USD 437 billion in profits for the US banks - and our view is that there is less political will than there was six months ago .
that would no doubt be impossible anyway , because the idea , if I understood it correctly , is to develop a model for the distribution of costs and then , at the implementation stage , to apportion external costs to operators of all modes of transport - inland navigation , sea shipping , railways , private cars and so on .
such a policy is destined to fail if those people working in the fishing industry , from the fishermen to the traders who sell fish to consumers , do not comply with the rules .
second , allow time to streamline the shipyard management , since the current management leaves much to be desired ( so that it becomes profitable and 3 000 workers do not lose their jobs ) .
the conclusion of a Strategic Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Russian Federation remains of the utmost importance for the further development and intensification of cooperation between the two partners .
but I believe that we need a joint effort to achieve this - the Commission , Member States and , most importantly , the European Parliament .
in the first place , we have here a reasonable picture of the problems of energy trade in the context of foreign policy .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DA ) Madam President , I would like to thank Mrs Gomes for the excellent and balanced report and for an excellent cooperation .
it is an effective weapon against human rights and economic development .
why does the Commission allow EU business and workers to suffer unfair competition from China ?
I hope , Mr President , that , as my political group is going to do , and as the majority of the political groups in this House are going to do , we will vote in favour of the Lisbon Treaty with our hearts and minds .
I realise that rising oil prices are largely responsible - but certainly not entirely .
the global food crisis and soaring prices are the result of food becoming a common commodity , an object of capitalist speculation rather than a means of survival .
thank you very much , Prime Minister .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - Mr President , I would like to join with my colleagues in congratulating the Portuguese Presidency on being able to create an agreement and understanding with regard to the enlargement of Schengen , and indeed it is historic .
Belgrade must demonstrate a constructive relationship in the upcoming dialogue with Priština and , regardless of the issue of Kosovo 's status , the relationship between Belgrade and Priština must become a partnership , so that the whole region is more easily able to progress towards Europe .
( HU ) Mr President , I cannot emphasis enough that European engineers and developers have carried out outstanding work and , as the Vice-President announced , we are awaiting the launch of Giove-B .
that is an enormous amount of funding that would be required to replace the loss of oxygen that we cut down by cutting these trees .
yet , Malta cannot extend any further .
cross-border banking groups are also experiencing problems .
my third question is therefore : when can we expect an answer to these requests ?
public contracts represent important economic opportunities for companies , are very important in the promotion of the Single Market , stimulate innovation , and promote the protection of the environment and climate , as well as social inclusion .
Mr President , I thank the shadow rapporteurs once again for their excellent cooperation .
one of the targets of the Europe 2020 strategy is to raise the employment rate among people aged 20-64 to 75 % . another is to fight poverty , which is intended to improve the situation of 20 million people .
I do not want to repeat what has already been said in the resolution about the grave violations of human rights there .
the Commission has proposed strengthening the governance of the Schengen area , thereby reinforcing Member States ' confidence and trust in the effective management of our external borders .
the review of the directive is intended to unify and harmonise standards which apply to consumer goods , and which currently overlap and differ on the subject of market surveillance .
we need a fresh start .
the Court guarantees that citizens do not have to wait for authorisation from their health insurer and that they can go straight to a doctor when they need to and that they have a right to the reimbursement of at least the cost of treatment at home , as this should not be a barrier to the free movement of persons .
this investigation tool is a serious instrument that should be deployed when the situation justifies it , but launching an investigation is not a step to be taken lightly as it may impact on our wider relationship with the partner countries .
( DE ) I would be interested to know whether it would not be worth offering incentives for taking old cars off the market , since they have the highest consumption and highest level of CO2 emissions .
the strategies and objectives are the same as those that have formed the so-called external policy of the EU for a long time : controlling the natural resources of the region , in particular , oil and natural gas , on which the EU is dependent , securing their supply without problems , in addition to trying to guarantee access to its markets and the exploitation of workers .
indeed , association agreements have already been signed with some of them .
the proposals to cap direct payments , pay special aid to small-scale farmers and only to pay aid to active farmers are a good idea .
it would also have very serious health and environmental repercussions .
the greatest benefit will be transparency , which will offer a great deal of help in giving the public a proper breakdown of the price of an air ticket .
I also regret that India has been less than supportive in the WTO but I hope , as Mr Rinaldi mentioned , that the so-called cricket diplomacy is going to lead to a solution and that India will recognise that , both on humanitarian grounds and in the interests of security , it is important to help Pakistan create jobs and investment in the future .
I believe that there is not only an agreement here between the parties but also on the part of both the Commission and the Council .
I would like to hear the Commission say something about how this part of the negotiations is going , as I know there has been a certain amount of resistance with regard to this area .
Europe cannot allow such violations of human rights and of its most fundamental values to be committed with impunity on its doorstep , in partner countries , and against the backdrop of peaceful demonstrations .
in writing . - ( PT ) We believe that this is a time for giving all the humanitarian aid , cooperation and support for reconstruction that the people of Haiti deserve , given their dignity and courage .
the draft anti-homosexuality bill put before the Ugandan parliament has been temporarily shelved , but can be re-tabled once a new parliament is established after the upcoming elections in Uganda .
what measures does the Commission intend to adopt to protect production and employment in the textile and clothing sector ?
the result which is within our reach today clearly shows that the countries about to join Schengen on 21 and 22 December , and their citizens , really do deserve this Christmas present , as it were .
in order to achieve this , it is important to consider the possibility of coordinating at European level strategies concerning the instrument of international adoption , in accordance with international conventions , in order to improve assistance in the areas of information services , the preparation and processing of applications , and post-adoption services .
I nevertheless feel that certain points should be clarified .
at the same time , however , we are keen to acknowledge the excellent developments that have taken place under the present government in Pakistan , and we encourage the country to continue with the democratic policy of reform that respects the rights of minorities .
the question of transporting animals has been raised here .
the Commission has , of course , also endeavoured to make a constructive contribution , particularly during the final phase here .
( ES ) Mr President , I would firstly like to recognise the effort made , and also the enthusiasm shown by both the Commission and the Council and , of course , Parliament over such a long period throughout this programme to combat climate change .
the argument as to the number is irrelevant since , at the same time , there is a further proposal to increase the number of members on the International Accounting Standards Board itself , thereby taking it from 14 to 16 .
finally , we would like to point out that party autonomy is of the utmost importance in commercial contract law and it should also remain so .
Madam President , to read the EU action plan for Afghanistan and Pakistan , you would imagine that the whole situation depended on what the EU does .
the Council reaffirmed the need for rapidly adopting the measure package on energy and climate change , as the Union 's diversity in energy sources and the increase in energy efficiency are essential to its economic development .
we , the elected , can vote for or against Commissioner Barroso , if he is reappointed by 20 of the 27 prime ministers .
Member states should value and recognise the informal activities in strengthening the intergenerational solidarity by millions of elderly family members who take care of both younger and older members of the society .
however , we should not forget that , in addition to this essential objective , the cohesion policy has made a decisive contribution to the construction and expansion of the internal market , to the success of the successive enlargements , to the creation and consolidation of the single currency and to the increasing identification of citizens with the European Union .
the Commission and the Council , of course , have two strong arguments for a reappraisal .
therefore , in principle , you are right .
I suppose my question is a very basic one : will this work ?
in writing . - ( PT ) In general we agree with the proposals of the rapporteur which aim to improve the document of the European Commission on the fight against tax evasion connected with intra-Community transactions .
we are concerned about their poor state of health .
I would like to ask the same question .
many of our UCITS are too small and there are too many of them , so we must facilitate mergers .
because Europe and the euro area are under constant pressure from the markets .
on the financing side , which is extremely important this week - and we know the finance ministers are meeting today - we want funds , additionality , no double counting and good governance structures .
questions which have not been answered for lack of time will be answered in writing ( see Annex ) .
in the current climate , where households and Member States are having to tighten their belts , at a time when France is a net contributor of EUR 7 billion , we need to stop taking French and European taxpayers as Santa Claus figures for the European Union , since in June , they will become bogeymen .
it is not possible to comment on every issue , but I would like to mention briefly the sulphur emission control areas .
we should give serious consideration to the benefits of thorough , regular inspections , coordinated at EU level , especially in the case of shipments to developing countries .
what he has not said , is whether or not Serbia fulfils this criterion .
I hope I will again be able to count on your support .
in the proposal in the area of applicable law , only a few regional arrangements will in fact fall within its scope .
finally , I would like to say that I think reform of the Rules of Procedure for such an important event as this demands unanimity .
authorities do not create the added value which can raise living standards for our citizens .
the clear call from Mrs Lynne for the ratification process to be speeded up is important , but on the other hand we must respect the fact that ratification has rules , that these rules must be respected , that these rules are often very different in the various Member States and they have to be respected .
is the Commission committed to ensuring that there is an integrated , consistent legislative framework without internal contradictions between competition rules and sector-specific legislation in the area of intellectual property rights ?
the idea of establishing a network of competent authorities in the Member States also seems to me to be particularly positive , as does the idea of online registration in national or European registers .
the European Union 's economic governance needs to be improved in order to create the economic conditions required for businesses to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the Single Market , allowing them to grow and become more competitive .
the environmental impact study for this agreement , which we paid for , does not include an assessment of the impact that liberalisation will have on tar sands .
however , we would highlight the inclusion of over EUR 257 million in commitments and EUR 194 million in payments for the creation of new public-private partnerships in the context of the Seventh Framework Programme for research , technological development and demonstration activities .
I want to take advantage of this opportunity to express my satisfaction that this directive has been adopted by Parliament with the recommendations of the Committee on Transport and Tourism .
firstly , the existence of geographical and demographic peculiarities in regions ;
we have tried again and again to reach an agreement and , unfortunately - and I say it with a sad heart - the Polish authorities did not make use of those possibilities .
Europe has never closed the door to such discussions , and it remains open today .
it gives some guarantee of the growing importance of farming aimed at promoting rural development .
the issues underlying the disturbances we witnessed in Tibet are regularly discussed as part of the human rights dialogue with China .
delegated acts ( Rule 87a ) : see Minutes
moreover , it does not remove the dangers and concerns that this agreement involves and raises regarding the future of various sectors of economic activity , particularly in some Member States , such as Portugal , and in the regions that are most dependent on those sectors .
the Union can no longer ignore this problem .
the CFP is among the Community policies most dependent on scientific research , given that the credibility of the measures adopted under the CFP rests on high-quality scientific opinions .
I am delighted at the truth and the opportunity that have been presented to the European people by the Commission through an exercise which is really better law-making , involving the recasting of a series of old directives in order to produce a single text and make substantial progress in favour of the railways .
the EU Treaty is very clear on this matter : the European Union 's and Commission 's legal powers in the field of cooperation in criminal matters are restricted to the legal space of the EU-27 .
lists are put together by the industry and decided on by consensus by the participants .
thank you for the floor , Mr President .
the operation and added value of the EGF should be evaluated in the context of the general assessment of the programmes and various other instruments created by the interinstitutional agreement of 17 May 2006 .
we have common interests in this and other projects .
5 .
it is important that this cooperation is not limited to the seven countries that signed the Prüm Treaty but that , as suggested by the first amendment in the report , a uniform set of procedural guarantees at EU level is laid down .
Mr President , I will try to answer my fellow Members .
in other words , in our view the political solution will involve a coalition government led by Mr Tsvangirai as Prime Minister , endowed with the most extensive powers and , moreover , relying on the majority that he holds in Parliament .
complementary financing will be provided for health and safety at work in the framework of the Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity ( PROGRESS ) .
I would like to invite you here and now to such a debate .
wise and responsible utilisation of natural resources is increasingly important given the evident and unacceptable impoverishment of these resources over the years in terms of both quality and quantity .
then , ten were killed .
let me give a simplified answer to the first question : this morning we were debating Regulation ( EC ) No 883 / 2004 which will significantly amend Regulation ( EEC ) No 1408 / 71 and which will definitely improve the situation of many people precisely in the area of cross-border contact .
from a dialectical point of view , they have presented us with a very simple problem , or so it would seem .
if we support Mr Barroso , nothing will change .
in writing . - Every time a real or would-be terrorist boards a plane , fooling the vigilance of our brave security guards and their wonderful machines , millions of passengers get a more miserable life for years to come .
it was faster , safer and more convenient for passengers . however , in the present situation , it is essential to introduce measures which will allow land and maritime transport to compensate us better for the inconvenience caused by the paralysis of air transport .
in an island where the sun and wind exist in abundance one would have expected that full use would be made of these two elements .
now 12 years later its implementation is still being resisted , even though technological advances have meant that CO2 emissions can now be reduced more than was possible a dozen years ago .
we were unable to endorse the report on account of the inaccuracies and woolly statements .
Elisabeth Köstinger referred to Mercosur , and it is certainly true that many agricultural and fisheries products coming into the EU are produced at a far inferior standard than those which we demand from within .
for example , Mario Monti states that the single market is increasingly necessary and yet becoming ever less popular .
we are currently in the midst of a crisis for the euro .
we emphasise Mr Gualtieri 's conclusion that respect for human rights can never be compromised .
in too many cases , these imports enter the European Union without being sufficiently controlled at European customs .
I believe that we need all the means of transport currently available .
fortunately , there are no crises in Europe , and so they have nothing to do .
in addition , inadequate monitoring and inspection mean that in many countries a grey market is in operation , in which equipment collected is dismantled at sites other than treatment facilities .
in writing . - ( PT ) Taking into account the Court of Auditors ' report on the annual accounts of the European Maritime Safety Agency ( EMSA ) for the financial year 2009 , together with the EMSA 's replies , I voted for this decision , which grants the Executive Director of the EMSA discharge in respect of the implementation of the EMSA budget for the financial year 2009 .
businesses must also contribute to sustainable development in order to foster good conditions for workers , but the difference between developed and developing countries still lies in their systems of social protection .
the EU is now to represent us all .
let us make the public aware of our successes and goals .
it is not just in the interests of the area affected but in the interests of Hungary and the entire Union that this unique natural asset is not lost to future generations .
undoubtedly , the EU 's exemplary assistance in the process of democratic development in the Western Balkans and the fact that it kept open the prospect of accession for the countries of this region contributed to these developments .
small producers deal with heavy bureaucracy and are disadvantaged when negotiating purchase contracts against big chains of distributors with dominant positions on the market .
secondly , it is wrong to cite the Irish as an example .
why did you distance yourself from it ?
I would like you to look into this again and that is why I specifically ask you to do me a favour : look into our paragraph 11 , where we raise our concern with regard to the legal obligation and the differences between the Interim Trade Agreement and the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement .
at the same time , this should also give rise to an instrument to better manage traffic demand .
borders have never stopped anyone , either during the darker days of our history or today .
the arrest warrant has two components : issue and refusal or surrender , as appropriate .
my sincere thanks also to the Commission and its President , José Manuel Durão Barroso .
merely cultivating national popular opinion not only destroys confidence in the European Institutions ; it also damages the German Federal Government , because it approved the Toys Directive .
smart metering systems and active control systems have been introduced , such as automation , control and monitoring systems designed to save energy .
on the question of data that can be used for climate analysis , we have indicated that there are two pilot projects , entitled LUCAS and MARS .
in the environmental field it must be recognised that the European Union has proved itself in protecting the environment , and it has proved its capacity to lead and point the way to the future like no other regional bloc in the world has done .
with regard to the discussion on the Fisheries Partnership Agreements , we are now trying , in the framework of our proposal for the reform , to ensure the good implementation of these fisheries agreements for the benefit of the local population .
today , the European Parliament has joined the appeal .
forwarding of texts adopted during the sitting : see Minutes
Europe must intervene to ensure that Greece 's consolidation measures are worthwhile .
in the case of Ukraine the figures are all the more alarming as they involve a direct neighbour of the European Union .
in its resolution of 15 November 2007 , Parliament emphasised that strengthening social cohesion and the elimination of poverty and social exclusion must become political priorities for the European Union .
it will suffer the consequences of the unthinking and unaccountable exploitation of natural resources and it will be spoiled by capitalist barbarity .
in writing . - ( FR ) Fishermen in France , Spain and Italy are telling us of their legitimate revolt , their right to make a living , their indignation .
the success is very much in the mobility and European cooperation and we know it is important for the quality of employment , for the efficiency of labour markets , we know it is truly a European idea and we also know it is of utmost importance for the opportunities of the individual .
for example , freedom of religion is not respected and may become a weapon for radicals and terrorists , marking the start of a totalitarian regime .
the professionalism of the Bank must ensure that this rating , which is also a symbol of European finances , is maintained .
the question is only how best this can be checked .
the time has come for Serbia to close this painful chapter and to make a new step towards reconciliation in the region .
it is therefore essential that the G20 , first the ministerial meeting this week , and then the summit in two weeks , is able to pursue effective international policy coordination to rebalance global growth .
we also welcome the proposal on ' New skills for new jobs ' , and trust this really will link in with the climate change agenda , which also needs to look at new skills in old jobs , because most of the workforce have now passed the stage of formal education , making lifelong learning crucial .
the Commission will continue , of course , to monitor closely all developments within the Opel group .
Mrs Weiler 's report brings an important contribution to this as well , but further efficient monitoring and control are required .
just as Mrs Thyssen and several others here in this House have said , we have improved the directive in a number of areas .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( FR ) Madam President , in relation to this important own-initiative report on the Commission White Paper on investment funds , our position is that we have decided by general agreement to focus on the non-legislative aspects , given that the legislative proposal for revision of the UCITS III Directive will be tabled in early 2008 .
I believe that those who oppose the Lisbon Treaty have no reason to be pleased with the fact that today 's current European policy on immigration is not as strong as it should be .
I believe that we can deliver a good result in time , but some vital adjustments are required .
his group , in particular Vice-President Wortman-Kool , let him down ( again ) .
therefore , in accordance with Rule 124 ( 4 ) of the Rules of Procedure , it will be forwarded to its addressees and published with the names of its signatories in the Texts Adopted of the sitting of 25 February 2010 .
this being so , we agree with a scoreboard to record and evaluate European consumer satisfaction with the smooth operation of the market but , on the other hand , we should not move away from the essence and the objective , which is none other than to operate a people-oriented internal market which revolves around man 's prosperity , not around numbers .
the final draft of the agenda for this sitting , as agreed by the Conference of Presidents meeting on Thursday , 5 February 2009 , in accordance with Rules 130 and 131 of the Rules of Procedure , has been circulated .
cohesion policy is the practical application of the principle of solidarity ; it will therefore no doubt be with us , and occupy us , for longer than the Lisbon Strategy , which after all is to be successfully concluded by 2010 .
experience shows that such a museum will be designed as propaganda for an increasingly federal EU .
I read with great interest the report of Anna Ibrisagic on future stability and prosperity in the Balkans and the draft resolution on Bosnia Herzegovina drawn up by Doris Pack .
now , 21 years later , I am returning to Europe , and like Fray Luis de León when he came out of four years in prison , I feel compelled to start with ' As we were saying yesterday ... ' , because in many respects we need to pick up where we left off .
I do have one concern , however : it relates to the pollution of soil and groundwater through the use of dangerous agricultural pollutants .
I would like to explain once again , Mr Turmes , that if I had not signed the revised and , in my opinion , positive version of the test criteria , we would now have nothing .
Kyrgyzstan attracts special interest from the United States and Russia because of its strategic location in the middle of Central Asia .
we must go back to rules of fiscal discipline , and this is the real issue , the real debate that we must have among ourselves .
if the European Union wants to play an effective peacekeeping role , it needs to act now .
I would remind the rapporteur that his initial report put a total of twenty queries and questions to the Council .
let us therefore support good taxation policies , but not impose them .
written Statements ( Rule 142 )
through this proposal , we respond to the calls made in 2006 by the United Nations General Assembly to take effective action to prevent vulnerable marine ecosystems in the high seas from being destroyed or significantly damaged by bottom fishing activities .
unfortunately , the extreme heat this summer caused the introduction of traffic restrictions for heavy-load vehicles in certain regions , such as Romania , and thus freight transport traffic faced difficulties and financial losses were reported .
why did the European Parliament not voice its concern ?
the opportunities afforded by agriculture range from CO2 storage in soils , the optimum use of humus and the production of biomass as an energy resource .
at the development level , the EU is already the main aid donor for Somalia , providing medium- to long-term support for establishing a peaceful and self-sustainable society .
on behalf of the S & D Group . - Mr President , my group 's philosophy on Ukraine-European Union relations today could be expressed by the following paraphrase of a famous speech : do not ask what Ukraine could do for the European Union , but ask what the European could do for Ukraine , in order to have in Ukraine a reliable pillar of the European Union project .
according to several studies , the climate action and renewable energy package costs approximately EUR 70 to 100 billion , and there is the threat of whole industries moving to other parts of the world .
if you want to restore honour and meaning and purpose to our existing systems of representative government , we should trust the people and give them their referendum - as we promised .
the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska more than 18 years ago is an example of a large-scale disaster , the consequences of which are felt to this day .
( the order of business was adopted thus amended )
we are not talking about a blank sheet of paper , so we are not starting from afresh .
all of this could have been debated today , and this is not the case because the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) is making us talk about a subject that I do not think deserves the consideration or has the significance appropriate to this type of sitting .
overcoming the crisis , which has been a difficult one for all of us , and achieving the objectives of the 2020 economic strategy , necessitate cohesion policy and clear objectives , both for Member States and for regions .
there is room to come up with stronger proposals , so please come up with your proposals .
finally , the possibility of to some extent requisitioning the frequencies allocated in the event of a disaster is in line with the current discussions within the ITU , where the contribution of telecommunications to protecting human life was examined last year at the global conference .
we must call on the Albanian authorities to do the same and not be suffocated by the shadows of the past , but to step into the light of the future .
that is why I voted in favour of this legislative resolution .
it has been extremely interesting to hear what they have to say .
we fear a Pyrrhic victory in this dispute .
( DE ) Madam President , Mr Schulz has left us , but I am pleased that he and Mrs Rodust have made it clear that it was not Social Democrat policy that border controls should be reintroduced .
the potential of the single market cannot be fully exploited without the support of a modern standardisation system .
I have heard it said that this directive would allow people to come out from underground .
we cannot do without such operating rules , which are in accordance with the spirit of the Treaty .
with the new Treaty of Lisbon , the European Parliament has acquired greater powers over partnership agreements in the fisheries sector , and with the reform of the common fisheries policy , the new agreements involve a commitment to promote responsible and sustainable fisheries in all areas of the world .
we have put at the centre of the EU 2020 our climate and energy targets , from 20 % reduction of greenhouse gases , to 20 % renewables and to 20 % gains in energy efficiency .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
this is in paragraph 108 of the ruling .
I particularly welcome the fact that the directive is to be reviewed in 2014 , which will allow us to establish whether we need to make readjustments somewhere or can adopt a more ambitious approach .
draftsman of the opinion for the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development . - ( PT ) As draftsman of the opinion for the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development , I reiterate the need to support rural areas , including mountain regions , where women play a central role .
otherwise , it will be hard for our citizens to understand why this particular label has a special European dimension .
in the world rankings produced by Transparency International in 2010 , it was in 146th place .
I am thinking of the temporary residence permit for minors who have been exploited .
maintenance obligations ( debate )
ladies and gentlemen , the people of Ireland have spoken .
we should follow suit and send Russia a clear and resolute message .
sometimes it is necessary to take bigger steps , otherwise we will always be lagging behind .
that is , of course , one of the topics that will be addressed , but it is clear that at this moment , there is no decision on that yet .
since we are talking about specific priorities and areas , I shall conclude by specifically mentioning one such area - nanotechnologies - in which I believe more investment is needed , given the many sectors in which they can potentially be used : medicine , agri-food production , electronics , new materials and new energies .
it is , however , to be welcomed that additional funding will be available to invest in sustainable transport and , above all , that there will be an opportunity to construct high-speed rail links and water transport links .
consequently , we , the members of the global community , are actually being asked to show our solidarity and how we concern ourselves with our fellow human beings .
in reality , it is often more like hell on earth .
it is also designing less bureaucratic , quicker and more transparent methods than before , thereby supporting individual communities in the long run until they can truly provide for their own needs .
I would also like to thank the shadow rapporteurs for their constructive cooperation .
nevertheless , the speculation in relation to price developments has not become more transparent , nor has it been controlled or restricted .
the vote will take place tomorrow ( Thursday , 24 March 2011 ) .
signature will then depend on full cooperation with the ICTY , and we will assess that together with the Council .
in Europe , the Danube is the river with the largest fresh water reserve .
they are very specific in relation to meat consumption and I do not think there is a place for these paragraphs in the report .
combating late payment in commercial transactions ( debate )
this holds , in particular , for financial solidarity and responsibility , and this is the whole spirit of the transitional stability mechanisms .
the EIB 's reserves must be used to strengthen its capital base .
we are surprised that you want to abolish the working groups of the members of the Commission .
will the Commission consider creating a European Alzheimer 's strategy similar to that in the UK , particularly taking into account recommendations from the European Collaboration on Dementia Project which have already been presented to the Commission ?
I am going to ask Mr Potočnik , my colleague with responsibility for the environment , to give you a written answer informing you of how this directive on flooding is or is not being applied .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , the Commission shares Members ' concern regarding Ms Khadijeh Moghaddam and the cases of women and human rights defenders harassed by the Iranian authorities .
there is a reference in my speech to this temporary protection mechanism , but I do not know if there will be a decision or anything like that .
( applause )
the flight of nuclear energy from the Union will show our efforts to be illusory .
I shall allow these two explanations as an exception , but I should like to ask the services to bring this to the attention of the groups in a suitable manner once again .
when very young children are involved , the problem is even more serious .
in Sweden , all cyanide in mining is handled in closed processes and in a way which is considered to be safe .
it would be good if we could identify the opportunities inherent in this problem ; if we could shift our perception of the Roma issue from problem to opportunity .
Mr President , while you are enjoying yourself with your jokey and unorthodox approach to dealing with requests from the floor for check votes , may I humbly submit that , if you were to go a little slower , the interpretation could keep up with your announcements , and we could then vote in a more timely fashion .
listening to you today , Prime Minister Janša , could only reinforce my firm belief that this enlargement of 2004-2007 , which united Europe in peace and democracy , is indeed one of the greatest achievements of European history , and we should be proud of it .
I fully agree with this motion because I strongly believe that Croatia deserves to become a Member State .
in this framework , Mr Masip , the first session of the political dialogue between the European Union and Cuba at ministerial level was held in Paris on 16 October .
he prepared his recommendation on behalf of the Council .
medium-term financial assistance for Member States ' balances of payments and social conditionality ( debate )
proposals to the Council could be made in the next weeks .
we have heard of unsustainable fishing , but British waters are not being overfished by British fleets ; the problem is that British waters have been thrown open to all .
I do not have to tell you how difficult it is for us to convince our constituents to join us when we are making the case for EU enlargement .
( the sitting was suspended at 11 : 05 pending voting time and resumed at 11 : 30 )
the EU knows how to do only one thing , and it does it to perfection .
spending many hours a day in front of a computer monitor or television screen reduces a child 's physical activity and is detrimental to his or her proper physical development . on average children spend three hours a day in this way , but many actually spend much longer in front of a screen .
I worked as a voluntary fireman for several years and I know that when a house is on fire , it does not take long before the neighbour 's house is also at danger from the flames .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
cultures have had an impact and enriched the culture of mankind , and culture is from our own creation : we created culture .
the current economic situation does not allow us to absorb this kind of increase within state budgets , not to mention the consequences for our companies who will have to bear part of these additional costs .
I voted against the report on migration flows because , although it contains a relatively accurate and balanced analysis of the basic causes that drive people into leaving their country , the report does not contain the necessary conclusions or proposals .
unfortunately , there is one point in the overall compromise that I find less than optimal , and that is the Commission 's proposal to introduce flexible mechanisms .
I invite you , ladies and gentlemen - not just the Italians among you , but the others too - to study the articles published , in any given month in 2009 , in the three main national newspapers : Il Corriere , La Stampa and La Repubblica .
( for details of the outcome of the vote : see Minutes )
it is up to us to prove that Europe is standing by its 500 million fellow citizens , many of whom are suffering in this crisis , and is also showing solidarity towards the countries of the Union - I am thinking of Ireland , Hungary and others that are experiencing particular difficulties .
this text allowed for the alignment of the system applicable to foreign workers and thus tackled social dumping .
it is my firm belief that the European Union 's relationship with the Member States ' overseas territories and citizens of all those territories should become uniform , bearing in mind the equal treatment of the citizens of the European Union .
I shall conclude by saying that the issue of volatility - and the impact that speculation on the market has on volatility - is one that the Commission is addressing more extensively , for derived products and commodities alike .
it would affect the majority of the EU 's 271 regions .
are you for or against the scanners ?
I am very glad that we are able to do this and I thank everyone for their sound cooperation in recent months .
in the context of a slow recovery in advanced economies and large capital flows to emerging economies , many countries have aimed at weakening their currency or at least resorting to competitive non-appreciation .
this is the only way to ensure that the taxpayer will not be obliged to bear the cost of clean-up operations , while local companies and communities affected by oil spills can receive the compensation to which they are entitled .
so these are the procedures .
the anti-grassroots framework shaped by the EU with the Stability Pact and the Lisbon Strategy for the Member States , especially those in the EMU , in order to exercise financial policy is being strengthened .
we should all rejoice at this intention and congratulate the government of Venezuela on the desire it has expressed to cooperate with the government of Spain in combating terrorism and ETA , instead of sending out inflammatory messages or attempting to derive political capital from as serious an issue as terrorism .
he now languishes in a Greek prison awaiting trial .
part of that work will need to look at how to measure more accurately the contribution these industries make to the economy and how best to support them .
combating HIV / Aids within the EU and in the neighbouring countries 2006-2009 ( vote )
this report would assess results and show whether the objectives of the regulation have been achieved .
we find it hard to believe that these proposals in themselves would increase mobility for students ; they are more likely to increase the bureaucracy associated with student activity .
in this respect , strengthening the initiatives put forward in this report must be a priority , but we must also take other steps .
this is an area where we can see the benefits of having the same rules , the same transparent rules , for aircraft from every country .
so that we can keep things consistent , I propose that our group support the Socialist Group 's proposals and vote in favour of the next four amendments .
under Robert Mugabe , they have none of this .
we can only have fair competition if the world economy operates according to clear rules for producers , exporters and importers , while also taking into account common social and environmental norms .
( PL ) Mr President , new forms of crime and specialised criminal groups of an international nature present an enormous challenge to prosecuting agencies in the Member States .
it was in the style of a mafia killing , but she never wrote about the mafia .
of course , we could only regret the fact that there was no woman or young person among the nominees but the European Parliament has no powers over the Member States and the selection they make at the national level .
the quality of the school environment and teaching are prerequisites to efficiency .
another problem is the concept of post-project assessment , when certain things , including environmental impact analysis , are not mentioned and some side effects emerge later .
here , the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive has been poorly implemented .
the concept is simple , it is a sort of petition at European level : a citizens ' committee made up of members from at least seven Member States will have a year to collect one million signatures on a subject of public interest which requires the attention of the Commission .
it is therefore important that the European Arrest Warrant is seen as a useful instrument that has reaped good results .
we are now paying for mistaken judgments within the European Union institutions .
these human rights necessarily include the rejection of xenophobia and homophobia , and I want to call on all Members to ensure that an explicit reference is made to these two great scourges in Russia , which are rightly considered as such in the motion for a resolution , and that they do not agree to remove these references .
then there are the parliamentary elections in January .
the Eurovignette is a measure which penalises the outlying countries of the EU at a time when those countries are undergoing a period of economic and financial difficulty , whilst , at the same time , providing additional revenue for the countries of central Europe .
the impact of domestic and physical and / or sexual violence should not be underestimated , as it results in severe damage to individuals ' physical and mental health giving rise to severe depression and even suicide .
there are three issues on which we are proposing that the funding be used .
( HU ) The EU 's Member States in Central Europe wholeheartedly support the European Union 's climate policy objectives .
I thank the Commission for its comment that non-ODA actions will , over time , become more and more important in developing countries and in middle-income countries , etc .
secondly , there is an initiative that goes further than just using the GDP when preparing the structural funds , but also includes the Gini coefficient as a measure of income inequality in the assessment - where there is disadvantage .
since intensive fertilisation in agriculture can put a strain on water , this should provide an incentive to adjust measures to promote agriculture in such a way that greater support is given to traditional , environmentally friendly growing methods , such as those used by organic farmers .
the sectors where this risk of carbon leakage plays a part must be specified objectively .
the negative consequences for the region of the so-called ' Geneva Agreement ' on the banana trade are also being ignored .
Mr President , very briefly , this is a short amendment to make Amendment 2 to paragraph 38 stronger in its meaning with respect to the rights of the donor .
author . - Mr President , this is not the first time , and I fear that it will not be the last , that this House is called upon to deal with the situation in Iran .
the example of the former Soviet republics , including my country , Lithuania , shows that 17 years of independence is not long enough to fully achieve real change .
I give my full backing to the report and I would like to thank you , Mr Florenz , for a detailed report on the European Union 's future policy on climate change .
we will continue to keep Parliament informed about any further development .
we are all watching developments anxiously and I hope that we will once again be able to toast the liberty of South Sudan with the flag and a glass of champagne .
what matters today , therefore , is that we reach a result which has the widest possible support from the European Parliament , so that we retain our credibility and at the same time open up the way for European and not nationalistic movements .
simplification of the CAP (
the Commission considers that the penalisation of homosexuality , as foreseen in the bill , would go against the UN human rights conventions .
this is another reason for the great urgency of the mid-term review , which I am also reiterating .
however , we have also witnessed a series of events which have clearly illustrated it : the natural disasters that keep on happening , the horrific attacks that keep on happening , the fact that some governments in the Middle East , despite being democratic , have nonetheless taken decisions which have severely hampered the peace process , or the little that remains of it , and so forth .
if we stay credible in implementation , I think we can prepare also the first Treaty article on sport , because we do not have a legal base now , and that is why we cannot define some of the actions , and that is why we have to decide case by case , on individual problems .
no Member State should or can effectively tackle global challenges by acting alone .
we demanded that the home be closed down and the de-institutionalisation process be accelerated .
so all the work done to analyse and make proposals is there on the table .
second , under the Treaty , the political accountability for the European Parliament is primarily through the President of the Commission and the High Representative Vice-President and other Members of the Commission .
it should clearly identify which actors are able to operate in this domain and under which conditions .
passengers need to know exactly what the charge covers , nor should they have to pay special national charges or pay extra for airlines .
apart from this legal complexity , the present rules are in some cases very complicated and difficult to implement and control .
but such people , and the politicians who share their philosophy , do not want to hear about human and civil rights in Russia .
this could lead to the emergence of quasi-terrorist movements , attacking what can be called the bureaucracy and elite that are the bastions of power .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , enterprises , in particular , small and medium-sized enterprises , which make up 99 % of Europe 's productive fabric , need four fundamental elements : easier access to credit , greater labour market flexibility , less bureaucracy when it comes to opening up and managing businesses , and , lastly , protection from unfair competition .
President of the Spanish Government . - ( ES ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen ,
questions which have not been answered for lack of time will be answered in writing ( see Annex ) .
moreover , in my report , I invite the European Commission to present some very ambitious legislative proposals for the creation of a European protection force , and I am pleased at the recent communication by the Commission on strengthening the European Union 's disaster response capabilities .
if you suspect , Mr Oettinger , that there are stress tests that will not produce the desired result because the systems to be tested may not survive the test , then why does the Commission not intervene straight away to close these plants ?
third , with the setting up of the Joint Committee - to which you also referred , Commissioner - with representatives from both sides , we are creating an institution which will discuss issues relating to the agreement , as well as issues concerning social , environmental and safety regulations , and so on .
it would be unreasonable to criticise or even worse reject such a technical text on which there has been wide-ranging and informed consultation with many experts from the Member States .
by 2012 the Commission will also review , pursuant to Article 21 , whether it would be appropriate to extend the scope of the directive to products that are not relevant to energy consumption but that do have a bearing on resource conservation .
I completely disagree : Albania has glaringly obvious problems today with regard to its internal political stability , and a very high level of corruption .
it confirms the need for a strong and integrated maritime policy for the European Union , which the European Commission has been working on since 2005 and which emphasises the connections between regional policy , territorial cohesion and maritime policy .
subsidising this type of training simply relieves the company from a cost it would normally bear .
that is why we insist on the financial transaction tax .
( applause )
I do not believe that the question here is whether we wish to protect our soils better or not ; instead , at the European level the question as I see it is : is this within our jurisdiction or not ?
you are attempting to rescue the situation by means of a transitional regulation and this is what we will be voting on tomorrow , that is on Thursday .
as a result , Parliament 's budget will reflect real needs and will increase transparency , budgetary discipline and efficiency .
the Council is taking its time ; it wishes to address the issue of the Lisbon Treaty again in October and , until then , it is doing what it can to clarify the matter .
I think Parliament has once again clearly demonstrated its maturity and its ability in future to be co-decision maker on this matter .
the Stockholm Programme also set out clearly that , in the context of the creation of a common European asylum system , increased harmonisation must remain one of the fundamental policy objectives of the EU .
Romania has numerous sad tales to tell in relation to health .
I also want to mention that a set of coherent legislative measures have already been adopted at European level for reinforcing maritime safety and preventing ship-sourced pollution .
many people seem to believe that their future does not lie in their home countries in the Balkans , such as Montenegro , but want to make use of their newly acquired freedom of travel to enter the EU illegally .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , in order to ensure genuine access to justice for victims of breaches of competition rules , joint efforts must be made by the EU and the Member States .
the Commission therefore did well to bring the two elements together .
we sometimes feel helpless as individuals against this massive global challenge but , at the end of the day , people need to be encouraged to do their bit , as little contributions such as the ' Power of One ' do add up .
we request monitoring mechanisms to ensure that the investment in infrastructure includes health infrastructure and the responsibilization of authorities for implementing measures in this field .
in any case , the referendum passed with just 54 % of the votes .
there is strength on one side , weakness and division on the other side .
Madam President , it is very good that Parliament is taking an interest in the situation in North Korea , because it is a cause of the greatest anxiety in our societies .
we have mobilised all the means available to provide both humanitarian assistance and , as Commissioner Piebalgs will outline later , development aid to rebuild the country .
this is not only a welcome development , but also a necessity , if the EU and its common fisheries policy are to remain credible .
we need to ensure the conditions of a decent existence for all , not only here and now , but elsewhere , too , and for future generations .
although the unprecedented economic crisis that Europe is going through requires a strong , common response from the Union , the Council and the European Commission have chosen to allow the Member States to develop their own recovery plans .
the system has not worked : we have 22 dead , 1 600 affected and , three weeks later , we still do not know the cause and , using the precautionary principle without scientific basis - I repeat , without scientific basis - Spain is being blamed .
we have made all the arrangements to enable us to vote the week after next .
I must say that I am convinced , more than most , of the need for our institutions to be secular and just as convinced that religion is not the solution to any political problem .
not all the EU strategic partners can say the same .
the cost in terms of human life is some 4 700 people per day .
I therefore want to highlight the fact that the EU 's eastern borders need to be given more attention and a larger amount of resources .
( FR ) Madam President , Commissioner , the Transatlantic Economic Dialogue comes in a context which is marked by a triple crisis : the global banking and financial crisis , to which we still cannot see an end , the crisis in food prices , and finally , the ongoing crisis in oil prices .
a motorway of a European standard connects Lithuania 's largest port Klaipėda with Vilnius , and a railway line connects the latter with Moscow and the East .
European Refugee Fund for the period 2008-2013 ( amendment of Decision No 573 / 2007 / EC ) - Minimum standards for the reception of asylum seekers ( recast ) - Application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by third-country nationals or stateless persons ( recast ) - Establishment of ' Eurodac ' for the comparison of fingerprints ( recast ) - Establishment of a European Asylum Support Office ( debate )
we will also help and assist the European Parliament as much as we can with all our resources and through our normal activities , i.e. producing audiovisual material , video clips on EUtube - all of the things that we do on a daily basis we will make sure are used to mobilise voters and to inspire good and lively discussion in the EP elections .
this will again increase the democratic legitimacy of the important decisions to be taken on justice and home affairs issues .
the farmers affected have prepared for the opening up of the market .
if temporary excess deficits are justified - and that is a big if - they must be temporary , they must be recuperable to a realistic schedule and , if some countries can afford the debt but others cannot , then surely we return to this question of mutual solidarity .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , the Italian delegation from Italia dei Valori voted against the text of the resolution on nuclear power , because it was not clear enough to indicate a clear no to nuclear power .
when we pass judgment on the quality of the Commission 's work in our discharge , we will inform the taxpayers whether or not it is acceptable in overall terms .
quality education and training are a must in terms of personal fulfilment of the individual , equality , fighting social exclusion and poverty , active citizenship and social cohesion .
that does not apply , in my opinion , to the protection of South Ossetia and Abkhazia .
there is also another clear message in all the reports , which is that cohesion policy should cover all the European territory , while the focus of cohesion policy should clearly remain on supporting the catch-up process of the poorest .
I do not know if that also happened in the speaker 's group , but in any case for us it was all very open and above board , even on an internal level .
the latter objective is an important milestone for the competitiveness of European textiles in Europe and the world .
this point must be stressed , Mr President .
I hope that the model is not linear and that , where 4 % audits are carried out , we do not have a 40 % error rate .
statistical classification of economic activities in the EC (
we do not want to be in the same position in two years ' time , so this issue is very important to us .
Article 34 of the Treaty on European Union clearly stipulates that Member States shall coordinate their action in international organisations and that Member States , which are also members of the UN Security Council , will concert and , in the execution of their functions , defend the positions and the interests of the Union .
in the Quartet , Mr Solana ?
EC-Central Africa stepping-stone Economic Partnership Agreement ( vote )
we have not reached any agreement today on this resolution , which was intended to draw lessons from the nuclear disaster in Fukushima .
I therefore voted for this report .
we do not need a bloated EU budget that is perhaps up to ten times higher than necessary ; we do not need a budget funded by the EU taxpayer that has lost any sense of the need to economise ; we do not need a further bloating of Brussels bureaucracy that robs the shirts from the backs of the net contributors .
at the European level , we have a significant advantage , for we can implement coordinated measures , take united action and achieve a sustainable solution .
I hope that the Council representative is listening , as that is something that he mentioned .
thirdly , do we really have gaps in European legislation ?
even if now , the oil price is USD 106 or USD 110 per barrel , which is much lower than it was some time ago , at USD 145 , the daily volatility still makes the situation relatively difficult to predict , and it is definitely making a major , wide-ranging impact and deserves a response .
transfers sovereign powers from the Portuguese people to the EU 's supranational institutions , dominated by the major powers , an example of which is the management of the marine biological resources in our Exclusive Economic Zone ;
why , at the end of the day , can we not start supporting European farmers once again , at a time when a niche has appeared for us to increase this production and raise quotas for milk and starches , for example , for which there is a constant demand in Poland and other Eastern European countries .
we must learn from this .
many people mentioned subsidiarity .
how many civilian casualties will it take before there can be a true ceasefire ?
the real problem is that ecosystem services , whether we are talking about carbon sinks , biodiversity or regulation of the regional climate or hydrological system , have no real value on the market .
an adequate share of the budget has to be allocated to adult learning .
it is essential that the Council maintains a carrot-and-stick approach to Belarus : if Lukashenko is offered clear incentives for internal political reform he may well respond favourably .
we voted against it in the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs and submitted a written minority opinion , because the agreement contains numerous ambiguities which might be clarified in the Joint Readmission Committee .
the quorum issue concerns voting .
that is why I am calling on the EU to support the proposal for a ban on the commercial trade in polar bears before it is too late ; the bluefin tuna also belongs in Appendix 1 without further ado .
as far as the latter is concerned , I should like , as shadow rapporteur , to refer in particular to what was agreed on refuges for vessels in danger .
I said at the beginning of Question Time that we would finish at 19.00 .
the two protocols concerning certain fisheries concessions for Iceland and Norway for the period 2009-2014 provide for the renewal of the previous 2004-2009 protocols with unchanged concessions for Iceland and a relatively modest increase in concessions for Norway , on the basis of which Norway will renew the fish transit agreement .
the programme was and is aimed at all those groups of people finding themselves in an unfavourable position , and there has been help available for them from this programme .
Mr President , President of the Commission , we still have a practical work programme for 2009 , on which we could comment .
however , I do not think it eliminates the need to set up a European civil protection force , as proposed by Mr Sarkozy and Mr Karamanlis .
Commissioner , what about the coming winter ?
besides the resulting considerations about the future of the Union , we need to acknowledge the acceptance of this similarity .
Europe should also increase its commitment to protect the Christian minorities in the north of the country , who are increasingly the targets of persecution and discrimination .
the integration of civilian measures such as education programmes and programmes for eradicating poverty and reconstruction and development is a vital step in safeguarding peace in Afghanistan .
we will have to provide far more technical assistance than we have done up to now .
the national borders still represent scars from the past which sometimes run straight through communities and new development areas .
Commission Question Time
we shall check what you have said , and you can rest assured that , within the context of measures available to the Council and the work on implementing the Pact on Immigration and Asylum , we shall look once more at whether it is advisable to reinforce this point within the framework of the Schengen area .
it costs around ten times more to obtain a patent in the EU than it does in the United States , corresponding to an annual turnover of EUR 250 million for our enterprises .
I really do not understand how anyone could believe that this was advertising .
this was done in Romania in 2006 through the words of the country 's president , as a result of a report compiled by a presidential commission set up for this purpose .
( DE ) Mr President , I voted against the Brok report for four reasons .
as regards 2009 , the Commission will stick to its ambition of delivering a Europe of results , bringing concrete benefits to citizens .
in my opinion , this funding should be continued and it should be sufficient .
global travel patterns mean that the disease is never far from our door .
this is something , Mr Liese , that you must have been made aware of one-to-one during your hearings in the US Congress , though funnily enough you will never say that openly here .
the assent was positive : it agreed to Israel 's participation in the Community programme , given that it was already participating in the Seventh Framework Programme for Research , that its application related solely to the ' innovation and technology ' programme , that all member countries of the neighbourhood policy are entitled to apply to participate , and thus that it constituted neither a special favour to Israel nor a reassessment of its political status .
then there is the question of applying rules developed for fisheries in the North Sea to the Irish Sea : a consistent or common approach that is out of touch with reality on the ground .
we believe that it has crucial implications for personal data safety and for fundamental rights .
the challenge for us , then , is to support this social dynamic , to finance it , and to coordinate it , while at the same time telling ourselves that perhaps one day , it will become self-sufficient , but not yet today .
nevertheless , during the implementation of the Services Directive in Sweden , a debate arose as to whether or not it is permissible to lay down a requirement for there to be a competent representative of the company .
Italy is not a democracy ; there is no rule of law .
therefore , nuclear energy will also continue to play an important role as it is still necessary in order to ensure security and stability of supply in many countries .
the subject of the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste is highly topical .
I must also thank you for the support that you have given me , both as a UN Special Rapporteur and , personally , when I was a prisoner last year .
to start with , a joint action to combat trafficking in human beings was adopted in 1997 . the most important piece of legislation is the 2002 Framework Decision on combating trafficking in human beings .
our Group has tabled its own motion for a resolution in which we set out our proposals , some previously adopted by the European Parliament , and put forward new measures to respond to the sector 's needs .
another positive feature is the country 's fight against censorship and its attempts to guarantee freedom of expression . however , attacks on journalists and activists are still being reported .
finally , I should like to say that we are seriously concerned about the persecution of certain religions and ethnic groups in Iran .
sometimes , it was really necessary to continue to emphasise that : what the content of those conclusions was and what the European Union 's intention behind that stance was .
we have moved on in the meantime and have clarified these issues .
the debts in question were run up by the regime in Khartoum , and no one can say that these debts served the people of the South well .
rapporteur . - ( IT ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I should like first to thank the Ombudsman for his excellent work as is borne out by this particular report .
Wednesday :
this was particularly evident prior to and following the exhibition that I hosted in Brussels last week .
we should avoid these events being taken as an excuse for a unilateral solution on Transnistria .
such an approach can contribute to relieving the negative consequences of this phenomenon which we are quite rightly debating today .
therefore I too would insist that , in this area - above all in this area - a way must be found to apply European solidarity .
I would say that perhaps even this is not sufficient , because there we do not have the risks .
please do not tell people that the economic stimulus package corresponds to 1.5 % of GDP .
I look forward to the debate on those issues tonight and in the future as well .
does he think that the bailing-out of Portugal is not important enough for this Parliament to discuss , or is he just burying his head in the sand ?
let me now say some words on Croatia .
I would very much like them to show the same tolerance towards me .
however , we need arguments , including in the discussions with the Member States , which will demonstrate the effects of the revision of this asylum package and , in particular , the Procedures Directive .
do not accuse me of racism , please be serious .
the Presidency will meet with you here at the end of June .
I am delighted that Poland was one of the countries that put forward this initiative .
but we have to look at the situation of our economy .
( ES ) Mr Mitchell , with respect to the issue of lifts , which you have raised , I would like to reveal something which may be a secret part of the Bureau 's debates .
of course we are also going to recommend the private-public partnership , because that will be essential for the progress of digitisation , which is a very expensive business .
indeed , since I was the author of a report in the 1990s on the status of assisting spouses , particularly in the agricultural sector , like Mrs Klaβ I deplore the fact that the European Commission has not followed up this report , which was also referred to again in a 2003 resolution when we called for a revision of the 1986 Directive on equal treatment for men and women carrying out independent activities , including agricultural activities .
closure of the sitting
I expect the Commission to adopt a comprehensive , high quality and safe product policy that is based on the following measures .
this is a very worrying phenomenon , as it means that implementation of Millennium Development Goal 5 on a global scale is seriously threatened .
unfortunately , the European Commission has still not proved that it has the necessary desire to coordinate the actions for improving the Roma 's standard of living and social integration and for combating the racist actions directed against them .
I shall continue to assume , until or unless it is proved to the contrary , that this was a case of a deliberate admixing .
in spite of my abstention , I wish the entire Commission nothing but success , because this is so important for all Europeans .
let me reply to two objections that were put forward .
is it implementation , or is it a delegated act - in which case it is legislation ?
it is therefore necessary to update the legislation in force on the subject and ensure better implementation and interpretation of the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive .
because we fundamentally believe that the abolition of the death penalty is essential to the protection of human dignity and to respect for human rights , we oppose the use of capital punishment in all cases and , I repeat , under all circumstances , and we will continue to call for its universal abolition .
we also wish this for the countries we are talking about today .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( IT ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , my thanks go to you , Madam President , Mr President of the Council and Commissioner .
firstly , as regards Croatia : the accession negotiations with Croatia are proceeding according to plan and at this point I would like to express my agreement with Mr Swoboda 's view that , over the last two years , Croatia has made substantial progress in meeting the accession benchmarks .
this is absolutely not the case at present .
I have just heard the terrible news that less than an hour ago a 70-year-old businessman , Mr Ignacio Uría Mendizabal , was murdered - it is said by ETA , it is not yet confirmed - in the Spanish town of Azpeitia , in the Basque Country .
all our fellow citizens have now realised that the climate is a challenge .
the Commission is against any kind of cyber attack made by one side or the other in that controversial case .
( FR ) Madam President , as already stated , the European Union has been negotiating the conclusion of a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council for nearly 20 years .
we hope we will see the Commission proposal very soon .
parents ' involvement in their children 's lives , from the very first months after they are born , is of paramount importance to the child 's healthy development from a physical , emotional and psychological perspective .
secondly , we support close cooperation with NATO .
and at the heart of this story in Genesis , Chapter IV , is a verse that is impossible to translate and in every English Bible I have ever read the verse is not translated , it is paraphrased .
significant progress has also been made in improving relations with neighbouring countries .
finally , and unfortunately this aspect is omitted from the Commission 's Communication and the resolution we are to vote on , the EU must invest more , alongside DDR and SSR programmes , in controlling global transfers of light weapons , since they fuel armed conflicts which perpetuate the fragility of many states .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , I should like to begin by pointing out that Directive 95 / 46 / EC ( the ' Data Protection Directive ' ) applies to data controllers established in the Community .
the first fundamental risk would be to renationalise it : that would be a serious step backwards .
my final point is this : an effective market implies effective safeguards and consumer protection .
let me repeat : I believe that the European Union is uniquely placed to lead in building this future , precisely because we have proved over the last 60 years that we as Europe can meet and master the challenges of cooperation across borders , of coordination between peoples , and of building unity out of diversity .
the new law extends the range of childcare facilities and introduces several new forms of care : children 's clubs , day carers , legal nannies and workplace nurseries .
if not in a Russian court , then in the European Court .
written declarations ( Rule 142 )
there is a clear continuum : natural service to artificial insemination , to embryo transfer , to embryo splitting , in vitro fertilisation , blastomere nuclear transfer , foetal nuclear transfer and now somatic cell nuclear transfer .
in writing . - ( SK ) The directive in question applies to emissions from agricultural tractors and its aim is a quantitative amendment to Directive 2000 / 25 / EC .
after almost 50 years of existence , the European Baccalaureate has indeed acquired a high intrinsic value .
how should we go about that ?
there is a suspicion that some are not playing fair .
even then , implementation is very difficult .
( BG ) Madam President , I think that Parliament should apologise to the Commissioner for getting her involved in this debate .
we have established more intensive cooperation with the next Presidency ( France ) and with other institutions .
we should have a ban on the production of these bombs , and the European Union is still one of the main producers of these weapons .
above all , the sums collected will not be generally earmarked for the budgets of the various Member States but will be allocated to make a difference in a particular sector , namely pollution , the internalisation of external costs and the construction of safer roads and infrastructure .
we have the corresponding financial instruments and missions , but until now , we have only had small and fragmented organisational units .
nevertheless , I would urge the Commissioner to simply ensure that the budget for Solvit is used sensibly .
the Green Paper is the result of a controversy that arose over the proposals submitted by Mr Bolkestein at the time , and we welcome the fact that the Commission handles it in this way , with due care , with a Green Paper , and with ample room for debate , because there is , above all , much anxiety surrounding this issue , in my view .
the internet consultation has attracted huge participation with more than 12 000 replies , which proves the high interest among European citizens for this initiative .
this would not simply be a consequence of the economic and financial crisis .
Portugal was shocked at the news because it was news on the loss of someone who was a truly good man and who was , for all of us , an example in the fight for human dignity and for the values we believe in : the values of the rule of law and respect for human rights .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioners , the euro is our shield and it has proven to be a stabilising force .
in short , we are condemned to coexist with the Russian Federation , and this coexistence will be high-quality only if it is based on partnership and cooperation .
however , I will be more than happy to react in writing to the question that you have just put .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( PT ) The Portuguese Presidency is operating in this area in an ambitious but also realistic manner .
I expect Serbia to pull out all the stops to allow an open process .
from 1 May 2009 , the remit of the EGF has been expanded and it now includes assistance to workers made redundant as a direct consequence of the economic and financial crisis .
the seven-year period , the new structure proposed and greater flexibility provide additional security in implementing and adapting to changing priorities .
according to the text read out , the requested intervention concerns all those who request the right of asylum .
membership of committees and delegations : see Minutes
in addition to the objective of legal harmonization of the situation of immigrants , the true challenge of this directive was to find the compromise that would comply with the human rights and the free movement of persons and , at the same time , take into consideration the need for individual and , especially , collective security .
the distribution of CAP funds must take into consideration the cost of production in Member States .
it remains to be seen whether the Commission 's proposal to extend the Eurocanet network and establish a new structure , Eurofisc , which would operate on a voluntary basis without having any legal capacity , will increase the success rate of the battle against tax fraud at EU level .
what I want particularly from the Foreign Ministers who have to decide on Friday , however , is for them to ensure that the operational area of the EUFOR mission is clearly defined .
in this we are guided by our principles of the rule of law .
as a corollary to the term proposal we have addressed the broadcaster 's legitimate concerns on online rights .
another way in which we can further help these countries is to put an end to the tax havens which seriously hinder their development .
oral explanations of vote
impact of counterfeiting on international trade (
in writing . - The EU is all about free movement of people , goods , services and capital .
the European Commission and the European Investment Bank ( EIB ) have developed three financial instruments , one of which is aimed at administering joint support for sustainable development in urban areas ( that is , the Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas , or JESSICA ) .
that concludes this item .
it is only through the effective and lawful prosecution of these killings that the climate of fear and impunity can be dissipated .
therefore , under no circumstances can we vote for a report that gives even more power to a Commission whose legitimacy we do not recognise .
I would add that , democratically , I , along with Bernard Kouchner , ensured that the European Council validated the decisions that we had taken .
soils are much less mobile and , other than the setting of reasonable standards of protection , should be the competence of Member States and , within them , the local authorities .
as a result of the European Council 's request to the Commission for a document to be drawn up setting out the EU Strategy for the Danube Region , on 8 December last year the Commission tabled a draft ' EU Strategy for the Danube Region ' , which included an Action Plan .
we are now being called on to adopt a Free Trade Agreement that , in practice , makes it possible for the European Union 's companies to access the South Korean market - which , as we know , is important for Europe - by increasing exports and so creating jobs .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
the implementation of joint projects on energy efficiency and renewable energy resources , investments in new technologies and the development of small and medium-sized enterprises will help stimulate the green economy in the entire Danube macro-region .
from 2010 onwards , the European Commission must appraise and approve a significant number of large projects for which it will need to employ significant numbers of people to provide external short-term technical expertise .
the Commission will also approve the Charter next week and authorise the President to proclaim it on 12 December , together with the Presidents of Parliament and the Council .
to those who feared that Parliament would be unable to resolve that question due to the prevalence of nationalistic ideology this report is an apt response and demonstrates that this institution is proficient at pinpointing and expressing the common European interest within the national dynamics which tend to complicate intergovernmental matters .
in writing . - ( SK ) The existence of large macroeconomic imbalances , including extensive and persistent differences in competitiveness trends , was looking very harmful for the EU at the moment when the crisis hit , and especially for the euro .
furthermore , financing by consumers by means of pricing has meant that the sugar industry has had no interest in restructuring .
oral explanations of vote
therefore , we have protected our internal market , which is not perfect .
if we do not revise our way of thinking and if the lack of transparency and democracy continues , we can adopt one declaration of intent after another , but the citizens will remain alienated from the EU and their frustration with it will continue to increase .
the debate is closed .
we believe that the legislator encounters soft law in such diverse ways today that we must always make a clear distinction between what genuinely only comes on to the market in the form of a green paper , on the one hand - in other words , it is simply planned as preparation for further legislation - and on the other , what is genuinely necessary for flexible legislation in the framework of soft law .
the second element needed in order to enhance efficiency is international cooperation .
finally , the possibility of extending the good practices in this area that exist in so many countries .
in particular , then , I call for the strengthening of cross-border cooperation between police forces , based on the exchange of information , while still respecting data protection , of course .
in order to preserve lives in areas vulnerable to natural disasters , it is vitally important to reduce the risks by being better prepared and having buildings that are fit for purpose .
I consider that providing direct financial support in the form of cash is a solution , but only for the moment , this is why emphasis should be laid on providing support to the parent in a relationship with the employer and on quality and affordable services for child care and education , for the purpose of ensuring balance of the family and professional life .
( BG ) Mr President , Commissioner Georgieva , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to give the example of Bulgaria , where the problem of abandoned children is becoming increasingly serious and urgent measures are needed to resolve the situation .
I will now move on to the explanation of vote for the Rühle report .
in our opinion , effective cooperation for development requires respect for national sovereignty , for political and economic independence and for the right of all peoples to decide their present and future and to define and build their country and their development project .
these issues are particularly important to the residents of border regions , who have cultural and family ties ( ... )
in many countries , including Poland , local authorities have passed resolutions demanding that whole regions , and even a whole country , be kept free from GMOs .
we still have no reason to hope that this will change very quickly in 2009 .
the European Union needs to have a progressive neighbourhood policy in place which will ensure that we can protect and secure our energy needs into the future .
we need an active policy for social , economic and environmental integration which encompasses the entire area , and frankly I do not see nuclear power as a solution to energy problems .
in writing . - ( FR ) Mr Becsey 's report proposes closer harmonisation of taxes on tobacco at a higher level and feebly takes cover behind objectives of public health in order to justify it .
the Small Business Act ( SBA ) is based on key principles , such as access to finance , access to markets and better regulation .
the vote will take place tomorrow .
I believe that there are no grounds for using the amendments to this report to promote concessions on GMOs in the European Union , and that we should not promote GMOs .
they support the EU strategy for economic recovery and the EU 2020 strategy .
that is not in line with the single market that we all believe in .
however , the Commission has to ensure that the final text can be implemented and that it represents added value compared to current levels of soil protection .
amendment 27 does not establish limits for this possibility which , in my opinion , should remain an exception and not become a rule .
the next step should then be effective regulation of the financial sector .
I myself am rapporteur for Parliament 's discharge .
while the transitional committee set up within the framework of the UN is preparing the final form of the Fund , so that it can obtain a final seal of approval in Durban at the end of the year , questions relating to the design of this unique and extremely important instrument remain unanswered .
is the situation in these States really so positive , or is the national methodology for identifying these aberrations simply lenient in some way ?
the safeguarding of international law , democracy and human rights is not mentioned at all in the Commission 's proposal .
could the rapporteur , Mr Albertini , give us his opinion ?
he would not expect me to say that , but I am saying it because I think he has done exactly what is wanted .
this is significant in the context of the dramatic development of organised crime , especially cross-border crime .
yes , I am in favour of free trade , but not at any price !
( PT ) Madam President , Commissioner , in a monetary union , there can be no attacks on Greece , Spain , Ireland or Portugal , but rather attacks on the Union and attacks on the euro , which make the most of any signs of fragility or any breaches which open up within the solidity of the bloc as a whole .
let me add that the principle of cooperation between rightholders is already in Article 15 of the e-Commerce Directive since 2003 , so this is not a new concept .
( NL ) Mr President , now that the original period of the Lisbon Strategy is coming to an end , we can see that the objectives which the Heads of Government prescribed in 2000 have not been adequately met .
2009 is an important year and it could be decisive for Bosnia and Herzegovina .
within the context of this resolution , I believe that the use of contraceptives is very important in preventing diseases , unwanted pregnancies and reducing maternal mortality , but at the same time I am convinced that we do not have a right to condemn or criticise churches , which stand merely as a moral but not as a legislative authority , promoting their faith but not prohibiting making a personal choice .
( NL ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , if ever there was a time for a communication from the Commission and Council focusing attention on the situation in a particular country , that time is now .
however , Denmark and the United Kingdom have negotiated an opt-out clause that allows them to remain outside the euro area .
at the same time we are charged with the responsibility to continue the European story of peace , cooperation and prosperity to the best of our ability .
we face an uncertain century ahead , which will be characterised by a fundamental shift in the global economic balance of power away from the liberal democracies of Europe and North America to states which do not all share , as yet , our commitments to the rule of law , democracy and human rights .
( SV ) Mr President , it is , of course , unacceptable for people in Europe to be without power in the middle of winter or for people to be forced into unemployment because the industries in which they work are unable to pay the high energy prices and are therefore forced to lay people off or even close down their operations .
the term cohesion has acquired special significance within the Union .
we must therefore always be ready .
( the President cut off the speaker )
the whole of the European Union 's budget amounts to less than 1 % of GDP and it has been a declining proportion of GDP in recent years .
the EU 's Swedish Presidency has a huge responsibility towards its citizens .
Mr President , as the gentleman knows , I fully appreciate where the money comes from and who the net payers are to the EU budget .
rapporteur . - ( NL ) Ladies and gentlemen , we are voting today on a proposal to coordinate European social security more clearly and more flexibly and we are thus voting in favour of clarifying the annex .
it is very sad that the Commission has taken so many years to do this and has boycotted this compromise until now .
in this sense , suggestions of a guarantee fund or a compulsory insurance for airlines could represent plausible solutions that would have to be weighed against the trade-off , which would be an increase in prices for consumers .
after reporting on the recovery of German exports and the growth in French consumption , Mr Almunia said that the crisis would be much longer and deeper in Spain .
Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement ( motions for resolutions tabled ) : see Minutes
I am particularly grateful for Commissioner Rehn 's positive contribution but , if there is to be an agreement , it will have to be based on the legal text - on the articles section - including of course Article 32 , Article 42 and recital 11-A , as has been widely debated .
in this spirit , I welcome the constructive proposals put forward in the de Larosièr report , as regards financial institutions .
give the people in Portugal a referendum .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
it is not an option , it is a right .
would you like me to tell you that if I am in favour of EPAs , of economic partnership agreements to create regional markets , then it is because I believe that to tackle the question of food security , economic partnership agreements are probably part of the solution , because until we have regional markets that are economically integrated , developing countries will not be able to benefit from globalisation ?
this is why we have not defined a one-size-fits-all plan , but a coordinated plan , based on the instruments already at our disposal in Europe , the Stability and Growth Pact and the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs , but by defining the common aims to be pursued in a coordinated fashion for economic recovery .
that is not all , however .
we need to distinguish between the suicide bomber and his or her recruiter .
we have public banks , for example in Germany , which have breached these principles and have got into difficulties , in just the same way as many private banks .
media pluralism and freedom definitely constitute an important pillar of democratic rule of law .
in that sense the context has changed completely in the past couple of years .
fourthly , HCFCs may only be used in government-designated businesses .
this is what is happening in various parts of the world .
today the south-eastern Balkan region is the least stable part of our continent , and Kosovo 's declaration of independence heralds a period of uncertainty .
today , therefore , today we are approving an important step , which makes the EU grow , strengthens citizenship on our continent , and - given that we spoke about it a little while earlier regarding the European Heritage Label - it is a step that contributes to creating this European identity of ours .
to counter these effects , we must achieve positive results which will generate extensive benefits and be used to meet the goals that have been set for growth and development in the Lisbon Strategy .
I myself was in Chad a few days ago and was able to form an impression of the situation there .
I would also suggest that cities prioritise energy-efficient buildings and use already existing buildings for new purposes , instead of developing new sites .
when we transpose this , all these aims , to the Roma minority in Europe , we find astonishingly high unemployment .
( ES ) Mr President , I would just like to add something to what Mr Jarzembowski has just said .
it should be an EU level playing field .
according to those texts , both the Council and the European Parliament have an indirect right of initiative .
we are discussing new and more transparent rules in the financial services sector at a time when we are going through one of the biggest crises in this sector .
( PL ) Mr President , I cannot support today 's resolution on Georgia because I consider it to be unduly biased .
in order to usefully assess these policies and improve the decision making with regard to the allocation of European funds , the EU must have social and environmental indicators in addition to GDP .
good luck , President Sarkozy .
we have had very heated debates about it .
the criticism of the Regulations is justified , however .
the Commission made proposals that were broadly accepted by the Council .
( PL ) Madam President , following the Fukushima disaster , society has become increasingly worried about the safety of nuclear power plants in Europe .
the Commission also invites companies to introduce measures aimed at maintaining maximum levels of workers in employment through flexible work arrangements and the use of temporary layoffs for economic reasons .
I believe it is essential that we strengthen economic relations .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , I would like to thank you for your steadfastness when it comes to passenger safety issues .
against precisely this background , the European Security and Defence Policy ( ESDP ) has been developed since the end of the 1990s without any consultation or democratic control .
( FR ) Mr President , in essence , the vote on the budget is a profoundly political act , and we must learn a political lesson - a major , fundamental political lesson - from the budget being proposed to us .
that much I can contribute to the discussion for my part .
the Impact Assessment Board that President Barroso put in place at the end of 2006 is having a real impact on the quality of our work .
and Mr Beazley is a very devout member of the PPE-DE Group !
we have not discussed any details at all .
given that this report does not exist , it is therefore a circumstantial comment , which I did not understand . I do share the view that these divergences tend at times to increase , something which , until now , has not threatened the cohesion of the Euro Zone but , were this divergence to persist , could harm its cohesion in the long term .
judges like Estoup in Versailles , Schir in Lyon and Cotte in Paris are vying to get these arbitrary laws extensively applied out of disregard for any principles that protect freedom .
I would merely like to remind you that modernising Russia is not merely a matter of economic or energy issues , but also a matter of political modernisation and relations between the authorities and society .
however , in the case of chickens , for example , this leads to a shortage of animal protein in their feed , quite apart from the fair criticism that valuable proteins are destroyed .
in 1957 , gender equality was enshrined in the European treaties .
however , I am sure that most of our citizens want to do whatever needs doing in order to make things right .
if we were a bit more respectful of each other 's positions and tried to reach common ground , we would find that there is a lot we can do to roll back on this agenda , but please can we all open our minds ?
that is all I have to say about travel for Ukrainian citizens living in the border area .
although it is expected that South Sudan will apply for accession to the Cotonou Agreement , the 10th European Development Fund will not be available until sometime after accession to the agreement .
are you aware of the fact that these EUR 50 are meant to make you survive and buy food at prices commensurate to the European ones ?
this amount , which will be useful in the very short term , does not resolve , as many have already said , the long-term issues concerning the way in which the planned end of quotas is dealt with .
the full demilitarisation of a homeland occupied by Turkey and the safeguarding of the sustainability of a future solution must be everyone 's sole objective .
apart from being an individual disaster for millions of people , a failure would also be a backlash for the international community 's effort and capacity to conduct a joint effort in humanitarian aid .
while recognising that a border dispute with Slovenia remains outstanding , we do not think that bilateral disputes can be allowed to delay Croatia 's membership .
also , the ECDC has produced a robust package of technical guidance documents : information for health care workers ; case definitions for chikungunya fever ; and flow charts for identification of cases .
this is what I wanted to point out .
I voted against the report .
on 19 February , Ales Mikhalevich was released from prison ; he was one of the competing candidates .
in the light of the French presidency 's objective of establishing a governance process for the European Research Area ( ERA ) by the end of 2009 , could the Commission specify what measures it plans undertaking , in cooperation with Member States and Parliament , to put in place science policy evaluation methodologies to ensure evidence-based policy options for science and research and development in the EU ?
proper investment in new processing technologies and the creation of substitute raw materials would facilitate a significant reduction in dependence on imported rare earth elements .
the same thing happens in the case of delays in recruiting personnel from the new Member States , which has generated important costs and affected the activity of the European institutions .
Romania has advocated the establishment of the shield since the Bucharest Summit in 2008 .
our financial stimulus will be defined by this clear goal of keeping people in work .
Ireland 's place is in the European Union , where it has obtained social and economic benefits - both north and south - due to its Membership .
have we really taken note of the fact that Europe 's influence in climate policy has diminished ?
the implementation of such a scheme is complex , and only feasible with subsidies for quality monitoring and the distribution of medical products .
Wednesday :
the Commission is in favour , but the precondition or the base for such an approach , which would be welcome , is an existing and functioning efficient litigation system on damages actions at the level of Member States .
in writing . - ( PT ) The report on which we have voted today on the interoperability of the Community rail system is most important as an incentive for investment in rail transport and is vital for creating genuine freedom of movement in the European territory .
Seventh EU programme for research , technological development and demonstration ( debate )
I do not think we can treat our own decisions like that .
that is the choice , written by Michelangelo , that we face now , because , as I look round this Chamber today , I see that all of us here are not just witnesses and not just spectators , but potentially the makers of change , free to shape our own destiny .
at present , 30 per cent of everything manufactured or produced in Northern Ireland goes directly to market in the Republic of Ireland .
that is why now more than ever we need to redouble our efforts , sustained by the principle that together we are stronger .
this military occupation is still ongoing .
( ES ) Mr President , I would like to warmly congratulate the speaker , Mr Simpson , on the agreement he has achieved in an area as technical as tourism statistics , having fought every inch of the way .
it is an improvement because this interim agreement has additional guarantees , among other elements , that were recommended by Parliament and set out by the rapporteur in the report that has been presented to us today .
moreover , at that stage the Commission will undoubtedly have coordinating and supervisory powers , because the rules will then no longer be national but European .
with regard to fundamental rights , we have achieved two major breakthroughs with the Treaty of Lisbon : the Charter of Fundamental Rights becomes binding , and the door is open for the Union to become a party to the European Convention on Human Rights .
my services are doing their best to ensure that regulations or agreements on international trade take fully into account the contribution , but also the necessary constraints , of customs concepts and procedures .
rapporteur . - ( SL ) This report concerns everyone - the sick and the healthy .
however , I think that we could also draw a comparison between this and recent events in one particular European country , Iceland .
I am not convinced that the report 's initial proposals met this requirement .
this absurd accusation is still current .
among the successes are the measures taken against organised crime and corruption , achieved by the government in spite of the powerlessness of the occupation forces in Kosovo to do anything about these problems .
my colleague Mr Almunia and his entire team are working upstream with the Member States on this very question .
there , too , the aim of social responsibility must have a presence .
that Act promotes the production and feeding of renewable energies and directs investments into local economies .
first of all , the author of the report is right to say that the most important issue , also as regards the future of renewable energy in Europe , is to develop a common European energy policy .
the EGNOS and Galileo systems , when they are completed , will increase security in transport , using certain applications .
as you know , in Bali we stated our commitment to promoting afforestation .
however , since then , I have not really had the impression that you are particularly mobilised .
Article 317 of the Lisbon Treaty explicitly requires the cooperation of Member States in the implementation of the budget .
I voted for this new directive , which allows the judicial authorities of a Member State that has implemented protection measures under its national law to issue a ' European Protection Order ' , which protects victims on the territory of the other Member States .
we are prepared to put together technical assistance programmes which will accompany the difficult austerity measures the Greek authorities have to go through .
President Sarkozy spent roughly a third of his speech defending the Lisbon Treaty and on continuing pressurisation and blackmail of Ireland , forgetting what the very rules of the European Union say on the entry into force of a new Treaty - ratification by all Member States .
in my report , I expressly stated that rural development resources cannot drain direct payments .
'One size fits all ' will never fit anyone very well .
as the line between foreign policy / external trade issues and energy supply issues is becoming increasingly blurred , Russia 's failure to ratify the Energy Charter is worrying .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Legal Affairs . - Mr President , in the Committee on Legal Affairs we agree with you , Commissioner : let us get rid of these 27 mini-markets ; but , in order to do that , you need a much more common legal framework .
as the report correctly notes , the negotiations between Armenia and Turkey on opening the border and establishing diplomatic relations and those being conducted in the OSCE Minsk Group about Nagorno-Karabakh must be treated as separate issues .
Mr President , the President of the Italian Republic , Giorgio Napolitano , is right to say that the European Parliament is not the place for settling disputes between political parties within Member States , or for opposing decisions taken by the national parliaments .
secondly , we must improve EU solidarity with mutual support between the Member States for electricity , gas and oil supplies .
it is also perfectly clear that the Charter of Fundamental Rights is only applicable in the context of European law .
as well as displaying competence and rigour , the Commissioner-designate showed he was prepared to examine these possibilities , which gives me confidence in his future willingness and sensitivity towards outermost regions such as Madeira .
the Commission also emphasises the importance of establishing a permanent dialogue between various levels of government , including national , regional and local authorities and national parliaments , as well as social partners and representatives of civil society .
I hope that the recommendations specified by the European Parliament , along with the Commission 's reflections on the issues mentioned above , will be turned into a successful project .
I congratulate my fellow Member , Mr Teixeira , on his able and continual efforts to raise awareness in the European institutions and to establish a basis for the necessary support .
however , the ban on advertising also applies to these magazines and brochures .
in Poland , restoration of the death sentence is advocated by right-wing conservative parties , who equate government with the intimidation of society .
as the last year has shown , the Stability and Growth Pact , which was supposed to be an effective means of preventing Member States from breaching the macroeconomic policies of the euro area , has - to put it mildly - not been very successful .
in the first instance , Member States must take on responsibility in particular by working on detection and reporting mechanisms .
the vote will take place tomorrow , Thursday 25 October 2007 .
I voted in favour of the report by my colleague from the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) , Mrs Grossetête , as I believe that the affirmation of the right of patients to cross-border healthcare is relevant .
these bodies in particular have to take all reasonable measures to ensure that the rights of passengers are fully respected .
I also believe it is important to point to the serious consequences for beekeeping operations of the virus , as a result of which over 50 % of the European beekeeping sector has been destroyed .
the European External Action Service should also ensure that local strategies extend to the right to its cultural identity .
some of them have no fundamental impact on the topic in question , being simply linguistic alterations .
however , it not clear whether this is mainly or largely due to human activity or if it is mainly or largely part of a natural process .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to thank the Commissioner and I hope that he bears in mind the fact that the people of Europe are not at the service of the market , but that the market is at the service of the people - notwithstanding what those before me have said - and therefore , the market must respond to the needs of the people .
however the key issue , as the report correctly states , is the fact that there can be no stability or peace in Afghanistan without the state first of all guaranteeing security for its citizens on its own responsibility .
in 1998 the car industry made a voluntary commitment to reduce CO2-emission levels in its new vehicles .
the report describes the change in the situation through change in legislation , the granting of more rights to women , the growth in governance and the participation of women in politics and management .
Spain has organised this much better with its transplant coordinators .
in conclusion I should like to paraphrase José Sócrates : it would perhaps be a good idea to start listening to the scientists and economists once again rather than to couch geostrategists .
choosing the right way forward in the area of contract law could make a significant contribution to improving the functioning of the Internal Market , and to opening up its full potential for businesses , in particular , small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) , and consumers .
- Before the vote on Amendment 1
I am still concerned about problems of punctuality and the reliability of goods transport services by rail .
we do indeed need a soul , colleagues .
continued support for the renewal and modernisation of the fishing fleets is a sine qua non for improving the working and safety conditions of fishermen and the conditions of conservation of fish stocks .
it disrupts everything and it simply leads to false compromises .
I would be on the side of the majority of European citizens , because I believe that you would not get more than 10 or 12 or 15 % of the votes .
I would therefore like to ask you whether you are going to continue to insist on applying this proposal to the Community fleet that fishes in that area .
thirdly , human resources , entailing the problems of migration and , primarily , counteracting the brain drain , which means better education , attractive investments , and a social dimension to the EU based on the achievements of the economy .
we introduced a ban in our biggest stadium , which can hold 82 500 people .
( CS ) Mr President , there are several possible conclusions to be drawn from the disaster in Japan .
consequently , the programme of the Czech Presidency attempts a proportional representation of the requirements of new Member States .
what else would you expect , you might think - unless you are a supporter of the so-called country of origin principle , otherwise known as social dumping .
in many cases , the effect of the environment on the state of health of the population has been clearly demonstrated .
in countries such as France , they have experience of this , but not in other Member States of the European Union .
this is leading the European Union according to the Community method .
moreover , we have voted in a document that we are not yet familiar with , since there is still no printed consolidated text of the Treaty in the languages of the Member States .
we have completed a truly enormous programme with some major , significant reports .
but those bodies - the Civil Aviation Authority - exist already .
I consider it important that we see joining the euro area less as a matter of national honour and more as a goal of making the criteria more objective , which is good for the state that is joining .
yes , it is essential to prevent the death sentence being imposed on Mr Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri and on many others , but we could have condemned more strongly the position of the United States in this regard , while regretting , at the very least , the change in attitude on the part of President Obama , particularly with regard to military tribunals .
however , for this to occur , the government must stop seeking a military victory that merely prolongs the suffering of so many people .
therefore , as I have said , let us not speculate on hypothetical situations in the future .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I am fully aware of the shortcomings of the Commission proposals : I know that they are modest and limited in scope .
where European legislation is playing a role in this , though , we have pro-actively started to clean up and lighten this load .
( FR ) Madam President , let us admit that it looked like we were heading for disaster with 1 267 amendments .
Madam President , I congratulate my colleague , Ms Gomes , on an excellent report .
I support the refusal to allow the automatic liberalisation of planting rights in 2014 , particularly for wines protected by designations of origin and geographical indications .
Serbia is a country of high geo-strategic importance to the stability of the whole region , which is why progress in this process is essential to achieve the EU 's ultimate goal with regard to the Western Balkans : to see this become a region of stability , peace and progress .
if the Treaty had been brought into being before such a proposal had come forward we would not have accepted it .
that is without even mentioning the slavery in the north , to which possibly hundreds of thousands of Southern Sudanese women and children fell victim .
in addition to traditional industrial zones , powerful new industrial centres are growing .
as you know , Commissioner , the fishing industry has changed dramatically with the massive increase of late in the price of oil .
- Before the vote :
as a country with an important research and innovation tradition , Romania possesses important academic centres and well-qualified series of graduates in technology .
we are seeing a rise in GDP , new jobs are appearing , the level of employment is rising and the level of unemployment is falling .
we also support the proposals for amendments to the explanatory text that accompanies the broad guidelines for the economic policies because they give a better focus to the content of the guidelines , to meet the challenges Europe is facing ( globalisation , strengthening the bases for economic growth in the medium and long term , rapid demographic and social change , etc . ) .
however , there are initiatives that could develop into a new pan-European debit card scheme and an overall backstop is provided by the existing powers of EU and national competition authorities .
this document is among the most progressive documents in the field of fundamental rights .
in the heat of the campaign , Yulia Tymoshenko also promised to cancel the discriminatory measures affecting mother-tongue education .
there is also a widespread perception that a series of global challenges , such as peace , security and international trade , require concerted action on the part of the international community , thereby justifying the emergence of new forms of cooperation .
shipyards in other countries as well as other Polish shipyards , have had to reduce considerably their capacity .
indeed , in Europe , we have the highest average standard of living overall in the world but nowhere else in the world is there such division within our European society as well as between Europe and Africa .
but to add to the country 's grave state of affairs came the involvement of the so-called Islamic courts .
( FI ) Madam President , as Mr Posselt also said , Europe needs Russia and Russia needs Europe .
it has been necessary to draw up an unambiguous definition of maintenance obligations and to include in the scope of the regulation all orders relating to the payment of lump sums .
in this era of climate change , I believe that the important issues are protecting the environment and safeguarding the future of the human race .
this region was the key to the conflict and , according to the statement of the International Crisis Group , developments in this part of the country will influence the fate of the whole of Sudan .
therefore , I look forward to the Commission 's Green Paper on the review of the VAT system .
as you know , that meeting had on its agenda our economic strategy for Europe 2020 , and our strategy for global negotiations on climate change .
( NL ) Madam President , I have abstained from the vote on the resolution on the Lisbon Strategy , even though the resolution is , in fact , on the whole , a very even-handed resolution which gives an accurate diagnosis of the situation and also contains many proposals which I fully endorse .
the Prime Minister 's resignation , the dissolution of parliament , early elections - in short , democracy .
the current protection for related rights of performers , which covers 50 years from recording , is therefore very short .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the current economic crisis has revealed serious shortcomings in the framework for monitoring the financial sector and the need to respond with new instruments and new fiscal policies .
Madam President , Secretary of State and President-in-Office of the Council , Commissioner , we are all aware that there is already clear consensus over the idea that the faster we establish a green economy , the faster we will emerge from the economic crisis .
unfortunately , some of them have also not answered all the questions about their past .
Mr President , Mr Maystadt , I wanted to stress one point .
I have received a motion for a resolution in accordance with Rule 103 ( 2 ) of the Rules of Procedure .
it is partly that we as countries pinch them and it is partly our NGOs who also use them and recruit them in the country concerned , pay them more than they would be paid in their own countries .
my second remark concerns the temptation to copy what the national parliaments do .
I would also like to give warm thanks to the Slovenian presidency , who shared Parliament 's determination to reach an early agreement in the interests of European competitiveness .
work on a joint directive against violence should be completed within this parliamentary term .
how many women and girls have to die , be gang-raped , butchered , enslaved , contaminated with HIV , rejected by their communities , until we decide at am international level to engage seriously and with a long-term view on this subject ?
I know that there are doubts about the viability of Nabucco , but I also had doubts about the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline , which is now a reality .
they are playing on the fear and ignorance of our citizens .
according to observers , Yemen is at risk of breaking up as a result of the Shi 'ite rebellion in the north , the separatist movement in the south and the terrorist activity of al-Qaeda .
I voted in favour of this report .
it would be natural for the extension of the Union 's legislation into this domain to be carried out with the inclusion of the widely ratified conventions .
Parliament makes recommendations and , I am afraid , the Council backs away .
to promote it through our external relations policy in Mexico and in Central Asia .
the government 's achievements in this area have been significant : the country has approved a 5 % quota of public offices reserved for minorities , religious festivals for minorities have been made official , minorities are to have their own special day of celebration on 11 August , and the Senate is planning the same 5 % quota for that institution .
I welcome the report on recognition of agriculture as a strategic sector in the context of food security .
for these reasons , as a matter of national interest and as a member of Parliament 's Committee on Transport and Tourism , I voted against the document tabled in plenary .
it is time to tackle the underlying poverty situation in Haiti once and for all .
why seek to create rights to compensation to a value of 200 % of the ticket price in cases where boarding is refused because of overbooking ?
the Christian organisations are a thorn in the eye of our conscience .
( the President cut off the speaker )
as regards the Quartet , there is also a reference to the Quartet itself and to the need for the Quartet to step up its efforts in the conclusions adopted by the Council .
the ALDE Group supports the proposal presented and hopes that it will lay out our regulations in the area of statistics .
in the case of one farmer , Eamon Healy of Redcross , County Wicklow , it took seven inspections and nine inspectors in a three-month period to examine his farm !
an EMU road map to better analyse economic divergence , drive forward structural reforms and monitor public finances and financial markets , accelerating their integration , is therefore most welcome .
the reason I am standing up now is to ask the Commission to expedite the funding of relief and the restoration to normality of my region , the South-East of England .
( PL ) Maritime transport and ports and shipyards are rather forgotten sectors , although they have considerable growth potential .
Mr President , a dynamic and highly innovation-oriented economy can help new industries , technology and products get off the ground .
in order to attain this objective , a fund must be formed to which all operators active in the maritime environment should contribute .
6 .
we all need to be aware of the absolute necessity of providing the European Union with Community projects that will ensure its development within the context of the Lisbon Strategy .
let me close by emphasising that the prospect of Montenegro acceding to the EU one day , albeit in the more distant future , is the main generator of further reform processes .
I have researched the last two years , and we shall discuss this before the elections : over the last two years , the larger groups in this Chamber have tabled a series of amendments to the Rules of Procedure , all of which have the same outcome : strengthening the power of the larger groups , diminishing diversity , reducing the rights of individual Members and curtailing the rights of the smaller groups .
the inclusion of a mandatory public hearing for the initiators of petitions involving the Commission and Parliament is very welcome .
how else can we explain Eurostat 's annual public studies which show large discrepancies between men 's and women 's pay in the Member States ?
what is meant by a shareholding democracy if it is possible , in a matter of minutes or a matter of days , to put so many people 's jobs in jeopardy ?
in other words , what actions does it intend funding through the Mediterranean neighbourhood policies to prevent widespread immigration in the coming months and years ?
you do not decide to go to the European Parliament and try to get democratic decisions overturned there .
human rights , social and environmental standards in International Trade agreements (
the other reason was that many Member States of the European Union prosecute and imprison people for exercising non-violent freedom of expression , the holding of heretical opinions or taking part in dissenting activity .
the first few weeks of the lives of newborn children are invaluable for the development of trust , sensory-cognitive skills and a bond with both their parents .
accept the creation of a committee of experts , and do not turn your backs on Poland 's shipbuilders and their families .
as a consequence of climate change and human intervention with deforestation and over-farming , more and more of the world is becoming a desert .
innovation must feature as part of regional development .
prior to 21 December 2007 those Member States that did not yet fully apply the Schengen acquis were not bound by the Schengen provisions on visa fees .
however , we should note with concern that some countries are trying to hijack the whole process and undermine the credibility of the Human Rights Council .
Mrs Roure is calling for some particularly attractive reception conditions for asylum seekers : convivial , open accommodation centres - it is easier to vanish into thin air that way - widespread access to healthcare , including psychiatric care , to legal advice , to translators and interpreters , to training and even to jobs !
furthermore , a solution involving establishing a common consolidated corporate tax base would render the European company statute more useful and effective .
in spite of the fact that the European Union has introduced many initiatives to combat VAT fraud , such as EUROCANET ( a network for exchange of information about companies suspected of VAT fraud , which unfortunately does not include Germany , United Kingdom or Italy ) , and of the work of institutions such as Europol , Eurojust and OLAF , these losses increase significantly year by year .
according to the international election observation mission , the elections held on January 5 were ' in essence consistent with most international standards for democratic elections , but significant challenges were revealed which need to be addressed urgently ' .
consequently , I kindly ask , and at the same time urge , the Council to maintain a text with a strong commitment to anti-corruption .
in the south of France , 75 % of the forest is privately owned .
the fully legitimate demand for transparency , as reflected in the debate and the vote today , must , of necessity , be balanced so that we do not , with the best of intentions , destroy a well-functioning system .
at the moment , a financial crisis has been unleashed , with an economic impact that is anything but modest , while the danger has increased of a deterioration in the situation of those already at risk .
personally speaking , and without committing my group , I think the issue of a carbon tax at our borders will have to be addressed .
such rights as require external supervision are found there , and any court which is required is found in this city under that aegis , not under any aegis required by the EU .
these municipalities , numbering 39 in total , are on the periphery , and the River Danube still represents for them an insurmountable barrier rather than an opportunity .
I support the request for the Commission to present a study every five years on the added value of each agency and not to hesitate to close an agency if the analysis concludes that it is not useful .
12 .
I know she will make a great success of her future career , and I wish her and her family well .
to begin with , resources and means .
third , this is a practical way in which we can begin to implement the Commission 's target to reduce the burden on SMEs by 25 % by the year 2020 .
I am proud that this decision was taken unanimously .
an achievement which gives me personal satisfaction is that with the Seoul Development Consensus interlocking development , trade and investment , we have firmly placed development on the G20 agenda .
I say to Mr Canfin and others that there has been a huge amount of investment in time and resources , and indeed in systems like the points of single contact , in order to generate those jobs and growth , but they now have to come .
I understand that it will mean that there will have to be a period of transition of some kind in areas where coal production is closely linked to employment , but basically , we should be moving more in the direction of renewable technology and energy .
rapporteur . - Mr President , it was because of the last intervention - which was very well-intentioned - that you omitted your normal practice , which was to thank the rapporteur .
we worked together in very close cooperation with all the Member States , police authorities and German authorities .
moreover , there have been issues surrounding conflicts of interest of EMEA 's experts and staff .
this is a very important issue , especially in circumstances where energy prices are rising in leaps and bounds .
subject : monitoring imports of dangerous consumer goods
such a concept is a reward for good environmental behaviour .
Madam President , delaying ratifying the Lisbon Treaty meant that 736 MEPs were appointed rather than the 751 now proposed .
I am quite in favour of this point .
in writing . - ( HU ) It is common knowledge that the environmental damage that goes with flying , excluding the emission of greenhouse gases , largely originates in take-off , landing and taxiing .
1 .
it follows the mandate of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development , which clearly states that reproductive health-care programmes should provide the widest range of services without any form of coercion .
legislation should be able to be modernised to make sentences appropriate to the special circumstances of mothers ; regular staff should be regularly monitored and specially trained so that they are sensitive to women 's issues .
that is too late .
the idea is that money should follow the patient , and that the patient should have access to healthcare , regardless of status or wealth or anything else , based on need .
we also certainly need to hear what the Council and the Commission want to do in this area .
this is what David Grossmann says , moreover , when he commemorates Mr Rabin , killed by a fundamentalist Jew , not a fundamentalist Islamist , because he wanted to achieve peace .
it is therefore crucial for Europe that Croatia provide information concerning drugs and drug addiction , and their consequences .
this Directorate-General used a broad margin for these alternative settlement instruments in its Green Paper , which is one consultation stage before this .
( ES ) Madam President , it is clear that the Commission 's work programme for 2009 in the area of foreign policy , as in all other areas , is indissociable from the international financial crisis , as the Commission President , Mr Barroso , has told us .
( PT ) Mrs McGuinness , as I said , the Council 's assessment is that the application of this Regulation , in other words the use of the Solidarity Fund , has been effective .
in other cases , such as Zimbabwe and Somalia , optional consultation should be envisaged , as in fact is enshrined in the Stuttgart Declaration on the European Union , which was also mentioned in the question .
it will be also for the European Commission to propose to the Council a decision endorsing the macroeconomic adjustment programme .
in writing . - ( PT ) The draft Memorandum of Cooperation which is the subject of this report aims to significantly reduce individual audits by the International Civil Aviation Organization ( ICAO ) in Member States .
'Let a thousand flowers bloom ' was , I think , the great phrase .
if that is our aim , then we are on the right track .
there is no constitutional or political basis for this discriminatory treatment of commercial defence measures , which undermines the ability of the Commission ( and the Union ) to defend European industry against unfair competition from outside its own European internal market .
we need to battle with the oil cartels , we need to battle with the raw material profiteers , we need more food on the market and , if we do not take action on the root of evil , I am afraid that we will continue to have debates similar to this , which have a logic that is understood in Brussels and Strasbourg but lack political justification in the eyes of the public .
( heckling )
but , in effect , Iran has now rejected a draft agreement proposed by the IAEA and has been refusing to pursue talks on the nuclear issue .
this reflection should also include and help global commercial players to better define their roles and their responsibilities in the promotion and strengthening of the fundamental freedom of expression in the global online environment of the Internet .
what is the point of a Foreign Secretary if we have got an EU foreign secretary with his own diplomatic service ?
secondly , the setting in the draft of a review date of one year from its establishment in order to give consideration to conclusions arising from its functioning and established international norms in this area .
what is the difference ?
I am not sure whether the EU today is in a position to provide Ukraine with assistance that would be sufficient to compensate that country for the losses brought about by a conflict with Russia .
( DE ) Mr President , I very much welcome the fact that this directive is finally coming into force .
the US is once again being led by a President , Barack Obama , who espouses the vision of a world without nuclear weapons .
in the case of China , I am not sure that increasing the number of urgent resolutions as we have been doing - in March 2009 , in November 2009 , in January 2010 , and in March 2010 , with the other planned resolution - is productive .
I think everybody here agrees that we need to improve the conditions for innovation .
all correspondence between the Commission and other car manufacturers in Italy , Spain and other countries is published , but not the German correspondence .
nor are the rules being applied on the payment of security margins , which are designed to tax pure speculation and to differentiate it from genuine risk coverage operations .
- Before the vote :
according to the latest research , the residents of at least two Ukrainian districts are still eating contaminated food .
I hope it will never be fully implemented .
if you will allow me , I would like to say that it is also right in its attitude and in having the courage to promote change in the face of national prejudices and in the face of the decline or the resignation ...
however , we should point out that the report fails to address the causes of situations that it sometimes diagnoses .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety . - ( SL ) I would like to thank my colleague Dr Weisgerber for her excellent report and express my satisfaction that we have reached such a high degree of consensus with the Council so quickly .
the Presidency agrees with the honourable Member that not all the points in the two Commission proposals - one on improving police cooperation and the other on the principle of availability - are included in the ' Prüm ' Decision .
on the basis of these national reports , the Commission and all Member States will undertake the process of mutual evaluation and will examine and discuss changes introduced in Member States ' legislation as well as any requirements that would have been maintained .
however , that does not mean that Parliament can rest on its laurels , since issues such as retention periods , data volumes and purpose limitation , as well as controls and whether protective clauses can really be implemented in the area of data protection , will remain critical points .
Mr President , allow me to make my points in bullet points .
the united action taken by all the parliamentary groups in the European legislative only serves to demonstrate that the budget needs to be reviewed on a much more flexible basis .
it speaks volumes that this commemoration is taking place after the debate on the report entitled ' The face of female poverty in the European Union ' .
he is one of nearly 7 000 people who are executed in that country every year .
there are over 100 of these criteria , and they are completely different in the different Member States of our Union .
( DE ) Mr President , the issue of transport and mobility is naturally also viewed as a priority in the programme for 2008 .
this is all the more necessary given that counterfeit medicines pose a real risk to European 's health in view of the substances - toxic substances at times - that they may contain .
it is of paramount importance to continue the support provided by the Commission and Member States in various forms , aimed at consolidating health infrastructures , along with assistance for projects , sectoral or general budget support for partner countries , and even support for international organisations .
hundreds of people were dispossessed of their homes and there are reliable reports of his security forces torturing , raping , and even killing , local residents .
the current European problems are the free movement of labour and the free movement of capital and services .
it is an important piece of work providing us with a comprehensive view of the initiatives taken over one year and two presidencies to implement EU policy on human rights .
most importantly , an immediate and permanent cease-fire .
I therefore believe that it is important to reinvest in already existing mobility and education / training programmes , and to establish European-level minimum conditions for work experience placements , since these should not be seen as employment , but rather as the acquisition of practical skills .
I shall return , however , to a subject not mentioned , namely that the Commission 's annual report on human rights should also include the condition of women in EU prisons .
the EU always supports the core standards of the International Labour Organisation ( ILO ) in soapbox speeches and in its contacts with third countries and rightly so , because they protect workers against discrimination and social dumping .
Mr President , Mrs McGuinness made an important point just now , namely that there is a moral and ethical dimension to this issue , given all the public health , biodiversity and economic concerns we have raised .
we know this will be a long journey but , if the history of the European Union and its enlargement tells us anything , then it is that this journey is worthwhile for all concerned .
there are problems with high costs and reliability .
the real fight is against rogue exploitative employers , and what we need at this time is an agenda that is pro-worker , not anti-immigrant .
with regard to the opportunities presented by sustainable industrial policies , the EU has to take into account the potential presented by the industries of the new Member States .
therefore , I would urge the Commission to revise the guidelines to provide systematic support for green energy projects in the EU , so that there is a link between what we adopt , on the one hand , and the way in which we allocate funds , on the other .
I will not speak for long on this , because my colleague , Mr Andor , is responsible for this dossier , but the Europe 2020 strategy leads to a new path for persistent economic and social actions for those who are marginalised and we know that poverty is a very big problem in Europe 's largest minority .
if we are to assess the need for ACTA , we must bear this international context in mind .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , to date , access to employment has been regulated only for a few specific categories of third-country nationals .
all the evidence is that it will continue to go from strength to strength .
we note with great concern that , according to estimates , developing countries are expected to face a financial shortfall in 2010 of more than USD 300 billion and that mounting budgetary problems in the most vulnerable countries are jeopardising the operation and development of core areas such as education , health , infrastructure and social protection , with a value in excess of USD 11.5 billion .
( loud applause )
if the other Member States continue to just stand by and watch , it will only be a matter of time before the European Court of Human Rights concludes that the transfer of asylum applications to Italy should be suspended , as , in fact , it did in the case of Greece .
on 24 March 2010 , the Czech Republic submitted an application to mobilise the EGF in respect of cases concerning 634 redundancies ( all targeted for assistance ) in the enterprise Unilever ČR , spol.sr.o , operating in the retail sector ( food products ) , and supplemented it by additional information up to 20 September 2010 .
in writing . - Given that late payment is a phenomenon with numerous and interlinked causes , it can only be combated with a wide range of complementary measures .
risks for human health and the environment are further increased by sub-standard recycling / recovery operations in developing countries .
many thanks for that information , Mr Wurtz .
only China has benefited from it .
beyond grants , innovative market-based solutions may be proposed such as equity participations , guarantees and public-private partnership loans .
we should repeat our call for the payment of agricultural monies to Greece to be suspended until such time as Greece comes into line .
she set a strict timetable that the Presidency as a whole managed to keep , while maintaining a Parliament-friendly attitude , for which I thank them again .
it could also be a year of renewal for the EU , which has managed to reinvent itself continually throughout its history .
even though the G20 outcomes are steps in the right direction , they are still too modest and far from having a proper , global , convention-based regulation , both on funds and different financial instruments , and on regulation .
I therefore welcome the proposal of the Committee on Transport and Tourism , which seeks to establish their rights by means of the document on which we are about to vote .
( RO ) I wish to remind you that in 2009 , when the European Union 's economic recovery plan was debated for the first time , the Commission made the undertaking that it would allocate EUR 1 billion to energy efficiency in homes .
deficits may be necessary , but there will be a heavy price to pay .
moreover , we must ensure that parents are able to decide that the cord blood should not simply be thrown away , as it may possibly be valuable in future for other children , or even for their own child .
the first is the Croatia question .
this will make it possible gradually to establish a broader base of research activities throughout Europe .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , allow me to touch on a third main point of the European Council 's agenda .
we have seen where Member State policies have undone the good work of cohesion and regional policy .
awareness of risks is paramount for exporters and importers .
compared with the Commission 's proposal , we are in favour of moving the mine closure deadline .
there would also be the question of the public authorities interfering in the work of such an agency .
having clear objectives and discussing them fully and openly create trust .
for 12 years it has been the law for electricity and gas , but it has not yet become reality .
and the fourth thing you could do as well is to say to your colleagues this : these practices , if practised on individual consumers are absolutely illegal under the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive .
nevertheless , it does not apply to urban planning regulations for new constructions .
however , the EU imposes extremely rigorous requirements governing the safe operation of nuclear power plants and the handling of nuclear waste .
I would therefore urge you to work on the further development of class actions and common legal entitlements .
this practice obviously produces numerous mistakes in the content posted there .
the June List considers that every country should have its own vote at the Climate Conference and we have therefore chosen to vote against this resolution .
because there is a huge civil society in Iran that certainly would like to have a different way of life , but there is still a very difficult regime .
- Motion for a resolution
in the meantime , a proper cyber war is raging .
( for results and other details of the vote : see Minutes )
I should like to emphasise the difficulties encountered in the sheep and goat sectors , with regard to which Mr Capoulas Santos has been very sensitive .
I think that the European Union should monitor what happens in Nicaragua and should send observers to the elections in 2011 and support the democratic opposition .
obviously the individual Member States are responsible for laying down entry quotas .
awareness of the need to reduce human impact on the natural environment is growing in a large number of countries .
it is multidimensional .
it is certainly the concern of Europeans , as they are happy to tell us .
the debate is closed .
( HU ) Thank you very much , Mr President .
they have succeeded well in giving advice on new directives .
if we in Europe avert our eyes and say ' This is purely a Hungarian affair ' , if 26 Member States are not prepared to say , ' Friends , we do not treat people like that in our society ' , and if the European Commission says the same , what should we then say , as a group , to countries where the situation is even worse ?
in other words , this Parliament is far cheaper to operate per citizen .
the report builds on the Energy Efficiency Action Plan from 2006 , calls on the Commission to update this plan , to revise the directive on energy services and also to establish binding targets to achieve a 20 % improvement in energy efficiency by 2020 .
it really was an important turning point and an important moment .
no one on earth could understand that .
we also lose the opportunity to introduce democratic values to the Chinese people at grassroots level .
this motion for a resolution is going in a one-sided direction by proposing subsidies and financial support for Roma people in the European Union .
the Free Trade Agreement that we are debating today will strengthen the competitiveness of the European Union and will provide our enterprises with significantly better access to a highly dynamic region of growth .
of course , these are too limited and at far too low a level .
this is not , I might add , the direction in which the Commission was heading , since its proposal focused - through the regulation that this House adopted - on the reform of the current system of agencies , which are private , and on the very rigorous consolidation of the transparency requirements to avoid conflicts of interest , of honesty in their credit rating work .
does the Commission have any plans to address the tonnes of EU waste already dumped in African countries ?
( PL ) Mr President , I would like to take the opportunity provided by this debate to draw attention to just two issues linked to the so-called climate package .
I am convinced that strong regions from the Mediterranean to the Baltic Sea make for a strong European Union .
confrontation is not the solution either .
there are still too many issues unresolved to agree to abolish the requirement for Albanian and Bosnian nationals to possess a visa for entry into the EU .
indeed it is the States with the best-organised social dialogue , such as the Scandinavian countries , Germany , the Netherlands and a few others , that have the most successful economies in the European Union .
of course , we must also remember that many countries have a right to develop .
the European Research Council , by supporting ' frontier research ' , puts particular emphasis on interdisciplinary projects and on pioneering research .
the Catania report maps out the problems involving fundamental rights and gives recommendations for resolving them .
consequently , the structural improvements presented in this proposal aim to impose the financial integrity necessary for trust in the smooth and unquestionable functioning of the EEAS .
the first is that there is no mathematical link between the length of maternity leave and women 's fertility rate , and to prove it I need only mention the situation in France , since France is a country which provides for 14 weeks ' maternity leave and which , today , has one of the highest birth rates in Europe .
the second issue is finally that of the new development model that must come out of the end of the crisis .
I await your conclusions with interest .
I will support this report in the hope that this will send a message not only to our citizens but to our member state Governments that this Parliament is serious in its desire to see a more accountable and more effective European Union .
back in 2002 , when I was Chief Accountant of the European Commission , the then Director-General for Budgets stated , in a letter to the then internal auditor of the Commission , that the discharge procedure was an interinstitutional game and nothing more .
not many of you in the House know me , as I only became a member in November and today is the first time that I have addressed the House .
the pressure of migration is a challenge that we must take up collectively , and that is the logic behind the Pact on Immigration and Asylum adopted a few months ago during the French Presidency .
that is why we have offered them a comprehensive and innovative European Union-Ukraine association agreement .
I believe that this is particularly important for consumers and also for small and medium-sized companies , which sometimes feel the pressure and suffer from distorting behaviour in the common market .
this would allow the repatriation of passengers left stranded in foreign airports .
if we want to prevent this Europe from breaking apart , we actually need something like a Constitution for Europe .
the barriers on the West Bank must also be removed .
I would like to thank Parliament for its support for our proposal , as well as its flexibility and sense of compromise shown in the course of interinstitutional discussions .
are you aware that the Hungarian revolution was supported by many , many people and not only by conservatives on the right of the political spectrum , as Mr Schulz has said ?
( PL ) Madam President , language is the most important attribute of identity and the main tool of social communication .
we are currently witnessing an unprecedented weakening of the capacity of states to respond .
the reason is that we have decided to create an economic and monetary union , which is under construction but is not yet complete .
I would call on my fellow Members from the old Member States to end this discrimination .
in writing . - I voted for this resolution , which approves the appointment of Verena Ross as Executive Director of the European Supervisory Authority ( European Securities and Markets Authority ) .
it is in everyone 's interest to avoid such a scenario .
there is nothing pleasing about the situation in Kosovo or about the role being played by the European Union there .
incidentally , that number is often much lower , at 15 , 10 or 8 , and in some cases a single person is enough to form a political group .
new technologies , new opportunities for Internet working , and using new technology to one 's advantage can help older people to stay in the labour market . all this can also enable people to grow old comfortably .
let me read what it says : ' the President shall direct all the activities of Parliament and its bodies under the conditions laid down in these rules . '
the amendment of the Act on the Judicial Council has the aim of changing the composition of the Council even before the end of its proper term of office .
as a gesture in recognition of these efforts , the European Parliament supports the amendments to the regulation on the European Regional Development Fund , the European Social Fund and Cohesion Fund , in order to simplify and speed up financial management of EU funds .
where the starting point is concerned , for example , it has been established that the situation in the United States is not really comparable with that in Europe .
- Before the vote on paragraph 2 ( c ) of the Annex :
there is a bogeyman in this subject , and this bogeyman is quotas .
it is time to scrap the common fisheries policy .
all this tarred the Lisbon Strategy 's programme with a credibility deficit , which is also a result of the fact that , while it was defined in great detail , the way in which it was executed was not responsible enough .
access to these rights is a particular problem , since legal redress is often extremely expensive and complicated .
of course , there are Members who like to come and conduct national politics in Parliament , as is the case with Mrs Ferreira .
today we are taking one particular step .
that the EU explore the possibility of a financial contribution to the EUSC from the EU budget in order to provide sufficient funds to meet the increasing needs of ESDP operations ;
what about the principle of subsidiarity , where decisions are taken at the most appropriate level , in this case , at the level of the Member States ?
it would have been braver to establish institutions before enlargement .
I expect the Commission to do so too .
what we are talking about is reconciliation , but perhaps not to the extent that Mr Cohn-Bendit has proposed .
I would like to thank the Committee on Budgets and the rapporteur , Mr Surján , for having taken into account that the Equality Committee was making a wise suggestion when it said the budget could not be automatically slashed based on this year 's income , because if we did this , the Institute would not be able to get up and running in the future .
the Commission was called on to respond regarding the legitimacy of the bans but never issued a ruling , thus breaching the safeguard clause procedure laid down by Directive 93 / 42 / EEC , which should have obliged the Commission to do so .
these proposals , of which there are many , are important .
the following have forfeited their entitlement to the subsistence allowance : Jim Allister for 3 days , Godfrey Blum for 2 days , Sylwester Chruszcz for 2 days , Paul Marie Coûteaux for 5 days , Maciej Marian Giertych for 3 days , Roger Helmer for 3 days , Roger Knapman for 3 days , Hans-Peter Martin for 3 days and Philippe de Villiers for 3 days .
what is needed is a reversal in the current macroeconomic policies and the defence of jobs and workers ' rights .
if today we get to the point where we say NO to this directive on illegal migration , you can imagine how hard it will be to move on to decision-making , to joint decision-making about legal migration .
this Treaty is an integral part of the securitarianism that has been brought in under cover of the ' fight against terrorism ' , with the aim of strengthening cross-border cooperation at EU level in the field of ' combating terrorism ' , cross-border crime and immigration .
( NL ) Today , we are discussing Europe 's economy from a long-term perspective , and how to achieve sustainable economic growth .
I also welcome the support for and recognition of initiatives such as CIty-VITAlity-Sustainability ( CIVITAS ) and Intelligent Energy Europe , which form the basis for this kind of programme .
accordingly , this dispute over the principle of language is something those involved find difficult to comprehend .
( DE ) Mr President , thank you very much for your generosity .
this case is also supported by the fact that , in the near future , fiscal consolidation will remain on the agenda in most of the Member States , and they will find it extremely helpful if there is a strong , quick and effective EU-level instrument to support workers who suddenly find themselves out of a job .
finally , I would like to say that successive budgets and financial perspectives have been more geared towards continuing previous budget plans and objectives , rather than responding to current and future challenges .
mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund (
I urge colleagues to support this resolution .
I listened carefully to the input that was given during the consultation process held in the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality , and one of the clear points that arose was that it was first and foremost a matter of drawing up policies for the area .
I know that there are some celebrations in Madrid today , but little else .
it must continue and that is also what the citizens expect from us .
it is time to have faith in the market .
the signing by Russia of a new START treaty must not mean restrictions on building the NATO antimissile architecture .
I believe that , by establishing European supervision of credit agencies , we are taking a big step along the same lines as the supervision arrangements that have been implemented .
what are the main measures that have been announced , apart from a welcome but insufficient increase of EIB loans to small and medium-sized enterprises ?
use of the Visa Information System ( VIS ) under the Schengen Borders Code (
children who encounter violence at home are , in a sense , also its victims .
we also agreed to refrain from comparing the evaluations and to be vigilant against excess volatility and disorderly movements in exchange rates .
the recent events in Egypt and other countries in North Africa and the Middle East have increased the flow of both legal and illegal migrants to Europe .
we also know that Parliament agreed in September 2008 that state aid to public broadcasters should be delivered so that they fulfil their function in a dynamic environment , avoiding the use of public funding for reasons of political or economic expediency .
I would like to draw your attention to three issues in this debate .
this document is important for ensuring that the Agency can make effective organisational arrangements to implement its strategy and achieve its goals .
I note , for example , that the report confirms the need for comparable data and the need to take account of urban mobility in other spheres of action where the European Union has legislative powers .
furthermore , with the aim of helping SMEs expand their cross-border activities , the process of recovering cross-border debts will need to be facilitated and the European Private Company Statute adopted without delay .
( DE ) Many thanks for that very good and very exhaustive reply .
in order to build this political Europe , Mr Barroso , two pitfalls must be avoided in our view .
the results in this area are clearly not impressive .
in writing . - ( LT ) Ukraine has always played a special role in the EU Eastern Partnership .
Mr Corbett , the rapporteur for the report , wanted to raise the number of members from 20 to 30 , and at the same time require that the group represent a quarter of the countries as against a fifth up to then .
it was won by foul means , was it not ?
I would therefore like explicit confirmation from you that an individual examination of each of the asylum applications was indeed carried out .
I think the task mandated by the European Council last December is not about changing the text ; it is more about improving the text and complementing it wherever possible .
- Report : Caspary
as developments in this region , strategically situated at the junction of Europe , the Middle East and Central Asia , started having a direct impact on EU internal affairs , the EU acknowledged the need to reflect upon its stronger involvement in the area .
as an MEP who has always paid particular attention to issues relating to crime prevention , security and police cooperation , I acknowledge the fundamental importance of Europol in creating a secure European area and preventing crime throughout Europe , along with the need for it to be reinforced at various levels , including those under discussion here .
it can be the worst of things if it is misleading , if it is intrusive , if it is deceptive , if it does not play the game , if ultimately , it does not deliver what the consumer expects of it , which is information .
this case concerns the European strategy for the Atlantic region : marine energy , environmental preservation , including the prevention and fight against marine pollution , transport and access , research and innovation , among others .
since it is the poorest countries that bear the greatest burden of climate change , we must see to it that the proceeds from the emissions trading system are placed first and foremost at the disposal of developing countries .
Baroness Ashton , I would like you to give your assessment of the G8 anti-terrorism summit in October - when you received the Council mandate - in Mali , which Algeria did not attend .
and yet , Thailand wants to show itself as being welcoming to refugees and asylum seekers .
only binding targets and adequately stringent emissions targets , however , will make companies switch to cleaner and more environmentally friendly technology .
the majority of consumers no longer use travel packages if they have found cheaper methods to go on holiday and see the world .
the next item is the debate on six motions for resolutions on Burma .
that is indeed a major European problem , which has obviously also grown as a result of opening up borders .
all this simply fuels the race to dump corporate tax .
however , the results presented by Côte d 'Ivoire 's Independent Electoral Commission , announcing Mr Ouattara 's victory , were rejected by the country 's Constitutional Court , which reversed the result , alleging fraud in some areas and declaring the current president , Laurent Gbagbo , the winner .
they have the potential not only to influence this generation of children , but also their children .
I also support the fact that access to classified information or documents , in particular to sensitive documents , should be subject to observance by the Ombudsman of rules strictly equivalent to those in force in the institution or body in question .
I like the system of traffic lights .
it does not infringe fundamental rights , however .
during the negotiations , the EU must not therefore shut its eyes to the fact that Europe and Central America are not equal partners in the agreement .
to talk about consolidation without making the relevant recommendations is to fudge the issue .
I would also like to thank you once again for your work and for the work done by the Council .
to my mind , such a person should focus on the workings of the EU and on limited areas where there is clear added value from joint action .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , firstly I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to be here today to explain the current economic situation within the agricultural sector .
I want also to express my solidarity with the Spanish people , their authorities and democratic institutions .
in short , it is willing to seek a greater balance between security and freedom in the definitive agreement , which is essentially what we are talking about today .
the right to good administration has become legally binding under the terms of the Treaty of Lisbon , and along with that right , it is also important that personal rights are fully respected .
now the preparations for the Washington Summit are in full swing .
according to surveys , 40 % of drivers would not recognise the signs or would enter these zones without authorisation .
the purpose of this report , therefore , is to set out various possibilities .
it also promises to protect jobs , and to introduce specific training and innovative financial instruments , bearing in mind that capital in the creative sector often consists of values that are intangible but nonetheless crucial for innovation in all sectors .
may I say that the report was also remarkable for what it omitted .
finally , I would like to wish the second JPC , led by Pat the Cope Gallagher , to Reykjavík on 26 and 27 April , well .
the European agency Frontex has helped to halt thousands of illegal immigrants .
I accordingly voted in favour of the report and am confident that it will improve patients ' rights across Europe .
consequently , it is absolutely essential for the European Commission , the Council , every Member State and the whole of the international community to exert maximum pressure on the Zimbabwean authorities to allow completely free access by international humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable populations .
Mr President , I would like to thank all the Members for the great level of support that you have given us for our continued work on the Baltic Sea Strategy .
Vice-President of the Commission . - I must first say that the Commission has no indications that there are more cases of fraud than in other organisations .
the European Union , together with the members of the Quartet on the Middle East , with moderate Arab partners and with all participants in the conflict , must bring about a rapid resumption of the peace negotiations under the umbrella of the United Nations .
at this stage in the international negotiations , we are well aware of the difficulties we are facing .
in addition , developing countries are also the hardest hit by the effects of climate change .
we strongly urge the Commission not to just conclude that we do not have the resources or that the existing resources are sufficient , because that is not the case : there is an issue of environmental safety , but there are also lives at stake , and we must remember that .
many Member States do not comply with it either , as is the case with Portugal .
if this ambiguity is not clarified , then we risk seeing dramatic variability in the application of the directive .
what we need are automatic initiatives and sanctions which the Council can only stop by means of reversed qualified majority voting .
for this we should express our thanks to the rapporteurs and all Members of this House .
this new directive is a major step towards equality and represents an important reduction in risk for men and women who take on the challenge of self-employment .
( HU ) Thank you , Madam President .
that is the model that essentially works throughout the world .
is this how it is meant to look , the proclaimed rapprochement between the EU and its citizens - those citizens who are being denied not only the right to a referendum , but also the potential to familiarise themselves with the text , not to mention any debate on it ?
let us be clear , however : it is not Europe , it is not the European Commission that created this financial crisis .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioners , the 100th anniversary of International Women 's Day should also be an occasion to reflect and take stock .
ladies and gentlemen , women must not be punished because they have decided to have a family .
in these times of profound changes in the international situation , Europe must increase its legitimacy as an area of integration and democracy and develop its capacity to achieve consensus at international level .
care needs to be taken to ensure that this mechanism works in another direction , and that depends on whether our market is open , whether we shall have sensibly restricted public assistance . in other words , it depends on how the common and free European market is going to function .
as you know , the President is currently in Lisbon where a small signature ceremony is taking place .
however , this will not be possible if Ukraine continues to sponsor opaque transactions and to cling to ' neighbourly prices ' which fail to reflect the true market situation and which keep Ukraine politically dependent on Russia .
a particularly important role should also be played by the Commission , which should monitor Member States ' actions very responsibly and follow the implementation of specific measures in accordance with national stability and convergence programmes .
if we want the European Union to be a strong and respected presence on the international stage and its actions , including as regards sanctions , to have the biggest possible impact , it is essential to demonstrate great solidarity and avoid using different units of measurements .
the last legal framework for market liberalisation dates from 2002 .
for these reasons , we believe this is yet another attempt to set up a high-risk plant , in the knowledge that there are absolutely no protection and safety measures in place .
the competitiveness and the importance of the European Union are growing , thanks to enhanced human as well as economic potential .
answers to my July questions only emerged in the Irish rescue , which I think is a matter of regret , not least when the smallest fund , coming from the EU budget , is used for an equal share to the larger funds .
transport intermodality is important , and may provide the biggest boost to modernisation of the rail network .
why do you not ask the Commission questions ?
we regret that a majority in this Parliament has yet again gone back on its word and approved a proposal that takes money out of the Progress programme , which was already clearly underfunded for its areas of action in the social field .
the purpose of the Dublin agreement is to equip the participating states with criteria designed to establish which state is responsible for examining a request for asylum , thereby ensuring better treatment for applicants and , at the same time , providing the states with tools to fight organised crime .
2 .
the Birds Directive adopted in 1979 is still being widely neglected .
a change of mindset is required - a changing of the concept of society and of how we need to get to work in politics and in business and industry .
ladies and gentlemen , the Bali action plan , which was agreed last December , is an important element in the debates on the future international climate change regime .
this report recognises that flexicurity can be a strategy for labour market reform .
Madam President , I would have preferred to hear from the rapporteur , Mr Tavares , but never mind ; now he has finally joined us in this debate , and that is the main thing .
the Irish government 's decision to push ahead with the M3 motorway through the heart of one of our most historic national sites is unjustifiable .
what is crucial is , of course , the matter of direct payments , as is the need to eliminate disparities between them in different countries .
however , ladies and gentlemen of the Commission , there is a lack of consistency between what we all say and what we do .
why are there double standards ?
it is beyond the competence of the EU to dictate educational reforms to Member States , and we must ensure that this is respected .
unfortunately , it had an extremely negative effect on countries within the European Union , like Ireland whose sugar industry was destroyed , and on the poorest sugar-producing nations of the African-Caribbean-Pacific countries like Mauritius , Belize and Fiji .
the litanies first .
the great famine cannot be the subject of ideological manipulation or other nationalist policies .
we also have a European responsibility , however .
pursuant to the principle of subsidiarity the Union acts in the framework of its competences only when its action is essential and brings added value to the actions of Member States .
is it not time to be bold with the export refunds ?
an ad hoc judge , who would intervene only in cases brought against the Union or involving Union law , would , in our opinion , not be sufficient .
the so-called reform proposed by the Boc government is a direct attack on the rights provided for in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights .
( PL ) Mr President , the development of an information society is one of the fundamental aims of the European Union .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( HU ) Thank you , Mr President .
Vice-President of the Commission . - I can assure the honourable Member that on volunteering - which is a very important question , and the Commission is working on this - she will get the right answers to what she has asked .
we must now speedily examine it in Parliament .
it will be a brake on R & D .
even worse : it is undemocratic .
I would like to thank and congratulate the rapporteur , Jillian Evans , as well as the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , for the excellent work carried out on this proposal .
my second point is this : we have often asked for information campaigns so that people know how asylum procedures work , what legal immigration means and what the consequences are of a rejected asylum application or illegal immigration .
the main reason for this is that the report violates the principle of subsidiarity .
if you tackle this , you will have the support of this Parliament , and I believe that , as far as the 2020 strategy is concerned , we must not let ourselves be misled by words .
in terms of social and environmental impact , there is a clear lack of preparation by Chinese industry , and this requires greater European incentive .
well , for one thing , because every language carries with it an enormous cultural heritage that enriches European diversity .
I wavered on whether to support the draft resolution .
the airspace closure has , however , raised important questions about airlines fulfilling their obligations when it comes to air passengers ' rights , especially in the light of any compensation afforded to the aviation industry .
what progress has the Commission made in developing such mechanisms to protect consumers ?
the Commission 's proposal takes scant account of that .
finally , the inclusion of online pharmacies marks significant progress for the safety of patients who tend to purchase medicines via the Internet .
I am sorry to say that the British authorities have failed disastrously to control our borders .
adding new priorities in the future should at no cost hamper the achievement of other political priorities such as solidarity .
Mr President , Latin America has a population of 600 million , it accounts for 10 % of the world 's GDP , it is home to 40 % of the planet 's vegetable species and has a wealth of exceptional human resources .
this also has an ethical dimension .
lastly , I entirely agree with Mr Verhofstadt : I commend you in all your efforts to stabilise the Middle East and North African countries and , in particular , your condemnation of the killing of Christians in Egypt , but why , as Mr Verhofstadt has pointed out , has President Assad of Syria been left off the EU sanctions list after the brutal killing of innocent civilian protesters by his forces in recent days ?
transposition of the Directive on the recognition of professional qualifications cannot be called a success , and so I will permit myself once again to appeal from this place for an intensification of work on both directives , because without them , we will not make progress with the internal market .
so sometimes these statements went beyond the limits of reasonable and fair political debate - a political debate which we otherwise fully support , both domestically and at a European or universal level .
different aspects of production and products , such as the ones mentioned in the question , like cosmetics and medicines , are already subject to various Community provisions , albeit not specific to nanotechnology .
equality between men and women must also be included in all policies in the form of specific and sustainable measures , particularly in the areas of education , training and vocational guidance .
I am therefore voting against this motion for a resolution .
it is essential to provide aid to families , to young people seeking employment , and to those who find themselves out of work during their career .
in this way , we have sought to enhance the operational efficiency of customs authorities at the external borders of the EU - the last buffer of protection - preventing the entry onto the internal market of counterfeit goods .
Iran bears no consequences for continuing this appalling practice , despite the fact that the Islamic Republic of Iran is a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights .
sufficient resources need energy demand management .
today many people are concerned about whether it will be possible to protect the Olympics from a boycott , and from political passions that may be justified in other respects .
Mr President , the liberal end of history foretold in the nineteen nineties has turned out to be a fantasy .
now , let us take this as our starting point .
the result of these collective efforts is that we are in a position , this evening , to adopt at first reading the proposal recasting this 1994 Directive .
this is , moreover , the aim of the Water Framework Directive .
if you saw which countries were involved and the size of the specific budgetary envelopes for them , you would realise that the sums involved would be too huge to suspend payments , and we need the reforms to work very rapidly .
the text was adopted , but unfortunately , the alternative versions proposed by the left-leaning political groups , calling for a binding framework directive for implementing the minimum income throughout the Union , were rejected .
some of them will probably be adapted this year .
the measure providing for the introduction of additional support for sheep farming in mountainous regions and in areas where sheep farming is the only form of farming would , in my view , be particularly valuable .
( NL ) I should like to thank both the Presidency and the Commissioner for their answers .
however , situations need to be avoided where the EU 's involvement is prolonged ad infinitum .
( FI ) Madam President , I wish to say a few words about this report by Mrs Badia i Cutchet on improving the quality of teacher education , which I think is an excellent one .
* * *
I would like to express my support and appreciation of the report presented by Mr Belder as it recommends specific economic measures aimed at the European perspective of the peoples of the Western Balkans .
this type of monument is , in my opinion , unjustly overlooked , and all that is required is to discover and make use of its potential .
but my feelings were mixed , because on the other hand I am particularly wary of and alarmed by the growing encroachment of European law , by more and more European meddling and interfering in things which to my mind are unquestionably matters for subsidiarity and would really be better left to Member States .
nonetheless , I consider that , thanks to this delay , thanks to the Commission 's failure to advise Mr Diamandouros , we were able to have a report which records issues which have both form and substance .
the Agreement in question does not contain the usual provision on the taxation of fuel in the EU on flights conducted by third-country operators .
now , though , we need to remember that just one out of 54 nuclear power plants did not get through the test to which the tsunami and earthquake subjected them .
looking ahead to Thursday 's vote , I should just like to request support for three amendments seeking to further improve these consumer rights and to inform consumers regularly about their consumption .
high safety standards prevent the cyanide from having any impact on the environment .
everyone ?
subject : EU support for the Global Fund to fight Aids , Tuberculosis and Malaria
as the Americans say , we must put our money where our mouth is and not make commitments which we then fail to fulfil .
supporting this notion is particularly important , because a large proportion of sporting ventures at club and association level are not undertaken for financial gain . for that reason they are in fact in danger of disappearing as the market has become so commercialised .
therefore , after long discussions in committee , the decision was taken in favour of an approach that is intended to address these issues in particular .
it should therefore serve as an example to the rest of Europe .
I spent 35 years as an investment banker , investment manager , investment adviser and economic strategist , and I never bought a dud bank in my life .
with the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon , FDI came under sole EU competence , the main roles of which are managing current bilateral investment treaties ( BITs ) and setting out a European investment policy ' which meets the expectations of investors and beneficiary states ' .
last month , Liu Xiaobo was sentenced to 11 years ' imprisonment .
for example , whilst the use of some allergenic fragrances and certain chemical substances that are carcinogenic , mutagenic or toxic to reproduction , amongst other things , has been curbed , they will not be banned completely , but phased out gradually .
the recent financial crisis has highlighted three problems in the industry : a lack of competition , over-reliance on external ratings in the regulatory framework and no liability for ratings on the part of CRAs .
the Hungarian Government has always respected , and will continue to abide by , the deadlines in order to transpose all elements of the Services Directive into Hungarian law and practice .
the second point concerns a balanced approach .
after over 50 years of European integration , the Union 's first real diplomatic corps is now being created .
it is safe to say that the prosperity which free-market countries achieved in the second half of the 20th century was , in large measure , the fruit of free trade , which developed dynamically in this period .
the protection of fundamental human rights must remain a national competence because interpretations vary from one country to another and from one culture to another .
it focuses on responsibilities , not just on rights .
debates on cases of breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law ( debate )
its opposition was not as successful as it had hoped and therefore even I can vote in favour of this report .
in the same way , European policy on the fight against illegal immigration and on external border control ultimately amounts to passing the responsibility for border control on to our neighbours , in defiance of human rights .
I voted in favour of the Klinz report because I consider that the measures that it proposes to address the problems that exist in the credit rating service sector are a move in the right direction .
can we allow ourselves to leave people to be evacuated ?
there cannot be restructuring without social dialogue .
the spirit and the letter of Amendment 46 have therefore been respected and extended for the benefit of users , and the rejection of this amendment by Member States on the grounds that the European Parliament cannot impose a change in their internal judicial organisation - which would be required in order to implement this amendment - has thus been avoided .
Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to begin by sincerely thanking all those with whom I have had the opportunity to work on this issue .
in addition to these considerations , we must not forget that it is not only the European Union 's credibility at stake as a clear thinking , responsible partner in the process of making global decisions but also , above all , the destiny of the planet 's future .
this approach may have won him more fanatical and violent allies , but certainly not the support of the majority of his fellow countrymen .
the Presidency has spared no efforts in making as much progress as possible in finalising this proposal , and has naturally taken the utmost account of the positions of this House .
I voted together with the EPP against Mr Fazakas ' confirmation as a Member of the Court of Auditors .
you were also there a year ago .
so what I can confirm is that we are working along that line ; we are trying to have increased flexibility for intervention in the markets but , honestly , I think we should now focus on the ESM and consider , of course , options for the future of the Eurobonds if the Member States are ready to take that additional step .
we had a legal opinion on that seven years ago .
this situation creates huge problems for the production sector .
1 .
cooperation and partnership , democracy and human rights as a guarantee of peace and stability is a viable European model which should be used in all the world 's crisis hotspots .
( SK ) There are almost 500 million European consumers who can at present tap into a wider choice of products and services .
establishing a European border management fund would be a just and significant measure in order to bring about centralised coordination , both in terms of resources and of implementing policies .
let us thank the rescue teams and aid organisations for their help ; they worked around the clock to improve the situation of the people living in the region , and let us assure the Chinese people of our unconditional solidarity and sympathy .
of course , my thoughts go out to those who have lost their lives and those who are living through a really desperate situation .
finally , given the importance of this problem , I call on the Commission to draw up a plan for tackling it at EU level that takes into account the full extent of this problem of combating antibiotic resistance , above all , the link between animal health and antibiotic use , and the link between animal and human health .
it is clear , in addition , that this strategy , along with violence and hatred , has regrettably become a global strategy .
in addition , there should be an annual report that lists these studies and reports , who won the contract , how much they cost and , if possible , what use was made of them .
I shall be the exception to the rule and will not do that , though most Members have given in to the temptation .
this has proved helpful .
it focuses its analysis on the report from the Commission entitled ' EU Pilot Evaluation Report ' , in which the Commission proposes an evaluation of the performance of the ' EU Pilot ' project after its 22 months of operation .
under the guise of combating extremism , it actually gives the authorities complete freedom in this unfair fight .
the next item is the vote .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I would like to start by thanking Mr Muscat for his work and the support he has given to the Commission 's proposal , and I wish him success in his future role in Malta .
finally , Brussels has promised that it will not meddle with the legislation of the Republic of Ireland in areas of morals and social norms , including protection of the unborn child .
only 33 % of young people do not want to leave Romania .
we need the Union .
( RO ) Supporting the single market is completely justified if we reach a high degree of consumer satisfaction , by safe goods and services , as well as efficient ways to solve the problems that may occur , everything under the conditions of ensuring a loyal competition .
whilst we know that protectionism is in fact a mistake , we also know that uncontrolled liberalisation of international trade inevitably leads to very serious disasters from an economic and social point of view .
in writing . - The Common Fisheries Policy is deeply flawed , and has been extremely detrimental to the British economy , and to the environment .
that was our first mistake .
the way to overcome the dairy crisis is to eliminate milk quotas as quickly as possible .
the state should protect , and this means legislation , rules for development as regards violations of human rights , especially on the part of businesses .
Africa represents an important source of raw materials for China .
these measures include ' identifying and counting the people , including minors , present in the nomads ' camps ' .
the hallmark of the proposal is the increase in free allowances which , from my point of view , is not overly positive .
European integration was possible because our people were horrified at what they had done .
clauses concerning human rights and democracy should constitute a fundamental part of any free trade agreement signed with India . we must also ensure that social and environmental agreements and standards are respected .
we have to get moving .
as a forward-thinking European , you guided Portugal with a sure hand on the road to European Union membership .
it is not appropriate for our constitutional system , and the term ' incitement ' would certainly have been better .
now the realisation has come over us almost like a thief in the night that people in the Arab world also aspire to and yearn for freedom .
excessive weight entails a greater risk of cardiovascular disease , diabetes , high blood pressure and certain forms of cancer .
I now believe that we have laid a good foundation for this .
we always need to keep this vision in mind .
you all know , we all know , I am certain , of sports teams and cultural and social leaders without whom our non-governmental associations and organisations would not operate .
there are clear rules on the labelling of alcohol .
as President Barroso said earlier today , it is better to be safe than sorry , and ensure that we are also equipped to face the worst scenarios .
there is also an issue about the access of children to both of their parents and the invisibility of children currently under the Irish family law system , and that has to be addressed .
it is the Hungarian politicians and MPs who , under the guise of settling ethnic problems , are constantly foisting their ideas about autonomous solutions , including territorial autonomy .
( NL ) Madam President , in June 2009 I was elected to the European Parliament by European citizens .
every time I hear about a Swedish company that is denied the chance to export to another country for reasons relating to EU legislation , only to then discover that a French company , for example , is perfectly able to export the same products , it is clear that the EU has failed .
we need clear commitments now and the ball was in the Council 's court .
we still know far too little about the possible interactions and legal specifications here are overdue .
regulation ( EC ) No 1333 / 2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 regulates the conditions for food additives throughout the EU and we are now looking to include new substances in it .
there are some arguments in favour of doing this : there has been progress in some areas .
I do not accept this broad statement - as in the single farm payment is paid to active producers NOT landowners .
although we say that the free movement of people , goods and services is a European principle , we have not reached a European solution in this area , if three countries are not included and other countries do not have bus routes of this length .
Member of the Commission . - With regard to the specific case to which Ms Miguélez Ramos made reference , I would like to say that today the Commission issued a statement to the effect that we are concerned to learn of the hijacking of a Spanish fishing vessel in international waters off the coast of Somalia .
ladies and gentlemen , with this sort of content we really cannot become the world 's leading knowledge-based economy or society .
he began a hunger strike on 3 December 2009 due to the repeated beatings that he received and other ill treatment , and died on 23 February , 85 days after he began his hunger strike .
as Mr Verhofstadt has just said , when choosing a pope , we choose a Catholic , when choosing the President of the European Council , we choose a European , in other words , someone who believes in the European ideal .
Ms del Castillo mentioned that Cancún has learned from Copenhagen .
Mr President , it is very clear that the parties to this conflict are failing to respect international humanitarian law and that the civilian population of Gaza is consequently paying a very heavy price .
the fact is , we are talking here about two-thirds of the feed of our herds , and that is a real health issue .
I would therefore like to express my gratitude for your understanding and consistent support .
it is obvious that trade agreements have to be made , particularly in the trade rounds of the World Trade Organisation .
we must have a wide-ranging debate to show that we are listening both to the views expressed by the Irish people and to the views expressed in every other Member State , most of which , if not all of which , wish to proceed with this Treaty .
the Commission has signalled this very clearly in the Annual Growth Survey .
we are asking for actions to avoid excessive debt caused by leveraged buy-out , so that level of leverage is sustainable both for the private equity fund / firm and for the target company .
therefore , when introducing such a system , it is necessary to properly assess the impact of its application , set out the desired objectives more specifically and establish clearly the future direction to be taken with regard to environmental economic accounts .
however , ladies and gentlemen , we need to help Latin America .
moreover , a sound assessment of the European environmental policy is only possible if reliable data is available .
( DE ) Mr President , I tried to attract your attention earlier when you were talking about the new rules for the one-minute speeches .
indeed , opening up our borders to foreign competition has not brought any negative consequences for domestic services .
even though we all know that no one can absolutely guarantee the safety of products that we handle every day , citizens rightly expect not only that their children can play in peace , but also that their toys are safe .
this operation costs EUR 13.3 million on an annual basis , EUR 8.832 million of which is for assistants ' allowances .
for this reason , those with responsibility for the projects , in particular in the area of structural operations , namely the Member States , should also take responsibility for ensuring that money is not wasted and that only those projects are subsidised which provide genuine added value for the region .
a state which continues to occupy the territory of an EU Member State even as we speak .
in that context , I am convinced that we must create a real link between Parliament and the agencies .
there you have it , Mr França , I wanted to give you a whole series of examples , but most importantly I would like to say that I am completely convinced of the need for Europe to manage migratory flows through this global approach that links migration and development and genuinely enables concerted migration management .
can taxpayers tolerate this game anymore ?
we are concerned not only about the traditional breeds , which are certainly in danger , but also this stockbreeding profession itself , which is also in danger .
allow me to remind you of the key EU institutions whose discharge reports were prepared by Mr Rivellini .
having said that , equal treatment also implies equality before the law .
to start with implementation of the budget , I think this year we have managed to add value to the money spent from the budget , we have fulfilled our commitments more successfully and we have had good cooperation and sound exchanges of information with the European Commission .
( FR ) Mr Barroso , I would like to inform you that , in a few days ' time , we will be observing the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People .
in this process , I would also warn about one desire , and will just mention one example of it .
the people of Ireland are probably not aware of what they can expect from the EU either .
the Irish government requested the reconsideration of the situation at the Council meeting planned for October 2008.The vote of the Irish people shows that citizens expect that the Union should provide solutions to their daily issues : jobs , social conditions , rise in energy and food prices , climate change , and demographic changes .
however , despite his great efforts , I am afraid that I and my national delegation cannot support this report .
time is running out and it is not only with a pact for the euro that we will solve the problems .
in our community , we have attempted to bring about the growth of trust .
we need strong and true coordination in the economic field .
the case concerns an accusation of incitement to racial hatred made by the International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism ( LICRA ) following the publication of a press release on the site of the Front National Group in the Rhône-Alpes Regional Council , of which Mr Gollnisch was president .
the next item is the debate on the statement by the President of the European Parliament 's delegation to the Conciliation Committee - novel foods .
use of specially trained units , like the Polish Search and Rescue Group of the National Fire Service , which holds UN certification , should be taken into account .
in fact , I regret that , in some cases , the level of ambition has been reduced by Member States , for instance , regarding the supervisory framework that is now being considered by you in Parliament , and we will come forward with some proposals - there is a complete list that I have presented today to Parliament - in the near future .
we therefore need to be able to win back the public trust , win the battles on stability , budgetary rigour , job creation , the stability of the monetary union , globalisation , strategic choices .
we provided for the very important common drivers , namely the energy and climate change package and strengthening the European dimension of the European internal energy market .
until only recently , the project was practically buried because of the difficulties with funding .
that is what the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child should be about .
obviously , the conclusions of the analysis in our communication that I presented here on 7 May and the conclusions of your report must be put into practice so that this instrument can be usefully applied at this moment in time .
had it not been discovered , multiple loss of life would have occurred .
this is a step towards reducing fragmentation .
there is one more thing .
establishment of the European Criminal Records Information System ( ECRIS ) (
with the introduction of the initiative there will be a guarantee that the European Union institutions will address the concrete problems which are of importance to citizens .
we cannot give up on our desires and hopes to make progress and simply relinquish such a fundamentally important matter , based on our values , to the category of hopes and dreams .
when we look back at the Industrial Revolution , we cannot point to the day the whistle blew and it began , or highlight just one inventor or entrepreneur or a management committee that oversaw it .
it leads to violations of the principle of fair taxation and is liable to distort competition .
Member of the Commission . - I shall just repeat what I have already mentioned , that the Commission is currently examining the way that Regulation ( EC ) No 2790 / 1999 - which , as the honourable Member rightly said , is 10 years old - has been applied so far .
both are responsible !
I therefore ask the Commission to examine whether resources from the Globalisation Adjustment Fund could not be made available immediately .
this is not about parliamentary coordination ; it is about European parties as ideological and political tools of the European Union to manipulate the working and grassroots movement .
recently , the Chief Official Ethics Commission of Lithuania penalised Mr Tomaševski , leader of the Polish minority and a Member of the European Parliament , for putting a question to Mr Barroso about respect for the rights of minorities .
this is essential , after all .
avoid changing language when you speak .
journalists who dare to challenge the official view of things are harassed ; ethnic minorities suffer disproportionately from violent crime , which seems to go unsolved ; campaigners for greater freedoms are at best marginalised and at worst forcibly silenced .
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on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( PT ) It is well-known that sheep and goat farming is extremely important , particularly in less favoured and mountain areas , as it helps to keep people on the land , naturally upkeep less fertile areas , and preserve landscapes and sensitive ecosystems .
however , we should be aware that the proposal that we are here to discuss is also a timid one that lacks any courage .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( ES ) Mr President , I certainly welcome this meeting with the Mediterranean partners .
the tools of the ECB , particularly during the current crisis , should be used for each Member State , especially as regard liquidity ; we should not be selfish in this regard .
she said , ' I want to build a Pakistan where a Jew can go to the synagogue , a Christian to the church and a Muslim to the mosque , all without any fear ' .
the budget is a strong one , but it has to be said that under one Heading , which mentions the European Union as a global partner , that is , point 134 , I suspect that I voted wrongly , because I was following the group list and I do not agree with it in all respects .
the approval of the Commission and the Council are required .
back in May 2007 , a leaked report from the US embassy there had called for an urgent end to Delta Holding 's monopoly , both in Serbia 's own interests and for the sake of the country 's European integration .
in addition , it is also proposed that access to the Community market should be liberalised in a similar way for the sixteen Sugar Protocol countries .
this means that the debate about getting away from the large budget deficits is much more important than what individual financial market regulations should look like .
there are no common parties with members who have signed themselves up , who voluntarily pay their membership fees and who are involved in the creation of election programmes .
this also involves a large number of amendments which the Commission can accept in their entirety or in principle .
it is sincere and it is prepared to negotiate .
whilst clearing away the ruins left by your Hungarian Socialist colleagues , we are mobilising tremendous energies to make Hungary a democratic , European , and free country based on the constitutional mandate we received from the Hungarian citizens in free elections .
the agreement on subcontracting , to which the rapporteur has already made reference in his speech , is very important .
security and scope for advance planning must continue to underlie the common agricultural policy .
so the pressure went onto the internal borders and therefore the external borders are a common concern .
it is also true that the directive will make some significant advances in the operation of the internal market and in the collective management of financial assets , and these have been welcomed by Europe 's investment fund industry .
sooner or later these goods move around the market and are offered to all consumers .
estimates indicate that between 35 000 and 50 000 employees could benefit from this support each year .
we need somehow to bring about the resumption of the Sino-Tibetan dialogue .
we are aware of how big China is and of all the power it now wields .
however , we must ensure that when it comes to implementation , we genuinely create a level playing field but provide leeway for regional exemptions at the same time .
Ouzký report
if the regime does not comply with these terms , the USA , the EU and Canada will bring in new and more intelligent sanctions which are aimed at the Cuban leadership , such as a ban on travelling to the country and a freeze on Cuban assets and on foreign investment .
what worries me is that , given the room for manoeuvre available within the ceilings fixed by the multiannual financial frameworks , the Commission 's already existing priorities and the new priorities it has set cannot in practice be achieved simultaneously without the former suffering .
it is time to prove the President 's words were not just pure rhetoric the international community wanted to hear .
this is how Europe will be built , and at times it may even be necessary to bend those regulations a little .
this will be the problem of the future for Kosovo .
that was the decision taken .
one bright spot is the fact that the European Commission has put children 's rights on the agenda , but the Commission 's proposal , in our view , still comprises too many fine words and too few specific measures .
the vote will take place on Thursday 18 December 2008 .
this basically deals with how to organise peace and what is necessary .
the World day against the death penalty reminds us that there are still countries in the world that continue in the practice of capital punishment .
the fact is that the rapporteur , whose work I very much value , does not represent Parliament 's vote but only that of a committee and it is on this basis that he deals with the Council and the Commission .
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the problem with it is not only that it protects the Slovak language and not those minority languages which it otherwise should be protecting , as a huge number of positive examples in Europe can demonstrate .
so this has high priority , and I completely agree with the comments from the honourable Member .
CO2 is a pollutant whether it is in the air or under the ground .
in my opinion , it would be beneficial to extend the scope of reduced VAT rates still further , for example to cover ' green services ' in order to encourage environmental policies .
so do not wait too long !
the unrest in Tibet led to widespread protests in Europe and to the disruption of the Olympic Torch relay in several European capitals .
a step is thus being made towards halting the awarding of absurd subsidies to feudal landowners .
that will exert pressure on the industry to get these cars to consumers quickly .
I also believe that the Joint Undertaking must further develop provisions on membership and cofinancing .
following the conclusion of the Pact there was certainly also an agreement by the Council on the quantitative attainment of targets : a 10 % reduction in school absenteeism and a clearly defined quantitative reduction in youth unemployment over a specific period of time after graduation .
one of the things we have to look at is the impact of our policies in the EU .
I also hope that this will serve for an eventual calendar in which 12 sessions will be held in 6 weeks .
the Camac workers in Santo Tirso and the trade union representing them have publicly exposed this serious situation , indicating that the company owes nothing to the banks or to the State , and is in fact in credit to the tune of tens of thousands of euros as a result of VAT withholding .
I should like to take this opportunity to say something about a point which arose during the explanations of vote this afternoon and now too during the catch-the-eye procedure .
why so ?
it is this sleight of hand that this Parliament does not accept , and that is why we have not concluded the negotiations .
( DA ) Mr President , this report contains fine words on climate concerns and environmental considerations , but in reality , it is about the EU 's hunt for resources in the Arctic .
in view of the Europe 2020 strategy objectives , there will be no justification for maternity leave not being a period of 20 weeks , paid in full , from 2020 .
we are talking about a medical product .
I have no high hopes here .
subject : situation in Afghanistan
the European Union is based on principles such as reconciliation and peaceful coexistence , targeting the same objectives of improving relations between the peoples in the region .
I absolutely agree with the President of the Commission , Mr Barroso , that , in the run-up to the Copenhagen Summit , there is no plan Β .
do I believe that Latvia and other countries of the region urgently need the EU 's helping hand ?
the vote in that committee went very well too , and the report was adopted by a comfortable majority .
requirements as regards Commissioners should be the following : the right person , based on his or her career path and preparedness , in the right position .
according to the information available to the Commission , however , the German Stralsund mining authority included a requirement for the Nord Stream company in its permit to prepare a revised risk analysis for a section of the pipeline in German territory , as plans were presented at that stage by the Polish side to adapt both ports for ships that would need a deeper water depth to float .
democracy , rule of law , respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms are the backbone of our relations with all our eastern partners , and the Georgian President 's statement earlier this year announcing a ' new wave of democratic reforms ' , and stating that Georgia 's response to Russian aggression will be more democracy , more freedom and more progress , was very welcome .
yet this is done with the employee 's consent , and for additional payment , of course , and not just automatically every week .
just as Mr Juncker stated to Parliament in his speech , the euro is very definitely an ' anchor of stability ' .
visa liberalisation in the Western Balkans is not a jigsaw puzzle with which you might wish to amuse yourselves .
to leave the country to collapse into insolvency ?
finally , in terms of efforts to overcome the economic crisis , individual Member States , especially the less wealthy ones such as Poland , have pinned their hopes on the initiation of advance funding of projects using structural funds .
I do not want to repeat myself or to once again recommend reading the white paper .
that is called business for the moment in the budget issues of the Union .
we need to provide access to knowledge , information , medical care and assistance to give all women the choice and position of equal rights and access .
( PL ) Mr President , major climate changes are influenced by heat emission from the sun , which provides our planet with approximately 96 % of its heat .
the next item is the report by Mrs Gál , on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs , on the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union ( 2009 ) - effective implementation after the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon .
I think that this is more than a crisis of a financial nature : it is a crisis of decision-making and the rules of the game .
I am used to listening to Parliament .
first , however , allow me to make a point that I believe is crucial in this debate , because enforcing laws can be a very political matter and can be a wonderful tool for improving the credibility and visibility of the Community institutions .
firstly , the petition on a single seat for the European Parliament was signed by huge numbers of people .
these people were born in the country or have spent most of their lives there , and we are talking about more than 15 % of Latvia 's population , or some 372 000 people .
corporate social responsibility can be illusory and , while limiting certain types of abuses , it can give the impression that the other types are acceptable .
no , they have not , and that is why we need to deal with and discuss this innovation strategy as a matter of urgency .
after the summit we shall also have all the information available , hence the deferral of the proposal until after the summit .
our position is that we need to bring an end to uncompetitive coal mining that requires continuous use of public subsidies , within a fixed period .
the figure of contaminated combatants has been put at 66 000 .
in this way , the sitting on Wednesday will close at 19.00 .
it is therefore important to create a new structured approach in order to prevent an undesirable macroeconomic imbalance in all Member States and to correct it .
no , I am sorry , Mrs Parvanova . this does not comply with the Rules of Procedure .
we need a solution that is unbureaucratic , fast , simple and political .
once again I reiterate my wish to work loyally , constructively and in the best spirit , with our Czech friends .
therefore , the Presidency is of the opinion that the Alliance for Families is a very useful forum for the exchange of opinions and good practices , as mentioned above .
I think a minimum requirement is better arms controls , so that these countries and these governments do not become powder kegs which then turn against their populations .
if we want to be successful in Copenhagen , we must also discuss an environmentally compatible transport policy .
the letter says that Her Majesty 's Government is disappointed by the draft SURE report .
with PNR data , police checks can be considerably reduced and surveillance can be focused on those passengers for whom there is a well-founded reason to believe that they might pose an actual risk , thus sparing the others pointless checks and inspections .
right from paragraph 1 , it sets its goal : the establishment of a single European legal order .
industry 's responsible attitude is also required for this ; the conduct of large manufacturing and processing companies must be controlled more efficiently .
Parliament has made not a single demand for the will of the people to be respected , nor a plea for a referendum to be held in every Member State .
on behalf of the European Parliament , I would like to express my outrage at these abhorrent attacks on innocent people and send my deepest condolences to the families of the victims .
in my view the eventual ENP aim to the East must be visa-free travel .
in addition , we think that export subsidies for sugar must be completely removed in the long term .
how are the long journeys monitored ?
I urge you to write to the Commissioner to take some action .
for this reason , our task in the European Union is firstly to provide humanitarian aid , but secondly to ensure that the country has a minimum level of national security .
the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament has suggested the following title : ' European Union measures for Italy in relation to migratory movements ' .
this refusal by the Council goes against the letter and the spirit of the Treaty of Lisbon .
it is unfair for European consumers and it is unfair for producers in Europe , who are having to take on practices which , at the same time , are not being accepted , and are not practised , by producers in Brazil .
in writing . - As a Member of the European Parliament from Estonia I am glad to inform you that one fifth of the Members of the Estonian Parliament took part in election observation missions in Georgia .
my third question is : there is a profound crisis in the dairy sector throughout Europe , with very serious social and political consequences .
the budget that has been allocated for this initiative - 17 million euro - is a record amount , but it is the implementation of projects on the national level that is a key element to making this initiative a success .
my answer would be that , as an auditor , I would be delighted to give such an opinion when the time came , but it is not the job of auditors to be happy with the opinions that they give .
of course , we have made mistakes but , as the great inventor of European cosmopolitanism and one of my favourite philosophers , Immanuel Kant , wrote about the French revolution , ' You cannot be ready to be free until you are actually free ' .
the discussion is closed .
finally , we call for the reinvestment of the revenue from the sale of petroleum in such a way as to ensure that it is managed by the Iraqi Government itself through competent bodies .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , as Members have very clearly underlined , serious human rights violations are continuing in Burma .
this moratorium would apply not to the whole sector but only to new deep-sea drilling .
this is why it is important for us to have a resolution on nuclear safety in the European Union .
as I say , tyre pressure monitoring systems are very important , because under-inflated tyres - much to my shame , the United Kingdom is one of the worst culprits for having under-inflated tyres - are a cause of accidents .
the regional dimension is the suitable framework to establish common rules and principles , as well as to ensure the gas sector coordination and transparency .
of all the types of pollution , air pollution is the main concern of 54 % of the French population .
the current legislation allows lobbyists to report much less than is actually incurred .
in writing . - The EPLP have chosen to abstain on both the Amended Proposal and Legislative Resolution for the Report : European Institute of Technology .
the discussions and proposals demonstrate that Parliament shares the policy objectives and wishes to vigorously improve current performance .
I have no information about discrimination against it but I shall of course ensure , with the Council services , that the Solidarity Fund is used as quickly and equitably as possible , depending on the regions , both at European level and at Member State level .
we cannot just open our arms and welcome everyone released from Guantánamo .
that is why it is extremely important for us to play a major role , also politically .
what we want to know from the Commission is why this rapid alert system has again failed to protect consumers , and what the Commission is going to do to put it right .
action against illegal immigration and illegal residence should serve as a deterrent .
in other words we have no faith in the ' big ' model .
but I agree also with the Commissioner 's comments earlier when he said that we must start to move in the right direction .
its effective implementation is essential for further modernisation and to ensure lasting , stable economic growth and job creation in Europe .
it is clear that the stabilisation of the Western Balkans through the Europeanisation process should remain a top priority objective , for which the finalisation of the accession of Croatia will definitely be a major step forward .
Commissioner Kroes , I should also like to request that this investigation be carried out on the basis not only of State aid but also on the basis of the rules on competition and of mergers and acquisitions .
that is by how much the Polish representation in the European Parliament is diminished under the proposal that has been tabled today .
on the topic of arbitrary detention , let us not forget Mr al-Labwani , the outstanding human rights defender , who was sentenced to 12 years in prison for what the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention considered to be ' the peaceful expression of his political views ' .
we now continue with the debate on the report by Salvador Garriga Polledo on a new Multiannual Financial Framework ( MFF ) for a competitive , sustainable and inclusive Europe .
above all , it could have been possible to add the procurement element to the definition of off-premises contracts .
a life of dignity requires decent work ; this in turn requires a potential labour force that is appropriately qualified and capable of updating its skills , a labour force that is healthy and protected from discrimination .
the European Commission 's proposal for a directive gives a lot of power to EU bureaucrats .
( SK ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , Russia still requires a two-handed approach : on the one hand , firm demands for the fulfilment of democratic principles , but , at the same time , a rejection of Bush 's well-honed anti-Russian policy .
we do not have them because the Council has unfortunately not finished this co-decision .
the school system allows education in the Hungarian language from nursery school right through to university , and many students leave universities without any knowledge of the Slovak language .
( RO ) The recent demonstrations in Ljubljana have brought to the forefront the subject of salary differences between women and men , as a negative factor in the achievement of the social cohesion desideratum .
in conclusion , we now all have a huge responsibility to help the French presidency reach agreement .
I hope that I have been able , on behalf of the Commission , to provide some answers to your questions .
as you know , just a few days ago a major European tourism conference was held in Portugal and all these issues were discussed in detail there .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Maybe it will be necessary in the near future to bale out Britain , because I have seen that the fiscal deficit of Britain is even higher than the fiscal deficit of Greece .
just listen to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations which recently reported that tens of millions of people will fall victim to hunger , a situation that already affects around a billion human beings in the world .
the International Criminal Court could be a useful tool in this area .
that much I agree with .
we should take his comments seriously .
here as well , proportionality will be an important principle to follow .
I can also say that for the first time we have a commissioner who is specifically responsible for these matters in the context of legal issues .
the very fact of belonging to a united Europe is , certainly , not without significance .
in writing . - The report adopted today is based on the extensive consultations that the rapporteur has been engaged in over the past six months on the situation in Afghanistan and its relations with the international community , in an attempt to explain why so little has been achieved in Afghanistan in spite of the huge amounts of money and effort expended over the past nine years .
I endorsed this document , because firstly , the Committee responsible has found no evidence of a sufficiently serious and precise suspicion that the case has been brought with the intention of causing political damage to the Member .
so can I ask for a statement from the Commission , insisting that developers seeking European funding start applying for planning permission now .
I have no time to elaborate on this , but it is simply because of the diversity of the reality on the ground .
I believe the reasons why that child had such a fleeting existence on the earth give us much food for thought and I hope my testimony will contribute to this reflection .
the MPF delegation in the European Parliament now wishes all the freedom-loving Irish luck : their referendum will not be theirs alone , they will be voting on behalf of everyone who has not been given the chance to do so , particularly the French , whose vote was cast aside .
when have we ever seen Hamas investigate its own actions ?
this means that the system that was hammered out there is our system too .
many reforms were never implemented , and many never left the drawing board .
extreme poverty and social exclusion constitute a violation of fundamental rights as a whole .
nevertheless , for the peace and assurance of the citizens of neighbouring Austria , the Slovak Republic agreed during EU accession talks to the early decommissioning of the V1 and V2 reactors at Jaslovské Bohunice , which were fitted out to the highest standards .
we are currently experiencing a rare moment in history : one of those that change its course and construct new realities .
the crisis has wiped out millions of jobs and has aggravated job insecurity and poverty - 17 % of EU residents are at risk of poverty .
Nicolas the First was right ; Nicolas the Third is wrong .
I was pleased to vote for Parliament 's proposal providing macro-financial assistance to Ukraine .
the Commission does fully agree that quantifiable targets are a good means to drive change and to achieve results .
however , to do this we need new poverty indicators , since up to now we have only had comprehensive data on the risk of relative poverty .
we have to break that climate of fear .
this is because the development of such strategies is not only key to a sustainable exit from this crisis , but also to offering , at the same time , a prospect of medium-to-long-term sustainability following the profound effect that the crisis has had on public finances , on levels of employment and on the capacity for growth of our economies .
- ( LT ) First of all , I would like to pay my regards and thank Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek ; we all understand very well what it means to hold the Presidency of the European Union and what it means to hold the Presidency of the European Union faced with the global financial crisis and the economic recession .
questions concerning the media must always be handled in a responsible and considered manner .
I will give you one example .
men and women continue to be stoned to death by this jihadist , misogynous , homophobic , genocidal , brutal regime which is a world sponsor of terror .
of course we must support climate projects in developing countries , but this must be in addition to our own emissions reductions and must not replace them .
we delivered before anybody else .
my Greek colleague will discuss this in a minute .
for each initiative , both the EU and national authorities have to coordinate their efforts so that action at national and European level is mutually reinforcing .
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we need a food policy in which whole elements of the entire food production chain are assessed critically and its effects on health and the environment are taken into account .
now he has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for a symbolic act on the basis of flimsy arguments .
furthermore , I wish also to remind the Commission and the Council of my request on addressing violence against women in the gender-related dimension of human rights violations internationally , in particular , in the context of the bilateral association and international trade agreements in force and those under negotiation , as is also established in my report on feminicides , I also wish to ask the Commissioner if she can be a bit more concrete about this .
these indicate that one in three Europeans is diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime and one in four Europeans dies from the disease .
Europe is governed by the Right and is being guided in the wrong direction , and that must be rectified in the European elections .
and underlined that Galileo is an exclusively non-military project ;
I stress my hope that parliamentary cooperation will continue to have an important role to play in that process .
it concerns illegal employment , which often leads to wage compression and a reduction in state revenue , with all the concomitant difficulties in providing benefits , and a reduction in the operation of the welfare state .
it is therefore necessary to continue taking appropriate steps to ensure , in particular , that the best interests of children are protected under all circumstances .
we are discussing it at a time of major difficulties , at a crucial time for the European Union food supply chain .
it will be a poor model for when other regional agreements are to be negotiated , especially when it comes to the aspect of development .
- Before the vote on Amendment 8
however , Communism and Fascism not only actively fought against most of the values of Europe , but were ready to break all the principles of ethics in the name of sick and degenerate ideas - and these systems really did break those principles , bringing pain , suffering and death to millions of people .
I also appeal to the Commission to simplify the concept of cohesion policy and focus it on results , and not on complicated monitoring procedures .
the next item is the debate on seven motions for resolutions on North Korea .
this tax is a worthwhile proposal , but as yet , no one has introduced it .
this will entail , not only resources being made available from these funds , but also specific conditions entailing a reduction in cofinancing : in other words , reduced national contributions to funding that creates jobs and is intended as productive investment .
( EL ) Mr President , over recent years , discussion of terrorism in the European Commission and the Council has almost invariably sprung from self-evident acceptance of the protection of our fundamental rights .
all of these amendments have been rejected by the socialist-conservative alliance .
Mrs Brantner , again your common theme to me of trying to get as much detail as possible : I think it is very important .
it is also about transparency in the management of dialogues and consultations which , in the field of human rights , should be a principle , not an exception .
since the subject of preventative withdrawal has hitherto not been found in the compromise at Council level , I should like to include it , Commissioner , if you agree .
that , however , was not the situation we found ourselves in when we began .
the last request to speak is from Mr Pirker , on a point of order , and then we will proceed to the vote .
I am very positive about this resolution concerning the Small Business Act review , as it contains the correct measures to undertake in order to make it easier for over 23 million small and medium-sized enterprises to do business .
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however , their action should be reasonable and reflect European values .
( HU ) Thank you for the opportunity to speak , Mr President .
this is the next natural step after a common market , adopting a single currency and creating the Schengen area .
it is jeopardising not only the hope of the Palestinian people but also peace in the region and peace in the world .
do they not dare meet the voters and allow them to be the judges of this vision for Europe ?
the Commission remains committed to making a proposal to the Council on visa-free travel in 2009 , once the conditions have been met by each country in the region .
many of my fellow Members have raised today the discussion of the fundamental rights issue .
the most significant starting point is that in the vast majority of cases the maintenance creditor is the weaker party and therefore needs very vigorous protection , and it is evident that the main problem lies in the actual circumstances of maintenance debtors .
so , to be clear , the ECR opposes this legislation , we oppose the concept of having transnational parties .
we think that 2008 will be a year of transition , and therefore a number of priorities in terms of freedom , security and justice must be identified in the course of it .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I am satisfied with the Commissioner 's answer .
the law defines the extent and limit of its territorial waters , its exclusive economic zone , and the rights of Portugal to the adjacent seabed .
I therefore welcome the report by my fellow Member and hope that the potential of a sector enjoying remarkable growth can be fully exploited in the future .
at last we can now humanise capitalism !
it is to be welcomed that in the case of Libya , such a mission has been sent .
it is unacceptable that some foreign communities can insist , on that basis , on cruel methods of slaughter , and even recommend that EU regulations be breached in this area .
let us remind Lady Ashton that all EU Member States enjoy the same rights and , therefore , they must be sufficiently represented in the structures of the new European diplomatic service , both at the headquarters in Brussels and in the EU delegations .
certainly , there are problems with the US and China and with other countries ' ambitions , but there are even greater problems with the EU 's position and our own ambitions .
questions were put to the European Commission concerning transparency of collaborative decision-making processes and better coordination of responses .
that is really the only way ahead .
unfortunately , the conditions were not appropriate for the adoption of a comprehensive action plan by the Commission before the end of 2008 .
I assure you that such comments will be forwarded to Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner , who will certainly give them due consideration .
real European integration of former communist countries requires not just truth and restitution but also the condemnation of dictatorship .
these issues are freedom of religious persuasion , minority rights and cultural rights .
unfortunately , in Portugal , Lithuania and Latvia , this ratio exceeded 6 .
we are also making several suggestions for dealing with the helicopter crisis and increasing the availability of helicopters .
if we want the European Parliament to be able to vote on it before the summer recess , we must take a decision so that we can start the negotiations as soon as possible .
the Philippine Government must , at last , face up to the people from the criminal world who have used the opportunity of recent election campaigns to make so many politically-motivated kidnappings and have now murdered over 100 candidates .
in fact , the human rights situation has seriously deteriorated and we need to react to that .
direct payments to Turkish farmers and payments for rural development and market support would , under the current legislative arrangements , spell doom for European agriculture and farmers .
I hope that this is not an accurate calculation .
Gaston Thorn was a Member of the European Parliament for ten years , from 1959 to 1969 .
it makes their relationships clearer and more transparent .
continuous development of the energy infrastructure is the only way to cope with an ever-changing society .
I do believe that Israel should hand over the tax revenues owed to the Palestinians , but I want to be clear that our position on Hamas has not changed and Israel 's security remains a key concern for all of us .
with regard to the general requirements for impact assessments at European level , it is important to note that we need to move away from pure cost analysis towards an examination of the economic , social and health-related impact of legislation at European level .
the report by Mrs Mathieu , on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control , on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction for the financial year 2008 ( SEC ( 2009 ) 1089 - C7-0185 / 2009 - ,
the European Union must mobilise all the necessary resources in order to help the most vulnerable population groups and monitor how their requirements evolve .
6 .
there is obvious support from performers and producers as nearly 40 000 performers and musicians have signed a petition calling for the European Union to reduce the disparity with other countries , which already have longer terms of protection .
I repeat , the expansion of the Schengen Area has not happened just like that .
I have received six motions for resolutions tabled in accordance with Rule 110 ( 2 ) of the Rules of Procedure .
we must do much more at the Member State level .
on services of general interest in particular , I will say clearly that we should take specific national circumstances into account , because it is true that some of our fellow citizens are a little alarmed - I am thinking , for example , of the French - when they feel , wrongly , that Europe is endangering the public services which are a French tradition .
this shows that the European Union and Member States individually must act primarily to improve the vocational skills of women in at-risk groups and use active labour market measures in their regard .
that is why we need to act together .
if they do not want to do it , what measures will be taken against the ISPs ?
these events have created hope .
Member States must realise that it is not only the countries which the pipeline passes through or the commercial companies involved which will enjoy the benefits of this project , but all Europe 's citizens whose national governments must guarantee their well-being and safety .
that raises several important questions .
only if a clear distinction is made will the Inuits have the opportunity to sell anything .
all of these have an influence on the health of the soil .
I do mean employers , too , in the sense of investing in the future .
some of you are calling for national lists to be drawn up independently , and most Member States are calling for that as well .
the Ambassador of the EU Presidency was recalled for consultations and all other EU ambassadors have also left the country .
nonetheless , we do not want to give up on this task and we are still attempting to reach a compromise before we have to resort to contested votes .
how can we negotiate in such a politically unstable area ?
other bilateral negotiations are nevertheless under way to further promote trade in agricultural products , services and the freedom of establishment , and to create a binding dispute settlement mechanism .
development of an EU criminal justice area (
we must all ensure that Copenhagen is a success .
in my view , these acts are not due to bureaucracy or negligence , often , they are due to mistaken or the wrong policy adopted by the institutions of the European Union .
author . - ( PT ) We are glad to be having this debate to which my parliamentary group has contributed a great deal .
in practice this would even impair standards of environmental protection .
it is down to the Commission to present a more satisfactory financing solution for this important project .
what role will the Commission , the Member States and the regions play ?
taking into consideration that today we have voted in favour of investing Commissioner Vassiliou , I request Madame Commissioner to find a solution to this problem .
rapporteur . - ( NL ) Mr President , I should , as ever , like to start by thanking everyone involved : Commissioner Kuneva , the shadow rapporteurs , and also the three Presidents of the Council , for we started this report in 2007 , under the Portuguese Presidency .
special attention should be given to projects connecting oil and gas fields and the distribution system in Central Asia to pipelines connecting with the European Union , including future projects such as Nabucco .
we cannot go to Poznań with weak instruments .
we had the EU BAM for Rafah there for a long time , but unfortunately in recent months they have not been able to do anything , so perhaps there is a chance for us Europeans to take this up again and to try to reach some sort of solution .
so , while it is not possible on this occasion to provide a detailed progress report on all the actions referred to above , it can now be reasonably well concluded that a large and representative part of the Action Plan has already advanced quite considerably in terms of implementation .
we are using all those instruments to support these initiatives .
this report disgracefully calls for employers to be able to terminate apprenticeship contracts should the apprentices be deemed unsuited to their employment .
although Mr Matsakis was the only male Member speaking , Mr Michel spoke for the Commission , and I have listened with great attention to this interesting debate .
when we send this draft on its way to Lisbon , it will be interesting .
50 .
the report actively supports the partial review carried out on the CAP in 2003 , the proposed CAP ' health check ' measures and the inclusion of the agricultural economy within the framework of the EU 's anti-popular Lisbon Strategy .
Council and Commission statements on preparations for the European Council meeting ( 16-17 December 2010 ) ,
in writing . - This whole selection procedure was an unsatisfactory mess and marks an inauspicious start for the new financial supervision authorities .
however , this will only be achieved by supporting energy security as a policy with other western agencies such as NATO .
the Italian left has made the same mistake again and voted against Italy , manipulating Parliament for its own political ends .
the European Parliament condemns , and has always condemned , the death penalty , and will continue its efforts to achieve a moratorium on executions .
this is what our flag , our anthem , our motto and Europe Day represent .
Mr President , Baroness Ashton , ladies and gentlemen , the common security and defence policy ( CSDP ) is going through an extremely difficult time .
we have been supporting your ambitious position .
in the talks it must demonstrate the unity of the Member States and its solidarity as a force .
we want Bosnia and Herzegovina to achieve progress .
I believe that it is essential to guarantee patient access to reliable and independent information on medicines subject to medical prescription that are available on the market .
according to Frontex , 95 % of illegal immigrants entering Europe enter via Greece .
it must be possible for vessels fishing in one area to land the catch in a port in another area .
we will do everything in our power to ensure proper traceability .
naturally , we will also need to rethink our understanding of mobility in the Mediterranean region .
I believe that Cancún and its results can be viewed , along the lines of what my colleague , Mr Seeber , was saying , from the perspective of Copenhagen : Cancún viewed from the Copenhagen perspective .
in writing . - ( NL ) The mere fact that a fellow member of ours who risks losing his parliamentary immunity has not been given the chance to defend himself in plenary is reason enough to vote against this report which argues for the abolition of such immunity .
it is not widely known , but at the end of my term of office I intend to present all the lessons I have learned as regards procedures .
if the European dream is going through a difficult phase at the moment , this is not only down to the impasse regarding Europe as a political project , or the ongoing economic crisis , but is also due to the difficulties faced by a Union founded on an as yet unresolved identity .
however , I do believe that all of this is based on a misunderstanding , which can be cleared up .
( NL ) Madam President , it is very important for the European Union to have an efficient and well-developed anti-fraud office , all the more so given how much budgets are increasing and foreign aid growing , without it always being possible to monitor effectively whether the deployed means are spent wisely .
( the President reminded the speaker of her speaking time )
finding the right balance for these objectives will be a challenging task .
the fear of knowing one has the disease and of having to live with a stigma is still very prevalent .
in writing . - I welcome this resolution , which maps out and summarises the most important concerns on the state of fundamental rights within the Union , and the recommendations it contains on how to improve human rights within Member States .
promoting entrepreneurship among young people , providing incentives and strengthening innovation and the digital agenda are other proposals that will contribute to sustainable economic development in Europe , and will result in the creation of new jobs .
for this reason , I have voted against this agreement .
but let me make it clear that my aim is to strengthen , not to weaken , our ability to prevent and prosecute terrorism in a more effective way .
it is equally astonishing that the European Council has never , throughout its existence , discussed the relationship between the EU and China .
there is no other option than to work together in the face of this deep crisis .
adult learning : it is never too late to learn ( debate )
I would suggest three key actions that we need to see in place if we are going to realise the potential for energy saving in existing buildings .
when it comes to the agriculture , this has certainly been present in the European 2020 strategy from the outset , but we should not view EU 2020 as an exhaustive list of everything we should do in the future or an exhaustive list of how we should treat agriculture in the future .
we had a roll-call vote on this and we will analyse whether we nonetheless captured some support in the ALDE Group .
do you really want to irradiate the people of Europe ?
we are the developing world that caused climate change .
this is particularly important today , at a time of demographic crisis in Europe .
without carrying out a thorough analysis , we risk damaging in an unacceptable way both the principle of competition , which is fundamental to the economy , and emerging airlines whose development still depends , unfortunately , on the ' use it or lose it ' rule .
in the first chapter of this annual policy strategy , the Small Business Act is mentioned .
( ES ) Madam President , Mr President of the Council , Mr Vice-President of the Commission , ladies and gentlemen , I think it most appropriate for the debate on globalisation to have taken place under the Portuguese Presidency because Portugal is a country whose flag is on the map , because the Portuguese were at the forefront when we Europeans began globalisation , and because globalisation is not a plague upon our heads .
we have a great deal of potential and there are still opportunities for growth throughout the world .
this is the way forward , colleagues .
mobility is not just about cars .
in the current budget , we have increased payments by 100,000,000 euros due to the European Union 's enlargement to Romania and Bulgaria .
secondly , compared to the Treaty of Nice , the Treaty of Lisbon is a treaty of the parliaments and the citizens and therefore , a treaty for more democracy .
the Council must stick to the treaty and is duty-bound not to allow obvious differences within its own ranks to impact negatively on Europe 's citizens .
( SK ) Mr President , the attempt to create a Single Market for companies and for growth is coming up against many administrative barriers , which are a natural consequence of the fact that the business environment has developed independently in the different Member States , in different stages and under different conditions .
( FR ) Mr President , the crisis is far from over and the unrest in countries such as France is a witness to this .
we do not need to revisit a debate that is already ten years old .
it is incredibly important for the Commission to give Mrs Hedegaard room to actually be a climate politician who can help to make a difference in Europe at the meeting in Cancún .
we have been ratifying ourselves to death .
now that the revision of the framework agreement on the relations between Parliament and the Commission has been adopted , a subsequent adaptation of Parliament 's Rules of Procedure to the aforementioned framework agreement is a natural step .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
during today 's voting , we voted on the report on equality between women and men in the European Union in 2009 .
I believe in fact that we should be proud of the proposals we have made .
debates on cases of breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law
this is why we , provided all the conditions have been met and provided that the Council , the Commission and the European Parliament make a firm stand for the said values , can enter into dialogue with Russia , including with regard to the partnership and cooperation agreements , with peace of mind , determination and with the will to succeed .
I find , however , that the objective of forced prostitution and the commercial sexual exploitation of women needs constantly to be at the forefront of society 's and the public 's focus .
however , it has not yet met with a response .
in my opinion , the next step must be to produce a work on the implementation of the security policy , a white paper on the security policy .
there is a country that rejected the Treaty of Lisbon .
I very much hope that next week , the European Union will gain some clarity on what kind of course Russia will therefore take towards the WTO .
ladies and gentlemen , I would like to welcome the proposed multiparty draft resolution about the European strategy for the Danube Region , because it fits exactly into the line of new European processes launched with the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty .
in this context , I would like to remind you that there is still no sustainable solution for the problem of ( highly ) radioactive waste .
secondly , we want disarmament instead of the development of military capabilities and , thirdly , we want more direct democracy rather than a Europe made up of elites .
therefore it is clear that consumers are leaving EU jurisdiction even if they do not leave EU territory themselves .
with a single positive exception , it is one grim , grey , costly being .
to this end , I am very pleased with the Agency 's creation of an Internal Audit Capability ( IAC ) that is dedicated to providing support and advice on internal control .
the Dolly the Sheep experiment was a failure .
( DE ) Mr President , Mrs Schroedter , this is your perception of the issue .
this corresponds to the stipulations that we have already put in place in the regulations governing light commercial vehicles .
last but not least , we should not forget that Europe 's citizens will now look even more towards a consolidated Europe and will expect the EU to improve the employment situation in the coming years .
in this context , I would once again like to emphasise how important it is that we adopt generally accepted European accident indicators as our yardstick .
the European Union and Europe as a whole is opening itself up to immigrants from various countries around the world .
unfortunately , worrying trends such as an increase in the number of cases of cancer , cardiovascular disease , obesity and diabetes are making us aware of the extent to which health is now endangered .
I do not think that this is about bureaucracy , but about democracy .
promoting creativity needs appropriate support from the Community budget as well as from national budgets .
the agenda for these talks includes the format , objectives and timetable for the negotiations , as well as the components in the future agreement .
finally , we believe that we should continue to support a coordinated EU approach to the situation , and we will appreciate Parliament 's input and efforts in this respect .
however , it is something that we will come back to and look at again in the near future .
it can also reflect poor creative work .
questions which have not been answered for lack of time will be answered in writing ( see Annex ) .
in the original proposal to provide five billion through a revised financial perspective split into two tranches - EUR 3.5 billion in 2009 and EUR 2.5 billion in 2010 - the Commission learned from the budget disaster of the proposal on the food aid facility .
at the same time as it is speaking against hedge funds , the European Union is encouraging their development in its own territory .
( the President cut off the speaker . )
on the contrary , it means more red tape , increased costs and risks to patients .
I wish to emphasise , in particular , the importance of the rapid , specific assistance which should be given to the Republic of Moldova 's pro-European government .
we will send answers in written form to the questions we had no time to answer .
as regards common capital or the common tax base , I would like to say this : it would be a serious problem if this entailed punishing competitive countries , if the minimum rate were to be introduced .
we have a shared responsibility ; all of us are responsible , but the Roma communities are responsible for their own fates as well , and so is Europe for not having acknowledged the problem until now .
it was not clear whether the Treaty of Lisbon would be ratified by all Member States .
I should especially like to thank my colleagues and the Commissioner for his reply .
the actions of barbaric military regimes are based on a different scale of values than the one recognised by the civilised world , and the human dignity of civilians , women and children means nothing to bands of murderers .
impact assessments ( IAs ) can constitute important support for the legislative process .
I have high expectations of the response that we are to receive today because , if nothing definite happens now and Italy does not receive a severe fine for this , where necessary , we will come across this problem in many other places .
however , we have very serious doubts about the system proposed which , although stating that it is based on the ' principle of solidarity between Member States and the need for sustainable economic growth ' , then insists that only the countries should pay the bill , through their national budgets - and not through the Community budget - according to the different conditions of development in which they find themselves .
we will make clear what has to be done at European level and what has to be at national level .
whatever change is suggested , Parliament will be formally consulted on it .
for example , the most recent data shows that cervical cancer is over four times higher in Bulgaria than in Finland , and the risk of dying from cervical cancer is almost five times higher in Lithuania than in Italy .
I would be very reluctant to change the status quo as it stands today in the European Union , and we have the judgment of the European Court of Justice to support us in this respect .
is he able to give us any timetable , long term or short term , within which we will be able to grant Turkey the right to become a full member of the European Union ?
thank you .
Burma ( vote )
the new EU-wide petition system is an important means of allowing citizens to become more involved and will ensure more direct democracy .
this is the essence of the non-standard measures , to help restore a more normal functioning of the monetary policy transmission channels and we very clearly made the distinction - I repeated that in a recent colloquy we had in which Ben Bernanke participated - between the standard measures that are really what counts in terms of monetary policy stance , and the non-standard measures designed to help the transmission of monetary policy .
in accordance with our rules , a certain number of Members may oppose them .
please could he also tell him that it is not sensible to try to set the geographical frontiers of Europe .
we do not want technically different charging systems across Europe - the idea of 27 different systems in future is unacceptable .
it would have been desirable if the report had instead dealt with the problem of this Parliament 's lack of democratic legitimacy .
( GA ) Mr President , I found the number of Members who spoke in support of Lady Ashton and her ongoing work in the foreign services , and also the number of Members who proposed that we speak with one voice , interesting and satisfying this morning .
I am opposed to reopening negotiations on Treaty reform .
both are equally valid if properly regulated and if properly serving the needs of the people who are desperately in need of more services of this kind , more efficiently provided and more cheaply in many cases .
that is why this House , this Parliament , supported the creation of a Transatlantic Political Council which , in the future , must include the energy council that you wish to establish at the next summit .
this will be the position of the European Commission which I will bring to the European Council .
I see that Mr Deß is still in the auditorium - so perhaps he would be able to explain to me whether the financial year allows the quota for the new Member States to be increased .
we also highlight the importance of flexibility in development policy .
our experience in recent decades has proven that the growing involvement of women and their knowledge , experience and professionalism is a key factor in the development of all branches of the economy .
'a Pole is wise after the event ! ' this old saying , none too complimentary to my compatriots , can be extended to cover the entire European Union .
subject : Member State seat allocations in the European Parliament
this means not only providing the possibility of emergency relief but committing to finally addressing the underlying issue of overcapacity , which is undermining all our attempts to get the industry back on a sustainable and profitable footing .
I do not know what the Commission will say now , but insofar as it has conducted this project from the start with so much intelligence , expertise and finesse , I have no doubt that all of this will end in a consensus .
the proposal opens the issue of the victimisation of victims , entitling courts not to impose penalties on criminal activities of victims which are committed under duress .
in sporting terms , I am interested in what will appear on this subject in the election manifesto of the French socialist party .
opening of the sitting
Mr President , today is not just St Valentine 's Day , but also European Epilepsy Day , as St Valentine was reputed to have epilepsy .
in writing . - ( FR ) I voted in favour of the European Parliament 's resolution of 9 October 2008 tabled by six political groups , including the PPE-DE , on the situation in Belarus after the parliamentary elections of 28 September 2008 .
more than a third of international private borrowing is carried out in euro .
the Member States have already engaged in long-standing cooperation to learn from each other 's experiences and exchange good practice in pension reform .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , we are strongly opposed to the death penalty , wherever in the world it is enforced .
( RO ) 2010 is the year when we will carry out a mid-term review of the way in which the Structural Funds are being used , and I think that priority must be given to energy efficiency .
on this occasion , the government has acted swiftly and has taken decisive action to prosecute the perpetrators .
we need to take targeted action for our SMEs , which make up the economic hub of Europe : sufficient access to capital markets , facilitating online trading and a first step towards a common consolidated corporate tax base .
however , the underfunding has another consequence : it will require successive corrections throughout 2011 , and the governments themselves are admitting it by signing a protocol that says exactly that .
I therefore agree with the statement that in the current circumstances , the general principle for European financing is to follow an ethos of budgetary austerity .
naturally , I endorsed it .
the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development wanted to earmark EUR 600 million for a dairy fund over and above this half a billion .
that is exactly the way we have to go , and we the European Socialists and Social Democrats - and I am speaking not only on behalf of the members of my group , but on behalf of Mr Rasmussen , the leader of our Social Democratic movement in Europe - can subscribe to every word of your speech , Prime Minister .
Commissioner , in your letter dated 17 October , you again laid out the implementation of the budget as at the end of September .
however , it seems that these are bad times for Pakistan and that too many people are failing to face up to their responsibilities .
consequently , I am delighted that we are opposing the merging of the two concepts of PDO ( Protected Designation of Origin ) and PGI ( Protected Geographical Indication ) as proposed by the European Commission .
the European Union is interested , and I think that it is in our interest , and I would also say in the interest of the people of those countries , because people who suffer politics-related corruption have their rights denied on a daily basis .
the Commission 's proposal is commendable , although new and complex bureaucratic procedures are being created in order to be able to monitor the environmental policies that Member States actually develop .
unclear provisions and incorrect implementation of secondary legislation often ends in proceedings before the European Court of Justice .
while we remember the Chernobyl disaster today , our thoughts are also with the Japanese nation , which is struggling with the aftermath of the tsunami and the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant .
a few weeks later she assured President Medvedev that there was no reason to rush things .
if we do not manage to reverse the current trend , it is estimated that by 2030 , demographic change will result in a two-to-one ratio between the active and inactive populations .
this is a task for the European Union , which must perform it with the support of this Parliament - specifically of Doris Pack and others who will continue to dedicate themselves to this country .
I welcome the efforts made by the Commission as regards agriculture .
I am very much encouraged by what Commissioner Piebalgs has said about his attitude to our proposals on the Agency and I believe that we can found , within the principles of the Meroni case and within the proposals of the Parliament , an Agency that will be viable - an Agency that will be parallel to the efforts of the Commission in the development of the market .
the Commission is convinced that the moratorium on nanotechnology would be severely counterproductive .
small and medium-sized enterprises make up over 99 % of all enterprises in Europe .
it is late and enough words have been exchanged .
it is time to sign the agreement , because it is in the interests of both the EU and Ukraine .
( RO ) Exceptional natural phenomena , such as the eruption in Iceland , cannot yet , unfortunately , be predicted .
in addition , the general application of codecision makes decision making in this political union more democratic .
over the course of the last twenty years , we have honoured outstanding organisations or figures who have dedicated their lives to defending human rights and fundamental freedoms and who have fought against intolerance , fanaticism and oppression in their own countries and throughout the world .
there are a number of other important issues where the report is supportive or reinforces the Commission proposal , and that is encouraging .
is the European Union united in the call for special sessions on Syria , Bahrain and Yemen ?
( EL ) Madam President , it is a question of principle that we must encourage access to information and education .
my second question is : would you not agree that , certainly up to now , we seem to be the ones that are making the concessions ?
in my view , much more than military presence is needed in Afghanistan . my country is , however , committed on the ground in Afghanistan , which is indicative of a certain desire to achieve stability in that region .
Madam President , may I thank the Commissioner for taking the question .
the financial support it has given and continues to give to the Palestinians is considerable .
of course we support renewables .
unfortunately , because of changes to the calendar of work of the Committee on Legal Affairs , my opinion was not taken into consideration by the committee responsible for the directive - the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy - which by a very small majority voted to accept the Euratom Treaty as the only legal basis .
this report relates to the proposal for a directive of Parliament and of the Council on the permissible sound level and the exhaust system of motor vehicles , in a codified text .
Madam President , Vice-President of the Commission , ladies and gentlemen , following the Tampere conclusions , much has been done to harmonise the laws of the Member States on asylum .
indeed , the flagship dossiers of the Belgian Presidency provided a series of European issues par excellence : the launch of the European External Action Service , economic growth and fiscal consolidation , the adoption of the regulation on the European Citizens ' Initiative and the launch of the Europe 2020 strategy 's implementation .
I am thinking of active measures against corruption .
in a number of areas , the European Council looked forward to specific proposals from the Commission in the coming months .
unfortunately , President Barroso , in a democracy you cannot please everyone .
the article has never been enforced , giving the impression that we are not interested in strict compliance with the human rights obligations set out in the association agreements .
deployment of MINURCAT is all the more important because the Commission made arrangements for a programme to monitor the legal and prisons system in 2007 and reform the security system by 2008-2011 .
on the subject of the planned trip of the European Parliament 's delegation to Tehran that was cancelled by the Iranian Government at short notice , I would just like to say that , at this point in time , this trip was really important in order , above all , to lead to talks and dialogues with everyone , including , and in particular , with the local citizens and civil society .
with this new resolution today , it is very much to be hoped that the leaders of the regime in Iran will at last listen to reason and common sense , and will proceed speedily to bringing their country into line with internationally-accepted norms of rational behaviour .
this conceals dangers .
Member of the Commission - The high-speed internet is the internet of the future , and we would not like this internet to be available only to some .
it is related to the Commission document entitled ' Realisation of the European Recovery Plan ' and the priorities of the Council , which are : maintaining employment , creating jobs and promoting mobility , improving skills and adapting to the needs of the labour market , and increasing access to employment .
Madam President , when my group asked for this matter to be included on the agenda , it did not do so in order to highlight errors , which are sometimes irreparable , in policies that indulge the enemies of freedom .
the members of the People 's Party for Freedom and Democracy ( VVD ) in the European Parliament voted in favour of the Ebner report , one of the reasons being that it gives a good impression of the specific problems of hill and mountain farming .
European peacekeeping forces have played a constructive role in Lebanon .
( DE ) Mr President , our lives , and especially the lives of young people today , revolve around the internet to a significant degree , and both the digital revolution and the use of electronic means of communication are contributing to progress in this field .
all of us here are aware that these diverse national rules are very often historically rooted in nothing other than pure protectionism .
it should also be said clearly that since rising economic powers want to play a greater international role , they must also accept greater commitments .
there can be no doubt that European Union citizens no longer wish to have daily contact with toxins , and do not wish to consume contaminated products . our citizens do not wish either to be affected by carcinogenic or toxic substances , or by substances with endocrine-disrupting properties .
we want to protect road users , if there is the political will to do so , and I firmly believe that modern technology now available can shorten the period for putting Directive 2006 / 126 / EC into effect .
in writing . - Mr von Wogau has my congratulations on his work both here and more generally for his chairmanship of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence .
this is an extremely important vote for the European Union 's new international trade strategy .
Madam President , I would like to thank the Minister , Mrs Malmström , for everything she has told us , and which I will try to confirm on behalf of the Commission .
I think we also need to realise that in this instance , presenting new programmes on a daily basis does not show real responsibility .
a great deal of detailed analysis will be required , but quantification of renewable energy targets , clarification of sustainability criteria for biofuels and revision of climate-related financial instruments , for example , are welcomed .
we need to promote the family .
when drawing up Single Market legislation , which could have an impact on the labour market , social partners should always be actively involved in preparatory work .
the political persecution , gratuitous violence , hunger , suffering and the deaths of many citizens are Mugabe 's recent ' work ' , which need to go down in the annals of history .
we have noted that the average inflation rate in the euro zone is 4 % .
the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality has adopted this report unanimously .
as a Franco-Algerian , I am committed to the Maghreb and I campaign for a united , pluralist and democratic Maghreb .
that is also why - on behalf of both my party in Denmark and my group here in the European Parliament - I entered into the negotiations precisely with a view to getting the citizens ' initiative in place , which , in spite of everything , was a tiny glimmer of light in an otherwise very dark and very federal EU .
in writing . - The ECR Group is very much in favour of EU enlargement .
national governments at times abandon their citizens and reject their legitimate claims .
here is just one example .
my amendment on supra-state constituencies that recognised political and cultural realities and went beyond the borders of the current Member States was rejected in committee .
some of these proposals have already been adopted here in this Parliament and by the Council .
the fact that all the presidential candidates who ran against Mr Lukashenko were arrested only adds to the bizarreness of the situation .
that was an increase of 12 % on the previous year , in 2006 - in Ireland , a country which , on the best-place-to-live barometers , comes way up there , I think after Luxembourg . ( I do not know who draws up the criteria for these barometers . )
Member States ' linguistic-historical minorities and their recognised and indisputable right to express themselves in their mother tongues have little or nothing to do with the new migration flows , which have their own identifying characteristics .
let me remind you that Galileo is crucial to the future of high-tech industry in Europe .
author . - Mr President , can I first of all express my disappointment that the Council is not represented for this important debate .
the European Union must demonstrate that it has will and ambition .
section IV - Court of Justice
they are hoping and waiting for this regulation .
it is true what you were saying about the huge efforts that have been made .
in the current climate of food shortages and extremely challenging times for fishermen , this can only be described as a totally illogical and wasteful practice .
it also calls for penalties for Member States that do not comply with the Stability and Growth Pact .
without an assertive cohesion policy like the one that it has always had in place , the EU would not have succeeded in reducing existing imbalances between more geographically disadvantaged regions and all the other regions .
we think that we must proceed differently if we wish to make better use of our resources .
I think that the debate has another common denominator , and that is that although the social reality has its own dynamism to some extent , we also have our own values : a general European concept of a European social model that encompasses social inclusion and social protection and activity in general .
we will correct the texts and harmonise them with the original .
you see , for eight years in this Parliament , throughout Europe , we have been living not through a psychodrama , but through a political tragedy where Europe is floundering , and we can clearly see that we are avoiding the current problems .
the agreements reached are largely a reflection of voluntary agreements in the sector and that is something I warmly welcome .
we have had this argument already from other colleagues , so we need to do something about it .
the issue of funding is still on the table .
we fully support the Gauzès report and the progress it makes .
our citizens stand to benefit from this as well : for example , from opportunities to study abroad , more stringent toy safety , cheaper roaming rates .
we have the suspicion , however , that Hungary may not have provided the full text of the Act , that it is playing for time .
it both penalises migrant workers , who do have the high expectations usually brought about by the social rights of Member States , and harms European workers who , faced with unfair competition , suffer from social dumping .
it must improve transparency and supervision in the banking sector to ward off danger .
in writing . - We ought to prepare for the changes set to take place in 2009 with the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty and the European elections as they will have a major impact on the budget .
we have spent many years working on an energy and climate package , and this is very important .
this year we have seen countless natural disasters in Greece , the UK and elsewhere .
at least , that is what I see happens on Europe 's roads .
this is a dialogue that must be held at all levels , by all social groups .
success rates in the case of some diseases are on the increase , as is spending on running healthcare systems .
that was a foreign affairs tutorial for this Parliament , and I can only encourage you to remain as consistent and undeviating as you have been in these matters .
we should transfer our technologies to third countries without necessarily expecting any recompense .
however , the agreement between Parliament , the Commission and the Council is about how Parliament can be appropriately involved .
what is clear , however , is the role of the Russian Ministry of Defence in facilitating the flight of former President Bakiyev after people took to the streets calling for his resignation .
I think it is extremely important to support the creation of the SEPA , which is subject to effective competition and where there is no distinction between cross-border and national payments in euro .
the Italian Council of State , expressing its opinion again in 2006 , specified that the principle of secularity of the state cannot disregard a people 's cultural identity and its civilisation .
aid needs to arrive immediately and , in the case of the people hit by the earthquake in Haiti , the aid had still not arrived a week later .
the Kremlin has agreed to initial discussion of the issue in Moscow on 16 November , but that is still two months away .
of course , the previous speakers who spoke about a certain alternative in the form of developing the rail network are right .
the procedure is going to be complex and , depending on the extent of agreement or , more likely , lack of agreement between Parliament and the Council , it is going to be complicated .
on the question of social aid , first of all we have to see how this measure will be defined in practice .
Commissioner , good luck .
I believe that we all , and I should like to thank you for this , recommended holding this in-depth debate today , and postponing until this afternoon the conclusions of these debates at the Council , the Council of 11-12 December , a trialogue during the following weekend and then a debate with , I hope , a vote on 17 December .
finally , with regard to financial supervision , I should like to encourage ...
( EL ) Ladies and gentlemen , may I say that the budget we are debating today and which will be voted on tomorrow includes one success , which just remains to be implemented , and three major problems .
Mr Manders touched on this himself : where do we draw the line , what should we label and how much should come from a particular country ?
there was also a brief discussion on the subject .
I contributed to its development and I am also extremely satisfied with the work that has been done .
this debate is not clear cut ; it encourages us to develop our thinking with regard to corporate governance and to reconcile the two debates .
there are two ESDP missions supporting reform of the Congolese police and army , whose unpreparedness and lack of efficiency were , as we have seen in this case , only too tragic .
nevertheless , to enable new measures to be adopted , the unanimous support of the Member States must be forthcoming , and this has frequently proved difficult .
when negotiating this text , we wanted to take an ambitious yet pragmatic approach .
we have heard many platitudes from the AU , but we have seen little concrete action so far .
a uniform and harmonised system of biometric data , amongst other things , will enable us to fight crime more effectively .
the priority should not be austerity , otherwise we shall nip in the bud what little growth is available ; what we need is a philosophy of employment growth that we need to defend .
I also have to say that I did not grasp the meaning of Mr Schulz 's speech and I did not understand the reference to the Bolkestein Directive that President Barroso inherited from the previous Commission .
this is a very important message , especially for the countries knocking on the EU 's door , that they have a clear European future .
this vote marks a new stage in the process of introducing a financial instrument that would serve , in particular , to generate additional own resources for the EU budget , but also to support development initiatives internationally .
I hear it said , here and there , that we are witnessing the collapse of capitalism , that it is all the fault of the free market .
it proposes the objective of budgetary stability and strict supervision of national budgets and ends up adopting harsh measures to the detriment of workers ' incomes , pensions and labour and insurance rights .
we expect that progress to start now .
here I would like the Commission to clarify and justify many points which have been raised in the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs .
in the IEU proposal , we are trying to harmonise the provisions - the sanctions regime , so to speak .
( PT ) I should like to use the opening of the plenary session of the European Parliament to express our solidarity with the Gestnave and Erecta workers who are doggedly and courageously continuing to fight for integration into Lisnave .
secondly , in our resolution today , we express our hope that the presidential elections in the country will be held within 60 days .
we shall certainly do everything possible to support their progress within the Stabilisation and Association Process .
this is important if we are to combat the parties ' negative image among citizens and their image as the unpopular face of democracy .
the special needs of migrants must also be taken into account , which brings me to the subject of language courses .
I doubt that the markets and our citizens would believe in speedy but superficial solutions .
why , in this context , is the position of the Chinese ambassador on this matter more relevant than our desire to talk about what is happening in Tibet ?
according to studies , the Dobrogea region in south-eastern Romania is the number two area in Europe in terms of wind energy potential , after northern Germany .
I understand that , at this time when the financial crisis and the problem of Greece are presenting us with new problems every day , we cannot handle it in this way .
in order to realise this objective , the new label will focus on the symbolic educational value rather than on the aesthetic beauty of a site , favouring cooperation between sites and supporting joint projects amongst them .
mandatory disclosure in respect of funds administered directly by national and regional authorities , which account for some 80 % of the Community budget , is of particular importance .
global warming is bringing new diseases , mosquitoes carrying malaria and dengue fever into that region .
this document creates exactly the right conditions for all this .
I would like to thank all the shadow rapporteurs - who are still present as far as I can see - for their excellent cooperation .
immigration ought to be inclusion .
the next item is the debate about cases of breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law ( Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure ) , initially the case of Gilad Shalit ( four motions for resolutions ) .
the EU , in its statement of 11 November , called on the Israeli authorities to put an early end to such measures .
that is due to the situation that we have at present , which is that 15 Member States are using the opt-out .
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ladies and gentlemen , it has been almost 10 months since the European Parliament adopted a resolution requesting that the European Commission formulate a strategy on the Roma .
that was the agenda of the G20 in Pittsburgh .
this issue of the Greek accounts was addressed several times in euro area meetings .
the situation in different parts of Europe varies greatly - overall , Europe generates 30 % of its power from nuclear energy , but in Austria the share is approaching 0 % and in France it is 80 % - but there are two common denominators .
this would not surprise me , because we cannot achieve a change in this way .
in addition , it corrects and clarifies companies ' responsibilities as regards complying with welfare regulations : operators , rather than workers , are responsible for ensuring the rules are applied .
- After the vote on paragraph 44 :
in order to launch the new three-year cycle effectively at the European Council in spring , it is necessary to adopt , in good time , integrated guidelines for which the EU institutions are responsible .
you argued that the Union and the Member States should increase their spending .
this is definitely an important report and it is good that you have asked Mr Monti to prepare it , as he is an expert in this area .
( FR ) Mr President , the report that has just been adopted in our Chamber definitely toes the ' politically correct ' line that reigns supreme here , unchallenged by established dogmas .
written statements for entry in the register ( Rule 116 ) : see Minutes
but we have got to ensure that it is protected , because there is too much contamination and a lack of regulation and documentation in terms of the actual statistics .
I spoke with the US Assistant Secretary of State , Michael Posner , when he was here , to encourage Israel to do the same .
however , the referendum in Ireland has further demonstrated that this kind of social engineering produces the opposite effect .
we have strict regulations regulating the technical standards concerning buses , and especially school buses .
I trust that , during the Hungarian Presidency , there will be a tangible sign to prove to the Balkans that the enlargement process is being kept alive , and this sign could be the decisive event in Croatia 's accession , that is , the conclusion of its accession negotiations .
he later escaped and up to the end of the war , fought against the Nazis , and then , after the Soviet armies entered Poland , he began an underground fight against the successive occupants .
in the land of the EU , the only continuing law is that of the unintended consequence .
I personally am in favour of strengthening the Barcelona Process : Union for the Mediterranean and of the programmes announced within its framework in strategic sectors , such as cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises and exploitation of renewable energy sources .
I want to say this to Mr Barroso : yes , the UK may have a debt problem , but it is not helped by having to bail out eurozone countries like Ireland when we have had to borrow the money to do that in the first place .
the agreement we have reached confirms that the method and timetable we set out at the start of our Presidency were right .
lapsed written declarations : see Minutes
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many millions of our citizens are living in fear , poverty and exclusion , and more and more have joined them during the Barroso years .
we will continue to firmly and vehemently oppose arguments for the irrational criteria of the Stability Pact , and for exchange policy guidelines and other macro-economic guidelines , as well as the devaluing of production and labour - in which Vítor Constâncio has played a central role - as we have always done .
that is slightly unfortunate , because this surreal situation is worth mentioning .
for example , we always mention jaw traps when talking about wild animals , and the question of transport , breeding and feed always arises in relation to farm animals .
however , one part of it , Nagyszelmenc , is currently located on the territory of a European Union Member State , Slovakia , while the other part , Kisszelmenc , is in Ukraine .
following on from Mr Sumberg 's poetic speech , I would like to say that it is very important that the flower of culture is able to bloom to its full extent , and that includes Europe .
that is a fact that we have to face up to .
however , we are ready to support any initiatives aimed at carrying out possible investigations .
I must stress that the opposite economic policy applies in the United States .
just one town , however , out of these thousands of towns and villages on the shores of the Mediterranean , just one town is uninhabited .
it is a problem , but it has to be tackled through the law and individuals must be prosecuted , etc .
I believe it is essential for civil servants to be accountable to the general public .
I would like to know where you stand on this .
the Commission points out that positive steps are being taken in this direction such as the simplification of the rules on variations of veterinary medicinal products and this review of the legislation on maximum residue limits in food .
unless we balance the books , we will not restore confidence in Europe 's economies .
Parliament is happy to pursue this .
the very dissatisfaction with the fraudulent elections and the constant increase in state repression and violence had caused the representatives of Iranian civil society to turn to the European Parliament .
the Central Bank has to pump enormous sums of money into the financial markets in order to ensure their survival .
on this point , I would like to address two topics , which I think are interconnected : firstly , the situation on the world 's agricultural markets , where prices have been rising for several weeks , and , secondly , the G20 process on issues of food security and the volatility of agricultural prices .
the EU considers that the main victims of trafficking are women and children , exploited for the purposes of prostitution ( 43 % ) or of forced labour ( 32 % ) .
I would like to reiterate the importance of this proposal in the simplification of the CAP .
they must help to prevent abuses of the asylum system , but fully respect fundamental rights .
I support the actions promoted in this area : the promotion of humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law ; improvements in terms of quality of the coordination and consistency in the delivery of EU humanitarian aid ; clarification on the use of military and civil protection resources and capabilities in accordance with the Humanitarian Consensus and UN guidelines ; disaster risk reduction and reinforcement of the link between emergency aid , rehabilitation and development .
the new action plan is based on eight major new themes : 1- peace and security ; 2 - democratic governance and human rights ; 3 - trade , regional integration and infrastructure ; 4 - the millennium development goals ; 5 - energy ; 6 - climate change ; 7 - migration , mobility and employment ; 8 - science , information society and space .
we want the political responses to the recommendations made to the Member States over the next six months to be taken into account when establishing the penalties provided for in the legislative package on governance .
that is why taking part in religious services can bring about positive changes in the lives of these prisoners .
that equates to two Turkish soldiers outside every Turkish Cypriot house .
thus , instead of speaking with one voice , the policy in force is ' every man for himself ' , as illustrated by a series of bilateral agreements that weaken our negotiating position and tarnish the image of our unity towards the outside .
despite the fact the Sweden intended to compensate its commercial fishermen for the ban and the fact that researchers in the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea had recommended a total ban on cod fishing for a number of years and despite the fact that the various cod stocks along the Swedish coast had been wiped out or reduced by between 70 and 90 % , the principle of the common fisheries policy was more important .
the people want to write a new page in their history and we want to support them in that endeavour .
this is a controversial issue that must be addressed in the coming months , once we are sure that we can count on having the necessary financial resources .
I hope that the provisions of the directive will bring healthcare services closer to home , and I am referring to all social categories , including emigrants , people working abroad and undergraduates studying abroad .
I support the current exercise of reviewing the delimitation of these areas in order to remove any inconsistencies in delimiting them .
membership of committees and delegations : see Minutes
( EL ) Mr President , Commissioner , I should like to come back to one point : the importance of adopting a binding energy efficiency target for the European economy .
we finished the conference 10 minutes ago .
in writing . - ( RO ) The main elements of the proposal for directive are :
these people were killed by murderers , by criminals .
wilderness in Europe ( short presentation )
I think there would be a way out of this bureaucratic impasse and the waste into which you have manoeuvred yourselves here .
the EU has let in countries that it knew full well did not meet its own entry criteria , as was the case with Romania and Bulgaria .
the lack of job opportunities in similar companies in the region will pose a particular problem for workers with specialist experience in semiconductor production .
but for us here in the European Parliament , this was only the beginning .
a few months have passed and we have received quite a few reports from NGOs , trade unions and citizens about one of the four countries that have received very significant amounts of assistance to public finances : EUR 6.5 billion , 3.1 billion , 2.2 billion and 5 billion .
I think we need to be very clear that the economic crisis affects everybody , particularly families .
in addition , the European Union 's own structures need to be strengthened .
SMEs play a key role in Eurostars projects .
I believe that it is not .
along the west coast of Britain there are five active nuclear plants ; I have no objection to them .
however , in order for the initiative to reach as many people as possible , I feel that there needs to be more widespread publicity in the media ( including on the official website for the European Championship ) , with the participation of politicians , sports directors , sportsmen and supporters ( modelled on the ' Youth Voices Against Racism ' programme ) .
on the very same lines , action to block several major websites on the day of the elections is deplorable .
the Court of Auditors , of which you are the President , is partly responsible for things having improved .
since these changes were not incorporated into the directive on economic migration , I think it was not correct of the parties on the right to approve it .
what is at stake here is our credibility and the credibility of the European Union .
ladies and gentlemen , we only value , we only appreciate ...
the proposed certification procedure for third countries seems a reasonable solution .
the EU has put forward proposals that the negotiation for a legally binding treaty for the period starting 1 January 2013 should be finalised as soon as possible after the Copenhagen conference .
now the Council wants to bury this revised version once and for all .
this is despite the fact that the only piece of information that we have , namely the report by the internal auditor , says that there is a B account , an off-budget account at the Council .
( DE ) Mr President , when it comes to statistics , there is always a lot of debate and disagreement .
rapporteur . - Mr President , the report supports the Commission 's proposals to streamline procedures for those citizens who wish to stand or vote at an election to the European Parliament in their state of residence .
we have to remember that this also means losing jobs .
that is essential if we wish to achieve a lasting rehabilitation of national budgets , something that is not always popular .
I would just like to remind you that you have backtracked and we have not - we are defending your position .
that is why I would like to stress on the need to improve cooperation between the EU institutions and the Ombudsman .
perhaps something like around 6 % , even a little bit less , as a consolidated fiscal position next year , when it is of the order of magnitude of ten or more in the two other major advanced economies .
the debate is closed .
with regard to freedoms , we were talking earlier about accession to the European Convention on Human Rights .
I hope that we will fulfil this obligation tomorrow for our sphere of competence with the adoption of this package .
studies suggest that a child whose parent uses tobacco actually ' smokes ' every fourth cigarette that his or her parent smokes .
unfortunately , Benazir Bhutto was assassinated a few weeks prior to the elections .
I agree that we need to harmonise the discharge deadlines and clarify that the Community agencies that actually receive contributions from the budget under Article 185 ( 1 ) of the general Financial Regulation are all the Community bodies that receive direct subsidies from the budget and all the other Community bodies that receive financial support from the budget .
I welcome the fact that reference is made to an ambitious vision for the common agricultural policy ( CAP ) .
in order for the regional development policies to be more effective , we need to involve those who know their own regions and can help drive their development .
in many cases this will lead to all sorts of disputes , including legal ones .
I have understood everything you have said this evening .
there are still millions of people in the European Union who do not have access to the most ordinary things in life .
in this event , it would be very important for the Commission to help the municipalities and , if they make a mistake , to be there to advise them .
the Seventh Framework Programme has been successful , but there is room for improvement .
I voted against Mr Onyszkiewicz 's report with a proposal for a European Parliament recommendation to the Council on the new EU-Russia agreement .
the rights of refugees must be bolstered - because of their status as particularly ' in need of protection ' , refugees cannot , as a matter of principle , be taken into custody .
we thus have a series of anniversaries which are important for us to remember , and for Europe to remember , but I believe that the presence of our fellow Members from Lithuania , Latvia and Estonia proves that Europeans are able to conquer adversity and overcome huge tension , which is why we are very pleased to see our fellow Members here with us , particularly today .
we are pleased that the environmental report bears a green handprint , especially when it comes to nanotechnology .
in the past , there were instances where European institutions bought or leased property for prices above the market value .
it is , of course , evolving , and it will continue to evolve .
now , I almost want to reverse the issue .
the strategy 's objectives are far from achieved and the EU is facing the deepest economic crisis since 1933 .
this is called carbon leakage , as I have emphasised many times .
we have set the bar high and , if possible , we want to cover all the areas of EU-Russia relations .
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however , only a democratic Europe can be successful in the long term .
if you can keep your nerve , Mr Topolánek , you will go down in history .
the world is changing around us , faster than we can react .
( DE ) Mr President , I believe that Rule 140 is not applicable to the urgency procedure and I would therefore ask you to have this checked by the Committee on the Rules of Procedure , because it could set a dangerous precedent .
the grim truth is that , because banks can fail and markets and trade collapse , half a million extra children - ten and a half million children in all - will die this year because they are literally too poor to live .
if stricter traceability rules were applicable ( which would have costed more , of course ) only the meat which was identified as originating from that particular farm would have been recalled .
- Motion for a resolution : euro zone
at the same time , despite a 37 % increase in profits in the first half , it is still determined to go ahead with the job cuts .
it is incredible , Mr President , that we , the so-called democratic continent , have still not managed to offer our unreserved support to the masses on the streets - masses who are calling for nothing other than our support .
we want everyone to be able to benefit , even those who cannot set up centres of excellence , to ensure the democratisation of research in the most diverse areas .
amendment of the Rules of Procedure changing relationships between the European Parliament and the institutions representing the national governments (
the vote concerns , among other things , two payments of almost EUR 24 million in total to the car industry in Sweden and Austria .
first , that the collision and sinking of the New Flame happened not in the Bay of Gibraltar , which the Spanish call the Bay of Algeciras , but on the south-east side of the Rock of Gibraltar , off Europa Point in the Mediterranean Sea .
this is what Mr Florenz states in his report at the beginning of his conclusions .
we agree that several decades of European development cooperation with Africa have failed , but we would maintain that the limits of this cooperation have been constantly set by the Commission , taking back in one area what it gave in another .
in addition to this I also mentioned what an important role the European Parliament plays in the process for approving both cohesion policy and budgetary resources and that this will increase enormously if the Lisbon Treaty comes into force .
thirdly , we must hold a political debate to finalise the principles by which the President of the European Council will act , with particular reference to his relations with the European Parliament .
our talks with the Lebanese authorities on the political conditions to be linked with the programme are nearing a conclusion and I can assure you that these conditions will be in full conformity with the EU-Lebanon Action Plan established within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy and with the Lebanese authorities ' medium-term economic reform programme .
I would really claim that we have to have some more knowledge about it .
Commissioner , I admit that at first I was disappointed with the criteria for selecting MSS providers , and particularly with the paltry 60 % geographical cover of the Union , in view of the pan-European geographical cover and pan-European provision of mobile satellite services .
I therefore consider this initiative to be a way , if we can get it right , of boosting Europe 's economy and encouraging cross-border trade .
I think that we need to recognise that strengthening ESMA 's role is a step in the right direction .
I think it would be important to consider whether we should pursue that .
this means focusing clearly on innovation .
sensitivity for these matters cannot be achieved by proclamation but needs thorough commitment and thorough training .
I would like to congratulate Mr Orbán on the beginning of the Hungarian Presidency of the EU .
on 18 September 2009 , the Presidency , acting on behalf of the European Union , issued a very clear statement in which we reiterated our demand for the unconditional release of all political prisoners and stated that Eritrea 's actions are in clear breach of the obligations laid down in the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights , which Eritrea has ratified .
with regard to the strategic reasons , we need to take into account the fact that the market is changing rapidly .
the dizzying rise in fuel prices together with the reduction of the fishing effort introduced by the CFP and the stagnation of first sale fish prices have placed shipowners and fishermen in delicate positions .
I voted for the resolution on the Croatia progress report for 2008 and I am delighted that this resolution has been adopted in the EP by a large majority .
I welcome the Vatanen report as a realistic appraisal of European security .
over the past two years , the number of jobs has risen , employment ratios have improved , and the turbulent employment indicators have also settled down .
it is good that the European economy and European currency will now be better protected .
Preening America , winner of an ideological struggle , is no longer credible in the victor 's role .
at the same Ecofin Council meeting in October , conclusions were also adopted on reinforcing financial stability mechanisms in the European Union .
it is these policies which have made food expensive , and which are the reason why the number of poor and undernourished citizens of the EU is growing .
the Court 's report sets out , from one spending area to another , where our systems are considered satisfactory and where the errors found are below the Court 's materiality threshold of 2 % .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
outermost regions (
in fact , I have just initiated infringement proceedings against Spain for exceeding advertising time .
how should we approach this challenge ?
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the tourism sector is of great importance to European enterprises and to the economies of Member States .
I fully agree with the proposals being made regarding the Union for the Mediterranean .
this is a debate , and some experts who fulfil certain confidential tasks of assessing projects and people should not be so transparent , probably .
I believe , at least from what I have followed closely , that the directive on the taking-up and pursuit of the business of insurance and reinsurance is highly significant .
equally important , the rule of law and human dignity in work are elevated to cooperation objectives .
we are in search of projects - to be truly comprehensive - that make Europe more visible , make it a global actor and influential in dealing with the global challenges that await us , whether they be the fight against climate change , or matters of development , or the strategic balances with our other partners .
I am well acquainted with the practice , but nothing can justify historical revenge .
decisions concerning certain documents : see Minutes
we also have the growing disorder in Syria , Bahrain and Yemen , as well as the renewed unrest in Tunisia and Egypt .
it is time we put a stop to that .
the worst thing about this is that the number is rising by 400 000 children each year .
the report states that marine biological resources are a ' common public good ' , but fails to recognise that these resources are best managed by Europe 's fishing nations .
that is the added value of the European Union .
the Swedish Presidency 's role was to pave the way for the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty 's provisions .
so , Côte d 'Ivoire can directly ask for and have anything of relevance to it that is part of the SADC negotiations and discussions or those for anywhere else .
according to information provided by the Court of Auditors , the Joint Undertaking 's annual accounts for the financial year 2009 are reliable and the underlying transactions are legal and regular .
it is either because these directives are badly applied , or because those discriminated against are unable , for some reason , to assert their rights before the courts .
I would like to thank Mr Schulz for his question and make it clear that an in-depth debate on the Mediterranean Union has not been planned for this session of the European Council .
the aid granted should be linked with the creation of social awareness , democratic institutions and education systems , so that local society can be prepared to take control of lasting development for these regions and countries .
however , let us get serious here for a minute .
it helps to overcome traditional non-technical barriers by providing access to otherwise inaccessible markets .
the increase in violence in North Kivu has seriously overstretched the UN peacekeeping mission ( MONUC ) in operation in this country .
without genuine political will on the part of the EU Member States , resolutions will remain on paper only .
it is clear that such statements mean nothing more or less than to privatise state banks ( ! ) and create national financial markets that are truly competitive and open to foreign banks ( ! )
it is very important for citizens to have the opportunity to take initiatives in connection with the issues that have the greatest influence on their lives as soon as possible , in a pre-defined manner and within an appropriate framework .
I would like to begin with some comments about the situation regarding the plenary chamber in Strasbourg .
and , like Ms Lucas , I appeal to all the groups in this Parliament to think about how they vote tomorrow ; be prepared to compromise , be sensible , be realistic , but above all , be positive , because Parliament has a chance to be at the forefront of protecting the environment for 500 million citizens and their descendants .
we want sustainable , integrated urban development and we want a well-educated workforce .
next , you have to recognise the long-term strain that pensions are putting on the government and make that very clear .
ladies and gentlemen , please allow me to finish my speech with a thought of the deservedly popular Hungarian writer Sándor Márai , which is related to Europe .
a dialogue must be mutual .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , at a time when the European Union is called on to reform its common agricultural policy , ensuring consistency between agricultural and external trade policy becomes all the more crucial .
you began by raising the problem of the economic crisis .
finally , while all measures adopted under this temporary framework still need to be notified to the Commission , specific arrangements to ensure a fast adoption of the Commission 's decisions have been put in place .
what will happen after 2013 ?
however , the strategic agreement does not allow the exchange of personal information on suspects .
provision of a radio in a country where there is no information is actually a vital tool .
this question has come up very often .
I hope that future EU-US cooperation in the fight against terrorism is based on the principles of proportionality , necessity and reciprocity .
there will be greater use of qualified majority voting in the Council and the creation of a number of new legal foundations in areas such as tourism , sport , energy , civil defence , administration and cooperation .
it is not a matter for academic study .
this does not , however , mean that the directive is only about penalising employers .
there is one further significant factor to mention before I conclude my comments .
added to which , despite the progress made in recent years , the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Framework Programme should be stepped up in order to develop the skills that would allow them to boost their competitiveness .
at the same time , however , I take my role here in the European Parliament seriously .
in writing . - ' Don 't be evil ' is the well-known motto of Google .
they have to do with registers , with things we discussed - today , for example - where we can improve openness and transparency through other methods and not only through the Regulation .
I call for the quicker introduction of SEPA and for creating a clear framework for controlling the banks .
if you want results , you have to act and sometimes take risks .
right from the start , I , as shadow rapporteur for the Socialist Group in the European Parliament for this report , have had serious reservations about the usefulness and the effectiveness of the entry / exit system mentioned in the European Commission 's communication .
China 's engagement with Africa is opening up many opportunities .
by helping to build security and stability in the wider world , the EU is also helping to make life safer for her own people .
I hope that the Commission will press ahead with this proposal , that it will persuade the Member States that so far remain unpersuaded and that it will emphasise that , as part of the proposal , you can interpret energy conservation measures as being included .
poverty is the greatest single determinant of health .
Statute of the European Private Company , Company Law ( debate )
the impact of a great power 's coercive politics and diplomacy against a small and unsubordinated neighbour should be considered , not to mention eventual loss of important parts of territory through creeping annexation .
this is not surprising under the circumstances , but it shows another facet of lack of EU solidarity .
you have said that dialogue is not easy in this area - I mean not just regarding anti-doping but sport issues in general .
these small businesses are the economic pulse of the west of Ireland .
to put an end to these developments , we have to reject the Islamically correct , reverse the flow of nonEuropean migration and create a new Europe , a Europe of sovereign nations , without Turkey , affirming the Christian and humanist values of its civilisation .
the overly complex administration is costly and provides a disincentive for SMEs to participate in FP7 .
initially , however , the Council was not prepared to go that far .
nevertheless , I did support this review .
we have also already said that the loans intended for fossil fuels continue to play a predominant role in the overall energy portfolio of the World Bank , and that we must abandon this predominance .
I am also convinced that the European Union is undermining its own interests here .
we must not allow the creation of an underclass of workers that faces discrimination and does not enjoy any rights or guarantees .
should Brussels be taking decisions on reforms of labour markets or education systems in Member States ?
the Commission has already greatly increased the use of budget support and will do so again over the course of the next six years , within the framework of the tenth European Development Fund ( EDF ) .
we all want it to stand until the European elections in 2009 , but we also know that I want never gets .
I agree with the person who said that the European Union is the fruit of the interaction of many ideologies and many values .
to my fellow member from the Czech Republic - it is not Victor Klitschko , but Vitali Klitschko who has been giving the Americans a pounding in German boxing rings .
we cannot continue with an unacceptable common position which prevents the European Union from maintaining open and complete relations with the Cuban Government on the basis of bilateral interests .
in writing . - I voted in favour of this resolution by the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety .
we previously said we wanted to do better .
this is another example of the European Commission attempting to simplify and regulate the acquis communautaire so that it becomes more transparent and accessible to EU citizens .
what is needed is the political will .
and parliaments cannot make such compromises as we unfortunately must sometimes accept on the part of governments .
it was agonising to watch the salvage of the Ancient Olympia museum and the archaeological site of the first Olympic Games .
I have listened to and believed the Commissioner , and I see that the European Commission is doing what it has to do .
soon we will see case-law that will end the disputes about when the issue of consumer protection is governed by national legislation or the legislation of the host country .
since there are so many of them , they are too complex and not easy to navigate .
we believe that it must include an observer status for the ILO , as well as measures against social and ecological dumping .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , Mr Michel , ladies and gentlemen , the debate has been perfectly clear , and so are the conclusions that we must draw from it .
however , it also proposes that undocumented migrants be entitled to and guaranteed access to health services in the Member States .
lastly , as we stated in the Belet report on professional football , UEFA and FIFA should reach agreement and work with the agencies of the Commission .
in writing . - ( DE ) The Additional Protocol to the Cooperation Agreement for the Protection of the Coasts and Waters of the North-East Atlantic against Pollution forms part of a network of regional agreements concerning the protection of the marine environment , which the EU has concluded with individual Member States and neighbouring third countries .
but I do not underestimate the challenges , and I am always looking at and interested in ideas for how we might do that .
I do not foresee any difficulties arising in the harmonised field , but rather in the case of products where the requirements have not been harmonised , in other words outside the harmonised field of products .
however , we should consider things carefully and I would also like to take seriously the reservations which the Commission has put forward .
we should say to our Belarusian brothers today that they are not alone .
the choice of labour cost savings is separate from the shift to 120 g / km of CO2 in 2012 .
( applause )
EU efforts have finally resulted in the temporary suspension of the Presidential Decree No 555 banning these trips .
I support the report on a sustainable EU policy for the High North by my fellow Member , Mr Gahler .
most people in Greece feel that during the last 10 or 20 years , a lot of people became very rich under circumstances which were not just .
with the amendments proposed by the European Parliament in April 2008 , which provide for , amongst other measures , the calculation of the five years of residence preceding the application for residence status , and with the lack of unanimity in the Council , this new proposal will directly aid beneficiaries of international protection who have been residing within EU territory for more than five years but still do not have resident status .
Europe should examine the possibility of investing in an irrigation system that would assist the Member States in danger of diminishing their agricultural production following desertification in building or improving their irrigation systems .
as part of the reform of Parliament , a new type of cooperation is evolving between the specialist committees and the Committee on Budgets .
I would like to know your views .
does the European Parliament think we should be injecting more money into programmes where we are certain abuses are taking place ?
we need to move to a multi-fund approach .
thirdly , what most concerned me was seeing Mr Lewandowski smiling , in what I believe to be a worrying way , when the subject of the tax on financial transactions was mentioned .
this includes all commercial aspects of the exploitation as well as the legal , contractual and financing structures of the different exploitation models that will ensure that a stable governance model is put in place .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to begin by thanking both rapporteurs for their excellent work .
to that end the proposal for a report specifically tries to support the Commission in identifying bottlenecks and trying to draw up new proposals .
in the recent election , they probably took three steps backwards and no steps forward , but I think she is correct in saying we need to work with civil society , the NGOs and our international partners to bring pressure to bear on President Lukashenko to end his repression and dictatorship .
we would therefore especially like to thank Mr Zaleski for not giving in to that pressure and , once again , for an excellent report .
the affair is now in the hands of the European Commission , which must talk to us about the main issue , and beyond merely legal issues , whether this law infringes freedom of expression .
it is not acceptable to demand that other countries do what the European Union is not able to demand that the Latvian Republic should do .
however , the trickiest bone of contention between the Council , Parliament and the Commission in all this remains the question of when the control of notification and registration of the export takes place , whether before or after the actual export .
this is something that the governments of the EU need to take note of .
we in Europe have been brought up in a world of Judaeo-Christian values , whilst theirs come from Islamic thinking .
I add my words of sympathy to the families to your own .
we gather information from time to time , but our focus is , on the subsidiarity level , on what we could do at cross-border or pan-European level .
what they want is a social and democratic Europe , a European Union which offers them effective protection from the negative repercussions of globalisation .
therefore , it is a pressing task to formulate the EU strategy on religious freedom and to earmark a set of concrete measures against those states which deliberately fail to protect religious minorities .
we need to make the companies accountable .
it is worth bearing this in mind , all the more so as Japan is lobbying against the loss of competitiveness in the EU market as a result of the EU-Korea Free Trade Agreement which is due to come into effect .
for all these reasons , we voted against this report .
one of these things is the essential relationship that we need to have with Russia , which is , as everyone knows , one of the countries that has experienced the most changes in recent years .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I will try to answer some of the questions because a lot of questions have been raised , but many were also already answered in my introductory statement .
we need to look into this to see whether there is a possibility of reducing these discrepancies , to start with , so that the differences between land-based workers and sea-based workers are reduced without , however , creating problems of competitiveness , given that we are dealing with an international sector .
first of all , I would like to express my complete support with regard to the question that was asked by Mr Reul and , in particular , to point out that the fundamental issue - the fundamental political issue here - is precisely a matter of joint programming of research .
please vote with me against the division into chickens for fattening , laying hens and turkeys for fattening .
from this I draw the second lesson , which is that we should strengthen European economic governance .
renewable energy , which is growing in our latitudes , is a secure source that is available to us at all times .
they are closely involved in the process and therefore it would be incomprehensible ... let me say this in a more positive way .
we are not inventing them this time ; that has been going on for years .
this report concerns a proposal for a Council regulation on denominations and technical specifications of euro coins intended for circulation , in a codified text .
I think that the European leaders have to keep telling Russia that the country should not use her energy supplies as a tool of political repression , in relation to EU Member States or the countries of the former Soviet Union , especially Ukraine .
I would like you to give us more details as to how the Commission will , in future , be given opportunity to comment on the Member States ' draft budgets before the national parliaments do so .
there does seem to be , however , a serious impediment to the development of India and of our mutual relations , an impediment that significantly reduces India 's potential .
this is not the same amendment that was rejected in committee . it is a different one , a different approach to the subject .
we do not have the names of any dissidents or activists in the territory of North Korea .
before the vote on amendment 7
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to address two issues briefly .
it is important for us to focus more on nuclear safety and to push ahead with the development of alternatives .
in writing . - This application refers to the mobilisation of a global amount of EUR 1 422 850 from the EGF for Spain .
this will help establish a simpler contribution from Member States to the shared costs of European military operations .
( RO ) The Commission 's desire to charge transport operators not only for the right to use the infrastructure , but also for the impact on the environment , known as internalisation of external costs , will impose a tax burden with severe repercussions for these companies , especially in the current economic crisis .
protection of the mother as a social expense factor must not become an obstacle for her employment .
( EL ) Mr President , the proposals for a directive and the two reports implement the general immigration policy of the European Union , the aim of which is to secure cheap manpower for European capital in order to increase its profits .
above all , European companies must take some responsibility , because around 80 % of the yield is shipped to Europe .
two weeks before the conference , we would like to call on countries throughout the world to keep their promises , to sign the convention and , above all , to ratify it quickly .
all the Member States essentially have an influence , a kind of veto over the matter , as all you who are asking these questions know .
concerning the POSEI programme , the Commission submitted a draft regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on 24 September 2010 , which lays down individual agricultural measures for the outermost regions of the EU .
these workshops have especially addressed the issues of upgrading skills , increasing access to employment , and how to maintain employment , create jobs and promote mobility .
it responds to political events , and so political parties must be treated differently from other associations .
furthermore , this transfer must guarantee the protection and entitlement of citizens , especially with regard to accessing and amending their data , as stipulated in national and European legislation .
the objective is to reduce CO2 emissions by 30 % by 2020 .
the Union must become a true common and united area of protection , based on respect for fundamental rights and for high standards of protection , and asylum must be offered , as Mr Billström said , in accordance with the same criteria in Europe .
on the one hand , we would all like to have more rail transport .
colleagues , I call upon all of you to exercise your responsibility with due care and withhold discharge to the Commission , to Parliament , to the Council , to the European Development Fund and to the Court of Auditors , that does not publish the declaration of financial interests , until all of these institutions give proof of sound financial management .
the issue of Greece raises very important issues , not just in terms of financial stability , but also in terms of social commitment and in terms of the political determination of the European Union .
thought should be given to whether the EU should take on greater responsibility and play a more effective role in achieving joint objectives ( engaging in joint dialogue , deciding on and coordinating joint measures , etc . ) under the agreement between the EU and the OSCE .
I would also like to thank the rapporteur , who has taken up many of the proposals from the Committee on Regional Development in relation to modulation and rural development .
it is therefore very important that the companies that are going to conduct explorations and drillings in that area do not go there with the profit-mongering mindset of the gold diggers of old , but instead with the sense of European responsibility that took shape by the 20th and early 21st century .
this extremely dangerous policy puts weapons in the hands of the arsonists who , if the outbreaks and complaints by inhabitants of the areas affected by the fires are anything to go by , again acted in a concerted manner .
the relationship between the dollar and the euro means that export problems and a lack of competitiveness are possible , but this problem is not exclusive to the agricultural sector .
at the political level , we have to ensure that these two requirements are implemented and we therefore support greater transparency and supervision of financial resources .
if we consider that falsification is a crime , we had to add sanctions and penalties .
I would like to thank the rapporteur that she did not allow the delicate nature of this issue to cloud her balanced approach to the subject .
on account of its strategic location , that region could well play a significant role in the transit of crude oil and natural gas .
now , investment is free to all products , whether from the European Union or not .
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unless we liberalise our ports resolutely , they will not be able to expand the key role they will be required to play in the context of co-modality .
in writing . - ( RO ) The escalation of the economic crisis in Greece , along with achieving a stable unemployment rate at around 10 % in the European Union , makes it immediately necessary to implement the Europe 2020 strategy .
trade and economic relations with Ukraine ( vote )
objective and clear criteria must be established for any charge differentiation or increase , so that users of airline and airport services pay clearly identified prices - the same charge for identical services .
I am the type of person who is a quick , efficient but good decision-maker .
you sometimes hear from diplomats that we must not engage in criticising religions other than our own .
I consider it unacceptable , and even downright scandalous , that there has not been any substantial progress in this regard in the past year either .
there are many similarities throughout Europe - half of all children reveal information about themselves , four out of ten come into contact with pornographic materials , one third encounter violent materials , many receive unsolicited comments of a sexual nature , and a full nine per cent meet people they have encountered on the Internet in real life .
it is high time for fair trade and for more attention to sustainability , health and innovative solutions for the challenges we are actually facing .
Persia , as we all know , was one of the great civilisations of our continent and this world .
what impact will such a financial transaction tax have on the real economy and on the competitiveness of the economic and financial position of the European Union ?
over this period , the financial and geopolitical circumstances of the GCC have changed drastically : security challenges have emerged ( such as , Iraq , Iran , Yemen , Islamic terrorism , and piracy ) and new commercial players have appeared in the area .
after the new legislation comes into force , the seller will be obliged to give clear information about the countries to which deliveries are made .
as research and reports indicate , it is precisely the poorer societies and the poorest members of the latter that are most seriously affected by the negative consequences of climate change .
the annual report on the protection of the European Union 's financial interests is a bit like the Member States ' list of sins , which is why I would like to thank Mr Cătălin Sorin and the shadow rapporteurs from the other groups for their hard work .
this must be clear , Mr President ; as rapporteur I must say this because it is essential in order to interpret the vote .
I do not find this tone appropriate and it will certainly not benefit European working women by dealing solely with Roma women .
we must understand that we cannot focus solely on indicators and figures .
the issue of gender equality should be a central element in the new strategy .
we know what you stand for , Mr Gollnisch , and we have heard you so many times , you and your leader .
can you imagine that a black female wheelchair user can feel discriminated against ?
this means that the need to move away from high levels of military spending , which are criticised in this report and which have risen in recent years , towards spending on social services , culture and the environment , which benefits the population , is a central element of this report and I am pleased that it has been included .
the authentic act is a key element in the lives of families and businesses , whether it be a marriage contract , a settlement , a will , a bill of sale or a contract between businesses .
( PL ) Mr President , the term ' least developed countries ' arose 40 years ago to help developed countries and other donors identify those communities around the world which are most in need of aid .
like it or like it not , the world is changing incredibly fast .
in the new technologies sector , in particular , a person 's experience and capabilities are more valuable than any diplomas .
it is estimated that more than 50 % of medicines purchased over the Internet on sites which do not specify their actual physical address are counterfeit .
and also , among other reasons , because it sets as objectives the development of the Schengen Information System ( including decisions relating to the Prüm Treaty ) , Frontex and EU immigration policy ( which is selective and protective and which criminalises immigration ) .
the debate is closed .
in writing . - ( FR ) I voted for the report by my British colleague , Fiona Hall , who did an excellent job and amended , at first reading of the codecision procedure , the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the selection and authorisation of systems providing mobile satellite services ( MSS ) .
a Tobin Tax applied only regionally will result in a flight of capital to those jurisdictions where no such tax pertains , so why has this House just voted in such large numbers for a system which will disadvantage the European Union ?
we should support and strengthen civil society organisations in Iran , notably via the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights , and deploy all efforts for renewed engagement with Iranian civil society in such uncontroversial areas as the fight against narcotraffic , refugee issues , academic exchanges , and visits to Europe by journalists , to name but a few .
where Kosovo is concerned , discussions on the visa regime started back when Kosovo was still part of Serbia , but we are working on finding a solution .
the question is what is Europe doing ?
I ask all my honourable friends , if we want to take ourselves seriously , not to agree tomorrow , unless the Commission agrees in writing and reads out here that this demand will be met .
the Lisbon Treaty has an impact on the entire range of services of the European Parliament and other institutions .
there is a continuing major refugee problem .
we need to make much more effort to establish when state aid for new technologies , energy efficiency and renewables is to be applied .
I therefore agree with the social concerns expressed as , for the first time , the concept of ' fuel poverty ' has been defined , drawing attention to the importance of the Member States developing national plans which cover all citizens .
next , I want to talk about foreign policy .
combating discrimination of all kinds and bringing about participation in public life by the disabled are important jobs .
faced with a choice between these undesirable alternatives , we abstained in the vote .
I say very clearly : we want to get involved but we must not make the mistakes we made in Afghanistan , namely intervening without having a political strategy .
the provision of EUR 182.4 million as compensation for the effects of last year 's floods is extremely important , not only for the regions affected by the natural disaster , but also for the people who live there .
it seeks to protect the consumer - including you Madam President , and Commissioner De Gucht , if you go shopping on Venice 's Ponte Rialto , or elsewhere - as well as the European industries that have not relocated ( whilst those that have will be penalised by this regulation ) .
a terrorist threat , pilot error , technical defects , a misunderstanding between the pilot and control tower and unforeseen atmospheric conditions are all factors which must be predicted and stringent measures must be taken to apply the regulations both in spirit and according to the letter .
particularly in countries which are in the grip of censorship , the activity of citizens and access to information are maintained by the instrumentality of the Internet .
it would be good if in the future we could develop a model from this that can also be used should such a fundamental transformation come about in other states .
this was not the time for us to give our support to this report .
it believes in the benefits of global competition and of the free and unrestricted movement of capital and goods .
as Mr Cohn-Bendit rightly said , there are indeed many last-minute resistance fighters .
it has always been a pleasure to work with my colleagues in the Committee on Transport and Tourism and I would like to thank all my fellow Members for that and Chairman Costa , in particular , for his report , which we are currently discussing , and also for his readiness to work on a sensible compromise on airport slots .
finally , if the Union adopts the aforementioned report , harmonising fuel prices under the slogan of unshackling enterprises and countries , will this not amount in fact to shackling them anew by way of taxation ? worse , will it not simultaneously drive them barefoot into poverty ?
this would be a major international agreement within a multilateral framework , which would not negate the validity of a bilateral framework between the United States , Japan and Europe , with room too for Brazil , India , China and the other major trading regions of the world .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , the essential thing , and the necessary condition , is to stick to the targets of fiscal consolidation and implement structural reforms with full determination , in line with the memorandum .
they want to build an incinerator in Heiligenkreuz 300 metres from the Hungarian border , which could incinerate almost ten times the volume of refuse produced in Burgenland annually , and all of this with the European Union 's assistance .
Madam President , in Ireland two years ago , in December 2008 , we had a problem .
the Europe 2020 strategy and investment in initiatives with European added value permeated the debates during the work on the report .
this is truly the most idiotic idea at the moment because it means that we would be unable to go any further politically .
- Before the vote
we should also bear in mind the changes that the Lisbon Treaty - if and when it enters into force - will bring about on this important issue .
the text proposed by the rapporteur after negotiations , and unanimously adopted by the Committee on Legal Affairs , will allow the Member States to provide for the retention of the usual publication methods , as their cost is included in the single publication fee .
there were comments on who is taking this decision .
the new challenges that we are facing , such as climate change and the economic crisis , should give rise to responses that will be included in the new Cotonou Agreement , which is expected to be finalised in March .
I really think there is still a very long way to go , especially as regards fair charging .
it was equally a major blow to European solidarity and European togetherness .
it would be a paradox if the European Parliament were to become so heavily and effectively involved in combating manifestations of discrimination in the world yet were unable to cope with respect for human rights at home - that is , in the EU Member States .
but if recital J and paragraph 19 stay in , which call prostitution a violation of human rights without even distinguishing between voluntary and involuntary prostitution , we will have to abstain .
there is no doubt that this fact is of fundamental importance for security in Europe , as Russia possesses the greatest conventional armed forces potential on our continent .
we know that these children are quicker at thinking than in their motor skills .
it is a land that has demonstrated its support many times and it will be able to appreciate the support shown by the European Parliament today .
Vice-President of the Commission . - The European Community has developed a number of actions to protect the euro against counterfeiting , but in response to your question about the situation with regard to the fight against counterfeiting , it is as follows :
therefore , this scientific research is vitally important and we must concentrate and find , first of all , funding , coordinated work and coordinated activities .
17 .
women and mothers who are in families where there are many children suffer discrimination both in the job market and from the pension system .
they have their own reasons for this , one of which is undoubtedly that they do not see trade unions as having the clout to protect their interests .
good administrative practice and a dignified reception should be guaranteed and the entry of genuine travellers should be facilitated .
despite a favourable opinion from the European Parliament , this ambitious proposal , which sought to establish the entry and residence conditions for third-country nationals wishing to undertake an economic activity within the Union , did not survive beyond its first reading within the Council , and the Commission officially withdrew it in 2006 .
I also believe that , structurally speaking , we must provide far greater support for videoconferencing .
at the same time the Slovenian Presidency has been emphasising that greater investment in education , particularly at elementary and vocational level , is of key importance in improving our countries ' competitiveness both in the European Union and in the Latin American and Caribbean countries .
however , we must remember that not only is Hamas one of the causes of the conflict , it is also a consequence of terrible circumstances .
the expression ' Single Market Act ' has been on everyone 's lips since Professor Mario Monti wrote his report .
we have advanced on three fronts , and I wish to commend what was the draft text from the European Commission and the work done around Commissioner Kovács , who was unquestionably going in the right direction .
it will help remove major trade barriers and European companies will be able to benefit from that .
that should , I believe , always be the main message in debates like this and the main underlying assumption for European policy .
I am looking forward to the vote tomorrow , and I hope that we can get a large majority to support the report and more forceful action to combat energy poverty .
I think that it is vital to develop and sell new , cutting-edge energy technologies .
finally , we also understand why it has been proposed to standardise the application of the law in the Member States .
thank you , Madam President .
actually , the exact opposite trend is occurring in the WTO and in trade negotiations .
in writing . - In favour .
indeed , our very strong first-reading agreement on ownership unbundling gave the negotiating team a lot of leverage during the talks .
this was explained to Belarus in the verbal notes sent by the Commission on 8 May .
this priority should be reflected in international agreements and in reports on human rights .
they will ensure that , in the future , countries will not feel pressured to take decisions alone that affect all Schengen signatories .
Elmar Brok referred to very important areas in external relations - the Eastern Partnership , the enlargement process - where we also need to work for credibility on both sides .
the Chairman of the Kimberley Process , Mr Mathieu Yamba from the Democratic Republic of the Congo , has decided unilaterally , and without consultation , to allow the marketing of diamonds from Zimbabwe 's Marange mine .
ladies and gentlemen , I am very pleased and moved to welcome here today Mahmud Abbas , the President of the Palestinian National Authority .
the Secretary-General sent an e-mail on Tuesday morning saying we would go back in October .
as for expenditure , action must involve an assessment of the context , requirements , the composition of the population , with due consideration for gender policies and demographic change .
the recycling of waste in Europe has been accorded an important place in this part-session : with the directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment and the resolution on the management of waste in Campania , we have voiced our opinion on a subject that is both technical and political .
the result is that fresh eggs will be produced here , and they will indeed be more expensive for consumers .
Mr de Kerchove , the Counter-terrorism Coordinator , talked about information management and personal data protection in his interesting and lucid report during a debate on the subject in this House on 26 November .
everybody in this House knows that detention conditions have a direct impact on the smooth functioning of the mutual recognition of judicial decisions and are the basis for cooperation between judges in the EU .
this has led to the degradation of marine habitats , which is why a new approach is crucial .
I do agree with one conclusion - supervision at European level is sometimes more detailed , perhaps , than in Member States , and I call on the Court to exercise greater supervision in the Member States , where the money is quite simply frequently disappearing down the drain .
as you know , in three weeks ' time , the Heads of State or Government of the 56 participating States of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe ( OSCE ) will convene at a summit in Astana .
these options , instruments and objectives have now been taken up again by the 2020 strategy .
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the legislative package on economic governance represents a new chapter in the life of the Union .
it is a text that tries to be all things to all people and rambles on at length about trivia , but only gives a small amount of wording to the important issue of maritime safety .
I should therefore like to ask the Bureau and Parliament 's administration to look into how we can salvage the situation at this point before Parliament goes into recess after 7 May , so that we can discuss and restore this situation during the next part-session .
in the light of the review of existing European legislation in this area , which turns out to be lacking in many respects , it is vital to take action to ensure maximum safety standards .
if Mr Severin is claiming that there is no need to internationalise internal conflicts , that to me is a nicer way of putting what was previously referred to as the principle of non-interference in internal affairs .
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I believe that this point of view has been well captured in the report , which constitutes a step in the right direction in terms of promoting a common security and defence policy which is more effective , coordinated and consistent with the rest of the policies of the European Union and its Member States .
'Europe 2020 ' is nothing less than a project comprising all the measures that the European Union must adopt to bring down by at least 20 million the number of people living in or at risk of poverty .
Institutionally speaking , we are on the way from Nice to Lisbon .
in our view , it will be impossible to function like this .
( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I am asking for the three words ' independent impact assessment ' to be included after ' better regulation ' .
so much for the specific questions that were asked .
they want to decide these things for themselves .
a future is not built by partitioning a country : it is built by rebuilding its economy , with mutual recognition of different communities and cultures and application of the rule of law .
you cannot simply decide that yourself .
to avoid further killing of Arabs and Israelis , the Arab partners have to recognise unconditionally Israel 's right to existence and contribute to stopping the infiltration of extremist movements and even more deadly weapons to this region .
however , we must not forget that in terms of the protection of human rights , the Council of Europe is in many ways ahead of the European Union .
second , the Reform Treaty also gives legal force to the Charter of Fundamental Rights , which will be a central part of the system of checks and balances in our Union of Law .
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settlement development must be stopped .
furthermore , the next five years of the European Parliament lie before us , and we hope that the MEPs of the next term will make Europe 's voice more audible .
I therefore believe significant resources should be allocated to an information campaign .
at the same time we are completely ignoring , for example , their opinion on the planned construction of new foreign bases on EU territory .
we must allow all European citizens to access information .
consumers are not only consumers ; they are also entrepreneurs , company employees - could I just ask how much time I have left , I was not listening before : I thought I had three minutes , so I am being quite quick - and they also have an interest in the welfare of their companies .
the fact that the Russian authorities have become so nervous about the very idea of a visa ban shows what a huge positive potential the EU really has to bring about changes in the situation .
the Council 's proposals pose some very serious questions , as all the other rapporteurs have said before me .
however , there is still one way - as yet untried - to make an impact .
money for the decommissioning of the reactor will have to be taken from people hit by the economic crisis .
our society and economy must change as our climate changes .
we call on the Commission and the Council not only to step up EU border controls , but also to introduce harmonised legislation to punish human traffickers speedily and resolutely , and to promote better agreements with immigrants ' countries of origin .
originally , the Commission , under Mr Bernier , was very committed to the area of prevention , because it understood that natural disasters can only really be combated through preventive action .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , it has not been easy asking for the vote to be postponed , but I think that it has been a necessary measure which I really believe will do the European Parliament credit .
I should like those who are calling for the coordination of economic policies first and foremost to set an example and demonstrate the sincerity of their words .
what is positive , though , is that public places frequented by vulnerable groups ( parks , sports and recreational areas , schools and suchlike ) will be better protected .
these areas that mark a break should be turned into areas that help make connections .
a detailed evaluation of the landing gear retraction system in this type of aircraft led the EASA to conclude that the safety of the aircraft was not in doubt .
in my report , I have stressed that it would be very much in his or her interest to work closely with the Commission , so that all of the Union 's foreign policy resources can be mobilised .
( DE ) Mr President , Mr Chastel , Commissioner , this could actually have been a time of great answers , but in hindsight , it does not look like it .
I think the initial , short-term objective of reaching 175g CO2 / km between 2014 and 2017 is indeed quite reasonable , while further reducing emissions to 147 CO2 / km can logically be achieved by 2020 .
that means that , although we have been set a target - Parliament , the Council , all European institutions - our progress , particularly after the crisis , is not likely to result in 20 % more energy efficiency ; instead , as things currently stand , it would only be possible to achieve a maximum of 8 , 9 , 10 % in ten years ' time .
firstly , it requires Member States to create product contact points where companies will be able to obtain information about construction products .
a significant portion of it is being inappropriately spent .
it must be a plan which supports the efforts made by these states to maintain an economic and social balance .
in writing . - ( PT ) This recommendation deals with the draft decision of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States of the European Union , meeting within the Council on the conclusion of the Agreement on Air Transport between the European Community and its Member States , of the one part , and Canada , of the other part .
the result of the parliamentary elections held on 27 September leaves room for hope , although we should all be concerned about the reaction to the progress made by the Venezuelan opposition .
to respond now to the question from Mrs Andrikienė , I would remind you that , according to the Commission , Hungary , Lithuania , Estonia , Bulgaria and Romania are affected more severely by the financial crisis than the other Member States .
question No 4 : forced prostitution and trafficking in human beings are a violation of fundamental rights and are one type of organised crime .
however , European solidarity is indeed called for , of course , where disasters genuinely occur as a result of force majeure , when genuine natural disasters happen .
I will end by saying that this is a difficult objective , as proven by our failure in Europe , in the European Union , to achieve a true internal market in energy , because we do not even have the necessary interconnections .
the most fundamental thing this discussion has shown is that we must also look for ways to limit consumption and show respect for natural resources .
such a system creates an unnecessary and bureaucratic procedure in which those Member States requiring help in reality become dependent on EMU countries with outsider-imposed requirements for ' political and economic measures ' .
Parliament , and I say this very clearly , should be aware that the Commission , on its Internet site , has already confirmed that the consultations held in 1997 and 2002 showed a high-level and specific demand from economic operators .
this is a disgrace !
in the case of Khaled el-Masri , for example , my own government kowtowed to the US Government only a few days ago .
secret detentions and unlawful inter-state transfers involving member states of the Council of Europe ( reports Fava and Marty ) ( debate )
the simple answer is no .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the legislative proposal voted on today , which I supported , outlines the importance of pharmaceutical industries in their delicate role as sources of non-promotional information on their products .
of course not .
however , measures are being taken in the United States .
at the present time , we must not forget young people . they should be given the chance to develop and they should be helped , so that they can acquire new skills in an economy which is becoming increasingly international .
given that low-cost companies sell their tickets almost exclusively online , it is young people and people on the lowest incomes who are particularly affected by this phenomenon .
we do understand that , because you feel the pinch , but this year we wanted - and we will see this in the vote tomorrow - to lay down conditions for releasing the reserve that you will be in a position to meet quite independently .
this time , people were at a loss .
you are representing a newborn office , an institution just born , which is having a difficult childhood .
when the present Director was appointed , the recommendation by an independent selection panel that put forward the seven most suitable candidates was put aside .
Solvency II will introduce an economic risk-based regime that will deepen integration of the EU insurance market , enhance policyholder protection and increase the competitiveness of EU insurers .
let me mention a few additional details regarding these two questions in the remaining two minutes : there was the issue of the member of the Lukashenko government .
our sympathy goes out to the families .
( it ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , with some 600 000 beekeepers and just under 14 million hives throughout the EU , beekeeping represents an area of considerable importance within the Union farming sector .
revolutions are peculiar in that they always seem inevitable after the fact but impossible before it .
the shocking lack of controls in this sector is resulting in an increasing number of accidents due to driver fatigue .
he has no role in the process of decision making or in the underlying management procedures such as , for example , the acquisition of buildings or the suspension of a long-term lease .
that is solidarity .
I am delighted that we have succeeded in creating a joint resolution which represents a decent compromise and which can contribute to reducing the incidence of deaths and ill health caused by smoking .
these are matters that need to be dealt with in the individual Member States under their domestic political processes , which will result in a democratic basis for the sacrifices that need to be made .
the fight against illegal , unreported and unregulated fishing is crucial in order to preserve the sustainability of fisheries resources , along with ensuring greater fairness and equality in the distribution of wealth .
in writing . - I share the critics on the procedure of the nomination of the Commission , as explained in the resolution of the Green Group , particularly the lack of transparency , Member States choosing their candidates rather according to domestic political considerations than for their suitability , and the lack of possibility to disapprove to a separate candidate .
yet the proposed solutions state that each country is to reduce debt to 60 % within 20 years .
we in Italy have made the mistake of thinking of Mr Gaddafi as ' our son of a bitch ' , as President Roosevelt would have said , while instead , he was simply one of the many sons of ... that rule over their people and now even fire on them or make other people fire on them .
to conclude , Commissioner , you know how essential it is for MEPs to be kept fully informed of the negotiations under way and to be involved at all stages , including from the point at which the negotiating mandate is defined .
you make a number of key points in your formal discussions on the agreement today , which I share .
then I am sure , soon thereafter , that we can also deliver on the requirements of the fund .
we must continue to act together in order to realise the strategy and the action plan .
we need a European legal framework within which to implement concrete measures such as the emergency telephone number , and training programmes for the police , the judiciary and teachers .
in writing . - ( LT ) I endorsed this document , because the Committee responsible decided to approve the closure of the accounts of the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2009 .
it has to be admitted that it is not at all effective as it stands .
the capacity was simply exhausted .
I call on you to take the responsibility to change the Head of the Delegation .
European Union-Latin America and Caribbean Summit ( debate )
being a lawyer , I would like to recall that , through the interim accord between Greece and FYROM signed in September 1995 , Greece agreed not to object to FYROM 's application to international or regional organisations if made under the name referred by the United Nations , which is FYROM .
we believe that it is necessary for us to both use more resources and take more time in this area .
this logic will just lead to an unravelling of what we have been building here for decades , in other words the single market in financial services .
however , this sector is now in crisis as a result of the collapse in the price of recycled materials on world markets , and it is becoming economically unviable for waste businesses to continue to operate .
( PL ) Mr President , back in April I sent a written question to the Commissioner , in which I firmly objected to the planned admission into the EU market of chemically disinfected chickens from the United States .
as it stands , the new directive does not yet apply entirely to local services - urban , suburban and regional services .
we appreciate very much the involvement of Parliament in all these discussions .
Treaty modifications are always complex , even simplified ones .
first , the debate on the Treaty shows the importance of increased resources and a long-term perspective in the EU efforts in respect of communication , dialogue and democratic development .
it also logically gives rise to the question of what the Commission would do if it was convinced that there was insufficient capacity in a certain area , or if , on the contrary , there was excess capacity .
more matching , bundling , is required to enable major research into infrastructure and investment .
the text has already been favourably received , without giving rise to major controversy , by the Transport Committee in January .
as for today , it seems as though we are waking up at last .
nevertheless , some problems still remain .
we know about the challenges ahead of us .
yesterday we had two good major reports from Mr Newton Dunn and Mrs Fourtou on the Customs Code and customs cooperation , which also play an important role in the context of today 's agenda .
Pactio Olisipiensis Censenda Est !
that is why we have to protect it and focus on promoting it : promoting it not only outside the EU , but here , too , because young people in Europe have stopped drinking wine in recent years .
if this is indeed the case the EU should not be afraid to wield the carrot as well as the stick and therefore I welcome Foreign Minister Martinov 's imminent visit .
the third thing we need is a bolder 2020 Strategy .
on the contrary , it fell into line with the old Commission , which wanted to hold on to the basic principles of the failed Lisbon strategy .
( SL ) I would like to comment on the remarks made at the beginning of voting when fellow members attempted to use the unplanned event at the Krško nuclear power station as an illustration of the unsafe performance of nuclear power plants .
an election campaign is in progress and some seek to criticise and some seek to defend the government .
in addition , Eurostars reinforces the cooperation between the Framework Programme and EUREKA .
this particular report does not state what documents the public has access to .
however , the Council proposal before us is quite simply too lacking in ambition and is toothless and thus redundant as it stands .
Madam President , I voted in favour of this report because it clearly distinguishes between the two main dossiers on Iran : human rights abuses by the current government and the Iranian nuclear programme .
this communication refers to the question of deforestation and the deterioration in forests in developing countries and proposes , among other things , the development of a financing mechanism in the aim of providing incentives to maintain existing forests .
it goes without saying that this is an important element , especially in view of the 2009 elections .
at the conference , we will discuss the strategy for the Baltic Sea area and we hope to gain a strong commitment from the countries concerned to work towards this becoming a reality , as well as discussing macroregions in general .
more attention should be paid to building bodies and institutions which would allow us to overcome the financial situation caused by the world economic crisis , and to protect the natural environment and biological diversity .
the Austrian application concerns 744 redundancies in nine enterprises , of which 400 are targeted for assistance from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund .
many Members here and many governments represented in the Council just do not accept the need for urgent action to prevent climate change .
this is why I favour a complete ban on the transport of animals , which , I believe , would support rural economies .
regarding Mr Harbour 's report , I should like to raise the issue of the definition of ' publicly available telephone service ' , as laid down in Article 1 , point 2b .
firstly , the Union must increase its ability to react quickly if such a disaster takes place .
but wine is also an alcoholic beverage which is damaging to public health , in particular if it is consumed in copious quantities .
by extrapolating these values to an international level one can understand why sport is able to break down geographical barriers and promote social intercourse and peace .
to conclude , I would like to thank Commissioner Almunia for saying that he was in favour of the European Union as a body adopting positions in international institutions , thus defending the Community method .
many thanks to you all and I hope we will all see each other again .
therefore , using this opportunity , I would ask all my colleagues and fellow Members to sign Written Declaration 0056 / 2009 , which was initiated by representatives of three political groups , on social conditionality for European Union help .
the situation in that country is grim .
however , at the same time , I wish to deplore the fact that this report ultimately did not feature any reference at all to a country included in the Eastern Partnership .
I call on you to support this report so that we can give new impetus to the development of the European Union 's rural areas .
the Council conclusions intend to contribute to the European Commission 's communication on the concept of European waters , which is foreseen to be adopted in 2012 , and which will highlight the importance of the sustainable management of the water resources of EU Member States and of maintaining the security of water resources and water supply .
Mr President , it is important that the drafting of the strategy should be an open process , and that a small number of influential players are not allowed to dictate the outcome .
involvement by the Community will add weight to the harmonisation activities conducted according to this Agreement and will therefore permit easier access to third-country markets .
finally , on the subject of free movement of persons within the European Union , I think that the limits can be abolished on the age of entitlement to receive an identity card as this will also encourage and guarantee free movement for the EU 's youngest citizens .
as far as the Council is concerned , I appeal to its President , who is present today , for the Council to note the good will of the European Parliament in our reading .
the International Energy Agency says that by 2050 it could be responsible for abating up to 50 % of the emissions that would otherwise take place on a business-as-usual scenario .
Council position at first reading : see Minutes
rather , we now want to see the concrete results of our demands .
this new approach is not supported in your report , where Amendments 1 , 6 , 7 , 25 and 26 call for Council regulations both for general and for detailed technical rules .
this is an independent health profession that focuses on the diagnosis , treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system and their effect on the nervous system and general health using manual therapy .
we cannot build European capabilities by shutting down our own factories .
the definition of decent work and a decent living and cross-border collective agreements are just some of the issues where the Commission has further work to do .
the promotion of the rights and well-being of consumers is a fundamental aspect of the European Union .
I think that that is really what drove us all on today , and here we have the proof that when all the budgetary areas said that they really wanted to reach an agreement , they were telling the truth .
will a dealer , a company , that had to wait for replacement parts receive compensation ?
Parliament 's amendments have largely improved the proposal for a regulation , which will cover the 2009-2011 period , and have focused on aspects that could improve the conditions for using the system by these beneficiary countries , such as provision of technical assistance by the European Union , which is a fundamental element for taking better advantage of the trade benefits of the GSP .
in this context , in July 2007 , the European Council adopted a regulation on the conclusion of a Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community .
we need to be generous and , as you said , we need to re-launch the agreement with Mercosur .
this is intended for those countries , those poor countries , as I understand it , that are in the EU but not in the currency union and that may then need to be rescued from a fate worse than death : the balance of payments problem .
for now reality is harsh and , for example , with many chain stores , faulty goods can only be returned to the original place of purchase , even if the chain has shops in the place or country where the consumer actually lives .
we also need to examine the issue of a forum for discussion at a global level among key market makers , both exporters and importers , so that crises are not simply noted when they occur .
this is an industry which is perhaps the first to apply flexible hours for employees , and where seasonal layoffs are the order of the day .
now , at the end of the day , we have reached a halfway reasonable solution , a compromise solution , but still one on which there will be a great deal of agreement .
the usual pattern is for the first stage to be restrictions on the media - in this case we are referring to the arrest of journalists - and restrictions on the right of association . we also have in mind the trade unions and persecution of religious minorities .
the first is that any decision or any act against a Member State must be seen as a decision or act against the European Union as a whole .
that is fantastic .
debt sustainability for Ireland is critical for Ireland and Europe and the Quartet must get real on this issue .
that is far from easy .
operations have graduated from being mainly hobbies to genuine profitable businesses , in addition to being shining examples of eco-friendly production .
EUR 6 billion has been provided for wind farm developments across the EU , according to Mr Maystadt , but the EIB simply accepts the applications for funding from the governments concerned without scrutiny .
will Asia Bibi 's fate be the same if she is pardoned ?
it is very important that the EU is prepared to take decisions itself if the OECD delays the processes .
I think that one of these missing links is the retail market .
Hastings and Rye MP , Mike Foster , has brought to my attention the need for the Marine Fishing Agency and the Commission to end discriminatory and distorting practices , especially in the catching of cod along the UK south coast , and particularly his own constituency Hastings and Rye , which we both represent .
the Slovakian Government as well as the Slovak Central Bank are well aware that meeting crucial criteria , not in the short term but in the medium and long terms , will be a demanding task .
the debate is closed .
it is not acceptable for this man to freely trample the dignity of this House underfoot .
lastly , do you think the Irish ' no ' vote a few days ago is unconnected with high prices and everyday life ?
EU-Africa relations have come a long way since the Cairo Declaration of 2000 .
also , as we are praising the work of the OSCE in the area of human rights , this opens up the possibility of discussing the extent to which the roles of the OSCE and the Council of Europe overlap .
documents received : see Minutes
are we going to end up with a lot of confused people , because the VIS is destined to deal with 20 million visa applications a year and delays presumably have a knock-on effect ?
the European elections will be taking place in a few months ' time and I hope that they will be marked by lively and vigorous debate .
an environmental disaster would make our current economic problems pale into insignificance .
Picasso depicted this same horror in his Guernica painting of our Guernica razed to the ground by the Junkers of the Condor Legion seven decades ago .
the latter involve changes to legislation in the area of the taxpayer 's responsibility should the necessary documents not be submited on time or be submitted incorrectly . other changes include shortening the time for obtaining the information and swift correction of inaccurate data , together with the acceleration of exchange of information linked to intra Community transactions .
this is absolutely intolerable and cannot continue , particularly when - and I repeat - it is lives that are at stake .
there is a second issue , however .
whether it will be possible to achieve those objectives depends on the Ukrainians themselves .
I think this statement is very important and significant for the future , because we do not want a situation in which the Court concludes that it cannot reach agreement with the Commission about results .
( CS ) I fully support extending the scope of Article 186 to include the milk and dairy products sector .
we have to destroy these , otherwise we will not be successful in this .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , the European Commission shares the deep concerns of this Parliament - so explicitly and clearly expressed by the honourable Members - as regards the human rights situation in Iraq .
we wanted just to adopt them until the year 2013 , with some particularities .
Productivity-enhancing policies , particularly those in green energy and research and development , must be recognised as the driver of the EU 's economic future .
at the same time , we should also focus on the other categories of disadvantaged people , and in particular young people , for whom we have to establish policies and allocate important amounts of money from the structural funds .
that is not good enough .
the same goes for the proposals being made on the respective political foundations .
we ask you to set your sights higher to ensure that the European project continues on track and does not become stalled , because that would cost us our future .
many mistakes and one defendant in the dock : the euro .
I wish to reassure you that this House has access to a lot of information , either because this information is in the public domain or because Parliament , as part of the budgetary authority , holds hearings with the directors of agencies , on the annual work programmes and on budgetary discharge , in the Employment and Social Affairs Committee .
the scientific community , via the IPCC , is calling on the European Union and the Member States to commit to a 40 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 compared with 1990 values .
as we know desertification affects 20-30 % of the world 's land area and 1.2 - 2 billion people - many of whom are in deep poverty - in at least 100 states .
the directive will also be proportionate with regard to the burden it imposes in accordance with the concept of proportionality embedded in both the existing anti-discrimination directives and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities , which has been signed by Member States and the European Community .
( applause )
I am delighted that the European Commission approved Lithuania 's application to receive EU funding since , during the recession , there is very little opportunity for the redundant furniture company workers to return to the labour market , and the mass redundancies from 49 companies is having a very negative impact on the country 's economic situation .
it is true , as you rightly pointed out , that China is still a major source of counterfeited cigarettes , so we have to work in close cooperation with them in order to tackle this issue .
since the start of Israel 's military campaign in the Gaza Strip on 27 December , we have witnessed a steep deterioration of the situation on all levels .
the signing of the Lisbon Treaty is no mere formality .
however , we have major doubts about , and other strong disagreements with , some of the points in the resolution .
in writing . - ( DE ) The new common agricultural policy ( CAP ) is intended to enter into force for European agriculture from 2014 .
it will be of crucial importance to succeed in bolstering such countries so that they do not make any wrong decisions and to be clear that a customs union with Russia and a free trade zone with the European Union are not compatible and for the advantages of making the right choice to be made clear .
just last year , it was the carcinogenic substances in toys known as softening agents that we were debating .
the question is , how can competitiveness be reconciled with social cohesion , or in other words , globalisation with regulation .
the problem is in the directive itself which repeats over and over again that ' Member States ' may ' ... ' .
this is an important message and we will come back to this in the legislative proposals .
colleagues , we prefaced each of our resolutions on Guantánamo with protestations of goodwill .
I voted in favour of the text presented by Mr Mitchell .
however , it is vital that the Spring Council 's noble conclusions on the Europe 2020 strategy go beyond good intentions .
for precisely this reason , there is significant potential in this sector for reducing energy use - not only because of obligations undertaken concerning reductions in greenhouse gas emissions , but also because of the question of energy security .
we have made every effort to check the position with regard to the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy ( ITRE ) and there was no formal opinion , but obviously your point will be noted .
please , Commissioner , search your conscience : resign , and Europe will thank you for it .
it is in the common interest of the Commission and the Member States to make progress on that .
the national , regional and local authorities joined efforts so that life on the island could go back to normal .
the European Union must remember the significance of research in terms of providing a competitive edge in today 's global world .
this system facilitates the trans-border mobility of workers and makes it easier to achieve transparency with regard to professional qualifications obtained abroad .
( NL ) Mr President , the Netherlands is once again having to clean up Greece 's mess !
Europe does not suffer , it acts .
it was a relative success .
the Italian Government should be given a clear message about it from the European Parliament .
lastly , measures and guarantees to be adopted to avoid crises in the egg market in the coming years and to prevent unfair competition from third countries that are not obliged to respect the European Union directive within the European internal market .
this amendment has regrettably been dismissed .
it would be fantastic for journalists and the citizens of Europe if that could be done before the elections .
it represents a European superstate that is becoming more and more authoritarian and totalitarian , judging by the peremptory remarks of Mr Cohn-Bendit to your successor , and it represents the repressive initiatives of Mr Barrot , which propose to extend to all of Europe laws that our fellow Member Mr Toubon described as Stalinist at the time of their adoption .
that is why it is important for Parliament to look at its priorities and to send a clear message to the Commission beforehand .
this also means that if there is a genuine desire for this change in priorities , which will involve an investment of EUR 60 million in the coming years , then , in the opinion of the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance , we will also have to make savings in other areas , rather than just limiting increases .
( loud applause )
for Parliament to carry out its work satisfactorily , it must have better-quality information in good time .
this incoherent logic becomes clearly apparent on examining two sets of figures .
Article 153 ( 5 ) is a limit as regards the content of the measures that can be adopted under Article 153 , i.e. social policy .
when we have done this , we will be able to give inspections a higher political priority and improve enforcement of environmental laws throughout the Community .
of course .
ladies and gentlemen , while we cannot predict the future , certain trends and dangers can generally be discerned .
consumers who do not have any financial knowledge have problems in choosing products and services which best suit their needs .
after all , this is nothing more than what they used to enjoy in the days of the former Yugoslavia .
it would help the market activities of small businesses if sources of funding and financing were made much more readily accessible than at present .
indeed , at the start of this year , since when you have been High Representative and Vice-President , new Member States had just one head of delegation in the European Union .
in writing . - ( PT ) Road safety is a priority of European transport policy , a real concern for political decision-makers and a mainstay for all citizens in the fight against the tragedies which , unfortunately , keep occurring all too frequently on Europe 's roads .
which one will be the odd one out ?
this interinstitutional agreement was adopted in May .
recent studies estimate that , in 2018 , maritime transport will increase in the Member States from 3.08 billion tonnes in 2006 to 5.3 billion .
it is my opinion that this report has adequately tackled the issues of concern that have arisen as a result of the crisis .
pursuant to the Waste Directive , incinerators shall be the last option in a hierarchy of integrated waste systems that presents virtuous alternatives that have no public health or environmental impact but instead create employment .
my third question is : could the explicit stipulation of statistics on production imports , exports and distribution of plant protection products lead to confusion and potential double-counting of quantities of plant protection products ?
that is all .
it will be really nice .
( the President cut off the speaker )
we have achieved a lot with the single market and we know that we can achieve even more if we can release the potential of the single market .
this is why I think that the following points should be borne in mind when carrying out and assessing the stress tests :
it is really quite shocking to see how the pro-Europeans are helplessly at the mercy of the anti-Europeans .
the transition from an authoritarian society to democracy - as many Members of this House know extremely well - is a gradual process .
the entrepreneurs will create the jobs , they will create the wealth and they will take poor people out of poverty .
it is only thanks to the fact that the newer EU Member States have reduced their emissions considerably more quickly that the EU as a whole can claim world leader status in this sphere .
this form of financial management in the EU should be extended to take in other countries of the Community .
finally , I consider it very important that the European Union not only spoke with a single voice , but that it changed the attitude it had exhibited in Copenhagen , and treated the other countries as partners and with empathy , and this contributed considerably to the success of Cancún .
in Spain airport charges are even laid down by Parliament , in other words the Members of Parliament decide on the levels that will apply .
I am therefore pleased that we also have our colleague from the Committee on Regional Development in the Chamber .
thank you for your attention .
already 30 years have passed , yet these legal acts have not yet been implemented .
AIDS / HIV in view of the XVIII International AIDS Conference ( Vienna July 18-23 , 2010 ) (
I can assure you that almost every week , thanks to our colleague Mr Frattini , we find this issue on the Commission 's agenda , with discussions on stream and proposals on stream to address the issue of migration .
it is therefore crucial for WTO members to fight protectionism in their bilateral and multilateral relations in future agreements .
finally , I simply want to stress the concern about poverty and social exclusion , which seriously affect women .
for this reason , it is prudent , and indeed essential , to review the coherence of our development policy , our fisheries policy and our policy on trade in timber in order to establish the extent to which they interact fruitfully or whether their aims may also be mutually obstructive in some respects .
contrary to some concerns , differentiating between food and non-alcoholic beverages , on the one hand , and alcoholic beverages , on the other hand , does not create a serious administrative burden for businesses .
it is right and proper for the Union to do everything to ensure that food coming to the European market is of a high quality .
taking account of the fact that a horizontal decision has also been taken regarding correlation tables , together with other shadow rapporteurs , I propose to support the text agreed at the first reading with the Council .
lastly , Commissioner , please publicise the content of the regulation promptly and on a wide scale so that all rail passengers are properly informed of the rights they have now acquired .
the Barcelona Process stalled for political reasons , first and foremost , because of the regional conflicts in the Mediterranean area , but technically , it is still alive , as shown by the major integration projects that the Union is supporting with its own funding and by the progress made in defining the institutional structure of the UfM .
firstly , reference has been made very frequently in this Chamber to stimulation of the economy by means of additional budgetary expenditure .
with respect to Kosovo , the Council has already observed that , in this case , the Member States were deciding in accordance with national practice and international law .
regulation needs to be thought through in calmer times .
I shall vote against this report , which blindly promotes the neoliberal logic that is responsible for the economic , social and environmental crisis , the consequences of which we are all suffering .
- ( CS ) In September last year I warned on YouTube and elsewhere against the growing incidence of hazardous toys and I promised that we would take measures here to ensure that by Christmas the market would be a safer place .
infringement procedures , competence of the European Court of Justice , Commission reporting , EP monitoring : all these will be available .
you did nothing .
they must understand how the other systems work in the European Union so that the maximum possible flexibility can be used when applying the directive , as well as to avoid the administrative obstacles blocking the professionals ' path .
what we did in the Harbour and Trautmann reports was essentially to choose .
we welcome the fact that there has been a thorough review of United States policy on detention , transfer , trial , interrogation and the fight against terrorism .
the involvement of members of civil society in the conclusion of the agreement is a positive step and must continue in order to ensure external control over the progress of the process for eliminating fraud and developing sustainable trade .
of course , however , this should be possible when completed .
however , I would also like to point out that we still have large reserves of coal throughout the EU and , with the development of clean coal technology , I pose the question whether or not our abandonment of coal , as a source of energy , was premature ?
in my opinion , they were influencing patients in a non-objective way to take note of a particular product .
we should emphasise the fact that , to date , it is more often than not third countries that are less well-off than us that have played their part in accommodating refugees .
I have only abided by the current rules .
in 95 cases , the inquiry revealed no maladministration .
the Government responds with repeated accusations of foreign - i.e. Russian - interference , and produces video footage in support of its claims .
every effort is being made to exclude parliaments and hold back information .
they specifically need to measure in a sustainable manner the progress made in achieving economic , social and environmental objectives .
Europe 's security is determined not only on our own territory but also in the regions nearest to us .
this nomination will be examined in 2009 - in fact , it now has been - by the responsible UNESCO committee .
there is no earthly reason why with tolerance and care we cannot recognise one another 's acts when they are done by contract or notarial act , but not in exactly the same manner and form .
it analyses the causes of the financial turmoil and proposes future changes .
the African Union resolution is critical of President Mugabe , and calls on him to seek a political agreement with Morgan Tsvangirai , the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change ( MDC ) , with a view to forming a government of national unity .
( DE ) Mr President , no one has any serious doubts about the need to combat terrorism .
at the request of one of the governments , we have extended the consultations until mid-February , because there are still opinions being prepared .
( DE ) Mr President , could you tell us the name of the person in the secretariat who is responsible for the seating plan and whether he or she happens to be in the Chamber ?
to answer Mrs Koppa as well , whose speech was very sophisticated , sanctions remain a political instrument .
obviously that is going to cause extra difficulties for consumers .
therefore , the question we must ask is why Belgium did not invest in this safety system over the last 20 years .
we call for the creation of new targets for the collection , recycling and reuse of waste , part of which is of interest due to its recoverable raw material content .
the preparations for the first reading of our budget , during which we had to read , understand and evaluate 1 400 amendments , were greatly affected by the financial crisis .
therefore , all your comments are very welcome .
allow me to mention my own country , where we have only very recently introduced gender equality which allows a father to take paternity leave , which shows that we are converging and we are on the right track .
ladies and gentlemen , allow me to explain a point in our Rules of Procedure .
what I want , therefore , is for Lady Ashton to coordinate the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Committee on Foreign Affairs , so that we can discuss the resources to support the policy adopted .
seven months were required to adopt this decision .
therefore , I applaud the report and the vote in the European Parliament - which will surely be positive - all the more .
the Commission is therefore very closely following the ensured existence of press freedom in Turkey .
we have to acknowledge and assess the role of Turkey in the region and use our negotiations with Turkey as a frame for developing an EU-Turkey partnership in addressing the local and regional challenges .
thank you very much , I have been following it with keen attention .
Mr Lambsdorff , thank you for your comments .
I regret that no mention is made ( albeit this regulatory amendment is probably not the right medium ) on the matter of rating States and the specific supervision which ought to be in place when rating States .
when we look at what sort of energy is counted as low carbon , we can find large hydropower plants in the strategy .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the report on the activity of the European Investment Bank ( EIB ) highlights some important and welcome points .
for this reason , I believe this will enjoy the wholehearted support of our group .
what is the Commission going to do in this regard ?
this was necessary because Spain was one country which held a consultative referendum on the Constitutional Treaty which has since been through a process of renegotiation with the nature of a treaty , in the most classic sense of what the European concept represents .
agenda
democracy in Egypt is an excellent long-term investment , which will bring dividends both to the citizens of Egypt and to the people of Europe .
I have fitted my house with full thermal insulation , thus saving 7 000 litres of fuel oil per year - it is not possible to make such savings on my car .
then , on 21 March , the Foreign Ministers , the trustees of the areas of the common foreign and security policy , and common security and defence policy , reiterated their commitment .
therefore , a great deal of work lies ahead .
this is exactly what the Community programme to support specific activities in the field of financial services , financial reporting and auditing achieves .
that is what is proposed .
in 1841 , according to the census list , there were 1 821 shoemakers within the county .
perhaps they want to fall back to some less ambitious positions .
the Commission welcomes the constructive approach of Parliament and the Council , thanks to which they have come to a reliable and equitable solution based on a set of measures created through the proposal from the Commission and the joint position of the social partners .
with a clear conscience we shall vote against the proposal , and shall support the minority proposal which addresses the social and economic concerns of the producers in my country , Cyprus , and those of other European producers .
anyone who denies this fact should be treated as unforgivingly as those who deny the Holocaust of Jews .
without this key element , our requirements will not be compensated for at global level .
the biggest challenge , however , may prove to be the scepticism of Croatian society towards accession to the EU .
education is a precondition for the immigrants ' successful integration into the wider society .
let us not forget that the previous version of this treaty died in two Member States ' referendums .
it needs more effort , more attention and in particular it needs more collective cooperative attention by Member States .
hence this rigorously designed procedure with a reversal of the burden of proof , which requires the Commission to be informed of the Member State 's decision at the end of the procedure .
a clear majority of them saw a solution within the framework of applying national law and a number of them are well on their way in this process .
we are well aware that providing acceptable and reasonable living conditions substantially increases the chances of reintegration in society .
yes , they represent an opportunity for our most fragile regions .
Mr President , I would firstly like to welcome the Commission initiative , which is very well prepared .
the Hungarian Presidency skilfully negotiated with a very narrow majority in the Council .
as MEPs , we can take the initiative ourselves to promote SOLVIT and we can help raise awareness about it among our colleagues at national parliament level .
in this context , I commend the European Commission 's initiative to develop a common European demographic strategy as the only adequate way to meet this global challenge .
in the interests of protecting the environment , we have popularised cycling and the use of public transport , but have we given any thought to ourselves , the people ?
it is a country where only the women and children work , where children do not go to school and are therefore not educated .
this is about serious negotiations to get a serious outcome and , as the details of this unfold , I hope that colleagues will look at it in the spirit that we have tried to set it up .
at the conference on company law organised by the German Presidency , Mr Lehne rightly said that the European Commission could be brought before the Court for Justice for failure to fulfil its obligations .
I hope that you , my fellow colleagues , will vote on this legislation on Thursday .
I find it alarming that we are allowing energy to be used as a means of exerting political pressure on countries of transit and destination .
when the Working Time Directive is revised , we shall be on the side of freedom and choice ; when the Temporary Workers Directive is reviewed , we shall , again , be on the side of freedom and choice .
that is the vision that we must promote , and this European Parliament stands by your side , Prime Minister .
many of our citizens do not have access to care in the Member State they live in for the conditions they suffer from .
unfortunately , we do not have many options for using the budget to solve the financial crisis , not only because it is tiny compared to those of the Member States , at just 1 % of their size , but also due to a lack of flexibility in the rules set out in the framework budget for the period 2007-2013 .
the purpose of this amendment is quite straightforward .
you mentioned this yourself , Commissioner .
firstly , the Member States agree that the creation of a functional and efficient solidarity mechanism is one of the cornerstones of future EU energy security .
the EU patent system , however , suffers from many deficiencies , preventing the establishment of unitary patent protection , but also the development of the internal market , thereby reducing legal certainty for inventors and innovative firms .
this is increasingly true in the new Member States of the Union .
our duty and our ultimate scope is to grant security to our citizens .
but , again , on the whole , we are a very strong motor and body in this area , and we have to go on working to ensure that the Human Rights Council really works and goes in the right direction .
otherwise , as history has always shown , power corrupts .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , on 23 February in Villasanta , Lombardy , an exceptional discharge of hydrocarbons from a tank in a disused refinery resulted in massive contamination of the nearby River Lambro .
my constituents , who are some of the poorest in London , cannot afford that kind of expenditure .
furthermore , agreements on air transport with third countries help to develop international air transport and safeguard security of law .
will this development help to protect our economies from the effects of the global economic crisis , as the Commission is claiming it will ?
in the interests of ending the segregation that exists in education , I support the initiation of measures to provide information and engage in social dialogue .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - Mr President , recently , in the Rüffert case , a Polish company paid 53 workers only 46 % of the agreed wage for the trade in Germany .
respect for human rights has always been and continues to be the foundation on which the EU is built .
anything that we can do to improve access , to give more information to the public on some of the things that perhaps some of our Commissioners and others would rather keep confidential , is very welcome .
the report seeks more cohesion between the EU countries and wants the European Parliament to have more of a say .
not a single Member voted against it ; nor did anyone oppose it any of the committees that were asked for their opinion .
the Commission , it seems to me , has not been sufficiently active in honouring the commitments that it set itself .
the Fund , as I said and can confirm , has granted EUR 12.5 billion , with EUR 6.5 billion from the Union , and it is clear that this solidarity is benefiting the countries affected by serious crises in their balance of payments and with problems in refinancing external debt .
that has clogged up the system , making all the rest of us wait longer for our answers , costing a fortune because all such questions have to be translated into every language , circulated around the Commissioners for a collective reply and collegiate reply , and is a waste of our time and resources .
we do not agree that we do not need to revisit the guidelines and to revise them .
in the European Social Fund , this figure is EUR 1.9 billion , since 16 % of the Member States have not fully implemented the amounts .
alongside the positive points , however , the report does not shrink from mentioning the challenges that face us : reforming the judicial system , combating organised crime and corruption , bringing refugee returns to a conclusion , and resolving or alleviating bilateral tensions .
one thing I agreed to here , for the sake of compromise , was that the money that is being charged here for heavy goods traffic can be spent on rail transport or shipping .
this Agreement concerns certain safety aspects of civil aviation , without getting into issues of creating a full Open Aviation Area between these two countries , which , according to the rapporteur , should be the subject of a separate recommendation .
it follows that , in 2008 , 156 women died from injuries inflicted by their spouse in France , where almost one in ten women is a victim of marital violence .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , thank you Commissioner for your continued attendance .
in the work of this service , consideration must be given to the cultural and national differentiation which exists within the Union .
it is particularly regrettable that a quarter of this number - 20 million - are children .
what differences in treatment between men and women has the Council identified in respect of gainful employment ?
dementia and Alzheimer 's disease in particular are not only serious medical problems , but also a hugely sensitive ethical and social problem , the severity of which will continue to increase in relation to the ageing of Europe 's population .
question No 69 will be answered in writing .
the report calls for a close partnership with the USA on energy security , being aware that the USA is waging war in Iraq to secure cheap energy resources .
we can only be delighted by any move towards the decommissioning of a nuclear power plant and the implementation of research programmes for renewable energies and nuclear waste .
however , the International Monetary Fund does one thing : it imposes harsh measures and then lends cheaply , which leaves no room for speculators .
( RO ) Illegal employment is concentrated in certain sectors where the work is assumed to be of an unskilled nature , such as construction , agriculture , cleaning and the hotel and catering industry .
the World Summit on Food Security represented an opportunity to sustain the political momentum that has been building up in past months .
the Commission is , of course , very sensitive to the speeches that have raised this problem .
this means that you are continuing to foster an imbalance in European society that weakens approval for this policy , rather than strengthening it .
the rapporteur , however , is talking to us as if this Parliament were faced with the final vote , with the final reading , with the obligation of exercising ultimate responsibility for adopting or rejecting it .
very concretely , I will invite the Conference of Committee Chairs to meet the whole College of Commissioners every year before the adoption of the Commission legislative and work programme .
we should not assume from the outset that the Member States have a bad attitude .
this is a Europe without solidarity and a Europe in which the peripheral countries are becoming increasingly peripheral .
most of us here this evening will agree that the European Quality Assurance Reference Framework for vocational education and training will prove to be a very useful instrument for helping Member States to promote and monitor continuous improvement in their vocational education and training systems .
after all , solidarity with the very poorest must be firmly embedded in any climate deal .
there is a great danger that weapons lying on the seabed will be raised .
( applause )
in 2008 , European disbursements will amount to 25 % of the European average ; only in 9 years ' time will Romania be able to reach that average .
I believe Mr Hutchinson spoke of coordination , coherence and complementarity .
( DE ) Mr President , in many ways , Pakistan is a fragile country .
in writing . - ( LT ) I approved of this report because the European citizens ' initiative is a new instrument of participatory democracy on a continental scale .
the Commission has always defended the rights of indigenous people and will continue to monitor the projects that were being described .
I welcome the progress made by Croatia , in particular , in combating corruption .
what is more , if , during the construction of a home , there happens to be a building worker who is either foolish or dishonest , and does not pour the necessary amount of concrete into the foundations as called for in the design , then the home will be crooked .
as was the case just moments ago , we have heard people claim that some are right and others are wrong , that some are good while others are bad , and they seem to have forgotten about interdependence .
given that the WTO prevents us from imposing the same standards on imports as we do on European stockbreeders , however , the Commission must , at the very least , guarantee that all meat that crosses Community borders comes from farms that have undergone adequate inspections .
in Poland there is a preponderance of small agricultural holdings , where the owners , due to insufficient finance , economise on expensive pesticides and this sometimes results in losses as a result of pests .
my third point is that Georgia should actively prepare for negotiations for a new EU-Georgia association agreement in the context of the European and Eastern Partnership .
I agree that the multi-level approach should be applied not only vertically but also horizontally , among actors of the same level , in all shared-competence Union policies including the cohesion policy , which plays a forerunner role in the application of multi-level governance , as an instrument to improve the quality of decision-making processes through the active involvement of sub-national authorities from the pre-legislative phase of the debates .
these means of transport must become less polluting and more energy efficient .
the allocation of regional policy resources thus becomes a key factor in terms of meeting the European objectives that we are defining .
all of you who are sitting here were elected under the Treaty of Nice .
Russia 's economic welfare depends on energy exports .
the proposal will improve the amount of protection given to consumers and will improve product safety .
the cosmetic amendments to the article of the Penal Code prohibiting the denigration of Turkey and Turkishness are diverting the attention of Brussels from the use of brute force against demonstrators and from the acts of military aggression against northern Iraq .
all those concerned understand the need to conclude by June .
both cases concern a dispute over the full implementation of the Treaty of Lisbon .
the Bali summit did not line up with the noble targets proposed by the Europeans .
the Global Approach to Migration has not remained static but has been refined and developed by the European Council in light of events and progress made in its implementation .
there are no specific measures to protect the internal and external borders of the Union .
this proposal for a new Regulation contains some elements which make for improvements .
I am quite sure that not only Ms Van Brempt but also at least 300 other colleagues are listening in their rooms , because there is the opportunity to listen to the debate there .
would it mean streaming the Internet in order to identify violations ?
it needs to be urgently addressed .
do we need better chemicals legislation , an improved substitution principle , more effective rules , more rules , more controls and more alternative products ?
however , no discharge was approved for the Police College based in Britain .
Article 10 ( a ) mandates ' through the progressive abolition of restrictions on international trade ' and it is a guiding principle for the Commission in its interaction with non-Member States .
the disparities are growing between these countries and the rich countries of Western Europe .
that is welcome , but single market initiatives remain in the framework of the Treaty and the 27 .
the next MFF must therefore be designed in such a way as to ensure flexibility in order to avoid the shortcomings of the current MFF .
( the President cut off the speaker )
the two reports complement each other very well .
Madeira has been hit by an unbelievable natural disaster and we extend our condolences to the families affected .
if you want to participate in this process , I kindly ask you to raise your hand way in advance .
in particular , signatures will only need to be collected in at least a quarter of the Member States and not one third .
they must first and foremost increase the participation in the labour market of young people , women and older people .
( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , in contrast to the previous speaker , I firmly believe that the forthcoming European Council should fully live up to the motto of the current Czech Presidency , which is ' Europe without barriers ' .
it stumbled in its first few days in office .
the imbalances long predicted by sceptics are starting to bite .
many farmers - in my view , quite rightly - will resent the details of their single farm payment being posted over the internet because of the distorted perception of free hand-outs which it creates .
( HU ) Madam President , Commissioner , Minister , I clearly support the Hungarian Presidency in its endeavour to conclude the accession negotiations of Croatia in June .
the partnership with our Eastern neighbours represents a political framework of great importance for Europe 's wellbeing , and its work platform is focused on four themes : democracy , good governance , economic integration and convergence with European policies .
however , it is a matter of the utmost importance for the Heads of State Summit this weekend to honour its agreement with the European Parliament .
the representatives of the EU and of the International Francophone Organisation are taking part in this inquiry as international observers .
we must strengthen consumer rights and enterprises must take responsibility for their products .
it has an enormous nuclear arsenal , extensive territory and abundant natural resources , including gas and oil .
we know that many feminicide murders are committed in Guatemala and in Ciudad Juárez .
finally , we must also establish a coastguard for the sea borders of the Mediterranean .
in brief , these cases were about the right to privacy versus the right of public access to European funding streams .
Europe is seeking a stable partnership with Tunisia as part of EUROMED and must mobilise all the instruments it has to facilitate the transition process , create strong democratic institutions and encourage the emergence of an active civil society involved in implementing the reforms .
the rapporteurs stress the need to tackle discards , and this can only be welcomed .
sometimes the steps are small , and sometimes they are large .
however , the budget must also be credible , feasible and tangible , and in this regard , it was fundamental to avoid making financial resources for the coming years too inflexible by restricting excessive spending beyond the maximum expenditure ceiling contained in the perspectives of the multiannual financial framework just to cases that really are an absolute priority .
promises - in Britain we were promised a referendum on the European Constitution , Lisbon Treaty , call it what you will .
it is morally wrong for Taiwan to be excluded from a public health forum simply as a result of pressure from China .
in writing . - Whilst I recognise that the conflict in Gaza and the West Bank is a humanitarian tragedy , my votes do not support the existence of international influence of the European Institutions as I do not recognise the European Union .
the rights , freedoms and principles enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights are given binding force .
it also recognises that a drastic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions will be necessary worldwide to prevent a dangerous increase in global temperature .
we are concerned about the reports of many people killed and wounded , of looting and burning .
( SK ) I welcome the debate on these issues and I feel that it is particularly important now , when we must solve both a financial and an economic crisis at the same time .
nevertheless the G20 leaders in London made a fresh declaration that from now on they would give their personal attention to the Doha Development Agenda and they guaranteed that political attention would be focused on Doha at all forthcoming international meetings that are relevant from this perspective .
we need to ensure that these new regulations do not make it tougher to lend to businesses - I am also referring to Basel III .
Denmark provides support for SMEs in the use of e-business on the basis of similar initiatives in Ireland , the Netherlands , Finland , Sweden and Norway .
firstly , what can we do better in terms of prevention ?
Commissioner Špidla , I welcome your approach of the issue of solidarity between generations .
( SK ) Ladies and gentlemen , I want to inform you about an incident that happened in the United Kingdom recently .
and it is not merely a tragedy involving children .
the aim of the EU must therefore be to keep Ukraine on the Union 's radar screen .
my opinion has been incorporated into the regulation .
European legislation must absolutely take into account and support their requests to prevent their slow but inexorable disappearance from the market .
finally , the increase in the lump sums to EUR 50 000 is important , because it mirrors current costs .
I voted in favour of the report relating to the radioactive contamination of foodstuffs , the aim of which is to set the maximum permitted levels of radioactive contamination of foodstuffs and feedingstuffs following a nuclear accident or any other radiological emergency .
this is why we need true commitment from the Member States , and more solidarity , particularly from the Northern European countries , because , as the Vice-President of this Parliament mentioned , we are witnessing none of this solidarity on the part of other European Union Member States .
Mr President , on behalf of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament , I stand in support of Mr Galeote 's report as well as the comments made by Commissioner Borg , and the information from Mr Fernández Martín .
I would like to congratulate the rapporteur for dealing so thoroughly with such a difficult subject as the issue of the choice of law applicable to divorce and legal separation .
every second , the tubercle bacillus claims another victim .
my second point concerns the distribution of financial allocations between our neighbours on the south and eastern shores of the Mediterranean and our neighbours to the east .
does the Commission consider it necessary to introduce a new specific partnership for food security under the joint Africa-EU strategy ?
what is more , European consumers , and especially the younger generation , have lost interest in products of this kind .
the fact that the budget authority has already approved eight proposals for mobilising the fund in 2010 highlights the flexibility of the procedures , proving that we have successfully identified new resources and are allocating them rapidly enough to Member States .
can I get assurances from you , Commissioner , that the present public service obligation regime will not be impacted in any way by this future regulatory framework that you have in mind ?
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( HU ) Mr President , Commissioner , honourable Members , Parliament is representing the concerns of many European citizens as it pays increased attention to US authorities requesting data from media communications companies after WikiLeaks ' leaking of American state secrets .
we believe that this is important and that it must define our partnership in the future .
it is possible to see that there is scope for a major leap forward for the electric car , and for transport in general , especially in cities .
it is also a matter of principle that we have introduced certain principles of passenger rights into bus and coach transport , which is such a large area .
therefore , I once again call upon to the Commission to take into account the potential of the new member-states , including Bulgaria , in the development and application of the new energy technologies .
Ukraine still bears heavy scars .
more ambition , indeed , in dialogues with civil society and local authorities , to enhance their involvement in the conception and control of the implementation of this instrument .
however , I have no respect at all for the management of some of the bigger companies which have no affinity with the products or services they deliver and can only think in terms of expansion and speculation .
the Council has already done a lot of work at all levels to settle many issues .
for me , this is , therefore , a very special contribution and one that I am making in a special debate , a debate dealing with the six-month suspension of the regulation on what are known as ' airport slots ' .
this means that we also need to find solutions for conflicting interests .
it is also essential to create proper support mechanisms for small and medium-sized enterprises .
those EUR 880 billion should be creating wealth in the developing countries .
firstly , Parliament must understand the importance of securing the industry 's support for the financial contributions and their correct use , bearing in mind the needs of both the industry and the Mauritanian fishing authorities in making headway towards an advanced , sustainable fisheries policy .
let us continue this discussion .
it is dangerously close to suppressing freedom , democracy and solidarity with the weakest in society .
essentially , we have all the ingredients needed to allow the Commission and Parliament to work together on defining the new common agricultural , food and environmental policies that we so urgently need .
this will allow inaccuracies and inconsistencies of a legal nature to be eliminated and discrepancies to be avoided between transpositions into national legislation .
I myself have been raising the issue of human rights in summits with Heads of State or Government from third countries .
it should not be a ground for discrimination against women , but , on the contrary , should be valued by society both during the course of a woman 's active life and in her old age .
it is essential that the common agricultural policy take appropriate action in response to climate change , promoting better resource management .
in Europe , there is unfortunately a general decline in levels of physical education in terms of numbers of hours per pupil during the school year , and this is a bad trend which must be changed .
so why do you not try to persuade the Member States - the governments of your countries - to use the funds properly ?
will you commit to a competitive market that allows producers a fair share of the cake , and will you commit to a functional milk market that gives a fair deal to farmers and a fair price to consumers ?
I support the motion for a resolution .
as the resolution we will be voting on reminds us , the situation is extremely critical : more than 14 000 people have been killed in religious or ethnic conflicts since the end of the military rule in 1999 .
significant among these are the fourteen-day right of withdrawal and the new rules on information requirements , not only on price but also on the identity and address of the seller .
Mr President , I think it is unfortunate that in this Christmas season , we have spent the last two days discussing violence around the world , be it in Chechnya or in Afghanistan and now in the Congo .
we now have to reflect seriously on how our supervisory arrangements for the cross-border financial institutions are constructed .
( PL ) Mr President , we cannot allow the huge sum of money we spend on cohesion policy to be wasted or squandered .
with regard to the amendment of Regulation No 318 / 2006 , we consider that what is required is a fairer application of the final linear quota reductions by 2010 .
contrary to what some seem to be claiming , ACTA is not about creating some sort of ' Big Brother ' .
however , this is currently being restricted by an historical debate between several EU Member States and Russia .
4 .
( PT ) Mr President , fellow Members , several Member States have been severely affected by bad weather , with catastrophic consequences for farming , particularly during the last month of December .
( DE ) Mr President , I would like very briefly to speak in favour of this .
four years have passed since the introduction of the Seventh Framework Programme for research and technological development .
a question was asked about the possibility of applying state aid rules less strictly in the light of state aids currently approved by the Commission for financial institutions .
for some years , the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe ( OSCE ) , which was founded during the cold war as an institution for monitoring and confidence building purposes , has been undergoing an identity crisis .
antibiotics are naturally occurring metabolic products of fungi or bacteria that are used to counter bacterial infections .
the US has a great responsibility for ensuring the success of this summit .
in writing . - I do not understand how a Parliament that has called for the lifting of Israel 's economic blockade of Gaza can today have voted in favour of a report intended to increase our cooperation with that country .
through immigration to the old continent in the last 30 years , a barbaric and unlawful practice , carried out for the most part in Africa , has silently entered Europe .
Mr Solana , you are absolutely right .
the human rights record within Russia is of the utmost concern to many citizens across the EU .
if we even manage to agree on this point , this debate will not have been in vain .
as we have been talking mostly about effects and relief funds , I would like to ask the Commission about specific projects which are actually able to implement prevention mechanisms for incidents like this so that , at least in the future , we will not have any more loss of human life .
this must also come from the enterprises themselves , however .
would it not be a good idea to carry out an independent international assessment on such vital issues , since the Chinese are still showing a certain amount of opacity and any official statements are all reassurance ?
that is what I would like to see from the Council and the Commission in Cancún , too .
I think it is important , in such a passionate and important debate , that anyone who wishes to voice their opinion should be able to do so .
recent figures from Scotland show that , since the smoking ban was introduced , there has been a 20 % reduction in heart attack admissions to hospital .
Liz has outlined some of the background to it .
the Commission , through DG ECHO , will , of course , keep monitoring the humanitarian situation in the country and adjust as necessary .
I took it for granted that they would feature in the debate on the financial transactions tax .
once again , the small farms have been hit hardest by the crisis .
( PL ) Mr President , demographic changes in the European Union and the ageing population are circumstances causing a demand for skilled workers from outside European Union countries .
Commissioner , we owe the European citizens a lot when it comes to the conditions governing the free movement of cross-border services .
there is growing support in Polish public opinion for aid to developing countries .
there are three things we can learn from the present situation .
both my party and the absolute majority of Europeans are opposed to the Lisbon Treaty , should they be given the opportunity to vote , and to further accessions .
the relevant data collection , which , until today , was made on a voluntary basis at EU level , should become therefore mandatory .
it is not the job of a parliament to carry out detailed management or to actually implement projects .
that is why you cannot ignore the fact that 25 Member States have already ratified the Treaty of Lisbon and that Ireland has already planned a second referendum .
was it by chance agreed there that no referendums would be held on the Constitution - the Treaty of Lisbon ?
at the centre of that plan , there must be a long-term programme of investment in renewable energy sources leading to the progressive replacement of oil , gas , coal and nuclear power stations .
however , three months ago , it was the energy crisis .
do you have any advice or guidance as to how this could perhaps be achieved in future ?
I am grateful to the Commissioner for the information that she has provided us with , but we would like to obtain more detailed information on what point each Member State has actually reached .
however , strict rules laid down for the deficits and the debt cannot be our sole response .
the Baltic Sea Strategy , which we are preparing now , is a good example of what we mean by a functional area .
the European Globalisation Fund was created to help mitigate such unfortunate events .
Dr Sean Barrett , a senior lecturer in economics at Trinity College Dublin , has today described the reduction of the corporation tax rate in Ireland from 50 % in the 1980s to 12 ½ % a decade later as ' the most important policy measure that achieved the transformation of Ireland ' .
thank you for your patience .
there have been some very remarkable speeches .
that is the point I have tried to make , so it is far from ' one size fits all ' .
( PT ) Madam President , the situation created by the eruption of the volcano in Iceland has demonstrated the significant impact that a certain type of natural phenomena - that are fortunately rare , but demonstrably occur periodically - can have on the economy and society .
what we needed to do was increase solidarity and coordination between the social security systems in the various EU Member States , particularly by applying , reinforcing and more appropriately responding to the rights and needs of health service users .
I hope that the Union for the Mediterranean Summit in Barcelona will also be successful in terms of the level of the delegations .
we must be committed to the outcome of the Stoiber Committee , and I want to hear from both the Commission and the Council whether they are committed to this process and what we are going to do , because we have to cut red tape .
in the past few days , we have received reports from Sarajevo that the process of fulfilling the roadmap requirements is gathering pace , despite all the difficulties .
this is contrary to Cuban laws .
controls on capital movements would give democracy greater insight and opportunity for influence .
Salva Kiir , the president of Southern Sudan , wants to seek cooperation with the North , provided that it recognises the result of the referendum .
although these agreements rightly provide a legal framework for organising the facilitation of visas and readmission procedures , under exact and strict conditions , this must not be confused with the absolute necessity we also have of defining the terms and the parameters of a European right to asylum .
we must prevent these falling into a negative situation .
I have listened carefully to the debate .
I also think that the Azerbaijani Government must take this action urgently because it must respect the commitments arising from both the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Eastern Partnership .
it is morally wrong .
it rests with the local authorities and regional institutions to help such people as quickly as possible .
a second reason to explain this requirement is that the efforts that the Greeks are going to make - must make , are obliged to make - must serve a purpose .
I would also like to thank Mrs Ayala Sender for her report on the implementation of the European Development Fund and Mrs Mathieu for her comprehensive analysis of recurrent issues for agencies .
special vehicles too are excluded , as we have heard .
it really does feel like timewasting on a grand scale .
- ( NL ) Mr President , I voted against this resolution , not only because I really am opposed to yet another piece of propaganda for abortion that is contained in this resolution , but at least as much because I find the position of Parliament in general on this issue to be really rather hypocritical .
Vice-President of the Commission . - About Greece , I am not able to answer because I do not know the details .
this approach has led to us calling for the formation of a Palestinian Unity Government - and when a unity government was formed , we refused to talk to the Prime Minister and half the cabinet , and the government collapsed .
adjusting legislation is one way of defending our competitiveness , but there are other industrial policy initiatives in the works as well .
the second question relates to an area that is typically dealt with , and indeed should be dealt with , by the Member States themselves .
in the European Union there is currently a significant number of countries with positive results in this field .
it is , above all , a concrete programme of reforms to be implemented , and that is why we are proposing seven flagship initiatives as part of this strategy .
it has also now proven possible to publish the report much earlier in the year than before .
I only hope that you also recognise that the position of the Dutch Government cannot simply be handed down ex cathedra , but that it should be debated in a multinational democracy .
Junilistan is therefore favourably disposed to the idea that individual states should draw up codes of conduct on the import of tropical timber .
on the other hand , as regards the methods for accessing these data , I do not agree at all with the proposals for confidentiality or a barrier to entry which , in my view , would completely diminish the transparency effect of this regulation .
as the rapporteur for the Solidarity Fund , I am mystified as to why the Council has so far dissented from debating the revised version of the 2002 solidarity instrument , which was adopted one and a half years ago by the Commission and European Parliament .
what is the root of this problem ?
although in such cases we do not need extensive regulatory bodies , it is urgently necessary to provide a structural separation of that function from activities relating to ownership or supervision .
President-in-Office of the Council . - Mr President , the world is a big place .
in Germany alone , almost 20 million people are working , researching and developing in more than 3.3 million small and medium-sized enterprises .
some speakers have questioned whether it is necessary or important to raise such an issue in this House ; I believe , however , that it has been very important .
however , a blocking minority in the Council not only accepted this opt-out , but also wanted to make its application a rule , rather than an exception .
the savings in costs in this proposal for a directive we are now considering is estimated to be around EUR 21.5 billion , not to speak of the benefits to the environment .
Mr Schulz himself said that our behaviour put him in mind of Adolf Hitler .
we were the first to highlight the importance of agriculture in development policies , long before other international players did so .
in 2008 , the EU decided to create its own satellite navigation system ( Regulation ( EC ) No 683 / 2008 ) , Galileo and the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service ( EGNOS ) , with the objective of ensuring Europe 's independence and autonomy , raising its market share and putting the industry in a position to be competitive in a strategic and fast-growing market .
in this regard , the Swedish and Dutch applications are based on Article 2 ( a ) of the legal basis , namely at least 500 redundancies over a period of four months in an enterprise in a Member State .
I very much hope that the Commission will continue to take this problem seriously and I am convinced that Parliament must and indeed will go along with this .
your conclusion was fascinating and expressed with great passion .
in writing . - ( EL ) The report on the progress of Turkey 's course of accession to the EU includes utterly spurious congratulations to the Turkish Government and the new president .
President of the Commission . - Madam President , first of all I would like to thank Members for the general line of strong support for our proposals .
it is not a revolution : we cannot say that everything before was bad and now everything is perfect .
also , industry should place greater emphasis on organisational innovation , understood as a more flexible and dynamic sharing of risks and responsibilities within companies .
if I had to pick out only certain aspects of this important text , I would say that it gives us greater flexibility and solidarity in Europe .
we need more precise and detailed statistical information in order to ascertain the true state of affairs and closely monitor developments .
they are either an important policy instrument in the hands of the authorities or they have been sold to an international company that seeks only profit and expansion .
this will remain the case .
in answering Mr Chichester , who says he thinks ' green ' and votes ' blue ' - well , what is left , maybe , is to act ' green ' as well .
as a result of many inspections , payments of own resources and interest were demanded .
it is important to unlock the potential of cultural and creative industries ( CCIs ) .
I do not mean to criticise the people who have been trading internationally in commodities for the last 140 years .
it is important that we have an equality aspect in training as well .
the best way of addressing the poor stock status is to implement the ICCAT recovery plan .
we will see .
as such , I am opposed to the progressive construction of an anti-social Europe , governed by the markets and financial powers , which have submerged us in this crisis by their ambition and excessive greed , which will be incomprehensibly compensated through the privatisation of public pension systems .
among the main advances , I would like to mention two : the cooling-off period , which has been extended to 14 days , and provision of the summary containing all the information and the total price to pay before the last button or click which confirms the order .
before the vote on paragraph 2 :
this ought also to lead to a review of choices such as those in the common agricultural policy , which have encouraged a decoupling of productive activities carrying with it a risk of desertification and fires .
the other areas I sought to address were the blurring of economic migration with asylum-seeking and of economic migration and asylum-seeking with illegal immigration - all distinct , separate issues which must be dealt with differently .
soon we will be publishing the European database for financial education , an electronic library of schemes run by various types of providers .
that is why I will see to it that these reforms are implemented in full .
even though we demand professionalism , quality and experience , above all , when selecting diplomats for this service , we cannot completely abandon the principle of balanced geographical representation from the individual Member States .
lastly , in relation to Colombia , major measures and , I would say in some cases , even drastic measures , must be implemented in all urgency .
the other area is the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development , which has suffered a EUR 1.6 billion reduction .
both are needed when you belong to a family such as a euro area .
it is therefore important to improve the competitive strength of the economy as well .
it has EU legislation , social dialogue , cooperation , funding , partnership , dialogue , communication ... and that is just one page .
in writing . - I support this report which extends eligibility of housing interventions in marginalised communities to the European Regional Development Fund ( ERDF ) .
this is a masterpiece of authoritarianism .
cybercrime is becoming a volume crime .
in so doing , he undermined the credibility of the Community approach to European problems .
in discussing the directive on CO2 emissions in aviation today we have run up against this problem .
it is important that we chart the path forward .
I genuinely appreciate the Commission 's efforts in recent years , but Commissioner Barrot will agree with me when I say that we need to speed things up to create a true European strategy on immigration , which prioritises the uncompromising fight against illegal immigration and the trafficking and exploitation of human beings .
it is not only my wish , but also the wish of others , that the reconciliation , peace and cooperation which now characterise the European Union may become a key principle or a foundation for coexistence within Kosovo , as well as in the relationship between Serbia and Kosovo .
( NL ) Mr President , for the last two-and-a-half years , as Chairman of the Delegation for Relations with Russia , I have been occupying myself very intensively with Russia and Europe .
'But this is still the past , ' one could say .
rapporteur . - ( SV ) Mr President , I shall begin by discussing discharge regarding the European Development Fund .
opening of the sitting
it is necessary because we cannot , and we must not , forget .
for example , we probably will not manage to halt the decline in biodiversity by 2010 , even if we are committed to doing so .
for your information , more than 75 % of the EUR 21 billion granted in 2008-2009 reached the small and medium-sized enterprises to which they were destined , that is to say , 50 000 small and medium-sized enterprises all over the Union .
now it seems that we have to make sure that we do not hurt the sensitive feelings of Mr Erdoğan and Mr Gül .
I am sorry that Mr Tavares is not yet here .
President Barroso said not long ago that , if a Member State can avoid having recourse to outside aid , then it should do so , as outside aid is costly .
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for that reason , what is most interesting about this budget is what it does not include .
the EU needs a coherent foreign policy strategy based on the objectives and principles established in Article 21 of the Treaty on the European Union ( TEU ) .
I should like to thank the staff of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety - and allow me to single out Virpi Köykkä for her Trojan work - all our group staff , my personal assistant , Kavi , for her untiring work but , above all , my fellow shadow rapporteurs and their staff for a very good cooperative body of work .
there are increasing numbers of ' mixed ' marriages within the European Union , yet the rules governing the dissolution of marriage and child custody are often chaotic and ambiguous .
we would like these procedural rights to be considered as a package .
another principle defended by the Lega Nord and upheld in the motion concerns transparency between the activities of the European institutions and EU citizens , whose interests are directly represented in Parliament .
four years on , we know that the blacklist has proved an effective and valuable tool in promoting enforcement of ICAO safety standards and in protecting EU citizens .
we know that there is a very clear correlation between the human rights situation and the number of migrants or asylum seekers .
to this end , we need a credible and up-to-date statistical basis , to be created under this regulation .
we have tried to move Europe away from a block mentality to reach out to other regions of the world , and of course we have worked closely with the special representatives and rapporteurs , including the recent visit I helped host of the UN Special Representative on business and human rights , an issue which is a passionate one for me .
may I take this opportunity to congratulate those five Member States which have already done this .
on the use of comitology , the general deletion of this procedure would render ineffective the whole process of developing rapidly and efficiently new , very detailed market codes .
it seems that wind and solar are penalised in relation to biomass .
the question , therefore , is : which taxes should be increased ?
in the European Union , there are many programmes to encourage youngsters - and others - to meet , so that this becomes a real Union .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Mr President , thank you for the speeches we have had this morning .
climate change and speculation on the commodity markets are among the main factors threatening food security both within the European Union and outside .
the European Union is ASEAN 's second largest trading partner .
social exclusion and child poverty must be taken into consideration during EU and Member States ' policy-making , especially in areas relating to active social inclusion .
let us be honest : our ineffective and expensive strategy is tempting no one .
indeed , those farmers who were caught and suffered consequences because they used this product were saying to me , ' Why was somebody not coming and checking what was coming into our yards ? '
from this point of view , the mandate of the Reflection Group is no big deal , it seems to me , let us be serious !
the Commission and the Member States must speak with one voice at COP 10 , and their internal decision-making processes need to be fast-tracked .
welcome
the initial aim of this proposal was to simplify and improve the existing regulatory framework for the labelling of textile products .
I request the Commission not to give up the proposal for enforcing the new regulation , during the entire product management cycle , including when the product becomes waste .
the oral question to the Commission by Marco Pannella , on behalf of the ALDE Group , on Democracy , human rights and the new EU-Vietnam Partnership and Cooperation Agreement - B6-0474 / 2008 ) .
finally , it is worth recalling that following on from prevention , and bearing in mind the experience gained during recent disasters , it is becoming imperative to revise the regulations for the Solidarity Fund to allow for a more flexible and timely mobilisation of this instrument .
this is a comitology measure to which I hope Parliament will be able to give its agreement as a matter of urgency .
we see huge job losses across the EU .
this is naturally a difficult and complex debate .
thank you .
will he now start putting resources into those other avenues so that we can return to a fully ethical research base within the European Union ?
in the discussions on the new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Russia , the focus should be on the issues that are important in the long term .
the secularity of the country is only held in place by military force .
I hope the Commissioner will take note that those of us who represent rural and agricultural-based communities have not forgotten the resumption of talks with Mercosur countries , and we hope that he is not prepared to sacrifice our agricultural industry for further markets .
it points to ways and means to be adopted more widely in programmes governed by the Structural Funds .
following the latest enlargements , it has become increasingly necessary to strengthen the cohesion aim . this is because , according to certain estimates , at the present rate of economic growth , countries such as Poland , Bulgaria and Romania will take more than 15 years to reach a level of GDP equal to 75 % of the average for the Union .
there are two essential points that the European Parliament considers as key and that all the political groups support .
it applies almost all European legislation and has asked to join the Schengen area for the free movement of persons .
today we have EUR 26.3 million in European money each year .
the authorities need to be educated , and we cannot be completely satisfied with an information campaign that is simply restricted to the framework of the present one .
I understood questions were starting at 18.00 , that there would be 30 minutes for the first Commissioner , and then I would be the second questioner for the next Commissioner .
the German Institute for European Affairs ( INEA ) , a research institute , recently carried out a study on this at the request of FIFA and found that six-plus-five is indeed acceptable and compatible with European law .
sixty per cent of the CDM rights sold in the ETS are for the destruction of an industrial greenhouse gas , HFC-23 , at a cost of 70 times over the real cost , which is being paid for mainly by European electricity users .
I am increasingly hearing from a variety of maritime stakeholders that the entire industry is struggling to deal with this particular issue .
as we know , he always pays great attention to human rights issues and tragedies in Africa .
patients ' rights in cross-border healthcare (
beyond that border we have important and valuable partners whom we must involve more in our various activities .
at the same time , it is , of course , surprising , that a considerable share of the EU 's budget should still be used to over-subsidise the old economy that includes agriculture and regional funds , while the targets for investments in research are not being met .
rapporteur . - Mr President , like my colleagues , I agree that a political agreement is probable at the IGC in Lisbon .
Parliament considers this to be a sign of transparency and a best practice to be followed by all other Agencies .
in writing . - This report poses the question : how do we include people in labour markets who are currently excluded from them ?
it is imperative that the EU set up networks of communication to keep a strong dialogue with the United States on many key issues , like the conflict in the Middle East , the economic crisis and climate change .
Madam President , last month , on behalf of Parliament , I went to the administrative borderline in Georgia , established by the South Ossetian separatists following the Russian military invasion .
the most serious consequence , however , was the loss of 11 lives across Spain as a result of falling masonry and accidents caused by the fierce gusts of wind .
parallel negotiations with all the ASEAN nations are also being added , of course .
naturally , people have different opinions .
that is only to comment on a few of the more detailed things that you have raised .
at the same time , we emphasised the problem of non-tariff barriers , which prevent European businesses from accessing Japanese public contracts .
the longest possible time , or in other words nearly three hours , has been planned for the debate .
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my second point : I welcome President Obama 's commitment to diplomacy with the Islamic Republic of Iran .
I will speak in Hungarian .
please ensure that all European laws have to pass through this Parliament in a public vote .
this is a practical contribution to European democracy .
consequently , whether we are talking of Cuba , China , North Korea or , as now , Honduras , our debate must be resolute in the face of destroyers of freedom .
we are inclined to think that good results are expected to appear on the horizon .
I think that indicative targets for geographical balance are beneficial to the new institution .
at the same time , however , certain essential requirements and values in the negotiations for a free trade agreement must be taken into account .
half of all European fishing vessels are in the Mediterranean , 60 % of work and employment in fisheries are in the Mediterranean and , unfortunately , 54 % of fish are overfished and 32 % to 36 % of fish are over their biological limits .
Madam President , the situation in Burma following the recent catastrophic cyclone is tragic and is getting worse every day .
I therefore call on the future government of South Sudan to immediately take the necessary measures to help guarantee at least a minimum subsistence income , social guarantees and , above all , security for the populations of South Sudan .
we can only regret that in the case of each of these resolutions the European Parliament addressed the Council , encouraging it to submit the resolution to the General Assembly of the United Nations , but the Council has not yet done so .
written Statements ( Rule 149 )
on 23 January this came about in concrete form through legislative proposals , which were warmly welcomed by this Parliament .
the victims of Communism would also deserve a minute silence observed in this House .
every time a State President or Prime Minister of a European Union Member State attacks journalists , even if only because they disagree with them , the European Commission , European Parliament and everyone of us must respond .
on the contrary , we are asking for firm commitments which will not only have to produce specific results but also will have to be made public and closely monitored , and the results of the monitoring will also be made public .
people will start to talk soon .
we have to be extremely cautious to ensure that the regulatory procedure with scrutiny does not slow down the implementation of measures against this disease .
smaller airports , even if they are the only air terminal in their country , do not run the risk of perpetrating such abuse , especially in the case of Luxembourg , where the aforementioned rival airports lie within easy reach and , moreover , are used by budget airlines .
the 2011 budgetary procedure has got under way with a disappointing proposal from the Commission .
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they simply cannot afford modern , environmentally-friendly technology .
protection of pedestrians and other vulnerable road users (
the five-year financial framework cuts agricultural spending and fails to support the household economy , cohesion and the fight to maintain the climate .
this is going to mark me out as being more towards the left , even though I have observed that compliments are not always forthcoming for Mr Blair from that side of the political spectrum .
the risks must be shared and clients who decide to use aviation services must be prepared - as we must all be - for some delay if , for example , the runway at Brussels airport is not cleared of snow or some other thing .
it has succeeded in demonstrating the high quality of its work , which is based on the principles of cooperation , consultation , transparency and democratic dialogue , and on ever greater interaction between European and ACP parliamentarians .
there is also considerable value in coordinating environmental statistics at European level .
firstly , we would do well to recall that the reduction in Commissioners was already agreed upon in the year 2000 under the Treaty of Nice and was not something that was introduced for the first time under the Lisbon Treaty .
where is the money for innovation , and where are the appropriations for sustainable agriculture in the agricultural budget ?
many of the causes lie elsewhere .
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the alternating order will begin with the oldest female Member . '
Member States will continue to decide their own corporate tax rates .
this also has nothing to do with the European Rail Traffic Management System ( ERTMS ) .
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I am also proud of the contribution made by the Commission , which - as President Sarkozy said - has always worked hand in hand with the French Presidency and , furthermore , has always stressed that only a European response could have an impact at the required level .
therefore , its practice is even more contested .
to achieve this , it must ensure that the workers have strong powers to intervene in their company 's strategy .
( ES ) Mr President , concerning the Ugandan bill which has provoked such indignation amongst us , I very much welcome the fact that the Members of the different parliamentary groups in the House who have taken the floor on this subject have spoken with one voice .
the debate is therefore far from being over and promises to be lively , especially if one considers the current social issues at stake and the reaffirmed need for a social Europe that protects its citizens .
but I admit that the gap in regional GDP for the BMW region and the neighbouring region remains a challenge , which is why we hope that in the 2007-2013 programmes , under both the ESF and ERDF , we will see a further reduction in this gap .
imagine 10 000 tonnes of liquid mercury .
I would like to thank Mr Karas and the members of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs for their commitment and for this excellent report .
your fourth question asks how to enhance legal certainty for the SEPA Direct Debit in relation to the MIF and existing mandates .
in 2008 the Commission will submit proposals for the European Year of Equal Opportunities follow-up programmes : these may contain measures for finalising the framework of anti-discrimination legislation .
a market economy which tries to move towards a laisser faire - laisser passer approach is not what we need in Europe .
I voted for the Paliadeli report on the annual report on the European Ombudsman 's activities because I believe that the Ombudsman has carried out his duties in an active and balanced manner , in terms of examining and managing complaints , conducting and concluding investigations , maintaining constructive relations with the institutions and bodies of the European Union and raising citizens ' awareness regarding their rights in respect of those institutions and bodies .
however , I understand Parliament 's concerns , given the existing legal context .
we all know very well that time is now running out .
the UKIP will not contribute to this imposture .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I am particularly happy to conclude my part in this debate in the presence of a parliamentary delegation from South Africa , as I started my political activity some decades ago in a campaign to free Nelson Mandela .
the Commission accepts this point , and will step up efforts to do so .
it is therefore not an instrument designed to respond to the challenges related to irregular migration .
this year , however , one project managed to overcome such rigidness : Galileo .
all of which inclines me to full support for the motion and acceptance of the agreement , which will serve both institutions well .
the fundamental problem with Mrs Castex 's report is not therefore the intention , but that most of what is discussed relates to policies that should be conducted by the Member States - sometimes at municipal level .
therefore , I believe we should welcome Mr Saryusz-Wolski 's report , but we should see it as one necessary important step in a long way towards our common goal .
when talking about financial market statistics , there are problems of confidentiality and here we also have to work with the European Central Bank .
( SV ) Mr President , Commissioner , at last !
the average agricultural income in the EU , including all direct payments , only amounts to half the average salary paid in the remaining economic sectors .
the Uighurs of Xinjiang Province have suffered more than most , particularly since the occupation of East Turkestan by the People 's Republic of China in 1949 .
we do understand , ladies and gentlemen , that this practice is favoured in some countries on economic grounds , but in that case we call for the same standard , the same scheme on aid for must as under the previous legislation .
the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work estimates that every year over 140 000 people in the EU die from occupational diseases and nearly 9 000 die from work-related accidents .
among the more odious provisions of the agreement , the EU succeeded in pushing Korea to massage its rules on CO2 emissions from vehicles in order to allow European car makers to export more big gas-guzzling cars to Korea .
above all , I hope that during this summit , we can consolidate the European partnership instinct of the United States .
Montenegro needs to strengthen its administrative capacity and to upgrade its preparation in a number of areas of the European Union acquis .
defending the independence of the mandate of Members of this House is the responsibility of Parliament , and that independence cannot be jeopardised .
I have also noted the various proposals and suggestions that you have put forward .
this is why , during the vote , I will table an oral amendment to denounce this recent move by several Nigerian governors .
it is the discrimination against Roma children in the area of education .
free trade is not an end in itself , it has to serve the needs of the African , Caribbean and Pacific ( ACP ) countries ; this is why the ACP group of nations has to be involved gradually and asymmetrically , so as to take account of local characteristics .
I am abstaining because I am of the view that the measures proposed will not be in any way sufficient to secure Europe first place in the world in the industrial sector .
the UK already has such a ban , but given the harm tobacco causes I support this sensible approach being extended across the EU .
Nord Stream is a project of E.ON , a German group making a profit of EUR 5 billion , and Nabucco brings together a German , an Austrian and a Turkish company with total profits in excess of EUR 6 billion .
I firmly believe that a politician who acts on the basis of her personal experience of motherhood and family life will best understand women 's problems .
these constitute an essential part of its maritime area and are facing problems and specific needs , such as environmental problems .
as a Dutch European , I would like to reassure our citizens that the ' Hague Invasion Act ' will never be invoked .
in other words , the current measures do not extend to online travel firms selling foreign holidays with flights and hotels as separate components , a practice referred to by the industry as ' dynamic packaging ' .
my Socialist Party in Poland and Europe strongly supports the adoption of the Charter , and so do I. The Charter is a key instrument in our Union , giving rights to all citizens of the Union - individual rights as well as rights linked to citizenship .
the Community Fisheries Control Agency will also play an active role .
there have been a number of issues raised today .
moreover - and this is true - during our process and the discussions we had in the Member States , we could already see changes taking place .
EU trade policy exposes us to sudden price rises , and competition policy has led to a monopoly on sales and to overpricing .
furthermore , if we minimise multilingualism in our external communications , we may end up distancing an institution which expends a great deal of energy trying to bring the EU closer to its citizens .
we are completely against the implementation of uniform or identical electoral systems for the election of Members of the European Parliament .
we can look for growth outside , in worldwide competition , but we will begin by finding it at home .
I am a member of the 30 % minority in Europe : I am a heavy smoker , and I feel terribly discriminated against in this building .
they can also produce counterproductive reactions in the markets and cause disruption .
paradoxically , we count countries as Central Asian when part of their territory belongs geographically to Europe . Kazakhstan , with a population of 16 million and over 100 ethnic groups and religions , is distant from us in its traditions and history , and yet the politics of this country and the aspirations of its people show a strong desire for rapprochement with Europe .
however , we also have a responsibility for regional initiatives such as the Mediterranean Union and the eastern partnership that are creating stability and cooperation between neighbouring countries with different circumstances .
these businesses are facing huge cost increases themselves and cannot sustain the status quo for more than a few months .
mainstreaming culture can lead to mutual understanding , peaceful cooperation and stability , as well as to economic benefits .
at a time when we are seeing massive unemployment and social crisis in all our countries , moving towards increases in resources for Members is not sustainable unless , at the same time , we have the courage to cut down on the expenses and allowances to which we are entitled as Members , and which are by no means all completely justified .
I remember the European Commission saying a few months ago that the political crisis in Belgium would slow down the pace of the reforms needed to achieve the Lisbon objectives .
you could have told us that things were going to be a bit shaky before this summit .
there was a security breach in Sellafield last week and Sellafield 's storage facility for nuclear waste - which is called ' pond B30 ' - is one of the biggest problems for the nuclear sector in Europe .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , the Commission welcomes the concerns expressed by the honourable Member and would like to draw his attention to the fact that existing Community laws on consumer rights already offer considerable protection of young people .
my last words concern cluster bombs , because this was also mentioned .
the EUR 280 million budget proposed by the Member States is inadequate ; we must show that we are more ambitious and support an aid package of EUR 600 million to allow our producers to emerge from the slump in which they find themselves .
the present situation , as we know , is not down to bad luck or an unforeseeable turn of events but to decisions taken by the senior management of manufacturing groups .
although airlines will refund or rebook flights under the Air Passenger Rights Directive , many passengers face the cost of hotel rooms and car hire and perhaps alternative flight arrangements , but some travel insurance policies are expected to pay out for the losses .
further to the Economic and Financial Affairs Council discussion in October 2007 , a road map of regulatory actions has been adopted .
it ensures the flexibility companies need when doing business in more than one country .
over the last few weeks some ACP members have grown increasingly uneasy at the prospects of the limited - as the Commissioner himself described it - GSP tariff regime that awaits them on 1 January should they not sign up to an EPA agreement .
the good health of our economies and public finances , which we have striven so hard to put in order since the early 1990s , has been ruined in less than two years .
we must improve the future use of existing EU funds in a way that supports energy efficiency measures , and encourage a wider use of structural funds and Cohesion Fund sources for this purpose .
this is initially taking shape in the important Stockholm Programme .
( it ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the Dess report marks the beginning of a new phase in the common agricultural policy ( CAP ) reform process .
Russia cannot be an exception , in particular in the light of the fact that it has not fulfilled all the conditions laid down in the agreement after the aggression towards Georgia .
consequently , the framework agreement - if we succeed in bringing about a very good one - will be a great step forward .
these agreements are important ; they allow us to ensure the traceability of timber .
we therefore affirm our absolute support for the purpose of the Court and our devotion to human rights and international humanitarian law and wish the review conference in Uganda every success .
for these reasons , I identify with Mr Graça Moura 's original report .
I think that it would be very important for the Council to make Member States aware of the content of this report .
in my view , that is how Europe should work , and that is what I do every single day on your behalf and will continue to do .
as a result , Parliament 's budget will reflect real needs and will increase transparency , budgetary discipline and efficiency .
the resolution mentions the organisation of local elections and we , as the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance , are saying something rather less forceful , and I hope that people will support it .
but who are we to believe : the man who stands before the TV cameras proclaiming French sovereignty , or the man who abandons our national sovereignty in a European treaty ?
I welcome this pragmatic approach .
I have voted in favour of the report by Mr Graça Moura on multilingualism as an asset for Europe and a shared commitment .
given the wide interest in this matter the Commission believes that it would be useful to subject these reports to a limited peer review process .
I am also delighted to find that we have exactly the same approach and are fighting to achieve the same results .
nevertheless , Member States must be allowed to formulate their own requirements and the principle of subsidiarity should be respected .
we must change nothing at all .
the debate is closed .
such cooperation seems ideal to me .
I wonder also if he could reflect on the current debate taking place in the United States and the debate that no doubt takes place between the Council and the United States in our transatlantic relations .
I congratulate Serbia in its attempts to limit the influence of communist structures in its government .
first of all , the European Parliament should call on the Chinese Government - as Human Rights Watch rightly demands - to lift its lockdown of all Tibetan areas , including full media access ; account for the missing and dead from this month 's protests ; publish the names of all individuals and their places of detention ; and give immediate access to independent monitors , who can investigate whether detainees are being tortured or mistreated .
there are still a few matters that need to be ironed out .
in particular , in order to achieve a better social integration and greater social cohesion , this report urges Member States to create training opportunities specific to groups such as unemployed youth , ethnic minorities , vulnerable women and people with disabilities .
those who appreciate good football will definitely have a great time .
they stated the need to introduce social tariffs , to quarterly inform consumers about their own energy consumption and requested the informing of the public about the provisions of the European Charter on the Rights of Energy Consumers .
is it really meant to stand by while factories collapse and people freeze during the 20 days of reserves that remain to Slovakia ?
that is why the Member States must urgently adopt targeted strategies that take national specificities and needs into account .
otherwise , those of us who constitute the majority of the EU 's population will become a minority when it comes to taking democratic decisions .
in writing . - In a further globalised world and a situation in which there exist 27 Member States in the EU , the possibility of there being some conflict in jurisdiction is great and could cause difficulty .
this directive makes provision for Member States levying a toll on heavy goods vehicles which includes an amount equal to the cost of noise and air pollution as a result of traffic , in addition to the infrastructure charge .
the joint statement by the President of the European Commission and the President-in-Office of Mercosur , the President of Uruguay , Tabaré Vásquez , following the meeting on 19 September promising a joint public statement by the two blocs by the end of the year on the environment and climate change is an important example of that political collaboration .
this Parliament is based solely on kratos - purely on power .
the European Union 's slowness to respond is not good enough given the imperatives we need to deal with .
Mr Hamon has just criticised me for something but I must say to him that I see that he and the commissioner unfortunately continue to mix the sheep and the goats .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , you will vote tomorrow on draft amendments to the two proposals from the Commission on protecting the rights of passengers in bus and coach transport and also passengers travelling by sea and inland waterway .
strategies which include women and , particularly , inexpensive and regular cervical screening and inexpensive and rapid breast screening must be implemented .
however , that is the very point which ultimately jeopardises the competitiveness of European airline companies and , alongside these companies , the competitiveness of European airports as well .
the European Parliament is actively involved in ongoing dialogue with elected representatives from the Arctic through the Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic region , and as chairman of the SINEEA delegation , I represent the European Parliament on this important body .
we have to really give our full attention to our education systems .
there is a real difficulty here in that , if we cannot compete with the Chinese now , how are we going to compete with a more energy-efficient China in years to come ?
the first element is cross-compliance .
this is more worrying among young people , and this is our main concern and target .
I believe that the Czech presidency 's ambitious programme will be achieved through close cooperation between the European Parliament and the European Commission .
let me welcome the President of the European Council , Mr Herman Van Rompuy , to the plenary session of the European Parliament for the first time .
the economic recovery plan adopted by the European Council is unsatisfactory .
sustainable development and respect for the environment are factors in economic growth .
with this in mind , a fundamental revision of the Procedures Directive is absolutely vital , so as to provide an accessible , fair and effective procedure , as much in the interests of asylum seekers as in those of the Member States .
the subsequent treatment costs can be up to one hundred times higher than those of normal tuberculosis .
yet , since the re-election of President Ahmadinejad in June 2009 , we have seen an increase in such violations .
I want to know the basis on which we are going back to Strasbourg .
in writing . - ( HU ) One of the most important results of the European Commission 's renewed social policy agenda must be the restoration of the appropriate rights of European Roma as European citizens and the halting of their social exclusion .
however , they cannot be permitted to continue anywhere , including in Eastern Europe , for example , where ships are indeed still occasionally dismantled according to irresponsible methods .
it was marketed to us as a way to prepare for an international scheme , which never came .
the thrust of this report lies precisely here : today , 20 % of young Europeans are out of work , of whom about 30 % are graduates ; a percentage that is so high that we are forced to ask ourselves very seriously about how we should approach the issue of training young people for entry into the world of work in these times , in this Europe , in this globalised world .
I voted against the Lehne report because abolishing the accounting obligations for these microentities will not reduce the real costs of businesses and will create great legal uncertainty .
a fast buck is always at the expense of the smallest players .
an international agreement would be more appropriate and far-sighted .
independent legal opinion in England has said that the allegations against Mr Assange would not constitute rape under English law .
the agreement reached with the Council on the wording of the new directive is well balanced and fully reflects the principle of subsidiarity .
one of the programme 's key objectives is to reduce the number of people leaving school early , which increases the risk of future exclusion from both employment and society .
that too is democracy .
we still have not clarified the terms of the repayments and responsibilities , nor have we set out how the banks will be supervised .
firstly , we need a political and diplomatic dimension .
Madam President , I support this report because it addresses the issue of diversity and our agricultural policy between the regions .
therefore , I am glad to be able to speak for a second time .
there are several reasons to do it .
the European Parliament calls on the Malaysian authorities to enact a moratorium on caning and all other forms of corporal punishment , while working on the abolishment of this law in letter and in practice .
Mr President , I represent the European Free Alliance part of my group which includes the independence parties of Wales , Flanders , Catalonia and Scotland .
the lack of investment , which you have already mentioned , Commissioner , is also regrettable .
since NATΟ plays the policeman where it is inconvenient for us , let us call on it to do so to suit our needs .
therefore , with confidence and hope , we can advance towards a Europe of greater prosperity and solidarity .
but you have very much opened this discussion .
if we can thus conclude this process , we will be in a position to discuss the matter constructively with our Irish friends in a spirit of solidarity , for there can be no union without solidarity .
I believe that we must consider other kinds of mechanisms and , although stocks can play a part , we shall have to consider types of stock other than the intervention stock on the market that we had in the past .
this list of measures included , in particular , the organisation of free and transparent elections within a year and the commitment that members of the CNDD , notably Moussa Dadis Camara , would not stand in these elections .
on all three points , we made progress .
what is proposed is insurance financed by Community funds on an equal footing as regards protection against disasters , for all farmers , whether they are from the Member States most in need , or whether they are from rich countries .
that is very much to be welcomed .
the press law appears to be a lever which the President uses to restrict the power of the coalition government and to eliminate critical opponents .
Madam President , I would like to thank all my colleagues and also the Commission , the Council and the Belgian Presidency for what they have said here , but I would like to emphasise three points that several Members have also stressed .
consolidating all the legal bases for OLAF , as the Council envisages , would mean wasting a lot more time over an uncertain outcome .
obviously , if we had more resources , we could possibly do more work , but our resources are limited and we are supposed to manage our resources carefully .
thirdly , cohesion must also be used to reduce the most serious economic and social disparities within a territory for the benefit of deprived urban areas or rural areas that are in difficulty or which receive very few services on account of structural handicaps , as is the case with islands , for example .
nor can we go back to the old models by granting export refunds - that simply ruins the market for someone elsewhere in the world .
Commissioner Dimas must now act and review this directive in order to ensure that it does not disrupt important developments that could enhance the region 's economy .
are Member States ready to go forward ?
I am not in favour of extending NATO in that direction .
a large number of colleagues have spoken , and it would take at least one more working day to reply to each one .
at the same time , the European Union claims to be seeking a strategic partnership with Russia .
in order to safeguard the transparency of the European institutions , a structured framework for the activities of lobbyists is required .
thank you .
you are familiar with the main programmes in the budget of the European Union .
in writing . - Migration flows arising from instability are a challenge for the European Union .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( FR ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I hope not to overrun my time any more than Mr Klinz overran his .
Europe 's automotive sector can give a lead here , ladies and gentlemen .
I must say too that this decision is also an incomprehensible attack on the normal market rules .
and this is what this Parliament is already demanding of lobbyists coming here to us .
and let me reiterate , not for the first time in this House , that our basic philosophy is a strong Europe ; a strong Europe that places people at the centre of its thinking .
the European strategy in this area is targeted at communities , regions and European states , harmonising their needs for economic , social and cultural development , while also complying with the environmental standards of the Danube 's natural habitat .
the situation for Iraq 's Christian minority is one of life and death : nearly 50 Iraqi Christians were killed in a ruthless massacre in Our Lady of Salvation Church on 31 October 2010 .
the fact is that Gazprom and Naftogas are unable to fulfil their obligations towards European consumers .
however , the message coming from them is that their facilities for this cooperation are too meagre .
some GBP 12 million in corrections was levelled against programmes in Wales from 2008 to 2009 , while a total of 35 % of funds for the same period was recouped in fines by the Commission .
there is an argument for all of these things .
the guarantee fund established in 2009 is intended to guarantee the liquidity of the EIB in the event of payment defaults .
how does it help the victims if they have to be afraid that the work that they are doing at that point in time is being criminalised still further ?
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , first of all I should like to thank the rapporteur , Mrs Andrikienė , for accepting some of my amendments on religious freedom and I congratulate her for the successful drafting of this report .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , we voted in favour of Mr Böge 's reports on mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund , thinking , above all , of those workers being made redundant .
there will be absolutely no need for stretchable derogations that are open to interpretation .
on behalf of the European Parliament , I protest to the strongest possible degree about these methods .
in August 2010 , I attended the European Conference on Epilepsy and Society in Porto , where the Global Campaign Against Epilepsy launched its report entitled ' Epilepsy in the World Health Organisation European Region ' .
the galling thing is that we Members of Parliament are constantly being asked out there about this Bologna Process .
ladies and gentlemen , sad news has reached us of the recent shooting of French policeman Jean-Serge Nérin by ETA . this makes us aware that the problem of terrorism in Europe has not yet been solved .
they have got very strongly involved , and quite rightly so , as this is ultimately about freedom of expression and our civil rights and freedoms .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , since the text of the ACTA agreement has become available , we find that it gives rise to far more questions than answers .
I am not asking you for anything more than an investigation by the Spanish Government into the abuses identified .
we know , however , that whatever security people can do technically will in time be done .
in conclusion , I would like to thank the rapporteur for being responsive to our comments , and for the fact that the report also contains the explicit reference we requested to the fight against poverty and social exclusion in the section mentioning the activities necessary for the protection of fundamental rights .
asylum procedures must be dealt with immediately and in the best possible way .
the EU has a number of best practices from the Member States , as well as from different cultural institutions such as the Alliance française and the British Council .
in writing . - ( NL ) In view of the fact that our party , the Dutch Socialist Party , attaches great importance to renewable energy sources and feels that action must be taken on a much wider scale in this respect , we have not voted against this report .
as for the rest , I can confirm that it will indeed be possible to find an institutional framework for bilateral agreements , but that the Community and the Commission must have exclusive competence .
joint acceptance of the new policy is a key objective and includes Russia 's full participation in all northern dimension structures and activities .
for these reasons , I think that the action we have undertaken , aimed at reducing bureaucracy and reducing costs for micro-enterprises , is very timely .
on 1 January 2008 , Tunisia became the first southern Mediterranean country to have a free trade area with the EU for industrial products , two years in advance of the date foreseen .
will it be legally binding ?
Mr President , Mr President-in-Office of the Council , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , we have already had an interesting morning together .
( PT ) Mr President , this debate is very important because what governments and the Commission itself have said to us is that in the years ahead , the crisis exit strategy depends on plans for radical cuts in public investment and social spending .
in all these areas , severe problems remain with regard to the protection of personal data as well as that of the environment .
however , in that spirit of Christmas compromise , we should like our Socialist friends in turn to accept our proposal for a resolution on the issue of Venezuela following the referendum there .
although we already have a large number of official bodies , he is obviously thinking of a way to strengthen the control of the Member States ' authorities in this area .
I would also like to bring this case to the attention of the Commission .
the General Affairs and External Relations Council ( GAERC ) , of which I am President , has , among other difficult tasks , that of putting the European perspective of the western Balkans into effect .
I welcome the call for Member States to produce correlation tables as this will enable us to verify the directive 's proper transposition .
finally , one of the gentlemen said there are other countries as well that we have not debated on .
he is on a very important mission to Japan .
we must help them so that we can be loyal to ourselves and to our common values .
( EL ) Commissioner , contrary to the right of all European citizens , a significant number of disabled people are forced to live in institutions , regardless of their choice .
agricultural production should be used primarily to feed people , not to benefit export monopolies .
the solutions introduced will help to improve the situation of patients in the European Union and will strengthen the common market , and so I voted in favour of adoption of the directive .
this year , fatal attacks on Christians have continued , such as the slaying of three men in Malatya in April .
there are some proposals , which have already largely been adopted at European level , on the indecent remunerations in the sector , where we could do considerably better .
we therefore welcome the fact that you are giving us a very clear signal here that you want to cooperate in this area .
this is something that we were criticised for a few years ago .
Portugal does not need outside aid : it only needs financing for its economy and its families at reasonable interest rates .
Mr Onyszkiewicz - perhaps he is not here any more - we cannot erase the 50 % of Palestinians who voted for Hamas .
we have chosen to vote against Amendment 12 / rev tabled by the PPE-DE and Amendment 4 tabled by the PSE , however , because the long-term result of the provision made in those amendments will be that further power is transferred to the European Court of Justice .
during the European Convention in 2002-2003 and in the IGC that followed in 2003-2004 , the Charter was adapted in order to make it legally binding , but that process was stopped due to the failure to ratify the Constitutional Treaty .
listen , I share the concerns of Mr Higgins , so I am going to see what the Council is prepared to accept .
this debate should be steered by two principles .
I believe the Irish people are speaking for Europeans across the Member States in making that demand .
racial hatred and class hatred are only two varieties of the same thing - hatred - which devastates the human conscience and social relations .
the Commission has known about the problem for ten years .
I am talking about the Arctic region .
I chose to abstain on this report and on the proposed amendment on fiscal convergence .
for this reason we would like to state that we will continue our firm commitment to the objectives .
the fact that Spain has legalised 700 000 immigrants was condemned in unequivocal terms by President Sarkozy last week here in the European Parliament .
we have enough means of applying pressure in the case of business interests and international trade relations .
once we begin to emerge from the crisis , it will be necessary to correct the distortions caused and restore a level playing field avoiding moral risk .
part of this amount has already been carried forward to the 2008 budget , but EUR 2 034 million have yet to be used .
I very much hope that the European Union 's programmes will include the ethical and material appreciation of culture , especially the works that contribute to a sense of pride in European identity and as a result of which we can all like being European a little bit more .
therefore , we demand the creation finally of the necessary framework conditions , which means , primarily , a charter for European associations , as well as the necessary basic infrastructure for active citizens at European level .
at the same time , however , we must be much more forceful with regard to the external challenges : security and defence , but also trade , technological and industrial standards , and environmental standards .
her question refers clearly in the first instance to research funded by the European Union and in my answer I shall deal with these aspects .
Madam President , as we are unfortunately required to spend part of this evening together , I shall try , on behalf of the Council and also of Commissioner Potočnik , to summarise the Council 's aims concerning demographic trends and their economic and social impact .
the final stage of integrating the network should place greater emphasis on the financing of its cross-border elements .
unfortunately , the number of workers migrating has been highest in rural areas .
we are glad that in the case of these nine Member States the Portuguese Presidency has found a solution with a sort of SIS 1 + , although we maintain that progress must be made as soon as possible on SIS II .
this report sets the maximum permitted levels of radioactive contamination for foodstuffs and animal feed following a nuclear accident or other radiological emergency .
I appreciate your firm commitment to the Community method , starting with the speeches by Mr Daul , Mr Schulz , Mr Verhofstadt and Mr Cohn-Bendit , although I cannot stretch to such oratory elegance as the ' Deauville deal ' or the ' casino compromise ' .
the assent procedure for Cariforum States and Côte d 'Ivoire is crucial to realising the potential of these reforms .
( PL ) What a macroregion needs is a coordinated policy of sustainable development .
facing oil challenges (
two years ago we had the last consultations on hedge funds , which only concentrated on those guys in the City of London .
the processes for introducing and then pushing through the Treaty of Lisbon together with the election of the President of the European Council and of the High Representative have given citizens the feeling that they cannot see what is going on , that there is no transparency , and that they have no idea why these things have been done .
without Peter Mandelson at the helm - and I have criticised him on many occasions , but at least he had the intellect and the knowledge as a past minister of trade to be able to carry on with the battle - I feel that we are in dire straits .
this resolution repeals the fisheries partnership agreement which entered into force on 9 October 2006 for a three-year period and makes for continuity in the fishing activities of Community vessels , which is of particular interest to the EU as it contributes to the viability of its tuna fishing sector in the Pacific Ocean .
the proportion of voters that still have not decided whether to vote in this year 's elections to the European Parliament is as high as 50 % .
everyone is used to downloading content from the net free of charge .
Mr President , I must congratulate the Slovenian Presidency on its efforts to solve and overcome a number of differences of opinion on the text .
however , given the nature of operations of larger food business operators , these provisions are less likely to apply to larger companies .
many of you here were perhaps expecting another tall , Nordic young man to be doing this job , namely our colleague Alexander Stubb , but , as some of you will know , Alexander is unable to be here with us today as he has been appointed Finland 's new Minister of Foreign Affairs .
as Mrs Ludford mentioned , the section on human rights in relation to the fight against terrorism fortunately concludes with a reference to Parliament 's work on CIA flights and extraordinary renditions , but it says nothing about the Council 's lack of action in pursuing inquiries , charges against those responsible , and even less about compensation for the victims unjustly transferred , imprisoned or tortured .
86 % of the Romanian population are Eastern Orthodox , and Romania is the only Romance-speaking country where Eastern Orthodoxy is dominant .
the report supports the EU common fisheries policy which , in the name of protecting fish stocks , has resulted in the destruction of a large number of small fishing boats in Greece and in numerous small and medium-sized fishing enterprises being ousted from the profession , in the condemnation of numerous coastal areas to abandonment and unemployment and in the concentration of activities in the hands of large fishing companies .
the EU has a good reputation in terms of international dialogue on social issues .
this is why we must remove the beam from our own eye and then see the speck in our brother 's eye , which will finally give us real , tight control over these resources .
unfortunately , there are limits to international cooperation and at present we can only deplore the US Congress 's unilateral decision on 100 % scanning of container cargo in EU ports .
however , as Mr Le Foll pointed out , a EUR 300 million fund was also mobilised to enable the Member States to come to the aid of the dairy sector 's worst-affected producers .
I trust that the issues regarding the ECB 's independence and its responsibility for decision making will be resolved in a reassuring manner , and that this , along with the reform programme aimed at creating a successful economic union , will help strengthen the European Union and the euro area within it .
I am aware that your Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted , at the beginning of December , Mrs Andrikienė 's draft report , which advocates strengthening the Human Rights Council and particularly the role the European Union plays within it .
one Member of this House circulated a leaflet saying that if the Lisbon Reform Treaty was passed in Ireland euthanasia and abortion would be introduced - a leaflet which contained a syringe , if you don 't mind !
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , this has been a difficult report .
the FP7 Energy Community Programme is the main instrument available in the short term to support the implementation of these actions .
in truth , no country is safe from this dreadful disease , which has been around for many thousands of years .
I should also like to point out that these directives make a great deal of sense , provided that they are effectively implemented and become part of agricultural practice .
the decision-making process is not very clear .
this is something that I have raised time and time again already .
small and medium-sized enterprises , especially those managed by young entrepreneurs , will be among the main beneficiaries of these new initiatives .
personally , I am of the opinion that it should be left to nation states to take this decision .
Mr Verhofstadt seems to have limited his vocabulary to two phrases : European bonds and European taxes .
the novel aspect is the introduction of the system and administrative documentation in electronic format .
from what I understand , Romania 's initial proposal was not accepted for the reason of not answering to the theme , but the production replacing it , namely the film California Dreaming , has even bigger shortcomings .
the EU has a significant role in changing these attitudes .
this resolution notes the good work done thus far both by EU institutions and bodies within Member States and it is to be hoped that the EU High Representative takes full note of the specific issues Parliament has highlighted today .
on 3 January 2009 , we had a lunch in Prague with the Director of Gazexport Alexander Medvedev , and I personally took part in both meetings .
however , it always aims to consolidate the desired boost provided as part of the aforementioned economic governance , with the creation of the ' European Semester ' , the deepening of penalties ...
since 1963 , Syria has been under emergency law , which has allowed the execution of people without trial , but few European delegations , the EU delegation for example , have raised the issue .
it is environmentally wrong : billions are being invested in fossil fuel instead of renewable energy , and it will be environmentally destructive and give rise to enormous quantities of sludge .
the European Commission has already introduced such a register , and the European Parliament is therefore only extending its application to MEPs , officials and other staff of the European Parliament .
a close analysis of the state of fundamental rights in the European Union is liable to confirm the unwelcome conclusion that in Europe , human rights are often protected only in name .
I am confident this House shares that choice - a choice of determination , a choice for Europe - and I count on your input as we continue our work .
Mr President , honourable Members , we must not disappoint the hopes that have been pinned on our capacity to act together for Europe 's common good .
this debate on the situation of anchovy stocks and the recovery plan is , as has been said , a turning point , both for the species and for relations between the Council , Parliament and the Commission .
yes .
three weeks ago a 13 year old girl , Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow , was stoned there after having been raped by three men .
Mr Barroso , you must stop Mr Oettinger .
when and how will we have a way of effectively tackling the relocation of businesses ?
this is why I think that the Union 's support is necessary for the completion of this project .
yet , refusing to change the system is to guarantee the failure of the few useful and necessary measures proposed .
the deviation between standard rates applied currently ranges between 15 % and 25 % and is sufficient to guarantee the correct operation of the internal market .
when it comes to Russia , too , we should consider in what context we see the visa regime with Russia .
a budget freeze will dent growth , no matter what other Members might say .
basically , during this debate , I want to listen to what you have to say before rejoining the European Environment Council , which is taking place at the same time , all day .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Madam President , some European governments actively participated in illegal rendition , torture and illegal detention .
we should also aim to diversify our efforts to prevent regional conflict in South America .
I feel a little confused .
correspondingly , the imposition of stricter lending terms will lead to a contraction of popular consumption and the very rapid manifestation of crisis .
I voted for the Resolution on maternal mortality before the UN High-Level Meeting of 25 September , designed for the review of the Millennium Development Goals , due to the fact that its text requests the Council and the Commission to expand the provisions on maternal health services and lay emphasis on programmes of prenatal care , maternal nutrition , adequate delivery assistance that avoids excessive recourse to caesarean sections , post-natal assistance and family planning .
the supra-national oil companies regard environmental protection merely as an expense item that must be reduced .
and institutional changes do not help with climate changes .
finally , let me express my hope that the European Commission , in accordance with Parliament 's explicit instruction and the approval of the European Council , will set in motion as soon as possible the complex development programme described in the resolution .
what we must do is better coordinate the Member States ' economic policies ; Europe has tools for this , they are contained in the Lisbon Strategy , which is an exercise in economic policy coordination , and they are unquestionably contained in economic and monetary union .
the country and its society have been destroyed by the policies and war of occupation waged by the Soviet Union , by the internal warfare of the Mujahedeen groups who were armed by the US , Pakistan , Iran and other countries , and by the sinister rule of the Taliban .
Commissioner , Nautilus , Hermes and EUR 24 million mean more commitment and more equipment .
Madam President , I think it is high time to face realities .
you tell us this and have told us this each time that we question you .
I am opposed to opening the floodgates on production as this , I believe , would solve nothing .
for my part , I should have liked it to go even further .
many of these are the poorest pensioners , who are on a very low fixed income and could already be living below the poverty line .
what we do , however , must be done better .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , how long will the euro last in its current form ?
it comes down to this - either pigs will start to fly or we must collectively put an end to discrimination against 335 000 people living in Latvia .
it is a problem for all Member States .
solidarity between Member States in crises will be enabled by European networks .
Bangladesh
you are right about that .
people want to make food choices based on their own values and not according to safety assessment studies .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , the situation in Bangladesh is certainly worrying .
the Commission .
it is not on the agenda due to the wishes of the Italian Members .
in fact , once this system is in place the citizens would send their details via the Internet to the United States authorities , which would then process them in the same way in the future as they do now .
as regards Commissioner Barrot 's reference to Romania , accusations have been made in the past without any basis .
we should probably look at our own costs and refrain from increasing them during difficult economic times .
the situation we found in the sector inquiry report , which I have already touched upon , is quite clear .
I regret that he is hurling what I consider to be insults at me .
I wish to say that we need to extend our control , and not only to preliminary control of the delegated acts which we are discussing at the moment .
finally , a more general remark : hopefully , if we vote tomorrow , our test of Lisbon , in budgetary terms , will be over and we will have to draw conclusions .
after all , since Europe extends to all areas , people were getting in through the back door .
we must ensure that the treaty comes into force soon .
however , the rules that must regulate their activities must be set , from the start , in such a way that will prevent community and alternative media from betraying their mission , their social role .
firstly , by the incontrovertible need for us to do more in Europe for electricity interconnection and broadband Internet .
let us not reproduce in the management of public finances the mistakes and errors of the private sector that led to the financial and banking crisis .
in my trips to Iraq , I have heard Kurdish , Sunni , Shia , Christian , Turkman leaders and others complain about the role of the People 's Mujahedin as a tool of Saddam Hussein in the 1988 Anfar campaign , which culminated in massacres such as Halabja .
on the pretext of the need to provide protection against terrorist attacks and in connection with the alleged problem involving the smuggling of weapons into the Gaza Strip , additional powers have been vested in the Secret Service . it is now easier for the latter to evade responsibility for the use of torture .
discussions to this effect are also ongoing within the Commission .
from my own experience and communication with SMEs , I especially support amendments that put more emphasis on the innovative potential of SMEs and the specific barriers that they encounter , for example in reduced access to research infrastructure .
for this reason , I will now make a brief statement on the progress of the negotiations on the Working Time Directive .
I believe that , in addition to making travel documents more secure , the European Commission should consider adopting a common EU approach , in order to replace the different rules for the protection of children crossing the EU 's external borders that are currently in existence in the 27 Member States .
furthermore , the fact that the lack of air traffic controllers and their growing workload could have fatal effects on aviation safety was pushed into the background in the discussion .
the impact on the actual dialogue and on relations with third countries should be carefully weighed , to avoid depriving the European Union of an effective instrument .
I am pleased that the Spanish Presidency is hosting this summit , since we must raise and acknowledge the existence of Roma issues .
the European Commission is strongly focused on this .
we reject the announcement of the end of the milk quota system , the renationalisation of the common agricultural policy and the continued injustices in the allocation of aid .
( it ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the aim of defining a framework of consistent strategies with a will to express real solidarity between Member States represents a step forwards in the coordination of Community policies on migratory flows .
the prospect of a return to strong growth has never been so distant .
activists in Minsk marched in imitation prison clothing and carried placards bearing the slogan ' I am a political prisoner ' .
on further restructuring , or better , perhaps , as 21 Member States wanted , on an injection for the market , on market mechanisms ?
we will also provide technical assistance to implement tax information exchange agreements .
while sustaining these important missions has not always been popular , you all know - as I do - it is required .
the arduous job of the dairy farmer is compounded by difficulties in obtaining a quota , difficulties in obtaining cattle ...
I should like to say , Mr President , that I do not for one second doubt the sincerity of the proposals you have made .
I am sorry , but we cannot change the topic in the middle of the discussion .
the number of admissible complaints increased , in both absolute and relative terms , from 449 ( 12 % of the total ) in 2006 to 518 ( 16 % of the total ) in 2007 .
it has become clear over and over again in Croatia in recent months that a joint approach to European issues is the decisive factor .
one of the main barriers to the development of transport on the Rhine-Main-Danube waterway is the different sets of standards which navigators need to apply .
we will be reforming the budget , we will focus on growth and jobs , and we will have energy and climate change .
newly elected parliaments need support so that they can strengthen their own capacity to hold their executives to account .
any patient who is not treated in good time entails an additional cost for the health service .
that is something positive that the European Union does for its citizens .
these are the issues that will determine the success of Europe now and in the future .
paradoxically , the low noise level , which might be considered an advantage , can be a real hazard for children and the elderly and , in particular , for blind people .
José Manuel Obama : yes , he can !
the current crackdown on political opponents , as well as human rights defenders , in Chad must end .
the President can give the floor to whoever he or she chooses .
yet no additional resource could be allocated to the 2010 budget , and the same goes for 2011 .
( the President cut off the speaker )
the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats has been working relentlessly on the energy and climate change package , in the firm belief that it is an essential structural policy and also , above all , with the sentiment that it is an historic policy , and thus a huge responsibility towards future generations .
if the right of residence abroad is an EU right , we cannot allow Member States to rewrite the exceptional provisions , as the Italian Government has done in its decree .
it is already clear to the Presidency that more work will be necessary at the level of the Council in order to achieve the necessary level of agreement among Member States on these proposals , which would enable it to engage in discussions with Parliament with a view to an agreement between the two institutions .
their overthrow is a social need and we shall serve it consistently .
( it ) Madam President , Baroness Ashton , ladies and gentlemen , democracy is a non-negotiable value , just as the results of a popular consensus are non-negotiable : participation , representation and popular sovereignty are a measure of the maturity of a democratic system .
I hope that the Commission undertakes , through this now imminent measure , to defend life in the Mediterranean against the attacks of multinationals and governments who are complicit and care little about our collective welfare .
this proposal just goes to prove how little sense it makes for the Commission to persist in refusing to present a proposal on the 14th Directive .
I think it is important that we should be able to attach a label to a product showing it has been produced in the country in which it is being sold , and I disapprove of the Commission 's position in banning that in Community-financed campaigns .
moving on to the Commission 's work programme for 2009 , it is , as I have said , inextricably bound up with a specific political context .
so we propose instead to suspend the vote and request the Commission to develop a coherent approach to the use of PNR that is based on a single set of principles .
we must not allow having children to represent a poverty risk in Europe , and being a woman or a mother to represent a disadvantage .
Sweden is in a very exclusive club , almost alone at 1 % of GNI when it comes to development assistance .
I ask you to increase your efforts in bringing the rebel groups and the Government of Sudan to the table of peace negotiations as a matter of urgency .
in writing . - ( PT ) We understand from this resolution :
Malaysia is a Muslim majority country and such punishments are commonplace in many Sharia law-based countries , and are mandated by the Koran which serves as the ultimate legal authority for all Muslims .
most of the criteria derived from VPA definitions have been met .
or on Afghanistan and Pakistan , yesterday in the conference in The Hague , Russia had an important part to play ; or on Iran , or on the non-proliferation issues , or on the big global issues like climate change , which was also mentioned , or now the financial and economic crisis .
behind these figures , extreme poverty is the most worrying and is making progress , especially in these times of recession , which is why a minimum income is crucial .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , the report by Mr Schnellhardt contains a number of important amendments to the Commission 's proposal .
in writing . - The common agricultural policy forces British consumers to buy food at inflated prices from continental farmers rather than at lower prices available on the world market .
we will return to the explanations of vote after the formal sitting .
I actually want to see a form of grassland payment paid to sheep farmers to keep the sheep on the hillside .
many of them are prepared to start immediately .
I am very pleased that the Neighbourhood Policy is among the priorities of the Spanish Presidency .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Madam President , I thank all my colleagues who have contributed to what has been a very lively debate here this evening and certainly had some rough edges .
( DE ) Madam President , Mr Almunia , we need to bite the bullet now , rather than prolonging the agony .
if we look at the matter in purely technical terms , disregarding any other factors , we discover that the highest category roads , in other words , motorways , expressways and category one roads , are best adapted to the operation of heavy goods vehicles .
without respect for your word , there will be no rule of law , there will be no Europe .
I believe that interinstitutional cooperation should be improved as regards translation , interpretation , recruitment ( EPSO ) and EMAS and should be extended to other areas .
I have used my prerogative as a rapporteur for tabling an amendment asking the Commission to correct this situation .
we cannot of course stand idle in the face of events on the other side of the Mediterranean .
instead of ad hoc sanctions being imposed , I would like an EU strategy resulting in a coherent and sustainable sanctions policy .
we now need to make it a reality : only then will farming become a viable option for future generations .
the expenditure for export refunds is determined by law and will therefore be paid regardless of what amount is specified in the budget .
with regard to the matter before the House , I would have to say that I am rarely lobbied in my constituency in favour of an EU regulation and I suppose I would have to say that on even fewer occasions am I persuaded .
( EL ) Madam President , Commissioner , we are in the process of setting a clear mandate for negotiations on the discussions we are to have with the Council next week .
( the Commissioner declined to do so . )
to be precise , I am satisfied that a sensitive product sector such as food and fodder will not be included without first completing a study into the feasibility of establishing reliable criteria , criteria that will cover the environmental impact of the product over its entire life cycle .
Mrs Malmström , we are just beginning to implement the Treaty of Lisbon .
the very word ' violence ' is so strongly charged with negative emotion that many people try to change the subject when gender-based violence is mentioned .
in writing . - I support this report which seeks to extend EU maternity leave to 20 weeks on full pay and to introduce two weeks of paid paternity leave .
the debate opened by the European Parliament provides a good basis to start reflecting on how to address trade negotiations in the context of a reformed common fisheries policy .
saddled with the old and rigid system of bureaucracy hindering the development of new and dynamic businesses , the European Union will not reach its target - to invest 3 % of GDP in research and innovation by 2020 .
the resolutions adopted , the fact that Chairman Saryusz-Wolski convened the Committee on Foreign Affairs on 20 August and the fact that Mrs Isler Béguin - as she pointed out - went to the conflict region and gave a powerful testimony on behalf of this institution and , beyond that , on behalf of the European Union have confirmed the European Parliament 's involvement in this crisis .
of course the issue of human rights must not be lost sight of in all this .
progress of some sort has come to Tibet , but this progress has resulted in more bad than good , because it has broken down traditional cultural values , marginalised traditional Tibetan architecture and imposed a modernised image on Tibet 's spiritual life .
in some cases they simply hope to live another day .
cohesion policy demonstrates its importance , making a substantial contribution to improvements in the socio-economic environment .
the Court of Justice , however , challenged this right in relation to the internal market .
it is there that we should seek the political will to pursue a joint world policy , and not in procedures .
in order for us to improve our citizens ' quality of life , we must speed up the development and implementation of scientific research and innovation in the area of urban mobility .
being in touch with the people is our foremost duty .
( GA ) Mr President , we must recognise that Turkey , although a Muslim state , is very helpful to the West , especially as regards Kuwait , Iraq and NATO .
this is a necessary decision and it will help Member States and FRONTEX to manage our external sea borders more efficiently .
the Sri Lankan Government has dismissed the panel 's report , calling it illegal and biased .
I am glad it was said that the Commission - the new Commission under the leadership of Mr Barroso - will direct its efforts to enable us to overcome the economic crisis .
that has been the assurance given by David Cameron , and unlike his cast-iron guarantee of before , he must hold to this promise .
the tragedy in the Strait of Kerch is something we have to live and cope with within the shortest possible time limits , especially those of us who border on the Black Sea region .
I have been dealing over the last number of months , indeed even this week , with residual cases from individual constituents who have been affected by this particular crisis .
the strong euro had mitigated to some extent the effect of rising or increasing prices of fuel and oil .
as usual , EU legislation adds expensive costs to industry which disproportionately affects SMEs and therefore favours the big players .
the reason why we have such a tool as a black list is that , if there is a need , and if we have enough evidence , we can add a practice to the black list when we agree that it is something which we need to target and ban all over Europe .
in the second half of 2007 the property market collapsed .
we are trying to get the third pillar cooperation of police to work better .
there is also something new in relation to the Lisbon Strategy : the Spanish Presidency is going to focus above all on those that affect the internal market .
an until recently very close associate of President Chávez has even termed the process a ' coup ' .
at the end of last year , six political parties represented in the Latvian parliament , from both government and opposition , agreed on a common stance of support for the economic stabilisation plan drawn up by the Latvian government .
since 1985 , the motor vehicle sector has been governed by a block exemption regulation in the context of European competition law , in order to take into account its specific characteristics : the oligopolistic situation , and the highly technical nature and long life span of products .
that it is time that the European Union 's foreign policy had not only a budget but also a face and a human capacity to support , just as the other leaders of international organisations have done ?
I welcome Parliament 's strengthening of the rules concerning the use of cookies and similar devices .
those who have been brought to justice are either not convicted or receive token punishments .
it is therefore necessary to call on the Commission and the Council to take prompt action , so that the Council reassesses the proposal to make implementation of the European Solidarity Fund simpler , quicker and more flexible .
thank you for your attention .
our Group will grant discharge to the Commission , but , personally , I will refuse to grant it discharge .
some of the other languages contain mistakes , so please follow the German text .
improving economic governance and stability framework in the EU , in particular , in the euro zone (
a number of countries have adopted plans to help the automotive sector , but as the Commission has observed , these plans must be in accord with EU law and prevailing principles on competition , and in particular with the principles for awarding state aid , in order not to disrupt the functioning of the European internal market .
in this Union of free movement , the only remaining barriers are those of our political debates .
fourth : the legality of the agreement .
explore your mandate .
we will come back to this matter in the annual report on application of the Charter , which also covers progress on the application of Article 21 .
long live the Europe of the people !
I call on colleagues to support this report which makes an important contribution to dealing with the disgrace of discards .
a really historic atmosphere prevails in this late-night session of Parliament .
the committee provided me , the President , and my deputies with the interpretation on which we are able to proceed .
if I had been in favour of the ' no ' campaign in the Irish referendum , I would have enthusiastically applauded the Catania report and its supporters .
the introduction of lump sum payments for direct costs and for indirect costs up to EUR 50 000 will simplify administrative procedures .
therefore , I would like to see progress at the Cancún conference .
I agree with certain Members who have said that .
I would also say , however , that it is possible that we need to come up with European transitional solutions - but not long-term subsidisation - for management errors of the like that have affected GM in the United States and its subsidiaries , and that such solutions must be subject to competition law .
opening of the sitting
I give the example of the European Fundamental Rights Agency , which is currently under investigation by OLAF .
it needs to be stated quite clearly that , in its present form , the common agricultural policy is leading to a loss of biological security in the European Union and a deepening of the global food crisis .
this can only encourage it to try and resort to resolving other issues in a similar fashion .
they work with capital but not for capital and want to create work , welfare , quality of life and innovation , and to demonstrate that these values should and can be part of the internal market in Europe .
so we need to say clearly that without the political will from Member States , this decision will be meaningless .
this issue demonstrates just how necessary it is for us to provide ourselves in future with a uniform method of appointing MEPs by direct universal suffrage , with this reform to be carried out by means of a convention .
we believe it to be a good instrument with which to strengthen such important relations as those between the public and private sectors .
Parliament has not actually been inflexible .
we must ignore the fact that the Spanish bond market is telling us that they are going to be next .
furthermore , the problems detected during the work of the committee are not connected to the year following the year for which discharge is granted .
we can work it out together .
by adopting this compromise agreement the European Union will be demonstrating that with sufficient political will it is possible to adopt the concrete measures necessary to combat climate change and that it is possible to do so at reasonable cost .
as the Commissioner also made very clear , the aim is Europe-wide harmonisation of national statistics on the use and placing on the market of pesticides , which must be achieved at the level where it is most feasible in functional terms .
Mr President , I would very much like to address myself to a representative of the Council as well , but the Council did not decide to send anyone to this debate .
there are a few points I would like to add to that .
we think that would have made more sense instead of having them all mixed up together , but that is a side note .
there has been a decline in the number of cases where the Commission ( I see that the Vice-President is not listening ) has complied with the recommendations of the European Ombusdman .
please also ensure that decreasing depreciation is possible , so that businesses can invest in these areas quickly and in good time .
I can inform you that discussions of the text in Council are going very well , and the Portuguese Presidency hopes - with the full support of the Commission - for political agreement by the end of December 2007 , before the end of the Portuguese Presidency .
( EL ) Mr President , I , too , should like to welcome Commissioner Damanaki and , in particular , to thank Mrs Maria do Céu Patrão Neves for her exhaustive and exceptional work .
fourth , the European Council is not willing to go back on its own unrealistic and extremely expensive targets concerning climate change .
the first is a gradual reduction in the independence of the Directorates-General , subject to the combined effects of a legal service that is increasingly reluctant to go to Court and a General Secretariat that is increasingly reluctant to encourage the Member States ; the examples that I could give are , alas , numerous .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
these practices differ depending on whether services or goods are being procured and , above all , depending on which countries have signed the relevant agreements .
Group purchasing of vaccines is a possibility , provided that the manufacturers remain liable for the quality , safety and efficacy of their products .
therefore my group proposes we should continue with electronic voting .
stand up for those who , in a modern civilised society , are supporting democracy and freedom of expression and of the press .
their work has opened the way for very active cooperation - and I am delighted to emphasise this - between the Council and the European Parliament throughout the work .
however , the Commission regrets the fact that the Chinese authorities have reacted by putting his wife , Mrs Liu Xia , under house arrest , and by restricting freedom of movement for many of his friends .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , Vice-President , looking around this House I somehow have the impression that the occupants of the constitutional ivory tower have been invited to continue their discussions in the plenary sitting of this House .
millions of hectares of tropical forest are lost annually and the resultant carbon emissions are bound to have a drastic effect on the planet .
in writing . - ( DE ) Amendment 2 is intended to point out that the Commission needs to give greater consideration to the role of mobility and transport in this strategy .
and this is why I believe it is time to get back to the basics of what made the European project possible and brought us together : simple natural things .
had these powers been limited to euro zone countries alone , I would not have objected , but instead we see the Commission and many Members in this Parliament - including Ms Wortmann-Kool , for whom I have the utmost respect - using the crisis in the euro zone as an excuse to extend the power of the EU into the economic governance of the United Kingdom and other countries who do not use the euro .
Mexico has a population of more than 100 million , is the tenth-largest economic power in the world and is a member of the G20 Group .
these arguments need to be weighed up before specific bans are laid down .
pressure is steadily increasing on the international community because of environmental emergencies resulting from extreme weather conditions and violent conflicts caused by climate change .
I am grateful to Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner that she has spoken out clearly on this .
Greece , Hungary and others have similar problems .
I agreed with this document because the Treaty of Lisbon , which entered into force on 1 December 2009 , extended the circumstances in which Parliament 's consent was required for the conclusion of an international agreement .
a failure to expel many citizens who , if deported , perhaps would not have committed crimes in Italy .
as regards the new directive on toys , adopted in May 2009 , it is based on a new legislative framework for the marketing of products and it provides for greater market surveillance .
we have known for decades that a great deal of tampering has been taking place with regard to assistants ' allowances , travel allowances , allowances for general expenditure , daily allowances , funds for visiting groups and funds for political groups .
there is of course little legislation in the field of external relations , as we all know , but there is all the more work to be done for that and I find that what has been written on the subject , with a couple of exceptions , is in fact grossly inadequate .
this is enough .
these measures , which are necessary for preserving the species and which will be transposed into European Union legislation , will endanger the activity of European fishermen .
therefore , the Commission is looking into the opportunity to ask the Article 29 Data Protection Working Party to prepare an opinion on the processing of personal data for statistical purposes , including ethnicity , race or origin .
I will therefore support the Obiols-Estrela amendment along those lines .
therefore , we are now proposing that the food facility and extra appropriations to Palestine , Kosovo and Afghanistan be found by using reserves , for example , the flexibility reserve .
if we can put forward all these costly and non-costly measures , I believe that we will help Europe 's economy without changing the rules on competition and without falling into neoprotectionism .
our policies should definitely address this .
this is the era of globalisation .
I took the same decision in relation to pre-implantation diagnosis .
well , it is not really new .
we are also unable to agree that we should begin transforming our old industrial society , that we should think more than one day ahead and that climate-friendly technologies , efficiency technologies and many other measures represent the future , not only of Europe but also of the world .
this is certainly an argument worth reflecting on .
voters in Germany , Austria and Finland will not stand for it if , for example , there should be new bailouts for Greece or if this case should fail .
the title of this report should be ' EU cannot read the signs ' .
I am hopeful that , if we support this measure , at least one small business in my constituency in Wales will find some benefit from this exemption .
thank you in advance for your answers .
we say that everything that falls within the EU context will stay as it is ; each Member State can do what it considers right .
to those businesses that have moved their production abroad for their own convenience and in order to avoid bureaucracy , and which are now complaining , I would say : you have only yourselves to blame !
it is therefore a technical measure , but at the same time a step in the direction of less red tape , less fraud and more speed .
full employment will become a goal , the sustainable social market economy will become the European social and economic model and fundamental social rights will be enshrined in the treaty .
the representatives of EU bodies often like to place great emphasis publicly on protecting the health of our citizens and protecting nature and the environment .
this must all be ratified as soon as possible , before 2012 .
I think that the European Union should use the health check on the common agricultural policy to introduce mechanisms that avoid serious deficit situations in the future , if we do not want other global producers to monopolise the international markets .
Mr Mon 's report shows the strategic aspects of partnership between the European Union and the United States .
our aim is to be more citizen-friendly and that is a matter of real concern to all of us here in this House .
we cannot reduce the price of the euro to give us an advantage in exports ' .
however , unfortunately , the fact is that everywhere in the world where there is armed conflict and threats to peace , women and children are often the first and most numerous , albeit silent , victims .
how can Member States help each other here ?
obviously this commitment remains at the heart of our priorities .
the objectives are clear : strengthening free competition , and speeding up the process of liberalisation and privatisation of various sectors of economic activity and social life .
therefore , the Polfer report does justice to this difficult challenge in a distinguished manner and I also thank the Commissioner for the enormous effort she is making on behalf of this region .
decisions concerning certain documents : see Minutes
we nevertheless hope that the Commission will be in a position to respond to our question .
- Madam President , I do not hold with the notion that our economic salvation lies in tiny value added tax cuts , which are something we have had in the United Kingdom with , frankly , only a marginal positive impact .
all these provisions must not , however , lead to a fall in official development assistance .
personally , I see a lack of strategy on the EU 's part in relation to the Arab revolutions .
Italy has received them .
these are positive steps forward , and we want to make capital of them now , but I would like nevertheless to say that not all the issues raised by Parliament , or its legitimate concerns , have necessarily met with the desired responses from the other institutions .
this report provides a good overview of the current state of relations between the European Union and Iceland .
in writing . - While the report contains a number of positive elements concerning greater fairness in the distribution of the tax burden , I cannot support any increased role for the European Union in relation to taxation , which would further undermine the economic sovereignty of Member States .
the European Commission , along with the European Investment Bank and governments of the Member States , must identify and guarantee the financing of these priority projects .
I am pointing the finger , and it is for that reason that the Lega Nord voted against the Charter of Fundamental Rights , at the lack of attention that has been paid to the dangers inherent in Article 10 .
from this perspective , a cross-border approach is also required to tackle this scourge by stepping up cooperation with countries of origin and transit , in some of which human traffickers have only negligible fines imposed on them .
the basic problems we have to address are : firstly , the fact that , although 65 % of waste electrical and electronic equipment on the market is collected separately , less than half is treated and declared and the rest ends up in the environment or is exported to third countries .
that allows us to avoid cross-sector bargaining , which sometimes characterises legislative texts that are too broad-based and can allow some Member States to hijack the negotiations in order to gain an advantage on a very specific point .
attention also needs to be paid to strengthening the energy sector and to making use of renewable energy sources and the Mediterranean solar energy programme to stimulate economic growth in the southern Mediterranean countries .
we therefore call on the Commission to make it a priority to express its rejection of these measures and to also consider the option of reciprocating .
in writing . - This provides for visa-free travel between the Bahamas and Member States of the EU .
it is thought to be around 1 % of global GDP , but this evaluation does not take into account the social , cultural , moral and scientific value of biodiversity .
there is a danger , during this period , that the countries to which my fellow members referred and which do not set particular store by this sector , will try to limit the role of the UN .
if I may , I should lastly like to thank the European Commission , Mr Kallas and his assistants for the constructive input that they never failed to contribute , the staff of the Secretariat of the European Parliament 's Conciliation Committee , which showed great skill and professionalism - indispensable traits when taking important decisions on behalf of our citizens .
these massive flows have been brought under control in recent years as these migrants have been sent to other centres on the Italian mainland .
and for what ?
we re-negotiated inland waterway transport and forced an additional compromise on the Council , as it were .
this is a particularly significant step , because it is being made in the present with a view to the future and makes a start on tackling what lies at the heart of this dispute : the exploitation of the Congo 's natural resources , currently the object of very harsh and unregulated dispute between the various combatant groups
while I acknowledge the significance of this project , I would like to underline the need to treat other projects in the Southern Corridor ( ITGI , TAP and White Stream ) as equally important .
since pension systems already wrestle with financial difficulties now , poverty among the elderly will continue to be a problem in the future until such time as those who are not involved in the basic pension system gain the right to claim a pension after a longer period of time .
the best way of combating this is investing the EU Structural Funds in young professionals .
with reference to fuel prices , in order to address this situation , the Commission encourages the Member States to use fully the possibilities offered by the European Fisheries Fund .
I understand what he said concerning the initiatives taken by the Irish Government .
the number of seizures decreased for all drugs except heroin when compared to the previous year and , in general , progress has been made in combating drug abuse .
at present there is a conflict between the Board of the shipyard and the European Commission , which is demanding a drastic reduction in the shipyard 's capacity and the closure of two slipways , or else the refund of state aid .
seven motions for resolutions have been tabled to wind up the debate .
Madam President , it is a pleasure to speak on Mr Holm 's report on trade in raw materials and commodities .
citizens from the Member States of the European Union and far beyond our borders are answering for the pacification and reconstruction of Afghanistan with their lives .
this remains crucial , notably in view of the increasing demand for food due to a growing global population and changing dietary patterns and the challenges and threats that climate change is posing to sustainable agricultural production .
the response cannot and should not be on a case by case basis .
legal clarification of the conditions under which procurement law applies to institutionalised public-private partnerships is also important .
furthermore , the multiple-resistant strains offer little hope of an end to this scourge in the short term .
for example , the government of my home country , the Republic of Estonia , often adopts important laws pertaining to local authorities without taking the authority 's decision-making processes into account .
we must do all we can to ensure its proper recycling not only to be able to prevent damage to the environment and health , but also to reduce the loss of raw materials .
otherwise we are not introducing anything more than a redistribution mechanism .
the Agency has significantly improved its financial management over the last three years , which is very welcome , and it should continue to strive for the highest standards in budgetary planning , implementation and control .
we have to learn lessons and , as far as I am concerned , there are three lessons we need to learn here .
the other important question was whether Member States support interest payment subsidies and training and mentoring elements from the Social Fund .
the repealed regulation is regarded as out of date as it does not reflect the major changes which have taken place in the energy sector since 1996 ( the European Union 's enlargement and the aspects linked to energy supply security , renewable energy sources , the policy on climate change and the EU 's new role in the energy sector under the Treaty of Lisbon ) .
we need to be firm , to send out a clear message .
I am thinking in particular of livestock breeding .
the full inclusion of the Commission throws up questions , as the Commission has failed , in the past , to observe its obligation to act as guardian of the Treaties by failing to instigate proceedings .
thus , an agreement in Copenhagen will open the way for immediate measures to be taken instead of waiting until 2013 .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , The European Union cannot perform its function as a reliable and stable global partner unless it remains able to act and pursues a refined strategy that responds to the specific needs of different countries .
it is therefore necessary to study all the economic implications of this , particularly in economic and social terms .
I welcome the position that the Commission has taken on the 10-year suspension of autonomous Common Customs Tariff duties on imports of certain industrial products into the autonomous regions of Madeira and the Azores , and the report by Mrs Hübner , which together :
many people actually suffered serious health problems caused by this smoke .
our warm appreciation and thanks to the rapporteur .
also , when the name of Ryan was announced , or rather appeared in the newspapers - as our colleague Mr Higgins has quite rightly said - as one of the companies , and according to your research there are 433 airlines and tourist agencies which have this kind of low-priced ticket , finally Ryan said it was not the only one .
if we want to do that , we should first ask people in a referendum , which is why we need a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty .
yet I believe that the package as a whole , including the area for which I was rapporteur - on the obligations of flag States - brings extra added value for maritime safety , which leads me to ask the Council and the Commission , and everyone , for their commitment towards adopting the package .
the economic upturns in many Latin American and African countries are largely down to the economic rise of China .
the internal audit procedures of the agencies also need urgent improvement and I support the possibility of having a common disciplinary board for all the agencies .
in my 23 years of experience in the field , I have always found that the biggest challenge is not deciding on which clauses to enter into a piece of legislation , but trying to anticipate how that law will be broken and therefore to try and counter it from beforehand .
this initiative marks an important signal from the EU to third countries , sending out the message that it is effectively combating everything about tax havens .
in his speech in the plenary chamber of this House , a Member of the European Parliament described critics of the EU as a cancer .
we have doubts about the Community civil protection mechanism because it may turn out to be yet another way of removing important aspects of national sovereignty , such as the management of natural resources , particularly forest and woodland .
there might be others who believe there are far more simple solutions to that .
not only this will jeopardise prosperity ; it will also deepen the democratic deficit of the EU as a whole .
industry wants to make plans now ; it wants to organise itself now .
it means the combined weight of Member States , represented by the European Commission , in negotiations , and a single EU voice vis-à-vis our partners , be they producers or transit countries .
I would therefore like to call on both the Council and the Commission to adopt an open and constructive position towards possible negotiations between the EU , the US and Russia on the renewal of transatlantic dialogue on security matters based on the Helsinki process .
that seems to me to be a sanction that would hit the politicians , but not the people .
there were 12 questions , and they very specifically included everything that is crucial to safety on oil platforms and gas platforms and for the waters , the coasts and the Member States .
first , I would like to welcome the new Secretary-General of the European Parliament , Klaus Welle , who is sitting on my left , and to wish him all the best in his endeavours .
I think our President has said a lot on this already .
the Romanian Government has set up a high-level working group which will set national objectives .
firstly , the advances made in the enrichment of uranium for nuclear purposes and , secondly , the repression of the moderate faction led by Mr Moussavi , which is contesting the results of the recent presidential elections .
for the reasons given above , I voted in favour of the report .
banking secrecy , which is far too rigid , needs to be opened up , so that we can fight against the tax havens .
year after year , this institution contributes to strengthening the trust of complainants in European institutions .
supporting and protecting children 's rights is crucial to the future of the European Union .
the internalisation of external costs , as we call this principle , is something that we all want to see .
the five years of importance to us now are the next five years rather than the last .
as the President said , the Heads of State or Government can issue communiqués about all manner of wonderful things at their summit meetings but , in the end , the Commission and Parliament have to get the whole thing moving .
it is wrongly argued that jobs will be lost .
the second is that there has been no honest political statement about the fact that we are not rescuing all the Greeks or all the Irish people , we are rescuing the banks in each case , and that Ireland is not only an Irish crisis , it is also a German crisis and a British crisis , even if this is a message you may not necessarily want to hear .
another one is Galileo , in connection with which the Court of Auditors has not yet been able to issue a statement about whether or not they want to give a simple statement of assurance , simply because there is so much uncertainty surrounding the relationship between Galileo and the European Space Agency and the other players involved .
the code must take into account bilateral agreements signed by the Community , especially with countries involved in the European Union 's neighbourhood and partnership policy in order to facilitate the processing of visa applications and apply simplified procedures .
we should take this into account in our considerations right from the start , as it cannot just be the aim to arrest the perpetrators and enforce a just punishment ; we must also seek to have victim protection that means victims do not become victims a second time , but that we also have the funds to re-integrate them into society .
I have already mentioned the stimulus packages .
at national level , personally I am working towards simplifying French procedures , in close cooperation with elected representatives and national and local decision makers .
an honest admission !
I very much regret that we are only dealing with this report at a time when three Members of the European Parliament have been entrapped and are suspected of corruption on solid grounds .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , in my capacity as Chair of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs , I am speaking above all to thank all the members of my committee for their good work , particularly Mr Lamassoure and Mrs Gurmai , who did a great job in achieving the aim of implementing one of the most important changes in the Treaty of Lisbon .
the competition for using agricultural land also contributes to the increase in the prices of food products and , in 2007 , the area designed for biofuel cultures increased by 13.6 % as compared to 2006 , and by 31.5 % as compared to 2002-2006 .
I can unequivocally and formally attest to the fact that the dossier of the proceedings which led to this conviction was totally fabricated and was based on the personal vendetta of President Ben Ali .
we met many groups who are fighting for human , political and workers ' rights .
this report is about the United States and US-EU relations .
in Europe , at most we only have provisions or draft laws which discredit the free world .
in writing . - ( FR ) I fully endorse this report , which recognises the fundamental role of culture in the process of European integration .
Environmentalism is too important to be left to just one side of the political debate to apply its solutions .
however , I think it is equally important , and perhaps even more important , for there to be specific and real involvement from the European Union in building civil society , providing financial support for non-governmental organisations and free media , and also in imposing economic sanctions .
finally , Mr President , I would like to finish by saying that certainly many people , and many people in Europe , who never believed in Europe are as dissatisfied with this Treaty as they would be with any other Treaty .
in pursuing each individual area of common policy , all those involved must never lose sight of the fact that the concerns of those living in the Arctic must be given due consideration .
I would dwell at length on what are the guiding principles of this proposal , but I shall limit myself to considering growth and employment .
Mr Orlando Zapata Tamayo , a 42-year old black builder , who was only asking for his conditions in prison to be improved , died after 86 days on hunger strike and seven years in prison for demanding that human rights be respected .
I have been following with interest the boldness showed by the search engine company , Google , and its plans to end cooperation with the Chinese authorities with regard to the filtering of Internet web pages and censorship , and even to leave the country .
this is why the creation of the Euro Plus Pact , which has also been joined by countries outside the euro area , including Romania , is an extremely positive development .
I would probably be even more critical because I am of the opinion that the renewed Lisbon Strategy contributes very little .
in fact , one of the keys to protecting the marine environment is to ensure that oil exploration sites are as safe as possible .
in the steel and aluminium sectors and other energy-intensive industries operating in a global market , oncosts will not be reflected in prices , but will certainly affect the only adjustment variable remaining : employment .
but there is a particular issue which has arisen , certainly in my Member State and perhaps in yours , Mr President .
under the directive , fund managers must be registered and authorised and respect stringent codes of conduct within the European Union .
this means that poorer passengers in particular who are making short journeys will not be compensated and have no rights .
I confirm the importance of dialogue with other regions of the globe , paying attention to the specific links existing in terms of language , history and culture between the countries of the EU and third countries .
however , we need to invest in education and innovation so that the European Union can maintain its economic competitiveness and create new jobs .
the Commission should review this , but has yet to introduce a proposal .
Europe in turn must diversify energy sources and improve security of supply .
on 30 November 2009 , the Council studied a status report from the Presidency which calls attention to the need for further work on this issue , particularly as regards the scope , provisions concerning disability and the timetable for implementation .
in writing . - Our group did not sign or support this resolution , and we presented our own where we stated , among other things , the following : ' 1 .
I would also draw attention to the important environmental measures - particularly tyre pressure monitoring systems - which will not only save on CO2 but also make cars safer , because under-inflated tyres are a cause of many accidents .
when I read in the newspapers - as has been mentioned already by many Members - that cuts are to be made in the second pillar , I reject it vehemently .
now it is time to rethink and restructure fiscality , not only at the national level , but also at the European one .
moreover , the EU should make significant efforts for the complete and efficient implementation of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 61 / 105 on deep-sea fishing areas in free sea and protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems .
at the same time , employment is getting a new boost , because industry is not transferring to other countries and energy efficiency is on the rise , and for that technologies are needed .
convicted sex offenders must be prevented from gaining access to children through employment or voluntary activities involving regular contact with children .
a non-binding target quota of at least 40 % women and at least 40 % men on selection panels is one way of ironing out imbalances between the sexes in academic occupations , but applicants ' skills and qualifications must always be paramount .
amendments 18 and 107 suggest that this would have a very negative impact on travel companies in northern Finland , for example .
- Report : Poli Bortone
Mr President , we are in favour of deleting the name and surname of our Italian President .
what exactly is available to us ?
your speech , when the moment comes , will mark the beginning of your cooperation and collaboration with the European Parliament .
this also applies to Turkey , which must implement those reforms that are necessary to guarantee democracy , the rule of law , and the protection of human rights and the rights of minorities .
his political approach is to denounce his colleagues , to denounce the entire Parliament in the media and to claim that the officials in Parliament are lazy , idle and incapable .
firstly , there is the earmarking of the revenue from road charges for investment in improved transport infrastructure , which is in the public economic interest and provides increased safety and better transport routes .
I am convinced the institutional set-up of the EEAS must include gender architecture that duly reflects the commitments made by the Union with regard to gender mainstreaming .
a sustainable EU policy for the High North ( debate )
( DE ) Mr President , as rapporteur for the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) I would like to thank Mrs Lunacek for her excellent cooperation .
it has also been an exercise in responsibility , however , as you yourself have pointed out ; and I repeat , an exercise in responsibility , since we were aware that this proposal put to us today could perhaps have been better .
the Union no longer has the necessary resources to finance its budget .
such freedom should not be censored .
the answer , or lack of an answer , that we have given so far is not acceptable .
if there were any consistency to the analysis criteria , we would have to acknowledge that the results were , as expected , sparse .
we must continue to modernise and rationalise the administration , reducing dependence on external services and applying an effective human resources management approach , and all institutions must exploit all possible efforts towards limiting expenditure in preparing their own estimates of expenditure for the Draft Budget 2012 , which would undoubtedly help save taxpayers ' money .
less favoured areas , particularly mountain areas and small farms , need to be given special consideration .
firstly , we should call on Russia and Georgia to show restraint , to continue to pursue peaceful solutions to the conflict and to allow for EU mediation .
I trust that it will not stop with today 's debate and that we and the Commission shall together begin a process to implement the projects which you mentioned .
it is the enemy of a democratic society . it is opposed to the basic values of the European Union , a community of people who reject hatred and the war caused by fascists and nationalists that cost tens of millions of lives in Europe in the 20th century .
we may not have a sufficient budget and yet we are facing further disruption of farm prices and incomes .
as you know , we are on the hotlines all day in Parliament because time is expiring and we need to have results .
we are in close and intensive contact with China with regard to the question of how we can actually ensure that the production conditions in this country , which is by far the largest toy manufacturer in the world , meet our requirements .
the declaration is an important step in the right direction on the road to Copenhagen in 2009 .
not only is the procedure tortuous , but the answers are always vague , laconic , and of the type which say ' you are right , but it is not within my remit ' .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Mr President , the scenes of devastation and destruction caused by Typhoon Morakot will remain in our minds for a long time , but many people in Taiwan will be living with the consequences of this tragedy for years to come .
we have also decided to put the appropriations destined for the second-generation Schengen Information System to be put in reserve , on the condition that they are release once we obtain the necessary information on the steps that have to be taken in the future .
the reports we have adopted raise important issues regarding how to improve consumer protection and the functioning of the internal market , which I supported during the Committee 's deliberations and in today 's vote .
we would risk overreacting , imposing unnecessary , wrongly directed , over-draconian conditions which would only harm the prospects for investment in our economies and jobs for the future .
( DE ) Mr President , I rise to make the following request : on Tuesday afternoon there is to be a discussion on the Lamfalussy process .
it is a global challenge in a world where we do not have the kind of global leadership or decision taking that we have in the European Union .
you do not have to do this today - although it would be helpful for us if you could give your agreement today - but I am happy , with my colleague , to negotiate the process with you .
will the same ratio of production be tested , and how will you know if the product is truly from Shandong Province ?
however , it is apparent that no major strategic changes can be expected to the Commission 's policy strategy in the coming year .
this measure represents a tangible helping hand for small enterprises at this difficult time .
these are being , and will be , discussed by Ecofin - and we have the Ecofin meeting today - and our objective will be to reach first decisions by the European Council .
yet the EU also needs to keep up its credibility and commitment .
because of this I am very pleased that the Commissioner has promised to establish a committee to examine this matter .
if there is , that shows why we need to put it in .
similar fears may be harboured by politicians in other countries , for example the United Kingdom .
it is also a fact that many Catholics work here on religious holidays ; tomorrow is one such day , despite the strike .
the High Representative should be a person of merit , expertise and excellence , supported by the Commission , Council and national diplomatic services .
livestock farming is also facing a huge crisis .
overall , we have arrived at a historically good solution here .
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was the safety culture in one of the nuclear plants weak ?
I believe that we must have common European policies in areas such as , for example , water , energy and forests ; for example , I would reiterate the need for a European charter of risks for the coastal borders .
it is not good enough for all of us just to become great speakers ; we have to show we can be great listeners too .
as far as we are concerned , the European Union can do what it does best , that is to say it can act as a spokesperson and highlight , in a sufficiently varied manner , a problem which in other circumstances might remain taboo and hidden away .
it also highlights the efforts made and significant advances achieved in recent times .
in truth , the EU needs to take measures to optimise the use of its financial resources and institutional structures , and effectively manage migration flows resulting from the instability that currently exists in several areas of the world .
I fully support Tunisia 's democratic transition and development process .
this will underpin the rights of workers and shows that the social heart of Europe is still beating .
no reference is made to strengthening the FRONTEX programme , or to the need to make the agreements on the allocation of refugees more binding ; no commitment has been made to increase our cooperation with the countries of departure of illegal migrants , or to support , within the UN , the need to establish in-situ identification centres for asylum seekers , which will verify who is really eligible for asylum .
let us therefore do what we can and put nothing off until tomorrow .
our actions in Libya will show the actual state of our security and defence policy .
financial support is essential , but so is intellectual support , to establish suitable social programmes for the countries which are feeling the effects of the crisis the most .
naturally , we are also asking once again that we show swift support for all the worst affected sectors , in particular shellfish farming .
I agree with the proposal that the Commission must adopt a new trade and development strategy which would give developing countries greater independence in solving the issue of rising food prices .
they are an inalienable privilege of the individual and must not be brought into question by any political regime .
there is also a gap that we have yet to fill for people for whom no return to their country of origin is possible - for example , to Zimbabwe - and who are often left legally destitute , as it were , and , therefore , need to find a way to keep themselves alive .
now we are hearing new reports about the targeting of opposition parties and journalists .
this agreement safeguards the environmental integrity of the Commission 's initial proposal and sets even more ambitious environmental targets for certain important points .
for many couples these costs constitute a barrier that makes it impossible for them to undergo such treatment .
however , I believe that it is our role , based on our positive and negative experiences in Africa , to make China understand that its long-term interest is to ensure that Africa 's natural resources are exploited and not decimated , and that , without good governance , there are no guarantees , not even for China .
the cohesion policy should , however , become one of the main spending priorities of the European budget .
I welcome also - and Parliament has always supported this - the fact that disabled people will have a stronger position .
we already have this strategy .
( PT ) Mr President , the rise in demand from emerging economies , the increase in the price of oil , and climate change are factors that have contributed to the rise in food prices throughout the world , yet they do not explain everything .
the Greens have from the start flagged our concern about the impact of competition on European producers .
it was important to enshrine this principle in the legislation .
we have to defend it , it is a fundamental value , we have to speak up when it is not honoured and we have to act if there is a problem to be solved .
the European Union stands for everything that is the opposite of totalitarianism .
the proposal brings together all the existing legislation on textile names and related labelling of textile products in a single regulation .
thus we do not want a Bolkenstein II , we want a text that gives legal certainty and that serves the majority of Europe 's citizens .
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at the meeting on 7 September this year , the Council received news from the Commission that a draft proposal for a review of Regulation ( EC ) No 1 / 2005 on the protection of animals during transport will be tabled as soon as possible .
it is also very important to establish a close link between artistic creation and schools and universities .
the results of that policy can now be seen in our cities : wholesale unemployment , crime , the development of parallel societies .
it was important to get reconstruction under way after the war , but it is still more important to prevent a comparable catastrophe as a result of climate change .
President of the Commission . - The election in Parliament was an open election .
we have one side that whips the House and only one side that allows a free vote .
the particular toxicity of the use of cyanide and the effects of its use in mining , both for those using it and for fauna and flora surrounding the mines , demand a move towards the prohibition of its use in mining , for fear of increased numbers of cases of contamination , with disastrous consequences for people and the environment .
finally , I want to emphasise the importance of good management .
this is why , in my opinion , the correct distribution of EU and Member States ' resources will be of great significance .
the long-term method should , therefore , correct the mechanism governing the operation of the economy by breaking with the dogmas of the so-called free market .
this will instead create pronounced political pessimism and will impact on public opinion regarding the European Union as an institution , with all the attendant consequences for Parliament , too , in political terms in the new Member States .
I , for one , am a believer in technology .
as to the scope , noting that each nuclear plant has its own specificities , the following core areas could possibly be addressed by the assessment : flood risk , seismic risk , backup systems and emergency procedures .
until tests like these , which are required by the European Union Treaties , are routinely conducted , we cannot give our approval to a test that is not even provided for in the Treaties .
police or public security activities are not enough ; there needs to be a major cultural effort and only in that way will we manage to ensure that 2008 is actually the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue , because Europe must be founded on intercultural principles .
it is composed of numerous elements with very different rules of origin , so technically , reducing customs tariffs is not as simple as we might think .
as representatives of our citizens , we are interested in the funds being used to achieve the objectives for which they have been created .
unfortunately , the Council often operates in a way which makes it difficult to relate a document to a procedure , which then makes it impossible for citizens to access these documents .
I am convinced that under the Slovenian Presidency the European Union will note any progress by Montenegro in complying with its contractual obligations .
that is why this policy needs to be abandoned .
at Community level , simplification measures are under discussion in the Council and in Parliament .
it must be under the authority of the commissioner who deals with these matters .
children account for 46 % of the Roma population , due to the combined effect of a high birth rate and , unfortunately , a low life expectancy .
more clearly , we are discussing a real problem which has been answered , in my opinion , under inadequate terms .
last Monday , Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner received a letter from Mrs Pillay , the United Nations ' High Commissioner for Human Rights , which was also sent to all of the Union 's foreign ministers .
furthermore , now as before , I consider it essential that development aid and the European Development Fund in general are integrated into the overall budget .
it is also good that the Commission is proposing coordinated efforts .
in December 2007 it examined suggestions for a compromise on the directives that had been drawn up by the Portuguese Presidency , which had undertaken an enormous amount of work on this proposal , and these proposals took into account the opinion expressed by the European Parliament at first reading .
moreover , national parliaments also have such an instrument .
nevertheless , the implementation of SIS II does not just concern the central SIS II .
it is not simple .
we must act and , to do so , we can suspend the European Union-Israel association agreement until such time as the Israeli Government complies with international law .
Europe must , however , remain competitive in this sector and continue prospecting for gas so that it can diversify its energy sources .
I am now looking forward to your further debate , which I know will be productive , and I invite you to present your contributions , which like your amendments will add considerable value to this report .
only one has been barred .
for example , in the course of today 's vote on Amendment 6 to the recitals , the question of defining a human being and establishing the point at which it acquires human rights arose .
it concerns individual citizens and we want to encourage people to come here legally with all their papers in order , whether students , researchers , experts or scientists .
another question that has been repeatedly touched upon is child labour .
we must , therefore , complete the negotiations with Croatia by June , as planned , and then get the accession process for that country under way in the autumn with our vote .
there is no need to fear extremists such as Scientologists under the new directive : it will still be possible to reject advertisements or refuse to book assembly rooms .
ladies and gentlemen of the Council and of the Commission , if your position were so pro-labour , then the employers ' federations would be demonstrating here tomorrow , not the European trades union with fifty thousand workers .
it is related to even more serious issues such as safety , accessibility of services and competitiveness .
today , solidarity is manifesting itself in the depth of the crisis .
the horrible phenomenon of honour killings must be stamped out as well as the killing of transgender persons .
the UK Conservatives have been consistent .
however , this was in no way a protectionist-type movement and the companies concerned have moved and relocated their factories outside Europe and are now creating jobs outside and inside Europe .
you referred to the particular quality of your tie .
I also emphasise the prospect of making a greater and more profound impact on the industrial fabric , in order to create a true European market in the defence industries .
the resolution adopted today during the European Parliament plenary is an important sign indicating that the EU is very well aware of its global role .
the future of the European Union 's own resources ( vote )
here the Member States have helped themselves quite properly .
we have succeeded in providing the financial resources that were needed for the construction of 12 demonstration projects across Europe .
by way of illustration , I will mention three of these .
in order to enhance transparency , the future disclosure to Parliament of all reports and information related to the EIB 's activity as well as the measurement of the concrete results of projects financed by the EU guarantee , and safeguarding the right of the European Court of Auditors to audit the use of funds from the EU budget are particularly important .
we want , on the one hand , to prevent social dumping in order to protect workers , whether they are posted or not , and thereby have a balanced internal market , and , on the other , to do everything we can to open up our economic borders a little more through the massive immigration of job seekers and people .
it may also be the case that the number of children working in manufacturing goods that will be exported to Europe is rather limited so I think , as Mr Newton Dunn rightly pointed out , we should clearly distinguish between the two .
experts have perceived a threat in South Stream to the Nabucco project , which is included in the EU Trans-European Energy Network .
that said , similar and other variations on drinking to excess can be seen in all countries of the European Union .
a week ago , the largest mass grave in Latin America was discovered in Colombia .
in the near future , the Commission will draw up measures to strengthen existing laws in this area so that none of these drugs may be distributed .
the young need jobs , not promises .
priority has also been given to monitoring the Ministerial Conferences on Migration and Development held in Rabat in July 2006 and in Tripoli in November 2006 .
on the other hand , any opening should be gradual , conditional , mutual and focused on principally bringing profit to society and not to the leadership .
nonetheless , the question remains whether we have done enough , whether we can ever do enough and whether we always do the right thing .
Mr President , in the Anglo-American world , the primary purpose of the law is to protect people from random arrest and arbitrary imprisonment .
in a few minutes at noon , Parliament will adopt my report on the White Paper from the Directorate General for Competition .
( SK ) Mr President , the submitted report confirms the fact that we still have a long way to go in the EU as far as proper competition is concerned .
for we cannot ignore the latest figures showing that 30 % of young people have had at least one distasteful encounter online , at least one unpleasant experience in which the child has come across pornographic content , offensive or violent messages of various kinds or sexual advances or even content inciting violence or self-harm , suicide , anorexia or bulimia .
by taking that twin approach - dealing with governance at political level and dealing with the financial terrorists - we might be able to look forward to a better future .
all this confirms our demand for democracy on two fronts , on the one hand for a major pluralist debate in each country on what is at stake in the treaties , and on the other for ratification by referendum .
in connection with the report , I would like to draw attention to two points .
what will the outside world think of us , if we try to use IMF funds to rescue Member States of 1-1.5 million inhabitants from an imbalance of payments ?
these cells , since they represent the first stage of the human life they will become , must be legally defined as embryos , the patenting of which must be ruled out .
I believe it is time to have done with all this .
taking our geostrategic interests into consideration , we should see it as important to have the closest possible cooperation with Ukraine .
unfortunately , in this area , we lag at least a decade behind the United States , where the ever-increasing quantities of shale gas being obtained have completely transformed the gas market .
the debate has thrown up many questions of a serious nature which demand a response and which call for a clear and realistic opinion .
I am very pleased with today 's vote banning thrombin .
the ultimate objective of this motion for a resolution is to maintain antimicrobials as an effective tool for combating disease , both in animals and in humans , while restricting their use to cases where it is strictly necessary .
how can the people of Europe feel any affinity with a European Union which repeats referendums , if they are held at all , until the right result is achieved ?
I cannot overlook this .
one issue that feminism has had an ongoing discussion of is that of the stay-at-home mother .
it is impossible to quantify the human , social and environmental costs of the Deepwater Horizon disaster in financial terms .
the vote will take place tomorrow at 12 noon .
from our point of view these countries are not standard regions , they are not conventional states and they do not present typical problems .
the risk scenario is more balanced and the risk of being drawn deeper into a downward spiral has reduced .
it was already established in 2007 that , once the technical criteria were fulfilled , Bulgaria and Romania would join the Schengen area in 2011 .
it will mean that , in future , Dutch consumers will enjoy a 14-day cooling-off period right across Europe .
yes , collective expulsions were indeed organised .
at this time , therefore , I think it is important - and Mr Trichet is a good navigator - to keep a steady course and to maintain the model which has enabled us to come this far .
there is cooperation on airlines , asylum and judicial matters .
European businesses are the engine of the European Union 's economy and that is why there must be a greater European commitment to protecting businesses in the EU , which often find themselves having to compete with unscrupulous partners .
one interest rate could never fit all these different countries , and you have never had proper public support .
he made it very easy for me in terms of the Lisbon aspects of the report .
first , I take the promises I made during the hearings very seriously .
what I can tell Mr Mitchell is that these restructuring plans for the financial institutions in Ireland , and in general , the programme to finance the financial needs of Ireland at these difficult times , will hopefully have the positive outcome of putting an end to this very difficult and challenging situation in order to put the Irish economy back on the path of recovery and sustainable growth , as was the case in the past .
when applying the so-called Blue Card system , Europe should choose , as part of the immigration process , only people who are qualified and who can work in those professions in which our market is lacking manpower .
although it is welcome news that the constitutional referendum has been postponed until 24 May in the regions worst affected by the cyclone ( the Rangoon and Irrawaddy Delta regions ) , this postponement must be extended throughout the country if the government 's concern for its own people is to be expressed by focusing on urgent humanitarian support and immediate action .
- The debate is closed .
the next item is the Commission statement on World AIDS Day , which was on 1 December 2007 .
we have already mentioned that there are black holes in labour law regulation .
( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , we often discuss how to bring the EU closer to the citizens and make it more democratic without acting upon it .
it is also a specific reflection of the animal health situation in the European Union .
this is unacceptable .
subject : consumer choice and smart phone technology
the Commission will now carry out that position .
finally , we need to evaluate very carefully how worthwhile all of these measures are and we need to say a definite ' no ' to preference on account of ethnic criteria .
that is why it is right to demand that all Council debates , as they decide the fate of Europe , should be accessible to the citizens of the Member States of the European Union . however , these debates do not include political group debates .
the citizens support a credible common foreign and security policy .
it is important to gather all of the experience on the operation of nuclear power plants from the disaster in Japan .
the Member States have different methods for setting the retirement age .
the debate is closed .
how , therefore , can we claim that we are promoting the welfare of our citizens in the era of globalisation when in fact we are in the process of abandoning the principle of the republic , which is government of the people , by the people , for the people ?
two witnesses claim they were beaten and mistreated and forced to sign statements which they later immediately withdrew .
this instrument is aimed at municipalities and rightly so , because this is where the greatest increases in efficiency can be achieved .
I fully agree , and am happy to inform you that we already have a visa facilitation agreement in force with the countries of the Western Balkans , including Serbia .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , a priority debate on cohesion policy is rare , and today 's one is extremely important .
the European People 's Party has always supported the promotion of diversity as an important objective of the European Union and the fight against discrimination .
does that imply acceptance that the death penalty is a punishment ?
it was an uncannily prescient example , because that is more or less what has happened to the word free in our lifetime .
Nikita Belykh , the leader of the Union of Right Forces Party , was carried off by camouflaged OMON Special Forces troops .
please do this and do not wait for the Council to say ' yes ' or ' no ' or for individual Member States to start lobbying you .
Europe will thus be able to take this leadership forward and create jobs on its own territory and , at the same time , create a win-win situation with global solutions .
I would like to ask you the following questions :
the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy approved in April the penultimate stage in the legislative process by adopting by a very large majority the overall compromise on my report and the report by Mrs del Castillo Vera .
I attach great importance to the fact that we have done all this together with Parliament , with the trade unions and with the environmental and consumer organisations in open , transparent and verifiable processes .
( it ) Mr President , on the admissibility of Mrs Vălean 's amendment : Mrs Vălean was quite right to go back and correct the text , removing the vague and misleading reference to third and fourth wives , which led to doubts over the legitimacy of polygamy .
at this stage the Commission has only assessed the MIF in systems like Visa and MasterCard .
this needs to be brought to the attention of the general public .
for many Belarusians it is a barrier that prevents them from obtaining visas and visiting their EU neighbours .
in my long experience as a medical practitioner I found that women scientists were just as good as , if not better than , men .
I would like to say thank you to Nigel Farage .
we will answer that question later , as I was not prepared for it .
the Commission fully shares her view on the importance of this ambitious task and fully supports the various proposals contained in the resolution to enhance the European Parliament 's work on the matter .
as regards Eurojust and the European Judicial Network , the Member States , taking inspiration from our communication of October 2007 on the subject , have clearly shown their desire for convergence .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
we need adequate resources to tackle this kind of violence .
I am looking forward to reactions as regards such issues as how to achieve a simpler , more robust and modern VAT system and how to reduce collection and compliance costs for businesses , in particular , SMEs , whilst limiting fraud and providing flexibility for Member States .
there is a country in the European Union where , for nearly 20 years , the human rights and fundamental freedoms of about 20 % of the population have been violated .
however , some bureaucratic obstacles remain in place , for example , as far as cash flow is concerned .
( IND / DEM ) . - Mr President , today we are debating a resolution about humanitarian aid .
I use the tram every day .
I have already issued a statement on behalf of the European Parliament , expressing our condolences to the families and friends .
therefore , a roundtrip will incur a fee of EUR 300 as a result of this legislation .
you have heard why - the rapporteur has once more stated it quite clearly .
there is still not enough food , access to drinking water , sanitation or schools .
consequently , there seems today to be no need to develop new legislation for nanotechnology-related safety risks or to propose major amendments .
however , projects already under way , such as the House of European History , should not be jeopardised .
we should not forget that either .
where exactly is all the aid that the European Union promised to Haiti , and not just the humanitarian aid ?
furthermore , the use of renewable raw materials can contribute substantially to the economic development of rural areas because of its positive impact not only on land use during normal crop rotation but also , in particular , on employment and the creation of new jobs in rural areas .
the dealers , whom many of you have mentioned and whom I have listened to directly , and not just through the texts of written consultations or of meetings in which I have not taken part ; I have spent time with them and I have spent time talking with them , in an extraordinarily constructive meeting .
( EL ) Madam President , the problem of piracy in the Gulf of Aden , and now in the huge sea area of the Indian Ocean , is still getting worse , despite efforts by EU NAVFOR .
moreover , a new holistic and inclusive approach has to be adopted whereby citizens ' goals , particularly those related to economic , social , health and environmental concerns of citizens , are fully integrated into the economy .
I wish to explain why I am abstaining on this text , as I do whenever a report concerning accession negotiations with a European country is voted on here .
in the European Parliament we should also discuss and assess the risk posed by nuclear power plants near the European Union 's external borders .
finally , 2009 will be an important year to take action on energy policy , where we currently have a number of legislative items going forward .
the European benchmark , adopted by the Council in May 2009 , aims at an adequate level of basic skills in reading , mathematics and science by calling for the share of low achievers aged 15 to be reduced to below 15 % by the year 2020 .
regulations governing political parties at European level and the rules regarding their funding ( vote )
secondly , we need to draw maximum advantage from sugar 's export potential within the framework of the limit agreed with the World Trade Organisation .
on the economic front , Ukraine needs to take urgent action to tackle corruption and to improve the business and investment climate .
the election campaign confirmed that the Ukrainian political elite wants to continue the process of integration with the European Union and to maintain good neighbourly relations with Russia .
it is up to all of us to make sure that this step results in more freedom and greater security .
living on credit is the problem .
I made a commitment to the LIBE Committee , promising to look into an extremely important legal aspect that is not covered at present : where does the borderline lie between the definition of a civil aircraft and a government aircraft , in other words one not subject to normal controls on civil aircraft ?
the sentence -which Mr Battisti should serve in Italy - was handed down by an ordinary judge , applying ordinary laws to a common crime : mass murder .
this 4-million-euro initiative will be managed by the Hungarian headquarters of the Regional Environmental Centre for central and eastern Europe ( REC ) and will cover nine countries ( Austria , Bosnia and Hercegovina , Finland , Hungary , Italy , the Netherlands , Norway , Serbia and Slovakia ) .
a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement would provide us with a more structured way of discussing matters in which we have a shared interest : human rights , the rule of law , the drugs trade and organised crime , as well as terrorism and religious organisation .
this context is very relevant just now , since first , we are working on a new shape for our policies after 2013 .
I hope for a good result tomorrow , and with our point of departure - one of broad support - we shall be excellently placed to win the final against the Council , to put it in football terms .
naturally , the situation in Belarus still remains serious , but we need to recognise that one way of coaxing Belarus towards the European Union is to recognise and respond to Mr Lukashenko 's overtures .
how long can we justify allowing this evil to reign ?
this situation therefore leaves farmers feeling very unsure about the price of food products .
we must not overlook the matter of teaching tolerance ; quite the contrary .
the purpose of the public broadcaster is also to cater for the various needs and interests of the people , who are not always the unexacting audience of private broadcasters that tend to go with the mainstream .
this means that we will have to return to the subjects of freedom of internet access , net neutrality and the way in which , in an open society such as ours today , there should be a certain level of free access to knowledge and information .
the contributions of our ally , Norway , and Iceland , now an aspiring EU Member State , have further galvanised European participation in the Arctic Forum .
we believe , as the Goldstone Report highlights , that he is indeed entitled to the status of prisoner of war , as the prisoners kept by Israel , including many children , should be .
in the 1990s most of the then eurozone members were not capable of meeting the convergence criteria .
I shall stop there , Mr President , because I am not entitled to sixty-one seconds .
secondly , we need to expand high-quality childcare .
we pay Bill Gates a huge sum of money annually for using his Windows software .
visa policy is mentioned in the report too . I consider this to be a crucial matter , and we should pay great attention to monitoring the issue of visas and the operation of border crossings on the territory of the new Schengen countries .
we still do not know if the crisis will act to deepen the differences between different regions of Europe .
we have pumped about EUR 350 billion into so-called alleviating poverty when we know that poverty has increased .
I would like now to say a few words on the issue of vertical restraints .
( RO ) Madam President , rising food prices hit the most vulnerable population groups .
( SV ) Madam President , first let me congratulate the rapporteur on a report which is not just extremely good but is also timely .
Belarus is one of the six Eastern Partnership countries .
Zimbabwe , which is a poor country , cannot afford to waste time and money by investing in other areas .
my goodness , I hope not !
this year we are celebrating the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue .
I just wanted to add that we need to be able to extensively use all the available technology in order to measure the ash .
this financed the enlargement from 15 to 27 Member States without any additional budgetary resources .
these can have both positive and negative effects on human health .
this type of contract is an important tool for consumers , be they domestic or industrial .
in delivering our thoughts to the Commission today , we call on the Community executive to be equally bold and ambitious by taking a political initiative in Geneva which could pave the way towards a review of the operation of certain mechanisms that are evidently not working properly at present .
we should therefore be allowed to wonder whether , in the end , the legislative approach will actually bring many new benefits for the people we are trying to protect .
I think that we now have a balanced text that incorporates the most important changes and the European Parliament 's main amendments at first reading .
in writing . - ( FR ) I abstained during the final vote on this resolution for the following reasons in particular .
this sector is not very lucrative and has been experiencing many problems for quite some time .
it ought to have done more .
( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to thank all my fellow Members for the really excellent work they have done .
furthermore , accidental or operational oil spillages into the sea , not necessarily caused by Europe , are estimated at several tens of thousands of tonnes each year .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , thank you for the very interesting speeches .
like you , I hope we can actually reduce emissions in ten years and , at the same time , slow down our growing dependency on the energy resources of third countries , particularly oil and gas .
it will save consumer time , health and money and still give a profit , albeit smaller , to the service provider , plus some jobs to the unemployed .
the responsibilities of Member States , of the Commission and of other organisations involved in the management .
it has been covered adequately and I do not need to go into detail about it now .
the European Council has asked for Frontex 's operational powers to be strengthened and , in particular , for consideration to be given to the possibility of regularly chartering flights in order to carry out these operations .
it is not about naming and shaming , as some critics believe ; neither is it the case that we in Europe enjoy poking our noses into other countries ' internal affairs .
with regard to the European Convention on Human Rights , there is little to add to the speech made by Mr Jáuregui and to his excellent report , which was drafted along with the rapporteurs for the opinion , Mr Preda and Mrs Gál , on the issue of the European Union signing the European Convention on Human Rights .
they thereby make it clear that they have not learnt anything at all from history .
this is 41 % of the Member States of the EU .
in addition , the new Community programme to protect children using the Internet will help to promote a safer online environment .
so we must do all we can to break down the barriers that are in that particular region .
the image is still strong in my mind of the airlift of Ethiopian Jews to Israel in the 1980s .
the transfer of funds from the Progress programme is support by the Council and , for many of the Member States , it constitutes a fundamental element of the whole package .
it is extremely important that candidate and potential candidate countries in the Balkans guarantee the elimination of all forms of discrimination and prejudice against Romani women and introduce an effective and practical anti-discrimination strategy to be implemented at all levels ( national and local ) .
having demanded that the Greek Government assume responsibility - which it has done , and it has taken some measures - we must invent a financial aid mechanism that respects the letter and the spirit of the Treaty of Lisbon .
more than 6 million women in the EU ( aged from 25 to 49 ) say that they are unable to work or can work only part-time because of family obligations .
allergenic fragrances are also essentially prohibited .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , I welcome the clear words chosen by Mr Piebalgs .
Mr President , it is clear that the issue at stake here is the tension between the public interest and its role in society against the impact on fair competition and the functioning of the internal market .
question No 7 is inadmissible .
I remember my father 's face when we found out that my uncle and cousin were in a concentration camp .
I welcome the approval of a long-term plan in this report rather than annual ad hoc measures for allocating fishing opportunities , so as to ensure the stability of the fisheries sector and strengthen monitoring and enforcement .
( LV ) Madam President , Commissioners , the compromise on not giving this EUR 5 billion back to the donor states but using it for rural development projects in energy and broadband has the following important political message .
on the contrary , we are seeking a strong cohesive position and we call on the Commission and the Council to take very serious account of the nucleus of Parliament 's proposal , especially as regards the degree of harmonisation and other provisions for sales contracts .
obviously , if the President of the Commission says that we have to uphold the principle of free movement of persons , then I will support that .
as President Caldeira has already said , objectives are defined by more than 500 programmes accepted by the Commission , Parliament and Council .
is it separatism if I am wrongfully imprisoned and I try to escape ?
paragraph 4 is quite clear .
these are two very important , fundamental issues which we hope can be developed and finalised before the six-month Spanish Presidency of the European Council comes to an end .
who benefits from this ?
the rapporteurs have taken the Commission 's proposals as a starting point for their work .
the targets for renewable energy sources set by the Commission must not be allowed to accelerate climate change either .
I would like to congratulate the rapporteur and to thank her for her help and her excellent cooperation while working on the report .
they have alleviated the pressure on the interbank markets .
to date , I have seen no plan or paper , either from the Commission or the Council - or , incidentally , from any Member State - proposing a short- , medium- and long-term counter-terrorism strategy .
over the past month , we have seen the Belarusian authorities repeatedly demonstrating their disdain and contempt for the fundamental rights of freedom of assembly and expression .
a conference organised by the Czech Presidency will take place on this issue on Thursday and Friday this week , and I am sure we will have a lively and interesting discussion on labelling . it is important .
it is not a question of continuing trialogues until three o 'clock in the morning or holding ministerial meetings at six o 'clock in the morning .
China has learnt that .
therefore , the report rightly emphasises the importance of giving migrant children proper help in learning the language of the host country , whilst also promoting their native languages and cultures .
renewable sources of energy have been popular in Europe for some time .
this includes our friends in the western Nordic countries , Norway , Iceland , Greenland and the Faroe Islands .
I don 't think it is normal to have cases in which the Belgian state imposes additional tax liabilities on assistants , taking into account that they pay all due taxes and contributions to social insurances in their country of nationality .
to give a blank cheque to the other institutions while excluding Parliament is to withdraw this institution 's supervision of the allocation of resources and sectoral priorities in connection with development cooperation .
thus the European Supervisory Authority ( European Securities and Markets Authority - ESMA ) will be given its own powers of supervision , investigation and for the application of sanctions .
that must not happen in this House .
there will be no reliable means left to deal with many pest problems .
in this context , let us not be naïve and let us work tirelessly to implement European economic and social governance . the latter may certainly not be enough in itself , but it is a necessary condition for the success of a European social market economy .
the LUX film award has been set up .
there will be plenty of you at voting time , make the most of it .
yes , we must protect animal welfare , we must safeguard the proper treatment of animals , but we must also protect the European social and productive fabric .
( DE ) Madam President , I would like to ask you , Mrs Harms , why you have not thanked Mr Oettinger .
this will definitely require action to be taken at both European and national level .
the Union lacks a strong horizontal policy to combat unemployment and social exclusion , which would undeniably involve a cohesive economic governance package suited to responding to the needs of the Union and its Member States ; it would also require ambitious targets such as those set out in the Europe 2020 Strategy to be achieved .
yet another one : is there any explanation as to why it has been necessary to transfer substantial amounts from the translation budget line to the travel budget line , year after year ?
( NL ) Mr President , we all agree that what has clearly gone wrong in Kenya is the presidential election procedure .
a number of speakers have already mentioned this and we must not underestimate those problems .
indeed , the report itself admits this .
however , in Amendment 7 the Committee on Culture and Education of the European Parliament proposes that a reference should also be included to the ' Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union ' .
the Czech President describes the climate change package as a silly luxury .
dear President-in-Office Chastel , dear High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the Commission Lady Ashton , dear guests ,
first of all , within the framework of the United Nations .
however , the consultation also clearly shows that there are problems in applying the rules in many cases .
we know that the deadline imposed by the European Council does not , by any means , bind the European Parliament , yet I take this solemn opportunity to ask for Parliament 's cooperation so that we can reach political agreement by June .
in writing . - In favour .
in this , Commissioner , the Commission must act as our ally against the Member States - particularly against the Member State that we have just heard speaking so loudly about what the City of London thinks .
we will work that out in the next few weeks .
Commissioner , you know the situation in Calais well ; you know that , in Calais , many people could easily apply for and obtain political refugee status .
however , the legal act to which today 's debate refers only concerns the collection and evaluation of information in the energy sector and therefore is based , according to the Commission 's interpretation , on Articles 337 and 187 of the Euratom Treaty .
our negotiators should take note of it .
the contribution that women make to developing the family and society is also underrated .
there will be better labelling and more stringent requirements on trade in and the manufacture of weapons .
it is a question of funding from the Euratom programme .
Mr Meyer , the vessel traffic monitoring directive - I shall conclude on this point - promotes cooperation in the area of vessel traffic monitoring , while the SafeSeaNet information system allows for the exchange of information .
I support the rapporteur 's proposal to set up a European Centre for Drought Monitoring .
we have before us the revised common fisheries policy .
is the Commission prepared to reallocate at least 10 % of the EUR 51 billion currently available each year in the regional and cohesion funds to fast-start funding for new electricity networks for renewable energy ?
Commissioner , we must immediately examine these issues and deal with the problems .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I truly believe I can declare that we will write a worthy page in the history of this Parliament today and even more so tomorrow when we vote .
I support the proposal that the remote-sensing activities should be financed by a proper budget and not by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund ( EAGF ) .
oral explanations of vote
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( HU ) Mr President , Commissioner , Mr El Khadraoui , ladies and gentlemen , at the beginning of the Hungarian Presidency , we made a promise to work for a strong Europe , one in which people are in the centre .
therefore , my appeal can be summarised by saying that , today , the great educational challenges must be pursued very conscientiously and quickly .
let us assume , as Mrs Lichtenberger suggested , that the rules required every small child to occupy a child seat .
I sometimes wonder , who is guiding whom here ?
with regard to socio-economic issues , he did not put forward anything different , which means maintaining the neo-liberal positions , the proposals rejected by the European Parliament on the Working Time Directive , the Stability and Growth Pact and the neo-liberal Lisbon Strategy , and he ignored the economic crisis and its serious consequences in the social dimension .
President-in-Office of the Council . - It was agreed at the EU-Africa summit held on 9 December last year in Lisbon to establish a strategic partnership which would encompass all areas and issues of mutual interest .
the date is the same as that for the entry into force of the Euro VI standards .
I would like to thank the rapporteur for his very realistic amendments , particularly as regards the tasks of the mixed committee , the immunity of Europol employees in their operational commitments , the role of Parliament in appointing the Director and also particularly as regards data protection .
a greater level of cross-border cooperation is required on the part of the market supervisory authorities and customs .
it is a well-known fact that the financial sector , which is frequently built on speculation , has become divorced from the real economy .
yet they are saying : ' we want a no-fly zone ' .
we voted against this report because it responds to neither the challenges of the future , nor the serious problems of the present .
all of them and all of us have a right to know how Europe 's commitment in Afghanistan can be bought to successful and lasting conclusion and how long we will continue to have a military presence in the country .
however , we have to be aware that it is very demanding , legal editing work .
last week , I chaired Parliament 's delegation to the UN summit on progress towards the Millennium Development Goals .
it is essential for us to be able to meet and work with Croatian experts in the field in order to fight this sad problem , which is why I am in favour of the proposal .
author . - ( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , a few weeks after the end of negotiations on the Memorandum of Understanding introducing restrictions on imports of Chinese textiles , it is essential that the European Parliament adopts a strong position on the future of its textiles sector , the structures and organisational methods of which are threatened by its sudden entry into competition with China .
I know there are some discussions going on somewhere in the Commission , but it is like finding a needle in a haystack to find out who is doing what where .
finally , the third major event was that accession negotiations got under way with Serbia , and Serbia , Macedonia and Montenegro were granted visa-free travel .
perhaps she could tell this House where in the Lisbon Treaty euthanasia is provided for , where in the Lisbon Treaty abortion , prostitution , corporate tax decision , risks to the Irish neutrality lie .
Parliament is following the development of the political and economic situation in Tunisia with great interest , as we in the European Union are that country 's most important trade partner .
we are committing ourselves to holding an impact assessment of all national legislation which is relevant to the EU .
5 .
of this , 20 % is represented by Intelligent Transport Systems ( ITS ) and 5 % by safety applications , including transport safety applications .
( the President cut off the speaker )
there is also a strong political defence . we are here to produce a balanced opinion , because at the end of the day , it is all about compromise and we should have the final agreement of 27 countries .
I have the feeling this is yet another electoral stunt by the Left , rather than an attempt to see justice .
if we want to make financing instruments effective , then we need to set up financing that is independent of other measures , recalculate quotas , and review how instruments are implemented .
that is why we must make far more of an effort to ensure that lasting democracy , the rule of law and good governance take root in Africa .
this also includes the new European Asylum Support Office .
we are fully committed to achieving simplification and adhering to the simplification principles as stated in your report : simplicity , transparency , legal certainty , consistency , excellence and , as Mr Audy said , a more trust-based approach towards our research institutions is , of course , an important guideline for managing the activities .
an agreement will also be needed in order to avoid carbon leakage .
I consider it vital that the simplification of the European funds , which we are approving today in Strasbourg , is reflected on the ground in the Member States .
more than ever European farmers need stability and solutions .
the standards which are found there are far different from those to which we are accustomed in Europe .
however , nobody wants to carry on living like this anymore .
for a moment , allow me to deviate from the protocol for the sake of a historic reference .
does it matter ?
I think that if , as a result of this , we finally stop tolerating behaviour which everyone knew about and which is far too widely accepted , this would be the one positive thing to come out of the whole terrible affair .
in writing . - I welcome this report for it seeks to harmonize and bring more clarity to the rules on General and Business Aviation on a community level .
it is also the expression of the economic might of the euro area in competition with other continents .
a US army publication , Field Artillery , states : ' unexploded bomblets are a problem for innocent civilians and our light forces , our dismounted infantry , who come after the bombardment of an urban area ' , and nonetheless they continue to be produced and used and land polluted with unexploded devices continues to sow death year after year , as we have also seen in Georgia .
these countries have made huge progress on the road to economic development .
the first is that it is regrettable that the Council 's chair is empty during this debate .
the budget line number of ' Preparatory Action - Erasmus for journalists ' should be changed to 09 06 05 for technical reasons .
the events of the past weeks with regard to the Greek crisis - and here I would disagree with Mr Gauzès , since unfortunately , the European Union and the Member States , and especially Mrs Merkel , have been late in responding to this situation - mean that Europe is at a turning point .
the next item is the joint debate on
I would like to take this opportunity to call on the political leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina to join forces actively with the aim of leading their country towards a better future .
the overall policy of the European Union legalises the harsh and savage exploitation of immigrants and workers as a whole in the European Union .
the Committee on Agriculture carried out its work shortly after receiving draft legislation from the European Commission , and is now presenting it to Parliament .
the Prime Minister of Hungary suggested a year ago , and at this summit a decision in principle has at last been taken , to create a supervisory system for financial markets and banks .
these are some of the major and important issues that have been highlighted by Sweden and by many Member States .
in writing . - I voted against the Balzani report on General guidelines for the preparation of 2012 budget because it believes that the Europe 2020 Strategy will pull Europe out of the economic downturn , when what the nations of Europe really need is to be freed from the dead hand of EU overregulation and overtaxation .
we all probably agree that it is better if people earn their living themselves and are free instead of being dependent on the social protection system .
airlines are a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in Europe and throughout the world .
one of the main characteristics of this Agreement is a designation clause relating to all EU air carriers .
Mrs Swinburne 's report is very important in that we are finally discussing the regulation of trade in financial instruments .
when I am in the regions discussing things , I sometimes get the impression that the local representatives are not being involved by the regional representatives , and that the regional representatives are not being involved by the national representatives .
that is the right direction at last and I hope that the other Commissioners will follow that example .
as losses linked to the US sub-prime mortgages have spread via interconnected markets and complex financial products , several key credit markets have been disrupted .
the first key point is to give the various stakeholders , whether private , public , individuals or organisations , the means to implement this governance .
incomprehensible financial services products , the quality of which were no longer assessed by rating agencies , lack of transparency and the erroneous belief that the market regulates itself only added to the casino mentality .
we need fuels obtainable from renewable sources , but obviously not in a way that deprives food production of space .
perhaps we have actually been too patient where economic governance is concerned .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , in 1993 the Japanese Government spokesman at that time , Yohei Kono , extended Japan 's ' sincere apologies and remorse to all those ... who suffered immeasurable pain and incurable physical and psychological wounds as comfort women ' .
we must protect human rights and the safety of minorities around the world , but we must also do the same here in the European Union .
it is important that we do not wander from this course ; I would appeal to all the rapporteurs to maintain the consistency we have demonstrated in months of open discussion .
how many governments , and which ones , have made use of this funding ?
we are all well aware since the Liechtenstein scandal that the biggest fiscal fraud is committed by those large savers who place considerable sums of money in third countries , often tax havens , to avoid tax .
let us not forget that natural support for research and education comes from private sources , or investment funds , which lend money to promising entrepreneurial projects and invest in the development of new technologies , all with an awareness and a weighing up of the possible risks .
this is not an easy time for Europe ; it is full of challenges .
Parliament 's efforts to further increase the scope and improve the text of this legislative initiative have been fruitful .
all this makes the role of the common security and defence policy even more important , within the context , of course , of Euro / NATO cooperation .
thank you , Mr President .
these benchmarks are : allowing the Red Cross to work freely in the country ; realigning the education system with international standards ; releasing all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience ; abolishing government impediments to travelling abroad ; and , lastly , allowing free access to independent NGOs and allowing the UN human rights bodies to examine progress across the country .
we need new organisations in this sector , which will generate competition in providing objective ratings .
it enlarged successfully to reunite the continent at the end of the Cold War , and now it is called upon to preserve previous achievements and continue integration once better times come again .
that is the idea behind the reforms undertaken by the United States and Canada , two countries whose governments and authorities have suffered several setbacks in international arbitration cases and which have radically overhauled their investment agreement model .
of equal importance is a return to the minimal regulation of international markets , to ensure supplies and at least a relative stability , in the interest of all consumers and producers throughout the world .
it is really high time the European Union returned to the issue of tobacco , as silence has surrounded the subject for too long .
then we might achieve this objective perhaps by 2020 or 2030 .
I would like to ask the following question : will accession to the Framework Convention change anything ?
the implementation of 12 demonstration projects is particularly important .
cooperation with the Council has gone very well in recent months . cooperation with the French Presidency and the Council was very fruitful .
this resolution also speaks of human rights dialogues between the EU and China , and however optimistic we would like to be , the end result is that they have hardly been of any benefit .
there are indeed problems on the demand and on the supply side .
that is a primary article , a primary declaration of faith by Andrei Sakharov , who proclaimed that you must do what your conscience tells you and take action accordingly .
currently , Member States apply different standards when deciding their criteria for social housing .
origin marking would facilitate consumer choice and contribute to reducing fraudulent , inaccurate or misleading claims of origin .
obviously , as Mr Swoboda said , the pipeline should be under alternative management , for example under tripartite management that would include the EU , and that way the problem would go away .
the chosen solution , therefore , has my full approval .
a clear target has been set by the European Council to deliver by June 2011 .
the financial sector and the economy may be showing signs of recovery but - let us be clear - the crisis is not over for those who have lost their jobs and we cannot say the crisis is over before we come back to the creation of employment instead of rising unemployment .
it is clear , then , that I endorse this resolution , but I regret that our House should be obliged once again to call for measures that could have been proposed following one of the too numerous natural disasters that have plunged Europe into mourning in recent years .
EU aid cannot directly target specific ethnic or religious communities , but it should and it can , help the most vulnerable Iraqis , wherever they live .
it is true that the crisis is liable to intensify racism and xenophobia , and I would like to tell Mr Brejc that we have very carefully analysed the report by the European Fundamental Rights Agency and , previously , the report by the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia , and have found that in recent years , there has been an exponential increase in racist and xenophobic acts in the European Union .
this is already below 1990 levels .
President Medvedev has just signed a decree abolishing entry visas to Russia for non-citizens of Latvia and Estonia , which in essence recognises them as Russian citizens .
with regard to 2009 , my understanding is that we are now aware of the guidelines which were expressed by both arms of the budgetary authority .
my country , Poland , is one of them .
this is a common-sense rule in an internal market , but one that was far from being adhered to prior to this regulation .
for me , it was a real pleasure this morning to meet with Cecilia Malmström and Margot Wallström so that our three institutions for once could sit down together and really make some progress .
in the difficult economic circumstances that we are experiencing , this financial instrument , by enabling EUR 146 million in uncommitted credits to be earmarked for projects in energy saving , energy efficiency and renewable energies between now and 2014 , will contribute to supporting growth and encouraging the economic recovery within the European Union , while combating climate change and promoting the protection of the environment .
it has helped to form many minds of later generations , but for those who lived during this period of time it represents a terrible scar in European development .
the data is not encouraging : unemployment rates seem set to rise , and we are concerned that , by the age of 30 , young people with an outstanding education are not yet able to enjoy the economic autonomy necessary to form a family , to be independent , to invest in their future ; namely , to show what they are worth and grow as people .
( PL ) Mr President , I would like to express my satisfaction at being able to vote in favour of extending the force of the regulation as it concerns spare parts for cars , in terms of access of car users both to certified and uncertified parts .
I am not saying it is going to be easy .
nevertheless , I will now turn to the matter in hand .
I am sure that we are all in complete agreement as to the challenges that we face .
specific measures taken by the European Parliament show the importance not just of this House , they also show that European legislation and European institutions bring something positive and tangible into the lives of everyone .
Commissioner , I hope you will take this one demand by Europe regarding the situation in Gaza to the parties in the crisis , the Arab League and the Quartet .
the Spanish Presidency and the head of diplomacy , Mrs Ashton , should initiate talks on this matter with Russia , to include Moscow in a common policy of pressure on Iran .
walls like the one dividing Georgia will not be brought down by bombs but by the commitment of citizens to build a free , united , democratic country and by the commitment of the world community to enforce international law , and this is the ambition we will never give up .
Karel Pinxten , the Belgian Member of the Court of Auditors , wrote about it in De Tijd and Echo de la Bourse , saying that if an internal or external auditor of a listed company with assets the size of the EU budget refused to sign off the accounts in this way it would send shockwaves through the financial markets .
the state authorities made genuine efforts to address shortcomings noted in the previous elections .
as the original rapporteur , I was compelled to remove my name from the report when the Committee on Fisheries rejected my key amendments .
let us hope that the European institutions will be more receptive than ever to any requests for collaboration from these new states .
written statements ( Article 142 )
I am glad too that that agreement , that decision , comes with a few conditions attached .
it was afraid of not getting approval from the Council , and now we are saddled with the problem .
the accident was widely covered on the television news , and the French President met the parents of the two teenagers .
we have all seen the sparks flying in the run-up to the summit and we are hoping for a decisive , liberating judgment from the constitutional court .
the situation of children living with a disability is particularly alarming in this regard .
we support the introduction of measures against offshore financial activities which allow very high-earners to switch their businesses to these tax havens , without paying any tax , while the majority of EU citizens are paying taxes and losing their jobs .
Madam President , the re-launching of the single market has to be politically supported , economically viable and socially acceptable to European citizens .
I hope this will be covered by the Universal Service Directive , which is to come in the second half of the year .
the Treaty of Lisbon has also failed to create this base .
the solution lies in EU level cooperation , namely in the form of some tough legislation .
that is the reason for my first question to the Hungarian Presidency : in the light of this experience , does it intend to defend , along with its partners , the obligatory nature of prior parliamentary approval for these documents , or not ?
there is another reason why your visit is especially significant at this time .
I also congratulate the European Commission on this communication and I call for the task force for culture already announced by President Barroso to be set up , rather than delaying its creation and work .
this year , we celebrate the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible , yet today , to express beliefs founded upon the contents of the Bible is often deemed unlawful .
for this purpose , they can make use of the Community instruments available to them , especially the European Social Fund and the European Fund for Adjustment to Globalisation .
it was a pleasure to work with her on this report .
it is talk , discussion , debate , right of assembly that would be affected by the proposed Lithuanian laws .
the text is balanced , and is based on some fundamental assumptions : finally giving ourselves a common immigration policy .
gaps in competitiveness are a genuine problem for those countries which share the same currency .
in consequence , the usefulness of an umpteenth declaration of intent is somewhat limited .
ceterum censeo : as a foreign affairs specialist , I would like to demand once again an end to the chronic under-funding of foreign affairs .
many honourable Members have raised specific cases and the terrible record that this country has , and we need to do as much as we possibly can and I think we can do better if we do that together .
however , the best argument for persuading other states to comply with a post-Kyoto agreement is provided by the measures which the European Union is adopting in order to fulfil the commitments that it has already undertaken .
it is a lesson in how different ideas can be at times concerning the speed and intensity of European integration , or the nature of the EU .
if we are to dispel the suspicion that the newly established fund is targeted mainly at those who have not used the resources allocated within the EUR 5 billion package of the economic recovery programme due to non-implementation of projects , representatives of the new Member States should also be included in the selection process .
lastly , the Member States must actively support all forms of physical education and promote dialogue between parents , PE teachers and sports associations outside school .
the European Parliament also has a role to play in the Union 's foreign policy , namely in terms of its political control functions ( set out in Article 14 ( 1 ) of the TEU ) , as well as its legislative and budgetary functions assigned in the Treaties .
I am categorically against any grubbing-up of vines in Moravia , where everything that is produced is used and where traditional wine production is of great importance both culturally and for tourism in the area .
that meeting resulted in a timely clarification , which was complemented by contacts made by some of us with the Republican side and by a varied group of people and organisations from the Turkish Republic , in addition to the constant work that we have done in the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee .
therefore , here too , we should leave ourselves sufficient margins to tackle any developments in this area , as well as any developments linked to interventions carried out under the CFSP .
the most proactive and open mayors are therefore facing enormous difficulties .
ultimately , though , those people will get their way - should the UK be so foolish as to ratify this Treaty despite the opposition of its people .
Europe 's room for manoeuvre is already limited because of its dependence on Russia .
I therefore believe that torture , unlawful detention and the seizure of individuals - even if suspected of terrorism - in themselves run counter to our shared transatlantic background of democracy and rights .
there is still a long way to go , however , in terms of the internal coordination of macroeconomic policies or of certain structural reforms , which go beyond budgetary coordination , and clearly a long way to go in terms of external coordination .
the United Nations ' experts ' report , made public on 25 April , found the allegations of violations of international humanitarian law and human rights credible .
I intend to use the additional assistance allowance to provide opportunities to young students who are applying in large numbers to my office for work .
we also stress the need for research into greater child protection .
it is a barbaric practice ; 2 000 people die or are maimed every single month and we really need to get to grips with this issue comprehensively and on an international basis .
I would like to thank all those who have spoken , the rapporteur and Members who have taken part in this work .
in order to set these leverage mechanisms in motion , which , from now until 2020 , will take the form of research , energy efficiency and internationalisation targets , particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises , there needs to be a strong political desire to activate incentives and orientation mechanisms .
it is estimated that more than 8 million Europeans aged between 30 and 99 suffer from neurodegenerative diseases ( with Alzheimer 's accounting for half ) and scientists anticipate that this number will double every 20 years .
there are also issues for which very little or nothing is done but that we do not even talk about .
( protests )
dishonest entities often exploit the differences between the legal systems within the European Union to defraud people .
these and other safeguard clauses may be interpreted with an ill will , at the level of the courts , for example .
it is the only sustainable way forward .
last night , Mr Tannock and Mr Van Orden argued for the complete opposite .
would the people of Europe support such a Treaty ?
and the overriding goal of the European Council must be to set out a credible way forward which will allow Ireland to ratify as well .
for this reason , the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) wholeheartedly supports job creation as the most important objective of the European Commission 's work programme for next year .
5 .
natural candidates , such as the Ukrainians , a European nation , are being offered an alternative of doubtful value instead of full membership .
such labelling should be clear and universally recognisable , so that European consumers will know the product they are buying has not been produced from animals fed with genetically modified feed .
remember that we for our part are opening up our markets completely , we intend to be as flexible as possible and shall make use of all the leeway available to us to incorporate the concerns about development , particularly the need to protect the main body of agricultural production and fledgling industries .
therefore , if some kind of package is also required as a stimulus for national economies , it should be implemented by the countries mentioned and then we would not be talking about stabilisation funds .
we share , of course , the same common European objective .
today , we face yet another attempt to violate the proportionate ( risk assessment-based ) and scientifically substantiated approach to the sensitive and major public health issue of the regulation of tobacco products .
therefore , it is important that there will be more independent players in this area and there will be a stronger system and a stronger structure at European level .
as draftsman of the opinion of the European Parliament 's Committee on Agriculture , I would like to express my support for the Commission 's proposal .
but that constitution - it seems necessary periodically to remind this House - was rejected at the ballot box .
in conclusion , ladies and gentlemen , I am convinced that the new proposals offer numerous opportunities to the sheep and goat sector .
I would very much welcome your support of the Commission proposal .
it means that audiovisual media service providers and publishers would no longer be subject to prior authorisation by the Hungarian authorities .
food enzymes (
it is time we had a detailed and thorough cost analysis carried out and made it available to every EU citizen .
Mr President , if there are any weaknesses in the Nitrates and Water Framework Directives , I think issues in relation to pig , poultry and dairy activities must be addressed there .
tax competition also has advantages in that countries are able to forge ahead and develop more effective taxes or other solutions to finance public spending , provided that they are free from poorly thought-out EU legislation .
I am an advocate of electricity generated by nuclear power plants and I do not believe that Europe will be able to achieve the specified targets for clean energy without building nuclear power plants .
Mr Lobo Antunes , I wish you every success with the informal summit which will perhaps be one of the most important we have had in recent years in the European Union .
we specifically addressed the judgment issued in June by the European Court of Justice in the Bavarian Lager case as well , which moved the debates on transparency out of its dead end .
the Euro Zone is a pillar of stability for Europe and the whole global economy .
in his famous speech in favour of the United States of Europe , Sir Winston Churchill said that , if Europe were once united in the sharing of its common inheritance , there would be no limit to the happiness , prosperity and glory which its people could enjoy .
Mr President , in 2006 , I am sure there were few people who realised that we were adopting a tool that would be very important for lifting the EU out of the crisis that was just around the corner .
it can be a normal country .
all the rest is a matter for the free market .
capital is required for this purpose and SMEs must be given easier access to it .
I also hope that this exemption is not included in other agreements or in the final agreement .
the remaining units , however , were closed under the agreement , the region suffered power cuts and the substitute plants resulted in an increase in greenhouse gases .
this is also the outcome : that they are cooperating .
please respect us as well .
once again the European Union is benefiting from a case based on Community law ( first pillar ) in order to extend its competences with regard to the harmonisation of the criminal law of the Member States , with the notable exception of Ireland and the United Kingdom however , who have exercised their opt out recognised by the treaties .
in order to function well , the regulations should provide answers to several questions , including the following . in the future will there be one common energy market in the EU , or will we have to coordinate national markets ?
not enough consideration has been given as to whether people 's health will allow them to work longer .
therefore , it is important for us to cooperate more closely with the African countries on the refugee problem .
for Europe , and for the EU in particular , this should only be of limited interest , because the EU needs to be able to define its own emphases and objectives , and its own interests .
the continuing spiralling price of oil could prove to be disastrous for many industries , but none is more vulnerable than the fishing industry , with jobs at sea and on shore at risk .
I can assure you that the Council shares this vision .
in 2009 , there will be a regular publication on the research statistics on women .
regarding agricultural market price formation , the Commission is committed to monitoring activities by speculative investors in commodity-related financial markets and also on their impact on price movements .
women do not have such a severe handicap that they must be systematically imposed to be accepted .
in order to achieve the EU 2020 strategy objectives , the EU should reduce its energy dependency on its traditional suppliers .
the Commission , in making its own analysis of the Greek economy and financial system , takes into consideration multiple sources of information , including the credit agencies .
in my view , the revision procedure ought to begin immediately .
it is starting WTO action against the EU import ban on seals , in addition to its barbaric annual seal cull , and do not forget that it is fighting the EU Fuel Quality Directive to protect its exports of tar sands to the EU .
having said that , I think it would be a mistake to reject the gains we have achieved .
when the politicians remain silent , sooner or later the people will make themselves heard and then we need to ask ourselves whether it is too late and whether we have failed .
our first conclusions , therefore , should be that Iran is not and will not be the same again .
( SK ) Ladies and gentlemen , meeting the President of the Pan-African Parliament , Mrs Gertrude Mongella , in the European Parliament made a very powerful impression on me .
we must act quickly , but also effectively .
however , closer examination reveals that almost a quarter of CO2 emissions come from road transport and that tyres play a significant role in determining fuel efficiency .
the reforms that have been decided on have our wholehearted support , as they make substantial progress - particularly concerning the rights of the European Parliament - without fundamentally altering the balance between the Member States and the European institutions .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , at least this was discovered , in the Irish case , by means of inspections .
in the United States a hydrogen highway is being laid and the market is being prepared for electric vehicles .
( PT ) Madam President , we are about to end an extremely important debate which , as has already been said , is one that we should have had a long time ago .
the report rightly focuses most sharply on the use of funds in the Member States .
it says that certain areas of expenditure are still materially affected by errors , although to different levels .
in writing . - I welcome this report on the plight of the Roma - the most marginalised group in the European Union .
similarly , Mr Lehtinen , in his report , draws attention to the obligations of service providers and to the issue of legal protection for consumers .
nonetheless , I shall explain the reasons for my decision .
we too oppose the militarisation of the EU .
finally it has to be admitted that its real use is for EU military purposes .
why do we need this framework agreement ?
if , on the other hand , the authorities opt for open and democratic dialogue , they will then have to clarify their future roadmap for the country , give firm commitments as to a definite date for free elections and begin a sincere dialogue with their partners .
I am extremely pleased that today we can discuss the status of the negotiations and the outlook for Croatia 's future in the European Union directly , with all our fellow Members present .
now that fishing is permitted again , it is carried out on the basis of the precautionary principle , and that is the way it should be done .
the issue is not so much one of religious principle as one of the principle of freedom : this was a grave violation of the principle of subsidiarity .
we will also have to close provisionally some chapters with financial implications .
we must give ourselves the resources to act quickly and in a coordinated manner , for the benefit , of course , of commercial interests , but also in the interest of freedom of circulation , which is a global principle , and finally for the benefit of our humanitarian objectives .
more than half of Europe 's population is female and , at the moment , these women are usually over-represented in the labour market as regards temporary and part-time contracts .
that is what we are talking about , and that is why I mentioned the example of Olympic Airways .
soon , we will be able to see Europol strengthened and there will be effective cooperation between Europol and Eurojust .
alternative funds , such as hedge funds or private equity funds , probably contributed through their actions to the ongoing global crisis , and the question of their regulation is currently being discussed not only in the EU , but also in the US .
clearly , Turkmenistan is crucial to the success of this project .
there is potential here for a reduction of 60 % to 80 % if the best available techniques are consistently applied . those are the European Environment Agency 's figures .
a number of years have already passed since the accession of certain countries for which the limitation on the use of their language remains , in particular , Ireland and the Czech Republic , without the required linguists having been found .
anything above this level and the banks are on their knees and nothing can change this picture .
dates of forthcoming sittings : see Minutes
it is also regrettable , for example , that , if crucial information is not provided , a contract will still exist one year on .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I would of course like to thank the rapporteur as well .
only the prevention of conflicts and the implementation of civilian measures in conflict situations are capable of fulfilling the promise made in UN Security Council resolution 1325 .
my report is not a single-issue report ; it is a report that talks generally about protecting fundamental rights and security on the Internet and , indeed , that is why it received unanimous support .
such a Europe is active and independent in its handling of the problems of world peace ; it is not at the beck and call of President Bush .
it is therefore clear that suppliers cannot impose restrictions on the distributors ' use of the Internet - they cannot stop a distributor from having a web site , using whichever languages they prefer on that site , or sending e-mails to individual customers unless those prohibitions are objectively justified .
optimal solutions for investment in this area require objective information about the condition of the infrastructure in individual national systems , as well as information which is essential to carry out a central EU study of future integration .
however , this criticism cannot lead us to accept the intention of ' lisbonising ' the budget that is mentioned in the report which would keep it subservient to the Treaty of Lisbon 's fundamental pillars : neoliberalism , federalism and militarism .
I would therefore like to hear your personal view as to when the conditions will be right for us to make this target even more ambitious .
there is a gap to fill , and essential democratic sinew is needed to connect the citizen and the European powers that are exercised in Parliament and the Council .
in my previous report , adopted by the plenary meeting of this Parliament on 12 July 2007 , it was decided not to introduce the use of this abbreviation as a name but only to use those five words .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I would like to thank everybody for their interventions and to make two brief remarks .
it is a real and serious problem .
it is a question of transparency .
unless you persevere with a hard line in your proposals on emissions trading , I believe you will destroy a very important instrument .
this parliamentary resolution was deliberately chosen to avoid any explosion of violence in Thailand and to leave room for dialogue , but that does not mean that we can dispense with all calls for democracy .
as anticipated , the Council will study the effect , efficiency , political suitability and practical feasibility of possible further restrictions .
in the longer term it is to be hoped that further ASEAN regional integration will help to make such clashes a thing of the past , as has been the case here in the EU for decades .
unfortunately , however , despite such strong support and Parliament 's subsequent adoption of the so-called Action Plan on the Protection and Welfare of Animals , calling for a total ban on trade in seal products on the territory of the European Union , no positive outcome has been achieved .
a package that clearly bore our fingerprints .
they are not waiting on the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) .
on the other hand , the European Union will do the same , meaning that the European Community can also suspend or terminate an agreement on behalf of all its Member States .
my third and last comment concerns the Galileo Programme .
it is very important that we say quite clearly what we want if we know that the European Commission is preparing a legal text .
nonetheless , although Mr Pirker and I may not always see eye to eye - we often argue , and do so with great enjoyment and fervour - he is quite right to say that such debates should not be abused for national purposes .
in Northern Ireland not only have they had to contend with poor milk prices and high costs , but we have suffered a third consecutive wet summer and this has had a devastating effect on the dairy industry in Northern Ireland .
it should be pointed out that the sums that are due to be announced in Copenhagen as being earmarked for developing countries must be additional funds .
I therefore hope that no one will vote against this paragraph 3 , or paragraph 9 , which asks for information about what is happening within Coreper , the Committee of Permanent Representatives , and asks that they should disclose the meeting documents and not secrete all the international policy papers away as diplomatic documents .
I share the view that the objectives of cohesion policy and the funding made available should be maintained in their current form , but this will of course be modified to accommodate the intermediate regions .
we cannot dump 80 % of our responsibility for the climate outside our own borders and allow the world 's poorest countries , when they implement their climate market , to pay dearly for their climate work , while we take the measures that are easy and cheap .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( EL ) Mr President , we understand perfectly that imperialism and its representatives , the European Union and the United States of America and all those who support them , are unlikely to forget Vietnam , because it was a global symbol : its people beat both French and American imperialism and won their independence .
yet let us not run away from atomic energy , which is an ideal tool for establishing energy independence in Europe .
the Council is thoroughly naive in trying to plant the delicate flower of Western democracy in the inhospitable soil of Afghan tribalism .
( the President cut off the speaker )
the messages we put across need to be more up-to-date and they need to make a real impression on young people .
this industry has also created hundreds of jobs for local people in the impoverished country .
the disappearance of pollinating bees is to be taken seriously , for the collapse in numbers of both the wild bee and the honey bee can now be measured on a global scale .
since the European Union exerts the regulatory competence of the flag State under international law , we must adopt appropriate measures to respond to this UN call by the end of this year .
while 48 % of detected unsafe products had their origin in China it should not be assumed that the fault lies solely with quality control deficiencies of Chinese manufacturers .
I also consider it is necessary to offer some time for implementing this plan , before making the decision to close the zoological parks that do not meet the legal requirements .
in writing . - The situation in Zimbabwe is cause for concern .
we will go as fast as the provision of information allows us .
'Calls on the Member States and the Commission , during the transitional period ' .
we need to emphasise how important it is for buildings to be energy efficient .
with Slovakia 's entry into the euro area , this will have sixteen members , four of them from the group of countries that joined the European Union in 2004 .
that is absolutely impossible .
I believe that the forthcoming European Council meeting will be successful and that all European institutions will proceed jointly .
the regulation came into force in 2004 .
but that was what was prescribed by the entire political European capitalist establishment : the EU , the big business media all promised that capitalism would herald a bright new era for the peoples of Central and Eastern Europe .
moreover , I think we need to put an end to the pirates in Somalia , but also to the foreign pirates that are pillaging in Somali waters .
please make sure that the parties at home in the Member States are genuinely in favour of opening up transport in Europe .
this new era in EU-US relations will hopefully extend also to US relations with third countries .
this regulation determines the conditions under which natural mineral water is to be recognised as such and lays down guidelines for the use of mineral water sources .
I believe that this document helps to unify not only the EU Member States but also the citizens .
the situation regarding the error rate in rural development is rather different .
Georgia 's resolve to use the run-up to the negotiations to speed up its own preparations is wise , and I think it is essential that it tackles the key recommendations very actively .
I am convinced that this similarity will give these opinions additional weight and that it offers a good basis for future cooperation between the two institutions .
these are the preconditions that need to be met so that we can achieve our political objectives of greater security of supply , reduction of CO2 emissions and creation of new jobs in Europe .
there have been periods of cooperation with Iran , for example in Afghanistan , that have been fruitful , and I believe we should continue to seek such opportunities .
we therefore need to pay some attention to this area , including when it comes to education and training .
Parliament will provide the Spanish Presidency with a supervision agreement that can be summarised in two words : more supervision and more Europe .
( GA ) So , I know that the people of Ireland are eager to get on with the job and that things will improve in due course .
I feel it will go from Greece to Spain and then Portugal and Italy and so on .
that is absolutely necessary , Mr President , because today the spread - that is the gap between the German rate , which today stands at 3.05 % , and the Greek rate , which is 6.5 % at present - is 350 basis points .
again I hope that the House can support the committee amendments on this .
it is also one of the many initiatives aiming to impose this unacceptable draft Treaty .
Mr Caspary also made this point .
it must be updated .
the credibility of the Commission is at stake .
thirdly , the title ' Council and Commission statements on the standardisation of electric cars ' has been amended to ' Council and Commission statements on electric cars ' .
I will be very brief with my second point .
there is a racket - a Ponzi scheme - whereby governments and banks connive to give money to European bankers and bondholders , while expecting the repayment to come from ordinary European taxpayers .
we are not protectionists , but we want good common sense .
the poor population of the small state is actually the big loser in terms of all these problems .
I also succeeded in introducing some provisions referring to the need to strengthen and extend the consultation process involving all stakeholders .
Greece expects Macedonia to change its constitutional name , and until 2 April Macedonia expected Greece not to block its accession to the EU .
the debate is closed .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , Mr Vice-President of the European Commission , Mr President of the Court of Auditors , ladies and gentlemen , my first words are to thank you , Mr President of the Court , for the immense task you have accomplished with the Court 's auditors ; I think this is an important document for our information .
once again people were concerned , but did not actually concern themselves much in practice .
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the common foreign and security policy may not work perfectly but I believe that some very important decisions have been made , albeit at the last minute .
in my view , the name of the operation should be changed , for anyone with any knowledge of Greek mythology knows what Hydra means .
this will enable us , when preparing financial perspectives , to make better choices as to which funds we should use as guarantees for the European Investment Bank .
in writing . - ( DE ) Climate change is a serious issue and presents mankind with a formidable challenge .
these were the proposal for a regulation on common rules for admission to the occupation of road transport operator , the proposal for a regulation on common rules for access to the international road haulage market , and the proposal for a regulation on common rules for access to the market for transport services by coach and bus .
we need to seek direction .
it pays special attention to women and young people .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I wanted to say that I voted in favour of the report despite the fact that our two amendments were not accepted .
media Mundus : audiovisual cooperation programme with professionals from third countries ( debate )
water is not a tradable commodity ; it is a basic necessity of life , and something that everyone has a right to .
similarly , in the Middle East we have been asking for closer US engagement from the very outset .
a total of EUR 200 billion could be collected in this way - funds that are sorely needed and that should be contributed by those who caused the crisis .
although we maintain our critical position regarding the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) , since we believe it would have been more important to have taken measures to prevent the unemployment in the first place , we voted in favour of the mobilisation of this fund in order to provide further assistance for workers affected by the consequences of companies restructuring or of the liberalisation of international trade .
bringing the rights of bus and coach passengers into line with those of rail and air passengers is , of course , an excellent intention .
in 2005 , the EU office for humanitarian aid ECHO provided EUR 3.25 million in support of food security and agricultural activities and the distribution of food rations to vulnerable persons .
it has increased our ability to access knowledge , aided our understanding of the world around us and reinforced our social connections to other people .
I understand that the carrot-and-stick policy must be used in the case of a country where democracy is constantly under attack by its military , but there are limits to our patience and to our tolerance .
in June of this year , I submitted a written suggestion to Commissioners Oettinger , Kallas and Georgieva to expand EMSA 's powers to create mechanisms for supervising safety on European oil platforms and preventing environmental disasters .
Iike Tomer , a code name , was a soldier in an elite unit in the Israeli army enlisted as a trainer by Defensive Shield , a company that sells military services run by General Gal Hirsch , the anti-hero in the war Israel lost against Lebanon .
we should be careful when using that kind of language to former colonies .
you should not only be thinking about your French voters - and that applies to all the Members , who should not only be considering their own electorate - because all the citizens of the European Union can access the interpretation of speeches via the website .
( PL ) Mr President , Mr Kallas , one doubt I have is related to the fact that some countries in Europe , for example , the United Kingdom , use a different time in relation to continental Europe , and this lack of change does not cause problems there .
thank you for your appeal but , as I said , anyone having a few drinks with his meal is best advised to have a siesta afterwards and not to interrupt our debates by his rudeness and lack of Parliamentary manners .
we should praise our colleagues in the Swedish Presidency who have stood by those countries and who have ensured concerted action by the European Union in response and ask them to continue it .
these criteria also include respect for human and minority rights , and nothing can be more important to the Council during the negotiations than this principle .
if the Commission endorses Parliament 's proposal to increase the budget from EUR 90 million to EUR 500 million , every child can learn good eating habits from a young age .
Mr Bradbourn was not even present at the vote , so it is a bit rich for him to go on about it now .
what we say is , yes , let the Treaty be revised , but without a Convention , so that a start can be made to the right to that confirmation .
this is because the applicant group has to draw up specifications and have them approved at national level and then by the Commission .
from Greece , they then move on to the rest of the EU .
the first priority , therefore , is to bring the crisis on the financial market under control , change the global imbalances , jointly address the tasks before us in terms of climate protection and the fight against poverty and implement a new morality in the world based on a social market economy .
( PL ) Mr President , I protest against the way this report is being dealt with .
or are we to imagine that not even Mr Barroso knew what sort of civil and juridical obscenity Guantánamo was then and still is now ?
I have also seen the undergrowth into which they subsequently disappeared , those solemn signatories !
to sum up , this debate must serve to inform European citizens that the Commission is working on a project .
if we want to strengthen the rights of citizens , workers and users of public services , significant attention should be paid to guaranteeing the social dimension of the future Single Market .
does the Council intend to fill it ?
therefore , it is not clear why a complete industry , which is expected to produce significant waste streams , is being excluded , particularly as the solar industry is likely to be responsible for a large amount of waste in the near future , when the first solar cells installed on large numbers on European roofs have to be replaced .
I am therefore asking Members not to support this proposal , also in view of the agricultural production that is necessary in Europe and the world , as the chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development has said .
the sustainable economic development of the Union also depends on the development of a more ecological and efficient transport from the energy point of view .
it answers my question in principle , but this is not a problem of principle .
the decision was particularly important as it calls on the Commission to fulfil its previous promises to table a specific legislative proposal with a view to combating violence against women .
the redundancies were made in the period between 1 April and 29 December 2009 in the two contiguous regions of Nord Brabant and Zuid Holland .
this Directive is catastrophic for the European Union 's attempt to make a name for itself as a body that campaigns internationally for human rights .
Madam President , Commissioner Verheugen has very impressively illustrated how the crisis spilled over from the financial market to the market in car sales .
I think one of the problems we have here in the European Union - and I think we do it out of the very best of intentions - is that if we need to do something , we immediately legislate .
aid agencies must be given unrestricted access to the civilian population in a cease-fire to be agreed .
serious employers who want to pay decent wages and offer reasonable working conditions are outcompeted .
while on the one hand the South Korean Government is more confident today because rapid action was taken , now there is also a crisis in Europe and USA , which makes the situation that bit more serious .
I would also like to say that this is the only multilateral international instrument that places forests , particularly tropical forests , in a legally approved framework .
the past and the future : these are the two levels requiring attention .
the speeches by the Presidents of the European and Pan-African Parliaments to the Heads of State and Government marked the official implementation .
as President Barroso said in his opening remarks , we will respond to the challenge with a comprehensive strategy which builds on the strengths , values and institutions of the European Union .
however , that is already the next issue .
the Court also gives a qualified opinion to the policy group Economic and financial affairs due to errors found in transactions relating to the Sixth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development .
I think this is an area where citizens and consumers really understand what Europe is , and how Europe can contribute to international trade and the world outside .
it would be very important if this Parliament , as also the Commissioner , aside from all formalities , could and would express their indignation towards ThyssenKrupp .
a great deal can be done in this regard - including at global level .
standards applied in the European Union are among the highest in the world .
this includes the question of the employment of the Roma population , who are facing unemployment to an unacceptable degree all across Europe .
the report acknowledges this need and suggests some important measures that we consider positive , such as the creation of market conditions favourable to local production , sale and consumption , and the promotion of models for short supply chains free of genetically modified organisms ( GMOs ) .
in Europe we have to aim for a system where claims for compensation are directly linked to actual damage caused .
we should postpone the debate on the owner drivers ' working time directive until the next partsession .
the report puts forward important and necessary measures .
Hominum causa omne ius constitutum sit - every law should be applied from the point of view of human beings . this Roman principle can be seen in the work of the Ombudsman , who , working within his area of competence , tries to comply with the fundamental principle that everyone has the right to have their case heard in an impartial and just manner by EU bodies and institutions .
however , for my own part I should like to assure you , in any case , that I am perfectly ready to launch the study which you have quite rightly asked for , so that we can really see how reliable these biometric data are , and also whether they are advisable or not .
a great deal of emphasis has been placed on financial aspects , and this is also a concern shared by the Council .
this austerity-linked Hell has clear implications for falling levels of public investment and job creation .
so the Commission needs to submit a full report on maximum permitted levels .
I should also like to say something about the Socialists ' amendment because the reality of the market in these products differs between countries that produce them , countries that buy them and countries that both produce and buy them .
under the pressure of this deadline and the conditions of an existing public-private partnership , I support the importance of immediately implementing the common action plan , which comprises the next priority steps : to conduct a national study for classifying the existent zoological parks , to organize an emergency rescue team and to temporarily prevent the reproduction of animals .
I believe that start-ups and innovative enterprises must be supported in order to give them better access to equity-based financial instruments .
- ( PL ) Thanks to the efforts of the President and Prime Minister of my country , Poland , common sense prevailed at the Brussels Summit , and an appropriate message on the climate package was delivered .
the European Union must therefore adopt an industrial policy that combines competitiveness , sustainability and decent work .
I believe that promoting the concept of flexicurity and the EU 2020 strategy objective of achieving an employment rate of 75 % marks a major step in this direction .
the idea that it is right and necessary to ensure an identical level of development across all the Member States is a concept that we must not abandon and whose positive result we must celebrate .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
those are the families affected by decisions made in Brussels and Strasbourg .
this is a debate that had to take place , ladies and gentlemen , and unfortunately , I think it will not be the last of its kind .
I hope we are both pleased - and especially your husband with his enterprise - that money will finally be reaching the enterprises .
in Europe , people like me -immigrants and the children of immigrants - who come from the area that was once colonised by Europe , are still stigmatised .
I am glad that Mrs De Vits addresses the rights of energy consumers very directly in her report .
that was why we all delegated to Europe the national independence that we had prior to joining this project .
firstly , we have managed to obtain provision for the mandatory payment of remuneration outstanding to illegal immigrants who are deported .
EU-Mauritania Fisheries Partnership Agreement ( vote )
it has already attracted so much protest that many observers who can hardly be suspected of anti-liberalism have themselves regarded it as dogmatic for some time .
I should also like to underline the need to develop effective methods of helping children who have been the victims of paedophilia .
the preconditions have been fulfilled for the Council to take the decision referred to in Article 4 ( 2 ) of the Act of Accession , allowing for the lifting of internal controls at air , land and sea borders .
he has a clear view on the differences in different countries in Central and Eastern Europe and the current state of their economic and financial situation .
thank you very much .
President of the Commission . - I would not say ' in existence ' , frankly speaking .
we have among other things brought out the importance of corporate volunteering , the coordination of voluntary initiatives reconciling family with professional life , as well as the creation of rapid action volunteer sections in every region to deal speedily with natural disasters and accidents .
I believe that Ukraine 's membership of the European Union is also our strategic objective , and so we must find suitable means of achieving that objective .
this process is already under way .
the solution is not ' more Europe ' .
maximum transparency means that we do not yield to pressure from food multinationals to keep their formulae and production methods secret .
understandably , there was no immediate agreement about a formula to solve the Georgian issue .
thank you for that remark !
all other national embassies will become redundant .
however , we would like to emphasise that we believe a great deal of care should be taken with regard to the harmonisation of the different forms of training for the legal professions in the Member States and stress that such harmonisation does not fall within the framework of the Stockholm Programme .
the European Parliament , too , needs to take the initiative to contribute to this dramatic challenge of the new century , a challenge that is based on the democratisation of modern technology .
this means that the Treaty of Lisbon is dead , and I do not understand why we are discussing it today in this context .
given the urgency of this issue , what is the Commission doing to ensure that Canada amends its relevant legislation without any further delay ?
it is then up to the relevant states and their taxpayers to pay for this .
those purists who say that we must not have poultry or pigmeat produced with GM feed will not have won any kind of victory if we deny ourselves these feeds .
in other words , the responsibility must be a collective one , but a concerted effort is required on the part of the competent authorities to judge which reforms to support with rigorous governance and authoritative political leadership .
therefore , as Mrs Rapti was saying , I can still remember the anxiety I felt when awaiting my test results , but above all how I went through the so-called ' window period ' between the potential contamination and the hypothetical outbreak of disease .
Baroness Ashton , we hope you can respond convincingly to us both in words and , above all , in deeds .
renewable energy targets have been set within such an unrealistic timeframe that it endangers sustainable forestry .
we could re-table them , but why ?
less than a year from now , in 2010 , this proud title will be held by a little-known small city in the southern part of Hungary , Pécs , where the hundreds of thousands visitors drawn to the area will give a boost to the growth of the entire region .
I would like to emphasise once again , particularly regarding energy efficiency and renovation of buildings , that this is a very good instrument .
the whole situation has gone so far that we are considering the establishment of a privatisation agency based on the German Treuhand model .
this progress will have very concrete benefits for European citizens .
- ( EL ) Mr President , I would like to congratulate the President-in-Office of the Council on his very specific reply and , as a Greek MEP , I should like to say that we have a particular interest in all the Western Balkan States becoming members of the European Union as soon as possible .
ladies and gentlemen , stem cell research offers great opportunities for patients to whom we are unable to offer adequate help at the moment .
it is a law enabling the US to monitor almost all of our intra-European communication , telephone calls and emails .
I think that it is wrong - and I speak as somebody who is a social democrat of many decades standing who , I think and I hope , has a developed social conscience - to put forward a proposition in the case of services that state provision is good and that private provision is bad .
I do not see a political will in the European Commission to enforce these rights and to initiate infringement proceedings against Member States .
therefore , the Commission is able to go along with these proposals .
in this respect , the Anti-Discrimination Directive that is currently on the table contains , to my mind , far too many exceptions that lend themselves to discrimination .
the political objective to reducing the VAT rate is to reduce undeclared labour and potential administrative burdens .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Mr President , since 1998 the European Court of Justice has determined that patients have the right to be reimbursed for health care received in another Member State .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , politics is built on trust .
I am thinking in this case too of the European Parliament resolution of 25 September 2008 concerning the White Paper on diet-related health problems .
Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , when you negotiate for seven years without coming to a conclusion , then you have to be a little bit self-critical and ask what mistakes you may have made , regardless of the mistakes made by other countries or other parties to the negotiations .
23 .
some may have expected the European Union as a whole to recognise Kosovo , but that is not possible because the European Union is not a state .
annual policy strategy 2009 ( debate )
we have also insisted on the need for long-term policy planning for European Parliament buildings , in a bid to safeguard satisfactory financial support both now and in coming years .
I have certainly stressed that I support the Commission 's proposal .
we must wait to see how Greece will react to becoming an economic protectorate of the European Union and whether it will bring civil unrest .
generally speaking , in my view , we need a strategy which rewards those who consume less and penalises those who consume more : in other words , a strategy which rewards energy efficiency .
there was a very exciting and interesting discussion between President Barroso , Commissioner Lewandowski and the leaders of the political groups , so we are a few minutes late .
there appears to be no contradiction with Article 152 or Article 153 ( 5 ) .
please help to make sure that this happens in the Council .
approval of the Minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
there is also a point I would like to make in relation to building stock .
I would like to state clearly that we should set ourselves new goals straight away , and these goals should be equal pay for various groups of women and parity in other decision-making bodies .
I welcome the first reading agreement .
thank you very much .
two key points emerged : 90 % of respondents believe innovation is the main lever to a greater , more competitive and greener economy ; 83 % of respondents believe that public-private partnerships are essential to develop a more innovative Europe .
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with all due respect , President-in-Office of the Council , and we are , of course , grateful for your contribution , but we have been here before .
however , when someone has just left school or university , they cannot have already gained such work experience .
we need to strengthen growth and make it more robust , but in order to do this we need a greater level of financial stability , and for that we also need fiscal consolidation .
for the EU to become a global player , more money is needed in Heading 4 .
we should , therefore , agree with the proposals of the report drawn up by the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection .
President of the Commission . - This is also a global process , not only a European process .
equal pay for male and female workers for equal work or work of equal value (
the strategy the Commission proposed , and I tried to describe , was fully confirmed by the Council - all 27 countries - and , in this spirit of partnership and this constructive manner , we will continue .
Madam President , ' success or failure , that is the question ' .
it is a vital aspect of the proper functioning of the internal market and the correct application of the Union 's trade agreements .
poverty affects 80 million ( 20 % ) of Europeans , and 17 % have such low incomes that they cannot meet their basic needs .
finally , I must thank the Commission , as represented by the Commissioner , for its readiness to cooperate , as also demonstrated by its departments , and also Mr Barnier for the way in which he continually corresponded with Parliament , even before the formal start of the French Presidency .
when it came to the rights of all passengers , we felt it was important for compensation in case of problems also to be harmonised at a higher level , on the basis of what is being done in the aviation sector .
the study shows that , contrary to popular belief , the number of asylum seekers in rich countries has decreased overall by 40 % in 10 years and by 5 % in one year .
but today I think I can speak for many when I say that you have earned our respect and affection .
in their letter , the women of Darfur describe the horrifying scenes of violence and rape which are part of daily life in the province , where rape is intentionally used as a weapon , in order to cause women suffering and to stigmatise them , as well as to destroy unity and demoralise the whole of society .
human trafficking has its own market .
our conviction is that Europe can be a world leader in this profound transformation , not only of our infrastructure and organisations , but also , and more importantly , of our way of producing , consuming and living .
it supports all the barbaric measures against the working and grassroots classes applied by the bourgeois governments in all the Member States of the EU .
we are opposed to any relaxation of these rules .
a modern integrated infrastructure should therefore be developed , while retaining the principles of intermodality and interoperability .
the report by Oldřich Vlasák , on behalf of the Committee on Regional Development , on European Urban Agenda and its Future in Cohesion Policy ;
in addition to heavy metals such as mercury and lead , a number of brominated flame retardants are banned .
to conclude , I would like once again to thank all the rapporteurs in the Committee on Fisheries for their reports and for their work on these relevant issues .
in this context , creation of a common European Union foreign policy is of special significance , and so the challenge faced by Baroness Ashton in this area is even greater .
that would not impress the dictator either .
while asserting that ' communication is an important element of both representative and participatory democracy ' , the report is actually ' concerned ' - which is the nicest way of putting it - about the results of the referendums that rejected the proposed Treaty , now known as the ' Lisbon Treaty ' , and explicitly with the one held in Ireland .
ten days ago , the Justice and Accountability Commission decided to ban Saleh al-Mutlaq , leader of the parliamentary National Dialogue Front and a member of the Iraqi Parliament for the past four years .
the results of this study will help underline the value of investing in the cultural and creative sectors and will illustrate the links between such investment , specific regional development objectives and the Lisbon Agenda for growth and jobs .
in particular , I have been concerned about the lack of accountability of EU-based companies trading in the UK which are able to advertise in the UK , but do not need to apply for a licence .
it is as simple as that .
the road to rebuilding these lives is long and needs support .
it goes without saying that this agreement must be clear on matters relating to ' future financing ' .
Mr President , I would like to support the original amendment by my colleague , James Elles , who has proposed a new paragraph which declares that the EU recognises the substantial contribution to the protection of the EU from long-range ballistic missiles to be provided by the planned deployment of the European-based US missile defence assets .
Europe 's spirit is rooted in the instinct for truth and beauty belonging to ancient Greece , in the cult of justice belonging to Rome , and on the basis of this extraordinarily great heritage it is Christianity that has added the value of human beings , always as equals from conception to natural death .
one thing is , however , important .
through our vote , we tried to prevent the Council agreement from going forward as this aims to create a Community immigration policy that is restrictive , selective and criminalising and that does not respect the human rights of immigrants .
they are often connected with the illegal exploitation and plundering of raw materials either by insurgent forces or by regular troops and their leaders .
I would like to say at the outset that I am pleased to see the existing very good relations between the Commission and the Fisheries Committee of the European Parliament moving from strength to strength .
therefore , even at the heart of the crisis , I see opportunities .
we have , I think , already achieved some of the objectives that we set ourselves .
unfortunately , however , today 's EU consumer protection regulations have not been implemented and enforced to the same extent in all Member States .
as stated by the Commission President , it is clear that we have much to do with regard to the situation in Africa .
divergences in European contract law end up discouraging businesses from engaging in cross-border trade and keep them from benefiting from opportunities and gains which the Internal Market offers .
so I would ask the Commissioner to show leadership , to be courageous , and to remember that research and science , infrastructure ...
as regards the other questions , I answered them when I spoke earlier .
you will have more support here from us if you tell us more about what is going on in the Council .
subject : reporting burden of small and medium enterprises
he apparently said in the Assemblée Nationale the other day that ' my position and that of the government is that the visa issue is a matter of security .
the Commission cannot decide to suspend the application of Community law .
we must , however , take into account overall , and I think that this is absolutely vital , the fact that here we are not talking about a few emigrants , as was the case 100 years ago .
the next item is the Commission statement on the free trade agreement with South Korea : impact on European industry .
in this regard , may I say that MON 810 was approved in Germany in 2005 , then in 2007 sowing of the seeds was stopped and in December 2007 Monsanto submitted a plan for the general monitoring of its cultivation .
hardly surprisingly , the European Parliament is making the most of the opportunity to issue propaganda in favour of a stronger common foreign and security policy and , even worse , the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty .
let us show solidarity in real terms .
we would therefore be delighted to have clarification on this point , since we believe that the correct translation would be ' passeport en cours de validité ' .
I voted against this particular report for a whole bunch of reasons .
your actions underline the case for a full-time President of the Council .
according to EU statistics , the number of livestock has fallen by 25 % since 1990 .
according to the teachings of our faith , I call on Jerzy Buzek , the Subcommittee on Human Rights and the European Commission to ...
testing must be reliable , low-cost and accessible to all patients , along with more effective diagnosis and treatment .
the Czechs accomplished this at half time - before Parliament ended with the election period .
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strengthening European political parties is a means of enhancing participatory governance in the EU and , finally , strengthening democracy .
it is , however , on climate change that you may be more harshly judged .
Natalia Estemirova should have been among us today , as should Anna Politkovskaya .
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however , I also want to say quite clearly to the Commission , in order to avoid any misunderstanding : from Parliament 's point of view , there is no question of your tabling a bill that is probably already fit for nothing .
although less so with regard to certain aspects , the report advocates developing the main axes of the current EU guidelines and decisions on immigration , including : the so-called ' European return policy ' or , in other words , repatriation ; the activity of Frontex in terms of border patrol and control ; the so-called ' temporary reception centres ' ; the development of biometric tools , or the so-called ' readmission agreements ' .
in the interests of European consumers and our farmers , when trade flows are liberalised it absolutely must be ensured that agricultural products that are imported into the European Union meet our high standards in respect of environmental , animal and consumer protection , including at their point of origin and throughout the production chain .
the Commission strongly believes that these key guidelines provide a proper framework for the present-day tasks of the European labour market , and that they serve their purpose .
it is an honour for me to have this opportunity to address you all , representatives of the peoples of Europe and members of this great European institution , the European Parliament .
that will bring certainty not only for consumers , but also for producers .
action at European level has been reactive , ' a posteriori ' , seeking to forestall even greater damage .
the question of who suffers the most - people living with a disability , gay people or older people - is not one we are prepared to address .
the Conference of Presidents will champion this cause accordingly to the Council and the Commission .
the second of these is made on behalf of the Conference of Presidents at its request .
one thing is clear , and that is that we will be on the side of those who defend this rule of law .
the Commission should know , however , that it is conspiring with the Irish Government in a lie to pretend that the money given to bail out the banks is not State aid while , at the same time , hammering the public sector .
people approach me with many problems which they encounter when attempting to exercise their right to mobility outside their country of origin .
I think that the SEPA would be a good instrument here .
thank you very much for your comments and good cooperation .
in spite of all its nuances and nuanced assessments , the Kauppi report is still just a typical piece of spin .
in the Black Sea Region , these are Bulgaria and Romania which are also borders of the European Union .
however , it also has to find responses to the general political crisis in the region .
I fully agree that we have to have the best possible indicators to establish the status of biodiversity .
I am going to give you the floor , but you have just one minute .
it is estimated that the number of young people aged between 0 and 14 years will go down from 100 million ( 1975 figure ) to 66 million in 2050 , and that the working age population will drop from the current 331 million to 268 million in 2050 .
the word ' solidarity ' is very often used in the European Union . it is a word which attracts other European countries to our Community and , at the same time , obliges us to enlarge the EU further .
let me conclude by again thanking Parliament and Mr Fjellner and the shadow rapporteurs for your important contribution .
our aim in all of these areas is to make the spare capacities of every institution available to other institutions .
the OSCE 's field missions in countries like Georgia and Moldova are contributing significantly to stabilising societies traumatised by recent disputes and frozen conflicts .
we also need to look at a new budget line for the Globalisation Fund , rather than to keep taking money from other lines .
that is fine , but the organisation made it known clearly that it did not want to be mentioned in a resolution that was technically incorrect and as harmful for human rights activists as for the Uzbek people and that in the end , as everyone realises , would be used as a propaganda tool by the dictator , President Karimov .
this kind of action is compatible neither with the European Convention on Human Rights nor with Community law , particularly the Schengen Borders Code and the Repatriation Directive , nor with Italian law .
can you imagine the stress that would be caused if advice went out that said that carrots , for instance , could be safely eaten by adults and yet not by children ?
you can tell us .
this focused on how much market liberalisation we want and where , precisely , we intend to regulate .
road transport , the navigation of EU rivers and the implementation of the Galileo system are other topics that will be debated .
it is precisely these improvements that have been the subject of intense debate over the last eight years .
as Mr Kelly and you said , though , the word SOLVIT is at least a clear and simple one , and I agree with this positive assessment .
if the European Parliament does not raise its voice , it in turn will be accountable for the disasters of the future .
we must not forget that the current strength of the euro as a world currency is also a result of a weak dollar - it is not all down to the strength of the euro itself .
the citizens of Europe are sitting in the balcony and they heard today , in an election year , something extraordinary .
( SK ) Madam President , today I received an invitation to the exhibition ' Bridges Between Nations ' , an event organised by your colleague .
the fact that we have acknowledged the need ' for the provision of mechanisms other than financial to correct the adverse effects of the implementation of this system for the smaller Member States at the Union 's external borders ' is most welcome , as it refers to Malta in everything but name .
with respect to Sarajevo as Capital of Culture for 2014 , I would like to say that I hope that this project goes ahead .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Madam President , let me express my admiration for the stoic Japanese resilience in the face of these mighty forces of nature .
this amendment would have given the opportunity for the EU to back up its words of condemnation with positive action and to deny support for such schemes .
it also points , however , to the insincerity of politicians who outwardly declare support for equality between women and men but , in practice , do not observe it , and this is why expectations are not as we would wish .
however , we have learnt lessons since then .
on behalf of the EFD Group , I would invite you to hold a roll-call vote .
unfortunately , the Hungarian Parliament was the first to do this .
first , do you believe it is conceivable that the Czech Presidency will open a new chapter with Croatia ?
we insist that assisting spouses be compulsorily insured , as is the case for the self-employed .
I would like to add that they are a reservoir of water , which will be a rare commodity .
the need to reduce the tariffs applicable to products imported by the European Union results from the World Trade Organisation classification .
however , ICTY cooperation cannot be a stop-start process , and more needs to be done to achieve full cooperation , especially concerning intensified search operations and access to archives and documents .
in other words , each Member State will be free to decide how many of each category of non-Community workers it needs .
this good idea , which supports business initiatives and should be free of bureaucracy and clear , including its financial aspects .
Mr President , I would like to make an announcement to the House .
I believe that we should communicate our appeal within the context of the relations and the meetings between the Russian Government and our European Commission .
I believe that this is also the responsibility of the Member States and that perhaps your office should issue a recommendation on this .
these include , inter alia , the possibility for the European Parliament to revoke the delegation at any time and to make sure that Parliament and Council are conferred the same rights concerning their involvement in the process of delegation .
two years ago , in China , I met a psychiatrist who was chair of a disability organisation .
President of the Commission . - We are not forcing anyone to take any measures .
it would have served both to protect the design and to create a market .
in today 's vote I voted in favour of the report by Mrs Matias on falsified medicinal products .
membership of political groups : see Minutes
whilst ODA may be imperfect and have much room for improvement , it is no less vital for countries that have been severely affected by both economic and climate-related crises .
however , there is concern that key waste infrastructure management projects ( spent fuel storage and waste repository project ) have experienced serious delays .
we witness a similar story with the Assyrian Christians in Iraq , the Christians of Palestine and Pakistan , and now , as we see for the first time , even in Malaysia .
well , we have found out that the Spanish are a European nation .
only through enhanced commitment will we be able to influence positive developments and improvement of the human rights situation .
in writing . - ( DE ) It makes perfect sense for air transport agreements with the United States to now be concluded at European level instead of separately with individual Member States as they were previously .
this is not a matter for the World Trade Organisation : it is a matter of political will , and we can show that , and that is what will satisfy this Parliament , and that is the basis for agreement .
on this anniversary , let us take the opportunity to reflect seriously on what to do to stop these detrimental tendencies , and to return to proper , dynamic integration in the future .
we must therefore encourage initiatives that contribute to the development in companies of positive measures and human resources policies promoting gender equality .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , here we are once again - this time for the last time - to discuss the telecom package and , more specifically , my report on the ' framework ' , ' access ' and ' authorisation ' directives , which represents the final cornerstone .
what will be the consequences then ?
the Commission is aware of the negative effects which restructuring can have on workers , their families and the economic and social structure of a given region .
the first aspect is solidarity .
I believe the report expresses that view quite clearly too .
the organisation of authentic instruments and public registrars is completely different in many Member States .
countries such as Ukraine , Moldova , Georgia or Azerbaijan should be included in a coherent and accelerated mechanism that , in the case of meeting the necessary requirements , could lead to their future membership in the EU .
it is , therefore , our task now to condemn strongly these violations of the Nicaraguan Constitution and to link this issue with much more efficient control over the use of funds given to Nicaragua for development .
meanwhile , as I myself have put forward , we need to pursue a reduction in VAT across the EU as a whole in the case of cultural goods , such as CDs .
I welcome the second point of this initiative - to direct funds earmarked for renovation to rural areas .
it is therefore vital that businesses should be confident that similar procedures will be adopted for the designation of contaminated sites , thus allowing for planned investments .
security of supply is also important .
firstly , as we see it , the conditionality of these loans is an element for discussion ; we understand that .
this is also proven by the fact that the American court upheld Twitter 's request to inform its clients about the court ruling .
consequently , it is absolutely vital here to make provision for patient mobility and for mobility of professionals , so that some can obtain expertise and others can pass on their experience .
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at the same time , the measure is in keeping with the principle of using every scientific advance in agriculture .
this would allow patients to take real advantage of the benefits of the single market and would have a positive impact on more equitable reform of each Member State 's healthcare system in the future .
it also rejects protectionism .
meanwhile , however , we have to find solutions for those who are struggling .
Commissioner Füle is well aware of this , although he seems to be shaking his head .
is it possible to increase the resources for operational funds in order to finance such measures in the event of emergencies ?
I can also assure you that we have learned the lessons of the Lisbon Strategy and therefore we will focus on a lesser number of targets and we will definitely improve on governance .
this must take the form of a healthy diet and measures to delay the onset of the disease .
when allocating frequency bands , the various different interests must be weighed against each other in a responsible manner .
the report contains a number of interesting proposals .
let us hope that the arduous process of ratifying this Treaty has finally come to an end .
yet almost all of them use chauffeur-driven limousines and ignore the trams .
this also applies to the protection of fundamental rights , and therefore , in contrast to previous years , this year 's report deals with these new legal bases and with the strengthened and newly established powers and institutions , and provides a close examination of the situation thus created .
I am thinking , for example , of the support for reinforcing the Member States ' civil protection measures by means of the exchange of experts and working methods .
on the contrary , the review of legislation on pesticides and plant health protection should strengthen the free circulation of products , with mutual recognition of product approvals in the same zone and more rational procedures for approving active ingredients at European level , all of which should help to modernise European agriculture and improve the protection of our consumers and citizens .
where was it ?
Thirty-six pirate vessels have been intercepted and 14 direct attacks have been avoided .
those are the rules .
as the past months have shown , the importance of energy security has never been as acute .
I have two specific questions for Mrs Ashton .
of course , we must make efforts as regards the integration of young people into the labour market .
if it fails to respond satisfactorily , I may send a special report to Parliament .
at the summit we will also have an opportunity to explain the importance of the partnership between the European Union and the United States to the public at large and to demonstrate our common values , productive dialogue and compatible interests when dealing with urgent regional and global problems .
in writing . - I welcome the promise of flexibility given by the commission in moving from interim to full EPAs and the promise that negotiations will be driven by development concerns .
immigration - Legal migration - Policy priorities in the fight against illegal immigration of third-country nationals ( debate )
hundreds of them signed a Radical Party appeal at the end of the 1990s calling for a European future for Georgia , which we have denied them .
collaborative transnational research must remain a priority .
I believe that the time has come for the European Union to defend its fundamental principles and assets , and the biggest asset which the EU has is its 500 million European citizens .
however , in order to deceive the workers , it calls on the EU to adopt a ' financial transaction tax ' of 0.01 % , which is presented as an allegedly ' fair distribution of the burden ' of the crisis between capital and the workers and an effort to limit speculation by capital .
Mrs Trautmann emphasises in her report that the Commission should play the role of an arbitrator rather than of a judge ; she is therefore proposing a coregulation mechanism whereby a matter may be referred to the reformed regulator group , for example , when a remedy proposed by a regulator is disputed by the Commission .
( PL ) Mr President , I am glad that we are working on a directive concerning management of the safety of road infrastructure .
the 35-hour week is not enough to win the elections , or to have a genuine social policy .
I consider your announcement of active measures to tackle the crisis to be especially important .
we had political , economic and financial instability - even a deep crisis - but now we have a very different picture .
this is one hundred per cent a job for NATO .
we have a duty to transfer our experience of economic governance , so that developing countries can establish their own tax systems .
apart from the tremendous effort made by the three institutions during the negotiations phase , this is mostly due to the fact that we agree that the Community needs to take action in order to combat serious offences against the environment .
this sort of financial crisis results in a global depression .
I would like to thank all my fellow Members of the European Parliament for sending a clear signal to the whole world via these Thursday afternoons during the plenary session that the European Parliament will never tolerate human rights violations anywhere in the world .
furthermore , those derogations include a series of strict conditions , such as a limited number of vessels , limited catches and designated ports .
it simply defines a person who has entered the territory of the Union illegally as an illegal immigrant who has rights .
it operates in complete independence .
the European Commission has been the European Parliament 's main ally and collaborator .
I have recorded what you have said , Mr Beazley .
the funds now being allocated to the Solidarity Fund could preferably have been taken from those headings instead .
we have already alerted you regarding the President of the Chamber of Deputies , who falsified the vote for the all-important pensions law .
the first is that peace certainly cannot be established in the east of Congo until the FDLR are prevented from doing harm .
the aforementioned reports simultaneously promote economic growth , human development and sustainable food sources .
I hope that we will also be able to agree about the importance of cooperation on political strategies and instruments for international adoptions .
Madam President , I think everybody agrees that we need to strengthen the resilience of the banking system .
thus , the Member States must provide more financial support to UNRRA and the other organisations on site .
this was made up of all parts of the Ukrainian political spectrum , such as the adviser to President Yushchenko , representatives of Naftogaz and the representative of the MFA .
thank you for your comments .
in my opinion , however , countries that have been particularly hard hit need to take more extensive measures than those that have not been affected as badly .
I am delighted to bid a very warm welcome today , here in the European Parliament , to the winner of the Sakharov Prize for 2007 , Salih Mahmoud Osman .
I have five points to make .
fourthly , there is a duty of solidarity among all European countries that are part of the Union : this was confirmed , strengthened and made legally binding by the Treaty of Lisbon , which also governs migration policy and the management of migratory flows in an area of freedom , security and justice .
I regret that the European right only targeted the tightening of accelerated procedures based on the notion that asylum seekers are almost all potential fraudsters , because this perspective on asylum is out of all proportion .
this success is particularly important and necessary today , when the results of the failed referendum in Ireland have shaken faith in the future of European integration .
nonetheless , the European Arrest Warrant must be amended today , as its application is obviously incompatible with the standards we have called for , particularly in terms of the checking of proportionality in individual cases .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , an elephant lurks in the wings of this debate that we seem reluctant to identify .
firstly , I wish to reply to your question on GMO research in general .
finally , it must be pointed out that the harmonisation and simplification of the national authorisation procedures and the principle of mutual recognition should never override more appropriate rules established at Member State level or remove the prerogative of each Member State to lay down such rules .
preparations for such an operation have been ongoing throughout the summer .
we urgently need to give priority to the creation of jobs with rights , to the defence of Community-based production , to the improvement of public services and to a fair distribution of income in order to reduce poverty .
besides pointing to the word ' allegedly ' , I would like to stress that Internet service providers are concerned that they will have to start enforcing the law .
these sectors correspond perfectly to those that the Commission considers to be of greatest interest and promise for the EU , for the purposes of future collaboration that will enable it to take full advantage of the potential for cooperation with this industrialised country .
in particular , Parliament felt it was important for there to be greater transparency and tighter parliamentary scrutiny of the Council 's spending on the Common Foreign and Security Policy / European Security and Defence Policy ( CFSP / ESDP ) .
I think an awful lot has been achieved .
this is why the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs has pointed to the need to reduce state aid , to remove non-tariff trade barriers and to help developing countries to be in a better position in the negotiations regarding the multilateral framework and the rules of free trade .
I welcome the Commission 's proposal to amend the Regulation on the European Regional and Development Fund ( ERDF ) so that all Member States and regions in the European Union can invest in measures relating to energy efficiency and renewable energy for housing , with the help of the Structural Funds .
as you stressed , in our daily work , we need to make a distinction between those who have become sedentary and those who remain nomadic .
has the Commissioner travelled by road in South Asia where , with deep respect , his reference to the highway code could , in many cases , be considered laughable , because traffic goes very quickly on either side of the road and in both directions at the same time , which obviously leads to road accidents , certainly when there are lorries going around and people driving in rickshaws as well ?
all of this is important , and it is , of course , equally important , as many of you have said , to constantly , clearly and directly convey to the Belarusian authorities our entirely critical and condemning attitude to the human rights violations .
so let me now consider the long-term factors affecting the oil market .
it is very important to us .
although the increased number of agencies is , in general , positive , the truth is that it creates challenges regarding the monitoring and evaluation of their performance .
five million of our citizens were stranded with no real alternative form of transport available .
consider this : only a year ago , the euro area Member States agreed on a conditional loan package to Greece in order to prevent a meltdown of our financial system .
to a large extent , this is the result of unfair competition and we need to formulate a response to this situation .
Turkey has to implement speedy reforms and changes if it is to be ready to join the European Union , although I do not myself share the belief that that will happen in our lifetime .
the European Commission should remind the governments of this .
it is true that patients have their rights upheld if they turn to the European Court of Justice , but this legal status is not acceptable .
having said this , I would like to highlight something essential : the civilian nature of the project , which is an essential condition for ensuring transparency in operations .
I nevertheless voted in favour of maternity leave lasting 20 weeks .
this House has been poorer for her absence , but the Swedish Presidency has certainly gained from it .
we need the integration of European historic perception - the integration of prejudices and different views of history - as only in this way can we proceed to the better Europe of the future .
in this context , the European Central Bank provided Hungary , which was most severely affected by the crisis on the money markets , with a rescue package of EUR 6.5 billion euro .
the European Union has given help to institutions in Poland and 10 other Member States .
through this agreement , fishermen from the Mediterranean are able to exercise their trade elsewhere , as the Mediterranean is being over-fished .
the same applies to the special clause on duty drawback , which can be invoked based on publicly available trade statistics on imports into and exports from Korea .
in writing . - We are in the middle of a crisis , which has , to a large degree , damaged the financial , economic and social sectors and has had a negative impact on the integration process of the internal market .
at the same time , the amendment praises the Serbian Ombudsman 's decision to attend the ceremony on behalf of the Serbian people .
I would like to remind everyone that during the German Presidency with Dr Steinmeier , a strategy for Central Asia was drawn up which we have heard very little about recently .
thirdly , at national level , Member States have the duty and opportunity to implement directly the provisions which guarantee fundamental rights , to apply them in their own countries through the decisions of their own institutions .
the report constitutes a further example of how the European Parliament seeks to gain influence in ever more areas of policy .
it is freedom , and not successive strategies , which is the correct response to the crisis .
a country that we do not have under control cannot be turned into a democracy and whatever else from the centre if that country has never had a centralised form of government .
the national recovery of the European nations depends on it .
we have already invested a great deal of money in the permanent closure of nuclear power plants , but let us just consider whether it would not be more worthwhile if , instead of shutting down nuclear plants , we modernised them .
financial ethics and responsibility appear , as ever , to be foreign words to many of them .
they do not work when the weather is coldest and demand for electricity is at its peak .
the current Swedish Presidency has initiated a significant effort to ensure the inter-pillar coherence of EU maritime policy , ensuring the link between Community action and the work developed under the second pillar , notably by the European Defence Agency .
I welcome the changes in the area of freedom , security and justice , where action will have more ambitious goals and more effective procedures , no longer using intergovernmental instruments and procedures .
so , in discussing NATO 's important role in European defence , it is fair to remember that the EU has not yet put the necessary pressure on Turkey to get its NATO invasion army out of Cyprus unconditionally and immediately .
however , it does not mean that ACTA is not important or that it is unnecessary , as someone said here in this Chamber .
businesses are not excluded from the initiative .
people feel discriminated against , because they do not have equal opportunities to compete in the labour market .
it is not convincing since this arrest is one of hundreds of arrests of opponents and part of the systematic repression of all signs of dissent .
the more innovative our methods to fight undeclared work are , the more efficient the tricks used by the employers become .
to avoid all ambiguity , it is in this sense that the Commission reads Parliament 's interpretation of the text .
we really mean it , and we want to make available all relevant information , but we do have to act in line with the commitments made in the Framework Agreement .
until now , we had no say in what happens to the powers that we had previously delegated .
rapporteur . - I would like just briefly to mention that I think that it is a very important signal that the Parliament is sending out today : the fact that we want to foster our dual media system with sufficient breathing space for commercial broadcasters and public broadcasters .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( HU ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , women 's participation in higher education has increased dramatically over recent years .
the fact that the EU Member States are engaged in such horse-trading leaves little expectation of a global agreement and the question of efficiency of resources also arises .
increasingly environmentally friendly technology in the manufacture and use of these products has enabled the quantity of washing-up liquid required to be reduced further and further , so that now , the largest containers found in kitchens are just 300 ml or 500 ml .
Mr President , today we have a list of the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing our external borders .
when it comes to emissions trading , the agreement reached on solidarity with the new Member States from Central and Eastern Europe and on taking into account their efforts during the period after 1990 is evidence of the viability of the European values which made Europe attractive to a large number of peoples .
from the beginning of the programmes for 2007-2013 to the beginning of March 2009 , nearly 8 400 agreements on financial support were signed , concerning total expenditure of PLN 15.4 billion .
then we shall see whether the 27 will be able not only to wed their brides but also to bring difficult children into the family so that peace can finally advance in that region .
Member of the Commission . - I shall start by describing what the situation looked like just a few years ago .
our party has never opposed the European support mechanism for Greece .
for each of these areas we have defined concrete measures based on the recognition , famously summarised by Francis Bacon four hundred years ago , that knowledge is power .
the mechanism for resolving conflicts of exercise of jurisdiction should provide a way of eliminating situations where a number of Member States mount criminal prosecutions against one and the same person for one and the same crime .
as a result , the Bulgarian power grid is faced with extensive challenges , which can be overcome with additional aid , in order to stabilise and safeguard the electricity network .
three other elements should be taken into account .
in addition , the agreement provides for improved cooperation and greater transparency in terms of market data in the fruit and vegetable sector .
at the Council meeting on 12 May 2011 the Presidency plans to initiate discussions on the various ideas on the Schengen acquis which have been put forward by the Commission in its communication on migration of 4 May .
what is more , by voting in favour of the proposed ' single permit ' for third-country nationals , the European right is voting for an immigration policy that is both discriminatory and restrictive .
it is the way the farmers treat their animals and the way they farm their land that is going to give us the traceability , accountability and food security and quality that we need .
that the parliaments of 26 countries have ratified the Treaty of Lisbon shows that it is a parliamentary treaty .
every day , new things arise that we must add to the equation , for things that were invented and written down only yesterday will be our cultural heritage tomorrow .
that is why , in the last week , I hosted a gathering of high-ranking officials from the major energy firms active in European waters .
we wrote and we informed the complainant why the European Ombudsman could not deal with the complaint .
the latest European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control ( ECDC ) report states that there are currently 94 confirmed cases of A ( H1N1 ) influenza within the EU and EFTA countries , and 20 probable cases .
moreover , we do not merely want to bring about a bit more equality in working life .
this alarming situation means that it will be difficult for us to treat Russia as a country with a real will to uphold the basic principles of the rule of law .
or is it the case that this article of the Treaty on European Union - in addition to dealing with visa policy towards third countries - can also be understood as binding the European Commission and EU Member States to seek to achieve common conditions for all EU Member States in third countries ?
I will say it once again : this is a matter of urgency .
above all , I am expecting the European Parliament and the newly formed European Commission to maintain a predictable schedule for integrating the Western Balkans into the European Union .
the questions are in writing ; they are in the document we tabled and I think that they are clear enough for us to make progress on the issue of public information on these important trade negotiations between the European Union and one of our great trade partners .
both the temporary mechanism and now the permanent mechanism are key decisions which show that Member States are as willing as ever to put their weight behind the stability and integrity of the euro .
since the accession of Bulgaria and Romania , the Black Sea is now partially an internal EU sea .
the European Ombudsman investigates complaints against the institutions and bodies of the European Union .
be so good as to read the report , and you will see that it is absolutely correct , for if we exceed 270 000 hectares , we will receive a smaller amount instead of EUR 750 .
the dictators , of course , continue to get richer and to lead a lavish life at the expense of their citizens ' suffering .
I hope that the proposed legislation from the European Commission will take this type of model into account since it is proving so successful .
we should do so straight away , in the next review of the financial perspectives and , of course , in negotiations over the new financial perspectives .
( SK ) Madam President , why is this Parliament getting involved in a bill submitted by one member of a national parliament ?
in terms of crisis management , I am pleased to highlight the EIB 's quick response to the global economic crisis by self-financing an increase of its capital and hence raising its volume of lending in support of the European Economic Recovery Plan .
the Commission 's role is limited to checking that there is no manifest error in the definition .
the President-in-Office of the Council must do everything possible to dispel any doubts about the Presidency 's readiness to defend fundamental European democratic values .
I fully support the recommendations of the Council and the Commission , which Mr Susta links with the avis conforme .
under those conditions , we are currently moving forward with the Baltic Sea .
as socialists we insisted on the creation of a strong and independent authority , since we know that in a liberalised European market everyone wants to buy where it is cheapest , and to sell where it is most expensive .
individual countries will continue to promote internal stability and help find both socio-economic solutions and solutions to ethnic tensions .
to allow beneficiaries to be granted the international protection of long-term resident status , even temporarily , without imposing any conditions for resources or minimal integration , even when that status can only be granted after five years ' residence , is madness .
like the speakers before me , I , too , think that the current framework for delimiting these areas is too rough and ready .
information - Prevention - Identification - Intervention ' points out that , in Poland , procedures to guarantee the victims of human trafficking their rights are not being applied .
I concur with the suggestions to the Commission for points which need looking at in the future .
in my view , today 's debate has been a very worthy and valuable setting of the scene for the European Council today and tomorrow .
data must be stored securely , all access to data shall be logged , all searches in the TFTP database shall be restricted and shall only cover persons or information where there are good grounds for suspicion or there is a clear link to a terrorist crime .
as the rapporteur on the European citizens ' initiative , I hope that the follow-up of citizens ' requests will also be handled with equally proper respect .
the recent economic crisis has brought that idea home to all of us , especially in my own country .
in writing . - ( SV ) Marianne Mikko 's report is a shining example of when good intentions go too far and end up in conflict with the independence of the media and the fundamental principles of freedom of expression .
I hope we shall manage to adopt this resolution tomorrow in the form in which it was approved by a large majority in committee .
both reports speak about this , and point to certain aspects that are important not only for the situation today , but also in the debate about the future of cohesion policy .
the entry into force of codecision will be a veritable democratic revolution for the common agricultural policy in particular .
although it talks of stopping the war , the resolution sits on the fence , calls for no measures by the EU , not even that the new preferential relations should be frozen in order to exert pressure on Israel .
this was mentioned here as well .
the list of countries included in the ENP is a long one .
relations between the EU and Russia are incredibly complex .
it is another step towards a social Europe , where first place is given to people , their freedom , their liberty and the betterment of their standard of living .
it is no accident that the most successful and popular initiatives of the EU are closely linked to culture .
moreover , it must be pointed out that the EU is the world 's biggest importer of agricultural produce from developing countries .
the political conclusion from these common successes is that states with a common currency and a common internal market have achieved a unique level of integration that will secure peace and prosperity .
but there will also be issues which are common to wine and other sectors , such as the provisions on trade with third countries or state aids , which will be combined into a single simple provision .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I do not intend my speech to be the usual eurosceptic exercise in rhetoric but a call for the EU to start to look at the contents more than the packaging and abandon propaganda in favour of hard facts .
I will open my blog with a warning to citizens not to use such kinds of malpractices and be aware of European City Guide 's malpractices , but this is in the hands of the Member States to implement the possible protection .
instead , it should hold its plenary sessions in Brussels .
the rapporteur is proposing that similar levels should be retained for the 2009 budget .
this is the most important matter today ; because only then can Europe gradually become a political power and have a positive impact on the fate of the world .
Ukraine , Georgia , and Belarus too , are poorer , economically weaker and in greater political difficulty than the countries that joined the Union after 2004 .
amendments 104 , 108 , 109 and 110 are also problematic since they restrict the competencies of Community inspectors , restrict their ability to perform autonomous verifications and autonomous inspections .
everyone involved showed a wonderful mixture of political will , professionalism and a willingness to compromise .
when people have different views , those views have to be debated very broadly in a political way , through a political process , and that is what happens .
in the absence of an EPA , we have made clear that we cannot and will not propose solutions which are illegal or insecure .
I will witness the elections in Switzerland as an observer .
we urgently need a targeted exchange of experience amongst Member States as to how best to organise and secure high-quality , affordable care . in particular , we must take into account the problem of increasing numbers of people suffering from dementia .
this mainly concerns sales over the Internet , which , among other things , has facilitated the dramatic growth in budget airlines .
this is because the European Union is trying to establish a so-called historic principle , which will discriminate against the new Member States .
it is our duty to be critical of countries that do not respect human rights and that are not democratic , but it is absolutely essential that we criticise countries that believe themselves to be democracies - not only for the sake of our own credibility but also for all the people who live in those countries and who do not even have the opportunity to voice their criticisms .
Mr President , Commissioner Dimas , ladies and gentlemen , we can be proud of the fact that we have achieved such high health and hygiene standards in the European Union .
Qimonda is extremely important to Portugal and , because it could be competitive on a global level , it is just as important to Europe .
overcoming the current disparities among European cities is of equal importance and should be reflected in the priorities of future cohesion policy .
you only have to read some of the press releases - the colourful releases , the red-coloured releases - that have come out on that side of the House .
preventing the taking , under the pretext of the crisis , of measures threatening women 's right to equality , and to the necessary economic and social cohesion , is therefore a crucial issue .
I think we first have to explore how the social fund could be used , with the available instruments , to improve social conditions .
if an objection is lodged , the interested parties have six months to reach agreement .
the restoration of law and order must be a priority .
the reality is depressing .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( NL ) I would have liked really to see Mr Frattini 's colleague Mrs Neelie Kroes sitting alongside him today , because I think the strict differentiation between market rules and privacy rules is outdated .
the June List would observe that it is just as well that the European Parliament does not have codecision powers in the EU 's agricultural policy , because the Union would then fall into a trap of protectionism and heavy subsidies for all the different groups in the agriculture sector .
plainly speaking , that is what happened .
rapporteur . - ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , President of the European Investment Bank , ladies and gentlemen , my first words will be to thank you , Mr Maystadt , for the excellent relationship you have built up with the MEPs on the Committee on Budgetary Control , which has made a significant contribution to enabling the report we are about to debate to be written .
my final point : the legal implementation of political declarations of intent , their implementation and the coordination of global implementation in time and content will determine our success .
in addition I have also proposed regular thematic reviews of primate experiments to identify and phase out those experiments which are not necessary .
Parliament has kept a register of interest groups since 1996 and should be an example for other institutions in this regard .
in terms of budgetary implementation , nearly EUR 43.3 million have actually been spent to date .
the European Union is making every effort to have the Southern Gas Corridor built as part of a broader policy of diversifying our energy sources and transit routes .
provision has also been made to distribute aid more evenly , bearing in mind that , for historical reasons , farms in the European Union have very diverse structures .
we should also stick to important themes , such as simplification , benchmarking , comparison and competition .
our joint aim must be to find a balance between high levels of animal welfare and intensive research .
why have you nevertheless approved operational programmes where the partnership principle is clearly being completely disregarded and where the partners have reported that they were not involved ?
I am from a region called Aquitaine , where we have to change the axles of trains that come from Spain to ensure a fluid flow of traffic .
I will try to do this now .
that is thanks to the excellent work between the Parliament , Council and Commission and the work particularly of my shadows , Mrs Wallis and Mr Gauzès of the PPE-DE Group , who took a very strong line with the Council and Commission .
Mr President , I wish to raise an issue in relation to the Convention on the Adoption of Children .
the Commission considers that this is the right time to complete the analysis and the assessment and to plan the next steps , which will lead to more concrete results .
despite the specific nature and individuality of each country and each society , common interests and challenges exist that must be faced together .
if the Council fails to tackle this problem , it will fall short of its obligations .
I hope , too , that adoption of the agreement will speed up ratification of the agreements between the US and the European Union on the visa waiver programme , which will make it possible for US visas to be abolished , inter alia for Polish citizens .
the situation in Afghanistan is still a concern .
when US authorities previously intended to obtain information relating to EU citizens that was stored within the territory of the EU , the European Union engaged in negotiations with the United States for the conclusion of an international agreement on handing over and processing the aforementioned data .
this cannot be achieved within individual countries .
as far as payment appropriations are concerned , I will not hide the fact that the Council is seriously concerned by the large number of payment appropriations that the European Parliament intends to vote on at first reading , since this intention goes well beyond the Commission 's initial proposal in its preliminary draft budget .
as such , there is once again an attempt to dissociate human rights , by subordinating them to economic and social rights .
it is estimated that EUR 1 800 billion is spent on public procurement every year .
Mr President , there cannot be a greater friend of Israel in the European Union than Germany , so it is quite something to read that Chancellor Merkel has been shouting at Prime Minister Netanyahu , saying ' you have done nothing to promote peace , give me something ' .
I wish to emphasise the major importance of international trade within the EU and to draw everyone 's attention to the fact that European farmers are being disadvantaged by imports from third countries ; the principle of reciprocity is not being applied , and often imported agricultural products do not comply with the same regulations that are imposed on European farmers , particularly from a sanitary and phytosanitary point of view .
rumours and half-truths flourish in such an environment .
agriculture is innovative , creates value and is the real source of sustainable regional economic cycles .
first is the element of continuity : past presidents changed every six months ; that is , after every second or third meeting .
the CAP must respond to this challenge .
these resolutions emphasise the responsibility of all states to end impunity and prosecute those responsible for crimes against humanity and war crimes , including those involving acts of sexual violence and other crimes against women and girls .
we very much support the calls for a simplification of the rules .
( FR ) Madam President , Baroness Ashton , you have faced many criticisms over the last few days , Baroness Ashton .
allow me to remind you of one day in Sarajevo , 28 May 1992 .
the European Roma strategy can be a type of professional minimum .
furthermore , Parliament will have a right of scrutiny on how the EEAS 's budget is used and its staff will have to follow specific training on budget management .
that is the reality that we all have to base our positions on .
Mr President , honourable Members , the European Union is working closely together with the United States of America in the war against terror .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , allow me to continue in a language that Mrs Grybauskaitunderstands .
the EU must provide more assistance for projects in the energy sector in order to mitigate the economic consequences of the closure of Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant .
we have been assisting them with their water management for more than five years , and I hope that we will be able to return to that work which is so essential as soon as the crisis is overcome and we have a legitimate government firmly in place .
at least he has revealed that , in his opinion , there were a couple of nuclear power plants that would not pass the stress tests .
in it , he presented a detailed account of his activities together with data expressed in terms of figures and percentages .
it is a matter of great shame that there are still so many cases of violence against women in Europe .
I support the creation of a standard dispute settlement mechanism with Egypt , enabling inefficiencies and deadlocks to be resolved and concluding the draft agreement with that country .
that is why I am asking the European Ombudsman to give more encouragement to national ombudsmen to hold regular exchanges of views with their national parliaments , modelled on the exchanges held between the European Ombudsman and ourselves in the European Parliament .
the valve has been turned off in Russia .
I refer to the Council 's conclusions , which leave little space for a concrete change of approach to create a competitive and competition-based energy market .
the economic crisis has exacerbated these problems and shown the extent to which women are being exploited in the labour market .
today , the worst may be over .
the fact that commercial operators register considerably more hits with Google Books and have progressed further in their development is logical and is associated with the greater level of awareness of Google Books .
the European Union , as an international institution which is so dedicated to human rights , should clearly and unambiguously state its position .
airport congestion itself can have a negative impact on the environment if aeroplanes are left in a holding pattern , resulting in unnecessary CO2 emissions .
26 .
the budget debate is only just beginning .
the second point I want to mention is the role of men as workers in hotels .
as the rapporteur says , ' creating a safe and transparent environment for the function and the funding of European political parties is an act deeply democratic ' , so I believe that the initiative to establish a clear regulatory framework on their recognition and funding is a positive step .
that is my vision .
in particular , they grant them the right to publicly condemn companies that publish information which is not in line with official State data or that disseminate it in a misleading fashion .
the present situation in Lebanon is extremely worrying .
the third thing I wanted to say was just a bit about some of the things we are beginning to see happen and in which we are playing a part .
it will then also be possible to check whether any of the individual legislative regimes that we are removing from circulation are to be incorporated .
most of the objects that we use every day conform to very precise standards .
another source of concern is the current military offensive against the Karen populations in the east of the country , where the biggest military operation in a decade has taken place .
they are at the service of our citizens .
I call on you , therefore , to apply the European Parliament 's Rules of Procedure .
we therefore need a stronger Europe , instead of the suspicions and intergovernmentalism that have recently been the order of the day .
I am convinced that we must prepare common European Union rules . however , I would like to underline that by reducing the administrative burden on micro-entities , we must not infringe conditions for fair competition in either the internal markets of Member States or the European Union market .
it is clear proof that it is open to all Member States meeting the conditions set by the Treaty .
we will see the European Commission project at the end of this month , when it will be also be presented in Parliament .
that is why it is vital that the EU illustrates this appreciation both visibly and tangibly .
now they are estimated at EUR 48 billion , which represents 0.32 % of the projected 2020 GDP .
statistical data and various studies confirm that the complications of , for example , VAT collection , are caused primarily by confusing explanations and the thousands of widely-varying exemptions .
as a lawmaker for more than 36 years in our parliament , I feel particularly honoured to address the European Parliament .
I have asked my services to follow up on the recommendations of the report , which has already been useful in the preparation of the Commission 's annual progress report , due to be adopted on 6 November .
the size of the Member State does not make any difference , nor does nationality or the size of the company 's dossier .
it seems increasingly likely that the level of funding available to Wales will reduce substantially .
meat and bone meal in animal feed has been banned since the BSE crisis .
encourage Member States to adopt a system of ' opting out ' rather than ' opting in ' to organ donation .
the first one is internal , because the parties cannot reach an agreement regarding their representation in the government , the sharing of ministerial posts , and the new law on elections .
financial education is best delivered as close as possible to the citizens that need it , namely at the level of national and regional authorities , non-governmental agencies and the financial services sector .
the next item is the report by Mrs Kauppi , on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs , on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 98 / 26 / EC on settlement finality in payment and securities settlement systems and Directive 2002 / 47 / EC on financial collateral arrangements as regards linked systems and credit claims - C6-0181 / 2008 - .
it reiterates the concern expressed during the approval of the Community budget for the current year in terms of the narrow margin for agricultural spending and supports the provision for a sufficient margin in the 2011 budget .
it is characterised primarily by openness to other countries and respect for their right to sovereignty and independence .
scientists have speculated that as many as 10 million species may inhabit the deep sea , biodiversity comparable to the world 's richest tropical rain forests .
even there , I quote : ' depending on the outcome of the consultation , the Commission may adopt a legislative proposal on reconciliation , including on paternity and filial leave , in 2012 . '
I therefore recommend this to the House .
secondly , because the joint operation is coordinated by FRONTEX , this creates an externalisation of the border which calls into question its compliance with the EU 's obligation of the principle of protection for asylum seekers and refugees .
nevertheless , I should like to point out that this ' management ' was , in fact , yet another capitulation to the ' precautionary principle ' , which requires action before any proper reflection .
the Committee is concerned about plans for this margin to be used to modernise agriculture in developing countries .
the huge deficits and debts facing many Member States of the EU is indeed an important problem , having created the financial crisis which we are experiencing and which we all need to manage .
I do not want to see the robust Dutch pension system suffer because of the chaos in some other Member States .
the other side of the Asian miracle , however , must not be forgotten .
therefore simplification and , even more , a closing of the gap between those disbursing the sums of money and the beneficiaries is another means of achieving clarity , transparency and ease of understanding of the whole system .
the Treaty of Lisbon will take that a big step further .
binding targets mean only unnecessary and very often ineffective expenditure ; it is better to convince citizens , institutions and bodies that savings in this area have a bearing on people 's security and quality of life , too .
the fundamental goal of the proposal is to establish binding legislation , the only solution that offers guarantees that political and industrial commitments to continuously improve nuclear safety are followed by concrete measures .
the report by Mrs Rovana Plumb , on behalf of the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality , on the face of female poverty in the European Union .
intergovernmental solutions in this area are the way forward that is compatible with an independent national foreign and security policy .
I believe that improved transparency , together with better use of the agricultural funds , would help to eliminate the European population 's distrust of the CAP and the European institutions .
with regard to the continuing economic crisis and the increasing financial burden on transport operators , I also firmly believe that Member States should be given the option to spread out the introduction of charges for external costs over time , and according to individual types .
the debate this afternoon is going to enable us to give a definitive boost to the launch of a common Union strategy for achieving the best structure in the world for organ donation and transplantation .
I personally tabled an oral amendment to the first part of the amendment , which is included on the voting list and reads : ' applying the principle that no restriction may be imposed on the fundamental rights and freedoms of end-users ' .
social inclusion , demographic challenges , etc. are all important issues but the situation of women needs to be assessed separately because their problems and needs are different from those of men : on the labour market , and in relation to pension and healthcare schemes , taxation systems , etc .
we go beyond that with all kinds of Directives : birds and Habitats Directives , environmental Directives , animal welfare standards , etc .
it is a fact , for instance , that some of our governments and security services cooperated with the CIA in carrying out extraordinary rendition .
( NL ) Mr President , Commissioner , we know that we are still at the beginning of an entire process and I therefore look forward to hearing the responses of stakeholders and the concrete actions that you are planning for next year .
broad , robust partnership structures are therefore needed for cooperation in the areas of : economic issues ; freedom , security and justice ; external security ; and research , education and culture .
the funding of EUR 146 million which is available under the amended proposal must be targeted towards projects that will have a rapid , a measurable and a real impact on economic recovery .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Madam President , the Charter of Fundamental Rights will be a key instrument in our Union based on the rule of law .
however , there is something that will certainly contribute to better quality of life in the rural areas , and especially the situation of women there .
this is a Parliament ; not a Christmas pageant .
it may be that Israel will become even more isolated and come under greater pressure from some of its Arab neighbours .
we are no better or worse than our electorate , but I do believe that it is important to act in accordance with what they are asking of us , and these points seem to me to be along the lines that I mentioned .
the EGF can be used to finance job creation measures , retraining programmes and workshops to support business start-ups .
Europe needs strong political leadership to establish and implement economic priorities of this magnitude .
( RO ) Mr President , one essential condition for a complete waiver of visas between the Russian Federation and the European Union is fulfilment of the commitments made through the 2007 agreement .
'welcomes the Commission proposal that the EU Co-Presidency should be held by the competent EU institutions ' , and then the original text continues .
debates on cases of breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law ( announcement of motions for resolutions tabled ) : see Minutes
in writing . - I would like to draw attention to the fact that the economic crisis in the car industry in the Maltese Islands is being compounded because of a serious administrative blunder .
it is therefore absolutely necessary to revamp Europe 's universities so that they can play a decisive role in society and in an economy based on knowledge and innovation .
consequently , the Commission considers that all the preconditions listed in the road map are met , and on this basis we propose to grant the visa-free regime .
once again , this is threatening the heralded principle of cohesion .
the fact is that the solution lies somewhere in the middle .
and that is just one example .
my second comment concerns the Commission 's ' second chance ' initiative for small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) .
the document clearly stated that
what needs to be said is , let us discuss our relationship with credit rating agencies .
I remember how President Pöttering scolded us , derided us and claimed that it cost the earth .
meanwhile , our trade relations are blooming .
in reply to the question from a Hungarian parliamentarian , the Hungarian hotline will restart in 2009 .
the second , possibly more deeply held sentiment was that there was a loss of values . more accurately , that they were changing .
I therefore call on you , Commissioner , and the Commission , to bring certainty to this already fragile sector and ensure that a legally binding end date for migration to SEPA instruments is finally set .
measures to ensure the independence of the Board and involving the Parliament in the appointments have also been included .
Mr President , my colleague , Mrs Svensson , will speak on the subject of the Swedish Presidency .
I believe we should be having dialogue on cultural issues - music , art , archaeology , painting , calligraphy - in which we share so much historical reference and so much potential for future gain .
on climate change , the June European Council will revert to the preparations of the Copenhagen Summit on Climate Change .
so let Britain be a positive partner , cast in the European mould .
Croatia can continue to count on Romania 's support in the European Union accession process by sharing common experiences regarding both the pre-accession process and the aspects after the country 's EU accession .
the cooperation was quite constructive and the results are , above all , significant .
the Commission shares the view that certain values and traditions of European sport should be promoted and will continue to recognise the specificities of this sector , while respecting EU law .
the June European Council will take place within the legal framework of the Treaty of Nice , and it seems that certain Member States will be tempted to wait for the Treaty of Lisbon before making any institutional decisions , and , notably , before nominating the President of the Commission .
sanctions should not affect the poorest people .
history has shown the wisdom of the Schuman Declaration .
of course , we can simplify cross-compliance measures .
in recent decades , the interregional approach has had some significant successes . the various EU projects in this area allow citizens to experience Europe directly and bring the freedom of action characteristic of European policy down to a regional level .
it simply needs to say one thing ; it needs to say to the Tunisians that it will not be possible for a democratic election in a country which has just emerged from dictatorship to take place within two months .
this placed the European Union in a very difficult situation , albeit one where we fortunately spoke with one voice , although this voice was somewhat muted .
President of the Commission . - Yes , the High Representative will , at the same time , be Vice-President of the Commission , so it is a great opportunity to put together the CFSP competences - which lie with the High Representative - and the traditional Community competences in external relations .
the efforts of the European Commission to simplify these processes are commendable , but we must not allow Member States to create effects or enact changes that run counter to these endeavours .
ladies and gentlemen , we must insist that the Commission step up the capacity-building in the area of the human rights agenda .
the Stockholm programme says that we need to address these issues directly .
this is also the basis for European human rights policy and the European notion of humanity .
I would like to thank Ms Fraga Estévez for her work on this report .
given the current trend towards the standardisation of road traffic legislation within the EU , does the Commission intend to take steps to standardise permissible blood-alcohol levels for drivers in the EU Member States ?
it is a known fact that Benazir Bhutto was killed by violent terrorists , but who their backers were remains an open question .
3 .
the President of the Commission , Mr Barroso , spent over an hour negotiating with us on the details .
Mr President , in Italy , there are three state television channels : Rai 1 , Rai 2 and Rai 3 , there is the Mediaset group and then in Italy there is LA7 ...
on the basis of this text , the October European Council , which will take place next week on 18 and 19 October , will establish the European Union 's position in view of the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change .
then , with the financial backing of our Community programme , the Daphne Programme , several centres were created or revamped from 2001 to 2005 , with the aid of Child Focus .
I am also certain that someone as patriotic as Mr Klaus would not want to see his country engulfed in an internal constitutional crisis .
at the time of this debate , several human rights defenders are on hunger strike .
I would like to highlight the need to raise public awareness of the Solidarity Fund and the effects of its use .
a high level of competitiveness enables economic growth to be accelerated and new jobs to be created , and makes it possible to fund important social aims .
- ( DE ) Mr President , what can be affirmed is the fact that not only do the Council and the Commission place greater emphasis on the term ' security ' in their documents , but they also appear to have become increasingly aware of citizens ' basic freedoms and rights .
it is also called upon to correlate any such initiative with the work of the World Bank group and other multilateral development organisations .
we can put this item on the agenda after the delegation 's visit in a week 's time , not perhaps as an item for urgent debate but certainly as a matter for serious discussion .
prevention , control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies ( vote )
you have mentioned some of these elements and there are others , for example , damage caused by forest fires .
B ) the 2006 Directive relies on the principle of ' equal treatment and equal opportunity ' .
the Fourth Report covers the years 2000-2006 .
at the end of the eighth round of negotiations in March 2009 , both sides made important technical progress at their level , but a certain number of difficult issues remained unresolved .
I agree that in order to increase this sector 's potential , the European Digital Agenda initiative must be implemented successfully in order to enable European CCIs to benefit fully from , and to adapt successfully to , all the opportunities created by far-reaching , high-speed broadband and by new wireless technologies .
we will have the opportunity to place it on record during the Councils ' debates next week .
I would therefore ask the fundamental question of whether there really is any point continuing to waste billions of euro on these European parties .
I voted against this European Parliament legislative resolution , because creating the service that they want to finance represents another step towards the militarisation of the European Union 's foreign policy .
now I will turn to the humanitarian measures .
rail transport , via the environmental levy on energy generation , has certainly been included in CO2 reduction measures , while road transport is included via various potential forms of road charging .
( DE ) Madam President , whistleblowers are people who no longer wish to keep quiet about illegal acts or deplorable states of affairs , but want to expose them , mostly in the public interest .
third , coherence : we have to ask ourselves whether our system of fiscal rules is complete .
can you tell me what Europe 2020 has to do with all that ?
this reduces my country 's influence .
Mr President , I want to congratulate Vice-President Ashton on a speech with vision and substance .
I think that , if we want to introduce an increase as from 1 April , we need to do so with a fixed percentage in all Member States .
we are demanding that the industrialised countries fulfil their responsibility .
finally , we agreed also on the position on Côte d 'Ivoire , in line with what the Ministers of Foreign Affairs decided a few days previously , sending a clear signal on the need to respect the results of democratic elections .
believe and dare !
the purely quantitative view of economic activity says nothing about the environmental balance sheet , nor about the social balance sheet , and therefore it is high time that we measured whether , year on year , we are doing well or badly in terms of our measures and efforts .
I therefore voted in favour .
the struggle for legality and transparency in the expenditure of European resources , in comparison to tax avoidance and evasion , cannot yet count on the full collaboration of Member States and governments with the European institutions .
it is essential to promote the strengthening of parliamentary scrutiny , to support free and pluralist media , the independence of the judiciary and the empowerment of civil society , giving priority to women , vulnerable groups and minorities .
until such time as there is agreement that we can harmonise our national health services to the highest standards , then MS must be free to plan and fund and manage services to deliver high quality public health services within their borders .
finally , as this is probably the last time I will speak in the Chamber because I am retiring to go into national politics , can I thank you for the courtesy with which you have treated me and thank the Members of the House , who have also treated me with great courtesy .
we have expressed ourselves in favour of the ESF becoming a more effective , simplified and transparent tool , which must continue to act as a powerful catalyst for the construction of social Europe .
the issue of funding has become the keystone of the agreement in Copenhagen .
2 : the inclusion of milk in Article 186 gives the Commission an operational tool that can be deployed instantly , but that does not mean that Parliament will no longer monitor the issue .
the Commissioner has just addressed the issue of how to involve these North Korean special zones .
( DE ) Mr President , the debate reflects the unresolved issues of economic policy in Europe .
we also need to think about how to exploit all the available reserves as efficiently as possible .
the Directive also incorporates the case law of the European Court of Justice on these issues .
the resolution has been altered and now describes a country where there was reportedly a massive turnout at the elections , forgetting that the population voted under continuing threat from armed groups .
are there adequate controls ?
the European Union can help Ukraine to do this .
SMEs are the motor of the European economy and producers of sustainable growth , creating numerous quality jobs .
the adoption of the Treaty of Lisbon reinforced this need and firmly enshrined in law the territorial cohesion which is the most important aspect of the cohesion policy .
I would like to thank the rapporteur , Mr Leichtfried , and other Members for their very constructive work on the proposal .
thirdly , there are the year-on-year national material flows , the input and output , measured in purely quantitative terms .
since the financing of Natura 2000 is at any rate contradictory , and the source of much legitimate criticism , we will in any case have to make changes to the relevant regulations in the next parliamentary cycle but at the latest in the new budget .
progress made on resettling Guantánamo detainees and on closing Guantánamo ( debate )
we should be talking about massive savings , not increases .
since 1963 , a so-called Green Line has divided the city and its people into a Greek Cypriot and a Turkish Cypriot sector .
what is the procedure which Member States can use to facilitate the SMEs ' access to this financing ?
the oral amendment suggested to the Socialist amendment is on the order paper and I hereby propose it on behalf of our group .
the three people with him at the time of his abduction were killed by the kidnappers .
what is at stake here for patients ?
Korea is the EU 's fourth largest trade partner outside Europe , whereas in 2006 the EU was the largest foreign investor in Korea .
they must send their children to school and become integrated into the labour market .
we have a responsibility , but we also have duties towards these countries .
particular attention should be paid to the cases of children being brought up by single parents , in large families or in immigrant families .
why is the telecom package so important ?
their opinion was published in January this year .
everything that happens will be transparent .
I would like to thank Parliament here for this positive vote : I think it was an extremely important contribution on your part .
adding to the almost non-existent governance to counter the concurrent interests of fishing nations and high market demand , numerous factors of various kinds combine to leave the bluefin , a highly exploited species nowadays , in such a precarious situation .
other areas must deal with water as an inconvenience and must invest in dyke reinforcement .
( SK ) Statistics show that every year as many as 8 000 pedestrians and cyclists are killed and 300 000 are injured on our roads .
innovation partnerships should not result in additional complexity , but should instead be part of a simplification process .
I also share the views expressed by Mr Audy and some other honourable Members about the discharge procedure .
this matter is one of the priorities of the Czech Presidency and I firmly believe that through the approval and revision of the existing regulations on eco-labelling and on EMAS we will largely manage to deal with this priority .
in writing . - We share the concern of the resolution about the effects of climate change on the sustainability of the communities that inhabit the Arctic area as well as the effects on the natural habitat ; and we recognise the significance of the Arctic for the global climate and therefore the Arctic as a common concern .
however , the Israeli army is eradicating Hamas by killing Palestinians in Gaza .
we also know that climate change is exacerbating the situation .
that option is now extended to all Member States .
there is a parallel directive to this one , namely the Directive on defence procurement , which is yet to be debated in Parliament .
I can share his view that the success of the Council was the EU 's refusal to go down the easier route of massive bailouts and nationalisation .
it seems so simple at first sight .
therefore , we invite the Commission to come up with proposals to make the toolkit more sophisticated and more effective .
in addition , the lack of any state department to record , prevent and restore pathogenic soils etc. makes this a worrying situation .
profit-making private companies are clearly not the same thing as non-governmental organisations or trade union federations .
it is now evident that there is a need for Parliament to maintain democratic scrutiny of this financial instrument and future ones ; it is even clearer how important it is becoming for developing countries ' national parliaments to be involved in drafting strategic national documents linked to aid received from the Union .
I think that her determination should serve as an inspiration to us all to strengthen victims ' rights and to reinforce citizens ' trust in our judicial systems .
this agreement is a model for Europe , because there has not been such a milestone in a long time .
as an example , see how the report urges non-EU countries to lift foreign ownership restrictions on European companies ...
they stem from an extensive reliance on big business : subsidies and tax relief for the monopolies , NATO spending , the destruction of industrial production and the mining , manufacturing , textile and ship-building and repair industries , the severe undermining of agricultural production and the billions of euro for large business groups .
the spread of globalisation and increasing international flows and trade are aggravating factors .
these can proceed without US domestic legislation , as can biological research work on clean technologies .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I wish to thank Mr Vernola for this very solid report , which is due to be adopted at a very crucial stage of our relations with Montenegro .
it is , at the same time , an initiative to defend the fundamental principles of democracy and tolerance , which are the foundation of Europe .
such a measure would in fact promote consumerism ; it would provide direct help for the car industry and would run counter to our environmental policies .
the Marshall Plan indeed existed , the Americans gave us the money , but as they did so , they demanded that the European governments drove the communists out of politics in their countries ; they dictated the conditions to us .
interventions in the budgets of the Member States should be rejected .
firstly , there is the issue of climate change .
increased efforts are required to improve their living conditions and access to education and health services .
in spite of this , I am of the opinion that it is , and was , appropriate to call on the social partners to participate one last time .
she writes , quote , ' Our people are afraid of a revolution , too .
this is why what you have explained is right , in the same way as what the rapporteurs , Mr Brok and Mr Gualtieri , have also said .
I remind you that in my country in 2004 the biggest party in the country , Vlaams Blok , which won 24 % of the vote , was simply proscribed and had to be disbanded .
we need a new impetus for cultural exchange as well as youth exchanges , not only in one direction , as Mr Gahler said , but in both directions .
I should like to reaffirm that , Mr Posselt .
President-in-Office of the Council . - I should like to thank Brian Crowley for raising the question .
I hope we will have time to discuss this in more detail tomorrow , because climate change will be one of the main topics of discussion at the next European Council .
thus , whereas in the case of civil law , several issues have been promoted , in the case of criminal law , things have remained almost at a standstill .
we were guided by this purpose in our work .
in addition , soaring food prices can be placed under control by regulating prices of traditional energy sources .
Mr President , the Commission published the European Union strategy for the Danube region and the associated action plan , which are due to be adopted by the European Council during the EU 's Hungarian Presidency , on 8 December 2010 .
the reform allows a relatively long transitional period because the partly coupled aid can run until 2009 .
thirdly , I hope that this historic moment will serve as a positive response to the people 's true desires : freedom , democracy , and the combating of corruption , unemployment and social exclusion .
there is much concern about the victimisation of Roma people in this way .
we already had a similar discussion when voters in France and the Netherlands rejected the Constitutional Treaty and at that time the Commission and Council assured us that the ratification process would carry on , but then both of them , along with our Parliament , yielded to the temptation to halt that ratification process .
the Member States should do all that they can to ensure that it is properly implemented , and guarantee equal treatment and care to all EU citizens .
( EL ) Mr President , a while back , I wrote an article entitled : ' plural monologue ' .
as you know , in 2005 , an agreement was signed in Sarajevo by Croatia , Bosnia and Herzegovina , Serbia , and Montenegro - the so-called Sarajevo Declaration .
I would like to stress the fact that every Member State must individually keep a child sex offender register and prevent such offenders from being employed in sectors which involve working with children .
as such , Turkey must withdraw its occupying troops from the Republic of Cyprus .
Members of the European Union which will already be subject to this mechanism by the spring ( April and May ) are currently making thorough preparations for this review .
to tackle these challenges which are to come , I believe that particular attention must be focused especially on young people by getting them involved in the life of society .
attention should also be paid to cross-border areas , in order to facilitate their integration .
let us ask them , because European citizens have , for decades , simply accepted , and not decided , what happens in European institutions .
in addition , adult education also depends on voluntary helpers , who enrich it by lending their experience and providing skilled instruction .
we need the regions of Europe .
I would like to publicly support this as a proposal that takes into account the feature of fiscal discipline .
it is , however , also essential to pay close attention to safety measures .
voluntarily , we have taken it upon ourselves to improve our environmental performance on a day-to-day basis .
now that the Treaty of Lisbon has entered into force , regulations are adopted following a joint proposal from the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Commission in accordance with Article 215 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union .
I spoke a moment ago as the draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs , and now I am speaking as shadow rapporteur for the press .
therefore , the aim now is not to propose more legislation at any price but to make the existing legislation more accessible and intelligible .
market corrections are occurring because for a long time money has been too cheap , and this has eroded standards for evaluating investments .
but the democratic argument I think might have some echo of authenticity even with federalist colleagues and it is this .
monitoring the activity of agencies more closely offers only a minimum service and obviously does not go far enough .
the EGF was set up in 2006 to provide practical support to workers made redundant either for reasons associated with the relocation of their companies or , following the 2009 amendment , on account of the economic crisis , in order to assist their reintegration into the labour market .
we also believe that the reforms must be pursued despite the major domestic political crisis .
I recently myself visited ETF in Turin and also heard a presentation from Cedefop while I was there .
we wish to emphasise once again that we would therefore very much welcome much more involvement by the Council in the activities of the Committee on Petitions and , for example , the designation of a senior official to coordinate petition-related matters .
in this context , I welcome and support in particular Article 7 on university students and Article 16 , which makes it obligatory to include warnings on labels .
you are telling us that you are going to get Europe out of the crisis .
I find it deplorable , however , that the involvement of local and regional powers in the decision-making process is not being viewed as a priority .
it must prove to its own citizens that it is a common project imbued with solidarity .
today , we finally have financial transparency .
indeed , I should like to remind the House that , according to recent censuses , there are still more than 20 million unemployed in the European Union - the figure has most probably reached 25 million by now - which means that attracting even more asylum seekers is , in fact , a kind of collective suicide .
it should also be a priority to create gas interconnectors enabling connections between systems and rapid transmission of gas reserves in the event of further crises .
many advertisements attempt to manipulate vulnerable target audiences , such as children and severely indebted persons .
for the EU Anti-Terrorism Coordinator , who works in close contact with the services in charge in the Member States , the data from this programme are undeniably useful , mainly by reason of the particular vulnerability of terrorists at border crossings .
I also have the impression that we are using a kind of blackmail on ourselves by saying that , if we take our fleets from West Africa , other fleets may take our place and they will have even worse standards than those used at present .
however , I regret the Commission 's insensitivity towards the situation of our regions and I must say that , despite having reached a compromise which is positive and which has in fact taken a few steps in the right direction , we feel that the issue is in no way settled .
a complete new supervisory framework must be set up at EU level , and we are pleased to see that some progress has been achieved .
I do not believe dialogue between our institutions is possible if , after giving our agreement , we take it back a few days later by tabling an amendment .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , this report has been approved unanimously in the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs .
oral question to the Commission on FLEGT voluntary partnership agreements with Congo and Cameroon and other planned VPAs , by Yannick Jadot , Catherine Bearder , David Martin , Joe Higgins , Daniel Caspary - B7-0802 / 2010 ) on behalf of
on energy , you are right to pursue the aims of the Strategic Energy Review , but the Review and our climate change targets should not be a ceiling to our ambitions , rather a springboard to greater and greener heights , to force the pace on Europe 's switch from fossil fuels to renewables and put an end to our umbilical energy dependence .
I think it is very important to show that here we are really working together .
we need to speed up the ' Basel II ' reforms and bring speculative funds under strict control .
in my times of solitude I have often thought that Don Quixote , the famous character , the greatest literary figure of all time , would not have existed without Sancho , and today Sancho would undoubtedly be an emigrant coming to his aid .
both diversifying resources and saving them are solutions intended to anticipate and respond to the energy crises threatening the European Union .
it is in a better position to withstand turbulence and crises of the kind we have been experiencing in the last few months , and thanks to the euro , we have a more solid foundation to support our growth and our model of social protection in the future .
that is why this issue is on the agenda today .
there are many aspects to this , and many have been included in this report .
alternatively , we should invest in achieving the 3 % objective for research and development that was set back in 2000 .
these proposals are crucial in order to improve the situation of unemployment , poverty and inequality which exists and is worsening with capitalism , of which the EU is a tool .
neutrality and professionalism also include the fact that we work only on the basis of proof .
the vulnerability of these communities has tangibly increased during the current period of economic crisis .
we must develop our monitoring systems .
does the Commission have any data on this ?
consumer laws must be good laws and consumer protection and the internal market are so closely tied to each other , both legally and in respect of policy , that it would be good to coordinate these two reviews .
EPAs are an important tool of development , regional integration and poverty reduction .
the long-term development of the poorest nation in the western hemisphere must become a priority .
I am concerned about the effects that this directive will have on the new Member States .
I declare resumed the session of the European Parliament adjourned on Thursday 20 May 2010 .
the text as adopted today , whilst satisfactory in certain respects - especially in relation to the fight against discrimination against disabled people - the vague concepts it contains , the legal uncertainties that it maintains and the superfluous requirements that it introduces make it legally impractical and therefore ineffective in its application .
however , in this case , the EU is making special arrangements for governments , outside of normal State aid rules , for greater flexibility to manage subsidies to coal mines .
let me assure you , Mr President ( and you can pass this on , Mr Schulz ) , that now that the Irish have killed this sick product of the German Presidency that is called the Lisbon Treaty , the Czechs will be happy to bury it and still remain a Member State .
Dispensing with all proactive agricultural policies is worse than a crime : it is a huge mistake .
may this fire and its victims be a great cry of warning for the future .
the market is insatiable and exhausts natural resources .
we should also reflect on costs .
the question must be asked as to whether the one-upmanship within the European institutions is not misplaced .
one thing is certain : we cannot afford a repeat of past mistakes .
in India , as in the EU countries , SMEs drive economic growth and thus , job creation .
Brussels ' remit does not cover the retirement age , for example .
often , they suffer so much that later , they are unable to get back on their feet and start a new business .
I also cannot support the Committee view that we should also step back from full decoupling , but I reserve my biggest fear for the Commission .
ultimately , it does not matter under which rules planes are flying or under which rules they are crashing .
so we know why we are doing this and what we want to achieve .
should the technology installed in the car which is capable of communicating with a roadside transmitter come first ?
what is certain is that we can and must restrict speculation in cereals , which is also one of the causes of these difficulties .
I will even say better than this , Mr de Villiers .
more radical steps need to be taken , however .
nevertheless , the case invites a very important reflection from a civil and political point of view : are human rights merely the rights of individuals , as parties isolated from a social environment , or is the right to express a specific form of piety also a right of the peoples ?
Mr Blokland , you have already had an answer .
this is because the European Union as such must reflect unity in diversity .
so there will always be choices to be made .
I therefore voted for this report , which underlines the crucial role that the EU can play regarding human rights , especially through the right to a decent job .
I have a question to the Council presidency .
in short , the labour pains were difficult , and they are not yet over .
only once this purchase had been completed did we find out that there was asbestos in around 50 rooms in this building .
voting time ( continuation )
President-in-Office . - ( SL ) I am happy to be here with you today and to take part in such an important debate .
now that this legislature has entered its final year , we are proposing mechanisms for burden-sharing .
we are counting on this .
they were credible at the time when the Decade of Roma Inclusion was launched in 2005 .
in the course of his second term of office , Mr Barroso should be a little more independent minded , not least with regard to the large Member States , and the sole objective of his actions should be to serve the general interest of the Community .
deputising for the author . - ( FR ) Mr President , President of the Council , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the debate we are having today is taking place , as you know , in a context characterised by two essential elements .
given Europe 's financial problems , why is it that we cannot bring ourselves to take some fundamental measures in this area and to combine those agencies whose responsibilities are very similar , such as the agency responsible for vocational training within Europe and the agency for vocational training outside Europe ?
however , I should like to add that I still believe that the implementation of the Schengen Agreements has made our borders a sort of glorified sieve , that they have become much more insecure and less controlled .
I fully endorse your opinion on this matter .
ITER consists of long-term international partnerships and commitments , bringing together partners that represent over half of the world 's population to address issues central to our common future , the development of sustainable , non-polluting sources of energy at the service of humanity .
Gaza has been bombed to bits and Israel is not allowing it to be rebuilt .
that will be no easy task , as we have many different opinions , but these negotiations and this dialogue are absolutely necessary .
the VAT system is not just a question of rates and ranges , but also one of a simple , legally certain scheme which works well in the internal market , which is tailored to SMEs and is resistant to fraud .
it is like 1989 and the European Union needs special procedures - this House , the Commission , the Council , the EAS - and we welcome Cathy Ashton 's down payment for democracy , but we need to do more .
Commissioner , as we engage in the real debate on climate change , the problems are all beginning to take shape , with great clarity and speed .
I voted for the European Parliament resolution on the mobilisation of the EGF for granting aid to the redundant workers .
the priorities contained in the proposed budget for 2011 cannot , however , lead to a modification of the EU 's basic policies .
colleagues may differ as to whether the trialogue text is an improvement on the original report , but at least there is a trialogue agreement and history will be the best judge of that .
I have never said that !
in writing . - The urban dimension of cohesion policy needs to be given a greater priority .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , first of all , many thanks to the rapporteur , Mr Liese , for his good report , and to Mr Jarzembowski .
European states will be able to help each other in the event of any new gas crises .
what short-term and long-term measures are presently under discussion ?
they are key characteristics of the Council that we should work to protect at all costs .
the United Nations had an extremely hard time after the assassination of Sergio Vieira de Mello and a good part of its staff when its office in Baghdad was blown up .
I wish to take this important opportunity to comment on the vote on the Luxembourg-based European Investment Bank 's annual report in order to insist , as I have already done in some questions , on the importance of increasing the budget for the EIB 's financial instruments in support of the city centre development and regeneration plans .
for depositors , investors , borrowers and taxpayers these stress tests do not offer transparency and that is a travesty .
when we recall how , after long and hard talks , the financial framework was adopted only a year ago , we have to regard the level of payment appropriations , and these especially , as unrealistically low .
I hope that the vote will definitely help us finalise the paper that we are to prepare by the end of the year .
this duty to remember is also a duty to the descendants of the people who survived the genocide and to the international community itself .
with this package , we can finally hope to complete the liberalisation of the internal energy market within the EU .
it is totally unacceptable that the leader of the opposition , Benazir Bhutto , has been put under house arrest and banned from political activity and that other activists and the media and independent judiciary have all been muzzled .
I am vehemently opposed to cuts in the EU agricultural budget because I believe that the common agricultural policy must remain a key area in the EU budget .
if we are helping the banks , it is so that they can invest in this economy , and our only aim - and you were right to stress the point - is to finance small and medium-sized enterprises .
in addition , I think that we need for the future programming period a common set of regulations for using European funds , which are applicable to all Member States , thereby eliminating the opportunity for the latter to introduce additional conditions which actually restrict access to funding .
for that reason ( and in the light of the allocation of competences laid down in Article 9 ( 1 ) of the Framework Directive ) , I oppose the establishment of an overarching spectrum planning and management system at European level .
as in ' Framework Decision 2002 / 475 / JHA on combating terrorism ' - with its definition of ' terrorism ' - once again the possibility remains open for implementing security measures and criminalising individuals or groups who speak out against or write about State terrorism .
it is clear then that there are problems in the supply chain and a lack of transparency .
in Muslim countries , but also in countries such as China , India and Nepal , churches and chapels are burned with impunity , people are turned out onto the street , tortured or even killed and women are forced to undergo abortions .
those are the reasons why I am voting in favour .
the fight for transparency must therefore continue !
we are inclined to take certain protective measures even though they have no real significance for consumers and bring no real benefit , simply because this is a very significant ethical matter .
while defence procurement remains essentially a national competence , this proposal helps create a single European market for defence and security materials through a structured legal framework .
( FR ) Minister , thank you for your answer .
for many farms , profits have fallen significantly , and therefore the situation is very difficult for many farmers .
even though the situation has improved slightly under the influence of the new president , American foreign policy has very little interest in multilateral organisations .
the forthcoming communication will offer more detail on the approach towards the two sub-regions of our neighbourhood .
this needs to be changed , and from now on , good decisions must be taken .
I will not go into detail as it is on the plenary agenda in its own right .
( DE ) Madam President , Mr Dalli , firstly , I would like to thank Mr Dalli for his efforts in the area of prevention .
in this connection , pursuant to the provisions of the Green Paper , the creditor should have the right to submit an application for an order to be issued for the attachment of bank accounts before the start of the main proceedings .
let me give you a piece of advice .
I had hoped we would go much further in implementing a procedure of economic arbitration with regard to European regulators , but of course , we could not achieve everything at once .
never has there been so much negotiating on the futures market , nor has there been so much money involved .
it is pure hate .
we have the power .
the political instability is already having a significant impact .
in our report we therefore ask the Commission to carry out a proper impact study , which must also include a component correctly ascertaining the original market conditions and assess the integration and competitiveness of the market and the impact of an initiative not just by means of one indicator but by the largest possible number of measurements .
at the same time a great deal has been achieved in the area of the climate and energy package , and agreement was reached within the Council on the third liberalisation package in the area of gas and electricity .
it does not cover another two aspects : the criteria for granting the right to work and the exclusion of seasonal workers and intra-corporate transferees .
pre-financing is far too difficult for many small and medium-sized undertakings .
( CS ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , this is undoubtedly an important issue requiring effective cooperation by all Member States .
we cannot wait until all the bees have died out because the problem will be incredibly serious .
these intentions deserve appreciation , and not criticism , although that is not the main point here .
with the exception of only one country , all countries understood that they could achieve this target , and for this they have two additional instruments .
the implementation within the EU of climate policies and the speedy approval of the raft of climate and energy measures will continue to be crucially important if we want to maintain our leading role and drive international efforts in combating climate change to a successful conclusion .
that essentially was the main problem , namely that we had put in some nice things and we had put in some dangerous things but no-one could understand what it actually all meant , all the stuff that we then added in the supplement to the international list .
it is about all of us , what we have achieved together at the European Parliament in the last 15 months , and what is ahead of us .
recent major changes to EU customs legislation will assist in identifying high risk consignments for controls .
I also believe that it is important to improve the independence of national regulatory bodies .
China is beaten only by Iran when it comes to the execution of juveniles , and killing children cannot be justified under any circumstances .
part of the money is to be used in particular to improve legal assistance and advice for victims and their families .
pension systems fall within the competence of the Member States .
some advances are observable : Turkey has taken action , for example by adopting amendments to the law governing foundations in February 2008 .
it is essential that the Government of Bangladesh duly follow up on the court rulings .
I would highlight the following positive measures : the readmission obligations defined within the agreement have been drawn up on a fully reciprocal basis , and cover its own nationals , third-country nationals and stateless persons .
we have managed to find a good compromise from different starting positions .
I note with concern the disproportionate dangers to which women are exposed with regard to domestic violence , trafficking and forced prostitution .
Albania is not Montenegro , and Bosnia-Herzegovina is not Kosovo .
there has been no provision either for air traffic in the Kyoto Protocol and a very practical question is therefore : when does the Commission want to put forward a proposal for including maritime traffic in emissions trading ?
however , we also clearly recognise that we in Europe have a responsibility for the fate of those migrants who are turned away from our outer borders and who find themselves unable to return to their homes , suffering human rights violations as a consequence , as in the case of these Eritrean refugees .
the US authorities will thus have access to a great deal of private data sent as an urgent measure as a result of a terrorist threat that , while genuine , is still being exploited for imperial purposes .
( FR ) Madam President , I should like to commend the very honest commitment of the Hungarian Presidency and Commissioners Andor and Reding .
alternative fuels have already been making great and sometimes controversial strides , but we must select the second-generation biofuels and hydrogen-related options carefully so that they can come onto the market as an outcome of research and development .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I have the privilege of introducing a report that will offer Parliament the opportunity tomorrow to vote for a breakthrough towards greater health , and environmental and consumer protection .
if that is what we want , we will need the funds to bring it about .
( ES ) Mr President , I am going to indicate the points on which I agree and disagree with the Presidency and also say what was lacking , in my opinion , from the Presidency 's speech .
so I feel I have strong democratic legitimacy .
in the case of a bailout , the total burden will be put on the back of Greek , Irish and - soon - Portuguese citizens .
one could welcome this new initiative , which the majority of Europeans want , were it really aimed at dramatically reducing immigration .
we regret , however , that EU electoral observers were not invited either to Egypt or to Morocco .
of the countries seeking accession to the European Union , it is surely the best prepared country , not only because it has similar democratic principles and values to the Union 's Member States , but also because it has the same or higher development standards .
we must be fair : there is a vast difference between industrial fishing and traditional fishing techniques .
that is why it is very important that we adopt a strong and clear position in favour of transparency in this sitting .
demographic , economic and social factors in Europe demand solutions that will turn the professional and cultural experience of older people to good account , ensuring that their living conditions are of as high a quality as possible and minimising the expenditure arising from this demographic trend .
I am disappointed in the way our partner , Turkey , has behaved in this respect .
survivors of the holocaust should not need to hear that people in Europe are chanting ' murderers , murderers ' when there is a gathering to show support for the state of Israel .
the original compromise stated that managers were obliged to inform their workforce of what they intended to do with the companies in which they had invested .
that means that the data held on the TFTP database are effectively anonymous .
55 % of Member States are under this average .
I hope that the Council will demonstrate sufficient flexibility so that this legislation can be adopted on time before the start of the season in which bluetongue can break out .
secondly , I am disappointed because the resolution does not reflect the European Interest , as per the title of the document , and - more to the point - it does not even reflect the interests of the majority of European citizens .
I am very grateful for the fact that this resolution has been supported by all the groups in the House .
in the area of foreign policy , the discussion will focus on cooperation between the EU and the United States in the Western Balkans , especially Kosovo , and in the Middle East .
but , if the honourable Member wishes , I could hand out some of the tables with the relevant information from FP7 here today , because I have them with me .
these attacks are increasing in number and in virulence , amid silence or indifference , and they warrant urgent action .
we therefore restate our opposition to the pursuit of the liberalisation of this important public service in each country .
I would also like to point out the allocation of observer status to MEPs at international conferences , who can now also attend all the relevant meetings .
let us hope , therefore , that the European Council will quantify and reaffirm that commitment to help developing countries combat climate change over these next few years as well . a commitment by developed countries generally to collaborate with those that are still not developed so that we all arrive at the very important Cancún conference in the best possible condition .
naturally , the lower costs will also benefit consumers .
are we using the money in the right way in respect of how we manage our buildings , etc . ?
firstly , do we need new sources of revenue and do we have the right , in this Parliament , to discuss the revenue side from time to time ?
that is why we are counting on you to enlighten us on the arguments that were used by those involved .
our Parliament therefore had to adopt new provisions concerning its composition for the rest of the parliamentary term .
here , too , the Commission 's communication of 4 March sets out a number of important principles which should guide the action of Member States .
I look forward to working together with Members on this and on the other proposals .
the bilateral political dialogue under way between Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas and the recent setting up of the negotiating teams on both sides are courageous and encouraging steps which we approve of and support and which we hope might enable tangible results to be brought to the international meeting in the autumn , a meeting instigated by the United States of America .
maybe this is exactly the reason why the negotiations between different political groups on the final form of the text were so difficult .
it is real disobedience and resistance which will lead to the overthrow of the exploitative barbarity of capitalism itself .
serious efforts will need to be undertaken in the discussion of the new budgetary perspective .
he will not , however , disappear off the European political scene , but will continue to play an important role on it .
in addition , the Citizens ' Energy Forum will be the driving force to establish competitive retail markets in the EU , while at the same time ensuring that vulnerable consumers are protected .
freedom for religious educational institutions ?
here too , it should above all be stressed that the first objective of this directive will be , through harmonisation , to remove any obstacles to the liberalisation of international rail passenger services which might derive from different rules on professional requirements in the sector within each country .
this is particularly so because small and medium-sized enterprises employ over half of the citizens of the European Union and account for 99 % of enterprises in the Union as a whole .
if we also forget that the surest foundation for social policy is economic growth , we may lose ourselves in fine-sounding slogans that have no connection with reality and may also , like the provisions on non-discrimination , breach the principles of subsidiarity and common sense .
I therefore support a ban on its use by ordinary consumers and strict restrictions on professional use .
let us be very open about this .
this is one of the things that the EU does well .
I voted for the report on political priorities in the fight against illegal immigration of third-country nationals and I want to stress that controlling the influx of migrants to Europe , especially from third countries , is one of the greatest challenges facing European policy-makers .
we know very well that prohibitions , sanctions and doing without achieve very little .
the debate is closed .
I welcome an integrated approach , which includes drawing up macro-regional strategies applicable to the entire European Union , in order to make regional policy more effective .
the most effective mechanism for combating the racism and exclusion occurring in the sporting arena , however , is the game itself , as it fosters in individuals a sense of team spirit , cooperation and fair competition , as well as reinforcing cooperation and solidarity as social values .
there are some areas - and you spoke about that , Commissioner - where competition can be enhanced .
I am in favour of giving the Member States the greatest possible freedom , the third way referred to in the Glante amendment , but I am against this European directive as a whole .
this source-based legislation will enable us to help the towns , cities and communities of Europe to meet the particulate emission targets that have been set and in this way to provide a better air quality .
this will help us achieve appropriate tax integration , an essential part of the European project and a further step towards the genuine harmonisation of tax policies .
therefore , we must offer solutions to all the patients , give them the right information and let them decide for themselves what they need .
they asked to extend the demand to release political prisoners who have recently been arrested also to people who face other kinds of restrictions and harassment .
the use of the Community method rather than the intergovernmental route makes our governance more democratic .
opinion polls show that certain countries have a more economic approach , and others a more cultural approach .
as I said , the committee hesitated on raising the threshold - it was a majority of one .
Mr President , Parliament is being called upon today to debate the report which I drafted on behalf of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs on the regulations governing political parties at European level and the rules regarding their funding by the European Parliament .
we will allocate an additional sum of over EUR 1 billion to improving Internet access in rural areas and to the new challenges which are specified in the review of the common agricultural policy .
I believe that international trade is a decisive factor .
it can act as a toolbox for reinforcing the Stability and Growth Pact .
I therefore welcome any efforts in that direction .
because of the shortage of organs , some people are quick to use criminal methods .
we talk about elections because elections are democracy .
one of the fundamental challenges society faces is how to feed a growing world demand for food , estimated by the FAO to double by the year 2050 .
wherever there are EU agencies there must also be European Schools .
both rapporteurs make the assessment that the monetary union has been a success .
the EU has tried , over the years , to convey to the Chinese authorities its worries over the situation of ethnic minorities in China and to share its own experience , many times painful , on how to address the causes of marginalisation , exclusion and discrimination that those minorities often face .
that is why we have the ESDP operation Atalanta , which is the first maritime operation under the ESDP .
at the moment , there are contradictions in the actions of the Commission .
this age of austerity offers an opportunity for the EU to spend less on old and wasteful priorities .
generally , the Commission , in its proposals before Parliament , is facilitating or - if the proposals are approved - wants to facilitate the use of the European Social Fund and the Globalisation Fund .
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once that has been done , we would examine the results and decide whether or not to launch the negotiations .
then the problem disappears .
I would like to reiterate many of the things that Mr Jáuregui said , and point out that signing the convention constitutes an element of European integration , which therefore strengthens the European Union .
there were also an unprecedented number of position papers .
the actual crisis is therefore rather a crisis of the European banking sector .
our spirit is one of dialogue , but not of going beyond the objectives that we intend to defend .
precisely for that reason , may I take the liberty of commenting on your very rational speech by drawing an analogy from the world of football .
the first of these is the need to improve the safety of drivers and other road users .
for our part , we support a Community of values , we support the promotion of fundamental rights , we support a Europe of democracy and there is no place in our vision for chauvinism and bad behaviour !
when it is really bad then it would be a zero TAC .
you are standing in for our Commissioner for Industry - thank you for that , and thank you also for your speech .
thirdly , the management passport is a vitally important new provision which will allow for greater economies of scale , greater efficiency and the reduction of red tape .
we have undermined the confidence of European and other consumers .
however , I will say it once again : if any new findings come to light , the process will be set in motion .
in this spirit , may I thank you once again very warmly for your visit today .
as you are undoubtedly aware , the Council spent four long years discussing an amendment to this directive before finally reaching a common position on the content - after some highly complex negotiations .
we do not want any products that have not been produced in compliance with core labour standards !
the report should thus take into account , for example , the geographical location of reserves : this will contribute towards more effective energy use and better energy security in the European Union as a whole .
although the role of the Commission does not usually involve prior assessment of the industrial and commercial rationale behind a restructuring case , in the absence of information from the Member States on potential State aid for the plan , the Commission 's services undertook such an assessment at the request of the Competitiveness Council .
EU relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council ( short presentation )
firstly , I would like to congratulate the rapporteur on the work that he has carried out .
it is not only major incidents that have a disastrous impact on countries ' economies and environment as well as their welfare .
two days ago , on 7 June , talks began in Gaborone between the Southern African Development Community ( SADC ) and various players in the country , in order to find a way out of the crisis , which is based on neutrality and consensus , includes all the relevant groups , and can be supported both by the international community and by the broad majority of the citizens of Madagascar .
specifically this means that people are protected against discrimination on grounds of age , disability , sexual orientation or religion but it is only in the workplace that they are protected in this complex manner .
the mass migration of people from North Africa was foreseeable some months ago , and France and Italy should have reacted immediately , together with the Commission .
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on the correlation tables , for the sake of arriving at an agreement , my group will not vote for the insertion of correlation tables .
it is often thought that regional culture has to be an amateur movement , whereas a professional movement should be given strong financial support .
on this basis , the European Union has built a real policy to promote equality between women and men .
certain principles have been studied .
( ES ) Mr President , yesterday , because of the time it took to get through our work here in the House , there was no opportunity to mention the recent death of Orlando Zapata , which the Spanish delegation sincerely laments .
at the same time , the enhanced passenger rights in this document will be implemented without imposing a heavy burden on carriers , most of which are small and medium-sized enterprises .
I regret the outcome of this vote .
a strong rural development component is being retained and a request is being made for the amount of funding in the budget after 2014 to be at least equivalent to the 2013 level .
at the same time it confirms the sound choice made at the beginning of the 1990s in countries such as Poland , where the reconstruction of capital markets was based on European standards , which is now simplifying the harmonisation of regulations across the European Union .
consideration for safety must form a guiding principle at as early a stage as possible within the production chain .
Mr President , of course I am delighted that the Lisbon Treaty has passed in my country .
even those who are today saying that we must aim for integration and offer the prospect of accession to the European Union previously said to us : ' wait , be reasonable ' .
but I would just like to make some factual remarks .
the second point I would like to make to all of you is that the Commission believes that more work needs to be done on preventing violence against women and girls in conflicts and , in particular , against sexual and gender violence , something which continues to happen and which is destroying many lives .
this is why we will continue to work in harmony with all the Member States , with the Council and also with countries outside Europe that are particularly involved in combating piracy .
and they require bold and resolute action .
will the European Commission eventually admit that some Member States are violating its Directives on sectors as sensitive as the environment and health ?
emissions trading simply does not work ; it is harmful .
ladies and gentlemen , to conclude I would like to express my pleasure at the participation of my group of visitors from the Slovak Prešov and Košice regions precisely in this debate , which is so important for European consumers .
the danger that substances might fall by the wayside due to expired deadlines , was something we could see coming for a long time , and our discussions in Parliament now have to take place under greater time pressure .
through nationwide demonstrations , the Egyptian people are expressing their wish to see change .
however , a balance needs to be found between security and privacy .
I think it is a report that takes us very much in the wrong direction and , at the very least , I am happy that I was here to vote against it .
perhaps , as next year this day will fall during the European Elections , all candidates will use 20 May to highlight maritime policy issues .
however , things will only continue in that way if we want them to .
as the President knows , your country , Poland , is to get the European Institute of Innovation and Technology .
one of our guiding principles was therefore to assess the needs - real and clearly defined needs - and this resulted in an increase in payments of 3.4 % compared with the 2007 budget .
they were Mrs Wallis from the Committee on Legal Affairs as the rapporteur for the opinion of the Committee , Mrs Gebhardt , Mrs Turunen and Mr Rochefort , as well as Mr Triantaphyllides and Mr Bielan .
I shall conclude by stressing an important point .
( LT ) Today we are talking about the tragic situation in Burma in the aftermath of the cyclone that swept across the country at the beginning of the month .
with this Charter and the 50 rights and freedoms contained within it , the European Union will have the most modern and comprehensive catalogue of fundamental rights in the world .
I welcome the Commission 's proposal to continue to subsidise the market and to extend the intervention period up to 28 February 2010 .
the truth is that a single monetary policy and a single key interest rate for 11 or 15 economies with very different structures and levels of development are inevitably as ill-suited to the needs of each individual one of these economies as they are to those of the whole .
it is true that what is needed in this area is to demonstrate more effort , including in terms of communication .
the House realises of course that the Commission wishes to halve the number of deaths , not lives .
finally , there has been much talk about the names of people to fill the functions of President and High Representative .
regarding climate change , leguminous varieties can substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions through assimilation and fixation of nitrogen in the soil and thus reduce the use of nitrogen fertiliser .
how is the ' ideals team ' going to win the game if our players refuse to shoot at goal because they think the goalkeeper is too good ?
but that dream very soon turned sour and I remember as chairman in the British Parliament of the British Somali Group , having this string of refugees coming to tell us first about the authoritarian regime in that country and then , of course , about the factional fighting and the anarchy .
how will we interact with these countries ?
moreover , I believe a further distinction should be drawn between third countries , where nationals of neighbouring countries , especially of those countries included in the neighbourhood policy , would have priority .
this is a deeply regrettable situation which must be changed , quickly and effectively , in order to protect biodiversity and the invaluable eco-services it provides us with .
this is about a domino effect and about the lack of restrictions on speculation .
I believe that the 2012 budget will be crucial in answering that question .
however , this starts with the education of our children .
however , our arguments must have substance so that people do not feel that the European Union is only concerned about itself , but can see that it is concerned about the interests of its citizens .
personally , I believe that it cannot be understood as nothing more than a further relaxation of financial and market mechanisms ; rather , I see it as a challenge to refine what Europe can rightly be proud of , namely the European social model .
only educated women will be able to be fully involved in revitalising local communities .
I completely disagree that the G20 summit was a lost opportunity but I must challenge all of us to show some political realism .
we should use them as European Houses , making it known to citizens when there is a consultation where they can give their views on the common agricultural policy or trade or environment policy .
nevertheless , it is important to encourage this technological progress to the benefit of all .
these fair trial provisions are defined by all of Europe and are the rights of every European citizen .
this is a concrete example of how the EU affects our day-to-day lives .
it is the opportunity for the EU to speak with one voice again and , above all , for science to play an important role .
I call on the Kenyan authorities to relinquish their plans to introduce censorship , to build consensus in order to foster the freedom of the press and the public communications sector .
we must also offer the Member States space to use lower rates in terms of political objectives .
since Mao , China has thus been a slave for 60 years to one of the most terrible dictatorships in the history of mankind , and yet Mao was worshipped and acclaimed enthusiastically by much of the European intelligentsia , including the then sorcerer 's apprentices who are now the current French Minister Bernard Kouchner , the philosopher André Glucksmann and many other Maoists , which should have been enough to discredit the revolutionary undertakings of 1968 .
this is why the Junilistan Members are usually unable to vote for the various reports on agriculture which come before the European Parliament .
judging by the EU 's record of value added tax , there will be endless changes to the law .
we had the opportunity to recall that Europe cannot be built solely with an internal market and monetary union .
it is also partially mentioned in the Larosière report , which is a fine piece of work .
what we need is a legislative initiative .
that is transparency , and this transparency is what we need and what is at stake in tomorrow 's vote on the proposal contained in amendment 46 .
the EU is the second largest fishing nation in the world and our responsibility for the depletion of fish stocks is indisputable .
in writing . - ( RO ) In recent years , promising progress has been made towards the abolition of capital punishment .
that was the way things stood .
it is a country where millions of people suffer from hunger , even during years where there is a rich harvest .
Romania has offered to organise a series of conferences on this subject , including the ministerial conference in June 2010 .
the agreement takes into account the situation of Member States that do not yet fully apply the Schengen acquis .
Mr Potočnik will , of course , be at your disposal to answer further questions on this .
this directive turns over to the Member States the administrative necessity of organising the collection and subsequent processing of very different and complex technical structures which are also very difficult to recycle .
our strategic partnership is strong , which permits us to tackle all issues , including the most sensitive ones .
after all , it will be in the long term that migration will truly show its negative impact .
help is still imperative .
I would like to draw attention , in particular , to three measures which were our successful amendments , which are to be particularly welcomed .
however , I must point out that we have to be very careful here when using state financing and taxpayers ' money .
this reduction is not enough .
we should not , however , overlook consumers , who make their own choices about food .
the continued monitoring of this agreement will be crucial , however , to ensure the terms remain acceptable to this Parliament and European citizens .
in writing . - It is premature to be talking about what will happen once the Lisbon treaty comes into effect .
I also call on the Commission and others to take steps to make it clear to the junta that democracy and engagement with the outside world are the only viable ways out of the crisis .
the European Parliament has adopted in the past a resolution on violence against women , which emphasised the need for comprehensive legislation which would combat every form of violence against women .
the G20 worked hard at the start of the crisis .
( PL ) Madam President , the lifting of barriers and demolition of the walls which are presented by visa restrictions will be a very joyful moment , not only for the residents of Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina , but also for us , the residents of the European Union , because this will confirm that we are true to our values of openness towards our neighbours .
the main policy priorities which the Commission envisages for next year are structured around five pillars .
we need to create the conditions for that to become a reality .
in writing . - I supported the resolution in order to press for further action to address this growing problem .
had they been part of the Euro Zone , their situation would be far better .
also think about the contribution to Europe made by those who believe that religion and politics should not be mixed , because history has shown that when one meddles with the other , it always leads to problems .
his family has no information about his well-being beyond one video and sporadic indication from Hamas that he is still alive and well .
there was a lady there from Denmark who very nearly might not have been .
this was a major Belgian effort , I believe we can say , begun under the Belgian Presidency of the Council with three important Belgians involved and , above all , because of the rapporteur , who succeeded in opening a door to the new routes .
granting additional means to the Court will contribute to an increase in efficiency of operation in this area , and also to a reduction of delays to court proceedings in Member States .
somebody asked whether there could be a summit on piracy in the future .
ideally any limitation of our rights should be compensated by a corresponding increase in our security in the face of terrorist attacks .
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it also raised questions on whether enforcement authorities should be given better access to social security and tax registers .
I would like to draw the attention of my fellow Members to the fact that a person who is hired by an employer and given the option to choose the conditions under which he or she will work is in a far better situation than the highly protected employee who is unemployed .
it has been stated repeatedly here that there is no military solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict .
the fact is , women form the majority in both categories .
in particular , we are unable to agree with the premise of Recital C and Recital Q , which we believe distort other aspects of the report that may have value .
Thursday :
Mrs Wallström , you have been working on this for years , you are starting to make headway , and you have to persevere .
2008 discharge : European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction
the idea presented by the Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship in his industry communications , that we should always gauge future decisions by whether they will serve or damage the competitiveness of European industry , is therefore a very wise one .
there are practices and experiences from other countries with tragic results .
these people are asking us in the European Parliament to defend all vestiges of all religions , not only Jewish vestiges , but also Romanian vestiges in Europe .
the current crisis also pointed out the dangers inherent in constricting the solvency of some private pension funds , which have been hit hard by a fall in interest rates and a decline in the value of investments .
I agree with the aim of this proposal to strengthen Community requirements aimed at improving the safety of pedestrians and other vulnerable road users in case of injuries resulting from a collision with a motor vehicle .
with today 's resolution the European Parliament has granted budgetary discharge for 2009 to the director of the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union .
I urge the Commission to constantly examine the link between high food prices and rising energy prices , especially for the fuels being used .
here , too , there is one crucial difference : if there were ever a problem in the gas pipeline , the gas could be stopped at the source or at the coast .
all of them were tireless , and showed great professionalism and ability .
there are three points we should bear in mind .
it is under these conditions that the prospects for peace and a democratic process are possible , in association with all parties , and under these conditions that EUFOR may finally deploy in the best conditions , thus emerging from the ambiguity and uncertainty brought about by recent events .
some states should also be allowed to apply for the reimbursement of 100 % of the costs of measures in the labour market from the European Social Fund .
it seems to me that our position and our targets really do set the pace in terms of the changes needed in order to pre-empt ecological disaster .
it has therefore closely followed all the measures approved by the FAO , playing an active and constructive role , not least in drawing up the agreement adopted at the 36th session of the FAO Conference held in Rome 18-23 November 2009 .
according to Article 5 of the EC Treaty , decisions that it would be more appropriate to take at a lower level shall be taken at that level .
the next item is the joint debate on
while we pursue our common interests with Russia , we must nevertheless remain clear and firm on democracy and human rights .
Europe is a model of coexistence of people from different cultures and religions .
the Commission , the ECB and the IMF continue to monitor progress on the implementation of the adjustment programme closely .
let us have a coherent and a common policy on the free movement of workers inside the Union .
one of the challenges of aviation policy is to prevent congestion at European airports .
thirdly , we have a largely untapped potential in the area of energy efficiency .
finding solutions and compromises to what were - or appeared to be - intractable problems suddenly arose like the cream rising to the top of milk .
of course , there is the question of major expansion of all these agencies , but it is impossible to say that the decentralisation of the independent agencies is not particularly useful .
it has not , however , addressed the issues raised by the European Parliament at first reading , such as the greater role of the regulatory agency , protection of consumers , energy poverty etc .
our preliminary analysis of the Hungarian law concludes that the procedures for nominating and electing the president and members of the media council are no different from those that are commonly accepted in Europe .
in fact , the Italian Government dismantled the existing reception centre and reduced the facilities there some time ago , under the banner of ' Zero immigration ' , thus preventing Italy from being able to tackle illegal immigration .
we need to start with being relevant at regional level , as a minimum .
( FR ) Mr President , it was with sadness and bitterness that I discovered that the oral question with debate on rosé wines and permitted oenological practices that I and my fellow Members from a large number of political groups submitted within the deadline was not on this week 's agenda .
we were discussing democracy : a very important concept that I am sure we all support in this House , even though we do not always act that way .
dear colleagues , do not forget that this concerns approximately one third of the world 's population .
I warmly welcome the comprehensive report which calls upon all Member States to address the problem in question with utmost seriousness .
the Member States and the EU now have a duty to promote these quality products and do more to protect them at international level .
( NL ) Madam President , the Members of this House often talk of solidarity among Member States ; naturally , as it is easy to show solidarity if it is paid for out of other people 's pockets .
author . - Madam President , I want to make a couple of important and essential points .
today , Parliament is delivering a clear message .
I want to recommend that you all read the fine print .
on this we are agreed .
what we need to hear from our leaders on Friday is a bold commitment to take immediate steps to get back on course .
a European citizens ' debate organised in all of the EU Member States is the best way of reassuring people that things in the European Union really do depend on the citizens of the countries that make it up .
you will not be surprised that the Commission is particularly attentive to everything that contributes to the fight against people trafficking and against corruption .
however , a strong Europe must not be a protectionist Europe .
Madam President , Mrs Schauvliege , Commissioner , the most important thing we shall be asking of you tomorrow in our resolution will be ambitious yet realistic objectives in Nagoya .
this situation has come about as a result of commodity shortages , high fuel prices , dependence on harvests and exports , the world market situation and profiteering .
a common register between the European Parliament and the Commission that is public and accessible online will make it easier for citizens to check the various stakeholders with whom MEPs interact .
I , for my part , do not take this resolution seriously and , as far as I am concerned , there can be no freedom without total freedom of political expression .
we Europeans should also take a particular interest in the fact that there are situations in the European Union in which we should intervene .
it lagged behind our own development as people .
I would have liked to have gone further and ask : why do such reports , that type of own-initiative report , not stand in their own right as a report of the committee ?
Mr President , I am very privileged this morning to be sitting next to Mr Daniel Hannan , my very good colleague , whose speech a few weeks ago has revolutionised the transmission of information and political thought and will change it for the future .
according to many MEPs , the Union should do more and more to reduce emissions - reductions of 30 % , 40 % , 50 % - while in the meantime , we are failing to implement the famous 2020 strategy .
in terms of the signals given by the East Timorese people , there is no doubt that they want democracy and the rule of law .
I therefore voted in favour of this report .
let us approach this subject completely free of prejudice again , according to the slogan ' stop it through diversity ' .
the Presidential elections are over and finally the result is clear .
EUR 5 billion over two years are an expression of European solidarity .
we need a European financial services authority .
transparency in this process is key .
the provisions proposed in the Breyer report would result in 27 national licensing zones .
it seems that the same thing is now happening to our colleagues in Bulgaria , with liberal democrats and socialists being called criminals simply because they represent an opposition force in their country .
sadly , it is an area where cooperation with Member States is often difficult .
at the end of the day , we have to look to be self-sufficient .
if so , Mr Barroso , where are your policies ?
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nevertheless , I firmly believe that Europe is well prepared for globalisation .
the EUR 100 million for Armenia is forecast to have an immediate impact on Armenia 's balance of payments , and would in this way contribute to the alleviation of financial constraints on the implementation of the authorities ' economic programme and to financing the budget deficit .
therefore , let us talk about practical sound-proofing measures on the railways , on the trans-European networks and on the dual use of the rail network .
by allowing private companies to charge a fee which will be added to the visa price , this will create a difference in the cost of visas from one Member State to another .
in this way , we are all quite clear that a situation whereby patients come in from other Member States , must not lead to any discrimination against citizens of the Member States where treatment is taking place .
we debated a 2011 budget under the constraints with which we are familiar , that is , those of a deep crisis affecting all of Europe with public deficits at national level which could lead to two hypotheses .
since the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon , the Commission has had exclusive competence to sign and negotiate agreements on foreign direct investment .
it is a great challenge , a challenge that sometimes even those employed in the travel agents are not up to .
as regards longer-term developments , the Commission would also draw your attention to the importance of promoting competition on the natural gas market .
we need a national consensus in Greece so that Greece can win the confidence of the partners and the markets in terms of the very important reforms that are needed .
my thanks go out once more to the French Presidency for their efforts on these matters and also to Mrs Wallis .
the commercial advantages and value of such systems are obvious , and there is understandable European interest in having as many of these solutions as possible , and in these operating without depending on third parties .
several speakers also spoke of the nature of the Economic Partnership Agreements .
this is particularly important in order to maintain the future competitiveness of Europe 's ports , such as the Lithuanian port of Klaipėda .
I do want closer cooperation between the European Union and the United States of America , but that cooperation must be based on mutual respect for citizens ' rights .
today 's cyber-dissidents - of whom Zeng Jinyan is one - can be likened to the Soviet dissidents who , in their time , communicated and gained a hearing for their ideas via samizdat literature .
firstly , because of its hegemonic ambitions , which manifest themselves in its interference in neighbouring countries , such as in the Basra region of Iraq , and in its support for Hezbollah in Lebanon .
who would want to be transported under such conditions ?
the Commission proposal would allow for the product to only be used in pre-packaged , clearly labelled combined meat products with the name of the enzyme , thrombin - a blood-derived product - in the list of ingredients .
I was part of the European Parliament delegation on its recent visit , and I could see for myself how complex , comprehensive and interlinked the problems there are , and why our answer needs to be comprehensive .
therefore , in order to commemorate the armistice that brought an end to the First World War , we are going to observe a minute 's silence in memory of the millions of Europeans who lost their lives in that struggle .
two years ago , legislation on car emissions was approved .
author . - Mr President , the reason we , the Greens , support this joint resolution is that we consider the fight against corruption a fundamental factor in the establishment and consolidation of the rule of law in Ukraine , with a view precisely to deepening its relations with the European Union and enhancing its integration into EU policies .
though I acknowledge that Member States need to engage in the funding of research and development for the automobile sector in this area , I feel that the industry itself should also contribute and demonstrate a further commitment to reducing the effects of climate change .
I believe that we have a difference of opinion on this point .
for the sake of clarity , for the sake of simplicity and for the sake of legal certainty , we believe that instead of this legislation , which is spread across several legal texts , instead of this situation , a specific directive would be better .
the discussion with the Member States began in autumn via an informal document that put forward several options for implementing the principle of solidarity in the asylum area .
even if some individuals do attempt to engage in this activity , we shall have more effective instruments available with which to deal with them .
they are regions which are strongly dependent on climatic and geographical conditions , and whose access to products and services is based on cooperation with the mainland of the Union .
secondly , from the point of view of employment rights , the agreements clearly cannot overlook differences in levels of employment rights .
we live in the age of globalisation .
it works the same way in all democratic states .
in Ireland , where the dairy industry is strategically important , almost every dairy farmer in 2009 will be making a loss .
this report presents the basic obstacles to the correct use of the Structural Funds and how they can be overcome , using a series of criteria to classify certain projects and actions as best practice and referring to the lack of a commonly acceptable definition of best practice .
this is exactly the philosophy and the approach of the reforms in the Lisbon Treaty , which European and national leaders as a body wish to impose on the peoples and nations against their will .
in writing . - ( PT ) I support this initiative , which aims to once again extend the Agreement ( of June 2002 ) on the free movement of persons between Switzerland and the EU in order to include Romania and Bulgaria .
this means that in practice freedom of choice does not exist .
in writing . - I wish to use this opportunity to outline some major issues presented in the Graça Moura report on the ' European agenda for culture in a globalising world ' .
however , this strategy can only be fully achieved if there is a new multiannual financial framework .
taking into account , however , the Agency 's overall role , it should maintain a high level of competences in order to perform its mission in monitoring evaluations , proposing recommendations and conducting specific market studies .
2007 discharge : EU general budget - Council ( debate )
you are also right that we need solidarity between people in society , but also solidarity between states .
Mr President , owing to the importance of this debate , I have a question for the PPE-DE Group .
these networks obtain huge sums of money from transporting asylum seekers to European Union Member States .
( NL ) Mr President , Mrs Thomsen has delivered an outstanding report on renewable energy and I wholeheartedly endorse her commitment and the stated target of 25 % .
the second set of questions concerns financing .
it should also make it necessary to bring in an appeal mechanism to suspend transfer of asylum seekers who are subject to a transfer decision resulting from the application of the Dublin regulation .
significant material damage has also been done and the consequences will have long-term implications for people 's health .
the IHF is the body in charge of such a decision .
for six months the Belgian Presidency-in-office have sat here telling us we must integrate more deeply .
I believe technical specifications should indicate the basic parameters and the technical characteristics required for the maintenance of components , subassemblies or assemblies incorporated or designed to be incorporated in a railway subsystem .
further , we must make efforts to diversify the energy mix , including the rehabilitation of nuclear energy and investment in new technologies .
I consider it necessary to call on the European Union and the European Parliament to increase their interest in the region of Central Asia which is extremely turbulent at the moment .
the lack of prospects and opportunities , in addition to a desire for democracy , has provoked resistance .
the Spanish Presidency is taking significant steps in this direction , and the Hungarian Presidency will continue to do so as well .
it is not an urgent case and it is not even a ' breach of the Rule of Law ' case .
this is why dishonest people , devoid of moral principles , counterfeit medicinal products .
I think that the European Parliament 's next task should be to see that those states that directly border the sea can both preserve their traditional way of life and also , in practical terms , be engaged in fishing , since nowadays it often happens that our fishing villages are forced to buy products from large companies , fishing in distant oceans .
( FR ) Madam President , the eradication of poverty is actually a Millennium Development Goal , but it is also a European objective in Europe .
( NL ) Mr President , I am , of course , disappointed with your answer , but you are indeed speaking about East Jerusalem and the fact that , this week , the Commission condemned Israel for beginning construction of 1 400 homes in Gilo .
every time that we in Parliament or Member States in the Council say that we should have different adaptive rules by the Member States we make this issue more complex .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , in the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety we have primarily looked at the need to guarantee equal treatment as regards health .
indeed , private companies collecting such data are often not even European .
this need for coordination also extends to the establishment of maximum tolerable levels of contamination in foodstuffs .
in addition , existing legislation - the Cross-Border Mergers Directive - provides a framework for the transfer , including the necessary safeguards for third parties .
in writing . - The Euro 2020 Strategy is about economic growth and employment .
we must remember that poverty , irrespective of where it is found , is a serious threat to us all .
this shows the capacity of NGOs in peacebuilding and crisis response .
I spoke of this some time ago .
we therefore trust this venture will be crowned with success . in addition , we hope the details of its implementation will not prove irritating to passengers as is unfortunately sometimes the case in such situations .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( HU ) Thank you for the floor .
we also stood to observe a minute 's silence in the Chamber to honour the memory of those who died in this catastrophe .
Parliament has insisted with all due conviction and force on this acknowledgement since June 1987 .
so in this area of security , we must not stop work on SIS II .
the smooth functioning of the Internal Market depends on the stability of the financial system and on the trust placed in financial institutions and transactions by the European public and consumers .
this is an important issue , and I think that the main contribution that this European Year will make will be that creativity , innovation and new ways of thinking will become the core of the debate .
this is also why it was the Social Democratic government in Sweden that took the initiative for a directive in this area .
there is massive repression of journalists and campaigners for justice , for communities and for workers .
irresponsibility , indecision , political gain , sinister collusion and waste characterised a political and administrative phase that is now definitively over .
I would like to stress that without this assistance , Hungary would have faced much larger disruptions to its economy than the 6 % decline observed last year and the expected stabilisation this year .
I am disappointed , however , that a jointly negotiated text which was approved by the Members of the European Parliament and the parliamentarians from the ACP countries at the ACP-EU meeting in Kigali has suddenly been rejected by the EPP-ED and Liberal Groups in Strasbourg .
( interjection from Mrs Morvai : ' shame on you ! ' )
this is , so to say , the general line .
but it is also clear that there is no question of the European Union standing idly by at this very difficult moment .
I would very much like to hear from the Council what it plans to do in concrete terms to restore relations .
I think another very important aspect is port development .
in supporting this resolution in the final vote , we wish to make clear that we have also voted in favour of the amendments which called for the deletion of references to the Civil Protection Force and further EU legislation in this area .
here is a very good example of a Europe which is not a fortress Europe but an open Europe , a Europe which gives , which takes , which shares .
while this fits neatly within the strategy to fight climate change , I am alarmed that the current criteria governing EIB funding lack transparency and accountability when it comes to the examination and due diligence of these projects .
both sides have declared their willingness to find a solution outside the WTO and reach an agreement on a bilateral basis .
as part of its strategy the EU is planning to create an office and a policy for peace and it will be ready to take over all coordination activities from the international community in Bosnia and Herzegovina .
that is to say , there must be commitment to the Roma issue at the highest level - at the level of Heads of State or Government , on the part of the European Union .
coordination has to extend to all fields which , owing to their multidisciplinary nature , play a part in energy technology research and development , especially information and communication technologies .
your loudness does not make up for your arguments .
however , there has not been one word about :
the generals think that foreigners coming into the country would threaten the survival of the military regime .
therefore , a strong political will is needed for a more efficient and rapid response to emergencies .
it will , of course , be applicable during other debates .
I hope that these amendment proposals will be passed in the vote .
the EAS is a direct product of the Treaty of Lisbon , a treaty I do not approve of and one which has no democratic legitimacy .
for this reason , I would like to emphasize the need to create adequate structures , which would help children and parents be together , as well as the need for a social policy that would focus on solidarity .
however , there is still time .
this year is the time to demonstrate exactly what Parliament can and cannot do .
I would rather we looked at each specific circumstance to see where we need it .
therefore , I voted against this report .
many European citizens have also lost their lives , and around 1 000 are still unaccounted for .
Wagging our finger at a few selected dictatorships damages the credibility of the Union as a peace broker , and damages those who suffer oppression and are subjected daily to gross violations of their human rights .
the Member States that have been virtuous in terms of budget consolidation over the past few years have sufficient budget margins to enable them to react to the current economic crisis , which includes the structural aspects that we are facing at present .
we call on the Commission to ensure the adequate implementation of law and the observance of the existing rules and to continue the information measures for citizens .
thirdly , those resources that are wrongly spent must actually be recovered , and the Commission must take the necessary steps to ensure that this is the case .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , it is my pleasure to address you today on the Union for the Mediterranean and the report prepared by Mr Vincent Peillon .
the original idea behind the telecommunications package was perfectly sensible , but with the huge number of amendments , one or more amendments criticising the package could have slipped through .
perhaps an article in this week 's Economist magazine gives a clue .
this is true justice and this is the type of justice that the EU should be about .
this is not so much about fraud , as it is about a matter of principle , namely transparency .
even so , our committee is concerned by the low implementation rate of payment appropriations in the area of freedom , security and justice compared with 2006 ( 60.41 % in 2007 and 86.26 % in 2006 ) .
Mr President , please excuse me .
however , all the Member States must understand in this respect that Frontex now needs to be upgraded in terms of funding and staffing so that it can actually perform its task really effectively .
this relates both to energy and to industrial production .
EU-US agreement on the coordination of energy-efficiency labelling programmes for office equipment (
unfortunately , the rapporteur and the majority in Parliament , following the Commission 's position , have prevented that .
in specific terms , this means that European consumers will notice changes first and foremost when they shop on the Internet in foreign online shops .
I want to repeat my point and stress that , while overall , we have supported this energy and climate change package , I think its adoption in a single reading should be regarded as a one-off .
this budget makes decisions with cuts to the buildings heading and an increase in technical support for Members , providing the necessary resources for Parliament to perform its duties well , with the scientific and technical backing that is so necessary in the 21st century .
he is right .
on 13 November 2006 the Council adopted these recommendations unanimously .
we need an urgent debate in this Chamber with the Council .
subsequently , it is necessary for the Member States to fully respect the rules and decisions of the European Union .
how is this possible ?
the aim of the entire package is to keep the effects of plant protection products on both human health and the environment to a minimum .
what is the timetable ?
it is regrettable that the North Korean Government has taken the decision to refuse to cooperate with the UN via the mechanisms for promoting human rights , including the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in North Korea .
in doing so , it has neglected its duty to protect Europeans from the negative consequences of globalisation .
composition of Parliament : see Minutes
I would like to say that the main reason for that support is not the number of Commissioners that our Group , or our political family , has in the Commission , but rather it is fundamentally the belief that this is a unique and distinct time for the European Union .
the next item is the second report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the European Union general budget for the financial year 2007 , Section II - Council ( C6-0417 / 2008 - - Committee on Budgetary Control . rapporteur : Søren Bo Søndergaard
it is not a European revolution that we would be able to steer .
this is a text on passengers ' rights ; it is not a text ...
the case is one of fumus persecutionis in that it appears that the proceedings were brought with the sole aim of damaging the reputation of the Member concerned .
if BP now intends to carry out extraction and build rigs off the coast of Libya , then this gives us an opportunity to approach the European energy industry - namely BP , Shell , Total - and obtain voluntary commitments that they will voluntarily accept and apply the same strict standards that they are obliged to adopt within the territory of the European Union in these neighbouring regions as well .
despite that , we have limited the proposal to organised crime for reasons of proportionality .
the European Parliament has , in the past , strongly supported the Commission 's efforts to achieve a positive statement of assurance .
why , moreover , have we not , under these conditions , where Europe really is required in this area of freedom of the press and expression which is so crucial , had the progress that so many Europeans have been waiting for , for which , in fact , some of them started revolutions ?
Mr President , compromise is wise .
we have had several hours of intensive discussions and I see myself as a representative of the people of Europe who clearly support the position that Parliament has taken and want to see progress in this area .
allow me to make a few general comments on European solidarity , on the Solidarity Fund and on some events that may provide lessons for the future .
indeed , Parliament 's report largely concurs with and supports the Commission proposal to make our current plan more flexible and effective and at the same time more comprehensive .
consequently , the choice of the law of a particular country must be a choice between the law of the state in which the marriage took place , or the law of the state in which the spouses have had their habitual residence for the last three years or the law of the country of origin .
the European Union 's trade policy is not an end in itself - it must remain a political regulatory tool .
I therefore hope very much that the Commission will put a proposal before us which takes these problems into consideration and , above all , thinks of our citizens , who have a right to a trouble-free holiday and particularly at this time .
they will flood into Europe at a lower cost because they are not produced in accordance with the same level of health , environmental and social requirements .
I will conclude my speech by asking whether the moment has not come for the Commission to provide us with a comprehensive report on public support to credit institutions , and in particular on all financial flows and on sovereign debt .
in December last year , for example , President Sarkozy , President Lula and President Barroso talked especially about the issue of the financial crisis and how to tackle it together , but they also talked about the issue of renewable energy , on which we are already working with Brazil to develop second-generation biofuels .
I believe that last statement contained elements which were very close to being defamatory of a government of the European Union .
we cannot allow a situation in which the Dalai Lama 's name is linked with terrorism .
with this decision Switzerland will facilitate and define not only how things will develop in the future , in terms of whether we will apply visas and borders , but will also decide whether certain responsible decisions linked to economic development from the last 30 years will continue to be applied in the future as well .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Madam President , the European Union , as you know , is built on rights and values and these include the protection of minorities , the principle of free movement and the prohibition of discrimination - all these apply fully to the Roma .
what is happening here - and we have visited many camps - is appalling and completely inhumane .
finally , my third point is that when the objective of the operating aid is to contribute to a transition towards closing uncompetitive mines , it is clear that this closure must be gradual and cannot take place only when the deadline arrives .
it is not driven by Israeli security needs ; in fact , it is a cynical and clinical attack not on Hamas , but on the Palestinian population .
there seems to be a gradual drift towards adopting what is termed ' soft law ' , whereby certain communications , reports or documents come to be regarded as binding legal rules .
I take a very positive view of the extremely open and realistic assessment of the individual common security and defence policy ( CSDP ) missions , of the statements on women and security , on disarmament and on the human rights clause in anti-terrorism measures , and of the clear reference to the decision not to mix civilian and military operations .
there is nothing within this paper to give us any great confidence on those issues .
decisions cannot wait for Lisbon !
it was a pleasure for me to receive your new creative input into our common thinking , because each of you approached the subject from a different angle and brought your own experience to bear on how to improve the initial proposal of the Commission .
the European Union should make use of this heritage in the promotion of integration and cooperation in countries which do not belong to the Union .
in recent years the EU has fared better than for many a day .
this affair of barriers to trade is being tackled as if the problems were only of a technical nature .
I am thinking here of the important role that ASEAN and ASEAN + 3 can play in further integrating Myanmar into the region .
sometimes we seem to have forgotten that .
I would not , and cannot , resolve this debate .
in Italy , 50 % of confirmed AIDS diagnoses come at the same time as diagnoses of the HIV virus , which means that many people do not know they have HIV until they are ill .
some fringe benefits will apply only to domestic wage earners , whilst different rules apply to foreign wage earners .
is creating another level of supervision called ESMA going to represent an improvement compared with existing supervisory authorities ?
OK , so you do not use that right , and that is a problem for the moment on this issue .
if I may be permitted to make a personal comment , I should like to thank you warmly for your , at all times , friendly and courteous approach to your work .
while this is to be welcomed , in view of the quality of the deficiencies ( shortcomings in recruitment procedures were found as far back as 2006 , the provisional accounts submitted to the European Court of Auditors contained serious errors resulting from weaknesses in the financial organisation ) it is not possible to vote in favour of discharge .
Member States should also cooperate and make efforts to integrate marginalized social and ethno-cultural categories , so that fight against discrimination and incitation to violence would ensure an ethnic and political harmony inside the European Union .
Mr President , the cooperation between the Commission and Parliament in relation to the Instrument for democracy and human rights was good ; the relationship was very cooperative , in fact .
transatlantic Economic Council ( debate )
for this reason , and due to the crisis that Europe is experiencing , it is important that the reconciliation process is successful .
telecommunications have been described as super-highways where one can move freely ; but if someone commits a crime on the motorway , the police step in .
their behavioural culture is very different ; tolerance and solidarity are very important elements that sport nurtures in them .
the impacts of the financial crisis triggered some talk of Iceland , while remaining outside the EU , joining the Eurozone .
in writing . - ( LT ) I agreed with this document , because the Agreement includes a gradual phasing-in of traffic rights and investment opportunities , as well as far reaching cooperation on a number of issues including safety , security , social matters , consumer interests , environment , air traffic management , state aids and competition .
if the Council could reach an agreement by then - which I hope it will - this will allow us to then start accession negotiations after summer .
in this context they strongly welcome ' the French initiative of a formal return to the military structures of NATO , and the efforts by the French Presidency within the EU Council to bring the EU and NATO further together in response to the new security challenges ' .
this is extremely important , not only for their sakes , but principally out of respect for the decisions made by their voters .
the working and grassroots classes are stepping up their fight against the policies of the EU and the bourgeois governments , thereby creating new prospects for a grassroots economy which will serve their needs , not those of capital .
in writing . ( PL ) Mrs Castex rightly points out that in view of the fact that the European average old-age dependency ratio ( the number of persons aged 65 or over divided by the number aged between 14 and 65 ) will rise from 25 % in 2004 to 53 % in 2050 , the European Union risks losing its competitive edge and suffering a fall in economic growth .
the debate has already gone on long enough .
the Commission 's jurisdiction is specific ; with regard to studies and environmental assessment studies , it has neither the means nor the jurisdiction , with the latter held by the Member States .
it still permeates society , industry and politics .
it is also a fact that today , while we are talking , there are confrontations going on between settlers and the Israeli army itself .
the recent news of violence between Members of the Ukrainian Parliament has been of concern to the whole of Europe , and clearly reflected the divisions in Ukrainian society , the crossroads at which the country finds itself today and the inescapable role of Russia in the region .
other matters in this area relate to the Euro-Atlantic Security Partnership and the Eastern Partnership .
it certainly leads to a planned European economy , spelling the end of the dream of an increasingly prosperous Europe of full employment and bustling innovation .
the purpose of this text is to amend Directive 2009 / 42 / EC to make the collection of data by type of goods mandatory for maritime transport statistics .
this means that it will be one of the themes on which EU institutions and Member States will work in partnership to communicate on EU activities in this area .
the fact that the Commission plans to pick up this thread is good news .
I should remind you that Mr Barroso is the President of the Commission , not of the European Parliament .
I am therefore persuaded that it will be necessary to grant temporary powers to the Management Committee under Article 186 in order to deliver this support .
the report compiled by Teresa Riera Madurell is particularly important as it creates the legal framework required to develop research infrastructures .
Europe cannot , in my view , remain indifferent to the strength of the intense popular protest movement that is sweeping through several countries in North Africa and the Middle East .
I think that we see the complexity of this issue from the comments delivered here today .
10 .
Madam President , I , too , would like to thank the rapporteur and the Commissioner .
on behalf of the PPE Group . - Mr President , we would like to request that the debate on relations between Tunisia and the European Union be postponed until the February part-session as , in the meantime , a meeting of the Subcommittee on Human Rights will be held on relations between the European Union and Tunisia , and , perhaps , new material will be available to us during that debate .
I therefore appeal to the national management authorities to get involved .
however , like the rapporteur , I cannot accept that a correct idea of respect for linguistic diversity and for individual and family freedom can or must be used as a weapon in an argument for extremist nationalism .
we could , and should , have done this now , in order to some degree to match the industrial political reality and this rapid state of change .
constitutional change that will ' alter the balance of power ' .
we will try very hard in the coming debates to make the whole thing as fair as possible .
they have talked about the rapes and the barbaric acts that these people suffer and about the murders of which they are victims .
this may also mean an incentive to look for even more technologies , and for that reason I would like to express recognition for both Commissioner Verheugen and the Commission .
the new programme comprises three actions .
as this is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women , this is something that should make us stop and think and , hopefully , also act in the future at European level , as well as at international level .
the Presidency is of the opinion that a boycott of the Games or other sporting events in the year of intercultural dialogue would not be an appropriate response to unresolved political questions .
moreover , the regulation of the international financial system is not a matter for the right , the left , or even the centre : it concerns everyone throughout the world .
imperialist interests back Israel in its criminal policies .
( DE ) Mr President , bluetongue is an animal epidemic affecting ruminants that has already caused great damage throughout the livestock and production sector .
we must devote our attention to green technologies .
the EU 's Data Protection Directive does not apply to state activities in the area of criminal law , nor does a framework decision on data protection in police and judicial cooperation apply in this case , given that no EU Member State authority is involved in executing the US court order and that no personal data is transmitted or made available by the competent authority of another Member State .
the worst thing that could happen would be for the EU to attempt to introduce this kind of tax on financial transactions forcibly and for ideological reasons , without the rest of the world doing the same thing .
I would like to congratulate Mrs Iotova for the subject matter dealt with by this report .
Internet stores such as iTunes and others do not supply their goods or services to the new Member States .
in its resolution on implementation of the guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States , the European Parliament asked the European Council ' not to make employment issues secondary concerns when examining the Commission 's recommendation in the Annual Growth Survey to make rigorous fiscal consolidation the first priority for the 2011-2012 period ' .
in writing . - UKIP considers terrorism as a major problem .
we should not pretend that even the larger peacekeeping force due to take over from the current African Union Mission in Sudan ( AMIS ) will be able to protect itself easily to ensure the vast humanitarian operation supported by the European Commission and so many other donors and to keep the peace if there is no peace to keep .
we remember the visit of the Syriac bishops from Iraq and their tragic accounts of the situation of Christians in Iraq .
it is less successful when we act according to narrow national interests , in an uncoordinated way or in areas where collectively , the European Union is not able to defend and promote its collective interest .
according to statements made by the Director-General , in this financial year the sector stands to lose USD 4.7 billion , or almost EUR 3.5 billion , thus performing worse than was initially expected .
Mr President , I do not see this in the same way as the previous speaker .
immediate action is required here to ensure that this solidarity and funding instrument is available in future so that the damage caused by natural disasters , including earthquakes , can be remedied quickly , efficiently and flexibly .
please remember this when representing Poland , and convey what Polish society thinks , with this trend in mind .
this entails obligations and methods for cooperation between exporting and importing authorities .
the arrest of political opponents in Belarus ( vote )
on the one hand , this proposal envisages giving consumers throughout the 27 Member States a high level of confidence in the protection of their rights , and , on the other hand , envisages that the entities that provide goods and services will reduce the legal and administrative obstacles to cross-border sales .
these are pesticides which have carcinogenic , mutagenic or reproductively toxic properties as well as those with neurotoxic , immunotoxic or hormonal effects .
therefore , this mobilisation of funds from the EGF cannot , under any circumstances , replace the legal responsibilities of governments and business vis-à-vis employees who have been made redundant , or enable the evasion of such responsibilities .
I would just like to highlight a few salient points .
as you know , there are surveys which indicate that only 30 % of European citizens believe that CO2 affects the climate .
firstly we are told : ' everything has changed , so I am staying ! '
that is destroying people 's trust in the economic system .
the first relates to the conditions under which a custodial sentence is served .
there is no doubt that breaking down barriers to trade and increasing trade in some areas brings greater prosperity .
Madam President , my proposal is that the words ' Iranian authorities ' at the beginning of paragraph 3 should be replaced by ' Appeals Court at its hearing of 12 May ' .
illegal wood production causes erosion , undermines the subsistence of local communities and constitutes a loss of EUR 10-15 billion a year for wood-producing countries .
we will move further on governance issues for the global economy , notably on financial regulation and a timely follow-up to the G20 Pittsburgh Summit .
this may sound sensible to non-specialists , but drugs are constantly being innovated and , moreover , drugs which share the same or similar active ingredients may differ in a range of other constituents .
we must therefore ensure that the Cohesion policy 's regional focus is recognised as part of this strategy .
the second consideration is that the Council paid particular attention to respect for fundamental rights .
the interesting debate covered bilateral relations between the European Union and Brazil , regional issues , in particular developments in Europe and Latin America , but also world issues such as the Doha Development Agenda , effective multilateralism , climate change , combating poverty and social exclusion plus energy-related matters .
I also think it is a pity that our fellow Members whose countries have stricter regulation than that proposed here are still trying to water down this report with amendments that I would urge you very strongly to reject tomorrow .
I therefore think that detailed registration procedures and the additional requirements imposed on exporters will not result in a relaxation , but rather additional expenditure .
my question concerns Ireland , where a large number of young people have been involved in tragic accidents as the sole occupants of vehicles .
national laws and policies should be improved through the development of comprehensive national action plans to prevent , protect and prosecute .
this must be said loud and clear to Mr Karzai !
not a penny for town-twinning !
indeed , as I see it , beyond the purely technical issues , the main risk is that of the direction we are beginning to take with regard to this increasingly complex relationship between individual freedoms and the Internet .
I agree with the Members who said that the regional funds are unfortunately not utilised as they could be and I also agree with those who say that the local authorities are sometimes the ones who can best find a solution .
let me also state clearly that the internalisation of external transport costs has its limits . that limit , Commissioner , must be set by the refusal to allow a negative impact on the competitiveness of the EU economy .
following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon , Parliament will have to give its agreement to the text of the ACTA Agreement before it becomes valid in the European Union .
this would facilitate the recovery of this sector , safeguard incomes for farmers , and contribute to sustainable farming in the EU .
anyway , I appreciate your appreciation : we may have disagreed , Mr Schulz , but we have added something to each other .
the basic idea of introducing a common European company form for private companies is a very good one .
our aim is to make public procurement much more accessible to small and medium-sized businesses , and for tenders to be less bureaucratic and , at the same time , easier to monitor .
the oral question to the Council by Jo Leinen , on behalf of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , on key objectives for the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya , 18-29 October 2010 - B7-0467 / 2010 ) ;
however , perhaps we should draw on the experience of our colleagues from developing countries , who say that not all migration , not all the journeys their countrymen make into the European Union , are about the security restrictions faced by these people , but are for economic reasons .
unfortunately , poverty is and remains the main enemy for humankind and it cannot be mitigated without real cooperation between international bodies and national states , but especially between the European Union and the United States of America .
let me explain : we already have 300 languages and 14 religions and , on the whole , we get along very well .
( DE ) Mr President , I should like to apologise to the House and to the President for arriving so late , particularly as I am the one who is always warning colleagues in our Group to be punctual .
read the plan and you will see that there is no obligation involved , as indeed there could not be .
this has consequences , I think , for the relationship between the Council , the Commission and Parliament .
the most recent expression of this offensive is the unlawful intervention in Portugal by the ' troika ' of the International Monetary Fund , the European Commission and the European Central Bank .
I am reminded of the recent statement by the Permanent Representative of the African Union to Brussels in Parliament 's Subcommittee on Security and Defence , when he indicated his preference for Africans to deal with security issues on their continent .
there will be no change in our trade policy , and further developments depend on the circumstances .
having said this , I would like to make some observations on some points that are still not very clear regarding the implementation of budgets .
'The goal of Olympianism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of man , and [ ... ] any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race , religion , politics , gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic movement ' - two fundamental principles of the Olympic Charter to which the Chinese have signed up .
the next item is the Commission statement on the shipping disaster in the Sea of Asov / Black Sea and the subsequent oil pollution .
Pakistan is divided by religion to such an extent , that on both sides - Christian and Muslim - people are dying , including the representatives of local elites .
I happen to be a little more knowledgeable about Ukraine and I know from experience that the gas business in that country is a very shady one ; I believe that we should look into a number of matters in greater detail .
we should all be aware , however , that a major battle must now be fought over the budget , which is why we are appealing to you , Commissioner , as you know it better than I or anyone else here does .
the reason for this is that the report was not responsibly analysed at the level of the Human Rights Council , and thus the General Assembly voted on an unbalanced report , which describes Israel as a terrorist organisation .
it states ' on violation ' .
this kind of production has been rejected by the Group of Six , even though it was not actually all that different from the proposal that this same group had drawn up shortly beforehand .
I should just like to pick up on Mrs Gomes ' question .
Europe will give Serbia all possible assistance in order for it to carry out these tasks successfully , but it is Serbia that must undertake the tasks .
we ought to encourage research and eco-innovation through the development of energy-efficient technologies , without , however , ignoring the need for a shift in our consumer habits .
when we apply this saying to women 's rights in Afghanistan , we are left with a shocking picture .
( DE ) It would interest me to find out whether there is an initiative in ECOFIN and on the part of Commissioner Kovács to initiate a progressive tax write-off across Europe for those energy projects that are currently imminent , such as the Nabucco pipeline or the building of new power stations , in order to create incentives and thus drive these strategic initiatives forward .
we then know something , and knowledge is the basis for taking measures and for all of our programmes .
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the Lisbon Treaty is a step in this direction .
following a report by the expert on 16 May , the Commission adopted an emergency relief decision to disburse two million euros .
in particular , MEPs and ministers from Member States on the periphery of the EU were very concerned that the selection criteria might favour operators who could only provide a service covering the centre of Europe .
the agreement obtained at the ECOFIN Council on 17 September resulted in the establishment of new cycles of economic governance , known as the European Semester .
as it reflects , services account for the largest share of GDP in developed countries .
I hope that you will note the advice that you receive and begin to work out a strategy to ensure that online gambling can become a legitimate part of the internal market with , of course , appropriate regulations in place .
I , along with Elmar Brok , Philippe Morillon and other Members of this Parliament , had the opportunity last summer to visit Lhasa .
but there are two aspects which turn on the way in which a case is handled by a court .
furthermore , the Agency has not yet drawn up a multiannual work programme .
we will not have ethnically-segregated data with regard to the background of beneficiaries .
something must be done about this .
rapporteur . - ( SL ) It is clear from the joint report of the Council and the Commission for 2008 that some progress has been made as regards lifelong learning , but we cannot be satisfied with the achievements so far .
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we have to do something about it .
I am glad that the decision has now been made to conduct a usability and feasibility study before the Ecolabel is applied to food , so as to avoid any confusion among consumers between the Ecolabel and organic labelling for organically produced food .
my question is whether you will take the initiative in this matter and launch such a European bond market at long last .
as Ms Sinnott said , the rates of women drinking whilst pregnant are 20 % in the USA , where FAS labelling has been used , whereas in Ireland they are 80 % , in the UK 75 % and in the EU as a whole 40 % .
drawing up and signing cause a great deal of ambiguity .
this amendment will enable greater consideration to be given to Parliament at all stages of the process , from negotiation to adoption , making the EU more democratic and legitimate .
the decision-making rules in place need to be changed so that they can adapt properly to these new times and necessities .
currently , too many young people are dropping out of school too early and not enough are taking advantage of higher education .
we must also make clear that we need to present a unified front in order to be credible .
over the following century , we made enormous progress in achieving equality between women and men .
the European Protection Order may be issued at the request of persons under protection if they decide to move to another Member State , or if they simply wish to spend time there .
( NL ) Mr President , Mr Van Rompuy is at the podium ; as leader of the Belgian delegation in the European Conservatives and Reformists I should like to welcome him to this House .
I believe that we must ensure that the trial is fair , transparent and compliant with the fundamental norms of the rule of law .
the European Union 's aim must be to foster inter-faith dialogue through greater cooperation between countries in Europe , but especially in countries where religious freedom is unfortunately not yet guaranteed .
our approach actually gave more encouragement to those people who once took the violent way and therefore disapproved of us .
the new consumer rights regulations include almost every type of sales , in stores , via telephone or online , but reinforce in particular the provisions on international sales .
I also support the mechanisms for monitoring and enforcement of the implementation of legal regulations in the area of consumer protection concerning unfair practices , and I support the initiative to open a publicly accessible database of national measures adopted in transposition of the Directive concerning unfair commercial practices .
we should of course repeat once again - and I am happy to do so - that the war on terror must be waged with full respect for fundamental rights and the rule of law .
Professor Gambari is due to visit Myanmar shortly .
that is only a story , however .
on the subject of the financial crisis , the ECB has just decided to cut interest rates , and I welcome this decision .
these are very important objectives and we should not undermine these important objectives , particularly transparency , when we try to pursue other objectives , however important or relevant those might be .
we will implement them at national level .
I would also like to thank him for emphasising the importance of funding .
the White Paper on nutrition is a useful document in terms of action to control obesity , especially amongst children .
we are therefore calling for the government of South Korea to do everything in its power , as an initial step , to adopt a legally binding moratorium that prohibits executions from taking place - there are , after all , over 55 people on death row - at which point , as a second step , the South Korea parliament should pass a law to abolish the death penalty .
we know about the problems that we are currently facing , the oil problem that is not affecting us in a positive way , and we therefore have to consider how we are going to tackle this very important issue .
meanwhile Mr Litvinenko 's widow is denied an inquest into her husband 's death in the British courts , which could scrutinise the evidence of his murder in the absence of a trial of those suspected of the crime .
for that he must be applauded .
it is no surprise , therefore , that the Nepalese authorities prevented Tibetan refugees living in Nepal from voting for a prime minister and a parliament in exile .
our strengths are clear : we represent almost a third of global GDP .
also , we are unhappy with Paragraph 6 , which states : ' developing an area of freedom , security and justice , of fully maintaining and building on its acquis communautaire and of upholding fundamental rights and freedoms , as laid down in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union ' .
on the external front - because you also mentioned the whole range of external issues and the activities and events where the European Union is expected to participate and play an important role - we have three strategic initiatives for next year .
with the current credit squeeze aggravating the situation at present , I am very much in favour of the initiative in the report to provide micro-credits for the unemployed or those threatened with unemployment who have difficulties having access to commercial loans for their business ideas .
the financial crisis and the debt crisis have revealed the gaps in the operation and control of the financial sector today .
the Olympic Games has never been all about sport .
I would therefore like to begin by thanking Mrs Malmström for producing a legislative proposal on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings so quickly .
it is thus absolutely clear that there is an urgent need , above all , for consistent action .
we believe that Greece is now taking appropriate measures and that we should support Greece in the enforcement of those measures .
the Stockholm Programme should also clearly take the perspective of the victims of crime .
we do not have the power to impose , but we have the power to promote .
why are you in the Commission and the Council still hiding the major part of the legislative process , even under so-called ' codecision ' , where we are not properly informed about your deliberations and the divisions between Member States ?
this ban has been in place more than ten years and was originally implemented with good reason .
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as our own studies have shown , we are falling behind in terms of research and development .
the EU-India Summit on 10 December in Brussels instructed both sides to speed up the negotiating process to pave the way for the conclusion of negotiations in 2011 .
we know that this is not true , and indeed we have already discussed the whole issue in connection with cotton .
yet the situation is still worrying , and so I wish to reiterate once more that solidarity works both ways .
in addition , we should lower the interest rate and show more flexibility in accessing EU funds .
it must be possible for them gradually to develop a functioning national economy .
it goes without saying that we support Serbia 's goals of integration into the European Union and hope that Serbia will deal with problem issues .
the European Union and this Parliament must be clear in condemning and rejecting the positions of those who carried out the coup .
I say this also in the context of a political conflict that threatens us all - the whole of Europe - and may even develop into a military conflict between Georgia and Russia over Ossetia and Abkhazia , but Erevan , Baku and Tbilisi are equally of significance for the Union 's energy policy and for diversification of energy sources .
the French Government wants this EU mission at all costs .
with our amendments , we are trying to prevent honest exporters from being penalised unnecessarily .
we also very much hope that Ukraine will give up its anti-minority policies , which have encroached upon the rights of minorities in the Lower Carpathians region , including those of Hungarians .
a simple question : how does the Commission suggest that Member States should balance the increased use of renewables with the need to keep electricity prices low for competitive purposes ?
I think it should be pointed out that Council declarations are not legally binding and that if we are so aware of a risk of alignment downwards , then we should include a legal mechanism in the body of the directive itself .
he can only take office , as can the Vice-President , once he has been approved by the European Parliament .
the granting of asylum is the ultimate gesture of a state and an entire community , accepting their inability to defend human rights globally and the will , nevertheless , to act according to that scale of values .
it has difficulty coping with its demographic crisis .
our maxim must be that either external ratings or alternative criteria such as price stability should act as the basis of evaluation .
this additional staff must be supplied in a logical and controlled manner , taking into account the size of the country 's population and the previous number of cases the centre has dealt with in the past .
for too long , British telecommunication companies have struggled in other parts of Europe against enterprises , because they are still effectively run as a monopoly .
the increased awareness and concerns at the grassroots level about electricity and telecommunications companies and about the manufacturers of the electric and electronic devices which are the main source of danger requires research with unequivocal results , given that responsibility for these devices basically lies with the companies themselves , which are interested in selling their goods and services , and hence not in proving the harmful consequences of electromagnetic fields .
this can bring about a reduction in traffic density in transport , which will have beneficial effects on the natural environment .
as for the euro , I now know that that our governments will hold fast and will not allow speculators to destroy 60 years of European integration .
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the Council is working intensively and constructively on the Health Check - as I have already said - with a view to achieving a political consensus as soon as the European Parliament has given its opinion , which it is expected to do by November 2008 .
why should they have to examine their entire country and define risk areas , even though they already have exemplary legislation ?
( DE ) Mr President , the one principle that applies to the security of air travel is that European responsibility is constantly increasing .
this support is essential for helping the unemployed and the victims of the relocations that occur in a globalised world .
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in fact , European Innovation Partnerships are an instrument for creating synergies between already existing programmes at European , national and regional levels .
you refuse to follow the new law and disclose to us the same documents that the Member States receive in relation to these negotiations .
bear in mind that inflation forecasts for the euro area for 2009 are well above the ECB 's 2 % target .
the London Monetary and Economic Conference , which had the objective of reviving global trade , stabilising prices and restoring the gold standard as the basis of the monetary system , was organised by the League of Nations and met under a similar global economic situation to the one we are experiencing today .
that is why the bourgeois governments and the European Union , which bear full responsibility for the situation that has arisen , are calling on the working classes , the grassroots classes to submit and join national campaigns .
the first is : we demand that the project should have a business plan .
it is noted that by adopting a decision to waive the Member 's immunity , the European Parliament is allowing the competent national authority to hold the person accountable ( given that there is no interference with the functioning and independence of the institution ) and by no means does this decision confirm the Member 's guilt or express an opinion as to whether certain actions or views justify investigation .
Member of the Commission . - There are two separate issues being spoken about here by the various Members who have addressed this subject .
but let me say that interaction between the United States of America , Russia and the EU Member States in the areas of security and defence has wider implications for these important partnerships .
however , the EU has been dragged into this row as a collateral victim of the Kremlin 's gas diplomacy .
they deserve our acceptance .
we should be pleased at the fact that Parliament has shown this leadership .
the system must be brought up-to-date and made more attractive .
in view of the very small market share of publicly purchased vehicles - we are talking about 1 % of private cars and 6 % of lorries - there can be no question of a significant contribution to climate protection being made .
that would help us to speak with one voice in a more active way .
finally , on the political front , it is important for us to have an alliance with the ACP States within the framework of the World Trade Organisation .
I am also in favour of the notion of a work group set up under Article 175 that would report back to this Parliament , in May , for example .
reference was made here a few moments ago to the example of the European Medicines Agency , where the list of experts actually raises doubts as to the provision of independent expert advice .
but it is the substance that is more important than the legal base , and I dare even say that it is better to have legal certainty than to face a challenge later on this matter in the courts .
as a member of the European Parliament 's Subcommittee on Human Rights , human rights violations and the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip are particularly important to me .
all of this goes against Directive 2000 / 78 / EC , which establishes a general framework for the fight against discrimination .
I did say ' a third ' , and these are estimates produced by official departments .
this is even more important if we relate to the statistics regarding the ageing labour force and decrease in the active population .
the proposal to end the milk quota scheme in 2015 , and until then to increase the quota by 1 % per year , will , in practical terms , legalise the surpluses which already exist in certain countries , which are being produced above their quotas and which are then exported at very low prices , pushing down market prices , in many countries below the cost of production .
Madam President , Minister , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , we welcome with great satisfaction the extension of the Atalanta mission .
however , most Member States have still not taken their most important decisions concerning spent fuel .
we still need to give them the means to do so .
the second aspect is that political dialogue needs to be strengthened at ministerial as well as parliamentary level , and we should try and find a greater coherence between the Danubian strategy and future initiatives for the Black Sea region .
we must encourage developing countries to adopt laws that will offer women effective protection .
one of these challenges is to bring about an increase in the proportion of women on the boards of public and private enterprises - not least within the financial sector .
one of the aims of the reform was to improve competitiveness in the sector . those who were supposed to remain in the market were those who were most competitive .
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electronic stability control technology , the use of portable or nomadic devices and work towards providing cleaner vehicles are all topics covered by the rapporteur .
( BG ) Mr President , I voted for the resolution on beekeeping and for support for the beekeeping sector because this form of agricultural production is the most specialised agricultural activity carried out .
greater Manchester Police tell me that 46 % of all guns seized last year were converted weapons .
I think the TFTP work we have been doing so far between the three institutions has given us experiences on how we can work together - the Council , Parliament and the Commission - on these extremely difficult and sensitive issues .
but the ball now is clearly in GM 's court .
not a single proposal for cooperation to help it out of this situation .
I think that one way in which I can do that is by using the Dutch proverb : ' all monks of the same order should have to wear the same habit ' .
for this very reason it is extremely important that we should take care to ensure that an integrated Europe is a competent and an equal partner to Russia .
today , I hear the same .
it is therefore a case of providing a framework and opportunities for European political parties to carry out at European level the functions that they have been carrying out in the national arena .
I think that we have arrived at a good settlement , both as regards the way we appoint the Director of the Foundation but also as regards the fact that we can appoint three experts without voting rights on the Governing Board .
what can help create mutual trust ?
( PL ) Mr President , I abstained from the vote on Mrs Batzeli 's report , but I think it is a very useful contribution to further work on the subject of food prices .
I congratulate Madame Gurmai for this extremely necessary report .
given the higher costs of reducing CO2 in LCVs compared to cars and the longer development and production cycles needed , my personal belief is that this provides a good balance between ensuring improved environmental standards , on the one hand , and giving a realistic and achievable target for the LCV manufacturing sector , on the other .
- ( PL ) Mr President , people in the European Union are getting older .
in fact , I believe that the amendment suggested by me and more than 40 of my fellow Members , which called for a study to be carried out to clarify the impact issue , would have been an honourable and reasonable gesture .
( FR ) Mr President , the terrible thing about our modern societies and , in particular , European society , and , even more specifically , our Parliament , is the generalised flock mentality : our tendency to behave like sheep .
I think that the leaders , who are due to meet - we hope - on 7 June in Barcelona , would do well to follow the specific , precise priorities laid out in the Peillon report .
it is like picking presents off a Christmas tree .
it is not in Europe 's interests .
the report by Fiorello Provera , on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs , on migration flows arising from instability : scope and role of EU foreign policy : .
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they will be those of the European Commission .
in specific terms , only about half of the funds committed reached SMEs in the V4 region in the first period .
however , we must not leave Croatia out on its own .
these criteria should be assessed by national courts on the basis of the existing case-law of the European Court of Justice .
the Presidency is determined to promote the emergence of a balanced agreement between Member States and Parliament on a coordinated offensive approach in support of the automotive industries .
you then rightly said that we must promote the European identity , that we must make it clear to the citizens what unites us .
we are somehow forgetting that what we do in Libya will also be assessed in the light of our conduct towards the other countries in the region .
these are highly toxic , carcinogenic substances which may damage our young people 's fertility and trap them in addiction .
that there should be no legal loopholes that allow perpetrators to go unpunished is important .
indeed , the telecom legislation review which we are debating at the moment in the European Parliament , along with the Council and Commission , offers a good opportunity to improve the legislation .
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Madam President , freedom of religion is not guaranteed in Pakistan .
meanwhile others , who had already been performing well , are not given adequate incentives .
despite the undeniable usefulness of a more flexible Solidarity Fund , despite the necessity of extending its ambit of operations to cover unforeseen man-made disasters and criminal acts as well as natural ones , the Council has been unable to reach a common position on the review of the fund since May 2006 .
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the report also stressed that the EU budget should correspond to our ambitions - in particular , by providing sufficient resources for research , new technologies and techniques in the field of animal welfare .
the European Commission must indeed defend EU internal free movement and not throw gestures to the likes of President Sarkozy and Prime Minister Berlusconi for electioneering purposes .
the incomes and wages of people working in the fisheries industry are insecure as a result of several factors , such as the irregular nature of fishing , the marketing approaches employed , and the way in which first-sale prices are set , which means that certain forms of national and EU public aid need to be maintained .
in writing . - Both global and local financial markets are developing complex financial instruments , making it very difficult for financial institutions to develop adequate regulations and supervise systems .
( ES ) Mr President , the 2008 Report on Competition Policy includes , for the first time , a section on cartels and consumers .
( NL ) Mr President , the seriousness of the situation regarding the total lack of firm action against the scourge of the millions of illegal immigrants in Europe has become clear from the hysterical reactions to this Returns Directive on the part of politically correct left-wing opinion-formers .
as with the issue of waste , so for the question of non-EU and EU nationals , a directive could be the solution , although not when Parliament , the Commission and the Council fail to take advantage of their solidarity , when they use it to have a debate which is purely about Italy and is manipulative , the government having been in office for only a few hours , a few days .
going back to the Arsenis report , on Amendment 25 , one of my colleagues over there requested a roll-call vote because he felt it was important .
this House has adopted a very clear position on human rights and Lady Ashton has given an impressively clear speech on behalf of the Commission .
this commitment will in the mid-term ensure the termination of bulk data transfers to the US authorities .
the motto ' unified in diversity ' is the most recent of the symbols .
the new Polish government values good relations with the United States but knows Poland is above all a member of the European family .
you also call on the Commission to draw up a list of ships likely to be taken to breaking yards in the next few years .
we have a duty to demand respect for human rights , but the future depends on respect for the right of nations to self-determination .
I am specifically thinking of small and medium-sized enterprises where employment in our countries and in our regions is concerned .
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the Arctic 's ecosystem is very fragile and therefore needs maximum protection and safeguards .
last year 's financial crisis in America has reached Europe this year , and our financial markets , which we had believed to be stable , were shaken in their very foundations .
it is no different on a Thursday from any other day , and it is your group 's task to allocate the group 's speaking time as it sees fit .
it is important that we have entered into such a wide-ranging discussion on the common , single European market , which has been operating for 20 years , but has not fully achieved its potential .
one of them is that Member States are perfectly well able to enact statutory safeguards against racism , in other words EU action in this area is fundamentally at odds with the subsidiarity principle .
the Bali Conference in December last year laid the foundations for an international agreement on tackling climate change issues .
poverty and social exclusion are the lot of women , as are violence , psychological and physical violence and extreme violence resulting in death .
the EU has very ambitious legislation in this field which needs now to be reviewed .
I want to clarify that this was agreed to by the security services , and the presidency was aware of it .
we have a grip on the EU budget .
I voted for this report as I welcome its extremely close look at the complexity of the issue of the Roma community in the EU .
it is now a matter of making sure that we get others to join us in taking measures at the level required to save the climate .
given these gloomy forecasts , the Commission and especially the Member States will have to do their utmost to reduce the economic and social impact of the measures .
unfortunately , however , Europe 's attitude to individuals such as Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Muammar Gaddafi of Libya - to name but two ; they were both welcomed with a red carpet - proves that there is still a yawning chasm between declarations of principle and reality .
after all , some of the most controversial nuclear power stations in Europe - Mochovce , Temelin , Belene - are located within the Danube region and , for the most part , the construction methods used there date back to the Soviet period , so that the power stations have some serious and dangerous deficiencies .
with regard to human biomonitoring , the Commission regrets that the proposal submitted by the consortium of 24 Member States was not judged suitable for funding on the basis of the 7th Framework Programme .
on 26 April 2010 , the European Parliament asked the Committee on Legal Affairs to give an opinion so as to determine a legal basis on which to establish agreements with Greenland .
it was established in the EU after the floods in August 2002 .
it recommends encouraging a transition process towards democratic pluralism and respect for human rights and , to this end , intensification of the dialogue with the Cuban authorities and with all sectors of society .
if I looked into my crystal ball , that is what I would see in years to come .
now let me comment on a few additional issues that the report raises .
I agree on the general approach of the report , and consider the invitation to the Commission to provide greater information to the parliaments of ACP countries to be particularly useful .
all of these austerity measures hit wage-earners and the weakest sectors of society .
everyone has something to say on the issue and that is extremely important .
finally , I would like to say a few words on the report concerning the imports of fishery products from Greenland , and I would like here to thank the Chair of the Fisheries Committee , Mrs Fraga , for her work .
in spite of everything , this new idea is a good idea , an opportunity , and I hope that the partners are going to make use of it .
that is why it is right to subsidise and support regions that find themselves below the general economic standard .
the situation is unlikely to improve due to the differences in status of the countries involved in relation to the European Union , to the frequently differing interests of the actors involved in this cooperation and due to a lack of vision , which is also evident in the Ungureanu report .
in this report , we call on governments to facilitate and recognise voluntary work that provides care in the community and family care , and to resolve issues of legal responsibility in that regard without delay .
Mr President , the 2009 report on competition policy is probably one of the most extensive and comprehensive reports drafted by Parliament to date - the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs has succeeded in incorporating the opinion of three other parliamentary committees - and it was produced after a period of five years following the implementation of two significant regulations , the Modernisation Regulation and the Merger Regulation , which have played a positive role in competition policy .
again , we were planning to discuss energy security in advance , but , of course , we had to react promptly and thus adopted a strong declaration by the presidency on behalf of the EU , which was approved by all .
furthermore , according to the UNFPA , in its state of the world population report last year , there is a global deficit of 60 million women in the world - that is the whole population of the United Kingdom !
to my mind , we have managed to make a distinct improvement in this respect , and both industry and consumers are thrilled with the outcome .
this means that the Ombudsman should apply the relevant Community law when dealing with requests from third parties for access to documents obtained by the Ombudsman in the course of his inquiries .
there was one new question : raising the awareness of Member States and their citizens about a phenomenon which , in terms of raising awareness about its extent and gravity , is actually new .
the question submitted by the Temporary Committee on Climate Change concerns the most important issues we will be facing in Bali .
we are being forced to ask questions on an increasingly frequent basis regarding the stability and security of current pension systems , and regarding the extent to which they guarantee fair incomes during retirement .
I think one of the big problems we face , and we face it certainly in Ireland , is very bad planning , which has created huge problems of flooding and the ancillary difficulties that leads to .
President of the Commission . - As I said earlier , the basic problem regarding Greece - and it is important to say this - comes from excessive debt .
I have no doubt about where the responsibility for these extensive infringements lies and I regret that these violations by municipal and regional authorities have undermined attempts by many others to create sustainable development , where a healthy economy goes hand in hand with respect for the environment and for cultural heritage .
reference is being made to this among other things .
so the understanding is that we have shared management problems , and we must also share information about the work - how we manage the Structural Funds .
Mr President , I will be voting against this report and this proposed directive for three reasons .
I am speaking English .
another relevant idea contained in the resolution is the capacity for integration .
our declaration is a very balanced one .
for example , the Europe 2020 Strategy is mentioned a number of times .
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at a time when stem cells seem to be the new ' El Dorado ' in medical research , many researchers are in a hurry to move into this niche area without ensuring that they achieve all the quality and safety standards required for these procedures .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , on behalf of the Union for Europe of the Nations Group , I would like to thank Mr Pomés Ruiz for a very good report which I support in its entirety .
( FR ) Mr President , I am a French and European socialist .
Russia is planning to build two new nuclear power plants even closer to the European Union 's borders in Belarus and Kaliningrad .
since its inception , the DAHR has wanted and still wants to fight for the rights of Transylvanian Hungarians using only political and parliamentary means , and rejecting violent means .
we would like to do this in close cooperation with the European Parliament in order to ensure that in the future , macro-financial assistance proposals are dealt with in a manner which , on the one hand , is rapid and allows for an effective crisis response but , on the other , meets the requirements of the Lisbon Treaty for detailed scrutiny by legislators within the joint decision-making process .
I firmly believe that drilling companies throughout Europe need to improve working conditions and a way that this can be done is securing a uniformly high security standard on offshore platforms operating across the EU .
we MEPs - who are known to be responsible for expressing the political will of our citizens , and for implementing and assessing the long-term sustainability of their requests - must have an overall vision , and we must know how to defend it against the other institutions .
human rights groups have accused Google of helping the Chinese Government in repressing its citizens and particularly human rights activists .
I would also like the Convention on the Rights of the Child and a child 's right to both parents to be much more evident .
this will serve as an opportunity for Ministers to present their views on the current situation and exchange views on most the appropriate solutions with Commissioner Borg .
as a result , it is devising a new law which places a ceiling on teachers ' salaries .
I would also suggest further study of the impact of the measures where appropriate , but with a view to ensuring full , tough and timely international implementation .
we have made progress in that field .
so I think that being better prepared is of the utmost importance .
that is why we need preventive budgetary surveillance and effective enforcement as proposed in the package and indeed by your rapporteurs and your committee .
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I am certain that the Heads of State or Government will adopt this financial aid package for Greece , which is , in short , as they said in their statement on 11 February , a commitment to financial stability , to the economic stability of the euro area and of the whole of the European Union .
the central theme running through this report is that democracy , human rights and economic freedom go hand in hand .
the deplorable events in Mumbai show that , already today , there is a clearly a huge margin for improvement if we are to fulfil the legitimate expectations of EU citizens .
any outside pressure will increase the risk of the whole EU exploding , because , despite all the fine and complacent words that have been voiced today in this House , the European Union is undergoing a deep crisis of confidence .
it is difficult for us to say yet which one it is , given the complicated implications of the protests which have sent Ben Ali into exile and are now rocking Mubarak 's throne , with , in the meantime , the Jordanian Government falling as well , as a preventive measure .
the vast majority of us united behind what was important : from the Greek Communists to the British Conservatives .
in contrast , the supranational EU vigorously opposed David Cameron 's proposal for a no-fly zone .
however , we are now running the risk of the Kimberley system being used to legitimise another practice , and that is human rights violations by regimes .
the very fact that we have Dell workers ' committee representatives here tonight watching this shows just how deeply this fund has reached the workers of Dell and how they welcome it so much .
to conclude , tackling the current crisis requires both effective and coordinated fiscal stimulus and reform both of financial regulation and the international institutions .
I would like to emphasise that considering the fact that children are more vulnerable and that they face a greater risk of becoming victims of trafficking in human beings , particular attention should be paid to this group of victims .
the Internet must apply the law in this field as in others .
in the wake of these disasters , European citizens angered by such maritime disasters had the right to expect politicians to respond firmly and vigorously to put a stop to irresponsible behaviour .
the informal Ecofin , by the way , will also discuss the work of a taskforce focusing on crisis management on cross border institutions .
the Treaty on European Union , which we hope to see adopted , marks a formal end to the pillar structure .
( DE ) Mr President , I would like to raise a point of order .
therefore , together with President Barroso , we shall have to create a road map for December to see how to respond to the Irish question .
the forest issue is not just about carbon , but about people 's lives .
I therefore thank the Commission for that .
I believe that in addition to this criticism , which also applies to the underestimation of the risks as regards the Member States ' energy security - risks that are too high because an absolute fortune was dumped on the market without any safety mechanism ensuring that it would not end up in the wrong hands - some positive solutions must be provided , too .
( PL ) Madam President , the contribution made by the Committee on Petitions to communication between the European Parliament and the citizens of the Member States is invaluable and responds to society 's expectations .
as a consequence of these considerations , we took a series of steps and I would like to say from the outset that we will continue to have recourse to treaty infringement proceedings and institute them immediately when the necessary information is to hand .
for this reason , you are a key force in democracy building , and I hope that the European Parliament will continue to perform this role for a long time to come .
we believe that it is necessary to establish general conditions to make this sector sustainable and enable it to remain economically efficient and green .
the Polish nation has rejected this formula and does not consider these territories as compensation by Russia for the eastern half of our fatherland .
Desertec will use solar power from North Africa and will also include the implementation of a Mediterranean plan for capturing solar power and the construction of an electricity transmission network , which will link the European Union with the Middle East and North Africa .
but let me stress that , for regulatory purposes - that is , calculation of capital requirements - the ratings that can be used are those either issued in the EU for both EU and third-country products , or endorsed or recognised as equivalent in the European Union .
for the first time in history , we are electing the European Commission as a co-equal legislator .
however , this is a long-standing custom in the country .
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the municipalities , the regions , the social partners , the political parties : all of these are institutions which are enshrined in the Treaties .
another fundamental point is inter-religious dialogue with the various communities , including the Christian community , and , in particular , the possibility for these communities to obtain legal personality in order to open and operate houses of worship .
GDP must remain the main criterion for determining eligibility for assistance under the regional policy .
I worked with members of my committee , whom I thank , with Spanish representatives of the manufacturing and cotton-ginning sectors , and , of course , with my compatriots from Greece .
in this compromise resolution - and this is evident from the aspects from which this resolution is put together - we have also highlighted the potentially positive aspects .
this is not a matter so much of setting a maximum selling price , but of fixing the production cost and the percentage of profit that companies should receive , provided this limit is not an obstacle to the internal market or imports .
last year , for example , joint operations reduced the numbers of illegal immigrants arriving in the Canary Islands by 61 % .
this is the political courage that must be sought .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I would like to start by expressing the Commission 's sympathy for , and solidarity with , the people of Lorca and its neighbourhood .
( the President cut off the speaker )
therefore , we should ensure that the targets set at the Barcelona European Council of providing childcare to at least 90 % of children between the age of three and the mandatory school age , and to at least 33 % of children under the age of three , are met .
we have established diplomatic relations with more than 100 countries .
it is not in the EU 's interests to see any destabilisation of Iraq .
finally , let me recall that on 10 June , we will organise the wrap-up event of the Green Paper consultation to which several Members of this Parliament have been invited , some of you as speakers .
visits to Baghdad by the Secretary-General of the Arab League , Amr Moussa , and most recently even the Iranian President are to be taken as good signs in this direction .
Madam President , I voted in favour of the resolution .
it will certainly contribute to the strengthening of relations between the European Union and Iraq in all areas .
extensive work was carried out at the London Summit in April to bring about concrete and significant progress in the implementation of this reform agenda .
this improved cooperation has to keep up with technological change .
Mr Kirkhope asked just now whether we have answered the questions posed at Laeken about making the EU more democratically accountable and closer to its citizens .
you are right when you say that if we wish to remain competitive , if we wish to remain world leaders in the sector , we need to invest in the wine sector .
I really feel that in mixing these matters up and linking them together , we are doing no favours to consumers , to Parliament , the Commission or the Council .
the men and women who devote their time to voluntary work while coping with changes in the labour market and in the importance of intergenerational solidarity in families and society must receive official recognition .
the vote will take place on Thursday , 22 October 2009 .
in my opinion , this could be done by giving them the right to vote on technical committees .
we must provide support for it in quite a different way so that our young people have opportunities in Europe and also throughout the world .
Canada is one of the ten worst emitters of greenhouse gases in the world and is the only country which , even though it signed and ratified the Kyoto Protocol , then publicly announced that it had no intention of honouring its legal commitments .
this is a vital aspect .
subjugation to the choices and plans of the capitalist undertaking must be strengthened , while ' employability ' and entry to the labour market via apprenticeship , mobility in sectors of the economy and so-called accessibility between levels of education and training must be facilitated .
let me make my fourth and last point . in the second half of the 1980s , perestroika started in the former Soviet Union , and it led to , for the first time in the lives of many - mine included - an opportunity to compete for student and professional exchanges .
Europe is now already Mercosur 's most important trading partner , yet there is still huge potential for growth between both trade blocs .
we should try to ensure that European funding of this project is a priority for a number of reasons , not least the weakness of patent protection in Europe .
as my colleague Mr Fox said earlier , the EU accounts for 2009 were riddled with error .
I know the details well , the good points as well as the bad .
the House will recall that advanced techniques were of course employed in the preparation of those attacks .
I think it is absolutely vital that the EU should favour a bottom-up approach in the future for its neighbourhood policy , for the reasons outlined in this resolution .
- Madam President , I am quite happy to carry on .
we will come back to you on this and I am counting on your support .
why , Commissioner , has the Commission not expressed a clear opinion on this ?
this , I believe , is the question that we must ask ourselves .
there is a request to speak and there may be others .
( applause )
this must be taken into consideration during the implementation process .
( EL ) Madam President , prime ministers in the midst of a crisis should be jointly planning their social , not just their economic interventions .
that is a good question , Mr Rübig .
firstly , I should like to congratulate Mrs Schaldemose on the work she has done .
increasing the number of meetings between the Commission and Parliament 's bodies is not the way to arrive at more effective European policy .
what I would like to add here , however , is that this resolution should , in the first place , have included a clear passage pointing out to the United States that it should not interfere with the potential expansion of the European Union .
that is why we voted against it .
she is the fourth woman to be hanged by the regime in the past month .
this justifies the growing concern globally of public health organisations .
we must see to it that we create an internal market .
we have clearly seen that the better the information , communication and dialogue , the larger the majority .
it paves the way for working-class demonstrations which affect any ' critical ' infrastructures , including private installations ( for example strikes in critical sectors , such as energy , telecommunications and so forth , walkouts from factories , companies and so forth , picket lines , demonstrations and so forth ) to be characterised as ' terrorist action ' .
in the face of this crisis , it is of primary importance that we ensure continuity in the provision of food to those people most in need .
in addition , the Commission services are considering a possible additional conference to be held in mid-2010 , the specific content of which will depend on the results of the 2009 events and other sources .
I believe it would be particularly difficult to justify an exception so soon after we have all agreed the rules of the initiative .
that is democracy at its best and it shows that the European Parliament is not remote from its people .
a very large majority in this House voted for the report by your colleague , Mr van Nistelrooij , at the beginning of last month : a measure which opens new policy and funding opportunities for housing for the benefit of marginalised communities where we can target the Roma specifically , although not exclusively .
as pointed out in the report , the new European model must contribute to European innovation and sustainable development .
I have supported this initiative as the Commission must ensure that Member States comply with Directive 2006 / 114 / EC on misleading and comparative advertising , which applies to business-to-business transactions .
we have just one or two people to support us .
an additional argument in favour of deferring a final decision is the economic crisis , which is forcing countries to make savings and cut expenditure .
I hold my friends , the Members from the Hungarian Republic , in high regard .
someone said that we need to understand the causes of terrorism .
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on fishing , the fisheries sector plays a key role in Papua New Guinea 's economy and - importantly - provides employment and income to its citizens .
however , whether the referendum would comply with democratic standards was also an important question .
- Before the vote
where there is insufficient monitoring of pension systems , national budgets , healthcare , education and employment policy , structural reforms should be carried out and new sustainable solutions found .
in summary , this is the reason for my vote .
the leaders of Albania must act now for the benefit of their people .
to put it plainly , what is criminal for one group is no longer criminal for the other group .
I believe that this will be achieved and I believe that , if this is achieved , it will be good for the viability of the architecture and the effectiveness of the institution , but also for the credibility of the Union in the eyes of all our citizens .
the successful implementation of this directive is a fundamental precondition for creating a unified internal market .
we are establishing a new energy research agenda for Europe , which is much needed in view of the challenges we shall be facing in the next decade .
globalisation , which has been mentioned , has after all increased still further the need for a common approach to tax matters in the EU so that obstacles to competition can be avoided .
Mr Mann gave a detailed description of the German occupational pension system .
although it is now marginally more acceptable , the climate change package is still a bad one , and its adoption at this juncture is simply ridiculous .
consistency means complying with the European consensus on development and , in particular , the use of the financing instrument for development cooperation aimed principally at eradicating poverty and attaining the Millennium Goals .
these are changes which will not produce a European but an American agricultural model with larger and larger enterprises , which will finally lead to the loss of many small dairy farms in Europe .
the Agreement broadly follows the structure of the existing Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreements ( BASA ) between the Member States and Canada .
a good deal has been said , but I believe that we must address ourselves in a practical manner to why the Irish response was what it was , and then decide how to proceed .
far from changing course , EU leaders are rushing headlong down the same path and consolidating the mechanisms which inherently underpin unbridled liberalisation .
next , there is the matter of interchange fees , which clearly has been ignored or neglected , when , for many players , it is absolutely central to the success of the SEPA project .
smart and effective sanctions need to be linked to a structural and systemic response .
loosely defined sustainability criteria - notably with regard to inflation or debt - or real convergence cannot be the subject of separate quantitative analysis in the report , since all Member States in the euro zone , must be trusted equally from the moment they join to implement sustainability .
in particular we should ensure that the Framework Decision is also applied to national data processing ; otherwise the point of the entire proposal is called into question .
just imagine we could only recoup even a quarter of that money .
I hope that before the summer holiday I will be able to submit a formal motion to make their agreement binding .
I shall vote against this decision out of respect for the dignity of the mandate that I received from the people of France .
( applause )
for this reason , I voted in favour of the report .
the third is the virulence of the crisis and its challenges and , despite this , the exasperating slowness of the response and decision-making mechanisms that are typical of the European Union .
in fact , you could say that time is money .
events in Belarus are very clearly a message and wake-up call for the European Union in terms of the responsibilities which it must assume in such cases .
in writing . - ( CS ) One of the main aims of EU development policy is the reduction and definitive eradication of poverty , to which the proposed EUR 190 million Banana Accompanying Measures ( BAM ) for 2010-2013 , approved by the Commission on 17 March 2010 , should make a clear contribution .
in writing . - ( FR ) I voted for the report by Mr Toubon on the Single Market Review and I support the positive approach of the rapporteur to one of the most important pillars of the European Union .
unfortunately , the package only faces us with another gap , the one between good intentions and the necessary instruments for achieving them .
President-in-Office of the Council . - Mr President , it is an honour to be able to stand here for the first time .
I hope that everyone will have the opportunity to be involved in the process and to table amendments , as this is a big threat to peace in the region .
I would like to make just one suggestion , since the statement about the institutional presence of European Members of Parliament within the European Council Parliamentary Assembly when meeting to appoint the judge and the judges is somewhat vague : I would say that there is a small problem with the relationship between the population of Europe , of the European Union , and the populations of other countries .
the action plan outlines the solutions necessary to ensure the success of satellite navigation .
it also then became clear that the ' great enlargement ' would have to be continued , with the accession of several more countries of the region .
as was said a few moments ago , in Turkey , a secular Muslim country and a country which is knocking at our door , 20 % of the population were Christian 100 years ago ; today , the figure is less than 1 % .
the environmental consequences of cyanide pollution are transnational , and therefore this ban must apply at European level .
I would like to repeat that here .
however , it is always said that we are always protesting and saying no , no , no to everything .
it would make it easier to send refugees back to such states .
the Council looks forward to further work with Parliament and the Commission on the establishment of a system of horizontal and continuous evaluation and implementation of EU policies and legal instruments .
the question for oral answer to the Commission on the conclusion of a Geneva Agreement on Trade in Bananas by Vital Moreira and Francesca Balzani on behalf of the Committee on International Trade - B7-0008 / 2011 ) .
I had the privilege of drawing up the draft opinion for the Committee on Culture and Education on the Innovation Union and I emphasised a number of points .
in 2007 , the EU received more than 200 000 asylum applications .
I deeply regret the recent events that took place this January and March in Jos , where hundreds of people were the victims of religious and ethnic confrontations .
the report spells out exactly the important contribution made by the Structural and Cohesion Funds to Europe 's economic life and in achieving the objectives which have been presented to us as part of the EU 2020 Agenda .
this will provide consumers with more comprehensive and truthful information than under current legislation on origin marking and avoid them being misled .
ladies and gentlemen , the measures adopted by the European Council a few weeks ago and the guidelines agreed at the G20 in Seoul represent a step in the right direction , but they do not go far enough .
I regard this as crucial .
the agreement on the rights of bus and coach passengers that was reached by Parliament and the Council within the Conciliation Committee redefines the scope of the regulation established at second reading , restricting it to passengers using road services known as ' long distance ' - defining these as services involving a journey of 250 km or more .
one who is another 's property and a helpless victim of some dominating influence - you might be forgiven for thinking this is a definition of human trafficking .
a successful outcome at Copenhagen remains a primary concern for Europeans and a major task for the global community .
however , we have also worked jointly to remove them again once the objective has been achieved .
we should therefore remain open to reacting positively to the request from the European Commission to restore the PDB level in this respect .
poverty must be fought , so we shall devote the year 2010 to the struggle .
bilingual road signs in Carinthia are still a taboo topic , so to speak , and the government in Vienna has time and again yielded to the extremist views of the Carinthian nationalists .
who will decide ?
the Stockholm Programme completely fails to address the real challenges of the present day .
Nabucco is big and it is therefore complicated and there may be delays .
I agree with the proposals to support research into the breeding and supply of protein crop seeds and for a framework for rural development measures which introduce improved , decentralised facilities for the production of animal feed .
firstly , the actuarial shortfall is continuing to increase , and secondly , I would also like the list of participants in that voluntary pension fund to finally be published .
accordingly , this question of statistics is important , because it is true that structures within the voluntary sector are very varied , and we must understand these structures better .
the amendments that I and my fellow Members proposed , and which were confirmed today in Parliament , mean that the older Member States , not only the new ones , as suggested in the original proposal by the Commission , can also benefit from this new source of funding from the ERDF .
however , we must avoid the pitfall of seeing the pre-intervention situation through rose-tinted glasses .
we take this in the spirit in which it was meant , that the Commission is present , and as a sign of respect for Parliament , of taking Parliament seriously , and we are glad that they are all present .
Parliament should also help out in this regard .
last year , Parliament and the Council also agreed on the amendment of the Long-Term Residents Directive , which I believe will give significant momentum to further work on a common European asylum system .
I should like to repeat today what I have already said in a letter sent to the President of the European Parliament : I am ready to discuss the content of the guidelines for the next Commission with any political group that wishes to discuss them .
we are following the tendency of political polarisation re-emerging in the country with concern .
EU action on oil exploration and extraction in Europe ( vote )
we are of the opinion that bee mortality is a huge problem that should be dealt with at EU level , but using the right mechanisms . this will entail , for example , additional research and a focus on the protection of our ecosystems , including restricting the use of pesticides .
we need to do more so thank you , Commissioner .
our political group will not be able to accept the introduction of binding energy efficiency goals for the European system .
it is worth noting that our approach to the Atlantic can only be less one toward a peripheral region and more one that affirms its geo-centrality in the world as part of a strategic orientation that puts the region at its centre .
the Council has stated that it is very much in favour of this approach .
we saw in 2008 a significant drop in prices , mainly because of a good harvest .
this Parliament has asked the Commission and the Member States on several occasions to improve coordination between macroeconomic and social policies in order to redress the rise in new forms of poverty .
as I have already mentioned , we also welcome the extension of the area of application to cover oil , gas and coal production capacities .
our ability to sustain a strong and ambitious European policy for the Mediterranean region depends on getting that balance right .
( ES ) Mr President , the economic crisis has enabled us to appreciate the value of the euro and of economic coordination .
that is the real purpose of the agreement that we are working towards here .
we continue to support Mr Gambari 's mission .
in fact , however , it gives more attention to the rights of corporations than to the rights of consumers .
we believe that governments and Member States have a fundamental role to play in this and it is also of course useful for the Commission to closely monitor how the Member States are developing and adopting their policies in order to meet the objectives set .
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we are not there yet , but I believe it is possible to reach that agreement .
in this regard , we need to introduce rules - not necessarily free-trade rules - that look at each situation .
( the President cut off the speaker )
their work sometimes requires them to pick strawberries sprayed with pesticides , without any protective equipment .
the European Court of Justice ( ECJ ) has put us in a very difficult position here .
however , what I absolutely cannot support are elements in the report which appear to call for binding European agreements on Member States ' pension systems .
participation of Switzerland in the ' Youth in Action ' programme and in the action programme in the field of lifelong learning (
rapporteur . - Madam President , firstly I would like to thank all the shadow rapporteurs who have been very willing to work with me on what is an incredibly technical and difficult dossier .
in condemning violence against pregnant women , the report states , and I quote : ' the perpetrator thereby harms more than one person ' .
we shall now proceed to the vote .
in many cases they respond to speculative movements , so the increases in the prices of final products are greater , as has been said , in percentage terms , than the increases in the prices of raw materials .
these recent experiences have also revealed failings and shortcomings in the current system of coordination and in existing surveillance procedures .
only in this way will they see this initiative , not as a repressive instrument , but rather as a way of encouraging behaviour behind the wheel which is safer and more respectful of other people 's and their own lives .
at the same time , we should not become protectionist due to the present economic crisis .
we will place Parliament under the Treaty of Lisbon , and then we will elect our President of the Commission under the Treaty of Lisbon , because , if we want to be consistent , we have to be so from start to finish .
I welcome the Commission 's Youth on the Move initiative and the fact that it has not forgotten about young people .
of course , some people are wondering why , having incorporated the Charter of Fundamental Rights , we need to accede to the jurisdiction of the Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg .
support for economic activity , in particular , small and medium-sized enterprises , was not coordinated either .
in writing . - ( PT ) This is another own-initiative report which assumes the same logic as the report on the Southern Caucasus and the ' European Neighbourhood Policy ' : in other words , interference and pressure to guarantee access to ( and control over ) markets ( particularly energy markets ) and further liberalisation .
at what pace it will progress depends solely on Serbia itself .
we therefore believe that a framework is being created which will work smoothly on a daily basis and which will allow technical issues arising from its implementation to be solved through a system of continual cooperation and consultation .
firstly , looking at the different opinions here in the House , we do not have the same opinion on the question of imbalances .
in order to be able to react , statistics are important , because they provide facts on which decisions can be based .
are you proposing a change to the voting order ?
I have , for instance , asked the agency to contribute to the work of the Roma task force .
thank you for your proposal .
the south-east of England should benefit from such an approach .
that proposal ignored the social realities of the wine-growing sector and would have resulted in further land lying fallow , to the detriment of the landscape .
in writing . - I voted against the conclusions and recommendations of the Trialogue between Council , Commission and Parliament because :
many countries slowly began to ignore them or violate them , and now we have very great problems .
that is the situation that we are faced with .
probably one of the first measures we should adopt is to increase the penalties imposed on these criminals , because this is obviously not about a clumsy intermediary - it is a crime organised by white-collar criminals who want to maximise their profits .
if we want to offset the majority of our emission reductions , then de facto we demand more from developing countries than from ourselves .
moreover , there will certainly be investments in this connection , in collaboration with Mr Oettinger , in the field of infrastructure when it comes to trans-European networks in the field of energy provision .
the Council needs to take the Treaty of Lisbon on board , both from the point of view of the areas newly under the jurisdiction of the European Union , which are reflected in the budget , and from the point of view of the European Parliament 's strengthened powers , not least regarding the budget .
our proposal , which we are debating today and which the Council will debate in the next few weeks , deals with the second issue , in other words , uncompetitive coal mining rather than the use of coal , which is a separate debate that we have had and will , of course , continue to have in Europe .
the international community stands ready to assist , both in the relief of the immediate suffering and in the long term .
Madam President , honourable Members , by way of conclusion to this important debate and to answer the questions that a number of Members have , I would like to say two things .
we would be making a big mistake if , with our economic measures , we were to pursue goals relating to climate protection and energy security as unambitious as those we have laid down in the regulation of CO2 for cars .
the last meeting , held in Hanoi on 10 June 2008 , allowed us to address , on the one hand , the general human rights situation in Vietnam , and , in particular , freedom of expression , the situation of minorities and the application of the death penalty , as well as a number of individual cases .
one of the most shameful recent actions has been the adoption of a so-called constitution that violates the most basic democratic principles and guarantees almost complete impunity for all the acts I have just mentioned .
it used to be just racing and sports , but now we have got a huge number of other areas , for example political predictions .
the first responsibility for combating terrorism lies with the national governments and the independent Member States .
the task of the Member States is to work out their financial plans in collaboration with each other .
as Mr Saryusz-Wolski indicated in his excellent report , Europe 's role in the world is still far from reaching its true potential .
we must wait , we must think hard and carefully and we must at all costs avoid unintended consequences .
the wilful and negligent handling of food and feed must not be punished with trivial penalties .
for all these reasons , I would ask for majority support for the report , which will send out a clear message of support to professionals , students and businesses in the creative and cultural sector .
this is another own-initiative report on urban development in Europe which rather repeats what has already been stated in the previous reports on that issue .
as they are amended , it becomes difficult to understand which provision is currently in force .
( LV ) I think that we can use a familiar phrase to describe the situation on the financial markets : ' the party is over , and now it is the morning after . '
the problem has very remote roots : the legitimate and sacrosanct right of the Palestinians to have a free state is coupled with the equally sacrosanct right of Israel to be recognised , and we know that Israel has been removed from the map in many countries .
it calls for a public debate about urban planning in Spain , which will allow legislative measures to be adopted against speculation and unsustainable development , and will put an end to à la carte legislation practised in autonomous regions such as Aragón and Valencia .
conflict , lawlessness and corruption are deeply embedded .
this continent - the European Union - needs to be more inventive .
as far as ' on-call ' time is concerned , I believe that all ' on-call ' time should be classed as working time .
it is good that we are doing this now , particularly in preparation for the spring recess this March .
( DE ) Mr President , I would like to welcome Baroness Ashton to her new position .
let me simply remind Members of the regulation on health-related information that we adopted in this House last year .
we expect the Council of Europe to take decisive steps to block access to European Union banks to those identified as financing conflict in Darfur and to freeze their assets .
in two days , as much rain fell as normally falls in one month .
in addition , 40 % of EU forests are state-owned .
for that reason , we need European solutions for this key European industry in order to defeat this crisis .
I think it is most important that something happens swiftly to restore confidence and capital to the banking system .
if so , I am very willing to hear of it .
we have not yet reached the end of this long and difficult road , but must continue taking firm and decisive steps .
ladies and gentlemen , or if I may so address you , colleagues and friends , as we are talking about solidarity , allow me to list a few of the concepts of the Schuman Plan , such as ' de facto solidarity ' , ' creative efforts ' , ' fusion of interest ' and ' deeper community ' .
I think that we ought to adopt the proposal put forward by the Russians , who asked at the time for a tribunal to decide who really bore the responsibility for starting the war .
sanctions are one of the European Union 's most effective instruments for promoting respect for human rights in third countries , and they have been applied for this purpose notably in Belarus , China , Myanmar , Uzbekistan , the former Yugoslavia and Zimbabwe , to mention only a few of the more important examples .
this sector therefore requires wide-ranging regulations and far-reaching international laws , able to ensure the appropriate safeguarding of the living and working conditions of fishermen throughout the world , who are often exposed to situations of harsh exploitation .
discharge 2010 : clean Sky - Aeronautics and Environment (
I have therefore no difficulty in agreeing on the need to push forward in this crucial domain .
in writing . - I did not vote on this report as Ireland chose not to exercise its option to take part in the adoption and application of the proposed regulation and has not played an active role in negotiations at Council level .
indeed , the review of any barriers to the internal market already takes place during the impact studies carried out by the European Commission with each new legislative proposal .
the UK opt-out or failure to opt in to this instrument is bad news for many EU nationals from other Member States now living in the UK , and is also bad news for many Brits whose partners move to another Member State .
I think that , if you say that there is an absolute ban on asbestos in Europe , you have to be consistent with that and allow no exemptions .
growth and employment need their own initiatives .
just a few days ago , as part of our presentation of progress on this ' Better Regulation ' project , we promised that this whole process would indeed be completed by the end of next year .
last but not least , the Commission will support adherence to European childcare objectives within the framework of the strategy for growth and employment after 2010 .
international financial reporting standards have been mentioned , as have broker-dealer agreements .
I also called for proposals from the Commission to reform the payment models and to impose accountability for misconduct .
up to now , someone could only receive credits of EUR 5 000 or more . sometimes , people do not need that amount .
those in favour and against independence are mainly concerned about each decision setting a precedent for other regions and about the risk of the European Union indulging in self-aggrandisement as a result .
however , I find that the time has come to turn the page on the past , and to look to the future .
allocating hundreds of billions of euro to combating climate change amounts to an attack on human civilisation and common sense .
many other developments in the Middle East - especially events in Gaza - have recently occupied our attention .
nor shall we have the courage to do so now .
we need a Trade and Transport Facilitation ( TTF ) , and also a 2011 budget and therefore I abstained on the amendment retabled by the Greens on this issue , which was symbolic but irresponsible .
in accordance with the agreed data , the goal is to reach a balanced budget by 2011 . that means budget a surplus of 1.3 % leaving aside the second pillar .
nevertheless , at the beginning of my tenure much has been said regarding the necessity of analysing how much it costs the trade and of making the relevant calculations .
however , we need to go ahead with further proposals .
on behalf of the PPE Group . - Madam President , the European Union is based on values and the respect for human rights , which need to be continuously defended and protected worldwide .
the challenges that the economic and financial crisis , climate change , and energy security - to name but a few - are presenting us with are quite simply too great for us not to change our approach .
today 's Tajikistan is confronted , as has been said already , by major economic and social challenges .
in this regard , the decision taken to assist SMEs by providing EUR 30 billion within three years is worthwhile , but I feel the amount is too low and the timescale too long .
what is this directive about ?
technological development is therefore needed .
we seem to be making no progress , and I think Europe could play a much more significant part , not only in Lebanon but in the whole Middle East issue .
this is an area we , in conjunction with national supervisors , will be giving close attention to in the time ahead .
my question to the Presidency and the Commission is therefore : when will we see tangible proposals for a mid-term review that will have an impact on the non-existent budget margins for the remaining three years of this financial perspective , where the current ceilings prevent any reasonable action being taken to tackle the challenges that cannot wait until after 2013 and also a proposal drawing up guidelines for a long-term budget reform ?
in this regard , what Parliament is proposing in terms of research and innovation - specifically simplifying funding for research , development and innovation ( R & D & I ) , and promoting appropriate programme management , especially for SMEs - is particularly important , as is strengthening innovation capacities over the full cycle , including non-technological innovation within the future financial framework for research and innovation .
these are all criteria that do not necessarily affect the quality of the end product , but are becoming increasingly important to consumers .
I welcome your proposals , but with these you will not solve the main problem .
the joint motion for a resolution on the recent inter-ethnic atrocities in Nigeria , on which we are voting , seems satisfactory from the point of view of the principles and the guidelines that our House wishes to pass on to the other European institutions that are responsible for the EU 's external action .
a total of EUR 427 billion in outstanding demands have now accumulated between the central banks in the accounts of the European Central Bank system and the TARGET2 payment transaction system ; this is because the system has intervened between the central banks in place of the non-functioning markets .
on the other hand , I would like to emphasise that unlike Nigeria and Somalia , this is not a black-and-white issue .
along with the speakers who came before me , however , I believe there is little desire on the part of Member States , in particular , to invest in controls and to introduce sufficiently harsh penalties for breaches of the existing rules .
on paragraph 15 : with regard to Article 80 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union , it remains the case that I - like the Austrian Government - advocate solidarity on a voluntary basis .
the decision to create the second generation of the SIS - SIS II - took account of the need to introduce biometric data and new types of alerts , for instance because of the European arrest warrant .
Mr President , I do not believe that the Turkish authorities have made significant progress in terms of justice , fundamental rights , freedom of information , religious freedom and immigration , despite public pressure on these issues .
these measures should pay particular attention to small-scale and coastal fishing .
the European financing instrument for promoting democracy and human rights is one of the EU 's only foreign policy instruments which still maintains a rigid system for allocating funds , due to the fact that it does not offer the opportunity for an exemption from the principle of ineligibility of costs relating to taxes , duties and other charges financed by the EU .
let us not forget that other texts are already in the process of being prepared concerning , for example , seasonal workers and trainees .
the risks to the health and safety of consumers which the purchase of certain products can involve are today clear .
let me just remind you that a market comprises not only suppliers of products but also those who demand them .
all parties , especially Israel , and the Quartet , should be loud and honest about this .
it is well known that there is a huge potential for energy efficiency in buildings .
besides , on-call time , which we are discussing here , requires that workers be present at work : everything else is standby duty , which is a different matter entirely .
another subject that we dealt with during that day of work , in which relatives of the victims also participated , is the liability of operators in the transport chain and thus , the question of the rights of those who are involved in rail accidents .
this directive has a different aim and purpose , however , and that is to ensure transparency and offer consumers certainty in the naming of novel fibres and novel materials .
social economy (
when you have European industry now representing different views and competing interests and , frankly , making very different rival submissions as to whether they want trade defence measures adopted , that is bound to be reflected in the positions of our Member States .
this is an important question when it comes to assessing the situation .
but we cannot return to the previous growth model .
absolutely nothing !
more than 40 years ago , following the occupation of Czechoslovakia , I went into political exile in Germany , and I still marvel that we are now free to drive forward the development of democracy and the respect for human rights in the Czech Republic and Central Europe .
however , if the expenditure is not specified in the EU budget it will have to be paid out by the individual Member States .
what we need in the first place , though , is political cooperation that will start the gradual process of finding the political will and achieving international recognition , consensus and decision .
consumers are entitled to good quality universal emergency services and to caller location services .
I support the initiatives in the report as practical steps to turn this situation around towards improvement .
it is high time that the legislature acted , instead of handing all responsibility over to the Court of Justice .
once again , there is an atmosphere of fear and repression in the country .
this is , of course , our bread and butter .
I am delighted that the text includes a uniform definition of nanomaterials and I also welcome the fact that we will be able to amend it so that it keeps up with the latest scientific developments .
we must not forget that the Union is not only the Baltic or the Mediterranean basin .
the strategy that I adopted , and which has been taken up by the rapporteur , therefore involved rebalancing this proposal to ensure that researchers are not harmed .
this is about the degree of certainty that women have during this time that they can dedicate themselves to motherhood , in peace and without fear , during the first weeks and months .
this was a very special event .
the lesson from history is that , as institutions , we should have faith in the fact that we can cooperate well together , and should not let those who have other interests drive a wedge between us .
to this end , comprehensive and realistic objectives and penalties need to be set , so that energy efficiency is not simply based on economic benefits .
the Commission therefore had no other option if it was to hope to move forward slightly in the field of legal immigration than to start with highly qualified workers , for whom it knew it would be easier to obtain the agreement of the Member States .
there are points on which we do not agree .
I voted against the report in its entirety , for the precise reasons I have mentioned .
our regulation on deep-sea fishing tries to establish specific access requirements and associated conditions for fishing of deep-sea stocks .
I am voting against this text out of solidarity with the Serbian people .
that is why the Commission supports a limited change to Article 136 of the Treaty .
in practice , the aim is to estimate the long-term catches and the corresponding fishing mortality rates .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , this proposal being submitted to you is a positive measure for artists , for art and for culture , and our Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats will support it .
we have often heard in this Chamber that we must guarantee the European wine market a certain future .
I am a staunch advocate of the former , and I support the rapporteur 's opinion as regards the need to increase funding in the next Multiannual Financial Framework by 5 % compared to 2013 levels .
Mr President , tolerance of another 's belief is a trait of a civilised society .
personally , I regret this fragmentation .
if small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) are , for the first time , to be put at the heart of European legislation , it is no cause for celebration .
indeed , and I also say this for the benefit of those who are interested , including Mr Caspary , who I believe asked the question - if he wishes , I will forward it to him by tomorrow morning - paragraph 5 ( 2 ) of the document in the raw materials communication mentions possible anti-dumping measures and commercial action .
in January 2009 , the European Commission proposed reallocating a portion of unused European finance to support projects in the energy sector in response to the economic and financial crisis .
we have therefore signed the resolution .
I hope that Member States will see fit to transpose all elements of this important directive before the final deadline for implementation in order to give parents , as consumers , greater peace of mind .
Iran : the case of Khadijeh Moghaddam
the Single European Sky proposal is there to help us to further monitor this .
early solid achievements in this area in Montenegro , notably , in the politicisation of the public administration , the strengthening of the independence of the judiciary and the effective fight against corruption and against organised crime , will later ensure smooth negotiations and integration into the European Union .
Europe was no longer in agreement even at the conference on the non-proliferation treaty , but NATO is determined to hang on to its nuclear deterrent , like a blind person clinging to a lamp post .
the health systems in the Member States may be based on the same general principles , but the organisation of healthcare provision varies greatly between individual Member States .
I talked with the team while I was in Geneva .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( DA ) Mr President , President-in-Office of the Council , Commissioner , I share the other rapporteurs ' hope that we are close to adopting this important legislation .
it needs to be made clear that investors should only invest if they actually understand the product and cannot use the excuse that they can , to a certain extent , automatically make a triple A product the goal of their investment strategy .
we need to ask what effective options we have open to us that will allow us to go on the offensive against those trading partners who have not kept to the agreements made in the G20 , who have introduced protectionist measures , who have closed the markets and who have helped to bring about an even greater fall in worldwide economic performance than would otherwise have been the case .
there is no place for retreat here .
I would be interested in answers to the following questions from the Commission .
in writing . - ( FR ) The CAP ' Health Check ' established by the Commission is not a health check at all : it is an unconfessed new reform .
( FR ) Madam President , what worries the citizens of Europe as much as the financial markets is doubt .
in my introductory speech , I also underlined the very clear actions , the concrete examples of where the EU can act and has acted , and I underlined the problems which have to be solved at national level .
that cannot be done , however , without a certain number of protection products .
Mr Pittella said that Parliament should not become a sounding board for national diatribes .
we are now living through the consequences , and that includes what is going on in Ireland .
one thing is clear : the time has come to carry out a taboo-free assessment of the practical results of these policies aimed at liberalising and dismantling public services .
this would prevent further civilian massacres and give the pro-democracy rebels a real chance .
many of them have .
as much as I welcome efforts to cushion the effects on children , I do see a risk that this could give further impetus to illegal immigration .
I do not know where he is .
licensed operators have invested large amounts of money to upgrade their transporters and to meet the training and competence requirements of this regulation .
unfortunately , I share the view of those who are particularly disappointed with the result , which represents a victory for the operators of nuclear facilities , for the safety authorities who have covered up what has been done for thirty years , and for the Member States who do not want to reconsider the choices that they have made , not just to keep nuclear power , but also the choices in relation to risk evaluation .
very serious arguments of political policy structure are being put forward to oppose this and I can well understand these arguments since we have an industrial policy that is not based on subsidies and that will continue to operate that way .
I am glad that Mr Häusling has raised the issue of the protein deficit in Europe and provided us with important information on this subject .
the French Government has made loud noises about refusing to compromise and has warned that heads could roll .
supervisors should have all the information that they need , but care has to be taken in those areas where the information should not get into the public domain .
the referendum is scheduled to take place on 9 January next .
we in the Tyrol have discovered that the existing measurement methods are actually a failure and that , in practice , the difference between a Euro 0 and a Euro III or Euro IV heavy-duty vehicle was really small .
we have a Commissioner and a Minister just going through the motions .
now the first round of Universal Periodic Reviews ( UPRs ) has come to a close and the second round started on 5 May .
( LT ) When they joined the European Union , some Central and Eastern European countries made commitments in the accession treaties , commitments which were difficult both politically and economically , to decommission nuclear power plants and ensure the safe handling of nuclear waste .
this can be as ambitious as possible provided that it is long term and provided it is stable .
clearly , a joint initiative is what is needed here from the EU along with its partner countries .
in the current circumstances , Romania clearly benefits from this production limit being higher , given the economic crisis , the crisis in the domestic agricultural sector and the technology gap .
the EU bureaucracy immediately looks around to find someone to blame , but the fact is that it is this bureaucracy that is responsible for the crisis because it brought countries into the eurozone in the knowledge that their economies were not up to speed - or do we employ 1 000 people in Eurostat just to be a data collector ?
I have to say that , after 13 failures , this is something which must be taken very seriously .
the report cynically sets out the EU 's imperialist policy .
secondly , strengthen the social fabric .
for us in the European Parliament , and I believe I can speak for the majority of Members here , this is not about protectionism , but about a sensible use of the anti-dumping instrument .
no !
unfortunately , in the present dangerous climate , instead of promoting the positive aspects of immigration , the Commission is responding to a climate of fear artfully created in certain sectors .
there are already four such directives and one is virtually complete at draft stage .
finally , I should like to thank Mr Belder for the work he has done with the shadow rapporteurs so that we were able to balance this report and make it acceptable to the entire European Parliament .
when we talk about regulating certain ethical practices , we cannot forget the principle of private autonomy and that there must be a limit at which certain practices must be regulated .
the October paper , which is the basis of our present discussion , is a brief document .
but the extent of its participation in the bilateral track will depend on a number of factors , in particular progress in some of the areas to which I have just referred .
therefore , when the Committee on Budgets voted for mobilising the EGF for the Danish employees mentioned in the Matera report , I pointed out , along with the Belgian Socialist MEP Mr Daerden , the need to work towards defining a separate budget heading for this funding .
I also want to stress the continuing acts of psychological and physical violence to which the dissident refugees in Camp Ashraf are continually subjected by the Iranian Government .
on the second issue , concerning why there are different values , those values were established after Chernobyl .
we must be fully aware of this .
in short , our actions need to be rigorously consistent in Europe , and it is our mission to shape Europe .
this report portrays that picture very clearly .
ladies and gentlemen , I would like to emphasise that on the question of what kind of tourism sector we want in the European Union , we have already given our answer .
so I am happy that in this regard we have significantly streamlined the rapporteur 's draft report .
there is nothing more human and , at the same time , European .
lastly , a word on the rumours circulating about the possibility of ' ethnic cleansing ' in the region .
will she write to them and indicate that we would like to see this report published , so that we can all debate its argumentation ?
nothing to do with the crisis at all .
developments in Europe , the Middle East and Central Asia started having a direct impact on EU internal affairs , and the EU acknowledged the need to reflect upon its stronger involvement in the area .
it did not happen during your period of office , but there is such a thing as collective responsibility , and I would ask you - also on behalf of the Committee on Legal Affairs and the Committee on Petitions - to make available to us all the documentation on which your decision was based .
in writing . - ( DE ) In the context of our shrinking resources , electric vehicles definitely have the potential to become a genuinely climate-friendly alternative , provided that we continue to develop them .
I can understand your approach a little bit .
we therefore insist on a new policy which gives priority to employment with rights , the fight against discrimination , and the protection of motherhood and fatherhood as fundamental social values .
I would be pleased if the Commission could once again give us an idea of what the current situation is .
we must also be able to face the fact that the Member States of the European Union are themselves guilty of such things .
the EU budget should be drawn up in conjunction with the European political agenda .
now a word on the European Semester .
in writing . - 9 June marked the opening of the 27th EU-Russia Summit in Nizhny Novgorod .
I have two questions for the Presidency .
some 43 000 citizens lose their lives on Europe 's roads and roughly 1 300 000 citizens are involved in accidents .
in my view , the document under discussion covers three areas , and these are : one - the labelling of hydrogen powered vehicles ; two - requirements for filling stations ( their siting and introduction ) .
as was clear from the debate , the European powers will try to consolidate and expand their power , seeking to circumvent the right of the peoples of each country to express their opinion on the Treaty in a referendum , after a democratic discussion of the content of the text that is to be signed .
support is also just as important for private youth initiatives , which can lead to job creation and , by extension , social integration .
but I believe that the abuses and injustice committed in the name of the law are unacceptable , induce fear and humiliation and may instigate hatred within human communities .
( DE ) Madam President , now I know how to go about changing and extending one 's speaking time .
in the Committee on Foreign Affairs we supported this stepping up of relations , also at the trade and economic level .
there are no rights without responsibilities .
the outcome of the then pending Irish referendum was uncertain .
this Free Trade Agreement is referred to as a deep and comprehensive FTA and it should indeed correspond to these qualifiers .
I do not think we should skimp on this . on the contrary , we need to be generous .
the significant progress we have seen and noted is good reason for us to discharge the Seventh , Eighth , Ninth and Tenth European Development Funds , but we shall have to continue making improvements .
one-stop-shop equivalent sources of patient information will be essential in every Member State to allow informed choices by patients , and the provision of mutual recognition of prescriptions , I think , will be a very important add-on to this piece of legislation and must follow on quickly .
some Member States , which have already introduced this type of initiative at national level , at times charge excessive amounts .
thus it will offer manufacturers the advantage of the initiative to move on global markets , where the demand for ecological cars is expected to increase , and by extension it will improve the competitiveness of the automotive industry in Europe .
when we talk about accession of the European Union to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights , we are talking about work which has been going on for 10 years now and about many fears concerning , inter alia , competition between the Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights .
therefore I wish to ask Mr Lobo Antunes very directly indeed : what are you waiting for to demand that the European governments and the US Government put an end to this practice that we have condemned on so many occasions ?
everyone knows that Britain is worse off than any other country as we go into these hard times .
a facility providing financial assistance for Member States ' balances of payments - Financial support to Member States ( debate )
I personally am in favour of extending de minimis aid on certain conditions : we must focus on small-scale fishermen , on small-scale and coastal fisheries ; we must focus on fishermen who apply proper , sustainable fishing practices ; and finally , we must focus on ensuring that financing does not result in an increase in fishing effort and these measures do not put the environmental and social viability of European fisheries at risk .
that concludes Question Time .
an instrument that is intended to allow a group of countries to start processes of greater integration which could progressively include all the others must not be converted into a private club and an exclusion mechanism , or one which establishes the predominance of some over others .
depleted uranium is used by many countries , and especially Western countries , as ammunition in their wars because of its high penetrative power , especially against armoured vehicles .
despite this , the EU is still a world leader in the field of gender equality and I think we should share with the rest of the world the examples of good practice that we already have in the EU .
health is not a commodity .
in other words , market economics .
- Report : Maldeikis
we need to combine the Europe 2020 strategy with the other strategies .
Montenegro would probably have had to wait longer for it , if not for the fact that this issue was being considered at the same time in relation to Albania .
I have already met some representatives of your parliamentary delegations with major third countries and will meet others soon in order to discuss how we could join our efforts and reach out together and how the Commission can assist you in this important task .
secondly , if they continue enriching , the question is why ? - because they do not have anywhere to put it , no other power plant .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , the Commissioner has answered some of the questions put by my colleagues .
if the full impact of the Sudanese decision is still being assessed , it is clear that the lives of hundreds of thousands of people might be at risk in Darfur .
this Presidency is determined to cultivate dialogue towards enhancing this partnership and cooperation , a dialogue that includes all issues of interest to both sides , including those over which we do not agree and about which I spoke in my introductory speech .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( PT ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , as you know , on 27 June this year the Commission presented a proposal , based on Article 191 of the EC Treaty , which aims to improve and adapt Regulation ( EC ) No 2004 / 2003 on the status and funding of political parties at European level .
some of our Member States have made it very clear that they want the TFTP to continue because they have benefited from it in the past and will continue to do so .
I was also struck by what you said , Mrs Rapti .
we also closely monitor the human rights situation in general in Tanzania , together with Member States and other development partners .
in writing . - Microcredit schemes can help many of the world 's poorest out of absolute poverty , in particular women .
I have already suggested to the institution 's management to join this scheme as soon as possible .
we have established that the thresholds were incorrectly applied , that no screening process was carried out and , therefore , that the environmental impact has not been assessed objectively enough .
the European Court of Justice ( ECJ ) investigated the case of the Latvian construction company " Laval ” , which was prohibited from providing construction services in Sweden .
( PL ) Madam President , Commissioner , one of the fundamental aims of the European Union is to even out differences in the development and income of individual countries and regions .
a further condition is that Croatia cooperate fully with the International Criminal Tribunal at The Hague in searching for and handing over war criminals .
in my opinion , it is very significant that the text emphasises greater patient awareness and high quality legal advice for immigrants , as well as for others , including illegal immigrants .
finally , Parliament should have full and substantial information at its disposal at all stages of the negotiation , with due regard for reasonable confidentiality .
the EU needs gas from Russia , and Russia needs export income from Europe .
the call of the trade unions for a social protection clause deserves our full support .
on 18 December last year the Court ruled in favour of the company and against the unions .
making a success of the maritime policy is not something that the Commission can , or wishes to , undertake alone .
the ideal scenario for us Europeans would be two states coexisting in peace and security .
however , I would not want us to repeat the mistakes of the past , especially those that we were able to attribute to the IMF which , 10 or so years ago , was applying formulas that were ultimately making things worse .
in writing . - ( DE ) I am voting against this own-initiative report , because it interferes too much with freedom of opinion and smacks of imperious censorship .
this was not the case before .
I would kindly request you , with a view to terminating the biological terrorism , that the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , the Committee on Petitions ...
I would like to repeat my previous remark that the cohesion policy review gives an opportunity to consider your question too .
( the sitting was suspended at 7.00 p.m. and resumed at 9.00 p.m. )
satisfaction at the result obtained last Thursday in Lisbon , and satisfaction at the road Angela Merkel set out on and Mr Sócrates continues to travel .
innovation is , of course , crucial for Europe 's development .
for those men , this is a case of arbitrary detention .
the United States has ended the era of unilateral political action and is ready for dialogue with Europe , and is ready to make joint decisions in partnership with Europe .
finally , I support the oral amendments by Mr Kelam concerning the Ashraf camp and the oral amendment by Mr Hutchinson .
no one knows which market or which agency directs the reactions of the other ; whether one country 's poor rating triggers panic over sovereign debt , or whether cynical speculation leads to a poor rating ; whether a good rating has an impact on certain assets being held onto or whether , because they are good and one wants to hold onto them , the assets are rated favourably .
that is a priority .
that was one of the major problems with the Lisbon Strategy , on which , ultimately , we all have work to do .
nevertheless , during the transitional period , non-EU entities will be able to apply national investment rules , whereas EU funds and managers will be subject to the directive , which tends to be stricter .
it is indeed essential for the economic development and political stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina , as well as for its European objectives .
I should like to raise a question which is significant for the economy and employment , and not only in my own country .
MEPs have been elected democratically to represent the interests of European citizens and cannot compromise in any way on the fact that they need to protect their rights enshrined in treaties and conventions .
Mr Füle , you have a specific responsibility relating to neighbourhood policy .
nobody in the Council , neither the Presidency nor any Member State , supports the continuation , or even the occurrence , of fraudulent conduct in the internal market constituted by the European Union .
Vice-President of the Commission . - When I became Commissioner , I saw that a great deal had been done in the past on questions of security and very little had been done on questions of rights .
we must provide appropriate incentives to ensure that biofuel production will not bring about a rise in food prices , because this would undermine the whole programme .
furthermore , ladies and gentlemen , it is your rapporteurs , Lutz Goepel and Luis Manuel Capoulas Santos , who have done this work on the communication regarding the legislative proposals , on behalf of Parliament .
the impact on the Irish economy now is that good enterprises are starved of capital as banks struggle to meet the various requirements .
of course , Europe cannot interfere in gas flow outside its borders or solve such disputes , but what we can do is ensure that our infrastructure is able to cope with supply shortages or failures , and make the market more transparent and efficient .
according to the opinion of financial experts , a financial transaction tax that reduces the level of financial speculation and excessive risk taking on the part of financial institutions - long advocated by the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament - can be introduced on a European level without driving out the financial sector from Europe .
one reason why it is important to promote sales of milk and milk products is that it is becoming increasingly clear that unhealthy eating is leading to a growing number of health problems among Europeans too .
I am not sure that we currently have sufficiently solid foundations to cope .
that is further justification for harmonising the rules in the Member States .
the importance of investing in the future of our knowledge economy in Europe cannot be under-emphasised and this transnational method of recognising educational results provides us with the material to do so .
that - as so often in the European Union - is partly down to funding , and in particular to the lack of funding in Member States which still have the unfortunate habit of demanding a lot of support from the European Union .
we therefore welcome the conclusion of this agreement tabled by the Commission , which aims to give all European Union air carriers non-discriminatory access to routes to and from Vietnam , while avoiding any anti-competitive practice .
this is a case of double standards .
although the crisis in Albania has been temporarily averted , we need to work closely with Albania in order to smooth out the political situation .
the Progress programme is aimed at the most exposed groups , and in relation to this , I think Member States and the European Union are responsible for effective implementation of the programme .
this meant that the populations of the seven countries that together still made up Yugoslavia at that time were free to travel throughout much of Europe .
the European cultural heritage , in all its dimensions , must , by every means , be preserved and disseminated both within and outside the Union , without denying the fact that it is wholly desirable to take as open an attitude as possible to every other culture , which has , moreover , always been the hallmark of Europe .
I will never forget what I experienced .
information for the public is very important , and is something we also do through the ECDC , both for the areas affected and also for travellers .
this agreement has been in place since 2008 .
above all , we need to be calm and measured in our response .
I am trying to reach a conclusion .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , we are all agreed on one thing : we are against any form of discrimination .
the package of measures for energy infrastructure , which the Commission intends to submit in the near future , should place particular emphasis on the previously mentioned energy projects in the Black Sea region .
this is the point that I think my colleagues Mr Rouček and Mr Pohjamo made earlier on .
we need more and better economic growth and that means more and better employment opportunities .
many points in the report by the Committee on the Environment simply go too far and leave European businesses no room to manoeuvre and no time to implement the measures .
furthermore , by demanding the reduction of ' employment gaps between third country nationals and EU citizens ' , the report clearly forms part of the immigrationist policy pursued for decades in our countries which , by bringing more than 1.5 million immigrants in from outside Europe , is in the process of turning us into third world nations .
we can afford to pay them and they want to come and work , but we are robbing those countries of their own people who have training .
firstly , Mr Schulz 's important question regarding the treaties .
I can assure him that it is a very complicated issue , but we are involved actively in dialogue with Libya , with Switzerland , with the Member States , in order to find a solution to this very complicated problem before it escalates even further .
employed people , civil servants and retired people in Europe will be the adjustment variable in order to save the euro and to save your ultra-liberal Europe .
let us recall the speech of former Czech Prime Minister Topolánek , when he sent US President Obama to hell , along with his economic policy .
in this context , I urge increased cooperation with third countries with an abundance of raw materials .
in spite of the present simplifications , in the context of Yugoslavia - i.e. a communist regime - it had far more contact with the West , with the European countries , in the past than it has now , which means there is something wrong with the whole system .
Croatia is undoubtedly the country among the accession candidates which has made the greatest progress until now .
I therefore urge my esteemed fellow Members to join in rejecting the proposed instruments , without lessening our support for the European Police Office - which we do indeed support - until the Council allows Parliament to be part of the decision-making process .
pluralism in the media can only be safeguarded by ensuring that private and public media can coexist without obstruction or discrimination .
it continues . ' in the context of an international agreement on climate change in Copenhagen in 2009 , and for those who wish so , part of this amount will be used to enable and finance actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change in developing countries that will have ratified this agreement , in particular in least-developed countries .
most likely , if Ireland votes against this Treaty , ways and means will also be found to discount that vote .
the document was short but at the same time it is a document which is readable and therefore I think it has complied with this purpose .
of course , we then have to fulfil the expectations of the Irish population and the Irish Government .
however , the real reason for his conviction seems to be to remove the opposition from the parliamentary election contest to be held in 2013 .
this challenge will be supported by a review of the ratification situation performed by the Council before January 2012 .
this is a new task and a new responsibility for all Members of the European Parliament .
it is also necessary to keep existing health and safety provisions for workers .
there is the uncertainty in Japan , where the level of human loss is still difficult to determine , and uncertainty in the Mediterranean , as further populations rise up against their regimes , in Bahrain and as you mentioned President-in-Office of the Council , in Yemen .
explanations of vote
everyone in this House , I hope , will endorse that view .
we must also recognise Turkey 's stabilising geopolitical significance .
sharing these experiences and extending their application to the areas affected by desertification can result in damaged lands being restored to agricultural use and , consequently , in stimulating production .
we are all committed to the protection of nature and public health , but it is also necessary to maintain some sense of balance .
the European research and innovation database , in which the Commission will publish the results of the projects carried out under this programme , will be a useful point of reference for SMEs .
obviously , the idea of quality assurance and control is vital .
we must manage every drop of freshwater responsibly .
there is one trial project I should like to draw to your attention , as part of which a study is being carried out into the justification of extra allowances after 2013 .
it is also time for us Europeans to stand ready to respond positively to any request we may get for Europe to facilitate unprecedented dialogue leading to reforms .
the financing is intended to support economic , financial , technical , cultural and academic cooperation with partner countries and to strengthen economic links and bilateral agreements with those countries .
for example , Romania has demonstrated that it can implement large-scale projects in partnership with European regions through the programme ' Sibiu , the 2007 European Capital of Culture ' , which had a major economic impact on the area .
( EL ) Mr President , I should like to mention a matter which I consider to be of huge political significance ; it relates to the national parliaments and their cooperation with the European Parliament within the framework of efforts being made in Europe today to achieve economic recovery and financial stability .
in particular , these measures must not be put in place with a total disregard for existing democratic regulations .
could any measures be taken to alleviate this problem ?
by voting in favour of the report as a whole , I am supporting the many good elements it contains , but I also recognise the fact that the majority sees nuclear energy as part of Europe 's CO2-free energy mix .
finally , I would like to refer to the concerns expressed about competition in specific sectors , such as energy , transport , the food supply chain and emerging digital industries .
we cannot stand for such barbaric acts : they are expressions of hate and intolerance .
I would like to mention the fact that Chief Prosecutor Brammertz himself regards cooperation with the international tribunal in the Hague as irreproachable .
allow me , if you will , to turn to the report itself .
there is no question as far as I am concerned of compromising security .
we are conscious of these facts and we are closely following the political situation in Venezuela .
so , as I said , I shall reply to some of your comments , although I am not claiming that I will answer them all .
I also hope that the new Commission will present a directive on trafficking in human beings as soon as possible - a directive that is more forceful and goes even further than the proposal made by the old Commission , which was , in itself , a good one .
we must fight proactively to develop the economy and for an ambitious social agenda , and these are political areas that quite simply require more substance .
it is worth considering at this point possible instruments which would guarantee that such people will not have their electricity cut off .
only by working together will we succeed in achieving our ambitious climate goals and increasing Europe 's competitiveness .
obviously there are certain avenues relating to transport .
so why is this important ?
it is important to recognise the need to increase public and private investment in ICT tools in order to develop smart energy infrastructures for transport .
( DE ) Mr President , I share the opinion of my fellow Members with regard to the unfortunate and inconsistent approach taken by individual governments to the challenges currently facing us .
simplifying the rules governing treatment abroad can , of course , also be seen as mobilising market forces in terms of general access to medical services .
I hope that the Commission , as it did the first time , will again embrace our proposals so that we can make the opportunities of the single European market fully available to both investors and the fund industry .
the attacks on UN offices and its aid provision seem deliberately aimed at cutting off aid to the needy and removing independent observers of Israel 's barbaric actions .
the growing use of fossil fuel energy sources will increase emissions by 5 million tonnes annually .
in dialogues with third countries , freedom of expression and raising individual cases will remain central to our agenda .
what , if need be , would be the Commission 's strategy , and what partnerships would it establish with the states concerned and with the institutions of the United Nations ' system , or with the private sector , in the effort to enable citizens in developing countries to have access to the vaccine ?
the rapporteur is witness to the fact that we had some discussions on whether or not this report ought to include other social problems within our society that go beyond human rights .
in Slovakia , the indigenous Hungarian population are punished if they use their mother tongue .
such equality could provide the opportunity to achieve a more just and equal society and , on that road , men are essential .
in 2008 , 116 million European citizens were exposed to the risk of poverty and social exclusion .
I wonder where the rapporteur has got the less environmentally favourable proposal from without being influenced by the motor industry lobby .
in addition , interest groups will be recorded in the explanatory memorandum to the report or recommendation if they have obtained a meeting with a Member about a legislative dossier .
I fully endorse this appeal , because it touches on one of Turkey 's and the EU 's basic accession criteria .
therefore , this argument is incorrect .
the current lack of supervision poses an extremely serious problem , and the inability of credit rating agencies to act in the general interest and publish the real solvency levels of the main players in the global financial markets can no longer be tolerated .
I would also like to highlight the major impetus that the Spanish Presidency - represented by the Spanish Ministry of Health and Dr Matesanz , as Director of the Spanish National Transplant Organisation - have given to this directive and to the action plan , because we have been able to count on them at all times .
the Council appreciated that the measures adopted by the States had been significant in keeping credit channels open .
that is usually the result of pressure on the part of others .
let me also say that the Commission , in its function as observer within the management system in the committees in the Member States , is also looking at and actively participating in the assessment of the allocation of funds in the areas important to ethnic minorities , so we have different sorts of information .
the triumph of blind ideology over commonsense makes this place into the paper mill that the UK has come to despise .
all the other debates about the long-term building-up of the country also need to be held , of course , but I do not think that there is really any point in us putting forward a catalogue of demands clean across all political areas - from the freedom of the media to women 's rights - here in Parliament at this point , or that we will be taken seriously if we do so .
there can be no compromise on freedom and basic rights ...
older people have accumulated a lot of knowledge and experience and we need to motivate them to continue to work for longer in their lives .
this means targeted criticism instead of general complaints .
we do really have quite limited rights to intervene in how the Member States deal with national complaints and how they respond .
President Ahmadinejad 's regime continues to trample on the fundamental rights of the Iranian people with impunity , while the government itself is shaken by a number of uncertainties .
in spite of these commendable features of the law governing foundations , however , there is still a need to resolve the numerous difficulties that religious communities and minorities continue to experience , particularly as regards their legal status and , I must stress , their property rights .
there is not even a guarantee that , by the end of the year , all the European manufacturers will still be in the market .
the next item is the debate on :
new technology investment is needed , and for the sectors it is important to address structural measures , not just subsidies : subsidy is taking from one pocket to put into another pocket .
1 .
banks which receive deposits must declare them .
this is worse than the Council 's last offer would have been .
today the situation is completely different .
, in writing . - ( HU ) Mercury is one of the best known and most dangerous of the heavy metals .
there can be no doubt that terrorism is a policing phenomenon and we are all aware that it has a policing dimension .
Turkey is playing a very negative role in those negotiations .
the Council has stressed that the European Union strives to take an active and constructive role and that , at the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in May , it will strive for far-reaching but realistic outcomes of the meeting .
some countries in East and South Africa have , however , reached interim agreements .
I have received one draft resolution submitted in accordance with Article 103 ( 2 ) of the Regulation .
I will just make a suggestion in relation to unkept bees - the wild bees and the bumble bees as referred to by another colleague .
I hope that the President of the United States , Barack Obama , will show that he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize , because combating climate change will contribute to peace and happiness for all nations .
in terms of content , it is an important report , but I did not want to comment on it now .
I would suggest that the reform of agriculture is evolution , not revolution , and we are carrying on very much with the Fischler reforms .
I would also like to highlight the youth-specific ESF programmes .
I also welcome the decision of the European Council for its greater strategic realism , which provides it with greater clarity and fewer but quantified objectives .
composition of committees and delegations : see Minutes
this is a joint problem - terrorist attacks in both the US and Europe have their origins in the region .
Commissioner Kallas , we will continue to have difficulties in external policy .
please go back to the Conference of Presidents and look at the system as to how questions are ordered .
we need far better cooperation if we want to win the fight against counterfeiting .
Mr President , Churchill once said that the best way to make a task seem difficult is to postpone it , and I think that is one way of describing the energy debate we are having in Europe today .
there is an understanding of the sin of omission - responsibility for what we could and might have done but failed to do .
scientific collaboration and cooperation offers the chance to overcome the extreme disparities in development .
these are the issues relating to programmes and content which we want to discuss with you , but not only with you .
the communication mentions the pilot project for the resettlement of refugees in Malta , but it does not introduce the notion of a pilot project concerning relocation of unauthorised migrants or asylum seekers - and this despite the repeated calls for such a burden-sharing system from various Member States and Members of Parliament .
Europe must be competitive .
we see , for example , that the Italian and Spanish high-speed network is already almost fully equipped , that the conventional network of Luxembourg is also almost fully equipped , while in 15 Member States , there are only pilot lines or projects .
as a result of these infringement procedures , the overall situation has improved .
I voted in favour of this report because it sets out the situation relating to credit rating agencies ( CRAs ) clearly and objectively .
but as a primary screening measure it is a very serious breach of our basic rights to privacy and is intrusive .
despite the express declaration by the European Parliament , the EU authorities took no serious action on this .
the Agency has the opportunity to help to achieve real interconnection .
the debate is closed .
I believe that tighter regulation of the financial and banking sector , combined with encouraging investment in research and development , promoting competition and providing financial education for citizens may be much more effective solutions during this time of crisis .
this Treaty is primary law and it is ratified by all Member States .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , the Commission remains very concerned about the dire humanitarian situation in the Kivus , and North Kivu in particular , where the number of internally displaced people - currently exceeding 800 000 in North Kivu alone - has as much as doubled in the course of 2007 , thus alarmingly increasing the vulnerability of the population already suffering hardship .
when you buy a product , you do not have to know what is in it .
a European policy on the protection of forests , on the restoration of burned land , on the forestation of areas , within the framework of European assistance in combating climate change , is absolutely necessary , as is coordinated European action to prevent and fight fires , restore forests and establish new forest areas .
we have thus acted faster than any Member State , particularly my own .
European citizens want nothing to do with any further enlargement in the short or medium term , and certainly nothing to do with an enlargement to include Turkey , of course .
we must ensure that we do not show any weakness : that is the point and we must be very clear about it .
in this specific case , the aid concerns 528 redundancies at 66 companies operating in NACE Revision 2 Division 23 ( manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products ) .
I therefore hope that the European institutions will redouble their effects in implementing measures that speed up and improve the rates of utilisation of such an important resource as the EGF , which currently has very low levels of mobilisation .
I would like to repeat some of what you have said .
air transport offers important value added , especially for less developed , peripheral and island regions .
that is why joint action at European level will ensure that we manage this precious resource in the best possible way .
then there is the obviously low treatment cost in third countries , which is the main economic factor encouraging or driving these illegal shipments .
what about the innocent civilians , the non-combatants , women and children ?
secondly , a much more rapid evening out of support for farmers in old and new Member States is needed .
I think that when they occasionally look at such a document , citizens should also be able to do something concrete with it .
this in no way reflects our views on the content of the report .
I therefore voted against the report .
there are just three points I want to make .
the second problem is costs .
ladies and gentlemen , today we are facing a challenge of similar proportions to that of twenty years ago , and thus it is perhaps no overstatement to pronounce that the European Union is facing its most challenging period of the past twenty years .
the amendments tabled by the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance concerning anti-discrimination , minority rights and social rights have been adopted either wholly or in part .
now we do not need this time schedule but still , inertly , we have this time schedule on our tables and nobody tries to deal with this question .
limiting , restricting or conditioning the Internet would have a direct and negative impact on the day-to-day lives of the general public and many of the micro-enterprises and SMEs which depend directly on this resource to carry out their business .
it is a matter of defining precise indicators allowing us to evaluate and measure the impact of the crisis on employment and the economic situation of women .
signature of acts adopted under codecision : see Minutes
it is an asset of which no one can claim exclusive ownership .
I am of course referring to Turkey , which , despite much pressure put upon it by the EU , continues not to implement or ratify the Ankara Protocol with respect to Cyprus , thus effectively imposing an embargo on all shipping and air transport with Cyprus .
that is why we must impose strict , binding rules .
I would also like to ask you , in your future role as Commissioner , to ensure that these countries are developed further within the framework of the cross-border support programme .
some of us have come under more than a little pressure in our home countries regarding this .
at present , the problem is of course that , when we go from one country to another , we often have to purchase new subscriptions , or if we do not purchase a new one , we have to pay very high charges .
they are carcinogens of the most serious category , but they also cause reductions in cell and hormonal immunity , greater susceptibility to infection , reduced fertility , increased abortions , dysfunctional ovaries , childbirth problems , greater infant mortality , problems with the development of the central nervous system , pathological changes to steroid hormones and receptors , and so on .
that security must be guaranteed , and then we could surely make progress in our dialogue with Iran .
firstly , terrorism should never be appeased ; it has to be defeated .
in the worldwide approach , we have to concentrate , among other things , on the rules of play in the market , and also at the cost side of competitive producers from outside the European Union .
however , we are critical of certain individual wordings in the amendments , which seek to regulate European energy policy in greater detail .
are you therefore in a position to tell me what specific measures can be taken to protect the economies of the Member States of the European Union from speculative attacks by high-risk mutual funds , including funds domiciled in the European Union ?
at a time when the World Bank is finalising its new energy strategy , a detailed approach becomes even more relevant .
that concludes the item .
a free and tolerant debate is of crucial importance to any country .
Ninety-six people died in the disaster , including the Polish President and his wife and 18 members of the Polish Parliament .
as we find out the extent of the damage caused to the real economy and the labour market by the financial crisis , we must take measures to improve access to the Union 's financing instruments .
the growth of the cultural and creative industries in the European Union since the 1990s has been exponential in terms of job creation and their contribution to GDP .
it is an essential element of the EU 's influence in the standard-setting process of the International Accounting Standards Committee Foundation .
( SV ) Madam President , one of Mr Andersson 's foremost conclusions is that the labour market should be safeguarded by amending the European Posting of Workers Directive .
the European Commission worked around the clock to be able to issue a positive report on 10 June .
indeed , Slovakia is aware of this problem .
Sarajevo was , at that time , the symbol of an open Bosnia , populated by Muslims , Serbs and Croats .
the GCC representatives declared that Europeans were creating pressure for unlimited access to numerous investment opportunities , while the GCC is interested not only in acquiring capital , but also in the need for technology and managerial know-how .
on behalf of the EFD Group . - Mr President , Tunisia 's situation is overall a positive one it seems .
I appeal to India to reform the Armed Forces Special Powers Act .
I am pleased that today we can bring a successful , lengthy process to its conclusion at first reading , with a large degree of consensus .
this only goes to show that sport requires a horizontal approach .
why does nobody see that we have nine Member States in the European Union that currently have no limit to the detention period ?
the current trade system encourages the growth of CO2 emissions .
his purpose in doing so was to analyse and contribute to the social ' question ' which - today as in 1991 - can only be resolved by referring to Christian doctrine and , hence , by recognising the absolutely indiscriminate dignity of the human being and the worker .
I would like to thank the representatives of the European institutions , the Presidency of the European Parliament , the shadow rapporteurs , coordinators and all of you .
and one more thing about Croatia : by implementing the Ecological and Fisheries Protection Zone , Croatian politics was hoisted by its own petard .
the complaint made by the environmental lobby that the package has been watered down frankly seems unreasonable to me , when we consider that targets are being observed and industrial sectors have a declining emissions ceiling .
such an agreement , which is intended to promote free trade , should be entered into with great caution so as not to destabilise agriculture in the Community still further .
allow me to make a few remarks .
( CS ) Mrs Ria Oomen-Ruijten carried out an outstanding piece of work when she found a compromise wording on a subject which divides this House .
now the time has come to give massive support to the freelancers , independent workers and one-man businesses within the framework of the Small Business Act so that they , too , can play an active role in the health market and thus give citizens more choice in this market in future and empower them to select the best solution in both quantitative and qualitative terms .
it is vital , however , that we do not defend such an absolute and modern view of our position on certain values that our focus on a single part obscures the bigger picture .
other issues have been raised , Madam President , in particular with regard to tariffs - an issue raised , among others , by Mr Caspary .
therefore , I think that assisting spouses should be given the option to choose .
the vote will take place on Thursday , 26 November 2009 .
I welcome the Commission 's commitment to transparency but , according to the briefing note kindly provided by your services , the assertion that negotiators were required to sign a non-disclosure agreement is incorrect .
respect for International Labour Organisation standards , the principles laid down in the European Social Charter and social dialogue are just some of the areas that can be discussed on these occasions .
Madam President , many have spoken about very serious issues .
it should be noted that the provisions of the renewed agreement will have a positive impact on the European canned tuna market and will undoubtedly help stabilise it .
the anchovy fishery in the Bay of Biscay is of great socio-economic importance .
this is unheard of , of course .
you know that under the pretext called " fight against terrorism and piracy ” the supra-national oligraphy is trying to put as many citizens as possible under a total , unconditional and unaccoutable before civic society control .
I must first of all congratulate the French Presidency for the way in which it has managed this entire difficult period which the European Union has gone through .
what has happened in recent years ?
we are also collaborating closely with the ECDC on the preparation of a second report on Member States ' implementation of the Council recommendation of 2002 .
nomination of a member of the Court of Auditors - Mr Ladislav Balko ( SK ) (
the second argument which is put forward is the question of sustainability .
a common approach on immigration in the EU is imperative .
also , if individual agreements are to be concluded , then the smaller states need to be included , not just through trade associations .
I visited the Tunisian-Libyan border at the beginning of March .
several months ago , the Committee on Transport and Tourism questioned the Commission in response to a series of bankruptcies of budget airlines .
the candidacy of the State President in parliamentary elections is an unknown precedent in the history of a democratic state , just like the nomination of the head of the radical movement ' Nashi ' for the post of minister for youth affairs and the refusal to receive a delegation from the European Parliament 's Subcommittee on Human Rights .
relations with Canada have long been profitable for both parties and , in commercial terms , are of mutual interest and involve good cooperation .
the oral question to the Commission ( B6-0483 / 2008 ) by Mr Pribetich , on behalf of the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy , on the European space policy : how to bring space down to earth .
the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon on 1 December 2009 means it is necessary to adapt the Rules of Procedure to bring them into line with Parliament 's new rules and powers .
there is an order and I am afraid you cannot come with a spontaneous question .
the assumption that women must be able to achieve easier abortions in order to recover their right to sexual freedom not only runs counter to general lay morals , but also contradicts the principles enshrined in recital Z , which states that the promotion of ' higher birth rates to meet future requirements ' is central to the European action .
what those affected require is timely and necessary intervention , not more bureaucracy .
the agreement has my full approval , and I would like to call on the remaining Member States to ratify it as quickly as possible .
we are in agreement on that .
there was a very neat illustration of that earlier this morning when we listened to the President of the Czech Republic .
climate change is expected to lead to a reduction in rainfall , higher temperatures and a higher incidence of heat waves and periods of drought , leading to increased desertification .
in May 2009 , the European Commission allowed deviation from the provisions of the regulation in exceptional circumstances and taking into account the situation that has come about during the economic and financial crisis allowed assistance to be targeted at the unemployed .
when Frontex patrols intercept boats full of migrants at sea how do you ensure that those on board are effectively able to apply for asylum and that the patrols in question will treat minors in a proper manner , and with their best interests in mind , as required under international law ?
Member States are best placed to decide these details ; the principles of subsidiarity should apply .
the requirements to prevent it are enforceable and this legislation takes us a step forward by introducing further prohibitions on a range of chemicals , pesticides , pollutants that present a risk to aquatic and indeed human life .
I have two points to make , first of all on the trajectory in terms of reductions , flexibility and penalties , which was particularly discussed during the trialogue at the weekend .
the latter will certainly benefit the European public and will enable us to improve our relations with third countries .
perhaps , Mr President , in your daily dealings involving billions of euro , it has escaped your attention that the amount of money you receive each month for performing your role is enough to cover the monthly living expenses of almost 100 families in my country .
moreover , the other two problems would still remain : firstly , overfishing would actually increase and , secondly , it would not solve the problem of market prices .
can the Republic of Italy , a Member State of the European Union , put an end to the ethnic cleansing that was started by criminal members of the Calabrian mafia , the N 'Drangheta ?
that also means that we will finally get away from one-sided development .
the Commission has initiated an impact assessment as part of the review of Directive 86 / 613 / EEC , which deals with the principle of equal treatment between self-employed men and women , including those in agriculture .
( EL ) Madam President , the policy of enlargement is the most successful expression of the European Union 's foreign policy .
the action plan on European e-justice , which was submitted at the last JHA Council of 28 November , is in line with the work done by successive presidencies , since the German Presidency .
every step towards simplifying provisions , as indicated in the Commission communication of 10 July 2007 should therefore be welcomed .
everyone comes along with his or her small contribution , and wants to add one section to another section .
my question is this : as we all agree that entrepreneurship is a prerequisite to growth , how can the Commission move from simply urging to putting serious pressure on governments , so that we can harmonise the procedures ?
I would like to thank all the shadow rapporteurs , the ombudsman and all the NGOs for their cooperation and assistance , and I hope that our joint report will be able to be adopted in plenary tomorrow .
in Estonia , it has been very difficult to cut expenditure in state government , yet we have been doing this for years .
the media 's influence has something to do with this growth , but it is growing during the crisis as well .
the core institutions of our financial infrastructure have been shaken to their core .
may I remind you that 20 000 tonnes of carbon dioxide are emitted into the atmosphere every year solely as a result of pointless journeys to sessions in Strasbourg .
furthermore , I support the Court of Auditors ' comments regarding the need for improvements in the programming and monitoring of activities with a view to using the available appropriations as efficiently as possible .
I shall not express an opinion on the land-based alternative route but I firmly believe that the European Commission and the Council must take up their role as coordinators duties and consistently demand - in the interest of the Baltic and other countries - that the investors assume full responsibility for potential ecological damage .
I am very grateful for the initiative by the Spanish Presidency - and this is a very Spanish event as far as I can see - in adopting this series of proposals and leading the way in this regard .
if we abandon this principle , then our democratic system as a whole will be lost , and we will find ourselves in a situation of manipulation , such as the one that we have seen in Ireland .
I would urge the political parties in South Africa to take the initiative themselves .
I would have felt demeaned if my professional status had been decided not by my knowledge and intellectual capacity , but by some secondary feature , such as gender .
however , the derogation from the rules of origin on canned tuna is totally unacceptable .
the second question is on the possibility of suspending the Structural Funds , the only consequence of which will be jeopardising medium- and long-term growth , thus increasing the interest on the debt , thus increasing the short-term deficit .
I should like to thank her again and say that the Commission 's communication , adopted on 20 May , made very interesting reading .
serious reforms of the banking and financial systems need therefore to be implemented .
by developing tourism , whether for business or pleasure , we are helping to revive and support growth and to create employment .
second , to those who chose to focus solely on abuses and misuses of this right , I agree that these issues are important , but I say that Article 35 of the Directive already provides Member States with the possibility to fight against those abuses , such as marriages of convenience or fraud - one just has to implement it .
the average import price for the US in the period 2005-2007 was EUR 12.45 per kilogram ; for the first quarter of 2008 the price actually rose slightly to EUR 13.6 per kilogram .
in the face of these disasters , the European Union must demonstrate its responsiveness and express its solidarity .
author . - Mr President , for 30 years Iran has been ruled by a theocratic dictatorship .
I do not believe that this is the right course .
agriculture plays a key role in the development of communities .
why do I mention this ?
legislation on the internal market is certainly necessary , but it is far from being the most important concern .
in actual fact , we are going to lose EUR 1 700 000 000 - the first time that there has been a decrease .
when applied in Romania , it has been noted that a different approach needs to be adopted on the employment issue when the Roma segment of the population is involved , as part of the measures implemented by POSDRU ( Sectoral Operational Programme for the Development of Human Resources ) .
I do not think this would be a good thing .
the Treaty of Lisbon stipulates that the EU must accede to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the European Parliament today .
in this context , I cannot accept Parliament 's amendments on the deletion of the derogations , that is Amendments 4 and 6 , or Amendments 12 and 13 on the renaming of the plan , the modification of the EC quotas and the introduction of a new payback system .
( FR ) Madam President , I would like to pay tribute to the balanced resolution of my colleague , Mr Swoboda , and say that it is vital for us to make a success of this accession .
of these , the most important is the internalisation of the external costs of transport , such as environmental costs .
Parliament should express its support for the family and friends of Mr Zapata and express its great concern at the state of human rights in Cuba .
it will reinforce the promotion of high-quality European brands , and will perhaps rightly inspire pride in citizens for what Europeans still manage to produce , despite competition from cheap labour .
we are talking not about the fibre but about other materials , such as pieces of fur .
our Russian partners do this in an accomplished manner , without ambiguity , because ambiguity causes misunderstandings .
( FR ) Madam President , I well understand the motives of my colleagues from the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe for tabling Amendment 2 on the fight against AIDS , and I would stress that , in general , I share these motives .
this is exactly why the immediate implementation of our adjusted Rules of Procedure is not down to Parliament either .
where is Europe ?
that does not happen very often .
I believe that the report by Mrs Ferreira will further encourage the Member States to take action in the field of environmental protection .
by a new European tax , of course !
it should highlight the failure of Member States to implement EU migration rules .
thirdly , I would like to point out that we cannot close our eyes to reality .
just one year ago , we called on Uganda not to follow through on its plans for a law to criminalise homosexuals .
unfortunately , the aid granted to the Polish shipyards was not spent on investments and the necessary restructuring .
that is bad , and there are good reasons why we have a precautionary level that must not be exceeded .
Mrs Isler Béguin said a few minutes ago that history will not pardon us if we do nothing .
between November and December 2008 , the results of these tests led us to conclude that the central system had not achieved the level stipulated in the contract .
yet these countries play by the rules and all they are trying to achieve is to manage natural resources and provide employment for their people .
currently , all telephone calls in Bulgaria are controlled .
the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 forced us to review our ideas on Internet security .
in writing . - ( IT ) The Lambsdorff report ( and related recommendation ) gives a clear political signal for the strengthening of the European Union 's profile within the United Nations ; taking the Commission and the Member States together , the Union provides the UN with over 40 % of its funding , but has not as yet acquired any political sway or capacity of influence in return .
likewise , university education ought to be adapted to our societies ' increasingly heterogeneous social and economic needs , while not ignoring the fact that education is also the basis for training free citizens capable of playing an active role in society .
this is a major achievement .
he was arrested on Sunday and there is no prospect of his release .
if we speak of magnificent unspoiled natural beauty , we have grounds for applying the latest standards there .
I hope that incidents of the kind mentioned by the Member can be avoided .
fourthly , the SBA has also created a framework to enable SMEs to take up the challenge of energy efficiency by improving their energy management and seizing the opportunities presented by the environmental market .
Madam President , the new Hungarian constitution demolishes the pillars of a democracy based on the rule of law and opens the way to autocracy .
this has been generated by a system in the name of which European leaders have for years been recommending moderation on pay and caution on social expenditure , and have allowed inequalities to soar .
also , the Chinese population afforded help with fundraising events organised to relieve the island from the disaster .
at the time in the European Union there was a decrease in the incidence of zoonosis in chicken , without using the US methods .
the coal mining sector provides 280 000 jobs in the European Union , especially in mono-industry areas .
we know that , every year , the European Union and the Member States give millions to cooperation and development programmes , that this assistance is necessary and that , in many cases , it makes all the difference .
I believe there is a lack of honesty in relation to this pseudo-humanitarian development aid .
( PL ) Madam President , children are our future .
finally , we look favourably upon initiatives encouraging the transfer of technology , research , capacity strengthening , regional supply systems and help with registration in order to facilitate and increase the production of pharmaceutical products by the developing countries themselves and we will work with Member States towards that end .
the Committee members were of the opinion that such a ban would be unworkable .
without a doubt , we should consider economic development to be the key phrase for resolving the current global crisis .
you said that , Mr Bufton , quite early in your presentation .
indeed , a country like Spain is supplying personnel to the mission - this is very EU , very Brussels .
however , the pros and cons of the change must be weighed up very carefully .
finally , I want to give you an example of how the single market does not work .
the resolution ' Stresses that it is important that the EU should appoint more female police officers and soldiers to CSDP missions ' , which is contrary to my group 's support for demilitarising the common security and defence policy .
back then , it was designed as entry to a phase that would be completed by a much more extensive integration .
many new business start-ups fail , in particular , in the microfinance sector , and so this must be accounted for within the programme .
on 4 June 1989 , Poles regained their liberty by voting in the first free election , in which we returned a non-communist Prime Minister .
until now , the European taxpayer has borne the main financial brunt of the economic crisis .
what do you think are the obstacles to greater progress in this area , and do you think that , as things stand , enough is being done ?
today it is vital to set up a framework for Member States and strengthen supervision of the ways in which the Member States choose to store waste .
aside from that , you add a development policy that we have been employing for 40 years saying that we Europeans are the world 's biggest sponsor , but it is a policy that is failing now and has to be reviewed .
in my opinion , this is a promising sign for further progress in this exceptionally sensitive area .
( the President cut off the speaker )
I find that unacceptable .
I am afraid that in the world in which we live - whether it is in the Member State we know best or in other Member States - there has always been a predisposition to concentrate maybe overly on the negativity of the economic downturn .
the problem is that binding BIT arbitration judgments based on international law could entail commitments to investors by Member States that give rise to EU Treaty infringement proceedings .
furthermore , this resolution contains a statement to the effect that the legal opinion of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights should be requested .
it will be working with France and the Czech Republic .
Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to thank my colleague , Mr Schnellhardt , for his question .
the Commissioner has given his important assurances , but it would be unacceptable if the acquis communautaire were tarnished , as still appears to be the case , by the possibility of legal injunctions provided for by Article 2 , and by the possibility of criminal sanctions , including for individual users , as provided for by Article 2 ( 14 ) ( 1 ) .
debate on cases of breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law ( debate )
it is of big interest for Belgian and Brussels politicians , this location of the sites , and the Brussels Region is also interested in having our location outside the European Quarter , so we will make this decision .
the solution is to take our workers out of that global arena with its unfair rules , and that will require new customs technology for deductible customs duties .
Uganda is yet again in the news for the extremism and hysteria of some of its legislators .
I also want to thank all the shadow rapporteurs for their constructive work , and of course Mr Bushill-Matthews , who is speaking today on behalf of Mr Bowis .
as a consequence , security , good governance , energy , transport , environment , socio-economic and human development should be considered as priority actions .
it is a good example of the long road travelled since the start of the initial discussions on the PNR issue .
I appreciate that the French Presidency has managed to bring about an agreement between the old and the new Member States and has made concessions in the reference year or up to 2007 .
I believe that this fact is all the more important , given that the European Union has not been given , unfortunately , observer status in this forum .
this may mean the transport system , it may mean energy supplies , it may mean other important solutions where the Member States cannot stand alone but where the EU and the Commission must act .
the objective of this directive is to achieve a high level of consumer protection .
we should remember that severe earthquakes also occur frequently in the countries and regions of the European Union , especially in southern Europe and by the Mediterranean Sea .
thanks to the demand from China and other parties , African states can gain a better foothold on the markets .
entrepreneurs are still coming up against incompetent officials and unnecessary procedures . in addition , they continue to suffer from undue bureaucracy that significantly restricts entrepreneurial activity .
the first is purely formal .
research requires experiments in order to address important public health problems and numerous and even incurable diseases .
it also represents an area in which Europe has often moved ahead of social developments .
approval of Minutes of previous sitting : see Minutes
however , it is also essential to the European Union , and to its fishing fleets in particular .
equally little attention has been paid to the rights of parents in the case of cross-border separations .
however , I could not support the overall report because of the inclusion of issues which I believe to be , and indeed are , matters of subsidiarity - that is , the competence of the Member State - and therefore not issues about which the European Parliament should adopt a view .
debates on cases of breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law ( debate )
when you look at credit rating agencies , look at who pays their fees and at how they are supervised .
that is why we need to coordinate , to persuade the Council and the Commission to take more political initiatives .
this is not something that the Commission just came up with .
together , we need to ensure that the EU plays a key role in their transition from persecuted opposition to a democratic government .
this means the consumer needs to be aware that the price of a product has a direct bearing on the quality and safety of a product .
this is a lesson that many European countries - including mine , the United Kingdom - could well learn .
an internal market characterised by a high level of consumer protection is key to sustainable growth and employment .
it could have been the right time to put Africa on a common agenda , bearing in mind the major role which China plays there , and I could continue .
it is better to reflect carefully on where we can make cuts .
I am confident that the individual stakeholders will ensure that a balanced approach can be achieved in the area of flexicurity .
nationally , the number of female members of parliament has doubled , but more needs to be done .
the European Parliament is aware that this agreement is important even for Europeans ' security .
I firmly believe that Parliament and the European Commission should concentrate on legislative work relating to job creation and the promotion of economic growth . it is only by demonstrating that the European Union and its structures are close to the people that we can develop the authority of the Union 's institutions .
the struggle to continue with and to deepen the integration process , the struggle for the Treaty of Lisbon , which is a fundamental requirement for the extension of the EU , and also the struggle to extend the EU on the basis of deeper integration , represent the right approach .
the last question relates to the exchange rate .
finally , we are right to question the failings of the current trade globalisation model , and to ask ourselves how the world 's leading toy manufacturer could not work with reliable subcontractors .
meanwhile , the Indian authorities and the government at central level remain silent on the report .
since then , the messages coming from the Yemeni leadership have been less clear .
at present , only one Member State , namely Lithuania , has indicated that it makes use of this possibility .
today 's report largely draws attention to the fact that the European Union and the UN must help ensure that a democratic government is elected and that human rights violations come to an end in this country .
in fact , the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation ( FAO ) estimates that the number of undernourished people in the world reached 925 million in 2010 .
in writing . - ( SK ) I do not believe that governments or officials can manage the economy .
why was Europe divided ?
the image conveyed to citizens by our Parliament and by the European Union in general is very important .
not to mention climate change , an area , for example , in which nothing is being done about the problem of water shortage and the melting of the glaciers , which is already occurring and is going to have an absolute effect on the situation of the soil .
I can confirm for you that it will be based on legislation .
thank you for your attention .
in writing . - ( PL ) Croatia has made successful efforts to overcome existing divisions and to achieve unity between peoples , which is one of the aims of European Union membership .
we must hear the cry of famine and act accordingly .
this is of major importance for consumer safety and the competitiveness of the food industry .
our experience in textiles demonstrates only too clearly that we do , in fact , have a common trade policy , through which we have been able to bring together Member States with different emphases and different orientations , to weld together their views and to produce a common trade policy in textiles that has been consistently pursued .
this directive will bring more rights and transparency to consumers when taking a consumer credit .
it took the Council too long to accept and to publish a consolidated Treaty , but in the end it did so , and this is , of course , one tool with which we are able to reach out in a better way to our citizens .
Darwin called it natural selection .
employees who are in a vulnerable position in jobs where even basic health and safety standards are not fulfilled , and where there is no protection against discrimination , no social protection and no collective representation , must be protected against demeaning work conditions and exploitation .
in writing . - As a strong supporter of humanitarian aid projects when they are timely , well targeted and effectively resourced , I voted in favour of the report on humanitarian aid .
it is a vital responsibility .
in writing . - With this vote , Parliament has followed AFET 's position in welcoming the Commission 's proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council amending Regulation ( EC ) No 1717 / 2006 establishing an Instrument for Stability , as part of a wider review of the external financial assistance of the EU .
also , these countries are at different stages in their cooperation with the European Union , ranging from Member States , candidate countries , to countries from the European Neighbourhood Policy and , of course , Russia , whose constructive approach would be key to the success of this initiative .
I am very pleased that the report points out that the road is still open for eastern European countries to become members of the European Union .
( PT ) Mr President , Commissioner , Europe is currently the biggest European market for fishery and aquaculture products , importing approximately 60 % of fish consumed .
like many other speakers , I should like to mention the Western Balkans , which must not be consigned to a black hole , surrounded by Member States of the Union .
I wish to say something before I suspend the sitting .
ultimately , it is important for an organisation of this kind to have teeth .
small will be bigger tomorrow and give new jobs and more prosperity .
that is all I wanted to say and I apologise to the Members for not having responded to all the questions raised .
the figure of 25 % of women having suffered violence is totally unacceptable .
as is well known , this plan envisages the immediate election of a president , the forming of a government of national unity , and the adoption of a new elections act .
I am very happy to lend my support to a pan-European project that offers added value not only to Europe but also to the world in its aim of eventually eliminating tuberculosis .
the European Council should ask whether the European Union budget might be used to allow the European Investment Bank and the EIF to give credit guarantees for small businesses .
let us be sure that our response reflects cool heads and proper thinking , given the crisis within which we are talking .
thank goodness for that .
I voted for this report as I believe that the European Union needs a coherent investment policy which will make a positive contribution to economic growth , sustainable development and employment .
in my home country , the Netherlands , we have a shockingly high prevalence of honour killings among Turks , as there is in Germany , and I believe that this is just the tip of the iceberg and that there is an awful lot of honour killing in Turkey .
Eighty-three thousand litres of radioactive materials which leaked from the THORP nuclear reprocessing facility in April 2005 has ensured that this plant has remained closed since that date .
to date , the EU has applied internal market rules , but Article 14 states that in the application of the treaties ' the Union and the Member States ... shall take care that such services operate on the basis of principles and conditions , particularly economic and financial conditions , which enable them to fulfil their missions . '
those who merely skim over the forms and sign them without thinking and without close examination can be unpleasantly surprised how dearly it will cost them .
I support the provision that the EU should freeze the visa ban for an extended list of Belarus officials but , at the same time , unlock contacts and travel within the EU for ordinary Belarusians as much as possible .
I will give him the floor after the ' catch-the-eye ' period .
and these are usually members of the aristocracy or royalty .
is there not by now a reasonable suspicion that powerful interests have a capacity to take on sovereign states and win , and that some - for whatever objectives - are using this power to advance their own agenda , using the markets for their own ends ?
( SK ) Closer dialogue between universities and businesses will , in my opinion , contribute to economic growth .
my third point concerns the division of labour .
prior to that , we here in Parliament were discussing a free trade agreement with South Korea .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( CS ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , it is a great honour for me to be able to greet you at the opening of your five-year mandate .
however , we cannot just stop at this .
one encouraging aspect is that the European Parliament has successfully added to the European Commission 's proposal the regulation of the sale of these products via the Internet , which is the main channel for introducing counterfeit medicines into the EU market .
the current budget is too much ' business as usual ' .
in saying this , I would like to express my support for the rapporteur .
a European Union which adopts such a law is no longer a Europe of freedom .
I want to remind you that we already targeted large public companies when we launched the proposal on the European company , and that SPE proposal was designed for SMEs .
so let us rehabilitate genuine free trade , in the form of exchange between nations that enriches them without stripping them of either their defences or their identity .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , the European private company statute has regularly been on the agenda of the European Parliament and also , as you know , on that of its Committee on Legal Affairs .
we must promote the use of EGNOS and Galileo in civil aviation and thus contribute to establishing the Single European Sky ATM Research programme and facilitating its implementation .
this information bears out the data from a Eurostat study , which shows that 27 million workers suffer accidents or are affected by occupational diseases and that 137 million workers are exposed to risks on a daily basis .
at the same time , in Abkhazia and South Ossetia , the two mechanisms for preventing and responding to incidents are yielding some positive results in terms of reducing the number of incidents and facilitating the crossing of the borders by these persons .
Member of the Commission . - ( RO ) The European Commission considers that Turkey is sufficiently prepared to initiate negotiations on the Energy chapter and therefore recommended for this chapter to be opened in spring 2007 .
on the other hand , the number of executions and the procedures in place for using the death penalty around the world are unfortunately alarming : the 5 679 executions reported in 2009 were 5 679 executions too many .
that gave rise to the idea of establishing an independent external advisory body to play an active role in monitoring implementation of the Code of Practice in the European statistical system as a whole .
in writing . - I could not vote for this report because it sacrifices some of the European Parliament 's hard won new powers in international trade for the expediency of an agreement with the Council on implementing powers in other areas .
I would like to hear your view on this , Mr President .
next , we need a different policy towards producer cartels and countries , as Mr Buzek and perhaps others have said .
it is a difficult balance to strike , and there are some suggestions from Parliament 's first proposal that the Council has not accepted , which we are therefore reintroducing .
we all believe this .
in writing . - ( LT ) The ex-ante evaluation concluded that , insofar as it corresponds to the requirements of the European fleets , the fisheries agreement with São Tomé and Príncipe can enhance the visibility of the EU 's tuna fleet in the Atlantic , offering the vessels and the EU areas dependent on them , in the medium term , a stable framework and contributing to continuity in the fishing zones of the Gulf of Guinea .
I think that is a very practical idea , as is his idea of a permanent EU operational headquarters complementing - and , of course , not competing with - NATO 's command structures .
according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control , there are 400 000 patients in Europe infected with multi-resistant strains of bacteria .
in connection with the above , the European Protection Order should apply to the victims of all crimes , including human trafficking , the victims of female genital mutilation , forced marriages , honour killings , incest and other crimes of this type .
those were famous declarations on freedom and the rule of law that forged contemporary democracy .
from the point of view of the nation states this is true , but the fact is that nation states are also to be given an opportunity to ensure that the same laws and regulations apply in the remaining 26 Member States .
we see Commissioner Rehn explaining to us today that there would be three pillars in his strategy : growth on the one hand , economic governance on the other , and , finally , supervision of the financial markets .
I wish to end by bringing up one aspect on which the Commission and Parliament are in agreement : the need to find a legislative approach to the problem of noise pollution in the railway sector .
talks must be held in parallel also with other states in the region , especially with Kyrgyzstan 's neighbours Russia and China .
secondly , the control of the EU 's external borders and the fight against networks of illegal immigrant smugglers will unfortunately remain a political priority for many years to come because in reality the trade in human misery is in the hands of criminal gangs .
all academic exchanges and the potential to compare qualifications are of exceptional importance for young people wishing to acquire experience abroad .
I support this new approach , since the aim of the legal adjustment is not to define product safety , but to create a transparent environment in which reliable information will be provided on the properties of products .
synergies between the various EU policies should be encouraged in order to achieve the Europe 2020 growth and employment targets .
the debate is closed .
in principle , we support any initiative that improves the situation in the European Union , but this does not mean that there is no room for criticism and improvement .
last week in Egypt , four thousand Muslims attacked a Coptic village not far from Cairo .
once again , my thanks .
finally , I think that in the case of passengers who have been left stranded outside the European Union , the European External Action Service should be ready with definite procedures for helping them .
this applies equally in relation to scientific research , marine resources , biodiversity , European social policy , climate change and the unrivalled contribution that the ORs make in terms of cultural diversity .
similarly , the Presidency is concerned about the large number of news reports about torture and inhumane treatment and specifically , abuse committed outside official detention facilities .
was it not a feisty Slovene who , raising his fist against a mighty empire , first declared : ' all roads do not lead to Rome ! ' ?
with knowledge and technology transfer , Europe can make a very substantial contribution to genuinely sustainable development in India .
we are also serious in taking into account our relations with partners such as the United States , Canada and Australia .
we , in the European Parliament , are concerned by the current situation in that great country .
I am expecting this summit to generate a new dynamic , a new sense of responsibility and a more serious approach to handling different topics .
this is very clear to us , particularly in relation to the problems associated with the Palestinian Territory and the division of that territory in 1946 .
there is no doubt that the current economic crisis has seriously highlighted the important work of the European Investment Bank in the European Union .
I think it is a positive development that the Prime Minister has submitted the law to the European Commission and it is with confidence that we await the European Commission 's opinion .
my proposal had been to raise it to 4 % , which is still rather low if you compare it to national parliaments across our Union , still below what is the norm in many national parliaments , but perhaps a reasonable balance .
China , in particular , invests heavily in cultural diplomacy to improve its image and attract tourists .
he has made promises on the nature of the elections that he has been unable to keep - the rights of numerous election observers were violated by depriving them of their right to oversee the election procedures fully .
so , the natural handicap payments are not the intervention lever that aims to tackle this issue of depopulation .
the ' no ' vote has also dropped six points to 33 % .
they are interested in the quality and productivity of political output .
but our aim is that before the end of Parliament 's present legislative period all existing legislation will be fully in line with the new provision of the Treaty of Lisbon .
there are now no longer two types of legitimacy , rather there are two voices for citizens : one is here in Parliament and the other is in the citizens ' initiative .
Mr Verhofstadt has announced here proposals to impose from above , as it were , certain formal , legal and legislative solutions on certain Member States . I think this is nothing other than introducing a far-reaching , excessive integration of Europe , by the back door as it were , and over the heads of the citizens .
meanwhile , France is selling Mistrals to Russia , despite the fact that the Sarkozy plan has not been implemented , and , at the same time , France is giving its support to the North European Gas Pipeline .
at present , Member States provide technical equipment on a voluntary basis .
the rules state that , in certain circumstances where there are extraordinary regional disasters , this aid can be used .
in writing . - ( on behalf of the UK Conservative delegation ) The UK Conservatives today voted against the 2.9 % increase in the budget because we believe that , as national capitals look for ways of cutting their own deficits or improving their fiscal situation , it is not appropriate for MEPs to demand an increase in European spending .
the Court has spoken .
if the conclusions of this assessment confirm that the best way of solving the existing issues is to revise the Directive , and if the social partners do not respond to the latest invitation to them , in summer I will propose to the Members of the Commission that we adopt a balanced legislative proposal that takes into account the interests of all sides and the views they have expressed .
I would like to stress several aspects of European foreign policy which cannot be implemented without strategic cooperation with our strongest ally , the United States .
author . - Mr President , like my colleague Robert Evans , I also represent , in London , our region , over 150 000 constituents of Bangladeshi origin .
I believe - and a number of previous speakers have already pointed this out - that a differentiated approach would certainly be useful .
I feel that Parliament set an example of what we all now have to make an effort to achieve : the consensual modification of the regulation .
lastly , to conclude , there are a few timetabling issues : we also have economic governance , the winding-up of the Council 's task force , and the Commission 's proposals ; a great deal of work will be required to link up this budget with future budgets and the financial perspective .
( SV ) Mr President , what is there time to say in two minutes when we are to talk about and describe what happened in Srebrenica , when we need to learn how to remember this , so that it never happens again ?
bands already designated by the Commission should be freed up by 1 January 2012 , according to the Commission 's proposal .
the recognition of the Roma genocide is a historic moment for those millions of Europeans who belong to the Yenish , Sinti , Roma , Manouche and traveller peoples .
focusing on student mobility has to be the first step in giving more employment opportunities to our young people .
the FTA will quickly remove EUR 1.6 billion worth of EU export duties levied annually .
the European Environment Agency has recently calculated that it would be possible to reduce emissions appreciably if waste management were more closely linked with policies for alleviating the effects of climate change .
clauses of this kind which are used in an industrial context , for example in trade agreements with South Korea concerning the car industry , must also be applied to agriculture .
what is the most important is compliance with legislation .
I am counting on you .
it will enable the entry into force of a regulation introducing significant amendments to the original agreement , in particular , at the level of disarmament and of the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction , as well as at the level of combating poverty by meeting the Millennium Development Goals , along with many other important amendments .
furthermore , the European Parliament has historically called for internalisation for all modes of transport and not just for the one that is already subject to cross-border charging .
therefore , I believe that this is a question of balance and not a question of balancing the one against the other .
( LV ) Thank you , Madam President .
that really would run counter to everything we have agreed in Parliament to date .
we should make the strategic partnership closer , deeper and broader .
the Swedish Presidency wants to further harmonise asylum law and make the European Union more attractive to migrant workers .
after all , fish is stored and transported in boxes and they know how much weight of fish a box can hold .
it is really only then that democracy will have a genuine chance in Central Asia .
the current constitutional impasse in Moldova could affect the comprehensive implementation of the protocol and the related memoranda of understanding After the failure of last September 's referendum , it is very important that all political forces act responsibly ahead of the forthcoming elections of 28 November 2010 .
in particular , they need to be coordinated at EU level and those areas need to be identified where the European Union can develop a comparative edge on the global market .
we urge the Commission to initiate consultations as soon as possible with all the countries bordering the Danube , and for the Danube Strategy to be accompanied by an action plan and multiannual operational programme implemented along with the participating states , based on the model for the Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region .
if we want sustained development of Europe 's transport system and if we are going to achieve the goals and respect the commitments made to citizens and also at the international level in recent years , we have to invest in railways and guarantee the interoperability of the European railway system .
( DE ) Mr President , particularly in the pharmaceuticals industry , of course , research and development are key when it comes to innovation and fighting diseases , which in turn , benefit EU citizens .
we must bear in mind not only the marking system but also the other available means to us of boosting consumers ' knowledge and ability to choose between goods .
the Albertini report , which I support strongly , sets out the Union 's foreign policy priorities and rightly endorses the EU membership aspirations for the Western Balkan countries , particularly Croatia , Macedonia and Montenegro , for which I am rapporteur .
I hope that you will respect the values of the best sort of Nordic democracy : not through compulsion but through cooperation .
otherwise , it is pointless to spend public money , or private money , on research , if the discoveries that are made , if the initiatives that are brought to a successful conclusion are not placed at the service of citizens in order to save human lives .
it must be made clear and I believe it really is important .
it is a well-known fact that oil is no longer a sufficiently powerful source of energy to meet the level of demand , which is estimated to grow by at least 60 % by 2030 . finding alternative sources and using existing resources sensibly are challenges which will face the EU in the future .
as with other matters , we are experiencing continuous and increasingly irritating delays from the Turkish side in relation to these issues .
the European Union also remains a staunch advocate of the United Nations system of human rights protection .
I would like once again to congratulate the people involved in the summit and I think a lot of momentum and progress has been made .
furthermore , on another level definitely worth mentioning , the issue of desertification is also relevant within the European Union itself .
the high electoral turnout is particularly worthy of note .
this is a significant advantage , particularly in terms of the security of our energy supplies .
a general seized power in violation of constitutional legality and placed the President , the Prime Minister , other members of the Government and many civilians under arrest .
sometimes we are prepared to speak late in debates , but sometimes we wish to be given preference and to speak early in the afternoon .
the fact that the European Union as a whole is based on common values means that these same values must be reflected in its common foreign and security policy .
however , unemployment does not only mean a loss of income , but also a loss of confidence in ourselves and in others .
( HU ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the two-thirds majority government in Hungary launched an offensive against democratic institutions in the past six months .
we therefore raised our concerns as if looking into a new financial bubble .
not only will the establishment of the EU budget in the future depend on them ; they will also establish a precedent to expand the influence of the only directly elected institution in European Union governance .
this represents a considerable challenge , especially taking into account the cuts in financial resources and the limited opportunities the countries striving to move forward have to make use of them . it is unlikely that the success achieved in Spain , Portugal , Greece and Ireland will be repeated , certainly not quickly .
it now helps to encourage neighbouring regions to move towards the European value system .
in this context , the rapporteur recommends that the European Commission establish a coherent framework for economic surveillance , strengthen the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact and economic governance in the euro area , and review the EU budgetary , financial and fiscal instruments .
as we know , new and formidable challenges are now looming together with those we are already aware of , and cohesion policy must make a major worthwhile contribution to their consideration , to allow us to move forward to the Europe we want to see : that is , an effective , solidarity-conscious Europe .
I think this principle should be applied in other environmental policies requiring a total amount of decrease instead of a percentage decrease .
we are also talking about our agricultural sector and high-quality food production , which are also competitive on the world stage .
an international division of labour has become ingrained .
I endorse the view that the Commission should publish the directives that were not implemented in each Member State on its website , so that this situation becomes public knowledge .
Tunisia : the case of Zakaria Bouguira (
in other words , that the Commission adopt an initiative just for the Roma outside the framework of social exclusion , so that there is a programme which only concerns the Roma .
due to lack of time , I cannot accept any more interventions under the ' blue card ' or ' catch-the-eye ' procedure .
many here have said that this is a new kind of collaboration .
President-in-Office of the Council . - I am not among the greatest defenders of the CAP .
although Canada is one of our oldest trading partners , we cannot deny that occasionally , we do have differences of opinion .
then there are measures to promote greater participation by small and medium enterprises in the transfer of knowledge .
on energy , climate change , immigration policy , the fight against terrorism , economic coordination , foreign and defence policy and development policy , Europe can now move forward .
the third stage is something only for us . I mean the conclusions which should be drawn so that our aid is better coordinated , and I am glad that the Commission is working on this .
indeed , the use of information technologies in the justice system could make a significant contribution to improving the accessibility and efficiency of Europe 's legal and judicial system .
that is why the Commission - and I think the rapporteur shares our position on this - wants to bring the activities of ' false ' self-employed workers under legislative control too .
we must do so now because that is the only chance we have to take Europe forward .
thank you .
in each of them , we want an adequately funded policy framework .
you have completely forgotten about the original ideals .
the sustainability of pension systems is under threat , with an inverted population pyramid being the trend : we now have more older people , senior citizens are living longer and therefore , fewer people are left to finance the pensions .
we must offer protection to victims of abuse .
we have to take into account that some Member States keep blocking the adoption of this necessary document .
in writing . - ( SV ) We Swedish Social Democrats believe first and foremost that taxation policy should be a national matter .
I leave you with one or two last thoughts on this .
the reality that governs the situation of women in the world of science is not the same everywhere , though .
( HU ) I congratulate the rapporteur , since not only his specific proposals but the entire philosophy is excellent .
the decisions on specific limits in the climate package were not made in a precise and detailed way .
I voted in favour of this draft report which allows a single residence and work permit for legal immigrants , provides a ' single permit ' for third-country nationals and grants them rights similar to those of EU citizens .
during our debates on strengthening and improving management of the Schengen area , we must at the same time consider the European Union 's new migration policy , not only in the context of the situation in North Africa , but also with regard to possible events in the countries neighbouring us to the east .
it is clear that disaster situations and humanitarian emergencies are multiplying throughout the world today .
I voted for this report as tourism is an important economic activity in the European Union , contributing to higher employment and economic growth .
I voted against the motion for a European Parliament resolution on establishing a financing instrument for development cooperation with developing countries , areas and regions because of the wish expressed by the motion in respect of the management of illegal immigration .
could I say to Sinn Féin in particular : can they not acknowledge the role of the European Union in peace in Northern Ireland ?
the first bank stress test was manipulated excessively by the national authorities so that a couple of banks would be excluded .
despite low tariffs , I think it is quite clear that bilateral trade volumes between the EU and Japan lag behind the bulk of the EU 's trade partnerships with its other main trading partners .
Commissioner , in that lengthy answer , I am not sure I heard you once mention the words ' rural ' , ' agriculture ' or ' the need for investment ' , because the problem with slums is that 900 million people are rushing to them for a better life , because there is nothing better in the rural areas .
( PL ) Mr President , one of the features of dictatorships is that they take no notice of anyone .
the Commission is ready to help ensure the EU 's assistance is well coordinated .
on behalf of the EFD Group . - Mr President , taxation as a concept has not really changed very much in the last 3 000 years , has it ?
Madam President , the Council attaches the greatest importance to relations between the EU and the US .
unlike the earlier Monterrey Declarations , the Paris Declaration established clear objectives , translated into twelve actions and indicators , in fact a major step forward .
what was your response ?
let us be realistic .
we need growth ; we need to boost demand , and it is not by bringing our fellow citizens to their knees that we will achieve this .
nevertheless , as a German Member of this House , I cannot stand here and say that everything is going well .
this is the first time Parliament has found itself in the role of colegislator when it comes to economic governance .
( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I would first of all like to congratulate our fellow Members , Mrs Bilbao , and Messrs Gallagher , Gróbarczyk and Ferreira , on their reports .
creating an EU-level expert group , including representatives of the Roma , could also help coordinate Member States ' Roma strategy and the use of the Structural and Cohesion Funds .
my group and I consider that you have fulfilled your duty with honour .
broadly speaking , I am not against cloning in terms of scientific research and animal breeding development .
the mandate given to the MONUC personnel on the ground will no doubt be extended , but it absolutely must be re-evaluated and strengthened , too , so that this rising tide of violence can be stemmed .
it says it welcomes the Commission 's communication recognising that the existing fisheries management policy has failed .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
we cannot limit the problem of illegal immigration purely to pragmatic coercive expulsion and a re-entry ban .
I think that , if we had met two or three days after Copenhagen was over , few of us would have thought that , one year later , all the elements of the Copenhagen Accord would be included in a binding UN agreement .
I , too , during this morning 's debate , mentioned this terrible anniversary . you were quite right to remind this packed House of it .
in February 2007 we began negotiations on a new partnership and association agreement between Ukraine and the EU .
they believe politicians should dictate how many hours you can work . they believe trade unions should prescribe your working conditions .
it was discussed at length , and in view of legislation that now applies to joint investigation teams , the Member States can still , in the arrangements they make between participating Member States , set up a joint investigation team , and specify and limit the role of Europol officials .
I am appalled at the European House of History being approved as part of this report : it is a 70-million-euro-and-counting vanity project which is completely at odds with the supposed claims of austerity .
their reports were heavily relied upon by international journalists .
in my view , a sliding scale based on the size and weight of the vehicle would have been preferable .
the rumours emanating from the Commission concerning plans for massive cuts in rural development in the next multiannual financial framework are not acceptable .
what we see today is post-imperialist near-abroad policies in action : policies which the Russian Government was committed to abandoning 12 years ago when it became a member of the Council of Europe .
we must also increase the financial resources available within the European institutions for work on gender and human rights issues , in particular , so as to implement mechanisms and assess the progress made by the European Union .
no state is coerced into joining , but , in order to join the EU , certain conditions must be met .
nevertheless , the Council will evaluate the proposal adopted by the Commission on 18 July from this perspective .
I would like to thank all the employees of OLAF , including the Director General , for their work and to assure them that we need their work .
I am dispirited to read this magazine this week where an unelected , unaccountable member of a wealthy elite is giving out about the unelected elite in Brussels .
I do not see any conflict .
some comments have already been made about the first reading .
lawyers acting for two Guantánamo prisoners are involved in the investigation , so if any evidence does exist , it should be placed in the hands of the Polish prosecution service so that it can be examined .
we have stressed that full use should be made of the Structural Funds in order to promote the integration of the Roma population and , specifically , we have proposed that integrated actions be implemented both in rural and urban areas , based on the recent amendment of Article 7 of the European Regional Development Fund .
giving it greater visibility is a first necessary step towards creating momentum .
there are inspiring concepts , such as the cradle-to-cradle concept put forward by Michael Braungart , radical ideas to make possible a complete reuse of materials .
Mrs Hübner , the Commission holds the key to the effectiveness of these provisions and budgets .
( the request for referral back to committee was rejected )
I assume that this is the basis for the latest ruling in the Federal Republic of Germany on this issue .
this is a case that requires a remedy . '
what is it that is so important that it requires us to tear up our rules like this ?
Mr President , while listening to this debate , I could not help feeling that there is an atmosphere of competition in the Chamber , a kind of tug of war - the old Member States against the new .
we are also working to get rapid adoption of the regulations on the protection of bank deposits and on credit-rating agencies .
on the pretext of rationalisation , there is too much focus on profitability at the expense of and without thought for ambitious industrial policies and , more importantly , without thought for workers .
I voted for the rejection of the Commission proposal on the organisation of the working time of persons performing mobile road transport activities , as I feel it is unacceptable and discriminatory for this proposal to exclude self-employed road transport workers .
if we are to attain the goal of reducing our energy dependence , we need a single energy market and a single integrated network .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
scientific evidence shows that the ice caps lost more than half of their thickness over the last decade .
in short , this is a more transparent solution that offers greater security for the market and greater protection for the consumer .
but in a difficult situation , let us use common sense .
security is a prerequisite for all freedoms .
Slovenia 's sensitivity and knowledge of the region may make the complicated organisation process a little easier and promote preservation of the unity achieved by the European Council of December 2007 with regard to the missions to be sent to Kosovo .
please allow me to say that these priorities have nothing to do with treaties or operating rules or structures or revision of legislation or the reduction of legislation by the Commission which , however , would be very convenient .
with a vote in favour today , the people of Europe will have the right to know the origin of what they buy .
turning now to public service television - in Austria , that is where 62 % of the population get their information from .
we therefore also want some coherence in market access in terms of serious offences and information about them , just as we also want to simplify the administrative procedures .
this year it is the opposite .
( applause )
these procedures , which can be either regulatory or with scrutiny , are , I have to say , less flexible and more time-consuming than what the Commission has proposed .
we have learnt that we need to try to converge with other competition authorities and , in this respect , it is important to know to what extent the Commission , in drawing up these regulations , has made use of court decisions and the decisions of national and international authorities .
if the government of Belarus wants cooperation with us , then it will be obliged to respect these conditions .
the elimination of obstacles to cross-border electronic banking would improve the situation for consumers and business customers , who would benefit from sound economic competition .
promoting reasonable use of fertilisers and pesticides , combined with diversifying agricultural production and livestock farming , will guarantee farmers far more autonomy and an improved capital base .
they must be given greater encouragement by making the rules for accessing funds more flexible and by promoting them .
the Dublin system has often been criticised for the negative impact that it may have on asylum seekers , especially in the case of families or vulnerable persons .
the vast majority , although not all , seem , like the Swedish Presidency , to be pleased that we were able to successfully make the two appointments of Herman Van Rompuy and Catherine Ashton .
my particular thanks go to the rapporteur , Mr Duchoň , and the Committee on Transport and Tourism for their willingness and the quality of the work carried out , which has helped to strengthen a legislative proposal aimed primarily at better integrated rail transport at European level through closer cooperation between infrastructure managers .
in any case , I had been considering the possibility of asking for this report to be returned to committee before it reached the final vote , but I later thought better of it and realised that it could only delay even further this proposal , which I believe is positive for Greenland and for the European Union , and that it would be advisable not to delay it more .
this puts these among the longest-running non-conluded trade negotiations that the EU has undertaken .
it has to be said also that during the hard negotiations the rapporteur kept all shadows regularly and fully informed and thus the resulting cooperation was such that it gave Mrs Corbey a strong hand at the negotiating table .
I am referring , for example , to cigarette smuggling , which is a major , direct obstacle to the European budget .
Mr President , regarding the Polfer report , the Conservatives did vote with the rapporteur on the issue of the South Caucasus .
almost 20 years ago , the internal market was created by means of the Single European Act .
( DE ) The proposals made in this report are very specific and precise .
one example that illustrates this is the recent agreement between Ford and the General Workers ' Union in the Valencia factory , which will allow new investment for modernisation and for the production of new models .
President of the Commission . - Mr President , before this month 's Seoul Summit there was concern that once the pressure of the crisis which brought G20 countries together was receding , the G20 would find it impossible to fulfil its role as the primary forum for global economic coordination .
7 ) EU agencies should be freed from EU Staff Regulations .
that is why we must ensure that state subsidies are always there only in exceptional cases , where nothing else can be done , or when we can channel them in a way that supports the common good without distorting competition .
the end of transitional arrangements means that more EU citizens can take advantage of one of the EU 's fundamental freedoms and work freely in another Member State .
the Islamic Republic of Iran should by no means be seen as a model , but as a cautionary tale .
at the same time , in spite of energy saving programmes , our need for energy is growing exponentially .
some States show demonstrable laxity when it comes to respecting fundamental rights in a prison environment .
the outcome of the vote looks toward a society that places growth , training and education at the centre of political action .
'God 's blessing on all nations , Who long and work for that bright day , When o 'er earth 's habitation no war , no strife shall hold its sway ; Who long to see , that all men free no more shall foes but neighbours be ' .
they compete with each other , but they must also cooperate if they are to make use of the best solutions in their designs and technologies .
when the UN has gone , and when the EU mission has arrived , it is the Kosovars who must prove that good relations with minorities do not exist on paper alone , and that they are able to save the economy .
however , this is also related to corruption and I want to quote from the progress report of the Commission .
the global economic crisis offers a practical incentive for the world 's two largest democracies to join forces on the basis of shared values and similar economic systems , because more than half of the world 's GDP is produced by the United States and the EU together .
as far as possible , all 27 Member States should apply to the maximum all the economic governance proposals , recognising that for Member States outside the euro area , this would be done on a voluntary basis .
the operators tell us in Parliament that it would be too expensive .
I call on the European Commission to accelerate the codification of European law .
transmission of data subject to statistical confidentiality ( codified version ) ( vote )
if we are serious about nuclear non-proliferation , the Iranian Government must understand that , whilst Iran has the right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes , it will not be allowed to deceive the world in pursuing its ambition of having nuclear weapons .
but it did so with some exceptions which present quite a challenge - let me come back to that in a moment .
my idea of doing that includes knowing the concerns of the Irish people .
any move to improve the quality and availability of information , especially on agricultural policy and Structural Funds ( which has proved difficult for the public to obtain ) , is a positive step towards the EU assuming its democratic obligations .
( FI ) Madam President , on this International Women 's Day , it is worth examining how equality is actually implemented in Europe .
( FR ) Mr President , it is obviously never a secondary event when people say ' no ' when they are asked about the future of Europe , and we cannot , and must not , ignore this ' no ' .
but it will not wait ; Copenhagen will not wait and we cannot be found wanting .
all that is necessary is for us to take certain measures .
that is , for example , the matter of liquidity , the matter of reserves which can be activated .
at the same time , however , although EU-Andorra relations have developed , they are fragmented , as significant parts of the acquis applying to the internal market have not been incorporated into Andorran law , and thus cannot be applied .
for this reason we should definitely not agree to any cuts in this modest instrument and we must also see that it is not used to fund projects for which it is not in fact appropriate .
furthermore , issuing debt , which risks increasing the EU budget and directly guaranteeing EU lending , is a major departure that undermines the principles of sound public finance which we are supposed here to be reinforcing .
the European Parliament has agreed to take an unusual path together with the Council and the Commission .
Azerbaijan , notably the case of Rafiq Tagi (
this is the most that could have been achieved and I , therefore , ask the European Parliament to vote for it .
we must safeguard the lives and futures of the Roma and their minors , especially those at risk of deviancy and abandonment , but not discredit or throw suspicion on a whole community , and avoid arousing anti-gypsy sentiment .
I could go on with a long list .
the European Union must actively support the institutional development of Iraq , strongly rooted in its realities , with due respect of the historical , religious , cultural and identity traditions of the Iraqi people and of all the ethnic and religious communities within its territory .
I would like to thank the European Parliament and , in particular , the rapporteurs Mr Pieper , Mr Mikolášik , Mr Vlasák , Mrs Sanchez-Schmid and Mr Stavrakakis for their excellent reports , which will help us to make progress with our work .
this opinion consisted of a small number of suggestions aiming to complement Mrs Ramos 's report and enhance its effectiveness and applicability .
it is also easier to counter the side-effects of gambling in countries where the state has a monopoly .
( applause )
I believe that we have not done enough in terms of research and development .
we therefore oppose their progressive transfer to the supranational institutions of the EU in a process that justifies every new ' advance ' on the basis of the previous ' advance ' .
it calls for emergency rule to be lifted , for government to lead responsibly , for corruption to be combated and human rights and basic freedoms to be respected in Egypt , including freedom of conscience , religion and thought , freedom of speech as well as freedom of the press and the media .
however , in this report , we fall back into the Malthusian and guilt-apportioning vision present in all Parliament 's reports on the subject : blind stigmatisation of motorists , bans on certain equipment , the desire to dictate individuals ' behaviour and to press-gang children from their earliest years , to meddle in planning and construction policy , to promote energy taxation and pricing schemes that in fact will harm only the most fragile sectors of the population .
let there be no misunderstanding about that .
in that regard , however , I believe that it is necessary to strengthen the role of the European Parliament in the legislative process .
I , as a shadow rapporteur of the Socialist Group , pushed the report in the direction of even lower costs , and I thank the rapporteur for accepting our arguments .
( applause )
trade deregulation in the textiles and clothing industry has brought about far-reaching changes in global trade patterns , with the upshot being a general trend to relocate production outside the EU to countries where production costs are lower , such as China and Morocco .
we are of the mind that we can improve it , prioritise it and , above all , deliver it with you , because we urgently need to restore growth and competitiveness along with citizens and businesses .
who will determine this interest ?
I would like to say one more time that only in a situation where there is mutual respect for values and cooperation can we talk about continuing the joint development of the European Union in the future .
in writing . - Unfortunately , the joint resolution 's recitals contain a positive reference to the European Security Strategy ( ESS ) and the Common Security and Defence Policy , which I and my group reject .
no matter how important fiscal stimulus was for the economic recovery , the two years of the crisis have wiped out over 20 years of consolidation of public finances .
times have changed .
the massacre of more than 8 000 Bosniaks in and around Srebrenica marks one of the darkest historical moments of Bosnia and Herzegovina , of the former Yugoslavia and also of Europe as a whole .
European citizens expect and deserve the best possible safety for their nuclear power plants .
they need support through our solidarity .
I am pleased to be able to participate in the work of Euromed 's policy section , which , I believe , has a key role to play in the context of the Barcelona Process .
however , there is enough gas in that area to come to the European Union if the Member States of the European Union are ready to cooperate with those countries and others to make that project available - either Nabucco or other projects in the Southern Corridor .
I think that is an appropriate way forward for this Parliament to be properly represented .
documents received : see Minutes
improvements could certainly be made , and I can even agree with some of the criticisms made from certain quarters , but I ask you to acknowledge , as I do , that it is an improvement on what we had before .
I would therefore hope that the people of Britain could have the chance to drive the final nail into the coffin of this wretched treaty .
3 .
I would like to address all three areas mentioned by the Honourable Member : education , inclusion and redress .
the Union has this instrument available and I believe that it should use it as much as possible to support the establishment of democracy in the Arab countries .
the evaluation mechanism is a key measure when it comes to preserving the integrity of the Schengen area and to maintaining mutual confidence between the Member States .
people are very grateful for what has happened .
I would prefer jobs in the steel industry and steel production to remain in Europe with a 20 % reduction in CO2 emissions , rather than see them move to Brazil , Malaysia or America , where the CO2 emissions levels would be 100 % .
prevention , of course , is better than cure .
( DE ) Madam President , firstly , congratulations to Mr Füle on his appointment as Commissioner .
but I have to draw a distinction between the orchestrated , constant , repeated attacks upon the State of Israel and the right of that State to defend itself .
Commissioner , I understand how difficult it is for you to find solutions for problems on this scale , but we cannot give the sector the illusion that we are trying to cure their ills when this only leads to reduction and abandonment .
communications between the EU and Belarus should continue intensively , making use of all the possibilities of diplomacy , and reviewed regularly .
that is not right .
timeshare products are , by their very nature , services that are offered across national boundaries .
therefore we should go ahead with a revision to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development ( OECD ) agreement ( the Arrangement on officially supported export credits ) so that we can monitor more carefully the functioning of the European ECAs so as to ensure that their decisions are coherent with EU policies and objectives .
I am sorry .
persisting with a polarising attitude now the United States Government has chosen a different approach to Russia is counterproductive .
Mr President , may I also add to the growing numbers of tributes that were paid to you earlier on .
as a result , Mr President , I welcome the Commission 's proposals to encourage entrepreneurship , directed research , links between schools and business , creativity in the education system , demand and competitiveness .
why did you lack the courage to give the names and surnames of those responsible for the financial crisis , clearly stating measures to clip the wings of speculation , or spell out to European citizens that our banks and our financial institutions are still peddling many of the financial products subject to speculation , and polluting our market ?
this is something we have been requesting for a long time now .
since research in the area of HIV / Aids is essential , I voted for the resolution .
on the other hand , criminal law sanctions for environmental crimes must be radically tightened , and inspection must be uniformly increased at EU level .
Parliament and the Council adopted the current decision less than five years ago .
Mr President , firstly I would like to congratulate both rapporteurs , Mrs Berès and Mr Langen , for a very balanced report that studies the subject from the wide angle .
for example , the Union takes decisions that have a direct impact on its ACP partners ' economy .
if by 1 January we have still not solved the question of market access it is obvious that they will be back with the Generalised System of Preferences , which means they will be on the sidelines and then they will be in a truly disastrous position .
it is a matter of life or death that we should not stick to the same priorities , in other words , the expansion of nuclear power , but rather that we should concentrate on safety aspects .
the government has already officially invited the EU to carry out an observation mission .
the new treaty enables the EU to firmly assume a pioneering role in the battle against climate change , as well as the status of a global player , not only in relation to the United States and the Russian Federation , but in relation to the emerging countries as well .
we have before us a proposal by the European Commission for extension of the programme that uses the most up-to-date technology to monitor our European agriculture .
formula milk producer Mead Johnson has applied to the European Food Safety Authority ( EFSA ) and the Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health ( SCFCAH ) for permission to use the health claim ' Docosahexaenoic acid ( DHA ) intake contributes to the normal visual development of infants up to 12 months of age ' .
I would argue that this code should become a European law , which would have legislative coherence in the EU and would be a guarantee that those very basic principles would be adhered to by its institutions when dealing with citizens .
I also support the call for an immediate end to the ongoing violence and for the opening of constructive dialogue , with the aim of settling the conflict by peaceful and democratic means .
lastly , it should be noted that the proposed measures place no human rights obligations on Pakistan .
radical changes to the regulatory legal framework for the inspection of transparency and audits are needed .
however , at the same time , we should not overlook the specific needs of the regions and social groups with the most difficulties .
last but not least , there is the question of the legal basis .
in writing . - The closure of large sectors of European air space in April and May last year due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland caused severe traffic disruption and economic damage and affected 10 million passengers directly .
we have also called on the Armenian Government to lift the state of emergency immediately .
in writing . - ( PT ) We voted in favour of this report on the animal health requirements applicable to the non-commercial movements of pet animals , bearing in mind health problems and their possible effects on public health .
what specific action is the Council taking to ensure that banks make loans available to business so that enterprises can sustain themselves , creating employment and growth , and contribute to the economic recovery ?
he is the Commissioner who was conducting those talks , he is here today and he is refusing to answer the question .
the appointment of Mr Van Rompuy as President of the European Council is the appointment of a clear opponent of Turkey 's accession and I will quote him now , ' Turkey is not Europe and never will be Europe .
otherwise , the report is acceptable .
in view of the fact that small and medium enterprise employs the greatest number of people and is an important force in research and development , it has to be provided with suitable legislation , easier access to sources of finance and , most of all , more intensive cooperation in innovation .
I agree with the rapporteur that impact assessments ( IAs ) are a key instrument in the legislative process , and one which European legislators should make greater use of in future .
this issue is no simpler today than it was then .
everyone contributed to this process , and I hope that everyone will therefore be able to vote in favour of the proposals .
this replicates here the tenor of the explanation of vote submitted with respect to the motions for resolutions , and .
we have no doubt that the only way to confront and tackle this crisis is through more Community method , through more economic governance and through the instruments appropriate to a true single currency in the euro area .
today 's written declaration 10 has been passed with a strong and positive majority .
we were told it was a common market , which would provide cheap wine and nice holidays .
the next item is the report by Mr Sacconi , on behalf of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council setting emission performance standards for new passenger cars as part of the Community 's integrated approach to reduce CO2 emissions from light-duty vehicles - C6-0022 / 2008 - .
it truly is an absolute farce but nobody here dares to admit it because you are all in denial .
this is regrettable when we are dealing with a subject as important as this one .
I look forward to the vote , which I hope will be a very simple , straightforward one .
particular importance attaches to good working conditions and , above all , job security for all those who work in the postal services .
finally , I would like to mention three more points .
Europe 's environmental and raw materials plans are very ambitious .
I mean , the idea in this House is to bring European citizens closer to what we are discussing here and what could be simpler then basically starting to discuss European issues with them .
business is no exception in this respect .
democracy , human rights and solidarity are inseparable , even in this emerging Asiatic country .
in writing . - ( LV ) In order to extend the influence of cohesion policy , certain decisive reforms are essential .
therefore , please stop creating this fear and dissension .
President Barroso has made Europe the world leader in the fight against climate change .
( applause )
all of this can slowly be rectified , although not without an efficient leadership , not without an effective leading role of those UN Member States who really fight for human rights .
the Member States are making progress in delivering cohesion policy objectives , as evidenced by the national reports , although there is a certain inherent heterogeneity between states and regions .
ladies and gentlemen , we are talking about ' private terrorism ' , which is the name now given to this continuous crime of attacks hidden in the privacy of the home .
this would increase not only the potential risk presented by genetic engineering in agriculture , but also the potential risk of a new outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy ( BSE ) .
it comes about simply because of the loophole in the arrangements for VAT under which it is not levied on cross-border intra-Community trade .
if we are to restrict global warming to 2 ° C , the threshold above which we lose the ability to limit or reverse its environmental impact , greenhouse gas emissions should peak within the next 10 to 15 years at the most .
I would also like to mention two other proposals that you have adopted : the directive on combating trafficking , for instance , contains a lot of preventive measures but also support for victims , for women and children who are victims of trafficking for sexual and other purposes .
for example , it has been said on various occasions that the SWIFT agreement , as it now stands in this House , permits the bulk transfer of data .
in Denmark , for example , up to 18 % of the population undertake work of this nature or have had contact with it .
budgetary policies must be coordinated .
wars and armed conflicts , ethnic tension , systematic violations of human rights - such as the refusal to allow people to practise their religious faith - natural disasters and the lack of proper economic and democratic structures are the main causes of this type of migration flow .
the presence of a major oil refinery for Saudi crude is well known .
when these are not respected within the Union or in the area close to the EU , the EU should act .
second , the point raised by Ms Frassoni about opinion-giving committees having the right to table amendments in plenary .
banning only results in counter-pressures and attempts to bypass it .
it is the same trade union that , after announcing a general strike , saw one of its leaders , Domingo Aguilar Vázquez , captured the next day on 16 March , and arrested on phony charges .
entrepreneurs canvassing support for such an approach - the development of sustainable initiatives for this green technology - are still running into a huge number of obstacles .
it comprises 28 key actions and concrete measures to increase the education and training of young people through mobility and ease their transition from education into the labour market .
a thriving market with job security are not achievable within the context of the CFP , and control of fisheries management must be returned to the nations dependent on fisheries .
therefore , we have to design .
Madam President , there has been a misunderstanding from the earliest days of the European Union as to what we mean by a free market in goods and services .
a condition of its adoption is that the Commission proposal for amending the multiannual financial framework be adopted .
there are many more subjects to debate : the recasting of the common agricultural policy , ecological taxation , renewable energies and energy saving , defence .
then we were somewhat puzzled , of course , to learn that the financial basis for this data collection was suddenly to be changed .
it is a country that arouses sympathy owing to its contiguity with the most backward , most totalitarian communist regime in the world .
at the beginning of this month we found out that Son Jong Nam was tortured to death in a North Korean prison for spreading the gospel , the good news , to his fellow countrymen and women .
the aim of this draft recommendation is to help Member States deal with rare diseases more effectively , more efficiently and more globally .
both of our institutions are following closely developments in China .
this is crucial if development is to result from our development aid , and it is both immoral and foolish not to put women at the centre of this work .
at the same time , the conditions for Europeans and Americans to work together in the search for peace in the Middle East are probably better than ever .
only the investigative instruments and resources of the Member States will be sufficient for the task .
she accused the Estonian Government of disregarding human rights , and the European Union of conducting a silent cover-up with regard to the ' Bronze Night ' and the trials that followed in Estonia .
a good example of working ahead would be to undertake work in the country situated beneath the hole in the ozone layer , New Zealand .
finally , I must thank Mrs De Sarnez for the way in which she has conducted this whole process and for the balanced report that she has produced .
this will also reduce the ensuing problems .
11 .
finally , Commissioner , let me remind you that it was not you , not your predecessor but the predecessor of your predecessor who put in place anti-dumping legislation on fertiliser .
during the current crisis in particular , it would be appropriate also to apply to the European Structural Funds , given the social , economic and environmental importance to the European Union .
here too , however , there are reservations , for example , over the policy on fixed assets .
firstly , the funding proposed is extremely modest for the scale of the project .
we often say that all of our free trade agreements should be ambitious , but this one really is .
the first is that we asked time and again , during the discussions , for the Member States to assess the impact that the initial transposition of the Services Directive had on the quality of jobs and services .
so this is a process which is dynamic : it is not fixed forever .
Mr President , first of all , I would like to congratulate Ms Napoletano on her report .
victims on the Indian side are buried , while on the Pakistani side in many cases they become objects of revenge .
I hope that my amendment is seen for what it is , namely a compromise text .
I hope that my colleagues will support me when I say that I have always been open about this and that I have tried to put together a balanced report , taking account of all points of view in the Parliament .
however , the proposal that the Commission should draw up a set of indicators with a view to ascertaining to what extent each Member State will cooperate with the Commission and the other Member States does not seem sufficiently clear to me , even though it is apparent that there are criticisms of the Court of Auditors relating to the lack of effective administrative cooperation in combating tax evasion in the area of VAT .
it reminds me very much of the Cold War period , as we know it from the history books .
now there has to be consensus on each detail , which can mean very intensive negotiations in the Conciliation Committee .
the Eastern Partnership may be acknowledged as very promising .
personally I think EU development policy might be superior to the trade and investment policy of the Union .
I agree with the opinion of the rapporteur who considers it essential that revisions of the Euromed free trade agreements be made in order to contribute to economic and political stability in this region and to consolidate an area of peace and development .
education and training issues are clearly of the greatest significance , given the never-ending advances of science and technology , and the increasing incorporation of scientific and technical knowledge into productive processes .
the Romanian car industry has also been severely affected by the crisis .
the researchers measured emissions absorbed by cyclists and motorists in 12 medium-sized towns .
I hope the Institute will succeed in these endeavours .
that may not be the wrong approach , but the way to achieve our aim is a different one .
we have asked that the national parliaments should be more closely involved in our work in that respect , that they should have a better understanding of the advantages of the single market .
they may re-employ even more people than would be the case if the restructuring plans of 12 December were implemented .
along those lines , we will be able to see emerging a demos which will fill with substance the present shell of the European procedures , making them relevant to the citizens .
sorry for this .
'18a . takes note of the declaration by the GCC of 7 March 2011 in Abu Dhabi , which states that " the Ministerial council demands that the Security Council takes the steps necessary to protect civilians , including a no-fly zone in Libya ” , which declaration has contributed to the decision of the Arab League and then the United Nations Security Council to pronounce themselves in favour of such a zone ; '
concerning the issue raised by Mrs Ojuland of the visa facilitation agreement between the EU and Russia , this has been in force since 1 January 2007 . it is one of the eight visa facilitation agreements that we have concluded .
please , please , please , will this place , just for once , get real !
Mrs Ferrero-Waldner , I would like to see the European Commission convene a special session within the framework of the EU-China dialogue .
Members of the Security Council have called on both parties to refrain from provocation and from deploying military reinforcements along the border .
the Union is trying to equip itself with the right foreign policy tools ( appointment of a High Representative , creation of the European External Action Service ) .
what we should do is to help the Commission , and I think that the report by Mrs Frassoni contains several points that may be useful in trying to make the application of Community law a reality .
I found that fraud of the most serious nature had been committed there .
the United States have yet to introduce clear , transparent criteria for refusing visas in certain Member States .
( interjection from Martin Schulz )
( HU ) This is a blue card question addressed to the previous speaker .
innovative financing at a global and European level (
is everything in order ?
moreover , the ethical reasons for this decision must not be forgotten .
in my opinion , the Commission has already made a good start in this area , for example with the RegioStars initiative , but this needs further development .
on the subject of solidarity , I can mention here that the Common Agricultural Policy came into being five years after the creation of the European Economic Community and now , almost five years after enlargement , it is time for a Common Energy Policy , too .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I sincerely thank Members of Parliament for all their comments this evening .
firstly , to report on the implementation of the new legislation within the Member States ;
this House is also calling on the Member States to make greater and more visible measures to respond to the Roma 's legitimate rights , taking into account the fact that measures to combat discrimination are not sufficient to facilitate their social inclusion .
it is quite simply too expensive and complicated , as we have heard .
I am prepared to play an active part in such a review .
Frontex must play a more prominent part in this regard in order to act as a strong deterrent to economic migrants wishing to make the hazardous trip across the Mediterranean .
I congratulate you , therefore ; what are needed now are tax cuts for labour-intensive sectors .
we want China to focus more sharply on environmental matters , because the environment is a major common global asset .
accordingly , the Committee on Agriculture 's report should be adopted with as few changes as possible .
we consider these structures to be the direct product of democratically elected bodies .
( FI ) Mr President , the bad news today was that the Portuguese conservatives are rejecting this package in the hope of new elections being held .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I voted against Mr Krahmer 's report on industrial emissions .
should our starting point be all the advantages , in a narrow sense , which the EU can get from the Arctic region ?
that would clearly be going too far , but really we should make significant and more effective use of another instrument which we have at our disposal , namely a financial instrument in the form of the funding for democratic and economic development .
the proposal is focused on the needs of patients .
my compliments , again , Commissioner . I hope that this really happens in 2012 and I hope that you act strongly if the industry does not live up to its commitments , as that is very important .
the crisis that has occurred in all sectors of the energy industry has led to the industry , which has woken up to climate change , not obtaining the technology it needs quickly enough .
secondly , accurate and effective information can increase citizens ' awareness of the burden of pharmaceutical costs on public spending .
before the vote :
in countries like Denmark or Israel , charging stations , which will be officially launched by the end of 2011 , are being installed and tested .
there was little appetite in the Council for substantially increasing the budget even though it was clear that considerable improvement of financial market supervision was called for .
when that happens , we must preserve the rule of law .
she has been doing it by trying to integrate the whole House and getting a paper proposal which represents the meaningful input of parliamentarians from all political parties , and I think that is a real achievement .
much has changed , however , since the recent elections .
I voted in favour of this resolution .
unfortunately , important amendments by the Confederal Group of the European United Left / Nordic Green Left were rejected and , as a result , initiatives cannot be signed by EU residents who are not nationals of a Member State , thereby precluding equal participation of residents , regardless of nationality , nor is there a guarantee that signatures will tally with signatories ' ID numbers .
for this reason , despite enormous efforts , we should not give up on coal too quickly as an accessible source of energy .
rather , the agenda focused on how best to prioritise our existing resources and commitments , channelling our efforts into agreed national programmes that have been developed by the Afghanis themselves .
in writing . - I can only congratulate my colleague Elisa Ferreira on her report on the European Economic Recovery Plan .
well , we were told , we are in talks with Brazil , and we are in talks with India : as if we needed to compensate in some way for the memory of British imperialism by the memory of Portuguese or Spanish imperialism !
when we say that we should ' think small ' , we need to make sure that the Member States also apply this test , just as the Commission has begun to .
I would like to make it clear that we did receive this information .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , the rapporteur considers it important that the European sanctions policy be assessed in the first instance , and be reassessed in the second instance ( see paragraph 11 ) .
I call on the Commission to present a detailed proposal on how this mobility scoreboard will be operated , and I hope it will do so as soon as possible .
I do not think that the result of that vote can be contested .
Member of the Commission . - Over the last two years , the number of young unemployed people in the European Union has increased by one million .
I think the EU should , in particular , help with the rebuilding of Babylon .
however , we now need a clear definition of the goals of the Corfu Process .
in this respect , ratification of UN Convention 1979 on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women ( CEDAW ) can no longer be delayed .
in some of the less wealthy countries of the European Union , women have much longer maternity leave than those in the wealthier , Western nations .
lastly , the use of new technologies , which are very important for data collection , reinforces existing database systems and the circulation of information .
we must have the courage to adopt a more appropriate serious method of prevention through cultural campaigns able to make immigrant women , but also the fathers of these girls , understand that following a tribal rite , which has nothing to do with religion , is no way to integrate or create a future for their daughters .
this week , I will sign five financial agreements for a total amount of more than EUR 200 million and I will also inaugurate some of the work we have already done like the rehabilitation of the road between Port-au-Prince and Cape Haitian , which is fully in line with the plan of action of the government and which also supports the ' whole-of-the-island ' approach .
meanwhile , the spectre of religious intolerance casts its shadow - witness the recent events in Egypt - finding its excuse in uncertain times to play on fear and to wreak destruction .
if the Council and our Parliament , the last fortress of political conscience in Europe , do not demand immediate withdrawal of Russian occupation forces from Poti and the buffer zones established by the occupier , then political disaster would appear to be looming for our fading Europe .
correct timing is particularly important , especially after the recent widespread natural disasters in southern European countries , particularly in Greece , where the resources to rectify the damage done have to be speedily provided .
for that reason , we call upon the Council - and here I take full advantage of the presence of the Secretary of State - to include in future annual reports on human rights in the world , as well as an analysis of the situation worldwide , also an analysis of every Member State , so that we can - and I am just finishing , Madam President - avoid a double-standards approach .
this overall legal framework underlines our strong commitment to ensuring that third-country nationals who are held in detention for the purpose of removal are treated in a humane and dignified manner , and that their fundamental rights are fully respected .
we are proposing very decent measures which are completely in line with all the European Union 's objectives .
clearly , here , we are looking at the Commission 's report .
currently , the EU is only managing them .
as we have always pointed out , the gas sector is unusual , it is tainted - one could even say determined - by politics , and it is no use elevating the liberalisation of the gas sector to the supreme principle when we still have Ukraine and Russia playing this out politically .
in addition to those increases , the price of other basic foodstuffs such as cereals and meat will rise as a result of the rising prices of animal feed .
so could Bernd perhaps explain to me why caning is illegal - as he stated again and as it is stated in the resolution - and against international law .
it is difficult point .
I believe that , ever since its creation , the Council of Europe has done an excellent job in this regard , particularly with the European Court of Human Rights .
it also makes it clear that EU and national social legislation must be applied properly , regardless of the Member State in which the airline has its operational base .
timely coordination of the different areas of EU external policy by the Commission is clearly important .
finally , a few words about the title of your oral questions .
as one means of bringing the EU closer to its citizens , Hungary has set itself the objective of implementing the Charter of Fundamental Rights .
however , as I said before , it does not change the fact that the only relevant text is the one prepared by a competent service of the general secretariat of the Council as an official consolidated text .
are they ineffective , obsolete ?
( DE ) Madam President , Mr Oettinger , ladies and gentlemen , funding has been available , which should have been invested in the energy sector , among other areas .
in future , we will only be able to ensure that European industry is in a strong position if we take seriously the task of environmental innovation on a central level .
as regards the amendments on the evaluation system and requirements , I believe that the rules foreseen in the proposal and reinforced in the Presidency compromise text should provide for an adequate framework , reflecting the spirit of the proposed amendments .
this murder must be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrator and the people behind him must be brought to justice .
just as the European Parliament adopts a position on all Members , you will , of course , also be holding a hearing with Mrs Ashton .
I realise I have forgotten , and I apologise for this , to speak about something : VAT .
it is their agreement .
it was only in mid-October that the Commission tabled a proposal to amend the directive , which has both a political and an economic objective , namely to restore depositors ' confidence in the financial market , the cross-border activities of banks and the regulation of the financial markets in general .
some EUR 21.1 billion has been allocated to urban development between 2007 and 2013 , representing 6.1 % of the EU 's cohesion policy budget .
however , as Ukraine makes efforts to modernise its economy and better integrate into Europe , it is important for democratic principles and human rights to be respected .
the EU cannot tolerate any kind of violence and therefore I find that the emphasis should be on fighting against sexual violence targeted against women .
Covenant has been part of American culture from the very beginning to today , from the Mayflower Compact in 1620 , to John Winthrop 's speech aboard the Arabella in 1631 , all the way through to the present .
banks and funders will have to take risks on green technology start-ups .
we are being fobbed off with promises of a Data Protection Supervisor , when it is not even clear what supervisory powers they actually have .
I would like to thank everybody for their contributions .
on 10 December , the Commission , in agreement with the Member States and after consulting other partners , sent a letter to the Nicaraguan authorities offering its support for any concerted solution between the country 's political forces , in order to end the crisis and to restore the citizens ' confidence in the democratic institutions .
thirdly , on the subject of cutting red tape , not enough has happened in that respect .
in addition , the Commission has never given a convincing explanation of the added value provided by the decentralised agencies , why their tasks could not equally well be performed within the Commission , or , as in many cases , why action by the European Union was required in the area concerned in the first place .
7 .
Mr President , much of what we have discussed here this morning will go to the next Parliament to implement .
I hear your concerns about unfair competition from third countries and the absence of a level playing field in terms of social conditions , environmental and sustainability requirements and health protection laws .
since 2004 , Serbia has cooperated in locating and handing over 20 of the 24 ICTY indictees .
we ended up with a Commission work programme that contains the converging aims between Parliament and the Commission .
many other exciting topics have been raised .
tens of thousands of residents were left homeless and the whole population is in shock .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , integrated maritime policy is a forward-looking area .
that is why we want to pave the way to move in a different direction .
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rising food prices have had extreme negative effects in developing countries .
we cannot decide on this basis ; we need complex indicators , a complex approach and integrated implementation .
that is why we support , and why the whole of Parliament must now support , the proposal that the Commission is going to make , and we must hope that the Members of the Council will keep quiet and approve .
these are implementing provisions governing important aspects of Europol 's work , without which Europol cannot operate .
( HU ) In recent days , perhaps partly on account of the crisis , popular opinion in the Member States that acceded in the last five years has responded with increasing sensitivity to any step that might call into question or discredit the equal status and identical standards of their membership within the Union .
it is simply not a free market in the sense we understand .
all this , despite the fact that we can see the effects of these policies in Greece , Ireland , Spain , Portugal and elsewhere .
its Christian heritage gives Europe the responsibility for world peace and a chance to become a source of hope for peaceful coexistence and mutual respect .
we will all suffer the consequences of the construction and exploitation of this gas pipeline .
it will only delay them taking up these rights , make positions more extreme , and encourage more demanding reactions in the future .
they support the use of the death penalty , stoning , the execution of juvenile criminals , all by ignoring their international obligations .
for it is difficult to imagine that the Ukrainian economy will be able to function if the price of gas is over USD 400 per 1 000 cubic metres .
the EU has already taken steps in order to address global food security by adapting the CAP to the changed market and global situation .
the success of these mechanisms has been proven by the tendency of major universities around the world of moving students to several geographical locations , particularly where they have older branches .
it is for that reason that I am voting to support the recommendations of the Feio report , which highlights the need to strengthen EU economic provisions and to review and improve them in the longer term .
that is not because it affects a lot of people - most people , of course , want , and have a right , to receive good , timely care where they live .
many Members have raised the issues that both I and the Commissioner have looked at .
the EU budget is small compared to national ones - and rightfully so .
we have seen some cruel and harsh films on the television and , in this matter , as well as in every matter associated with animal welfare , we would expect swift action from the Commission so that we can be sure that animals are treated in a decent manner .
given the high growth rates in freight transport that are expected , the future role of logistics will be crucial to achieving an efficient , sustainable , accessible and safe transport system .
we would like to go ahead with the proceedings .
the proposed arrangements will result in greater solidarity and concern for each other , together with greater respect for what we stand for in each one of our countries .
the Council of Ministers has undertaken not to use the Directive as an argument for allowing conditions to deteriorate ; in other words , high standards should be maintained .
in view of the harmful environmental effects caused by aviation at and around airports , the instrument of differentiation could encourage the use of cleaner and quieter aircraft .
it is time to perform an initial review of our policy on Belarus after six months of suspended sanctions - since October 2008 - and to reflect on what lies ahead for the next nine months .
let us all fight together the ghosts of the past .
well , in the context of tonight 's discussion , we need to be closer to Berlin - that is , if Berlin or indeed Paris can deliver a real advancement for the health and safety of workers .
we believe that if more countries are joining in efforts to build a common infrastructure , say between Germany and Slovenia or the United Kingdom or anywhere , then at the end of the day , none of the countries will agree to pay VAT in that country .
for this reason , I agree with the Commission 's proposal , in the wording suggested by Parliament , to treat long-stay visas as residence permits , thus ensuring freedom of movement for their holders .
these remain some of the crucial sticking points and the Council has succeeded in addressing them in its conclusions .
finally , the Turkish Government also appears to be unable at the moment to safeguard popular sovereignty in the country and is planning a new type of Ottoman commonwealth , as was clear from the meeting in Sarajevo at the beginning of November attended by Minister Davutoglu .
Member States that are well along the way should be rewarded ; we need to recognise the effort they have made .
that was a very long time ago - 16 years .
public money is senselessly spent on billboard posters showing the flat faces of those who do not know how to get out and meet the people .
freezing the resources by Member States will not be a sustainable option .
this House will support it in this difficult task .
in this respect , we must encourage cooperation between Member States .
to this end , we have developed a code of conduct on administrative practices and a user guide addressed to citizens , which will also promote more consistency .
on this matter , as your resolution underlines , we have had a number of meetings at technical level with Belarusian experts on matters of mutual interest , such as energy , transport and environment .
I also emphasize the possibility to use a part of the revenues obtained through auctions to develop the air transportation sector .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , Mr President of the Eurogroup , Commissioner , on behalf of my group , I should also like to thank Mrs Berès and Mr Langen for the important report they have submitted to us .
( EL ) Mr President , the only new thing that the European Union Council summit on 18 June 2009 can add is new hardships for the working classes and grassroots classes and new subsidies and support for monopoly groups in the European Union .
this is your responsibility , and we expect a lot of you .
. - ( SK ) Madam President , the European Union has set five measurable objectives for the period up to 2020 .
we are keeping our budget below the 20 % limit on appropriations for administrative costs .
we already have , if one can call it that , a first success story with Bulgaria .
the same applies to the issue of sanctions .
not without criticism , because I could very easily criticise the cap on money that has been set .
visa facilitation is linked with readmission .
the future for Kosovo and Serbia lies in European integration .
this leads to a cost-benefit imbalance with regard to the implementation of standards .
I mentioned and listed a range of measures that the Council has already adopted .
for all these reasons , these Economic Partnership Agreements should be seen as a great opportunity , particularly for all those of us who believe that the development and growth of these countries cannot depend solely on external aid .
I consider it essential for mining companies to have mandatory insurance cover against damages caused through accidents , including the cost of restoring areas affected by accidents to their original state .
the Commission and the European Parliament should be ashamed of themselves .
that is the message we should convey very strongly to the Georgian authorities .
allegation of mass graves in Indian-administrated Kashmir
Parliament called for reductions of 32-40 percent .
in the light of this , the parliamentary committee responsible has endorsed the Commission proposal and even pushed for it to be tightened up .
this proposal does not alter the content of the codified legal acts ; it only joins these acts together , following the necessary amendments for codification .
there should be no place in Britain - and , I suggest , anywhere in Europe - for Sharia law .
the crucial question therefore remains : what does the Union mean by a strategic partnership with the Russian Federation ?
I had a very good meeting with Prime Minister Gruevski in Brussels on 24 March .
ladies and gentlemen , I welcome the fact that the report draws attention to the need for social dialogue at a time when European countries are experiencing a democratic crisis .
( HU ) Madam President , one of the key topics at the forthcoming Copenhagen climate summit may be forest management .
Galicia Council and the authorities in the northern region of Portugal , which had finished drawing up the draft agreement and statutes in November 2006 , will soon form a grouping which will cover 6 400 000 inhabitants and will have its seat in Vigo .
the constant refrain of the lack of press freedom is old news , as are the continuous and anachronistic references to the Italian situation , in which , paradoxically , the major newspapers are controlled by left-leaning media groups and information runs freely , sometimes too freely , on the web .
( DE ) Madam President , Mr Barroso , Mr Van Rompuy , I would like to ask you a few questions .
the very fact that they are engaged in a joint process of addressing global imbalance and agreeing , for example , on financial regulation , should be recognised for what it is : enormous progress that would simply have not been possible some years ago , and the Seoul Summit was an important further step in that process and the launching of a new agenda , not a one-off spectacular event .
the aim of the measures is to revamp the rail sector by removing hindrances to the operation of trains on the European rail network .
the Commission could not even manage that .
as the body largely responsible for auditing European institutions , the Court of Auditors also has its turn to be audited .
I believe that implementation by the Republic of Montenegro of all the European Commission 's recommendations will make it possible to set the country swiftly on a direct path to accession .
that is very painful for the individual and it is also very costly for society .
( EL ) Madam President , Minister , Commissioner , Turkey is a large country of strategic importance , but is it ready for Europe ?
only after we know the actual starting position and the situation concerning compliance with the regulations should we seek amendments to regulations which are already established for international shipping and , as the case may be , for the European Union too .
the most numerous of these are my own countrymen , Poles , of whom over 2 million now work in various Member States .
do we want to shape globalisation with our values , by defending our interests , or do we want to suffer globalisation , by following the lead of others ?
question No 8 has been withdrawn .
extremist and fundamentalist beliefs are triggering deadly acts of violence against Christians , who are becoming true modern martyrs .
various kinds of obstacles impede access to foreign markets by European industry .
the social economy is comprised of cooperatives , mutual societies , associations , foundations and other enterprises and organisations that share the founding characteristics of the social economy .
for indeed , what better freedom can there be than respecting the religious , cultural and political beliefs of everyone or their sexual orientations when forming a partnership or entering into a marriage ?
however , I would like to warn about the abuse of transparency .
we must acknowledge it in this House and we need to take it into account in our policies going forward .
I think that if these are correctly applied , we will not have any American-style conditions .
Madam President , less than a year ago I set up a cross-party petition for a referendum in the UK in respect of membership of the European Union .
at the moment , citizens in 18 Member States are being held hostage in the political dispute between Ukraine and Russia .
secondly , I would like to thank the rest of the rapporteurs and shadow rapporteurs because , indeed , as we have seen during the debate , we have very differing points of view and we have made a considerable effort to find common positions .
it will also be several of the powerful states in the EU and federalists in all of the groupings , be it the European People 's Party , the Party of European Socialists or the Party of European Liberals .
it is important for the EU and the US to agree on a common line with the help of this agreement .
back then , we criticised a cut-price budget which , because of its shortcomings , would not have enabled far-reaching innovative projects to be developed .
so too will be the future budget of the Union , and how its great potential can be used to help the task of boosting growth and creating jobs .
so that is the ultimate resort , should this legislation fail .
these countries were affected by torrential rainfall , in some cases , without precedent , extensive flooding , landslips and mudslides .
I therefore hope that this House and all the political groups are aware of the circumstances and will join in the just petitions made in the resolution we are submitting today , especially in relation to full implementation of the Qualification Directive , which recognises persecution on grounds of sexual orientation as a determining factor in the granting of asylum .
quite apart from the substance of the issue , to me it seems to be of no relevance to the 2012 budget procedure .
thus this in itself was a positive message for the markets .
my group does not like outsourcing the collection of biometric identifiers , especially on premises without diplomatic and consular protection .
( HU ) Thank you very much , Mr President .
women can establish a good life for themselves and their children , but to do so they also need support from us as elected representatives .
on the other hand , we need transparency and comparability .
a ' neuro-dys ' programme already exists and the European Union funds projects that may be well suited to those affected by ' dys 'abilities too , such as the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme , the ICT Policy Support Programme , support for research into information and communication technology skills , the Seventh Framework Programme for Research - health , the Lifelong Learning Programme , and the Second Public Health Programme 2008-2013 .
by the way , the electric bicycle I ride was made in China .
despite the fact that anchovy fishing in the Bay of Biscay collapsed as recently as 2005 and the fisheries industry had to stop fishing completely , there are still short-sighted financial incentives that jeopardise the long-term sustainability of the stocks .
on the same day , Ales Mikhalevich celebrated his 53rd birthday in prison .
the policy should also encourage third countries , especially developing countries , to trade with us .
I notice that in section 3 of your Legislative and Work Programme for 2009 , a very important section entitled ' Better regulation - delivery on promises and change of regulatory culture ' , there is a comment that ' a simpler and better regulatory environment without unnecessary administrative burdens will , therefore , remain a key component of the Commission 's legislative work ' .
consequently , I voted to reject the Commission 's legislative proposal .
the application relates to 634 redundancies that occurred following the closure of a Unilever plant in Nelahozeves in the last quarter of 2009 .
eventually , however , I voted in favour of the report , because I also expect the Commission to tell us who is providing financial support for this hatred , when it begins detailed monitoring of manifestations of violence against Christians in Islamic states .
the consolidation of peace and stability benefits not only the region but also Europe as a whole .
but I can assure you that the Government will do whatever it can to obtain ratification of both Treaties .
they have to deliver a credible restructuring plan .
what does the report cover ?
( PL ) Mr President , the aim of the social package should be to guarantee universal and equal access to high quality healthcare services to all EU citizens .
significant progress has been made at EU level in terms of the regions ' balanced development , but it is not sufficient .
broad assistance should not mean interference , however , because the development of civil society , democracy and the rule of law must , in my opinion , remain in Arab and Muslim hands .
on that basis , the progress made is really quite great , from a historical point of view .
this is still a fundamentally flawed process and one we cannot endorse fully .
there needs to be a radical change of course in order to achieve the Millennium Goals .
they are predicting the answer before identifying the effects of implementing the solution .
as the European Parliament rapporteur on the evaluation of this Directive , I must say that the concrete application of the right of free movement for our citizens is seriously undermined by Member States which erect dams in breach of the Treaties and of the Directive .
now we face the practical issue of whether we should support them or not .
in this context , we clearly need , as several of you have stressed , a sober analysis of our relations with Russia .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I just wanted to say that the chance you have given us to vote again on Amendment 27 has made it possible to put right an injustice , because in this way we were able to vote for Amendment 92 which , if Amendment 27 had really been adopted , would have lapsed .
concerning hazards , consumers must have the right to have all necessary information .
( SK ) I am responsible within the socialist group for financial matters under the heading of ' Other Institutions ' .
when Václav Klaus came here , Members hooted and gibbered and panted at him like so many stricken apes , and no one was so much as told off .
that is the message to come out of the Declaration on Globalisation .
moreover , the excessive protection of animals must not make us forget other values that are equally important and that it is important to preserve , such as economic competitiveness , the sustainability of arable and livestock farming , and even some national traditions .
one argument in favour of preserving the CAP budget at its 2013 level is the justified expectations of the new Member States that CAP support will in their case be comparable with that provided to the older Member States .
the main reasons for this were the insufficient number of energy auditors and the risk of increasing the price of old houses .
I would like to come back to the GMO question in my final remarks , as I can see that my time has expired .
eight months have passed since this particularly important topic was discussed in a plenary session of the European Parliament .
I find this difficult to believe .
however , we must give Greece time to privatise those things that it is sensible to do so at a point in time when it will receive an adequate amount of money for them .
( NL ) Mr President , just a marginal note to this week 's part-session .
even though people will criticise the new methodology and various parameters , the common objective must be clear .
it is time that in Britain and in many other countries of Europe we heard what the people have to say .
the matter at hand is indeed the first example of the increased role of the European Parliament since 1 December 2009 .
today , we are discussing the second step , and this , in particular , has become clear time and again .
it is an aberration to want to include countries such as Albania and Bosnia ' in advance ' , so to speak , in the list of countries whose citizens are exempted from the visa requirement .
in this regard , I must say that the targets drawn up by the Council - a 10 % reduction by 2020 for aviation and a 20 % reduction for maritime transport - actually lack sufficient ambition .
consequently , the Commission must guarantee , as soon as possible , that the dignity and privacy of individuals will be preserved and that there will be no harmful effects on health .
the markets are not rewarding those who are not in the euro .
the liturgy is primarily in the budgetary nomenclature and the ideology supporting that nomenclature .
consequently , I think that it is vital to deal with these aspects with greater clarity by consolidating title I - Development strategies - in Part 3 of the agreement .
I must inform you before voting that the Presidency believes that Amendment 2 is in breach of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and , therefore , declares Amendment 2 to be inadmissible .
this reform is important because it is linked to the establishment of a global partnership on agriculture , food security and supply .
he is , in fact , the ' Fat Controller ' , creating fat pay packets for fat cats .
the European Union is working for a strong and stable international financial system in which exchange rates should reflect economic fundamentals .
I support this , without changing even a single parameter .
I am well aware that that is not yet a competence of the States , but let us think about it here and give the Member States some information .
finally , I am concerned at the wishful thinking that seems to be affecting many of us as regards the international situation .
although it expressed its interest , Liechtenstein was left out , since it had not yet concluded a savings taxation agreement with the European Community .
I believe that the new supervisory powers and procedures will strengthen this Parliament .
consideration must also be given to setting up a genuine World Environmental Organisation to which cases of environmental dumping could be referred .
however , Commissioner , must we really do this at the expense of those who are worst off ?
indeed , in areas where it should have been more consistent compared with what was presented last year , we see greater inconsistency .
we will be introduced to the winner of this year 's prize this week .
that is a good sign .
in Ireland the exhaustive time spent counteracting a litany of issues - often important in their own right but totally irrelevant to the content of the Lisbon Treaty - which create fear and confusion , deliberately or otherwise , is seriously detracting from the positive message of Lisbon .
first of all on the financing - this has been raised by quite a few of you - to increase the cofinancing rate .
the procedure needs to be made less bureaucratic and more streamlined in order to respond to future disaster situations in a timely manner .
with regard to the trampling of democracy and fundamental freedoms , we will have the opportunity for an exchange of views with Messrs Lukashenko and Voronin after launching the Eastern Partnership .
there are two sides to the coin .
the Member States themselves must be allowed to determine how they deal with environmental policy .
we do not benefit from a weaker euro .
for Spain , which has fought to maintain the pro-European sense and the balance of the Treaty , the support of this House has been encouraging and decisive .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , improving the European statistical system is part of the wider task of sound economic governance in the Union , particularly with regard to adjustment of the Stability and Growth Pact .
I believe that they are somewhat broader and it will be slightly difficult for them to come under the objectives set by Europe 2020 .
this sends out a strong signal to unscrupulous fleets , which will help clamp down on the unfair competition which is slowly but surely putting our fishermen out of business .
there needs to be a comprehensive review of this mechanism , along with a thorough discussion of its various aspects and complexities and their impact not only on developing countries , but also on the EU Member States , particularly the weakest .
we need to be vigilant in order not to leave them at the mercy of the aggressive behaviour of foreign investors .
we should define common rules for implementing administrative procedures , as well as for tabling , classifying , registering and disseminating documents .
this was also on the agenda of the Defence Ministers ' meeting which I chaired last week and which was also attended by NATO Secretary-General Anders Rasmussen .
it is precisely the term ' Macedonia ' which is causing friction between Greece , which is a Member State of the European Union , and this candidate country .
I think Russian and European Union cooperation can only have real prospects if a transparent solution is found to the Magnitsky and Khodorkovsky cases and those responsible are punished .
in any event , as far as humanitarian aid is concerned , I can tell you that there is no European humanitarian aid in Eritrea , although we do finance development projects there .
this is why I and my fellow rapporteur , Margarita Starkevičiūtė , have approved the amendments to monitor the progress of this convergence process .
EU leadership is now crucially important , as before .
more checks should be done on the use of the names of these fish species .
as the Commissioner said , aviation emissions have doubled since 1990 .
after we have finished debating the state of the negotiations on the climate change and energy package , we will proceed with voting as normal .
before I give you the floor , Commissioner , let me first extend a welcome on behalf of this House to the members of a delegation from the People 's Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia , who have just taken their seats in the official gallery above .
this is a problem that Italy is not in a position to cope with alone : it is therefore up to Europe as a whole to examine countermeasures , to take direct action , and to provide hope at home for those who are tempted to set off on the wave of feeling that is sweeping through the Maghreb countries .
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take a scientific , evidence-based approach and re-examine this proposal rather than - with respect - just dance , albeit belatedly , to the tune of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea .
the latest enlargement of the European Union has brought countries with Orthodox majorities , such as Cyprus , Bulgaria and Romania , into the EU , while Greece has been a member since 1981 .
the first concerns the cost of air traffic management and the repercussions for the Single Sky .
we disagree with over-taxing ourselves in areas relating to health , the environment or social policy instead of pursuing an anti-inflationary policy and seeking to respond appropriately to the challenges of competition .
I fully support the view that it is important to ensure sufficient access to information for both spouses , regardless of their financial situation or level of education .
the effects of a nuclear disaster often cross national boundaries .
it is that of a large-scale pact with the countries from which immigrants come and through which they transit .
in 2008 we have an anniversary that is particularly important for European countries : it is the 100th anniversary of the International Ice Hockey Federation .
this shows that the fight against discrimination in everyday life is a constant priority for most of us , even during a serious economic crisis .
it is about time this issue was discussed in Parliament .
this means that we will certainly not be able to finish the current debate at 11.30 a.m .
( PL ) Mr President , Commissioner , I am very pleased that we have this document before us at last .
we were keen for the French Presidency to tackle the issue of revising the European Social Agenda , which Commissioner Špidla talked about just now .
I do not think there will be .
the action plan talks about seminars , studies and evaluations .
in relation to the European Parliament 's communication policy and the expected public information campaign , greater weight should be placed on decentralised communication through Parliament 's information offices in the Member States .
in relation to the 27 individual governments , what programme have you asked them to get involved in with regard to supporting what the Commission is doing ?
this is a good thing , because we need to have more debates , not just about the impact that the ice melting will have on our opportunities to make use of the resources that have suddenly become accessible , but also about the responsibilities that this involves and how we can best preserve the Arctic and assess the future consequences of our presence and our activities in this sensitive natural environment .
that has been said , and unfortunately it is true , as many of you have emphasised .
it is going to colegislate , it is going to agree , it is going to have to exercise that balance , which is so difficult at times , between security and freedom .
with the enormous size of the European bioindustry , it is not a question of whether another animal disease will break out , but when .
in any case , even the British cannot get it right for all of our country .
this is what European action stands for , this is what our Europe stands for : boosting high added-value sectors and anticipating , now more than ever before , the end of the crisis by investing in traditional areas , but above all in all those sectors that can help to eliminate the risk of unemployment for our fellow citizens .
as the Social Democrat Group , we are right behind the rapporteur and also voted in favour in the committee as a result of our conviction on the matter .
it is my desire and trust that this strange , idiosyncratic British policy will prove to be as short-lived as possible .
network and information security is a growing concern not only for political decision makers , but for all those who increasingly use it to interact with each other and with the state authorities .
is this situation good or bad for the European Union ?
training , which I have mentioned , focuses especially on the fact that if we wish to care for someone who is perhaps close to us , and with whom we have an emotional bond , then despite all our efforts and goodwill , caring for another person is actually , in a sense , a specialised field .
I still have the basic concerns that have been with us all along , and I would very much like to see a proper evaluation of the fundamental rights aspects of this agreement .
there are also important reflections on the causes that aggravate the fires , such as the gradual abandonment of the countryside , deficient maintenance of the forests and inadequate punishment for arsonists .
I have a question for the Commission .
on top of that , the Treaty of Lisbon expressly provides for this role to be played by political parties and their affiliate foundations .
the risky path that these parties have chosen , the path of peace , dialogue and responsibility to their peoples , is often not to their advantage electorally .
they should also go some way towards facilitating political dialogue in order to restore public confidence .
( FR ) Madam President , Mr Van Rompuy , Mr Barroso , I would like to thank the chairs of the political groups for cancelling their meeting of the Conference of Presidents so that this debate could be held in plenary pursuant to Article 15 .
the European Union must send a message that is loud and clear , and has a single message : ' the Gaddafi regime must end right now ' .
strict penalties must be laid down if , following an analysis , obvious violations are found .
the agreement also provides for the exchange of passport specimens between Brazil and the Member States .
neurodegenerative diseases are currently one of the main causes of disability among elderly people , and it is highly likely that the number of people affected by these diseases will increase significantly .
( the oral amendment was not accepted . )
I believe that we can exert the greatest possible pressure through the EU institutions , within the framework of relations with a country which is knocking at the door of the European Union , by stressing that , unfortunately , all these procedures are delaying its accession prospects .
what counts is that people should have sustained access to food , which is basically a poverty question .
the European Union was self-sufficient in food until recently . now it is importing food .
it requires a package of various initiatives within different areas .
( SK ) I voted for the interim report by the rapporteur , Karl-Heinz Florenz , in which the scientific knowledge of climate change plays an important role .
despite that , some EU countries , taking their lead from the Baltic counties , whose presidents were educated in the United States , and especially Poland , want to isolate Russia from the European Community .
( MT ) If we permit the fishermen to do as they please , then we will be contributing to the depletion and extermination of tuna stocks .
the resolution once again advocates subjecting farming and food production to competition and the free market .
self-employed women often have to grapple with the problem that becoming a mother could endanger their livelihood .
the necessary change will grow out of this struggle and its drive towards progress .
I would like to correct her factually .
currently , more than 1 000 ' political prisoners ' are still being held .
for others , it is an excuse for protectionism .
Mr Titley , I will of course pass on your request .
fourthly , there must be a voluntary commitment from the Member States to strengthen the complementarity and coordination of our humanitarian actions , and this is of course all the more necessary with enlargement bringing us up to 27 Member States .
I congratulate the rapporteur for stressing that the Ombudsman and his staff are required not to divulge any sensitive information or documents falling within the scope of Community legislation on the protection of personal data .
the European Council has noted with satisfaction that Russian troops have withdrawn from the zones adjacent to South Ossetia and Abkhazia as an essential step to implementing the six-point plan .
since there are 168 minority groups in the European Union and about 330 on the continent of Europe , 100 million of our fellow citizens on this continent are experiencing this situation .
the UN has declared 2008 the International Year of Planet Earth .
this report emphasises the obligations resulting from the Treaty of Lisbon with regard to combating social exclusion and discrimination , and promoting justice and social protection , equality between men and women , solidarity between the generations and the protection of children 's rights .
this has not been a walk in the park .
use of information technology for customs purposes ( debate )
I am therefore very pleased that we have reached this agreement .
the Hungarian Presidency has some important success stories under its belt : the Danube strategy and the adoption of the Roma strategy .
Madam President , Mr Cioloş , I am pleased that you are here today to answer questions .
we are hopeful that the agreement will bring an end to the bloody conflict .
thus , we must not prejudge .
Mr President , I would like to share several points with you regarding the report for which I am the rapporteur , in other words the report on the urban dimension of future cohesion policy .
we have a lot more to do , and I hope this programme will set a precedent for further activities and initiatives from the Commission and the Council .
thirdly , our diplomacy in the fight against climate change addresses the core origin of Arctic transformations .
( SK ) Fifty years have passed since the first Euroregion emerged along the German-Dutch border .
the EU and the Member States must take this into consideration in all their social and labour legislation .
although they just relate to the circumstances , the words in this motion for a resolution that refer to ' solidarity with the Egyptian people ' , that welcome their ' courage and determination , especially that of the younger generations ' , whilst firmly supporting ' their legitimate democratic aspirations ' are positive .
since the constitution has not yet come into force , I therefore think that this is the right time to discuss it and to explain what the negative impacts might be .
I have received six motions for resolutions , tabled in accordance with Rule 103 ( 2 ) of the Rules of Procedure .
you have negotiated the guarantees for Ireland so that , hopefully , the referendum on 2 October will be successful .
the Council does not show any commitment to line up with existing legislation such as the data retention directive for the telecom service providers , which does deal with specific and targeted data .
the vote will take place at midday tomorrow ( Wednesday , 16 February 2011 ) .
( ES ) Mr President , last week , three Basque tuna boats from Bermeo were threatened once again by Somalian pirates .
in conclusion , I would like to stress that better regulation is a joint responsibility of all the European institutions and , indeed , of the Member States .
this was the subject of a joint statement which we approved at our conciliation meeting and I can assure you that the Council attaches the greatest political importance to ensuring that all operational programmes and projects are executed as rapidly as possible and in an appropriate manner .
within our activities , we will closely follow the work of this group and support the process leading to the international agreement .
finally , we should carry out research to identify the real problems in the European labour market .
you have proposed several reports based on Professor Monti 's work . he was very critical of the social dimension of the internal market in particular .
Romania and Bulgaria have fulfilled the technical conditions for joining the Schengen area and this must be the only factor to be considered in adopting this decision .
I am in favour of a strong European Economic Governance Package and have thus decided to vote in favour of the six dossiers as amended .
I am satisfied with the agreement reached between Parliament and the Council and would highlight the fact that sustainability is guaranteed in the production and use of biofuels , which is vital in terms of the directive 's viability .
in order to provide an opportunity for this renewed commitment , the European Commission has included in the new EU 2020 strategy a headline target on poverty reduction , which is a reflection of our concern and the lessons learned over the past decades .
there will also be closer cooperation on rare diseases in order to improve treatment for patients who require highly specialised healthcare .
this must have had an impact on relations between Belgrade and Priština , and certainly also on relations between the people of Kosovo and the Serbs living in ethnic Serb enclaves .
adding further requirements would create a precedent of discrimination which has not existed before , not even after the great enlargement in 2007 .
( FR ) Madam President , first , I would like to say that the crisis and demographics are combining to confront us with this problem regarding pensions in all the Member States of the European Union .
modernised buildings are one of the best signs of the European Union in the region .
I therefore believe it is important for the European Union to preserve and , where possible , maintain forms of dialogue with the government in Tehran .
there are therefore no question marks over our friendly relationship with Brazil .
first of all , it is in advance of the potential reopening of world trade talks , and the bilateral deal may be worse than that at WTO level .
for this reason we must also gradually open our market , even to what we call sensitive agricultural goods and services , in which our partners have certain competitive advantages .
I should like to thank the rapporteurs , Mrs Gräßle and Mr Rivellini , for their constructive and cooperative approach .
finally , another reason for us to be satisfied is the fact that Parliament calls for guaranteed access , quality and affordability of services of general economic interest ( SGEIs ) and social services of general interest ( SSGIs ) , and invites the Commission to take sectoral legislative initiatives in this area .
thirdly we have asked for the release of all political prisoners .
as I recall , Ceaucşescu 's Romania was a country without debt , as is North Korea .
the crisis is affecting every category of vulnerable people , but we cannot ignore the severity of youth unemployment .
I would like to see a discussion on this point in the near future in the European Parliament and I would like the Commission to submit a proposal .
so , in general , the Council considers it important that the highest priority be given to the finalisation of the negotiations with the European Parliament on the third internal energy market legislative package over the coming months .
I want to give farmers the possibility to respond to the markets .
what should be emphasised more clearly in the overall package of measures is the additional need for investment in crisis-hit countries in particular , and this must go beyond small extensions of credit and slight reductions in interest rates .
although this parliamentary term is coming to an end , I wish to stress how far European integration has progressed and how much our Parliament , under your leadership , has contributed to this .
the debate is closed .
this card , whether or not it is combined with the European health insurance card , can ensure that organs which become available are used as efficiently as possible .
that will not create better conditions for control of the financial market and it would also undermine the joint European supervision of the financial market that we have put in place .
the Commission would like to reassure Mr Harbour especially that it will monitor the market .
what I would like to say , I would like to thank Mr Pirilli for his original ideas on the use of reserves , to say to Mr Bonsignore , that the plan also depends on what is available at the level of Community instruments .
the other important issue is of course that the materials the textile product is made of should also be indicated accurately .
I turn to some crucial ideas that you address such as some new ideas on private investors . I have to say that this issue of private investors has been addressed before , but we know from the ITER experience and from the GALILEO experience that they are not there , so we have to make sure that we are not building on them if they are not forthcoming .
the twin-track strategy proposed by the Commission in 2006 has paid off , focusing on concrete results for citizens , and at the same time investing in a solution for the institutional settlement .
they have defended their ideology even with their lives .
with regard to other issues , such as that of taking the opportunity of this adaptation to increase noticeably the budget resources of the multiannual framework to take into account the new allocations resulting from the treaty , realistically , I have to say to you that this will not be possible beyond the Member States ' current financing level .
the distress of the countries of the South is not a matter for negotiation .
the debate is closed .
as far as I am concerned , that is not what trading partners are about .
we can take a decision in this Chamber that every time a citizens ' initiative is approved , we will undertake to conduct a debate here - a debate that may lead to a statement on the initiative in question .
the actual amendments in the Lucas report say that it is an offence to have or sell illegal timber only if you have been negligent , reckless or deliberate - it does not penalise companies which have fulfilled their ' due diligence ' obligations .
moreover , the Directive 2004 / 38 / EC guarantees the free movement of any Member State citizens , consequently ethnicity could not represent the basis for a legislative measure under any circumstance .
in reply , I should say that the agreement provides that PNR data may be used for three purposes , which are specified .
( applause )
the Charter embodies our sharing of values and , at the same time , reflects a consensus on our unity in diversity .
to this purpose , they reaffirmed that the right balance needs to be struck between public and private responsibilities and formal and informal care , and that provision in a residential or community setting is to be preferred to an institutional setting .
as we look at the reform of the common agricultural policy , this is something we must very much bear in mind .
our objective is to increase the impact of EU funding and to accelerate the implementation of Regional Fund support .
the London Summit at the beginning of April insisted , in this respect , on the need to quickly put these plans into practice .
if a Member of the European Parliament representing citizens does not have such a right , this is a disastrous situation .
by way of example , China 's Promethean infrastructure , such as its huge power dams and nuclear power plants , has held out .
firstly , I think that treating healthcare exclusively as a marketable service is a mistake .
that is when soft systems not backed by black letter law fail our citizens and do not deliver justice .
we are more restrictive than you tend to be .
I also do not know whether we have yet rescued the Community method .
you said that you wanted there to be a credible policy for Ireland with their second referendum , and so you produced these guarantees , and here they are - guarantees on the right to life , on taxation , on security and defence .
I welcome the agreement reached on the joint text approved by the Conciliation Committee for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning statistics on pesticides which will allow for the creation of a legal framework and the establishment of harmonised rules for the collection and dissemination of statistics on the sale and use of pesticides , with a view to the sustainable use of the latter .
production and employment in the textile and clothing sector in various EU Member States ( debate )
I absolutely reject one particular theory which exists in the European Union which is that , for many of the problems that exist in our economic , private or social lives , responsibility lies with Brussels .
such a system would limit the maximum speed of a car to the maximum permissible speed in any given country .
in our view , that is precisely the wrong direction to take in times of crisis .
you are best known as a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize , which was awarded to you in 1987 to acknowledge the enormous efforts you have made in the quest for paths to peace in Central America .
the report also calls for Member States to recognise national traditions in implementing employment policy .
we need to develop combined means of transport as quickly as possible and give citizens information on all urban transport networks , so that they are in a position to choose .
it is very difficult to have a functioning democracy unless people feel enough in common with one another to accept government from each other 's hands .
at the last sitting , we discussed the US-EU Summit .
then , in Greece , since I was a Member of Parliament there , I have had a very small car , even smaller than what I have for the service here , and I drive it very rarely .
in addition , as shadow rapporteur for the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament , I highlighted , by tabling amendments to the original text , the need to create a World Environmental Organisation and introduce environmental criteria in the reform of the GSP .
I calculated that my question would be taken and I refused an invitation to dinner .
these are things that we do not support , and so , as my colleague Willy Meyer-Pleite has said , our group will not be voting for the report .
I hope that the rumours of the influence of lobbyists on the Commission 's hard line on this have no basis in fact .
we welcome and encourage such moves and urge the government to identify and tackle the root causes of religious tensions in Egyptian society and to end all forms of discrimination against those belonging to other religions .
as four years have passed since Regulation ( EC ) No 1905 / 2006 came into force , and as the Commission has already announced the tabling of proposals relating to the Multiannual Financial Framework for the post-2013 period , there is a need for a brief analysis of the results achieved since then and of future means of development .
- ( PL ) Mr President , in view of the fact that the first roll-call vote on a change to the Rules of Procedure was not reflected in our documents , a certain error has crept in .
now is the time for us to remember our commitments .
if you were to ask me what , in my opinion , is the top priority requirement , I would say that all tourism providers - the regions , the Member States and the Community institutions - must do more overall to make Europe better known around the world as a tourism brand and a mark of quality .
( NL ) Mr President , Commissioner , I am grateful to Mr Harangozó for his attention to vulnerable groups .
I broadly voted in support of Marianne Mikko 's recommendations .
I would like to ask the representatives of the European Commission whether the Commission really does intend to submit a proposal for a directive on combating homophobia , and what provisions this directive might possibly contain ?
in fact , despite the continual progress observed in the utilisation of renewable energy sources , the total worldwide share of energy sources that they represent remains low .
I would like to give some mention to the issue of energy efficiency , which has been raised in many speeches .
in the area of specialised training we must increase the quality and attractiveness of the subjects on offer and above all we must link training with the economy in such a way that the training process corresponds to the needs of the labour market not only across the EU , but above all within a given region .
the debate is closed .
firstly , we said in my report that we needed much better access to the Korean agricultural market .
but I have a number of concerns about the Commission proposal .
( applause )
( DE ) Mr President , first of all , I would like to thank Mrs Jędrzejewska and Mrs Trüpel , who have carried out the budgetary procedure with a great deal of responsibility and a clear focus on the priorities .
this is precisely where the European Union has an opportunity , because we simply have more to offer than dependence or even exploitation of these countries .
we now need to think about how we can re-engage a political process .
the Taiwanese Government under President Ma responded promptly by deploying soldiers to the worst-affected communities and areas , and requesting assistance from the international community .
it must be a good omen , though !
indeed , grooming children must be considered an offence .
it is essential that the EU promotes protection of fundamental rights not only domestically but also throughout the world , where unfortunately major attacks on these rights continue to take place .
( SK ) I should like to state that the European Parliament 's resolution on Israel and Palestine is not quite appropriately timed in view of the latest developments , whereby Israel last week released another 198 Palestinian prisoners .
it is our longstanding position and that of the British Government that there is no need for such a centre , which would needlessly duplicate existing structures .
I also think it is vital that greater importance is attached to the development of research at regional level by encouraging multi-level partnerships and supporting the drafting of methodological guides or guidelines for this purpose .
the adoption by all Member States of the Prüm Treaty proposed in 2007 by Germany forms part of the much needed improvement of police cooperation within the EU .
to that end , substantial changes are needed to the system for appointing judges and public prosecutors , putting an end to the practice whereby their appointments only take place in parliament and within the government .
I use the word ' disproportionate ' because it was disproportionate to intervene as the Russians did in Georgia .
the report presented by Giusto Catania is full of interpretations and recommendations of a general nature regarding the situation of fundamental rights in European Union Member States .
for this we reason we have voted in favour of the report .
in writing . - I voted in favour because I consider it essential to help Brazilian people to settle the huge territories .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , first to Mr Leinen , I think it is a very good idea that , whenever delegations do go out , you have the time and priority also to get climate on the agenda .
I should like to thank the President-in-Office of the Council , to whom the Czech Senate will be giving the green light on the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon tomorrow .
instead of empty words , we need , therefore , to break with the policies that created the current situation .
we also - very early on in this crisis - recognised the heavy financial losses suffered by the aviation industry during the airspace shutdown .
we will be able to prevent and adjust fiscal and economic imbalances , which is one of the best guarantees of economic growth and jobs .
I am therefore also grateful to Mrs Yade for being here , because the proposal that Parliament adopted rightly insisted on the need to ensure and safeguard the rights of people being investigated by OLAF to be presumed innocent and to be allowed a defence , as well as the rights of informants .
terrorism is not about religion , even though some people may look to what they term their faith in order to justify killing .
we need to have measures and to react to the current situation , and we are trying to do this .
Europe has criticised the prison on many occasions , and Europe needs to cooperate as far as possible , although there are two types of limitation .
Perevi , Akhalgori and Upper Kodori will be mentioned in particular , just as many of you have done .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , many thanks to the honourable Members for a very serious and substantive discussion .
the necessary conditions must be created now for organising free elections , along with the adoption of democratic constitutions which will guarantee freedom of expression , political pluralism and the principle of electivity .
very few people access them , look them up or use them , because of the time lag .
the audit numbers purely and simply do not tell the whole truth on the use of resources , therefore : they also comprise political elements .
it is therefore very important for us to reduce CO2 emissions , although such a reduction must not be at the expense of the environment - in other words we must pay very close attention to which measures are funded and which measures are invested in .
moreover , complicit in this is the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament , which , despite having been dealt a severe blow in the 2009 elections , will inherit one of the two extra seats .
we have had some interesting exchanges over the years about the roles of hedge funds and private equity .
our next step is to further develop our options for the transfer of suspected pirates for prosecution in the region .
the figures given above are also relevant because the car industry provides for the incomes of more than 12 million families .
in January , the Commission 's first assessment of national energy efficiency action plans spoke of the gap between the political commitment to energy efficiency and actual delivery .
the necessary safeguards must be put in place .
agriculture must be at the heart of the European Union 's development policies .
the very persistent lobbying of the European Commission and its President on the matter of an ' ambitious ' climate and energy policy , which has been going on for years , is nothing other than an attempt to destroy the EU 's industry .
in my view , we should be grateful to the CIA and the United States for helping to protect Europeans from terrorists bent on killing innocent citizens .
I would have liked to have seen these matters being dealt with one after the other at least .
we wanted to investigate the role of foreign policy and its ability to have an effect on the deep-seated causes of immigration , beyond humanitarian or emergency causes .
on the question of financing , the draftsman emphasises that expenses must be clearly identified so as to avoid an overlap between this proposal and other instruments , such as the Hercule II programme .
a second element : many billions of euros are invested in trans-European networks .
the European Commission must also review the Social Fund and propose an increase in funding for projects aimed at improving the socio-economic situation of the largest minority in the European Union .
local leaders , who won four-year mandates in the elections , have therefore actually closed the railway market for 15 years .
Commission measures in 2008-2013 to make use of CAP remote-sensing applications ( debate )
in writing . - ( PT ) The request relates to 594 redundancies in three enterprises operating in the Podkarpackie region of Poland , in the manufacture of machinery and equipment sector .
today , we will vote through the renamed Constitution in an act that shows monstrous contempt for European citizens and democratic values .
accordingly , as we are unable to expel China from the International Olympic Movement , we should make our position clear through a boycott .
this is what we are preparing , and for this we need the support of Parliament and , hopefully , also the agreement of our Member States .
there are plenty of examples all over the world , from the UN Human Development Index to Bhutan 's Gross National Happiness index .
as far as the latter is concerned , I really must come back to solar panels for a moment .
we could have reasonably pursued one of two policies .
after the Treaty of Lisbon enters into force , we can seize the historical moment to create a vital and strong area of freedom , security and justice .
at the same time , in Lithuania , the funding earmarked for road management and development has dropped by more than 20 % in the last few years .
realistically speaking , we simply cannot bring about a discard ban overnight .
there were improvements , for example , with regard to the identification of potentially contaminated sites .
such cruel and inhumane forms of punishment should be ended , in whichever country they occur .
mutual recognition of railway vehicles within the EU Member States , which is long overdue , will be ensured .
on behalf of the S & D Group . - Mr President , Ukraine is a very important country to us .
to understand and value freedom , peace and diversity , the absence of borders and the benefits and future prospects of a united Europe , we must always be aware that there are other , much worse alternatives .
I should like to thank Mr Pittella , Mr Schmidt and Mrs Starkevičiūtfor their effective cooperation .
marine safety urgently needs stricter European legislation in order to save lives and prevent environmental disasters by preventing accidents .
Palestinian reconciliation , and a government representative of the aspirations of the Palestinian people , is more necessary than ever .
the voice of Europe needs to be heard loud and strong there .
in this connection , this very morning we reached a political agreement on the plan concerning the strategy for communication with Parliament and the Commission , and I am delighted to note that , differences aside , we share the same goal , namely we intend to ensure the financing of the European Union 's policy priorities , whether in terms of competitiveness , cohesion or growth .
if we establish a system where environmental dumping originating in the developing and less industrialised countries is not possible , we can protect jobs and superior products , and we will be able to continue to do this in the future too .
yet even Gaddafi 's son suggested that there was a link between the two deals .
it now seems absolutely crucial , firstly , to show clearly that we are dealing with ' treaty ' policies , which are not policies prepared for the purposes of a strategy , but operate over a longer time scale , such as Cohesion policy .
it is not about the European Parliament being sidelined .
TACs need to be differentiated by area , both in the case of horse mackerel , and in the case of other fish populations that are also covered by the common fisheries policy .
I therefore hope that at the implementation stage , other factors are also considered , establishing a loosening of stability pact ties for public authorities and , at the same time , a gradual reduction in payment terms .
on the other hand , the Member State must have legislation and society must function , in order to permit and encourage mobility .
this is why the Commission considers that this proposal goes beyond the mandate given to the Ombudsman by the Treaty .
the debate is closed .
( the sitting was suspended at 11 : 35 and resumed at 12 : 00 )
I believe that businesses and the citizens are watching on .
there were 57 compromise amendments in his report , which says something about the level of work we put in .
otherwise , the EU 2020 strategy , just like the Lisbon Strategy , will end in failure .
this applies equally to the manufacturer in China , the importer in Cologne or the distributor in Copenhagen .
this crisis appears to be particularly serious , but how deep it goes and how long it lasts will depend on what we do .
the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) has therefore tabled an alternative motion for a resolution which does not contain this demand .
as is known , SIS II was initially scheduled to start operating in May 2007 , then it was delayed for December 2008 , and now it has been postponed again to September 2009 .
France comes second with 24 euro cents .
even when the Berlin Wall came down in 1989 , how many European leaders were hoping and praying for communism simply to be reformed and for the status quo to remain ?
( applause )
the vote will take place tomorrow .
I therefore consider that this proposal warrants not only Council 's attention but acceptance by Council .
thanks to its constant and close cooperation , the civil aviation authorities in Member States are stepping up the supervision of their carriers .
the MEPs of the New Democracy ( ND ) party have decided to abstain from the final vote on the resolution on the situation in Georgia .
that is why I encourage the efforts made by the Commission , in close cooperation with certain EU Member States , to work on restoring a judicial system , including in the east .
it is incredible and hard to believe .
two things , therefore , need to be done .
this example helps to illustrate the real goal , which is to try and use human rights as an instrument of pressure and interference , at the convenience and in the interests of the major European powers .
I am sure , however , that this is not what you would want .
I consider that this proposal to amend Directive 76 / 769 / EEC will contribute to an effective reduction in the risk of environmental and human exposure to substances with dangerous properties , such as dichloromethane ( DCM ) , which has a unique profile of adverse effects on human health .
I am sure that Parliament will assist in these efforts and I hope that the protection of the European environment will be one of the main issues of concern to voters in next year 's elections .
after all , even a state with 82 million people , such as the one I represent , will not survive intercontinental competition in the long term .
the USA flattens Iraq and this place fawns on them .
the debate is closed .
this is the first item of voting time , which starts straight away .
will you propose specific measures , such as the introduction of a special provision on human rights which will allow judges to examine the content of cases , as happens in the United Kingdom and Ireland , or will they continue to simply rubber stamp judgments handed down in other Member States ?
it cannot be on their terms .
some of us would like to go further .
in writing . - ( RO ) This directive represents an ambitious initiative , by which the aviation sector could play an important role in the fight against climate change .
( FR ) Madam President , allow me to welcome to the diplomatic gallery a delegation of young people from the International Movement ATD Fourth World .
the EU 's efforts to consolidate its foreign policy have not been very successful .
the Commission is pleased with the own-initiative report on promoting worker mobility within the European Union and is following the debate in the parliamentary committees with great interest .
now there is a legal basis for the accession becoming a reality .
I welcome the development of regional integration between African countries , on the one hand , and Caribbean countries , on the other , which facilitates effective dialogue between the European Parliament and the global South .
- ( SK ) Madam President , I would first like to applaud the work of the rapporteur , who has correctly identified numerous problems in her report .
accessing the disaster-hit areas and distribution of aid is not without difficulties .
without this plan , it will not be possible to achieve the goals we have set for 2020 , nor to carry out the transition to a low-carbon economy on the scale we would like for 2050 .
what is more , following the Irish rejection of this federalist , neoliberal and militaristic draft Treaty , they are doing everything they can to force another referendum to be held in that country ( as many times as necessary until the Irish people say ' yes ' ) .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , speaking earlier , Mr Catania said that the European public was afraid that the rule of law was disintegrating .
we all know how important this area is .
the main objective of this directive is to make European patients more informed so that they can take a more knowledgeable approach to medicine .
our assistance is needed by Belarus and Ukraine , it is also needed by other countries of the Eastern Partnership , and I think these instruments should be used , too , for these very countries .
I had thought that Mrs Alfano was going to carry on in a similar vein to Mrs Jäätteenmäki , but in fact , that report should not have had any explanations of vote .
that is sometimes rather difficult and , particularly during election time , occasionally hard to represent .
the right to freedom of movement is one of the most fundamental and most visible rights conferred on citizens of the Union .
the quality class system for butter would be simplified , the strict classification for fat content abolished , aid for school milk made independent of its fat content and the intervention system clarified .
reintroducing the application under the revised Regulation would only mean further delays and costs for the industry .
however , why build Europe and guarantee freedom of movement if this is not accompanied by the opportunity to access healthcare throughout the European Union ?
I also hope , and this must be borne in mind , that Parliament 's amendment will introduce a material safeguard against the unauthorised expansion of these simplified rules for cooperation ' by analogy ' to the interactions with the agencies of third countries , in order to prevent abuses in , for example , dubious interventions , and so that such interventions are not in breach of Member States ' rights .
I hope , too , that a new form of cooperation will also develop at last between officials and clients .
most important of all , of course , is to support the work that the Afghan government is doing to create greater prosperity and good social governance .
the next item is the report by Mrs Stauner , on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs , on the future of social security systems and pensions : their financing and the trend towards individualisation .
Madam President , we are responsible , as the Member States of the European Union , for the situation in Georgia .
this is why it is imperative to modernise curricula and training so that they are more closely tailored to the needs of our companies .
the Human Rights House of Azerbaijan has been closed down by order of the Ministry of Justice .
the definitions of hospital care and prior authorisation have been discussed and , I understand , agreed with Council and Commission .
of course it is a pity that we have to admit that there is no global binding target yet and we still are lonely riders .
Mr President , I refer back to point 16 in the resolution where we say that ' Afghanistan 's security problems are more complex than just a war on terror and that they therefore require more than a military solution ' .
in a reply to a written question , Commissioner Dimas announced the preparation of an Action Plan for the related Mediterranean shag , although in my view not enough detail is given about methods for scaring the birds , including carbide cannons .
if currencies of failing countries had been allowed to fall in value , recovery would have followed .
however , all these measures have been rejected by the European Parliament .
but as you yourself have said : travailler plus pour gagner plus .
where the future of agricultural policy after 2013 is concerned , we have to decide the direction in which we want to go .
there is a need to examine very carefully whether that is feasible and what consequences it would have for all stakeholders .
we are going to do this in full transparency .
the proposal of Mr Díaz de Mera García Consuegra , which was approved today , relates to moving the island of Taiwan on to said list .
demand for fish is still growing and therein lies our dilemma .
right now , I am most concerned about the level to which this House is being kept informed of negotiations .
the Commission and Parliament must work hand in hand and ensure that these means match our will .
it is worth EUR 25 million , EUR 18 million of which comes from the European Regional Development Fund ( ERDF ) , and it will help small enterprises , support innovation and contribute to overcoming the crisis .
in general , we still need to focus on people as human beings , which can be achieved by protecting the rights of workers and the right to work .
- Before the vote
on the other hand , however , citizens have less and less control of the state .
the Commission , along with EU Member States and the Presidency , will of course follow this case very closely .
for this reason , we have supported this text since the start of its preparation , though as you know , most of us would have preferred a still more ambitious text .
the preliminary draft budget will be based on sound estimates of the need to achieve all those priorities that have been already agreed and which are ahead of us .
( EL ) Madam President , access to raw materials is of truly vital importance for the European economy and competitiveness .
I believe it was a Community-based rationale , and I will try to explain what I mean by that .
he said it is necessary for this mechanism to be able to provide countries with flexible credit lines .
even if the European Union stops all emissions of greenhouse gases , the world will still be faced with the dangers brought on by climate change .
thirdly , issues regarding employment , such as pensions , retirement age and pay should be determined at national level , and although we are fully in favour of eradicating the gender pay gap , it is not for the EU to set out prescriptive targets .
instead , the EU has chosen an inward-looking language policy .
I would refer the Council and the Commission to a wellknown Dutch saying : it is better to stop half way than to persevere in an error .
the independence of impact assessments ( IAs ) needs to be guaranteed , above all , because of their importance in the decision-making process .
I am convinced that the establishment of the annual fishing plan is a key tool in ensuring the full respect of the quota .
construction works , both as a whole and in their separate parts , must be fit for their intended use , taking into account , in particular , the health and safety of those involved throughout the life cycle of the works .
it is often forgotten that all this is included in this package .
the European Union and its Member States must not stand in these people 's way , and must allow the peaceful opposition in exile the greatest possible freedom .
neither the Council nor the Commission has given any indication so far as to whether it wishes to review our multiannual financial framework for the current period , even though it has revealed its limitations .
Mr Bloom 's two interventions - one from the floor and one from his place - were both heard by many people and were both unacceptable in parliamentary terms .
the Charter for Small Enterprises will contribute to the development of the Polish economy , as well as the European economy as a whole .
I feel obliged to state that Czech President Václav Klaus was not mistaken in his statements either on the situation in Moldova or on the border conflict between Georgia and Russia .
it is practically impossible to move forward on this particular issue because Member States do not want us to have a European solution to this .
the debate is closed .
as regards costs , I am happy to be able to inform this House that an article , not a recital , has been included to lay down that they - security costs - must be shared between passengers , airports , air carriers and national governments .
this Treaty is a great constitutional step forward for Europe , and I am proud to have been associated in its drafting .
the synergy between cohesion and the reinforcement of competitiveness must be strengthened , because they cannot be subordinated to each other .
I declare the order of business for the week adopted .
it needs to be said that there has been an informal meeting with the Council and the Commission , where it became clear that Parliament could agree to the procedure .
this intervention should now allow the Irish economy to get back on the path to sustainable growth , drawing on its fundamental strengths .
allow me this opportunity to congratulate the Slovenian Presidency .
they are neither few in number , nor are they exactly small : tackling climate change , creating growth and employment , a social Europe , research , training , education , aid for the poorest countries in the world , fulfilling our tasks in the world .
on the other hand , the report does contain clear recommendations on the second and third mistakes , and these are all heading in the right direction .
I would like cohesion policy to be a genuine response to the crisis and its aftermath , and in order to achieve this , it is essential for it to be incorporated into the Europe 2020 strategy and , specifically , into the target of job creation .
I have made several statements in this plenary that there has been no infringement whatsoever of fundamental rights or the acquis communautaire in any way , and I must say that in the three debates that we have already had in this plenary , none of you has given an example of problems related to fundamental liberties .
in Greece , the grassroot sections of society are very badly disposed towards politicians : there are 300 members of parliament in Greece and I hear the beat of Greek society drumming out ' hang all 300 of them ' .
that is why we have been advocating the abolition or substantial reduction - to a maximum of 10 % - of national contributions .
now we are in the implementation phase of the recovery plan , the Commission will be stepping up its work to monitor how national stimulus announcements are being carried through into action .
food security is also very important , however , especially these days , not to mention defending the borders of the Schengen zone and preventing illegal immigration .
while Europe was left in ruins after the Second World War , Sweden was untouched .
( GA ) Mr President , I also welcome this important report , although I am a bit disappointed that it fails to lay out a vision for the common agricultural policy ( CAP ) which will stop the depopulation of the countryside and ensure that active farmers can provide the goods and services demanded by society .
it is an ongoing material political issue which concerns all Greek citizens and the European values of good neighbourly and regional cooperation .
I would also highlight the significant commitment of Mr Capoulas Santos and the important contribution made by his amendments .
at first we perhaps hoped it would just be gas-guzzling American cars that would be affected .
common sense is a stranger to the European Union .
we are finalising the impact assessment in order to determine the details of any actions on legislative and practical measures , with the aim of legal certainty and rapid and efficient protection measures .
fellow Members , the most effective solution would be for us to promote a consistent policy among states and to ensure equivalence among the statements made and measures adopted .
Kosovo is currently only able to sustain its government with massive EU aid and , for that reason , visa waiver negotiations are pointless at this time .
a revision of the directive is necessary not only to respond to the initial objectives , but to ensure that we are better equipped to take on today 's challenges .
Madam President , the proposal presented by the European Commission was evidently written under the dictates of climate policy and without consideration of the social consequences - particularly the consequences in the field of energy - in countries such as Germany , Spain and Poland .
the labelling is also very important .
the Union has been involved in ending the war in Georgia , we have begun to try and control the widespread financial crisis , and now we are drafting an energy package , which is no small thing either .
I voted for this report , which approves the agreement .
the third point is on sharing information .
the decision of the euro-area Member States last Sunday to activate the mechanism of coordinated and conditional financial assistance for Greece was not an easy decision , but a necessary decision .
whilst this is not , in my opinion , a deeply significant issue in my own Member State - as we do not intend to join the euro and resulting fines do not apply to us - it is an extremely difficult and contentious issue in many countries , including those who intend to join .
the objective of modernising the communication is to increase transparency and legal certainty .
in this difficult context , the European Union and its businesses have a substantial social responsibility in the relations they maintain with third countries .
this act was in breach of fundamental human rights of the trapped Greek Cypriots , such as religious freedom .
yet we are also sending a message to the Council .
ladies and gentlemen , it was the citizens , the taxpayers , who paid once - will they pay a second time ?
in addition , in order to combat unemployment among low-skilled people , as well as to promote the employment of senior citizens , it is imperative to encourage the recognition of national qualifications between the Member States , and to encourage certification by validating skills acquired through informal apprenticeship .
we cannot wash our hands and allow the bloodshed to continue and for Israel 's crimes to go unpunished .
fourthly , progress needs to be made on creating a positive relationship which avoids obstacles and clashes and which instead seeks out synergies between the UfM and the Mediterranean structures of the European Union .
Mr President , I want to add my congratulations to Commissioner Barnier .
however , it is important that we discuss how we can ensure that there is more sport in school .
operation Atalanta should not be continued and expanded , and absolutely not onto the territory of the Yemeni mainland , because this would only serve the geostrategic interests of Western industrialised nations .
( GA ) Mr President , our colleagues have done many interesting things in relation to this issue and they agreed unanimously that this is a wonderful facility to put in the hands of our citizens .
this serves to ensure greater exploitation of labour forces and control over ever scarcer natural resources , particularly hydrocarbons , as well as control of the markets .
we need to adopt alternative policies .
our objective is the replacement , reduction and refinement of animal testing .
all Italian institutions - and I say this to Mr Tajani , to Mrs Angelilli and to other members of the opposition - from the City of Rome to regional authorities , right down to the smallest local council , are committed to this .
however , there are many other avenues to explore : closer cooperation with companies , more effective coordination between Member States through e-customs and the recent option of cooperation with third countries .
although we can only learn through our mistakes , making progress by speeding up the reaction is absolutely crucial .
in some cities , such as Lille , the swimming pools have womenonly sessions .
there is a SOLVIT centre in every Member State of the European Union ( as well as in Norway , Iceland and Liechtenstein ) .
( applause )
I do not have an office in Rome or Athens , or any work to do there ; these are in Brussels .
the security implications of a collapse of the Pakistan State would be devastating to the security of the entire developed world .
in order to fight those push factors , we need a good development policy and , there , conditionality will not help much .
in writing . - ( HU ) We are gradually coming to the end of the ten-year period during which the European Union was supposed to have become the most competitive economic zone in the world , with a sound social safety net and exemplary environmental indicators .
the next item is the Council statement on the situation in Guinea .
the next item is the report by Klaus-Heiner Lehne , on behalf of the Committee on Legal Affairs , on the annual accounts of certain types of companies as regards micro-entities - C6-0074 / 2009 - .
telecommunications clearly illustrate a major strategic challenge - you have noted their potential impact on European growth - but , at the same time , they concern issues that affect the daily lives of our citizens ; this is precisely the kind of issue that Europe needs .
in cases of life-saving treatment or treatment of a serious illness , no other obstacles matter .
is a minority of value then ?
in my first speech this evening , I also explained , more specifically than it is described in the booklet , that we intend to reach an agreement within the Council on both the Dublin Regulation and the Qualification Directive .
this has been confirmed by the agreement this weekend between Rosneft and BP - BP of Deepwater .
in conclusion , let me touch on equal pay , which we have discussed today .
we will , therefore , think about all of that .
I have no doubt that the new Greek Finance Minister , Mr Papakonstantinou , will do an excellent job and I do not know any sincere politicians who would dispute that .
moreover , it is also important that much attention is focused on commercial , economic and free-market concerns , which should contribute to the region 's economic development .
but there is a fundamental question : what about the major reforms of the milk market ?
while Mr Cashman is a very charming gentleman , I must say that whenever I see anything with his name on it , I do look on it with some degree of scepticism .
this means that when planning the TEN-T map this year and the TEN-T budget for the next financial perspective , as well as the cohesion policy budget , we should allow for investment in other modes of transport , so that we can connect these ' islands ' to the rest of the European Union .
( DA ) Madam President , I would like to thank the Court of Auditors for once again providing us with an excellent tool for evaluating our use of money within the EU .
this is hardly surprising , as some countries in continents such as Africa and Asia slide further into political chaos and the world slips further into a financial and economic crisis of as yet unknown depths .
let us dare to do what common sense dictates before it is too late .
I will mention just some of them .
finally , I hope that these agreements will contribute to improving competitiveness and promoting economic diversification policies , as well as policies that raise the social , economic and environmental level of these countries in the developing world , without forgetting , of course , the measures of assistance under the Programme of Options Specifically Relating to Remoteness and Insularity to support banana producers in the outermost regions of the EU .
the ideal for us would be the scrapping of the CFP or the United Kingdom 's withdrawal from it , thus allowing Member States to take back control of their waters .
the next item is the report by Christian Ehler , on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs , on deposit-guarantee schemes .
as such , Mr Simpson 's report on the Commission 's proposal for a directive revising the legal basis for European statistics on tourism is important and comes at a crucial time for the future of tourism , given that the economic crisis and the recent military operations in the Mediterranean represent a threat to tourism and , at the same time , create conditions for diverting tourism to safe destinations in Europe .
we would also like a list of the members of the negotiating group .
in writing . - ( PL ) I am voting in favour of Mr Harangozó 's report on the impact of cohesion policy on the integration of vulnerable communities and groups .
I fully support this process .
the issue of gender equality has been given greater prominence with the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon and we have a responsibility to take it forward .
and even for those generations that follow us , this commemoration is not simply a fitting tribute for all those who served .
specific measures are adopted at Council level and here the Council is active and functional .
a real change towards binding fundamental rights protection in the fight against terrorism requires greater courage and effort .
at the same time , we are pushing for the possibility of delivering humanitarian assistance to these occupied territories as well .
therefore , Parliament cannot and should not make any compromises on its previous positions , but must ensure compatibility with EU law during and after negotiations , if need be then by all means with the presentation of the mandate and the results of the negotiations before the European Court of Justice .
however , something that arises again and again in all budget negotiations , and which we need to avoid here once again , is greed and the desire to hold on to our old ways .
while we are developing our overall maritime policy , it is important to ensure that the sea does not strike back , as it did in a sensational novel by bestselling author Frank Schätzing .
we have nonetheless voted in favour of the report because its aim is still the valid one of , as far as possible , preventing the European Court of Justice from interfering in Swedish collective agreements in the future .
none of these agencies has been penalised , neither by their customers nor by their reputation being tarnished , for not having done their work properly during the Enron or subprime crises .
I hope that those communities will be able to continue to exist in the way that they always have .
she has been unavoidably detained this evening and she has asked me to make a few important points on her behalf and on behalf of the Commission .
that must be the focus of the European mission .
I do not want history to punish Europe .
the European Parliament voted in plenary today in favour of a joint motion for a resolution on the renegotiation of PNR agreements and the adoption of strict data transmission criteria , in order to achieve passenger safety predicated , as always , on respect for personal data .
more generally , competitiveness and innovation will be central issues to be addressed in this strategy .
we can support our resolution tomorrow and recommend that the Commission and the Council take these initiatives , but we can do more .
the second major event is that the EU managed to establish a united position for the climate change negotiations .
come back in 30 years ' time and preach to me about advancing women 's rights when you have done as much work on this as I have .
I welcome both the integrated approach ( the consolidation in a single text of seven separate directives on industrial emissions ) and more stringent provisions governing the use of best available techniques aimed at finding innovative solutions for reducing the pollutant effect of production .
it would not have been appropriate for this disguised personal attack to have been supported by Parliament .
it is no different in our partner countries .
after this , the process to gather signatures on paper or online can begin .
defenders of human dignity are being arrested , and up to seven million people are being tortured in the notorious Laogai camps .
I voted in favour of this report , because bluetongue is a disease affecting ruminants ( such as cattle , sheep and goats ) .
in some areas of activity , the EU may also be able to make a useful contribution .
I frequently hear comments from Polish entrepreneurs that access to the relevant sources of information is very dispersed , which makes it much more difficult for users to compare and evaluate , and to draw the right conclusions concerning their own projects .
it is , after all , the only body we have to do a cross-border account standards setting process .
on this basis , I look forward to a truly strategic discussion with Member States and Parliament on the future directions of the Union 's border policy , where new technologies will play a decisive role .
without going into the specifics of the particular case she mentioned , because that is a transport matter , which would be better for my colleague , Mr Tajani , the only reason discrimination could possibly be justified by objective reasons is that there would clearly be some additional costs .
without such consistency , the Transatlantic Economic Council risks being used to create a special economic relationship between two major powers , a protectionist market straddling the Atlantic versus other global markets .
my only regret is the issue of the refugees and migrants , which , I believe , has not been adequately taken into consideration and presented as a common challenge for these countries and for the European Union .
for there is a conflict in this Chamber about the fact that we are not able or do not want to say clearly what the wording is ...
the share of speculation today counts for 30 % to 40 % of the final price , and it would be good to introduce an energy price moratorium when the year-on-year increase is over 30 % , as it is now .
the EU must therefore avoid shooting itself in the foot at a time when it is facing many challenges : a population that will be declining from 2020 , economic pressure , a hike in energy prices , climate change and social imbalances .
in writing . - ( RO ) The report raises for discussion an essential European issue : the European Union actions towards integration into the labour market cannot ignore the arbitrary restriction of the free movement of workers .
the European Council will probably agree with the need for a common approach by the European Union in accordance with the principles proposed in that report .
a more detailed technical synthesis of the Commission 's assessment of the NEEAPs will be presented in the Commission 's NEEAP document this spring .
this is what we are dealing with , but there is a problem .
secondly , is the new instrument to be based on an intergovernmental approach , for that is how the EFSF works , or will it in fact be Community-based , which is how we think it should be done ?
we must enhance facilities , transfer high technologies and facilitate their transposition among companies .
we have given the floor to two MEPs .
these immediate issues are primary and all efforts should be directed towards them .
finally , we would like to see the Member States assuming full responsibility of their own and ending the demagogic practice of promising money they do not have without putting forward any sustainable policies for the fisheries industry .
my message to them is clear : butt out of an Irish sovereign decision , because nobody will tell the Irish electors what to do .
when the Council adopted its common position , the Commission accepted this as a possibility insofar as it was compatible with Community law .
it is not an unfair assessment to say that the current system is now shown to be flawed and ill-equipped for the new circumstances we find ourselves in .
last year , when the price of butter reached more than EUR 4 for a short time , a large proportion of the ice cream industry stopped processing butter fat .
now we are asking , above all , for two things : firstly , that those who have been convicted should serve their sentences - what is at stake here is not the operation of the Special Court , which will conclude its work next year , but the legacy that it is to leave us - and , secondly , obviously , that all this should be accompanied by more funding .
the full realisation of a competitive Single Market , without barriers , is essential to relaunching the European economy and stimulating growth , competitiveness and sustainability in the EU .
you can see the body language of the speakers , and you get much more than by just reading a dry text .
Mr President , many Eurosceptics claim that the democratic progress embodied in this treaty is slight and that , in fact , it is a fig leaf for a dark and more sinister Europe hidden behind it .
but we should realise , also in this European Parliament , that a certain number of European requirements have been decided internally that are the result of a political process in which the European Parliament was very heavily involved and that we cannot impose through the WTO .
fair competition should be recognised as playing a key role in this respect .
that is not the issue at stake .
we need equality for the survival of the countryside , we need it for women and we need it for the future .
I voted in favour of the own-initiative report by Mrs Jäätteenmäki on a proposal for a decision of the European Parliament amending its decision on the regulations and general conditions governing the performance of the Ombudsman 's duties .
what do you think the impact of that will be ?
the Commission must keep its active role in building a genuine single market for financial services .
that is why it is urgent to proceed towards reinforcing the protection of motherhood for self-employed women and ensure equal treatment for women who work for themselves , including their assisting spouses .
we are going to have similar contact with the Commissioners , with the Vice-Presidents of the European Commission , and so we are going to have an hour of questions and answers which will help us to understand the work of the Commission .
they are the cancer of commonality , the cancer of Europe 's future .
the vote will take place at the end of the debate .
it is noticeable how the Commission always stresses that social policy must remain a national matter .
I , like my voters , think that the EU is too closed and bureaucratic .
resolving disputes by diplomatic means guarantees equality of treatment between countries .
having said this , I would still like to express two concerns .
in Finland , there is a viable system for maternity and parental leave .
a solution would be to open a limited part of wilderness areas to high-quality sustainable tourism , which does not adversely affect the conservation objectives of the sites .
I would first like to congratulate my colleague Dan Jørgensen on his excellent report , and highlight from what he said how well things are being done in the European Union , and how they are being done better every year .
some cases are still running and there have been no criminal convictions yet .
since this is a political failure - a failure to execute the will of the legislator - the regulation must be amended , and we intend to fight for this .
what we want , as the Socialist Group in the European Parliament , is for the social dimension to be enshrined not only in the text but also in the policies that we are helping to shape .
simply , it was something we were unwilling to do because , as Mr Leinen pointed out just now , we put interests other than those of consumers first .
his candidature is an important political signal for Italy , after his brilliant experience as Director-General of the Treasury and Governor of the Bank of Italy from 2006 , during which time he successfully promoted Italy on the European and international scene .
I would therefore like to suggest at this point that we deal constructively with Eurostat and not just with regard to the scandalous practices , which of course also existed in the past .
the Commission recently presented another flagship initiative , an ' Agenda for new skills and jobs ' .
I just think that it is important that the EU should have a policy on this .
mortality amongst women in developing countries is still tragically and unacceptably high .
unless these rights are guaranteed , the very idea of Europe will be a failure , as will an integration process predicated above all else on the fundamental rights of European citizens .
the ALDE Group also calls for deletion of paragraph 38 , which appears to seek the abolition of intellectual property rights .
the report gives the Commission clear guidelines and options for simplifying the FP7 .
with regard to the humanitarian situation in the camp , the Commission has been informed by the International Committee of the Red Cross and other international organisations that have been monitoring the development of the situation that no significant deterioration in living conditions or any breaches of international conventions have been reported .
if you would allow me to be a little bit more specific , I will just make some telegraphic comments on some particular parts of the report .
to sum up this interesting exchange of views , I propose that this afternoon 's incidents be transmitted to the competent bodies so that we can see what needs to be done .
I see that global finance giants are backing our economy in the wake of the stress tests , and I hope that they realise that the Irish have fixed a problem for the rest of Europe , and will show us much-needed solidarity on interest rates .
these issues still await resolution , but meanwhile the exodus from rural to urban areas that can provide better living conditions is virtually unstoppable .
( DE ) Mr President , one of the reasons why the renewal of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with Mauritania is particularly important is that this agreement will be effective in a particularly sensitive area - North Africa - which is currently once again in the spotlight of world politics .
this situation has also hindered the professional development of women and has contributed to the consolidation of gender stereotypes in relation to work .
this is a very important matter that requires profound analysis .
it was quite thrilling to hear what you told us about the process and the timetable .
I believe that this proposal has some technical shortcomings which , as I have said , have been denounced by producers .
I would like to mention this once again .
in my report I therefore included a requirement for the Member States and the Commission to set a target of at least 40 % women in all recruitment and evaluation panels .
we also acknowledge that the proliferation of Commission initiatives on this subject , together with Europe 2020 , the industrial policy and the Europe of innovation , runs the risk of blurring the central issue of revitalisation , which is to make the idea of the Single Market not only more friendly but also more appealing to Europeans .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , as shadow rapporteur , I should like to thank the rapporteurs and say that I think this directive is extraordinarily important because it is the first time that the European Union has taken legally binding action in the fight against the trafficking of human beings .
our rapporteur , Javier Pomés Ruiz , has drafted a good and interesting report , and I am sure that with this report as the opinion of Parliament , we will help the Commission to make further progress .
the goal is inclusion and the goal is to integrate children in a way that is possible for them .
we in the European Union too must naturally seek appropriate answers when problems arise , and the necessary instruments must also be at our disposal when it is a case of developing and making progress .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , first of all , I wish to congratulate Mrs Neris on the work she has achieved on a technical issue that is particularly difficult for non-experts like us .
3 .
we will wait to see how this is applied .
as a result , I would like to say , Madam President , that in my opinion , with this Summit we lost democracy , we lost freedom , and we lost so that some could win with war .
one practical measure which can be taken is to set up an emergency number for gender-based violence in Member States .
( applause )
I hope that my fellow Members in the various groups will discuss this matter with their groups ' chairmen , as Parliament 's authority is continually being gnawed away at because there are so few of us here at any one time .
Mr President , the British press , assisted to such a conclusion by paranoid and Euro-sceptic MEPs , has scaremongered that a future Commissioner for Fundamental Rights , which Mr Barroso has accepted at the proposal of the ALDE Group , will force the UK to accept more asylum seekers from across Europe .
paradoxically , however , one of the Constitutional Treaty 's basic tasks was to make it more comprehensible and acceptable to European society .
it would , in fact , be a good idea if some of our friends , Spain included , for instance , took a leaf out of the Portuguese book and assumed their responsibilities in terms of legacies from former colonies , as is the case in Western Sahara .
only genuine democracy can provide for a long-term stability .
it was at this point that I asked to speak to the President in private .
I said during my hearing at the European Parliament that we should take care that when we spend European Union money for different purposes , we also ensure that the different projects - infrastructure was mentioned for instance - are being climate-proofed .
I am grateful to Mr Brok and to Mrs Neyts-Uyttebroeck for the excellent work they have done in spite of the little time available .
moreover , basic respect for the policies and guidelines set out by the democratic bodies and those legally empowered to do so is at issue here .
I welcome the progress made in the accession negotiations , which should be completed by the end of the first half of 2011 , as well as all the efforts made by the European Commission towards the other countries of the Western Balkans joining the EU .
the implementation of the renewable energy targets requires a network with a greater degree of meshing , intelligence and , above all , interconnectivity in order to manage its variability properly .
we will find out , too , if the talks with President Barack Obama are treated as the beginning of specific dialogue or if they prove to be a courtesy meeting on the occasion of the NATO summit which will be under way .
with regard to the one amendment proposed on possible VAT exemptions , it is a good compromise and I am very happy to support it .
in my opinion , the European Parliament already gives sufficient support to the idea that the Union and Iran should have a stable Afghanistan as a common goal in paragraph 55 .
it creates first and second-class citizens and I am wondering why the representatives of Poland and the United Kingdom want to thwart the European Union 's common foreign and security policy .
for that reason , its duty is also to consider what is best for its citizens , in this matter too .
there is a need to increase the role of industry , in particular , that of small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) , so contributing to reinforcing Europe 's position of leadership in a globalised world .
I have heard talk from prominent opinion formers of throwing Ireland out of the Union , including , even , from a newspaper editor in my own country .
however , the arbitrary creation of new projects and organisations to facilitate these goals runs counter to the budgetary realities evident across the EU .
I am absolutely convinced that this will also create differences between Member States in terms of the number of visa applications .
Book-burning is alive and well .
if we do not get this right , we shall ultimately have the entire nation dependent on humanitarian aid .
concerning safe building standards , these standards exist but the question is how closely these standards are followed in Member States .
the new CAP will have to adapt to a changing European and global context and withstand many challenges .
I should like to reassure the fellow Members who raised legitimate and understandable concerns , which we covered during the debate and to many of which we sought to provide responses .
it is a first substantive and important step .
the second question concerns the action to be taken by local authorities .
it is quite simple : Kosovo belongs to Serbia .
regarding the role of the Commission , I want to be extremely clear once again .
we are now doing the analysis of individual Member States : what are the problems , what are the challenges , what are the co-benefits , what can we do ?
furthermore , in an attempt to raise awareness , Member States must promote SOLVIT as an expedient and accessible alternative dispute resolution mechanism , in the form of a nation-wide information campaign .
if the big companies fold , the little ones will inevitably follow .
the derogation should instead be a general rule .
from the outset , parents are thus seen as incapable , irresponsible and childish .
President Bashar-al-Asad extended his hands to the world and said ' I want a true peace ' .
this lay at the basis of the establishment of the European Union in terms of values .
the controls carried out have shown that the Agency 's budget is reliable and the underlying transactions are legal and regular .
there have been confessions , convictions and all such things in Switzerland .
I would like to express my deepest sympathy and solidarity with the Chinese people and with the great many victims of this tragedy .
I long to see a true , fair , democratic Parliament , where it would be neither necessary nor desirable to use such an expression .
we should pay close attention to Mrs Van Lancker 's long speech and the recommendations she has made in it .
( HU ) Thank you very much , Madam President .
it is of fundamental importance that we have ambitious targets .
this is the creation of the Creator , and anybody who destroys the creation of the Creator should not be respected .
nevertheless , we need to remember that if consumer protection and the internal market are to be strengthened , aware and active consumers are more important than official monitoring and legal protection .
it is regrettable that there is no mention of the allies of these totalitarian regimes who , until very recently , held nearly the whole of Eastern Europe in their grip .
there were many different views , and there were calls for various exemptions and special considerations from several other Member States .
the degradation of ecosystems will cause a severe blow to the health of our economies and of European citizens .
oral explanations of vote
if the efforts of Mr Schulz are aimed at increasing the number of supporters , then I have nothing against a postponement until the next plenary sitting in March .
everything else regarding Galileo I am handing over to my colleague Mr Böge , who will also be responsible for continuing negotiations on the Committee on Budgets together with his colleagues here .
Croatia will also need to continue to make progress on various open bilateral issues with its neighbours .
the EU is founded on misrepresentation , deceit and lies .
the boundary between when national law is to be applied as opposed to the statute for a European private company is very unclear .
the modern world could not function without them .
the conference was a success and it has been suggested that it should be continued in six months and a year .
however , transparency means more audits , more consultations , more controls - in brief , more waste of time and money on bureaucracy , and this slows down rather than facilitates the work of MANY people .
we must fight to ensure that the transition from one Treaty to the next is not misused by the Council with regard to the allocation of posts , such as those of the High Representatives , for instance .
single application procedure for residence and work (
naturally it is also important for taxpayers ' money to be used in the most legitimate way possible .
there is a fair balance between , on the one hand , the discipline of measures to prevent crime and , on the other , the daily lives of citizens and their family , social , economic , work and study relations , which are all regulated by civil law and the civil justice system .
this proposal concerns the straightforward codification of the rules already in force on indications or marks identifying the lot to which a foodstuff belongs , without making changes to their substance on which Parliament might need to give an opinion .
the less wealthy segments of society , as well as the more biologically fragile ( children , pregnant women and old people ) will be more vulnerable to these effects .
the assessment reports on the situation which have been published by IPCC since 1990 show that the science on climate change and the consequences thereof has made considerable advances over the last few years .
a genuinely sustainable approach to farming and food production must be at the heart of any viable European agriculture policy .
in the solar thermal area , for example , they have major projects ready to start construction at the end of 2009 and early 2010 ; they have several projects ready to go .
to strengthen European monopolies in the intensified endo-imperialist competition in the field of energy .
rapporteur . - ( NL ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I am aware that mine was the most complicated of the three reports and that , as Mr Savary says , this was the hardest knot to unpick .
2007 discharge : European Railway Agency (
I have listened attentively to the views expressed by my fellow Members .
we can draw inspiration from some of our success stories .
finally , I have one further observation regarding the United States .
I have already drawn the Commission 's attention to the criticism by Kyrgyz and Uzbek non-governmental organisations concerning gold mining operations using cyanide technology that are partly financed by the EBRD .
in the resolution on Macedonia 's progress in 2009 towards implementing the EU membership criteria , we drew attention to the fact that the country 's government should be more sensitive to matters of ethnic minorities and strive for greater media transparency .
I would like the Commissioner to make a clear statement as to whether he also supports this .
on the contrary , in working to end terror , it is supremely important that we demonstrate the strength of our commitment to justice .
I certainly believe that breaking off relations , which is now being threatened , would be completely the wrong move .
consequently the tendency to try to manage current challenges individually is irresistible .
therefore , we must ensure that the directive is implemented immediately and correctly in all 27 Member States , in order to simplify the process of providing services in other countries as quickly as possible .
there are two options here .
I believe that the CAP , with its excesses and imperfections ironed out , could become an example of effective , fair and responsible policy , rising to the food challenge and uniting at the same time the economy , society and the environment .
in situations where there is harmonised legislation in areas such as that of precontractual information , which this new proposal enshrines , one way of further raising levels of confidence in products from outermost regions - and thereby increasing their availability and consumption in the internal market - will be to enhance their image through quality certification , by introducing specific measures to that effect .
the large numbers of women leading the demonstrations is an unmistakeable expression of the Iranians ' determination to live in a true democracy .
not even temporarily and certainly not if we have servers here in Europe and no longer just in the US , because the data will continue to be sent to the US nonetheless and legal protection will not be guaranteed .
therefore , Mrs De Sarnez , my view is that , at the end of the day , we will need a European regulator and that , in the meantime , we at least need to establish coordination between European regulators .
we need to review the current policy of extremely reduced stocks .
this is not the case with France , which did not make any arrangements to ensure a smooth transition from 72 to 74 MEPs .
however , four Member States still do not benefit from the reciprocity that has been implemented .
the following questions are addressed to the Council .
it seems it is always somewhat easier to complain about the scandals in the EU than to work on specific , positive solutions .
this is what we want , in order to fight against the employment of people from third countries residing illegally and , above all , to impose sanctions on the employers who profit from these people .
they are still well adrift at the foot of the demographic employment league .
following the vote in Parliament on 16 June 2010 to reject the Commission proposal on the organisation of the working time of persons performing mobile road transport activities , what is the current state of play with regard to this proposal ?
hydroelectric power accounts for 2 / 3 of the country 's electricity output .
next , we must not forget that the issue of minorities is many-layered : there are Roma , new immigrants , and national minorities , but they are all alike in that every European Union country must find a solution to their problems .
moreover , this would reduce the cost of the processes that have to be carried out by the competent authorities , and would ultimately provide standardised , constantly updated statistics .
in discussions on the subject , Member States agree that significant resources should be provided for this .
also in relation to the key aspect of border surveillance , what will Frontex 's role be in Iconet and what has the Council 's response been to the proposal to establish EUROSUR ?
so I think we need to be practical .
Albania urgently needs to implement the 12 key priorities of the opinion .
we await clarification from the European Council and the Commission on this matter .
I therefore really believe that we must make provision at this stage for a substantially increased budget for the European Chemicals Agency .
in writing . - ( SV ) The report advocates increased cooperation between national administrations .
( NL ) After last night , it does not look as though a female president will be elected in the United States .
anyone who wants to re-establish the primacy of social rights over free trade must insist on a revision of the treaties , and specifically the articles relied on by the Court to justify its recent decisions .
so we are not exactly on the same page , but I look forward to listening to the comments of the Honourable Members .
alas , the Palestinians have not yet accepted that suicide bombs or Kassam rockets will never deliver liberation from the occupation of their land .
however , I think the lack of transparency in recruitment procedures and the inquiry opened by the European Anti-Fraud Office ( OLAF ) are worrying .
3 .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the call for a financial transaction tax is nothing new ; opponents of globalisation have been calling for such a tax for some years .
the purpose of the all-out attack on insurance and labour rights and on the incomes of grassroots families and their standard of living is so that the EU can assure the euro-unifying monopolies that they will be ' in an advantageous position when the economy recovers ' compared with the international competition .
the Copenhagen Economics report concluded that the bilateral elimination of tariffs and reduction of non-tariff barriers would benefit both businesses and consumers and drive economic welfare by EUR 33 billion in the EU and EUR 18 billion in Japan .
this is more important than ever .
on this basis we can adopt the joint resolution .
however , we also had to ensure that we did not grind so much off this link that we caused it to break .
I would , however , ask you to consider this : if we want Lisbon - and Europe needs strong , sustainable institutions - we can only have it if the Irish vote and say ' yes ' , and in order for them to say ' yes ' , we need a new situation .
the fact that Parliament also draws attention to the way in which aid should be provided to Haiti is important ; it should be a donation , not a loan which will place the country in debt .
targets will be set in relation to the 2050 road map .
I therefore give my full support to the motion for a resolution as it stands .
texts of agreements forwarded by the Council : see Minutes
just to name some of them : your position on strengthening national ACP parliaments , on the International Criminal Court and on other human rights issues confirmed our negotiation position .
according to the available data , more than 90 % of all claims are settled out of court so , in this respect , there is no need for the Commission 's initiative to introduce compulsory legal expenses insurance across the European Union .
the European Parliament 's legal service is much less explicit , although it did offer some possibilities .
( DE ) The process of integrating the electricity market in the Baltic states should include unrestricted deregulation of the market for private customers and a common energy exchange .
one clear message from the crisis is that only public and state pensions are reliable and stable .
the open method of coordination ( OMC ) in the social field provides a framework for EU Member States to reform their social protection systems on the basis of policy exchanges and mutual learning .
( ES ) Madam President , I should like to begin by expressing our full solidarity with Opel workers and with their families .
there is no balance between the decentralised , near-to-the-citizens , local-area projects and the big projects , some of which will , I think , fail .
nevertheless , there are differences when it comes to granting entry visas for the United States , which relies on criteria that are insufficiently clear and transparent at present .
( EL ) Mr President , a major environmental scandal is breaking which needs to be addressed at the Cancún conference .
indeed David Cameron predicted that the first openly gay Prime Minister in the UK would be a Tory .
recently , due to such security risks , the step was taken to close a border point , leaving Kerem Shalom as the only commercial crossing which is completely secure .
call us , call me , if you have a problem .
I want to congratulate them on this and say that these three reports which we are discussing today were adopted by a huge majority in the Committee on Foreign Affairs .
it is also just as important to increase the loans for the European network of employment services .
everyone 's efforts are therefore important in achieving this objective , as the current situation in Europe is quite complex , and is undergoing profound changes following the adoption of the Treaty of Lisbon .
efforts towards the administrative modernisation and reform of the regions , combined with high quality technical assistance from the Commission , are essential prerequisites to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of EU investments .
yet , other French soldiers are giving support to Idriss Déby , the President of Chad , who has been heavily criticised by Amnesty International .
as a result of the economic and financial crisis , the unemployment rate has reached 10 % , with the rate of youth unemployment at 20 % .
it would have been better if the Parliament 's administration had reacted earlier and helped to implement the current model .
the original proposal to tag both passengers ' baggage and the boarding pass of each passenger to me poses a significant breach , or potential breach , of civil liberties .
the Member States involved have been slow , inefficient and inoperative in their reaction , and , at this point in time , with 23 people dead , we still do not know where the problem is coming from .
this is an obvious attempt to keep the opposition out of the elections .
moreover , the creation of another post at European level risks being too remote from citizens .
we need an internal market - it is our strength - and , at the same time , a high level of social cohesion .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , first of all I would like to thank the honourable Members of Parliament for the interesting points they have made .
it has given me an opportunity to explain the main initiatives we shall be taking , which are in line with the very pertinent comments made by Mr Savary .
this is bloody ridiculous !
the security situation in Afghanistan is too dangerous to return anyone there at present , but afterwards , when things have quietened down , these people will be returned .
the first is that the consumer prices of agricultural products must be commensurate with the costs , effort and work , but also with the production costs , if we want European consumers to be able to eat healthy products of European agriculture , of the traditional agriculture that must be preserved .
it is also with great interest that I read the report of the Development Committee , which provides a shrewd analysis on the matters at stake .
I have therefore voted in favour of the text .
I am well aware that this is an interesting ideological debate , but I believe that we have the answer in Europe .
there is still considerable room for improvement with regard to nitrogen oxides and sulphur emissions .
President Ahmadinejad 's remarks concerning Israel and his support for Holocaust denial are entirely unacceptable for all of us .
I am hopeful that the leniency we are showing towards Mr Brok for a financial affair will also apply to the freedom of expression of those Members of the House who belong to the minority .
it could have happened to any other minority .
Commissioner , you mentioned Solvency II .
as regards the development of the right to consumption , we note that there is very little cross-border consumption , around 6 % , which is obviously too little .
culture is a significant asset .
therefore , dedication to the various legal approaches and constitutional traditions of the various Member States must be maintained while , at the same time , an EU-level approach must be thought up in order to resolve general problems .
however , our margins are dwindling .
its effects have affected LDCs to a large extent and caused a further deepening of the problems occurring there .
Mr López Garrido , I have a personal comment : ideology and human rights do not mix .
as you know , at the beginning of October , we presented an opinion on Albania .
that will be done not by idiots burning banks , but by sustained and mass mobilisations and strike action of working people and replacing this diseased system with democratic socialism and a real human society to be created by 2020 .
I would put all of these questions back on the table during the negotiations that will deal with the reform of the POSEI programme .
it was essential to resist the proposal to subsume development policy as part of our foreign policy .
a global agreement on bank stability levies , linked to concrete resolution measures , would send a strong signal .
the Council first decided to resume a dialogue , without pre-conditions , between the European Union and Cuba , based on reciprocity and dealing with all issues of mutual interest .
micro-enterprises will obviously continue to keep accounting records , in accordance with the national laws of each Member State .
( PL ) Armenia , Azerbaijan and Georgia are undoubtedly European states , they are undoubtedly European nations .
amendment of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union with regard to a stability mechanism for Member States whose currency is the euro (
I would also pay tribute to all our Jewish friends , both in Israel and elsewhere , these new righteous men who , in extremely difficult conditions , also want peace and call for compliance with international law .
let us make the Roma people European citizens in their own right .
moreover , that is likely to improve the potential use and the market prospects of transport by inland waterways ; after all , we are trying to shift more transport of dangerous goods to inland waterways .
I have no idea what the efficacy of these cures is .
these permits would have to be issued by Germany , by Denmark , by Sweden and also by Finland .
I regret that the African Union is not doing enough to isolate Mugabe as I believe that this union , along with the Southern African Development Community and the Pan-African Parliament , are the key forums which should be charged with removing such a despot .
- Report : Florenz
let us show our support not with a minute 's silence , but with a minute 's applause for peace , progress and human rights , the legacy left to us all by Andrei Sakharov .
along with the European Parliament 's recommendation for SMEs to be charged VAT only after invoices have been paid , setting a definite deadline for paying invoices will help those who are worried about their survival at a time when markets are in decline .
the European Union does not aim to achieve superiority .
yet they see the EU failing to be rigorous in dealing with countries where they are clearing rain forests to raise cattle .
this was to a large extent the result of the very competent and dedicated way the Slovenian Presidency has prepared all the work .
that was not actually put to the House .
( the sitting was closed at 11.10 p.m. )
( FR ) ' calls on the Commission without delay [ sans délai ] to submit its proposals for achieving the objective of a positive DAS ' .
I have the impression that although we have already spoken many times about this in this Chamber , not much has come from these words of ours .
there are no wordings in the report about the right to strike having to take precedence over the freedom of the market and of this needing to be written in to a socially binding protocol to the Treaty of Lisbon .
I think that the Eurobarometer shows clearly that European citizens are in favour of developing nanotechnologies .
if there is a legitimate justification for EID in this sector , stock owners would be responsive and would set about introducing it themselves on a voluntary basis .
it is too early to discuss this .
I also call for a global ban on such technology in order to protect all EU citizens .
Captain Daniel Ambroziński of the Polish Armed Forces lost his life recently in Afghanistan . it appears that his death was due essentially to the weakness of the Afghan Army and police , who succumbed to bribery .
the proposed brief and factual text on climate change retains the most important objectives of the European Union and at the same time takes account of the views of the United States - I will not repeat matters which are well known to this Parliament .
we have a great interest in seeing greater transparency at the European Investment Bank .
exploiting the issue of counterfeiting purely for protectionist purposes is about as low as it gets .
there are actually clear conditions for an economic recovery in the near future , which is why we can initiate the discussions on reducing the financial incentives in certain areas .
the unpleasant thing here is that South Sudan is actually inheriting a legacy from the past and that the raising of the flag or of a glass of champagne is possibly somewhat out of place , given the situation in which the South Sudanese find themselves .
neither side found a new formula to resolve the status of Kosovo , and it was obvious that further negotiations would not be fruitful .
there is not a word about what the Swedish Presidency will do to ensure that the so-called guarantees that have been given to the Irish people will also be regarded as such .
it is this behaviour that we see also in many national parliaments encourages extremists who would resort to yet another punitive action tomorrow , inspired by this political circus .
among the causes discussed , they mentioned the differences in retail trading structures , and in particular the imperfect competition in some countries .
in this regard , we urge the Commission to examine not only the possibilities for fully implementing cash management based on needs , but also , in particular , the extension of ENISA 's mandate both beyond 2012 and as regards competences .
my country , the UK , and Ireland - both of which are of course outside Schengen - gave Taiwanese citizens visa-free privileges a year and a half ago .
Mr President , in the previous debate , I , too , along with a number of fellow Members , alluded to the session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly held last week which the Belarusian MPs were absent from , as you are aware .
therefore , it is now wonderful and amazing to cheer this awakening of the Tunisian people , although I wonder how on earth all that money was ever granted .
please explain to the voters in your country that if we adopt the EU budget , then it will actually be possible to pay out the cohesion funds within the European Union in the long term .
in fact , the role and intervention of Parliament will be to foster better agreements in general which , as in the case of Mauritania , need to be applied correctly .
good .
the gravity of the situation has been accurately described .
this is in the interest of the stability of the whole European Union .
within the framework of the Lisbon Strategy and at a time of crisis in the capitalist system , the European Union is using the budget to make workers pay for this latest crisis , to speed up capitalist restructurings , to promote harsh anti-labour measures which undermine collective agreements , to generalise the application of flexible forms of employment and to privatise state social services and insurance systems .
future negotiations will be technically and politically very demanding .
monitoring of cross-border healthcare will be useful in assessing the situation in this area .
I welcome the fact that Turkey has achieved some progress in several areas in 2007 .
for me , the choice is clear .
the report outlines important steps towards a balance between men and women in the academic sphere .
clearly , this will bring about a harmonisation of rights .
10 .
Andrei Sakharov was right in seeing this prize as an encouragement to all those who have committed themselves to the cause of human rights worldwide .
losses of priority substances can now take place , providing it reaches the Water Framework Directive .
as some individuals and groups in their desperate attention-seeking continue to up the ante with today a demand , I think for the first time , that Member States should abrogate the one-China policy and recognise the Tibetan government-in-exile .
I strongly oppose the conviction of Sam Rainsy and those like him who exercise their freedom of expression , and call on the Cambodian Government to stop its current path of tyranny .
the results from five direct votes - four on the Constitution and one on Lisbon - have yielded 27 million EU citizens voting ' yes ' and 23 million voting ' no ' , so the majority of EU citizens who have voted directly have voted ' yes ' .
third , the resolution ignores the fact that it is the deterioration in the social and economic situation in Georgia and the living conditions of the majority of the population - with the fall in income and employment - that is at the root of the current social dissatisfaction and has intensified internal disparities , which those in power are seeking to use and manipulate , as they have also done in the recent past .
however , increased efforts are also needed to find alternative , renewable sources .
the civilian population is still vulnerable to the impacts of the armed conflicts .
in the past few years , the Commission has stated very clearly that energy efficiency is the first priority of the European Union energy policy and a very important cornerstone to meeting the 2020 by 2020 targets , and National Energy Efficiency Action Plans play a central role in this respect .
( NL ) I thank the Minister for his answer , which was fairly detailed , but unfortunately did not get to the heart of the matter .
they must start by introducing their children and young people into the European school system .
in writing . - In order for the European Commission to be able to effectively perform its tasks with regard to the European energy policy , it must necessarily be kept well informed of any developments in the relevant sector .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
I trust that there is demand and an opportunity for measures to reinforce and extend political dialogue : ensuring the most widespread participation possible of citizens in the democratic life of the Union , not least including young people , in order to ensure that everyone is heard .
the European Union 's experience from the Baltic Sea strategy has provided proof of the need for an adequate framework set up at EU level to ensure the strategy 's coherence .
as I said , a missed opportunity .
however , the fact is that the Europe of 27 cannot be taken hostage by a minority .
on the question of how the agencies perform against the criteria that are set , I have to say that it is the role of the governing board of each agency to assess its performance against those criteria .
in addition , the very qualified stance on the use of detention centres for the transfer of asylum seekers to the State competent to assess the asylum application will definitely not contribute to an improvement in the effectiveness of the system but , on the contrary , will call it into question and make it unclear .
now the time has come to strengthen other mechanisms , especially financial incentives and taxes , and also to step up information campaigns and preventive measures .
that is a question for the future , both for us and for the European Commission .
we must encourage our young people to become more active citizens both socially and politically .
as Europeans , we have certain standards , and - this has been repeatedly addressed here - we have to implement them in a clearer way .
Europe needs a common regulatory system in this area .
finally , and I will conclude , Mr President , I would like to especially thank the Committee on Budgets for its support for a pilot project that has been allocated EUR 1 million , that will enable a study to be carried out in the next year monitoring and comparing the application of consumer policy measures in the various Member States .
we must prune the tree in order to allow growth .
it is my view that the European Parliament not only should , but must , resolutely defend the fundamental right of human dignity , and caning most certainly violates this dignity .
I have been adamant that we need a strong united EU response .
this is a problem and we must discuss how we can face it .
I want to ask those who today cry over the plight of democracy in Russia whether they are also upset about the European Parliament 's somewhat cowardly refusal to ask how Mr Solana handles international law ?
as we all agree , the consequences of sharp injuries can be extremely serious and can cause the spread of diseases such as viral hepatitis and AIDS .
finally , in the Stockholm Programme approved by the European Council on 10 and 11 December this year , the need for an additional proposal as regards vulnerable groups is assessed in the light of the experience acquired from the application by the Member States of the 2000 Hague Convention on the international protection of adults , to which they will become parties in the future .
the honourable Member mentioned in her introductory remarks that the quality of the education is high - and it is high .
I hope that we can come up with a formulation , a scenario and a strategy for exiting from nuclear power .
I share the opinion of the rapporteur and the Commission that statistics on crops are essential for the evaluation of the common agricultural policy and the management of EU markets in these goods .
new EU legislation means that , in the event of a dispute , pricing can ultimately be interpreted by the European Court of Justice , and this was obviously one of the reasons why the proposal was put forward .
for my part , I see these tests as supplementing the economic governance package .
I also wanted to say on the issue of the British Council that the EU has supported the UK Government in its dispute with Russia concerning the British Council offices in St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg .
sadly this money was most needed a few months ago when food prices were soaring .
with the signing of the Naivasha Agreement and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement ( CPA ) ( 2005 ) , 20 years of conflict between the north and south formally came to an end .
the Commission remains convinced that there are significant potential gains for developing countries from the Doha Round in terms of new market opportunities , which would help generate additional export income , stimulate agricultural production and facilitate access to foodstuffs , thereby alleviating the current food price hikes .
when deciding on initiatives at European level , we must consider only the priority areas of common activities .
application of the directive will provide clearer rules on collection , processing and recycling standards and also clearer information on the resulting costs of collection and processing .
I am referring to an absurd institution called the National Audiovisual Council .
it is not purely and simply about commercial trade , but a fisheries agreement , with all its implications .
rapporteur for the opinion of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs . - Madam President , the global economic recession changed the economic landscape in the EU dramatically : it increased unemployment , reduced economic growth and impaired the business environment .
I have to rely on that .
the third anticipated result is that the forthcoming document must result in a participative and bottom-up approach , that is to say , in consultation with all those involved in the sector .
agenda of the next sitting : see Minutes
I remind you that Rome III contains an anti-discrimination clause that allows foreign laws that would not guarantee equality of the spouses to be sidestepped .
this is a step towards closer cooperation not just between institutions and citizens , but among citizens themselves .
what has been significant for Parliament over the past three years ?
the vote will take place during the December part-session .
however , it would not have been enough for us just to take stock , as Europeans are expecting specific proposals from us to respond to future challenges .
it is the proper role of the IMF , as he said , to coordinate this action , and only with such a bold move , on a global basis , will we put out the fire and start to rekindle confidence .
I think not , because if the issue of human rights is not an internal issue for the Member States of the European Union , then neither is the issue of the rights of national minorities .
it is a case of putting Europe on a starvation diet and doggedly trying to meet the criteria in the pact without any guarantee of success and at the risk of destroying the recovery , and too bad for social cohesion .
what I would like to see is for the political knowledge in Europe 's capitals that it is necessary to join forces in these days of globalisation and the global crises to finally be converted into a common policy .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
it does not apply either to asylum seekers or to those people intercepted at borders .
we were richer economically - but poor in terms of European community .
during the last three years , more than 30 000 SMEs have ceased operating due to financial deadlock .
Mr Litvinenko was murdered by elements of the Russian state in an act of state-sponsored terrorism .
further to this , the representations , including the one in Ireland , have drawn up communication plans in close cooperation with the national government and EP information offices in Member States .
increasing everyone 's environmental awareness by involving just 4 000-5 000 businesses within the European Union , as we have done so far , is not a good outcome .
cooperation in this area will help to establish dialogue with societies from different cultures .
Gaddafi 's 42-year rule has systematically crushed any vestige of human rights in his country and we have now seen the consequences of the culture of violence on which his reign-of-terror regime was based .
I would like to remind you that we held a hearing in the Committee on Fisheries on this issue and that the experts stressed the need for the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea to identify for each species the stocks which can be exploited sustainably , and they also asked for greater scientific rigour as regards sampling schemes , and more concise data .
some progress has been made , however .
we have taken careful note of the Council 's position , and therefore Parliament 's reading is disciplined and does not go beyond the multiannual financial framework .
I have two points to make .
yesterday , in the Council of Agricultural Ministers and in COMAGRI , I also announced this EUR 280 million for dairy farmers .
the final very important point is that , in every country in the world , dictators and people who want to undermine human rights hide behind sovereignty .
certainly the Commission has a point in that there are technical barriers to trade and unfair rules .
( the President cut off the speaker )
unfortunately , state intervention comes rather late .
( CS ) Madam President , as I was unable , due to childcare responsibilities , to participate in what was clearly an interesting debate on Monday , I would at least like to express my full support now to this assembly , which I have also expressed through my vote .
they are very welcome .
its approach has been to work with civil society and NGOs to promote active citizenship .
I voted in favour of the report on evaluation and assessment of the Animal Welfare Action Plan 2006-2010 , which proposes that a more stringent system of supervision and more effective penalties for the owners of animals who do not respect the welfare requirements established by law be put in place .
anyone who had said 10 years ago that the euro would have developed as splendidly as it has done would have been laughed at .
the item on Mehdi Kazemi has been included among the items on breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law .
in writing . - ( PT ) The environmental disasters of the ships Erika and Prestige have laid bare the need to do more for maritime safety at European level .
it is highly probable that other chemicals will be used .
the next item is the report by Mr Sakalas , on behalf of the Committee on Legal Affairs , on the request for defence of the immunity and privileges of Witold Tomczak .
Auditors must have a solid basis for their opinions , drawn from evidence on the ground .
for the 13-year-old Georgian boy , Beka Giorgishvili , who , this year , whilst at a friend 's house , became one of the newest victims as he was helping to pump up his friend 's new bicycle tyre .
in this context , the Commission has produced the Intelligent Transport Systems Action Plan and submitted a proposal for a directive which should promote ITS use by kick-starting standardisation .
but the reason why we endure high taxation - certainly in the United Kingdom - is because we have a Labour Government bent and determined to increase the tax take and burden the British people and the British taxpayer with it .
we know that some studies have shown that we carry our cultural genotype in our DNA , but we need to ensure that a child can benefit from a good , loving home and a cultural environment where he or she can grow and develop into a wellbalanced person and citizen .
statements by the President
for example , European agriculture has an outstanding record when it comes to its contribution to cutting greenhouse gas emissions , with a 20 % reduction in the 1990-2006 period .
they are sanctioned by the electorate .
I can tell you , ladies and gentlemen , that the Council of Ministers also shares this commitment , and we will strive to achieve a consensus based on the position that you will adopt with the Council in broad terms .
the first one : what would you say if , one or two years from now , you were to see one of the members of the current Lukashenko government here in the European Parliament , in a place none other than the Vice-President 's chair of the LIBE Committee in charge of civil liberties and human rights ?
another issue concerns the possibility of extending on-call time without suitable remuneration , allegedly with the employee 's consent .
thinking about the future of innovation implies creating jobs , leveraging research capital and translating it into practices that apply to normal life , as well as developing human resource potential - all of which are factors that should be included in the next Framework Programme .
the fact is that whenever politics claims to be infallible , it gets something wrong .
the position adopted by Parliament today is the first victory in the battle over the shape of the new financial perspective for the period 2014-2020 .
CAP : common rules for direct support schemes and certain support schemes for farmers and support for rural development ( vote )
I do not want to disturb you but you are all talking half a minute longer than you should .
this is the starting point for reinforcing and promoting this role in Europe and for ensuring that the service is properly promoted and fairly administered .
it is not enough to devote our efforts exclusively to the financial crisis .
whilst the pragmatic Arab camp in the Middle East is nearing imminent collapse , the Iranian leadership has more cause for optimism than the opposition .
I support , with some reservations , the Podimata report on innovative financing .
annual activity reports and declarations , a key part of the reform programme , including those relating to cohesion and agriculture , now present a picture that is more in line with the Court 's own assessments , but some reservations still appear to underestimate the problems .
although these matters fall within the purview of the Member States , the relevant measures still have to be consistent with Community law .
I would also ask the social democratic Members to make that clear .
the work we are today involved in is a continuation of the initial 2002 Regulation .
of course , Mr President , as a representative of the people , I have respect for legal verdicts , but I also understand that the Constitutional Court has also said of the prohibition of political parties that Turkey should now enthusiastically engage with what has been recommended by the Council of Europe and the Venice Commission .
the EU currently has 16 Fisheries Partnership Agreements ( FPAs ) in force .
my party has also requested that we have a referendum on the EU Constitutional Treaty .
the issue of maintaining sidings and wagons used by railways that are not directly connected to the network should be dealt with in national regulations , not at European Union level ( including the relevant authorisations ) .
EU exports to Japan , as a ratio of Japan 's GDP , are less than 2 % , considerably below the ratio in the EU 's other main markets ( the US , China , Korea and India ) .
I voted for this motion for a resolution and would highlight Parliament 's firm support for reforms aimed at democracy , the rule of law and social justice in Egypt .
unfortunately , it seems that your motto is under threat from national authorities .
however , we need to have a broad perspective on it , as this is not the time for internal battles about resources being transferred or being retained in the short term , or for wars between the different European institutions .
if we are lucky enough to live long enough , we will most likely need care , and , while there are differences between Member States , the likelihood is that this will largely consist of informal care .
you did not see the financial disaster and the environmental catastrophe coming , despite all the warnings , because there were warnings .
I voted for this resolution , especially because it emphasises the role played by good quality education and training as a factor influencing people 's personal and professional life and because , as a result , education is the most reliable solution for ensuring Roma integration into society .
- ( PT ) Research and technology play a fundamental role in the development of a low-carbon society .
the gain from increasing the size of lorries would be eaten up by the increase in transport tonnage .
it is clear that lawmakers must act .
the rules of play are clear and anyone who abides by them has every chance of having visas waived .
and I hope Sweden will never be absorbed .
it is only natural !
when will my data be deleted , if it has been collected and stored ?
it , too , will hold a presidential election and its people will undoubtedly miss the visionary leadership of Álvaro Uribe .
apart from the political will not being there , the police will is not there either .
this , however , can only be done on the basis of mutual trust .
( DE ) Mr President , I would like to congratulate the Commission on its ambitious work programme , but we must attempt to align it more closely with Europe 's strategic objectives and with the long-term strategy .
the objectives can be achieved in full by this means .
as far as Bosnia and Herzegovina is concerned , the country must move forward .
that operation is clearly inadequate , however , and must be strengthened .
ladies and gentlemen , during my recent visit to India , I asked the business people whom I had the opportunity to meet about what they are doing in the area of corporate social responsibility .
I welcome , in particular , any effort which respects the indigenous people of this region .
this is why I believe that , via this report , the European Parliament proves that it undertakes its new role in the functioning of the European Union .
Mrs Harms , you have raised a very important issue .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
no one in Europe is radically arguing for an excessive budget consolidation .
the Council has tried to appease Parliament , perhaps not sufficiently yet , but they have also apologised for their mistakes during this process .
it concerns sport and EU competition rules and sport and internal market freedoms , and takes stock for the first time of European Court of Justice case-law and Commission decisions in the area of sport .
regarding the debate on cases of breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law , the Socialist Group in the European Parliament has requested that the sub-item on Sierra Leone be replaced by a new sub-item entitled ' Expulsions of aid agencies from Darfur ' .
however , we should pay particular attention to the possibility of actually enforcing this Directive in all Member States .
the European Parliament is currently preparing a report on establishing an EU Strategy for the Black Sea .
yes , we are pacifists .
we therefore have grave doubts about the political will of the European Commission to solve this complex problem and we run the risk of worsening regional and social inequalities with some of the proposals put forward in this resolution .
police work is the domain of the Member States and the main responsibility for the work therefore rests , logically and rightly , with the national governments , which are controlled by the national parliaments .
when you go to Mediterranean countries , you can see that people enjoy it , and not only those who live there but also many of us who travel to Mediterranean countries , especially when we want some sunshine and also some very good food .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , first of all I would like to thank our rapporteur , Mrs Buitenweg , for all her work .
the arrival of increasing numbers of people fleeing the war and fleeing from desperation highlight how limited this capacity is .
this report , which the European Parliament adopted by a huge majority , has been on ice for over two years , because it is being blocked by the Council , despite the fact that citizens are calling increasingly loudly for European solidarity against the background of the ever more frequent occurrence of natural disasters .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , the Council common position is , of course , not ideal but I am well aware that it has taken many years of negotiations by Member States to actually get this far .
the two projects mentioned in today 's plenary are , in a way , complementary and at the same time fit well into the overall strategy .
should there be no restrictions on freedom of speech ?
finally , the necessary reform of the CAP will have to distinguish between supporting individual farmers or cooperatives of such individuals , and leaving big agri-food companies at the mercy of the markets .
how on earth can they manage to keep the peace with 20 000 soldiers ?
Mr Daul , we have very intensive contact with other players .
these measures are therefore insufficient .
the first , in general terms , is the explicit reference to the European Union budget and its redistributive nature , which are the cornerstones of European solidarity .
what this morning has shown me here , as the Chair of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development , is that we have a very varied range of subjects to talk about .
I would like to see European Union-Canada relations strengthened , and for us to be able to move more and better toward air space with fewer barriers between states .
the Commission 's work programme for 2011 is clearly based on continuity .
however , the negotiations being conducted by the European Commission are not open .
the serious situation at European level requires the immediate introduction of suitable measures .
not least , given our commitment to transparency and accountability , this will enhance good governance and , in an ideal world , it will increase trust between those who spend and those who provide .
there is no working inter-library exchange system .
that is why , last January , my colleague , Mr Lambrinidis and I submitted a written statement calling for the harmonisation of detention standards throughout the European Union , and the introduction of independent national inspection mechanisms .
however , when Christians are murdered because of their religion , the EU takes months to react .
the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh is particularly worrying .
we must avoid such tax-raising acrobatics .
scientific and technological cooperation between the European Union and other countries is vital for technological development , with all its advantages , including in relation to improving people 's quality of life .
furthermore , I speak of religion being employed as a tool by all and sundry , and used and abused for various purposes and effects .
a number of companies have raised concerns over the cost of implementation .
in relation to such countries , we should expect the same standards as for the Member States of the European Union .
I know well the sensitivity in Ireland .
the law will only work , though , if it is enforced , and that is why it is good that we are giving more power in this law to 27 Member States ' enforcement bodies to demand all the necessary information they need for any operator in the supply chain and , where necessary , to conduct raids on premises .
Monetary and fiscal policy in the EU has also been restrictive , the prime objective being to stabilise prices and consolidate the budget in accordance with the Stability and Growth Pact even though we know that the process of nominal convergence has an adverse effect on economic growth and employment , economic and social cohesion , real convergence between the EU Member States , and public investment .
if the safety of the products placed on the market is a priority for all of us , the safety of children 's toys is twice as important because children are the most vulnerable group of consumers .
as we face a flood of applications for EU membership , the vote on this resolution could not have come at a better time .
that is the main reason why I voted in favour of the report .
pensions and wages are to be cut , consumption taxes perhaps increased .
( RO ) Mr President , creating a European identity and increasing the level of interest in the EU are major challenges .
we are told that the French Government opposes her because she does not speak French .
( DE ) Mr President , I should like to begin my comments with a question to Commissioner Rehn and to Mr Kármán of the Council .
we have dealt with another case in the Committee on Petitions concerning a man who has passed the language examinations in Latvia , who knows all the laws and who , nonetheless , is not granted citizenship because the state considers that - and I repeat what the Ambassador said to us - ' this man is not loyal to the state ' .
I voted in favour of Parliament 's position as I believe that :
China is now a global economic , industrial and political power .
at the same time , the police covered up the identity of the person injured in the Pátka incident .
in fact , the JPA has played , and continues to play , a key role in involving local authorities and bodies in the negotiations on Economic Partnership Agreements .
however , I should like to remind our Israeli partners that for the European Parliament , human rights are non-negotiable .
this is a great deal of money .
as for the Treaty of Lisbon - which deserves a mention - I would say it is essentially a ' middling ' treaty .
this report puts forward a number of proposals for improving the system within its current restrictions , based on its strong points .
the Agriculture Committee 's amendments in the report on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products are simply absurd .
it is nevertheless the first time that the instrument has been given priority over the objective .
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we can also examine how sustainable economic development in Europe is progressing and how we can refine our environmental policy .
for these reasons , we abstained from the vote on the report .
one of the key objectives set out for the EU agricultural sector is to supply good quality food at affordable prices .
the tragedies that certain populations , often the most disadvantaged ones , experience throughout the world require swift and effective action by international organisations but also by the European Union , which is a major player in the fields of development assistance and crisis management .
as regards scientific methodology for reaching MSY , the Commission will ask for scientific advice on a case-by-case basis .
rapporteur . - Mr President , I should like to thank Members very much for their views and the Commissioner for his views .
I would be grateful if you could go back to that and ensure that it was rejected .
adult education programmes should concentrate mainly on supporting people who are in the least favourable position on the labour market and also on supporting employers who offer lifelong learning to their employees .
I would like , in particular , to emphasise the fact that I have a very positive view of the European Council 's decision of December 2010 to grant Montenegro candidate status with the prospect of EU membership .
the EU representative , Peter Semneby , has done an outstanding job , and I am glad , Commissioner , that you spoke about increasing and widening our representations in the region .
the public funds of many Member States have declined as a result of this crisis .
there is no doubt that establishing the presence of global warming and its causation is a very complicated business .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( FR ) Perhaps Mrs Lucas did not hear me .
another example is the Commission 's annual growth analysis , which recommends raising the legal retirement age by linking it to life expectancy .
there is also considerable potential for the exploitation of EGNOS and GNSS in the areas of safety , the environment , and the smooth operation of road transport , as they can be used for collecting tolls .
debates on cases of breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law
thus some other components of the sale price , and I am thinking of energy and labour margins , have also influenced recent increases in food prices in the European Union .
I agree with the view that all the options should be considered based on their applicability , with emphasis on their economic , social , regional and budget impact .
given the political instability that has been rocking the Arab world , this figure could still shoot up .
the question is this : what is the source of this threat ?
President Medvedev and prisoner of conscience , Mikhail Khodorkovsky , together in the European Parliament - that would be a sight worth not only the attention of the world 's media , but also the heartfelt support of democratic society .
what I do not like is the lack of tact shown at the appearance of the delegation in Prague Castle .
this is as a result of the 2003 ECJ decision that gave the Community exclusive competence in regard to various aspects of external aviation which had traditionally been governed by bilateral air service agreements .
Europe is on quite the wrong track in this area , as in so many others .
in times of ever-narrowing margins and extreme competition , overtaking manoeuvres by lorry drivers , coupled with overtired drivers and overloading , are a fatal cocktail of risks .
it is also important that teaching is done in the student 's mother tongue , as that is the basis of identity .
he has been in the Romanian Parliament and supported the Boc government and Traian Băsescu .
I am counting on you .
in 2010 , the EU had not met the Lisbon strategy target of spending 3 % of its GDP on research and development .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( PT ) The Council has repeatedly stressed the importance it attaches to the issue of religious freedom in Turkey .
Madam President , I would like to thank the Commissioner as well for his response and advise him that a drop of whisky , some hot water and a slice of lemon is very good for clearing the throat .
simplicity is not the enemy of effectiveness and quality , and if there are strict controls , it is even less likely to lead to actions that break the rules .
the second concerns the importance of integrating the Roma and the third is the European significance of the Hungarian revolution .
therefore , I urge each and every one of us to contact our own governments and ask them to commit .
( EL ) Madam President , the myth of convergence and cohesion between the countries and regions of the European Union is being demolished by reality itself :
in this regard , I would note that there seems to be agreement in Council along these lines .
we still expect Croatia to be the next country to join the EU , if Slovenia settles its border dispute , unless of course tiny Iceland is fast-tracked in beforehand .
we are encouraging Member States to act in a sensitive way , such as using a share of the billions of euros to be gained in auctioning revenues to help the less well off to invest in energy-efficient homes .
although the UN Security Council has asked the Tribunal to wind up its activities by no later than the end of 2010 , it has left some room for manoeuvre .
I believe that , had the Commission found a better indicator , it would have proposed it .
a modern raw materials policy must be characterised by partnership .
yes , but not a freely drafted one .
in particular , this strategy should guarantee conditions that place small and medium-sized enterprises on an equal footing with their competitors outside the EU by adopting safeguard clauses and strong , effective measures to combat the extremely serious problem of counterfeiting , including through effective trade defence instruments .
thank you , Commissioner Piebalgs .
Madam Vice-President , I feel it is right that the rapporteur has both the first and the last word in Parliament because , as a kind of ' chamber of the citizens ' , we must express ourselves at the beginning and the end of a debate .
another positive thing is the ILO Convention , which is also linked to the judgments of the European Court of Justice , in that the Member States are urged to sign the ILO Convention .
this alone is a sign that our Heads of Government set great political store by effective policy , with good reason , to counter discrimination of the Roma and their social and economic exclusion .
we should be celebrating them , because those differences are at the very core of the things that we talk about .
so , Commissioner , I want to thank you for the constructive and intensive work that you have carried out .
vulnerable habitats will have to be protected where they are found , irrespective of whether they are at a 1 000 , 600 or 200 metres , and not based on whether they fall on one side or the other of an artificial line drawn in an office in Brussels .
consequently , one of the most important recommendations of the Committee of Inquiry was the replacement of this whole archaic system , based on paper and stamps , with a computerised system .
some EU countries boast of six-star , hotel-style residences for the elderly .
( FI ) Mr President , efharisto , thank you .
therefore , road hauliers cannot be the only ones to pay for the ecological problems caused by others .
I can confirm to you that this programme will lay great emphasis on the aspect relating to the protection of fundamental rights and of victims , including the promotion and protection of children 's and women 's rights .
there are significant concerns regarding harmful chemicals found in certain toys .
for instance , it is necessary to make substantial energy savings and step up research in this area .
I first of all wish to say that I agree with the principle of providing macro-financial assistance to Armenia .
therefore , I believe that it is important that transitional status is made available for regions which fall out of convergence post-2013 .
this agreement will cover about 90-95 % of all travellers .
the Commission has already taken short-term measures to deal with the situation in the Mediterranean .
we are commemorating the tenth anniversary of the resolution passed by the UN to combat violence against women .
for this reason I would reiterate that this is an important and decisive step forward .
soft toys that cause allergies ?
this is yet another asset and another positive element of this Economic and Monetary Union , both in its present and in its future .
to follow up on what Mr Jouyet said , I would also like to remind everyone that we are very mindful of compliance with data protection rules .
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3 .
if there is a need to strengthen the system of fines , we will definitely follow this advice very carefully , because , basically , fines should be imposed in a way that prevents violation of the law , not just so that companies can shrug them off or pass the cost on to consumers .
following recent events which have highlighted the potential abuses of lobbying , it has appeared all the more necessary to increase transparency regarding the work of interest groups at the European institutions .
we therefore need to strengthen those EU instruments that can help to increase investment , innovation and the development of SMEs , and I would like to call for an increase in budgetary resources for the financing of innovation and for the instruments that are already in place .
in writing . - ( SV ) We Swedish Social Democrats voted against the motion for a resolution on rising food prices .
it will be a year in which MEPs will be given a new status , which will have financial consequences .
I am in favour of this resolution because the crisis situation in Côte d 'Ivoire should be brought to a swift end , as it has already resulted in a large number of deaths .
however , there are two factors that are structural in nature , which is why I am bringing up these two factors here .
Petitions : see Minutes
I cannot imagine that the Spanish Presidency will not take up this problem and make it a priority .
that is why the Commission does not recommend that these amendments be approved .
those are the currency war and commodity price volatility .
that is why food security is now top of the agenda .
in addition , tracing firearms is of the greatest importance in the fight against organised crime .
if possible , we even want to improve the environmental balance of flying .
why do we have these tests ?
in the light of the ongoing financial crisis , has the Commission changed the rules of the internal market in order to make it easier for individual Member States to take protective action concerning their economies and industry ?
I welcome the fact that the European Union has given such leadership .
however , in my view , it must not be in any way a directive that every Member State should be obliged to transpose into their own legislation .
let us remember that some of the extra expenditure the EU now has is the result of decisions supported by Member States , such as the External Action Service and the creation of three new financial governance agencies .
so we do not share that view .
they want a reformed Union , a more accountable , transparent , democratic Union which delivers value for money in those areas in which it has delegated responsibility , a Europe closer and more relevant to the people .
in writing . - ( NL ) In countries where different peoples live together it is usual for there to be no parties that operate nationwide .
the climate is changing .
although people know this from experience and numerous reports , it gets forgotten time after time , even when they are deciding on how to spend EU development cooperation cash .
a lot of promises have been made in the past , but we can see that in actual fact the EU , in the follow-up to implementation of the Annapolis Conference negotiations , and in the UN , is failing to step up to the mark as an active mediator .
she continues to live in fear for the life and health of her child .
I urge Israel to be bold enough today to take the political steps to launch a peace process quickly with the Palestinian State .
however , its objectives can only be achieved with a coordinated and focused approach from all member states .
I believe that its structure underpins European competitiveness .
the aim is to collect signatures from at least half of the Members of Parliament , so that the declaration becomes the official position of the European Parliament and may safeguard water as a right rather than a benefit .
this situation calls for international solidarity , action and attention .
by contrast , South Africa 's political and economic support for Mugabe 's rule and the expulsion of Zimbabwean refugees from South Africa are contrary to our shared values .
this is a sensitive and important subject .
Uzbekistan ( debate )
with the fall of the communist regimes , many Roma were not acknowledged , or were forgotten or erased from country citizenship records .
we must do so quickly and block any attempt to get round the treaty , and I believe that the Council will really have to lay down effective political and financial instruments to ensure that the treaty is implemented and that there are no more deaths of this kind , namely deaths caused by weapons of destruction .
this should be a matter of concern for the entire EU .
in Turkey , we still have a problem with the obstacles faced by religious communities concerning their legal status .
the third internal energy market package also brought a new instrument intended to inform consumers - the European energy consumer checklist .
we are thinking of energy , we are thinking , of course , of taxation on financial transactions .
it is not by chance that they are at the impasse they have reached .
both the Council and Parliament agree on changing the legal basis due to the fact that the Commission 's proposal had been submitted before the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon .
this is why we need a fair and just minimum standard for the duration and payment of maternity leave in Europe .
this , therefore , significantly exceeds the threshold for mobilising the Solidarity Fund .
paradoxically , under the internal law of the latter , illegal employment is considered a punishable action , and an offence .
my view on this is that the current debate and Mr Kirilov 's excellent report are an outstanding refutation of that , showing that the European Union was able to respond to these processes .
I think we should do something like that and we should follow that path .
today at the Hannover Messe , I saw that smart metering is making good progress and companies are taking these decisions on board .
( ES ) Madam President , the review of the Lisbon objectives we carried out in 2005 demonstrated once more how important it is to position education and training at the core of future EU strategy .
so , when the UN Secretary-General reported to the Security Council concerning compliance by Israel and the Palestinians that ' no determination can be made ' , that cannot be good enough .
there has been a gradual progression from , firstly , the sorts of medicinal products that are susceptible to falsification to later include other medicines in secure packaging .
firstly , we need to look for the source and examine whether improper practices are still present in the food production sector or in the food supply chain .
every Member State makes a sovereign decision about which forms of energy it uses to cover its energy needs .
turning to the future content of the strategy , I would like to underline that we are , of course , only at the beginning of the process of elaboration and preparation .
I hope that , as a result of this report , it will revisit it and come up with some more imaginative ways of addressing this issue .
there is also a VAT exemption approach for all basic financial activities .
I therefore believe that what the President of the European Central Bank and Mr Rehn said yesterday must be taken very seriously .
micro-credit will help achieve this objective .
the European Parliament is currently dealing with many issues relating to economic and social matters .
that is why we , as their elected representatives , have a responsibility to say what we want to do with Europe .
this much is clear .
if today we want to be as ambitious as we were prepared to be when we adopted the Climate and Energy Package back in 2007 and 2008 , we would then have to go beyond the 20 % .
if the ACP countries need aid in order to take off economically , we ourselves will need immigration to face the crisis affecting us .
Commissioner , we have been waiting for some time now for a proposal from the Commission on the revision of the Biocides Directive .
for this reason , we , the MEPs of the Communist Party of Greece , are voting against the report .
moreover , it is often overlooked that ACTA is not only about improved legal standards .
did the EU Commission see the headline in the Financial Times yesterday : ' traders in record bet against the euro ' ?
we in the Confederal Group of the European United Left / Nordic Green Left stand for a civilian European Union and oppose NATO .
only in this way will we make the Union 's extra bit of soul a true democratic heart .
however , the extension of Ignalina NPP 's working life , a miracle still hoped for in Lithuania , would reduce pollution and would allow GDP to remain at 4-5 % annually , which is particularly necessary for a state affected and damaged so much by the economic crisis .
in conclusion , I would like to insist on the importance of ensuring high waste-recycling rates and improved resource efficiency in the extraction sector .
yes , it is close by ; yes , it is nearby a comparable situation .
rapporteur . - Madam President , I think the debate tonight well illustrates the difficulty of this issue , and it also illustrates , therefore , how wonderful it is that we have been able to reach some form of compromise .
these are the poor innocents caught in the middle of the rocket fire , of the bombing and the so-called - and I laugh when I hear these words being used - ' targeted intelligent bombing ' .
if the aim had been to find a balance here , instead of attempting to blame Israel in this biased way , mention could perhaps have been made of Gilad Shalit , the Israeli soldier who has been deprived of human rights for 1 720 days as a prisoner of the Palestinian Arabs or Hamas .
however , often they are disregarded .
Europe must play its part , and must make its presence felt in order to avoid a head-on collision between the Arab world , on the one hand , and the world 's leading power , the United States , on the other .
( DE ) Then I should just like to personally invite Mr von Wogau once more to disclose with whom his law firm does business and from whom it derives its profits , and then we can continue to talk .
Polish names are being Lithuanianised .
I would like to ask you to take this message back with you , Mrs Geoghegan-Quinn .
the Commission will not formally amend this proposal .
I find it truly bizarre how quickly this pro-European spirit has been lost .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen of the Commission and the Council , ladies and gentlemen , relations between the European Union and the United States must be based on the maximum guarantee of security in order for our cooperation to succeed .
in each of these areas , there are clear benchmarks to be met .
the exploitation of diamonds has a role to play in combating poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals .
in my view , patients are of supreme importance .
it is an attack on the right to life of unborn children and an attack on the principle of subsidiarity .
indeed , many experts believe that the notorious hockey stick-shaped exponential global warming curve is , in reality , a graphic fabrication .
it is also within the philosophy of the European Union to have an area of no internal borders .
in my view , aid to those countries for adaptation and the transfer of appropriate technologies should therefore be a priority .
such a twinning is extremely appropriate at this time of coalition politics in the UK between the British Liberal Democrat and Conservative parties .
the budget and the number of staff have also increased .
( LT ) The Economic and Monetary Union is 10 years old .
it is important that we protect all religious communities from persecution .
I think that in the coming weeks , we ought to focus mainly on this issue .
so , the problem here , I would add , is simply one of time and of place .
in writing . - ( SV ) We have voted for the resolution on the grounds of its general focus , but we do not support all the points of technical detail or the ambitions to regulate by political decisions what products may be manufactured or sold - such things as patio heaters , for example .
Mr Szymański finds a connection between the presence of state leaders and possibly supporting the internal policies of the Chinese authorities .
Madam President , compared to traditional gas sources , extraction from non-traditional sources today accounts for only around 5 % of total gas production globally .
there are currently 11 ESDP missions in the areas of policy , the rule of law and monitoring and two further missions in the military area .
we also have to take into account that some people say the reality is that women have low status and low value , and therefore that we cannot change things .
I am thinking of the case of the investigations that followed the real natural disaster caused by the accident involving the Prestige oil tanker and of many others that unfortunately continue to occur .
it forms an excellent working basis and encompasses much of what we have already proposed in this House .
it should be a vital and horizontally integrated element among the broad spectrum of external policies which make up the EU 's foreign policy , from trade relations to its enlargement and neighbourhood policy , and its development cooperation and common foreign and security policy .
we also have to consider not only balancing sugar production in the European Union , but the fact that there are ACP countries from which we import sugar .
in my opinion , this division does not make much sense , since it is often difficult to distinguish between these two types of migration .
in any event , we think that the first requirement for any given piece of legislation is to actually enforce it .
( FR ) Mr President , if Mrs Kauppi does not arrive she is allowing me to use her two minutes , since she is hosting an important dinner-debate .
I would therefore ask the Commission to identify the ways in which rating agencies could be held liable under the civil law of the Member States .
based on a true balance between public service and commercial broadcasters , it ensures a diverse range of freely accessible programming and contributes to media pluralism , cultural and linguistic diversity , editorial competition and freedom of expression .
together with stronger and more coordinated economic governance , the permanent crisis mechanism could , and would , guarantee the stability of the euro area .
that would help us reach a decision on the issue of connections .
until now , nuclear energy has been the safest form of energy , statistically speaking , with the lowest number of accident victims , compared to other energy sources ( for example , gas and oil ) .
I would like to say how typical and characteristic that is for this government .
in this respect , the rapporteur has made a very important proposition relating to expert groups to evaluate the data collected .
however , in so doing the European Union needs to work better and in a more coherent way with the rest of the world .
for the vast majority of my group , this involves two items that are critical for us and for our voting behaviour today .
we also saw the huge progress which has been made by the government of Prime Minister Filat on the road to European integration and the many reforms , including significant progress in the fight against corruption which had previously been eating away at the country .
some of those problems have to be commercial decisions taken by the companies involved .
the European Union therefore has a duty to intervene , and I would like to say a word about an issue that may divide us , within our political groups , and that is nuclear energy .
no one has the right to rape and plunder that region .
I am very encouraged by the President-in-Office 's response and wish him well for the October meeting .
the Commission should approve the rest of the programmes without delay , so that the appropriations reserved in the budget can be spent effectively and fruitfully , and so that the new programmes can get under way properly .
of course , no one can justifiably maintain that the European Commission is biased against the Muslim citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina .
we must have the courage to draw the necessary conclusions and ensure that the burden of recovery is apportioned fairly .
then , within the term set out in Rule 56 of our Rules of Procedure , we in Parliament can expect to receive an initiative from the Commission that respects codecision and gives this European Parliament the power it deserves to intervene in upholding greater security within the Schengen Area .
( RO ) Madam President , I would like to begin by congratulating Mrs Andrikienfor her efforts in drafting this report .
the rapporteur suggests a target of 125 g / km of CO2 in 2015 .
we are in favour of free trade , as you know , but we are also in favour of fair trade .
over 40 infringement proceedings have been launched which are being actively pursued with a view to early results .
so in order to give this freedom of movement to our citizens we have to get rid of those obstacles .
this , in my view , is something that must be sustained .
this is why we are fully supportive of the good offices of the UN Secretary General and his Special Advisor for Myanmar .
we intend to hold a broad consultation with citizens , civil society and all stakeholders in order to launch the legislative proposals very soon after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty .
no one questions the need for innovation and research in Europe , but this is the wrong way to do it .
it is worth noting that science and the knowledge it brings is continually changing as a result of new technologies and findings .
the situation has deteriorated during the regime of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad , who began his presidency by repeatedly denying the Holocaust and the State of Israel 's right to exist .
since the Union is an area of freedom , security and justice , as laid down in the Preamble to the Charter of Fundamental Rights , any effort that leads to greater transparency in access to EU institution documents is welcome .
in the environmental Grenelle , for example , we have made provision for classifying all nanoparticles , for setting up a compulsory declaration process for those nanoparticles that are being put on the market , for providing a better regulation and monitoring system for indoor air and for introducing better controls for all interior equipment and furnishings , some of which present problems for indoor air quality .
it would be unacceptable if the negative differentiation among the states in the region were to continue in the long term .
I therefore support the mobilisation of EUR 832 800 from the EGF in the wake of the 1 588 redundancies in the textile industry in Portugal 's Norte and Centro regions .
secondly , it is intended to inform the widest possible audience of the EU 's actions to promote human rights worldwide .
author . - Mr President , I come from Latvia , a country hit severely by the financial crisis .
I should like to close by saying that it is unthinkable for seven parliamentarians to take the political responsibility during a sitting of the European Parliament of condemning a nation fighting for its freedom and to meet its current needs .
I would like to comment on the situation in Japan .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , the fact that the Roma were the victims of genocide during World War II is as self-evident as the fact that Jews were victims of the same process .
however , taking into account the mobility of European workers - although this accounts for only 3 % to 4 % of citizens and slightly less than EUR 10 billion a year - many uncertainties remain about the quality and safety of care , patients ' rights , data protection and means of redress in the case of harm .
I welcome the intention of launching a ' Gateway to China ' programme aimed especially at establishing training programmes for managers in China with a view to supporting access to the Chinese market for European SMEs by 2010 .
instead of talking about symptoms , it is time to get serious about the disease : the fact that we have used all the easy oil and are still addicted to the stuff .
on Amendment 15 , the proposal concerning ring-fencing of capacity was too restrictive and could prevent reorganisation of the activities of fishing fleets .
I believe that Parliament must keep up its good work .
the social consequences , especially , are giving us lots to deal with .
the emphasis my country placed on developing IT paid off , allowing us to be more competitive .
we need to protect productive sectors by means of a package of broader and more effective measures , including : implementation of protection and safeguard mechanisms against aggressive exports , prioritising local production ; abandoning the model based on low pay , low qualifications and job insecurity ; putting public instruments in place to control production and regulate markets , so as to uphold the principle of food sovereignty and security ; effectively tackling company relocations .
we supported that role , against the Council at the time .
Mrs de Brún , yes , we have to reassure and persuade the Irish .
we do not know what the consequences will be if we do not do that soon .
will the French Presidency be able to convince the other Member States which are still opposing it ?
regrettably , this has not been the case .
this report aims to identify the modern challenges , especially in terms of living standards , faced by EU citizens living in urban areas .
the accident which occurred on 27 October may be attributed to a combination of faulty design and subsequent inspection errors .
we are taking stock of what has been done up to now , and the question we must ask ourselves is this : have there been any visible results ?
what we are discussing here is women being the only ones who have to bear that cost in their professional lives and shoulder that responsibility in their personal lives .
poverty is also the state of mind associated with loss of dignity and humiliation .
where raw materials are concerned , specifically , we have the potential for cooperation - but there is also the potential for conflict if we do not approach this in the right way .
a budget is policy expressed in figures .
Romania has been committed , since the moment of its accession , to championing the Republic of Moldova 's cause within the EU .
this makes it all the more important to take urgent measures in this area , including implementing restrictions and , at the same time , providing education and information .
experience has shown that combined approaches ( policies and market ) always end up serving the interests of economic groups rather than the interests of the people .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( ES ) Mr President , I would also like to begin by thanking Mrs Pack and congratulating her on her report - because of her willing attitude most of the amendments tabled by our Group were also incorporated into it .
the ECDC operates the surveillance networks which follow the number of cases reported .
so , Mrs Ludford , I am sure that the new Commission will work as quickly as possible to table all the legislative proposals provided for in the roadmap and to have them adopted at the earliest opportunity .
the Member States concerned are also due recognition for making great efforts to fulfil the stringent criteria and conditions .
most of these countries had problems with excessive deficits , public finances and inflation .
this will not be possible if we continue to finance coal-fired power plants , which have a 40-year life span and which emit huge amounts of CO2 .
politicians and administrators do not know better , including after the experiences of the financial and economic crisis , how products should be produced and what engineers can perhaps do better .
we have started a debate on this subject and I think that the resolution offers us an important opportunity to focus today and tomorrow on one specific question , which is whether we can jointly raise our safety standards and whether we will be able to put in place increased European powers of whatever kind or greater European cooperation .
on behalf of the PPE Group . - Mr President , I would also like to speak , like President Maystadt , about the future , and would like to raise three points .
Madam President , I would like to thank the Commissioner for her statement and welcome her to our Chamber .
it will , however , be important to remember this , as Mr Pitella said , when it comes to reconstruction , because in addition to these positive aspects of the tragedy , the structural weakness of our building methods has come to light , and I believe that here , alongside calls for justice , there should be a commitment to identifying liabilities and to reconstruction .
in this regard , I think that this will be an attempt to avoid a massive wave of job losses , with Romania , Spain and Germany being the EU Member States hit hardest by the new regulation .
history shows that allowing freedom of expression leads , in the long term , to a far more stable society .
thirdly , please use the targets for climate change and greater European energy independence to provide further impetus for growth , employment and social cohesion when implementing the Lisbon Strategy .
all European governments , without exception , are being forced to reduce state spending .
so this will give us an opportunity to improve the regulation in due time on the basis of practical experience , and in this spirit I look forward to a constructive dialogue between our institutions to pave the way for the future assessment .
I wish we would have the courage to consult our own people .
on the contrary , I think we should engage with this poorest country of Central Asia .
this decision will contribute to a more harmonious transition to the euro , whilst adequately responding to the increased need for cross-border transportation of euro cash in the run-up to the changeover .
it strives for the deportation of those people to Iran in order to kill them .
the big challenge to sheep production is to achieve profitability and when that happens we can move forward with confidence .
we shall now be adopting this agreement with a very large majority and will then join forces to plead our case before third countries .
atypical contracts , secured professional paths and new forms of social dialogue (
in implementing this package , we should also continue our cooperation , of course with the Council , of course with the European Parliament , but also let us bring the social partners into this discussion .
this is why the European Parliament is acting as the citizens ' sounding board when it calls for coordinated research efforts in this field via the resolution adopted today .
instead , we are forced to invent one temporary instrument after another .
furthermore , a set of measures is required to support SMEs in implementing the new energy efficiency plan .
the Commission proposal aimed to prevent visa shopping .
the truth is that the experts just do not know , but each time such allegations are made , they destroy livelihoods in countries ' economies .
aid from Europe this is not , and therefore we strongly oppose it .
before the last two waves of enlargement , the candidate countries had to demonstrate compliance with the criteria on minority rights .
this is not intended as a principle ad eternum nor as a right of ownership - as the committee chairman , Mr Costa , has just said - but as a temporary measure .
Russia has the right to fight terrorism in the Northern Caucasus , but if the rule of law is not upheld this has a counter-productive effect on stability .
as a result , this issue must also be taken into account and measures defined which can be applied equally to everyone so that governments do not have any excuse .
Côte d 'Ivoire is the most prosperous economy in West Africa .
in Europe , one out of six people lives below the poverty threshold , a figure that does not include the statistics in Romania and Bulgaria .
the Court has had its say .
ignore that and you ignore the rule of law itself .
so I voted against this resolution because by preventing access to proper information , we are taking away one more aid for mothers , who , unable to breast-feed their babies , are obliged to resort to the use of these products .
the EU should continue to accompany Côte d 'Ivoire at this crucial moment .
in writing . - The European Social Fund ( ESF ) is the EU 's main budgetary instrument to help social and labour market integration .
Iraqi troops have been preventing entry of families of Ashraf residents , parliamentary delegations , human rights organisations , lawyers , journalists and even doctors to the camp , and do not allow many logistical materials to get into Ashraf .
we must continue to strive for the target of 3 % investment in research and development .
however , I would like to add - and I say this in all seriousness , not as a criticism but as an example of how the law of the European Union works - that if someone starts to question applicable law , we will end up in chaos .
monitoring the application of EU law ( 2010 ) (
as with any issue , and particularly for those of such strategic importance , democratic debate must enable wise solutions to be adopted .
in addition , specific rights have been granted to disabled passengers , not least the requirement for companies to provide them with assistance - provided they have been informed of the person 's needs with 36 hours ' notice - and the payment of compensation or a refund for any specialised equipment that is damaged or lost .
I share their regret that , three years after the country achieved candidate status , accession negotiations have not yet started .
the leaders of the country have described the destructive earthquake , combined with the giant tsunami waves and the subsequent nuclear threat , as the worst crisis since the US military dropped the atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki .
we want to tackle head on the challenges posed by climate change as well .
it has ignored the need to defend the interests of EU producers , ensuring fair prices for production and business continuity , especially for small and medium-sized farming .
I am pleased with the agreements that were reached at the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh .
I have heard many comments about credibility , about ' speaking with one voice ' , and of course we must do this .
without the adoption of such a decision , we would have no general rule applicable in the third pillar , which would be even worse .
the main concept of respect for human rights must be complemented by a broader vision in which , as noted by the rapporteur Mr Scholz - whom I thank for the excellent work he has done in this report - various indicators are taken into consideration : post-conflict rehabilitation , the specific situation of women , trade unions , the situation of recovery after natural disasters , environmental sustainability and compliance with international social agreements .
the aim of the Nuclear Forum is to enlarge the debate on nuclear energy , and to involve all the relevant players .
in some countries the term lobbyist has a negative meaning , while in others lobbying is seen as an almost an act of public service because it informs decision-makers on issues they might not otherwise know about .
let us be frank .
it is that this year 's budget acquired a new heading , the ' Baltic Sea Strategy ' , and I hope that this year both the Commission and Parliament will together hit on the right projects and find the right money for the right sort of measures .
the four amendments , adopted unanimously last May and basically taken over by the committee responsible , aim to ensure a fair balance between citizens ' fundamental rights and freedoms and the need for mutual recognition of judgments .
this suppresses timber prices , strips natural resources and tax revenues , and increases the poverty of indigenous people all over the world .
on this issue , work has already begun with the idea , put forward by the justice minister of the Netherlands , of creating an assessment mechanism to measure how the judiciary is operating , in terms of respect for the principles of the rule of law , using , of course , the existing apparatus and bringing added value in terms of political monitoring .
justification of crime is no ennoblement to a politician and , fortunately , the views of Sahra Wagenknecht cannot to be said to extend to all the political left .
in order to ensure that the agreement is properly implemented , both parties must comply with its conditions without exception and meet the commitments made , taking into account the protection of human rights and the principles of democracy and the rule of law .
in my previous point I said , ' because of a translation problem ' , not meaning the excellent translators here , but an error I made when reading the text .
to accomplish legitimacy in this field we need increased democratic control through codecision , and European citizens should play a larger part in the decision-making process ; we need more transparency and more democratic legitimacy .
this day is a great triumph for the citizens of the European Union , and all of us can rejoice at that with heart and soul .
I agree with what the honourable Mr Lebech , who spoke before me , stated .
you can see the confirmation , as the central document given that there is no other , of the six-point agreement reached on 12 August which the European Council has said must be fully implemented .
Poland 's application for intervention by the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) relates to 594 redundancies - 200 of whom are potential beneficiaries of aid - in three companies in Division 28 of NACE Rev. 2 , manufacture of machinery and equipment , in the NUTS II region of Podkarpackie .
they are all important matters , but the deafening silence regarding the fight against illegal immigration , defined as a non priority , is unmistakeable .
the vote will take place shortly .
we have already come to an agreement , after all , on the water regime in the entire Danube region .
it is very good that the European Parliament is not whispering when it comes to Iran .
of course , in the meantime , as you very well know , we have the ongoing sport actions in 2009 , 2010 and 2011 , focusing on grass-root sport and the social aspect of sport .
through the interparliamentary delegations and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean , Parliament should assume its responsibility to promote the idea that the stability and prosperity of Europe are closely linked to democratic governance and the economic and social progress of the southern neighbour countries , and to promote political debate , real freedom , democratic reforms and the rule of law in neighbouring partner countries .
it is up to us , to Parliament , to the Council and , not least , Mr President , to the Commission to start searching for those reasons .
a last point on Ireland , is that after this ' yes ' in the Czech Senate , all eyes will of course be on Ireland again , and on the possibility of ratification by the end of the year .
I must say on that point I feel a little bit uncomfortable because , maybe , some countries are getting away a little bit too easily .
11 .
in April 2009 , the number of fires was the highest in five years .
we also need to look at other ways of how we can contribute to enhancing implementation of the Convention on Biodiversity and help developing country parties deliver on their commitments under the convention , in particular , the new post-2010 strategic plan that will be adopted in Nagoya .
employees must be able to take advantage of retraining and adaptation opportunities .
this simply does not stack up ; surely one thing we have learned in the crisis is that we are very interconnected .
those technical prescriptions concern the approximation of the laws of the Member States to enable the EC type-approval procedure provided for in Directive 2003 / 37 / EC to be applied in respect of each type of tractor .
externally , the European Union has been one of the main members of the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board set up under the 2006 Afghanistan Compact .
in writing . - ( HU ) The Lisbon Treaty has been rejected by the very country that up to now has set an example of how to make full use of the benefits of European integration .
it is open to all states , along with civil society and international and regional organisations , and is going to enable us to evaluate the state of international justice at a time when the International Criminal Court is becoming established as the only permanent international criminal court .
since the aforementioned points were not adequately addressed in the report , I abstained .
that is clear .
that includes the implementation of existing agreements , frameworks and arrangements , including the Arctic Council , and full respect for the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas .
we know that this would only serve to destabilise the entire region and greatly increase the likelihood of further wars .
it is therefore necessary and expedient to review the framework agreement that governs relations between Parliament and the Commission .
although it would like to be able to boast the opposite , Europe has made no progress in the area of freedom , security and justice .
a further direction where we must make serious efforts is the integration of the Baltic energy market with the Scandinavian and Central European energy markets .
particularly serious is the traffic in human beings , which often involves exploitation in the form of illegal work or prostitution .
I believe that such a proposal , were it to be tabled by the Commission , would be a first step towards tax harmonisation , which I would find unacceptable .
it is no coincidence that the proposals we have made for the European Union 's G20 position have a strong echo of our approach within Europe .
it is particularly important to call on the European Commission not to simply limit itself to amending the regulation on credit rating agencies , which would increase the liability of these agencies , but to present a proposal on the establishment of a European Credit Rating Agency which would facilitate an objective assessment of the economic and financial position of the Member States .
the report went much too far .
President-in-Office of the Council . - The Council 's policy on the return of illegal immigrants is well-known .
the problems which have accumulated historically , especially in the Balkans , can only be overcome through European integration .
President-in-Office , I wish you every success at the Council meeting on 14 December .
next , how can we move towards peace without dealing with the situation in Gaza ?
we believe that the real meaning of conditionality , as regards the structural funds , is that awareness and responsibility have to be raised not just as regards the content , but also the context of the projects and the operational programmes .
next , I would like to say that I strongly support quotas .
another aspect is the future of the Euro Zone : documents of the European Central Bank and the authorities of the EU are placing increasing emphasis on the need to use the euro as a tool to impose uniform economic policies on the Member States , particularly as regards budgetary and fiscal policies .
Mr Schulz , who has just left the Chamber , has lumped all the Conservatives together .
this leads to unfair competition .
that is why it is so important that these three institutions of the Union - the Council , the Commission and the European Parliament - should work together on the strategic line they should adopt in relation to electric vehicles .
in practice , however , this is difficult , given the multiple variables and interests involved .
there is certainly more of it than people in the various Member States want .
Mr President , four final points .
the oral question to the Council by Michèle Striffler , on behalf of the Committee on Development , on the contribution of biodiversity and its ecosystem services to development and the achievement of the MDGs - B7-0464 / 2010 ) ;
I urge the Commission to follow developments carefully , encourage research , clarify the science , defend the facts ; but do not ban .
this report is not merely a step towards establishing the legal groundwork for setting up a research infrastructure .
moreover , EUR 50 million has already been committed to the Neighbourhood Investment Fund to support investment projects in the region .
as you have shown , Mr de Maizière , our reunification - the reunification of Germany - started even earlier because we changed our attitude , our approach to our common European history and our common European future .
the report on an industrial policy for the era of globalisation is an important document in the crisis that has affected the European economy and industrial production in particular .
so I call upon the Commission to act .
today , he has been convicted of the crime - a symbolic one , as has been said - of moving the markings of the disputed border between Vietnam and Cambodia and of distributing so-called fake maps .
for these reasons we should maintain an agnostic , critical position .
the debate is closed .
I believe that the report that was produced after the Irish voted ' no ' to the referendum highlights a number of issues : it raises questions of leadership , thematic questions , and highlights the lack of understanding of what the Lisbon Treaty actually is .
your new framework directive , Commissioner , President-in-Office of the Council , must be about empowering the victims .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
some problems that have occurred are due to inefficiencies in a system that was unprepared for the task of guiding the other great associated phenomenon ; I am talking about the increasing pace of internationalisation and the great changes in the way trade is conducted at international level .
the use of fossil energy must be significantly reduced in the next few years .
regrettably , however , due to pressure from the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) , the other signatories have allowed the importance of the resolution to be diluted and its power to be undermined , with the inclusion of a reference to the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs .
this country - as you emphasised - is at a crossroads and caught up in controversy with regard to relations between the central State and the bodies and with regard to the path that will lead to the European Union , as I said .
the accession of a new State is conditional on strict compliance with the criteria of the Schengen Agreement .
therefore , we should also be careful about increasing pledges on reduction from 20 % to 30 % , since other industrialised countries are not showing the will to set themselves such ambitious goals , while financial support for developing countries should also be a realistic undertaking .
nevertheless , I think that it is necessary to draw a distinction between political and technical levels .
those Members who lend their support to such industrial and social destruction will have to answer for it to the workers and their families , who are the direct victims of their ideological blindness .
consumers are concerned ( and very cold ) - they are concerned about cartel pricing , and there are allegations of this .
to conclude , I would like to thank Commissioner Špidla for his contribution , because he took a courageous stand and clarified some of the points that we have always maintained with respect to Directive 2004 / 38 / EC and how this has been misinterpreted in places by the Italian government .
it is therefore urgent to give thought to the future of pension systems .
I do not endorse section 16 of the report , which calls for the withdrawal from the market of the least energy-efficient appliances .
the European Parliament would also like to contribute to the successful implementation of this promising initiative and is therefore calling on the Commission not only to inform Parliament of the progress of this pilot project , but also to outline Parliament 's involvement in determining the strategic orientation of future partnerships .
as a result , in 2012 , when we come to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the single market , 20 years on from the commitments and proposals made by Jacques Delors , that anniversary will not be marked by nostalgia or melancholy - there is no place for nostalgia at present - but rather , it will be a proactive and dynamic occasion .
the women in particular are looking for the stronger voice that they believe they have been promised in the future of Egypt .
the statement by the High Representative , Baroness Ashton , condemning the attack , limited itself to condemning a terrorist act .
in 2008 , the 1957 dream took another step forward : the European family formally enlarged its borders .
we are concerned about the impact that CETA will have on procurement .
I will , however , point out that there are a couple of points where we may be in disagreement .
in many countries it is in practice impossible for new energy companies to compete fairly in the market .
the figures are alarming : by the end of 2009 , the number of unemployed is expected to reach 25 million for the whole of Europe ( 500 000 in Romania ) .
owing to the undue haste to adopt the reform , alternative systems that could have achieved the desired reductions were no longer taken into account .
however , it has been rejected by the majority in the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs .
in effect , these EU civilians live under a British military dictatorship .
we know what the local conditions and problems are , and our experience of establishing states based on the rule of law and a market economy would be of practical assistance to them .
as draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Culture and Education , I consider that the Internet is an exceptional platform for the dissemination of culture and knowledge ; I point this out in order to congratulate and thank all my honourable friends in the Committee on Culture who voted in favour of my opinion .
the EU should leave it to the United Nations to deal with matters such as these , instead of trying to compete and develop its own foreign policy .
every time we meet the Chinese leadership , we discuss intellectual property rights and the need for them to respect some basic principles so that we can keep open trade with them .
we are considering this .
Parliament has done more than the impossible in order to get there , and it has done well .
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reminded us all last week , speaking on the 60th anniversary of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights , that the Declaration of Human Rights is needed just as badly today as when it was drafted in 1948 .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Madam President , Tajikistan is not blessed with the energy and mineral resources of other countries in Central Asia .
( CS ) Prime Minister , ladies and gentlemen , the EU has just concluded a most successful year .
to conclude , while acknowledging that progress is being made , the Court underlines that further improvements in the financial management of the European Union will depend on the success of ongoing and future measures to reduce risks to an acceptable level and develop cost-effective systems to manage them .
I believe there are many good experts who will willingly help the Commission as well as the Member States in this .
from the beginning , I have tried to involve Parliament and to engage in an open and transparent way with it , with its relevant committees , the rapporteurs , the shadow rapporteurs , the coordinators and so on , and will continue to do so .
in fact , I must highlight the numerous initiatives , both parliamentary and legal , that the various European countries took following these reports .
should there be any doubt about the age group for which a toy is intended , the manufacturer must apply the most rigorous standards .
this was not present in the common position and was not supported by my group .
Member of the Commission . - The question was given to me with the main emphasis on the agricultural outcome of agricultural consultations , but more general elements have been included in the question so I would like to start with some general remarks .
( SK ) Kosovo has declared independence .
a good example of this is the programme started in Óbuda , one of the largest districts of Budapest , under which many tower blocks will be refurbished in the years to come , using Community aid .
I should also add that joining the EU was a win-win situation and I would therefore like to thank the European Parliament for welcoming us new Member States .
so , there are many things .
it is women who shoulder the main responsibility for the children .
as much as I really admire the rhetorical flair of our friends from UKIP , I find it quite interesting as someone coming from Central Europe that you are so ready to share your experience of living under the Titoist regime in Yugoslavia or under the Soviet regime .
repair parts , in other words , parts which have broken or come loose after an accident or for any other reason , have to be replaced and , as Commissioner McCreevy said , the normal format is a part equivalent to the part replaced .
indeed , I believe that the European Union should adhere strictly to the financial regime in order to send out a strong message in this time of great uncertainty on the markets .
the Commission wants to conclude the draft Directive on cross-border health services tomorrow .
on the other hand , assessing needs is an important task , that is to say , Member States should reach agreement with economic players , businesses and employers when designing their adult education programmes .
carbon dioxide is not toxic to humans in itself , and a little more CO2 in the atmosphere would actually make plants grow slightly faster .
that does not mean saying no to these renewables , but it does mean a differentiated debate and a differentiated response , for in the end a sensible energy policy must not raise false expectations it cannot fulfil but must raise expectations that it can then fulfil step by step .
I voted for this report , which supports the rights of persons with disabilities and reduced mobility , such as non-discriminatory access to transport and the right to compensation for the loss of or damage to wheelchairs or other mobility equipment .
the fact that there is a lack of awareness about this seems to be the biggest problem at the moment .
the modernisation of the Energy Charter process would be the appropriate context for multilateral negotiations on this proposal .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , Eleanor Roosevelt once said that instead of cursing the darkness one should light a candle .
therefore , granting voting rights to these people is absolutely essential .
the fragmentation of airspace at national level , with specific operational rules and procedures , may have negative effects on the safety of transport capability , on the introduction of new technologies and on costs .
as you are well aware , discussions on the Europe 2020 strategy began among the Heads of State or Government on an informal basis on 11 February .
obviously , the current crisis has made it clear that a monetary union also requires economic cooperation .
another reason is that trying to reduce prices by playing around with VAT leads to very high real rates at a time when the Central Bank is trying to lower them .
indeed , there exists a widespread practice of drivers working as ' false ' self-employed drivers , when they are in fact employed by companies which , for reasons of profitability , bypass the rules in relation to driving times and rest periods .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I would also like to thank the Commissioner for his clarity of judgment which effectively puts the power to regulate this area back in the hands of the Member States .
the Commission has not expressed an opinion .
in the modern economy , this means workers who can speak several languages and who have had experience of working in multicultural environments .
Kenya : failure to arrest President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan (
such a situation justifies exceptional measures , particularly in the case of strategic sectors such as car manufacturing , which represents 6 % of jobs .
we are granting them their legal rights .
at the heart of the matter , the financial crisis , the climate crisis and poverty in the world can be explained by our over-consumption and the enormous greed of the industrialised countries .
maybe we could come to an agreement and you , with the Bureau and with the Vice-Presidents , could agree that this section , Question Time , is sacrosanct and that that will not be changed .
this is about whether the transactions comply with the rules that they are supposed to follow .
( DE ) Mr President , on behalf of my group , the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left , I would like to make clear at this point that we are deeply concerned about the development of EU foreign policy towards militarisation and an increasingly interventionist policy .
that is not to say that we are one hundred percent happy .
there is a legal and police investigation .
Jan Fischer told us that this is an independent court which is now working quickly to take the decision whether or not to bring up this petition .
what does this say about EU motives ?
additionally , Ireland is proposing a way in which it can escape from its isolation .
this is something , as I was saying , that is subject to the ordinary legislative procedure and , therefore , to what Parliament agrees with the Council .
since it was established , the fund has been used to help people in more than half of EU Member States and over 20 disasters from flooding to forest fires , drought and volcano eruptions .
Europe needs the means to match its ambitions , however .
I believe that , given the situation in Haiti , this is quite a good result .
the problem is not just the maintenance of outdated stereotypes of the male and female roles , but also the further reinforcement of them , since the experts warn that advertising not only reinforces but also creates expectations .
I support the establishment of contact points in the individual EU countries , where it will be possible to report illegal activities relating to internet safety .
I am also grateful to my colleagues for not allowing themselves to be deterred by all the second reading arguments , but backing us up so that we have been able to achieve a great deal .
it seems today from the main conclusions of the Ecofin Council to be a way of escaping the crisis , or in any case , a matter that should be reopened as a matter of urgency .
I therefore share the view that the payment appropriations are insufficient in the light of the policy challenges faced by the EU .
and the second aspect concerns ... and this is why Commissioner Šemeta 's answer did not convince me at all , either in terms of the schedules , or in terms of the basic issue .
finally , I would like to say that the Slovenian Presidency will strive for a speedy start to the debate on these proposals in order to finish most of the work during the Slovenian Presidency .
they have a real impact on people : on their livelihoods , on their families , and on their standards of living .
indeed , I said I thought it would be irresponsible .
is our budget sufficiently transparent for us to be able to gain the public 's confidence when the elections take place in 2009 ?
what does this mean ?
protection of and respect for human rights is a key element of the European Union , and so the European Ombudsman 's important role in this context cannot be overlooked .
as regards the consumer scoreboard , at the current stage our data do not distinguish between different groups of consumers .
Mr Schulz , I believe it was important that the European Council , after intense discussions , agreed on the role of the Commission .
in addition to the original PSE Group amendment , Mr Swoboda tabled putting the word ' sources ' .
recommendation by Yannick Jadot , on behalf of the Committee on International Trade
Mr Crowley spoke of fishermen and was right to do so .
Mr President , I voted against this report because of its attempts to totally unnecessarily entwine agriculture into the huge burden of regulation which it would import .
consequently , I voted in favour of the Hirsch report .
since that time , the Tibetans have held over 200 peaceful protests , with the involvement of a variety of social groups , including teachers , students and intellectuals .
( the President cut off the speaker )
combating fraud and easing burdens on SMEs are red herrings .
( EL ) Madam President , the Eurogroup formulates economic policy , the European Central Bank formulates monetary policy and we , here in the European Parliament , just do politics , without any other additional definitions , and this obliges us to be accountable for the full range of decisions made in the euro area .
now that the euphoria is gone , today it seems clear that the protagonists of the Orange Revolution were not up to the challenge .
this is another example of how power has shifted away from the nation states and towards those whom we cannot vote for in European institutions .
current law is so unsatisfactory in some respects that a couple may be unable to find a competent judge or law for their divorce .
it stresses the importance of public services for economic , social and territorial cohesion in the outermost regions in such areas as air and sea transport , postal services , energy and communications , not forgetting broadband Internet access or the urgent adoption of measures aimed at combating endemic unemployment , poverty and unequal income distribution in these regions , which have some of the worst rates in the European Union .
Mr President , I believe there are a number of principles that have to be addressed in this issue .
firstly , it is clear that our budgetary cloth has been cut very closely , i.e. it is a very tight fit .
the package is central to Europe 's future prosperity .
it would be wrong of us now to simply return , full of self satisfaction , to the usual routine institutional processes as if nothing much had really happened .
instead , using warnings on the labels of alcohol products , similar to those for tobacco products , cannot be viewed an innovative approach since it has not proven adequately effective for tobacco .
therefore , this law is perfectly able to intimidate and keep citizens whose mother tongue is not Slovakian in a situation of uncertainty .
this year the Bulgarian Black Sea coast was polluted by oil slicks on three occasions .
finally , good progress has been achieved in setting up EU social dialogue structures in sport .
those planning to construct new power stations should examine more closely the dangers they pose .
I would like to thank Mr Pöttering for his words and the House as a whole for having shown the people affected its emotional solidarity .
against this background , it is not strange that , as Mr Tannock also said before me , this report deviates from some of the positions put forward so far .
Parliament is right to call the Council and the Commission and the United States to account .
great determination is needed , as well as a sense of compromise , to create such a coherent document .
regulation of access to the labour market directly affects the social partners and they should therefore be involved in its substance .
however , Lisbon still does not bring us to our goal .
the European Union has undertaken a humanitarian effort of EUR 320 million - as you said - and Spain has contributed EUR 11 million .
the democratic world expects the Iraqi Government to abolish the death penalty as soon as possible .
these mines help to provide employment in sparsely populated areas , and as yet it has not been possible to develop alternative technology .
paragraph B : ' whereas cloning processes show low rates of survival for transferred embryos and cloned animals , with many cloned animals dying in the early stages of life ... '
there is the question of natural resources , in that the Arctic region offers enormous riches .
we must look more closely at the basic principles that we need to lay down in order to put in place proper regulations .
I strongly hope that this set-up will work both ways and European students and professors will also go to Iran .
it is quite clear that no lasting solution to this problem will be found unless we take it as given that we should respect the will of European consumers to reduce animal suffering instead of increasing it .
indeed , the Sixth Environment Programme turns the very exploiters of nature into environmental protectors , as it expressly states that effective action , business opportunities and the market will provide a solution .
it will be half open because it will be open to take obligations upon its shoulders .
if they are not amended , we will be unable to vote for this report .
rapporteur . - ( FI ) Mr President , Commissioners , ladies and gentlemen , I want to thank you all for your excellent levels of cooperation .
for many decades my town , Sopron , was separated from its immediate environment and from Austria by an iron curtain .
they have our solidarity and encouragement .
( CS ) This is an important day , a day of moral satisfaction for all the victims of totalitarian regimes .
we are calling for measures that were , fortunately , taken some time ago .
I hope too that the international community will actively and effectively support the mediation process and the search for a permanent and just solution acceptable to both sides .
two months later , you responded and merely repeated the paragraph .
at the same time , I understand the concerns of environmentalists and hope that later on , we will be able to tighten up the legislation .
( PL ) Mr President , Youth on the Move is one of the most important initiatives of the Europe 2020 strategy .
I stated in my introduction the direction in which the Commission seeks to go , but I will certainly be very happy to take up your suggestions also .
however , there are some tasks that still have to be undertaken and where , in my opinion , there are still deficits , and it does not make the Security Strategy any poorer if we list these points .
if this road , and many others , see the light of day , the extremists will have won .
that is particularly true for the European Court of Human Rights , but it is also evident that the EU and Russia interpret commitments differently .
we must focus particular attention on agriculture in less favourable regions , because previous reforms to the common agricultural policy have very often been carried out from the point of view of favourable regions .
the IMO draft Convention on ship recycling signals some progress in this area .
one could be delighted with this and see it as a sign that our fellow citizens are satisfied .
it is a good thing that concern for social distortion is so great ; however , in this case it is a question of saving our living space for our descendents .
the European Ombudman 's activities ( 2008 ) (
I am pleased that many European Union Member States are contributing to the initiative to create a unitary patent , and hope that the remaining countries will also soon help achieve the objective of creating a unitary patent for improved economic liberalisation conditions within the European Union .
considering the amount of money spent by the military on its own upkeep and the tight hold it has on national life , one might at least have expected it to be able to respond to the needs of its own people in a humanitarian crisis .
( RO ) Over the last months the press was informed about violent events of a racist and xenophobic nature targeted at Romanian children in Italy .
despite positive results , there is still much to be done in relation to this problem .
an agreement has now been made with the Council to update the Late Payments Directive , which would set a general deadline of 30 days for payments between businesses and public corporations .
I am not quite sure how this will go down in translation , so I hope anyone who is listening to me in translation will get it .
we now come to a rather perverse procedure , as Mrs Bowles has indicated .
we simply have to build it stage by stage .
on the other hand , I am disappointed with this report because the rapporteur 's analysis is not focused throughout .
we support the motion , although we do not think it goes far enough .
that is what it must be .
moreover , the temporary work agencies themselves benefit from the regulation of temporary workers .
the main objective is to ensure growth and development , but also security and guarantees for small and medium-sized enterprises , investors and consumers and all market participants whose commercial functions must be facilitated .
in the most important area , however - in other words , in the area associated with the increase in the powers of the European Parliament following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon - we have got as far as a working group , which will establish the extra costs that may be associated with this .
policy coherence also means that development policy must remain a strong , independent policy area in the creation of the European External Action Service and that the field of competence of the Commissioner for Development must be expanded , not restricted .
that is irrational , but it is a fact .
EU institutions have set themselves the goal to take advantage more effectively of existing opportunities that lie within cultural and creative industries .
unification of the classification and labelling of hazardous chemicals and mixtures is good news for consumers , since the proposed harmonisation improves the protection of their health and the environment .
Iceland is not a member of the eurozone and Iceland went bankrupt .
when citizens see their governments wavering from one to the other , who can blame them if they feel alien to the process itself ?
soil protection has become a priority for the EU because Europe 's soils are becoming more and more degraded .
those who wish to support this will be doing so for their own personal reasons and for the reasons of their Member States , but this is a common fisheries policy and we must adhere to this .
this applies to the Commission 's internal preparation work and to adoption by the European Parliament and the Council , as well as to the application of the new rules by the Member States .
this is an important aspect .
admittedly , the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union was the result of a consensus reached after more than a year of negotiations between various pressure groups and lobbies , representatives of civil society and national governments , and so on .
it may sound really nice to talk of a public debate on the Treaty of Lisbon in all the languages .
we are in the realm of experimentation .
President of the Commission . - Thank you , Mr Böge , for your question .
otherwise , we will make no further progress . and , as a result , we will not secure the necessary investment .
I was the rapporteur on the Development and Cooperation Instrument .
the proposed annual breakdown provides an amount of EUR 75 million in 2010 .
the next item is the delivery of statements on the situation in Iran by the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and by the Commission .
that is almost the same amount that the United Kingdom contributes to the European Union .
it is not enough to guarantee the right to a bank account .
however , I would also like to take the opportunity to refer once again to the framework agreement of 20 November 2010 .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( GA ) Mr President , I welcome Mr Cashman 's report on the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights .
I also wanted to put the other side of that , which is , of course , the instruments that we use to promote and support democracy in human rights .
B ) employees of ' community ' air transport that provides services from an operational base located outside the territory of the Member States will be subject to the social legislation and collective agreements of the country in which the operator has its main office ;
by producing high quality wines it has secured a dominant position on the world market .
( MT ) I also voted against Catania 's report , because it contains at least three references to abortion as a human right .
they are therefore the minority that is most discriminated against in Europe .
test and measurement flights have taken place , but only up to a certain height and under visual flight rules .
maybe you can say what you like on paper , but people are undoubtedly tired of empty promises .
colleagues , I think that means that we have a very good draft SURE report here today !
a strong pillar of direct payments is vital for the world and to meet food demands .
I would like to highlight one example : energy security .
it is clear that governments may not cut back on public services , not even during the current crisis .
I know that we in Ireland have certainly bought into it .
I can see the Member States playing an important role in this , as in the accelerated installation of the Nabucco and North Stream pipeline , for example .
the reason why we are debating this point today under the urgent procedure is the risk that these persons may be deported en masse and that all their rights with regard to the Iranian regime may be infringed once and for all .
what are these opportunities ?
Parliament is right to put personal safety and privacy on the same footing , because there cannot be one without the other .
in writing . - ( PT ) Since it was impossible to secure private funding , as originally planned , to supplement the financing of the ' Galileo ' project , the European Union ' decided ' that it should be financed entirely with public capital , notably from the Community budget .
( CS ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , European societies are undergoing dramatic changes in relation to the nature of work and family life , the social status of women and social mobility .
who will decide on the projects ?
the danger associated with the original proposal is that it would mean that in a number of cases Swedish courts could be forced to pass a judgment according to Maltese , Irish , German or Iranian law when one party files for divorce .
furthermore , there are still unresolved border issues with Croatia 's neighbours and we do not wish to see these imported into the EU .
it has become apparent that the European economic environment as a whole may be diverse and extensively regulated but , compared to competing economies , it is very cumbersome .
we want a free trade agreement between the EU and India that helps to promote sustainable development , and that is accompanied by clear clauses concerning respect for ILO standards , environmental rules and corporate social responsibility obligations .
we must continue on this route in the interests of the euro .
if there should be some delays , or if some projects are not sufficiently prepared , we will have a report in March 2010 .
how gloomy our evenings in the European Parliament would be without these interesting British discussions .
that price difference leads to dumping , which is why we have applied the appropriate measures in relation to Russia and the Ukraine .
they need austerity but they also need investment , and our legal obligations are about investment - about structural funding for these countries for the next year .
initially it was being suggested to us not only that the European Union should get involved in establishing the principles of corporation tax , but also that these taxes should be raised , against world trends .
we do not want any misogynist advertising , any advertisements that degrade women into objects or revel in crude clichés about women .
the next item is the report by Mr Karas , on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs , on Basel II and revision of the Capital Requirements Directive ( CRD 4 ) .
I have declared before Parliament - when you requested that I appear before you - that the public , the consumer and primarily , as I have also stated before you , small and medium-sized entities , must reclaim the single market , that is , the European market .
moreover , if the European Conservatives and Reformists continue to make this person participate in the Conference of Presidents , we are going to change the way we work .
we should start working now .
unlike you , we have always extended the hand of friendship to you , and we have always wanted decent coexistence , and we would therefore like the implementing regulations for your constitution to respect the sovereignty of neighbouring states in the region .
there are vulnerable groups of people at risk of succumbing to social exclusion and absolute poverty in all regions , including the most prosperous .
I believe this will not be the case , since the institutions criticized for staying behind can solve their problems in the four monitored fields during this period .
it was not that simple ; it was not that easy .
for example , the clause providing for a review in 2010 , also in light of the results of the Copenhagen Conference , which was agreed at the proposal of President Berlusconi , is a crucial point and the fact that it was passed with unanimity is , I believe , a good sign of its sensitivity to industry .
the first is the creation of a European Monetary Fund , which is absolutely necessary and was an idea also floated by Mr Schäuble , the German Minister for Finance .
we are dealing with a full-scale global financial meltdown in which international efforts need to be made at a global level .
the cross-sectional report of Mr Florenz confirms that the fight against climate change must be based on a horizontal approach and it must be taken into account in all legal regulations .
I consider it unnecessary and too time-consuming to carry out checks on third-country nationals holding a visa every time they cross the border .
excluding those in France , there are 10 million Roma in Europe , who make up the largest minority in Europe .
this creates more transparency and more legal certainty , and this is in the interests of not just consumers but also industry which , of course , has every interest in distancing itself from disreputable providers in this field .
it responds to the recommendation of the Court of Auditors to reinforce the capacity of the Commission to put pressure on Member States .
the European Union has repeatedly maintained that it considers Charter 08 to be a legitimate exercise of freedom of expression and , as the Presidency has just noted , the European Union has reiterated several times the serious concerns it has about Liu Xiaobo 's arrest , trial and imprisonment .
( SV ) Thank you Mr President .
admittedly , whether doing or undoing , one is still taking action .
they are even more important in southern Italy , where I come from , because the whole productive fabric is organised around small and medium-sized enterprises .
I regard as a priority the creation of a specific framework programme for decentralised agricultural research so as to improve cooperation , share best practices and accelerate the process of improved breeding of locally adapted protein plants , making this an innovative area in the various Member States .
of course , we in Europe have problems of our own , including economic problems .
it is quite right to emphasise the importance of food security for the inhabitants of the EU , as it is their basic human right .
( DA ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , we are in the middle of a fight , which is also reflected in the debate here today - a fight between the forces in Europe that want to weaken the European project and those of us who - in the midst of the crisis that we find ourselves in right now - want us to reef the sails and actually strengthen the European project .
the debate is closed .
it is about liberty and identity .
the second , and no less important , aim of the Chinese Government is to consolidate the world 's authoritarian pole as a counterbalance to the liberal-democratic models of the West .
that is what became unsustainable and what those same countries made it their mission to emphasise within the World Trade Organisation .
even more urgently and compellingly , I would say .
we also have the ratification and the implementation awaiting us .
Parliament has always fought on this issue so that we could at least glimpse a future date when the opt-out will end .
in writing . - ( LT ) I voted in favour of this report .
given the high rate of unemployment , this situation is worrying and incomprehensible .
this will enable the European Union to gather the resources required to supply emergency humanitarian aid within 24 hours of a disaster occurring .
that is right .
( HU ) Thank you , Madam President .
as usual , the Summit will provide an opportunity to take stock of progress in implementing the four Common Spaces .
such discrimination severely constrains access to the labour market for both older and younger workers .
I believe that the discussions now being held by the Ministers in the Eurogroup under the presidency of Jean Claude Juncker , by the Ministers in the Ecofin Council and by the Ministers at the Washington meeting are discussions which fit perfectly with the priorities and need for coordination reflected in the Commission 's report and in your report , although some of them are probably not aware of this .
fundamentalism is widespread in Pakistan across all levels of society and can even be detected among students at the renowned International Islamic University .
women themselves have played a part in initiating and shaping this change , both as individuals and in women 's political groupings .
Commissioner , just to finish , the great advantage to me is that I can now look to my constituents and , when they ask me what the European Union has done for them , I can say that we have made it possible for you to take your pet on holiday - your cat , your dog or your ferret .
in writing . - ( PT ) Since January 2005 , EU publicly traded companies have been obliged to use international accounting standards for their consolidated financial statements .
the reduction of emissions generated by transport , which is responsible for 70 % of the urban pollution , shall contribute to the air quality improvement .
the Council can therefore quickly adopt this legislation with a view to its entry into force in January 2012 , which would greatly benefit consumers .
the sector is therefore committed .
in the future , the EU development policy should spend more on funds which offer access to financial services , that is microfinancing funds .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , with today 's motion on the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and on rape and violation as a war crime , we are calling on the European Union and United Nations formally to recognise rape , forced impregnation , sexual slavery and other forms of sexual violence as a crime against humanity and as a form of torture .
( HU ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , we have heard a great deal about this oil disaster and we all saw the shocking pictures on our television screens .
the unprecedented global crisis , which is stubbornly persisting and could threaten the European project , requires everyone and , in particular , the European Union , to take a firm stance that motivates the public .
constitutional courts are now debating this issue as well and want to make a decision .
some of these disparities are due to serious deficiencies in our neighbouring states .
( SV ) Madam President , I believe that it is extremely important that the progress being made by the candidate countries that are involved in negotiations is also recognised and stressed .
in this connection , I absolutely share the appraisal of Mrs Kadenbach and others .
what is more , it is done unanimously by a prestigious court that has influenced the formation of the culture of human rights for almost sixty years .
the future importance of nuclear energy demands excellence in the conditions for its implementation and in the conditions for the exchange of essential information , so that uniform safety conditions of the highest quality can be established .
however , the thing is that they cut the budget every year , and the current financial framework was adopted in 2005 when we were in a period of economic boom !
the European Union is certainly providing Haiti with huge material aid and I am surprised that many other countries are not doing this on the same scale as the European Union .
I voted against the proposal because with it we are moving away from an integrated approach , contained in the earlier strategy documents , and placing the whole burden of CO2 emissions reduction on the European car industry instead .
personally I hope these sanctions - which would not have been necessary if the monitoring systems had been effective - will be tough but fair and balanced .
we can see evidence of that now in the Commission in connection with the Europe 2020 strategy .
well , this is impossible and we must say so from the start ; it calls for reform in the treaties and cannot be dealt with by the popular initiative .
that applies to the scope for continued enlargement and to increased openness , but also to employees ' rights .
there are no major problems in relation to the first pillar , since it represents about 90 % of expenditure and is implemented at about 100 % , so we welcome the 3 % increase in expenditure for 2012 , as this neatly accommodates the costs of the expansion of the CAP which , as we know , will take place gradually until 2013 .
the debate is closed .
credit rating agencies ( CRAs ) provide ratings for three different sectors - the public sector , companies and structured finance instruments - and played a significant role in the path that led to the financial crisis , through the assignment of faulty ratings to structured finance instruments , which had to be downgraded on average three to four notches during the crisis .
the debate is closed .
today , therefore , I think that we must not close our eyes .
Belarus cannot be a partner of the EU while this intolerable intimidation and targeted arrests continue .
I would like to remind this House that in March 2009 , we adopted a resolution which took into account both the trade and the non-trade concerns .
I know how much importance many EU Member States attach to food quality and food safety , and just as well .
if we all want safety , then the right thing to do is to show a permanent commitment to safety and not just when there has been a core meltdown in three reactors .
I will finish with that .
I would like to highlight some points in the joint resolution that the European Parliament will adopt tomorrow .
I also welcome the measures proposed for maintaining territorial balance in the EU .
and the Power of One is perhaps something we have not promoted enough .
furthermore , diagnostic medical X-rays allow the user , the patient , the possibility of a lead shielding on their gonads to reduce the total population dose causing DNA damage and future genetic mutations - not possible with these devices either .
we must fight for this progressive line .
the French authorities are well aware of these difficulties .
finally , the positive repercussions of what is now the most advanced regulatory framework in the history of financial law governing aviation will affect not only creditors and manufacturers , but also airlines , employees and passengers .
the Commission and the Council must address urgently this request to the Government of Zimbabwe and make it a non-negotiable request .
the report also calls for an integrated industrial policy to serve as the foundation for environmental , competition and trade policy , in order to improve resource efficiency .
we should also discuss this when discussing the granting of discharge in Strasbourg next month .
up to this point , as part of the implementation of the programme established for us by Parliament and the Council , we have made 43 financing decisions for gas projects , energy infrastructure projects , offshore energy and carbon capture and storage .
these additional requirements include the full identification and registration of all animals in the national Brazilian system for bovine animals .
if we cannot manage to stop Russia from pushing ahead with actions aimed at breaking up one of our key partners in the Caucasus , no one will set store by us in the future .
against this background , it is shocking to meet Vietnamese monks who have been the victims of a violent attack .
this visit demonstrates that the forum for the European peoples , this Parliament , is exactly the right place to present the outlook which you , Prime Minister , have described to us today .
in the case of our Eastern neighbours involved in the Neighbourhood Policy , membership of the Union is most certainly a possibility .
I believe that employing such a broad definition of violence against women will help in the fight against this problem .
composition of committees and delegations : see Minutes
today 's vote paves the way for new negotiations and says ' no ' to allocating rights according to workers ' market value .
once this is guaranteed , we must adopt decisions for the European Union as a whole .
any decisions or measures in relation to PNR must be compatible with the terms of the agreement .
in fact , it is estimated that 12 million jobs in Europe are directly or indirectly affected by the automotive industry .
their work in the field of political information and education complements what the political parties do .
it is important to advance technologically and promote eco-innovation , taking account of future technological development for the increased long-term competitiveness of the European car industry and the creation of more quality jobs .
now farmers can say ' I want to leave and I want my EUR 300 per tonne , and I get the compensation for the reduction in prices on top of that ' .
we had invited quite high-level experts such as Nobel Peace Prize winner Rajendra Pachauri , and experts in science , research and , of course , politics .
while the study noted that the Commission has a relatively well developed system for notification of conflicts of interests , it suggests that consideration be given to enlarging the mandate of our ad hoc Ethical Committee to include a broader advisory role .
if we are in it together , we all have to feel the pain together .
( NL ) Mr President , my fellow member , Mrs Mathieu , suggested in her report that , for the time being , we refuse to grant discharge to the European Police College in respect of the implementation of its budget for the financial year 2008 .
temporary suspension of autonomous Common Customs Tariff duties on imports of certain industrial products into Madeira and the Azores (
in writing . - ( PT ) Since previous legislation , which made fraud and tax evasion a priority for the European Union , a series of legislative proposals have been adopted relating to this area .
the European Union must not overlook the professional , familial and social aspirations of women who live in rural areas .
by creating a ' European passport ' system , the European Union is imposing a kind of ' code of conduct ' on these financial bodies , which will now have to meet certain conditions within the European area .
we should be able to develop the technological possibilities to deliver better cross-border access to justice .
what is the situation with the Barnier report proposal ?
on the subject of children 's fingerprints , it was said that figures showed that the quality and reliability of fingerprints on a data base containing details of 1.5 million visa applicants were of a high standard , and I was told that a technical document supporting this position had been sent to Baroness Ludford .
we have suggested a two-step decoupling approach and I might be willing , together with the presidency , to do this in one step but postpone it until 2012 - the last application year - so the effect will be for the 2013 budget year .
everyone who comes into contact with a product will be responsible for ensuring that that product is safe and meets EU requirements .
in many regions of the world , women make an essential contribution to the most worthy societal structures of humanity .
speculators ' enthusiasm for commodities is influencing oil prices , which are no longer based on the spot market , since the cumulative effect of advances and speculative manoeuvres ends up determining supply and demand in the real market .
I have noted the information you have given us , Mr Leinen , and we shall finish our debate with a contribution from Commissioner Wallström .
moreover , the aim of this report is the transposition into European law of an arrangement negotiated within the globalist and ultra-liberal organisation , the OECD .
we find an absolute lack of coordination in the signing of bilateral energy agreements by Member States that threaten the interests of and place question marks over EU strategic projects .
the new protocol entails a financial contribution for a period of three years and annual authorisation to fish in Seychelles ' waters for 48 seiners and 12 long-liners .
I am really confident that this proposal will ensure a sustainable future for both this species and the associated fishing industry .
in this context , your commitment here in Parliament - and I thank the rapporteur once again - and your cooperation with the Afghan Parliament , the Wolesi Jirga , are invaluable .
the next issue which some of you underlined , and which I think is the basis of all the issues , is the integration of biodiversity , the mainstreaming of biodiversity in other policies .
the increased democracy , clarity and visibility , and the strengthening of the European Union 's effectiveness have been highlighted by our rapporteurs as the major advances of the Treaty of Lisbon .
Parliament needs to increase its expertise in legislative issues in order to match the Commission and the Member States .
the EU 's Four Freedoms will likewise gain strength when the EU is developed as a safe area of internal rights .
we are convinced that this directive will make a difference and contribute to a real European defence market .
the European Union must have a common security policy capable of supporting the democracies within its borders and the partnerships with the countries neighbouring it .
this is what is meant by the strategic autonomy that we are developing by means of this policy .
so far the EU instruments have not really been adapted .
I endorse the suggestion of the Court of Auditors that procurement procedures should be better prepared and coordinated by the Court of Justice .
if we examine the current results of EU involvement in the region , they seem at least mixed .
what we need for this is 100 % transparency , as well as clear language for those implementing the project on the Commission 's behalf , and that must also mean that , where necessary , there are financial consequences for these project managers .
perhaps not least , we should not stigmatise failure but rather use it as a step to success .
and there is yet another problem : the technological gap between the generations .
I place my hopes in the reasonable people who are well aware that there is no moving forward without the cultural and religious identity of the Tibetans .
the current economic , financial and social crisis has demonstrated that the European Union 's current economic governance model has not worked : the surveillance framework has shown itself to be very weak and the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact have not been respected .
the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg will acquire the authority to exercise judicial control over the acts of the EU 's institutions , bodies and agencies , including decisions made by the European Court of Justice , with regard to compliance with the convention , thereby creating an additional layer of judicial control over fundamental rights within the EU .
we are pleased that the European Union has taken responsibility and showed solidarity in this way , even though the scope of this solidarity could be wider .
Madam President , Commissioner , when it comes to financial reporting standards this Parliament now knows that you have a certain capacity for creativity , for setting up ' do nothing ' committees .
I also approve , just like my fellow Member , the openness of the Chinese authorities , both at national level and in Sichuan province .
I would not have supported the Rivonia bombing , but neither would I , if Nelson Mandela had fled to Europe , have supported his extradition to a South Africa where he faced the death penalty .
the mandate of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia ( debate )
I am not sure how long the Commission is going to test out the codes of conduct before it legislates .
the interpretation and application of the relevant provision of the Lisbon Treaty will , in any event , be under the control of the European Court of Justice .
from the viewpoint of Scotland , the nation which I represent , there are significant issues and challenges for the new Commissioners to address .
so , what does an opt-out mean ?
therefore , we should strive to achieve - to use a sort of slogan - a new ' value pattern ' .
( PT ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to begin by congratulating my fellow Member , the rapporteur , for her work , as well as thanking all those who worked with her on this report , which has allowed this agreement to be reached at the first reading .
the CFR should contain a set of definitions , general principles and model rules in the field of contract law .
it is essential that we prevent exceptions and derogations which give rise to non-credibility within Europe and in relations with others .
if we can agree on the policy direction , we will be able to generate real political commitment to solve the real problems that have been mentioned by some of you .
( ES ) Mr President , Commissioner Damanaki , I am going to focus on the Gróbarczyk and Ferreira reports .
in the fight to retain power , Gaddafi is using heavier and heavier artillery ( such as the bombing of rebels ) and is not afraid of a high death toll .
I declare resumed the session of the European Parliament adjourned on Thursday , 20 January 2011 .
in her press statement this week , she cited such countries as China and Vietnam , where she claims that EU funding , channelled through the United Nations Population Fund ( UNFPA ) , is presently being used for coercive abortions , involuntary sterilisation and infanticide .
we need a clear answer .
this report is to be produced as soon as possible , and by no later than May 2009 .
if one takes all that into account , it will not be too long before we have an official , consolidated version of the text .
( NL ) Madam President , a little modesty never goes amiss , and this includes politicians .
in Vietnam , hundreds of people are being held in detention for their political and religious beliefs .
this is even more important given the current economic and financial situation .
I hear again and again from the trade unions that , in the area of wage settlement , the autonomy of the Member States and their social partners is being harmed and that we are possibly heading for a flagrant violation of the regulation of competencies under the Treaty .
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I voted for this report as I think that it proposes effective measures for preventing , combating and managing chemical , biological , radiological and nuclear ( CBRN ) incidents .
it is time to condemn these inhuman practices in any part of the world , and our message today should be that perpetrators of these war crimes can no longer go unpunished .
those are some of the issues that I hope will be to the forefront in our discussions on this very welcome Green Paper .
this should be solely a technical incorporation which will in no way affect the content .
what is especially worrying about the Council 's cuts has been the fact that they are targeted , among other things , at research and development , as mentioned previously .
the dire economic prospects for young people and the anger against corruption and excesses of the tiny dictatorial elite lie at the heart of the revolutionary movements and the aspirations of the Egyptian people .
( DE ) Mr President , I was born into the European Union in 1975 and it has shaped my political life ever since .
however , if Taiwan is ever to be fully integrated with the regional economies of south-east Asia , it needs to be accepted into international organisations , regardless of whether or not it is recognised as an independent sovereign state .
my Group has warmly welcomed the fact that Brazil , like Thailand , has been taking significant steps , despite objections from the pharmaceutical industry , to improve access to medication .
this report underlines the urgent need for a Community initiative to effectively combat violence against women .
building on the solid scientific advice at our disposal , and insisting that negotiations must be guided by science , remains vital .
Commissioner Špidla 's presentation today on the review of labour law exemptions in the maritime sector and Commissioner Piebalgs ' report on the interlinkages between the EU energy policy and the new integrated maritime policy are a very good start , but how many of the other items in the package that you announced today will require separate legislative proposals ?
I would like Europe and the French Presidency to make an effort to help them through these difficult times .
we are staying on the right track , albeit not consistently enough and not completely , but we are staying on the right track , the track described by the saying : unity is strength !
the committee rejected the Commission 's mixed proposal for a partial ban and labelling ; the committee rejected Mrs Wallis 's proposal for a labelling option only .
it does not in any way affect the powers of data protection authorities with regard to processing activities performed in the EU by SWIFT or financial institutions .
I would ask the Commission , however , to proceed with the necessary speed .
it is therefore necessary to sanction the right to water and pursue policies enabling that right to be implemented .
the members of the Petitions Committee feel that they have received petitions , they have looked into the matter , they may have had hearings , they may have had a visit , they have sometimes found something that is perhaps wrong in the legislation that the subject committee has dealt with , and they feel they have got to grips with that and should have the final say if the subject committee disagrees .
this has also happened .
this crisis of confidence will only be overcome through urgent and concerted action .
we must not , for the sake of trade or other short-term gain , sanitise the outrageous human rights record of Hanoi .
all of us together should learn to live a more creative life .
we must take action so that the costs of the crisis do not fall on the weakest and poorest .
perhaps he should not thank his speech-writer - because , of course , he was reading directly from a piece of paper - because obviously the speech-writer did not understand what this package was all about .
in the European Union the number of pensioners is rising due to the increase in life expectancy .
we want to have a partnership with a Russia that is in the process of democratising , but to do that , Russia must democratise - in reality and not just in our wishful thinking .
this is often lacking in the transport sector as a whole .
on the one hand the cost of fuel as a percentage of the total earnings of a fisher can go up as high as to represent 50-60 % of his total earnings .
however , implementation may be quite difficult with regard to the predominant private sector , where the majority of managers look above all at the profits of their companies and have no respect for ethical and moral principles , at the same time preventing the action of trade unions which would protect workers and take part in pay negotiations .
in writing . - I am ' overjoyed ' by the number of loud statements and expressions of condemnation !
and then it is up to us as European legislators .
increased transferability of knowledge , so that this can also be used in other regions of the European Union .
the same goes for the racism cudgel that is readily swung at anyone drawing attention to aberrations connected with asylum and foreign nationals .
agenda for next sitting : see Minutes
I hope that the Treaty of Lisbon will provide us with the chance to deal properly with human rights and minority rights .
secondly , if the Socialist Group wants to have a majority when voting , then perhaps Mrs Gill 's group should make sure that their MEPs do not leave before the end of the part-session in order to go back home earlier - while we have to stay here and discuss and vote .
I would also like to thank Mr Karas for the way in which we have been able to re-open the trialogue so that we will be able , in the period before this directive comes into force , to revise the retention threshold .
it would also pave the way for the introduction of genuine reciprocity ; in other words , it would be possible for the European authorities and the Member States ' competent authorities to obtain financial data stored on US territory .
such credits can help people to get out of a crisis if they are capable of doing so .
on 6 May 2009 Parliament carried out a review of its Rules of Procedure and introduced , under Rule 51 , a new ' procedure with joint committee meetings ' , in order to streamline procedures regarding the approval of matters that go beyond the competences of a single committee , so that only one report is submitted to plenary , which would reflect the position of all the committees involved .
all these reports concerning the promotion of democratic and human rights worldwide and financing instruments for development cooperation must be seen in the context of the chilling statement made yesterday in this very Chamber by the United Nations Secretary-General .
at last , despite its differences - and after all we too have ours - Africa is showing that it is united and capable of overcoming the paternalistic relationship that arises between donor countries and recipient countries .
from the Tagus estuary , it will start a new chapter in Portuguese and European scientific research , letting the world know about new worlds .
of course , we have to address this issue seriously throughout the European Union and my intention is to really improve the content of the report for 2010 .
the vote will take place on Wednesday .
regrettably a number of Member States do not share this attitude , and the scheme cannot be implemented .
I think I have reacted to most of your interesting remarks .
we know that there are double standards here in Europe .
I think , Mrs Kaufmann , that you can be proud of helping to establish what I call establishing and charging the power lines between citizens and the European institutions - new power lines , drawing them up and charging them .
above all , it is the Institute 's priorities that have changed .
breaching the fundamental principles of data protection law for a large number of citizens and subjects of the European Union ( up to 90 million data items per month ) ,
after 40 years of occupation of the Palestinian territories , there are clearly persistent breaches of Palestinian human rights as a result of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories .
the June List is very much in favour of EU cooperation encompassing cross-border environmental problems .
Mr President , I agree with everyone in this debate who calls on the European Union to engage , to act and to exercise the responsibility to protect .
I think then that we must introduce projects to make these regions known and to ensure that they have a European perspective .
based on a detailed analysis the Commission has concluded that it should be possible to consider amending Community law with the aim of ensuring above all that the systems for setting pay rates exclude both direct and indirect gender-based discrimination .
this is why I am asking all groups to vote for this report .
currently every fifth EU citizen lives in sub-standard conditions ; each day some 1.8 million people seek shelter for the night in hostels for the homeless ; 10 % of individuals live in households where no-one works ; the extent of long-term unemployment is as much as 4 % ; 15 % of employees receive extremely low wages ; and 8 % of employees live in poverty despite having jobs .
the work in progress on the establishment of an alternative EU contract law fills me with optimism , particularly in the context of the EU 's Digital Agenda and e-commerce 's potential for the Single Market .
in the new planning period , and given the targets which have been set under the revised Lisbon strategy , cooperation and synergy are necessary at all levels - European , national , regional and local - to enable the tourism sector to contribute to achieving these targets .
together with the Liberals and the German Free Democratic Party ( FDP ) , I would argue that we focus on small and medium-sized enterprises .
these statistics will enable us to facilitate their efforts .
unfortunately , too much time was wasted on protection , and not everything has gone smoothly .
experts have found evidence to show that demand for table eggs in the European Union will exceed supply after the Laying Hens Directive has been implemented , which , in practice , will mean imports from third countries of eggs produced in cages which are certainly not adapted .
so what we are talking about is putting balance and fairness into the argument , to ensure the rights of those who are weakest in contractual terms , who are weakest in enforcement terms and who are approaching the end of their musical careers , so that they can get protection and uses .
at a time when the cracks in the capitalist system are obvious , it is odd to withdraw proposals that promote alternative and effective types of economic organisation .
the same thing has happened with regard to the EU intelligence structures .
the Korean shipbuilding industry benefits from substantial state aid , which has enabled it to attain a 30 % share of the world market .
I also do not believe that there should be free access to assisted reproduction technologies , which should be subject to the principle of subsidiarity and never used as an instrument for eliminating discrimination against women because of their marital status , age , sexual orientation , or ethnic or cultural origin .
the European Union should not recognise the legitimacy of the Belarusian Parliament until free elections are held in that country .
at the last Strasbourg meeting of the Conference of Presidents , the President solemnly promised that all the political groups would have access to all the IGC documents .
that is why President Sarkozy flew to meet President Medvedev and not President Kokoity .
are we talking a year , 18 months ?
we should certainly intervene in every specific case of the violation of justice , as we are doing in this debate .
the strong involvement of the authorities , too , is out of step with the principles of the Regulation .
Ninety-nine percent of European companies are SMEs .
we are pleased to see such an astute and successful politician and a well-known Liberal on the Commission .
the process of ratification should continue , and I am confident that Ireland will make every effort to resolve the situation .
these include the Arctic region 's potential , its vast natural resources , the raw materials and energy resources , and the new traffic lanes and tourism , but also , at the same time , the vulnerability of the delicate Arctic environment , and the rights of its indigenous peoples .
the other side of the coin is that we must ensure that the thousands of children we know about in the European Union can be put up for adoption .
moreover , it is important to have a smart power grid able to operate by obtaining energy from decentralised energy generators .
I think that we are all , or mostly all , in agreement that we should move from direct payment to a payment for developing rural areas , if there is some kind of redistribution , rather than to continue with protectionist measures .
( EL ) Mr President , the Turco judgment is a significant step forward for law and democracy .
in this context , the last statement of the Commission concerning economic support for eastern countries , as well as the readiness expressed by Mr Barroso to debate the 2020 Strategy , should be commended .
the opinion of Parliament 's Legal Service is very clear .
this issue was not addressed in the Commission 's proposal , and the work of the ENVI committee has therefore substantially improved it by adding important safeguards for consumers who purchase medicines online .
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this cannot continue .
the issue is what this directive lays down .
President of the Commission . - Mr President , honourable Members , if a week is a long time in politics , a month can seem an eternity .
finally , the factors I have mentioned that are negatively affecting biodiversity are unfortunately aggravated by the current production of biofuels , which is having an adverse effect on the tropical rain forest in particular .
there is one more thing .
this requires a balance , which Parliament needs to find in cooperation with the Commission .
we therefore need rules , but rules that are effective ; not overregulation , of course , but a genuine framework that is suited to European competitiveness .
advertising plays an important role in the financing of the media .
we need an effective Commission and we need a common , long-term European strategy .
the pension debate within the EU , concerning the white , and subsequently the green papers , must continue in this spirit , this is what the European Parliament is calling on the Commission to do , and I am therefore very pleased with this proposal .
I believe that it is right to guarantee a high minimum level of consumer protection throughout the European Union , provided that the Member States will also be able to impose more stringent regulations on their territory if they believe that the level of protection guaranteed by the EU is insufficient .
we are also in favour of setting up a public farmers ' insurance fund financed by the Community which would enable farmers to be paid a minimum income in the event of natural disasters such as drought , storms , hail , fire , epizootic diseases , etc .
because the economy as a whole loses out when whole categories of the population are shut out of the world of work for long periods of time , cannot contribute to wealth creation and cannot access goods and services .
that is our ultimate goal .
other people are neither passive , nor any less gifted .
I would also like to welcome his initiative for the asylum support officer , which is a very practical and concrete way to support Member States who feel burdened and to start cooperation among Member States .
since that time , the Sri Lankan Government has been manoeuvring to exonerate itself and impede access to justice by those who must be called , at the very least , victims of war crimes .
both sides have made concessions in recent weeks and both must take another step closer to each other .
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for young people , in particular , it constitutes a real threat .
it is hoped that the strategy will gain the backing of the European Council meeting at the end of October .
Commissioner Füle , is it not time that we established a development fund for the Western Balkans along the lines of the post-war Marshall Plan ?
neither MEPs nor their assistants should be isolated in an ' EU bubble ' with high salaries and attractive benefits way above the reality experienced by the citizens they are supposed to represent .
assessments 10 years áfter the entry into effect of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification , indicate increasing desertification trends while the reaction of states is absent .
for this to happen , the attitude of society must become more positive with regard to women , and negative stereotypes must be abolished .
( FR ) Today , we are debating equality between men and women , 15 years after the Fourth World Conference on Women , which took place in Beijing , and we are also celebrating the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion .
at the same time , the Commission is to be applauded for their recommendations that measures be implemented here to ensure that the same will not happen in our own area .
this week 's vote will reflect what the European Parliament expects to see in the legislative proposals for the CAP .
it is also very important to consider the situation in Cyprus .
for example , it would be a serious mistake for the EIB to support large-scale projects such as the bridge over the Straits of Messina or the Brenner base tunnel for high-speed passenger trains .
on behalf on the EFD Group . - ( LT ) Madam President , today , if we were to balance the benefits of the nuclear industry and the dangers it poses on a pair of scales , it is difficult to say which one would outweigh the other .
payback comes another time when you are on the requesting end .
this is a large number because it relates only to the past summer .
adequate funding must be earmarked for this , in order to ensure that these centres provide high quality information which is accessible .
there is a possibility that Russia could apply pressure on Ukraine and certain EU countries in the sphere of energy supply .
in this sense , the speech by the Serbian Minister for Foreign Affairs was rather unfortunate .
since that is the case , having a validated Commission whose president has been elected or a provisional Commission in which this decisive decision is always being postponed makes a difference to how effectively the European Union can combat the crisis .
meanwhile , we know there are many things to worry about and , above all , there are many differences between the level of development of the rich and poor countries and regions of Europe .
if we are to exploit fully the potential for growth of the regions and achieve economic , social and territorial cohesion in the European Union , it is essential that particular attention is paid to competitiveness .
if we want to point the finger , we should look at countries where there is no freedom , where there is no democracy , and where terrorists are harboured , before we point the finger at America .
if production cannot continue to take place in Europe because of the soaring cost of emissions trading , and if , as a consequence , steel or paper , say , are produced in places where the ensuing emissions are greater than in Europe , emissions will increase overall .
it is therefore an issue of a horizontal nature , which comprises elements touching on competition policy , state aid and fiscal measures .
what part will they play in the publication of their work on the web ?
as you know , the European Training Foundation was created in 1990 to support implementation of the PHARE external assistance programme in the field of vocational training .
I would also ask the Commission to please bear them in mind as well .
lastly , I have great hopes that things will happen quickly at unilateral level , since the generalised system of preferences should be reformed quite soon .
in the end , the German Presidency set a deadline of the end of 2008 .
because of its geographical and historical proximity , Portugal and especially the outermost regions such as Madeira , which are looking forward to seeing how the Spanish Presidency performs , must try to make the most of the opportunities that will surely be generated .
we must ensure that these people are safe from harm on line .
therefore , they can sell their CO2 quotas .
damage control is very important , and the Commissioner has spoken about the most important things we have to do in that respect , but prevention is at least as important .
'Albania , Kosovo , Serbia , Montenegro and FYROM are transit countries to the EU for illegal migrants and victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation , cannabis products , heroin , cocaine , cigarettes , synthetic drugs and precursors , counterfeit Euros and firearms .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Mr President , this is an important debate tonight with the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection , to demonstrate that the Services Directive - into which we put so much effort in the last Parliament under Evelyne Gebhardt 's leadership , with many colleagues , including myself , being involved - is absolutely indispensable to the creation of future growth and jobs in the European economy .
this price stability is an advantage for all European citizens .
this is a three-fold increase in 4 years .
climate change is precisely that : climate changes all the time .
it really seems to be the case that what we largely see as waste today could later become a source of our or someone else 's health .
I do not want that to happen .
first of all , the rapid development of new marketing techniques , primarily e-commerce , has rendered some of the European laws obsolete .
as a result of the economic crisis , some Member States no longer have as many opportunities to provide support for the programme , and this is a challenge to the EU to identify accurately those who need support , and to grant support to them .
for us this is a vital aspect to make progress .
political decisions are necessary in order to remedy the situation .
I worked on the issue as a shadow rapporteur .
just like the rapporteur , I also welcome the government 's efforts to ensure progress but , alas , this progress is not visible .
I can only hope that the staff will genuinely be selected on the basis of expertise , independence from the financial industry that they are to control and the clear desire to serve in the public interest , and that we will not see national quotas again in the selection process that disregard these important criteria .
there is no open forum , let alone any very democratic process , while these posts are being handed out prior to elections .
we need a common foreign affairs and security policy .
finally , if we really want to do something , I have two concrete proposals .
administrations therefore need to reflect that , not necessarily their own cost basis .
finally , the recall of hazardous products must take place more quickly and more efficiently and there must be clear improvements in traceability back through the production chain .
there are some other things which need clarification .
given the European Union 's role of promoting respect for human rights and for civil and democratic freedoms and , above all , given its Christian origins and roots , it has a duty in all this to react firmly by condemning all forms of extremism and promoting dialogue , religious freedom , mutual respect among communities , and tolerance .
I think there is a healthy political core in Haiti and we should believe in it .
in view of the removal of the quota system , which is concluding this year , the agreement will help , or should help , at least , to guarantee that the transition to a free market throughout 2008 is done correctly .
when they move countries , Europeans need to be able to access their employment history in all the Member States where they have made contributions .
we owe this to our citizens .
they need assistance to be able to diversify their sources of energy to achieve a more sustainable mix .
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they are only interested in hard financial facts .
however , another reason is surely the fact that we Europeans are not as good as we always claim to be .
Article 75 , however , makes it clear that when it is necessary in order to achieve the objectives set out in Article 67 , Parliament and the Council shall define , in other words , shall jointly decide on regulatory measures for the freezing of funds , financial assets or economic gains belonging to , owned or held by natural or legal persons , groups or entities associated with terrorist activities .
the fact that not everything is running smoothly in this regard as yet is beyond question .
that matter has always been an issue of dialogue with our American partners .
finally , I would like to mention Vattenfall .
if the situation takes a turn for the worse , they will face the same disastrous scenario as before , for Russia has not built up a sound , broad-based economic structure with small and medium-sized enterprises , and the consequences of that failure are obvious .
in Scandinavia , for example , domestic heating must be more expensive for all income groups than in southern Europe .
however , the establishment of the pipelines will also require active contribution on the part of the countries involved .
will carbon dioxide reduction goals come within that definition as clean air has heretofore ?
I only differ from the Minister on one point .
the foundations of our relationships are extremely solid .
women 's working lives and their career paths are often hampered by the stereotype of women as weaker , less resistant to stress and likely to become pregnant at any moment , and who , as a result , might take sick leave and other kinds of leave more often than men .
I believe that the debate going on here right now is a little naive .
milk is one of the most important areas of agricultural production .
as these amendments were not adopted we have abstained on this report .
we in the euro area must not penalise the countries that export the most .
when we show openness , we need to require the regime in Belarus to deliver , and they have not delivered the changes and the reforms that they should deliver .
this is where the power grab starts and shame on it .
while this remains the case , we should not be acting as if the Lisbon treaty is already in force .
I think it shows that there is a possibility of us finding a compromise so that we can take a decision on this .
I would like to remind you that there was a common position in 2003 , there was an action plan in 2004 , and there was also an agreement by the European Union on cooperation with the Court in 2006 .
according to Craig Murray , the former British Ambassador to Uzbekistan , it was Usmanov who ordered the cutting off of supplies to Georgia earlier this year .
the Commissioner will be aware that a recent report has shown that , a full 18 months after its introduction in 2007 , only seven Member States have assigned the missing child hotline .
greater stability means more controls , it means intervening promptly and effectively , and it means making the most of competitiveness .
how can we help our economy , then ?
firstly there is food security , which has to be seen in the context of rising prices for basic foodstuffs , especially cereals , and the upsurge in biofuels , along with the need to protect and develop agriculture , although the next European Development Fund - like most of the governments in Africa - has only allocated a small percentage of its budget to this objective .
I would ask our Greek Cypriot and Greek friends in particular to give up their unilateral approach to the Cyprus problem , to be more even-handed , and to reach a comprehensive settlement with the Turks before it is too late .
in writing . - I welcome the outcome of this vote on the 2010 budget .
I would remind the House that two Chechen children died of exhaustion as they attempted to cross into Poland with their mother . in addition to illegal immigrants from Ukraine and Belarus , Poland 's secure centres for refugees contain inmates from Pakistan , Korea and Vietnam .
secondly , the question of Mr Borghezio relates to the decision of the European Court in Strasbourg that the presence of crosses in Italian schools is a breach of the European Convention on the Protection of Human Rights .
reaching compromises with the Council and the Commission at first reading simply should not be the work of this House .
which document or which section would take precedence ?
I know that some Members do not take the issue of gender inequality and related discrimination against women seriously .
the Lisbon Treaty verdict was a victory for truth over the damned lies and myths perpetrated in some cases by extremists on the ' no ' side who tried to take advantage of people 's genuine concerns .
all Member States of the European Union share the humanitarian concerns raised by cluster munitions .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , on behalf of the Commission and of my colleague , Vice-President Wallström , let me thank the rapporteur Mrs Zdravkova for her excellent work .
this situation has resulted from the persistent refusal on the part of the National Health Insurance Office to conduct realistic negotiations with GPs with the aim of drafting an operating framework contract , beneficial to all the stakeholders .
the Stockholm programme may enable us to make progress .
we need to explain the necessity of integration to our citizens .
Madam President , I am rather surprised .
in 2007 , the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna adopted a much more comprehensive programme known as the ' Blue Tuna Catch Documentation Programme ' , which came into force in spring 2008 .
as such , they definitely need to be shared with the developing countries within the framework of existing cooperation .
lifelong learning programmes that give Roma suitable skills for employment and self-employment could be a useful tool in the fight against unemployment .
unfortunately , discussions on this directive have been used not for the first time , to my understanding , to promote internal competition without much consideration being given to the damage caused to the whole of the European Union in terms of outside competition .
Europe is now immersed in a process of great strategic import : the creation of a common area of freedom , security and justice , the development of the Schengen Area and the system of external borders .
how we can remain at the forefront of the development in clean new energy technology is crucially important for our economic future .
we are nonetheless aware that there are companies that have unscrupulously taken advantage of European consumers and that European consumers have suffered in dealing with badly-managed companies let off the hook as a result of inadequate regulation in this area .
the directive lays down harmonised quality standards for the 33 listed substances , so that the basic concept of good water quality is expressed in fixed numerical values based on the best available scientific data and knowledge .
I have already mentioned the April session of the ECOFIN Council to be held informally in Slovenia .
also recently , the Court of Justice in Luxembourg condemned Italy for endangering public health with their illegal waste disposal and their inability to control the collection of waste in Campania .
the Council is aware of the impact of rising prices on European citizens , and their negative effect on the entire European economy .
we will be rejecting the Danjean report and have tabled our own resolution on the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty .
the Commission needs to shoulder its duty and obligation to take the initiative .
I voted in favour of the report .
I cordially invite and expect to see Mr President and all my fellow Members .
in particular , this refers to the Singapore topics , but naturally also to the question of how to integrate TRIPS , as well as similar issues .
it has taken us a long time to hold the debate on Western Sahara in the European Parliament , and I think that we have been too hesitant in our actions and that we act only after there have been fatalities there .
in the end , we managed to get through it , and at the beginning of December I will have the opportunity to go to Poland , where I will tell the Polish President : ' you must keep your promise .
Madam President , of course there is a great deal more to say on this but my time is up , I see , and so I will leave it at that , but not without first thanking my colleagues and the Commission for a very fruitful cooperation .
the instability is frightening the markets and oil prices have already shot through the roof .
we looked at Karni .
it is important that the European Union construct its point of view in exactly this manner .
in these circumstances , then , it is not possible to make a proper evaluation in the interests of workers .
but the truth is that achieving those targets will mean the innovation comes , whether from vans or otherwise , and it will come from consumer demands and manufacturers ' improvements and not just from European legislation .
adult education plays a role here in developing these skills .
many debates on this topic are being conducted in many places , especially in the International Civil Aviation Authority .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , it is appropriate to celebrate the introduction of the common European currency as a success story .
resolving disputes by diplomatic means guarantees equality of treatment between countries .
yet this Parliament could vote for simple and effective measures , such as the designation of lorry parks as Seveso sites and triage at railway transit points for dangerous goods ; imposing a traceability obligation in real time with a system of geographical location of all dangerous goods to ensure that incompatible products are not kept together ; and training in the necessary safety measures for the personnel involved .
first of all , an explicit reminder of the added value of European territorial cooperation and of its potential for increased competitiveness .
the five key elements of the enhanced credit support were fixed rate full allotment , an expansion of the list of collateral , longer maturities for refinancing operations , liquidity provisions in foreign currencies and financial market support through a measured but significant covered bond purchase programme .
these amendments damage not only the report : in the end , they damage the environment that some of the proposals claim to represent .
I agree that when developing future EU investment policy , investor protection must remain the first priority of investment agreements .
today in the European Parliament , all our thoughts are with the victims of terrorism , wherever in the world they died .
the directive addresses both of these , for purposes with which I fully agree .
things have been done .
it deserves recognition for this success .
while there is a long list of recommendations for Member States in this area , the report emphasises the need for greater vigilance against propaganda sites , especially via the Internet , places where preaching sessions are held and the audiovisual media in general .
indeed , in some Member States , the debate is not about where the money is going to be contributed but about the levels of cuts which will be needed to bring the expenditure back into line , as it is in my own country .
I hope the present resolution will initiate changes in the desired direction .
the fraudsters are hiding behind data protection here , for the fact is , Mr Březina , that between 15 % and 20 % of the irregularities have some kind of fraudulent background .
I have always supported the introduction of closer links between judges and the institutional machinery of European judicial cooperation , in order to allow these professionals to follow each stage of the construction of a judicial Europe , thereby helping to consolidate the area of freedom , security and justice and build a European judicial culture .
however , I cannot identify with some of the propositions and proposals , which lean towards giving additional power to the state under the guise of consumer protection .
I would therefore like to thank you for expressing your views and ultimately also for the critical suggestions which you have presented here .
that is why support measures must be maintained , including the timely payment of aid .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( SL ) By way of introduction I would like to emphasise that the challenge of immigration requires a comprehensive approach .
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we have got to start having delivery , and , every day until that happens , you have to consider yourself a failure .
with the looming economic crisis , the Roma may be able to help solve some of Europe 's deepest problems .
the European Regional Development Fund , the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund have proved to be effective and extremely useful instruments for territorial development and for tackling the consequences of the economic crisis which has afflicted Europe and the world for some time now .
however , we really need a Europe capable of adding value in order to correct global abuses and injustices at source .
it reiterates and tightens the veritable stranglehold imposed on the Member States , without a care for the causes of the problems , or for alternative policies that take into account economies ' different levels of development .
legal reform is crucial .
I am thinking , here , of financial support for young people and support for programmes related to the mobility of students and academic staff .
I would like to call on Mrs Geoghegan-Quinn to evaluate the study which is being drawn up very carefully .
that is precisely what we expect from our relationship with the people of the US and with US policy , and we would like the Commission and the Council to place greater emphasis on this .
Turkey has tried in the past to carry out reforms .
my decision to abstain on Amendment 54 is based upon opposing the EU 's Free Movement of People and the principle of mutual recognition , and not in any way a reflection on my views regarding same-sex partnerships , which I agree should enjoy the same rights as others .
the protection of consumers referred to in the regulations discussed in Malcolm Harbour 's report is very closely connected with proper allocation of the digital dividend , which consumers are awaiting .
the Commission 's proposals on improving economic governance are of the highest importance for the future of the EU and for economic growth .
that is why it is so important to look for answers at a European level , which is , after all , what we are doing here .
I would have welcomed an honest appraisal from you of the lack of equality for women in the European institutions , because then you would have realised the importance of these quotas .
I shall vote against the report , however , to express my bitter regret that the Committee on International Trade is not seeking to give itself the means to keep to social and environmental targets worthy of the name .
( DE ) Mr President , rapporteur , Commissioner , I should like to say to the rapporteur that I am grateful for his expertise , for his attention to detail so as to ensure that unwanted problems do not arise , and for his parliamentary approach to the debate .
the recent natural disasters afflicting the world highlight the pressing need for rapid and effective response mechanisms to reduce their disastrous social , economic and cultural impact on affected regions .
he draws attention to many issues which should take priority in our work and in particular to gaining the confidence of citizens , both consumers and business people , in the internal market .
( DE ) Madam President , Mr Oettinger , the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) strongly supports the move to free small and medium-sized businesses from the menace of business directories , which allegedly provide a service for these companies , but which ultimately do not have any real consequences except invoices .
the next item is the recommendation for second reading on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs , on Common Consular Instructions : biometric identifiers and visa applications ( 05329 / 1 / 2009 - C6-0088 / 2009 - Rapporteur : Baroness Ludford .
( SK ) As far as the regions are concerned , given that their role in the legislative process means that they are often directly responsible for implementing and enforcing EU law , the efforts to achieve better regulation are extremely important .
this joint declaration ' is based on common principles and approaches and designed to encourage concerted and coordinated action within the EU and with other actors and thus improve the collective response to humanitarian crises ' .
such it would become if it should decide on how long financial assistance should last .
Madam President , in this debate on the Hungarian constitution , we have , in fact , been having two debates .
that will lead to increased social tension and more struggles to protect social and labour rights and to prevent increased exploitation .
we cannot forget that youth unemployment figures are overwhelming throughout Europe .
as it happens the trade unions in Belarus are rather weak , so , from this point of view , Lukashenko could seem quite a positive figure , as he does not have anyone to fight against , since they have not yet managed to create trades unions there .
we started at the beginning of the year and we are finishing with the Belgian Presidency .
Mr President-in-Office of the Council , you made a reference to coastal patrol ; are you and the Council aware of the fact that there is only an occasional inspector on duty at the harbours and airports of the Atlantic coast in the west of Ireland ?
we hope , too , that Parliament will be swiftly informed about this .
yes , I have actually found all the main achievements of the Constitution on which I myself have been working for more than 10 years and I could well be fortunate .
I cannot arrive at any other explanation for occurrences such as the announcement of the continuing construction of settlements .
in particular , regarding this last point , SMEs and business development are already one of the strategic sectors .
it was dominated by the left , which is why the call for greater balance in media reporting in transitional societies is perfectly normal .
the vote will take place tomorrow at 12 noon .
could I ask , in particular , for consistency in how the Commission deals with citizens ?
another reserve will serve to demand that the Commission go back to its own figure of 87 .
finally , let me say a word to Prime Minister Reinfeldt and the Swedish Presidency .
it is not possible for us to only have men in the four major positions of responsibility in Europe .
we raised the issue of Orissa at the last human rights dialogue in February , asking the authorities to prevent such violence .
in this connection , the various ' cards ' that are being considered should also be rejected .
in fact , the opposite is true : we are developing new plans before the old ones have been implemented .
my report states that this agreement will form a new basis for development cooperation : we are helping them to help themselves .
it is the job of our politicians ' to encourage citizens to take an interest in the European Union , to make it more understandable and accessible and to involve them in decision making .
- ( EL ) Mr President , I sincerely believe that having access to information and services relating to sexual and reproductive health protects women from AIDS , if anything .
( LT ) Madam President , I would like to react to the misinformation provided by Mr Tomaševski during the debate this morning .
I particularly welcomed the passage on decentralised generation , especially where it said , ' We must ensure that power is returned to the people through support for local and micro generation ' .
of course , this depends on the demand in the market for other forms of collateral .
more than 7 800 representatives of the people have found that the Treaty is good and that it represents progress .
I should first like to point out that , during the Belgian Presidency , the importance of the implementation of Article 9 and hence of the cross-section clause has been referred to so often .
in Malaysia , over 10 000 people suffer from this form of corporal punishment every year .
we know that there is a continual threat of terrorism throughout the world .
( PL ) Mr President , I am very pleased that men , too , are speaking today , although , as can be seen , we are in the minority .
Cambodia , in particular the case of Sam Rainsy (
I should particularly like to emphasise the setting of new priorities in social integration .
I would also say that we must undoubtedly , openly and urgently tackle those responsible for the poor construction work that caused neighbouring buildings to react differently .
he says ' European integration is not working , so let us have more European integration ! '
the Community mechanism for rural development and the European Regional Development Fund offer the facility to support national prevention measures .
dates of forthcoming sittings : see Minutes
does it believe more should be done in Europe to protect them ?
we have to add a few more finishing touches here in the next few days .
I was therefore pleased that there was an opportunity for a compromise within the framework of which we can set the limit for creating political parties higher than at present but lower than planned .
I voted in favour of the resolution on the Single Euro Payments Area ( SEPA ) which aims to promote the creation of an integrated market for services involving payments in euro , which will involve effective competition and in which there will be no difference between payments in national or foreign euro .
in this respect , I welcome the release of funds to the World Food Programme .
waste recycling ( vote )
I believe that the key to ending this lies in southern Africa .
FYROM should rise to the challenge and show that it is ready to fulfil all the Copenhagen criteria , on the basis of which its ambitions to become a member of the EU should be assessed .
the only institution which really has the means to protect the financial interest of the EU is the European Parliament .
the vote will take place shortly .
there is , however , a downside to that role , especially the Belgian Presidency 's lack of political leadership on some really critical dossiers .
for his parents , Edna and Tom , in Cork in Ireland , who mourn his passing and who will never recover from his loss , the only hope they can hold on to is that James is no longer with us but that , owing to his generosity , others have lived .
there cannot be some laws for the traditional peoples of Europe and others for immigrants .
in Romania 's case , unemployment in any country of the European Union accelerates the rate of unemployment in our emerging economy at double the speed .
if the promised aid has the desired effect , the situation whereby villages in Lesser Poland are inhabited solely by older people caring for their grandchildren whose parents feel that the only opportunity open to them is to seek work abroad may become less common .
in writing . - I voted for this report for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the installation , location , operation and identification of the controls of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors ( codified text ) .
Mr Schmidt and Mr Musacchio made points about the existing label business models , but we are not endorsing the existing label business models .
this communication addresses the issue of the research and development ( R & D ) phase of a pre-commercial product .
Parliament 's report refers to the CIA prisons that might have been located in American military bases in Europe . entire squadrons of UFOs might have landed on Parliament 's courtyard this evening .
secondly , it is our duty as Members of the European Parliament to question the use of the financial resources that the European Union provided for relevant programmes .
President Prodi said a good deal when unveiling the neighbourhood policy ; he talked about everything apart from the institutions .
the creation of an Open Aviation Area will bring economic benefits for both parties .
this is setting a course straight for bankruptcy .
however , the text does not respect the principle of equal treatment for bluefin tuna fishermen in the European Union .
here we have a European Parliament report and resolution which , despite containing certain mystifying elements , are essential reading .
in writing . - I voted for the joint motion for a resolution on ' Getting a grip on energy prices ' .
as stated in the resolution , even though Europe must continue giving priority to the international trading system , that is , the Doha Development Round negotiations , the current negotiations with Canada can usefully complement this international approach with a bilateral approach , which is equally necessary .
some countries , my own included , waited anxiously outside .
we need a uniform approach in order to remain internationally competitive .
what is more , the list of topics for harmonisation also contains some social norms .
I hope that on Wednesday this Parliament will put a stop to these intentions on the part of the Council .
the common security policy must therefore be strengthened in order to give the Union a key role on the international geopolitical scene , a role which is distinct but not distant from that of NATO .
for that to happen , however , the European Union has to pay more attention to safeguarding quality , traditional and certified products , so that they can be protected internationally to avoid fraud on foreign markets involving products that have been falsely attributed to our countries .
however , our four funds , the Refugee Fund , the Return Fund , the External Borders Fund and the Integration Fund , total almost EUR 3 billion within the scope of the financial perspectives .
in writing . - ( SV ) We have chosen to vote in favour of the report on sanctions against employers of illegally staying third-country nationals .
in short , we believe that we must pursue the objectives of this strategy and , within it , the objectives of the 2010-2012 action plan , so that the broad areas for action are translated into 15 specific actions , which were also proposed by the Commission , in order to lay the groundwork for introducing electric vehicles .
that aside , in terms of the political conflict , we shall leave that to the UN and we urge both parties to resume negotiations .
extra funding must be spent under agriculture and in the rural economy to support small farmers and people active in rural areas .
there should be a constant budget for this because honesty does not cost a penny , just a little political effort .
the objective is for the CFP to enter into force , with the new reform , on 1 January 2013 .
it is deeply flawed to put tigers , polar bears , elephants and tuna on equal terms .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , European producers often lose out in bilateral trade agreements and have been damaged by the liberalisation of import regulations .
therefore I voted against the report
in this regard , and in terms of moving the negotiations on the CAP forward , when does the Commission expect to be in a position to reveal the detailed proposals of the next multi-financial framework and the allocation of the CAP budget ?
the catastrophic accident in Japan a few weeks ago makes it clear to those who had not already realised that you do not trifle with nuclear energy : whenever one has anything to do with the atom , safety criteria must be applied with the utmost rigour , and the Commission must therefore take responsibility for monitoring the progress of the dismantling programmes of the old power stations in the three ex-communist countries .
moreover , we need to send a positive message to those countries in the region where , due to various external and internal factors , the timetable for accession is still uncertain .
just now , I want to dwell on one specific article of the new draft , which we have already talked about : Article 24 of the Treaty on European Union .
I therefore urge the Commission to give it the attention it deserves and , based on it , to present legislative proposals and adopt procedures to put them into practice .
but , let us be clear , even these very difficult negotiations in the Middle East are based on the design already structured during our delegation 's visit to the Middle East .
without ' green economic growth ' , a digital market , establishing a common innovative capacity and the true development of European education , the Union has no potential for renewal .
this happened first - and most recently - in September 2010 , and I think Mr Van Rompuy will do the same in the course of this year .
I therefore ask the European Council to consider this subject on 29 and 30 November .
theirs is an extremely interesting piece of work and it will help us , and the Swedish Presidency , to provide a definitive version of this Stockholm Programme .
thus we remain committed to the political process , the mission to create the bases for a Palestinian State and to supporting the economic development of the Palestinian territories .
I congratulate you sincerely on this convincing result .
Member States also clearly have a key role in cancer prevention , diagnosis and treatment amongst their citizens and must learn from each other in order to combat the disease .
I am thinking of China , for example .
in August of last year , the Belarusian Government announced it was outlawing overseas visits after one child refused to return home following a trip abroad .
however , if we consider the environmental benefit , and what it means for European industry to play a leading role , we see that it is also very important for jobs .
these are priorities that also put the 2011 budget at the service of the EU 's external interventionism ; of the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy ; of militarism and war ; of policies that criminalise immigration ; of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union .
the people answered ' yes ' with a two-thirds majority and with a higher turnout than last time .
so the framework decision - adopted by a substantial majority in this House on 29 November - on combating certain forms of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law is very necessary indeed .
this is something we can collectively be proud of , and I want to work with this Parliament to make a forceful European contribution to this international debate .
my party in Portugal , the Democratic and Social Centre - People 's Party , has always argued strongly for a national dementia plan so that people suffering this type of disease can be monitored by qualified people , and in a way that is dignified and humane .
I am a little sceptical about what the proposed solution is supposed to achieve .
today in Brussels we have farmers and hauliers protesting at the high price of fuel .
this , however , is just the beginning .
I hope that , in future , no one will be surprised if a man does the washing up or a woman drives a school bus , as I have just mentioned .
for this reason , apart from Member States ' efforts to become actively involved in promoting policies aimed at making energy consumption more efficient , there must also be coordination at Community level in order to achieve much better results .
the economic impacts of this step are considerable , and will be further multiplied by the high long-term costs for the complete decommissioning of these facilities .
the European Union must invest , as a priority , in creating and preserving jobs in education , health care , agriculture and transport and energy infrastructures .
it talks about the expected quantities of oil , gas , minerals , forests and fish that the EU will be able to exploit in the near future .
therefore , it is essential that this process continues and I welcome the reiteration of the firm commitment to the Western Balkan countries in the report .
we voted in favour of this motion for a resolution , since we are aware that neurodegenerative diseases , such as Alzheimer 's and Parkinson 's , affect more than seven million people living in the countries of the European Union .
I think that , in a country in which parties are routinely banned , it is no longer possible to talk of democracy .
it is therefore necessary to mobilise more funds in the Community budget .
China sponsors genocide in Darfur , genocide against religious groups in China , and now genocide in Tibet .
( loud applause )
if these firms were able to hire just one additional person , the UK 's severe unemployment problem would , in large part , be solved .
but why ?
I understand that the rapporteur agrees with this oral amendment .
on 1 April 2008 - next year - another 0.5 % will be added to the increase in the quota allocated to 11 Member States .
I should therefore also like to ask you , even in the election year of 2009 , to take stock of which of the priorities of recent years were practical and implemented , and to involve citizens in developing a communications strategy on this .
EU trade agreement with Colombia and Peru (
thank you , Mr Swoboda .
it will also enable Ukraine to take part in certain areas of the European Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development and enable training to take place through mobility programmes for researchers and specialists from both sides , among other things .
ladies and gentlemen , this is exactly what we have done , with you all , these last six months .
today , after careful consideration , I voted in favour of the revised SWIFT agreement .
( DE ) Mr President , I am afraid that I am going to be the person to pour cold water on this .
you must be constructive , yet be considerate to the countries which have yet to ratify .
( explanation of vote abbreviated under Rule 163 ( 1 ) )
others want to postpone the decision .
any new agreement needs to be subordinated to fundamental principles such as a strict limitation of exchanges to necessary counter-terrorism purposes and a European authority has to ensure judicial oversight and respect for fundamental rights requirements under EU law .
reports coming out of Belarus of arbitrary arrests of members of civil society and opposition activists , of the use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrators and of repression of independent media journalists are evidence of practices which should , and must , be terminated immediately .
can I not have equal treatment ?
I would like to thank you for the many good debates , the enjoyable times and the very good cooperation that I have enjoyed with the Members of the European Parliament and with you , Mr President .
military interventions - and Afghanistan , unfortunately , is a very current example of this - bring suffering , death and prolonged devastation , but no peace and no improvement in the situation as far as the resident population is concerned .
( SL ) I would like to be able to say that the number of divorces in Europe is declining .
the answer is that in the European Council , the institution headed up by you , it is not the Community method , community spirit and shared objectives that determine what is discussed and agreed , but rather that national tactical interests ultimately play a greater role than common European interests .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
the domination of Gazprom in the energy sector will lead to another increase in energy prices in Europe .
as concerns training personnel , it is proposed to create a European diplomatic college .
she received a form on which there were some errors .
there is something really wrong with the economic policy of the European Union , as farmers receive less than 10 % of the value of their products .
as I said in the guidelines , this requires a root-and-branch reform of the European Union budget covering the expenditure and revenue side .
the fact that the policy pursued by the Iranian Government is in conflict with international law was recently highlighted by the UN High Commissioner .
I believe that is now happening .
we could say that if Article 136 - that is , the permanent crisis mechanism - is invoked , the Commission will automatically be able to start this procedure , and that the Council will not be able to block this with a reversed qualified majority .
the distribution of the Structural Funds should also be made public .
I welcome the dialogue which is taking place between the authorities and the opposition ; it is a progressive sign .
the picture for payments , however , continues to be mixed .
I would like to thank you once again for your support , especially Ms Paliadeli and the shadow rapporteurs for this excellent cooperation we had , and I am looking forward to the final adoption of this important initiative in the near future .
the EU must be consolidated as a strong and credible player on the international stage , and to do this , we have to move towards an unequivocal message to promote our values , such as democracy and human rights , in our foreign relations , but also in the pursuit of our interests , such as those connected with energy security .
this is the aim of Amendments 12 , 13 and 14 , ( first part ) , which the Commission endorses .
globalisation , and the accompanying free flow of information , is opening the eyes of the citizens of these regimes .
I believe that , if we all want this , it absolutely can be possible , because it would be very disappointing if our ideas and common sense were to be blocked by bureaucracy .
if these are described , then we can also conclude that there are areas where we also need an External Energy Representative .
the choice is between short-term sacrifice and the collapse of the stock .
the problem is partly due to inappropriate nutrition and partly to a sedentary lifestyle that does not involve any physical effort . certain features of our civilisation , notably stress , play their part too .
I therefore voted in favour .
however , it is good that the Council did not succeed in weakening the provisions .
before the vote :
a premeditated attack on Chechnya 's material culture is currently taking place , damaging Chechen culture , which is hundreds of years older than Russia 's .
the Council did not order anyone to carry on with ratification .
during this time the Union has not in practice had any real policy regarding the countries of the South Caucasus .
Jihadism is neither economically inspired nor capable of vying with other religions - it is an ideology aimed at destroying other ideologies .
in the debate on the wages of men and women , for example , we have been saying year after year that there is still a sizeable difference , even though the principle of ' equal pay for equal work ' was laid down in the Treaty of Rome already back in 1957 .
so what should Europe do in relation to Russia ?
by promoting and then abandoning local markets , like a passing tornado , it is destroying the real economies and reaping profits with no real investment .
the downside of austerity measures , which will put hardworking people out of public sector jobs , must be turned into an upside for start-up companies , taking advantage of entrepreneurial spirit by reducing start-up costs for businesses so that they can create the profitable private sector that is required to dig all of our countries out of the holes we now find ourselves in .
I should have talked at more length about the European energy policy .
in this House there is a kind of reverential respect for the European Central Bank .
it is our intention to revise air passenger rights in 2012 .
it is a pity this has not been done and that transparency in this material has been a little forced .
the milk crisis made it clear that measures to restrict production are needed in the milk sector .
if the Member States did not implement this exemption for micro-enterprises in a uniform way - which is highly likely - this would lead to a fragmentation of the common market .
I therefore agree with you and the Vice-President of the Commission that we need to insist that the fight against poverty - whatever the criteria - and reducing poverty must remain our goals .
we must be able to give answers to the citizens who want to see us take action to combat the financial crisis and on climate issues .
the umpteenth massacre is taking place and is in danger of turning into genocide if we do not urgently adopt immediate , tangible measures .
for instance , airBaltic seats passengers in the aircraft and , later , while they are in the air , it turns out that the aircraft has technical problems , as a result of which it makes an emergency landing .
( DE ) Madam President , we need to achieve greater efficiency between the European Regional Development Fund ( ERDF ) and the other structural funds .
the key question we must ask ourselves , in the face of growing mental health problems , is : why is it getting worse , particularly in the face of suicide ?
the Joint Parliamentary Assembly ( JPA ) convened twice in 2009 , the year in which the Commission and the African , Caribbean and Pacific ( ACP ) group of states made proposals for the second revision of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement to be negotiated during 2010 .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Mr President , obesity is one of Europe 's greatest health challenges , but some may say what has it got to do with us here in the European Parliament ?
in writing . - ( RO ) The European Commission proposal for a Directive on Consumer Rights merges four existing directives into a single legislative instrument , with the aim of simplifying and completing the existing consumer protection regulatory framework .
why cannot these wise people - yes I agree they should not be looking at institutional reform - why cannot they look at delivery , that we actually deliver what Europe promises , and then we will begin to make the reconnection with the citizens that is so often talked about .
I agree with the rapporteur that copyright protection is not a priority here .
this has not yet been stated in as many words , but the directive does refer to our common policy .
this resolution forms part of a package of five resolutions , adopted today by the majority in Parliament , which shows the clearest possible contempt for the democratically and sovereignly expressed will of the French , Dutch and Irish peoples .
in accordance with the January decisions of the General Affairs and External Relations Council , the Commission is discussing visa liberalisation with all the countries of the region .
the ratification process is still ahead of us and will demand everything of us , indeed , of us all .
the proposed text , which I endorse , should make European citizens ' lives much easier when it comes to maintenance obligations , and should help creditors recover their debts .
we must find an open and constructive procedure on the next financial framework .
( applause )
every change , however , must go through an approval process , as health and safety is involved .
if you had raised any issue at all - including the weather in Ireland - I would have discussed that with you as well .
the debate is closed .
the programme would have to be obligatory for it to have any impact at all .
in many countries , the only binding definition is a general one , which does not mention gender discrimination .
the report is praiseworthy not only because it satisfies the UN 's harmonisation programme ; it seems coherent , addressing the needs of producers and consumers , as well as the environment of course , in so far as this is objectively possible .
however , I cannot support the use of the passerelle in Article 67 ( 2 ) , indent 2 , of the EC Treaty as suggested by Mr Coelho .
as a mother myself , my primary concern in food is safety and transparency .
unfortunately , the 400 representatives from local and regional authorities mentioned that it is not known at local and regional level that all Member States have the opportunity to use 4 % of the European Regional Development Fund allocation at national level for energy efficiency in buildings .
one might wonder , however , if this procedure will not result in a certain kind of overlap .
put the Lisbon Treaty to a referendum : Pactio Olisipiensis censenda est .
I think that these are questions we must ask ourselves before we put forward proposals to this effect .
European Parliament elections should become more democratic .
it is regrettable that , despite Parliament 's demands , the Commission has not taken steps to create a European civil protection force , and I welcome the action of my friend Mr Barnier , who has long been proposing this facility .
according to the recent epidemiological data available , only half of the people suffering from this disease have been identified at the moment .
first of all , the amendments to which you refer , namely Amendments 7 , 8 and 9 , are directly related to the text which they intend to modify .
the vote will take place on 19 February 2008 .
will the Council be addressing this issue at the summit ?
we need to make sure that our objectives remain ambitious so that an international agreement is signed which will motivate the developing countries sufficiently to follow our example .
there is no evidence to suggest that a common consolidated corporate tax base will address issues such as competitiveness , compliance costs for companies , transfer pricing and so on .
poverty means one thing in the United Kingdom and another in Bulgaria .
for this reason , the Commission is committed to discussing in a constructive spirit Parliament 's concern as expressed over the last few weeks .
it is essential to take this fact into account when considering health strategy . accordingly , I believe that the strategic plan should be considered in conjunction with methods of financing public healthcare in the Member States .
I voted in favour of this report as I believe that in the current crisis situation , Parliament and the rest of the EU institutions should act with responsibility and self-restraint , using rigorous budgetary management processes to promote the optimisation of resources and to make savings .
please understand my response , Mr Leichtfried , as a gesture , a desire to offer you a clarification .
is it the wish of the House that Mr Bloom should leave ?
you are right to say that we must avoid any kind of storage that might subsequently lead to uses that are unacceptable in terms of our fundamental rights .
( FR ) Mr President , Mr Rehn , as you know , there are two ways to reduce deficits .
the time has come to combat stereotypes that have taken root in society .
bilateral or interregional negotiations on ambitious free-trade agreements are becoming a necessary addition to the multilateral framework , especially since the failure of the negotiations in July .
now our hunting traditions can live on .
in spite of the fact that the European Union is on average relatively effective in producing energies from these conventional sources , some Member States could do still much more in the area of introducing and supporting new , more effective technologies and developing new , more effective cooperation units .
however , I believe that the solution in Libya must come from a cessation of violence and through diplomatic channels .
now , the public funds that were not available for social policy , for combating poverty and social exclusion , and for preventing millions of people , including children , from dying of hunger and lack of basic health care , now , I repeat , public funds are being used to avoid bankruptcies and greater losses among financial groups .
we can rely on the extraordinary capability of all its institutions , particularly this Parliament .
the development of industrial production and , by extension , the creation of jobs in the EU requires investment in modernising European companies so that these developments can lead to greener production .
instead of backing appeasement , we should back the legitimate Iranian Opposition .
it was not clear that the same service would be guaranteed for everyone .
the PLC has admitted its transgressions , but Israel on this issue and on the recent Dubai assassination must cease to be so arrogant and recognise the justified concern of sensible decent people throughout the world .
this situation has a negative impact on competition and on the activities of small and medium-sized enterprises . it also contributes to the expansion of illegal trade .
in addition , the following third countries are participating : Croatia , Serbia , Bosnia and Herzegovina , Montenegro , Moldova and Ukraine .
what we need is to leave the European Union and regain control of our borders .
the highly repressive nature of this act will above all impact on independent journalists and publishers .
I also thank the Commissioner for a particularly sound staff working paper for Accra .
IAs can thus make a significant contribution to better law making .
this is why we are asking the Commission to incorporate one of our proposals which is essential for the GSP + to continue acting as an incentive .
first and foremost , we must prevent distortions of the internal market .
this applies to the United States , Japan , the G8 and the OECD countries .
we need to create a form of European cooperation that is capable of meeting the challenge presented by a Europe made up of different religions .
it is imperative , therefore , that it be a bank which is completely transparent and which shows how it operates , and that it does so in absolutely every detail and particular .
setting mandatory and ambitious limits which are also realistic will pose a challenge to the innovative potential of the European automotive industry .
this summit is not , however , just another summit , Mrs Ashton .
Commissioner , in these recommendations , we ask the Commission for detailed information on the budget lines used and planned in the cooperation with Libya .
the fact that they will now have a right to social protection will doubtless improve their material status , morale and drive to work .
I think it is deeply unfair .
it is vital to improve the conceptual framework of standards , and to bear in mind that they are neither neutral nor academic and can produce both winners and losers .
you suggest that storage costs should be covered as well .
why , then , this drastic amendment of the rules on the formation of political groups ?
first of all , I would like to express my solidarity with , and my sympathy for , the victims , particularly those who are helping and risking their lives to halt and ward off this disaster .
the automobile sector , which is currently going through a difficult period , should receive support to start mass production of these kinds of vehicles .
I think it is a clear indication of how much we , at European Union level , put in with regard to treating people first , ensuring that the people are at the core of what the policies are , trying to ensure that their lives are protected and , when there is trouble or difficulty , that the European Union can respond quickly .
we have proposed some important pieces of legislation on economic governance .
the rapporteur has found a climate of anticipation accompanying this legislative initiative and has imbued his report with a highly accessible and truly interesting format .
I am very grateful that you are all so dedicated to making the language really understandable and close to the citizens .
( it ) The next item is the debate on
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( SL ) Permit me first one general thought .
the school years are a period of dynamic growth in children and young people and of rapid biological development and maturation .
that is why I welcome the fact that Parliament , the Council and the Commission have , at the first reading , agreed to a quick extension of the deadlines for the Biocides Directive , until - I think , Commissioner , - 2014 .
there you have it ; I am grateful to Parliament and to Mr Busuttil for his cooperation .
there is a highly aberrant and dangerous position included in the report which , on the one hand , talks about the security interests of the EU while , on the other , criticising Russia for defending its own perfectly legitimate security interests in the Caucasus .
however , we would appreciate it if there was more than simply a formal statement and the institutions cooperated to help rectify the particular example that I have just mentioned .
with regard to surveillance and product marking , the possibility of revising the General Product Safety Directive in the next five years is , in my view , essential , as are the insistence on rules for national marking and the call for a study of European marking .
the Charter of Fundamental Rights that we proclaim today symbolises the momentous journey towards a Union of the people of Europe which we have been making together over the past fifty years .
taking the above background into consideration , the resolution proposed by the Group of the European People 's Party and European Democrats provides a balance of criticisms of Russia with hopes for a warmer diplomatic climate , fortified with principles reflecting our system of values .
I hope that Commissioner Dimas , the Commission , the Council and all the great and good in the European Union will take this opinion of the European Parliament into consideration . it has been expressed here in a clear and transparent manner .
Member of the Commission . - I should like to thank the honourable Member , Mr Gklavakis , for the important question he has raised , thereby providing me with the opportunity to express my position concerning this crucial issue and also to touch on the reform being prepared in this area .
however , there is at least one possible explanation I can offer .
we appeal for her to be given a fair trial .
also , I believe that the budget for 2008 as a whole represents a balanced compromise between , on the one hand , the need to ensure the necessary budgetary discipline and solid financial management and , on the other hand , our duty to meet the expectations of European citizens .
this is , after all , only proper management of fisheries agreements and it will not undermine relative stability , given that Article 13 ( 6 ) of the proposal states the following : ' transmission of applications in accordance with this article shall not in any way affect the future allocation of fishing opportunities amongst Member States . '
we want agreement by Christmas .
the health and sanitation situation on the island has exceeded all limits of decency .
as we all know and accept , children are the most valuable thing we have and , as you quite rightly said , Commissioner , they are the most vulnerable members of society .
for example , in December 2008 , the Commission adopted a communication , ' Towards an EU Strategy on Invasive Species ' .
we would have preferred her to hurry out there to do her job .
European Community legislation has breathed a lot of fresh air into those quasi-government structures and there has been a great deal of change in the space of surprisingly few years .
I want to finish with some remarks on the proposed amendment to the Regulation establishing the European Railway Agency .
that makes it even more urgent to be true and bold , transparent and to have courage .
we cannot allow the UK 's vital national interests to be compromised by the ICC but , at the same time , we should also recognise that in certain circumstances , the ICC may have a constructive role to play in ending a climate of impunity for genocidal dictators .
the peer review system is critical for the scientific community as it is an important quality control mechanism and can influence scientific careers .
in writing . - ( FR ) I am glad we have secured a balanced agreement with the Council .
I propose that we start discussing these issues in the trialogue that we will have this afternoon .
these two countries ' path to joining NATO should be irreversible , and the years 2008-2009 should become significant in recording progress in this direction , both from the two countries and from NATO .
but one important contributing factor - inappropriate plantation forestry - was encouraged by EU funding over the last couple of decades and for this reason deserves your close scrutiny .
Moldova has been making efforts in recent years to move ever closer towards European standards of freedom , democracy and good governance .
the Treaty , the new Treaty for Europe .
( PL ) Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to speak . I would like to come back to what is , in my opinion , a fundamental matter .
for this reason , I support the establishment of this programme and the provision of contact points and emergency telephone lines for reporting the existence of this kind of content and also the development of common ' child safe ' labelling for web pages .
I emphasise the fact that this programme should be implemented in line with the objectives for academic excellence and with a balanced geographical representation , avoiding certain European countries being underrepresented as well as avoiding an overrepresentation of Asian students to the detriment , for instance , of students from Mediterranean or ACP countries .
I think it is a disgrace if Europe 's Member States in the world 's richest region cannot agree on specific targets for reducing poverty .
precisely because alcohol and the moderate consumption of alcohol are important components of our European culture - and that should remain the case and nor should it be criticised - we must give particular priority to raising awareness about alcohol consumption during pregnancy .
at last the Commission is listening to what Parliament has been calling for over the last number of years .
they want to be able to make their choice without hindrance and without any obstacles arising from a lack of competition .
Madam President , I am also very grateful to Mr Busuttil for his excellent report .
on the contrary , humanitarian and emergency aid to the occupied Palestinian territory , including Gaza , has reached unprecedented levels .
my fellow Members of this House have helped to make it possible to achieve this agreement so quickly , and I thank you all for that and for all the shadow rapporteurs and myself being able to reach agreement with the Council .
that is why we are gearing this policy programme not only to free up the 800 MHz band , but also to free up additional bands amounting to at least 1 200 MHz by 2015 .
a pro-European , integrated Moldova would have a beneficial effect on the EU 's eastern frontier , where weak governance and unsolved conflicts are a continuous threat to European stability .
as an MEP representing Northern Germany , I am aware of the potential of biogas as an important and versatile form of biomass energy produced by agriculture .
subject : agreements with Andean Community countries
in the last decade , there has been an increase in the number of difficulties surrounding the future security of oil supply in the EU .
this proposal sends an important signal to all that the euro area will withstand pressure with self-confidence , and sustainable economic and fiscal policies will bring fruit for Member States .
there are more important things , for example the issue of the accounts from which Mr Solana 's travel is financed .
Europe 's women scientists undoubtedly contribute to this process .
we will then , as the Council quite rightly points out , be able to consider intelligently what the consequences should be .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner Verheugen , ladies and gentlemen , I have a few words of warning to say about this compromise , which was achieved very quickly - astonishingly quickly , in fact .
another obstacle to logistics is the restriction on these 60-tonne vehicles .
why are we here if we are not allowed to be accountable to our voters , constituents and taxpayers over the money that they give us in good faith to spend , through the Commission , on international development ?
I do not wish to repeat every element from this communication , but I would like to expand on a few examples .
( applause )
we just need to move .
over the past few years , European budgets and the economy have been incurring multiple debts .
we must be frank in sharing this and try to engage in constructive consultation .
the EU must enhance its role as a proactive actor when it comes to promoting human rights , and so I am pleased that the Council has taken the initiative in incorporating human rights into EU policy .
I think that by using the negotiating position of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy , we should press for the subject of human rights defenders to be included in talks with Iran as a matter of urgency .
well I am afraid I am stuck for an answer .
I hope that the Presidency will continue its stout defence of liberalisation together with the elimination of trade barriers and protectionism .
such unprecedented disasters highlight the need to uncover the true causes , to identify those responsible and to halt this ongoing crime against humanity .
I would like to thank all of you for your support and positive expectations linked to the citizens ' initiative .
( SK ) Madam President , I would like to begin by applauding the effort of the Turkish administration to approximate its political structures to a European value system .
this subsequently led to an extremely serious nuclear accident in the Fukushima nuclear power station .
carbon leakage is not a case where if we do things , we risk losing jobs .
Romania and Bulgaria should join this circle soon - at least that is my hope .
Russia 's adherence to the G8 summit call for sanctions was very encouraging and I welcome the Council 's comments on the strengthening of sanctions by a number of countries .
moreover , these resources should be topped up to create other jobs in these regions besides those in tobacco production .
personally , when I read ' Turkmenistan report ' , I actually read ' Nabucco report ' because , at the end of the day , we are interested in the energy , in the gas of this third biggest gas-producing country in the world .
statements by the President
long-term funding is important .
I welcome the incoming Presidency and would like to express the hope that as the third member of the Council troika , Sweden will continue the work which was started during the Czech and French Presidencies in the area of Roma social integration .
it is a good and useful thing that we can talk , because I do now accept the need for Article 186 to be brought into place so that we can get this money direct to the producers as fast as we possibly can .
in the context of the forthcoming EU-India Summit it would be appropriate to make holding the talks conditional on clear commitments by the Indian authorities . the latter should undertake to immediately implement all possible measures to halt the persecution of Christians and to ensure that those responsible for such actions are punished .
firstly , I would like to show my appreciation of the work of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs .
18 .
this broader geographical coverage represents an opportunity , as programmes currently funded under the ICI Regulations can now be extended to other countries .
fourthly , I want an assurance from the Commission that a transparent , independent investigation will be set up to establish the facts of what went wrong .
the risk of spreading pathogens by importing or bringing animals from other countries into the European Union must be minimised .
we need to improve synergies between tax and development policies and assist developing countries in building better tax systems and administrations .
all enquiries and complaints are answered directly and speedily and , depending on the facts of the matter , can lead to treaty infringement proceedings .
the agreement was concluded despite objections by the Baltic States and comments by Russian generals about the potential of these ships , which was lacking in the war with Georgia .
we need cooperation between universities , hospitals and so on in Europe .
and bargaining is going to keep him busy , but while he is busy bargaining , the others are going to bargain at Copenhagen .
at the same time , this will help to stem the demographic decline of recent decades .
voting time
conversely the Commission acknowledges that , up to now , local management within the 12-mile zone has generally been successful ; there is a lesson there .
the confidentiality of mail is one of the last bastions we have so far been able to protect .
we also need to mobilise and review current instruments so as to assist social , political and economic reforms , and strengthen cooperation with civil society organisations , inasmuch as events in Egypt and other countries have highlighted the need for policies and instruments that are more ambitious .
democracy is based on people 's freely expressed desire .
I do not want to see companies reallocating and emitting in countries without carbon constraints .
we must not forget that the European Union budget objectives are different .
in order for the coming generations to be able to overcome the current gap between acquired skills and the needs of the market , I therefore believe it to be essential for preschool teaching to be of high quality as an instrument for early acquisition of essential skills .
attempts to improve the international financial system , at Basel Committee , G20 and European Union level , seem to me to be of no use at all .
Madam President , my region of south-west England is blessed with a particular blend of climate and landscape which produces good grazing and excellent beef .
Europe does not only bear a certain responsibility , being one of the main contributors to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions , but also has a particular interest in the Arctic , since it will have to deal with the consequences of the changes taking place there , from environmental and climate change issues to the geopolitics of shipping routes and security of supply of resources .
I am convinced that , in this spirit , you can pave the way for the emergence of a balanced solution , soon .
any reform made to the approach of European Union policies to forests must not simply be reduced to the challenges posed by climate change , but take into account all the aspects relating to forests ' contribution to sustainable development at regional , European and global level .
that concludes Question Time .
to conclude , I would like to mention that , just over thirty years ago , it was a Labour Government that managed to bring world attention to the importance of the Mediterranean and the necessity of collaboration between the countries bordering the Northern and Southern shores of this sea .
what is at stake now is whether Member States can move beyond the policies based hitherto on separate deals . what is at stake is whether the European Union is capable of speaking and acting in unity in so crucial a matter .
this referendum 's success is , above all , a Sudanese achievement but it also reflects the support of the African Union and the AU High-Level Implementation Panel led by President Mbeki , who helped the parties to move forward , as well as the sustained diplomatic attention it received from the international community , including the UN , the US and , of course , the European Union .
we need to continue working to strengthen and support SMEs to reinvigorate growth , while also focusing on improving competitiveness and innovation .
yes , we have to take measures , for instance , on illegal immigration and asylum and , as you have seen , my colleague , Cecilia Malmström , has very concrete proposals on illegal immigration , on border controls , on legal migration .
there are children in my own region who are trafficked but we find that , even after registration with social services , many trafficked children just disappear because they remain under the control of their traffickers .
the people who are the future of our continent are also the most defenceless , are they not ?
but they are being unrealistic .
the debate is closed .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
( DE ) Madam President , firstly , I would like to say that I am very grateful that we are debating this item today , because from the media , you might get the impression that the crisis has only been in the dairy sector .
FAO World Summit on Food Security - Eradicating hunger from the face of the earth ( vote )
Mr President , as the President of Parliament kindly reminded us , on 11 March , Lithuania and Estonia mark 20 years since the passing of two fundamental legal acts .
however , my impression is that this 2020 project , and in particular the way in which we are to negotiate and finalise it here , does not involve any genuine strategy .
the Irish voters spoke for Ireland .
in this half of 2007 , the European Union has secured the adoption , in the United Nations , of a resolution on a moratorium on the death penalty .
there are many reasons , which we have discussed a great deal in Parliament , but we need to look to the future .
as I was saying earlier , you are a bank in your own right , which means that you have challenges to meet in terms of the risk / reward ratio .
the Commission also started to make available Irish versions of its most important web pages , with priority to content of particular interest to Irish speakers .
the criticism made by the authors , who have used it against China , is a classic example of hypocritical buck-passing , and reveals the policy of double standards applied by the authors .
projections show that by 2010 up to 27 million could be unemployed in the EU , and I fear it could be even worse .
these measures will definitely contribute to the success of the national programmes , as is the major axis of supporting the young farmers , stipulated by PNDR of Romania .
and in my country for example , membership of trade unions , which are a natural party on one side of the social dialogue , covers some 5 % of the work force .
I would , however , point out that what we are doing is lending money , and lending money at rates that are particularly favourable to the lenders .
what does the European Union intend to do to ensure that the community draws more attention to this bullying ?
the arrival of the specialist barge Big Foot 1 in late March suggests that further attempts are being planned .
it has to be said that the EU is reducing its greenhouse gas emissions , while other countries such as the United States are increasing them , and at a significantly faster rate than in 1990 .
the creation of rule of law , by stamping out corruption , should be one of the Albanian government 's priorities .
we must come up with a new path and work to pick the economy back up through these networks .
that being said , I should especially like to thank the Presidency , Prime Minister Reinfeldt and Mrs Malmström for the excellent relations they have maintained with Parliament and for their fine management of what were , after all , very difficult issues - I am , of course , talking about the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I voted in favour of the Buşoi report because I believe that the service provided by SOLVIT is of fundamental importance in terms of a clear and transparent link between the institutions , citizens and businesses , which is one of the cornerstones of the European Union .
reliable data and the resulting predictions with regard to the use of natural resources will not only enable us to clearly measure the success of a sustainable economic policy , but will also provide very important added value for the Member States .
two years ago we were more or less alone in setting targets .
Group actions encroach fundamentally upon procedural law .
this is another point about globalisation : climate change and the need to have a global solution to a global problem .
in the Committee on Budgets , we have made a great effort to establish the main identifiable priorities that highlight European action .
as delegation head , I wish to thank all Members , colleagues and officials for their work and their availability .
as Mr Mulder said , we already have sufficient directives .
in particular , the EU budget must also be linked to the Europe 2020 strategy objectives .
in writing . - ( PT ) The aim of cohesion policy is to reduce disparities between levels of development in European regions and mobilising the potential for growth in order to achieve economic , social and territorial cohesion .
in the same way , it is important to ensure there is freedom of the press , freedom of expression , privacy of correspondence and secrecy of telecommunications .
you do not say where they should come from .
Mexico has therefore been scarred by the brutality and violence that go hand in hand with the drugs trade .
( EL ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , we shall be investing EUR 400 million in the Marco Polo II programme up to 2013 , together with a great many hopes and prospects for a more efficient and viable transport system that will guarantee added environmental value in the European Union , while at the same time combining economic , social and territorial cohesion .
we have talked a lot about dissemination and exchange of data and information .
it will not prevent businesses from transferring information needed by the various parties involved .
the Commission 's Action Plan implementing the Stockholm Programme must take into account all these aspects mentioned in the report .
there were questions during the debate on whether to have third countries involved .
it was simply the first time that this has led to such a dreadful accident .
all loud statements and words turn into cynicism and undermine the basis of the fight against global injustice and lies .
the only reliable basis for sustainable globalisation and growing prosperity is an open world economy build on market principles , effective regulation and strong global institutions .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , Mrs Flautre , ladies and gentlemen , first I would like to express our gratitude for the job done by the parliamentary committees , and in particular by Mrs Flautre as chairman of the Subcommittee on Human Rights .
this topic is particularly current at the present moment when we have realised how the food crisis can affect states ' stability .
Mr President , national political parties are now failing to sustain European integration in a democratic and efficient manner .
I think that is very important .
the recommendation has encouraged collecting societies in Europe to set up EU-wide licensing platforms that make their repertoire available for online music shops across Europe .
but the crisis is a product of our existing agricultural system - the common agricultural policy - which has had calamitous consequences for farmers in my part of the United Kingdom .
the forest environment is a shared piece of world heritage and must be protected , preserved and , if possible , restored , with the ultimate goals of maintaining global biodiversity and the functions of ecosystems , and of protecting the climate .
the European Union is not an exception and the solution to the current problems cannot depend on separate initiatives in each Member State , but requires concerted action .
besides , I can quite imagine bank deposits being frozen before the fact is divulged , or the money would be on the other side of the world in a flash .
a Russian cargo vessel also broke in two , releasing 4 000 tonnes of fuel oil on a migration route for diving birds coming from Siberia .
the European Union therefore has a duty to ensure food security for its citizens .
widespread and regular preventive checks enable this disease to be detected in its initial stages , which significantly increases the chance of recovery .
let us not forget the vital role that NATO has played - long may it continue .
I am voting for this Agreement as I believe that , besides the economic benefits it brings , it will also establish mutual acceptance of certification findings in all areas of airworthiness for all Member States .
there , cooperation between three or four countries in respect of the upper layer of the airspace is already in place .
the situation cannot continue as it is now in the Russian Federation .
I will not repeat the issue relating to the two - let us say - reports that are missing , the two provisions that are missing .
however , I expected greater frankness and greater modesty from you .
the second is that we will work to put in place , as quickly as possible , the new Commissioner for Health and , in so saying , let me ask the Vice-President to send our good wishes to Mr Kyprianou and thank him for what he achieved during his time with us .
we must also ensure that the indisputable quality of the initial product is maintained intact until it reaches the end consumer .
social harmonisation would therefore mean that we would have to reject our minimum wage because the Germans do not have one .
whilst allowing low-risk products onto the market , it bans 22 substances deemed to be very harmful .
I believe that raising this issue at this moment and suggesting that there could be a solution outside Greece 's own efforts is not the best way to help our Greek friends to implement , with determination , the measures announced by Prime Minister Papandreou .
he has now been imprisoned for 3 370 days .
Mr President , Commissioners , ladies and gentlemen , one of the strong ideas of this report is the need to establish a vital link between the common commercial policy and the common fisheries policy .
regarding my proposal , Article 186 is an existing provision for a large number of products , but milk is not included .
that is why I can assure you that the Commission will keep its ambitions high .
we therefore believe that it is advisable to reconsider the financial resources allocated to monitoring , particularly with regard to the maximum rates of cofinancing provided for in regulating the financial measures of the CFP for the acquisition , development and / or modernisation of control equipment by the Member States .
lastly , we believe that the requirements for national budgetary frameworks should be designed in such a way as to encourage Member States and leave them room for manoeuvre for development-oriented public investments , such as in education and training , contributing to the achievement of the EU 's growth and employment objectives .
processing plants are being closed , cultivation areas are dwindling , trees are being grown on arable land and many other actions are being taken that limit food production .
- Report : Bogdan Golik
( PT ) Mr President , the current watchword in Brussels is austerity , austerity , austerity .
this is why we need both things .
no one can say in advance what the result would be for the level of agricultural expenditure , but it would undoubtedly prevent schemes being maintained and developed if they cannot be clearly and logically explained to our citizens .
rampant bureaucracy and a never-ending stream of security measures will not contribute to security , but to inconvenience for air passengers .
as I start my first weeks in this job , I say to you very clearly : I hear what you say .
I fully agree with the fact that the European Parliament , the only European body directly elected by the people , has played a very important role over the first decade of Economic and Monetary Union .
I believe that what unites us in this debate is simple : it is the defence of our citizens , the fact that we can all agree that we must stand guard over our citizens ' rights ; that we act as their shield , and that when they find themselves having to deal with unfair authorities and unjust bureaucratic procedures , they should not be made to feel abandoned .
the problems of alcohol use , however , do not just concern the young .
however , it is also aware that , in order to meet expectations in various quarters and to become a modern organisation of the third millennium , the WTO must somehow find the strength and courage to embark on the road to reform .
Europe must also undertake partnership with ACP countries , if they do not threaten to impoverish those countries , intellectually , socially or economically .
they give rise to costs , and those costs are currently borne by the taxpayers , rather than those responsible for the costs .
we must obviously , therefore , react to this new and unfamiliar phenomenon and must take appropriate measures .
the Agreement marks a genuine step forward in promoting fishery resources and sustainable development .
however , when we ask , as Malta did , who will welcome the people that are saved from drowning , there is a profound silence .
British beef is now being sold well below the cost of production ; lowland suckler-cow producers reckon they are losing around GBP 260 per cow ; our dairy farmers have suffered a long spiral of decline .
do you really think that could have happened if there had not been cooperation - not just between them , but cooperation all the way to the Far East ?
it is high time that we began serious structural reforms in Europe , especially in the area of social policy , because the current type of social welfare model is no longer sustainable .
if it wants to buy Russian gas , it has to deal with the Russian state . '
I would draw your attention , in particular , to the oral question that is to be asked concerning revision of the rules on use of the CE marking .
moreover , the EU counts amongst its Member States three Arctic nations , and amongst its closely related neighbours participating in the internal market through the Agreement creating the European Economic Area ( EEA ) a further two Arctic nations , meaning that the EU and its associated states comprise more than half the numeric membership of the Arctic Council .
this means that the workload of the Members of our Parliament will grow considerably .
I should like to reiterate once again that I am totally with you in not wanting US-style class actions to be introduced into European culture .
along with my fellow Members of the European Parliament , I will continue the actions already initiated to allow Romanian , Bulgarian and Czech citizens to travel freely as soon as possible .
can the Council provide information on the measures proposed for adoption in order to implement the agreements reached at the recent summit held in Lisbon between the EU and the countries of Africa on the subject of immigration ?
the authorities have a duty not to give in to extremism in any way and not to retreat .
however , a major German weekly newspaper published an article last week which described how an ordinary citizen wished to re-register a German car in Italy , only to fail eight months later , having realised that it is simply not possible .
this could reduce undeclared work or even eliminate it altogether .
I hope that the same thing will not happen in future in the field of healthcare services .
I am also glad that there is no direct reference requiring Member States to take legal measures to penalise those who use services ( for example , dining in a restaurant in which victims of trafficking are working ) .
in addition , we have also enjoyed good support within the Commission from Mr Kallas .
it is aggravated by price volatility , and price volatility is a consequence of the financialisation of the global economy .
I would like to thank all of my fellow Members who have contributed today and I would also like to thank them for their words of support for the work that I carried out , which was only possible with their help , and with the help of the shadow rapporteurs and draftsmen of the opinions of the Committees on Industry , Research and Energy and the Internal Market and Consumer Protection .
there are many people who risk their lives or their health to cross the new southern and eastern borders of the EU in particular .
I know that the Spanish and Belgian Presidencies are working on this and I would like to expressly encourage you to continue to do so and to present a Council initiative before the end of the year .
such arrogance , such tyranny : fitting , of course , because this Constitution is all about transferring more and more national powers to Brussels despots - those who are , indeed , too chicken for a referendum .
however , this paragraph may be subject to various interpretations .
moreover , as I have described , a focus for all these programmes is to ensure that we build up capacity in the local Afghan structures and that the government 's priorities in combating the drugs industry and reducing corruption continue to be fully addressed .
I consider it important to emphasise the significance of this fund , which was created under Czech social democrat commissioner Vladimír Špidla .
there is one final matter : I think that in future budgetary programmes after 2013 we should very strongly direct our attention to the Carpathian region - one of the poorest and most highly populated regions in the European Union .
some have already done so .
this is because the majority of this country 's citizens are pinning great hopes on becoming part of Europe .
in particular , we have highlighted the importance of a fully functioning single market in goods and services , creating a better business environment ( especially for SMEs ) , stimulating innovation and introducing labour market reforms that focus on skills , flexibility and encouragement to create new jobs .
these answers , however , are closely interconnected .
funding to support house building in Britain , and encouraging even greater numbers of immigrants to come to our shores , only exacerbates an already volatile situation .
as a matter of fact , I voted in favour of the report in its entirety .
after 10 December , Kosovo will probably be unilaterally recognised as a state by America and a number of Member States of the European Union , and Serbia will unilaterally take back the northern part of Kosovo .
the amendment by the Verts / ALE Group talks of a statute for Members ' assistants .
I asked the President a question on 19 March .
Mr Abad asked some very practical questions , and I would say to him that I support his suggestions and I believe that they are important .
I would like to ask the rapporteurs if they ever collected signatures themselves .
in writing . - ( FR ) Parliament today adopted two legislative reports at first reading : a regulation relating to aspects specific to the European Union and a directive on the rules to be applied by Member States at national level .
antimicrobial agents are undoubtedly very useful when properly used .
if this were enacted - which I hope it will not be - it would pretty much kill off the search engine business in Europe , and it would kill off legitimate advertising and legitimate competition .
as it happens , I would have wished Belgium 's major effort greater success than what we now have .
thank you .
I am also pleased that the Dalai reaffirmed before this House last December his devotion to the middle-way approach and to dialogue as the only means for achieving a mutually acceptable and lasting solution .
I would like to refer briefly to the most important point : the requirement that a party should already have one member in the European Parliament .
everything we want from the Community must also appeal to a majority at home , because we do not have the authority to do everything that people expect of us .
when we can show who has been consulted on any one legislative package , it gives legitimacy to the process which is so important for us here .
democracy works through freedom and respect , facilitating the exercise of rights , not through imposition or limitation .
the sanctions in the Commission proposal are inadequate , but above all the proposal takes no account of the sale of medicines on the Internet , one of the main channels through which falsified medicines enter the European market .
in addition , in recent years , restaurants and bars were required by law to set up smoking and non-smoking areas on their premises .
in writing . - ( PL ) Ladies and gentlemen , I endorsed the motion for a resolution on the major natural disaster in the autonomous region of Madeira and the effects of the storm ' Xynthia ' in Europe .
when referring to the Lisbon Strategy , we usually speak about expenditure policy ; very rarely do we consider taxation policy .
the Atlantic coastal regions were the worst affected , with the storm flooding vast areas , including residential areas , causing serious human and material damage .
I believe that these are the efforts we have to make in the forthcoming period as we work towards the sustainable future of transport , the revision of the Trans-European Transport Networks ( TEN-T ) and freight transport , which is already under way in our committee and , not least , this revision that we must take control of and carry out in order to change the path that has been taken up to this point .
we should always remember this matter .
Mr President , the Socialist Group in the European Parliament would like to vote in favour of this alternative resolution .
the aim of the proposal is to ensure precise and reliable information on the performance of construction products , so as to be able to rely on safe buildings , built with materials that have no negative effects on human health .
it was a very difficult question during our debates , but finally we were able to reach a very good compromise about dangerous substances .
the amendments proposed by the PPE-DE Group are no less regrettable .
( HU ) The question , once asked by Kissinger , is often repeated - who will pick up the phone ?
French citizens have voted not against the Constitution , but against Europe , as they do not feel safe there .
spectrum trading has created a significant amount of revenue for the UK Government , which has been successfully reinvested , but the advantage of this report is that it introduces principles of service , technology and neutrality , which , by foregoing the practice of insisting on the service that spectrums are used for and the technological standards used , will go even further towards ensuring large companies do not dominate the market .
bilateral negotiations will be tailored to the situation of each Southern Mediterranean partner .
energy requirements will increase in line with growth .
in consequence , the network appointed a working group to examine the recommendations made in March 2009 and took the view that certain amendments needed to be made to the Act that created the network .
these individuals , who are most susceptible because they are young , open and trusting , must be protected from the dangerous texts that are being spread via the Internet and other media , often specifically under the banner of freedom of speech .
we will also reflect with stakeholders on the future of our CIVITAS programme and how to build on the vast knowledge and experience generated in the CIVITAS-funded actions .
following this , the Italian authorities , primarily the government , with the cooperation of all local bodies concerned , must move quickly to calculate the cost of the direct damage sustained , in order to meet the deadline of 15 June 2009 for submitting an application for funds within the framework of the European Solidarity Fund .
this dependence has direct consequences in terms of the security and quality of Europeans ' food supply , and has been causing a worrying increase in the vulnerability of livestock producers to volatility in the price of feed .
it would be a scandal which I cannot bring myself to endorse .
without this prerequisite , humanitarian aid will not get through .
for us , it is by being right up there among the leaders that we will best ensure the competitiveness of the European Union .
5 .
so we do take action in order to see to it that the European rules with regard to competition are properly observed .
absolutely .
that is the reason why we demand that aid be based solely on the area under vineyards , and it is on the same grounds of discrimination that we disagree with the changes to the labelling of wines and want to keep the existing system .
I sometimes think that we are trying to ask for secure , stable supplies of vitally important raw materials while wielding a cudgel .
it is worth emphasising that such an order would only have a preventive effect . in other words , it would block the debtor 's funds in the latter 's bank account , without transferring them to the creditor 's account .
Burkhard Hirsch , the excessive moralist , put it so beautifully when he said that the Irish should not be seen as rain-soaked shepherds and as the only Europeans incapable of understanding the blessings of the Treaty of Lisbon .
I would hope for flexibility in this .
given the globalisation of industry and services , international labour standards are the basis for guaranteeing that the growth of the global economy can benefit all .
I also congratulate the French Presidency for its involvement in adopting the Third Maritime Safety Package ' Erika III ' through conciliation .
in today 's complex and interconnected world - I am just finishing - with all its global challenges and threats , including climate change , cooperating in a spirit of shared responsibility with players as significant as Mexico and Brazil is highly beneficial for the European Union and also , of course , for the whole international community .
( RO ) Unfortunately , the school dropout rate in Europe is 19 % , while it is 40 % in countries like Portugal .
this seems to be the case for enterprises in the renewable energy sector .
nevertheless , it should be noted that in the case we have just been discussing , the ball started rolling as a result of self reporting and the competent authorities responded correctly .
at the same time the ministers made a commitment to a further development of relevant policies with the aim of securing a full implementation of the Convention .
it is particularly important that fathers are included in bringing up children .
however , I would first like to see what these events and documents will bring from the wider range of European stakeholders .
we must reject the racist stereotype that regards them as a threat .
the unrest will certainly have an impact on the influx of refugees .
the text of the directive was agreed through the conciliation procedure .
Member of the Commission . - ( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , after the adoption of the first two railway packages in 2001 and 2004 and before the adoption of the third railway package on 13 December 2006 , the Commission proposed a new set of legislative measures on cross-acceptance of rolling stock , particularly locomotives .
to conclude , I would like to ask Commissioner Piebalgs to use the official name which the European Union has accepted , when referring to third countries .
European Parliament representative at the Intergovernmental Conference . - ( PT ) Congratulations ; the President has lived up to his surname , working with passion and reason for the success of the summit .
I can assure you that I will be happy to present to you the proposal at the earliest convenience after its adoption .
however , I believe that the principles must be concise and that they must be viewed from the standpoint of the whole communication .
( applause )
this is an intensive process , and I would like to assure Parliament that we take our commitments very seriously and are going ahead with the proposals and ideas we have in common on increasing accountability , on cooperation with Member States and on increasing the responsibility of Member States in shared management issues .
( DE ) Mr President , I have just one question for Mr Reul .
the enforcement or protection of the rights of some must not encroach on the rights and justified interests of others .
with the creation of this young state , what was previously considered an internal matter for Sudan has become an international affair .
the employment situation of young people depends on general economic policy ; Member States , therefore , should move towards investments and job creation .
some of the rapporteur 's proposals go much further than is permitted under the legal basis , as has already been mentioned by Mr Herrero and Mr Cashman .
first , the goal of the initiators was to turn the Baltic Sea area into one of the most competitive and rapidly developing regions of the EU .
patients requiring transplants in these countries are forced to resort to transplant tourism , clearly aware of the high risk involved and that they are infringing the law and ethics as their life is often saved at the cost of another life taken or destroyed through violence .
Azerbaijan is not even aware of the framework of this project .
it is in everybody 's interest to look at problems concerning culture .
whilst the Return Directive includes specific rules on detention conditions , with the emphasis especially on minors and families , these Community rules do not presently apply on the territory of Mayotte .
we will proceed in line with the Rules of Procedure and also on the basis of the request made .
Romania , like the other countries in Central and Eastern Europe , has many problems with multi-storey residential blocks .
I can compare the use of quotas with antibiotics .
we voted in favour of solidarity with the Japanese Government following its threefold disaster - the earthquake , the tsunami and the nuclear accident - which has struck the country .
the different forms of discrimination are a significant problem .
building peace and reconciliation is a long-term process and I strongly believe that there is still a need to continue with Peace III and International Fund for Ireland ( IFI ) support .
the greater the food dependency and food insecurity of a country , the more difficult it is to guarantee a sufficient supply of food to its population , in terms of both quantity and quality .
this means that we shall obviously be expecting more from the rapidly developing economies than from the others .
it is an honour to work for the institution of which you are currently the Vice President .
after the Conference of Presidents had considered the incidents in question , on the basis of Rule 147 of the Rules of Procedure I invited a number of Members for discussions with a view to hearing their version of events before taking any decision on possible disciplinary action .
I think we have to look at the career structures that we provide .
a lot still needs to be done , but I think the way has been paved .
Europe is not a UN Member State and , according to the UN Charter , only states can be members of the UN .
we must not hide behind others , but must fulfil our own obligations .
on the subject of security , Mr Maystadt , you said that you wish to become the power behind , and the financial arm of , the European Union .
it is beyond my comprehension why , at every sitting at Strasbourg , each Member is handed around 200-300 pages of stenographs and protocols .
the only thing I know is that the government over which I preside is the only one to have stopped the growth of greenhouse gas emissions - which we did in 2006 - and the only one to have started to reduce these while increasing economic growth by 4 % .
the Commission Communication regarding the review of deep-sea fish stocks confirms that the current levels of deep-sea stocks exploration must be reduced and that the measures in force have been implemented insufficiently in order to be efficient .
we hope that we will have the results from the Commission at least by December 2010 .
yet we wish to guarantee consumption conditions and the health of our consumers .
the truth is also that the lack of knowledge of the geographical structure of these species and the lack of reliable scientific data meant that TACs and quotas were set for extremely broad management areas and that they were also too restrictive , even going beyond the conditions imposed for species subject to recovery plans .
I am not going to mention the report 's balance and the way in which it describes in detail the positive and negative factors the country is contending with .
to do that , it has , over the years , adopted legislation that is regularly revised and applicable in the Union .
it is already known that deforestation and degradation of forests are responsible for 20 % of the world 's carbon dioxide emissions .
we need a bolder economic governance package than we have on the table today .
President Barroso , thank you very much for a very interesting debate .
I wish to lend my support to those of my colleagues who have made clear that this is truly a crucial point for my group if it is to be able to approve this directive .
I believe that the prerequisites for guaranteeing energy security are to extend the regulations applied in the EU 's internal energy market to neighbouring countries and to make efforts to diversify energy sources and transport routes for energy imports .
is this a problem in Europe today ?
joint motion for a resolution :
this is something that the Presidency intends to work on before the next European Council meeting .
thus , managing sanctions is necessary .
decision making lies within the authority of the Member States , when it comes to policy on support for those providing care informally for family members .
in the 21st century , we must encourage , not stifle , competition from online retailers .
the Treaty of Lisbon also provides for greater parliamentary control , greater transparency and joint decisions on these matters .
does Serbia fulfil the criterion of full cooperation ?
I think that these investments will , on the one hand , create jobs at local and regional level , while also promoting economic well-being and development for small and medium-sized enterprises in these sectors .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , bringing about an exit strategy from the crisis is crucial in the short term , but something more is needed in the medium term .
I am grateful to Parliament for its positive contribution and I am sure that we can work constructively on further developing this important policy area .
I believe that the beneficial effects of this scheme , which I applaud and on which I congratulate the Commissioner , will be seen immediately .
we do not need additional European regulations governing product acquisition .
firstly , reform of the wine market cannot be carried out on a linear , bookkeeping model like the model you used in the common organisation of the sugar market , which we were called on , two months ago , to re-examine because it has reached an impasse .
we want this External Action Service .
the Hungarian Presidency is strongly convinced that the newly adopted - not revised - Hungarian constitution is fully in line with the basic values and principles on which the Union is founded .
we have all the Member States financing their research and science and we also have , as has been mentioned , the Structural Funds .
we know the intentions and the plans of the regional forces and tendencies which support separation and encourage it .
I also believe that it is important for the Centre to improve the programming and the monitoring of activities with a view to reducing carry over to the following year .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , the gas crisis in Europe is a permanent one and much more profound than the European political elites would present it .
the citizens of the EU are rightly asking why their taxes are being pumped into the Gaza Strip when everything there is regularly bombed flat again and are calling for conclusions to be drawn from this .
in writing . - Sport is an important part of everyday life .
based on European statistics , we can monitor and evaluate the positive changes provided for in new pesticide legislation , i.e. the Directive on pesticide use , the thematic strategy on sustainable pesticide use and the Regulation on pesticide authorisations .
- ( FR ) Madam President , nine days ago the regions of Aquitaine , Midi-Pyrénées and Languedoc-Roussillon were hit hard by Storm Klaus .
indeed , I welcome Montenegro 's efforts to become a constructive partner in the field of regional cooperation , notably as a result of the various regional agreements it has concluded with its neighbours in the areas of readmission and extradition and in judicial and police matters .
naturally , that is not the end of it .
of course , the adoption of this legislation will not solve the problem as if by magic , but it definitely represents a starting point to set off a virtuous cycle , above all , with regard to dealings with public authorities .
the second point which I would like to consider is that cohesion policy is indisputably an important part of European policy .
I would ask you all urgently to avoid giving out the impression in this House that the European motor industry is a destitute sector on a state-supplied drip .
citizens are saying through us and our elected representatives that they still need investments in infrastructure , access to services and the development of all regions , no matter how isolated they are .
according to the government in Manila , Abu Sayyaf is collaborating with al-Qaida .
it is our duty , that of each Member of the European Parliament , to go to our countries and explain to the citizens we represent here the advantages of the Lisbon Treaty for the future of the European construction .
as Vice-Chair of the working group on urban issues , I attach great importance to the impact that cohesion policy can have in our towns , especially in areas that are struggling .
those projects received EUR 1.3 million in Community funding in 2007 .
that is true in the Islamic world , of course , but sadly also over here .
the intention was for there to be an interim report , which of course is just as important and which we will look at and analyse , but that the final assessment would come in 2012 .
without adopting a position on to what extent it is about a war of liberation , a war against terrorism or something else , we cannot deny the fact that there are almost 100 000 internal refugees in the region and a very poor situation with respect to human rights .
you know , Mrs McGuinness , that there are more radical opinions of what should be done with agricultural spending .
Mr President , it can be a fine line between transparency and infringement of privacy .
we must hand that ability back to the people and we must therefore also conduct an exercise in self-criticism in the European Union .
the proposals presented by the rapporteur , however , are based entirely on the idea that the EU should play a leading role in the Member States ' aid policy .
( SK ) I voted in favour of the motion for a resolution on the Lisbon Strategy , which will be on the agenda of the spring European Council .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( ES ) Madam President , on behalf of my group , I would like to first of all congratulate Mr Schmitt on this report , and also stress the importance of increasing the number of hours of teaching of physical education in schools .
realistically we expect an improvement in the Agency 's structure , better coordination and more determined operations .
marketing and advertising in the media manoeuvre between information , promotion and manipulation . the problem lies in distinguishing between them .
we need to look at a whole range of rules that are now completely out of date in the 21st century , facing new challenges like climate change .
in writing . - In a time of economic crisis , one could ask the question : should Europe focus on looking after its own rather than assisting its eastern neighbours ?
in fact , I am going to completely abandon the speech I had prepared because , Mr López Garrido , you have started a debate that ought to be developed within the European Union .
I would therefore ask the Council to outline how it intends to translate public concern into public action within the European Union , and also to take into account that we do not want to stop the developing world making progress , because we are actually gaining from the fact that they are developing .
but , overall , this crisis forces us to adopt a reasonable , open and integrated approach to our energy policy : first , by taking into consideration all components of the energy mix without considering them - or at least some of them - morally unacceptable , and secondly , with an integrated road map , reconciling our sometimes contradictory climate , supply security and competitiveness targets .
we share Parliament 's concerns about the urgency of action in this region , and our communication puts forward a set of coherent and specific proposals .
who is in charge ?
8 .
in towns and cities , areas that used to be the domain of pedestrians , children playing , trees , parks , gardens or free-standing tram tracks were converted into space for cars between 1950 and 1980 .
the debate is closed .
the planned pragmatism of the resolution has , however , allowed us to forget our principles , even though in practice all economic growth in Russia is based on our payments for energy resources .
I hope your visit to the European Parliament will give us the opportunity for wider cooperation in our common mission for democracy , peace and development .
it is also necessary that they promote health-education campaigns , make the public aware of the importance of early diagnosis and inform people about the available programmes and services .
I do not think anyone in this House is arguing that , financially , it is a worthwhile or efficient organisation .
I will , of course , inform Parliament of this new timetable as soon as we have been able to draft it .
let me assure you that the Council will be informed in detail about today 's debate and the viewpoints expressed in it .
and the European Council meeting tomorrow marks the start of our search for the way out .
we do not need a mandate from the United Nations or the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe , as Georgia is a sovereign nation and has asked us for a European presence .
however , I would draw your attention to the fact that , despite the number of good projects to which additional aid is to be allocated , some important projects are missing from this dossier .
but we should ask the Roma people to assume their responsibilities .
the aim of overthrowing Saddam Hussein was not to bring about the lack of tolerance of Christians that we are seeing now .
Mrs Reding , the Commissioner responsible for justice , fundamental rights and citizenship , is currently collecting data in order to establish the scope of the problem .
this helps to maintain the limits as proposed by the Council : 4 out of 11 purified active principles and in respect of some 30 out of 40 food categories .
I also want to point out that the requirement of prior authorisation ensures that cross-border care can be provided as soon as it is medically justified .
25 out of 27 states are participating .
no action was taken against Mr Schulz .
we would have liked the same cooperation from the Commissioner on External Relations , who we hope will add to or join in these efforts .
the purpose of that meeting was not to decide what we would do to these countries but to be ready to be able to offer support quickly .
as such , I very much welcome in this connection the fact that we have built in a cautious and viable criterion in order to further reduce noise pollution but , as I already mentioned , never at the expense of the safety of the car and the tyre .
let me also thank each of the shadow rapporteurs for their constructive support , as well as the Committee on Budgets for its opinion .
people suffering from respiratory conditions such as asthma could be severely affected if they have no advance notice of such spraying .
what did the Spanish Presidency do ?
in the Swedish gold mining industry , cyanide is used in closed systems in an environmentally sustainable way .
the main measures introduced in the new recovery plan are a substantial reduction in the TAC from 27 500 to 22 000 tonnes in 2009 and further reductions to 19 950 tonnes for 2010 and 18 500 tonnes in 2011 . the EC quota for 2009 is thus reduced to 12 406 tonnes from the 15 641 tonnes foreseen in the 2006 plan .
additionally , it does not even possess information on the basis of which it could question the validity of a reasoned court ruling .
in writing . - ( ET ) Ladies and gentlemen , every year cigarette smoking leads over 650 000 Europeans to a premature death .
the proposal that we are voting on today has many shortcomings .
they were completed on 10 September 2007 and , after consultations with the EU Member States , the Stabilisation and Association Agreement was initialled on 7 November 2007 in Brussels .
on the basis of her citizenship , the above-mentioned citizen was guaranteed consular protection by the country in which she is a citizen .
the comitology procedure must not become a basic principle in lawmaking .
we believe that it should not be possible for any citizens to have their access to the Internet blocked without it being preceded by a hearing in court .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( NL ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , where democratisation in Turkey is concerned , the picture is mixed , in my opinion , with progress on some points and stagnation and deterioration on others .
thank you , Mr President , honourable Members , thank you for the opportunity to say a few words in this discussion .
for one thing , we know that the pace of recovery will be uneven and we cannot rule out setbacks .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
however , it has given rise to a number of misconceptions as to what the real objective and purpose of the provisions is .
the globalisation policy must take into account the following factors : the vital importance of researchers with international experience ; real linguistic opportunities ; the need to offer all students going to be future researchers the chance to obtain a number of foreign language credits , irrespective of their specialist field ; good quality ; and information telling them about the opportunities for study and research abroad .
I think the oral question is very clear .
the resettlement of refugees is a procedure whereby , based on a request from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees according to a person 's need for international protection , third country nationals or stateless persons are transferred from a third country to a Member State .
the EU and Central Asia have common challenges in terms of energy , the fight against climate change , drug trafficking control and the fight against terrorism .
times change .
I hope that we continue to address this issue as constructively as we have done in the Temporary Committee on Climate Change , although I am not certain that that will happen .
the violent action of the Moroccan police and army this week , seeking to dismantle these camps , resulted in an unspecified number of arrests , hundreds injured and missing , and unfortunately also fatalities .
the Slovak Republic itself has had the opportunity in recent weeks to experience the complexity of such a situation when , as a result of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia , not a single cubic metre of gas reached Slovakia for several days .
the first task is undoubtedly to convert the existing cooperation agreements into association agreements .
the main aim of income support programmes should be to lift people out of poverty and to enable them to live a dignified life .
if we did so , this debate could and would culminate in an overall strategy .
you must put on the agenda that point , namely the religious intolerance and the persecution of Christians , and discuss it in detail , because it is unacceptable to continue a strategic partnership in that way .
it is only in that way , Mr Schulz - and not just by giving money to the new poor - that we Europeans will be able not only to overcome the institutional challenges but also to win the next elections and press ahead .
- Before the vote on Amendment 23 :
that is a clear sign of the importance that the Presidency attaches to this .
it is clear that more is needed to regain trust in the financial markets .
Europe is made up of a rich and diverse mix of educational traditions , with early years education provided in a host of different ways across the whole continent .
translation is politically necessary for a proper archiving system which after all serves to allow open access to information .
fifteen years after the outbreak of the wars in Chechnya , there are still 80 000 displaced persons in the region .
this is European law today : a national police force that tells people who have a residency permit issued by Italy : ' Mr Sarkozy has decided they do not count ' .
it certainly cannot be said that Italy has failed to meet the obligation of sincere cooperation , but as the Commissioner has confirmed , the Commission staff are in constant contact with the Italian national and regional authorities and are closely monitoring the development of the situation .
the debate is closed .
what is at stake here is whether we accept the continuation of the unbridled exploitation of natural resources , workers and peoples in order to serve the dominant capitalist system , which is in permanent crisis .
to seek to gag Members of the European Parliament from expressing their opinions on matters of public interest by bringing legal proceedings is unacceptable in a democratic society .
throughout Europe management pay has been rising steadily .
Commissioner , we are very concerned about the Commission 's insistence on subjecting agriculture and food production to the market and competitiveness .
therefore , in short , we are asking the Commission to be swift and dynamic in legally transposing them .
I hope that during the next term , with your support , we are going to overcome this resistance that - let us be frank and sincere - does still exist , in order to establish a real integrated energy market in Europe .
it is only through creative and innovative ideas that Europe can remain competitive .
the principles of full respect for the conditionality that applies to the candidate countries , and full respect for the commitments that the European Union has made , remain the cornerstones of the enlargement process .
I think that this category of worker is particularly vulnerable to abuse from employers .
it is true that we are deciding on introducing additional charges , and it seems right that we should pay for what we use .
at the same time , we must continue to simplify cohesion policy in its entirety and not just the urban aspect .
this question of how the EU is actually administered is dealt with very succinctly in paragraphs 125 and 126 of the Garriga Polledo report .
8 .
the other States , too , are starting to articulate their claims more strongly .
we shall find a solution , and the solution will be no different from what we expect of others .
this is my interpretation having , believe me , listened to you very carefully .
these are major steps forward compared with the previous , presidential , elections in 2006 .
firstly , the new treaty has added a specific provision to the article in the former EC Treaty on foreign policy-related restrictive measures or sanctions .
this one might even be higher than 40 % , but I must reaffirm that the figure 80 did not pass my lips .
there are several documents that point to solutions .
it means providing immediate infrastructural assistance to Georgia without red tape .
the moment for such an assessment is particularly appropriate as President Lula 's term in office approaches its end .
I am very pleased that the final wording of Article 2 of the regulation faithfully repeats the wording of Article 11 ( 4 ) of the Treaty itself .
let us see construction begin .
the few steps needed to implement this principle are being taken very slowly .
furthermore , to be able to achieve the results we want , energy efficiency must be promoted at every level , in every national and European policy .
despite the fact that air industry analysts had been predicting this bankruptcy for a long time , SkyEurope was , nevertheless , still selling tickets for its flights the day before presentation of the bankruptcy petition . as a result , hundreds of the airline 's passengers were denied not only the opportunity of making the journeys they had planned but , above all , they were exposed to significant financial losses caused by the airline 's collapse .
( DE ) Madam President , may I express my thanks to the President of the Commission for making it crystal-clear in his introductory words that the cost of inactivity or insufficient activity on the part of the EU and its Member States would be at least five times that of the package presented here today .
the advantages are huge in terms of both economic growth and job creation in the areas of IT , construction and services .
this is a great load off our minds and we are naturally overjoyed .
we have consistently emphasised that we value Parliament 's opinion , and I am of course happy to provide you with further information on the course of the negotiations .
however , we regret that such positive , practical aspects are secondary to the EU 's political motive to create an integrated European defence industrial base , and to strengthen the European security and defence policy , to which our opposition has been consistent .
Italian citizens have come up with the ' Clean Parliament ' programme .
as Vice-Chairman of this Parliament with responsibility for the Neighbourhood Policy inter alia in Uzbekistan , I appeal to international institutions , and particularly to the Uzbek authorities , to take supporting action that leads to the development of a civil society .
when adopted , the programme will enable them to accomplish their mission in a more independent and more efficient manner .
at the same time , Member States should keep their national tax policies .
we need a sober approach .
however , the Euro Zone has not succeeded in achieving convergence , despite cohesion fund support , and what we should be examining instead are the reasons for this .
the Commission and the High Representative herself are looking forward to working together with the European Parliament on this important issue of civil-military cooperation .
- Before the vote on Amendment 9 :
along with quite a few fellow Members , I would like this technology to be banned throughout the European Union .
events at Frankfurt and in Denmark are a reminder of the ever-present threat of terrorism .
Prague Castle is the seat of Václav Klaus , who will be speaking to us in February , when he comes to Brussels .
it also accepts that the monitoring board will be able to address any area of work of either the Trustees or the IASB and refer them for consideration by the IASCF Board of Trustees or by the IASB .
from now on our first point of departure must be to examine the nature of the statistics we are using as a basis for our decision making .
forests and wooded land currently cover more than 42 % of the EU 's area , providing a means of subsistence for millions of workers .
I would also want to mention the fact that it is extremely important to ensure fair competition between the various modes of transport , but also to ensure a reduction of traffic noise .
two things have kept the Communist regime in place in Cuba .
I agree it is a very narrow-minded policy and we should oppose it because , in the long run , we shall all feel the repercussions of such cuts .
I am calling particularly on men - and I can see there are several among us now - to work with us in partnership to ensure that our ambitious goals can be achieved , so that International Women 's Day really will be a day to celebrate in the future .
finally , President-in-Office , we are not condemned to cooperation , and cannot have a partnership without mutual respect and mutual understanding .
I am sorry for Mr Gawronski , but we shall come back to this topic .
now to the two conversations that I have just had this afternoon , with a view to the meeting I was to have with Parliament .
the Council of the European Union should place this subject on the agenda for relations with Islamabad as a matter of urgency . after all , under the Cooperation Agreement signed six years ago between the European Union and Pakistan for the years 2007-2013 , Pakistan is receiving EUR 200 million from the EU budget .
Parliament will receive all information at the same time as the committees , so we will do our utmost to keep Parliament informed also in this procedure .
as a second step , following the establishment of the three new European financial supervisory agencies , the regulation of credit rating agencies will be strengthened by the introduction of centralised supervision by the European Supervisory Markets Authority .
it is clear that they are completely overwhelmed by many areas of EU law , which is why the failure rates are so high .
we also have the general equality policy for prevention programmes , awareness-raising and so on .
we already have a register .
we must ensure the free mobility of researchers , improve framework conditions applicable to innovative enterprises , and the European Council must also address the matter of ranking state aid .
however , let us stop stalling and let us instead move forward by giving our support to Mr Lehne 's recommendation on this long , long road towards the European patent .
I welcome the proposal made by the European Commission in the communication concerning the budget review , published on Tuesday , that the Solidarity Fund should also be made available in future for the elimination of the consequences of industrial disasters .
taking the margin of tolerance as an example , I agree with the Commission that 5 % was sufficient .
I draw attention to the fact that this fundamentally challenges the independence of the Ukrainian judiciary in the eyes of the world .
now let me refer to each report in turn , trying to focus on the substance in order to gain time .
it is an accusation of a serious criminal offence .
however , we need to make the transition easier for those who are affected .
Mr Gauzès , you can have as long as you like if you protect the interests of the City of London .
indeed , these highly restrictive procedures do not facilitate the distribution of funds in a way that is really suited to the needs of populations , and they also result in non-consumption of appropriations , particularly in France , which is a scandal in itself .
I also agree with you that the entry into force of this agreement will represent an important contribution to the protection of workers active in the hospital and healthcare sector .
no , you are the Commission !
I have some questions .
however , I believe that in today 's debate we should focus on the need to adapt European Schools to present-day requirements , taking into account the enlargement to the EU-27 as well as such phenomena as globalisation , migration , and increased professional and geographic mobility .
as regards internalisation of external costs , I agree that we need to create sector neutrality .
16 .
we need the risks to be distributed fairly , because a large proportion of the earlier gains undoubtedly went into the private sector .
our endeavours are already bringing results and I would like to thank you for your support in our efforts on improving the situation for better inclusion of women in science and research .
this is something that we welcome , and we said so in the joint declaration .
this initiative aims to adopt a broader concept of what should be considered trafficking and I believe that exploitation for begging , including the use of a trafficked-dependent person for begging , regardless of his or her relationship with the perpetrators , must fall within this scope .
to put additional pressure on governments , structural funds and other European support must be tied to governments ' ability to provide us with correct figures .
I therefore believe that in this case , all the conditions are met for the mobilisation of the EGF , and I hope that the assistance will be made available to the redundant workers swiftly and efficiently .
what I do consider beneficial is that Member States themselves are actually assessing each other .
it is essential to develop an investment strategy for new sources of growth , stimulating research , development , innovation and education with a view to strengthening our industrial base , an excellent service sector and a modern rural economy .
there is talk that in its restructuring plan , Magna is considering making 10 560 workers redundant - currently 1 700 at the Aragon plant - to which many indirect redundancies will have to be added .
but that is all !
we heard about the technical failures of Al Gore 's hockey stick graph and the unreliability of weather station data after the fall of the Berlin Wall .
this is a real problem .
if we now split the pro-European camp , which ranges from left to right via the centre , but which is sincerely in favour of European progress , in my view that would be a very grave error .
in writing . - More investment in research and innovation is essential to guarantee a sustainable and competitive future for our economies .
increasing oil production is a key element of this process .
questions which have not been answered for lack of time will be answered in writing ( see Annex ) .
it is in the name of these values , speaking of his ' Chinese brothers ' , that the Dalai Lama has asked - forcefully , however - for legitimate and tangible autonomy for Tibet , recalling the torture and terrible suffering of his people and his land .
furthermore , the adoption by the Council and the European Parliament , in December 2008 , of the package of proposals on energy and climate change was a major step towards resolute action on our future energy needs , in particular with the setting of the objective for the use of 20 % renewable energies in all energy consumed by 2020 .
in order to improve debt recovery within the European Union and thereby protect consumers more effectively and encourage trade between Member States , the Commission must propose new legislation on the freezing and transparency of debtors ' assets .
within the region , it will create new strategic space , allowing the resolution of other serious issues , from poverty to proliferation .
that is why Member States must take all the measures necessary to ensure and maintain a maximum level of security in European power plants and a maximum level of protection for citizens .
for this exact purpose , Macedonia passed new legislation in 2008 at break-neck speed , that now turns out to be inconsistent with our prevailing views on careful democratic decision making .
the European Union , the Commission and the Council ...
there are more than ten million gypsies in Europe , and they are the largest and at the same time most vulnerable and most defenceless ethnic minority in Europe , and it is not that their situation has not improved in recent years , but in many areas it has definitely deteriorated .
it is no longer being used to fight terrorism and serious crime , as was originally intended .
the United States of America is the fatherland of capitalism , where money is the mother tongue and where power is wielded by the dictatorship of the market .
in many countries , no distinction is made between people who have been convicted ; in fact , in a small number of countries , child criminals are still executed .
we hear a lot about high-profile issues such as renewable energy , etc . , which are certainly important , but forests deserve far more attention because it takes a long time to grow forests and they must therefore be protected and encouraged .
the European Parliament must and should be involved in these ' international procedures ' , before and afterwards .
on how many occasions have I observed the discrepancies between the European administration pursuing a blunt policy goal and peoples ' real concerns ?
the vote will take place during the first October part-session .
concerning what Mrs Ek said , of course we are sincere with regard to the objectives and the timetable .
the following day the authorities sent KGB special forces to independent journalists .
this made it possible to adopt the report as a whole , despite the very large number of amendments .
nevertheless , we faced major environmental and economic challenges .
that is how I am able to see both sides of the coin .
perhaps the services could look into what has happened , because it is unacceptable for outsiders to come in here and film what we are doing .
in the province of Kivu more than one third of all women have been subjected to rape , and many have been violated repeatedly over long periods .
you have the floor , but we cannot open a debate .
I would suggest again that diplomacy should be used , because , and I repeat , nothing good has ever come out of sanctions , they serve only to increase hatred of the West and of the United States of America in particular .
I wish to say no more about it .
people who have no right to be called human rights defenders are often being nominated for cash prizes .
this time it was not the Greeks , who were supposedly out to deceive everyone , but rather Ireland - the star pupil - that was forced to turn to the European bail-out fund in order to rescue its banking system - a system which had also long been held up as a shining example of deregulation .
the second comment concerns a signal to the competent European authorities .
the next item is the vote .
this comprehensive comparative information on football academies in Member States and on home-grown players is not available at present .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Mr President , Mr Liese has produced an excellent report .
it is for this reason that small and medium-sized enterprises are not sub-companies .
the countries have met the requirements imposed on them to an extent which makes it possible to abolish border checks with the remaining EU Member States .
what we have experienced is something we will experience again .
but what have we done along the way ?
I would like to call for the greatest possible levels of protection and prevention for health workers to be guaranteed as soon as possible .
the violation will be disguised by some criminal motive that would be laughable were it not so tragic , such as acting against national security or propaganda against the regime , as in the case we are discussing today .
these agreements are another part of the process of liberalisation under way within the air transport sector , which obstructs state intervention in and regulation of this strategic sector , opening the door to the monopolistic concentration that always results from free competition , which is sacrosanct and defended at all cost .
it is the effect of unsound agricultural policy , which causes the bankruptcy of family smallholdings and increases the number of people who need food aid .
I suggest that what we decide upon should take place according to a timed schedule .
unless we can establish reasonably viable state and rule-of-law structures , the disaster will never end , no matter how much assistance we provide .
of course , for my group , incorporation in the report on visas of the report on biometrics looked like a fly in the ointment .
however , we do not want to stop at 14 weeks of maternity leave , and we intend for the new directive on maternity and paternity leave to also apply to these situations in the future .
we can only work together on that .
I hope also that Croatia 's recognition of Kosovo will not cause an increase in tension in the Western Balkans , in particular , with Serbia , which is now , understandably , showing concern .
I regret that the position of states which do not recognise Kosovo 's independence was not given greater consideration .
I spoke of Elena Bonner , but I could have spoken of any of them , and of course the video of Hu Jia 's wife was very moving : she has shown great courage .
the European Economic Community introduced the GSP in 1971 and other nations like the United States followed suit .
when will we be presented with specific measures ?
in my opinion , completely the opposite is the case .
with regard to EIB financing outside the EU , I believe that a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the EIB , the EBRD and the Commission is desirable , so as to strengthen cooperation in all the countries where they operate , with the dual aim of making their lending policies both consistent with one another and consistent with the EU 's political objectives .
speaking as a representative of Scotland I know that the EU has offered countless opportunities for Scots abroad , whilst Scotland has welcomed many newcomers who have played a valuable role in our economic and cultural lives .
the Labour delegation abstained on the final vote to indicate that these two concerns need to be addressed at second reading .
( DE ) Mr President , could you please send for a technician ?
I am convinced that such a tax would not only allow for better regulation of the financial sector by restricting purely speculative activity , but would also help the poorest , particularly developing countries , and the least developed countries among them , to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and to take the measures necessary to adapt to climate change .
a few moments ago , Mr Ludvigsson spoke about stress tests .
in its bilateral contacts with Russia , including at the highest level , the European Union regularly underscores the importance of respecting human rights .
thank you , Mr Weber , for your magnificent report .
the European Union must find means to ensure sustainable prices and a sustainable economy .
I am sure that your efforts will be remembered in this House , and I am also sure that , wherever you are , you will continue fighting for the objectives that you are leaving here .
southern Neighbourhood , and Libya in particular , including humanitarian aspects (
I have tried to convey this in the table appended to the report .
over that political mindset which would stifle any sound economic action , because today , politicians at national level and - as we hear - for populist considerations , really like to point their finger at Europe . they say that we need to cut down on Europe and that Europe is not the solution , as this , to some extent , gets them off the hook in the eyes of their voters .
all Member States are feeling the full magnitude of the financial crisis .
I know that you are working on that aim .
this attitude can only lead to dangerous developments and more xenophobia .
this is due both to the prevalence of illegal work , and to other factors such as : lack of awareness of social benefit and pension entitlements in Member States , and problems in the cross-border use of health insurance .
Mr President , as has already been mentioned , every year 65 000 people die in Europe from smoking-related illnesses .
we deplore the fact that the amendment calling for the establishment of a tax on financial transactions has once more been rejected by the right .
unfortunately , however , the members of the EPP , ALDE and ECR Groups are actually curbing their own power as Members of this Parliament .
it is a response to the request from the European Council in December 2007 that the Commission should review existing policies and instruments and submit to the Council a report on the progress achieved .
texts of agreements forwarded by the Council : see Minutes
if you look at a number of studies that have been conducted , you can see that , over the past 12 years , 50 % of the growth gap between the US and Europe is linked to disparities in the development of our information and communication technologies .
this should include essential elements such as the adoption of concrete measures in the field of traceability , the obligation for manufacturers to provide a detailed risk analysis during the design phase or , again , strict regulations for the sale of products online .
the work on this reform has begun .
by the very nature of it being a compromise , there are things there that Parliament has had to give up , particularly on the scope , where we would have liked to have seen a smaller distance before the regulation kicks in .
it proves once again that the European Parliament is faithfully serving the needs and interests of the monopolies and is deeply hostile to the workers and grassroots needs .
Mr President , issues concerning migration are always topical in the EU 's work .
I wrote to the Prime Minister of Portugal about this on 3 July .
if there is a lesson from the financial crisis , it is that we are all interdependent in the world .
effective diversification of energy sources and transport routes was mentioned in the European Council 's Community action plan of March 2007 as one of the means of improving security of supply .
the issue of network ownership , which in my view was insufficiently dealt with at first reading , seems to have been taken more seriously .
many years ago , it put the human being centre-stage .
( DE ) If you take a look at the measures that have been adopted here in the last few months and calculate the costs that have resulted from these , they have - not always , but very often - contributed to the disruption of economic development .
it is a day that will influence our way of living and thinking , what we do and what we do not do .
the European Companies Register has a special importance in guaranteeing the control of good repute .
the interconnectedness of our economies has brought enormous benefits , particularly over the past 10-15 years , in the form of a long period free of major conflicts and in the form of unprecedented economic prosperity and the fastest global economic growth in human history , as well as opportunities for hundreds of millions of people to escape from extreme poverty .
in the face of this situation , a weak outgoing government , the New Democracy government , has let things get out of control , with the result that there has been no state for days .
the imposition of the death penalty on minors and on persons with mental or intellectual disability causes particular concern .
today Europe is talking about gender equality in terms of retirement age , but I think it would be advisable to start by achieving equal pay .
I believe , though , that it takes a particular individual to come to the Committee on Petitions of Parliament .
in addition , the proposal gives no consideration to the specific problems in border areas where greater coordination is needed .
this proposal for a Council decision was sent to the European Parliament for consultation , and this is the reason why we are here today .
we know that the FTA will contribute to the deepening of relations between our regions .
unfortunately , the reality is that Latvian fishermen receive such meagre quotas and such meagre European Union support that it is more economical for us to scrap boats and stop fishing .
the contribution to security of supply would also seem obvious .
then you allow a seven-minute reply and you go to someone else to ask a supplementary before the original questioner .
however , I have the impression that it is going in the wrong direction .
three years ago we began our debate with the question : do we need a European Institute for Innovation and Technology ?
it seems to me that importance also attaches to the concept of ownership and the local potential for putting the ownership principle into practice , as well as to even greater involvement of civil society , an area in which we could still do far more .
I think it is time to carry out a more ambitious and forward-looking review of the long-term budget .
I would like an answer from my fellow Members .
I am absolutely sure that there is no conflict of interest .
the Council - we have already discussed this , here - has reduced those resources .
I therefore think that consideration really should be given to this and I welcome the fact that the Commission is thinking about amending the provisions of Council Regulation ( EC ) No 1 / 2003 in this area with regard to criteria and other types of sanctions , making the provisions more specific and laying down tougher criteria including in relation to the penalty measures to be laid down .
if the Member States miss their deadlines to decide on mutual recognition , then they are assumed to have given their authorisation .
in this multilateral dimension I see the value added of this new project .
it is an instrument for achieving a truly credible budget that will not lead us to the consequences that are now materialising in many countries : that is , spending beyond our means and later encountering serious political difficulties when it comes to closing the gaps in the budget .
the role of this mobility is not only to support the economy but , at the same time , to make an extremely important contribution to creating cultural cohesion at European level .
Bulgaria , Lithuania , which I myself represent today , and the other European Union Member States must all comply with it .
this is why it is a major issue for this Parliament .
we would like to have confidence , but it is in very short supply .
let me now share with you some observations on the report .
now something about the next session of the General Affairs and External Relations Council .
what we need now is to send a signal to the international markets : you can speculate all you like , but you will not drive the euro area apart .
I was gratified that Parliament dealt with this report expeditiously and that Mr Martínez Martínez 's report , adopted by plenary in May 2009 without a single vote against , reflected entirely the concerns I had raised .
for example , it will lead to serious market distortions within the EU and impose unwarranted burdens on consumers .
this Green Paper is now open for consultation and I look forward to input from this House .
unfortunately , only some Member States have recognised that the extermination of the Roma was actually an act of genocide .
( SK ) I supported the report , although with certain reservations .
recent years , however , have also entailed a rift between civil societies on either side of the Atlantic .
we must stop this insane process by offering our citizens quality , locally produced food .
accession to the Convention can be successful only if it truly reinforces the already functioning institutions and allows citizens access to them .
I hope that , with this same determination , today 's vote will allow us to confirm and convey this message .
thousands of people who have been imprisoned without trial , tortured and exposed to death threats , who have been driven from their homes , displaced or subjected to sexual violence are familiar with the name of Salih Mahmoud Osman .
as regards our debate on the economic crisis and the 2020 strategy , I believe that the time has come for specific acts and tangible results .
I hope that the agreement enters into force very soon and that the consumers and workers of the European Union are able to benefit from it very quickly .
however , the subject then disappeared from sight again .
because , we are still expecting some heavy rain and it will be concentrated in particular areas ; that has , after all , been the cause of the flooding .
we must now do all we can to make it a reality .
unfortunately a further restriction slipped in during the procedure , which is that Member States may impose a levy for the benefit of public passenger and local services .
let me say a word about the European External Action Service .
in writing . - ( PT ) We are voting against this report because it does not significantly alter the most important aspects of the European Commission 's bad proposal for the vineyard and wine sector .
as some of our fellow Members have said , we are dealing here firstly , with the Near and Middle East , an unstable region and one riddled with unresolved problems , and secondly , of course , with the mother of all conflicts , the Israeli-Palestinian conflict .
data on deglaciation is very contradictory at present , however , because the thickness of the ice in core areas of Greenland and the Antarctic is actually increasing .
I would bring to your attention an issue concerning Equitable Life , where we had some light-touch regulation and not great clarity about how Community law was actually being implemented - and we have seen the dire consequences of that particular issue .
secondly , we want the staff to be given comprehensive education and training .
the next item is the Commission statement on reform of trade protection instruments .
everything you have done in your political career has helped you to achieve your current position , and we are all putting our trust in you .
a recent survey conducted by the Italian office of statistics found that , in 2007 , night-time accidents between Friday night and Sunday morning accounted for 44 % of all road accidents in Italy .
that is why creating an optional instrument that will operate as a standard for SMEs alongside national rules , by broadening the parties ' options , is the right strategy .
in the end the Serbian authorities should themselves answer the pressing question : is Serbia standing in its own way ?
agriculture is doing relatively well .
at the same time nobody ever calculates how many hours he or she really works .
this will provide genuine European supervision , which will not replace national supervisory authorities but make them work together more effectively , which will have its own powers when facing challenges and risks , which are now clearly transnational .
in accordance with our rules of procedure , I would like to ask Members who are speaking not to quote other Members , for the simple reason that under the rules they could ask to speak later .
it starts in a practical manner with works that are already in the public domain .
lastly - and this might also be of interest to the Commission too - the Civil Liberties Committee strongly believes that a substantial part of the SIS II budget should be put into reserve as there is still no clear result .
I voted in favour of the Scholz report , because increased support for trade relations between the European Union and the countries of Latin America is the result of major democratic reforms in this particular region and improvements to the framework for protecting human rights .
in writing . - ( PT ) I welcome the importance accorded by the Commission to the role of women in the development of rural areas .
financial services are one of the cornerstones of the internal market .
I believe this report lays the foundations for progress , and I hope that the European Commission , acting in the spirit of the new Treaties , will take due account - full account , if at all possible - of the decisions of the European Parliament .
yesterday morning , I spoke to Baroness Ashton personally about this .
we cannot therefore be sustainable , we cannot guarantee the maintenance of species and we cannot engage in true market activity if we do not consider fish to be a ' sensitive product ' .
( applause )
Member of the Commission . - Let me start with the second question and say that we cannot call it a food crisis if we find a defective commodity in the market .
( PL ) Mr President , allow me , if you would , to begin by congratulating the authors of this report , since through their work a text has come about that is not just a political document , but an astute guide to the new realities of the Treaty .
we also say ' yes ' to loaning money where the reform programme would otherwise be threatened .
ladies and gentlemen , the present moment is one that is both fortunate and pressing .
the Court of Auditors has established that , in some Member States , the essential conditions for effective cooperation when it comes to controlling this form of fraud are completely lacking .
in the past , Airbus has shown that EU industry , given the right strategy , can compete successfully in the toughest markets with top technology .
is the Commission prepared to undertake and support long-term research , over a human lifespan , into the effects of the Chernobyl disaster for the health of Europeans in all areas which suffered from nuclear fallout ?
it would also be useful to clarify how the Baltic Sea Strategy will affect the planned application of a territorial cohesion policy .
in this respect , I need to make it clear that the progress sought by Parliament was achieved gradually in the course of negotiations and not , of course , only in the last trialogue during which some adjustments were made , but at the political level , it was decisive .
developing an effective formula for dialogue with the Russian Federation requires a uniform and united policy from the Member States of the European Union .
in writing . - In April 2009 , an earthquake occurred in Italy that caused a great deal of damage .
the European Union , the Commission , the Council and Parliament need to send out an unambiguous message to Turkey : if Turkey maintains its position , it will never be able to join the European Union .
the EU must use all the means at its disposal to respond to the consequences of the crisis , particularly in terms of the support to be provided to those who have been facing the day-to-day reality of unemployment .
in talks with Iran , we must not marginalise the rule of law , freedom of speech or the right to information .
in particular , the agricultural sector can expect to save EUR 380 million in duty .
statement by the President
passengers are acquiring rights .
I am particularly pleased that the report on the National Energy Efficiency Action Plans has provided an opportunity to discuss this topic during the last few weeks .
however , we do not believe that the EU should legislate on how trade in defence-related products within Europe 's borders should be controlled .
Member of Commission . - ( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , I would like to thank you for what was , in my opinion , an exceptionally important and profound debate .
if it was that simple , then we would already be doing it .
we should certainly continue the dialogue between the Council , Member States , Parliament and the Commission .
as I have said before , despite encouraging signs internationally , there are nevertheless serious differences of opinion .
there is indeed one major difference from 2005 .
instead , many banks have used the liquidity to buttress their own position .
it is a double problem .
one of these compromises has just been mentioned and concerns those responsible for a foreign policy on energy .
what they cannot do is take commercial gain from the results of that hunt .
I welcome this report , which has turned out to be fairly ambitious , and I hope that it will get through with flying colours during the plenary session vote .
I would like to very warmly thank the President , Hans-Gert Pöttering , for having invited me to address the European Parliament .
in its proposals , the Commission has recognised that footprint may have great merit ; it simply says that we have not got the data to establish the credentials for that yet , so let us get the data as fast as we can and keep the options open .
this means that we must also listen to the concerns the Russian side expresses sometimes with regard to some developments inside the European Union including , for instance , the issue of Russian-speaking minorities .
as we all know in this House , this had considerable disadvantages and it was later revealed that there had been a misunderstanding .
last week , a delegation from my Group went to Madeira , visited the areas most affected by the catastrophe and met with the regional and local authorities and business , industrial , trade and farmers ' associations .
as far as the budget is concerned , I know very well that , with regard to reforming the neighbourhood policy , many sections of this Chamber agree on matters concerning the financing of specific areas of the policy , as well as particular regions , but we should remember that the neighbourhood policy is only one section of the budget and that nothing will change during the next financial perspective .
therefore , in order to promote their financial probity , it is important to ensure the smooth interaction of the various services responsible for supervision of financial matters , especially in EU delegations .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the situation is certainly enough to make one weep .
nevertheless , the negotiations promise to be difficult , since the Commission 's guiding principle is to satisfy , by presenting a squeezed budget , the austerity requirements imposed by the Member States , while ignoring citizens ' needs .
rapporteur . - Mr President , apologies to colleagues for introducing it at this late stage , but the reason is one of simple clarification .
I voted for the report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a long-term plan for the anchovy stock in the Bay of Biscay and the fisheries exploiting that stock , because it should contribute to maintaining biomass stocks at levels that will enable their sustainable exploitation , on the basis of scientific advice .
this Kurdish issue is also placing a huge strain on the democratisation process .
I repeat once again : I am prepared to do this .
if we leave it mostly to those who contributed to the current crisis through their insatiable greed and if we do not try to support those who create values but who are unable to influence either the actions of firms or entire economies , then the outlook will be bleak .
prior to adopting legislation , it would also be important to carry out the social impact study and annual evaluation of implementation by Member States .
therefore , the aim has been to harmonise and simplify the system .
I believe that this is an important element which should not be forgotten .
nonetheless , accessing European funding remains difficult for a number of potential beneficiaries .
the High Representative will be duly informed of your opinion .
Europe therefore got a new country based on sustainable criteria .
( SK ) In Chad at present more than 250 000 Sudanese refugees live in 12 refugee camps in the eastern part of the country .
what would happen if only Europe had this kind of tax ?
this is an established European formula , is it not ?
then , of course , you also have the internal decision-making process within the European Commission , on a subject which is far-reaching .
can I also say that this House constantly rushes to introduce regulation .
in Parliament we have been watching the situation and have on many occasions debated the consequences of a prolonged crisis caused by the breakdown in the operation of institutions , the inability to elect a President of the Republic , the economic impasse resulting from occupation of the commercial and administrative centre , and fear of terrorist attacks .
nonetheless , the citizens continue to be highly supportive of the Prime Minister , who was freely chosen by the Italian population , and trust that the European Parliament will be able to confirm - as it did in 2004 - that freedom of the press is a recognised and well-established asset .
otherwise the suspicion could take root that the priorities have been chosen because you want to get rid of the inconvenient infringements .
the Council has unreservedly accepted 29 of Parliament 's amendments and rejected 8 , primarily because of technicalities .
it is not what we would have wished but it is what was written down in the text and we have to accept it , albeit with regret .
I ask you - and I include the Group here - to bear this in mind .
following the coup d 'état , meetings planned last week have been cancelled .
for citizens seeking advice too , it is also more convenient and closer to go to the authorities of the Member States and not to a remote and anonymous Commission database .
last year , an action plan was introduced containing a large number of very specific initiatives , which we will see the effects of - not in this year 's report , of course , but in next year 's .
Member of the Commission . - I understand that fisheries did also play a role in the ' no ' vote , particularly because , if one looks at the results in the various Irish counties , the results were particularly negative in the western coastal areas , where the majority of fisheries in Ireland are based .
my experience in the field of visa policy is that it is like pushing a boulder uphill trying to get Member States to co-locate .
any shortfall of world food markets - if Ireland cut its livestock numbers - would be most likely to be filled by countries with less sustainable farming systems and systems that generate far higher levels of emission , due to the less efficient nature of their herd management or the age profile of their herds and deforestation .
I would also like to raise an issue which has previously been brought up in this Chamber by a number of colleagues : how NGOs , in particular , are financed by the Commission and , in turn , use this money to lobby MEPs into taking certain positions .
we must therefore be ambitious with regard to biodiversity in order to achieve the strategic objectives for 2020 .
the Commission will then seek the Programme Management Committee 's favourable opinion . thereafter , this document will be uploaded to the comitology register in order to allow the European Parliament to exercise its 30-day right of scrutiny , which should take place between the end of March and the beginning of April .
verification of credentials : see Minutes
a worker dismissed from Saab in Sweden enjoys social standards that are completely different to those of a worker dismissed from General Motors somewhere in Chicago and the governments in these two cases have completely different approaches , as the automatic stabilisers multiply the EUR 400 billion to something substantially higher and give us an undisputed advantage over the US in this regard .
Piggy-back transport systems should finally become economically advantageous and the euphoria of privatisation should not be allowed to reduce public transport to an unattractive patchwork rug .
these figures often conceal a lot of suffering .
there is none to be found in religiously motivated murders , nor in widespread discrimination , nor in the failure to give consent to the building of Christian churches , nor in the ruination of memorials to Christian culture .
regional policy has had many successes during its long history and in 2009 it became the European Union 's main item of expenditure , with EUR 350 billion invested in our regions between 2007 and 2013 .
the main aim of the INDECT project ( Intelligent information system supporting observation , searching and detection for security of citizens in urban environment ) , which is implemented by the AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków , is the development of research into information technologies which increase the safety of citizens of urban areas .
the revised Treaty is a means , not an end in itself .
in 2006 , the Commission proposed the creation of a ' one-stop shop ' register for lobbyists in the Commission and the European Parliament , through the ' European Transparency Initiative ' .
we will start by reviewing relevant results of the G20 summit and will discuss our respective contributions to sustainable and balanced global recovery .
the European Union that fosters democracy must firstly ensure that the opposition parties of its Member States have the opportunity to work and express themselves freely and control actions for corruption prevention .
arrests are continuing , with individuals being seized for having apparently done no more than exercise their right to freedom of expression .
four national stations have failed to comply with their statutory registration requirements .
furthermore , I see an important role for the European Union in the ' outcome sessions ' of the UPR .
therefore , this mobilisation of funds from the EGF cannot under any circumstances replace or avoid the legal responsibilities of governments and companies to employees who have been made redundant .
my question is , does the Commissioner or the Commission have any plans for a uniform management of passenger rights and a uniform control of their enforcement in the various transport sectors ?
- Before the vote on paragraph 22 , first indent :
the rapporteur has , frankly , got the balance right and surely the important aspect of all of this is that we would establish a single system of regulation for the transport of dangerous goods by inland waterways , with standards laid down and with everybody , including Member States , knowing their responsibilities .
if the spirit of debate on these issues prevails over silence , then we will also have the strength to support the cause of liberating women in the world from Islamic oppression .
lifting the barriers preventing free movement can make an important contribution to closing the wounds of the past .
Madam President , the European People 's Party is very pleased by today 's debate .
( RO ) Madam President , achieving the Europe 2020 strategy target of increasing research and development investment to up to 3 % of GDP could create 3.7 million jobs and boost annual GDP by up to EUR 795 billion by 2025 .
within the European Union in 2008 , there were 515 terrorist attacks in 11 Member States .
now , this is precisely the role ENISA can and must play , once it is operating under an upgraded and improved mandate with clearly defined duties and aims and , of course , once it has the requisite means and human resources available to it .
( DE ) Mr President , many thanks to the Commission and also to the Council for having presented this climate package to us .
at this point , I would also like to recall what happened in Hungary a few days ago when several tonnes of a caustic red sludge covered the residents of three communities in Veszprém County after the dam of a waste reservoir burst at an alumina plant near Ajka .
three times twenty per cent amounts to a great deal , and we would be happy to hit these targets .
similarly , this opportunity will put the different systems in direct competition with each other , forcing them to develop and give the appropriate attention to patients ' expectations and needs .
in the cereals sector there are various different reasons for the increase in prices .
the figure that he quoted concerns only managerial staff .
( EL ) Mr President , the Commission wishes to help combat the problem of rising food prices in developing countries and intends to fund those countries to the tune of EUR 1 billion .
the revision of the timeshare directive excludes the registration of unreliable service providers and thereby increases the chances that people will not fall victim to fraud as is all too often the case today .
I want to ask for calm from the parties .
in conclusion , I believe that Libya 's suspension from the Human Rights Council creates a historic precedent for respect for human rights in the UN system , which , in these dark days , shines a light on the silver thread .
I agree that the EU 's 2020 strategy must improve equal representation and participation in the labour market , and fully support reforms of labour and social policies to ensure economic and social equality for women .
today , the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the application of all the provisions of the Schengen acquis to Bulgaria and Romania .
Mr President , on 25 March 2007 , you signed on our behalf the Berlin Declaration commemorating 50 years of the European Union .
we need effective independence of system operators to ensure investments and optimal network use .
I am therefore somewhat concerned when I listen to some members of the Council of Ministers , who do not say much about new markets and free trade but rather criticise globalisation and talk of protecting European companies and European jobs .
there is no agreement between Parliament and the Council at present on the financing for the following three years ( 2011-2013 ) .
yes , we need regulation , common policy , common rules , and an overhaul of our rules and better functioning of the system .
( LT ) When Alexander Lukashenko started to feel the pressure from Vladimir Putin over gas , he declared his desire for closer ties with the EU .
strategic partnerships for combating climate change must include NGOs and civil society .
( NL ) Mr President , I believe there are two schools of thought on the free trade agreement with India .
if the proposal refers to the Lisbon Treaty , I would consider this to be inappropriate since ratification of the Lisbon Treaty has only begun .
a EUR 110 billion package is an enormous amount of money .
we need to be aware that every euro we spend comes from the taxpayer .
in writing . - ( LT ) I welcome this resolution .
I note your eagerness and the expectations that there are of the Swedish Presidency , your desire for us to be more of a driving force in climate negotiations and to take action to combat the financial crisis and economic recession .
( SK ) Mr President , I supported the directive , because human trafficking is a denial of freedom in the broadest sense of the word .
these are not two conflicting concepts .
not with a huge fanfare , not so as to be able to say that we reached an agreement rapidly , but with an eye on the financial problems in the euro area and the European Union and in an attempt to come up with some proper solutions .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I wish to thank Members of for a very interesting discussion , and will take this opportunity to answer some of their questions .
the European Union consists of 27 Member States with different legal systems and different systems for setting up companies .
I consider that , at present , clear , transparent and equitable rules have been drawn up to ensure an efficient return policy , as a necessary element of correct management of the migration policy , as agreed by the Hague programme .
the pressure from China seems to be very effective , and what have so far been peaceful demonstrations in defence of freedom of expression and fundamental rights may become a situation which is difficult to control , and this will certainly have international repercussions .
recognising that this is a difficult task , the rapporteur 's work must be praised , as should everyone for their commitment to achieving compromises which are specifically aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change and balancing social and economic activities in Europe .
this will require partnership and shared responsibility .
I therefore hope that the European institutions will redouble their effects in implementing measures that speed up and improve the rates of utilisation of such an important resource as the EGF , which currently has very low levels of mobilisation .
we have decided on a set plan , new energy technology .
there are other mechanisms and ways of solving common problems and priorities .
we also need better capitalisation , and we will come back to that .
( it ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , we are well aware of the concept that the Mediterranean diet , as confirmed by many studies , can help in the battle against obesity and cardiovascular disease and , in general , is very positive for human health in many different ways .
the fact that jobs have been and are being created in countries with low wages has resulted in average wages falling in Central and Western Europe , which , in its turn , has caused a fall in consumption levels .
many of the provisions in the report , and more especially their implementation , will be of crucial importance to the development of relations between Europe and Africa .
however , the ECR has consistently been against setting quotas for women within national , regional and international institutions , as well as the establishment of the European External Action Service ( EEAS ) .
thank you very much for your attention , and as the Hungarian Presidency announced at one time that it will be a presidency that can prove that it also has a heart , as also expressed by our focus on the Roma strategy , I would like to assure you that this is also the case with regard to refugee matters .
all I wanted to add is that I have voted emphatically against the Schmitt report , not least because education , to my mind , is a competence that should remain in Member State hands , as it is not really Europe 's concern .
I fully share Mr Casini 's view that it did not suffice to refer to a sole interpretation and to the guidelines intended to facilitate implementation .
I think many of us still have concerns about the legality - and there has been much spoken about this either at WTO level or within our own internal market rules .
Europe has a message to deliver on each of these subjects , but this message will only be credible if we put in place effective internal , Community-wide instruments to govern and manage our public finances .
anyone in Africa who woke up and said : ' today I am going to be homosexual ' would be insane .
and this tragedy continues .
I believe that a Statute for a European Private Company must be adopted as a matter of urgency to facilitate the establishment and cross-border operation of small and medium-sized enterprises .
not as far as I am concerned .
this policy is a result either of ignorance made worse by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change , or of plain stupidity , or it is also the result of excessive cynicism leading to economic sabotage .
the poor levels of security in the refugee camps , the widespread sexual violence , and the difficulty of delivering food aid have made the situation even more critical .
in writing . - ( SV ) I have voted in favour of this report , partly because the Commission 's proposal aims to simplify the current legislation and partly because agricultural statistics are nevertheless necessary in the present circumstances , with the common agricultural policy .
I make no apology for that , and I make no apology for putting forward to this Parliament what I believe is a serious , 21st century free trade agreement of enormous benefit across the economy of the European Union .
none of the promises made to the European people in order for them to accept the loss of their independence , their sovereignty , their identity and their culture have been kept : neither growth , nor full employment , nor prosperity , nor security , and the predominant feeling is of anxiety as we stand on the brink of a looming systemic crisis : energy , food and financial crises .
if you are waiting for that , I would not do so .
wait until the Lisbon Agreement is ratified ?
this resolution aims to provide the European Parliament 's perspective on the analysis of the Commission 's ' Small Business Act ' .
one of these is the issue of better identification of shareholders , issues of transparency , of the tightening of the regulations on transparency in view of the fact that enterprises as well as the managers of these enterprises ought to know to whom they actually belong in order that they , too , are able to act responsibly towards those who own them .
on parliamentary questions : we are not proposing any limit to parliamentary questions , we are simply saying that the same guidelines that we as a Parliament have already adopted for Question Time questions should apply to written questions , namely that they should be within the remit of the European Union and of the institution called upon to answer them .
faced with the markets and credit rating agencies , the public powers need to demonstrate that they are responsible .
that is , rationing , the deliberate fabrication of scarcity .
- Report : Caspary
we ask it to do so in close collaboration with Italy , the country which initiated the campaign , and to associate with it not only the countries of the European Union but also all those that have shown willingness to be co-sponsors and co-authors .
regardless of whether a product is produced in China or Europe , if it is brought onto the European market , the same regulations apply 100 % , since there is no distinction at all .
while I consider that we could have gone further by introducing a specific article regulating the indication of origin of textile products , I voted in favour of the proposal for a regulation .
we must strengthen the internal market , especially in service and networking industries , and abolish various hidden barriers .
efforts to achieve that can make the motor industry considerably stronger in the future .
transparency , a uniform quality standard and the presentation of the advantages and disadvantages of a sufficient number of political options are the key to reliable impact assessments .
if the Treaty of Lisbon is adopted , with the Commission 's approval and following parliamentary consultations , five thousand officials will be employed at the European External Action Service , following a decision of the Council , based on a proposal by the future Vice-President .
however , the post-2002 provisions of the legislation concerning drivers have changed significantly and it has been a positive change .
for a long time we were only able to say that , if Europe advanced , Spain would do so too .
in Romania , in the municipality of Tărlungeni , near Braşov , a wall has been erected between the Roma and non-Roma families .
there is therefore no reason not to include them or to await further information .
the liberalisation of international trade has promoted the opening of markets between countries with enormous disparities in their levels of economic development , to the delight and profit of the big financial and economic groups , namely the EU .
I do not think one should speak of interference by the European Union whenever a positive message is conveyed .
I would like to tell you that I visited Turkey last year as a member of the Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee , which came 20 years after my previous visit there , and the progress that has been made by Turkish society is impressive .
one of these questions is this : has Frontex fully incorporated human rights obligations into its existing regulatory provisions and practices ?
in our view , that is the very minimum that should be ensured for the European consumers and citizens .
we will strive to ensure that , in these negotiations , a stronger partnership principle really is implemented .
the reduction requirements have been laid down for all Member States individually .
another change , of a completely different sort , is to liven up our debates and the way we conduct our speaking time .
fourthly , intensive fishing has rocked the equilibrium of the ecosystem and is destabilising biodiversity too .
we are agreed that free trade agreements and trade agreements should not be limited to trade , but also have other objectives that ultimately benefit us all .
a terrible beauty has been born .
namely , that the issuing of passports or travel documents to stateless persons permanently resident in a Member State does not fall under the competence of the Community .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( SV ) When EU countries exploit the natural resources of poorer countries , they leave large footprints behind them .
as far as the offences are concerned , we have stood firm against the Member States , but only on matters concerning forms of transport other than cars , because this is the first time that we have taken action in the automobile sector .
in view of the fact that it is an authoritarian regime , we have to reckon with the possibility of its posing a threat to other countries , in particular , neighbouring ones .
Mr President , Mr Caldeira , Mr Šemeta , ladies and gentlemen , we have a very good day ahead of us , because for the first time , we can expect the Barroso II Commission to cross the 2 % barrier .
the report highlights the added value of ' territorial cooperation ' and its potential to promote competitiveness .
Britain will vote ' no ' .
- ( SK ) Madam President , the budget is a key instrument for European integration , and how it is set therefore matters .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , what can I say ?
the organisation of our business environment is cumbersome and fossilised .
it is therefore essential that we mobilise sources of funding , both national and private , as far as possible , especially from industry , although as the Commissioner rightly said , this is not a very good time .
the Spanish Presidency of the Council would like to express , on behalf of the Council , its condolences and sympathy to the families , and therefore echoes the statement made by the President of Parliament .
the European Union is doing what it can ; the Visa requirement for Albanians has now been removed .
I believe that the majority of my fellow Members across party divides would agree to conducting a broad debate in order to reach a wide consensus in Parliament that respects the principles of our Charter of Fundamental Rights and that follows the recommendations of the United Nations , the International Labour Organisation and the Council of Europe .
patients are aware of the treatment possibilities in other countries and wish to make use of services in other countries .
we voted for the Matias report on falsified medicines .
I believe the Commission is working towards this .
this is a text which , if approved , after the statements by the spokesperson of the Commission President defending Mr Frattini , would cause an unseemly conflict between Parliament and the Commission for internal political reasons .
citizens will be able to call on the Commission to bring forward new policy initiatives .
we were unable to find the language to speak to Russia .
the penalty system in case of failure to meet with these targets is unfavourable to those who have developed more environmentally-friendly vehicles .
I am pleased that the report takes into account migrant families and unaccompanied minors .
however , it should not respond hesitantly , half-heartedly and defensively .
it is in fact a gratuitous provocation and it is sticking two fingers up at the Dutch voters and , by extension , all European voters who want nothing to do with a European superstate .
that might suit the EU 's expansionist agenda , but it will not defeat terrorism .
the parallel process of appointing the future commissioners has certainly facilitated the introduction of a right of legislative initiative , which the European Parliament will enjoy from now on .
this is not a reason , Mr Watson , it is simply a response to the issue of being a team player .
while we are protecting these social gains let us not forget that growth comes from innovation , improved organisational efficiency , greater productivity and competitiveness .
indeed , the expression ' measures taken ' acts in a way as a missing link between any measures taken concerning electronic communications networks , whether it be terminating access or filtering , and the fundamental rights of users .
it is a great honour for me to be able to speak to you on this occasion today in the European Parliament .
it is the United States that is the main collector of personal data , collecting data relating to European Union citizens both on the basis of agreements with the European Union and on the basis of bilateral agreements made with individual countries .
I wonder about the usefulness of such calculations - what will they actually tell us ?
we also made it our top priority simply because it is such an important issue : people 's lives are at stake .
it is related to the practice , which is also incomprehensible because of its incompatibility with the will to resolve the situation , of continuing to export or seeking to export arms to Pakistan .
after all , what do we actually mean by governance ?
Mr Platini - a maestro of football - is speaking in another hall at this very moment .
( CS ) Mr President , I was glad to support the report just now , but I should add to my previous comments the fact that seven countries have not yet committed themselves to the Council of Europe Convention or to the UN 's Optional Protocol containing modern instruments for fighting child trafficking , prostitution and pornography .
we are therefore behind in responding to all those millions of unemployed people who are looking to us , and we are raising difficulties that are not arising in other countries that are tackling the crisis with greater decision-making capacity .
however , the willingness of a number of MEPs , myself included , to work and to participate in a positive outcome of this conference must be encouraged and not neglected , as we have felt it to be in the last few days .
Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , our group has been pressing for a debate on the problem of the bankruptcies in the aviation sector , as it is true that we are no longer talking about an isolated case .
I can only imagine this is a desire to save the systems rather than the patients in need of care .
we have fought all along for this not to be laid down as a condition , but it will definitely support the building of mutual trust .
we will be forced into this if natural resources run out before 2020 , but it will not happen as a result of any systematic effort on the part of the EU Member States or an EU declaration .
it is on this basis that we shall judge your future actions .
on the other hand , however , human health must be protected from diseases transmitted by animals ( whether wild animals , pets , or animals for human consumption ) , and this requires scientific research to show us how to better regulate and protect public health .
in a bid to tackle the serious energy and economic challenges facing the European Union , in its recovery package the Commission has proposed measures designed to contribute to both economic recovery and energy objectives .
I am referring to the Schengen Agreement entailing the free movement of Europeans , which was implemented on the initiative of five states : France , with President Mitterrand , Germany , with Chancellor Kohl , along with the Benelux countries .
however , diversity should be celebrated .
in writing . - The compromise negotiated by my colleague Jill Evans marks progress in this area of law .
we are faced with Google 's comprehensive digitisation of books , including books by European authors , who have not given their consent and who are now surprised and annoyed to find themselves in Google Books , where they do not want to be .
Parliament has also committed the Commission to analysing the first results and experiences in connection with the implementation of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region and , using the example of the two strategies ( for the Baltic and the Danube ) , to map out possible sources and methods of financing for macro-regional strategies .
let us again take the example of China .
the vote in Parliament tomorrow will make the promise of a European future more tangible for the citizens of Albania and of Bosnia and Herzegovina .
I also regret the absence of a study of the social impact of the economic crisis , since in such cases , it is always the vulnerable social groups who are in danger .
to date , there is no effective system on the market providing for the protection of pedestrians in the case of collision , which is why the Commission is rightly encouraging industry to develop such a system .
obviously it is a matter of common sense , of common experience : how can unity and harmony develop under fear , under guns ?
the new Treaty emphasizes the importance of the social market economy , with a high degree of competitiveness for the sustainable development of Europe .
the value put at risk in this case , namely the health of citizens , demands that care be taken .
by József Szájer , on behalf of the Committee on Legal Affairs , with recommendations to the Commission on the alignment of legal acts to the new Comitology Decision .
the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development proposed the amendment in advance , before we could even know the results of the implementation of the new CMO in the Member States and in businesses .
there was one case that was also presented here today in which OLAF investigated the problem and referred the whole file with the findings to the French court , which did not support the full extent of OLAF 's findings , but nevertheless , the partial recovery of unpaid duties has started .
that is a very interesting question .
I will oppose any support by the EU and its Member States for poppy cultivation in Afghanistan for at least four reasons : insufficient infrastructure , absence of economic competitiveness , huge expansion in the wrong direction and , finally , there is no lack of opiates on the world markets at present .
the establishment of this company represents a dangerous precedent in the use of public money for private purposes .
even though the error rate is lower than the previous year , it is still significantly higher than that for agricultural expenditure .
promoting the exchange of information on request , as an OECD standard , is certainly an acceptable approach with third countries but , in a fully integrated internal market as the EU single market is , Member States must be more ambitious and go further .
that would certainly be a sound instrument .
as rapporteur I endorse Amendment 80 on the exclusion tout court of local transport , tabled by my group , but I have also indicated my support for Amendment 81 , which gives Member States the power to exempt local transport , provided that they guarantee passengers a similar level of rights to that set out in the regulation .
I encourage the Commission to present a draft revised directive , considering the European Parliament 's proposals , as soon as possible ( during this term of office ) and thus save time on repeated improvements in the future .
in paragraph 3 , the first sentence should be deleted , the rest remaining unchanged : ' recalls that any redeployment that would lead ... ' and so on .
the size of the task meant that a united effort was required .
its discussions add a great deal to the Commission 's initiative , and the amendments on which it is to vote will also constitute a most valuable input on a number of key aspects .
most importantly , I think it is very important to see what can be specific deliverables for Cancún .
( NL ) Mr President , the 2011 budget brings us face to face with the priorities of the European Union .
I can already say that , for next week 's meeting , this report will provide guidance for the High Representative 's considerations to enable him or her , once the Treaty has entered into force , to very quickly produce a formal proposal for how the European External Action Service will function .
the Committee on Budgetary Control cannot be a Court of Auditors and still less a firm of accountants .
however , I am rather disappointed that negotiations on the free trade agreement have made only sluggish progress towards the conclusion of a negotiated agreement .
many of them were blinded .
there are , in fact , whole sectors , such as the tobacco sector , that would disappear with the application of full decoupling , creating unemployment and various economic and environmental problems in particularly disadvantaged areas .
that is what we have to do .
I will therefore listen to the concerns of those who know more about the wine sector , while realising that we do have to move this process on .
this brings me back to the holistic approach that I mentioned at the start , and the structural nature of violence , which was stressed in the question to the Council .
we observe human rights and we want to realise a programme of social market economy - a programme which puts people at the centre of our attention .
it is therefore important for us to participate in wide-ranging mediation involving international institutions so as to encourage the leaders of both countries to resolve contentious issues .
as I said earlier , all of the measures aimed at combating the crisis during the Czech Presidency must be viewed against the backdrop of the joint and unequivocal rejection of protectionism .
hence a civil war which has taken the lives of over two million people .
to conclude , Mr President , the imports of fishery products included in the quotas for the Canary Islands are legal , reported and adequately regulated and therefore I ask for the European Commission proposal to be supported and for the amendments tabled to be rejected .
this enabling of a militaristic Europe is accompanied by repressive partitioning off of the external borders .
it is important that the populations of these countries understand that European integration offers not only the opportunity to legally cross borders , but also a real chance to get the country out of its impasse .
at Ecofin yesterday it was agreed that Member States would increase the current level to at least EUR 50 000 , with many going beyond this to EUR 100 000 .
Cynics might say that it is because gas and oil have been discovered in Turkmenistan , because we want to build a new pipeline , because we suddenly find it in our strategic interest .
I remain firm in my commitment to promoting a responsible sexual culture .
I think that regions must continue to be supported in their aim to fulfil the economic and social cohesion objective .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( GA ) Mr President , Mr President of the Commission and Mr President-in-Office of the Council , I firmly believe that the European Commission has adopted a strong position by acting directly and decisively to deal with the crisis in the international financial markets .
opening of the sitting
it highlights once again the need to campaign for a genuinely independent inquiry into the war crimes and for the Rajapaksa regime to be held responsible .
colleagues , we had 21 names on the list but only 14 of you could take the floor .
there is reason to hope that the tragic and bitter lesson being imparted by Tunisia can serve to give all of us a better understanding of what is worth doing and what is worth changing in terms of Europe 's actions .
the External Action Service led by Baroness Ashton seems to have been caught by surprise and in my opinion is now demonstrating a poor response capacity .
we must make sure the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is implemented .
the health system , education , training and the chance to earn a living were opened up to women after the Taliban rule .
the variety of national rules and technical specifications partition the market and hinder industrial investments in risk technologies .
other newspapers said that it would .
now we have to consider whether we as a Parliament are in favour of further research into and use of this application .
one might have hoped that this decision was the start of a crucial turning point in the Jacobinic French concept applied to regional languages and to traditional national minorities .
we would like to improve the situation of families in the European Union .
when you take steps together in the UN context , it is slow by definition , so no one should believe that the road to South Africa is going to be an easy one .
can I say , with respect to eastern and southern Africa , that many of these points would apply there ?
unfortunately , despite all our discussions , proposals , amendments and further re-amendments of amendments , and the changes that have taken place , some colleagues still have not grasped the way that this situation has moved on .
nonetheless , a properly functioning internal energy market and the diversification of energy sources will also be extremely important in preventing future crises and interruptions in energy supply .
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will it review the principle that the Member State of entry bears sole responsibility for illegal immigrants ?
however , I do protest against what has been said by the Polish here , that somebody is suffering discrimination .
what is the European Union 's reaction to the very events which we are talking about at the moment ?
financial control on implementing the European Union budget takes place on three levels : internal control , within each institution ; external control , carried out by the European Court of Auditors ; and a discharge procedure carried out by Parliament .
I would like a detailed answer to my question , Commissioner .
ladies and gentlemen , the debate also clearly shows that social and economic policies cannot be designed on an ' either / or ' basis .
we have voted in favour .
we have seen that the fact that we have used our 30 % target as a leveraging tool has also put pressure on others parties .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( ES ) Mr President , we are really sorry , but this proposal is not serious .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
we will not find confidence , respect for sovereignty , restraint or consideration for children 's rights in this resolution .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to thank the 25 fellow Members who signed a letter to the Cambodian Prime Minister and dictator Hun Sen , bringing up the case of Saumura Tioulong , one of the leaders of the Sam Rainsy Party .
I am aware that many people raise the issue of the southern and eastern neighbourhoods as a case of either / or , saying that the current situation dictates that we focus all our attention on the European Union 's southern borders .
lastly , Roma people must seize this opportunity to take control of their own destiny , knowing that they can count on Europe 's support .
however , it is also the freedom to know or not to know , the freedom to see and the freedom to keep one 's eyes closed , the freedom to form one 's own opinions and the freedom to accept the ideas of others .
Commissioner Verheugen , what you have just described as the essence of the Toys Directive - as well as the comments from Mrs Thyssen - we can only underline .
if we want to have any political credibility with the market and our citizens , with consumers but also with the sector and the industry. it is important for us to take a decision at last .
an attack on an MP anywhere amounts to an attack on democracy .
in 2010 only 15 % of new jobs will be available for that group of people , most of whom come from socially disadvantaged sectors of society .
the accession process of Croatia has been unblocked and is now moving forward .
Madam President , honourable Members , Commissioner , due to some slight delays , I will have to leave Parliament very shortly , as my flight leaves in 45 minutes .
concerning the question that some voting lists have been destroyed , we know that there were some individual cases , but , fortunately , they were all stored on CDs with the Electoral Commission and the destroyed ones will be restored .
what will happen during the election ?
perhaps something now needs to be considered - under a NATO hat , a French-led Common Security and Defence Policy mission , or whatever - to defeat this global threat , particularly in the region of Mali , Mauritania and Niger , which are already extremely poor countries and need every bit of help we can give them .
ASEAN has a role to play , and we are pleased to see that ASEAN is assuming its responsibility .
finally , Madam President - and the Commissioner just spoke about this - is this accident going to speed up EU energy and renewable energy policy ?
I therefore urgently call on the Council to examine this issue in depth .
we are also pleased with the inclusion of the situation of the Roma within the European Union and will ensure that this is one of the priorities of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights .
furthermore , satellite navigation systems must provide interoperability with different systems , including traditional systems .
we are working on the problem .
it is also regrettable that the amendments tabled by the Greens and the GUE / NGL group , which were directly taken from the Rasmussen draft report , were not adopted during the plenary vote .
I am convinced that the Social Agenda is the right vehicle to propose an initial response designed and tailored for the challenges of mobility to ensure protection for workers .
let us go the right way .
I think it is very important that we are discussing transatlantic relations , because we find ourselves , in part , in a paradoxical situation .
I supported this proposal because it will facilitate air transport , but mainly because it includes a gradual phasing-in of air traffic rights and investment opportunities , as well as far-reaching cooperation on a number of issues including safety , security , social matters , consumer interests , the environment , air traffic management , state aids and competition .
I voted in favour of this resolution on Turkey 's 2010 progress report .
the EU budget should therefore focus on areas where the EU can provide added value - European added value - and where the budgets of Member States and of the EU can complement and support one another .
I am calling for the European Security and Defence College that Mr Kuhne mentioned to become more than just a virtual college so that it is given the means with which to perform its task .
to be able to tackle this two-pronged challenge , we need , on the one hand , to collaborate with all institutions and Member States and , on the other hand , I want to call for us to make use of the acquired experience and focus more attention on the positive results when we are looking for ideas on how to overcome the obstacles .
it can hardly be the right way to go in a world where a food shortage is a likely scenario , given the greenhouse gas phenomenon .
the unjustified period of time , sometimes amounting to several years , which the Commission takes to prepare its response in cases of negligence on the part of Member States gives cause for concern , as do the numerous cases of Member States ' failure to comply with judgments of the Court of Justice .
given this , one of the EU 's priorities should be to create mechanisms that solve the problem of access to credit for these companies .
I voted in favour of this motion for a resolution because of the exceptionally important part that the recent demonstrations in various Arab countries in North Africa and the Middle East have played in institutional , political and economic change in the area .
it refers to the adoption of a healthier lifestyle and to physical activity of all kinds as being the most effective methods of treatment .
it is important for us to discuss people and positions .
that concludes the vote .
at the same time , those same citizens have long regarded not only this Parliament , but all European institutions as too distant and insensitive to their problems .
if there were , I would already know .
given the great mobility of cormorants , as migratory birds , it appears that European-wide coordinated action or a management plan is the only way to achieve the objective , and this should in no way be seen as opposing the Directive of 1979 on the conservation of wild birds .
in writing . - ( PT ) I voted in favour of the report on the White Paper on Sport .
( SV ) Mr President , the Council and Parliament are after all negotiating at present on the climate change package .
what is there an opportunity for ?
it is definitely in the Commission 's interest as well .
this would have appalling consequences , not least with regard to the way in which we exercise the right of public access to the countryside in Sweden , in other words , our opportunities to roam freely through the woods and fields .
I should like to urge the Bureau to consider sending the Council a very firm letter of protest with the message that this is unacceptable .
I would like to say that , according to Mr. Vakalis ' initial intuition , during the research period for this report we discovered that , at the level of the European Union , we have serious gaps regarding earthquake protection .
( FI ) Madam President , I set great store by Mr Mauro 's initiative .
this December declaration states : ' the European Council recalls that Member States will determine , in accordance with their respective constitutional and budgetary requirements , the use of revenues generated from the auctioning of allowances in the EU emissions trading system .
firstly , I entirely agree that a free trade agreement with Korea would bring enormous benefits both to the European Union and to Korea , and would send a positive signal in terms of our determination to keep markets open .
as has already been said , this report , together with previous reports and the Commission 's communication , seeks to demonstrate that Europe 's aim is to have a common agricultural policy that guarantees food security in Europe and contributes to global food security .
I propose that the Council of Ministers reject this measure .
they will have to balance Economic and Monetary Union .
5 .
the new crisis would be far worse in Ireland if we did not have the broader base to trade internationally , facilitated by the internal market .
when you travel within the Schengen area , you are as free as you are within your own country ; you leave your country , you arrive in another , and you return without controls , without stamps , without borders , without questions .
this is what this initiative is about : getting us moving again , and I will bring you a list of issues to debate in Parliament and in the Eurogroup , and I agree with those of you who have said that the work of the Eurogroup is incredibly important and that the work that it has been doing under the chairmanship of Jean-Claude Juncker is very positive .
for these reasons , I voted against the budget report .
the German Free Democratic Party delegation in the European Parliament assumes that the inclusion of Romania and Bulgaria in the Schengen area will further improve freedom of movement within the EU .
what is the Council Presidency doing to counter this ?
the fundamental objective is the recovery of the economy and prompt payment in order to facilitate the financial stability of small and medium-sized enterprises .
indeed , I complained to Mr Barroso yesterday that in Hungary the socialist-liberal government had violated the freedom of opinion , not through the concentration of press or media , but by shooting people in the eye , putting them in prison , torturing them in prison and conducting a series of sham trials .
somebody once said : ' when I hear the word " culture ” , I reach for my revolver ' .
the Commission and the other institutions involved - the International Monetary Fund , the World Bank , the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank - must speed up the process of putting together a support package for Ukraine in order to identify and implement a sustainable solution with regard to reforming its economy and , primarily , its energy sector .
in this way , manufacturers can ensure that all their products are exempt from indicating a date of minimum durability .
it was the responsible and right thing to do .
furthermore , would the Minister agree that the EU peacekeeping mission to Chad sends out a very strong message to the Sudanese Government , because many of the 300 000 refugees stranded in the camps in eastern Chad have come there to escape the genocide from the Darfur region ?
one example of the general climb-down is the undermining of the hierarchical structure whereby recycling must precede energy recovery .
and to those friends of mine who are concerned about the excessive bureaucracy that this construct might entail , I say that the only solution is to oppose it on principle rather than be surprised at its disastrous consequences .
you will all feel the effects in your own purses and your own accounts .
currently , free movement is guaranteed on a territory with 42 673 km of external sea and 7 721 km of land borders , covering 25 countries and 400 million citizens .
the latest example of the regime 's policy towards Tibet is the repression of the monks who expressed their delight at the award of the Congressional Gold Medal to the Dalai Lama . the Dalai Lama has also received the Nobel Prize and has been fighting for respect for human rights over several decades .
( PT ) Mr President , we regret that the Lisbon Summit took over the essence of the content of the so-called European Constitution , previously rejected in the French and Dutch referendums , simultaneously attempting to dodge the necessary democratic debate and public consultation by means of referendums .
despite its technical nature , however , this regulation is hugely relevant for Europe 's citizens .
( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , thanks to Mr Domenici 's efforts , the report on which we have to take a final vote this week is a high quality document .
all contract conditions deemed unfair will be listed in a proper ' black list ' and may not be used in any type of contract .
finally , I would like to say a few words about the Treaty of Lisbon .
fragmentation and diffusion is seen not only among Member States , but also between different departments and institutions within the EU .
it has been over-exaggerated by the media .
this cannot be done by the Union , even though we have a single currency .
they are often sent on with no guarantee that their rights and life will be respected or remain in the country with no protection or social care and , as a result , in the case of children , they fall victim to abuse and exploitation by various gangs .
in conclusion , I underscore the Commission 's determination to work closely with Parliament in order to have this proposal adopted and to have an efficient , accurate and cost-effective scheme for origin marking .
European fishermen also respect strict management and control rules that allow for the preservation of resources and the sustainable development of European fisheries , but these rules must not penalise our fishermen in relation to those who fail to respect them .
the proposals presented by my Group are on the same lines : we are against alcohol abuse , but it is important to distinguish between moderate and responsible consumption and abuse .
the system exists to find the cause and deal with the consequences , but I am afraid that not all parts of the system have been adequately put in place , and I have some questions in relation to timing .
wholesale changes are also required within the Israeli leadership , which must respect the universal values laid down by law .
I would like to thank you all for your contributions and your suggestions .
it is very important that we remember that and do not lose sight of it in the general discussion that we are having at the moment .
its task is to implement European legislation at Community level and to ensure that the legislation is complied with in individual Member States .
I would however raise one political point - already alluded to by Mr Musacchio - which affects all of us .
I believe that Member States should understand something about what has happened now .
a full and proper reform of this market is yet to come .
there remains a particular challenge to bring coherence to the policies in the different areas , for example , the environment and social and economic affairs , and to formulate our communication with the outside world in such a way as to make European policy more transparent and comprehensible for all citizens .
we will not do it by promoting the strong message from Europe that we will make cuts of not 20 % , but 30 and 40 % .
here we are now roughly two years later , having a final vote on this document which has a direct impact on approximately 800 000 European enterprises and around 4.5 million jobs .
( PL ) Madam President , I agree with the rapporteur that we should not confuse serious fraud with accidental errors , because doing so means that the accidental errors divert attention from the most serious matters .
where are they all ?
as members of the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection , we do not identify any legislative , any direct impact of such green and white papers , but we believe that when new legislation is adopted , the legislator must always adopt a new decision as well .
it is essential to use all the powers of creativity that European society possesses in order to face the challenges that the world is bringing forward .
this report also encourages the European Commission to devise a strategy for retraining the workers who will be affected by these closures .
I would definitely like to emphasise equal opportunities for all , not only in terms of gender equality , but also for disabled or otherwise disadvantaged people .
to conclude , I would like to draw attention to the fact that the Commission 's new proposal should be made within a reasonable timescale for a new regulation to come into force on 1 January 2013 , which is when the new CFP comes into force .
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Member of the Commission . - Mr President , the answer is yes .
let us , therefore , get rid of the senseless , bureaucratic rules on carrying fluids at airports .
I have also been urging confirmation of the original Commission proposal to retain the principle of ' one member , one vote ' for decision-making in the Council of European Energy Regulators .
( ES ) Mr President , the government of Spain has asked the government of Venezuela for an explanation following a court ruling referring to alleged cooperation between the government of Venezuela and ETA .
Mrs Neyts-Uyttebroeck , you asked whether discussions with Russia will continue regardless of events .
in writing . - ( SV ) We Swedish Social Democrats agree that migration flows as a result of instability constitute a challenge for the EU and that increased efforts are required to deal with the causes of the instability and structural problems in the countries of origin .
this is why we cannot give in to the mirages of the market and industrialisation .
however , a quarter of a million civilians trapped in the conflict zone need safe passage and they must be provided with humanitarian aid .
these have shown that there is a lot of progress , but there are still some things to be done , and we are in dialogue with the Kosovo Government in order to help and assist them to do these last things .
I do not think so .
the issue under discussion is an inhaler for asthma that has been on the market since 1996 .
to conclude , let me say that I personally believe the negative completion - that is , the removal of barriers in the WTO framework - has not been adequately backed up by the necessary positive integration in terms of regulatory systemic convergence .
I believe that we need to be able to establish a suitable balance between cooperation and sanctions with regard to these three groups of countries .
they argue for flexible implementation of the Stability Pact , so that an unwelcome austerity cure can be avoided .
we have to maintain solidarity between the Member States on this whole issue .
now is not the time to prejudge the precise way forward .
but they said that we have to be aware that this is more costly .
in writing . - I voted in favour of giving important new rights to bus and coach passengers .
we believe that the provision of that information should be compulsory , so Amendment 4 , on precisely that point , replaces some rather weak wording with a much stronger requirement that , where we can actually have information on ' place of farming ' labelling , it should be compulsory , because that is what our consumers want to see .
I voted for the joint motion for a resolution on support for the Special Court for Sierra Leone , as it is vital to ensure that the perpetrators of violent crimes under international humanitarian law , notably war crimes and crimes against humanity , are punished and serve out their punishments .
that is all very well , but establishing large numbers of new EU agencies ( the figure has tripled since 2000 ) and expanding their remit clearly goes against the attempts of the Lisbon Strategy to introduce more deregulation and subsidiarity .
this is what I mean by pragmatism .
in writing . - The Basel Committee seeks to reform the Basel II framework in order to strengthen the resilience of the banking system .
on behalf of the European Parliament , I would like to extend condolences to the families of the victims .
my second point is Libya .
the next item is the debate on the oral question to the Commission ( B6-0225 / 2009 ) by Mr Cappato , on behalf of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe , on the interoperability of mobile phone chargers .
I have asked the main producers several times openly and clearly to destroy the toys and I have also invited them to the Commission in Brussels , where we discussed how to ensure that the toys are destroyed .
we should all be involved in this effort and develop it further .
it is worth making the effort today to enable this to come about .
of course it is not always like the Mattel case that was mentioned earlier , in which millions of toys had to be taken off the market , but such delays , whenever and wherever they occur in the European Union , indicate that market surveillance is simply not working .
in Spain central government powers are decentralised to the autonomous communities and we would therefore be forced to establish 17 of these national centres you believe to be possible .
moreover , I should also like to emphasise the particularly difficult situation in which South Africa finds itself .
I understand from sources in the field that financial administration is often a problem among micro-entities .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( FR ) Madam President , I feel we ought to be slightly more precise in the way we talk about this issue ; for example , the concept of neutrality .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I feel that we are dealing with this subject at a particularly sensitive time .
I strongly believe that the European Parliament will adopt this report tomorrow and that the Council will act accordingly as soon as possible .
only the Gaddafi regime is condemning at the moment ' the international conspiracy attacking Syria 's national security ' , a statement which says a great deal about the situation in Syria .
I would like to thank all of the political groups who are intending to support my directive .
we all know where the cost ends up - where it always does .
the reason is that a lot of things have happened and I wanted Parliament to have a comprehensive picture of all the issues .
Madam President , firstly I will say that , compared to this morning , there is finally a little peace and tranquillity in this House !
I advocate that we continue along this path .
this was a European initiative and they have already started preliminary investigations into alleged war crimes .
Mr President , I come from Prato , a town that was once considered one of the most important textile areas in Europe .
( SK ) Mr President , I would like to thank you for giving me the floor and I would also like to thank Mrs Grossetête for the report on the proposed directive , which deals with variations to the terms of marketing authorisations for medicinal products .
another objective for reducing poverty is to establish a minimum income of at least 60 % of national median equalised income , a minimum salary of at least 60 % of the average salary in the relevant sectors at national level , along with a coordinated housing strategy in Europe .
I believe there is no need to introduce further legal instruments until the provisions of the Services Directive enter into force .
the common agricultural policy will also be needed for reaching the targets set out for environmental protection and in the fight against climate change .
thirty Swedish managing editors are currently demanding that a link be made between Swedish aid and the imprisonment of David Isaak , which is the journalist 's name .
so where do we go from here ?
two years on , Commissioner , the budgetary aid announced by the EU has still not arrived .
in 2000 the EU had 450 000 tonnes of olive oil in storage , and the EU decided to run advertising campaigns in the northern countries to inform us how good and beneficial olive oil was .
congratulations to our fellow Members from Lithuania .
our common aim is to enforce the Lisbon Treaty from 1 January 2009 .
what would need to happen before an ambitious package of measures is put in place to meet these various objectives ?
we need to continue working towards improving the conditions of women both in the workplace and on a personal and family level .
for example , I voted in favour of Parliament 's motion for a resolution in March 2010 with regard to the lack of public scrutiny and transparency in the negotiations and I have signed Parliament 's written declaration concerning ACTA .
I do not see why it should be so difficult for Italy as well to accept that it has fewer seats than France for exactly the same reason .
I would therefore ask the Commissioner present , Commissioner Grybauskaitė , to convey this to the Commission .
Madam President , I think the debate has shown that Parliament and the Commission have done a good job , and the praise directed at Mr Stockmann serves only to confirm that he has taken the right course .
in writing . - ( DE ) The package on the marketing of products in Europe , to be voted on today , undoubtedly brings improvements for consumers .
nonetheless , I am glad that Parliament has shown such clear determination by such a clear majority to settle the issue in the way that we have now decided .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , the Commission fully supports Parliament 's compromise text which is tabled to be voted at this part-session .
I would like to ask Mr Carlgren whether he has the Council 's backing for his high ambitions .
it is high time that we set to work on reducing economic barriers at home and building a thorough partnership with the United States .
it is time for them to listen !
in our view , the economic governance package - at least in its present form - is the wrong answer to the crisis with which we are dealing .
( it ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , we are pleased to have this debate with the Commission on the North African migration crisis .
under this amended mandate , the EU Special Representative will provide political advice and offer his services in the process of constitutional reform .
the Fund will also facilitate better use of coal on the energy market , which will make a significant contribution to the European Union 's energy security . it should , however , be remembered that extraction of this raw material requires ongoing exploratory surveys .
that simply will not work .
it is also an issue of the State itself being responsible for , and obliged to respect , the rights of its minorities .
the third piece of news , which is bad , is that Poland unfortunately still has reservations about the Charter of Fundamental Rights , so apart from the British , the Poles will be the only Europeans not to enjoy its benefits .
if , as a result of this tragedy , the regions of Poitou-Charentes , Charente-Maritime , Pays de la Loire and Brittany request a change to their allocation of expenditure cofinanced by the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund , the European Commission will have to examine these requests extremely favourably and very quickly .
in accordance with the conditions laid down in the Rules of Procedure , I have received the following nominations for the office of President of the European Parliament : Nirj Deva ( applause ) , Martin Schulz ( applause ) , Diana Wallis ( applause ) .
it is worth bearing in mind that farmers have very low incomes , in spite of the support they receive from the European budget .
here , we share a common assessment .
an example - and a most important point - is the effect on pollination as a consequence of reduced numbers of bee colonies .
the chapter on private life appears to be the high point of a constitution that is based , as we have noted , exclusively on Christian religious references and traditional family values .
it is a country where there is no separation of powers , the media are controlled by the government , human rights are violated and there are abuses by the current Malagasy security forces against the people of Madagascar and it is they who have directly suffered from the political consequences .
the Israelis have failed to respect the international community .
Member of the Commission . - I will try to be very brief .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Mr President , Vice-President , ladies and gentlemen , the final evening sitting of this legislative period is devoted to the debate on the Treaty of Lisbon .
I think this raises the issue that we cannot separate trade from other factors .
things that are not understood will of course not make much sense .
the first is that I am very sensitive to the issue of double standards that several of you have raised .
protection against discrimination on grounds of age , sexual orientation , religious belief or disability is absent today in areas such as social welfare , goods and services , health care and education .
it is to those we need to refer ; to this common legal heritage of our civilisation .
after that they will call for ratification .
we are not here principally to defend these visible and noisy minorities , who are demanding more and more privileges and stigmatising countries and populations who are kind enough or foolish enough to take them in .
the treaty makes provision for our institution to be involved in negotiations on the next long-term budget and this change should be accepted at every level .
perhaps we are missing that point here too in the European Union .
thirdly , and just as importantly , we need to maintain solidarity during this crisis .
are these the lessons that we , as the European Union , have learned from the economic crisis ?
in writing . - I support this report because it gives an adequate budget framework for the important work of the EU institutions during this time of economic crisis for European citizens .
even though it did not contain all of the priorities that we would have liked to have seen , we have , of course , voted in favour of the EU budget for 2011 .
it is about punching through the rhetoric and removing some of the scurrilous excuses on both sides of the Atlantic for those things that we need to do in order to be able to lift our economies and reward the people in those economies with growth , especially at the present time with the financial crisis around us .
however , thanks to the determination of the President of the European Parliament and our three representatives in this Intergovernmental Conference , on 12 December during the Strasbourg part-session we will achieve what they failed to achieve in Nice .
education , training , cultural , research and youth programmes are a key element in this strategy .
as many observers have noted , the number of victims could have been lower if the Government had reacted in a more coordinated manner to the typhoon .
this was the purpose behind the adoption , in 2009 , of Regulation ( EC ) No 1060 / 2009 on credit rating agencies .
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last but not least , in the past years the European Investment Bank has always received the support required for its activity from the European Parliament .
our amendments in the Committee on International Trade have been successful , firstly , in ensuring that the Commission 's powers are fully respected and , secondly , in stating that legal certainty should be guaranteed .
subject : sale of iPad subscriptions by Apple
so how do you want to bring all this together at the same time ?
24 .
it is clear that the agricultural industry needs to change .
for the Russians , it was always a remote province , and now Ukraine is a border country for the European Union as well , as a result of the last but one enlargement .
I should mention that better funding is also required for the programmes intended to combat human trafficking .
the fact that even as we are debating this initiative , we have heard unofficial news that the Council has requested its withdrawal , gives a clear indication of its attitude .
we can already foresee that the US mortgage crisis will have noticeable adverse effects here , too .
this reality should not , however , cause us to give up , because pessimism results from failing to acknowledge reality .
diversification of mass media leads to a proliferation of points of view , which is an essential feature in a democratic society .
I quote , ' significant efforts are needed on fundamental rights ' .
in his speech , Mr Trzaskowski spoke about the necessary representativeness of this Parliament , something that the majority of the speakers and Vice-President Šefčovič , among others , have also highlighted .
as the countries in question are rich in resources there is a danger that interests may come to dominate over values in our relations .
in particular , I would like to welcome the proposal for a directive on reduced VAT rates for labour-intensive and locally supplied services , particularly at this point in time .
welcome
thank you for such openness and transparency , which helps us exert pressure on the Member States .
the amendments adopted in committees , generally convergent , have changed the initial prerogatives significantly .
it would be stupid not to take this everyday practical development on board when we are trying to update European laws .
it will take a long time if the Posting of Workers Directive is to be amended , and it is therefore important that we investigate all the possibilities in order to secure the basis for flexible labour markets such as the Danish labour market under the applicable rules .
the increase in transparency and simplification of regulation within this sector is much needed and will directly benefit Scottish farmers .
at the centre of EU and government policy is the notorious ' flexicurity ' , which spells out the complete dismantling of labour relations .
( off-microphone intervention from Mr Cohn-Bendit )
a clear statement is needed , the sooner the better .
I am hopeful that this clarity and unity from the Member States will lead to more effective EU involvement in the negotiations , and an increased capacity to engage with other key actors in the peace process .
3 .
who could forget the proposal to amend the Working Time Directive , which sought to devalue work and make it even more precarious , to extend the working day and to undermine collective bargaining and the role of trade unions , precisely the opposite of what the ILO conventions uphold ?
the new infrastructure and solidarity instrument that is to be developed , which is intended to follow on from the Community financial aid to the trans-European energy networks , will provide the opportunity for this , as will the Commission 's progress reports on the implementation of the economic recovery programme in respect of benefits to energy projects .
when the Berlin Wall fell , we were able to react not only with the enlargement project , the practical arrangements of which some may question , but which is undeniably necessary , but before that , we established the EBRD so as to be able to support the necessary economic and democratic transition .
ladies and gentlemen , first of all , I would like to state that it is an honour for me to be speaking here today as the President-in-Office of the Council .
we might say that a number of politicians in our Parliament could learn from you .
the European Commission also decided to open a fully-fledged delegation in Dili , and the new head of delegation is expected to start work in March 2008 .
when development is the issue , the EU 's objectives must be to fight poverty and its causes .
without national steps to reduce the administrative burden it will not be possible to achieve measurable economic benefits .
as you know , on 29 July 2007 the Secretary-General and High Representative , Mr Solana , appointed Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger as the EU 's representative in the Troika .
what seems to link the western Balkan countries and Iceland , only at the moment , is the fact that the deep economic crisis is giving them the courage to join .
we naturally respect the independence of the legislative process in Afghanistan , in particular with regard to the Constitution , which does indeed make provision , under Article 131 , for the possibility of legislation devoted solely to the Shiite community .
scientists and decision-makers from more than 60 countries participated in the World Science Forum , including four Heads of State , the Director-General of UNESCO and the Commission 's Environment [ ... ] ( interjection : I am sorry , Mr President , but I cannot carry on like this ! ) .
( FR ) Mr President , I would like to thank my fellow Members for their generally favourable comments on this report , which also echo the debates that took place during the meetings in the Committee on Fisheries .
2011 is indeed a year of challenging opportunities for both Serbia and the European Union .
if we want MEPs to work effectively they must have the option of carrying out their duties in their own language if they so decide .
the lives of the children of Augustów are , however , being accorded less importance than the well-being of birds .
in the CCAMLR ( Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources ) area , IUU operators have been shown to respond to management measures aimed at reducing IUU by changing fishing grounds , ports , landings and flag states .
with too much rain in certain parts of Europe and with droughts in other parts of Europe , the climatic conditions within our own regions this year have been adverse to cereal production and , with an estimated output of 258 million tonnes , the 2007 harvest is below average .
their importance to national economies and their growth potential for the labour market is undeniable .
this was demonstrated by the Ukraine / Russia gas crisis in the New Year which has already become a tradition .
such is the case with the creation of the ' Schengen area ' with its Schengen acquis , which serves as a catalyst for the communitarisation of policies or measures linked to border control - visas , asylum or immigration - or police and judicial mechanisms .
mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund : Denmark / Danfoss Group (
what use is it to society if people produce high levels of performance in the short term , but in the long term , turn into burnt-out wrecks ?
Mr Davies , you know this .
the resignation of Mr de Vries was clearly a very bad sign .
the EU has no place trying to control the diversity of freedom of opinion and freedom in advertising .
the Directive on the capture and geological storage of carbon dioxide ( Carbon Capture and Storage , CCS ) enables CO2 to be separated from waste gases and then stored underground ; 12 CCS power stations are to be financed by 2015 .
the proposal to have an implementation task force is absolutely fundamental .
the measures adopted today will set a precedent for the continuing international negotiations .
however , a level playing field will not be a disadvantage .
as you know , it is not within the Commission 's competence to shut down the tests .
let me make one last comment .
it includes important regional programmes , such as the Baltic Sea Region Programme , in order to strengthen regional identity and recognition .
alternatively , we could use different wording at another point within the relevant article .
will the Swedish Presidency therefore seek to ensure that the strategy is assessed without delay ? if so , when exactly ?
it is important for us to prevent a serious crisis occurring in the livestock sector by making immediate use of the available instruments to stabilise the market .
Madam President , those calling for military intervention - and a no-fly zone is , of course , a form of military intervention , requiring as it does a willingness to strike at air facilities on the ground - should remember three points .
it is therefore absurd and cynical to say that development is not working .
at the Informal Meetings of Energy Ministers on 6 and 7 September , the Presidency asked for the first assessments to be carried out , communicated and discussed .
in 2004 , greenhouse gas emissions from aircraft in the EU rose by 87 % compared with 1990 .
it is an ambitious , wasteful and perhaps overly broad strategy .
moreover , last month , a group of Congolese women came here to remind us of this - and rightly so - with the aim of enlisting our support against this scandalous strategy .
on 23 February , I held a senior officials ' meeting with officials from the institutions , the World Bank , the Investment Bank , the EBRD , the IMF , but also senior officials from China , Russia , from Australia , from Korea , from the 27 Member States , from the United States and from Arab countries .
now there is a great danger that the undoubted successes will be destroyed if the opposition 's criticisms are not addressed .
for the same reason , I cannot support amendments which scandalously aim to reduce the rights of families .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
I can endorse the view of the Presidency that the outcome could scarcely have been achieved by now without the overarching cooperation of the three most recent incumbents of the Presidency .
Venezuela , in particular the case of Maria Lourdes Afiuni
moreover , we share the same values and principles , making us preferential allies in the global geostrategic situation .
I believe , however , that this register should be mandatory and extended to all the European institutions .
I voted against this report 's proposal as I believe it will harm the outlying Member States .
we need the cooperation and constructive ideas that we have developed over recent years .
2 .
we must now move forward and ensure that these authorities can effectively carry out their crucial oversight role over EU financial markets .
clearly there are people who will be suffering as a result of the economic crisis in these countries , but quite often they are not necessarily the people we want to help .
my question to the Commission is : has an overall evaluation of this instrument been carried out ?
if we want to treat it as a public health problem , then we have to ensure equal access to treatment in all regions of the world and we therefore have to be more effective in our efforts .
that is not to ignore the result of the Irish referendum ; it is to respond to the result of the Irish referendum , look at the concerns that were expressed and try to meet them .
labelling - I hear from different Members of Parliament that there is interest in a labelling system .
concerning sanctions and enforcement : amendment 64 inserts a new Article 84 ( 2a ) indicating that as long as a holder of a fishing authorisation has been given ' penalty points ' the holder should be excluded from receiving EU subsidies or national public aid during that time .
we must , however , make it much clearer that the war against terrorism cannot be waged at the expense of human rights and other basic values .
however , before we adopt these amendments , I would like to point out that three out of four European Union citizens are of the view that Parliament plays an important role in the joint shaping of European policies .
on the other hand , however , it talks about the inadequate implementation of documents already adopted .
the EU will present an initiative on freedom of religion or belief .
hopefully we will see the difference this makes in the future .
I can only hope and pray that the euro project is destroyed by the markets before that really happens .
this motion for a resolution is on EU-Canada trade relations , whose negotiations are expected to be concluded by the end of 2011 .
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presentation of the Court of Auditors ' annual report - 2006 ( debate )
I thought I understood you , but I should like to have more details .
( ES ) Mr President , the Spanish members of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament view the situation in Gaza with horror , pain and shame , but also with a commitment to defend peace , protect those who are suffering most and maintain dignity and hope .
within this framework , the review of the European Neighbourhood Policy needs to give new impetus to efforts to promote a substantive political framework for cooperation with our eastern partners .
can Russia 's behaviour be considered in keeping with the Olympic Charter ?
what is the position of the Commission which should safeguard the rule of law in this respect ?
we wanted a different procedure , one which the Council could certainly have coped with .
the European wine industry still faces many threats , and in the EU we are seeing our own market share disappearing to New World countries .
for the rest of the route , the 65 euro cents can be deducted .
these are the governments that like sanctions and detest solidarity ; they are the governments that want hyper-austerity and not social progress .
I ask for this list to be included in the Minutes of the sitting .
clearly , that was an inaccurate translation .
instead of distorting the situation and the facts and trying to give Nicaragua lessons on democracy , the European Parliament should denounce the EU 's anti-democratic attempt to impose a proposed European Treaty , which has already been rejected , in total disregard for the democratic decisions sovereignly taken by the French , Dutch and Irish people .
so , no single Member State would be forced to accept the CCCTB and to use it .
generally , I think we are all well aware , through this wide-ranging debate on urban mobility , that it really involves the everyday life of our citizens , and that if European citizenship means anything , then we must move towards safer urban mobility that is more consistent with environmental standards .
as such , everyone is free to decide upon their energy mix .
let us not close our eyes : they will not be self-sufficient , they will not succeed in providing all the financing for care or for access to medicines , but in combination with other funds , with other subsidies , they do nonetheless ensure the provision of health care and medication , and on top of that participation , a kind of social dynamic that has taken root .
I support the assessment by the President-in-Office .
finally , I would like to mention the foreign policy budget , which is clearly underfunded .
you clearly want to lead the Commission of a European Union that numbers 500 million people .
the second aspect of the improvement of the quality of life in the countryside : the objective should be a women-friendly countryside , facilitating women 's lives in rural areas and allowing women to make better use of their potential .
in the text we have chosen to say that transparency must be manifested by the publication of black lists and information as to which tenderers have been accepted and which have been excluded , and OLAF must have a code to guarantee the presumption of innocence , which has not been the case on many occasions .
thirdly , having an internal market is a crucial factor in terms of the security of supply .
as we know that currently , only 60 % of women work , this will be a major challenge .
last but not least , I would like to assure you that , as the development of a comprehensive European investment policy is now a joint responsibility of all the institutions , the Commission will stand ready to cooperate with Parliament and the Council while respecting the division of competences among all the institutions involved .
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it is time to change this .
I strongly condemn the acts committed by the Egyptian army against female protesters arrested in Tahrir Square .
the costs to the taxpayer run into millions of pounds for us all to be here , and yet you decide to cancel it at a moment 's notice .
Mr President , in February , I went to Sri Lanka with the Delegation for Relations with South Asia .
however , our group 's proposal was to create an independent control mechanism which was supposed to operate from the outset and not in the later results analysis phase .
we feel it is right to deal with these two financial institutions together , particularly at the current time when the effectiveness of their actions must serve to reinforce our policies on the economic crisis , and when cooperation between these two institutions is especially important .
this must be guaranteed by means of the mechanism provided by the international community , if necessary with the help of a multinational force with participation from Arab and , in particular , Muslim States .
that would be unwise : nobody , especially the robber and rapist , may be antagonised or demonised .
a specific call is made to use the stimulus packages all over the world to promote clean energy and green technologies , stressing thereby that the financial crisis and the climate crisis have the same roots - unsustainable use of resources .
( the President cut off the speaker )
in this area it is important not to leave out the most isolated and outermost regions .
it also stresses the concurrent need to protect the procedure against abuse and to provide guarantees of compensation to the alleged debtor if his order turns out to be to be null and void .
( PL ) Mr President , the European Parliament has made a stand in defence of fundamental human rights , civil liberties and political freedoms on many occasions .
in any case , Mr Heaton-Harris , you can be sure that from today onwards we will all know what this acronym stands for .
we take this for granted in the case of cars and food , but it has not been available so far for something as essential as medicines .
reliable access to raw materials is also crucial , and faces us with an increasingly serious challenge .
the urgent implementation of the Commission 's proposals to tackle climate change is incumbent on the Member States and on this House .
with this resolution text , I wanted to urge the European Union to take a strong line on social dumping .
we also need the right President in the chair , who can exercise a judicious measure of rigour and flexibility .
I agree with Commissioner Dimas that the costs must be covered first of all from carbon dioxide trading , secondly from investments by private companies and thirdly from state incentives .
several times in the debate , the position of Commissioner De Gucht has been mentioned .
lastly , as far as the distribution of resources is concerned , I believe we must focus on the use of historical criteria , as proposed by the Commission .
in the second part of your answer , you mentioned an absolutely key issue , namely that there is not only a race to carry out wage dumping , but also a subsidies race .
if he does not do this , then he may be punished .
I cannot therefore ascribe all of the failures of the Union to Belgium .
we now know that when , on 28 September , over 50 000 opposition supporters gathered in the national stadium to protest against Captain Camara 's change of tack and broken promises , he sent the troops against them .
this is why I urge a message to be conveyed of solidarity with Burma 's citizens who are suffering repression from government authorities and fighting a daily battle for respect for their fundamental rights .
I welcome the fact that the European Parliament resolution calls on all Zimbabwe 's political parties to work together in drafting a new democratic constitution , acceptable to all the people of Zimbabwe , prior to the next elections .
Commissioner Rehn talked about several mayors and DTP politicians being arrested , but my information is that about 1 200 activists are in prison , including members of the BDP party , which has succeeded the DTP .
income has been redistributed away from industry to companies that produce electricity for the stock exchange .
ladies and gentlemen , the European Union 's involvement with sport is not evident to everyone ; however , whether we like it or not , a number of aspects of sport must be examined from a European angle .
in return , European citizens will receive not just reliable , high-quality goods which are guaranteed to have been farmed to the EU 's high standards of practice , but will also benefit from the societal and cultural implications of the CAP , such as those contained in Pillar II .
in writing . - The situation in Burma has come to a critical juncture .
in this context it deals , too , with a technical procedure , which can result in denying a product access to the market in another Member State , in spite of the fact that it is legally marketed in another country or in the Member State of origin .
to reduce or prevent the negative effects of climate change , tough action is needed across a wide area .
the Committee on Petitions will also continue to do all it can to promote close cooperation with the Ombudsman in the future in the interests of the citizens of the European Union .
the Charter will not alter the Union 's competences , but it will offer strengthened rights and greater freedom for citizens .
it even contains budgetary items and explains that 10 % of the Solidarity Fund can provide funding .
the Commission will also provide clarification on how EU environmental legislation is to be interpreted in relation to port expansion and development .
from this point of view , extra-territorial cooperation should be improved and Member States should be asked to rule out the principle of double criminality for crimes concerning the exploitation and abuse of children .
there are still too many barriers to employees ' , buyers ' and consumers ' rights being enforced without internal borders .
we must therefore understand that all our planning in the area will be undermined by such a situation .
my first point is that respect for human rights is categorically a cornerstone of external relations of the European Union , and it is the foundation on which engagement with any country , including Belarus , is built .
I think of the former , and now murdered , Prime Minister of Pakistan , Mrs Benazir Bhutto .
it is the violation of these basic principles of coexistence that recently led the European Union to withdraw Sri Lanka 's preferential tariff benefits following a detailed investigation by the Commission .
we have made a number of proposals .
this is my response to my friend and ex-colleague , Danuta Hübner , and many others of you who have raised this concern of cooperation between the Commission and Parliament .
the Committee must closely monitor compliance and , where necessary , prescribe additional requirements .
in writing . - ( LT ) I endorsed this report and discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Environment Agency for the financial year 2009 .
the word ' BRIC ' - for Brazil , Russia , India and China - is very much in the vocabulary of foreign-policy specialists , and Brazil is indeed an emerging global player .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - Mr President , what worries me most is the suggestion that the European Investment Bank ( EIB ) has a significant role to play in solving the financial crisis - that it can somehow act as the Europe-wide body to provide stimulus where Member States have singularly failed to coordinate their own stimuli .
I regret that , confronted with the current financial crisis , we find that we need more international and multilateral rules , because these rules form a corset that will make it possible for poorer countries to integrate themselves , on the one hand , while richer countries will also be able to ensure that their people benefit from this , and that standards are set , on the other .
in making this speech , I do not intend , as you will have gathered , to return to making judgments on mere intent .
enjoy your champagne , ladies and gentlemen .
its effects will be felt especially by the poorest families , since the present rise in fuel prices already weighs heavily on their domestic budgets .
I want to thank all who have helped to bring this Resolution into being .
a few years ago , a good friend and mentor told me that throughout life , you will always come up against situations where you are either part of the problem or part of the solution .
what are the consequences of all this ?
a clear indication , for example , would be when I hear the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund more or less dismissing the philosophy of the Tobin Tax , or tax on financial transactions , as a sort of blanket , anticipating or covering the risks of the financial world - what I call financial jugglers .
the Commission asked for those powers and the Council did not grant them .
- ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , it seems to me that at the centre of this debate there remains the dogma that the banks should be central to the economy and that the process of globalisation should also be a fundamental part of our economic future .
the huge interest in this topic shows us however that there is still a great deal to do , especially in the area of equal treatment for men and women as regards access to employment , vocational training and promotion .
I watched a very disturbing report on CNN about the state of the Pearl River in China .
this flagship initiative is designed to encourage actors in the field of training and education to give more attention to these policy areas .
( RO ) I was the rapporteur for the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive , which I negotiated on second reading with the Swedish Presidency of the European Union Council .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , I believe I am speaking on behalf of my group when I say that we had excellent cooperation with the rapporteur .
those who are absent are always in the wrong .
this did not happen by chance , but is a result of strong political will expressed at various G20 summits .
furthermore , the reports on continuous mental and physical torture of political prisoners and attempts at recruiting informants to the KGB give the European Union a clear signal that Lukashenko 's regime did not get our message from the previous time .
I welcome the agreement that Baroness Ashton must protest against the incident at the Italian embassy , because this involves not just Italy but the entire European Union .
it now seems that , after the sequence of murders of independent journalists in Russia , it is the turn of independent lawyers .
it is a challenge to draw together the different players in the field of external relations , and the overall aim has to be to achieve a diplomatic synergy .
Mr President , Mr Chastel , Mr Barnier , ladies and gentlemen , the last few months since the beginning of this year have shown the damage that credit rating agencies can do .
I hope you do not mind me saying so but there is one notable exception , and that is my country , Spain , which now comes top after increasing development aid by 33 % last year .
Mr President , this rich debate shows the quality of the reports made .
in these times of crisis , I do not believe that pits should be closed and thousands of workers made redundant across Europe .
I believe that we can offer Belarus concrete incentives within the Eastern Partnership , but not only .
before the vote :
this , in my view , is where the urgency lies and this is what Europe 's leaders will be judged on in the future .
the vote will take place on Wednesday , 25 November 2009 .
we would not have time for that , but I will try to provide some insights as regards the points made this evening .
( the President cut off the speaker )
it is different inasmuch as it is not the kind of treaty that supersedes all previous treaties .
we were in agreement on every single case .
what is the point of agreeing the highest possible standards and attempting to limit data volumes if , at the same time , bilateral agreements are being concluded without us having any knowledge of their content and security standards ?
given that the EU has for many decades taken an active role in ensuring the mobility of workers , does the Council agree that patient safety is an important issue that has not been adequately addressed by EU directives ?
since tuna fishing was regulated and since lower quotas were set , fishermen have started to see not only more tuna , but also larger tuna .
I and my services have been working seriously on it and I believe that the report for 2010 will be of the highest possible quality .
what is needed is a much stronger mainstreaming policy and that requires a major commitment of financial and human resources to the Commission 's delegations and to those projects having a major impact , such as micro-credit .
up to a certain level they positively replace fossil energy , but on a larger scale they endanger the rainforests and the food supply of Third World countries .
we need to reach out from the Union to other countries , in this case Switzerland , as this is the only way that we can achieve success .
( it ) Madam President , once again , we have witnessed the inability of the Italian Government to protect the pro-European reputation of Italy and the interests of its businesses on a crucial point such as the adoption of the European patent .
urge your governments - it is easy to demand it here - urge your governments to respect the principle of coordinating economic policies .
under the terms of the Frontex Regulation , Frontex may facilitate operational cooperation between Member States and third countries within the framework of the European Union 's policy on external relations and may cooperate with third countries within the context of bilateral cooperation .
I know that I also have the support of Commissioner Barrot on this point , so let us not continue to call them illegal immigrants .
however , more specifically let me say that the proposed ad hoc instrument to which I will come to soon will be designed in such a way as to set criteria that are needs-based and do not follow the EFF so that , for example , the requirements of those who have already undertaken substantial restructurings are recognised and that those who have low EFF allocations are also recognised .
consultation on the post-2013 budget and the future objectives of this policy must involve all the actors concerned : the Member States , the regions , the European Commission and Parliament .
in Europe , 132 000 women died of breast cancer in 2006 .
to what extent are the products that millions of Europeans consume every day healthy and nutritious ?
this can be taken into consideration for example during the negotiations for a new agreement with Russia through a binding human rights clause , which will influence all areas of the negotiations .
how will we restructure the Commission ?
of course , additional proposals could have been included in the framework of the recovery plan .
these include administrative cooperation , the Savings Tax Directive , debt recovery assistance , a code of conduct , as well as increased cooperation by Belgium , Austria , Luxembourg , the Isle of Man and even neighbouring countries : Switzerland , Monaco and Liechtenstein .
the initial proposal by the European Commission , namely the increase from 14 to 18 weeks , was a big enough step forward .
there is also another aspect that we worked on extensively together , which is how to ensure that the economic governance to which you referred can stand on its own two feet , because , if it treats the issue of employment as a balance , it is leading us into disaster .
I also believe that it is fundamental to analyse the activities of the immigration liaison officer networks in regions and / or countries of special interest to the European Union , particularly where the circumstances of these regions and / or countries have a bearing on illegal immigration or human rights issues .
as the knowledge triangle is a key element for growth and job creation , I would stress the importance of creating more opportunities for youth in education and employment through increased interaction between education , research and innovation .
we are agreed , then , that we will deal with this in the next sitting .
( PL ) Mr President , this resolution on Georgia is important , and I voted in favour of it , although I feel that the European Union , which was faced with an important test as a result of events in Georgia , failed to pass that test .
the draft reforms to legislation regulating the telecommunications market in the EU , which Parliament will be voting on tomorrow , are intended to adapt EU law to these changes , for example by improving the position of users in the market for electronic services .
multilateral Agreement on the Establishment of a European Common Aviation Area ( vote )
in line with the principle of shared management , the Member States are responsible for selecting operations for financing under the structural funds .
I do not think that , just because we have many important commercial links , we have to stay silent on this issue - on the contrary .
we need policy frameworks that encourage resource efficiency across the board , that encourage companies to try new business models - like functional thinking - offering services rather than products , and where revenues obtained through quality of service , and not only via increased volumes from sales , are taking place .
I agree with the rapporteur that the institution should continue to improve programming and monitoring and to respect the principle of annuality .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , we are probably all united in our approval of the answers given by the Commissioner to the question and are grateful for them .
the business aviation segment offers important social and economic benefits : by providing flexible point-to-point transportation it increases citizens ' mobility , companies ' productivity and regional cohesion .
today we can see a wind of change in your statement and therefore wish the Czech presidency all the best .
of course , the staff who have helped me to reach this agreement have also played an important role .
we have mobilised both air and sea deployment of Member States assets so we can take people home , and a humanitarian injection into the International organisation for migration and the UN organisation for refugees so that they can help with a huge amount of people - 420 000 people - fleeing Libya .
today it is impossible for an advertiser to make an advert for a product which increases environmental problems or hastens climate change .
even as the EU rolls up its sleeves for future challenges by way of the Reform Treaty , a political impetus for completing the single market is needed .
it includes the target of increasing the share of renewable energy sources to 20 % and improving energy efficiency by 20 % .
having said that , I would point out that the standards we have agreed on and the results we have achieved to date contrast greatly with the ambitions set out in the Tampere Programme , the Hague Programme and , most recently , the French Asylum and Immigration Pact .
it is important , for example , to test whether the fibres are allergenic .
I have voted against the report .
the key to the future will lie in strengthening our political ability to define common strategies and objectives in an increasingly coordinated and timely manner .
improving the quality of teacher education (
the Chinese authorities fortunately acted promptly after the disaster .
this support for the real economy amounts to a total of 3.3 % of GDP and includes a real contribution from the European budget .
there are also many universities and businesses and research and technology organisations which are keen not only on the consultation process , but in participation in the selection of the governing board and then in the work of the EIT .
it was not so long ago that policy-makers tended to shy away from globalisation .
( DE ) Madam President , I can understand , Mr Hökmark , that you need to give a nice speech for the people at home in Sweden .
if a similar question were asked in Britain it would produce at least the same result .
police cooperation at EU level is therefore , logically , subject to an inter-governmental approach .
each country must prescribe the form of governance that it needs .
the European Parliament has to approve the selection in order for it to be valid .
we will send a technician so that you will be able to participate in the vote .
by failing to explicitly mention Islam as a cause of violence , we are missing a great opportunity to tackle this specific form of violence against women .
in my view , the debate also clearly showed that the European automobile industry is going through a long-term restructuring process , and that this fact must be taken into consideration .
I would like to say to Mr van Buitenen that I very much regret that you did not accept the offers of cooperation .
Mrs Angelilli , please allow me to extend to you my thanks and my heartfelt congratulations on your report .
as I said , human trafficking is always against humanity and human dignity is a value that cannot be compromised .
what are they ?
slash and burn the living standards of working people ; slash and burn public services .
since the start of its term of office , the French Presidency has been making a major effort to reach agreement in Parliament at Second Reading on these six texts , for which the Common Positions were communicated by the Council in June 2008 .
treating the symptoms , Mr President , is really not enough .
our rapporteur , not my rapporteur this time , but the parliamentary rapporteur , Sidonia Jędrzejewska , ( my services are now being trained on how to pronounce the rapporteur 's name properly ) rightly places youth and the opportunities for youth at the centre of her report .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I recall what I think is an old Japanese curse : ' may you live in interesting times ' , and I think this is exactly what we are doing now .
we cannot allow them to become ever more isolated , at a time when their neighbouring countries are enjoying the possibility of unlimited travel into the European Union .
we must however be vigilant and not be tempted by easy solutions .
the next item is the vote .
I am not so sure .
I cannot tell you more because we are waiting for the proposal from the Commission .
can the Council comment on the current state of play in the negotiations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ?
the EU is addressing these issues at political level , through diplomatic channels and in our public statements .
however , I do not agree with the promotion of assisted reproduction as an option for infertility treatment since ...
people are making a mountain out of a molehill because we are in the run-up to the elections , and are using this constant anti-European rhetoric to put forward their own interests rather than the interests of the countries they are supposed to serve .
I would also say to Mr Evans that the criteria taken into consideration are the commercial value of airports and runway length , to which he referred .
here not only the Parliament , the Commission , but also the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee were involved .
furthermore , in terms of financial stability , the comparability of accounting standards on a global scale is vital and progress must be made towards this .
President of the Commission . - I agree with your general point that the institutions are also the way we shape them in practice .
I also think it is desirable for the Cohesion Fund and Structural Funds to support projects related to factors that contribute to the existence of health inequalities .
in the case of other cut-price airlines , this is not always so .
for Lisbon to be ratified , we need unanimity .
we also know that the rate of HIV among male prisoners is 15 times higher than among the general population .
the vote will take place on Wednesday 6 May 2009 .
but a European approach may make sense , chiefly when it comes to quality criteria and information-sharing .
today there is more fertile ground for the creation and growth of such groups because of anti-communist hysteria , the attempt to rewrite history , the shameless attempt to wipe out the huge contribution of the USSR to the victory over fascism , and to equate communism with Nazism and fascism .
but eliminating waste of energy is positive in its own right and from a purely selfish point of view ; improving energy efficiency should cut costs for households and businesses .
quality verification should be carried out very carefully and thoroughly when importing , through the use of modern laboratory methods and unambiguous identification of the origin of goods .
during 2000-2007 , the number of jobs increased by 13 million , while the unemployment rate decreased from 9 % to 7 % .
the decision of the Conference of Presidents of 17 September 2009 to use a special committee to carry out a structured analysis and to draw up proposals for appropriate measures for the maintenance of sustainable , crisis-resistant financial markets is worthy of support .
as the number of divorces increases , so too does the number of cases of discrimination when seeking divorce or legal separation .
when armed hostilities escalate such that international institutions are no longer secure , the situation is extremely serious .
this meeting has strengthened the important and growing relationship between the European Parliament and the Mongolian Parliament .
it fails to draw attention to the immense challenge presented by immigration from the south , in which regard I take the view that the North African countries themselves also bear tremendous responsibility .
this compromise essentially consists of minor changes , such as improvements to language or amendments to the annexes , which give more details about safety management procedures .
policy based on the diplomatic means which have been used until now should produce an international understanding guaranteeing a fair division of potential territorial acquisitions .
you have our support , Mr Hortefeux .
I furthermore believe that it was right to leave the guidelines unchanged , because they have on the whole been successful .
thirdly , there is the prospect of a partnership and cooperation agreement between the EU and Belarus .
however , we should recognise that savings have been made .
the EU must maintain the GSP + trade agreements which , if removed , will directly destroy one million jobs and indirectly economically impact on 2.5 million innocent Sri Lankan citizens .
I am pleased that the report by Mrs Gacek , published in good time before the 2009 European elections , involves some of these very important actors , who should all take ownership of European citizenship in order to make Europe real for its millions of citizens .
the idea of making agriculture more scientific , of moving away from productivist industrial farms , is now enshrined in the texts .
President of the Commission . - The situation in Gaza is not tenable .
I also hope that we in the EU will be sure to sign the agreement that we have negotiated .
your actions do not match up to 21st century leadership .
it is clear that the motives of the ESDP enthusiasts are essentially political .
the list of third States also includes the Republic of Moldova , for example , while the list of organisations with which Europol is intending to conclude agreements should also include the Regional Centre for Combating Cross-border Crime , with its headquarters in Bucharest , which is in negotiations with Europol aimed at concluding a cooperation agreement .
you are welcome to make your views known when others come to speak .
this is despite the large numbers of studies and successful experiences in terms of energy transition and more sustainable agriculture and transport systems .
( DE ) Mr President , in the German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact , Hitler and Stalin laid down their spheres of interest in Central Europe , and the consequences , for the Baltic States , in particular , were devastating .
at present , these data are collected on a voluntary basis by 18 Member States .
nonetheless , when considering such agreements , at some point we must stop and ask : who will benefit and who will suffer as a result ?
the report did , however , show that some progress is being made .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Mr President , we have of course attempted to take account of the new situation in our oral amendment .
so yes - let us make a clear commitment to a Europe-wide financial transaction tax .
the purpose of all this is to make our means of transport increasingly environmentally friendly .
notwithstanding rapid economic growth , poverty is still widespread in the region and we continue to promote economic reforms , steps to improve the business climate but also to strengthen the rule of law .
it is for this reason that our group , for instance , is opposed to the European Social Fund being separated from cohesion policy .
for this reason I would like to add my congratulations to those that have already been expressed in the House , and I am in favour of Mr Zaleski 's report . it is a report in which all these fundamental questions have been addressed , and in which a path has been outlined for the EU to follow in its policy towards Ukraine .
forest legislation is therefore best dealt with at national level .
ladies and gentlemen , this month sees the 70th anniversary of mass deportations carried out by the Soviet authorities from the Baltic States , which they had occupied since 1940 .
hence , we must all work towards ensuring respect for different religious beliefs , and I believe that this text is in keeping with that approach .
we therefore hope that in future financial years it will be able to be granted discharge with no reservations , despite the fact that the lack of political vision on the part of the Council and the Commission has made the budgetary life of this agency quite hazardous .
the sanction must hit the political leaders , however , and not the citizens .
Parliament has sent a clear message to everyone , and particularly to the Council .
State aid is being called into question here .
to ensure comprehensive and coordinated actions , the Commission , together with Eurocontrol , established a European Aviation Crisis Coordination Cell , following the Council of Transport Ministers meeting of 4 May 2010 .
of course the partner countries will have to play their part in this contract and , obviously , we will have to set up monitoring mechanisms .
I hope that the text of this report , which we have drawn up with all the rapporteurs and which we shall be presenting tomorrow to our other fellow Members , will be a great step forward for workers from third countries .
- Madam President , several farmers and a processing business in my constituency face millions of pounds of loss through no fault of their own because contaminated feed bought in good faith was supplied from a food mill where wanton disregard - never mind good practice - was shown .
I would like to thank Mr Beaupuy in particular , as well as the urban mobility group , which I am sure will make a valuable contribution .
the proliferation of such information makes this more difficult and contributes to decreasing the public 's quality of life .
due to the exclusive external competence of the European Union in this area , only it can negotiate and conclude a visa waiver agreement , and not the individual Member States .
recent evaluation studies by independent bodies have restored the truth .
progress has been made on environmental protection , especially with the signing of the Kyoto Protocol in this ' era of adapting to the effects of climate change ' .
buildings are responsible for nearly half the CO2 emissions not included in the EU emissions trading certificate scheme , offering a major potential for cutting these emissions , with negative or low abatement costs .
today marks an important day for Ukraine with its OSCE Chairmanship for 2013 having been declared this morning .
2010 was declared the European Year of Biodiversity in order to draw attention to the threat to biodiversity throughout the world .
we have cause to be pleased and thankful .
the defence of the legitimate interest of fishermen and fish farmers in the economic use of fish stocks is another factor , no less important , which could be safeguarded by an approach of this sort ...
as a national of Spain , I am ashamed to see what is going on in my country .
I find it quite worrying that , as Mrs in ' t Veld has already said , the Council is not even present to hear this criticism , something that I believe to be a fundamental part of any democracy .
Romania and Bulgaria adopted the Schengen acquis when joining the EU in 2007 .
suspension of negotiations in the Doha Development Round of the World Trade Organisation has done most harm to developing countries .
it is mainly an internal matter ; we can help , but there is not really much point in us continually pushing for this from outside .
many thanks !
a sensible balance must be preserved in the Solidarity Fund between disbursing funds rapidly and unbureaucratically and ensuring that these are not used for purposes other than those intended .
the blame game seemed more important .
unfortunately , these concern mainly the economic situation .
they declared : we are loyal citizens of Belarus and do not want any economic sanctions . we do not want political sanctions , we want a rapprochement of Belarus and the European Union .
the Directive erodes European and international human rights standards by further worsening living conditions for migrants .
debates on cases of breaches of human rights , democracy and the rule of law ( debate )
as the only Sikh MEP , I have been contacted by numerous constituents who are horrified as to what is happening in the Swat Valley - people who have lived there for 60 years are discriminated against in this way .
those men , who left a country at war in order to come to Europe , thinking that they could seek asylum and protection here , have thus been sent back to a country that is still at war , in which their safety cannot by any means be guaranteed .
it will be very interesting , even for the MEPs themselves , to explain what is being done via the European budget to improve the life of citizens .
next , when preparing the financing budget , we must lay down appropriate requirements with regard to the weaker areas without penalising the more competitive and more advanced regions .
as John Bowis has mentioned , we also need to take steps forward on questions , for example , about continuing care or prescriptions which may not be valid in one Member State because of their own systems .
the European Commission is at this very moment examining the compatibility of these rules with Community law .
Mr President , this report rests on a conceptual misunderstanding .
in response to the economic and financial situation in Greece , the informal meeting of the Heads of State or Government on 11 February stated that , and I quote , ' euro area Member States will take determined and coordinated action , if needed , to safeguard financial stability in the euro area as a whole ' .
furthermore , illegal shipments of waste to third countries obviously have an adverse effect on trade and competition since , economically speaking , businesses that comply with the legislation evidently face competition and are put at a disadvantage .
popular opinion sympathises in the first instance with the mother whose child has been taken away , but also feels sorry for the father who has been deprived of his child , if the child ends up in alien and unfavourable circumstances .
such understanding of voluntary activity also means that the volunteer , who is often also a benefactor , must not suffer any material penalty when helping others and offering them gifts .
the Russian-Ukrainian gas crisis has pointed to Europe 's dependency in terms of gas supply .
by 2020 , it will bring down the average CO2 emissions of vans from the 2007 baseline of 203 grams of CO2 per kilometre to 147 grams per kilometre .
I certainly agree that the decisions need not be made until later , but I do believe that now is the time to think about what we do if international agreements do not materialise .
father Joseph Wresinski ' .
the Commission is already working on the proposal on a letter of rights .
what Jacques Delors would have made of this would be of great interest .
it is estimated that 650 000 Korean cars would sell in Europe per annum .
that was the case here too , when there were major new increases proposed by the group chairmen , which would have gone over the famous 20 % ceiling which has been jointly agreed .
in this context , beyond the substance of the report , it is very serious that the Commission , while acknowledging the effects , is not providing for any specific measures to support European producers , specifically through amendments to the regulation and the budget for the Programme of Options Specifically Relating to Remoteness and Insularity ( POSEI ) adopted in 2006 .
we support you fully in that regard .
unfortunately this is nothing new ; it is a growing phenomenon and , above all , one that cannot be treated as an emergency year after year .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( CS ) Mr President , I welcome the report by my colleague Mr Karas , which deals with a very important subject , namely easy access to banking services for all citizens and businesses in the European Union .
I thought this was a House for Europe , not a House for 27 different Member States .
the fact that the massive protest movement - with some 100 000 people taking to the streets of Rangoon last Monday - does not have a political agenda or any declared demands , obviously renders the situation more unstable and more precarious .
it is neo-proslavery which only benefits the money-grubbers of globalisation , who see in this cheap labour a means of exerting pressure on wages against a background of already very high unemployment .
if we wish to achieve a balance between free market legislation on the one hand , and the right to intellectual property on the other , we must nonetheless curtail intellectual property rights to a certain extent .
that is why protecting and extending forests , on the basis of natural processes and without commercial intentions , should be the top priority of our policy , both in order to combat and to adapt developing and developed countries to climate change .
with the aim of assisting local organisations to introduce measures in this area , the Commission has adopted an information brochure in addition to last year 's one on the possibilities for financing family support measures .
the Greek authorities are invited by the Commission in our proposal to the Council to present by mid-March a detailed implementation report announcing adopted measures and the calendar of the announced measures .
rather , its aim is to define its tasks more clearly on the basis of a broader thematic remit that includes the concept of human resources development , particularly education and training with a view to lifelong learning .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the attack on the European embassies , the Italian Embassy in particular , and the threats made against the Italian Prime Minister , constitute an extremely severe event deserving of reprimand .
I would have wanted to die , and instead I just embraced him .
although I am not against abortion , I did vote against paragraph 38 because it may be interpreted as encouraging this practice .
but it is not only governments we have to work with , but also NGOs .
well , there are still places if additional Members wish to participate , and I would welcome that .
work in the European Parliament on the accountability front is absolutely key to keep these issues on the EU agenda .
we must start building the Nabucco gas pipeline without delay .
I was shadow rapporteur for the report by Mrs Weber , and she is someone who did do the groundwork in a dossier that is about modernising , simplifying and lightening the burden for businesses when it comes to European rules and regulations .
this , like all other matters , should be the prerogative of independent , democratic , nation states .
in his speech , the President-in-Office of the Council has taken note that this Parliament should be listened to and that its concerns and demands should be taken into account .
I think that at the world 's major forums of debate , very important decisions are at stake and that Europe must speak with a single voice , and with a strong voice , to advocate the special features of our project : a social model and a new legal , economic and political structure for a world in which the state plays a more significant role and in which there is a better market .
I voted in favour of this resolution , because I view favourably the progress made by Serbia in implementing reforms in the areas of public administration , the legal framework and the fight against corruption and organised crime .
in fact , Sweden has taken a step backwards rather than taking the opportunity to push for more challenging objectives in the area of the environment and climate change .
a real migration of peoples !
stability in the Caucasus is undoubtedly also in the EU 's interests , but we must not leave the responsibility for this plan to Turkey , otherwise new dependencies and even pressures will arise in the accession process .
how , Commissioner , do we assure across the EU that these measures do not induce some distortion in competition ?
I tried to explain this , heading by heading .
the Safer Internet Programme is a unique pan-European initiative through which the EU helps combat illegal content and harmful conduct online and increase awareness of child safety online among the European public .
the European Parliament is now deciding whether or not it was transposed properly in the Member States .
as the Stieglitz Committee demonstrated in France in 2008-2009 , we need to think of new development indicators to add to GDP .
the main rule is that Ecolabelled products must not contain dangerous substances , but there can be some very few exceptions .
Prime Minister , I warmly congratulate you on your ambitious programme of action against gender violence , which is a social scourge .
my second point is that the horizontal , integrated character of the funds is vital for the entire spectrum of Europe 2020 .
some aspects have already been mentioned .
Mrs Ashton did touch on some details , but her answers were disappointing .
both are necessary , as is the case throughout the world .
two years ago , at a meeting of the EU Council , Poland announced a proposal for a common energy policy which could be described by the slogan ' one for all and all for one ' .
in writing . - Given the economic crises the EU is facing , it is essential we identify which areas of our activities lend themselves to helping us overcome our difficulties .
although using an out-of-date cosmetic product does not usually pose any risks to consumer health , it also does not bring the expected benefits .
let me also make a point of mentioning that we can expect further mobilisations of the Solidarity Fund in the coming months .
last but not least , it has proposed a clearer definition of the roles of members of European works councils , especially in the area of passing on information to workers and training opportunities .
this special review should also include topics such as aircraft crashes , cyber attacks and terrorist attacks .
we have a directive which relates solely to women , because only they give birth , only they get pregnant and only they can nurse .
voting time
I am sure that all together , we will do our utmost to bring back growth and prosperity to Ireland as well .
this may be true , but it is also true that , in 2006 , in other words one year after my government came to power , greenhouse gas emissions were reduced by 4 % even though the economy grew by 4 % .
however , let us be honest .
the simplistic argument is that , since EU tobacco production is so small , only 4 % , the effect on final consumption is negligible .
the second problem is the daft policy of the strong euro , making us uncompetitive in terms of exchange rates .
3 .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( PT ) Mr President , the resolution that we are debating today demonstrates that there is consensus in this Parliament on what the arms export policy of the Member States of the European Union should be .
I share Caroline Lucas 's objective in trying to ensure that the revised agreement does in reality give priority to social and environmental issues rather than solely focusing on increasing trade in tropical timber .
the debate is closed .
in writing . - I welcome the positive vote releasing funding for the Abruzzo earthquake victims .
from the outset we urged putting an end at last to the misleading adverts offering absurdly low air fares .
I do not agree with the proposal to reduce the financing allocated to the common agricultural policy in the future because agriculture is a particularly sensitive sector .
I also welcome the willingness that has been expressed to direct information campaigns at certain target groups , especially the young , pregnant women and parents .
to conclude , I would just like to say , Madam President , that I fully support the proposals to continue this constructive dialogue as put forward by Mr Panzeri .
as then , it is the working class and the poor who are paying dearly for , and suffering the consequences of , this , whether in Europe or in the poorest countries on earth .
but , most importantly of all , what you bring is the moral certainty of where you have come from .
solutions also need to be found aimed at mitigating the effects of the financial crisis which are still being felt in many Member States .
as regards the timing , most of the national systems were developed in the early 1980s , but their deployment is a long and costly process .
I am delighted that we appear to have the support of the majority of this House for a comprehensive directive .
if this is not the case , the EU 's already embattled citizens will have to rely on their heads of state to defend them .
this debate is extremely important to the Community fishing industry as it opens the door to greater biological sustainability of resources and more opportunity for those responsible for the industry to intervene in the market .
we are glad that Parliament is an institution that has always played a very active role in this field and has made repeated calls for measures in this respect , against gender violence .
let me say to Mr Titford that I am not worried whether Europe provides it , whether Britain provides it , France provides it or whatever , but what we have to be sure of is that school fruit goes into our schools .
no one knows how much it would cost - it is called the European safety net .
this model , Madam President , is typically European , because you will not , or only very occasionally , find it in the United States or Japan , let alone in China .
those vaccines may lead to undesired circulation of the vaccine virus in unvaccinated animals .
as recommended in the excellent report by my Polish fellow Member , Mr Liberadzki , I voted in favour of granting the European Commission discharge in respect of the implementation of the EU general budget for the financial year 2008 .
let us wait until 1 December , when we will have new proposals , and then we will have to take a reality check : one that demands the real involvement of the European Parliament .
since some of the amendments can change the meaning of the report , our vote on the final ' product ' will depend on whether or not the amendments are adopted .
we believe that dialogue and relations between the European Union and the United States should be conducted in a spirit of mutual understanding and independence .
one important advance has not perhaps been recognised sufficiently to date : the strengthening of the principle of subsidiarity .
the citizen expects to be informed about results , not about what the Union is planning or intending to do . the man in the street wants to know what the Union has achieved and how it has affected him .
what we would like is something which is more of a guideline and is not binding in nature .
there are major problems in large sections of the budget , including agriculture , the Cohesion Fund , the structural funds , the Regional Fund , social policy , rural development , research and development , energy , transport , external support , development and expansion , education and citizenship .
it is necessary to have a full compilation of data which is updated regularly and it is also necessary to create a point of reference for all Member States , where each Member State inputs all necessary data which will allow the concrete application of the directive .
Romania is capable of providing proper protection , whether at its air , sea or land borders .
we also need to progress very methodically , very openly and with a lot of dialogue , to enable the Irish people to come to a decision .
the use of oil in that circumstance is , as I understand it , illegal , a breach of the food and hygiene regulations .
it is clear to everyone that it would be better if this were done within an international framework .
at the same time , it is an important tool in helping the Member States to achieve their emission targets within the framework of the proposal on effort sharing between the Member States .
I ask you from my heart , for all those workers : please address the Polish Government .
in accordance with its mandate , MONUC is playing an essential role .
what now do the phrases ' the fight against social exclusion ' or ' the guarantee of adequate social protection ' contained in Article 9 signify to those citizens ?
we have been admiring onlookers at the way the Georgian people have striven to build a liberal democracy , a strong civil society and free elections .
yes , the EU should open up its markets , but this good work is often undermined if other governments restrict access and keep prices high purely for ideological reasons .
I believe that this legislative text , which was voted upon today , strengthens consumer protection while taking into account the characteristics of the sector , in which complete harmonisation may not always be feasible .
I am convinced that in the next few decades fossil fuels will continue to be irreplaceable in the energy mix : they should therefore be given due consideration .
( PL ) Mr President , academic jargon has started to loom larger than policy in our enlargement strategy .
another positive point to mention is the automatic payment of outstanding wages to the workers .
the current bans are more than sufficient .
yet when they reflect national interests here , it 's labelled ' Populist ' .
subject : EU response to the financial crisis
I listened with interest as Mrs Vassiliou spent more than ten minutes explaining to us that essentially , this is not possible .
education , health , transport and other frontline services have all seen their funding slashed across the EU .
I am asking you to watch these films .
promoting the principle of equal opportunities between women and men is a relatively recent concern for the European Union - featuring in the Maastricht Treaty or Amsterdam Treaty - although various aspects have been highlighted by many declarations or international agreements , such as the Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women of 1967 .
dialogue within European is a concrete reality .
I would like to inform you that following the statements from the representatives of the political groups , I will inform you of the technical arrangements concerning voting on this report .
I am therefore asking you to take part in this vote .
so there is a reason to support the European parties because they are , in fact , European entities , recognised as such by our Treaty .
promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources - Turmes report
I think that , at the moment , this formula of compromise between Parliament , the Council and the Commission could help to solve the problems without us having to resort to the urgent procedure that the Commission originally proposed .
I believe we cannot let the words of the Libyan dictator pass without harshly condemning them as Parliament and as European institutions .
we find ourselves in a situation whereby , if we are not careful , if we try to deregulate this sector as has been done in others , we will end up killing creation , which is one of our unique assets .
in writing . - UKIP recognises the value of certain elements of the Council 's position in preserving the right of Britons to work , and we have voted against other amendments in this report which specifically undermine those elements .
as one Member said , this decision is a Christmas present .
in writing . - ( NL ) Mr President , I voted against the proposal by Mr Catania today on the future of the European Common Asylum System .
the first issue is the national envelopes .
as such , I believe we should feel satisfied - me in particular , of course - that this was accomplished under the Spanish Presidency and under the leadership of the Minister of Public Works and Transport , José Blanco , who achieved considerable progress in aviation matters , including the single sky and labour relations in the air traffic control sector , where a negotiated settlement was reached .
certainly , the Constitutional Court will throw out the request of a judge on a personal basis , but we must not continue to ignore Mr Berlusconi 's umpteenth attack on Italian democracy and the independence of the Italian judiciary .
we also welcome the fact that the exemption from mandatory inspection of the equipment and accessories covered by the Commission 's initial proposal is maintained and that the mandatory inspection of everything , including equipment and accessories used on small-scale family-based holdings , has been dropped .
I ask the rapporteur : how is a farmer who is only getting two quid a head for his sheep supposed to fit microchips and buy expensive scanners and readers that can comply with a mandatory electronic ID system ?
I support the creation of a European civil protection force , following the Barnier report published in May 2006 .
the vote will take place on Thursday .
thirdly , can the Commission provide assurances that , within the framework of ACTA , no penal measures will be introduced that lie outside the competence of the European Union , and I am very well aware that it will be the Member States that assume the responsibility in this respect .
we should also be aware that we also need to be critical of some things .
composition of committees : see Minutes
I agree with President Barroso on keeping spending tight .
what must Europe deliver when the G20 meeting is resumed in September this year ?
the aim is to diminish administrative burdens as regards publication and translation obligations of certain types of companies .
I must congratulate the rapporteurs on their excellent work and , in particular , thank them for having incorporated two of my proposals .
we need to invest in neighbouring countries , especially those to the east of the EU , and offer them the necessary incentives to continue with their reforms and be able to strengthen the EU 's presence in the area .
in this report , we are intentionally selective . we concentrate , therefore , on some strategic and geographical priority areas such as the Western Balkans , the Middle East and the broader Middle East , South Caucasus , Africa and Asia , and obviously relations with our strategic partner , the USA , as well as relations with Russia .
we should make a common effort in this direction in the future .
I also believe that European standardisation contributes to creating a level playing field for all market actors , especially for small and medium-sized enterprises and microenterprises , which are so important to the dynamics of the European economy .
I would like to emphasise the importance of preparing a European strategy to recognise and resolve problems associated with soil degradation .
they maintain that rules of national contract law are not a factor in influencing consumer attitudes to buying from another Member State ; in fact , there are other genuine barriers to cross-border trade , such as administrative and cultural differences and a lack of effective means of redress for consumers .
that is a lie , and in my view this debate is a farce .
the second point is that energy efficiency in production and consumption should be for us a focus of the debate .
consequently , at this moment , we are expecting that , by its activity , the Agency shall strengthen the role of national regulators and support their operation , allow the technical harmonization of European networks , as a condition for a real internal market and make possible the mutual supply of energy among the Member States , take into consideration the consumers ' interest and carefully monitor the developments on the energy market .
in this context , it is right to support the setting up of specific projects such as the European digital library , the purpose of which is to digitalise our heritage and access to it , and preserve it for future generations .
this communication defines three key elements of a balanced and strategic approach to active inclusion :
therefore , the international community - specifically the European Union and the UN Security Council - must offer their unconditional support for the report 's recommendations and take urgent steps towards the creation of an independent international mechanism to monitor the Sri Lankan Government 's actions , ensure that crimes committed on both sides are investigated , and seek justice for the Sri Lankan people .
the ruling also states that the detainees were held incommunicado , with insufficient judicial controls , which gives credibility to the claims of ill treatment and torture made by the detainees .
that is reasonable .
not for nothing did the people of Russia and their mass media , including in the Baltic states , support Russia 's invasion of Georgia .
finally , Mr President , we must also guarantee border control and the use of available resources such as Frontex and RABITs ( Rapid Border Intervention Teams ) , which must have access to the resources needed for their work .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( PT ) We consider the report to be positive , though it includes some points that we disagree with .
I would like to extend my thanks to all of these women .
the death penalty and the release of prisoners held since the Tiananmen Square massacre : these are among the reasons why this Parliament is in favour of maintaining the embargo on arms to China .
however , I wish to draw your attention to the fact that the Russian gas pipeline project , South Stream , is not making any contribution at all to this diversification as the supply source remains exactly the same , Russia .
this is why the PSE Group supports the rapporteur , in order to safeguard the powers of the European Parliament .
fines should henceforth include costs of returning workers to their country of origin and payment of arrears ( salaries , taxes and social security contributions ) .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , can I first say thank you very much for the many kind comments , including those of Chris Davies , although I know even less than he about football so I could not follow the picture , but I guess it was a positive one !
I do not want to close this speech without stating my appreciation for the start of your Commission mandate .
it is even a threat to driver safety .
contrary to these expectations , Beijing sees the Olympic Games as a justification for increasing repression against human rights activists .
- Joint motion for a resolution
I am speaking under the watchful eye of Jean-Louis Borloo , who provided complete , unwavering and effective support in these negotiations .
at this point it can be seen that it is not possible to separate the rights of children who have already been born from the rights of unborn children Even though they begin life as embryos they inevitably become children , and if anyone has any doubts about this they should remember that we were all once embryos .
12 .
as an ethnic Hungarian from Romania , I would like to draw Member States ' attention to supporting Europe 's minority and endangered cultures .
in writing . - ( PT ) The objective of the Commission proposal for a new Council regulation on the collection of data in the fisheries sector is to develop long-term sampling programmes which are well-integrated at regional level and which include ecological , economic , environmental and social data .
after all , what we do not want are flags and ships that circumvent minimum requirements for safety and social standards .
it is important for adequate funds to be available , although just assigning part of the budget cannot be considered a true refugee resettlement programme .
these are all areas in which action is needed .
however , it does not mention what happened on 10 March 2008 when Tibetans raised a peaceful protest against the repression of their culture and religion .
if there is anything they have too much of , it is the military .
should Parliament adopt the PPE and GUE / NGL proposal , it would make a nonsense of the management plan to introduce two separate tagged areas for one stock .
in addition to guaranteeing authenticity by having a unique code for each package , the safety requirements also include rules on tamper-proof packaging for boxes that are handled by parallel importers .
it is not my intention to paint an entirely gloomy picture .
I wish to inform you that our young friends are now with us in the gallery .
I hope that this case serves to stifle these temptations to abuse power and that all those who are interested in learning about the role played by the Fisheries Partnership Agreements in the development of the villages and national fisheries of West Africa can make an analysis based on a comprehensive and uncensored report .
these funds will assist Montenegro in such areas as the rule of law , the strengthening of administrative capacity and implementation of the SAA .
I mean this in a good sense , because I see the need for discipline , strict responsibility and soundness in the expenditure of the country representatives and we accept this and will always respond to it .
Europe 's hardworking citizens are being required to pay more and more .
the Council fully agrees with the view held by almost everyone here that the free movement of persons within the Schengen area is a major achievement .
replies came from all countries of the European Union and beyond .
EU policy on Arctic issues ( debate )
Mrs Létard , representatives of the Council and of the Commission , if we fail to understand that millions of workers are today at risk of losing their jobs and feel in a weak and precarious position and do not of course have voluntary contractual capacity - other than the opt-out - then I have to say that we have no idea of what is really happening in the social and family life of European citizens .
women and minors need improved protection .
it is necessary to find a sustainable solution to the waste crisis in the province of Campania , the most complex situation of all the episodes of problematic waste management in Italian regions .
we had already found the money , and we were trying to determine the structure of the programme .
last year we lent more than EUR 12 billion to the banks for small and medium-sized enterprises .
it is also a huge pleasure to follow Mr Fatuzzo in an explanation of vote .
for these reasons , the elected representatives of the MoDem party have not put their trust in the Barroso II Commission .
it should be noted that the commitment made by the Member States of the WHO at the ministerial summit in Hong Kong ( 2005 ) concerns the parallel elimination of export subsidies and the imposition of disciplines on all export measures with equivalent competitive effect .
by doing so , he can ensure during his mandate that all European citizens have clear and transparent rights , and the Spanish Presidency could and should play an important role in this .
several recent announcements of new IT tools , like Google Books or iPad , would facilitate access to cultural content in digital format , notably the so-called ' e-books ' .
there are problems on the labour market due to insecure contracts of employment and wages on which it is impossible to live .
Chancellor Merkel is rather braver than you are , at least on this occasion .
it is also important to highlight the adoption by NATO of a mission transition plan for Afghanistan , with the objective of the Afghan authorities taking the lead in matters of national security .
as if it were written by somebody wearing rose-tinted spectacles .
the upcoming EU-US summit should be used to express our disapproval and to appeal to be treated as partners .
emphasising the role of the High Commissioner is also important in order to ensure that the parties concerned give due weight to the official 's proposals and opinions in the absence of any means of enforcement .
although the Treaty of Lisbon strengthened the European Parliament 's role in judicial and police cooperation in criminal matters , the Member States are the ones that can play a key role in combating this crime .
the EU must stop Turkey and its subordinate local administration in the occupied part of Cyprus from committing further violations , and from continuing the ethnic cleansing of the remaining 300 Christian Greek Cypriots .
the Presidency of the Council will continue giving much importance to this matter .
the success of this initiative requires the participation and support of all political parties and all segments of society .
the assessments which are now carried out by the European Commission give us information as to which bodies consistently have problems in terms of their managerial capabilities in implementing political cohesion programmes .
we also recall the Chinese constitutional guarantees on freedom of expression .
in this sense , a common policy must arise from the capital cities of the Member States , not from the corridors of power in Brussels , as one would anticipate .
I can assure you that we remain committed to working towards the improvement of the human rights situation in Eritrea so that it is very dominant in our minds .
the dispute about the former Yugoslav Republic 's name plays a key role in the discussions on the accession negotiations , as it is one of the obstacles preventing the negotiations from starting .
the East of England is crying out for improvements in both passenger and freight capacity and greater use should be made of opportunities for TEN funding for the lines serving east coast ports .
it also states that Parliament stands ready to offer assistance to forge a broader , more informed consensus .
mafia organisations , however , are investigating new routes in order to foil security operations .
this is one of the most significant advantages of biogas production , although biogas may of course be produced from other materials such as municipal sludge , slaughterhouse waste and energy crops .
the market structure in some Member States means that the monopoly enjoyed by transmission system operators , who also own the means of generating electricity , offers no incentive to encourage other players onto the market , thereby undermining competition .
indeed , a positive statement can be obtained only through teamwork - between the European and national auditors - and by means of the national management declarations , as has already been said .
the Stability and Growth Pact was adopted as the last chance to deal with the notorious rule-breakers , and it has been violated by everyone for years .
this is a very sensitive subject .
its activities have allowed the European Parliament to suggest signing of the stabilisation and association agreement , perhaps even by the end of this year .
we can no longer stay silent or justify , and neither did the Court of Auditors , the fact that millions of euro , of European , national and local funds have gone up in smoke .
we must , however , be aware that an improvement in relations with the European Union is not only in the objective interests of Belarus , but also in the interests of Lukashenko himself .
in the area of security policy , but also in the area of IT and buildings , we need to find a balance between internal employees and external suppliers .
your report rightly stresses that the financial crisis has exposed the need for reinforced economic surveillance in the euro area .
the introduction of visa waivers for citizens of these countries requires us to be clear about the circumstances in which it is done .
under the present circumstances , Hungary itself is not able to buy up the surplus ; nevertheless , there are other ways to stabilise the market .
we have no reason at all to hide from globalisation .
Pakistani law therefore fuels this climate of persecution and unjust deaths .
structured dialogues , such as with China ; agreement-based dialogues like those with many neighbourhood countries ; consultations with like-minded partners , such as with the US and Canada , or local troika dialogues with a range of countries all differ in many respects , be it their periodicity , the policy level , the kind of interlocutors , the depth of the discussions or the fact that some are combined with civil society events and others are not .
as you rightly said , it is a small step , but it is a first step , and when it comes to road safety we are used to being patient and achieving small victories little by little on behalf of all the victims of traffic accidents and their families .
it has also behaved in a completely untrustworthy way from the start of this report by obstinately trying to usurp the competence of the Committee on Fisheries on the issue of Fisheries Partnership Agreements .
it is important to streamline the stages of programme access , in line with the principles of transparency , simplicity , consistency and legal certainty , to facilitate matters for small and medium-sized enterprises , universities , research institutes and local bodies .
in fact , it is changing this attitude which is one of the most difficult aspects of combating poverty .
membership of the European Union gave my country and the other new EU Member States and their citizens many new opportunities , and helped to boost the economy and to strengthen democracy and human rights .
you will be the watchman , you will have the entire procedure in your hands .
no , it was not .
( RO ) Mr President , although violent acts against women are the most prevalent in the world , they are still the least likely to be punished , whether committed in conflict zones or democratic countries .
lack of confidence on the part of consumers and the reluctance of companies to operate outside their home country limit access to the internal market .
we are not writing the Bible , here .
this is about the recording by the performer , not by the writer .
I have received a request from the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left concerning the debate on the situation in the Western Sahara , namely , that voting on the motions for a resolution on this matter should take place during this session and not the December session , as is currently intended .
- Mr President , the Council 's declaration on the Eastern Partnership is most welcome .
this amount will cover the following measures : recognition of skills , professional training , training and support aimed at creating jobs , support for self-promotion and incentives for recruitment and experience gained in the workplace .
Parliament has always faithfully celebrated this date , but unfortunately this date has not yet achieved the scope that it should have within the European institutions and Member States .
these instruments can only work in tandem .
the Commission must take the driving seat and lead this process .
new legislation in this area would not be considered as the way forward for the time being .
in numerous areas of activity our example is being followed more and more frequently in many parts of the world .
the default position should be that subscribers know of a breach of security concerning their personal data so that they can take precautions , and it cannot be left to the service provider to determine whether such a breach is likely to cause a subscriber harm - it is the subscriber and his own data which have to be protected .
in this connection , I want to mention an issue which we have ignored and continue to ignore in Ireland : the issue of putting substantial resources into upgrading and refurbishment of septic tanks in Ireland , particularly in rural Ireland .
this post is now subordinated to the general Ombudsman , as other Ombudsmen have been , and so it is weakened .
I also agree that the EU should be actively helping China with reconstruction efforts .
the Commission cannot replace the Member States .
in writing . - ( EL ) We oppose the reactionary restructuring of the field of research that is being promoted in the EU 's basic guidelines for the creation of a European Research Area ( ERA ) within the framework of the Lisbon Strategy .
furthermore , we often speak in Parliament about work / life balance and everybody nods their head in agreement .
we are committed to supporting such actions through the MEDA Programme , as well as the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument and the new thematic programmes .
( DE ) Commissioner , please do not be angry , but let us get serious .
let us want something !
evidently I share your assessment .
not to have done so in the past in the face of prima facie evidence demonstrates an apparent lack of EU resolve that is giving succour to those who would destroy our way of life in a democracy .
it is no use having a vibrant village centre if the village is almost cut off from the public transport network and the post office has been closed down .
the local political class is often greedy and focused on power games rather than taking control of the reconstruction efforts , and the bureaucratic machine , decimated by the earthquake , has a weak administrative culture and , in some cases , has even obstructed the distribution of aid .
for example , it calls for the development of additional , new teaching materials , such as school books that are better suited to the promotion of mutual understanding .
so we are working actively with our Lithuanian friends , and also with other partners important to the security of energy supplies to Lithuania .
it would be a great mistake to miss this opportunity of building trust between Europe and China .
on the point on small and medium-sized enterprises , which I agree is very significant , I am reminded that one of the statistics that always struck me as being very interesting is that only 8 % of our small and medium-sized enterprises actually trade , and only 3 % trade outside of the European Union .
we have been very pleased to see signs that talks are again taking place between Israel and the Palestinians , albeit indirectly for the time being .
cloning animals is a controversial scientific achievement .
that will be dealt with in a different context - the debate about the future itself .
Mr President , I would also like to join the congratulators .
there are many other potential tar sand sites , some of them , as we heard just now , within the EU itself .
we , as Members of the European Parliament , no longer accept the fact that you are not delivering . '
we should be able to make a decision on whether to continue planning a naval operation under the European Security and Defence Policy in early October .
Mr President , we have quite rightly heard a lot about economic recovery in the Commission 's proposal for the EU 2020 strategy but not enough , in my opinion , about poverty , and that is why I was delighted that you mentioned poverty reduction in your speech .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , first of all , let me thank you for a very substantive and responsible debate .
if we think of solidarity , is it good for the poor , developing countries that , instead of developing their own agriculture and industry , they are obliged to open their markets ?
new areas were added in order to enhance cooperation : the fight against terrorism and organised crime ; the prevention of mercenary activities ; the fight against the manufacturing of , trade in and accumulation of small arms and light weapons ; and cooperation on migration .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( ES ) Mr President , Minister , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , all the important natural resources and environments , such as water , air and species and habitats of flora and fauna , are covered by specific Community legislation , whereas the soil , which is non-renewable and a scarce resource , as the Minister has just said , does not have this protection .
and , amid this chorus of praise that will certainly appease the French Government from tomorrow , I believe that we need to take an interest , first and foremost , in workers who are going to be required to work even more , without really having any choice in the matter , such as all those in France who are in future going to be asked to work on Sundays .
I do not support the resolution because , despite the obvious deficiency of the progress made and the discrepancies with the acquis communautaire , it looks forward to accession that may take place , in my opinion , too soon .
we must manage forests sustainably if we are to maintain their capacity to fulfil their economic , ecological and social functions .
there are ten countries along this river .
when , a while ago , the crisis management forces were established to bolster the European 's foreign and security policy , including its defence policy , the reason I was given for this , at least in Finland , was that these forces were also there in the event of natural disasters , and that they could help when such catastrophes struck anywhere in the world , including Europe of course .
we have to ensure that they find their way onto the market .
we know that this approach is going to require considerable efforts to ensure that our words become actions .
and as it is often the new Member States that are involved , I believe that better cooperation with and assistance is required in respect to the new members to enable them to set up clear and precise national control mechanisms .
the Bureau adopted a unanimous decision yesterday evening - also at Mr Fazakas 's suggestion - which we intend to publish now that the Conference of Presidents has been informed , as is the case : thus the September II part-session will take place here in Brussels as well .
this would have the added benefit of taking the pressure off EU Member States and their individual requirements to keep within the Stability and Growth Pact in terms of additional borrowing .
we can use trade policy to promote respect for human rights , energy security , democracy and good governance .
in the current crisis , you must remember that , while investment is , of course , the key variable , consumption in our various countries represents between 60 and 70 % of our GDP .
the current regulations on the time limit for animals in transport and their derogations are adequate if they are properly monitored and if , at the same time , top quality transport fleets are maintained .
compliance with the obligations of flag States ( vote )
I believe that everything rests on and revolves around three main points .
small organisations that carry out very useful activities at local and regional level need special help to draw up applications .
I was also very interested in the comments made by Mrs Záborská - which were echoed in different ways by a number of speakers - on the whole issue of family ties and ties to children , which , of course , require some extremely specific approaches .
the European Union has set itself ambitious targets in the field of technology and not only in the context of the Lisbon Strategy .
however , the Commissioner has done his job .
make the Copts a top priority in your policy .
the amounts that have been dedicated by the European Union to these bailouts dwarf the domestic spending of our national governments .
with regard to the sphere of application , this legal framework must also apply to existing bilateral agreements .
I also demanded urgent intervention by the Italian authorities to ensure fundamental rights and protect Roma in the country from further acts of violent , racist aggression and to defuse the climate of anti-Romany hostility prevailing in Italy .
many of you in this House have asked for these principles and rules for years and now finally , they are within our reach .
we are witnesses of the enforced departure of authoritarian rulers .
the security situation of the civilian populations deteriorated following , among other things , the joint military operations conducted by the Congolese army and the Ugandan and Rwandan troops against all the rebel armed groups , operations which left countless massacres and human rights violations in their wake .
I want to report that in the south of the Union , in the industrious and enterprising city of Valencia , there is an historic marine quarter called Cabañal , which could be destroyed by a plan that the council wants to implement after abandoning the area for almost 20 years .
you know that most Member States , including my own and many others , practise forms of tax competition that are very harmful to the general European interest .
will they murder her too ?
we also need to consider what resources we can make available to Europe .
I therefore encourage the creation of producer organisations , and I think that Member States and farmers should take a look at the number of producer organisations you have in different Member States .
secondly , the Czech Republic has , together with other countries , joined the Schengen area .
secondly , the initial assumption on which the synergy was based , namely , that the area should become a coherent and cooperative region in order to qualify for EU attention and material support , has ignored the simple truth that just 20 years ago , the area looked completely different .
small and medium-sized enterprises are the motor of the European economy and the main producers of sustainable growth , creating numerous quality jobs .
other cases were Equitable Life , the Loiret in France , protection of water quality in France and the delicate issue of custody of children in Germany .
this report ' on Innovation Union : transforming Europe for a post-crisis world ' includes a series of measures that constitute major social challenges .
irresponsibility , over-zealousness and failure to regulate on one side of the world will potentially hit the pockets of ordinary consumers everywhere .
today we have seen a significant change because , up until this point , Greek Members of this House have been making themselves look completely absurd , and have been placed in a position of ridicule because of their arguments about the name of this country , which is the Republic of Macedonia .
the new enhanced agreement will bring Ukraine as close as possible to the EU in as many areas as possible while not prejudging any possible future developments in EU-Ukraine relations in accordance with the treaty provisions .
Commission legislative programme and work programme for 2008 ( debate )
we examined the grave human rights situation there .
the Member States have not always listened , but the coordination provided by the Frankfurt-based institution can only be regarded in a positive light .
in writing . - ( DE ) In the wake of natural disasters and the like , temporary accommodation must be provided quickly and makeshift repairs made to essential infrastructure such as , for example , power supply lines , roads , bridges and so on , so that hospitals can start running again , and the Solidarity Fund can be a great help here .
the vote will take place on Tuesday 16 December 2008 .
Mr Wathelet has now attempted to persuade the House not to make such rapid progress towards a genuinely pro-European future , but instead to hold back .
out of this long experience , allow us to suggest the most important practical characteristic that enables the work of intercultural dialogue to succeed .
I should like to thank these people most sincerely for their commitment to this .
if that trend now changes direction with the social impact assessment that we are agreeing on , then we will have made a great deal of progress .
we should be heartened by the fact that the less developed countries are becoming more developed and the poor are becoming richer .
more shockingly still , a UK charity , Christian Aid , maintains that around EUR 7 trillion is hidden away in tax havens .
the referendum of 5 September was meant to resolve the political deadlock by changing the rules for electing the President .
at the moment , some 12 000 Roma people , mostly children , are about to be sent back from Member States , mostly to Kosovo , where we know the conditions are such that they will be unable to have a humane life .
as you know , I even made public a letter in which I called on the Member States to help me in regard to this issue of gender balance .
how do they keep those undue windfall profits ?
we therefore call on the European Commission not to cancel the funding of support projects for civil society provided for under the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights ( EIDHR ) and also to reconsider the freezing of the Fisheries Agreement .
the planet cannot be rescued unless the big developing countries , like China and India , also limit their emissions .
certain proposals , such as the review of the Fourth Accounting Directive , will benefit SMEs in particular .
I was unable to intervene when you excluded from the Chamber our fellow Member from the UK Independence Party ( UKIP ) , but I should nevertheless like to object to the biased implementation of the rules .
I have to say that we have offered increased financial assistance to Libya , and it is evident that the Libyan authorities need to use this assistance to improve the fight against the trafficking of migrants and others on their territory and to strengthen the controls at their southern border .
this European Parliament report is very important as it sends a very strong signal concerning the protection of the weakest members of our society , our children .
we now have an opportunity to obtain these facts .
we have come a long way since the Commission tabled its original proposal .
we want Frontex to be a flexible , streamlined , well-structured agency with its own financial resources , and Mr Busuttil and I are reviewing its mandate in the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs .
Mr President , at the end of last year , the European Commission presented a communication - the Action Plan of the European Union strategy for the Danube region .
it is truly the link between civil rights and social rights .
however , past experience is less encouraging than was indicated yesterday by several Members during the debate .
however , transparency builds and maintains confidence and facilitates risk control .
a uniform system for the management of flatfish , wherever they may be located , must be drawn up .
but it is clear that the transatlantic relationship will be key in setting the wider global agenda .
in countries with significant agricultural potential , like Romania , Bulgaria or Poland , using biofuels presents a viable socioeconomic alternative for developing rural areas and promoting environmental protection by utilising the potential offered through energy efficiency and renewable energy sources .
I therefore call on the Commission and the Council to take this seriously .
this is also a concern in this case .
I would also like to point out that there were many ideas voiced here that went beyond the scope of this parliamentary question , for example the issue of national legislation , but these are questions that I have certainly noted and I will give them further consideration .
the report by Izaskun Bilbao Barandica , on behalf of the Committee on Fisheries , on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a long-term plan for the anchovy stock in the Bay of Biscay and the fisheries exploiting that stock - C7-0157 / 2009 - ,
SMEs create jobs and will be a major instrument for reducing unemployment in the future , provided that we in the EU efficiently support them .
the real objective of the report therefore appears to be more ambitious than the creation of a European civil code , with which I cannot agree .
something that I have never experienced before in the area of foreign trade is positive feedback even coming from the agricultural sector , which is usually more likely to be a problem for us in the area of trade negotiations .
the first is that the Commission has established a group , chaired by Jacques de Larosière , to examine the issue of supervision in Europe .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to start by thanking my colleague Nickolay Mladenov for his truly excellent work on this very difficult issue .
the next item is the joint debate on
- Before the vote
in this context , there are opportunities to provide practical support measures for women in agriculture .
I also support the proposal that access to public tenders and projects financed from EU funds should be made conditional upon a given company being able to demonstrate an anti-discriminatory pay policy .
and , if you do intend to bring forward such proposals , will it be under this existing Commission or under the new Commission , when it is appointed ?
this simple fact amply illustrates the importance of the report by Mr Cadec , with whom , as a shadow rapporteur , I had the pleasure of working in the search for as broad a consensus as possible on protecting the sector , the jobs that it provides , and above all European consumers .
I hope that at the informal meeting in Seville in January , environment ministers will deal with the outcome of Copenhagen pragmatically and consider climate change in the context of the future Action Plan for Energy Efficiency for 2010-2014 .
I hope that this House will adopt the text in its entirety , because the more precise and detailed the work we submit to the Commission , the more we will gain in effective speed .
I support this report because of the balance it strikes between CO2 emissions and associated emission reductions .
this type of mass recording will undoubtedly result in the infringement of privacy .
if we were to vote now for something different , it would not be well regarded , especially by the Commission .
we know that this is an emergency , we know that there is no plan B , and yet , today , the negotiations are at a standstill .
that will not create better conditions for control of the financial market .
the reduction pledges announced so far are not sufficient to stay within the target of 2 ° C. There is unfortunately , in my view , little cause for optimism that we will see improved offers by 31 January - rather the opposite .
I urge the Commissioner , when he goes to this meeting in Accra , to make sure that the European Union is singing off the same hymn sheet .
( DE ) Mr President , first of all , I would like to thank Mrs Oomen-Ruijten for drawing up this report which will be submitted to the Commission and should be taken into account as Parliament 's contribution to the forthcoming progress report .
we need to seriously review the workings of the arrest warrant to include only a limited list of serious crimes - always satisfying the condition of double criminality - as being the only ones justiciable under the European Arrest Warrant .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , to get right to the heart of the matter , this is all about introducing a uniform , mandatory EU strategy , instead of the 27 individual , differing strategies in the Member States .
this is an exercise that is unmasking itself as it goes through the obvious contradictions that it contains , not least in making use of an alleged defending of human rights to promote intervention in countries where its own interests are at stake , whitewashing its allies and supporting them , particularly the United States .
this is in relation to amendments geared towards further simplifying the application procedures and strengthening the equal treatment provisions - for example , the principle of proportionality of fees as regards procedures and the equal treatment provisions on tax benefits .
at least 15 % of the money collected in charges is invested in other projects related to CO2 reduction .
as a liberal , I voted for the directive changing the rules on invoicing , because I think that the method used today , whereby this chapter was incorporated into the VAT Directive , has not completely attained its objective , which was to simplify , modernise and harmonise the submission of VAT invoices .
the Council has taken decisions in the context of the Youth Pact to enhance the employability of young Europeans and the scope for combining work and family life .
sexual and reproductive health and rights are sensitive issues , including traditional societal and also religious dimensions , and therefore should not be generalised and thereby forced upon societies , especially fragile societies , where drastic changes in traditional ways of living can harm the fragile society more than they bring benefits .
the main demand formulated in the report in order to achieve this objective is for common rules on management and application to be adopted within the general framework of cohesion policy and with the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Fisheries Fund .
the second agreed point is that Europe 2020 is a compendium of good intentions , it sounds good , but we have to move from contemplation to action .
fourthly , it will ensure effective unbundling of the generation and transmission of energy so as to eliminate any conflict of interests , promote network investment and prevent discriminatory behaviour .
on top of that , the ECB has accepted EUR 100 billion of collateral to give liquidity to the banks in Europe .
just consider the pressure that will come about when we really begin to grow fuel as opposed to food .
on 18 June 2007 , the Council issued guidelines to the Commission on negotiating framework agreements with Algeria , Armenia , Azerbaijan , Egypt , Georgia , Israel , Jordan , Lebanon , Moldova , Morocco , the Palestinian Authority , Tunisia and Ukraine on the general principles governing these countries ' participation in EU programmes .
we must also , however , link asylum policy with development policy in order to preclude migration .
( the President cut off the speaker )
this is an exceptional situation and thus exceptional responses are required .
the reason is the Commission is taking a position which is more an industry lobby position than one which simplifies consumer protection and environmental protection in Europe .
the Court of Auditors indicated in its annual report that the audit did not find any significant gaps as regards the EDPS .
air passengers have long had many rights , and two years ago , EU rail and air passengers were given the same rights and a high level of protection was ensured .
the international community cannot remain impassive .
it is a rare event in my life , but we are not at a fun fair here .
finally , as we are not in a position to solve the problem of poverty as a whole , then let us at least provide children and young people with free education and extra meals as required .
( PL ) Mr President , if Burma has decided to hold parliamentary elections for the first time in 20 years , this may mean a step forward in the process of democratisation , if the elections , planned for this autumn , are honest .
I would like to congratulate each of our fellow Members for their efforts and for the proposals which they have made .
it recognises that the so-called obstacles to trade between the European Union and the USA are often laws with a specific social , environmental , cultural or public health purpose , and that these obstacles cannot be removed without a democratic decision and positive legislative action to protect these objectives .
furthermore , I do not think that Internet service providers should be allowed to judge for themselves which breaches of their network security harm their users and which do not .
reforms help nations to progress more than revolutions and Europe is a model of good practice in this regard .
we should not use the budget as an excuse for appropriating an important issue that goes beyond the scope of budgetary control , and though I welcome the important work done by Mr Itälä , our rapporteur , I say this with regard to this discharge .
so next week 's European summit in Copenhagen is the last occasion for the Centre-Right in Europe - with the Swedish Presidency of the Council , and Denmark , as well as France and Germany , being ruled by Centre-Right politicians - to act responsibly .
thank you .
now we have to go through that sensitive area .
I voted in favour of the report by Mr Belder on the EU 's approach towards Iran .
( EL ) Madam President , I am especially pleased that Commissioner Barnier is here today , because I know that the matter which I intend to raise is of particular interest to him .
I remember that the representatives of the Association of Producers of Tuscany asked us during their visit for recognition of the fact that they do not need protection , but clear confirmation that the ' Made in Italy ' mark will be visible only on their Italian products .
Mr President , I am very pleased to see you here for this debate , particularly as you are a former member of the Committee on Climate Change .
in the short time available , and on the basis also of personal experiences with UNICEF , I would urge the Commission to emphasise one aspect : we need a Community instrument on adoption , for at present the 27 Member States have totally inconsistent legislation in that respect .
the problems we have with regard to the Eastern Partnership are linked to this issue as well .
the Commission deserves praise for this .
first of all , I think the Commissioner should recognise that soft measures , like market promotion , are not going to be enough .
there are grounds for doing this .
( DA ) Madam President , I would like to thank the Commissioner for his support for the Fund , but also for taking decisive action to deal with what has happened and for taking the matter very seriously .
I shall end with one particular proposal that the Commission elaborated , very much related to this issue , but also to the general economic crisis that we face .
the resulting proposal is therefore largely discriminatory towards such smaller towns .
if we work together in today 's globalised world , we will be able to drive the Americans back on the world market to some extent and portray our dream a little better .
we also have a whole legal framework based on non-discrimination , free movement of people and the enlargement strategy .
the golf course problem , as has already been said , is not really a problem .
first of all , we will all be making a positive contribution to reducing climate-damaging CO2 emissions , enabling us to bring an end to our major dependence on fossil fuels .
the Commission supports this agreement .
one thing that is immediately needed is energy efficiency .
if the European Union loses the capability - leaving aside the question of rules and unification - for free public discussion , and seeks to unify this discussion too , then it will not be my European Union .
18 .
the Commission can agree with most of the conclusions .
I agree that the decision of the Member States to place the European Heritage Label within the framework of the EU will not only help increase its visibility , prestige and credibility , but will contribute to achieving long-sought ideals of cohesion and solidarity among European citizens .
this matter is regulated at national level or through international agreements .
the Pact for the euro unfortunately proposes to make wage austerity a permanent fixture .
it calls on the EU to claim an enhanced role in its transatlantic cooperation with the USA and NATO , in order to promote the particular interests of European capital .
I want to avoid giving the impression that we are spending EUR 800 million to enable research into hydrogen as a fuel technology .
it is , of course , important for us to lay down stringent requirements for joining Schengen , but the same objective criteria must apply to everyone .
as for the excuse of the wide variety of soils ( 320 ) , this problem could be resolved if the proposed measures were devised on the basis of the soil pathogens to be prevented or rectified , and not on the basis of particular soil types .
( RO ) The strategy for promoting relations with Latin America has proved to be invaluable between the time of its launch and now .
there is only organ donation .
and again , our role now in the current situation is really to look for sustainable growth ; and renewable energy is the key to providing such a type of growth .
are there any proposals from the Council with regard to putting together a team of facilitators to allow the different traditions in Bosnia-Herzegovina to come together to agree a common standard or common code for how the police force should work ?
the most recent example is the tragic situation in Japan .
there must , of course , be regular checks to make sure that the rules and principles that have been agreed are being complied with , which will naturally need to be recorded in the various commercial documents .
( ET ) Sometimes it is good to be first , and sometimes it is good to be last .
the European Union has indeed been acting as a ' Global Player ' but , in my view , not at all in a positive way towards a more fair and solidary world order .
the financing of projects in this area will help to stimulate economic recovery in Europe , and indeed in my own country , Ireland , and help to create new employment opportunities and also help in the fight against climate change .
since the 1990s , Turkey has built good neighbourly relations and stability in its region - on its borders with Europe , the South Caucasus , Central Asia and the Middle East .
the EU needs to adopt a common , clear and effective approach so as to minimise the effects of the crisis as much as possible in terms of its intensity and duration .
we need defence to guarantee peace in Europe and to help the world 's most disadvantaged people .
( ES ) Madam President , despite the fact that the speaker who preceded me is from a different political group , I am in total agreement with him : we cannot leave the financial markets in the hands of financial managers .
the EGF was set up in 2006 to provide practical support to workers made redundant either for reasons associated with the relocation of their companies or , following the 2009 amendment , on account of the economic crisis , in order to assist their reintegration into the labour market .
if you succeed , then we should change the name : get rid of ' European Union ' and call it the ' Debt Union ' .
as far as effectiveness is concerned , it should involve establishing a different kind of dialogue , held in a different form and at different levels , including a balanced , rather than a one-sided , assessment .
I also believe the time has come for the European Union and the Member States to examine the new questions posed by the generational challenge .
we consider that the actions we have been taking for several years now are helping to improve it , but , beyond that , it is in our view the signing of a future Partnership and Cooperation Agreement that will enable us , in this case as in others , to use the human rights clause to provide the best possible framework for addressing this issue with Vietnam .
( FR ) Mr President , as I said yesterday , I am against all types of fiscal fraud , and I asked the Commission and the Council to act expeditiously to remedy the disastrous effects of VAT evasion : losses have been estimated at EUR 20 billion per year , or nearly one fifth of the EU budget .
I believe that we will get the backing of the majority here , too , because there is majority support for the solidarity of the regions .
the Commission is aware of the issues raised by the electorate during the referendum in Ireland relating to the Lisbon Treaty .
our policies should constantly bear in mind the diversity and different needs of children , paying particular attention to poverty , social exclusion , and negative discrimination both at Union and at global level .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , first of all , on behalf of my group , I would like to thank the rapporteur for his work and his cooperation .
Europe must do more as well .
voluntary may mean ' no payment ' , but we as European institutions can help intensify it by various means .
our problem is that what we do is not effective .
this afternoon , the Commissioner speaking in the budget debate spoke out in favour of the fund , I want to make that quite clear .
in my view , financial disclosure is important , Mrs Lulling .
the 2010 budget allocates significant proportions of its funds for the conservation and management of natural resources , social and economic cohesion , growth and employment , competitiveness and innovation , regional development , agriculture and rural development .
the majority of employers ruthlessly exploited the situation .
particular importance attaches in this context to our relations with the peoples on the opposite shores of the Mediterranean and in the Middle East .
the Treaty of Lisbon gives the citizens themselves , the ordinary citizens , the same power of political initiative within the European Union as our own Parliament .
in spring this year , we supplied medical equipment with a value of EUR 4.5 million to 60 clinics in the Republic of Moldova .
first , humanitarian issues : there can be no doubt that the most pressing and important question is the humanitarian one .
do you believe that it is possible to initiate dedicated research programmes into the detection of landmines ?
between 1998 and 2004 the number of arrests for counterfeiting rose by 1 000 % .
the EAS is to have a network of ' EU embassies ' and , under the watchful eye of the new EU High Representative / Vice-President of the Commission , is to be responsible for creating and implementing EU military and foreign policy .
the chances of the European Union and the international community changing the basic reality in Somalia are slight .
we taxpayers provide 65 % of this amount and vessel owners 35 % .
I therefore hope that , in the future , the funding of the trans-European networks , and the data that we receive from this , will also improve the capacity of the tourism sector in Europe .
we are helping the poorest regions to catch up with their neighbours , but we are also helping the stronger regions to remain competitive .
we call for the perpetrators of this crime to be properly tried and punished .
I do not believe that enhanced cooperation is the right path for the issue of patents .
even if the TRIPS amendment is not the complete solution , we believe that the positive acceptance of the protocol represents an important step .
( SK ) The Goldstone report , the conclusions and recommendations of which we are debating , ignores Israel 's right to self-defence .
before and as from the next entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon , we know our Parliament will become a joint decision maker , a colegislator .
there is clear evidence that , while the world has warmed slightly , other bodies in the solar system have also warmed .
the systems of collective negotiation and the collective agreements on working conditions arising out of the negotiation merit recognition and support . after all , the consent of the responsible social partners ensures social harmony and gives the agreements entered into a chance of success .
I would like to ask for your support in the vote on our joint resolution , through which we call on the European Commission to ban the cyanide-based technology within the EU from 2012 , and also for both the Commission and the Member States not to support mining projects using cyanide within the EU or in third countries .
access to high quality education must be an option for every citizen , regardless of their citizenship , country or area of birth .
in addition , Member States should not sacrifice social affairs , health and education in cuts made while reviewing their budgets , because these are precisely the areas that contribute to bringing people at risk of poverty back into society .
I believe that many member countries , including my own , have to make progress on quality criteria and on quality of care information .
secondly , I welcome the decision to set up the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators and I would like to advise the European Parliament that Romania has applied to provide a venue for hosting this agency .
I am sure , however , that Parliament would have supported a more ambitious result .
organised crime certainly is no longer what it once was and it certainly has links with terrorism and every form of illegal activity .
her execution has - at least temporarily - been stayed , but as the report points out , Zahra Bahrami , a Dutch-Iranian national , was executed in Iran on 29 January with no prior notice .
what are the solutions that the social package provides to these challenges ?
I voted for the report because I am convinced that an integrated industrial policy for Europe is indispensable , especially in the face of the new challenges brought about by globalisation , and a further development of industrial policy is therefore necessary .
every initiative put forward by the citizens will of necessity involve increased responsibility on the part of the Commission and Parliament .
the world financial crisis , the conflict between Russia and Georgia , and relations between the EU and China have been just a few of the challenges .
Mr President , Mrs Malmström , Mr Barroso , there has been much speculation over staffing issues during the last three months and over the possible entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon , which my group has rejected for three good reasons .
well , as for my second priority , it is to attempt to find another strategy for the issue of climate change , post-Copenhagen .
the unemployment rate in the EU is 8.9 % at the moment , while 19 % of young people under the age of 16 and 19 % of elderly people are exposed to the risk of poverty .
thanks to Atalanta , the European operation , which was begun in December 2008 at the initiative of France and Spain , joined by other European Union countries , we now have a significant deployment of forces in the area .
in that case I would advise them to check the facts and look at them closely : to be against contraception , against information , against giving women access to these services will only further increase the number of abortions .
and I believe that with goodwill and cooperation we shall succeed in transferring this too from a European level to a national level and create an even stronger link between the industrial policy of the European Union and that of Member States .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( PT ) Mr President , Vice-President of the Commission , ladies and gentlemen , I should just like to refer briefly in my closing statement to an issue which has been raised several times and which is of the utmost importance , which is naturally on the European Union 's external agenda and will most probably continue to be a priority in the coming weeks and months .
on the situation in the Middle East , particularly in Gaza , I very much regret the return to violence in recent days ; the five months of calm achieved by the truce were unfortunately too short , but they were very welcome .
the report on which we must decide tomorrow has the dual merit of taking a very clearheaded look at the imperfections and problems of the Dublin system and of formulating proposals to improve the efficiency of procedures and the situation of asylum seekers .
1 .
they , however , remembered what certain MEPs have forgotten .
a point to remember : MEPs also represent these people .
the Commission has to make sure this is transformed into real action that can be felt at the ground level immediately , because this report is not just about entrepreneurship : microcredit also delivers social cohesion , and it encourages people to take ownership of their lives and their potential .
I have read in the New York Times that European diplomats are hastening to pre-empt the Council 's position , which will slavishly follow that of the United States .
'Politics is the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow , next week , next month and next year .
however , from the moment the document was first discussed , the European Parliament has considered very carefully the Commission 's proposals and wishes to control more than 150 of the Community 's airports .
Israel should reopen the crossings without delay , which would allow a revival of the private sector and a reduction of Gaza 's aid dependency .
this will enable subsequent assessment of the effectiveness of measures and interventions aimed at increasing patient safety and easier communication of experience and information between Member States .
this is not only in their interest , but in ours as well .
we will not make compromises in connection with sustainability , either in social or environmental terms , and we therefore insist that fulfilment of the 10 % target remains an obligation , and that this can be done in a sustainable way .
of course this has an influence on the world market price for corn .
in addition to the oil and gas contracts , Turkey is attempting to conclude a stability and cooperation pact .
like all Romanian and European citizens , I want the reforms to the justice system in my country to continue , the level of corruption and fraud to be reduced , cases to be judged justly and more quickly , and the guilty to be punished harshly .
this is why automatically imposing sanctions will not , in itself , yield positive results .
in my country , too , this sector must be nurtured so that its benefits can be seen in both economic and environmental terms , and so that there is an increase in honey production , which , at present , amounts to only 1.9 % of EU production .
the Commission , in this case , can only apply regulations that have been adopted by the Council , often after considering Parliament 's opinion .
we see Belarus as being part of Europe and we are aware of the problems caused to the citizens of Belarus by the increase in visa fees .
the report by Mr Arif is paved with good intentions , as is the road to hell .
the aim of this was also to facilitate the negotiations .
( DE ) Mr President , the overthrow of the Tunisian Government has caused shock waves in neighbouring countries in the Maghreb region , which are mainly dictatorships , and also in Libya .
before the conciliation in November , and before the second reading , we will try to solve as far as possible anything that we still consider to be a problem in the first reading .
we are , in principle , opposed to the EU directly or indirectly interfering in issues relating to hunting , which is a national matter , particularly when it may undermine well-functioning Swedish rules .
it would be more useful to investigate the implementation process more closely .
in the first place , we think it should be up to each country , in accordance with its practices , traditions and specific needs , to decide how to organise , collect and compile the relevant data , although we would acknowledge that sometimes it is necessary to have agreements in order to have comparable data and carry out comparable studies for various countries .
these measures are not only in the interests of the countries themselves , but also of the countries that are not as badly affected .
the Treaty has not , for example , been referred to the Constitutional Tribunal .
statistical returns in respect of carriage of goods and passengers by sea ( recast ) (
we have a permanent Youth Parliament , with 130 members who have just been elected across the country .
the vote will take place on Thursday , 17 September 2009 .
together , we must also take care of freedom , security and full employment .
the time has come to learn how to consume on a large scale in a low-carbon manner .
I am sure it was not easy , but we have achieved good compromises .
in view of the continuing absence of regional markets and market coupling , I consider the aim of creating a unified internal market by 2015 to be highly ambitious , particularly if we take into account the fact that the European Commission does not , as I see it , sufficiently monitor the proper implementation of current European energy legislation in all Member States .
we could only applaud all these acts of good will , were it not for the fact that they again attest to this typically European malady Kurieren am Symptom .
as it is impossible to comment , in this short explanation of vote , on the whole content of this report and resolution , I would stress that these consider that the time has come for the major capitalist powers of the EU to assert themselves .
so too , in particular , is the deepening economic crisis in the European Union , which is making itself felt ever more strongly amongst the citizens . I therefore call on the Commission and on the incoming Presidency to present a genuine programme of joint actions that will prevent a rise in unemployment in Europe and a fall in the Union 's economic growth .
I have therefore voted in favour of this proposal , not least because the congestion charge was included as an additional external cost for mountainous regions .
it is also difficult to see whether the classic model of national presidencies , which set the tone of EU policy , will be retained .
ladies and gentlemen , Mr Kirkhope , thank you for your support .
I have a practical proposal : let us agree to pass no new legislation in the next parliamentary term .
of course , the work being done by Mr Barroso , assisted by Commissioner Rehn , is going very well and we see it in a positive light .
Mr President , Commissioner , our work is not finished .
working together is a must , and what I am seeing in these Joint Technology Initiatives is groupings actually coming together on a European Union scale .
the Commissioner has mentioned some very specific objectives .
what part does the stress of life play in the disease ?
twenty years ago infectious diseases were not perceived as a major threat .
President Kaczyński does not have the right to interfere with this .
there is a huge amount at stake for the first Presidency from one of the new Member States , and Slovenia is leading the Union at a key time .
( EL ) Mr President , Commissioner , I should like to start by congratulating the rapporteur on her excellent work and for successfully coordinating the work of the other committees .
I expect that the EIT will become a point of reference for innovation management in that it will promote new forms of collaboration among partner organisations involved in the knowledge triangle of research , universities and the private sector .
this is a problem which has a number of different aspects to it .
you could very well get the idea that this is more about creating an alibi for subsidising outdated heavy industry than about actually wanting to conduct a climate-change policy .
this requires a substantial response in terms of renewable energies ; we need a policy with taxation .
the Treaty of Lisbon will reinforce the democratic nature of the European Union .
what , after having condemned a whole group of other Member States , will you do in your own country to ensure that the Netherlands , too , does not end up failing .
I would like to thank you for this opportunity .
we hope that after this debate , Commissioner , there will be European Commission initiatives with this objective .
Mr Rasmussen , I should like to say to you , even though your speech was addressed more to the Commission , that I agreed with you when you stressed that no market segment should be exempt from regulation or supervision .
( DE ) Mr President , I should just like to point out that the different situations in the Member States need to be taken into consideration , but on the basis of gross domestic product .
working conditions in Chinese companies operating in Africa are equal to those of slavery .
in order to provide legal clarity for all stakeholders and to contribute to the improvement of governance in European sport , the above-mentioned Staff Working Document and its two annexes explain in depth this issue of specificity .
what are the main points ?
today 's vote concerned a request for assistance for 2 834 redundancies , all of which are targeted for assistance , in the enterprise General Motors Belgium and four of its suppliers operating in the motor vehicle sector in the NUTS II region of Antwerp , during the four-month reference period , from 14 June to 14 October 2010 , amounting to a total of EUR 9 593 931 financed by the EGF .
unless we do something , we will have 21 million unemployed in Europe within a year , and 25 million unemployed at the beginning of 2010 .
in some parts of the world , this right is often foregone , whilst in others , it is scarcely guaranteed , for a variety of reasons and factors that combine to pose a serious threat to consumer health .
thank you for your attention .
we should be helping people with rare diseases , not giving them the feeling that they are actually surplus to requirements .
this factory moved to a less expensive area of the EU and has since moved to Asia .
a shortage of information , standstills in terms of cross-border services , unnecessary administrative constraints , and so on , are the criticisms voiced by the European Parliament in the report that we have adopted and of which I have voted in favour .
so this is totally unnecessary , an utter waste of public money .
the dream of the founding fathers was that the peoples of Europe would , all together , reject all that had led to such extreme disregard for human life , to Auschwitz and Birkenau .
( PL ) Commissioner , I had the opportunity to observe the re-elections in Moldova .
you have now put forward some proposals and here it must be to the credit of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development and specifically the European Parliament 's rapporteur , Mr Goepel , that he has bestowed practical relevance on the proposals you have put forward , which will subsequently lead to equal treatment among businesses that compete with one another .
( EL ) Madam President , a week ago , Presidents Buzek , Barroso and Van Rompuy met religious representatives to discuss democratic rights and civil liberties .
being on one side Ulster Catholic , on the other , Scots Presbyterian , I have always felt that I have something of a personal stake in power sharing .
the social partners , and certainly the employees ' representatives , must be closely involved in this European recovery plan , as this issue is also a litmus test for social dialogue at European level .
I want to protect this and further promote it .
I was pleased to learn of the establishment of a calendar for NATO involvement in Afghanistan and of the signing of a declaration on long-term partnership with the country during the NATO Summit in Lisbon .
wasted years in terms of the quest for peace in the Middle East , wasted in terms of the fight against organised crime and in terms of disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation .
the country 's own fishery sector is still completely undeveloped .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Mr President , while the Council was not meeting , at least the European Central Bank , was at work and I think can be given some credit for having stemmed the possible further infection in Europe .
Turkey is not geographically part of Europe , nor is it part of European history , whose religious , cultural and political landscapes have been defined by Christianity , the Renaissance , the Enlightenment and the democratic nation state .
this is the right approach to achieving a simpler and leaner Europe .
we want a European solution , and we want it sooner rather than later , because , if we do not get it , my forecast and my warning is this : some of our Member States will develop systems that will lead to forum shopping as a result of free movement of judgements .
the second thing is that you stressed religious intolerance , or rather the fight against it .
in short , its aim is to draw conclusions from the global financial crisis triggered by the bankruptcy of the Lehman Brothers bank in autumn 2008 , related to the inappropriate securitisation of US subprime mortgages .
our contributions today are based on two completed budget years within a seven-year perspective .
we are voting on the draft presented to us by the Council , with no changes , because this draft is exactly the same as the position which the Committee on Budgets adopted last week .
the European Commission must not treat the Baltic Sea on a par with the Atlantic or the Mediterranean Sea .
both sides in the conflict were urged to implement an immediate and lasting ceasefire and to halt military activities ( Israeli 's military action and Hamas ' rockets ) , which had for some time prevented aid and humanitarian assistance from getting through to the citizens of the territory where the conflict was being played out .
this is something that the current Regulation does not contemplate .
the Member States have agreed that the commitments relating to the exchange of information provided for in the Council position of 2003 should be implemented by means of the mechanism established within the framework of the Code of Conduct .
we will not be able to achieve any more in the first reading than we could achieve in a later conciliation process after an unspecified period .
it is quite true that we cannot allow universal rules on trade to be broken .
it is a kind of parallel diplomacy or silent diplomacy ; it is not the kind of diplomacy to which we are accustomed , in terms of high-level officials , but it is necessary .
it must be stressed , however , that making progress in improving Parliament 's information and communication strategy , would not in itself be sufficient .
this would then remove any future need for the type of debate which we are enduring now and would also save money , if we consider what it costs - from the first to the second reading , with all the preparations , all the interpreters and translations , and all these meetings at such a late hour - which would certainly be in the European Union 's interests and improve its work on behalf of citizens .
Mr President , we are now trying out the effects of the Treaty of Lisbon on ourselves .
however , at the end of the day , it has to provide something positive for European citizens , otherwise the idea of European contract law is simply art for art 's sake .
this morning , the BBC is reporting that the White House is saying that it will come to Copenhagen with targets for cutting US emissions .
as well as their concomitant violence , two images from the demonstrations against the Israeli intervention were particularly shocking .
healthcare is and must remain the responsibility of the Member States .
does it mean that if I give a lecture on homosexuality in a public place , theatre or university in Lithuania , I cannot do so ?
I also have to say to you and to our colleagues that we should perhaps reconsider our participation in the second China-EU summit next month in Beijing if this is the direction in which things are going .
but perhaps our Macedonian friends can learn at least one lesson from Bucharest .
firstly , we believe that we need to stress that fiscal fraud is not something that can be combated in isolation and that a coordinated approach is essential , both among the individual Member States and with third countries .
I believe that we should also be instrumental in ensuring that this is possible .
it is high time that we made sure that anyone caught up in the criminal justice system of another Member State was made aware of their rights and obtained proper legal assistance , interpretation and translation .
actions should be focused first and foremost on rural areas , where social awareness is at its lowest .
the reburial Imre Nagy deserved did not take place until 16 June 1989 , but by then the Communist regime had come to an end and Hungary was able to rejoin the family of free European nations .
or an anonymous police officer for whom protection of human rights may be a very minor issue ?
we must combat criminality and its perverse system of speculative gain by instituting legislative coordination among the Member States with regard to land management and the intended use of areas subject to fire and destruction .
adopting this report will help guarantee a good balance between the rights of patients in the EU to have access to the best medical treatment and safeguarding the financial sustainability of the national social security system .
ultimately , we have nothing to show for it .
we have only maintained and preserved the ordinary legislative procedure in a few areas , which was the compromise with the Council .
these more rigorous measures may , however , have repercussions for the internal aviation market insofar as they often vary from one Member State to another .
there should be no extra administrative burdens for our producers , however .
the cost of fuel certainly did not help .
in writing . - Relations between the EU and Russia are clearly more than just about trade .
and , even though the call in the main in this House is for better cross-border supervision , when a test is put in front of them as to what I should do about it to have a more coherent approach to cross-border supervision , they go back and represent their national positions .
the Ahtisaari Plan represents Europe 's boldest regime for protecting minorities , and it may serve as a model and an example of good practice for the whole of the region , so it is very important that we hold Kosovo to account on this matter .
in January 2006 , the Commission adopted an action plan towards an integrated internal control framework , again with the aim of obtaining a positive statement of assurance from the ECA .
Parliament considers the Ombudsman to be a troublesome institution at times , but one that is always of great importance to our legal system .
savings made at the expense of children are the worst kind of investment in the future .
this legislation also incorporates requirements for the closure of extraction facilities , and for after closure .
Conservatives support a Europe of independent states working closely together to meet the challenges of globalisation , global poverty and global warming , as has already been stated by others .
I think that exceptions should be possible only after conditions have been met on the methods used to kill the seals .
( applause )
( CS ) Mr President , we were outlining foreign policy , we were arguing about the Southern dimension and the Eastern dimension .
here , too , I believe , things are moving in the right direction .
I regard the Commission 's proposal for simplification as positive .
the expected lifetime of the mine is only 20 years , and it will create scarcely any jobs .
on the basis of scientific advice expected soon , we will choose fisheries for specific legislation during the course of this year and at the same time plan a roadmap with a timeframe for the subsequent proposals covering - over time - all European fisheries .
despite this , a majority of MEPs supported the start of accession talks some years ago .
we are doing so by lending them money ; and nobody makes loans without conditions ; we do not have the authorisation of this Parliament or of the Council to make loans without conditions .
small and medium-sized enterprises produce more patents , innovations and jobs than the large conglomerates .
this law , Madam President , is probably one of the first that directly tackles the illegal immigration phenomenon using legislative tools , and now it can be said that this law has finally arrived .
funny though it may be , to this very day , the European Commission has found neither the necessary arguments nor the time to influence the Latvian Government to bring to an end discrimination on grounds of language .
I would also like to repeat what I have said on previous occasions in this House and elsewhere .
( CS ) Mr President , as Mr Schulz said , this is not just a debate about the budget , but it is also a debate about the future form of the European Union , and that is a fact .
they must enjoy increased access to EU funding , financial engineering instruments and other credit sources .
as people of the free world , we are obliged - especially in relations with the People 's Republic of China , because these relations are developing - to ensure that these refugees are not returned to the Korean authorities , because for them this means a severe prison sentence or simply death .
I would also ask the Commission for a more accurate definition and smoother communication with this House and the Committee on Culture and Education in relation to the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008 , since the website clearly has some major limitations .
the result of this debate will be reflected in the political choices regarding future governance and management systems for GNSSs .
( PT ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , communication of the general principles that will govern the new common agricultural policy ( CAP ) has given new hope to small and medium-sized farmers throughout Europe by stressing their irreplaceable role in the future of European farming ; this hope must be realised .
give them some encouragement .
however , the belated adoption of the Commission legal instrument enabling the Member States concerned to allocate state aid as well as limited shipyard capacity have made it impossible to meet the deadline relating to the entry into the fleet of fishing vessels benefiting from state aid for renovation up to 31 December 2008 , as specified in Regulation ( EC ) No 639 / 2004 .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Mr President , Parliament has spent many hours in this Chamber discussing how to make the European Supervisory Authorities responsible for our financial services into the most transparent and accountable of organisations .
the agricultural land of Europe therefore had to be put on set-aside and production had to be scaled back .
the joint resolution on the future EU-Africa strategy calls on the EU to do the same .
in my constituency alone , 12 innocent people were detained and were not able to be charged .
these bilateral agreements were of special interest to us , as here in the case of Korea .
so we have to tackle these problems and I am satisfied that we are moving gradually in the right direction .
that is why in our development policy we must strive to achieve more efficient tools and provide help to developing countries in such a way that will enable them to adjust to the impact of climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions .
it was not always easy , not always without drama , but the political will has been unflinching , our sense of direction is clear and significant results are there .
we are going to present some of them : projects like an Innovation Plan , a new skills programme , a proper industrial policy , a digital agenda , green technologies , and a specific plan or action against poverty ; projects that have a value , an impact in themselves ; projects that show why Europe provides part of the solution and which show that the European Union is not just talking , it is acting .
the rights of citizens of a Member State , as well as the prestige of the EU institutions which uphold these rights , have thus come under threat .
however , we also need a form of overall coordination for passenger and freight transport , irrespective of whether it is by air , rail or road , in the event of earthquakes , ash clouds , floods or similar disasters .
the incident involving the Deepwater Horizon oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico and the huge volume of oil spilt into the Atlantic Ocean has , and will have , a major impact on the world 's climate .
well that particular regime is now one that poisons its opponents , allows its journalists to be murdered and holds elections that may be free but may also be fraudulent .
I voted against Amendments 1 and 4 because they were intended to delete references to government efforts in Croatia to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation and race , which are required for EU accession .
much has been done in the battle against illegal immigration , but it is not enough .
I voted in favour of those motions , but the machine showed a red light .
they have a fantastic track called ' Dance on a Volcano ' , and this track came to mind this week , which has been rather dominated by volcanic ash .
I myself am always in favour of zero tolerance when it comes to labelling .
( NL ) This report is one-sided .
where there was formerly scrutiny by an independent body , there is now scrutiny by a parliamentary body .
the third is quality .
you should not listen too much to the City lobbyists keeping you from doing things , and of course you should listen to experts - but the political responsibility is with you to take these initiatives .
the reform is an attempt to address these problems .
this year it was marked not only by the usual brutal repression of demonstrations by Iranian workers , but also by the execution of a young woman aged 17 , Delara Darabi , who was convicted of a crime , despite everything pointing to the fact that she did not commit this crime .
in principle there is now no limitation on the length of the cabling itself .
in normal contacts with both parties earlier in the years , knowing from previous experiences that deals are usually struck in the night from 31 December to 1 January , we always reminded them : ' please find a solution to your bilateral gas issues because it is affecting our transit ' .
the Commission is proposing in this communication that , according to Article 50 ( 3 ) of Regulation ( EC ) No 1698 / 2005 , the ' other less-favoured areas ' be defined in accordance with objective criteria .
according to the new report by the UN , it is very likely that the Tamil Tigers and government troops will be found guilty of serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights committed in the final stages of the conflict .
in relation to gas , it simply ought to be said that LNG facilities and their storage infrastructures , provided they have interconnections with transport networks , operate as complementary facilities which play an essential role by guaranteeing access to new operators and speeding up the creation of a genuine internal European market .
I agree that that the EU-Canada economic relationship has not yet reached its full potential .
the EU is the world 's largest donor of foreign aid , being responsible for over half of public development assistance .
Japan is 20 years ahead of Europe in this , but it was also 20 years ahead of European countries in legalising abortion .
her dream was that the new organisation could help this dream come true all over the world , both in the West and in the Muslim world .
hundreds of those sentenced to death are people unable to afford a fair trial .
pointing out the necessary relentlessness in the fight against drug dealers is no substitute for consistent government action .
I have already talked about the flotilla , some of the issues concerning the Palestinian authority and the discussions that are going on - Mr Belder , you raised them too - between Fatah and Hamas .
after all , the fact is that the Arctic region already provides the final resting place for the world 's mercury emissions .
soon the permanent European stabilisation mechanism will be set up , to take effect as of mid-2013 .
I voted in favour of the European Parliament resolution on Action Against Cancer : European Partnership .
I have not heard anybody from the Socialist or Liberal side raise in this House the issue of gender-based abortion .
finally , I welcome the rapporteur 's conclusion on the request made to the European Data Protection Supervisor to include a chapter in its next annual activity report - financial year 2010 - including detailed information on the follow-up during the year to Parliament 's discharge decisions .
the EU , through its ill thought-out policy , is destroying livelihoods in developing nations across the world .
one of the members was ready to take a seat in the European Parliament , as one of 18 extra MEPs .
I must particularly highlight , due to their symbolic value , two parliamentary proposals incorporated during the discussion process .
the fact is that a European Commission proposal in this respect , although inadequate , has been marking time since 2005 .
in this context , the Commission welcomes your support in urging Member States to stay committed to achieving by 2015 the 0.7 % ODA / GNI target .
in 2003 , 65 % of German companies innovated and 312 patents were awarded per 1 million inhabitants , compared to the European average of 128 per 1 million inhabitants .
Daimler and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority have recently taken this type of step , so it should also be possible for us .
it is not a Member State that we are targeting ; it is the question of knowing whether we are applying the treaties , whether we are applying the European Convention on Human Rights signed in Rome in 1950 , and whether we are applying Article 6 of the Treaty .
what is the result of this from a climate point of view ?
I voted for the report on ' An EU Strategy for Youth - Investing and Empowering ' .
there are many young people who would enjoy farming : working in the open air and close to nature , surrounded by plants and animals .
however , of course , that does not prevent the treaty , quite logically , from also demanding responsibility from the Member States on their level of debt or on the credit that they take on .
secondly , it is essential that the Commission steps up measures to support the livestock sector in less-favoured areas , in particular .
if this is so , we can support it .
I am still very sceptical as to whether we could actually have a tax that would globally work , with all countries globally coming in , because that is the only way it would actually work without moving capital elsewhere in the world .
as has been said , this is a serious case , because an attack on such an internationally renowned defender of human rights signals that people questioning the state or exercising their fundamental rights , such as those to the freedom of belief , will not be safe , so they have to conform to the state or face the consequences .
Member of the Commission . - In answer to the first question , the Commission has proposed two new directives in order to solve these problems because the financial crisis has highlighted the problems more clearly than before .
( FR ) Mr President , first of all , thank you to the Swedish Presidency for leaving us , at the end of the year , with the best of itself .
by this I am primarily thinking of preventing conflicts .
it is not imprecise at all .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( CS ) The European Parliament and the European Commission have been debating aviation security for several years .
we shall take care to ensure that the text clarifies their international powers and responsibilities .
this process will continue unless adequate measures are taken .
as far as I am aware , for instance , both Japan and Canada are in the process of reviewing their Internet enforcement regimes .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , thank you for joining with your rapporteur in emphasising the importance of logistics , not only from the economic point of view but also environmentally and socially .
3 .
I know the problem well .
Mrs Ashton 's initiative , which has meant that Mr Morel can , today , give us a full report on what is really happening in Kyrgyzstan , seems fairly important . I would like to make a fervent appeal in relation to the situation in Kyrgyzstan .
I would be quite prepared to discuss that too in the context of the Health Check debate .
Parliament 's persistent habit of requiring the proclamation of days , weeks and years for various phenomena is placard politics which does not distinguish between different subject matter .
Europe is now part of the solution , it is trying to support Ireland .
I have also made it clear in my report that we must not shrink away from positive action if we are to harbour hopes of correcting the situation relatively quickly .
one of these is that economic governance is more than just a set of penalties .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , we wish to back the membership of Croatia and this is why we call on the Croatian authorities to ensure that the assets nationalised to Italian citizens at the end of World War II , and still owned by state or municipal institutions , despite the requirements of European law , should be returned to their legitimate owners .
the approval of this exception is crucial for the development of these Portuguese Autonomous Regions , both of which rely heavily on the tourism industry and are consequently highly vulnerable to the volatility of this sector .
too often , this is not the case and , in any case , the United Nations has established that drug-related crimes do not qualify as the most serious crimes .
Mrs Ayala Sender , since you addressed me personally , let me say that we are a community based on solidarity , and that solidarity applies in every case , including the present one .
the vote will take place tomorrow ( Wednesday , 25 March 2009 ) .
we must clean up their acts .
the Swiss can be in the European Environment Agency , if they wish , in the EU 's film and education programmes , and they can apply for EU research grants .
as regards commitments , I should remind you that the Council considers it essential that these reach an appropriate overall level in the 2008 budget , with due regard to the capacities for absorption .
your agreement on further financing for the dismantling work is a sign of the European Union 's solidarity with Bulgaria .
in this context , it is important and appropriate that the resolution stresses the significance of the early teaching of regional and minority languages .
research is certainly permitted on cell lines that have already been extracted .
occasionally we have had some differences of view but I think in general my experience is that it was worthwhile working here .
many of you talked about employment .
it seems the ' intelligent car ' is just around the corner .
his visit to Ankara was inflammatory , and it is a pity that German Christian Democrats do not take Max Fischer 's advice and look in the mirror , because the AKP today is the mirror image of the German CDU in 1950 - not Christian Democrat , but Islamic Democrat - and that is no doubt why the Commissioner says that he understands and shares Turkey 's frustrations .
on one or two specific points , however , it also proposed the tightening up of the framework decision and , in any case , work was still needed to reach an entirely satisfactory level of legal certainty and protection of freedoms .
ladies and gentlemen , allow me to thank you again for your cooperation , and the Council for its work , and express my thanks once more in this House to the Commission staff of the Directorate General that I have the honour to lead , because without their valuable contribution it would not have been possible to reach a compromise that I believe to be positive for all EU citizens .
the solution for the future is a massive investment in , and development of , renewable energy .
there will be incentives to promote the renewal of the fleet of heavy goods vehicles , derogations for heavy goods vehicles fitted with less polluting engines and , finally , the toll charge may vary according to the time of travel .
other subjects too should be put on the French Presidency 's agenda , even though they are not within Europe 's remit .
we will have a debate with the Foreign Minister next week .
therefore , the discharge process is not the right forum for these issues .
our aim is to build a strong European civil society as the basic prerequisite for the development of a European public area .
approval of Minutes of previous sitting : see Minutes
our report also highlights the idea of mobility , which should be accessible to all , and I welcome that .
thank you , Mr President .
nuclear energy would remain unscathed by this tax .
I welcome the Commission work programme , and specifically your proposal on the Single Market Act .
the action plan will guide us in delivering an ambitious set of very concrete measures in a field where the added value of Europe will be very visible to our citizens .
I appreciate in particular the readiness of the European Central Bank to cut interest rates in order to ensure the levels of liquidity required by the banking system to be able to invest in the real economy .
( applause )
with regard to the budget-related question that someone asked , let us try , above all , to reach a consensus on the main principles .
I will get to them in more detail .
( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , as Mr Ettl said , we are facing a great challenge .
negotiations can only be held on the basis of facts , and the freedom of the press in China is an important precondition for that to happen .
what the President perhaps did not appreciate is that , because of this history , Irish Republicans - who love to wallow in self-pity - are determined to effect their own transformation on any such centre and turn it into a shrine for some of the most evil terrorists known to this generation .
as a rule , a child should be brought up in the country of which he or she is a citizen .
what we have heard here today , of course , sounds very attractive .
even if the treaty has no immediate effect on the development of security and defence markets , it paves the way for the development of a more integrated and consistent security market , which requires legislative actions that are coordinated and therefore interinstitutional .
however , it was military predominance , not political achievement or any lasting solution , that drove the Tamil Tigers out of their last major stronghold .
despite the fact that other committees , in their respective opinions , were essentially in favour of EU legislation in this matter , certain factions are somewhat hesitant .
the European Union is , without doubt , the only political power capable of convincing the Cubans that the isolation in which they are confining themselves is suicidal and can only lead them , sooner or later , to a tragic fate .
I therefore abstained in the final vote .
that is the message our leaders should convey to Moscow loudly and clearly .
the CE marking is not necessarily the solution to all our safety problems within the internal market .
what concerns me about this report is words like ' pricing policy ' and ' tax on fossil fuels ' , because no current serious alternatives exist and these taxes are very inflationary .
well , the Irish people decided that they much preferred to be on the EU train than the UKIP bulldozer .
( PT ) In 2006 the European Union recorded its highest economic growth since 2000 .
in some countries , for example , it is apparently illegal to take part in an online gambling contest with a company outside your own country .
we should not tar all employers with the same brush and , of course , we should not treat someone who employs a person in good faith , believing them to be working and residing legally , in the same way as those who seek to exploit the situation of these people .
with regard to on-call time , I want to say that we were very close to a compromise but that , at the last moment , the Council inexplicably back-pedalled .
it is worth noting that although today , Germany and Lithuania received support , according to Eurostat data , unemployment is highest in Spain , Latvia and Estonia , which might also think about how the European Union could give them direct help .
François Mitterrand actually said : ' nationalism , to a point , is about culture and is what forms a nation .
in writing . - Our vote today reflects our wish to see an efficient , humane and rights-based approach to immigration in Europe .
( LT ) Madam President , over the past year , the Christian community in Iraq has experienced an escalation in religious violence and persecution .
I voted for the resolution on credit rating agencies because I believe that a new European rating agency is required , which will introduce an alternative method of operation and more competition in this sector .
ladies and gentlemen , you want to prove to the voters that you manage their funds responsibly .
that is a recipe for gross exploitation .
this means that there is no guarantee in terms of age limits , pension amounts and benefits in general .
she is doing an excellent job in having this food labelling properly done , through which consumers can make their own choice .
national lotteries have an important function .
( NL ) Mr President , in the Pacific region , thousands of people are having to move because their islands are being flooded ; in Sudan , the livestock is dying of thirst .
Madam President , I am delighted that we are debating today the proposal to reform the directive on industrial emissions and I would like to specifically thank the rapporteur , Mr Krahmer , and the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety for their excellent work on this dossier .
I am sure that everybody will want to find a pragmatic political solution that can satisfy all sides when this moment comes .
I believe that we have come here today with a coherent approach .
they must facilitate the re-establishment of peace and stability in the region and contribute to the establishment of a State that can exercise its core functions fully and finally be able to ensure respect for the rule of law .
nominal catch statistics in the north-east Atlantic ( recast version ) (
( NL ) President Van Rompuy , you will not be surprised that both I and my whole group are very disappointed with the results the Council has produced .
however , some areas in the EU do not even have a regional gas market .
Ski runs have been added unilaterally without considering whether more runs are actually a good idea , and administrative practice and the legal situation were also characterised by this mindset .
consequently , the provisions laid down in Directive 2003 / 37 / EC relating to agricultural and forestry tractors , their trailers and interchangeable towed machinery , together with their systems , components and separate technical units , apply to this directive .
I welcome the assistance from the Solidarity Fund and it will help both to mitigate the impact of the disaster and prevent other incidents of the same nature occurring .
I am convinced that making use of the ideas contained in this report is an alternative to the concept being forced on us by the Commission .
how can the European Union lawmakers bring themselves to reproach a small country that has always been democratic , ever since the Middle Ages ?
Mr President , the absence of internal borders not only requires better controls at the external borders and a good exchange of information and data through the Schengen Information System ( SIS ) , it is notably an exercise in mutual trust in which everyone must strictly comply with the adopted rules .
at the same time we must acknowledge that the other international operators have an interest in the region and we have acknowledged the fact that the European Union could not possibly move its priorities without cooperation with the other global actors .
transparency is an important component of democracy and a requirement for the participation of citizens , which makes it an essential means of gaining their trust .
( HU ) The European Conservatives and Reformists Group also happily endorses the transitional procedural guidelines on budgetary matters , but with the fairly significant addition that we too would not want the transitional procedural guidelines on budgetary matters to become permanent .
in Germany , we now have appropriate devices at all weather stations that collect the data and are able to pass on this up-to-date data very quickly to the people responsible at the airlines and also to pilots so that they can decide whether or not it is safe to fly .
who can provide more information about the real development in a region , if not the people who live in it ?
it is also important that it be a vote in favour because the people of Europe need powerful messages that show that social Europe is getting off the ground again in 2008 and that it is not about talk , that it is capable of concrete action that will improve their everyday lives .
we are definitely concentrating our efforts not only on the implementation of current legislation but on actually delivering our agenda of energy efficiency action plans .
Commissioner , you have the floor on behalf of the High Representative and the Commission .
a new phenomenon is the cheap airlines , which at the moment seem to be doing well and making huge profits .
I hope that the majority of Parliament will support Mr Gauzès , the rapporteur , and the other shadow rapporteurs in the work we have done .
this reminds me of the situation 20 years ago in Eastern Europe : while the Western governments were prepared for a long-term accommodation and pragmatic coexistence with the Soviet totalitarian system , suddenly millions of hostages of the Communist regime became active : they challenged the system , which was brought to a sudden end .
the Moscow stock exchange has been affected particularly badly during the collapse of the world 's stock exchanges . its difficulties may yet achieve more than all the common sense arguments put forward , including the European Parliament 's opinion calling for serious consideration of the land-based route for this venture .
I served in the Convention following the Laeken Declaration , which I much supported , a Convention which drafted the original constitutional text .
this is why the resolution adopted today does not challenge the idea of making the agreement itself .
Sir Nicholas even said that , if climate change continues unchecked , this could have the same negative effects in economic terms as the two World Wars .
peace now reigns in the Western Balkans too and reforms are under way .
it is also true that problems identified in the report are at the frontier between territorial cohesion , on the one hand , and social cohesion challenges on the other , and social polarisation and social segregation problems , when concentrated on some territories , become territorial cohesion issues .
tomorrow , President Obama will meet President Medvedev for the first time , in order to press the reset button , so to speak , for the USA 's relationship with Russia .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I am going to speak primarily about the report by Mrs Fraga Estévez .
should we perhaps be looking into this , too , and could it be that European rules are required , particularly given that the competition in passenger transport is even set to increase in the next few years ?
if the deficit is close and temporary , various other element factors always need to be taken into account , but this must happen in a very balanced way .
energy issues must be given a key place in this agreement , while at the same time keeping sight of the principle of reciprocity .
what guarantees is the Commission giving that this problem will be tackled effectively ?
given these circumstances , I am satisfied with the outcome of the meeting .
will our leaders get back to reality and propose a partnership to Turkey instead of accession ?
Mr Diamandouros criticised the European Commission for failing to comply with the legal requirement to publish in 2006 the 2005 annual report on access to documents of the European Parliament , the Council and the Commission .
I therefore wish to express my regret at this attitude .
I would therefore like to address you directly , Mr Becsey .
we expect further important decisions , both in the area of foreign policy , with special reference to Kosovo , and with regard to Europe 's response to the challenges of globalisation .
she was a prime minister who agreed that the legislation concerning the single market could be done by majority voting .
one such proposal , for instance , is the initiative for officials working in the European Parliament to attend equal opportunity training , since appropriate knowledge is indispensable when putting this principle into practice .
I think China has asked us for very specific types of aid .
in order to address the concerns that might still exist regarding the strategic role of the EU in urban mobility , Vice-President Tajani 's intention is to demonstrate with concrete actions how the EU can add value and quality to urban mobility in Europe .
I also hope that this resolution will at least help to support those who are trying from inside and outside the country to restore democratic process to the situation .
this question disregards two pieces of information , often for ulterior motives .
the truth is that , in the name of the free movement of capital and the famous open market economy with its free competition , financial leaders have collectively fuelled devilish mechanisms that they can no longer control .
the timeframe is much too short - the results would not stand up very well .
in Europe , 170 000 hectares of vines have been uprooted , whereas in New Zealand the planted area has increased by 240 % , in Australia by 169 % and in China by 164 % .
so , Commissioner , do you intend to increase the penalties for such acts ?
bear in mind , though , that the Commission agrees with Parliament on the need for Rome III to include an antidiscrimination clause , of course , which would allow any European judge to exclude foreign laws that are incompatible with the principle of equality between spouses .
in May of this year , the International Maritime Organization ( IMO ) is holding a global conference in Hong Kong , the aim of which is to conclude a global agreement on the recycling of ships for scrapping .
these instruments and laws will be adopted by Parliament and the Council under the codecision procedure .
a group of men decided one day that they had a duty to urge other men to protest publicly against violence inflicted upon women .
what holy simplicity in the European Parliament ' .
the International Monetary Fund called for decisive action to control food prices .
the European Union should also take on the mantle of leader of all those who will be working in partnership with the new state in the Herculean task of reforming this part of Africa .
I then found out that this was an agreement by the two large groups .
these equal conditions relate to working hours , rest periods , paid leave , salary level , status and safety .
is it fair for the relaxation of the Pact by these countries to be overlooked when they get into difficulties due to the low tax takes resulting from their policies ?
Seoul was the fifth summit in two years , and a large number of collective commitments were put on the table .
the proposal sends out a signal that is in line with the Commission 's proposals on small and medium-sized enterprises and the strategies to stimulate European competitiveness in the manufacturing sector .
moreover , I regret that the provision that planned the possibility of extending maternity leave in the event of complication ( premature birth , disability , etc . ) was rejected .
in writing . - ( FR ) Mrs Sbarbati 's report on the European Ombudsman 's activities is evidence of her regard for this institution , which was set up under the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 to defend European citizens in the event of maladministration by Community institutions .
I am speaking on behalf of a European and pro-Europe country , a country which , in the last 25 years , has experienced a major transformation in terms of progress and welfare , largely due to being part of the European Union .
there is also a danger , however , that all the old conflicts will break out again .
the Commission 's actions and the measures taken to reduce administrative burdens should be transparent .
this time the protests and persecution intensified following a 500 % rise in the cost of fuel due to the government withdrawing its subsidy .
however , these statistics are not only used to monitor tourism-specific policies , but also play a key role in the context of regional policy and sustainable development .
free trade agreements like this one with South Korea can make an important contribution to stimulating world trade , growth and employment .
in the light of what is happening in some North African countries , there is no doubt that the path towards economic and political stability in those territories passes through , among other things , well-functioning free trade agreements in the Mediterranean .
innovation is what might help solve the most critical social challenges of our age , such as the challenges of health , food security , energy security , sustainable development , climate change and an aging population , while also providing opportunities for new markets .
( LT ) Mr President , the European Union 's relations with Iran are more than a little ambivalent .
as shown in the debate in the specialist committee itself and in the alternative proposals which it presents , there is a power struggle going on here between the Commission and the Council .
I also support the fact that the Youth on the Move initiative aims to ensure education that will meet the needs of the labour market .
if we want to reduce substantially the number of people killed on our roads then we ought to consider implementing a policy of zero alcohol level in drivers .
one of Europe 's major responsibilities in implementing this partnership will consist of mobilising funds for finance .
I only regret the failure to reach any agreement at the G20 with regard to the global fight against climate change .
at the same time , I stress that an ageing population is also a great opportunity and a promising market for new products and new services for healthy ageing and independent living .
in some Member States , subsidies are 7 times higher than the minimum , on average 4 times , and many new Member States are below the EU average .
we will be strict and demanding in performing this scrutiny but , at the same time , we will do it responsibly and in a constructive spirit , since we are determined to help the High Representative in the colossal task of providing Europe with a real foreign policy to serve its values and interests .
certain countries such as China , Russia and Iran appear to be making little effort to tackle the grave human rights violations occurring on their territory .
in terms of energy , over 45 % of our gas and 29.9 % of our oil is imported from Russia ; without it , kitchens and heating systems across half of Europe would stop working .
the new Action Plan on Sustainable Industrial Policy should take account of aspects such as better legal regulations to reduce the administrative burdens that are particularly onerous for SMEs .
the added value of the European Union must translate into a clear benefit for consumers by facilitating cross-border online transactions in particular .
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1 .
now another year has begun and we are making only technical , not conceptual changes .
it still seems to be the case that , when big debates are taking place on the role and position of women in political life , boorish behaviour very often still gets the better of courteousness .
Madam President , rather than dealing with the history I will congratulate the rapporteur on an excellent report and the Ombudsman for his presentation today and his cooperation with us , and indeed the Commission statement .
with regard to the highly overvalued euro exchange rate , it is true that it is sparing us the worst in the face of rising oil prices .
in the vote on the Report on Trade and Economic Relations with China , I voted for its adoption .
indeed , I believe that a candidate country 's foreign policy should be in line with that of the Union .
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it is a financial assistance programme set up , together with the Irish Government , to restore domestic and external confidence and remove the harmful feedback loops between the fiscal and financial crisis .
it is inadmissible that the youngest territorial organisation in the world , the European Union , cannot intervene in identifying a solution acceptable to all parties and I insist on creating fast action instruments , as the EC high-level task force is also defined .
I personally should like to comment on the benefits of the new regulation , especially for business travellers . media professionals , for example , make a great deal of use of the function for downloading files to their mobile telephone .
there is no doubt that there must be no toleration for violation of media freedoms .
- ( PL ) Mr President , we have just reached an agreement pursuant to which the flow of Russian gas will eventually be restored to several Member States of the Union whose supplies had been cut off .
on this issue , however , there is no proposal as to how the development of international trade could help achieve stability , and with it tranquillity and peace in the Southern Mediterranean areas .
but at the same time we always knew that this new momentum could derail at any moment .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , the dramatic deterioration in the human rights situation in Burma caused by the military junta is resulting in ever more brutal bloodshed .
we urgently need measures for the economic development of the Roma communities .
that is what the criminal law is there for .
the gas crisis has not been resolved . a gas crisis might be sparked off tomorrow , the day after tomorrow , in a month , next year , whenever .
yet , despite this , Belgrade continues to be accused of failing to adequately cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague .
the European Union was a key player at this forum , not only on account of the bold legislation we have passed to limit the impact of our activities on climate , but also because Europe represents a union of countries which can really make a difference .
an example is the wage discrimination against women in the labour market .
Lamfalussy follow up - Future Structure of Supervision ( debate )
once a ship ceases to be suitable for use , we must stop thinking of it as a ship .
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as I understand it , these two systems still coexist in Member States .
higher energy prices mean that energy-intensive businesses in Europe will simply give up and go away , to more favourable jurisdictions .
therefore , the provisions regarding information about prescribed drugs need to be updated .
the creation of a common energy policy requires the completion of ratification of the Lisbon Treaty and the submission of a proposal for such a common energy policy .
( requests by the Verts / ALE Group for the text of Amendments 1 and 2 to be moved )
in other words , we need to target the policy at functional areas .
so I believe that this European Council - even if it has taken place at a very difficult time for the reasons I have just presented - was indeed a successful one .
under this motion for a resolution , Parliament has approved the appointment of Mrs Ross to the post of Executive Director of the European Supervisory Authority ( European Securities and Markets Authority ) .
I think that all of us - the European Parliament , the Council and the Commission - will have to continue to work hard together to ensure that we can take a major step forward next year and , hopefully , get a binding international agreement .
it is , nevertheless , important that all parties continue to work for peace , yet therein may lie the main problem .
there is no doubt that human rights and support for the rule of law in the fight against terrorism belong to this shared heritage .
there was concern about areas with less favourable farming potential where there are few alternatives to traditional dairy production .
I want you to clarify for me whether this protocol amends or changes in any way the substance or procedures of the Euratom Treaty and whether there is any change in the legal base or any implications , in particular with regard to nuclear power .
this includes EU activities and initiatives aimed at promoting labour and social standards in third countries .
last October , the European Commission presented a policy paper entitled ' An integrated industrial policy for the globalisation era ' , which contains a number of specific initiatives intended to give a strong impetus to European industrial policy .
by this I mean , how does the Commission intend to support national civil aviation authorities in meeting safety deficits based on ICAO audits and improving their oversight capability ?
let us make no mistake , this instrument can truly change the European political landscape as long as we use it both sensibly and bravely .
follow-up of the Monterrey Conference of 2002 on Financing for Development ( short presentation )
Zimbabwe , in particular the case of Farai Maguwu (
as such , we declare that we disagree with the position that the relevant energy chapter should be opened .
despite many requests , I was never provided with credible substantive evidence about how fingerprints taken between six and twelve years of age could be the basis for verification or identification many years later without the risk of mistakes .
from the economic and environmental policy viewpoint , it is also important to apply a reduced VAT rate to energy-saving materials and services connected with energy saving and energy efficiency .
statements by the President
even though women account for only a small percentage , around 5 % , of Europe 's prison population , it is clear that their stay in prison seriously affects the entire family .
when it comes to Europe 2020 - the climate - if we are to take this as the proof of success or failure , what is Connie Hedegaard actually supposed to take to Bonn in May ?
on the basis of which powers enshrined - or not , as the case may be - in the Treaties ?
over the last four years the institutions ' budget has increased by almost 18 % , chiefly as a result of enlargement .
in any event , it is in this spirit , namely in the spirit of this enhanced dialogue , in the spirit of codecision , that , for several months , I have wanted to work on behalf of the Presidency .
those are the Rules of Procedure .
Mr Verhofstadt , could you please also listen to me ?
the Court of Auditors reported an improvement in the clarity and reliability of the annual activity reports on the Commission 's services finalised under action No 3 .
I am discussing this today , in this House , during the debate on the 2009 discharge because the symbol of Franco-German reconciliation is being treated by some members of the Committee on Budgetary Control as a blessing , as an easy way to cut costs .
we should , therefore , shoulder our responsibilities and not only demand the immediate closure of Guantánamo but also accept some of the prisoners who , unable to return to their own countries or , indeed , stay in the United States , demand that other countries , European countries included , be able to take them .
I must tell you it is still extremely moving to see you all here in this house of European democracy , representatives directly elected by nations who until very recently had been divided by dictatorships that prevented Europe from drawing breath in freedom .
what I find most encouraging is that the Ombudsman works at so many different levels : it is not just about processing complaints , which is central to his work , but also about how resolutions or solutions are arrived at .
I call on Mr Barroso in his absence to make full use of all the resources made available to him by his constitutional status .
although we are not there yet ( since this decision must be unanimous and the Council has not yet adopted a unanimous position ) , the Commission continues working towards the goal of improving the situation regarding supplementary pensions .
one of the issues I would like to underline is the pension gap between men and women .
the entire development policy and the Common Foreign and Security Policy cover this whole spectrum .
we have tough laws in Britain , but without this EU law guns will continue to find their way onto the streets of cities like Manchester and Liverpool .
to improve the competitiveness of the agricultural sector , it must be ensured that the measures now in place be reformed and simplified in the CAP in its future form , and that no additional burden be placed on farmers .
a reformed CAP must account for this .
for this same reason , I consider it crucial to strengthen the Commission 's control procedures relating to the application and usage of the Cohesion Fund , reinforcing the mechanisms of good governance .
in writing . - ( PT ) The moment of an election is not in any way the only moment or the only exponent of democracy .
many Member States already have a good national policy for solving and preventing soil problems . their policy offers a level of protection that is at least as high as the one now on the table .
finally , though , the euro is also a symbol of European integration and the long road that the European people have already travelled together .
with regard to heading 1b , ' Cohesion for growth and employment ' , the Council has accepted the amount of commitment appropriations proposed by the Commission in the preliminary draft budget .
the intergovernmental method is simply an aid to be used when the community method is not available for reasons relating to the Treaty .
as a result , flights will be shorter , less fuel will be used and carbon dioxide emissions will be lower , which should normally lead to a reduction in airline ticket prices .
it should be noted that based on the best practice of Member States regarding strategic planning , the Commission should draw up specific EU guidelines for integrated urban development planning practice and make integrated urban planning legally binding .
that is a major success .
when the most expensive form of energy is coal-based , the exchange is a profit machine for the producers of hydroelectric and atomic energy .
I find that extraordinary .
unlike in Burma where the rulers did not and do not care , the Chinese Government demonstrably cares for its own people .
likewise , the people of Palestine have the right , at this moment , to create their own state and a functioning administration , and to live a safe and decent life .
secondly , Mrs Carvalho , of course , you have done very well .
we have to realise that we are still lacking the legal basis .
it is our hope that the adoption of this package will ensure that in future Europe 's energy consumers will not face unreasonable prices as a result of regulatory inadequacies .
how could Parliament give its approval in full knowledge of the facts if it is not informed throughout the negotiation procedure ?
that will mean that this form of transport also starts making a contribution to the reduction of the anthropogenic greenhouse effect .
the development of the fisheries sector in Seychelles is , to a significant degree , dependent on this agreement .
the EU 's primary concern is to combat the economic crisis and support its social market economy .
I would nevertheless like to say one thing .
it is worth repeating that the euro has been a success during the financial crisis and it has been an anchor in Europe , including for countries outside the euro area .
we will continue to follow with care the case of the hostage refugees in Sinai and we will pursue our contacts with the Egyptian authorities in this regard .
although a solution is not yet in place , we cannot accept being held hostage ; we need to act forcefully .
there were moments when we had some hope - rather more at the beginning - but hope has now faded away .
however , no new body is needed to provide it or to define and monitor conditionality .
that will allow Member States - allow , not oblige - to include external environment costs in tolls if they wish , and not just infrastructure costs , as is the case currently .
I welcome the interest shown in the potential of cultural and creative industries ( CCIs ) .
at the same time , it is unfortunate that Hungary 's name was not among those listed by President Van Rompuy , because regrettably Hungary is not taking part in the Euro Plus Pact .
I believe that a powerful campaign is needed across the whole of society , based on continuous , long-term activities aimed at influencing attitudes so that everyone realises that violence against women is not permitted and not excused .
we need to open up , and that is why it is so important to use the digital dividend in a way that frees up the whole of the spectrum for new services and new opportunities , while at the same time defending old broadcasters and their services of today .
Madam President , the Council also has to draw conclusions from the invasion of Georgia .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , Mr Michel spoke for the Commission but in the place of the Council .
what we seek is not only an ongoing dialogue that is serviceable to practical necessities , but also one that raises human consciousness .
( PL ) Madam President , Commissioner , I would like to draw attention to two issues in this debate .
in this own-initiative report , we point out that the impact of this directive is evident in the countries where no general system of worker information and consultation existed .
this results in 52 million unwanted pregnancies a year , and this is something we must be concerned about .
as regards public administration capacity , the Commission monitors the implementation of Kosovo 's public administration reform strategy and action plan .
the competitiveness of this solid fuel , the definition of which , according to the proposal made in this regulation , is to be expanded for practical purposes to include bitumen shales , also known as oil shales , which are mined in Estonia , depends on efficient utilisation of its regional reserves .
I hope that tomorrow 's vote will send a clear , positive message to MEPs about the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area .
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it would be an excessive burden for parents to have to obtain a passport for each of their children whenever they wanted to travel outside the Schengen area .
we cannot speak of stabilisation in a country within whose borders 1.8-1.9 million residents have been displaced , while a further million have left the country altogether , and the conditions under which the refugees are living are extremely poor .
I have resisted attempts to introduce unnecessary regulation and additional bureaucracy or issues such as the social clause .
I supported this report because I am certain of the need for a new internal human rights policy for the Union that is effective and comprehensive , and which ensures effective accountability mechanisms , both at national and EU level , to address the numerous violations we see every day .
we therefore need a clearer position .
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the necessary question marks have rightly been placed alongside the development of biofuels , certainly in relation to the necessity for sustainable production methods and the reasonable balance between food and energy production .
Parliament completed its first reading of this Regulation in July 2007 .
to this end , we have also introduced the option of creating new assessment criteria that are not merely technical , but can also be used to measure performance on subjects of general interest , such as the environment , safety and health risks .
we will listen to the reports of our fellow Members .
this will enable the EU to impose the best and most efficient solutions centrally , through regulations , on Member States .
I think Members should resist all this .
it is in the interest of Member States to further perfect the judicial area .
thank you .
Madam President , I want to warn against a policy which tends to reward the Belarusian leadership in compensation for decisions of the Russian leadership which we do not like .
for this reason , it is vitally important that Member States are urged to improve their legislation governing public procurement in the area of national security .
for some time it has been a kind of Cinderella , lost amidst the fashion for impact assessments and cutting costs .
Uzbekistan is currently taking big steps that we should strongly welcome .
in light of this , Europe needs to undertake to make the Union for the Mediterranean an area of peace , security and prosperity for its 800 million habitants and to look at this work as a long-term priority .
the US has announced and has already started the reworking of relations with Russia .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I believe that the situation that has arisen recently deserves thanks on our part both to the Commissioner and to the rapporteur .
7 .
I voted for this proposal .
the source of energy that comes to us is from the one God , the Creator ; we are his creation and , hence , I greet you as brothers on this planet , my brothers in spirit and in mankind .
first of all , the time constraints .
who would be surprised to hear , then , that the Alpine-Adriatic Convention which is so unpopular with the freight lobby is still not being implemented ?
you were minister from 2002 to 2004 .
the EU must clearly indicate that the terms of our participation in the ACTA process are transparency and the defence of human rights and freedoms .
to say that asylum seekers are now waiting for the correlation tables to be implemented is probably the most inventive and imaginative lobbying for the correlation table resolution to happen , so I hope Council was listening .
it also believes that each constitution should be based on a broad popular consensus and adequately reflect the plurality and diversity of each nation .
the first priority is young people , not only because they are the resource on which to focus for innovation , research and development , but also because they are the basic starting point for farsighted social policies .
because wanting to be the best is not sufficient to be the best .
this unequivocal warning should condition all present agreements and should be included in all future agreements with Middle East governments .
the media must be free to operate within the law and publish their material in the country .
in my opinion , this is much too late .
the reform process in Turkey must therefore be supported and it is important for us to have a democratic Turkey based on the rule of law .
the Gräßle report makes the first small steps in the right direction .
therefore , we in the three institutions are already working to establish provisional rules to govern our work while the new regulations referred to in the treaty are debated and adopted .
the report that we are voting on today received broad political support in the committee , which was pleasing to see .
it allows up to three consecutive transport operations for an international carriage of seven days .
in other words , ' common requirements for admission to the occupation ' were laid down while ' the opening-up of the market as a result of the Regulations has made for greater competition ' .
according to the assessment , the agreement provided the Union of the Comoros with EUR 2.7 million between 2005 and 2009 .
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on behalf of the S & D Group . - Mr President , the achievement of Mrs Hedh and Mrs Bauer today , although speaking at a very late hour , as Mrs Hedh said , is to come here tonight and hear the outgoing Commissioner , Mr Barrot , and the new Spanish Presidency use words like ' determined ' and ' ambitious ' for the Commissioner .
your conclusion on this matter is to think that you can legislate on it , but you are only legislating in relation to the managers , and doing nothing to intervene in the reality of these funds .
obviously , Nepal is siding with China , under pressure .
I have today voted in favour of the report by Mr Gargani on Conditions of employment of other servants of the European Communities .
indeed , regular reports will be submitted to the European Parliament for scrutiny regarding the monitoring of respect for these rights .
so I apologise for that .
we have been promised studies .
no matter how much assistance is granted to workers , it will be worthless if companies keep closing down one after the other and if we cannot reverse the investment drain in Europe .
they also said that there would have to be private sector involvement , which spooked the market because there was insufficient explanation .
by May 2008 , we plan to present a Commission communication assessing the need for , and the feasibility of , the European private placement regime .
in this regard , I have no confidence in Mrs Palacio , because I fear that she would not take account of the possession of social values and an understanding of human nature when assessing the judges and advocates-general .
on behalf of the Socialist Group , I would first of all like to congratulate Mrs Napoletano on the excellent report that she is presenting to us this afternoon , but above all , and most importantly , because she has been a Euro-Mediterranean da prima ora .
in writing . - ( FR ) On the basis of the report by Romanian Member Renate Weber , I voted for the European Parliament legislative resolution supporting the initiative of a number of Member States ( Belgium , the Czech Republic , Estonia , Spain , France , Italy , Luxembourg , the Netherlands , Austria , Poland , Portugal , Slovenia , Slovakia and Sweden ) to strengthen Eurojust .
the best way to tackle the question of carbon leakage and ensure that the Community system of exchanging emission quotas remains effective is still by concluding an international agreement , Mrs Doyle .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( DE ) Mr President , Madam President-in-Office of the Council , ladies and gentlemen , during the second half of 2007 we were confronted with recall actions by a large manufacturer of toys that had voluntarily withdrawn defective products from the market .
the European Central Bank must share the responsibility for this drama .
Mr President , I am certain that you will guard this Parliament as a democratic institution , as a place of genuine debate of people who sincerely want to help the citizens of the European Union .
we require a long-term vision for our energy policy which will ensure that this market operates properly , provides support to state-of-the-art integrated networks , better utilises the Union 's energy efficiency potential , promotes research and development , as well as innovation in this area , and which puts benefits for consumers at the heart of European energy policy .
the latter sometimes seems to get lost in debates of this kind with all the hysteria about climate change .
the Congolese authorities and army will not be able to resolve the region 's problems on their own . international assistance is required , including assistance from the European Union .
on the contrary , our point of reference should always be correctly applying the Water Framework Directive , as a framework for achieving a good status for all European waters , respecting river basin units as well as objectives for improving quality .
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we are therefore pleased that the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the EU and Serbia is now in place and that we are sending clear signals to Serbia to show that we can see the results of their efforts and that Serbia has a place in the EU family .
last week I spoke to President Yushchenko concerning how we can try to avoid a similar thing happening again .
there is an increase in transparency and democratic responsibility as a result of the implementation of Parliament 's suggestion to have the agencies ' work assessed by the relevant committees .
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in order to enable the deployment of these industries , it is equally essential to improve access to funding for professionals in this sector : to introduce microfinancing , develop patronage and public / private partnerships , consider introducing new , innovative funding instruments , and train professionals in the banking sector in the specific characteristics of these industries .
we cannot grant discharge to the Council .
the report holds senior officers of the Israeli army to account for the following : for the indiscriminate use of white phosphorus , for making no distinction between civilians and combatants , for the human consequences of the blockade , which is an instrument of collective punishment , and for a breach of martial law .
so they themselves recognise that our current figure needs to be raised , that it is currently too low .
I cannot fail to stress the need to ensure the quality of products sold within Europe and to guarantee the safety of those who use them .
indeed , I am unable to single out anyone in Egypt who could take over the leadership .
the next item is the report by Inés Ayala Sender , on behalf of the Committee on Transport and Tourism , on freight transport logistics in Europe - the key to sustainable mobility .
broader and more targeted sanctions form an important part of such a position and a worldwide arms embargo and the release of political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi is to be welcomed .
in fact , Agriculture Ministers are holding an extraordinary Council meeting today to address E coli .
the evidence cited for this includes the statement by the Yemeni Government that it stopped an Iranian delivery of arms to the rebel movement in October 2009 and the fact that in recent months , the Iranian state media has been covering the struggle of the Shia rebel movement more intensively and benevolently than previously .
the general age level is about 18 years , but in Europe there is a specific arrangement for the period between 16 and 18 years of age .
the third and last point is the technical assistance mechanism that we could probably provide in order to strengthen the banking system and the financial system in the South Caucasus states .
volcanic ash crisis ( debate )
the fact that we have chosen not to vote in favour of five out of the six reports today is not because we are against stricter regulations .
this will not be influenced in any way by the absurd undertakings which the EU is imposing on itself in this area .
a similar situation arose in 2003 , when criminal proceedings were initiated against Daniel Cohn-Bendit from the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance , although this was rejected by the committee at the time because there were suspicions of political motives .
I am pleased to see that we agree on the majority of issues .
with each successive growth in numbers of parliamentarians , working groups , committees and plenaries have become unwieldy and increasingly ineffective .
I voted for the Svensson report on the new EU policy framework to combat violence against women because I am deeply concerned by that type of violence .
there are many challenges in these turbulent times : a severe economic recession , the uncertainty as regards the Treaty of Lisbon and the negotiations ahead of the climate conference in Copenhagen .
the new legislation also brings physical and mechanical properties into line in order to reduce the risks of suffocation .
within the Transatlantic Economic Council , both sides are eager to make this work , and IFRS standards and financial reports are an important tool to find this mutual recognition of standards .
equally important are social and ethical issues .
the second expert working group meeting took place in Prague to look at the issues particularly relevant to the Czech Republic , and that has been facilitated by the Commission , so the Commission is fully involved .
in writing . - ( SV ) Junilistan sympathises with many parts of the report .
a modern Russian economy must be founded on the reliable principles of the rule of law .
( EL ) Madam President , NATO 's new strategic doctrine , as approved at the Lisbon Summit , ushers in a new era in NATO 's efforts to meet new challenges .
the worst thing that could happen is that we hamper development of some particular technology , for example , solar energy , that today is more costly compared with wind technology .
in many cases , the weight of the cargo has not been correctly balanced .
in writing . - ( LT ) I voted in favour of this report .
( applause )
what I would like to say is that we should complete this revision , or whatever we want to call it , this year .
more is at stake in the discussion on the financing instrument for development cooperation , however , than just the matter of delegated acts .
we were in Moldova at an extremely important moment for the country - several weeks after the unsuccessful constitutional referendum of 5 September and also several weeks before very important parliamentary elections , which , as you know , will be held on 28 November .
today the situation in Moldova is very fragile .
we are in a situation where we are seeing that growth cannot always be continual , rather it is restricted by the limited nature of natural resources and the limited capacity of the earth to absorb and metabolise our waste .
the people of Pakistan , and even more so the religious minorities , are , at the present time , caught between the institutional bigotry of the Pakistani state and , in some regions , the ultra-reactionary and obscurantive forces of the Taliban .
however , this cannot be achieved from the outside or even by military means ; it must be a peaceful and democratic process , which is why I support this proposal with my vote .
today , this network is formed in this 20th anniversary declaration and many proposals are now on the table , including a Sakharov Prize office , Sakharov passports , and a Sakharov fund to support our prizes and human rights defenders throughout the world .
( SV ) - We Swedish Social Democrats supported the report , which is good .
I also welcome the strengthening of the independence of the rights and duties of national regulatory authorities .
therefore , we ask for a survey on this particular issue because the economic measures should never undermine the social aspect .
no one , least of all the EU Council and Commission , can continue to neglect the fight for freedoms and human rights in China .
the Obama government was forced to retreat by the scale of the disaster .
as already discussed , I am not interested in partitioning off Europe .
( BG ) Madam President , Mr Barroso , Mr Van Rompuy , the crisis which we are going through at the moment confirms the need for visionaries in Europe , not only among decision makers but among ordinary citizens too .
four characteristics come to mind .
in many countries , especially developing countries , where there are problems with air pollution - the air pollution problem in China , for example , is very well known - there will be the collateral benefit of improving air quality .
the text has not yet been voted on , the compromise has not been adopted , and yet these people are suffering great economic misery , because of us .
but of course , there were no Irish interest rates ; there was only the European Central Bank , which , by giving the core members what they needed , was giving the peripheral members a double dose of what they did not need , namely , artificially cheap money .
Mr Orbán , I have not been convinced by the aggressive and unreasonable defence mounted by your allies .
I oppose a minimum income because that means public funds to top up a low wage : more for the taxpayer to find in an economic crisis .
this is a very difficult moment , especially during a crisis .
in line with this , it is essential to repeal Article 301 of the Criminal Code and respond firmly to the Ecumenical Patriarchate 's requests .
in my opinion , this report is an important step in the right direction .
perhaps it will be Berlusconi 's Italy who will fall overboard first and have to rediscover the lira .
the situation in the Middle East could only benefit if we demanded that the Palestinian Authority introduce quotas allowing for women to hold positions of political responsibility .
EU partnership in the Horn of Africa ( vote )
I therefore welcome the European Union 's specific intention to incorporate the promotion of democracy and human rights in its external policies .
it is not acceptable to allow the efforts of EU climate change policies to be based only on the existing achievements of the newer Member States and isolated older ones , and to place an additional burden on them , while at the same time making allowances for the largest polluters .
in my area there are , for example , very many local authorities that already make the relevant decisions via the EMAS system .
it is an own-initiative report , yet here we have an absolute commitment - not an own-initiative , not a request - that the rights of the child be covered under the Agency which protects fundamental rights .
however , we need to do more , in cooperation with the Union 's partners , to urge the Syrian authorities to halt the repression .
I think that the directive offers numerous merits , one of which is maximum harmonisation for distance selling and off-premises contracts , with a few exceptions .
when governments inconvenience them by trying to retain minimum government rights or increase basic wages , they even use coups against them .
however , we are not in the Middle Ages , we are in Europe and Europe is a community based on law , a democracy .
the only way to help this country not to become an al-Qaeda outpost is for it to come to agreement with all the Arab countries , not just Saudi Arabia and , of course , we need to make efforts to help this nation move away from a tribal philosophy and civil conflict and to seek democratic rights .
energy is another important area in which agriculture contributes to the fight against climate change .
it means that the average transposition deficit is at 1 % already , which is well in advance of the 2009 deadline .
what we need to do is end mass immigration now and introduce a strictly limited and controlled immigration policy .
we remain deeply concerned by the attacks and the violence committed against people of different faiths , in particular the Christian communities .
as we know , a common foreign policy is not just the sum of 27 national policies .
I would also like to see farmers rewarded for their work on biodiversity .
however , I hope that greater transparency in the actions of CRAs will be obligatory .
a clear majority of MEPs rejected a further discussion on the question of Kosovo 's status , bearing in mind that a statement from the International Court of Justice ( ICJ ) is due in July .
to this end , there must be adequate funding , support for CCIs to develop in their local and regional environments , and a move towards a creative economy by catalysing their spillover effects on a wide range of economic and social contexts .
what she is saying that Mr Barroso stated was not hypocrisy .
if we want to have a strong , well-balanced Europe , we need to focus a great deal of attention on economic development in the regions of the new Member States in order to reduce the existing disparities .
the apathy and pseudo-morality found in society should give us pause for thought .
the minority language has been subordinated to the majority language , as Mr Vollebaek , the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities , also put it .
finally , I would like to thank the Heads of State or Government .
energy security can only be achieved through joint action , working in cooperation with others , and only when the European Union speaks with one voice .
most of the Country-Based Support Schemes ( CBSS ) have been published and are now under evaluation by our delegations at country level , so I hope that by the summer most of the projects will start on the ground .
2 .
every day children go to school , walking along the side of the road itself , because there is no footpath .
on the one hand , there is the great potential for the European Union to open up its services sector to new markets , in which it has a major comparative and competitive advantage at global level : the development of new channels for the sector , one of the main tools with which Europe can face up to the challenge of globalisation .
but then , everyone gets there sooner or later !
however , what are the reasons that caused the situation on the world food market and the dramatic rise in food prices ?
in fact , this programme is rooted in a policy .
I advise you to read this document .
we are unfortunately running way behind on this .
but I am one of those who believe that the EU should follow a result-oriented approach in promotion of respect for human rights rather than a purely principled one and , most importantly , we have to accept that the improvements will only come step-by-step .
on 13 November 2008 , the Commission tabled its proposed amendment to Directive 2002 / 91 / EC on the energy performance of buildings .
I sincerely hope that similar decisions will not have to be made often .
those are my very brief final remarks , Madam President , as I did not wish to take up too much of your time .
I can take this outrage seriously , however , only if you finally make a commitment , in response to my numerous statements to this effect , to examine the matter of the Guantánamo that exists right here within the EU , in Hungary .
this is true in every area , not just in the case of medicines .
therefore , there is a need to support research , development , and innovation and small and medium-sized enterprises .
Europe cannot , on the one hand , work with democratic movements in Libya , Syria , Tunisia and Egypt , and refuse to work with a government democratically elected by the Palestinian people .
are we discussing these issues only because the United States takes care of its own defence ?
it should be stressed that the key weapons in fighting the disease remain prevention , education and adherence to the rules of hygiene , which makes it possible to avoid infection with the tubercle bacillus .
it cannot , however , accept the continuation of granting public aid to renewal and modernisation of the fleet , since this leads to fleet overcapacity and low economic efficiency in the medium-to-long term .
yes indeed , because , Mr Schulz , when you spoke just now to your colleagues from the right , I spoke to my colleagues from the right and from the left - social democrats and Christian democrats alike - who agreed with the German car industry 's lobbying to curtail the climate criteria .
the technology plan is only the starting point .
Mr Tomczak and a number of other Members compared the financial sector situation of today and the banking situation , and who does the economy serve ?
one of the main reasons for that is the scandal of discarding .
after your release on 2 June 2008 I had the honour of writing to you on behalf of the European Parliament and welcoming you back to freedom .
it appears that in some cases they go even further than those requested by Parliament in its motion for a resolution .
without a solution to the Cyprus issue , all other issues will be at a permanent impasse .
I want to begin by reminding us that European civilisation was born 2 000 years ago in a dialogue , a dialogue between the two greatest cultures of antiquity : ancient Greece and Biblical Israel - Athens and Jerusalem .
in seeking to reach an agreement on global measures we cannot forget about implementing our own targets .
we appreciate that .
the FRONTEX agency must play an ever-increasing role in the process of improving the monitoring and control of Romania 's external borders , representing more than 2 000 km of the EU 's external frontier , in other words , the Schengen area 's future external border .
we are all grateful to you and it is a pity we cannot listen to you .
the revision of the Eurovignette Directive is crucial in order to integrate more effectively the cost of pollution caused by road transport , something which will now be possible thanks to the opportunity for the Member States to take into account air and noise pollution , as well as congestion of certain routes , when setting toll charges for heavy goods vehicles .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , this measure is certainly an all-embracing measure , and the rapporteur and those who have helped to finalise it deserve our heartfelt congratulations .
the Commission cannot accept this amendment .
despite the pitfalls and the difficulties that we faced , we succeeded in reaching an agreement and we have this budget , which is much more than just a budget : it will also provide concrete results for the citizens with regard to mobility , youth , the Structural Funds that will be able to be released for those European regions that really need them , the External Action Service and the financial agencies .
we have heard from all our speakers tonight about the significance and importance of this sector .
once again , the European general interest is being sacrificed for the sake of capitalist greed .
this regulation establishes a joint system for organising Community statistics on society 's health and workers ' health and safety .
has no country in Europe given consideration to this yet ?
I agree with the report 's assertion that it must be ensured that animal products , such as meat , which are imported into the European Union comply with the same animal welfare conditions so that there is fair competition and a level playing field for all participants in the market .
I do not know if this is so , because , actually , there is a part about the fundamental significance of cohesion policy for the future of the Union .
this stems from the risky supply / demand balance .
can I therefore thank you for calling , in your report , for sincere cooperation between EU institutions and national authorities in order to inform European citizens clearly and objectively about the content of the Treaty .
although taxation is a national responsibility , fiscal fraud is an obstacle to the successful operation of the internal market in that it distorts competition between taxpayers .
the interests of children must be adequately ensured and represented by applying the necessary procedures .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , first of all , I should like to commend Mrs Valenciano on her well-balanced report , and to thank her for being so obliging in incorporating many of the amendments presented by our committee .
( HU ) Thank you , Mr President .
( ES ) Mr President , in the early morning of 8 June , the terrorist group ETA attacked the offices of the daily newspaper El Correo while 50 staff were in the building and preparing the Sunday edition .
I voted for Mr Fox 's report .
( PT ) Mr President , the current financial crisis , which in the short term will be economic and cannot fail to be social , perhaps also political , could have been anticipated because it was predictable .
we must draft regulations at European level capable of ensuring that Europe and its Member States continue to protect diversity and do not leave any scope for violence .
Mr President , consumer protection : we are all in favour of it .
it should not continue .
5 .
according to a report of the Polish Customs Service , in 2008 , a record number of as many as 200 889 live specimens of protected animals and products made from protected animals were intercepted at the border .
on behalf of the S & D Group . - Mr President , two years have passed since power was taken by force in Madagascar by a military regime that has not fulfilled at all the commitments made to ensure a transition to democracy , political pluralism and freedom of expression .
the underlying economic trends in Ireland are quite good .
I should like to thank Parliament - including through the President , whom I thank again for having participated in this debate - for the interest with which it examined this simplification proposal .
let us please explore all routes , but let us keep Paradise in mind so that the objectives we all share can indeed be fulfilled .
the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance
we encourage further study of the impact of the measures where appropriate , but with a view to ensuring full , tough and timely international implementation .
I thought that was a remarkable achievement , Commissioner , and I thank you for your efforts to do that .
I truly believe that Europe is in a position , through the choices it makes , to make its presence felt in the international response to the crisis .
this is what our citizens are asking for and , up until now , they have not received .
there is therefore an urgent need to adopt firmer measures in the field of prevention through the widespread introduction of health impact assessments .
this will be very difficult for small and medium-sized enterprises in particular to cope with .
this subsidy budget is largely managed by the Member States , which have demanded a great deal more independence from us in the new financing period , because they complained during the last funding period that there was too much central control .
what do I note from all the studies carried out ?
firstly , as President-in-Office of the Council , I must loyally defend the Union 's position .
this will also be an important point to note when implementing Europe 2020 .
this is particularly true in the area of energy policy .
in today 's modern world where technical developments are so short-lived , making cooperation in scientific and technical fields easier will be of benefit to both sides .
unfortunately , I also have to note that there are many other initiatives which go far beyond the objective of the internal market .
the political guideline that I gave to my colleagues when work was being carried out on the Toys Directive was to lay down the most stringent rules possible - the most stringent possible !
as pointed out in the report , it is therefore not necessary to discuss whether sport is essential within education .
this House must undertake to ensure its greater future involvement in negotiations , which cannot and must not be conducted in secret by the States within the Council .
I , too , believe that the 2012 budget should be realistic and adapted to the current economic situation .
that concludes Question Time .
all concerns about the irresponsibility of the Czech Republic are therefore completely unnecessary .
the Azerbaijani authorities have to realise that the activity of free and independent media is a clear signal to the international community that a country is a credible partner on the world stage .
this is an important first step for sport and for the EU . much can be achieved though our joint cooperation and assistance .
road carriers need specially equipped parking areas where drivers can rest under conditions of complete safety , as well as their vehicles and carried goods .
it involves the search for compromises through conversations and long lunches and , if necessary , a bit of gentle cajoling in the interests of achieving a result .
this is a party that is asserting in this House that there is no freedom of information , when it founded a newspaper ten days ago in Italy .
the establishment of al-Qaeda in Yemen is a symptom of deeper problems .
this number accounts for 90 % of the total in Europe for that year .
today parliaments in 26 countries have said ' yes ' .
I was honoured to produce the opinion from the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy .
China : minority rights and application of the death penalty ( vote )
the Commission would also like to point out that the structural funds - and that was what I was touching upon in an earlier question when we were dealing with the Polish shipyards - and in particular the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund , can be used by the Member States to cushion the social consequences of job losses , and furthermore the use of the European globalisation fund can be considered under certain conditions .
liberating the capacity for innovation in Europe requires setting a minimum spending threshold , in terms of research and development , in each Member State .
does that report exist , is it to be submitted to the European Parliament Committee on Fisheries and what does the Commissioner think of the criticisms ?
thank you very much .
the first view , advocated by the former US president George W. Bush , is that accession is very desirable as Turkey can supply a lot of cheap labour and soldiers and is a loyal NATO member .
however , everyone should also take note of others ' opinions and allow a vote to take place .
as expected , the European Community was severely criticised for overshooting the TAC in 2007 .
there was another question with regard to Israel 's special status .
up to now , the European Union has been the world 's largest importer of agricultural products , particularly those sourced from developing countries .
we respect that .
things cannot go on in the same way as before .
old Soviet-design nuclear reactors were active in the territories of the countries in question , and these have proved technically impossible to modernise to meet currently required international safety standards .
even 30 would be well below the threshold that exists in most national parliaments , which we all find perfectly democratic .
here is the statement of the European Union from last month on the association agreement : six pages of condemnation of human rights abuses and illegality and infringements by Israel - and yet a summary which says we seek closer cooperation with Israel .
instead , we find ourselves faced with a situation where Europe runs a serious risk of having to start the New Year with a provisional budget and greatly hindered by the application of the system of twelfths .
our own path to 20th century liberal democracy was a very slow one .
thirdly and most importantly , we have devoted much time to the institutional dimension of this file .
but , at the end of the day , we have to find a political solution , and it is President Abbas who is the elected President of all Palestinians .
the rights to the song Happy Birthday are supposedly owned by the North American company Warner .
now we are talking about anti-missile batteries set up in Poland and also in the Czech Republic .
the European countries have varying collection rates .
many of the states that still have the death penalty as a punishment tool do not have the mechanism to deliver fair trials to those that they accuse of capital punishment crimes .
Europe must not let them down .
this specific question was from Mrs Napolitano regarding the Euromed cultural programme .
the revised Small Business Act will include measures to harmonise the use of this test and improve the quality of the assessments .
as rapporteur , I proposed in the first instance that we lay down a number of aspects in a regulation .
Mr President , first of all , I should like to take this opportunity to thank President Barroso and Commissioner Šemeta for their decision to postpone the publication of the Commission 's proposals on the future budgetary policy and on the updating of the financial perspective until the next six-month term .
it naturally requires an improvement in information and consultation as tools for creating a conflict-reducing business culture .
another regrettable example of the directive on ecodesign is energy labelling .
they are under constant pressure from daily financial and practical problems , which create feelings of anxiety .
we are merely able to state that there are 751 Members of the European Parliament and I see no post where there is a difference in voting rights within this text .
fourthly , the summit changed the shape of the space for global economic cooperation , leading to a new division of powers .
these services must be provided to a high quality , with respect for the principle of universality and , above all , they must be affordable .
we also need a Parliament capable of mobilising the effective majorities necessary for a Europe of action .
in any case , priorities , scale of assistance , and delivery of aid in a way that avoids the clutches of abhorrent regimes are all political questions .
sadly that has changed in the last two weeks and we have seen over 600 people killed and 250 000 people have been displaced .
the next item is the Council and Commission statements on the violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo .
the fact that NGOs must by law be included in all legislation does not get us any further forward with consultation etc .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( FR ) Madam President , today 's discussion - and the previous speakers have confirmed this - is taking place in very unusual circumstances , since we do not have a report for the plenary as would normally be the case .
businesses must react appropriately to ever faster changes in economic trends .
Parliament 's new powers , provided for in the Treaty of Lisbon , bring with them new responsibilities to ensure that Parliament and its competent committee are well informed about the preparation of the agreements to which it will subsequently be asked to give its consent .
I would like to mention a few of these .
membership of committees and delegations : see Minutes
with this resolution , the EP : 1 .
it is likewise to no one 's benefit for various countries around the world to clear rainforests - 12 500 km2 of rainforest was cleared in Brazil last year .
the Commission needs to start considering now , though , what sort of mechanisms we need in order to ensure that the new Commission document can take account of future developments .
in particular , any efforts aimed at normalising relations between Chad and Sudan should be supported , in accordance with the Tripoli and Riyadh Agreements .
there are derogations in the form of transitional periods for Eastern European Member States , who must purchase allowances for just 30 % of their emissions to begin with .
the Justice Ministers reached agreement on 8 November 2007 on a draft framework decision .
the EU 's first priority is the use of the natural resources of those countries , namely oil , natural gas and uranium .
in this case , an avenue would have opened up in the future for marketing in the EU food products containing GMOs .
it is then sold 10 more times before it is finally dismantled .
let us take advantage of the opportunity afforded by a new US President .
I was recently in Poland , saying this very clearly , saying that Europe is not them in Brussels or Strasbourg : Europe is us , all over Europe , and this is a collective responsibility .
this is the only way we shall muster enough power to reach an agreement .
at long last , the Commission must quickly come up with some proposals for a common consolidated corporate tax base .
the debate is closed .
man 's powerless status has been made easier to cope with through his belief in a superpower entity he called ' God ' .
the Commission rejects the following :
the safety of the rolling stock must be improved , as well as the safety of the signalling systems .
this report proposes strict and tighter controls .
agenda for next sitting : see Minutes
the efforts applied by the Bulgarian Government must be considered as an unconditional acceptance of the conditions placed by the EU .
( standing ovation )
we therefore have some questions which we would like to put to the Council .
we have reached 91 % of the European Union average , last year our economic growth exceeded 6 % , and we have the lowest unemployment rate in history and one of the lowest in the European Union .
these conditions affect both elderly and particularly young people , and lead to social exclusion .
the European Parliament should continuously follow and scrutinise the way in which plans and measures are implemented to counter the threat .
however , like every other tool , it is very important that we think about how we should use it .
European farmers are worried that only applying restrictions to them will oust them from production and that they will not be able to produce on competitive terms .
we are each other 's main trading partner , and therefore constructive economic cooperation is very important .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( ES ) Mr President , I must insist on one fundamental fact .
after a wave of dismissive and doubting remarks as to the Czech Republic 's ability to lead the Union , Europe and other parts of the globe are watching with surprise how responsibly and effectively the Czech Presidency has acted as it deals with the unexpected crises .
I do not know who has put my name down because I have not signed it .
we have condemned what is a truly appalling crime and I reiterate our condolences to their families , as well as to those of Niger 's officers who were killed during the ensuing shooting .
thirdly , I would like to mention the Information Offices .
having set a number of objectives in order to meet the urgent environmental needs facing us , the European Union has to devise ways of achieving them .
the economic and financial crisis has revealed all too clearly the shortcomings and weaknesses of the existing instruments and methods for coordinating economic and currency policy .
the European Union is leading the world as regards climate change and , by adopting this package through your vote tomorrow , we shall confirm our international role in leading the world in addressing climate change , and at the same time we shall ensure that the benefits to our countries from the early move to a low-carbon economy will indeed come .
we are working with eight other countries in the Maritime Organisation Analysis Centre to combat cocaine trafficking .
it is entirely appropriate for this House to responsibly and sensibly address the transition for the possible ratification - finally - of the Lisbon Treaty .
in some countries , society is even taking backward steps .
I saw the devastation caused by war and food shortages .
in 2005 , the Commission submitted a Common Programme for Integration that forms the framework directive for a common approach to integration in the European Union .
the next item is the recommendation for second reading , on behalf of the Committee on Culture and Education , on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law , regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting activities ( 10076 / 6 / 2007 - C6-0352 / 2007 - ( Rapporteur : Mrs Hieronymi ) .
it would also mean that the tax domain is one where there is still work to be done to make the most of the internal market .
the issue of the living conditions of the Roma is linked to that of the opening-up of borders .
it is a fundamental error to believe that there can ultimately be a military solution to this Middle East conflict .
since then , things have , in fact , only got worse .
the European Parliament was right to take things in hand .
Madam President , while our expectations of Copenhagen at this stage are being lowered , it is also true that our ambitions cannot be lowered .
energy efficiency is also the cheapest way of reducing CO2 emissions .
the Presidency also discussed recent events with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov at the meeting between the European Union Troika and Russia held in Luxembourg .
in the small picture , there will always be some winners and losers : it is the nature of any bilateral agreement .
by simplifying trade rules and replacing the complex maze of bilateral agreements with a small number of region-to-region trade relationships , the ACP can create bigger regional markets that are more attractive to the investment which developing markets need in order to create jobs and growth .
as the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) has already said , we are calling for President Klaus to show a responsible attitude and ratify the Treaty by the date of the European Council at the end of October .
these unfavourable economic conditions , coupled with the fading-out of the asset boom and an expansionary fiscal policy partly due to measures adopted within the framework of the European Economic Recovery Plan , led to a deterioration of the public finances .
the growing use of air conditioning systems , which are increasingly widespread in homes , actually requires a great deal of energy .
nevertheless , I have reservations over the communitarisation of the Schengen Working Group , because I am concerned that it will lead to Member States abandoning their responsibility to provide controls .
above all , we need to make sure that immigrants are escorted back to their own country , obviously in cases where there are genuine reasons for doing so .
however , both high-ranking politicians and criminal experts doubt that , in the US , the data would be used solely for combating terrorist activities .
we must emphasise that human rights and basic freedoms must be respected as a way of preventing ethnic or cultural conflicts .
in this regard , it will surely be wholly beneficial to dedicate the year 2011 to this theme .
approval of Minutes of previous sitting : see Minutes
within this framework , Commissioner , we call on the Commission to defend the multifunctional role of EU agriculture and the European agri-food model , which is a strategic component of Europe 's economy .
what is also important is that the six priorities implemented by the European Investment Bank include ensuring sustainable and secure energy competition for the European Union .
the EU can and must demonstrate that it supports these parameters , both via funding , such as from the Investment Fund for the digitisation of the media , and by coordinating exchanges of best practices in the procedure to digitise radio and televisions between the Member States .
the next item is the report by Mr Obiols i Germà , on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs , on the Annual Report on Human Rights in the World 2008 and the European Union 's policy on the matter .
in my view , the most important of these spaces is the economic and energy space : we need openness , clear rules , guarantees for investments , and Russia first of all needs to join the WTO .
crops are being burnt .
at that time , this was our historic mission .
Israel still of course maintains an open immigration policy based on its status as a home for the Jewish people the world over , but we should also consider the position of Israeli Arabs in society .
I was involved in the opinion of the ITRE Committee on the Mikko report , and I would like to congratulate her because I think new technologies have led to the emergence of new media channels and new types of content , and the media remains an important political tool .
this concept will not be grasped by this talking shop simply because , if this logic were pursued , then Euroland would be forced to admit what we have known for many years , which is that the EU is bad news for business .
the Bulgarian Government is unable , without the financial help of the European Union , to dispose safely of the spent fuel , part of which was , in any case , disposed of somewhere outside the EU Member States .
( for results and other details of the vote : see Minutes )
I should like to comment on the motion for a resolution on the Europe 2020 Strategy which has been adopted by the European Parliament .
in recent times , we have seen , on the one hand , a massive onset of some serious diseases among bees ( varroasis ) and , on the other , an ageing population of beekeepers in many states , with a number of national governments undervaluing support for their work in a time of economic crisis .
this attitude of the Chinese is not only contrary to its own principle of non-involvement in the internal affairs of third countries , but is also not in keeping with the current rapprochement between Taiwan en Beijing .
I have no time and cannot stay .
we need such a revolution again here in Europe .
trade therefore represents an extremely important vector of dialogue and an opportunity for economic and social development .
the accession of Bulgaria and Romania was even described as gambling with European citizens ' security due to crime and corruption .
I regret that the Council is not here to help us with this regulatory amendment .
furthermore , and this is the subject of my speech , Mr Reinfeldt , I should like to refer to an issue that is addressed in every speech in this House - the fight against the economic and financial crisis - in order to say to you that you are assuming the leadership of the European Council at a very precise moment in time .
the European Union will attend the Copenhagen conference as the leader in the battle against climate change .
the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision will follow suit .
if the conciliation had been successful , we could now be jointly welcoming an imminent ban on the marketing of food from cloned animals .
the noble intentions contained within it are a reflection , understandably , of our common European values , but I believe it is little more than window-dressing and an understandable concession to the powerful human rights lobby within the Union .
for example , that it is clear that decentralisation and devolution were one of the main results of the process of Commission reform that was started in 1999 , but that the Commission has still not produced a study or report or interim financial statement on this form of administrative management .
rapporteur . - Mr President , it was very good indeed to hear the Commissioner say that the Commission has every intention of moving forward on this before the summer .
also , from a general point of view , the chapter on investment must respect both parties ' right to legislate in areas such as the environment , public health , employee and consumer rights , industrial policy and cultural diversity , among others .
however , the funding from the EU Solidarity Fund will make a real difference to the region and its long-term recovery , and the existence and effective operation of this fund demonstrates the solidarity between the Member States of the European Union .
this explains why former communist leaders turned so easily into nationalists - in the Balkans as well as in the Caucasus , in eastern Europe as well as in Russia .
hundreds of people have been killed in the disputed area of Abyei between North and South Sudan .
the predominant force in these decisions has been the interests of large economic and financial groups .
British military personnel are , as we speak , being handed redundancy notices - often while on active duty - by the wretched UK Government .
we cannot have nuclear power plants which are built for a service life of thirty years still remaining in use after forty or even fifty years .
so we will have to mobilise .
Mr President , while unrest in the Middle East and North Africa requires the European Union to play a greater role in the Mediterranean region , I would like to raise the point of the second flotilla to Gaza .
allow me just to say a few words in response to Mr Harbour 's comments on the lack of debate on the scope of the universal service .
at the same time , the Commission , acting as quickly as possible , should conduct targeted studies of cross-border risk management and a detailed analysis of the ways in which the various schemes are funded .
to move forward in this area , we needed to do it in a genuinely European way , namely by carrying out , for a few very specific points , a complete harmonisation of everyone 's rights and duties .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( ES ) The European Council of March 2007 adopted an agreement that the European Union should generate part of its total energy mix from renewable energy sources .
they also concern regulators , given their importance for the calculation of banks ' capital requirements .
I would like to thank the Commissioner for his replies and to ask him whether , if there were three counterfeiters - ' A ' operating in Germany , ' B ' operating in Ireland and ' C ' operating in Slovakia - each of them would get the same sentence if they were caught counterfeiting .
I agree with the very important call for a strong , long-term commitment from the international community , including the EU , to honour all the pledges made at the International Donors ' Conference in New York .
in this regard , the approved text of the resolution unfortunately strikes me as having a rather one-sided focus , undermining the Commission 's steps in the political negotiations to date on trade .
written declarations included in the register ( Rule 123 ) : see Minutes
foreign workers in foreign companies in Ireland may now work for the Irish minimum salary of EUR 9 an hour .
and yet , murder after murder , the Russian authorities tell the outside world that this time the guilty will definitely be found and punished .
his report consisted of voluntary targets for businesses .
however , I dare to say that a pragmatic sense of crisis-awareness has prevailed and helped us to cooperate in order to contain the sovereign debt crisis and protect economic recovery .
Mr Kusstatscher is absolutely right - the European Union is highly ambitious in this area of vocational training .
46 .
that means that , in the end , you will not be able to protect the ordinary people you want to protect .
Slovakia was given the green light to join the euro zone a few weeks ago .
that would be completely wrong .
irregularities were also found in staff selection procedures .
the Commission will produce a new proposal for the MID by the end of April 2011 .
the instruments of EU cohesion policy are managed in a common framework that ranges from the strategic guidelines to payments and the submission of reports .
what about China ?
it is accompanied by a duty to use this responsibility in everyone 's best interest .
a missed opportunity !
when it comes to combating terrorism , we cannot conceive of a Member State revealing strategic plans for combating terrorism in advance .
they insisted on the liberalisation and privatisation of structural sectors and public services , seemingly indifferent to the consequences of this policy for millions of people on low incomes .
by introducing a voluntary scheme such as ecolabels , we can encourage a market in more energy-efficient and ecologically kinder goods .
ladies and gentlemen , the Slovenian Presidency has made considerable endeavours to promote the third market liberalisation package .
we must therefore learn a lesson from the situation .
the Commission has been at the forefront of the global initiatives to tackle the crisis .
I speak about this because we really have to talk about a common home , a common Europe , and hear every voice of every country .
our political group promotes all three of these objectives as the cornerstone of the common European energy policy and , in that respect , we welcome the Laperrouze report .
however , Spain cannot help without improving its interconnection capacity through the Pyrenees .
but look too at all the letters from industry , really lobbying for going to 30 % because it is in their interest ; it helps their profits if we step up our climate ambitions .
I object to the 2 % increase in quotas because such measures lead to an erosion of milk prices and threaten farmers ' livelihoods .
it would be useful , therefore , to develop new indicators that enable other aspects of the reality to be sounded out , in order to obtain a better overall view of countries ' development .
many people have either no water or water looking like this .
allowing the blending of table wine will lead to fair competition between European countries and third countries since we have allowed third countries - as already mentioned here today - to do this blending .
finally , the Meca Medina judgment provides a clear methodological framework in that respect .
I am in favour of promoting non-violence as an essential means of ensuring respect for fundamental human rights and in favour of the fight against the death penalty .
it will be noted as you have said .
the research sector is a sector which can bring maximum added value to the Union .
the cooperation between liaison officers and delegations has proved fruitful , for example , in the Western Balkans and in Afghanistan and Pakistan .
one of the prime objectives of the next European Council will be to ensure the success of the UN Conference on climate change , which will take place in Copenhagen in December .
at present , its activities are attracting more and more enthusiasts into its ranks : people of different ages and from different parts of the EU .
the Commission will continue to work on this and will also check all the legislation on compliance .
quotas of all kinds - and in whichever seas - should be owned by fishermen from ports with traditional connections to those waters and be tradeable only between fishermen who are likewise entitled to fish by personal , family and community connections .
despite acknowledging the delays to the hesitant measures that they have taken , what the representatives of the Spanish Presidency of the EU and the Commission have reaffirmed here was that they are going to continue down the same path of capitalist integration and go further with it ; they are running around like headless chickens .
I propose that the EU should insist on securing Pakistan 's considerable nuclear arsenal , if necessary through the UN , at least until the country returns to its former political and , if possible , democratic state .
this has happened despite the fact that Lithuania has committed itself to the European Charter for Local Self-Government and has ratified the 1995 European Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities . Article 11 of the latter provides for the use of minority languages , including on street signs .
( LV ) Mr President , although the situation with women 's rights has improved , I should nevertheless like to draw attention to at least three aspects .
therefore , if the resettlement programme that is to be set up today can be used to resettle international protection seekers in Libya , then these people will doubtlessly have little reason to cross the Mediterranean Sea and risk their lives in the process .
I find it unacceptable that France and Germany have refused to take some of the refugees and that the Italian Minister for the Interior is threatening to grant temporary residence permits , which would allow thousands of immigrants to move around the European Union .
this is not sustainable , particularly in the light of the fact that the volume of air traffic doubles every 10 to 15 years .
let me add that , from our perspective , electoral law is also a problem .
we need to ensure that all our citizens have access to high-quality screening programmes , diagnosis and treatment , including palliative care .
today 's news , which Mr Preda highlighted , is very significant because now , we see how dictators copy from each other and compare notes .
with regard to the employment summit , this cannot be a mini-summit because employment is not a mini-problem ; it is a major problem affecting individuals and families .
agenda of the next sitting : see Minutes
- Before the vote :
I must say that , in this context , I agree with Mr Cohn-Bendit that Parliament should take a position - we cannot sit on the fence .
it is truly shocking that such a thing is happening literally before our eyes .
air transport has experienced an accelerated development over the last years .
I would argue that it is important to take into account the experience acquired during the years when the old SGP existed , along with the fact that economic governance has become more democratic through the European Parliament 's involvement throughout the entire surveillance process .
in calling for this proposal to be adopted on the basis of Article 95 of the EC Treaty , which provides for harmonisation in the internal market , they are actually trying to liberalise the sector , which is unacceptable .
it is impossible to reach any agreement between political groups if the only thing we can do is table a separate text , as we will see in the vote shortly .
4 .
its protagonists must not succeed in turning the EU into a free trade zone without social accountability .
as you are aware , this issue has been a particular cause for concern to the rapporteur to the European Parliament .
with regard to pre-financing airport investments , Member States should refer to ICAO policies or establish their own safeguards .
( FR ) Mr President , I should like to take the floor under the catch-the-eye procedure since , earlier , I had only one minute of speaking time when the agenda said I had two .
we must identify the names of the responsible UN commanders .
what is of even greater concern is that the youth unemployment rate is almost double the unemployment rate for the whole population .
otherwise , we could be led into an adventure , the results of which may be difficult to cope with .
how can we improve cooperation ?
the EIB has no mandate towards direct bank capitalisation in this region and its activity is limited to the sectors of transport , telecommunications , energy and environmental infrastructure .
we are therefore proposing a regulation and guidelines which will increase the range of choice and opportunities for small enterprises throughout the whole chain , from the manufacture of spare parts to vehicle repair .
democracy and human rights are fundamental values for the European Union , which should be strongly promoted worldwide as an integral part of the ongoing actions aimed at reducing poverty and settling conflicts , while providing , at the same time , a valuable starting point in the fight against terrorism .
the planting of vineyards in mountain areas , and the cultivation of crops where they never grew before , are examples of this , as is the more frequent occurrence than before of natural disasters .
once again , we talk about the need for solidarity and , of course , of the need for a binding framework .
that is the information I can give you , Mr Papadimoulis .
as real security cannot be guaranteed simply by our endorsement of a set of common principles , I believe that what is needed is a pragmatic analysis of the risks involved by cooperation between the law enforcement and the judiciary of countries with varying levels of expertise in the field .
the Council is right to agree a crisis-management and reconstruction fund and the rapid deployment of humanitarian assistance .
I should like Commissioner Figel ' to tell us whether the European Commission will be using this clear course as a key asset in the negotiations at the IMO conference , and also what measures the Commission means to take to ensure timely implementation of the convention to be concluded .
we should trust consumers to enjoy whatever drinks they choose .
for that we also need cooperation with Russia .
in writing . - I voted in favour of this report which plays an important part in combating counterfeiting which accounts for some 7-10 % of world trade , costing 500 billion euros .
have you already an idea of the sustainability criteria concerning biofuels that could be presented in Bonn ?
Georgia has , in fact , played a key role here .
it still wants the opportunity to utilise different types of political arrangements , something we could perhaps call horse trading .
of course , we all enjoy a tussle .
we shall now proceed to the vote .
in my opinion , we should pay very serious attention to their objective arguments .
in fact , 11 of this House 's 22 standing committees have tabled opinions on this report .
civil society will have to get involved in areas such as : good governance and democratisation , human rights , development of and combating social exclusion , environmental protection and sustainable development .
extending the concept of the family to cover everyone including grandmothers will result in a further influx and improving access to the labour market in a period of high unemployment is unsustainable .
but we should not just be lowering the 1 000 m2 threshold in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive - we should be getting rid of it altogether and applying the Directive to all buildings requiring heating and cooling , regardless of size .
commitments must be upheld , and therefore we will vote against all the amendments tabled , especially any amendments that do not respect the commitments already made , and here I am referring to the Socialist Group .
we also must not forget the indigenous peoples whose economies rely , to a significant extent , on sustainable use of natural resources and therefore , the reduction of climate change and its effects and the right of the indigenous peoples to an unpolluted natural environment are also questions of human rights .
that is why we have proposed several measures .
the most important argument is , however , that fishermen can indeed estimate their catches within an accuracy level of 3 % .
this ' European contract ' would be optional , would come with a ' toolbox ' to clarify how it should be used and it would encourage greater protection of consumers .
now to implementation .
so-called pre-cops try to predict the future by constantly monitoring people 's feelings and manners of behaviour .
the procedure for evaluating respect for fundamental rights must not , under any circumstances , be misused for the mandatory imposition of political correctness or for anti-discrimination mania .
the economy cannot take priority over people 's safety .
( it ) Mr President , I asked for the floor to give an explanation of vote on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings .
in writing . - The report of MEP Sajjad Karim contains a legislative resolution on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on indications or marks identifying the lot to which a foodstuff belongs ( codified text ) .
the next item is the report by Marisa Matias , on behalf of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2001 / 83 / EC as regards the prevention of the entry into the legal supply chain of medicinal products which are falsified in relation to their identity , history or source - C6-0513 / 2008 - .
can the Council , can the ministers look their citizens directly in the eye and say that human rights violations in Europe will continue to go unpunished ?
this is an open dialogue that I plan to conduct vigorously over the next few months , partly thanks to the strong support that I am receiving from the current Portuguese Presidency , as I did from previous presidencies .
it is a Libyan revolution and it has to remain a Libyan revolution .
- Bericht : Descamps
we have tried and are trying to act in this spirit .
therefore , the need to introduce changes to the alignment maps of the network appears justified .
the other reason is that the disbursement of funds for the programming period is only 25 % , so the financial execution for the period is , in our evidence , lower than what should be expected .
in the institutional aspect , major improvements are made by enhancing the powers of the double-hatted High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security who is at the same time Vice-President of the European Commission and by establishing the European external action service .
( it ) Madam President , I should like to ask , on behalf of the ALDE Group , whether a separate vote is possible on paragraph 42 .
the action plan will also have the effect of strengthening industrial competitiveness and developing exports of new technologies , and will have positive effects on employment .
we must not come to the conclusion of rejecting nuclear energy just because dangerous accidents occur affecting the operation of nuclear power plants .
I would just like briefly to explain why .
as regards the connection between the implementation of the EU 2020 strategy and improved competitiveness , it is important to point out that cohesion and increased competitiveness are processes that presuppose and even strengthen each other .
finally , just to thank everybody again for their contributions .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to express my thanks and congratulations to the rapporteur , Mr Papadimoulis , on his excellent contribution to the Regulation on the banning of exports of metallic mercury , and also to the members of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , for their positive and constructive input .
whilst climate change is making desertification worse , desertification is aggravating climate change , because less carbon binding with the soil eventually results in the carbon being released into the atmosphere .
it is also extremely important for the Ombudsman to be able to take up cases relating to all the institutions of the European Union , including those which operate under the third pillar .
rising feed prices and import bans put in place by other countries have highlighted just how exposed the EU is in relation to animal feed supplies .
secondly , Turkish democracy is simply quite specific in its own right .
I am going to outline three main points , those I consider to be crucial in order to summarise the benefits of this decision which , I believe , is going to be adopted by a great majority tomorrow in this House .
meanwhile , many developing countries do nothing to reduce their emission of greenhouse gases . they even constantly increase their carbon dioxide emissions .
this is exactly what we have been looking for , so that is why I have on this point nothing to add because I think it describes exactly what is at issue .
Madam President , High Representative , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to conclude by asking the European Union to assume its role through the means at its disposal to persuade Laurent Gbagbo and his illegitimate government to accept that the game is over .
we have to keep our word and stick to the accession perspective of Turkey as outlined in the negotiation mandate .
this assessment revealed that the implementation of the Action Programme is either very behind schedule or extremely behind schedule in the case of a number of priority objectives .
( RO ) I believe European Schools to be the schools of the future in the EU , as they take into account increased mobility and the globalisation process and consequently give every student the opportunity to study in his / her mother tongue , thus promoting multilinguism .
I would also like to respond to the question raised by Mrs Alvarez , who raised a topic that is certainly interesting : I think I can agree with her proposal adding , in the work we are carrying out , the suggestion that safeguards should also be given to the passengers of airlines that shut down not due to bankruptcy but because they do not comply with safety requirements .
within these frameworks , the task of the Member States is to determine the key aspects that are suited to their distinctive situations , and to flesh out the various guidelines with actual content .
finally , I shall just comment on the ' space to think ' under Article 4 ( 3 ) .
coming up to the elections I hope that all of you will talk about the work you have been doing in this House for consumers in the Internet world because it is absolutely crucial .
we do have a PNR agreement being re-negotiated and coming through .
the speedy application of state-aid rules by the Commission injects confidence between Member States , and we will hence come very rapidly with guidance .
Nord Stream is a supply pipeline in the north ; it solves the transit problem , but will not reduce our dependency on Russia . South Stream may also solve a transit problem , but again will not reduce our dependency on Russia .
I am therefore very surprised by the Liberals ' request for a separate vote on paragraph 19 , which proposes giving women the right to take part in religious services .
the European Parliament is convinced that the ordinary citizen 's access to information on EU institutions raises problems due to the lack of efficient inter-institutional policies on transparency and citizen-oriented communication .
when it was our Hungarian national holiday , political rights were infringed to an unacceptable degree in Budapest .
it is very important that an assessment of the social impact is a step in the direction of a social Europe .
the EU must adopt a minorities policy which guarantees minorities the right to use their mother tongue , promote their culture and enjoy autonomy in France , Romania , Greece and Slovakia as well .
they should be guaranteed the protection of the state and adequate support by the international community .
the few SMEs that do export outside of the EU tend to focus on developed and basically saturated markets such as the United States , Canada and Switzerland ; it is rare for them to take their products to emerging countries .
you can be certain of our unreserved support .
the pharmaceutical industry has an important role to play in the promotion of literacy in the area of health , but this role should be clearly defined , and participation by the sector strictly regulated , in order to prevent commercial considerations from leading to an excessive consumption of medicines .
we , as Parliament , together with the Commission , must therefore pay greater attention in the next few years to ensuring that this implementation is actually successful .
we are therefore looking forward to an ambitious multiannual financial framework proposal in 2011 .
I fully support Mrs Svensson 's work on the problem of gender equality , and I agree that the issues she has raised have a significant influence on the process of achieving equal rights for women and men .
this invalidates the poor countries ' natural competitive advantages and is a serious obstacle on their path to prosperity .
the purpose of the report is to establish the European Parliament 's position with regard to future financing for development cooperation prior to publication of the post-2013 Multiannual Financial Framework .
in education , the two main trends that comprise innovative opportunities are digitisation and the decrease of energy consumption .
clearly , we now need to go further .
the debate is closed .
the revision intends to ensure coherence between the regulation and other elements of the legislative framework .
therefore , I would like to remember somebody who , a hundred years ago , received a Nobel Prize for chemistry for the separation and purification of radium and polonium : Maria Skłodowska , who is known as Madame Curie .
( the sitting was suspended at 1.40 p.m. and resumed at 3 p.m. )
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , Mr President-in-Office , ladies and gentlemen , I am indeed astonished at the words of Mr Batten , who comes from the cosmopolitan United Kingdom and yet is spreading narrow-minded and xenophobic propaganda here with his false allegations .
this is the main topic of work for the European Council this weekend ; a strategy which was articulated and expanded upon by the European Commission in the document of 3 March and which will essentially be studied by the Heads of State or Government in the spring Council , basically from the viewpoint of the so-called ' strategic objectives ' .
I also wanted to raise a point of the utmost importance to today 's agenda and it is precisely the situation of children in crisis hotspots .
President Obama 's statements and appointments in relation to climate change appear to signal an important policy shift , but much hard work lies ahead here .
fishermen expecting verification of fishing effort perceive this approach as being unduly cautious and as inappropriate in terms of a rational fisheries policy .
the buildings here in Strasbourg were purchased in 2007 and , when we bought them , we were absolutely assured that there was no asbestos in these buildings .
in particular , I would stress the ' Innovation Union ' initiative , which addresses major social challenges like energy and food security , climate change , health , and the ageing population .
in the conference conclusions , the importance of the promotion of a system of lifelong training and capacity-building for assuring the quality of services is mentioned .
( FR ) Mr President , I would like to point out four dimensions in which the CAP should evolve .
we are now digesting all these different ideas and we will present a communication in May .
Mr President , I have to disappoint you .
in these circumstances , acceptance of the proposal to allow additional acidification of fruit juices , including apple juice , with citric acid would be a huge injustice and a blow to the European fruit farming sector .
I therefore welcome the creation of a standard dispute settlement mechanism , which should provide streamlined and effective redress procedures within firm time limits .
as a result , they can be administered without applying the current restrictions .
first , I am in favour of the stress test methodology put forward by the Western European Nuclear Regulators Association .
I firmly believe that the R & D sector must be supported as this can make a significant contribution to boosting energy efficiency .
Morocco is repressing with hatred what it knows to be a different people .
one , but not the only , example is taking Roma children away from their families and putting them in separate boarding schools .
this has produced a system of fines , as Mr Leichtfried has just told us , which will allow the Commission to give a tailored response in the event of minor infringements of the safety rules .
this is now affecting the old EU Member States , after something of a delay .
the EU can make a significant contribution to the sustainable development of the Arctic , a region which will be of major importance to a world adapting to climate change , facing a growing population and scarcity of resources .
as a global power in agricultural production , the EU needs to take account of and effectively adapt to emerging challenges , such as extreme weather conditions , limited availability of natural resources , dependence on food imports and increasing speculation in commodities .
I would therefore like to make it clear that I am sorry to see you have been so badly misled and deceived .
so I think it will also help us to become more transparent , more open and more democratic .
however , the Commission is of the opinion that we , the European Union , should be as helpful as possible in resolving the issue and some important steps have already been taken by the Obama Administration .
I think that everyone else agrees that this is a proposal that we have been working on for a long time .
this ranges from smart meters on the one hand to actual production by individual households .
2 .
clearly , it can be regulated and it must be regulated - and , indeed , there are many good instances where online gambling providers are clearly committed to providing the tools and the controls to deal with problems of addictive gambling and so on - and , of course , there are issues about fraud and about problems there which we have also debated extensively in our committee .
in addition to this aspect , Parliament 's proposal seeks certain amendments to improve the EIB 's work outside the EU , such as the activation of EUR 2 billion available for combating climate change .
I believe that the 27 Member States must find a common solution and make a common decision regarding the next step .
I am not a fan of globalisation , I am simply saying that it is there , we cannot constrain it .
I can tell you that the victims of Lockerbie in Scotland and the victims of IRA atrocities in my country knew very well what sort of scoundrel this man was .
I would like to emphasise that Hungary , with Ukraine being its largest neighbour , is particularly interested in political and economic stability being established in Ukraine .
supervision models had a national perspective and did not adapt to the globalisation that has occurred within the financial system , where various financial groups conduct their operations across borders , with the systemic risks that this entails .
I am aware of certain concerns expressed , notably by the EU car industry , about the duty drawback provisions in the FTA , but I have to emphasise that duty drawback is currently allowed and used by Koreans as well as by EU exporters .
we must also prepare our schools to put the scheme into effect .
we are talking here about the long-term objectives of the EU , which must be to reduce emissions by more than 80 % by the year 2050 .
for when we start to talk about implementation , that is when the discussion gets going .
in my view , it is not clear how the Tobin tax could help to prevent future financial crises without global consensus and support .
I think the latter consists of providing full support and placing a Secretary-General at the best location for dialogue to make sense , and allowing him to extract the best possible advantage from his two initiatives .
Internet advertising is the area which has enjoyed considerable expansion in recent years , generating a current value of more than EUR 14 billion on the European market alone .
Europe has a unique and historic opportunity and it must put forward its new economic and social development model , as it had started to do through policies on climate change , energy security , social stability and a sustainable economy .
the worst aspect of this scenario , however , is that these cruel acts are not taking place far away in distant countries ; no , as committed activists from Austria have told me , they are happening right on our doorsteps .
at the same time it will become possible to monitor the implementation of such policies in individual countries .
however , we know that the right to education and the right to family life , here too for instance , are constantly flouted in nearly every Member State .
this means that we are still not in the position that we should have reached .
EEI businesses themselves need to become more proactive in supporting cluster initiatives and joining clusters .
Mr President , while Commissioner Reding confirmed , and President Barroso reconfirmed in his letter today , that the Women 's Charter commits the Commission to promoting and ensuring gender equality and women 's rights in all policy fields , I am disappointed that this has not been put into practice for the EU 2020 strategy .
before the financial crisis you said this was not necessary : they are better than any government to regulate , so let them do their job .
the search of the office is the latest in a series of acts of intimidation aimed at Mrs Ebadi which have included , for example , the closure in December of the Centre for the Defence of Human Rights , an organisation which she led .
today , Parliament has voted in favour of the agreement proposed by the Commission regarding , on the one hand , financial mechanisms for the period 2009-2014 between the European Union and Iceland , the Principality of Liechtenstein and Norway , and on the other hand , an agreement between the European Union and Norway .
this also applies particularly to immigrant women .
together with the rapporteur I call on the EC to conduct an in-depth study of the results of the first macroregional strategies implemented .
I considered that this was my duty and I did this .
also , as it is not strictly a European Union institution , the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development ( EBRD ) has stepped up its action under the impetus of the European countries and the European Commission , who are shareholders in the bank .
nevertheless , many efforts have been made to achieve a coordinated approach among the Union 's various policies and programmes .
you have a crucial role to play , both formally and informally , not just behind the scenes , but also in the meeting rooms and , in particular , beyond them .
partial decoupling of direct aid must be maintained for animal premiums , but care must be taken not to include only intensive or large-scale animal husbandry ( para . 26 , para .
Mr President , Justice Goldstone 's report is being presented in the international arena as an objective document on the operation in the Gaza Strip in the winter of 2009 .
in writing . - I support the UK retaining membership of UNSC .
this initiative contains several suggestions to the Commission that would help deal with the problems that countries throughout Europe will face in the coming decades .
that indication is , in fact , contained in the proposal for a regulation on ' Made in ' origin marking , which was adopted in this Chamber on 21 October 2010 , which introduces a control mechanism and aims to simplify the legislation in force with a view to creating a better , clearer legislative framework for companies and for consumer protection .
this would be located with the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) , and its governance would be indisputable and independent .
we must increase our support for Tajikistan in order to counter this activity while , at the same time , providing alternative sources of income .
I can assure you that my group will be supporting the Ferreira report tomorrow .
the agreement provides for mechanisms for controlling catches , for employing of local crews , and for a clause relating to suspension or review if cases of human rights violations occur .
that is why whereas , today , we are agreeing on three points , we actually need to agree on one thing , here , together : whether to take it or leave it .
I am happy with all the comments that we have already had on the Green Paper .
another positive feature that I would like to mention is the fact that shipping companies are playing an active role in protecting the environment and marine animals .
it would be much better to refer this back to committee and have a full and considered report in the new mandate .
frankly , I ask myself more and more what it is other than talk , talk , talk that actually happens in this Parliament and in the framework of the EU , and what , in practical terms , we have actually managed to do to improve the situation of the Roma in Europe other than talk , talk , talk .
the global challenges we all face in this constantly changing and inter-connected world are clear : climate change , demographic change , migration and energy crisis , hunger and poverty killing millions , human insecurity , international crime , topped by an identity crisis in virtually every one of our Member States .
whilst some aspects of ongoing discrimination may indeed still be a problem , to suggest that more general EU legislation is somehow a solution is , in our view , way off the mark .
as for the question from Mr Chountis , we have comprehensively researched the impact of the economic crisis on tourism and we have determined from 50 000 concerned parties across Europe that people are still going away on holiday - they are not doing without their holiday trips - but they are travelling less far , spending less money and are more likely to holiday in their own country .
I am told these concerns are shared by Poland , France , Italy , Spain and some eastern and southern Member States .
in reality , this EU budget for 2008 represents a reduction of more than EUR 9 billion in terms of payments as compared with what was agreed in the financial framework for 2008 - that is , in terms of payments , the EU budget has been reduced from 1.04 % to 0.96 % of the Community GNI .
as regards payment card costs , new costs are currently being introduced , preceding your suggestion .
Madam President , I should like to begin by thanking Mr Tarabella and all the Members who have helped to develop this report for the work they have undertaken .
that is why it seems appropriate to me that the compromise will be adopted only following the revision of the regulation by January 2013 and only following the feasibility study and reassessment of the objectives .
one crucial issue , however , will be how the next elections are held .
yes , we must bring up the territorial autonomy of the Székely people .
in this case , the language question takes priority .
the report by the United Nations rapporteur is clear . the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi would be a start for talks with the authorities in Burma on democracy and improvements in the human rights situation in that country .
though , at present , the outlook on milk is more optimistic , we need to be sure that no steps are taken that would remove the current safety nets or fail to expand the vision for milk .
that should not be an issue .
( for details of the outcome of the vote : see Minutes )
I would not be in favour of ' medical tourism ' , but I would favour a system that would help retired people who are living abroad , and those with a rare or unusual disease .
it was also my wish for us to work hand in hand with the Commission and in particular with its president , because , regardless of the divergences or differences between everyone sitting in this House , everyone is well aware that division between Europe 's institutions weakens Europe and that the duty of those who assume responsibilities is to work hand in hand .
that is my way of feeling and being European , with the admiration I hold for your country , and I hope this does not happen .
our text currently says that we call on the Council to do so , but it has already done it .
greater consumer confidence in the range of products crowding onto the market stimulates demand .
it is a very important initiative .
with regard to the review of the Human Rights Council , I obviously also support the call for an all-inclusive and , above all , transparent process .
I believe , in fact , that this would enable Parliament to assess future agreements more effectively .
however , if we look at it carefully , traffic is very difficult to shift in practice and this is only achieved in very rare cases .
we need modulation because we have new challenges and we need to bolster farmers ' possibilities to make investments in order to meet these new challenges .
the participation in elections of people who are not nationals of an EU country , and are therefore not EU citizens , is not an issue covered by Community law .
first the global approach : we should view cooperation between China and Africa from a global perspective , not from the viewpoint that Africa is traditionally an area of exclusively European influence .
historical , cultural and economic ties should provide the basis for action within the scope of the strategic partnership between the EU and Brazil .
the most important EU matters must not be scuppered by domestic issues !
however , João Cravinho , Portugal 's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation , as President of the Council , had already made things quite clear at the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly at Kigali on 21 November .
while Chancellor Merkel was at pains to stress the shared responsibility of all euro area countries for the fate of one of it members , Mr Reinfeldt took the view that Greece 's problems were home-grown and must be resolved from within .
the original proposal , if implemented , would have restricted passengers to purchasing duty-free goods only in the final airport of departure before leaving the EU .
in addition to that , consumer rights at EU level are strengthened with the goods package .
we must accept and respect this .
however , the study also states that in the research and development ( R & D ) sector , my country faces managerial , structural and regulatory problems .
many have been put forward here with regard to the fields of social policy , equal opportunities , non-discrimination , health , education , vocational training and others associated with this issue .
I would like to remind you that the eighth global Millennium Development Goal states that a global partnership for development should be established which includes creating an open , rule-based , predictable and non-discriminatory trade and finance system .
we are able to do this whilst the country holding the Presidency is in full political crisis .
I fear that in the years ahead many of the doubts voiced at the launch of the euro are going to be proved right .
it has already been proved during the last few days that facts which might be uncomfortable for Russia have been hidden , and the whole report is targeted in such a way that Poland has been held responsible for the tragic incident at Smolensk .
I note your call for sector inquiries in a number of markets .
though TB in humans has been rightly tackled with full force by the EU in recent times , the bovine form of the disease , which results in millions of euro of lost revenue each year , should be seriously considered as we draft TB legislation for the future .
in the long term , the strategy to prevent fires of this nature in Europe must be improved and we must end the reliance on short-term crisis management .
in the debate on tax evasion in the area of taxation of savings income and VAT , I would like to draw attention to the following matters .
this will enable more than 3 500 European students to go on an Erasmus exchange .
the funding of the guarantee schemes , however , is a matter for the Member States , and the structures of the schemes are quite diverse .
if the EU is not able to say it , the EU shares responsibility .
his stage was the ruins of the devastated national library in Sarajevo ; his audience consisted of a small group of people who had remained , despite the siege of the city , and who were listening to his music .
we must therefore reorient our environmental policies to create much-needed convergence with our energy policies , leaving traditional sectoral approaches behind .
too many have short-term contracts , often alternating with unemployment , and many young people - even those who are well qualified - have little chance of getting more stable contracts .
the people can repel these new imperialist plans and impose their inalienable right to determine their own future and fate on the basis of their own interests against these imperialist plans and ambitions .
but we should also be outraged at what remains disappointing , unacceptable , or even intolerable .
we come to Strasbourg and we keep this building heated and lit when we are not here - gross hypocrisy .
the hour of direct discussion with the President of the European Commission , here in plenary , has been a great success .
temporary controls are not enough .
I can only say that human rights dialogues are reciprocal : that means we also tackle human rights issues in the European Union , and we have JLS experts within the different Member States .
from Lisbon to Helsinki and from Dublin to Bratislava , the euro has proved strong and solid , even during the current severe turbulence .
this tripartite dialogue has brought us to a point where we now have a document and a text .
much of the budget , including in the areas under shared management , is disbursed to millions of beneficiaries across the Union , often under complex rules and regulations , based on the self-declarations of those who receive the funds .
it takes more than eight and a half years to renew the entire fleet of passenger cars on Europe 's roads , and this must be in the back of our minds when we adopt new legislation .
a modern system that acknowledges , in particular , the new generation 's need for mobility and offers solutions not only for the present but also for the near future .
Parliament now has a new colegislative role in the Stability and Growth Pact and it will take full advantage of that role in order to bring about a robust economic union , with a robust Stability and Growth Pact .
at the same time , Member States might be imposing congestion charges in large cities on hard-pressed motorists who have no choice .
the Verts / ALE Group will therefore vote against this report .
in this respect , I would like to tell you about a conspiracy theory that is circulating , told to me yesterday by a Belarusian businessman .
I condemn the attack on Domodedovo Airport and offer my condolences to the families of the victims .
regions and municipalities are where decisions have to be acted upon , and the environmental acquis implemented in practice .
illegal immigrants are used for labour in the process of rapidly accumulating capital , in a direct assault on the universal nature of human rights .
I cannot be in favour of the proposed budgets for this type of service with its militaristic tendencies .
there are 23 million false self-employed .
that also applies to charges .
I think not .
as far as the children are concerned , of course they want a happy mother who is not afraid that she will lose her job and who is not afraid that she will not be able to feed them or bring them up .
this is not serious .
finally , the EU can guide authorities towards solutions that are interoperable and facilitate smoother functioning of the single market .
7 .
throughout the course of the process , we could not take it for granted that this would be the case .
we will continue to review the extent to which the instruments of human rights clauses , sanctions and dialogue - all of which have been scrutinised extensively by this Parliament - can play an effective role as part of our overall external policy , whilst ensuring the highest standards of respect for human rights .
it was not easy to reach a compromise on this issue .
are you prepared , Commissioner , to support that agreement ?
these are the European Commission 's forecasts , and undoubtedly the decision to lend to Greece is making a decisive contribution to ensuring that the economic recovery in the euro area and in the whole of the European Union is both effective and lasting .
first of all , we clearly state that it will be possible to maintain a coupled payment for the sheep sector because we are aware of the fact that it is a vulnerable sector .
the situation of spouses and life partners of self-employed workers - who contribute to the activities and earnings of the business without having the status of an employee or business partner - could not be satisfactorily addressed in the 1986 Council directive .
this is one of the main requirements of the democratic transformation of Tunisia .
however , I do not agree that the Commission , in giving its opinion on the Court of Auditors ' recommendation , is turning this recommendation on its head .
6 .
the European Investment Bank is accustomed to receiving the support of the European Parliament in its various affairs , but its representatives this time have failed to realise that the codecision procedure had been brought into play and that Parliament 's competence in this matter had been extended significantly .
in addition , the European Union 's sole efforts to combat climate change cannot guarantee the success of an agreement in the period after 2012 .
this disgusting murder of a dedicated and enlightened public servant was sparked by his advocacy of reforming Pakistan 's draconian blasphemy laws .
after five elections in as many years , the population is understandably tired of all the political squabbling .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( FR ) Mr President , I must once again thank your rapporteur , Mr Brejc , because he has grasped the main aim of the proposal , which is to secure the borders , without forgetting , however , that these borders must be sufficiently flexible .
( PT ) Mr President , several colleagues from the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) have already drawn a very complete picture of the situation .
the oral question to the Commission , by Mrs Nadja Hirsch , Mrs Renate Weber , Mrs Cecilia Wikström , Mr Louis Michel , Mrs Sonia Alfano , Mr Stanimir Ilchev , Mrs Nathalie Griesbeck and Mr Jan Mulder , on behalf of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe , on the transmission of information on the cost of examining asylum seekers ' applications in the Member States - B7-0663 / 2010 ) ,
will Parliament , for example , really play what is , in theory , its strengthened role ?
thank you very much , Mr Désir .
however , we would like to emphasise that we believe a great deal of care should be taken with regard to the harmonisation of the different forms of training for the legal professions in the Member States and stress that such harmonisation does not fall within the framework of the Stockholm Programme .
I would like to ask him this : under Lisbon , we were talking about a common energy policy ; maybe he could outline , in his capacity as President-in-Office , his opinions on the improved tool kit which Lisbon provides to address these challenges in the future and the advantages of adopting the whole Lisbon approach and Treaty .
thank you very much .
I would like him to give us some clarification .
so I would like to ask the Commissioner : when you are looking at the energy markets this year , please do not forget those who live in very rurally isolated areas .
we now have new mechanisms like the Pegasus programme that can foster more fruitful dialogue and cooperation .
it should be understood that European diplomats spent several weeks debating the specific shape of the package .
the matter is urgent .
there are many things I would like to say about Macedonia and Croatia , but I am not permitted to do so .
we have problems with evaluation . we do not know whether we are forging ahead or standing on the spot .
for this reason , some of the FDP Members of the European Parliament have abstained from voting on the report .
our objectives in the Europe 2020 strategy must reflect our policy towards neighbouring countries in the Mediterranean as well as the East .
given this fact , I believe that the EU must respect and promote a key principle in data protection policies , and that any agreement or policy measure must also stand the legal proportionality test , demonstrating that it aims to achieve treaty objectives .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Mr President , on behalf of the PPE-DE Group , I would like first of all to congratulate Ms Harkin on an excellent and timely report .
if we do not make full use of the SMEs ' growth potential , if we do not make full use of their workforce potential , we will not be able to master the consequences of globalisation in Europe .
we must therefore conduct this policy wisely .
although the state held only 28 % of the company , the company was fully controlled by the Government .
Mr President , I did say a decade ago that you could not have Greece and Germany put together in the same monetary union and that it would not work .
it may be a very small issue in the context of the major challenges facing us globally today , but we in the EU have to win the hearts as well as the minds of our citizens in terms of what we do .
if you can pull them off at the end of the Presidency , I think you have done it .
( FR ) The second amendment , recital A , is as follows :
therefore , these are issues that interest me , Mrs Harms .
Mr Schmidt proposed an amendment concerning voluntary participation of non-euro area Member States in the sanctions regime .
there is a risk that the democratic process in Europe could not only be boosted but also derailed , and the citizens ' initiative could be exploited , if not hijacked , by extremists and populists .
6 .
following the amendments adopted by the Hungarian Parliament last week , the Hungarian law is now completely in line with EU legislation and provisions on fundamental rights , as the European Commission has also agreed .
are we really doing all we can , for example , to transfer modern , environmentally-friendly technology and knowledge to African countries ?
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , welcome to Strasbourg , Mr Orbán .
in accordance with the Rules of Procedure , we are going to resolve this issue in the only way that we can , which is on the basis that Parliament is sovereign .
NHS hospitals need to have a significant amount of spare boiler capacity to cope with emergencies and in case there are technical failures .
it is absolutely vital that we have comprehensive labelling and that we can trace products in order to know where they have originated from .
we would ask for maximum focus on this whole issue and for steps to be taken so that Europe can recover its credibility , including through rigorous measures .
moreover , any restrictions on broadcasters would need to respect the principle of proportionality .
the Union must create predictable conditions of trade in future that it is possible to plan around , and it must do so for every industry .
documents received : see Minutes
finally , I would like to draw your attention to two issues .
we must use a criterion which combines , on the one hand , the citizens ' drive to participate in the institutions and , on the other , our drive to give this instrument democratic validity .
however , it is important that the EU 's work to preserve biological diversity allows for flexibility and for EU directives and legislation to be adapted to national differences .
many urgent issues were discussed , such as freedom of expression , reform of the penal code , including the death penalty , as well as freedom of religion and religious tolerance , including the situation of the adherents of Plum Village .
in writing . - ( SV ) When the EU , the world 's largest donor of aid , operates in the developing world , our values must be clear .
the Commission must strengthen monitoring and annual reporting on compliance .
it is equally important to encourage the creation of synergies and avoid unnecessary duplications in terms of personnel and functions .
we should remember that it was last June 's European Council which promised the European Parliament , by October 2007 , a solution to the problem of its future composition so that the solution could be applied in time for the 2009 European elections .
we must make sure that we get this very important legislation right and that there are no mistakes that we might discover in future .
in contrast , German , French and British entrepreneurs have done this to Hungary when they did away with the sugar industry , the food industry , the canning industry and the textile industry in the country .
at the same time , we hope that CSDP assets will be used effectively to provide humanitarian assistance to the civilian population under attack and that future operations will be planned in such a way as to support the development of democracy in Libya .
given the current crisis in the sector , we believe that it is important that the fees payable by owners should not be changed in relation to the previous agreement , but should remain at EUR 35 , despite the fact that there has been a significant increase in catches per tonne : 25 tonnes for tuna seiners and 10 tonnes for long-liners .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , first of all , I would like to stress that Commissioner Ashton 's absence is not due to the post that she will take up from 1 December , but to other institutional commitments relating to her current post .
we are fighting for access to safe drinking water and sanitation for all .
the Commission intends to submit a new strategic framework for gender equality in mid-2010 which will be accompanied by a detailed impact analysis and will take account of the results of implementing the existing plan for the period 2006-2010 .
do we want governments that lie about their budgets or their deficits ?
on this too , I share the analysis of your rapporteur and Mr Vondra as regards the future challenges such as judicial reform , the fight against organised crime and corruption , and reform of the ship-building sector and bringing it into line with our state aid regime and competition policy .
there are , no doubt , many reasons for this .
I think that the reasons why a free rein has been given to cooperate with external suppliers are unjustified and create the risk of visa trafficking .
we have had this crisis , we will have others , either from large US companies , US states or even perhaps from the Federal Government .
however , it bothers me - and I am not alone in this - that EU citizens were not allowed to decide on such an important document in a referendum covering all of the states .
contact with the Taliban is an Afghani affair , but this should begin when the insurgents cease to feel in a position of strength .
my second point is that this is probably a European record in terms of efficiency , because I do not know of a major legislative package which was introduced on Valentine 's Day - 14 February - 2007 by the Commission and approved by Coreper on 13 February 2008 - one day under a year .
if we can repeat the majority that we achieved in committee , we can reach a position of completing an asylum package which pays attention to the many concerns and sensitivities across this House .
we are a single continent , and should also agree on these questions ' .
Mr President , I would like to thank you for your generosity with the time , which I have certainly noticed .
I also believe that this Authentic Act resolution is particularly important .
in Portugal , for example , this false promise costs three and a half times the minimum monthly wage .
secondly , priority must be given to the citizens ' social protection ; this social indicator , which is peculiar to the European Union , must be nurtured come what may .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , Minister , Commissioner , I admit that that is undoubtedly the new European policy .
I should like to thank you for this really good and genuine debate today .
the products that Pakistan may export are ethanol , textiles and leather goods .
he also has very good staff - as I have seen for myself over the past few months - and that will be very important for the outcome of this project .
I do think that the Union of England , Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland works , at the moment , because it has consent .
in the face of all this , however , picking up on an objection raised by many Members , including Mr Geier , Mr Turmes and Mr Cancian , I wish to say to the Commissioner that the sticking point will be the implementation , the choice of financial intermediaries , the relationship with local authorities and how their financial difficulties are dealt with .
this will be crucial to resolving the crisis .
we must make sure that they know how much they will be charged , what quality and safety standards they can expect and what rights they have if something goes wrong .
there were concerns about whether market forces would win out over services of general interest ; and that people who were concerned about patients ' rights to choose , and to travel , were being pitted against those who were asking which patients would actually exercise that choice .
Mr Casini was of a different opinion .
accordingly , we can see an increased participation of national parliaments in the preparation of documents in the European Union .
now is therefore the time to negotiate terms for the cessation of violence , demobilisation and disarmament .
it is an instrument for advanced , structured cooperation with its own legal personality which will have access to Community funding and resources from other sources .
overall , this strategy does not seem to have been very well thought out and , therefore , I have voted against it .
in both cases , the proposals to approximate rates were amended by the Council which kept only the principle of the minimum rate .
in writing . - ( ET ) I strongly support these amendments , as these strengthen free competition in the European Union , help keep prices at reasonable levels and at the same time allow consumers to exercise their freedom to change their electricity supplier any time wished .
many active ingredients are prohibited in Europe .
( FR ) Mr President , one of our fellow Members has just spoken about the issue of intergroups .
when we were summing up the contributions of the Structural Funds to individual structural operations in the 27 Member States , I was very pleased to find out that for the period 2007-2013 approximately EUR 5 billion have been allocated to culture as a whole , across the entire Union , from the Structural Funds .
( DE ) Mr President , Mrs Hedegaard , ladies and gentlemen , we are not here today to hold a discussion on the climate .
this includes people like the Chief Justice of Pakistan , and indeed Mr Aitzaz Ahsan , who is a leading lawyer in Pakistan .
opportunities and solutions to the global challenges can be found in sectors such as the ICT digital agenda , research and development and energy .
therefore , the current statistical report is very progressive and forward-looking from the point of view of environmental protection and agriculture .
perhaps we should sanction ourselves !
by adopting the report Parliament will send a positive signal to our citizens .
( PL ) Madam President , I am the Member for Western Pomerania .
it also reflects the Lisbon Strategy , as it would reduce red tape .
I am convinced we do not have the luxury of being patient , and a sense of urgency should be with us all the time .
protecting the planet and maintaining production of quality European beef mean that decoupling must be rejected .
I am sorry for those colleagues who have been waiting for this to start and , clearly , we will have to look at why we are so late in starting today .
ever since the Treaty of Lisbon was implemented , Parliament has acted with the Council in codecision on budgetary matters : by not getting any precise commitment to date on the role that we , as MEPs , will have in preparing the next financial framework and on providing the necessary reflection on new own resources , we run the risk of allowing the Council to become lord and master over the future of the European project .
we stood firm in this House with regard to the reaction provoked by depictions of the Prophet Mohammed in Danish newspapers .
by modernising goods transport logistics and promoting co-modality , i.e. combining various modes of transport within the same transport chain , we have the opportunity to increase the prosperity of the Baltic region .
Madam President , I welcome this report on behalf of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament .
Commissioner Reding said a moment ago while we were discussing Burma that there is a danger that we will becomes helpless again and fail to react against these injustices .
in truth , we must be dissatisfied with all these measures , which are sweeping .
( LT ) We must welcome the fact that for the first time , labour and employment ministers are meeting at the G20 .
( DE ) Mr President , the Commission refers to the fact that as a result of employment policies agreed with the Member States in the last two years , 6.5 million jobs have been created .
I say that it is not enough to promote self-regulation and allow a race to the bottom : we have to agree international standards of transparency , disclosure and - yes - of remuneration too .
Irish neutrality is at stake , but so is the very ability of Britain to defend itself .
I agree with the rapporteur 's proposal on the conclusion of this agreement .
the countries affected , as well as the donor countries , need to ensure that the development of the Convention is closely linked to other key development initiatives and , in particular , they need to ensure that the country concerned owns the process and runs it itself .
beginning with these considerations , the report that we have adopted aims to encourage Moldova 's economic recovery , in particular by increasing the tariff quota exempt from duties of some products subject to current autonomous trade preferences .
the fact that 80 % of Israeli citizens are in favour of Europe , unlike the Jerusalem Government , as the Adenauer Foundation has shown , also shows that even the people of Palestine , Lebanon , the southern Mediterranean and Tunisia are not entitled to move themselves to revolution ...
the rights to life , health , housing and food are at the top of the list of violations .
as regards the lifting of visa bans for six months , we agree that the visa bans should automatically be renewed if the excellent criteria introduced - the visits by United Nations special rapporteurs , for example - are not met within six months .
15 .
firm action is needed to make sure this fish stock is not depleted beyond repair .
none of the EU countries acting alone would have been or are in a position to combat the crisis .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , today we are , in fact , once again debating a proposal for the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund .
this proposal was followed by a report which evaluated the application of the Regulation .
many of us remember - some of us who are very young will know it from history - the reunification of Germany 20 years ago .
the general situation of the Pakistani economy and its level of development are another two parts of this same analysis .
indeed , European consumers rightly want to know what they are purchasing , where the product comes from and under what conditions it was produced .
this contravenes Directive 75 / 117 / EEC relating to the application of the principle of equal pay for women and men .
I would like to say a few words about reception centres , as initiated by Mr Moreno Sánchez .
this further increases the urgency of the need for reform .
these amendments do not go beyond the objectives set out in the Treaty on European Union and contribute to the need for this regulation to be clarified ; owing to these factors , I voted in favour .
it was therefore very clever of you , Commissioner , to suggest that we think about how we can help municipalities like this immediately , using the EU funds available .
the first answer I give in my report is that one procedure cannot be considered to be included in the other ; that the word ' action ' , used in Rule 121 , cannot be considered to include the qualitatively different case of submission of comments or intervention in Court .
that is why Parliament does well to draw a number of red lines .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , when discussing quality logos and mandatory designations of origin for food , we must not forget that our political decisions need to be implementable in practice .
when we think of Yemen , we think only of the problem of capital punishment for minors .
in its Green Paper , the Commission tries to establish a phased or unphased Community system of transferable fishing rights , or private property rights for access to the use of a public good , namely fish stocks .
in the context of legal migration , mention has very rightly been made here today of the need to increase our dialogue with third countries , specifically those countries which are the source of migration flows .
the behaviour of the Turkish occupation forces in Cyprus is also a real scandal .
this also means that complaints are resolved more promptly and effectively , thus ensuring that citizens can fully enjoy their rights under EU law and also that EU law is properly implemented .
so what has changed ?
I believe there is reason firstly to congratulate the negotiators , and then , of course , most importantly , to congratulate the European citizens on this result that has been voted through here today .
this is essential when it comes to combating the phenomenon of the so-called new mafias , namely criminal organisations made up of individuals of different nationalities , who establish the centre of their criminal interests , and therefore their habitual residence , in a country of the European Union .
at the same time , we have had our rows because we also play different roles and sometimes we have to be very realistic about what we can achieve and we have to fight our corners in each institution .
oil markets have ensured the physical delivery of oil , gas markets are delivering physical supplies of gas and coal markets deliver coal .
I have been listening to the debate .
for this reason it would be sensible to avoid sudden and risky measures in the air transport sector , especially in new Member States , which are only now beginning to catch up .
we are fighting in support of the rule of international law .
( PL ) The European Union 's ill-advised agricultural policy has led to a situation where the production of plants high in protein is no longer economically viable for European farmers .
you have two minutes .
the Commission 's proposal to phase out milk quotas has been watered down by means of a requirement for a review as soon as 2010 .
in this way , poor countries will be able to take ownership of their development once again , reduce poverty and compensate for the loss of customs revenue caused by the liberalisation of the markets , so that in the long term , they will be able to manage without foreign aid .
however , I believe that their coexistence should be regarded as a strength and inspiration when creating common solutions for European legislation , rather than a hindrance .
Mr President , the International Olympic Committee justified their granting of the 2008 Olympic Games to China by claiming that this would help open the country up to improvements in its human rights situation .
I can tell you that I , as a company director , have been waiting for such a concrete measure for years .
I am going to focus on how Lisbon will in my view improve EU-NATO relations .
the Internet , games consoles and computer games contain a great deal of violent , brutal and erotic content , and can also cause dependency , insomnia , agitation and eating disorders .
do you not think that the only way Europe can really continue to play a role there is to act together ?
in writing . - The EGAF is an important structural fund in the EU that enables us to aid workers that have been rendered unemployed as a result of the shifts in global trends .
I regard the approved text of the regulation as a balanced compromise , securing rights for passengers without , at the same time , representing an excessive administrative burden for transport operators , most of which are small and medium-sized enterprises .
the right to food is a basic and fundamental human right .
I am happy that the Innovative Medicines Initiative will improve research conditions and with them the chances of developing better medicines for the treatment of neglected diseases .
they made every effort to control the fire .
in addition , there are two other matters .
as they say , Rome was not built in a day .
in writing . - ( SV ) I welcome the fact that the European Parliament has finally changed its opinion and taken a more restrictive line with regard to alcohol .
the potential to provide virtual services and projects for their implementation are relevant for libraries of all types .
you only have to read the Treaty of Lisbon and its additional protocols to convince yourselves of this .
the introduction of a PMS helps the Centre manage and evaluate its impact , efficiency , effectiveness and relevance .
however , I am worried that although there have been fewer instances of maladministration , the Ombudsman 's critical remarks , in those cases where a friendly settlement was reached , did not meet with a satisfactory rate of acceptance by the institutional bodies .
I am afraid that I am very disappointed in the way that you have conducted this particular meeting .
those countries deserve it .
( PL ) Mr President , incorporation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights into EU law does not extend the scope of the EU 's competences and complies with the principle of subsidiarity , since the Charter is an integral part of EU policy . I therefore call once again upon the Polish authorities to meet their obligations and adopt the Charter of Fundamental Rights .
the debate is closed .
by voting in favour of the Peillon report , we have all acknowledged that the Mediterranean basin is an area of key importance , and that in a multipolar and interdependent world , large regional integrations , such as that of the Mediterranean , will be better positioned to cope with social , cultural , economic , environmental , demographic , political and security-related challenges .
in a nutshell , these links are vital to a region 's development .
we very much welcome Members ' contributions ; your inputs are very useful to us for our work to prepare in due course new initiatives .
my group welcomes the success of the G20 meeting .
demographic challenge and solidarity between generations (
it is a pity that the conservatives were unwilling to support some of the more ambitious proposals , but the adoption of this report nevertheless constitutes a clear call to make ecological considerations an integral part of our economy .
we support the Commission 's proposals for simplifications .
given how important patient compliance and the correct administration of medicinal products are for successful treatment , it is vital that the public , that is , the patients , have access to good quality , non-advertising information that is true , current and not misleading , in line with the Summary of Product Characteristics .
the fight against the death penalty is a question of universal justice because it touches on the essence of mankind 's humanity and determines our relations with the world .
I would urge those who are in a position to make decisions , and to pursue decisions , to ignore the conscientious objectors and get on with it .
Madam High Representative , Operation Atalanta , off Somalia , has been a success .
I would also argue that this is probably the biggest package relating to the free movement of goods since the 1992 Delors package , if you remember .
the next item is the vote .
furthermore , it is estimated that two thirds of the new jobs will be created within small and medium-sized enterprises .
my group , the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left , believes that this proposal is absolutely absurd .
I agree with the Commission that we must aim to reduce our consumption and dependency on oil and focus our efforts on promoting energy efficiency and developing renewable energy sources .
through recourse to half-truths and sometimes even lies , they try to manipulate European public opinion in their favour .
I certainly hope that the sunset clause , the n + 3 rule , will not come into play , but , if it does , there is certainly reason to look again at whether the rules for the structural funds are sufficiently flexible and unbureaucratic .
the United States can have some of our passenger data , but on three conditions .
special emphasis has been placed on the human rights aspects of this case .
and the report by Hans-Peter Martin on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European GNSS Supervisory Authority for the financial year 2006 ( C6-0049 / 2008 - 2008 / 2000 ( DEC ) ) .
the keyword is implementation , which must be rapid and effective for victims .
but how can we really achieve this when we continue to have the common agricultural policy ?
the Doha Conference in a few weeks should enable it to start moving forward again .
processes have been industrialised , and the developing countries have essentially got nothing out of it except destabilised markets .
to date , these lists have been quasi-automatically transposed into EU legislation without any participation by the European Parliament , but with the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon , the European Parliament 's approval is now required .
promoting our differences is all well and good , but making them mutually complementary is even better .
however , they can also be seen internally in countries where we are witnessing increasing inequality .
Herr Kommissar Oettinger , ich bitte Ihnen ...
we must not tolerate this , just as we must not tolerate any of the human rights and environment practices of China any longer .
any trial will , inevitably , have to be confined to a very small area .
the decision not to hand over the US workers to the International Criminal Court in exchange for military assistance undermines Montenegro 's credibility as regards its willingness to cooperate peacefully with its neighbours , and even its dedication to European objectives .
the European Parliament and the Council have carried out profitable and constructive negotiations , at least with regard to aspects concerning chemical substances .
the report underlines that concluding the FTA remains a priority .
what is more , we will also be able to mobilise quite substantial resources in a whole series of areas that could create optimum conditions whereby this process of liberalisation could in fact be made progressive , and this gradual opening up of the markets rendered useful , positive and productive .
can I just say that I was delighted that Madam Hautala , the Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights , wrote to me to say that she was pleased with the design of how we plan to deal with human rights within the new organisation .
conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Council on the Middle East peace process , including the situation in eastern Jerusalem ( debate )
I do not agree with Amendments 4 and 5 which would delay the swift implementation of the system .
all states should be compelled to make an appropriate contribution to mitigating climate change .
we need a Community response which is underlined by the principle of solidarity .
author . - Mr President , the story of Shirin Ebadi , Nobel Peace Prize-winning lawyer , the first Muslim woman and first Iranian to receive the prize , may be well known to most of us here today .
that is why , Commissioner , the Commission 's initiatives to implement a European policy of the sea and oceans were so widely welcomed .
as an initial contribution to this debate we propose an agenda based on three pillars .
the people of Europe would then turn round and ask : ' what have you done ? '
perhaps this was not true but there is a tone of voice that does not lie .
we therefore believe this is a good agreement , which establishes a new non-discriminatory basis , entails improved service to the public and to companies , is economically and socially beneficial , and encourages fair competition .
unemployment has reached 40 % , according to a report by Amnesty International .
he used hunger strikes to protest and to challenge the lack of freedom of speech in Cuba , carrying the hopes of all those who care for freedom , human rights and democracy .
I do not think that Italy is able to tackle this problem , amid other pressing issues such as waste management , employment and housing .
I would like to thank you for your very committed personal contribution .
it is therefore too early to make any preliminary assessment of the impact on competition in the online music industry .
according to recent opinion polls , more than 60 % of 15-year-olds hate Hungarians most of all and agree with the astounding , inflammatory accusations coming from leading Slovak politicians over the years .
the Greeks are going to make efforts , are going to make savings , and who is going to benefit ?
the wine sector alone employs approximately 300 000 people , most of whom live in rural areas .
I had the honour of taking it to the Presidium and we approved it .
Schengen will be discussed .
what is his position , as a social democrat , with regard to the suggestion by his national party leader and Federal Chancellor to hold a referendum in Austria ?
President Ivanov has helped to add momentum to Macedonia 's EU ambitions , and we hope his request to meet the newly re-elected President of Greece will be reciprocated in the spirit of friendship and neighbourhood relationships .
I emphasise this , and this is linked to the negative connotations of exploitation by gang masters from the organised professional temporary agency sector .
those Members who wish to keep up to date and see what is happening with this and also how your debate affects the final result should , of course , ensure that they obtain the documents that we publish .
in this statement , on which we shall vote separately tomorrow , we will both welcome 19 December , the date when the visa requirement will be abolished for Macedonia , Serbia and Montenegro , and call on the European Commission to prepare , as soon as possible , a proposal that the visa requirement for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania be abolished as soon as they have met the relevant criteria .
six years ago some of us tried to raise this issue of regulating hedge funds in the European Parliament , and the majority formed by the Liberals and the PPE systematically prevented the Socialist Group from incorporating it into various debates .
on this basis , the first answer is that we cannot proceed merely on the basis of interpretation .
in writing . - I welcome this motion and the parallel report currently with the Fisheries Committee .
publication helps to reduce ideological bias , arbitrariness , cronyism and dirty tricks .
I would also like to point out that , as is mentioned in the report , national courts play a vital role in applying European Union law .
the north African countries know Europe can be bullied .
agenda of the next sitting : see Minutes
the vote will take place on Wednesday , 11 May 2011 .
if stability is to be maintained in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in the region , however , it is crucial that the standard of living of the Congolese population is improved , that human rights are safeguarded , and that vigorous action is taken against corruption in order to establish a society based on the principles of the rule of law .
we know that some very serious steps must be taken .
ladies and gentlemen , the next three questions by Marian Harkin , Avril Doyle and Esko Seppänen were put down in yesterday 's debate .
their appeal is based on a tabloid history , a tabloid politics , which denies the nuances and contradictions which are integral to all of our political and religious traditions .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - Mr President , I would say to Mr Lauk that he may support the report that Mr Dăianu and I drafted on European supervision , but there was a lack of support for it from the EPP .
in reality , the plans have not been implemented and we still do not have fully formed structures .
I urge the Commission to be very ambitious and very strong concerning international cooperation in order to have an international agreement on tax havens and automatic exchange of information .
finally , I would like to raise the fourth question : how can intercultural dialogue be conducted effectively ?
nevertheless , we will have to continue working on various significant flaws .
the EU is an area of solidarity and inclusion , so it must do what is necessary to prevent discrimination against the Roma and to gain them the same rights as regards education , employment , healthcare and housing in all Member States , as well as states intending to join the Union .
according to statements made to the press about the global financial crisis , Mr Prodi said that he could not see the point of Europe 's position on lending .
we have to concern ourselves with creating a transparent and effective system for managing and spending EU funds .
the European Works Councils Directive has been crying out for updating for some time .
in writing . - ( DE ) I have voted against this report .
seven Member States prohibit on-line gambling , but it is still accessible in these countries .
apart from reducing the risk of unserious initiatives , the citizens ' committee offers incontestable advantages for organisers as well .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , with all due respect to the Commission and to you as a person , you have not really answered Committee Chairman Costa 's question .
I think that it is not just of interest to the international climate negotiations that , for instance , a country like China has now accepted international consultation and analysis .
furthermore , we must enhance the minimum procedural safeguards .
that is why I welcome the fact that I find , amongst other things , concern for the protection of maternity for self-employed workers here .
Mr Orbán was not involved in this at the beginning .
Prime Minister , as has been said many times , the European elections will be a significant moment during your presidency .
it is clear that the upcoming EU 2020 strategy needs to outline a clear commitment regarding gender-equality mainstreaming in all European policies .
that is what I can tell you today .
in my opinion , completion of the Single Market should be regulated by guarantees of social protection for the citizens of Europe , which is not proposed in the Toubon report , the only European Parliament contribution to the Single Market Review .
I use this term because animals , as a rule , find any motorised transport frightening .
today , we would call this ethnic cleansing , something that should , in fact , be openly rejected by all of the Member States .
but only one of the organisations consistently funded , the Mediterranean Information Office for Environment , Culture and Sustainable Development , is based in Greece .
in writing . - ( IT ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I voted in favour of Mr Costa 's report on the conclusion of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the European Community regarding security audits / inspections .
( FR ) Mr Barroso , all the same , the question was clear .
this is a burning issue in European society : what is our role and our influence ?
we support all action which intends to achieve a fair and lasting peace .
as for the political , economic and regional cooperation criteria , it has been showing a great capacity for compliance with the required and previously stipulated conditions .
in Europe as a whole , as in most countries - at least in most of the Member States - it could , should and must be more .
countries are quarrelling and negotiating about how the seabed might be divided up .
however , the centralised record of available technical equipment , as you know , is just a virtual record .
I do , however , still have doubts , serious doubts and concerns , about the storage of nuclear waste .
making the national reports public is a crucial step in getting closer to our young citizens , but also in learning from each other through best practices and from possible challenges .
the report will therefore be put to the vote on Thursday .
this is a first step , Mr Jouyet , but this step still needs to be sufficiently significant .
the ink cannot be separated easily from the paper , which means that much of today 's printed matter cannot be recycled .
our Parliament should also encourage this .
( HU ) Mr President , I have expressed my firm support on several occasions when it came to taking strong action in defence of human rights in the EU 's relations with third countries .
Woe betide those who have time and waste it !
in order to change people 's mentalities , however , there is no doubt that quotas are necessary .
there is an urgent need for financing for direct measures to record the damage and compensate the working-class families and arable and livestock farmers affected , without any change in land use , and for the burned areas to be reforested .
cohesion policies , the Structural Funds and regional policies are , and will , remain a crucial element of the European project .
( PT ) Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , as a Member elected for one of the seven outermost regions , I must inform this House of the immense concern in those regions regarding the implementation of the directive under discussion .
I believe that this is the right way to go .
there remains much to be done to persuade Member States to reform their economies and I hope that the Presidency will advocate greater liberalisation , reforms to labour markets and ensure European business benefits from globalisation .
this is also a great result for us all because the Treaty was and is the top priority for the European Parliament if we are to come out ahead and be victorious in this Treaty .
if China does not cooperate , then we need not open our gates to their imports - that is my opinion .
how is it possible for the EASA and the SLV to reach such different conclusions following an investigation by the airline revealing in 16 of their 18 Dash8 Q400 aircraft the same design error or construction defect as in the aircraft forced to carry out an emergency landing in Copenhagen ?
this is achievable - if , on top of the pledges of the developing countries themselves , the European Union were to spend 15 % of development aid on health care , including sexual and reproductive health .
the rationale behind the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund is intolerable .
as far as supervision is concerned , Mr Audy has gone over this , he knows our position ; we are completely open , we are already supervised to a large extent by an independent audit committee , by the European Court of Auditors , when we use the European budget , by OLAF and by the European Ombudsman .
however , it remains an overly-politicised body which is too dependent on Member States ' goodwill and on national interests dictated by the press and public opinion .
these are parts of a single whole that we call the economy .
it is clear from these workshops that the present crisis is not just cyclical , but structural .
in relation to this , disconnecting a citizen from the internet will be possible only in justified cases , while respecting the principles of innocence and the right to privacy , and following a fair and impartial trial .
the rights of state regulators have been increased , and a new EU regulator has been created , with the objective of strengthening independent market supervision , which will definitely benefit consumers .
if you really want to do something positive , this is it and will bring you more credit to Europe than any of your other proposals or all of them put together .
our Member States and the institutions of the European Union then need to support them by reducing the burdens they face .
it is nevertheless true that a dreadful lack of coordination between the Member States led to cutbacks in their official development aid , from 0.4 % of GDP in 2006 to less than 0.38 % in 2007 .
the data should be provided not to a European agency but rather to the authorities of the European Member State that is the aircraft 's transit or final destination .
( EL ) Mr President , according to scientific research published in the international press and , recently , more frequently in the Greek , Israeli and Cypriot press , there are large quantities of natural gas and oil in the Aegean south of the island of Crete .
we have been here before , unfortunately , with indiscriminate arrests of anyone opposing the ruling regime .
in several places these reports claim to simplify regulations and modernise existing legislation for social security authorities , employers and citizens , while being very inclusive .
we therefore urge Lady Ashton to bear in mind that the European Union has 27 Member States .
there is no information , for example , on the extent to which small and mediumsized enterprises have increased their crossborder activities .
I think research and innovation are fundamental contributions to a fairer , more redistributive and more sustainable development model , so we cannot let some factors fall by the wayside .
Mr Tony Blair is a war criminal .
I would like to ask the Commission to take action on this basis .
the European Union must boost the negotiation capacities of dairy farms , so that they are no longer subject to the dictates of the agri-food industry .
the fact that we have managed to bring the package to a conclusion today , in little more than a year , is indicative , I believe , of the very fast and efficient work of the team entrusted with its passage through Parliament .
for all these reasons , I shall be voting in favour of this motion for a resolution .
it is not acceptable that two different drivers are treated differently on the roads of one country .
the Council will decide what its position is regarding conciliation on the first six texts .
Turkey has shown the key role it plays as an actor in the region by establishing normal relations with Armenia and improving relations with Iraq and the regional Kurdish Government .
thankfully , we now have an instrument that will do that and , certainly , the credit rating agencies have brought no credit on themselves ; rather ; they have discredited themselves by their behaviour over the last couple of years and they have exacerbated the financial situation rather than alleviate it .
by way of an experiment , a mini fleet of electric cars should be created as soon as possible as an alternative to the current modes of transport .
I wholeheartedly welcome your broad support for our strategy on retail financial services , as well as the significant contribution you have made towards deliberations on a wide range of issues .
2 .
I am pleased with the smooth functioning of the ECJ .
it is not very easy to decide exactly when we should go to 30 % and exactly what it would take to go to 30 % .
some say that we have gone too far , others that we have not gone far enough .
religious freedom is a value that we must bring to the fore .
the EPP Group will pay particular attention to the business environment for small and medium-sized enterprises and will contribute to developing precise ideas on the governance of the single market .
I find , in fact , that I do not entirely agree with the work carried out by my fellow Member .
in view of the fact that the credibility of the entire European financial sector will probably be assessed according to the stringency of these tests , it would be good for the tests to be as comprehensive as possible , and for them to reflect in their stringency the actual risks the financial sector may face in the current period .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Mr President , I would like to take up what Mr Verheugen said and also answer Mr Pflüger and Mr Batten on the question of what the citizens of the European Union want .
however , the Commission has so far failed to receive any proposal in these areas .
the debate is closed .
this is all the more important because in the past , both Mr Zelaya and Mr Micheletti have made political and legal errors .
we need to help Ireland , not punish it .
average consumption in Europe is 260 kg .
the fact of the matter is that many of the countries on the shores of the Mediterranean are in conditions of absolute poverty and utter deprivation .
I believe so .
the ' exclusive ' Europe of nation states , which aspires to having European ' borders ' and ' Judaeo-Christian roots ' , is a Europe that leads to wars , in the Near East as well as in the Balkans and Caucasus , and that produces tensions , as in the Urals , Turkey and the Maghreb .
in writing . - ( LT ) The European Parliament approved the Council decision to activate the Commission pledge of EU funds to Georgia .
we are therefore dealing with advantages for every party involved - immigrants , employers and national administrations .
it is clear that the EU is giving with one hand only to , later on or straightaway , go begging with both ... hypocrisy .
they should not be allowed to get away with murder .
the Roma population 's situation is different from that of other national minorities in Europe , which is why we need to adopt specific measures concerning them .
according to information provided by the Court of Auditors , the Joint Undertaking 's annual accounts for the financial year 2009 are reliable and the underlying transactions are legal and regular .
it is very important for SMEs to have access to public procurement procedures .
I think Parliament is right to position itself clearly against these options , and I insist that its voice must be heard .
we saw very recently that the great migratory flows from Tunisia came after the restoration of democracy and the end of dictatorship .
for David Casa , rapporteur for the opinion of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs . - Mr President , Mr Casa has asked me to speak on his behalf because he is not able to be here at this time .
the united Europe is founded on the defeat not just of Nazism but also of Communism .
25,000 Tunisians cannot be allowed to take 502 million Europeans hostage , but these questions will not go away and public support for Schengen in Europe will be jeopardised .
I would like to thank Mr Barnier for assuring us that he will take this into consideration and will follow this route .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , first of all I would like to express my disappointment over the final version of the draft resolution .
nevertheless , I hope that this funding method will enable the objectives of the integrated maritime policy to be met both in the short and medium term .
two important factors determined my vote on certain amendments : firstly , the vital importance of guaranteeing the safety and health of young or future mothers and , secondly , the fact that Greece has specific legislation to protect pregnant women .
I do not believe , however , that this has been to the benefit of our consumers .
we have seen that , in recent weeks , these developments have had a very great impact on the euro exchange rate and have also led to turbulence on the financial markets .
in writing . - ( SV ) We have today voted against Mrs Toias 's own-initiative report on social economy .
finally , I would like to pass on a message to the citizens .
the French Presidency acted all the more effectively - and I wish to conclude with this - because it was able to rely on the support of all the Member States , of the European Commission and of this House .
it seems that this was an attempt to provoke an international conflict which could put the whole of Central Asia at risk .
the first is energy policy : 2007 has been a big year .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , Mrs Napoletano , first allow me to congratulate you on the work done , since it has allowed a report to be produced that is genuinely important on several levels .
so I say , ' to every cow her calf , to every book its copy ' and to every author and artist their copyright and intellectual rights .
Eastern European countries have a different view of relations with Russia and Turkey has a different perception of Iran 's nuclear programme .
I wish the Member States within the Council the wisdom they need to determine this matter !
on the other hand , Serbia 's advancement towards the EU has very much been hampered by the fact that two individuals indicted for war crimes by the ICTY remain at large .
they are crucial to the task of transforming buildings from being energy consumers into being net energy producers .
it is very often the case that constituents come to their MEPs with problems regarding their consumer rights while living or travelling in another Member State .
Mr Rasmussen , do not worry too much about the results .
if not , which countries are taking a different line , and has the Irish Government requested any opt-out in this particular area ?
streamlining procedures and standardising the criteria for awarding the label will make it more prestigious and improve the EU 's image , as well as increasing its citizens ' trust in institutions such as the European Parliament .
it is a good signal that there are many ambitious candidates for the seat of the EIT .
I do agree with that , but we should also recognise that this requires determined political leadership by each and every one of us .
should Copenhagen not result in our international partners making firm , shared commitments to take concrete action , then , as the last speaker just said , we in Europe will have to impose a carbon tax at our borders .
the future of European research will involve simplifying how programmes are implemented , facilitating access to funding , the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) but , above all , adapting our priorities to society 's great challenges ( ageing population , climate change , and so on ) .
if Brussels genuinely wants to uphold human rights , then it should intervene in Georgia with regard to possible electoral manipulation , working conditions that are the equivalent of slavery and restrictions placed on the right to demonstrate which are in breach of the Charter of Fundamental Rights .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
( HU ) Mr President , I do not speak as a Member living at the Arctic Circle either ; I only wish to warn everyone that the North Pole does not only hold economic heritage and energy heritage , but it is also one of the greatest examples of our natural heritage .
the opposition has been systematically obstructed and silenced , press freedom comprehensively curtailed , and the arrangements for the elections disrupted .
however , the basic principle is the same , and this regulation is functioning really well .
we must hope that the EU 's new flagship project that is the Danube strategy will subsequently actually be given some observable and tangible content .
I will answer the questioners , since they have such doubts : the judgment about crosses does not violate the principle of subsidiarity .
clearly , one cannot therefore say that the crisis is simply the responsibility of the banks , of enterprises , or of politicians , as some would simplistically have us believe .
the issue of the protection of human rights in the framework of the fight against organised crime and the integrity of human rights defenders are reflected in the recommendations accepted by Mexico as a result of its participation in the UN Universal Periodic Review .
therefore , they will be available .
there is no point , in my view , in solving one problem by creating 26 others .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I voted in favour of this report because I am convinced that the creation of the European External Action Service ( EEAS ) is a fundamental step , a historic step in the development and evolution of EU foreign policy .
( DE ) In the first half of this year , gas suppliers ' fuel oil prices fell by up to 40 % .
this disparate collection means that the rules are too complex , difficult to transpose into national legislation and often obsolete .
that you can stand up and boast about the fact that you were elected in secret and that somehow this gives you democratic legitimacy is the most bizarre concept I have come across in my entire life .
cooperation with our European partners is very valuable .
we would like to assure the Commission , via Mrs Wallström , of our full support , as our relationship with India is worth strengthening .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , I believe that all the wrongs committed by totalitarian regimes - whether fascist , communist or Stalinist - must be thoroughly exposed .
but I think that experience has been quite reassuring .
I am also the last person who would fail to grant Her Majesty additional time when it comes to building new coal-fired power stations .
this cost-benefit analysis is important to ensure better results and resource management .
our citizens have heard us declare that we are rescuing the banks .
the next thing we have to look into in this field will be heavy-duty vehicles and there , of course , I greatly look forward to working in cooperation with the European Parliament .
it is a mandate which does not contain the necessary clauses to focus on today 's key issues such as human rights , employment or the environment .
the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction ( EMCDDA ) was set up in 1993 , and its main tasks are to collect data on drugs and drug addiction , and to prepare and publish objective , reliable and comparable information at European level .
Mr President , some of the reasons propagated for this proposal on EUROPOL are quite bogus .
organ donation and transplantation : policy actions at EU level ( debate )
I would like to congratulate Parliament on its initiative to commemorate the 10th anniversary of our single currency here , in this Plenary Chamber of the European Parliament in Strasbourg .
Bolivia and Ecuador have also shown worrying signs of following the disreputable example of Chávez and Castro 's Cuba .
however , this report includes elements we are unable to support .
we must also encourage information and training measures making it possible to promote , transfer and incorporate successful practices .
this particular priority creates scope to continue with the innovation and new green technology that will help give us the edge at a global level .
some of these means are even suggested by the regulation .
the effect of this would be that in certain sectors of the economy wage levels would fall significantly .
I hope that this will not be watered down .
however much we aim for the horizon , we only get there by putting one foot in front of the other .
I now put to the vote Mr Swoboda 's proposition that the vote should be delayed .
these irregularities are causing serious doubts about the actual outcome of these elections .
it has to apply to the Committee of the Regions , to the Economic and Social Committee , and to the Court of Justice , whose expenditure has , of course , been rising sharply .
in the case of Romania , the proportion of rejected visa applications from Romanian citizens has dropped from 16 % to 5 % between 2004 and 2008 .
Commissioner , you must ensure that the passage falls permanently within international waters , and that the Arctic remains a permanently demilitarised zone .
the longer individual countries fight for their own opt-outs , the more everyone becomes aware that not all banks are equal and market concerns multiply .
I believe that one of the most important aspects which the Commission must bear in mind is the value of transposing Directive No 22 / 2006 into Member States ' national legislations and the harmonisation of national provisions drafted as a result of Article 19 of Regulation No 561 / 2006 .
according to high level expert advice , this mission is doable despite some considerable operational and security challenges .
this information shall be ' easily accessible to third parties , transparent and comprehensive ' .
we had economic growth in 2010 , and it is averaging 2 % in 2011 .
in the opinion of the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left , this needs to change as a matter of urgency , because the failure of Geneva and of Rome and the complicated negotiations now in Copenhagen are directly linked .
the Conference of Presidents should not have allowed this motion to go to a vote .
( SV ) Mr President , this evening , we are debating a number of measures to combat tax fraud and tax avoidance of various kinds .
Mr Almunia , I have listened to a refreshing speech from you , on which I should like to congratulate you .
we do not know what the cofinancing percentages are .
the main topic of this informal meeting is the deployment of the Intelligent Transport System ( ITS ) in the EU .
I would like to make it a condition that the directive on consumer rights should be one that consumers also understand , thus offering them protection .
at some point , Commissioner , we expect an initiative from the Commission on this issue .
in the context of prevention , I have repeatedly proposed a European-wide campaign called : ' do you know where your child is now ? '
( PT ) Mr President , the EU must be consistent in its statements and actions on the popular uprisings in Yemen , Syria , Bahrain and the other countries of the Arab world .
I am very pleased that the President of Hungary will be coming here soon .
in order to ensure minimum standards for quality certification in the Community , they must be assessed and recognised on a European scale .
so even as it stands and being part of the whole package I think you should vote for it .
it is really wonderful and it all sounds excellent .
is it for Parliament to express its opinion on the composition of the teaching workforce at all levels of school education in the Member States ?
instead , I am afraid that for a long period of time , we will have to deal with many voices , as the uniform views of the EU will be weakened not only by the permanent members of the Security Council , but also by the Presidency , which is searching for its niche after the Treaty of Lisbon .
finally , have the two governments been called on to take action to support the victims ?
no end is in sight .
many of the Member States are in favour of it , as are the Confederation of European Industries and the entire European trade union movement .
however , it is true that you also share this wish for a unified Euro-Atlantic Bloc , global governance and a global currency .
I consider a realistic budget for this scheme to be EUR 500 million , as proposed by the EP .
accession to the convention will , therefore , give the Union credibility in dialogue with third countries on human rights .
in writing . - ( DE ) The devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan and the Pacific region on 11 March 2011 resulted in the deaths or disappearance of thousands of people as well as considerable material damage , destroying the livelihoods of many people .
the EIDHR enables us to provide funding directly to civil society organisations worldwide , without the intervention of governments .
I urge the European institutions - this Parliament , the European Commission and the Council , to bring this situation to an end .
Madam President , I think lots of things have been said about the financial crisis but it is very important to have one viewpoint .
I think that that Iran is both possible and desirable and that Iran is a country we should engage with .
the legal base we have as our starting point is Article 255 of the Treaty , as has already been mentioned by the rapporteur .
these technologies will open the way to new services , as yet unseen in Europe .
all of this leads to mounting unemployment and problems for small and medium-sized enterprises and , in my opinion , we should perhaps focus on fewer issues in the future while ensuring that those issues we do focus on are implemented in full .
we all know that the Stability and Growth Pact ( SGP ) has not worked because the Member States have decided not to punish each other for any violation of budgetary discipline .
improvement has been disappointingly slow .
this applies to consumer production , of course , but it is also a requirement if companies are to be treated fairly and if false and unfair competition , which is often perpetrated by those who do not respect social and ecological product production parameters , is to be prevented from continuing to damage and distort the market , as is the case at present .
in such cases , we expect the Commission not to shrink back , but to name and shame such countries decisively , or else there will be much more trouble later .
Mr President , I wonder whether the House would agree that , constitutionally speaking , there is another interpretation of the whole idea of separation of powers and checks and balances ?
the EU should demand that these third countries take their responsibilities seriously and carefully observe international obligations and standards for nuclear energy .
media literacy in a digital world (
Mr President , the automotive sector , which provides the European economy with a significant number of jobs , needs an ambitious framework that provides for coherent , integrated measures , in accordance with the Lisbon Strategy , to cope with the new challenges .
on 17 June 2010 , the European Council unanimously decided to grant Iceland candidate status .
we are sending this message to our citizens today .
value needs to be ascribed to the role of women , their rights , equality , and public services in rural areas relating to health , education , cultural and leisure provision , social infrastructure ...
repeatedly , we put emphasis on intellectual property rights , which is one of the main problems , not only within Internet trade but also in a lot of other activities .
we need four clarities , because too much is at stake : we need a clear and ambitious political stance ; we need a clear commitment ; we need a clear path and clear deadlines ; and last but not least , we need clarity on financial support .
we cannot consume more than we produce , nor can we spend more than we can collect .
the intention is clearly to prepare professionally for the June Council and the measures which can be taken , both at national and Community level , regarding the employment situation .
in my report on food labelling regulations , I will refer to the part of the regulation on novel foods which concerns labelling .
at the moment , many shops do not send goods to all EU Member States , and our transactions are often terminated .
I have listened carefully to all your comments , and I think this input is very useful in our efforts to arrive at a truly effective production of animal welfare .
we have strengthened these rights even more .
the European Consensus on humanitarian aid is major step forward .
the problem does not only arise there , the problem arises in particular , and I would even say above all , in the relationship between Europe and its own societies and industries in developing countries .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection . - ( SV ) This report demonstrates that taxation is a sensitive issue , and I respect that .
one of the targets that was included was how much the Member States should invest in research and development in terms of a percentage of GDP .
speak in your mother tongue , if this is possible .
funds are needed for energy efficiency and for energy interconnections , and by the coordination of national stimulus programmes we will align national efforts in this direction as well , in line with European Council conclusions .
deep-water coral can be found off the west coast of the country .
I also think it is right that when it comes to the admissibility of a petition , it is not the chairman of the committee who should decide .
we believe that without budgetary consolidation and structural reforms , there will be no chance to promote our objective : a social market economy .
in addition , through the dispute settlement provisions , we are reducing the policy space for India , and for the EU and its Member States , to introduce , for example , new environmental legislation .
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you will know that I am speaking here in particular of carbon capture and storage .
much of what has been said will happily be considered in the next six months .
as I also said during my hearing before Parliament prior to my appointment as Industry Commissioner , this is my vision - a broader vision - which stems from a concept that is part of the Treaty of Lisbon , namely , the social market economy .
we also have a responsibility for them , as they have been the victims of an unparalleled catastrophe : first an earthquake and now a cholera epidemic .
IMI will also make improvements to knowledge transfer at universities and in business , and to the involvement of smaller companies in European research .
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if systemic risk is to be truly dealt with , we need to stop looking in the rear-view mirror and start focusing on the road ahead .
that said , despite good progress , much remains to be done .
it is an issue for Europe if fundamental freedoms are interfered with and called into question in a Member State of the European Union .
the latter , by the way , is one of the key priorities of my colleague Commissioner Kuneva .
in line with the Commission communication on the budget review and the conclusions of the fifth report on social cohesion , the Europe 2020 Strategy provides both a clear set of common priorities and the framework for identification of funding priorities post-2013 in line with the objectives of smart , sustainable and inclusive growth , including human capital development .
we would stress the warning that this incorporation of the EDF into the EU general budget must not lead to an overall reduction in development spending with regard to the two current finance instruments .
that is also true within this House , and today 's debate has shown that it is not always that easy .
it provides more clarity , because various provisions regulating the same issue are often spread over different legal texts .
in the current economic crisis , boosting food production may be one solution .
the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union backs up my opinion .
I think that that is not really the point .
we must however bear in mind that Russia does not have democratic traditions . the short period of democratisation that begin in 1864 ended in 1917 with the establishment of Soviet Russia , a typical totalitarian state , led first by Lenin and Stalin and then by their disciples , that was the very negation of democracy .
both the UN Security Council and the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna have adopted a series of resolutions requiring Iran to take the steps necessary to build confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of its programme .
we are in urgent need of more effective data collection and more intensive research , since only once we know what is actually going on will we be able to make the right decisions for the future .
this more robust and demanding approach shows that the European Union recognises how closely interlinked the Member States ' economies are and how policy choices in one Member State can have an impact on the others .
what is important to note is that many of the problems that we are talking about have existed for some time , so only a few points need to be emphasised here .
it is them we should hold responsible for arranging shelter in the region , not ourselves .
this thinly veiled threat requires some explaining on your part , when opinion polls show that the vast majority of Europeans would have voted in such a referendum had it been an option in their respective countries .
the current negotiating texts must be made available to Parliament so that it can supervise the agreements and possibly offer suggestions to ACTA participants .
a time of financial and economic crisis is an opportunity for the European Union to prove itself as a useful , necessary and effective framework for our economies , and in particular that European institutions are the right and effective tool for our economies .
secondly , there are a few unresolved issues in Basel in relation to the liquidity standards that need to be addressed to keep us up-to-date .
however , if we do not adapt it in accordance with the new challenges in the strategy , we are collectively running a great risk .
we have seen that we still have a lot of lessons to learn and a lot of catching up to do in many areas here .
the debate is closed .
the last drought , in 2007 , affected over 80 % of the homesteads from my region , Ialomiţa .
1 .
this would be a highly laudable aim if it did not , in reality , consist in preparing these non-European countries to access the European labour market .
but we need the playing field to be level , and I hope , with the reservations I have outlined , that we can conclude our work on this dossier based on our first-reading position and get back to the most important issue of providing a reliable , regular and affordable postal service to our citizens , and to recognising the important work done by all those postmen and women throughout the European Union .
relations between the European Union and Mauritania are very important for the European Parliament .
( PL ) Mr President , thanks to the Lisbon Treaty , Europe can take up challenges which extend far beyond the internal problems of Member States .
however , there is a need for the European Commission to then take specific actions to respond positively to these problems .
by 2030 , the world population will have expanded by such an extent that we will require a 50 % increase in food production to meet anticipated demand .
without ambitious targets , to be adopted immediately , the biodiversity loss - this has already been stated more than once , and also reported by the WWF - that will occur between now and 2050 will cost Europe EUR 1 100 billion .
finally , I will finish by pointing out that this decision is all the more incomprehensible as the European Commission has decided to counterattack the WTO over the decision of its Dispute Settlement Body on hormone-treated beef .
however , no global agreement can be reached if no one is willing to lead this worldwide effort .
the figures reveal the need to monitor individual Member States to ensure that they tackle employment issues with an increasingly balanced , flexicurity approach : this means new jobs , but also better conditions for workers in general .
thank you .
Mr President , the Arctic is definitely changing .
nowadays the economic and social development of peoples is inseparable from scientific research , technological development and innovation .
the Commission is aware of this court decision and was informed by the national regulatory authority , IBPT , that , following this annulment , it had launched a national consultation on a draft decision resetting mobile termination rates at the same asymmetric level as in its previous regulatory decision of 11 August 2006 .
although a majority in the committee voted for the Commission proposal to award Pakistan these exceptional preferences , in fact , the Committee on International Trade also voted for several amendments aimed at limiting the impact of these trade advantages awarded to Pakistan , including , inter alia , the adoption of a safeguard clause , in case imports from Pakistan increase too much because of the reduction or removal of trade tariffs .
last year , we adopted a resolution in which we asked Libya to abolish capital punishment .
the following amendments have been proposed :
this level of schizophrenia is quite beyond us .
the European Parliament should speak for the ordinary citizens of the European Union .
this is what happens in any European countries where this occurs .
however , when we give money to African governments , as the Commission now does under something called ' budgetary support ' , we should also insist that budgetary support given to African countries be scrutinised by their own parliaments in a very rigorous way and that the financial agreements signed between the Commission and the African nations are open to public scrutiny and transparency in the national parliaments of African countries and the ACP countries .
equality in remuneration is necessary , as is proper payment in jobs that are dominated by women because of their psychological and physical predispositions .
not surprisingly , it is very important , in my view , that we continue to monitor the situation in Honduras very closely to make sure that we are aware of what is happening and to take the necessary measures and provide the support to try and get to a peaceful solution to this crisis as quickly as we possibly can .
we are now entering a new era .
now an application has been made to the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) for a contribution of EUR 549 946 to help those affected .
for this reason I , like my group , am against the articles in the Lynne report that call for a framework directive , a horizontal directive .
the Indian air traffic market is currently among the fastest growing in the world .
it demands an increase of 100 % in the de minimis aid ceiling from EUR 30 000 to EUR 60 000 , which is to be used to fund fuel subsidies .
I therefore welcome this resolution , which takes a tough line against signs of intolerance in Lithuania and makes it clear that the EU institutions will not sit back and allow Lithuania to pass laws that discriminate against a section of society .
subject : action by the Commission on copyright
this , in fact , was what our discussions on geographical balance were about , and not , as some mistakenly think and understand , guaranteeing fixed quotas for Member States .
I believe that this is a considerable incentive and a common sense gesture that could help to relaunch the childcare plan and a plan for services for children and families throughout the European Union .
we are very happy that Slovakia , the United Kingdom and - at the last minute - Luxemburg , which we did not know about until yesterday , have expressed a wish to join this programme in recent weeks .
furthermore , by introducing simplified procedural mechanisms and , in particular , by reducing the time it takes to place new products on the market , the new regulation definitely favours innovation .
written Statements ( Rule 142 )
all these aspects are clearly of fundamental importance in building states that will be genuinely capable of serving their people , and it is obvious that you can play an important role here .
this approach , which is for the profit of big business , is damaging to the needs of the peoples and workers , as well as being disadvantageous for the industries of the EU countries with the weakest economies .
the speedy implementation of these tools is crucial for the wellbeing of the elderly , but is also crucial for the national economy , for the national budget , and it has great economic prospects .
but our general line should be one of confidence .
I therefore fully support the so-called principle of the three ' NOs ' : ' no ' unnecessary bureaucracy , ' no ' new institutions and ' no ' new or additional funding .
it is a sad fact that in the current era , this problem is highly topical , and the statistics unfortunately do not indicate that it is in decline .
I do not think we will get a true and accurate report if there are no international representatives involved in the inquiry as opposed to being observers .
that should also send out a signal for the coming programming period , perhaps to universities , which , in the final event , also have concrete effects .
colleagues , I am sorry we are not taking comments from the floor .
in this deep crisis , making choices that dilute the responsibilities of stakeholders or assume perfect cooperation between the regulatory authorities may really lead to incongruity .
we have seen severe floods , and also the fires in Greece and southern Europe last summer , and no amount of solidarity funds can actually meet the damage and the cost which we are seeing as a result of these climate-change events .
woman is a great person in our land , and she is dignified , whether she is Jewish , Christian or Muslim , although she probably faced injustice because of men .
needless to say , I am delighted by this measure .
in the short time we have available , I want to raise three important points .
I find this voluntary arrangement to buy back milk quotas counterproductive . I believe this not only because this arrangement will initially mean that we retain a quota increase which it will then be very difficult to rein back in .
thank you , Mr President , and thank you in anticipation to the President-in-Office and the Commission President for their answers to my questions .
( FI ) Mr President , hopefully we will soon conclude the cooperation agreement between the European Union and Russia .
we must not fail .
( BG ) Mr President , I would like to congratulate the rapporteurs for their work on this particularly important subject .
I therefore believe that it is right and particularly important to note that an environmental impact assessment ...
first of all , the employees themselves .
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the arguments in favour cited , such as traffic safety , the environment and a reduction in the administrative burden , hold no water whatsoever .
if we bear in mind today that certain businesses use state-of-the-art vehicles but pay their drivers EUR 400 per month , whilst other businesses pay EUR 1 500 a month , it strikes me as more than reasonable to say that the social bar needs to be raised somewhat .
the local government in Vilnius has implemented this decision - the Polish street names in the region where most residents are from the Polish minority have been removed .
the detailed analysis mentioned earlier is currently under way and I cannot predict what the results will be .
Parliament is going to demand this on behalf of all the workers of Opel Europe .
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I hope that the Energy Charter will be able to play a fundamental role together with the enlargement of the Energy Community , in particular , in relation to transit countries , including in the field of renewable energy sources .
that is why this is also a key issue , in order not give privileges to investors from outside the European Union .
at this first conference in the Algarve , the Council feels that the debate should be focused on the most pressing issues and only on these , with a step-by-step approach to these issues .
that will act as a strong incentive for innovation and renewal ; it will also allow for major exports to emerging countries , where there is a great demand for fuel-efficient cars .
we are all aware of the potential and crucial role the common agricultural policy has in achieving environmental and climate targets , in providing public goods and also in attaining the EU 's food security targets .
often , in fact , those who suffer the violence of trafficking not only suffer injuries , but also the insult of being incriminated for doing what they were compelled to do , prostitution being a typical example .
for instance , this year the Regional Development Fund made decisions for the recovery of almost EUR 2.3 billion from the Member States - provided there are no other corrections , but this is a process where , last year , we were much tougher than previously ; still , you must understand that we are talking about errors .
instead of subsidies , it gets repayable loans , which , as their name suggests , have to be repaid .
in future , we must improve our procedures .
on 14 April 2011 , the Commission adopted a proposal for a decision on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) in favour of Belgium , with a view to supporting the reintegration into the labour market of workers made redundant as a result of the global financial and economic crisis .
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even at the beginning of this period , the subject of energy efficiency and promoting renewable forms of energy was an important point .
the United Nations now has a disaster prevention plan for coastal regions and it is that world-wide perspective that is so very important .
it is now a matter of how this plan is implemented .
in fact , as stated in this report , Montenegro has been making a number of reforms , particularly the creation of a new legal and constitutional framework , and in the fight against corruption .
political parties at European level are a nonsense .
foreign adoptions also take place in my own country of Poland .
that is why we will vote against this and the other reports on fiscal surveillance .
this discussion is particularly important for finding ways of avoiding a repeat of the financial and , ultimately , economic crisis that hit the whole world in 2008 .
only a longer-term view coupled with planning measures can help us to achieve greater financial savings .
well , it basically says that you get your money back or you can exchange your product within two years , if the contract that you made with the seller does not fulfil those criteria .
yet why did you not do more ?
what will happen to CIP when the common strategic framework for research and innovation is developed ?
( the Minutes of the previous sitting were approved )
I am critical of the EU 's response in 2009-2010 to ' swine flu ' , the H1N1 virus .
in this respect , therefore , I am arguing that the creation of a specific ' ' Climate Change Fund ' ' or a dedicated budget line would significantly improve the EU 's capability to effectively address climate change issues from a budgetary and financial perspective .
by Mrs Ford , on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs , on the proposal for a Council directive on requirements for budgetary frameworks of the Member States - 2010 / 0277 ( NLE ) ]
in this case , too , a good example has not been set .
as is the case with the financial crisis , only integrated action can be effective in combating the effects of globalisation .
it is an improvement in terms of efficiency : we get more qualified majority voting , we get a legal personality , we get a great deal more on external relations and good stuff on justice and home affairs .
but what we are asking for is reasonable transparency .
to put it simply , we have the same person performing the task of Javier Solana and Benita Ferrero-Waldner .
I have been a long-time supporter of the Commissioner for her long-term vision for the future of the industry , and I would encourage her to go down that path , which is long-term strategy , not short-term reaction .
the Stability Pact needs to be dispensed with in order to prevent the cost of accessing public health services increasing , medicine prices increasing , even for chronic illnesses , and support for patient transport to treatment and healthcare appointments being removed , even in areas where there is no public transport , all in the name of the need to reduce the budget deficit .
unlike the author of this report , I believe that the problem affects not just illegal migrants from third countries , but also millions of citizens of the European Union who do occasional work for wages which are not taxed and from which the employers do not deduct insurance contributions .
we have made significant progress in recent days , but we cannot today guarantee that there will be an agreement including new WTO-compatible trade arrangements with all ACP countries .
hedge funds have been granted almost total freedom to operate by the majority of this Parliament .
the rapporteur admits this , but nevertheless chooses stubbornly to concentrate on the negative aspects that the absence of a parent seeking an income abroad can entail .
the instruments proposed by the European Commission in the development of the Frontex Agency , namely state-of-the-art border surveillance systems , technical equipment and rapid intervention teams , are undoubtedly opportune .
I would instead like to put resources into research , education , information and innovation with regard to how to prevent the effects that climate change will have on our forests .
they are not mentioned anywhere in the report .
mass unemployment , poverty , the abolition of national collective agreements , drastic wage and pension cuts , higher retirement ages , the abolition of heavy and unhealthy professions , higher VAT , grassroots incomes slashed by 25 % in the private and public sectors , public corporations being sold off and an escalation in autocracy and the savage suppression of the working class and grassroots movement .
- ( PL ) Mr President , I have no doubt that the good of the workers and safety at work are issues dear to the hearts of each of the Members taking part in this debate .
in any case , you will also be aware that the decision as to whether or not to accept a prisoner from Guantánamo is naturally up to the Member States .
rapporteur . - ( SV ) Mr President , let me first make two brief observations .
( DE ) Madam President , there is no reason for me to explain how my group 's voting list is put together .
the next item is the statements by the Council and the Commission on preparation of the Summit of Heads of State or Government of the euro area ( 7 May 2010 ) .
here , we talk a lot , we make promises , we debate and we vote on resolutions ; but what is happening in practical terms for the people of Africa ?
it must continue to abide by the Ohrid Agreement , especially as far as the Albanians and also other minorities in this multi-ethnic country are concerned .
in writing . - Without any doubt , since the accession negotiations started , Croatia has made decisive efforts to comply with the requirements of the acquis communautaire .
it called for particular attention to be given to further developing the European Union 's rapid response capability , based on means made available by Member States , including civil protection modules , and to work on the Commission 's proposals on reinforcing the Community 's civil protection capabilities .
I would like to draw attention to the fact that although the Commission planned to create new jobs and implement the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy as soon as possible , in the field of employment and social affairs there are no specific proposals on the creation of new and high quality jobs in the Commission 's programme for the coming year .
exchange of personal data should be regulated by a standard code of practice which is easy to understand ; its role must be to provide reliable protection which guarantees respect for people 's basic rights .
the second reason for the successful outcome is that those in favour of the Treaty ran a better campaign than the last time when the referendum was rejected .
I have to say that I would have a little more respect for the remarks that he made if indeed the EFD Group had bothered to send a single representative to any of our trialogue meetings or to any of our shadow meetings to make the point that they are fond of quoting on behalf of small businesses .
the Greens are against making the European Electronic Communications Market Authority just a club for regulators funded by them , lacking transparency and without sufficient controls or the right of veto on the part of the European Commission .
this requires optimum infrastructure in rural areas when it comes to education , further training , schools and childcare , as well as unrestricted access to modern information technology .
I hope that this proposal will be adopted quickly in order to guarantee better management of our Schengen area as soon as possible , and thus to ensure the security of our common external borders .
the pharmaceutical industry has an important role to play in the promotion of literacy in the area of health , but this role should be clearly defined , and participation by the sector strictly regulated , in order to prevent commercial considerations from leading to an excessive consumption of medicines .
the next item is voting time .
tax fraud and evasion result in poorer GDP results to the tune of around EUR 200 billion a year .
mere education and responsibility are not enough even in the western world .
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this is a fundamental aspect of the Lisbon Strategy .
this is the only way we will be able to achieve sustainable growth in Europe and resist the ever-growing pressure of globalisation .
as far as my group is concerned , that is really going much too far .
a further important issue involves improving society 's awareness of the adaptation measures by involving the mass media and the citizens in environmental issues .
since its introduction in 1988 , the financial framework has brought budgetary peace and predictability to Europe , providing a reasonable time horizon for our regions , farmers and researchers to prepare and realise their projects .
the Commission now has the same responsibility concerning its intervention in the Gdansk case .
on behalf of the S & D Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , if one listens attentively to the speeches of Mr Van Rompuy and Mr Barroso , one might be reminded of a famous German song whose words go something like ' All hands on deck , but the ship is a wreck ' .
adjustments do not need to be carried out immediately ; we do not expect Member States to adapt railway stations straight away .
before the start of accession negotiations , Turkey had made huge steps towards reform and the EU recognised this accordingly .
we must also help Russia to meet its objective need to avoid being trapped as a possible oil- and gas-dependent power , while we have to achieve our independence from an energy point of view .
there is a city in Latvia , Daugavpils , where more than 90 % of the population is Russian-speaking .
sludge catastrophe in Hungary ( debate )
in particular , I believe that we need to introduce market control mechanisms and pay greater attention to the content of the bilateral agreements concluded with third countries , such as in the recent Mercosur case .
the remaining 96 % of the world 's population will not only take their bearings from Europe .
in the last three years alone , more than 90 workers have lost their lives in Tuzla , victims of lethally harsh working conditions .
therefore , how do you want to ensure that the EU 's alternatives can be considered in future ?
the management approach will enable our companies to report publicly , with the same structure used internally , thereby reducing the burden of reporting .
indeed , we know that we cannot achieve these objectives without parliamentary support , both from the European Parliament and the Euromed Parliamentary Assembly .
in writing . - ( IT ) I wish to put on record my vote in favour of the report by Mr Cercas on the implementation of the social legislation relating to road transport .
we have much to do at EU level if we really intend to reach the targets we have together committed ourselves to , i.e. to reduce emissions . it is a matter of will , and because we have decided the matter together , all nations must together make an effort to ensure that these decisions are carried out .
one of the people who plays a role in your new offers appears on this diagram .
international judicial cooperation , collaboration among all agencies for protecting minors and those campaigning for human rights , setting up specific funds for providing compensation , and effective protection for victims are all areas which need to be strengthened .
it is Rule 20 that gives me the power , but I am going to ask the House nevertheless .
so this type of expenditure is conducive to growth and jobs .
President-in-Office of the Council . - Mr President , I should like to thank you for a very constructive and helpful debate .
however , they can also have an impact on human health , animal health and the environment .
( CS ) Ladies and gentlemen , according to a recent public opinion survey , 76 % of Czechs do not want to have Roma as neighbours .
this manifests itself in the economic sector in Russia 's need for European Union investment and technology .
trade in seal products ( debate )
I am voting for this report and welcome Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen area .
the purpose of Amendments 72 and 73 , therefore , which we have tabled once more to the plenary , is to ensure that residents ' signatures will be included in the 1 million signatures requesting the Commission to take action .
I have not even received a response as yet to a letter I wrote before the trialogue on 13 November - which is very strange , very disconcerting .
it is healthier than bottled water , it tastes better and it is much , much cheaper .
for this reason , I have voted against this amendment .
we have to understand that it is really one of those moments where there is some higher plasticity and then , when we can make a real change , these are moments when we know that today 's decisions will have a decisive impact on tomorrow 's reality .
I was told that ' We have no other choice .
after the embargo and the NATO bombing - and the Serbs have Mr Milošević to thank for both of them , not the democratic forces which are in government today - young people now face another intractable problem , namely Kosovo .
it is not a solution to do what the Spanish Government suggested when they offered asylum to the starving prisoner .
it is our duty to ask ourselves how resilient and safe the nuclear power plants built on our territory are .
for this to be successful , I agree with the good management measures relating to administrative resources and cost reduction plans , whilst adapting efficient and environmentally friendly technologies .
they will control the radio stations , they will control the television networks , but they will not control Sarkozy , that is true .
so what are we to do now ?
this is an important factor when it comes to equality of opportunity in employment and family life .
the amendments proposed by the Council introduce two new elements : the first one introduces and allows Member States to regulate or strictly prohibit , for other reasons than those related to safety , the inland waterways transport of hazardous goods on their territory .
I belong to a generation that experienced food rationing and the need to hoard food in order to have enough to eat .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I personally was in Darfur and I was also in neighbouring Chad with Mr Ribeiro e Castro and I can therefore fully support what he has said .
in addition , I voted in favour of the Museum of European History project being scrapped , not because I find such a project uninteresting or unimportant , but because I do not believe that such a project should be set up by Parliament with funds from its own budget .
in writing . - ( FR ) I welcome the EP resolution on the Gaza Strip .
there are no reasonable grounds for changing anything in this essentially proven practice .
we have to focus on renewables .
in order to diversify women 's employment in industry , it is vital to provide every opportunity for training and retraining .
we have often criticised the fact that the economic pillar is overvalued compared to the other two .
some of the 39 suggestions were implemented at the end of 2009 and the beginning of 2010 .
since it may become a very significant phenomenon , we have to define , very carefully , what health tourism means .
those responsible for this delay , and the advocates of this approach , which has placed Europe in a situation of extreme insecurity and recession , include you , Mr Barroso , you and the majority of your Commission .
to run such an operation , SMEs are de facto forced to found a company in the target country . this process , in view of the fact that there are 27 different legal systems in the EU , clearly generates huge costs .
the level of unemployment that we are seeing today in Europe has not yet reached its maximum .
where coordination takes the form of an international agreement , participation of the European Union as a Party is necessary to the extent that the agreement covers matters falling within the Union 's competence .
the current situation is particularly alarming for livestock farmers , pig farmers and producers of fruit and vegetables .
the situation of women in rural areas is extremely hard , especially in the new Member States , and we must be constantly and actively concerned by this .
thirdly , what will you do to achieve a stronger social profile and a stronger plan for young people in the new post-Lisbon strategy ?
I am a Swede , so I may be a little subjective on this issue , but I think we all have a reason to be proud of what we have achieved during this period .
the Azores have set more ambitious specific targets than the EU , with results that are already recognised at a European level , particularly with regard to geothermal energy , through an ambitious energy policy of partnerships between the region and the best national and international research centres .
our position could not be any different when the Nobel Committee announced on 8 October , entirely independently need I point out , its decision .
I would also like to point out that perhaps there is a fundamental misconception here : this report is not concerned with and takes no decision on prolonging aid payments to tobacco producers ; it is merely a question of voting on a report which advocates prolonging the financing of the Community Tobacco Fund .
I find it very difficult to see what is pragmatic about taking away the opportunity for people in the 27 Member States to decide for themselves the population makeup of their own countries .
for our partner countries , there is a lot of commitment , but I believe that one important factor is the loss that results from illegal logging .
at this point , I would like to thank all my colleagues on the committee , but also my colleagues on the partner ITRE committee , who were actively involved in the drafting of this report .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
I would like to make that very clear .
why not use it ?
as the previous speaker said , it is important that this instrument is not used to regularise irregular situations , but should serve as a clear message that illegal employment can no longer be tolerated .
will it be prohibited for the Queen of England , as has already been mentioned , to be the head of the Anglican Church ?
the European Union must make it a long-term goal to be able to ensure that men and women have the chance to gain dignified and productive employment , in conditions of freedom , equality , safety and dignity .
you will be aware that these talks began in Geneva on 15 October under the auspices of the European Union , the United Nations and the OSCE .
since that time I have had many meetings with the leaders of Tehran .
it is dependent on its northern neighbour , and it is dependent on aid , whether from Europe or from surrounding African countries .
the technical expertise of the companies themselves is much to be admired , but for too long they have ignored the contribution their products are making to the threat posed by climate change .
this is of course a classic example of the Commission 's recent failure to keep abreast of things .
in some countries this is done through legally imposed minimum wages .
it expresses a major responsibility and a strong commitment for this House and our communities .
harmonise that message !
it is also that of the citizens of States that are facing temporary payment problems to make sacrifices , to participate in the collective effort to get public finances back on track and to accept the reforms that are necessary to achieve this , however harsh they may be .
if we really want to pursue this difficult goal , however , we know that a new international treaty is absolutely crucial .
only then can an accelerated procedure be carried out .
what would happen if the German lament and specific interpretation of human dignity were applied to Alsace and Lorraine ?
it is also clear that we need an industry-restructuring plan .
this results in red tape , lack of information , confusion , violation of the fundamental social security and social rights of employees , who are caught in the middle ; an à la carte Europe , the way the neo-liberals and the large corporations want it , with a single currency but no coordination or harmonisation of the social and social security rights of employees .
I therefore welcome the call for the Commission to put forward new proposals to encourage an improvement in these results .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , Mr van Nistelrooij once said that this was about defining the ' fifth freedom ' .
Mr President , Commissioner Hahn and Commissioner Andor , ladies and gentlemen , I am pleased to see you seated here together .
we do not want to return to that , but one of the main problems I see at this moment in time is that , while the farmers have taken a drastic reduction in what they are receiving for their milk , consumers are paying almost the same as they paid before .
all the efforts made by the Commission , not only in this dossier but in others that the Commission has worked on - the whole issue of blacklists , and of gradually improving and implementing security measures - are , I believe , essential .
however , when the criteria used to collect data focus exclusively on race , ethnicity or religion , they should be considered discriminatory , and thus illegal .
( FR ) Mr President , pursuant to Rule 150 ( 5 ) , on behalf of the Green Group I would like to request a roll-call vote for Amendment 2 .
we therefore stress that effective monitoring is urgently required in countries where such situations prevail and that measures need to be taken against such illegal practices as a matter of urgency .
the progress of both areas of negotiation is to a large extent interlinked .
social Europe should be an area that unites us and not divides us , because we are talking about common European interests .
in February 2008 , the Cuban Government signed two legal covenants from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the United Nations in New York .
the Member States should be compelled to exchange important information immediately - this is included in our proposal .
the exploitation does not just apply to those from outside the EU : we are also exploiting our own citizens .
the reform of the IASCF governance currently being contemplated represents a step change in the accountability of this body to public authorities , something this House has repeatedly called for .
thanks to the Treaty of Lisbon , Parliament has gained additional powers and corresponding responsibilities , and must now monitor the conduct of negotiations and the conclusion of air agreements more closely .
this directive only reinforces health inequalities between Europe 's citizens , as only those who can pay health costs in advance will be able to choose quality services .
I should like to move on to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia : as Mr Meijer stated in his report , this is the only country with candidate status since 2005 which has not yet commenced the accession negotiations .
this would mean that , when docked , ships would be encouraged to use a land-based electricity supply .
they come in the usual way .
to summarise , Mr President , I believe that we are actively engaged in making a reality of the numerous commitments that we have made in the framework of the partnership and we hope in this way to work for greater security in the world as a whole .
we tend to talk a lot about the green society , but a green society also needs to include green transport and we have clearly not completed our work yet as far as that is concerned .
in other words , wherever we can avoid wasting money under certain policies to enable that money to be used for EU policies , it is very important that we should do so .
as has already been mentioned , the world 's population has grown , and a large part of this is now due to a higher standard of living .
why the big rush to get the Lisbon Treaty ratified across the 27 Member States ?
this is the actual reality .
I call on the Commission to take its share of the responsibility .
the status quo is always the easiest option .
we are concerned .
both groups must be able to rely on the support of the existing contracts .
first of all by observing that men suffered more redundancies at the start of the crisis - that is to be expected given the impact on heavy industry , in particular - but recent months have seen unemployment of both women and men grow in the same way and at the same rate .
therefore , I am concerned that the positive trend will not continue next year .
it is , however , of great importance for the European Union and the development cooperation policy of the Member States to complement and strengthen each other .
given that our competitors are getting stronger and advancing dynamically , and that to fully exploit its advantages , Galileo needs to reach full operation capacity , the project would require additional investment , as indicated by the rapporteur .
( SK ) I was unable to vote for the Mrs De Keyser 's report for the simple reason that I do not understand what the European policy on planned sexual and reproductive health means .
because it was ...
does the Commission agree with this assessment ?
Mr President , today we debate and deplore the evil of the sexual exploitation of children .
if we consider , against this backdrop , how the partnership agreements should now be shaped , the real needs emerge in the areas where Ukraine still has the difficulties I have listed .
women 's involvement in politics needs courage but progress made by women in developing countries is progress for us all .
as of 1 January national and international freight transport has been open to competition .
I fully agree with the rapporteur on this . I should also like to point out that many countries prohibit parking vehicles with pressure vessels in enclosed spaces , especially underground car parks .
hence his appeal to the international community - and thus also to the European institutions - to recognise Islamic extremism as a key explanation for the explosive situation in Nigeria , particularly in the case of Jos , which lies at the crossroads between the Muslim north and the Christian south .
that is why the European Commission has proposed a mechanism of bilateral loans managed by the Commission .
the economies of Europe are strongly linked .
Mr President , we live and work in a global market economy , and we cannot expect to put in place legislation which interferes with that .
both options require the despatch of troops , but the first is oriented towards the people , and the second towards the war with , in the background , the risk of a catastrophe .
nevertheless , we do support Amendments 1 and 9 from the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe and the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance , which call on the EU to do more en route to Mexico .
they arrested Ms Petrova at her home in front of her parents and two small children .
I voted for this report , as industrial policy is a priority for the Europe 2020 strategy and the main driving force behind the European economy .
for these reasons , a debate in the presence of the European Commission could provide national and local institutions with a lot of useful information about how much the European Union will be able to do .
two thirds of the deportees were women and children who were sent to Siberia for approximately 10 years .
it is also not at all necessary .
the Lithuanian law is inadmissible , as it is absurd and homophobic in nature .
in writing . - I abstained on the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement between the EC and Morocco .
Mr President , just one observation : man does not live by bread alone - strengthening our common values is also important .
both sides must acknowledge this and it is actually rather sad that we are in a situation where we cannot progress .
this has therefore made it necessary for us to have instruments at EU level as well , to help us make decisions about the energy sector .
( PL ) Mr President , in view of its roots , Europe has a particular obligation to protect all Christians throughout the world .
we have to use all the levers at our disposal in an intelligent way , recognising that each one has an impact on all the others .
active vocational training projects are among many measures which can be applied to assist workers and regions which are dependent on the fishing industry .
the Commission intends to follow up these issues through existing instruments and in cooperation with other donors .
in a nutshell , this depends on a strong Europe , a goal also expressed in the motto of the European Council 's Hungarian Presidency .
so the question remains : where is the policy ?
firstly , current legislation is lagging far behind Parliament 's ambitions as set out in the report of my predecessor Albert Jan Maat , who , to my mind , was right to draw a distinction between animals intended for slaughter and other cattle .
in my opinion , a real soft landing requires more of an increase than 1 % .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , it is both an honour and a pleasure for me to speak in your House today for two reasons : firstly , because your Parliament represents the heart of European democracy .
the report by Mrs Mathieu , on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control , on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Food Safety Authority for the financial year 2008 ( SEC ( 2009 ) 1089 - C7-0194 / 2009 - ,
would the EP agree to negotiate under those conditions ?
the European Parliament presented a united position among political groups , who had as their common interest to make maximum use of the new competencies conferred by the Treaty of Lisbon , especially to this House , both in terms of political control and financial control of the EEAS .
first , we very often content ourselves with condemnation and making ineffective visa bans , which are ridiculously weak instruments .
at least part of the purpose of this resolution is to urge some action by the European Union , not least in paragraph 2 , which urges the Commission to offer financial and technical assistance to the Indian Government .
in relation to proposed amendments specific to health-care-associated infections , we welcome the provision for adequate protection for health-care staff .
we have published various reports on the subject , including in the previous parliamentary term .
I do not wish to start a debate , as I am sure you understand .
this motion is primarily about empowering the Commission to adopt delegated acts .
finally , I would like to express my great respect and recognition for the women who had and continue to have the courage to speak out and demand justice , and for the organisations like Amnesty International that are supporting them on this journey .
as a result of continuing battles , supplies of food to the camps are interrupted , and refugees are left to vegetate in terrible conditions .
government intervention will not stop it , and if regulations are too tough , it will either force this segment of financial services to move outside the European Union or to find new , as yet unregulated forms .
this will be a very difficult task .
I do not understand .
it will then remain for the provisions of this convention to be actually implemented , which will not be easy , but let us consider nonetheless that the approach is positive .
in November 2005 , MEPs and Member States adopted the Mining Waste Directive .
Mr President , thank you for your personal involvement in the issue of the release of political prisoners in Cuba and may I ask you once again to urge the Cuban President , on behalf of the European Parliament , to immediately release all Cuban dissidents .
this is a dangerous precedent , since Kosovo 's footsteps have been followed by South Ossetia and Abkhazia , among others , who have already announced a desire to break away and a desire to declare independence .
Madam President , I would firstly like to thank the rapporteurs , Mrs Lambert and Mrs Bozkurt , for their detailed and painstaking work , as well as for their outstanding cooperation with all the shadow rapporteurs and for their efforts to make good use of our proposals and of our contribution .
a key exception is the case of individuals with rare diseases .
thirdly , even if it sometimes seems that we are slow , I think that basing ourselves on the industry proposals , and on support for industry , is crucial because that makes us strong .
doubt and uncertainty form the basis of scientific work , and of getting it right in this case .
Mr President , it is estimated that 3.2 million European citizens are diagnosed with cancer each year , and , as the European population ages , current trends would indicate that the number of citizens diagnosed each year is likely to double - unfortunately - over the next 20 years .
unfortunately , however , we very often advocate making donations to states which choose later on to accept direct foreign investments from China .
therefore , we should avoid making life unnecessarily complicated for these people .
we rejected the motion by the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance , which sought to specify accession , as we did similar motions by the Socialists in previous years .
European citizens need such correct and exact statistics .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
with your policy , you have signed the death warrant of our wine growers .
obviously , there is a shortage of staff . that must be dealt with .
if we do not do this , we risk being irrelevant in the process of closing Guantánamo .
their inclusion in society is a very important issue which concerns all the Member States in general and Greece in particular where , according to studies ( by the EU Fundamental Rights Agency ) , 35 % of Roma are illiterate and just 4 % have attended school for at least ten years .
I voted in favour of this report .
I fully share these objectives , in particular the need to stop violent radicalisation , protect our critical infrastructure , support victims , improve exchange of information between national authorities and cooperate with all appropriate stakeholders .
it is also necessary to pay particular attention to the notion of " energy poverty ” and to the national definition of this notion , among other things in order to ensure , through the mechanism of public services of general interest , a minimum amount of energy in winter for people below the poverty threshold .
the second concerns the ban on advertising prescription-only drugs , because it is important to draw a distinction between generic and non-generic drugs , not only from the viewpoint of information to be given to patients but above all with regard to compliance with good practice in the manufacturing of active substances , particularly outside Europe .
Commissioner , let me be clear about this .
the second point we need to look at in regard to governance is of course the balance between those bodies .
it is self-evident : investment in health care reduces maternal mortality .
I call for the immediate and unconditional release of all peaceful protesters , prisoners of conscience and human rights defenders , both Egyptian and those from other countries , as well as journalists and jurists .
( the President cut off the speaker )
in writing . - This grants the Secretary-General of the Court of Auditors discharge in respect of the implementation of the Court of Auditors budget for the financial year 2009 .
we must also remember how important it is that our smallest brothers and sisters are well treated .
we should therefore support it unreservedly .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to start by expressing my gratitude for all the words that have been said about the report that Parliament is tabling on Alzheimer 's and other dementias .
finally , turning to the last part of the question , when considering the priorities for funding in each research sector , the topics to be funded are specified in the annual work programmes and the call for proposals .
after all , as my colleagues have already said , there is no such thing as left-wing extremism .
for all of these reasons , I am voting in favour of this motion for a resolution for an EU strategy for the Danube Region .
if we go down this route , then the entire issue will simply be put on the long finger indefinitely .
yes , we must increase Frontex 's resources at all costs .
they include Mrs Riera , Mrs del Castillo , Mr Cramer and Mrs Matias .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Mr President , the promotion and development of heritage sites in Europe is a necessary and welcome project which deserves our full attention .
it is incumbent on the international community to redouble its efforts to find a solution .
the electoral fraud and the attacks on the opposition have not been forgotten , and we are following developments very closely .
we will now have to take the time necessary to organise a genuinely constructive debate , addressing all of the associated issues while enabling everyone to voice his or her opinion .
with regard to the situation in North Africa , we must ensure that the action proposals put forward by the Council will guarantee a peaceful transition in this region and that the new organisations will assume power democratically .
on the issue of allocation keys , i.e. what is known as ' relative stability ' , as I said before the Commission is not bound to transfer relative stability from one agreement to another or from one protocol to another .
as regards the specific issue of the prevention of road accidents involving children , in particular in school buses , it should be noted that very significant progress has been achieved during the past decade with a decrease of 70 % in the number of fatalities involving children younger than 15 years of age .
it is with great pride that I must say that the Committee on Legal Affairs has thoroughly investigated a problem that my fellow Members know is difficult .
the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region was endorsed during the Swedish Presidency .
furthermore , we are dealing with the subject in a week in which we in France have buried two innocent young victims of Islamic terrorism , who were killed on the Niger-Mali border a few weeks ago .
it is very important that we take responsibility for the future , and that children and young people remain at the core of all our plans .
you add in flexibility , when this is merely Eurospeak for ' insecurity ' .
not only will they not respond to alternative points of view , they cannot even bear to listen to them .
that concludes the vote .
so disputed elections , for instance , led to months of street protests .
let me just kill off this association agreement discussion , which is why I kept shaking my head .
it is therefore clear that , given the current environmental debate and in order to reduce petrol costs , a reduction must be achieved .
we have done our best .
if they go out of business , jobs are lost and the facility for passengers is also lost .
moreover , given the resources , both human and financial , made available to the political groups by the institution , clear representativeness also seems to me to be enough to justify this change .
for a total of 5 985 redundancies in 858 companies , Italy is requesting a financial contribution of EUR 38 158 075 .
the authoritarian tendency of the Chávez regime is extremely worrying and I think that we must not be afraid to say so .
in reality , though , all this goes far beyond the elections because , for several years now , the Nepalese Government , under pressure from the Chinese authorities , has been placing ever more restrictions on the freedom of expression of Tibetans living in exile on its soil .
taken literally , this report would make it impossible for the EU to negotiate any meaningful FTAs or , for that matter , complete the Doha Development Round .
unfortunately , assisting spouses do not form a large and united target group , their status is not regulated in any Member States and their work is not recognised .
every month we find that young people sent by the Romanian Government for training provided through the programme initiated by the social democrats in 2004 are released by the administration or a job cannot be found for them , even though they have all the experience and desire required to make an effective contribution to the system .
( LV ) Ladies and gentlemen , the artificially provoked famine in Ukraine , or genocidal famine , is one of the greatest crimes against humanity in world history .
I would like to congratulate everyone who contributed to this draft report which we are debating today .
these could cover , for example , the operation of an airport situated in a border area , waterways common to two or more countries , or cross-border bridges and tunnels .
we have identified a second problem - and it has already been mentioned today - namely , the issue of deforestation .
redirecting Europe towards a green economy and industry will create jobs , open up new avenues of research and , last but not least , reduce every state 's expenditure .
none of this is true .
the EU-Russia strategic partnership must - as was said before - be based on common commitments in the area of human rights and democracy .
work on the 2011 budget is under way . one subject of discussion is that Parliament could make amendments to the financial perspective 2007-2013 in areas such as ' competitiveness and cohesion for growth and employment ' .
I am all in favour of the equal treatment of men and women in the eyes of the law .
I have had my doubts since the start and have criticised the system of bilateral loans , but that does not mean that I do not hope that it works and stops speculation against the euro .
but it might be good to have some sort of perspective on the events and the developments we are going through , because we have also seen 25 years of unprecedented and unique global economic growth that has made it possible for more than two billion people to leave poverty .
we must maintain Europe 's competitive edge for Europe 's businesses and especially for its citizens .
Mr Adamou 's report is strangely ambiguous on these issues .
I look forward to working with the French presidency to meet the ambitious timetable , because Europe needs us to meet that timetable .
let us halt the ratification process now .
what Commissioner Georgieva said to us about ' people-to-people contacts ' is important .
admittedly , some African countries have already embarked on some promising initiatives with the help of the international community .
I believe that the pressure being exerted to abolish the death penalty in the 43 countries which still include it in their national legislations must become a priority in the European Union 's policy for promoting human rights and , in particular , as part of the work of the new European External Action Service .
there are also serious firms who use the best technology and operate in accordance with the law .
labelling may not be an instant solution , but , over time , it is proved by the US experience that it has an effect and brings down foetal harm .
this is so important that I have chosen , despite everything , to vote in favour of the alternative proposal for a resolution .
it is not a favour granted by whoever holds power .
I am glad that they have .
rapporteur . - ( ES ) In order to take into account recent legal decisions , I am tabling this oral amendment , which I will read out in English :
to conclude , just one sentence .
on the other hand , it omits : the militarisation of the EU within the framework of NATO ; the liberalised single market with its free movement of goods , capital and services in which competition is paramount ; Economic and Monetary Union with its euro , its European Central Bank and its Stability Pact ; and the liberalisation of international trade as EU policies and objectives .
ladies and gentlemen , Europe , as the ancestral home of culture , cannot continue to do nothing in the face of these problems that make it suffer .
I would like to finish by calling on the Council to adopt without further delay the Regional Convention on preferential Pan-Euro-Med rules of origin .
Parliament also welcomes the fact that the Authority has increased its number of thematic papers and policy briefings .
I welcome improved coordination of economic and fiscal policy in Europe , but strongly oppose the short-term vision under which this is being imposed .
although we essentially support the principle of the free movement of the Union 's citizens , we do not believe that people who have entered Europe illegally should be able to enhance their rights through marriage .
the European Union cannot have a credible strategy of labour protection without providing financial support to the Member States .
approximately 2.3 million people have found refuge in neighbouring countries , chiefly Syria and Jordan , but also Egypt , Lebanon , Turkey and the Gulf States .
this money will also contribute to improving the local capacity to reintegrate returnees into the local social and economic environment .
we think that more efforts must be made in this field .
it is making a significant contribution to security and to normalisation .
dates of forthcoming sittings : see Minutes
finally , previous rights have been rescinded and the Commission has been asked to report on the likely impact of extending the regulation to commercial transport using vehicles with the appropriate design and equipment , intended to carry up to nine persons including the driver .
in writing . - ( LT ) I agreed with the EU-Canada Air Transport Agreement .
the challenge now is to be consistent .
this is crucial for overcoming existing barriers at the national and EU level .
the aid that the European Union is allocating to Portugal and France following the storms in February 2010 is good news .
the report by Mr Leinen , on behalf of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs , on Parliament 's new role and responsibilities in implementing the Treaty of Lisbon ,
it has an economic dimension ; there are large numbers of people who make their living from the sea and who work there .
this is the wrong approach .
I should like to encourage Korea to support EU proposals for the faster and reciprocal abolition of import duties .
the conditions for organising an initiative , which Parliament wanted to be flexible ( a million people from at least a quarter of the Member States , which equates to seven countries today ) , will give citizens concerned all they need to request the Commission to propose a new legislative text .
the lack of a European patent hinders our competitiveness , as well as European innovation , research and development .
what is up for debate ?
this current debate is very important , and I feel that Commissioner Frattini , the Agency for Fundamental Rights and the European Parliament must monitor all extremist incidents closely .
parliaments are the motors of democracy and political parties are the fuel .
it is also a major step forward for small and medium-sized enterprises , because they need to become more competitive , particularly now during the economic and financial crisis , and this type of energy package is the right approach to dealing with this .
we will also delay the adoption of measures to protect public health and the environment , as the current Parliamentary term ends in a year 's time .
one cannot claim to be the world 's leading policymaker with only EUR 50 million .
instead , it makes sound and thorough preparations and then takes measures that will actually result in change .
it is also true that the ' Space ' Council of 22 May 2007 was in line with the political continuum of this framework agreement .
in writing . - ( FR ) On the basis of the report by my excellent friend and fellow Member Ingeborg Grassle , I voted for the legislative resolution approving , subject to amendment , the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation ( EC ) No 1073 / 1999 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office ( OLAF ) .
Mr Provera , on development cooperation immigration , you make an important point , which is that , if people feel they have no other choices , then they will take risks , often with their lives , to leave the country where they live and were born and want to live .
we have already guaranteed a unilateral 20 % emission reduction by 2020 , and we are committed to increase to 30 % if comparable efforts are made by others according to their responsibilities and capabilities .
they are people with rights , but also with their own personal stories .
this makes me tell what steps have been undertaken .
if Croatia continues to implement all the reforms necessary for the completion of the acquis communautaire , then from next autumn the European Union will have a valuable addition to help increase its wealth and ensure geopolitical balance between East and West , starting from the Mediterranean region and the north-east of Italy .
this is particularly the case given the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon .
before the vote on paragraph 30 :
each year 80 000 people die from passive smoking .
we need a new international economic architecture .
this is an important Citizens ' Europe issue , especially in the recession .
at the top we find , for example , the health care service , the police and the royal family , and lower down come the politicians , trade unions and the evening papers . at the very bottom are the European Commission and the European Parliament .
an important success of the Treaty is the agreement on a common energy policy , with emphasis on improvement of the internal energy market , guaranteeing safe supplies , energy efficiency and savings , developing renewable sources and improving network interconnection .
by means of a precise description of tasks , banks can once again become servants of the real economy , where the European Central Bank can act as a guard dog .
there will be no more blue card questions in this debate .
anyhow , the figures which Commissioner Barrot quoted a moment ago once again suggest that international relationships are far more likely than national ones to end in divorce .
will we , I wonder , be able to persuade developing countries of our good intentions by proposing that we finance the climate change endeavour from money that we shall take , to a disproportionate degree , from shipping and which , as a percentage of GDP , will encumber developing countries more than developed countries ?
you yourself said : ' for a victim of terrorism , the greatest danger of all is to be forgotten .
the debate is closed .
women play a crucial role in the socio-political , economic and environmental development of rural areas .
according to recent studies , driver-assistance systems could prevent up to one third of all serious accidents if all drivers used them .
special derogations were also permitted for remote rural areas and islands , like Orkney and Shetland in my own constituency , for instance , where longer journey times are unavoidable .
this is completely understandable .
on the other hand , a prior full assessment of the impact of the measures proposed has not been conducted by the Commission .
we have created this with our report .
I therefore have discretion .
the Turkish authorities are understandably trying to engage the United States as well as the Iraqi and Iraqi-Kurdish authorities in their efforts , with some signs of progress recently .
historians say the Roma came to Europe between the 5th and 9th centuries AD , and many European nations have been looking since then for a way to coexist with the Roma in the best way possible .
just 15 years ago the country in which I was born disintegrated in a number of bloody wars which lasted for almost an entire decade .
competition is exactly what ensures consumers receive not only low prices but also optimum quality .
thus we start from the same premise if Amendment 4 is approved , namely that we have a policy on the banning of discards but that its implementation is dependent on the conditions in each individual fishery .
my own country , Scotland , has one of the worst health records in Europe .
we should take note of the great culture and history of this country .
we in the Commission , like you , are interested in a viable industry that can operate without state intervention and without state aid and compete on its own merits .
as rapporteur for the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs , I appeal to you that we take a responsible outlook and vote for a logically sound and consistent document .
it is particularly important to ensure that social protection systems serve as a springboard into new jobs , and not just as passive safety nets .
the presidency is also aware of the widely-shared consensus among the Member States that short- , medium- and long-term solutions be adopted without delay that would prevent similar situations from recurring in the future .
instead of talking about employment security , understood as maintaining existing jobs and types of work , then , we should talk about something else , namely ensuring access to work ; access to work that exists now , at this moment in time .
the earthquake , which had a magnitude of 8.0 and left the Sichuan plateau in ruins , caused the deaths of 50 000 people and rendered millions of survivors homeless , not to mention the economic damage caused .
in order to prevent this , it is necessary to follow medical instructions .
based on this aspiration , it is recommended to start examining the conditions for direct individual membership and the participation of natural persons in the party 's internal operation and even in the party 's management .
I believe that improving these enterprises ' access to capital can play a key role in boosting the European economy and combating unemployment .
however , I strongly disagree with the rapporteur 's assumption that the Treaty of Lisbon significantly deepens democracy in the EU , giving citizens of the Union , mainly through the Parliament , a reinforced power of scrutiny of the Commission .
feed imported from third countries is not subject to such rigorous checks as European feed , and so we cannot be 100 % sure of its quality , or know the exact origin of the raw materials from which it is made .
this EP resolution follows a series of worrying events such as the adoption of the Law on the Protection of Minors against the Detrimental Effects of Public Information , the attempted prohibition by local authorities on holding equality and gay pride marches , and the use by leading politicians and parliamentarians of inflammatory or threatening language and hate speech .
unfortunately , those developing countries do not have sufficient financial resources for the purpose .
the Treaty of Lisbon has brought foreign direct investment ( FDI ) under exclusive EU competence .
for this reason , I supported this report , which calls for the current situation to be changed .
the EU is an area of solidarity , and the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) is a part of that .
it would be a rather difficult task , Mr Chairman , to take away a function from these authorities which has only just been allocated to them , and this would also cast doubts on the credibility of our railway policy .
one last remark : if we really must use coal , then let us at least promote the technology for cleaner and more efficient conversion of coal into gas .
the region needs improvement of the infrastructure , more investment , and adequate measures to protect the environment because of its high industrialisation and its transformation into a transfer zone for raw materials in the energy sector .
at international level , the main uncertainty is the outcome of the Doha Round negotiations conducted by the World Trade Organization , where any agreement seems a far-off prospect .
24 .
I should make it clear , moreover , that the Commission has not withdrawn its 2008 aid for Nicaragua - EUR 20 million have been distributed , including the emergency humanitarian aid - and everything that had been earmarked for this year will be paid insofar as the conditions inherent in each project are met .
we should do this particularly in highly industrialised areas .
a regulation that would protect non-discriminatory access to transport by bus and coach ;
I , too , am in favour - and I am also speaking on behalf of my group - of the introduction of the strict segregation of food production from the production of other products to prevent such mix ups from happening .
furthermore , with regard to complaints , the carriers must set up and activate a system for dealing with complaints relating to the rights and obligations referred to in this regulation .
it would be really disgraceful if we were to simply wait to see what happens in Egypt .
on the other hand , despite its positive points , it is unacceptable that this text makes no reference to the fate of workers in the Kaesong free trade area , as our rapporteur wanted , and I deplore this .
the Lisbon Treaty lays down a legal framework for participatory democracy .
the dictator of the Soviet Union , Joseph Stalin , wiped my homeland and the other Baltic countries from the map .
in spite of the European Parliament 's efforts , the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Development has not solved the problem of how SMEs approach the funds provided to support their research , development and innovation activities either .
the way we do it , of course , is that we are the guardians of the Treaties , and that also sometimes restricts our capabilities or our capacities to act .
I hope the Commission understands that it is trade , not aid , that offers the best route to economic recovery .
in small towns , people very often close their eyes because they do not want to speak about ' soft information ' that they have , and are perhaps afraid to pass it on to the authorities .
in my opinion , it is a question of money , as Mrs Malmström and Mr De Gucht have said .
we need to have clear criteria during the planning stage to prevent any country from being penalised because it is precisely at the planning stage when inadequate and ineffective allocations are made , which subsequently have an impact on citizens ' quality of life .
more specifically , concerning the voluntary partnership agreements , there are many positive elements : we greatly appreciated the negotiation efforts and , in particular , the involvement of members of civil society in Cameroon and the Republic of the Congo .
Madam President , I should like to make this point to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative : Europe 's foreign policy currently lacks leadership , boldness and Community method , and this at a time when the Union has more foreign policy instruments at its disposal than ever .
I should like to ask the Commissioner if he raised this issue last week during the first round of negotiations in Buenos Aires .
its services were used by a wide range of customers .
I am not sure whether terrorism is , as the report states , the main threat to the security of the citizens of the Union , but I agree with Mr Deprez that it is definitely one of the main threats .
the EU 2020 strategy calls for large-scale cross-border investment to underpin the EU 2020 flagship actions and develop smart , upgraded and fully interconnected infrastructures .
Solidarność and the 1956 Hungarian Revolution signified freedom , while the events in Temesvár ( Timişoara ) , along with the personality and spirituality of Pope John Paul , represent the power of faith .
I think it is important for transport in Europe and important for us all .
this is yet another missed opportunity for Parliament and the European Union .
a toy is something more than just another form of goods - it shapes a child 's thoughts , helps it to develop , impacts on its education - which is why I am calling for the Commission , when it reviews the Toy Safety Directive , to bear these things in mind too .
it is also crucial that the Commission change tack and focus on a number of smaller targets which are measurable and tailored to individual Member States .
how can it be that the over-indebtedness of our States is more acceptable , more tolerable and more bearable than that of households or businesses ?
( HU ) As draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , I welcome the result of the vote .
CCS technologies could also be used in industries which generate large CO2 streams as a waste product , for instance in pig iron smelting .
this is part of the Thessaloniki Agenda and a cornerstone of our integration policy for the Western Balkans .
this sharing of the financial burden between the different partners is based on a very long experience with the promotion programmes .
I am the rapporteur on the application of the Free Movement Directive .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , at the outset , I would like to thank the rapporteur , Mrs Paliadeli , for a very comprehensive and clear report , and the Ombudsman and his staff for their tireless efforts at eliminating improper administration and raising standards of administration in the European Union .
there was a conference just a few weeks ago in Brussels with civil society .
( PL ) Mr President , the European Union must speak with one voice on such important matters as freedom , democracy and human rights .
2 .
I voted in favour of the report on ' Better Schools : an agenda for European cooperation ' .
in fact , I requested the Commission to present , by June 2008 at the latest , after examining all options - including of costs related to environmental protection , noise , congestions and health - a generally applicable model , transparent and comprehensive , for assessing all external costs , which would define and act as a basis for the subsequent calculation of charges for using infrastructures .
I think it is good news for our colleagues .
nevertheless , I acknowledge that the time taken for reaching this decision was excessive , even if it was due to the failure of the third party to respond to the Commission 's proposal .
( NL ) You know it , we know it , the UN Human Rights Council is one big farce .
we have been entirely consistent for this side .
this contravenes the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child that sets the minimum age to 18 years for minors , as well as the Fourth Geneva Convention that requires prisoners to be held within the Occupied Territory .
the economic and social problems arising from the gas crisis are now being followed by ecological problems .
through a series of events and initiatives , our Parliament provides a forum for the exchange of ideas between citizens from different cultures and communities , and between citizens of different religions and beliefs .
the Commission has invited the Member States to appoint a SME representative - ' Ms or Mr SME ' - to monitor the implementation of the SBA at national level .
the shareholders and bank managers should pay the price for bankers ' bad management .
in writing . - ( SV ) By and large the content of the report is positive , but it is hypocrisy to speak of social responsibility , local economy and equality while at the same time seeking to ensure that procurement rules prohibit such things from being taken into account .
energy efficiency is one of the most appropriate routes .
we must now bring it to life .
on the other hand , however , members of the opposition are being re-arrested , and many of the released prisoners have had their rights restricted .
we do not agree with having United States military bases in the European Union .
we all want the future for rail transport to be rosy , but we disagree rather on how this is to be achieved .
( HU ) I welcome the Commission 's proposal that our research framework programmes should go through a simplifying process .
if it is now in trouble , it has no one but itself to blame for the incorrect and short-term choices it made in the past .
conventions in the House make it impossible - or at least not customary - for a proper answer to be given to the President on tongue-in-cheek contributions from Group Chairmen .
the next demand is to get the European Union 's neighbouring countries , at long last , to begin modernising their fleets , especially their tankers .
Transnistria is committing serious violations in the areas of democracy and respect for human rights .
thousands have sustained injuries as a result of physical violence used in the process of patriotic re-education .
obviously I regret this sectoral approach , but we , in the Socialist Group in the European Parliament , have for so long been denouncing the exclusively repressive nature of European policy regarding immigration and calling for a legal immigration policy worthy of the name that I feel it is important to validate this first step .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , let me congratulate Mr Ebner on his report .
moreover , they want to impose all this through economic governance , against the will of the peoples .
in writing . - ( RO ) I would like to make a remark on the NATO Summit , which recently took place in Romania , and on the implications of the decisions adopted on some Union issues .
in writing . - The Fine Gael members of the PPE-DE Group , Mairead McGuinness , Avril Doyle , Gay Mitchell and Colm Burke abstained in the final vote on the Lynne report on ' Progress made on equal opportunities and non-discrimination in the EU ' .
the answer I will give to that comes , in a way , straight from my heart .
I would like to finish with those words and to call on the Commission to begin work on the revision of the General Product Safety Directive very soon .
fight against homophobia in Europe (
this will be the report by the President of the European Council , Herman Van Rompuy , on the recent European Council summit .
so I feel that , by accepting it as a fundamental human right , this may create the urgency to ensure that all citizens of the world have access , above all , to clean fresh water .
about 40 % are expected to involve intermediaries investing in Europe and about 60 % in Central and Eastern Europe .
how can they be replaced ?
this latest report introduces a new element which the Committee on Petitions of the European Parliament applauds .
this revision of the directive would also include solvency rules for pension funds .
you have given these three countries an opportunity .
I am particularly supportive of paragraph 32 , and I thank the rapporteur for supporting my amendment on the fact that the European Year on Volunteering in 2011 will be an ideal opportunity for EU institutions to connect with citizens .
in my own country , the Scottish Government has taken positive steps to improve the nutrition within public institutions such as schools and hospitals and such initiatives are to be encouraged across the EU .
help for victims and their families is not only a moral imperative .
we must , of course , accept the principle of self-regulation and the structures of the European model of sport governing the organisation of sports events .
however , you will also be faced by the struggles of the workers , of women and of young people , as is already planned in Portugal for the coming weekends , in particular , the demonstration by the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers ( CGTP ) in Lisbon on 19 March .
( PL ) I voted in favour of adoption of the resolution because , as a representative of my electorate , I cannot accept that anything should be agreed behind their backs and against their will .
the risk of serious accidents in European Union waters is high and Europe is , quite simply , not equipped to deal with the devastating consequences of such an accident .
if we understand innovation to be the practical application of research and development work for products , services , design and methods - in other words , anything where a practical application is possible - we still see a huge potential to create additional growth and additional employment in Europe .
in other words , there has been nothing about a break with capitalist policies ...
the doctrine applied over the last 20 years has failed spectacularly .
however , the decision on the allocation of national funds to cultural institutions belongs to Member States , and no Community competence allows the Commission to influence such choices .
we must call on Serbia to act quickly to introduce a proper environmental policy in respect of energy , as well as water treatment and an integrated waste cycle , so as to prevent organised crime from getting its hands on this sector too .
in training , in the use of their acquired knowledge , women continue to suffer discrimination , which means that there is still no equality in the education and training systems .
a very unfair impression has been left here by these three cases .
for example , if you ordered something on-line to be delivered to you in Dublin and brought from Strasbourg , clearly there would be some additional postage and packaging costs etc .
the total fines imposed during that period amount to just over EUR 5.2 billion , 95 % of which has been imposed on cartel participants .
in other words , it is quite early on in the process , but I welcome many of the proposals and look forward to our continued cooperation .
the specific proposals we have for the revision of the General Product Safety Directive are , naturally enough , largely oriented towards consumers .
such a result can be achieved , for example , through the introduction of a system of knowledge vouchers such as that currently in use in a number of Member States , enabling SMEs , in particular , to improve their research capacity without compromising the independence , autonomy and public character of universities .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I understood I have only two minutes , but I wish this talk could be much longer .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( PT ) Mr President , I would like to begin by congratulating the Commissioner and the Commission on this initiative , which surely offers a new opportunity in response to the problems of the outermost regions and their people .
at EU level we must continue to improve our supervisory arrangements for cross-border supervisory financial institutions .
here I must stress the role of local governments , since it is mainly they that run schools .
I therefore hope that my fellow Members will approve the compromise , and that we will take this important step towards optimising the internal market in one reading .
for example , in the middle ages , childhood was not recognised as a phase and children were seen as small adults and it can be said that the concept of childhood essentially developed in the Enlightenment , the period of Jean Jacques Rousseau and his novel Emil .
the report contains an extensive list of issues that must be settled . it will not be possible to achieve a compromise on all of them in the short term , due in part to cultural and social differences .
nor should they be able to make moral judgments on who qualifies as a couple , and who does not .
that is the only way we can pursue a competitive Europe .
I am looking forward to more debate with you , now hoping that this can pave the way to your favourable opinion on our proposal in the vote tomorrow .
I welcome the fact that the European Parliament appraises the annual report of the European Investment Bank ( EIB ) , albeit from a distinctly bird 's-eye view .
but , if we did not listen before , we should listen now .
11 .
in its communication , the Commission refers to universities and colleges being given real autonomy .
- ( FR ) Mr President , the report that we will vote on tomorrow represents the conclusion of a year 's work and negotiations dedicated to the future of the common agricultural policy and of our farmers .
( HU ) Mr President , in recent years Hungarians have been beaten up in the streets of Slovakia , Serbia and Romania , simply because they have been speaking in their native language - Hungarian .
according to Global Witness , in 2008 Africa exported USD 393 billion worth of petroleum and minerals , which corresponds to nine times the total amount of aid that the continent received .
following the accession of the Czech Republic to the Schengen Information System , Czech citizens were told they had free and unhindered movement within the territory of the EU , including Germany , just as the Schengen System anticipates and guarantees .
if all the players involved approve this recommendation , this will ensure the conditions required to harmonise the principles relating to environmental protection and animal welfare with the efficient operation of the internal market .
this is particularly important for the countries of Eastern Europe , in which spending of funds allocated for this purpose is lower in comparison with other strategic areas .
cohesion policy is a result of the solidarity principle .
the European Parliament has clearly taken this phrase to heart since it is getting rid of all those who dare to bother it with political views that are deemed not to be sufficiently federalist or pro-European for its tastes .
the point is that the new Ukrainian Government is more pragmatic and open to reforms than was expected .
you cannot carry on forever getting deeper and deeper in debt .
so she had actually been excused the death penalty but was subsequently hanged .
if they are helped , they will deliver .
a large percentage of those without work in rural areas are women under the age of 34 .
of course , there have been significant improvements but there are also significant gaps .
what you propose would be a bit like the automobile industry reducing or abolishing the Christmas break and organising an extra shift to increase the stockpile of cars .
we also need to look at some of the practices we have inherited from previous generations .
as for biofuels , it is a provocation to use food products for energy and not to feed the hungry when millions of people are starving to death .
it would mean having to reduce the size of national delegations even further .
healthcare systems are also cause for concern , as they often prove inadequate . we all appreciate how precious our health is , and know that our biological life is limited .
thanks to such tools , it is significantly easier to understand the problems of consumers and to respond to their needs .
( FI ) Madam President , I too wish to congratulate Mr Saryusz-Wolski on an excellent report on a very important issue .
aid should also definitely extend to additional sums allocated by the Commission for mine clearance .
the rules for checks must be simplified and made more accessible to farmers through help and advice by national bodies , in order to ensure that the quality of European agricultural products does not bring about unnecessary burdens and additional difficulties for actors linked to agricultural activity .
I come from Denmark , a country with a long tradition of transparency , openness and control , particularly as regards the use of taxpayers ' money .
in my opinion , a return to coal-burning is not , in the current environmental context , a solution for the future or for the creation of a fully-fledged trans-European transport network .
it is with considerable concern that I note the whistle-blowing in the case of possible mismanagement of the European Economic and Social Committee ( EESC ) , and that it is now the subject of a pending action of the European Anti-Fraud Office ( OLAF ) .
opening of the sitting
project bonds serve as finance for extensive innovation , infrastructure and reindustrialisation projects .
should the EU develop something similar - an EU TFTP - the Americans should help us in this as well .
it is also clear , however , that transparency is essential to ensure the fair representation of interests , and is crucial for the European Union 's credibility .
( CS ) It is now the second time in the current session that the annual accounts of the European Union have come up for discussion .
I have numerous reservations about the compromise from a content point of view , too .
I would therefore like to call upon the Council to come to a compromise with the Commission and Parliament 's position , which I am sure will be approved here today by a large majority .
this was a result of the havoc wrought by a wholly natural event , which placed us in an important context in relation to nature , and which caused unprecedented paralysis in the skies above Europe .
for three weeks , the MEPs did a remarkable job of monitoring the quality of the candidates through the parliamentary hearing procedure .
there is wording in the document about the common consolidated corporate tax base , and I think we should wait until the Commission comes to us later on this year with their impact assessment before jumping to a conclusion on any of the pros and cons of that debate .
the approach to the energy issue is particularly significant as it highlights the importance of energy brokers who can bypass Russia and the control over energy infrastructures and sources .
the scrapping of the US missile defence shield , due to be deployed in Poland and the Czech Republic , was also questionable .
addressing this imbalance is one of the tasks we must take on together in carrying these issues forward .
this requires immediate financial support , and I have a request to make of the Commissioner in that regard , given that income from emissions trading will arrive too late .
it is necessary to check whether Union funds are being well used , whether these institutions are meeting the objectives outlined for them , and whether any resources are being wasted .
this recommendation to the Council was vital for giving patients the greatest possible legal certainty so that they can exercise their rights in practice , as pointed out by the European Court of Justice .
some are advocating a restricted future , one where free movement of data is stemmed , where big business is allowed to stifle innovation , and where Internet providers become gate-keepers .
the negotiating mandate before us shows , above all , that the Commission and Parliament are again taking the same line and that cooperation has at least got off to a good start .
the Water Framework Directive and its ' daughter directive ' will provide a firm , predictable and long-term basis for decision-making at every level , from river basin and local level to European level .
the quid pro quo for the openness on the Commission 's part is that the Polish authorities must now submit a draft restructuring plan for Gdańsk in order to permit any outstanding issues to be discussed , and so far - and I regret this - we have not received such a plan , and it is essential that the Polish authorities provide it quickly .
however , this discussion clearly demonstrates that the causes for concern and the motives for the struggle have not gone away .
this is an alarming problem , which could partly be solved if energetic action were taken on at least two fronts .
as you know , the Commission must consent to the Council 's decision on the creation of the service .
one of the purposes of the proposal presented by the Commission for a ' European Partnership for Action Against Cancer - 2009-2013 ' is to support the Member States in their efforts to tackle cancer by providing a framework for identifying and sharing information , capacity and expertise in cancer prevention and control and by engaging relevant stakeholders across the EU in a collective effort .
it is not a question , as one of you suggested , of whether the Member States , the Commission or the European Union should take the initiative .
forests and wooded land cover 42 % of the European Union 's surface .
this is an important development that , as Mr Doorn has rightly said , continues a process that we ourselves initiated with a view to achieving simplification that equates with transparency and is a transparent , comprehensible method of law-making .
that is in progress at the moment , of course , but are the traditional minorities also included in this ?
there are the border conflicts , as mentioned before : the disputes between Ethiopia and Eritrea , Sudan and Ethiopia and Djibouti and Eritrea , which might be considered as sources of instability in the region .
I would like to thank the rapporteurs Mrs Neris , Mrs Fourtou and Mrs Rühle and their team for their excellent cooperation , as well as my colleagues Den Dover , Malcolm Harbour , Andreas Schwab and Tereza Pinto de Rezende for a great piece of work .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I would like to thank all those who have contributed .
it is quite right to make the opening of these negotiations conditional on Japan showing goodwill in reviewing , inter alia , the issue of non-tariff barriers and restrictions on public procurement .
the new proposal that I am putting forward for debate introduces substantial changes .
that was the background to this .
instead , I think it is right to say that genocide is taking over in these territories , yet again .
I would ask you to reflect on this data .
it is imperative that we guarantee the human factor , and the safety of employees is closely connected to this and has to be a priority during waste storage .
I spoke on Saturday , after the referendum result from Ireland was known , with the Taoiseach Brian Cowen , who said they would need a couple of weeks to secure full parliamentary ratification , and therefore we can also say that country number 26 will finally be Ireland .
the treaty will bring the EU closer to its citizens .
industry needs , above all , legislative certainty to make investment decisions on these large , expensive , capital projects .
indeed , in the case of coal-fired power plants this 500 g CO2 / kWh limit is technically unachievable . it amounts to a sui generis moratorium on the construction of new coal-fired power plants .
however , it is vitally important for Europe 's capacity to grow in normal economic conditions to increase .
in fact , the coordination regulation we are discussing today brings the adjustments to the laws of the Member States into line every year .
now , however , real life , the real experience we have with interdependence and with economic cooperation , is clearly demonstrating to us that what we need is a European solution to this very important European problem .
the Fund is an instrument to help Member States deal with the financial consequences of disasters ; it is not an urgent instrument .
the problem is the psychoanalytic reaction that this idea produces , as this is an attack on culture .
we are well aware that there are problems , that much has already been said , but problems are there to be solved .
only the local population itself can get Africa on its feet .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , allow me first of all to thank you for the opportunity , on behalf of Commissioner Figeľ , to address the place of culture in our policies and its particular contribution to the development of European regions and cities .
just looking at the percentages , however , is a little misleading , since , after all , the absolute figures for spending on research and development in the European Union from 2000 to 2006 rose by 14.8 % .
I think that many of my fellow Members wish to use the external service as a Trojan horse to gain control of the CFSP via the Commission .
as our sources show , 250 women and girls had been raped only a few days after the earthquake , and the situation is still getting worse .
the combination of minimum and full harmonisation can become an option that is acceptable for everyone .
the only votes in favour of the RMDSZ member came from the Democratic Liberal Party , PDL , and two female judges on the election committee .
the Baltic countries , which are isolated from the rest of Europe , are left to the mercy of gas suppliers from eastern Europe .
as a European MEP , I am ready to undertake an intermediary role in the interests of Hungarian- Slovak harmony .
fulfilment of strict but clear conditions , which are understandable and accepted by both sides , is the basis for reception of new members , and this also applies to Turkey .
secondly , the coherence between the EU budget and this strategy .
author . - ( FI ) Mr President , I am very concerned about the growing climate of fear that surrounds human rights defenders in Russia .
variations to the terms of marketing authorisations for medicinal products - Counterfeiting of medicinal products ( debate )
yet the idea that Europe could create a single currency , whose foundations were laid especially in the Bremen agreement on the monetary system in 1978 and the creation of the ecu , would have been met at the time with scepticism from the markets and the main monetary authorities outside Europe .
this is where we are now .
I hope that this problem will be solved when we merge those two different regulations , so that it is much easier , much more flexible , to handle .
you may have read , Commissioner , that in County Fermanagh , we have suffered extreme flooding over the last number of weeks .
to conclude , climate change , freedom , security and justice , and the response to the economic and financial crisis - these are three areas which impact on citizens every day of their lives and three areas where the European Council can show that the Lisbon Treaty has indeed opened a new chapter in the history of the European project .
however , this is a national rule and the European Union does not have the authority to make a national state change this .
many people in poorer countries have said to me they are sick and tired of not having a choice , of having to go to a state monopoly that performs badly or to a private monopoly that they all know has links to the ruling elite .
I believe we must call on the Commission to guarantee pluralism in the media by implementing common standards at EU level .
the same cannot be said for the citizens of Europe .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , following the outbreak of the global financial crisis , the European Commission presented a measure - the proposal under discussion today - to strengthen the fight against tax evasion .
it will completely undermine the efforts of colony egg producers in the UK .
Parliament requested the Commission to keep it informed on the state of affairs , including a waste management plan , and compliance with the Court decision of 4 March 2010 and EU rules .
the construction sector is one of the biggest branches of Lithuanian and European industry .
we also need independent monitoring structures which will ensure the quality of the EIB 's results and its adherence to the code of conduct .
request for the waiver of Mr Elmar Brok 's parliamentary immunity (
based on the events surrounding the change from the koruna to the euro , we again submitted relevant amendments and compromise proposals because this change , which was more than the allowable 15 % fluctuation , led to a dispute in Parliament too .
I would , however , strongly advise that we do not throw the baby out with the bath water , but instead determine the real reasons behind this .
the next item is a short presentation of the report by Mrs Schaldemose , on behalf of the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection , on the integrity of online gambling .
today , as a result of the crisis , they have lost a third of the jobs that were created .
the issue of state property in the Brčko district is still unresolved .
overall , Frontex is worsening the situation of refugees .
I have expressed my appreciation for the first steps in the direction of opening up the borders with the Armenians , because they too need to be released from the isolation they are currently facing .
there are so many reasons right now for this urgent resolution and for a strong appeal to the entire international community in order to ensure that this reconciliation - I will not say this pseudo-reconciliation within Zimbabwe 's coalition government , but this reconciliation , anyway - is not destroyed today amid these aggressive preparations on the eve of the elections .
I think that in Europe , we need leaders and that in his time Tony Blair was indisputably one of those leaders .
- Report : Camre
in several months we have destroyed hundreds of billions of capital .
thus , the President has decided that they are admissible .
it was refused .
we invite Kosovo to pursue a stable , democratic , multi-ethnic future - and a European future .
our African partners contributed to its establishment and their cooperation remains essential to this political objective , which is of primary importance to the European Union .
Ms Harms , the Presidency agrees with your proposal to hold a minute 's silence in memory of Natalia Estemirova .
the operation and added value of the EGF should be evaluated in the context of the general assessment of the programmes and various other instruments created by the interinstitutional agreement of 17 May 2006 .
that cannot be done only by Europe , because Europe is responsible for about 14 % of global emissions , and the trend is to go down in relevant terms .
the proposed European External Action Service must complement and not compete with or undermine Member States ' bilateral diplomatic activity and must draw its authority mainly from the Council and not from the Commission .
however , just as a doctor does not stop treatment at the first signs of improvement , we , too , must not allow ourselves to be misled by over-optimistic prognoses .
voting time ( continuation )
I also own a somewhat old family home .
( FR ) Mr President , I abstained from the vote on the 2007 discharge of the European Parliament 's budget because of some paragraphs in this report that are inspired by the disinformation and untruths published in the media , especially here , relating to the Members ' voluntary pension fund .
those involved in public procurement ought to consider the long-term benefits .
the Presidency presented ideas in relation to increasing security as well as in relation to facilitating travel .
I remember President Reagan 's speech here in 1985 , and to quote an Irish poet - William Butler Yeats - speaking of his Ireland , in a poem called Easter Sunday 1916 he said : ' all 's changed , changed utterly ; a terrible beauty has been born ' .
I cannot , however , support mechanistic quotas based on gender as they tie us to a specific time-period and may result in quantity instead of quality .
people have planes to catch ; it is inconvenient ; it makes a mockery of Parliament .
however , the declaration of the Romanian ambassador in Chişinau as persona non-grata and the sudden , unilateral introduction by the Republic of Moldova of visas for Romanian citizens are unacceptable .
thirdly , I believe it is also essential and necessary to recall that all aid must be made available , whether political , financial or technical as may be required to perform the duties that that mission will have to face on the ground .
the resolution does not safeguard the principle that new resources , especially financial resources , should match the new objectives in the area of cohesion policy , in order to make them effective .
these two hats should be the only duplication , though - duplication in the structures is not something that we need .
finally , I should like to say on the basis of my own experience and my constituents ' statements , that issues relating to airport capacity involve much more than technical matters , air traffic control systems and coordinating take-offs and landings .
we are talking about what could and should be the most extensive trade agreement in existence in the world , which will bring development , well-being , progress and employment to 800 million people , and spectacularly increase the exchange of goods , merchandise and services between the two regions .
that is the situation we socialists desire , but it can only be achieved if Iran meets its international commitments , beginning with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights .
I have been particularly glad to take part in many of the hearings and meetings held in Parliament .
we must continue to work and have this debate .
the Treaty here reproduces the 2004 text .
forgive my cynicism .
Mr Topolánek and his entire cabinet have proved that it is possible .
however , Mr Busk 's report does in many ways represent a positive change .
I have one further thing to say : coherence rather than words .
I would say to Ms Oomen-Ruijten that human rights are at the core of the negotiations on the new agreement and will be addressed on a number of fronts .
recent volatility in food and basic food product prices has raised serious concerns about the operation of the food supply chain at a European and global level .
health is important to all of us and combining forces will ensure that we move forward in this direction .
however , in order to find these good candidates , we relied on the lists given to us and the 275 applications from the regulatory authorities of the Member States .
EUR 600 million for the Eastern Partnership .
we have made it clear to the EU ambassadors that they have a key role to play in protecting the financial interests of the European Union , and it is very important that their own service should also make this clear to them .
the introduction of such a programme requires close cooperation with the United Nations and , crucially , it must be possible to reach agreement , within the UN institutions , with all those who make up these institutions .
in writing . - ( PT ) The EU is an area of solidarity and the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund is a part of this .
now we can only hope that the Council will respond positively to Parliament 's insistent wake-up call .
once again , I would like to thank Parliament for its strong support for the Baltic Sea Strategy and I look forward to discussing this with Members on future occasions .
in writing . - ( GA ) - It would be a bad sign if the EU were to improve relations with Israel at present .
it was not an easy job , because the state of respect for human rights continues , unfortunately , to require our attention and engagement .
if that is the case , how will you do it ?
I think we have clear consensus over the fact that those initiatives are fundamental if we are to reduce our energy dependence , improve our efficiency , continue to make technological progress - thereby giving a further boost to European technology - and , of course , meet the challenges of climate change .
rule 121 ( 3 ) of the Rules of Procedure states that the President shall bring an action before the Court of Justice on behalf of Parliament and in accordance with the recommendation of the committee responsible .
childcare facilities not only help women develop their careers , but , in particular , they develop children 's skills as members of society .
after all the criticisms that have been voiced , I believe that we also have the right to hear that truth .
Mr President , the reason for this urgency is the brutal murder of 57 people , who were accompanying a politician on her way to register as a candidate in the elections for the position of provincial governor .
fellow Members , I believe that the European Court of Auditors carried out a thorough , professional job when they drafted their 2008 report .
in conclusion , I request the European Commission representatives to take into consideration Paragraph 7 , by which we request the allocation of adequate funds to the consumer organizations across the European Union .
the aim must be to search realistically and objectively for solutions , weighing up diverse arguments .
the European Union must therefore continue to work consistently to complete the internal market and offer a framework for competition that works .
nor must it be abused for fishing expeditions for questioning , rather than the proper focus on return for charge and prosecution .
large-scale movements have also emerged in Bahrain , Yemen and Syria .
in this Chamber again , we kept on hearing that people had not properly understood the question , that they had really been voting on something else - against Mr Chirac , or against Turkish accession , or against Anglo-Saxon liberalism - and that they had not understood the issue and that they needed better information .
fifthly , livestock keepers are forced to make disproportionately large environmental protection investments .
I voted for the resolution because I take the view that the accession of the European Union to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms ( ECHR ) would be a good step forward in creating legal certainty and consistency .
in the Annual Report and its related annexes , the European Commission has included , for the first time , particulars of the specific and detailed treatment of infringements relating to petitions .
they do not want it to be effective , and that is why I have been absolutely specific in the demands that we are making upon this Agency .
we are today approving the mobilisation of an aid package totalling EUR 1 422 850 from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund in favour of Spain , a country that has been badly affected by the global economic crisis and , in particular , has seen unemployment rise above the European average .
in writing . - ( DE ) Every tax system is accompanied by tax evasion .
what about the records of political group meetings or preparations ?
this outrageous utterance shows that referendums on the Treaty are needed , but before they are held an honest debate is required , not least in the forum of the European Parliament .
it is very important that partners from Member States ' associations , federations , clubs and leagues , work with us .
I urge all of us really concerned with the problems of vulnerable communities to look instead at local-community-led solutions and not the proposals of some distant Eurocrat or some distant Member of the European Parliament .
this agreement should therefore provide for the implementation of standards in the territories of the countries involved , so as to allow the Commission to take ultimate responsibility for implementing the budget of the fund in these states .
these are ambitious projects and objectives that the Commission will not be able to achieve alone .
however , the Commission has proposed to us that we should simply finance a new project by robbing a useful project that was already on the table .
Europe has contributed extensively to this development , through its companies , its investments and particularly its development aid which is the highest in that continent .
the next item is the Commission statement on the situation in Haiti one year after the earthquake : humanitarian aid and reconstruction .
we would therefore reaffirm its role in enhancing the potential of Member States for development and job creation through progress in training human capital .
we should look at how we might increase the higher-education qualifications of a number of people who never had that opportunity in their youth .
however , such delegation of powers must be facilitated by giving the legislator the institutional means to scrutinise the exercise of such powers .
I voted for the report on the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste , because I believe there is a need for a responsible strategy and adequate means to respond to all nuclear waste , whether from energy production , from scientific research , or from medicine .
the congress of shame met at Versailles on 4 February to adopt the constitutional review needed to adopt the so-called Constitutional Treaty .
the Egyptian Government should lead its citizens on this road to freedom , and Europe should be its strongest partner in this .
in writing . - This text basically concerns the proposal inviting the Council and Parliament to authorise the addition of a further 718 pharmaceutical and chemical products to the already existing list of 8 619 products benefiting from bound duty-free treatment upon importation into the EU .
to obtain an energy model that supports renewable energies , I regard it as fundamental that the document encourages strategic cooperation mechanisms between the Member States .
all rail passengers are now to have significant rights , concerning , for example , compensation in the event of delays or cancellations , the information that is supplied to them , and access for people with reduced mobility .
many of the same concerns came up in Ireland as were raised previously in France and in the Netherlands .
in this regard , Parliament has obliged Member States to invest part of the returns from toll collection in the improvement of traffic flow and mobility infrastructure .
in addition to this , I believe that the government in Chişinău must be supported politically because , after a long period of time , the country is , at last , genuinely opening up to the European Union .
I should be able to tell the people who elected me what is happening with the money .
the main investment which will enable achievement of this objective is the Nabucco gas pipeline .
however , I would like to draw the Commission 's attention to the fact that we are eager for it to present us with proposals as promptly as possible , as this will allow us to share our own ideas in turn , and ultimately guarantee a fairer system for everyone .
with pressure on the Community budget that we are all aware of and national budgets squeezed by austerity , it is essential to use these Structural Funds intelligently and efficiently .
I therefore suggest that , if the rapporteur has any comments to make on the subject , she should address them to the leader of her group , who could have intervened but failed to do so .
Mr Posselt , I understand that , but we have agreed that we have a specific amount of time and each group has one minute of speaking time .
best of all , it was always cheerful and open .
I am impressed at the respect you have shown your people in acknowledging that they , like the Irish , would , if given a chance , probably reject the Treaty of Lisbon as well .
in 2007 alone , we had 110 000 illegal immigrants in Greece and there have been over 80 000 up to September of this year .
what guarantee have we that any new report is going to receive any more action than the excellent Sutherland report ?
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( ES ) Madam President , I want to begin by congratulating my colleague , Mr Lechner , on the excellent report he has produced : it is both balanced and moderate .
the new rules clearly define the political responsibility of both institutions and strengthen the powers which the European Parliament has recently acquired in the decision-making process .
the request , then , Commissioner , is for full account to be taken of paragraphs 3 and 11 of this resolution , so that the flexibility aspect is seen not as a request by the Member States to be able to do whatever they like to be more certain of receiving a response , but as a request that reads changes intelligently , thereby ensuring that this instrument really is totally effective .
since Liechtenstein did not accede , and there is a very active policy of free movement between these two countries , for the first time , it was necessary to put up controls at places where there had been no real border for 100 years .
the biggest problem is that there has been no significant progress in precisely the area of employment and related issues , yet these really are crucial , partly because of the challenges to the demography of the EU and partly because of economic growth and ensuring equality .
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( RO ) I congratulate Mr. Rack on his report .
however , every day and every hour is of great importance to the people concerned .
that is why the legal act on the harmonious regulation of coastal tourism is necessary .
just to give you some examples that we are indeed committed to the social agenda in Europe .
the new fisheries policy must stimulate development of the industry in a Europe which is engulfed in the crisis , but it is also necessary to pay attention to the predatory industrial fishing being carried out particularly in the Baltic Sea , where healthy and valuable fish are being turned into fish meal for use on poultry and cattle farms , and , in exchange , the toxic Far East panga arrives on the tables of Europeans .
let us therefore resist this tendency .
of course , all this is closely linked to the vote at noon today , when we will be deciding on the climate package .
I hope that the directive will receive the green light from the Council as well so that it can come into force as soon as possible for the good of patients .
on imbalances between Member States , the focus should be on loss of competitiveness , often hand in hand with foot-dragging on the single market and failure to address structural reforms , including pensions .
approval of Minutes of previous sitting : see Minutes
as a former Chairman of the Group of European Progressive Democrats and the Group of the European Renewal and Democratic Alliance , Christian de la Malène was a convinced European in heart and mind .
North Korea (
essentially , what we are looking for are intelligent , research-focused public authorities to generate a demand for innovative solutions and then work with innovative companies large and small - but particularly small enterprises who really can benefit from this - to fulfil those requirements .
Madam President , one minute without repetition , deviation or - what was the other one ?
Mr President , President-in-Office of the Council , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , we want good relations between the United States of America and the European Union .
in writing . - Whilst British Conservatives recognise that the charges airports levy on their users should be subject to scrutiny on occasion , Conservatives abstained in the vote on the amendments at second reading on the draft airport charges directive .
as a result of the solution that has been accepted , it will be easier to compare offers and real energy usage and this will encourage consumers to change suppliers if they are dissatisfied with the service offered .
( GA ) Mr President , my colleague Mr Seán Ó Neachtain speaks Irish fluently .
the cooperation between participants in programmes funded by PEACE should not stop when these programmes come to an end .
we need to strengthen European citizenship because it is the central plank of freedom of movement .
in Romania , domestic violence incidents are estimated to affect 1 200 000 people every year , yet only 1 % of the victims of violence are brave enough to report it to the authorities .
we see the challenges which the European Union must face up to in a new international and global context .
according to the information available , air tickets were being sold right up to the moment when bankruptcy was declared .
however , progress is always the best cure for stagnation .
there are educational programmes , because generally this is not education about biofuels but about sustainability , energy efficiency and a quite different attitude towards the environment and knowing that whatever you use is taken from somewhere and is always doing damage .
the legal basis cannot , therefore , lie in Article 179 of the Treaty of Nice , because that is precisely the statutory basis for development policy that should be avoided here .
according to statistics , women farmers in the European Union account for 43 % of farm labourers and 20 % of farm managers , and this does not include the spouses of male farmers whose work is often not taken into account .
it is important for my country , Lithuania , together with most of its neighbours , to halt the ever-increasing brain drain of qualified workers .
that is why I am voting against this text .
only in this way can concerns about the use of cereals and foodstuffs for biogas production be effectively dispelled , because food production must continue to remain agriculture 's overriding responsibility .
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as you have heard , my group is not so sure .
this creativity and innovation will indeed be mainstreamed into all the policies .
the European Union must play a pivotal role in the negotiations by speaking with one voice to make its presence felt in its dealings with China and the United States .
this is a major quote from President Klaus , because apparently , it seems that he has accepted the fact that nothing can delay the Lisbon Treaty any longer .
however , there are two issues I wish to raise this evening : Icesave and mackerel .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
we must have a European energy policy with substance , and here too we have fallen behind and need to move swiftly .
I believe that this phenomenon can be reduced and that we can get the results we all want if we also examine it from the perspective of regional development .
this is a sound report and I can only say that we are essentially in agreement in the Committee on Budgetary Control on the recommendations that we have tabled .
and finally , it is important to mention that it was the Action Committee for a United States of Europe established by Jean Monnet which , among other things , proposed direct elections to the European Parliament .
today we can reproach Ukraine for the situation with regard to human rights and fundamental rights .
the Commission decision on the merger provides that the parties must proceed with the divesture of their ownership , including a partial divesture of participation in Fluxys , and with the other commitments , including those relating to Fluxys governance , within a certain divesture period .
turning to enforcement , I am pleased to see that Parliament shares the Commission 's view about the importance of giving people in practice the rights they have on paper .
there are reports of at least five deaths , and hundreds more have been injured .
like you , I strongly believe that , in order to make the internal market work , European consumers must be confident that they can enforce their rights and obtain redress across the whole European Union .
the problem is that it is precisely at these issues that most of the questions and criticisms from our people are directed , and it is the persistent absence of answers to these questions , the repeated refusal to hear these criticisms , that is fuelling the crisis of confidence that the European Union is suffering from among our fellow citizens .
water shortage is one of the new challenges .
Roma communities , in the mean time , have been identified as one of the most vulnerable minorities , both within the EU and in the candidate countries .
the issue of the European Union 's energy security is a regularly recurring topic , which is becoming increasingly relevant , clearly indicating that there are deep-seated , unresolved problems .
why Mr Barroso ?
ladies and Gentlemen , we are perhaps not there yet , but we are not far off and clearly on the right track .
let me start here by saying that naturally , when we address citizens , we need to use a language that they understand .
whilst it acknowledges the problems and mistakes during the first decade of economic and monetary union , it pushes blindly ahead , calling for a ' more robust ' framework for surveillance of national economic policies by the Commission and Council .
secondly , you have not apologised for language which was wholly inappropriate to the European Parliament , and I ask you to leave .
rapporteur . - Madam President , I would first of all like to thank Astrid Lulling very much because it is very much on her initiative that we are presenting this .
this is why I totally oppose the Czech Republic 's initiative to sign a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU ) with the US .
our thanks also go , in particular , to Alexandre Lamfalussy , the President of the European Monetary Institute , whom we met yesterday evening , and who is also taking part in a colloquium now .
we therefore need new resources and we agree , as expressly stated in the report and I quote , that : ' an increase in the rates and scope of existing taxation tools and further cuts in public expenditure can be neither a sufficient nor a sustainable solution to address the main challenges ahead at European and global level ' .
I voted for this resolution so as to ensure the adoption of the new regulation to guarantee equal treatment as regards social security for legally resident nationals of third countries .
what must not be allowed to happen now is for us to have a situation whereby state aid undermines employment in companies in one country but boosts it in another .
the EU cannot take responsibility for matters that are subject to national decisions or for any negligence that occurs .
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it took a bit of time because this new Commission has not been in place for long , and it takes some time for the new college to prepare proposals .
in the current economic climate the value of concluding Doha has gone up very substantially .
we must use the Service as we build it to be able to be your servant in helping you address those issues on the ground .
there are many cases that we should mention here , but please allow me to talk about at least one : that of the activist and defender of minority rights , Yaghoub Mehrnehad , an ethnic Baluchi and executive director of the ' Voice of Justice ' Youth Association , who was executed on 4 August after having publicly confronted local officials about their attitude .
( DE ) Madam President , the EU is currently enjoying increasing popularity and greater trust , as the nations and the public are seeking protection behind the walls of the EU , hoping that they are strong enough to combat the financial and economic crisis .
all efforts should now be focused on the achievement of a peaceful transfer of power .
we have to achieve democracy in Cuba and ensure Europe 's commitment to Cuba .
my group cannot answer for this , so I ask you to reject the motions for resolutions by the PSE Group , the ALDE Group and the left .
I voted for the initiative from the Commission and Council to review the European Neighbourhood Policy - Eastern Dimension .
this also applies to the discussion about the next phase of our legislation regarding carbon dioxide emissions : how to share the burdens and how to develop a scheme of European emissions trading .
although this report fortunately does not go that far , there is a casual reference to the assessment of children .
the truth is that illegal immigration to Europe continues .
Suu Kyi has spent more than 13 years of the past 19 years confined to her Rangoon home .
job creation and the promotion of employability are a means to achieving the objective of economic , social and territorial cohesion within the Union .
at the same time , the air traveller does have to be taken seriously .
the EU would decide whether Britain eats or starves .
however , the joint resolution by the two major parties in the European Parliament says nothing about this and , as a result , I am forced to vote against this joint resolution .
we heard that Mr Gbagbo was set to surrender , a claim that was later denied .
the richness and variety of the regions of Europe - they were often enemies , they were occupied , they were divided up , they were destroyed by war and re-united - must be retained .
Europe must commit itself more to achieving the Millennium Development Goals ; in other words , it must devote at least 0.7 % of GDP to combating poverty in developing countries by 2015 .
it is important to safeguard the integrity of individual parliamentarians and individual citizens .
the situation of the Greek economy has , undoubtedly , aroused much emotion .
( the President cut off the speaker )
the important thing , however , is that Parliament brings the problem to light , because it is difficult to give concrete answers if the economic instruments are not in place .
compulsory part-time work , the planned 65-hour working week , the horizontal and vertical labour markets and segregation will unfortunately lead to the compatibility of work and private life remaining an intractable question that will continue to grow due to the lack of child-care institutions .
I would not say so .
natural disaster prevention and preparation are primary government responsibilities .
I am sure that the EU will stand alongside my country and show in practice that solidarity is the basic principle governing relations between us .
this type of attitudes may create - and I am afraid that this has already happened - a negative , undeserved , image of other European Community citizens who live and work in Italy and whom the communities in which they live appreciate .
on an annual level , the 0.05 % transaction tax would contribute EUR 200 billion to the budget .
it is essential to encourage and facilitate young people 's access to the agri-food sector in order to promote generation change and ensure the dynamism of the sector .
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the production of a minimum amount of coal contributes to our energy security and prevents us from being dependent on imports .
I also would expect the government of Pakistan to reinforce the measures that have been taken to fight the spread of violent extremism .
this is just one example .
on the other hand , the debate has clearly shown that they are not applied consistently and that reasons could be found for further improvements in their structure .
the penalties laid down in the Commission 's proposal for non-compliance with the limit values have been reduced owing to the economic crisis , and are now EUR 5 to EUR 95 depending on the amount by which the values are exceeded .
self-employed drivers are already bound by the same limits on driving time and compulsory rest periods as drivers who are employed by someone else .
my vote was not a negation of the Graça Moura report ; quite the contrary .
we have a long process of discharge and discussions ahead of us , during which all these remarks should receive answers and / or comments .
it makes no sense for someone to die because there is no organ available in their country , when it may exist and be available elsewhere .
( ET ) The report concerning urban traffic and the action plan in that area earned my vote , because urban transport plays a very important role in EU freight and passenger transport .
as for the outside world , Europe should establish itself as a strong global actor .
the existing legislation has brought a number of problems , which we have analysed .
the Commission fully agrees with its content .
certain scientists believe major climate changes are a natural cyclical phenomenon that has affected the world for millions of years . they maintain that those scientists that issue warnings concerning the impact of human beings on climate change do so in order to attract funds for research and spread alarm amongst the population .
first of all , like my colleague before me , Mr Hannan , I would like to welcome the Czech presidency - it will be an interesting contrast with the last presidency of the EU - and once again apologise for the disgraceful behaviour shown by some of my colleagues in this Chamber .
efforts towards this are undoubtedly worthwhile , Commissioner .
even if there have not yet been any cases of officials , when questioned by the Ombudsman , having been given instructions from ' higher-up ' tantamount to censorship , and even if there have not up to now been problems of access to confidential documents , it is important that our citizens see that these things cannot become obstacles , and cannot be used as excuses to hide things from the Ombudsman .
the case of Sweden has been mentioned .
it covers the common agricultural policy , biodiversity , food security , pesticide use , veterinary regulations , and even the labyrinthine way of funding through the EU .
the budget deficit is approaching 13 % .
I am not sure whether the rapporteur 's proposal to establish a European Rating Agency is a sensible solution .
yesterday , we debated this new facility .
Tartan Day is a day of celebration where Scotland reaches out to our diaspora in North America and encourages our North American friends to come and visit us .
but we do insist that the four items I have mentioned are red lines and have to be dealt with properly in these negotiations .
the report calls on the government of Kyrgyzstan to carry out a credible and responsible investigation into the conflict , possibly in the presence of foreign observers .
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there is a process with the transitional federal government , but it is fragile - to put it in the mildest possible terms - and it requires sustained efforts by the international community to gradually move the country towards reconciliation and gradually build up some sort of functioning state that can restore some kind of stability to this horribly torn country .
the introduction of electronic data transfer into the Polish pensions system has greatly reduced the number of errors in the transfer of insurance data between institutions .
the role of NATO was mentioned in several speeches .
I believe that there is still a slight difference of opinion within Parliament over one point , and I hope that it can be overcome with tomorrow 's vote .
( DE ) Mr President , I wanted to speak again because a number of my fellow Members have spoken about the jobs issue in perhaps somewhat sanctimonious terms .
I just want to recall this , because it has been said in this House that there are problems with public television in many of our Member States .
there is a long way to go .
( EL ) Madam President , I thank the Commissioner for his comments and reply .
in other words , the unacceptable transformation of this agency into yet another instrument supporting the EU 's policy of interference in other regions of the world .
at the same time , we also need the commitment of the international community to get down to business and build a lasting peace for that lovely island .
I hope that this decision will also be respected when the main location for the supervisory body of the Galileo agency is fixed .
initiate work on a new document , refer to the Rome Treaties and the Messina Declaration for inspiration , and promote the common interest of the European Union . that is , freedom , prosperity , competitiveness and security , not euro-health , euro-taxes , euro-parks and euro-beer .
in writing . - ( PT ) The future of the competitiveness of the European automotive sector is extremely important .
in fact fingerprints of young children are subject to rapid change , and I have not been persuaded that enough is yet known about the reliability in later years of prints taken so young .
the matter is subject to verification .
and I should like to ask the Commissioner whether he has produced a table for the Council of relative costings of oil and gas , for example from Russia , as opposed to liquefied natural gas from Qatar , nuclear energy , and all the others , because it seems to me that our governments are not actually producing energy at the prices that the consumers would want .
first , most subsidies have been suspended for some time and these are mainly the export refunds , the intervention buying , the various different disposal aids .
that the penal code applied in the occupied territories applies only to Palestinians , and not to the colonists .
in Eastern Europe 25 years ago we raised the slogan of a Europe without borders against dictators in our country .
one of the main arguments put forward was the fact that large operators ' economies of scale must be taken into account in setting mobile termination tariffs .
rejecting the renationalisation of the CAP and increasing cofinancing , that is the first point .
all my fellow Members have mentioned this , and Mr Rasmussen has expressed it very well .
Mrs Grabrowska 's report recommends permanent dialogue between all the European institutions and the ' representatives ' from civil society to define policies and draw up legislation at EU level , in other words a formal , compulsory organisation of participatory ' democracy ' at Union level .
here it is reasonable to provide additional questions to the ones that Mrs Meissner put in her report , on two other issues : the relationship of maritime and river transport , and connecting them .
the first was easier than the second , I have to say .
President-in-Office of the Council . - Madam President , on behalf of the Council I want to begin by conveying our condolences to the people of Japan , those who have lost loved ones and the many others who have been touched in one way or another by the tragic events over 10 days ago .
the two were unrelated .
we do not accept an exchange of liberty for more security because , in the end , we will lose both .
I think another reshuffle could certainly fulfil this requirement in the future .
just as we treasured our own currency , we have started using the euro and the majority of the Slovak population is quickly beginning to regard it as its own , too .
do you not think that using an historical factor will maintain these injustices ...
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Madam President , Mr López Garrido , Commissioner , I would first of all like to point out that the European Parliament has expressed its opinion on the situation of the prisoners in Guantánamo on various occasions through various resolutions .
I regret the fact that , while micro-businesses are taxable , the exemption of SMEs is hidden in the text .
the Czech Presidency , following on from the activities of its predecessor , is working hard to resolve the problems caused by the current financial and economic crisis and in this context has adopted measures at various levels .
Iceland 's accession to the EU would enhance the Union 's prospects of playing a more active and constructive role in Northern Europe and in the Arctic , contributing to multilateral governance and sustainable policy solutions in the region .
at the same time , however , we are also involved with common challenges in our relationships with other countries .
this is not the case here and , therefore , Europe has made real progress during this Presidency .
I am glad that you have announced an active fight against this crisis , and I am glad that you can see priorities which we also share - more freedom for the market , less regulation , more economic freedom , greater openness to free trade .
the danger in this particular debate is to try and get a balanced solution to the problems that we now have .
the matter of sovereignty will never die .
there is actually nothing new about this , of course .
a compulsory written examination in the country of residence has been retained as a requirement to practice this occupation , with the possibility of an exemption for 10 years ' continuous practical experience .
the new asylum support office is therefore not fit for purpose and should not be established .
the same applies to NATO partnership and what I consider to be particularly important in the case of the Western Balkans is that Serbia has a commendable minorities policy which could be exemplary for many EU Member States , as the wide-ranging cultural autonomy that is manifest in the genuine operation of the councils of various national minorities guarantees the continued existence of the minorities .
Libya is a country which requires a great deal of work .
that is not a matter of protectionism ; it is a matter of fairness , justice and refusing to be naive .
terrorism was spoken of ; many people mentioned it .
in writing . - I voted for this application for the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund to assist 658 redundancies in the enterprise H. Cegielski-Poznań and four of its suppliers , which operate in the manufacture of marine diesel engines in Poznań and the surrounding district .
a common investigatory framework will also provide us with optimum feedback on accidents so we can learn from them .
it is not through the open coordination method that we will fulfil our goals .
according to the official Mexican statistics , 6 000 girls and women were killed between 1999 and 2006 .
the Commission always strives to cooperate closely with the Ombudsman .
moreover , the Council decision substantially broadens Europol 's scope and capacity for action , which I also support .
only then will they be viable .
the integrated guidelines provide an important instrument for coordination , a common framework for diverse Member States to pursue their own national reform agendas .
this is a rather bureaucratic approach .
furthermore , I welcome the move to facilitate the involvement of European political parties in campaigns for referendums relating to European issues at Member State level .
I was pleased with your support for our priorities and especially touched when I heard the Slovenian national anthem being quoted , not by one of my Slovenian colleagues but by a colleague from France , and also when Slovenian products were mentioned , such as Elan skis , etc .
we are confident that we can deliver the impact assessment within the time foreseen by Parliament .
you , on the other hand , are the diplomatic representative of an entire continent .
Member States must learn from one another .
lastly , the rapporteur , Mr Vakalis , underlines the importance of cooperation with third countries .
the conclusions , on the other hand , can be implemented in different ways - sometimes spreading best practices could be enough , and sometimes amendments to the agencies ' basic acts might be necessary .
these are short-term solutions which must not lose sight of the long-term objective of economic development of the Palestinian economy and finances .
the importance of physically and psychologically rehabilitating women victims of the war stands out .
thank you very much .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( LT ) I would like to congratulate Mr Stockmann on a report in which he once again demonstrates tolerance and competence in dealing with quite controversial proposals .
the clause in question contravened Article 49 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union , which guarantees nationals of Member States exercising their freedom of establishment the same treatment within a host Member State as that given to nationals of that Member State .
it is possible , then .
uniform rules reduce costs by avoiding the need for a variety of authorisations and permissions .
as honourable Members know , I have twice visited Gaza and , after meeting with business , with civil society and especially with many children , we have proposed a comprehensive package of support , focusing on infrastructure , equipment and training for the Kerem Shalom crossing .
I therefore abstained from the vote .
nowadays I feel the future of Europe lies in its geography .
on the last occasion I was here , I gave my speech in Tibetan and then read the English translation .
statements by the President
( EL ) Madam President , let me first congratulate the Slovenian Presidency and the other 13 countries that have endorsed this proposal brought before us today .
we saw in Cancún how slow the process is .
( ES ) Mr President , firstly I would also like to express our sympathy and care for the victims and their families , because it is true that every summer we have to lament this situation .
the negotiations were held in appropriate conditions .
in writing . - ( PT ) As stressed in a press release , we do not support this resolution because :
Mr President , when Member States ratify the Reform Treaty , as we hope and believe they will , we can look forward , at long last , to a revitalised European Union - a Union with the capacity to confront new challenges , with the humility to listen to its citizens and with the political will to act .
education and training policies must have a significant positive impact on social and economic results , sustainable development and social cohesion , whereas inefficiency and inequity entail huge costs : loss of tax revenue , unemployment , a greater requirement for healthcare and support from public funds , and also the costs associated with a higher level of anti-social behaviour .
I think that this legislation will open up a range of opportunities for us .
as one last comment , can I say to the Commissioner that perhaps he should go to America and convince President Obama that Roquefort cheese is extremely good and that perhaps he can reduce the tariff that President Bush put on it before he left office .
I have voted in favour of the joint resolution on Belarus , because it gives a balanced presentation of the situation and highlights both the positive aspects and progress made and the democratic deficit in many areas .
the market value of goods made from timber is also considerable .
secondly there is the whole issue of the concept of on-call time , which in practice tends to be considered equal to a rest period .
the economic and social crisis has hit the whole of Europe and the only possible response , therefore , is a European response , via a Community budget which has all the necessary means at its disposal .
its application must also guarantee environmental and social sustainability , and should not distort competition between Member States .
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women carry out work that is comparable to an occupational activity but is not recognised as such and is neither protected nor paid .
we have a thriving and dynamic communications sector with active consumers in the marketplace .
in writing . - The Greens / EFA have been able to include an important number of amendments which focused on environmental and social conditioning of direct payments , measures against climate change , a broader and more inclusive approach to rural territorial development and fair income for farmers .
I would also like to highlight the LEADER programme in this context , which contributes to improving the involvement of women in the decision-making process in the local action groups .
we are not primarily concerned about the 20 000 who arrived in Lampedusa .
in our country 's history , the Catholic religion has played an important role in the fight for freedom during the Communist era and , in general , has acted for the development of democracy . one could even compare it to the role played by socialism in Franco 's Spain .
a great deal of uncertainty was also present with regard to the time it would take for the European economies to recover as well as the tools that we should use to stimulate such a recovery .
the rapporteur and the shadow rapporteurs also propose investigating whether foodstuffs and beverages could fall within the Ecolabel 's scope .
it is important to get our priorities straight ; there is no point in looking for people to blame .
our assessment , however , is that although the Slovenian Presidency has genuinely done its best , it has not managed to assert itself against the bigger players or to make headway on dossiers , such as ' rights and migration ' in particular , by putting forward a different point of view from a new country more open and more alert to the rights of migrants and new citizens .
this is intolerable and has to change .
am I dreaming ?
let us not forget that we have had a very radical overhaul of our financial services legislation during the last eight years .
for example , the whole nuclear policy , the Energy Mix , comes under national jurisdiction and there is nothing I can do to change that .
from the Commission perspective , the focus remains on ensuring a harmonised approach and application of agreed measures to future crisis situations .
in which form is this Treaty actually readable , and where in this Treaty does it say anything about basic democratic principles such as the separation of powers ?
these new vehicles will come on the market over a long period of time .
he has managed to ensure that he will get a pat on the back from his Socialist friends with his dull - if not to say dumb - polemics directed at the PPE-DE Group .
let us bear in mind the behaviour of the US and President Obama 's inability to act because laws had not yet been passed .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Madam President , the Commission welcomes Parliament 's report on the future European international investment policy .
in return for flexibility in implementation of the pact , which was introduced under the reform adopted by the March 2005 European Council , the necessary figures must be indisputable and verifiable .
however , I think the Commission can assume that , in future , we will be watching much more carefully .
the Commission is closely monitoring the development of the situation in Greece .
this , I believe , is the challenge raised by this debate which , having made us think about it , we must accept .
solving this problem requires customs systems that are electronic and interconnected .
we needed , and still need , common standards for classification companies which are responsible for monitoring ships and granting shipping permits , and also very clear rules governing inspections and the addition of ships to the blacklist .
ladies and gentlemen , the truth is that without European funding for foreign and defence policies , the European Union would have remained in the wings instead of at the centre of the world stage .
I also welcome the call for a more coordinated response in the EU to the financial crisis and that divergences between the national regimes of Member States should be reduced to the greatest possible extent .
are we being serious about our responsibility or are we playing politics here ?
how do we maximise the impact ?
it was no surprise to me that regional policy was among the five key areas recently raised with me by the COSLA .
perhaps in four months ' time .
according to the Commission , requests for data can only relate to international transfers and use of the service is strictly limited to terrorism investigations by the secret services .
in territories where little development is taking place , the human capacity for generating appropriate projects is clearly lacking , the basic infrastructure for getting investment into these territories is lacking , and appropriate education and proper healthcare are lacking .
however , we should also remember other energy sources , such as the unconventional shale gas , for example .
in writing . - ( LT ) I voted in favour of this resolution because the EU and the African Union ( AU ) must jointly address key issues of common concern in order to successfully implement the partnership between Africa and the EU which is based on the mutual interest in exploiting their combined potentials .
I have , in the last five years , regulated when it was necessary .
as the use of nuclear energy in the European Union is a reality and will be a reality , and nuclear safety is not constrained by national borders , we need a Community-wide framework aiming at achieving , maintaining and continuously improving nuclear safety in the European Union .
after intensive and earnest debate , it not only agreed on the essence of the Commission 's proposals for the Europe 2020 strategy on growth and jobs but it also decided on a mechanism to ensure financial stability in the euro area capable of providing financial support to Greece , should the need arise .
at these times , they are therefore at risk of pirate attack .
200 000 hectares of forest have been destroyed in the south west of France .
thirdly , EC law must not contravene the International Labour Organisation Convention .
work at official level within the Council on the possibility of expanding the issuing of visas for human rights defenders is continuing .
an additional advantage is that when impact assessments are carried out of amendments in Parliament itself - and I have to say , they have still not been a great success - we can look at whether we could put them to an independent body of this nature , rather than the Impact Assessment Board of the Commission .
the reform has very quickly become irrelevant , due to the major turnaround in the market , which demonstrates that the sector is totally at the mercy of price volatility .
we were able to express our expectations .
nearly five million people need urgent humanitarian aid . in the meantime , the Sudanese Government has decided to expel 13 of the leading non-governmental aid organisations from Darfur .
if conflicts of interest between concentration of media ownership and political authority are to be avoided , competition and media law must be dovetailed .
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the research sector is also suffering under the low level of demand for seed for protein producing crops .
European Union membership of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean ( GFCM ) faces a major turning point with this proposal for a regulation .
these are concrete , specific and recent examples of how our work to defend human rights is continuous , persistent and solid .
we are talking about an economic centre in the heart of Europe which must not be cut off from the international flow of goods as a result of our activities .
the solution to the crisis lies instead in the healthy renewal of the political and operational situation .
last week , the European Parliament adopted a report on this issue and on the need to establish a political framework in this area and I , for one , welcome it .
that is why it is not proposed to do away with cohesion policy outright , but to radically refocus it , due to alleged waste of Structural Funds and abuses in the area .
also on the agenda at this part-session will be tomorrow 's debate on the European Semester and Wednesday 's vote on the budget .
the amending budget is the outcome of the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon .
we have a lot of catching up to do in these areas in particular .
in conclusion , I wish to stress that we are monitoring developments and that we are in contact with the responsible parties of the Espoo Convention , with the parties involved and with the contractor .
we are well aware that there is friction between President Mugabe and the Prime Minister following the global political agreement signed on 15 September 2008 and the appointment , on 13 February , of the government of national unity .
the EP also succeeded in safeguarding the Community method and , thanks to Green pressure , development priorities .
I am convinced that , within this framework , appropriate attention will be paid to protecting the young from alcohol abuse .
( LT ) Today we have completed the first reading of the EU budget for 2008 and have voted in favour of it .
the Commission has long owed this to the citizens of Europe .
European standards are not always met , whether they be quality and safety standards or even environmental and health regulations .
we also need to assess what kind of policy we want on refusal of entry .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
the only chink of light was his clear statement that Serbia would not use any form of violence , blackmail or intimidation whatsoever .
for the reimbursement of costs is already settled .
at the same time , mine closures will also have a significant impact on the energy sector .
I presume there are regulations covering movements at airports which are not part of the Schengen rules but probably relate to airport security .
in this context , the Commission can accept Amendments 1 , 2 , 7 and 8 concerning the establishment of annual fishing plans to ensure a balance between the fishing effort of the Community fleet and the quotas .
in writing . - ( PL ) When it voted for compulsory unbundling of ownership of energy concerns in the European Union , the European Parliament took a decisive step towards creating a common market in electrical energy .
they should also be given the opportunity to return from maternity leave to the labour market , but also to further studies .
all the food people had was confiscated .
turning to the specific question , I am aware of the difficulties the fishing sector is going through as a result of the steep increase in the price of fuel .
that is not possible .
that is what the points of single contact are all about .
in writing . - I voted against because due to the precarious nature of the stocks there should be a ban on the fishing of bluefin tuna until the stocks recover .
Mr President , in December 2009 , when I was in Pristina and Mitrovica and saw how people are living in the Mahala and , in particular , in the lead-contaminated camps , I was rather shocked , particularly about the plight of the children .
it is something that should be raised in the context of the economic and social governance of Europe .
what are the conditions we intend to dictate to the countries of the southern shore of the Mediterranean in order to commit ourselves to a Marshall Plan ?
the previous presidencies that had the opportunity to come before this House , the Secretary-General and High Representative and the EU Anti-Terrorism Coordinator did not fail to cooperate with the European Parliament 's Temporary Committee in this respect .
this instrument must be transparent , it must be debated , and the Commission must consult all the stakeholders , unions and associations , among others .
by Mr Costa , on behalf of the Committee on Transport and Tourism , on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation ( EC ) No 881 / 2004 establishing a European Railway Agency - C6-0473 / 2006 - .
it is important to make a distinction between irregularity , or failure to comply with a rule , and fraud , or purposeful wrongdoing , which is a criminal offence .
it is up to us to send a strong message to the Commission , and , above all , to Member States and our governments .
I have argued and I would stress that , faced with the predictable increase in consumption ( particularly of energy ) by our enormous population due to the positive effects of globalisation , we must find scientific answers and technological solutions .
allow me to finish by underlining once again how much I appreciate Sarajevo 's place in European history and its cultural significance .
a second point is that it is , in a manner of speaking , a voluntary framework .
you were elected , as you stated , and that does not contradict what I said .
once again , the right has given preference to profits ... However , small steps count , and these reports are a step in the right direction towards the sustainable agriculture of tomorrow and a healthier environment for our children .
the need to examine these circular migration opportunities , based on the Communication from the Commission of 16 May 2007 , was also reiterated in the conclusions of the June 2007 European Council .
the issue surrounding universities ' autonomy is referred to several times in the report in question , with the idea of a ' partnership ' between universities and companies being added to this point as a way of ensuring funding for the institutions .
it was a protectorate and it will remain a protectorate .
has the fact actually ever been discussed - and this is another issue - that always right on time just prior to an Ecofin meeting , just before a European Council , one , two or three credit rating agencies assess whatever is on the table as a solution to the problems as being inappropriate ?
last night , after a meeting in this Parliament , I watched television and there was a programme on 24 / 24 on abuses against women in Pakistan .
on behalf of the EFD Group . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , one of the most significant problems regarding human rights in China is the exploitation of forced labour in the Laogai , the Chinese concentration camps .
the scientific credibility of the IPCC is undermined by such things as the Climategate affair , the falsification of global temperature trends ( Russia and Australia ) and the Glaciergate affair .
after discussions with Commissioner Kroes and Commissioner Špidla the shipyard workers returned to Poland with high hopes .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , that concludes the information that I wished to bring to your attention today .
what challenges are we going to tackle , as I mention in this report ?
my appeal is that you should add one more priority to your four priorities .
I might also say that in any case I am glad to have worked in close cooperation with the EP for the benefit of our citizens .
I wonder whether we may not have reached a point where traditional social protection policies cease to be effective .
the report that we are discussing today reflects that same approach to combating climate change and that same concern shown by the European Union .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I really appreciate your contributions .
preparedness plans should become sufficiently autonomous and flexible to be adapted as swiftly as possible to the actual risks .
I hope to have been as thorough as possible in answering your questions .
if our citizens are informed , they stand a better chance of avoiding infection .
on Sudan : we heard Mr Osman here today .
( EL ) Madam President , I believe that this entire issue has arisen due to a lack of information for consumers and the public .
it is therefore certain that in a few years ' time we shall be debating a new text , a new treaty , one that is more appropriate to the realities that are to come .
the rebel leaders have announced that if the EU force is not neutral , they will wage a war against these troops .
the Commission will continue to play its part , to perform its role as a driving force and initiator , but in so doing it will not act against the Member States and Parliament but rather with the European Parliament and with the Member States .
the title tells all .
I think Mr Mulder 's main concerns have been taken on board , and this is the case , in particular , for the improved flexibility that Member States will have to adapt the control system to their administrative organisation .
facilities which already existed must obtain authorisation , in accordance with the directive , by May 2012 .
as regards General Stationary Combustion , it is important that the new performance standard for emissions is in place , which should be implemented in every power station from 2015 on at the latest .
from this extremely lengthy and exhaustive report , however , there seems to emerge a general criticism of the Member States with regard to violations that exist on their territories , and therefore under their control .
we continue to call on the Belarus authorities to cooperate fully with the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights in order to comply with international democratic standards .
I still remember very clearly that , during accession negotiations in the second half of the 1990s , Latvia , Lithuania and Slovakia were initially excluded .
if they do not agree , is it simply because true professionals can rarely admit in public what they know to be true in private ?
the report picks up on this fact , but fails to get to the root of the problem , which often lies in parallel societies , archaic Islamic structures or organised gangs of traffickers .
I share the position presented on this matter by the rapporteur .
it is evident that money is not everything , but that nothing seems to work without money .
however , in Professor Monti 's words , I think that it is precisely at times like this , now , that there is the greatest need for the Single Market , at times when , due to the effect of the crisis , we instinctively try to withdraw into narrow but very familiar national confines .
it would be good if we took steps so that the transnational minority status of the Roma is recognised , since it really is a special status .
of course , Madam President , the increasing infertility of men in Europe is worrying , but not as much , in my opinion , as the continued inequalities between men and women in the sharing of family responsibilities , as this inequality is the reason why many women decide not to have children .
in addition to humanitarian assistance in the first hours of the disaster , the EU also has sought other ways to support the economic recovery of the country embodied in the proposed regulation .
your new annual growth survey promises more of the same .
as if this were not enough , the death penalty still applies to a large number of crimes , and death sentences continue to be handed down by the Libyan courts , in breach of international standards concerning the right to a fair trial .
the Commission 's intentions in drawing up plans to encourage Member States to introduce an EU minimum wage policy and set retirement mechanisms are going against the Treaties .
in writing . - ( NL ) Two key reasons prevented me from supporting this resolution .
in the case of Romania , if we were to look at the matter from an ethnic perspective , which groups would she want me to include in the report ?
the next event in the series will be in 2009 , when it is intended to host the world 's science , education and finance ministers in Budapest , as the main event of the Year of Creativity .
this is what we need on the international stage . we need a clear , transparent institution which is accessible to European citizens , which clarifies the situation with regard to the disinformation that generally comes from outside Europe and runs contrary to European interests and , from the other perspective , intervenes in cases of abuse and ensures that abuses are eliminated .
as for ' made in ' labelling , can it really help to solve this problem ?
we want to show that 2014 is the year that would mark the start of a long period of peace , or would continue the long period of peace that has already started .
I therefore welcome the proposals and also the measures for managing accidents and shipping and environmental disaster risks and the relevant responsibilities , which I call on the Commission to make a greater commitment to uphold .
ladies and gentlemen , we are not talking about cadmium here , but about cadmium telluride .
however , we cannot leave the job half done .
moreover , in the Council , the Single Market Act is shared between various parts of the institution , whose roles and effectiveness vary widely .
yet , at the same time , we must develop an energy policy that is based on solidarity with the developing countries where more than a million people have no access to energy .
conciliation was extremely successful , and was indeed a joint success for the three participating institutions . I congratulate Mr Böge on his role as the head of Parliament 's delegation .
the resolution will therefore make a direct contribution to the reforms in Turkey , including reforms in the areas of women 's rights , trade union rights and social legislation .
at the level of the citizens , these advances will also benefit European households , who will notice a reduction in their energy spending .
yes , we must invest to a greater extent in research and development , but we also need better evaluation of the projects , which , at the end of day , are funded by taxpayers .
I regard it as a positive signal from the speech of European Commission Vice-President Šefčovič that the Commission intends to review the possibility of introducing procedural rules for investigations , setting out various aspects of the procedure for breaches of the law , including time limits , the right to a hearing , the obligation to provide reasons and so on .
in various cases previously institutions have purchased or leased property at prices above the market rate .
consumers , like service providers , are not always able to say which Member State 's legal regime is applicable when there is a dispute .
during the last half of 2008 there was a dangerous drive for some protectionist internal measures in the European Union .
nevertheless , side by side with that is the fact that , historically , those who evaded tax were sometimes seen as almost heroes , outfoxing the government .
if you want to continue answering the question without the question , that is fine with me .
I realise that we were changing the issue , but we must go beyond mere words and turn to action .
this is not just a Spanish or French issue , it is a European issue .
man can destroy much faster than build .
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I believe there needs to be more and better training of Commission staff - both in Brussels and in delegations - particularly in how they manage the participation of children .
I urge the Czech Presidency , in spite of the approaching European elections , or especially for this reason , to demonstrate vision , political will and , above all , commitment to Europe 's citizens .
Ukraine is now paying the price for a severe economic crisis , as well as for protracted political instability , which have allowed the authorities in Kiev to slip behind in the commitments they made to the international financial institutions .
unfortunately the EU does not seem to take symbols seriously .
the 2005 communication said that it would be a huge organisational step and might therefore be risky and costly to implement .
in 2000 we defined a core objective through the Lisbon Strategy , which has meanwhile been revised .
now , if this could happen with salmonella bacteria , you could have 450 groups doing the same research into renewable energies , for example , wind energy , solar energy , tidal energy and wave energy .
we must also , of course , ensure that cohesion policy and structural funds have an adequate budget in the future .
to exercise this right , they have to invest in boats , fishing gear and safety equipment .
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a set of economic examples on the one hand .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - Madam President , my Group supports this proposal , and thinks this is a practical set of adjustments to the current legislation and that it is actually useful that European political parties should have the ability to do research and so on through their foundations and have the flexibility to carry money over from one year to the next and so on .
that is the bitter lesson from 30 years of strife in Northern Ireland .
despite these problematic issues , an agreement was reached with the Council at first reading that sets the emissions limit to be achieved by 2020 at 147g CO2 / km , subject to feasibility , which must be assessed by the Commission before January 2013 .
I hope that this situation will change next year .
European culture is , as is well known , indebted to many cultures in various parts of the world , like the people subjected to European colonialism , for example .
in the case of the Kosovo problem , we will have to wait and see whether the International Court of Justice determines the action to have been contrary to international law .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , the Commission condemns the use of corporal punishment .
( ET ) Colleagues , through the ages the Olympic movement has striven for a better world .
we all well remember the effects of the food crisis of 2007 when , as a result of a sudden rise in the prices of basic agricultural products , millions of people around the world were faced with a lack of food .
taking account , therefore , of the importance of the tourist product to Europe and to certain countries such as Greece , where I come from , I should like to ask you the following : firstly , what measures does the Commission intend to take in order to strengthen and safeguard jobs in the tourist industry in the European Union ?
firstly , the proportion accounted for by energy taxes .
finally , this text clarifies the types of action to be taken by the European Parliament in the event of a ' breach by a Member State of fundamental principles ' , which is especially positive in its defence of fundamental rights .
although travel by air is one of the safest means of travel , however , one can never take measures which are too safe .
it is still not perfect as far as I am concerned - they will probably be pleased to hear that ! - but it is much more appropriate than it was , and I feel we can be justified in supporting it .
at the same time , it strengthens the areas of prevention and victim protection , paying particular attention to children and other vulnerable groups .
in this context , do the development of sea links and road transport and corridors together with cooperation in the energy sector and the promotion of sustainable development constitute the main objectives of the EU 's initiatives ?
gambling , by its very nature , has psychological implications for individual players and affects the cultural and behavioural aspects of individual societies .
my call for labour law to provide a reliable basis for SMEs has also been incorporated .
the more the debate was focused on Europe , the larger the majority was .
we need a new migration strategy that takes into account the original causes of migration , such as poverty , discrimination , conflict and political repression , among other things .
I was recently in Washington having meetings with the members of the Congress .
if we do that , then China will not only listen to us , but will trade more with us , we will be able to invest more in China and China invest more with us .
however , I welcome the positive elements of the Parliament 's first reading , including funding for economic development in our regions , support for crucial research and development and increased overseas aid in line with the UK 's target to increase development assistance .
world day against the death penalty (
also , the implementation of the SAA interim agreement is broadly on track .
which proposals do you agree with , and when will you carry them out ?
the right to democracy is now a fundamental human right , and this is an important instrument to be used .
preparation of the Commission work programme 2013 (
ever since the EU gained powers in the field of justice and internal affairs , and since the creation of the area of freedom , security and justice , for which the EU and the Member States are currently jointly competent , significant progress has been made in the field of civil law .
the report by Mrs Alvarez on administrative cooperation in the field of taxation ,
the European Parliament is developing a high-quality environmental policy , in conjunction with a responsible transport policy .
energy efficiency is definitely one of the pillars that will underpin our energy policy for a long time to come .
we would also like to see a clear limit for carbon dioxide emissions .
the rulings of the European Court of Justice have only served to make this tax arrangement easier and have therefore intruded massively into the fiscal sovereignty of the Member States .
that is what I wish for everyone .
Member States that wish to do this through statutory minimum wages are free to do so .
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this is a reference to the Yamal-Europe natural gas pipeline and the ' Friendship ' oil pipeline .
these misleading sales techniques which involve ordinary people are wrong and need to be stopped .
to conclude in English : earlier this year , Commissioner Quinn stated that ' we need to send red tape to the shredder .
Mr President , Commissioner , Mr Maystadt , ladies and gentlemen , the European Parliament has made a number of recommendations and I agree with three of them .
this issue must in fact be clarified today .
he described the Council as being ' better than expected and worse than hoped for ' .
we cannot abandon our responsibilities .
European exports to South Korea are expected to increase by more than 80 % .
( DE ) Mr President , as we know , water is the most precious of all resources , and we must not let our water drain away by choosing not to adopt an ambitious water policy .
the first is the relegation of the written word , a matter already referred to as important .
the African continent is a field of particular rivalry .
nevertheless , I take a very dim view of the exemption for solar panels .
we should make clear that , although Schengen requires open internal borders , that is only the case where the external borders are truly secure .
they were killed for the sole reason of belonging to these two ethnic groups or , in the terms of their persecutors , ' race . '
these are a few steps in the right direction for citizens right across the EU to be able to make a decision on where to go for health-care services .
( DE ) Mr President , the citizens of Europe are right .
this report settles one part of this debt .
this is why I fully support the calls for increasing the duration of parental leave , and in particular increasing the incentives for fathers to take parental leave , and flexible working conditions .
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Madam President , I should also like to reiterate why these measures are necessary .
in addition , a European consumer information policy that highlights efforts by Community producers to comply with European Union regulations in the areas of the environment , food security and animal welfare is needed , since Community producers have to compete with imports from third countries , where the standards applied are much lower .
it is important that citizens cannot mistake tokens similar to euro coins for the euro itself , which is why I have voted in favour of the Ryan report .
because we have to face the fact that bank lending is limited by their capital and they are stuck until either more capital is raised or the loan sold on .
as you know , we recently launched an important initiative to promote these EU objectives .
for many years now the European Parliament has resolutely championed the cause of human rights in Tibet .
you do not agree , but I think that , if we did not have good systems in place , the Irish crisis would have gone unnoticed .
look at the advertisements .
therefore , I hope that the interpreters now translate the Polish numbers correctly .
there is a huge problem regarding religious freedom , and Vietnam must give a response on this before a new agreement is signed , particularly the failure to recognise the Unified Buddhist Church .
past colonial interference and brutal conquest in Africa , often exploiting communal and tribal divisions , have left a lasting legacy .
if Pakistan wants to increase its cooperation with the European Union , it should show that it is cooperating in the fight against terrorism in a very real way and that it is developing its rule of law .
that is the Laying Hens Directive , which requires the animal welfare standards of the cages in which egg-laying hens are kept to be upgraded by the end of next year .
we saw our entry into the EU , on the one hand , as external confirmation of the fact that we had relatively quickly , over the course of almost fifteen years since the fall of communism , become a normal European country again .
additional efforts are needed to avoid excessive delays and to improve implementation performance .
the Single Market is an important goal to be reached .
in this case it was the redundancy of 594 workers - 200 of whom are potential beneficiaries of aid - in three companies manufacturing machinery and equipment in the Podkarpackie region of Poland , during the nine-month reference period between 1 June 2009 and 1 March 2010 .
of course , the costs involved in measures of this kind for small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) represent a significant challenge for them .
only yesterday just a gimmick without resources , personnel or power , it would seem that , today , Frontex 's remit allows it to provide its support to joint return operations and contributes in some , albeit small , way to the daily fight against illegal immigration .
therefore , any further debate on the introduction of test scanners is only useful when sufficiently detailed impact assessments of the conditions listed above have been carried out .
Doha would also deliver the development that so many of the poorest countries in the world are looking for . it would do that through new rules on market access , farm reform and customs facilitation in particular .
I welcome and support all steps leading towards the rapid integration of Serbia into the EU , since a majority of Serbs want this integration .
you have clearly stated that you are prepared to change this and I hope that you do move in this direction .
I therefore call on the Commission and the Council to ensure that this subject is pursued consistently in Copenhagen .
I would call this ' policy laundering ' , because whatever we cannot achieve at national level we try to achieve via the back door of the EU .
as the rapporteur points out , women researchers are still a minority in the government and higher education sectors with both sectors having an EU average of 35 % women .
I am particularly pleased with our report 's request to set up a milk fund restructuring programme .
the new constitution and the provisions relating to the protection of human rights and the rights of national minorities , the security services , the judiciary and the army , and also the efforts to eliminate corruption , do represent movement in the right direction .
( NL ) First of all , I would like to thank Baroness Ludford for this fine report .
Mr President , global capitalism moves people around the world - some legally , some illegally - as though they were simply expendable facts of production .
I cannot overstate how important this is in terms of a regime shift and an alignment of fisheries regulation with many other maritime activities .
sustainable fisheries depend upon decisions being taken at a local level and involving those to whom they are addressed .
so , at the moment , we are at the stage where we think that the Cotonou Agreement must be invoked and ' 96 ' consultations have to be taken , and then we will see .
it is also a very French idea , and we must dismiss it , just as we must dismiss the idea of an economic government .
my own personal viewpoint , which I have tried to make clear , has to do with the interests of a people who have lived through 30 years of war .
this will help to make us more efficient and more productive , and enable us to act on the international stage .
is that really sufficient for the EU to build its influence in the region ?
in full compliance with the law , we must find sensitive solutions that guarantee the stability of the European project .
( EL ) The next item is the report [ 2007 / 2002 ( ΙΝΙ ) ] ( Α6-0375 / 2007 ) by Mrs Martens , on behalf of the Committee on Development , on the state of play of EU-Africa relations .
awarding the city the title of European Capital of Culture at this juncture would not only help in the cultural regeneration of the city and in improving the city 's image in other countries , but would also help to commemorate important aspects of European history and identity .
we know that .
we work well with NATO together in Bosnia and Herzegovina and along the coast of Somalia .
the credibility of the EU legal system , and consequently of the European Union , depends on it .
the report by Janusz Lewandowski , on behalf of the Committee on Budgets , on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009
( PL ) Mr President , I would like to draw attention to three issues in this debate .
however , we are pleased to say that proposals were adopted aimed at improving the mobility of these students and drawing attention to the fact that the programme must not be used to attract people with special skills from third countries to the European Union , to the prejudice of their countries of origin .
the Commission has made clear suggestions to guarantee the safety of European consumers .
I am sure that the leaders will discuss this issue too in Friday 's European Council meeting .
a civil war is taking place in Libya .
hopefully , these laws will give them a stronger negotiating position so that this vulnerable group in the food chain can also be better protected .
their development is therefore directly related to areas such as employment , social inclusion , environmental protection and the achievement in general of the cohesion policy objectives .
is it encouraging or discouraging you , as the European Commission , to take a position in favour of one direction ?
they do not have legal assistance , neither do they have contact with lawyers for refugee affairs .
we are concerned , as I highlighted in my amendments , about a number of issues : the visa regime , the process for informing citizens about the EU , economic cooperation with the states in the Western Balkans , minorities ' rights , study programmes in the EU for young people from the region , as well as strengthening interparliamentary dialogue even before these states join the EU .
concern was also expressed about the criteria for severity bands .
they were an unwarranted encroachment on Austrian sovereignty .
in my view , three principles are particularly important . first of all , the democratic principles : pursuing constitutional reform , where reform of the rules governing political parties is essential in view of the experiences of last year , this year and previous years , when we have seen the pitfalls of the constitutional framework of Turkey in this regard , as pointed out by the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe .
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finally , I would also ask you to work on the fight against terrorism .
I am convinced that particularly vigilant screening will be needed to ensure that the transposition properly reflects the spirit which , on the European Parliament 's part , has informed this legislation .
two of the three main priorities of the Czech presidency - energy and the Eastern Partnership - need gas .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to give Mr Schulz the benefit of the doubt when he says that he wants a constructive approach towards reception and the unavoidable rules that the Roma , like everyone else , must obey if they are to participate in the coexistence project that we call the European Union .
we support in particular the aim of ambitious medium and long-term emission reduction targets , the promotion of renewable energy and increased energy efficiency , and the call for a sustainable approach to forestry , rainforests and deforestation .
we must have the courage to carry out a regular analysis and evaluation of our actions , admit where we have made mistakes and , when we have made them , we must find other solutions .
at the last plenary session when we discussed the discharge for 2007 , one idea was to reduce the number of programmes and to have bigger projects and bigger programmes which are much easier to survey .
I have tried to make the process very transparent .
I am pleased that political consensus was found within Parliament and also with the Council of Ministers to resolve this issue .
the applicant is obliged to work with 27 separate national legal systems .
( HU ) Mr President , Mrs Győri , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I am glad that by voting on the Coelho report tomorrow , the European Parliament will give a clear sign that it accepts Romania 's and Bulgaria 's readiness and supports the accession of these two countries to one of the most important acquis of the European Union , the Schengen area .
Chad
this makes the licensing terms of businesses throughout the European Union more similar and , by extension , achieves greater convergence in conditions of competition .
rapporteur . - Mr President , as rapporteur , I had wanted to speak before my report , but I thank you for the opportunity to speak now , because it is important for all our sakes that a couple of things are put on the record .
determined action is therefore needed , leading to the creation of jobs and a real improvement in the economic situation .
you must legalise your responsibilities and I call on you to do this as a matter of urgency .
the European Regional Development Fund and the other Structural Funds have accomplished a great deal , but they can and must do more and better for the European Union .
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their trial was one of the most shameful events and biggest injustices of the twentieth century .
therefore , I hope that the important issues of how to coordinate financial services , particularly now that some countries are showing early signs of coming out of this period of negative growth , will be the main topic of discussion and not the distraction of controlling bankers ' bonuses .
the European Capitals of Culture project helps to support the richness and diversity of European cultures and the features they share , as well as to promote greater mutual understanding between European citizens .
we can only hope that it begins to put its words into action as soon as possible , something that it has unfortunately not yet succeeded in doing in many cases .
for this reason I entirely agree with Parliament , and the Commission also sees the need to put the entire system of CE marking under the microscope .
secondly , the European Union 's role in the strategic concept is still insufficient and the planned civilian crisis management capabilities are at risk of pointlessly duplicating those of the European Union .
to put it clearly , Germany , more than almost any other country , gains extensive benefits from the European internal market or an enlarged European internal market , but it is very difficult to make this clear to those concerned if the loss of their jobs was facilitated with European funds or if unlawful national subsidies were used for this .
therefore the focus should be on the renovation of existing buildings , since the construction rate of new buildings within the EU is in continuous decline and many old buildings have the greatest efficiency potential , if renovated properly .
these projects resulted , then , directly from previous EU EOMs , which had identified a number of deficiencies in the electoral framework .
we needed to have a budgetary energy plan to change the economic climate .
however , if we lack the courage to do this , it is important to me that we retain the principle of relative stability .
we need to do everything we can to prevent the brutal oppression that they are suffering , which includes cancelling the paralysing common position .
we have been told : ' the Presidency is acting as though relations were normal ' .
on China , there are explicit and implicit references , when I speak of involving the new emerging powers in global governance .
let us recall that the first 10 years of the euro have been a success story : that is the starting point .
Ironically , sustained high oil prices are just what is needed to reduce CO2 emissions .
this is the first year of the European Semester , which has been designed precisely to establish the greatest possible coordination between the Union 's budget and those of the Member States , the greatest possible synergy and the utmost complementarity .
if we listen to Mrs Podimata , things are actually quite simple . we take the money where we find it , and that is that .
some of you have referred to the review of the Savings Taxation Directive , and I can assure you that the ongoing review is a very thorough one , where we are examining in detail whether the current scope is effective , and the pros and cons of extending it .
the ALDE Group would like a solution to be found to this .
( EL ) Madam President , I should like to thank the Commissioner for her detailed reply ; however , I would note that , with a sample of 0.4 % , the error rate rises to 4 % or EUR 2 million in 50 billion .
he aims to build trust through dialogue , between citizens and the European Union and to foster the highest standards of behaviour in the Union 's institutions ' .
the Committee on Fisheries and the Legal Service of the European Parliament expressed serious doubts as to the choice of the legal basis by the Commission , i.e. Article 203 TFEU , suggesting instead Articles 43 ( 2 ) and 204 TFEU and the Sole Article of the Protocol ( No 34 ) on Special Arrangements for Greenland as the correct legal basis .
Frankenstein is lurking at the door !
who , though , are we going to appoint to exercise these powers ?
the main aim is to help Member States attain the best employment opportunities and the most active participation on the part of citizens in society .
there are significant areas in this report which step outside these boundaries .
there is harsh internal and external criticism of the Kurdish Government concerning respect for human rights , however , and the position of the Assyrian Christian minority in Kurdistan in particular is worrying .
nobody ever complained about this in the past twenty years , even though it was most anti-democratic .
European Union Member States should continue to support Croatia 's reform programme , paying particular attention to its most pressing problems , namely corruption , high levels of unemployment and the difficult situation the fragmented agricultural sector finds itself in .
the vote will take place today at 12.00 .
this support to the Kenyan judiciary system includes a sort of mixture of capacity-building measures for prosecution , police , judicial and prison services .
when we talk of the real reasons for the rising prices of oil , food , raw materials and energy in general , these are strategic global problems .
due to the financial crisis we are clearly facing delays in a lot of energy- and capital-intensive projects .
it is a new arena for the exchange of opinions that is sorely needed for political mobilisation .
on the restructuring of the banking sector , surely the most fundamental lesson that has to be drawn from the experience of the last number of years and the major crisis is that the major financial institutions and banks cannot be left in private hands .
as we all know , the EU 's fisheries policy has come under intense criticism for a long time now , and with good reason .
I am very grateful to the Council , too .
it is definitely the CFSP that should lead our activities on non-proliferation .
there is no disputing that the fight against tax fraud has a European dimension because of the globalisation of the economy internationally .
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on behalf of the PPE Group . - ( ES ) Mr President , Baroness Ashton , ladies and gentlemen , whatever the result or outcome of the situation in Egypt , I believe that we are safe in saying that there will be a before and after the events that have taken place in Tunisia .
in my opinion , Commissioner , this agreement between the EU and Switzerland therefore represents a step in the right direction .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , honourable Members , you asked me to come to the plenary to explain where we are in the negotiations on ACTA - the international Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement .
even the Chad mission is very much delayed , and that was supposed to be ' urgent ' .
once a prosperous country , it has been turned on its head by its President .
Mr President , Commissioners , ladies and gentlemen , the euro is a major success story .
look at developments on the markets ' .
with a proportion of 1.72 % of the total workforce , the European Union is far behind all its competitors .
I contribute to this debate with a degree of sadness .
Mr Maňka has done some very fine work with regard to administrative expenditure and we are now seeing very populist politicians saying that we must not give the EU 's staff the pay rises that they are actually entitled to .
is the Commission actually trying to remain out of touch with the reality that already exists in Member States ?
these standards have been developed by a private organisation ( the International Accounting Standards Committee Foundation and the International Accounting Standards Board ( IASCF / IASB ) ) that is funded by private sources ( mainly companies in the same field ) and not subject to any public control .
I am therefore pleased that the Commission has taken the initiative to draw up an ambitious plan for action against cancer at European level .
Mr President , at the end of the debate , I will speak again for two minutes to finish my speaking time .
we already have some good examples in Member States where the addition of transplant coordinators , for example , has had a positive impact on donation rates .
I would like to comment on one amendment that we will propose for tomorrow .
in writing . - I voted in favour of the joint motion for a resolution on Gaza and am pleased that Parliament has taken such a strong stance on lifting the blockade .
the Commission should reconsider its approach .
16 .
thirteen Member States have indeed ratified the convention .
( for the results and other details on the vote : see Minutes )
in writing . - ( PT ) In recent years , stricter security requirements in air transport have increasingly led to questions about their compatibility with individual rights .
putting an end to torture and abduction , allowing freedom of expression and establishing the independence of the courts and their control over the police all have to take priority over the pluralist elections that are organised simply to please the West , while all the time they are abducting people and murdering journalists and election candidates .
development cooperation and aid policy , which , in the current international context , should constitute one of the principal pillars , if not the principal pillar , of a foreign and security policy , is relegated to an extremely secondary role .
I agree with the use of the symbols of the Union , which is why I voted for the report by the rapporteur , Mr Carnero González .
look at the mess it has made - the ecological destruction , the destruction of surpluses , the poverty inflicted on Africa .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I had already noted that , Mr Rübig .
in the case of child victims , primary consideration must be given to the interests of the child and harsher penalties must be imposed on traffickers .
regardless of the political hue of the new administration , the question is not whether the Ukraine should remain eastern or become western .
I voted in favour of this motion for a resolution because I am convinced that that country has a solid democratic tradition and civic culture , and that its accession will further enhance the EU 's role as a worldwide promoter and defender of human rights and fundamental freedoms .
as shadow rapporteur for the opinion of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , and as I have therefore followed this subject particularly closely , I feel I must congratulate Mrs Jordan Cizelj on the invaluable work she has done .
in the interests of the solidarity of our group , I abstained .
let me use this opportunity to call upon the political leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina to refrain from abusing this painful and unspeakable historical experience for their political purposes .
there is no doubt that what many commentators are saying about these latest events is true : namely that the country is at a crossroads which we regard as critical .
I thought he might have said that he would do what he could to encourage change in Latvia in the spirit of the European Union 's principle of diversity .
the members of the Committee on Transport and Tourism will work together to carry out the necessary evaluations and also to draw the necessary conclusions with regard to the safety provisions .
3 .
( EL ) Mr President , I should like to take my turn in congratulating our rapporteur , Mrs Paliadeli , on her excellent report and on all her efforts to date .
they should also be doing much more to improve the daily lives of ordinary people , to ensure that they do not lose popular support .
request for defence of Mr Valdemar Tomaševski 's parliamentary immunity (
I think that it is most urgent for the Members of the European Parliament to strengthen their struggle for cohesion .
when the Lisbon Strategy was launched in March 2000 , the Council of the European Union called upon the Member States and the Commission to take steps ' to make a decisive impact on the eradication of poverty ' by 2010 .
I voted against the draft resolution because it is harmful and does not comply with European standards .
we need to have the spirit of 1989 .
it was , indeed , addressed by our Parliament - to Serbia , which appreciated our suggestions , but , as this House does not exercise double standards , the same forms of encouragement are to be used in our documents regarding Russia .
overall , the cloning of animals for food production should be rejected , but if it is used , then there must be appropriate labelling , so that citizens are free to decide .
the European Parliament returns to this issue very regularly , giving the names of more victims and more examples of breaches of human rights .
this report deals with the need to find new forms of public sector financing at a world and European level .
we should be cultivating food in these areas .
I also support the proposal for a transitional arrangement whereby Member States under whose legislation design protection exists for component parts may retain such design protection for five years after the entry into force of the directive .
no .
this is a very controversial topic in Ireland and is grist to the mill of those advocating a ' no ' vote on the Lisbon Treaty .
it was the siege of the US Embassy .
this is a country that is continuing to escalate the violation of human rights and international humanitarian laws .
these are legitimate concerns which we agree with in part .
all the measures we are proposing will protect women at work , both when pregnant and after giving birth .
it would certainly fail such a test , although action is now being taken to address the issue .
decentralised wage negotiation systems are contrary to a wage policy based on solidarity and rather than leading to the gap between rich and poor getting smaller , they will - on the contrary - result in it getting bigger .
secondly , we should consider creating a rapid reaction tool within the ENP for prompt and flexible response to political changes in partner countries , as has happened recently in the Southern neighbourhood .
in a market economy , it is incumbent upon industry to propose an appropriate business model .
this is a condition without which negotiations with non-Member States are impossible .
( DE ) Madam President , because the outcome of the vote has been to alter the report , I would ask you to have my name removed from the document .
unfortunately , this directive is based on Article 95 and I am waiting for the Commissioner to clarify the legal basis to us .
I hope it is not too late .
in writing . - This provides for visa-free travel between Mauritius and Member States of the EU .
the people of Zimbabwe deserve a better lot .
President Obama made the decision on his first day in the White House to suspend the trials before military tribunals and to announce the closure of the Guantánamo base .
enforcement measures to correct excessive macroeconomic imbalances in euro area (
the problem is global and the solution must therefore be European .
for example , Members call on the Member States to cooperate closely in order to solve social and public order problems arising from cross-border online gambling .
otherwise outermost regions would be at risk of generating - as happened with the metropolitan fleets - an excess of fishing capacity that ultimately would undermine their economy .
extra restrictions are now being imposed on the admission of products , and rightly so , but this will not harm agriculture to a disproportionate extent .
we are going through a specific crisis in sport . among other things , doping and trade in youngsters are on the increase .
this is something that I have always been opposed to , as it constitutes an invasion of privacy and also results in a lack of legal certainty .
there should be more public discussion of approaches to mental disorders and , in addition , methods for preventing mental illness should be made accessible to the general public .
in fact , in this report , the Commission explains that it is putting the concerns of consumers at the centre of its activities in relation to competition , and that it considers that the main objective of competition policy is the optimisation of the wellbeing of consumers .
jobs will be lost , public services will be significantly curtailed , and income tax will be raised for people on low wages .
for the past thirty years , the two countries have , mercifully , been at peace .
I would also like to say I appreciate the kindness and understanding of your staff and services and interpreters this week whilst we have been making these explanations of vote .
the Americans have shown a very open attitude so far .
we are also particularly pleased that the Australian authorities have confirmed that it is not worth collecting sensitive data such as food preferences .
by protecting animals from inhuman treatment we protect our own humanity .
this procedure has passed through two Commissioners and four presidencies .
I understand that after the Irish Government was granted a one month extension , a response was sent to the Commission at the end of September .
I would also like to defend strongly the changes agreed in the Committee on Constitutional Affairs to Rule 45 ( 2 ) that Costas Botopoulos has just spoken about .
before the vote on Amendment 12 :
the proposal for a directive before us gives priority to implementing the regulation , which seems reasonable .
now 20 000 citizens face forced evictions from the Hatcliffe Extension near Harare .
the Commission is carefully considering these suggestions .
we are now looking at a contradiction .
I hope that has come across quite clearly .
the question of translation raised here is not a question of language , it is not a question of transparency , it is not a question of style .
in writing . - ( IT ) I believe that it is necessary , not just at European level but also nationally and locally , to promote a dialogue with and between the various civil society stakeholders so as to avert the terrible dangers represented by drugs .
to fight terrorism effectively , we need coordinated action , including EU rules on scanners .
we still have to do this many times over in the case of comparable products in competition with each that do not have the same transparency because they are subject to different obligations to provide information .
( RO ) Madam President , I welcome the drafting of this report against the background of the change in global nuclear policy and of the Commission 's proposal for a directive in this area .
however , even if I were in favour of it , I would accuse its masters of betraying the economic interests of its peoples .
the most important thing now is to demonstrate to the enterprises in trouble that we not only understand their plight but also fully support them .
since there is now only a little more than a month until the elections and since Parliament has made an undertaking to publish data and information on attendance by MEPs at parliamentary activities , and now there will be very few opportunities , I do not know whether a meeting of the Bureau may be held to formally deal with this issue .
I also urge all EU Member States to sign up to the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children , Child Prostitution and Child Pornography .
however , this must be accompanied by similarly clear declarations as regards harmonising minimum tax rates , because otherwise it will lead to unchecked tax competition , specifically in this area .
without strong external pressure the two leaders will not reach any kind of agreement , and we need to tell Mr Kibaki clearly that his Government is illegal and act accordingly .
I believe that the European Union should use these words as a reference for situations that arise both within and outside its borders .
consequently , I feel that any technology which can be used to achieve energy efficiency is a benefit which society as a whole can enjoy .
the Commission has been following the development of SCNT since 1996 , when the first cloned mammal , Dolly the sheep , was born .
this will help reduce future distortions of competition and make it more difficult for those who might seek to abuse their market power .
that is coming back to haunt them now .
the increase from six to twelve months is therefore simply good sense .
our political and trade relations are particularly strong ; I would point out that the European Union is China 's largest trading partner .
since its purpose is to ensure its financing of the Support Office , both instruments should be adopted at the same time .
I call this ' the trader 's take on things ' .
I think all the aspirant countries and candidate countries need to use the democratic institutions to strengthen them and not undermine them .
- Before the vote :
I come from a city located at the European Union 's eastern border , perhaps the largest cultural city on the eastern border , just 10 km from the border .
we have almost € 1 billion to tackle this major component of our migration strategy .
since video recordings are available of the clashes , the test for the investigative agencies and justice system in Bulgaria will be to what extent the instigators and participants in this incident will be justly punished .
so , why should this House be prevented from debating such a situation ?
Europe , however , is only an island on the world map and , unless the biggest world powers achieve similar aims , the introduction of even the most greatly desired changes - concerning the climate , for example - will simply mean that we ourselves restrict the possibilities of our industry and manufacturers while throwing away other aims of the strategy .
we need to extend the programme to include doctorates too .
however , it has now been proven that over 100 stopovers were made at Portuguese airports by aircraft involved in the rendition programme .
instead of achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals , further millions are falling into poverty .
we also need to provide funding to the developing countries - especially the poorest and the least developed countries - because we know very well that , without that support , they will not be able to make the adaptation and mitigation efforts that are needed .
I am delighted with the compromise reached on this regulation in the course of the negotiations between the three institutions and , obviously , I too welcome the spirit of cooperation and the will for compromise that prevailed in the three institutions throughout the entire negotiations .
we cannot really be saying that we want to preach one thing and do another .
since a lot depends on us , I very much hope that the representatives of all the Member States both in Parliament and in the other European institutions will understand how vital this demonstration is for European citizens .
as far as I am concerned , I believe that this agreement with a country with which we have a long-standing bond of friendship is important as long as it is entered into on the right basis , that of true reciprocity , and is a balanced and ambitious agreement .
the fourth element is strong supplementary rules which will protect investors and the markets .
eight of the ten leading causes of disability are mental health issues , and mental health problems have a huge effect on those not directly affected .
the first of these is the obligation on Member States to implement the accounting system based on receipts and payments ( cash accounting ) for SMEs ( which are defined at EU level as firms with a turnover of less than EUR 2 million ) , which will be a welcome incentive for the business sector .
the challenges were huge : there was the transition from the legal system of the Treaty of Nice to that provided for by the Treaty of Lisbon and also the drafting of the next multiannual programme , which will define the priorities to be given to the area of freedom , security and justice for the next five years .
I wish the delegation a pleasant stay in Strasbourg and a fruitful exchange of views , which can do nothing but good for our relations .
regarding shared management , the role of the Commission is to ' finalise and agree with Member States on the common standards of these sets of information before April 2008 ' .
the situation in which for many years now in Pakistan , there has been persecution of people of creeds other than Islam - and most of them are Christians - is absolutely unacceptable .
my second point is that we should still bear in mind that the European automobile industry leads the world - we are exporters , those who are producing the cars - and , in this light , we should bear in mind the need for maintaining the long-term effectiveness , as well as the competitiveness of this industry .
it is similar to the situation we had at the beginning of the 1950s when the American people and the American system demonstrated its ability to get rid of McCarthyism .
concerning the fisheries agreement , again , this is a very specific question .
the country sufficiently fulfils the Copenhagen political criteria .
while against the whole principle of European citizenship , I recognise the value of the service provided by volunteers .
I have already said that human rights talks between the EU and China will take place on 15 May .
furthermore , Russia is prone to manipulating energy supplies to pursue its political ambitions .
we should also prevent imports of subsidised coal from abroad .
even though we still have no right of codecision on agricultural policy , I would nonetheless caution the Commission against being too obstinate .
the media are reporting that every 31st of the month , demonstrations organised by the ' Strategy-31 ' movement are held in Russian cities .
the report by Mrs Polfer comes just at the right time because , with the events in Georgia , we can see firsthand the difficulties of building democracy .
that is what I asked you .
transfers of appropriations : see Minutes
let us show the green light to the Bosnian vehicle .
the EU should now be promoting a consistent approach to sustainable development .
( ES ) Mr President , I would like to take a few seconds over my allotted time merely to direct at those in the back seats , on the right over there , a traditional Castilian saying : ' a palabras necias , oídos sordos - silly words will be met with a deaf ear ' .
the vote will take place on Thursday , 5 February 2009 .
Andrei Sakharov also left us the advice that his country needs understanding and pressure - emphatic pressure .
the EU common agricultural policy must guarantee that its tools have equivalent effect and that there is equal access to the EU budget as well as the national budgets of the Member States .
young people must be supported to enter the labour market in order to secure their own futures , as well as contribute to economic growth and prosperity .
there , the main scope of eco-labelling is to guarantee that fish are sustainably caught and therefore if fish being sold are fish which are over-exploited , they should not benefit from any eco-labelling .
if we pause to think about why it is that we are coping with the high commodity and energy prices , then that is another question to which the euro provides an excellent answer .
in writing . - ( BG ) What are we paying this sum of slightly more than EUR 70 million for ?
for these reasons , the parliamentary group of the Greek Communist Party voted against this legislative initiative .
I welcome the introduction of the innovative concept of European Innovation Partnerships , which is intended to generate synergy between current innovation initiatives .
the wind is fully in our sails on this issue .
Romania has invested more than EUR 1 billion and the results have definitely been positive in all the evaluation reports .
Members of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs and the Commission have worked well to develop a meaningful and practical report which will deliver more transparency in the legislative process .
in my opinion this is an excellent initiative , but we have to consider how it can be taken forward .
Spain drew down some EUR 52 million and Poland some EUR 8 million .
however , we must not become hysterical or incite unwarranted panic .
the automotive industry has found itself in an exceptionally difficult situation because of the current economic crisis .
otherwise the EU should be obliged to ask Ireland if it wishes to be in the Lisbon Europe or not .
it is necessary to continue reform of the judiciary in order to ensure its professionalism , efficiency and independence from political pressures , expand the fight against corruption and improve the business environment .
the participation of women in the decision-making process is essential to achieving a substantial change in their status in society and will have concrete significance for future improvements .
but we will also have to act internationally on these issues and make sure that there are sustainability criteria and that this does not add to the food crisis .
( SK ) In recent years the Slovak Republic underwent many difficult reforms and the present government has successfully compensated the poorer sections of society affected by them .
this will ensure the following :
in that respect both Kazakhstan as also Turkmenistan are of course especially important to us .
our close historic and cultural links and our respect for multilateralism , including our support for the Charter of the United Nations , form the foundation of our partnership .
this would put even more pressure on the domestic labour market - particularly during the economic crisis - and taxpayers would be required to dig deep into their pockets .
nonetheless , the vast majority of acts of violence are not reported through fear and shame .
I think - as do you for that matter , and I know that you are firmly convinced of this - that it is time to bring together the parliaments of these countries , and thus to bring together their peoples .
we will not be able to achieve this goal if we neglect the new EU Member States in financial terms , thus supporting a further one-sided ' brain drain ' .
I believe it is right that there will be greater differences in charge levels in future and that the new system will therefore also benefit the customer .
we emphasise that future industrial growth in the European Union is dependent on our openness to foreign trade and investment governed by fair rules , but that our competitiveness with the ASEAN countries is up to us , by improving our own levels of education , training , research , enterprise and innovation .
the majority of dangerous products thus come from a market that is almost impossible for the EU to control .
otherwise , the result will be regional and socio-political distortions , which we do not want .
if it is necessary to make the national labour markets more flexible , then it must not lead to the transitional periods for the new Member States being lifted by the back door .
the Commission is closely monitoring developments in the Greek banking sector .
the debate is closed .
the guidelines of the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs need to be clearly visible to them : competitive jobs , equal opportunities and social cohesion .
subject : texting while driving - road safety
the Council has very recently adopted conclusions to be used as guidelines by the EU negotiators in the preparatory process and during the conference .
cohesion also includes economic and social cohesion .
it is not money that is the problem , however , but the unstable political circumstances .
have we answered that question ?
while passing from one air sector to another , pilots change frequency and contact the next air traffic controller .
the time for talking is over .
on the other hand , in the recent stages of the Ergenekon investigation , one may question whether all the principles of the rule of law have been truly applied or whether there are some other political purposes behind these arrests .
it is in the context of the Economic Partnership Agreements that equality should be established , otherwise there can be no equality .
if there is a problem , then at such a time we should always talk about it .
I absolutely understand this request and , therefore , we also included in the Commission 's work programme monitoring of the ongoing work .
I found writing the opinion on the internal market on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs extremely interesting .
citizens ' initiative (
in the same way , the Council is surprised by the decrease in appropriations for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor ( ITER ) project in 2011 while we are still working on how to free up the resources to meet this project 's financial difficulties in 2010 , in 2012 and in 2013 .
it is indeed the case , though , that third-party certification does not in any way offer all that much more security and that the problems are to be found not in the type model on which the further production chain is based , but elsewhere .
this has prompted the Commission to support cooperation between the Member States , and in particular to encourage greater mobility of young people in the European Union .
such a policy orientation is indeed part of the integrated policy guidelines adopted by the European Council .
1 .
this very month the EU lost its last pretence of public consent or democratic legitimacy .
we support the Czech Prime Minister , the President of the European Council , in his work to make a success of the Czech Presidency .
why is it simply disregarding the specific recommendations , in particular , of such an important factual report - its own report , at that - knowing that the current developments are irreversible and , in so doing , even casting serious doubt on the chances of establishing an independent , viable Palestinian State alongside the State of Israel ?
I thank Mrs Angelilli for a very important and well prepared report .
I endorse the rapporteur 's proposal for an analysis to be made of the differences between Member States in the area of documents which must be presented as grounds for the issue of a passport .
I , too , have felt that victims have been somewhat absent .
you have referred , Mr Orbán , to the fact that you have a large majority at home .
people only support the EU if they are informed about political projects and activities and are able to participate in decision-making , for example through consultations .
( PL ) Mr President , environmental protection covers many areas and its effectiveness depends on synchronisation and judicious application of the tools that are available , and this includes economic instruments .
the Council adopted extensive conclusions on Yemen in October .
I am uncommonly satisfied about the support and the creativity , but at this moment , I nevertheless want to emphasise that we are not there yet ; we may be adopting the frameworks , but the criteria must then be defined and that is still extraordinarily exciting , because you can do everything with money , even the wrong things , which I still have a few concerns about .
they will get a reply in writing .
we can invest in consumption aid for the groups that are worst off - pensioners , students and the unemployed .
as stated in the Resolution adopted in this Chamber on 17 September , the European Parliament ' recalls its determination to fight terrorism and its firm belief in the need to strike the right balance between security measures and the protection of civil liberties and fundamental rights ' .
you are absolutely right that we need to compare how many complaints are coming in different domains .
it is quite logical that we tidy up this anomaly and put a reference to the flag in our Rules of Procedure .
also , regional development should remain one of the priorities for the period of 2008-2010 .
- ( LT ) In the fight against climate change we must attach great importance to the transport sector which at present emits almost a third of the EU 's CO2 emissions .
the majority in this Parliament refuses to acknowledge its political losses .
the last debate has actually taken us right to the limit of the time we have available to us .
on the other side , the reports also highlight shortcomings , in particular , in the areas of justice , freedom of expression and association .
I consider that the grants policy for agriculture and adequate conditions for the promotion of investments in the field are the answer to part of the challenges the Union will encounter in the following years .
I do not know if we have done everything too well or if we could have done something more , but I do want to clear up any doubts that may have arisen .
it is not just a piece of paper to be approved , framed and hung on the wall .
but I am sure Mr Lehtinen took on board your remarks .
the draftsman shares the Court 's concerns about the integrated approach to managing the various databases relating to the fight against fraud , but considers this to be a discussion going beyond the bounds of this Regulation and therefore one which should be conducted in a different context .
I welcome the EU mission in Tunisia to evaluate the legal situation in the stage prior to elections and the observation mission for those elections : identical measures must be taken as soon as stability is achieved in Egypt .
Mr President , one moment just to tell you that this is an important report because it introduces a European regulation on rating agencies , and is therefore an element of the response to the crisis .
I nevertheless believe we could all agree that , although a family may look different , what is important is that the child receives love and care .
they should make use of , and build upon , each other 's work in the field of the protection of human rights , and should take their decisions coherently , objectively , and on the basis of facts .
for the above reasons , creating an EU energy fund is an urgent task .
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without this , everything is held back and even international policy runs the risk of evaporating like smoke .
the main effect of this wage disparity is apparent at retirement age : because they have earned less throughout their working lives , women also have lower pensions .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
the perspective for reducing these migration flows fuelled by instability and crisis should be prevention .
financial control on implementing the European Union budget takes place on three levels : internal control , within each institution ; external control , carried out by the European Court of Auditors ; and a discharge procedure carried out by Parliament .
this resolution is a clear signal of Parliament 's commitment to overcoming the current impasse on the budget for 2011 .
oral Amendment 2 and Compromise Amendment 5 , adopted in committee , raise the issue of establishing legal assistance only in so far as necessary , and free of charge , at the request of the asylum seeker .
I say this not out of politeness , but out of sincere gratitude .
( PT ) As various speakers have already said , the objective which we have been trying to achieve with the common fisheries policy , without success so far , is environmentally sustainable , economically viable and socially worthwhile fishing .
it is also the place where the interests of Russia and the West collide and where even Turkey wants to become involved .
credit ratings are an opinion - they are useful opinions , they are expert opinions , but they are only opinions , so it is up to investors to take full responsibility for their investment decisions .
this does not mean that I believe the entire report to be bad .
therefore , we call on Parliament to retain these important provisions .
( PL ) Madam President , the budget for next year also foresees an increase of funds for security and defence .
the report refers to sharing the experience gained by PEACE with other regions facing similar problems .
( FR ) Madam President , as far as Solvency II is concerned , that is a reform that was launched well before the crisis and that the latter has shed new light on .
Corrigendum ( Rule 216 ) : see Minutes
I understand that housing and education are the priorities of the European Commission .
moreover , it is obviously going to be extremely difficult to meet the communication 's 2007-2013 schedule .
Europe can produce food : farmers in Europe have been dying for the opportunity to produce food , but for 20 years they have been told that there was too much food in the world and , therefore , food production had to be reduced .
now I come to the second text , which is inseparable from the first , and I think it was a good idea of Parliament to link them together , demanding data protection and protection of personal freedom at the same time .
many of our amendments have been turned into compromise texts .
I have three other points to make .
thank you .
we did have the toolbox already .
we cannot ask the European Commission to ban the use of cyanide technology in gold mining for some Member States , such as Romania , which has major untapped resources .
we should start here by developing mechanisms for evaluating provision and ensuring that quality standards are met .
the EPLP is convinced that the EU can and will do all it can to defeat terrorism and that with neighbouring Member States and international allies working together we are more likely to achieve this ultimate goal than by isolationist policies .
that is the best way to ensure that we have a well-functioning Internal Market .
I would like Mr Cioloş to explain what we should think about this .
ladies and gentlemen , once again I urge you to base your decision on sound scientific evidence and good practice , not on rumours and emotions .
rather , I am in favour of a temporary increase in the intervention price , of initiatives and measures designed to achieve a balance within the sector , of enhancing the information offered to consumers , and of the important step of introducing labels of origin for milk and dairy products .
( DE ) Mr President , I would like to refer to heading 5 and to the buildings strategy in particular .
I fully endorse the motion for a resolution on preventing trafficking in human beings , which was submitted by a broad coalition of the European Parliament 's political groups .
ladies and gentlemen , there are a number of social directives that President Barroso did well to put on the agenda .
a spectre is hovering over the Arctic .
as such , I welcome the European Parliament 's awareness of the fact that in the future Russia will be unable to meet the internal and contractual demand for gas , and that it expresses its concern in this regard .
big Brother will do so because our whole lives are now recorded in the form of electronic traces on the Internet .
the adoption of this report is another step towards the full achievement of the internal market , since the existing legal fragmentation is a deterrent for both consumers and businesses when they want to conduct cross-border trade .
employees who are losing their jobs now , and who have to accept substantial losses to their pensions due to the high-risk investments of their pension funds , will have to bear the costs in several ways .
secondly , in connection with Mr Meijer 's report on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia , I thank the rapporteur for his willingness to engage in talks .
in paragraph 23 , the report suggests a significant shift in our foreign energy supply policy by asking for multilateral rules regarding access to energy resources and by warning not to support the race for the best conditions for unilateral energy access .
the legislative text will provide a stable legal framework , which supports investment and innovation and provides the regulatory consistency the industry needs to plan business strategies for the future .
in tabling today 's motion for a resolution on Kenya , we are once again condemning the widespread irregularities and the conduct of the incumbent President Kibaki , who in rejecting the offer made by President John Kufuor to help resolve the crisis has seriously undermined the mediation efforts .
the second aspect which in my view is extremely important is that we want to modernise the agenda between the European Union and Africa .
there were great hopes across Europe that the new President of France would bring economic reform to a country stuck in socialist hibernation .
the Charter also confirms economic and social rights .
the Portuguese Presidency will be particularly vigilant on that point and will not compromise .
this problem is exacerbated even further as we are currently in an economic and financial crisis , where there is also an obvious jobs crisis .
there will only be added value for consumers if the Member States do not use their own symbols and there is ultimately a uniform symbol at the European level .
progress towards the conclusion of a new Treaty met our expectations .
the principal objective of the regulation we are looking at today is to introduce EU criteria for the type-approval of hydrogen powered vehicles in order to ensure the proper functioning of the market .
the 2003 reform is an unmistakable step forward which ought to help our agricultural sector protect the environment and health , and it was in this spirit in 2005 that we voted in favour of the new EAFRD Regulation replacing the EAGGF - Guarantee section .
those concerns range from the legal base to be used , the scope of the proposal and fears that it may impinge on areas of national competence , such as education , social security and healthcare .
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it suggests focusing on a number of priority areas , such as education , employment , housing and healthcare .
I believe that the EU has a duty to feed the European public and the world 's population , which is expected to increase by 2 billion and therefore necessitate a 70 % increase in the food supplied by the year 2050 .
( ES ) Mr President , it is very important for our neighbours to be a circle of prosperous , stable , peaceful countries where power is based on democratic models and where there is full respect for basic rights .
the mechanism agreed by the Home Affairs Ministers of the European Union was the realisation of this desire to help the United States .
last but not least , I must point out that I regret the fact that the European Parliament has not adopted a stance on this issue .
10 .
this will ensure a balance between the aim of being financially competitive and the desire to maintain and conserve our natural resources ' regenerative capacities .
secondly , it is positive because it encourages the region 's governments to respect human rights , which is a key condition to maintaining the agreement .
there is the possibility of the death penalty being imposed during the military commission trial on Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri .
what we cannot agree to , however , is a narrow understanding of this whole problem .
the first thing that I would like to do is to express my sympathy for the crew and their families , and naturally , give my support to the Spanish Government in securing its speedy release .
in actual fact , then , nothing has changed , and so I should like to recommend that we vote against placing the Czarnecki report on the agenda for this part-session .
therefore , as Mrs Striffler emphasised in her question , safeguarding biodiversity represents an important aspect of the Millennium Development Goals and the Europe 2020 strategy .
I particularly like the emphasis on the ecological aspect .
in writing . - I fully support this report , which will put an end to the unfair practice of airlines advertising fares that exclude taxes , charges and a wide range of other extra fees .
the EU needs to act here - and I speak as a representative of Austria , the leading country in organic farming .
we very much welcome the fact that the European Parliament makes clear and regular contributions to the political debate about the situation in South-East Europe .
EU guarantee to the EIB against losses under loans and guarantees for projects outside the EU (
the CCCTB 's proponents assert that each Member State will retain its autonomy to determine its national tax rate - but will they ?
in the final analysis , the predominant system is one that succeeds in striking a balance between a vibrant and competitive economy that incentivises innovation and job creation and which provides consumer protection as well as social and environmental safeguards required by our citizens .
I am from a country that experienced that moment ; I remember well the moment when border controls between Portugal and Spain were abolished , and indeed for the first time we felt part of the European family .
there are two categories involved here : access to information on EU legislative work , and access to documents in the non-legislative field .
a move to a monthly cycle of decision making , which commenced in January , should help .
I welcome the call for the Commission to take action , verifying the transposition of the provisions of the directive into Member States ' national law and their proper implementation , and to take corrective action , where necessary , in order to stop misleading activities .
many have asked or indicated that progress in the matter of visas would be welcome .
replacing the current car fleet with electric cars will neither resolve the problem of congestion nor protect the climate .
the second question concerns waste .
it must also be borne in mind that , when we show humanity by welcoming people who are struggling , this is a sign of civilisation on which we cannot turn our backs .
if no further information has been provided with regard to particular operators , I do not envisage that there will be a change in the Commission 's position .
these considerations add up to a position of principle that is unfavourable to the creation of political parties with European scope .
it has a significant effect on security of supply in the region and must lead to an increase in CO2 emissions , which should be important , at least to some Members in this Chamber .
I think he should also be thanked for publishing a good programme of stability plus necessary proposals for improvement in the challenging policy sectors that we all agree upon .
the main reason I cannot endorse this report is much more fundamental , however .
please note that my colleagues and I prepared the Written Declaration 67 / 2008 in order to draw attention to the counterfeiting and piracy that pose a growing threat to European economy , employment and creativity .
eighty per cent of the Roma community is still illiterate .
the references that are made are to fundamental rights and I am very sensitive to that , but without any confirmative example .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( PT ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , Commissioner Wallström ended her initial speech in this debate by expressing the wish that we move forward together .
in writing . - ( PT ) The proposal submitted amends the provisions of Directive 2005 / 60 / EC on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering and terrorist financing , which imposed a time limitation on the implementing powers conferred on the Commission in this area .
other people have also made reference to this ; two Parliament resolutions state that the commissioners must sign off the declarations submitted annually in whatever form by the directors-general .
in Poland , the country which I represent , about 250 000 people suffer from Alzheimer 's , and specialists estimate that by 2040 , this figure will have trebled .
like many of my fellow Members , I refuse to support the possibility of locking up , for such a long time , people whose only crime is to have wanted to seek a better life in Europe .
every year more than 400 million passengers use European ports , and therefore maritime transport directly affects the quality of European citizens ' lives .
moreover , President-in-Office , you will find you need the European Parliament because some Member States are trying to unpick properly reached agreements .
in writing . - ( PT ) Although we disagree with certain aspects of this resolution , particularly its failure to demarcate the ' fight against terrorism ' , we consider that it reaffirms some serious reservations about the creation of a PNR data system ( covering passengers of air carriers ) within the EU .
the issue is not , however , so simple and clear cut , hence I have predicted a possible misunderstanding .
we believe it is necessary to have balanced access to the global food supply , but that this will not be helped by either maintaining or extending the EU 's agricultural aid .
this is a positive signal to the staff working in this sector .
Madam President , Commissioner , as Parliament 's rapporteur for the own-initiative report on the role of women in agriculture and rural areas , it was my aim to conduct a broad public debate in order to give more visibility and weight to the important multi-functional role of women in rural areas .
I welcome an agreement with Canada going beyond the WTO commitments and being complementary to multilateral rules , provided that the negotiations produce a balanced , ambitious , high-quality agreement .
climate change is at the top of our list .
I voted in favour of the resolution , although my opinion differs even from that of my group on many amendments , in an attempt to highlight the fundamental importance of the measures linked to health and safety protection at work .
as a result of the Treaty of Trianon , several thousand Hungarian-speaking settlements ended up outside the country 's borders , and we have a right to call these places by their Hungarian names .
as Europeans and Members of the European Parliament , which was founded on the pillar of equality , we must react to this problem as quickly as possible .
in addition , Belgium had to deal with domestic problems during its Presidency .
I believe Europe also has a job to do there .
furthermore , some important amendments have been passed , such as the one encouraging the JPA to explore additional and innovative sources of financing for development , such as an international financial transaction tax , and further calling on it to address the question of the eradication of tax havens .
the price of emission rights could easily be reflected in consumer prices , which in turn would prompt consumers to choose cleaner products .
however , for the next few years , energy technology and electricity generation are a matter for the Member States .
in other words , we are seeing the beginning of an open-cheque-book situation for this shameful project .
as such , we should focus on these buildings and houses immediately .
well it will not work , because it is Portugal next .
the report also deals with the issues faced in implementing the principle of mutual recognition , and it is true that the transposition and the full and consistent application of the many existing instruments that are based on the principle of mutual recognition must be monitored .
( RO ) Madam President , the Schengen Evaluation Working Group has adopted all the evaluation reports for Romania .
the issue is that if the spouses can choose the law - I would point out that the choice of law is an exception in all legal systems - whether this law must be the law of one of the 27 States of the Union or that of any country in the world .
this is why I should like to express my appreciation for the work of the rapporteur , Mrs Gebhardt : I think she has been very conscientious and has made sure that particularly the rights of weaker or less informed people are enhanced and that all partners are really well informed of their rights and know what is best for them .
it turns out that an English lord has more social responsibility than the socialist Kalfin .
as far as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is concerned , it is unfortunate and demoralising for Macedonia that accession talks have not yet started in Skopje , despite the fact that it is three years since Macedonia obtained candidate country status .
fortunately , however , we can do something .
I must say in passing that , over the last few months , we have obtained the overwhelming support of all the organisations that take an interest in these matters .
this is particularly in the interest of single mothers because employment opportunities are thereby created and poverty can be combated .
still on the subject of safety , and in view of the common market , it is not enough to penalise the inefficiency of the States relative to the regulatory bodies : the powers of the European Railway Agency need to be broadened so as to give it greater authority over inspections and controls .
not only has it not disappeared from the Europe of Excellence ; according to the Eurobarometer survey it is on the increase , and Europe 's citizens can sense this .
although Latvia generates about one-third of its energy needs from its own renewable resources , the remaining two-thirds of our energy balance-sheet comes predominantly from one supplier state - Russia .
however , in light of the accusations against him , the present report on FYROM does not enjoy a presumption of credibility .
above all , the Commission believes that , in these times in which we find ourselves , international terrorism and crime pose serious threats , and that these measures must be taken to deal with these problems , while remaining completely respectful of human rights and fundamental rights .
Minister , in June we will have the opportunity to do away with the old policy of exceptional status that the EU has maintained with the Republic of Cuba , the only country in the world - in the entire world - with which the EU has maintained this exceptional status .
in another European country one might well be available , but that country was not interested in cooperating with the rest of Europe .
on behalf of my group , I want to give Mr Solana a very clear message : for goodness ' sake , press ahead !
the Commission is ready and willing to listen carefully to your further proposals and to work together in the coming months to advance this very important strategy .
in writing . - ( ET ) The new rules presented in the new telecommunications package will help regulate the telecommunications market and promote consumer protection .
this directive should also be welcomed because it deals with issues around the legal dimension and legal certainty : with where responsibility for follow-up treatment lies ; with the question of redress if there are problems ; and with issues around ensuring that procedures are carried out by qualified medical professionals .
( PL ) Mr President , international law is crystal clear .
where such conditions are not being met , opium cultivated legally is promptly diverted , as we have seen in Peru and Bolivia .
we should also be clear that it is a perpetual battle even if we equip our instruments , i.e. the Ombudsman and the Committee on Citizens ' Complaints , with the correct tools .
1 .
we need quality in public finances .
the agreement establishes a new framework for political dialogue .
though tuberculosis is one of the diseases that has practically disappeared from the focus of health concerns in developed countries , the truth is that today it is still one of the main causes of death in the world , costing the lives of 2 million people a year .
we have to provide space for new initiatives .
thank you .
I know that not everyone in the DTP is prepared to engage in dialogue .
I would like to thank him for taking the trouble to call me last week and explain why he is unable to be here , and I would like to thank him and his team at DG Trade for their cooperation and , in particular , Martin Dihm for all his assistance .
here , I want to emphasise in particular the role which can be played by financing the small and medium-sized enterprise sector .
they have proved not to be successful and therefore , this topic undoubtedly requires more detailed debate .
in the case of Tunisia , the political situation has become a little clearer .
on the other hand , we should ensure young people protection from discrimination and run campaigns which promote pro-environmental ideas , while not forgetting the fight against drug abuse and other dependencies to which young people are particularly vulnerable .
it is balanced and proposes a framework for Member States to adopt common principles .
we have agreed to move towards more market-determined exchange rate systems that reflect underlying economic fundamentals .
, in writing . - This debate has become an additional proof of how badly the EU needs a united energy policy .
at the same time , I think that it is important for agricultural funds to be distributed fairly .
in addition , the European Data Protection Supervisor 's office would be involved - this is still what I put in the letter sent on 7 October to Mr Costa .
I would like to draw your attention to the continuing problem of discrimination against minorities , including the Polish minority in Lithuania , an EU Member State which is a signatory to international agreements and treaties on the protection of human rights and minorities .
as a result of the method of privatisation of housing in many eastern , central and south-eastern European Member States immediately following the political changes and , in particular , as a result of the perceptible shortage of housing in those countries , the European Parliament reacted by making structural funds available for housing in these countries .
it is of major significance for the common European internal market that the Member States implement the Services Directive quickly and effectively .
I believe we are not incapable , and therefore not completely without opportunities , but that we must above all create the impression that the European Central Bank plays a central role here .
the BBC recently broadcast a documentary entitled ' Bulgaria 's Abandoned Children ' which depicted the shocking conditions experienced by the children living in a care home in Mogilino , Bulgaria .
thank you very much .
finally , on the subject of Greece , our group Chair , Mr Daul , has commended the Council on its decision on a new mechanism for lending Greece a hand if necessary with the involvement of the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) .
these abductions and murders are only the peak of what results from the deterioration of the human rights situation in Russia , where independent voices , including lawyers , journalists and other activists , face increasing violence , threats and unjustified prosecution .
honourable Members , we are in a situation where the financial industry is slowly recovering from this crisis , an unprecedented struggle - even though , for some banks , the crisis already seems to be over .
with regard to the contentious issue of funding , I support the compromise that every Member State should make its own decision on this , in which the costs of the security measures are to be borne by the airport facilities , airlines and the users themselves .
for these reasons , I voted in favour of this European Parliament resolution on equal access to public sector markets in the EU and in third countries , and on the revision of the public procurement legal framework , including concessions .
in this context , the Commission is examining the possibility of launching an innovation partnership in the field of raw materials and hopes to present a specific proposal within the next few months .
in any case , I would like to thank Parliament once again for the efforts it made in Cancún .
even the President of the Commission , Mr Barroso , recognised this dimension , when he stated the Commission 's intention to take specific measures to combat the negative repercussions which will impact in particular on agriculture .
and all this compounds the usual concerns about the cultural and geographical differences between Turkey and Europe , and about the problems that would be caused by the admission of a country that shares borders with over 80 million inhabitants : factors that will continue to reinforce my unshakable conviction that it is not right for Turkey to enter a Europe whose unity depends , above all else , on the spirit of Christianity .
were it not for the run-up to the Copenhagen Accord , can you imagine that the issues on climate change , energy efficiency and how to promote green growth would have survived the economic crisis ?
thus , allow me to address two areas that I feel are necessary for our future .
in many of its resolutions , the European Parliament has highlighted the fact that women play a vital role in promoting dialogue and peace , as was also underlined at the conference that we organised on the occasion of International Women 's Day .
I would like to assure you that the Commission takes these issues very seriously and is determined to find the best solutions for the way forward .
however , in the long term , it seems to me to be fairly clear that speculators will always be active as long as it is our perception that global energy needs - which continue to grow - are not based on a new energy mix that is less reliant on hydrocarbons .
I see the modernisation pact as a complementary issue , in the same way that the common areas are .
as you know , the Commission is working on the details of this .
that is a poor argument when we need to reduce our handicap in terms of both competitiveness and confidence in market mechanisms , particularly because it has the effect of distorting business strategies , as companies suddenly find themselves forced to arbitrate , for the wrong reasons , between their various subsidiaries and branches .
one of the most successful examples to date of the integration of equality in the EU is the area of women and armed conflicts , where a more comprehensive policy for combating violence against women is starting to appear .
Europe must also do everything it can to create a fair commercial environment .
in writing . - Flexicurity can only work if there is decent support given to someone who loses their job , in terms both of financial support and help to find new work .
if the option to ensure the traceability of the containers is to be explored , the cost of such measures should be taken into account .
making the Roma a European minority would directly open up many more opportunities for the Union to do something about the problems .
we will continue to refine the clear and methodologically sound approach we have advanced .
in other words , development is promoted in order to liberalise international trade through a model promoting exports , regulated at world level , with a ' centre ' and a ' periphery ' .
therefore , we monitor vaccination coverage not only in our health programmes but also in many of our general budget support operations .
I welcome the compromise resolution drawn up on Ukraine , dealing not only with the issue of how democratic the last election was , but also offering solutions to the problem of transit supplies of oil and natural gas , and urging Ukraine to adopt the Energy Community Treaty and energy legislation conforming to Directive 2003 / 55 / EC .
let me also briefly mention the support measures we are putting in place under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance ( IPA ) .
their lack of education and their exclusion from the labour market , which will only become worse unless we act now , will exacerbate even further the integration problems caused by demographic changes .
Belgium received a pledge from the previous presidencies that Parliament would be involved in the debate on this multiannual financial framework .
secondly , the European Investment Bank has an important role in the EU 's development policy .
this issue will definitely not be ' raced to the bottom ' .
the Prime Minister , Mr Tusk , and the Minister for Foreign Affairs , Mr Sikorski , were in Israel .
we know that , of the many accidents that occur because products placed on the market are unsafe , the majority involve children , which requires concrete measures relating not only to the safety of the end product , but also to its suitability for the public for which it is intended .
in the package we advocate a more flexible frequency policy in Europe .
that was the only reason .
because it could happen .
it is not the European way to divide and rule .
I consider this report on the mandate for the trialogue to be fairly satisfactory .
nonetheless , it is essential to ensure that the burden of reducing CO2 emissions is divided equitably among the Member States and industrial sectors , and also , in my view , to ensure that those Member States that have already done more than the others to combat climate change are not put at a disadvantage .
as regards participation of members of this Parliament as observers in international meetings , I must emphasise that the Framework Agreement applies to multilateral international conferences and meetings .
that is why it is very important to set up as quickly as possible the economic governance that was decided in the Task Force , which was debated on the basis of six proposals from the Commission to Parliament , and for all those involved in codecision to reach agreement .
in particular , I endorse the idea of an international blacklist , the sole guarantee of a global harmonised level of aircraft safety .
we think we have competition , but what we have is the massive power of very large companies dominating certain markets .
European companies should take a certain role , and there is nothing that can be done in a matter of weeks or even months .
Petitions : see Minutes
let me first run you through the main issues on the agenda of the European Council .
that is why in Austria , and elsewhere , we are calling for open-ended negotiations .
it must have a term of no more than twelve months and the Commission has advised that it intends to submit a proposal for a permanent agreement as soon as a new Treaty is in place .
what we would like to say is that when we talk about experts being consulted , this has to refer to all experts , and the Commission will be looking with experts from the Member States , from non-governmental organisations , and also those perhaps which the European Parliament is recommending .
specifically on the subject of the authentic act , I think one point needs to be clarified .
I attended a convention , organised by the Minister for Culture , on Moldava 's integration into Europe with particular reference to culture .
civil society represents many non-governmental and not-for-profit organisations established by the citizens of their own free will . it plays a vital part in the process of European integration as it makes the positions and wishes of the Union 's citizens known to the European institutions .
either hold a debate and close the gap between you and the people , or do not complain when we nationalists - the ones who listen to the people - close it for you .
that figure includes 150 000 children under the age of 16 , of whom 25 000 have never been charged with an offence .
private capital has also dried up .
this regulation ensures that , finally , consumers in the European Union will enjoy the same rights as millions of other consumers around the world , albeit for a limited number of product categories .
thank you for your understanding .
it will allow you to be more democratic , to be more efficient , and to be more transparent .
to my astonishment the Presidency agreed with me , saying that was exactly what they want it to be .
I trust that next week in the Algarve , the Euromed Ministerial Conference will proceed in this direction , and that it will not only debate but agree on joint steps for successful migration management and propose measures to alleviate the impact on countries of transit .
sport is part of the Lisbon Treaty and will therefore gain a more prominent role in EU policy with the entry into force of that treaty .
Israel is unleashing a new round of murderous attacks against the Palestinian people and has secured the support of and upgraded its relations with the European Union , the USA and NATO under conditions of escalating infighting between the imperialist Quartet .
- Before the vote :
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Mr Barroso , within the last week the Commission has set down limits based on a regulation that is always triggered whenever problems arise with radioactivity that affect food imports , in this case from Japan .
we need a new system of economic governance , a new role for the European Central Bank , a new perception of the social state , not as the tail of the free market but as the key to development .
in summary , in 2009 the Commission will present a proposal for financing the initial deployment of GMES in 2011 on the basis of a detailed impact assessment and cost-benefit analysis .
there are indeed political and security challenges facing the continent of Europe , but why should the European Union have an autonomous space and security and defence policy ?
the Union should give an example as regards the respect for the fundamental rights and , for this reason , the Commission should investigate the situation in Italy and request the Italian Government to stop the fingerprinting of children of Roma origin immediately .
our Foreign Secretary now pledges to work closely with the High Representative because the EEAS is going to have a considerable bearing on the future success of Europe 's global role .
we regard Turkey as an important Euro-Atlantic partner .
Madam President , first of all I would like to thank the rapporteur and reiterate that we have worked very well together to reach this compromise , which has the support of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats .
the European Parliament will have more duties and more responsibilities to Europe 's citizens .
the model for resuming flights is the most important thing .
since then , hundreds of people have been sentenced to death and many have been executed .
it would have been possible for the Irish to vote for a stronger , more competitive European Union , one that served the Member States ' interests more than before .
while we must press on now and not bring matters to a halt , we are nonetheless asking for guarantees that our opinion will be taken into account in the Competitiveness Council 's deliberations , and that a more certain legal basis will be defined in future so that Parliament can be fully involved and there can be a greater sense of ownership in this field of research .
despite the need to progressively replace coal with renewable and more environmentally-friendly fuels , coal will remain a key source of energy and wealth for many regions of the European Union long into the future .
I wish you all the best for the future .
we also have a flexicurity system , which is based upon voluntary agreements between parties within the labour market .
I fear that this especially applies to your statement , Mr Vondra .
I can in no way agree that the natural environment in Europe can be made slave to EU external energy policy , when in recent years Europe has spoken out forcefully for environmental protection .
the term may be unusual but although culture cannot be summed up as its economic dimension , it would be just as harmful to obscure this aspect of the matter : culture is now a powerful catalyst for growth and employment and in 2003 it accounted for 2.6 % of GDP and 3.1 % of jobs in the EU .
you are right : a range of activities in other areas will in any case offer an opportunity for additional topics and for the additional incorporation of issues regarding voluntary activities , including in the intergenerational sense .
we are grateful to Janusz Onyszkiewicz for his report and the recommendations made in it .
we all know that researchers enjoy much better working conditions and pay in the United States and also that investment in the public sector , in particular linked to the defence industries , universities and the private sector are incomparably higher than those in Europe .
Eastern and central Europe have been affected the most by the dispute , which has shut down factories and schools .
the Commissioner has pointed to enlargement , but despite that enlargement the number of MEPs has been reduced .
what is very important is that our negotiations also cover to the maximum extent possible India 's central level public sector undertakings where the bulk of procurement is done .
however , we should not give up ; the European Union should assume greater responsibility in the search for a political solution .
as a last resort , if the proceedings in New York and the situation on the ground justify this , the EU cannot , and must not , rule out sending a military mission under the ESDP .
the programme brings out the need to adopt measures in the transport sector that are more environmentally friendly ; it highlights the Strategic EU Energy Review , the suppression of biodiversity and the marine environment strategy .
this will be a credit to Parliament .
the report by my colleague , Mr Audy , on the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Union for research , technological development and demonstration activities ( FP7 ) reveals a low level of participation by SMEs and industry in general , a low number of female researchers and under-representation of certain Member States .
that would also provide an important tool to combat the trading of organs - a truly ignoble activity - and make possible the better regulation of living transplants , which really must take place without payment .
I do not believe that we need to consider in future that an SES III regulation will be required to combine the blocks .
in their final Commitment to Global Peace they emphasised that no real peace could be achieved unless all communities acknowledged the cultural and religious diversity of the human family in a spirit of mutual respect and understanding .
Esterházy assisted in the escape of hundreds of Jews , Czechs , Slovaks and Poles , and he was the only member of the Slovak parliament , Mr Paška , who voted and raised his voice against the anti-Jewish laws in 1942 . the joint building of a united Europe could begin after the ruins of World War II had been cleaned up , which included the rehabilitation of personages such as Esterházy .
I share his concerns at the level of antibiotic resistance being found in bacterial infections of livestock .
ratification of the Lisbon Treaty will make the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights legally binding .
also , does Argentina 's stance raise questions of the incompatibility of its measures with the rules and obligations of the World Trade Organisation ?
finally , the Commission welcomes the special role being played by the United Nations , and more specifically the good offices of its special envoy Ibrahim Gambari , whose forthcoming visit to Rangoon will be of the utmost importance .
the subsidiarity applicable here means that Member States must be able to control and to regulate their gambling markets in accordance with their traditions and cultures in order to protect consumers against the hazards of addiction , fraud and money laundering .
Commissioner , how long do you intend to hide behind the investigations being carried out in Germany and Greece ?
the Commission has nevertheless accepted recital 16b to avoid preventing agreement at first reading .
the focus on alcohol abuse by young people and children is important , but it would be a strategic mistake to pretend that only young people are affected by alcohol abuse and its adverse effects in the European Union .
for certain types of crime , for example child pornography offences and systematic infringements of copyright for commercial reasons , blocking access to the Internet should be one possible method along with others of combating criminal activity .
I voted in favour of Mr Angelakas 's report on the ERDF as regards the eligibility of energy efficiency and renewable energy investments in housing .
Mr President , I would like to thank the rapporteur , Tanja Fajon .
I trust that progress will be made in the negotiations with the Russian Federation on this issue .
in writing . - ( PL ) This debate is very important both for all coastal states and for consumers .
it is for that reason that I voted against this report .
in fact , with the entry in force of the new Treaty , responsibility for the protection of investments passes from the Member States to the Union .
we sought to get the right balance between , on the one hand , laying down an overall European framework regarding the need to avoid excessive fiscal deficits and economic imbalances inside the Union and , on the other hand , allowing national governments freely to choose what they want to tax and how they want to spend , in accordance with their national political procedures and European law .
establishing a single application procedure will simplify the often complex administrative procedures for admitting economic migrants .
I think his European colleagues , fellow European leaders , should be very careful that whatever he says in Lisbon , he is likely to mean something completely different .
in fact , the same goes for the repatriation of travellers ; after all , where tens of thousands of people are concerned , a system must be set up somewhere to facilitate this .
instead of giving subsidies we must compel energy producers to draw a substantial part of their production from renewable sources .
in order for this to happen , Turkey needs to find a real political solution to the Kurdish question and to release the hundreds of Kurdish mayors and town councillors being held in its gaols , and it needs to work to establish the rule of law , recognise the Armenian genocide and resolve its problems with Greece , especially in the Aegean .
that is why I should like to express my thanks that the pilot MEDIA Mundus projects were launched .
we also call on the European authorities to do the same and to fully support what Mr Tavares was saying on this subject regarding the possibility of resettlement .
I would also warn of the need to harmonise the standards for batteries and compatible charge points in the various Member States .
to my mind , there are two aspects to this issue .
whistleblowers are also mostly providing added value .
the second point I would make is that the political system can no longer cower behind Eurobarometers , surveys or opinion polls .
I would like to thank the rapporteur for getting the report to its successful second reading .
when will the Commission table a proposal concerning the necessary funding for the development of the trans-European transport infrastructure ?
today we are celebrating the European Day of Languages , and I wish to echo the feelings of many citizens of the Spanish state who fail to comprehend why they are discriminated against by the European Parliament 's Bureau , since Catalans , Galicians and Basques like myself , citizens ' representatives , are not permitted to use our languages in Parliament .
a working life with new demands , fragmented into many different kinds of contract , self-employment , and small and medium-sized enterprises which lack the capability of large enterprises to impose proper working and safety conditions .
the report also states that the hopes of European nations that are aspiring to join the European Union and are ready to comply with its entry criteria will find support from the EU .
we believe it is necessary to correct macroeconomic imbalances and move toward convergence , and we find that the Ferreira report makes particular progress in that area .
that is why I abstained .
we must get our own house in order while pushing others to do the same .
designing a reform package for European political parties as a means of mobilising the democratic energies of individual and organised citizens is a difficult but noble task , particularly due to the EU 's systemic complexity .
finally , what we need , among other things , is to achieve reciprocity with our trading partners in terms of market access , restore terms of fair competition on the international markets and ensure that imported products are subject to the same rules as goods produced within the EU .
however , I am not happy that specific attention was not given to the regional unemployment among women who lost their jobs in European textile factories at the time when this was happening .
I voted in favour of Mr Manders 's own-initiative report , which focuses particular attention on the topic of video games .
this is why the initiative to make Member States establish binding waste management programmes is promising .
I see with great satisfaction that this is also a priority , both for the Slovenian Presidency of the Council and for Parliament .
we must continue to try to develop relations in the context of the four common spaces and on the basis of last year 's Partnership for Modernisation .
on this issue of sustainability criteria , I think we now have major improvements on what the Commission proposed .
the report by Hans-Peter Martin on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions for the financial year 2006 ( C6-0372 / 2007 - ,
the next report in this package , relating to micro-credit , further supports this , of course .
this entailed a levelling-down of working and living conditions .
sure enough , David Kato was murdered , on 26 January .
the advice we have is clear .
nevertheless , in the last few months I have been heavily involved in transforming the Commission proposal , rewriting it .
today we are in the initial stage of the treaty coming into effect , and the EU will need to have adequate funding at its disposal from the outset in order to implement the new policies .
thank you .
on 4 April 2006 this Parliament adopted a supportive declaration on the European food programme for the most deprived people in the Community .
it is , rather , an expression of the consistent stance of the Belarusian authorities , which are attempting to prevent liberalisation and democratisation .
we seem to have found a way that is acceptable and that will help the national regulators to work together and to learn from each other .
in my opinion these refusals are often the result of arbitrary decisions taken by officials in the American consular service who assume - often it is not clear on what basis - that someone would illegally extend their visit to the USA .
this was not accepted for a variety of reasons which were discussed in detail in the Committee on Regional Development .
in summary , naturally the G20 Summit cannot solve all the problems that we have discussed .
as far as Australia is concerned , what point is there in our debating today a PNR agreement with Australia which has been signed and sealed ?
finally , in the Regional Development Committee 's opinion , the ENP should also include cooperation in preventing and dealing jointly with natural disasters .
that is what we expect from its communication of 26 November .
I think that there are four important elements .
I have one last point to make by way of conclusion , Mr President : I naturally call for Mr Reinfeldt to find a consensus within the Council , and for the pro-European coalition that exists within this Parliament to be reflected in the nominations and the division of the various roles .
it is clear that here we are not criticising the Commission 's intention to impose a new management model , but its inability to explain to us how it is going to overcome the difficulties of putting it into practice and avoid the pitfalls that exist in the actual formulation of maximum sustainable yield .
I would like to make a brief remark regarding the principles that guide our efforts .
both reports are leading in the same direction , Mr President , and show that here , even at five to eleven at night , we are concerning ourselves with our citizens .
1 .
for that reason I think , Mr President-in-Office , you will have a particular insight into the struggle in Gaza and you will understand the pain and the frustration of the people of Gaza and the people of Israel .
funding to improve people 's access to basic health and education must be ring-fenced by including a clear benchmark .
we need to distinguish between people who go abroad on holiday for the winter and those who want to remain permanently in another country .
it is obviously asymmetric when it comes to trade : both North-South trade and South-South trade .
it will improve access to third-country markets and build trust and long-term commercial relationships : this is normal .
what I meant to say was that the situation in Belarus has changed in the sense that more and more people see the need for democracy and the need to fight for democracy .
we would like to emphasise , however , that we share the view of the report that sport is important for several reasons .
I myself come from a region of Italy , Veneto , which was hit in June and July by landslides and whirlwinds , and I would mention , by way of example , Vallà di Riese and Borca di Cadore .
as regards misleading practices in business directories , which are common and have a disastrous effect on businesses , I consider it a good sign that the relevant legislation is being overhauled so as to put an end to the misleading practices used by publishers of business directories , namely through the creation of a blacklist of misleading practices used by business directories .
when I mention this to people in the United Kingdom - the expense and the trouble that everyone goes to to come here - they are absolutely astounded , particularly in a time of economic stringency , that we should pursue the habit .
all you have to do is look at what is happening in the field of labour , with decreased job security and increased unemployment , which is currently in excess of 23 million , to which 85 million people in poverty can be added .
this will not only weaken the capacity of the European Union to inspire citizens but also the capacity of each Member State to rehabilitate their national myths .
the only chance to force him to step down is a drastic change in the stance held by the African Union .
it should be possible to put this right , and if Mr Reinfeldt had seen fit to remain here , I would have liked to have asked him how the Swedish Presidency intends to acquire a stronger mandate ahead of the Copenhagen Summit , because this must not come to nothing .
last year , enthusiasm for the euro waned slightly in non-euro Member States , including Lithuania .
temporary Committee on Climate Change ( extension of term of office ) : see Minutes
I fully support the suggestion to enhance the visibility of the Citizens ' Portal in relation to the right to petition .
you say : ' look at refugees ' .
globalisation means that this is bound to grow .
nevertheless , I very much welcome and support this report .
that is why I would like to say how proud I am that it was my group , the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) , that persuaded a very large majority of this Parliament to put their trust in you .
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Slovenia has always supported Croatia 's joining the European Union ; however , we cannot agree with their actions concerning unresolved issues with borders , whilst they are selling land which belongs to Slovenia .
7 .
the figures provided are certainly dream-like : 80 % , 73 % .
Mr President , unusual times call for unusual measures .
Mr Verhofstadt said that we should not wait for the task force .
there is much talk of transparency and clarity , yet simplicity is also a democratic value that we often forget , as it allows wide public access to the institutions .
I would particularly like to express my respect for EU Ambassador Ulrika Barklund Larsson , who was taken from us so suddenly this autumn .
this process requires profound reforms which are often highly unpopular with the public .
it was said that being in the euro area would be a safeguard against financial crises , as the country in question would be able to avoid loans and receive money from the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , in voting in favour of the joint resolution , I am highlighting the particular seriousness of the violence carried out in Malaysia in response to an exclusively nominalistic issue .
( PT ) Mr President , cohesion policy is one of the EU 's most emblematic policy areas , and the one that best symbolises the ideal of building the European project .
also for the second year running , the Council has not taken this decision .
let me turn to trade in general .
on behalf of the S & D Group . - Mr President , whatever people feel about the outcome of the Iranian elections , there is no doubt that tens - hundreds - of people have been injured , tens of people have been killed in the protests that have taken place since the elections in that country , and thousands of people appear to have been detained as political prisoners .
I consider that GDP is a limited indicator and that indicators should be developed to supplement it .
there are incidents which have already become legend involving European money which has failed to arrive months , if not years , after the time it was really needed .
an updated directive is critical to protecting our domestic interests , and children 's health .
that is why we will have to find the right level of financial and technological compensation .
( DE ) Mr President , first of all , I would like to say that I am rather surprised that , of all people , Mr Cashman from the United Kingdom , who I hold in great esteem , should remind us that a country which joins the European Union must become involved in every aspect of the Union and cannot take an à la carte approach .
there are major disparities between pension systems in Europe , and new Member States and their citizens face extra problems because it is so desirable to establish a diversified pension system ( with several pillars ) , in order to spread risks .
in this respect , I believe that the role of the press is an absolutely vital one .
that is why it is worth continuing on this journey , even if we do not agree on the destination .
until now , only the European Commission was able to initiate European Union legislation , but in the Treaty of Lisbon , it is provided that a majority of the European Parliament has the right to create European Union legislation .
Mr President , Commissioner Damanaki , ladies and gentlemen , I am pleased that we are able to adopt a regulation that represents one more small step towards our shared goal of sustainable fisheries .
the various types of pension schemes operating on the basis of statutory funding , whether occupational or voluntary , today play an increasingly important role in the overall pension schemes in many Member States .
our role today , as the European Parliament , is to defend the European Commission 's proposals against the governments of the Member States which have not , apparently , learned any lessons from the crisis .
in writing . - ( NL ) The new telecoms law that we are discussing today has far-reaching consequences for all of us Internet and telecom users .
I support the report by Mrs Ries who deserves to be congratulated on her excellent work .
the numbers are increasing at an alarming rate .
this leads me to draw attention to the considerable misgivings of certain sectors of public opinion , as this accession has come at the wrong time .
as I myself have been diagnosed with a condition similar to that of Mrs Morvai , I would like to congratulate her even more warmly on her victory .
in writing . - ( NL ) I voted against the report for various reasons .
we believe that we do need a stability mechanism , it is just that we think that this one does not go deep enough , as it deals with the symptoms and not the causes .
amateur sport provides raw material for the sports industry and commercialised championships .
however , fine statements are not sufficient to resolve current problems .
the messages from the European Court of Justice , often those from the Commission , and at times those from the Council Presidency , are neither clear nor always consistent .
I am grateful these questions were raised as I can therefore have the time to speak that I need .
is this reasonable ?
this joint motion for a resolution , replacing the motions by the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe , the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance and the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament , is intended to promote the Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative ( TBVI ) with a view to meeting the targets defined by the United Nations in the Millennium Development Goals .
however , the same people who accuse Europe of poking its nose into everything are the first to speak up when we do not talk about the social dimension .
we presented a plan of action and have since taken a number of measures .
the Regulations are still living in the 1950s and have never been modernised .
we need to diversify gas suppliers , supply routes and delivery mechanisms ( as in the case of liquefied natural gas ) .
I share the rapporteur 's concern that the Commission should examine not just the specific issue of the standard rate and other rates of value added tax ( VAT ) , but also the broader issue of a new VAT strategy , including its scope and derogations .
apparently , Member States which promote a free market are psychiatric cases .
medical resources need improvements so that women can safely delay giving birth until a later age , but above all the issue must be on the political agenda .
I do not think that we have reached such a situation in any of our Member States .
today it is proving its complete uselessness , since it is the states that are acting and reacting .
there are good reasons for this .
the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament will give its support to your Presidency , Mr Zapatero .
however , the hoped-for market liberalisation failed to materialise .
their general tone suggests that the implementation of ABB and ABM has been a success and has brought about a major cultural change in the Commission whilst at the same time helping to clarify personal responsibilities and accountability , and making management more effective , result-oriented and transparent .
it is time for the European Union to pay attention to the security of raw materials , in the same way as it pays attention to energy security .
it includes concepts that are innovative , such as reversed qualified majority voting and the fining of Member States , and ensures that national budgets are no longer a matter merely for national parliaments .
when improvisation is combined with urgency , the most likely outcome is disappointment .
this accident was able to happen , and yet apparently all the environmental legislation was observed ?
I have voted in favour of Mr Varvitsiotis 's report on the mutual recognition to decisions on supervision measures .
Parliament can play an especially prominent and important role in the realm of political cooperation , and of course you are also a catalyst for the development of democracy , for human rights and for reforms leading towards the establishment of the rule of law , to which we naturally attach the utmost importance here , and which serve as a compass of this neighbourhood policy .
this must not happen .
what else have we achieved ?
in writing . - ( PT ) The illicit manufacture and trafficking of firearms , their parts , components and ammunition have harmful effects on the security of all inhabitants of the EU .
Mr President , a review of budgets is always necessary .
the Commission will continue these actions along with other initiatives to improve the control framework .
in fact , we have manifold , mostly positive experience of refurbishment programmes - often with each euro of public money attracting six or seven euro of private investment .
I see shortcomings mainly in the vagueness of the legal text , which , in most cases , does not specify any deadlines for fulfilling the stated obligations .
the European Union needs new synergies and an integrated approach between the different sectoral policies in order to achieve the optimal result for growth and development on the ground .
I would like to focus on management plans , although I will not go into any substantial aspects , as they have already been highlighted by the rapporteurs .
I believe that international organisations , primarily the UN , have to intervene as soon as possible to prevent an even more serious deterioration in the situation and to mediate the start of a necessary dialogue between the authorities and the opposition , as the only democratic option for resolving the current crisis peacefully .
everything else is very worthy , very desirable , but secondary .
second , democracy is , of course , about votes and elections - but it is also about far more than that .
I understand that you are here representing the executive , not the Spanish judiciary , and that you are not a spokesperson for the Autonomous Community of Valencia , but we need an answer .
I believe that federalism is a good form of government in Germany , Canada , Switzerland and the USA .
we were lucky to have good partners in this who showed reasonable flexibility and had the same goal as Parliament 's rapporteurs , namely to reach an agreement as soon as possible , while maintaining the quality of our work and making sure that one year after the Treaty of Lisbon we have a regulation for the most citizen-based provision of the Treaty .
this report supports the drafting of an ILO convention to protect the rights of these workers and especially of these hidden female workers .
I would be happy to meet you to outline the problem of updating Regulation ( EC ) No 2568 / 1991 ; there are new control systems and we must fight against sophistication and adulteration , for the benefit of consumers and producers too .
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South Korea is the fourth most important market for the European Union 's exports outside Europe .
what is required is , simply , adherence to the provisions of the various UN resolutions on the matter .
to this end , the Bologna Process envisages three priority areas for action : the introduction of the three-cycle system of bachelor 's degrees , master 's degrees and doctorates , quality assurance and recognition of qualifications and periods of study .
my own country 's tradition and preference is to leave people like David Irving to condemn themselves by the absurdity of their unhistorical views and to be contradicted by vigorous debate .
with the adoption of this text , the Member States must now make an effort to fulfil their own financial commitments , particularly with regard to developing countries , so that the right to health can also mean a right to preventive care .
the goals of , and investments in , this global transformation of the economy must focus on the long term and they pose numerous technological challenges for the next 10 years .
I therefore fully support the elaboration of a comprehensive regulation for the protection of minority rights at European level .
in truth , criminal charges have been brought against a well-known political figure in respect of a sum and in circumstances which would , in the case of an ordinary citizen , have attracted merely administrative proceedings .
in writing . - ( PT ) At a time when the crisis of capitalism is deepening and its contradictions are increasing , this resolution and the goals set for the ( ' long-term ' ) creation of the ' transatlantic market ' are presented as a real escape route , pointing to the increasing liberalisation of the markets in these two poles of the ' triad ' and pillars of NATO as a ' way out ' .
the Presidency is convinced that we need now to establish an appropriate legal framework for our relations with Turkmenistan , beginning with the Interim Agreement .
I just wanted to say this today , and to repeat what Mr Hökmark said : the world is changing .
however , we must still provide for protection of European intellectual property and repatriate to Europe patents for inventions created in Europe , but currently kept in the United States .
finally , the European integration process has helped build democracy and freedom at an unprecedented rate in European history .
like the vast majority of this House , I voted in favour of this report .
I have met some of them .
nonetheless , it is obvious that they cannot alter the system 's most essential aspect : its unsustainability , predatory nature and emphasis on speculation , with the principal aim of increasing profits .
Ms Alfano , please continue .
the ' deep concern ' of the Romanian parliament is completely unfounded and unjustified .
Mr President , finally we have a resolution on Ukraine adopted by our Parliament .
how can disadvantaged , poorly educated patients be expected to give informed consent ? how can a person who has never heard of HIV consent to being tested for it ?
however , the European Parliament has adopted a proposal , for which we voted , extending aid until 2018 .
the areas concerned are also covered in detail by the resolution you will be adopting , and these must also continue to have priority among the plans of the Skopje Government .
secondly , we are talking about a judicial resolution , and no resolution by Parliament can revoke or amend any resolution passed down by a court of justice .
( DE ) Madam President , I would also like to say that Mr Peterle has produced an excellent report .
in April , we voted on the joint resolution on the lessons to be drawn for nuclear safety in Europe following the nuclear accident in Japan .
I also hope that the amendments which we have submitted will guarantee mutual respect for languages , including those spoken by national minorities or our migrants , because our living linguistic heritage is a treasure : a resource which must be valued .
we must ensure that efficient , forward-looking work is done that also corresponds to our policies , and therefore I ask that we all ensure that these agencies are able to work well and efficiently for us in the future too .
( ES ) Mr President , the Union 's foreign policy is entering a new phase , as Baroness Ashton and Mr Albertini have said this morning .
it might make it clear that you are not bullying a particular person whom you do not like and who does not share your political views , but you really are supporting the freedom of the press in Europe .
I believe that the preparatory work carried out in recent weeks can result in a positive conclusion which bodes well for the debate to be held in the Algarve .
we must also keep to the Barcelona targets on childcare .
agenda of the next sitting : see Minutes
this is why we must certify legal websites which , in future , will have a link to the website of the national approval body .
the relation is one of interdependence , which offers both sides a strong motivation to put our energy relations on a predictable and also on a concrete basis .
I do accept that there is more that we can do .
however , in order to ensure that social inclusion measures are effective , the facility needs to be entered in a separate budget line .
we agree entirely with what Jacek Saryusz-Wolski said a few moments ago about institutional improvements .
perhaps we can meet halfway .
the European Commission proposal of 1 July 2010 is based on the language regime of the European Patent Office , which has proved its effectiveness .
applying Rule 50 of the Rules of Procedure also worked very well , allowing us to work effectively with the Committee on Petitions .
this decision shows how , paradoxically , the common European asylum system has created a kind of injustice , both for asylum seekers and for the Member States .
I voted against this paragraph because 60 t goods vehicles , to which this paragraph has just opened the door , are dangerous for the environment and for the users of our roads , which were not designed to carry these loads .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to express my support for Mrs Buitenweg 's work .
this 2010 budget , however , relates , above all , to the economic recovery plan .
in writing . - Regarding the resolution on the key objectives for the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ( CITES ) , I voted against the abolition of fishing of northern bluefin tuna .
on 17 April 2009 , following the completion of the environmental impact assessment , they issued a construction permit for the project .
athletes have a crucial role to play in this .
on the contrary , those countries experiencing much worse conditions than these ' victims ' of the crisis , but which have not been involved in globalisation , as is the case with most of the African countries , still have their problems and remain outside the solution .
this is because the Commission recommended in the Strategy that substantial changes should not be made to these Guidelines .
for this reason , the European Parliament 's Committee on Culture and Education is initiating a report with the working title ' Active dialogue with citizens on Europe ' .
as well as interest rate support , people who set up micro-enterprises will also receive support in the form of mentoring , training , coaching and capacity building .
it is our responsibility - even more so with the Treaty of Lisbon - and we must assume it .
for how long can we contain them ?
it is rare for such an interesting debate to be conducted in this Chamber , for which I would like to thank everybody .
well , interesting , is it not ?
in particular , I find it absolutely incomprehensible that calls for tender relating to projects to promote democracy and human rights should be accessible only in English , French and Spanish .
I especially find their current fears more than justified in view of the Chinese Government 's policy of severe repression towards them , which has now lasted more than 50 years , apart from a brief and , I would say , false truce during the Olympic Games .
finally , the Belohorská report adopted by the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety puts forward certain additional measures which are especially positive .
what do we expect from the effects ?
there are many important projects at the moment .
whatever the case , the agreement is a historic one , because it shows that the EU is capable of demonstrating internal consistency and taking decisions even in awkward situations and amid tough negotiations .
in drafting this regulation we found ourselves facing the need to strike a balance between two approaches : the first considers the ' level planning field ' for all modes of transport , whereby different modes of transport can compete under the same conditions and with equal opportunities , while at the same time passengers enjoy a high level of protection regardless of the means of transport they have chosen .
you stated that only one or two percent are used in court .
indeed , we are on the eve of an important reform of the CFP .
I welcome the Iraqi President 's decision not to sign the execution order for Tariq Aziz , but we will watch closely how the Iraqi Parliament behaves in this case .
I welcome what the report says on protecting consumer rights and encouraging cross-border trade throughout Europe .
for four years we negotiated Poland 's membership of the structures of the European Union .
the others who have arrived until now are being evacuated , that is to say assisted in returning home , by the Egyptian authorities , incidentally with the help of EU Member States .
universal access to quality public services must be the basic political criterion .
the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020 , published by the Commission , will affect the lives of 80 million disabled people in the EU .
this is why I voted in favour of the report .
one method that will not work here is based on the establishment of a type of basic consumption that is made cheaper or even free .
I would have hoped that this would be more substantially reflected in the recent round of negotiations in New York .
Eighty-eight percent of the population are in need of food aid , there is a lack of essential medical supplies in the hospitals , and thousands of tons of aid cannot be brought into Gaza because not enough trucks are being allowed in .
the Google Books class action settlement concerns the Google Books Project in the United States and aims to conclude a litigation procedure which has been going on for over four years .
the order of business for our plenary sitting has been established .
what matters is that those who have completed a vocational education or training course should bring their newly acquired abilities and skills to the working environment .
as for payment appropriations , the Council has made an adjustment limited to EUR 1.7 billion compared to the preliminary draft budget .
what worries me is that , on this occasion , the owner of the building was not insured .
the European Union could stand up for European interests and , consequently , the interests of Member States .
Madam President , I shall refrain from commenting on Mr Van Orden 's arguments , firstly , because I do not want to use up my time and , secondly , because he has - and not for the first time - confused the perpetrator with the victim in Cyprus .
in the European Union , the year 2010 is European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion .
this applies first of all to those areas which are especially called upon to put an end to discrimination , for instance , by means of the European Social Fund .
part of the Thai population is severely disadvantaged and socially excluded .
take , fourth , the judicial activism , the way in which our judges have disregarded what the law says in favour of what they think the law ought to say .
previous crises were characterised by the fact that they affected specific regions , and were concentrated in one place .
to do so , it must continue , in particular , to modernise its working methods , for example in the organisation of our debates - you alluded to this .
I am sure that the service will be a success if it can benefit from the experience of all Member States .
this Security Strategy is in place and was developed in 2003 as a major innovation .
President Voronin 's agreement to visit the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights , Thomas Hammarberg , as well as cooperation with the EUSR on these issues , is welcome . similarly Moldovan interest in the possibility of the dispatch of an EU fact-finding mission is positive .
however , nowadays , agriculture in Bulgaria is in steady decline , even more so since Bulgaria joined the European Union .
I reject the notion that religious leaders should be restricted in their freedom of conscience and religion concerning homosexuality .
I absolutely agree with the rapporteur .
the Committee on Legal Affairs introduced three compromise amendments tabled by several colleagues to the effect that these additional publication requirements may be permitted if they are well-grounded , but we put them into recitals - they are not in the articles .
I welcome the fact that the Presidency is concerned with developing the European Research Area and ensuring mobility for researchers .
we must look again at the unacceptable issues in relation to responsibility - because , if the rules of ordinary law concerning responsibility were applied , we would not have these problems .
it would be desirable to extend harmonisation of this crime to the 27 Member States , although always , I repeat , always , with the most scrupulous respect for freedom of expression .
in the spring of this year , Egypt adopted new legislation criminalising human trafficking and also protecting its victims .
nowadays Europe is living in a new world of globalisation , increased mobility and migration , as well as of regional regeneration and with a reinforced role for cross-border regions .
moreover , by saving energy and improving our energy supply , we can boost the European Union 's energy security by reducing oil and natural gas imports .
reducing funds to implement the common agricultural policy and transferring them to finance other tasks will not take us far , and what will become of the programmes that have been launched ?
people want their own governments and their own legislatures to be making the decisions that affect them .
( NL ) Mr President , road transport is a major source of pollution .
- Report : Sterckx
( FR ) Madam President , Commissioner , we have chocolate without cocoa and a ban on cheese made with milk straight from the cow .
( DE ) Madam President , Commissioners , although I believe this is just a small step , at least it is a step in the right direction .
it provides the basis for a new , green deal that will enhance the competitiveness of the European industry at international level .
however , I would , at any rate , like to address a question to Mr Barnier regarding the ESMA : we have talked much about how it would impose various sanctions , but when will we know what these sanctions will be , what their extent will be and when they can be introduced ?
the European Union pays enormous subsidies to environmental pressure groups that agree to advise the EU to follow a policy to which it is already committed .
regarding Mrs Mann 's invitation to come back ( and I am sure she is asking for Peter Mandelson to come back , although I would be delighted to come back ) , I am sure he will take up the invitation .
the Union 's dependence on imports of conventional sources of energy and on a limited number of suppliers represents a serious threat to our security , stability and prosperity .
in other countries such as the Czech Republic , Italy and Portugal , the network is mediocre , and in still others , such as Poland , Romania and Bulgaria , it is simply bad .
that does not mean that we are against more cooperation and coordination .
in this respect , Montenegro has performed very well by signing agreements with Croatia and Serbia .
in a short speech that I made - in the presence of the President of the European Council , José Socrates , and EC President , José Manuel Barroso - I expressed the will of the great majority of the European Parliament that the Reform Treaty should become a legal , and hence a political , reality by 1 January 2009 .
a number of landmark reforms have been carried out in the past year .
you are perfectly aware that this is a matter that is dealt with at national level , for which there are channels at national level .
we do not know why it is important , we do not know the hierarchy of what is important , but we do know that you regard everything as important .
we know we cannot solve everything , and we know there is a problem , for example , over the fact that packaging is often produced separately from medicines , and that counterfeit medicines in genuine packaging are in circulation around the world .
Europe must not be overcautious and afraid to support the right of Christian communities in the Middle East and around the world to profess their faith and religion freely .
the following questions have been submitted to the Commission .
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in practice , what he is proposing is to carry on with the same policy that prioritises free competition , militarism and the interests of economic and financial groups , particularly those of the most powerful countries , as was clear when he said we are the champions of globalisation .
it is then in the hands of Parliament and the Council to see whether it is possible to spend some of this money .
that also makes me think of the effectiveness of aid , because that is also related to coordination .
I note that there has been no consultation with Member States on this question since the latter chose in 2006 to withdraw gambling from the scope of the Services Directive .
we have heard understandable concerns from industry at a time of intense pressure .
the Commission 's conclusions you presented to us are welcome , inasmuch as the region , with its oil , gas and minerals , is not just seen as a new Eldorado : the main focus is on the people who live there , and this is a very important aspect of the situation .
moreover , as you said yourself , the House is sovereign .
the main threat is us humans and the economic system we have built up , which is based on constant growth and consumption .
( SL ) This directive does not provide for the 40-hour working week to be extended to a 60-hour one .
thank you very much .
it is very good that existing strengths are being built on by means of ' Active and Healthy Ageing ' - actually , healthy living rather than healthy ageing - and it would seem that , in fact , healthy ageing begins at conception .
in time it is to be hoped that the levels of abuse , and hence the number and volume of fines imposed , will decrease as complying levels increase and we are still doing our job properly .
medium-sized companies would be prevented from taking part successfully in international networks .
Mrs Frassoni and others are thus stating the obvious .
it is committed to this dialogue , taking into account the specific organisation of sport , the complexity of topics to be addressed and , of course , the diversity of sports actors .
this levy could be used to refinance the banks and national budgets and could therefore form the basis for creating new jobs .
we therefore support the ambitious roadmap prepared by the Committee on the Environment because we think it succeeds in setting clearly visible standards , while at the same time confronting us with the technology gap that we need to overcome in order to meet our Kyoto Protocol commitments .
prospects for the Doha Development Agenda following the Seventh WTO Ministerial Conference ( debate )
we can already hear arguments as to the Ministers ' ability to debate whether or not the inflation target is set correctly .
well , it is true that the two arms of the budgetary authority are about equally strong , but the strength of this arm cannot really be put to use , as the Treaty has condemned us to agreement .
( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , climate change has already caused 300 000 deaths and will cause millions more in the future .
economic insecurity and fear of the future are important factors behind the drop in the birth rate .
price volatility has been very significant and had a detrimental , and indeed destabilising , effect on farming , not only in the outermost regions , but in all areas of Europe .
generally speaking , Belarus is not ready to develop nuclear energy , and the Russian Government is not only failing to answer the questions put by neighbouring countries , but is ignoring its population 's requests for consultations .
it is rather a consequence of insufficient education and lack of experience .
I voted in favour of adopting the annual report on the main aspects of the common foreign and security policy ( CFSP ) in 2009 .
we must find the solution together .
the Commission will keep you informed about these future developments and I look forward to further fruitful discussions with you on this important issue .
we do not want dialogue , we want negotiations . we want the Chinese to negotiate with the representatives of the Dalai Lama , on the basis of the proposed memorandum .
likewise , I think we have to get rid of some ambiguities and understand that the principles of self-determination and territorial integrity cannot always be applied together .
briefly , I have a second piece of encouragement to mention .
all European citizens must have the opportunity to access higher education , regardless of their citizenship , country or place of birth .
thank you very much for the extra time , Mr President .
explanation of vote : on 23 November 2010 , the Swedish Conservatives voted in favour of the report on civil law , commercial law , family law and private international law aspects of the Action Plan implementing the Stockholm Programme .
a sensible review of the 2003 reform in this regard must not only offer European farmers dependability and reliability in planning , but also be a further step towards the market-based continuing development of our agricultural system .
I would like to state that it is a basic policy of the Commission to reject and oppose actively any form of dumping , and that includes social dumping .
such projects include the memorial to Mr Pöttering , a museum dedicated to the EU 's short history , or converting Parliament 's parking area into a spa and baths .
let me stress , however , that for multiannual programmes the full picture is only seen when the programmes are closed , after any irregularities have been satisfactorily dealt with by the Member States .
author . - Mr President , on 23 May 2009 , the UN Secretary-General , Ban Ki-moon , and the President of Sri Lanka , Rajapaksa , signed a joint statement in which Sri Lanka agreed to guarantee accountability for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the war which ended in May 2009 .
who really has overall responsibility ?
European thinking should therefore be present in this institution .
Schengen is a European symbol and is the perfect combination of freedom to travel , open borders and security .
I consider it unacceptable that the European Union is similarly leaving the solution of the problem of minorities within the area of competence of individual Member States .
the EU must keep looking for ways of making the policy more effective .
why , then , forget it when we share our sovereignty ?
the debate is closed .
it is a policy which is also designed to generate synergy within a regional structure - Black Sea Synergy in one area and the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership in the other .
besides these tests , the European Union must work to harmonise international standards at the highest level , within the G20 and the International Atomic Energy Agency , on the basis of the Western European Nuclear Regulators ' Association 's objectives for new reactors .
for that reason I have taken part in various initiatives that seek to promote and ensure full respect for multilingualism .
permanent officials and national diplomats will have the same rights and obligations in the EEAS and the necessary provisions of the Staff Regulations will apply to ensure their independence and loyalty to the European Union .
in writing . - ( HU ) In connection with the EU-Russia summit , I would like to draw attention to a few factors concerning energy policy .
this does not mean we should fight against illegal immigrants themselves , since every one of them has his own story to tell , but rather against the phenomenon of illegal immigration as the only way to justify and truly systematise controlled immigration , particularly in today 's world .
in my opinion , it is equally important to establish the procedures and structures which will protect development as an independent area of policy with its own specific objectives .
( FR ) For the rest , France has just decided to sell a Mistral class warship to Russia ; we believe that it will sincerely regret its action .
President-in-Office of the Council . - As the honourable parliamentarian has said very well the joint report on social protection and social inclusion , which was submitted to the European Council meeting on 19-20 March , stresses the need for appropriate social policies , not only to mitigate the adverse social impact on the most vulnerable but also to cushion the impact of the crisis on the economy as a whole .
( DE ) Mr Garrido , thank you very much for your detailed answer .
these objectives can and should be shared by everyone in Parliament because they represent the route that prevents the competition factors in Europe from moving towards social dumping and greater exploitation of workers .
in recent years , Portugal has doubled its investment in R & D and has reached the top five in terms of renewable energy : 31 % of electricity consumed already comes from renewable sources and this figure is expected to be 60 % in 2020 .
these consultations enabled me to assess the existing system and also to familiarise myself with the wishes of these countries and organisations so as to incorporate them .
we have currently started a consultation process with the EU Member States in order to renew the mandate of the European coordinators and thus cover the period 2009-2013 .
however , although your report represents a key step , this is mainly because of the comprehensive approach to discrimination you speak up for .
our proposal for a roadmap with the Commission is an attempt to ensure that these issues are addressed properly in line with the Union 's timetable .
this year , we shall be focusing in particular within the European Union on preparing the implementation measures for this package .
the outcome of this is what we proposed .
( PL ) The European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights is , in my view , an instrument that is used and approached too technically at present .
we should never believe that just a diplomatic dialogue can sort out every issue that has been addressed here : it cannot .
admittedly it is not an easy balancing act , but for people who are ill it may be a matter of survival .
we will be endorsing it nevertheless , because we believe - and this is with reference to the report - that it does highlight the right aspects and that it also shows sufficient realism .
strengthening of administrative institutions and a gradual takeover of the responsibilities for running the country by Afghan authorities must , however , be accompanied by effective human rights protection for all , under the rule of law .
and that she be held responsible for the damage she has caused .
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it must be acknowledged , once and for all , that the policies in force , that they now want to deepen , are the fundamental cause of the crisis .
Europe needed a quick agreement and that is what it got .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , Mrs Sartori 's excellent work looks like the best legislative outcome for updating and therefore ensuring better regulation of certain aspects of chemical processing .
thanks to the work of the socialists , the text adopted in committee points out the economic and social fragility of India , a country in which 80 % of the population lives on less than USD 2 per day .
I do not think that this is the right signal to send out .
if we do not like the decisions of the European Court of Justice , we change the law .
besides the intricacy and legal uncertainty of differentiating the ' what , who and when ' in all of this , such measures actually risk bringing victims of trafficking further outside the reach of the authorities .
to give an example , I am struck by the fact that not a single Member of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament has come to the debate , that all their seats are empty and nobody has asked for the floor in order to justify this situation , when this matter goes beyond individual parties and is of concern to all governments .
we have just heard the Commission 's conclusions .
what makes it all the more important is that we need to acknowledge that we have not achieved all our objectives included in the Lisbon Programme from 2000 .
I am not talking about rebel groups , but other groups which are opposed to the government .
the report by Jan Andersson , on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs , on the proposal for a recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a European Quality Assurance Reference Framework for Vocational Education and Training - C6-0163 / 2008 - , and
if a further 2 % rise in the quota were now to be applied simultaneously , the delicate balance between supply and demand would be severely disrupted and milk prices would fall as a result .
for this reason we are against the suggestion that any product made with the aid of nanomaterials should have this separately stated on the label .
there is no doubt that your recommendations will help us to enhance the measures already taken by the Commission and will enrich the debates and the decisions taken at the European Council .
furthermore , thanks to our delegation in Minsk , the Commission is playing an active part in analysing the situation on the ground .
this is to avoid a situation where the system would be evaluated at a time when it is no longer in force .
whatever reasons would be invoked , some solutions are available that are peaceful and civilised , and throughout history , crime has never solved anything .
speaking for myself , I might be attracted to the career of a ' golden skirt ' as I have not been a member of a single management board so far .
this report seeks to highlight the role of women in industry .
I never bought a dud bank for my clients , but over the past few years , I have had the politicians and bureaucrats put a gun to my head , as a taxpayer , and make me buy more dud banks than you could shake a stick at .
the Member States should also be encouraged to set up monitoring centres for patients and their carers and to secure equal scientific participation by the Member States in this research endeavour by the European Union .
but the fact that the first constitutional democracy was in Poland and that the repression by security police took place literally just over the wall from the Wirtschaftswunder are things we know far less about than we should .
given the fact that the Baltic Sea is already one of the most contaminated maritime areas today , it is unacceptable to subject it to any further risk factors which could lead the area to the brink of natural and economic catastrophe in the future .
I very much hope that , following the euphoria of the last few days , the Kosovars will shoulder their responsibility quickly , as it is they who are at the helm .
you are right , we have spent 1.5 billion , and there are still 2 000 victims every month .
any country which fails to provide safe and affordable food to its people and ensure a reasonable standard of living for its farmers is heading towards instability and food riots .
right from the start , I was not particularly happy about the Commission 's proposal , under pressure from the Council , to use foreign trade instruments of all things in order to provide short-term aid for Pakistan .
as regards the Council conclusions in relation to the energy and climate change package , it is very important that legislation will be in place with legally binding targets .
this is expected of us , not only by the citizens of Russia , but by the whole of European society .
however , let us agree that , procedurally , it was not the best one to follow but that , from a practical point of view , we had little choice .
the aim of this proposal is the codification of existing legislative texts on indications or marks identifying the lot to which a foodstuff belongs .
I recently requested a visa to be sure that I would be able to cross the border and it was refused .
at the same time , it offers a certain advantage to those living in the border areas , as has been pointed out already .
( DA ) Mr President , we all wish for the fastest , best treatment if we should fall seriously ill , but I do not want to see the American model , where well-off citizens receive the best treatment and vulnerable members of society second-class treatment - if they are lucky .
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such behaviour has transformed the former principle of ' the polluter pays ' into ' pay to pollute ' .
Turkey , Georgia and Ukraine have repeatedly expressed their appetite for EU membership .
finally , it calls for the employment policies that have resulted in a mediaeval labour market , that have increased unemployment and under-employment , that promote flexible forms of work and attack the wages and pensions and rights of European workers , especially young workers , to be continued .
nevertheless , there is a lot to be done in this field , and the Commission cannot leave the issue to resolve itself and let the market be .
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a significant proportion of European Roma face such substandard conditions - almost totally disconnected from the economy resulting in their exclusion from basic human rights - that fostering social inclusion cannot be viewed within the framework of general policy ratification but must be handled as bridging one of the most enormous gaps in the fulfilment of constitutional and human rights in Europe .
the situation for journalists in Iran is one of the worst in the world ; free information on the internet is blocked and people writing blogs are persecuted .
my home region of Lower Austria has succeeded in saving a species that was threatened with extinction and these have now spread out over a wide area - somewhat to the chagrin of farmers and foresters , whose feelings on the beaver are rather different .
the provisions of the Schengen acquis have been part of the European Union framework since the Amsterdam Treaty came into force in 1999 .
have you not considered the possibility that those Member States do not see that there is any need for those European projects ?
it is difficult , it is sometimes hard work , but it is something that Parliament must continue to do unceasingly .
we know that a number of these have been linked to the activities of the security forces .
in such cases , both therapeutic and various preventive measures should be used , particularly bans on working with children and adolescents .
the members of the EU have committed themselves to a common position in favour of national reconciliation , democracy and human rights , but in practice the EU Member States are divided , producing a weak and ineffective position that is having no effect on the regime in Burma .
however , the problem of the future of farming has not been solved : this will be the electoral debate in 2009 and in the political negotiations that will open immediately following the elections .
the EU must not be a closed club .
I was shocked that four Member States of this Union - Italy , the Netherlands , Hungary and Slovakia - voted against the HRC resolution .
we shall examine the possibility of drawing up such a list .
should the EU say what the sanctions should be - custodial sentences , fines and other penalties ?
although I am not entirely in favour of the resources released in this way being allocated to the Union 's budget , as I think that the Millennium Development Goals should benefit , at least in part , I wished to vote for paragraph 171 to send a positive signal to the Commission and the Council regarding the implementation of this tax .
Prime Minister Orbán , we have known each other for a long time and I consider you a very great European .
I think that is a sensible safety valve .
that is why any decision taken unilaterally , without consultation , is not going in the right direction .
I voted in favour of the motion for a resolution by the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs , in which it says that the European Employment Services ( EURES ) network should become an important European labour market communication platform and a one-stop shop for workers ' geographical and occupational mobility .
I wish to commend the work of my own group in the European Parliament who have inserted those principles of eradication of poverty into this revision .
in my country the Minister for Economic Affairs of North Rhine-Westphalia is now asserting that this relocation of Nokia from Bochum in Germany to Romania would be financed by EU funds .
they are vibrant and forming themselves into networks , and they had a very high profile at the Nairobi Social Forum .
and why do some heart patients needlessly have to wait months for surgery to unblock arteries ?
in other words , this protection should not be restricted to a single Member State but should allow the individual to reside or remain in other EU countries .
( DE ) Madam President , renewed interest in Africa throughout the world is attended by a change in perspective .
the recent evidence suggests that there has been an 18 % drop in the number of children coming into hospitals with asthma because of this ban on smoking in public places .
the difference between Germany and Greece has not lessened over the past decade , but increased , and this is a consequence of the fact that we have pursued a Lisbon Strategy that was much too weak .
moreover , Mr Berlusconi wants to limit the publication of judicial information , sues and threatens journalists who criticise him , and sues Italian newspapers such as La Repubblica , L 'Unità and even the daily Avvenire , published by Italian bishops .
now the intergroups have to meet on an unsuitable date .
in writing . - ( LT ) Ladies and gentlemen , there cannot be innovations without research competence .
appropriate training , sound maintenance and better protection of level crossings are other important components for safety .
just look around on the Internet : there are thousands of websites offering companies for sale , even in European Union countries .
people are dying as a direct or indirect result of the fighting , and diseases such as cholera are spreading rapidly .
what is the situation as far as taxes are concerned ?
request for the waiver of parliamentary immunity : see Minutes
if , however , the policy were only implemented in Europe , it would be a totally unnecessary waste of EUR 500 billion .
in particular , we support within this resolution the focus on increased positive cooperation on human rights , positive UN reform , nuclear non-proliferation and delivering on the Millennium Development Goals .
yet stocks in the main are no better , and fishermen are a lot fewer and a lot poorer .
people tortured in the most brutal way in order to release passwords on Facebook and the names of comrades working on Facebook .
as the Hungarian Minister for Rural Development , Sándor Fazekas , was told at the meeting of the Environment Ministers , for the moment the events at Fukushima nuclear plant have no consequences for the population in the EU .
obviously , he must compromise with a college of commissioners belonging to several political families .
that is too prescriptive .
for the Treaty of Lisbon to give the European Parliament the role of a rump Parliament is one thing , but for its Members to state their agreement with this nonsense is something entirely different .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Madam President , Burma will hold so-called elections this year .
this means , in particular , that priority must be given to voluntary returns , that the right to appeal against return decisions must be provided for and that the individual needs of vulnerable persons must be taken into account .
the Commission is currently drawing up a proposal for the multi-annual financial framework , which will be followed by specific proposals on the Structural Funds .
however , I should like to point out , based on progress in enlargement to date , that cooperation with these countries and the accession procedure - especially in times of economic crisis - should contribute to sustainable development and the economic and social prosperity of the enlargement countries and the Union and their citizens , and not to the imposition of economic policies that plunge these countries into recession , increase unemployment and cut back social rights .
that is why I warmly welcomed Mrs Honeyball 's report , for which I myself was shadow rapporteur .
as regards harmonisation , the Commission welcomes Parliament 's endorsement of the principle of targeted full harmonisation , that is to say , full harmonisation of key aspects of consumer protection directives , which are needed in order to achieve the internal market for businesses and for consumers .
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the rapporteur puts the blame on the WTO and wants to increase the number of products which should get this support .
I hope that Mexico will have a successful outcome .
these glaciers are retreating fast because of black carbon coming largely from industrialisation , but also from fossil fuel-powered generators in use in agriculture , and will deprive billions of people of water for both drinking and irrigation .
however , I must state clearly that the European form of collective redress will be different from American class actions , whose very proactive philosophy involving the aggressive canvassing of consumers by unscrupulous lawyers , and methods that provide , in particular , for the award of punitive damages borne by the operators , are completely alien to the judicial culture of European countries .
I personally would like it to be clear to the Members from Western Europe that Poland is in the middle of the continent , that you come from a country at the heart of the continent and that the work to forge links with the East must now be carried out much more intensively than it has been in the past .
will the Council report on the progress achieved and announce the immediate proposals for the establishment of a common asylum policy in the EU ?
I abstain , given that this document does not make a single reference to a post-petrol future .
sometimes these risks have returned to the originating bank when their financial vehicles could not sell off or finance the bank-originated securities .
the idea that posting involves a movement from the East to the West , from the new to the old , is also not correct .
it is vital to develop a European transport network through a common framework of European funding , boosting competitiveness and integration , and facilitating citizens ' and workers ' mobility through the provision of affordable services .
for the above reasons , I voted in favour of the aforementioned motion for a resolution .
it is , and here I speak on the basis of my own experience , at the initial stage of a young person 's academic career , that mobility , easy access to research facilities and an interesting and promising topic pursued under the supervision of outstanding researchers is most important to these young people , more so than their future retirement pension .
this situation is even more serious if we take into account the increase in undeclared female workers , and the fact that many women have no choice but to accept precarious jobs .
it would be a pretty poor affair for this House and for Europe 's institutions if we cannot overcome that and deliver this directive , which will , hopefully , bring to the European market all the benefits we have heard outlined .
I would like to draw attention to some matters addressed by our rapporteurs .
I do not wish to deny that mistakes have been made by the West and by Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili , but in its relations with its neighbours , Russia has repeatedly sought to exploit internal conflicts for its own ends .
we hear much talk in this debate and elsewhere about a balanced and even-handed approach .
I am not old enough to remember the time when broadcasting was a state monopoly and , to be perfectly sincere , I do not miss it .
what were they ?
this should cover payments for accommodation , infrastructure , material aid , medical care , social assistants , counselling with judicial administrative asylum procedures , legal aid , language assistance , etc .
I really am committed to that .
I supported the joint motion for a resolution , which invites all Member States to ratify this Convention to thereby allow the Union 's adherence to it .
Europe will have to prove its solidarity in emergency situations such as the sudden turn-off of the gas supply that we are experiencing at present .
these are among the longest-running non-concluded trade negotiations that the EU has undertaken .
a good guideline for the use of plant protection products is : as little and as safely as possible , but as much as is needed for a safe and profitable crop .
Croatia has adopted new and better legislation , but now the reforms need to be implemented .
this is an important step forward .
this agreement is a good example of the power of the multinationals and the role of the World Trade Organisation as a forum that defends their interests .
in other words , an organisation concerned with promoting nuclear technology bans the WHO from accessing information about the impact of this technology on human health .
wherever people are suffering or in poverty , the European Union , the Council and also this Parliament do everything in their power to try and help resolve these situations .
developments in this country have always been the result of the imperialist choices of NATO policy and the policy of supporting the deeply reactionary and anti-grassroots regime in this country .
Mr President , as shadow rapporteur on the SET Plan , I warmly welcome this initiative .
I can assure you that the Council is prepared to continue this high-quality dialogue with a view to securing an agreement on the 2009 budget that is satisfactory to all .
this recommendation deals with the Safety Agreement that was signed on behalf of the ( then ) European Community on 6 May 2009 .
in writing . - Funding for programmes such as Lifelong Learning ( Erasmus , Leonardo da Vinci , Comenius , Grundtvig ) , Marie Curie , Erasmus Mundus and Youth in Action must increase .
our objective must continue to be to strengthen the political relationships , share out the responsibilities , promote equality and increase the number of meetings between the Euro-Mediterranean partners .
the problem areas are set out well and await the necessary measures .
more and more people are recognising the need for a paradigm shift .
it is therefore essential to incorporate the social economy into all strategies which aim to foster industrial and socio-economic development .
Albania 's politicians urgently need to put the interests of Albania 's citizens first .
( LV ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , we all know that drug taking is prohibited in sport .
what initiative did the Commission come up with to address the crisis in Greece ?
I hope we will be able to work together during the ratification process , seeing it as an opportunity to communicate , to explain and to listen about the European Union .
we do not wish the developing countries which do want to trade with us to be stopped by our own selfish needs which are misguided to protect our own markets .
I am voting against this report .
consequently , after 2013 , it is very important to comply with the common approach and the single strategic framework established .
this is why I believe that Parliament should make its voice heard in such an important sector .
however , Commissioner , the problem is not only one of removing barriers : differences in regulatory systems are generating additional costs for exports , putting European products at a competitive disadvantage compared with imports from countries with more flexible standards and , in many cases , are raising the question of the safety and protection of European consumers .
the EU strategy addresses all forms of violation of the fundamental rights of the Roma people and calls for effective access for the Roma to the labour market by making micro-credit available for self-employment and entrepreneurship .
in addition , there were 200 arrests made in the wake of the recent protests in Baku in March and April .
( PT ) Mr President , António Guerreiro , Fernando González , Gerardo Hernández , Ramón Labañino and René González , five Cuban nationals who merely defended their homeland and their fellow countrymen to ensure that they ceased to be victims of terrorist acts promoted and organised by Miami-based groups , have been unjustly imprisoned in the United States since 12 September 1998 , almost 10 years ago .
you or your services should keep an eye out for those who wish to take the floor .
we do not need a bloated EU budget that is perhaps up to ten times higher than necessary ; we do not need a budget funded by the EU taxpayer that has lost any sense of the need to economise ; we do not need a further bloating of Brussels bureaucracy that robs the shirts from the backs of the net contributors .
it also needs to be immediately adopted through transposition of the directive .
I am of the view that we have placed too much emphasis on renewable energy sources as an objective rather than as a means to an end , because I am absolutely certain that renewables are not the sole solution .
secondly , on modulation , we are concerned about the transferring of funds from pillar 1 to pillar 2 because it takes income from farmers to be used in schemes which require cofinancing by Member States , and this is something that may not be guaranteed into the future .
it is good that we want to add to the Treaty certain provisions which will impose discipline on what we do .
however , it is threatening the competitiveness of many industries which are tempted to relocate , as Airbus has done , to the dollar zone .
it is therefore important to understand the multiplicity of responses .
whereas , on 12 May 2010 , the EU called once again on Iran to introduce a moratorium on the death penalty , in accordance with United Nations General Assembly resolutions 62 / 149 and 63 / 168 , Iran continues to hold the world record for executions of children and women and on the basis of sexual orientation .
lifelong learning and the EQF were major milestones of the German Council Presidency , which was acknowledged as successful .
finally , we still have to deal with the question of safety and transparency .
I too am very concerned about it .
however , based on the experience of my own country , Lithuania , I must emphasise the importance of the programmes you are debating for a country 's economy , not to mention the culture of a small country .
first of all , there must be a bold proposal , which I hope will be on the table in June , and then we can do our job and approve this bolder approach and the broad economic guidelines .
so I think that is a misunderstanding on his part - to be polite to him .
the most important thing is to support the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo in order to find a solution to this crisis .
the maritime industry is facing a number of challenges , which can turn into genuine opportunities if we know how to make use of them by investing in the training of young technicians to make up for the shortage of professionals in the sector .
I would like to call on the Commission to adopt concrete measures to support the Roma 's integration into the labour market through providing funding for training and retraining , as well as measures aimed at a strict application of the legislation on combating discrimination in employment .
I agree with the report when it supports the Commission 's approach and extends the use of reversed qualified majority voting to block a Commission decision in the Council .
it is possible , and perhaps also desirable , that the countries having yet to ratify will do so .
ladies and gentlemen , I would like to say that , in our day-to-day work , we deal with many issues , sometimes relating to very specific circumstances .
I trust that Parliament will fully support this positive bundle of proposals .
to return to the more general issue , it is a fact that the current crisis has highlighted chronic sicknesses and weaknesses in terms of the economic coordination of the euro area and in terms of the global system of economic governance and , as a result , huge , uncontrolled power has been amassed in the globalised financial system .
- Report : Mayer
in writing . - As a part of FLEGT ( Forest Law Enforcement , Governance and Trade ) , exporter countries of tropical hardwood have begun to sign Voluntary Partnership Agreements ( VPAs ) with the EU to ensure the traceability and legality of timber and verification procedures .
let us hope that the Irish do not hold their freedom so cheap .
we have achieved 75 % efficiency until now and roughly 50 000 SMEs have received funds in this way .
I regret the adoption of the principle of the maximum use of flexibilities set out in the Declaration amending the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement ( TRIPS Agreement ) and access to medicines , given the lack of any serious evaluation of these mechanisms .
some members of the ECON Committee have voiced their concerns about the long-term sustainability of these criteria , in particular a low inflation rate .
( PT ) Mr President , cohesion policy is the key policy area for the future of the European project .
identification means helping the countries of origin , either within the EU - though I do not think that is the case - or especially in neighbouring and partner countries , where there is sometimes a lack of control regarding registers , and where children who are not yet registered , or not registered at all , are a matter of particular concern to me .
I am really and truly , quietly , delighted about this .
it is important to theorise about major challenges and appropriate responses , but Europe cannot be a mere spectator , albeit an interactive one , as the changes take place .
frankly , if this Treaty is as good as you say it is , then go out there and sell it to the peoples of Europe .
I can guarantee that the funds for these projects are being used effectively and without corruption .
what evidence does the Commission need to take the matter further ?
you do not have the legitimacy to take more power for the European Union .
you rightly pointed out the importance of reaching an agreement soon on assigning a share to each Member State to achieve the 20 % binding target for the whole EU in 2020 .
the two most important tasks we have ahead of us then are to find some EUR 2 billion from the European Union budget and , secondly , to draw up those conditions which will make it easier and simpler for the project to access credit , and on better terms .
I will let you in on a secret .
and what we are talking about is very much that future competitiveness of Europe that the appearance of the European Institute of Technology is meant to promote .
the shortcomings indicated in the report also need to be remedied , because the Agency is a source of important scientific advice , science-based recommendations , and best practice for medicine evaluation and supervision in the Union .
firstly , the small businesses involved are the victims of fraud .
one thing has to be acknowledged , which is that the independence of the people of Ireland to form an opinion at the second referendum must be respected .
attacks on Christian communities have dramatically intensified , especially in the countries of the Middle East and North Africa .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I have paid close attention to and taken great interest in listening to all the many detailed speeches that have been given .
it also provides a good basis for actions to be taken after the crisis .
however , we will not achieve these results without two absolutely vital ingredients .
French , German and especially Greek banks will have to be recapitalised .
it is understood - in fact , your report encourages this - that we will seek to extend this measure to other countries , including non-ACP ones , according to experience gained from these first countries .
naturally , we will inform Parliament of the results of the pilot phase and discuss any further steps with Parliament .
both within and outside our borders , economic and monetary union , the euro area , needs to speak clearly , firmly and credibly , because this increases the confidence of our citizens and of the other citizens of the European Union and of the world in our currency and in our project , which is not only an economic project , but goes much further .
the Taiwanese Government has taken a series of important passport security measures , which we were able to see for ourselves whilst visiting the office that issues documents .
the battle that milk producers have been fighting , which goes beyond their immediate aims - to sell their produce at prices that ensure their survival - also has a broader meaning and importance that have to do with the kind of agriculture that we want in the future .
in 2007 , the Commission launched the European Agenda for Culture , which is now in its first stages of implementation .
( SL ) First of all , I would like to protest in the strongest terms possible against what my fellow Member from Austria said previously about the protection of minorities in Slovenia .
once again this has shown the benefits of the European Union 's common monetary policy for both the European economy and individual citizens in periods of instability .
it is nonetheless a pity that we have failed to push through the demands for country of origin labelling , as this is one item of information which adds to the possibilities for consumer choice and can help to reduce the occurrence of various inaccurate and misleading statements regarding origin .
in this way I would like to reassure you that we have a serious and responsible approach and there is absolutely no cause for concern .
food security has been mentioned here tonight as well .
the current situation is that certain Member States such as Germany , Denmark , France , Sweden , the Netherlands , Austria , Spain and the United Kingdom have a safe road network , though this does not mean that it could not be improved further .
Prüm Treaty : cross-border cooperation in combating terrorism and cross-border crime ( vote )
you , and I quote , ' support every paragraph of the Treaty of Lisbon ' .
it is also extremely important to give the citizens clear information about how the internal market operates , bearing in mind that it was precisely for them that the internal market was established 20 years ago .
the international community should give its support to the peace agreement and bring about an end to the conflict .
it proposes a more active role for businesses through public-private partnerships , especially in sectors such as water , public health and energy supply , and the introduction of green taxes and it welcomes the emissions trading scheme which benefits businesses and is paid for by workers and the environment and the adaptation of developing countries to capitalist restructuring of trade , agriculture and security .
factors such as intensive soil use , poorly planned urban growth , rural flight and desertification , among others , are the causes of an increased risk of disasters .
I am therefore voting against his request to protect his parliamentary immunity .
the Sartori report is a fundamental step forward , harmonising the classification of substances and the labelling and packaging standards of hazardous substances and mixtures .
at the same time , however , this special relationship must be based on reciprocity .
if we were to look for this target today , then we would see that it has not been achieved by any EU countries ; their inflation this September ranged from 2.8 % in the Netherlands to 14.7 % in Latvia , and the Maastricht price stability criterion would be 4.5 % .
I consider it a very important institution , specifically in relation to climate change adaptation , ecosystem assessment , sustainable consumption and production , and disaster prevention and management .
today 's vote sees the establishment of a new and important fund to finance projects in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sector through innovative financial instruments .
Mr President , I would like to make a few comments in reference to this debate .
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rapporteur . - ( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner , the displacement of freight from road to rail and internal waterways or short sea shipping is a slow burner in our transport debates and has been for decades .
although all Member States have adopted the same provisions , the latter are being implemented in many different ways .
the government killed civilians in shellfire .
although the EIB has come in for some criticism in the past because it was considered somewhat removed from the economic and social cohesion objectives pursued by the European Union , by focusing its efforts above all on public bodies , it would seem to be changing course as far as the development and cohesion prospects for 2007-2013 are concerned .
we support exchange of information to ensure that we have a true JHA approach to the use of data , underpinned by strong data protection , founded on principles of proportionality , necessity and transparency .
I voted in favour of this resolution on an EU strategy for the Black Sea .
however , with the future in mind we must also act accordingly in relation to regimes and dictatorships that are still firmly in place in other Arab countries .
( CS ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to point out that the outdated Barcelona objectives referred to in this report conflict with the recommendations of experts .
they have been asked to give their opinion of the current legislation and any future legislative initiatives in this area .
or are you of the view that there is no point , that it will wait for the next US Administration ?
I would also like to mention the enthusiasm with which populations welcome these observers , particularly the long-term observers who remain in the country for some time .
in writing . - ( RO ) In the next six months , the French presidency shall have a great responsibility for the future of the European Union .
this is something which should worry all who care about their health and our environment .
for some my final report goes too far ; for others it does not go far enough .
at the same time , it must be understood that Member States , mainly the newly acceded Member States , do not yet have an appropriate number of recycling facilities , and thus emphasis must be laid on developing these to guarantee that the WEEE collected is indeed treated properly .
Mr President , this Friday 's summit is supposed to be strategically focused on energy and innovation .
certainly the European Union , as we have said over and over again , can pride itself on having achieved many successes in combating various forms of pollution .
what I condemn the most is that girls as young as 14 are affected .
we know that in the natural environment carbon emission occurs largely without human intervention .
I would urge them not to vote against this report , because it will set back animal welfare by several years and it would be completely wrong for them to take this action .
we all want to see greater media pluralism right across the EU .
this is the first time Parliament has had this question-and-answer session with the President of the Commission , so thank you very much once again , President Barroso .
is that not the real meaning of the EU Commission 's document strategy paper on ' Global Europe : competing in the world ' , published only three years ago ?
as it turned out after the first reading in October 2010 , negotiations on the ' delegated acts ' are completely blocked .
nowadays , when threats are on the rise and infiltrate from all sides , if the EU cannot speak with one voice , it is essential to speak at least in a coordinated and stronger manner .
however , I wish to warn it against funding a project of immense divisive potential .
this is needed to prevent an accumulation of imbalances .
he worked together with both the European Investment Bank ( EIB ) and the shadow rapporteurs from the five different committees in Parliament that were involved .
the financial and economic crisis has brought with it an employment and a social crisis , and it is indeed predicted that there will be another 10 million unemployed people in Europe next year .
thank you very much .
the state of health in Africa is actually quite dreadful , despite all the international aid , and this is due to a large number of factors , whether they be climate change , the financial crisis , war , bad governance in certain countries , or the greed that is provoked by the very riches found in Africa .
on the other hand , impunity offers an invitation to commit these crimes over and over again .
diverting resources from Progress , which targets the most vulnerable groups , is certainly not the most appropriate solution .
( FR ) Mr President , our peace-loving principles must not lead us to give the impression that , by appealing to both parties of the current conflict to show restraint , we believe that the perpetrators of the coup d 'état in Honduras and the constitutional government are as guilty as each other .
we vigorously condemn such sentences , which can only be seen as part of the ongoing effort to intimidate and humiliate these peaceful women campaigners .
the total allowable catch for this year has been reduced to 13 500 tonnes .
I therefore think that it is important for the EU to make an effort to strengthen its role in the OSCE , given its global nature and the diversity of its members .
these agreements are a first step in terms of privileged relations , a strong signal on the part of the Union towards Georgia .
oral explanations of vote
the Environment Committee has adopted a comprehensive opinion .
this does not mean systematically giving priority to freight trains over passenger trains on the entire national network ; on the contrary - let me make this clear - this concerns dedicated freight corridors , that is to say specific and clearly identified lines .
after the Copenhagen conference , we must get it into our heads that Europe cannot bear these costs on its own .
we consider that these issues need to be addressed as soon as possible , making sure that there are no loopholes following the implementation of the revised directive .
I am grateful for this debate .
none of the actors in the international community should ever think of leaving Europe to its own devices , in the hope that it will solve the whole world 's problems by itself .
what I would like is for the European Parliament , under your leadership , to have our fellow citizens share these values .
the main culprits here are the companies and the countries that deal with Burma : those that are supplying arms and buying its products .
what we are saying is that the secret of Europe 's success has been social progress and economic progress , which are two sides of the same coin .
of course , what is best is to give a fishing-rod .
I would like to briefly mention nine important results of that agreement .
5 .
having read the report , I realise that the success of the institution and its officers is due to the fact that : firstly , most - the figure is already 70 % - of investigations are completed within one year and over half - in fact 55 % - are completed within three months .
unfortunately , too often , copyright is presented as an obstacle to the creation of a single digital market .
in writing . - I welcome the recommendations contained within Gabriele Albertini 's report on sustainable European transport policy .
we take note of your statement , Mrs Wagenknecht .
these are the things we need to build on .
16 .
we have constructed a common discourse based on four pillars .
this is why we have also stressed that we need to tread warily , that carbon capture can reduce generation efficiency and that it is therefore difficult to estimate when CCS technology could come on stream .
- ( SK ) Madam President , the management of nuclear waste is quite rightly followed closely by the general public , and it is therefore good that the European Commission has decided to handle the issue through comprehensive legislation which clearly defines the duties and responsibility of all the entities participating in this procedure .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I would also like to say to Parliament that it is not enough to have a good legal framework .
it is a question of finding the right balance .
now we have one war behind us .
we must recognise the elections and the outcome of the elections as a democratic step .
we also invite the Commission to review and consolidate all the instruments aimed at stabilising the Member States affected , which includes stabilising exchange rates , so that security provisions and rapid , effective response packages can be implemented .
it is worth recalling in that regard that even now , the EU directives for the internal electricity and natural gas market call for preparing 10-year investment plans .
many of the new Member States are , in fact , small and there is perhaps no need for a 24-hour journey followed by another 24-hour journey .
in many countries temporary employment agencies are rising in rank to become the largest employers .
( the President asked the speaker to read out the whole text of the amendment )
European rail network for competitive freight ( debate )
on the basis of these principles , and although the resolution contains some aspects that we agree with , we clearly oppose it because it claims the neo-liberal matrix as its own , namely by fighting for the continuation of trade liberalisation , in this case , with China .
it was Jiří Paroubek , leader of the Czech social democrats .
I will add the Presidency 's opinion that it has not been debated because it is not yet time to do so .
as regards the accession negotiations , the opening of the important environment chapter last December is an encouraging development , bringing the number of open chapters to 12 .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
the European Central Bank has a decisive role to play in directing money towards a socially effective economy , one that creates jobs , promotes training and develops public services , that ensures sustainable production and useful services , that has a place for research and development , respects public enterprises and the public interest and puts cooperation above economic warfare .
firstly , this leads to more transparent legal arrangements for consumer protection in European legislation .
the European Neighbourhood Policy is a vital instrument for ensuring stability in the area to the east of the EU .
the Commission cannot deviate from this position when negotiating the data protection agreement with the US .
killing dogs is also a lucrative business for the mafia .
in writing . - This concerns the codification of legislation concerning the protection of workers from exposure to asbestos .
the specific measures such as ports of refuge , transparency and liability are very important to us .
however , adequate world , regional and , in our case , European institutions for supervising and monitoring these markets have not been established .
the European Community must therefore become more actively engaged and adopt a position with respect to this modern threat as well as taking practical steps .
it is also apparent that it enjoys the support of the majority in this House and of the groups .
after many years of study , women often sacrifice their personal and working lives or have to reconcile them .
we have the Agency for Fundamental Rights .
the crisis is hitting economies and unemployment seems like the fifth horse of the Apocalypse .
we are very committed to moving forward and I think this is also a wish that our American counterparts share .
for my part , I can announce that Latvia plans to ratify the Lisbon Treaty in May , during the Slovenian Presidency .
in this context , it is essential to adopt measures for simplifying the mechanisms of structural and cohesion funds in order to set about improving the ability to draw on them in EU countries .
investing in people is the surest way to guarantee our citizens that they will remain employed in spite of moving from job to job .
3 .
in short : our citizens ought not to have to open their eyes one day and discover that Orwell 's visions are no longer a Utopia .
as far as eating is concerned , the European Commission has a very good EU MiniChefs website .
the EU 's leaders committed themselves in March of this year to achieving a 20 % reduction in carbon dioxide emissions - compared with the 1990 level - by 2020 .
our response to this might be : are we creating a government decree at an extraordinary session that forms a legal basis for expulsion ?
the pressure being exerted on countries such as Greece , Portugal and Spain to fight their deficits cannot be disentangled from the interests of speculative financial capital and its aim of engaging in a turf war for the euro against the dollar .
we , like the United Nations , are committed to carrying out more projects there and not concentrating only on projects in China and India .
with which other States are we currently negotiating or planning to negotiate and was the Turkish State offered financial incentives for its participation in this FRONTEX operation ?
more needs to be done .
universal service and ' 112 ' emergency number (
why have you failed fully to assess the powers of the media authority and the Media Council , which , in my view , fall within the scope of European law , against the Charter of Fundamental Rights ?
documents received : see Minutes
regardless of whether one 's position on the accession of Turkey to the European Union is positive , lukewarm or downright hostile , there can be no argument that Turkey lags way behind in terms of modernisation and human rights .
to reiterate , operations have not only been moved because of overcapacity , as the management has repeatedly claimed , but primarily in order to relocate production to South Korea .
I supported Mrs Harkin 's report because I agree that the European Commission should promote cross-border projects in the sphere of voluntary work where our nearest neighbour , Belarus , is concerned .
in the last European elections , a mere 40.3 % of Finns who were entitled to vote actually went and voted .
we can know exactly where this egg comes from , what day it was laid and if we really want to delve a little bit further we can find out exactly what farm and so on .
it is actually our reckless abandon of the environment that has led to this dangerous changing of our climate .
we , the European Parliament , should call on the Commission to initiate negotiations with the Russian authorities on a number of important issues which are listed in our draft resolution .
that is why the Eritrean Government must reconsider its current withdrawal from participating in IGAD .
furthermore , Switzerland has participated in the Bologna Process and the creation of the European Higher Education Area .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , President-in-Office , I should also like to thank Elisabeth Jeggle for having worked so ably on the report .
the appalling sexual violence that many Members have borne testimony to here and that we unfortunately hear about in far too many reports is naturally entirely unacceptable .
the reason given for this increase is the funding of the 2020 strategy , the one it is said will take us out of the crisis .
we promised them our help , and we stand by our promises .
this morning 's discussion also concerns youth .
author . - Madam President , the death penalty violates the right to life as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights .
let me remind you that the European budget has always been balanced , unlike national budgets , which , for the most part , have serious deficits .
finally , one of the more close-to-home reasons for my wanting Pakistan to fight both extremism and militarisation , and to return to the rule of law , is the impact on British people of Pakistani origin , with the calls , for instance , for profiling or for visa requirements for the United States .
to this effect the report calls for a steering committee to be set up in which the cultural institutions would play a major role .
( HU ) Thank you , Madam President .
furthermore , because Ukraine 's WTO commitments in the field of services are already very broad , the FTA and the acquis approximation process will allow us to tackle beyond-the-border barriers .
the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament is also significantly increasing its commitment to the region .
we cannot forget the discrimination perpetrated against new energy suppliers or the lack of transparency in prices and choice of supplier .
you can take up firm positions and we will do the same .
the agreement will entail better protection for European consumers when nanomaterials are used in hair dyes , UV filters and so on .
we therefore have to ask what kind of society we want : a market economy or a planned economy ?
the testing of an active agent costs several thousand euros , and this investment can only be recovered if the results , at least for a certain period of time , are not accessible to other applicants .
the drafts and reports submitted to us are an excellent basis for a comprehensive homogeneous document .
but I would like to say , to be fair to the Commissioner , that it is not our intent to cause her any problems at a critical stage in the negotiations she is having at the moment with the Arctic Council .
on the contrary , we need an increasing number of highly trained staff .
I question the interpretation of the provisions of Article 2 of the directive linked to the exclusion of social services from its scope .
I am reminded of a recent statement by a senior officer of the European Union , the Eurogroup Chair , to the effect that large countries in the Union , such as France and Germany , knew about Greece 's problem - I mention this because you referred to Greece - and yet did nothing before now , because they gained massively from this situation .
however , there is still a great deal of work to be done , because the devil is in the detail , for example on questions such as : who is a lobbyist ?
European fisheries sector crisis due to rise in oil prices ( motions for resolutions tabled ) : see Minutes
it will be very difficult , without full responsibility taken by all these parties , to get this work on track .
the Parliament here appeals to the profound generosity of the Irish people and to their sharp intelligence to see the seriousness of the consequences of a second ' no ' .
in this Parliament , we represent our citizens and we as politicians engage in representative democracy , but sometimes we do not pay enough attention to the other side of the equation : participatory democracy .
young people become familiar with the Internet from a very young age , but are also , of course , faced with its dangers .
temporary agency work is becoming increasingly widespread , and thus it is very important that it be regulated .
citizens have seized every opportunity , including the recent referendum in Ireland , to protest over the great social deficit seen in the policies of the Council and the Commission .
we naively believed , at the time of the 1992 MacSharry reform , that food self-sufficiency was definitely assured and that the market would put everyone firmly in their place .
we need a stable agricultural policy , but we must seek stabilisation not only in agriculture , but also in financial markets .
the shipyard became a symbol of the fight for trade union , political and civil rights for the workers ' movement throughout the world .
the bill would also go against the EU-supported UN declaration on sexual orientation and gender identity of 18 December 2008 regarding the decriminalisation of homosexuality .
we have a government in Washington which favours multilateralism , a European Union strengthened by the Treaty of Lisbon and we are witnessing the emergence of a new world which we want to shape together .
the same is true of these rules , and that is why I am making a plea for the two rapporteurs to try to get an assurance that the Community method will also be applied in the second economic governance package .
so what happened ?
the next item is the vote .
the Presidency welcomed the European Central Bank 's robust decision , at the beginning of November , to reduce its interest rates by 50 basis points , and on several occasions we have applauded the ECB 's action in response to the financial crisis and its active participation in the deliberations of the Eurogroup and the European Councils .
this is Chinese overblown response , just as Sarkozy 's mention of ' cleaning the suburbs out with a high pressure hose ' was an overblown response .
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as for plant health , environmental and other measures ...
congratulations to this committee , which adopted Mr Søndergaard 's report by an overwhelming majority - 27 : 2 .
whether it actually works depends on two things .
this also involves preserving the European agricultural model , as well as a level playing field for EU producers in the world market .
we were under the impression - 23 years after the signing of the Single European Act - that it was all done and dusted : that the Cassis de Dijon judgment in 1979 , followed by a couple of hundred more Court of Justice rulings , had ensured mutual recognition of everyone 's products by everyone else .
that of course constitutes interference with the competence of the Slovene Parliament .
high Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy . - ( ES ) Mr President , I will not be able to answer all those who have spoken during this debate in the little time available to me .
it was a dream of peace on this continent , which has been torn by so many wars .
this proposal represents a backward step of nearly 100 years in the hard-won rights of workers , who are people , not machines .
the idea behind the strategy is to promote efficient markets , entrepreneurship , education , research and stable state finances , and now we are being tested .
proof of this is the proposed increase of EUR 30 million in commitment appropriations for the Agency 's operational costs , which is an increase of 127 % on the preliminary draft budget .
this is of particular importance with the increases in cross-border trade and e-commerce .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
this phenomenon needs to be addressed without demagogy , without populism and without taboos .
Madam President , last week , I met a man in my local church who was arranging his son 's memorial service .
focus is put on broadband , because of the fact that it is considered to boost technological development and growth in the best possible way .
we now need to discuss and think carefully about what should be done for the people , the European citizens , who are stranded .
many proposals have been included in these two Member-State initiatives : harmonising the powers of the national members of Eurojust , reinforcing the role of the College in the event of conflicts of jurisdiction , improving the circulation of information from national members to Eurojust , and the possibility of appointing Eurojust liaison magistrates to third countries .
thank you for your answer , Commissioner .
in writing . - I would like to draw my attention to the environmental situation of Marsaxloqq Bay .
in general terms , this is not just about the position of Christians .
in writing . - ( HU ) I agree with the rapporteur that the financial crisis is no reason for us to reduce our assistance to the starving people in the developing world .
a fair bilingual education system will contribute towards better cooperation and understanding , especially if Tibetans learn Chinese and Han Chinese people living in Tibetan areas are , at the same time , encouraged to learn Tibetan .
we will move on to the other rapporteurs , and if he arrives in time we will give him the floor .
some broad prospects must be outlined in order to rebuild or attempt to rebuild a kind of European dream .
I too am convinced that European industry is in good shape , although it may need , of course , some additional impetus , and I believe that we share the view that we primarily seek more innovation .
as a result , we must absolutely guarantee this premise .
secondly : if the Council and the rapporteur do not believe in voluntary return , children will be wrenched away from schools and nursery classes , accommodation will be vacated without notice and we shall do more damage than was perhaps caused by all the stress of waiting for a decision , especially to children .
we are very happy about this .
however , if it is true that it is a day of celebration , then it is , in any case , a hard-won day of celebration .
finally , I should like to express my regret that the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats , Members of the Committee on Legal Affairs were instrumental in the removal of important provisions from my report . these provisions concerned equal treatment of women and men regarding access to employment , education , promotion and social insurance .
you need to change these unfair framework conditions , otherwise you will resolve neither problems to do with climate policy nor transport problems .
this is why there is an urgent need for the European Commission to take further steps and to lift the de minimis aid ceiling , as my political group proposes , from EUR 30 000 to EUR 60 000 per firm for the three-year period .
however , some questions do still arise .
many problems with the Package Travel Directive were identified almost 10 years ago in a parliamentary report , but very little has moved on it since .
the Global Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund now under discussion is a splendid example of how something good can be encouraged in a way which produces a diverse range of benefits .
there is not enough bread and jam for all of them .
it seems to me rather shabby to treat young people , who are so important for our future , in this way right at the start of their professional careers .
secondly , there was a clear lack of communication .
instead of reducing import tariffs , we should establish a sensible policy of protectionism at our economic borders .
bees are being decimated by disease and pests with which beekeepers cannot cope alone .
many of the car journeys undertaken in European towns and cities are shorter than five kilometres .
the directive concerning asylum has been in force since 2003 and is working .
in addition , understanding the complexity of our energy situation and conducting detailed quantitative monitoring of the progress made towards our goals also requires accurate , timely and complete statistics .
what sort of referendum do those who argue for a referendum want ?
let us hope that the people of Egypt , Tunisia and other countries of the Maghreb do not decide en masse to seek a better future in Europe , but rather that they do so in their own countries , because that is what they have fought for , and we must help them .
therefore , when we have cases of abuse with people coming from a visa liberalisation country , such as Serbia or Macedonia , and asking for asylum in EU countries , we have to ask whether the technical assessment has been carried out fully and correctly , because it is clearly not compatible with visa liberalisation to have someone coming to the European Union and asking for asylum .
President of the Commission . - Absolutely not .
( BG ) Regrettably , the latest developments in Pakistan come as further categorical evidence of the timeliness of today 's discussion .
in 2010 , a new working group approved a draft agreement for the establishment of a ' transparency register ' which ensures the widest possible participation of all categories of operator , while respecting their different or specific identities .
the Treaty of Lisbon confirmed the European Parliament 's right of oversight , which is , in effect , the institution of a ' delegated act ' which my fellow Members have already mentioned , and which we think we need to enforce and implement in this case .
it is important to overcome the current problems that characterise the sector : the lack of competition , the regulatory over-dependence on ratings , and the low reliability of notes .
against the current backdrop of the deepening crisis of capitalism , these intentions also never fail to include the containing of peoples ' struggles for greater justice and social progress , taking on diverse expressions and forms all over the world .
this report did not make provision for an opinion from the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy .
( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , that human beings have wondered about life and death since the dawn of time is something that I can understand , but the European Union 's failure , since the 1970s , to overcome the difficulties of the European patent is really quite hopeless .
we need to know what we want to do and that if Europe fails to act , we will have to rely on other funds to stabilise the financial system .
( applause )
according to EU statistics , there are only two EU Member States where youth unemployment rates are higher than in Lithuania .
to a large extent , it is the large transnational companies , some of them from EU countries , which benefit from this system , rather than the people of developing countries .
they are investing directly in reducing carbon intensity and in new technology which , in time , will also be seen as the logical way to cut emissions .
that is an area where transparency should also come into play .
however , the Latvian company relied on European law as justification for opposing the trade unions ' demands .
in recent years , numerous flats and entire residential blocks belonging to state-owned companies have been sold together with their tenants as part of privatisation of the assets of the former People 's Republic of Poland .
it does not acknowledge that the common agricultural policy has led to a paradoxical situation .
quality also depends on quantity and , like my colleages , I deplore the fall in resouces allocated by European countries to development aid .
an over-systematic methodology for quantifying additional costs would be disproportionate and would not take account of the individual characteristics of each of the ORs .
I am glad that it was at the initiative of Law and Justice Members that a debate was held in the European Parliament at the beginning of May . that debate resulted in today 's resolution , which represents Europe 's official stance on the issue of Georgia .
it is not just a question of explaining their rights .
these proposals also aimed to acknowledge the specific nature of natural disasters in the Mediterranean region , such as drought and fire , within this Fund .
the European Union firmly supports peaceful reconciliation between the Chinese authorities and the Dalai Lama and his representatives .
do you agree with us here that what goes around comes around and that the northerly countries are now being forced to show solidarity ?
I therefore support the Commission 's proposal granting it the right to raise the ceiling within a very short period of time .
further emigration from this region , which , prior to the crisis , was experiencing a slight upturn , is to be feared .
if I understood correctly about the possibility for the younger generations to participate in this programme , I cannot give you a concrete answer at this moment , but the Commission is very open to involving as many participants as possible to work with this programme .
most of the increasing problems have a common denominator : we are making little use of independent studies into the use of resources and the organisation of work .
under these conditions - in marginalised sections of society or in social strata with a low level of political awareness and experience - far-right and fascist ideas , which are promoted under a populist , demagogic guise , are able to take root .
the recommendation for second reading by Mrs Morgan , on behalf of the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy , on the Council common position for adopting a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity and repealing Directive 2003 / 54 / EC ( 14539 / 2 / 2008 - C6-0024 / 2009 - ;
I shall exercise my discretion .
if you will allow me , I will put a direct link to the Commission home page from there .
implementation of this public / private partnership between the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries ' Associations ( EFPIA ) and the European Commission represents a major promising step forward for large-scale research programmes .
Europe must reconcile its agenda with that of its citizens and workers , otherwise it will not achieve economic integration and it will definitely not achieve political integration , which is our plan .
poverty , therefore , mainly threatens young people .
at a time of rapidly rising international oil prices , workers are feeling the pinch ; the EU is favouring the interests of capital , and safeguarding and increasing its profits .
we all know what happened at the summit in Bucharest .
the EU has decided to strengthen multilateral and regional cooperation with and between its neighbouring countries .
lastly , I thank the Slovak people and wish them well with this historic step they are now going to take .
the protection of fundamental rights should be an objective of all European policies , especially foreign policy , in the interests of promoting peace , human rights and basic freedoms .
this compassion is certainly spontaneous and sincere , but it is short-lived .
the report is also the result of a long and intensive process of dialogue with all the sectors involved and numerous compromises between the political groups .
we agree that the Single Payment Scheme must be simplified by revising the market instruments .
I have heard here in this House several ideas that are altogether valid and respectable , which we must study .
I would like to thank Mr Severin for those words , because this is , indeed , what we should do .
only then can we talk of highly targeted development aid .
given the high rates of unemployment to which Europe 's young people are exposed , and as young people with poor qualifications are more likely to be unemployed , it is essential to ensure that they receive the best possible training , which guarantees them prompt access to , and a long-term stake in , the labour market .
however , the European Commission must present an impact assessment of the agreement by 2020 , as well as of the aid programme , along with any recommendations for extending it and providing additional financial aid .
Europe could make a real difference in that region by acting as a real driving force through economic and political reforms .
we cannot be the only economic area in the world to unilaterally apply free trade principles while having no idea of what our main competitors are doing .
where the development funds are concerned , the EU is the world 's largest giver of aid .
that was , I think , one of the most important statements that has ever been made in the Council , because it is a statement that tackles the problem of Greece by talking about solidarity and the absolute political commitment to the financial stability of the euro area ; the commitment to act when necessary to safeguard that stability .
if access to the market is simplified , the restrictions on cabotage are partially relaxed , and the basic working conditions in the sector are harmonised : both in regard to employment and to the attitude of individual Member States to enforcing the EU regulation , this will be heartily approved by both entrepreneurs and employees in the sector .
like the rapporteur , I regret that there is no single definition of a ' social clause ' which would be usable not in bilateral trade agreements , but in the creation of decent employment conditions for workers .
in the case of migratory species such as mackerel , however , we also need an agreement that applies in territorial waters .
I am reminded of the old saying , attributed to Sun Tzu but famously used by Kennedy : those who make peaceful protest impossible make violent protest inevitable .
these include , as well as immigration and border control and the revitalisation of agriculture , true equal pay for men and women .
this , it should be said , is also done for a ' soft landing ' because quotas will be abolished in 2015 and the market handed over to integral liberalism , with the consequent risks for our stockbreeders in the mountains .
a key element or key word here is proportionality , because it must be demonstrated convincingly that the same end cannot be achieved with less intrusive means .
it must be remembered , however , that many hundreds of millions of human beings in the world are going to become what one might call climate change casualties as a result of this increase .
however , we had this Stability and Growth Pact , but I would point out that it was of no help to certain countries .
firstly , ASEAN , which brings together 10 countries that differ very widely in their level of development - from rich Singapore to very poor Burma , Cambodia and Laos - and that are home to almost 500 million people , is the EU 's fifth largest trading partner and offers prospects of further development in economic and trade relations with the European Union .
the Commission received 88 replies from interested parties , such as collecting societies , authors , creators and music users in Member States .
in writing . - ( DE ) I voted against the discharge of the Commission 's accounts because , in many areas , budget funds were not used frugally and efficiently in 2006 .
the region of Drenthe , which has the third highest unemployment rate in the country , has not remained immune to this trend .
my second concern : one has deleted from the Treaty references to symbols , fearing that the European symbols could overshadow national ones .
this report forbids Member States from negotiating and even maintaining bilateral investment agreements with a third country if the agreements do not comply with the European Commission 's views .
the activities of Export Credit Agencies will need to be better supervised at European level and conducted in a more transparent manner .
I clarified the question of the Chinese ship .
patients will therefore have to obtain prior authorisation from their health insurers before receiving costly treatment .
it is the first step on the road to creating a block with a billion Latin Americans , a billion Christians in the match of nations .
finally , we cannot allow the EU to degenerate into a union of transfers .
just recently in Ireland someone was being deported even though the person 's daughters would be subject to female genital mutilation .
if it is not too late , I would advise Parliament to study the case of Martinique , which France is very aware of .
I therefore welcome that the UK will be allowed to maintain its present system of monitoring airport charges , because it has in place a regulatory framework that encourages competition and regulates charges through its own supervisory body only at those airports that have a dominant position .
I am still looking for a Roma in Italy - and please someone tell me if they know of one - who is legally employed and who pays taxes .
this debate has shown that we can believe in the future of our continent of Europe .
moreover , we must ensure that the European Parliament is adequately involved in all matters relating to human rights .
to cushion trade liberalisation at the WTO level and the associated reduction in most favoured nation status tariffs , we are told that EU financial support for ACP countries that supply bananas is now to be maintained .
if you could have heard what the President of the World Bank said , if you could have heard some of the leaders of African countries and other countries represented in enlarged meetings talk about the hunger and starvation that now represent a real threat to so many people in the world , you would understand to what extent European aid is necessary and indispensable .
the EU Member States in the region can play an important role in this process .
the UN waited for a long time before denouncing the situation in that country .
I believe that Parliament needs to speak out loud and clear , ladies and gentlemen .
I know that there have been similar experiences in a number of other countries .
there is no doubt that the West - in other words , Europe and the US - should maintain its position as the global leader in the areas of research , innovation and development .
this is particularly true of the area of global politics , where the European Union 's presence is rather dwarfed .
he said that it would be a serious mistake to deny the social summit , the employment summit .
however , work still needs to be done on the road and rail network .
the plan to begin improving energy efficiency is also a perfect opportunity for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises .
the Danube Region is facing several challenges , and a strategy for this region will improve connections and communications systems , preserve the environment and encourage growth , job creation and security .
I believe we have succeeded in changing the philosophy behind this directive , which had been confined solely to fighting illegal immigration .
we must ensure that the victims receive better help and protection , that particular consideration is given to victims who are minors , and we need better coordination within the EU institutions .
you cited Rule 19 ( 1 ) .
I am voting in favour of this report , and I would like to call for a policy of systematic dialogue , greater cooperation on the ground , better management and a commitment to preventing disasters .
in the same vein , tackling climate change is a long-term matter , and there is no silver bullet or simple solution .
Parliament is highlighting the courage of the Japanese in this crisis , the most serious since the Second World War , which has so severely affected their country .
I voted in favour of this report as it presents a set of measures that make a significant contribution to universal access to less-favoured or remote areas , such as rural areas or islands .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , Mr Vice-President of the Commission , ladies and gentlemen , many of us probably know the story of the Captain of Köpenick , and many of us have also laughed at what happened .
operation Cast Lead left more than a thousand victims among the inhabitants of Gaza , compared to thirteen victims among the Israeli armed forces .
the main way to achieve this with vans is to modify the engine and mechanics of the vehicle , which is a far longer and more costly process than a simple change to the bodywork .
manufacture would then be licence-free .
firstly , its first ten years have entailed enormous costs in the form of reduced growth and increased unemployment .
this could take a long time and there were periods when it was really very difficult , but I always tried .
Madam President , I would therefore relay here the cries of indignation expressed by various social organisations during the Citizens ' Agora held recently by the European Parliament in Brussels .
in the meantime , we must adhere to the letter of the law .
of course , within this framework , the concept of European citizenship is still to be clarified , and I hope that this will be done in the near future .
the Commission has been transparent , ACTA cannot go beyond the acquis communautaire , cannot exceed any of the measures taken within the framework of the European directives , and cannot under any circumstances violate fundamental rights .
at long last , we have to close the gap between the philosophy of these people and everyday life .
one size does not fit all .
you know very well , Mr President , that the Treaty of Lisbon is neither a mini-treaty nor a simplified treaty , but the European Constitution that was rejected by the French and the Dutch .
there is no doubt that Pakistan is currently facing a very serious threat of religious extremism and violence as recent events in the North-Western Frontier Province and the attack on Ms Bhutto 's convoy on 18 October in Karachi have clearly demonstrated .
my last remark is that we are determined to work with the European Parliament .
I have thus been able to see the substantial progress that these countries have made in many fields , from the environmental to the social , especially as a result of a strong impetus from the EU .
car hire companies who do not inform customers that unconsumed fuel will not be reimbursed may be in breach of this directive .
I would like to thank you for your support of the Council 's endeavours to reach a common position , and you can trust that the Slovenian Presidency will strengthen its efforts to this end .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I attended meetings last week in Tbilisi together with my colleagues from the interparliamentary delegation , led by Mrs Isler Béguin , whose comments I fully endorse : the situation is really deteriorating and the escalating tensions could erupt in open armed confrontation .
if we had sensible , rapid and efficient air transport management we could reduce fuel consumption by up to 12 % , which would substantially reduce CO2 emissions .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , the opinion of the European Parliament on this new technology and its consequences is of course of the utmost importance for me and I welcome the views of the honourable Members .
reinstatement of the rural development budget is thus also becoming a key condition for the entire cohesion policy .
as I said , by agreement with Mr Schulz and Mr Madlener , I will now repeat the remarks made very audibly by Mr Bloom which were directed at Mr Schulz this morning and to which the President objected , and I object , and most of the House objects , when asked .
it calls for unconditional aid to the collaborationist ' government ' of Iraq .
my three colleagues Mr Dalli , Mrs Reding and Mr Almunia , are working on this , and they will draw conclusions from the consultation that we have just launched on the introduction of collective redress when the time is right , and as soon as possible .
how does the Commission assess the threat posed by excess shipping in the Baltic and what measures does it propose that Member States bordering the sea adopt to resolve this issue ?
thirdly , we failed to establish liability for the nuclear industry in the event of accidents .
we are therefore , of course , going to support the various initiatives that there may be in relation to poverty and social exclusion and to combating them , and I must say that I hope this is going to become a central objective of the whole of the European Union 's growth and job creation strategy .
thirdly , Croatia has also made some moves towards economic reform .
disaster relief must be set in motion extremely quickly .
that is dishonest and this is why we are critical of you .
how far should we believe the military plans for national defence ?
although I am fundamentally in favour of the financial assistance , I therefore abstained from voting in the final vote .
the Commission takes due note of the draft report 's call for the responsibility for the negotiation of fishery and aquaculture products to be transferred from the Trade Commissioner to the Fisheries Commissioner .
in short , a poor result .
unfortunately , all our efforts to raise these issues and discuss them in Bulgaria have met with vehement resistance by the corrupt authorities , which is why we have been forced to seek the involvement of the European Court of Justice in order to save statehood in our country .
according to the reports that have been discussed here , it has been calculated that the cost of soil degradation is approximately EUR 40 000 million per year , a cost that is borne by society in the form of damage to infrastructure , increases in the cost of healthcare and many other factors .
we have the Year of Biodiversity , but I would suggest that every year should be the year of biodiversity .
the health and wellbeing of farm animals are essential in order to ensure public health through the production of healthy food .
even if the responsibility for controlling and monitoring the sale of arms rests primarily with Member States and thus with the Council , the Commission also has a clear interest through its contribution to the implementation of the EU small arms and light weapons strategy under the common foreign and security policy .
the second issue is that of funding .
I want to take us back , in line with what Mrs Rühle was saying .
as far as minor uses are concerned , Parliament has fought to have the Commission draft proposals in the short term to establish a European fund .
the Council is making cuts , the Member States are making cuts , and now it appears that here too in Parliament , the general feeling is that the EU budget should also be cut .
finally , I would like to draw the Commission 's attention to a few points which are not made in the report .
another important factor as far as we are concerned is the passengers .
in a situation where many Member States are implementing tough fiscal measures , the EU budget needs to be better justified than ever before .
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has this building been checked using the same criteria as have now been applied in the Strasbourg building ?
for me , the 2 % increase is also a step in giving milk producers the option to produce more and thereby helping the transition to greater market orientation .
however , this is the general and optimistic view .
however , the solution that was agreed in Singapore shows that the two things can be done .
we also have a problem within the European Union .
and how does one negotiate ?
in order to implement successfully the new policy framework , policy makers at all levels of governance need to take well-informed decisions , based on reliable and comparable statistical data .
some States have failed to respect the transposition deadline and are having problems due to the gaps in the text .
( NL ) Madam President , it goes without saying that every agency working in the fight against illegal immigration can count on my support .
the next step is therefore a decision by the Commission in favour of a binding regulatory system for maintenance .
I can assure you that the communication between us and between our services is very intense .
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we have another example of this in the shape of a major problem at the Medicines Agency , which I believe we will have the opportunity to discuss again .
hit squads from those parties are abusing foreigners on the streets and making public appeals for borders to be revised .
I hope that its introduction will help strengthen the sentiment of belonging to the same entity , our Europe , since this European sentiment is unfortunately very weak and all too often lacking .
how can we reduce inequalities ?
unfortunately , more democracy often means more Islamic fundamentalism and , paradoxically , less democracy .
it is also important to highlight the role of MONUC .
it is right that some parts of the airspace should be reopened today .
regardless of this fact , we produced a document which was agreed on and unanimously supported .
we must make conditions for cross-border procurement more favourable , ensuring reciprocity with industrialised countries and major emerging economies .
Romania is the second largest agricultural producer in Central Europe , after Poland , and it is only by capitalizing on European funding that this potential can be intelligently exploited and put to good use .
I think that the internal market should receive widespread support in the European Parliament , especially in the Committee on Civil Liberties , because freedom of movement within the Union is important , particularly that of persons , of migrant workers and skilled migrants , whom we need in order to increase the internal market 's labour force .
the House voted last September that EUR 600 million should be made available .
thank you for your attention .
different countries and different nationalities have been shaped by different experiences .
if manufacturers produce a van with emissions of lower than 50g CO2 / km then they will be awarded a super-credit , valid for a limited period of time .
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for me , that is a little bit back-to-front .
Madam President , honourable Members , the European Union has been closely following the situation regarding religious minorities in Pakistan .
can the Council investigate whether the exchange of data will work properly with the new initiatives on asylum and migration ?
and woman , I will try to express my inner feelings and thankfulness for showing me the meaning of success ' .
the European Commission , under the decisive impetus of its President , is helping us in this very specific case .
however , Parliament being responsible and cooperative as always , we agree that by rejecting the two agreements , we will create legal uncertainty and practical difficulties for citizens and carriers .
Commissioner , yesterday evening , last night , we discussed the first step : production .
the German banks are so deeply enmeshed in the crisis in the Irish financial sector that the lifeline is just as important for the rescuers as it is for those being rescued .
it says that energy consumption must be reduced by 20 % below the baseline level .
American historian George Santayana wrote in 1905 : ' those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it . '
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openness should also be a key principle in the establishment of the European Systemic Risk Board ( ESRB ) .
after much soul-searching I have reached the point where I can face death .
in reaching this decision , the Commission positively valued the indications given by Mercosur , during the informal dialogue at technical level , on issues like trade in goods , public procurement or some services sectors .
at times , it has been global or framework texts that have themselves introduced sectoral changes within each country , or even each region .
Madam President , this is a message from the European Parliament to the Council on the need to have a European strategy for Iraq .
what tools can it make available ?
minority shareholders in state-owned companies which are listed are entitled to exactly the same rights as minority shareholders in companies owned by private parties .
it is also important to ensure that the harmonisation of fisheries policy , especially with environmental and maritime policy , is a major priority , and it will also require resources .
the situation will be better in relation to the market surveillance authorities that use the marking as a tool .
customs offices play an important role in this , as is illustrated by the coordinated effort in five European countries where customs offices and industry have been working together closely and have destroyed a considerable amount of counterfeit goods .
you might say that all wars are vile , but I feel this one is much more so .
the debt and deficit are simply a pretext .
I should like to thank Mr Orbán for his speech and for taking part in our sitting , and for presenting the Hungarian Presidency 's programme .
this proposal for a decision is also incompatible with the requirement of last resort set forth by Article 20 ( 2 ) of the Treaty on European Union , which establishes that enhanced cooperation can only be permitted when , all other options having been examined , there is no possibility of reaching the objectives within a reasonable period .
I also think that it is positive that the report calls for police training to cease being in the hands of private contractors as soon as possible , along with the recital stating that there is no obvious end in sight for the war in Afghanistan due to the militarism and warmongering that has taken place so far .
we will make sure that if we do find any vacuums , bottlenecks or spaces where action will not be taken in these cases , we will come back to you and try to correct the situation .
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on 1 October , tens of thousands of Ukrainians took to the streets to protest against the constitutional changes initiated by Yanukovych and confirmed by the Constitutional Court , the composition of which was changed shortly after the election of the President .
I would , however , like to express my disenchantment with the fact that regulations still exist in the Community market that are out of line with the Posting of Workers Directive .
had we done so we would have avoided the recent stress involving Turkey at NATO and relieved the burden on our US allies .
I welcome the fact that Parliament and the Commission take the same approach , which is to put Europeans at the heart of their action with regard to freedom of movement , electoral rights , consular protection , and so on .
we must make this partnership a positive and constructive one .
one of the measures put forward in the Commission 's proposal was a derogation from the principle of cofinancing by introducing a temporary option for Member States suffering from cash-flow problems to request a 100 % reimbursement for financing measures eligible under the European Social Fund .
I fully approve of mobilising this fund - we need it in this instance - and so , like the majority of my fellow Members , I voted in favour of this report .
we have to equip vehicles technically in such a way that pedestrians have a chance .
the issues as raised by the honourable Members are firstly on information and secondly on storage .
in the light of these considerations , the Commission will follow closely the technical progress with mineral sequestration , with a view to developing an enabling legal framework to allow for environmentally-safe mineral sequestration and its recognition under the Emissions Trading System , when the technology has reached an appropriate state of development .
but is the EU prepared to accept the obvious and abandon the project ?
that is a major step and the vast majority in Parliament has opposed it , as we support the compromise that we now have and that will provide good protection for users .
women must also play an important role in decision-making environments , whether on boards of directors or in political functions .
our role as a parliament is accountability towards the citizens , so we have to make sure that taxpayers ' money is used properly , transparently and effectively .
I am pleased that access to Indian federal government contracts is being covered by these negotiations , but what about provincial contracts ?
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the creation of a standard dispute settlement mechanism is welcomed , as it should provide streamlined and effective redress procedures within firm time limits .
it was not the watered-down original - as my colleague , Richard Corbett pointed out - but , after critical amendments were proposed by Arlene McCarthy , the ban was voted through in the committee and now in Parliament .
however , before we cast stones at Hungary , let us look at the standards and broadcasting media in our own countries .
you know , Commissioner , the shortage of agricultural products in the new Member States is not caused by poor harvests but by the fact that it no longer pays our farmers to produce under your subsidy and pricing policy .
it is no more than a drop in the ocean .
there is hope and there is danger in the ongoing events in Egypt .
it is emphasised in this resolution that greater use of protein crops in crop rotation significantly improves the agricultural environment and helps to mitigate climate change .
this is the right approach , in my view .
the reception of those fleeing from the war cannot be the burden of Italy alone .
Madam President , on the anniversary of International Women 's Day , when we are debating the Plumb report on the face of female poverty and the Nedelcheva report on inequality between women and men in the European Union , and when the institutions are focusing on quotas for women on boards , the PS Women group is dedicating its 2011 campaign to the issue of pension systems and female poverty .
it is imperative that once this directive comes into force , patients are not left to shoulder the economic burden of cross-border healthcare and that reimbursement is carried out in a timely , expedient and smooth manner .
the staff thus put at the disposal of the trade unions continue to be paid a salary from the EU budget as Commission staff .
so I would like you to exert pressure in this direction to ensure that an effort really is made to ensure that we have a new vaccine which , together with the vaccine for seasonal influenza , which you have rightly extended in order to combat this influenza for all the known scientific reasons , would constitute the best barrier to a possible influenza pandemic .
it is essential to call on the Member States to assess the impact of this Process as regards ensuring that young people are adequately qualified and prepared .
it is an extremely hot potato : after release , 60 Guantánamo prisoners returned to terrorist activity , and therefore each case should be examined individually .
the agenda on administrative burden reduction is advancing , and this will contribute to the potential for growth and help Europe on the way to recovery .
the vote will take place tomorrow , Wednesday , at 12 noon .
the Union needs to concentrate its efforts in supporting the social and economic dynamics to overcome the mere separation of public and private sectors if we really want to find new and innovative solutions to provide our citizens with sustainable jobs and a better living environment with quality services of general interest in an inclusive society .
on Cyprus , I attempted to reach a clear and broad-based compromise with the shadow rapporteurs .
why is this so important ? it is important because the 20-year-old directive fails in every area to take into account the rights of people living with disabilities when they are travelling , even when they are travelling in groups .
this report , which I support in general , is on this important issue .
action is required .
you are going to cast this vote with the utmost responsibility , and we shall respect your decision .
who in France would say , following the election of President Sarkozy , that they should simply vote again because somebody does not like him .
human rights such as freedom of assembly and freedom of speech are significantly restricted , and the conflict will be very difficult to solve by peaceful and political means .
Mr President , it is difficult to single out any one thing from these two excellent reports , but I wish to express particular thanks to Mr Guellec for the extent to which his report addresses the issue of disparities within regions .
I would stress that the development of regional cooperation remains a key priority for the EU and is intended as a catalyst for reconciliation , good neighbourliness and enhanced people-to-people contacts in the Western Balkans .
I have received a motion to wind up the debate from the Committee on Foreign Affairs pursuant to Rule 110 ( 2 ) of the Rules of Procedure .
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how is the European Union going to organise itself in order to reach an agreement ?
with vague references to the financial crisis and its conceivable consequences for supervision and scrutiny , this is nothing more than a brazen attempt to advance the EU 's position .
there is a Polish saying along the lines of ' every cloud has a silver lining ' but this cloud is actually very black indeed .
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( DE ) Madam President , it is disturbing that thousands of people in the EU are living on the poverty line despite having a permanent job .
Switzerland has now become part of the Schengen area , but the British and Irish are still shying away from this people 's Europe .
the cost is for life .
if the European Commission rejects a related draft legislative text , it is not obliged to justify its decision .
the proposal will also therefore contain the relevant improvements .
where they do manage to obtain employment , their wages lag considerably behind those of their urban counterparts .
I am not certain of this , but I hope this is how it will be .
to conclude , the public will be more supportive if the additional revenue generated from infrastructure and external costs is allocated transparently and effectively , and this would also serve to reduce the external costs of road transport more quickly .
more economic divergence in the euro area , which would not foster a good climate for the European Central Bank 's moves .
I largely presented my arguments for this during yesterday 's debate .
my decision is based on all of the information presented for this choice , including his responses to the questionnaire for candidates for membership of the Court of Auditors , annexed to this report , as they indicate compliance with the criteria laid down in Article 286 ( 1 ) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union ( TFEU ) and the need for members of the Court of Auditors to be fully independent .
there are also questions relating to insurance law , such as the matter of how far we can make comprehensive insurance cover obligatory for companies engaged in extraction so as to minimise and remedy any damage - at least economically and financially - as far as possible in the event of a worst case scenario .
it means empowered consumers and strong consumer protection as well as a business-friendly internal market legislation .
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in the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs , the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats supported this report , because it represented a reasonable compromise .
it is our joint responsibility to help them with innovation , which is one of the driving forces of competitiveness of SMEs both at European level and globally .
this would give rise to a highly dangerous situation .
there is no democratic support for Turkish accession .
we are not in a negotiation where , as sometimes happens , a stance or position is taken up in order to gain a particular advantage .
I believe that the application of uniform criteria will simplify the implementation of the payment scheme for outermost regions at European Union level , provide greater transparency and ensure uniform treatment for the beneficiaries of these support schemes .
I have to admit that trade liberalisation raises significant challenges for EU agriculture and for the European Commission , too .
the most effective means of increasing public readiness would appear to be improving knowledge of transplant issues among the public and the media .
back in Brussels and Strasbourg , I see that , unfortunately - and this is no surprise - the right is backtracking and even opposing any reference to this declaration .
that was all that could be hoped for .
market relations and the growth being achieved are remarkable .
the Deputy Minister of the environment met Carol Browner early this month and Martin Bursík , who is the Czech Minister for the Environment , is going to meet his partners in Washington - I think later this week or early next month - so there is already a dialogue .
listening to the Communist fellow Member who says that the speeches made here may result in the overthrow of a regime , I am pleased , and I would like the dictatorial regimes in Belarus , Zimbabwe and everywhere where people suffer under such regimes to fall because of what is said in this Chamber .
I call on all my fellow Members from countries which have not done so to work to make this a reality .
I think that we should pursue this ; it is a positive choice we have made together .
I would be happy if our critical resolution was understood by the Russians as an effort to find common ground , and as a warning that some of the specific steps and approaches of the state authority are in sharp conflict with this value base .
the Commission also notes that Italy has recognised a need for international protection in half of all individual cases , thus showing that in these flows , there are asylum seekers alongside the illegal immigrants .
in 1988 , two other journalists and I , along with a non-commissioned officer , were arrested , imprisoned , tried and convicted before a military court because we had criticised the then totalitarian Communist regime in Yugoslavia , and in particular , the militaristic aspirations of the then Yugoslav army .
the main goal of postal reform is to benefit all consumers and postal service users , including special needs groups .
the own-initiative report by Ieke van den Burg and Daniel Dăianu takes the same line .
while the EU emphasises the role of research in economic development , research continues in many cases to be reserved for only one gender .
we are doing our utmost to help the country take the necessary steps to resolve the difficulties .
in writing . - I welcome the report on Equality between women and men - 2008 , and support much of its contents .
in writing . - ( FR ) The European Union is not just a Single Market , it is above all a union of peoples who share the same values , in particular protection for individual fundamental rights .
however , this is also largely up to us .
what do we want from this agreement ?
if there is nobody capable of driving this machinery , then you have to bring people in from somewhere else who know how to drive them and get them to be driven .
I am a Member of Parliament , I have a question down for answer here .
I therefore ask that Amendment 70 , which proposes an appropriation of EUR 600 million to support the milk sector , which is facing an extremely serious situation , as we all know , be voted on immediately before Amendment 812 , which proposes an appropriation of 300 million .
hopefully , we will have some easy ones to deal with , too .
in writing . - ( RO ) According to the EU 2020 Strategy , high-quality and environmentally sustainable production is one of the EU 's competitive advantages .
I therefore find this preventive censure of the Italian Prime Minister very annoying .
Europe allows us to move freely , but it should also provide us with more social rights , which should not stop at national borders .
the objectives of the agencies are defined in the Financial Regulation which , as you know , is published in the Official Journal .
unfortunately , we repeatedly see the chairs of the political groups deciding not to table a resolution on this issue .
it is incomprehensible that support for non-profit local community media should be seen as an item of expenditure to be funded at EU level .
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we do not share the view that this is the way forward .
it is also necessary to direct the funds towards projects intended to make each region attractive in its own right .
Mr Cadec , you might perhaps have noticed that Parliament sometimes meets in Brussels too , that committees have their meetings in Brussels , or that administration is , to a certain extent , carried out in Luxembourg .
however tempting it is , the Council can only be an influential player politically , as well as with economic support , if it resists the temptations - motivated sometimes by frustration at one or other of the parties - to have some sort of sanctions or punish one or the other .
another point I want to make clear to our supporters is that , when you are showing your support , your concern about the Tibet question , some Chinese feel this is something against China .
I wish to assure Parliament that the Commission will continue to follow closely the developments in Venezuela .
to my knowledge , such a tendency is also reflected in statistics .
Madam President , honourable Members , as you know , at the beginning of February , the Commission approved the updating of the EU strategy on raw materials , which is based on three pillars .
needless to say , our group will continue to support the negotiations with Turkey , and these negotiations are , as far as we are concerned , about EU membership , even though we should not labour under any illusions as to the process and the possible duration of these .
this is of paramount importance to my country , Bulgaria .
I appreciated President Lula 's idea that his government should not fight wealth but poverty .
I served on the temporary committee into extraordinary rendition by the CIA .
important points are the establishment of a European Medicines Agency , and clear contributions towards guaranteeing the right of patients to reliable , accessible and independent information , validated by the relevant authorities for the available medicines .
the large numbers of refugees that tragically lose their lives when attempting to reach the European Union threaten to turn the Mediterranean into a huge open-air graveyard ; it is up to us to find solutions to put an end to these tragedies .
in the EU-27 , one in four children is now overweight , not because they eat too much , or have a poor diet , but chiefly owing to insufficient physical activity .
as soon as the ballots were safely counted , we have gone back to our agenda of harmonising policy , particularly in the field of militarisation and justice and home affairs .
it is of fundamental importance to support innovative projects .
they represent a small but significant strand of public opinion and of course they should take part in our debates .
there are , however , two points that I must strongly oppose .
there are provisions for Switzerland to be part of the Schengen passport-free area .
the first , to my mind , is that I would recommend that the Commission takes care , in the days to come , that the region does not become militarised , for already ...
the drastic reduction in social benefits , the commercialisation and further privatisation of health systems and the attack on insurance rights are making it easier for large business conglomerates to reap huge profits from the lucrative health sector .
solidarity had become a one-way street .
it categorically does not provide any solution .
the EU must therefore look at ways of encouraging banks to lend whilst ensuring that the mechanisms put in place by the EU to support SMEs are accessible .
we had no idea at the time that war would break out between Georgia and Russia , and we also had no idea of the severity of the financial , and then economic , crisis with which Europe would be faced .
the Charter of Fundamental Rights insists on this .
the only viable approach for us is to demonstrate to these developing economies that there is another way , that it is possible to turn the environmental and social challenge into an economic opportunity .
there is no methanol-based energy economy in the EU whatsoever , even though it is extremely cheap , since it generates energy from carbon dioxide , water and electricity which can be used for powering cars , generating electricity , heating and other applications .
otherwise , it would be the same as if one state had started to apply different conditions to different regions .
a huge range of subjects is covered in the debate on Europe 's future integrated policy on climate change and should guide us in the search for reasonable , feasible , science-based solutions .
Hungary , for example , which committed to an 8 % decrease , has achieved a 23 % decrease .
my thanks again to both Presidents for the distinct personal commitment they have shown .
after the electoral fraud that kept the Ahmadinejad regime in power , thousands of Iranians paid the price of freedom for their courage in protesting against an increasingly repressive regime .
Iman al-Obeidi , a Libyan woman , has told the international press that she was gang-raped and subsequently detained by pro-Gaddafi soldiers and interrogated for 72 hours before being released .
I would like to address a very clear message to the Commission .
the second objective concerns on-call time , which cannot be considered as inactive working time but must be considered for all intents and purposes as working time , just as it is appropriate to safeguard the right to a compensatory rest period for medical staff .
I am absolutely certain that the President will pay full attention to consumer issues one way or another , and I am convinced the policy will remain very stable .
nevertheless , the fight against violence against women cannot merely be restricted to the use of legal instruments , since this is a complex phenomenon that requires complex treatment , legal , administrative , preventive , advisory , victim-support , dialogue and monitoring tasks and obligations for the state in question .
my Group condemns the death penalty in general and the planned execution of Muhammed Taher Thabet Samoum in particular .
I would like to call upon this state to continue along this route , which I hope will soon end in processes of negotiation being opened .
I urge OLAF , but particularly the parliamentary administration and parliamentary groups , to establish clarity here .
we heard Prime Minister Brown talking about this in terms of the international financial crisis .
concerning values , many still consider that their country - Ireland - is a Christian nation , despite recent decades of secularisation .
Mr President , the House will understand that our group , too , has held a detailed discussion on the situation that has now arisen with regard to Kosovo .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( ES ) Mr President , I wish to make three rapid remarks on this ninth report , followed by a brief reflection on future reports .
from a technical point of view , the exclusion of seasonal workers and workers transferred within their company is justified by the presentation by the Commission of proposals for specific directives for these workers .
it is important that the Georgian authorities take all possible measures to build public confidence in the conduct of the elections .
this approach , by which I mean your approach , Mr Barroso , and your Commission 's approach , has created a confidence gap between the leadership of the European Union and European citizens , which was clearly reflected in the last elections , with the massive numbers of European citizens who abstained .
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this is the only legal way to move forward .
author . - Mr President , I must say that I am very happy that this debate on the EU-Russia visa waiver agreement is taking place today in this House , because this issue has been on the joint political agenda between the EU and the Russian Federation for so long now .
my third point is that it is right that the Western Balkans are an absolutely crucial factor in the European security and foreign policy of the future .
the European Union needs to be closer to its citizens , to explain better , to listen better and to deliver good policies .
I would ask you to bring that message to the Commission .
author . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , in the case of Mehdi Kazemi we are having to discuss something that really should not require a single second of debate .
any aid efforts are difficult without close coordination in collecting the necessary items and ordered distribution of aid .
these examples , and many others I could have mentioned , show why Europe continues not just to be America 's largest trading partner but our most important ally .
this disaster should be seen as a starting point for thoroughly assessing and reconsidering issues surrounding the safety of nuclear energy .
I should also like to express my satisfaction at the fact that , according to the Commissioner , the Commission accepts almost all the points included in this report .
at this early stage , there are risks of this Service being torn apart by diverging institutional rivalries and interests .
I was shadow rapporteur for the report on Youth on the Move , and I would like to thank our rapporteur , Mr Zver , for his excellent cooperation .
for those seeking help to return to work - in Sandwich , Kent and Andover , Hampshire - there is little justification in saying ' no ' , and this is another UK Government let-down .
that is absolutely true .
the objective is to strengthen the participation of European NGOs in the development and implementation of EU environmental policy .
I must ask ; where were these critics , who fancy themselves progressive democrats , when the left-wing nationalist government of Robert Fico in Slovakia adopted a controversial media law , replete with sanctions , in 2008 ?
a system that is applied in a number of Member States may lead to differences over how the provisions are interpreted , bringing about uncertainty for business .
we do not want any farm to burn down .
this is ground breaking .
the second question is this : there is always a great inherent danger with advisory bodies that they will become a law unto themselves and drag everything out .
I am concerned that this resolution presents enlargement as being imperative for the countries in question as well as the EU .
just quickly - because I do not want to take up too much time - I want to talk to Mr Albertini about his report and to quote from it .
if it fails to do so , its friends and partners must be able to condemn its actions and to threaten sanctions against it , as well .
they are dealt with extremely well in the rapporteur 's proposal , but also in an amendment by Mrs Breyer , which I recognise from the work on the Cosmetics Directive .
what measures will it take to encourage the production of staple foods or , possibly , discourage the production of other commodities ( e.g. biofuel ) ?
I too have high hopes for 2008 and for the commitments to reverse the trend ; I agree wholeheartedly with the Commissioner when he talks of shared responsibility between donors and countries where everyone has to play a part : rights and obligations .
I also appeal to the members of the European Commission whom we expect to monitor the impact of the new measures and make new suggestions , as well as the process as a whole .
the Portuguese company Qimonda , part of a German world leader group , was seen in Portugal as an example of success and as a company at the vanguard of its sector .
it is very important for us .
I voted against the Beres report on the guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States .
( PL ) Mr President , after Barack Obama 's election as president of the United States of America , and his signature of the document on the forthcoming closure of the Guantánamo detention centre , an unhealthy excitement was felt in this House .
we have put the right measures in place , such as inclusion of Belarus in the Eastern Partnership .
the restrictions and constraints that affect the outermost regions are permanent .
in such situations , exceptional resources are needed , Mr President , because it is not just about emergency aid , but also about rebuilding centuries of infrastructure .
ladies and gentlemen , it is now necessary for everyone to get swiftly to work because , frankly , I note that the markets are moving very quickly , much more quickly than us , in this , our time of democracy , and the authorities need to work very quickly .
it is for society as a whole , thereby benefiting both women and men , and also families .
anyway , you decide the format .
rapporteur . - Madam President , I was very much reassured by the debate and by what my colleagues have said in favour of rules , in favour of strong demands that may be made obligatory , in favour of a strong Agency .
that is precisely the reason for this own-initiative report .
treatment methods used leave much to be desired , too . I have in mind in particular the over-use of antibiotics and steroids .
Madam President , I should like to say this to Cathy Ashton : you spoke lucidly of the problems of getting agreement amongst 27 Foreign Ministers .
the Mediterranean diet is not just a lot of bread and pasta , it also involves movement , physical activity and lifestyle .
they , and their like , use such things as the Internet to recruit and to spread their evil words and deeds .
in fact , however , even after that statement in July , there were new discoveries .
regulation ( EC ) No 31 could also be amended , specifically Article 64 .
however , this issue is related to a much greater problem - to the frequent lack of integrity and professionalism within police and security forces throughout Europe .
the report which we have drafted and which we will vote on tomorrow reflects the Commission 's thinking and is guided in particular by the following few factors .
I therefore thank both the Commission and the French Presidency and , above all , my fellow Members , not only for their patience and support but also , I hope , for tomorrow 's vote .
I was delighted you mentioned the House of Lords because I was also going to reflect on that .
I therefore suggested that the Committee on Fisheries give a favourable opinion on the Commission 's proposal COM ( 2010 ) 234 .
the practice of temporary contracting , which encourages a lack of respect for working hours , rest periods and collective labour agreements , in addition to constituting a violation of workers ' rights , calls into question their very safety ( and that of third parties ) .
we had the Greek tragedy earlier on this year , and now we have the situation in Ireland .
the Commission has made the proposal and has thus done exactly what Parliament wanted .
that is an excellent date .
I would like to express my support for the economic recovery of Moldova and offer a positive outlook for the people who work in the country 's wine industry .
and with such a wide range of judicial procedures , safeguards and processes across the EU , talk of obtaining judicial equivalence often involves exactly that .
here too , it is high time we moved up a gear , not only on research and development , but also on tax incentives .
it will , furthermore , compromise a woman 's return to work in exactly the same position as she held before going on leave .
there is evidence of some recurrence of some of these factors , especially in convergence regions .
regulation No 1967 / 2006 meticulously determines the gear authorised for fishing in the waters of the GFCM area , in the Mediterranean in our particular case .
in industrial firms - and this is par for the course - parental leave is denied by macho managers who have never had a social life .
I voted for this resolution which aims to limit the use in food products of food additives that are dangerous to health , in order to protect the health of consumers .
in writing . - Among other things , this text establishes that Parliament notes that the EU 's mechanisms for building consensus and taking concerted action make it a model for a rules-based international order .
this must stop on all sides .
you may remember , for instance , with regard to voice roaming , that citizens were not informed at all about where they could get information about price structures until the Commission established a website giving information on roaming .
depending on the situation at any given time , Europe 's interest may lie in low supermarket prices in one Member State or in a high level of industrial employment in another , and this is a conflict of aims which is not easily resolved .
- ( SK ) Mr President , since the start of negotiations in May 2007 , the Free Trade Agreement with South Korea has had a long and difficult journey .
the establishment , at the beginning of the current term , of a permanent European Parliament delegation for relations with the Pan-African Parliament is a very positive step which will contribute to consolidate the increasingly political engagement of the ACP-EU Parliamentary Assembly .
it is proposing to go even further , that is , to create a common European foreign policy on energy .
the export of goods and services cannot be subject to unjustifiable barriers , nor can public contracts , and the Commission can and must do more in both these areas .
this difference in treatment is a two-fold problem .
we will follow the process of updating data protection rights and bringing them up to the minute very closely and , in particular , the negotiation of bilateral tools with third countries , in particular the United States .
the need for a coordinated approach , not just across the EU , but across the world , makes the G20 in London so important .
so , the summary of the Ombudsman 's activities in 2009 is an entirely positive one , and that is what I tried to reflect in my report .
furthermore , Member States had to be given enough time to adopt those measures of national law necessary for the regulation to be applied .
we all remember that the dairy sector was very stable with very few price fluctuations , but over the last few years the situation has changed dramatically .
impact of extensive urbanisation in Spain on individual rights of European citizens , on the environment and on the application of EU law (
2. give priority to the investments required for rail transport safety and security , and
I therefore think that it is vital that we actually implement the action programme that has been agreed , because , otherwise , the negotiations over the new financial perspectives will be at risk .
however , only Christians are dying and only churches are burning in Egypt .
in writing . - ( HU ) The ageing of the population brings with it some significant economic , financial and social challenges .
and finally I would like to put forward an idea about funding .
then we could have a crisis , because we could endanger the health of our citizens .
I refuse to witness humanity going through that gateway .
Mrs Roth-Behrendt said that most patients wish to be treated at home and have the quality and speed of treatment there , so increasing the amount in itself , as I say , is not a goal .
in writing . - ( SK ) European consumers are often confronted with unfair commercial practices and deceptive and misleading advertising .
what I would like to see coming out of much of the concern about employment at the moment is a very coherent package as regards new industries and new investment .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( FI ) Madam President , I wish to thank everyone for their cooperation .
we would find :
I hope that the Commission will actually take this decision into account , one that today is bound to be adopted unanimously in Parliament .
if we are serious with our mission , it is evident that we need all forms of low-carbon technologies , including sustainable nuclear power .
what , in fact , is the reason for agreeing to the agreement with Turkmenistan ?
the common agricultural policy should do more to support these regions and the people who live there in their struggle against the challenges they face .
the EU should therefore make every effort to encourage other industrialised nations to sign up to the post-Kyoto agreement .
I believe that this is profoundly amoral .
indeed , Croatia , like certain other European countries , is a transit route through which illicit drugs are smuggled on the way from production countries to consumer countries .
but let not the ghost of Slobodan Milošević stalk this decision or this Chamber .
cases in point are the Regulation on access to the road freight business , or the Directive facilitating cross-border enforcement in the field of road safety .
when ways to combat VAT fraud are being considered , the notions of cost benefit , legal certainty and the proportionality principle need to be borne in mind .
Member of the Commission . - For 20 years the European food aid programme has made a decisive contribution in meeting the food requirements of undernourished people in the Community .
the Union ought to maximise its efforts in facilitating the access to available resources - within the ceilings of the agreed multiannual financial framework 2007-2013 - for beneficiaries on the ground and we should therefore particularly improve and simplify measures in order to accelerate the implementation of structural and cohesion funds .
on the contrary , we envision a post-2013 cohesion policy , a period in which there will still be a common European policy applied to all regions of the European Union , that will continue to have adequate funds to achieve its objective and will have simplified application rules so that it acquires even greater added value .
voter research after the referendum revealed a very low level of public understanding of the role and functions of the European Union .
in what way could we provide further support , perhaps by sharing best practice ?
the report makes repeated , well-known findings about the monopoly situation that has arisen in food processing and marketing .
underlined that ' additional advanced payments ' under these Funds would result in a reduction in Community financing over the next few years ;
I do not normally speak here just for the sake of being negative .
what the Commission actually meant to say was that we would not abandon our fellow Europeans from any country to censorship and restrictions on freedom of expression .
however , 1 in 10 women in the EU will develop breast cancer before she reaches 80 years of age ; in addition , every two and a half minutes another woman is diagnosed with breast cancer .
I think it is unfortunate that we are discussing the subject again , as Parliament has already passed a resolution on it .
secondly : ' expresses its deep concern about the long-standing political and socio-economic problems in Yemen and calls for considerable efforts by the international community to prevent the escalation of the current crisis ' .
there is a large untapped potential in biogas production within the European Union .
let them put their money where their mouth is .
this is not right .
this approach , which was also adopted by my fellow Member , Mr Schlyter , of the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance , enabled our rapporteur , Mr Fjellner - to whom I pay tribute - to undertake a major review of the Commission 's proposals .
I want to welcome the adoption of this report and to underline the importance of Objective 3 , which concerns territorial cooperation , in the European Union 's cohesion policy .
I should therefore like to take a few moments to inform you of the position prevailing in the Council on the main issues which are addressed by the three rapporteurs , Mrs Trautmann , Mrs del Castillo and Mr Harbour .
can it assemble more assets with increased access to crisis funds ?
( SL ) Congratulations Tanja .
non-governmental organisations were prevented from acting and restrictions were placed on the organisation of meetings .
this is a big test of the responsibility of all the institutions - of the European Parliament , of the Commission and of the European Council .
I will first turn to Mr Popa .
to counteract this tendency , we need greater transparency in the operation of EU bodies , and certainly better information about investigations and the methods used by the European Union to combat corruption .
I have the feeling that the Treaty of Lisbon and the associated budgetary issues are a little bit like the weather forecast - you never know exactly how things will look in the morning .
IAs must be independent and undertaken in a transparent and objective way .
it also shows that the burden of over-regulation , which often tarnishes the image of the EU , is often not the fault of any EU institution but of the Member State itself .
it has been a long process .
I am told that , at Cancún , a great cheer went up when there was a resolution to the negotiations .
we should do what we decided at the beginning of the previous year - in March 2007 - and achieve the 20 % targets for all the Member States .
thank you very much .
this is why the Council must now improve the fight against fraud , and by carrying out a true reform of the legal basis , rather than performing cosmetic surgery on existing texts .
we welcome the move for equal rights for all groups of migrants here because we have been concerned that looking at this in a sectoral approach can lead to even greater complexity in terms of different rights for different workers .
first of all , the legal basis for the regulation has been changed to the environment .
the work of the Human Rights Council is too one-sided - my fellow Members have mentioned this - for example , Israel is discussed from a one-sided perspective .
a fortnight ago , my delegation opposed the granting of discharge for the 2007 budget because of problems involving oversight and financial responsibility .
I also agree with the rapporteur that the resources earmarked by the Commission for this scheme are totally inadequate .
first of all , there is no basic economic link between the increase in milk quotas and the fall in market prices .
I have long been one of those calling for an overall directive against all forms of discrimination .
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I have listened to what the Commissioner has said - that he will have a look at the advantage of satellite monitoring .
European agriculture , which makes abundant use of plant protection products , will not be weakened .
the Copenhagen Conference is now only 10 months away .
even when what is now Sudan was known as Anglo-Egyptian Sudan , it was debatable whether this huge area with widely differing populations should become independent as a single state .
19 .
job vacancies need specialised labour .
of course , alongside the new legislative package , in the interests of improving quality we must also ensure that the directive is appropriately transposed into national law .
this is what Article 27 of the directive says , it is the law .
it is fair , it is transparent and it is proper .
there are currently two possible options .
crimes committed by the European Nazi regimes have received global damnation , with Nazi parties being banned and Nazi propaganda being punishable by law .
Mr Mitchell , price stability is laid down in the Treaty as the principal mandate .
some of the amendments tabled by the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development , against the protection of laboratory animals , were contrary to this objective .
consequently , the framework agreement with Libya can only have the consent of this Parliament if certain conditions are met .
although it will surely not be possible to achieve complete satisfaction in relation to such a complex matter , this provides a very close approximation .
now , in truth , it is necessary to have the courage and the ambition to say to their people that it is necessary to leave the European Union .
the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety did this on Monday .
I am delighted with what Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner has said .
however , the proposed budget again falls short of the amount agreed in the multiannual financial framework .
for it is these countries which are going to decide , and are also already deciding , what the diversification of supply of power sources to the European Union will be like in the future .
we have seen where it led in Iraq , where a terrible war took place following atomic armament based originally on civilian technology .
I also wish to pay tribute to the professionals themselves , who have displayed a real openness of mind , and I would like to say to them that I still feel a debt of gratitude towards them .
we have prohibited fishing for porbeagle , basking shark and white shark in EU waters .
a second issue which is of great concern to me is the future of a coordinated budget policy in the European Union , in other words , budgetary discipline .
as far as the EU 's role in multilateral security organisations is concerned , it has been said that the regulations which make it possible for the European Union to benefit from NATO funding should be streamlined .
a number of operational difficulties have led to specific problems in getting SIS II up and running .
we have held tough negotiations and we have achieved many substantial improvements .
I would like to make that very clear .
you know that at the first stage , we are proposing a regime for the euro area Member States and , at the second stage , for all 27 Member States .
( PL ) Madam President , I would like to support Mr Swoboda 's proposal .
on the other hand , I wish to remind you that there is a large list of maximum levels of contaminants , such as dangerous micro-toxins , heavy metals and dioxins , which has been in force , under the Directive on undesirable substances , since 2002 .
the next item is the final report of the day , more specifically , an oral question addressed to the Council and the Commission on the subject of the cost of examining asylum seekers ' applications in the Member States .
all imports to the EU must be guaranteed to be produced to the same quality and standard as EU products .
under the terms of Rule 140 ( 2 ) of the Rules of Procedure , the agenda can be changed under certain circumstances , including ' on a proposal from the President ' .
a halt should be brought to the gradual whittling away of human rights internationally .
following the 2006 World Summit on the Information Society , we presented to Parliament a communication which clearly stated the Commission 's intention to monitor and safeguard the neutrality of the internet .
however , we believe that this measure is an invasion of privacy and goes much too far , and it will burden already vulnerable young women in a way that is unacceptable .
last but not least is the fight against terrorism and human rights .
in writing . - ( FI ) The decision on constructing the Baltic gas pipeline is a deal between two players : Russia and Germany .
I also have to confess that I am not a financial specialist and therefore do not have the detailed knowledge required to give you a technical answer .
the cuts in administrative support expenditure will hamper the implementation of programmes , particularly in the field of research and for external actions .
in the European Parliament , we are highly conscious of the fact that many Member States currently find themselves in an extremely tricky economic situation , often with difficult national budget problems .
nevertheless , more and more , President Hugo Chavez is simply dictating through public speeches to the prosecutors and the judges how to act and decide .
it has not succeeded either in improving the situation for its society , which is rebelling and claiming its legitimate rights .
5 .
even the countries concerned - take for instance Senegal , in the person of its minister of state , Mr Djibo Ka - have publicly rejected the accusations that the presence of Community vessels is having a significant impact on resources and on the decline in profitability for non-industrial fishermen who are often the people most affected by illegal immigration .
take the example of the regulation on authorisation .
it provided food to feed a hungry Europe and has evolved and changed over the last 50 years in line with political and public pressure for change .
the relationship between consumers and banks in Europe remains complicated because of the distortions that are a feature of the sector .
we are thereby giving citizens an opportunity to feel better and to have a greater sense that they themselves , every one of them , are actively participating in protecting the environment .
a whole range of mistakes have been made and there has been a breathtaking lack of ethics , morals and decency , combined with conflicts of interest .
successive leaders have used Islam to justify repression of minorities and justify autocracy , particularly of a military nature , although recent government efforts to remedy this must be recognised .
I voted against this report because it turns budgetary consolidation by the Member States on its head and contains the usual flowery Communist dross about inter-State transfers .
in the first quarter of the year 2008 , Romania had one of the greatest economic growths in the EU , increasing by 8.2 % ( while the European average is 2.5 % , according to Eurostat ) , but , nevertheless , people with low education levels , without any qualification , especially in the rural environment , children , young people , people with disabilities and the Roma have a significant risk of poverty .
( applause )
Mr President , Mr Gauzès , ladies and gentlemen , it is again a pleasure for me to come before you once more as you debate an additional part of the reform package that we want to introduce in the financial sector .
in writing . - ( RO ) I voted in favour of adopting the progress report on Croatia because I think that the EU accession process highlights the significant improvement in the situation in this area .
the Commission 's condolences go in particular to the families and friends of those that have lost their lives .
this sounds self-evident but , over the last 30 years , just 3 of these countries have managed to rise above the category of least developed countries .
nevertheless , I believe that European Union action is crucial .
sometimes late at night we get cross , but sometimes it is justified .
equally , a decisively pro-European choice could contribute to smoothing the path of both economic and democratic development in Moldova .
common trade policy - which affects the entire Union and all the Member States - cannot be completely at the mercy of the interests of the agricultural sector , which , in fact , affects a limited number of Member States .
there have been no changes or reforms .
with regard to the WTO , naturally , we shall continue to work to resolve the issue by diplomatic means .
it is equally true that states with a democratic system , where rulers and government are not above the law , hardly ever go to war with one another .
I am assuming you were not asking for my mercy , but were trying to say ' thank you ' - not in Greek , I should add , which is ' Ευχαριστώ , κύριε Πρόεδρε ' !
we are facing the consequence of several factors persisting from then to the present day : insufficient economic development , latent conflicts , and the influence of the Russian Federation .
that is what I deduced .
we should reassure them from this Chamber in the European Parliament in Strasbourg that we are in solidarity with them and sympathise with the victims , and that we hope that this destructive flood will recede as soon as possible .
( CS ) Mr President , the 20th century in Europe was the century of totalitarian and authoritarian regimes , of Nazism and fascism , of communism and its most terrible offshoot , Stalinism , of various right-wing dictatorships in Spain , Portugal , Greece and other countries .
the European institutions of Council , Parliament and Commission must work together productively so that not only they but also our Member States can develop and as part of their national reform programmes implement the objectives on which we are in agreement this evening .
for others more prone to sermonising , this amounts to saying that ' we Europeans must give lessons on how to protect these poor Africans from the Chinese ' .
in your first legislative encounter with Ecofin as a co-legislator in economic policy , you achieved almost all of your most important objectives .
China offers African countries huge loans without any transparency conditions , encouraging the already wide-spread corruption within the groups in power in African countries .
I am convinced that this development , which is contrary to international law , will have tragic consequences and repercussions for all of Europe .
I would once again like to take this opportunity to thank the Commission , which was sometimes a bit heavyhanded , and the Council , where we tried to find reasonable solutions in night sittings and in many trialogue sittings , because , just an hour ago , they also approved the reasonable compromise we found .
they naturally take into account the country in question , the type of relationship that we have with that country , technical security issues and so on .
it is also important to support the careers of female engineers via networking , mentoring and measures to balance work and private life .
unfortunately , our motion was rejected , along with a series of amendments that had been tabled , which is why we voted as we did .
it must commit itself to ensuring cooperation , greater respect for human rights and religious freedom , by repealing the provisions in its law that criminalise dissent and by putting an end to censorship .
( interjection from the floor by Gay Mitchell )
when you hear an EU body giving an assurance that they will not do such and such , you have a pretty good clue as to what they are up to .
however , we are constantly being fobbed off with words .
one of the responses that we can bring to this sad situation is to facilitate international adoption procedures .
for example , food aid programmes are being strengthened , initiatives are being taken on fruit and vegetables in schools , again in my opinion rightly so , and programmes are being implemented to introduce broadband and invigorate the countryside .
the Commission is concerned about the information it has received concerning the conditions in which internally displaced people are living in the so-called ' welfare centres ' once they have escaped from the territory controlled by the Tamil Tigers into Government-controlled areas .
I therefore believe that we are making a new start because , in the midst of the crisis , the European Parliament is setting a good example by keeping its expenditure for 2010 at very realistic , I would even say low levels .
the opposition is not involved in the process and many of the opposition leaders are still under house arrest .
the Tibetan demonstrators were allegedly shot in self-defence .
I hope that this conversion is sincere and sustainable and , as I am a French socialist , I am delighted to learn that the source of our problems is not the 35-hour week but the banks , and that ' Mrs 35-Hours ' is better than ' Mr Madoff ' .
the prospect of creating new jobs in an innovative-based economy should bring developments in the fields of education and training to improve the equal integration of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged categories of the population EU-wide .
by that mechanism the Union will receive the right to join the proceedings as a co-respondent in cases brought against a Member State when Union law is at stake .
remember that this EU budget is still lower in relation to the Member States ' economies than it was when Sweden joined in the 1990s , for example , despite enlargement from 15 to 27 Member States .
I think history will not forgive us for failing to act a second time .
however , I regret that the parliaments ( the European Parliament , the Pan-African Parliament and the national parliaments of the ACP countries ) have not taken the opportunity to contribute with proposals and to participate actively with Member States in the decision-making process for revising this important agreement .
this reminds me of the debate on Srebrenica which will hopefully be held in this House on Wednesday evening this week .
secondly , we cannot discriminate against the new-born children in these families .
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it is a quiet revolution that is already in full swing .
unless there are significant improvements in the inclusion of children from disadvantaged social groups even at pre-primary level , the number of pupils who drop out of school early will not decrease ; nor will we be able to increase the number of people completing secondary school and thus gaining key skills .
this is precisely where we can demonstrate to the most sceptical that , alone , our Member States - even the biggest Member States - do not have the scale or the leverage to push the agenda forward .
in writing . - ( FI ) I voted in favour of Mr Deva 's report on development prospects for peace-building and nation building in post-conflict situations because it raised in a comprehensive way the issues that are essential for successful reconstruction .
why are we giving a derogation to Papua New Guinea ?
on the contrary , the ambiguity of the way it is written allows for the public financing of a new private agency .
as for the right to freedom of religion , we welcome the initiatives taken in favour of non-Muslim religious communities in Turkey .
I therefore also think that the Commission Communication and Mr Guardans Cambó 's report are more welcome than at any other time .
Mr President , two weeks ago the Chairman of the Muslim Council of Great Britain addressed a meeting in this building , at which he categorically rejected reciprocity between faiths and demanded that the indigenous population had an obligation to welcome newcomers , and that those newcomers had a right to remain separate .
we in Parliament , of course , shall subsequently be called upon to form our own opinion on the future shape of ENISA .
emphasising the prelegislative phase of the decision-making process and the added value offered by the policies and best practices implemented at local and regional level to the development of territorial strategies in the EU helps ensure their effectiveness and sustainability .
so , although we got off to a bad start and there have been a few alarms and excursions along the way , the safety net is to be extended , which is wonderful .
however , we must also say ' yes ' to the Research , Innovation and Education Area , in other words to the greater Europeanisation of education and research policy .
however , many people consider that the freest elections are elections where each person - or each Member of Parliament - can take decisions secretly .
it is no accident that this Parliament is politically impotent today , despite the celebrations for the new Treaty .
port state mechanisms adopted within RFMOs have been implemented through EU law , which also provides for comprehensive rules on access to port services , landings and transhipments of fisheries products by third-country vessels in EU ports , and cooperation and assistance mechanisms between the EU and third countries .
yes , we must ensure that local councils take sovereign decisions ; they are closer to us .
improving the situation in the long term requires that we promote education in values through gender equality and education campaigns and awareness-raising from childhood in schools , in order to promote a social conscience that will bring an end to violence against women and the stigmatisation of the victims by the authorities .
ladies and gentlemen , I should like to invite you to allow us to continue with this cooperation and to vote tomorrow for the FEMM Committee 's motion for a resolution .
the final version of the draft agenda as drawn up by the Conference of Presidents at their meeting of Thursday , 20 September 2007 pursuant to Rules 130 and 131 of the Rules of Procedure has been distributed .
Mr Schulz , this has less to do with kindness and more to do with observing proper procedure - something we in Europe wish to do , after all .
Mr President , one in four European women are victims of violence .
but today new techniques can differentiate between packets , in order to award priority to high urgency communications or to users who have paid a premium for higher-quality services .
however , the draft budget as it stands does not comply with this political agreement , which was concluded under the previous Parliament .
we should therefore proceed with great caution when it comes to visa policy .
we must not forget that we are discussing the budget and not a secondary issue .
I think that these terrible statistics , Madam President , should lead us to think profoundly about the role of our Parliament , which I do not see as a court that punishes and pontificates , but as an institution that has its own effective strategies for seeking , by mutual agreement with our partners and on the basis of dialogue , cooperation and good practice , solutions for eradicating this process .
perhaps we will even experience something of this from the human side with property funds .
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that is in the interests of European democracy .
we also know that trafficking is still a low-risk crime .
the value of Chinese trade with Africa increased from USD 2 billion in 1999 to almost USD 40 billion in 2005 .
in future , we will have the opportunity to do that .
I am in favour of abolishing barriers to the movement of people as a matter of principle , and I therefore endorse the removal of the barriers in question .
the conflict between Israel and Lebanon caused enormous damage in a country that had just managed , with great difficulty , to rebuild its infrastructure after 20 years of war .
it is extremely depressing that many of the Members from the Eurosceptic parts of this House can never think of anything else but the agencies when it comes to budget cuts .
although I agree in principle with my President , the term has a positive connotation as well , involving innovation and readiness for reforms .
I should like to offer both of you my sincerest thanks for the quality of your respective reports , which were very thorough and full of proposals .
the next item is the debate on the oral question to the Commission on the 5th World Water Forum in Istanbul , 16-22 March 2009 , by Mr Borrell Fontelles , on behalf of the Committee on Development - B6-0015 / 2009 ) .
yes , I think it is perfectly possible to debate good practice in relation to financial entities .
lastly , it is important that it be a vote in favour because social dialogue must be encouraged in Europe , and this hinges on the implementation of new works councils and the development of joint actions undertaken by the European social partners as a whole , as has been the case in this matter .
public procurement accounts for 17 % of the EU 's GDP and represents an important market , especially in areas such as health , transport and energy .
it is right to say that no risky players , no risky financial centre can remain without reasonable regulation , which is why we need regulation of the offshore centres from which dubious products are flooding the entire world .
it has been a pleasure to work on this report .
Italy has always enjoyed strong cultural and social ties with France : two countries that have made major sacrifices to found and build Europe , which all its members now have the duty to develop .
in writing . - ( SV ) The European Parliament 's amendments improve the legislation , but at the same time I do not want to vote for its implementation .
the result is that daily life imposes severe mental and physical strains in the form of housing without security of tenure , problem estates , the risk of indebtedness , alcohol and drugs - a life without dignity or self-esteem .
so we need Americans on board , we need Chinese on board , we need Indians on board .
I am not sure if we need to follow up on what has been said , and on what basis we can do so , regarding the problem of minorities .
( RO ) Social housing does indeed come under services of general interest .
that , to my mind , is the analysis that we need to make of this double vote .
flexibility regarding the amount and payments should also be considered , along with the connection with leniency programmes , and even how to overcome the differences between the systems in the various Member States .
for this reason , the Commission 's proposal for a directive is a good thing .
there could be new risks for mental health as a result of the current financial and economic crisis .
so , all of the issues that are part of this report and the oral question are extremely important for us .
there is one more thing - I have come here today not only as a politician , but also as a blogger , and a fairly well-known one in Poland .
this situation is accelerating the scramble for Africa , a continent that is immensely rich in natural resources .
apart from the earthquake , the absence of institutions and good governance is a huge problem at the moment .
those who stand up for indigenous peoples and poor communities are at particular risk .
I am also aware that , in July , Minister Janez Lenarčič will take up a senior position within an international human rights organisation based in Warsaw .
first and foremost , with regard to road checks , in the recommendation of 6 April 2004 , the Commission pushed to intensify random checks on blood-alcohol levels through an effective device to measure alcohol in blood through an analysis of exhaled air , to be used in those places and at the times in which excessive consumption of alcohol by drivers is regularly observed .
it is a bit more difficult to know where one is going .
I really regret it because the subject of company law is really important for us and is at the heart of his portfolio .
all of us who know Mr Kelam well are perfectly aware that those heartless words are complete lies .
narcotics are the principal business in Afghanistan and to try to control even some part of the production for medical purposes seems to be more than questionable .
the main problem is that the funding was not explicitly included in the multi-annual financial framework for 2007-2013 : the sum involved is EUR 308 million .
the European Commission must come up with specific initiatives on cooperation in the following areas : energy security , transport , economic development and environmental protection .
therefore 2015 is the right time for finalising the work on this very important project and getting our Baltic Member States connected to the real European grid .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , first of all allow me to thank the rapporteur , Mr Romeva i Rueda , who has undertaken some impressive work on this report .
in some countries the removal of the quasi-constitutional symbols was actually used to argue that there was no reason to hold a referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon .
everybody agrees that we need to simplify the licensing of music for internet downloads and mobile phones .
these are the people most in need , and they should not be excluded by reason of their location .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
the main export control tool is Regulation ( CE ) No 428 / 2009 , which introduced a number of significant changes to the scope of dual-use export controls -use items in the European Union .
I trust that the final signatures can be put on the deal in June to allow the first call for applications to go out before the summer , and I hope that , next time Member States and the Commission decide they need a pan-EU service in a particular frequency band , they will look to the MSS decision as a model of how to reach a speedy agreement by involving Parliament in the detail of the text .
Berlaymont patriotism has claimed victory .
the European Parliament 's Legal Service carried out a study and determined that the codecision procedure should have been chosen over the consultation procedure to debate this proposal .
what ideas can you give us on the future strategy for the outermost regions that the Commission is to publish during 2010 ?
in any case , Cancún officially endorsed the emissions commitments made at Copenhagen .
it is crucial that the EU takes the lead at a global level , that we show that we are a region that succeeds in combining good working conditions with a high level of competitiveness .
agencies are European administrative units , although they have a unique nature .
we cannot have a pick-and-mix strategy allowing everyone to do the easy parts , the feel-good things , and leave the real challenges to the others .
just as unfortunately the EU subsidises the construction of motorways , which only leads to increased motoring .
it is at the very least abominable that someone who talks so much about terrorism not only ignores Israel 's terrorism but is prepared to cooperate with it .
I would like to take this opportunity , on behalf of the European Council , to express recognition of your role in pointing out human rights violations and monitoring elections and of the work of your delegations in international institutions such as the United Nations Human Rights Council .
Mr Schulz , we did not say that the yards should be shut .
some makes and models of cars are coping better with these crises , namely those that have invested in sustainable technical development .
the Swedish Conservatives have today voted against the resolution on the FAO World Summit on Food Security .
this new scientific evidence showed that the potential entry into force of the directive in its present form in April 2008 would have a major unintended detrimental effect on the practice of magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI ) , the best performing and safest imaging technology in contemporary medicine .
this is a time- and money-saving matter which will satisfy both manufacturers and consumers in Ireland .
( MT ) Mr President , when I look at what is happening in Albania , it saddens me greatly because I recall my country 's own history in the beginning of the eighties , thirty years ago that is , when Malta was facing a similar situation : deep division , tension , political rivalry , threats and even violence .
this changes nothing in terms of our own assessment of our Presidency , of course .
I also wish to say to you that I agree with your very pertinent comments on the need for effective economic recovery .
the report by Mr Méndez de Vigo on behalf of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs on the draft protocol amending Protocol No 36 on transitional provisions concerning the composition of the European Parliament for the rest of the 2009-2014 parliamentary term : the European Parliament 's opinion ( Article 48 ( 3 ) of the EU Treaty ) [ 17196 / 2009 - C7-0001 / 2010 - 2009 / 0813 ( NLE ) ] , and
that is why equal treatment between men and women is a horizontal policy in the Commission , conducted not just by the Commissioner responsible for this area , but also by other Commissioners in their own areas of responsibility , namely the areas concerning policies within the European Union as well as its external policies and , in particular , its cooperation and development policies .
similar discrimination can be encountered in connection with the financial sector in Central Europe and the Baltic region , as Western parent companies continue to this day to divert profits generated at their subsidiaries operating in the region .
the debate is closed .
I welcome the Council 's decision on the EU and its Member States being prepared to make a contribution with rapid initial funding of EUR 2.4 billion a year for the 2010-2012 period in order to support developing countries in adapting to the effects of climate change .
Mr President , the purpose of our debate today is , in all earnestness , to put a name and a face to human suffering , and in that way expand our compassion and our empathy .
today , the percentage of volunteers in Romania is much lower than in most Member States .
however , Vilnius is not doing this .
in writing . - Lasse Lehtinen 's report on the EU Consumer Policy Strategy 2007-2013 reiterates the need to empower EU consumers and enhance their welfare and protection across the Union .
I know we share that view , but America retains its affection for skeletal regulation , and the reality of this recession shows that those who wilfully ignored bad practice are now suffering most .
these problems , therefore , remain to be resolved by the Council , the Commission and by the new Parliament .
we must therefore encourage , help and also push the Sri Lankan Government to continue these prosecutions so that true peace and justice can be attained .
in writing . - Satellite navigation systems should ensure interoperability between different systems and should also allow intermodal use in passenger and freight transport services .
ultimately , it is the future of our oil industry that we are jeopardising if we shut down its exploration and extraction activities .
the number of Members of this assembly who want to bring an end to European integration , the number of Members who want to reverse it and the number of Members who want renationalisation has risen dramatically .
in the same breath , I would stress that we must not misuse the crisis in the financial markets to create disproportionate regulations .
my second point concerns the issue of migration .
we have a moral obligation to ensure that future generations can enjoy and benefit from Europe 's wilderness areas .
nothing could be more wrong !
it is , all the same , odd , not to say ironic , that after so many requests from certain Member States for measures in the field of financial regulation , the Member States unanimously agreed to reduce the ambition of the proposals that the Commission presented following the de Larosière report .
we should not shy away from that work , and we should impress very strongly , both on the Commission and the Council and all the Member States , the fact that we should invest in education in Afghanistan .
first of all , I would like to thank our rapporteurs for the quality of their reports and for their willingness to integrate everyone 's proposals in a great spirit of consensus .
they need to be recognised and valued : their multifunctionality needs to be valued , along with their potential for generating employment and development in the rural world .
there is a great deal at stake in tomorrow 's vote .
that is why I support the call for no political refugees such as the ones in Iraq mentioned earlier to be returned to Iran , especially no minors , because they would simply be slaughtered without trial .
I will mention several figures which will fully demonstrate the absurdity of this assumption .
the latter are now inclined to reduce their development aid to face up to their own difficulties .
I am certain that the impact of alternative investment fund managers on the markets in which they operate is significant , but the recent financial difficulties have highlighted the fact that the activities of investment fund managers can also contribute to extending and disseminating risks throughout the financial system and the economy .
those most at risk are single parents , children and older people .
( DE ) Madam President , I will set out my views on domestic employment .
those who have been following the European adventure over many years know that , when Parliament and the Commission go forward hand in hand , things progress in the European Union .
this being so , I welcome the 16th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council and I trust that , with current developments and with the lessons we have learned from experience , it will adopt fundamental resolutions .
Poland , a country that itself was once knocking on the EU 's door , is now calling for the opportunity of membership to be offered to Ukraine and other countries that were formed after the collapse of the USSR .
I think the Commission also needs to be vigilant because some Member States , it is quite clear , are very far ahead while others are not .
firstly , even though the expenditure in the budget of EUR 124 billion for appropriations is the highest in the history of the European Union , it is the lowest in terms of the Gross National Product of the 27 Member States .
although the mission sent to observe the 2006 Palestinian elections recognised the legitimacy of their result , the European Union and its Member States chose to boycott the elected government , just as they boycotted the government of national unity formed thereafter to break that deadlock .
only the large agricultural exporters , Brazil and Argentina , and perhaps India , are really interested in something actually happening here .
we are all agreed that energy efficiency , using energy economically , is the most simple and most sensible solution .
I would like to see a picture of Neda Agha-Soltan next to the picture of Aung San Suu Kyi displayed on one side of the European Parliament building in Brussels .
finally , this House in its report reaffirms the commitment of the European Parliament to support the reconstruction and the building of the Iraqi Parliament , an extremely important role , and thank you Council for recognising the contribution that this Parliament has made by selecting and approving a Delegation for relations with Iraq .
the EU must pay particular attention to these organisations who have felt the effects of the economic crisis most of all , not least because SMEs have the greatest potential for growth and employment .
that conciliation procedure resolved the most significant problem , which was whether or not self-employed workers should be included , and the parties agreed together , with the support of the Commission , that self-employed workers would be included , in order to put an end , once and for all , to the problems of double legislation , the double standards applied to self-employed drivers and employed drivers .
in 1994 I was appointed for the first time on behalf of this House - for which I should like say thank you - to the Westendorp Group .
however , the question of this country 's accession should be duly framed within the Union 's common policies , the common fisheries policy in particular .
this is not what I call democracy , Mr Pöttering .
it is realistic , because economic life cycles are respected , two-thirds of the substances placed on the market are safe and are therefore authorised for 10 years , on a renewable basis , and manufacturers have no legitimate cause for concern .
the Agriculture Committee has proposed to remove the obligation to create the Reference Centre at a national level .
both you , Mrs Yade , and the Council as a whole should do your jobs .
according to this decision , aid to social housing which meets the conditions set by the decision receives preferential treatment , as it is exempted from notification - irrespective of the amounts involved .
therefore , in order to manage to achieve the goal set for 2015 , the rapid modernisation of the European health systems is necessary , with a special emphasis on research for improving prenatal and postnatal services , as well as more efficient sanitary education and family planning .
even if there is no standard definition of the concept yet , territorial cohesion synthesises the legal objectives of the Union to achieve a sustainable balance and harmonious development of its territory and also to provide equity of access to services of general interest .
their cause has been helped by several notorious cases of breaches of human rights .
in writing . - The EPLP wishes to see the Single European Payment area a success .
we are going to demonstrate our commitment to what is happening in the world and to the countries that are suffering most .
the East European countries , the so-called ' Baltic States ' , inspired by their leaders , want the European Union to show that Russia will pay some unspecified price for its military action in Georgia .
( applause )
as we have heard , they were one of the prime reasons why the people of Ireland said ' no ' to the Treaty of Lisbon .
I would point out that Uganda has signed the Rome Statute , according to which every member commits itself to put an end to impunity for the most serious crimes of major concern for the international community , and to contribute to the prevention of such crimes .
2. bus and coach routes which are making marginal or no profit , having no room for increased ticket prices , will be cut entirely and there will be no service .
( it ) Mr President , I should like to thank the Commissioner for the road map he has set out for Albania this evening , which I endorse wholeheartedly .
it will not be easy in the College of Commissioners or in the Council .
this divergence affects regions in my country , in particular northern Portugal , and also other regions in other Member States .
the next item is the Council and Commission statements on the 2010 progress report on Iceland .
it is also a sad fact that there is a shortage of donors , and that this drives some vile criminal activities .
to import any product to the EU , including beef , high Community standards must be met , standards which have recently been made more rigorous by the European Commission .
instrument for Stability (
perhaps those who are more vulnerable , namely employees who have lost their jobs , are once again at a loss as to what they are being punished for .
lastly , I must thank MEPs and , in particular , the rapporteurs Mr Grosch and Mrs Ţicău for the constructive exchange of views .
2 . stresses the importance of the euro for the European political and economic project , and underlines the importance of the commitment made by all Member States in favour of the stability of the euro area and the sense of responsibility and solidarity they have shown .
I would therefore like to point out that , while we are discussing whether we should set aside EUR 25 billion for this purpose , it is a purpose that is actually not at all necessary .
yet the worsening security situation in Mogadishu has prevented international NGOs from coping with this unfolding humanitarian catastrophe .
however , as several speakers have indicated , we cannot stop at the military situation alone since , faced with the atrocities which , as many have pointed out , have been going on for far too long , priority must be given to a political solution , as the visits by Commissioner Michel , Bernard Kouchner and David Miliband have shown , to enable contact to be resumed between the protagonists in the region .
we think that there may be other places in which to make these points - and I undertake to do so - particularly in the resolution that will precede the summit between the European Union and Russia .
it is fighting and we are fighting with it not , as some would have us believe , to save the jobs of the traders , but to avoid a general collapse of our entire economy and because there can be no lasting recovery without a healthy banking system .
I understand that this morning as many as eight foreign doctors from Médecins Sans Frontières have been allowed into the disaster area .
secondly , because there has been a request for approval which could not be left unanswered , considering also our international commitments .
lack of transparency in decision-making processes and co-financing schemes ;
the next item is the joint debate on the following reports :
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , where to start when it comes to breaking the continuing political impasse in Lebanon ?
there is no question that the European dimension can and must provide a significant impetus for the various campaigns to tackle these diseases .
it is the result of revision of the acquis related to the consumer , which started in 2004 with the aim of simplifying and completing the existing regulatory framework relating to consumer protection .
you are wrong .
I would like to see us have leading women in top posts regularly in the future , and a lot more than now .
I also outlined our proposals to support agriculture in developing countries and the package to help fishermen facing the need to restructure .
the role of the rating agencies in the credit crisis is considerable , as indeed , investors relied blindly on the advice of these agencies without consulting third parties .
I remember even before that we did adopt in the Commission some initiatives which should help to stimulate small business activity in the SME sector - such as the Small Business Act , such as the European Private Company Statute - and hopefully they will contribute in some small way to assisting in the turn around of the general economy in the European Union .
the main issue , however , lies elsewhere : unless the political nature of the European project is clarified , we will be incapable of dealing with our problems .
furthermore , the EU is also utilising a huge aid package to help the ACP countries diversify their economies to make them less dependent on the export of bananas .
the second amendment was the one about the Nord Stream pipeline .
the car industry has had plenty of time to reduce the level of CO2 emissions .
our decision will send an unambiguous signal to Pakistan that we want to help and that we would like Pakistan to become a stable and rich country , which will prevent opinion becoming radicalised there .
does anyone need reminding that this independence is not even recognised by all of the countries of the European Union ?
a protective shield which will safeguard them from this paradox in which we are currently living , where money flows are supranational and the rules of supervision and accountability , where there are any , are national .
aside from the fact that the budget headings , in my view , are an incredible waste of European taxpayers ' money , they are doing more harm than good .
anyone who points to food prices as a reason for increasing quotas fails to recognise that a dairy farmer receives less than 30 % of the sale price , while the sale price in the supermarkets - even in my own Member State - is currently the same as it was 25 years ago .
by presenting the energy package , the climate package , the economic recovery plan , being ambitious and taking the initiative , we have proven that we are not a secretariat but a Commission with the right of initiative , and we will continue to act in that way .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( EL ) Madam President , today 's discussion and the excellent work carried out by the European Ombudsman , Mr Diamandouros , over the past four and a half years , as well as Mrs Sbarbati 's excellent report , all provide an opportunity for the European Parliament and the Commission to take stock of how the public views the institutions of the EU .
you made statements to the effect that you are doing everything to prevent counterfeit medicines from getting into the legal distribution network .
a large number of these aspects have already been discussed as part of the road maps and the work conducted by the Ecofin Council during the French Presidency .
Member of the Commission . - I would agree that EU election observation missions ( EOMs ) everywhere in the world represent money well spent .
9 .
how will the Council handle this issue in the EU-Russia relationship and what measures will the Council take to ensure that Russia makes changes to its judiciary system ?
Holodomor stands for the forceful despoilment of the Ukrainian farming population of their cereal harvest by Stalin and his henchmen as effective Bolshevist means of educating the people in the country in the spirit of forced collectivisation of agriculture .
for the issue you have raised this evening , the taking of evidence , we really do need suitable training for the judges .
that is why I had to vote against my group 's position today with regard to Amendment 5 and , to be perfectly honest , that position puzzles me greatly .
transfers of appropriations : see Minutes
I also wanted to go further .
such networks , which facilitate the flow of information and can provide support , if needed , are a feature of businesses run by men , whereas women are more vulnerable from this point of view .
what this is is the culture of suspicion that Mr Fava was talking about , suspicion with regard to the state .
if the Russian authorities want to build with us , the EU , a relationship of true cooperation and trust , their conduct should not remain the same as in recent months .
for 2010 , I have the honour of being the rapporteur for the European Commission discharge .
if we now add a soil protection directive , the result will be duplicated regulation and costly bureaucracy , which nobody wants .
Mr Sócrates , I have no doubt you are delighted with your Presidency and the fact that last Thursday you got this Treaty signed in that magnificent monastery in Lisbon .
the European Union , the United Nations and NGOs are providing help , from the clearing of landmines by the HALO Trust through to the resettlement of the Tamils in their former home .
its implementation will get us where we need to go .
in recent months , however , the Chinese authorities have been allowing themselves to violate freedom of expression more frequently than usual .
in tomorrow 's world and in the multipolar world , we need much more than that .
squeeze those governments ' wallets until they demonstrate that they have made conditions safer for Christians .
the Fourth United Nations conference on the least developed countries ( LDC-IV ) will take place in Istanbul , Turkey , on 9-13 May this year .
this project , together with Europeana , should work alongside the other systems that exist in the world .
we have the impression that the financial instruments that were created in the world are being used right now to speculate against the euro area and against the euro and to act against the weakest Member States .
in the short term , these new policies could have a significant impact on European citizens ' lives in most Member States .
regarding the question on inadvertent roaming : yes , we are aware of this .
we should strive for a more stable system that does a correspondingly better job in providing opportunities to trade , hedge , diversify and pool risk , allocate resources and mobilise savings .
the waiving of the visa requirement also comes with a certain responsibility and , if this responsibility is not taken , then we have to act .
the Council has a very positive view of the constructive cooperation with the European Parliament that has led to us achieving this result .
we can congratulate all of them , but we had to make a choice , and there was no other possibility .
at this point , I would like to state that I support the declaration submitted by Hungary relating to the use of financial engineering instruments within the framework of the Cohesion Fund for interventions in the area of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources .
this naturally leads to rising prices and human suffering , which , incidentally , also affects livestock farmers in Europe .
the conclusion needs to be examined , but this applies equally to both parties involved , including to those waging asymmetrical war by firing on Sderot and other towns from a densely populated area , thereby determining the battlefield .
the second is critical whilst the third is silent . in fact , regardless of which of these groups we find ourselves in today , we will all be held accountable for the future fate of the nations of Europe .
this report , however , has gone beyond the competence of the Union and as such the Fianna Fáil delegation have rejected it .
a major and important step towards complete equality is a new and modern piece of EU legislation on maternity leave .
that is exactly what we need though , as unemployment , poverty and socially excluded people are to be found in every Member State of the European Union , not just in certain regions , but in every Member State .
we might support an improvement in quality , but not for measures included in the 2nd pillar .
( PL ) Madam President , there is no doubt that cohesion policy should , after 2013 , continue to serve its current function of creating equal development opportunities for the regions , ending poverty and stimulating Europe 's development .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , honourable colleagues , as you know , the European Union is engaged in a difficult dialogue with this country aimed at preserving democracy and restoring its citizens ' trust in the country 's democratic institutions .
the financial burdens are very significant on all actors - passengers , airlines and airports .
we do not condemn the changeover of power , but we do condemn the possible continuation of a lack of democracy in the near future .
a special section is dedicated to the implementation of the Treaty of Lisbon .
the proposed revisions will be beneficial for the Irish pharmaceutical market which has a substantial presence in Europe .
by incorporating sustainability criteria for biofuels , not only shall we offer incentives to use the biofuels with the best performance in terms of emissions of greenhouse gases , we shall at the same time also prevent the serious environmental dangers connected with their production .
let me underline that the visa-free regime of the two countries also comes with responsibilities .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , we all agree on the need to make goods transport more sustainable , but this result is achieved mainly by investing in infrastructure and gradually renewing the existing fleet .
if this proposal had not been accepted , the quota assigned to Romania would have run out , like in 2007 , in mid-year , which in fact does not stimulate but rather completely discourages the development projects of our farmers .
- ( SK ) Last week we commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights , which was adopted under a resolution of the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948 .
under the terms of the Interim Agreement signed between the US and the EU , I recognised the need for transatlantic cooperation in the fight against international crime and terrorism .
rather , they must help restore a balance in relations between the European Union and these countries .
there is also a silent majority in Europe that agrees with me .
composition of committees and delegations : see Minutes
the Council has only just begun its discussions on the Commission 's proposal , but the Presidency will work hard to ensure that we can reach agreement as soon as possible .
it was only a question of time .
I cannot understand why we tax people out of behaviour that we want them to have when it comes to fuels of different kinds .
in the UK , the Chambers of Commerce and UK Trade and Investments offer access to secure business directories and networking opportunities through programmes such as the Overseas Market Introduction Service , Passport to Export and even the European Enterprise Network .
the central idea is therefore to reinforce the consumer 's position in any negotiations to purchase rights of use .
the European Parliament has , on the whole , agreed with this approach , but it has made three significant changes : a clarification to the legal definitions laid down by the regulation , a warning or reminder to the Member States that they should comply with the regulation more effectively than they have done in the past and , thirdly , a call for significant cooperation between the Member States .
the truth is , of course , that we have only just started to establish them now , with the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon .
firstly , I would like to know how the right to defence is exercised when it is not just one air carrier that is banned , but all the air carriers of a state .
Turkey is not a European country , but it is our most important partner on the margins of Europe .
Commissioner , please also say a few words to us about the revision of the directive on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the information society .
usury is not the way to govern the world , to protect the widespread interests of honest people who work , produce and save .
the rapporteur and the transport committee deserve to be congratulated on their work .
the Schengen Agreement is a treaty between European countries on the policy of freedom of movement of individuals within the Schengen area .
in writing . - ( DE ) Only 12 years ago , a new technology , which is apparently associated with high death rates and considerable suffering , stunned the world with the cloning of Dolly the sheep .
the European conference organised this month by the Commission cannot mark the end , but rather the beginning , of a coherent policy on the integration of the Roma into our European society .
firstly , the education aspects .
secondly , based on my personal experience as a member of the board of the Forum for Life , I can testify that volunteering contributes to social cohesion by creating human capital , regardless of the volunteer 's age .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I would like to thank all the rapporteurs - Ms Brantner , Ms Gál and Ms Lochbihler , as well as Mr Mitchell , Mr Scholz and Mr Goerens .
I am afraid , therefore , that these measures to support working parents may lead to increased levels of unemployment and / or precarious work among young mothers .
milk production in the mountains makes an important contribution to the preservation of rural areas and should therefore be given sufficient support .
what matters is also the fact that this new disaster has hit the already very fragile European economy facing the need for fiscal consolidation .
the idea , in the same way as we had a consensus on development , that we get the Commission , the Member States and Parliament to jointly define and commit ourselves to democracy promotion in the world is a powerful one .
secondly , by acting on our own , we will not change anything connected with emissions , because we have already managed to limit our own emissions .
I must say , also , that as a European citizen I am especially proud that the President of the Republic , the French Presidency , is taking the initiative , with all European countries , to bring about peace where there could have been war .
the cultural industries and their growing significance also mean that the economic aspects are becoming considerably stronger than has been the case in the past .
I suspect it will not increase it by a single euro .
2 .
the right place to carry out this assessment is in the Trade Committee when it considers whether or not to give Parliamentary assent to ACTA .
it is essential that the EU and the Member States take their responsibility as international actors , meeting their public development aid commitments , and that they continue to contribute to attaining the Millennium Development Goals .
this is why we want to establish the same protection for these citizens as we have done for the big banks , by means of more rules , of more supervision , and indeed also of State protection .
twenty per cent by 2020 was a start - but only a start .
I encourage the Court of Auditors further to intensify cooperation with their counterparts in Member States .
( SV ) Mr President , sometimes in this House we hear contributions to which we listen especially attentively , and that is the case where contributions from Vytautas Landsbergis are concerned .
mixing metallic mercury with other substances for the purpose of exporting metallic mercury has been expressly forbidden .
the Commission has received replies from the 27 Member States and a document presenting these replies will be published in the next six months .
in other words , Parliament must also prepare for completing this task , and I think that by taking this step the European Union will also become more democratic and more transparent .
I hope the European Commission will soon finish its social consultations and present satisfactory proposals on paternity leave and adoption leave and also on the self-employed , so that all young mothers in Europe will have the same entitlement .
the accession of Central and Eastern European countries to the EU and their use of nuclear energy have led to the need to provide financial assistance to these countries so that they can effectively deal with radioactive waste and can improve protection of human health and the environment .
in the Europe of the 21st century there is no place for discrimination .
the answer to this question still needs to be found in the self-seeking ambitions of the Communist elite from the late 1980s .
together , we can minimise the impact of unpredictable events , such as the gas disruption Europe experienced last winter .
the discussion regarding this issue between the Council of Ministers , the European Parliament and the Commission is still continuing at a fast pace .
the report by Mrs Madeira on European coastal tourism is hard going and complicated and lacks definite and clear objectives , but it has a clear and definite condescending approach .
we should leave the Troika to carry out its work , which should properly occur in a climate of tranquillity and confidentiality .
we had domestic competition .
we have certain agencies .
( LV ) Madam President , the new European Union-Russia partnership agreement must be concrete and legally binding in all areas of cooperation .
Mr President , first of all I welcome the recommendation that the rapporteur has put before us here today of 2 % for the 12 months as a voluntary measure .
however , this report also contained provisions totally unrelated to farming , which would have had a disastrous impact on the UK .
that is not the case .
animal health is an important issue because an epidemic of animal diseases can cause problems , particularly in rural areas .
as the report states , there are also problems in reconciling work and family life that are relevant to equality between women and men in professional life .
these framework conditions must be defined in such a way that the possible impetus for savings is provided via an appropriate price per tonne of CO2 , without drastically limiting the number of flights .
how else can we mobilise the people to support the single currency ?
last week in committee I accused the Belgian Presidency of being a ghost presidency .
it is important that both the European Union and our partner countries endorse the VPAs , since illegal logging is a problem for all .
the analyses and subsequent measures put forward by Member States will thus play a key role .
it is important that the buildings which are constructed in Europe are safe for their users and that they are also safe for the builders and other employees during the construction process .
this is the first step in our common journey towards 2012 and the asylum package .
the Conservatives , through the EPP Group , gave their allowances to the ' yes ' campaign in Ireland , then deviously promised to allow a referendum - but only if Ireland votes ' no ' again .
of course , we would have liked to avoid opt-outs , but , if that was the price of making progress with an ambitious Reform Treaty , we have to accept it .
on the contrary , a smart policy of engagement with Abkhazia and South Ossetia is needed .
such a legislative measure will harm the employability of women in businesses , which will regard it as too great a burden to bear in the event of maternity .
I believe that this is emblematic of the real need to combat crime on an international basis , and one way to do so is by putting in place European police resources .
I believe the ban is entirely appropriate . priority must be given to the effort to achieve an appropriate level of food safety , especially bearing in mind that the products referred to in the Directive can cause serious cancers in human beings .
setting the date at 2012 is therefore to be welcomed .
the Member States cannot be exonerated because , although the decisions were within their competence , they were still unable to act .
the new Protocol will stay in force from 2011 till 2014 and is in line with the objectives of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement aiming at strengthening the cooperation between the European Union and the Republic of Seychelles .
this aggression is not being handled properly in Hungary and it must be condemned .
to date , 120 million people are living in areas affected by typhoons .
we can only hope that the White Paper on Sport will act as a wake-up call and reverse the trend once and for all , so as to make up for an excessive lack of sensitivity and too many sins of omission .
this dossier should really have gone to conciliation , though , because the correlation tables were not included in the final agreement .
but democracy is a long process and it is certainly more than just ' one man , one vote ' .
worthy of praise here is the Eurobus initiative - a journey around Ukraine organised every year for young people from the EU 's Member States .
it gathers information and analyses new scientific advances , so as to identify and assess all potential risks to the food chain .
these are accounts which the Court of Auditors has refused to give a positive statement of assurance - accounts which still fall short of being legal and regular .
these rules on the unilateral recognition of visas and residence permits were introduced for the first time into the Community acquis on visas in 2006 , with the aim of simplifying the transit of certain categories of persons and , at the same time , avoiding unnecessary administrative burdens on consular offices .
we are not going to conquer new continents ; what we are doing is giving a response in which we bring together , of our own volition , the values shared between States and peoples and we can be an example of the type of globalisation which is most needed , namely political and social globalisation .
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nonetheless , it remains a serious concern that the decommissioning plans have yet to be finalised , and that efforts will have to be made to improving the management of financial resources as well as coordination between the national authorities of the relevant Member States .
however , Europe can participate meaningfully only if it has established its autonomy in the political , technological and operational fields .
decision on urgent procedure
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , this Council meeting looked at three highly important matters : the environmental and nuclear disaster that has struck Japan , the financial crisis that is sweeping across Europe and the situation in the Maghreb .
the answer , however , is : not quite yet .
consequently , there are different needs in terms of services and different levels of preparation for active life , especially in the case of people in rural areas .
training of police officers and provision of the necessary equipment have continued .
I voted in favour of the resolution condemning violations of human rights , because we must not tolerate or consent to their being broken , either as people or as citizens .
there were major problems at the Frethun rail freight depot in Northern France which impacted on Channel Tunnel operations until , in 2002 , additional security was introduced .
nor is this even necessary or desirable , since , in keeping with the principle of subsidiarity , the fundamental regulation of employment will , in this regard , continue to fall under the competence of the Member States .
they are not an overnight cure , but they will help to remedy the underlying sickness .
we know they are strong , because the Israeli Government immediately dismissed them .
here , the Europe 2020 strategy seems to be an attempt at a new approach , one which makes full use of opportunities for sustainable modernisation and development of the industrial base of Member States while also ensuring a high quality of work .
there has to be a framework strategy , there has to be a special task force to coordinate this framework strategy , presumably yet more staff need to be recruited for it , and so on .
mass atrocities in Jos , Nigeria , in January and March (
the Socialist Group in the European Parliament has tabled a number of proposals for oral amendments in an attempt to channel the final text into a more balanced form with regard to the allegations of violations of fundamental rights , whether or not criminal investigations should be launched , and the number of municipalities in which some kind of irregularity has actually happened .
I would encourage this .
that is why , for example , in Dakhla , the former Spanish capital Villa Cisneros , in that part of Western Sahara now under Moroccan control , there is a 40 km sea inlet which is called the Rio de Oro , or Gold River , because of the reflection of sunlight on the scales of the shoals of fish .
when it is not society or the state but private players who are to take over such important investments in infrastructure , there is a clear risk that not all citizens will have the same access at the same cost .
I also welcome the European Commission 's proposal to introduce a human rights clause into the agreement , and call on the Commission to establish a dialogue with Mauritania aiming to help the country further develop a responsible fisheries policy which meets both conservation requirements and its objective to promote the economic development of fisheries resources .
moreover , during my discussions with the representatives of the Côte d 'Ivoire I understood that they are very concerned that the technical aid will not flow rapidly enough and that here too not all of their concerns have been taken into account .
some of these rights include non-discriminatory access to transport and disability-related training for staff on coaches and buses .
in the case of Lithuania ( to which it is proposed to appropriate EUR 0.3 million ) , the request concerns 1 089 job losses caused by Alytaus Tekstilė , a textile company , going into liquidation over a reference period of four months .
the second focal point is - yes , you said it - the infrastructure connecting countries and within countries , and smart grids .
this is clearly the case for a large number of my fellow Members here in this House , too .
thank you for your attention .
secondly , the EU should increase its own capability regarding the planning and coordination of civil and military operations and crisis management .
furthermore , I endorse the need for an ambitious communication policy , something which the Union has so far lacked .
true , they would have been authorised by the European Constitution .
for this reason , the proposed taxation of financial transactions has caused quite a stir and generated a large amount of attention and discussion .
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Commissioner Reding , I conclude by saying that if we are serious about being a Community of values , then the European Commission needs to act .
finally , in the light of the complex human rights problems in Burma , it is incomprehensible that the European Union has cut its financial support for refugees on the Thai-Burmese border .
it is also not a matter of competition , contrary to much of what was stated here by parts of the lobby .
for Poland , and also for Warsaw , a key factor will be the level of funding and the priorities set out under the cohesion fund .
the European Environment Agency recently presented provisional statistics for the year 2008 concerning the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions .
we should be careful not to take a one-sided position .
we must be careful not to allow the issue of nuclear energy , which is irrelevant to this report , to get into the report through the back door with cunning amendments , which is what some governments are seeking .
therefore , I would like to draw the attention once again to the fact that in order to have successful results in the fight against this phenomenon , Member States should coordinate their efforts more efficiently .
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I would just like to add two thoughts on this matter .
I have taken due note of your views on this particular case , and I share your feelings towards the victims and their families .
very often , parents do not have any idea about the advantages and the disadvantages of new technologies .
an influence which is significantly greater than in other regions .
there are 23 million small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) in the EU , which account for around 99 % of all businesses and provide over 100 million jobs .
I voted against them by mistake but I wanted to vote for them .
this comparison shows a cynical disregard for the victims of human rights violations throughout the world .
when we brush things under the carpet , we store up trouble for the future .
the traditional laws and procedures on civil liability in force in the majority of Member States appear to be inadequate .
for me , this is not a game ; for me , this is a serious process .
it would be wiser to wait for the evaluation date of 2013 before setting later targets .
to summarise , it is high time , and I admit this is a somewhat simplistic way of putting it , for us to think more closely about the people of Europe in European terms and not in egotistic national terms .
thanks to it , we today have a text of the Reform Treaty , which is to be put forward to the Intergovernmental Conference in Lisbon .
finally , we call on the Commission to transpose the Union 's innovation policy into an action plan with specific objectives and measurable targets .
we are attempting to contribute to providing a minimum level of safety for nuclear technology throughout Europe while , of course , also - as we have jointly established with a large majority in other decisions in this House - stabilising and supporting nuclear technology as one of several options in the energy mix .
the jurisdiction has now implemented 98.4 % of EU directives into domestic law .
in the past , numerous initiatives , especially social , were rejected on the grounds of having no legal basis .
we are talking , therefore , about support mechanisms , without which a woman who works for pleasure , career ambition or , above all , out of necessity , faces a dilemma and the most drastic , and almost always final decision , is to leave her job .
the point I want to mention is that it was notable that it took an oral amendment to raise the issue of counterfeiting with regard to this individual proposal .
secondly , strong opposition should be mounted to the solutions proposed in the report whereby the EU , as part of the WTO negotiations , should unilaterally reduce agricultural payments and subsidies in order to obtain , as it is put , a reward in the form of additional profits from the trade in services .
so why is this ' strike hard ' happening in Belarus ?
as highlighted in both reports , the revised Neighbourhood Policy will also recognise and act on the importance of the civil society .
it is also conspicuous as a range of side-effects .
we are sending a message to the European political system that Parliament is preparing and adapting itself to have an instrument for the new treaty .
I continue to oppose the idea of mandatory CSR reporting , as it will lead to new red tape and discourage companies from making additional voluntary commitments .
this is far from meeting the needs of the people ; it will contribute to the increased rate of concentration through buy-outs and mergers of aviation companies .
Buckfast wine should , apparently , be banned because it contains both alcohol and caffeine .
the opening of public consultation has fostered greater participation .
while I recognise the importance of economic and trade relations in the opening up of Turkmen society , I doubt whether an interim agreement is the best solution for both parties .
yesterday the European Parliament 's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development adopted a report on allocating additional resources to farmers and rural areas in Member States to help cope with the consequences of the crisis .
there is also a clause allowing performers to undo buy-out contracts once their producers cease to sell their recorded performances .
that is why I have my doubts , but will in the end nevertheless vote for the report , since in retrospect this concerns not only CO2 , but also sustainability .
thanks to the Treaty of Lisbon , this procedure allows the European Parliament to express its view .
for months now , these financial sharks , known as hedge funds , which control over EUR 2 000 billion , have been deliberately speculating against the euro , and against Greece in particular , in order to reap billions in private profit .
an instrument at the service of European policy - and I emphasise ' European ' - must not select its staff on the basis of their geographical origin or gender , but according to their quality .
of course , the aggrieved can appeal to the court in Strasbourg .
this regulation means that goods may move more freely in the EU , thereby increasing choice and consumer trust and simplifying the sale of goods .
use of PCB waste oils in an Irish food recycling plant ( debate )
I also wonder about the favourable arrangements that still apply to the shipping sector .
under the leadership of the PPE-DE Group , a compromise was reached under which the word ' genocide ' was removed at the request of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament .
I therefore agree with the opinion expressed in the resolution .
however , returning to today 's debate , I believe that among our concerns with regard to Turkmenistan there are clearly two which stand out of equal importance : economic cooperation , specifically in the area of oil and gas , as well as social progress and human rights in this country , as also mentioned by the Commissioner .
the vote will take place tomorrow , 11 October 2007 .
we should obviously use this opportunity to provide a dignified and supportive response to an issue which is , as is the Mediterranean , a distinctively European issue .
thanks to our efforts and yours , the number of vessels in European waters that do not comply with current standards has dropped dramatically .
there are still countries whose governments persistently violate human rights , yet there are also those where changes are afoot .
I would like to conclude by noting that the amendments , or at least many of the amendments tabled , should in my opinion be accepted , especially Amendment 2 to Recital 14 , the amendments relating to observations on the obvious non-inclusion and therefore exemption of those Member States which do not as yet have a railway system , and frankly I also intend to support Amendment 45 .
you used a highly significant word when you said ' the situation in Gaza , as a matter of urgency ... '
we offer our services for this purpose .
on a social level , the risks of an explosion increase more each day with the harmful effect this situation could have on the stability of the entire region .
finally , I support the evaluation of staff needs to decide how many officials will be needed to assist MEPs following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty .
the Commission also accepts that a reporting obligation has been included in the draft regulation on the application .
in any case , I believe that some sort of advantageous specialisation is necessary .
a particular example is the fast growth in international tourism in the area .
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it intervenes financially throughout the world in order to support its external policy objectives .
I feel it is regrettable that such a tragedy had to occur in order for the Italian decision , which everyone has interpreted differently , to shed light on the real problem , which I have represented at every forum for as long as I can remember .
during the accession negotiations in 2005 , Bulgaria agreed to shut down reactor units 1-4 at the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant and then to decommission them .
naturally , also in the long term , it is precisely energy saving and an increased use of wind , solar , water and biomass that will reduce our dependence on both nuclear energy and on imported energy sources .
finally , an efficient EU resettlement programme should provide protection and lasting solutions , not only for long term refugee situations , but also for the need for swift and appropriate responses in emergency situations , or situations of sudden urgency .
you have the tools .
let us make it absolutely clear , through all possible resources , concrete actions and positions , that these are totally unacceptable for us .
the resolution first of all calls on both the Council and the Commission to give priority to any future proposal to amend the text of the initiative by using the urgent procedure , in accordance with the Lisbon Treaty once it comes into force .
( CS ) Mr President , I would like to state again clearly today that the European Union needs a proper budget for next year .
we have a lot of regulations , which restrict the use of fertilisers and pesticides , which cause stresses and strains in the Water Framework Directive .
this applies to the European Union as a whole .
given that fact , it is important to enable European citizens to understand , analyse and assess the flood of information and images they receive , so that they can make the best possible use of them .
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the aims set out in the Europe 2020 strategy , namely , to reduce the school drop-out rate to below 10 % and ensure that 40 % of young people are educated to university level , must be tackled by means of specific , creative and effective measures .
that is what we have been trying to do .
however , the MEPs in the negotiating committee were deaf to these proposals .
if it is adopted , the Commission will , of course , ensure that all its conditions and rules are fully respected .
however , Switzerland 's participation in the Bologna Process and the creation of the European Higher Education Area guarantee that we can create together the conditions for achieving the 2020 strategy 's objectives , establishing in the process a strong link between Member States and third countries .
of course , as I said before , the EU will be represented and will put forward a strong case on all the points I have made at the forthcoming Forum in Istanbul .
Mr President , with the directive on alternative investment fund managers , we are now laying yet another important foundation stone on the way to establishing a new , stable financial market architecture in Europe .
the citizens risk being made fools of : aside from the inconvenience and the unforeseen costs that will be difficult to recoup , air fares may be increased to offset the losses incurred .
he died near Vladivostok , on the way to his destination .
having said that , the Commission should first evaluate the impact which a tax on financial transactions will have on the European economy , because any future proposals should not be based solely on decisions taken on impulse to address the buzzword of the moment , but should consist of a pragmatic approach that will prove to withstand the stresses of time and will restore the trust of the European citizens in the financial markets .
what a needless waste of resources and time .
the swift and timely adoption of the package is a must for all of us .
( FR ) Mr President , I too would like to express my satisfaction at this text , which I will be pleased to vote for tomorrow .
as you know , we are in a transition period - we are moving from the Treaty of Nice to the Treaty of Lisbon and , at the same time , we are beginning a new Parliamentary term .
as a Scottish ban has now been in place for some time , we have evidence on what kind of health impact it has had .
the future of farming and the CAP must provide farmers with a viable secure income .
we talked about what type of regulation is appropriate for the Internet , while maintaining the freedom and potential for innovation that the Internet offers .
at the same time , these very enterprises have been overloaded with bureaucratic red tape for decades , also suffering disadvantage when it comes to EU-wide subsidies .
we are for all kinds of debate , but let us be honest : we have institutions .
for instance in my country Lithuania maternity leave plus parental leave last up to two years , but other Member States have a minimum amount of maternity leave , therefore I believe that the threshold we set yesterday is a very important achievement .
the proposed regulation would have been a particularly good means of answering disputed questions on food from cloned animals by tightening the provisions of the 1997 regulation .
the text could certainly be much braver and not make this tax dependent upon the creation of a similar tax at global level .
( RO ) You said earlier that we would get to the question I submitted to Commissioner De Gucht .
one is the guideline limits for the personal transport of these goods and the other is the rules applicable to Internet sales .
Russia will be able to force through even greater political concessions for supplies of gas and oil .
we have fought a very significant democratic battle in the national parliaments - at least in mine - on security , in order to have complete control so that even any deployment of troops abroad must be subject to comprehensive parliamentary control .
the way of thinking that would forbid a neighbour to commemorate the day when he had lost his fortune , land , or perhaps even his relatives , is just as morbid .
in practice , however , anyone who is found distributing bibles or taking part in secret prayer meetings is liable to be sent off to a labour camp or even executed , according to the testimonies of refugees .
I voted in favour of the resolution on the current 2011 budget negotiations because it is essential that Parliament takes up its new and legitimate role in defining the European Union 's budget now that the Treaty of Lisbon has entered into force .
I will therefore cut to the chase , firstly to say that I am not addressing the French Presidency , which is supporting us , or the Commissioner , who is supporting us , but the Council .
that is why the recent criticism concerning the education of Hungarian minorities in neighbouring countries by President Sólyom , a man who looks on complacently and passively while his administration stifles the ethnic minorities in his own country , can only be described as an obnoxious , hypocritical and malicious provocation of the Serbs , Romanians and Slovaks who , in contrast to the Hungarians , genuinely look after the ethnic minorities on their own territories .
the new Hungarian constitution will enter into force on 1 January 2012 and will require the adoption of implementing measures .
if you start to put together the various pieces of this puzzle , at least we are moving forward , but the sheer scale of the problem described by Anna Hedh means that we really have to turn words into action .
this is all about cooperation , not only between Parliament and the Commission , but especially with the world of sport associations , federations , Member States and stakeholders .
conditions are set so that the decisions taken by an authority which is a member of the Community competition authorities network can become binding in another Member State and so that , with full compliance with the principle of liability , the burden of proof is reversed and it is presumed that fault or blame exist when the existence of a breach has been established .
I voted against the resolution on the dairy sector , as I think that the Commission 's proposal of allocating EUR 280 million to the sector comes too late to be implemented this year and , in any case , this measure will not be sufficient .
the European Union must encourage Libya to adopt legal and social solutions that improve the inhuman living conditions of the approximately 2 million immigrants - about a quarter of the population - who are working in Libya .
the functioning of the money markets has also been affected and this has required prompt and firm action by the main central banks , including the European Central Bank .
there are several references in your report to tax avoidance .
once more , I should like to thank all my fellow Members , and let us hope that the Council is still keeping its ear to the ground .
I call on the European Union 's High Representative to support the efforts to hold free elections in Zimbabwe , devoid of violence and intimidation .
the report draws attention to the many factors behind migratory flows , such as political and social factors , economic instability and climate change , which still fails to be taken into account when examining the reason for mass migration .
I dedicate his words to the choir singing the praises of globalisation , singing the same song today in the European Parliament .
confidentiality and transparency can be balanced and an optimum balance must be achieved so that all decision-makers have the necessary information to make decisions in full knowledge of the facts .
let us remember , however , not to stop at just solidarity , but to support Chile in the future , too .
however , we must ensure that health remains a public good accessible to all and in the best possible conditions , and not a source of growth which pits national healthcare and social security systems against each other .
please make a distinction between Mr Oettinger , the former Christian Democrat , and Commissioner Oettinger .
on the other hand , passengers ' rights have been secured , and an agreement has been reached concerning the common training of train drivers , who are , of course , a very important element in creating more efficient train operations across borders .
if we deal with this separately , then definitely it loses all power .
it introduces an obligation for Member States to respond to an urgent request from both the public and the private sector via the 24 / 7 network of contact points within eight hours of receiving the request , and introduces a monitoring obligation for Member States to facilitate the collection and provision of data about cyber attacks , including the number of prosecutions and criminal reports .
well , because an Ombudsman is there to ensure that people can demand their rights in political and bureaucratic structures that are becoming ever more complex and , thus , non-transparent .
several regions of Europe , including my own , are currently carrying out an assessment aimed at reforming their policy for allocating social housing in order to avoid the phenomena of ghettoisation and of grouping disadvantaged social groups together in the same buildings and the same neighbourhoods .
thanks to the document which has been adopted today , relations will be strengthened between old , new and possible future EU Member States , on the one hand , and Central Europe and the Black Sea Region , on the other .
the Government also adopted a judicial reform strategy for the period 2007-2012 .
here we are already in the budget procedure proper and the vote here will constitute the final result .
finally , we support port workers being provided with a recognisable qualification and we ask the European social dialogue committee to address these issues .
by any measure , poverty remains one of the greatest social problems challenging Europe , and reducing social exclusion must be at the heart of our policies .
it is in this context that the European Union shows its true value by playing a decisive role in the harmonious development of transport : a single European railway market , a Single European Sky , Trans-European Transport Networks , a European port policy .
here I am thinking of employment , where the wage gap is flagrant and where it is still difficult to reconcile family life and a career .
the bilateral safeguard mechanism will permit the EU to revert to the prior MFN rates of duty if this agreement even threatens to damage our industry .
there is a certain expertise and there are capabilities on the Union side .
it is time for sanctions of a political nature , albeit temporary ones , even if in the form of the absence of representatives of the Belarusian Parliament from the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly and a return to the blacklist of officials of the Minsk regime who will not be admitted to European Union territory .
is it surprising that Palestinians regard the European Union as having double standards ?
we need to maintain this flow of immigrants and guarantee a legal status in our Member States for those we welcome , in particular fighting illegal immigration and the exploitation of illegal workers .
it is a good thing that it is Sweden that is chairing the Council because you have specific experience in this area .
one point that we are absolutely unable to accept is the rejection of service concessions .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , let me begin by thanking Mr Sócrates and Mr Amado .
also , the European Commission and the Member States should continue their efforts to harmonize the legislative framework for eCall , as well as for the emergency telephone number 112 , which are the pillars of essential safety and to consolidate durable mobility and for the welfare of European citizens .
it is widely agreed to have been facilitated by a lack of adequate regulation in financial markets .
therefore , the members of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs have focused on protecting the workers involved by putting in place safety measures , health protection measures and training for employees on the subject of radioactive waste .
another important issue is the problem of young people who are unable to find employment due to the situation on the labour market .
we will take the vote now .
I can imagine that , in this respect , the EIB also provides an incentive instrument for ownership unbundling .
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no , we wanted a mechanism for examining any measures that this Commission is to take in terms of their impact on the social security systems of the Member States before they are taken .
at a time when the age pyramid is increasingly dominated by the older generation , I believe that concrete measures are required to strike the balance between the need for social solidarity and the inefficiency of the social security systems facing the new economic and demographic challenges .
this report focuses on this enormous challenge and asks several important questions , for example , in relation to the problem of land grabbing , and this is , of course , something that we support .
that means there is a chance , if this continues , that events similar to the arrest of Mr Nemtsov could happen in 2011 .
we firmly believe that progress will be achieved when national management declarations will be received for all the European Union 's funds which are subject to shared management .
I think all we can do is use our influence to the best of our ability to try and bring an end to this evil madness , particularly the maltreatment and disrespect of women .
5 .
climate change has gradually become a reality that we are all going to have to face up to as a priority for EU policy .
the consultation will also involve the companies affected , the authorities and so forth .
dumping will not be the only everyday occurrence ; distinctions will be made between citizens , too , and this is something that Europe has never experienced , not even in its most recent history .
at the same time , we must fight illegal immigration effectively , as well as all forms of criminality that are associated with it .
the Socialists condemn this violence and do not recognise the power in place as having any legitimacy .
but of course there is no one answer to ensuring our supply .
the adoption of Mr Zahradil 's proposal has reopened the debate on the importance of origin marking for products from third countries , as a measure designed to implement a trade policy that can prevent market disturbances due to a rise in foreign imports , and to sort out the complicated legislative environment that today makes it difficult for small and medium-sized enterprises to develop .
we need to grasp that freedom of movement - and that is , after all , the message of the European Union - is something that you cannot simply displace or circumvent at will .
I would like to reiterate that , in principle , as in this particular case , it is an issue which is usually resolved at the level of relations between the third country and the EU Member State of which the person is a citizen .
the Council and the Member States must make humanitarian aid a moral and political imperative , inspired more by the effectiveness of that aid than by national or post-colonial interests .
the tourism sector faces major challenges , such as increasing global competition , demographic trends , climate change and environmental constraints , the seasonal distribution of tourist movements and the increasing use by customers of new information and communication technologies .
however , the executions in Yemen referred to in our resolution are especially outrageous as juveniles are involved .
however , I should like to point out to the Commission and the Council , not attending the debate here today , that we must bear in mind the reduced contribution of undertakings , which have either voluntarily reduced their quotas by participating in the restructuring regime or participated in the preventative withdrawal mechanism .
so far , neither of the institutions is listening to Parliament .
I voted in favour of this report because I share the rapporteur 's views concerning the focal points of the common agricultural policy reform for the period after April 2013 .
Ms Hedh has stressed that we should make this Scoreboard more accessible to a larger public and that we should raise awareness .
I voted in favour of the report on reducing health inequalities in the EU because I believe that there are currently great disparities between the Member States in relation to health .
Mr President , Italy is suffering a real brain drain .
our job as Members of the European Parliament is to scrutinise the Council 's use of budget resources .
following various reports and in-depth debates , Parliament launched its register for representatives of interest groups in 1996 .
the international community must continue to work so that every person affected by the disaster receives food , clean water , the necessary medical care and shelter .
there is only one name for it , and that is genocide .
regarding the enhanced role of Parliament , I very much hope we shall make full use of this .
the report by Mr Rangel , on behalf of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs , on revision of the framework agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the Commission , and
I would like to say a little here about what my colleagues , Mr Migalski and Mr Tošenovský , were just talking about .
consequently , the development of economic and political relations with the main suppliers , Iraq , Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan , is vital , and this decision contributes to this .
our aim is not to mix these but , as it has been stated here by both the rapporteurs and my fellow Members , Parliament must have the opportunity to have a say in planning and in strategy to make execution really function effectively and to direct the funds to where they are most needed .
I share the view of Commissioner Barroso .
there must be a degree of consistency for all of our citizens who work , relax , learn , etc. in this urban and suburban perimeter .
admittedly , the internal situation is very worrying for the reasons that I have set out : the drift or the suspicion of a drift towards authoritarianism ; the concentration of power ; the successive loss of the division of powers , and also the reduction in freedom of expression using an instrument barely known in Europe which is termed ' en cadena ' .
there are some estimates - such as in the Commission communication on this particular matter , which contains estimates from the various NGOs and institutions - and these are pretty high .
the report offers the opportunity to channel all the recommendations of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean into a single piece of European legislation , making it easier for the public to access documents and helping the relevant agencies to make any future amendments .
overall it will help to protect the environment from climate change .
in the last two and a half years we have revived debate on institutional reform and driven forward the process leading to the conclusion of the Treaty of Lisbon .
- Report : Gruber
this system ensures that the greenhouse gas targets set by the EU can be achieved at the lowest possible cost .
I would therefore argue that women 's salaries should be assured during maternity leave in the manner described in this report .
the humanitarian situation in Gaza breaches all the standards of human dignity .
farming needs resources and it will still need resources after 2013 .
( PL ) Madam President , Europe 's demographic trends have been deeply alarming for over a dozen years now .
the five executive agencies have 176 posts .
I also believe that one of the most dramatic of these consequences is a loss of balance - a loss of a sense of balance in reacting to the threat of terrorism .
in writing . - ( DE ) I have voted in favour of the report , because it makes a significant contribution to reducing bureaucracy , which is something that is constantly being called for , and allows more than 20 directives that are obsolete or no longer needed to be repealed .
the proposal is based on the implementation plan agreed by the European Commission and the UN world summit on sustainable development in 2002 .
European law should aim to always encourage mobility and access .
the introduction of the legislative petition , or the ' right to citizens ' initiative ' , as it has been named , is of particular importance .
one aspect that concerns me is the partial decoupling of aid ; the haste to move forward in decoupling aid may endanger many crops .
the overwhelming majority of employees in Europe are employed by micro- , small and medium-sized enterprises .
fishing by seiner is not a threat to the biological sustainability of the stocks exploited .
therefore , it is no longer appropriate to talk about public service broadcasting as if this debate were being held in the 1970s or 1980s .
on the other hand , any debate on Ukraine has a tendency to become a war between the European political families of the opposition and government political parties of Ukraine .
instead , we need to ensure that equality can be implemented in the true meaning of the word .
in writing . - ( HU ) Ladies and gentlemen , Mr President , I welcome the European Commission 's work programme for 2008 , which defines the future of the Union and the next steps in its development .
the report offers people who meet the conditions provided for by the directive the opportunity to have an EU Blue Card issued , with an initial validity of two years , which can be renewed for a further two years .
finally , I would like to thank the shadow rapporteurs and my other colleagues from the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development for their good cooperation and the contributions they made to the drafting of this report , as well as the Secretariat of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development .
are we still paying attention to the fate of Mr Karoubi ?
some of you mentioned the Laval case .
what the report says is that taxpayers ' money should be spent better in this field than has been the case up to now .
those of us who are from Sweden , which is after all a relatively new Member State , may have reason to remember that many of the problems and challenges we encounter do not arise because of the EU , but fall to the EU because the European Union has shown itself to be successful in meeting the challenges of our time .
it would be very nice if the Commission could make swifter progress in this regard .
if necessary , we must also apply extreme measures - various economic sanctions and restrictions - against countries and companies which consistently ignore them .
thank you for your words .
it is without doubt true that torture is the most inhumane and degrading practice .
there have been calls for consolidation of the European Union .
I am thinking , in particular , of the demands made by many representatives of new Member States , for more fairness and equity .
the consequences in Portugal are well known and prompt us to oppose this in a clear-cut fashion .
the part-session in Brussels will be the first one held under the new rules .
Taiwan does , indeed , meet all the conditions , both economic and political , for cooperation to be strengthened and for lifting of the visa requirement to be helpful in this .
lack of clarity in cofinancing rules ;
and that will provide much stronger tools and infrastructure to carry out the tests next time in a more unified , rigorous and coherent manner . so I want to underline this point .
let us , in 2009 , once and for all say that people-trafficking is unworthy of Europe in this day and age .
Mr President , one of the key recommendations of the European Parliament is to combat protectionism both within and outside the EU .
a good example of unity of effort is the Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory , in Braga , which will allow the development of scientific research , innovation and knowledge , leading to greater competitiveness for our companies .
I phoned Commissioner Frattini , who assured me that no Romanian would be expelled without having met a judge .
( DE ) Mr President , Baroness Ashton , you have repeatedly had to put up with critical comments from this place .
( the President cut off the speaker )
however , this is not the case when it comes to environmental taxes .
in writing . - MEP Záborská has presented a report which presents a definition of the term ' work ' which includes non-monetary and informal labour , which extends recognition to non-market-based or non-remunerated work .
this fact caused great concern in the Committee on Constitutional Affairs , which I chair , and which has the task of keeping an eye on the coherence of the Union 's institutional framework .
let us therefore fight for better structural reforms and work towards more incisive employment policies , so as to encourage the weaker sections of society to join the labour market .
we have heard about the integration of communities into host societies , but how can that happen when the sheer numbers of immigrants do not allow it ?
in conclusion , I am firmly convinced that it is high time that Parliament showed its support for a future FTA between the EU and Japan , building on the establishment of a high-level group , especially in the wake of the March 2011 disaster .
- ( PL ) Mr President , the idea of establishing a House of European History was put forward at a meeting of the Committee on Culture and Education a few months ago .
we have confirmed , today , that this procedure works well .
in the course of the legislative procedure , there is a need at least to indicate a way of avoiding duplication of effort and developing the appropriate management structures in the new circumstances of the Galileo satnav system .
EU rapid response capability (
there is no doubt that we shall then be able to take a huge step forward , particularly as regards the most delicate issues , the most sensitive sectors , i.e. those of the current third pillar , where the Court will finally have jurisdiction .
however , it is no less right that there should be measures that , by preserving justice and healthy competition , seek to strengthen companies and their workforces in the context of an economy that is open and increasingly competitive .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy . - ( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , Europe has managed to create a so-called zero budget .
I have the impression , Baroness Ashton , that Europe is full of high-sounding talk , but it is shameful how small and inadequate its actions are .
with all due respect for EU principles and legislation , we must promote and not hamper creativeness and flexibility at local , regional and national level .
I hope I will be able to open it myself .
proposals should not interfere with subsidiarity .
we know that there is prioritisation in healthcare , but it is important that people are all treated equally and that some should not be able to take precedence because of their resources , and it is important that we should be able to combine these two aspects in cross-border care .
( EL ) Mr President , in light of the start of negotiations on an agreement for the readmission of illegal immigrants between the European Union and Turkey , I should like to point out that we need a commitment by Turkey that it will cooperate in stamping out illegal immigration .
I hope that my resolution will become a basis for further legislative actions providing the possibility for members to improve it in the future .
in this case , it is not for me to give an immediate response , which would be complicated .
thus , we have provided a balanced package .
the intention is to reflect on proposals during the 2009 budget mid-term review and the Commission will explore the possibility of widening the current veterinary fund and making use of other related funds to finance actions that will have a positive impact on animal health .
since the autumn of 2008 , when the effects of the present crisis on employment started to be evident , the Employment Committee , which was established by the Council in accordance with Article 130 of the Treaty , has undertaken the new task of continuous monitoring of the Member States ' employment situation .
in any case , each budget is discussed according to the procedure and tough regulations imposed by European legislation .
in this respect , I also look to the national regulatory bodies , which have now been granted additional powers through BEREC .
I only hope that MEPs will learn from their mistakes and realise that it is the people of Europe who suffer if we cannot agree on these key issues .
however , we cannot remain indifferent to the situation in Tibet or to the constant violations of human rights , the reprisals , the suffering and the violence .
as a consequence , the control system provides insufficient assurance on farmer compliance ' .
the next item is the joint debate on :
it is an important step in the right direction .
the second thing that really shocks me is that everyone is talking about the grand ambitions of the Treaty of Lisbon , but it imposes an obligation on us in connection with one very simple thing : equality between men and women .
we need a uniform EU-level regional policy which will bring about sustainable growth , job creation and modernisation across the whole European Union .
I welcome the fact that the presidential elections in Ukraine were held in accordance with democratic standards .
global Navigation Satellite Systems ( GNSS ) applications are a central and crucial business component in all transport-related sectors , and their effective functioning makes transport safer , more environmentally friendly and more cost-effective .
gains at a European Union level could reach a total of between EUR 60 and 140 billion , which represents potential growth of between 0.6 and 1.4 % of GDP .
we all know what a key role agriculture plays in the local economy .
subject : representation of disabled people
'welcomes the readiness of the Georgian authorities to allow international observers to monitor the elections ' by ' welcomes the call of the Georgian authorities for international observers to monitor the elections ' .
this is a truly European project , and I am proud that the Commission has been able to act as a facilitator in it , since this role has been recognised as essential for all the participants .
HMG welcomes the TRAN Committee resolution 's acknowledgement that Europe needs a high level of security in aviation .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , since mid-July , when Hamas seized power in Gaza , one-and-a-half-million people have been confined to what the inhabitants themselves call a ghetto , a cattle farm .
that is a proposal we are going to present to the plenary tomorrow .
moreover , it is not just about new buildings , but also the restoration and refurbishment of existing buildings that have deteriorated or become derelict .
what we most often disapprove of is the lack of press freedom , religious freedom and corruption .
the Commission thus approved 4 100 billion of State aid amounting to 35 % of the European GDP .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I welcome the opportunity to address this part-session of the European Parliament covering , inter alia , the subject of the Commission 's assessment of the National Energy Efficiency Action Plans ( NEEAPs ) , which was presented in the Second Strategic Energy Review package in November 2008 and the earlier Commission communication of January 2008 .
however , new technologies at the service of advertising are opening up a new area for the development of new , unfair promotional practices , which justifies a change to the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive .
unaccountable delays still exist in its procedures .
with this motion for a resolution , the European Parliament wanted , firstly , to emphasise the importance of Serbia 's role within the European Union and , secondly , to approve the social and political improvements that the Serbian Government has introduced in recent years .
the privatisation of ports has been blocked until now by the port workers ' struggle , but has not been abandoned by the EU , because it is a key objective of EU capital .
the Greek Communist Party voted against the report .
indeed , an anti-counterfeiting agreement that does not include China , India and Brazil , and which would not be implemented by the United States , would be seriously lacking in credibility .
a recovery plan of this kind is necessary to increase economic demand and to re-establish the competitive capability of the region .
they are much more concerned about the price of petrol at filling stations and about other the problems that are arising every day .
I can also tell you that , only today , I sent a letter to everyone asking them to send me female candidates for the College as well .
I hope that this agreement will be a step in the right direction , and that in forthcoming negotiations it will be possible to resolve the ambiguities and omissions that still plague the text , such as in the reference to false geographical locations .
this priority demands not only measures to stimulate innovation and effectively support micro- , small and medium-sized enterprises , but also an international trade strategy which takes account of the current situation and the industries existing in our countries , defence of employment with rights , promotion of development in our regions and social inclusion .
first of all , it is necessary to look into the ways of distributing the tax burden between the producer and the consumer .
as with any accession so far , it is to be expected that this will not always be an easy task , but we trust that we have embarked with Iceland on a successful journey .
Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , on 3 November 2009 , the European Court of Human Rights approved an application from an Italo-Finnish citizen seeking to remove crucifixes from classrooms .
it is important because the consistent economic and social development of the European Union equally depends on the area of services , the 70 % weight of services in the Union 's GDP being significant in this regard .
in the meantime , a good implementation of this directive is essential to guarantee the safety of these facilities and minimise the risk associated with their management .
therefore , there is no doubt that the constant increase in food prices , as a result of increased prices for raw materials , is an increasingly pressing concern for the EU .
this is usually not something we discuss when we talk about the climate .
this is the behaviour of what are mainly socialists .
however , at the same time the others cannot ask us to do here what they do not agree to us doing there .
I refuse to become a puppet and I feel ashamed for all those who are becoming Russia 's puppets due to ignorance and cowardice , especially in order to gain minor economic advantages .
that is why I will be setting up a high-level group to look at the right architecture to ensure that financial markets are suited to the realities of the single market and that supervisors can work together to meet the challenge of cross-border banks .
a general consensus can be reached , which will be a joint assessment as to whether or not it is advisable in the future to use this technological tool .
I would also like to thank the representatives of all the institutions , including the European Parliament , with whom we have had dozens of discussions over the past three months concerning the preparation of their budgets .
this is to provide a solution for situations when , for one reason or another , some Member States are unable or unwilling to issue a residence permit in time for third-country nationals residing in their territory .
we also ultimately succeeded in ensuring that patients suffering from rare diseases do not have to fend for themselves so much , and can access external expertise to diagnose the disease and help ensure that prior authorisation for healthcare is granted .
there have been more than ten speeches that have openly criticised not just Europe - which could be legitimate - but the democratic result of the referendum in Ireland .
this directive shall not prevent traders from offering consumers contractual arrangements which go beyond the protection provided for in this directive .
if we deem it necessary , we will assess the progress of the work .
the question is whether such phenomena should be handled within the framework of regional policies .
this EU-wide patent makes sense !
the European Parliament has forgotten that , when any request is made by a state to waive parliamentary immunity , it has a duty to apply the rules on the protection of MEPs in full , as laid down in its Rules of Procedure .
after initially refusing foreign help , China has opened its borders .
in view of these technical and financial efforts , the European Parliament deserves to be kept fully informed of the progress and of the difficulties that exist in the transition to the new system .
how can we ensure both effectiveness and a prompt response ?
these decisions will send an important signal for the recovery and stabilisation of the market in eastern Europe .
Mr President , would the Commissioner , in her reply to Parliament , explain exactly how the newly phrased ' Union for the Mediterranean ' - as opposed to ' Mediterranean Union ' - remains an EU policy ?
I voted for this report on the external dimension of social policy , promoting labour and social standards and European corporate social responsibility .
Madam President , speaking in the debate on Parliament 's estimates of revenue and expenditure for 2010 on behalf of the Union for Europe of the Nations Group I should like to draw attention to three matters .
since we now hold the Presidency , we have regularly kept the Council informed , at ministerial level and at a technical level , of the status of Parliament 's work .
( HU ) Madam President , let us not put a gloss on the situation : the issue of Turkey 's accession has reached a critical stage .
he said to us : ' vote for the euro , then we will have a political Europe , because if we do not create a political Europe to control Europe , the people will not accept it ; they will never accept it . '
my group is in favour of the proposals and amendments that oblige the Member States to resolve the issues of payment and compatibility in a six-month period instead of protracting it for a year and a half .
this is a bizarre and downright scandalous situation .
although the Igbo revolt was crushed because the military power of the central government prevented Biafran independence , the truth is that the ethnic , cultural and religious differences persist and are on the increase there , making the country a classic case of a state that is under permanent threat of disintegration .
I consider the steps relating to the work of the Hungarian Presidency to be important .
the next Cohesion Report will be presented in 2010 .
we must exclude matters unconnected with our mission from the budget as much as possible .
during a trial held behind closed doors , to which lawyers were not granted access , he was accused of weakening national sentiments and disseminating false information .
this might mean that there would be seen to be less justification for all airports which see themselves as major hubs to expand .
this is because , as demonstrated by the history of political coexistence , political civilisation and political community , to unite usually means to add .
( protests from the IND / DEM Group )
I await your answer .
nomination of the Romanian Member of the Court of Auditors ( vote )
the key achievements are something to be proud of , especially when compared to air passenger rights , another matter we consider important .
the integrity of sport is also something that the European Parliament thinks is worth protecting , especially now that , with the Treaty of Lisbon , we have the competence to attend to this issue .
similarly , we need to clarify the role of the structures at EU level that manage medical threats , and to ensure that the WHO revises the definition of the criteria for raising a global pandemic alert .
we must state very loudly that establishing the maximum possible harmonisation across the Member States would reduce the protection of many consumers , since in many countries there is a greater tradition of protecting consumer rights .
my colleague Mariann Fischer Boel has worked very hard to make sure that the European position on agriculture is secure .
we therefore need to support all projects which strengthen this alternative to the mainstream media world , and I am glad the Czech Presidency has contributed towards the successful accomplishment of the MEDIA Mundus project .
now we have to take care that this does really happen .
there can be no doubt that the restoration of the public finances of a Member State of the euro area is its responsibility .
food has never been cheaper than it has been in the last few years .
the onslaughts mounted by European industry against the proposals are intolerable .
this needs to change .
preventing this form of establishment means preventing social and fiscal dumping , which was also a subject in itself in the road package .
the bombing has stopped , but the blockade continues .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , Cambodia is a very beautiful country with a great history , but there are dark sides to both the country and its history .
if we do not want to have a jobless recovery , we need to look at how we can reform our labour market rules and how we can remove the obstacles to higher employment in Europe .
( HU ) Mr President , Commissioner , the most important item in the budget for 2008 is cohesion policy .
for 20 years now , we in the opposition have not been able to do anything about it .
the second instrument consists of the 15 % - at least - of the funds that are apparently still left in the Economic Recovery Plan , and we , as Parliament , have established that this money must be spent on energy efficiency , in particular on Smart Cities .
the debate now taking place in Parliament is certainly an important source in the decision-making process .
nevertheless , I believe that this report represents important progress .
in writing . - ( FR ) To do more with less money , as certain Member States recommend , is mission impossible !
4 .
this is also reflected in OECD figures , which show that indirect tax in the form of VAT rose to 6.9 % of GDP in 2006 .
as far as the institutional or legislative changes are concerned , you will be well aware that the Commission has proposed an amendment to the Directive on the European Works Council which has been approved within the framework of these negotiations and which strengthens the position of the European social partners especially in negotiations over restructuring at a trans-national level .
I voted for Mrs Auconie 's report .
Madam President , first of all I would like to thank the rapporteurs for all these excellent reports and especially the one I shadowed .
we can also see air pollution .
these concern longer-term answers to the present crisis .
this is why , in our report , we proposed that particular attention be paid to the structural deficit indicator rather than the focus being on the current account deficit , the scale of which is due to the deterioration in the actual budget deficit .
ladies and gentlemen , I welcome the European Parliament 's initiative to send a delegation of members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with Belarus , which will travel to Minsk in 10 days ' time to meet with the authorities and the various parties and to get an idea of the situation on the ground .
my wish , Madam President , is simply to reiterate what has been said .
on your last question , of course we will keep Parliament closely informed on these developments , in particular , on the Doha Round .
we will be looking to you Prime Minister to ensure that you will implement the Pact that was agreed upon last year .
now , something similar has happened .
the Prime Minister has stated that these events will be investigated and that those who behaved improperly towards the Burmese boat refugees will be punished .
in October Otto Messmer , leader of the Russian Jesuit order , and the Ecuadorean priest Victor Betancourt were brutally murdered in their Moscow flat .
Madam President , I also am disappointed that this House was not able to send a balanced and reasonable message .
in line with Decision ( EC ) No 574 / 2007 of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 May 2007 establishing the External Borders Fund for the period 2007-2013 , third countries involved in the implementation , application and development of the Schengen acquis should participate in this fund .
there is no need to vote on this request because , once the Commission has decided to maintain its proposal , that proposal is automatically referred back to committee , as Mr Coelho asked .
few would doubt these words of his .
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( DE ) Mr President , the political goals are clear .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - ( FI ) Mr President , I would also like to congratulate Mr Brie on a good report .
as for you , Mr Barroso , if , as I hope , a majority of MEPs give you their support tomorrow , this will not be a blank cheque .
this market is worth 800 billion euros ( two out of three Europeans use credit to buy furniture , a television or a car ) , and interest rates currently vary from 6 % ( in Finland ) to more than 12 % ( in Portugal ) , and yet transactions have so far been mainly national ; less than 1 % of credits are currently cross-border .
I was lucky enough to be present at the deliveries of two of my three children .
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I would , of course , like to thank the European Commission .
I am not in favour of the inclusion of bluefin tuna in Appendix I , as it could damage many sectors , including the small-scale sector , which has not been considered today .
SMEs play a key role in the recovery of the European economy and the fight against unemployment , and therefore it would be expedient to make it easier for them to access the capital required for developments .
this proposal for a directive , which is aimed at establishing minimum common standards for the treatment of illegal immigrants , was originally intended as a response to the often tragic situation encountered in the 224 or so detention camps scattered around Europe .
Hungary 's capital city has also thrown its hat into the ring to provide a home for the European Institute of Innovation and Technology .
there is still more : in relation to domestic policy , on 5 December 1937 those Latvians who had remained living in Soviet Russia began to be arrested and exterminated in their entirety .
( PT ) Europe must intervene on this matter with all the tools it has available , particularly within the scope of the Cotonou Agreement .
while the Mediator scandal prompts us to reinforce our precautions before allowing medicines to be placed on the market , the serious malfunctioning of the European Medicines Agency must be penalised .
I believe that the Council has been heard , and I should like to say to you , Mr Gauzès , that the Council very much shares your desire for rating agencies at European and , I would add , international , level to be effectively regulated , as many of my colleagues and many MEPs have said .
however , this agenda must be broader and , in particular , be more in line with the new realities and circumstances .
simply consider the resources allocated to bail out banks and big businesses , the support for manufacturing , and bear in mind the calls chiefly from small and medium-sized enterprises , and the protection for citizens from the fallout of the recession .
although Europe has always had its full share of varying cultures , it has also had a mainstream Christian culture or civilisation , so to speak , in which most of its people , whatever their identities , have shared .
I just wanted to respond concretely to this very important issue of milk funds and say that what Mrs Fischer Boel stated yesterday was the commitment by the Commission to come up with a proposal on certain amounts of money , namely EUR 280 million .
only in very few cases is this beneficial or even fair to the consumer .
baby seats , which have been mentioned here and with regard to which there have been some safety problems in the US , are not toys .
the Commission finds it intolerable that this phenomenon , which seems to be intensifying over the course of the years , continues to grow .
cooperation is necessary and cooperation should be the basis for a new comprehensive agreement between the EU and Russia .
in terms of the economy , there has been a drastic reduction in regional and infrastructural projects because the funds never arrived from Member States and those from the Commission remain in standby .
UCITS have cleared the way and become a success and an esteemed trade mark outside Europe , too .
in actual fact , in the 1980s , Mugabe was a regular guest of Ceauşescu 's , along with Gaddafi .
if used properly , antibiotics are a useful tool that helps farmers keep their livestock healthy and productive and safeguard its welfare .
a possible solution would be to allow the absence of GMO in foods to be mentioned on the label .
the 27 requested this last week ; we expect to have a road map in June .
how many times must it be said in this House that , because it nourishes people , because it helps to make the countryside more attractive and to keep populations in rural areas , agriculture cannot be considered as an economic activity like any other ?
for example , by placing its hope in a radical change in the Community budget , meaning increasing public expenditure on research and development . this is not enough if it does not go hand in hand with an ability to take risks together with support for innovative companies from the private financial sector .
however , it is naive to believe that such a strategy will finance itself or implement itself .
he is actually the only Conservative MEP who is a committee chair .
to this I would add the regular meetings that will have to be held between the Presidents of these two institutions , together with the joint organisation of hearings and the preparation , also on a joint basis , of political reports detailing the progress that has been achieved .
oppressive terms require liberalisation of markets and the privatisation of all services , especially energy , water distribution , health , education and culture .
it is the students , the travellers and the holidaymakers , but it is also the cross-border workers , the journalists and the businesspeople who are handicapped because of very high charges for communication .
experience of applying the system , recommendations from experts and the concerns legitimately expressed by institutions and some operators advise us to tackle certain issues .
this is why we keenly await your remarks on the future shape of the European Union .
I would like to assure you that this matter is being kept under constant review with a view to strengthening the security of our House .
this will remain a key aspect of our engagement in Afghanistan , be it in the political support to women MPs in the new Afghan Parliament or through our support to women 's participation in local development projects such as the widely-recognised National Solidarity Programme , which we have been funding through the World Bank since 2002 .
the report states that NATO forms the core of European security .
the EU highly values the opportunity it has to discuss its concerns on human rights with the Russian authorities .
in the European Union , we have been seeing an increase in levels of poverty , precarious work and inequalities , a situation which may become worse in the current economic and financial crisis , given that the predictions point to a recessionary trend and to an increase in the number of unemployed .
is it a simple name change or a change of direction ?
if that is exaggerated , it is certainly true that huge extra sums will be needed to prevent pensions collapsing , so premiums will rise massively .
this is certainly no way to further the security needs of European citizens - it makes no contribution to security and it also , of course , does nothing to increase our citizens ' desire for more Europe .
one proposal , for example , is the creation of an Erasmus first job programme .
you only need to visit the Middle East !
the Commission will , of course , look forward to the revision of operational programmes : this will depend on the initiative of national and regional authorities but we will look very warmly at such changes .
the one-off operational subsidy does not create any European value-added , whereas long-term expansion of research , education and infrastructure certainly does !
Europe must give industry and the SME sector a specific response in this respect .
lastly , there is the question of dialogue with society .
( applause )
I am therefore in favour of severe and consistent sanctions for those who break the law .
this is what the US experiment shows , in any case .
we think that we need to move forward and better document the seabed in each area , identifying where the vulnerabilities are , before indicating any maximum depth for deployment .
after Cancún , the claim that the EU is somehow alone with its climate targets is clearly no longer relevant .
the implementation of these objectives would contribute towards the further consolidation of democracy and the development of the market economy in Ukraine .
I also urge the European Commission to analyse the redundancies made during the economic crisis in the public sector and to develop a similar instrument to the EGF , which will support workers made redundant in the public sector in various Member States .
we must say it , we must recognise it .
( LV ) Ladies and gentlemen , an initiative of EUR 5 billion in total is a good basis both for the further development of the European Union 's common energy policy and for rural development in the long term .
I also hope that there is not too much bureaucracy in the implementation , as that would harm the whole .
these disasters have resulted not just in serious financial , but unfortunately also in human , losses .
the first priority for all of us is to get the Treaty ratified .
it is possible to see positive examples .
my report concerns synergy between research , development , innovation , production and employment in Europe .
even if prices are now falling again the damage has been done .
it is also important for us to take action in connection with urban development , buildings , the use of new energy technologies and in respect of a better product policy .
in writing . - ( PT ) Spain has submitted an application in respect of 1 589 redundancies , 1 521 of which have occurred at Delphi Automotive Systems España and 68 among its suppliers .
in so doing , it is putting an end to the justified fears of ad hoc political manoeuvring dictated by the agreements reached at the summit or on an à la carte or circumstantial basis , fears fuelled largely by the misplaced initiatives of President Sarkozy to promote , for example , the proliferation of nuclear power in the region .
in other words , it is precisely the institution set up to protect us from criminals ( indirectly through providing professional training for police offers ) which is ending up in the dock .
EU citizens and nationals of the Bahamas who travel to the territory of the other contracting party for a maximum period of three months within a six-month period will be exempt from visa requirements .
I wonder whether the symbolism was that we should have some kind of new future alliance here between groupings different from the traditional ones .
these must be the foundations on which we continue to address the major issues such as climate change , investigating further perhaps the requirements of the various economies and the economic crisis , with the aid of courageous initiatives such as the Eurobonds , which we should also put on the agenda of the next Council meeting .
these dependents are generally the children of female prisoners .
I do not think that is right for us , as we are not in favour of nuclear energy .
a couple of weeks ago I visited one of the largest consumers in my constituency .
( applause )
it is therefore to afford the Commission the possibility of explaining its view of the future that we have tabled this question .
I welcome the adoption of this proposal , which introduces increased guarantees for European companies , and I hope that the European Union will receive periodic reports to assess compliance with these safeguard mechanisms .
we will be open about this , but , at the same time , the Council is considering a possible relaxation of certain sanctions , particularly the visa restrictions imposed on some Belarus officials affected by the sanctions .
you would not expect any more for it to happen .
my response was clear : ratify the Lisbon Treaty .
is that not a little too little ?
10 .
along with guideline 10 , it constitutes the social pillar of the strategy .
this could give him further spurious legitimacy to dupe those in need of serious medical care .
to get the best from them , detailed results must be shared with neighbouring countries and with the European Commission to enable appropriate measures to be put in place and safety plans implemented , in order to protect the people of Europe .
this concept aims to define at the policy level the acceptable balance between the control results and their costs .
firstly , by organising the means of intervention better : it is Mr Barnier 's idea to have a European civil protection force capable of intervening in support of the national forces .
on that policy , the Presidency will stand up and fight .
firstly , this is an unjust measure .
we saw this ourselves in the recent raid on the branch of the ING Bank in the European Parliament building in Brussels and also in the threat to the lives of the two MEPs in Mumbai .
guaranteeing the right to compensation for loss or damage to a wheelchair or other device providing mobility , and the training of staff on buses or coaches in the area of transport for disabled persons , are becoming important tools in the fight against discrimination and against the social exclusion of these people .
another tangible proposal is to name streets or squares in our cities after Neda Agha-Soltan .
it is thought that this agreement may generate benefits for consumers in terms of lower fares by up to EUR 460 million .
the debate is closed .
this does not surprise me because I have been a politician for all of my adult life so I am used to that type of irony , to put it in its politest terms .
at long last , support will be allocated in accordance with two criteria : employment - I believe that agricultural policy needs to allow for the notion of providing employment - and , of course , the production of public goods .
our words are fine , but they have little value while Israel refuses to listen .
( FI ) Mr President , regarding Amendment 878 , it has to do with the pilot projects and has been accepted .
is not the safety of more than half of all European citizens , in other words female citizens , worth a substantial political investment ?
due to his limited competences , he is only able to investigate complaints regarding European Union institutions and bodies .
despite these shortcomings , it remains important for the EU in particular to devote itself to the protection of human rights .
Europe must change slightly .
first these were portrayed as being narrowly restricted to the field of cross-border counter-terrorist activities .
there must be a worldwide transition to a low-CO2 economy , and small but important changes are needed in many aspects of our everyday lives .
unfortunately , this has not happened .
but it is question of balance and getting ' European Arrest Warrant plus ' , and thus justice all round , through procedural guarantees to accompany simplified cross-border prosecutions .
we must diversify , and this includes diversification within the area of renewable energies .
the regional governments just wanted to serve as models here on wage dumping matters .
however , the gradual phasing out of these measures has already started .
( PL ) Mr President , we are a Community that respects the rule of law as one of the foundations on which we have built our identity .
given the serious developments in parts of the Union 's southern neighbourhood , the European Council is also expected to adopt a declaration on recent events in the region .
we have six Member States that have adopted appropriate national rules : Hungary , the UK , Bulgaria , Portugal , Romania and Spain .
I would , however , like to express some general points and reactions .
if we believe in European solidarity , if we operate in one open market with the same competitive conditions and the main goal is to exit from this complex situation as soon as possible , I think that the European Central Bank should have ensured and must ensure the provision of liquidity to Member States not in the euro area that were hit particularly hard by this crisis .
the largest eastern neighbour of the European Union should be offered specific incentives and advantages under the Eastern Partnership which will have a motivating influence on a country with European ambitions .
they also have a positive impact on the purchase of goods and services . a key issue at present is setting a timetable and taking urgent action regarding the implementation of the content of the Green Paper and the report on the review of the consumer acquis .
there are no documents in international or European law which support the existence of such ' rights ' .
these are just two elements in a major debate , to which too little attention is paid .
since our political will must comply with the law and with expression through legal channels , I shall not go back over the elements of reciprocity and proportionality .
there is only one conclusion from all of this , and that is that the accession negotiations must be halted .
in writing . - I voted for this report , which notes that there is a need to strengthen the gender dimension in the fight against poverty .
the capabilities we need are not here and the capabilities we have are not ready or not the most suitable for the challenges of today .
it was important to keep up appearances and not give European citizens the impression that the structures of a federal state were being put in place .
in writing . - I voted in favour of the Rangel report .
as a smaller country , you have the solidarity of the larger countries as well as of the European Parliament .
therefore the paragraph you have put in paragraph 21 - where you are saying that we should be looking for negative priorities and savings by the institutions , asking our specialised committees to be able to look for priorities - is very important , but very little work has been done on this so far .
I voted in favour of Mr Simpson 's report on international air agreements under the Treaty of Lisbon , bearing in mind that Parliament now has a greater share of responsibility when it comes to negotiating international agreements .
on the issue of regulation , I believe that there are very tight controls on licensed animal feed operators - the compound feed industry of the European Union - and they came in because of practices in the past which we needed to tighten up on .
by the end of 2013 , the Commission should table a report addressing issues such as the situation of our forests and how depleted our fisheries resources are .
many of you do not want to see - and rightly so - a decrease in the level of national consumer protection .
I am therefore voting in favour of the bulk of the proposals in this report .
it was once more short-term and highly speculative transactions that were in the middle of that crisis and have underlined the clear connection between inefficient financial regulation on the one hand , and supervision and the sustainability of public finances , on the other .
then there is Jersey , Guernsey , the Isle of Man - which are in the UK but outside the EU - Liechtenstein , Monaco , San Marino , etc . they are all little tax havens , with offshore banking , which we have just heard about , pandering to the rich .
in Belarus , sentences of capital punishment are still imposed and the death sentence is still in use .
good intentions lie behind the proposal , with a view to making it easier to compare population and housing census statistics .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( GA ) Mr President , road deaths are reported in the media on a daily basis .
Member States must implement CEDAW ( UN Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women ) , which aims to ensure the rights and freedoms of women .
I would also like to know whether last year - although Mrs Gräßle has said that the Swedish Presidency was present here - the Council was at the discharge debate .
I would like to see the European Parliament acknowledge that emissions of carbon black are contributing , to a large extent , to the warming of the Arctic .
Madam President , I fully support what has been said by the Commissioner , that dialogue and engagement are of crucial importance .
I would like to thank the shadow rapporteurs for their work on this report , as well as all the other fellow Members who have contributed to its contents .
we want to fill the gap of democratic legitimacy after all the pain we witnessed when the referenda were held .
Mr President , The internal market is an extremely important part of the European cooperation , but for many consumers it is nothing more than a vague concept .
Madam President , Commissioner , I would like to thank you sincerely for the clarity and credibility of your statement with regard to the limit values under discussion here .
it deprives people of that one most precious thing which they will ever possess .
it was important that the report should have included the particular amendments as recommended by the PSE Group .
report : Jacek Saryusz-Wolski
in my opinion , that is excessive .
in Scotland , farmers are currently being punished for small mistakes with very , very large fines in some instances .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I would like to thank the rapporteur for his report and particularly for his positive attitude on consent to the interim Economic Partnership Agreement with the Pacific states of Papua New Guinea and Fiji .
next time , we have to do exactly the opposite and come up with real conclusions when we are ready .
once again , as you have just said , we are talking about a measure relating to financial services on which the three institutions have just reached an agreement in record time .
allow me to make a couple of final comments .
there is a need for continuous training in line with the EU 2020 strategy on lifelong training , and an exchange of best practice , and it is important to meet regularly .
the West must not throw its own principles , such as the rule of law , overboard .
however , the model that we should follow is the Memorandum of Understanding that was adopted on 24 July by the UK Government , OFCOM and the various stakeholders .
the sector needs useful and effective management mechanisms so it can intervene in the market when necessary , as opposed to the approach recommended by the European Commission , which supports liberalisation and deregulation .
it also means that all Member States need to take their responsibilities seriously .
I do not want to be in a situation whereby small states such as Finland , which already has 25 % renewables today , have to hike up their burden to , say , 45 % , whereas the five biggest Member States , which actually consume 60 % of energy , keep much lower standards .
I will turn now to the amendments .
for goodness sake , wake up .
author . - Mr President , here we are again examining the sticking plaster and wondering if it is large enough and strong enough to cover the wound .
I keep saying to people in Ireland that the Committee on Petitions does not have huge power , but that through the work we do we can act as a pressure point for action .
Mr President , first it was cucumbers , yesterday it was bean sprouts .
therefore , I welcome the horizontal approach in the consumer policy and the better protection it will lead to .
it is also important that the same conditions should govern the operations of all postal-service providers .
we always take into account the need to increase the coverage of this public register .
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the European Parliament , however , is paradoxically not devoting any attention to the problems of the Slovak , German , Serbian and other beleaguered minorities in Hungary .
the symbols are symbols of our dignified values of peace and solidarity .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( PT ) Madam President , I note the spirit of compromise shown by the Socialist benches and , on behalf of the PPE-DE Group , I must say that we are also open to compromise and will not therefore oppose this suggestion .
I support the introduction of exceptional trade measures for countries and territories benefiting from the Stabilisation and Association process .
that means that ecological issues and criteria , too , represent a key element in the prosperity of regions .
human rights and freedom are the EU 's most important pillars and must underpin our dialogue with Russia too .
credit-rating agencies are referred to in this particular in the Rasmussen report .
it is a fact that the main priority for 2011 should be to push forward with the economic recovery .
we would reiterate that previous privatisation in this sector has not resulted in added value in the services provided , but has helped to destroy jobs and reduce workers ' rights and , in some cases , caused technical and operational problems .
today 's vote was on a request for assistance concerning 594 redundancies ( of which 200 are targeted for assistance ) in three enterprises operating in NACE Revision 2 Division 28 , in the NUTS II region of Podkarpackie .
now it is up to the 27 Member States to play the game .
15 .
in writing . - ( PT ) The work on the collection and systematisation of data that was made possible by this report must be valued , as it is helping us to build a current picture of a situation that is , in many respects , troubling , as this report rightly acknowledges .
this is precisely what is needed 25 years after Chernobyl .
I hope that in the near future , we will also be successful in achieving an understanding on indicating the origin of goods .
I would like to add a number of other reasons why they are being discussed .
furthermore , we are seeking to include additional guarantees in the planned multiparty trade agreement in order to improve implementation of core labour and environmental conventions in Colombia as part of the Sustainable Development Chapter .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I want to thank Members for a very constructive , substantive and responsible debate , and I would like to make just a few points concerning your speeches .
it is making a lot of effort in terms of its progress towards democracy .
tens of thousands of people have been displaced against their will .
as these business models evolve and their role in financial markets changes , regulators around the world need to remain vigilant .
the Assembly 's decision that the environmental / fishing zone should affect the Member States from 1 January of this year is contrary to the international obligation accepted by Croatia and gives reason to doubt its credibility .
the sum to which everyone is referring - which is not for Members and which refers to the possibility of taking on another assistant - was already set out in 2010 and there has been no change in budgetary terms , no budgetary increase in 2011 .
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that is what we need : stable , long-term planning .
Madam President , such is the DPRK 's isolation , we can only guess at the human rights violations that are actually taking place there .
the next item is the debate on the oral question by Mr Sacconi , on behalf of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , to the Commission : draft REACH Test Methods Regulation ( B6-0158 / 2008 ) .
action Plan on Urban Mobility ( debate )
that recital states that terrorism can no longer be eradicated .
but how can we work more proactively towards the ultimate goal of improving global aviation safety ?
nothing of this sort emerges from this report .
punitive measures must not be eluded , including the confiscation of the property and freezing of the assets of those at fault for provoking an international financial crisis .
the Commission ought to follow this recommendation .
however , although the globalisation of the economy should be seized as an opportunity , our fellow citizens are often very concerned about the economy of our continent , as others are about theirs .
the exercise of physical power by a country is the sign not of the country 's might but of its weakness .
a system for preparing environmental economic accounts is one of the measures that would aid the collection and compilation of data regarding air emissions , environmental taxes applicable to various economic sectors and macro-economic material flow accounting .
where can we achieve a substantial gain in terms of public health but at the same time not hamper the technological development of European food production ?
I think the work done in this report really highlights the fact that anything we put on our skin goes into our system just as effectively as if we ate it .
however , a large number of Member States felt that this would pose major difficulties , particularly when it came to applying the regulation to local services , the characteristics of which are quite different from those of international or long-distance services .
this is a paradox , because we pride ourselves on carrying the banner for the reduction of CO2 emissions throughout the world .
labour MEPs will continue to support disarmament amongst possessor states , to prevent proliferation to new states , and ultimately to achieve a world that is free from nuclear weapons .
yet while people 's emotions are being ruled by fear , death is final , and no one can bring back the hundreds of people whose lives have been sacrificed to Israel 's security needs since the Gaza Strip was sealed off .
this is what these countries need .
this has to stop .
that is why the Commission communication stressed the value of providing income aid in addition to the second pillar payments made to areas with natural constraints , which will continue to be awarded .
I also agree that the functioning and added value of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund should be evaluated in the context of the general assessment of the programmes and various other instruments created by the interinstitutional agreement of 17 May 2006 , within the framework of the 2007-2013 Multiannual Financial Framework mid-term review process .
Parliament will be voting this week on a resolution which includes everything that would be right for Copenhagen , if you believe the United Nations and the scientists .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , it is with great pleasure that I am participating in this debate in plenary on your report , Mr Obiols i Germà .
Mrs Hautala brought up the matter of water .
this is my last speech , as I have already said .
it is a question of taking documents that have legal value from one country to another , but not of recognising any kind of document if we have doubts as to its effectiveness .
to show this flexibility , the Commission will , for instance , put in place a simplification package to speed up decision-making on state aid , allow for the use of accelerated procedures in public procurement in 2009 and 2010 for all major public projects , and request that Member States take corrective action in case of any excessive deficit in timeframes consistent with economic recovery to allow their economies to adjust .
the report claims that the implementation of the EU 2020 goals is a way to secure employment and a better standard of living .
I think these are the major points that I would like to make at this stage , but I am sure we can come back to this topic again , maybe after the meetings have taken place .
in particular , by agreeing to establish a European Stability Mechanism and to make the linked Treaty change , we have demonstrated our total commitment to supporting the euro area and the Member States that use it for the benefit of the entire EU .
the battle raged during that night and then during 9 and 10 August .
and we have this double-track approach , which , at this moment , Javier Solana and his new counterpart are working on , and , at the same time , we are also working in the United Nations Security Council with regard to maybe a further strengthening of sanctions .
I would also add that I have been surprised by the tone of this debate .
implementation will be assured together by Parliament , the Commission and the Council , as well as by Member States .
in recent decades , the European Court of Human Rights has adopted a raft of decisions which make the defence of the fundamental rights of European citizens concrete .
the Europe 2020 strategy is intended to be the response to the current crisis .
finally , I would like to ask about medium-term solutions for supplying water and energy in Gaza .
the European Parliament will have an important part to play in this .
in other words , if the rules of the game are broken , then penalties and punishments must be handed out .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I will try to be brief .
I would just remind you that in 2006 in Nairobi we had the initiative by Kofi Annan , the then Secretary-General of the United Nations , for promoting CDM projects in sub-Saharan Africa .
the aeronautical sector is an example of just such an area .
second , to avoid their business customers incurring non-deductible ' hidden ' VAT , the proposal aims at allowing all banking and insurance companies to opt to tax their services .
the presidencies usually add national issues .
it is fortunate and of symbolic significance that the adoption of the Roma report could take place in the very week when Parliament is preparing the next Council meeting , seeking not only the tools to help us emerge from the crisis but also the opportunity to reduce human traumas and the risks to livelihood on the basis of the principle of solidarity that unites Europe .
I think the best solution is an adequate mix of competition and regulation , not as alternative instruments , but as complementary ones .
of course , a lot has to be done by the Member States themselves .
a business in my constituency , Avon Protection , is a world leader in the manufacture of gas masks .
we can never underline enough the historic importance of finally having a vision that meets our citizens ' concerns for security and , at the same time , for respecting individual rights .
the symbol of the cross , the symbolism of the cross conveys a message that is universal in scope ; a message , moreover , of peace and fraternity , as taught to us by René Guénon , the great metaphysicist , to mention just one name .
even after the conflicts , stigmatisation and the consequences of violation continue to devastate the lives of the victims , as the scars left by physical and psychological abuse remain for life - if the victim ever recovers from them at all .
it is a known fact that , at present , the 25-to-30 age segment is in a relatively small percentage on the European labour market as compared to other population categories .
social discrimination has to be opposed , and the rights of the weak and disadvantaged , and of children , have to be upheld as we in the European Union have championed them .
import : Member States shall prohibit the import and placing on the market of food of animal origin containing residues resulting from the illegal administration of pharmacologically active substances which are not subject to a classification in accordance with the text .
should it be the Chair of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs or should it be a vice-president of Parliament , as is presently the situation ?
it is only through reciprocal action and modern and universal rules that trade can help improve not only the living conditions of citizens outside Europe , in the world in general , but also the living conditions and survival of European workers and entrepreneurs who want to keep producing and living in and exporting from Europe .
we have done this on trust .
the Union for the Mediterranean will be achieved by intensifying threats , blackmail , and political or even military pressure on states and the people .
that is why we voted against those particular wordings concerning surrogacy - a position that our group , the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe , also adopted in the original vote in the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality .
however , this is not the way that Europe works .
( protests )
it is important that the resolution which will be voted on tomorrow should be quickly agreed with the Council .
foreign attempts at mediation have been repudiated and eventually ended .
a project like Desertec must not therefore be a way of using energy policy as a means to continue colonialism .
the EU does not have adequate capacity or capabilities .
my second point concerns strengthening Frontex , as has already been mentioned .
the substantial European commitment to protecting consumers from defective and dangerous products has already meant that good standards have been reached , but I think there is still room for improvement , especially in relation to so-called vulnerable consumers , such as children , the elderly and the disabled .
rapporteur . - Madam President , first of all I have been told that the English interpretation of my speech was not accurate , and I am very sorry about this .
however , while remembering economic matters , we , as the European Union , should insist on transparency of democratic procedures and the rule of law in that country .
cheap energy and fuel are essential for secondary industry to be competitive , including the machine industry .
that was a brutal act of aggression , and we take the view that it demands an instant reaction from this Parliament .
Europe 's GNSS ( Global Navigation Satellite System ) and Galileo projects are in direct competition with the United States ' GPS .
it is incumbent on society to send a strong signal in this way to employers that it is unacceptable to take advantage of opportunities to reduce pay or working hours on grounds of gender .
this will increase the efficiency of the work to produce a European energy solution .
( PT ) Madam President , it is important for everyone to join in the fight against trafficking in human beings , with a view to eradicating it .
only a mental revolution could lead to the European transformation of our societies .
I would like to put a simple request to you : look at what farmers receive in income today , look at what part of this income is support from the CAP , and ask yourselves how farmers could cope today if we did not have the common agricultural policy .
the Council has the option of giving priority to one directive , while considering another too controversial .
tomorrow it has got to be the rule .
some of these purchases will be cross-border .
as I said earlier , The Fuel Cells and Hydrogen JTI is an interesting model for other areas and will certainly become part of the SET Plan , once it is be approved .
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I would also like to highlight the importance of drawing up a detailed work programme for attaining the new objectives , which should ensure that all interested parties have the opportunity to participate in its elaboration .
a recent United Nations report estimates the potential for green jobs in the world to be 3 % of global jobs .
( FR ) ' Europe quite rightly wants to equip herself with a common policy and currency but , most of all , she needs a soul ' .
we are thinking in the long term when we think of Chile .
do not think , therefore , that it is not involved .
moreover , relevant minimum standards have already been adopted for sectors such as large combustion plants or waste incineration plants .
following that , since 2003 it has suffered terrible violations of human rights , including arrests , abductions and extrajudicial killings under the foreign military occupation .
the bacterium costs lives , too many lives .
we therefore need innovative solutions to tackle the enormous economic problems we are faced with .
the reinforcement of the European Neighbourhood Policy must be a major objective for 2008 .
this will produce jobs for thousands of people , thus providing them with a livelihood .
around two weeks ago , a meeting took place between Dr Mohamed ElBaradei , Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ) , and the Commission .
for this reason , I have voted against the Dahl report .
two years away from the expiry of the Lisbon Agenda , we must acknowledge that the objectives outlined - ambitious objectives - are far from having been achieved ( and our comparative speeding up in the face of the slow-down in the American economy is not a matter for celebration ) .
fortunately , businesspeople are coming around more and more to the idea of collective redress .
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on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , Madam Vice-President , the European Commission has done outstanding work in the last few years in many areas , notably environmental and climate policy , and here in this House , we are in the process of translating this into legislation .
today 's vote concerned a request for assistance for 1 181 redundancies at four production sites of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG in Baden-Württemberg , an enterprise which operates in the manufacturing of printing machinery sector , amounting to a sum of EUR 8 308 555 financed by the EGF .
I voted in favour of the Commission-designate as I am conscious of the pivotal role that it plays in the structure of Europe as a whole and of the increasing importance that it has acquired as a producer of legislative initiatives .
however , deforestation projects have a peculiarity : they are very difficult .
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rapporteur . - Madam President , I thank the Commissioner and the Chairman , and the other Members who spoke , for their kind words about my contribution to this report .
with this in mind , it is difficult to understand the differences which occur in the division of financial means between Mediterranean and eastern states , to the disadvantage of this second group .
this is why , while I hope that there will be a definite acceleration in the process of cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia , I support the text , and hope that it will be interpreted as an incentive by the Serbian people and authorities .
the importance of common standards is an essential condition for instilling mutual trust in the Member States ' legal systems .
violence against women is both a global and European issue .
that is why the Rules of Procedure were amended and the stipulation introduced that 40 Members - it may not be formulated very clearly , but that was the intention of the reform - have to be in the Chamber and contest the quorum .
the European Union can try to stimulate , offer incentives for , promote and suggest the adoption of some of these measures .
this being said , the Commission would be open to an alternative wording , and I hope we will be able to strike the right balance between the Ombudsman 's important working contacts and the Treaties that does not impinge on the Commission 's institutional prerogatives .
however , although we are quick to denounce human rights in the world , we need first and foremost to be able to put our own house in order , as you said , Minister .
- Madam President , it is always a pleasure to be present with you in explanations of votes .
it can definitely be said that the recent gas crisis and the conflict in Georgia have created new tensions in relations with the Russian Federation .
I would like to remind Parliament that in 2008 , when we adopted the 2009 budget , our priorities were also the competitiveness of the European Union , growth and employment .
a politically and economically integrated EU also needs a social dimension more urgently than ever .
Sweden does not have an opt-out clause .
let us look first at the question of financing .
the peoples of Europe do not want systematically to be excluded from decisions that have a direct bearing on their everyday lives and in relation to which they have no right to inspect or to object .
I must start by welcoming and congratulating them .
in an index produced by a Japanese bank indicating vulnerability to food price rises , four of the forty most vulnerable countries are Member States of the European Union , with another state soon to become an EU member , and three states are the EU 's immediate neighbours .
on the roads , the toll is voluntary .
I therefore support this report , which will enable the European Union to better anticipate and react to any potential food crises linked to products of animal origin .
our task is now to mobilise the resources for dealing with the crisis and growing the economy in such a way that the 10 million Roma do not fall victim to the crisis , but become participants in the recovery .
you urge citizens to be ' open to change ' when , for workers , change equals losing their jobs and the certainty that they will not find new ones , thanks to your policies .
not only do the Member States fail to take advantage of the optional measures to reduce bureaucracy , but they also often counter Community concessions through stricter national provisions , thus depriving local companies of the opportunity to simplify procedures pursuant to Union legislation .
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Madam President , as a result of brutal ethnic cleansing in Darfur , around 300 000 people have died and 2.5 million have become refugees .
I believe that during the Lisbon summit , the priority topic of the visa regime applying to all Member States must be discussed .
you have made a very positive contribution towards this over the past year , Mr Diamandouros .
Member of the Commission . - ( EL ) Mr President , I should like to thank the rapporteur , Mrs Sârbu , on her diligence and efforts to achieve agreement at first reading on the proposal to amend Directive 98 / 8 on the placing of biocidal products on the market .
health has no price but does have a cost ; the directive , on the other hand - and that is a good thing - reaffirms both the principle of subsidiarity and the need for closer cooperation to bring the medical research networks and patient information centres closer together .
I should like to thank you , Commissioner , and I particularly welcome your decision in relation to reintroducing intervention as a short-term measure only because we have a crisis situation .
fourthly , we should ask why Europe is so attractive to immigrants .
the fundamental question is , therefore , where did that trillion come from ?
to close the first phase of this oral report on the European Ombudsman 's annual report , we expect constructive activity with the European Parliament to continue in the same way , for the activity of this institution to be promoted as a model of sound administration to the national administrative authorities and for this institution to continue to act as a communication channel between the European institutions and the citizens of Europe .
I am pleased that an agreement has been reached at first reading .
many of them have committed themselves to doing this in the future .
I will support this report , but I think we must be realistic in what can be achieved with wind or wave energy , especially when matched up with the ever-increasing energy demands of the EU .
if anyone is interested I will speak more about the Tripartite , but we agreed on three basic principles , which are to enable much greater flexibility in the labour market along with labour mobility and to put much greater efforts into boosting levels of education and skills among the workforce in such a way that they can be brought to bear on the labour market , etc .
first , Copenhagen must show that the drive to cut emissions is on its way ; second , it must show that we are prepared to help those ready to take that step .
for French Members of the Socialist Group , this report makes a positive contribution to resolving a public health problem that is clearly a matter of serious concern .
I have had to make compromises , and you said that they were reasonable .
a year ago in April 2008 we came up with the idea ' Debate Europe ' which gives an opportunity to break the often artificial divide between national and European issues .
institutions across Europe and in Member States who were responsible for dealing with such issues were absolutely paralysed and , quite frankly , if it had not been so serious , it would have been practically laughable .
at the same time , we need to do all we can to end the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians and between Israel and the Arab world .
( DE ) Mr President , Vietnam is a country that is becoming increasingly open to the European Union , but it has one serious stumbling block , and that is human rights and the fundamental freedoms .
is the European Commission preparing new measures and , if so , what are they , in order to tackle the rising unemployment among young people ?
in California there are some who want to ban smoking in people 's own homes , too , from 2009 .
they will be produced under the competence , and with the detail to be expected of , the Commission and what the Commission will say and what it will propose and recommend in its review will be very important in terms of what the Council will decide for the future and for the continued negotiation process with Croatia .
in truth , under the treaty , the European Parliament has to be involved - by voting , giving opinions , or being consulted - in the new interinstitutional agreement , in the next multiannual financial framework and in establishing new own resources .
this is wholly in accord with my view of the EU as a union of values .
a strong anti-Russian current is seen as a red thread in the text .
I agree that the Tribunal should be in a position to carry out its mandate , complete the ongoing trials and open new ones against the two indictees still at large .
as mentioned by the rapporteur , I would stress the need for the Commission and the Principality of Andorra to engage in further talks in order to take into account and if necessary to adapt bilateral agreements to the ongoing implementation of the Modernised Customs Code , which should be completed within the EU within two years .
we have also used the correct official title for the European External Action Service .
this was the first time that the European Union was able to explicitly recognise last year 's summit conclusions , in the study we presented some time ago , and now in the cultural agenda for the European Union at a time of globalisation .
employees who are being made redundant through no fault of their own , or because of the financial and economic crisis triggered by speculators in the USA and the United Kingdom , need rapid help .
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stability , security and development are interconnected processes .
also , some expectations which go beyond the competences that the treaties attribute to each of the institutions will have been corrected .
a sense of solidarity across generations and social groups must lie at the heart of all our efforts in future .
WEEE arisings are estimated to grow to 12.3 million tonnes by 2020 .
respect for convictions and rights must be of fundamental importance to the European Union .
Madam President , I believe that it has become very clear during the debate why we in Parliament want these delegated acts .
we welcomed that at the time , a few months ago , and we have looked forward eagerly to the proposals from the Commission that we were promised .
but what do we find here ?
round about the same time - in 1979 - Rhodesia , as it was still called , made elephants the property of whoever 's land they were roaming on .
there has been little mention of the fact that Bulgaria did not receive any assistance .
since when has the European ERTMS standard been available ?
this is an issue of whether there are people and mechanisms in place , both in the majority society and among the Roma .
( applause )
I would like to welcome the fact that the text detailing the European Council 's final conclusions referred to the particularly important role played by the cohesion policy and common agricultural policy in ensuring the EU 's competitiveness .
the vote will take place on Thursday , 31 January .
we all know that there is a large diversity of mountainous areas with differences in the economic and social situations .
anyone who works in this Parliament - and that , unfortunately , cannot be said of all the Members - needs staff .
let us look at one aspect at a time , starting with the proposals relating to Zimbabwe and Somalia .
I believe it is very important that the Italian government should do everything it can to fulfil its promise and ensure that the planned security package is not directed at any individual ethnic group , and that mass deportations are avoided .
then we will be able to say at the end of it that you fulfilled your priorities .
to quote Winston Churchill in his last great speech in the House of Commons : ' never flinch ; never weary ; never despair ' .
the next item is voting time .
even if most of the attention is turned to Georgia , taking into consideration the geographical situation of Azerbaijan , I believe we should also have in view the need to establish an EU - Azerbaijan partnership for supporting and continuing the EU 's energy projects .
Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , as this is the first time that I have spoken in front of a plenary sitting of the European Parliament , permit me to greet you all and express my pleasure , enthusiasm and sense of dedication at participating in this assembly , which represents all European citizens .
providing for varying degrees of harmonisation of standards will allow us to achieve important results , which will provide real added value for European citizens .
thank you on behalf of the ALDE Group .
but , of course , this should come this year if the External Action Service is to be operational .
my opinion stresses that all measures in the interests of children 's rights should give priority status to parents and immediate relatives of children .
I also welcome the fact that the Court of Auditors has included a chapter giving an account of the follow-up during the year to Parliament 's previous discharge decisions .
this is the total outlay on the Institute and the network of Knowledge and Innovation Communities ( KICs ) that are expected to absorb most of the funds .
I am also in favour of making contraception and education on these matters more easily accessible because this is the best way to avoid unwanted pregnancies .
the Ferreira report amends Regulation ( EC ) No 861 / 2006 on Community financial measures , one of the tools used to apply the common fisheries policy , alongside the European Fisheries Fund ( EFF ) .
however , we must also ensure that , while striving for market liberalisation , we are not perceived as interlopers wishing merely to secure access to resources and weakening regional solidarity in the process , as the critics would have us believe .
it is lamentable , however , that a report on the EU-African partnership should contain no word of mention about the problem of illegal immigration , a problem which is so pressing for both Europe and Africa , that leads to a brain drain from Africa and causes so many social problems in Europe .
regarding the financial question , Commissioner , I would like to know whether or not you are going to implement Article 105 ( 6 ) of the Treaty establishing the European Community , under which the Council may , acting unanimously on a proposal from the Commission , confer on the European Central Bank a task relating to the prudential supervision of credit institutions .
thus we must offer comprehensive support to organisations that aim to defend human rights , promote democracy and mobilise the country 's citizenry .
it is important for Europe to defend its regulatory measures against the US and not just to submit to a policy of excessive stimulation packages which can lead to hyperinflation .
we will give you our full support on this issue , so that we can produce a new strategy and so that you can say that this is one of the successful achievements of your Presidency .
the present crisis is not only a test of our common energy policy , but also of EU solidarity .
I therefore feel that he will not suffer any loss .
what is then the standard reaction of many in this House : if the EU did just a little bit more , then everything would be fine again !
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the ears of the President of the European Central Bank , Mr Trichet , must really be burning as this debate continues .
I totally agree with Minister Carlgren that we need to step up our efforts and cooperate closely to ensure that we do not waste this historic opportunity before us , namely to achieve in Copenhagen a global , overall , ambitious , scientifically-based agreement on climate change .
however , Mr Vanhecke is being prosecuted as the head of the publication .
freight transport logistics in Europe and sustainable mobility ( vote )
we have requested a review of the terms for accessing the European Social Fund and the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund in order to support more employees who are seriously affected by the economic crisis and job losses .
thank you very much for this debate .
( loud protests )
in 1948 , Burma was the world 's largest exporter of rice , the producer of 75 % of the world 's teak and the wealthiest country in south-east Asia .
these stresses lead to depression , burnout and similar disorders among around a third of carers .
while paying these outrageous fees may put innocent companies under severe financial hardship , the victims are often too small to afford the legal costs of bringing actions against these directory companies .
the Commission is aware of the need to speed up the registration procedures .
that high-risk EU mission , sanctioned by the United Nations , will have 4 000 Member State troops on the ground , seeking to protect and assist the 430 000 refugees and internally displaced people currently living in 42 camps .
the top priority in this area should be our responsibility to protect people and to make a contribution to preventing and resolving conflicts , as well as reconstruction .
( heckling )
( RO ) Given that this year , 2009 , has barely started , I would like to tell you all that , in my view , it is not any ordinary year .
it seems that the same will happen in the coming years : increasing animal welfare requirements for European producers but with no controls on imports from emerging countries .
colleagues , let me introduce , in a few words , our Lex signing of the Financial Supervisory Package .
we do not want to cover all the individual points here and now , but I believe that we will have to rely on these public services for the European identity , in particular , with regard to the transport problems that we have had , which indicate , for example , how important public rail services are .
I greatly applaud the work of the rapporteur , Toine Manders , and others who negotiated up to the last minute with the Council on a compromise at the second reading , which allows the more rapid introduction of new fibres in European manufacturing and improves product safety .
it merely limits the way the Court can use it and , ultimately , it will be up to the Commission and the Court to interpret it whenever a conflict might arise .
( the President cut off the speaker )
I hope that the summit will also help to strengthen our strategic partnership and open the way for constructive cooperation between us .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Of course , we have had a directive since January 2001 , when the Council and Parliament adopted the current directive on summer time in the European Union .
this has been one of the reasons why some of the market participants have been against the development of links and interoperability .
4 .
it is an imperative .
furthermore , I must stress that the new global approach to PNR data presented by the Commission in October and aimed at establishing general criteria specific to all PNR agreements is very positive in my view .
also , why did Foreign Minister Bildt not visit the region to show solidarity with democratic Israel and moderate Palestinians ?
you now need to do the wrong thing because you have failed for decades to do the right thing .
, in writing . - ( HU ) Dealing with the major challenges of climate change , making the measures instigated in this area more stringent and speeding up their creation are crucial tasks .
this is a good thing , because it gives the Member States and the European Union an opportunity at last to address effectively these topical issues relating to the use of the Internet .
I look forward to hearing your answers .
but the emerging economies are right to say that the target should be higher - perhaps 80 % - with interim targets .
the European Union lists human rights among its founding principles , so much so that their observance rightly constitutes a prerequisite for EU accession .
in order to resolve the situation , it is not an immigration policy that is needed but rather programmes that promote social inclusion .
on the one hand , these measures affect the free movement of the citizens of my country and primarily the opportunities for young people to have the same rights and chance which people of their age enjoy in other countries ; on the other hand , they generate economic problems for countries like Bulgaria , which have relatively small ports and will have to shoulder the heavy financial burden of providing the new screening equipment .
will it lessen the chances of countries intending to join NATO if Russia does not approve of their future membership ?
the report contains important principles and recommendations : the European Union should follow them so that it can defend the interests of all its members , so that it can speak with one voice , including to those outside the Union .
the report also pays insufficient attention to the danger of proliferation by terrorists and rogue states , as opposed to retention or replacement of weapons by the existing five NWS .
the fact that the Member States do not want this because the Commission and Parliament could then possibly get involved is , in my opinion , a mistake .
the EU must promote tangible , incisive action to safeguard human rights , freedom of expression and association and the principle of democracy , so that economic and social development on the African continent can be truly sustainable and involve all strata of African society .
we are also not making any progress in the second area which is of extreme importance with respect to police cooperation , namely the fight against organised crime and practical cooperation between police organisations .
the most significant type is known as ' the Iron Curtain between the East and the West ' in terms of major differences between the survival prospects of cancer patients , but we are also aware of significant differences within Member States themselves .
firstly , the principle of guaranteeing a common approach to regulations protecting children who cross our external borders is very welcome .
I am delighted with the progress made by Croatia in its accession into the European Union , including the amendment of the Constitution , the reform of the judiciary , freedom of the press , the protection of minorities , and closer cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia .
Mr Erdogan conducted himself like a victorious commander coming to inspect his troops in occupied territory .
there is definitely only one nation that never finds favour in the eyes of this Parliament , which is usually so quick to approve any economic , commercial or cooperation agreement with Cuba , the Chinese communist dictatorship or even the Turkey of Prime Minister Erdogan .
we need ambitious but still feasible targets and we need not be afraid to walk the path of an inevitable industrial revolution .
I would like to stress that the Commission has , since 2007 , invited the petitioner to bring the device into compliance by providing the missing clinical data and has facilitated contacts between him and the German authorities to that end .
in October 2008 , we learnt that in Portugal , the Minister for Foreign Affairs , Mr Amado , admitted that the former centreright government of Mr Barroso knowingly made Portuguese airports and air space available for illegal CIA flights .
in other words , we speak today about a true instrument of democratic control , performed in an autonomous and transparent manner , which can only be beneficial to the European Union .
this has been required by the G20 .
therefore , let us talk about a specific legislative proposal without delay , so that we can organise a discussion on the practical details of a kind of bankruptcy insurance .
I therefore call for discussions and cooperation with Latin America on the fight against climate change , so that the Copenhagen objectives can be achieved more quickly .
other messages have come in too though : from small shops in the United Kingdom which have made great efforts over the last two years to apply the HACCP principles and were proud to have managed it all .
this is mainly because of its unfair character and the fact it acts like a concealed tax .
may I ask the Commission , why is it taking so long ?
we shall fight for genuine reform of the international trade system orientated towards the introduction of rules for fair trade which comply with international rules in the field of social justice , respect for the environment , food sovereignty and security , sustainable agriculture , viable growth and cultural diversity .
their presence in these gaols is also a humanitarian issue .
in writing . - ( PL ) Overweight and obesity are problems which have reached epidemic proportions in recent times due to their negative impact on human health .
however complicated it may be , we need to return to the liberalisation of the market in services , and we need to review the services directive that was adopted .
I must therefore abstain , because the report has some positive aspects , but they are invalidated by the considerations expressed above .
Mr President , I would like to bring to your attention the fact that now we are actually going to have a referendum in Wales .
in future , patients in Europe must be able to have total confidence in the quality of the medicines which they obtain from legal suppliers , such as pharmacies .
( LT ) Madam President , I would like to thank all the rapporteurs for their excellent work .
however , the Council endeavours , and will continue to endeavour , to follow the rules and to apply openness with regard to its economic management .
this agreement therefore lays down a new balance for a more democratic European area and it is a good thing that all this is drawn up in an official agreement .
I think the system has reached the end of its life and I think the political groups need to think very seriously over the coming months about how we are going to arrive at a new budget procedure that is in line with the realities of Lisbon .
up to now , four JTIs have been set up in the field of innovative medicines , embedded systems and so on .
issues of solvency not only affect banks , but also concern insurance companies , and our monitoring mechanisms need to be adapted to deal with groups in this sector which may be consolidated or transnational .
very recently I went to Provence and Corsica to speak to the wine growers of my constituency , who had chosen the quality path , but who now feel abandoned .
in pledging EUR 89.7 million and EUR 8.3 million to Greece and Slovenia respectively the EU has shown that it is committed to fostering solidarity among its members .
( FI ) Madam President , I would like to express my thanks to all those here in Parliament who have made such a big contribution to the climate package .
however , I have to say that my report would not have been possible without the Commission , namely Mr Verheugen and his small business team , Mrs Le Bail and others .
I would repeat that , despite the extraordinary work of the Slovenian Presidency , two major issues were left open and were not tackled by any of the institutions , apart from the Commission .
generous funding for technology transfer , adaptation and mitigation measures and others will be a measure of our acceptance of our historic responsibility towards third countries , those most likely to bear the brunt of climate change , including adverse weather , desertification , coastal flooding and serious water shortages .
today , on completion of the first reading , Parliament is reasserting its role as budgetary authority by successfully increasing both commitment appropriations and payment appropriations in relation to the Council 's proposal , though still by less than we would like .
( blue card question to Mr Farage under Rule 149 ( 8 ) ) Madam President , I hope Mr Farage is not offended by a question from a citizen of the Irish Republic .
in view of these and many other effects and aware of the fact that we do not yet have a final figure for the material damage , which , of course , Spain will provide through its request for assistance from the Fund , we think that the European Commission should help these regions return to normal .
now , who is sending the SMSs ?
in conclusion , I count on your support .
Mrs Malmström , please forgive my frankness .
the EU must become a global leader and initiate strategies for protecting human rights worldwide .
( SL ) At the weekend , Slovenia and , in particular , the region of Lower Carniola , was alarmed by Renault 's decision to transfer its Clio production from Novo Mesto to France .
I hope that the completion of the Arad-Szeged pipeline will give some impetus not only to the Nabucco gas pipeline project , but also to the AGRI project , which will be used to transport natural gas to Europe via a route through Azerbaijan , Georgia and Romania .
the big question is how to finance the consequences of the crisis , and there the German Minister of Finance , together with the Chancellor , suggested that the G20 discuss the possibility of a global transaction tax .
investments in these areas will create jobs and ensure economic and social development .
as we know , the European Commission has , unfortunately , moved towards decoupling production aid , which has been instrumental in reducing tobacco production in Portugal , although tobacco is still being imported from producer countries .
the EU has been a leader in combating climate change , and should be encouraged to build on this leadership , although without forgetting the tremendous efforts that our industries have already made to respond to the mandatory reductions in emissions within Europe .
( DE ) Madam President , as my fellow Member has not answered the question , I will answer it on his behalf .
in particular , in difficult economic times , the black economy starts to grow which , of course , results in many people risking their lives in the search for the land of plenty .
approval of the Minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
it was precisely Christians who were affected . I cannot therefore understand where this neo-racism manifested by leading European politicians has originated .
within this framework , however , I would not leave out an analysis of the truly unique socio-economic situation in that , despite the crisis that followed the war , Lebanon saw its GDP grow by 4 % in 2007 .
however , the 2020 strategy aims to improve the framework conditions and access to funding for research and innovation to ensure that innovative ideas can be turned into goods and services creating growth and jobs .
the Commission is taking this very seriously .
at the same time , countries which have managed their finances in exemplary fashion , like Bulgaria and Estonia , will be punished for this crisis which has occurred , resulting more than likely in the postponement of their entry into the euro area .
you should know that this is one of the Presidency 's concerns , and that during the various summit meetings we will try to ensure that concrete expression is given to this objective , which is important to us all , Mr Higgins .
it therefore contains a horizontal social clause which states that the promotion of a high level of employment , adequate social protection and the fight against exclusion must guide the definition and implementation of all EU policies .
the ideal of reunification must not be allowed to be whittled away by replacing the former political disunity with economic division .
please may we therefore proceed with the vote as you have proposed .
in May 2010 , the Commission wrote to the Lithuanian Government expressing worries about the last-minute suspension of the Baltic Gay Pride event .
in other words , it has lost its right to take entirely independent decisions in one area of its external relations .
in the ESS report , it is rightly said that the links between internal and external EU policies have become more pronounced , which is clearly essential when we are considering issues such as energy security and climate change , or the focus on the security and development nexus and recognition of the importance of long-term poverty reduction as a means to reducing security threats .
consideration could have been given to the whole process that has taken place .
in writing . - I voted for this report to support the fishing industry in Ireland and Europe over the longer term .
it is very hard for Parliament to accept an unconditional assurance .
Mr President , it is highly likely that Ireland will be the only European country to hold a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty .
( for the results and other details on the vote : see Minutes )
I believe that it is essential that young people in the Western Balkans see themselves as Europeans , because it is in a European context that the solution to the future of the area lies .
( applause )
we need to create the kind of political structures that do not strive for exclusivity but share areas of competence .
we saw the consequences that had for some European companies ; we saw the effect it had on accounting and market standards .
if so , we need a positive plan for it .
( applause )
we see there is strong support across the political spectrum ; this is an important moment for Europe , a real mandate for boldness .
I believe that the framework agreement could be an opportunity to strengthen the political dialogue between Libya and the EU .
I agree that reform is needed to secure greater representation of developing countries to the IMF and World Bank .
there are really positive cases , for example , the position on Somalia : there are violations of human rights in that region .
Madam President , I would have preferred the European Parliament to have been spared this heavy legal defeat , and , in spite of everything , I offer my sincere regards to you and my fellow Members .
Member of the Commission . - What is the role of the Eurogroup ?
it is through this type of Union that we will successfully use foreign policy to improve the situation in the world .
( ES ) My Group wishes to table an oral amendment to paragraph 20 .
this is why we must remember today that the current debate is about rules which must be the same for everyone , about equality between Member States enshrined in the Treaty of the European Union and , last but not least , about Europe 's so widely acclaimed solidarity .
I voted for this regulation precisely to ensure lower charges for roaming customers , while at the same strengthening the rules on transparency of pricing .
protection of public figures remains the responsibility of the hosting state , in accordance with the legal provisions in force in that country .
the risk of ending up in some Doha-like process was the very reason why we applied so much pressure for Copenhagen in order to do our utmost to try and avoid that situation .
( PL ) Mr President , we should resist the temptation to be over-optimistic during today 's debate .
the problem is clearly not the individuals detained in the camps , but rather the fact that human rights are not being respected , despite the fact that all Member States , at least in theory , meet the Copenhagen criteria .
the acceptance of tourism by the citizens of the host country - in other words , the people who live and work there - is a key prerequisite in ensuring that tourists feel that they are genuinely welcome guests .
the media continue not to be free and there is no freedom of association .
I support the necessity of renewing economic and social agreements between financial institutions and the society they serve , and to increase the benefits to society in good times and protect it from dangers .
first of all , there are other people , too , who do not understand what visa-free travel actually entails .
we must not be guided by our fears or the fears of our citizens .
during the recent presentations of South Stream investment plans in Brussels , it was apparent that Russia and Gazprom want privileges and a special status .
this is a sensitive area of great concern to many of our stakeholders .
since the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon , the European Parliament has made a major contribution to the efforts to conclude these agreements , and therefore it must be fully and regularly informed of any developments relating to PNR data .
support must be given to the activists campaigning for respect for human rights and individual freedoms .
we do not believe that we should spend EUR 449 million on export subsidies in the dairy sector because what this does is to ruin markets elsewhere , primarily in Africa .
in Europe we aim for energy security and environmentally friendly , stable energy production .
since there have been thousands of new deaths in Japan , I wanted to ask if this fact might not be enough .
the European Union is the only political level in Europe that is debt free .
negotiations on the UN Arms Trade Treaty (
when it comes to funding , we have endorsed the demand that the EU needs EUR 30 billion by 2020 and that we must develop funding tools that are durable and predictable .
( CS ) Thank you , Mr President .
Israel must , at the very least , respect the principles of international law .
in this context , we cannot ignore the serious level of unemployment among young people .
time is running out ; this is actually a race against time .
this , to me , is the ticking time bomb .
I agree that we need to be more aware of how we use resources in our daily lives and to research new technologies .
he definitely did not mean human rights , I guess .
it is pointed out that as a Member of the Council of Europe , Russia is bound to comply with the principles on which the Council is founded . it is stated that compliance with those principles is vital to the success of negotiations on cooperation between the European Union and Russia .
however , this will be possible only if Member States can provide , with the assistance of the European Social Fund , the indispensable backing in the area of services , particularly childcare and elderly care .
I would like to give a warm welcome to our sitting to the President of the European Commission , Mr Barroso , and the Commissioners-designate .
if the Pope were to be considered a threat to human rights it would mean that the world would be standing on its head .
I am happy to make the reports available , but I cannot answer the question in detail right now .
culture means sharing and therefore it is in a spirit of openness that we wish to create this library , for interoperability will be a very important aspect , and this will apply not just to the books but also to all the other forms of culture : films , music , museum collections and so on .
steps have been taken and more are planned : publication of feedback statements , explaining the reasoning behind its decisions , pushing cost-benefit analyses and enlargement and more active involvement of the board of trustees .
the Commission 's own experts want an update .
achieving a balance between family life and work life is essential to applying the principle of equality in employment .
our decision is based on a genuine fear that tuna will be exploited and overfished .
we have a strategy paper on enlargement ; we have a series of reports on the progress made in the European Neighbourhood Policy - since many of you mentioned that - and we also have a communication on concrete follow-up measures to the EU-Africa strategy .
in addition we also now have a High Representative , who will have a double hat .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
at the same time , this claim has to apply in respect of third countries .
I am not entirely sure whether that includes cleaning staff , and I would welcome some clarification on that .
the establishment of the European External Action Service ( EEAS ) should contribute further to the development of a truly comprehensive European approach to civilian and military crisis management , conflict prevention and peacebuilding , and provide the EU with adequate structures , staffing levels and financial resources to meet its global responsibilities .
I voted in favour of the report on implementing the ' Education and training 2010 ' work programme because the report includes some very important passages , which I hope can find specific application in the sphere of EU policies and then be implemented in full by the Member States .
this will represent a green environmental revolution .
the reality today , however , is that that myth unquestionably influences the distribution of employment and the decision-making process associated with the funding of scientific research .
it is utterly irrelevant whether people belong to the majority or a minority - they surely need to receive aid .
( DE ) Mr President , Mr Vice-President , ladies and gentlemen , first I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate my good friend the rapporteur , Bogusław Liberadzki , on this really balanced and successful report .
in addition , it is absolutely vital that the present Objective 2 regions and the special challenges they face are taken into account .
there are also reports in the Parliament in Sofia and in the media in Bulgaria that there are serious doubts that the Ministry of the Interior can protect the information .
this is not because of climate change and the consequent warming up of the normally cold High North .
I believe that we have to continue our close cooperation with the ILO because its work in this field , and in others of course , applies very much to the European context .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
in other words , we will be taking a significant step towards having the implementing authority monitored by the legislative authority , and thus by sovereignty , within the European institutions .
among those involved in the management of science , we account for 27 % .
two matters are to be highlighted - the increases to payments on the main lines ( ERDF , ESF , Cohesion Fund ) for regional development , and the creation of a ' milk fund ' .
I cordially invite the Commission , who have already been involved , to help us complete the drafting because , after all , it was not in their original proposal .
the report voted on today aims to ensure access by both spouses to reliable information concerning divorce and separation proceedings and also the main issues in national and Community law .
such a change goes far beyond the leaders and parties that led the Rose Revolution .
that is why , given the average level of catches over the past three years , the reference tonnage has been increased from 55 000 tonnes to 63 000 tonnes .
to quote just a few figures , they generate 40 % of EU GDP and , at the same time , account for 40 % of trade in goods within Europe and 95 % of exports outside Europe .
in the same way we succeeded in fulfilling a task which many thought us incapable of ; the issue of institutional reform .
I believe human rights , those of women in particular , to be strengthened , not weakened , by this .
the aim of the Regulation is precisely to ensure that nutrition and health claims made on foods are truthful , clear and based on generally accepted scientific evidence , so that the consumer is adequately protected .
in order for standard-setting agreements to avoid having to be assessed under the competition rules and to fall within the so-called safe harbour - meaning where they are presumed to be in line with the competition rules - there are three general conditions that need to be met .
the initiatives we are discussing here this morning would facilitate that .
we should , in fact , be concerned with general interests .
Parliament 's request is clear , and the vote was an overwhelming one : we must now turn our words into deeds and implement the tax on financial transactions .
I welcome the measures aimed at improving the energy performance of products , buildings and services , improving the efficiency of energy production and distribution , reducing the impact of transport on energy consumption , facilitating finance and investment in the field , to encourage and reinforce sensible behaviour with respect to energy consumption .
this rule is valid for SISone4all and will also be valid for SIS II , for the second generation Schengen Information System .
the majority of these products can be harmful in use , causing various unpleasant symptoms .
it is clear that some Member States are taking advantage of the fact that we only have a single vote on the whole Commission in order to ease in candidates who might not succeed on their own merits .
in writing . - ( IT ) Violence against women is an international as well as a European problem .
deputising for the author . - Madam President , the volume of complaints regarding misleading directory companies shows that this is a serious problem for SMEs .
this is a way of strengthening the European dimension of the system so that individual Member States do not feel pressured into acting unilaterally .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I wanted to draw your attention to the fact that there has been talk of liberalising the banking system , but we all know that after Basel II a monopoly emerged in this sector and we saw entire businesses , entire economic units wiped out precisely as a result of the monopolisation of the financial system .
we are asking for a major effort to be made with regard to training , particularly through the European Social Fund .
well , I gave my rose to a man .
dear Commissioner , dear colleagues , we consider it is time to go from making statements about what we should do to doing what we should do .
we all have to play a role and the Commission will use the forthcoming review of the country strategy papers to devise more coherent policy approaches at country level , as suggested in the report , to ensure that our actions in the fields of protection and promotion of human rights , democracy promotion , electoral support and development assistance aiming at improving democratic governance and the rule of law are mutually reinforcing .
but is Mr Solana singing from the same hymn sheet ?
this has nothing to do with the fictitious reason we have been given , and I would urge colleagues to vote against this delay and vote in favour of Amendment No 4 .
other possible advantages include long distance medical diagnosis , smart energy grids and greater political accountability at local level .
we have the issue of gas supplies to European citizens .
the European Union and the Member States must prepare for all eventualities .
I would like to ask you to think about whether we should try this .
the floor is yours .
spouses often ' compete ' over which one of them is the first to apply for divorce in order to ensure that the divorce proceedings are governed by a law which best protects the interests of the relevant party .
I have made this clear publicly , expressing my dismay over the lack of transparency in the case and that the Dutch authorities were refused consular access .
Mrs Wallis 's motion for a resolution favours the creation of an optional instrument for European contract law for consumers and businesses by virtue of a general regulation , and this is why I voted in favour of the text .
we should also relaunch the Union for the Mediterranean on a moral basis in terms of its requirements and on a practical basis in terms of its achievements .
in July , the real effective exchange rate of the euro against the rest of our partners ' and competitors ' currencies was extremely high , and there was a clear overvaluation of the effective exchange rate of the euro .
however , it is also a duty for 14 EU States which colluded with the Bush Administration in subcontracting torture to Guantánamo and secret prisons , as this Parliament pointed out .
we have always been consistent .
we are talking not about limited groups here , but about the overwhelming majority of those who come to Europe without any vocational training .
the European Union and its bodies , as well as all the Member States , are therefore urged and called upon to cooperate forcefully and effectively , so as to prevent these situations .
I am firmly opposed to the report on those grounds .
in other words , we need to change the way we produce and consume goods if we want our economies to be sustainable .
for this reason I would like to congratulate the European Ombudsman , Mr Diamandouros , for his dedication and his professionalism , because what he does is very important for ordinary people .
it is essential to take measures to support entrepreneurialism among women and to combat all manifestations of gender-based discrimination .
if we take that approach , then legitimacy and democratic scrutiny will be missing .
I have received six motions for resolutions tabled in accordance with Rule 110 ( 2 ) of the Rules of Procedure .
the EU must see in its partnership with the developing countries the opportunity to influence public policy to save children 's lives .
we will also say to the cattle feed manufacturers that if they wish to innovate in their production processes and their cattle feed composition , for example , this is a good compromise that will help them do this .
the EU has the Solidarity Funds and also promotes integration projects , whereas Latin America does not have such opportunities .
we have also noted that Singapore , the current Chair of the ASEAN , has at least responded with a national statement in which it hopes that the current protests can be resolved peacefully .
is the situation any better today , Commissioner ?
in short , in two years ' time , we will have a consolidated system for levying these charges throughout the European Union .
- Before the vote on recital O :
I will now come to nuclear energy .
the question which arises , and the answers which were heard earlier , are this : alright , the issue may be regulated in 2013 .
the new definitions proposed by the Commission are necessary to bring the legislation into line with economic realities .
therefore we cannot fail to consider how to tackle the root of this problem , that is to say by guaranteeing fair access to natural resources for everyone in the world - that is what we must do .
this is why we must harmonise our approaches in the area of economic policy more closely than in the past and , in light of this , trusting that there is agreement among the political groups , I ask that we support the Andersson report and vote to adopt it .
I think now is the time for the institutions of the European Union to react vigorously to defend this European tradition ; its political essence is very important and it is vital for the maintenance of intellectual creativity .
that is not my belief .
with the Lisbon Treaty now in force , this House has acquired increased powers and our working relationship with the Commission must adapt accordingly .
of course , Greece 's borrowing requirements would be smaller and Greece would be able to raise money more easily on the markets , had there not been such a delay , six months now , on the part of the present Greek Government .
Mr Lamberts , I implore you to keep it brief , let us see if you can enlighten your colleague with your point of view in just thirty seconds , shall we ?
Japan is stockpiling en masse .
in amongst all that , there is encouragement that we should be giving , here at home in Europe , to structures , to NGOs , to social enterprises , which could be supported in their work to help the poorest countries or developing countries , notably in this sphere of health .
( EL ) What grief , what suffering , what pain , what hate terrorism involves !
on the other hand , the directive should also ensure that the Union 's peripheral regions are able to compete fairly in the emissions trading system .
it is necessary to seek a balanced relationship with these countries too , especially where European interests are involved .
the UMP and Modem are raising the spectre of unsustainable deficits to justify unprecedented austerity measures throughout Europe from 2011 .
the reason is the most recent science presented after the IPCC reports , and the message is that climate change is both more rapid and more serious than experts thought only a few years ago .
on occasions we may get it wrong , but nobody can argue with our democratic accountability and with our democratic mandate to speak on behalf of the people .
to conclude , I should like to say that we are working together towards the construction of a responsible approach to arms exports , and I should like to thank the European Parliament for its assistance in this matter .
( FR ) Madam President , the excellent report by Mr Lange has three positive features .
thank you for all your work .
the vehicle industry is going to undergo a major transformation , which has already begun .
dates for next sittings : see Minutes
we need to look at the following question , if we do not want to take ourselves too seriously .
unfortunately , nothing happened .
maternity leave must be guaranteed in all the Member States and for all women , regardless of their employment .
moreover , it is not just a case of being able to exercise these powers as the European Parliament ; from now on it will actually be an obligation , since the citizens of Europe can call us to account as their elected representatives over the manner in which we deal with these matters .
- ( EL ) Mr President , our greatest concern regarding the proposals for a solution for Kosovo relates to the attempt to place a unilateral declaration of independence on a legal footing , and this would have momentous consequences for international law .
'The European Ombudsman seeks fair outcomes to complaints against European Union institutions , encourages transparency and promotes an administrative culture of service .
however , the report also says , as the Chairman of my group , that this cooperation between Parliament and the Council could be improved , especially in terms of timing .
I do believe so , though it will be difficult , complex and not without conflict .
if commercialisation of human organs is not possible , then trafficking will be more difficult .
currently , it is common practice - and , more worryingly , an accepted practice - for public authorities to pressurise SMEs to sign off agreements allowing the delayed payment of bills .
as the rapporteur points out , however , defence of the consumer must not serve as an excuse for market protectionism .
numerous measures must be taken ( for example , ecodesign ) so that the way we consume and manufacture items in Europe becomes more sustainable , without additional costs being imposed on businesses and citizens .
I commend the inclusion of sport in the Lisbon Treaty , the requirement for the 2009 budget to have a separate budget line for the activities in the field of sport , and the development of measures for its promotion in the Member States .
we must take all that into consideration before we move on to further regulation .
there is a danger that we are going to put so many regulations in place that it will be cost-prohibitive , particularly for farmers and people exporting cattle from an island nation like Ireland .
we thought it could not get any lower .
Mr President , I think nobody will be surprised to hear me say again that solidarity with refugees and displaced persons should constitute a fundamental element of EU policy in the areas of asylum and immigration .
I am therefore most grateful to my colleague Georgios Papastamkos for being able to introduce numerous important themes into the committee debate , and I am most grateful that the ALDE Group has tabled various amendments for tomorrow 's plenary that move in this direction .
although I would personally have preferred 18 weeks , I did eventually vote in favour of 20 weeks in the final vote .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , as my colleague , Luc Chatel , has just said , it falls to me to speak to you about the very important issue of the digital dividend .
recalling dangerous Chinese toy imports can only be the last resort .
in particular , Mr Häusling 's report highlights the fact that more than 40 million tonnes of crop proteins , mainly soy beans and corn gluten feed , are imported annually into Europe , representing 80 % of the EU 's crop protein consumption .
we have to ask whether some states should have entered the euro area as early as they did .
yes , Hungary has been put under pressure , especially due to the rapid depreciation of the forint , which hedge funds have been partially responsible for .
but I would like to lay special emphasis here on his human qualities of generosity , companionship and tolerance .
( ES ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , if as the European Union we want to construct a coherent energy policy and speak with once voice on the international energy stage , it is essential that we have complete and reliable statistics that enable us to make comparisons easily .
since then it has been repeatedly said that somehow we are not succeeding .
the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy indicates the need for more funding for small and medium-sized enterprises , but this , too , is a drop in the ocean .
I believe that unless the Commission intends to modify its purely bureaucratic and highly unfair method of managing the sugar reform , the best thing to do would be to abolish sugar quotas as quickly as possible and liberalise the sugar market .
I therefore call on you to reject these amendments so that we can make good the significant progress achieved in our agreement with the Council over protecting the environment and public health .
anyone who wants to combat poverty - as Mr Fatuzzo has already said - must really focus more intensely on the older generation .
the interval between diagnosis and presentation was substantially greater among injection drug users than among other risk groups .
funding is extremely important , and it could be a little more ambitious , since it is being stated here that this level is credible and necessary .
this is another report on the Internal Market , and it is part of the package relating to the Commission communication on the Single Market Act , the proposal of which follows on from Mr Monti 's report on ' A new strategy for the Single Market ' .
we consider foreign policy as a key EU policy to be equipped with a proper institutional set-up , which the Lisbon Treaty brings about , proper instruments , and adequate financing out of the EU budget .
now farmers are well used to battling the weather to survive , but on this occasion these small areas could and should be helped .
( ES ) Mr President , Commissioner , European farmers , and Spanish farmers in particular , need , and I would say that they are demanding , a minimum degree of stability .
the second point is that I believe that we should review the nominal convergence criteria , and we should ensure that we adapt the criteria to the new conditions , in particular the inflationary criteria and the method of calculating the benchmark , so that they will enable those new Member State economies that are very dynamic to join the Euro Zone .
I declare the session of the European Parliament adjourned .
I wonder how much longer we are going to use this kind of classification for equal Member States of the European Union .
Mr Medvedev has also agreed , which is a very good point , that the refugees may return , and not just the refugees who have left since these recent events , in other words in the last month , but the refugees who have left since the 1990s .
the compromise suggested by the Presidency is this : no re-ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon for those who have already done so , and no amendment of the Treaty of Lisbon .
this also goes for the population of Kosovo .
first , the relationship between bilateral and multilateral agreements .
moreover , the European Parliament will be able to help citizens achieve these goals by making use of all the means in its power to support the citizens ' initiatives of its choice , notably through the organisation of public hearings or the adoption of resolutions .
we lack instruments that would enable convergence between these economies , which would enable Europe to regain its balance , which would enable Europe to grow .
this is an incredibly important issue .
after a long time , European regulation has been born , so that puts everyone in a competitive situation .
would the Council agree that , without proper up-to-date information , we cannot be expected to make informed choices and decisions ?
also the continuing high investment in convergence of supervisory practices and constant improvement of the prudential framework clearly shows that we have not underestimated the importance of a framework which promotes financial stability .
faced with this shocking crime , the European Parliament does not have a single word of condemnation for Israel .
it is also important to emphasise that this assistance is not a substitute for the responsibilities normally incumbent upon companies , nor is it intended for the financing and restructuring of companies .
we are expanding the railways with our money at the same time as the rail companies are hacking transport routing to pieces with national timetables .
in my opinion , the proposed solutions will increase the efficiency of the European public tender system in the field of defence .
then it would be quite straightforward for us as budget rapporteurs to do statistical analysis .
in Europe we have millions of unemployed people and at the same time millions of empty jobs requiring skilled employees .
I would therefore like to say that I know that we have more to do .
so there have indeed been good cases where , for social reasons , there has been more flexibility and more social spending , but that was a way of avoiding a further rise in unemployment , which remains my prime concern nowadays .
that is more than a quarter of all Schengen visas issued worldwide .
something did not quite work out there .
the people of Egypt are seeing their legitimate expectations met .
consumers confuse the designation of the place where food is processed with the place of origin of the agricultural product .
schooling is a fundamental issue that we should today reaffirm .
we must vehemently condemn the various attacks against Christian communities throughout the world but , in particular , in Africa , Asia and the Middle East .
the European Network of Ombudsmen , to which the Committee on Petitions of the European Parliament also belongs , has approximately 90 offices in 31 countries .
when participating in the preparation of various documents , Members of the European Parliament often face the dilemma of deciding how much control and regulation is necessary before they become an end in themselves and paralyse the actual controlling activities .
they refuse to countenance binding European laws to protect us and our neighbours from climate change , the abuse of workers ' rights and abuse of the market .
I would therefore ask the Member States properly to apply the directives on equal treatment between women and men in employment matters .
I voted , like the majority in Parliament , in favour of the recommendation , which I welcome , as it gives a strong indication of support and encouragement for the Republic of Moldova 's pro-European tendency .
there have been consistent demands from the European Union side in discussions with Japan .
I should like to make clear once more that we are not creating a separate line for intellectual property here , but rather making reference to the legislation already in force , which also applies to this field .
there should be only one budget priority - slash spending and stop robbing Britain .
the report by our friend , Mr Giegold , asks questions of you , Mr Rehn , which come under your responsibility and not that of the European Central Bank .
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the reason is obvious , as where there is a need to generate high profits , there are poorly paid employees ; there is poorer training and gaining of qualifications , as this is costly ; there are fewer controls , as controls cost money ; and ultimately - we have seen this everywhere - when everything goes wrong , there are incredible costs involved for the public in clearing up the mess caused by liberalisation and privatisation .
the real issue regarding Iran is that the United States and the EU both know that peak oil production has already ended in many countries .
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all in all , one thing has become clear : we will only be able to achieve our objectives if we in fact have a regional policy that reaches all the regions of Europe .
otherwise , victims will have to wait many years , not only in this case , but also in other cases .
I would also like to express my thanks for the support I received for my amendments .
we know that physical education prepares children for a healthy lifestyle , passing on important social values such as self-discipline , solidarity , team spirit and fair play .
( PL ) Madam President , we are optimistic about today 's debate , because it seems to me there is a great deal of unanimity here .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Madam President , we are discussing the report on energy labelling , which is of the utmost importance for several reasons .
on the issue of rare diseases , we have also achieved a compromise that is better than what we were pursuing first time round .
in the responses to the public consultation , around two-thirds of stakeholders commented on standardisation .
I voted for this document as I am myself part of that same younger generation shaping the future of the EU and I am concerned about the sort of future that awaits me and people of my generation .
firstly , the Socialist Group in the European Parliament has requested that the vote on the report by Mrs Kósáné Kovács on the social situation of the Roma be held tomorrow instead of on Thursday as scheduled .
in writing . - ( SV ) The June List believes that the common agricultural policy ( CAP ) should be abolished and that agricultural products should be sold on a free market without the EU investing financial resources in information campaigns and sales-promotion measures for these products .
according to a 2004 EC taxation survey , compliance for small SMEs costs about 2.6 % of their sales and 31 % of taxes paid .
( SK ) Madam President , I would like to begin by supporting the efforts of the rapporteur to launch a debate in the European Parliament on the media environment .
it would cost a great deal of money and generate a great deal of paper , which would simply be filed away in Brussels .
I remember Mr Leinen from the days when he was still an upstanding democrat .
if our Member States , mindful of budgetary constraints , can invest less in education , training , research and innovation , let us do so at European level by combining our resources and , therefore , by achieving economies of scale .
we welcome the re-evaluation of Article 68 thanks to the Member States ' autonomy of decision .
it is an element of the Dutch Government - not all of it - that is constantly claiming that money is being squandered in Europe and therefore Europe should get less money .
by adopting with a resounding majority the report by my colleague , Barbara Weiler , on the proposal for a directive on late payments , the European Parliament has introduced balanced and clear rules which promote solvency , innovation and jobs .
however , the Council cannot take a view on the internal organisation of the next Commission which , in line with the Treaty , is a matter for the President of the Commission .
now we have been allowed to have individual votes on an own-initiative report .
we are letting the perpetrator go unpunished and are playing fast and loose with the victim .
we have our Television without Frontiers Directive , which is now implemented in an Audiovisual Services without Frontiers Directive , where I hope very much that the video-on-demand services can become Europe-wide services .
firstly , then , we need to ensure proportionality and purpose .
I wish I had more conviction that within the Commission there was agreement that this really should be considered and done .
if we do not exploit these resources in a sustainable way , we will move quickly towards the extinction of fish species and increased maritime pollution .
moreover , it is well known that there are currently two legal systems in Europe , with different characteristics and rules .
this notice would be published in the Official Journal before the entry into force of the regulation so as to provide the necessary legal certainty to all interested parties .
the bilateral meetings showed that most Member States strongly supported the headline targets and were ready to set ambitious national targets to meet the headline targets set by the Spring Council .
we look forward to close cooperation with the European Parliament , enabling us to achieve a final resolution which will again show citizens the benefits brought by the EU in the area of passenger rights .
( it ) Mr President , Commissioner , Schengen is certainly an heirloom of civilisation of the highest value .
the directive will be reviewed by 1 January 2017 .
I would say that one of the primary functions of the European Union is to guarantee fair competition for all , and particularly for SMEs and , of course , consumers .
the EU imperialist policy , which supports the resolution , exacerbates the problems of workers in Kosovo , exploitation , corruption , crime and the rate of capitalist restructurings , offering them immigration as the only way out .
I will also defend - as we have done over the years and sometimes in difficult circumstances - the integrity of the single market because , without a single market and without a cohesion policy , we will never have a European Union .
it is paradoxical that research and innovation , which we so frequently cite as the driving force behind our economic growth and competitiveness , has only a minor role in what is a vital sector for promoting European trade .
the European Union must use all the resources at its disposal to deal with the consequences of the economic crisis .
additionally , special emphasis is placed on guaranteeing that the information given to the consumer is precise and useful .
therefore we thought it was appropriate to add to paragraph 7 the following : ' in this context insists that the authorities of Islamic Republic of Iran urgently abolish the practice of stoning ; condemns strongly the recent execution by stoning of Vali Azad , and expresses great concern over the pending execution of Mohammad Ali Navid Khamami and Ashraf Kalhori ; ' .
we are relatively lucky in the UK to have had only three reported cases , but that is today : tomorrow , things could change , and we must be vigilant .
this agreement aims to replace certain provisions in the existing 47 bilateral air services agreements concluded between EU Member States and Member States of the West African Economic and Monetary Union ( WAEMU ) .
in order to make the right decisions we need a long-term strategy in this area , which we will be able to consider as early as next month .
if there is further speculation against individual countries , we must be in a position to make credit available under average European rating terms .
it is our responsibility to make sure our children , grandchildren and great-grandchildren have clean air to breathe and clean water to drink .
why did the Council only come up with this plan at the very last minute in the summer , while Parliament was still to get started ?
we will endeavour to secure the remaining EUR 2.4 billion through a compensation at the conciliation of the 2010 and 2011 budgetary procedures by using all - and I quote , because it is important - ' by using all means foreseen in its legal framework and without prejudice to the financial envelopes of the co-decided programmes and the annual budgetary procedure ' .
it provides European citizens with a new right whereby one million citizens may ask the European Commission to propose a new EU law , thus bringing Europe closer to its citizens .
it is important that we help to ensure that there is an improvement in the control of timber products and the timber we import .
the current economic and financial crisis is jeopardising various programmes in the area of energy security , which is detrimental to our future economic growth and success .
unfortunately , none of these amendments were adopted , and I therefore voted against the report .
although in most Member States the difference between women and men , as regards poverty , is increasingly shrinking and the average difference is 2 % as regards poverty and persistent poverty , I would like to draw attention to the reality in the new Member States .
the compromise subsequently reached between negotiators from the Socialist Group in the European Parliament and the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe , which was also acceptable to the European Commission and the Council , has today received broad support from Parliament .
in writing . - ( FR ) I support this initiative providing the European Union with a new development policy instrument to tackle the key problems linked to the rise in food prices that has sparked riots , unrest and instability in several countries , threatening the results of many years of investment in politics , development and peace keeping .
the Social Democratic Group has requested postponing the joint debate on the reports by Mrs Bowles and Mrs van den Burg on Community statistics to the October part-session in Strasbourg .
I wish to withdraw my name from this report and appeal to everyone in this House who genuinely wants a tax policy for the European Union which not only serves the interests of the top ten thousand but genuinely benefits the majority of Europe 's citizens : please , vote against this report .
( PT ) Madam President , after all the sound bites during the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion , the European Commission continues to demonstrate complete indifference when faced with worsening poverty , particularly child poverty , unemployment and massive increases in the numbers of poor workers due to precarious and poorly paid work .
both entities must strengthen the state as a whole .
our immediate priority is to see Kenya return to a state of normality , by which I mean a peaceful society in which the democratic process is not in doubt .
the Council remains seriously concerned about the human rights situation in Cuba , in particular , the lack of progress for civil and political rights .
it is now actually 10 years since this important criminal court was founded , and I would hope that the Ugandan Government will examine its own legislation from every angle to ensure that it is in line with international agreements and will comply with the principle of non-discrimination .
I hope those who are responsible will be identified and appropriately punished , but I hope this matter will also be cause for reflection on the model of agriculture which has arisen in the European Union . agriculture has become an industry .
in accordance with the tradition of spring summits , this one will also be devoted to economic issues , especially the Lisbon Strategy , as well as to climate change , energy and financial stability .
however , we can see that this peace is being jeopardised by other enemies and one major enemy is violence .
moreover , we will not accept a catalogue of indicators that is based on the legislation .
there is only the option of independence for Kosovo , which will then give rise to a number of problems in the region , or else we could decide not to recognise an independent Kosovo , which would also give rise to a number of problems in the region .
that is why I am asking you this question very precisely and I would like you to start this whole debate again from scratch , instead of waiting until 2012 .
this means that we can only deal with human rights issues at the end of April , which is too late .
the matter is now in the hands of the Council .
we want to be reassured that you are definitely ruling out US conditions in Europe .
similar transitional measures are now provided for claims referring to children 's development and health .
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however , like Mrs Van Brempt , Mr Turmes and others , I am of the opinion that we need to go a step further , because - if I may say so - a sensible , environmentally sound energy policy is almost like a launch vehicle for green growth and green jobs .
otherwise , we can not make progress .
incidentally , I am pleased that the Council is still here .
I find that this attitude poses a risk , and a serious one at that , to the values on which our society is based .
there certainly remains much to do in this task of gaining greater awareness of others , and we are far from the dialogue of cultures on which we vowed to make progress in 2008 .
fears therefore need to be faced in terms of their proper proportions and justification .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the joint EU-Africa Strategy is first and foremost a great challenge , a time for us to show that we are capable of taking a fresh look at ourselves and our policies .
in writing . - I voted for this first reading report on Commission plans to protect soil .
in adopting the report on the proposal for a directive on the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste , Parliament is showing that it is particularly sensitive to this issue and demonstrating a clear desire to find common , definitive solutions to the storage of nuclear waste in Europe .
this would be impossible .
video games are now the favourite recreational activity of young people in Europe and beyond .
I welcome the objectives adopted by the Council on 14 April 2010 on the need to reduce the major disparities between Member States in terms of heat efficiency in buildings , as well as the proposed target of all buildings achieving zero energy consumption by 31 December 2020 , based on gradual steps being taken by Member States in 2015 and 2018 .
the European Council held in 2007 declared the Nabucco project to be a project of European interest for the diversification of energy sources and energy security within the Union .
this is an important point , which will require the European institutions to adopt a firm stance in relation to the Kingdom of Morocco .
appointment of the executive director of the European Banking Authority ( EBA ) (
to achieve this goal , we must promote all forms of cooperation with the aim of disseminating a common European judicial culture .
that , I believe , will help us put an end to this debate and enable us to finally get a European patent .
2013 is just around the corner .
we need to have more and better coordination with Europol .
the effect of this is that the EU is losing out on customs revenue , which is an important source of finance , given that it makes up 15 % of the EU budget .
the Záborská report makes it clear that for women , the decision as to whether or not to go out to work still represents a choice between two unequal alternatives .
the vote will take place on Tuesday at 12 noon .
many voters consider this chaotic Europe as a fraud paradise .
Member of the Commission . - In effect , the procedures that were in force at the time of the historic events that I recounted in my answer were as I stated : there was a clear separation between Member States and the European authority - a separation that is still , in fact , in force and jealously guarded by Member States .
today is a historic day in many respects .
we must go beyond the Council 's decisions .
statistics ignore the situation .
for this reason , we request your support for an oral amendment that would support the strengthening of women 's positions and respect for their rights .
now the question is how to put this into practice in the Member States .
the EU cannot continue to ignore these facts .
as a result , the agreed goals and reference levels were included in the wording of the key guidelines .
thank you very much , Commissioner , for that reassurance .
I believe that transparency is necessary for the forthcoming appointments .
some of the areas which the package focuses on include the needs of displaced persons inside the country and on economic measures aimed at generating economic growth and stimulating job creation .
we can only be proud of this military engagement , which has seen the sacrifice of thousands of young soldiers of the International Security Assistance Force contingent , among them many Europeans and many young people from my own country , because it is not only a military commitment but also a commitment to reconstruction .
second , we definitely missed an opportunity in 2004 when we discussed the Gas Supply Security Directive .
this sustainable development has three components which must be put together : economic , environmental and social .
it is to the credit of representatives of the European Parliament that we are standing up today in defence of the rights of a Muslim minority in Burma .
whilst the air quality plans have to be communicated to the Commission within two years of the exceeded limit measured , the competence and responsibility for deciding on the measures to be included in the air quality plans rests entirely with the Member States .
I think that , after the vote tomorrow , we will be very strong and will also send a strong message .
I have had the opportunity to visit all the Member States .
these are some of the matters that need to be considered .
in writing . - ( HU ) I welcome the unified European efforts at addressing the crisis and the initiatives aimed at preserving European jobs and creating new ones .
( DE ) Mr President , I just wanted to provide a brief explanation .
I believe that Mr Almunia is well aware of all the problems we are experiencing with different databases , their use , security and the possibility of their being used for the wrong purpose .
this country is in a really very serious situation , in which human rights and the chance to oppose a dictatorial government must get the European Union interested ...
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however , the European funds must now be provided quickly and with no red tape , so that these people can find a new job as quickly as possible .
the aim of European Epilepsy Day is to explode the myths and remove the stigmas surrounding a condition that six million people suffer from within the European Union .
we were told that in a single currency , Member States would no longer be able to devalue their way out of trouble , and would instead have to reform their economies to make them more competitive .
student mobility and high-quality education are supposed to be among the top priorities of the Bologna Process , but the process itself , and particularly the rushed introduction of bachelor 's courses , has resulted - as we have learned from our hearings - that fewer students dare to spend any study time abroad during their bachelor 's courses because these courses have been overladen with far too much learning material .
tax evasion and tax fraud eat away at the tax base and honest citizens and companies are left to foot the bill for the taxes that fraudsters avoid paying .
I must also mention that in the light of these challenges , after 2013 the CAP must send out strong signals and provide answers to the concerns of both the rural community and wider society through a strong , sustainable , well-funded , credible and multi-functional food policy .
the answer is bicycles , scaffolding , fire alarms , bread and plant-based products , and so forth .
its role and activity are even more important at a time of crisis such as the present .
the vote will take place shortly .
China is now willing to associate itself with this coordination mechanism and to participate in the protection .
however , the role of Parliament is proving a little more difficult to find agreement on with the Council .
of course we need budgetary discipline and less debt . however , economic policy is not just a simple mechanical sequence of procedures .
trafficking in human beings is an abomination that the European Union unfortunately cannot ignore .
the next item is the Council and Commission statements on the European Code of Conduct for Arms Exports .
hundreds of letters of complaint are still being received from new victims .
we should wait for the experts to carry out the assessment .
it also enabled us to demonstrate a consistency of approach in our work : to make trade and commerce less impervious to concepts of human rights , labour law and environmental law .
the first is that you might still use your rock solid competence in the field of competition to ascertain whether the massive State aid promised by some Member States is really compatible with the European rules .
Romania is a faithful ally of the US within NATO and is involved in the battle against terrorism , primarily in Afghanistan .
Mr President , chance often has a hand in things .
this is a matter for all Member States , I repeat , all Member States , because the European Union 's competitiveness is important for countries both within and outside the euro area , and it depends on us all jointly .
it seems to me that the deal that was done on this wording in a private conversation between Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Chancellor Merkel has given incumbents , such as Deutsche Telekom , a huge advantage .
however , this also means that Parliament must in future extend its own supervisory procedures .
I can therefore assure you of my total support for the proposals made in the European Parliament and Pan-African Parliament joint proposal and repeated in the report .
it is thus a constitution : financially , politically and legally .
in particular , the agreement must respect the social and environmental models of both parties - of the EU Member States and of Canada - and their capacity to continue to legislate in what are sensitive areas for our societies .
they will be if we approve the compromise tomorrow ; it will then be easier in future to take account of how allergy sufferers are affected by additives .
let us not allow ourselves to be blinded by our ideological preferences .
if we just look at the number of people receiving unemployment benefits , there are 23 million people who need to receive unemployment benefits in order to be able to live with dignity .
we are also trying to improve the work of the European Defence Agency and to take up some of the challenges that we have clearly seen in the responses that we have had in recent weeks , especially in Libya .
furthermore , the Iranian authorities have turned violating human rights into a habit .
in the European Parliament 's report on equality between men and women in the European Union , we therefore established that it is crucial to eliminate the gender pay gap , to stop violence against women and trafficking in women , guarantee maternity leave and create suitable conditions to take advantage of the services of nurseries and childcare centres and reduce female poverty .
we must welcome the spirit of this report positively , because with this report , Parliament is calling for the introduction of a new CAP in 2013 that cuts down on bureaucracy for farmers .
to the fellow travellers of Sinn Fein who are propagating misinformation on the Lisbon Treaty , I say to you that there is a triple lock system in Ireland on the deployment of troops : first of all , there must be a UN decision ; secondly , there must be a government decision ; and thirdly , it must be approved by Dáil Éireann , the national parliament .
could I just ask one more question ?
( SK ) I voted for the report by my fellow Member Mr Adamou on organ donation and transplantation .
the European political parties contribute to creating European political awareness and expressing the will of citizens .
Europe has chosen a food model to protect its population .
this means implementing a range of measures to ensure local and high-quality agricultural production of high-quality foodstuffs , including milk , fruit and vegetables , and their distribution to people on low incomes .
we need an immediate moratorium on modified products until we can establish that they are not to blame for the death of bees , for this threat to our diet .
in the first eleven months of last year alone , 225 new routes were developed , which actually means 1800 new flights every week .
for transactions not concluded within national boundaries , it is necessary for measures that fall mainly within national competence to be accompanied by measures of joint accountability at European level , exchanges of good practices and formal tax obligations .
perhaps - and this is my final comment , Madam President - it is already quite something for you to hearten Parliament by actually looking closer into the implementation of the Services Directive ; after all , I have heard many positive reports in this regard .
what we are proposing is that you in fact create four clusters , or groups , of Commission portfolios : external action , obviously , then innovation , climate change and sustainability , followed by everything to do with financial and economic justice , and , lastly , internal affairs .
we should also give our support to information campaigns and training that encourage young beekeepers to become active in the sector .
I welcome the aspiration expressed in Mrs Lucas 's report aimed at tightening controls and creating an effective sanction system .
this vision gains new importance in today 's troubled political and economic situation .
as the rapporteur accurately observed , small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) are the backbone of European society and the engine of our economy .
why is it that the Council always thinks in intergovernmental and national terms and not in European terms ?
Mr Bowis , it would seem that there are more than 40 Members on their feet , so we cannot deal with the oral amendment .
the European Union is a major partner in the international context and I congratulate Commissioner Almunia on his announcements today ; but will Commissioner McCreevy agree with these ?
we have said that , in this social Europe , men and women must enjoy equal opportunities on the labour market and must also be able to have children .
I will now take the report on board and I thank you for its contents .
we have , however , succeeded in introducing a rule allowing Member States to apply more favourable measures to immigrants regarding the issuing of residence permits .
I am proud also of the work that others have done to help me .
why ?
levels of safety and performance of the various national automatic train protection systems are different , as are the rules concerning equipment of lines and locomotives in these national systems .
of course , proper implementation of the Stockholm Programme in the area of justice will depend on the establishment of a truly European judicial culture , changes in the practical approach to establishing new legislation , and also on the proper function of the e-justice portal .
which strategy , then , do we want to adopt ?
this is the end of His Excellency 's message .
this step will help us in our cooperation and it will especially help us when Parliament gains further rights of consent in the many other policy areas , in the area of trade , for example .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Madam President , the European Union is founded on reconciliation : the belief that we can create a better future by acknowledging our past in all its brutality .
let us hope that the new rules will help to simplify legislation in line with the slogan of ' better regulation ' promoted by the Commission .
the 18-month prolongation of the transitional regime regulating the movement of pets into five Member States will give them the time to adapt to the regime which applies in the rest of the European Union .
however , we feel that there is still a considerable amount of work to do in the areas of strengthening competition and consequently breaking down consumer prices .
both countries are far more progressive than the EU with regard to adopting legislative measures promoting energy-efficient solutions .
there is , therefore , an urgent need for a new regulatory model that will reduce dependence on CRA ratings .
this brings me to the issue of minimum and maximum harmonisation .
we need to help this region and Kyrgyzstan to move towards cooperation and away from confrontation .
carbon emissions will not be prevented by pious hopes and promises , unless they become part of the directive itself .
may I reiterate once again my affection and deepest solidarity with Chile .
in writing . - ( PT ) I voted in favour of this report highlighting the role of volunteering in contributing to economic and social cohesion in the EU .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I would like to start by thanking the rapporteur , Mr Jadot , for his support for the Voluntary Partnership Agreements on Forest Law Enforcement , Governance and Trade with Congo and Cameroon .
the most important point is the recognition that organised crime is the main problem to tackle .
for example , in berthing , since there is taxation for the use of electricity in a port , many vessels end up leaving their engines running in order to save on costs because there is duty exemption on fuel .
at present , the prevailing attitude is that work by scientists from the new Member States is less valuable than that done by scientists from the old Member States .
the remaining EUR 2.4 billion , which was missing from the total of EUR 5 billion , was to be found this autumn .
before giving the floor to our rapporteur , I would like to clarify something for Mrs Doyle .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - Madam President , I wish to begin by making three statements to set the context of this debate .
I regret that I have to say - and here I differ from the previous speakers , especially those from the left-hand side of the Chamber - that a significant part of the responsibility for this ending rests with our Parliament , which adopted an unrealistic negotiating strategy .
in relation to this , we should strive both to include and to retain in the labour market a workforce comprising different age groups .
the Commission is fully and solely responsible for implementing the decisions adopted by Parliament and Council .
I am here today with my friend Michel Barnier , just as an indication that this is the close way in which we will be working together .
we await an explanation .
this point is also very important - third party access to the market , access to parties from third countries .
I voted against this resolution .
for this reason , and as a crystal clear signal from Parliament to the Council , I wish to propose that we postpone today 's debate on the Council 's discharge and refrain from discussing that subject today .
Commission Question Time
we must recognise that some Vice-Presidents are considerably better than others .
at the same time , allow me to explain what lies at the heart of our concern .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , as I mentioned earlier it is still too soon to say whether the June EPSCO Council will produce a political agreement on the proposed directive , as discussions based on the compromise proposal submitted by the Czech Presidency have not yet ended .
we have therefore voted against this report .
I personally disapprove of the language in paragraph 10 which calls on the High Representative to make every effort to ' realize the accession of the Union to the CCM ' .
a major question remains unanswered , however .
the legislation will grant it all the supervisory powers deemed necessary to force rating agencies to comply with the terms of the regulation .
Copenhagen did indeed mobilise more heads of state than Kyoto , but it also created more divisions and , as a result , it turned into a scenario of ' every man for himself ' , where every state can set out their goals and , moreover , do so on a voluntary basis .
I would like to hear some answers to these questions .
in any case , I have taken note of many comments and remarks .
we are discussing the question of numerical representation in decision-making in the forum of a united Europe , and through this we are touching on the principles for the functioning of a common organism .
the fact that there is agreement on the need for a cohesion policy is undoubtedly good news for everyone , and the fact that there is agreement within this Parliament is , of course , even better .
it could therefore be said that the supervisory authorities , the European prudential authorities , have failed to prevent this from happening .
subject : Schengen evaluations and the possible suspension mechanism
this makes it possible to safeguard transparency and makes consumers more aware of their buying options with the support of brochures , flyers and web marketing .
it is highly evident that this study is , rightly , desired by Parliament and , of course , I undertake to ensure that my staff produce it in the best conditions and in the shortest possible time .
4 .
these indicators include energy dependency ( whether on Russia or on the main oil-producing countries ) and its consequences ; increasing energy costs , whether because of higher prices brought about by greater global demand or because of the decreased purchasing power of states impoverished by a severe economic crisis ; and the environmental consequences on various levels of constantly increasing global energy consumption , which the economic crisis is unlikely to reverse .
although the EU 's trade policy , consisting of a trade agreement between our two regions , seems straightforward , together we need to stimulate growth and job creation , and remain realistic about the difficulties .
I am pleased that special mention was made of the matter of mental health in young people in Mrs Tzampazi 's report , which proposes that there should be cross-sectoral programmes to address it .
on the whole , they are set up to ' coordinate ' or ' help ' Member States in different areas , and the number of these agencies and bodies has gradually increased : with regard to the discharge process , there were 8 in the year 2000 and more than 20 in 2006 !
we must insist that Belarus should abolish the death penalty , and , if relations between Belarus and the European Union are to develop , the country will need to improve the human rights situation there in all its aspects .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs . - Madam President , advances in the aviation industry have contributed massively to economic progress and general well-being , and they can continue to do so .
the effects of the crisis , namely increased unemployment and fewer job opportunities , have been leaving many people in a difficult situation .
that is the sort of thing we need to be looking into , because this Parliament does not create any jobs .
that is a good thing and it is what this Parliament has always called for .
I agreed with this report and would firstly like to thank the rapporteur and the shadow rapporteurs for the first energy strategy since the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon .
what kind of budget do we have ?
we especially acknowledge the important role women have in building peace and the important and valuable cross-community and cross-border work that has been done .
this need is immediately apparent in terms of the definition of a vulnerable marine ecosystem , which , as a matter of fact , as the report highlights , pointing out the need to find a definition according to the best scientific information .
fourthly , it should also be pointed out that the reports contained proposals for alternative solutions regarding the introduction of new legislation . the former included self-regulation or mutual recognition of national provisions , and even the option of not undertaking any legislative action .
just as Vladimir Špidla said , such a Year may increase awareness and knowledge of the structures present , but that is not enough .
- Report : Paolo Costa
we simply recognise that when certain financial vehicles or instruments are performing such strategic functions in the international markets and have acquired such a key position , then they must be subject to the general principle of regulation .
implementation of the Structural Funds Regulation 2007-2013 : results of negotiations on national cohesion strategies and operational programmes (
in writing . - It is widely accepted in the European Union that SMEs need better , more direct access to finance .
this did not happen for a multitude of reasons , but now the time is ripe .
they need to renounce terrorist acts and turn their concerns to creating a normal political climate , facilitating the election of politicians to lead the state , who genuinely wish to resolve this conflict through negotiation .
I voted in favour of resolution , Trafficking in human beings , because it concerns a very important matter and points out a long list of things that need to be done in the fight against human trafficking .
we believe that the experimental nature of the proposal may have some merit , so we support the amendments made by Parliament , particularly the proposal on a report that assesses ' the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the measure , applying the mechanism and the cost-benefit ratio of the measure in order to re-evaluate whether an extension or a widening of its scope would be appropriate . '
the biggest discussion - and I would like to touch on this only briefly - revolved around whether we should now establish not only the mechanisms but also the shares of the individual EU countries in the funding package that we are providing to help developing countries - third countries - to fulfil their obligations within the framework of the climate protection fight .
( LT ) People throughout the European Union have problems renovating their homes , but the situation is particularly complicated in the new European Union Member States .
( SV ) Madam President , Canada is one of our most important trading partners .
however , the stronger Russia becomes , the more we should speak with one voice .
but , on the whole , this is a solid piece of work and we are happy to broadly support it .
agreement between the EC and Pakistan on certain aspects of air services (
this coordination may be fundamental , and indeed it is where wind energy is concerned .
I would be interested in taking two minutes , if that was in order ?
the objective is to establish a joint EU resettlement programme , so that thanks to the closer cooperation of governments of EU Member States , the number of people resettled can be increased and their situation in the EU improved .
much work remains to be done : implementing measures will need to be in place some time before October 2012 in order to give the Member States and the industry enough time to prepare for the introduction of Solvency II .
the same is true for production processes and methods .
since I believe and hope that this will not be the case , I voted in favour of this report .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , I think the European Parliament has started off well towards the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with the award of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to the impressive Mr Salih Mahmoud Osman .
in such a situation Europe could also threaten to enforce measures within a World Trade Organization framework .
I would add that the target group defined by the Dutch authorities is very wide and covers 43 % of the Dutch population .
I would like to underline that the implementation of the regulation is crucially important and , to this end , I would like to offer my help and cooperation to the incoming Hungarian Presidency .
this is therefore a good proposal for a directive which , following determined and detailed negotiations between various parliamentary groups , is now being presented to Parliament and has already been agreed by the Commission and the Council .
it is plain to see , however , that ILO conventions are violated in some Member States .
the Council also adopted two sets of conclusions related to providing support for SMEs , in the context of overall competitiveness .
we are not dealing with any old business here .
the Committee on Budgets voted its second reading amendments , further to the conciliation outcome , on 29 November 2007 .
we already have a number of binding international instruments on this subject .
Parliament should denounce the Agency 's lack of transparency and say loud and clear that it should be reformed in everyone 's interests .
we believe that the military regime is a threat to the region and , most of all , to the country and the people of Burma .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( DA ) Mr President , I should like to briefly state the reasons for my oral amendment , and it actually concerns both Mr Corbett and Mr Leinen , who gave the size of Parliament as an argument for this change .
measures at European Union level will help us to enhance the efforts of the Member States to ensure the quality and safety of organ donation and transplants , to deal better with problems resulting from the lack of organs and , at the same time , to make the system of transplants more effective .
they have to produce top quality food and comply with high standards of animal welfare while helping to prevent climate change , protect the environment and maintain biodiversity .
indeed , we , the European Union , are very much in favour of going forward .
balance and proportionality must be the key principles on which the fight against terrorism is based .
particularly in view of the stipulation of the goals and values in the Treaty of Lisbon - the social market economy has been mentioned here - and the enshrining of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights in primary law , this will be absolutely essential in the selection of judges and advocates-general in future .
the basic capital requirement is reduced to EUR 350 000 ; the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs would have preferred EUR 200 000 .
furthermore , more than ever , it is essential that , where financial assistance is offered to a country severely affected by social and political problems , the system of control is effective ; otherwise , the risk is that , rather than improving the situation , it will be made worse .
unless we help them , we will not be able to prevent the melting of the Himalayan glaciers or serious water provision problems for a third of humankind .
we can follow the path into the future only if we look back on history , learn from its consequences and then act together on the basis of mutual understanding and community spirit , as you have said , President Ilves , for the sake of a shared Europe .
some opt for a social democratic direction , others an extremely liberal , market-oriented approach .
you are talking about measuring the social impact of the European Union 's policies .
Mr President , I feel that this is a wonderful occasion to ask the President-in-Office of the Council and the Commission to make every effort .
contrary to what its opponents say , the Treaty does not bring any major revolution .
historical differences in the level of development of regions may grow , and we may also witness the appearance of new differentiating factors .
they also improve maternal health when combined with sufficient sex education .
the idea behind this proposal is undoubtedly a good one .
we must also show that we really are united around the global approach to the crisis , and I do hope that it will be the case , both in Copenhagen and at the G20 , that Europe is able to speak effectively with one voice .
the second reason is the new situation since the people of Gaza have opened up the border .
I am sure that we are in agreement on the objectives of urgently taking measures to eliminate overfishing and to ensure strict compliance with ICCAT measures , in order to bring the bluefin tuna stock to sustainable levels .
therefore the EU must not import biofuel from countries or larger regions where doing so threatens the affordable food supply of the local population .
by Mr Søndergaard , on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control , on discharge in respect of the implementation of the European Union general budget for the financial year 2007 , Section VII : Committee of the Regions ( C6-0421 / 2008 - ,
we must denounce the use of sexual violence as an instrument for intimidating and humiliating women , without forgetting that the power vacuum that has now emerged could lead to a deterioration in their rights .
for example , if I consider the situation in Ukraine , it must not be a case of ' no matter what you do , what disputes you have and what problems you fail to solve , you will have the support of the European Union ' .
in November 2010 , the Commission published a proposal for a directive establishing an EU legal framework for the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste .
according to the Commission 's figures , between 4.5 and 8 million third-party nationals are living illegally within the European Union and are therefore the favoured targets of unscrupulous employers benefiting from illegal labour .
this will grant those countries more official capacity to formulate their own ambitious projects that are eligible for EU funding .
however , we want to extend our influence , not by violence , not by threats and not by coercion , but by offering to support precisely those countries in their search for stability and democratic change .
6 .
I support all these approaches . in my view , the priorities identified by the rapporteur should make a significant contribution to improving freight transport in Europe .
the demise or offshoring of these companies is often a function of globalising forces .
I would like to stress that the Commission 's strategic functions should be separated from its technical ones , and then it would work more effectively .
in these times of historic change in our part of the world , the message of the universality of human rights is more topical than ever .
first of all , on the register , I think you are absolutely correct in underlining the need to have information about the procedure , to be well-informed about the progress of different files , and one of the measures that we have agreed on is , of course , to update our comitology register as well .
that also goes for the policy that you are recommending today , because now you are talking about Eurobonds which , among other things , would lead to higher interest rates for the countries of Central Europe .
these problems are highlighted in my report .
thus we are heading for a situation in which a large group of older people will be applying for various social benefits .
( the President interrupted the speaker )
it is crucial that the Commission should give a more effective and urgent global response in order to tackle the current situation .
transfers of appropriations : see Minutes
transport systems , telecommunications and energy are sectors crucial to the development of Member States and they are also increasingly interconnected , with some Member States relying on others .
Mr Guerreiro , you spoke a second time to urge that our approach should not be based on transient criteria .
in this way , the Union can help to enhance the competitiveness of the tourism industry , which is a significant economic factor and an even more significant source of employment .
it also seems to me to be equally vital to take account of the local economic situation , for tourist , mountain or spa areas , where the activity is essentially seasonal .
however , I must of course say a few other things .
we have put forward a proposal and we look forward to discussing it with you .
implementation of Directive 2006 / 43 / EC on statutory audits of annual accounts and consolidated accounts (
but , over and above measures taken at national level , the Union itself has a role to play and it is in this context that full use should be made of the available financial instruments , not least the European Social Fund and the European Globalisation Fund , in the process of being amended at this moment , with of course Parliament 's agreement , to extend its scope to cover job losses resulting from the current crisis .
a decision must therefore be made quickly on the European Private Company Statute , and similarly we must urgently move towards adopting a single European patent .
I should therefore like to thank the European Commission , and Jacques Barrot in particular , for its support of the Presidency .
why is it that the European institutions have to deal with this problem ?
they enable Member States to optimise EU investments as an effective remedy against the ongoing economic crisis .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to thank the rapporteur for the excellent work she has done to identify very clearly the current political , social and administrative situation in Turkey .
everyone in Bosnia and Herzegovina needs the chance of a good education , everyone needs a good judicial system , they need jobs ; in short they need the hope of a better future .
similarly , I do not think that giving the European Parliament 's president the right to decide whether or not to permit a written statement will increase democracy .
- ( PL ) Madam President , this is an important debate and an important report from Mrs Polfer .
Commissioner , what you said was a pleasant surprise to me .
firstly , cyberspace requires protection which is dynamic and does not build static walls , but relies on flexibility and proactive innovation .
they ought to read the wording of the draft .
let us try to enact laws on conduct to prevent any further human rights violations , so as to avoid a repeat of past errors , and to adapt our rules and regulations to a new type of global threat .
this is why we intend to devote our attention to the following subjects : social security , taxation policies and their efficiency , productive investments for more jobs and for better jobs , a policy to fight against all forms of discrimination , sexual , ethical , religious or any other , the improvement of basic social services and social security networks , and the quality of education .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Culture and Education . - ( DE ) Mr President , as the Committee on Culture and Education 's rapporteur for the new anti-discrimination directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief , disability , age or sexual orientation , I warmly welcome the Commission 's proposal and would specifically like to thank Mr Špidla .
in the best cases , the children become objects of commercial exchanges that certainly offend our dignity , but unfortunately , they are often also victims of exploitation and violence .
I am not the Commissioner responsible for this issue .
experience has taught us that all dictatorships come to an end !
I do believe , however , that the intended replacement of carcinogenic substances is far from the great achievement it is volubly proclaimed to be ; on the contrary , it is , in my view , an immediate imperative .
at the same time , there is a tendency for political leaders to simply write off regions , to withdraw from them claiming that the state has a responsibility to provide basic needs , to simply give up on them .
Tony Blair is the odds-on favourite with the bookmakers .
this activity is vital to realising the objectives set out in the Europe 2020 strategy .
in writing . - I welcome Mr. Parish 's report establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products .
( FR ) Therefore we have no intention of reopening that debate .
indeed we believe that the amendment of the Statute will increase the confidence of citizens in the proper functioning of European institutions and the European Union as a whole .
moreover , we have a moral duty towards our own populations , especially those which endured many decades under the heel of Soviet imperialism , to defend these principles of freedom .
I did not want to finish without saying I consider that , this week , Parliament and the European Union have lost a certain moral credibility to defend the rights of children , when yesterday this Chamber approved a shameful directive that allows the imprisonment of children for committing the crime of coming to Europe without papers .
I would like to thank the Belgian Presidency for unblocking this file in the Council .
the Commission , and I , will therefore continue to work with the presidency , with Javier Solana , with the European Parliament and all other partners and stakeholders to reinforce our engagement so that next year , 2009 , could still , after all , be a year for the Western Balkans , and also a year for Bosnia and Herzegovina to make progress towards the European Union .
is that not already a promotional move ?
but , so far , we have seen very little progress .
border control ensures that commercial operators supply detailed information during trade operations , guaranteeing , at the same time , the right equilibrium between speed and security of trade flows .
for this reason , we should oppose processes to privatise this resource , which is vital for life .
it has a very particular role and its users are not simply consumers , but people in need and potentially vulnerable .
however , the use of antimicrobials should be limited to cases where it is strictly necessary .
that is why , during Parliament 's last term , we decided , on the Legal Affairs Committee 's proposal , to adopt the IAS Regulation .
( applause )
I welcome this new legislation , which will help consumers to reduce their energy bills and the whole of the EU to achieve its climate objective of reducing energy consumption by 20 % in 10 years . the Member States will have to adapt their building regulations so that all buildings constructed from the end of 2020 comply with high energy standards .
in human terms , we have already referred to all the implications of these types of injuries for workers and for citizens , but there are also implications in economic terms .
in light of the demographic crisis , every child 's life has a price put on it .
youth - particularly student - exchanges will help to promote the implementation of these tasks , along with the development of scientific , cultural and tourist cooperation .
this means that fully harmonised rules will be in place from 1 January 2012 .
in 1933 , a group of economists in Chicago came up with a plan : to re-establish an exclusive state monopoly on issuing currency , prohibiting banks from creating counterfeit money , and imposing an obligation on banks to have a 100 % reserve .
its debates reflected the questions being asked about the future of Germany and the risk , feared by many MEPs , of a slowdown in the European integration process , after the boost given by the Single European Act of 1987 .
we cannot ignore the concept of European citizenship as the basis of the democratic legitimacy of our Parliament .
for the first time , the Prime Ministers of Poland and the Russian Federation are paying tribute to the victims of the crime in Katyń together , today , 7 April .
it remains to be hoped that the European Energy Ministers will pay heed to this strong message in favour of a safety culture .
shall we once again have to cope with an army of unemployed ?
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , we are on the verge of new relations between the European Union and the United States .
this certainly includes the large number of agencies that enjoy an extremely expensive autonomous existence , and agriculture , where some Member States have still not succeeded in introducing a more market-appropriate flat-rate acreage payment scheme .
NTDTV , the only uncensored television station in China , must be allowed to resume its transmissions without delay .
a great achievement in this field is without doubt the recent inclusion of nine Member States in the Schengen area .
we cannot have a situation in which we have EU legislation that contravenes basic ILO conventions .
as regards the occupational vehicles to which she referred , especially those in the agricultural sector - in Europe there are unfortunately still deaths from accidents caused by agricultural vehicles , in some cases as a result of the irresponsibility of drivers failing to drive with due care - at present no provision has been made , as priority has been given to cars and heavy vehicles .
thirdly , given the considerable functional overlap , has the Commission considered merging them ?
in this context , I would like to state here that on 18 February , the Palestinian Delegation tabled a draft General Assembly resolution further to the United Nations ' Secretary-General 's report as a follow-up to the Goldstone report .
I ask the Commission to take this fact into account and to bring forward proposals in terms of fire safety legislation for hotels across the Union .
preparation of the European Council to be held on 10 and 11 December 2009 ( debate )
I think that a more effective use of the Eurodac database will only be achieved when Eurodac uses the same technical platform as SIS II and VIS .
there is an extremely fine line between carrot and stick for our car industry , and at the end of the day we must take great care to ensure that we really do export the best products and not perhaps our industry .
competition is global and Portuguese is the third most widely spoken western language , after English and Spanish .
I voted in favour of the own-initiative report by my Romanian fellow Member , Mrs Mănescu , on good governance with regard to the EU regional policy : procedures of assistance and control by the European Commission .
however , I think that we really need to go and see what is happening there and I would advise you , my fellow Members , to send a delegation to find out .
we have not only said this , but are also trying to help in this by building up a good judicial system and having a police force that really works , in order to convince ordinary Afghans who often remain sceptical .
this may lead to an EU contribution between EUR 2 billion and EUR 15 billion annually in 2020 .
obviously Georgia is not in the European Union , nor is Ukraine .
here the Commission will provide full political , but also strong financial , support to the Djibouti process .
certainly not what is has being doing to date .
I should like to ask the Commission which of the three scenarios it is using as a basis for making proposals to our Member States regarding the future financing of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS , Tuberculosis and Malaria .
the Commission is aware that the relevant Spanish authority , namely the Secretariat-General for the Prevention of Pollution and Climate Change , has approved the environmental impact assessment pursuant to its decision of 30 May 2007 .
in that respect , I believe the Union 's external assistance needs to be made more effective and transparent so as to ensure that democracy and human rights are granted the importance they deserve throughout the world .
it is necessary to do that in order to get the crop .
globalisation is a fact .
this should , ultimately , improve consumer confidence in the internal market and allow businesses , in particular small and medium-sized enterprises , to trade more easily across the EU .
this will soon be one of the most important political questions in the European Union .
citizens find it difficult to penetrate and understand the decision-making process within the EU system and feel , quite rightly , that decisions are taken and legislation is created at EU level without them having any real opportunity to study all of the documents .
China has already done much for some of the economic , social and cultural rights of millions of Chinese , whom it has dragged out of poverty and penury , but it cannot stop there .
this can be seen in accession negotiations , in bilateral talks and also in the United Nations , where more and more States within the world community are deciding to come out in favour of a moratorium or to abolish the death penalty completely .
providing access to clean drinking water and connecting all residents to the national grid present a problem of huge magnitude in Tajikistan , Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic .
I should like to start by mentioning the steps taken throughout this year to implement the guidelines on the death penalty .
in particular , the commitments made to all farmers in the Agenda 2000 reforms that there would be a reduction in bureaucracy .
subsequently , while recognising that the aims were sound , Parliament and the Council decided that the measure proposed was inappropriate .
it says that almost every region of the world will be adversely affected .
at the moment therefore , I do not think we can say precisely when this conflict will be resolved ; nevertheless , I can certainly say that the Spanish Presidency joins in congratulating Prime Minister Gruevski and Prime Minister Papandreou on renewing a direct dialogue .
the power they produce is simply too expensive .
more frightening still is the rapporteur 's enduring belief in the myth of ' democratic change through trade ' , the sharpest contradiction of which is the current situation in China .
we have a moral obligation to ensure that future generations can take enjoyment and benefits from the protected wilderness areas in Europe .
we are prepared to continue providing assistance in this unavoidably long process .
the European Parliament feels that Turkey is still not meeting the Copenhagen political criteria .
it has been clear for a long time that the minimum number of 1 000 employees is far too high to be able to represent employees sufficiently in the ever-changing company management situation throughout Europe .
we must , above all , see to it that the creditworthiness of the small and medium-sized enterprises is increased , because , particularly in times of crisis , venture capital is of particular interest in order to be able to continue to pay good wages .
we fully respect each Member State 's right to decide for itself whether to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon .
as we know , the Iraqi authorities greatly value this mission .
Europe must free itself from the USA with regard not only to its economy , but also its foreign policy .
figures published by the International Monetary Fund in 2009 placed Taiwan 's economy 25th in the world , with a gross national product of USD 379 billion .
we should not forget that this is a bilateral process .
the Flexibility Instrument is provided for by the Interinstitutional Agreement on budgetary discipline .
( DE ) Mr President , when does the citizen need Europe 's solidarity ?
however , the resolution deals with the interesting influence of Iran only very fleetingly and also , in my opinion , with little regard for reality .
this vote is consistent with my attitude and earlier approach on any suggestions of a euro-style tax system .
nanomaterials are becoming a more common phenomenon , even in consumer products , but the legislation is lagging behind , although researchers warn that nanomaterials could become a health problem on the scale of asbestos unless we take the risks seriously .
( applause )
structural funds are extremely important for places like Wales - where I come from - where they are implemented very well .
I support the three chosen areas for combining public policy : encouraging technological developments ( cars with emissions of 125 g CO2 / km maximum ) , developing market-based instruments ( Emissions Trading Scheme , tax incentives , charges / fares based on environmental impact , etc . ) and using flanking measures to enable means of transport and infrastructure to be used as efficiently as possible .
it is also very important for us to cooperate with the police authorities and set up this database .
we would like to see those dairy farmers who have been hardest hit by the crisis receive the EUR 280 million .
the preparations for the adoption of the euro by Slovakia had begun even before the Slovak Republic joined the European Union .
we can already see a hardening of attitudes today within the institution ; we think that this is the wrong approach .
by all means scrutinise other countries , but not mine .
the report reduces human rights to civil rights alone , and thus neglects the principle of the indivisibility of human rights , as enshrined in the UN Charter ;
in writing . - ( SV ) We voted for the report because it is based on voluntary action and cooperation such as can only be brought about by a reciprocal agreement between two Member States .
there is no point in continuing with this unending discussion and comparing Stalinist crimes with Nazi crimes .
there is a lot in this report .
this must be counterbalanced by the fundamental and rigorous protection of personal data .
by mobilising the flexibility instruments , we have also been able to take into account the political priorities that Parliament wanted to implement , providing EUR 105 million for new preparatory actions , youth projects and mobility projects .
regional cultures , which are deeply founded on tradition , form a strong basis for national cultures and their many variations .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , you will not blame me , following this discussion which was not completely clear , for taking the outcome of this discussion home to Brussels .
it will mark a further step in our ambition to extend mobility opportunities .
a social pact that is able to clearly state that this time , Europe is going to make a commitment to financial and environmental sustainability , and also to preserving the social model that made us better when it made us Europeans .
since the answer to that question is clearly no , there can only be one conclusion .
as I take the floor here , I would ask you to note this date in your diary .
Francis Fukuyama himself now concedes that the Hegelian dream of the inexorable march of history toward liberal democracy does not hold water .
Ukraine has requested international aid and , in particular , for vaccines , medicines , disinfectants , masks , gloves and laboratory supplies .
it is reasonable to focus , in particular , on goods and services that are susceptible to fraud in the fight against VAT fraud , and the reverse charge mechanism gives these Member States an opportunity to apply a reverse order arrangement , by way of derogation from the main principle of the VAT Directive .
this report calls for special assistance to be provided to students from disadvantaged groups in society by , for example , proposing ' inexpensive and decent ' accommodation , and taking into account that extra support after arrival is often necessary .
the countries of that region are queuing up to join the European Union , and this is the great attractiveness of the EU .
in fact , the problem created in the United States was not created by big banks only .
Prime Minister , you have however shown that , in politics just as in football , a game can still turn even if substitutions are not made until it has gone into extra time .
today , President Berlusconi tried to use the same approach with Tunisia , offering money .
the global economic and financial crisis , climate issues and the increased cost of food and energy are the reasons behind a new revised version .
we are discussing when China will become the biggest economy , but that is based on a false assumption , because we forget that the European Union is the biggest economy , but that China and the US have the bigger markets .
we also support the work of the intergovernmental working group with the WHO to explore other measures to further improve access to medicines .
when you return to Brussels , do what I intend to do : go and visit the Armenian restaurant .
I should also like to thank you for a matter which you and I discussed early this year : the lifting of the embargo against Cuba was , to my mind , a vitally important step because it will significantly simplify the European Union 's policy on Latin America .
the public has a right to public service or private sector broadcasting which is independent and takes an objective approach to all content .
in this context , it is essential not to forget unemployment , which already affects around a quarter of young people , many of whom have been through higher education ; not to forget that jobs are increasingly insecure , especially for women and young people ; and not to forget the growth of poverty and social exclusion .
the method for meeting the necessary accession criteria , especially those coming under Chapter 23 , justice and fundamental rights , marks an important milestone in this country 's progress in achieving European standards .
this is why the EU is using the Lisbon Treaty to extend its powers to cover sport .
I think the role of the state is to correct market mechanisms , but this should be done very carefully .
in fact , the obsession with free trade has taken precedence over the goal of development .
Mr President , Mr Watson is absolutely right when he says that the European Parliament insisted right from the start that the European Arrest Warrant should be accompanied by clear minimum criminal procedural norms .
answer : no , there is increasing scientific evidence to show that what climate change we see is part of natural cycles and has very little or nothing to do with human activity .
( ET ) Ladies and gentlemen , personal data is sensitive information which must be handled extremely carefully .
we also ask the opposition forces to behave responsibly and respect the election .
this concept is to be interpreted such that the right to broader knowledge of the facts leading to decision-making is considered to be more important than , and to outweigh , internal procedure secrecy whereby a decision is taken .
it also remains for me to close what is surely my last evening sitting as president .
the Group is also aware that not all problems , unfortunately , can be resolved by means of legislation .
do we have a clear statement and a clear language in this regard ?
I hope that further work on improving the welfare of animals will be accompanied by the realisation that animals are living beings , which can feel pain and suffering ; that they are not things , and that people owe them respect , protection and care .
average milk prices have been going up , and Albert Deß just told me this morning that the spot market prices are now at 30 cents in certain areas .
Mr President , in a European Union where we are seeing moves towards renationalisation in all areas , the Treaty of Lisbon should be used as a tool for creating a new community policy : the common foreign , security and defence policy .
however , there are no legal provisions to protect consumers in the event of the airline operator going bankrupt .
I ask all the political forces in Georgia to cooperate in order to draw up a law regulating audio-visual activity , which would prevent situations like the recent one .
but I have to say , as a rapporteur , that too much time has been taken to get to where we are today .
I realise that this is a massive problem , especially for young people , and we are actively monitoring the situation , but we are also of the opinion that long-term financial sustainability of a Member State of the European monetary union is essential .
we cannot accept that , in times like these , MEPs would sooner consider their own income than that of the citizens .
this European Council meeting will be a historic one , because it will decide on the future of this Union .
what we think is wrong is that bilateral negotiations are going on with two NATO Member States which - coincidentally or otherwise - are also Member States of the European Union , and this affects relations with Russia , including the European Union 's relations with it .
this was and is a reason to look more closely at the whole story , to revise it and to see to what extent the goals have been or can be achieved .
for flexibility of the labour market , read job insecurity for workers , increased competition at European and international level , the liberal reform of national social protection systems , and absolute respect for the stupid Stability and Growth Pact ...
I voted in favour of the report by Mrs Oomen-Ruijten , although I feel that the text adopted is overcautious in repeatedly indicating the importance of the principle of subsidiarity .
many countries see in all this an opportunity to gain extra tax revenues which can be put to many other uses .
now it is really time to invest more in research , education and training .
once these results have been obtained , it is necessary to make available the new advancements in science and technology to those who need them , without any kind of exclusion .
Mr President , Commissioner , some minority groups have been present in the Member States for centuries , whilst others are relatively recent arrivals .
its creation is absolutely justified and we want the future regional support system to address regions at the same development level in a fair , simplified and transparent manner .
this is a report that I and the rotating Presidency at the time , the Austrian Presidency , requested from your fellow Member of Parliament and my good friend , Michel Barnier .
in writing . - ( FR ) The adoption of this decision is a decisive step towards reinforcement of the internal electronic communications market .
this amendment has the potential to affect Northern Ireland 's ability to sell products in certain markets where currently there is no difficulty , and I feel that it is important that new labelling does not create barriers which prevent trade between different Member States .
this demand - which subverts the spirit of the organisation : an organisation of states and not of supranational organisations - is not being made with the intention of making the UN 's workings more democratic or of creating a new world order that is fairer and more peaceful .
competition on the market , which is contracting due to the crisis , is intensifying both among companies and employees .
the other reason is that the European Union intends to use this resolution to assume powers which it does not have .
Parliament , in its 2009 resolution , highlighted the negotiations in Cyprus but did not set any preconditions associated with the colonies or the Famagusta situation .
I hope you have heard the impatience and the frustration that has been expressed right across this House tonight about the endless delays to this long-awaited legislative proposal on measures to combat illegal logging .
why ?
the training of Roma girls merits special attention , because it would appear that they tend to become early school leavers more often , and also because girls are exploited to a much greater extent in work at home .
a modern-day Roosevelt , seeing that we have a global economy of which the contours are drawn in the computer campuses of West Coast America , the factories of China and the coal centres of India , would have us seek a global culture , global governance and a coherent vision of global concern .
a child 's economic status is closely linked to that of their parents .
in writing . - ( PT ) EU relations with the Ukraine fall under European Neighbourhood Policy which , as the report stresses , aims at supporting the development of the market economy in the EU 's neighbouring countries , in other words , capitalism .
the Commission is working on strengthening the Black Sea-Danube connection and we intend to join the Black Sea Commission , which deals with environmental tasks .
the European Commission will continue to monitor implementation of the CEFTA and will continue to report on this in its yearly report on the accession and pre-accession process .
I would join with my Polish colleagues who have recommended the city of Wrocław as a location either for the headquarters or for one of the Institute 's departments , and I would like to see the authorities in that city be prepared to invest the money that is so essential for the success of this project .
I have worked really hard in the course of this year to change that , not least on the ground , and I will say more about that in a moment .
Mr Vakalis states that an area which should be given special attention is that of research .
they reinforce my and my very good shadow rapporteurs ' view that political slogans will never become a reality without a proper legal basis , financial support and incentives as well as an EU mechanism to coordinate the actions of the stakeholders , ranging from local governments up to the Council and harnessing the advantages of multi-level governance .
the key aspect as far as the legal basis is concerned , is for the debate to be geared to the aim and content , and the Committee on Legal Affairs is of the unanimous opinion that the applicable article is Article 152 ( 4 ) ( b ) , there being no need to refer to Article 175 ( 1 ) .
one of the issues that were not discussed this evening is the system of private hallmarks .
Member of the Commission . - ( EL ) Mr President , I should like to thank all the honourable Members who were involved in the work by Parliament on the proposal for a Council recommendation in the field of rare diseases .
leaving space for political and diplomatic negotiations to decide on the application of anti-dumping measures risks perverting a process that should instead remain based on concrete , objective information .
we agree on the objective of the reform which is to create a more efficient office that can carry out its important tasks more effectively .
14 .
have we already forgotten the London underground , Germany , Holland , Spain and the dozens of foiled terrorist attempts ?
as you know , the French Presidency asked Alain Lamasssoure , whom you know , a question about ways of overcoming the obstacles to cross-border mobility .
I suppose that algae does not differentiate between Sweden , Latvia or other nations , as it is driven by the wind .
in this way , the European Union reconciles its wish to increase its attractiveness with its faithfulness to commitments to promote the development of the poorest countries .
it followed the European Economic Recovery Plan , in the context of which the implementing provisions of the aforementioned basic regulation had already been modified in 2009 to allow more flexibility with advance payments .
the EU also looks beyond its borders to the devastating impact of HIV / AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa and other developing countries , which represent an exceptional challenge to social growth and development .
there are many worrying signs .
Europe 's message to consumers over all these years has been : choose energy label Α .
legal immigration means equal dignity and equal opportunities , or else we are going back to selective , partial and discriminatory immigration .
that is why I propose that , given the seriousness of the situation , an interinstitutional conference be organised without delay . the latter would involve all those who play a part in the management and monitoring of Community funds , and would be used to start off a comprehensive discussion enabling us to envisage the reforms needed to obtain a positive statement of assurance as soon as possible .
therefore , we need to make sure there is hybrid vigour .
this is why the role reserved for this new European Banking Authority is so critical for the future . that is why I am voting in favour of the choice of Mr Andrea Enria as the first Chair of the European Banking Authority , in the hope of an active , attentive and successful mandate .
although this Parliament claims to represent all European citizens , in reality those citizens do not have the slightest say .
resumption of the session
the report calls on the Commission to create a global strategy for mountain regions and hill and mountain farming .
at one point , the Justice and Home Affairs Council put forward some conclusions with the best of intentions , but they did not help us maintain the strict approach that this text or instrument that we were working on was strictly a road safety instrument designed to prevent road traffic problems and accidents and driver impunity .
coming up with innovative types of taxation requires courage and you should not brush aside all the intelligent and constructive work done by your predecessors .
it only remained to check whether all the other many measures needed for admission into the Schengen area had been adopted with equal success , such as those relating to land and sea borders , police cooperation , data protection and issue of visas .
this increase in funds must not , however , jeopardise budgetary sustainability and the accuracy of financial statements , as this is crucial in any institution .
( EL ) Mr President , as socialists , we believe in human rights and we certainly believe in religious rights .
the Albertini report contains ideas that I agree with , but there is an underlying problem .
yet the development of technology is too slow and its diffusion , especially to developing countries , is particularly slow .
( NL ) Madam President , Turkey must be treated fairly .
but I am greatly encouraged by the provisions and the proposals that Commissioner Borg has unveiled to us this afternoon .
however , you forgot to mention one group , to which I myself belong .
I support the amendments made in plenary which deal with more stringent control over capital .
finally , deforestation puts some hundreds of millions of people in danger - people who either live in the forests or live off them .
you will therefore have your work cut out , Commissioner , to encourage the Member States to accept this principle .
what is the point of correcting these problems ex post when the whole reason for having a safeguard clause is to anticipate possible negative consequences ?
however , we will also point out to Russia the importance of involving the Minsk Group in all stages of the process .
I would remind you that the aim of the directive is to find a balance between , on the one hand , an appropriate level of protection for workers temporarily posted to another Member State and , on the other hand , the free movement of services within the internal market .
secondly , my thanks to the Czech President-in-Office of the Council and for the statement by Prime Minister Topolánek , who firstly pointed out yesterday that the dispute between Macedonia and Greece over names is a bilateral affair and should have no repercussions , and who secondly argued in favour of Macedonia 's accession to NATO as quickly as possible , and hence for Greece to withdraw its veto - two very important points .
Mr President , I would like to use these last two minutes of time to express my thanks .
a Commission that claims to act in the best interests of the citizens must do so .
( ES ) Mr President , allow me to say that it is a pleasure to see you in the chair once again .
Mr President , I welcome the fact that we have finally adopted the resolution on this very important topic .
thank you so much for being here with us .
on 20 February , the journalist Nedim Şener , known for his criticism of the police 's approach to the murder of the Armenian journalist , Hrant Dink , was arrested along with six of his colleagues .
these are my observations and recommendations , which essentially agree with those made at first reading .
as a citizen of Poland , a country which joined the European Union in 2004 , I know that the enlargement strategy is one of the most effective areas of EU policy .
the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union obliges the Council to produce guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States every year and to consult the European Parliament before adopting these decisions .
we must work against all of the many forms of discrimination against older people .
Luckily nothing happened , but it marked the beginning of increasing homophobia in Uganda .
the final draft agenda drawn up on Thursday , 4 March 2010 by the Conference of Presidents pursuant to Rule 137 of the Rules of Procedure has been distributed .
sixteen thousand of those live in my constituency in Northern Ireland .
this is a fundamental reservation .
the second thing - the report calls for additional training for European External Action Service staff in the fields of cultural and digital policies .
consequently , strategies and measures to improve OSH must be specifically adapted to particular workplaces , taking into account the fact that some factors might affect women and men differently .
one final item that I would like to mention is that the voluntary pension fund causes me a great deal of concern .
part two
how many investigations or convictions have been recorded ?
falsified medicinal products (
on the one hand , we have large-scale European importers , which will gain from Pakistani products coming into Europe .
for example , we are currently talking about imposing a tax on the financial sector .
I thank all of my fellow Members who have put so much into these negotiations .
many of these changes , as others have said , would have been suggested without the present situation , because there was already a view that the Lamfalussy process had not progressed as far as it could or should have done .
but you have to respect my position in that I can hardly accept amendments that go in the opposite direction to the original purpose of bringing this forward in the first instance .
in writing . - ( RO ) The latest developments on the global markets of agricultural products have generated a situation that few governments are prepared to deal with .
theoretically , we all support the Lisbon Strategy , a knowledge-based economy and high-quality jobs , where the comparative advantage cannot be a cheap labour force .
no .
many Roma in the Union are faced not only with undignified living conditions , but also increasing terror .
there must be discussion of the results in April at the Second European Roma Summit in Córdoba .
unfortunately , Mr Schmitt 's resolution fails to keep its introductory promise .
these networks help to improve the quality of the Observatory 's economic and legal analysis .
before the start of the process of EU integration , for example , Poland used to produce twice as much food as it does now .
in relation to the fact that the effects of the rise in food prices have been felt most by groups that are in a difficult social situation , Europe , together with third countries and international institutions , should take the following action without delay .
people also mentioned GM foods , and I totally agree with them on that : there is need for action in that area .
however , I am still concerned about legislation in matters of employment being made in Brussels .
that has not changed and will not change , either as a consequence of the Irish referendum or subsequently .
the issue of future funding of the integrated maritime policy will be a crucial one in the discussions and in the future financial perspectives .
finally , I would like to stress that it is important to have full transparency regarding the founding of the initiative and sources of financial support for the organisers .
we have no wish to interfere with that , but we also want to ensure that patients have freedom of movement .
we decided to abstain on Amendment 2 as we believe that military doctrine is a matter for national governments to decide and not in the prerogative of the European Parliament .
enlargement strategy 2009 concerning the countries of the western Balkans , Iceland and Turkey ( debate )
that is the sticking point in today 's votes .
the new distribution balances out the number of seats in accordance with population trends in the Member States .
rapporteur . - ( FI ) Mr President , it is the ethical obligation of the European Union to ensure that everyone , including the children of migrants , has the right to a good education .
the objective is not to close mines just for the sake of closing mines ; it is to ensure energy security - and we are treating mines as if they were businesses .
however , this fight also has a negative impact on the competitiveness of the entire EU market .
as the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety says , the implementation of the EU 's Environment Programme is in many respects late , but what is even more startling is that , even if all the concrete targets set thus far were fully achieved , the EU would still not be on the road to sustainable development .
I declare resumed the session of the European Parliament suspended on Wednesday 26 March 2008 .
the Belgian legislation does make an exception for hunts traditionally conducted by Inuit communities , and so I am pleased that the European Parliament is following Belgium 's example today .
it is not the business at all !
the message he will be conveying to us today via his wife Zeng Jinyan is a similarly selfless act .
I , like many others , have continuing concerns about block data transfer and indeed the control of that data once it leaves our control .
in 2000 , the agencies employed 1 219 people , whereas , today , they employ 4 794 .
nevertheless , I reject biometric authentication systems out of hand .
we supported these autocracies in several ways and we , the Europeans , along with Russia and the United States , sold them almost any sort of armaments .
the need for change of the existing legal framework results from the increasing scope of this phenomenon which threatens ecosystems and fisheries in the Community .
verification of credentials : see Minutes
this is scandalous and the environmental damage - if you do not intervene , if you do not stop this economic scandal , because these installations are cofinanced by the European Union - will be unavoidable .
EU support cannot be a substitute for efforts by the private sector .
I thought originally that it was not necessary to remind the European Commission of the significance of this industry to the economic and social development of the European Union , but since the Commission came up with the proposal of setting emission standards for new private cars , I am no longer so sure .
I have regular discussions with Martin Bursík , my colleague in the Government and the Minister of the Environment , who chairs the respective Council .
it is a step forward in the process of European integration , in the strengthening of solidarity , and in the Europe of the citizen .
the EU priorities for the 64th Session of the UN General Assembly (
we regard the fact that the proposed final text excluded polyvinylchloride from the scope of the directive , which allows production in certain industrial sectors to be maintained , as a positive factor , as these sectors could have been seriously hit had this been included , as was proposed .
can we be content with flexicurity , and with minimum standards in relation to labour law ?
the time for discussions is ending . the European sky needs immediate and good solutions for the future , and I strongly encourage the Commission to complete this work .
at the same time , however , I regret that the increased attention paid to citizens ' health-related rights has come about solely as a result of a judgment of Court of Justice .
it was difficult for me to imagine that countries that were not even Members of the Union when the single currency was adopted would themselves introduce the euro before the UK .
I am pleased with the results of the vote on the report in the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection , and by the Commission 's decision on the budgets needed to provide assistance on the project .
an additional EUR 60 million was made available to Romania and Bulgaria between 2004 and 2006 , under the pre-accession instruments .
at the same time , however , the country is the West 's main ally against terrorism .
I would , however , like to add some more questions to these , as it seems contradictory to me that a project is being presented on this topic when , at the same time , we cannot support this innovation .
we need legal provisions regulating individuals ' rights to use the Internet .
a significant proportion of export credit financing projects in developing countries are concentrated in sectors such as transport , petroleum , gas and extractive industries , as well as in major infrastructure projects , such as large dams , for example .
secondly , on the eve of Copenhagen , it is clear that important states in the world are not prepared to accept binding targets for reductions .
it is a bad move .
accounting and forecasting performance will be independently evaluated .
we have heard many positions of our fellow Members which are very diverse , much more nuanced , based much more on common sense and therefore , given that they reflect reality more closely , I think that they are more likely to provide real solutions .
does national democracy matter , or is the European Union , in your opinion , a greater good ?
apologies for cutting you off .
however , in parallel to this , the Member States must also adapt their own national systems so that they can use VIS .
only one out of the 27 Member States reacted positively to this recommendation from the Commission point of view .
there is not much more to add since I feel that the President-in-Office of the Council has described the results splendidly .
more justly , it would be Germany and her French collaborator , because running the euro according to German interests is the root of this shambles .
the EU has a huge joint responsibility here to provide high quality assistance with a definite strengthening of the democratic forces .
as long as 25 years ago , President Reagan 's administration tried to bring an end to Gaddafi 's rule .
in any event , the Commission acknowledges that the amendments to the original proposals are unquestionably important , they have the support of the Council and Parliament and they do not alter the substance of our original proposals .
South Korea , as an economic leader in the region , should in particular set an example on the matter of respecting the right to life of every individual .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , I believe that Alejo Vidal-Quadras , a good friend of mine , and others who have spoken are profoundly mistaken and that we should support the amendments , because the Iraqi Government has announced on more than one occasion recently that it has no intention whatsoever of forcing the inhabitants of Camp Ashraf to leave for Iran or to go to any other country .
this is certainly justified .
it is difficult to imagine this ideal being realised in the future , when the gas pipeline project ( ... )
parliamentary scrutiny of ESDP missions is not guaranteed .
democracy is built from the bottom upwards : not downwards from some ivory tower up above .
the reference here to ' adequate financing ' of the Europe 2020 Strategy , when billions from the EU budget are still mysteriously disappearing and available opportunities for potential savings , for example in relation to the jungle of EU agencies or the locations for Parliament , are not utilised , represents a waste of European taxpayers ' money .
the European Parliament believes that Member States which do not belong to the euro zone should be encouraged to look at obtaining , within the Community , possible medium-term financial support to be able to cope with their balance deficit before requesting aid at an international level .
for those who want details on this complex directive , I have spent some time writing a question-and-answer page , which is available on my website .
at any event , in this debate , our position , the socialist position , is very clear : we hold exactly the same position as the European Union .
however , we should also take the corresponding decisions on visa requirements for the citizens of Kosovo .
so we shall work to ensure that agreed programmes are properly implemented in terms of both commitments and payments .
Mr President , I believe that this House , together with the Commission and the Council and every politician in Europe , is convinced that the protection of an individual 's human rights is much more a fundamental duty in times of war and terrorism than it is in times of peace and security .
either we could have worked with goodwill towards eventual accession , or we could have said at the outset ' look , accession is not going to happen , let us work out an alternative arrangement ' .
the budget review is also on the table next year .
however , we must consider the conditions under which this happens and ensure that human rights , in particular the right to personal freedom , are fully respected .
thank you very much , Mr Chairman , and I also thank Mrs Angelilli for her report .
in Europe we take over two years on average to license a perfectly safe GM product .
nor will growth and jobs emerge from development of SMEs .
this is about the joined cases of Volker and Hartmut Eifert , under references C 92 / 09 and C 93 / 09 .
I would prefer the common position as it would give a better balance between public health and food production .
that is not solidarity , that is hypocrisy .
the majority of the EIB 's activities are directed towards Europe , but if we count the number of countries receiving loans , most of them are actually developing countries .
there is nothing about a strategy to counteract the EU 's permeability to hedge funds and sovereign wealth funds .
it has to be earned .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the European Council will naturally also debate the latest developments in the economic crisis , and the measures implemented at Europe 's request in order to clean up international financial systems .
at any rate , we ought to overcome somehow the financial difficulties of the small and medium-sized enterprise sector .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , the discussion at this very late hour has clearly indicated the importance we all attach to this issue , so once again I thank Parliament for the report .
I would not say the European regulator could not be trusted , but that regulator needs to keep a distance from nuclear power installations .
I am voting for this text because I condemn the pursuit of personal profit to the detriment of the common good .
I repeat that the cohesion policy measures offer solutions , but it is up to the Member States which of those solutions to propose for given concrete cases .
in between , there can be the European bridge - a bridge that could connect all in a new partnership for peace and prosperity .
Mr President , Turkey is an important country for political , economic , military and cultural reasons , and it is therefore important to the EU .
let me repeat : a nuclear-powered plant to produce energy - you may like it or not , but that is not the issue being debated today - requires , as you know , at least seven or eight years from the moment the contract is signed to the moment the power plant is operational .
firstly , Mr Buzek , I salute you as a man of resistance and as one of the founders of Solidarność , as the man from Silesia who never forgot his roots , his history or his values .
I have , however , some reservations .
Madam President , a billion here , a billion there , and pretty soon we are talking real money .
this liberalisation will mainly benefit the US multinationals that dominate the world market in the sector .
on the other hand , however , we cannot forget that , during a period of economic crisis and vulnerability , when unemployment is growing , labour migration policy must be flexible , as argued by the Commission , but also sustainable and reasonable .
thus , redundant employees will get assistance as personalised measures supported by the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund , which will mobilise EUR 9.59 million for these measures .
it is our greatest wish that our contribution will , each month , create more satisfied Europeans so that one day any person walking down the street in any town in Europe will answer immediately , when asked whether he is concerned about the future of the European Union , ' I care about the future of Europe because I know Europe cares about me . '
the charge will reflect not just road infrastructure costs , the vehicle 's pollution category and length of journey , but also the level of pollution , noise and congestion .
let this example act as a spur towards the negotiation of a forceful and legally binding ATT ( Arms Trade Treaty ) , which so many NGOs in the IANSA network have been calling for for years , as indeed has this Parliament .
however , paper , as we know , is patient , and too much paper can be harmful .
one of the basic principles of the CPA was the establishment of democratic governments based on respect for diversity and basic freedoms .
it is difficult to comprehend why , at a time when it is most needed , the Commission wants to save Community money from the CAPs most social facet , especially since there is a budgetary surplus every year in the agricultural budget .
I thought that time had passed and I would never have to do so again .
we should punish Turkey , of course , for providing illegal immigrants with a passage to Greece .
thank you .
in addition , I consider the steps taken on safety at work to be essential in order to protect the millions of European citizens employed in this sector , guaranteeing them a suitable level of protection .
ways of including in-copyright material must be found , so that it includes current works and those from the recent past .
expanding the scope of the directive to cover all energy-related products brings with it an enormous potential for further reducing energy consumption and thereby CO2 emissions .
Mrs Museminali is accompanied by the Chairman of the Senate Committee for External Affairs , Mr Valence Munyabagisha , by the Vice-President of the Chamber of Deputies , Mr Jean Damascène Ntawukuriryayo , and by the Senior Director for Europe , the United States , the UN and international organisations in the Foreign Ministry , Mr Balthazar Rutsinga .
in writing . - ( EL ) This lengthy report , full of literary rhetoric , attempts to conceal the responsibility of the EU and its Member States for their barbaric policy , which results in the inhuman conditions experienced by children and parents of ordinary families .
that in turn has encouraged concentration and a format-based approach , to the detriment of artists and to the advantage of industrialists and other economic operators .
on the basis of this work , the Commission may propose to fill the gaps through the development of civil protection modules available for deployment at any time or through additional reserve capacities designed to complement national responses to major disasters , including in the area of fighting wild fires .
motherhood and fatherhood are certainly inalienable fundamental rights for the purposes of social balance .
this report deals with the period July 2008 to December 2009 , just before the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty .
is that what you are advocating ?
it is no exaggeration to say that this new network is intended to improve the quality of people 's everyday lives , to make our businesses more competitive , to extend the scope of our research and education centres and , last but not least , to preserve our environment .
it is also a test of our commitment to environmental protection .
we know that gross domestic product provides no information on the state of the natural world and the environment , on resources that we have used , or on the whole sustainability problem .
( FR ) Madam President , Mr Jouyet , the European Council devoted part of its conclusions to energy security , but this issue has passed under the radar , and has been overlooked in the debates .
they depend on Russian gas exports , which Moscow is using as its foreign policy tool .
- ( NL ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I am glad that Parliament has the opportunity today to speak out on the Green Paper on the Review of the Consumer Acquis and we have a good report on this topic before us .
this is truly symbolic of a united Europe and a basic right for all European citizens .
of course , while the majority of power is held at a national level , Europe can do a lot , and let us be absolutely sincere on this .
recent events in the Mediterranean show how important it is to assess the reforms and the situation step-by-step , avoiding taking simplistic stances on the issue .
we need to focus on the workers , the European people need that .
we have to implement measures that allow Belarus to find a path to democracy .
Turkey has not taken steps either to strengthen the impartiality of judicial institutions .
if populations are compared between 1970 and 2010 , which is when there is monitoring data , the population of bluefin tuna is above 15 % .
that is because these substances have a global warming potential up to 14 000 times greater than that of CO2 .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , firstly I would like to warmly thank the Committee on Legal Affairs and the rapporteur , Mr Lehne , for the hard and excellent work he has carried out in the preparation of his report on the proposal to amend the Design Directive .
vocational education and training are an area which has acquired particular importance in recent years .
we must move over to renewable energy sources .
there are countries such as Zimbabwe where an incompetent government has transformed the bread basket of Africa into a famine region .
what could we change in this area ?
the vote will take place tomorrow , Wednesday .
Barroso lacks vision and political boldness , and this does Europe no favours .
although the report does not deal adequately with these considerations , it represents an improvement on the current situation and , for that reason , I voted in favour of it .
the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania must be considered a strategic document of understanding that is very important as far as relations between the EU and Africa are concerned .
they do not take decisions .
by voting for this law , we say clearly that we are not prepared to tolerate toxic toys and dangerous toys in Europe .
there are many , many people who have linked in to the network and stand ready to help .
I would especially like to thank Mr Schmitt , the outgoing Member , who was rapporteur .
a consensus is developing in internal politics , the different national and ethnic communities are able to coexist .
it would have been very regrettable for Parliament if this had happened and I hope that we do not reach this point .
for these reasons , I voted in favour of the report .
in my country , people have two concerns .
that is what I wished to say to this House , Mr President , ladies and gentlemen .
I would also like to express support for the first interim report on climate change presented last Monday to your Climate Change Committee .
he has also missed a less convincing speech from Mr Mayor Oreja , so it was probably a good thing for him that he was not here .
( LT ) Although the rapporteur presented her report with some pessimism , I think she did some excellent work .
the costs of failing to act are estimated to exceed USD 4 000 billion by 2050 .
now , let me turn to the situation closer to home by answering your questions .
I call for the issue of abolishing the death penalty to be put on the agenda of the next EU-China Summit on 30 November .
we are well on track , and I hope we will get a result by the end of the year .
European integration began with free trade .
one was of the demonstrators , the majority of whom were immigrants , brandishing Palestinian , Algerian , Hamas and Hezbollah flags , and banners with inscriptions in Arabic .
( RO ) Mr President , two days ago , on 8 March , International Women 's Day , Natalia Radina was unable to enjoy this celebration because she was under house arrest .
( it ) Madam President , I also would like to congratulate the negotiators on the positive result which has been achieved , moreover , in a reasonably short time .
so what we believe is that we should really switch gear .
it will soon also be the turn of business , of the private sector , to respond to globalisation with the same commitment we have shown .
distributors and the dominant food chains are continually counting their blessings here .
we must strengthen parenthood , and hence inter-generational flexicurity , instead of weakening it with obstacles imposed by the labour laws .
that concludes the item .
you cannot imagine how much easier and more efficient my life would be if I depended much more directly on Parliament 's choices , options and control over the use of my budget .
moreover , women are not adequately represented in social dialogue .
this must change .
it should be about welfare , economic , social and psychological support and education on respect for life .
thirdly , determined efforts should be made to eradicate child pornography .
some newspaper headlines today read ' Europe puts Italy on trial ' or ' Comrade Schulz , Berlusconi 's enemy , against Italy ' .
I will therefore briefly touch on development issues , before addressing our concerns and actions regarding the proliferation of measures restricting access to raw materials .
I would like to give my full support to this increase in the threshold for the creation of political groups in the European Parliament , as this will help to avoid excessive parliamentary divisions and will make its work more effective .
let me thank all my fellow Members in the Committee on Budgets , and you as well , ladies and gentlemen , for the most interesting and rapid work we have accomplished and for the very successful hearing we have organised .
this cannot be the added value in the European Union that was intended when , for good reason , we negotiated the Treaty of Lisbon .
I voted in favour of the report on ' equal treatment of persons ' , which includes several amendments to the Commission proposal , reinforcing the protection of citizens , including people with disabilities who are victims of discrimination .
we support the creation of networks of officials in secretariats , committees and delegations specially trained in this issue , with the aim of regularly exchanging tried and tested procedures .
my final remark is directed once again at Mr Rübig .
it is a problem which exists at many levels , because on the one hand it concerns protecting the environment and human health , and on the other it is about the effective management of resources and natural materials .
President of the Commission . - Mr President , I would like , first of all , to thank Ms Wortmann-Kool .
what we are doing is not enough to make up for the faults that the European economy has at the moment , and I think that the caricature of blaming everything on the mistakes of the lazy , the lying and the wrong - compared with the virtuous who have no problems - is an extremely dangerous caricature that we must all avoid .
this is definitely the case , because the authors of this proposal are not intending to send men into the home so that it can be they who look after the children .
as an expert in the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality , I would like to emphasise the continuing lack of budget planning with regard to the gender issue and am once again calling for this aspect to be taken into account as part of budget planning and the funding of Community programmes .
subject : aquaculture in the EU
( RO ) As ITRE rapporteur for this document , I have asked for the active promotion of involvement in European trade unions and I have called on the Commission to propose a legal framework that would encourage social partners to engage in cross-border bargaining .
is the European Union a business undertaking to which we are attempting to apply similar mechanisms of assessing efficiency ?
everything is being subordinated to competitiveness and the rise in profitability .
I was consequently very annoyed that unfortunately , one amendment was passed that I voted against , which stated that Macedonian should not be allowed to be called Macedonian .
the arbitrary establishment of standard buffer strips next to water bodies serves no purpose .
moreover , it will bring its inhabitants increased security and prosperity .
- ( FI ) Mr President , the best way to improve energy security in Europe is to increase energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources .
no member of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs has questioned the effectiveness , the usefulness of the Globalisation Adjustment Fund .
the application concerns 821 redundancies made in 70 enterprises involved in printing and the reproduction of recorded media .
clearly , encouraging China to use the latest and most efficient technology could play an important part in allowing it to continue its growth without experiencing a proportionate increase in its carbon footprint .
mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund : application EGF / 2011 / 004 EL / ALDI Hellas / Greece (
the establishment of the Agency for Fundamental Rights was a big success for the promotion and respect of fundamental rights in the European Union .
I am very pleased that all the reports which we have been discussing over recent months here in the European Parliament in Strasbourg with the common agricultural policy as their main subject are all drafted in the same spirit and have the same general thrust : that we must take into account and recognise the needs of and opportunities for farmers and rural inhabitants from all Member States .
they did not want this House to reaffirm its conviction in front of a large audience that we need this Treaty , that we want it and that we believe in it .
the directive offers a reasonable timeframe of 30 days for making payments , with derogations of up to 60 days in special cases such as hospitals , not to mention compensation and late-payment interest .
the scale of the task is great ; that is why it is so important that you work together with the European Commission , and also with the European Parliament as the representative of the citizens of the European Union .
we therefore need to be particularly careful about what is to be done with the burnt land in southern Europe : in the near future there is a danger of climate change , which could well cause desertification in the stricken regions .
in particular Labour MEPs welcome the emphasis in this report on the better functioning of civilian ESDP missions .
the purpose of this facility was to respond to those soaring prices , the causes of which were mainly , though not exclusively , droughts in grain-producing countries and rising oil prices .
all this should result in a strategy that can go on stream with separate budgetary funding in the next budget framework .
Czech company Unilever ČR spol.sr.o , which is active in the retail sector , has made 634 workers redundant and has sought support measures for all those who have lost their jobs ( the individual measures are normally only needed for some of the redundant workforce to help reintegrate them into the labour market ) .
is President Lukashenko 's arrival in accordance with the values that we stand for ?
is it your wish that we should have these commitments by next year , or that women should have been appointed by next year ?
the most recent example is the EU 's failure to impose any sanctions on Russia , even though Russia had violated rules of international law by invading the territory of a sovereign country - Georgia - under the pretence of defending its citizens .
the creation of new jobs requires much preparatory work and large financial support , including for market research and training .
what can we do to bring down this 18 % share of emissions ?
attempting to reduce security to purely military aspects is doomed to failure , in my opinion .
it requires and encourages a sense of responsibility among all citizens .
the problem gradually became clear to me , too .
there are highly segmented labour markets in the EU where employees with permanent safe contracts coexist , and sometimes work side by side in the same workplace doing the same job , with employees who live under temporary contracts with few social safeguards and slim prospects of a permanent job .
the use of falsified medicines can have a serious detrimental impact on a patient 's health , in some cases leading to death .
if , for example , a product claims that it could cure you or could all of a sudden make you 10 years younger ( which of course is not possible ) , then it is in my scope and I could deal with it through the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive .
without the good will of both sides , the elections will not be held at all , or they will not come up to the hopes being placed in them .
the European Union stands ready to intensify its existing dialogue with Turkey on foreign policy issues of mutual interest .
it was more controversial , but in my opinion sensible , to support the Commission 's idea of a common European police force to cover sporting events .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( NL ) Madam President , I would first of all like to thank the Commissioner for her presence this morning and now once again at this debate , which was added to the agenda at the last minute .
they are our future .
there are also instances when the law is slanted so as to favour the interests of specific pressure groups , such as pro-abortionists and large corporations .
this legislative period has entered its final phase , rather as CO2 emissions should do in 2015 , when they ought to peak before starting to fall , that is .
I want to work with an open mind , setting high standards that are in tune with social and economic realities .
this has so far resulted in more debt for each individual country and catastrophic savings rates for citizens .
the strong pressure and threats experienced by staff at Alitalia , Olympic Airlines and other aviation companies in the Member States are typical of what is now happening .
Ukraine is going to be a partner who will be given much to do .
that concludes this item .
nonetheless , this is actually too little at this time .
countries do not trade with one another : businesses and individuals do .
an example of this perverted use of the web is the rising scourge of child pornography that is now flooding the Internet and which we have a responsibility to curtail .
in accordance with the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity , which are fundamental principles of the Union , cohesion policy should support those regions which have the greatest distance to make up in terms of infrastructure , the economy , technology , employment or social integration and which , on the strength of their own resources , are unable to bridge this gap .
I put the question now , therefore , whether that Council member will guarantee that sensitive data will not under any circumstances be transferred to Iran .
the Committee on Legal Affairs has indicated that Article 75 is the correct legal basis , as has Parliament 's Legal Service .
( NL ) Mr President , the fight against discrimination , whether on the basis of religion , gender or disability , is one of the pillars on which the European stands .
that is all I have to say regarding these meetings on the authentic acts , to which we are going to pay a great deal of attention in the forthcoming months of 2009 .
the preventive arm should be strengthened .
I therefore voted in favour of Mr Coelho 's report on verifying the necessary conditions for the application of the Schengen acquis , which is a prerequisite for the abolition of internal border controls with Bulgaria and Romania .
I congratulate Mr Fjellner on his important work as regards information to the general public on medicinal products for human use subject to medical prescription and more particularly on EU procedures for medicinal product authorisation and monitoring .
we do so in different ways .
what we must avoid doing is creating a strategy which exists only on paper .
Mr Schulz responded to him .
the European Union is fighting discrimination on all fronts , in Europe as well as beyond .
( SL ) The Irish 's unambiguous yes to the Treaty of Lisbon is an important step towards a united Europe and a minor blow for the eurosceptics .
there is no need for us to stress the importance of this report , especially not in the current circumstances .
plenary amendments 191 , 192 , 167 , 182
I offer my congratulations on the work carried out by the rapporteur , for which I voted .
recently , President Mugabe threatened to dissolve the government almost there and then because it had dared to remind him of his constitutional obligations .
on the issue of supervision , I have been vocal about the need to strengthen supervisory cooperation .
it is economically unsound , threatens horrendous additional costs in the future price of gas , constitutes an ecological threat to Baltic countries and also increases the dependence of some Member States on supplies from Russia .
ladies and gentlemen , tomorrow there will be some very close voting in some areas .
it is very hard to ask a speaker to break off , especially when he is in full flow , but do try to keep to your speaking time .
I would like to praise the very constructive work which we have developed in our joint working group .
this is why it is not appropriate for national measures aimed at tackling the crisis and its consequences to be made to clash with European measures .
such actions , however , are passed over with silence when it comes to the country of the former Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs .
the European Council is prepared to do everything to tackle effectively the problem of higher food prices .
the vote will take place on Tuesday , 8 July 2008 .
President Barroso , I hope that you understand the urgent need to make maximum use of the role that the Commission can play in this phase .
we should encourage the US Congress to fully commit itself to a routine Transatlantic Legislators ' Dialogue and thus also to an active participation in the TEC .
two events were instrumental in reversing the emerging trend .
the time has come for the European Union and the Member States , under Article 45 of the Treaty on European Union , to consider a major research programme in the field of defence equipment and , of course , dual use equipment .
they will not have the European Court of Justice on their side to ensure that the directives concerned are properly implemented .
the aid provided for in this report is vital for helping to support those who will potentially lose their jobs in this industry .
this excessive margin capture could have , and should have , been used by the large supermarkets to absorb the rising cost of agricultural raw materials in the crisis we are currently experiencing .
( uproar and applause )
well , there is no trace of her change of mind in the report , whereas it is full of testimonies by journalists who share the rapporteur 's thesis .
three factors justify this exercise aimed at making the European consumer acquis , i.e. eight Directives adopted between 1985 and 1999 , more consistent and more modern .
I therefore confirm that the commitments that we made in Kigali at the 14th session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly are central to our actions .
the Commission would like to use this opportunity to urge again the Chinese Government to permit expressions of all forms of opinion .
thanks to this amendment , the procedure currently being followed will have a democratic legal basis .
I am voting for this report , but I believe that a potential optional system could be beneficial for consumers and small and medium-sized enterprises if the Commission puts forward concrete data that indicate a need for further progress in order for the consultation carried out by the Commission to remain transparent .
the importance of new information and communication technologies ( ICTs ) can be attributed to their crucial role in starting a veritable revolution in the world of science , not only by proclaiming the birth of the knowledge-based society , but also by making a sustainable approach to the use of natural resources possible .
we have come to the point at which we must decide whether to create a large common market , for which we must of course establish clear rules , or whether we want to create a Europe that is an expression of a single strong and sovereign identity .
the first one concerns strengthening the human aspect of the OSCE .
the current financial crisis is sufficient reason to discuss this issue , and that is what we have done in the context of the Rasmussen report .
we urgently need European legislative standards to combat violence against women .
as you know , the task of harmonising working , family , and private life is one of the priorities of the Commission 's gender equality plan .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
for this reason , you have an interesting job and I hope very much that you enjoy it .
today 's situation with constantly fluctuating prices on the markets and the high price of protein feed may have a negative impact on the EU livestock sector , which is largely dependent on imports .
thank you and I hope that this debate would result into firm and concrete decisions to improve the European policies on Roma .
caning violates all United Nations human rights agreements and we believe that things need to change quickly .
it has been three times rejected in its several forms by 55 % of French voters , by 62 % of Dutch voters and by 54 % of Irish voters .
in ports , is it the wind destroying fishing craft , fishermen 's livelihoods , small businesses and shipyards ?
it has to be said that we are entitled to discuss this matter because Hungary is part of the European Union .
I am hugely honoured and very moved by your confidence , and I take it with a great sense of responsibility .
therefore , it is possible at any time to require the other toys to meet these limit values , too .
I believe that this development is of huge political importance for Europe and has a major social impact , in other words on the citizens .
however , the report also states very clearly that the rules in the Stability and Growth Pact are not enough .
now that Vietnam is in the United Nations Security Council , this should not be happening any more : the hundreds of political prisoners currently being held must be freed .
2 .
although greater predictability in relation to FDI opportunities for EU investors is something to be welcomed , the potential negative aspects of investment policy , for example , the fear among the local population of redundancies and wage cuts due to outsourcing and the relocation of production , should not be swept under the carpet .
we Flemings are the champions among European taxpayers .
our task is to establish whether this ' new ' dynamism of the job market is in fact due to precarious employment , since this information only has a positive impact on the economy when it fuels expectations of stability .
there will be discussion on Poland 's request to anchor Ioannina somehow , but the capacity for a blockade cannot be increased .
social insurance benefits are not comparable to businessmen 's profits or bank dividends .
( LT ) I welcome the Commission 's proposal to designate 2010 the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion .
Mrs Doyle welcomes the compromise with the Council on this Food Improvement Agents package , which is so essential .
setting a fair environmental price in accordance with global climate protection standards is another important point in the report , which I welcome .
( EL ) Madam President , I agree and recognise Turkey 's European prospects , but if these prospects are to have an auspicious outcome , Turkey needs to :
we only need to think about Iceland , the Faroe Islands and what has happened there in recent years , the Mediterranean region , Libya and Egypt which present a major challenge .
meanwhile , our group has secured the rapporteurship on the renewed social agenda , which reflects the immense importance we give to social issues , and we look forward to getting the considered comments from all political groups over the coming months , so that together we can produce a report of which the whole House can be proud .
this murder allegation is based on court documents which do not stand up .
we must enhance the role of Europol in order to prevent potential terrorists and criminals from slipping in .
however , the problem is that this item is not structured like that : in other words , it is not structured so as to give priority to members of the corresponding committee , but is structured so as to give priority to those Members who ' catch the eye ' of the President before anybody else .
important strategic amendments were made to the European Neighbourhood Policy ( ENP ) today in the plenary debate in Strasbourg .
as a consequence , on 4 November , the Commission adopted a communication on a comprehensive approach on personal data protection in the European Union .
at its core - and here I agree completely with the Commissioner - is an extremely important proposal for Europe 's consumers in the internal market . consumer credit is a really important mechanism for bringing consumers into the market place .
it is up to all of us now - and we can take this as an invitation - to initiate a directive that keeps red tape to a minimum while matching our aspirations .
even though the resolution rate remains quite high at 83 % , the number of cases resolved is decreasing .
at this stage , I do not consider it advisable for the G20 to open another major debate on all the regulations defined in the context of Basel III because these were the result of lengthy , balanced discussions .
in this regard , the issue is , of course , one of far too much secrecy .
a scientifically sound approach to the shortage of resources and to the ecosystem is crucial to the sustainable economic development of the European Union .
the attractiveness of the European private company could be threatened by the threshold for employee participation being set too low .
now it is important that Montenegro become a normal state , rather than a larger version of Monaco : a paradise for rich foreigners wishing to pay low taxes , launder money and build palaces .
the directive sets out a legal framework for long-term holiday products .
we need more planning .
Madam President , I should like to propose an oral amendment to the Greens .
the key to the sustainable use of plant protection products is rational risk limitation .
there have been expulsions from Morocco , threats in Turkey and attacks in India and Nigeria .
we must set greater store by reciprocity .
it shows both instinct and confidence for good future economic policy as a member of the euro group .
therefore , it is particularly important that we do not base our framework programme on the lowest , weakest standards .
next , in March 2009 , I shall propose the review of a framework decision on the sexual exploitation of children , child pornography and the fight against trafficking in human beings .
additionally , OCTs next to ACP countries must also be given a special focus in terms of respect for the association agreements which already link them to the EU by virtue of this Article .
they do not trust the North , they do not know whether they will be able to keep their jobs - almost certainly not if those posts are in the public sector - which is a serious problem .
let us clarify matters : there was no objection to paragraph 47 being inserted after paragraph 49 .
therefore , I believe there is no need to be concerned that the Council is withholding information on any subject whatsoever .
furthermore , I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the single market , on its own , is not a guarantee for Europe 's success in the globalisation development process .
then there was the question about the treaty that should replace the Kyoto Protocol .
this provides a very good basis for each Member State to define a better balance between flexibility and security in their labour markets .
( for the results and other details on the vote , see Minutes . )
in writing . - When voting for any policy which includes the term ' sexual and reproductive health ' I understand this to mean the protection and enhancement of the life and health of the mother and the unborn .
we are not talking about a conflict between equals .
that is not democracy .
for the remaining 48 % , they give a qualified opinion .
I would like to start my closing address by thanking you for all your views ; it was a very warm welcome and one that I was not expecting .
the Commission will submit its proposals within the framework of the first railway package revision , due to be adopted in the autumn .
in addition , there are three things that are required .
such a change , like the raising of the threshold needed to form a political group to 30 , could in fact impact on pluralism , freedom of opinion , the representativeness of European institutions and our credibility as European Parliament representatives .
the additional costs for accessibility are always much higher .
this is an object of increased risk , especially during the hours of darkness and , as you know well , heavy goods vehicles damage the condition of roads too , which also contributes to the number of accidents .
Mr President , in addition to Saudi Arabia , Pakistan , Indonesia and Egypt , who are amongst the gravest violators of human rights in the world , now Iran , too , wants to become a member of the Human Rights Council .
these lessons relate in particular to nuclear power stations .
regrettably , in my view , President Musharraf 's commitment to fully eradicating Islamist terror has always been lukewarm at best , and his control over the ISI or intelligence services , who allegedly are in bed with Islamists , is tenuous as well .
these reforms , together with direct foreign investment , have enabled Slovakia to enjoy constant and high economic growth .
we also call for capacity-building through the funding of initiatives independent of government , and we want to promote EU cultural activities in the rest of the world on line also .
5 .
both of these developments are an acknowledgement that Croatia is on the right track , and the international community is rewarding the efforts of the Croatian government .
in terms of the need to clarify this provision , I will simply point out that the Lisbon Treaty did not amend it .
this resolution rejects the institutionalisation of a law which would override the principle of equality between Lithuanians on the grounds of their sexual orientation and even punish them for it .
however , there is still much to do as there are still obstacles , resulting in most cases from incorrect implementation of this Directive by the Member States .
what is more , the pollution problem should not be tackled as part of this issue .
no other major changes were voted .
in Geneva , the universal periodic review process is beginning .
the Member States must not , by granting countless derogations and broadening the scope , end up reclaiming what is an exclusive Community competence .
that means offering hope , especially to young people , through the answers that Europeans themselves often suggest .
in writing . - ( DE ) Advertising is a powerful tool for business which in some cases can be used to address the subconscious .
the sitting of the Governing Board and the Knowledge and Innovation Communities will be the next step towards a common market in knowledge in the European Union .
disturbing signals are also coming from analyses conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit , which has evaluated Azerbaijan on the question of political freedoms .
I therefore hope that the EU will move from theory to practice , and will make it possible for women to show their worth .
the directive stipulates cooperation between Member States , especially with regard to recognising medical recommendations ( treatments , prescriptions , etc . ) made in another Member State , e-health and HTAs ( high technology assessments ) .
we would again ask the Commission not to deviate from the common nationally and internationally acknowledged and certified accounting and calculation methods .
frankly , I have no problem with that at European level , national level or local level .
discussion on the outcome of the public consultation on the Green Paper on Migration and Mobility will be concluded by the end of the year .
last but not least , I want to talk about rural development .
that is why much focus is placed on sustainable agriculture , because without it our results in achieving MDGs and fighting poverty and providing more stability will be under threat .
or against Gaddafi 's historic litany of torture , enforced disappearance and extrajudicial execution ?
finally , as my last point , I would like to say again to the Commission that we feel the result of this procedure is a very important call to respect the European vote , as a matter of equivalence , and that , when impact assessments are carried out , these enable all parties to express their points of view .
the last six months of foreign policy have , unfortunately , not put a stop to this .
( it ) Mr President , there is no doubt that the resolution adopted today represents an important indication of the cooperation and enhanced collaboration between the European Union and Russia .
throughout the negotiation process , Parliament 's interventions on various important issues have contributed towards securing the ambitious level of targets originally proposed by the Commission .
it is right that this period should now be reduced to three years .
until now , the disparities in national rules have not favoured the safeguarding of equal opportunities between spouses and neither have they protected the best interests of the children involved .
these authorities appoint officials to implement democratic decisions .
( SK ) Prior to joining the Union , some people in Central Europe thought that membership of the Union would solve all our problems .
if greater protection for women in the labour market in the context of childbirth and motherhood primarily means an economic burden that European society is not willing to bear , then we need to think about the values of this society .
it is clear that everyone will vote for a stricter law against trafficking in human beings .
we , too , want the competitiveness of the European economy to rise , and we want solutions which will help protect our climate .
in particular , I voted in favour of the Ford report because I believe that harmonising national systems through the development of minimum requirements and , above all , forecasting plans for public accounting systems is a basic rule if we want to prevent economic crises in future .
for this reason , and in view of the increasing complexity of technological innovation and the speed of scientific progress , I feel that it is more appropriate than ever for the Community to formalise the existing cooperation agreement so that collaboration can be strengthened , particularly in sectors that are more important than ever , such as health , biotechnologies and information and communication technologies .
I am very confident , Madam President , that after this well-rounded debate , Parliament will assent to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement .
we need to make absolutely clear , though , that without harmonisation of the economic conditions in the different countries , this will not work , as people will , naturally enough , go to where they can find the best social security , the highest incomes , the cleanest streets and the safest towns and cities .
we heard just this week that the Italian authorities have fined the airline Ryanair .
( PL ) Mr President , lobbying at the European institutions is a complex issue .
( EL ) Mr President , it took us 25 years to forget Chernobyl and I fear that the disaster in Japan will not suffice to remind us .
he expressed concern about monitoring and large databases , among other things .
the beginning of today 's discussion is fantastic !
( RO ) We have been able to observe during this crisis that the fluctuations triggered by interest and exchange rates have come up against a single currency which has properly shielded the euro area .
thus , we have to recognise the development of Ukraine towards democracy and the rule of law , towards improving economic integration and promoting relations with the European Union .
it is precisely to prevent terrible stories of unsafe toys on the market that we need significantly better market surveillance .
for ten months , they have been asking for bolder sanctions , and yesterday , they did just the opposite .
this is a very good report .
I am referring to question number 9 on the list I have , or number 8 on the current one , from Mrs Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou : the Economic Situation in Greece .
this measure will promote the harmonisation of the fundamental principles relating to the regulation of postal services , and will probably produce lower tariffs as well as better and more innovative services , and greater conditions for growth and employment will still be created .
for six months , you must forget your own political membership and hold a broad dialogue .
we support the rights of citizens and consumer protection when we engage in international , European trade .
these initiatives will really bring added value from the EU to the people I represent in the West Midlands .
I regard the fact that they have chosen this path of their own volition as a guarantee that Serbia will take all the necessary measures .
we fully recognise the profound changes needed to bring about the type of society and economy which will prove to be environmentally sustainable .
back in January of this year , the EU approved a EUR 46 million aid package for Georgia , of which EUR 23 million is to be paid as a loan and a further EUR 23 million in the form of a grant to the country .
I am therefore very pleased that the Ecofin Council was yesterday able to take a major step forward and reach a broad political agreement on setting up the new macro-supervisory body without pre-empting the debate in the national parliaments .
I do not think that the rules should be changed during the game , and the decision on joining the Schengen area must take into account what has been achieved under the Schengen Agreement and not be based on political assessments .
there are many more , and there are many more also from Europe .
the Union , sadly , has not protected Europeans from this situation .
later in the report , it talks about ' EU-wide coordination ' of ' direct taxation ' .
is it really the job of politicians to manage our food ?
against this background , I would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work .
now , I must draw attention to a problem that we currently have in connection with this basis of open trade and the benefits associated with it .
this represents a major step forward .
this report will ensure geographical balance as well as better coherence between the different aspects of the EEAS .
this report is very timely because the issue it highlights has been on the agenda for a while , but it has become more pressing as a result of the impact of the financial and economic crisis on vulnerable groups in society .
that is why we are now looking to find a solution for competitiveness and for convergence - and I stress convergence - in the Union .
violence has never been an acceptable and justified means of protecting rights and freedoms .
yes , we need reciprocity , but the EU is the biggest investor internationally anyway .
we therefore need to make a commitment , and we cannot afford to wait any longer to do so .
( RO ) Madam President , the crisis which is unfolding at the moment in Japan raises concerns about the safety of nuclear power plants worldwide .
indeed , the Commission should be able , in agreement with the Member States , to manage the objectives of the permanent stability mechanism rather than being limited to technical monitoring .
I believe that the European system of liability for lack of conformity must be fair so that consumer protection and confidence in the markets are improved , thereby increasing the service life of products .
such is the case with Galileo , which has gone from a EUR 7.7 billion budget to a EUR 22.6 billion budget .
( SK ) I am very disappointed that , despite the mounting social problems in EU Member States affecting every single citizen regardless of nationality , questions relating to the duel between Slovak and Hungarian Members are always being raised in plenary sessions in this institution , as is the case today at 10 minutes to midnight .
Mr President , the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats will vote in favour of adopting Mr Galeote 's report on imports of certain fishery products into the Canary Islands .
of course , this rule can be changed .
in the Group of European Conservatives and Reformists , we were asked this question : would we put our own family 's budget and the fate of our family in the hands of this Commission ?
we should also take account of the interests of these countries , because they constitute a significant group which still uses traditional sources of energy .
I am voting in favour of this report .
on this point , I find your suggestions very reasonable .
when will we say that this course is unacceptable ?
I would just like to ask Mr Clark to read the report of the British House of Lords on VAT carrousels .
the rapporteur is convinced that the IASB 's democratic accountability has to be improved and I am glad to see the IASB taking this criticism on board .
we did not always take the time that was needed for it .
firstly , the role of Member States : the report makes use of the wealth of figures and statistics on irregularities by Member States , and their financial impact .
this should remain something that the Members of this House should decide for themselves , because it is naturally also extremely important that we should explain the benefits effectively .
being efficient in energy also means saving energy , which is something we are not doing sufficiently at present .
we have all had experience in recent days of the need for these mechanisms .
the situation in Romania is also worth mentioning , where 110 cases per 100 000 inhabitants are recorded , against a European average of 39 cases per 100 000 .
civil society organisations also have an important role to play in this .
it sickens me that every time people are in difficulty , it is seen that they are the problem .
we are nevertheless ready for the Commission 's draft legislative solutions to financial market regulation and banking supervision in a European format this autumn .
it is true that we have Schengen - I also note that the vast majority of MEPs celebrated this Schengen success , which makes it possible to have freedom of movement and , at the same time , security .
do we need to take as a reference the budgetary objective set by the Commission or a reference rate as a function of GDP ?
we will see Prime Minister Fayyad tomorrow .
I have written to the Council President , the Member States and the European Parliament , setting out the additional efforts the Commission will make .
until recently , quantitative restrictions on imports originating in World Trade Organisation ( WTO ) member countries were in force , together with special safeguard provisions for textile products from the People 's Republic of China .
the terms values and interests must be compatible , not exclusive in our external action .
this is the case in all Member States , including Hungary .
for my part , I regret the way in which we worked on drafting this resolution .
the Czech and the German Presidencies were here on Thursdays .
this is tantamount to the hangman 's salary being paid by the victim !
besides these temporary measures , the French Government has also decided to build a new detention centre with a more suitable capacity and in accordance with national standards .
this is not the right way to act towards the EU and Albania should listen to the warning before it is too late .
discussions in the Council working groups on development and human rights are taking place in parallel or at joint meetings .
in relation to this , as I have already stressed in amendments submitted relating to the draft report of Mr Danjean on the implementation of the European Security Strategy and the Common Security and Defence Policy , it is essential to ensure the efficient functioning of instruments for reacting to crisis situations by good organisation of command centres , appropriate to the needs of action taken as part of the first and second pillars .
second is the full-time nature of the job ; previous presidents had to simultaneously manage their own national governments .
I certainly would .
I would like to call upon the Montenegrin authorities to continue to make an effort to fulfil the established objectives , as this country is an important neighbour for the EU , and one with which we would like to collaborate .
however , I would like the European Parliament to send observers and I would ask Mr Buzek in particular to draw the Hungarian police chiefs ' attention to observing the European Convention on Human Rights .
I voted in favour of the report on energy strategy , which outlines the directions that future EU energy policy should take .
the current financial crisis has shown that tolerating unclear tax legislation , anonymous transactions and lack of cooperation in the area of taxation may in the short term ensure extra income to particular countries and dependent territories , but in the long term this destabilises the financial system and may be the cause of severe financial crises .
I urge you to vote to protect the small businesses of Europe .
I find it upsetting that women inside prisons could , depending on the outcome of the vote tomorrow , have different rights to women who are outside prison walls .
clearly , this is a matter for a separate debate that should be held in this House . after all , democracy cannot be dependent on funding alone .
the European economic recovery plan provides for major public investments for modernising transport and energy infrastructures .
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since 2003 , the Commission has also been publishing the ' She Figures ' statistics , which show the participation of women in European research .
now there is some catching up to do .
since the military junta has no intention of helping the people of Burma , we are against the military junta .
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in my opinion , we should address all issues that shake the democratic world .
it is crucial to guarantee that international conventions are taken into account when drawing up such a strategy .
when the current financial framework was adopted , special priority was given to strengthening competitiveness and cohesion for growth and employment .
we need a package .
sexual orientation was part of the elements proposed by the Commission and we attach a lot of importance to it , but you should also be aware , as the Commission is , that in some ACP countries , homosexuality is forbidden by law .
( DE ) Mr President , there are Members who have a problem with the central section , the part from ' points out that one ' to ' domestic demand ' .
all of this must not serve to burden local communities with layers of bureaucracy but is instead designed to ensure that the single market for service providers is viable .
( DE ) Madam President , Mr Andor , ladies and gentlemen , we must do everything we can to counteract the spread of antibiotic resistance .
I welcome , then , the fact that you have placed ' Europe in the World ' among your priorities .
consumer prices are nearly five to ten times farm gate prices and , despite the reduction in inflation , consumer prices remain very high ;
so we will make sure we embed short-term measures to get Europe working again into our longer-term objectives , promoting jobs through sustainable growth .
in this context , the European Union supports the efforts of the African Union for a peaceful solution to the conflict .
with new agreements you obtained stronger competences in adopting legislation and appointing the top European political representatives .
I would like to thank them for studying our recommendations and taking them into account .
what is in fact taking place is a monopolistic centralisation and ownership of all the terms of cultural existence and cultural production of each country , under the umbrella of the measures and rules of the unpopular Lisbon strategy .
it is all very well for those colleagues who do not originate from a country neighbouring Libya to criticise this agreement , but it is far more difficult for those Mediterranean countries that lie at close proximity to Libya to find a way of cooperating with this country .
as regards the energy sector , Russia must be told that we are opposed to the repeated blackmailing of Ukraine , and that we are opposed to the measures taken by Russian agencies of influence , attempting to belittle the extraction of shale gas in Poland and in Europe .
strengthening the Non-proliferation Treaty ( NPT ) by having all the Member States sign and apply it comes within this framework .
this puts Europe well ahead in comparison with other developed countries facing similar issues .
however , if it must remain part of it , it must be more flexible .
2008 discharge : Seventh , eighth , ninth and tenth European Development Funds ( EDF )
these 95 % are family farms , no larger than 50 ha .
in this regard , implementation of an early warning system by the Commission would ensure faster handling of the dossier by the competent committee in Parliament and avoid unnecessary delays which might have a serious negative impact on the final beneficiary of the financial aid .
with regard to procedural rights , we have focused strongly on people who get into trouble because they may have committed a crime : we have been concerned to see that their rights are looked after , as we should be in our rights-based society .
but if the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing , the action of the European Union will be incoherent and European law in terms of Article 9 will not be complied with .
in addition , cooperation with Russia in this area must not mean a weakening of the defence of Central Europe .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , Mr Solana , I would first like to thank Mr Kuhne for his report and for the way he went about it , which meant that we were able to achieve unity on almost all points .
I would like to explain to Mr Barroso that it is not enough to make a declaration about common values .
the Ministers rightly call for young men and women athletes to be given access to a dual curriculum of education and sports , and for efforts to provide the relevant facilities and structures to be increased .
by implementing their own national economic recovery plans , Member States have disrupted the activities of these European groups ; therefore we are experiencing many problems , which we will have even more of , if we are unable to rebuild the coordination of economic policy at European Union level .
however , no timetables for this are provided at Italian railway stations , nor do they issue tickets .
it is important that a coordinator working on behalf of Parliament and the Commission will be able to press for these new blocks to be created .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I welcome the opportunity to pass a resolution in Parliament to facilitate travel for third-country nationals legally residing within the territory of the European Union , and I congratulate my fellow Member , Mr Coelho , for the excellent job he did in Parliament regarding this issue .
finally , the liability of companies involved in the subcontracting chain , if it can be proven that they knew about the employment of illegal immigrants by the subcontractor .
statistics show that around one in three young Europeans has tried an illicit drug and at least one of our citizens dies every hour from a drug overdose .
that is how we should deal with this the whole way through .
finally , Catherine Day was also wrong when she said that this is not a crisis of the euro .
we make over 50 % of European law , which is then approved by national parliaments , so it is very important that we have good relations with the parliaments in our countries .
this is quite problematic , as it entails far-reaching amendments to criminal proceedings in the Member States .
( it ) Madam President , obviously I do not disagree that human rights and the fundamental rights of the Union must be respected in the choice of law .
I would also like to point out that the Commission has been working with the social partners on assessing the possibilities of legislative initiatives in the area of work / life balance .
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obviously everything , from phasing out asbestos in the workplace to the protection of health care workers who work with sharp instruments , is important .
last year , large sums of money were injected into banks .
it begs the question : where is Mr Schulz , where are you , ladies and gentlemen , when these violations are being perpetrated in Poland ?
it is also a success in terms of interinstitutional cooperation .
when we discuss expenditure , we must refer to the obligations that result from the Treaty of Lisbon .
by emphasising spectral efficiency , we will remedy this situation without limiting the diversity of services available on the spectrum .
I would emphasise the excellent work done by the EIB in support of small and medium-sized enterprises in a period of economic difficulty and difficult access to loans .
it is indeed important that we now describe and regard SMEs as a cross-section , that we rethink support measures , that we give precedence to small enterprises in public tenders ( ' Think Small First ' ) and that we prevent public authorities from intervening in competition .
we are also in continuous contact with the group directing the Civil Society Platform for Intercultural Dialogue , which includes representatives of the European Youth Forum and EFIL , the European Federation for Intercultural Learning , for example .
although a few months ago we had a real open prison which constantly closing in , that is becoming ever more apparent when every day we count the dead , the hunger , the fear , the power of weapons and their effect , on both sides of the walls , on civilians ' lives .
I would like to thank the Belgian Presidency .
the third change relates to nanotechnology .
this monetary iron curtain separates those outside the euro area from those within it .
bearing in mind the problems with the Olympic Games , I think we shall have to consider whether the Games should be returned permanently to Greece .
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the Commissioner has told us that he is also endeavouring to ensure that the term ' biodiversity ' features clearly in this policy .
the reason for raising this is because the decision to shut down the reactors at the Kozloduy power plant in Bulgaria was political .
this is where a set of measures that were presented last summer under the header of Small Business Act come in ; I am working hard on a number of proposals from that set , including the statute for a European PLC , more scope for micro-credit and fleshing out the option for a low VAT rate for service providers who serve private persons within the local market .
this creates unequal conditions for the new Member States and discriminates against them .
I offer my congratulations on the work carried out by the rapporteur , Mrs Carvalho .
Iceland excels in this respect , with a strong tradition of democracy .
there would also be an increase in lender competition and the overall efficiency of the market , as consumers with more knowledge can understand how various financial offers differ and can choose the one which best suits their needs .
up until now , interventions in the housing sector could only take place within the scope of urban-development projects relating to the renovation of housing .
I therefore hope for a successful procedure and hope that my fellow Lithuanians manage to translate my first Lithuanian speech well and correctly .
the financial aid released through the fund will enable the Portuguese authorities , particularly the regional government of Madeira , to recover part of the expenses they incurred in responding to the emergency .
it gives the country lessons in democracy and even in journalism .
human rights have a prominent place in the partnership and cooperation agreement which we hope to sign with Iraq soon .
the Netherlands gives 15 euro cents and the UK 4 euro cents .
in this way , we can standardise counter measures throughout the European Union and determine whether similar types of fraud have been committed in other countries .
thank you very much .
it is hardly surprising if we consider that it takes around two months for Argentinian beef to arrive in Europe .
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it is time Europe showed that , in tragic situations , it is there to protect its citizens .
the EIT will serve to strengthen the exchange of knowledge , to bring together , exchange and circulate ideas , and to collect together research from all over Europe in macro-areas that are essential for developing the future competitiveness of the EU .
what really matters is the loss of democracy .
this support comes under the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures ( ASCM ) - also called the Agreement - negotiated between the countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development ( OECD ) , and it is an example of a public finance instrument with European Union involvement .
it pains me to say it , because we have often supported Mr Frattini 's proposals and initiatives .
the Commission also stands ready to provide financial support to OAS if the conditions for the electoral observations are there .
I will vote in favour of it and I think that , at this moment and in this period of crisis in the euro area , we and this Parliament are being called upon to deliver and that is what I would like to do .
we should note that in the past weeks the US dollar has strengthened against the euro , evidence that even in an economic crisis investors , or at least the majority of them , believe that the dollar is a safe haven for their investments .
there is no doubt that violence against women violates their basic rights and fundamental freedoms , in particular the right to security and human dignity .
we had a recent case in Ireland which highlighted this .
the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) should support the reintegration of individual redundant workers into employment , and I would reiterate that assistance from the EGF is not a substitute for measures that are the responsibility of companies by virtue of national law or collective agreements , nor is it intended to finance the restructuring of companies or sectors ;
I agree with the possibility of calling for structural reforms in surplus countries , but most attention should be given to deficit countries .
it should also be mentioned that the Commission has developed a strategy to promote multilingualism in the European Union which covers official , national , regional , minority and migrant languages .
it is true , then : there is no such thing as ' zero risk ' where nuclear power is concerned .
on 9 November , the Presidency hosted a conference at which Member States and representatives of civil society had the opportunity to share their experiences and information relating to combating violence against women .
I do hope that other Member States will be part of this cooperation soon .
before resuming the sitting , a legislative package will be signed to make it effective .
the European SME Week in October will be a good opportunity to work together to raise awareness of SME policy and the needs of SMEs everywhere in the European Union .
the growing number of bankruptcies that has been seen among airlines , affecting thousands of citizens in the Member States , has made it necessary for the EU to take measures to protect them .
a quality education from the earliest years of life is necessary to ensure the development of the human being and of societies .
they are opening up to them , and are clearly recognising the role of civil society . there is an ever increasing range of Union communication policies in this area .
( DE ) Madam President , I would just like to recommend under these circumstances that we vote in favour of this .
Mr President , I reject this report and I reject the Treaty that it supports .
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to Mr Swoboda I would say - and this is an anecdote - that I wanted to go and see Stalin 's house in Gori , because that is where his house is .
I would like to emphasise one more thing .
also , credit rating agencies are now going to be regulated .
the Union urgently needs agreements on who may come in but is now directing most of its efforts to deportation .
on that basis , you can promote inequality .
all the more so , when that support comes in the form of the introduction of new technologies on a massive scale to rural areas .
in June 2008 , the Council of the European Union revised the guidelines on children affected by armed conflicts in order to deal more effectively and more globally with the short- , medium- and long-term effects of armed conflicts on children .
does anyone believe that ?
what we can no longer allow , in an internal market with single customs duties , is that investment can be steered by individual Member States .
as rapporteur for Croatia , I do hope that Croatia will be able to make great progress during your Presidency .
Madam President , I would just like to say that I think the Commission has produced a good document , except that it is 15 months too late .
we must use the opportunities available because time is of the essence .
we have not listed political conditionality among bilateral relations issues within the ENP policies .
the European Asylum Support Office will provide a coordinated approach to the Common European Asylum Policy .
this refers to the amount of risk that banks must retain in their own balance sheets when they place ' structured ' products with savers .
its biggest problem is the many decades of bad governance that have practically left no social structures and government structures in place to help the Haitian people , and that creates a big deficit of trust of the Haitian people in their government .
it is good to remember that because , when the aim is to propose credible solutions , it is good manners to admit that mistakes were initially made .
Mr Deprez , this would be an opportunity to include Parliament in the work of the expert groups that we will be putting in place this year and in coming years .
this report is on the cultural dimensions of the EU 's external actions .
the report before us provides for linking active and passive safety measures , and anticipates the future introduction of anti-collision systems .
the phase of ' getting worse before getting better ' is probably behind us , but the getting better will be slow .
in the new Member States , during the accession period farmers invested huge sums in upgrading their farms , including beet production .
firstly , the primary and principal objective of structural policy must be to promote real convergence , by acting as an instrument of redistribution with regard to the costs , inequalities and asymmetries caused by the internal market , by Economic and Monetary Union and by the liberalisation of world trade , for those countries and regions in the European Union which are economically less developed .
in writing . - ( FR ) Two things alarmed me in the Deprez report on terrorism .
all the speakers who have vehemently spoken against discrimination have talked about the principle .
Holodomor stands for uninterrupted cereal exports by the Soviet leadership during the years of starvation 1932-1933 , even though these would have fed about one and a half million people for a whole year .
( PL ) Mr President , Commissioner , it is clear that there is a consensus in the Chamber and that the report will , in fact , be adopted , probably tomorrow .
we need better information and more clarity regarding the legal rules applicable to healthcare given in a Member State other than the Member State of affiliation .
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it is possible that in the context of international agreement , the time has come for some financial transaction tax .
we must all pull together in this fight .
we are therefore creating a precedent that could be used in all areas of the internal market .
it is even less helpful to propound remedies , which in practice serve only to alleviate certain consequences for the moment but which , in the short and medium term , will not change anything .
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that should be changed to ' within 90 days after receipt of the notification ' .
the European Parliament has today approved the revision of the Eurovignette Directive by a large majority .
( EL ) Mr President , according to the UN a veritable tidal wave of high prices is threatening more than 40 countries and over 100 million people with famine .
there is a significant increase in the separated and divorced population in Ireland and an increase in cohabitation of couples : one in twelve families takes this form , with responsibility for 50 000 children .
the ' Sky Team ' of Sarkozy and Klaus will have to decide on progress up to the next European elections , and the formation of the next Commission .
this is why the report calls for new rules and for corporate social responsibility to be a core element of any future agreement .
in both cases , that would be tantamount to flogging a dead horse .
we were not arguing about what the difficulties were , but rather about how we could accelerate this process .
it is possible that this stability will be achieved with the support of the United States or the European Union .
therefore , the Commission 's initiative to present a European strategy is very welcome .
a state is sovereign when it respects the principle of uti possidetis , the inviolability of borders .
nonetheless , it is a new Russia and it has new potential .
moreover , we condemn terrorist attacks and we understand the Turkish need to protect its citizens , but we also urge Turkey to seek a political solution in cooperation with Iraqi regional authorities and the international community and to show a sense of proportionality in its response to PKK terrorism .
thus , in situations where more flexible instruments or arrangements are in place between Member States , those should prevail over this Framework Decision provided that they do not lower the protection afforded to the suspected or accused person .
I am therefore fully in agreement with the rapporteur when he states that we must call on the EU institutions and the Member States to promote a common administrative culture of transparency , founded on the principles outlined in Article 41 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union , the case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Communities , the recommendations of the European Ombudsman and the best practices of the Member States .
from now on , these two divorcing people will soon be in a position to choose which European Union legal system will govern their divorce .
areas such as house renovations and extensions , energy-saving improvements , and perhaps gardening and landscaping work and , as Olle Schmidt said , care for the elderly and care for children , are the ones which would get people into work and probably increase the tax-take , because those people would be paying tax on their incomes as well .
there is a need for a common operational framework to ensure that these consultations are carried out in a transparent and coherent way .
according to the European Court of Auditors , the financial impact of irregularities in the agricultural policy accounts for 2-5 % of the spending on agriculture .
the President of the European Parliament now participates in the annual meetings of the Heads of State or Government of the G8 and in summits with third countries , such as the EU-Africa Summit , the EU-Latin America Summit and the EU-US Summit .
I have voted in favour of the motion for a resolution , as the people of Haiti need our help and the Western world must face up to its responsibilities .
it must be based on fairness , not favouritism , not because one Member State has pledged more finance than any others .
the dismantling of the plants in Ignalina , Bohunice and Kozloduy is taking too long and greater commitment should be required from the national operators .
since 2007 , the Commission has been gradually publishing the names of expert group members , whether formally or informally established .
it is very easy to come up with these facile phrases about deregulation , but in the real world , there are always people who want to keep regulation in place .
in my opinion , it would be disastrous if the taxpayer always ends up footing the bill .
however , some important points still need to be improved .
that is why I strongly back Mrs Weisgerber 's negotiated amendments to ensure hydrogen fuel is produced sustainably and , as far as possible , from renewable energy .
the matter was also discussed yesterday by the Political and Security Committee , which was also addressed by Deputy Prime Minister Baramidze .
as far as we are aware , the Commission is considering having consultations with local partners with a view to ensuring sustainable development .
the new tasks with which agriculture has been faced in respect of the environment , the climate , animal welfare and unrealistic WTO negotiations mean additional costs for farmers .
my question to you , then , is as follows . how can the formation of blocs like this be avoided and how can this kind of changing of the subject be prevented ?
the ECB is accountable to the citizens of Europe through the European Parliament .
rapporteur . - ( ES ) Mr President , as I missed one minute of time earlier , I would like to respond to Commissioner Kuneva , who is aware of the feeling of friendship and affection I have for her and , indeed , for Mr Orban .
we are also asking that the banks ' governing boards ensure that bankers ' bonuses take account not only of good performances , but also of any losses that may eventually occur .
this is what the French Presidency of the G20 wants , and we must do all we can to achieve that objective .
( the sitting was suspended at 11.35 a.m. pending voting time and resumed at 12 noon . )
unfortunately , the Commission has not yet been able to provide us with any detailed information on how these aid commitments will be implemented and whether they are operational .
they must ensure transparency in relation to their assets , their claims on the public purse and the reimbursement of campaign costs , in other words in relation to the actual moneys they have received from public bodies in their own countries during their election campaigns .
( BG ) I personally attended the FAO meeting in Rome .
the concern was to enable movement without spreading disease , and the reality is that rabies has been kept very firmly under control - 2 700 cases 20 years ago down to less than 300 cases last year , and not one single case associated with the movement of domestic animals under this scheme .
in a Europe of 27 members , we need to learn that environmental policy cannot be made by implementing it through the judicial system .
Madam President , it is always more difficult to conclude a military operation than it is to start it , and in order to be able to conclude it , we must keep in mind the initial objective , which was to ensure that the al-Qaeda camps were dismantled .
it can be an economic plan , as we have just heard , but equally a rehabilitation plan that is tackled in a comprehensive way and in which the decentralised instruments play a particularly prominent role .
to crown it all , Europe is subjected to Franco-German mini-summits where this strange couple Merkel and Sarkozy claim to be showing us the way .
this justification will be made public .
it points to inadequate control and sanctions .
it is now common practice to set minimum rates because we have not yet achieved a permanent tax harmonisation system in the Union for indirect taxation .
we German Social Democrats are proud of our media interests !
the agreement reached in October at the European Council Summit estimated that developing countries would need EUR 100 billion in order to adapt to climate change , whereas developing countries argue that the cost would be three to four times as much .
you may dismiss it , but I am convinced that is the case .
the international black market in organs is attracting people in search of a kidney or other organ , and people living in abject poverty or other vulnerable circumstances are being exploited .
I have just looked at my mobile phone to see how much it costs me .
they are focused , measurable and tailored to each country 's most pressing challenges .
the figures have already been given , but I want to repeat them : to date , there have been 1 130 victims , and the number of hospital admissions has risen to more than 18 000 in one month .
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despite a string of critical conclusions relating to the evaluation of budget execution for 2006 , a positive application was submitted to Parliament for the discharge to be issued .
yet I do not think our work ends there .
there are , however , some proposals ( which came under the former third pillar ) where the legal framework has changed substantially and they have therefore lapsed and must be replaced with new ones .
the most obese people in Europe are to be found in Greece , where 3 in 4 are overweight and there has been a 956 % increase in fast food .
this is already in evidence as things stand .
the individual meetings of the Subcommittee on Human Rights with Jordan , Israel , Morocco , Lebanon and Tunisia have already reviewed the progress made in the implementation of the ENP action plans ' commitments on human rights and fundamental freedoms .
simplification of the eligibility of expenditure ;
I can therefore reassure Mr Gauzès and all the other honourable Members that we will be paying close attention to this three-way balance .
( protests )
the economic and financial crisis has had a dramatic impact on the social environment , with the main concern for European citizens nowadays being jobs and quality of life .
thank you for being ambitious in discussing both sides of the budget , including own resources ( Mr Daul , Mr Le Foll , Mr Verhofstadt , Mr Böge , Mr Dehaene , Mr Abad , Mr Fernandes , Mr Kalfin , Ms Durant and Mr La Via ) .
the fact is , the European machine is obviously still in need of some adjustments .
does the Council consider that the idea of a free-trade regime with Russia is timely considering the disagreements within the EU on the issue ?
taking this route would be the equivalent of driving the EU project into a wall .
the importance of trade policy and , of course , of investment policy as instruments for promoting the interests of a country and its people according to its specific characteristics and conditions are all too clear .
secondly , it is therefore entirely appropriate for the European Commission to have tabled a proposal to amend Article 55 of the Regulation . one of the effects of the amendment would be to exclude revenue-generating projects funded by the Cohesion Fund from the scope of Article 55 .
it may be true that they are local and have little presence in the Community market , but that does not mean that accounting rules will be abolished for them .
another issue concerns the conditions of treatment .
rapporteur . - ( ES ) Commissioner , I would like to thank you for your explanations about today 's debate .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , Madam High Representative , on behalf of my group , I would like to start by saying that we could not agree more with your introduction , with the aims you have put forward , and with the efforts you are making to re-instil life into what you yourself called the ' stalled ' peace process .
I believe we have succeeded in rounding off the procedure or system in those areas where certain issues were missing , such as getting subsequent administrative offences once the information has been exchanged and notification made .
the latest developments indicate that the only damage to occur was the financial loss for European farmers .
if you want a strong Commission that sometimes stands up to Member States and to national egoisms , you should give the Commission the strong support it needs .
this must also be the outcome of the meeting of the G20 countries .
Parliament cannot merely sit and listen to the players in society , including in anti-dumping matters .
the demand that the Commission develop an integrated register of infringements of road transport legislation by 2010 is very important because Member States must be able to decide on the withdrawal of licences , for example , according to unified criteria .
how controversial are they ?
that is true .
in my opinion , this would be a great step forward compared to Battle Groups , which are only ever made available to the European Union for a six-month period .
the defence against fundamentalism and economic imperatives must not serve as pretexts for ignoring human rights .
there is a lack of an underlying plan .
Commissioner , you could not rule out the possibility that , if we carry on as we are , a number of these fisheries will collapse altogether .
we can compete globally by using our services to attract tourists and , undoubtedly , it is important that those services are cheap .
we must make it clear to governments that strive to continue to maintain good relations with us that Europe demands that the widely accepted norms of universal human rights be respected by its partners , and that the future development of relations can be affected by problems involving human rights .
in the short term therefore , it is clearly necessary , along with national responses aimed at ensuring better control of food prices , to meet the needs of the most vulnerable populations who are in real humanitarian distress .
my view is that higher agricultural product prices are creating a development opportunity for European agriculture .
ten days ago we voted to adopt the report of the delegation to Italy ; since then , a week ago , Italy deployed armed forces against the Roma after two crimes committed by persons unknown .
they probably did not even imagine how easily the bait would be taken , to the extent that even the 4x4 in which the flash drives were being transported was stolen .
for if we really believe , Commissioner , that in the EU each Member State can do what it believes serves its interests , there is no union .
I will therefore limit myself to two essential elements .
in writing . - ( ES ) I have voted in favour because this Agreement will benefit European and Canadian companies , airlines and passengers .
8 .
we will see !
( DE ) Madam President , it is a question of us , as the European Union , following a clear strategy and preventing a gold or gemstone rush .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( PT ) The European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union , known as Frontex , set up by Regulation ( EC ) No 2007 / 2004 , which I mentioned earlier , is intended to improve integrated management at the EU 's external borders .
the CE mark of conformity for batch production provides a sufficient guarantee that products conform to European standards .
we are ready to work to reduce all kinds of errors in the implementation of the European Union budget .
our voters deserve better of us .
I therefore abstained from the final vote on the own-initiative report .
I will not speak on Japan because we now have a new item on the agenda .
life + is agreed , work is beginning and the new health action plan is also replacing the old one from January 2008 .
the greatest virtue of this directive is the adoption of the waste hierarchy .
I would note that the first thing that the country needs to do is to draw up its constitution , and Europe can be of great help in this .
for all these reasons I decided to abstain from voting , as I still cannot conscientiously accept that this agreement has reached an acceptable level .
through the mechanisms of the ENP 's Eastern Partnership , we must now , of course , redouble our efforts to reward Georgia 's determined efforts to realise its Euro-Atlanticist aspirations , and I and my group fully support an FTA eventually , visa liberalisation and association agreements for all the countries in the South Caucasus .
the impact of such measures is extremely damaging to the economy in the medium and long term .
his family are still waiting for justice to be done and his murderers brought to justice or trial in England .
indeed , additional efforts should be made to prevent unsustainable budgetary policies from being adopted .
Europe is ageing .
farmers in Northern Ireland want to help to meet that need .
Mr President , today 's vote presents no particular problems and it respects the consolidated procedure .
( NL ) Madam President , I too should like to start by thanking all those involved for the role they have played in this year 's budgetary process .
dealing with healthcare as a marketable commodity instead of a public service is unacceptable .
the traditional role of European agriculture , along with the new ambitions we are aspiring to , fully justifies maintaining the level of this budget .
the factory in Ireland focuses on producing desktop computers .
in the resolution , Parliament therefore emphasises that people 's right to access information and their right to privacy must be safeguarded .
does democracy have mechanisms to counter such attacks ?
in this respect , this should have been a resolution on human rights , not on the Middle East .
we will also continue to assist with healthcare , but the healthcare system of Haiti is a shambles .
we need to bring our reduction more closely into line with what the science tells us is necessary in order to meet the Copenhagen Accord 's objective of keeping global warming below two degrees .
the courts should ensure that war crimes are addressed .
policy changes are therefore required in order to reorient our economic model , stop the disintegration of our productive structure and prevent any increase in the adverse social and climatic effects that are now occurring .
children should be able to benefit from all the opportunities this technology offers without fear of those who would cause them harm .
I voted in favour of the report on health care systems in sub-Saharan Africa and global health since it confirms the need for the international community to fulfil its commitments to the Millennium Development Goals and for the European Union to discharge its undertaking to step up its support for health services in sub-Saharan Africa .
we believe that the Commission 's role is to act as a promoter of financial education EU-wide , showing benefits , coordinating efforts , demonstrating best practice .
the second idea was that , since only two options had hitherto been available to EASA for dealing with errors and problems , namely to do nothing or to withdraw an operator 's licence altogether , there was a need to find intermediate responses .
in the final paragraph , he asks me to convey the following message to you :
what I would criticise , Commissioner , is the information policy pursued .
of course , with the passage of time , most religions became more mature and more humanistic and this is certainly true with Christianity .
I agree that greater stability has come to Burundi since the entry into force of a new constitution followed by general elections .
in this context , Member States must use the funding opportunities offered by the Structural Funds to develop projects in areas such as infrastructure , energy and the environment .
this coming Wednesday , we will have the opportunity to open the way for women to participate fully on the labour market .
we have therefore chosen to deal with 21 of these agencies that we are responsible for in separate reports and also to draw up a horizontal report dealing with the problems that are common to most of the agencies .
not only are there differences in the level of fines , but there is also wide variation in the types of sanctions available and in how individual offences are categorised .
I know this Parliament is very supportive of a strong European policy on energy and the President of Parliament has been a champion of a stronger commitment by Europe in terms of energy policy .
that process is exactly what the resolution proposed by the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs is calling for , which is why I voted in favour of the resolution .
on 21 December , Europe will move a step closer together .
in writing . - Passing this resolution today , ahead of the eighth World day against the death penalty on Sunday , once again relays the European Parliament 's call for a complete moratorium on all executions to those countries still using this barbaric form of punishment .
I urge Member States to start thinking about how they can consolidate and support better the concept of territorial cohesion in their national programmes and policies .
they have shouldered the burden for the implementation , which I know was a very onerous task .
end of quote .
at a time of demographic crisis and the development of new fertility methods which are financially costly , we should focus more on raising awareness .
I therefore support this resolution , in the hope that the EU will continue to adopt an ambitious position within the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity .
I hope that Croatia will continue further along this positive route .
but the handover of power from Fidel Castro to his brother , Raúl , has led neither to democratic reforms , nor to the release of political prisoners .
the European eel stock , one common stock , has declined by 40 % since 2007 .
certain persons , acting on the margins , certain persons acting anti-democratically , so wrongly deprived these people of their lives .
giving the common agricultural policy a ' check-up ' is a step in the right direction , and maintaining the same direction in discussions of the common agricultural policy after 2013 is the only way to strengthen the sector .
that concludes the explanations of vote .
Mr President , I first of all wish to congratulate the Slovenian Presidency for a job well done .
the forthcoming European Council is intended to lay the foundations for the future of the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs .
China really only has to bide its time , then steel will be produced there and no longer in Europe .
I would also ask the Commission to provide an explanation for its rejection of Canada 's social and employment policy proposals , which ought to be seen in a positive light for the sustainability chapter .
that is very typical of him .
in writing . - ( NL ) I have voted against the compromise in the Sacconi report on CO2 emissions from cars .
there are growing concerns that the re-prioritization toward competitiveness , climate change or sustainable development would be made at the costs of other priorities budgets .
with your continued support , I will endeavour to build on the achievements of this past year .
announcement by the President : see Minutes
Europe is currently finding that it has become less competitive in global markets .
the first and foremost of them concerns citizens ' rights and fundamental freedoms .
in this evening 's debate , the centre-left seems to be doing exactly that .
internally , Europe has the task of implementing the energy and climate package and investing in clean technologies , scientific research and energy efficiency .
( SL ) First of all , I should like to thank the representatives of both the Council and the Commission for their proactive stance on Guantánamo .
there is serious work going on in Parliament , just like , I think , in the other partner institutions .
with the Middle East conflict , we are little by little entering very dangerous territory , that of the clash of civilisations .
it seems relevant to me for other areas to be covered , such as young people , researchers , and small and medium-sized enterprises .
your visit and that of Mrs Georgieva in the past and the probable visit of Lady Ashton for the independence celebrations are all major events .
this is not solely the fault of their political elite .
I am unable to support this motion for the reasons stated .
all parties stand to gain by such an approach .
at joint meetings with the Russian side , I have often heard Members of the Russian Duma say something along the lines that no more time should be wasted on human rights and that we should move on to substantive issues , namely trade .
it is necessary to focus on concrete problems , and not to do one thing at the expense of the other , in other words , the two partners at the expense of the rest of the world , but to act in a way that is appropriate for two responsible , leading global powers .
in fact , for years cars have been becoming less heavy , and this is partly because technology , science and research have brought us this system .
as there is still a lack of information on the socio-psychological effects of advertising on the consumer , it is necessary to take action to research these effects .
they like honest foods and they like honest politicians .
the next item is one-minute speeches on matters of political importance .
Madam President , I would ask the Chairman of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament to kindly apologise for making a false accusation .
there is no time to be lame ducks .
if the price of using fossil fuels is set without regard to climate impact , global warming will continue .
I am pleased that the new Members have settled in so well over the last few months .
it is therefore only right that Greece , as a neighbouring Balkan state , expresses its firm solidarity and works to help a small country like Macedonia to achieve its aspirations .
I promised my voters that I would not vote for you - as many other Social Democrats have done - if you do not guarantee that the Posting of Workers Directive will be amended to strengthen the rights of workers .
five Member States have no maritime coast , and therefore do not provide the data required under that directive .
for this reason all European employers and hired workers must know and recognise this European Social Model procedure .
in any case , the dispute is ongoing and we are receiving new information every few hours .
I think both of these are particularly important when it comes to cross-border cooperation .
we are asking our partners - even if it is a bit more expensive - to reach out to local farmers to create demand and help them to recover .
the internal market , with more than 1 500 frequently complex documents , seems to Europeans to be a pretty incomprehensible ' big contraption ' , which , to boot , is not always correctly implemented in the Member States ( I am thinking , in particular , of the recognition of professional qualifications ) .
whether this package will be a good birthday present remains to be seen .
we need practical and efficient solutions that offer the sector a basis for sufficient viability through good stock conditions , ensure supply to consumers and , at the same time , guarantee the maintenance of species diversity and safeguard the marine ecosystem as a whole .
both Member States and international organisations ( the International Organisation for Migration and the OECD ) should therefore focus on these issues in greater detail , and help to set concrete objectives relating to , for example , the percentage of the Roma community completing secondary and tertiary education or employed in the civil service or represented in various areas of social and political life .
this has made life easier for many people and will continue to do so .
only competitive business and successful entrepreneurs can do that .
I would emphasise this point because people are sometimes very quick to make comparisons .
we have heard disturbing rumours that this might not be the case in the new Commission , and I wanted to give her the opportunity to give us her views this evening .
it is legitimate for us to ask what went wrong and to get a reply .
we also declared that Israel should be committed to putting an end to settlement activities in order to pave the way towards a political process that will put an end to occupation and will be the fulfilment of the right of a two-state solution - a Palestinian state and an Israeli state .
thus we decide to raise the quotas by 2 % .
this means that cities make a binding obligation to reduce CO2 by more than 20 % by 2020 .
you do not want to meet fundamental human needs , nor do these measures do so , for if they did , you would lose wealth .
however , if these efforts are to be crowned with success , two conditions need to be satisfied .
the budgetary procedure for 2010 has been demanding and I am pleased with the agreement that was reached between our institutions during the conciliation meeting in mid-November .
I would like to extend my warmest thanks to Mr Verheugen and to everyone at the Commission for all they have done - we have worked well together during this presidency for the good of small and medium-sized enterprises - to thank you for taking part in this debate , as well as Mrs Fontaine for the question she raised and to say once again that the European Parliament will be instrumental to this process and its follow-up .
subject : revision of Regulation ( EC ) No 1 / 2005
for many Afghan fundamentalists the place of women is in the home , and not at school or at work .
the revision of Directive 2001 / 95 / EC aims to ensure a high level of health and safety protection for consumers , paying special attention to the most vulnerable consumers , namely , children and the elderly .
most importantly , it is fortunate that the European Parliament has not so far had too great an influence on the EU 's agricultural policy .
this forum should become the starting point for the debate which is so badly needed .
this is important at all levels , not only at EU level , but - and I think you share my view - also at national , regional and municipality level .
that is their choice .
Madam President , honourable Members , you know that road safety is one of the priorities of my work as Commissioner for Transport .
measures are required to reduce the trade deficit , because if we do not do this intentionally , the laws of economy will spontaneously enforce such a change .
after all , this is a matter that has united the European Union , it unites European public opinion , it unites European political parties , and it creates a democratic-liberal consensus , regardless of ideological divisions in Europe .
I would just say once again that I hope that the cooperative , constructive spirit in which we drafted this report will be reflected in the vote tomorrow and , once again , I would like to thank all my colleagues for the work they have done .
to my mind that has to involve issues like the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement .
where we have not been able to reach affected populations is in the western part of Libya under the control of Gaddafi .
( NL ) Madam President , the 2010 budget has been drawn up under particular economic and financial circumstances .
if a family goes away for a weekend , it might take 30 chargers with it .
we must not altogether ignore our own economic interests .
why did world leaders wait so long to bring in their elaborate emergency support plan , and why did they not condescend to bring about global economic recovery earlier ?
but I am concerned at reports that , as Neil Parish has told us , these rules are not being similarly observed in other parts of the EU , particularly in some of the southern Mediterranean Member States and in some of the new East European accession states and particularly , again as Neil Parish stressed , where the transport of horses for slaughter is concerned .
we have always been a committee with strong participation .
at the end of last week , more than 1 100 people had already lost their lives .
this is of fundamental importance in terms of safeguarding food production .
however , we want them to help service providers in the same way in every Member State .
asked whether he had seen this document , he said that he had not seen it , but had heard of it .
until now , they have been solely responsible for supervising and testing the nuclear power plants in the European Union .
it is regulated by a 1994 cultural agreement between London and Moscow .
if there is a demand from the market , they will respond to this demand .
nobody has been able to give an example .
I stressed the need to carry on with the reforms , with special emphasis on freedom of speech .
Ireland unfortunately did not opt into the 2003 Directive , and operates a ' direct provision ' system , providing accommodation , food and EUR 19.10 per week per adult , designed to discourage asylum seekers from choosing Ireland , and keeping them out of the official labour market for the entirety of their application procedure .
the prerequisites are there , but this does not automatically mean that we will succeed .
in the second common space , which is Freedom , Security and Justice , the EU intends to voice concern about the situation concerning human rights , democracy and the rule of law in Russia , particularly in the context of the recent elections .
but back then , Commissioner , you and the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs here recognised that discrimination does not stop at the office or factory wall .
the issue of the rapid reaction force is being considered .
this was clearly demonstrated in Prague a few days ago .
the farming of land , the rapid process of urbanisation and the development of the transport infrastructure have had a severe impact on the natural habitat and , for example , large-scale drainage schemes have reduced a large section of the natural floodplains .
the resources pledged to developing countries in the G20 package will not be enough - we know this too - and will not be sufficiently focused on the weakest countries .
given that the EU must ensure food security for its citizens and the long-term development of the agricultural sectors , agriculture must undergo major changes to maintain productivity , at a time when it needs to adapt to more stringent environmental restrictions than are currently in place .
the compensation banks may demand will be strictly controlled and may be prohibited for credits of less than 10 000 euros .
this is why I support the recommendation that the EU , as a legal entity , can become a shareholder of the Bank , along with the Member States , which would help strengthen cooperation .
that is urgent and we in this House are working hard to achieve it .
I hope that you were pleased with my decision to go to the inauguration and then to invite President Yanukovich to come to Brussels where he spent one of his first days .
we need more studies and more comparable statistics , because these are useful for monitoring activities , making comparisons between Member States , showing how EU funds are used , helping develop best practice , and also for assessing and developing tourism programmes for those categories of people on low budgets .
the kind of initiatives with which she accompanies her fine words are what counts .
it will therefore not surprise you that I wish to congratulate the Commission on emphasising prosperity , solidarity , security , freedom and strengthening Europe in the world .
frequently on Italian state-run television channels , investigative documentaries are broadcast showing how , in some countries far removed - including culturally - from Europe , the production techniques are based on the use of highly polluting goods , of polluting techniques , of toxic solvents , with the workforce , including children , being exploited and made to work ridiculous hours .
I believe that everything possible must be done to ensure that it is always a feature of our public life .
I voted in favour of this report , which should allow increased and improved transport of goods by rail .
however , in our opinion , the very least that the European Parliament could have called for is actually too little .
I wish to thank the Spanish Partido Popular for the support it has shown at this sitting , which was confirmed in the national political debate and endorsed through a motion .
I also welcome the excellent report submitted by Mrs Buitenweg and approved by the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs , as well as the remarkable contribution from Mrs Lynne and the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs .
citizens now expect Europe to act , and this is why it is mystifying that many national leaders , even now , remain caught in the ' each to his own ' policy .
end of the intended declaration .
the compromise reached during the discussions of the Committee on Culture is a good one .
we also support the proposal to reform the WTO in order to make it more effective and transparent and improve its democratic legitimacy once the Doha Round is over .
another aspect , the definition of groups of companies , is an essential element of the work on the CCCTB .
but we do have this habit at European level of being strong on rhetoric and weak on actions in support of small business .
as a result , the government is reducing pensions and benefits , but the Commission tolerates this .
furthermore , I warmly welcome the fact that the Icelandic authorities have started intensive communication activities .
we were sold the European Arrest Warrant on a promise that it would be used to send terrorists to justice , but the miscarriages of justice in the case of Garry Mann , Deborah Dark , Edmond Arapi , Andrew Symeou and many others , had no terrorist elements at all .
it is also tragic that here today , in this Chamber , we have so many different interpretations of what has happened , and for that reason I think it especially important , above all else , to send an independent research commission , an international commission , to Georgia to establish what really happened .
our dialogue must be a dialogue for democracy and human rights and , of course , we should turn to civil society because Belarus is much more than the regime .
the same man with whom one gets on well in private ...
news has reached us of the death of Manuel Fraga Iribarne .
at the same time , we believe that the CAP should be reformed .
this implies a need also to provide , in addition to one-off aid , support for communities ' own disaster-preparedness capabilities .
the original regional focus of the budget has been replaced by a sectoral approach .
whenever a risk was suspected , a less thorough investigation was carried out , just to be on the safe side .
early years learning is a very important issue that has not received the attention it is due from lawmakers .
the steps taken in August 2007 provided liquidity to financial markets , but they did not resolve the problem .
owing to the budgetary restrictions on this fund ( EUR 500 million a year ) , its restrictive eligibility criteria and the number of workers affected , the amount of the Community contribution awarded was EUR 3 816 280 .
it is very important that Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina now meet the terms and conditions and indicators required for exemption from the visa regime .
ladies and gentlemen , the Council , the Commission and the ECB have short memories .
providing patients with better access to quality information about the treatment being administered to them increases the chances of them understanding the decision directly affecting them .
this is also the first strategy document of its kind for this region and we hope that it will serve in particular to speed up the process of cleaning the eutrophic Baltic Sea .
under the Lisbon Treaty , the European Union has both the power and the opportunity to strengthen European policy in relation to human trafficking .
( GA ) Madam President , I welcome Mr Dess 's report on reform of the common agricultural policy ( CAP ) , and I thank him for his work .
the increase in safety and reliability will be palpable .
this is not the development we had hoped for , and we must establish conditions where the children of migrants can integrate into society in the best possible way .
( PL ) Mr President , from the date when the Kyoto Protocol was signed , Poland has reduced its carbon emissions by 33 % .
as a consequence , every Member State has a veto over the 2012 budget .
the scourge of drugs continues to cause concern throughout the EU .
she has not had an easy job in recent weeks .
above all , we need to think about the social dimension : we are talking about people and we have to ensure that they have dignity , have a sense of professionalism , are given professional recognition and have the economic capacity to survive .
there is one point on which I want to be very clear : the crisis that we are experiencing cannot be used as a pretext to cut social expenditure .
I would be pleased if we could reach agreement in the coming days so that together , we can demonstrate how determined Parliament is .
we have all witnessed the despair of our fellow citizens who have been affected and we all know and understand how important it is for these citizens to feel that the European Union is standing by them .
6 .
what is the point of demanding , yet again , a restriction on advertising ?
as the Chair of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) , Joseph Daul , moreover emphasised at the beginning of this new year , food security will be the major issue in 2011 .
according to the position of the UDMR ( Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania ) , Romania and Bulgaria must receive a definite prospect in 2011 of joining this area of free movement .
now that we are debating the issue , we must behave as good legislators .
similarly , setting up regional centres of excellence and providing encouragement and support for university research centres already in coastal areas , accompanied by an action plan based on innovation , research and environmental protection of oceans and seas , would represent a further step forward towards fully sustainable use of marine resources .
all of this , perhaps , on a decreasing budget .
in both cases , the meeting was held in a calm and relaxed atmosphere , and the hope expressed that , after too many decades of fighting , weapons will finally be abandoned in favour of a peace process .
the economic and financial crisis has hastened the need to make our tax systems as effective , reliable and fair as possible .
improving the business environment and access to funding , as well as facilitating SMEs ' access to the Structural Funds , will foster the development of an entrepreneurial spirit .
according to the report , during the three-week-long attacks , Israel committed major violations of international law .
these techniques provide data for econometric models , which we frequently use when considering the consequences of introducing changes into the functioning of the common agricultural policy .
Parliament has given the Council and the Commission the power and elbow room to approach this role seriously from now on , and in this regard , I would ask the Commission and the Council to take account of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms that is now in force .
the application of the reduced rate should most certainly be left in the hands of the Member States , while the tax system should promote employment , increase productivity and curb the ' informal economy ' .
I believe that , thanks to this proposal , the European Union will promote science , innovation and research to ensure the provision of better measures for combating animal diseases .
this has a highly disruptive effect in the countries concerned .
one of Keynes ' intellectual legacies - that highly volatile capital flows are inimical to trade and prosperity - has shown its relevance in the current huge mess and other crises , including in emerging markets .
following interventions by numerous representatives , including some from Poland , the European Union released 2 900 000 hectares of fallow land for cereal production and increased the milk quota by 2 % .
I believe it is a serious mistake to deprive ourselves unreservedly of the possibility of using this tool that is proving very useful in some areas of the north-east of the country , where it is more difficult to root out and defeat the Taliban forces .
I consider that , by committing to this process , the European Union can now , as should be the case , move on from mere statements of intent and mere promises to practical steps and action .
all of that is a world away from the kind of politics we would like to see in a country which is on the road to accession .
didn 't it do well , presenting the package of measures on the Friday after the Irish referendum - absolutely brilliant !
this must take place at local level .
indeed , the European Commission , responsible for negotiating this agreement , seems to want all services to be included , in principle .
( FR ) Mr President , you spoke of the governance of the IMF .
Mr President , first I want to say that this is a topic that is very difficult to get a definitive answer on what is right and what is wrong .
at the same time , payments by cards linked to non-euro accounts , for example sterling accounts , are not subject to this regulation .
we are working hard to bring forward the first Annual Growth Survey in one month 's time .
for the rest , on the taxation of savings , we are three years ahead of the timetable on which we agreed .
it may be optimistic to ask a French presidency to liberalise markets .
this had a very positive effect on the report .
Madam President , I should like to remind critics of this report that it is not a report on Russia .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , I gather there is a new rule , at least for the Council presidency , that they do not turn up on Mondays !
that is crucial if we are going to be able to continue to have a common currency .
secondly , a number of speakers have talked about the pledged money and what is happening with reconstruction in Haiti .
in fact , it is the duty of the European Union and the whole civilised world to condemn the use of armed force against civilians and to request the release of those arrested illegally , as well as the most impartial investigation possible into the deaths which have occurred .
for the UK , that same figure was 51 % saying it was a very serious issue and 30 % a fairly serious issue .
we urge Baroness Ashton to spare no effort to press for the release of Gilad Shalit and all the other Palestinian prisoners of war , especially those young people who are enduring this captivity .
the reinforcement of health care systems in sub-Saharan Africa is a crucial aspect of development policies .
however , I abstained on the amendment which urged Poland to make every effort to apply the Charter of Fundamental Rights fully - as a British Member , I thought this might be a little hypocritical .
Mr President , as we have heard here in the Chamber , the so-called Tobin Tax has been dusted off and brought out again recently as a result of the economic crisis and the increasingly troubled discussions about climate change .
we are issuing a blank cheque today and we require the necessary transparency in how this money is being spent .
thus , both the Member States and the Commission must do an inventory of the renewable energy resources on their territory and define action plans for their efficient use .
11 .
I also welcome the fact that the report of my fellow Member Mr Catania calls for the elaboration of a definition of belonging to a national minority , and proposes the drafting of a minimum set of Community norms for the protection of the rights of such minorities .
by introducing regulations concerning the use by the European Parliament of the European Union symbols in the Parliament 's Rules of Procedure , the Parliament is sending a strong political signal .
it is our responsibility here in the European Parliament to protect European farmers , SMEs and our own citizens , giving them the opportunity to obtain clean , high quality food from local farmers .
if we were to address what is actually happening with the artists and their income and calculate that , we would arrive at averages that are clearly too low for artists to support themselves and get something out of it .
shall we pretend not to know that civil rights are completely unprotected in that Euro-Afro-Asiatic region ?
firstly , the conditions which need to be met are , of course , clear .
it is also true that Parliament should put its own house in order , and should guarantee maximum openness in all its facets , before it hauls others over the coals .
environmental legislation is something that most people - perhaps all people - in this Chamber are in favour of - perhaps even including UKIP , who are apparently not here and are perhaps ironing their Union Jacks .
there is also a wide gap in respect of healthcare , and it is the task of the European Parliament to reduce these differences , that is to say , the differences between Western and Eastern Europe , as healthcare of a uniformly high standard of quality can provide the means to reduce the number of people from one Member State using the healthcare services of another .
in view of the recent case-law of the Court of Justice concerning double taxation , what measures does the Council intend to propose in order to harmonise European tax law so that European citizens do not have to pay twice for the same taxable transaction ?
of course not , because you have one chance in six of being killed or injured .
Mr President , Commissioner , Mr Solana , in this debate we are not simply discussing a package of sixteen oral questions to the Council and the Commission , eight resolutions and two reports under the codecision procedure , but also 79 developing countries , with which the EU is renewing its trade relations and mutual cooperation .
it has been like a well-oiled , efficient machine - and yet it never got into gear .
first of all , I would like to thank the European Parliament for its constructive approach with regard to the Council 's efforts to improve conditions for obtaining patent protection in the European Union .
it is with surprise and anxiety that we have observed the recent aggressive policy of the Belarusian authorities towards national minorities , especially the Polish community . this policy should be seen in the context of preparations for the elections to be held in Belarus next year .
the Council 's proposal has a bearing on the second part of the mandate given to the Schengen Evaluation Working Group , which is to confirm that the acquis communautaire is being correctly applied following the lifting of internal border controls .
will the Council be proposing changes to the allocation of seats in the European Parliament to each Member State ?
it is a major step forward that labour ministers are meeting in the G20 context .
Israel is the first of our partner countries in the Neighbourhood Policy which this year formally concluded a protocol on a framework agreement with the European Community on the general principles of its participation in Community programmes .
it is most important that we do that : every person who is executed is one too many .
Mr President , the long-running military conflict between the government forces and the armed groups of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , which has had very cruel consequences for the civilian population living in the conflict zones , came to an end in 2009 .
- ( MT ) May I express my thanks for your good wishes to my country , Malta , which together with Cyprus joined the Euro area two weeks ago , bringing the number of countries using the Euro as their currency to 15 .
( the President cut off the speaker )
looking to the future , I assure you this will remain high on our agenda .
again , as last year , the Court has found no red light for the management and control systems .
Mrs Cathy Ashton was nominated to the Commission with the full confidence of the UK Government .
in particular the Commission should provide greater visibility over projects financed by the European Union for reconstruction in Iraq in 2006 ; for example , it should list the projects , what they are , the anticipated costs , and the agencies involved .
the first is a missing children 's hotline .
I should like to begin by thanking Mr Aylward for taking the initiative of presenting this report .
this entails providing objective information about the medicines ' characteristics and the diseases for which they are recommended , as well as preventing the provision of unsolicited information or disguised advertising .
we will also continue to provide assistance to displaced persons .
my next point concerns liquids .
attempts must also be made to stem the increase in the recruitment of child soldiers , particularly in Mogadishu .
Europe will be the first global player to accept legally binding rules to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 % by 2020 , whilst making clear commitment to aim for 30 % as part of an international agreement .
secondly : this acceptance among citizens and at a political level in the Member States will be all the greater if the EU budget can generate tangible added benefits for Europe .
by approving a new mission in the region , the EU is supporting this policy and is contributing to the violation of UN Resolution 1244 of 1999 .
that is unacceptable , because people cannot access the documents that we are creating .
Commissioner , you mentioned the fact that some Member States have already implemented the specific legislation nationally .
I stated that some aspects , especially the impact on passengers ' health and particularly their privacy , will have to be analysed in more depth before any regulation is adopted regarding body scanners .
it was the Member States who set the implementation periods for these directives .
I am convinced , based on the majority of the speeches that I have heard , that we are all united in firmly and clearly condemning the death of your son .
the Court argued that the PMOI 's right of defence and the right to effective judicial protection had not been respected .
how many more years does the European Council need to adopt it ?
the multiannual financial framework is already very short of the necessary appropriations and the budget even more so .
this is not limited , as the honourable Member is suggesting , to some countries .
visa freedom and visa liberalisation is a great way of bringing people together , closer to each other : students , researchers , ordinary people , the business community , researchers and others .
good competition policy enables markets to function properly .
we want a viable sector which will develop according to the principles of sustainability , will offer high-quality tourist products and services , and will not exclude anyone .
women in international politics ( vote )
thanks to the authority of their office and the rights that come with it , Members of Parliament can have their voices heard .
the next item is Question Time ( B6-0006 / 2009 ) .
the EU must concern itself not only with prevention and protection , but also with moral support for victims so that they can begin a new life in any EU Member State .
may I also ask him whether in the case of contract agents , or auxiliary staff as they were once known , the previous years of employment will count as years of service ?
it will be necessary to ensure that we are not , at Community level , doing what is best left to Member States .
( PL ) Madam President , the concept of the ' European School ' is become increasingly popular .
the Commission is currently working on the European Road Safety Strategy for the next decade .
what is important for the postal sector , its customers , its operators and its employees is that there is a final and unconditional date for full market opening .
and of course , part of the reason for this is also the way the Chinese leaders have acted , and we can truly say that its response to this terrible disaster was quick and efficient , that it has used considerable national resources , that it has named or appointed the Prime Minister personally as the aid coordinator .
it must play an essential role in the development , analysis , evaluation and consolidation of that process which we all want to see move as quickly as possible .
unilateral attacks on the common agricultural policy , based on very few real arguments , harm the European Union , convey false information and suggest to our partners that the common agricultural policy is the cause of all their woes .
in my view , this agreement is good news .
we recognise the need to plan and organise the radio spectrum .
it is also the approach that has been adopted in the long-term plan for plaice and sole in the North Sea , which was adopted this year and which I consider to be a good model for the implementation of this approach .
the key point must be to ensure , above all , that Europe grows independently and stands on its own two feet .
I very much appreciate that .
Commissioner , the situation with Moldova is reminiscent of the concept in physics in which it is not the force itself which is important , but the point at which it is applied .
they need to know that we support them in their transition towards democracy and a better life .
I agreed with this resolution on the efficiency and effectiveness of EU funding in the area of decommissioning nuclear power plants in Lithuania , Slovakia and Bulgaria .
in writing . - I abstained on this vote because I am in favour of sustainable fisheries everywhere and I support the coastal communities and fishermen of Ireland .
this is a strategic issue for the agriculture sector and , in particular , for the future of the European animal husbandry system .
while I approve this Treaty change I have very serious concerns regarding the current economic governance proposals , and voting in favour of this report is not an endorsement of the current economic governance package .
the aim of the principle of subsidiarity is ensuring that decisions are taken as close to the citizen as possible . this is achieved by constantly checking that action to be taken at Community level is justified in relation to the possibilities that exist at national , regional or local level .
we are pleased , too , that you came here after the Lisbon Summit , and that you came here just 72 hours after your nomination as candidate .
in the Committee on Transport and Tourism we reached an agreement on his proposals after a good discussion - and not only us , but apparently also the Council .
therefore , I here turn to the Vice-President of the European Commission , Jacques Barrot , and ask him to intervene without delay in order to unblock this situation .
our withdrawal must therefore come with some conditions attached .
we still believe that political leaders are responsible for making decisions .
there are going to be real difficulties when it comes to striking a balance between , on the one hand , measures to promote employment , the maintenance of activities over all the territories involved , the protection of the environment , and the prevention of climate change and , on the other , the threadbare argument of competition , competitiveness and liberalism .
who would like to justify the motion ?
the Commission has no competence as regards the manner in which a third country applies its judicial procedure in investigating suspected criminal activities .
the issue of gender equality deserves appropriate attention , particularly at the time of the hundredth anniversary of International Women 's Day .
that article also states that funding earmarked for SMEs has come to be used by multinational companies ( Coca-Cola , IBM , Nokia Siemens ) while other large companies ( Twining , Valeo ) are using EU funds to transfer their operations to countries where labour is cheaper , thereby violating rules explicitly prohibiting that practice .
we know what we need to do .
what is the situation with regard to the environment and agriculture ?
the EU 's aim is the liberalisation of trade , on the basis of which the major financial and economic groups endeavour to ensure the opening up of markets , to sell goods and services , exploit raw materials and impose a production model aimed at export , in accordance with their interests .
I hope that this sum of money and these difficulties will mean that we take a pragmatic approach with regard to their future .
so there is also a chance to work together in order to overcome some difficulties that exist .
we must protect these workers .
thank you , Mr Hannan .
after the terrorist atrocities in Madrid and London , one would have thought Europe would have learned its lessons .
therefore , I cannot understand why cardboard picture books are being treated as toys and why there are special procedures for these in the CEN .
of course , we know that there are some difficulties in the euro area .
the G20 , aided by its creator , the European Union , therefore has a very important programme in June in Toronto and , in the second half of the year , in South Korea .
in some municipalities , Commissioner , it is now over 20 % , particularly in the north of Portugal .
the next step is to set up a Commission which shows leadership and portrays our values .
given the most recent studies , it is clear that it is technically possible that 95 % of our energy supplies could come from renewables like wind , tidal , wave , solar and biomass by 2050 .
the author of the report under discussion clearly indicates that what is called the Black Sea Synergy , which was adopted in 2007 , has not completely fulfilled the hopes which were placed in it .
these issues should be at the heart of the political agenda .
obviously , it highlights the failures of the Greek asylum system , but it also sends a strong message at a time when Greece is starting to reform its asylum system and , at the same time , to take other types of initiatives .
( FI ) Mr President , it is extremely good that less-favoured regions have been particularly highlighted in this report .
some of that money could be better spent in arming our forces in Afghanistan , forces that actually train the Afghan police force , etc .
although broadband is growing , the rate of growth is not satisfactory and does not coincide with the European Union average .
immigration and asylum policy should in any case be decided by democratic nation states not the European Union .
subject : combating poverty
( SK ) To begin with I would like to express my appreciation to my colleague Jacques Toubon for his stimulating report , which lays an excellent and balanced foundation for the Commission 's forthcoming documents .
my report records progress in handling complaints , promoting good administration and providing knowledge about the Ombudsman 's role .
last year 's floods affected 48 000 UK homes and 700 businesses and the total damage is estimated at over EUR 4 billion .
I consider that the policy of consolidating Community law should be one of the European Commission 's priorities and that the current situation is not in order , particularly in relation to the Member States and Europeans .
this was also the first trade dossier on which Parliament acted as co-legislator under the Treaty of Lisbon .
my colleague , Mr Andor , looks at these figures and actions in the Europe 2020 strategy , and I really am convinced that Member States should step up their efforts in this area .
research and development in our universities and academic institutions are also important .
I have already tabled a written question to the Commission on this topic , but would like to take this opportunity to put that question again .
I am not talking about the right-wing populists .
thank you for your attention .
let me take some examples .
( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , European integration occasionally provides us with symbols that move anonymous actors such as we .
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the decision made by the Farmers ' Association in Ireland to accept and support the Lisbon Treaty .
the proposal goes back to the summer of 2008 and proposes the addition of certain other locally supplied services , including restaurant services .
it is right and necessary for the judicial and police cooperation in Europe to be discussed and codecided by Parliament .
finally , regarding the negotiations on a free trade agreement with certain Latin American countries , in particular Ecuador , you will doubtless be aware that the negotiations on the trade agreement with Colombia and Peru and with the Central American countries have been concluded at a technical level .
while the victims of Fascism and Nazism have received decent compensation , millions of victims of Communism have been forgotten .
I heard what the Commissioner said on the food import situation .
he has thrown what cricketers call a ' googly ' into this debate and I think we will have to take that back to the committee and see what they think about that .
the development of rural areas plays an ever greater role .
( ES ) Mr President , we Europeans cannot just say that we are very concerned but we very much hope that things will return to normal , because a return to normality at the price of accepting the fraudulent victory of Mr Kibaki is not a solution that we can accept .
but we who were born in dictatorships know that we must fight for democracy and human rights every day .
if we consider the fact that only one in three products is recycled or reused and that we do not even know where one in two of such products are to be found , then we have to set higher collection and better recycling targets .
better regulation must be something that the European institutions increasingly strive for , and the Commission is completely unanimous in wanting to focus on ever better European regulation .
as a consequence , under your captaincy , our hull is pressed deep into the waterline under the accumulated weight of your debt .
without cash , however , nothing will happen and it is crucially important that we keep to this goal and our promise .
the Member States , as evidenced by facts and figures published in national reports , are making progress in delivering cohesion policy objectives , despite the fact that some heterogeneity at the level of states and regions has been noted .
I urge , ask the Council , Commission and Member States to take advantage of all available opportunities and contacts with the institutions of the Nigerian state authorities as we strive to halt the killing of people , above all minors , in the name of the law in Nigeria .
however , this is an interesting question .
I was also pleased to note Parliament 's request to introduce leave in the case of child adoption ( Amendment 44 ) .
we remain supportive of attempts to develop lifelong learning strategies and to promote vocational education and training ( VET ) and the better integration of key competences such as foreign language learning , mathematics and science .
firstly , we cannot slacken our efforts .
some 100 000 such couples have registered since 1990 .
that is one of the proposals I will be putting on the table in Accra .
what is crucial , therefore , is dialogue , and that is something that is extremely difficult in the Middle East , especially in a time of uncertainty and , to some extent , of asynchronicity .
thank you very much .
it is a core principle of parliamentarianism and democracy that , in exercising freedom of opinion , the freedom of others must also be respected - in this case the freedom of those who have been given the floor to speak in plenary . '
the current economic , financial and social crisis has demonstrated that the European Union 's economic governance model has not worked as well as would be ideal .
culture Programme ( 2007-2013 ) (
SAP conditionality is monitored through the annual progress reports prepared by the Commission .
if it is that these people have to leave their country to go and live in refugee camps , then that is not the solution , either .
2 .
membership of Parliament : see Minutes
I take this opportunity to welcome the measures announced today by the United Kingdom , which are in line with the set of principles agreed yesterday at Ecofin .
there are also some alternative financial models that can be used so that it would be in the interest of those taking care of the buildings to make them much more energy efficient .
however , there is no political leadership to bring this about .
he cannot come due to the well-publicised transport problems .
although the Chinese occupiers guaranteed Tibet 's autonomy , they are progressively excluding the Tibetan language from education and official fora .
particularly essential is the establishment of a single energy market , which should be in a position to encourage European competitiveness by reducing energy prices and dependence on foreign sources .
the Doha Development Round was certainly meant to be a development round .
however , these exchanges have been resumed following the removal of this scheme .
I disagree thoroughly with Ms Ek .
in writing . - ( PT ) Use of renewable energies in transport is one of the most effective tools by which the EU can reduce its dependence on oil .
on the contrary , they can help us and we urge India to also be proactive in the coming Poznań Conference to prepare post-Kyoto and in the negotiations on an agreement in Copenhagen .
author . - Mr President , there are over one million preventable needle-stick injuries on healthcare workers each year across the whole of the EU .
by Mrs Goulard , on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs , on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the effective enforcement of budgetary surveillance in the euro area - C7-0298 / 2010 -
it certainly made me much more helpful , more useful , to my own country .
let us recognise the possibility of failure .
furthermore , these criteria are common and quantifiable , so they can be assessed and compared uniformly across Europe .
you also said you did not have the impression that the plan was based on non-economic considerations ; I should like you to tell me what aspects of that plan or dossier you are referring to .
( DE ) Mr President , I should like to make a personal statement pursuant to Rule 149 , which was Rule 145 in the previous version .
it has been negotiated outside the traditional international institutions ( the World Trade Organisation and so on ) because China and India opposed any agreement .
in order for this service to function , it is essential to give its officials proper roles and to clarify their status and that of temporary staff from the national diplomatic services who have a role within it .
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( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to thank the French Presidency of the Council for having pointed out and solved many problems during difficult times in recent months .
this also includes our SME-friendly approach .
we believe that to be absolutely essential .
we want to decide for ourselves what economic policy we wish to pursue .
this directive clearly states that detention for the purposes of removal may be used only where less coercive measures cannot be applied in a particular case and only on specific , very limited grounds .
I thank Commissioner Barnier for this very timely initiative and for his vision .
bottom trawling is one of the most harmful methods .
the pluralism and freedom of the media continue to provoke concern in various Member States .
we need to send out a very strong political signal to express our absolute rejection of this intolerable theocratic dictatorship .
as a Group we welcome the Council 's approval of a negotiating mandate which will at last enable the Commission to negotiate the inclusion of all Member States - I repeat all Member States - in the new Visa Waiver Program as amended by the US Congress last year .
they have been aborted , murdered after birth or abandoned , or are in the hands of organised crime .
or to put it simply : where words end , violence begins .
the second key point , to conclude , is to affirm that Parliament has an important role to play .
that is why we need to maintain pressure on the various parties involved ...
one possibility for increasing the turnover of SMEs is to enable more and more of them to enter the European internal market , since at present only 8 % of enterprises do so , and only 15 % of their turnover is generated on that market .
we all know that if the multilateral trade negotiations break down , we will end up with bilateral competition - which as we are all aware is governed by the law of survival of the fittest - and we will need a strong and effective customs union .
once again I welcome this EU initiative to contribute to active EU support for vaccine programmes , which when implemented have managed to significantly reduce tuberculosis infection rates , as EU Member State statistics demonstrate .
in essence , its basic dimension is the philosophy of ' security ' and fear , at the expense of basic rights and freedoms .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , the weakness and the recent crisis in certain euro area countries are not just the result of the difficulties of Greece , Portugal and Spain , but also those of the Union itself .
I leave you with one last thought .
this is not just solidarity , as inspired by the fundamental European value , but a shared European interest to avoid a domino effect by preventing even a single bank - not to mention an entire country - from becoming insolvent .
the programme for the Presidency contained a number of priorities that were certainly not easy to achieve and which will be carried over to the next Presidency .
the guidelines are not clear enough to ensure that there is access to technical information as there was before .
they are backed by our group , the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left , and by a series of Members from other political groups , which indicates their importance and the consensus that , I believe , unites these Members , and could also unite them during voting in plenary .
the guiding principle has been to respect Member States ' competences and subsidiarity while , at the same time , seeing how best the EU could contribute to ensuring that the functions of forests are protected and that the information necessary to achieve this is available .
the main purpose of the resolution is that the violence should stop and that agreement must be reached .
I think it is particularly important , particularly as we have Turkey on one side and Morocco on the other ; all would be particularly affected by our relationships with China .
it is important that the European Union include this theme in the dialogues with third countries in the field of human rights protection .
you wish to take a decision on 19 June , but there is no rush .
in writing . - ( RO ) While appreciating the Commission 's environmental concerns , we are preoccupied with the limited relevance of the indicators used in the algorithm applied for computing the distribution of emission certificates .
this is a fact which does not create obstacles in contemporary Europe ; on the contrary , it unites us .
when its common position was adopted last June , the Council eventually came round to the European Parliament 's position .
are double standards perhaps being applied ?
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , European need not , may not and cannot regulate everything .
be that as it may , presently there is yet another dictator in power in Guinea , a young junior army officer called Captain Camara .
the case of the Azores is worth noting , as it has the largest Exclusive Economic Zone in the European Union .
the active role of the European regions in promoting this strategy must also be highlighted .
radioactive radiation does not stop at national borders .
I welcome this report , which makes this argument for public health as indispensable for the common good .
in the area of research , we know that the number of people suffering this disease doubles every 20 years .
European citizens are looking to us for answers .
now is not the time to scale back our ambitions regarding the environment , but neither is it the time to change , unilaterally , the only European industrial sector that is open to international competition .
Turkey offers a huge market which is awakening various appetites .
there are only four years left before the Millennium Goal target date in regard to the elimination of diseases , and tuberculosis is still one of the main causes of death worldwide , and the most dangerous one for people who also have HIV / AIDS .
the public does not support you .
therefore , what I can tell you is that the Commission is against all forms of discrimination , including all forms of religious discrimination .
of course we should not force the hands of the Irish and we need to respect them , but we need to have the courage to say to our Irish friends : ' you also need to respect the other countries that have ratified the Treaty .
facing the challenges of globalisation and taking advantage of the opportunities that it presents requires an innovative and creative approach .
without scientific credibility , another disaster will be waiting for us in Mexico .
for us , it is obvious that visa liberalisation has nothing to do with jobs and the right of abode , but this does not seem to be clear to the people in question .
with regard to energy , the GCC is the European Union 's leading oil supplier , so the EU is highly dependent on these countries , but their oil reserves are dwindling and they are preparing their transition thanks to the development of renewable energy .
I think it is decades since we experienced a situation like the one we are seeing today .
President Pöttering , you yourself demonstrated your belief that the gamble of this committee would pay off - even though , if the truth be told , it did not find favour with everyone in this Parliament when it was created 18 months ago .
what is happening here is not worthy of a democracy .
one is the interests of European citizens ; the second is reconciliation between European citizens and the European institutions .
the list of similar unsolved murders could go on .
while I do not take every chorus of protest from industry at face value , consideration must be given to the legitimate interests of industry and labour .
as the current crisis actually has many different aspects , the response proposed by the Commission is equally comprehensive and is designed to tackle both the short-term consequences and the long-term drivers of soaring food prices .
shell fishermen in Ireland are being negatively impacted by cheap imports from the United States and Canada due to the weak dollar .
in writing . - ( PL ) Unfortunately , despite all our efforts , violence against women , and violence in other areas of life , is still a major problem in Europe .
finally , as Vice-Chair of the Committee on Development , I must emphasise the excellent impression made by Commissioner-designate Georgieva .
we must not reinvent the wheel , because this would be neither efficient nor clever .
the surviving women and children are right to keep reminding us of this .
it is truly incredible that there are people who are not free to worship a symbol of freedom because they are slaughtered as they leave a church merely for having been inside .
the amounts involved in voluntary occupational pensions alone are greater than those in the current EU rescue package .
we must adopt a responsible attitude regarding the safety of our fellow citizens . they are urgently awaiting this legislation , which should make children and families safer .
as my group chairman , Martin Schulz , has stated , at a moment when Europe is confronting unprecedented challenges , it is necessary for Europe to speak with a single voice .
I therefore think we can say that we can now develop this new competence together , even if , strictly speaking , it does not come under the Community method .
2 .
this is especially the case in southern European countries and , in particular , my country , Portugal , which loses thousands of hectares of forests every year to fires .
therefore , I thank Commissioner Verheugen , Ms Kallenbach our rapporteur , Mr Alvaro and 25 of the Member States for supporting my amendments to crack down and tighten controls on these convertible weapons .
I should like to state that I see within the Council a lack of European spirit where budgeting and finances are concerned .
Mr President , I voted in favour of Mr Costa 's report on the amendment of certain provisions of bilateral agreements in force on air services between the Member States and the Republic of Armenia .
after all , Croatia will receive some EUR 4 billion euros after it joins the EU .
from President Uribe , the democrat ?
as regards the question of a possible European strategy on the fight against homophobia , the Commission 's priority is to ensure that EU legislation complies fully with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights , including Article 21 prohibiting discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation .
I hope that the Member States will set equally ambitious goals before the end of this year , for this project can only be successful if it is pursued jointly at European and national level .
we should finally get around to giving this some thought .
on the other hand , Slovak children in Hungary can only dream of having Slovak schools .
I can assure you that the Commission will play its role in order to facilitate this process and to put these long overdue reforms into practice as soon as possible in the interests of all parties concerned .
let us consider the situation : what future is there for this forced Union of free countries , which is based on the stronger countries bailing out the weaker ones ?
the economy continues to grow , and Pakistan has also engaged in confidence-building measures with India with regard to the dispute over Jammu and Kashmir .
we all know about them .
it is worth considering , however , why Muslim terrorists are able to garner so much support amongst young people of Arab descent born in Member States of the European Union .
the European Parliament 's contribution was substantial in this matter .
the present process , which will conclude with the two votes tomorrow , will enable Parliament at least partially to exercise this sort of scrutiny ; from now on , these normative measures will be subject to political scrutiny .
I am told that they have begun under difficult circumstances , but who could have imagined it being any other way ?
young people growing up in such an environment have neither the opportunities nor the right role models to enable them , in the future , to escape from this closed circle of poverty .
given the importance of these missions , I feel it necessary that funding should be considered more quickly and , for the sake of transparency , for one budget line to be created for each mission .
Commissioner , why is it that only spending on pensions can be given special treatment in your assessment of Member States ' medium-term budget objectives ?
I would urge the Commission and all those involved in processing the requests that have now been made for assistance from the European Union budget - and for the solidarity that our Union can display - to make sure that in all these cases those funds are mobilised as rapidly as possible without undue bureaucratic impediment .
to cope with all these problems , we need a complete analysis of the transport situation in its environmental context , plus concrete integrated action .
she rightly called on Member States last week to take action again on the whole asylum package .
in our own analysis , the taxpayer risk that has been mobilised to help avoid a dramatic depression is approximately the same on both sides of the Atlantic in terms of GDP , approximately 27 % of GDP .
( DE ) Mr President , as Mr Swoboda was speaking , I was reminded that ' svoboda ' is the Russian word for ' freedom ' , and it occurred to me that freedom is of course something that we all need .
in your introduction you say what the new Treaty is about : were the national ratification processes to be concluded , the Treaty of Lisbon could also enter into force in 2009 .
there seems to be little appreciation amongst American diplomats of the increased powers and influence of MEPs .
( HU ) It was a marvellous feeling for all of us a year ago when the European Union 's expansion reached a new stage : the elimination of the Schengen borders over a very large area , adding new members to the Schengen community .
Mrs Dahl , as far as I am aware there is no problem .
I also believe that we will have to cover all of the Union 's policies with this comprehensive data protection system .
Mr Hans-Peter Martin has asked for the floor due to personal allusions .
it is the absolute truth .
the first of the geographical priorities must be ensuring stability in the Western Balkans and strengthening the dialogue with Serbia and Kosovo .
all G20 members have agreed on regulating credit-rating agencies through the introduction of mandatory registration and oversight regime .
Mr President , I am very happy to support the Lehne report , which will help to reduce the administrative burden on micro-enterprises .
respect for human rights remains a key condition for the further development of our relationship with Moldova .
very few countries trade in arms with Uzbekistan , so an arms embargo might be more of a symbolic gesture than anything else .
in fact , my supplementary question is whether , on the basis of these principles , the Commission plans to introduce a kind of new conditionality in the next budget period that prevents the strengthening of segregation but allows , say , the use of these funds to target social integration specifically .
in any event , I consider that we should support the report , thereby sending the Council a clear message that we must , at long last , have effective European legislation which puts an end to the discrimination which undermines confidence in the fundamental European values of equality and the rule of law .
is it not true that the task of the EASA is to ensure high safety standards ?
a report on this issue was recently published under the title ' Mapping the maze : getting more women to the top in research ' .
the Goldstone report should be used to give new impetus , with a view to achieving a fair solution .
if we do not get on and do it , others will , and I am very sure that it will not be in the interest of Europe 's citizens .
the strategy can be regarded as balanced from the perspective of individual sources , even though it does not once mention what is , in my view , the important role of coal when combusted in modernised power plants .
the guarantee of minimum incomes is an important and effective means of overcoming poverty , which supports social integration and access to the labour market and gives people the opportunity to live in decent conditions .
several Member States have included measures to mitigate the impact of the economic crisis on the healthcare sector within their recovery packages by investing in health infrastructure , optimising funding to the healthcare sector , and restructuring and reorganising the healthcare system .
sustainable forest management must aim to reconcile aspects relating to production and those relating to forest protection .
Sexism , just like racism , consists in denying another person an alter ego status .
( RO ) Mr President , the coup d 'état which took place in March 2009 has been followed by acts of violence , human rights violations , including the random arrest of opposition leaders , and internal insecurity .
we cannot tolerate inaction any longer .
we should not let the most protectionist country hold up agreements .
certainly , this tribunal will not be able to continue its work indefinitely .
another French soldier was wounded in the same incident .
the Danube region , comprising 14 European countries and 115 million people both within and outside the EU , is an area where enhanced synergies between various EU policies - cohesion , transport , economic , energy , environment , culture , education , agriculture , fisheries , enlargement and neighbourhood policies - can be developed .
we now have a sizeable body of European legislation on the subject , which means that this principle can be put into practice fully in all our Member States .
it is not only the supply of work and employment , it is the creation of poles of attraction for cultural and historic tourism that will contribute to the sustainable development of these areas .
I believe that the European Union can play an important role in this regard , including in direct dialogue with Russia during the forthcoming EU-Russia Summit .
the data provided by the Commission in the Green Paper ' Towards a new culture for urban mobility ' clearly show that 60 % of Europeans live in an urban environment , and that these areas generate a large percentage of European GDP .
request for waiver of parliamentary immunity : see Minutes
the EGF is aimed at helping workers who are victims of the relocation of businesses , and it is crucial in facilitating their access to new employment in the future .
they are probably the last chance before the definitive failure of European economic policy is declared .
the political reason for making this request , Mr President , on behalf of my group , is that we must show that , at a time when we are discussing market regulation , we are not only giving our verdict on the markets , but also voting and legislating in favour of our fellow citizens .
it is important that the European Citizens ' Initiative be a truly supranational instrument which will be citizen-friendly and easy to use .
Madam President , I would like to highlight some aspects of Mr Szájer 's report that I think are particularly important .
order of business
that is a service that agriculture provides for society , but this is respected far too little by society - and sometimes also by us .
moreover , it is very important to ensure that every Member State has strict and effective external border controls .
this response must have the Afghans working with the UN at the centre of it .
these duties need to be examined .
I share Chancellor Merkel 's dread of having to listen to Mr Flash for the next five years as his motorcade sweeps around the world .
in parallel , we will be making more detailed assessments of key areas , including agriculture and cohesion .
I welcome this report , which says that RAPEX ( EU rapid alert system for dangerous consumer products ) needs further improvements .
what I can tell you is the following : we need a President of the Council who is a committed European and who gives consistency all the time , because I do not think it proper to have a Council that changes its agenda completely every six months .
- After the vote on Amendment 1
they include so many exceptions and derogations at European level that they do not really break with the model of differential national regulation currently in force .
( HU ) I would like to draw attention to the methods used by the Slovak Government to repress the linguistic rights of minorities , in violation of the latter 's rights .
that is important for young people , for business people and for everyone .
there is a political sensitivity which is different in the two parts .
for this reason we in the Socialist Group in the European Parliament are in favour of a direct dialogue on security policy with the United States on those issues in which the European Union has jurisdiction .
similarly , it was Servier itself that did not request the renewal of the marketing authorisation in 2003 in Italy .
I welcome any assistance which the European Union can provide for this double transition process , and that also applies to the vulnerable position of the Copts and the continuity of Egyptian-Israeli relations .
( SK ) I firmly believe that we must continue our efforts to counter terrorism which continues to represent a great danger to the civilised world .
that which , in other fields , deserves protection , demands to be flouted in the name of a new imperative : the generally compulsory fiscal colonoscopy .
in writing . - I supported this report , which calls on the Commission and Council to ensure a greater degree of coherence in the EU 's human rights dialogues with third countries .
entering into a partnership in a country where rights and claims equivalent to those of marriage have the force of law will allow the partners to make claims in their country of origin which only apply to marriage there .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , this measure concerns the Generalised System of Preferences , in other words reductions on import duties for third countries which take on certain commitments to international treaties or agreements on sensitive issues such as employment rights and the environment .
this question contains two sub-questions : on the action taken by the Commission in terms of recruitment in order to limit the implications of the growing number of EU officials on the budget and on the impact of the growing number of EU officials on pension costs .
let us allow the moving discussion Zeng Jinyan has just had with us to sink in deeply .
average emissions from new cars stand now at a little less than 160 g of CO2 per kilometre - a long way adrift from the target of 140 g by 2008 .
let me also refer to our Everything But Arms programme , which grants duty-free access to imports of all products from least developed countries ( except arms ) , allowing them to diversify their exports .
the introduction of the euro has undoubtedly had some benefits : some of those cited by Mr Schmidt are unquestionable , but there is not one word about the tangible adverse effects for every citizen of the euro area who has suffered from real inflation which is much higher than official figures as a result of the widespread speculation which accompanied the introduction of the currency and which the ECB and the institutions did far too little to control .
finally , we need to create a single common asylum and immigration policy that is based on the principle of solidarity .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , Minister , the meeting at Copenhagen will be the most important conference in mankind 's history .
this document therefore courageously identifies the need to increase the level of transparency and competition within the energy sector , while effectively protecting the consumer from the consequences of a closed market .
my party , the SNP , forms the new Government in Scotland , and I believe it will prove to be more constructive towards participation in the European Union than UK governments have been .
Russia has clearly signalled and plainly stated that its energy prices will rise by 10 % with effect from 1 January 2008 .
it is , however , regrettable that there are no sanctions and that there is no blanket treatment of offences as criminal acts .
in the context of today 's joint statement by the Council and the Commission , I would like to confirm our support for the French imitative on sexual orientation .
in this context I would like to thank him very much , together with Mr Tabajdi , for his report .
I voted in favour of this own-initiative report , which constitutes an appeal by Parliament for the formulation of a more ambitious policy on a strategic partnership between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council ( GCC ) and its member states .
I recognise that this report is extremely sensitive for fishermen who come from the Mediterranean and those who fish in the Atlantic .
in the field of aviation , the answer to this problem is definitely better coordination and strengthening of the role of the European Aviation Safety Agency .
the real aim of the Lisbon strategy should in the end still be the improvement of the quality of life for our citizens and future generations ; therefore , a strong social dimension is required .
if the methods are too bureaucratic , as they are at the moment , that will not be fostered .
this morning we debated poverty and social exclusion .
this amendment will mean that we obtain what we all want : the survival of our small-scale coastal fishing , particularly in the Mediterranean .
the European Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy is in a start-up phase and had not yet fully established its internal control and financial reporting systems by the end of 2009 .
we must supplement the enormous role in world security played by NATO and the USA by establishing special mobile forces , as part of the EU , which will be able to tackle all kinds of natural disasters and catastrophes .
the economic and political problems in Greece , in the Member States of the European Union , will be solved through the fight of the working and grassroots movement , the fight and solidarity of the peoples .
that is indeed the case .
our most powerful weapon and our most effective protection are our values and principles on the protection of our fundamental rights .
however , we still need to name names .
deep convictions have shown us that what unites us is greater than what divides us .
human rights dialogues have become an increasingly important component of the EU 's activities to promote human rights worldwide .
the customs union has been a great success and Turkey 's membership of the European Union can be equally successful .
I would certainly assume , however , that there are often communication problems here and that there are also often obstacles because many of the potential borrowers are people who can no longer obtain loans from a ' conventional ' bank and there is therefore often also a certain amount of anxiety or reticence when it comes to approaching such facilities .
if the effects of this policy in the agricultural sector have not been totally convincing , perhaps we should ask ourselves , as was said earlier , whether this is not precisely because there has been too much improvised dirigisme instead of natural globalisation .
these children deserve the highest degree of protection by the Community .
Mr President , I have listened very carefully to everybody 's contributions , and I am touched by the passion that underlies some of these positions .
this common critical stance stems from our position as peripheral countries since , at the end of the day , it will be us who will pay this quite singular levy and the Member States enjoying a geographical location in the centre of the European Union who will collect it .
is this type of action definitely in accordance with the subsidiarity principle which operates in the European Union ?
I support Mrs Muscardini 's report .
earlier , we spoke about the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund and how it can assist redundant workers in certain sectors .
the scope of the Regulation is significant because it has incorporated two previous directives , one from 2003 and the other from 2005 .
( applause )
I believe that our process must be totally sincere .
to my mind , there is only one way , and that is through transparency ; optimum transparency in all the institutions .
furthermore he has described using Twitter and the Internet to pass on anti-government information as terrorist activities .
the review is about the implementation of the instruments .
Commissioner , in my opinion this programme should also be seen as an opportunity , so that we respect and uphold certain fundamental principles through the choices we make .
also worthy of note is the comprehensive approach to the question of young people .
I am not saying that all the questions have been answered and that is exactly why I took the initiative of organising a conference on wages and wage setting in the EU .
I have concerns about media pluralism in a number of Member States .
why does it not , at the very least , provide for equal treatment for Czech and Hungarian ?
and this difference emerges even before it is fully operational .
it was not just the fact that you got it wrong , because we can all get it wrong .
any continuation would be subject to an evaluation of the impact the proposed scheme had .
the two countries have made important progress in improving passport security , strengthening border control , reinforcing the institutional framework to fight organised crime and corruption , as well as in external relations and fundamental rights .
my report on biogas , approved in March , shows that the European Parliament expressed consensus on licensing GM plants to be grown for bio-energy .
as far as we are concerned , today , this particular matter is not ready .
so this year we can instead concentrate on energy and climate policy .
the experience currently being gained by the Japanese engineers and nuclear power experts in accident prevention is unique .
it is time to reiterate the call for the remaining 17 Member States of the European Union who have so far failed to ratify the European Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings to do so without further delay .
if the US authorities tell us that every month we are talking about the specific details of five to ten people , then the transfer of millions of pieces of data relating to European citizens is surely disproportionate to this purpose .
the draft European Union-United States agreement , which is currently being discussed , is an interim arrangement with a maximum duration of 12 months .
the strategy calls for improvements to the ecological status of the Danube , along with the development of a comprehensive plan for conserving and restoring the natural stocks .
this is the rule of law ?
in addition , we want to ensure that those members of staff who wear uniforms have not merely been educated at the defence college .
some of the headlines tell us that agriculture is to guarantee food security and traceability .
given that in certain countries it is well-established practice , with the consent of the judicial authorities , to block web pages with paedophile content on domestic and foreign servers , and since on the whole the countries ' current legal framework makes it possible to remove such content , I call upon the judicial authorities of the Member States to take the necessary steps to block such sites .
I look forward to working with Parliament as we go forward in these negotiations .
import surges can have a very negative and dramatic impact on local food production , and in developing countries with a large farming base import surges would be hugely damaging to efforts to develop a local agriculture / food production base .
we also have to be aware of the fact that different Member States and especially different cultures handle the problem differently .
( ES ) Mr President , on a point of order : you earlier referred to a request , on behalf of the whole House , that a state of the United States imprison someone for life rather than executing them .
however , if you thought that the Russians were going to abandon the only tunnel passing between North Ossetia and South Ossetia , in other words crossing the Caucasus , then you were mistaken .
mothers must be protected in such a way that they can return to their place of work in due course and take care of their families properly , and we must place great emphasis on making sure these arrangements are treated equally seriously throughout Europe .
the idea is not to take over tax powers from the Member States , it is to have minimum tax harmonisation .
we will continue and we will be coming up with further proposals , for example on the banning of high grading , in a general manner which we will be proposing for 2010 , and we hope that we will be dealing with this issue holistically in the discussions on the reform of the common fisheries policy with a view , I hope , to the final result being the total elimination of discards .
there are a number of stumbling blocks on the road to possible EU membership .
according to a statement from the World Bank , food prices have risen by over 15 % since October 2010 , and the price of grain , for example , has risen at an annual rate of 39 % , according to the FAO .
the initial Charter was amended , particularly as regards its judicial impact , to make sure that the UK was able to sign the Constitutional Treaty in Rome .
can I put the following proposal to you ?
it is our responsibility to ensure that the marking system is strengthened and that market surveillance really works in all the Member States .
since you are conducting relations with Ukraine so very successfully , I would urge you to make it very clear that an association agreement between the European Union and Ukraine will also be beneficial to Russia , and that we are very alarmed at the manifestations of extremely forceful political pressure being brought to bear on Ukraine on the eve of the conclusion of negotiations , while these negotiations are in their final stages .
I therefore would like the Council to tell me how it intends to implement its proposals , in particular with regard to combating the non-cooperative nature of certain jurisdictions and defining the role of the IMF in relation to other international financial institutions .
it is well known that the Internet is increasingly difficult to control , but protecting the fundamental right to privacy on the Internet and ensuring the Internet is more secure must feature among the priorities of Member State governments .
studies in the European Union show that the costs of climate change will run into billions and billions of euro .
organisation and operation of the Publications Office of the European Union (
at a national level , legislatures need to come down hard on those convicted , and resources must be given to police forces so that it is not for lack of finance or manpower that trafficking is allowed to continue .
our problem , surely , is that due to poverty or low levels of prosperity in some regions of the world , many people and countries cannot afford the climate protection that is necessary and makes ecological and economic sense .
however , after the Treaty of Lisbon comes into force , the area of police and judicial cooperation will become part of the first pillar , the Community legislation pillar .
Mr McMillan-Scott 's proposal was to vote on the calendar before the address by the President of Hungary , if indeed time allows - because , as you see , we are actually losing time .
the standards will diminish , inevitably , and this holds for cardiovascular services , for orthopaedic services , for oncological services and for many others .
the proposal is in line with the Chicago Convention and the bilateral aviation agreements .
I would like to point out , however , that they should not be regarded as an alternative to Eurobonds .
the plan is to show everybody that the ship is steady , that everything is going well , that all the Irish have to do is to correct their rather silly little mistake - and indeed your working document is written as if the Treaty were already ratified .
European industry is heading in the direction of specialisation and commitment to the quality of its products and to the latest technology .
that is , it establishes the rules that the Member States must observe in order for their products to come onto the market in the European Union .
this has been going on for many years .
there is ample evidence that these people harmed the Iraqi people when the Iraqi army refused to carry out the killings that Saddam Hussein required .
in writing . - ( PT ) Without doubt , we need to pay more attention to environmental issues and we need to adopt measures to prevent the constant environmental damage which is compromising the present and future of our planet and the quality of life of our citizens .
addressing this problem calls for an effort to fully uncover and understand the intimate mechanisms of terrorism , including its religious , societal and even civilisational roots .
together , we can show Europeans during these six months why the European Union is so vitally important today .
as an impoverished mother , I had reason to be grateful for the free milk given to families of young children in the 1970s in Ireland and for the low-cost milk my children received at school in the 1980s .
the EU is already trying to lead the way in this field , sometimes with more and sometimes with less success .
such pre-vetting must be carried out by national authorities , and it must allow for the creation of specialist , objective websites , and the use of specific printed materials , as Commissioner Dalli has explained .
( DE ) Madam President , the human rights dialogue between the EU and China has been taking place twice a year behind closed doors for the last eleven years , and yet it has done nothing to improve the human rights situation in China .
Portugal is capable of reforming its banking system ; it is capable of reforming its labour market ; it is capable of making its tax system more competitive ; and it is capable of using innovative measures to reform its health and justice systems .
last week the bureau of the Delegation met the Chinese ambassador and he told me how much he appreciated the European Parliament support .
there will , of course , soon be important press conferences on the subject of how we can rescue Europe using the lowest common denominator , but Mr Rehn may be able to pass my question on .
I was pleased to hear the result of today 's vote .
however , we still have a long way to go to develop the Joint Strategy outlined on that occasion , particularly in the areas of peace , security , governance , human rights , regional integration , health and education .
in accordance with the EU guidelines on the death penalty , we are exerting strong pressure on the United States to abolish the death penalty at a national level , and at the level of the US federal states , and we are calling for a pardon in individual cases .
amendment 21 , as formulated , omits these specifications and , consequently , cannot be supported by the Commission .
we also continue to have concerns about the detention of human rights defenders , journalists , opposition politicians and peaceful student protestors .
the Portuguese Government has already decided to make EUR 100 million available for this purpose .
otherwise those answers will be mere opinions , and in this House - even though only a few Members are present - everyone has a different opinion about the science .
we are still the largest source of humanitarian aid .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Mr President , behind the socialistic approach to non-liberalisation of this market is the fear that if the service is given into private hands the state will lose power over it , and something would be wrong .
credit Rating Agencies (
in writing . - ( SV ) Mrs Svensson 's report created quite a major headache before the vote .
of course , this means that , if one million European citizens wish to dispense with the Strasbourg site , that desire too must be heeded .
I believe that in order to increase the competitiveness of European car manufacturers , greater attention should be paid to stimulus measures .
in Finland our Olympic winner Tapio Korjus is now heading a body education project , which is an attempt to promote the view that healthy physical education has an effect on a person 's general wellbeing .
for the first time in years , the Council is attending this debate on the discharge of the budget .
I think that the desire of home affairs ministers and security authorities to collect as much personal data as possible is deeply questionable .
I wrote a letter to you .
the benchmark adopted by the Education Council in 2003 , to increase by 15 % the number of graduates in Member States and decrease gender imbalance by 2010 , has been reached .
to close , I feel that an effort must be made to give European citizens more information about the role and powers of the European Ombudsman , so that they take fast recourse to him when their basic rights are infringed .
I support the agreement between the EU , Iceland , Liechtenstein and Norway concerning the continuation of the European Economic Area ( EEA ) financial mechanism , as we should all be working towards reducing the social and economic disparities within the EEA .
this can be done , according to him , by providing funds on the condition that these are not spent definitively until later .
I think we still have to try and make the best of the bottom-up approach , but in order to develop a Single Sky we need to move on to a second stage , based on performance , on mechanisms .
the fact that the Commission carries out an impact assessment does not necessarily mean that a proposal will follow .
many thanks for your visit here today .
the strategy must allow an overall approach to information sharing that meets the needs of the police and is based on the interoperability of IT systems .
the second myth is that the marking provides consumers with relevant information and consumer protection and is beneficial to the environment , as if it were a question of geography .
Mr President , I would like to inform European citizens that last week , the deputy permanent representative of the Russian Federation to the European Union warned me that the European Parliament should neither have a debate nor adopt a resolution on the rule of law in Russia this week , and that if this should happen , it would provoke a strong reaction from the Kremlin .
I would have loved to have voted in favour of this , if only the European institutions were doing something useful in sport .
we really do have to take this matter very seriously .
we also know that this eco-design or eco-labelling approach for cars and so on does not result in overall coherence and does enable us to obtain the results that we are seeking .
unfortunately , that cannot be guaranteed .
in writing . - ( PL ) EU consumer policy strategy 2007-2013 presents the proper directions for the development of consumer protection , but the point should be made that ad hoc actions are far too little .
by adopting special aid instruments like the European Union Solidarity Fund , the Community that we seek to make ' united in diversity ' demonstrates its ability to remain united in adversity , even in situations that place high demands on human and material resources .
by way of example , we need only note the references to the defunct Treaty of Lisbon made several times in this hotchpotch report .
that is why factors such as sustainable transport and energy resources have become key elements in other sectoral policies , too .
unfortunately , this Parliament represents not citizens , but simply the elite consensus of the official Europe .
it shows total failure to understand the problem and channelling efforts into an entirely erroneous direction .
people from Poland and Romania go to other countries to work for wages that are not really allowed there , in unacceptable conditions .
if it is discovered next year that there are misappropriations , you would be the first to tell me that I knew about the cases and asking why I did not take action .
it is important to take action that will help those firms to fully reap the benefits of the single market .
as far as the various national lobby groups are concerned , it has been clearly stated that these will not be included in the register .
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I must emphasise that compliance with international human rights legislation and humanitarian legislation by all parties , in every circumstance , remains a vital condition for establishing a just and lasting peace throughout the world .
yet the people are - quite legitimately - demanding political freedom and are fleeing their countries because there is no prospect of a life of dignity and opportunity for them and their children .
the urgency of the task cannot be underestimated .
I believe this should be restated : these are particularly positive actions which should really be promoted among our fellow citizens , particularly perhaps in the run-up to elections .
we have for some time been calling for greater coherence , transparency and results in our discussions with third countries , jointly with the Commission and the Council .
in writing . - ( SV ) I voted against Gerardo Galeote 's report today .
in other words , if we want to guarantee energy efficiency and increase it , at the same time we have to ensure that safety is not undermined in the slightest , because on motorways , small roads and everywhere , safety must be the priority and main objective as we develop transport in Europe .
all in all , the compromise text constitutes a real advance for travelling citizens and for the image of the industry .
within Ireland we are establishing an all-Ireland energy market with the merging of electricity markets north and south .
of course , to tackle under-age and binge drinking effectively , national governments must also focus on the consumer through changing attitudes towards alcohol .
we do not want to jeopardise international negotiations , but we think that citizens have a right to know what matters are being discussed with foreign powers that affect their rights .
because of the rapid agreement , which seems to be more tailored to the needs of the American pre-election campaign , they call legitimacy , transparency and democratic control into question .
there is , however , another question which I believe has not been sufficiently covered and which raises major concerns .
it is pressing the European Commission to take steps towards greater harmonisation .
( the President cut off the speaker )
there is no very simple answer to this question , but it can perhaps be stated in a few words why this subject is important to us as well .
it must demand and fight for respect for the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to an independent and sovereign state , with the 1967 borders and a capital in East Jerusalem .
the issue of misleading and comparative advertising in business-to-business transactions has been regulated by the introduction of a single , consolidated directive .
chocolate has been produced in Keynsham for 250 years , and for nearly 100 years by Cadbury Schweppes .
the great philosopher Brook Benton - followed and copied by the great philosopher Randy Crawford - once said , ' It 's a rainy night in Georgia ' .
as a result , there is an increasing risk as the years go by that distortion of our understanding and assessment of energy realities will lead to decisions that are not supported by the facts .
by withdrawing from political life , the Dalai Lama is in no way relinquishing his responsibility .
this seems to me to be totally discriminatory as regards those MEPs who , although they do not know English , would like to manage their work directly on their own computers .
we rather support a more secure society with broad democratic rights and freedoms .
it is my view that the Regulation fails to meet the expectations of many producer groups and to reduce the gulf between farmers in the old and the new European Union states .
first of all , we continue to favour the multilateral channel of the WTO as the first-best way to liberalise trade and lay down the rules to govern global commerce .
we must correct the text because it does not exactly represent the truth .
however , it is not only the correctness of this report , which places the consumer at the heart of the issue , that attracts me .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to start by expressing my gratitude for the way in which we have been able to work together so constructively .
secondly , in order to allow producers of various types of renewable energy better access to the distribution network in different countries , it is vital to separate distribution grid operators from energy producers .
the debate is closed .
let us , therefore , take a step back from the daily irritants and the news from the wires and let us look at the broader historical context of Europe and Russia , as well as at the many interests we have in common .
( GA ) It is time for us to do it and to ensure that the toys used by our children are safe for them .
President of the Commission . - ( PT ) It is with great pleasure that I answer you , Mrs Ferreira , although it is not exactly on the topic of the ' disaster in Japan ' .
to sum up , I think that we can come up with a good end result if the Council has the will to do so .
there are rumours that some countries are having doubts .
I very much hope that Estonia will join the euro area on 1 January 2011 , in order to create an area for economic growth and for the resolution of financial difficulties .
do something straight away .
soon it should also be easier for people with disabilities .
I am aware that this European strategy is not going to solve the problem ; I know that a huge amount depends on us , the Roma .
with each enlargement , the European Community has become stronger and the enlargement process itself represents a success that all Member States have enjoyed .
the temporary short-term working arrangements can be beneficial , but their financial sustainability needs to be ensured .
statements by the President
I should like to mention the South Stream pipeline , the TGI ( Turkey-Greece-Italy ) pipeline , the Nabucco pipeline and I must , of course , mention the Caspian region , as we debate it on many occasions .
the Greeks have the euro as their currency .
I would wish everybody a happy Day of European Languages tomorrow .
therefore , I congratulate the Council .
I believe this could actually be a risky exercise .
in allowing the EU to forge a foreign policy agenda , there will come a point when we have a situation involving a third country that divides Member States and is not the unanimous wish of the Union as a whole .
it is because there is a legal retirement age that people can think of going beyond it , depending on the arrangements defined by each Member State in line with its traditions of dialogue and consultation .
it is not easy .
moreover , the Commission is developing a multimedia campaign for young people in all Member States and involving multipliers via on-line social media , blogs , and on-line magazines .
Ernst Strasser has submitted his resignation as a Member of the European Parliament with effect from 24 March 2011 .
financial market reform at European level is , in many respects , taking place on the initiative of the European Parliament .
in writing . - ( DE ) The Regulation concerning statistics on plant protection products is part of the review of European plant protection products policy , of which the Approval Regulation and the Directive on the sustainable use of pesticides , which were successfully adopted at the beginning of the year , also form part .
this is the price of the euro 's continued success .
in France then , according to Médecins du monde , one in two Roma women , or 43 % of that group , will have had an abortion by the age of 22 .
we need to provide young people with cultural and creative skills - including within the scope of lifelong learning .
an answer to the question of whether the European Union counts in the world could be seen in Copenhagen .
in not accepting this , ladies and gentlemen of the liberal and conservative groups , you have opted out of one of the principles of social cohesion in Europe .
that is why I want to say to the European Parliament that it is an honour for my country to be associated in this way with an important step in the project of European citizenship .
however , I did not find this easy as I have some reservations about the content of some points .
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I believe the Court plays a vital role in such circumstances by providing reports and opinions that not only identify existing problems but also make recommendations for the future .
there can be no question of an improvement in the political climate in this country unless Aung San Suu Kyi is released .
I firmly believe that what is happening today in Libya , Tunisia and Egypt is an unprecedented opportunity to create the conditions necessary for a peaceful resolution of a conflict that has been going on now for decades between Israel and Palestine .
( standing ovation )
I found it hard to understand why this took so long .
the person who is to be punished in the event of illegal employment is the employer who breaks the law , not the worker .
in the moments that are left to me , let me say that last year I was rapporteur for the Report on the ECB annual report and I pointed out then that there were EUR 223 billion in EUR 500 denominations - that is 446 million notes !
this is a specific request which , if implemented , would free Christians from one form of institutionalised discrimination .
I have no crystal ball to see where the multilateral talks in the DDA will go from where we left them in July .
the early elections provide an opportunity for the new government that will be formed to use the electorate 's trust to make a definitive decision on this issue .
at the same time , not everything can be solved through legislation .
they are right to do so ; our Heads of State and Government are right to support this initiative , because there is real wealth in our libraries , our archives and our museums .
fifthly , the importance of an efficient inventory of spectrum use , which is an essential part of building an effective and forward-looking policy programme .
the first is reverse qualified majority voting , which has already been referred to many times in this Chamber .
I cannot imagine that anyone questions the usefulness of and need for measures to ensure that these transport operations are conducted in the safest way possible .
however , after examination of his complaint , it was found that Mr Tomczak was granted access to the files when he visited the court himself .
of course , responsibility for labour market policies lies with Member States , but we can and should use existing European instruments to help Member States keep people in employment and train them for the jobs of the future .
where does the truth lie ?
I am determined to cut down the time required and have already instructed my staff to start work .
I hope this programme will soon become operational and the process of approving applications will be swift and not tied up in red tape .
the Greek programme has been running for one year and its counterpart in Ireland for about five months of the three years of the programme .
we should , of course , make intelligent use of such sanctions and target them in such a way as to ensure that the lives of ordinary Belarusians are not affected , but we should not hesitate to impose them , including the suspension of Belarus ' membership in the Eastern Partnership .
we act and we assert ourselves as a Union , or we fail to act and allow ourselves to be marginalised .
we cannot allow a situation where we bring in food from third countries - Brazil or elsewhere - which does not meet our production standards and which results in very unfair competition for producers of food and agricultural commodities within the European Union .
in 2009 , the Commission will take concrete measures to strengthen the regulatory framework of the European financial system .
it is no coincidence that many of those playing a leading role in this campaign are the ones responsible for the current economic and social crisis .
I support the stance of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament , which is urging the European Commission to incorporate the new biogas production strategy into the Kyoto mechanism at the earliest opportunity .
only last Thursday , a Palestinian killed eight students at a prominent religious school and was himself killed .
it opened the way for the rediscovery of individual freedom : freedom of speech and freedom of action - and also freedom to improve the quality of our lives .
I hope that , with these components of the transport climate package , we can , in any event , make a positive contribution towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions .
I also want to work more closely with the European Investment Bank to look at innovative forms of financing .
however , regional cooperation agreements cannot be used as an excuse for excluding certain states in this area from prospects of future full membership .
the report on the Green Paper on the reform of the common fisheries policy has the aim of initiating a public debate in EU and Member State institutions .
first of all , it is farcical that any parliament would want to adopt a report based on a treaty , the fate of which is still completely uncertain .
what a giveaway that was !
in his first statement , he said that private investors would participate in the rescue plans , which caused shock and led to a protest by the President of the European Central Bank .
it is being called upon , Mr President , to give a European face to immigration and energy policy , and to issue Eurobonds in order to ensure the recovery .
I therefore voted against this report , which raises a more general issue than that of the Unilever case .
the Council of the European Union has always approved and has always been behind the Union and the United Nations in the area of gender equality .
the Arab world has been shaken for a month and a half , from Tunisia to Yemen , by a shockwave or wind of freedom .
ladies and gentlemen , in a time of continuing financial and economic crisis it is necessary to support not only banks and big companies but also small firms and self-employed people .
prerequisites for this are an understanding of Russia and a common analysis , and we therefore support the cooperation of experts on Russia across the European Union .
it is notable for its ambiguities and lack of clear organisation in its sections .
how is that possible ?
it is vital for helping SMEs and local farmers , as it will strengthen the competitiveness of local economic operators and ensure more stable employment in these regions .
thus , I can say that I voted for this report exactly due to the integrated approach of immigration .
amazing !
the European Union 's ability to introduce internal reforms will determine its ability to act externally .
we know that , in the latter scenario , India will definitely not want to enter into an agreement with us .
in other words , the fiscal sovereignty of Member States will be strengthened as more effective instruments for the implementation of their own tax system become available to them .
at a time when more and more people are talking about a crisis of trust in the European Union , the fact that the overwhelming majority of MEPs support the opinion of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs should be seen as confirmation that the idea of European integration still continues to be relevant .
it would create many delays in addressing existing claims and it would create a very strong disincentive for people to go for out-of-court settlements .
so I expect the Commission , together with the EASA , to be able to submit specific proposals in the very near future , which will be integrated fully in the implementation of the Single European Sky .
the Commission listened to that request , understood that small traditional fishermen could not be made to pay for a situation brought about by large industrial fleets , and agreed to include that measure , although it reduced it to 2 % in the plan .
I am pleased that the first report is concerned with standardising the protein content of milk powder , which leads to market adjustment .
there is no need for pre-financing .
at the same time we must not fail to obtain adequate financing for Europe 's strategic policies and action priorities , which are indispensable for a true relaunch of the Union and for the 500 million European citizens .
let me explain , because I do not think you really understand .
I have made it to the best of my knowledge and belief , and I repeat before Parliament my personal commitment in the coming months to avoiding a repeat of such tragedies .
the resolution openly supports sexual and reproductive health in Article 44 , without defining it or respecting the European Union 's remit in this area .
obviously , this is a tough approach designed to bring about a ' shake-out ' amongst the banks , some pensions institutions and bondholders , but we need to get through this .
Mr President , although the legal systems of Member States make provision for sanctions against the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography , it is still necessary to raise the level of protection of our children .
in writing . - In light of the impetus given by the Commission and Parliament to relaunch the single market , the need for a harmonised system for the issuance and regulation of patents has never been greater .
the question is merely how this is to be achieved .
the signs of global warming are evident in poverty , shortages of food products and limited energy resources .
agenda for next sitting : see Minutes
we feel that we have been treated here as full equals during the last five years .
I was trying to go to the funeral of President Kaczyński until the very last moment .
the new treaty also brings in a competence allowing action to be taken in the area of intellectual property , and this belongs equally to Parliament and the Council .
these are some of the issues on which we must try to work in order to achieve the main goal of establishing more stringent standards and to prevent the entry of falsified medicinal products , thus achieving a positive and more comprehensive regulatory framework that safeguards the health of citizens , protecting them from the risk of serious consequences .
we usually study and make observations before , during and after .
the data-migration phase is the final task under the development mandate for the second generation Schengen Information System ( SIS II ) .
( FI ) Mr President , Iran would have an important role in the Middle East peace negotiations but , to our regret , the country seems to be slipping ever further away from the democratic rule of law .
as the Commission announced in its communication on the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion , it will report in 2012 on the implementation of the common principles on active inclusion , focusing , inter alia , on the effectiveness of minimum income schemes .
there is a clear determination on both sides to find positive solutions and concrete measures and to agree and implement these measures .
this is therefore something that calls for resolve in this House .
currently , by declaring such equipment as ' used but functional EEE ' and not WEEE , it can be illegally shipped to , and dumped in , third world countries .
. - ( NL ) Mr President , tomorrow we will be voting on the free-trade agreement with South Korea .
it is made clear , again by the report , that the resources earmarked for the new common agricultural policy must be in line with those enjoyed up to now by that policy .
we have adopted 200 amendments at first reading in the European Parliament and attempted to decisively improve the common position with this agreement .
Mr Pittella , thank you for your encouragement .
the European Commission must display the utmost firmness in dealing with infringements of Community law by Member States as regards social provisions in the road transport sector , provide for coercive measures in the event of failure to comply with provisions and take preventive measures , if necessary via judicial process , to ensure strict compliance with Community law .
as I have said many times , a quality mark is something that we could only envisage in the future .
the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy has supported clear , consumer-friendly energy labelling , which I would like to see preserved , as would the Committee .
we defend the rights of small nations even when this proves to be bothersome or uncomfortable .
it is said that hanging using these European cranes is particularly cruel and the agony lasts for a long period .
I do not support the resolution .
I would also like to tell Mr Grech that the proposals on consumers are yet to be completed ; we are working on this with Mr Dalli .
I could not vote in favour of the report when , apart from anything else , it deplores as ' protectionist ' the measures taken by Argentina to deal with the financial crisis and , on that basis , indirectly asks the Commission to impose sanctions , calling on it to ' regularly address the issue of market access with countries in Latin America ' .
whilst it is true that we are slowly emerging from the economic crisis , it is equally clear that our recovery needs to be based on solid foundations , and at this time , we cannot be entirely sure about these foundations .
we should consider whether we need new sources of income , in which case we need look no further than those who have always profited from this unspeakable situation .
11 .
the matter of neighbourhood relations must be a priority .
otherwise there can be no real democratisation in Turkey .
in practice , that is not a solution that can be implemented .
therefore , I ask that we postpone this until the June plenary .
the Egyptian authorities react quickly .
I am opposed to Amendments 7 and 102 which seek to water down the six-day rule .
at the insistence of the Commission , successive versions of the text have been published and our negotiators came here after each round to answer all your questions .
the European Commission must allocate funds for research in this area .
in my opinion , the need to coordinate action by the Member States , which it emphasises , is particularly important .
I am in favour of not limiting the terms of office of members of the Advisory Committee .
the British people are very astute and they are clear that politicians have hijacked the environmentalist agenda .
( FR ) Mr President , I shall be extremely brief .
why do I say this to you , ladies and gentlemen ?
the problem could be partly solved if additional meetings beyond the current sessions would take place .
I am in favour of this proposal for a European Parliament recommendation to the Council on the next session of the United Nations General Assembly .
we share this vision and we are glad that your report refers to a number of significant initiatives taken at European Union level , such as the European Year of Creativity and Innovation .
in particular , EIB projects in third countries should be subjected to independent sustainability assessments in order to determine the economic , social and ecological impact of the project in question .
I am sorry , but it is not possible .
relations between Parliament and the Commission have been much altered following the adoption of the Treaty of Lisbon , with greater powers for Parliament in various matters , particularly those that relate to ordinary legislative procedure and budgetary issues , and a stronger role as regards EU foreign policy .
those who are putting forward this motion for a resolution seem to believe that the debates of this House only matter if we adopt a resolution at the end of the debate .
I apologise for doing so at the last moment , but it has to do with the UN moratorium on the death penalty , on which Parliament has already expressed a view on three occasions .
whilst fully recognising the unanimity rule in this sensitive area and the sovereign right of Member States to set their own tax rates , the current VAT and excise duty systems clearly prevent full realisation of the single market and of its benefits for consumers and businesses .
the whole world , not just Europe , is currently facing a tremendous challenge involving obesity and the diseases directly and indirectly related to it .
no , no yet .
I think that a genuine assessment must be made of the usefulness and effectiveness of Frontex .
that , ladies and gentlemen , is what I wished to say to supplement my introductory remarks .
in writing . - ( PT ) It is true that we are noticing very marked , rapid , and unnatural climate changes that result from many factors , but particularly from the predatory nature of neoliberal policies .
however , it aims to adopt a mechanism that was not included in the compromise text from the Council , as the text caused difficulties with implementation in the Member States .
the multiannual framework 2007-2012 as proposed by the Commission and discussed in the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs will enable the Agency to work to the best of its capabilities .
why do some Members reject legitimate criticisms of the Afghan judicial system ?
that is the foundation of the negotiation process .
for me , too , this is the last week in which I will be allowed to chair the plenary part-sessions .
( EL ) Madam President , the EU 2020 strategy to be discussed at the summit , which follows on from the Lisbon Strategy , proves that the anti-grassroots shotgun measures being promoted by the PASOK government in our country , with the fundamental agreement of all the political forces of capital and the parties of the European one-way street , are not unique to Greece .
so far , Baku is saying ' I 'll give you all gas ' , but it is not in a position to guarantee even its safe transit .
the Asylum Procedures Directive is an essential element of the common European asylum system that will need to be established before the end of 2012 .
biogas is a multifunctional energy source : it can be used for electricity generation , for heating , cooling , or drying .
it is important to note that this proposal does not stipulate the conditions for admitting third-country nationals .
the Commission examined the alternatives of a centralised system as opposed to a decentralised framework , and , during our consultations with Member States , it became obvious that the processing of PNR data requires the use of information the source of which is extremely sensitive .
thus , we could not in good conscience support such a report , which explains our voting abstention on the subject .
I dislike not being able to give Members the floor on issues of such importance , but you are also correct in saying that it would require a change to our Rules of Procedure .
secondly , I will say it once more : obviously , even the old existing Toy Safety Directive bans the importation of dangerous toys .
cooperation among Member States and with countries and regions from the EU neighbourhood such as the Black Sea , Baltic and Mediterranean opens up opportunities to prevent transborder pollution .
in conclusion , continued support for the peace programme is absolutely essential .
international adoption also raises a series of specific issues and difficulties , largely arising from the limited interaction between a child and adoptive parents in the period prior to adoption , as well as from problems encountered by the child after adoption relating to linguistic and cultural adjustment .
I voted in favour of this report as food security is a human right which is achieved when all people have access to suitable , safe and nutritious food which can meet their needs for an active and healthy life .
this is the result of the fact that we have a division of labour , because Europe is not a superstate , but is comprised of 27 sovereign Member States and will continue to operate like this under the new Lisbon Treaty too .
the European Left will oppose this policy through the European Parliament and by fighting side by side with the workers and social movements to realise the hopes of the young generation for a democratic , social , feminist , ecological and peace-loving Europe .
all the European citizens must feel part of and close to the European decision-making process .
it will create uncertainty and facilitate abuse .
I agree with the thrust of the report , which introduces obligations to be met not only by distributors but also by all those involved in the supply chain .
this will immediately impact on the quality of service .
the Commission has done everything in its power to find a compromise , submitting a range of proposals on all of the main issues in order to help both lawmaking bodies come closer to a final version .
I was appalled at what they told me .
the oral question to the Commission by Giusto Catania , on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group , on the creation of a Roma fingerprints database in Italy - B6-0451 / 2008 ) ;
I trust that European institutions and processes have remained effective during the financial crisis .
I agree with the other speakers that the so-called ' Red Card to Forced Prostitution ' campaign , launched by the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality in March 2006 , was successful because it brought out into the open one of the most burning social issues .
let us therefore support the Commission 's proposal , as presented .
I expect a large number of responses to the Green Paper from the many stakeholder organisations in the field of health that have expressed concerns about this important issue .
what we are discussing here is not a trade agreement , but supporting the strategic development of Pakistan .
indeed , strict and fair conditionality must be applied to all candidates and potential candidates to whom we make these promises .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I am very pleased and happy to replace my fellow Commissioner , Ms Viviane Reding , in introducing such a very important and very good subject .
public administrations ' migration to SEPA is below our expectations .
a solution like this would provide hope for stabilisation of the situation , although it may not be acceptable to both ...
I condemn the violence and disproportionate force used against the protesters .
our trade relations have always been excellent , but they must be strengthened and supported , including in the light of the new requirements of both continents .
therefore we need to make the internet more accessible and make training available , and allow elderly people both to stay socially connected and to perform their daily activities which can be facilitated , such as shopping , paying bills , making appointments .
its role is to combine individual pieces of meat together into a single meat product .
this is not the context to raise the civil liberties concerns , but there is an important economic dimension .
no mention has been made of the last 20 % automatically turning the second 20 % into 25 % simply because it was adopted later and is now being addressed by the Commission .
if we do not do this on the grounds of social equality and solidarity , the losers will be mostly older people .
we can only encourage them to do this under the terms of the Treaty , which have never been revised and which are useful terms allowing Europe to progress in economic and monetary matters on the basis of the two pillars of consolidation and enlargement .
this they do most unwisely , not realising that the genuine problems of security that Israel is admittedly facing cannot be solved by this type of inhuman response .
these shortcomings are as follows :
furthermore , I believe that we should give some thought to adapting the Stability and Growth Pact .
besides surveillance bodies , the role of consumer awareness is becoming more important : informed consumers should also be able to distinguish between products by how they are labelled , hence our efforts to strengthen the significant of the European CE marking , which indicates to surveillance authorities and informed consumers that the products fulfil the European quality and safety criteria .
on average , in the EU , women earn 17 % less than men .
international adoption has proved to be the procedure most likely to offer the chance of a permanent family to those children for whom a suitable family cannot be found in their country of origin .
let us not forget that this is against a backdrop where the Galileo satellite project started off with a budget of EUR 7.7 billion and is now projected to cost EUR 22.6 billion .
the directive has stood the test of time well .
for my Group , I would like to highlight and underline the key points once again .
we are still not happy with what is happening over there .
renewable energy is , of course , central to efforts to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels , but sometimes , as we have discovered , solutions can lead to other problems , and that has certainly been the case in relation to the debate about food versus fuel production .
to complicate matters , the Council conclusions refer to international legality .
I can guarantee to this House that the United Nations High Commissioner has not at any time suggested this nor is he in agreement with what has just been said by our fellow Member .
statement by the President : see Minutes
( HU ) Mr President , influenza strikes down those who have a weak constitution .
this is a political act that we must carry out .
thus there is no need to respond to them .
this must also apply to firms which come from outside the European Union .
road transport is responsible for 72 % of all emissions generated by transport , but the time has now come for us to reaffirm the importance of the car manufacturing industry from an economic and social perspective .
we must , then , go along with this development in air transport , and actually increasingly adapt it to the needs and wishes of users .
I shall say that Parliament 's contribution to the Tobacco Directive was of vital importance and I would like to interpret today 's report as support for smoke-free environment policies .
I have also naturally expressed the Council 's willingness , readiness and commitment to do its utmost within that international framework to ensure that the measures it provides for are effectively applied .
I welcome the proposal to launch a European Year of Mental Health , in order to raise awareness of brain-related diseases associated with ageing , and of ways to detect and identify early symptoms of such diseases , with public information campaigns on their prevention and treatment .
the Member States cannot keep on building their own aircraft separately , having armaments industries that compete with each other to the point of ruin and ultimately are weakened , simply because they are not strong enough to have a European defence policy .
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also , stranded travellers , for example , do not really know what their rights are .
the Council has devoted a great deal of attention and energy to this issue , not least through a mutual peer evaluation of the practical application of this instrument which has been carried out in all Member States over a period of three years .
the rule that we have in this regard in the European institutions is that we follow the recommendations of the competent scientific committees , and that is what we have done in this case , too .
the governance of companies and their ethics is a critical issue , particularly in the current situation in which many shareholders are suffering losses on their investments because of violations of some of these principles .
I should like to invite you to speak to us after the next part of this award ceremony .
what does this mean ?
with these choices , the European Union remains the most important partner for developing countries in the world and that is vital .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , two days ago , President Caldeira and I already had the opportunity to exchange our views and to discuss the Court 's annual report with the members of the Committee on Budgetary Control .
we conducted extensive discussions , settled on a form of wording and included provisions to ensure the balance that I have mentioned .
of course , Kosovo is their country too and every delay by Kosovan Serbs in cooperating in the government of Kosovo may be detrimental .
it is important that the countries who want to do something together do so voluntarily and that all countries have the option of joining in at any time .
what we are now permitting with this regulation - it beggars belief - is for the average emissions from the new European car fleet to be higher in 2012 than it is today .
the second proposal concerns the common market organisation for milk and for milk products .
it facilitates national actions and initiatives in a coordinated fashion .
this new culture of urban mobility is a true revolution in terms of our way of thinking and travelling .
women assume greater responsibilities in rural areas than has so far been acknowledged , especially in respect of their obvious social commitment .
it only remains for me to express my gratitude to all the shadow rapporteurs for their help , thanks to which it was possible to complete a fruitful piece of work , and to the services of the Commission and the Council , including the Spanish Presidency and now the Belgian Presidency , for the work that we have carried out over these months .
the cohesion funding should be a mechanism for stimulating economic growth across the EU , but needs to have a specific goal as supporting SMEs and entrepreneurs who are the backbone of our economy .
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it is also why we have been wise to reform financial markets .
I would still like to believe in an about-turn by Europe .
( EL ) I declare resumed the session of the European Parliament adjourned on Thursday 25 September 2008 .
programmes should be universally accessible and more flexible .
patients should be comprehensively informed about the procedures for accessing treatment abroad . they should be similarly informed about the procedures for obtaining reimbursements for the costs of such treatment , which will be reimbursed according to the current costs in the country in which the patient is insured .
we see the internal market as the greatest economic achievement of the Union , together with the euro , but , unlike the Commissioner , we are not market fanatics .
then take , sixth , the knock-down argument : what has any of this to do with the European Union ?
EC-Armenia agreement : air services (
unfortunately , it is far from over .
that is why there is now agreement to extend the transitional period in order to allow time for the new regime to be defined .
the Council wanted to come to an agreement with Parliament over the key issue of the opt-out and was prepared to accommodate Parliament 's demands and to accept its other proposals , for example a ban on arranging opt-outs during the probationary period and removal of the maximum weekly working time for the opt-out , even though we naturally felt that we were acting against the interests of employees .
paradoxically , these countries may in the end suffer as a result of the liberalisation package because the proposed legislation will weaken the position of transmission operators who have contracts with producers with monopolies .
another glaring pay inequality lies in sectoral gender segregation , as half of jobs in three sectors are male dominated .
the vote will take place tomorrow .
many Member States are now forced to implement austerity measures .
therefore , the resolution that Parliament has adopted cannot be one more resolution that serves to demonstrate our grave concern regarding disasters elsewhere .
this means that we need active Europe-wide policies for admitting both highly-skilled workers and less-skilled workers .
the European Union , or rather European Heritage Label , acquires its significance therefore when we go outside the European Union 's borders .
the difficult situation facing Polish shipyards is not the fault of the workers , neither is it due to a lack of skill in building ships .
we have not had them today .
- ( SK ) Mr President , much time has passed since the Second World War , but surely not enough for us to forget all the horrors of that period .
( speaking to Mr Helmer , who had expressed his disagreement ) You may laugh , but you are wrong .
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the treaty establishes the obligation of Member States to coordinate their economic policies , their social policies and their employment policies .
secondly , I would like to highlight the need for greater emphasis to be placed on thematic areas crucial for the future of Europe , such as energy security , the environment and health care .
( the sitting was closed at 11.10 p.m. )
making exceptions for certain lobbyists will create loopholes in the control system .
meanwhile , we remain silent , guided too often by a variety of reasons - which include the economic interests of certain countries - when it comes to those regimes which are doing well .
it is not a case of us asking for money for ourselves , as alleged by the press .
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if Russia is going to prove as reliable as it did regarding Chechnya , Mrs Politovskaya or Mr Litvinienko , the European Union will go down in history as the most naïve institution that ever existed .
I will say a few words about the report that we drew up in the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection .
Greenland 's fish are currently already checked by the Danish food authorities , both in Greenland and again when they are exported to the EU .
we must say ' yes ' , however , to diplomacy , ' yes ' to aid to Somalia , and ' no ' to unsubstantiated charges of alleged illegal fishing .
at the end of last year , the European Union adopted the climate package , and last weekend at the EU Summit it approved the financing for a climate compensation scheme for developing countries .
however , I am convinced that we have before us a text with a soul and a conscience .
we also see no reason why the European Parliament should not receive in the annual report all of the relevant information - unfortunately , the Commission has failed to incorporate this principle of democracy into its opinion .
we hope to see the negotiations with Croatia concluded as early as possible next year .
accordingly , the detention period could be extended to as much as 18 months .
at that time , Parliament having of course approved these projects , there were quite a few objections from various quarters and from Parliament itself , especially vis-à-vis the large-scale nature of the undertaking and the question of whether this or that project would create enough jobs .
something else which is of key significance in terms of equal opportunities is support for the putting in place of appropriate childcare infrastructure in rural areas , since properly functioning childcare makes it easier for women to return to work more quickly and makes them more competitive in the labour market .
ups , the US-based package delivery company , has acted in a crude manner to put a stop to the campaign to unionise .
I do not need to remind you that , in Europe , the poultry sector does not receive any direct support from the CAP , despite the fact that since 1997 our producers have been banned from using the very same substances that the Commission now wants to authorise , and moreover they are submitted to exhaustive controls throughout the production cycle to prevent the development of bacteria and to comply with the high Community hygiene standards .
I firmly believe that protectionism undermines , rather than defends , citizens ' rights , but that Europe should be looking at its own backyard first .
Mr Verhofstadt is right when he talks about a European monetary fund , about an investment and solidarity fund in order to raise a European loan .
nevertheless , the financial sceptics should be aware of the extent of the benefits the common market confers upon the individual Member States ' economies .
finally , I would like to underline that internationalisation may be the new frontier for relaunching small and medium sized enterprises , and therefore any tools for permitting expansion beyond their borders will be very welcome .
an agricultural entity which gets higher prices in its country of origin does business in another country ( with lower direct prices ) at lower production costs and records the sales on the other side of the border .
on behalf of the ALDE Group . - Mr President , recitals A and D and paragraph 4 of this resolution clearly stress the value of prevention .
given the importance of an integrated energy policy , not only in combating climate change and reducing CO2 emissions , but also in ensuring efficiency and less energy dependence within Europe , communication and transmission of information about investments and energy infrastructure projects is crucial .
as a result of implementation of these principles , institutions should submit cost cutting plans ; thought should be given to the advantages of centralisation , so as to generate economies of scale ( e.g. centralised procurement , shared services between institutions ) .
EC aid to the health sector has not risen since 2000 in proportion to overall development assistance , despite the commitments made by the Commission on the Millennium Development Goals and the health crisis in sub-Saharan Africa .
while in the 20th century , we spoke about exporting revolution , in the 21st century , we can talk about exporting bankruptcy .
the next step - and the Commissioner has announced that he will take action on this - must be to learn from the experience gained in the various sectors and to achieve a more integrated approach to passenger rights .
the farmers themselves are equally dependent on reasonable prices ; they are facing high production costs . higher consumer prices are not reflected in farming incomes .
the Commission announced that it is going to propose an amendment to the Structural Fund Regulations intended to support these measures , in order to extend the opportunities available in this area .
but , in fact , we are of the opinion that we should now create more incentives to work ; we have to address the situation of our labour markets .
its purpose is to contribute to the further stabilisation and normalisation of Kosovo .
it was therefore right for us to have very intensive talks about a safeguard clause and also to have jointly implemented such a clause , which provides for the close monitoring of precisely these points , so that we can be certain that the possibilities provided by duty drawback in South Korea do not lead to a distortion of competition in Europe .
nevertheless , certain problems still remain regarding this agreement , which may have a negative impact on the EU 's agricultural sector .
the durability and credibility of the Union for the Mediterranean depend on its ability to operate .
in writing . - Mainstreaming human rights has been the core issue in last years .
that is the main thing .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - Madam President , I would also like to thank the Commissioner for her very full statement - possibly one of the fullest and most substantive statements we have heard from a Commissioner lately .
does the Council not want this type of speedy response to be available for any other type of disaster , such as major industrial disasters , acts of terrorism or public health emergencies ?
are a common visa policy and the principle of solidarity no longer European values ?
do they agree with the President of the European Central Bank that a far larger European stability mechanism will be needed ?
this is an ambition which I strongly share .
surely it is time we learned something from those four years .
by agreement with the political groups , I would like to propose the following changes :
these are empty words these days , especially for the estimated 15 million Christians living in Pakistan .
so it is a difficult balance that we have to find , and the Stability and Growth Pact provides us with the means to do it , because it does not require an immediate return to budgetary equilibrium .
thirdly , there is the logic according to which it is impossible to adapt the nature of measures , otherwise the principle of strict penal legality will be called into question .
however , the assessment of its activities has been positive .
this can be a matter of life and death for these people .
strong efforts must be made to ensure that the UN Secretary-General 's visit to Burma goes ahead , and that the National League for Democracy is involved in the process of preparing for the 2010 elections .
energy is part of the ETS and carbon price must be the main driver of development .
on behalf of the ITS Group . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the collapse of the US market in high-risk loans has caused a splash that is still being felt on the stock markets today and which has thrown speculators and savers into serious crisis .
consumers must not be less protected in other Member States than at home if we want to ensure and enhance cross-border activities .
we also need an inter-regional balance , and that is why we provide the European Social Fund , the Regional Fund and the Globalisation Fund .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , stability and development in Europe and the world are impossible without sensible cooperation between the European Union and Russia .
when I put on the table a proposal , and you have seen how it goes , you will have so many proposals that you will have to work at night - I do not know if it is permitted under employment rules and human rights , but I will not care for your human rights as Members of Parliament .
but , in this instance , his job is to talk on behalf of the Council and defend the indefensible .
certain Member States of the Union already have this system whereby a card entitles large families to reductions of between 50 % and 75 % depending on the number of children - France is one example - yet curiously there are no proposals or even plans for such an arrangement in the draft regulation .
the second was about the eco-design measure for fridges and TV sets .
continuing political turmoil would make it impossible for the country to tackle these economic problems .
the condition for increasing the reduction goal to 30 % , which is that other countries must first make such a declaration , has been repeated .
we need to ensure that immediate measures are taken to counter imbalances .
Mr President , I want to refer to the Framework Agreement and a special partnership between the Commission and Parliament , which you addressed and we obviously welcome .
Mrs Koppa and Mr Salavrakos have also referred to other incidents : violations of air space and incidents in the Aegean Sea .
when the bail-out was agreed a year ago , the idea was that it would be an immediate stop-gap , that it would be a short-term contingent measure , and that by now , Greece would be borrowing cheaply again as the crisis would have passed .
based on a decision by the Conference of Presidents - the chairmen of the political groups - this form of debate will conclude with a speech by the Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt .
we cannot continue developing legal rules as and when necessary and then forget what we have adopted .
however , I regret that a few important provisions were removed at the time of the vote , such as the provision which involved examining the possibility of authorising the implementation of production methods used in third countries with regard to genetically modified organisms .
and , although no UK official has ever briefed me about anything , and I was therefore the only British person present at the conciliation , even though the British Government apparently has a veto situation on this , it went through .
( HU ) Mr President , it is not generally enough to fight extremism .
congratulations to Pat Cox !
of course the House has to take a vote , but I believe that a vote was taken this morning , and electronically confirmed .
so , let us kick this very much into the long grass for the future .
the EU and Montenegro therefore signed a Stabilisation and Association Agreement .
the first question concerns the extent to which this response is proportionate and can really help to achieve the objective of combating terrorism .
some 8 % of the banks ' assets are in the form of government bonds or loans , although the government and non-performing loans arising are not expected to top eight per cent in 2010 due to the weak economy .
this will take time .
the global financial crisis has affected all of the EU Member States .
'Calls for the presentation of a resolution , at the next UN General Assembly , with a request to all countries who retain the death penalty to make available to the UN Secretary-General and to public opinion all information on capital punishment and executions , so as to overcome the state secret on the death penalty , which is also a direct cause of a greater number of executions ' .
yesterday , I met the Federal Republic of Germany 's transport minister , and urged that Germany should also play its part ; what I am trying to do with all the Member States , in the meetings that I have , is to try to take a step forward by supporting the mediation activity that the French Presidency , together with the European Commission , is attempting .
we are debating , today , at a moment when our important neighbour , Ukraine , which is also an important neighbour from the point of view of energy security , has just passed its next examination in democracy .
Mr Andersson 's report does not specify that , unfortunately .
why take away the possibility of choice for Member States keeping different dispute-solving mechanisms ?
this is an issue which we will need to resolve in future .
it set equal charges for corresponding local , national payments and cross-border payments and strengthened this principle .
we are constantly asserting that these are concealed in many cases under the cover of other programmes .
for its part , the European Parliament intends to defend three main points of its position : the setting of more ambitious target and limit values ; more flexibility in the adoption of stricter measures at source , and the establishment of long-term goals .
year after year , we also see that , as the year progresses , the Commission and the Council have to resort to a variety of specific measures which are not in tune with regular budgetary methods in order to finance the needs which we all knew were there right from the beginning .
the Camp David Summit last weekend gave a strong indication of what Europe is capable of achieving when it is united .
in writing . - I voted in favour of this report , which follows a huge number of petitions to Parliament by victims and concerned citizens from across Europe .
it is a country with over 20 nuclear warheads .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , it is time that Europe made efforts to give the Tunisian people and their transitional government concrete support and to re-launch a Euro-Mediterranean dialogue that has been badly neglected in recent years .
Prime Minister , I wish the Slovenian Presidency success .
our opponents were aiming only to hit the headlines and did the people concerned a disservice in the process .
( it ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , today , this House - representative of all 27 States - has decided , with courage and obstinacy , once again to tackle a delicate , but at the same time topical , issue for our countries ' social growth .
these are issues that it is important to clarify in the future .
I wish to lend my wholehearted support to the proposals in Mrs Klaβ 's report , because women can certainly contribute their dynamism and creativity .
Mr President , voluntary agreements to reduce CO2 emissions from cars were struck between car manufacturers back in the 1990s .
in my opinion , however , it is just as important for small and medium-sized firms to know that there are places capable of assisting them with their business activities in the area of services .
we now have 18 months in which to spend it , and I am calling tonight on our local Minister in Ireland , the Minister for Enterprise Coughlan , to personally intervene and see that there is a plan in place to spend the money .
in particular , Articles 3 and 4 of Council Decision 2010 / 48 / EC stipulate that a code of conduct between Member States and the Commission must be adopted before the deposition of the instrument of formal confirmation on behalf of the European Union can take place , in order to lay down details of the point of contact function conferred upon the Commission .
as a document of the new strategy concept puts it , NATO and the European Union can and should play complementary and mutually reinforcing roles in supporting international peace and security .
given that , up until now , the actions taken by the EU have not been clarified sufficiently and the Black Sea Synergy has not achieved its expected potential , I sincerely hope that the European External Action Service will have available the human and material resources required to complete the implementation of the three partnerships : environment , transport and energy .
the instability comes from the European Union 's actions .
several hundred more companies are shutting down in various industries , from car manufacturing to the textile sector via the retail trade .
it all starts with practical realities .
it is , of course , these legal entities that are organising child trafficking and making fat profits from it .
firstly , by changing the sector itself : the report is intended to demonstrate how this sector can , first and foremost , look within itself to see how it can produce communication , microelectronic and other instruments that consume less energy , and are thus inherently more efficient .
this puts the European idea at risk and allows narrow-minded nationalism to gain ground .
Zambia and Tanzania are in violation of the Convention as they did not consult all the elephant range states as required in Resolution 9.24 of the CITES criteria for amendments .
we did so out of respect for the verdict the Irish people were to give .
the European database on accidents , which receives data via the systematic monitoring of physical injuries , collects data on accidents and physical injuries notified by hospital emergency services .
on this occasion , a machine cannot replace me .
does she believe the technology can be implemented that will end discards , or at least curtail them ?
( PL ) Mr President , Mrs Georgieva , it is very good that we are talking about Belarus here in the European Parliament , but talking is not enough .
I also believe that such measures should be accompanied by transparent reporting , combined with investment guidelines , risk management , exposure limits and adequate control and supervision procedures , established in a democratically accountable manner .
use of the Visa Information System ( VIS ) under the Schengen Borders Code ( debate )
the report - the adoption of which I support - is the first step for the Union 's institutions , including the Parliament , to take serious steps in order to comply with the rights of the child , and improve their situations , more consistently .
2010 progress report on Croatia ( debate )
the creation of instruments for providing incentives for the development and modernisation of energy networks would also be an interesting strategy , which I would support .
from my point of view , development of the situation between two of the countries - Armenia and Azerbaijan , which , under the Eastern Partnership and in European Neighbourhood Policy , are our partners - is an unacceptable policy of consent to the fact that these conflicts are intractable .
EPAs set conditions on the sovereignty of countries , impose a model that favours EU multinationals , and make the production of countries conditional not on the many particular needs of their people but , on the contrary , on the requirements of an increasingly liberalised market .
so the natural answer to your question is ' yes ' .
I would also like to stress the need for cooperation on development and humanitarian aid at a time when relations between the US and the European Union are of paramount importance in the current economic and geostrategic climate .
this deadline is of vital importance , because we have seen severe delays at this stage in the past .
this decision to phase out highly toxic pesticides is unique in the world and the European Union can profit therefore from this .
hence the importance of this report .
voting time
if some people in Europe have doubts about the need for a European Union , then these are exactly the kinds of policy that show why we need a strong European Union more than ever .
all improvements to the Euro-Mediterranean agreements have an important impact on the countries ' economic and political stability , contributing to the innumerable social and democratic gains that result from them .
the chapter on temporary measures contains no explicit reference to the right to due legal process , neither is there a provision for verifying the need to destroy counterfeit products .
Parliament was very quick in drawing up this report and in delivering the opinions .
in terms of horizontal agreements , it is also important to align existing bilateral agreements with EU law , so as to ensure greater legal certainty , increase transparency and provide additional benefits in terms of simplification , while ensuring that all Union airlines will enjoy the same rights .
that is the end of the quotation .
'The Union may take initiatives to ensure coordination of [ ... ] social policies . '
these matters are also linked to the issues of offsetting and ensuring a return on investment .
the region of the Black Sea is crucial in strategic terms for the European Union due to its geographical location , which includes three European Union Member States - Greece , Romania and Bulgaria - and several important partners , including Russia and Turkey .
how long have some of us been preaching in the wilderness ?
it must be possible to secure and protect our European origin labelling and information in the same way as trademarks like Coca Cola , Kellogg 's Cornflakes , etc .
the aim of this procedure is to ensure coherence and the timely adoption of all elements making up the package ; that has also been achieved with this report .
in writing . - British Conservatives support the broad thrust of this own-initiative report - who could be against energy efficiency ?
the resolution is right to state that , in our contacts with Russia , human rights , the rule of law and democracy should receive priority .
how does it view incentives for owners at all levels ?
in addition , the implementation of a global tax would lead to technical problems and complex administration .
documents received : see Minutes
at least three factors are simultaneously at play .
the principles of economic assessment and capital requirements , corresponding to the risks actually taken by companies , as well as risk management incentives , harmonisation , report supervision , public information and transparency are all essential aspects to making the insurance sector more competitive and strengthening protection for the insured .
in the run-up to the NATO summit , the French authorities have turned the centre of Strasbourg into an off-limits zone and activated the facility provided for in the Schengen Convention in order to prevent peace demonstrators from entering France .
now we are .
in Georgia , Europe was able to stop a war .
to do this would be to pursue kamikaze economics .
1 .
I think that in this European Parliament we must in fact decide whether or not we can really change our manner of pursuing economic affairs , which is based on over-consumption , ' excess ' and a philosophy of ' ever larger ' .
( DE ) Mr President , despite the influx of people from North Africa , the rapporteur clearly fears that there are too few refugees in the EU , as she calls for the definition of the family to be extended .
in writing . - ( NL ) In the resolution adopted by the European Parliament today , a specific chapter stresses the great importance of regions and local authorities , especially in the consultation process and in disseminating information about and carrying out the implementation of climate policy .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , sovereign wealth funds have increasingly become the topic of conversation in recent months because they have been dealing in the European and US banking sector .
it was time to discuss issues and you had some tough questions , from me among others .
that is what we want today and that is what we want after the elections in June .
as such , instead of proposing a pact for progress and social development founded on solidarity and on genuine policies of economic and social cohesion , it calls for a deepening of the Stability and Growth Pact and the Euro-Plus Pact .
however , coastal states , even those bordering Europe , have wilfully and often , indeed very often , ignored these rules , and we find ourselves in the paradoxical situation in which all this is imposed on our fishermen , while the others can do as they like .
item 1 : after I have made a statement on the European Union 's recognition of the Roma genocide during World War II , the next items will be as follows : a statement by the Council , a statement by the Commission and a round of speakers from the political groups on the Roma genocide .
in writing . - ( SV ) I voted in favour of Mrs Paulsen 's report on animal welfare legislation .
we must listen to the warnings of religious leaders who appeal to our sense of responsibility since they are afraid that this could result in a very violent crisis of genocidal dimensions .
ideas , both good and bad , move rapidly across borders and between people .
we did not just carry out an economic analysis , or study the impact on the market ; we also studied the impact on values .
this report gives the EU concrete means for helping its citizens .
it is very important that the alignment package is adopted as quickly as possible , in order for the new procedure to be applied straight away to the existing acquis .
eight years was spent on this issue .
we will not be able to change this situation before we put in place a true common European policy for Russia .
as President of the Commission , I commit myself to doing my best to convince Member States also to accept this coherence and coordination approach .
when one of us wants to reduce VAT on one product only , he has to say to these same citizens : ' I am sorry , it has to be a unanimous decision ! '
it was one of the objectives that Parliament had for 2006 , and I am not happy with how it has developed .
I am pleased to see that you are following on from the Portuguese Presidency - and indeed into the French Presidency - with your emphasis on volunteering , and in particular on youth volunteering .
the welcoming of the widespread participation in the European day of mobilisation against austerity and insecurity organised by the unions on 29 September 2010 , stressing its important political significance and expressing support for their demands , demanding secure jobs for a living wage , strong social protection and protection of purchasing power , the guarantee of better pensions , and the guarantee of high quality public and social services that are accessible to all .
the question is whether the Ukraine can consolidate democracy internally .
Mr President , the crisis which has affected the European Union in recent months has shown irrefutably how important the internal market is for the functioning of the entire Union .
during my first visit to the United States , on 9 and 10 May 2010 , I also made a deal , or rather reached an agreement , with the American Secretary of the Treasury - with whom I shall be meeting again next week - to ensure that the United States will implement Basel 2.5 in mid-2011 .
how can we best reassure them ?
this will not only reduce the dependency on social services but will also ensure a higher number of contributors to these schemes .
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but adopting the directive in the form currently proposed by the Committee on Legal Affairs would risk jeopardising the credibility of the entire administrative burden reduction exercise .
Mr President , as has already been stated in this Chamber today , in the United Kingdom , almost three-quarters of a million people currently suffer from some form of dementia .
it is high time that we thought about this problem and , in the future , adopted a different format .
there are natural disasters other than fires .
we knew from the outset that the composition of the European Parliament would not merely be a question of mathematics .
as Vice-president of the ENVI Committee , I encourage the EU representatives participating in the meeting with the officials of the United States to analyse solutions concerning the issue of climate change .
no ! ' )
this represents a start , but we need to do more .
as a member of the Committee on Budgets , I ask the European Commission to propose a new budget model that is bold and ambitious but also practicable , in order to guarantee the success of the EU 2020 strategy .
I should also like to point out the matter concerning cooperation between the Member States , the Commission and the Presidency as regards the memoranda , the further talks and implementation programmes .
when will there be a monetary and foreign exchange policy that does not penalise the exports of certain Member States ?
what we need - and what Mrs Schaldemose 's report proposes - is tighter market surveillance to prevent abuses of the marking system and to clarify the responsibilities of importers and manufacturers , because ultimately they alone bear the responsibility for putting on the market products that are safe , and we are well aware that cooperation between national market surveillance authorities and customs services is very uneven .
the review of this directive should help to eliminate trade barriers , thereby protecting jobs in construction companies , which are still affected by the global economic crisis .
Mrs Saïfi , Mr Désir and Mr Jadot have all made it very clear that trade must not be viewed as an end in itself but must be part of a wider global strategy to promote a fairer , safer and healthier planet .
he has proved himself on the raising of moral standards in the financial systems , enabling Europe to be the first to learn the lessons of a financial crisis that no one , and I mean no one , had anticipated .
why should this not be possible ?
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( LV ) Thank you , Mr President .
in this context , I can only reiterate the Climate Change Committee 's call on the Commission and the Member States ' to adopt , at bilateral level in the negotiations towards a post-2012 agreement , a mediating role between the positions of developed countries , in order to ensure by means of a balance of interest the success of the climate negotiations involving all major greenhouse gas emitters ' .
nonetheless , due to the scale of natural disasters and other crisis situations it often happens that the aid is inadequate , or that there are delays in granting it . sometimes the aid fails to reach those most in need .
the second is the cost of this project , which , even according to the investor , is rising dramatically : initially it was estimated at EUR 4.5 billion , now it stands at around EUR 8-12 billion .
the internal audit procedures of the agencies also need urgent improvement and I support the possibility of having a common disciplinary board for all the agencies .
the framework the directive establishes on this basis will allow us to provide a structure for dialogue between carriers and airports when determining and collecting charges .
( FR ) In other words : ' do not go where the path may lead .
in our view it is entirely natural to invite Russia to take the first direct confidence building step .
I agree with Parliament 's call for the preparation of regular reports on the gender pay gap in the European Union , and I support all measures to help reduce discrimination against women in the European Union .
low-cost companies provide 427,000 jobs directly or indirectly .
author . - Madam President , I notice once again that the officials have not actually written the oral amendments in the same order as they are actually voted on , so I will be very careful to pick the right order myself this time .
the negotiation of the post-2013 cohesion policy must be based on solidarity , aiming at territorial cohesion , and it must be directed in a way that rewards , rather than punishes , the regions which have shown themselves to be exemplary in their use of community aid .
there is still time for Europe to hold a referendum , in all the Member States , on the same day , to take account of the one fundamental element in our history : the people .
Mr President , quite simply thank you , thank you to Parliament and thank you to its rapporteur , Mrs Hall .
at the same time , I think it very important that by understanding this pressure between business interests and the political interest , and by standing up for passengers ' rights , the rule under current legislation that decisions about the opening or closing of particular airspace are taken by Member States was preserved .
I know we will have a debate on Japan in a few moments , but I hope that , in the days to come , as well , the Council will accommodate any requests from Japan for specialist assistance .
two accession conferences in particular are planned : at deputy level in the coming weeks , and at ministerial level in June .
once adopted , the proposal is likely to improve the timeliness , comparability and completeness of the statistics transmitted , as well as the efficiency of the data processing , including better validation of data .
however , from the outset I was against setting emission limit values as early as 2015 , and that is what has now been decided .
when determining the framework of the next budget , the first question to ask is whether we want more or less Europe .
( the President again requested silence )
however , the following question remains to be answered here : why did we need to get to this point at all and why , as I mentioned a short time ago , did the safest units in Europe , declared as such not by anyone , but by the most prestigious agency , the International Atomic Energy Agency , need to be closed ?
we will face complicated questions requiring coordination of the Member States ' action to arrive at a coherent European Union response .
I think that , by getting this report together , it gives us the opportunity to plan to provide a fantastic product for people to come and see and enjoy during their leisure time .
if the Commission feels that further suspensions are needed , then they must be made part of a revised regulation , fully involving this Parliament and fully respecting the rights of this Parliament .
( it ) Mr President , I have held up my card three times now , and you have not given me the floor , whereas you have given it to Mr Schulz .
they claim that this cruelty to animals also benefits the pigs , which are supposedly healthier thanks to cloning .
this very restraint caused successive German governments to take the lead in European integration , especially when it came to abandoning the mighty Deutschmark - and I say the mighty Deutschmark because it is 10 Marks and is the symbol of Germany 's rebirth - in exchange for the euro , for the single currency .
Europe needs to be a single area of action and commitment .
we really should consider what sort of plan would enable us to get our troops out in a reasonable manner and , at the same time , to put an end to terrorism .
the EGF has already been used in the past by other EU countries , particularly Portugal and Spain , so we should now grant this aid to Lithuania .
as in the past , we must now adopt temporary emergency measures to overcome the difficulties faced by the fisheries sector against the backdrop of rising oil prices .
we finally propose to further women in decision making by looking at the Norwegian practice of a quota for boards of directors .
( NL ) Madam President , Commissioner , I am filled with sadness .
with its budget in excess of EUR 54 billion for the period 2007-2013 , we can consider it as one of the most significant programmes supporting research in the world .
all we can do is describe them , one by one .
in Poland , fruit and vegetable consumption is approximately 250 g per person per day .
however , it proves more cautious during the negotiations on the asylum package , which has been at a standstill for several months now .
safety has therefore been maintained as the priority .
the situation is all the more serious for the fact that if there is an exemption from the RoHS Directive for photovoltaic cells , it will not be possible to review and reassess the decision for a number of years .
in view of the consequences in the Gulf of Mexico , I think that the resolution adopted by Parliament today on the EU 's actions in the exploration and extraction of oil in Europe is extremely important .
if we fail to adopt such a position , we know what happens .
the Commission is committed to putting into place a three-step approach to define the indicators of pluralism , including a working document , an independent study and a communication .
I am also acting on Mr Cocilovo 's behalf in this matter .
all these areas will be improved by the creation of this European service .
what I would like to do is to offer a constructive suggestion .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Madam President , first I would like to thank the honourable Members of this Parliament for their great support for this regulation .
that is not the objective .
I voted in favour of the resolution on the ' authorisation and refusal of authorisation of certain health claims made on foods and referring to children 's development and health ' , as there is no recognised scientific proof that synthesised docosahexaenoic acid ( DHA ) added to formula milks and other foods intended for infants , and which is different from the DHA found in breast milk , contributes to the visual development of children .
there is a fundamental contradiction in the European Commission 's proposal to grant further financial assistance to Georgia : it was the Commission itself that pointed out that Georgia 's economy was recovering after the conflict with Russia three years ago , thereby insinuating that there was no need to ' assist ' the Georgian Government with further funds to help the national economy in addition to those already provided in recent years .
if this does not happen , the security of the Schengen area is weakened , the credibility of the European Union is undermined and mutual trust is destroyed .
( 3 ) Chapters IV and V ( liability and unfair terms ) should be deleted , because even after lengthy negotiations it was not possible to achieve the desired full harmonisation .
I voted in favour of the report on the best practices in regional policy as I believe that only provision of sufficient , transparent information in good time can facilitate the distribution of important information about the Structural and Cohesion Funds .
however , it is important to have intelligent taxation , so that the ones paying are not transport SMEs , drivers and still less consumers , but large shippers and major customers such as the large-scale distribution sector .
currently , Portugal pays 4.8 % more , Ireland pays 5.9 % more , and Greece pays 8.25 % more .
the principle of submitting by 15 April a precise timeline on the criteria adopted : independent experts , priority given to the safety of nuclear facilities that are intrinsically more dangerous by virtue of their location in seismic or coastal areas , and safety reports for the public ;
report : Jörg Leichtfried
the wine sector provides work for around 300 000 people ( a quarter of the active population of the country ) who mostly live in rural areas , cultivating small or medium-sized family plots .
yes , I will be as brief as possible .
we must ensure that aid is delivered to regions hit by unforeseen natural disasters such as Haiti and Pakistan , and in this regard we must continue to mobilise the reserve for emergency aid , allowing the EU to respond promptly to specific aid needs arising from such events .
but the main issue is really the reluctance of some Member States to accept the mutual administrative assistance proposal which has been put forward , which can serve as a platform .
Mrs in ' t Veld , we will look into this and send you the information .
it is absolutely essential to encourage and develop research in this area , particularly in connection with prevention , diagnosis and treatment , when the fundamental principle is that the public sector takes on these responsibilities without restrictions of benefit or access for any patient .
on the contrary , in the long term there is a synergy between these objectives .
the Committee on Budgets will control this on an annual basis .
I am most concerned by the weak economic growth , because it is decisive for the other goals , and by the fact that in only two of the strategy 's ten years of life did growth exceed 3 % .
of course , many derogations have been provided for in order to avoid relocations .
it effectively controls our access to trade and more generally controls the circulation of information .
I do not know how often you speak yourself , but you should understand that such an interruption has the consequence of completely wrecking the speech .
it is important to offer gestures , to send positive messages , and so it is vital for the EU to adopt a clear plan of action for lifting the visa requirements for Serbia and the other countries of the western Balkans .
Mr President , we want a resolution to be voted on in the next Strasbourg part-session so that the European Parliament does not just limit itself to speeches , but acts by taking a decision , as it was able to do last January .
but I do not know whether my constituents will accept that we are actually going to make any difference .
Mr President , firstly , I would like to thank you for being living proof that promises made by politicians are fulfilled .
we need transparency through proper procedures and , most of all , we need Europeans to be very persistent in unity to advance these policies globally .
it cannot be forced upon a Member State by the EU , but neither can it be made in isolation .
this is a young country and will be a young country once secession has taken place .
the extension of priority projects 6 and 17 to Bucharest and Constanţa , the construction of a rail corridor for freight transport on this route , as well as the implementation of the ERTMS , should become priority TEN-T projects .
Cambridge is one of the most developed universities in the world , but there are other universities in Europe in the poorest regions that unfortunately do not have the same kind of access .
we will probably need to import the caps from China but at least we will make sure they are safe .
in writing . - ( PT ) The present resolution records Kosovo 's declaration of independence on 17 February 2008 , which was recognised by 69 countries , and encourages Member States to work together in their joint approach to Kosovo , bearing in mind Kosovo 's planned accession to the EU .
revising the EU framework decision will allow the inclusion of the concept of terrorism in specific preparatory acts , such as recruitment and training for terrorism and public provocation to commit terrorist acts , which will become criminal offences in all Member States .
however , I need to point out again something that I realise has not been understood .
I am convinced that the ERI will also contribute , if it is properly correlated with the framework programmes , to improving the situation of the people who work in research , and especially young people , as Mr Gierek has said .
in fact , I have observed , as have others , that things have changed .
rapporteur . - Mr President , I am pleased to be here tonight , although I would have preferred it to have been a bit earlier .
I am very aware that today is not the right day to pursue this .
I therefore believe that this study must be very broad in scope and clearly should not disregard any form of totalitarism .
( EL ) Thank you , Commissioner , for your clear reply on the question of Schengen and for referring to a previous question on the measure to redistribute immigrants in the Member States , based on demographic , economic and geographical criteria .
it is regrettable that the Council did not adopt the necessary measures in time to allow these Members to take their seats immediately after the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon .
( FR ) Thank you , Commissioner .
following the current events , it may be time to introduce a mandatory designation of origin , at least for toys .
my one regret , however , is that the European right adopted a tightening of accelerated procedures based on the notion that asylum seekers are primarily potential fraudsters , limiting their rights .
the war in Bosnia between 1992 and 1995 came about because the majority of residents did not want a central government , but a loose partnership at most .
however , 22 966 children do have a parent .
let us not forget that the proposed revision of the regulations that this Fund establishes , submitted by the Commission and rejected by Parliament in May 2006 , is still pending in Council .
we need true European solidarity .
on the mandate of the Council , the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures ( ESFRI ) started developing a coordinated approach for activities in the field of research infrastructures in April 2002 .
this is what I would call back home one of the more classic European Parliament dossiers .
( HU ) Thank you , Mr President .
these accompanying measures are justified by the reduction in tariff preferences granted to the ACP countries following the conclusion , in December 2009 , of the Geneva Agreement with the United States and the countries of Latin America .
we cannot , however , expect the United States to wish its currency to be weak forever .
on this basis , in May 2006 , the Council presented its conclusions on a series of fundamental problems regarding the European Indicator of Language Competence .
so what is being defended in the Congo ?
we would be grateful if this could be documented persuasively in the next legislative period .
Europe is exerting additional pressure because there is , for 17 countries at least , a Community currency that needs defending .
I consider that the establishment of such a register is a breach of the freedom that all politicians should enjoy .
that is to be welcomed .
we can now clearly see the sort of problems that many Member States are facing because the European Arrest Warrant was built on sand .
but , when this is done by financing from taxes instead of by productivity increases , the consumers pay just as much for their food in any case , only by different means .
first , the analysis of the competitiveness aspect .
let us be very clear : any one of us legislators who has identified and raised problem issues during this legislation process has done so out of concern for agriculture and future food supply .
sustainable solutions are needed for displaced persons .
in fact , we can say that democracy in Ukraine was the main winner because , when the current president stands again as a candidate and only receives 5 % of the votes , this seems to me to be a very clear sign that democracy is working .
approximately half of the warnings in respect of dangerous import products relate to products from China , and not only to toys , but also to toothpaste , body lotion , beds , colour rinses , dog and cat food and even pacemakers .
this morning before lunch , we had only two roll-call votes .
the only sensible solution is to simplify the rules for all micro-enterprises in Europe on an EU-wide basis .
the Member States have , through this act , agreed on the scope of this legislation and on the need to adopt it as a matter of priority in full cooperation with the European Parliament .
the EIB 's operations in support of the Union 's external policies must continue to be conducted in accordance with the principles of sound banking practice .
according to the report , the EEAS and the High Representative ( and Vice-President of the European Commission ) will assume the role of EU external representatives , supported by a network of 5 000 civil servants , without being subject to any kind of parliamentary control .
on the contrary , I almost feel sympathy towards you because you remind me of my youth ...
I welcome the Commission statement , but I should just like to identify a number of specific points that are very important to us .
on the basis of experience gained with the Fund in its present form and suggestions made during consultations , we have great hopes that our proposal will significantly improve the fund after 2013 and will , in particular , solve two problems with the current mechanism for financing .
I will not repeat the list of benefits which the EU-Korea FTA is expected to bring to the EU economy : we have thoroughly debated them here in the past , and Mr Sturdy has just summed them up .
it is also the world 's most widespread source of fossil energy .
this is very important for the application of the rules that are there already .
it provides more clarity , because various provisions regulating the same issue are often spread over different legal texts .
it is therefore obvious that this should also apply to energy efficiency measures .
the fact is , this project , which has received a great deal of support from those in the sector and from the legislator but which , above all , must provide a modern payment tool that is suited to the circumstances of our single currency , the euro , is in danger of not achieving the critical mass that it should have in order to be fully effective .
pedestrians account for 65 % of deaths and 35 % of pedestrian deaths are children .
in addition , the series of consultations arranged by the Commission , in which all port stakeholders have taken part , has demonstrated the need for clarification of both the government support rules , in order to ensure equal competition between the ports , and the environmental rules .
( EL ) Mr President , I have asked for the floor in order to clarify that , in my initial report , I overlooked something which my fellow members here have not mentioned either .
ladies and gentlemen , today we are discussing something which is interesting because it shows the confrontation between the absolutely fundamental interest of airlines and the interest of consumers and passengers . at a time of crisis the airlines are saving themselves by asking for these limits , just as we have said here , to be extended into next year .
assessment of the common agricultural policy shows that it will make sense in the future if it is based on fair principles .
this report calls for the European Union to define its own security interests more clearly .
I do not want to focus on this , however , but suggest that instead of criticising others , we would do better to mind our own business .
I wanted them here to emphasise the fact that immigration must be a major issue in our relations with the countries of the southern Mediterranean .
are they to see their names in the newspapers ?
the social and political developments that have taken place in recent years in most Gulf Cooperation Council ( GCC ) member states encourage the promotion of human rights and the fight against all forms of discrimination , including those based on gender , sexual orientation or religion .
illegal fishing must be stopped - it is very detrimental to law-abiding fishermen .
we need to help them now and show that we have confidence in them .
deputising for the author . - ( NL ) Thank for your reply , Minister .
Madam President , I welcome the Commission 's initiative on the cross-border regulation of the attachment and temporary freezing of bank accounts .
unfortunately , the fact that President Obama will not be attending the forthcoming summit in Madrid is not an encouraging sign .
as such , there is a need to strengthen and review the current systems , which have been shown to be inadequate , with particular emphasis on mechanisms of control and supervision .
it is a first step towards a Western Balkans Investment Framework that will also include investments in other socioeconomic sectors , like SMEs or energy efficiency .
the fact is that its progress will primarily depend on Croatia itself , and on the pace and the quality of reforms they must complete .
they are also the most oppressed community in Europe at present .
the groups had something to say .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , Mr Barrot , Mr Brown , as you reminded us , 20 years ago the Berlin Wall fell , putting an end once and for all to the model which it embodied and which , in any case , had already been dying for some time .
here , attention is traditionally focused on the Rhine , the Maas and the associated system of waterways in France , Belgium , the Netherlands and Germany , including the Rhine - Main - Danube link .
I should like to thank the European Commission once again and all those who wish to support this measure , because it is helpful for European citizens and for world trade .
I welcome the fact that the Commission is recommending initiatives to the Member States .
we should also perhaps say in the absence of Council that the negotiations there have been tough but fair , and we have a very good outcome .
we are living in extremely fragile post-crisis years and , in these times of scarce public resources , the sums at stake are substantial .
this is why the idea that in a few years ' time there will be a significant , not to say massive , quantity of radio spectrum available , in other words new frequencies available for new uses , is a huge social and cultural opportunity as well as an economic and commercial one : in fact , someone has even quantified the commercial value of the digital dividend already .
it is important that they do not copy our mistakes , but instead that we all cooperate - the industrial nations , the emerging economies and the developing countries - on moving towards a new way of living together and a new type of economy .
whatever the case , the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance would like to emphasise the importance of regional cooperation , so that the local economy in Central Asia might recover .
Mr Vice-President , all eyes are on you , now !
we should always talk from the foundations up , and the foundations in this case are an improvement in the functioning of Palestinian power structures , public institutions and humanitarian assistance for the people of Palestine .
firstly , I wish to explain why I did not include the principles of ' human security ' and ' responsibility to protect ' in my report .
I find it quite amusing that those who oppose the European Parliament having powers , that are against the European Union being able to tell Member States what to do , come here and say that we should tell sovereign Member States what their internal procedures should be to ratify an international treaty .
Parliament 's amendments introduce additional and complex provisions that are not applicable to SMEs formed under national law in most Member States .
however , we have not yet taken it a step further .
therefore , why should we welcome them , when they still do not acknowledge the Armenian genocide ?
you speak on the one hand about flexibility and on the other about WTO rules .
I must say , however , that I believe that what you have done , in seeking the agreement with the President of the Czech Republic , is right .
Gyula Horn , the then Foreign Minister of Hungary , and Prime Minister , Miklós Németh , performed an historic act , which could not have taken place without the reformist efforts of Mikhail Gorbachev .
it is a lasting achievement of the Czech Presidency that the European Union did not make the mistake of sliding into protectionism , as was the case in the 1930s .
there is an attempt here :
we have also insisted repeatedly to the institutions to grant more loans to the developing countries and , out of the USD 280 billion drawing rights , USD 8 billion will go to the developing countries .
as such , we 'll face these challenges steadfastly and responsibly .
we think that this change is vital so that the measure does not fall short and the expectations of producers are fulfilled .
a European Turkey is in the interests not only of the EU and Turkey itself , but the world as a whole .
in this context , when monitoring the measures the Commission also monitors the implementation of the regulations .
I have come not only to speak but also to listen to you .
what is taking place on the Internet has surpassed all limits .
this requires measures that would enhance consumer and business confidence in e-commerce , such as fighting counterfeiting and piracy and facilitating cross-border deliveries and cross-border debt recovery .
today , we reiterate that , for the former Yugoslavia , there can be no impunity for those indictees who are still being sought .
thanks to the new technology , ' inactivated vaccines ' against bluetongue are available , and do not pose any risk to non-vaccinated animals .
transfers of appropriations : see Minutes
its continuing occupation of part of Cyprus , its refusal to open ports and airports in the region , the violation of rights of political , religious and ethnic minorities , discrimination against women , the exclusion of political parties and the revocation of laws limiting the jurisdiction of military courts are some examples that demonstrate this .
I congratulate the rapporteur on having drawn attention to an aspect of the employment world that still results in excessive gender differences .
moreover , in the 2007-2013 programme period , a special legal provision was introduced which is supposed to ensure that companies to which the procedure applies for returning sums of money paid out wrongfully after a relocation of production activities in a Member State or to another Member State cannot receive contributions from the funds .
in addition , 17 % said they expected to work abroad at some time in the future .
however , if we believe that our citizens will continue to take advantage of the opportunity for free movement , then it is perhaps time to think about how we can improve procedural rights and other aspects across the Union as a whole .
we are very vulnerable .
to be completely honest , I have to say that this varies from country to country .
Mr President , I rise very much to support what Mr Stevenson has just said and also very much to support what the Commission is trying to do .
raising the retirement age as far as possible beyond 64 years old , as promised in the EU 2020 strategy , promoting casual work , replacing pay-as-you-go pension schemes with capital-funded pension schemes are some of the measures to which the European Parliament will be committed if it votes for this report .
lastly , I should like to voice my support for two powerful ideas upheld by the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) : the power conferred on the European Commission to adopt delegated acts should be reviewed every five years , and a verification clause should be introduced - the verification clause being the second powerful idea in this regulation .
we therefore regret the fact that the Commission is persisting in its view .
I support the report on the mid-term review of the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Union for research , technological development and demonstration activities because I believe that it truly reflects what has been achieved , as well as existing problems .
it is evident that , whatever the foreign operations , whether pursued in the framework of European Security and Defence Policy or in a joint framework , they should obviously be announced and reported on .
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , the Commission sends its condolences to all families who have lost their loved ones in the recent earthquake in Italy .
now we have had this outbreak , so we have to ask ourselves some questions .
but if I may just very briefly reply to my good friend and colleague , Mr Heaton-Harris , I think we all have our own points of view about the value of the European institutions , but I do not think it is fair to attack the European Union , national governments , local government , for being interested or disinterested in the question of the disabled and sport .
the right to visa-free movement will help achieve this .
perhaps you could condense your remarks ?
I think it is a fairly legitimate request .
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rapporteur ( BG ) . - Thank you , Madam President , and thank you for that reminder .
it is a report in which our committee has dwelt not so much on the history of how we got here , but on the simple comparison of whether this new Treaty improves the European Union compared to the current Treaties , whether the Treaties as amended by the Treaty of Lisbon make the European Union more effective , more democratic and better for its citizens .
( FR ) Madam President , I hope that I have responded to all the comments , and I would like once again to thank all Members for their words of encouragement , and also to congratulate you , Madam President , as the Commissioner has already done , for the important initiative aiming to approve a joint register for Parliament and the Commission .
I will mention four elements to illustrate this .
that is what we are trying to resolve , while meeting the four conditions that you have imposed and which I endorse .
once we have , as from January 2009 , a common rule valid for all 27 Member States on overflight rights , the definition of aeroplanes and powers of control over this single European sky , Europe will have bolstered its sovereignty .
we must not put up with the lowest common denominator .
the proposals by rapporteur Mr El Khadraoui provide scope for this , and therefore have the support of my group .
in order to be able to tackle this problem , European beekeeping should receive more support in future .
I also hope that you will soon argue the case with the agriculture ministers for an emergency fund , to be paid for from the surplus still available in the agriculture budget .
the Commission considered it necessary to bring an action against the Council and the European Parliament at the Court of Justice because it did not agree with the change in the legal basis ( environment rather than common commercial policy ) .
we will stick to that .
in this case , it was possible because we came to a compromise between the proposals of the Commission , the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , and the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy on the most controversial topic .
however , the European Union should be ready to start centralising its agencies to coordinate its activities in the best possible way .
the EU is anti-democratic and undemocratic and is not a legitimate guardian of anyone 's rights .
the offensive remarks about the elderly that continue unabated are an eloquent illustration of this .
let us not forget that at the end of the day the consumer is number one - and that is what all these regulations are about : protecting the consumer , users ' interests and energy in the European Union .
there is no doubt that dichloromethane is hazardous to human health because it is highly volatile .
assistance and support must be provided for agri-environmental measures to promote the sustainable use of biodiversity .
the suggestion included in the proposal relating to the setting-up of new offices to deal with returns is not the way forward .
firstly , the text as a whole presents the European Union as being a global economic and social power .
ladies and gentlemen , by making small improvements to the election process Mr Lukashenko is trying to persuade us that the EU has no longer any reasons to isolate Belarus .
that is where the problem lies !
in future , we need fair trade , not merely trade that is , in principle , free .
the Balkans has been and always will be a European region .
this regulation was , of course , one of the priorities of the Belgian Presidency of the Council as it may be that this citizens ' initiative is the most fitting symbol for the new post-Lisbon role of the citizen in the Union .
the protection of the most vulnerable citizens is an issue which I care very much about .
it will also be necessary to name those responsible for the slow progress without too much beating about the bush .
I voted for this report in the expectation that the market will become more transparent for consumers , who will have access to detailed information and the possibility of changing energy supplier free of charge .
we should support visits to the Union by the widest possible groups of people specifically from Ukraine and Belarus , and at the same time isolating the Lukashenka regime .
( FI ) Mr President , I also right away wish to congratulate the rapporteur , Mr Chatzimarkakis , on this report .
like Ireland , the Netherlands feels responsible for the protection of private and small companies .
such investments may help to stabilise the Mediterranean , not least in view of the problems associated with the streams of migrants in recent weeks .
on the question of ensuring that other fishing vessels comply with ICCAT regulations , which is to say fishing vessels belonging to third countries , the ICCAT provisions apply to all ICCAT partners , and we expect all of them to adhere to the terms and conditions of the bluefin tuna recovery plan .
the Commission intends to help Europe 's farmers to communicate the demanding conditions of production with which they comply .
a fragmented approach repeatedly leads to conflicting measures , conflicts and inconsistencies .
I understand it has been referred to a judicial review .
others are still in service when common sense suggests that they should not be .
he has spoken of the need for political leadership , for hard work and for patience .
a modernisation agreement between the EU and Russia will only be successful if it is based on a modernisation agreement between the Russian leadership and its own population .
rosé wine is an artificial product .
this list should also help the interest groups themselves to see who was involved in the process , and who did not wish , or was unable , to participate .
( the President interrupted the speaker to ask her to speak more slowly , at the request of the interpreters )
I hope that you appreciate the fact that I allowed you to speak , although what you raised was not really a point of order .
we currently are lacking the accurate statistical data that we need to assess the situation .
we have received the proposal from the Commission , the proposal from the task force and , yesterday , the proposal under what we call ' the deal of Deauville ' .
the debate with the Americans is ongoing .
this is a problem and we hope that the skilled and motivated people in Bochum will soon find work again .
that is why we are tabling the oral question and the resolution .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Mr President , I welcome very warmly the statement made by Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner just now , and I ask my political group to withdraw its amendment so that this report can go through .
the citizens ' initiative , which is the result of a difficult compromise , has , firstly , ensured full transparency .
Commissioner , will the Commission speed up its work on applying the partial results of the SESAR programme to the practice of managing aviation operations ?
preparations for Cancún Climate Change Conference ( 29 November-10 December ) (
I am calling on you , Mr Barnier , also to take a close look at this area .
( SV ) Mr President , the whole basis of this report is wrong .
but that is what the right wing extremists are like .
that is exactly the opposite of what the authors of the Treaty of Lisbon - many of whom are present in this Chamber - wanted .
on his return , he was detained , humiliated , beaten and tortured by the Israeli secret service .
with this in mind , we agree with the proposal that a representative sample of the vessels to which each Member State has issued a special fishing permit should take a scientific observer on board , ensuring a suitable rotation among all vessels for successive fishing trips .
in writing . - ( FR ) I voted in favour of Mr Papastamkos 's report on EU agriculture and international trade .
at the same time , however , we have given the go-ahead in this Parliament for the European Asylum Support Office to start operating in Malta .
this is a public health crisis on a global scale .
I believe we should make this very clear next week .
it is clear not only from these conventions but also from the report of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation that it is necessary to change the narrow focus on markets into a wider interest in people , i.e. focus on the protection of workers ' rights and the rule of labour law .
furthermore , how much does it cost to dispose of radioactive waste ?
if it had been in Venezuela every one of us would have protested .
in writing . - Milk quotas need to be cut by between 5 to 10 per cent in order to push prices back up to a sustainable level .
I would like to use my speaking time to quote what the Kenyan economist James Shikwati said to Der Spiegel online on 7 April 2005 .
I find myself unable to vote in favour of some of the amendments and I therefore voted against the report as a whole .
however , these guidelines are also a very realistic first step .
we must expand our railways , both in infrastructure and rolling-stock terms , so that we can deliver an efficient , effective and sustainable railway network devoid of obstacles .
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this email spoke of the ' post-Detroit era ' .
it is true that thorough use should be made of these instruments .
this proposal was designed to provide an interim response to the victims of maritime pollution prior to the constantly delayed implementation of the international conventions that are pending .
thank you to the social economy actors who took action and who made it possible for this Parliament to send a clear signal to the Commission to finally recognise a single European statute for mutuals , associations and foundations .
we are indeed looking at how our Dolcetta Programme can be further enhanced to cover new areas .
in writing . - ( PL ) In the resolution on concentration and pluralism in the media in the European Union that has been adopted , Members of the European Parliament , including myself , were right to speak in favour of guaranteeing freer access to diverse mass media as well as of freedom of expression .
all of this in favour of under-qualified , cheap labour from Asia .
we also have targeted State aid rules for SMEs , innovation , research and development and green technologies .
I am voting for this proposal .
one of the most important points , mentioned by many of you , is the need for clarification , for a clear message as to how the world 's major economies intend to keep coordinating their actions .
I am pleased that the amendments which I suggested have been adopted .
the direct aid that could be put in is miniscule compared to what the need actually is .
in writing . - ( DE ) Around 80 % of EU funds are still being managed and spent by the Member States and there are still open questions and irregularities in connection with the handling of European Union money .
in my regular contacts with both Georgia and Russia , I am indeed urging pragmatism and an end to the setting of mutually exclusive conditions : these will not work .
at the same time , it was made clear that there is a need to address the root causes of the conflict , while restoring the State authority in the east .
why was it not possible to get across better the advantages of EPAs ?
in its obsession about money laundering and pursuit of the elusive single market in financial services , the EU has been pursuing the wrong objectives .
if this is an indication of the future development of the Stockholm Programme - a programme intended to guarantee our civil rights , security and freedom - then my impression is that its implementation will really tip the scales and put freedom and civil rights under threat .
now , again in Romania , they are intending to construct a new mining operation in Roşia Montană using cyanide technologies .
the fact is that our voters saw through us long ago , which is why , at every opportunity , they vote ' no ' .
his funeral was last week and I think that is also important .
it guarantees WTO-plus disciplines in the case of , for example , geographical indicators , government procurement , greater transparency of state aid and strong enforcement of intellectual property rights , and contains an all-important chapter on sustainable development .
global food production is threatened by a number of factors , such as pests , diseases and natural disasters .
these walls are much higher and much more difficult to bring down ; they may cause major problems for humankind as a whole , as well as wars .
fifth , it demonstrates that international legality needs to be strengthened both in concept and in respect .
this strength has been shown in the past when Europe adopted the rules of the social market economy , which limits the damage done by an unprecedented crisis that is hitting every region in the world at the same time .
this text does not stand out for its quality , since it is the result of a very broad compromise between the MEPs .
millions of euro are spent every year on translations and on administrative paperwork to obtain patent protection in the 27 different legal systems in the EU , while in the US , an inventor can acquire a patent for the entire US territory for an amount equivalent to EUR 1 850 .
at the same time , European consumers are entitled to enjoy healthy , high quality food at reasonable prices , which are the main objectives of the common agricultural policy ( CAP ) and key objectives of the European Union .
these are the two questions as I understand them , Madam President .
an absolutely fundamental matter is to concentrate on building infrastructure , which , by the way , my colleague Mr Deva emphasised during the last debate .
we must stand on our principles but work together to achieve our common goals .
however , we utterly deplore the fact that the legislation does not take into account the renovation requirements of existing buildings , which account for 40 % of the energy consumption and 36 % of the greenhouse gas emissions in Europe .
it is this government that is still best placed to bring some stability to Somalia .
in order to achieve these ...
but can you make sure that on the agenda of that conference we do have the Council of Europe Convention against Trafficking highlighted ?
European citizens , both women and men , deserve to enjoy equal opportunities and should be equal not just on paper but in real terms .
if it does happen , though , you might reassure the markets , but certainly not the people .
there are concerns about further concessions being made by the EU on import tariffs on sensitive products , and some large tariff-rate quota increases as being part of the agenda , because there is also the issue of what progress you are making at the WTO on access for non-agricultural goods and services .
we are setting the most challenging targets in the world by far , much tighter than the rules in the States or anything that exists in China or the Far East .
this should not be interpreted , however , as meaning that I do not fundamentally support some elements of these amendments .
may I start by congratulating Hannes Swoboda on his report on Croatia .
I would be pleased if the Commission would give its attention to these issues .
I think that this is a very important challenge because it helps us to remember that all that we have - freedom , democracy , a united Europe - has not just happened by chance or by default and that there is always a certain temptation , be it smaller or greater , to move towards totality and a form of simplification .
however , I actually feel the need to express my thanks for a number of the observations that were presented in the report .
firstly , the European Commission 's proposals on changes to VAT on financial and insurance services improve legal certainty not only for economic entities providing these services but also for fiscal entities in the individual Member States .
it is not enough to insist on guarantees of uninterrupted supply from other countries , particularly neighbouring countries .
in the telecoms sphere , the Commission and the Commissioner can ensure that competition operates effectively , and that services become cheaper through caps and other measures .
I agree with the author that a programme like US VISIT may work from a technical viewpoint and that the programme is not therefore , by definition , an obstacle preventing normal traveller flow .
we cannot do this by trampling on human rights , however .
there are a tiny number of people who have a literal reading of their religion who are involved in terrorism .
last week I called for a coordinated European response , because I am convinced that , without it , it will be much harder for Europe to overcome this crisis .
fishing in a sustainable manner protects stocks and gives a future to fishing communities .
I hope that the EU institutions will demonstrate their ability to react quickly to challenges , and not be engulfed in the usual bureaucracy .
the European Parliament is only waking up to this now that EU citizens are being obliged to undress both literally and financially in front of the US .
the aim here is to identify inaccurate and incorrect data in all the different areas of spending and to correct the errors .
we made a mistake as far as Tunisia is concerned when we failed to speak up after Ben Ali won the presidential elections in 2009 .
after our experience with BSE , I do not believe that we should go down this route , nor do I believe that this is necessary if an adequate supply of soya and maize is available to farmers .
Turkey 's democratic development has recently suffered setbacks , and the Kurdish position is not the only worrying factor .
in addition , this measure will also help reduce Europe 's energy dependency , which is a priority in light of the recent energy crisis Europe experienced .
a newspaper in my constituency that picked up the European Parliament press release on the report cites me as being cautious about the reform of the CFP .
an important step has been taken towards reducing energy consumption over the coming years with the adoption of this recommendation , which aims for nearly zero energy buildings by 2020 .
another matter concerns Europe 's citizens .
so I hope those people who do have evidence and documents will hand them over , and not just talk about them .
even fewer people know that for the whole of the 1930s offensive weapons , tanks and parachutists had been prepared for Stalin .
you want evidence , Mrs Reding , and you have asked the French Government , and the French Government alone , to provide that .
in accordance with Parliament 's Rules of Procedure , if discharge is not granted , a formal proposal to close the accounts shall be submitted at a subsequent part-session .
thank you very much , Commissioner Špidla .
( SK ) Firstly , I would like to focus on the need for codification .
they are given medicines , but the medicines have no effect , because they have been falsified .
this specific context is characterised by the combination of three major cycles .
nevertheless , allowing the UN and other organisations to arrange safe passage from the conflict zone for these civilians is essential to avoid further bloodbaths .
today we are discussing a case of discrimination against a minority .
if , conversely , the Mediterranean Union were to become a divisive factor in the EU , then that would be a bad sign ; it would moreover isolate France on the eve of the French Presidency , something we certainly do not want .
hospitals , for instance , have medicines but no spare parts for their equipment .
however , we should not forget that the purpose of all these activities is man and the human rights that flow from human dignity .
this issue has implications in terms of human health , particularly for those who work with these animals , but also of economics , as the competitive future of EU animal husbandry is at stake .
our new constitution is the collection of our shared values ; it starts with our most beautiful national prayer which also emphasises the importance of our common European values , and it finally places the appreciation of our Christian roots and family - our key values - where it belongs .
however , today the most important point is that , in spite of the commitment of the Indian Government not to tolerate human rights abuse in Jammu and Kashmir , the international community still receives information on human rights violations , most recently regarding a large number of unknown graves containing hundreds of unrecognised human bodies .
Commissioner , it is good to see you in place .
another essential factor will be the modernisation of electricity grids .
which area is covered by accession ?
I firmly believe that practical and operational cooperation between special intervention units in the European Union is very important in order to deal with the threatening situation .
finding a legislative proposal somewhere on an EU website should not require special skills , so the user-friendly website the oral questions mention is not just an option - it is a must .
in fact , the European Semester is not just about coordinating budgetary policies , but addressing wider issues like macroeconomic imbalances and competitiveness gaps .
unfortunately the Flautre Report goes further by recognising the right of the European Court of Justice to rule over the list of banned terrorist organisations - which must remain a political decision not a judicial one - and claiming the Lisbon Treaty is required to make EU sanctions for abuses of human rights more effective .
it also entails a transfer of funds from the agricultural budget to rural development .
I also understand very well that the Icelanders are interested in fishing .
I need not refer to what previous speakers and rapporteurs have said about the additions to this body ; I merely welcome its reinforcement .
so I am confident , and I am very thankful for the quick reaction from Parliament , which I hope will allow us to find a political agreement in the Council tomorrow so we can send a clear signal to the sector , to the beet growers , so they can start planning their next production season .
( EL ) Mr President , I should like first of all to congratulate Mr Cercas , because he has presented us with a dignified report in the face of the Council 's unacceptable common position .
the European Union constitutes the greatest space of freedom that has ever been established .
in order to achieve a safer Information Society the specific products and services should include mechanisms for data protection even from the design stage .
we have been at the forefront of calls for a ceasefire and have worked with Egypt and others to make a lasting ceasefire possible .
with my amendment , I request that the European Commission ensures every proposal is accompanied by an impact assessment .
I think its politics are also harming Israel .
if trade unionists out there decide that Europe is part of the problem , instead of part of the solution , that could be very damaging for all sections of this House and for the democratic process itself .
the Council will , of course , search for a legally binding framework to cut carbon emissions .
we are not forming coalitions of states , we are uniting men ' .
secondly , the fact that directors or employees of a company have been individually penalised , which is therefore possible , does not in any way diminish the company 's responsibility where it has broken the rules of competition .
Member States have decided to get out of nuclear energy and I therefore think it is wrong that the European Union should intervene here with financial support .
I would just like to recall the Council 's conclusions from December .
in other words , we are devising an Economic Recovery Plan in which we give three and a half billion to the oligarchy of energy giants and not a single euro to the partners whose help we need to enlist for the change to green energy .
it can help in Gaza in many ways , such as reconstruction or assisting with humanitarian aid .
finally , I should like to thank my colleague , Mrs Ford , for all her efforts and commitment towards concluding this report .
I welcome the agreement in principle reached by agricultural ministers at their council meeting in Luxembourg on providing specific aid to the dairy sector of EUR 280 million .
( EL ) Madam President , as we have already heard and as we all realise , the situation in Yemen is drastic from a social and economic point of view and from the point of view of social cohesion .
I will take all of them into consideration , and I will continue to work closely with Members of Parliament in reaching a very good action plan for next year .
meanwhile , attempts have been made to force a territorial and administrative reorganisation plan in Romania , which would create eight majority megaregions , forcing the Hungarian majority living in Szeklerland and Partium into absolute minority .
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furthermore , I in turn welcome the efforts made by Mr Diamandouros to improve the standard of information provided to citizens in connection with their rights under Community law during his time in this position .
this has left us better able to cope with external shocks .
the extensive Danube region , which includes 14 European countries and numbers 115 million people both within and outside the EU , required the creation of a single plan combining economic , environmental , social and cultural aspects ( these are also the four pillars of the strategy ) .
the initial proposal submitted by the Commission in 2005 was rejected by Parliament as it involved a great deal of bureaucracy without , however , reducing the level of pollution .
I am also unhappy with the introduction of the question of abortion , which is part of a national and not European remit .
however , this is simplistic because , looking beyond the budget deficit , we are dealing with people .
the solution to this problem demands respect for the right to food security and sufficiency , supporting small- and medium-sized farmers and restructuring local and regional markets .
ladies and gentlemen , the fact that the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs voted almost unanimously in favour of my report gave me the impetus to hold negotiations with the Commission and the Council .
however , this is not the time to be removing protection .
comparing this with previous years , the Commission is pleased that in total the Court has now given its green light to over 40 % of total payments , compared to roughly a third last year and only 6 % two years ago .
Mr Lehne , Mr Gauzès , Mr Skinner , we have nothing against a certain degree of flexibility in our practices controlling the application of regulations , within the limits set by the guidelines of case-law , in order to take into account an economic situation that is still challenging .
I would like to go back over four important points achieved in this directive .
it is true that such a mandate would have been provided by the European Constitution or Lisbon Treaty , but it is equally the case - as it seems periodically necessary to remind this Chamber - that the Constitution was rejected three times : by 55 % of French voters , by 62 % of Dutch voters and by 54 % of Irish voters .
I was able to follow the end of a pilot project last week , but as a result , there was not time to put the experiences gained from it in this report .
this is essential if competition is to thrive .
the system is extremely effective .
that is why this debate is necessary and why a decision must be taken .
this is why I welcome the Commission 's Communication , as well as Commissioner Špidla 's dedication to raising awareness and his urging Europe to make efforts to protect the most vulnerable social groups at this time of declining economic activity .
a lasting solution can , as we all conclude , only be achieved by peaceful means and by a sincere and honest dialogue .
the great event about to begin in Beijing has helped draw attention to Tibet and human rights .
there is no sense in picking out an individual case in an emergency and then deciding dogmatically that it will be resolved one Thursday in Strasbourg .
marine life is in a poor state .
I am pleased that there are good examples from elsewhere - the Committee of the Regions was mentioned a moment ago - of how the process of integration can be speeded up without calling the national governments ' legal systems into question .
the Sudanese government has refused to cooperate with the International Criminal Court , derides the ICC , which issued arrest warrants for war criminals and is unable , or just does not want to , remedy the situation .
I must say that we have had great difficulties with the present report as regards the manner in which the problem is being addressed .
for this reason , I think Mr. Weber 's report regulates these differences between the immigration policies of the Member States , by taking into consideration the principles of every legal system and imposing common standards and procedures for implementation .
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for example , I do not agree with the conviction that the Commission should play an even more important role , nor with the overly frequent references to the issue of infringement proceedings , nor with the mandate given to the President of the Commission to coordinate the revitalisation of the Single Market .
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these views are reflected in my vote .
the third issue is , of course , the Hungarian Presidency .
this safety approach was implemented mainly through a ban on the use of lead , mercury and cadmium in products as diverse as domestic appliances , radio and television sets , electric trains and video games .
the first item is the presentation of the Court of Auditors ' annual report for 2006 .
the challenge of ensuring that consumers receive the highest possible quality and safety with regard to product hygiene and of responding flexibly to the needs of the companies and , in particular , very small companies , is met by the current regulations .
it has good reason to believe that those charged with these serious offences are not going to be given a fair trial .
however , the situation requires an urgent and much stronger response .
in writing . - Labour MEPs would like to express our deepest sympathy for all those in Haiti who have had their lives shattered by this catastrophic earthquake and we fully support international relief efforts .
after 1990 , it was reorganised and , similarly to other historical churches , it is trying to this day to recover its confiscated immovable property .
the forest fires in Greece , Italy and Spain during the summer of 2007 and the floods in Romania and Great Britain have led to an increase in the calls formulated for improving the efficiency of the EU response capacity in case of disasters .
we therefore label these attacks as minor because it frightens us to acknowledge that at best , in fact , this is not a minor matter .
we may disagree about SWIFT itself , and we certainly voted differently in this Chamber , but we are all agreed on one thing : we have learned a great deal about what to do and what not to do .
the ratification process must continue .
admittedly , we cannot spend without calculating such expenditure , but , in view of these continued promises , it is commitment appropriations , not payment appropriations , that are being recorded .
poor transposition of and compliance with the legislation cannot be a reason to relax the rules .
we are facing an extremely serious threat to the rights of European workers and citizens , which is bordering on a revanchist crusade against employment and social rights .
first , that Ukraine is a key and valuable partner in the European Union 's neighbourhood strategy .
Mr President , the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance would also like to echo the condolences that were just expressed by our fellow Members .
I hope that today 's step forward does not stand in isolation , that more effort may be put into reconsidering ways of preventing our countries importing products derived from animals that have been killed with incredible suffering .
we hope the Commission will finally shoulder its responsibilities for initiative , strengthening the soundness of European financial institutions and helping to restore some confidence to citizens .
more and better development aid is necessary if we want to achieve the Millennium Development Goals ( MDG ) by 2015 , but also aid that is far more predictable and less volatile , as your report very rightly reminds us .
in fact , there was a real cushion effect on the measures taken .
I would like to talk about one aspect of agricultural policy .
in those circumstances , you would be very glad at least to know what you were charged with so that you could try to defend yourself .
finally , I would like bring to everyone 's attention the importance of support for professional staff specialised in the treatment of memory loss diseases , their proper training , and the development of their skills and competence .
Mrs Malmström , I agree with you that it is good that the principles of transparency are being observed , including financial transparency , but I agree with those remarks which speak about something more .
in July , a summit was held with South Africa and summits will take place - we hope - with Korea , and with China and Brazil in December .
child pornography is one of these and others exist , such as child solicitation , to which Mrs Angelilli has alluded .
( the House rose and observed a minute 's silence )
that is not enough , however .
administrative cooperation in the field of taxation (
( FR ) Prime Minister , I will limit my remarks to the issue of immigration , a major concern for the future of Europe in relation to which you made some consensual proposals .
( DE ) Madam President , Mr President-in-Office , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , today , Turkey is a more important country for the European Union than ever before .
secondly , if we look at the issue of the reversibility of the stored fuel elements and waste , the principle is that every storage facility must be suitable and safe for permanent final storage , from a geological and a technical perspective and as far as its construction is concerned .
( LT ) Thank you , Mr President , Council , Commission , ladies and gentlemen , the 2010 budget really is an example of a good compromise .
therefore I call on all MEPs to demand the immediate suspension of the Euro-Med Agreement and indeed all preferential trade arrangements between the EU and Israel .
we do not believe this would be a good thing for the scale of European representation .
I believe that the resolution we have adopted here today is not as good - shall we say - as the one that was previously adopted in the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety .
once the case was over , these Roma children virtually disappeared ; no one knows whether they in fact went back to the same camps where the abuse took place .
within the European Parliament , there are 23 official languages which demonstrate that there is nothing that unites Europe if not Christianity .
already there have been violent food riots across the world as desperate hungry people attack grain silos and supermarkets .
our fellow citizens have witnessed Japan 's drama unfolding live .
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so , finally , I implore Parliament to act to condemn China for its role in underwriting the genocide of the Sudanese people .
ladies and gentlemen , based on the strategy set out in the White Paper , the Commission supports all proposals and all processes which encourage healthy eating habits .
this would perhaps have allowed us to achieve more by working together .
extremism breeds extremism , and we in Europe are in danger of finding ourselves caught in a very vicious circle if we do not move swiftly to tackle and eliminate some of these root causes .
the Presidency believes that the European Parliament could give further impetus to the debate .
sadly , respect for children 's rights has not yet been universally ensured .
yet we will obviously need budgets to support these policies , so can you clarify the budgetary issue in relation to these voluntary partnership agreements ?
finally , one of our tasks in the EU is to make a positive impact on the lives of citizens and to add value at European level .
our principle of human security is one which obliges us to respond to the humanitarian crisis , but it also obliges us to respond and tell Israel that enough is enough and that no more can Europe turn a blind eye to the abuse of the Palestinian right to self-determination .
however , I wish to stress that the European Union and the European Parliament 's delegations have played a very important role , with 15 of our fellow Members attending , and this time it seems that the European Union 's delegation spoke with one voice at the Conference .
however , with regard to what Mrs Ibrisagic has just said , I would like to say that we are able to accept this wording .
the vote will take place on Thursday 4 September .
the fifth round of human rights consultations between the EU and Russia was due to take place on the same day .
you are indeed somewhat sceptical of this , as are all your colleagues .
this is a sine qua non of sustainable fisheries development .
as regards that , I would like to ask a question about the new Constitution : is it not true that this document was drafted without the involvement of the leader of the main democratic opposition party , Aung San Suu Kyi ?
I also think that increased economic governance would need a counterpoint , a balance : but this is not the fault of Mr Trichet .
the situation was particularly bad in connection with the Commission 's management of the money in the Structural Funds , where nearly EUR 4 billion ( almost DKK 30 million ) was paid out incorrectly .
the Commission does not want to contribute to overcapacity in peripheral regions as well , because this will only cause problems for the future .
I think that those of us in the middle somewhere fear this impending doom because there will be even fewer people around to pay for our pensions and to look after us when we , too , are unable to do so .
after all , Tibet is also an important challenge .
quite simply , it is not good enough .
we have to build this mutual trust with the legislation and with the measures to boost the rights of citizens in all our Member States , so that the judges also implement the rules we have been looking for and , yes , we are advancing very quickly on this .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , this morning it has rightly been stated that the European Union has demonstrated its ability to act in two major crises .
the Commission paid much attention to this when negotiating operational programmes of the cohesion policy with the national and regional authorities .
this would also mean we were able to deliver a consolidated opinion here that could be expected to gain a majority in the Council .
this is something new in world politics .
even if the advantages given to Pakistan were a kind of ' prize ' for its role in Afghanistan , I believe using trade preferences as a political instrument establishes a dangerous precedent .
it is precisely for this reason that we would like to draw the attention of Member States to the fact that they could set aside funds of their own , in addition to the European Union 's EUR 55 million , and could cooperate more effectively in implementing the programme laid out in this report .
I very much agree with all those who have been calling for fair competition because only fair competition can lead to fair practice and , of course , to real and not fixed prices .
another aim of the strategy in question ought to be focusing on the development of rural areas so as to make them more competitive , and thus slow down the depopulation of those areas , which is so significant for the new Member States .
I support the idea of a social pact based on the social partners because , besides it being a condition for the achievement of a major social ambition , I am convinced that it is a factor in Europe 's economic performance .
this is something I would like to say referring to boat seines , to trawlers and to all types of gear : they have to give us a good example of compliance .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , a few days before the European Football Championship gets under way , the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality - and I hope the entire European Parliament - is showing forced prostitution the red card once again .
the NBR 's inflation targeting policy has to be supported by fiscal stability , responsible decisions in the Parliament of Romania and balanced and efficient budget execution at the level of all State institutions .
recognise the democratic aspirations of your people , cease the political repression and enable opposition forces to engage fully and freely in a fresh constitutional process .
the issue of potentially acceptable claims on the labels or advertising of types of food is very important because it can lead to false expectations or to the adoption of behaviour that has no scientific basis .
in view of the fact that we know that there are products on the market which could provide an alternative to products containing dichloromethane , as well as the fact that certain Member States have banned the use of this substance , introducing a total ban on its usage seems essential .
we could assist in creating full democracy on the level of local government in Ukraine , which is something that has not happened so far .
I wonder how many of my fellow Members can identify with what I 'm saying .
if within the European Union we do not promote these objectives in an integrated way , we will not be able to put them forward at global level , and we will not be protecting our citizens or defending their interests .
the Chinese authorities say that the Dalai Lama is a private person .
global estimates of new landmine casualties each year vary between 15 000 and 20 000 people , many of whom are civilians , including children .
establishing their reliability objectively would mean auditing 100 % of tax returns at all times , involving the handing over of all the supporting documents .
I also said this in January , when the refugee situation was not yet as acute with regard to North Africa as it is now .
it is true that we need new legal frameworks , but they must be ones that people can understand .
I would like to thank unreservedly Mrs Berès and my colleagues in the Special Committee on Financial , Economic and Social Crisis , who have shown that we in the European Parliament can reach across the party boundaries and find common solutions in the interests of Europe .
the failure of the euro is nothing to do with speculation .
the Commission must come up with tough and lasting measures to address volatility in the agricultural markets .
we have a duty to put pressure on national governments to ensure that the directive in question is taken up by the Member States .
these include amendments on minor infringements , the definition of the link between companies and transport managers , the right of appeal of those subject to decisions on operating as a transport manager , mutual recognition of certificates , prior rights , the exchange of information between the competent authorities , as well as drugs and human trafficking as grounds for exclusion from the profession .
people have begun to feel the benefits of essential structural reforms .
prospects are extremely good that within the next few days we will be able to confirm our agreement to set a 20 % share of renewable energy in the Community in 2020 .
( FR ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , may I say first of all that I find the Council 's absence since yesterday regrettable , since the Council has generally been present in the negotiations on all the issues we have been discussing since yesterday , namely , those concerning civil liberties , justice and home affairs .
it justifies nothing .
the directive imposes additional administrative obligations on employers and provides for a range of different sanctions for failing to meet these obligations .
we are extremely concerned with the scale of the current problem , especially given what is happening in the serious armed conflicts , in Libya in particular .
Steeped in neo-colonial ambitions , it seeks to return many countries to the role of producers of raw materials for the countries of the EU , using technology and dominance and control of the market mechanisms - including financial speculation - to promote economic dependence and exploitation by the multinationals .
the third point concerns the leverage ratio .
we could see developing countries suffer considerably for a financial mess they did not create .
I believe that that is the current reality of the situation .
fourthly , the Member States must provide adequate resources for collecting waste from households .
the G8 has also taken a very clear stance , not through the introduction of sanctions , which would have damaged the civilian population in particular , but with ' financial measures ' that relate especially to companies , banks and personalities of the regime in power since 1980 .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - Mr President , I will speak in English in honour of our rapporteur .
small and medium-sized enterprises are the lifeblood of our real economy and , above all , moving forward , I think that SMEs can also play a crucial social role because they are the ones that will create new jobs in the European Union , even while big industrial corporations are undergoing restructuring .
as for whether the public authorities will comply promptly or whether the 8 % interest rate will act as a deterrent , I cannot hide the fact that I am somewhat doubtful as to the outcome , when I think of certain regions in my own country and other Member States that will really struggle to comply with the new rules .
we do not therefore have a deal as things stand today , because it is clear that even if the United States comes in with us , if we do not offer a financial deal , EUR 100 billion , to countries that must adopt measures to adapt to and alleviate climate change , we will not have any agreement in Copenhagen .
I declare adjourned the session of the European Parliament .
West Wales and the Valleys receives the highest level of support under the current Structural Funds , and rightly so .
let us be honest , what difference have they ever made ?
it is essential that all medical devices sold in the EU comply with Union law and , for the defence and protection of its consumers , satisfy safety standards .
I wonder what kind of system exempts 50 % or more .
dates for next sittings : see Minutes
economic migration is as much a form of human trafficking as illicit migration organised by criminal networks .
it is a question of allowing them to train .
we all have an interest in enhancing this cooperation and combating cigarette smuggling .
the next item is the joint debate on the following :
I am pleased that my country , Poland , is announcing the rapid ratification of the Lisbon Treaty .
for us , it is important for this sector to be a little more structured within the Community , but , above all , for the standard , which we would like to be a little more exhaustive as regards the CE label , to be much more consistent .
however , we should not overlook the uprising by the Turkish Cypriots in occupied Cyprus .
this gives Gaddafi leverage over the EU and , in particular , he has sought to divide the Council by courting the leadership of certain Member States .
all democratic forces must be extremely clear on this matter .
if we act unjustly , we are less credible and even weak .
on this pretext , they are succeeding in creating what , on the basis of Mr Belder 's report , can be clearly described as hell on earth .
there has been good news in Serbia too .
completing the digital single market (
I therefore welcome this consumer rights directive .
this fact will facilitate the training of highly qualified workers who are capable of meeting the European economy 's new demands .
written explanations of vote
my other questions would merely repeat the questions of Brian Simpson .
should we , in Europe , impose essential rules on our firms and , at the same time , continue to import products from countries that do not abide by any of the rules that we impose on our businesses ?
the world watched dumbstruck when Mbeki announced a few days ago that there was no crisis in Zimbabwe , just normal electoral politics .
I do welcome this report .
it goes without saying that we voted against the report .
from tomorrow , when we are due to make the final decisions , we will expect real results .
you are therefore forgiven and it is the Members who must take into account that , when one of us is speaking , they should not distract the President-in-Office of the Council or whoever is speaking on behalf of the Commission .
this means that during working hours , postal workers , fire fighters and police officers whose mother tongue is Hungarian are not allowed to use their own language .
however , this was an exceptional case , because such things have not happened in Russia itself for a long time .
it is also important to highlight the privacy aspect which the use of DNA demands .
we have defined that objective criterion today in the Charter of Fundamental Rights , which sets out the essence of our basic values .
hence I supported this resolution in order to call for a greater long-term investment from the Member States and the European Commission so that they have the means to combat tuberculosis , in particular through research and innovation .
- Madam President , I voted against this report for two reasons .
what I would like to say to you first of all is that the Stockholm Programme really has taken account of the fate of victims .
he is not able to take up his slot .
Mr President , Commissioner , the proclamation of next year as the European Year of Creativity and Innovation is fully in accord with the aims and priorities of the EU to develop the European knowledge society as a key response of the Europe of 27 to the economic and social challenges of globalisation .
the third country which wants to export commodities treated with such substances to the EU may therefore ask for an import tolerance as long as it can submit data proving that there is no risk to human health from the consumption of these commodities and that these data are favourably evaluated by EFSA and formally adopted in EU legislation .
I have heard it said , both by the Commission and the Council , that they have enormous confidence in Russia joining the World Trade Organization .
Nazi-Germany , Soviet Russia , Cambodia , China and Rwanda are reminders of the absolute madness and cruelty which people are capable of inflicting on their fellow man when tyranny prevails over freedom .
dates of forthcoming sittings : see Minutes
where there are violations of these universal rights , the European Union condemns them publicly , and we have done this with Cuba .
the Commission is part of the process , but so too is Parliament .
thirdly , it is charming that the old-new President is suggesting a dialogue with Russia ; however , a rule applies that , just like at an official ball , if you offer an arm to a lady it does not mean that you will be dancing the way she wishes .
one third of the citizens of Europe do not have any vocational qualifications .
let us now speak more generally about health systems in the European Union , as well as in the developing countries .
there is a great deal of development work to be done over the next few months and this also applies to Baroness Ashton .
in this regard , I believe that there is an urgent need to move forward in a concrete and effective way with consolidating the Union for the Mediterranean .
I hope this is a new beginning for Kosovo and that the European Union will be happy to support the rebuilding of this new state in the years to come .
in writing . - I am delighted to vote here today on this report to repeal a directive and 11 obsolete decisions and note that our next report from Mr Morillon will repeal a further 14 obsolete regulations .
just as France put its know-how to use in relation to the Mediterranean , we want to convince the EU of the importance of the Eastern Partnership .
the competent European Commissioner confirmed that the cannons had not been purchased out of the Schengen Fund .
further , our resolution insists that EU troops should under no circumstances make use of any kind of cluster ammunition until the relevant international agreements have been achieved .
finally , I call on those who have influence with Burma , namely the neighbours and EU partners - India , China and the ASEAN countries - to encourage the junta to accept relief from others .
I met up with President Sarkozy in Moscow the next day but , before that , after having spoken to refugees on the Georgian side and to victims that I met at Gori hospital , I and the French Presidency were keen to go and listen to the stories of refugees on the other side , in North Ossetia , who had arrived from South Ossetia after the bombing of Tskhinvali during the night of 7 to 8 August .
the same left that is inflicting global warming on us and cannot be bothered to ensure a high-quality environment and a decent life for millions of residents of Campania ; to top it all , I have heard talk of a national interest to be defended !
some ports are open , and all the humanitarian aid should come via the east of Libya .
we must promote co-modality of the various modes of transport , not forgetting motorways of the sea and inland waterways ; most of all we must incorporate the real costs , including environmental costs , into the price of use .
admittedly , the actual situation is somewhat anomalous : 16 Member States with the single currency , 27 national economic policies coordinated by the Commission as well as it can , and 11 Member States with national currencies .
the answer to that is clear .
it is clear that all superfluous obligations mean greater costs for transport operators , which will ultimately be reflected in ticket prices .
what is certain is that the political will for them to succeed is there .
this means that the court can examine whether a decision regarding sanctions is lawful .
on that day we will assist in what is an historical moment , one could say .
ladies and gentlemen , the Treaty of Lisbon has also created new bodies to strengthen the Union 's role in the world .
I welcome the creation , by Parliament 's Committee on Regional Development , of a working group on the future of cohesion policy .
we need to realise that when it comes to the issue of security , decisions must be made very quickly .
we are also only fairly satisfied because there has been a lack of ambition ; we believe that more could have been done , and that it could have been done better .
this question should equally have been asked of the Commission in terms of initiating a new legislative proposal to tighten up the relevant legislation so that we can deal with them , but pending that my advice to any small business faced with demands from European City Guide and similar guides is simple : do not pay ; ignore them ; ignore the pressure .
it is a fight that is worth waging .
( DE ) Mr President , specifically on a point of order , I am sorry that you responded in person just now .
it is , of course , the importers ' responsibility to ensure compliance with the legal requirements and this depends therefore on their standards and controls .
if an inter-country adoption takes place , whether within the EU or with the involvement of a third party , what is the process for the selection and preparation of children and parents ?
if they are too lax in this respect , then we will not be able to make progress .
an important element is how the situation of developing countries is to be managed and how they are to be able to combine economic development with environmentally friendly technology .
this is a real effort on the part of Frontex to understand fully the problems affecting asylum seekers , and the Commission has proposed rules to improve the definition of Frontex responsibilities in maritime operations .
problems of illegal mass immigration have to be resolved at last , and a sensible family and birth policy must be introduced for Europe 's native population .
we need to reject this proposal from the Commission .
as you know , this can be beneficial to consumers and lead to lower prices , more choice and better products .
Mr President , I would first of all like to thank all my fellow Members , and especially the Conference of Presidents , for having agreed to this debate on Haiti , proposed by my group .
these were right-wing extremists , and their behaviour in public was such as to jeopardise public safety .
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I would like to stress that terrorism does not have any type of religion .
in future Member States will prosecute companies and producers that misuse the CE marking .
that would not only harm Parliament tremendously , but it is also unnecessary from a political point of view .
this issue concerns not only airport owners but also airlines and therefore passengers too .
I believe that the rapporteur and colleagues from the Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Committee on Foreign Affairs took this challenge and met it superbly .
equality between women and men is a fundamental principle of the European Union .
this aim is obviously shared by the 27 Member States and by all the Members of the European Parliament , and it makes sense to repeat that .
the next item is the debate on six motions for a resolution on the case of the journalist Perwiz Kambakhsh and the debate on four motions for a resolution on the case of the Iranian citizen Seyed Mehdi Kazemi .
there is a second reason , which is a conviction : the very strong conviction that there will be no strong policies in Europe if the institutions are weak .
then we do what we are always demanding of everyone else , namely submit our programmes and activities to independent examination .
there is no denying that it is hard to put a figure on intangible fixed assets like trademarks and patents .
admittedly , what is not required is more funds , new institutions or new legislation . however , a strategy is needed which will be based on a common list of priorities , good coordination and effective funding .
I believe that the final outcome for electric and electronic equipment waste is of particular importance , particularly in cases in which these contain materials later recognised as dangerous .
I would like to answer another question concerning the application of Article 139 of the Treaty .
Mr President , what I would like to suggest is that we focus specifically on the al-Nashiri case .
the number of major disasters in EU countries and third countries alike is increasing all the time , not least because of climate change and increased urbanisation .
( LT ) We must combat tuberculosis , since every year , many people in the world die from this disease and almost one in three inhabitants of the world are infected by it .
it is a good mission and has already proved a success .
this did not happen by chance , but thanks to the constant work of the Council under the leadership of the Czech Presidency , we have managed to reach agreement in the trialogues on quite fundamental reform proposals .
first , by reason of the adaptation , I would like to thank Mrs Erica Landi and Mr Pierre Debaty , Heads of Unit for Training .
your imperialist dogma of ' divide and rule ' is well known .
Mr President , Minister , it is not worth it .
perhaps I might expand on this by saying that our citizens also have a right to know how the European Union spends its taxes and where resources are wasted .
in Europe we are faced with many crises .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I support - and I have also tabled amendments in this regard - the inclusion of bluefin tuna in Appendix II .
it would be worth the Commission taking steps to ensure that its standards are enforced not only in the EU itself , but also outside its borders , since the plants in the Kaliningrad Oblast and in Belarus are aimed at the European market .
of course we need a binding agreement , for the entire issue of climate protection , but in Europe , too , for our European industry .
it is mobilised across accounting periods , although it chiefly involves the designation of available budgetary items and , subordinate to that , the task of proposing to the budgetary authority the mobilisation of sums of money through revisions to the budget .
why ?
Ireland will soon be holding a referendum on the European Treaty , and I should like to place it on record that we shall continue in the future to play our full part in the European justice and home affairs sphere - just as we have done up to now .
I am certainly not against the idea , but I think we first need to encourage and increase the use of the CE mark by means of the information campaign within the EU .
final agreement on the European crisis management resolution mechanism will also be a key deliverable during the Hungarian Presidency .
in order to achieve these objectives , the European Parliament , the European Commission and the Member States must work together , and on this historic day , I would like to convey my greetings to all women and to call on them to continue to fight for their rights and equal opportunities .
we Members of Parliament tried , we made a proposal that the Council itself should come up with an end date .
it has never got out of it .
who cares that there is a growing gap between levels of obligations and payments ?
the new situation also requires an adjustment of the code of conduct .
it should not be forgotten that around 7.3 million people in Europe suffer from Alzheimer 's disease or from a similar disease ; this figure is expected to double by 2020 .
fortunately , Europe has few natural disasters .
I would urge the Fijian Government to make moves towards democracy .
my question to the Commission is : how will it use this disaster to enhance the European Union crisis management capacity ?
we in the West will groan , grin and bear it ; in the developing world , it is a matter of life or death .
last , but not least , I would like to thank my colleague , Mr Coelho , for his sense of vocation in dealing with this matter .
we would also highlight the importance of acknowledging women 's role in the revolutions , and stress the need to guarantee their rights , including their participation in the new democratic , legal , economic and political structures of these societies , bringing the centuries-old discrimination that they have suffered to an end .
I would like to stress , in particular , the need for the Commission to take account of the comments that were made in the debate , or else our Parliament will just be a place to let off steam .
this is an issue of European integration .
only 3 % of board members of publicly listed companies are women .
a major distinctive feature of the report is the clear outline of the role of conventional energy sources , the need for their increasingly efficient use through new technologies to achieve the energy security of the European Union with maximum compliance with the sustainable development goals and the combat against climate changes .
it is not the case that nobody knew what was being voted upon .
nobody can allow someone who has killed unarmed people and has used every possible means to evade justice and the victims ' relatives to assume the attitude of a victim of persecution and to create dangerous precedents to the detriment of the law and society .
we should achieve this objective by implementing the guidelines in the directive on the sustainable use of pesticides .
the important thing is not to transmit all of the information that you have , but to transmit the information that is relevant to those who are receiving it .
I also support the evaluation reports requested of the European Commission in the years following the implementation of this regulation , which will be very useful , the assessment of the benefit of the centralised publication of information by the Commission , and the evaluation of the distribution of the funds , possibly accompanied by legislative proposals to achieve a more objective distribution of funds in the first and second pillars .
to conclude , I would like to stress that optimism is based on realism and effectiveness is based on setting viable objectives .
these are dreadful developments .
on this account , territorial cooperation thus proves to be crucial from different points of view .
( applause )
firstly , what kind of data will be used as the basis for setting national targets for the 27 different European Union Member States ?
we are not happy about a measure of the Italian Government having to be appraised in this house .
the European Union is an active donor , working with non-governmental organisations and the United Nations ' specialist agencies to provide funds for medical treatment , logistical support and the reconstruction of devastated areas .
the creation of a society of control with immense powers .
this is the report I myself drafted , which was voted on during the last part-session in April 2011 .
subject : road safety
for this very reason , I agree with the rapporteur when he says that ' in order to prevent by-catches effectively and limit the discard of an excessive number of juvenile and under-sized specimens belonging to target or non-target species , it is absolutely vital that the fishing industry should be encouraged to use the most selective fishing gear and not to fish in areas in which there are large numbers of under-sized fish and non-target species ' .
it is not flexible enough .
well , the calculation is simple .
in other words , a strict fiscal policy has been introduced .
( the House rose and observed a minute 's silence )
these amendments ensure compliance with the principle of freedom of establishment , and seek to ensure identical treatment within a host Member State to that availed to nationals of that Member State .
if there are no impediments , the Slovenian Presidency will take great pleasure in completing the adoption procedure and will submit a report to all interested institutions , primarily to Parliament .
colleagues , this is a very important discussion .
nonetheless , the specific nature of agricultural production deserves particular attention in the context of the common agricultural policy ( CAP ) , by dedicating proper risk-analysis instruments to development cooperation policy , and by backing food production to the detriment of other forms of international aid .
small and medium-sized enterprises should be a good way to stimulate economies to fight against unemployment .
thank you , Mrs Hieronymi , for all that you have done .
in my opinion , if the Commission follows the path of sectorisation of EU resources , we will arrive in a unique and conflictual situation where the Commission will be on one side and everybody else - Parliament , the Council and the regions - on the other side .
one form of serious discrimination relates to religion : how on earth , bearing in mind that the bloodiest violence of recent times has been perpetrated against Christians , did you fail to mention ' Christianophobia ' in her speech ?
this is not the time .
they will also enable us to prepare better in the light of the economic crisis , without risking the objective of a 20 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions .
we have come a long way since July 2008 .
I will put in a written statement on this issue .
the summit will also be an opportunity to hear at first hand where President Medvedev sees Russia 's priorities with the European Union .
those who were afraid that after integration they would lose their culture and identity are realising that the opposite is true - that the EU supports regional , folk and local culture .
its opening could perhaps be more easily understood in the wake of the shocking attacks of 11 September , but years have passed since .
politically , it would be a disaster if , through financial means or worse , the use of symbols , European citizens were to feel that our development policy , in particular issues associated with hunger , were to operate at the expense of the common agricultural policy , which is a different matter .
we have here the European Energy Research Alliance - the best research organisations opened outward - which is already working together today on all these major issues .
take the case of impaired assets : clearly , without cleaning the banking system , credit will not flow back to the economy .
in fact , the second part of the agreement with Philip Morris was perhaps even more important .
these instruments do not only share their date of signature .
an important investment conference took place in Belfast ten days ago where investors enthusiastically studied investment opportunities .
Germany and Austria wish to maintain this restriction until 2011 , without any more serious economic and social motive .
a budget of EUR 2 200 000 was allocated to this initiative for 2008 alone .
we need to support them in transforming their facilities and give them time to complete that process , thus preventing farms from suffering irreparable damage and preventing an overnight shortage in the EU market , which will consequently increase prices for consumers .
while it is undoubtedly good that a small possibility of self-determination is now being proposed through the introduction of a negotiating procedure , it is nonetheless small comfort and does not change the clear - even if not explicitly expressed - aim of creating an EU state .
indeed , they were not wrong .
( NL ) What should have been a memorable moment here this morning , namely the approval of the report on the White Paper , has been overshadowed by the tragic death of one of Belgium 's top footballers .
and we engage this ministry without regard to self-interest .
as a first step , I have asked my services to prepare an overview and an assessment of everything that has been achieved so far .
Amnesty International recorded one woman leaving church to find a gang shouting ' Kill the archbishop ' and ' Kill the priests'
furthermore , because of their flexible nature , SMEs are companies that are accustomed to being at the forefront of innovation in their areas , making the Small Business Act an important step forward in realising the Lisbon Strategy .
after all , the successful development of intercultural dialogue should not be limited to high-profile individual measures such as symposia , joint declarations or symbolic gestures .
given how central the role of the EIB has become in financing EU Member States ' strategies and EU overseas activity , it is now time to improve the level of accountability of its activities to this Parliament .
it must work across the borders of Member States , so that victims will not have to start the entire judicial process required to obtain protection measures afresh if they move to another Member State .
then we will support you .
the floods affected hundreds of homes and businesses and caused misery to thousands of people .
I think that we have conducted and we are continuing to conduct a wise policy .
this in particular fosters the development of people-to-people contacts .
( RO ) Mr President , I understand very well the subsidiarity principle , but I believe that pensions have ceased to be a national concern as they are the subject today of an EU-level debate .
with regard to Libya , following a difficult period of relations with the international community , this country has taken steps to normalise political and economic relations with its foreign partners .
programmes such as the European Social Fund and Progress in partnership with local governments and authorities should allocate larger funds to support women in the rural environment .
did you actually not know anything about the financial imbalance in Greece ?
all of these are new developments that are , as a minimum , absolutely necessary .
there simply will not be enough money for energy security .
the few amendments tabled on this issue , which I supported , do not hide the fact that the Union refuses to implement the guidelines of the Goldstone report .
without their help and work we would not have been able to bring this work to fruition .
Adina-Ioana Vălean is not in favour of the CCS installations - the CCS commercial demonstration installations - because the companies we would like to support are doing business .
in other words , electric vehicles have a great deal of advantages but there are also obstacles and difficulties , and that clearly means that we must approach it from a positively European perspective ; it means that the governments of Europe , the Commission and this Parliament , which will vote tomorrow on a series of resolutions , must pay particular attention to it .
the agreement reached between the main political groups , which was really down to the determination of the rapporteur , Mr Capoulas Santos , already provides some solutions and approaches which it is hoped that the Council will take on board .
it does not signal a victory either for the Eurosceptics or for the left , but it reveals a somewhat inglorious impotence from which everyone risks suffering .
think about this .
let me add that we cannot go on having Europe ensuring its security based on the contribution of just four or five countries , with the others relying on the efforts of these four or five countries .
this agreement formally expires on 31 January .
I believe that it is vital for this exchange of data to be strictly limited to information requested for combating terrorism , with any transfer of bulk data marking a departure from the principles underlying European legislation and practices .
the Commission 's proposal for the directive on the accomplishment of the internal market in Community postal services has been one of the most demanding legislative proposals for the co-legislators over the last 15 months .
- Before the vote on paragraph 8 :
this is a very serious problem , which has hindered companies ' development and , in some cases , has bankrupted healthy firms , which were already under pressure from the high interest rates charged by the banks .
I doubt whether customers will actually use it to inform themselves of the detailed terms and conditions .
job losses are the main concern of European citizens .
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the rapporteur , Mr Pieper , for his work .
but whether they are useless or whether they are helpful , they are certainly not deleterious to health .
secondly , we wish the Commission to become more active vis-à-vis those Member State governments that time and again seek to gain a competitive edge and advantages at the expense of other Member States .
we therefore hope that good results will come out of the conference .
with your permission , Mr President , I should like to propose an oral amendment .
in such cases , the world as a whole will be more polluted and animals and plants will be dying and people suffering on account of the pollution .
if there is deemed to be no risk related to internal security and illegal immigration , and traffic at a border is of such intensity that waiting times become excessive , then the need to take fingerprints may be waived .
let us support energy produced within the EU , which is a secure resource .
finally , Mr President , this is a personal observation , but I am making it as rapporteur , even so .
we all want to make our work more transparent , which includes Parliament 's work as well .
even the economic viability of this particular activity would collapse if the principle of prevention and the ' polluter pays ' principle were applied .
making a Macedonian domestic political crisis out of it at this point in time does not help Macedonia .
but , now that the price has come down , they have not been bringing it down nearly as far as it went up .
between the joint decision on the multiannual financial framework taken in May 2006 and now , there has been the financial crisis , the very strong pressures on the price of energy , raw materials and even foodstuffs , and the negotiations on climate change .
in addition , it would seem important to have physical points of contact where information can be obtained .
in writing . - This initiative seeks to establish a clear and comprehensive legal framework to further generalise recognition and facilitate the implementation of authentic acts .
Parliament must ensure that strong criteria are established in connection with environmental sustainability for the production of such biofuels .
you mention the importance of the Internet for economic development and the social cohesion of Europe , and even promise that the new Commission will develop a ' European Digital Agenda ' .
Commissioner , when will binding rules on attaching labels of origin be applied , with the adoption , for example , of the ' made in ' regulation ?
the method of open coordination has turned into a closed collusion and open humiliation .
ladies and gentlemen , in just under ten days , the deadline for transposition of the Services Directive expires .
society will have to make better use of the abilities of all generations and give everyone the chance to develop his or her full potential .
does the European Court of Auditors consider such an action plan to be a useful instrument for improving financial management ?
discharge 2010 : European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (
I agree that the scoreboard results need to be widely communicated .
we therefore have no transparency .
the Intergovernmental Conference was forced by some to remove symbols from the Treaty , against the will of the vast majority . this vast majority preferred to forge ahead with the essentials of the Constitution rather than get caught up in the traps set by those challenging not only the symbols but also the need to progress further in political union .
however , given the complexity of the Stuttgart-Ulm section , this section will not be built until 2019 .
we will continue to tackle poor sanitation because it is obviously a risk in terms of cholera spreading and affecting communities .
is it to be Article 215 or Article 75 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union ?
therefore , if we can get that message across in the European area , the people of Europe will agree with us .
( PT ) Mr President , among the important aspects affecting the 2009 budget is the planned review of the Community budget .
at the same time , this method also enables the Member States to generate resources to reinvest in the transport system in order to make it more sustainable so as to actually reduce these external costs .
it follows from this that such cases are resolved through bilateral relations between the Member State in question and the third country .
that , for example , means making amendments to the constitution , to the electoral laws and to how the media report political issues , so that all candidates are able to present their campaigns to the people .
that is certainly the least that the Members of this House can ask .
it means that its partners must be modern , trusting and fair in their attitude .
however , those difficulties should not , under any circumstances , be an excuse for not moving forward .
our agricultural model involves high standards in the social and environmental field and quality of food products .
the EIB intended to supplement the loans for medium-sized businesses with EUR 1 billion a year .
I would first of all say that there has been nothing like ' business as usual ' since we entered this crisis .
we voted against all these proposals .
we need international cooperation under the auspices of the UN and the European Union .
I understand , Commissioner , that the reform of the Customs Code is a priority for the Commission and that it is already a sufficiently complex task without being combined with institutional reform .
interest rates are definitely under pressure and are threatening the sustainability of the debt .
the circumstances under which the 2011 budget is being adopted are exceptional and constitute a challenge at the same time .
the adoption is important because it is the first text adopted in the ordinary legislative procedure concerning agriculture and rural development following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty .
doing so simply takes resources from the Member States , creates yet another new EU body with its own staff and adds yet more bureaucracy .
the only way to tackle that is to have a genuine bond market in Europe of EUR 4 000 billion or 5 000 billion which can be compared to what exists in other parts of the world , with special treatment for the triple-A countries .
we have supported this report today on that basis .
it is also included in a whole range of European Commission documents which have also been discussed by Parliament .
we particularly need to assess whether the current annual Planning and Review Process involves too much planning , especially in comparison to the presentation and evaluation of the results achieved .
my question to you is this : will the EASA find things easier now , as a result of the wider competences we have decided on in this area , given that it seems - as you have said - that the company that produces these aircraft is creating certain difficulties at present ?
these are the main areas , Eastern and Southern Europe , but let us not argue about which is more important .
probably one discard for every cod retained .
I voted for this resolution because it highlights the progress still to be made by the 189 states that are signatories to the Beijing Platform for Action if real equality between women and men is to be achieved .
I am deeply concerned that , whilst sporting events bring joy to millions worldwide , they are also ruthlessly being used as an opportunity to exploit women and girls .
the perpetual dilemma which arises , as to whether Europe or the Member States have the first and last word , is a major issue and a perfect example is gambling , especially online gambling .
we must be prepared to put on paper what we say in public and refute those who say this House is nothing but a glorified talking shop .
in Europe there are currently over six million teachers performing this key role in developing the knowledge and skills of society 's young people and making a decisive contribution to improving the opportunities for economic growth and greater competitiveness .
in addition , we should not merely pay lip service to the precautionary principle . we should apply this principle if we are ever uncertain as to the possible negative impact of a specific environmental issue on our health .
I would like to warmly thank again the rapporteur Mr Wolf Klinz and express my appreciation and admiration for the efficient handling of this file by Parliament .
( it ) With this vote , the European Parliament has expressed its confidence in the European Ombudsman , whose mandate will last until the end of our parliamentary term .
on this subject , I would like to say first of all that when we talk about copyright , it is not simply a question of money .
what is the Mediterranean diet ?
these problems were recognised to be minor problems by the FVO Team .
however , undertaking business activity which crosses national borders is more the domain of large firms .
7 .
I think that we should help Serbia and we must not forget that this country recently came out of a war .
Mr President , we are today considering reports on regional policy that introduce beneficial changes and simplification .
I would therefore urge you to keep rare diseases in the scope of the directive .
the resolution now enshrines a concept that barely conceals the potential gulf between our respective views on sustainability .
these areas are in direct management by the Commission , which may partly explain why efforts undertaken have a more immediate impact .
our proposal therefore establishes a linear reduction in aid by a percentage that clearly aims for the removal of aid at the end of the transition period .
I still foresee a great deal of work ahead of us in this field .
consequently , despite being responsible for only a small share of car sales in Korea - 3 % in 2009 - and therefore of total CO2 car emissions in Korea , EU car makers would have been asked to contribute disproportionately .
despite demonstrations by workers demanding action to tackle these serious problems , the automotive industry is refusing , within the framework of competition , to manufacture ' clean vehicles ' , unless greater profitability for it is guaranteed beforehand , demanding that research and development costs for clean vehicles be financed , together with their increased profits , by the public sector .
this is a historic moment for Sudan , and indeed for the whole African continent .
I and my colleagues , whom I would like to thank for their amendments , have therefore tried to produce a constructive report which aims to restore the confidence of European citizens in their health institutions .
( LT ) Madam President , Ombudsman , thank you for your report .
it must then renounce violence , however !
the method of financing the Agency , which until now has been rather complicated and unclear on account of the Agency 's specific nature , can also help provide transparency .
it is getting ready for another military intervention in Iraq .
I can tell you that this is also the view of the majority of those responding to the Green Paper .
despite the rebuffs , we need to seek political dialogue .
I therefore thank the rapporteur .
we support these measures , too , but let me add this : the house that has just burnt down cannot be rebuilt just as it was before .
the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty also gives us the tools to demonstrate greater ambition .
I am told that the Member States are against it .
we must prepare ourselves for the already recognisable challenges awaiting the European Union .
the lack of a precise definition of information and consultation is causing serious difficulties for employees in gaining access to information , primarily during the privatisation or takeover of an establishment .
I wonder whether the Commissioner would agree with me that , where a risk is identified that needs to be tackled at European level , then there is a need for the Commission to ask expeditiously .
the EU must press for the sending of neutral , international peacekeepers , thus relieving the peacekeeping forces that have now lost their credibility and authority .
it is certain that Europe will benefit considerably from this instrument .
I would like to introduce another argument .
the European Union can perhaps learn a lesson from the EUR 2 billion that the China-African Development Fund invests in Africa .
we are familiar with them even in the world of today and that is precisely why the education mentioned by Alexander Vondra is so important , so that both the young and also the not-so-young will be able to distinguish human respect from extremism , populism , nationalism or fanaticism in any of its many different forms .
ESDP is a political project that contributes no additional military capability while at the same time duplicating and undermining NATO .
those who followed the climate debate at all had known for a long time that an international agreement based on the EU 's formula would not be achieved .
we hope that the Commission will be in a position to negotiate , in due time , a comprehensive EPA including a larger number of countries in the region .
from this point of view , the action plan constitutes an important step forward , and the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament supports it and demands its firm implementation .
in Europe the average consumer credit interest rate varies from around 6 % in Finland , the cheapest Member State , to over 12 % in Portugal .
this is a fact and is not disputed .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I am really pleased to be able to discuss with you the contribution of taxation and customs policy to the Lisbon Strategy .
I would like to remind every responsible politician that this is another reason why we need to create a European Roma strategy .
( RO ) The report under discussion reveals a series of problems encountered in this field by the Member States .
these aspects all seem to me to be extremely important ; transparency , Mr Cashman 's remarks about anonymity , free medical care , improved distribution of condoms , equal access to testing for all population groups .
( DE ) Commissioner , I would like to thank you for your very good and detailed answer and also for your excellent work on these two important projects which cross in Munich .
this distribution of tasks could also make it possible to strengthen cooperation with the EU 's most important trade and military partner , namely the United States .
we must also insist that the Russian authorities comply with all the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights without delay .
although almost 70 % of the population of Lithuania live in cities and suburban areas , my country nevertheless lacks a clear , integrated and sustainable approach .
there are many reasons , as you know : wars , poverty , environmental disasters and ruthless dictatorships in many regions of the world .
it is understandable that in many strictly limited cases it can be useful to transfer the processing of visa applications to external service providers .
it has to be closely connected mainly with development cooperation , so that the region can enjoy the sort of political and socioeconomic conditions for the countries concerned to be able to exploit the full potential of their biological natural resources themselves .
Madam President , I have asked for the floor today to inform you of a rather disturbing fact that has come to my knowledge whilst on a visit to Washington DC as part of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs delegation .
so firstly , the report talks very strongly about the need to have transparent prices and insists that these prices should be based only on consumption , that invoices should be developed along best practices existing in the European Union , that they should be comparable and that tariff simulators should exist so that consumers can see which company offers them a better choice .
the main features common to European Union Member States are democracy , stability , accountability and cohesion .
therefore , it must be strengthened financially , made flexible to deal with emergencies and be better coordinated with geographically focused instruments in the promotion of the same objectives .
on euro securities , in the context of this package I will only confirm what I said at the trilogue on 15 June .
nevertheless , I do appreciate Mrs Gutiérrez-Cortines 's attempts to steer the rules more in the direction of subsidiarity .
the introduction of a uniform standard form for notification of instruments and decisions relating to the claim will resolve the problems of recognition and translation of instruments emanating from another Member State .
I would thank both Parliament and the Member States for the spirit of compromise they showed in achieving the formal adoption of this instrument , and in particular I should like to thank the rapporteur , Baroness Ludford , and the co-rapporteurs for their support and cooperation .
and future Parliaments will live to regret it .
today 's vote in the European Parliament does not signal an end to this debate .
the Netherlands has been operating such a policy since 2000 and it has been found to reduce the environmental risk by 86 % .
I am voting in favour of the report by Mrs Andrikienė .
this directive envisaged certain types of revision , but not a revision focused only on the opt-out so much as on the directive as a whole .
I can quite happily declare myself as a participant in the voluntary pension scheme , along with 399 other Members , and I intend to vote against my own interests and in favour of the taxpayers ' interests .
I would not like to go as far as saying that this area has no universal principle and no transparent structures , but it does have considerable problems .
strategies mean nothing if they only exist on paper , so we also need to create content for the strategy , and after the Commission has completed its own work , it will obviously be easier for us to create content for the relevant budget heading .
there is a danger , however , that this situation may have arisen from a lack of registrations of complaints , or from administrative problems in the institutions responsible for considering violations .
moreover , the negotiating chapters that Turkey can aim to open under the present circumstances require significant reforms and adjustments .
fourteen and a half million Europeans work in businesses that have set up such councils ; they are waiting for that directive to be revised to improve the protection of their social rights in the future and , to be frank , the current economic climate means that this revision is all the more relevant , all the more necessary , and all the more urgent .
the pressure came from me .
however , standardising the regulations applied to passenger transport would place greater responsibility on transport companies .
however , I do not believe that anyone would enter into a programme like this with the intention of ever withdrawing again .
faced in recent months with an increasing number of acts of religious discrimination and violence in different parts of the world , we need to send a strong , collective message against religious intolerance and in favour of the freedom of religion or belief for all people everywhere .
I entirely agree with the PPE Group that paragraph 9 is central .
accession en bloc , before the federation broke up , would probably have been easier for all concerned .
we must close the gaps in our society in which terrorism can thrive , gaps that have arisen from misplaced tolerance .
that is the new agenda .
however , I have greater difficulty in thinking that the national legislator should be losing authority on criminal matters in favour of harmonisation at Union level regarding the nature of penalties and the value of fines .
if we want to have reforms , we need to show that introducing reforms will actually lead to some success and will lead to a fair accession process , with the aim of this accession process being accession by its nature .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
in this regard , I welcome the written statement which was agreed between Parliament and the Council during the trialogue , stating that this file should not be treated as a precedent .
the Commission should seek to strengthen synergies between the development pillar and the security and development pillar by creating new external action instruments for the post-2013 period .
are we going to wait until something in the White House changes ?
in October , we will know what we are bound by .
I think that this issue of a legal basis needs to be resolved as it is delaying implementation of the plans , which is essential for conserving the resource and regulating fishing .
will the Commission also crack down on sheer exploitation ?
it is an important step that paves the way for the implementation of the new EU exclusive competence on investment .
1 .
to give it today the exclusive power to negotiate ' bilateral investment agreements ' in the name of , and on behalf of , the 27 Member States is criminal .
in writing . - Under the influence of the European Parliament 's Legal Service , the DEVE , AFET ( DROI ) and INTA Committees have started a fight to gain co-decision rights on the strategic programming level of the financial instruments in external relations .
to conclude , let me now mention the unacceptable fact that tuna fishing was prohibited in September , because two EU countries were catching quantities that should have sufficed for all Member States together .
investment in large projects is being simplified .
I can give you thirty seconds to conclude .
( applause )
let the Libyans solve their problems themselves , otherwise we might see get a full-scale rebellion in Arab countries !
we expect a great deal of the Council in days to come and look forward to effective action to address the problems in this critical period .
one such example is cohesion policy , which is also very important for the European Union .
yes , there is more progress , although this broadband of foreign policy of the Union is not sufficiently big enough , and here I refer to your words , Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner , on money .
secondly , given the increasing scale of trade , particularly from countries like China , we really have to ask Member States to look seriously at whether they have the resources to deal with very large inflows of goods that are coming in and to inspect and deal with counterfeits and products that are trying to evade the customs system .
President Saakashvili is raising the stakes .
the Commission has established assistance programmes under the general cooperation policy and these focus on health and education .
according to the report by the European Commission , it would only have been banned in spray paints , but yet again , upon a recommendation from the Socialists , it has also been restricted in aerosol cleaning materials .
the Belgian Presidency has been keen to participate in this European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion .
our aim is to give Member States more possibilities to develop public service broadcasting , as long as the Treaty provisions on competition are respected .
I just hope that the spirit of compromise that has brought us this far will carry us through to a final agreement .
while , on the one hand , farmers who have applied the rules with a great sense of duty must be thanked , we must , on the other hand , ask ourselves why the European Union sometimes tends to become tangled up in bureaucratic knots that are liable to eclipse this excellence and to simply create a great sense of disappointment among citizens .
however , there is no point in adding the plight of Polish shipyards and Polish shipyard workers to the general economic slow-down .
in addition , the Council also invited the Member States to establish , in cooperation with the stakeholders concerned , a national strategy action plan or any other measures aimed at improving the quality of life of patients and their carers , as well as to improve the distribution of useful information to patients , their families and their carers , in order to make them aware of the care principle and best practices that have been identified .
tomorrow 's vote will give a very positive signal to those expecting a more dynamic European industrial policy .
there are common problems as well as regional aspects and , of course , the approach varies between the two countries .
I will continue to do so in close dialogue with Parliament .
firstly , emphasis has been placed on the eradication of poverty and the improvement of living conditions as main objectives of the recommended measures .
otherwise , we are going to have lawyers deciding policy for us .
the recent tragedies in Haiti and Pakistan demonstrate once again that the tools available to the EU for responding to natural disasters need to be improved .
furthermore , decreasing consumption through energy efficiency is the most sustainable way of reducing dependency on fossil fuels and will bring about a significant drop in imports ( approximately 25-26 % ) .
as you know , the Commission will shortly propose to Member States an energy consumer checklist designed to help collect and deliver relevant information to consumers about their energy markets .
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secondly , the treaty process failed to address the issue of a single seat for the European Parliament , leaving us with the indefensible situation of trekking between Brussels and Strasbourg .
so , again , thank you very much for the debate .
I believe it was Mr Borghezio who mentioned this and felt that there was a great deal of concern about the Stockholm Programme as it stands .
if you are not prepared to provide a more solid foundation for the actual orientation of our budgetary policy , then we can see no reason to continue discussing EU 2020 .
advance notification of outpatient treatment is not mandatory .
secondly , future legislation must spell out clearly that the CO2 emissions of all cars must be reduced .
Israel 's disproportionate attack on the already frail and desperate Palestinian enclave is another indication of its indifference to international humanitarian obligations .
it is also important for young people sending text messages to their boyfriends and girlfriends .
secondly , and this is particularly important for us : in future , we will have to have many common European agreements that apply to all 27 Member States and investors from these Member States if we are also to have a uniform level of protection within the European internal market .
however , the framework for the proper functioning of the state is problematic .
( RO ) I am sorry that the necessary support in the form of 100 % financing is not being provided through the Council at a time when we are talking about the European Social Fund 's role in reducing unemployment , especially during the current crisis .
in this regard we have implemented several practical initiatives and created the expert group on financial education , which held its first meeting in October , devoted to discussions on the national strategies for financial education .
concerning the problems raised by both Ms Kauppi and Mr Hökmark , the reimbursement of contributions to a bank that leaves the scheme , for whatever reason , is not covered by the existing directive and is therefore a matter for Member State legislation .
I know other people disagreed with this tonight , but it increases security as it can detect ceramic and plastic weaponry which are undetectable to standard metal detectors .
an independent Scottish Government would be a constructive player in the EU , keen to develop the best interests of Scotland , obviously , but also willing to work with partners in Europe for our mutual benefit .
there are a number of regional airports on the west coast of Ireland .
this is one of the factors that we are currently working on .
I believe that what we are about to discuss , and I hope tomorrow approve , is very good news for Europe .
our countries will then have the strength to offer work to others as well .
unfortunately , the debate on the budget had a false start .
we know of the Gulf War syndrome and the Balkans syndrome ; time and again the same phenomenon has been observable , with combatants evidently contracting cancers , such as lung cancer , because of their exposure to DU oxide .
we also welcome the new impetus given by the G20 Seoul summit to the WTO Doha development agenda .
the Commission will draft an explanatory note regarding transitional provisions and dates of application of the Regulation ( in particular in view of Articles 7 , 8 , 10 and 12a ) .
it was the first industrial sector for which we developed a sectoral policy of this nature at all , and the reason for this was precisely the fact that we saw future problems facing this sector in good time .
thank you for your attention .
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , last week , the Commission submitted its communication on the economic crisis to the Council for its meeting at the end of this month .
Greenland and the EU intend to enter into a sanitary arrangement on these products , with the objective being that Greenland can trade these commodities with the EU on the basis of internal market rules , provided that Greenland transposes EU sanitary and animal health rules on fishery products .
I and the Confederal Group of the European United Left / Nordic Green Left demand that we also impose the requirement for flexibility on the part of the management of the large undertakings .
I believe that quotas are a necessary instrument in a society in which only 3 % of large companies are headed by women .
therefore , I come with high expectations of how democracy will be handled in this Parliament .
I want to emphasise that when we started working on the documents at the end of 2008 , only four Member States - Austria , Spain , Slovenia and Hungary - had ratified the Convention and Optional Protocol , while another three have done the same - Sweden , Germany and Italy - between then and now .
this month , Lithuania is marking the seventh anniversary of EU accession .
the ALDE Group fully supports close cooperation in this area but it must respect fundamental rights , including privacy , and be progressed within a democratic and transparent framework .
in writing . - ( PT ) The progress made in various areas of society , the economy and politics in recent years gives us good reason to note how the desire to accede to the European Union can successfully lead to major reforms in countries where this possibility exists .
this is without mentioning the multiple violations of the sovereign right of the Serbian state to refuse to deal with the representatives of the separatist province of Kosovo contained in this text .
it aims to promote knowledge , innovation , education and the digital society ; to make our manufacturing infrastructure more resource-efficient , whilst reinforcing competitiveness ; and to increase the rate of involvement in the labour market and the acquisition of qualifications , whilst combating poverty .
it must now be made very clear that public funding must be channelled to the least developed countries .
in writing . - ( PL ) In the context of the debate on the role of sport in the European Union I should like to emphasise the importance of local activities .
there were such flights in 2008 and in 2009 , so they are nothing new .
our objective must be to prevent such situations in the European Union .
therefore , the Commission is convinced that only a coordinated and Community-based process is adequate as opposed to unilateral initiatives by Member States to re-introduce internal border controls .
I would like someone from the PPE Group to present this request .
my institution will then be better able to fulfil its core role - to help citizens who are unhappy with the way they are being treated by EU institutions and bodies .
finally , I especially welcome the acknowledgement of the role of the ports in the new trans-European networks , including their crucial connection with dry ports or inland ports and with logistics platforms .
I am all the more pleased since I know that this cannot be taken for granted .
it is not necessary to buy CDs from Switzerland ; there is another way to go about this .
the pressure of migration is indeed felt more strongly in these territories , but the dignity of each person must be ensured and each case should be investigated in accordance with the law .
( FR ) Mr President , Baroness Ashton , as a Member of the European Parliament who hails from the north of France , I will join Mr Danjean in describing not only the intense emotions that the killing of these two young men from northern France provoked but also the sense of outrage at the injustice of it .
the proposals put forward by the Committee on Women 's Rights also ignore the progressive maternity and parental leave schemes in other countries , including the Nordic countries .
in Europe , the loss of biodiversity continues even though , as a result of growing awareness , ecological zones called ' Natura 2000 ' were set up covering almost 18 % of European territory .
the ruling states that the death penalty is a legal punishment that can deter crime for the public good .
particularly important is the 20 % target for renewable energy .
in addition to this , since 2007 the EU has maintained a dialogue on human rights within the framework of the Cooperation Agreement with Pakistan , which makes provision for a regular dialogue on governance and human rights .
in order to do that , we must establish the correct diagnosis .
that is the problem , and we must vigorously condemn the regime itself , not Islam or religion per se .
in so doing , we need to involve civil society and , above all , Parliament to a significantly greater extent than has been the case in the past .
conclusions like this flow directly from the Albertini report , which notes a lack of will on the part of Member States to conduct a common policy and the statements of some representatives of those Member States which have created the impression of disunity .
( RO ) Mr President , I welcome the fine job which the rapporteur , Mr Callanan , and my colleague , Mr Groote , have done in completing this report .
it calls for directives to be adopted which will essentially alter the right to information and freedom of expression on internal market and competition matters , by imposing the manipulations of big business on information and adjusting the public service to private-sector criteria and the rules of the free market .
let me explain why - and I would like you to be attentive because we will have the same problems in the future .
as I see it , this new entity must be Mercosur .
( RO ) This report refers to the environmental issues , but it cannot and could not have referred only to environmental issues .
this is why I have tabled an amendment to this draft report , requesting a mobility scheme to be set up for masters programmes , to include an Erasmus Mundus European information portal .
relations between Parliament and the Commission have been much altered following the adoption of the Treaty of Lisbon , with greater powers for Parliament in various matters , particularly those that relate to ordinary legislative procedure and budgetary issues , and a stronger role as regards EU foreign policy .
I wish to let it know that without this concept its alternative will not constitute a genuine alternative to ownership unbundling , but rather a legal formula allowing certain Member States to be more equal than others in terms of opening up their markets .
this is unfavourable to these countries ; it is often the large multinationals , some of them European , that reap the greatest benefits from this system .
amendment 27 could not have been carried .
personally , I think they are absolutely right in this respect .
what kind of a Parliament is this ?
because we have taken measures .
we will not support any further watering-down of the report .
moreover , they are ineffective methods , which will not succeed in silencing or containing those who clamour for freedom and human rights .
I also think that this Regulation strengthens and improves existing legal provisions concerning monitoring of operating licences , leasing of aircraft , air traffic distribution and price transparency .
now we must leave this strategy , this so-called exit strategy , behind .
the fourth is the Common Agricultural Policy , which has resulted in significant reductions in food production in new Member States .
it would be simpler to call for America and its President , who is fulfilling his pre-election promise - in which many leading politicians publicly support him , by the way - to sort out this large and unwelcome problem itself .
a case which does not involve much harm , and in which witnesses deny that the event took place .
more ambition in aid support , with the aim of enhancing administrative , local and regional capabilities in neighbouring countries and , also , of promoting exchange programmes for civil society .
as far as I am aware - and that is the last information I had because , obviously , as soon as we heard , we asked for the information - as a training mission with that in mind , I do not think there was any reason for the Egyptians to deny them access .
are the changes taking place in your DG an indication that you are pursuing the restructuring with a view to your forthcoming communication ?
fourthly , it would be important that at any stage during new negotiations it is possible to raise issues that have yet to be addressed at the current stage and that these topics are approved by the Commission .
the consequences are negative for volunteer work since there are insufficient actions of support from the state , even if it can represent a considerable part of a country 's economy .
we appreciate the Commission ' efforts , especially those by the Regional Policy DG , and we encourage the Commission to further enhance local and regional involvement in practical action strengthening the economic inclusion of Roma society .
mutual solidarity between the Member States as regards their water resources does not , however , mean that their sovereignty for making decisions about their water resources has to be abolished .
unfortunately , there are still no European programs and funds designed for improving the situation of children .
I have come to you from Palestine , whose people are suffering from one of the longest military occupations in modern history .
( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , 113 years ago the famous French Socialist Jean Jaurès wrote that capitalism contains within it the seeds of war , as clouds foresee a tempest .
we invest in Russia .
we also need to consider the conduct of passengers within this framework , which allows me to reply to Mr Ortega , because it is not on low-cost flights that this sort of incident occurs , because sales are without doubt more limited .
- Report : Casaca
and , as you know , from a macro-financial stability point of view , I , as the Commissioner for economic and monetary affairs , am always ready to contribute to the discussions in the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and in this Parliament .
statistic tools are necessary for an evaluation of compliance with the principle of prevention of environmental degradation as a consequence of waste usage and the monitoring of waste at the time of generation , collection and disposal .
Parliament has the right to be fully and immediately informed during the process and , after the Commission has signed the agreement , it has the right to approve or reject it .
institutional reforms , a dynamic civil society and greater respect for civil liberties and citizens ' rights have resulted in increased stability , including political stability , in Taiwan .
your report , therefore , is timely , for it sends a clear and balanced message on the importance that the liberalisation of trade in one of the key areas of a DDA deal - services - would have , both for us and for our partners .
now that Mrs Berès ' Committee is continuing its work , it may also be worth listening to the economic policy dissidents : for example , the Nobel prize winner , Paul Krugman .
I also think that , at farm level , inspectors are sometimes regarded as the devil incarnate coming on to farms .
this also leads to major family tragedies and has severe psychological effects on many children .
we must take all of this into account .
we also welcome the UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon 's visit to Burma , scheduled for tomorrow .
that concludes this item .
this is what really matters .
there are also development deficiencies .
the Quartet 's plans have demonstrated the failure of yet another imperialist attempt , and the Annapolis agreements will have the same result .
we got more than 300 responses coming from a range of contributors : individual citizens , organisations , public authorities and even some national parliaments .
on behalf of our shadow rapporteur , Mrs Westlund , I would also like to thank the other shadow rapporteurs for their constructive cooperation , which has resulted in us being able to vote , today , on a proposal that we are all able to support .
everything , apart from the plenary sitting , will be working as normal . the groups which come to Strasbourg to visit Parliament will be received - the groups which we have invited - they will be able to visit Parliament and enter the plenary Chamber , but no proceedings will be held .
2008 discharge : European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions
she says , and I quote , ' The evidence of practice since May 2004 suggests that the EU 's institutional processes and practice have stood up rather robustly to the impact of enlargement ' .
in September , it organised the first Roma Summit , in which representatives of the Member States , the Commission itself and in particular representatives of the Roma civil society were given the opportunity to make recommendations regarding European Roma policy .
the Council rightly reiterated the EU 's adherence to the principles of the UN Charter and the CSCE Helsinki Final Act and to all UN Security Council resolutions .
this would focus mainly on the production of painkillers such as morphine and codeine , which could also be sold to other countries that currently have little or no access to these types of vital medicines as a result of preferential trade agreements .
there is no doubt that we must ensure that exports that fulfil dual purposes are also used in a safe manner and cannot present a danger , but , in any case , we also have to question the excessive and unnecessary additional expenditure .
the future of the world and Europe will mainly depend on women , and mothers in particular .
Mrs Koch-Mehrin , you sound ridiculous when you mention that .
we are part of a community of peoples who guarantee the rights of citizens , strive for peace and prosperity and want to live in peace .
( FR ) Madam President , Commissioner , thank you for your statement , which I believe reflects the remarkable work you have done during your mandate .
there is a 17 % gender pay gap in the EU and there are not sufficient childcare facilities available for children under the age of 3 .
pulling down the barriers that third countries have placed in the way of EU access to raw materials markets must be a priority .
this explains the ambitious plans relating to education : to reduce the number of early school leavers to 10 % , and for 16 million people to achieve tertiary qualifications .
children like to help with cooking and it would be a good idea to encourage this .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( EL ) Mr President , Commissioner , Mrs Wagenknecht had the initiative to draft a report , which is proof of the political courage it took to highlight the redistributive and social dimension of taxation policy .
in that context I also want to point out that aside from the enormous and often entirely bureaucratic difficulties of international adoptions , there also is the tragedy of children who are fought over by their parents following separation or divorce .
however , in the unanimous opinion of manufacturers , it was technically impossible to respect this limit .
indeed , I support the rapporteur 's aim to highlight areas of international trade in which the Internet has acted as a catalyst , creating new conditions for international trade to develop at world level .
I would like to assure you that I take the issue of protecting sharks very seriously .
we need agreement on this , otherwise it will be very difficult to manage this crisis .
the sanctions should therefore be reviewed and analysed : both the concept itself and its application .
next year , things will be very different : for the first time , Parliament will be able to get its teeth into agricultural policy and fisheries expenditure , for example .
the European Union not only has obligations in relation to human rights within its territory , but also an international duty to insist on compliance with these rights and to criticise abuses when dealing with third countries , particularly when we provide financial support through the European Development Fund to third countries like Uganda , which have entered into partnership agreements with us .
given that social , legal and economic institutions determine the access women and men have to resources , their opportunities and relative power , I feel that it is extremely important for women to be guaranteed equal rights with regard to their involvement in politics , occupying important political and management positions in business and their representation at the highest level in company boardrooms .
we must aim for an actual 30 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions .
this is a priority in our programme , as is strengthening camp management skills .
Bulgaria and Romania themselves have long since demonstrated that they are not worthy of accession to the Schengen area at this point .
yes to the strategy , but no to the directive .
in the name of the crisis , there is a retreat of the state that , here too , threatens its social role and has the result of exacerbating inequalities in access to education , to knowledge and to culture .
at present , there is a lack of up-to-date , comparable data and information among the Member States on a number of key healthcare issues including training and employment of workers , age , gender and international flow of health professionals .
I think that 20 days is a promise that can be kept in practice and will not disappoint depositors .
the cultural heritage and the traditions that are linked to wine are still alive here in the European Parliament .
with this legislative resolution , the EIB is therefore taking an essential step .
that is why I fundamentally oppose the incorporation of the EU Charter in the Lisbon Treaty without a referendum .
the OSCE also brings us closer to the states which hold the rotating chairmanship .
however , nanofoods must not be approved until specific risk analysis methods have been put in place , otherwise we will be turning consumers into guinea pigs , which I hope no one wants to do .
I make no secret of the fact , Mr Billström , that I am somewhat eagerly awaiting the reply to our letter .
and yet within Europe - and the President-in-Office has referred to the negotiation process that is taking place with Croatia and perhaps with Turkey - we put up resistance ; there are countries in the European Union which are not happy about that .
on this point , I have asked the European Commission to come up with a definition of this as a condition for establishing proper partnerships with local and regional authorities .
the clear purpose of this process of codification is to make EU law more accessible and comprehensible for the European public .
yesterday , the US Secretary of State , Hillary Clinton , openly urged Moussa Dadis Camara and his regime to step down .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , Commissioner Verheugen , Mr Vizjak , allow me to begin by wishing Malcolm Harbour a happy birthday .
the same applies to the consolidation of public finances , which is a prerequisite for sustainable growth .
two minutes - sadly - will not be long enough for me to do that .
this is necessary as European agricultural policy is , at present , the only policy area where responsibility lies fully at the Community level .
under the Espoo Convention , because of the serious risk to the natural environment , the first step should be to consider alternative routes for the installation of the gas pipeline , without disturbing the marine environment . in this case , this would mean land routes for the pipeline .
and the most urgent task now is to address these problems : to investigate all electoral complaints and to create the proper conditions for the upcoming legislative elections .
however , the euro area , which - as mentioned again by this report - is intended to integrate all the Member States of the European Union , must establish effective governance in every aspect of economic policy .
in Malaysia , the tactic of divide and rule on racial and religious lines has long been used by various elements of the economic and ruling elites .
this is true within the EU .
( Laughter )
this is a most serious food crisis , and Mr Dalli has acknowledged that .
our statement , Communication in Partnership , is a test case for whether we can inform the people .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
I would therefore very much like to see this on the agenda and being clearly discussed .
in writing . - It is appropriate that we vote on Mr Chichester 's report on a day when we have learned that the EU 's institutions have been subjected a large-scale cyber attack .
export and import of dangerous chemicals ( debate )
( ES ) Mr President , Commissioner , I share this House 's aspiration .
the very aim of competition policy is to ensure consumers ' freedom of choice and access to products at lower and more affordable prices .
I also heard an erroneous statement , which I am sure the honourable Member made in good faith , namely that the United States has better results than the EU .
in order to facilitate such an arrangement a common approach is needed to what has to be taxed , in other words a consolidated corporate tax base .
the PPC on Culture , which will be held the day before the summit , will help to intensify our cultural cooperation .
it is essential , in planning future social policies , to focus on the idea of the welfare society , in which all of us , as citizens , have more responsibility and show more solidarity .
the end-agreement between Council and Parliament reflects a good balance between efforts to resolve existing problems and a realistic scenario for the future as regards expanding the scope of the present agreements .
I , too , would therefore like to be a little more critical today , Mr Vice-President .
while the Commission 's accounting procedures have been praised by the Court - which is nonetheless the least of things - you will note that only 8 % of the European Union 's accounts are duly approved .
it is therefore necessary to establish some kind of principles to help define relevant quality standards and regulations , thus creating stability and partnership in the area of trade .
how are you going to ensure that the independence of these stress tests really is guaranteed ?
I am the politician .
on the other hand , the fact that some countries sometimes gain an advantage in international trade by using illegal instruments is a sign that the switch-over to constitutionality is gradual and is not perfect immediately .
besides , the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health has come out almost unanimously against the method .
we would agree as well - and are pleased to see it there - that we need to be adopting more of a life course approach that deals with the different rhythms and patterns of modern working lives , both positive and negative .
( NL ) Mr President , the fact that we are welcoming the Spanish Prime Minister to our sitting today could mistakenly give the impression that we are still in the reflection period about the Constitution , as this series of discussions with prime ministers was set up for that purpose .
a sum of EUR 3.5 billion has been allocated for this .
the EU is becoming even wider and , with the advent of pan-European political parties , seemingly ever deeper , with this inability to achieve consensus being proved repeatedly .
there is no reason for us to accept solutions which we consider to be harmful .
we , the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament , emphatically support the replacement of old bilateral agreements between our Member States and third countries with comprehensive global agreements at European level .
the European Parliament supported the aim of this proposal .
we have to ask ourselves here what is going wrong in our societies and what is going wrong in the Islamic environment for these people to become radicalised .
then we should see an end to the exploitation of religion for very secular aims .
we need to send a clear message that social Europe is alive and well .
investment in real and sustainable renewable energy accounts for two thirds of the SET Plan funds .
one last point : I would encourage both banks to increase their efforts and to make sure that they do not duplicate their activities .
we will support the Anti-Doping Conference .
all players must increase their efforts and show responsibility and determination in resolving all outstanding issues which are hampering the process of accession for the candidate country and the EU 's own policy in the region .
as the claim is incompatible with the purpose and content of the draft regulation , I therefore voted against its adoption .
in my opinion , we should also assist these bodies , for example in the area of access to modern monitoring equipment , the acquisition of new expertise in the performance of monitoring procedures and , last but not least , through support for professional training and work exchange visits .
with a budget of EUR 15 million for the period 2011-2013 , the programme will offer new possibilities for international cooperation and networking - and this concept of networking is extremely important - among audiovisual professionals from the European Union and from third countries .
the essence of a democratic system of decision-making is arrival at a consensus , through majority or unanimous support for some idea , where a frivolous veto is not issued by one partner in important matters .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( FR ) Mr President , Mr Topolánek , Mr Barroso , ladies and gentlemen , after leading our US partners and the rest of the world from the start of the crisis in an ambitious , but truly necessary , reform of the financial markets , last Friday Europe established a road map for the G20 of 2 April .
having said this , even a good tool can always be improved .
dialogue with the institutionalised civil society is very important , because , indeed , institution building can only be achieved if the people involved are willing to bring about real change .
in addition , together with Ukraine , my country is preparing to host next year 's European football championship .
he has put forward possible opportunities and solutions for a future renewed EU tourism policy , particularly on the visa granting policy , harmonisation of quality standards , improvement of visibility and understanding of labels by tourists , consumer protection , accessibility of tourism for tourists with reduced mobility , guarantee of passenger rights , and promotion of destinations within the European Union .
( applause )
Mr Gauzès 's report , which proposes bringing credit rating agencies under the supervision of the European Securities and Markets Authority , is therefore along the right lines .
failing this , the partnerships in which we are investing so much may as well be called ransom payments .
the situation in the Balkans , however , clearly demonstrates that EU policy offers no solution that would prevent the division of the state while providing for the peaceful coexistence of all the ethnic and religious entities within it .
financial control of the implementation of the European Union budget takes place on three levels : internal control , within each institution ; external control , carried out by the European Court of Auditors ; and a discharge procedure carried out by the European Parliament .
the fact is , we are seeing debates starting up here and there which are liable to go against Europeans ' very interests , because they would lead to a reduction in investment just when it is needed the most , in other words , in our long-term capital : education , training and health .
the new cohesion policy must be clearly results-oriented and specify the necessary reforms , while at the same time reducing the constraints imposed by red tape and simplifying the management of the funds .
any Member State that ignores its obligations and responsibilities , particularly with respect to the Growth and Stability Pact , creates serious problems for other Member States .
we have helped one Member State , Hungary , at the start of November , this had to be done .
as regards the current situation with legal immigration , our Group believes that the commitment displayed by the country of origin to control illegal immigration should be made a condition for our negotiations with third countries .
the reduction ( 50 % lower than the previous indicative guide levels ) is a step in the right direction towards a more responsible policy that takes public health seriously .
we must raise awareness about this , and the political message has to go through as well .
the junta continues its abuses of power , large multinational companies continue to benefit from their contracts with that junta , and the Commission has reduced aid for refugees who have fled to the border with Thailand .
that is why we want to see , at long last , a debate with the Council and Commission and a motion for a resolution , so as to put an end to the matter once and for all - and this before the elections so that voters know who stands for what .
I think these elements are essential because the idea of a non-EU country which only produced these products having access to our markets on any sort of terms simply because we had access to its market ( which might well be of no interest to European consumers ) seems either unrealistic or purely theoretical and I cannot accept it .
how will you now conduct the dialogue ?
the outcome of the consultations on a new VAT strategy is only mentioned in order to justify the reason why it is premature to set a permanent standard rate level .
I firmly believe that Europe must play a leading role , as it was able to do last March when it called on the Commission and the Member States to focus on the issue of taxing international financial activities .
Libya has an essential role to play here .
therefore I appeal for adaptation of the EU budget to new challenges not to be made by moving resources from the CAP , but by an appropriate increase in EU budgetary means .
we feel that this report is a step in the right direction , but we cannot accept that the full decoupling of aid should not allow for the possibility of maintaining a partial coupling of aid for some specific sectors , to prevent the complete abandonment of production .
in whatever walk of life , we must work together : there is no cherry-picking , there is no free riding in the real world .
I just think we need information , because if we do not get this information on injuries or effects on health , I believe it may be difficult to get consumers on board in this fight to do something about product counterfeiting .
as a result there was a worsening in the safety of flights , and about 20 % of aircraft were delayed , more fuel was being used , which had a negative ecological impact .
I think , however , that we should tackle this stage of the dialogue , which is absolutely fundamental , via joint action which , so far , has been practically unprecedented .
the details provided by the Commission in the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development were also far from convincing .
it is obvious that there must be greater coordination between the countries in the Eurozone and non-Eurozone countries .
specific measures for agriculture in the outermost regions of the Union (
so , by comparison , CO2 needs to be put into perspective .
we are well aware that in the current economic crisis , and with its increased difficulties , companies are increasingly struggling with liquidity problems , and that in many Member States , they are even exposed to an increased risk of bankruptcy .
Mr President , Baroness Ashton , we know how much people hoped in 2005 at the time of the Tulip Revolution that everything would change when a new president came into office who genuinely took seriously the needs and interests of the people with regard to democracy and codetermination .
mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund : Comunidad Valenciana - natural stone from Spain (
in writing . - I share Ms Anneli Jäätteenmäki 's calls for a revision of the Statute of the European Ombudsman .
author . - ( PL ) Mr President , both the political situation and internal security in Zimbabwe took a sudden turn for the worse after the March parliamentary and presidential elections in that country .
through the report adopted today , the European Union has committed itself to taking a world-leading role on social policy by promoting its objectives on a global scale , thereby underlining the importance of the role attributed to Parliament by the Treaty of Lisbon .
from the short-term and medium-term perspective , it is important to control price shocks , especially in the area of foodstuffs .
we must make it easier for businesses to take on more people .
for this reason , I voted in favour of Mrs Bilbao Barandica 's report .
in the Directive on the promotion of renewable energy sources , however , I think there is insufficient emphasis on the urgent need to promote technologies for converting biomass directly into gas .
we are radically opposed to the proposed regulations , which reveal the anti-rural character of the CAP .
written explanations of vote
especially during the current global economic crisis , it is important to create and preserve jobs and continue the efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals .
firstly , Mr President , I wish to join with my fellow Members in asking for the Council proposal to be withdrawn .
it must ensure that the March 2009 agreements on the ceasefire are respected effectively and in good faith .
we are always speaking about connecting the EU to its citizens and the fact that the EU project cannot proceed without the involvement of EU citizens .
I am abstaining out of consideration for the Spanish workers of Lear Automotive , who have been sacrificed on the altar of globalisation .
it is possible to be in favour of a European economic policy without favouring an increase in the deficit , and we will not be able to coordinate European policies simply by means of a revival on request .
this key figure must be the voice of Europe in the world .
there is no one who particularly wants that .
I therefore believe that this report is a fairly valid contribution to the development of the system of international trade , which is based on labour relations that vary so much between countries / trade blocs .
( the President cut off the speaker )
what more can we do to cut Europe 's dependence on Russia 's energy supplies ?
I believe that the implementation of these European funds should be monitored , and in particular it is the sustainability of EU-funded projects that should be monitored .
the purpose of cooperation in matters of security is to keep Europe a safe place to live in and to protect law-abiding citizens .
it is not the children who stay behind who should be helped ; it is the families and the entire populations from these countries who should be helped and encouraged to stay at home .
Mrs Ashton , what plans do you have to play this card within NATO , where 21 of the 28 allies are also members of the European Union ?
not only do we have little idea who enters and leaves our country but there are serious question marks over the Border and Immigration Agency , which is charged with implementing controls .
Alzheimer 's is a disease that will inevitably become more common with the expected ageing of the European population : seven million Europeans are affected today , and that figure will probably double in the coming decades .
they simply follow the gesticulations of their party tic-tac men .
subject : communication providing for a higher target for greenhouse gas emission cuts
I ask , therefore , what kind of conclusions come from falsified data ?
however , in an interview published in the Spanish newspaper , El País , last Sunday , you expressed the wish , Mr Zapatero , that the law on religious freedom might result in Spain taking steps towards normalisation within all its public institutions .
those zones are most needed by Russian and Ossetian smugglers in order to prevent Georgia having any control at the internal borders between the puppet Ossetia and the still independent Georgia .
we owe this to everyone concerned - the taxpayer , and also those who spend EU funds to the best of their knowledge and conscience .
we now have to get phase 2 up and running and pave the way for European investment projects that will also enable us to make our Europe 2020 agenda a reality .
it is essential to adopt measures to resolve the gender disparities in entrepreneurship , in order to better reconcile private and professional life .
it can start by requiring Opel 's European management to put the business plan on the table at long last and to provide full access to the economic and other arguments forming the basis for this decision .
if Europe is to play a leading part in a very competitive , a fiercely competitive , global world , we need all the resources available at the highest possible level .
in order to contain a fire , large-scale , fast intervention is required : European solidarity has to be more effective .
the problem which all the questions asked in recent weeks have been about is whether there is a sufficient degree of coordination , as was the case even up to now in European policies , for the European Union to make progress .
this present European Parliament resolution makes an important call on countries originating from the Soviet Union to provide full access to archives on this tragedy for comprehensive scrutiny in order to unveil and fully investigate the causes and consequences of this famine .
so , please - a European system as soon as possible .
in other words , it could be a real hub in a particular area in a region - in this case , a region of Hungary .
you know , I am pleased that the optimism which we always broadcast to the world before every conference in the past , and which was then transformed into enormous scepticism , is not so prevalent this time .
we say ' yes ' to the new Treaty , as the problems with the judgments occurred under the old Treaty .
several members have mentioned that investment is essential , that we cannot , as they say , ' save ourselves out ' of this crisis , that we must invest .
in terms of showing credibility , the EUR 7.2 billion must actually be realised before Mexico .
the acts do not relate to the Roma , nor to fingerprinting ; they are about non-EU citizens and travellers , some of whom have for some time been featuring in the Italian crime reports .
I suggest that perhaps the person whose fingerprints are really on this is not here to answer that tonight .
what does it say ?
over half of the EU population lives in rural areas today ; 45 % of European gross value added is produced in rural areas and 53 % of available jobs are located there .
when these issues are dealt with at international level , cooperation should be sought within the framework of the International Whaling Commission , not the EU .
following the negotiations conducted with the Commission and the Council , we have a common understanding which stipulates the need for the supporters of a citizens ' initiative to provide certain elements of ID and for facilities for Member States to verify them .
I am advocating qualitative and quantitative growth .
in view of the abovementioned problems , I voted in favour of the report , which proposes a solution to this difficult situation with regard to employment policy .
I am told that Mr de Magistris requested the defence of his immunity .
if we try to look at flexicurity from a female point of view , we obtain a useful perspective on the matter .
once again , a severe abuse of human rights is taking place here about which something should be done , including by the Western powers .
the concept of EURO-NEST was supported by the majority of the members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs .
in June , the European Council affirmed its commitment to healthy public finances and to the Stability and Development Pact .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I have listened carefully to the numerous contributions .
is it the people who should be paying for the mistakes made on the advice of banking corporations ?
however , the rapporteur fails to draw the lessons that he should regarding the necessary consequences : amongst other things , that the guiding principle of international trade should be one of complementarity rather than one of competition between producer countries and producers , and that planned agriculture oriented toward the food sovereignty and security of each country is needed .
Turkey is transferring population to this part of Cyprus and is therefore responsible for a severe demographic change .
first question , then : where was the left , which has governed in Italy for decades , when these illegal camps were set up and proliferated in conditions totally lacking in the most basic health and safety standards ?
the next item is the recommendation for second reading , on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs , on the Council common position ( 10597 / 2 / 2008 - C6-0324 / 2008 - for adopting a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2003 / 88 / EC concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time ( Rapporteur : Mr Cercas ) .
we have already identified and agreed to have four common priorities in 2009 : the European elections , energy and climate change , the 20th anniversary of the democratic changes in Central and Eastern Europe and , of course , sustaining jobs , growth and solidarity in Europe .
we know that the leaders of the Ahmadinejad regime will be following this debate , which is why it is right and proper to say clearly to President Ahmadinejad and his supporters that the host of candidates for the 296 parliamentary seats - there are more than 7 000 , of whom 2 000 are apparently being excluded - is a sure sign to us that he has his back to the wall in domestic politics .
the situation in rural areas is very diverse across Member States , including as regards possibilities and requirements for women .
back in 1994 the then UCLAF - the predecessor of OLAF - set up a Cigarettes Task Force .
if binding targets were set , however , households could save up to EUR 1 000 annually , according to figures from the European Commission .
the comments made by Mr Jouyet should demonstrate the Presidency 's concern to bring the differing points of view closer together .
we parliamentarians now have an opportunity to insist that the Treaties include a binding social progress clause or protocol .
the directive covers every stage in the chain , from donation to transplantation , and provides for cooperation between Member States .
but how do we do this when budgets are being slashed ?
situations of this kind may favour child trafficking , because checking the identity of the child is made difficult .
it should be clear to the consumer what he or she is buying .
I have seen two landmark events in my political career , the first being German reunification and the second Europe 's reunification following two bloody European civil wars in the last century .
I also think it is a good idea to integrate educational systems more at international level , firstly , to ensure that people 's qualifications are fully recognised , and secondly , to promote cross-border mobility projects .
within the process it is important to involve local communities , and Mrs de Brún 's report highlights the wide range of projects including childcare , after-school projects , enterprise parks and small business enterprise , in both the rural and urban areas .
I support the substance of the Commission proposal .
you can therefore count on the Commission .
as highlighted by the report , the overall trend must be towards shortening the average time-to-grant and time-to-pay in order to encourage further participation in these research programmes .
what can we do ?
in writing . - ( FR ) No one is challenging the aims of this report on the gap between producer prices and the prices paid by the consumer .
the report fully reflects Parliament 's particular interest in the issue of agricultural policy .
we wonder , however , why the Roma situation in Italy was not picked up by Mrs Mohácsi last year , five months ago , or even a year and a half ago .
responsibility for this decision , which is very bad for business , lies wholly with the Council .
the rapporteur , a member of the PPE Group , in his review of the energy efficiency action plan , makes a balanced proposal to attain a target of a 20 % energy saving , set by the European Council in 2007 .
the Czech Presidency is on the side of the workers in this debate , and I congratulate it for helping us to see off this latest onslaught by Socialists .
it is rare for a European Council to have to take so many decisions on such basic political issues .
( it ) Mr President , the report by Mr Garriga Polledo is a very important piece of work that allows us to set out a new financial framework for a competitive , sustainable and inclusive Europe .
this goal must be attained without thereby increasing the risk to payments .
that is the message from my group .
4 .
it is not about any link to anything .
thus I ask you , in your capacity as the European Parliament , to set an example and respect minorities .
today we are the European Parliament and what applied then in 1958 also applies today in 2008 , and I have no doubt at all that , when the European institutions work together , they will also be successful .
therefore the subsidy principle sometimes leads to a situation where some of the structural assistance is not used efficiently .
the Member States will also have primary responsibility for further harmonisation of frequencies .
I would like to add that we should also use the time to rebuild relations between Europe and the United States on the basis of a joint initiative on resolving the situation in the Middle East .
it would be an extremely positive development if the aid - or whatever we now want to call it - could help to create stability for the ideas , projects and investments of a domestic nature that could actually be carried out in the developing countries .
I welcome the fact that the repeated calls from Parliament have resulted in payment appropriations totalling EUR 47 608 950 being identified in the budget for the EGF budget line .
one of those mentioned - and which I support - is the challenge of proposing energy sources that offer an alternative to nuclear energy .
in a recession we must prepare for the time afterwards and for new markets .
how else will you produce a situation where the gas supply is split into two : transport and storage ?
on behalf of the EFD Group . - ( DA ) Mr President , we are here today to talk about endangered species .
the reduction in energy dependence , the commitment to combating climate change , the management of the financial crisis , the creation of a trustworthy defence , security and foreign policy require increased European togetherness , resolve and capacity to act .
moreover , Galileo will have the facility to support the implementation of previous traffic management systems for all means of transport ( road , air , sea , etc . ) , which will improve efficiency and reduce the environmental impact .
but this requires reform , it requires economic momentum , and it requires higher rates of productivity .
this involves encasing the damaged reactor block IV with new protective cladding and the necessary steps to close down the other reactor blocks . all work should be completed by 2015 .
however , there is nothing preventing them from committing the same crime in another country .
what is lacking is a real dialogue to examine , for example , the role of the European Investment Bank , and the use of surpluses in the expenditure categories to finance the European Commission 's plans .
Cambodia 's Prime Minister , Hun Sen , has referred to the clashes as a ' real war ' .
one of the things we discussed was how we can use our computer systems in such a way that citizens , journalists , NGOs and others can follow the progress of a piece of legislation from the Commission 's proposal right up until it is finally voted through .
I would also add that the underlying idea is that , at some time in the future , naturally , this rapid response capability could become permanent .
in writing . - Along with my political group , the Socialists and Democrats , I was very pleased with the final make-up of the incoming Commission .
in writing . - I welcome Elizabeth Lynne 's report entitled ' Progress made in equal opportunities and non-discrimination in the EU ' .
however , unlike the Commission and the committee , I would advocate an increase in the minimum requirements for those tyre manufacturers who wish to sell their products on the internal market , rather than detailed regulation .
children should be able to receive a general education that fosters equal opportunities to develop their abilities - their individual power of discernment and sense of moral and social responsibility - so that they might grow as well-balanced , responsible members of society .
it seems to me that we are allowing the conscientious objectors to block progress on these issues .
since the new treaty guarantees Parliament strong rights to intervene in the European Union 's programme , we believe that further measures are important .
this practice saved lives as well as property .
( FR ) Mr President , globalisation gone mad and its mad exponents are making European automotive workers pay a high price for the consequences of their fundamentalist open-market and free-trade order .
currently Member States comply with partly overlapping but often conflicting bilateral investment agreements with third countries , and this hampers the objectives of the EU 's common commercial policy , and the formation of the image of the EU as a single trade area in transnational and global trade .
that has been stated very elegantly by Mrs Kroes herself .
last week , in the latest of a series of incidents , a 600 lb bomb was planted by dissident republicans and was discovered in South Armagh .
we are very willing for this to happen as soon as possible so that we can start the process of adopting them , again in conjunction with the Council and Parliament .
but I have to stand back and question the premise .
it is still too early to gauge the full extent of the disaster , but it is evident that , apart from Chernobyl , no place on Earth has yet been stricken by civil nuclear technology .
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I would like to stress that we must enhance natural removals of greenhouse gas emissions which promote the conservation of biodiversity .
however , I must make one point which I feel is important for the future .
the Court of Auditors was not present during our discussions and neither was the Council .
Mr Lehne , you spoke of several billion euros .
Mr President , I had the honour of participating in the meeting of the Committee on Fisheries when it voted , albeit by a very narrow margin , against renewing the fishing agreement with Guinea , precisely because of the massacres , rapes , and all the human rights violations which have taken place and have yet to be investigated .
I am pleased that the Council was also of a similar opinion and the Commission demonstrated the flexibility necessary to find a constructive compromise .
we are pleased that a majority has supported these priorities .
without strong political pressure on these countries , it will be difficult to bring about peace .
however , if this legislation is actually applied at some point , because patients need it , and that is not a good thing , I will be very pleased about what we have achieved .
my first point relates to Russia 's accession to the WTO and my sincere request , including to the Council and the Commission , is to provide as much support as possible for this .
a good deal of time is wasted at baggage collection too .
moreover , at the end of last year , more than 90 % of these funds had already actually been lent to small and medium-sized enterprises .
however , I think the results are very positive and I will mention three points in particular .
I can only agree with Mrs Reding in that the Commission should exercise the right to initiate infringement proceedings in all justified cases .
in writing . - Firstly I wish to thank the rapporteur for his excellent work .
by this we meant that in the European Union decisions were taken only by the Council of Ministers , based on Commission proposals , and that Parliament was only consulted .
increased life expectancy and the decreased birth rate will have terrible consequences for European social systems if specific measures cannot be taken .
the government is supporting the set-up and development of at least 1 100 SMEs for young people .
they are denied the possibility of a legal abortion in practically every case , even in cases which are permissible under law .
the determination being displayed by the Commission and by many Members of this House in wanting to impose ' patrimonial separation ' , in other words forcing ' historical ' operators like EDF to give up ownership of their network , is quite unacceptable .
since SMEs have a crucial role to play for the European economy as a whole on account of their great innovation potential , they need clear , fair and non-discriminatory competition rules in order to facilitate cross-border transactions and to take advantage of the EU market by making effective use of SEPA ( the Single Euro Payments Area ) .
the European Parliament must therefore adapt its budget strategy to this fact .
just as momentum is needed in the reform process for Turkey , momentum is needed in its membership talks with the European Union too .
what is happening in Italy shows that the freedom of speech is sometimes more dangerous than weapons to a regime that seizes power over the freedom of speech .
Member of the Commission . - It is actually Commissioner Špidla who is in charge of the preparation of the Commission document in response to the Council request .
platitudes tend to rebound painfully on those who mouth them .
with 33 chapters discussed in the progress report , Iceland moves forward quickly to meeting the criteria to join the EU .
it is just that the National Gendarmerie has a number of files which ...
therefore , it must not be the case that , in exchange for an illusory sense of security , we so easily relinquish respect for dignity , the right to privacy and protection of the personal data of the Community 's residents .
( PL ) Ladies and gentlemen , several hours ago , a brutal terrorist attack was made on one of my party 's offices in Poland .
the attention to the question of standardisation in the new rules on business cooperation is welcome .
we understand that the country has internal threats to its security and that there has to be a response to these , but democracy is not a threat to security .
poor countries are worried .
the European Council also set out a clear road map and gave new impetus to ongoing legislative work .
this applies especially to budget carriers , which have enabled new groups of citizens to discover Europe and the world .
all this is regulated at international level .
it is very impractical , and it is more like an imprisonment of our rights than a charter .
so will our educational programmes - Socrates , Leonardo and Erasmus - which must be attuned to the world of work as a matter of urgency .
the vote will take place at the end of the debate .
this file was complex and delicate .
infrastructure should be cofinanced by the framework programme , the European Investment Bank , the Structural Funds and national policies .
therefore , the new regime should on no account lead to high costs and bureaucracy , particularly for Europe 's airlines , but there must be a gain for the climate .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( DA ) Mr President , there is an election in Denmark today .
the text that we adopted on Wednesday is more consensual .
I think that examining the review of the Seventh Framework Programme ( FP7 ) for research and technological development offers an opportunity to cement the precious link between knowledge , education and research .
this would avoid all Member States having to supply their consulates with the equipment necessary to collect biometric data .
I wish to mention that the current measures have not yet overcome the difficulties preventing the development of SMEs .
it would be unwise , in this situation , to give up this policy and reduce significantly the financing available to local and regional authorities , for this would pose a serious threat to the stimulation of economic growth , but would also be a threat to European unity as such .
with this role in mind , provision has been made to increase annual aid to the sector in Europe from EUR 26 million for 2008-2010 to EUR 32 million for 2011-2013 .
sexual exploitation in conditions akin to slavery is particularly prevalent in Eastern Europe , which is like a transit route for trafficking human beings to the west .
it is highly regrettable that attempts are being made to balance national budgets by reducing social benefits and programmes for disabled people .
we have to face the facts : in many geographical zones , where infrastructure competition proves not to be feasible , appropriate regulation will continue to be the only way to keep competition alive .
in 2002 , on a proposal from the European Commission , the Council adopted a Regulation establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund .
the report also proposes providing for more stringent financial obligations for Member States , requiring them to earmark funding for possible waste management , as well as the financing of reserves , and it also proposes a framework for controlling regional waste management projects .
the report by Mrs Hennis-Plasschaert , on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs , on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national or a stateless person ( recast ) - C6-0474 / 2008 - ,
we need to ensure that appropriate information sources are made available in the less developed regions .
there should in principle be no split between residence and work , and this type of document must be transparent .
so I hope this report does mark a new beginning and that it marks the start of a closing of the gap between political rhetoric on energy efficiency and its actual implementation .
in terms of consumer protection , there are numerous concerns and my report contains proposals regarding compliance with European standards , particularly in terms of health and safety .
we welcome your visit to Sudan and that of our fellow Members , including Mrs De Keyser 's activities .
( PT ) Mr President , Mr Vice-President of the Commission , ladies and gentlemen , I must start by reiterating that the unrelenting fight against terrorism must be pursued within the law , with respect for the rule of law and without infringing fundamental rights .
the use of antibiotics is indeed a thorn in our sides , for both animals and people .
author . - ( ES ) Mr President , I would like to begin by saying that Mexico is a great democracy that has progressed steadily over the last 20 years .
I believe that it is important to stress this , because the free movement of persons and capital constitutes one of the precious European Union acquis to which we are so attached .
we await with interest the Green Paper and the conclusions that it will contain .
you will , of course , receive an answer on this point .
I hope that no new discriminatory conditions will be imposed on farmers in the new programming period .
that would be more intelligent , healthier , safer and greener .
increasing awareness and visibility of the process was one of the big challenges agreed by almost all participants in the process .
I would very much like to thank the European Parliament and all the rapporteurs responsible for this - Mrs Jean Lambert , of course , for her work , as well as Mr Moraes for the necessary amendments to the European Refugee Fund , and all the co-rapporteurs and shadow rapporteurs .
as regards the contents of this report that we are debating , there can be no doubt that good governance is fundamental to the success of any policy , especially cohesion policy , which is based on joint administration , most of the responsibility for which has shifted to national and regional authorities .
next , we need to commit ourselves to improving the competitiveness of the European textiles sector within the more general framework of a strong and ambitious European industrial policy .
this goes not only for interaction between airports , but also for interaction with other modes of transport and infrastructures surrounding airports ( ' co-modality ' ) .
inflation is a scourge which redistributes assets unfairly .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , I should like to start by thanking the rapporteur .
as others have mentioned , six out of 27 EU countries account for more than 80 % of defence spending and for 98 % of research and development .
the political dialogue between the EU and its southern neighbours is not restricted simply to the subjects of migration and economic agreements .
( DE ) Mr President , Mr Zahradil asked who will benefit from this .
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nobody can claim any longer that the guilty get off scot-free .
indeed , that proposal focuses on the rules and arrangements needed to provide access , in equitable conditions , to safe and high quality healthcare for patients moving across Europe .
Madam President , the European Commission and the Council must clearly decide their positions for meeting the challenges of globalisation .
if we do not stay in the House - for an hour in my case , having been invited to be here because mine was one of the questions - we do not get any answer at all , not even a written answer .
work is not the only way of preventing poverty , however , as illustrated by the many cases of poverty amongst working people .
I would therefore say that this Treaty will help Europe 's legislation to become more social , based on the aims you have agreed with the social partners at this summit .
furthermore , it clearly lays out the cases in which these services can be used , because at present , the rules regarding reimbursement when using these services are not always clear and understandable .
my question is as follows : do you intend to put the issue of human rights once again at the core of EU foreign policy in Latin America ?
for instance , we could take France as an example , where any functional impairment is clearly indicated on the packet .
we have to be absolutely sure that we continue to react in an appropriate way .
Beijing + 15 - UN Platform for Action for Gender Equality ( debate )
I ask you to really look into this and create , in cooperation with Member States , a single , powerful momentum for innovation .
and the European Central Bank has responded well to the financial crisis .
only six months are left before the pilot project launched in May 2010 concludes , meaning it is already time to draw up budgets .
we know that in some countries there are going to be disasters , even if we do not know when exactly : the floods in South-East Asia are one example .
we are discussing the rights of mothers and of fathers , but we also need to discuss the right - the unconditional right - of a child to build a close relationship with both parents .
that is why we must fight to defend this policy , to defend its budget , to convince the Member States that regional policy is not a luxury but a necessity .
I have to say that the only satisfactory European speech came from outside the Union , namely from the Turkish Prime Minister , Mr Erdogan , who told Mr Mubarak that he should listen to the demands of his people and that he should therefore step down .
( DE ) Mr President , the Internet platform WikiLeaks is publishing - to put it simply - confidential information , and , naturally , that is always very unpleasant for the parties involved .
however , although we are on this common road of reconciliation , we are , today , in a different place .
fortunately there are countries which do things differently !
Madam President , I think it is important that we talk about good governance in the sense that it is , of course , important that we put pressure on all of us to bring in the reforms that are needed , but let us not forget that the main good governance we have in our own hands is to ensure that the European Union does what the European Union should do .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( DE ) Madam President , to come straight to the point , I believe the Olympic Games should go ahead in China , because we have a good opportunity to use these very games to step up our dialogue with China .
you will also know - and you will have seen it - that Prime Minister Fayyad is busy looking at the possibilities for some sort of reconciliation .
they failed to provide proper information campaigns .
thirdly , encouraging the exchange of good practice by enhancing mobility programmes , especially under the Comenius programme , which also contributes positively to the updating of language skills .
in this I am thinking of the Irish Government , which has not applied for the Fund so far .
as people have pointed out , in cases where things are medically necessary , with a need for urgent treatment , we already have a system in place under social security coordination .
however , these do not exclude abortus provocatus .
therefore , next time , our mission should be to take up this matter with the Chinese authorities .
one thing is very clear to me , however , and that is that Europe will not change its values at the request of Russia or any other country .
we want measures in connection with the private equity funds and hedge funds now .
the situation in Egypt could be adequately described as a revolt in waiting for a revolution .
this report forms the basis for very close monitoring of this process and that is a positive thing from a wide variety of points of view .
an enlarged monetary union requires , in fact , greater internal cohesion .
the proposal that the Commission has produced is important for further measures of liberalisation in line with the reforms of 2003 .
I speak under Rule 145 to rebut remarks and comments made about me by Dame Sarah Ludford in her speech in this debate .
the President of the Italian Republic pointed out that legal remedies existed and mentioned , in his speech , Article 7 of the treaties .
perhaps it can also rethink some of the steps that have led to dependence on countries outside Europe in certain areas .
I move for the suspension of all further action until better times , or for the complete rejection of the Commission 's proposal .
the European Parliament is also concerned about reports of serious overcrowding and poor conditions in the refugee camps established by the Sri Lankan Government .
the government , in turn , should support this switch far more resolutely , not least fiscally .
this will avoid legal uncertainty and offer guarantees to users as to when these decisions will be implemented .
( RO ) Mr President , I voted in favour of this resolution and I will now explain why I did .
the expenditure it involves us in is not justified in terms of value .
in brief , I anticipate that the European Commission will prepare immediate measures , as well as a strategy for this new situation .
that does not mean that we should draw any hasty conclusions .
please remember that my fellow Members who are calling here in this House for a referendum are speaking only for themselves .
I hope that we can both live with that .
the new rules represent a significant improvement .
that opinion is expressed , for example , in the open letter addressed to the UN Secretary General by a hundred scientists from all over the world .
once again we are lamenting the proliferation of fires during the summer of 2009 , which have caused human losses .
for example , between 2005 and 2007 in the UK , there were a number of cases reported by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency of fake lifesaving products , such as AstraZeneca 's prostrate cancer drug , Casodex , and the antiplatelet drug , Plavix , which protects against heart attack and stroke , actually reaching wholesalers and even pharmacy shelves .
our view in this connection is quite clear .
the Committee also maintains that the particular nature of the financial sector demands considered solutions in a globalised world .
to you too , of course , Mr Stubb - there is no way I could forget to mention you - and the same goes for Mr Brie .
are you considering investing in new research , and perhaps developing an alternative strategy , since we now know about the negative impacts and outcomes ?
the European Commission and Committee of the Regions must urgently produce the ' practical guide for local and regional authorities ' on how to improve energy performance through the innovative use of ICT .
the resolution which is being put to us today relates to the challenges in the relations between universities and business in connection with the implementation of the notorious Bologna process .
your report thus reinforces the messages and supports the work undertaken by the Commission .
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Estonia 's economic output has fallen by over 15 % , while the European Union average is -4.1 % .
travel by rail is finally to become a real alternative to flying within Europe .
let me say a few words on this subject .
these credit rating agencies need to be regulated .
in my view the funding should go to missionaries to enable them to care for those children , especially the boys , so that they are not conscripted into the armies . once the boys are conscripted they become incapable of anything except shooting and raping .
we all know that in the foreseeable future raw materials will be in short supply .
I refer in particular to the development of synergies for an integrated approach between the different sectoral policies that exist in the field of regional policy , as highlighted in the report .
we shall read them very carefully , page by page .
you can therefore obviously count on that public awareness , which is also necessary to ensure that we , the EU , and our Member States are able to act more effectively .
but now we are tinkering with the scheme .
the debate is closed .
the Commission has indicated that Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania have complied with the criteria and , therefore , the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers must recognise that , as soon as possible .
examples of these include the ancient cultures of the ethnic Hungarians living in Romania , the Moldavian Csangos , the Szekler people of Transylvania , as well as those of the Macedonians in Greece and Bulgaria , the ethnic Serbs in Romania and the Basque people in Spain .
for financial reasons , this date is frequently indicated as being more than 30 months .
let us begin to take these small steps , without being afraid that others will follow them .
the changes under way also affect Israel and , by investing in change , we can bring together security and peace .
the progress of the European Union does not begin with the Slovenian Presidency and we are convinced that it will continue in all areas .
the only problems are with the how : after all , the Commission gives no details of the procedure and wishes to lay down all the more detailed provisions in implementing regulations .
the surprising result of this vote will hopefully create scope for a real debate , a debate on the substance of the problems threatening media pluralism in Europe .
women have an education , but hold no qualifications ; they suffer from occupational diseases which are not recognised as such ; they are willing to learn after they 've turned forty , but they have no opportunity to do so .
as such , the Presidency proposes that the vote on this issue be postponed until the next part-session .
in order to reduce speculation on the commodity markets , the European Parliament wants the Commission to ensure greater transparency by exchanging good and timely information regarding developments on the market .
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the European Union has adopted guidelines in human rights on issues ranging from the death penalty to the prevention of torture and support for human rights defenders .
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there is no understandable reason for excluding the entire sector from the regulations .
under the current ETS , far from the polluter paying , we have seen many polluters making windfall profits thanks to the ETS .
at the same time , it proposes that measures be taken for the next stage , at the expense of immigrants and in an even more reactionary direction .
the Danube region comprises 14 European Union ( EU ) Member States and a total of 115 million people .
experts estimate that it would cost USD 44 billion to overcome the scourge of chronic malnutrition .
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if we look a little more closely , we find that there are some very serious underlying structural reasons , structural reasons at the territorial level .
the weak point is the excessively general nature of the report and the absence of accompanying legislation .
I doubt it .
in order for the free market to be just that , it must be based on fair competition and be built on clear , shared and applied rules .
can I say ' Sweden ante portas ' , Mr Reinfeldt ?
I also thank you on behalf of Bishop Ján Vojtaššák , Monsignor Viktor Trstenský , Štefan Putanko , Štefan Janík and thousands of other brave sons of the Slovak nation who were victims of communism .
specific conditions for the granting of a passport have been laid down .
what has happened to the principles of international law ?
we need to ensure that all businesses can change , adapt , trade and innovate out of current conditions .
a majority in the committee also wants to see the Dublin transfers to such Member States stopped until failures are rectified - although there is an amendment on this issue which we will vote on tomorrow .
it is hardly surprising that now as before , Europe is closely following political events within Ukraine .
as we have seen in Copenhagen this week , climate change is accelerating at an alarming rate , which will further exacerbate water shortages .
I would therefore say , Mr Medina Ortega , we think there is no need to modify the regulation .
the report notes that , in spite of the people 's clear support for the government and the large parliamentary majority , the advances made up to this point in implementing political and constitutional reform have not been sufficient , because the parties have not been able to find a common language .
I know that the British Conservatives over there are not interested in that .
as regards the amendment to the substance , the Commission is not opposed to the principle .
we not only require in this case a declaration of solidarity but also to see solidarity in action .
reality shows that the best response to this attempted interference by the European Parliament is the enormous prestige and importance that the Bolivarian process has for the people of Latin America and the world .
it showed that the Commission is keen on moving towards an end to animal experimentation whenever possible .
at the same time , we know that in the areas where they have not yet taken effect , namely the pig sector , these price increases will lead to a very expensive winter in terms of food prices .
what we need to ensure is that entrepreneurs , and small and medium-sized enterprises in particular , can continue to finance their activities - a source of employment and growth - at reasonable rates .
these reforms go in the right direction and must be sustained .
Slovenia , which is often confused with Slovakia , is a clear example of how a small Member State can bravely fulfil its role in the EU .
we look forward to seeing not only yourself , Mr Barroso , but all of your fellow commissioners here for a question hour before this Chamber .
it seems that a significant consequence of the competition brought about by implementation of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive ( MiFID ) has been market fragmentation which has , in itself , encouraged the explosive growth of HFT strategies .
columns of stats on reams of paper or locked on a hard drive do not do that - it is the man or women on the ground suddenly finding the chance and striking quick , before the other fellow .
although we should appreciate the permission granted by the Thai authorities for the temporary stay of refugees there , and also the declaration of the Prime Minister of Thailand in which he has announced an investigation , recent events are nevertheless an obvious example of the violation of human rights by the Thais .
( FR ) Mr President , for the last time , is Mr Madlener aware , when he argues against European solidarity and against Greece , that , after Germany , the Netherlands is the second largest beneficiary of the European internal market and that practically one out of every two jobs in the Netherlands is linked to activities relating to the export of goods and services to the European Union ?
we should be pleased that we have a reserve in the form of energy efficiency , because this reserve will allow us to support the new forms of energy that we need to replace nuclear power .
I am referring specifically to the spread of poverty among employees , the rapid growth of unofficial forms of employment , and the increase in working hours .
what we need - and it is the first decision to be taken by the Commission and the European Council - is to recognise that the open coordination method was not a good method ; it was too weak a method .
we already have one or two of these a year - but I will check that this is enough - between all agents in the Member States , sometimes even in the regions , who are in charge of the SOLVIT project .
this is the wrong approach .
there can be no impunity for war crimes and , as you well know , full cooperation with ICTY is a condition for making progress in European integration .
Alzheimer 's is a progressive disease , which means that more and more damage occurs to the brain over time .
those dealing with travel arrangements at airports and ports should be fully briefed as to the worthiness of this document .
it is also important to point out that this facility should serve the sole purpose of supporting entrepreneurship as a means of creating new jobs , by helping to realise solid business ideas , and it should not be used for social support or to boost consumption .
there is thus no chance of us doing so , as we would then achieve nothing at all .
the operation of FABs is the main element in creating a single European sky .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , we are today discussing breaches of human rights in Tanzania .
in writing . - It is important that we have a strong and sustainable CAP and the ongoing work on its reform is one of the key issues before this Parliament .
the information that we already knew should have been on the list was nevertheless not on the list , and there was a prolonged discussion back and forth until , quite recently , we finally obtained the information that we should have had in the first place .
I think it is very important to have a medium-term strategy , but we have to have very clear indicators of where we are going and what our goals are .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , the Fukushima disaster has reopened the issue of nuclear safety .
on behalf of the PPE-DE group . - ( RO ) The budgetary orientations of our institution for the year 2009 represent the document based on which the budget of the European Parliament will be established this autumn .
the second aspect is information .
I understand that the groups agree that we should extend the existing system , but that they are waiting to have the new system on their desks as soon as possible .
we welcome this initiative for introducing on the market a harmonisation procedure which is unanimously accepted in Europe .
I voted in favour of granting discharge in respect of the 2009 general budget of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction as it has managed its resources prudently and in line with expectations .
I express my support for the report by Mr Lehne .
yet it is only in September 2007 that we are voting on this codification .
this could have extremely serious implications for the economies of the EU Member States , given the major investment by western European undertakings and banks in this area .
this year a very high percentage of borrowers has stopped paying the instalments owed , placing the entire system in crisis .
a few days before the meeting of the European Council , we heard from Nobel Prize winner Paul Krugman that the European Union stimulus package is perhaps not enough .
however , in the Italian Roma camps , three quarters of the Roma are Romanians and the others are Italian Roma and Sinti citizens .
the first is that this project should come under an enormous banner guaranteeing security and reliability for investors who wish to invest in the EU , as well as investors in the EU who wish to invest elsewhere .
however , the challenge will be getting the Member States to put this directive into practice .
companies now have to pay for delays which they have not caused .
where is the risk ?
the Spanish horticultural sector has estimated the economic losses caused by the fatal errors in communication , which we now know about , at EUR 200 million a week .
it also gives a purpose to cultural tourism .
( FR ) Mr President , allow me first to express my congratulations and thanks to the Vice-President of the Commission for everything he has done as the Commissioner responsible for this area .
terrorism nowadays is closely associated with the symmetrical political principles which promote the clash of civilisations and war , and on that point your silence is deafening .
there is a difference between the Court 's tasks and us as legislators .
first , of course , the rapporteur , Mrs Vălean , but also the rapporteurs of the other committees , the shadow rapporteurs and the spokespersons of the groups .
the reason the Irish Parliament had a right and a duty to do what they did is that the sovereign people of Ireland gave them that right and duty .
the use of ICT in the judicial field facilitates the work of both the administration and judiciary significantly .
the budgetary limits imposed in the current MFF , which restricts the Community budget to 1 % of EU gross national income , are clearly inadequate to achieve the proclaimed policy of economic and social cohesion .
in any case we feel seriously excluded .
the huge potential for growth of Montenegrin tourism has its dark side too .
in writing . - ( PT ) I regard it as fundamental that Europe establishes strong relations with certain regional and global players by supporting them and establishing strong political and economic links .
( PT ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , first of all , I must congratulate Mrs Bauer and Mrs Hedh on the excellent work they have done in this report .
it is completely unacceptable that there is no control over cloning techniques or over the food resulting from these techniques , which could be intended for human consumption .
he was a good negotiator .
in the European Union , the majority of aspects relate to food hygiene and safety , health and nutritional value , as well as certain social requirements .
I am certain that the Turkish people will welcome much more a communication on disunity rather than a concealment of the real situation , which both Parliament and Europe as a whole have been doing for a long time .
Baroness Ashton , I believe that it is extremely important that this question is addressed in the context of the accession negotiations with Turkey .
there are two priorities on which I would like to focus the Commissioner 's attention , and these are promotion and enhancement of the multi-level governance system and synergy between the various funds , in other words an integrated vision and approach to funding .
our task is not to protect industries .
the President made a good decision in resolving the issue of those amendments that are not directly relevant to the task assigned to this report , since there will be time later to address in a more consistent and systematic fashion the issue of whether to carry out a more comprehensive review of our Rules of Procedure .
Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , first of all , I would like to express my pleasure at welcoming Csaba Tabajdi 's initiative intended to improve the situation of minorities living in the European Union .
not at all .
obviously , the failure of the common fisheries policy to date , the failure , on numerous occasions , to apply our joint decisions and , above all , the decisions taken with no regard for scientific data , the decisions which we take subjectively based on poorly thought-out national interests .
they are not interested in the process .
this will create jobs and it will also help us cut our emissions , which of course is the object of all the work we have been doing .
the public must always be able to tell who is spending the money , and on what , and how much is being spent .
we all know very well that this issue , in particular , urgently needs to be resolved and that we desperately need to hear from the EU 's principal representative in particular that this is what we are working for .
this applies both to Slovenia and Croatia , when they were attacked by Serbia and our sympathies lay on both sides .
it is true it talks about medical devices and other measures .
can the Commission , first and foremost , tell Parliament about this new generation of association agreements ?
thousands of jobless families are wondering why - and they need an answer - and , in particular , they want to know what the future holds for them , not just in Andalusia , but throughout European agriculture .
the introduction of the visa-free scheme in Serbia , Montenegro and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia , starting on 19 December , will give this process significant impetus .
however , if we look at the details of the agreement , it seems as if speed took precedence over thoroughness .
you are usually such a sensible person .
that can only mean that military action has a legitimate part to play .
first and foremost , the EU has been working hard to advance the cause of human rights on the multilateral stage .
in so doing , however , fundamental rights must continue to be protected .
an integrated and sustainable industrial policy must be based on scientific research , on innovation , on increased resource efficiency , on a commodities strategy , on reinforcing small and medium-sized enterprises , and on developing regional networks .
I consistently support the EU accession of Croatia taking place as soon as possible , because , as a Romanian Member of Hungarian nationality , I have been closely monitoring the fate of the Hungarian community in Croatia .
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this decision undoubtedly weakened the energy self-sufficiency not only of Slovakia , but also of the European Union .
finally , I hope that the Commission and Council will respond positively to Parliament 's amended version of the package , which , although it represents in many regards an alternative to the Commission 's initial vision , still presents as many areas of agreement between our three institutions .
given that the object of this operation , for which Stalin and his minions were responsible , was Ukraine 's farmers as a social group and as a nationality , the Holodomor meets the definition of genocide contained in the UN Convention of 1948 .
I suggested recently in committee that the sun 's enormous influence on the earth 's climate over millions of years could not be ignored in this debate , and that the sequence of long ice ages , interspersed with short interglacial periods , was the most likely explanation .
I agree with the view that culture and the media will always lie within the competence of the Member States .
a stable and multi-ethnic Kosovo is a key priority for the European Union .
Mr De Castro is right .
by making existing money available for marginalised communities , many of whom are in rural areas and shelters and could not benefit under previous rules , this new regulation will contribute significantly towards the Economic Recovery Plan for Europe .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the House much prefers dealing with expenditure to revenue - and so it is to Mr Staes ' great credit that we are today turning to the trifle of revenue for once .
the main types of alleged maladministration were lack of transparency , including refusal of information , unfairness and abuse of powers , unsatisfactory procedures , avoidable delay , discrimination , negligence , legal errors and failure to ensure fulfilment of obligations .
I , therefore , truly wish to express the Commission 's satisfaction with the negotiated compromise proposal .
it has a healthy EUR 95 billion turnover .
however , we need to go beyond just statements and ask for concrete action from the Commission to make sure that we have a strategy as to how we address the Taliban and their rising influence in that region .
the events that took place in Russia call into question the regular consultations between the European Union and the Russian Federation in the area of human rights .
my country is the number one destination for Moldovan exports and the second biggest source of imports .
the Schröder report and the European right are doing the same .
the Commission describes this as an essential component in the plans to streamline and simplify the common agricultural policy .
secondly , why , prior to accession , was the situation in the new Member States better than it is at present ?
the next item is voting time .
people want a reliable postal service which will deliver their mail with the minimum of fuss and which will keep local post offices at the centre of the communities they serve .
we are possibly the least green parliament that there is .
impact assessments ( IAs ) can be of significant help from the standpoint of better law making if the economic , social , environmental and public health consequences of the intended political choices are studied throughout the political cycle , along with their impact on the public 's fundamental rights .
it is , in fact , a sensitive issue : the protection of citizens with regard to the processing of personal data .
national procedures for the certification of locomotives and rolling stock , as well as those for certification of locomotive engineers , are very different , actually preventing the free movement of trains on the Union 's territory .
it is simply about giving companies the opportunity promised them in the Treaty to move freely within the European Union and establish themselves in any Member State .
I say this based on our experience of a common approach since 9 / 11 and with a view to the efficiency of the single market for aviation .
I also think that the situation in Yemen requires a precise analysis , specifically with regard to the fact that this is a failed state in which the government does not have control of large parts of the country We should analyse for ourselves what risks this involves for Europe .
I should like to conclude by thanking Mr Lechner for a well-considered and well-prepared report .
many of these agreements were written at a time when there were hardly any cases of dispute settlements .
to exclude Brazil from privileged bilateral relations would be unfair and , above all , a serious political mistake .
I suggest that this question be addressed to the Commission as well .
in 2010 , more than EUR 2.4 billion of payments under the Regional and Social Funds were preventively interrupted .
moreover , funding is scheduled to double over the years 2011-2013 for the peacebuilding partnership .
of course I am extremely happy that she comes from Britain - I think it is essential that Britain remains at the centre of the European Union - and also that she is a woman because , as you know , I have been very committed to the gender balance .
( NL ) Mr President , because I have comprehensively criticised the first Leinen report just now , I would like simply to echo the sentiments of my friend Philip Claeys who has in fact replied adequately to the somewhat strange comments by Mr Bourlanges .
we need them if we are genuinely to establish better relations .
you have not done this .
then we congratulate him .
the ECB , as a commercial bank , has bought up tens of billions of weak bonds and is now holding up the necessary restructuring of Greek debts .
relevant and serious issues like this deserve our attention , discussion and a search for the greatest common denominator .
these are lovely words , they are good words : they represent a European Union that is not trying to impose its will upon developing nations but is trying to lend a helping hand to achieve common goals .
we really need to see the whole picture and to use all the instruments at our disposal , including the Directive on Injunctions , which is also one of the tools we can use cross-border in Europe .
so this is about postponement of the vote .
this referendum is crucial to the acceptance , or rejection , of the Treaty of Lisbon .
if they do that and have our strength behind them , then they will also resist Russia , which is once again trying to play the great power .
Europe 's citizens are aware of this : they are aware that there is always talk in the Commission of social measures , but that no such action is ever forthcoming .
that is not easy at all , because guidelines have now been issued on what this information on end beneficiaries should look like .
one of the main - and controversial - proposals is to incorporate an Internal Market Test in any new legislation .
( ES ) Mr President , Commissioner , Mr President-in-Office of the Council , at the moment , the European Union should be closely following the negotiations that are taking place at the highest level with the leaders of the two main communities in Cyprus .
Madam President , I strongly support the principle of passenger rights , and it is only right that customers should expect a high standard of service .
however , speaking in the current economic and financial circumstances , we believe that there are other priorities which are more pressing and important for the EU to deal with .
Ukraine will be given the opportunity to participate in EU programmes concerning businesses and entrepreneurship , energy and information and communication technologies .
we must reach conclusions and adopt measures that would allow us to significantly strengthen nuclear safety throughout Europe .
the next item is the vote .
( ES ) Mr President , the Members of the European Parliament fully understand that the debate on the European Council which is set to be held on 23 and 24 June will continue to focus on the persistent crisis and the problems faced by the euro , and Greece .
of course , in order to ensure that the tunnel is fully utilised , appropriate feeder lines also need to be established .
something is being kept quiet here , and there is the risk of speculators being bailed out once again to the tune of many millions at taxpayers ' expense at the end of the parliamentary term .
we should , instead , focus the major part of development on supporting the most underdeveloped and disadvantaged regions .
it is no accident that the report 's explanatory statement begins with an interesting citation : ' rock and roll , culturally speaking , was a decisive element in loosening up communist societies and bringing them closer to a world of freedom ' ( Andras Simonyi ) .
indeed , for it to be so , it needs the legitimisation of its citizens , and this is becoming increasingly complex as Europe is enlarged .
as the rapporteurs say , we must ensure that exceptions are eliminated and the proposed regulations and decisions are applied and operate as widely as possible .
( DE ) Mr President , President-in-Office of the Council and President of the Commission , the President of the Commission has just said that in times such as these we cannot take a beggar-thy-neighbour approach , but first need good cooperation and decisive action .
the first is heralded as a miracle cure for the second , but merely leads to ethnomorphosis - in other words , to Umvolkung : the forced change of the population 's ethnic composition .
in writing . - ( FR ) I voted for the legislative resolution based on the report by Greek Member Katerina Batzeli , approving , at first reading under the codecision procedure , the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Decision No 1855 / 2006 / EC establishing the Culture Programme ( 2007-2013 ) .
but what we need to bear in mind is our strong political stance and declaration and our support for civilian operations .
I would like to thank everyone who has taken part in the debate today .
fully including women to the labour market is a way to put an end to the demographic crisis .
Tamás Deutsch is accused in the proceedings pending in the Budapest Court of the criminal offence of defamation under Section 179 ( 2 ) ( b-c ) of the Hungarian Criminal Code .
she is also right to propose a model where there are strong public sector media outside the competitive media market coexisting with private media companies that are motivated by profit .
if we really were to establish this ' closed shop ' proposed in the competitiveness pact as contrived by a small number of Heads of Government , we will lose the debate about trust in the European Union .
Europe 2020 is a Europe where regions develop according to their specific potential and use the regional aspect of research , development and innovation for promoting economic development and increasing employment .
then there is the question of balancing the interests of the economy and the environment .
you are going to get a roasting from the Elysée Palace , my friend !
I am pleased that we will now have a revision of the Small Business Act .
in addition to these measures , last Wednesday we presented a package of crucial initiatives to respond to the financial crisis , on alternative investment funds , on remuneration structures and on packaged retail investment products .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( ES ) Mr President , I wish to begin my speech by congratulating the rapporteur on his important work in terms of proposals and analysis .
nonetheless , each Member State must be free to decide whether to adopt a minimum wage ; it must not be a decision made at Union level .
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from my experience , I would point out a few things to them .
transparent and simple organisational structure and management of resources is the guarantee that the new organisation will operate efficiently .
I think that we must intensify these efforts , because it seems to me in the last few years as if people who are working for disarmament , for arms control , to control weapons , are old-fashioned specimens from a bygone age , because now rearmament is the order of the day .
it is true that within the US system , apparently , according to information received , hundreds of thousands of individuals have access to extremely confidential information , but the truth is that within systems that value freedom , which is also the case for European systems , 100 % security is impossible .
secondly , the procedures relating to this service must be examined .
the first victims of this underground economy are the legal workers , the citizens of the Member States , whose legitimate economic and social rights are threatened .
we must prevent this from imposing unnecessary , excessively bureaucratic requirements while avoiding overlap with burdens which are already imposed under national rules .
in addition to this , half our children , several million Roma children , are classified as disabled .
( PL ) Madam President , Prime Minister Tusk is sensitive to the arguments of his European neighbours .
I believe that the role of the European Parliament is eminently political with regard to the Commission 's proposal to create a programme of accompanying measures for Africa-Caribbean-Pacific ( ACP ) banana-producing countries .
( Parliament approved the request )
there you are , that is all .
in fact , it can be read the other way : despite the diary clash ( with his first appearance as Prime Minister at the Commons Liaison Committee ) making it impossible to be there in time for the ceremony , he insisted on going anyway to sign in person rather than leave it just to David Miliband , which would have been perfectly possible .
the EU has a legitimate role in tackling climate change and it needs to set an example and provide guidance to other countries .
all Europeans must feel they are represented , independently of their political positions .
hence a whole programme and panoply of instruments which , in our opinion , amalgamate and confuse the ' borders ' between ' aid ' and interference , for example in such fundamental issues as ' state-building ' .
Europe has paid dearly for being divided by a wall of shame .
Uganda : murder of David Kato (
Madam President , I voted against this measure on patients ' rights in cross-border healthcare because it will only mean another massive burden on the British taxpayer and on the National Health Service .
I have a special word of congratulation for Mr Coelho , our rapporteur , because his explanatory statement , which I invite my colleagues to read , is a little gem of intelligence and political skill .
if there are groups here that decide to vote against it , I think in the long run all it will do is delay what is a good proposal , one which will help to make sure there is research available in the European Union to help with disease control and new medicine while at the same time reducing the number of animals we need to use and actually strengthening ECVAM in looking for alternatives .
any costs involved would be settled between the airlines concerned .
bureaucracy and the fact that it is on the increase , however , are a real danger .
at the same time , however , there are undeniably serious problems that also need to be resolved .
the action plan should mean that the 60 000 people who are currently hoping to receive an organ will see their life expectancy considerably increased .
otherwise , they will lose their cultural identity .
we train them together , and then we expect those professionals start to work together .
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some of my amendments included in the report concern shortening the time to market for new products , ensuring that European manufacturing strengthens the foundations of the European economy and the simplification of funding programmes for industry .
I would also like to thank Mr Kohlíček for his willingness to enter into a dialogue and for the good work he has done .
if this amendment should get through it would represent a setback for democracy .
to address such situations , the FTA contains an efficient and rapid dispute settlement mechanism .
you just referred to the importance of the goal in terms of jobs .
we have not reached this point yet , but we must discuss it .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , I would like to commend the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee and , in particular , the rapporteur , Mr Klinz , for taking the initiative to elaborate an own-initiative report , and for the hard work put into that report .
proposals for growth and employment are crucial for the future of Greece and also for that of Europe .
the EU impact assessment has been referred to .
the clear definitions of ' consumer ' and ' professional ' proposed in the report are important but we must be careful not to cause confusion : in the area of financial services , for example , the idea that certain products can be reserved for professionals is an illusion that could reduce the guarantees offered to consumers .
the ERDF is , in my view , a wonderful catalyst for growth , employment and territorial cohesion , and it must become an important tool for effectively supporting structural development projects for the benefit of the public and our regions .
as far as I am concerned , hammer the terrorists , hammer the criminals .
written statements ( Rule 142 )
the number of unemployed has increased by eight million , many of whom are indeed in my country .
I admit that the compromise which the Belgian Presidency has come up with is rather bureaucratic .
I hope that we will reach agreement here quickly , so that we do not regret it when another disaster occurs and we cannot act quickly enough .
rather , I believe that we , the European Union , are actually anticipating this IMO agreement and , in due course , will be better prepared to implement it .
what dismays me the most is the attitude displayed by the European right as they were more than determined at the start of negotiations to drop out the minute the telephones began ringing from Heads of State or Government .
in other words , if the countries of the Western Balkans fulfil the established conditions , they can move towards EU membership .
it is now up to European governments to look into the budgetary possibility for taking on such a change and accepting it .
it will help you in your future legislative work .
cows are becoming a rare commodity in northern Kenya because of climate change .
it was presented as an example of over-regulation by Brussels .
those of us who come from business know that in the current economic crisis , and with the growing difficulties in financing , companies are increasingly struggling with liquidity problems , and that in many Member States , they are even exposed to an increased risk of bankruptcy .
for this reason , everything that has been said here about research , development , innovation , education and training is correct .
via handshakes , like-knows-like , shadowy deals in back rooms , tens of millions are added to the budget .
( LT ) The way out of the complicated economic and financial crisis was not as effective as we had hoped .
I would , however , like to draw attention to three important elements in this report .
the vote will take place tomorrow .
look at the anger .
you have not yet commented on these issues .
from the foreign policy point of view , there are many consequences and we started to look into these consequences in 2006 when we had the first wake-up call .
you cannot execute an arrest warrant without the judiciary understanding what the simple facts of the case are .
there , we still have a problem because this framework directive applies only as from 27 November this year .
I think the Commission knows it will have a legal problem on its hands .
this offers them additional opportunities to make their national road charging systems more efficient , which means a better transport-demand-management instrument .
as ever , the UN is stammering out solutions .
the former restores stability , while the latter endangers it .
I particularly pick up the point that public funding of R & D can be counter-cyclical , as happened in Japan and the US in the early 1990s and early noughties respectively .
my country cannot be sacrificed to the politics of climate hysteria .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
my compromise is that each and every one of the specific questions which have been raised by members will get a response at the final sitting that I attend at the end of the six-month period , when Spain 's rotating Presidency will be assessed and judged .
those affected would then have to pay compensation even if they have not actually committed any acts of discrimination but are unable to prove their innocence .
we also need to facilitate constructive dialogue between institutions and employees in light of the recent rulings of the European Court of Justice .
it has been changed because of an opinion from the group of experts and because of the opinion given by Parliament and I must say that now is the time to reach a decision .
supply that is not rigorously regulated would have a negative impact on the needs and the behaviour of individual EU citizens , and here I am specifically referring to the most vulnerable groups and to young people .
thus , we have suggested , among other things , that the European Union could adopt complementary measures after 2013 if necessary .
just imagine if we were to impose pay cuts on employees , for example in the public sector .
before the vote , we will hear speeches from the chairs of the political groups on the election of the new Commission .
as a practising father , I often find that instead of being deterred by more stringent inspections , such paltry products find their way into the hands of our children in increasing numbers and varieties .
author . - ( ES ) Mr President , I would first like to express my deep concern at the recent cases of hijacking of boats in Somali waters and the hijackers ' humiliating treatment of crews .
in between , Madam Commissioner , your work , our work , is very positively reflected in Israel itself .
I supported this resolution and believe that a monetary union needs strong coordination of economic policies and for the current gap in macro-prudential supervision to be closed by establishing a European Systemic Risk Board ( ESRB ) .
agenda for next sitting : see Minutes
in relation to the demographic crisis now confronting us , this problem , besides being a major factor in economic competition , raises a profound moral problem which should also not be overlooked .
that is the amount that I have for the moment to be able to spend under the budget that exists .
now even the sky is not the limit .
it is time such cases of discrimination did not take place in Member States of the European Union .
( ES ) In my capacity as leader of the Spanish Socialist delegation to the European Parliament , I should like to express my appreciation of the words spoken by the President of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament supported by the President of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) .
through today 's resolution Parliament grants the Executive Director of the European Chemicals Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency 's budget for the financial year 2009 .
he has gone so far as to call for UN intervention and spoken of a country which has imposed a reign of fear , where basic freedoms are severely restricted , where ethnic minorities are persecuted , and where forced child labour , human trafficking and rape are commonplace .
the widespread use of these vaccines during the 2008 and 2009 vaccination campaign resulted in a significant improvement in the health situation .
the following questions are addressed to the Commission .
while the referendum on self-determination for Southern Sudan was a major success , we cannot afford to be complacent .
four anti-discrimination directives have been adopted in recent years : the Race Directive , the Employment Directive , the Equal Treatment Directive and the Gender Directive .
that means giving people jobs and skills and it means tackling the scourge of poverty head on .
these diseases continually put more pressure on healthcare systems that struggle to cope with an ageing population , but also on sufferers and their relatives when faced with a situation that is new to them .
Mr President , about a year ago the Commission adopted the Green Paper on better ship dismantling .
on the contrary , they should have every faith that we stand behind them .
scrappage schemes help to reduce emissions , increase road safety and prevent unemployment in the car industry , which provides a living to 12 million employees and thousands of firms in other sectors .
I welcome the declaration of the Commission on closer cooperation with the European Parliament in the area of reporting and application of Community law .
( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I too should also begin by thanking the rapporteurs and the other Members who have worked their way through this complex dossier , but on this occasion I wish to start on a different note .
the struggle for freedom and democracy in Tibet , in China , in Burma and elsewhere continues .
however , I would call on you all to be a little more objective in your knee-jerk responses to the discussion in relation to the agencies .
on behalf of PPE-DE . - ( RO ) I think that the organisation of this debate in plenary session is extremely important as it is necessary to draw up a balance sheet of the European actions on Roma population and to analyse the methods of enhancing the efficiency thereof .
the situation is unusual , because it is not the result of strikes , but of a natural disaster caused by the eruption of a volcano in Iceland .
of course , some of the issues raised deserve to be discussed in more detail .
our common efforts so far are already yielding the first positive results .
they migrate for economic enrichment or because economic forces have removed their means of maintaining their livelihoods .
as he said himself , protecting without protectionism .
Mrs Ashton , the European Union 's policy to date in this region of the world has ended in a fiasco .
in this respect , and having regard to the extreme importance of this matter for the future of the European aviation sector , what specific arguments does the Commission intend to put forward to defend Airbus in the WTO ?
it is still suffering as a result of a trade embargo imposed by Russia .
the EU 's accession to the Convention also opens up the question of the political representation of the Union in the bodies of the Council of Europe .
finally , the citizens ' initiative is going to be an opportunity for the regions to overcome the lack of recognition that they have in the current institutional structure of the Union .
for them to be competitive , there must be innovation , but innovation is impossible if no funds are earmarked for this purpose .
Mr President , I do not have anything much further to add except to express my wish to help achieve that end and to have the support of the Members of this House in achieving it .
we have shown that Parliament can take concrete measures that can really make a difference , create more jobs and assist SMEs .
this is about recognizing and identifying certain problems and providing a single solution to them , but the process must be safe and transparent and we must apply the principle of subsidiarity .
therefore , they have to be properly informed about the risks posed by the cloning of animals .
- ( SK ) I would like to thank the rapporteur .
Europe 's citizens have been given , and are given , every day so much additional freedom , which symbolises for them one of the most obvious successes of the European Union 's existence .
rapporteur . - ( HU ) Thank you for the floor , Mr President .
the profits and gains were in the private hands of just a small group of investors and obscenely well-paid administrators , but those who will suffer the consequences are always the same : workers who lose their jobs , the rank and file who have to pay more interest , including here in the European Union , particularly in countries with weaker economies .
Madam President , I rise to speak solely on the França report on mutual recognition of judgements in absentia .
we therefore advocate an active policy for the automotive sector , with new models that are more environmentally friendly and innovative and lead to the creation of new jobs .
( the sitting was opened at 9 a.m. )
( PT ) Mr President , Commissioner , I note that the report we are discussing today refers expressly to eradicating rather than merely to combating poverty , as was actually proposed .
we cannot allow any delays because this would negate our quick and efficient work .
only a cohesive model of climate change , which takes into account all variables , such as the impact of greenhouse gases , suspended particles and , above all , solar activity , could provide a justification for these decisions .
Member of the Commission . - ( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I wish to congratulate the rapporteurs , Mr Ortuondo Larrea and Mr Costa , for their splendid work within a very short space of time on a rather technical issue .
the report , and your proposal for the Innovation Union , generate expectations .
nevertheless , I would like to remind you that , since Bulgaria and Romania joined the European Union , the Black Sea has become a partially internal sea and we cannot ignore its strategic importance for the entire world .
the starting point for reform has to be an answer to the question : ' which treasury will pay for the bail-out bill in the end ? '
we in the European Union will have an almost historic responsibility , I would say , at the Bali Conference , which will hopefully set new targets for CO2 emissions for post-Kyoto 2012 .
the next item is the one-minute speeches on matters of political importance .
therefore , the Commission should be congratulated for its work on the subject .
the problem will not be solved by eliminating such foods from our diet , but rather by educating consumers , and especially young people and children , to eat sensibly .
this point has to be clearly highlighted , as has the observation that the powers they have usurped are not being used to dissuade radicals in their own ranks from resorting to violence .
many actors are there : in the European Union , in the international community - be it the United States of America , the UN or Russia - but there are also many Arab friends and colleagues .
I would therefore like to ask you , Commissioner , if it is possible that , without any increase in the Union budget , the creation of the infrastructure fund and new innovation policies - which will be linked to cohesion and to regional development , which I support - will become a Trojan horse brought into the cohesion budget ?
here I am also referring to Member State capitals .
today Moldova is an independent state , which admittedly has many problems , but which is following the road to European integration .
the distance between the citizens and the European elite is growing in such a way that the entire European project is put at risk , whereas instead everyone should be working towards true democracy .
we must therefore increase coordination at European level and improve the mechanisms at national level .
I voted against the re-appointment of Mr Barroso as President of the European Commission as , for the past five years , he has been the very symbol of a Commission that chose to disregard the democratic rejection of the Treaty of Lisbon and did so contemptuously and in a particularly arrogant fashion .
cohesion policy is the second pillar on which this growth must rely , a sustainable , intelligent and inclusive growth .
( ES ) I am referring to question No 9 on the list I have , or No 8 on the current one , from Mrs Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou : the Economic Situation in Greece .
that argument loses none of its force when the useless agency happens to be situated in my constituency , as is the case with the European Police College .
however , we must stand together firmly and in unity .
there are so many women for whom violence is a day-to-day reality , so many women living in poverty , so many women having to single-handedly care for their children and parents ; and so few women making it to the top in business , academia and politics .
the debate is closed .
a vision which is based on the principle of providing ' life chances ' to everyone through opportunities , access and solidarity ;
she , like my group , emphasised that it is beneficial that we keep on thinking about this , that we not only discuss reworking the European Security Strategy but also try to formulate a joint mission statement , namely the question of human security and the responsibility to protect .
it is often said that Europe is removed from its citizens , but are issues such as toy safety , research into the prevention of rare diseases or of Alzheimer 's disease , consumer protection , environmental protection measures and the fight against global warming , energy policy or the defence of human rights around the world really removed from citizens ' daily lives ?
this is why I am asking every European Union institution to make sure that we give all the human assistance we can and make humanitarian aid available to those affected by the disaster for as long as it is needed .
as the costs incurred as a result of national public health problems , such as alcohol and tobacco-related diseases , are largely funded by the national levying of tax , the proposal concerning freedom from excise duty in connection with distance selling would hamper the prospects of the public sector handling public health problems effectively .
I therefore call on the Commission and the Member States to develop the conditions necessary to create an internal market in electric vehicles .
I support the essential role the agricultural sector plays in providing employment and maintaining the European agri-food model , which is a strategic component of the European economy .
the main reason for this is that Turkey , as a transit country , can significantly contribute to reducing the EU 's dependency on energy sources and to diversifying its energy supply .
they too did a fantastic job and then , thirdly , the Slovenians have shown why new Presidencies and small country Presidencies are so fantastic .
we have proposed - and in Biarritz I introduced - physical activity guidelines , which could help to promote the volume , intensity and quality of physical education training in our societies and especially in schools .
Madam President , Egypt has no tradition of democracy .
cross-border cooperation between Member States ' police forces has a privileged channel in Europol .
we should also like for you , for the European Union , to enter into dialogue on this with the sports governing bodies in the light of the specific nature of football on which we all agree , and also , of course , looking ahead to the Treaty of Lisbon .
the constant violation of working times is probably the rule rather than the exception .
sensitive data can only be processed in exceptional cases , in cases of public interest ; they are subject to suitable safeguards , and those suitable safeguards have to be provided by the country concerned .
at the same time , however , we appeal strongly for all parties to exercise the utmost restraint and to work together to seek a democratic and peaceful solution to the present crisis that will allow a rapid return to normality .
on the other hand , of course , it is imperative to prevent the stigmatisation of certain ethnic groups , even though one group may have been advocating it here .
a large part of our work to combat violence against women here in Europe is carried out within an international framework .
perhaps in future , however , people will simply need to delete their RFID number from Google Street View .
we have mapped out a certain way of dealing with the rising prices of food and oil - I believe the Commission President will say more on this - yet the Council has established that the problem is serious .
delegation should , therefore , be seen as a tool for improving the process of law making at EU level .
it is in this context that we who are responsible for safety and security must put our faith in science and in knowledge where all these subjects are concerned .
if we want to promote renewable energy or energy produced from renewable sources , producers of this kind of energy need to be able to access the power supply grid so that they can reach the end-consumer .
the World Day against the Death Penalty is on 10 October .
having heard the different aspirations of various people , this text strikes a certain balance .
I will be voting against the EULEX project because it does not provide solutions in the interests of the ordinary people of Kosovo .
that is the essential driving force behind migration .
the new CAP , which should come into force after 2013 , needs to respond to food security and other challenges , particularly climate change , the economic crisis and keeping territorial balance within the EU .
we have to make far better use of the potential of entrepreneurs in Europe .
we in this House are faced by new infrastructure requirements , new requirements on public services and on business , education and social systems .
the second concerns long-term contracts which are subject to compliance with certain principles .
the European Council will also evaluate the progress made in implementing the conclusions relating to the migration situation in the Mediterranean .
I would like to thank you for your great contribution to the intercultural dialogue .
higher investment costs must be funded on the basis of energy efficiency and energy savings .
Mr Landsbergis , talking normally about homosexuality , bisexuality and transexuality is the best guarantee of a child being able to live with his or her own sexuality , with respect for himself or herself and for the rest of the community .
the problems of gas supply at the beginning of the year have shown once again the lack of alternative energy sources , alternative energy supply routes , energy source storage capacity and energy transport interconnections among the Member States .
the negative effects of late payment are considerable , representing considerable costs for creditor companies , reducing cash flows and the possibility of investment , and impacting on the competitiveness of SMEs .
I think this country deserves our support .
we trust that you will take the lead in convincing all the 27 governments to officially mark this day , beginning from next August .
secondly , these two sectors also provide employment for those engaged in the production , processing and sale of these products .
I regret to state that we also know very well that the average life expectancy of Roma in every Member State is 15 years lower than the life expectancy of Union citizens .
this agreement does not relate to the opening-up of the market because Vietnam 's economy is a regulated State economy and there is obviously no question of opening up the market .
there is always a risk that no attention will be paid to these things and that they will not be valued .
so , Commissioner , could you tell us how this recognition in the new Treaty will help sport ?
I fully share your views on the need for a fact-based public debate on EU accession .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , we are today discussing an event in Somalia which is beyond the imagination of the average European .
just as the refusal to set legal frameworks for all possible forms of relationships between human beings could not be compared to any type of discrimination .
it is up to the Council and the Member States to show that they are serious and committed , and pave the way so that the financial situation can be set right .
the Commission must put the issue of commodity prices , and food in particular , on the agenda , so that a mechanism to stabilise prices can be defined to tackle speculation on the main capital markets .
today the eyes of the world are very much on London , where world leaders are gathered to talk about the financial downturn and the global banking crisis .
for these reasons , we abstained from the final vote .
this is something that we all need to look at and be prepared to speak about , because silence causes abuse to grow , and causes awful damage to the children who are caught in that situation .
I also support the arrangements for workshops and fact-finding and research missions associated with the Assembly .
they must be ' implementable ' .
( it ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , when we vote on Mr Szájer 's report tomorrow , we will give the go-ahead for one of the new instruments - on implementing acts - contained in the Treaty of Lisbon .
the story of the great famine illustrates not only the tragedy of the Ukrainian people , but also reminds us again of what human beings are capable of .
apart from the questions of legitimacy and effectiveness , I worry about what happens to a person singled out for attention .
their sale creates new owners and a monopoly on the transmission system .
the indexing of pay and social benefits is an instrument which some countries have embraced in order to reduce the risk of poverty among workers , which is a growing phenomenon in Europe .
voting time
in Belgium , for example , the line between Aachen and Liège is equipped , and ICT trains running on this line are equipped as well .
we therefore say to you : ' look at what is already happening in some countries ' .
let us be frank .
we would also like to emphasise that the Commission has not yet published any official communication on the subject ; if you wish to know more there are currently no internal documents to which to refer , only the basic information available on the Committee on Development 's website .
in writing .
we have negotiated hard and in a highly controversial manner .
the concept of a living landscape that balances the needs of nature with the needs of man is the basis of the thinking that underpins Natura 2000 .
Mr President , Mrs Győri , Mr De Gucht , ladies and gentlemen , we are discussing an important aspect of international trade policy very late in the day .
we wish you further success , re-election to Parliament , much satisfaction in your public activity and happiness in your personal life .
in any event , under the directive , death caused by a negligent act should continue , to be covered by a minimum liability .
therefore , although we are concerned that the death penalty continues to be applied in the US , we must acknowledge that there has been a 60 % drop in the number of executions in the United States during the last decade .
moreover , it is proposed to seek not only an annual report on a one-year programme but also quarterly reports on the application and implementation of the measures .
not all MEPs are back in the Chamber after the fire drill .
the civil societies and parliaments of these countries must be involved in this effort towards transparency , and the EU must foster national debates on where the received aid should go .
visa facilitation will help to ensure people 's mobility , their cooperation and , at the same time , both economic and cultural links .
with the aim of restoring general confidence , ensuring the correct operation of the financial sector and better protecting the deposits of individual savers and their families , the European Council of 7 October invited the European Commission to present an urgent proposal to encourage the convergence of deposit guarantee schemes within the European Union .
these twin dangers carry the threat of a retreat into a Fortress Europe .
that is what we had in our country before the European Union destroyed our democracy , so get used to listening to opposition in this place .
I would like to thank my fellow Members , especially the shadow rapporteurs , for their truly excellent cooperation .
that would be better .
we have already been doing a lot as regards financial markets reform .
this is not only important for the EU , but is also beneficial for the society of the countries concerned , not to mention that it can contribute to the improvement of the image of the candidate countries .
however , given the current economic situation , perhaps this is not the best moment to adopt this text .
this is Rule 13 of the Rules of Procedure .
the growing interdependence between different levels of government in the Union was stressed by the consultation paper launched by the Commission on the EU 2020 strategy .
additional aid is required for developing countries .
however , it is crucial that these energy efficiency targets are binding for the Member States , as it is plain for all to see that the EU has recommendations and objectives in a great many areas that are never realised in practice because they are not binding .
I asked to speak , no one noticed , I even stood up .
a gap that we could plug if we were to decide to seriously consider the creation of a joint mechanism to manage part of the Member States ' debt by issuing Eurobonds .
we have a common agricultural policy ( CAP ) that lacks effective regulatory mechanisms because the liberal majority still believes that nothing must restrict the market .
first of all , although the remit of the European External Action Service should be limited , the Service must take one task very seriously : it has to stand up for Christians who are being persecuted .
nonetheless , today , there is an urgent need to give new impetus to this effort .
with regard to the language regime , of course this is simply a matter of consultation , since unanimity is required here .
the next item is the statements by the Council and the Commission on the programme of activities of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council .
we will not overcome this crisis without restructuring and rescheduling the debt where it has exceeded sustainable levels and the debtors cannot realistically pay it back .
I am very pleased to see the commitment that you are showing in respect of these important issues .
are we prepared to invest in them and their future ?
sometimes we need to invest more time in explaining the content of a directive , and that is what my colleagues are doing in the Council .
as to migration flows , our approach should focus on their effective management rather than their excessive control .
in writing . - ( RO ) The illnesses from which modern man suffers are due to diet , but they can be cured through following the right diet .
I voted in favour of the Jensen report , which provides a comprehensive policy framework and defines actions for the coordinated deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems ( ITSs ) at EU level .
Member States ' obligations to introduce criminal penalties in application of the Directive therefore extend to unlawful behaviour in breach of the provisions of legislation adopted on the basis of the Euratom Treaty , and they must be determined with reference to that legislation . '
three years later , the Commission concluded that the entry into force of this system was going smoothly and that both partners were satisfied .
the Commission not only has a duty , but also a sincere interest , in facilitating the dialogue amongst stakeholders and policymakers at a European level .
the dominance of the ' yes ' camp in the media was further reinforced by the European Commission 's quire of 16 pages in all the Sunday papers : an illegal use of taxpayers ' money about which the last word has yet to be said .
as far as chaptalisation is concerned , I feel that we should not waste our energy on this issue .
the national press might also decide to play a useful role in investigating this matter .
it must also be comprehensive , covering the full range of issues in the Bali road map .
we owe it to the Sudanese people in both North and South to stand by them and offer them support and encouragement at this critical time .
( SV ) Mr President , it is rather odd to hear some of the whiners - including some of my fellow Swedes - criticising the Swedish Presidency .
that means that the total number of complaints has stabilised at around the level reached following the 53 % increase in 2004 .
we also consider that it is important that Libya should adhere as soon as possible to the 1951 Geneva Convention and its 1967 Protocol on the status of refugees .
it presents a clear statement of the view of this House on agriculture policy , not just at the European level , but also at a global level .
( LT ) Although it is disappointing , we must recognise that the six year romantic period in Ukraine 's political life is over .
( PT ) Mr President , we are in solidarity with the Arab peoples in their struggle for freedom , democracy and social progress in Tunisia , Egypt and Libya , bearing in mind the specific circumstances of each of these countries .
as Europe is going through a deep economic and financial crisis , which has led to serious social problems with unemployment growing in all the Member States , it is essential for the European Union to create effective mechanisms for tackling the crisis and also supporting those worst affected , including the unemployed and businesses in difficulty .
exchanges of information and constructive dialogue will allow us to achieve more effective and transparent results , which is a key issue from the point of view of the EU citizens whose interests we represent .
I hope that there will be a powerful surge of opinion from citizens to guarantee freedom of speech and access to internet services .
every year , they can make a difference of EUR 80 billion .
this would lay the NATO states open to blackmail from Teheran or Pyongyang .
the mutual recognition of education and training is the first step in the right direction .
thank you , President-in-Office , for that quite open , honest and factual reply .
technically , it has been finalised .
two and a half of our 11 amendments were passed ( with a very important one calling on the HR / VP to overcome the imbalance between civilian and military planning capabilities ) .
women are the last to enter into the labour market and the first to be unemployed and , in addition to this , in 2004 , the pay gap between men and women was 15 % and in 2009 , it was more than 17 % .
as a political body , the European Parliament is asked to legislate and to provide executive decision-makers with political guidance for properly coping with the challenges , opportunities and dangers of our present times .
let us therefore not disappoint them .
I do wonder whether we could spend that money better .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Madam President , Mr Potočnik , I support the final remarks that you made , in particular with regard to resource efficiency .
in conclusion , I believe that our counter-terrorist efforts clearly require joint action and the total dedication of the Council , Parliament and the Commission .
cooperation between Member States is the foundation of this Union ; however , that cooperation has always been based on mutual consent .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , today is the culmination of what has been a very long , and very often intense , legislative process , and the efforts shown by all sides in the negotiations have produced results which were worth waiting for .
we have been analysing the possible costs for the different Member States on the basis also of the pressure under which they are operating .
none , of course .
however , in order to achieve these goals , I call on the Council , in particular , to take note of Parliament 's views and to be prepared to discuss some of the issues further , and I mention four issues at this point .
on 13 November 2007 the Commission adopted its proposals on the Telecom Reform , which include provisions that further strengthen the security and privacy regime underpinning the information society .
15 .
( FR ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , listening to your statement has increased my concerns even more .
it is therefore a matter of solidarity .
I agree with the Member of the Commission that we must do our homework , we ourselves must achieve the target of 20 % by various means .
I agree with the rapporteur that greater account needs to be taken of the situation of rural women when distributing and deploying European financial resources .
data protection within the framework of police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters ( vote )
fellow Members , I believe that it is important for us to continue with our joint , coordinated efforts in order to help our economies recover and emerge from the crisis stronger than before .
I therefore hope that , in the next few weeks and months , we definitely attain more transparency in this area .
I would also like to know whether , after the methodology has been drawn up , the proposals to be submitted will also refer to all means of transport .
the African Union must insist on an end to violence and the appointment of a mediator , backed by observers , who will have the confidence of the MDC .
during the conversation with Mrs Kosor , Mr Schulz said that the dispute in the Gulf of Piran would previously have been settled by fighting a war .
the essence of the general food law is that the responsibility for food safety rests with the producer .
this will lead to job losses in the airline sector and consequently , less competition in the market .
it is obviously a good system which has very serious safety elements .
whatever the reason , it is irrational that we should have a single market for new vehicles but not for spare parts .
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Madam President , I am extremely satisfied with the work of the Ombudsman as explained in his annual report and in his speech .
is the Commission taking measures designed to limit or prevent this in future ?
France must not be allowed to favour rum producers in its overseas departments by lower taxes than permitted .
it is that set of problems to which the report refers .
I welcome this greatly , but it is a very difficult subject .
not only do SMEs provide valuable employment , accounting for 80 % of new jobs in the EU in recent years , but they also play a key social role in stimulating local economies , diversifying employment and encouraging entrepreneurship .
the fact that this status is now coming to an end indicates the need for international support for those forces that seek change .
it is very important for our industry .
I have only one question .
we have to take a step back ; we have to recognise that during the course of one lifetime , the human population has quadrupled and our use of fossil fuels , our energy consumption , has grown enormously .
we should have made the target binding then , and we really need to go forward now and find ways of making it possible .
we cannot renounce our convictions , customs or standards in this area , and we must not just seek to have them respected in Europe , but should rather try to project them on the international stage .
there is no doubt that maintaining certain customs clauses such as duty drawback would be unfair and would create a distortion of competition that would be very harmful to the European car industry .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
therefore , the importance and influence of this industry is obvious - as are its dangers .
they are an ethnocultural community , still cherishing its tribal tradition , and a pan-European community which was kept in slavery in pre-modern and early modern Europe , which was sent to extermination camps by the Fascist regimes and enclosed in the states turned into prisons by the Communist dictatorship .
in that way , most if not all unfair business-to-business commercial practices in the retail sector would be covered and governed by the same set of rules as unfair business-to-consumer commercial practices , with which they generally overlap .
let us have one summit , as we do with America .
any attempts by the Chinese Government to hinder protests or reporting for these ends would be regrettable .
from an environmental point of view , the choice of models was clearly wrong and the fact that the changeover is being made now , in a crisis , does not make it easier , but that does not change the fact that this changeover is necessary and needs to take place quickly .
I am very grateful that Mr David and others have succeeded in putting together a package that received the support of a broad majority in committee .
in view of the complicated nature of organising promotional campaigns in third-country markets and the higher costs of such measures at a significant distance , particularly in Asia or America , the mechanism for supporting promotional activities did not attract much interest from trade organisations .
for a long time , as the news wafting in from Hungary indicates , they could not find a legal basis for doing so .
thank you for your attention and I look forward to your comments and questions .
both Croatia and Slovenia must recognise that international law is necessary but , of course , also that the principles of equity , fairness and a just solution - a political solution , if you want to describe it in that way - are essential .
if we can get that sense of priority there and timing and speed to come up with the best solutions quickly , I think that is the way that I commend you to think about moving forward .
( ES ) Mr President , the truth is that today we should congratulate ourselves as Europeans , as we have had the good fortune to have been able to successfully complete such a symbolic project as Galileo , which makes the desire for European improvement in all areas , including space , transport and communications , more visible .
Members of our PPE-DE Group on these committees and the PPE Group as a whole are heavily involved .
it is now up to the political leaders of the highest level - a summit indeed - of the free-market economies to come together - no excuses , no holding back , no arguments - to take full responsibility for restoring confidence .
we know the difficult conditions , but this is supposed to be a parliament .
finally , we will also have to make a greater effort to combat the gangs of forgers .
20 .
barriers in these areas have been in place in the Japanese market for decades .
the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament lays the emphasis on the economic tools that give opportunities to improve the demographic situation in the European Union .
we also have many mutual interests in terms of energy security , one of the greatest challenges of our times .
that , Mr President , is why we believe that the European Parliament has to take a firm stand for peace - peace in the Middle East - and give its assent to the agreement on scientific and technological cooperation with Israel .
we are following the human rights situation in Vietnam very closely , and the Presidency has just recently had the opportunity to express concern once again following the sentences handed down in particular to two journalists who had written reports on corruption cases .
the difficulties which may arise from the implementation of the current directive and the future intentions of the Commission were highlighted and discussed at the level of the Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work created by the Council .
can you confirm now that you are converts and that you fully agree with the legislative climate and energy package that was passed overwhelmingly last December by this Parliament ?
I therefore voted in favour of the Guerreiro report .
in Mexico the impact on public and economic life has grown to a serious scale .
my concern with OLAF 's problem is that it has a huge conflict of interests going on .
we have to set a target : for example , 2025 .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , first of all , I would like to thank Mr El Khadraoui .
there is no aggregate consciousness that would suffer more distress than a single one .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the recent terrorist attacks in Egypt and Iraq are criminal acts that represent just one aspect , albeit a tragic one , of the persecutions of Christian communities around the world and particularly in the Middle East .
again , we have a situation where our citizens can only look on and shake their heads .
'How we were all blinded by the golden calf ' .
that is the reason why we are so clear in our own messages , fully recognising that we are independent and that those who are taking those decisions are independent .
... and thank you to the Danish voters who made it possible !
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , there are two reasons in favour : firstly , the importance of the subject - I find it a little strange for Parliament to refuse to vote .
in spite of this , we decided to support the report in the final vote .
the Commission will soon investigate the criteria on which decisions to grant assistance are based .
I therefore vehemently reject this oral amendment .
the starting point was a generally accepted principle that is restated in every debate on energy policy , namely the view shared by the Commission and Parliament that energy policy has three major goals - competitiveness , in other words affordable prices , protection of the environment and security of supply .
we also know that Ankara waged a diplomatic war to prevent any reference to this in the Lisbon text .
there is a report by Mrs Napoletano which is very much supported by the present Presidency .
we want all expenditure to be supported by documentary evidence , and we want all variable costs to be the subject of a cost-benefit analysis .
I sincerely hope that this , for example , will lead to the removal of the hundreds of billions in subsidies that have a deleterious effect on the environment and nature that we still have in this world .
that is an important step .
this was , moreover , a debate that has taken place at the request of Parliament , which specifically wanted this debate to be held on the citizens ' initiative , and I consider there have been a string of speeches in which I have seen absolutely unanimous support for this as a priority of the Spanish Presidency of the Council .
Iran - recent cases of human rights violations (
President of the Eurogroup and member of the European Council - ( FR ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I am not going to go back to the comments made by the President of the Central Bank during our debate .
however , I have nevertheless quite clearly voted in favour of the report , because the Socialist call to focus the report on accession was rejected .
as far as the exceptions are concerned , I would also like to say clearly that the markets for the Inuits collapsed some years ago .
this is the way we are , and I think it is a democratic way of handling the diversity of the European Union .
the register should be compulsory and common to all European institutions .
today , almost on the eve of that occasion , we are debating the third rail package , which is also and from my point of view very specifically concerned with the rights and obligations of rail passengers .
it is highly important that the EU should also support the rights of minorities , especially since many countries all around the world do not respect very basic rights in this sense .
however , stepping up support for disadvantaged groups and , in particular , for people with disabilities , including people living in institutions , is a key strand for action under the European Social Fund .
the contribution of this report and our colleague 's work is crucial , and there are two aspects I would like to highlight .
President Yanukovich 's inaugural speech gives hope to the international community that things can return to normal in Ukraine .
I would , however , like to make two additional points :
in addition , NATO 's role cannot be deemed to concern only its Member States , as the Gualtieri report states : it creates security for the EU 's non-NATO members too .
I hope that after the postponement of discharge it will be possible to reach a definitive and forward-looking agreement between the competent parliamentary committee , the European Parliament and the European Council on the issues related to the discharge of the Council .
the next item is the Council and Commission statements on new regulations on visas for Western Balkan countries ( Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia , Montenegro , Serbia ) .
the institutions ' transparency and the clarity of their representatives ' actions should be an intrinsic element of real and genuine democracy .
long live freedom , I say .
with this report we have , I think , succeeded in avoiding the political conflicts of the past , and clearly that is important because we have a great many other things on which to focus our energies .
it was under her Presidency a year ago that we adopted these objectives , and I hope that we are not now going to water down our ambitions .
that is a remarkable thing to do , but go ahead .
in terms of the social issues mentioned , including child labour , touched on by Mrs Kallenbach , the Council shares these concerns and not only with regard to India .
the second very important thing is the necessity to abolish the restrictions on land area according to the condition of 30 June 2003 .
work continues on the directive on violence against women , yet at the same time , there are countries in the European Union , including Poland , unfortunately , which allow themselves to use legally-sanctioned violence against women in the field of sexual and reproductive health .
that is the only way to ensure that the exclusions do not create these serious social conflicts .
however , there are irresponsible people who want to change the borders of European countries and are using it as a precedent .
this own-initiative report rightly recognises the crucial role of consumer organisations , which are the ideal organisations for alerting public authorities to the problems consumers experience in their daily lives .
that means paying particular attention to supplies of safe drinking water , proteins and basic medication , alongside traditional medicines .
there is an urgent need to remove technical and regulatory barriers which hamper the development of this area .
this is why it is important to look to the future , which involves a number of risks .
it will be launched at the start of the 2009 / 2010 school year with an annual budget of EUR 90 million for purchasing and supplying fresh fruit and vegetables to schools .
we are talking about another murder in Pakistan which shows that , in fact , the authorities there are not in control of the situation , and this is a problem .
the EP may well rhetorically extol the ' smooth , transparent and effective exercise of the right of participation of the citizens ' and the so-called ' citizens ' initiative ' introduced in the draft Treaty , now known as the Treaty of Lisbon .
that was explicitly the second strand .
we should be aware , however , that for some observers EURES is an example of overgrown European bureaucracy .
in fact , this meeting will take place in a very difficult environment , as in the European Union alone , around 5.5 million young people are out of work .
however , the reality of the situation , so to speak , required that the scope be partially reduced .
but I would like to stress that the Internet offers huge opportunities .
we now need to strengthen the work of the EU by providing incentives for anti-trafficking actions , collecting data in order to compile reliable statistics , and establishing closer cross-border cooperation , including the exchange of information and best practice , as well as closer collaboration with Eurojust and Europol .
it is essential to introduce sensible rules that will make it possible to release further spectrum bands in the future .
as you will know , we are scheduled to meet tomorrow .
tax fraud is undoubtedly a major problem which reduces State budget revenues .
in this way we could be much more autonomous , much more independent , and Europe could take a leading role in this essential global issue so that there would not have to be dozens of unnecessary power stations as is the case today .
the EU Heads of State or Government endorsed the ' Innovation Union ' flagship initiative when they met on 4 February , but endorsement is not sufficient .
I endorse the exclusion from the Ecolabel scheme of products which are carcinogenic , toxic or harmful to the environment and the reference to a reduction on animal testing .
the volume of trade has multiplied five-fold since 2000 and will soon total USD 100 billion , although Western trade is for the moment still responsible for up to two thirds of African trade revenue .
agricultural prices , not least for foods , have shot up over a very short period .
I also take the view that we need to do much more to halt the decline in world biodiversity .
some serious concerns have emerged in connection with the constitutionality of the government decree and its relationship with international and EU law .
at the end of our presidency I would gladly report to you that agreement has been successfully reached on this matter .
finally , I think that very easy definitions and very easy recipes are , by definition , suspect .
I should like to examine one point with which you are familiar : I should like to draw the attention of the European Union to the question of whether we should really begin this highly determined auctioning straight away in 2013 , when we know very well that our American friends and our friends in India and in China will not have such instruments by then .
if things go wrong , it is Europe 's fault .
independent impact assessment should , of course , be carried out at the national level but , outside of the European Union , Britain would be free to decide its own level of regulation and it would certainly not be GBP 49 billion per annum .
on the contrary , it should be a strengthening of the Schengen Treaty .
that is a sign , in my view , of strength and not of weakness .
at this point , I would like draw your attention to the fact that the competencies which stem from the implementation of the UN Convention and the Optional Protocol are divided between the Community and its Member States .
hasty comments should be avoided .
we are now in a position to give the Commission the basis for the programming of the TEN-T of the next decade .
I thank you , Commissioner , for making a very clear statement , and I would like all groups to understand your argument as well as that of my fellow Members .
this freedom should be the possibility , above all , for students to go to study abroad , and I believe that we should take the opportunity afforded by this revision to launch an ambitious programme of study grants .
authorising products that do not meet these requirements threatens this fair competition , which should be a keystone in our trade policy .
the Fine Gael MEPs abstained on the votes on Lithuania as the legislative / legal processes have not yet been completed there .
the final version of the draft agenda as drawn up by the Conference of Presidents at its meeting of Thursday , 18 November 2010 pursuant to Rule 137 of the Rules of Procedure has been distributed .
Madam President , we hope that we will be surprised by effective , authoritative action : in that case , at the end of the six months , we will have the intellectual honesty to give credit for it .
I think that tackling the food crisis should also be on the agenda , as should secure and sustainable energy supplies - we are both primarily consumers of energy and dependent on producer countries - and of course the stability of the financial markets .
I would remind everyone that the Ancient Greeks said ' man is the measure of all things ' 2 500 years ago .
venture capital is the honeybee of alternative funds owing to its ability to pollinate emerging businesses and drive growth in the global economy , as exemplified by Google , Facebook and Skype .
today the Israeli court of justice ruled in favour of the government , i.e. Barak , as regards blocking and reducing fuel supplies .
of course , it is now up to us to draft our opinion , and we must do so before 24 March , as an important Council meeting is taking place on this date .
since the beginning of October 2008 I have been trying to get speaking time in the one-minute contributions and I am pleased that I have finally succeeded .
this report strengthens competitiveness and market instruments , without , however , being ambitious with regard to renewable forms of energy or reduced energy consumption .
there can be no exceptions .
above all , EU vessels are able to access Seychelles ' waters and engage in fishing .
I believe that the stakes are such that we cannot wait much longer for the results of this working group to be implemented .
on what you have said about fragmentation and a horizontal approach , I think the answer from the Commission - and it is very visible in the white paper - is a consistent , coherent approach , and I think that the European legal tradition and the roots of our legal culture are different from the oft-quoted American ones .
this also applies to those farmers who have invested a great deal of money , including EU funding and loans .
the European Parliament has demonstrated through today 's vote that it is receptive to signing a new agreement on the processing and transfer of financial messaging data as part of the Terrorist Finance Tracking Programme .
it encourages high-quality education that fosters a responsible and respectful attitude to intellectual property rights .
I hope it will not affect Croatia again , on condition that Croatia maintains full cooperation with ICTY .
the agricultural sector has to be a priority , and we must strengthen the country 's agricultural production capacities .
part 2.1 of the communication talks about the challenges and opportunities which a common coordinated approach of the countries involved might bring to the development of this region .
how can we embark on a ' three times twenty ' climate-change plan and say ' I am not interested in the urban environment ' , when the latter has the biggest influence on climate change ?
there should be only one seat for Europe in Mexico rather than the eight that were apparently needed in Copenhagen .
we now have in Chad a large contingent of Irish troops .
the aim of this directive was to put into practice the fourth fundamental freedom of the European integration project , since we are today talking of anniversaries .
it is bound to happen - and I know our lady friend down here , who is all motherhood and apple pie , thinks it is absolutely wonderful - but of course we have got to look at the next generation .
great importance must ...
however , this fresh wave of infringements of rights must , I believe , constitute a priority for us and for the High Representative .
thirdly , Detroit highlights that the associates of al-Qaeda are in a position to launch attacks outside of what we would call their own territory .
over recent decades the tendency to approach the issue of persons with disabilities from a right-based perspective has matured and has been widely accepted internationally .
this is far from simple , and we are far from being there .
I should like once again to thank Mr Lehne for his determination and commitment , as well as the members of the Committee on Legal Affairs .
this is our political programme for 2008 .
I do not think the view of the Eurosceptics is right , that now , when the Irish people have spoken , the Lisbon Treaty should be buried .
some time after that , the alleged legal department of the company sent out letters , which I have here , asking my fellow countryman to pay EUR 3 529.38 , which apparently included interest and the company 's legal costs .
it promotes the free movement of researchers between states , the public and private sectors , companies , research centres and universities , greater cohesion between the private and public sectors in the field of research , the absolute subjugation of science to the market 's temporary technological requirements and the orientation of researchers towards applied research , recognising previous experience as a corporate researcher as a formal qualification .
there will definitely be a need for the Mistrals , so that the countries of the Persian Gulf feel the gun at their heads .
we therefore propose a European industry council on the future of mobility involving politicians , businesses , trade unions and academics .
in conclusion , I should like to remind the House that many wars on this earth hit many women particularly hard , and we are working to prevent the use of harassment and rape of women as weapons of war .
this is why we would ask the Commission to guarantee this expertise by drafting in more health experts and also by working more effectively with the WHO and the Member States .
the new Member States still rely , to a high degree , on coal as the main primary energy source .
in addition , citizens are savers and borrowers and I have just outlined provisions regarding a single integrated mortgage market .
Russia is one of Europe 's most important economic partners , not to mention a neighbouring country on which , inter alia , European energy policy depends .
according to the ILO , roughly 218 million children are involved in child labour at present .
a Member State would get one annual tranche from the EU budget , and would be accountable to its own citizens and other Member States based on results .
Mr Albertini now has the floor to speak for the two minutes he has remaining as rapporteur .
hence , I call on the European Parliament to adopt a common , strong and offensive position in favour of the introduction , at international level , of a tax on financial activities .
I would also like to know the Council 's position on this issue and whether this kind of reform conforms to European legislation ?
22 .
deciding that at this point is the wrong way to go .
South Africa , in its capacity as facilitator , together with the SADC , as guarantor of the Global Political Agreement , has decided to accredit the Zimbabwean Ambassador .
( DA ) Madam President , a huge amount of work has gone into this regulation , both by Mrs Liotard and by the shadow rapporteurs .
I also have to say that we should listen to what the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas ( ICCAT ) says since , in 2009 , it adopted more restrictive and stronger management measures in line with the recommendations of the Scientific Committee .
I thank the rapporteurs , Mrs Fourtou and Mr Newton Dunn , the Commission and the Council for the excellent work carried out over the last three years .
we Social Democrats in particular have put forward a few opinions .
two attempts have already failed because of the conflict of interest between the airports and the airlines and between the different Member States .
I am not sure that the Greenlandic , Russian and Canadian Inuits would agree with that .
- ( SK ) Madam President , the food crisis caused by the exceptionally poor harvest last year has highlighted to us the shortcomings of our agriculture and food policy .
the next item is the report ( Α6-0131 / 2008 ) by Mr Lehideux , on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs , on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a European Training Foundation ( recast ) - C6-0243 / 2007 - .
but maybe we need a fallback position ?
our demographic decline , like our future , must be a cause for concern .
my third remark is that I am looking forward to cooperation with the House on the Black Sea strategy and its subsequent implementation .
it is here in this directive that paternity leave and maternity leave must be brought together .
what I mean here is that Europe , which supports a model of society that is unique in the world and which puts people at the heart of that model of society , is a major tool in the context of globalisation .
we are simply voting on the calendar .
we should make it quite clear that the issue here is the militarisation of space by the European Union .
since 2005 , the IMO ( International Maritime Organization ) has been cooperating with the ILO ( International Labour Organization ) and UNEP ( United Nations Environment Programme ) to draw up binding international rules on the clean dismantling of ships .
in view of the present financial difficulties within the EU , we cannot provide this aid at the moment .
Mr President , alcohol-related mortality and morbidity affect hundreds of thousands of EU citizens every year and alcohol competes strongly with tobacco as a main cause of preventable serious harm to humans .
I voted in favour of the report with one reservation , which is also a hope : that we will find a solution to the deep-rooted ' tango bond ' situation that casts such a shadow over our relationship with Argentina .
I saw then how much the inhabitants of Tibet need help .
the Commission , ladies and gentlemen , is conscious of the environmental , economic , social , human and public health consequences of illegal waste shipments , and the Probo Koala affair , in which several people died after being exposed to hazardous waste illegally dumped in Côte d 'Ivoire , is one of the worst examples in living memory , and here too there are lessons to be learnt .
we also need to ensure that the growing female migrant workforce , which is often exploited in the grey economy , is integrated into the labour market .
I would also like to draw attention to the question of health promotion .
the report also provides support for , among other things , a strengthened budget to eradicate the bluetongue disease and assistance with European policing and anti-fraud .
this depends , to a crucial degree , on who governs in Tehran .
the heart of democracy and the rule of law is the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms .
on the other hand , there is the necessity for a balanced trade policy .
the common denominator of all these endeavours is a full-on attack on workers .
they also plan trialogues .
I voted for the European Parliament motion for a resolution on the mass atrocities in Jos , Nigeria .
several of the new Member States also deliver their aid in partnership with other Member States under cofinancing arrangements , thus reducing their own and their partner states ' administrative costs .
thirdly , the appropriate measures contained in the report on health care also require additional financial resources . it is particularly hard for the less developed Member States to find these resources , as they are already experiencing serious difficulties in financing very basic health care for their citizens .
we consider security of food supply to be one of the basic human rights .
Madam President , now that we have arrived at this point , at this time and at the end of this long process , I think that we know what it is that unites us , every man and woman in this room : it is the protection of patients ' health .
I am glad that the stakeholders had the opportunity in February to discuss the majority of the questions that need to be solved so that the citizens ' initiative is operational .
the competitiveness of SMEs is frequently reduced as a result of the barriers blocking cross-border trade .
President of the European Council . - Mr President , honourable Members , dear colleagues , today I report back to you on the first formal meeting of the European Council that I have had the honour to chair .
in writing . - British Labour MEPs support the principle that the European Parliament should be knowledge based , but decided to abstain on the decision to increase the number of Group staff due to the current financial conditions and the need to save money as a result .
the efficient use of primary energy depends on improved efficiency in converting it into electricity , on the introduction of standards for minimum energy end consumption , on the widespread thermo-modernisation of buildings , on the widespread introduction of co-generation by eliminating administrative barriers , and on the reduction of energy transfer losses and losses due to friction .
this will be a top diplomat who can raise her voice on behalf of the EU or mediate in cases of violence towards women , who will submit proposals to the Council of Ministers and the European Commission and who will be accountable to the European Parliament .
we must fight for freedom of the media - in Hungary and elsewhere , too .
we cannot afford to exclude references to reproductive rights from this report because this is a core topic when we target the promotion of women 's rights and their empowerment .
secondly , on the political and military level : in eastern DRC , no military solution is possible .
it is in all our interests to work together to maximise turn-out in June 2009 .
this is about access to information from pluralistic sources so that the right to vote is a genuine one .
it is of course understood that the Agency 's means of action must be perfected , but I feel we must not underestimate the potential of the EASA for European aviation as a whole .
( EL ) Mr President , according to reports in the Greek press and official Greek Government sources , neither of which have been contested , there has been a worrying increase in the number of foreigners with no papers entering via Greece 's northern borders .
they will promote the Treaty of Lisbon and the EU 2020 strategy , which will strengthen the sovereignty of the markets , increase unemployment and insecure jobs , unravel the social security system and restrict democratic and social rights .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I am grateful to the European Parliament for this report .
Britain does not need a common European immigration policy .
the number of small companies has been increasing significantly in Europe in recent years .
is resolute action genuinely being taken to deal with the radical factions ' excesses and the massacres of Christians and Muslims ?
the ambitious nature of this Agreement is very much to be welcomed .
I am not in a position to force exactly what you would like to hear , maybe .
it is behind the agricultural Malthusianism in Europe , which contributes to the rise in prices .
in 2007 and 2008 , the European Parliament was not represented , for obvious reasons .
the interoperability debate mainly concerns broadening the choice offered to consumers in the area of interactive television services . this choice largely involves the services offered by operators rather than the equipment , however , especially as the choice can take various forms , and subscribers are able to choose between different platforms depending on the content and services available .
as we take the principle of subsidiarity seriously , we are of the opinion that Parliament 's Committee on Culture and Education should be abolished .
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one of the upshots of this will be to boost cultural tourism .
the CO2 regulation for new cars that is part of this approach is the result of a compromise , as our colleague , Guido Sacconi , said , whom I congratulate .
in this context of dematerialisation , a region 's wealth in terms of its quality of life is thus extremely important , I would even say absolutely indispensable .
above all , there is one thing that needs to be stated very clearly , which is that the citizens cannot be left behind - people and associations must be found who ease the path of people who want to start a new life locally and who show them how their new town works or where the nearest swimming pool is .
( HU ) The European Union 's credibility is completely undermined if it only speaks out in the case of human rights violations happening outside the EU , but makes no protest in the case of a serious human rights violation like the one which has just taken place in Slovakia as a consequence of the national language law and has also triggered unparalleled tension in relations between the majority and minority communities .
the motive forces behind innovation are people , their occupational , entrepreneurial and social competences .
in writing . - ( DE ) In the last few years , Latin America has become an emerging economic region .
could the Council make a statement on the ongoing EU negotiations with Canada and the US regarding the transport of liquids through airports ?
we did not manage to achieve this in negotiation with the Council at that time .
in my opinion , this should be followed by specific measures , including financial measures and economic sanctions , which will allow the restoration of freedom and democracy in Belarus .
in relation to spam , the proposals introduced the possibility for internet service providers to take legal action against spammers .
let me stress that having clear , concrete , ambitious , nationally-owned programmes is essential to the successful implementation of the European Semester .
as the rapporteur for Kosovo , I also have to say , however - and this point is partly addressed to Mrs Flašíková Beňová , who , I think , is unfortunately no longer in the Chamber - that Kosovo is an independent State .
Commissioner , if the work on this line is not speeded up , we will not , in the medium term , be able to overcome the almost insuperable orographical obstacle of the Pyrenees .
we now await the Parliament resolution on Belarus which is due to be adopted tomorrow , and we will take due account of your opinion in our decision which will be taken shortly .
within the European Union and in the ACP region , we can force multinationals to declare , on a country-by-country basis , how much they earn and how much tax they pay .
concerning customs revenue : Mr Arif and Mme Jouye de Grandmaison , until 2013 the EDF covers this and we are interested in making sure that economic growth and fiscal change can also support nations so that they are not reliant upon this revenue solely , but actually find new ways of supporting their economies .
this must apply both to ACP countries and to China .
the text was submitted to us for approval and I decided to vote in favour , since it primarily concerns itself with development in South Africa .
a system of support is most effective when it is geared to those energy sources with the greatest potential and that , Mr President , differs from one Member State to the next .
public broadcasters play a crucial role in the protection of cultural diversity , linguistic diversity and media pluralism .
all of this gives evidence of the fact that if Europe wants to be democratic , it needs rules , it needs directives in order to create media pluralism .
in our society , security depends on change .
I also understand the honourable Member 's question .
these changes have been presented to the President of Parliament .
I agree with the provisions of the regulation which give passengers appropriate guarantees should a journey be cancelled or delayed , even providing for additional compensation .
so , I urge everyone to support this important report and to vote for it so that we can go forward and have a bright future for universities , for students and for employers .
the taxation-change approach proposed by the Commission and by Olle Schmidt 's report fails to promote either research or the concept of a new alternative fuel to curb CO2 emissions .
in the long term , it was emphasised that the future development of Frontex operations should still continue to be carried out in stages .
take the RAPEX system , which highlights wide divergences between European countries ' systems of market surveillance .
action against climate change has become inseparable from poverty reduction and achievement of the Millennium Goals .
that being so , it is important that the EU should debate the matter and make known the concerns of its citizens .
there is no problem with the debate . this should go through very quickly , and I hope it does .
the Commission proposals were along the same lines .
one area that very clearly needs to be excluded is all matters relating to property law .
our vote today will contribute greatly to a better , more democratic and a much more transparent European Union .
the aspect of subsidiarity requires further elaboration .
only with the equal participation of all our citizens will we achieve the EU objectives of growth , employment and social cohesion .
of course , when we prepare a report here in the European Parliament , we really have to be clear what approach we are going to deal with .
ordinary citizens must be guaranteed access to the social , educational , health and transport infrastructure .
I fear that , in practice , the opportunities to enter the European market will be impeded by all the rules and requirements .
yesterday , there was a preparatory meeting of Heads of State or Government in New York , during which the European Union unveiled its highly ambitious proposal : to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 .
in my opinion , European taxpayers simply cannot afford to sustain this at this time .
this is obvious .
I particularly would like to thank Mr Caspary for working together with me on this and , on the Pacific , let me say the work of Mr Audy .
all I can say to you is that our intention is entirely the opposite .
we take the Internet age into account as well , as the provisions will apply to online purchases just as they do to face-to-face trade .
in writing . - I welcome the swift action taken by the French presidency in working towards a solution to the conflict between Georgia and Russia .
thank you .
each country was responsible for its own railways .
I believe that the amendments put forward by the PSE and the ALDE Groups - with which the Council has agreed - constitute a fair and reasonable compromise .
the countries concerned should have dealt with the problem long since , yet the Community 's leaders are pointing the finger at the new Member States even in the case of insignificant incidents .
on this issue there is a similarity between us . the similarity lies in the fact that we are both saying that it is possible to find flexible solutions if the social partners reach agreement at national or local level .
one does not need a degree to be a waiter ; sometimes even a short course will suffice .
in very few cases do we call ourselves to account in connection with these ideals , which are an integral part of the European spirit , and which have been legally binding for a year now thanks to the Charter of Fundamental Rights .
without a joint plan for immigrant reception and border control we risk uncontrollable , chaotic immigration with serious consequences for the whole of Europe .
our peak population age group is now about 10 to 15 years younger than in the EU-25 in general .
the Presidency will adhere to that position .
the Commission is prepared to work together with the German or Portuguese authorities to assess all requests for support from European funds .
in writing . - My group tabled a number of amendments on important issues such as climate change , fairer wealth distribution and fair pay , which I voted for .
these regimes can fall only when the internal situation becomes one where the regime loses the support of those on which its internal policies depend .
I was among the first supporters of the idea behind the European Commission 's proposal .
without wanting to anticipate this debate , let me briefly expand on the key issues of these forthcoming summits .
( the sitting was closed at 11.05 p.m. )
ethnic violence is always evil .
in addition to this domestic situation , Iran demonstrates a lack of international cooperation , refusing the International Atomic Energy Agency access to Iranian sites for uranium enrichment .
this is an important step in the right direction ; we are introducing greater transparency in accountability relating to European Union expenditure .
( HU ) Fellow Members , food security is a major goal of the European Union , but this is a poor compromise .
the European Parliament is defending its prerogatives as laid down in the Treaty of Lisbon .
our goal must be to help these people and not to encourage European self-righteousness .
in particular , Parliament will see its legislative power increased , as it will share responsibility equally with the European Council on most issues handled by the institutions .
otherwise , this agenda will end up just like the one before it too , the Lisbon Strategy , wide of the mark in terms of achieving any of the objectives set .
it has been holding back any development .
furthermore , entrepreneurs , managers of small and medium-sized enterprises in the creative sector , need better access to financing opportunities , because we currently have too little know-how and too little access to bank finance .
Portugal will pay the European Union around EUR 3 billion in interest per year .
this is not a sound procedure .
the Polish national minority in Lithuania , which comprises nearly 7 % of the entire population , is still suffering discrimination , and its rights are being flagrantly violated .
we must demand that all the governments concerned do what is necessary to prevent these attacks , and when that is not possible , to arrest and punish those responsible .
despite the technical and financial assistance provided over the years to the least developed countries ( LDCs ) , it is essential to recognise that these countries have not succeeded in lifting themselves out of this status , and still have permanent weaknesses and needs .
the issues of crime , home affairs and justice truly concern us all .
firstly , the text of the resolution in point B should not state with such certainty that the Lisbon Treaty will come into force .
Washington knows this , Moscow knows this , and with the ambiguous reactions to the crisis in Belarus , Minsk knows this , too .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
but I do so recognising that my predecessor , Javier Solana , spent six years in dialogue , six years offering to continue that debate ; so , dialogue , but not as an excuse for inaction on behalf of Iran , but rather as a means of making sure that we develop the strength of that relationship and that we achieve what we believe to be important .
in other words , is the European Parliament to take no part in examining the proposals , or is it to be involved via the normal procedure , namely codecision ?
closure of the sitting : see Minutes
but after various business and interest groups had got involved the proposal was reduced to 12 months only - with quarterly reviews !
thank you for the floor , Madam President .
I believe that the outcome that we have before us is a good one and genuinely reflects the Lisbon Treaty in implementation , with Parliament playing a substantive and important role for the future .
this mechanism will bring stability to bilateral trade relations between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco .
importers must check whether the producers have carried out the conformity assessment correctly and , where appropriate , carry out random tests themselves .
in Spain , it is 138 days , and in Italy 128 .
it cannot be a matter of reserving the best new technological developments for a very few vehicles , leaving the large mass of drivers , in fact , with the same old problems , compounded by the fact that the systems are not really compatible with each other .
but next door , Pakistan is potentially a catastrophe in the making - a nuclear arms state plagued by Islamist radicalisation , corruption and feeble leadership , which , nevertheless , we have to help for strategic reasons .
( BG ) Marine space is definitely the area where the most integrated policies are applied in real terms .
the Europe 2020 strategy aims to do this , and it is based on the commitment of the Member States to tackle certain objectives through a series of integrated guidelines .
I must say it is disappointing and sometimes depressing to hear speaker after speaker here in Strasbourg and in Brussels talk about the failure of the Lisbon Strategy .
the interests of big companies and financial institutions , and of the major powers almost always overcome the genuine and real interests of solidarity .
I firmly believe , however , that given sufficient political will , we Europeans will be capable of creating an effective , fair and unified resettlement programme .
the traditionally low profitability of this sector has been aggravated by the rise in the price of feed as well as the massive decrease in consumption of these products .
we will be providing the available regional funds to Wales and to all the other regions in future .
this is probably also why we have greater experience of the dangers of the Internet , from the cyber-war that targeted our country two years ago to the fact that , according to international research , our children have fallen prey to cyber-persecution more than children in many other countries .
unfortunately , the situation there has not improved and the prolonged destructive civil war has carried on unabated .
ladies and gentlemen , I would like to believe that , in the future , the European Union will find in Russia a permanent , structural partner that shares our values , but today it seems clear to me that such a future is quite distant .
firstly , how to shape this strategic alliance with Europe : Baroness Ashton , I would like to ask you whether you think that Turkey should participate as much as possible in the actions and the development of the common foreign and security policy .
there is another issue that I would like to raise , which is the fight against impunity .
however , at the same time the country was left without healthcare specialists , the majority of whom were Bulgarians .
in writing . - ( EL ) The Commission 's proposal on soil protection is generalised and vague .
the European scientific system needs to be more efficient , starting with the simplification of the rules for funding .
the European Community was the first to implement a GSP scheme in 1971 .
the University of Amman has just conducted a study which estimates that Jordan has more than a million refugees - an absolutely catastrophic macroeconomic impact ; the European Commission is not taking any steps to address this .
the young are leaving , so who will remain to work the land ?
that brings me to the last key message .
however , this is the system that I am obliged to adhere to .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( ES ) I am sorry about the confusion earlier regarding the order of my speech .
I want to state , at this point , that , once again , what we have here is a compromise , but , with regard to the future , I would like to call on the Member States to commit to actually drawing up these tables because this really is about a uniform implementation of the rules and regulations throughout Europe .
two points must be developed .
- Before the vote on paragraph 1 :
therefore , I believe that the European Parliament is right to impose stringent data protection requirements .
the Bowles report offers different remedies .
I believe this Regulation on access to the profession of road transport operator could contribute to a better harmonization of standards used by the Member States , especially as regards the financial capacity and professional competence , and will facilitate the mutual acknowledgment of the professional situation , thus making the road transport services more professional and increasing their safety and quality .
I believe that the submission to plenary looks very good and I am pleased that it seems that the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) has also now realised this , as it has tabled no more amendments .
why must the President of the Council be a prime minister ?
why , for example , are we fighting to re-launch the patents issue which has remained deadlocked for the last 30 years ?
I welcome the development that the Commission undertakes to report on the concrete follow-up given to any legislative initiative requests within three months of its adoption ; the Commission shall come forward with a legislative proposal after one year at the latest or include the proposal in the next year 's work programme .
if we do not do something straight away , there will be five hundred million by 2050 .
I declare the 2008-2009 session of the European Parliament open .
this is unacceptable .
( RO ) Cooperation between EU institutions in the fight against terrorism must work perfectly , especially as this phenomenon has intensified .
we have been taking lots of different measures over the summer so I think we should devise a special study to tell the new Members of this Parliament exactly what has been going on since last January .
I do not accept that large is worse than small or small is better than large ; I think all animals , whether they are groups of 10 or 100 , must be looked after .
we do need to have certain sanctions ready for use if the deadline of 22 November set by the Commonwealth and the UN is not observed and we do not see President Musharraf stand down as military leader or , indeed , an end to the state of emergency .
this will allow us to encourage vehicle manufacturers to use eco-innovation to ensure the European car industry 's competitiveness .
the international community cannot delay any longer .
in a spirit of consensus we have noted the Commission 's laudable efforts to highlight consumer issues in all areas of policy .
this policy is leading to a loss of security in food supplies , a security that is of great importance to future generations .
thus , if Roma children fail to attend primary school , is the relevant country liable to penalties ?
the Commission made its proposal on the basis of Parliament and Council resolutions calling for a comprehensive European Union approach to soil protection .
I can promise on behalf of both the committee and myself that I will monitor the launch and subsequent operation of the programme .
in the light of these developments , Parliament and the Commission have agreed to establish a common register in order to keep a list of and exercise scrutiny over the organisations and individuals who take part in the drafting and implementation of EU policies .
here in Parliament , tomorrow we vote on a resolution - there is going to be a delegation in the country - and our support , our democratic guarantee is also very important in these moments , particularly in Tunisia , then in Egypt and all those countries that are demanding more freedom .
in writing . - ( LT ) I agreed with this resolution on European Union relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council , because the Gulf region is seen today in terms of the emergence of a new global economic hub , whose geopolitical environment makes the Gulf a focus of security challenges that have global and regional implications .
what is interesting in said directives is that they largely became obsolete because they have already been replaced by international standards that represent the latest state of the art .
now , the largest budget item today , accounting for 36 % of the Union 's budget , is concerned with cohesion policy .
in order to strengthen cooperation between the countries I have mentioned and the European Union , the EU trade area should be liberalised , which would allow more business to be done and would bring these countries closer to the European Union , and the Union is , after all , already the biggest economic partner of these countries today .
my second point is about the common External Action Service .
this massive expansion of the internal market and other areas of cooperation is good for Scotland and good for Europe as a whole .
the comments were about the intolerance of Islamist regimes towards Unbelievers .
I hope that we will see a number of satisfactory conclusions pointing in this direction , presented at the summit to be held between the European Union and Mercosur on 17 May .
as for indifference , let us remember that our consumption habits are not neutral , either , in this regard .
we can see today the consequences of our irresponsible actions in the past as we are faced with a new challenge : combating the effects of climate change .
agenda of the next sitting : see Minutes
it is important to maintain a significant volume of development aid , and I will come back to that , but you are quite right to point out in your question that this aid must be effective .
all countries could benefit from postponing decommitments , while countries in the direst situation would benefit from additional advance payments .
in writing . - ( IT ) I voted in favour of the text on EU funding for the decommissioning of nuclear power stations in Lithuania , Slovakia and Bulgaria because , in light of recent events following the earthquake and nuclear crisis in Japan , I believe it is fundamental and crucial that the European Union adopts a policy of safety checks on nuclear reactors which will remove any degree of risk .
how can we negotiate with Porfirio Lobo Sosa 's putschist government in Honduras and then claim to be guardians of the rule of law and human rights ?
the Commission is aware that the transportation of animals for commercial purposes may cause serious suffering to animals .
now we have achieved this .
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Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , the draft decision passed by the European Parliament and the Council establishing a European micro-financing instrument in the area of employment and social inclusion is , in essence , a draft which adapts the original Progress programme to the current economic reality of a Europe marked by the financial and economic crisis .
European producers - who rightly have to comply with many obligations imposed by the European Union in order to guarantee product quality and safeguard consumers and who , in order to export , are obliged to identify their products with a mark of origin - are suffering from unfair competition from producers in third countries who can export their goods to Europe , concealing the provenance .
as Mr Tarabella has just confirmed , there are opportunities for debt reduction even with socialist involvement .
I will give you the statistics covering the last three months of 2008 - in other words , starting from the time at which the first appeals were made to the EIB - and the first two months of 2009 .
he is right .
Minister Schwarzenburg says that the European Union cannot do very much .
( HU ) Mr Tabajdi , I have not been a Member of the Hungarian Parliament since 1990 , but my colleagues , who were Members , or even party group leaders and speakers of the House at the time , claim that there was no such rule in force .
I think that in the coming period , over the coming year , we will have to implement considerable simplifications both in the existing frameworks and in the interests of greater flexibility .
I have pleasure in informing you that this year we again sponsored a resolution on intolerance based on religion or belief which was adopted by consensus in the UN Third Committee .
we would like to thank Baroness Ashton for her commitment and for the important statements she has made .
this would obviously strengthen that court .
it is necessary to learn from those Member States that are making efficient use of resources allocated by the EU , to share their experience .
my third point is that Frontex has still not solved one problem which you , Commissioner , raised when you said that we should contribute to bringing down the number of dead and missing persons .
it plainly points out , for example , the difficulties with the fiscal policy stimulatory measures that have been implemented by the majority of states .
in states governed by the rule of law , prisoners are brought to justice and have the right to defend themselves .
we are all aware of the extent to which the challenges of development , migration and political stability in these countries affect us directly .
one is the fact that the Secretary-General draws up his annual report on the basis of declarations by the Directors-General , when I should much prefer there to be a second opinion .
the Commission therefore stands by its proposals on the basis of the treaties in force .
to be precise , the competent committee initially adopted the position of the Commission and the Council and proposed a freeze on appropriations for lifelong learning , education and young entrepreneurship programmes .
they are guidelines in that they include this Parliament 's political priorities , to which budget content and allocations must be given .
I want us to be ready and my conversations with , particularly , the Arab League and with the countries concerned have been aimed at making it really clear that my purpose is to make sure we are ready to be able to respond and that that response is coordinated and effective and uses the best that we have available , not only in Europe , but across the world .
the only circles who have an interest in this state of affairs are those who nurtured and benefited from the blurred distinctions between criminality and the state .
however , it can be attributed to a particular attitude , namely that the market should rule in all sectors and it should be open in every respect , thus giving some postal services the incentive to acquire higher profits elsewhere instead of providing services to consumers , to the general public .
at the same time , it should be remembered that we do not give preferential treatment to imports in the implementation and disadvantage national or European production .
constitutional rights , such as freedom of the press and freedom of expression and association , must not be restricted in any way .
Madam President , the Swedish Presidency shares the Member 's concern regarding child trafficking for sexual exploitation or for other purposes .
this is in contrast to Spain where two clubs pick up more than half of the TV revenue just for themselves .
even before the ' no ' vote in the Irish referendum and question mark over the entry into force of the new Treaty on 1 January 2009 , the Council clearly had a desire to move as quickly as possible to avoid the switch to codecision .
there is no shortcut to democracy , not even when it comes to establishing European parties .
as the current rapporteur for budgetary discharge for the Commission , I can see just how badly we have wasted money in the sphere of cohesion .
we may fall into economic stagnation , as is the case in Japan , where they have been waiting for growth for 10 to 15 years .
in this deeply worrying situation , the restoration of security in the region is a task of the utmost urgency .
the aim of the directive should have been to create greater competition in Europe , assisting in the development of small and medium-sized enterprises .
we do not have sufficient nurseries and crèches .
1 .
we can see today that Member States with well-functioning rules for maternity leave also have a high rate of women in employment .
it is then up to the Commission to set out a clear and manageable EU strategy for Roma inclusion on the basis of this data .
this would be a suicidal step .
I expect political thuggery , which aims to replace dialogue , to be universally condemned by those involved in politics .
this tax would be added to the regulations governing the financial sector , the elimination of tax havens or even the regulations currently being drawn up for derivative products .
furthermore , these agreements are also relevant from a regional point of view and will support EU efforts to enhance cooperation with other countries in the region .
it will be difficult to explain to the pensioners and the workers in Greece and also in the other countries affected - according to the media , Portugal is the next country to come under scrutiny - why they are now being asked to pay up , having already supported the banks with their taxes .
the message of Egypt is a message for the whole Arab world .
firstly , I would like to emphasise that , from a procedural perspective , the political groups which signed this resolution ought to have waited for the replies from the national parliaments to the letter from President Pöttering dated 9 February 2009 , which requested details of the measures taken by Member States following the February 2007 resolution on this matter .
as a representative of the people , I feel jointly responsible for ensuring that the EU deploys its powers to deal with the abovementioned problem .
moreover , that country is now most likely engaged in generating , inspiring and working on a major agreement between the majority and the opposition in Zimbabwe , and this should result in honest and fair elections in March 2008 .
with today 's vote , we are sending a strong signal to the Commission : the European Union cannot continue to make concessions so as to obtain access to third-country markets at the expense of the agricultural sector !
ten years ago , more than 100 000 cubic metres of cyanide-contaminated water were accidentally discharged into the river system from a gold mine reservoir in Romania .
EMU10 : the first 10 years of Economic and Monetary Union and future challenges ( debate )
all these elements are important , and one thing is clear : they do not come cheap .
as the rapporteur points out , the financial impact of irregularities on structural actions has decreased significantly .
this suggestion allows an economy of scale in financial , human and technical resources .
unfortunately , yesterday 's debate highlighted the fact that Commissioner Tajani does not share this view .
Madam President , we must also join forces with the United States when it comes to our interests in the rest of the world , particularly the fight against unsafe toys from China and the production of counterfeit articles in Asia .
I find it extremely regrettable that so far we have not succeeded in implementing this , but there is an amendment on which we will vote on Thursday .
I urge Catherine Ashton during her upcoming visit to the region to press the Israeli and Palestinian authorities , including those in Gaza , for the release of Gilad Shalit and of Palestinian children and PLC members and to ensure their safe and early return to their families .
if a solution has not been found by that date , the crisis will spread to the army , as well as bringing an end to the candidacy of General Suleiman for good .
in particular I welcome the responsible Commissioner , Benita Ferrero-Waldner .
I believe , however , that these Games are an opportunity to encourage the Chinese authorities to make progress on the road to democracy , and I hope , as stated in the resolution , that the EU heads of state or government will adopt a consistent common position in relation to this event .
Mr Salafranca said that the cooperation between the European Union and Latin American and Caribbean countries must move from words to actions .
four months later : a bail-out .
at that time , we consumed more fat , but we did not have the problem with obesity .
it will serve as a good instrument for the development of the Baltic region and , as a result , for the whole of the European Union .
alternative investment fund managers (
a framework directive already exists , but other instruments need to be enhanced , especially as regards integrated coastal zone management and maritime spatial planning .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the failure of the trialogue represents a major political opportunity to reflect on Europe 's recent history .
I do not understand why Turkey does not have to follow Europe 's example , if it is an accession country and if ...
however , next year we expect inflation to fall back quickly to 2.4 % in the EU and to decelerate further in 2010 .
his ' crime ' is very simple : he is leader of the democratic opposition .
millions of Europeans rely on the Internet , whether directly or indirectly , in their daily lives .
the predominant view , in this House in particular , is that the ECB has sole and absolute competence for exchange rate trends .
the process of preparing and adopting the new constitution was hardly legitimate .
now we are to do so a second time .
at the same time , however , it is children and young people who are most at risk from psychological violence on the Internet .
for the first time in a long time - for centuries - it is again free .
( SV ) Mr President , first of all I would like say a big thank you to the rapporteur , Mr Swoboda , who has done an excellent job .
the closure of the skies caused difficulties for hundreds of thousands of Europeans , preventing them from reaching their destinations .
labour MEPs welcome continued efforts by reputable operators of online gambling services to take action to ensure such concerns are met .
the EU 's external borders are riddled with more holes than a Swiss cheese and are also being undermined internally .
I am here also because I do actually represent one of those big cities that the previous speaker mentioned .
nevertheless , we regret that what has been proposed by the Commission and endorsed by the Parliament is not a solution merely for the eurozone , but one that includes those whose currency is not the euro .
with regard to other eternal objectives set out in the Presidency programme , such as achieving a common energy policy , what we need is to identify energy interests and needs common to all the Member States .
however , I did also ask specifically about the border areas , in other words Germany and the Czech Republic , Germany and Poland , Poland and the Czech Republic .
if we place too broad competences in the hands of national Member State administrations , it seems to me we will not eliminate all the disadvantages of online gambling .
he is a socialist , I am not .
since Parliament is closely involved in the project , it seems only right that it should be involved in supervising the programme .
however , it can certainly help the individuals affected , who find themselves in a difficult situation in terms of employment after being made redundant and it can give them the opportunity , through gaining qualifications , to have prospects once more and to find work .
the impact will be particularly acute in Africa , where commodity prices have more than doubled in the last 12 months and continue to soar owing to speculation , shortages and changing patterns of production .
I want to see action on completing the internal market and , in particular , the telecoms sector .
the statistic which shows that one in every three people may get cancer would terrify anyone .
we , Members of the European Parliament , demand at least an increase of the level of resources of 5 % compared to the 2013 budget .
( PL ) Madam President , I should like to explain my vote on the report by Mr Florenz on combating the worrying phenomenon of nicotine addiction .
initial steps have been taken by the Commission and also by the Council .
agenda of the next sitting : see Minutes
the EU has an opportunity to show its benefit in terms of foreign policy , by using all the tools of soft policy , both aid and trade .
the process of strengthening relations between the European Union and the countries of the Southern Caucasus , including Georgia , is vital if we are to create a solid , coherent and effective foreign policy .
international Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ( CITES ) ( vote )
I do not have an obsession with you .
furthermore , the Commission 's proposal is based on the commitment included in the 2010 Employment Guidelines to keep the guidelines stable , insofar as possible , until 2014 so that the Member States can focus on their implementation .
concepts of development may vary , but values do not change , and we would like these values - common and universal - to become the daily bread in the Horn of Africa .
we must try harder to remove administrative obstacles .
the daily bloodbath , the organisation of violent and corrupt elections to put puppets of the Afghan occupation in place and the poverty and misery which are the scourge of the Afghan people reveal that the imperialist attacks by the United States of America , the European Union and ΝΑΤΟ in this occupied country - and in a series of other countries - on the pretext of combating terrorism have disastrous consequences for the people .
it is my hope that the adaptation process will help Montenegro improve the living conditions of its inhabitants .
political stability is a conditio sine qua non for greater involvement in EU programmes .
( PT ) In a one-minute speech , we can only stress that the repressive security-oriented policies which criminalise migrants , both men and women , who aspire to work and a dignified life , must be ended .
the number of active European citizens will drop by millions even in the next decade .
we need to acknowledge that Europe has met dictatorships with tolerance rather than with tough demands for democracy .
part 3 of the Act calls on the Member States and the institutions to implement the measures necessary to bring the citizens and the Single Market closer together .
this concerns the citizens ' rights amendments .
we must guarantee security of production , but we cannot expect consumers to pay the higher retail prices .
I shall not go into all of them today , but I should like to highlight one result of the unofficial trialogue that is very important to me , namely the combating of ' letterbox companies ' .
I therefore believe that all the conditions are present to enable me to support the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) in this case .
we must also , of course , focus on the European Union , on European action , in response to a crisis that has European importance and which has had an extremely serious impact on millions of citizens of Europe and other countries outside the European Union , as well as on the economies of major European sectors .
the political will , as great as that may be , will not nullify any physical laws .
I would like somebody here in this House to explain to me how the market can be said to be functioning when the cost to operators for transferring a text message from one country to another is less than 11 cents , while the average consumer has to pay more than 28 cents .
in writing . - ( LT ) Most industrialised countries , including all EU Member States , have at least one officially supported Export Credit Agency ( ECA ) , and these collectively account for the world 's largest source of official financing for private-sector projects .
however , rules do not mean protectionism .
in 2007 , over 6 700 questions were answered by the Commission .
I welcome this development .
one of the most effective methods of profiling goes by the name of ' data mining ' , and consists of seeking out persons , using computerised databases , through indicators that have been drawn up in advance and which are based on race , ethnicity , religion and nationality .
information supplied to patients about prescription-only medicines should be part of a wider ' information to patients ' strategy and a broader health education strategy .
we have a situation in which we shall be able to create more jobs in Europe through an effective , sustainable and environmentally compatible transport policy .
what is the status of this proposal ?
question No 31 is inadmissible ( Annex II , Part A , paragraph 2 of the Rules of Procedure ) .
in addition , when we take the natural resources into consideration - it is estimated that 22 % of the world 's oil and gas reserves are in the Arctic region - this is a region of enormous significance to Europe 's future .
can I say in conclusion that Ireland is still a good location for business as the fundamentals of the Irish economy are in place and we will retain our 12.5 % ...
I doubt that the reduction in the amount of EU budget payments is the most satisfactory response to the financial and economic crisis .
I am sorry but the two terms are absolutely contradictory , because they would require restructuring and we know very well that restructuring causes greater poverty in these countries .
this is not the model of society which we on the left want or accept .
the debate in the European Council will therefore depend to a large extent on what happens in the Czech Republic .
opening of the sitting
Prime Minister , you personally have done a good job and gained a great deal of respect .
this will be one of the topics on which we should concentrate , as one way to positively improve the situation among children is to increase the number of hours in school devoted to physical activity .
in writing . - ( FR ) I voted for the resolution on the humanitarian situation in Gaza .
in order to ensure the competitiveness of the European Union , we must find additional new markets and new partners , whereas in areas where the European Union already plays a substantial part , our priority is the official reinforcement of relations .
I accept what the honourable Member said about the European Social Fund ( ESF ) .
I believe , however , that a government has a duty to ensure the safety of all its citizens , and not just some of them ; it has a duty to ensure that all children can live in the same conditions , and not just some of them ; it has a duty to strive for integration , but not by offering to become , in some cases , a refuge for criminals .
I think it is something of great wonder to many of us how one country will accept people from Chechnya as refugees with quite a high acceptance rate , whereas another country close by will not accept anybody from Chechnya .
the euro crisis and the solidarity measures have an impact on the purchasing power of the European people , who are wondering if all these efforts are worthwhile , if they are leading to anything , whence the euroscepticism even in countries hitherto traditionally pro-European .
yet these days they are often seen as an alien element in what is now a predominantly Islamic area .
yes , people come to this committee with problems that we very often cannot solve , but at least they have a port to call on and , where cases are inadmissible , we try to redirect .
how will Africa be able to take greater benefit from technology transfers in future ?
no , as yet , we do not .
this is the kind of criticism that has been made of the pilot project , but unfortunately the Commission has not given much of a response .
it is true that , as Mr Albertini has said , his report comes at just the right moment .
the Minutes of the sitting of Tuesday 11 March have been distributed .
my advice would be to take some time - your time - and , with this time , to present all the arguments that will allow you to totally convince the governments and this European Parliament .
in this situation , I believe that adopting an EU-level procedure for verifying and reviewing bilateral investment agreements is preferable to a formal intergovernmental arrangement .
the problem with the old system is that the translations not only cost a substantial amount of money but also , more importantly , are only available several months later .
we really must settle this issue , Commissioner .
I would further point out that there is nothing to prevent the Commission from amending its proposal at any time after the vote tomorrow , except perhaps institutional and political reluctance .
this illustrates the deceit on which the whole European project is based .
however , this is only one stage in a long process which the European Parliament will follow closely .
Mr President , the initiative which Poland and Sweden were advocating only last year is today no longer a matter of debate .
I congratulate the Slovenian Presidency for offering the seat of the University , but I ask colleagues in all committees - and the Commission and the Council of Presidents - why has no budget been set aside for the University ?
in Framework 5 , the B party was anonymous and any reference to the country and to the person behind the project was penalized .
a third of Europe 's emissions are not produced in Europe but correspond to imported goods .
Madam President , the case of the Philippines indeed demonstrates that the peacemaking process sometimes requires us not to look in just one direction .
I believe that this institution must have the necessary financial and human resources to enable it to effectively and fully carry out its mission .
my question is , what will happen outside the legal distribution network ?
I say that because I think it from the very depths of my European convictions .
what is the actual aim of this practice ?
Mr Harbour , you were the rapporteur for the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection , and I must say that our collaboration and the joint action were very positive .
indeed , we have rather a strange situation at present , with differences in protection against discrimination .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the fall of President Mubarak has paved the way for democracy , but it is also a tremendous opportunity to liberate the Egyptian people .
still , for reasons of better regulation , the Commission favours the full repeal of all Directives ( and relies on mutual recognition of national regulation ) above harmonisation , that is , re-regulation in MID .
to seek to prevent Members of Parliament from expressing their opinions on matters of legitimate public interest and concern and from criticising their political opponents by bringing legal proceedings is unacceptable in a democratic society and in breach of Article 8 of the Protocol , which is intended to protect Members ' freedom of expression in the performance of their duties in the interests of Parliament as an institution of the European Union .
you are well aware that the European Union is the world 's largest donor of development funding .
the EGF was set up in 2006 to provide practical support to workers made redundant either for reasons associated with the relocation of their companies or , following the 2009 amendment , on account of the economic crisis , in order to assist their reintegration into the labour market .
in the circumstances , the EU has succeeded in showing leadership through these testing times .
as we know , there are various types of cloning processes : therapeutic and reproductive cloning as well as DNA cloning .
cohesive leadership is now needed from the Irish Government in this regard .
we also need to highlight the link between cancer and obesity - the most avoidable cause of cancer after tobacco .
in writing . - ( DE ) I have comments to make on two matters : 1 .
it is not possible to continue mismanaging funds without it being noticed .
we should be ashamed of ourselves .
we are going to deal with a series of questions addressed to the Commission .
nothing can justify , for the sake of future careers , future mothers being exposed to health risks that can have a negative influence on motherhood .
are we already forgetting the SWIFT case , involving the transmission of data gathered by the US authorities ?
nearby , the people of Somaliland do not have that opportunity .
if you want higher standards in European criminal proceedings , then adopt habeas corpus , trial by jury and the main provisions of the Magna Carta and the Bill of Rights 1689 as the common European standards .
Mr President , competition policy is one of the most important , central policy areas of the EU .
here , I should like to record a special ' thank you ' to my colleague , Michel Barnier , whose communication ' Towards a Single Market Act ' proposes important initiatives that make our legislation more effective , including the legislation on the single market for venture capital .
both in Lithuania and throughout Europe , we must regain public confidence in our financial and political institutions and establish a viable and sustainable financial system , which would offer protection from future crises .
a policy of equality is of fundamental importance in preventing and combating violence committed against the opposite sex , since this is based on the imbalance of strength between men and women .
in our report , meanwhile , there is no mention of anything other than China and Russia .
as to the comments about shouting down Václav Klaus , which have nothing to do with this report , I know that a few Members walked out during his speech , but when the Portuguese Prime Minister was here , you lot tried to stop him speaking ; you shouted him down .
the frustration is directed against the fact that Northrop Grumman / EADS presented a better offer , to which the US Air Force gave preference over a Boeing model in a public tender .
in the context of the economic crisis , huge amounts of State aid have been granted .
the next item is the oral question to the Commission by Danuta Maria Hübner , on behalf of the Committee on Regional Development , on the cohesion policy after 2013 ( O-0121 / 2009 / rev. 1 - B7-0229 / 2009 )
allow me to give you a few examples relating to the largest disenfranchised minority in Europe , which is the Hungarian community living outside the Carpathian Basin .
( PL ) Madam President , I would like to congratulate the rapporteur on a fine report .
I view the report as representing a certain , albeit limited , amount of progress .
it seems essential to regulate the matter of recovery of cross-border debts by way of adoption of the relevant legal act .
the strategy should also serve to empower young people and increase their participation in society .
the second point is the training of elected representatives within the framework of an Erasmus programme .
women are trailing a long way behind men when it comes to wages , pensions , top jobs and executive positions .
this is hardly the way to encourage the Palestinian Authority to resume talks with Israel .
this is something we must not do .
on the contrary , the Czech Republic included EU requirements in its Memorandum so that the Memorandum was fully compatible with EU law .
that is precisely why this Court is so important .
political decision makers must enable people to upgrade and broaden their skills .
in my opinion , it is not enough just to criticise - from the standpoint of an overall assessment of how the agreement is functioning - certain measures which Russia has unfortunately also had to apply against citizens travelling from EU countries .
I am very grateful to everyone who contributed to it .
regardless of the means of transport they use , Europeans now enjoy EU-level protection .
ensuring equal opportunities for development is an important task .
I raised the issue of gambling with the Commission at the beginning of last November , and the reply I received stated that the Commission supports the Safer Internet Programme , information centres and helplines in the Member States .
I would in this context like to make another proposal to the Commission .
we can do without it , the information on the label is enough .
whilst we cannot turn the clock back to allow these relatives a second chance , we can make sure that this genocide is not forgotten and that those responsible are brought to justice .
the EGF was set up in 2006 to provide practical support to workers made redundant either for reasons associated with the relocation of their companies or , following the 2009 amendment , on account of the economic crisis , in order to assist their reintegration into the labour market .
they are safe , environmentally friendly and less harmful to people .
agencies also make decisions , as do the Council and the Member State governments .
rapporteur . - ( SV ) Mr President , I am extremely glad to note that great progress has been made since we adopted our internal market report in committee .
a multi-speed Europe also makes it easier to continue accession negotiations .
thank you once more for your comments .
however , simply calling for action is too vague .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - Mr President , I would like to thank the President-in-Office and the Vice-President of the Commission , as well as the rapporteurs for what I consider to be very important reports .
by handing over this prize , we rewarded the commitment of those who still dare to denounce the situation in Chechnya .
you have talked about coordination with the United States .
I could broadly agree with the explanatory statement accompanying the amendments proposed in the report .
the information contained in the actual budget is absolutely inadequate and these lists of numbers are actually no use to us at all .
( NL ) Madam President , first of all , I too wish to compliment the rapporteurs on their hard work and to express my thanks .
over 150 000 political prisoners are still detained in concentration camps , subjected to forced labour , tortured and deliberately starved .
we must focus more attention on our economies ' innovative ability because this is where the key to EU competitiveness will lie in the coming period .
the victims of these criminal offences can also be found in our own backyards .
I was personally responsible for introducing a paragraph asking the Council and Member States to take more effective action over the human rights catastrophe caused by the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe .
the current situation in the livestock sector is very difficult and some areas are unprofitable because of the high production costs .
we all know that other actions and steps will have to be taken .
poverty , political instability , deforestation , excessive grazing and bad practices are factors that reduce the productivity of land .
the resolution also pays due attention to the transferability of accrued pension entitlements .
ordinary citizens in Ukraine would probably like to be European , but not necessarily part of the European Union .
we need to examine more closely the countries which are the starting point for trafficking gangs , where traffickers buy silence and consent from government officials , turning these countries into havens for human rights abuses .
the Commission must carry on without losing its enthusiasm for this policy of cooperation and aid for Member States ...
according to the Treaty of Lisbon , it is for Parliament to decide whether or not to approve these agreements , which determine the conditions under which PNR data on passengers on aircraft flying from the European Union can be shared with third countries .
Member of the Commission . - ( RO ) Serbia 's accession to the European Union depends on Serbia meeting the political condition to cooperate fully with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia , along with complying with all the other obligations which are a condition of integration into the EU .
it has been found that some 2.5 million sports fans from across Europe will attend the matches .
it plays a multifunctional role , by contributing to the production of public goods for the benefit of society as a whole .
in summary , it should be said that the CAP also includes certain elements of social policy .
we have one tool in our hands , and that is lawmaking .
( applause )
, in writing . - First of all , I would like express my sincerest gratitude to Baroness Ashton for the EU 's full support to Estonia in trying to resolve the hostage crisis in Lebanon .
nevertheless , the election was a resounding success for the European people 's trend .
Europe must reassure its citizens and take over this debate , which at present is being conducted only in the courts .
the future European External Action Service will undoubtedly be able to rely on the fact that the European Union is already today the leading institution in the fight against the death penalty , but the service will also stand as our best opportunity for fulfilling our potential .
let us not disappoint them .
( RO ) At the moment when all the air traffic throughout Europe is experiencing severe disruption due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland , the need to develop pan-European transport networks is even more obvious than ever .
Madam President , President-in-Office of the Council , Commissioner , we support , of course , the Commission 's proposals , as they mark a very important step for the three countries in the region just mentioned , which will enjoy a visa-free regime as of 1 January 2010 .
although there are several problematic issues , I will only mention one of them .
cultural diversity and different world views are a source of enrichment for human civilisation , and no law can justify the practice of the death penalty .
my thanks , however , also go to Commissioner Figel ' , who has been heavily involved in the consultations so that today we are now able to vote on a report that will also find broad acceptance amongst us in Parliament .
the trade agreements with Latin America contain an extremely sensitive section on agriculture .
we give encouragement for this in the report , and it has been expressed well there .
President-in-Office . - ( SL ) I would like to thank all the Members of the European Parliament who took part in this very interesting , very dynamic and rich discussion , which will be useful in the final preparations for the European Council session tomorrow and the next day .
the EU should make better use of its foreign policy instruments so as to ensure better use of its leverage in multilateral organisations and to take the lead in addressing current and future international crises more effectively .
judging from the press , we can by no means be sure that this year we will escape the gas crisis , which is becoming a regular fixture .
but the most immediate and the most urgently-needed gift our European and American cooperation could give is that , as a result of our actions , there will be more jobs , more businesses and more trade , as together we meet and master these great financial challenges of our time .
all types of vehicles , including light commercial vehicles , should therefore be covered by regulations aimed at reducing these emissions .
and I believe that today 's debate is a step in precisely that direction .
in addition , dictators always fight against the opposition that wants to have democracy .
I on the other hand want to ask whether you would like to protect the whole of the environment or only individual sectors .
his so-called crime was to seek to highlight the confiscation of peasant farmers ' land by the government following border talks with neighbouring Vietnam , in the course of which he was charged with digging up the border posts .
time is running out .
I look forward to working with you on your reports in the future and showing you similar understanding and support .
by 2015 , all new cars are to meet the target .
secondly , there is President Obama 's Nuclear Security summit .
let us be honest : to have open economies , we need some rules .
the issues that this raises are the objectivity of the Commission 's legislative proposals and whether or not the Commission is truly independent of industrial interests .
( PL ) I would like to say something about the subject of today 's proceedings .
they are important to the attractiveness of a town .
my question is , what is the alternative ?
this is why I can assure you that a serious , objective and thorough approach is very important to me .
the question of the personal scope of the Posted Workers Directive could be addressed as part of the announced revision of the Posted Workers Directive .
how long will we have to carry on accepting that women should have lower pay than men ?
there is also the issue of Haiti .
the report quite rightly calls for differentiation in the EU 's policy towards each country and I cannot but approve the fact that criteria such as the human rights situation in the countries in question and their respect for OSCE commitments are highlighted .
based on the arguments already expressed through the amendments which we have tabled and which have been accepted and incorporated by Mr Beaupuy in the final text , I have expressed my support for this report .
now , under the auspices of the European Union , in line with the principle of subsidiarity and with advanced and secure telecommunications , we can finally fight crime effectively and prevent terrorist acts .
the focus on quality rather than quantity may entail long-term benefits for many households .
I therefore welcome the European Commission 's intention to propose a specific programme to combat child poverty .
I also wanted to remind you that 22 June , in two weeks ' time , will be the 70th anniversary of the attack on the Soviet Union by Hitler 's Germany .
any steps towards requiring the use of XBRL in the European Union should be subject to a thorough impact analysis , including the economic assessment of costs and benefits .
my report aims to show that the agricultural sector can continue to reduce both its carbon emissions and its fossil fuel consumption and , above all , at the same time , can make a very active contribution to carbon fixation so that , at world level , we can achieve lower carbon emissions and ensure that a greater proportion of carbon is stored and captured .
this is a very important moment , in which the states reviewed can make public the commitments that they make for the improvement of the human rights situation .
fishing , as everyone agrees , and above all offshore fishing and deep-sea fishing , is the hardest job in the world , even if we are no longer in the era of the fishing conditions of the Basques and Icelanders of the 19th century , who embarked on long campaigns .
they complain about EU tariff and non-tariff barriers , and I am glad that the EU-ACP goes some way to tackling some of the tariff barriers , if not the non-tariff barriers .
personally , I would also like to see this kind of arrangement in place for Kosovo very soon - or at least for initial talks to take place .
put simply , if I do not punch you on the chin , you will punch me on the chin . deeper cooperation between the EU and Russia would actually be a win-win situation , and we need to make Russia 's leaders see this .
I have to tell you , it is extremely difficult for me to judge what is right and what is wrong in this regard .
I believe , therefore , that it is important to monitor the implementation of this agreement ; this would allow for considerable development of concrete personal , cultural , scientific and economic links between the European Union and its main Western European negotiating partner .
however , I agree with the rapporteur that there is a very fine dividing line and , among other things , there is the risk that the funds will be used only to make agriculture more competitive , to the detriment of other sectors in rural areas .
ladies and gentlemen , those who support the European project are very much in the majority in Parliament .
I also disagree with the aim of reviewing and revising the directive .
the uniform and full application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights at EU level is equally essential to ensure the Union 's credibility .
I am taking the floor because I am annoyed by the blatant attempts to use the case of Bulgaria and Romania to resolve internal problems and to respond to internal fears .
the Olympic idea is based on the purity of a sporting spirit and this spirit most certainly does not go together with the silence of other countries during the Olympics about the fact that the organising country brutally suppresses the rights of the Tibetan people .
it should be noted that Croatia is a transit route through which large quantities of drugs are smuggled to other countries .
if a majority in this House should now then call for troop levels to be strengthened and in so doing ignore the national reservations of the Member States , this would defeat the real issues raised in the report and would run counter to my own personal concerns .
we need to insist that Syria respects the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel , Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment .
I must concur with Mr Verhofstadt . budgetary consolidation is too lax , governance too non-committal , the euro pact too weak and national interest still too strong .
the EU has global responsibilities and must be better prepared to face globalisation through a strategic , coherent and determined approach at global level .
it is necessary to ensure maximum transparency and financial controls for European political parties financed by the general budget of the European Union .
1 .
Malaysia cannot invoke its domestic legislation , under which at least 66 crimes carry the punishment of caning , in order to justify its ruthless methods , which are tantamount to torture and which are considered illegal by international law and conventions .
tacit discrimination affects older people , for example .
[ 12796 / 2010 - C7-0339 / 2010 - 2010 / 0217 ( NLE ) ]
since the start of the year , China has no longer been borrowing in dollars , but has been selling them .
I am convinced that we should keep reminding our Russian colleagues of these values now in relation to the imminent elections in Russia .
ladies and gentlemen , do you know why the resettlement package is not moving forward ?
the Council should now move swiftly to approve their inclusion .
written Statements ( Rule 142 )
- ( DE ) Mr President , I am very grateful to this House for rejecting the scandalous attack on the Pope by the Liberals .
( DE ) Mr President , that was a clear enough message to the Commission .
I think that is a very important point and we will need to address this issue of strengthening our proposal during the trialogue that we will start in January .
rather than saying ' the Council and the Member States ' , I propose that we say ' the Member States within the Council ' .
that is what the Treaty is .
my thanks to the French Presidency of the Council and to Dominique Bussereau , because I am quite sure that it was the personal commitment and all the work done by the Presidency 's teams that have enabled us today to submit a very satisfactory result , which I call on Parliament to approve without reservation .
I appreciate the EU initiative to increase the number of physical education classes in schools .
in relation to the economy I would like to emphasise again that the Czech Republic has succeeded in heading off an ominous wave of national protectionist measures which would have seriously undermined the fundamental values of European integration and particularly the principles of the unified single market .
the situation is all the more serious for the fact that counterfeiters , in a scramble to maximise profits , are progressing from fake dietary supplements to fake lifesaving medicines used for treating infections , heart disorders and cancer .
Mr President , I think that , in life , there is a rule that applies everywhere : when a group is under attack it must react with unity and with solidarity .
voting on the reports is planned to take place on Wednesday .
Mr President , the Arctic issue is important and it has now also come before us here .
action is also required to keep the internet from becoming an even more prominent distribution channel for counterfeit and pirated products by strengthening remedies to more effective redress .
( PT ) Mrs Ashton , how do you feel when governments like the French and Portuguese turn back demonstrations when there are visits by Chinese dignitaries to their capitals so that they are not seen by the dignitaries when they visit these countries ?
as such , and this brings me to the end , I consider that Mr Diamandouros was successful in his work and I think that today 's debate and the report submitted give us very good reason to elect a new European Ombudsman for the next term of office .
( applause )
this is in the interests of bringing our industry together across Europe .
with that , I would like to thank you for the opportunity to speak and I look forward to a constructive debate , during which I will , of course , listen very closely to Parliament 's views and answer any questions you may have to the best of my ability .
I also believe that the political groups must respond today with a common position on this issue and I hope that all the political groups , excluding , of course , the group of the Member concerned , are very clear in supporting the steps that you have taken to prevent this from ever happening again .
we must collaborate and cooperate with the countries of origin and transit regarding the control of their borders , on the basis of detailed agreements .
Mr Bloom said to Mr Schulz : ' ein Volk , ein Reich , ein Führer ' .
private equities were originally regulated better .
the final version of the draft agenda as drawn up by the Conference of Presidents at its meeting of Thursday , 22 October 2009 pursuant to Rule 137 of the Rules of Procedure has been distributed .
we now urge other developed countries - not least the US - to raise their bids .
we have therefore voted against Parliament 's report on the Treaty of Lisbon .
I voted against this report because it is based on unfounded premises and vague future assumptions .
well done for this initiative !
at the weekend I met a group of Irishwomen called ' Farm Women for a Fair Price ' and I think we should note the words ' fair price ' because producers are not getting a decent or fair price - and that is what this debate is about .
finally , and I hope I have not forgotten anyone , I should like to thank my interpreters , the Portuguese interpreters , of whom I am very proud .
what proposals and initiatives does it intend to put forward with a view to the final evaluation of the Roadmap for equality between women and men and the revision of the Lisbon Strategy guidelines in 2010 ?
Russia has the scope to make a very substantial contribution , given its enormous scope for emissions reductions through improvements in energy efficiency .
sweetening the pill of Kosovo 's independence with a Stabilisation and Association Agreement may be a way forward .
hence , the essential role that public authorities must play in regulating and financing health services in order to establish or ensure principles of fairness and inclusion .
I believe that Mrs Lagarde will be a worthy and able representative of the European Union ; she is well qualified for the job thanks to the experience which she acquired during this stormy period of economic crisis and I believe that she will be a worthy representative of the European economy within the framework of global economic governance .
author . - ( PL ) Mr President , we are today debating crimes perpetrated by Iran against its own citizens .
I have been working in hospitals for 15 years , and for a time I was in fact a healthcare worker in a critical area : the operating theatre .
let us not forget either of them , even if there are some things we would perhaps like to forget .
that means that they must cooperate with Frontex and through Frontex , insofar as they are legally allowed to do so , and must support the so-called RABITS - the mobile border guards - and make sure that Frontex is properly resourced .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , this is a very timely report .
it is meant to align the wording of this paragraph with the title of the regulation itself .
according to the latest research , around 120 new species of GMO will be in cultivation in the world by 2015 .
the Russians are failing to comply even with that unsound agreement .
the call to Member States and to the Council to adopt effective measures to sever the links between the lack of organs and organ trafficking is therefore more than justified .
I totally agree that the recommendations of the Consultative Working Party of the legal services of the European Parliament , the Council and the Commission should be taken into consideration as I think that the proposal in question is simply limited to a straightforward codification of the existing texts without any change in their substance .
employing compulsion in this situation is completely unacceptable .
it is in the interest of all of us as MEPs to find a way out of this dirty corner of corruption .
our package will set out a general framework , which would then be completed in the course of this mandate by other instruments focusing on the specific needs of certain types of victims .
we have had to accept a compromise on this , which may also be reflected in the analysis at some stage under a review-clause system .
rapporteur . - ( SV ) Madam President , I am grateful to the shadow rapporteur for helping us to end with a good report .
it is very important for Ukraine to participate in the Eastern Partnership and in the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly , cooperating with the European Parliament .
Commissioner , I truly urge you to give a positive response to our two requests .
in the intervening years - and my political group , Commissioner , has supported all the legislative proposals you have presented to the European Parliament in recent months - the Customs Union has protected the financial interests of the European Community and its Member States far more effectively than the Member States alone could have done .
one Member State , Austria , has been polluting the River Raba for the past seven years , as Mr Hegyi mentioned earlier .
I think this is justified and will be good for the EU , for our Eastern neighbours and also for future relations with Russia .
the money saved as a result could be made available to programmes conducted by producers ' organisations .
however , these two events give us more opportunity to conduct an even more intense dialogue and to achieve tangible results , in discussions with our partners from the People 's Republic of China , both in regard to ecology and human rights .
there are nano-applications and products intended for direct consumer use , such as clothing and food , including cosmetic products , in the case of which an inadequately circumspect approach may result in people experiencing , literally in the flesh , the potentially harmful consequences .
trust is a two-way street and governments can only demand public trust when they are prepared to trust the public .
a protocol was in force from 2006 , before expiring on 17 January 2011 .
many have taken the floor who have already been excellent chief observers .
during today 's meeting of the Bureau at 18 : 30 , we will discuss this matter and decide on the next steps to be taken in this regard .
nevertheless , I would like to single out a few aspects : firstly , given that the Youth on the Move initiative aims to achieve the principal goal set in the Europe 2020 strategy of reducing the number of people leaving school without qualifications from 15 % to 10 % , it lacks measures and recommendations oriented towards raising teacher competences , qualifications or professional prestige .
( DE ) Madam President , Baroness Ashton , the debate here in this House , which you have followed with interest , has one common denominator in particular and that is the demand being made of you , Baroness Ashton .
there are many challenges facing Europe connected with short- , medium- and long-term supply and demand for energy .
it is an opportunity for all to participate and to move Europe ahead .
I very much regret that my motions to delete the relevant parts were rejected by a very narrow majority , in one case by only six votes .
I would not dare to do so , but if we are leading by example , and , if we are putting down ideas between Parliament and the Commission about the ways we can see of regenerating new growth and about being innovative within the new economy , then the Member States must also step up to the plate and take those actions .
I hope , above all , that after tomorrow 's vote , this package will enable the service to get up and running very quickly .
many developing countries are heavily dependent on high carbon-emitting sources of energy .
and you tell us that you are going to use this new dialogue .
I endorse the rapporteur 's view that the restrictions on cabotage must be eased and that the rules governing cabotage must be brought into line with those that apply to cross-border haulage within the internal market .
the most regrettable aspect is that Prime Minister Fayad , President Abbas , President Mubarak and King Abdullah are currently being accused of treachery in the streets of the Arab world .
the targets being set can be summed up in the expression 20-20-20 , which means that emissions must come down by 20 % , that the use of renewable energy sources must increase by 20 % and that these aims must be achieved by the year 2020 .
( applause )
it is equally important , or more important perhaps , from the point of view of Greenland - a country that is almost totally dependent on the European market for its fish and , of course , almost totally dependent on fishing for its economy .
of course , this does not exclude the fact that , in a session , a particular set of rights receives more attention because of events on the ground or because of the readiness of our dialogue partners to address certain issues instead of others .
our task is to enable their accession , and should they decide on it , we will welcome them accordingly .
if substantial foreign investment is allowed , it could be precisely the liberalisation of trade in services that might facilitate increased and more sustainable production and the modernisation of infrastructure in all economies .
miracles rarely happen .
the recent events in the Southern Mediterranean region , which began with Tunisia in December 2010 , have brought a new urgency to the review of the European Neighbourhood Policy ( ENP ) .
this , coupled with the mobility of health professionals within and between Member States is creating common health workforce problems for most European health systems .
I support this report , especially what it says about the Special Report of the Court of Auditors on the reform of the sugar sector .
we must also be self-critical and question the economic order which prevails in the EU .
we should not be surprised by the actions of Iran and its attempts to become a nuclear power .
I have therefore given my support to this resolution which calls for an immediate and permanent cease-fire , including the ending of military action on the part of Israel in the Gaza Strip and an end to the firing of rockets by Hamas on Israel .
people here have expressed surprise at the percentage figures the European Union has proposed in the Bali agreement .
finally , the Commission must urgently negotiate reciprocal agreements with other jurisdictions .
the Lisbon Treaty , which creates something like a foreign ministry , will not resolve the problem , since there will be no military force .
clear steps forward have been taken .
I think that we have important Community instruments for implementing new strategies , by which I am referring primarily to the cohesion policy .
to conclude , once the European Council confirms its full commitment to all of these elements of our comprehensive economic strategy to overcome the crisis , the European Union will be well on track for turning the economic tide this year , 2011 .
I voted for this report because it advocates the need for a new regulatory approach to international trade .
in writing . - ( SK ) The report deals with several aspects of the urban dimension of cohesion policy , which , according to the Committee on Regional Development , are key or problematic in terms of the future of cohesion policy , which should become a fully-fledged and effective policy focussing on the cities of the EU .
receiving protection for an invention or scientific discovery is extremely important for converting innovation and knowledge into useable , useful products , which , in turn , will create growth and jobs .
I hope that you will take our proposals seriously and will actually take them on board .
we need more current economic and financial policies .
on 8 November 2010 , an agreement was therefore concluded between the EU and Brazil , granting a reciprocal visa waiver for travel for the purpose of tourism and business for all Brazilian and EU citizens .
in writing . - I voted in favour of this report because I believe that it represents the way forward for a robust , cohesive and employment-based industrial policy for the European workforce .
I think this is fundamental , and it is a substantial change from the Lisbon Strategy .
( the President cut off the speaker )
over the past few months people have often asked what ' CE ' actually means , what those two letters stand for .
we have chosen to join together to become stronger and , as in the best marriages , the union should be for better or for worse .
the debate is closed .
when using some products , including those used daily by many , information about the substances they contain is vital if they are to be used safely and in a way that does not endanger health .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , there is no doubt at all that we have to continue fighting terrorism with every resolve .
thus , I believe that establishing a day of commemoration would ensure that we do not forget , would express solidarity with the family members of the victims of this nonsensical massacre and would revive , in a more decisive manner , our policies for a Europe of peace , social justice and freedom , in the certainty that a respect for equality can only be achieved through the acknowledgment of differences .
this indicates that the Council and the governments are not giving priority to the issue of employment .
Mr President , honourable Members , following the conference in Copenhagen , the European Union decided quite quickly to proceed via a gradual , pragmatic approach in the future .
I am not saying that Israel should be beyond criticism , nor am I saying that Cast Lead is beyond criticism .
but it is not just that usual red tape : there is also uncertainty over interpretation of the rules and regulations .
- Report : Herczog
in the context of the coordinated planning of activities , I support the call on the Commission to draw up strategies for the sea-basins that are able to take account of the specific features of the regions and play to their strengths .
during this , the first part-session of 2011 , we have adopted a directive clarifying the rights of European patients who choose to seek treatment abroad .
our objective is to enable the entire region to progress towards a rapprochement with the European Union .
I would call on the Iranian authorities to clarify the charges made against Mrs Bahrami , and the opaque judicial procedure .
during this period in which Europeans are questioning Europe 's effectiveness , it seems vital to me that we be able to prove that Europe is capable of tackling the crisis .
there must be a European framework within which everyone is treated equally .
we truly must succeed and isolate the voices that say ' no ' .
but by negotiation at the beginning of the voting session , I have already agreed this should be an addition rather than a replacement , so can we include the words ' in the trans-Caspian energy corridor projects ' .
I leave it to you , Mr President , and my many colleagues , to judge the threat that I represent to the regime in Iran .
we therefore need cooperation on the part of different agencies and national solutions to local problems .
( ES ) Please forgive me , but I did not hear the Commission Vice-President answer my questions .
I voted in favour of financing the insulation of buildings from the Structural Funds .
the closure of Lithuania 's Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant led to the loss of business and jobs .
however , the atmosphere this time was different .
I agree with the spirit of the Svensson report in this respect .
emissions from the developing world are already starting to exceed those from the developed world .
Member of the Commission . - Mrs Batzeli , I think it is important that we have a control system in place to see that prices are not going through the roof , and that is exactly the duty of the national competition authorities - that they keep an eye on this .
what is the assessment of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip after the decision taken by Israel in June 2010 to ease the closure of the crossings and the efforts for the liberation of Gilad Shalit ?
this can hardly be what the EU wants .
a player with a firm , consistent and cohesive voice .
Thursday :
today I did not vote for the report on the continuation of scientific and technical cooperation between the EU and the USA .
the Czech Republic is the only Member State of the EU yet to ratify the UN Framework Convention on Tobacco Control , and yet tobacco is responsible for over one million deaths in the EU .
last week an RTE television programme ( which I once edited and presented ) asked the very simple question , ' How many inspectors does it take to examine a farm ? '
there is no need for me to mention the consequences which climate change is expected to have on these areas and their potential in terms of developing a green economy , transport and renewable energy sources .
I am very glad that we have rejected the draft , which was only on the order of business so that the Left could attack its political opponents in Italy .
we have a financial crisis now , which did not fall on us from the sky .
I voted in favour of Parliament 's resolution because it does not allow the use of foods containing additives and enzymes , such as thrombin , which are dangerous and compromise the quality of food and consumer safety .
our Member States have different environments and therefore require different kinds of protection .
that may be possible in some cases , but I hope that when these decisions are being implemented nationally , it will be realised that it is heavy goods traffic that is paying for it .
UCITS 3 already permits a wide range of innovative strategies , including some types of alternative investment .
I must say that it is my clear impression - also from the pre-COP - that there is growing acknowledgement of our arguments on this .
naturally , the safe bet for everyone would be to wait and see .
at the Security Council we again have the opportunity to show what the European Union has to offer for these people , for today and for tomorrow .
the oral question to the Council by Mr Markov and Mr Fjellner , on behalf of the Committee on International Trade , on the stepping-stone Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Community and its Member States , of the one part , and Ghana , of the other part - B6-0205 / 2009 ) ,
( RO ) Madam President , the European Union-Africa Summit taking place in Tripoli next week provides us with the opportunity to think about the direction in which we want to steer this partnership that links us with Africa .
( PL ) Mr President , I should like to make a general comment .
I am not pointing the finger at anyone , but I believe that it is time for us to learn from such behaviour for the future .
I wish to congratulate Mrs Oomen-Ruijten on her excellent report on Turkey and also to congratulate Mr Swoboda and , of course , Mr Thaler , despite the fact that I disagree with certain aspects of his approach and his report .
no one !
this is a global proposal .
the contentious proposals are as follows : the introduction of the principle that there is an obligation to share information on taxpayers ; secondly , the mandatory information on taxpayers is precisely defined and is clearly highly sensitive ; thirdly , the obligation to share information on all types of tax is being applied for the first time and fourthly - a legislative novelty - banking secrecy is breached .
this is the case in all national states .
in the time it takes me to say this , six more young people will have been infected with the virus and three children will have died of AIDS .
to give but one example , while this report encourages people not to discriminate on account of belief , it allows explicit discrimination on the basis of political belief .
in Novosibirsk , photographer Yevgeny Ivanov was accused of ' resisting the authorities ' and ' failing to register ' .
what problems does it create for some Member States ?
therefore , their illegal content can easily be uploaded in one country and viewed in another .
the present initiative by the European Commission will also help bring this into EU law , which will help sustain EU depositors ' confidence in European financial markets .
Europe is experiencing a crisis .
as usual , I shall send a full list of the amendments and the Commission 's position on each of them to the Parliament 's Secretariat .
some are small , some large , and they vary in the sort of work they do .
as this resolution essentially agrees with these considerations but contains a few shortcomings , I abstained from the vote .
that is why I supported Mr Andersson 's report , which proposes maintaining guidelines for employment policies in 2009 .
I am amongst those who are convinced that we should be preparing for the impact of climate change , rather than desperately attempting to arrest it , because our efforts in that direction are likely to fail .
the citizens ' initiative is a tremendous device for successfully unleashing a genuine European debate in civil society .
what we are talking about is the shared interest in ensuring an alternative source of gas .
several programmes have also failed to achieve their objectives .
despite everything , the Commission tabled the proposal before Parliament and the Committee on International Trade , which I chair , decided to go ahead with the debate and vote on this report , of which I am the accidental rapporteur .
this is because these two transport sectors are growing to a disproportionate degree and are therefore contributing in a disproportionate way to global warming .
high Representative for CFSP . - Madam President , I shall be very brief .
nevertheless , I would like to point out once again that the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety is responsible for less than 1 % of the budget as a whole , less than 1 % of all environmental protection actions , biodiversity actions and actions in the fight against climate change .
it is clear that we need a much better understanding both of volcanic ash and of volcanic gases , and research in this area should be encouraged .
we looked at that study very carefully .
documents received : see Minutes
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , first of all let me congratulate the rapporteur , Mr Zaleski , on this very good report .
and I have come here today to urge your active engagement , to seek your specific , practical skills and investment in the future , and to offer Jordan 's own commitment in the days of work that lie ahead .
I would like to convey a very clear message to Moscow and Kiev .
unfortunately , public opinion surveys confirm that the majority of these people will never become Latvian patriots , but the majority of them are already patriots of another country .
we wish to see greater stability too and hope that the negotiations can bring results with regard to the situation in Kashmir and India-Pakistan relations .
this is excellent .
I voted in favour of the European Parliament motion for a resolution which calls on the Commission to consider the possibility of increasing the community cofinancing rate for regional operational programmes .
the first issue , which was raised by Mr Schulz , is our ability to provide real and effective support for civil society in all neighbouring countries , irrespective of their importance in terms of trade or strategy , or their political situation .
I am delighted that the Commission has this safe pair of hands as its representative , with responsibility for regional development .
outside this framework , it will not be possible to obtain our consent .
it was a very positive , communicative and open forum and we want to continue with this .
I also think it is important to reiterate support for the territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova , and stress the role that the EU could and should play in helping to find a solution for the Transnistria problem .
collective redress saves effort when many people are affected and offers a much better chance of reaching a compensation agreement .
the political mouthpieces of capitalism are calling in their resolution for the bourgeois governments to continue to support the monopoly behemoths with hot public money and , at the same time , to ' establish healthy public finances ' , by which they mean even greater cutbacks in social spending , in health , in welfare , in education and so forth .
the truth is that the forecasts and estimates made are not being verified .
I should be in a position shortly to make a more definitive statement on this issue in regard to the value added of such a proposal .
the Commission 's urban strategy seeks to help those living in shantytowns by way of a series of programmes that are implemented in the various geographical areas covered by our development programmes .
we should make sure that Members are present .
this is actually an extremely important package for the European Union 's citizens .
I declare resumed the session of the European Parliament suspended on Thursday 23 October 2008 .
in writing . - ( FR ) The adoption of common criminal law within the EU , thus depriving the Member States of their sovereign exclusive right to determine , in an independent fashion , what types of behaviour they consider to be offences and also of the chance to define the qualifications and limits of criminal penalties , is on its way .
Europe must guarantee a suitable livelihood for rural communities .
I believe in the borders of the nation state as recognised by the United Nations and so oppose separatist-related violence everywhere in the world , be it in Kashmir , Indonesia , Sri Lanka , where I was born , Northern Ireland , where I got bombed , Spain or even in China .
large quantities are emitted by developing countries , such as China and India .
however , there remain differences in terms of labour legislation between developed and developing countries .
I want all of the people to have their voice heard on this issue ; because people care about this .
secondly , I am glad to concede that the report has not only pointed out ways for industrial consumers to save energy , but for small consumers as well - especially by means of raising consumer awareness and providing reliable information of the most environment-friendly options .
such targets are usually part of the poverty strategy and are monitored , and budget support disbursement is often linked to progress on them .
Vice-President of the Commission . - The issue of noise emissions of four-wheeled motor vehicles - cars , vans , trucks and buses - is addressed by UNECE Regulation No 51 and equivalent Directive 70 / 157 / EEC introducing noise tests and limit values .
a new protocol for the period 2011-2014 will be applied on a provisional basis , and I believe this to be sufficient at the present time .
further to the request from Parliament , the Commission is also pleased to add that the forthcoming second version of the consumer scoreboard will contain data gathered during the sweeps carried out so far .
let us not forget that beyond these statistics , we are dealing with ordinary citizens whose standard of living is being increasingly affected by austerity policies and excessive taxation .
as a result , all investments in the development of new energy technologies , firstly to reduce environmental impact and enhance the safety of existing installations and secondly to develop new energy sources and ensure more efficient and cleaner use of fossil fuels , are of particular importance .
the questions therefore arise as to what , whom and against whom the Germans wish to arm and represent in the progressively unifying Europe of the 21st century . surely not against states in south-eastern Europe , including Ukraine and Georgia , with their experience of Soviet occupation ?
the purpose of our proposal is to help Member States to put in place the proper and adequate strategies to reduce or avoid adverse events in health care , including health-care-associated infections , by pooling the best available evidence and expertise in the EU and lending Commission support to achieving economies of scale in this area .
we wish to protest against the ban on the activities of this organisation .
thank you all for your understanding and for the disciplined proceedings .
among other things , it requires effective antitrust legislation .
there is no room for doubt , the calling to account is justified , there must be a proposal for a Resolution , there must be a European-level strategy , and every Member State must prepare an action plan for integrating the Roma .
I do not see how we can wait for years before we have the legal possibility , as Mrs in 't Veld explained , of using the courts to enforce respect for the rights that Article 13 of the Treaty of Amsterdam grants to all citizens of the European Union .
( DE ) Mr President , colleagues , it is a great pleasure for me and for all of us to welcome the President of the Republic of Portugal , Mr Aníbal Cavaco Silva , to the European Parliament today .
the case of Roxana Saberi reflects the dramatic overall situation in Iran in terms of human rights , which , since 2005 - especially in relation to civil and political rights - has continued to deteriorate , in spite of the fact that , within the framework of existing international instruments , Iran has made a commitment to promoting and protecting human rights .
it is bad for the car industry , bad for the environment and it is bad for consumers , who want to have low-energy cars for the future .
- ( SK ) Madam President , even if the negotiations of NATO member state representatives in Lisbon have resolved a number of serious topics regarding security risks in today 's world , the significance of some of the conclusions and decisions will surely have a more dramatic effect on the current political world .
the workload has a bad effect on women 's health , family , legal working time or training .
clearly , renewable energy sources can make a major contribution to meeting these challenges .
it originates in a tragic , bloody failure : that of the Balkans in the 1990s , where the European Union was incapable of coping with a major security challenge on its own continent .
( HU ) Mr President , it had become increasingly clear that the declaration of a monitored independence for Kosovo had become inevitable .
in writing .
binding targets for developing countries are essential , but emissions must be reduced within a reasonable timeframe .
however , we note with concern the surprising decision by the Israeli Government on 13 December to make the settlements part of the National Priority Areas programme for the first time .
the technology and the practical processes for improving energy efficiency already exist , but since there will be no binding targets , these projects will not be properly financed and , consequently , will not be implemented .
;
this must surely have had a detrimental effect on local production .
how can this be achieved ?
( it ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the crisis that the agricultural sector is going through is extremely serious and is in danger of becoming irreversible .
I find this pressure to be inappropriate since commercial reasons do not justify endangering passengers ' lives .
we think of droughts and desertification , as we are seeing in southern Italy , for example , or of other extreme weather phenomena , such as unexpected rain and hail showers or floods , which often affect the livelihoods of our farmers .
I would like to welcome Mr Sven Alkalaj , the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina , and Mrs Jozefina Topalli , the Speaker of the Albanian Parliament , who are seated in the gallery and who are closely following this debate .
there is an urgent need for much stronger consumer protection and for services of general public interest to be shielded from the rules of competition and removed from the control of cartels .
it is important to reach a satisfactory agreement , and so I hope that the Belgian Presidency manages to achieve what the Spanish Presidency did not .
given that the main economic activities in Seychelles are fishing and tourism , and that this agreement benefits both the EU and the Republic of Seychelles , in view of the creation of 3 000 jobs in Seychelles and 760 in Europe and the monitoring of catches through a multiannual sectoral programme which provides for scientific cooperation and the promotion of responsible and sustainable fisheries , I am voting in favour of this proposal for a recommendation .
while we should welcome the fact that biofuel is no longer to be produced from food crops and that there is a general desire to wait for second-generation biofuels such as those obtained from waste products , this must not lead in any way to a relaxation of EU efforts in the domain of renewables .
we need to increase the density of our control network , and increase the frequency and quality of checks accordingly .
European taxpayers are going to have greater control over the way in which the EU 's financial resources are spent by the European External Action Service .
to prepare Europeans for the future , we must offer them opportunities , access to quality services , education , healthcare and continuing solidarity .
water is a primary human need , as was recognised and reaffirmed during the Fourth Water Forum in Mexico in 2006 .
I think the honourable Member would agree with me that the basic purpose of the long-term programme is , of course , that we should have continuity for the regions in order to plan for the long term .
these have been three critical remarks on a report that , for the rest , is certainly not the worst we have seen here , and which we shall support provided no unacceptable amendments are adopted tomorrow .
European citizens , however , are entitled to demand a little more of their institutions : flexible application of the European Solidarity Fund , certainly , as Commissioner Špidla has explained , which has not always been the case , but also some specific decisions .
it is not designed to replace a previous system ; it is designed to introduce a new control system which has not previously existed , even in this form , which is what allowed the credit rating agencies to steam ahead regardless in the first place .
also , if you look at the Obama Administration and its recent tariffs on Chinese tyres , we are descending into a spiral of protectionism .
the most important step as regards changing the image of the European Union in the eyes of Ukrainians would be to abolish the visa requirement for travelling to the European Union , as well as a clear statement , and this is something of which everyone has spoken , that Ukraine will be able to accede to the European Union , even if this involves an extended time frame .
that is why we have this European economic accounting and why we have used this system globally since the 1930s - including in the United Kingdom .
we have known what the basic problems are for a couple of years , and you will be well aware of what these are : the problem of insufficiently strong innovative capacity ; the problem of not having access to financial instruments , especially venture capital ; the problem of the transfer of the business - a very important aspect which is highly underestimated in some Member States .
we have to deal firmly with illegal immigration and with all types of activities that act as a cover for certain networks that are often nothing more than criminal gangs , for these groups are not only connected with illegal immigration but also with drug dealing , human trafficking and other forms of organised crime .
the fact is , the Single Market Act is a revolution .
guaranteeing access to a basic banking service - or , more generally , safeguarding the quality and accessibility of services that are essential for our fellow citizens - is a step in this direction .
today , this week , Europe really has become a continent without borders - the European Union - in a symbolic , technical and organisational sense .
one solution would be for the Member States to join a CO2 emissions reduction club , on a voluntary basis .
- ( FR ) Madam President , I am struck - and I believe I am not the only one - by the antithesis between the most cogent contemporary evidence and what I am hearing in this Chamber , particularly from the representatives of the Council and the Commission , but also from my dyed-in-the-wool Europhile colleagues .
I read it as though it were a sort of secular prayer , a remembrance for millions of victims , with which to associate the memory of so many other innocent victims whose sacrifice , I say again , must not be in vain for Europe .
we also support the further funding of the projects regarding consumers , market research , including prices , as well as market supervision measures .
this is a waste of EU money , which we cannot allow in a time of economic crisis .
ownership of large private estates in mountains and forests should also pass to the government and the forests and the forestry commissions should be restructured and improved ...
if goods are to move freely , should people not be allowed to do so , too ?
so-called ' best-before dates ' are often far too conservative , resulting in wanton waste through the discarding of otherwise perfectly edible products .
by encouraging Turkey to continue carrying out reforms , the European Parliament hopes to see improvements in human rights and equality laws which will benefit Turkish citizens .
I hope that a few national egos do not obstruct the European project of peace , solidarity and progress , or put it at risk .
how can we maintain Europe 's growth and competitiveness with a tiny active population ?
Indian railways - to give you an example , 17 000 trains transport 18 million passengers every day , and there are plans to build a further 25 000 kilometres of track in the next 10 years - are one of the many markets that could potentially be opened up with this free trade agreement .
it has been said here that we cannot fail and the Portuguese Presidency fully concurs with that statement .
on the substance , I can just reiterate that the Commission very much welcomes the report .
Member of the Commission . - ( EL ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I would first of all like to thank and congratulate the European Parliament and in particular the rapporteur , Mr Blokland , the shadow rapporteurs and the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , as well as Mrs Mann and the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy for their excellent reports and the views expressed at first reading .
indeed , improving infrastructure does not always go hand-in-hand with major development .
it must be rejected .
this is not fair .
is Mr Gollnisch aware that Baroness Ashton was a pacifist not only in her youth but that she was Vice-Chairman of CND at least until 1983 , which is something she did not disclose ?
especially in times of crisis , we need to include a gender perspective in all policies , adopting national measures that are agreed on and coordinated at European level .
we need Iraqi partners who respect transparency , fight corruption and nepotism , and respect the rule of law , human rights and democracy .
Kosovo has been behaving like an independent state since as long ago as September 1991 , with its own president , parliament and educational system .
the UNHRC also spends much of its time vilifying our democratic ally , Israel .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - Mr President , ' encouraging lifelong learning ' sounds fine , does it not , with the EU working openly for the good of people and for employment ?
lastly , Madam President , those of us on the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy would like to congratulate the rapporteur on his work and on his appointment .
( EL ) Madam President , a series of studies being carried out by the Member States illustrates that domestic workers face various problems , including low wages , discrimination , a heavy workload , conduct unbecoming on the part of employers and even sexual harassment .
the situation in the Horn of Africa is an alarming one .
the case is one of fumus persecutionis in that it appears that the proceedings were brought with the sole aim of damaging the reputation of the Member concerned , and therefore in these circumstances , it would be completely inappropriate to waive the Member 's immunity .
these bonds , which will be pegged to the value of the states ' reserves , should generate confidence and help to acquire the required level of liquidity - 2-5 percentage points of GDP - to be able to pursue the policies which we all agree are needed .
the EU is waiting for progress , particularly as regards protecting human rights , gender equality and safeguarding freedom of expression , freedom of the press and religious freedoms .
unfortunately , we do not have space for everything and that is why we were forced to vote against some of the amendments to the resolution .
the real outcome , however , will be a worsening of the economies of the new Member States within the next two to three years .
to loosen the supply of much-needed credit , the EIB lent EUR 1 billion to SMEs in 2008 , an increase of 60 % compared to 2007 .
there is no doubt in my mind that the active involvement of the European Parliament is essential for the success of this process to adopt the declaration .
however , the Commission supports it as a first stage in the prevention and settlement of conflicts of jurisdiction in the framework of criminal proceedings .
accordingly , I reaffirm my opposition to the death penalty , in every case and in all circumstances , in the hope that it will be abolished as soon as possible .
some very valid questions have been asked .
finally , I would like to say that , usually , when it comes to climate change all eyes turn towards politicians , but action in the field of climate change does not involve politicians alone .
other important cornerstones of regional policy in the years to come will be additionality in funding , cross-sectoral cooperation and conditionality .
Seneca once observed that humanity can be divided into two groups : those who go on ahead and do something and those who walk behind and criticise .
I would like to focus on one thing , even if it is not part of the neighbourhood policy .
we could certainly continue on this path , but the products must be loaded onto transportation equipment such as ships , on which they travel for weeks or months .
we emphasise the urgent need for a real plan to support the production and creation of jobs with rights in the countries of the European Union .
what we have been hearing from the Commission in this context has never been more than a statement of intent to step up intergovernmental cooperation in this matter and to engage in evaluation , research and so on .
this is something we should welcome , and we should spread the news .
finally , I would like to remind everyone of the need to reform the rules of origin in order to have a global , simplified and harmonised system based on strengthening regional integration , which remains its primary vocation .
they have activated the machinery of undermining the ruling coalition to discredit it in the very area in which it is strongest .
two of my staff who are here can testify to that .
there is now indisputable scientific evidence that the Mediterranean diet - based on the traditional dietary intake of citizens of the southern parts of Europe , such as Crete and Cyprus - leads to a longer and healthier life , whereas the American-influenced junk food diet - such as industrially processed hamburgers , chips and sweets - leaders to a shorter life and one more affected by disease .
when I use the word ' promise ' , what I mean is this : we must understand that citizens do not know about national authorities stonewalling , they do not know how the system works and we have a duty to them to tell them how it is .
I too am pleased to see the Commissioner here and should like to say that current conditions on the cereals market oblige us to reflect , but above all to act , and I congratulate the Commission on its proactive stance .
if these provisions were to remain in the law , we would see the same problems in terms of compliance with the Audiovisual Media Services Directive and possible violation of Article 21 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights .
I shall be happy to come and talk to you about Iran or any other matters whenever I am invited .
along with a more open market come increased European competitiveness and more efficient equipment production .
the same applies to the financing of military operations , which are paid for out of the national budgets .
therefore , further extensions of the scope of the proposal should not be considered in this context .
currently , the financial and economic crisis is changing into a social crisis and an employment crisis .
I have already said in my introduction that our key aim was to be present in Bonn and strive for implementation , move towards reality and continue on our path from words to action .
I would like to remind my fellow members from the Czech Republic that before their accession , we commissioned a report on the Beneš Decrees - Mrs Malmström , you will remember , because at that time you were one of us - which investigated whether the Beneš Decrees presented an obstacle to the accession of the Czech Republic .
it took one and a half years : we started it as a part of the Lisbon Strategy in February 2005 and since then we have had many coffees and many talks that were very inspirational and very interesting - also in this building - showing that there are a lot of options or opinions on how to promote innovation .
regulation ( EC ) No 1049 / 2001 , as amended , will lay down the principles , conditions and limits of public access to the documents of those agencies , but it will not , in itself , create obligations for agencies .
therefore , I cannot vote in favour of the report .
the time has come for principles which are in force in other areas of the economy to take effect in agriculture , too .
Erasmus was created in 1987 with the aim of providing students with European mobility and the prospects of a better career .
our policy must be conceptual but unambiguous .
the fact is that our dependence on Russian gas cannot be eliminated easily and even the Nabucco project will barely make a difference to this situation .
the agricultural product quality policy is not a static policy , separate from the other policies connected with agriculture .
what instruments will be developed by the European Commission for local authorities ?
now we need to know what our main objective is at this stage .
the second issue is the impact of the crisis and the resulting borrowing on government budgets , budgets at the national level , as this is placing even more pressure on public finances .
owing to the constantly increasing volume of traffic and the resulting ecological impact , intensive Europe-wide cooperation in the field of new technologies and alternative fuels should be strongly encouraged in order to stem greenhouse gas emissions and enhance the quality of life even in congested areas .
I have one final point to make .
the notion that the Commission will be too big if each Member State has a Commissioner has never been sustainable .
even though this is a very big step in the right direction , we are nevertheless not entirely satisfied .
secondly , we must successfully put in place effective supervision and a much more demanding form of bank stabilisation .
it therefore represents a worse situation than the previous directive ; frankly it is difficult to understand what concept the Council has of work and working conditions , but also of trade unions and contracts .
this resolution is actually about the United Nations meeting on the Millennium Development Goals , and aims to put pressure on world leaders to take seriously MDG 5 on maternal health : that is what it is about .
participation strengthens the sector , and in cases where restructuring is necessary can mitigate its negative effects .
therefore I feel we do have to be coherent .
the European Union is rightly at the vanguard of global ecological diplomacy .
we are placing our faith in the younger generation and in these two marvellous programmes .
to quote the motto of the French Revolution : ' liberty , Equality , Fraternity ' - we do not have a problem with liberty , but with equality and fraternity the need is greater , and I appeal to fellow Members from the old Member States to help solve this problem in a spirit of equality and fraternity .
I want to draw attention to one principle which I fully endorse : the principle of ' one person-one passport ' .
my hope is that this Parliament will act responsibly and approve the change proposed by Council .
so I think at least this will help , but we will also encourage , of course , our services to work as closely as possible with the Parliament .
particularly with regard to the increasing influx of migrants from Africa , it is essential for these states to coordinate the measures which they are taking in response .
Przygotowania do szczytu Rady Europejskiej ( 17 czerwca 2010 r . ) - Zarządzanie gospodarcze ( głosowanie )
this means that we must allow room for investments to be made in other countries where the results will be greatest .
if you do not want Mr Barroso , who do you want ?
the directive presses all the right buttons and goes some way towards addressing the problem .
Commissioner , your diagnosis of a lack of interconnection could not be more accurate .
according to the report from the UN Working group , victims of trafficking come from different social backgrounds , from the most well-off to the poorest , from the best-educated to totally illiterate , from an early age to older women .
to criminalise national employers at a time of deepening recession is absurd .
the Member States are not exactly inclined to legislate in fields like this when nothing serious has happened ; sometimes , on the other hand , they go overboard with the legislation when there are accidents .
I would also stress the importance given in the report to early diagnosis , to the existence of interconnected centres of reference , to a multidisciplinary approach to the disease , to the importance of professional training specialising in this type of diseases , and to the network of support for families .
furthermore , we must go beyond naming and shaming and include in all future agreements a set of clear corporate social responsibility rules with which businesses must comply and which are based on guidelines set by the OECD .
we worked very closely with them and gave them our full support from the very beginning .
the directive states that retaining the content of communications falls outside the scope of the directive .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Mr President , I will speak on behalf of my Group .
national parliaments have done the same thing on both sides of the Atlantic .
one of the texts provided for the creation of functional airspace blocks , in other words airline routes at the various airspace levels , in order to optimise consumption , reduce greenhouse gases and if possible reduce congestion at the busiest airports , not forgetting the possibility of bringing down air transport costs .
however , apart from dealing with this situation , which can be treated only as the tip of the iceberg , it is necessary to eliminate the gender pay gap , have more women appointed to decision-making posts , and increase the level of employment among women , as they are affected more by unemployment , using dynamic and realistic policies .
our increasing insight into current abuses , though , make it necessary for a different supervisory body to monitor OLAF , and one of the options indicated by yourself is coming to an end .
which Community action programme is currently in force for supporting European NGOs active mainly in the environmental protection field ?
besides , if a referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon were to take place in the Czech Republic , all the signs are that it would not pass there either .
last week , the FYROM Parliament passed a resolution on Srebrenica .
this own-initiative report from the European Parliament should never have been written and cannot be seen as anything more than a job-creation scheme for the European Parliament 's Committee on Culture and Education .
a highly efficient , heavily armed organisation outside the legal authorities ' official means of exercising power is obstructing the normal functioning of the Lebanese state institutions and has so far also blocked a national political compromise .
for me , after sitting in New York discussing with practically all our partners , ABS will be an important , if not the breakthrough , issue in Nagoya .
I also read the papers .
in writing . - I welcome the adoption of the Temporary Agency Workers Directive that will , finally , give equal treatment at work to some of our most vulnerable workers .
in schools , food must be checked in canteens and there must be physical exercise ;
it is in this context that we regard as vital our cooperation with the North African countries in the development of renewable energies .
ultimately , the result is a highly inflexible schematic approach , partly-privatised universities , that would make it possible to plan educational output .
we feel complete solidarity with the citizens of the Czech Republic who , as members of the European Union , should be able to travel to Canada without visas .
( sustained applause )
it has also been reported , however , that as happens at such major events , a large number of women , estimated at 25 000 , will travel from around the world to the cities where the matches are to be played , unfortunately not merely to support their teams , but because they are being forced into prostitution .
( PL ) Mr President , I , too , would like to speak about the discrimination experienced by Christians in Africa and Asia , but I am going to speak , of course , about our strategy on an extremely important matter .
this report gives the impression of being entirely technical , but ultimately it is about really important matters .
this really deserves our unequivocal support , being a comprehensive strategy that includes interdiction , public information , prosecution of known drug dealers and the promotion of local development .
what we need is to be able to help our production system ; in this respect , besides the Community initiatives , I will mention , for example , the case of my country , where yesterday it was decided to launch a EUR 30 billion fund , because what we need to do is to help businesses to function .
in writing . - ( SK ) Since we did not have a debate on the report by our colleague Mr Ouzký on the International Health Regulations , I would like to express my opinion on this matter at least in this way .
yet there are also hopeful signs , such as the ambitions of the new Japanese Government .
at the moment we are also discussing the internal market Gas Directive .
they prefer to hide the fact that only a break from these policies will allow a change of course and that only this can bring social progress .
moreover , both I and President Barroso said as much to our colleagues in the European Council .
in a further communication , in 2004 , the Commission set out the follow-up to that action plan and also proposed to review the Union acquis in this area .
it does not extend to information about content .
the EU should be moving towards a legislative framework that fosters compatibility in its activities and respect for human rights .
this single fee should also cover any additional national requirements for the publication of information in local and regional newspapers as well .
yes , this will be a country with one of the highest infant mortality rates and lowest educational indicators in the world , necessitating fast-track accession to the Cotonou Agreement , with access to the European Development Fund and fair debt alleviation .
that is what we should fight for .
I would like to thank the rapporteur , Ms Kauppi , for the very encouraging report , as well as the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Committee on Legal Affairs for their support .
mandatory data collection by the Member States is therefore necessary .
there is the Commission - and the Court of Auditors has just told us , having said that there are several million beneficiaries , that the first thing to be done upstream is to simplify the rules .
15 .
the rule on the symbols of the European Union is at present part of the acquis communautaire , of European legislation : the flag with twelve stars and a blue background , the anthem based on the Ode to Joy , the long-standing meetings of the heads of State and Government , and even the headquarters of the European Parliament , Strasbourg , and of course we hold our sessions in Strasbourg .
thereafter , it was not applied because the Council did not wish to apply it ; let us be clear on that . this is why we must do more on the issue of consistency in the European Union 's external humanitarian action .
we must do everything possible to ensure that the safety of European citizens is not in danger .
the bilateral energy agreements with Russia with hardly any EU coordination are also bad news for a solid EU foreign policy with a single voice .
however , it is a pity that , because of a lack of information , we do not know the real impact of these investments .
we have to devote the necessary means to ensuring that these women can have everything they need : an education , proper family planning , contraception and , where necessary , voluntary termination of pregnancy under proper conditions - but we are not going all-out for that .
this goal is a long way off , however .
the views I have just put forward have a very specific bearing on the protection of consumers ' rights .
other Member States systematically apply their national law ( lex fori ) which , obviously , can lead to applying a law with which the spouses have only tenuous links and to a result that is not in keeping with legal certainty .
application of the Schengen acquis ( vote )
secondly , we have the problem of impunity , which also applies in general in Africa 's conflict zones .
we shall also vote against those texts whose viewpoints we fundamentally reject .
it is good to realise what a state the Baltic is in and these two pilot projects are a good start .
it continued in Europe with Srebrenica and it continues today in Gaza !
it was therefore a natural reflection of the relations that Portugal has always maintained with Brazil .
you defend human rights in Guatemala and Indonesia - anywhere in the world where you have no jurisdiction . you are incapable of defending the rights of one of your Members .
agriculture is an integral part of our heritage and has always shaped our identity , way of life and landscapes .
the slaughter of civilians in Afghanistan by NATO forces and by Western-supplied armaments in Pakistan , apart from being criminal in itself , can push some civilians into the arms of the reactionary groups .
the same motive recently prompted President Bush to remove China from the list of countries committing the most severe human rights violations .
I believe this debate will help us to shape our proposal for methodology , which basically means that the Committee on Transport will have a chance to speak about it if everything goes well in May .
economic development , with the resumption of foreign investment and , above all , tourism , is unthinkable without tolerance , order and stability .
( applause )
considering the broader context of the issue , the Council is unaware of a similar court ruling having been adopted before .
he is , of course , one of the best known of all leaders , and people all over the world have derived strength and consolation from his ideas about goodness , understanding and pacifism .
the Commissioner said activation of Directive 2001 / 55 / EC will be discussed within Council .
within the European Union , control of firearms trafficking is crucial in the fight against insecurity and criminality , especially against organised crime .
at this time of year people are thinking about toys .
on the contrary , the Agency needs guidelines to frame its powers so that it can take individual binding decisions on market players .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I am pleased that the appropriateness of European countries accepting prisoners from Guantánamo has now been acknowledged , an idea that strangely was missing from my group 's original resolution .
therefore , to my greatest regret and with the support of the vast majority of the Committee on Budgets , I have to propose to Parliament that we , the Parliament , also reject amending budget No 6 , the Commission 's motion for compromise tabled before us , which has not been adopted by the Council .
to allow the European Parliament to exercise the powers it possesses under the Treaty of Lisbon , the Commission must give us a new draft regulation by June 2010 at the latest .
the economic and political situation in this extremely poor country incites the people to protest . these protests are then pacified by the armed forces , which consolidate a corrupt government and the division of the country into those who prosper and those who are dying of hunger .
we support a common immigration policy ;
it is a rocky road and is fraught with difficulties - we Portuguese know that only too well .
China 's influence on African countries is a dangerous example of a totalitarian model , and a corrupt market model , devoid of any respect for individuals or human rights , or any respect for the environment .
I therefore believe that the investigation that is to be carried out by the Commission is an extremely good thing .
it is an admission of powerlessness within an ocean of Europeanist absurdities churned out by the ultraliberal , globalist thought police .
in writing . - I voted in favour of this proposal for a Council regulation , which sets out a plan for the recovery of bluefin tuna stocks in the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean .
all these concerns point in one direction : making these instruments more useful to the poorest countries , thus contributing decisively to achieving their ultimate goal of fighting backwardness , poverty and the absolute injustice that are still brought about in the world by underdevelopment .
the amendment would allow a wider use of preventive vaccinations against bluetongue and this will ensure better control of the disease and lessen the burden it causes to the agricultural sector .
consequently , Member States must take measures to improve their donor pool , through sharing best practice and increasing awareness of the very serious issue we face regarding organ donation .
it would be absurd to expect the remaining servicemen to be stretched to engage in further adventures .
governments are prevented from legislating to improve the lives of workers .
this is even more sensitive at a time when other quintessential European projects are in doubt , if not in crisis .
the next item is the debate on the oral question by Louis Michel , Charles Goerens , Antonyia Parvanova , Frédérique Ries , Olle Schmidt , Maria Da Graça Carvalho , Nessa Childers , Marc Tarabella , Bart Staes and Marina Yannakoudakis on behalf of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe , to the Commission on the Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative -B7-0006 / 2011 ) .
you have still failed to take adequate steps to deal with those who have been profiting from this situation for a long time .
the links between shipping , climate change and tackling pollution are essential if we are to preserve the common resource of our seas and oceans .
Kenya is a low-income , low-resource economy .
I think the Council has clearly indicated its wish to try to find a solution at second reading .
the reason for this is not only down to the historical ties we have with the citizens of this state , but more particularly because of the firm conviction that the Republic of Moldova 's destiny lies in Europe , as a modern , democratic state , based on respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms .
it is completely incomprehensible that citizens are having to tighten their belts to pay for the rescue package for the banks , while the very same managers at the banks who were calling desperately for help are now paying themselves bonuses amounting to millions of euro .
I would like to take this opportunity to clarify some points of the report , which seem to have arisen from a misunderstanding .
I believe that there is a need to ensure that the European Parliament , the only EU institution to be democratically elected , and national parliaments have not only budgetary control , but also political control over the EEAS .
efforts to promote research paving the way for the production of second-generation biofuels are also important .
the transparency which is proposed in the report risks becoming illusory and misleading .
this has been reiterated by the European Court of Human Rights in its judgment in the fourth Cyprus v. Turkey inter-state case since 2001 .
and it will be difficult to achieve our climate change goals without the use of nuclear energy .
but there is no need to reinvent the wheel .
this is an extremely important proposal as it will reduce the unnecessary burden of red tape on small businesses and help over five million firms to make a saving of approximately GBP 1 000 each .
well , the Spanish Government has refused to take these 650 000 signatures into consideration .
so I will not be able to support the idea of extending the one-year period , but we will return to this issue .
it is quite obvious that we should have our own default values for the carbon footprint of oil from oil sand and oil shale .
however , I think there is a contradiction in the PPE-DE Group 's position - one I know the PPE-DE Group has debated internally - and there is a contradiction in this report .
however , the European Fisheries Fund must continue to support this sector in order to reduce fishermen 's dependency on fossil fuels , to make its activity more efficient and provide it with innovative proposals that must give new opportunities to the maritime sector .
I suspect that the Member States will not want to give us more money .
it must be clear , however - and we have established this in the Committee on Budgets and are also recommending it to the plenary - that contributions for SIS II be placed in the reserve , so that we can have more control over the use of these funds .
the citizens of the European Union deserve equal opportunities .
or the Enlightenment - we cannot say with certainty when or by whom or how it was launched , merely that today 's Europe and today 's world could not exist without it .
Finland was the case at the beginning of the 1990s .
two weeks later we have an EU-Africa meeting in Nairobi , Kenya , and we have already made contact with the US Administration , which I will mention later .
with such a small budget , it will be difficult to put into effect the priorities drafted by both the European Commission and Parliament , especially as these priorities are distinctly increasing with each year that goes by .
unfortunately we do not have a European agency based in the Mediterranean to develop this common policy on immigration and asylum .
a study showed that 90 % of Swedes have never heard of the gulags , while 95 % knew what Auschwitz was .
total freedom for the alcohol trade is not liberal .
however , I said nothing about this in my previous speech .
they are the lifeblood of any democracy , and it is time that legal reforms were introduced to end the banning of political parties .
a reconciliation process including the UN and all local players , including in the neighbouring states - such as Iran - must be initiated and promoted .
establishment of residue limits of pharmacologically active substances in foodstuffs of animal origin ( debate )
that is the reason why this debate is as interesting as it is impassioned , and I would also like to thank all the shadow rapporteurs for taking as much interest in this as I have .
this is a unique period .
as for economic sanctions , I think the right moment has come and that we should introduce them as quickly as possible .
Sweden , for example , is one of them .
at the same time , precisely because meeting the conditions requires a major effort , acceding states must also be encouraged to make the effort involved and not only that .
( FR ) Mr President , throughout the birthing pains of the directive on alternative investment fund managers , I have constantly argued in favour of equal treatment for all fund managers , irrespective of whether they come from the European Union .
I call on you to get to work on this as soon as possible because media freedom , and consequently the quality of media reporting , is already under serious threat in other parts of Europe , too .
is the Commission aware that under new operational guidelines in Scotland , projects require a minimum budget of £ 200 000 in order to qualify for European Structural Funds ?
I would like to point out that sporting organisations play a central role in volunteering and , despite this not being stipulated explicitly in the legislative text , nevertheless needs to be acknowledged .
in addition , the mid-term review of cooperation strategies for countries funded from the EC budget is currently under way , and the mid-term review for ACP countries funded from the EDF has been accelerated in order to re-define and adjust the national strategies and allocations in early 2010 .
as with other third countries , we are currently negotiating with Switzerland on the mutual recognition of control centres , the results of controls and the status of Authorised Economic Operator .
this is a very serious and important subject which the honourable Members have raised and chosen to put on the agenda .
however , if it is ratified - and this would then take place in October - this Parliament will have to work differently from November onwards .
these people have not been charged with any crime .
on the other hand , additional negotiation will be needed in the context of the trialogue for other amendments .
the need to understand Chinese as well is understandable for those who are going to look for work outside of Tibet , but an appropriate and adequate solution seems to be the introduction of Chinese as a subject to be taught , and not the replacement of Tibetan with Chinese as the language of instruction .
it is a complex task , and one to which Mrs Gebhardt has provided absolutely outstanding answers .
if the Chinese do not address the issues outlined by my colleague satisfactorily , what action does he believe the Council and EU Member States should take ?
this situation emphasises the need for a plan to aid the recovery and re-qualification of these former employees , so as to promote their reintegration into the labour market .
there have been reports from Western Sahara of instances of police violence against citizens who were holding a non-violent protest camp outside the city of Laâyoune against the social , political and economic situation and against their living conditions .
they recommend that world leaders reject the views expressed by the United Nations IPCC , as well as popular but misguided works such as An Inconvenient Truth , and that all taxes , regulations and other interventions intended to reduce emissions of CO2 be abandoned forthwith .
these questions should be discussed and answered in further debates .
the European Union trading system is already the largest in the world and , of course , with the problems which we had identified and which we have corrected in this proposal , it will become even more efficient and capable of linking up with the various other systems which are being set up internationally .
if one looks at why a judgment given in one particular country can be enforced in another with regard to the criminal and penal sentences , one appreciates that , basically , what we are doing is making life for the person who has been convicted a better one : being closer , perhaps , to his family , being closer , perhaps , to his place of origin .
we should never forget the energy challenge that we face .
our own research should concentrate on nuclear energy far more than it has done so far .
therefore , I am calling on the Commission to open up more opportunities during this year 's budget process to redeploy funding with the aim of achieving long-term goals .
whoever wanted the EU to have such a role ?
we will not give up helping them , but we have accomplished what it was our responsibility to accomplish .
gross domestic product must continue to be the main criterion , although there might be other indicators in other decision-making processes , and the regions and local bodies must play a fundamental role .
I have the privilege of acting as rapporteur for the Committee on Budgets on matters relating to research and I have a few brief comments from our committee .
we have a duty today , in our contacts with all the parties involved in the Armenian conflict , to reflect that fear .
technology will continue to change the world in ways we cannot imagine , so the ability to continue to learn and to innovate will become crucial factors for employability .
those who boo the speakers , those who try to disrupt the exercise of democracy in parliaments , need not apologise , because we have actually proclaimed here the Charter of Fundamental Rights , which enshrines tolerance as a fundamental European value , and tolerance even of those who do not understand the democratic spirit and behaviour .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
for this question is important , after all .
it is not possible for the scoreboard to address in detail all markets or all different types of consumer .
my second message , which is also a very definite request to the Commission , is that I should like to see the Commission taking much clearer action and being much less compromising in future when it comes to restructuring operations .
I am saying that this morning because this is the debate we are holding .
we , as Members of the European Parliament , will soon be asked by you , the Commission , to approve this agreement .
with a view to allowing European vessels to continue fishing in the Seychelles ' fishing zone in the Indian Ocean , the EU has negotiated the extension of the Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement .
granting immunity to members of a legislative body , an instrument which has been disputed on countless occasions , is intended to give them the freedom to express their opinions .
it is true that , in our resolution , we in the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) did incorrectly quote the Venice Commission .
it is increasingly common for legislative reports to be presented in this House in the form of a compromise between Parliament and the Council - the idea being to speed the process by facilitating their adoption at first reading .
what does that mean in practice ?
thank you .
I once again condemn the fact that some of them are criticising the procedure that has been used .
the top 10 is dominated by microstates : Liechtenstein , Luxembourg , Brunei , Jersey and so on .
under the commitment being debated today , public authorities shall , when purchasing their road transport fleets , be required to calculate not only the purchase price but also the vehicles ' lifetime costs in terms of fuel , CO2 emissions and air pollution .
here I must emphasise that the territorial integrity of Iraq must be preserved .
President of the Commission . - It is true , Mr Schulz , that the Lisbon Treaty does not allow the so-called ' bail out ' of Member States .
I wholeheartedly voted for the report and the proposals drafted by our fellow Member .
the Belgian team can be considered all the more successful in view of the circumstances in which the country took over the Presidency .
on 7 June Nasteh Dahir Farah , vice-president of the National Union of Somali Journalists , was brutally murdered .
the worst thing of all , though , is that partner countries are in a constant stop-and-go situation , with no chance of making plans for the long term , since they have no idea whether they will have sufficient funds to do so , even though this has been promised by the Member States .
the European Union is committed to a binding treaty .
the symbols of the EU were enshrined within the EU Constitution - and that document was rejected in France and the Netherlands .
perhaps we should give some consideration to acting in a more targeted way , because different countries and different governments are structured differently and we may need to apply differentiated strategies .
let me finish by congratulating the Parliament for the work done , because it was not easy .
but follow through one consequence of what would actually happen if they did join .
( FR ) Mr President , when there are racist voices calling for a ' Europe without Muslims ' , I call on you to intervene !
what we need to do is to guarantee financial support for this particular sector .
I agree that proper attention should be paid to the implementation of UNSC Resolution 1325 , the first resolution to address the disproportionate and unique impact of armed conflict on women , at the highest level in the European Union .
women deserve to be represented .
furthermore , to respond to the UN request in terms of logistical and security support , the European Union must , in my view , be in a position to use all the instruments provided by the Treaty of Lisbon , including military response .
reasonable governments such as the Finnish or British Governments have already begun to do so .
we also hope to advance our message that civil society activists everywhere must be free to exercise their most basic rights of freedom of thought and freedom of speech and freedom of the written word .
the main changes concern the introduction , extension and adaptation of some derogations in the sugar , milk and wine sectors .
for the new Member States in eastern Europe , however , with few exceptions , the international lending markets have closed their doors , there is an outflow of capital , and western European banks , which account for the majority of the market in the region , have changed the expansive lending policies they were pursuing not long ago for a more cautious approach .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , allow me to address the Council , because it is not our directive or the Commission proposal that we are debating , but the way in which the Council has emptied it of all meaning .
these actions are vital to maintaining the competitiveness of the Union 's economy whilst simultaneously guaranteeing the functioning of the European social model in the long term .
the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) is also proud to have convinced the vast majority of MEPs from all political backgrounds - Mr Schulz included - to make you the spokesman for 500 million citizens .
ICT is vulnerable to threats which come from outside national borders and change as the technologies and market evolve .
that is my personal experience , for what it is worth .
I am , however , pleased with this positive attitude , which will hopefully end the human rights violations to which these people have been exposed .
on the other hand , Ukraine must implement the necessary reforms , in particular in its services sector , and hold ambitious negotiations with the EU .
the most vulnerable parts of society - women and children - are taken abroad and exploited through the most abominable forms of prostitution , slavery and pornography .
therefore I cannot agree that there is no solidarity in the European Union .
its reform should therefore be thought of in the context of the competitiveness and sustainability of European production .
we all hope that it can enter into force soon , because I do not think we can afford to keep looking backwards when it comes to a question of protecting the lives of us all .
it is precisely for this reason that we urgently need to oppose declarations that would definitively and perpetually rule out the demands of national minorities for autonomy , by referring to the requirements set by the European Union .
as we know , our societies are marked by ever-increasing life expectancy .
combating terrorism and other forms of transnational and organised crime is impossible without data exchange that is more effective , more guided and faster , both within Europe and at international level .
( DE ) Madam President , we do still have the legislation by means of which Parliament can demonstrate that we take climate protection seriously in Europe , and we need to summon all our efforts so that we can genuinely achieve , through that legislation , everything that we have not voted on today .
yes , passports were distributed , very widely , and therefore the people that I met , the Ossetian refugees , felt like Russian citizens , which is clearly very perverse .
according to the World Health Organization , the cost of providing basic health care is EUR 34 per person per year .
the decision must not be taken bilaterally between Poland and the United States or between the Czech Republic and the United States .
signature of acts adopted under codecision : see Minutes
they can indeed .
these decisions have had an impact at Community level with the adoption of several documents .
Mr President , on 12 February 2009 , the Dutch MP , Geert Wilders , was refused entry to the United Kingdom by order of the Home Secretary .
in fact , Article 8 of the Charter is devoted explicitly to the protection of personal data , yet this protection is cheerfully violated and will be violated in future too .
I would like to know how the European Commission intends to approach these negotiations and this draft convention , and on the basis of what mandate it will act on behalf of all of us , so that tomorrow , in the area of domestic work , the European Union can set an example and that we , too , can give expression to the values of the European Union .
we want good working conditions - that is also something that we can , and want to , harmonise throughout Europe .
this cooperation is part of the European policy on technical research and development that is such a major part of the European legislation .
( FR ) Mr President , in the Flautre report I voted for Amendments 4 and 5 , which were not taken over and which concern Israel .
in its recent communication on tolerable risk , the Commission proposes to redefine the control system in terms of risk objectives and an acceptable level of error .
Parliament has demonstrated maturity and a sense of conscience in adopting a document that will unquestionably increase the level of protection afforded to third-country nationals living in those Member States where such protection is at the lowest level , or even nonexistent .
in the European Union we talk a great deal about values and about diversity , but European protection of minorities has been on a shaky footing up to now .
rather , the Union role , in partnership with all parties , is to identify obstacles to urban mobility and find ways of removing them .
I am hoping for a considerable improvement at second reading .
it is a body which ensures that taxpayers ' money is used appropriately .
obviously , the President of the Commission could not represent a single party .
the previous attempt at an agreement between the European Union and the United States on the processing and transfer of data lacked proportionality , reciprocity and transparency .
I have one further question : do we know exactly what technology we would need to be able to deal with this situation better ?
the opportunity of issuing an opinion allowed us at the Committee on Development , in the role of the European Parliament , to safeguard equal rights for both genders , to protect the most vulnerable groups such as female and child immigrants , as well as to provide information and language teaching to newly-arrived immigrants .
any change to the entry price system and its current application mechanism could have a detrimental impact on the results achieved so far .
thus , the development of urban transport improves the quality of life , the investments in improving energy efficiency create jobs , and the amounts spent on Research and Development improve competitiveness at the same time .
any such information on Members ' activities would need to include all the activities .
a coherent , coordinated EU strategy on culture in the EU 's external actions does not currently exist and needs to be developed .
more than ever , our companies need open markets , both internally within the Union , but also at the global level .
as regards China , the Council determined a certain number of reference criteria for the human rights dialogue in 2001 .
it means all travellers have a right to information about rail services both before and during the journey .
as a result , Brazil has less of an interest in its own role on the continent .
at the same time , it should be acknowledged that the situation of human rights in Nigeria has generally improved since the return to civilian rule .
I would like you to perhaps address that in your closing remarks .
it is important to recognise the role played by local and regional authorities in promoting culture and to ensure that they are more involved in the implementation of the EU 's cultural agenda .
this is where Stockholm fails .
since 1999 , the euro area has mostly been an area of economic stability .
however , unfortunately it was also involved in two brutal wars after the collapse of the Soviet Union which went as far genocide against smaller ethnic groups , such as the Chechens .
investment in low-carbon technologies must be a priority , since it is one of the most effective ways to tackle climate change , preparing the EU for a green economy .
take colorectal cancer , for instance .
I can only express my hope that this cooperation and this understanding will have set a model for the future , both for the institutions and for the political groups .
this would clearly set us apart from the US policy of creating a vast economic free trade area for the entire American continent .
we have avoided much of the disunity and disagreements of previous institutional debates .
in 2006 the EU reached its official target to channel 0.31 % of its combined GNP into development aid .
in this context , it is important to maintain the open door policy both for the candidate or potential candidate countries and for the countries with European prospects in the Eastern part of the continent , an approach that is conditioned , of course , by the fulfilment of required criteria and commitments .
Commissioner , support the dairy fund !
I understand you perfectly and I thank Mr Busuttil and Mr Strasser - and the chairman of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs was here earlier too - for having understood that I also feel strongly that Parliament should be closely involved .
even so , we still have fires .
issues of economic policy coordination are issues of common interest , and the situation we are in today is unacceptable : on the US side , it has already been possible to implement two Paulson plans , while , in Europe , you tell us that we still need a few weeks to find something to say to the people of Europe , who are awaiting our responses .
I could say , with some irony , that the only group omitted from this report is those such as myself : heterosexual , middle-aged white men of right-wing political orientation .
but what we are doing here in Parliament today is dealing with that , so I am delighted that Parliament has passed that resolution .
subsequently , Member States should be free to regulate these requirements according to their own needs , unencumbered .
the European Commission has also fittingly incorporated the so-called infrastructure package into the energy strategy , which should facilitate the construction of power networks throughout the EU .
however , Commissioners , I should like to say to you that we see the absurdities and paradoxes in your economic policies .
( FR ) Madam President , Mr López Garrido , Commissioners , this debate is important , not only because the euro is under attack , but also because on Thursday , we will have the first summit under the leadership of President Van Rompuy .
the same cannot be said of good governance , judicial reform and democracy , which are nonetheless headline objectives of the European Neighbourhood Policy .
if changes are introduced properly , they will result in reduced emissions of pollutants .
I hope I can also count on the Member States .
I hope that you will still be able to send out clear signals along these lines throughout the remainder of the Swedish Presidency .
in this context , I take a positive view of the proposal that people who have lost their jobs as a result of the current economic crisis should be able to draw funds rapidly from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund .
in fact I believe that any transfer of European personal data to a third country for security purposes must respect procedural safeguards and rights of defence as well as comply with applicable national and European data protection legislation .
we hope those states will liberalise .
directive 2001 / 83 / EC establishes a Community code relating to medicinal products for human use .
the target of deriving 20 % of our energy mix from renewable sources will be economically viable only if two conditions are met : the price of a barrel of oil remains high and the price of a tonne of CO2 is suitably dissuasive .
the reality is that Brazil is the only country missing from the BRICS group , one of the five which are regularly invited by the G8 to its summits and a country which represents EU investment equalling the level of investment in Russia , China and India cumulatively from EU countries , so it is a really important partner .
in another case , a contingent of rubber ducks floated ashore .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , helping patients who suffer from rare diseases has long been a major concern of the European Parliament .
it seems we should therefore facilitate the movement or recognition of such authentic acts so that whenever there is a cross-border formality , such as a marriage , a contract or something similar , it is not necessary to have to go through cumbersome procedures .
the extensive reference to the US Department for Homeland Security as an example of a suitable anti-terrorism policy is at best irritating .
on this basis , the Irish Government has bravely committed itself to carrying out another referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon before the end of 2009 .
it is about more customer and consumer satisfaction .
I voted against a favourable conclusion to the visa liberalisation process for Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina .
however , care has to be taken not to injure specific industrial sectors or reduce our overall economic possibilities , and therefore consideration of a targeted approach is very necessary .
we are privatising ( speculative ) profits and socialising the losses .
in the EU , we kill over one and a half million children before birth every year .
sceptics claim that just a part of the aid arrives at its destination , while most stays in the hands of intermediaries .
yet the bilateral energy agreements the EU Member States concludes with third countries keep putting in question the European Union 's ability to take a common stand .
I know that you , Commissioner Verheugen , are going to make a statement today on the whole issue of preventing the counterfeiting of medicines .
most of the Member States of the European Union are members of NATO , so the European Union means us and in most cases NATO also means us .
it was developed in the US in the 1960s by NASA , when the Agency needed to ensure 100 % safety of all foodstuffs and nutritional products .
so at least looking at the impact seals have on the cod population is , I think , a very important step this evening .
the errors are not increasing . on the contrary , they are decreasing , but it is still not acceptable .
firstly , the left has shown that it does not respect the work of the Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality , although it ostensibly recognises its importance .
this is a new Yalta .....
you cannot have two Heads of State and , since the EU takes precedence over national bodies , the EU President - perhaps Tony Blair - will take precedence over our Queen .
now that it is seeking to join the European Union , I call on Croatia to speed up the process of achieving a conciliatory , constructive and happy ending to this sad and still unresolved affair .
everyone is denied the basic utilities that all of us in this House take for granted .
a second point that is important in my opinion is why we do not also integrate candidate countries into this system ?
the problem in the Laval case is that the market takes precedence over workers ' rights .
we know that intensive farming is detrimental to biological diversity .
issues of the protection of privacy and consumer protection issues connected with electronic communications were also solved in an equable manner .
that is difficult to explain during this time of crisis , but if Parliament 's work is to be excellent , it needs to have the necessary financial and human resources .
some time has passed since the adoption of the European Parliament 's opinion on the Eurovignette III Directive at first reading .
the tools at their disposal are outdated , often still based on 19th century systems .
I wish to enquire about the resolution agreed between the parliamentary groups .
there is still a very considerable information gap among consumers , too many of whom have never heard of Solvit and do not know that it could resolve a good few problems for them .
we have had a very good debate in the Chamber .
Madam President , Mrs Malmström , ladies and gentlemen , we , as Parliament , will tomorrow adopt a joint resolution which once again emphasises our concerns regarding the exchange of passenger name record data .
there is a need to promote entrepreneurship and support small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) , recognising the key role they have played in fostering economic competitiveness and creating jobs , and we must facilitate access to funding , especially for SMEs , and ensure simplified access to risk capital and micro-finance .
therefore the UK Conservative delegation will have to vote against at the end .
according to the newspapers , factories , schools and houses collapsed , in certain areas the earthquake destroyed 80 % of buildings , in some towns school buildings collapsed , burying the students inside , and , unfortunately , chemical factories have dispersed tonnes of pollutants into the ground .
if the Council is infallible , it follows that there is no need for an evaluation , but if it believes in the possibility of improving its understanding , there is .
I strongly believe that once Turkey 's membership status becomes a question of ' when ' rather than ' if ' , it may be easier to resolve the tensions which are fuelling the current social polarisation .
in my view , the report is unacceptable as it stands .
I know that is something you do not hear from me very often .
that is why I am voting against the report .
it is important that the EU Member States and the European External Action Service actively engage in the 2011 review of the Council to strengthen compliance with its mandate .
I , personally , am in talks with our colleagues , who are here in the gallery , and my feeling is that we should talk about everything .
it is my conviction that , for the regime change begun there in 1989 to be complete , the events of the past must be confronted .
expulsion should not be the alternative to over-exploitation of illegally staying migrant workers .
I am sorry , but that is it .
rapporteur . - Mr President , I am not a lawyer , and I am not well versed in law , but I know that one should avoid stretching the interpretation of legal texts .
the new aspects presented in the report and the positions guiding EU security-related activities will help the EU to stand up for its security interests more effectively , as the von Wogau report recommends .
I did this five years ago , and this is an interactive process where I also need to see the people that those Member States have put forward in order to form the Commission .
the social benefits must also be mentioned , which includes the creation of new jobs by 2020 .
anyone found guilty cannot be locked up in Sierra Leone for any decent length of time .
it is a question of trying to reap the benefit of the added value which the European Parliament 's participation could bring to the substance of those dialogues and to the practical results they contribute to an area in which the insensitivity and diffidence of various European governments and bodies strikes an unfortunate contrast with the commitment and historic leadership of the European Parliament , the body representing the voice of the citizens of Europe .
I feel that there must either be a translation error in some texts , or a very serious political misjudgement , and for those reasons I ask you , Madam President , to decide on the admissibility of that paragraph .
I welcome the initiatives developed by the European Commission in this regard .
as a result , I did not vote for the amendment removing the ban on using systems for restraining bovine animals by inversion or any unnatural position because , in my opinion , this practice compromises the welfare of animals .
I do not want to use this debate to score political points in the European Parliament , but I could mention many such examples .
( FR ) Mr President , as we know - according to a number of scientific studies and also Yvo de Boer - emerging countries are today making at least as much effort as Europe with a view to 2020 .
consumers will be sure that the toys which reach the European market , and which end up in the hands of their children , comply with high safety standards , are free of all toxic substances and contain clearly legible warnings that can be read by those purchasing the toys .
AAL is not just about improving independent living but can also contribute to achieving the goals of the Lisbon Strategy .
therefore , I call on the Italians themselves to remain vigilant for any attacks on freedom of the press in their country .
this is about credible legislation , not behind-the-scenes negotiations between Member States aimed at avoiding penalties .
the report refers to a range of actions for a comprehensive approach towards cancer prevention and control , many of which have already been taken into account in the development of the Partnership , based on the Commission 's communication .
it needs to be dealt with in other reports .
the European Council also reiterated its commitment for medium-term financing , to ensure it gives the fair contribution that is necessary for 2020 .
China now has the opportunity to show the world its generosity and its desire for peace and harmony and , above all , the European Union has the opportunity to help it act in accordance with its greatness .
above all , progress needs to be made in areas that affect developing countries : funding , technology transfer and capacity building .
just take the supposed unavailability of resources for renovating Christian churches in Turkey , or the difficulties surrounding the succession of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople .
I therefore welcome the proposal tabled by Commissioner Kovács and I would like to congratulate him on his work throughout his entire mandate , and today , in particular , on this proposed new directive .
I do not have much time , so I would like to use my last 15 seconds to thank the rapporteur , the shadow rapporteurs , Mr Dalli the Commissioner , who has really committed himself to the cause and , above all , Mr Bowis , who is sitting in the gallery and is the father of this directive .
I therefore voted in favour of the report 's recommendations .
the context is quite important , because the attack occurred shortly before Desmond Tutu was due to conduct meaningful talks in Darfur .
the last assessment report on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ( FYROM ) is neither worse nor better than the previous ones .
the merits of fishing at low levels of fishing mortality and building up a more robust spawning stock were also considered in the Net Benefits Report by the UK Prime Minister 's strategy unit .
Madam President , I , too , would like to thank the rapporteur and the shadow rapporteur , and in particular Mr Titley and the Commission , for this sound proposal .
drug trafficking knows no limits or borders and is becoming a threat to the entire region , even reaching European Union states .
should we not be clear , first of all , as to what our main priority is ?
by pooling the national quotas , the EU can help to alleviate some of the most difficult conflicts in the world and in refugee situations .
I am sure that close contact with the European Parliament will also be fostered at the level of the officials .
Mr President , in my half-minute I would say two or three things : firstly , the victims of Chernobyl are thankfully not forgotten .
the field of cross-border infrastructure and interconnections , in particular , is where we are very much lagging behind .
regarding Ireland , I would simply like to mention that the representative of the new Irish Government was very cooperative in the General Affairs Council on Monday , and that I am very confident that a solution to the Irish problem will be found at the European Council meeting as well .
there are proposals to draft obligatory programmes .
in order for these objectives to be met , a ban on the use of cyanide mining technologies is crucial .
I welcome an agreement with Canada going beyond the WTO commitments and being complementary to multilateral rules , provided that the negotiations produce a balanced , ambitious , high-quality agreement that goes well beyond tariff reductions , and other tools begin to be applied .
after three years of intensive institutional work we can proudly credit the European Parliament with a significant success in customs modernisation .
they will certainly play a key role in Europe 's future .
Commissioner , you are absolutely right when you say that reform fatigue seems to have occurred at the Commission and also particularly in the Council .
maybe it is not surprising that dodgy operators with a lax approach to safety should also be revealed as dodgy operators as far as the cargoes they carry are concerned .
yet this was not an isolated case : every day in Luanda , children are still dying of hunger , due to malnutrition , in the arms of their young mothers who have not been taught anything about nutrition and who are often left to their own devices .
I believe that the involvement of the Committee which I referred to is vital with regard to the use of substances classified as carcinogenic , mutagenic or toxic in order to verify their use in the manufacture of cosmetic products .
I am deeply convinced , however , on the basis of my experience to date , that budget support - where it is possible - is obviously a much more efficient way to proceed .
my aim with this report was to indicate that they are on the right track , that I pay tribute to their efforts , and that I wish them courage for what lies ahead .
the South Caucasus matters to the European Union , not least due to its energy and transport links .
we are paying close attention to the consequences for the global economy and to the nuclear aspects .
the debate is closed .
on behalf of the Verts / ALE Group . - ( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , official EU policy towards Belarus is known as a policy of ' differentiation ' : on the one hand it is critical of the dictator Lukashenko while , on the other , it seeks to encourage and facilitate dialogue with the people .
so let Slovenia , that small EU country , express this longing through its actions for the benefit of Christian culture in Europe .
today , we also voted on women 's rights and for women to have the right to a life in which they do not have to put up with violence .
the European Parliament applauds the successful introduction of the new computerised transit system .
every day , 12 people die in Europe because they have not received a transplant in time , and 60 000 people are currently waiting for a transplant .
Mr President , I would like to guarantee President Barroso my support as the European People 's Party 's delegate , and express the hope that the present Europe Commission will be able to continue the job which has been started involving the social integration of the Roma .
therefore , we should take measures at a European and not a national level and provide aid packages which are compatible throughout Europe and do not distort the market , as has happened frequently in the past .
four years on , it would seem we have made little progress , and I must say - speaking on behalf of the very many professionals who have approached us on the subject - that is a matter of regret .
I therefore hope that this renewal will bear fruit for both parties .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
without the reunification of Germany , the reunification of Europe and the enlargement of 2004 and 2007 would not have taken place either .
a great deal will depend on the success of this EULEX mission , because Kosovo was a protectorate for ten years prior to its independence .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , it seems that we are all in agreement here on the fact that space policy has become an essential component of the future of our society .
rapporteur . - ( ES ) Madam President , although the murder of women is a global problem , there are areas of the world that , due to both the magnitude and the complexity of the phenomenon , have become paradigmatic cases .
it is not acceptable , either , that improvement in the quality of health care should be achieved by making treatment providers compete , or to argue the principle of the free movement of patients : the latter depends above all on their state of health .
comprehensive integration of these groups is in our common interest , and we must take appropriate measures to ensure that it happens .
you , the European Parliament - apart from your role as a co-legislator - can also very effectively mobilise citizens and also - why not ? - the national parliaments .
they result in higher production costs and may also distort competition with states whose legislation is less strict in this respect .
I want to inform the Commission and the Council that this is the start of Parliament 's campaign to win new rights for our citizens who are the victims of fraud .
so we are turning to the Swedish Presidency of the Council and we are turning to the Commission .
Madam President , today 's debate could well be titled ' who is going to have the upper hand in conducting the EU 's foreign policies ? '
it is time to look at the facts .
the report makes numerous positive references to minorities , rights , lesbian , gay , bisexual and transgender people , immigrants and asylum seekers , freedom of the press and social rights .
if we look back these 20 to 30 years , as Europeans we know that this is one area of school education that we have neglected .
the protocol intends precisely to strengthen customs security measures in respect of goods imported from and exported to non-member countries .
whether this will succeed is primarily up to us politicians .
it is essential that the response should be of this kind .
we do not need more regulation on our own fishermen to deal with third countries which continue with their rogue activities .
it may be helpful - and here I am addressing Commissioner Reding - to involve the European Public Prosecutor 's Office , which , once up and running , could verify and assess in some way these judgments by the Member States ' judicial authorities , who will undoubtedly need to receive further training .
I have been delayed getting here and have managed to arrive at the last minute .
we are trying to ensure the implementation of the Comoros agreement and to do our best for the local population .
I want to thank the rapporteur , Mr Lewandowski , for not using up the entire 20 % increase .
subject : the possibility of a double-dip recession : sustainability of the 3 % target
this means that the new negotiations will be conducted by a different group of people .
the gentlemen 's agreement was never intended to apply to executive functions .
the European Union should make efforts to prevent escalation of the present crisis .
the report before us welcomes Iraq 's observer status at the WTO as a key step towards driving Iraq 's integration in the international economy and it looks forward to the EU-Iraq trade and cooperation agreement .
future economic growth in the EU will depend on its competitiveness , but instead the Commission 's document talks a great deal about protecting social gains .
if we do not , it is not an option to do nothing .
the second conclusion , and I refer to the proposal by Mr Medina Ortega , with which I agree , is to pass on the outcome of this debate to the competent authorities of the Polish Government , informing them that this disparity of treatment needs to be removed through national legislation .
let us not forget that import taxes often mean poor citizens having to pay more for imported food and medicines .
but , on the other hand , it is rather an unfocused debate .
the European Council furthermore recognised the need for a significant increase in public and private financial flows up to 2020 .
just as we , in my home country , have the groundwater that we want to look after , and that I choose to use as an example here , there are , of course , other countries with various other environmental and health-related matters that they would like to protect and the EU must never force a country to lower its level of protection .
our fellow Members - Mr Cappato , Mrs Lichtenberger , Mr Tannock and Mr Romeva i Rueda - are absolutely right : today 's resolution speaks loud and clear .
we must build safe nuclear power plants and at the same time , using structural funds , encourage rural communities to focus strategically on the link between energy , water and biotechnology , thus strengthening the diversification of the energy base .
furthermore , the increase in the number of irregularities reported to the Commission testifies to the progress of the fraud prevention systems .
both the basic GSP system and the GSP + system , which are both linked to the ' Everything But Arms ' initiative , contribute to reducing poverty , in strict accordance with the primary obligation of ensuring respect for human rights .
I would like to express my heartfelt thanks and say a true thank you because now , European legislation , the European rules on maritime safety , are certainly better than they used to be .
however , we must not lose sight of the fact that we can never achieve complete safety by means of regulations .
surely we can at least walk part of the way together .
in writing . - ( SK ) Slovakia , just like other new EU Member States , has a high proportion of rural areas .
we talk a lot about reducing CO2 produced by vehicles , particularly trucks .
in my opinion , combating this phenomenon must be made a priority .
the current situation is the most serious obstacle both to regional stability and to Serbia 's EU integration .
we welcome the rapporteur 's position in this case too , and we understand and share the view that only a limited number of absolutely essential amendments should be supported , as we said in committee .
given the financial , technical , institutional and administrative efforts made by Romania to join the Schengen area , I think that the positive assessment of this dossier must be shown in the period ahead by setting a definite deadline for joining this area .
with this decision , you are making the International Monetary Fund the guardian of the European Union , the guardian of the eurozone .
the most reactionary and barbaric regime to which capitalism gave birth , namely Fascism , is being equated with the most progressive idea conceived by man , namely Communism and the abolition of the exploitation of man by man .
this means that the process of including new fibre names in the standard list of names must be made more transparent and must involve less red tape .
certain key projects for the European economy , such as the Nabucco pipeline , which would allow greater energy independence , or the development of the Black Sea ports , require immediate impetus , which can only be achieved on the back of a common strategy .
I believe that the Commission needs to look forward towards negotiating another stage of this Agreement covering issues including : further liberalisation of traffic rights ; additional foreign investment opportunities ; the effect of environmental measures and infrastructure constraints on the exercise of traffic rights ; and better coordination of passenger rights policies in order to ensure the highest possible level of protection for passengers .
the report does not answer these questions .
let me conclude by saying that we have to show some understanding for the difficult situation in Turkey , particularly in view of the dramatic events in the south-east on Turkey 's border with Iraq .
( HU ) Thank you for the floor , Madam President .
3 .
I think I have covered everything now .
ladies and gentlemen , thank you for expressing your views , which clearly highlighted the many facets of this matter .
of course , we have already covered much ground over the past few months .
if we were to assess Copenhagen , we have to say , to be fair , that it was not so bad , because the result can serve as a basis for the negotiations in Mexico and something , at least , was achieved .
furthermore , in the absence of the constitution which we were promised , which you are now proposing to drive through without a referendum , there is no basis for it .
while there are international conventions like the Hague Convention and , internally , the Brussels II Convention , there are still many deficiencies .
if too much government was the problem , it is difficult to see how we can solve that problem by additional regulation at Brussels level .
agriculture should not be a field whose fate is decided beforehand and whose funds are systematically deviated .
major cross-border investments in research , for example , will be needed .
the implementation of the constitutional changes in a transparent and inclusive way is essential for Turkish progress .
Members of the Portuguese PSD ( Social Democratic Party ) therefore voted in favour of this report .
through today 's resolution Parliament grants the Executive Director of the European GNSS Supervisory Authority discharge in respect of the implementation of the Authority 's budget for the financial year 2009 .
I hope that Parliament will be as unified as possible in voting in favour of this resolution tomorrow .
I believe that it is inappropriate to upgrade relations with Israel until such time as it displays concerted efforts to alleviate the suffering of Palestinian residents and engages in sustained political dialogue to reach a two-state solution to the region 's problems .
it is a programme which aims to achieve such objectives as : ' triggering and strengthening the commitment of the governments of the ENP countries to political and economic reforms ' ; their assimilation of EU ' common policies ' ; their ' alignment with EU foreign policy ' ; and the creation of a free trade area ' .
( the speaker continues in English . )
it is a complex issue involving the capacity to manage change and promote employment and social security reform in a rapidly changing global context which requires responses to the challenges of global competition , technological innovation and population ageing .
this is because - again , one of those self-evident truths that are in danger of no longer being taken for granted in today 's Europe - it is absurd to claim that we are fighting terrorism to ' protect our democracy ' while proposing measures that are contrary to the fundamental principles of democracy .
I support the resolution because I consider it perfectly in keeping with the spirit of the international code on the marketing of milk substitutes issued by the World Health Organisation .
the exercise that we will complete here today is possibly the most important part of this role of supervisory body : it is the part where we meticulously review the Commission and the other institutions in relation to how they manage the funds , and not least , of course , assess how things are working in the Member States , where we know that around 80 % of the EU 's funds are managed .
moreover , Europe has not yet created a complete and effective intermodal system that would ensure a significant transition of freight transport towards less polluting sectors .
that is why impartiality and independence are among the fundamental principles of this operation , that is to say of the United Nations ' Mission and the EUFOR operation .
when the crisis in Georgia arose in August , on 8 August , we had just one focus : stopping the war and not allowing it to turn into another Bosnia .
more important efforts are ahead of us .
at that time , we established together with the Commissioner 's office that certain countries were lagging behind others , mainly in terms of stocks of antiviral drugs .
I am convinced that Romanian pig farmers would be extremely happy if these rules were replaced by a system of superficial and selective controls or by a few posters stuck up at airports .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( NL ) Madam President , at various stages of the production process goods are hauled to a faraway place , subsequently ending up in a completely different place as finished products .
would ratifying the UN Convention on the protection of migrant workers and members of their families have guaranteed them too many rights ?
other well intentioned recommendations already relate to living and working in cities and metropolitan areas , with potentially very positive consequences for renewal and innovation in energy networks , buildings , transport and other public utilities .
I hope this will happen soon and , in this regard , I would like to thank Mr Böge for his untiring efforts to ensure that a good solution is found .
however , it is clear that there is always more that can be done because we will never reach the end in terms of freedom and human rights : there will always be something to defend , to develop , to protect and to safeguard .
the EU should continue to lead by example in combating climate change .
you are a courteous , tolerant , nice person when one meets you in private , when one invites you to lunch : you understand the other person 's arguments .
while recent events have provided a spark of urgency in bringing this matter to the table , the Commission is taking this opportunity , through the communication , to address the long-standing underlying inconsistencies and unresolved issues that have provided scope for some Member States to act unilaterally and not necessarily with a European Union perspective .
you , in the Commission , even go so far as to force the Member States to lift restrictions that they sometimes already have .
on a more general note , I should make Members aware that , in the UK , these matters are decisions for local authorities in the context of implementing road pricing .
I voted in favour of this report , as I believe that the implementation of the Services Directive by Member States has so far been partial and limited .
this has now been clarified as three times over a seven-day period .
during the coming months , we shall be having further discussions on these migratory issues .
it is absolutely clear that we do need to monitor this , but of course within the Services Directive itself , with all the work we put in it , there are a very substantial number of provisions .
can you imagine how much more true this will be if north Africa gets this right too ?
thirdly , our own self-interest in ending a potent symbol that acts as a pretext for terrorist recruitment and radicalisation and , lastly , the moral responsibility that Claudio Fava was talking about .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Mr President , I agree with Ms Hall when she points out in her report that energy efficiency is the most cost-effective and immediately available tool in the battle to cap greenhouse gas emissions .
a European and global system for supervision represents further important steps .
Vice-President of the Commission . - ( DE ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like first to thank you very much for the broad support this debate has shown for the transatlantic economic cooperation project and reemphasise that this project can be successful only if all institutions are involved .
in the medium term , we need to provide better training for employees for when the crisis ends and , in the long term , we need to innovate , including in social organisations via employer groups .
this is one of the key projects in disarmament .
I want to deal with one particular issue and that is reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation , the so-called REDD programme , which is a very important issue , but I am concerned about a lack of policy coherence in the Commission in relation to this issue .
this is an essential element in order to be able to ensure a completely equal position for the Irish language together with the other official languages of the Union .
at the time , I repeatedly and publicly criticised the way Dr Constâncio carried out his supervisory duties whilst in charge of the Bank of Portugal .
they are often local family enterprises . their fishing capacity is restricted , and they are therefore unable to increase production so as to obtain an acceptable income despite higher costs .
it is a theme , an issue , a problem on which the Portuguese are especially sensitive and I am proud to be able to say so here and to have the opportunity to be leading the Council 's efforts at the United Nations at this moment with a view to achieving the objective we have set ourselves .
I must say that , along with the rapporteurs who have taken up this issue , we in the European Parliament will be ready and willing to ensure that these texts are implemented by all Member States , and we shall need to have a regular update on their implementation .
it is necessary to concentrate , in particular , on the most problematic issues , such as constitutional reform , freedom of the press , women 's rights and the protection of national minorities .
in this respect , every possible resource needs to be found to support national libraries , museums and archives so that the Europeana project can become a true reflection of the wealth and diversity of Europe 's cultural heritage .
one way to get close to the people is for us to invite along the small , local media , which do not have the funds themselves to come here to Parliament .
the fact that the EU Member States are engaging in such horse-trading does not bode well for a global agreement .
the current demands by the European Commission for the closure of two of the three slipways used by the shipyard to build ships will make it unprofitable and result in unemployment and tragedy for many workers ' families .
I voted in favour of the resolution on passenger compensation in the event of airline bankruptcy .
I supported this report because it makes good sense that we should have a regulation that protects farmers ' interests and the interests of those who produce their feed .
this also applies to the Blue Card : there is resistance on some central principles , such as ' equal pay for equal work ' , which is a sacrosanct , natural principle .
now , that is the question the British and Dutch governments should be thinking about .
do we have proof that they exist or do not exist ?
its fall in the middle of its presidential term was unprecedented .
in the interests of human welfare , development and health , we should take concerted action to make Europe GMO-free . doing so will also protect the natural environment .
firstly , to come back to the question of the definition of security : I do not believe that we are very far apart at all .
what is needed is help and assistance .
the next item is the statements by the Council and the Commission on the situation in Burma .
other areas will continue to be subject to self-regulation in the Member States , as a complement to the provisions of legislation .
however , in this connection , we should not throw the baby out with the bathwater .
so , you have given us plenty of information although , according to data compiled recently in the Benelux countries and in Germany , the number of herds infected by the fever has been multiplied by 25 in a year , which is considerable .
missionaries , for example , are engaged in such activities even though they do not have any funds , whereas the Union is not involved despite being able to count on substantial financial resources .
as such , its primary purpose is to provide assistance , and to this end it needs financial guarantees .
last Friday and Saturday , a meeting attended by the President of the Commission , Mr Barroso , the President of Parliament and President Van Rompuy was held with dignitaries from the most important European Masonic lodges , yet not a single word was said about the fact that most of these lodges do not allow women to join .
5 .
I give my full support to Mrs Vălean 's report on the application of Directive 2004 / 38 / EC , all the more so as the recent events which have occurred in some Member States have highlighted the blatant violation of one of the four fundamental freedoms , namely , the right of citizens to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States .
( SK ) This 2008 report on equality between women and men summarises a European Parliament report which has already been adopted and which created a great stimulus that needs to be applied in practice .
I will go there tonight , if I catch the plane , and will meet with lots of people tomorrow in order to get a clearer picture of the different scenarios , the different timetables that we can expect .
the original text of the Commission proposal was also improved on the basis of the amendments which I tabled in the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development .
young people have not been brought up to behave responsibly in sexual matters ; sexual freedom is a typical feature of today 's society .
your ideas on flexible formats for courses in some study areas would be compatible with the Bologna rules and deserve to be explored .
as was rightly pointed out - and I take it as a kind of criticism - at the end of the preparations for the conference we were not really able to find a common ground .
firstly , Galileo and the European Institute of Technology ( EIT ) : Parliament has given its approval to these schemes , but we still need evidence of budgetary discipline from the other institutions , and I make here three points .
I reject the objective of " an EU seat in the Security Council " .
I think we should have been given that information as well .
these regulatory settings are not static , however ; they create hierarchies and evolve through negotiations .
here Commission work has been under way since the start of the crisis a year ago .
Commission experts carry out audits of the competent authorities in the Member States to verify that controls take place in compliance with Community law .
I therefore agree with the prohibitions and restrictions adopted here .
( EL ) Madam President , I thank the Commissioner for his reply .
the financial crisis is mortgaging , at least in the short term , the professional futures of millions of young people throughout the European Union , essentially because of the increased difficulty in entering the labour market .
it could be a success , Commissioner , if it also deals with those who are excluded , who are losing out and who often do not have a lobby .
let us now hope that Ratko Mladić will soon be back in The Hague .
then please speak into the microphone and I will answer you .
but what I am saying is that the EU must get more in touch with EU citizens .
can we compare this to incidents which are quite simply an expression of Chinese propaganda and which are not being investigated by anyone at an international level ?
in order for this to become the norm , we need to develop language teaching , devote more attention to minority cultures in schools , and minorities themselves need to take a more active role in teaching .
the EU forestry strategy and forest action plan also need to be updated to include the climate-change dimension and wider forest protection issues .
secondly , different social models are not judged in the same way .
it is about facing the energy challenges in front of us .
the second amendment calls for cofinancing by Community funds for implementing these plans , in particular the Structural Funds , the EAFRD , the Cohesion Fund and the European Solidarity Fund , to be subject to sustainability measures .
nevertheless , should we systematically impose gender equality by force and through repression ?
it pulls the wool over people 's eyes .
this crisis must not , in fact , ruin all the work we have put into this issue over the years .
what possible compromise proposals does the Council envisage ?
I welcome the Council 's decision to seek a compromise on the system for the sale of authorisations for CO2 emissions .
crime , and organised crime in particular , has never been held back by borders or border controls .
the ALDE Group will be calling for a plenary debate on this subject as early as possible in the new year because it is a really bad step backwards for Turkey .
we wholeheartedly support international solutions , which ought to be implemented within the framework of UN cooperation .
but my home city , Budapest , could provide a pleasant and exciting atmosphere as well .
allow me to say that I find this interpretation specious : the treaties do not provide for it explicitly , but neither do they prohibit it .
as a member of the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy , I wish to shed light on the energy issue from among the projects being realised in these regions .
neither Europe nor the US would allow this to happen .
I believe in the ability of this programme to create the conditions necessary for successful competition with the new technology markets of China and the US , as well as maintaining European leadership in the telecommunications industry .
however , I think that in general the most appropriate and justified steps would be those taken at Member State level .
he was also behind the to-do in committee , and I really do not need to say any more about that .
therefore , Commissioner , with all due respect , I can tell you that it is not credible that there were provisions for this drop in tariffs in the financial detail of the 2006 Programme of Options Specifically Relating to Remoteness and Insularity ( POSEI ) , because it is not true .
( FR ) Commissioner , you are embarking on an ambitious project that concerns us all .
alarmed residents are putting their trust in the European institutions , especially Parliament and the Commission .
I therefore support the technical proposals introduced by the rapporteur , Mr Cashman , to take into account the specificity of the Schengen Borders Code since it constitutes a development of the Schengen acquis .
there are also alternatives to a simple repeal which might produce better convenience for passengers and maintain security .
the acts of vandalism against churches in Malaysia following a High Court ruling on the use of the word ' Allah ' give rise to serious concerns .
in order not to raise any expectations , I will be very direct and very frank on tobacco decoupling .
as a teacher myself who had to deal with the credit system , I agree with the rapporteur 's recommendations .
more countries need to be involved with , and more resources allocated to , Operation Atalanta , along with more effective blockades of the Somali coast and more agreements with coastal states to prosecute pirates .
these were historic decisions in the sense that they implement the responsibility to protect .
last month , international organisations were prevented from helping the victims of the cyclone .
for these reasons , we must make every effort to create a legal framework specifying the minimum standards valid throughout the EU for all forms of livestock husbandry .
but let us use the occasion of this tragedy to seek both reasons and opportunities for cooperation among the Member States , the Commission and the other countries bordering the Black Sea so that to enhance the security of this important European route .
the European Parliament cannot allow the civil rights and freedoms of Europeans to be violated for counter-terrorism purposes .
however , I am disappointed that my fellow Members did not support my amendment aimed at increasing the budget , because I think that the more expertise we have in electoral missions , the more the European Union will be in demand .
in English this is called the Single Euro Payments Area .
speculators who greedily feed off the public should be outlawed ; the casino banks that gamble with the lives and futures of citizens should be abolished ; and the EU should be required to properly supervise financial markets , rather than attack public services .
this underlines the Committee 's independence .
finally , I would like to point out that the dose makes the poison .
that is why I do not understand the Left 's insistence on voting on this motion , so I voted against it .
however , the introduction of controversial provisions which generate excessive costs may unfavourably affect precisely those small businesses which produce for local markets .
the implementation of the Dublin Regulation may result in the unequal distribution of responsibility , in case of the people requesting protection , to the detriment of some Member States that are particularly exposed to migratory flows only due to their geographical position .
a few days ago , for the first time , a police official admitted that the famous human rights lawyer and 2008 Nobel Peace Prize nominee , Mr Gao Zhisheng , had gone missing after a year in the Chinese authorities ' custody .
we are in the process of banning entire clusters of active substances on the basis of exclusion criteria , simply because of an abstract notion of hazardousness .
texts of agreements forwarded by the Council : see Minutes
these were countries which responded directly to us and which have ratified .
public authorities choose the cheapest offer , not the greenest one .
in reply to Ms Ek , concerning statistics , the Commission continues to cooperate with Eurostat to develop specific statistics on equality .
we need the definition of liquidity before we get the draft directive .
furthermore , a functioning internal market is one of the key elements of the EU 's efforts to tackle climate change .
there can be no dynamic , competitive economic model without genuine social investment to prevent the risks of poverty , exclusion and marginalisation .
a second referendum should be called during the autumn of next year , possibly in October .
it focuses on the essential elements and components for starting to open the market and for protecting the consumer .
in concrete terms , we can see that the EU does not have any transmission lines that could transmit a sufficient quantity of electricity from north to south or east to west .
while I was there , I had the chance to discuss matters with Mr Marroni .
agenda for next sitting : see Minutes
the version of a European private company now agreed represents an improvement on the Commission 's proposal in this regard - which is the reason we have voted in favour - but fails the objective of adapting to the existing rules .
the cause of the financial crisis was excessive state intervention : first in the sense that interest rates were deliberately kept too low for too long , a political rather than a market decision - one in which all the central banks were complicit - and then in the sense that , as recently as last year , legislatures were urging lenders to make more cheap loans available .
I welcome the European Council 's conclusions of 18-19 June 2009 in which it asks the European Commission to draw up a European strategy for the Danube Region by 2011 .
- ( NL ) Mr President , there is a problem with your announcement board .
it is much better to help the industry keep those core people on the payroll and retrain them than to let them go and then to hire them back again later .
Mr President , the position regarding the UK Government with regard to both the European Arrest Warrant and the European Investigation Order is that clearly they feel they have an obligation - quite rightly - to do what is best for the UK in relation to cross-border crime .
three years ago we decided to have common energy policy .
it is always controversial to consider one 's own spending , and our budget certainly receives a lot of attention , which is perhaps understandable in times of economic and financial difficulties .
agreement between the EC and Albania on short-stay visas ( vote )
the arguments of mining companies that they can ensure conditions for gold mining that will prevent the risk of damage to health or the environment have always proved worthless .
it is the ultimate rule for our original coordination .
so , no wonder our condemnation of Israeli actions sounds so hollow to Palestinians .
ultimately , a compromise will have to be adopted .
my third observation is one that several speakers have made , including Mr Schulz , chairman of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament , and Mrs Frassoni , and it concerns the importance of remaining truly responsive , of maintaining our momentum and rapidly adopting any essential legislative measures , particularly those relating to financial regulation .
health is a prerequisite for a happy life and for a successful society .
European coordination is important here , because Internet technologies are not restricted by borders , and their benefits increase with the number of users .
naturally , Mexico is also a partner that shares the same values and the same interests .
we should not confuse intellectual works , which are common heritage , with the spirit of business , which involves turning culture into a commodity .
to avoid any ambiguity on this very important issue that affects the citizens , I would add that , in the name of subsidiarity , the Commission will be very careful to respect the choices that are made in many of the Member States concerning their attachment to the pay-as-you-go pension scheme .
one cannot say that this is making the status quo even heavier ; it is making it lighter .
we concur fully with your words , and we sympathise with the victims ' families and with those who have suffered .
the Asylum Support Office is therefore being set up to provide ongoing support to enhance a consistent approach and to provide active support for countries under particular pressure .
I also believe that our fellow citizens should get to know these regions and , for this , I believe that the Commission must invest in some projects .
in writing . - I voted in favour of postponement of the vote on this sensitive report , believing that it would be more appropriate to wait until all of the information requested by the Commission from the Italian Government was available to us .
besides Youth on the Move , funding and political support should be given to programmes such as Erasmus , Leonardo da Vinci , Comenius , Grundtvig , Youth in Action and Marie Curie .
this is quite a major investment .
yet , sadly enough , it remains primarily a report offering total political correctness that nowhere - not in a single place , not in a single paragraph or a single clause - ventures to question the new mass immigration into an already overpopulated continent of Europe , as this relates predominantly to the countries that used to make up what was known as Western Europe but is also a fundamental issue .
that mandate is , or was , the following : ' to investigate all violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law that might have been committed at any time in the context of the military operations that were conducted in Gaza during the period from 27 December 2008 and 18 January 2009 , whether before , during or after . '
7 .
the South Caucasus region is particularly important for the southern corridor and , therefore , for the whole of Europe 's energy security .
the European Union must in all urgency get tough on flags of convenience , speed up legislation in the Erika III package , invent an ' Erika IV ' package on the social matter of sailors ' training and working conditions , and simultaneously arrange better coordination for action by our countries in the International Maritime Organisation .
three oil companies have already obtained a licence to do this in Romania .
let us try , this time , to ensure that our help for this oppressed minority does not end with empty declarations .
I urge you to inform the agricultural sector represented here in Parliament about the progress of negotiations .
this is particularly true in view of legislative developments in recent years , when measures such as the European Enforcement Order , the Small Claims Procedure and the European Payment Order were incorporated into Union law , because these measures cannot be fully realised without the implementation of the European Order for the Preservation of Assets and the European Order for the Disclosure of Assets .
we must therefore review the Posting of Workers Directive , summarise the social clauses of the Monti and Services Directives and approve the Directive on temporary workers , to whom the same rules should apply as for permanent workers .
he pointed to these changes and to the growing strength of two new economic superpowers , India and China .
the former Directive 96 / 26 / EC on admission to the occupation of road haulage operator and its four Regulations on access to the haulage market , with deregulation of the prices of international road haulage implemented a number of years previously , have shaped the internal haulage market , albeit with minimum haulage quality , while the opening of the market as arranged by the Regulations has created more competition .
secondly , quantity is one thing , quality is another .
this is also true of Lithuania , where 99.4 % of Lithuanian companies employ fewer than 250 people .
as was demonstrated in the Haiti tragedy , the EU is clearly now second rate compared to others that intervened .
we are deciding on the integrity of integration policies .
Algeciras Bay has become the dumping ground of the Straits of Gibraltar .
a greater degree of participation was sought by small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) , and we have successfully attained a figure close to 15 % , which could be further improved with increased simplification .
they want their unemployment , credit and training problems to be solved ; they want some pleasant surprises to come out of the Copenhagen Summit on climate change ; and they want us to ensure that the winter of 2009-2010 is not marked by gas shortages that put half of the continent in an impossible situation .
there are three important actions to be taken .
these animals represent less than 1.5 % of the total Brazilian bovine population , amounting to about 2.9 million animals in approved holdings .
this is the first of the ' Visegrad ' countries to join the area and I believe that , from a political point of view , it has major significance that needs to be underlined .
that is why I voted in favour of the motion for a resolution adopted by the European Parliament calling in particular for special attention to be paid to SME finance in the next EU programming period ( 2014-2020 ) , through the use of innovative financial instruments .
in the Member States we have tangible benefits from the pursuit of this policy , which in conjunction with EU agricultural policy is reducing disparities in development both in the Union as a whole as well as between regions and within regions .
for several months now , European industrial organisations have been mobilising against our European climate and energy strategy .
it was therefore pleasing that in 2007 , we got a Commissioner with specific responsibility for consumer issues .
Mr Jarzembowski , these are proposals .
therefore - and I will conclude now - I do not know if we have succeeded in saving everyone 's conscience with the work we have done , but I am totally convinced that we are going to save many lives .
for me , it is self-evident that children have the right to both of their parents and I believe that we should also take a look at the Convention on the Rights of the Child in this case .
Mr President , I am grateful to Parliament for having had the initiative to hold this debate on , it seems to me , one of the most important , most relevant aspects from the democratic point of view , on the development of the European Union and of Europeanism amongst the European public .
ladies and gentlemen , we have reached the end of the last sitting of this year .
in Europe globalisation has considerably widened the gulf between those with skills and those without .
once there , we could see that the Mission , through the quality and professionalism of its people , has managed to build a solid reputation of professional authority useful not only in passing on expertise to its counterparts , but also in mediating between them on important questions of mutual interest .
I noted that our Commissioners were very attentive , and so they will doubtless follow up the comments made by all of our fellow Members .
on this , I can tell you that the Black Sea cross-border cooperation programme already supports contact between NGOs .
many of you referred this morning to the very real concerns of citizens in the face of rising unemployment .
perhaps not altogether : these are questions that do not deserve bureaucratic answers but need appropriate policy responses , starting with tomorrow 's Council meeting .
we must be true to ourselves and take a global approach to these issues .
creating profiles within the scope of specific databases can be legal and have legitimate purposes .
verification of credentials : see Minutes
some people wonder why we should invest in the clean development mechanism ( CDM ) , but that is nevertheless precisely what it is all about , namely that the polluter must pay for green investments in developing countries .
Sparrows were crushed beneath his wheels as he roared along the Allée de la Robertsau , blasting past slow-moving vehicles in traffic queues at speeds of more than 100 km / hour and forcing startled pedestrians to leap to safety off the zebra crossing .
yet , in many areas , there is no need to reinvent the wheel .
that is the message we need to send to the United States so that , with us , they can work to achieve a real global agreement .
we cannot simply say that weapons do not work , because otherwise we would be giving in to the temptation of pacifism and neutrality .
the Commission recognises , however , that Recital 8 includes a reference to these sanctions under criminal law and the UN Protocol .
a change to the current directive is therefore needed .
we do not care because there is no money and there is no oil .
international cooperation in an integrated fight against these crimes is needed and all Member States should ensure that their perpetrators are taken to court .
it is worth noting , though , that in the impact assessment that the Commission has put before us , we are talking about a sum of around 0.1 % of the total fare for these measures .
Guinea-Bissau , a nation of 1.4 million people : a prime example of how not to run a fishery .
but , Mr Cercas , we have now been discussing this for a year .
in 2008 , for example , 191 complainants were either advised to petition Parliament or their complaints were directly transferred to the Committee on Petitions .
( applause )
in one EU Member State , people can have a fine imposed on them for speaking languages other than the official language , which includes using one of Europe 's official languages , Hungarian .
we are fooling ourselves if we believe that the problem is limited to the countries bordering the Mediterranean : the free movement of citizens in the EU can only encourage the free movement of many illegal immigrants who have turned to crime .
thank you , Commissioner , for your points of view on the previous debate .
that applies whether we are talking about visas or accession .
the European Union is therefore incapable of guaranteeing the freedom of conscience of Europeans .
at the same time due to the low birth rate , the number of people of working age will fall and therefore the Member States ' social security systems will face great difficulties .
in writing . - This report highlights the key role mountainous regions play in terms of the environment , agriculture and even culture and tourism .
they must know that the visa regime is being delayed not because of European nit-picking , but because they have not done their bit .
I feel that the next step is to closely monitor how it is put into practice by the Member States .
I wish these talks well and I hope that good sense will prevail .
it should contain sustainable and resource-efficient management , innovation and access to raw materials for European companies .
I am sure that the creation of a High Representative for Foreign Energy Policy with dual subordination is very important .
however , I should point out that we still have the European Neighbourhood Policy of course , which is a bilateral policy while the other is a regional policy .
these programmes are very important as during their early years , children have a particular ability to learn things , and they can determine children 's entire educational and professional paths .
there is also a further difficulty when we use soft or alternative methods to do with justice and access to justice .
this was not included in the report .
the response was the action plan .
but in particular I want to welcome the increase in lending by 50 % to SMEs .
a whole series of measures is being taken to make the state media subservient to the ruling elite .
we can already imagine what will happen when these instruments expire .
on the other hand , however , without growth , we will not build developing countries ' economic potential .
that has not been ruled out in the current draft of the report adopted by the committee .
discussions are still ongoing with Japan .
finally , we support the creation of an international database of child abuse images , which will be a new tool to help identify victims and criminals .
nevertheless , the common register seeks to ensure the widest participation of all categories of operators while respecting their different or specific duties .
is this how you intend to behave in future , and should all road-users run in fear from you ?
improving the infrastructure must be a priority .
it is probable that this did not happen due to a lack of awareness of some of the key problems faced by the sector .
the European Commission hopes that in future , this will allow us to avoid an energy crisis similar to the one we experienced at the beginning of the year , when the dispute between Russia and Ukraine over the supply and transit of gas resulted in Moscow cutting off the supply of gas for nearly three weeks , effectively paralysing several European countries .
from the Commission side I promise that we will work hard to find an acceptable compromise , because from the Commission point of view it is crucial that the European Union is strong on the internal energy market .
on this basis , the General Affairs Council and Foreign Affairs Council on 15 October decided to send an interim and multidimensional European force of 3 000 troops , EUFOR Chad , as we call it , to support and complement in the short term the deployment of the UN contingent .
the report provides a very balanced clarification of the rights of passengers and of all modes of transport , including in bus and coach transport , and clearly addresses all the relevant issues .
in writing . - Energy independence in Europe needs to be higher on the political agenda .
I believe that ships in distress must be received in specially equipped areas where they can be given the assistance they need .
any victim of a reprehensible act who receives protection in a Member State of the European Union should be able to enjoy the same protection when he or she travels to another Member State .
did you know that only 3 % of European university students have taken advantage of mobility ?
these companies employ two-thirds of all workers and generate 80 % of tax income .
the EURES network is presented as a possible European labour market communication platform , that is , as a factor which could help to encourage workers ' geographical and occupational mobility .
currently , the majority of financial services are exempt from VAT .
Mr President , I have to say to Mr Duff that at the time , in the mid-1990s , some of the class greeted my views with some scepticism .
personally , I have sought support from 40 leading women throughout the world to give new impetus to the implementation of Resolution 1325 by proposing , as you know , the organisation of a ministerial conference 10 years after its historic adoption .
this involves protecting the individual 's legitimate right to free expression .
and since ports are each country 's open doors to the world , and since out of twenty-seven countries twenty-four are considered maritime ones , the ports policy proves very important for the economic development of many regions .
so , as the report implies , the Treaty 's new provisions on national parliaments will be fully in tune with the trend of recent years , and I think will reinforce the European parliamentary family still further .
Europe 's citizens are being held hostage .
the refugees can only leave the camps in order to receive emergency medical treatment , with a military escort accompanying them in most cases .
- The next item is a short presentation of the report by Mr Hegyi , on behalf of the Committee on the Environment , Public Health and Food Safety , on wilderness in Europe .
firstly , according to the latest European Commission report , in 2004 there were about 100 million EU citizens , that means 20 % of the whole population , who were living on less than 60 % of the average EU income , meaning they were living on less than 15 euro a day .
2008 discharge : European Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy
categories 1 and 2 for regulatory and other purposes will be a thing of the past .
we will definitely , after the vote on this report , when it becomes an official document , also try to initiate this discussion in the Council , including at the level of the relevant subcommittees .
we have also heard from leaders of many of the rebel groups that any intervention , and this intervention in particular , will be considered hostile .
as for the question concerning the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ( FYROM ) , it should be noted that at this moment we do not expect a date to be fixed or other specifics to be finalised during this presidency .
there are three points I would like to stress .
we need more flexibility and I think that is what this report proposes .
therefore it is essential that we mobilise all the resources that we have in Europe .
women are over-represented in lower paid and less secure jobs , and under-represented in positions of responsibility .
this is why I am addressing the Commission directly .
sectors that have performed poorly must also be subsidised .
I share the disappointment that both Caroline and Helmuth Markov have expressed regarding the fact that Parliament has not been granted the assent procedure on this agreement , and I share the view that we should have been given that procedure .
it is therefore essential to conclude arrangements with these countries over and above the trade agreement , in which these countries agree to observe social and environmental as well as consumer protection standards .
our citizens should know that the food which they receive comes from EU programmes and from EU funds .
( ES ) Madam President , I must firstly congratulate my colleague , Mr Stockmann , on his magnificent report , and particularly on his patience and tenacity in taking this forward .
perhaps our children are more proficient in using the new technologies . perhaps it is difficult to get them away from their computers .
I begin by informing you that Mr Kovács will not be present , so Questions Nos 1 and 3 from the first part of this period , addressed to the Commissioner , will be taken up by Mrs Reding .
this aspect of the programmes , while essential , had not previously been addressed so clearly and satisfactorily .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( CS ) Madam President , Commissioner , Mr Lenarčič , ladies and gentlemen , first of all , on behalf of the Socialist Group , I want to join with all those who have expressed their deepest sympathies with the bereaved families of the tens of thousands of victims of the terrible earthquake that hit Sichuan province .
the June List feels that it is very important , for example , that Swedish alcohol policy can be pursued in accordance with the values and decisions of the Swedish Parliament .
whilst the final version of the resolution adopted by the European Parliament is not perfect , we recognise the importance of sending a clear , unequivocal signal to those who threaten our way of life that we shall not succumb .
furthermore , even if the cars themselves do not produce any harmful emissions , it is still not clear how the hydrogen is to be produced in a way that uses as little energy as possible and does not generate CO2 .
this is my request .
that is why I think it is shameful that in Germany , of all countries , which will be hosting the Conference of the Parties , conservative-led Land governments such as Hesse and Lower Saxony have launched an initiative in the Bundesrat which constitutes an assault on this EU success story .
therefore , it is important that we now discuss the forthcoming mid-term review of the budget to ensure that the EU can continue to finance important political priorities after 2009 .
thanks to the Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative ( TBVI ) , it will be possible to create effective vaccines that are affordable for developing countries and adapted to emerging countries and Europe .
that is apparent from the 1 600 amendments to the original draft report that have been tabled .
you said Mr Gollnisch does not speak for you .
for this reason , it is high time for us finally to disconnect from the grid the old nuclear power stations and those that are at risk of earthquakes and , in the long-term , to get out of nuclear power .
organ transplants are an important means of rehabilitation for patients suffering a multitude of illnesses that cause fatal problems with certain organs .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , it is in our interests to find a solution to this dispute , but this will be possible only if the Council makes a move .
the motion for a resolution contains a number of positive points , such as the priority of the agricultural sector in development policy . however , important points contained in the initial motion for a resolution by the Confederal Group of the European United Left / Nordic Green Left are missing from the joint motion for a resolution .
this is the crisis we are all facing .
perhaps you would have more legitimacy in the councils of the world if the United Kingdom were not going into this recession in the worst condition of any G20 country .
the common market is Europe 's biggest competitive advantage and it should be exploited accordingly .
1 .
these are workers who perform useful services , such as personal services and work in the tourist industry and , in the vast majority of cases , they have been absorbed by the job market .
in writing . - ( FR ) The European Parliament has just voted in favour of the Catania report on the situation of fundamental rights .
I will ensure that the Commission , as the Union 's negotiator , will keep Parliament fully informed throughout the negotiation process .
concerning GMOs , this is a big issue .
this is the man who is responsible for internal market policy in the European Union : the same internal market which , due to its social inequality , more and more citizens are understandably viewing as a threat , not an opportunity .
since the outbreak of the crisis in August 2007 , disclosed losses have totalled more than USD 500 billion , a sum equivalent to the GDP of a country like Sweden .
let me instead open a brief parenthesis to place the agreement with Korea in the wider perspective of the future of EU trade policy , as sketched out by the Commission in its communication of 9 November 2010 , and to recap the basic tenets of our policy line .
I believe that the Commission communication on the crisis and its impact on Eastern Europe does not pay sufficient attention to this issue .
( FR ) Madam President , Ministers , Commissioner , by adopting these amendments to the draft budget for 2011 , the Committee on Budgets wanted to act responsibly .
this means that at the centre of the Union , there is a need for an enlarged functional and cohesive market and for better transportation corridors in that area .
they lobbied one government after another and they said that printer cartridges can be regarded as consumables , not as waste electrical and electronic equipment ( WEEE ) .
that is why we are focusing our common efforts , as I said , on prevention .
in practice we need to make this work .
I welcome the emphasis Mr Guellec has placed on balanced regional development .
the policy of treating both sides on equal terms is not helping .
the financial and economic crisis , as well as the gas crisis that had previously dominated Europe , proved that the lack of a suitable regional policy is affecting the whole of Europe .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( FR ) Mr President , President of the Commission , Commissioner , honourable Members , on behalf of the Council I should like to thank you , Mr President , for this opportunity to come before Parliament to present to you the issues that will be discussed by the European Council .
you stick to the idea , Commissioner , that there is no alternative to your austerity-only agenda .
the European Parliament has expressed serious concern that without an effective ECN , updating the policy would , in essence , really only be a renationalisation of the competition policy , and that would obviously undermine the idea of assuring uniform competition policy throughout the EU .
it is therefore essential to protect the remaining NGOs and to work by all means for them to stay , and also to fully support those that will continue , including religious charities .
now all that is missing is for the Emperor President in Prague Castle to deign to sign the Treaty but , anyway , we do seem to be making progress .
however , we have seen - and this brings me to the issue of what will happen with the discharges in our committee - that for years in the field of agricultural policy , where we have been resolute in our action and developed systems to control direct payments , irregularities have decreased .
I deeply regret that the European Council is unable to recognise that we are living in a rapidly ageing society .
Europe has been implementing a common agenda and , as Mr Almunia has said , its first three-year cycle has seen an increase in growth , the generation of employment , improvements in public finances and an increase in the European economy 's potential for growth .
Europe has to be fair and should not hesitate to step out of ideological frameworks in order to bring a message of peace .
so the solution is to promote decent work and upgrading of social standards all over the world .
I hope that we do not change it too much in tomorrow 's plenary vote .
this is just one part : as I think the rapporteur said , we are stuck when it comes to the rest of the asylum package .
a sum of EUR 162 million : it seems to be uncontentious , but it is hugely important on several levels .
therefore we need to pay attention to the ' dumping ' that is in effect occurring in countries such as Italy , where a huge number of people , for example Romanians , have overrun the labour market .
22 .
an Economic and Monetary Union brought about in the interests of some and to the detriment of others , loosening the reins of financial speculation , with priority given to the free , that is to say the unfettered , movement of capital , the imposition of the market on all areas of society , the devaluation of work as a source of the creation of wealth , and by the same token , of rights .
it is a shame that the biggest political group in this House is no longer a reliable negotiating partner .
rather , I am quite clear that Member States should be able to decide what management system works best for them .
it aims to amend the first part as follows : ' stresses the need to retrain those women who have had to stop their career , to enhance their employability ' and then continues ' calls on the Member States to increase life-long learning possibilities ' .
this goes to show what a fantastic planet we have and the responsibility we bear for its stewardship .
that is another reason why we should have all the necessary analyses available to us before the first reading of the budget , so that we can prove to our citizens that we are using their money in a responsible way .
thirdly , there is the change in energy policy .
another essential objective is therefore to try to harmonise the rules .
I considered it preferable for the new composition of the European Parliament to be applied only in the next European elections in 2014 .
the sector is regarded as a focus of sustainable development that has made it possible to install health , water , energy and housing infrastructure .
in writing . - ( PL ) The directive on airport charges will put an end to the long-standing conflict and debate between airports and airlines concerning the cost and quality of services .
Madam President , I too enjoy my jousts with Mr Davies .
the aim of the proposed legislation is , indeed , to pave the way for better health care across Europe .
we have proposed that the grant of the Council 's discharge be postponed , because our committee has not yet received any official reply from the Council regarding a series of ambiguities in the budget .
European producers lack incentives for research and development and for improving the skills of the labour force , they do not have appropriate access to external markets or an effective means of preventing counterfeiting .
in Yemen , the situation remains of the utmost concern .
- Before the vote on paragraph 6
two years ago West of Scotland fishermen tabled a plan to conserve white fish but , while they wait , stock depletion continues .
it was this iron curtain that made it impossible to exercise freedom in Europe .
let us speak harshly to one another , as we sometimes must , to overcome our weaknesses .
in this context we would cooperate and in this context we would support Mr Cohn-Bendit 's motion .
I hope , Mr President , that this problem can be remedied , and that a remedy can also be found for the technological discrimination I encountered when I tabled a written question on 2 June in an open format - the ODF format - different from the Microsoft format which is currently in use .
this extremely dangerous , anti-popular policy strengthens the hand of arsonists and rewards land-grabbers .
passengers are jointly responsible ; and it is that line that should to some extent , sooner or later , come to the fore and make states more responsible for such activities .
we are thus in a right old stew !
( HU ) Thank you , Madam President , and greetings to the new Commissioner .
because we have been hurried along in accordance with a false timetable we have omitted our responsibility to ensure that there is a complete assessment of the impact of the climate change package by impartial authorities .
it is not enough that money is spent - or even ' blown ' - legally or in accordance with the rules : the results determine the quality of administration , not good intentions .
thank you .
what has happened ?
it is impracticable , under the current conditions , to filter the data that will be sent to the US authorities .
I hope that we will be able to proceed in this manner throughout the whole procedure .
national parliaments should meet in COSAC and formally adopt the working programme .
unfortunately the EU is hell-bent on trade-block-to-trade-block negotiations , and for this reason I abstained .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , thank you also to the Commissioners for the common sense they have shown .
road transport is the second highest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU .
I agree with the rapporteur on this issue .
I would also urge you , Mr President , to meet those non-attached Members who are democrats and who wish to take this issue forward .
the crisis in the car industry is not a purely economic crisis .
it will be one of the MEPs ' priorities to monitor this process closely in future .
it aims to confer on the Commission the power to adopt delegated acts that could affect an area forming part of the Exclusive Economic Zone ( EEZ ) of a Member State .
many more thought that it would never happen or that it was doomed to failure .
( ES ) Mr President , in the EU there are several cases of languages spoken by historical European groups which cannot be used in debates in this Parliament since they are not recognised as state languages .
unfortunately , the position adopted by the European Parliament today on the directive on a single permit to reside and work has not improved the Commission 's proposal for this directive .
the KEA study commissioned by the European Commission significantly underestimates the contribution of cultural industries to our economy and society .
I doubt it .
for this reason I cannot support the export ban proposal in this report .
this is the wrong message .
fourthly , the euro , enlargement , the internal market , the Lisbon Strategy and the Treaty of Lisbon , which strengthens the social market economy and enshrines fundamental social rights : these form an overall package which should help the European Union along the road to success .
ladies and gentlemen , in connection with the situation in Lebanon , diplomatic activities of the European Union and the Member States remain focused on advancing the cause of peace , stability , economic development and respect for human rights in Lebanon .
with the same logic in mind , and for the sake of coherence , the report supports the proposal for a voluntary grubbing-up scheme with payment of a premium , so that those wishing to leave the market can do so with dignity .
I would like to congratulate our rapporteur on the work she has done , which is along the right lines , particularly when she emphasises the issues of necessity and proportionality .
that is why the outcome of the Council in relation to Greece is completely unsatisfactory .
in addition , we must activate and reactivate the unemployed .
it is important to recognise that this communication , launched by the Commission following the failure of the draft Constitutional Treaty to encourage discussion of the relations between the Union 's democratic institutions and its citizens , does not appear to have met its objectives .
in writing . - I voted in favour of the Rangel reports and .
within this area , it will be important to enhance cooperation - and I heard what was said , in particular , by Mr Rübig , who described the need to think further about enhancing that cooperation .
it is estimated that there are currently around 26 million migrants in the European Union , here both legally and illegally .
everyone will be a winner if we succeed in removing the remaining obstacles to free movement of people , goods , capital and services .
author . - ( FI ) Mr President , I wish to express my thanks for the excellent levels of cooperation with the shadow rapporteurs of the political groups in the negotiations on this resolution .
the debate is closed .
Russia must , among other things , ratify the Espoo Convention , which regulates the distribution of responsibilities in transnational projects likely to have an environmental impact in neighbouring countries , and Russia must cease all talk of the Russian navy and military taking part in the construction of the pipeline .
- Report : Herczog
moreover , most standard Web readers have various ' child functions ' installed - something that makes it simple for parents to monitor the sites their children may visit .
I very much welcome the very cooperative attitude of the Commission and the Council .
furthermore , I would regard it as normal for the EU Council as well to take action more promptly , without ignoring Parliament 's role in such procedures .
the Environmental Liability Directive , I recall , does not cover economic damage .
this wording expresses deep mistrust of the family and the globally recognised right of parents to care for and bring up their children .
it is , after all , part and parcel with discharge of the Commission which we are addressing today , and the Court of Auditors delivers a devastating criticism , which must lead to wide-ranging reform of the common fisheries policy .
please vote against .
I have heard many calls for a more consistent policy , a more credible policy , which avoids double standards , and it seems to me that these are the issues we need to keep working on .
decisions concerning certain documents : see Minutes
this is why it is so important to strengthen legal trade in timber .
demographers have calculated that , on current trends , within two generations , the native British , and especially the English , will be an ethnic minority in their own land .
I would like to give you some thoughts to take with you for the next six months relating to the remarks about the Hungarian people and about you as the representative of the Hungarian people .
( LT ) Mr Paleckis , your questions are really very important , very deep , I might even say so deep and important that not even the whole European budget would provide an answer .
second European Roma Summit ( debate )
this would enable the European Union to fulfil a duty of honour by supporting the sustainable development of the air transport sector in these less advantaged states as well .
strong , effective investor protection in the form of investment treaties is key to protecting European investors and can improve governance and ensure stability .
( DE ) Madam President , I would like to make a request under Rule 145 of the Rules of Procedure .
I myself have worked long and hard on this regulation . I am therefore delighted that , pursuant to Council approval , we will at last be able to ensure proper financial support for those children who seem to have been simply forgotten by one of their parents , when that parent is resident abroad .
that is why I voted against .
the scale of the environmental disaster , in which thousands of cubic metres of oil were spilt , not only undermines the ecosystem of the River Lambro , with consequences for the fauna too , but is also in danger of spreading - in spite of the action taken - to the River Po , which runs across the entire Po Valley until it meets the Adriatic Sea .
Parliament has understood the importance of the partnership and has reaffirmed the important role performed by operators in terms of implementing this ambitious approach .
for accession to the EU , it is very important that Serbia and Kosovo first resolve their disputes .
we are supportive of the ECJ judgments and do not believe that the rights of workers have been put into question by them .
secondly , we have also pointed out the problems with the definition .
a kind of permanent suspicion has long surrounded MEPs ' relationships with interest representatives , hence the creation of a first register of lobbyists in 1996 .
the population on the ground needs to be given hope and to continue to believe in a swift resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian problem .
for this reason , we attach great importance to two points .
two of my personal mottoes , for reasons which may not be obvious , are ' small is beautiful ' and ' size does not matter ' .
the role of the Commission is that of monitoring the application of Community law .
the European Council is expected to reaffirm the European Commission 's decision made at the end of last year and launch the accession process .
without it , subsidies can now go up to USD 48 billion under the new farm bill .
I hope that the reform process will go further in the country , and I would therefore like to call on all political forces , including religious institutions , to provide greater support for moderation , tolerance and mutual respect between communities .
( SL ) Mr President , first of all , I would like to congratulate my colleague , Mrs Gál , on preparing a good report .
I spoke to a farmer from Zimbabwe just last week at a conference in Brussels and the harm that has been done to the food production base of that country is quite horrific .
the remedying of these and parallel flaws in the political , economic , legal and administrative systems will require a major effort on the part of the leadership , and it should be prepared for both active and passive resistance from the beneficiaries of the existing system .
in the case of the CARIFORUM EPA , the Commissioner gave clear assurances to rapporteur David Martin on his concerns about access to generic medicines , the review clause , and flexibility on how the MFN clause would operate .
the most important point is that there is an urgent need for research to discover the cause of this disease .
it is very important that the text now contains several pages spelling out exactly what the political guidance for MRV and ICA would be .
I believe it is of central importance that the 2002 communication should be revised , particularly in relation to the rights of the complainant .
that is the challenge that we could discuss further here tonight .
( SK ) Rising food prices are caused by the present volatility of the agricultural markets , which are naturally unstable in any case .
Member of the Commission . - I would like to thank you for the comments and for drawing attention to other funds apart from those I already mentioned : the Microfinance Facility , the European Social Fund and the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund .
in the case of Poland the rate of carbon dioxide reduction between 1990 and 2005 amounted to 30 % .
it is one of the European Ombudsman 's priorities to ensure that citizens ' rights under EU law are respected at every level in the Union and that EU institutions and bodies conform to the highest standards of administration .
we must do everything in our power to protect the common currency , the euro , and calm the markets .
however , some aspects that I consider to be key were left out of the report and I hope that they can be incorporated in the debate and the vote in plenary tomorrow .
this information is hugely important because of the growing number of carers in the EU .
I think this is reflective of the support there is amongst the citizens for the good work that the European project has done over many years .
I urge you Commissioner , on this Globalisation Fund , not only to revise the criteria but also to look at the very purpose of what we are doing here .
rules on competition and State aid are aligned to those of the European Union .
the building of a democratic Europe is possible only on the foundations of truth , including the truth about anti-human communist totalitarianism .
what more is needed before Parliament wakes up and sees that we are completely out of touch with our electorates ?
it affects the public , their daily lives and their right to free movement - which is a fundamental right - and it undoubtedly has a decisive effect on economic activity .
this is a starting point because it has been decided that an important journey should be made by the President of the Council of the European Union , the President of the Commission and the High Representative , on 8 September , to Moscow and Tbilisi .
secondly , however , Mr Daul suggested it in a comment made at the Conference of Presidents .
so , my question in this connection , too , is : what are your plans in this regard ?
Serbia expressed its commitment to the European Union by its request for accession submitted in December 2009 .
Eurobonds would blur the responsibility that Member States have for their own economies and saddle the Member States that have successfully attended to their own affairs with these increased interest payments .
we know that there is an increased rate of attempted suicide among young people who are lesbian or gay or who are confused in their coming-out phase about how they will live their lives .
the proposal to tackle the obstacles to women 's access to self-employment , among others by adopting measures providing for specific advantages in order to make it easier for the under-represented sex to engage in selfemployed activities should be supported .
adaptation of a number of instruments to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny , ' omnibus ' Regulation , Part Four (
'Six plus five ' , as it stands now , is simply non-compatible with EU laws , as has been shown in a study .
they will exacerbate unemployment and will fuel social tensions .
ladies and gentlemen , at present , legislation on the movement of raw materials for feed and compound feed for animals , including pets - a sector that represents some EUR 50 billion in trade at Community level - is regulated by several directives and some 50 amendments and implementing acts .
what measures does it intend to take on the ' activity ' of credit rating agencies ?
the European Union immediately activated its Civil Protection Mechanism to coordinate its humanitarian , technical and financial aid .
the EU is an area of solidarity and the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) is part of that .
I hope that all the political forces in Belgium attempt to find a real consensus .
we deeply deplore that two protesters died and several persons were injured , including members of the security forces and protestors .
most importantly , our consumers do not feel safe because they do not know the rules and , in many cases , the compensation mechanisms are not working in the way they should .
natural mineral waters ( recast version ) (
as Mr Monk stated in the hearing on Laval , we need a protective protocol in the Lisbon Treaty or face social dumping in the future .
thank you .
it is my belief that we must act boldly , whilst taking into account citizens ' concerns , to re-energise the internal market .
the valid findings on the pay gap between men and women are not being addressed , let alone eliminated ; instead , there are mere exhortations or the instituting of an International Equal Pay Day .
this applies to quality , too .
I want to start by thanking you for your answer .
this is exactly why these agreements are only temporary pending full agreement .
the Commission , however , cannot pretend that it is able to represent the Member States in this area , as this would be not only ineffective but also unfair .
the Commission and the Council must now make demands on Israel .
the results are modest , as modest as is the attendance in this Chamber tonight .
this leaves no room for doubt about this report 's real intention , the result of an agreement between the two main political groups in the European Parliament , the PPE and the PSE , which includes the Portuguese MEPs in the PS , PSD and the CDS / PP .
the pig feed concerned was indeed contaminated by breadcrumbs because , inadvertently , Millstream Recycling used fuel to dry the breadcrumbs after buying this in good faith from a company it had dealt with for years and with which it had had no previous problems .
it gave the European Union new impetus in monitoring the arms trade .
the report and its recommendations have my support .
let the Members of this House remind each other that the greatest of all is love .
in 2009 , we are continuing down this path with the following initiatives .
I hope that the French Presidency will bring a solution to several disputed questions relating to the European agricultural model .
what is particularly interesting in this context are news stories which have an effect on people 's health and diet .
unless we adopt this mindset and carry out integration in this way , we will continue to have the same discussion about investigating this matter and less about doing something .
firstly , complacency over energy policy is putting us increasingly in the dangerous position of dependency on Russia .
Mr President , this oral question is a consequence of the debates in the Committee on Legal Affairs on the immunity of Mr Tomczak .
this would appear to be insufficient .
the public consultation over the single internal market document itself showed what people are asking for and what they see as the main weak points of European integration .
Mr President , Commissioner , firstly , I do nonetheless wonder for a moment about our programming and our ability to organise our debates .
on the one hand , this is the system of health care , on the other hand are the social systems , related to care for motherhood in general .
we are , however , still on the right road and I believe that we have done some good work .
I am reluctant to provide explanations , but at least 10 % of the population of Afghanistan lives off drug production and trade .
this means that our approach is extremely important in how the whole issue is being addressed .
thirdly , the question of passengers .
I do not , however , share the view that adopting common social standards at EU level will be a panacea for our problems .
last July Frontex 's mission in the Mediterranean led to the number of immigrants arriving in my country , Malta , being decreased by half when compared to July of the year before .
without an active civil society , it would not have been possible to restore the independence of the Baltic States and secure our return to Europe .
at the moment , however , times are moving even faster , and I think that we need to be quicker in our response , which must help to resolve the fundamental problems that still exist in the European Union and have been put to the test as a result of this crisis .
do you not think this is violence ?
I know the formulation of this report has been difficult - some Members believe it goes too far , whilst others not far enough .
it is quite right that we raise with the Chinese the issue of human rights .
I support the European Parliament 's proposals for the draft 2011 budget .
Mr President , the opinion of the Committee on Budgets has been requested on this report on the fisheries agreement between the European Union and the Union of the Comoros .
I am grateful for the opportunity to explain the Commission 's views and aims regarding these two topics .
the reforms proposed by the European Parliament are a positive step which I and the family of European liberals welcome and look forward to seeing .
Madam President , from the beginning of our negotiations on the Belet report we found that all the stakeholders - from the tyre manufacturers to the environmental lobbyists - were broadly in agreement on the need for this legislation .
everyone knows , though , that it was in August 2007 that all the warning lights went on and that that was the time to have made the issue of the supervision of the financial markets and the management of the crisis into one of the French Presidency 's priorities .
however , the Commission will monitor the correct implementation of the directives , especially to ensure that vulnerable consumers are being defined at national level and that national support schemes are being made available in a transparent and effective way .
along these lines very interesting research projects are being conducted on carbon technologies , renewable energy and energy efficiency .
that is why we cannot underestimate the problem of unemployment , especially among young people .
the reformed Community trade defence instruments need to be equally accessible and efficient for stakeholders from both service-based economies and economies that have strong manufacturing sectors .
in writing . - Against .
on the Odessa-Brody-Gdańsk pipeline , I would like to say that the Commission is making every effort to diversify EU energy supplies and routes and , of course , Central Asia is absolutely crucial here .
in Slovakia a number of communities that have less than 2 000 inhabitants and are in geographically disadvantaged regions will lose their places in several operational programmes and in cohesion policy .
Mr President , Commissioner , you rightly said that there have been too many deaths and too many people made sick as a result of this EHEC pathogen , and I think that the situation we find ourselves in also shows that neither Germany nor the European Union are prepared for the sort of spread of EHEC that we are currently seeing .
the European Union needs migration in full respect of the law .
the possibility was included of postponing the inspection of a vessel from one Community port to the next .
following the crisis , we will realise that the models that we were accustomed to have failed and that if we really want to create jobs , the labour market will have to start looking at atypical contracts , whether they relate to part-time work , casual or temporary shift work , working from home , or telecommuting , as normal ways of working , without losing in security what we will gain in dynamism and flexibility .
( PL ) Mr President , Commissioner , the gradual revival of relations with Belarus and our readiness for dialogue with its government are a step in the right direction .
I wish to denounce a politically undignified manoeuvre by the Italian Socialists , taken up by certain of my fellow Members , which is unworthy of the challenges we face .
it is important that we do not forget that today , Europe can be a reference point for the rest of the world in terms of equality policies , but in our work and our efforts , we must also keep in mind all the women outside Europe who have absolutely no fundamental rights .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I would also like to thank the rapporteur , Mr Ivan .
it is therefore important to use legislative and regulatory means to remind entrepreneurs and employers of their duty to comply fully with the principle of equal treatment , and not just as regards pay .
on foot of INN 's demise , the Newstalk station owned by Communicorp - which is also a major shareholder in INN - has been awarded the contract to provide a replacement service for the next six months .
the Commission responded to the concerns identified by bringing forward a proposal for a regulation establishing the Telecoms Authority .
but getting the judgment is only one part of the process ; citizens and businesses must have the right to have their judgments effectively enforced .
we also have EUR 150 million that will go to cooperation programmes , which translates into a per capita allocation of approximately EUR 400 in the BMW and approximately EUR 95 in the Southern and Eastern region .
therefore , Commissioner , congratulations , we cannot have anything other than appreciation for you in how you have acted .
I hope that the impetus given to the interinstitutional dialogue can continue both in the work of the Commission and in the work of the new Presidency .
it emphasises that humanitarian action should continue to have its own independent financial instrument because emergency aid must be neutral and free of the political choices of the European External Action Service ( EEAS ) .
we have taken a step in the right direction by adopting the ministerial declaration on the approach to be adopted for the introduction of new American legislation on visa exemption .
lobbyists providing inadequate or untrue information should be sanctioned . the sanctions imposed should be in proportion to the offence and serve as a deterrent , ranging from suspension of registration to permanent exclusion from the register inclusive .
Mr President , first of all , I would like to congratulate the rapporteur for highlighting some interesting political differences in this report .
( ET ) Mr Trakatellis 's report on rare diseases is like an addition to the report on patients ' rights , which I supported , although I did not support recommendation 15 in that report , because that recommendation belongs in the last century , and politics should not influence genetic research .
( RO ) Mr President , I would like to congratulate all four rapporteurs on all their hard work on this package of fisheries measures .
on Greece , the Commission is doing a lot to help .
he said that he had sometimes behaved badly .
the G20 , in its decision of 2 April 2009 , made the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision responsible for making in-depth improvements to the Basel II regulations where necessary , in order to strengthen banks ' resilience and improve financial stability .
without legislation at European level , we cannot hope for results .
can agreements be made in transatlantic relations on combating terrorism or is it to remain at the level of unilaterally imposed measures ?
it is because politicians consistently spend more money than they raise in taxation - more money than they can possibly raise in taxation - , most of which , in point of fact , they actually waste .
it not only takes care of the children but also protects the creditor .
of particular interest are the extension of Community competence in areas of security and safety , and the impact on the sector of Community initiatives such as the Single European Sky and the Air Traffic Management System .
legislation by government officials and lobbyists should be a thing of the past , yet it is unfortunately being cemented into place in the Treaty of Lisbon .
the law was assessed in vigorous terms by the Lithuanian media , commentators , and civil liberties and human rights defenders , who stressed its homophobic substance along with its extremely dangerous political implications , such as censorship and self-censorship .
this will involve competition for our farmers and a further erosion of sovereignty .
Burma has a responsibility to provide aid to cyclone victims and to give free access to the affected regions to international humanitarian organisations .
I must congratulate Mr Wałęsa on his excellent report , and I would like to recall and emphasise the fact of the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon in December 2009 .
firstly I will give a general reply to all those who have expressed doubts about the need to strengthen Europol , those who have spoken about the will of the people and the concerns of citizens .
however , violence is a social phenomenon with specific economic , political and social causes .
the speeches of those Members who wished to speak have now ended , but I think that the President of the European Commission , Mr Barroso , is signalling that he would like to say a few words .
this is almost unique among all UN missions : it is the only one without a human rights mandate .
I am frustrated by the fact that shortly before the completion of the ratification process , we are seeing an increasing number of blatant violations of the European ethos and of European law .
however - and I address this point to the governments and the Commission - food safety and information on the products that reach our tables are basic principles of the European Union .
I would like to propose looking at the differences between these two guiding principles in three areas .
this fund must be financed adequately and as part of the future common agricultural policy to help narrow the disparities between rural and urban areas .
the earthquake in Haiti was immediately followed by a period of confusion over who should take the lead for the coordination of the EU 's overall action .
we should also attempt to come to decisions together .
regarding Chapter 1a and Chapter 5 on R & D management , we all think that it is just not acceptable to have the cut Council introduced compared to the Commission draft proposal .
biogas will also play an important role in delivering the 20 % reduction targets for greenhouse gas emission from sectors that are not participating in the emission trading system .
it is difficult , of course , to prepare for something which may or may not happen once every 150 years , but we can see at the moment that the European railway infrastructure and network of connections is completely insufficient .
( DE ) Mr President , Mr President of the Commission , Mr President-in-Office , sometimes subjects which appear to be quite unrelated are in fact inextricably linked .
many ruses are being used to relativise communism 's past .
positive results should be achieved .
the link with the conclusions of the Council on 25 March and , above all , with the newly renamed ' Euro Plus Pact ' , is clear .
Turkey is more of a democracy than the European Union .
in 2002 , six years ago , I was working very hard as your rapporteur in first reading on this Commission proposal after the social dialogue negotiations of the social partners ' fields .
however , the urgency of these measures and the absence of a better legal basis in the current Treaty sufficiently justify the use of Article 171 , which does not take away from the fact that this is one more reason to proclaim the need to have a new Treaty as soon as possible .
the final speakers will therefore have to take the floor after the formal sitting , which will also put back voting time .
therefore , the significance of classical oil wells is falling , while that of drilling platforms is growing .
speak with the government representatives and with the opposition there .
it is precisely this dependent relationship that demands a greater European involvement in Belarus 's civil society .
I am voting for the Ford report on requirements for budgetary frameworks of the Member States .
together with the start of the visa dialogue , it gave a clear signal to the people of that country that their future lies in the European Union .
in the current circumstances , however , nobody wants to listen to such voices .
if we transfer sums from one programme to another , we run the risk of undermining both .
I congratulate the rapporteur .
the Commission also stresses that the basic requirement for completion of the visa liberalisation process in these countries is the introduction of biometric passports , which will guarantee security and prevent illegal immigration .
it is important for the EU to improve the internal market in this way by promoting its use .
( CS ) All of us will certainly agree that this is one of the greatest disasters in that region in the last 200 years .
it offers Moldova new opportunities to promote further cultural , educational , environmental , technical and scientific links with EU Member States .
suspension of the WTO Doha Round ( debate )
therefore , Mrs Schaldemose 's demand for more transparency is perfectly justified and I believe this is where the European project stands or falls .
I am absolutely convinced that Mr Barroso and I agree that respect for civil liberties and human rights is the most important thing within the EU and in contacts between the EU and other countries .
what we are talking about here is smuggling and some of its more dangerous varieties , such as arms and drug smuggling , and controls of capital outflows .
again , I would ask the Commission to indicate if it intends to go down the route of an intra-EU trade ban .
but clearly the legal issues surrounding the detention of enemy combatants need to be resolved , and the best way of doing so is by closing Camp X-Ray .
however , I will now , if I may , give you my political assessment of the general budget as budget coordinator for the Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance .
in the last 50 years , about 75 million abortions have been carried out in the 27 Member States .
this agreement has yet to be ratified by certain Member States , fortunately only a few .
perhaps the answer is , based on the use of a single language and , possibly , only one theoretical direction .
the first requirement is to strengthen parliamentary scrutiny in the Member States .
there are Member States where victim protection is well organised and reachable for everyone , like in Spain , and there are Member States where it is almost a non-issue .
when we talk about the processing of personal data in the framework of police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters , I should like to say very clearly that I am of the opinion that we need uniform European regulations .
I am just saying how I see it .
I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the Commission , the Council , and also , of course , Parliament , represented by the Committee on Transport , its rapporteur and shadow rapporteurs .
who said that it would ?
even now , in the crisis situation that they have caused , what they are doing is nationalising the damage in order to then privatise the profits , whilst workers , micro- and small entrepreneurs , the retired and the unemployed suffer the consequences of the crisis , with the right , in the best-case scenario , only to a few scraps .
subparagraph 17 refers to the full and multi-faceted development of the individual , cultivating respect for human rights and social justice , lifelong learning for the purposes of personal development and professional advancement , the protection of the environment and personal and collective wellbeing .
we will report on developments in the European Union , in particular on progress made in drafting the new Reform Treaty which has just been adopted in Lisbon and on the energy liberalisation package proposed by the Commission and adopted on 9 September .
that is not the way for manufacturers to restore consumer confidence .
and I can say that , in all those meetings , we were the ones asking them to come with more important offers .
these measures should defend the productive sectors in each Member State , particularly the cohesion countries , employment with rights and decent wages for workers .
could we please be told what that might mean in practice ?
dear oh dear !
together , these initiatives are contributing to shaping a genuine European disaster management policy for all types of disaster .
it is therefore vital - not least in order to meet the Millennium Development Goals on overcoming poverty and disease and on agricultural and educational development - that these should be included , along with all the topics that have been raised , from desertification to climate change and energy .
unfortunately , I cannot say the same thing about my fellow Members .
( EL ) Mr President , I voted against the report , because the EU 2020 strategy treads the same unsuccessful neoliberal path as the Lisbon Strategy , which widened regional and social inequalities , increased poverty and unemployment and was the basic cause of the crisis in the European Union .
we would be foolish to deny ourselves what others recognise with friendship and with joy .
it is happening in Europe and we must tackle it from Europe .
we occasionally get the impression , however , as does the civil society I mentioned , that the EU continues to place blind trust in President Déby 's supposed ability to solve the crisis .
we can also build on joint successes so far : peace and security , and regional integration .
that is the problem to which no solution is being given .
therefore , the EP 's continued monthly commute to Strasbourg totally contradicts this , especially with our focus on climate change .
for the last 20 or 30 years , we have been carrying with us the astonishing debts of the world 's greatest power , and it is now up to the whole world to settle those debts .
the rapporteur correctly placed the needs of the child at the heart of this report .
Parliament is , this morning , planning to look the other way by voting down this amendment , yet in some countries a strong preference for sons has led to the elimination of millions of girls through parental sex selection .
we in the European Union have a major historical responsibility , particularly certain countries such as Spain and France .
according to my fellow Member who spoke about Scotland , presumed consent solves the problem .
you may be tired of hearing me draw attention each year during the budget debate to the inadequate financing of the foreign affairs chapter .
Mr President , Baroness Ashton , ladies and gentlemen , you quite rightly said , Baroness Ashton , that the situation in the southern Mediterranean is diverting attention from the conflict in the Middle East and the peace process , which has already been drawn out over almost 30 years and appears to have come to a standstill .
despite its title , it is not an enlargement strategy , for it is not a matter of strategy or of those key questions that citizens ask themselves .
in Portugal , gas network interconnection projects ( infrastructures and equipment ) are eligible , as too are projects to improve the electricity network interconnection with Spain .
I believe that the Council will behave in a similar manner .
I am very pleased with the outcome of our deliberations in committee , for I am afraid that the rapporteur , in his original draft , for all the good points he made about the developing countries , entirely lost sight of the interests of European industry .
this means that the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe ( OSCE ) and Parliament share legitimate concerns about the fact that this legislation contradicts international standards on freedom of expression , the abolition of political and financial independence for public media services , or the scope of regulation .
should we not have a debate on whether we really need these people , and what we need them for ?
its title is extraordinary : ' challenges for the future of democracy and respect for the constitutional order ' .
he was not here at the beginning when I spoke , and he is not here now , when I want to speak again .
in my own area , for example , we have everything from information on how to register to vote to finding accommodation available in Polish and a range of other languages .
therefore , I very much welcome the detailed specifications and clarifications concerning the authority of the ESMA in its relationships with the relevant national bodies .
the European Semester has begun and this is something new for everyone ; not just for us Hungarians , but for you as well , as it is a completely new programme of the European Union .
first , I would like to pay tribute to the positive achievements of the Council Presidency and , at the same time , I would like to stress the importance of support from the European Union and , equally , of candidates with high standards of integrity for the elections of the new President of the Council , to be held on 23 June 2008 .
we are two years away from an important anniversary .
but if there were a request , this could only happen with the consent of the surrendering Member State , the UK in that case .
we do not think that the Tobin tax will be effective in preventing speculation , but we welcome a discussion on how financial institutions such as banks , trust companies and insurance companies can help to create a healthy and stable financial market .
nobody is born a suicide bomber , nobody is born a terrorist .
in fact , even the European Commission 's reaction , via its spokesman Mark Gray , confirms the futility of such a measure as long as there are already tried-and-tested mechanisms available for detecting any irregularities in the management of Community funds .
of course , money is also needed to combat world hunger .
I declare the session of the European Parliament adjourned .
but these are two items where no such power pertains , and this House chose - in the most flagrant way - to tear up its own Rules of Procedure rather than delay a couple of people from having lunch .
despite its shortcomings , it would have been unthinkable to vote ' no ' .
more than 97 % of our planet 's water is contained in the oceans .
the cultural and creative industries contribute in terms of both growth and jobs in the EU .
however , I need to make clear that the Commission will not be able to negotiate with all countries targeted for investment protection by Member States .
the proposals before us grant the Commission sweeping new powers .
therefore , in those circumstances , I welcome the fact that the Central Bank proved itself through its interest decisions last week .
Madam President , first of all , I would like to say once again that I - and we - drafted the report quite carefully .
however , there is no shortage of issues .
however , we also need to check if the money we pay in return for fishing is enough and if it is being used as development aid , to ultimately strengthen these countries so that they can get out of the category of least developed countries .
this is within our power .
the sharing of values , principles and priorities between the 27 Member States of the European Union is much more widespread than may be suggested by the times of disagreement .
a show of popularity for democratic forces and a clear emphasis on human rights , and not an army , are the biggest barriers to the rise to power of radical groups .
perhaps we should consider this perspective when talking about a more coordinated tax policy , although , clearly , all of this is a matter for Member States to decide .
the Matera reports show that , on the contrary , money from this budget is being used very responsibly and - in my opinion - for very important projects in the Netherlands .
I have in mind , for example , work in Poland for citizens of Ukraine .
I know that common action still has its moot points , but I sincerely hope that these will be clarified successfully before the economic and financial discussions due to be held soon .
( applause )
as regards the financial issues , I shall leave the floor to the Commission to respond .
this is just adding one more person to the list of those who are being harassed by the Belarusian Government .
for a family with three children this will , therefore , result in a doubling of the cost of obtaining passports , from EUR 120 at present to more than EUR 240 .
the Horn of Africa of course is a challenging region which deserves our particular and increased attention as it has a major impact on the EU .
if it is to be the family holdings , which are the ones I am considering , then there is no need to finance private storage on the farms .
if there is no such non-disclosure clause , all relevant documents must be made immediately and publicly available .
Slovenia , your beloved country , Prime Minister Janša , is indeed a country that works .
yes .
however , they also include products from cloned animals , the long-term consequences of which have barely been researched at present .
I must say that the Mexicans fully deserve all the credit they have been given ; they have done excellent work .
this means greater social responsibility for the project .
and therein lies the true major problem : that small enterprises will never solve the problems of society .
it is because , truly , I am not convinced that the motives for putting down these amendments are in what the amendment actually says .
they continue to offer me valuable support and advice , as evidenced by the excellent reports submitted to this Chamber by Mrs Nedelcheva and Mrs Paliadeli , whom I thank warmly for their kind words .
I believe that the sum of more than EUR 250 million that is being requested as additional assistance and aid for the more than 600 employees made redundant from the retail sector in the Netherlands can help to achieve the ultimate goal of facilitating the reintegration of these workers into the labour market .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( CS ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I am happy to see that the issue of developments in Russia has found its way into the debates in plenary .
incidentally , in future , if the framework agreement is implemented , we will have ...
this cannot be achieved through an a posteriori evaluation and national parliamentary approval given that , as the Commissioner knows , this national oversight is only provided for in 10 out of the 27 Member States .
2 per cent of the population is waiting for cataract operations .
since 2006 , several aspects of the aforementioned regulation have changed and become outdated , so their amendment is justified .
three , we will also consider a European independent fiscal agency .
of course , when I interrupt the speaker , I always give him the additional time , so everybody is happy - the speaker is happy , you are happy that you get the interpretation , and , of course , our interpreters are happy as well .
the Commissioner said that we should make a difference .
what are Turkey 's intentions ?
let us pave the way for the abolition of quotas by 2015 - this is what farmers are waiting for .
when I put my personal data on the Internet , I make it available to everyone and that means that every individual out there can use my data , or that of another user , to create an image of my personality that can have a bearing on CVs or applications that I make and could have an absolutely critical impact on my future professional life .
men and women vary from each other precisely because the two sexes complement each other in a useful and beneficial way in everyday life , in partnerships and in society .
secondly , regarding supervision - the main subject of this report - I have spoken on many occasions in the Parliament and elsewhere about the issue of the cross-border supervision of financial institutions .
surveillance should also be strengthened and illegal vessels impounded .
this is impossible without increasing efficiency .
new challenges have arisen , such as avian influenza and the spread of vector-borne diseases like bluetongue , and more are likely to emerge in the years to come .
furthermore , a predictable unfettered increase in traditional exports , concentrated in raw materials such as copper , sugar , copra , fish and palm oil ( agro-fuels ! ) is entirely at odds with sustainable development needs .
in most countries , environmental economic data - whether or not they relate to these three modules - are already collected on a voluntary basis .
before their adoption , all EU provisions must be examined in terms of their impact on SMEs .
unfortunately , once again , we are in no hurry and are proposing not to introduce it until 2012 .
thirdly , regarding the fourteenth directive - which we know Mr McCreevy is not very much in favour of - you repeated the same arguments he put forward .
the recent gas crisis showed in no uncertain terms that the security of energy supplies is directly dependent on the interconnection of the energy infrastructure between Member States , without which assistance cannot be provided to the countries affected .
firstly , according to the charter , no one can be discriminated against directly or indirectly because they have a child or family member with disabilities .
may I thank all of you for the good battles on constitutions and referendums and good cooperation in our joint fight for transparency .
amendments 4 , 5 , 7 , 13 , 16 , 18 , 19 , 24 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 45 , 46 ( on the recitals )
last week we were debating the future of the Cohesion Policy , and unanimously agreed that it has brought about huge advances in economic and social development in many of our regions .
this is one example of the useful work being carried out and in which we are actively engaged .
I strongly support the EU-Georgia agreement on readmission of persons residing without authorisation as a sufficiently sound framework is in place in Georgia to ensure that the rights of those persons treated under the agreement will be respected .
the eventual solution to the Chinese challenge is to be found not in China , but in Africa itself .
there are a few things that I think are important to emphasise .
Iran 's nuclear weapon programme is cause for enormous regional and international concern .
the course of action proposed by the Commission is meant to be realistic , since it considers the economic and environmental constraints that must be taken into account .
these people are already taking risks by starting up their company , and quickly have to face the challenges of business , the economic crisis and the uncertainties of the future .
it is not a case of our interfering in the internal affairs of that country but , on the contrary , of helping the Kyrgyz people to once again trust in democracy .
secondly , the EU budget is already bursting at the seams ; the European External Action Service , the Galileo system , the Solidarity Fund and the Globalisation Fund are generating expenditure which it was impossible to predict six years ago , when the current financial perspective was negotiated .
on a personal level , I was honoured to be able to work with such a distinguished rapporteur as Mr Coelho , with my colleagues from the group , and with the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs .
the service should be established pursuant to democratic standards , and I expect Parliament to play a significant role here , both in the establishment process and later in the interviewing of candidates for heads of delegations , together with the Committee on Foreign Affairs .
we must not forget that in new Member States , district heating plays a significant role in serving the population .
what I cannot make out , however , is an approach with regard to the development of European counter-terrorism policy in a global context .
it is high time to introduce equal conditions for competition in the agricultural sector , and any differences - which will be obvious - should result solely from objective criteria .
instead of responses designed to improve working conditions , they rely on flexicurity to make work even more precarious .
this , in my opinion , is for example a meaningful way of eradicating corruption .
in this sort of situation , there are no free or easy solutions .
I know there is a risk of inequality when men unjustly accused of violence have to pay court costs while their accusers receive legal aid : I have thought about this carefully .
I really do think that the debate around the definition of what is ' deep ' is futile and I agree fully with the FAO dismissing it as a crude measure and a crude criterion which is very arbitrary in terms of the sustainability of the species and fish stocks .
while I want the Olympics to be a great success - and I feel we should not seek to boycott the Games - we should not be afraid to remind the Chinese authorities that they must make greater efforts to preserve human dignity through a free and fair justice system , free media , better treatment of Tibetans and other ethnic minorities , better animal welfare etc .
are these figures correct ?
that is a minimum .
the only authentic way of representing the opinion and views of the electors of the Member States is a national political party .
the current division of the Commission 's competences - and I am well placed to speak about this , since I was , after all , a commissioner for five years - undermines the Community method , handicaps the power of initiative and harms your institution .
Europe has already invested EUR 200 million in the safety of this power plant .
this database is operated by the Official Publications Office and it is based on information supplied by the Commission .
this commodity package has become the basic precondition for revising other sectoral directives , particularly the directive on toys which has now been approved , the regulation on cosmetic products and the regulation on building products .
I would like scientists and researchers from the new countries also to be selected for , and involved in , the scientific teams , and the governing board to be subject to monitoring by the European Parliament .
in an EU of free movement of goods and services there is more competition , so those who do not look after their workforce lose business .
many of us are naturally concerned about human rights in China and I am also committed as a friend of Taiwan .
the European Parliament also managed to have special attention focused on the human factor .
open questions
according to my information , they are better prepared for such situations .
I am satisfied about the consent of the High Representative to create such a special human rights and democracy structure as the EEAS headquarters .
Montenegro participates actively in regional cooperation .
other achievements include the fact that we were able to agree on which applicants were particularly worthy of protection and , in our talks with one another , we were able to find a sensible compromise .
( RO ) I would like to congratulate Mr Stolojan for all his efforts in drafting the report on the recovery of claims .
that , of course , is a matter for the Iranians .
at the beginning of April a meeting was held between the Commission and the UN in Geneva ; prior to the meeting there were discussions between Members of Parliament and a Commission representative , and agreement was reached on joint guidelines to be followed in all external offices with the objective of increasing the visibility of joint work .
and that is after working it in with the temporary workers ' agency , to help it along .
to my enormous regret , we continue to see instances of repression and imprisonment of human rights activists and defenders , and we have intervened on several occasions over the last few years to request the release of political prisoners .
we tend to forget that .
the current crisis is more than just an economic and financial crisis .
implementation of the agreements concluded by the EU following negotiations in the framework of Article XXVIII of GATT 1994 (
Commissioner , the fight against IUU fishing is still only part of the wider policy including the Control Regulation and that of serious offences .
I call on the Members of the House to support this compromise and adopt the Schmidt report .
in writing . - ( SV ) We share the rapporteur 's concern regarding the vulnerability of women in the Balkans .
if we try to bring all these elements together , we will have the opportunity not only for a stronger energy policy , but also for a stronger security policy .
we shall also experience bureaucracy , particularly in those countries that already have tough legislation .
I am in agreement with this and have hence voted in favour of the resolution .
so that EU citizens support and trust these parties , it is necessary to strengthen a single and transparent framework for the funding of political parties at European level .
it has affected Europe and , more severely , developing countries , whether through human costs that dragged millions of people into extreme poverty , or through the weakening of their already feeble economies .
in writing . - I was able to support Mr Ferreira 's report .
the second thing is that Mrs Merkel strongly defends Germany 's interests .
Member States are to voluntarily reform their economies to create prosperity and an ability to adapt , both to foreseen changes such as an ageing population , and to unforeseen changes such as collapsing financial markets .
( PT ) Mr President , all the signs indicate that 2009 will be a year of opportunities .
nevertheless , as coordinator for the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) , I wish to make a few comments on regional policy in particular .
Europe must remind Poland that the fight against the death penalty is laid down in the a priori principles of justice which are the sine qua non of being European .
the details of the trial , which we have nevertheless been able to learn , indicate clearly that Mr Liu was not afforded the opportunity to present a proper defence and that he did not receive a fair trial .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
during this crisis , we will not be able to afford projects which are just about prestige or those which are simply money pits .
( DE ) Mr President , Russia will be holding presidential elections at the beginning of March , but there are few signs of a positive outcome being likely .
from this point of view , it is vital for Europe to be on guard so that we do not get into a situation where there are hostile countries in North Africa which , we must remember , has many trade links with Europe .
thirdly , it is positive because it supports the smaller-scale forms of fishing practiced there and guarantees that the 8 500 people in the Comoros who live off this type of activity will have their own fishing area : European ships will not be able to fish within a 10-nautical mile radius of each island .
the immediate release of political prisoners is quite difficult .
awareness-raising in the Socialist Group is therefore of even greater importance .
also attending this World Congress is a five-member delegation from the European Union ; the Hungarians , the Finns and the Estonians are among the Finno-Ugrian peoples , and their original home is in Siberia .
targeted sanctions against the illegitimate regime of Andry Rajoelina also offer an effective way to punish those who perpetrate the ongoing instability without harming the overwhelming majority of the Malagasy people , who must be heartedly sick of the tensions and sporadic violence in their beautiful country .
my congratulations to the wonderful rapporteur who has done an excellent job : Mrs Grossetête .
we will ensure full compliance with the second and third internal market packages , we will deal with treaty infringement proceedings and do everything we can to ensure that in the next five years gas and electricity achieve an internal market with competition and transparency .
( EL ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , before I welcome President Maystadt to the European Parliament and before I congratulate him both on the successes of the European Investment Bank and on its ambitious business plan , I should like to express my horror about the murderous arson attack on three of my fellow citizens in Athens yesterday , at their place of work , and to express my deepest condolences to their families .
in principle I agree with the Council that everyone needs to exercise thrift and areas where savings can be made have to be found , but I am not in favour of a universal 2 % policy .
what is the added value of the European External Action Service ?
as the rapporteur mentions , the very purpose of advertising is to influence each and every one of us - women and men alike .
Iran will not be allowed by the international community to arm itself with nuclear weapons .
my most important point is the issue of the 12-day rule .
this is the first article in our Charter of Fundamental Rights .
the EU 's support policy is to a large extent doing nothing !
Europe must therefore play its part as a matter of urgency by assuring the governments of those countries affected of its willingness to mobilise the Solidarity Fund .
to start with , the rulings from the court in Luxembourg has not weakened or attacked fundamental rights .
we have problems in many countries regarding the legal forms according to which the work is developing .
the opportunities have been increased for developing regional cooperation where , alongside the European Network of Transmission System Operators and the national regulators , the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators will also play a considerable motivating role .
( applause )
in fact , their amendments are both responsible and necessary for the future of our fishing industry .
that , too , is a very important innovation .
- ( ES ) Mr President , in recent years we have made a sad tradition of the September part-session in Strasbourg as a discussion of natural disasters .
there is a huge reliance on imported goods , as has been pointed out by both Commissioners , but when I look at my own country importing 46 000 tonnes per annum costing EUR 181 million , there appears to be a lack of awareness among consumers of imported fish versus wild fish .
the brutal rapes are now being used by each of the warring factions in eastern Congo , whether they are local tribal militia or national army soldiers , as a symbol or power and as a means of intimidation .
if I am not mistaken , Mr Schulz would like to table an amendment .
Iran is notorious not only for the sheer volume of executions , but the regular and merciless executions of juveniles and young adults who committed crimes as children .
we also need the Commission to deliver prompt measures to clarify the relationship between intellectual property and culture and the economy .
I am now very much looking forward to listening to the debate .
all the efforts we are making will have practically no effect .
this brutal incident , the victim of which was a high-ranking state official fighting for equal rights for minorities in Pakistan , is further evidence of how difficult the situation is in that country .
the last country concerned will be Egypt .
yes , the Commission is right when it states in its action plan on energy efficiency that , more than anything , political will and engagement at national , regional and local level are necessary if the objectives here are to be achieved .
we are proposing an alternative that is much better than the current situation .
however , we are critical in this respect .
for the Commission , I am glad to say that the trend is definitely moving in the right direction .
let us think back to what Prime Minister Erdogan said a few days ago .
similarly , over and above the North-South dimension , I consider the South-South economic regional integration to which both the Chairman of the Committee on International Trade , Mr Moreira , and Commissioner Tajani referred , to be especially important .
we have a year ahead of us and a lot of work to do , as I have already mentioned .
it is very gratifying for me to hear , today , how much our colleagues from the Baltic countries , Slovakia , the Czech Republic and Poland support the opposition in Belarus .
Mr President , I thank the Commissioner .
this is ridiculous , and is terribly dangerous for our citizens .
I agree with the rapporteur 's proposal to organise an information campaign for citizens at a national level , aimed at increasing efficient energy use , during which home and flat owners would have thermal images taken of their property and would be given information on their energy efficiency and offered recommendations on the funding of possible modernization works by requesting microcredits .
these problems cannot be tackled by fossil fuels .
increasing the protein independence of the Union , promoting shorter supply routes and helping farmers contributing to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are all measures that I support .
( FR ) Mr President , I would like to take the floor on the basis of Article 16 of the Treaty on European Union .
as socialists , we now have the duty to go before the people and explain what kind of new and different Europe we want .
as we all know , the Community 's intervention stocks have been used to provide food aid to those most in need for more than 20 years .
we must maintain the Progress programme , which targets the most vulnerable groups , and it is the joint responsibility of the Member States and the European Union to implement it effectively in the current circumstances .
the climate change debate is very emotional , rightly so of course .
the very large majority of mental health patients in psychiatric hospitals and other welfare institutions face miserable and absolutely humiliating living conditions and there are huge shortcomings at the level of primary and secondary care .
the only ones still making their minds up are President Václav Klaus and the Czech Constitutional Court .
it must be ensured that the principles laid down in the African Union Charter on Human and People 's Rights in particular are complied with .
we must therefore ensure that we do not force them out of the EU .
their tunnel vision focus on cuts without seeking to increase EU income is no basis for a sustainable fiscal policy .
this must be clear to ensure that individual societies do not wake up in shock immediately after attacks have been carried out in their countries .
we might solve a problem in one place and create another elsewhere .
as is the case with all the activities that you have liberalised , today we are paying more and more for a service that is becoming increasingly worse , not to say , unfortunately , dangerous .
I think that they contributed a great deal towards conveying the message that Europe really was speaking with one voice .
first , there are tremendously dedicated people there doing the work to try to help the Haitians , and second , the Haitian people are a very proud people and we should recognise that at the beginning of this debate .
this plan must be put into action and the resources already earmarked in the structural programmes must be supplemented both by the contribution from the states involved and also by the possibility of reallocating unused funds from other segments .
so , who is in favour of voting on the calendar before the President of Hungary 's speech , if , in fact , we have the time to do so ?
this , we think , undermines the Commission 's ability to meet its obligations stemming from the public procurement directives , especially in the current environment .
I do , however , believe they will bring tangible results .
the first was that it mobilised many more Heads of State or Government than the Kyoto Summit did .
the success enjoyed by Spain in the last two decades stems to a large extent from the social dynamism created by our membership of the Union and from our effective use of the means placed at our disposal by the solidarity of the members who preceded us in this project .
I do not think so .
nothing of the sort exists anywhere else in the world , so we should be proud of this achievement .
the next item is the report by Mr Turmes , on behalf of the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy , on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on energy statistics - C6-0035 / 2007 - .
we follow closely developments in technology and associated challenges , in particular those relating to the protection of privacy and personal data .
in addition , I would like the blacklist to make available precise information on the air carrier , which would contain comprehensive data and statistics and would show the risks , both in terms of safety and of comfort , to which passengers are exposed .
Mr President , a friend who knows I was in Gaza just three days ago challenges me .
it also draws attention to the serious situation in the diamond fields in the eastern part of the country where the army is frequently accused of committing crimes , acts of violence and serious abuses .
anyone who has seen his demonstrative performance , his mocking dance in this action against the humanitarian organisations and in his demonstrations knows that he is quite intentionally being provocative .
this is why I urge this issue to be taken into account by the Commission in its quest for resources , including the use of funds from the European Investment Bank .
it is all too common to find that public authorities themselves are bad payers , and they often cause otherwise healthy companies to fail and seriously damage the competitiveness of our firms .
on the other hand , the serious and repeated human rights violations must be firmly denounced .
only by standing united can we succeed , and I look forward to working with you to achieve this objective .
these additional efforts at Community level will need to be actively enhanced at Member State level by means of closely coordinated national recovery measures .
the desert is spreading .
in fact , all the funds that were supposed to be spent on the purchase of medical equipment and the construction of specialised hospitals were spent in vain .
this raising of the minimum number means that there are now European Schools where pupils are no longer able to receive religious education in their own language .
however , in Parliament , it is our job to demonstrate our new role to our farmers .
there are also two faculties , Reformed Theology and Roman Catholic Theology , where the programmes of study are taught exclusively in Hungarian .
I can only subscribe to the strong position of this Parliament .
we must find answers to these questions before the European Council in June .
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , as the 21st century dawns , patients particularly need appropriate information so that they can be fully involved in the treatment pathway , know where to find treatment , decide on the best treatment with healthcare professionals and follow the planned treatment to the letter .
in this context , on 23 July 2007 the European Council adopted Regulation ( EC ) No 894 / 2007 on the conclusion of a Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Principe and the European Community ( 1 ) .
in writing . - ( FR ) This report reflects substantial amendment work by the members of the PSE , Verts / ALE , GUE / NGL and ALDE Groups in the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs .
I am pleased , therefore , that we can finally adopt a directive codifying Council Directive 86 / 415 / EEC of 24 July 1986 on the approximation of the legislation of the Member States on the installation , location , operation and identification of the controls of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors .
that would solve many problems .
it is certainly a very good thing we are not here to be populist , as some members would like to be .
the disease in question has serious consequences for sufferers , and not just in health terms .
coordination between the various national environment and health action plans is achieved firstly through the Forum on Environment and Health under the auspices of the European Commission , and secondly through the WHO , in whose relevant activities the Commission actively participates .
the first guest to address the European Parliament as part of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue was the Grand Mufti of Damascus in January .
bacteria circulate more quickly today than they did in the past .
on the other hand , we must also ensure that the sector makes an appropriate contribution to overcoming the crisis .
in writing . - Given the scientific uncertainty and ethical questions involved , I fully support calls for the Commission to bring forward proposals seeking to prohibit the cloning of animals for food supplies .
many of them are designed specifically to ensure the protection of personal and sensitive data .
the agreement at the EU summit last week is not strong enough to instigate a new , sustainably-oriented economy .
we need to pool our strengths and I therefore welcome the Commission 's initiative to create an innovation partnership on the subject of healthy ageing ; Alzheimer 's fits in with this perfectly .
this agency , which is based in Vigo , Spain , plays an important role in strengthening fisheries control and ensuring coordination between EU Member States .
I am waiting to hear your points of view , ladies and gentlemen , on the objectives that need to be defended at this next 15th Conference of the Parties to CITES , which I will pass on to the Council .
this fund is an unwelcome substitute for help by Member States .
the systematic collection of information is a necessary tool for defining effective policies and facilitating decision making in the private sector .
as we know , the code was adopted in 1998 .
I endorsed the report for these reasons .
as you know , under the Irish Constitution , the rights of children are seen as best protected in the context of the family .
firstly , it is generally known that Slovakia has fully met the Maastricht macro-economic criteria , which is proof of Slovakia 's formal readiness to adopt the euro .
( HU ) The entry of nine Member States is a significant step forward in the field of integration , both for the European Union and for the Member States concerned .
we all know that this is a vast overstatement of the case .
which European countries would show as much restraint as Israel and , for years , put up with an attack of more than 7 000 missiles , at each moment threatening the lives of more than one million civilians ?
we have therefore failed in our development mission .
it is very good that the European Parliament has endorsed the examination of the possible use of the ' polluter pays ' principle under Article 22 , and the assessment of land use under Article 28 , given its great significance in connection with carbon sequestration .
we need to examine issues such as maintaining employment levels through flexicurity and mobility , creating a favourable environment for investments and job creation by businesses , especially small and medium-sized ones , upgrading skills and anticipating labour market needs .
there is no other way for him to keep the bit of dignity he has left .
you have said that the Commission proposals do not go far enough or fast enough , particularly for the mobility of people , but other voices have said the opposite .
if the European ministers support this proposal , governments will have to step up their support for energy conservation measures .
we need only think of measures affecting communal social living , such as separate swimming pools for men and women , restrictions on freedom of opposition , actually extending to the imposition of a EUR 3 million fine for opposition broadcasts , and so on .
on Friday , the Commission presented a Charter of Women 's Rights containing very many fine words .
people will either become convinced of the point and role of the European project , or we will have the opposite effect and reinforce their scepticism .
it would negatively affect the final beneficiaries , and women would end up paying for the incompetence of governments , and we do not want that .
the report , which was voted unanimously in the LIBE Committee , makes the European judicial network more efficient and capable of providing necessary information at all times and from anywhere in the Member States .
let me tell you that I think my colleagues and I tried to do our best in very exceptional circumstances : the worst since World War II , and it would have probably been the worst since World War I if we had not acted promptly .
Iran ( debate )
it is essential to have complete ownership and a democratic partnership open , therefore , to the public and not confined solely to governments and committees .
in our opinion , this is the relationship which best expresses and which must be at the root of the application of the maximum sustainable yield principle .
as I advocate compliance with and respect for the Treaty of Lisbon , I am voting in favour of Parliament having a clear position on the assertion of its powers and responsibilities , and taking an active role in promoting EU policies which are capable of ensuring effective support for democracy , freedom and respect for human rights worldwide .
no backloading , because a late surge after a series of small increases would mean the poor countries losing out on aid worth 17 billion euros between now and 2015 .
in writing . - ( HU ) I voted for the recommendation because I find it outrageous that we still have not been able to form a common position on the issue .
we must improve methods of cooperation in this area if we wish to remedy the situation . we must also improve the effectiveness of our actions and exploit all of Europe 's so-called medical potential .
the problem of air pollution can only be solved in the long term and within a European framework , particularly by stepping up crossborder measures .
however , for Serbia , there are still some conditions to be met , in particular , with relation to the verification of identity documents submitted by Kosovo residents and people of Kosovan origin living abroad when they request a Serbian biometric passport .
Mr President , in order to have more support for this recital , I would like to propose an oral amendment to Mr Tannock 's oral amendment .
despite their increasing involvement in the labour market , statistics in all 27 Member States of the European Union show that women are at greater risk of poverty than men .
unfortunately , there has been no progress of this kind in safeguarding and respecting human rights in China and this applies to all its citizens , regardless of their religion or ethnic group .
we do not believe that self-regulation is the answer to everything .
in any case , the Presidency will make a statement supporting the Criminal Court and will also give an evaluation of what the Criminal Court has meant .
there are also large Member States in which the internal market does not work .
( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , thank you for this opportunity to debate before the Commission deliberates on these proposals .
we have already discussed bankruptcies .
it also calls on the Commission to seek out means of implementing social mainstreaming and thus , also , Article 9 in the context of its flagship initiative of a European platform against poverty , which should be published in the next few days .
however , these rules must be modernised and must incorporate universal values , such as the protection of decent jobs , the environment and climate and public health .
young people should be educated , not killed .
( applause )
let us show some common sense !
we cannot suddenly make up new competences or enter into areas where we know that it is actually sometimes the Member States that have the competences , or we are at least limited in what we can propose , or we have to work together with the other institutions .
the subject ' Women , peace and security ' , which is what Resolutions 1325 and 1820 of the Security Council of the United Nations are about , has captured our full attention .
we have 43-45 million people who drink at hazardous levels in the European Union which amounts to 70.4 % of all ill health and early deaths , and this is one of the largest causes of death among young people .
it is going increasingly mobile , and recent threat analysis suggests that organised crime is getting increasingly involved in criminal activities in cyberspace .
we should be wary , in particular , of the sort of crippling measures that destroy chances for small and medium-sized enterprises to grow .
the most recent attack on this mission , which took place in Haskanita , aroused strong objections .
President of the Commission . - There is an ongoing debate about this .
at present , people with different transport needs are not provided with the same level of transport services , in spite of all having the same passengers ' rights .
if the European Commission really wants to establish the Institute , as we do , the negotiations will have to be restarted on the financial perspective and a real budget will have to be created , a large budget of more than EUR 2 billion , which is what is needed .
for this , we need high quality training that is also harmonised throughout Europe and , at the same time , we need to advertise for this area .
protecting intellectual rights is also an issue to which we have devoted much attention to date .
it is now up to us to put our foot down and defend human rights , and to do it at national level !
a basic precondition for drawing up any kind of sensible strategy on Roma inclusion is to collect and provide data on the socio-economic situation of the Roma ( chiefly education , health , housing and employment ) .
the Europeana project , the European Union 's digital library , must be welcomed as an initiative intended to create a European cultural forum , providing Europe 's citizens with extensive access to Europe 's cultural heritage .
for how much longer is the Council going to continue ignoring our position ?
secondly , there are other walls to be brought down , including those in our heads .
since the rebels have already threatened to target it if it is simply a French mission in disguise , we are asking the other Member States to participate en masse in the composition of this force , so it is clear to everyone that it is indeed a European force .
you only need to think about the agreement with the US on SWIFT .
in addition , micro-credits can already be granted under the European Social Fund , and also under the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund .
in writing . - We have finally voted in favour of the proposed resolution because Amendments 2 , 3 , and 4 , which intended to remove the phrase ' low carbon ' , have been adopted .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( EL ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I think that from a political viewpoint the subject we are debating today is about two objectives of equal importance , as the rapporteur , Mr Corbett , has said .
in writing . - ( SV ) Mr Lipietz 's report on trade and climate change touches on two areas in which the EU has most power to exert an international influence .
second , improving the conditions for research and development , in particular with the aim of bringing combined public and private investment levels in this sector to 3 % of GDP ;
I would like to point out that we are not the only country in Europe to suffer from such disasters .
as many people have said , including the Commission , we need some form of clarification and simplification of what rules actually apply when it comes to the shipping of toxic waste to developing countries , so that it will be easier for the police and other border control officers to take measures to deal with the crimes against the environment that the export of hazardous waste actually entails .
we welcome the creation of the European Agency for Fundamental Rights , and we hope that this agency will be able to fairly monitor all the EU 's activities in the field of police and judicial cooperation .
the diversity of legal systems must be respected , for example with regard to how a person is summoned .
very many things are linked to this process .
( HU ) I would like to ask my fellow Member a brief question , which is as follows : do you think the fact that the Irish Government can call a referendum as many times as it wants is part of the democratic process ?
I therefore supported this report .
for the victims of violent assaults , it is of little concern who ordered the violence .
if the United Kingdom suffers floods and Greece suffers a heatwave during the course of one summer , it is obvious that the impact of those weather conditions on the soil in those Member States will be entirely different .
when prices return to a more normal or lower level , these users will not necessarily return to the original product .
I support a significant reduction in VAT rates , particularly with regard to the construction of housing , as well as thermo-insulation and renovation projects , primarily , though not solely , with the aim of protecting jobs and ensuring social cohesion .
we have already welcomed many times last November 's Prud declaration by the three political leaders in which they made a commitment to work together in supporting the development of Bosnia Herzegovina .
the right to move freely is indeed a very important embodiment of the European project .
often these dedicated people are forgotten , even though their care of the elderly and the disabled removes a huge burden from state resources .
as you know , we have created a databank with different photographs and pictures that can be used as pictorial warnings , but I have to admit that it is very disappointing that very few Member States have actually taken advantage of that .
this is the meeting of G20 finance ministers and governors of central banks , and the second one is the G20 summit in mid-November .
in writing . - The radioactive contamination of food is clearly a concern for European public health and , as such , it is essential that this legislation is decided on that basis , with the European Parliament as a colegislator .
is the European Union able to respond to this ?
on the other hand , the funds have not been spent , because the countries that were most in need of that money found it difficult to budget for the required cofinancing .
we need to teach our children how and what to eat .
in a recent debate on cross-border health payments between Britain and Ireland , the Tory shadow health minister Andrew Lansley said that NHS resources are always precious and attacked the payment of GBP 180 million of NHS money to Ireland .
I believe that this is important for the future of the entire region and beyond .
this is because the Balkan states as a whole - including Bulgaria - are a vulnerable part of the European Union , as the current economic crisis has shown us .
there are two things to which we need to open our eyes .
it is only worth being aware that it could happen again and that we need to be prepared for it .
Commissioner I have heard you saying , and I have heard Mr Barroso saying , that the stakeholders apparently tell you that there is no real problem .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I should like to welcome the President of the Council and the Commissioner .
in Cancún - under the extremely capable chairmanship of Mexico , which I think everyone was able to single out and thank for its ability to manage such difficult negotiations , which had previously ended in stalemate - we saw , in fact , that the multilateral process is still alive .
two of these targets are that 75 % of the working-age population should be employed and that the number of people living below the national poverty line should be reduced by 25 % .
strategic goals and recommendations for the EU 's maritime transport policy until 2018 (
it is important that the directive on ecodesign be thoroughly evaluated soon .
Mr President , I voted in favour of this resolution and report , but I have some concerns .
what worries me is that it is a completely disproportionate measure to ban the use of these patio heaters , which contribute less than 0.1 % to CO2 emissions .
individual Member States view such investigations and the determination of technical causes as an essential component of accident reduction .
to ensure that there is no doubt concerning this , it is stated clearly in the report that we are discussing today , and which I hope Parliament will adopt tomorrow - if not unanimously , then with a very large majority .
Mr President , ' if you want to know where hell is , ask the artist , and if you cannot find the artist , you know you are in hell ' .
President Obama said that the recent G20 summit will be a turning point in the pursuit of global economic recovery .
this way , the European Union will be more effective in providing security , will increase its autonomy and will most notably make wiser use of the relevant budget , which regrettably continues to be underfunded .
we now have a balanced text , which allows for markets to be opened up , investment , freedom on the Internet and the right to the Internet .
everybody knows that .
then we had - hopefully for the first and last time - a Member allegedly voting while absent .
we need to mitigate the negative impact of this disease - one of saddest aspects being that it is a taboo condition , something people dare not discuss freely .
three months have already passed since the tragic earthquake , and it would appear we are still unable to work out a common position on support for Haiti .
the initiative is necessary as it should improve the current situation for millions of patients suffering from these diseases and it should lead to an improvement in their chances of receiving adequate care and comprehensible information .
in order to achieve our goals we must engage in a dialogue and not just dictate something unilaterally to third countries ; we must endeavour to establish constructive cooperation ; and we must cooperate with local human rights organisations and with non-governmental organisations operating in the countries in question .
invoking the uncertainty of the economic situation , the banks are holding back on making loans in these circles .
it is therefore appropriate to provide the affected European states with the necessary financial assistance , so that they can tackle the consequences of the natural disaster and be able to return to normal life as soon as possible .
I believe that this is a very important scheme for the health of consumers , although up until now , they have probably not even been aware that their health has been at risk .
once again , congratulations to the rapporteur .
what further steps are planned and are any additional opportunities provided by the recovery plan ?
goods like alcohol and online gambling must be controlled so that vulnerable consumers are protected .
tax competition is a jolly good thing .
the enforcement and protection of economic , social and cultural rights and the improvement of both professional and family life are fundamental objectives which must be promoted by this new directive .
that is to be welcomed .
( NL ) Mr President , what I have learned is that , if Mr Daul 's farmhouse is on fire , you first have to put the fire out .
however , in recent years we have had heard strong criticism regarding a number of points connected with the research policy .
I therefore call for Commission policies to comply with this objective , otherwise we will lose sight of the objective of a Europe with strong social cohesion .
the European Parliament has to condemn the Council decisions not to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteurs on Belarus and Cuba .
at the same time , it is important to ensure that natural fertilisers are used , or fertilisers which are rapidly broken down in the soil and do not pass into underground waters .
the most inspiring project is the grassroots Interfaith Harmony committees , if they succeed in alleviating tensions between different groups in the country and thus prevent the recruitment of terrorists .
it will not take very much to do .
after all , we can imagine how effectively the Chinese Government will want to deal with those who ' disturb the peace ' in Tibet .
in writing . - We should help developing countries to elaborate policies and provide mechanisms to avoid tax evasion ; this entails greater transparency .
the European Union 's major objective at the Bali Conference on climate change will relate to the process itself , i.e. to ensure that a global and comprehensive negotiating process is set in motion .
the report by Mrs Roure , on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs , on the proposal for a Council Framework Decision on the protection of personal data processed in the framework of police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters ( renewed consultation ) ( 16069 / 2007 - C6-0010 / 2008 - .
how could you imagine that Europe would put itself in a position where we are the ones who are doing less than our American friends , and where we are the ones who are demanding more of our American friends ?
without precise scientific data , we shall not be able to identify problems and deal with them effectively .
China 's shoulders are broad enough to enable it do so .
in addition , we need to intensify preparations for a wide-ranging review of all aspects of EU expenditure to enable the Commission to submit a report by the end of this year .
I am referring here to the fact that citizens must be guaranteed the right to verify the collection , storage , use and distribution of their personal data .
this is a complicated piece of work , and one for which I would like to thank Mr Karas , but it is only part of the work , and we need the right resolution mechanisms too .
the latter allows local authorities to collect one cent per cubic metre from their users ' water bills to finance international cooperative actions dedicated exclusively to water .
however , this debate - as we have seen from the example today - has only just begun , and we in the European Union should be the ones to lead it .
the government also say that they lack sufficient capacity to analyse the crisis .
I am , however , unable to agree with several of the proposals for amendments in which doubts are expressed as to whether climate change is really happening , the importance of fossil fuels and nuclear energy is emphasised and the development of renewable energy is ridiculed .
Mr Gollnisch , you do not need to challenge me .
many surveys reveal that , unfortunately , many consumers , especially in the new Member States , are not familiar with the actual meaning of this marking .
the risks could definitely come from ownership of the political process .
the Commission 's conclusion was that we are highly unlikely to meet our 2010 target of halting biodiversity decline - and that further intensive efforts will be required , both at Member State and EU levels .
I hope you will endorse this compromise agreement as a way forward and you will continue keeping up the pressure to optimise the full potential for environmental improvement and stimulate the design of eco-friendlier products .
your political career has taken you as far as the office of prime minister , before you were elected as an MEP .
the draft document that we are going to vote on will mean a great step forward , since the Member States are embarking on a joint health care project .
to begin with , I consider it essential that this new instrument continue to prioritise achieving the Millennium Development Goals ( MDGs ) . in order to achieve this aim - specifically , the eradication of poverty - it is essential that any future instrument be provided with realistic and adequate financial resources .
these two things do not go together .
a common policy on investment will promote high quality investments , sustainable economic , social and environmentally friendly development , and will have a positive impact on economic progress worldwide .
pursuant to the financial regulation , it is not the Czech Presidency or the French Presidency but Javier Solana who is responsible for the Council , together with his deputy .
in the end , the fact that the proposal only relates to certain products - which has been mentioned several times here - could even be described as something like product-based or geographical discrimination .
I myself was recently in Jordan , Israel and Palestine to talk about an initiative which would permit us to make a policy for small and medium-sized enterprises in a trilateral framework .
I think that the European Union should do everything it can to persuade Mr Lavrov and the Russian Government that this is not the way that we in Europe try to resolve issues or press our interests .
we are calling for a new Europe to be built , a free Europe of sovereign nations that will establish privileged relations with Russia .
I welcome and support any step which guarantees and facilitates the lawful use of European solidarity funds .
industrial strategy must identify the strategic areas in which we will invest , as well as the necessary raw material sources .
I am waiting to hear what my general has to say , who will be here in a short while , but we need a clear strategic and tactical assessment of the situation here , and we need enough manpower capable of controlling piracy , as appeals simply do nothing to help .
I welcome her commitment , as outlined , to the development of sport at grass roots level .
the efforts made so far have not produced any tangible results .
because - and we are all saying it - you want the European Union to successfully resolve problems that you are no longer able to resolve at national level but , at the same time , you want to give the resources for the task not to the European Parliament , but to the European Union .
secondly , the agreement with Morocco : if Europe is conducting a common foreign policy , it must defend the interests of its citizens and of European production .
however , the establishment of basic EU principles related to national waste management regulations is justified .
greater coordination today can produce a better world tomorrow , and it is not our intention to give up that ambitious goal .
thanks to social security benefits , this minority is developing dynamically and it is one of the most dynamically developing minorities as regards numbers in Slovakia .
I am in favour of this one billion being paid - do not get me wrong - but 850 million starving people are not the result of our having had high food prices but of our having pushed the prices to such a low level in these countries with our export incentives that agriculture no longer pays .
we therefore need to review this Regulation .
there were a number of amendments seeking to bring more poultry and manure spreading within the scope .
we are discussing different mobility programmes and we also need to increase the possibilities for people to come legally to Europe .
Mr Barroso , you said that we are doing well ; we are investing 3.3 % .
that was perfectly reasonable .
at last , the Commission has given us some ambitious goals for Roma integration in Europe : guaranteeing at least a primary level of education for all Roma children , reducing child mortality and closing life expectancy gaps .
in addition , I think that it would be a good result for the consultation process if the dialogue between the social partners could be more constructive in future .
I would ask the Commission to respond to this appeal .
I believe that special attention should be paid to this .
this team delivered a number of suggestions for measures to further enhance the Hungarian Government 's comprehensive remedial and recovery plan .
in addition , from the EU 's perspective , the Arctic is also of essential importance for the development of new world trade routes .
what would social harmonisation mean ?
one of the main points at the summit in June will probably be the appointment of a new President of the Commission .
I will be happy to talk about this afterwards .
11 .
the Roma are not less intelligent than the majority , and neither are they beggars or born criminals .
it lays down substantive provisions imposing obligations on data controllers and recognising the rights of individuals .
the Commission is also required to do this .
furthermore , it contributes to the healthy diversification of agriculture in a region which , as we know , makes an irreplaceable contribution to Portugal 's milk sector .
these instruments should only be used in exceptional circumstances and not for constant market interventions .
let me now pass to the internal-market mechanisms .
otherwise , it will be necessary to take radical action and introduce a visa requirement for American citizens .
from the financial and operational points of view , consolidation of the principles for the transfer of defence-related products as part of the process of simplifying the conditions and procedures for granting authorisations is desirable . I support the draft directive harmonising national provisions in this area .
I therefore call on Madam Ashton , together with her diplomatic service , to ensure that we are absolutely consistent in discussing freedom of religion in every communication we have with the authorities of all those countries .
I support this report .
I am happy that there is this kind of strong interest , even internationally , to see opportunities and to seek the opportunity to promote an intercultural approach instead of ' multi-culti ' comments and laments .
introduce eurobonds before the speculators claim their next victim .
is that OK ?
if these three can be accommodated in every part of the Arctic and can live there in harmony , we will achieve a sustainable Arctic policy , and we will also be able to exploit its logistics and economy , but only by respecting nature , people and animals .
ultimately , this is all about small and medium-sized businesses .
the call from the European Parliament and request submitted to the European Commission to come up with a specific proposal to set up a Civil Protection Force which can respond quickly in the event of a natural disaster anywhere in the world must be answered .
I voted for the proposal since this is the first time that we have had a system linking research , education and the business sector .
- Report : Carlos José Iturgaiz Angulo
on the issue of food from cloned animals and their offspring , Parliament was right when it maintained its point of view based on principle .
we are seeing something of an improvement , albeit a slow one , in the situation throughout the world .
on behalf of the UEN Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , today we are facing the last leg of our work on treaty reform .
for instance , it was unable to agree on a common policy on security of energy supply and the liberalisation of the electricity and gas markets , which in a variety of ways will determine the European Union 's competitiveness on a global scale in a variety of ways .
we cannot understand why anyone fleeing from war or from desperate circumstances should be treated like a criminal , and that applies all the more so in the case of children , all of whom are entitled to protection and education in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child .
therefore , please , let me speak .
the same piece of legislation makes it a crime to publicly condone , deny or grossly trivialise crimes of genocide , crimes against humanity and war crimes .
the people of my home area fear new cases every day .
the symbols are one approach , helping them to feel closer to the European Union .
appliances burning gaseous fuels ( codified version ) (
the European Union 's ' crackdown ' on this practice is great news for the consumer .
we will , of course , attempt to prepare our farmers for it and to help them with it as much as possible .
you too mentioned that and the Foreign Ministers again urgently called on 23 February for this organisation to lay down its arms and end the terror .
a significant element in negotiations on the 2008 budget was the need to make a decision on two innovative trans-European projects - the GALILEO project and the development of the European Institute of Technology .
well , I would actually say that is a lie and that is was actually NATO which kept the peace in Europe with its forces .
we will do whatever we can to put the Commission on the right path in the next six months and beyond , because we hope that , as a result of the 18-month long triple-shared presidencies , there will not be a completely different programme every six months , but that we will instead have continuity .
the good news is that the electorate does not like it .
unfortunately , it is being forgotten in the European Union that the common agricultural policy is principally a policy intended to secure the supply of high quality food at a suitable price to all European consumers .
this reminds me of the nights in Amsterdam in 1997 ; this reminds me of the nights in Nice in 2000 .
I shall just return to four of what I consider to be important points from among your comments .
particularly large losses occurred in 2008-2009 .
the European Parliament 's ambition is not only to scrutinise the foreign policy , to make recommendations on which to base solutions and choices for the executive branch , but also to invest in its own foreign policy-making , which I call ' parliamentary diplomacy ' , as it is run within our competence at parliamentary level .
I would therefore like to say thank you again to the shadow rapporteurs who were involved in putting together the compromise .
I should just like to congratulate my colleagues , Catherine Trautmann , Pilar del Castillo and Malcolm Harbour , on their work .
in this regard , I think that we need to support the introduction of an optional instrument by way of regulation so that this parallel system does not work against national systems .
therefore , it must be in the EU 's interest for other countries to make such commitments , because the EU 's economic growth and competitiveness depend on it .
I am pleased that this is the case .
I do not know the exact figures , but the devaluation is at least 50 % .
we also welcome the significant step forward of concluding the negotiations on the multi-party agreement with Peru and Colombia , and we trust that , when the time comes , a good , intelligent formula can be shaped that will allow for the desired incorporation of Ecuador , and that we will also leave the doors open , always open , to Bolivia .
it is therefore necessary to unify minimum standards that will help ensure an equal status for self-employed people as compared with employed people , and equality between self-employed men and women .
absolutely no ingredients that do not comply with the limit values may be included in the feed .
Parliament is concerned that the Court of Auditors has again highlighted cancellations and delays in procurement procedures , recurrent delays in the execution of payments and significant changes made to the work programme during the year .
we need to get up to speed very quickly in this area and regain the momentum we had a few years ago - you will be discussing this - in order to finalise the organisation set up as part of the work carried out by Mr Lamfalussy .
I have very personal experience of this ; indeed , it was the flooding in my own region which first brought me into contact with the European Parliament and indeed inspired me to become a Member eventually , so the mobilisation of the Solidarity Fund in that event was certainly a big event for me .
we had a perfectly good area of freedom , security and justice in Britain before we joined the European Union .
biogas can be produced , for example , from manure and household waste .
hiding behind the idea that a negotiation of the Protocol seems very difficult , the majority of this House have signed a blank cheque to the Council because such vague recommendations can only cause the current situation to continue , creating financial and legal obstacles which will prevent those countries with fewer resources from being able to access the advances made in science and technology in this field .
the new Fundamental Rights Agency should become the main instrument of this activity once the Treaty of Lisbon enters into force .
we need to work towards a code of practice at European level to ensure best practice is shared and standards are raised , given the stark differences that exist between Member States .
it involved the participation of more than 500 senior representatives of EU bodies , Member States and non-governmental organisations and it was a reflection of our renewed determination to increase efforts to confront the social exclusion of Roma .
that is the task that this strategy must allow us to fulfil .
how often do we wish for more information on products and illnesses ?
we have the greatest interest in a Turkey which is modern , democratic , stable and Western-oriented , and which maintains close economic , political and cultural relations with Europe .
this report underlines the need to double the funds for scientific research , technological development and demonstration in the area of energy .
I think that our primary task is to complete the entire process , the consolidation of the Single Market , by as transparent means as possible , in close cooperation with the European Parliament .
we are destroying human life simply for research purposes .
the debate is closed .
this is not just about economic profit .
that also applies to the measures for consolidating the budgets of the individual Member States of the euro area .
after serving on the Parliament 's Budget Committee for eight years , where I became well-versed in the anomalies of the CAP , I believe such a move would be counterproductive .
we in Austria naturally welcome this report , in particular because Austria , given its geographical location , sets very high safety requirements for transport participants .
as a consequence , the women concerned are restricted in their opportunities to participate in social life and work .
in writing . - ( LT ) I am pleased that the rapporteur recognises that there are significant gaps in the pension systems in Europe and the fact that the citizens of some Member States - for instance , Lithuanians - face additional problems .
I then asked for new ideas on another way of labelling that it was the traditional method , but I have had no suggestions on this issue .
nevertheless , this exception shall be reviewed should scientific evidence come to light proving that their consumption carries health risks .
on the other hand , we certainly have the will and the instruments to act , and the Council is willing to act in the future .
while strengthening the ownership principle , the EU stresses the importance of regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations among the Western Balkan countries .
the new legislative framework of the TFEU set up the tools but there has not been any practical experience of their adaptation at Community level .
this is now under way .
this is not all doom and gloom .
finally , what involvement does the Agriculture Commissioner have on this issue ?
I am keeping my fingers crossed that this will emerge from the forthcoming talks .
( applause )
we need significant capital investment from a number of funding sources , both public and private , as well as through public-private partnerships , which , I feel , are still not used to their full potential .
those consumers who live in cities and love to receive advertising material in their letterboxes .
during my discussions with representatives from these countries , I often had the impression that people were grateful that we , as the European Union , exert pressure in a number of areas , and that they were thankful that we make demands in many areas and force national governments to make a little progress in terms of economic policy .
unfortunately , though , more and better regulation will not rule out all the unpleasant surprises that might occur in the financial markets in future , because we are not familiar with all the existing banking mechanisms .
therefore , we should not be punishing the people who depend on our aid , and I am thinking of Europeans as well as of Slovaks , who despite the serious situation have stayed put and continue to complete the bilateral projects .
- Before the vote on recital C :
for the Ombudsman , it involves promoting a culture of service , which is not explicitly mentioned in the treaties , but which certainly forms part of the commitments that apply to the institutions .
in June 2010 , the Commission published the Action Plan on Global Navigation Satellite System ( GNSS ) Applications and , specifically , the European EGNOS system : this action plan also includes 24 specific recommendations for action .
the only way to prevent local populations from doing the logical thing , which is to eliminate a dangerous menace , is by giving them an incentive in treating it as a renewable resource .
the Commission 's ambition to increase investments in energy infrastructure is the latest in a long line of examples of the arrogance that has infected the officials in Berlaymont .
what they basically need is a place to stay .
moreover , the report ignores the fact that the bank 's activities are harming workers , the population in general and micro , small and medium-sized enterprises .
his death weakens the government , which is already fighting for political survival following the withdrawal of a coalition partner .
it is not , Mr Schmidt , a way of encouraging alcoholism .
these debates will lead to the preparation of a fully-fledged Commission position in autumn 2010 .
ask the Portuguese , whose debt interest goes up every time a Commissioner decides to talk about economics .
we would like to make plain our opposition to this route in areas , like those relating to energy , that are strategic to economic and social development , particularly that of the countries on the periphery .
21 .
I am , of course , delighted at the EUR 12 million released by the European Commission , and I support Mrs Georgieva 's appeal to the Member States to provide aid in kind so that water can be purified , and to supply equipment .
it is important to promote the economic diversification of these regions and make them more competitive , whilst taking into account these countries ' policies and adaptation strategies , as well as their regional environment .
it is nothing like what has been promised .
we have to identify success factors and we also have to see how to tailor them to the situation .
mandate for the trilogue on the 2011 Draft Budget (
I can give you a list of British citizens who have been forced into imprisonment in this way , into squalid and unfit jails , not at the hands of the CIA and its rendition programme , but at the hands of the EU Member States under the European arrest warrant which this House created .
even if it were a question of hearings only for a more political post , the same consideration would apply .
on the Nuclear Forum : we cannot have a nuclear debate in which the dispute between the greens , liberals , conservatives , and so on ends up in a forced result .
( DE ) Mr President , one thing has not yet been properly appreciated here today and that is the fact that the positive referendum in Ireland was hardly the first positive referendum relating to the constitutional process that Mr Verhofstadt mentioned .
only the initiative is missing .
I congratulate Mr Costa on another step towards strengthening the railway at European level .
in writing . - ( FR ) The Commission has just published its 24th annual report on its control of application of Community law by the Member States .
why have they been used to block the Abidjan Port Authority 's export of cocoa beans and to shut down the oil refinery ?
yet even the most hardened Eurosceptic must admit that Latvia 's membership of the European Union has on the whole been positive .
Madam President , in two weeks ' time , we shall all be heading to Nagoya , Japan , to discuss biodiversity .
let us not do this , however , without looking closely at the programmes currently running .
I propose to you that we support the draft resolution .
establishing whether it is even necessary to touch the legislation is possible only by relying on precise data , which is why I consider the question posed by my fellow Members to be of key significance .
the EU should therefore likewise facilitate strong political engagement with third countries by developing policies to build effective mechanisms for international cooperation on climate change , both within and beyond the United Nations framework convention on climate change .
financial assistance should therefore be provided on an individual basis .
but I share the rapporteur 's view that the strategy calls for continuous follow-up if it is really to develop to the consumers ' advantage .
there are signals that the Americans are busy drafting a CO2 emissions target which they want to table .
however , when it comes to the legislative process , we must focus more closely on this issue than we have today and come up with some common European solutions .
carbon dioxide emissions have already been considerably reduced in these countries following the economic changes they have implemented .
the recommendation from the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the agreement between the European Union and Georgia on the readmission of persons residing without authorisation ( 15507 / 2010 - C7-0392 / 2010 - 2010 / 0108 ( NLE ) ) ( Rapporteur : Nathalie Griesbeck ) ,
the report is part of the process of transposing the Prüm Treaty into the Community acquis .
in connection with this , I support the proposal whereby provision should be made in the new EAFRD regulation for special funding aimed at supporting women in the future 2014-2020 programming period .
leading up to the discussions today are the months of painstaking work by Mr Audy , the shadow rapporteurs , the other members of the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy , as well as the members of the Committee on Budgets .
we will all recall that we unanimously asked the European Commission , in future review , to endeavour to find a fair balance between the interests of farmers in obtaining detailed information on feed ingredients and the interests of the industry in ensuring sufficient protection of its know-how .
the Directive covers issues to which everyone is sensitive , such as the safety of our citizens , but also sporting traditions and the customary lifestyles of millions of Europeans who go hunting .
five people had their hands or feet amputated .
the report also refers to the Soil Directive , legislation that the British Conservative Delegation opposes , as soil can be best managed by Member States , because applying the same rules on all soil from Northern Finland to Southern Greece will not bring any benefit to farmers in the UK .
as a result of the gas crisis in January 2009 , Romania is already making efforts at a European level to interconnect its gas networks with those in neighbouring states through the Arad-Szeged , Giurgiu-Ruse , Isaccea and Negru Vodă projects .
let 's bring the institutions closer to citizens and to get the citizens involved into the European debate !
in writing . - ( IT ) Thank you , Mr President .
over two thirds believe that policies tackling climate change should be initiated at European level .
industrial policy for the globalised era is becoming a great problem for the Union and for individual Member States .
however , the financial institutions have not made these populations the main beneficiaries of the emergency loans , since very few of them satisfy the required conditions .
I consider it essential that it makes it a priority in its programme to unblock the reform of the European Solidarity Fund .
one fellow Member has just spoken solely about Germany , but we have unfortunately had dioxin and other similar scandals in the past in other Member States , too .
( ES ) Mr President , Commissioner , I reiterate the thanks to Mrs Sudre for her work on this report and for achieving a majority consensus in the Committee on Regional Development on the policy for the outermost regions .
first and foremost , one of its essential components is increased economic integration , which must be achieved in particular by the gradual adoption of comprehensive free trade agreements .
the Europe of Brussels signifies war .
those are all the tools we need .
on no occasion in the past , on no occasion I can think of , has the European Union ever backed up its criticism of the treatment of Palestinians by the Israelis with any kind of action .
the European Parliament has spoken on the draft legislative resolution on the Council 's position on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2011 .
the people of Europe want a more humane Europe , with fewer inequalities between the Member States .
as a very important development , the motion for a resolution stipulates that the victim 's consent to exploitation is irrelevant in terms of a prosecution , and that assistance is to be provided to the victim irrespective of his or her willingness to take part in the procedure .
the highest percentage of people dying of lung , prostate or breast cancer is recorded in the new Member States , i.e. in the poorest countries .
we have already presented to Georgia key recommendations for steps to be taken before we can judge the country ready to embark on this area of negotiations .
I fully support the call for the funds allocated to the CAP in the budget year 2013 to be maintained at the same level for the next financial programming period also , so that the CAP can fulfil its expanded objectives and tasks .
at the Renault Industrial Unit in Cacia , the management decided to reduce production this year and prepare itself for not renewing fixed-term contracts , despite having committed itself to expansion ...
today , yesterday 's women researchers sell insurance policies , are civil servants or have left their countries of origin , with multiple negative consequences : waste of human resources , high dissatisfaction and obstacles to development .
in addition to this , I believe that we must welcome the progress made during recent months on strengthening the independence of the judiciary , removing the predominant position of the Minister for Justice on appointing magistrates and on increasing the latter 's independence .
if , however , he wishes part of the existing text to be deleted , I can only recommend that we vote against it .
tonight , we seem to be being asked to grant the powers to the Commission without first being told exactly what action they will be used to address .
at the same time we must act on the causes behind migration .
since August endless columns of cars have been standing at Narva border crossing in my homeland , Estonia .
( DE ) Mr President , last weekend the Irish press revealed that there may be a link between those who funded the ' no ' campaign in Ireland and the Washington Pentagon and the CIA .
the lack of a soil map and thematic maps results in excessive use of agricultural chemicals .
just as catastrophic floods on the Nile brought fertility in ancient Egypt , the global crisis should be an impulse for the development of new European cars that are more environmentally-friendly and highly competitive on world markets .
the European Commission has also opted for this , on the eve of our pilot projects to achieve carbon capture and storage , for example as a technological innovation .
as you know , I have wanted to work with the European Parliament from the beginning .
however , I also want to add a very important point .
moreover , maintaining stability , I fear , could be severely jeopardised in the industry if unregulated transferable quotas were embraced , with particular threat to single and small-scale operators .
the first is strict commitment to the Copenhagen criteria ; they are non-negotiable .
in the light of these developments , and against this constitutional background , and in keeping with their commitment to transparency , Parliament and the Commission have agreed to establish and maintain a joint register in order to keep a list of the names of , and exercise scrutiny over , the organisations and individuals who take part in the drafting and implementation of EU policies .
the first reading in Parliament was in April 2007 .
the request , which we support , is for the future common agricultural policy to establish measures to overcome the Union 's protein deficit by constantly reducing protein imports .
we make the point in the opinion of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs that protection systems which are too rigid may indeed protect those who are on the inside , but they can make it difficult for others to enter the labour market .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue-card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
without that , Guantánamo will be followed by another poor solution .
it also stresses the need for the transatlantic partnership to enjoy wide support from civil society , particularly from young people .
in specific terms , this involves the creation of a European database on child pornography combined with the announcement of the crisis lines which should be available to police forces .
Commissioner Barroso said in Cork that the Lisbon Treaty would bring the EU closer to its citizens .
something quite different is involved but , in any event , land is not going to be set aside in a situation where we actually need to produce .
I would like to respond to Mr Karas , who said that I need to demonstrate diplomacy .
the right to good healthcare in all Member States should be a high priority , but instead the Commission 's starting point is a market in which healthcare is treated like any other commodity .
that is also why I am not surprised by what the Commissioner has said this evening .
secondly , energy efficiency can be part of the solution to the current economic recession : addressing energy demand and energy use can help create long-lasting growth and solid job opportunities .
I therefore expect that point to be put back on the agenda , but am not voting against the report .
in this case too , Romania recorded the greatest increase ( 29.2 % ) .
the combined impact of this proposal together with the type-approval legislation on tyres should bring around 5 % fuel savings on the total EU fleet by 2020 .
( PT ) Mr President , this is an opportunity for an extraordinary commitment to the social mobility of young people and a decisive commitment to training a generation with an open worldview ; a generation with skills that , because it has global vision and thinking , is capable of contributing to its regions ' development and to Europe 's progress .
the same is true of the fight against corruption and organised crime , as outlined in your report .
it is important , however , that there is a clear connection between the security charge levied and the services which are actually provided .
Mr President , thank you for giving me this opportunity to explain how I voted on this issue .
exchange has always brought benefits , and we have always been able to gain from it .
today , moreover , cohesion policy has taken first place as the biggest item in our European budget .
the European Economic Recovery Plan , which complements the Member States ' measures to combat the economic crisis and aims to provide impetus and counter the difficult situation in the financial sector , is heavily focused on the areas of investment in research and development and promoting investment .
the choice is simple : either we annihilate terrorism , or terrorism will visit apocalypse on the world .
the people in our country have been denied a vote on Lisbon .
I do not see that there is any other option , because certain States were granted additional MEPs under the Treaty of Lisbon .
it would be a mistake to create twin structures which , in the long term , would carry the risk of the Union breaking up .
we have , of course , been cooperating very closely with Parliament on both these issues .
their political will , in terms of whether or not they want an accession procedure , will be judged on this point and not on military-type missions , such as Afghanistan , which the report again considers to be an achievement of this country .
in the last few years , relations between the European Union and China have focused mainly on the economic dimension , which has overshadowed the country 's democratic record and the gross human rights violations which have systematically occurred in China .
we have heard it all .
because we have the good fortune , or the challenge , of living at the dawn of a change of civilisation .
in spite of that , I am convinced that the fundamental concept , i.e. finding a balance between the economic and the social and ecological aspects , is still entirely valid .
I would simply like the Commission to reconsider the practical consequences of its proposals , the financial impact and the problems for the authorities in the Member States .
there is no doubt the Commission 's proposals have been watered down .
in writing . - ( DE ) As regards paragraph 129 of the report on the ' 2009 discharge : EU general budget - European Parliament ' , which concerns the ' voluntary pension fund ' , I wish to state that I am categorically voting against this because it involves using taxpayers ' money to finance pension funds for Members of the European Parliament ( paragraph 129 ( i ) ) .
in our resolution , we are , of course , demanding maintenance of the cage ban , more inspections , that national action plans should ultimately have to be drawn up and an export ban on any eggs which are not produced according to the rules , amongst other things .
however , it is important to remember that it is as a result of institutional competition that the best forms of governance are tested and distinguished from those forms that are less suitable .
since the report charges Member States with the responsibility of imposing sanctions under criminal law , we Swedish Conservatives have chosen not to give it our support .
I think it will also be a good opportunity , based on some new ideas in that ENP review , to talk about a strengthened cooperation to address the protracted conflicts in our neighbourhood .
part two
nonetheless , it is perfectly obvious that offshore drilling is a risky operation and every precautionary measure has to be taken : strengthening the principle of environmental liability , establishing a special European fund to be maintained by mandatory contributions from operators of offshore installations , especially when drilling is carried out in the Arctic under conditions of extreme cold and at great depths .
reforms have been attempted for hundreds of years without success .
I am grateful to Parliament for its ongoing support , and we hope that this constructive cooperation will continue throughout next year .
the vote will take place on Tuesday at 12 noon .
I truly believe that Lisbon was , regrettably , a missed opportunity .
this , one could argue , is a sad reflection on the fundamental values we uphold in the EU in practice , whereby we accord greater importance in terms of competence to internal market rules for our businesses , for example , than to health care for our citizens .
job insecurity , the informal market for housing and land and the lack of specialist services are all problems that particularly affect the poorest urban dwellers and are indicators of how capable these urban areas are to provide a secure environment for the local population and for growth .
today , in the Latvian Parliament , nationalist and Nazi members wish to hold a referendum on the closure of Russian schools in Latvia .
a number of speakers raised the question of the legal base on which this particular provision has been made .
- Report : Kudrycka
my pleasure !
this provides the grounds for presenting a European strategic answer to the Roma issue , which otherwise falls under national competence , and I would personally be very proud if we could jointly manage to adopt a common European Roma strategy by the end of the Hungarian Presidency in June .
( DA ) Madam President , my Danish fellow Member from the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe said earlier that the problem we faced following the Waxholm ruling had been solved in Denmark .
it was therefore desirable to obtain the consent of Parliament to make sure that Agreement could be adopted .
after raising its voice , the European Parliament was able to obtain a number of guarantees which strengthen data protection and the rights of the people concerned .
indeed , a lack of European funding for small and medium-sized enterprises to participate in this research project under the seventh and eighth framework programmes would make it less attractive to commercial operators .
the Commission 's proposal of two years ago of up to 12 CCS plants had awaited funding to date .
I call on the Commission to be strong and committed towards an agreement based on the European Parliament resolution and the 12 conditions you mentioned before , bearing in mind that without complete agreement from both sides , Albania 's European integration process might be completely frozen .
I am speaking in languages that I believe are more accessible and that requires an additional effort from me .
in general the report contains many views as to how equality is to be achieved .
in writing . - ( SV ) I have today chosen to abstain in the final vote on Mr Andersson 's report on challenges to collective agreements in the EU .
( PL ) Mr President , the partnership we are discussing today is the answer to Africa 's needs , as it provides support for the process of democratisation in African countries and for human rights and , at the same time , it ensures strong , bilateral involvement in the fight against climate change and in the field of energy security .
it is true that quite often all we do is talk , and it is true that we must and should do more than just talk .
Commissioner , we expect you to take swift and concrete measures in this regard .
yet you cannot do it , because it will not command public support .
I am therefore particularly glad that the Committee on Budgets and the rapporteur himself have taken a positive view of the amendment on holding the Special Olympics .
they do not break down .
- Report : Kauppi
Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I am , of course , pleased by the congratulations , but I must say that , in the trialogue , you are only ever as strong or as quick as those you are working with .
Mr Cohn-Bendit may have spoken for too long , and it may be that I hardly agree with him at all , but he always has interesting things to say , and that , after all , is important in Parliament .
I am ready to cooperate , as I have been doing in the past with Parliament , and in particular with the Committee on Civil Liberties , Justice and Home Affairs , to carry out the evaluation of the existing measures , including the international and European agreements with our international partners .
I propose criteria of symbolic stimulation for people participating in volunteer actions and I request the help of the European Commission and the European Parliament .
that is not possible .
many other proposals by Parliament also represent positive contributions .
the second point , which I also support , is Mr Barroso 's European ambition .
Mr President , I think that after the Lisbon Treaty becomes reality , the meeting of the European Council last week and the nomination of Commissioners , it is time to set new perspectives and see the new challenges that are ahead of us .
the central banks of England , Sweden and Denmark very quickly and clearly reduced interest rates while ensuring liquidity to commercial banks .
we differ from the Council on two points in particular .
labelling should be to the advantage of both manufacturers and consumers , and a well informed consumer will make wise dietary choices .
innovation is certainly not promoted as long as multinationals with gilt-edged balance sheets are able to stash away the best part of research and development funds in their accounts , while those who are actually targeted for this kind of benefit are left out in the rain .
in writing . - Whilst we as a group voted against the ACTA resolution on Wednesday , 10 March 2010 , we did so on the principle that the ACTA Treaty itself should not exist in any form .
but at the same time it is very clear that we cannot expect that a continent that will double its population in a very short time will not have an impact on the environment .
as for the Commissioner responsible , in July 2007 , when all his services were mobilised , what did he do about informing us that the situation for the European banks was going to be dramatic , that the aftermath of this crisis for the European economy was going to be dramatic ?
I have another letter from British Airways - another bit of special pleading - complaining about this measure and how the extra costs will mean it will be more difficult for them to invest in the lower carbon technology in planes that they wish to have .
I remember blood stains on the asphalt , the cries of hungry children , the empty expression of a ten-year old girl when she told of how she and her brothers and sisters first had to bury their dead parents and then move their bodies to another grave when the soldiers tried to eliminate the evidence of mass murder in a village near my town .
it has concentrated on what can be done , and has thereby established an atmosphere and a period of time that is productive for seeking solutions .
the European Union is an ideological project being forced upon European peoples who would rather live in democratic nation states .
I voted for this report because I believe it is going to help secure a formal process ; it is going to highlight something that I regarded in the past as being just a derogatory statement , i.e .
we cannot engage credibly in the process and find truly constructive solutions unless we start with ourselves .
the next item is the Question Hour with the President of the Commission .
firstly , a strategy is required at Sahel-Sarahan level , aimed at restoring the authority of the states in the region over the abandoned territories as well as , obviously , at establishing the rule of law .
the EU-Morocco Summit is sure to be an ideal forum for galvanising the Euro-African Atlantic Cooperation Area , particularly through cooperation between Madeira , the Azores , the Canaries and neighbouring countries .
first of all , I would like to congratulate Mr Coelho for the huge effort he has invested in this and , in particular , for the consistency he has shown in finalising these two reports .
the Commission asked us to be quick and we have responded swiftly .
this time , Finland had highly qualified candidates and we should be glad about that .
I can share the aim and the ambition of this conclusion , but unfortunately it is impossible to achieve .
may I thank Mrs Ayala Sender wholeheartedly for her contribution to these advances in logistics , which are key to the development of sustainable transport .
of course , the subject of this dialogue would absolutely have to include the human rights situation , and we hope that Cuba will accept such a proposal for establishing a dialogue .
port State control means that ships that call at EU ports can be better monitored and - this is something we think is important - these ships can face sanctions where they fail to satisfy the safety provisions .
the vote will take place on Thursday , 19 February 2009 .
one idea heavily defended by the Commission and by the more conservative sectors of Europe is that we must have balanced or zero budgets .
the tragic circumstances of this death should put us all to shame .
her murder is a loss for the millions of Pakistanis who had placed hope in her for democracy and a better future .
I asked what the Council thought of the gross breach of Article 6 - the fundamental rights clause - of the EU Treaty in light of the UK Court of Appeals ' ruling confirming that the UK was guilty ...
a new mandate will allow the president to continue with the reforms and full implementation of European norms and values in Romania .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( PT ) The honourable Member will note that I have referred extensively , at length and in detail to the international legal and judicial framework in which the European Union exists and operates .
I would like to say thank you to Commissioner Reding , to Mrs Vălean , and to the rapporteurs of all the groups , because we have provided a fine example of European Union action in times of crisis .
however , the fact that civil society could partially organise itself politically is welcome , notwithstanding the difficulties .
the Court upheld this action .
at that moment I will get something back from the Member States on the thinking about this issue and I will listen to you and all the comments you have made today .
our reservations are based finally on the fact that , at a time when we wish to take Europe down the road of a green economy , the text proposed to us deals neither with the energy performance of products nor with their partial harmfulness to users .
this reality should guide us when drafting and supporting anti-smoking legislation .
I would like to conclude by thanking Parliament again for this debate , confirming what I said in my earlier speech , in reply to Mr Jarzembowski , Mr Simpson and Mr Blokland , as regards the commitment I am making today as Commissioner for Transport - and I hope to be able to do so again as future Commissioner for Transport - concerning the codecision procedure for matters relating to the issue of slots .
in the report that is the case , but this work should be continued very intensively .
our budget is completely dissimilar to national budgets , which have very little discretionary spending .
I believe this report is an important instrument for achieving the new Lisbon Strategy objectives and will contribute to strengthening the social dimension of the Lisbon Treaty also ratified by Romania .
the JRC published a study in 2007 in Nature Biotechnology on the prospects for future commercial use of cloning technology .
5. in order to induce very strict rules regarding announcements ;
the second portal , aimed at the legal profession , would be a tool to assist lawyers , judges , public prosecutors , barristers and officials working in the administration of justice .
marine biologists said that burning some of the oil slicks and using dispersants to get rid of pollutants does more harm to wildlife than the oil spill itself , given the relatively fast breakdown of the type of oil in question .
in the proposals that we will be making , which we will talk about after 17 November , the idea is not to move the focus of attention from the economic and social question to the environmental question alone , but to integrate the environmental question further in the farmer 's way of thinking so that , in the future , we can hopefully really talk about competitive agriculture .
the Commission 's Green Paper refers mostly to a smoke-free environment , and the debate mainly focused on that area .
Mrs Davidson , we have the most stringent legislation in the world .
this resolution , for which I voted , acknowledges that several of the SBA 's initiatives have been launched .
the main country in this respect is Algeria , which is an important supplier of gas to my country and to Italy .
Mr Berlusconi seems not only to be defying one of the fundamental values of a democratic society , but also to be using the influence he has to manipulate public opinion .
however , the question asked by Mrs Berès highlights that there is a situation that should be clarified by the European Commission .
the contents of recorded conversations mysteriously circulate in the media .
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the problem is that these companies often swoop on undertakings in another EU Member State , and these frequently small family businesses either do not have the knowledge or the ability to put up a legal defence , or find that it will cost them a lot of money and effort .
I will remind everyone that not so long ago , we also adopted measures which make it easy to travel throughout the Schengen Area with a long-term visa .
Mr President , Commissioner , Mrs Hieronymi , I should like to extend my sincere congratulations on this report .
2 .
Mr President , this is not a question of terrorists arrested , tried , convicted and imprisoned ; it is simply a question of individuals seized and held .
we must unite to that end .
the proposed mechanism is modelled on the dispute settlement mechanisms from the most recent agreements concluded by the European Union , which comply with the World Trade Organisation 's dispute settlement rules and procedures .
moreover , the budget line related to grants and payments , including funds for paying Members ' salaries , is only increasing 0.55 % compared with 2011 .
( FR ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , it is indeed vital to know whether the directive on misleading and comparative advertising has been properly transposed and applied in the Member States .
the transfer to The Hague of the remaining fugitive indictees who continue to elude international justice would be a fitting tribute to the victims of Srebrenica as well as a major stride towards permanent peace , stability and reconciliation .
so there is a lack of logic and a lack of consistency .
this text offers some answers to questions of fundamental importance to our societies , such as demographic change , globalisation and poverty reduction .
therefore , the solutions are not as simple as that .
discussing just the negative aspects is not a good start to the new strategy we really need towards our large neighbour .
moreover , through the adoption of a number of guarantees , we will establish strict regulations that require permits and inspections .
if Turkey and Libya are willing to take up our offers , we and Mr Billström will be able to visit these two countries before the end of the year .
thank you .
the point proposing a ban on smoking at work is incontrovertible .
it is true that they are hibernating while we are having this discussion .
irregularities found should be dealt with through bodies with greater legitimacy and broader support than the EU , in this case primarily the OSCE and the UN .
I call on both the Commission and the Polish Government - as do my colleagues in my group - to make every effort to retain Poland 's shipyards , at all three sites .
I was in Gaza for the first time in 1990 .
where there is rule of law , regulation of the way in which people live together must remain a national power .
the Consumer Markets Scoreboard provides a tool for monitoring , analysing and identifying single market problems from the consumer 's point of view .
interesting question , what about China ?
we must deal with this from the centre .
we have achieved a broad consensus and believe that we have formulated a sustainable policy on the High North .
we have to be able to identify each region 's success factors and skills potential .
this Commission - as you know - has the highest number of women commissioners ever .
we cannot stop here and the Commission must defend its decision-making powers .
let me confirm that , in those agreements and in other future bilateral and regional agreements with poor developing countries , the Commission is not asking and will not ask for provisions which could affect access to medicines or undermine the TRIPS flexibilities contained in the Doha declaration on the TRIPS agreement and public health .
suspending the sanctions for longer enables us to maintain a dialogue , just as the civil society itself expressly asked us to do , including at the forum held at the European Parliament , as recently as 4 March .
Mr Lehne has made it clear that the atmosphere here is one of cooperation between the institutions : Parliament is not on one side and the Commission on the other .
I would like to remind everyone again that the initial idea to relaunch the Single Market is one which arose in the IMCO Committee .
and then , I would say , by way of conclusion , that , in the field of fundamental rights , our task is not just to establish texts but to ensure that they are applied .
EU legislation should not be oriented towards an ideological school of thought based on the internal market , but should aim towards a flexible system in Europe , which guarantees minimum rights for all citizens in terms of treatment .
we need to create a single European legal system if we want to combat , at European level , crime that has become international and moves easily between banks , tax havens , financial markets and movable and fixed assets markets .
the next item is four motions for resolutions on Pakistan .
as far as the High Representative / Vice-President of the Commission is concerned , it must be clear that , when he takes office , he will immediately take on both roles .
I shall close by saying that there are , of course , differences between judicial systems , but there is also room for convergence .
there are more than 1,200 mercantile ports in the European Union employing half a million people directly or indirectly .
I support the idea of helping newly-elected parliaments to strengthen and carry out legislative activity as close as possible to the established democratic standards .
the absence of a political and moral assessment is continuously shaping our present day and is distorting our common future .
political development in Venezuela has recently deviated from the abovementioned course .
we cannot look the other way and leave some 8 million illegal immigrants defenceless against working conditions bordering on slavery .
this data clearly indicates that online child safety can be achieved only through a multilevel approach , which extends to children , families , schools , operators in the telecommunication sector , and within these , to Internet service providers and judicial bodies .
a terse reference to formal proceedings in the case of a Member State which has not yet transposed an EU law at the national level does not tell us or our citizens very much .
training , which is very high on the agenda for the coming weeks , months and years , will be very important because we have to train judges , prosecutors and lawyers in the application of our European rules .
generally , the processes for ratifying European treaties too often look like sagas or Pyrrhic victories .
but one of the things that worries me deeply is that those who voted ' no ' felt there were no risks in doing so : they felt , perhaps , the status quo would prevail .
I would like to use a language that also reflects what is positive about the European Union , because surprising though it may seem , there are also positive things that have happened recently .
attacks and beatings of journalists multiplied .
in view of the close geographical proximity of Member States with Russia , the European Union should strive to achieve closer cooperation with our eastern neighbours under the right conditions .
the European Union wants to tackle this issue much more profoundly and so , this naturally takes account of the issues you raise , which are closely linked to action by the European Union in relation to the fight against climate change .
Member of the Commission . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I am standing in for Commissioner Fischer Boel , who of course knows this sector better than I do .
it also requires respect for the peoples of those Member States to have any hope of success .
we feel that this is in no way incompatible with any other concerns that we might have .
as the current draft is based on the agreement reached between Parliament and the Council in November 2009 , I support the rapporteur 's proposal .
to some , it is simply about preventing the planes of Muammar al-Gaddafi from firing on the civilian population .
in writing . - ( PL ) Mr President , I supported the resolution on the EU-United States summit because in addition to matters pertaining to bilateral partnership and global challenges it refers to the visa question , which is an issue of great importance to Polish nationals .
firstly , regional policy is a key instrument for promoting the highly cherished economic and social cohesion .
I believe that this was the question that resulted in a large majority of Members of this House refusing to grant discharge for the Council 's budget .
this will allow Croatia , if it is treated fairly , to complete the negotiations this year .
also , it will be stopped and checked for illegal immigrants west of Folkestone .
according to the Commission , it is advisable to reformulate the current directive relating to the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment , adopted in 2003 , on the grounds of clarity and legal certainty .
rapporteur . - ( NL ) Madam President , I would like to express my sincere thanks to my fellow Members for their input into the debate and for the support I have received for various points in my report .
such states include the Federal Republic of Germany .
1 .
my final comment is addressed to Mr Rübig : I cannot tell you in one second about how we need to accelerate the opening of markets in India and China , but I am more than happy to discuss that at your convenience .
you and all the Members of this Parliament have been directly elected by our citizens and the Commission has the right and the duty to put European interests above any particular interest .
in particular , I should like to express my strong support for the idea of a forum for women as an opportunity for discussion and exchange of good practice regarding equal treatment of men and women .
however , two basic conditions need to be satisfied if they are to realise their full potential .
the relevant working groups have initiated discussions on proposals for the Council 's conclusions , based on various contributions .
on the other hand , in Macedonia , the assessment of the political leadership 's performance is not favourable .
it is appalling that they remain apathetic in the face of the worsening unemployment and increasing suffering in vast regions of the European Union .
the European Union was obliged to learn from the controversial management , in 2009-2010 , of H1N1 influenza in Europe , and to adopt the measures necessary to prevent further disproportionate reactions .
I fear the provisions put forward by the Commission - especially those concerning the ending of Objective 2 and abandonment of the regional aspect of cohesion policy in favour of a sectoral approach - may mean a return to the concept of a two-speed Europe and an increase in the distance , in terms of economy and civilisation , between the old and the new Europe .
4 .
I sincerely hope that this agreement will help , as intended , to strengthen relations between the EU and Moldova and in particular to reinforce the ' human dimension ' of the European Neighbourhood Policy , in other words to bring people closer so that we can all get to know each other more and better , because undoubtedly this is what reinforces European spirit and understanding .
its domination will be all the more complete since , through political cunning , the Chinese government has managed to outmanoeuvre Europe , Mr Michel , to get to Africa , thus gaining control of our staple commodities .
many Member States ' plans for economic recovery stress the important role small businesses can play in bringing us out of the present crisis .
together with the Commission , we shall be examining the situation in Zimbabwe at the next Council meeting on 22 July .
Azerbaijan ratified the European Convention on Human Rights and has undertaken to observe the provisions of Article 10 of this convention , which is devoted to freedom of expression and information .
they must be granted the right of long-term residence in a non-discriminatory manner , with the only condition being prior legal residence , as is also the case for the other third-country nationals .
accordingly , this study will help us to prepare the next steps .
the very severe penalties for immorality and apostasy have led to justified protests by defenders of human rights outside Iran and by reformist politicians inside the country .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , I would like to stress once more the Commission 's commitment to pursuing the progress we have made over the last years in order to further improve the quality of spending .
first of all , ever since the Joint Undertaking was set up in 2007 , no agreement has been signed yet with Belgium concerning office accommodation , privileges and immunities and other support .
the Commission must unfailingly defend Airbus in the WTO .
in the wake of a maritime accident , systematic technical research carried out on the basis of international rules is an effective way of gaining a better picture of the causes .
President-in-Office of the Council . - ( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , I must say that it is to be expected , given the nature of the Union , that we should hear a variety of positions in this House .
on the subject of RABIT - Rapid Border Intervention Teams - no Member State has as yet requested the deployment of a rapid border intervention team , Mr França .
thank goodness that he was able to take advantage of a health-care system from another country .
it is also important that consumers should be aware of the production cycle of a given product and its precise origin .
that is the only way in which we will be able to balance our budget again in the medium term .
the European Union has been at the forefront in efforts to tackle the issue since the first crisis three years ago , but more needs to be done .
the European Union has a right and a duty to carry out preventive activities and intermediary missions , since the European Union is a project to create peace , a task it has been carrying out for the past 50 years .
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I was pleased to hear in this House Commissioner Špidla supporting the extension of the maternity period , as was approved by our Committee on Women 's Rights and Gender Equality .
while passengers are searched almost down to their underwear and are not allowed to carry nail files or deodorant in their luggage , checks on freight are often left to the shipping companies themselves .
but that is , in a sense , to shoot the messenger .
but this is exactly the situation in Iran .
however , I would stress that we are not doing manufacturers any favours by defending the status quo and that , as far as the public authorities are concerned , by failing to encourage innovation , they are not fulfilling their role .
the President of Parliament has appointed me to speak along with Mr Durão Barroso , Mr Rodríguez Zapatero and the President of the government of the Canary Islands at the opening of the conference .
how will we obtain food for them without increasing our CO2 emissions , and without this tipping the natural balance and the global climate ?
environmental factors also affect health , so it is necessary to tackle environmental problems that are responsible for the development of specific types of cancer .
until now , this situation has severely damaged the single European market .
talking of reforms , I should also like to draw attention to Article 301 of the Penal Code , which is used to restrict freedom of expression in Turkey in a number of ways .
a further problem is that information for consumers must be in a language or languages that they can easily understand , but we do not know whether they will be able to receive information in their mother tongue or in the language of their country .
what a wonderful sentence .
in writing . - ( LT ) I voted in favour of this important document .
the list of third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas is established on the basis of a careful case-by-case assessment of the situation in the country concerned , taking into account illegal immigration , security issues , the European Union 's external relations and the principle of reciprocity .
the European populations that we represent in this House expect an agreement , an agreement that will enable all of the climatic disturbances that we observe around us every day to be combated effectively .
it is a common market for people .
we should extend a hand to Serbia .
for that reason , the report also states that it ultimately points the way and indicates the way forward - particularly for Europe , as in Europe we have a vast amount of environmental technology , the volume of which is comparable with the European car industry .
I should like to thank the rapporteur for all the work he has put into the document .
our cross-border cooperation and European instrument for democracy and human rights programmes are supporting the Sami people of north-west Russia and other indigenous peoples of the Barents region .
likewise , the EU should not expect too much in relation to Iceland , either .
clearly , it provides an opportunity to remember , but it should above all be a guarantee of a different future .
the latter must be informed of the changes to the European Union that have a direct or indirect effect on their daily lives and in which they must be able to be involved .
joint European progress is ensured through constitutional duality , namely the two revised Treaties of equal legal value .
in writing . - The way in which the existing treaties are being used to undermine workers ' rights is a scandal .
in writing . - ( SV ) This report claims that it is important for workers to be aware of their rights and have a good knowledge of labour law and collective agreements .
I apologise to Mr Romagnoli , who we have just heard .
one need only go for a drive on the roads of Belgium or the Netherlands to realise that the system has reached its limits .
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , in Italy , the Communications Regulatory Authority , an independent body , has issued its 43rd resolution against the state television authority for breaching the rights of Italian citizens to be informed about initiatives by the Radicals - its 43rd resolution .
protection of the environment through criminal law (
I believe we should stay calm because I am sure that Turkey will find reason enough to overcome a potential crisis .
I agree with the rapporteur when he says that ' the fact that the world is globalising is what , to our mind , is implying an ever more pressing and urgent need to assert and strengthen the European identity , without detracting from the diversity of the cultures existing among the peoples of Europe ' .
trade in services also means a knowledge transfer between countries and citizens .
I voted in favour of this legislative resolution of the European Parliament because I agree with its content .
I would also like to take this opportunity to express my solidarity with all the efforts made by Madeira 's local authorities and its people .
in this connection , I wish to raise another issue mentioned here , and another natural upheaval : snow .
at the same time , however , we believe that the process of energy integration should respect specific national factors , in other words national energy mixes , including the use of nuclear energy .
this report makes an exhaustive analysis of the budgetary situation of the eighth , ninth and tenth EDF , drawing attention to some important questions that urgently require the review and implementation of ex ante controls in the delegations and internal control systems of the partner countries , particularly with regard to public tender procedures .
this is the only approach that will give the EU credibility in the international arena .
to date , a small island Member State close to Libya has helped in all the ways it could : Malta .
healthy democracies need active citizens .
countries that are members of the European Union - as they should be - but are not members of the monetary union - as they should not be - are forced to keep a fixed exchange rate with the euro and thus with their most important trading partners .
these gases cause most harm in large urban areas , where 80 % of the population live .
I welcome the fact that most of the activities and assets related to the EGNOS and Galileo programmes were transferred to the Commission in December 2009 .
Madam President , this resolution was difficult to negotiate , but we have finally ended up with something which I think has managed to satisfy all groups .
indeed , the informal European Council last week in Lisbon supported the approach proposed by the Commission to ensure that European policies are aimed at defending European citizens in a globalised economy .
when we think of something better , I will be there straight away to give it my support .
I should like to know whether the vote we are about to take is the result of an automatic procedure or of a specific request made by Mr de Magistris , who has earned a reputation over the years for attacking the privileges of politicians , saying they should defend themselves in court and not seek loopholes to avoid it .
in writing . - ( FR ) I voted for this report which aims to bring the ban on exports of mercury forward to 15 March 2011 , three months before the date proposed by the Council .
the duty to protect humans wherever they live and whoever they may be is a sacred universal right and duty .
who was responsible ?
the charging of heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain infrastructures (
one-minute speeches on matters of political importance
I welcome today 's vote .
written explanations of vote
we warmly welcome Mr Tabarki and the members of his delegation .
when it scanned the books , Google drew on the categories of out-of-print and orphan works .
otherwise , we will simply be trying to reinvent the wheel for Europe , and will end up making the process even more difficult .
these must be European , and reasonably quick .
the office of ombudsman had considerably more work over the past year , but the number of its recommendations accepted by the public administration fell .
in addition to information available on the Internet , we need to provide guidance through traditional channels as well .
this is why I would like to welcome the restrictive measures adopted by the Council against the Syrian regime at the start of the week .
I am quite sure , however , that when these changes are transposed , some compromise solutions will need to be evaluated , and it will be essential to carry out any resulting adjustments so long as they are considered feasible in terms of the convention itself .
what we must not do is deny the facts .
certain basic principles need to be respected .
getting the opportunity to speak on this issue was very important for the parties they represent here .
already now , ODA includes many topics which constitute adaptation , and that is quite normal .
it also necessitates an agreement on what is common and what can be shared in this concern for security and among these burdens .
compared to the figures circulating previously , this must be considered a step in the right direction .
the problem of the different effect of artificial trans-fatty acids compared to that of the rest seems , however , to have been settled . in their natural form trans-fatty acids only occur in a few products , in particular in milk , which contains a small percentage of these acids .
needless to say , we are all opposed to people being discriminated against on the basis of their disability , sexual orientation and such like .
I think the ECB is doing what is has to do , but it makes no secret of the fact - it says so quite openly - that it provides liquidity in the mornings , but normally , before shutting up shop at the end of the day , it receives liquidity from those financial institutions that have not used that liquidity for their credit operations .
in addition , we shall certainly be providing input to the discussion on this House 's multiannual financial framework .
it demanded that the Member States should be obliged to carry out market surveillance internally and at external borders - and this is precisely what is stated in our proposals .
we should be satisfied for a variety of reasons , which are those that concern the Union as a whole , because it is clear that allowing the European Union to create for itself regional regulatory areas where international standards already exist to govern them , and to come between the Member States and international organisations in defining rules , is something that must only be done when necessary .
the EU must move forward ; it must aim for the wellbeing both of European citizens , of course , and of world citizens .
there was a motion for a resolution for today on China , on the case of Mr Gao Zhisheng , a well-known lawyer who is under arrest .
this leads to employees working many hours and the accident risks are increasing .
it states that inspection plans have not been implemented and where they do exist that they are often not publicly available .
the flexibility mechanisms are intended to be seen as emergency measures and not as a means to achieve targets .
however , it is worth noticing , together with the rapporteur , that much flexibility is given to the Member States , which might lead to uneven implementation results from one Member State to the other .
our boats are grounded .
I encourage those countries to increase their contribution vigorously and remember that this is a chance to assist less-developed countries in the same way that the developed world lent them a hand not so long ago .
the next sitting will take place tomorrow , Thursday , 14 December 2010 , from 09 : 00 to 13 : 00 , from 15 : 00 to 20 : 30 and from 21 : 00 to 24 : 00 .
by allowing such a high degree of flexibility through reductions in third countries , I wonder what the effects will be .
some have criticised this , saying that this is a breach of parliamentary sovereignty .
bearing in mind that we want EU Member States to resort to this fund when necessary , we must welcome the decision made by European political leaders at last week 's summit .
this involves firstly , of course , acting as a catalyst for the actions and efforts of the Member States , but also taking a coordinated approach at European level .
I firmly believe that the creation of a real partnership with regional and local bodies requires a clearer definition of the so-called principle of partnership , as well as the active involvement of local and regional bodies in consultations on the regional policy of the European Union .
consequently , I believe that it would be useful to reorganise these existing administrative structures at ministry level and apply stringent skills criteria for selecting staff .
it is on the great trading route of the Silk Road and has some of the best preserved Islamic architecture sites , some of which are buried beneath the desert .
freedom of choice is also a right for women .
the Commission has focused only formally on what it was notified of by the Member States .
at the same time , the report calls on Member States to support the position of the EU in these organisations .
however , the legislation in some Member States allows for fingerprints to be provided by children under the age of 12 , but this will only be possible for a transitional period of four years .
the second has to do with offshore companies .
it does not even take account of either the financial perspectives , which suggested 1.1 % of the Community 's Gross National Income , or the draft submitted and approved at first reading in this budget , which was for 1.08 % of Community GNI .
as for the extra costs to manufacturers of vans and minibuses , they will be well compensated for by the fact that these vehicles will pollute less and consume less , and in the end , that is what motorists are interested in .
if the different European political forces and European institutions do not work hand in hand with a constructive position , we will be giving arguments to those who , at the extremes , want to exploit populism , xenophobia and nationalism by establishing a connection between nationalism and homeland , which is an error .
the EU framework to be presented in April will build on your resolution , Ms Járóka , on the work of the Commission 's Roma Task Force and , of course , on the wide range of contributions received from Member States and from civil society .
I am just going to mention one or two points , and I apologise if I go on a little too long .
as regards the Commission , it is all very nice to talk about noble objectives such as investing in youth and education , promoting the study of languages and fostering innovation for economic development and job creation in Europe , but the Auditors ' report gives no comfort on how European Union funds are being spent , nor do the outstanding commitments show the EU is very good at planning .
in the last decade , 20 % of domestic business has been lost to foreign hauliers .
it is important that the targets we have agreed at EU level are actually achieved .
there is plenty of money .
by recognising Kosovo , we have placed the pro-European section of public opinion in Serbia in a very awkward position .
and
of course , there is no doubt that the international negotiations will be very difficult , due in part to the fact that they are so complex .
we have beginnings , which is a very good thing , I think .
I am sorry we do not have anybody from the Presidency this evening , but I think that is important .
what has happened since 17 June to make Poland change its view in September ?
however , these were , in my opinion , outweighed by protectionist wordings on conditional market access and the desire to set up a supranational authority for product quality .
the EIB is an essential tool for the EU 's external activities throughout the world .
however , there are cases of Alzheimer 's disease in the European Union which are undiagnosed .
finally , for a presidency to be successful - what a fine lesson this is - you have to surround yourself with two socialists : Bernard Kouchner , who was a minister under Mr Mitterrand , and Mr Jouyet , who worked with Mr Jospin and with Mr Delors .
hardly any of the speeches have referred to the fact that this issue concerns not only refugees , asylum seekers and economic immigrants to Europe , but it is also , to a large degree , about finally putting an end to organised crime .
sick people should not have to go to court in order to validate their rights and to get unjustified requirements for prior authorisation overruled .
Mr President , firstly , I should like to give condolences to the family and friends of Benazir Bhutto .
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however , we found ourselves with a situation whereby the banks were no longer lending to each other , as they no longer had any money to lend , and the entire system was collapsing .
as I have said , it is much too little and much too late - much too late , in fact , to guarantee safe passage of the sparse worthwhile elements before the election next year .
the Turkish authorities are understandably trying to engage the US , Iraqi and Iraq 's Kurdish authorities in their efforts .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Madam Commissioner , Sri Lanka 's brutal civil conflict is finally nearing its end .
what a difference !
I am also pleased with the Council 's conclusions from September which make a useful political commitment to develop the European Space Policy .
we condemn these atrocities without any hesitation but , at the same time , recognise that these are exceptions which , although very bloody , are not widespread .
this time the part of victim was played by Natalia Petrova , a maker of documentary films about , among other subjects , Chechnya .
during the first half of next year , the European Commission will present the proposal to revise the system .
the Commission is currently drafting a new strategy on violence against women , which will also touch on the creation of this observatory .
that is the difficulty , and that is what needs to be understood clearly if these problems are to be managed .
closure of the sitting
in addition , the Commission asks for delegated powers and , therefore , the ability to modify elements of the proposal .
artificial obstacles have been put in its way and I am grateful to the Swedish Presidency for helping to remove them .
an inexorable gap is opening up between the least developed countries and the world economy , creating a vicious circle in which the victims are the populations .
not only does this help Europe not to lose women 's talent and presence in the workforce but it also contributes to facing the present demographic challenge and ensuring children 's healthy physical , emotional , and mental development .
inequalities persist , as shown by the fact that , in 2007 , life expectancy at birth showed a variation of 14.2 years between EU Member States for men , and 8.3 years for women .
Madam President , I would like to make the point that you could not make this up today .
and it really is quite touching .
the rapporteur does not deny Member States the option of enlarging or extending the scheme to include urban transport , and it is already mandatory for regional transport .
Baroness Ashton said that some progress has been made , and of course it has , but there are severe problems still .
this strategy will have to be shaped later on by each Member State and will thus be assessed at local level .
some countries have more rigorous systems than others , and that is another reason why the study on breeder documents is very important .
as far as the generous attitude towards spending the funds lawfully is concerned , I am afraid that we will have to call a halt to this ourselves .
I attempted during committee to tighten this up and make sure that you could not sign the opt-out at the same time as the contract and that you could opt out of the opt-out at any time .
this was a concession won by the British .
well , you spoke of active ingredients and the controls which we must apply to active ingredients , including when they are manufactured , when they are produced in third countries , and not in the European Union .
will this pact really create economic governance ?
I also called for greater transparency and for the site www.buildup.eu to be used , not to mention for the applied model , whenever this instrument is used , to be made available free of charge to anyone who is interested so that we can benefit from best practices .
we expect the Council to deal more closely with the social issues resulting from the crisis and to draw the right conclusions .
that is a positive point and means that footwear is no longer so dominant .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to point out once again that we are talking about a package : the resolution in December and this debate today .
for the conditions of competition in the single market to be the same , the level of basic direct payments must be the same or comparable throughout the Union .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , in my opinion , the decisive point in the report before us is the change to the legal basis .
the implementation of the Banana Accompanying Measures covering the ACP countries requires an amendment of the regulations on the EU 's set of foreign relations instruments .
recently , our attention has shifted away noticeably from Russia 's aggression towards Georgia to the problems facing our banks .
by publication of the beneficiaries of public aid , we will be able to see in detail in what context the division of funds is taking place ; and particularly in the countries of what are known as the old and the new EU .
in other words , they have given nothing .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I , too , voted in favour of this resolution , because the issue of protecting religious minorities around the world is now more crucial than ever .
of course the Commission should also issue recommendations , for example in relation to reducing debt .
it is unacceptable for there to be no regulation in this field .
obviously , the candidate states must meet all the required criteria in all matters concerning membership .
today , as you know , an international hurricane is sweeping the world .
of course there could also be reason to fear that the measures in question might be implemented with military or repressive means .
France started its presidency with the Russian-Georgian conflict and the Czech presidency has to handle the commercial and political dispute between Russian and Ukraine .
the position of women regarding pay is alarming .
as this report describes , armed conflicts , especially when they involve human rights abuses , give rise to huge increases in migratory flows to neighbouring countries .
there is no need to hold a summit in order to determine a strategy for Africa .
and it is important that today , on the eve of the Parliamentary elections , the people of the European Union must feel that the Community was created for it , for its citizens , that it is there to improve their daily lives .
our unwillingness to compromise must surely apply even more to the racist , xenophobic and overtly neo-fascist tendencies that are still tolerated today at a very high level in some of the Member States , both new and old , of the European Union .
in writing . - ( NL ) This spring summit is of crucial importance to all Europeans .
in the area of employment conditions or income levels , women have been seriously affected , and unless appropriate measures are taken immediately , there is a risk that the situation will deteriorate even further .
the European Ombudsman was established to help bring the Union closer to citizens and to give the EU administration a ' human face ' .
subject : animal welfare
it is a matter of resolving purely professional problems , the politicisation of which can only do harm .
in the end we listened to each other , firstly in Parliament , and then I must recognise that the French Presidency demonstrated extraordinary diligence in its approach to the matter .
at the moment we are obviously assessing various aspects in relation to the new cycle of the Lisbon Strategy .
it is time we joined forces to prepare our societies better for this demographic change , strengthening intergenerational solidarity and ensuring that people have access to high-quality social services of general interest .
the Russian Government should do everything in its power to prove that it did not order the terrorist assassination of a British citizen - which also means a European citizen - Alexander Litvinenko .
who , as it says for example in recital J , needs to increase the financial priority of water ?
if we are not capable of implementing a policy of social preference via economic preference , a policy of social security via economic security , if we are not capable of implementing a trade protection policy , well then , ladies and gentlemen , we are going to deliver what remains of our farmers , our craftsmen and our industries to the law of the globalisation jungle .
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given that you also mention 2011 as the European Year on Volunteering in your response , I would like to ask why the Commission has only proposed a budget of EUR 6 million for this year ; the year 2010 will have a budget of EUR 18 million .
then , in 2004 , it informed the complainant that it had adopted new proposals to amend the original Directive , and it would examine the complaint in the light of those proposals .
if the current nuclear power plant projects in Kaliningrad and Astravo on the EU border are implemented without complying with the highest international safety requirements , they will pose a threat not just to the neighbouring Baltic countries but to the whole of Europe , which is relatively near .
I believe that we should listen to this protest , because it poses a key question from the point of view of the European budget about the place of public investment in discussions about economic policies .
we must not think along medium-term and short-term lines .
I can give you an example : a 20 % increase has been announced in Belgium , and this is just impossible for the worst off .
for example , I feel obliged to mention the report from the Commission on the spread of corruption and illegal tax transactions .
they have us well trained .
I am confident that Member States will give their blessing to this decision this very month .
the demands made on dealers by manufacturers will become quite simply unbearable and unmanageable for a large number of modest garage owners .
from this perspective , I understand the challenge of the European Parliament to the Azerbaijan office expressing disquiet over the results of a police investigation mounted against young people who make satirical references to visible shortcomings in the political life of the country .
a fourth priority for us is our citizens .
the other issue is that I regret that we have not spoken out more emphatically against the fraud committed during the local government elections .
( FR ) Mr President , in this debate on the 2020 strategy , I should also like to take advantage of Mr Grech 's very interesting report to tell you that I am convinced that consumers must not be left out of this future strategy .
in this light , we support the recommendation of the report .
ladies and gentlemen , I would like to welcome you all on the occasion of the regular report from the European Council President following the Council 's Spring Summit .
if you really want to change things , you must explain something to the MEPs and to the citizens : the response to the financial and economic crisis must , at the same time , be a response to the environmental crisis .
change on a broad scale is a constant presence , allowing new enterprises , new jobs and new opportunities to emerge .
in somewhat simplified terms , the Conservatives lay the emphasis on flexibility and the Socialists on security .
it is a very important step .
how do we go about guaranteeing that the food supply is secure and safe to the same standards that European producers are meant to meet , in particular with regard to beef from Brazil ?
it is difficult to support international relations , such as those defined in the reports voted on by Parliament , with a country that does not respect agreements and which , above all , takes a stand on the fundamental right to the protection of life .
in the global system in which we live , the EU must adapt its policies to the needs of the various sectors and develop a global satellite navigation system that integrates perfectly with the well-known GPS system so as to provide immediate information with no margin for error .
the EU 's mechanisms for reaching consensus and taking concerted action make it a model for a rules-based international order .
Yemen is struggling with a civil war , al-Qaeda strongholds , a weak state , poor intelligence services , inefficient security and armed military forces .
in Macedonia there are separatist elements on one side and nationalists on the other who try to challenge the stability of the country , and the Bucharest decision does not help the situation at all .
how far have we got ?
neither can we omit to point out the injustice of a regulation which benefits countries with higher incomes to a greater extent , particularly those with higher levels of salaries and unemployment support .
in London there are a number of educational institutions .
we must also look at the effect of chemicals , which must be regulated through the REACH regulation .
a brutal war has erupted in Eastern Congo , with some 350 000 people forced to flee their homes .
as Mr Sarkozy said yesterday , we need to relaunch capitalism in green form ; we need a Green Deal .
you have said that you will carry out an evaluation and that that evaluation will form part of the debate with the Council on whether or not photovoltaic panels will be included .
author . - ( NL ) Mr President , the military regime in Burma tries to give the impression that it is maintaining a good policy and important national values against a hostile outside world that is threatening those positive values .
it worked : the Council treated the matter as urgent , Parliament treated the matter as urgent .
moreover , as regards the radical changes affecting our southern neighbours , I believe that the moment has come to adopt a new European approach with the aim not only of defending democracy but also of taking concrete measures to alleviate migratory pressures and to guarantee the security of energy supply .
it was estimated at one stage that Dell and its suppliers employed one in every five people throughout the mid-west of Ireland , so this area has been hard hit .
Europe is about rights for European citizens and I am very proud that this House is standing for those rights .
for this reason some kind of extra , multi-level aid instruments are needed .
you have derailed it , and that is a pity .
let us , however , avoid such a shortcut in which we , as it were , over the heads of nation states , establish certain legislation for them .
students are being arrested and arbitrarily convicted , as are others .
a state under the rule of law must use every means at its disposal to maintain public safety and preserve order .
our environment is suffering under the insults inflicted as a result of an ever-increasing world population and man 's uncontrolled appetite for materialistic consumption .
today Sierra Leone has become a synonym for the particular horrors which we have witnessed across Africa over these past few years .
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what now are the components of this compromise ?
it pains me that due to lack of time I am unable to go into this in any more detail .
we cannot go on saying that Libya has very important trading relations with European Union Member States and acts as a partner for the European Union in the Mediterranean basin , and putting respect for human rights as a secondary issue .
this is because the Ombudsman is the friend and guardian of the European citizen and is the facility through which Community institutions and bodies can be held to account over whether they have served the citizen properly and whether they are guilty of maladministration or bad practice .
these will be guaranteed though the safety system , Safe Sea Net , and also all the other state-of-the-art technological tools used to help the public ensure that European Union rules are actually applied .
Madam President , I should like to express my satisfaction with the efforts we have all made to reach agreement on this regulation at first reading .
we are going to organise the contact points , and we are going to organise the helpdesk through which we will advise organisers about what is possible , what is not , what kinds of regulations are in the pipeline , what kinds of initiatives are being organised or what kinds of competing or opposite proposals we have received from other organising committees .
as a result , the initiative will be very costly for the initiators and , therefore , is not equally accessible to all .
we must apply our energies to these problems , above all , so that we can tackle the problem of human trafficking .
we hope that this cycle is not beginning again and that Mrs Otunbayeva has a different approach .
reducing labour market segmentation is , first and foremost , the responsibility of the Member States .
as for terrorism , which is at the heart of this report , why call on NATO , the organisation that poses the biggest threat to world peace , to deal with it ?
you , Mr Orbán , can do something yourself to help the situation .
in writing . - ( NL ) Around 20 % of work in Europe is undeclared .
with regard to the question relating to strategic relations between the European Union and Russia , the Council can inform Parliament that following the summit held with Russia in Stockholm in November , there will be another summit during the six-month Spanish Presidency .
with the seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development , the European Union is well equipped - and Parliament played its full role in its outcome - to mobilise EU R & D funds in support of the development of new green technologies .
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therefore , I support the call to cancel Haiti 's international debt .
concerning the response of SMEs to FP7 , every year the Commission publishes a detailed assessment of SME participation by country of origin as part of our annual report , which I have mentioned .
therefore , they must be given the opportunity to protect their own national economies more effectively against imported goods which are sold at dumping prices and which destroy local markets and local people 's livelihoods .
similar incidents have been observed for some time now in New York , where groups organised by the Chinese Consulate have been attacking Falun Gong believers as well as people demonstrating peacefully in favour of Tibet .
let us not forget that the budget is not just an instrument to be approved when there has to be a forecast for the following year .
although it did this in a symbolic way with 20 members , it has , in recent years , been an important testimony to the process of regulating the Kurdish question which has begun in Turkey .
should the state not , in these circumstances , support their effort ?
Mr President , I do not want to take up too much time .
adult participation in education and training is not sufficient if the EU wishes to reach the benchmark goal of 12.5 % participation in adult learning by 2010 .
my answer was longer because I just wanted to make it clear to you that we are taking these actions seriously and that you should count on us - definitely also in my area - to continue to do so .
we are fully confident that Hungary will take all the necessary steps to ensure that the new media law is implemented with full respect for European values on media freedom and for the relevant EU legislation as well as the European Convention on Human Rights .
in addition , public executions encourage aggressive behaviour amongst the population .
in many legislations , the assent of the biological parents is still necessary , even if these have completely abandoned their children .
in the multinational firm Qimonda S.A. , which operates in the electronics sector in the mid-level region of Norte , there have been 839 redundancies as a result of the global financial and economic crisis .
this means that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council will elect a judge from a proposal for three candidates presented by the European Union , and I agree with the draft report that an appropriate number of Members of Parliament should be allowed to participate in sessions of the Assembly when it elects the judges of the European Court .
however , whilst we fully support the integration of the Roma people within the European Union , we do have serious misgivings with regard to the involvement of the European Union on issues which we believe to be the preserve of individual nation states , such as access to health care , education , employment and housing .
expanding and upgrading relations , political and economic , with our eastern neighbours will contribute to our economic dynamics and political and international influence .
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this would have been cheaper and more efficient , precisely because we are so dependent on imports .
we support the European Commission 's proposal , as it means that this consensual programme that we have arrived at can be implemented .
there has been no in-depth evaluation of the risks of error in the MSY model .
new financial instruments are also needed , as well as a discussion about what we will do , for example , with large-scale innovation , industrial and research projects such as ITER or Galileo or with energy projects .
this is what the European Union , hastened by the crisis , is beginning to do .
it may no longer be sensible to give older miners the option of retraining .
we must at the very least have an impact assessment of this idea .
having said this , I thank Mr Sterckx for his persistence in this difficult undertaking , in which he has had to fight a battle .
( HU ) Thank you very much , Mr President .
I welcome the continuation of the fisheries agreement with Mauritania , although it is appropriate to point out that the negotiation process was not always conducted in the most open and transparent fashion .
( BG ) Ladies and gentlemen , it is vitally important that we emphasise the fact that the Court of Auditors ' conclusions acknowledge the progress which has been made by the Commission in controlling the absorption of European funds .
in writing . - ( LT ) I voted in favour of this document , because the EU has legislation in place to enable cross-border claims and the mutual recognition of judgments of national courts , including the Brussels I Regulation , the European Enforcement Order , the Small Claims Procedure and the Order for Payment Procedure .
there will soon be some major US-EU-NATO summits .
this is really what the crisis is increasingly about .
I therefore wonder if it would not have been more efficient to produce a patent in just one language ?
the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office , ECHO , is cooperating in the work to improve the humanitarian situation in the whole region and not only in Iraq .
it has been stated in this Chamber that the implementation of the Treaty of Lisbon is a matter of urgency .
the same study also says that the coastal ecosystems of Europe are constantly being destroyed .
February 's annual report by the European Parliament on equality between men and women for 2009 says that , as a result of the economic crisis and the budget cuts in the EU countries , there have been job losses , particularly amongst women .
I agree with Martin Schulz that we should call a halt to the debate based on beliefs and consider the facts .
there will be a decisive settlement .
this is because , if we say that we need to do more research and development , for example , then we must make provision for that in the national budgets and in the European Union 's financial perspective .
it benefits enormously from its membership and is fast catching up with the most economically advanced countries .
so if you want to lose , go ahead , but it is a shame , we will do ...
Member of the Commission . - It is a normal Nordic approach : rather short but straight to the point .
finally , the introduction of a trust mark system would ensure additional consumer protection .
because the past 65 years have shown that , when Americans and Europeans devote their energies to common purpose , there is almost nothing we are unable to accomplish .
we would like to inspire you , as well as the European Commission , to do the same .
Vice-President of the Commission . - As the honourable Member knows , the Portuguese Presidency included the topic of new technologies and integrated border management for discussion at the informal Council of Interior Ministers on 1 October .
such practices create an enormous environmental footprint and , at the same time , oblige developing countries to import almost all necessary foods , making them dependent , ruining their economies , impoverishing their inhabitants and destroying their environment .
at this point I call on the Commission to speed up the procedure to put forward this important piece of legislation , so as to allow a first reading before the end of this parliamentary term .
with regard to the Treaty of Lisbon , I would call once again on those Member States that have not yet ratified it do so as quickly as possible , so that we have an overall idea of the final state of ratification .
I accept what Mrs Bowles said : that in future a holding of whatever percentage will attract a capital charge .
there are various tools in place for this coordination of aid .
it is a shame that no one listened to us .
however , Conservatives believe that national governments and parliaments are generally best placed to act in ways that are most effective for their own societies and economies .
I do not think it is feasible for us to look for resources to cover European banana producers ' needs on an annual basis .
it is certainly a step in the direction of greater EU involvement in defence .
in this way , history now admits that our young heroes of 1956 were right .
that is why the Council can expect controversial negotiations .
indeed , this was due to the lack of experience in a state which lived through a dark period for almost half a century , but equally to those who were fully prepared to exploit these weaknesses .
this will also be the 5th anniversary of the accession of former communist states to the European Union .
for instance , there is a very nice project in Germany which we could generalise to other countries where , in public spaces , there is a meter measuring how much longer a woman has to work in order to reach the same medium salary as a man .
we should also create the highest standards possible for dangerous waste in Europe .
let me close by saying that the Commission will intensify its efforts to seek an improvement of the overall human rights situation in China .
I agree with some of the previous speakers and like them I want to express my fundamental disagreement with this report because of one key problem : the failure to approve key amendments which would have corrected what was originally a bad report .
Mr President , it is increasingly necessary for the European Union to act as a global-scale economic partner and a strategic partnership with Brazil is a sign that we want to follow that path .
the Chinese are prevailing .
aviation and the other industries will be able to continue to increase their emissions without constraint by merely buying up the supposed reductions made elsewhere , and , considering recent reports that up to half of reductions from CDM and JI projects are questionable , this will fundamentally undermine the integrity of the entire scheme .
( LT ) The directive proposed by the European Commission ensures cooperation between the institutions controlling airports and the users and this will not allow large airports to ignore the interests of clients and take a monopolistic position in the market .
however , given that it is an institution elected by the people , in my opinion the European Parliament 's powers have until now been insufficient .
however , we should realise that it takes the EU 20 years to spend that sum of money .
even though the changes proposed by the Commission may seem few in formal terms , they are substantial as all current references to partner countries ( so far covering only industrialised and high-income countries and territories ) , including their qualitative assessment , would include also the listed developing countries .
moreover , some of the amendments pre-empt a debate we should have on the basis of the Green Paper .
the countries of the Western Balkans are a case in themselves .
I wonder why Parliament is always ready to take a stand against countries that violate laws but does not acknowledge that there is a country among the 27 Member States that is violating laws .
austerity , yes , but not where the poorest people are concerned .
I am sure that the President-in-Office of the Council , President Sarkozy , agreed with me when he asked you to commit yourself today to respond to this report from the European Parliament with the following concrete proposal : it is not only about regulating the banks , but also about regulating hedge funds and private equity .
in this way we will strengthen these institutions financially and also restore their respect and authority .
the next item is the joint debate on the following reports :
I asked the trawlermen how much of a reduction they could bear before being driven out of business , and they replied that any reduction would have that effect .
experience has shown , however , that the environment does not reward unilateral determination and climatic Puritanism , because it does not bring results .
that is why we decided to abstain from the vote on the joint motion for a resolution by the four political groups , including the PPE-DE Group , on European conscience and totalitarianism .
the directive seeks to reduce the differences that exist between national legislations : with this one-stop shop system , the administrative procedure would be simpler , less expensive and quicker .
( RO ) Madam President , the level of economic and financial crime must be reduced in every Member State .
secondly , on climate change , we as the European Union will encourage the US to go to the Copenhagen conference with ambitious objectives to reach a sound global agreement , and we will also engage with the US to make progress on establishing a cap-and-trade system across the Atlantic .
I recognise what a number of people have said about religious faith and I accept that this is an important issue .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , welcome to Parliament .
I thank Parliament for its support in trying to be more effective in communicating with citizens , because then we have to be serious about it and give it the resources and the framework we need to work in partnership with Member States as well and , of course , to make our texts and our decisions as readable as possible .
the Commission has therefore opened infringement procedures against all seven Member States which take part in the bluefin tuna fishery for shortcomings in data transmission .
however , the best argument in favour will definitely be for Galileo to function as quickly and as successfully as possible .
one minute we are talking about animal transport - a very important subject - and now we are talking about another very important subject : the Mediterranean diet .
I think it right that I should remind you that CO2 is not the only thing that we are discussing when it comes to the motor industry .
this was a emotionally charged sitting , not only because of the human rights issues , but because it was our last sitting .
time is running out .
it is a direct and democtrative encroachment on personal rights .
Madam President , I would like to add my voice to what the previous speakers have said , but I would also highlight another aspect of this issue : finalising the proposed amendment may have serious consequences for people other than just the LGBT community in Lithuania .
( PT ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , the regional integration of cross-border electricity markets must be seen not only in the light of what is being discussed today , but also in terms of creating a single European market for electricity .
you , the Commission , play a role - a necessary role , and one I support - a very formalistic role as protector of the interests of the European Union in terms of its treaties and its rules on competition and State aid .
nanotechnology , if one were to compare it , is a bit like information technology , because there is a horizontal influence on many sectors .
it is very important for countries ' government institutions to undertake to monitor issues surrounding the death penalty so that specific cases are raised with the national authorities and possible initiatives for the abolition of the death penalty are considered .
in general , EMEA is considered a well organised and functioning agency . nevertheless , for an agency of this significance , I think that we should be absolutely sure that the right procedures are in place and effectively applied .
we are seeing the crisis deepening in many developing countries , with unprecedented unemployment rates and exponential growth in government debt and budget deficits .
we would lose credibility and the credibility of Europe would be set back .
thus , the existence of places of dialogue must be a policy to be stimulated and promoted .
author . - Mr President , however much one tries to be understanding about the different society , lifestyle and circumstances prevailing in a deeply Muslim state like Iran , one cannot help but feel shocked and angry at the grossly undemocratic and brutal treatment of women in that country .
moreover , I think a recommendation is needed with respect to the classification of information by reference to international classifications , so as to eliminate all the differences between Member Sates and other states in the enforcement of security measures .
in addition , the project practices should be simplified , clarified and accelerated and made more result-oriented .
I have therefore voted in favour of Amendment 10 , which rejects the common position of the Council .
thanks to their successful use , I support extending their scope and identifying innovative financial products in the future .
but I have to say that personally I would like to see a commitment and a confirmation from the World Bank that they are going to sign up to the 75 % .
I would see clustering develop in successful sectors .
it is essential to support smaller , poorer countries , which have problems with the introduction of alternative , green energy sources .
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the pretext of this is to revitalise the Western Balkan economies through privileged access to the EU market , in the belief that any economic growth resulting from this will foster political stability throughout the region .
on the point of form , I must say that our fellow Members in the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) , who for some time now have been actively abusing this urgency session on breaches of human rights in order to hold a party political debate , are creating a complex situation .
secondly , the need to maintain a CAP system based on two pillars , while promoting rural areas as part of the second pillar , is closely linked to the Europe 2020 strategy objectives .
the Committee on Industry , Research and Energy has made a significant contribution .
those of us who value peace , freedom and democracy ought to be concerned about terrorism because it works .
we therefore have to acquire a better understanding of the consequences that all this may have for human health , and especially that of the most vulnerable members of society , so that we become better able to manage the risks involved .
I am pleased that Croatia is making significant efforts to combat the trafficking , use of and trade in illegal drugs .
the economic interests in the region cannot allow us to make concessions on fundamental rights and freedoms .
I would point out - since the matter has been raised - that we wished to improve the application of the Dublin agreement by allowing some flexibility .
I would also emphasise , though , that all the EU monitors are still in place following the flows of gas and we expect that there will be no need for them in the future .
suffocating foreign debt , paid several times over , yet always rising , plays a key role in establishing these kind of relations .
it is , therefore , first of all , a question of harmonising practices by following the example of Spain , the star pupil of the 27 .
we must now tackle the black sheep of the industry .
these are issues that I do not believe have been entirely clarified .
these demands of the European Parliament are persistent and stubborn , but they are not an expression of malice on the part of MEPs , they are an expression of concern for public money and are , as indeed they should be , an expression of concern for transparency in spending taxpayers ' money .
there are plans to introduce specific new measures to verify that construction products are being recycled and to promote their reuse as a way of meeting the EU 's climate change targets .
lessons on diet , on which I lay great emphasis , are not about the ability to distinguish good foods from bad ; nothing is harmful in absolute terms , and nothing needs to be excluded from the diet of healthy people not suffering from an eating disorder .
if we want to play this role , we must overcome our own differences .
( PT ) Madam President , A Voz do Operário , an educational and charitable society , was founded in Lisbon on 13 February 1883 , and for 125 years has worked tirelessly in the fields of education , culture , partnership and social support , which I applaud .
that is what this European Day of Memorial should be about .
I would like to take this opportunity to put a couple of questions that I have concerning the commitments made by the Commission in connection with the negotiations ahead of the first reading vote on the Toys Directive , as well as ahead of our plenary vote .
this is an area which will be particularly affected by the Union 's accession to the convention .
finally , after almost a year of dithering on the part of the Council , the Committee on Fisheries decided to proceed to a full vote in committee to put pressure on the Council to move .
our objective must be to provide equal healthcare , without intervention on the part of the European Union in social security systems and without aiming to commercialise the health sector .
( FR ) Mr President , Commissioner , as far as I am concerned , it takes two to tango .
in terms of institutional architecture , I would agree with the rapporteur , Mr Schmidt , that now is probably not a good time for publication of the full minutes .
Member of the Commission . - Madam President , on 25 February 2011 , the Commission adopted an EUR 3 million emergency decision on humanitarian aid operations in connection with the Libyan crisis .
for their part , the European Commission and the European Parliament behave as if everything were fine .
the request made by the Republic of Moldova in July 2010 is justified .
women are also under-represented in positions of responsibility in cultural institutions and in the academies and universities where some arts are studied .
I thank her for this very direct question , and I am going to try to structure my response around some points that all relate to European citizenship and the content of rights , freedoms , securities and justice : in short , the status of European citizens in the 21st century .
I believe that it is absolutely essential for a comprehensive master plan to be drafted which sets out the general framework for the EU 's border strategy and ensures coordination and cooperation between the various systems and authorities with responsibilities in this area .
progress in international trade must serve this development agenda and if the US has problems with that , then the EU must take a leading role in the successful completion of the Doha Round and also in mediating the full participation of these least developed countries in world trade .
that is our challenge today .
I voted for this report since it is the first serious attempt to present the cultural heritage of the whole of Europe in digital format .
thus , no progress has been made for consumers .
we should also turn our attention to developing countries and support them in their efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency , in contrast to everything that has been done in recent years .
consequently , the Group of the Greens fully endorses the messages in this decision and we call upon the competent bodies of the EU to impress upon the Member States that they should take it just as seriously as we are doing here this evening .
( ET ) At yesterday 's meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister of Georgia , the opinion was repeatedly expressed that the approach taken in Kosovo was the cause of escalating tension in Georgia .
therefore , in order to find out all these things and to control them in the EU 's interest , the European institutions should be concerned with drawing up this strategy .
in writing . - ( PT ) Orlando Zapata Tamayo died of starvation because he demanded to be treated as what he was : a political prisoner persecuted by a regime that , despite the changes in leadership , continues to rule over its citizens with an iron fist and prohibits them from associating or freely expressing themselves .
therefore , a comprehensive approach to addressing the challenges of security and development in Somalia , which have been mentioned , is essential .
( SV ) Mr President , in some key points , this more communal economic policy also has an impact on the EU budget .
composite waste must not be burnt .
on the one hand , the package of measures adopted - specifically the unblocking of aid for Greece , the accelerated restructuring of Member States ' public finances , and the creation of a financial stabilisation mechanism - demonstrate strong solidarity .
no one will be forced to use the increase in the secretarial allowance - you can use it , you do not have to do so .
I firmly believe that repeated extensions of the transitional period are not in the interests of European citizens .
in writing . - ( IT ) The deadlock surrounding the Constitutional Treaty has had a knock-on effect in the tourism sector which , according to the approach under discussion , should become a Community policy .
in order to make the EU more attractive , this proposal establishes common criteria for their admission , recognises equal treatment with EU nationals in several areas , and offers Blue Card holders opportunities to move about within the Union .
I would also like to express my concern about growing ethnic tensions , and about the lack of political dialogue and freedom of the press .
what is advancing faster than anticipated last year is the creation of the European Emergency Response Centre .
the economic crisis that currently plagues the markets did not come as a bolt from the blue .
today , at such a delicate time in which the difficulties in the Mediterranean above all , but also in Japan , are directly linked to a rapidly changing situation , an authoritative and credible Parliament is needed , together with responses that provide a boost for growth , competitiveness and intelligent sustainability in the things that need to be done .
how many times have Member States tried to align taxation - a prerequisite , as is all too evident today , for good governance of the euro ?
however , certain proposals in the Pact are unworkable .
in writing . - I welcome Mr Graça Moura 's report as a step in the right direction for promoting and preserving Europe 's cultural heritage .
providing highly-qualified teachers to give Roma children the challenges found in mainstream schools is of huge relevance to the education future teachers receive in teacher-training colleges .
can the Commission give us more details about this impact assessment and confirm that if it proves unfavourable to the CCCTB proposal the Commission will shelve the plans for such a legislative proposal ?
this will allow the EU to make a contribution in such areas as sustainable development , eradication of poverty and protection for human rights .
that is why we want the Commission to treat this sector and this area as priorities .
it forces businesses to follow extremely short-term strategies , and it favours shareholders at the expense of other economic stakeholders .
they must tackle the scourge of unemployment , which currently affects more than 250 million people on the planet , by putting an end to the current austerity policies .
however , there is no doubt that the European Union has been very clear on this matter and has always been against these detention centres , whether they be known detention centres such as Guantánamo , or allegedly secret ones , and we have always been very open in the European Union to finding out the facts as to whether the latter really exist .
it runs completely counter to the report as a whole , but is , of course , also very unfortunate in itself .
in fact , we should adopt measures which will ensure that any accused person can enjoy sound procedural guarantees , anywhere in Europe .
more caution probably should have been exercised and more confidence shown in those governments elected democratically by their peoples , starting with the Hungarian Government , which was elected by such a large majority of its people that it certainly did not need to manipulate the media in order to achieve an internal consensus .
in writing . - ( RO ) I voted in favour of this resolution because there is a high maternal mortality rate not even in the countries under development , but also in the new EU Member States .
finally , it has struck me that our citizens do not know the difference between the European Commission , Parliament and the Council .
there is undeniable potential here for financing and growth for our territories .
in other words , you are leaving half the Member States exposed to brutal threats for the surrender of personal data , which the USA does not require from the other half of Member States .
across the 27 Member States , opinion polls show that a majority of citizens want a referendum on the Treaty .
we do not seem to be able to learn from past mistakes .
more effective state institutions , better governance , access to basic services , justice and the rule of law are just as important as hard security .
we also asked the Commission to tackle this problem at the time of the negotiations on the free trade agreement and we invited the Indian Government to do its utmost to eradicate the deep causes of this phenomenon and to put an end to it .
Mr President , I stand here with a positive attitude , because international trade contributes towards improved prosperity , both here and elsewhere in the world .
in writing . - ( PL ) I agree with Mr Buzek 's views as regards the issue of introducing new power generation technologies in the light of the challenges facing the European Union , namely environmental protection , guaranteeing the security of energy supplies and maintaining the European Union 's high level of competitiveness .
that is crucial .
therefore I did not vote for the resolution .
in short , European service providers must be able to work without bureaucratic hindrance anywhere in the European Union .
the debt crisis is being tackled with new debts .
the lion 's share of that goes to applications of the GMES system - Global Monitoring for Environment and Security - which will soon be given its own and , in my view , very attractive brand name , like Galileo .
whether they use this opportunity will depend on them .
when we consider the subprime mortgage crisis in the United States , we need to realise that international financial markets are intertwined and that we Europeans must help to make things happen .
we must also go ahead on nanomaterials , and now that the cloning part has been removed , we can move quickly on these .
nevertheless , we regret that what has been proposed by the Commission and endorsed by the Parliament is not a solution merely for the eurozone , but one that includes those whose currency is not the euro .
this proposal would bring about very significant improvements for consumers in the market for timeshare and similar holiday products .
I believe Europe has a responsibility to help and facilitate its decommissioning , and we have to ensure that sufficient funding is made available to this project , as this is crucial to keep safety up to high standards , to ensure the necessary expertise and implement international best practices .
the European Consensus on humanitarian aid , signed on 18 December 2007 by the Council , Parliament and the European Commission , on the basis of a five-year action plan , commits the EU and the Member States to close cooperation in this field .
the Greek crisis is telling : it is Germany that has control and is imposing its demands .
however , I share the rapporteur 's concerns about the 27 % overstatement of the pre-financing costs to border authorities highlighted by the Court of Auditors and the advances made in excess .
however , not all Member States indicate the brands they have seized and there is therefore no complete data available .
in my view , the appalling drop in the latest registrations - in some Member States this month they are down 33 % , or 20 % , and so on - shows that the crisis is not in a technologically obsolete sector , nor is it an internal crisis caused by managerial errors in this or that company .
however , it also depends on whether the Commission hears the arguments put forward in the Council and here in Parliament .
I should like to welcome the introduction of a mechanism of sanctions for correcting macroeconomic imbalances , in line with what is happening at the moment with the Stability and Growth Pact rules .
as Mrs Merkel has said , what matters is implementation .
( FR ) Mr Schulz , you know very well that in my capacity as President of the Commission , I cannot interfere in Portuguese domestic policy .
it is contemptible that the EU attempts to bury such provisions in these types of reports , and then requires MEPs to vote on them as a whole and not individual parts .
situation in Taiwan following the recent typhoon ( debate )
what is happening in Syria , Yemen and Bahrain is not dissimilar from what is happening in other parts of the world .
the results of creativity and innovation must become more widely known .
as far as fisheries are concerned , I would like to say once again that fisheries and aquaculture , of course , make up a substantial part of the integrated maritime policy .
in this regard , we need to emphasise the importance of the agreements returning to Parliament to obtain our approval .
they have also done so , however , at the cost of such complexity in the rules for participation that the cooperation of our best researchers is at serious risk .
that means , ladies and gentlemen , that unitary patent protection - as Mrs Győri explained very well in Italian and Spanish - will be accessible to all businesses in the EU , no matter which Member State they are based in .
the compromise on which we now have to decide unfortunately falls far short of the necessary action that we in the GUE / NGL Group wanted .
in writing . - Clearly there is great merit in improved coordination and readiness for mutual assistance of disaster response organisations in European countries .
I dare say that there are many in this House who do not fully know how this place works .
rather than acting as a spur to our work , that advice note almost became a straitjacket .
in writing . - ( PL ) I voted in favour of the report by Mr Galeote Quecedo on a proposal for a Council regulation opening and providing for the administration of autonomous Community tariff quotas on imports of certain fisheries products into the Canary Islands .
this is linked to historical conditions that resulted in the power sector , for many years , being backward in comparison with the countries of the old EU .
we will , of course , resist further unnecessary regulation .
it is necessary to ensure that different corporate tax regimes do not enable companies to evade their responsibilities to support society by a share of their profits through a fair corporate tax regime .
one million people !
as it is put so well in French : ' qui trop embrasse mal étreint ' .
we are currently seeing the problems of energy dependence .
( DE ) Madam President , I would not have asked for the floor again had not the Commissioner tried to play the victim in his closing remarks .
I would like to devote a few seconds to the question of Georgian territorial integrity .
this means the permanent presence of the European Olympic Committees and the IOC in the European institutions for the purpose of dialogue and cooperation .
it seems to me that the polls tell us clearly what the people of Europe think of this and of the bureaucratic Europe of nations and not the European nation .
indeed , for more and more people , the evidence is overwhelming because both the scientific evidence and the visual evidence prove that there is climate change .
a child born in sub-Saharan Africa has a one in six chance of dying before age 5 .
therefore , to talk about the European Parliament 's new role and responsibilities in implementing the Lisbon treaty is breathtakingly arrogant and symptomatic of the institutional imperviousness to democratic opinion that characterises the EU .
( PL ) Madam President , the current crisis calls for stimulation of economic activity , support for job protection and protection of those who become unemployed .
we have to remember , however , that when we set these sorts of targets for ourselves , everyone has to commit to them .
I should like to hear your responses .
30 .
when all flights go out of Dublin , it just means that all the people who live near Cork Airport , as I do , or Shannon Airport or Waterford or Kerry , have to drive to Dublin or take a second flight - a shuttle to Dublin - and then go on .
we will see whether the Council , which is conspicuous by its absence today , is able to make some response .
but of course , as you know , we have a great variety of approaches towards partnership and volunteering in our Member States .
in particular , it is critical to ensure that the women in some of the most vulnerable circumstances , such as in ' trafficking of women ' , fall under this assistance .
there is nothing more inhuman than exploiting the lives of other living beings for profit , infringing every fundamental right .
so yes , the Commission must resolve to start infringement proceedings and to be as strict as it is on economic matters .
( applause )
we need clear impact assessments in the social sphere as well , so that we are aware of how the legislation that we are forging is impacting on citizens , and so that we can demonstrate that what we know what we want and what we are doing , and that what we are doing can generate positive outcomes for their lives .
the environmental impact procedure based on the Espoo Convention started with the project 's disclosure in late 2006 .
in recent years I have repeatedly questioned the Commission on this topic and highlighted the dangers involved , but no answers have ever been given or any concrete action taken .
information about quality and standards of care in other Member States is another important factor for those of us who may need to travel abroad for treatment .
European Ombudsman 's activity report for 2009 (
the Egyptian Government 's attitude , in my view , is spineless .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - Mr President , what a courageous speech , and what a brilliant description of the necessities of our times .
among them are funds to assist training through lifelong learning .
therefore , in practical terms , we are financing two systems , which is costing European taxpayers no small sum of money .
this is not a good translation because people will then think that it means ' uniform ' .
we do not want this for any state , we do not want any powerful state to deploy military force in the world , and we therefore believe that respect for international law is very important .
the good solution would have been to stay on the grounds of health and safety in this proposal , and strengthen equal opportunities in a different provision .
at this time , my thoughts are also with all those who are not guaranteed even a semblance of a fair trial and who are killed randomly or deliberately by the most barbaric methods in the most merciless circumstances .
the Balkans .
( ES ) I would like to express my thanks first of all to all the Members who have spoken this evening .
Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , it is good that we are discussing a new piece of pharmaceutical legislation this evening .
for my part , I would like to reassure you . I use a moped more than a car , but I would like to avoid dying when I am on my moped too , not just when I am in my car . .
( NL ) Madam President , we are actually bidding farewell to the Czech Presidency , which started brilliantly with the speech by President Klaus in this House , on rather a low note .
the EU , which can only exist through economic immigration , is demonstrating great cynicism .
now is the time that it is important for us to stand by the compromises that we adopted in the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs .
competition law has helped to underpin those efforts .
this is the future too , of course .
analysis of our successes could also be useful for inspiring our future strategies .
the economic benefits of the FTA are mostly in the EU 's favour .
moreover , more use should be made of information technology , in particular , secure e-mail communications and video conferencing , since they are , at the same time , more effective in terms of results and more cost-effective .
for the longer term , I think we have to tailor the Social Fund in a way that can be more effective in specific situations and in counterbalancing the impact of uneven economic development inside the Union , which has already manifested itself in terms of demography as well , triggering migration flows that may not have been sufficiently appreciated in the previous period .
I am very happy , Commissioner , that you have made some very clear statements on Sri Lanka , because this was also my Committee 's concern , and Mrs Mann has carried this out with determination once again .
we are keenly awaiting Professor Monti 's suggestions on how to improve the internal market , but it is an extremely important asset .
Islam has no love for Western freedom and democracy .
finally I would like to add that this new form of company does not replace other forms of enterprise which already exist in different countries , but offers an alternative to them , and that only when specific conditions concerning the establishment of such a company are met .
( PL ) Mr President , despite the fact that the European Parliament has repeatedly acknowledged the advantages that would be conferred upon the Internal Market by improvements to the framework of contract law , the introduction of a new system of contract law using an optional instrument has encountered a series of major problems , in terms of both substance and procedure .
I think you should carry out this debate in the Hungarian Parliament ; this is completely outside the scope of the debates in the European Parliament .
pharmacovigilance ( amendment of Regulation ( EC ) No 726 / 2004 ) (
one barrier has been broken down with the extradition of Mladič , but Kosovo must not become the next one .
consequently , it is important for us to get rid of the two overlapping layers of diverging market surveillance rules applying to harmonised goods , depending on whether they are consumer products or not .
unfortunately , we regularly hear , as a manifestation of political correctness , excuses made on various grounds for parents who do not encourage or even prevent their children 's school attendance .
let us hope that the Commission acts as quickly as the Commissioner spoke .
Mr Orbán , I implore you to free yourself from the shadow that has fallen over your Presidency .
victims of torture , women and children who are victims of sexual violence , or people who need to be resettled for serious health reasons , for example .
in writing . - ( DE ) I voted for the postponement of the discharge .
Germany is in a decisive position .
one life every three and a half minutes - who can argue with that ?
we need more projects which are supported by several ministries at once .
it is my country which , if it does not relent in this case , should hang its head in shame .
economic development has never been so interlinked with these energy conditions .
perhaps that explains why there are so few women on supervisory boards ?
countries who meet their commitment to reserve 0.7 % of GNP for development aid will say : let other countries do the same , let them also meet their commitments , then we may be able to do even better .
for this reason , therefore , Member States were unwilling to share such information with a centralised European PNR entity .
the Stockholm Programme constitutes the institutional cornerstone that provides for judicial cooperation and mutual recognition , a European justice system ( made up of the national systems and the Community system ) , both national and Community law , European citizens and European courts ( both national and Community courts ) .
we need strong , improved coordination of our international , as well as our European , economic policy .
this was found to constitute discrimination against EU carriers established in the territory of a Member State but owned and controlled by nationals of other Member States , contrary to Article 49 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union which guarantees nationals of Member States who have exercised their freedom of establishment the same treatment in the host Member State as that accorded to nationals of that Member State .
these speeches have now gone on for almost 40 minutes , because , unfortunately , many speakers did not keep to one minute .
the experience from my own country shows me that national bureaucracies are unbelievably obstructive , and stubbornly resist all changes that would limit their ability to victimise small businesses .
the discussion and outcome should be as operational and productive as possible .
we are now talking about trade policy .
( the sitting was closed at 4.20 p.m. )
it also defines the international understanding of the term ' refugee ' .
first , it is clear that foreign and security policy constitutes part of the sovereignty of the Member States .
origin marking is important , but , in itself , the origin is not necessarily a guarantee that the product is of high quality .
there are high numbers of women in part-time work and in jobs that have been particularly hard hit by the present crisis .
this means that this crisis will give us the opportunity to increase investment in social Europe and in a Europe of reform .
please be informed that this Directive automatically applies .
I would like to give an example . the same companies receive enormous incentives from citizens ' taxes for renewables .
organised criminal gangs , increasingly multi-ethnic , act with extreme violence .
before we criticise others , we must first stop human rights violations within the EU , and then we will be able to criticise others and try to help them as much as possible .
so how can we expect them to achieve 20 % by 2020 ?
for the round to succeed now , all parties need to show flexibility and willingness to reach a compromise .
in writing . - In the vote on Amendment 6 on the Morgantini Report on Advancing African Agriculture , we had a telling insight into the affinities and sympathies of the GUE / NGL Group and the wider left family .
we will vote tomorrow for the opening of the chapters on fundamental rights and judiciary and on the common foreign and security policy , not because we want to be weak on these issues , but because we want to be strong .
the Commission welcomes this initiative , as it can help to encourage healthy eating habits throughout the EU .
written statements ( Rule 149 )
Mr President , a national programme has been approved to carry out those reforms .
( EL ) Madam President , North Africa is up in flames following the political developments in Egypt , Tunisia and Libya .
the increase in payments - 2.91 % - is a very modest one , and it is a transitional budget at a time of necessary austerity in the Member States .
the countries concerned include Norway , Iceland and Canada .
the EU is calling on the parties to accept responsibility and begin negotiations on all final status issues , including Jerusalem , borders , refugees and security .
firstly , for the development of e-commerce , high-speed broadband is an absolute prerequisite .
this is a well-known problem in my own country , the United Kingdom .
one of the alternative sources of supply is the projected Nabucco pipeline , which would deliver gas from Central Asian countries to Europe , via Turkey . I consider it very important for Parliament to give special support for this project , for it will directly strengthen our common gas supply security .
second question : I understand that , for some countries - I am thinking particularly of those that joined us in 2004 , which largely rely on fossil fuels for their energy - the efforts demanded of them are considerable .
all they will need to do is pay up and then create clean-up industries to be able to carry on with their lucrative business at the cost of pollution that they have , meanwhile , been authorised to create , possibly destroying rivers , forests , etc .
increasing ticket prices is not an option in the current situation , while the increase in service charges being applied by some low-cost companies may result in an even sharper drop in the number of passengers .
we need these farmers , not only for what they supply on the market , but also for what they do on their land .
the rapporteur 's proposal adopted a fairly revolutionary approach to the existing Directive .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Madam President , it is always very useful to be able to debate such an important issue in front of a heaving Chamber of colleagues who are agog to hear what Parliament has to say on this very important matter .
Mr President , I would like to raise the issue of Cadbury Schweppes , which has just announced in my own constituency that it is going to close its factory in Keynsham with the loss of 500 jobs and move production to Poland .
to this end , the Commission is working on a recommendation on a common approach to both mobile and fixed termination rates which aims at promoting greater clarity and consistency in this important but also very complex area , ensuring maximum benefits to consumers in terms of affordable prices and efficient development of innovative services .
involvement in the European Union provides added value .
we are therefore completely on board with the text that has now been approved , and which will establish an average period of 30 days for the state to pay its debts to suppliers .
I want to put on record that the original Socialist text clearly opposes any question of forced deportation , and calls for full compliance with the Geneva Convention and full access by international human rights organisations .
an annual report of complaints and claims by the users of financial services could be a useful instrument alongside better education .
however , I believe that both sides must exercise restraint , especially at present , and I therefore support the statements by the Council and the Commission .
besides , 14 years in this Chamber were not spent in vain .
on behalf of the GUE / NGL Group . - ( IT ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , this debate on the car industry is unfortunately too late in the day and also inadequate in content .
they want to move ahead and they rely on their country becoming integrated into European and other structures as a guarantee of future stability .
the signal that the EU is capable of taking rapid decisions , even decisions that everyone acknowledges are difficult .
forgive me for raising a pressing matter recently brought to my attention .
Mr President , I should like to thank the rapporteur for his report .
this is of particular importance as the European elections approach , and I hope we can count on you to keep this matter high on the agenda .
one last point , which Members of this House already raised during the debate on Madeira two weeks ago .
I think this is the correct position especially since , and I will give an example , including in the country I come from , Romania , the head of state himself has often had the political objective to make the institution of the Parliament and parliamentary action less credible , starting with errors or vulnerabilities related to the activity of the Member of Parliament .
is this the right path ?
I think we all know that the nuclear issue is the huge stumbling block at this moment .
more than two years on , I note that the situation has not progressed in the right direction .
the citizens who follow our discussions and decisions on the vehicles of the future still wish to travel in safer , more comfortable and more sustainable vehicles that comply with the high European quality standards to which they have become accustomed .
they must give us the means to face a dual challenge : speaking with one voice on the international stage , but also guaranteeing consistency in all the Union 's external policies .
we therefore disagree with the economics-based approach , which clearly influences various points of the resolution .
the Charter on enhancing the performance of health systems , adopted in Tallinn , in June 2008 , is also important progress .
if this is not possible , they need to be granted a fair compensation that allows them to buy a similar property .
ultimately , additional financial and administrative burdens on SMEs would be passed on to customers .
this is ridiculous .
sanctions can be very effective and legitimate if , at the same time , they have legal certainty .
however , it is also important to have an idea of the social sustainability of what we are buying .
the Commission 's initiatives on roaming show that interventions in price-setting are necessary in a market economy too .
as regards how we are to deal with the waste , we are talking about quite small quantities .
we have to be frank about that .
technical developments are also a factor of uncertainty .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , as an Italian citizen , I am certainly not against wiretapping when it is used legally .
the cost and reliability of energy supplies are key factors not only for the competitiveness of the EU but particularly for the well-being of its citizens .
this will afford the Council the opportunity to obtain all the explanations and information that are needed to secure a decision endorsed by Parliament .
( the President cut off the speaker )
I would like to thank the French Presidency and the European Commission for the way in which they have acted swiftly and skilfully in responding to the problems caused by the global economic and financial crisis .
this situation should not be allowed to continue .
the Commission , I can assure you , will ensure that Member States ' transposition of this Directive reflect what the legislator wanted .
if the Commission and the Council intend to expand the scope of the proposal to cover other purposes , as I have just said , they should clarify in detail , for each stated purpose , what use will be made of the PNR data .
despite the fact that the last executions in South Korea took place in 1997 , the court decided on 25 February that the death sentence is a form of punishment which does not violate the constitutional right to life .
Parliament now has the impossible task of choosing between chaos leading to barbarism and poor or incomplete rules , without having made any of the noise that a true parliament should make .
it must be said , however , that this strategy has a number of shortcomings , particularly in the area of personal data protection , as has been mentioned here several times .
this situation is exploited by criminal groups throughout the world .
the question needs to be asked : what can we in the European Union , which is open to and respects the rights of Muslim co-citizens , do for Christians who do not even have a modest fraction of such rights in those countries ?
these facts show that if we are to put any real strength in the Lisbon goals , we need an overall FDI Policy for Europe to reap the maximum benefits of FDI for our people .
I would also like to congratulate the rapporteur , Mr Mavrommatis , for his concern and knowledge of this subject , especially regarding doping in sport .
these factors include the negative impact of career breaks for family reasons and restrictions on mobility due to family responsibilities .
the report does not overlook this aspect and I have therefore voted in favour of it .
it is a necessity because , due to an extremely contentious practice carried out by Member States , which no longer convert long-stay visas into residence permits , we have ended up with absurd situations in which any third-country national who is legally resident on EU territory by virtue of a D visa is prevented from travelling within the other Member States of the Schengen area .
a substantial part of the regulation focuses on the rights and obligations of persons with reduced mobility , whether as a result of age , disability or any other factor , and - particularly noteworthy - of any accompanying persons .
what I am personally very pleased about is that nanotechnology , in particular , will finally be regulated and can no longer be slipped onto the market without proper vetting .
I myself come from the world of advertising - my professional background is in advertising and PR - and I know that advertising has one aim , and that is to sell .
finally , I would like to conclude by saying that a modern solution would be to have more faith in health professionals , or to train them better , so that they can provide information on treatments and prescription medicines .
every time , it is also essential to give the addresses of institutions involved in the fight against this practice .
anyone who denies that undermines the consensus on population and development which the international community endorsed in 1994 , and we will not allow that to happen .
to Mr Vidal-Quadras and others , having myself sought to get a compromise by getting cross-party support only for Amendments 2 , 3 and 6 and then the Socialist support for the joint resolution , it is a complete distortion to say that these amendments could be used as a pretext to massacre residents .
I will not use my five minutes ' speaking time , but would be pleased if the Commission would now provide an answer on the basis of this short oral question that I have posed .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , today 's debate shows that civil rights and the fight against terrorism are not always easy to reconcile .
I am mainly concerned about the pensions of those young people who work in the different countries , the different Member States of the European Union .
however , four years have passed since our accession and nothing has happened so far .
in today 's world , there is huge competition in industry and , therefore , the industrial sector must remain competitive and innovative , supporting innovative ideas , and quality and technological leadership .
however , for 14 years the Court has issued a negative statement on the legality and regularity of underlying transactions for the vast majority of spending areas , regarding them , to varying degrees , as being significantly affected by errors , even though - and we should be pleased about this - administrative expenditure and the consolidated accounts are the subject of a positive statement of assurance .
let me single out a few elements which constitute real progress .
there are some points on which we do not all agree .
the kidnappings continue .
the Chinese Government is a signatory to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples , thereby committing itself to observe the fundamental rights of national minorities on its territory .
tyres account for 20-30 % of all fuel consumption by the means of transport , so greater tyre stability should be considered part of an integrated method , aimed at reducing the fuel used by road transport and the amount of pollutants they emit .
we will evaluate the programme in 2011 or 2012 and we will think then about whether to continue with co-financing .
overcoming inequality , coping with exacting health demands , keeping up with the epidemiological changes underway and ensuring ever more active cooperation among Member States and regions : all of these requirements are duly addressed in the report by Mr Peterle , whom I wish to thank for his excellent work .
( ES ) Mr President , I welcome Mr Lewandowski , an old friend of this House who now sits on different benches to those of the Members .
when a system of open internal borders is put in place , the larger external border should be protected as effectively as possible , of course .
( RO ) Romania is one of the European Union Member States whose citizens need a visa to enter the territory of the United States .
in order to properly combat displays of neo-Nazism and other forms of extremism in Hungary there is a need to amend not only laws but also the constitution .
we need more Europe , not less .
let me also thank the ITRE shadow rapporteurs for their constructive support .
I will first answer Mrs Harkin 's question .
in 2003 Directive 2003 / 49 / EC was adopted , eliminating double taxation for interest and royalty payments between associated enterprises from different Member States , which authorises only the country of the beneficial owner of the payment to tax that payment .
the idea of a European Institute of Technology was only born in the Commission after the EU 's multiannual financial framework had already been adopted .
this inspection must be carried out as a priority in Member States admitted to the EU in 2004 and 2007 .
I agree with the rapporteur in his assessment of the review , which began in 2005 , of criteria for classifying disadvantaged areas .
I know my successor , Mr Tajani , is also very committed to the issue of road safety , and I can tell you that all your suggestions and action will help us to bring an end to this terrible scourge .
we wanted improved trade in environmental goods .
I have been involved in the drawing up of legislation in my country since 1987 .
contracts are the fundamental links in relationships between companies and consumers .
the aim of this is to eliminate the corruption which the illegal timber trade stems from and to develop a set of good governance practices in this area .
at the same time , the report demands more funding and new mechanisms , and in practice is proposing major steps towards a centralised planned economy with propaganda campaigns in schools and after-school recreation centres controlled from Brussels .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , despite the fact that , both in committee and in this Chamber , I had predicted the failure of the Copenhagen climate conference and the document tabled by this House , this experience has taught us nothing .
the third question asks whether the Trio of Presidencies has a strategic proposal or a strategic agenda for this issue .
I also take the view that such an approach should not , however , lead to a more complicated regulatory framework .
I find it unbelievable that the Council , which has always demanded that others act transparently , has obviously been much more reserved when it comes to itself .
please say this publicly .
the consequence of the Treaty of Nice is that Sweden gets only 18 seats , two fewer than Sweden gets under the proposal for a new EU constitution , and two fewer than Sweden is entitled to given the relative sizes of the EU Member States .
secondly , I would like to thank both the rapporteurs and the Commissioner , in this regard , for having , in my own budget for the year 2007 , implemented those pilot projects and preparatory projects which were included .
he referred to innovation as ' our generation 's Sputnik moment ' .
( PL ) Mr President , I agree with the view that the Rules of Procedure have today been abused .
policies must therefore be changed as a matter of urgency to forestall their consequences in the European Union , particularly in the most fragile economies , to avoid a deterioration in the social situation .
in my opinion , the European Parliament report should diffuse the tension rather than increase it , because if diplomatic channels are exhausted , it will aggravate the already complicated situation for the people of Iran .
so we are calling for the deletion of paragraphs 2 and 6 .
secondly , the vote now is different to the last time .
the directive will thus contribute towards reducing inequalities in access to care by helping to minimise delays across the EU .
we simply have to do so .
do you not think that the parents have some responsibility in ensuring that their children go to school ?
the CAP has already been radically ( and rightly ) reformed in the past : the new challenges that we face concern its further simplification and compliance .
after this , the military dictator Mobutu ran the country like a private company , one that was completely subject to his whims , for a long time .
although recognising the challenges currently faced by Pakistan in relation to its security situation and the Pakistani people 's sacrifices and efforts in combating extremism and terrorism , the European Union firmly believes that the solution to these challenges cannot involve an interruption in the democratic process .
ever since the economic and financial crisis began , there has been talk of nothing but credit rating agencies ( CRAs ) .
Minister , thank you very much for your participation in this first Question Time with your Presidency .
I look forward to the Commissioner 's reply .
I agree with the plenary session 's choice to vote this amendment in Mr. Grosch 's report regarding buses .
now , politicians should feel responsible .
to find a coherent solution across different product sectors , Vice-President Tajani and Commissioner Dalli have agreed to work together towards the consolidation of EU rules on market surveillance .
as a result , Schengen has a spill-over effect .
European fishermen face strong - often unfair - competition from North African countries .
many thanks to the President of the European Council .
refugees who come to Europe from the developing world , and who often have had to face enormous problems , such as violence , lack of the means to live and lack of access to medical care , should be given care organised in the best possible way by EU Member States .
it has done so by revamping both the means , for which the Structural Funds have been , are , and will continue to be the essential financial basis of any EU policy which seeks to increase internal cohesion , and the ends , with which the various objectives and individual actions have constantly been reoriented in line with the requirements of the time .
from next year we will also have a complete list of all recipients of agricultural spending .
what a wonderful idea , Commissioner !
because of the far-reaching consequences of ratings , intensive interaction with this sector is unavoidable .
as for the substance , the new regulation allows the development of more appropriate legislation that is better able to address security issues holistically and flexibly , rather than dealing with them through a series of individual and repetitive approaches .
I am therefore calling on the Commission to take action here , too .
Mr President , the Eurovignette proposal is well intentioned .
it is the essential interest of the EU , and of all its Member States , to make the most of as little energy as possible .
strengthening European political parties also involves their adoption of a political , legal and fiscal statute , including autonomous legal personality founded directly on EU law .
I agree with the rapporteur that the Joint Undertaking is still in a start-up period and therefore understand the relatively low utilisation rate for payment appropriations .
I do not know if our ancestors established this through precise calculations , but a quick response clearly counts for something , and is more helpful than hesitation .
this can all be achieved through gender-sensitive selection criteria , gender-balanced representation on the programme 's committees and gender-based data in the evaluation reports .
we will be less dependent on imports from countries that are sometimes both politically and economically unstable .
the EU is committed to shouldering its fair share of that , which of course also requires a fair internal burden-sharing agreement .
the EEAS will turn into a sui generis institution operating outside the basic mechanisms of control of any democratic system .
in writing . - ( EL ) The New Democracy group of MEPs voted today in favour of the six proposals in the new economic governance package .
the sum to be attached should be calculated on the basis of the creditor 's claim . it should be emphasised , however , that the debtor must have the right to appeal the order issued , and the competent institution to hear that appeal should be the court where the order was issued .
I believe that China has already realised that its own long-term interests will not be served by such an explosive situation and it for one can exert a decisive influence .
it is based on non-transparent decisions in the national parties and government offices .
the report presented by you and your committee is definitely a step in the right direction and is broadly consistent with the Commission 's view .
four priority areas were identified where progress is essential namely
thirdly , on 21 October , we found out the winner of this year 's European Parliament Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought .
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the black sheep are those who , at the time they place the order , already know very well that they will never pay for it .
( RO ) The subject of my speech today is linked to the most important event that has taken place recently in the European Union , namely the successful outcome of the referendum organised by Ireland to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon .
this is our position and this is the position that we bring to the Chinese side .
flag state control ,
the reshaping of vehicle tax according to a CO2-based principle is something the Commission has been calling for for some time and it saddens me that progress in this matter has been so sluggish .
the Consumer Markets Scoreboard is also of Mrs Kuneva 's doing .
as regards funding , first and foremost , since it is a Slovenian idea , it is only natural that Slovenia must also make a contribution to it , which it will do to the tune of EUR 1 million .
this meant that the 64 amendments were replaced by a single , consolidated text .
the ecoindustry alone is growing by 5 % a year and today employs 3 400 000 people .
the way this is fleshed out in coming months and years will be key .
in conclusion , it is a status quo approach that is being advocated by the World Health Organization and also by the Commission , with the rendez-vous clause for 2015 - virtually another decade - to review whether continual exposure to this cocktail of low frequency waves could cause cancerous tumours .
we refer to it in our report and in our resolution .
I refer to the huge - ethnic , cultural and religious - diversity of our societies and of the increasing difficulties we experience in living together .
we are in the middle of an economic crisis in which we need to utilise all the talent we have if we are to create the necessary growth .
recent earthquake in Haiti (
for this reason , it is important to continue to combat the gender stereotypes that persist in our societies , despite various Community programmes to promote gender equality .
in view of the fact that the report on the institutional aspects of accession by the European Union to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms presents provisions which are in accordance with the above remarks , I decided to vote for its adoption .
we could plan freight transport better , we could improve the operation and safety of transport systems , we should improve the monitoring of goods and ensure that customers have the necessary information .
( DA ) Mr President , participating in the debate this evening is a somewhat special experience .
( ES ) Mr President , there is an urgent need for concrete measures to reduce the impact that the increase in fuel prices is having on the fisheries sector .
Europe must become more self-sufficient in energy - not by useless wind power , nor by biofuels .
as indigenous fuel , peat has a considerable effect on regional policy , and it increases employment and the security of energy supply .
research and development accounts for an increasingly lower share of the Union 's GNP than in the other world economic powers .
in the light of the African continent 's need to diversify its investment partnerships , specifically with Asian countries and Latin America , the proposed 2010-2013 EU-Africa strategic action plan is particularly relevant , in that it could add value to the Union for the Mediterranean and the Cotonou Agreement .
GMOs are detrimental to public health .
this can be achieved , for example , by opening documentation centres and employing historians .
no faith at all is needed , today , to see a person in an unborn human foetus .
I have no problem with investigating ways of making ' space heaters ' more efficient , but I am not in favour of banning ' patio heaters ' .
I am convinced that Russia remains one of the European Union 's most important partners in maintaining world security and stability , and that EU-Russia cooperation must therefore be stepped up .
the number of Serbian refugees in the Republika Srpska ( Bosnia and Herzegovina ) has remained relatively stable for several years ( between 25,000 and 35,000 persons ) .
equality must be achieved at individual level , by expanding opportunities to influence one 's own situation - not through legislation at European level and gesture politics such as specially designated days , further EU authorities and an EU charter on women 's rights .
that is what we need , no more and no less .
( DE ) It is very likely that on 21 December the Schengen border of Italy and Austria will be extended to include another country , namely Slovenia .
the European Neighbourhood Policy ( ENP ) has shown itself to be a key EU foreign policy instrument , fostering closer relations between the partner countries and providing benefits for both parties .
the report also continues to support the current model for distributing aid .
on behalf of the IND / DEM Group . - ( NL ) Mr President , I am happy to endorse all efforts on the part of the Council and Commission to intensify relations with the Jewish State of Israel in our mutual interest ; deferring the vote is , to my mind , sending them entirely the wrong message .
in such turbulent times , one cannot help but see that Europe needs more political stability and effectiveness in its decisions .
the European Parliament has spoken out again on the European budget through the Multiannual Financial Framework , a kind of EU five-year plan .
areas with weaker regulations or a slower rate of implementation could expose the whole of the global system to risks .
however , despite this undeniable step towards improving the status of European parties , their main sources of funding are still individual membership subscriptions and , to a small extent , donations .
composition of Parliament : see Minutes
everybody knows , in theory , that this 75 % threshold will not be attained without the massive participation and appearance of women on the labour market .
we really want Europe , all of us together , to do much more for the future of our car companies .
almost 20 people on the list have the possibility to speak .
at present , reduced rates of VAT can already be applied to goods linked to education .
I have to say that if British Members think they can play glibly with the future of the single currency , they are committing a profound mistake .
the Government of Tanzania , too , it must be said , is committed to stamping out these practices and raising awareness of the plight of the albino population .
however , in these two probes , the late physicist Carl Sagan placed a message from President Waldheim , the drawing of a man and a woman , the principal mathematical formulas known on Earth , and a record with the sound of the wind , of a tractor , a baby , and extracts from Mozart , Beethoven and Chuck Berry .
I am not to any extent an anti-party populist , nor do I believe that Members should have to work by candle light .
the text adopted asks the Commission and our national governments to introduce tougher sanctions on imports from third countries that violate safety standards .
let us not legalise and strengthen dependency , increasing the masses of dependants and citizens in need .
the speeches made by one or two of my fellow Members echo the language of the dictatorship of the former Eastern European regimes .
it is clear that the House wishes to vote by roll-call in accordance with my wish also , so I open the vote on the final motion for a resolution .
the Members States must do their utmost to ensure that European maritime policy makes an important contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions .
there has not been a case that has not received a response .
with these principles in mind , an opinion was prepared and strongly endorsed by the ENVI Committee .
however , to improve its functioning , existing barriers and unnecessary regulation should be abolished .
with an additional 52 000 tonnes , there will be 285 000 tonnes within the tariff rate quota , so there will still be scope for 15 000 tonnes of imports under the usual erga omnes regime .
is the Commission planning to come forward with concrete proposals to that end , and when ?
there is the EU Fundamental Charter of Human Rights in the Treaty of Lisbon ; there is a European Court of Human Rights over there , which seeks to give British prisoners the vote - even murderers and paedophiles .
we should not mislead European citizens in the European internal transport market .
the EU is fully intent on promoting nuclear disarmament and thus achieving the objectives of Article 6 of the NPT .
it is a condition for strengthening the rule of law and the proper implementation of the acquis .
nuclear energy is now demonised and there is growing pressure demanding a complete switch from nuclear to so-called alternative sources of energy .
while the causes of the disaster and its full impact are still under investigation , it is clear that the most severe damage is in the immediate vicinity of the accident and the directly affected human settlements , agricultural land and ecological systems .
democracy cannot exist without pluralism , as the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has repeated on many occasions .
at the same time , however , we must ensure that help reaches the ordinary people who have lost their jobs and student places while hoping for democracy to come along .
you suggest that perhaps we ought not to have commented on the ongoing work within the Commission .
this destruction had an obvious purpose : to remove all evidence that this town was inhabited by people of Greek culture and the Christian faith .
securing a new agreement between the EU and Russia is one of the main challenges facing the European Union 's diplomats .
Madam President , in order to be correct , I think we have to vote on recital K now .
through this measure , we are at last able to express our desire to improve the work of rating agencies by enhancing their transparency , integrity , responsibility , independence and reliability .
let the attitude of European citizens to the family and to children define our level of culture and civilisation .
we are talking about the common future of the planet - the future of all of us .
the scholarships will be better tailored and will take into account the tuition fees as well as the estimated amount of expenditure for students ' studies .
ladies and gentlemen , my aim , day after day , law after law , is to ensure that the European market once again serves the men and women who live on our continent .
( DE ) President of the Commission , the issue of the continuing existence of the Opel factories exercises the European public , and it was also a key issue in the German federal election campaign .
however , what I expect from the Council - although when it comes to the Commission , I am not sure whether the Barroso Commission is capable of this - is to ensure , at the least , that we overcome the American and British resistance to transparency in the financial markets .
even a state of emergency cannot be allowed to result in excessive measures when it comes to fundamental rights and the right to freedom of expression .
these plans can successfully contribute to the improvement of priority management and to the absorbtion of Structural and Cohesion Fund financingmeant to improve and enlarge transport infrastructure , as well as to a better cooperation between the TEN and Marco Polo projects at crossborder level .
we have the independence of the Central Bank to thank for the stability of the euro , and that makes it difficult to understand why attempts are always being made to undermine this independence .
the debate is closed .
firstly , it stresses the importance for the European Union to protect the quality of products and makes this a major priority of the European agricultural strategy .
is there reincarnation ?
does this mean that if we have ownership unbundling all of this will be solved ?
we must increase cooperation between institutions , but we should remember that , especially when we speak about the development of democracy , it is actually relations between ordinary citizens which change the world .
the countries therefore need to elaborate vaccination strategies and also implement these .
if nothing else , we have learned this during the two thousand years of Christianity in Europe .
Madam President , I am conscious that this report is very controversial and that striking a compromise within this House can , at times , become extremely difficult , yet we should still try to keep our debates balanced and factual .
Mr President , yesterday , the Commission adopted a strategy to mainstream the legally binding EU Charter of Fundamental Rights .
it is the basis for the future of Europe and the common good of its inhabitants .
we need to see the opening of the crossings for humanitarian assistance , for commercial goods and for people , on a regular and predictable basis .
it does not observe a minimum of human rights - those recognised by international legal standards and including the right to a defence and a fair trial .
( DE ) Madam President , can it be that those who in recent days have been calling persistently for roll-call votes have not been doing so this afternoon because most of them are absent ?
the US President also believes in diplomacy .
at the beginning , it was the US and Europe who wanted to force the consent of the developing countries by the use of the concept of ' development ' .
for the people to have confidence in air services all air operators should meet the quality and safety standards and , especially , the ticket should indicate all applicable charges and tariffs explicitly .
economic competition rules cannot always apply .
one of the most serious results of these measures could be in Portugal , where the textile and clothing industry represents 11 % of exports and 160 000 jobs , and would be hit hard by subsidised competition from Pakistan .
you could also have said that the Commission has an agenda from last year , which was outdated even then and which is now failing to meet the very pressing needs of millions and millions of citizens , of a whole generation of Europeans and the whole welfare state , whose future is at stake .
I voted for the joint motion for a resolution on the EU-Russia Summit as I think that relations with Russia need to be strengthened , especially in the area of energy security .
recent tragedies in Finland indicate that more than ever Member States need to pay attention to young people in providing measures for preventing bad health , especially mental health .
I do not like it when Turkey and Croatia are invariably mentioned in the same breath .
this is a very important moment , as our discussions on this legislative act are coming to a close after two years .
each square metre of our territory has to be cared for to preserve the soil and retain water so as to prevent erosion and to supply the aquifers , including through direct reinjection of surface waters .
Mrs Rivasi 's report , which we will vote on tomorrow , takes these fundamental priorities into consideration . they include systematically strengthening cooperation between Member States , more effective coordination with European health institutions , clarifying the roles of the European risk management structures and evaluating the immunisation and communication strategies implemented in the Member States .
the second document says that there is always a good reason or a good time to learn .
I have voted in favour of the motion for a resolution on the stepping stone Economic Partnership Agreement between Côte d 'Ivoire , of the one part , and the European Community and its Member States , of the other part .
Romania perhaps has the most generous and up-to-date legislation on national minorities in Europe .
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that is indeed very disquieting .
implementation of this directive means that riders are being forced to fit new silencers to their bikes .
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the vote will take place tomorrow at 12 noon .
this would enable us always to help shape these frameworks .
at the same time , we hope to get a better understanding of Russia 's new approach at the summit .
I hope that , during this six-month period , the European Parliament and the Council will adopt the proposals on economic governance .
unfortunately , the text adopted in committee contains proposals that are incompatible with the social market economy .
I encourage the European Commission to continue with the development of the Smart Cities Initiative and to examine the current mechanisms being used in Member States to spread best practice in the European Union and the exchange of knowledge and technical assistance in order to generate new financial resources for improving energy efficiency in housing .
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although the latter proposal represents a new EU approach to relations with third countries , I believe that neither the EU nor every one of the GCC countries willing to forge closer relations in all areas can remain hostage to other GCC countries that do not yet feel comfortable to do so .
in this way , women would have an efficient tool for contributing to the development of the economy .
it is regrettable that the ' no ' stance of the left-wing groups and Mrs Pietikäinen is due purely to matters of principle and completely ignores the risk that would be run if these exemptions were rejected : our factories would close down and jobs would be lost as a result .
we have a team of our own experts in the eastern part of the country .
the European Union is the world 's biggest provider of development aid and the United Nations ' main partner in supporting the latter 's efforts in carrying out its activities .
what was needed was another measure : one that regularised the situation of these millions of people .
what can we see ?
Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , as rapporteur for the opinion of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs , I should like to begin by congratulating Mr Kirilov , even in his forced absence , and highlighting the way in which he was able to draw up this important report and promote its main objective .
so here we have another summit , another crisis , confidence in the euro ebbing by the week .
that is because of us , because of Europe - we must be aware of that - and because we have penalised Vietnam with tariffs on shoe exports in particular .
the vote will take place on Wednesday , 11 March 2009 .
so much so that , when anyone raises the issue of public safety , the Commission immediately takes refuge in the subsidiarity principle .
in the year of intercultural dialogue , I feel it is especially important for all European societies to maintain truly valuable dialogue between the majority and the minority , because it is only in this way that true relations can develop between the cultures of European countries .
some MEPs have therefore signed amendments that will be submitted to the plenary tomorrow and which , I would like to stress , fully respect the principle of degressive proportionality ; and also in our view , they objectivise the allocation of seats for the future , linking it to clear and transparent criteria .
urgent humanitarian aid is necessary , but it alone is not enough .
searching for a balance between economic and social interests is not only very important , but also very difficult .
besides , long queues at airports , hassle and economic disadvantages are once more being associated with Europe , even though in many cases these annoyances are the result of exercises in diligence on the part of bumped-up local and regional sheriffs .
but , first of all , we call on the Iraqi Government to lift the blockade of Camp Ashraf .
we propose the adoption of a platform to monitor the implementation of the Pact .
we all want to take the whole issue of access forward .
in writing . - I congratulate my colleague Ms Buitenweg in gaining majority support for her report in this House .
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let us be clear about the truth : the Czech Republic is facing a political problem .
that was a very good decision , because when the treaty enters into force , the European Parliament will obtain equal powers with the Council in agricultural matters , including the codecision procedure in the common agricultural policy , which is definitely good news for European farmers .
with the adoption of the reform package as it now stands , the Union will have a regulatory framework that is fit to meet the challenges of a rapidly developing digital economy based on fair prices for all to get telephone and internet connections , while preparing the ground for investments in high-speed networks delivering high-quality , innovative services .
what did he say when the country he comes from decided to go it alone on the question of deposit guarantees in the sector for which he is responsible in the Commission ?
the European Union actually needs to include the Black Sea region and , obviously , the Republic of Moldova on its list of political priorities .
throughout the whole process of this Treaty there were two decisive moments .
I ask you the following : firstly , will you take action now , not only for strict monitoring of the states , but also for strict monitoring of the markets and , if so , what ?
it is a response to a wish expressed by Europe .
this should not mean that it is replaced by a code of conduct not binding on all the Member States .
that is why we must offer our very special thanks and congratulations to the rapporteur , Mrs Doyle , to the shadow rapporteurs from the other political groups , and also very especially to the French Presidency , because its work has enabled us to achieve a good outcome for everyone .
that is why - and I will conclude on this very practical point - it is very important that many Members participate in the hearing that the Commission will organise with experts at the beginning of October and in the conference that the French Presidency of the European Union will hold in Paris on 23 and 24 October .
( DE ) Mr President , on the subject of the energy security strategy and Mrs Laperrouze 's report , one thing that I believe the Commission 's proposal and the Laperrouze report have in common is that they do not set any priorities .
Mr Schmidt is keen to strengthen the role and authority of the ECB , while I am with those who continue to question the independence of the ECB .
I believe that my fellow Member from Denmark has already touched upon this .
I understand the Commission 's efforts to encourage the Member States to exchange examples of good policy and practice , making use of the open method of coordination , but it would be much more useful and effective to draft and adopt common quality criteria .
let the Sakharov Prize be our flag , representing our concern for the fundamental value of a normal and happy life for every single person on earth .
unfortunately , tragedies continue to happen because of large earthquakes .
this is peanuts compared with the damage suffered by the populations of these two countries which , in the case of Greece , exceeds EUR 2 billion .
thankfully , visa facilitation will finally create some breathing space , and this is something which we in Parliament have long been campaigning for .
the Commission needs to exercise its right of initiative more actively - with aid , compensation , restructuring , innovations - in order to mitigate the costs that the sector is suffering from and curb unfair competition in imports .
the announcement about this was , I think , late , timid and woolly .
the extension of maternity leave from 14 to 20 weeks should be considered a fundamental right .
should value added tax be the route and should it allow for reduced rates of value added tax from the high or middle rate down to the lower rate in certain areas - and what are we doing about that ?
we are unlikely to make any progress on the statement of assurance , although the Commission should be bringing substantial pressure to bear on the Member States here .
however , not content with polluting our river , our dear neighbours now want to pollute our air as well with the incinerator planned for construction in Heiligenkreuz .
thus all is set in Europe and , as we say in my country , ' a word to the wise is enough ' - that is addressed to the Member States .
there are cost-effective alternatives to an international agreement , such as technology transfer , a decent system of incentives to protect tropical rain forests , carbon capture and storage and the development of nuclear energy too .
instead , we must equip ourselves with a strategy , without which we will not be able to provide any answers .
we trust that , in the coming months , the governments of the affected countries will get involved along with Europe .
in conclusion , may I thank Mrs Christel Schaldemose and the other rapporteurs for constructive cooperation that has helped us to unify the terminology , processes and models of assessing compliance so that we can use them in the revision of sectoral directives , in particular the long-awaited Toys Directive , to the satisfaction of all European consumers .
cohesion Policy : investing in the real economy (
( it ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , the upheavals that are multiplying in the south of the Mediterranean should not divert our attention from the medium-term economic and other goals that have long been set .
the EC Regulation entered into force on 10 March and its annual review is due to take place at the end of this month .
I have previously had difficulty in supporting reports dealing with terrorism , despite the fact that I seriously regard terrorism as one of the most important tests of the Union 's credibility and capacity for solidarity and shared responsibility .
in writing . - ( FI ) It is amazing , in fact it is unforgivable , that the EU Social Summit and Dialogue with the Social Partners should be conducted at troika level , without the attendance of the Heads of State or Government .
the 2020 strategy aims to raise the level of tertiary education to 40 % and to reduce the share of early school leavers to 10 % .
let us remember such names as Imre Nagy and Alexander Dubček , the attempts of communists to escape from the vicious circle of dogmas and crimes that other communist party members ruthlessly tried to stifle .
it is true that this report boils down to an explanatory statement and a single request : ' let us say yes ' .
it limits itself to proposing some palliative care for the principles set out in the Commission communication .
Europe needs economic development and , obviously , air transport development .
this report concerns the codecision-making procedure .
they also have to promote social measures aimed at combating energy poverty in low-income households .
it proved once again that the United States are in a prominent position and that China is attempting to secure a place on the international stage .
indeed it takes account both of the interests of farmers and of the necessary protection of the environment , protected areas included .
with regard to shrimp fishing , Guinea-Bissau has also undertaken to increase the mesh size from 40 to 50 mm , in keeping with existing legislation in the subregion .
President-in-Office . - ( SL ) The Council did not discuss the installation of the US anti-missile defence system on the territory of the European Union .
UN resolutions provide for targeted measures against those who obstruct the peaceful transition and the elections .
that is why I called for the last phrase of the amendment to be deleted .
children should grow up with warmth and care and they are not something that the market should control .
regarding the lack of manpower we support the Commission in its proposal to make the profession more attractive but we would like it to refer not only to training but to improving social and working conditions .
countries , such as Greece , which lie on the external borders of the EU , should take advantage of the potential assistance offered by the EU and , on the basis of respect for the rights of refugees and asylum seekers , try to secure humane conditions of reception for them .
this is a thing of the past , as the Council budget has changed fundamentally .
furthermore , it is important to find opportunities to implement competitive funding mechanisms to carry out the final stages of clinical research into new vaccines against tuberculosis .
the President of the European Parliament will , if he agrees , make use of his rights , of course .
the revelations concerning the honour crimes and the humiliation suffered by women during the uprisings in the Arab world have shocked and disturbed me , and I am pleased that our Parliament has denounced the atrocities committed against them .
as far as the European Union 's contribution is concerned , ECHO has already at this point envisaged EUR 30 million in humanitarian aid and , as I have also indicated in my introductory speech , a package will be prepared by the European Union in the near future which will provide the European Union 's support to the economic and institution-building goals of the legitimately elected President and government .
the Member State has either to reduce expenditure , increase taxes or both in order to consolidate its fiscal position .
one would think that EU institutions would have an obligation to set a good example , but the response was that the Commission does not operate any internal emission targets and that only five of the Commission 's Directorates-General have registered with EMAS .
Aisha Bibi , a Pakistani Christian , sentenced to death under Pakistan 's blasphemy laws on highly dubious charges .
we see EUFOR as a significant contribution to these efforts and we are aware of the importance of good equipment .
overall , this common position is to be welcomed .
the Slovak Government will fuel unemployment and increase poverty with this Labour Code .
I will now turn to Mrs Keller , who always brings interesting arguments to these matters .
how can we persuade the Americans to take new steps ?
I am in favour of such food aid assistance programmes receiving full funding from the EU budget as applying cofinancing rates would significantly impede the process and hamper the implementation of the measures in good time and the achievement of rapid results .
in this respect it is only right to remind state school systems , through a process of open coordination , of the need to keep higher arts education in the timetable , and that should include Europe , because Europe is well known for its diversity , its pluralism , its great art tradition and its culture .
the intention of this review was to ensure that Europe 's vital tools were defending its workers and businesses against unfair trade and were continuing to work as effectively as possible , especially taking into account the dramatic changes in the global economy , where European businesses operate global supply chains , and where the mix of economic interests amongst European businesses is inevitably becoming more and more complex and difficult to judge and to call .
I have two questions .
Mr President , I rise to speak under the same rule , whichever one it was , that Mr Cohn-Bendit just used .
the amount may be small , but it is important to emphasise that the pilot projects which will be starting next year have a value of EUR 7.5 million .
I would like , therefore , to reiterate the call to the voices of reason in Pakistan that was initiated by the daughter of Punjab 's deceased Governor , Shehrbano Taseer .
the Member States can be flexible in their choice of technologies .
in writing . - ( PT ) The essential element in this debate has once again been omitted : in other words , there must be a break with existing policies which are the main cause of the current crises .
it also means , however , that non-EU citizens entering the Schengen area are effectively only checked once , at the external border .
scientists constantly keep revising their theses , which means that we too must be open to new ideas .
the final result of the amendment which is currently under discussion would then be :
it allows them to be heard .
in addition , the report provides for subsidies for these regions not only in respect of food production , but also in a macro-economic context .
that is not good company to keep .
Heads of State or Government are now approaching Copenhagen .
the CITES Secretariat announced last week that it proposes including listing tuna in Appendix I , which means a ban on global trade .
lastly , I hope that the programmes will be fairly distributed in geographical terms and that the entire legal structure ( and the composition of the award panel ) will be defined more effectively .
this is a very pragmatic approach that nevertheless takes the environment and the economy into consideration .
I hope that the Hungarian Government will behave in a different way in Europe than it does at home .
a 100 % guarantee that there will be no abuse is impossible , but as we have already heard , we should recognise that we have an obligation to try , as far as possible , to prevent tragedies such as those which occurred in Germany , Finland or Belgium .
I do not understand why we have ever had this bizarre rule .
although CRA ratings fulfil several useful purposes ( for example , they aggregate information about the credit quality of issuers , which is particularly helpful in our global environment ) , developments in the regulatory framework have turned these ' information intermediaries ' into de facto ' regulatory licensors ' , a mistake that we must not make !
I have faith in the future of Europe , I believe in our success .
( RO ) Madam President , global warming , drug trafficking , the non-proliferation of weapons and energy security are common challenges requiring global solutions .
at the same time , banks are accumulating profits through the differential between loans obtained from central banks at an interest rate of almost nil and the price at which they grant credit to customers and to states .
( PL ) Mr President , the decision of the Constitutional Court of South Korea that the death penalty is not a violation of the Constitution must be received with sadness .
yet the ' aid ' given by the EU seems to have had little to do with solidarity .
Commissioner , I would therefore like to voice my concern to you .
in writing . - I am opposed to moves towards a common immigration and asylum policy in Europe .
for example , because the directive only covers journeys over 250 kilometres , there are many countries where it does not apply .
Madam President , I hope I can make myself heard above the din .
I think , colleagues , that we should now support Georgia at this time of crisis and in the face of what a colleague a few moments ago described as Russian imperialism .
science is a slow process , evidence has to be studied and deciphered , but politics is a quicker game and politics is running ahead of the science ; that is where the problem lies .
( the oral amendment was accepted )
even so , the hundred-kilometre-wide area lying between these two abundant rivers has begun to suffer from desertification and this process is happening and being made to happen ever faster .
I should like to congratulate the rapporteur on the thinking behind her report .
the study should analyse whether taxation of the financial sector in the EU can , indeed , be a source of the Union 's own resources and contain specific proposals on the procedure for introducing the tax .
thank you for your attention .
the flooding caused considerable damage to many homes , farms , roads and water mains .
deposit-guarantee schemes as regards the coverage level and the payout delay ( debate )
it was developed in the 1930s and has come to take on the role of a comprehensive indicator for overall societal development and progress in general .
we need at least a 10-year action plan which will provide both solidarity among Member States in the event of any serious energy supply disruptions and a boost to energy security through diversification of energy supply routes and sources .
from a Liberal viewpoint , and particularly from the point of view of my own German Free Democratic Party , the objective of free and fair world trade is of great importance , particularly right now , as , in the course of the economic and financial crisis , we see tendencies towards protectionism , tendencies which must be resolutely countered in the interests of prosperity and jobs in the European Union .
secondly , a clear commitment to implement structural reforms , as defined in the framework of the Lisbon Strategy and the national reform programmes , would be crucial to boost consumer and investor confidence in the short term and to improve the resilience and dynamism of our economies in the longer term .
I would hate to see the provisions adopted in June to regulate US finance - the statements made about these exaggerate their real impact - being used as a legal basis for not applying the provisions which might be introduced by bodies outside the United States .
out of all the G20 Heads of State or Government , there were only two of us : the President of South Africa and the President of the European Council , as well as Mr Barroso .
Electro-medical equipment used in veterinary medicine ( vote )
I just want to put that on the record because I do think it is very unfair .
strengthening the European Union 's military credibility is , however , indispensable .
this is therefore also an important area from the point of view of the economies of individual Member States . granting greater freedom to countries provides an opportunity for them to exploit these potential possibilities .
strong consumer support calls for active consumer organisations .
we have welcomed and supported the political vision of a Presidency that has repositioned politics at the centre of the debate , and as a result has repositioned Europe at the centre of world debate .
( DE ) Mr President , Mr De Gucht , more than a year ago , the European Parliament asked you , the Commission , very clearly to make the negotiations on the ACTA Agreement transparent in future and to involve the public and the parliaments in these negotiations .
I want particularly to thank all the coordinators on the committee who have worked with me to move forward in the work that we are doing and also to engage national parliaments , to have forums of national parliaments .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , we are grateful to the Commissioner for the commitments that have been made , although it should be said that with all the salaries the European Union pays around the world - with 136 diplomatic missions - it could perhaps have realised what was happening sooner .
I believe that the European Network and Information Security Agency 's mandate is needed to enable the European Union , Member States and stakeholders to develop a level of preparation and the capacity to prevent and detect network and data security problems , and to respond to them more effectively .
I hope that we can just conclude that the future is ours .
before the emergency was imposed we had witnessed some encouraging developments , with hope for a more inclusive political process and stronger democratic institutions , but regrettably this has now been put in question and today we ask ourselves whether this situation is still reversible or whether it is not too late to restore confidence and conditions in advance of the parliamentary elections .
that is the objective of the economic governance package , of which this report by my fellow Member Mrs Ford is a part .
there is a general feeling that , until the new regulation , until the new directive is applied in the Member States , the rules already in force are not applicable .
in writing . - Today , it was an easy task to vote for the report on forest protection and information in the EU : preparing forests for climate change .
it is not a very large amount ; but since the common agricultural policy is financed from public funds , I believe a more sustained involvement from the European Commission in assisting the Member States is necessary , especially in assisting the newly-integrated states , so that such irregularities would be considerably diminished and food security and safety would truly be an achievable objective in the European Union .
thirdly , participation in the joint taskforce , and fourthly the participation of the presidents in the Africa-European Union Summit .
we should be more human rights and democracy-based and more society-oriented and less authority-oriented than we are now .
experience shows that we must be very vigilant - and what happened with the Mediator medicinal products shows , in fact , just how vigilant we must be - and make sure that we strike a balance , as we have sought to do with this draft report .
I voted for this report in support of Europe 's citizens as it stipulates clearer rules regarding patients ' rights to seek treatment abroad and the opportunity to make a choice which is based on their needs , not their means , and which must be informed and not made under duress .
there is absolutely no reason to rest on one 's laurels .
Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I would like to start by congratulating and thanking Mrs Weisgerber for the in-depth work she has done on an intricate and complicated proposal , which has been at the centre of a long debate ; her work has therefore not been easy , and the fact that it has been possible to reach an agreement at first reading shows the rapporteur 's skill in securing a good agreement .
we are also afraid that the situation unfolding in Kosovo is more of a threat to peace and development in Europe if there is a unilateral declaration of independence .
the debate is closed .
in writing . - ( PL ) Mr Pomés Ruiz rightly argues that transparency depends on whether the information concerning beneficiaries is easily accessible and reliable , and lends itself to further research , comparison and assessment .
I would point out that this text includes clear rules on detention , in full compliance with the fundamental rights , and limits detention to exceptional cases .
the European Council , however , must also deal with current economic and financial issues , as we all know that the crisis is not completely behind us yet .
while perhaps we need to look at the bureaucracy , let us not diminish the scrutiny .
the EU 2020 Strategy must find solutions to meet these expectations .
let us recall that , in 2007 , the European Community and the Member States together contributed 60 % of all development aid , making the European Union the world 's leading donor .
( the sitting was closed at 12.25 )
based on the outcome of the vote , we have appointed a College of Commissioners whose overall performance did not really go without a hitch , as in the case of the commissioner nominated by Bulgaria and her subsequent replacement , which highlight this point .
Slovakia 's entry into the euro area will be an important experience for the new Member States .
the case for reinforcement of both the preventive and the corrective arm of the pact is obvious .
however , by supporting several amendments , I have also expressed my rejection of the politically correct language of the resolution .
this report is for opening up Europe ; it is against giving it away .
we cannot therefore simply say ' no ' to the agreements which the EU has with other countries on fishing .
I call for the barriers preventing the free movement of Romanian and Bulgarian workers to be lifted .
this is due to the time period required for the necessary technological development to apply phase III .
I agree that setting up the points of single contact is an essential part of effective implementation of this directive .
I repeat : not all those guilty of terrorist attacks were tried in Italy !
nevertheless , I am utterly convinced that we should not intervene without a judicial decision .
in 2008 , the company even entertained the possibility of creating three more plants in Portugal , all around the town of Vila do Conde .
in this referendum carried out using mobile ballot boxes , in spite of an artificially instigated anti-Hungarian propaganda campaign , 99 % of the 210 000 voters asked voted in the affirmative .
the EU also has to be willing to hold constructive talks with the indigenous peoples , and that is one way the Union can come to play a decisive role in Arctic policy .
doubts also persist about the process of binding foods ( for example , cold bonding without the addition of salt and without any subsequent heating process ) and the safety of the final product .
the most important aspects of the amendment of the directive are related to distance contracts or off-premises contracts . the act will give consumers more control when purchasing goods , protect them from unfair activities , extend consumer choice and increase competition .
are we sure we are doing everything we should ?
the agreements signed by Italy , Hungary and Bulgaria with Russia in terms of building the South STREAM , a pipeline designed to avoid a Member State , like Romania , without any economic reasons , seriously affects the cohesion of European energy policy and represents political strategies that must be avoided among Member States .
this is the reason why mountainous regions receive specific support under the common agricultural policy .
therefore , I would ask you to support the amendments put forward by the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) on this subject .
this example should become the accepted approach throughout Europe .
nowhere in the text , Mr Schwab , is there a stipulation on this Internal Market Test , and I would suggest that you need to read the text more closely .
two more members of the team arrived the following day and they were joined by a fifth some days later .
EU-level coordination will be vital in this respect and may help eliminate the adverse effects .
now Parliament has done its best , and the agreement before us does at least represent some improvements on the common position .
I supported this balanced resolution , which does not ban future oil exploitation in deep water , but adjusts it to ensure respect for European security standards , which are amongst the strictest in the world .
we have heard already how severe it has been , but we are less clear as to what has caused it .
however , it is clear that the casualty figures claimed by the LTTE have been exaggerated .
but you can be sure that we are going to try , and we are going to try to support Mr Fayyad , because he has been our interlocutor all this period of time .
I want to raise with the Minister one or two issues that are causing controversy in Ireland at the moment .
it is within this framework that the institutions must be strengthened .
with regard to the heading ' Conservation and management of natural resources ' , the Council has adopted a limited reduction of EUR 382 million in commitment appropriations and of EUR 497 million in payment appropriations .
a final figure will be determined in the light of the Copenhagen conference .
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it is correct that there is a special interest from the general public in such a sensitive area that relates to data protection and exchange .
the damage to airline companies and airports - in other words , the direct damage - has had a counterpart in the chaotic care given to travellers stranded in various corners of the world .
I would nevertheless like to point out that it is crucially important with this regulation , and others , that there is proper implementation and monitoring .
most recently , the Hungarian President did so during a visit by his Romanian counterpart to Budapest , and met with a stern rejection .
the IMCO committee , of which I am a member , has come together and adopted the text unanimously , including the simplifications for micro-enterprises .
we all know that this has not been the case .
this emerges especially from paragraph 4 of the report , which says that we urge the Commission to ensure that the European Union 's trade interests are defended against the abusive or unfair trade practices of third countries .
why is this happening ?
we must respect the right of asylum seekers to flee to whatever country they deem most suitable and ensure that the Member States comply with the 1951 Geneva Convention .
sugar beet farmers said ' no ' , fishermen said ' no ' .
that is why I insist so much on the social dimension , since the efforts required must be shared fairly .
the Commission should submit relevant alternative proposals in this direction .
we must guard against believing that we can force everything to happen and predetermine every last detail .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , let me start by underlining the unprecedented nature of this disaster - in terms of humanitarian impact , but also in terms of the impact on the country as a whole .
hitherto , this policy has been fragmented and more oriented towards academic and scientific research , rather than transforming innovative ideas into real or adapted products or services that would stimulate growth and job creation .
furthermore , it was disappointing that the phrase ' Georgia is still on track eventually to join the ( NATO ) Alliance ' was removed in the vote .
it was a delight to have you in Washington and at the White House , and it is a great honour - and , I might add , a privilege - to be able to address such an esteemed body .
let me draw your attention to paragraph 37 of the report , which calls for a simplified planning permission procedure .
GDP is a measure of production that does not measure environmental sustainability , resource efficiency , social inclusion and social progress in general .
however , for these energy sources to play a significant role in the European energy system , two conditions have to be met .
second , the presentation of the EIT has been established on a pilot-phase basis .
our fellow citizens expect Europe - and we see it every day on the ground - to provide solutions to the employment crisis .
of course , the sector itself also has a responsibility to adapt production to demand , in order to try to restore profitability , and Mrs Harkin wants to know if the Commission has similar plans for other sectors .
thus , the initial draft of the report , which made provision for the realisation of a House of European History with exorbitant running costs , was absolutely contrary to my firm belief in budgetary restraint where public money is involved .
in this bulky report , though , I cannot find a trace of duty on the part of aliens to integrate in our European society .
Mr Radwan 's report declines to acknowledge that this could also be useful in the European Union .
the Commission advised us that grants will be awarded on the ' first come , first served ' principle .
when we talk about the western stock of Atlantic horse mackerel , it is important to distinguish between Zone VIII C , the area around the Bay of Biscay , which is essentially geared to artisanal fisheries and which forms the livelihood for a significant part of the Portuguese , Spanish and French populations , in particular , and the zone further north , which is focused on industrial fisheries , and is thus essentially geared towards economic profitability .
Mr President , I am going to try to mention the main principles governing our approach to these migration and return problems .
while I have not been successful in rallying the majority in the committees behind this idea , I do think that this is an important matter .
addiction , medical problems , social misery , abuse , all these things are well known .
this report , otherwise not all that bad , might usefully have included a paragraph on the treatment of opposition parties which do not toe the accepted line .
there is still no progress on the Cyprus issue .
steps must be taken immediately to make it possible for humanitarian organisations to function .
let me just cite two key examples , namely the substantial improvements and slimmed-down provisions regarding overdraft facilities and the emerging arrangement on Article 16 in respect of compensation for early repayment .
the EIDHR puts a new emphasis on the promotion of democracy and also allows us to provide support for actions in support of the EU human rights guidelines .
although currently only Papua New Guinea and the Republic of the Fiji Islands have signed the agreement , this is an important step towards the future economic development of this region , which is made up of 14 states and is crucial to the development of international trade .
Mr Langen , I know that you are tabling an amendment this afternoon to ensure that Parliament is not in session during carnival time in Germany .
I admit that , in terms of the presidency looking at this as a step forward to social Europe , we would like to feel that it is a step in that direction .
if the European Parliament accepts such a procedure , it will create a very negative precedent for its role and effective operation , whereas it should safeguard its control , law-making and other powers as the only elected institution at European level .
Mr Lange , the German Treuhand agency did a number of positive things .
I hope that we will soon be taking action of this kind .
we , Parliament , have long been fighting for more rights - particularly in the field of agriculture .
events - tragic ones , in many instances - have followed one another thick and fast during this term , and on many occasions , particularly during the last two and a half years , Parliament , through you , Mr President , has been able to perform a crucial role in mediating proposals .
an agreement has been reached concerning banana imports into the EU which will no longer put the Latin American supplier countries at a disadvantage when compared with the African , Caribbean and Pacific ( ACP ) Group of States .
I would like to thank my colleague for waiving his supplementary and thank the President-in-Office for taking the question .
the European Union must go much further than the minimum decided since this latest military escalation began .
I suggest the Presidency take into consideration the statement made by Siim Kallas , Commissioner-designate , in which he referred to free movement as one of the most fundamental freedoms of European citizens , manifested in modern transport .
the Commission has made some important decisions in principle towards this end , especially by drawing up a new action plan for gender equality , which stresses that gender-based violence is one of the key problems to be addressed .
the European Commission and the Member States must adopt the measures needed to enhance the value of work , overcome pay differences and eliminate stereotypes linked to the jobs and sectors which always discriminate against women .
if any Member State is against something being funded in their country , we do not fund it .
this process is in keeping with Ankara 's intransigence on the Cyprus question , with the casus belli in the Aegean , which is being backed by Frontex contesting the borders in the area , and by effectively banning trade unionism and other anti-democratic arrangements in Turkey .
- ( PL ) Prime Minister , not long ago you said that the European Union was united not only by a common economy and policy , but also by the values of a common memory , culture and creativity .
it should be stressed that , according to Eurobarometer , the majority of the Croatian population believed very recently that accession to the EU would not benefit them .
let us remember that in 1989 , many European politicians were afraid of the changes in Central and Eastern Europe , so let us not be afraid to be fully involved politically and economically .
we say we want to reduce bureaucracy by 25 % by 2010 , but this will only achieve the very opposite !
by signing a border arbitration agreement with its neighbour Slovenia , the new Croatian Government has not only eliminated an obstacle to the negotiating process , but has also paved the way for the resolution of other issues .
I fully support the Lambrinidis report on security and fundamental freedoms on the Internet .
Jihadism is often referred to as a religion vying with other religions and as an ideology seeking its place in the world , but this is incorrect .
it does seem , though , that we have not done all we can to hinder the destabilisation of Lebanon by Hezbollah .
as is shown by the data for 2005 , however , the United States has increased its greenhouse gas emissions by 16.4 % , while the EU is reaching the Kyoto target and in 2005 emitted in total 7.9 % less than 1990 levels .
as well as learning to use energy efficiently and protect the environment , the next generation must also learn to accept and respect differences .
relations with industrial policy are disappointing , and we must assess them .
( applause )
in particular , the success of my own country under the cohesion policy since we joined the European Union is a perfect example .
there is perhaps not a single MEP who doubts the need for cohesion policy to continue after 2013 .
this is what we are now doing at Copenhagen - not to forget - because sometimes people tend to forget - that it is not just a game between those players but also with developing countries : the poorest , most vulnerable , the African countries .
later this year I will come forward with a communication consolidating the evidence gathered in our research .
it is also vitally important that the Roma should be able to participate in , and actually influence , the planning of measures aimed at improving their position .
we know that there are several options before us .
ladies and gentlemen , Russia is once again humiliating the European Union by claiming to have withdrawn its forces to their positions prior to the invasion .
without constructive and fair cooperation with the Commission and with the Belgian Presidency , we would certainly not have achieved this result .
today we are discussing how to get 18 additional MEPs into the European Parliament .
therefore , Mr President , I am of the opinion that we should vote today .
( PL ) Mr President , I wish to speak on the same issue .
this would just be hypocritical , symbolic of a Europe unable to express an authoritative and decisive position .
energy and climate issues will be the main topics in all future summits between the European Union and third countries or regions until the end of June 2008 , more especially with Japan , Latin America and the Caribbean , the Russian Federation and the United States of America .
first and foremost this directive sends a clear political signal that we want our scientists to look for alternative methods of verifying research into new medicines , in order to minimise the number of animals and the number of tests , while naturally complying with all of the possible ethical principles so as to avoid the suffering of animals .
it is really a multidisciplinary issue .
Croatia is a transit route through which illegal drugs are smuggled on the way from production countries to consumer countries .
the answer is : it does not !
as the Court of Auditors has obtained reasonable assurances that the annual accounts for the financial year 2009 are reliable and that the underlying transactions are legal and regular , and as a delegation from the Committee on Fisheries visited the CFCA in June 2010 and was very satisfied with the general state of its affairs , particularly the execution of the Joint Deployment Plans , I believe Parliament should adopt this report .
similarly , the recent decision by the ECOFIN Council to put a stop to the exceptional employment support measures designed to restore public finances quickly is unacceptable .
so without prejudging the outcome of the peer review process and the subsequent Commission internal consultation , it is the Commission 's intention at this stage to present a draft implementing measure to the relevant regulatory committee that will include default values both for oil sands and for oil shale , as well as for other unconventional fuels such as coal to liquids and gas to liquids .
more than 80 % of world trade takes place at sea , and maritime transport remains the backbone of international trade .
I sincerely hope that the regulation will be rejected during the vote .
we are not afraid of a public debate on Europe .
I will also be promoting such an approach during the forthcoming plenary of the EuroLat assembly in Seville in May .
the Commission welcomes the positive tone of the report and the support expressed for our actions in the field of competition policy in 2009 , in particular , in the context of the economic and financial crisis .
all these factors are vitally important for our common future in Europe .
Mr Daul has expressed his determination that the largest group should propose the President of the Commission , as was the case five years ago .
as much as some people want to demonise hedge funds , they are not the cause of the difficulties in the market .
Parliament has , I believe , once again shown its ability and desire to contribute to finding suitable solutions to each new aspect of this crisis whilst hoping that , finally , we will also find what we need to allow our economy to face the challenges in these very difficult times .
Mr President , the position of the cultural and creative industry forms part of the European strategy for innovation and the EU 2020 strategy , and is closely connected with measures aimed at the more effective use of monuments , museums and gallery collections , or urban and rural units in tourism and related activities .
we now have a better picture and we are very much looking forward to your report , which can help us as we move forward with this work , as well as to cooperating with you and the Committee on Foreign Affairs .
Mr President , I would like to wish the Slovenian Presidency every success for its term over the next six months , and also to wish a safe and successful peace-keeping mission to the EU forces that are going to Chad .
critical mass is essential to bring about change .
hence the relatively high level of technology and good quality of human capital .
in attempting to reassure the markets , you are unsettling companies .
I believe it is fundamentally important for the recovery of countless abandoned areas of land to be used in the creation of short , closed agricultural branches - in other words , systems that link agricultural cultivation directly to sales .
I also want to put a question to all the Members of this Parliament : can you say that this economic governance package is worse today than when it arrived here ?
according to a recent article in the Financial Times , the European Union has only spent 10 % of the EUR 347 billion allocated for the period up to 2013 to promote the development of poor regions .
the June List is very well disposed towards making the EU system more efficient , but does not believe that this is automatically achieved by means of more services .
I can also understand that cuts have to be made in some areas of our common policy , but I do not understand why education and mobility , in particular , have to be the victims of cuts to what is known as soft policy .
the level of trust between employer and employee required by such activity makes it advisable not to overload the working relationship with excessive formality but , at the same time , means that the worker should be able to exercise their profession with dignity .
a dialogue is in the interests of trade unionists and workplace environments .
further discussion in the working party did not lead to changes in this conclusion .
the results of the European Parliament elections in Romania could be an example in this regard .
I am confident that in the course of the whole process , we will manage to make improvements to this text , both with regard to its scope of application and to ensuring the integrity of the procedures and the quality of translation and interpretation .
I also think that it is leading the European Union to be very much in agreement and work with the Commission on the proposal that the Commission will submit on the coordination of economic policies in enforcement of Article 136 of the Treaty of Lisbon .
Mr President , at least 157 dead and over 1 200 wounded is the result of the Guinean army 's intervention in a peaceful opposition demonstration at the stadium in Conakry in September .
all of us together , the Member States , the Environment Council , the Commission , Parliament and of course the Presidency : we all have a role to play .
in the discussions on this topic , the Socialist Group in the European Parliament argued in favour of more transparency and of effective sanctions in the event of non-compliance with the obligations .
he said : ' the world is a dangerous place to live , not because of those who do evil , but because of those who look on and do nothing ' .
can I raise just one particular issue ?
that is indeed the only reason , ladies and gentlemen , that explains why there is a rate on Greece , with its 12.7 % deficit , while there is no rate on the United Kingdom , with its 12.9 % deficit .
as the no bail out clause states that Member States cannot take on the debts of others , they should not be allowed to profit from those debts either .
it seems to me to be a good first step .
therefore , we need a new , fair agricultural policy drawn up by objective experts rather than interest groups .
the adoption of Community regulations is necessary if we are to restrict illegal immigration .
I agree with IFA President Padraig Walshe and Dairy Chairman Richard Kennedy that the quickest way to speed up price recovery is for the EU Commission to make more aggressive use of all market supports such as :
this plan attracted strong support last year , but it was not fully financed in 2009 .
in writing . - ( FR ) I voted for discharge to the Director of the European Police College ( CEPOL ) in respect of the implementation of its budget for the financial year 2006 on the basis of the report by Mr Martin recommending that Parliament should grant discharge .
we should categorically condemn such obvious breaches of the human rights and fundamental freedoms that form the basis of our democratic societies .
however , the sum being proposed for setting up this fund , which is EUR 300 million , is the maximum amount compatible with the budgetary ceiling .
EU-Turkey relations ( debate )
let us hope that the motor industry will take this as a stimulus to intensify research which will lead to the faster introduction of new , environmentally friendly and energy-saving technologies .
this must be traced back , primarily , to a series of problems within the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia , in particular , as regards the opposition parties ' boycott of the national parliament .
I do not have faith in the current Commission to deal adequately and responsibly with this issue .
let us not deceive ourselves ; it is not a European strategy for Africa , or vice versa .
I am absolutely convinced that it will continue to be so .
Member States have ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea .
the following factors have yet to be clarified : • Staff - who and how many ? • Equality - the staff should be selected on the basis of gender equality principles . • What powers will the EEAS have ? • Budgetary supervision should lie with the European Parliament . • Something that is very important for taxpayers : how high are the costs ?
I would like to thank my colleagues who have been working long hours to try to achieve this .
let us affirm this , let us send out this strong message , and show the Croatian people , show Croatia how much we are looking forward to welcoming them into the European family because it is not just for Croatia , it is a strong symbol for the stability of the Balkans and for peace .
the first phase was launched in 2005 , while it turned out that the requirements of phase two were not fully feasible from the technical viewpoint for all vehicles .
we call strongly on both parties to the conflict to abide by the ceasefire agreement and to fulfil the undertakings which they made towards a peaceful resolution .
what counts is its substance and the progress it enshrines for European citizens .
in order to boost their earnings , agencies often employ workers not on the basis of employment contracts but on the basis of work performance agreements so that they can avoid paying social and medical insurance for their employees .
explanations of vote
the national strategies and action plans of developing countries will form the basis of financing action in the fight against deforestation .
that is the way that we will deliver the jobs and growth that this economy desperately needs .
this , in itself , is already a major challenge .
it is to be feared that the same thing would also happen in the case of visa facilitation for Georgian citizens .
at that moment , a peaceful United Europe , a European Parliament , must have seemed like a fantasy to anyone alive .
1 .
I should like , first of all , to record the excellent and constructive atmosphere that prevailed during the meetings preceding the first reading of the 2008 budget by the Council .
in writing . - ( FR ) On reading this rapport , one question comes to mind : is it because the ' first generation ' Schengen Information System did not work or was at least ineffective as a means of ensuring security within the Schengen area that a ' second generation ' system , intended to remedy these shortcomings , is being implemented ?
it risks undermining the large-scale development of renewables and green-collar jobs which promise a renaissance for European regions like mine , North-East England .
greater communication is needed , we should be closer to the ground , which is what we are doing with Mrs Wallström who is more competent than I am in this area , but who has made great efforts .
I have two questions for you .
however , the company is forgetting that it was these workers who helped to build the group , which is worth millions and which has received public aid , including Community funds , in order to generate the millions in profits that it is still making .
you must admit , therefore , that this is a pretty lightweight proposal , and you must realise that we are a little frustrated .
Madam President , it is an oral amendment on compensation for farmers , with thanks to Mrs Rivasi for the initiative .
in writing . - ( PT ) Increasing consumption is a sign of a generalised ( if not always balanced ) improvement in living conditions .
4 .
since I was first elected , participation in elections has fallen from 63 % to 46 % most recently .
it is essential that this decision is taken with a degree of urgency .
I sincerely hope that it works , because this new approach should be instrumental in bringing some new realities to Europe .
however , before the Council can implement the agreement , Serbia must fully cooperate with the International Criminal Court .
according to the information provided by NGO activists working for the protection of these emigrants , incredible sums were requested , reaching up to USD 8 000 for the release of each person .
people should not be punished .
now , for me , what is important is a result .
there is certainly a cross-border impact in a great many places : for example , erosion in Flanders could generate sludge in the Netherlands and vice versa .
I am winding up , Mr President .
promoting decent jobs is an integral part of the European Union values and Member States need to take effective measures to ensure that standards are met and decent jobs are guaranteed in the various industry sectors .
Commissioner , the workers are asking for security and Europe must give it to them ; it must give them clarity , it must give them the right to be informed and consulted .
true to form , your Presidency 's programme combines quiet ambition and a consensual style , which have the potential to unite our continent .
I also support the modernisation of activities in the area of physical education , especially those aimed at establishing a balance between physical and intellectual activities in schools .
in Brussels last week , Amnesty International raised concerns over the lack of a human rights unit within the External Action Service .
you only have to look , for example , at the contradictory positions adopted by the German or Austrian Social Democrats in the EP or when they are representing the governments of their countries .
a question was asked about the elections and whether they should still be held .
from this point of view , I welcome the European Commission 's willingness , as revealed just now in plenary by Vice-President Barrot , to cooperate by conducting the study requested by Parliament on the feasibility of taking the fingerprints of children .
the Commission , I am glad to say , has that task in hand , although I fear that some of the measures proposed last month for eliminating illegal fishing will not go down too well with the Council .
this is a rich report with a great number of concrete proposals .
there are three points as far as I can see .
I will be travelling to the region shortly and my main objective will be to meet the main actors and see first hand how the EU can be a force for change .
the agreement should be very broad and not be limited to purely trade questions .
I hope it happens .
it also stresses the problems of child labour and social exclusion , and calls for special attention to be given to the vulnerable social groups , such as child immigrants , street children and children with disabilities .
finally , we emphasise the need to redouble our efforts .
the next item is the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the outcome of the NATO Summit in Lisbon .
it is progress in itself that there are people in the Arab League , in the Arab camp , who are prepared to have that debate .
at the present time , the majority of recently developed new vaccine candidates are still in the preclinical development phase or beginning clinical development .
on the other hand , computer literacy has succeeded where Esperanto failed - it has become the most universal language - and efforts should be made not only to bridge the digital gap at regional and global levels , but bearing in mind the different age groups and social strata .
for example , the price of fertiliser has risen by 40 % .
it would thus have enabled the labour markets of our Member States to respond to current and future manpower needs and would have provided a way of combating exploitation and discrimination , to which these workers too often fall victim .
the subsidy for the Czech Republic works out at EUR 85 per hectare of vineyards , while some favoured countries receive as much as EUR 245 .
the reform of the fisheries policies is more than simply drawing up legislation .
one is the senseless and barbaric distillation of wine into industrial alcohol and the other is the grubbing-up of vineyards : grubbing-up everywhere but where it should be done .
two of my colleagues in the Committee on Fisheries , Mrs Fraga Estévez and Mr Romeva i Rueda , were in Marrakesh and will be talking about this during the debate .
it is true that there are still significant deficiencies in some areas , in particular , in the case of cohesion policy , but the fall in the error rate in the area of agriculture and natural resources to below 2 % gives me cause to look optimistically to the future .
it is estimated that one tiger is killed every day .
small businesses need to have administrative simplification now .
finally , I welcome the principle of setting up an inventory of projects and initiatives in the field of space and remote-sensing .
the contemporary lifestyle helps camouflage this new poverty to a large extent .
in Libya , the population has doubled in the last 20 years .
judge Abdul Rahman Mohamed Yunos , who also sentenced Kartika Shukarno , said of the judgment ' The aim of the verdict is not to punish but to teach ' .
( ES ) Madam President , Commissioner , I would like to ask a question on the consumer retail forum you said you would work towards .
in fact , it is quite extraordinary , but today , there are almost one million job vacancies in Germany and almost half a million in the UK .
( applause from the centre and the left )
the only way to do this is by re-establishing national control over territorial waters .
something that is of paramount importance , that we also want to keep repeating and about which the European Parliament should not leave anyone in any doubt , is that we will never accept the Islamisation of Turkey , and that ultimately we will be able to admit that country only on the basis of its secular character as is now enshrined in the Constitution .
this report makes a hesitant step in that direction .
I would therefore ask the supporters of the Charter of Fundamental Rights how they intend to fight political extremism when they are defending it at the same time .
in particular , the planned joint action for the introduction of a bank levy or financial transaction tax at a global level should also be emphasised in this context .
we cannot allow political arguments to delay the enlargement .
I think it was not so much that the EU disappeared from the world stage .
this Convention contains a number of relevant obligations that are binding on the parties , with the particular aim of ensuring that an environmental impact assessment is carried out which includes consultation with other parties affected by a particular project .
many of the projects funded under PEACE were set up to serve local requirements .
in 2007 , aid from these 12 states totalled almost EUR 800 million .
for many years , the European Court of Human Rights has fulfilled its role very well , defending the weak and the persecuted .
I broadly agree with these three objectives , but I believe that a fourth , and perhaps more important , challenge is missing here : the reduction of energy dependence , particularly as regards fossil fuels .
we also need to use fossil fuels in a more sustainable way .
( RO ) I would like to congratulate Mr Coelho for this report .
a series of announcements of plans for group redundancies is reaching employment offices , and this includes over 80 000 Polish shipyard workers who have had their jobs taken away by the European Union , which allows the use of state funds to support other jobs in other countries .
as usual , it is the overriding principles and the political will that threaten the smooth running of the agency : each Member State must be reminded of its commitment to the principles of responsibility , solidarity and respect .
but crucially , in all countries , a pay gap exists between employees of the main providers and those of the new entrants or the alternative providers .
generally - with only a few exceptions , to judge by the audits that we have already seen - we can say that the institutions at issue are using the funds made available to them properly and meeting the objectives proposed for them .
this minimum income has an absolutely paramount role to play in preventing tragic situations caused by poverty and in halting social exclusion .
and can I say to the battered bureaucrats and lobbyists that I have decided that you are some of the best thing we have .
I think we , as the European Union , have a duty to make the fight against exclusion and poverty one of our priorities .
as regards new technologies : concerning the Vessel Monitoring System ( VMS ) and the Vessel Detection System ( VDS ) , Amendment 19 foresees the entry into force of these electronic devices for vessels between 10 and 15 metres as of 1 July 2013 , instead of 1 January 2012 , as laid down in the proposal .
at this time , we are actively engaged in the design of the EU 2020 strategy where we shall define the future of the European model .
by Mr Costa , on behalf of the Committee on Transport and Tourism , on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2004 / 49 / EC on the safety on the Community 's railways - 6-0493 / 2006 - ;
making it clear that this is a purely defensive system is the subject of American-Polish-Czech-Russian negotiations .
so far this has not been the case , but we will follow the situation .
this is a problem of which we are well aware , which affects us very directly and to which we are alert and highly sensitive .
( FR ) Mr President , it is the extremely difficult question of maintaining our democratic values in the struggle against terrorism that is the actual thrust of our debate today .
this has an adverse effect on the production of fruit , vegetables and other crops which are pollinated by bees , and is a threat to biodiversity in general .
in the long term , however , it is the threat posed by a bad deal at the WTO which looms large over EU agriculture .
these investments cannot be implemented overnight and it would be unfair for the producers in question to be penalised .
the new planned ESDP mission in Somalia , once again , will not get to the root of the problem , but merely deal with the symptoms .
the WTO does not take into account the massive potential of these countries and their resources .
it would appear that this year 's conciliation between Parliament and the Council will be even more challenging than was the case in 2010 .
these exceptional circumstances may be justified in individual cases , enabling increased flexibility in how projects and programmes are implemented .
however , in order to realise these objectives , territorial cooperation programmes will have to be simplified , and local authorities and the public will need to be more involved by encouraging better communication through a large-scale media and awareness-raising campaign .
last week , the Commission published its third annual progress report for the South Caucasus countries .
fourthly , we want a revised and fairer system for the EU 's own resources .
we should also continue to focus on important issues from the past .
you can see immediately why it cannot be translated because it says ' and Cain said ' but it does not say what he said .
secondly , I wish to express my respect for the EU 's regulatory powers .
on issues like these we find Eurocrats who know very little about it all preaching to us in very general terms and telling us what to do .
the European Parliament expressed this clearly in the report by Mr Davies and in this very report : by majority vote the committee expressed its belief that the car companies could reach the CO2 level of 125 g / km by 2015 .
the tardy reaction on the part of the new foreign affairs administration has provoked amazement , with good reason .
if this were the case , we would , in fact , immediately have to prohibit all crosses on gravestones and all church spires .
Mr President , I would like to thank Mr Surján for the positive outcome of the negotiations .
we have now been looking at this , because , as I have been in the job a little bit longer , I am more engaged in the work that we are doing in terms of our missions abroad , whether in Kosovo , whether in Bosnia or whether in discussing what we are doing in Atalanta or indeed , what we have just been doing in Haiti , and so forth .
from a regional development point of view , making use of territorial cohesion as a new basis for further integration of the internal market is of vital importance .
according to the World Development Report last year , GDP growth generated by agriculture is four times more effective in reducing poverty than growth in other sectors .
as you know , 1 May 2011 was an important date for the EU .
ultimately , however , it is a different rail policy that we need in Europe .
on the other hand , packages offered by agencies carry added costs in order to ensure compliance with this directive , while those purchased online do not carry such expenses .
this is what we are discussing today ; trying to get it to work a little bit better .
I think that today , it is very important to say to the opposition that we are going to support them - and we should say this not only to the opposition .
I am of course referring to that historic event - the signing of the Treaty of Lisbon - due to take place in just over an hour in my country 's capital .
their people deserve it more than ever before and .
the Mediterranean diet , based on extra-virgin olive oil and good wine , has an excellent effect on health : olive oil reduces blood cholesterol levels and wine , in moderation , has an antioxidant effect .
I hope that this difficult period in the lives of the redundant workers will allow them to improve their abilities and qualifications , and that these improvements will allow them to be reintegrated into the labour market swiftly .
Madam President , Commissioner , one of the drawbacks of your being responsible for both enlargement and the neighbourhood policy is that you will spend more time in this Chamber .
the EU must treat endeavours relating to nuclear fuel as a priority area and focus on harmonising , tightening and rendering transparent the regulations concerning their storage , transport and trade .
but this speech is not about me : this speech is about you and about your activity .
this is a vital condition for the EU to emerge from the crisis revitalised , as a crucial global player .
of course , they do not go back at a ratio of 1 : 1 , as Europe is not a savings bank , and we naturally pursue a policy of solidarity where we support those in the European Union that are less well developed .
we all talk about growth , and that is the only way that many of the peripheral economies can climb out of the abyss that they are already in .
secondly , we need to recognise that the European institutions have taken up this cry of protest .
for example , Mr Kamall wants what is currently carried out by local companies or the public sector in developing countries to have competition from multinational European companies .
there was active collusion between the Heads of Government to avoid any referenda taking place on the Treaty lest the people were inconvenient enough to actually say they did not want it .
China continues to persecute followers of the Catholic Church . a report by David Kilgour , the Canadian Government 's former secretary of state for Asia , shows that one of the most persecuted groups since 1999 is Falun Gong , whose members have organs forcibly removed in Chinese work camps .
illegal felling reduces biodiversity , causes erosion , and contributes 20 % of greenhouse gas emissions .
having had recourse to the bailout mechanism , Greece , Spain and Portugal have come under heavy pressure from the Commission and the IMF to make major changes to industrial relations and collective bargaining procedures under the terms of the respective ' Memorandums ' , thereby overturning national guarantees for workers .
the Commission considers that , where the existing provisions of a directive are sufficiently clear , precise and detailed , they may be capable of conversion into directly applicable provisions in a regulation by way of recasting .
however , tightening sanctions against Iran is not the right approach to take .
if Article 13 ( 2 ) stipulates that ' authorisation procedures and formalities shall not be dissuasive and shall not unduly complicate or delay the provision of the service ' then we must take great care to ensure that this does not happen in practice .
that is why it is so important to be able to invoke the clause in the Treaty establishing the European Community which provides that its provisions may be disregarded if that step is necessary to protect the essential interests of an EU Member State .
( ES ) Mr President , Commissioner , please allow me to begin by congratulating the rapporteur , Mr Schwab , and Mrs Gebhardt on the work they have done .
the second is a need for clarity and visibility for the actors in the market and consumers .
while it is a fact that the rich and powerful contributed most to the deteriorating world environment , we acknowledge that the advance of science , technology and industries in the last 200 years has brought enormous benefits to all , even if those benefits have been distributed in an unequal manner .
on the other hand , we must call for this treaty to also respect certain basic , fundamental principles of coexistence inspired by respect for the rules .
the report is much debated , it is biased and , whether we like it or not , it will not help us move forward .
the problem of the Roma is a very real one , for Europe generally and also for Romania , and it was something we were aware of when we visited Romania .
it would also make the EU 2020 strategy relevant to individuals and citizens right across Europe .
aid , when judged to be compatible with the desire to increase free trade , must be initiated and decided by the individual Member States , not by the EU .
you have told us very clearly and with enthusiasm and resolve about everything that you have done up to now , for which you have also received strong support from us .
if it is , Commissioner , we need to know that , too , as soon as we can .
our aim is also to show Europeans what must be defended at all costs : our model of the social market economy , which is the envy of the world and for which we must fight , because it alone can ensure and guarantee our social cohesion .
Walter Eugen , the guiding light of the economic miracle , remarked as early as 1950 that the economic activity of the state should focus on designing the regulatory systems for the economy and not on managing the economic processes .
as regards biofuels , Parliament maintains that they will not worsen the problem of CO2 .
I welcome the demand for simplification , because this is a precondition for a better understanding and use of European funds by local officials .
a child starves to death every 30 seconds .
as we all know , it is not possible to apply exactly the same approach to different kinds of transport .
if the last few weeks have demonstrated anything , they have been an object lesson in the unworkability of a common foreign policy in this EU .
Madam President , in the street fighting which has come to resemble a civil war , 75 people have been killed and more than 1 800 injured since last week alone .
use of the d 'Hondt method to calculate the number of votes from individual states is an objective instrument eliminating political horse-trading .
certainly , one can agree that industrial agriculture is not environmentally friendly .
many people wonder how it is possible to protect animals while they are being killed .
the report deals with the prevention and correction of macroeconomic imbalances , and advocates increased supervision .
second , will you name a date for Macedonia this year ?
I would also urge Parliament to consider very strong support for the common agricultural policy in the very important debates that are coming up .
however , it must have the courage to adapt .
I want to make one more common on this .
the steadily growing immigrant communities are dealing with a crisis of integration ; think only of the riots in the French suburbs , in the outskirts of Paris , the London terrorist attacks or the ethnic tensions in the Netherlands .
in writing . - We of course sympathise with the plight of poor countries .
finally , we expect the Commission to set in motion the mechanism to perfect the currently imperfect situation of regulation of political parties .
the outcome of the climate summit in Cancún could hardly be described as a great achievement .
there is a serious risk of contagion via private equity .
I have upheld this resolution because my conscience as a human being leads me to fight for the abolition of the death penalty .
we shall support every action designed to help the people in the disaster areas and to assist them in the reconstruction of their villages .
Member States must ensure , and I quote , ' that airports levy the same charge for the same service .
where I cannot agree with you , however , is the statement in the report linking immigration and fisheries agreements .
it also establishes a horizontal , integrated approach for tackling the shared problems which the bringing of private legal actions within competition law may have with other realms , thus avoiding a fragmented , inconsistent approach .
however , I also believe that we must go much further , particularly in two fundamental areas , the first of which is discards .
the aim is not to call into question workers ' acquired rights , but to make it possible to protect the existing balances within certain Member States .
we know also that a worldwide fiscal and monetary stimulus to our economy can be twice as effective in every country if it is adopted by all countries .
action taken on Parliament 's positions and resolutions : see Minutes
I would also like to thank Mr Rehn for raising the bilateral disputes which have become de facto European problems and for stressing how important it is for us not to sacrifice enlargement as a result of the financial crisis .
however , Commissioner , we need to have the confidence of our fellow citizens , as you know better than anyone .
tobacco smoke is an environmental pollutant that contains over a hundred compounds that do harm to the health .
not even the experience of several rescue groups was sufficient .
the study foreseen in Article 6 ( 5 ) ( a ) of the Ecolabel Regulation , dealing with additional aspects such as processing , pre-packaging , packaging and transport , which will examine the flexibility of the extension of the scope of the Ecolabel Regulation to food , including the products of fishing and aquaculture , will not influence or prejudge the adoption of this regulation ' .
in the press , I have had some people accusing me , some of my fellow Members challenging me on this , saying : this is all well and good , but what you are writing puts wind in the sails of the Eurosceptics .
financial education programmes need to be developed according to the age groups and needs of the various sections of the population .
we must preserve that diversity of all forms and expressions of culture , including multilingualism and material culture , because our diversity is our identity , it is a source of creative development and of enriching cross-fertilisation .
and , if there is an international accompaniment , that would also be helpful in the negotiations .
the WTO litigation and the procurement have nothing to do with each other .
Mr President-in-Office , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , through this public signing of the legal instrument on the Galileo programme we are emphasising the importance we attach to the European satellite navigation programmes EGNOS and Galileo .
theoretically the time required for explanations of vote would thus be 143 minutes , something more than two hours .
maybe it sounds like I am taking the high moral ground ; I am not .
ITTA 2006 falls well short of what is required to address the problem of the loss of tropical forests .
the motion for a resolution calls on all states not to use , invest in , stockpile , produce , transfer or export cluster munitions until the CCM has entered into force .
but it is important , as we move towards reforming the common agricultural policy , that we continue to make those improvements .
however , the need to make up for this organ shortage should not lead us to sacrifice our values .
human rights , of course , know no national boundaries .
Parliament must not allow its rights to be taken away .
I also think that closer cooperation is needed between Member States and local authorities in terms of exchanging good practices .
we want to open up the market in international passenger transport and make it more attractive , but without fully liberalising domestic passenger transport .
technically that is true , but my congratulations this evening to the Czech Republic - to the Czech Senate particularly - for their Parliament 's complete approval to allow , hopefully , their President to ratify the Treaty on behalf of the Czech people .
I have explained the criteria .
8 .
1 .
however , the economic times have changed and cohesion policy needs to adapt to them .
I think that the authorities in this House will have to shoulder their responsibilities and learn lessons from this .
failure to comply with basic international social standards constitutes a form of social and environmental dumping detrimental to European enterprises and workers .
I therefore argue that this productive sector and the other strategic and traditional sectors of the outermost regions should be preserved .
I am voting in favour .
it is vital for there to be consistency and coordination with other international organisations .
has the European Commission started to change , under pressure from Canada , its directive on fuel quality ?
in writing . - ( RO ) As a member of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with the Gulf States , I would like to emphasize the importance of signing the Free Trade Agreement between the European Community and the Gulf Cooperation Council as soon as possible .
it also invites the Commission to undertake new impact assessments to examine the effect that trade agreements have on European SMEs .
the Commission welcomes the fact that Parliament 's motion for a resolution highlights precisely these areas .
both proposals are moving in the direction of improving the European Union reception system for asylum seekers .
Latvia 's citizenship law is one of the most generous in Europe .
but look at those Member States who are really having problems now .
this irrational situation is caused by populism and by giving precedence to false national interests over the common interests of consumers and entrepreneurs .
I was struck by the fact that here things have been incorporated into the wine market regulations through Committee , things which we have not debated at all in Parliament !
we must also put more emphasis on accommodation .
one of the Hungarian Presidency 's stated priorities is the expansion of the Schengen area .
we wish to hear your progress report .
on the contrary - the huge differentiation in the funding provided to farmers became yet greater . for example , the total subsidies per hectare varied in 2005 between EUR 68 in Latvia and EUR 756 in Belgium , in other words a tenfold increase .
today , when this House is being asked to give its opinion on the outcome of a conciliation procedure that will bring a conclusion to this long process - more than three years ' work - we as rapporteurs are delighted with this joint approach , which has enabled us to achieve what I believe to be a very satisfactory result .
we have already discussed on many occasions how we should strengthen Schengen , and not weaken it .
under these proposals , that can be done , and also it will be very important in kick-starting the building industry , which has suffered hugely right across the European Union as a result of the economic downturn .
I appreciate the work of the rapporteur , Mr Lange , who has managed to integrate more than 500 amendments , bringing in a resolution that overall makes a huge contribution to our work .
the plea that I would make to the Commission is that we need a framework for completing the single market , as opposed to the rather disconnected series of initiatives that we have at the moment .
the debate was a heated one within our group too .
the Member States and the various operators are all involved .
circumstances , I think , have demonstrated clearly that these were highly topical , valid themes and their validity is by no means limited to the first half of 2009 .
all people suffering from Alzheimer 's and other dementias in Europe must be treated the same .
the level of the standards must also be genuinely high , something that we managed to achieve in this area .
I remember towards the end of the last mandate , Martin Schulz saying that at last he had seen a social democratisation of the EPP .
we would therefore like to see the growing of leguminous plants being made a permanent component of future crop rotation in the common agricultural policy and being rooted in the first pillar .
firstly , I take the view that this proposal increases the legal uncertainty in the European Union .
( heckling )
one way in which the fundamentalists express their dissatisfaction is by organising anti-Western demonstrations , during which they destroy symbols associated with Christianity and shops run by Christians . in extreme cases even murders are committed .
however , it would have been precisely through energy efficiency projects that the main objective of the package , namely rapid and effective job creation , could have been achieved .
( the sitting was closed at 11 p.m. )
we must oblige laboratories to resort to the use of animals for scientific experiments as little as possible , especially those taken from the wild .
I would note , of course , that within the European Union as well there are people who find themselves in a difficult situation because of soaring food prices .
those citizens of Romania and Bulgaria who travel to Schengen countries with good intentions will , in any case - and I am convinced of this - understand that the inconvenience of border controls is outweighed by the necessity of protecting all other Europeans against organised crime and mass illegal immigration .
I share President Barroso 's determination that we achieve our targets without loss of global competitiveness and without exporting jobs and businesses .
in other words , that decision goes against the basic principles of transparency , which should govern everything relating to the European budget , and is a direct attack on the right of Europeans to know who their taxes go to .
if growth is there , then there is more demand for energy resources , and none of the existing energy resources are in such quantities that we can say easy access is guaranteed .
it also includes allowing municipalities to take fair trade , for example , into consideration as a procurement criterion , as proposed by Mrs Rühle .
the Commission also had a positive input .
ladies and gentlemen , it is absurd to think that the European Union can teach Brazil anything about the importance of Mercosur or appoint itself Mercosur 's champion before Brazil .
as concerns funding for mitigation measures in developing countries , the Council has adopted a clear position .
( FR ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , European cohesion policy was created in order to provide real answers , with the help of sizeable financial resources , to the questions posed by other European policies .
I welcome the efforts which the European Maritime Safety Agency is making , including with regard to developing a Vessel Traffic Management and Information System , while providing an integrated database , which includes displaying vessels in real time , along with other data linked to their cargo and its properties .
but we have the support of all the groups , and I very much hope and trust that in the vote on Wednesday , we will see that reflected .
consequently , the sum intended for support of construction of the demonstration plants is going to depend on the market price of the allowances .
you will understand that this is to allow the interpretation to reach everyone in the correct manner .
corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes
as soon as the Member States have investigated what is possible , the European Defence Agency must be the main focus of the joint development of capabilities .
it is important to emphasise the significance for a successful economic recovery of measures to support employment and business .
I take note of your contributions and assure you that you will always have the Spanish Government , which will hold the rotating Presidency of the European Union until 30 June , working with you to achieve a more sustainable future for all of us .
the EU and the group of Latin American countries are jointly working on a draft resolution on the rights of the child , with a specific focus on the fight against sexual violence against children .
how are we seeking to undermine this ?
I believe that all this will help to create a robust international investment policy in the European Union .
a partnership agreement must foster respect for the fact that the provision of development aid must not be linked to the conclusion of an EPA .
we must likewise take a responsible attitude to our reception process , guaranteeing asylum and refugee status to immigrants , individual treatment of each person , and realistic solutions .
this was the whole idea behind the recast .
as you know , block exemption regulations are very important instruments to the business community .
I expect Slovenia and Greece to help the accession candidates to achieve their objective quickly and easily .
the Egyptian initiative for inter-Palestinian reconciliation - so that there is one interlocutor - is still pondering and the security arrangement in Gaza , with the liberation of prisoners , such as Gilad Shalit , is still awaited .
Mr President , the target of the assassins was not simply Benazir Bhutto , but all of those who are committed to the principle of democracy .
rapporteur . - ( DE ) Madam President , Mr De Gucht , you are absolutely right that the outside world does not understand why we cannot come to an agreement with the Council .
membership of committees and delegations : see Minutes
our colleague Paparizov 's report defines a new concept of access to the natural gas transportation networks ; colleague La Russa 's report brings an important contribution to defining the medium and long-term strategy of the internal natural gas market , and colleague Buzek 's report emphasizes the need to develop the strategic energy technologies .
currently cohesion policy and measures connected with realisation of the Lisbon Strategy can count on the greatest support .
domestic violence is widespread .
let me make myself clear : I am prepared to carry out this analysis .
but the missing link in this debate is , of course , that of consumer demand .
5 .
we need this mobility for both learners and for workers so that people can take advantage of the richness offered by different European education and training systems at national or even regional levels .
from what I have understood from your speech , this is a typical problem concerning internal political debate , with perhaps a dimension relating to the law or the rule of law , but the European Commission has no business interfering in the conflicts between the various political forces or political personalities in each of our Member States .
we also know that the signing of a community treaty on transport with the countries in the region is contemplated in order to create a domestic market in the field of road , railway and inland waterway transport .
these are measures that you - and you in particular , because Sweden is affected by this misguided policy , this misguided case law - need to tackle during your Presidency .
a number of you have specifically mentioned the economic partnership agreements which , it is true , are a sensitive issue , and which were already a significant cause of disagreement at the 2007 Lisbon summit .
I particularly disagree with the cuts made in the budget headings in support of the Lisbon Strategy .
it is the countdown to 2010 that concerns me .
I feel I have nothing to add to the general points that have been put forward , but would like just to focus on the results of the political agreement of the 10 June and to point out the successes which have been achieved across a range of key points in the interests of the European Parliament .
in 2009 , it granted humanitarian aid to approximately 115 million people in more than 70 countries , to a total of EUR 950 million .
at stake are the credibility of our Parliament and the wellbeing of our fellow citizens , who would not understand - and rightly so - if we were to commit them to long-term courses of action that we did not discuss calmly and exhaustively beforehand , taking into account the different national situations and the constraints of our common fight against climate change .
culture is an expression of the soul of the regions .
( uproar in the Chamber )
I support this initiative to help people who have been made redundant by the 82 businesses in Galicia to re-enter the labour market .
an amendment to the resolution , however , meant that a possible alternative solution was reached for those producers who have started to replace their systems of rearing in favour of the new cages .
moreover , it is very important to me - because , of course , we have a considerable interest in making our European institutions environmentally friendly and , as far as possible , changing our own behaviour - that we have called for a new , more environmentally friendly approach to mobility .
I am fairly pleased with the result , and very pleased with the cooperation with the rapporteur .
in writing . - I welcome this report .
Commissioner , I invite you to table a proposal on cloning as soon as possible in order to regulate the sector effectively once and for all .
they need these networks to guarantee greater coherence between mobility systems , greater coherence between the objectives of economic , social and territorial cohesion and the planning of trans-European networks , which are frequently ignored or are carried out in parallel without ensuring that the necessary defaults are in place .
adopted in 2006 , the Services Directive , which should have been transposed into national law before 28 December 2009 , continues to raise questions in the Member States and within local authorities that are directly affected by it .
the debate is closed .
climate change may bring drier winters and hotter summers , thereby creating an ideal context for fires .
we think that restraint should be exercised in such ventures , particularly in developing countries , since we risk damaging domestic industry .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection . - ( DE ) Madam President , I acknowledge the car as a universal means of transport , and I acknowledge the contribution of the car industry to the prosperity of Europeans .
the European Parliament is playing a key role in this politicisation .
there is a good distance between the two of them , and anybody who chooses to go into London rather than Newcastle has still got a tremendous distance to go .
we need transparency , and we need the same kind of statistics and we need sticks and carrots for Member States , not only to sign up to promises , but also to keep them .
( FR ) Mr President , while preparing this resolution , we said to ourselves ' no politics , just humanitarianism ' .
I want to set the record straight as to the exact role of the Commission concerning the M3 .
there is nothing strange about this , because there are powerful forces opposing the expansion of childcare and other prerequisites for women to be able to work .
we can no longer prevent it , but we can hope and strive to control it .
it is based on the bilateral relations of the Union with each of these countries and , in my view , that is its weak point .
( NL ) Madam President , Parliament 's draft budget for 2011 is EUR 1.7 billion .
solving the serious problems affecting millions of human beings requires respect for national sovereignty , the peaceful resolution of international conflicts and satisfaction of the urgent needs of the economically poorest countries .
( RO ) The country which I represent featured for a long time on a list of countries which did not have a childcare social policy up to European standards .
our demographic challenge is a vital problem in the long term , which also requires long-term solutions .
fourthly , can the Czech presidency really have authority unless and until the Czech Republic ratifies the Treaty ?
as such , I would simply like to appeal to the Commissioner to be courageous in dealing with the Member States , the national parliaments and ourselves , because this discussion will certainly not be easy .
overall , this is a thorough report that merits our support .
it frequently makes use of genuine needs for aid and cooperation to which it is important to respond , particularly emergencies , whilst a great variety of objectives are being pursued in practice .
that is the whole issue behind the adoption of this package of measures already introduced by the Commission no less than five years ago .
annual growth rates of the market for GNSS-enabled products and services are estimated to be above 10 % .
our Committee called upon the Member States to introduce a procedure that helps all suppliers , particularly SMEs , in certain sectors of production , to determine the correct classification , labelling and packaging of these substances and mixtures .
we Europeans must help to further strengthen democracy and human rights for the Tibetan people .
the adoption of these negotiating directives is a clear signal of our strong commitment to further deepening the relationship between the European Union and the countries of the South Caucasus on the basis of shared values and principles including democracy , the rule of law and respect for human rights .
despite its power in that respect , the Member States are very positively disposed towards it .
on 17 January 2008 , the European Parliament adopted a resolution ( P6 _ TA ( 2008 ) 0021 ) that urged China ' not to use the 2008 Olympic Games as a pretext to arrest ... and imprison dissidents , journalists , and human rights activists who either report on , or demonstrate against , human rights abuses ' .
one-minute speeches on matters of political importance
this facility will provide EUR 100 million and could leverage a further EUR 500 million of microcredit .
we have done quite a lot in Europe up to now .
for the time being , the nuclear power lobby appears to be gaining ground .
there is therefore a good case for more harmonisation of the relevant legislation in Member States .
but when it comes to maintaining the basic framework for this , it is truly essential that the measures in place should be effective .
by creating a common policy on energy , as proposed by Mr Saryusz-Wolski , the EU will become a much stronger player on the world stage , better placed to defend the interests of all its Members .
in particular , as has been said already , even by our Left-wing MEPs , should the European Parliament not first take the trouble to put its own house in order ?
I would like , moreover , to congratulate our rapporteurs on their work and , more specifically , to mention the SOLVIT network .
the aim is to move forward based on existing bilateral and multilateral initiatives and to pursue the implementation of the Vienna Summit Statement and the Gleneagles Plan of Action on climate change , clean energy and sustainable development adopted by the G8 leaders .
I would therefore like to call upon the Commission to take steps , as soon as possible , to fulfil Parliament 's requests and to present a proposal for a framework directive with a view to regulating the collective cross-border management of copyright .
this is very important for our citizens .
irrespective of their purpose and the rhetoric with which they are presented , these agreements are essentially aimed at free trade , with all the extremely negative consequences that result from it .
( SK ) The submitted proposal - a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council - will enable citizens of Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina to travel without a visa to all countries of the European Union .
I should like to say that for the Portuguese Presidency as for the Council , the fight against terrorism can only be waged and will only be waged , I can assure you , within the framework of respect for our fundamental values and principles , the very points at risk in our fight against terrorism : that is , the defence of those principles and those values .
I just want to refer briefly to the question of access to the European Commission 's files .
that is actually already in the Treaty .
in the area of innovation and regional policy , a total of EUR 86 billion has already been earmarked for this financial period , and this is intended to help small and medium-sized enterprises in particular , to improve the quality of their workforce , their production methods and the services that they are able to offer .
the vote will take place during the first part-session in May .
finally , I would like to underline the need to adjust the culture of impunity in Kenya in order to bring those responsible for the post-election violence a year ago to justice .
nevertheless , their record speaks otherwise .
the discussion has been launched . so the question of multiple discrimination is not being neglected .
it closes off the democratic political option which the Prime Minister , Mr Erdoğan , has said he wants to pursue .
the consequences of interference in the political strategy and economy of each Member State could be serious .
the EU should take full advantage of the Lisbon Treaty in showing active solidarity - through concrete acts - with the fate of a nation whose existence is under threat and whose natural right to autonomy and safeguarding its culture is being harshly repressed .
you should know that you have behind you a large pro-European majority in this Parliament .
on behalf of the Council I would like to welcome the findings of Mrs Frassoni 's report , which in our opinion are essential , namely that securing the positive effects of Community law on the everyday lives of the citizens of the European Union depends primarily on the efficiency of European Union policies and on the supervision and monitoring of the methods by which the Member States comply with Community law .
it is also important to ensure that there is a level playing field , in terms of competition , between transport companies in different Member States and between different modes of transport .
( LT ) My question concerns excise duty .
it is really a matter of how to secure an outlet for the European car industry , which we have weighed down with demands for emission reductions .
I remain uneasy about the non-binding nature of the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators .
a specific ban on a product must be scientifically justified according to Article 23 of this directive , the so-called safeguard clause article .
it was incorporated in the first of the split votes and was rejected .
rural areas provide precisely the best conditions for a fulfilled life , for families involved in village communities , integrated into nature and the environment .
the IMF and the World Bank agree that this will require different approaches from each party depending on the respective economic situation .
the structure and provision of healthcare is a national matter , but in the case of an epidemic or a pandemic , we need to work together at European level .
we are asking for the support of the European Union as an entity , so that we can overcome these irregularities in the markets which are attacking the euro .
the Social Fund , however , is mainly financing training .
however , one must also state that the high standards we currently enjoy in Europe are of great help in lowering the incidence of this disease .
( SK ) Madam President , childhood undoubtedly has fundamental significance for the physical , mental and social development of children .
after that , national discussions scheduled by all the stakeholders will continue , making it possible to pursue flexicurity strategies at the national level with regard to the specific features of individual states .
we amended both the form and the content of the Commission proposal at first reading .
the more ambitious the free trade agreement , the greater the economic benefits that will accrue to each party - the European Union and India .
we have human rights clauses in many of our international agreements and to date - with the exception of the next debate - we have hardly ever invoked any of them , Belarus being one of the rare exceptions .
lastly , I endorse the amendments tabled by Mrs Sinnot , Messrs Liese and Bowis and others regarding the proven benefits of using adult stem cells .
they might sell fish hooks to passing boats and promise to cover hulls with a quantity of tarmacadam that they just had left over .
the situation of Serbia is far from being so unambiguous , as unfortunately , the Hungarian minorities and other minority groups still suffer several disadvantages to this day .
I wish Serbia success on its way to European integration , in which it has our support .
this attack was aimed at the efforts to bring lasting stability to the region of the Western Balkans .
for example , doubts still remain about possible conflicts of interest in relation to the assessment of the appetite suppressant benfluorex .
I may even be able to offer you a glass of champagne at the end of this long evening !
that is EUR 30 billion per annum .
for those who live with that memory , it must be very difficult , but at the same time I think that the possibility of Bosnia and Herzegovina becoming a member of the European Union in the future is perhaps something that can aid reconciliation with all these terrible atrocities .
subject : fulfilment of the objectives of structural funds payments
I agree with what President Barroso said today : that a great part of our future lies in the untapped potential of the oceans and the seas and that this policy will generate growth and jobs .
investing in renewables brings more advantages than merely reducing CO2 .
finally , the different taxation options , whether via taxes or contributions , which are exercised in the various Member States , would necessarily give the tax in question here a more or less penalising quality , allowing injustices at European level , which would not make sense .
it is nevertheless important that we really do decide on the basis of the facts and do not fly in the face of reality by creating scapegoats , as it were .
recommendation on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of a Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Congo on forest law enforcement , governance and trade in timber and derived products to the European Union ( FLEGT )
- The next item is the debate on five motions for resolutions on the arrest of the Chinese dissident Hu Jia .
believe me , Commissioner Michel , I appreciate your kindness in being here with us and dealing with topics that actually are tough for anyone .
we also wanted to oblige Member States to guarantee basic levels of healthcare , but this was not possible .
it is not good enough that the European colegislators should implement laws that create more problems than they solve .
the other parts of the report are perfectly acceptable and demonstrate that Europe has made progress towards equality for women .
the announced withdrawal of the United Kingdom could have tragic repercussions for the maritime safety of this sector , which , with more than 250 000 vessels a year , is the busiest trading route in the world .
in the digital world , everything changes day by day , technology is different and there are new resources and new challenges .
I have heard many of you calling for continuing engagement with Russia , calling for the relationship and coordination with the Russian Federation to be further developed , but I also heard calls for more democracy and less corruption .
and in response to what has been said here by certain members of the European Parliament , may I say that I would take great pleasure employing them as agency workers so they can see for themselves what fun it is .
such unacceptable events have led the European Parliament , acting on statements made previously by its President , Mr Buzek , to call on the Union to impose heavy sanctions on Belarus and to launch an enquiry by external , impartial authorities to reconstruct what happened and ascertain who was responsible .
these are the matters we need to negotiate on now .
as public transport increasingly was operating at a loss due to the rise of the car , sections of track at the borders were thinned out and passengers had to pay an extra charge to cross the border .
what happens , for example , if , in the near future , it becomes desirable to cooperate with other countries in matters of climate policy ?
Lisbon Strategy ( vote )
Mr President , several speakers are putting a brave face on things this afternoon .
in addition , this morning , a trialogue took place with the Commission and the Council , and we reached agreement on the questions that remained to be settled .
the rebates have not made the system any fairer , but instead have given rise to a number of new exemptions and corrections .
it is a crucial time owing to the entry into force , finally , of the Treaty of Lisbon .
we are talking as well about access to goods and services , not about employment .
ladies and gentlemen , articles recently published in professional medical literature point to a direct link between hormonal contraception and breast cancer .
when it was decided in Barcelona in 1995 to launch this new European policy , the idea was to manage the post-conflict peace .
in particular , we need to detail the criteria for classifying in practice those sectors affected by carbon leakage and also the consequences for the economy and citizens of increased energy prices .
Friday 's summit is not Mr Putin 's farewell visit : he will still be holding Russia 's reins in the future .
so perhaps we should be grateful to the EU for introducing this .
recognising women 's health - the health of mothers-to-be - as a priority and the mobilisation of international forces in order to improve health care for pregnant women is a serious challenge .
allow me to give you a brief progress report on these negotiations .
( DE ) Mr President , Europe is warming up faster than the global average .
it could even be described as the fundamental concern of health ministers .
with regard to the overall budget , we have allocated EUR 90 million .
( applause )
we now look forward to the formalisation of the second-reading agreement .
the UK is one of them , and the reason is that they use their own social policy to provide aid for the poor .
it is important for the EU to ensure that its coasts are protected .
I regret that Israel still relies on emergency regulations of 1945 inherited from the British colonial power but it is worth noting that they have been applied to Jewish terrorists in Hebron as well as to Palestinian people .
the existence of thousands of farmers is currently under threat .
( Parliament approved the request to postpone the vote )
it is these various aspects that you will have to deal with , once the Council has decided on five of the seven proposals in the third maritime safety package .
this has not been produced , as I have told you , due to the European Commission 's delay in producing the relevant translations .
in fact there are some words I cannot pronounce properly so it is better not to read it !
a good example of the positive influence the auditors ' recommendations has had is the attention given to the remuneration paid to Members ' assistants .
we need a large-scale package of concrete measures which will mitigate the impact of the crisis on the economy , on manufacturing , and in particular on the social sphere .
the end result is that the European Parliament will reinforce its powers , particularly on codecision , and increase its ability to influence decision-making , thus enhancing the democratic legitimacy of the European Union .
it is of deep concern that an Ombudsman in any Member State would have their work literally torn up .
we need to support the creation of mechanisms of private financing and the adoption of more frequent public and legal initiatives to strengthen the European resettlement programme .
the place held by European women in our societies is a source of inspiration for women worldwide .
there are many other potential uses for biogas , however , and we should therefore concentrate efforts on research and development and innovation in order to expand the range of efficient ways of using this resource .
Member States have a key role to play , for example by adopting national financial education strategies based on public / private partnership .
Mr President , this financial crisis is a wake-up call for all of us and also for Commissioner McCreevy .
Members of the European Parliament are willing and ready to fully contribute to TEC processes .
the problems that the developed world faces are not too many trade barriers , but too few .
for our part , we will continue to speak out so that the neo-colonialist ambitions of the EU and its major multinationals are not ( re ) written on this page .
firstly , that the European Parliament should be updated on a six-monthly basis on the development of the project and , secondly , that the mandate given to the new Commission should not be an open-ended mandate and that a rule be included whereby the European Parliament has to be consulted again if there is a delay of more than one year .
therefore the introduction of changes , which should be as far-reaching as possible and which would make the movement of people easier , is very important , as also is broad support for the region 's young people .
3 .
the eighteenth Member , from the Netherlands , will join us in the near future .
a crisis fuelled by greed and now consumed by fear should make us question our fundamental values and what kind of society we would like to live within .
but perhaps it was just the fact that this young civil servant he described had forgotten to read the newspapers and believed that the general election had been called in October , that my party had won it and that the Prime Minister had not dithered , and that , therefore , he was dealing with a member of the Government party .
it requires more efficient spending , more accountability and more responsibility .
Article 23 sets out the basic principles , including the turnover ceiling , which I have just mentioned , whereas the guidelines give details of how they are applied .
moreover , one fundamental problem appears in the explanatory statement , which affects the overall concept of the document .
on the other hand , if a high level of protection is to be safeguarded for Europeans investing in third countries , the current bilateral agreements executed by individual Member States of the Union need to remain in force .
the Eurovignette under consideration today seems to represent a reasonable compromise which is why I have voted in favour of it .
in many countries , cuts in public expenditure are needed .
in writing . - ( PL ) I am voting in favour of Mr Casa 's report on the adoption by Slovakia of the single currency on 1 January 2009 .
now it is borrowers who have been left to bear all the currency risk .
I voted in favour of the resolution .
Louis Michel has rightly noted that political dialogue between all players cannot fail to take place .
doing so is especially important in a crisis situation , and the SOLVIT programme is also to be significantly reinforced .
the United Nations representative in Côte d 'Ivoire courageously assumed his role and announced the results of the ballot .
as regards the endorsement of the Policy Plan on Legal Migration , a key focus is on admission procedures ' capable of responding promptly to fluctuating demands in the labour market ' .
what we are seeking and specifically requesting - and we are sure that the European Parliament will grant us this since it understands that this is a politically complex and at times even difficult issue - is naturally the European Parliament 's confidence in the Presidency and the Presidency 's efforts , so that we can finally bring this objective to a successful conclusion .
the oral question by Mrs Lepage , Mrs Wallis and Mrs Ries , on behalf of the ALDE Group , to the Commission on the revision of the framework for Commission expert groups and balanced representation and transparency ( B7-0014 / 2011 )
emissions are making the quality of the air worse in many European cities and many areas will have problems achieving the Community 's air quality targets .
this proposal is going in the same direction , insofar as capital requirements depend on the ratings awarded .
for example , under the previous , the third , Community Support Framework , numerous Member States took up Community funds for that purpose .
relations between the two major language communities have improved greatly since the major conflict of 2001 .
( RO ) Madam President , please allow me to thank Commissioner Frattini for his answer .
we did not do so yesterday , and , indeed , I cannot understand why not .
this is probably done more easily by affluent regions than by those less well-off .
can he confirm that under Lisbon , tax competence is a matter for each Member State ?
I am not that cheeky , however !
this position was shared by my colleagues on the Committee on Transport and Tourism .
the European Parliament and the Council have adopted several directives to implement these recommendations .
Spain has changed a great deal , in part due to democracy in the last 30 years .
that is the point we wished to make now that the forthcoming summit between the EU and United States is approaching .
here we have a non-nation trying to abolish our nation .
perhaps , though , the new Tunisian Government has learned its lesson .
that would generate considerable revenue for the European economy and I believe that it would be a weapon against the financial crisis that we are currently experiencing .
I cannot accept that .
we worked well together , and I am also pleased that , in the end , the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament agreed to go along with a compromise .
secondly , I would like to offer Mr Reul 's excuses .
Fredrik Reinfeldt , you are the first head of government to share his vision of Europe 's future with this House since the signing of the Lisbon Reform Treaty .
its tireless efforts have greatly contributed towards shaping the EU position on climate change .
we need a Commission that is strong , that makes proposals , that innovates and that drives this European integration .
our policy for the Western Balkans must rest on three pillars .
there was no reason not to have a broader and global political dialogue with Africa .
I took stock from the most advanced countries and , again , some of them failed to transpose the Directive on Unfair Commercial Practices .
prior to the result of such an impact assessment , I flatly reject proposals for a blanket 0.05 % FTT on all financial transactions as being arbitrary and ill thought-out .
we believe that this is a fundamental point , not only in order to protect the agricultural sector and the socio-economic fabric in our Member States , but also because at the dawn of the third millennium it is more strategically vital than ever to guarantee Europe 's food security .
in my opinion , the Council 's position on this is unacceptable .
thank you all for this disciplined debate .
the Commission services are currently evaluating EU legislation on the free movement of workers , and in particular Regulation ( EEC ) No 1612 / 68 , and are exploring the options for improving the enforcement of EU law on freedom of movement , including , where necessary , by presenting an initiative in 2012 .
arson is illegal everywhere .
I have much faith in Mrs Reding .
nevertheless , this liberalisation has to be progressive and reciprocal in such a way that it takes account of the different interests of the countries concerned .
therefore , I think that what we have to take into account is that this competition line that I was explaining earlier is quite clear and that it should not be attacked by other ways of thinking .
I think that cooperation and solidarity across the European Union is , of course , important when discussing the burdens that nations face but we must better distinguish economic migrants from asylum seekers .
why ?
in the PPE-DE Group we believe that , as we already have quite good legislation in place in Europe , everything we do now should be based on the existing legislation and its improvement .
the increase in acts of piracy off the coast of Somalia is another serious consequence of this conflict .
the Norwegian negotiator who worked for a long time to reach peaceful solutions is now a minister in the new government himself .
the master plan is intended to be the key to tackling the aviation capacity problem on the ground .
the Commission also takes good note of the amendments .
these were the main concerns in drawing up the report and the proposed amendments to the Commission 's original proposal .
we encourage , and we expect , that the leaders of the two communities will continue their efforts in order to resume negotiations for a comprehensive settlement under the auspices of the United Nations .
I would like to come back to this event because it also provides an excuse to talk about secularism , and we can never talk enough about secularism in this House .
that , in fact , is why the report on which we are going to vote on Thursday recognises that the Council is not prepared to increase the funds available to tackle the crisis , is reducing the appropriations for the Structural and Cohesion Funds precisely when the crisis is happening and is severe , and , I repeat , does not give climate change the prominence it deserves .
the Spanish Government should bring the Catalan language to the EU just as the Irish Government did with the Gaelic language some years ago .
the banks are not providing funds .
( the President cut off the speaker )
- ( FR ) Madam President , Mr President-in-Office of the Council , I have discovered from your Czech historians the reason why you have not ratified the Treaty of Lisbon : they talk in fact of the magic of the figure 8 , as in 2008 .
that issue aside , we have managed to promote the role of one of the key players in the functioning of the internal market : the regulators .
Tibetans are forbidden from doing anything to rescue their own culture , identity and religion .
fifth point : regarding the content of the text , we have not yet addressed all the proposed provisions .
I will therefore vote against .
however , we must ensure that health is not treated as a commodity , so that we are all equal .
the EU should allocate more substantial funds and have a common budget to prevent individual countries from wasting their efforts and resources .
there are so many common-sense questions that it would be very wise to answer before any other consideration .
be that as it may , I should like you to tell me if Cyprus is in danger of being put under supervision and if you are satisfied with the convergence programme .
this is 2 % , and yet disability in the general population is 17 % .
this increases situations of poverty , exclusion and social disintegration and consequently gives rise to marginalisation and ghettoisation , illiteracy and incorporation into the informal economy , and encourages many citizens of Roma origin not to participate in society .
with regard to Mrs Flautre , who said just now that we were beginning the text of a report with exclusions , remember that all those workers concerned in the exclusion were , in any case , covered by directives relating very specifically to them .
in 2008 , the Union demonstrated that it was capable of taking difficult decisions that commit our societies for many years .
now , the abuse and oppression is continuing against Christians .
we should be very proud to live on a continent where , thanks to the European Union , we can enjoy fundamental rights , and we will say that together when we approve the Reform Treaty and the Charter of Fundamental Rights .
these same families have been waiting 31 years for justice to be done and for Cesare Battisti to serve the sentence handed down by Italy 's justice system in our own prisons .
the fact that support to the balance of payments of Member States outside the euro area has been doubled from EUR 25 billion to EUR 50 billion is a very important expression of EU solidarity .
moreover , we can welcome the fact that a protection order can also be requested for the family of a protected person .
6 .
that is why I was so disappointed that the Commission apparently found the Italian Government deportation action against Romanians , largely Roma , and the accompanying rhetoric , compliant with EU free movement and anti-racism laws .
this represents the biggest such contraction since the Second World War brought on by the collapse in global demand .
the Member States ' responsibility for taxation policies is laid down , whilst there are a number of taxes that would benefit from greater EU coordination .
this information , which is confusing to the general public , does not therefore mean that we no longer have to worry about climate change , but it does mean that we need more research .
I understood that such is your proposal and my reply is very simple : we have to respect the Lisbon Treaty .
the Union for the Mediterranean must adapt to the new era and circumstances and reflect and act on recent events , in order to put forward proposals on how best to promote democracy and human rights in its Member States and in the region , including Libya , and on possible reforms , in order to make its own role stronger , more coherent and more effective .
( GA ) Mr President , I am proud to say a few words in relation to this debate about the 2020 strategy and here are the points I would like to make .
there is a bilateral extradition treaty between Brazil and Italy .
the Commissioners present here have told us many times what needs to be changed .
it is therefore crucial to ensure that its recommendations are followed , not only for the sake of the report , and in particular the special reports , but also as an everyday practice .
we cannot abolish visas unless we have very strict criteria .
the truth about the Reform Treaty is the same as that about the European Constitution .
I therefore beg the Commissioner to give us guarantees here and now that this lack of political will will not rub off on the Commission and that this time , the Commission will show some firm action that goes beyond closing the fishery early again this spring .
we are faced with the problem of blatant human rights violations by the Authoritarian Government that is chewing away at the fabric of democracy .
( DE ) Mr President , we would all certainly go along with this .
therefore , we should say ' yes ' to climate protection , but not at the expense of our companies and not if we are the only ones taking the measures .
we cannot resolve regional conflicts , either . in fact , it is a very limited policy , but for all that , it is worth applying it .
Commissioner , it is vital to prohibit blending before 7 June .
Russia is not Europe 's partner .
it maintains that the right to take collective action is an important part of labour law .
Monday
I believe the position proposed in this resolution meets those criteria .
but I would like to focus on the question marks and the problems we face , and this mainly concerns a couple of topics .
for instance , Lithuania 's GDP per capita remains low ( when we joined the EU , it was 48 % of the Union average ) . however , it is believed that by 2020 , Lithuania 's GDP will be at least 50 % greater than it was without cohesion policy assistance .
11 .
this is a very serious matter .
this being so , the rapporteur has done an excellent job .
the Commission reacted promptly .
in the light of the increased awareness of the people of Europe of health issues and the very high standards of environmental and health protection in Europe , it is unacceptable that carcinogenic substances are still in circulation in Europe .
over 50 000 patients are on waiting lists in Europe , and 10 people , awaiting organs die every day .
if , therefore , a mechanism is adopted like the one used for Greece , we are certainly heading for bankruptcy .
as an Italian national , with German as my mother tongue , of Austrian Slovene descent , with a Tyrolean nature - a proper European - I have been particularly pleased that we are all reunited in this Chamber as minorities and that minorities have been given opportunities .
in the end , it is likely that the minimum leave will be the one proposed by the European Commission and supported by the MODEM delegation , namely , an 18-week period of leave , which would be in line with recommendations from the International Labour Organisation ( ILO ) .
today it looks different from the original version .
I cannot therefore share Mr Rasmussen 's idea that the cleverest pupils in the class are those who have rushed to spend most .
there is another issue which I would like raise and which causes me no less concern .
faced with the diverse methods of organising care systems in the Union , we must not lose sight of the fact that health must remain an essentially national competence , and that every State is free to define its own health policy .
although we do not officially recognise the events of 1932-33 as falling within the definition of the 1948 UN Convention on Genocide , we recognise that some academic opinion supports this view and are committed to following the debate and studying any emerging evidence closely .
that being the case , we must first take account of the judgment handed down .
I will say it again , to respond to these crises , to respond to these challenges , there needs to be more Europe , more coordination , greater capacity for decision-making , more visibility and more responsiveness .
we consider it very significant that this proposal for a directive on a single application procedure for a single residency and work permit has been rejected by a majority of the European Parliament , as Parliament 's text , already negotiated with the Council , only served the interests of large firms and economic groups .
it makes me anxious , and I fear that it will lead to an overregulated financial community which will not be able to deliver the growth we all need so much .
rapporteur . - ( FI ) Mr President , the report before us has undergone a thorough reading in committee , for which I thank my colleagues and above all the shadow rapporteurs from the other political groups .
before I give the floor to Ms Malmström and Ms Ashton , let me just say that this Parliament has great faith in both of you , and knows you very well , especially because of your personal involvement in these issues in the past .
I am particularly glad to see that the report includes the amendment I tabled regarding Georgia .
our legislative work was not directed towards the creation of good law , but to amending a poor legislative proposal .
the international community , and the European Union in particular , are all too ready to help .
I should like to thank the rapporteur , Mr Jørgensen , for the compromise he has struck with the Council on this topic .
Madam President , I wish to raise the issue of the increasing oil prices and particularly the oil futures market .
we were able to discuss almost all amendments in a positive and constructive spirit and to make use of the majority of initiatives .
the new immigrants from the new European countries should therefore also maintain their languages , as should the second generation born of the first immigrants .
the next item is the report by Jean-Pierre Audy on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control on the European Investment Bank 's annual report for 2006 .
it is international action that is now needed , so that we can all collectively ensure that carbon dioxide emissions are substantially reduced in the near future .
a resolution here in the European Parliament , adopted in October 2007 , on rising food prices also called on the Commission , as a matter of urgency , to propose a temporary increase in milk quotas .
we must also provide support for our SME 's to ensure that they can comply with environmental health regulations and to take steps to improve the impact they have on the environment .
I would like to use this opportunity to underline our position .
the financing of this compensation must consist of new common agricultural policy grant schemes from 2013 onwards .
it caused 11 deaths , more than one and a half million homes have been left without electricity , and 300 000 hectares of forest have been hit , that is to say 40 % of the forest in the Landes region .
that is the only way we can get change .
they must also anticipate and prevent social and demographic trends and focus on the support provided to the families of the patients being cared for by them , thereby affording social protection to vulnerable people suffering from dementia .
this debate and those that have preceded it are testimony to that concern .
we therefore need to ensure the following : their job must be protected for 12 months so that they can reorganise their domestic life on returning to work , training and new routines .
this decision has provoked reactions of disapproval from the British and Dutch Governments .
Mr Pieper 's report in particular strengthens their position .
however , Madam Commissioner , it was announced that passenger rights for people taking long-distance buses would be introduced , and a debate about passenger rights for ferry services has already started .
it is Combined Task Force 150 , involving the US Fifth Fleet and warships from other NATO navies , led by a Dane at the moment .
now I am the middleaged father of a family here in the European Union , and when there are problems here , we call for greater integration .
after all , these are the cases which concern the Western Balkan countries and for which they themselves eventually need to take responsibility .
in certain countries , maternity leave is paid out of tax revenue .
Mr President , Commissioner , the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs has set out its priorities in the light of an alarming fact : the economic , financial and social crisis is continuing to wreak havoc , with 23 million people currently unemployed , including 5.2 million young people .
that is the key ; not reproaching any particular Head of Government who is abiding by the European treaties and her own constitution .
I had grave reservations about the amendment that was submitted in the committee .
we remember , Mr Delors , your speech at the College of Europe in Bruges at the beginning of 1990 .
in writing . - ( IT ) Madam President , ladies and gentlemen , I voted for the report by Mrs Gräßle on investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office ( OLAF ) .
from Lord Cockfield , a Conservative , to a Communist like Altiero Spinelli , to the Green movement , there have been many contributions to our European integration .
in writing . - ' No more discards ! ' cries the Commission .
we , as members of the European Union , should remember this because , all too often , the Union presents us with a narrow picture of itself , as little more than a system of bodies of economic cooperation , and we forget the wider picture .
and that is important .
I am very confident that this sound compromise will receive broad support from Parliament .
various measures have been taken : quarantine of varying lengths , double-checking with vets both before and after travel depending on the destination country , expensive compulsory vaccination of wild animals at national level - to name but a few .
from now on , SME associations performing research and development can avail of financial support from Europe and operate within a European network together with other small and medium-sized enterprises .
meanwhile , it is choosing to remain silent regarding the fact that , at the time the euro was introduced , many of the old Member States did not meet these criteria .
again , thank you to Parliament for sharing the vision of the new , market-based consumer policy - one where informed and empowered consumers confidently look for , and benefit from , the best offers in terms of price and quality in the largest retail market in the world .
because I believe that all of us desire the protection of the ocean , I ask you to vote in favour and I thank you in advance .
the proposed text regarding ' supply chains ' is also excellent , and if approved would strengthen the right of patients to protection .
human beings have harmed the planet and it is therefore our responsibility to help it recover .
agreement has been reached on the 2011 budget and , most importantly , in total , in those six months , almost forty agreements of a legislative nature were concluded between Parliament and the Council .
all countries must play their part in rebalancing : surplus countries by reinforcing domestic demand , and deficit countries by focusing on export growth .
to conclude , I would like to say , on a personal level , that I have learned a lot during the six months of the Presidency and that I have enjoyed the work a great deal .
that means dismantling export refunds .
it is a priority for the EU and it needs commitment and the joint efforts of national and local authorities , civil society and the EU institutions .
( NL ) Mr President , Commission President Barroso , openness and transparency are fundamental values in any self-respecting democracy .
by now at least 20 countries have put in place measures affecting exports of importance to the European Union .
the Fifth Progress Report - I am about to finish , Madam President - makes specific reference to transition regions , which are situated between convergence regions and competitiveness and employment regions .
do you believe that liquidity will not be directly affected , because the market is already suffering from the banks ' lack of liquidity and the measures will be applied gradually ?
what does this have to do with justice ?
the time for warm words is over .
the regulation determines the order and solves practical everyday human problems .
( applause )
however , I believe that some improvements are needed , because more flexibility and more mobility will not create a single new job .
I have been moderately content with how this Commission has responded until now , and I remain confident that the Commission has all the right tools to improve the regulatory framework for financial services .
it is a matter , therefore , of great sadness that , in its 60-year history , Pakistan has failed to become a true democracy ; but , on the other hand , we should be encouraged by the fact that it has not become a theocracy or even a permanent military dictatorship .
however , I underline once again the need for enhanced cooperation between the EU and NATO .
if the current demographic trend persists , in a few years , we will see a profound change in the population structure and the age pyramid .
that is a strange attitude for a Presidency of the European Union .
I believe that the EU should continue to support measures to ensure that we no longer witness the violence and political upheaval suffered by the Lebanese people .
this whole situation reminds me of Iran .
to widen the scope from energy-consuming to energy-related products is , of course , good .
economic well-being and social cohesion are essential conditions for the emancipation of a people and the smooth running of a country .
I believe that eradicating domestic violence should be a top priority .
that is why we responsibly supported a different , more effective policy mix .
since the time I submitted my question , I met the Commissioner and we discussed aspects of the trafficking in people .
yet , on various shores in South Asia , enormous seagoing ships for scrapping are still being dismantled under conditions that are both environmentally damaging and humanly degrading .
I would like you to remember that I have understood all the concerns .
today , the number of deaths , casualties and arrests in Syria , Bahrain and Yemen is extremely high .
finally , I would like to thank the rapporteur , Mr Medina Ortega , for a very well prepared document .
nationally funded assistance to agriculture and forestry may be given following notification of a state aid scheme , and is subsequent to approval by the Commission .
a key outcome of the review is a new emphasis on differentiation of the Neighbourhood Policy , according to the needs and wishes of each partner country .
does the Commission consider that the fact that the service is not operating in a full and proper manner throughout the EU could put children at risk ?
thank you very much .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
these problems come mainly from North Korea , Iran and Syria .
we have producer prices that were around 40 % and are now coming under some pressure again .
rebuilding in bad places solves nothing .
meanwhile , Turkey 's EU membership application remains problematic , not least in the field of human rights .
I have also seen the amendments that this House voted the same day to the broad economic policy guidelines .
I would like to congratulate Mr Honeyball on his excellent work , and for having noticed critical items that may not have received sufficient attention in the past .
this seems to me to be the major problem : will the detail of this proposal make its practical application unfeasible ?
Vice-President of the Commission . - Mr President , I wish to thank the honourable Members for this interesting debate , which has been partly consensual on a number of issues , partly a repetition of well-known arguments for and against the Treaty , and partly a very interesting debate about what constitutes democracy .
in writing . - Cultural and creative industries are not only a source of wealth and employment but also contribute to Europe 's social and cultural fabric .
we have to bear in mind that significant differences also exist within regions .
it is therefore necessary to change policies in order to tackle poverty and social exclusion , as demanded by the millions of demonstrators across Europe , including here in Strasbourg .
as far as the Commission draft is concerned , that is , the distinction between flights within Europe and intercontinental flights , I must say that I am very glad - Mr Jarzembowski mentioned this - that we in Parliament are agreed that we want one single starting date .
I also call upon the President to express and pass on our sympathy and support to those who have been kidnapped , and their families , and for him to invite the skipper of the vessel , once he has been freed , to Parliament .
I must pay tribute to our former colleague , Alexander Stubb , with whom I did a lot of work on this issue , and I want to distance myself completely from the sweeping accusations made by the Greens who have spoken in this debate .
the ' For Freedom ' movement has been registered , and two opposition newspapers have been allowed to be printed and distributed .
it is therefore vital that the European Union steps up its strategy for combating these phenomena .
however , I can see no evidence of the firm , practical approach needed .
already now , economists in the wine sector stress that this reform will not weaken traditional rosés as these rosés with an appellation are not in competition with table wines .
the request will be moved by the rapporteur , Mrs Bauer .
whenever trials and research carried out by the European Food Safety Authority have shown a species to be risk-free and of benefit to the consumer , it still has to go through a lengthy process before it is approved .
I have a final thought .
however , the Czech Republic , which is mentioned in the report , has not yet ratified the Convention , because it requires the introduction of criminal liability for legal entities .
unfortunately , many details of the Commission proposal have been amended by the votes in the committees .
I am very pleased , Mr President , Mr Buzek , that the European Parliament has proposed a detailed debate on this issue .
we are also opposed , on principle , to the exemption of private individuals who employ people without documents to work in their home from sanctions .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , economic policy coordination , growth , employment , innovation , social inclusion : those are the slogans of the new 2020 strategy , that is , the one which , after the Lisbon Strategy , is supposed to guide Europe towards the end of the crisis that is weakening Europeans ' spending power and spirits .
this is taking place after eight years of Communist government when basic rights such as the right to freedom of expression and the right to fair justice were seriously violated .
finally , we must help small and medium-sized enterprises to enter the export markets .
we emphatically call on the EU 's High Representative to support efforts of this kind .
with regard to the matter of visas , I would like to point out that in 2003 , the Council adopted regulations establishing a specific transit document and a facilitated rail transit document .
indeed , the signs we are seeing at the moment in the Serbian economy are excellent .
I am also looking forward to working together with my fellow Members to draw up a joint resolution on this matter .
however , a distinction must be made between enrichment , which should measure amounts , and the question of conflicts of interest , which should show the nature of assets held directly or indirectly and the personal relationships involved .
the Commission usually refers to these goals as ' better regulation ' or ' better law making ' .
inaugural address by the President of the European Parliament
the battle against poaching and similar illegal activities is not an easy one , as people with experience of these situations know .
it became clear in the debate yesterday that the majority in Parliament would be able to agree to the signing of the interim agreement , even if it pains them to do so .
there is the question , which has already been mentioned , of freedom of the press and the question of the freedom of electronic media .
( FR ) Mr President , our discerning and determined position is eagerly awaited .
it should be mobilised faster .
in conclusion , I believe that this report marks a first step in the development of this sector .
the negotiations with Japan , aimed at strengthening trade relations , cannot be used as a class weapon in the service of big financial institutions and companies , promoting the increased exploitation of workers and peoples , the destruction of their productive strength , and the destruction of the environment .
the older Member States have not .
our position is plain and simple and fully in line with the mandate of the Conference of Presidents .
does the Slovenian Presidency want to take up these words ?
this House has long been asking the Commission to take action to guarantee pluralism of the media .
we must bring about a two-state solution , with full respect for human rights and all UN resolutions , with great urgency .
nowhere is the discrimination of women in this society more frequently accepted without comment than in places of work , where women do the same work as men , to some extent , under far more extreme living conditions , and receive largely 30 % or 40 % less pay for it .
practically , could that be considered , and could we have a comment back in the announcement at 12 o 'clock , please ?
it was initiated by the European Commission , mindful of the unfortunate experiences of nine years ago , when it was forced to resign .
these include the question of access to employment and detention in the context of the Reception Conditions Directive , and how best to respond to the needs of Member States facing particular pressure in the context of the Dublin Regulation .
secondly , I would like to mention the changes that the Lisbon Treaty proposes in the field of the European Union 's foreign policy .
one would expect a country that wishes to join the European Union to make more of an effort .
let us help to push the Member States to really implement it in full because that would considerably reduce the risks .
or is it just security concerns from the US side ?
there are disputes .
I think there is still much to prove if we are to talk the talk and walk the walk and fulfil the promises Europe made in Bali .
this declaration means the following : firstly , Europe has solved its institutional problems and is now looking to face the challenges of this changing world to assume a position of leadership in institutional reform , to address education , training and research as a central issue to solve Europe 's role in a globalised world , but also to combat all the environmental challenges threatening the world .
I welcome the clauses on reciprocity between Brazilian nationals and EU citizens , and the guarantee of equality of treatment for all EU citizens .
I will therefore vote in favour of this motion for a resolution , which seeks to entrust three European universities with the task of monitoring this pluralism using indicators of reliability and impartiality .
to that end , Member States will implement measures in order to invest in education and training .
Ms Mukoko is currently being held in solitary confinement at the maximum security prison , and her future , like that of so many campaigners , aid workers and ordinary citizens before her , remains in jeopardy at the hands of the Mugabe regime .
the Russian Federation must demonstrate by deeds its statements of good intentions as it has a firm responsibility to the eastern border of Romania and NATO .
this will consist of a civil and police UN mission that we will call MINURCAT following the UN and a military mission of the European Union , EUFOR , which will support and protect it .
in writing . - In recent years , general and business aviation has been the fastest growing branch of the aviation sector .
let me be frank : what makes citizens very nervous is when they get no feedback from Brussels about their specific and real concerns .
in writing . - Due to a conflict of interest , I abstained from all votes .
the Swiss , in contrast , devolve it downwards , wherever possible , to the level of their cantons .
that is why we must not brook any relations with illegally appointed representatives of Zimbabwe and former associates of the Mugabe regime , and the European Union , together with the countries in its region , must guarantee the transition of Zimbabwe to democracy and the application of the Kimberley Process .
we are entirely in agreement on the need to strengthen democracy in the EU 's foreign policy .
while the majority society in the EU is rapidly ageing , the Roma are recording a rapid increase in population .
therefore , I personally support Mr Falbr and his report .
as the Commission proposal aims to distribute food to the most deprived persons and improve planning so that funds can be used more efficiently , and also bearing in mind that , since it began in 1987 , the food distribution programme has already benefited over 13 million people , I believe that the continuation of this programme is necessary and positive .
Mr Rivellini proposes to postpone the discharge of the European Council in order to leave room for further consultation between the Council and the European Parliament concerning the discharge procedure .
I also voted in favour , because I agree that it is unacceptable for an organisation financed by Europe not to have sound and transparent management of its finances after so many years .
if the Commission has proposals to improve such standards , it should present and support them in ICAO as well .
before the Christmas period , when millions of toys are bought in Europe , all the authorities involved , from the Commission to local authorities , as well as companies producing and marketing toys , need to act responsibly , maximise precautions and commit themselves to guaranteeing the safety of toys .
it is clearly the task of policy to create the best possible conditions for people to eat more healthily .
equality between women and men is a fundamental principle of the European Union .
the people of Burma / Myanmar deserve our heartfelt solidarity .
no more wishy-washiness .
( FR ) I should just like to communicate some information I received a moment ago to the House .
I therefore voted for the signing of this agreement , and hope that the commitments made and the objectives of Forest Law Enforcement , Governance and Trade are fully adhered to when it is being implemented .
that is one of the things that I would be slightly critical of in the approach that has been taken so far .
we are taking it up again now .
the Community has signed agreements with 11 third countries .
as far as Turkey is concerned , I get the feeling that we are playing hide and seek in this area .
such an environment is a breeding ground for illegal trade and trafficking of weapons , people , drugs , alcohol and tobacco products .
( the speaker agreed to take a blue-card question under Rule 149 ( 8 ) )
when evaluating the policy and its effectiveness to date , it is worth answering a basic question : what will happen after 2013 ?
however , I must raise some reservations and objections concerning the reduction of targets .
I believe that the failure to evaluate the Lisbon Strategy does not bode at all well for the success or possible success of the new strategy .
the mismatch between young people 's qualifications and the needs of the labour market is one of the reasons why Lithuania has such a terribly high rate of youth unemployment ( 34 % ) .
Mr President , Treaty change is a sensitive subject in my Member State where , despite promises , the Lisbon Treaty was passed without a referendum .
my second question to you , Commissioner , is this : is the Commission willing , as the major public donor , to ensure that 20-25 % of the funding will genuinely be utilised for this type of microproject through microfinancing arrangements ?
will the Commission ensure that common VAT regulations apply to all agricultural producers in Romania ?
I therefore recommend that the House vote in favour of this excellent compromise .
other frontiers fell and the ' Schengen area ' became decidedly larger , with obvious positive implications .
Mr President , our agenda this week , and today particularly , has been thin , meagre and truncated .
the people of Europe - the workers , the low earners and the pensioners - are really picking up the bill , and you are interpreting legislation and competences however you please .
I know that it is much easier to reform a small country , where approximately 66 % of the inhabitants use the internet .
the figure of 1 in 7 has been mentioned for Niger . one reason for this is unsafe abortions .
I should also say that we do plan to send our EU mission next week , which is six weeks ahead of election day , and that will enable us to follow first-hand and closely the pre-election process , which is of great interest .
that notwithstanding , I am of the opinion that , in its cooperation with third countries in the energy sector , the European Union should only make use of sustainable , green and safe energy sources - in keeping with its climate protection targets .
can I just say to the parents of this measure , to John Bowis in the strangers ' gallery and to Mrs Grossetête , the current rapporteur , and to all the shadow rapporteurs : patient power has spoken ; the European Parliament has listened .
indeed , the Small Business Act should be a breath of fresh air within these companies bringing better recognition of their position , better consideration of their aspirations and that under no circumstances must we allow a ' light ' Small Business Act with regard to labour law .
it is very important that we are aware that it will be successful if it reinforces already existing institutions and truly provides added value for citizens .
the Hungarian media law absolutely cannot and must not be approached as an internal market issue in the national transposition of the Audiovisual Services Directive .
( DE ) Mr President , a label of this kind makes good sense , but only under two conditions : the first is that it should have high visibility to ensure awareness - after all , we already have an abundance of symbols like this .
I feel it bodes well that the final text can be regarded as a very satisfactory and well-balanced compromise as it manages to secure the rights of passengers without , at the same time , imposing excessively restrictive measures on carriers , most of which are small and medium-sized enterprises .
but for how much longer ?
unfortunately , even the Constitutional Tribunal in Poland does not always understand this .
we can look to the south-east and see potential fracture and potential danger in the Western Balkans .
I applaud the fact that the final version does not include proposals to set up further agencies , and that it will therefore not lead to further demands on the budget .
Mrs Malmström , I remember you well from the time you were an MEP here .
I have not seen it ; I have not heard it .
if no practical and visible moves are made in this regard , the Russians will soon build their own gas pipelines through the Black Sea , and the result will be that our extensive programme of diversification of transport routes all comes tumbling down .
so , here we are .
in accordance with these principles we intend to introduce measures against excessive dependence on ratings in our forthcoming legislative proposal for the banking sector , the so-called CRD4 .
we would like to thank Commissioner Frattini for the help that these Member States have received .
I believe we should react very forcefully indeed to any instance of aggression towards Taiwan .
we intend to coordinate the negotiations .
we have many problems that we need to confront and we need statistical data in order to keep up with the latest developments .
on the other hand , I believe that initial concerns about generic medicines , protection of the right to Internet access and the protection of geographical indications , or designations of origin , were satisfactorily overcome in the final negotiations .
special attention must also be paid to the role of Member States that manage approximately 80 % of the Union 's budget .
the environment will constitute a business sector with the objective of maximising the profits of the economic oligarchy .
in writing . - ( DE ) Our tax systems are very complex and to a certain extent are really only transparent to specialists .
for that reason , European social models must be modernised in view of long-term developments , while at the same time preserving their initial values .
I urge the Commission to come up with a new legislative proposal by 30 June 2010 so that the maximum ceiling can be increased to 15 % or to set a minimum 10 % threshold of the ERDF rate for energy efficiency in buildings .
the report is moving in the wrong direction .
we do an honourable job here as politicians and we must stand up for the dignity of our profession .
Administratively-ordered food requisitions , accompanied by bans on food imports from other regions , resulted in famine in the Volga region , the Kuban and the northern Caucasus .
( applause )
this would make us accomplices .
we should not allow ourselves , however , to be divided and bullied into going beyond what has recently been agreed and accepting what should be out of the question - for example , providing others with access to Schengen migration data and asylum data .
he had asked the President to pardon Asia Bibi , a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy , and had also visited her in prison .
I fully support the need for transparency in airport charges , with full consultation with the stakeholders .
it is absolutely crucial that the use of biofuels should demonstrably constitute a net gain for the environment .
let us hope that there will be a good deal of initiatives and that the Commission will take them forward .
we have come full circle .
they have to be seen in a slightly more balanced context .
falsified medicines are silent killers .
for this reason , the European Securities and Markets Authority ( ESMA ) will come into being on 1 January 2011 .
I support redundant workers receiving financial support and training so that they can secure new jobs for the longest period possible .
according to reports in the Dutch press , President Barroso declared a sum of EUR 730 000 for 2009 .
( DE ) Madam President , I would just like to make a brief point and it concerns the recognition of parental leave periods in the individual countries .
Dame Sarah and the Lib Dems can cry crocodile tears now over cases like Mr Symeou , but they have to bear responsibility for the human misery which they have caused .
you all look well-rested and I hope that you are now looking forward very much to getting back to our work on European matters .
- Before the vote on Amendment 138 :
this programme is aimed at improving dialogue , promoting regional , national and local exchanges and sharing experiences on political measures for the improvement of shantytown areas .
we are also very happy about your election .
one cannot oppose a draft that states obvious facts such as the need to ' place emphasis on the rights and interests of patients ' , the need to oblige companies to publicly list the adverse reactions of their medicines and the need to publish information in all the official languages of the European Union .
Bulgarian administration ( because you know that Bulgaria is a country under special observation ) also prefers to play safe and to reject projects on the slightest excuse .
I think this has to be said .
let us be very clear about one thing : there is no such thing as peripheral economies .
the lack of clarity of many provisions will require close monitoring during the process of transposing and applying this important legislation .
unfortunately , no cure exists at the moment , and prevention- and treatment-related knowledge is limited .
are there any plans to put urban transport out to tender , as has happened in numerous cases in Sweden , where there is now competition in urban transport ?
education is one of the factors underpinning growth and development within the EU .
its task is precisely the eradication of illegal trade in banned substances that is taking place via this route , that is , either by sea or by air , across the Atlantic , towards Europe or West Africa .
just to give you one figure : while the average debt in Europe is , at the moment , around 75 % , in Estonia it is around 7.5 % - not 75 % but 7.5 % - on a sustainable basis .
Non-registered faith groups have a hard time of it as a result .
( CS ) Madam President , in my speech , I would like to mention the wish expressed by the People 's Republic of China for harmonious relations between all 56 of the ethnic minorities living within its territory .
we must convince our Israeli friends to refrain from all actions that might provoke unnecessary anger among the Arab population .
I am , of course , pleased with the choices made and take note of the suggested amendments to the draft directive .
if the United States imposes sanctions on finance and banking , denying foreign currency to the regime , why does the European Union not do so ?
Croatia is a neighbour country of Hungary , so it is of the utmost importance that Croatia becomes a member of the European Union as soon as possible .
now some people are complaining that Ireland was pressurised .
there was a summit yesterday between the EU and Japan in Prague .
this moved us towards restrictions on the fundamental rights of European citizens based on popular racist and xenophobic hysteria .
there will also undoubtedly be benefits for the consumer , who will be able to recognise hazardous substances such as toxic and corrosive substances and irritants more easily .
the worsening of the economic and financial crisis of capitalism bear this out .
is it the interpretation ?
my constituent , Dr Miguel-Ángel Meizoso , faces extradition to Spain , not for a crime he is accused of committing , but rather to face investigation for a crime that he , allegedly , might decide to commit in the future .
we must pay tribute to him , but we must also think of all those whose photographs , names and addresses have been publicly disgraced by a rag whose name I shall not even mention .
for thousands of years , beekeeping has been an important part of Europe 's cultural heritage .
for this you have my thanks .
assistants must have a proper contract , with the social security and pension provision usual in each European institution .
for them , job security has certainly become a more pressing issue than global warming and renewable energy , at least for now .
EU trade agreements must provide for transparency and stringent public procurement standards , with a view to combating illicit capital flight .
however , as a matter of principle , the EU is firmly committed to upholding the absolute prohibition of torture and cruel , inhumane and degrading treatment .
on the specific issue of maintaining the payments to producers , we cannot accept a move towards a flat rate payment per hectare regime .
before we decide to allow such food to be sold on the EU market , we must have our citizens ' permission for such a step .
to conclude , could I urge that Europe demonstrate tangible capacity to deliver decent living and working conditions ?
our citizens ' primary concern - the right to social insurance - is very well safeguarded .
I declare resumed the session of the European Parliament adjourned on Thursday , 1 December 2011 .
the EU , in partnership with Member States , has made important progress in protecting health , for example in the area of legislating on tobacco advertising , in the area of blood products , and indeed in the launch of the European Centre for Disease Control .
( the House rose and observed a minute 's silence )
I do not think it is up to the Russians to decide the agenda of the European Parliament : it is up to us ourselves to do that .
I welcomed the document because the EU and Canada have a close relationship as far as trade and foreign direct investment are concerned .
it should also contain clear dispute resolution procedures .
it is important to note that the Turkish Cypriots in occupied Cyprus are demonstrating against Turkey , protesting about their financial hardship due to the presence of the Turkish occupying army .
on behalf of the ECR Group . - Mr President , I have been a long-standing critic in this House of the lack of human rights in the People 's Republic of China .
( CS ) The explosion of the Deepwater drilling platform was most definitely a major disaster .
the car is part of our European way of life and it must be affordable , it must be safe , it must be reliable and it must be clean .
OLAF will soon be celebrating its 10th anniversary .
request for defence of the immunity of Giuseppe Gargani ( vote )
on the contrary , with this document it points out a new and a very important aspect of climate change , which we shall not be able to avoid in future debates at various levels .
I believe that this report will enable the European Parliament to give the necessary guidelines and recommendations to the other institutions , but also to the civil organisations because citizens are the key element in Europe 's future development .
nevertheless , the real impact is unclear with the failure to provide a satisfactory impact assessment on the proposal in its current form .
where allegations are substantiated , the authorities must act to ensure that those responsible for such abuses are indeed brought to justice .
as far as financial resources are concerned , significant progress has been made in recent days and hours .
it is not appropriate for the Europe that we need , of which we dream .
the fact that agreement was reached at first reading demonstrates the political will of the Community institutions to deal promptly with the two main problems relating to the trade in seal products , namely the fragmentation of the internal market and the need to safeguard animal welfare .
( SK ) I agree with this draft recommendation of the European Parliament to the Council .
however , I think that it is important for fruit and health to be the central issue .
not only because of the symbolic meaning , which is important , but because the whole system of protecting human rights in the European Union will gain credibility in the eyes of citizens who will enjoy the protection from the actions of the EU , not only of the Member States as is the case now .
this is an area in which Europe can make sense , by adding value to the management of one of the most unequivocal dimensions of globalisation , namely the unprecedented dimension taken on by migration , and therefore migratory flows and their impact in all areas of importance to European integration .
yet Israel still prevents the rebuilding of homes , businesses , medical facilities , and the provision of clean water , sanitation and electricity while also blocking adequate food supplies .
however , Europe cannot stand back , shrug its shoulders and say that these things are for America alone to sort out .
such a model would be a departure from integration of the entire 27 and from the idea of solidarity enshrined in Article 3 of the Treaty of Lisbon .
innovation policy should go hand-in-hand with policy in the field of vocational training and the labour market .
here is the first challenge .
as Commissioner Barrot has said , some states are delaying , but without confidence you could hardly blame them .
this means the voting process must be free and fair , the votes must be counted , the results published and the people 's choice respected .
I even had a law passed in my country to move housing and factories located in areas that were regularly affected by flooding .
in any case , if Commissioner McCreevy wants to advocate transparency in financial markets , I think he ought to start by being transparent about his own diary !
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Madam President , I find what the Commissioner has said rather disappointing .
I want to emphasise that the former rapporteur , Zoran Thaler , did an excellent job .
as regards the Services Directive and the E-Commerce Directive , the information requirement in these Directives will apply in addition to those of the proposal and will also prevail in case of conflict with the proposal .
this means that we are forced to import .
that is why I set up the de Larosière Group to provide input on how to build an effective European architecture for supervision .
the European Commission periodically prepares reports which describe in detail the use of the Solidarity Fund .
Madam President , the crisis is now beginning to become a reality for people , unemployment is starting to rise , and it is rising rapidly , and we are starting to see the social consequences of the crisis .
this proposal guarantees that temporary workers receive treatment equal to that of other workers from the first working day onwards , albeit subject to restrictions .
however , the reformed Stability and Growth Pact also allows for longer deadlines in the case of special circumstances - in accordance with Article 34 of Council Regulation ( EC ) No 1467 / 97 .
even before it is clear whether or not the new act will be passed and what it will be like , the all-seeing eye of our Parliament 's high priests is keenly trained on Lithuania .
we are engaged in dialogue with Italy , France and Denmark in order to clarify exactly what has been done , what is being proposed , and whether it is in compliance with Schengen rules .
oral explanations of vote
why ?
this decision could be offset by simply finding a name for the new product and informing consumers of the existence of two different types of rosé wine , with different product qualities , and of the importance of recognising the work and efforts of sector professionals .
let us not open a Pandora 's Box by revising Schengen .
I believe that this will be very important for moving the whole venture forward .
for this reason , we need to establish a European diplomacy , a diplomacy of the euro , where Europe speaks with one voice and has to ' put its house in order ' .
Madam President , I think that in this debate , we have clearly seen that we are all in agreement in supporting the objective of this report .
as for possible ways to get out of the recession quickly , I think we should make good use of our greatest asset - the Community 's internal market .
( DE ) Mr President , I am not often of one mind with Mr Maštálka , but today I am .
political changes and power struggles have undermined Nicaragua 's development , as has been the case in many Latin American and African countries .
what I say is : we have had enough .
when a parliament like this contracts out the day-to-day administration of its policies to organisations that we barely visit , that we almost never see - we get the odd committee visit maybe once a year - and we expect them to be carrying out the policy with our signing the cheques obligingly every year , we have diminished our democracy .
in order to prevent this , our top priority must be a shift towards practices that will lead to effective water use and water savings .
this fact was brought starkly to our attention when our own colleagues found themselves in a dramatic situation during the terrorist attacks in Mumbai .
the Commission mobilised EUR 2 million for emergency relief to cover the most urgent needs of food , shelter , water , sanitation and medical support .
the situation in new Member States is entirely different from that in older ones .
there is also the possibility that any visa applicant can be called for an interview when considering granting a Schengen visa .
there are concerns , however , as rightly mentioned by other colleagues , with regard to our external borders and what we can do and how we can deal with them , about the issue of solidarity and about showing solidarity with other Member States .
the vote will take place during the May 2008 session in Strasbourg .
immediately after I had spoken , the Greek Permanent Representation rushed to my office and promised me an immediate reply from the Minister in person .
in conclusion , I would like to say a few words about the amendments : we have substantive support for this proposal for the directive and only four amendments to the report outstanding for tomorrow .
if the world 's leading maritime power does not do so , who will ?
in fact , we are patting ourselves on the back because the bond auctions in Portugal went well last week , whereas the reality is that the European Central Bank was actually using taxpayers ' money to buy their own debt .
Mr Nitras , as regards complex financial instruments , we need stronger supervision .
we must not end up in a situation where the fight against this and the tools that we use to help us are greater problems than the piracy itself .
all Member States have legislation which , at least implicitly , prohibits texting , e-mailing and web browsing while driving .
the Government of the Slovak Republic is among those conducting bilateral discussions with the United States , in the genuine belief that as a result of these discussions Washington will act more quickly and be more helpful .
this part of Africa will not be able to develop without a real improvement in the health of its population .
however there is a healthy informal co-ordination process both in New York and more widely , and it is this which should be encouraged .
finally I would like to say that what is happening in Georgia is perhaps also the key for Armenia .
elections in themselves do not make a country democratic .
with regard to external action , in particular European action , in this type of context , this must be based on implementing programmes on the ground , which must be flexible and adaptable to changing needs and based on a strategy planned in the short , medium and long term .
the debate remains open , though , on the application of reduced rates for environmental protection and energy saving , on which the Commission is to provide specific assessments , given the importance of these sectors to the EU economy .
it does not mean new regulations , new laws - new restrictions , as they would see it .
as regards the 2007-2013 programming period , almost all payments are pre-financing , for which there are relatively few conditions .
they listened to us out of politeness , but the deadlines were so short that Parliament did not even sit during that period .
they go so far as to demand a reserve to cover the necessary measures .
these combined efforts will help achieve the targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions , developing a sustainable economy and creating green jobs .
I hope , Mr President , that you will bring your full authority to bear to restore order here and ensure that the decision by the Conference of Presidents is respected .
agreements concerning the distribution of power are often problematic .
( applause )
the Commission is following the overall picture of ongoing investments in the nuclear energy sector in the EU .
I salute their courage , I condemn their persecutors , but above all I appeal to this EU not to put improving relations with Vietnam and trade above defending and demanding basic human rights for these human beings of very great faith .
in the history of European integration , we have been very successful in the economic and commercial fields .
the Lisbon Strategy has been good for economic growth and jobs , true , but it is also true that not everyone has benefited as a result .
we must guarantee that respect for sustainable development and labour rights remains equally important in the pursuit of the European Union 's commercial interests abroad .
if you look at the security precautions at train stations and in airports , there is perhaps room for harmonisation here .
how does the Commission plan to tighten up this area of competition law and ensure there is a fast and effective procedure for dealing with complaints ?
you might think that it is not my place to say this .
joint motion for a resolution :
I am delighted that this ' women 's ' debate is under your chairmanship .
this matter has been mentioned in some of the speeches , for example , by Mrs Hautala and Mr Czarnecki : the subject of victims .
this is to ensure that heavy goods vehicles can avoid certain road sections during peak hours .
the Treaty of Lisbon contains the core reforms necessary to adapt the EU 's institutions to the consequences of enlargement and to place them in a position to meet the challenges we face .
I urge you to perhaps look at 4 May - bring it back a few days - because , if you deny that vote , you are going to deny the United Kingdom a chance to oppose or support measures ...
but this is the moment to be serious , responsible and coherent with our commitment .
this is because we have a two-track system in that we apply one system to African , Caribbean and Pacific ( ACP ) countries and a different system to other countries .
these two groups have conflicting ideologies and must vote accordingly .
a stronger set of priorities , on the other hand , would make us a constructive partner for the Council , particularly at a time of economic crisis , when Member States are experiencing shortfalls and are having to make drastic cutbacks .
all changes must be consulted upon with the social partners , and sufficient time must be provided for transitions .
oral questions and written declarations ( submission ) : see Minutes
this is therefore the last opportunity to depart from a passive policy .
at the same time , approximately 300 000 SMEs have managed to access funding under the competitiveness and innovation programme .
this would reduce pollution dramatically , and therefore also respiratory disorders and corrosion of our old buildings .
Europe and the Mediterranean share many cross-border challenges which can be better addressed through a regional integration process , with effective institutions which can surmount the limits of bilateral cooperation .
there is currently a blacklist of 42 categories of people regarded as persona non grata during the Olympic Games , ranging from the Dalaï Lama to followers of Falun Gong and including dissidents .
finally , with a view to striking a better work-life balance , I feel it is also important to have supported the call to Member States to strengthen childhood services with care facilities for children up to the age of compulsory schooling .
will Sweden demand yet another alternative with the pipeline laid on land which has to be subjected to an environmental assessment ?
to what extent can we support these processes ?
during recent years , the European budget has been an increasingly smaller part of the EU 's economy .
this is a truly European issue and now is not the time for national egoism .
in other words , is it possible for breaches of undertakings made voluntarily by a given country to result in some tangible and meaningful sanctions ?
ultimately , however , these things are counteracted , or at least can be counteracted , unless we do something about the fact that the registered office and the actual seat - that is , the actual place of business of the company - are allowed to differ , as this ultimately renders these safeguards meaningless .
Parliament will have to make numerous improvements to this draft .
the European institutions should not only issue generic statements condemning these attacks , but should also promote action along two lines : firstly , ensuring that this tragedy is more present in our societies and our media , and secondly , ensuring that the European institutions are more present where the tragedy is taking place .
worse , it squanders a perfect opportunity to put sustainability and climate security genuinely at the heart of the Union , and fails to bring the EU institutions closer to European citizens .
it might seem like a huge task to build detailed and localised information into the portal , but that is not necessarily the case .
a very important partner , but there are other partners in the region , too , and naturally , we must cooperate with them .
the second challenge is that of green growth .
we are so far behind schedule that it is essential to find a way out of the situation that would enable us to use the SIS 1 + network after 13 November 2008 , i.e. to extend the service provided by the SISNET network and to create a fall-back solution with the s-TESTA network .
Qimonda meets the objectives of the Lisbon Strategy .
with just 7 % of the world 's population , Europe accounts for 30 % of economic output .
the Commission recognises , however , that significant progress has been achieved in many Member States .
it is based on the idea that toy safety is the joint responsibility of all parties involved , but with different focus points .
measures should certainly be implemented to combat ' impunity ' with regard to offences committed on the territory of Member States other than the driver 's country of residence .
in writing . - ( PT ) I support the animal health strategy for 2007-2013 , proposed by the European Commission , since I believe the debate among European institutions must be initiated rapidly with a view to drafting future legislative proposals .
cyanide technology is used to obtain a variety of products , including even pharmaceutical products and vitamins .
according to railway companies and manufacturers , the approval procedure is extremely long and costly , and there would appear to be very little justification for a number of the authorities ' demands from the purely technical standpoint .
throughout the last half century , trade barriers have been breaking down for products , but largely these barriers still stand for the consumers .
the request submitted by Spain to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) in relation to 508 redundancies at Lear Automotive ( EEDS ) Spain , S.L. Sociedad Unipersonal , a company which operates in the automotive sector , fulfils all the legally established eligibility criteria .
the ECR Group did request split votes on Articles 4 ( 1 ) , 4 ( 2 ) and 15 ( 4 ) and voted against these specific articles , as it does not believe that the EU should set maximum criminal penalties ; nor does it believe in specifying a criminal offence , as is done in Article 15 ( 4 ) .
another point , and not the least important , is tax competition .
the economic policy of each Member State is now recognised as a matter that should concern all Member States and all European institutions .
in this case , the European Food Safety Authority ( ESFA ) has stated , with reference to scientific evidence , that the product is safe .
it enhances visibility and citizens can easily find the Ombudsman 's guide in a couple of clicks .
we are all aware of the Commission 's recent commitment to draw up a Green Paper in the near future in order to stimulate a discussion on this issue .
- ( ES ) Mr President , I would like to appeal for responsibility on the part of the Council , the Portuguese Presidency and the Commission on the Soil Directive that is before the Council .
we would like to reiterate the need for systematic implementation and monitoring of gender mainstreaming in legislative , budgetary and other important processes , and of strategies , programmes and projects in different policy fields .
that is the aim , and that is why , ladies and gentlemen , I have worked hard on this matter , as I pledged to do .
any comments that you may have concerning the order of business must be submitted at least one hour before the session which we have just opened .
I agree with the entire content of the report and I would highlight the ETF 's initiative of providing the discharge authority with the Internal Audit Service ( IAS ) Annual Internal Audit Report , as it is a sign of transparency to be followed by all other agencies .
I now put it to the vote .
in order to remain a relevant force on the international stage , while preserving internal cohesion , the EU needs to be able to create a pan-European environment of tolerance .
there is a very great risk that this will come at the expense of safety at some point .
( DE ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the Treaty of Lisbon is on the home straight and it is now time to look to the future .
President of the Commission . - I am sorry , I did not understand the question very well because , if you are suggesting having a new Commissioner for all the new competences of the Lisbon Treaty , no , I certainly do not think this is reasonable because they are in so many different areas that we cannot ask one person to have all these competences .
people need and want to fly , however , the disabled included .
there are two points which Mr Barroso made and which I do not have any doubts in clearly and definitively supporting .
for the same reason , some issues have been left out .
the problem of radical Islamic fundamentalism is , in my view , considerable enough in Europe , and it bears witness to a certain level of short-sightedness to want to fight terrorism but at the same time open the floodgates to people who are suspected of having ties with al-Qaeda , the Taliban and related groupings .
this proposal must therefore be rejected .
the citizens who live there believe in the EU support .
it is proposing a strengthening of instruments , but only instruments that focus upon fiscal discipline .
there is also the reference to sport in the Lisbon Treaty , which provides for ' the promotion of European sporting issues , while taking account of [ ... ] its structures based on voluntary activity ' .
the total cost is EUR 2.2 million , with partners involved on both sides of the Channel .
the funds available for cohesion policy represent nearly a third of the European budget .
I protest most strongly against this move ; you should not have any illusions about the fact that even if you are able to carry this through , you will not be able to push it through the nations of Europe , which will definitely object .
the adoption of this report is bad news for EU citizens .
thank goodness that we live in a European democracy in which we can all express our opinions .
in the name of those who can , and do , read the results on the screen , I would like to express my gratitude for your efficient way of doing that .
the Council has accepted a large number of Parliament 's requests and all the requests of my political group .
Sweden will shortly have the opportunity to put it into practice during its presidency in the second half of this year .
for these reasons , I agree that an open debate is required to discuss various immigration policies .
the European Parliament and the Council do not always take exactly the same positions in this area , but there is only one way and that is for the European institutions to act coherently in all their internal and external policies .
it looks very likely that the work done in Parliament will very quickly succeed in getting the Council 's and the Commission 's agreement .
it is a document that is largely based on a consensus , which is unexpected in an environmental policy that it could be said is going to generate a new European policy and is opening up a new path .
I would like to bring another fact to your attention , Commissioner , and to hear your views on it .
the world around us teaches us not to expect too much from humanitarian appeals , especially during periods of recession .
I would like to conclude , Mr President , by raising a highly political point , which is important to me too , ladies and gentlemen , and which Mrs Gebhardt was the first to raise : this directive must be applied for the purposes for which it is intended ; it must not be applied to other matters .
this pressure by some French farmers ' unions , destroying products coming from outside France , has had a very rapid impact on clients of the Catalan meat industry , as a result of which its sales have dropped by 50 % .
now the floor will be taken for the first time in this debate by a woman . it is a pity that this is happening so late .
however , it provides some warnings for the next discharge procedure .
if these measures can be combined and worded more clearly , then that benefits all of us .
for its part , the European Union granted financial assistance as part of the Accession Treaty , restricted to the 2007-2009 period only , with the aim of supporting decommissioning and dealing with the consequences of closing the units early .
how will we achieve these tasks ?
unfortunately , we seem to perpetually meet with a deafening silence when it comes to agreements on European standards for the minimum wage , nor have I heard any proposals intended to guarantee that workers can get work which pays or that they can get full-time jobs , instead of piecework or standby contracts .
Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , as I follow this debate , I note that there is actually a great deal of uncertainty in relation to how the law is to be applied in these areas .
Seventy-nine million Europeans have to make ends meet on only 60 % of the average income of their respective countries .
some of the fishermen in my area have been forced to seek a legal review of their situation because under the CFP they are supposed to be guaranteed a living from fishing .
as it is well-known , I am the head of one of the longest-standing representative groups for persons with disabilities in Hungary , the over one hundred year-old Hungarian Association for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing .
it is important for consumers to be well informed on what can and cannot be done on the Net , but access to the Internet must in no circumstances be denied .
( it ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , I simply wanted to call the attention of the President of the European Parliament to a judgment made several days ago .
I am thinking , of course , of the bilateral talks we could have with countries that wish to implement the same type of system , but also the multilateral discussions within the framework of the ICAO .
the Commission is still convinced at this stage that a trade facilitation agreement should remain one of the pillars of the conclusion of the Doha Round , and should not be removed from it .
I am speaking here about products like discount holiday clubs , where consumers often have to pay a substantial amount up front , ranging from EUR 6 000 to EUR 20 000 , for membership of a club , which will only give a right to a discount on future holidays .
furthermore , this resolution refers to the potential death penalty being imposed on some of the most dangerous terrorists in the world , who thought nothing of conspiring to murder thousands of innocent people .
the EU and the European Parliament therefore has a significant role to play in resolving the root causes of the crisis and must act responsibly by voting in favour of Mr Rasmussen 's report .
but the real difficulty for the time being lies in Berlin .
the proposed amendments will allow less developed Member States , which includes Romania , to qualify for this fund .
therefore , if the author of the amendment agrees to delete those few words , I will be able to support the amendment ; otherwise , I recommend that we reject it .
for that to have been so , all the Member States should have transposed the directive within the given time period , done so properly and submitted all the information to the Commission .
it also affects the Union as a whole , including my country , Poland , which lies in the north-east of the continent .
I therefore call for a concerted effort to ensure that the new Treaty is concluded during the Portuguese Presidency .
for these reasons , I voted in favour of this report .
we now need to work on the basis of these parameters in order to achieve a more solid Economic and Monetary Union that is more efficient internally and projects itself more uniformly to the outside world .
congratulations , Commissioner .
however , that has altered the fundamental nature of the programme and has resulted in the loss of the agricultural dimension to the programme .
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firearms contribute to various parts of the economy , be that in their manufacture or sale or in parts of the rural economy where shooting is a necessity .
however , instead of investing in the Smart Cities initiative , we notice that more than EUR 150 million from the European Economic Recovery Plan remains unspent .
3. determining the relationship between terrorism per se , weapons policy and wars for capturing strategic raw material sources , on the pretence of the fight against terrorism .
the European Union needs the new Solidarity Fund now more than ever .
( PT ) Madam President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , Members of the Council , I wanted to say that this citizens ' initiative represents a very important step towards the recognition of the constitutional nature of the European Union .
the vote will take place at 12 noon on Wednesday , 10 March 2010 .
thus I am willing to accept Amendments 2 and 7 .
the illegal exploitation of natural resources is a further major problem .
secondly , the security requirements proposed for the Schengen Information System ( SIS ) should also be included in the item about visas .
the problem is , as you have all outlined , enormous , and it is a shame that women and girls in our European Union are afraid on a daily basis .
a clear reply , if you please .
while awaiting the results of this summit , our institutional cooperation with Ukraine will be intensified and stepped up .
prompt adoption of this Regulation would enable the aviation sector to adapt to the upgraded legal environment because there would be only one regulation instead of three .
it is not OK for us to keep passing urgencies when we do not have the full number of people .
it does not bother me .
in the EU , we grow only 2 % of the world 's production , which we must protect at all costs .
the European Union still has a role to play and our credibility is at stake .
at this point , I would like once again to pay tribute to the Portuguese Presidency and especially to Prime Minister José Sócrates for his competent leadership of the European Union .
the shock of a two-thirds majority really cuts to the quick .
the statement does nothing to dispel these doubts .
I am glad the competent Commissioner is here tonight and will be able to give us an answer on this matter .
however , once again , we need to know something about how this happened .
I would also like to remind everybody here about the loyal cooperation that is one of the principles and main features of the European Union .
since the formation of the Hungarian Guard , several extreme right-wing , neo-Nazi portals have continuously organised aggressive attacks , whether against a Jewish ticket office or against Roma settlements , and now against homosexuals , while the government is visibly impotent and the criminal investigation authorities are incapable of producing results .
prior to the vote in our committee we received strong external representations .
the opinion expressed by the Commission and the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development has satisfied the expectations of all interested parties .
we consider that such a proposal is impractical at the moment , and we propose instead minimum harmonisation at a high level of consumer protection as a rule , emphasising the need for convergence of national regulations on the exercise and effects of the right of withdrawal .
this phenomenon is particularly worrying because it may give rise to or exacerbate tensions , not only between countries of origin and countries of destination , but also between countries of origin and transit countries .
I say this to the right : you chose to form a narrow majority with the eurosceptics , as you were free to do , in order to create a form of economic governance which I can tell you now is unfair and will be ineffective .
in an increasingly globalised world , the outstanding specific qualities contained within the nucleus of Europe 's cultural richness constitute genuine European added value and their identity-giving role is vital for Europe and the Union in that it helps them to understand the world , bring about cohesion , emphasise their uniqueness , and assert themselves in relation to other peoples .
I believe that maintaining functional separation as an option available to national authorities will give them a chance to promote competitiveness in this field .
the EU is an area of solidarity , and the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ( EGF ) is a part of that .
I therefore believe that this is a very important conference , with great political , symbolic and legal significance ; decisions will be taken that affect legal texts .
I hope that we will vote in favour of these reports tomorrow .
that is the right signal at the right time .
the German Hypo is being rescued by subventions to the value of EUR 50 billion , aid for the British Bradford & Bingley is a further EUR 35 billion , and the Fortis rescue is EUR 11 billion .
the legislative review must therefore take into account this fact and introduce far greater flexibility for public procurers .
( PT ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the revision of the Cotonou agreements should promote a shift in the European Union 's policy of cooperation and development aid .
it is therefore totally unacceptable that , after centuries of peaceful cohabitation , Christians should be forced to flee these countries or be closed up in ghettos .
the Baltic Sea has the status of a ' particularly sensitive sea area ' , and is one of the most valuable , but also one of the most sensitive , marine ecosystems on our planet .
the Commissioner-designate for climate action has expressed commitment to an international agreement on the protection of tropical forests , the inclusion of road transport and shipping in the ETS , and the linking of EU and US cap-and-trade systems , which would represent a crucial step in international cooperation for global emission reductions .
I would particularly like to pay tribute to the personal commitment of the members of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs , and in particular Mr Andersson as chair .
in my opinion , this will enable us in the most direct way to increase the confidence of our citizens in the internal market of the European Union .
I would like to emphasise that if we want to debate these issues , it is necessary to deepen some of our insights considerably , at least with regard to some of the points .
along with this conviction which we collectively reaffirmed , we took on board another fact : the European social model needs to change , to adapt to globalisation , climate change , demographic change and the growing diversity of European societies .
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I should like to look at two aspects which I believe have not yet been discussed , namely the fact that we need an integrated energy system in Europe , which will interconnect the different types of energy and which will interconnect the different grids in such a way that it would be possible to make up for any outages .
the vote will take place on Tuesday , 22 April 2008 .
what agriculture is most in need of in the future , however , is regulation that manages to contain the volatility of the markets within certain limits .
( FI ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , both sides did wrong and broke international agreements .
however , Commissioner , you are aware of the fact that our delight about this has been negated by the Laval and Rüffert rulings ?
your communiqués are adopted but are often low-key , from which we can deduce that there are probably differences of opinion within the Union , which is , in itself , a message , albeit a negative one .
there is increasing repression of the democratic opposition , the free press and civil society .
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may I remind you that to get the emerging economies on board and to get them to be co-responsible has been a European priority for years , and that was actually achieved in Copenhagen .
last year , in agreement with the Mauritania side , the Commission took the decision to split the payment of the sectoral support into two tranches .
growing restrictions on the freedom of the press and of opinion put Mr Yanukovych 's reassurances that democratic standards will be maintained in doubt .
there have been consistent improvements across the board with regard to respect for human rights .
at this time , the report was adopted by the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs in a highly cooperative spirit and by a large majority .
the Commission welcomes and actively supports this initiative .
during the course of this debate , I have sometimes had a quite different impression .
the European Court of Justice , however , has interpreted this option narrowly and has prohibited the automatic adoption of such measures , requiring that each case be examined individually according to objective criteria .
if we do not do that , we will lose .
secondly , who would benefit from this ?
this is going to be a crucial year for the negotiations on the review of the Council 's work , which is going to take place specifically in 2011 .
so once again , my thanks to the rapporteur .
if so , why ?
I do not want to criticise or defend the government today .
( NL ) Europe is rightly staking a lot on maintaining and strengthening competitiveness and we know how to keep our market share in essential sectors but , as the Commissioner has just said , we are only in the first wave of globalisation .
it is a very sad fact that EU Member States export their toxic waste to African countries that are almost powerless to prevent this , and it includes toxic elements such as lead , cadmium , mercury , asbestos and others .
they look pretty nice indeed .
Switzerland , which is not an EU Member State , does not currently take part in these actions .
so many people have spoken here from different committees and different political groups , but all with the same message : we need a better , more practical and more powerful budget .
I had to get authorisation in some cases and consensus in some other cases .
Koreans and Japanese enjoy rates of internet penetration far greater than most Europeans do , with far cheaper charges for broadband streaming ; Asia and the US produce ( or in the case of the US , also educate and hire from elsewhere ) far more engineers and scientists .
that said , it is true that we definitely need to develop a strategy and to do so as soon as possible .
the problem obviously has many aspects and relates in part to how willing universities and colleges are to cooperate with the business world , together with the fact that our patenting system is awkward , and so on .
are we capable of applying the knowledge gained in the past when facing the challenges of today and tomorrow ?
I would have preferred other resolutions that , in my opinion , seemed more appropriate .
once we have a response , we shall examine if this approach or the other approach is better .
firstly , let me congratulate the Temporary Committee on Climate Change for all the work it has accomplished since its creation in April 2007 : hearings , conferences , reports , resolutions , exchanges with third parties .
the developed countries and the rapidly developing economies also jointly acknowledged that the stability and prosperity of poor countries and the most vulnerable social groups everywhere in the world are in the interests of everyone .
now , let us talk about tax competition .
( SL ) Today 's has been one of the better debates we have had on the financial and economic crisis , especially on how it has played out in Greece , and most of the contributions have essentially centred on the issue of how we should govern the European Union in the future .
what is more , the impact will be greater if eating fruit in school is more than symbolic .
on this occasion , it is the turn of Parliament 's largest political groups to disappoint by adopting a resolution that is pure posture - it does not contain a single economic , social or environmental proposal .
I made sure the shadow rapporteurs were fully informed at all stages on the state of informal contacts with the Council .
we are quite clear on what messages we need to send to third countries , and we must obviously have that in mind in the context of dialogue with Russia .
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that puts Europeans in a worse position on the labour market because they are forced to compete with cheap labour from elsewhere .
that is a very ambitious target .
however , the right to information and knowledge is not dependent on common regulations .
we cannot also start bargaining about parts of the population which are inside and outside .
Europe 's future lies not in this totalitarian superstate , as we can see today in Kosovo , which should serve as an example , but in cooperation freely given between the nations and peoples of Europe , including the Slav nations .
however , what use is this progress if , at the same time , Member States are permitted to invest ERDF funds in road planning and colossal waste-incineration plants , the use of which aggravates climate change anew and harms the environment ?
it was good for it to be played out in public here again .
it has to be on universal terms of universal values .
the EU must enhance its strategy for combating the factors causing deterioration of the forests , such as uncontrolled deforestation , fires and air pollution .
it is that which our society also needs to do .
this was when only those two institutions were involved in the procedure .
there is a concern that certain EU policies to counter terrorism , particularly related to data retention , are not balanced against EU citizens ' fundamental right to privacy .
it reduces the limits for nitrogen oxide emissions by 80 % and particulate emissions by 66 % compared with the Euro V standard in force today .
this is , as you know , the first time we are carrying out this kind of collective exercise at European level .
of course we do .
we are experiencing a major social crisis ; there is a vast distance between the citizens and our institutions .
the defence of fundamental rights is at the heart of the European Union , and so it should therefore be at the heart and the centre of our relations with all ACP countries .
the Court observed a material rate of error , which it estimated to be at least 12 % of the aggregate amount of reimbursements to beneficiaries .
unusual snowfalls and uncommonly low temperatures , as predicted in 2009 by the Potsdam Institute , arise from the melting of the Arctic ice cap .
the regulation to be adopted makes it possible to harmonise regional investment and helps joint planning , thus strengthening the energy market and supply security .
I urge the European Commission and Member States to increase from 3 % to 15 % the amount allocated to each Member State from the ERDF for costs linked to boosting energy efficiency in buildings and using renewable energy .
( LT ) Mr President , I am delighted with the document adopted today on guaranteeing independent impact assessments ( IAs ) .
they must cover every type of investment .
I would like to see Slovenia , in its national interest , also act as a pioneer in connection with the accession of Croatia to the EU .
( ES ) Mr President , I want to thank the Commission for having presented this proposal .
the need to collect and process information means that a legal instrument must be created that guarantees full respect of fundamental rights .
this can be seen from dozens of serious accidents all over the world , which have resulted in the extensive destruction of nature , harm to health and also loss of life .
the Commission tried to the very end to limit this specific civil right and , thus , the final text does not reflect the real ambitions ; for example , it introduces particular complex procedures for exercising this right .
to save the eurozone , we have to reform its governance .
consumers will also eventually benefit from a single annual percentage rate comparable throughout the EU .
just briefly , notwithstanding the progress Turkey has made in certain areas , the Commissioner pointed out that significant progress needs to be made regarding freedom of expression and freedom of the press .
I advised companies on mobile satellite services .
so I think I can say to those people who argue that the drop in prices is due to the increase in the quota that this is not the case , because we can see that in spite of the 2 % increase in the quota , production is staying at a lower level than we used to see before .
rest assured that I believe that , in a democracy , these practices are not cultural ; rather , they are practices that we must combat by means of democracy .
in writing . - ( FI ) The bigger groups originally proposed that 30 members from seven Member States would be needed to form a group .
at present , research into low doses of radiation is the subject of a large-scale initiative as part of a joint programme planned by the European MELODI platform .
at issue here is an historic fleet which has been operating for centuries without causing problems to the stock ; any decline is down to excess capacity in the purse seine fleet of the Mediterranean .
in any case , what kind of structure will this training foundation have ?
that point must be taken into consideration , and its importance needs to be far more clearly reflected in the actions of the Commission .
I should like also to greet Commissioner Frattini , who is here with us , and to try to reply to the questions put by Members ; I hope to provide all the clarifications we were asked to give .
thirdly , there is the question of amending the current framework legislation on health and safety at work - Directive 89 / 391 / EEC - and on combating discrimination - Directive 2000 / 78 / EC .
amidst this cycle that cannot seem to be broken , the significance of the ' European project ' cannot be underestimated .
this is certainly not acceptable .
Mr President , I would like to say a few words on the need to move towards own resources reform .
in writing . - We fully support the notions of anti-discrimination and equality in access , and strongly believe in creating inclusive school systems and inclusive schools .
I would also like to emphasise that today , happily , there is no problem with Polish support for the EU and for the Treaty .
in writing . - ( LT ) The establishment of the joint motion for the coordination of artistic studies at European level is important .
thank you to everyone who has been working with me on this legislation .
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immigration is certainly a subject that requires European coordination , but we cannot use Europe simply to limit the freedom of movement of migrants .
along the same lines , how many more maritime and environmental disasters do we need to have before the Commission , the Council and this Parliament will finally turn their attention to the long-standing scandal of flags of convenience ?
informed consumers are an essential component of economic competition among banks .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , developments in Azerbaijan regarding democracy and human rights continue to be a matter of serious concern to all of us .
firstly , concerning the question of the climate change , or rather the ' action in the field of climate change ' portfolio , I see this responsibility as being very important .
that is my hope .
I thank you all .
there is something rather more serious than that .
this is what all Europeans expect of our government .
we are on the edge of a financial collapse endangering the achievement of the goals undertaken by the EU , both for the 27 Member States and for the other countries on our planet .
in writing . - ( FR ) From tomorrow the European Council will be required to draw the conclusions from the result of the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty .
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in accordance with the Rules of Procedure , these are one-minute statements , and this applies both to statements in support of the request and to statements against .
now we are looking at the internal market itself and the issues relating to the internal market as a whole and we can see that some of the things which should have been included have been omitted .
however , it will be of no help whatsoever if we merely let patients travel across Europe , without empowering their countries of origin to control such travel , both medically and financially .
high requirements in terms of quality and safety in the fields of donation and the taking , testing , storage and transport of organs are not subject to discussion , as they constitute the basis for the success of a transplant .
those unable to leave Eritrea are either subject to open-ended conscription in the army , or have to scratch out a living on the fringes of an economy bankrupted by years of futile war with neighbouring Ethiopia , widespread corruption and mismanagement of the economy .
scientific fisheries research is vital to ensure an appropriate fisheries management policy , which must take into account the social , environmental and economic aspects of this activity which is an essential source of food .
if so , is it possible to avoid civilians becoming victims ?
they must , therefore , be integrated into the discussion .
as Europeans , we have expressed our commitment to help Haiti in the short term and I think we have to continue to show solidarity .
there have , in fact , been problems , some of them serious , with regard to the timeframe and , above all , the involvement of the shadow rapporteurs and the timely translation of the amendments , of which there were nearly 500 .
we feel that we must now focus on implementing the Strategy .
does this mean the European Union will , on occasions , be caught in the middle between these two strategic partners of Brussels ?
we have perfectly good data protection laws .
I am always concerned that we layer legislation on top of existing laws without looking at the enforcement aspects , and I would ask the Commission to address the issue of enforcement .
weapons expenditure is higher than it was even during the Cold War .
I will mention just two of them .
all the European institutions that depend on the European Union budget have to be thoroughly audited by the Court of Auditors and by all entities with that function .
Madam President , the European Union has been , is and will be a loyal partner of Morocco , but that partnership is based on principles and values , and we have to proclaim those principles and values .
it is encouraging to see that now real efforts are being made by Parliament and the Commission to address this problem .
the milk quota system will still need to continue after 2015 or be replaced with another regulatory mechanism .
articles 1 and 2 have been strengthened right up to Article 6 in order to make the common objectives clear .
we welcome the report 's suggestions on maritime governance , on sea basin initiatives and strategies , on maritime spatial planning and surveillance , a maritime research framework and observation and data network , and a fund for maritime infrastructure .
in a situation where Canada continues to impose a unilateral visa requirement on citizens of the Czech Republic , however , I regard this Agreement as the misguided accommodation on the part of the EU of a country which does not deserve such accommodation .
for the EU to be able to cut the polluting emissions produced by energy-intensive industries in line with the commitments made , the financial resources need to be provided for modernising European companies .
the first lesson to be learned from the crisis is that economies are now so interconnected that national solutions have become unthinkable .
that is why I support the recommendations of the present report , specifically the proposal to criminalise in all Member States all sexual crimes against children , increased vigilance and monitoring of new forms of grooming of minors , particularly on the Internet , and the creation of the Missing Child Alert System to improve cooperation at European level .
for example , it aims to ' enable ' healthcare staff to ' adopt an intercultural approach based on respect for diversity ' when treating their immigrant patients .
finally I would like to address those protesting against Israel 's disproportionate action .
we must also keep an eye on further enlargement taking in Croatia , which would also impact negatively .
the Commission has to clarify the situation .
at the same time , the European Commission has to bear in mind that the future agreement will have to be negotiated with a larger number of states in the region to avoid becoming a source of division within the region .
I therefore applaud the fact that the report calls for the creation of infrastructure making it possible to evaluate the impacts of proposals and plans formulated in Parliament .
most significant of all is perhaps the ' Interfaith Harmony Dialogue ' , which he began at local level , and which aimed to diffuse tensions and tackle the problems that give rise to terrorism .
the compromise before us shows that the important positions adopted by the European Parliament at first reading , together with the Commission 's constructive contribution , have been included in the agreement with the Council .
Madam President , I have been trying to wave to an usher throughout the voting procedure in order to give explanations of vote , but because you conducted votes so brilliantly and we got through them so quickly , an usher has not quite made it too me yet .
I would like to thank the President-in-Office for the warm words that he gave .
I think we are talking about gross abuses of human rights and I think they are taking place in the biggest imperialist power in the world - the United States - and they should be condemned here .
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preventing the financing of terrorism and tracking clues that such transactions may leave behind can both prevent terrorist crimes and be important in the investigation of such crimes .
the most important thing is that we reach a fair compromise that is the best option available for this House and for the citizens we represent , while noting what our colleague , Mr Szájer has said .
this can also take place with the Member States ' own money , not just through European funding .
Member of the Commission . - Mr President , from the debate it is clear that our objective is a shared one , both in terms of our support through the proposed measure for the outermost region of the Canaries , but also in our commitment to combat IUU .
I should like to welcome the Minister to the Chamber and welcome the Czech Republic to the presidency .
it will vote against the separate nominal Amendment 2 , as the target of reducing emissions from passenger cars needs to be achieved directly , for the benefit of public health and the environment .
the Presidency feels that it is essential that this summit establishes a forward-looking , action-based system capable of getting to grips with the current food crisis and increasing efforts to achieve the first Millennium Development Goal - to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger .
in my opinion , if this third area is not treated in the same way as the other two , it will be difficult to achieve success in the long term .
this is not the spirit in which economic governance can ensure the success of the European question , which is what our employees and our citizens are expecting .
first , a further tightening of the Stability and Growth Pact will not be enough .
even young and healthy people forget they have legs and that the bicycle has already been invented .
when the crisis began , it seemed for a moment that Europe would split in two economically and socially , but thanks to rapid and effective action by the Commission , we were able to prevent that from happening .
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evidently , all the resources , all the decisions and all the measures adopted , at both European and Member State levels , plus the liquidity provision and the interest rate cuts made by the European Central Bank and other central banks , are all designed to avoid a credit collapse and to stimulate and create a suitable framework for recovery of the credit and financing levels needed for families and businesses .
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nation states acting alone will be unable to give a sufficiently strong and coordinated response .
I am thinking of factory sidings and so on .
sexual and reproductive rights are based on universally recognised rights to bodily integrity , non-discrimination , and the highest attainable standard of health .
if there are no objections , I shall immediately pass the motions adopted at today 's sitting to the persons and agencies to which they are addressed .
the Commission also encourages Member States to use national resources , for example potential resources that could be raised through the auctioning of CO2 allowances in the revised ETS schemes .
at no stage should our text propose that VAT on a financial service that is not taxable be passed on to an individual - that is , the consumer .
it is in the European Union 's interest for this funding to continue in the 2010-2014 Action Plan for Energy as well .
today the European Parliament , by voting in favour of the Hammerstein report , shows its commitment to defend and protect European citizens .
in other words , it lays down definite time periods , incentives and , most of all , no exceptions .
over 600 people were arrested and imprisoned .
so , this system has already saved many lives in Europe and elsewhere .
Mr President , Minister , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , the circumstances which led to 192 Heads of State or Government going to Copenhagen have not changed , and the failure of Copenhagen clearly must not be a reason to lower our ambitions .
in writing . - ( DE ) My reasons for voting against the Returns Directive are as follows :
in this text we also ask to be better informed about the measures financed , but also to be involved upstream , when programmes are developed , and downstream , when they are assessed , after several years of implementation in some cases .
please , can we not rather keep our own money and then decide how to spend it ourselves ?
we must prevent job losses caused by industries relocating to regions that are less concerned with reducing emissions without , however , undermining the purpose of the directive .
I believe that it is extremely important that we should have different funds .
on the one hand , being a global partner , we see Russia as a real partner , as I said before . for instance , in the Middle East , in seeking a solution between Israel and Palestine and on many other of these issues .
if they are transborder regions , they give the opportunity for better mutual understanding .
Eurostat publishes these statistics , which are collected and compiled by national statistical authorities .
I do not need to remind you here of the importance of these lines as the new Treaty is being put to the people of Europe .
he has worked very hard to ensure that we are able to discuss these proposed amendments to the general regulation today , after they have passed so quickly through all the institutional stages , and also , I hope , to enable us adopt them shortly in Parliament with a broad majority , so that the relevant items can be implemented quickly .
do we really need second-class European citizens ?
the monitoring mechanism has used this to reduce tensions between the parties following the incidents in the Black Sea and to resolve an incident at South Ossetia 's administrative border in which 21 Georgian citizens were detained and then later released .
the situation in Western Sahara is very worrying , and Parliament should give a clear signal that it condemns what is happening there .
Member States and the Commission should improve their statistics , but so should private companies .
sex trafficking , child prostitution , trafficking of children and managed criminal gangs would all potentially flourish under open border conditions and not enough has been done to curb these crimes in these Member States .
the craft sector offers employment potential and a unique wealth of knowledge that must be used to sustain the competitiveness of the European system .
( FR ) Mr President , excuse me , I am not sure under which Rule I should address the House but I would like to make a statement to the presidency about the current situation in Parliament : it is turning into a permanent circus , which makes it very difficult to work calmly when trying to do serious things here .
for us , it is truly a very important point that we should get this commitment that , if the situation in Turkmenistan deteriorates or fails to improve significantly , we can then have another debate on the issue of whether the trade agreement should be suspended .
then energy efficiency will not only be about speeches but also about facts .
there is now an alternative to the old neoliberal pre-crisis killer argument that ' there is no alternative ' when it comes to bringing the financial market back into line and restructuring it .
the Committee has now been extended by a further year .
nevertheless , the current proposal contains unwarranted shortcomings .
the next item is the debate on six motions for a resolution concerning East Timor .
the obligatory marking requirement will be an incentive to start counterfeiting parts of anonymous goods .
ladies and gentlemen , this is a challenge we face now , at a time when the entire wider region is experiencing a revival and opening up to the requirements and standards of modern times .
it is also extremely important - and this is said by the rapporteur - to protect groups which are particularly vulnerable to being manipulated by advertising , such as children , teenagers and the elderly .
these welcome developments will enable us to strengthen even more transatlantic cooperation in the area of countering terrorism .
we cannot accept re-deployment ; that is a red line that we will not cross .
Sir , you have no legitimacy in this job at all , and I can say with confidence that I can speak on behalf of the majority of the British people in saying : we do not know you , we do not want you , and the sooner you are put out to grass , the better .
this strategy will promote the strengthening of economic and trade relations with them , and it will also enable the European Union to promote its ideals as regards democracy , the rule of law and human rights there .
there is a transcription error in Article 400 on own revenue ; this article concerns proceeds from taxation on the salaries , wages and allowances of Members of the institutions , officials , other servants and recipients of pensions .
the new report will also include information on the situation in the new Member States , which was not available in 2004 - and you can understand why .
women , mainly , told us of the difficult situation in which they find themselves when they try to enforce maintenance payments for children whose other parent lives in a different country and appears not very interested in raising his child or paying for its upbringing .
I should , above all , like to say a word of thanks to my fellow Members , and Jean Lambert in particular .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - ( PL ) Mr President , we are confronted by two different problems .
this being the case , then surely the honourable Members will agree with me that a suspension of the agreement will effectively mean at least a slight lowering in standards of security for European citizens .
my wife smoked as well and she still smokes .
thus , the Member States loses twice .
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at a time when all our constituents are having to tighten their belts , we should have signalled in this report that we were willing to tighten ours too , and we did not .
in addition , the fact that Member States are responsible for organising how visa applications are received and processed lays a huge responsibility on them with regard to respecting personal rights .
I voted for this agreement because it contains 12 fundamental rights which are of paramount importance to improving the quality of transport services .
the whole cultural history of Europe , just like its history in general , is not built solely on diversity , admirable creative energy and progress , but also on violent conflict , intolerance and many lines and contexts of cultural domination .
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we have become used to valuing everything in terms of money .
we will get nowhere alone !
recycling and waste prevention , air emissions and climate change , sustainable consumption and production could be monitored much more effectively if high quality data were available regarding the interaction between environmental and economic factors .
surely , both together demonstrate Europe 's commitment never to forget past injustices but to work today towards a better future for all .
unless we change our budget so we can afford , with some degree of responsibility , to take action to combat climate change and to adapt to low-carbon technologies in the broad sense , we shall indeed go no further than words , and we shall fail to achieve our main priority .
this is especially important now , as we approach the June elections to the European Parliament .
I think that is a question we should be asking ourselves , because the science is very clear : that 20 % emission reductions by 2020 is simply no way near ambitious enough to give us any serious likelihood of avoiding a 2 ° C temperature increase . and scandalously looking at the package as a whole , well over half of that utterly inadequate emissions reduction could in any case be outsourced to developing countries .
it is also an internal problem .
the Presidency invites Cuba to make a further important move and to ratify both the United Nations pacts without any reservations that would undermine their character and effectiveness .
draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs . - ( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , small and medium-sized enterprises are the backbone of our society and provide 67 % of European private sector jobs .
the EU closely follows developments in this region and prepares to engage even more with the countries of the Horn of Africa .
my last point , very briefly , is that there is a debate now going on regarding crisis response and national disaster response .
the issue of eggs in shell is quite visible and clear .
Europe must look to the future .
I might add that , when it came to the issue of the transitional period , we had to find a middle path , from an economic point of view .
this dossier is of great importance for all electronic communications users in the European Union , and the compromise we agreed in the end with the Council - and they were not at all easy discussions - was a balanced one .
with the 2007-2013 programming period now over , the new common agricultural policy will have to rise to a very important challenge on behalf of our farmers : that of guaranteeing at least the same level of financial resources as in the past and distributing them equally between old and new Member States on the basis not only of the number of hectares , but also of other objective assessment criteria .
- Before the vote on Amendment 5 :
we really do need fundamental changes .
compliance with those requirements involves huge expenditure , to be incurred within a short period of time , and for those States it will mean significantly reduced profitability of agricultural production .
however , two production and marketing years seem necessary to allow farmers to adapt to this change .
under Articles 206 and 207 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union , foreign direct investment ( FDI ) is an exclusive EU competence .
your report will enrich the initial proposal of the Commission .
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it is important to repeal Council Decision 85 / 368 / EEC , since implementation of this decision failed to bring about comparability of professional and vocational qualifications .
since the water system was badly damaged and needs urgent repair , the Gaza population has hardly any access to safe water .
here in Brussels , the institutional heart of the country , as my fellow Member has just said , not only the private media but also the organs of government shamelessly boycott the largest opposition party and deny people the right to free and balanced information .
we must show that we , the European Union , are up to fulfilling the expectations of the citizens in this country .
in writing . - Forests provide us with many essential eco-services , ranging from regulating the water cycle to preventing soil erosion and sequestering carbon .
certain dishonest civil servants are enriching themselves from funds earmarked for training and reskilling .
I voted in favour of adoption of the Jeleva report on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities .
the second example is development , and specifically soaring food prices , which threaten all of the Millennium Development Goals ( MDGs ) .
so we should be glad that the system will be strengthened .
whilst he has some very valid points to make , in his scattergun approach he should not try and take out an honest , decent and good man like Mr Bösch , who in my experience of his chairmanship of the Committee on Budgetary Control - even though we might disagree on many points - is exactly what I have described him as .
it goes far beyond this .
thirdly , that the time has come for us to talk about smart development , about money which also goes into brains and not just into asphalt and cement .
next week we , the ministers , will attempt to reach some conclusions regarding the report on the common agricultural policy health check .
nature , however , can take no account of every-day political necessities .
the stockpiles were so high that they would last worldwide for two years .
the Universal Declaration comprises 30 articles and they are often cited .
let me begin by warmly thanking the rapporteur , Mr Klinz , for his balanced report .
during our work , we developed a common position , which I consider a very ambitious one .
the report on the Council 's discharge is very long and thorough .
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however , we have a real task on our hands with regard to those of our fellow citizens who do not understand the messages that are being conveyed .
the Court said that we need supplies to be managed in future or else the whole system will be incapable of being financed , and we need a dairy policy based on quality products in the European market .
( SV ) Mr President , environmental issues have justifiably become one of the biggest political issues of our time and they have also , justifiably , become one of the most important areas for EU cooperation .
the reasons behind this are not only electoral .
of course , an additional step would be to put in place a compulsory system for the Member States by amending the agency 's basic Regulation .
government activity is not enough for this to happen ; a gradual shift in attitude is necessary within society as well .
the roots of these imbalances lie in the agricultural and trade policies in force , and no solution will be found without profound changes to both ; the report makes no mention of this .
put another way , I am not sure that monopoly by large companies was the intended aim .
what is important is implementation .
I would like to make it quite clear that I am not prepared to expose myself to body scanners until these assessments have been made .
the result : nada , zero , zip .
emission limits for the less developed countries of the EU are extremely low , not taking into account the future GDP growth rate in those countries .
( DE ) Mr President , Commissioner , ladies and gentlemen , many members of the public might well find today 's debate rather odd : after all , the internal market has been around for more than 15 years and a lot of people have become quite used to it .
recent events in Georgia have greatly undermined our trust in our Eastern neighbour .
I appeal to the Nepalese Government to take advantage of this opportunity to remedy the situation on fundamental rights in its country .
on behalf of the PSE Group . - ( ES ) Mr President , ladies and gentlemen , the Spanish Socialists are going to vote in solidarity and coherence with the district of Almadén , Spain , which is going to be seriously affected by the text that we are discussing and that we are to vote on tomorrow .
Madam President , Mrs Lynne , this is a good stocktake of the lack of social security under which far too many of the citizens in the Member States are forced to live .
concerning the public financing of the GM / Magna transaction , we have been informed that the German Government intends to avail itself of a pre-existing approved scheme under the Commission 's temporary framework for State aid measures to support access to finance in the current financial and economic crisis .
in writing . - ( DE ) Renewables must play a significant role in our future energy policy .
while supermarkets currently work with economic margins of some 20 % and the distribution trade with margins of nearly 10 % , many primary producers - the farmers - without whom none of the food would be there - are working with negative returns at the moment .
proper execution of the tasks facing Member States and candidate countries requires three factors : knowledge , competence and readiness .
studies show that school activities in Romania tend to form gender differentiated mentalities , as well as the social-economic orientation activities organized by the teaching staff .
a British legal expert named Hart wrote that there are no rights without legal guarantee , and there is no legal guarantee without judges , in the same way that there can be no Europe without citizens and there are no European citizens if they are not aware that European integration makes us grow and strengthens the fundamental rights that we already have as members of the EU Member States .
this is what we need to show the European public .
this is that the prospect of the entry into force of the new treaty , you know as well as we do , will lead to major structural changes in our area of competence .
we believe it is necessary to examine the possibility of warning consumers of such potential allergic reactions .
in time this risks damaging the whole ecosystem in the fishing waters concerned .
thirdly , we need to encourage working as a network and to promote consensus via the approval of measures in the European Parliament and the national parliaments .
it should , however , be up to those who do the damage to pay .
in writing - ( PL ) I approve of the fact that the European Parliament has focused on rising food prices .
in writing . - This proposal gives an opportunity to : strengthen the contribution of EEA and EFTA States to the reduction of economic and social disparities in the European Economic Area ; significantly increase the financial mechanism against unchanged concessions for Iceland and modestly increase the concessions for Norway .
since at the present time there is a question mark over the Treaty , the normal reaction with regard to the budget is to separate the expenditure directly linked with the Lisbon Treaty from the preliminary expenditure for the coming year , and that was the request we put to all the European institutions .
President of the Commission . - Two different questions : one regarding the portfolios on justice and security , the other on climate .
these tragic events are occurring more and more frequently and have caused hundreds of thousands of deaths throughout the world in recent years .
we also believe that young girls in particular must be better informed in the area of sexual and productive health .
the next item is voting time .
in this respect , I share to some extent the Commissioner 's optimism about Kurdish television , about the openings that have been created between Turkey and Armenia .
such a voice has been lacking with regard to the protection of passengers ' interests , the clarification of their rights , the search for alternative transport and the coordination of solutions .
when did we ever decide to do this ?
in the case of Croatia , the presidency will do all it can to ensure that this country joins the EU as soon as possible .
however , the 2020 strategy is also a main priority : tackling unemployment , climate change and , above all , the need to genuinely and practically implement this new strategy for the future , allocating sufficient resources to it , without compromises and without cuts .
tolerance means putting forward our own points of view and hearing and respecting other people 's convictions .
to that end , I agree that there is a need to establish a robust European legal framework that enables the creation of an adequate and effective CEAS .
we have just established that the precarious jobs are the ones which are lost during a crisis and they are the first ones to go .
I applaud the political will in support of funding that has already been earmarked for cancer research under the programme .
I agree with the allocation and use of the Fund but this can be no more than a temporary measure .
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the answer to this problem of organ availability is decidedly to presume that all dead people are donors unless this is specifically objected to in time by a close relative or by the donor when alive .
our job is generally not to confirm the winners but to reassure those who have lost that they have lost fairly and can be vital in diffusing tension post election .
however , 31 % of the budget is still coloured in red .
its attitude in this matter must therefore be exemplary .
the oral question to the Commission on the state of play of SIS II , by Mr Coelho , on behalf of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) and European Democrats , Mrs Roure , on behalf of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament , and Mr Lax , on behalf of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe - B6-0011 / 2009 ) .
it is my own view that , if there is no measurable progress soon on the demands in this resolution , then the European Union must bring economic and political pressure to bear on the regime in Sri Lanka .
it is indeed the case that the European Union 's responsibility in this area cannot allow for inaction .
if you really want to help , listen to Professor Buchanan of the London School of Economics .
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this cannot be done without good cooperation with our allies from across the Atlantic .
( DE ) Madam President , fellow Members , Parliament is providing an input with this Lamassoure / Severin Report .
it is not a time for competition in regulation - since excessive regulation is not better than the lack of regulation - but it is high time to act , and you know it .
the work of this House will continue after this debate so I must say to you that it is this Presidency 's or rather our Presidency 's belief that this is of course an important and necessary debate .
I can see that we are in agreement .
the operation and added value of the EGF should be evaluated in the context of the general assessment of the programmes and various other instruments created by the interinstitutional agreement of 17 May 2006 .
but Parliament is absolutely united and unanimous on these principles , and we therefore believe that we have done something positive which gives us hope for the future .
it is necessary , in order for serious negotiations to get under way , for those settlements to stop .
to me , that seems particularly relevant right now , as we have already witnessed , or can begin to see , the signs of the first crisis of European democracy .
the maximum allowed sound level lies today between 74 dBA for passenger cars and 80 dBA for heavy trucks .
thanks to the policy , many new jobs have been created , and more will doubtless be created in the next few years .
a part of this House has adopted the old May 1968 slogan , according to which it is realistic to demand the impossible .
in so doing , they continued the deliberate measures taken last year , when ballot boxes were confiscated and voting sites shut down .
at the same time , the groundswell in favour of the tax is getting bigger : more and more governments are supporting the idea , and the European Parliament has already voted repeatedly in favour of introducing a tax on financial transactions .
I wish to thank you all today for embracing this aim so wholeheartedly .
approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes
nevertheless , I question the meaning of the discharge and how useful it is as a tool , two years after the event and where , as in this case , management and personnel may well have changed .
it is a rather small budget , quite small when compared to the huge economic benefits , which amount to some EUR 2 000 per family in my country - an enormous benefit , well worth the price of membership , well worth the benefit of mentioning .
the regional and local levels of European governance are important co-owners of Europe 's future .
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we have therefore created a basis for ensuring that the energy mix is no longer just a matter for the Member States , but that the Member States share 50 % of the responsibility , or a little more .
may I say that people in our own countries - in Germany , Austria , Italy , France and Spain - will benefit from the newly acquired freedom as well , whether during their vacations or a visit to friends .
while the current crisis calls for an acceleration of procedures , it can under no circumstances serve as a pretext for suspending competition or state aid rules , which are the backbone of our single market .
the glass can be half full or half empty .
first , this statement was made in 2009 , while the report deals with human rights violations that took place in 2008 .
it is here that we must effectively make the most effort ; we must not threaten the poor workers who only want to work in Europe , but penalise those who want to exploit them .
the action plan agreed by the Council in October gives us the opportunity to do this .
in this respect , I would like to point out that it is not in Europe 's interest for the American carmakers to go under .
contrary to some initial opinions , the problem concerns political and multilateral entities and is not bilateral and commercial in nature .
I have just returned from Baghdad , where I led a small delegation of MEPs in high-level talks with the President of Iraq and senior government ministers .
the increases will also come about because of liberalisation in the energy sector and the unification of the EU energy market .
on transport I am more positive than the rapporteur because I believe it is very important that we address the sustainability criteria .
I would like to make three points .
yesterday , the first round of presidential elections was held in Ukraine .
as well as being an incontestable principle of the civilised world , and not least in a Europe that sees itself as culturally and socially developed , ensuring the equal treatment of self-employed men and women - particularly as regards access to social protection mechanisms , above all , those relating to maternity - is becoming even more pressing and obvious during this long period of profound economic and social crisis .
( PT ) Mr President , the social consequences of applying so-called ' austerity ' measures are getting worse every day .
Parliament therefore underlined that it would examine legislative proposals in this light .
it is up to you to judge the extent to which this was achieved .
the number of people living in poverty has increased dramatically .
for our group , for the centre-right , this sends out a strong political message and is an incentive to continue our work .
the Commission needs to decide now whether it is withdrawing its proposal and tabling a new proposal before Parliament .
in the European Parliament 's resolution on the ECB annual report 2009 , it is noted that the principles of the Stability and Growth Pact were not always fully respected in the past and therefore , it is necessary to ensure that in future , this pact is applied more coherently and effectively in the Member States .
I believe that the work done by Mr Rivellini , which has been broadly welcomed , deserves formal thanks in this session .
moreover , local government initiatives must actively pursue partnership between the public and private sectors and implement innovative strategies for the development of urban infrastructure .
instead , we must ensure that future members of Schengen are able to assert effective control of the EU 's external borders , that there is no softening of the transition periods for the protection of labour markets , and that begging does not increase any further .
in writing . - ( PT ) As a member of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs , in which the European External Action Service ( EEAS ) was widely discussed and where I was able to express my opinions , and as a member of the Group of the European People 's Party ( Christian Democrats ) , I give my support and vote in favour of the present report .
there is a lot to do in this area .
I think that we will be able to make progress with regard to the climate , the economic crisis and the Doha round - and once again confirm how important it is to conclude this - and that we will be able to get extremely important processes off the ground in the legal sphere .
I believe that these talks will also be a success .
the Greek Government is convinced that the famous spreads will narrow only if the results of this entire policy of budgetary discipline are visible .
the European Parliament is expected to adopt the new gas supply regulation for the EU in spring .
this is possible by means of infrastructure development , for example , by building nurseries and developing various educational and cultural options .
the success of this policy also depends on the Member States , who must use financial measures such as reducing VAT , allocating the maximum authorised proportion of European funds to energy performance , and so on .
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they need some European spirit of reconciliation over there .
of these , 34 % of people living in poverty are unemployed and 14 % are working poor .
at the same time there has been some controversy over paragraph 127 calling for ' Member States to ban headscarves and the hijab , at least at primary school ' .
it would be to the credit of India if the government were to break with the criminal regime in Burma .
however , we have no intention of letting them deprive us of this wonderful tradition of ours .
by calling for a rise in de minimis aid from EUR 30 000 to EUR 60 000 for the next three years , we want to send out a strong signal to the sector , which , in recent years , particularly because of the entry into force of the common fisheries policy and new restrictive measures , has seen some small- and medium-scale modes of fishing cut back , if not killed off completely .
thus , to facilitate the adoption of the directive , the Commission intends to adopt a modified proposal before the start of the Polish Presidency .
a new consumer-enforcement network was established at the end of 2006 in the regulation on consumer protection cooperation .
we cannot accept any forms of discrimination in this Chamber if we are to be credible in the wider context .
the Baltic Sea is one of our most sensitive inland seas .
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group . - Mr President , in fact we are extremely concerned about the resurgence of violence in the eastern provinces of Congo .
the next item is the debate on six motions for resolutions on Belarus .
prices for the transportation of goods , agricultural machines and fertilisers and the costs of work have a similar ceiling in many countries .
the report also mentions the mechanisms developed within the EU to guarantee respect for and protection of human rights .
relations between Iran and the European Union encounter major difficulties when sensitive subjects are touched on , such as Iran 's nuclear programme or human rights .
in order to achieve a long-term improvement , we need reforms of pension systems and medical care systems , and investment in good health .
my group considers the introduction of new criteria for membership at this point to be wrong because this would mean applying double standards for these countries .
I am pleased with the concern shown at EU level about violence against women .
based on the evidence gathered , the Commission will decide the details of its legal proposal .
now , there are limits .
we must applaud the enormous progress already made .
people should not be detained just because they apply for asylum .
we look forward to receiving another proposal from you and possibly will have to await the second phase of the consultation exercise and , if necessary , the review of this governance process .
the CAP has done nothing but ruin our farming industry in the UK for well over 30 years ; we do not want interference from the EU ; this will extend their interference yet again .
on the one hand , we recognise the efforts made , namely adoption of the Law on Foundations , reform of the Penal Code regarding freedom of expression , and the constitutional changes announced .
that is the clear analysis we can make today .
I think we need to see what you intend to do with this goods package as part of a broader strategy for the direction of the consumer acquis .
we must publicly shame the wasteful Member States , which continue to exist , and describe the situation clearly .
that may be one way , but it is not sufficient to ensure success .
in writing . - This is the most useful resolution for the whole period from 2009 to 2011 .
let us be honest , the advising committee had almost no chance .
finally , we wish to say that we feel that funds for these technologies ought to be part of the debate on future financing of EU policies , and therefore the Member States should be required to make a greater effort , at least in the same proportion as they did in response to the energy crisis during the 1980s .
Juliet accidentally pricked her thumb on the needle after it slipped when she was taking a sample .
during the autumn , the Presidency also organised a conference in Brussels on victims of people-trafficking , with the aim of highlighting the need for measures to be taken for those affected and the focus on cooperation with countries of origin for human trafficking .
with this , I believe I can explain that it is not a cheap way of palming the issue off on to science and saying ' we do not want to examine this any closer because we do not want to understand it ' , but it is a genuine and difficult dispute among experts and one institute in Germany is clearly putting its point of view across particularly strongly .
it is true that last year , in 2009 , hundreds of prisoners were released ; however , very few were actually political prisoners .
we will now move on to the explanations of vote on the Cappato report , having already heard Mr Mitchell .
unfortunately , Belarus has again found itself in the headlines over the persecution of non-governmental organisations .
we all recognise that terrorist organisations have political fronts and it is a fine judgment whether more damage is done by leaving a front alone or closing it down .
such is the democratic nature of Turkish nationalists !
this is not about Member States , this is about fundamental rights .
we have singled out Iraq as an example .
according to UN figures , we have 270 000 victims in the European Union .
I think this is a very important feature .
there is just one more thing , however , that I would like to get off my chest , Madam President - not as a PPE spokesperson , but as a member of the CDA in the European Parliament from the Netherlands .
especially pleasing is the fact that it has been possible to extend significantly correct management of the budget .
( FI ) Mr President , restraint is obviously the main ingredient in the fight against climate change , but we are at a point where we also need to find ways to adapt .
I would also stress the importance of subjecting the management of these resources to higher standards of rigour and efficiency , under stricter and more transparent control .
President-in-Office of the Council . - Last March the Council and the spring European Council further refined a new position for the international climate change negotiations , in particular in view of the Copenhagen Conference .
the death penalty is still part of the legislation in many countries , including some which actively promote civil rights and freedoms globally .
we clearly need to do more .
I also expressed my reservations on the floor of this Parliament , and I called for fair and balanced rules of the game .
I am thinking of the definitions of ' hospital ' , ' non-hospital care ' and so on and the identification of specific cases where prior authorisation may be warranted .
Mr President , the title of the debate here this evening is ' Equality between women and men ' , yet most speakers , when dealing with the issue , said ' between men and women ' .
we tabled the subject for debate yesterday and we are waiting for a reply , so that we can reach a compromise and send a positive message to the EU institutions .
( LT ) The Commission 's position on the Council regulation on the Common Market Organisation for Wine discriminates against certain countries , especially the new Member States .
all nations and all sectors are experiencing tough economic times at present , and I caution this committee to be utterly realistic about its expectations from the European budget .
for that very reason it is important to approve amendments 1 and 2 , which I thank Mr Tannock for presenting .
in this way , you can directly see that the interpretation teams cannot keep up with you .
furthermore , in comparison to other renewable energy types , biogas has the advantage that it can be used in the production of electricity , thermal power , as well as in transportation .
we adults often envy them their technical skills , but in their childish naivety they can easily be abused .
people will be second-class citizens in respect of the justice system available to them .
the Palestinians ask you - how can it be right that your country asks for humanitarian aid on the ground , but remains silent when there are only bombs from the skies ?
the way these bodies , which we call Conformity Assessment Bodies , operate can be significantly improved .
the German Public Prosecutor has requested the waiver of the parliamentary immunity of a Member , Mr Brok .
twenty years ago the barbed wire between Austria and Hungary was cut .
the specific management choices not only could not stave off the course towards deceleration and recession but , on the contrary , constituted a bomb ready to explode , with incalculable consequences for people 's income .
I believe that this House was very supportive of it .
but , in doing so , we want to make it clear that , instead of proclaiming the slogan given here , ' United in diversity ' , we want to strive for cooperation in diversity , which means that we are in favour of preserving the nation states .
all of these things are necessary , not just one or two - all of those things are necessary .
Schengen is an area of free movement of people , but it is also a symbol of the best that Europe has done in the last 20 years and , therefore , of the best Europe .
we need to bring an end to the practice of flags of convenience - including on EU territory - which reduce registration fees and cut crew costs by 60 % on average .
however , with regard to the challenges of global climate change as well , our European budget does not even begin to allow us to respond appropriately .
several Member States impose stricter national requirements than those laid down in European Union legislation .
owing to the urgency and importance of getting this report adopted in this parliamentary term , the rapporteur and our fellow shadow rapporteur have worked hard to reach agreement on the key points in the Council 's position .
in Parliament , we have been asking the Commission for years to take a look at the collecting societies .
how are we to explain this difference between the two Unions ?
it is within their field of competence .
transatlantic Economic Council ( vote )
the placing of plant protection products on the market ( vote )
if we are going to constantly talk of competition , then that is what we should have and it should not result in a downward spiral which takes with it those who have actually kept house better , financially speaking , than Opel !
similarly , the actions of the Romanian authorities put us in mind of the reflexes of the past when , against the recommendation of the Romanian authorities , the President of the Hungarian Republic travelled to take part in the celebrations of 15 March with the 1.5 million-strong Hungarian community in Romania but was able to do so only as a private person , by car .
I am glad that we are broadening this principle to include the neighbouring countries of South-East Europe .
by changing from the GATT to the WTO , the multilateral trading system did not just change in dimension ; in some regards it changed in nature , too .
although to be deplored , discriminatory comments do not necessarily fuel ' hatred and violence ' .
sadly , it is well known that the life expectancy of an African is at least 30 years less than that of a European , and this difference alone puts the model of North-South solidarity seriously to the test .
both planes narrowly escaped disaster .
there are big differences between Member States .
it is not about earnings and not about profits ; it is about security .
dealings with the countries of the Horn of Africa are illustrated by the example of Djibouti , which has an authoritarian regime , yet all manner of Western countries have military bases there .
however , I repeat , it is inefficient , shoddy procedures that are more costly for Member States .
( ES ) Madam President , firstly I would like to thank our rapporteur , Claudio Fava , for his hard work in reaching a common position with the Council ; the result includes many improvements suggested by our Parliament .
( ES ) Thank you , Mr President , and thank you , Mr Sacconi , for all your work .
we want a strong CAP after 2013 that maintains its common character , without detriment to the specific nature of some sectors or regions .
that is also good .
personally , I am bewildered that , when looking at implementation of the budget for 2008 , we received documents for 2007 , and so absolutely not in accordance with our expectations and requirements .
it is a very worthwhile suggestion .
however , we can also see destruction , chaos , hatred and revenge ; the Palestinian cause divided ; the radicals being strengthened to the detriment of the moderates ; and a peace process that has been completely derailed .